MERRIMACK REPERTORY THEATRE ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome from the Chair & President ................................................................... 3 2013-14 Productions God of Carnage .......................................................................................... 4 Mrs. Mannerly ............................................................................................. 5 Stella and Lou ............................................................................................. 6 The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith .............................. 7 Equally Divided .......................................................................................... 8 Talley’s Folly ............................................................................................... 9 The Reduced Shakespeare Company® In The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged) ..................................... 10 Corporate Sponsors ............................................................................................11 Educational Outreach & Audience Engagement ............................................... 12 Special Events .................................................................................................... 13 Engagement by the Numbers ............................................................................ 14 Annual Fund Donor Listing ................................................................................. 15 Financial Activity ................................................................................................. 18 People: Staff, Board of Overseers,& Friends of MRT ......................................... 19 All photos by Meghan Moore unless otherwise noted. Copyright Merrimack Repertory Theatre, 2014. BOARD OF TRUSTEES WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR & PRESIDENT Chair Nancy L. Donahue President Stephen J. Irish Vice-President Richard E. Bolton, Jr. Treasurer Robert McKittrick n behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff of Merrimack Repertory Theatre, we wish to express our sincere gratitude to MRT’s Secretary Terry T. Howard donors, subscribers and patrons. The 2013-14 Season contained Oa strong mix of contemporary plays and modern classics. MRT began Donald A. Bedard the season with the Tony Award-winning play God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton, and ended with The Judith Benson Reduced Shakespeare Company® in The Complete History of Comedy Denise Bey (abridged). In between we traveled to Steubenville, Ohio in 1967, a modern day bar in Philadelphia, were serenaded by Bessie Smith in a Michael Conway buffet flat, traveled to a converted train car in England, and fell in love Brenda J. Costello with Sally Talley and Matt Friedman on the Fourth of July. Paul Drouilhet The successful Renovation Campaign concluded with the beautiful renovation of the Nancy L. Donahue Theatre in Liberty Hall in 2012 (FY13) Daniel R. Frantz with additional funds for artistic enhancement, allowing MRT to expand Denise Glaser artistic programming. At the same time, MRT staff and Board began to implement initiatives to fight industry-wide trends in lower earned revenue Debra Grossman and a plateau in contributed income. Due to accounting principles Frank Hopkins related to capital campaigns, the entire sum of renovation pledges was recognized in FY13, leading to a significant surplus. MRT then projected Dennis P. Jones a deficit for FY14, but, it is important to note, a positive cash flow as Ann P. Kazer renovation pledges continued to be paid on their planned three-year schedule. In April 2014, Artistic Director Charles Towers announced he Arnold M. Kerzner would step down at the end of the 2014-15 Season. MRT Board and staff Mary Jane King convened in June 2014 for a strategic session in which they discussed their future vision for MRT and determined a position profile for the artistic Patricia McCafferty leader to achieve this vision. The search, led by AlbertHall&Associates, Robert J. McDonald launched from that session and concluded in December 2014 with the announcement of Sean Daniels as the next Artistic Director of MRT. Keith B. Mitchell Susan Mitchell MRT remains focused on its mission to “to advance the cause of human understanding by creating theatrical productions at the highest level of Linda Monticciolo artistic excellence and making them affordable to the broadest possible Lincoln Pinsky community.” This mission statement keeps MRT poised for future success, ensuring that MRT is committed to artistic and financial growth Joellen Scannell while remaining a vital part of our community. Stefan C. Schatzki Thank you for your support. Bobby G. Tugbiyele Sincerely, Ruth R. White Sandra Wilson Nancy L. Donahue Stephen J. Irish Chair President Cover Photo Credits: Photos by Meghan Moore Laura Latreille and Judith Lightfoot Clark in God of Carnage; Jan Neuberger and Matthew Schneck in Mrs. Mannerly; Antoinette LaVechia and Bill Geisslinger in Stella and Lou; Miche Braden in The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith; Felicity LaFortune in Equally Divided; Benim Foster and Kathleen Wise in Talley’s Folly; Dominic Conti in The Complete 3 History of Comedy (Abridged). 