THE PROMPTER Volume 45, No. 3 February 22 - 26, 2008 Season LXXXXIV The Department of Theatre Arts at Gettysburg College presents The Owl and Nightingale Players in Production Design by Jerome O. Hanson Costume Design by Zennis Goshorn CAST LISTS Woman ..................................................................................................... Chelsea Bucklin Eunice Hubbell ............................................................................................Quiana Young Stanley Kowalski................................................................................... Phillip Ballantine Stella Kowalski ..........................................................................................Devon Johnson Steve Hubbell ..............................................................................................Jacob Henkoff Harold Michell (Mitch) ................................................................................. Matt Gross Mexican Woman ..................................................................................... Laura Martinez Blanche DuBois ...........................................................................................Ashley Stuart Pablo Gonzales ..............................................................................................Chris Rustin Paperboy ............................................................................................................Peter Mele Nurse ........................................................................................................... Lindsey Dever Doctor .....................................................................................................Kevin Ackerman Woman 1 ................................................................................................... Anna Armagno Sailor/Man 1 ......................................................................................................Rob White Sailor/Man 2 .................................................................................................. Nick Lorenz Man 3 ........................................................................................................... Charles Zagne Man 4 .......................................................................................................................Fan Luo Man 5 ...................................................................................................... Chase McMullen Man 6 ...................................................................................................................Peter Ayer There will be two seven minute intermissions. —Special Thanks— Emily Windover, Emile and Patricia Schmidt, Facilities Services, Gettysburg College Printing THE PRODUCTION STAFF AND CREWS Assistant Director .....................................................................................................Jess Ernst Assistants to the Designer .................................................... Jo Shive and Amanda Ward Set Decoration .......................................................................................................Sarah Pierce Dramaturg ........................................................................................................... Becca Lausch Stage Managers ......................................................Becky Spurr and Stephanie Sunderlin Lighting Design ......................................................................................................... Kat Doyle Master Electricians ........................................................... Sarah Moses and Adam Clever Properties Manager ...............................................................................................Alicia Pepe Asst. Props Managers ..........................................Sophie Schwinn and Audrey Schwinn Sound Board Operator ........................................................................Stephanie Sunderlin Light Board Operator .........................................................................................Jess Wismer Production Supervisors: Torrey Drum, Kevin Hagerty, Nick Lorenz, Fan Luo, Sarah Moses, Sarah Pierce, Jo Shive, Brian Tenney, Rob Towarnicki, Amanda Ward Production Crew: Kelley Andersen, Chaz Andrews, Anna Armagno, Phillip Ballantine, Laura Banti, Elyse Bennett, James Burkhalter, Justin Causey, Spike Cirigliano, Adam Clever, Chelsi Conklin, Diana Cotumaccio, Scott Decker, Amelia Devine, Kirsten Egenes, Jess Ernst, Woody Fazzano, Marianne Florentino, Will Green, Sean Gilmartin, Erin Haughee, Danielle Hiss, Peter Huyett, Samantha Johnson, Sarah Kleinle, Natalie Knarvik, Terri Lewis-King, Packer Larson, Becca Lausch, Rachel Little, Ricardo Manigat, Natalie Mannino, Liz May, Kerry McKenna, Terena McLorn, Krissy McMahon, Beth Morgan, Caitlin Moser, Shannon Mounts, Samantha O’Leary, Isha Rajbhandari, Katherine Risk, Chris Rustin, Audrey Schwinn, Sophie Schwinn, Lexie Sickles, Kate Sims, Becky Spurr, Mike Sweeney, Catherine Toner, Steven Torok, Ryan Tunkel, Robert White, Jess Wismer, Charles Zange Light Crew: Laura Banti, Elyse Bennett, Adam Clever, Kat Doyle, Jess Ernst, Kevin Hagerty, James Malloy, Sarah Moses, Ryan Tunkel, Rob White, Jess Wismer Costume Crew: Chaz Andrews, Elyse Bennett, Jess Ernst, Jen Logan, Lauren Pappas, Stephanie Sunderlin, Rebecca Swerida, Sara Thomas Publicity and Program: Ashley Boggs, Jessica Bonini, Sara Fry, Teri Gillmor Poster Design: Geoffrey Gaenslen DIRECTOR’S NOTES Most people who know about this play have experience with the classic 1953 movie with Vivian Leigh and Marlon Brando. As great as that is, it also is not the best representation of many key points in Tennessee Williams’ stage play. The Hollywood censorship board made significant cuts in material that would have helped to illuminate the main conflict stirring within Blanche DuBois. The censors removed any mention of homosexuality, for example. The very real presence of this in Blanche’s life, and her guilt over her subsequent behavior, can be seen as instrumental in her psychological turmoil and her arrested development—she is stuck in her desire to reclaim what she has lost: her young husband, her love, and what she sees as her fading youth. At the same time, she strives to remain one of the soft people, bringing magic and enchantment, instead of illuminating the painful truth underneath. Having to live with the brutish Stanley Kowalski at this point in her life makes for a perfect storm. A Streetcar Named Desire touches upon themes that were close to the playwright’s heart: the distance between desire and love, and between sex and violence; the clash between animal force and poetic sensitivity; and the ability, or inability, to forgive oneself and one another. Williams toyed with many titles before settling on A Streetcar Named Desire. The list consisted of Electric Avenue, Primary Colors, Blanche’s Chair on the Moon, and most famously The Poker Night. Each help to throw light on what was important to Williams in this play, but the title he settled on goes right to the heart: “a rattle-trap streetcar that bangs up one lonely street and down another.” Blanche’s journey is wonderfully symbolized at the beginning of the play. She says “They told me to take a Streetcar named Desire, transfer to one called Cemetery, ride six blocks and end up at Elysian Fields”. This pathway is a common one, but the eloquence and lyricism of one of our national treasures, Tennessee Williams, is quite unique. The cast for Streetcar was eager and willing to return from winter break early in order to start rehearsals. We had five long days working from 10am-6pm before classes started. We called it Streetcar Bootcamp—we dined together, rehearsed intensely, even went bowling together to get the “hard exercise” that Stanley mentions. It has been a challenging, fun, and immensely rewarding rehearsal process. I am proud of all the hard work and sensitivity of these young actors, and how willing they are to embrace the seriousness of the work and Williams’ message. We hope you appreciate their efforts. DRAMATURG’S NOTES The original New Orleans streetcar herself. Thomas Lanier “Tennessee” Williams Growing up in St. Louis, MO during the early 20th Century, playwright Tennessee Williams and his siblings endured a rather emotionally volatile home environment. This experience would come to bear considerable influence on his emotional health and writing throughout his life. He studied journalism and playwriting at the universities of Missouri, Iowa, and George Washington University. Williams’ first “big break” came in 1944 with the success of his play “The Glass Menagerie.” Though he enjoyed a relatively privileged life financially from there on out, “Streetcar,” along with all his subsequent writing, reminds us that the human capacity for empathy is not a matter of fame or fortune but rather is borne from struggle that rows deep within the heart. — Select Production Chronology — 1947- Broadway Barrymore Theatre Elia Kazan, Director BLANCHE Jessica Tandy STANLEY Marlon Brando STELLA Kim Hunter EUNICE Peg Hilias STEVE Rudy Bond MITCH Karl Malden PABLO Nick Dennis 1951- Film Warner Bros. Film Elia Kazan, Director Original cast with exception of Vivien Leigh in place of Jessica Tandy for the role of Blanche. 1952- Ballet Slavenska- Franklin Ballet Company Century Theatre, New York Valerie Bettis, Choreographer 1988- Opera San Francisco Opera André Previn, Composer — Select Williams Quotes — “Of all that is precious in this world, peace is supreme – even an hour of it.”