2013-14 PRODUCTIONS Joseph Adams, Laura Latreille, Judith Lightfoot Clarke, and Stephen Caffrey. SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 13, 2013 GOD OF CARNAGE by Yasmina Reza. Translated by Christopher Hampton CAST Alan Joseph Adams Michael Stephen Caffrey Veronica Judith Lightfoot Clarke Annette Laura Latreille PRODUCTION Directed by Kyle Fabel Scenic Design by Randall Parsons Laura Latreille and Joseph Adams. Costume Design by Olivera Gajic Joseph Adams, Judith Lighting Design by Paul Hackenmuller Lightfoot Clarke, and Sound Design by Jason E. Weber Stephen Caffrey. “This year the Boston scene has been thick with strong acting ensembles...we have to add this quartet to the already-crowded award-contender list.” – HubReview.com Production Sponsor Media Sponsor 4 2013-14 PRODUCTIONS Matthew Schneck and Jan Neuberger. OCTOBER 24 – NOVEMBER 17, 2013 MRS. MANNERLY by Jeffrey Hatcher Matthew Schneck. Jan Neuberger. CAST Mrs. Mannerly Jan Neuberger Jeffrey Hatcher Matthew Schneck PRODUCTION Directed by Mark Shanahan Scenic Design by James J. Fenton Costume Design by Deborah Newhall Lighting Design by Martin Vreeland Sound Design by Sean Hagerty “‘Mrs. Mannerly’ oozes charm and warmth, and we in the audience are putty in the hands of Neuberger and Schneck.” – OnBostonStages.com Production Sponsor Media Sponsor 5 2013-14 PRODUCTIONS Antoinette LaVecchia and Bill Geisslinger. NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 22, 2013 STELLA AND LOU by Bruce Graham CAST Stella Antoinette LaVecchia Lou Bill Geisslinger PRODUCTION Directed by Charles Towers Scenic Design by Bill Clarke Costume Design by A. Lee Viliesis Lighting Design by Brian J. Lilienthal Sound Design by Jason E. Weber Antoinette LaVecchia and Bill Geisslinger. “Theirs is a beautiful friendship (no doubt helped by the great chemistry between Lavecchia and Bill Geisslinger and Antoinette LaVecchia. Geisslinger).” – The Lowell Sun Media Sponsor 6 2013-14 PRODUCTIONS Miche Braden, Jim Hankins, Aaron Graves, and Anthony E. Nelson, Jr. JANUARY 9 – FEBRUARY 2, 2014 THE DEVIL’S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH by Angelo Parra. Concept, musical staging & direction by Joe Brancato Musical direction & arrangements by Miche Braden CAST Miche Braden. Bessie Smith Miche Braden Pickle Jim Hankins Piano Aaron Graves Bass Jim Hankins Saxophone Anthony E. Nelson, Jr. PRODUCTION Scenic Design by James J. Fenton Costume Design by Patricia E. Doherty Lighting Design by Todd Wren Live Audio by Jason E. Weber “The blues may be cool, but Braden and the music are hot and will get your heart pumping in this lively production.” – BroadwayWorld.com Production Sponsor Media Sponsor 7 2013-14 PRODUCTIONS Jill Tanner, Felicity La Fortune, Will Lyman, and Anthony Newfield. FEBRUARY 13 – MARCH 19, 2014 EQUALLY DIVIDED by Ronald Harwood CAST Jill Tanner and Felicity La Fortune. Renata Taylor Felicity La Fortune Charles Mowbray Will Lyman Fabian Hill Anthony Newfield Edith Taylor Jill Tanner PRODUCTION Directed by Charles Towers Scenic Design by Bill Clarke Costume Design by Arthur Oliver Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg Jill Tanner and Anthony Newfield. Sound Design by Jason E. Weber “With Towers directing a cast of four old pros...’Equally Divided’ gives theatre-goers full value for their entertainment dollar.” – OnBostonStages.com Production Sponsor Media Sponsor 8 2013-14 PRODUCTIONS Kathleen Wise and Benim Foster. MARCH 20 – APRIL 13, 2014 TALLEY’S FOLLY by Lanford Wilson CAST Kathleen Wise and Benim Foster. Matt Friedman Benim Foster Sally Talley Kathleen Wise PRODUCTION Directed by Kyle Fabel Scenic Design by Randall Parsons Costume Design by Deborah Newhall Lighting Design by Paul Hackenmuller Sound Design by Jason E. Weber “Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s heartwarming production unfolds with steady determination, breaking through any jaded cynicism with a touching commitment to life’s possibilities.” – The Boston Globe Benim Foster and Kathleen Wise. Production Sponsor 9 2013-14 PRODUCTIONS Michael Faulkner and Dominic Conti. APRIL 24 – MAY 18, 2014 THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY® IN THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF COMEDY (ABRIDGED) by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor Jerry Kernion, Michael Faulkner, Dominic Conti. CAST and Dominic Conti. Dominic Conti Michael Faulkner Jerry Kernion PRODUCTION Directed by Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor Costume Design