Civil War Chirstmas Program by Baltimore Center Stage

Nov 19â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dec 22, 2013 By Paula Vogel

Directed by Rebecca Taichman

Animal Crackers dance of the holy ghosts: a play on memory A Civil War Christmas Stones in His Pockets Twelfth Night The Liquid Plain Wild with Happy

SEASoN51 Theater FOR THE H EART

A Civil War Christmas | a

CAST

TABLE OF CONTENTS

An Introduction to the World of the Play Welcome to Center Stage and to A Civil War Christmas. We’re thrilled and grateful that you’ve chosen to spend a small part of your holiday season here with us. A Civil War Christmas is one of those very rare plays that is simply perfect for the here and now. It’s a celebration of place—of Maryland, Washington, and Virginia—and, as we honor the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of that conflict in our own backyard. And we are delighted to welcome back to Center Stage Pulitzer Prizewinning Playwright Paula Vogel whose deep personal history with, and love for, the richness of our region shines through in each of these characters and stories. As Director Rebecca Taichman’s players move across character, time, and place, we see painted before us a portrait of a nation at war. From the streets of Washington where a mother searches for her daughter separated on their journey to freedom, we move to the halls of the White House where President Lincoln searches for his own path forward. Mary Todd walks arm-in-arm with seamstress Elizabeth Keckley, each dwelling in memories of her own lost child.

Nov 19– Dec 22, 2013

Musical Numbers

The Setting

Meet the Playwright

Christmas

Civil War Washington

Bios: The Cast

10 Bios: The Artistic Team

12 Bios: The Staff

13 Q&A with Paula & Rebecca

15 Audience Services

19 Supporting the Annual Fund

24 Center Stage Celebrations

26 Preview: Up Next

28 Center Stage Staff

Meanwhile, on both sides of the Potomac, soldiers gather around campfires. Legends like Lee and Grant are here, as are their armies, made up of freed slaves, eager recruits, Quakers, and rebels. In his bed in a Union Army hospital, Jewish veteran Moses Levy and his fellow patients find comfort in the visits of poet Walt Whitman. Shadows hang over many—Booth and his conspirators are gathering this evening. It is a play sweeping in breadth and yet Paula’s characters, both historical and fictional, are written with such specificity, integrity, and generosity. Through their stories, as different as they are, we see a common humanity emerge—an undying longing for peace in the face of suffering and war. And as some of our characters today find warmth and a little comfort around a campfire, we hope that you too will find in this holiday season a new bit of harmony to carry forth into an all too discordant world. Happy holidays to you, your family, and your friends.

An American Musical Celebration By Paula Vogel Directed by Rebecca Taichman

THE CAST

(in alphabetical order, playing these and other roles)

Oberon K.A. Adjepong* Kati Brazda* Tyrone Davis, Jr.* Jeffry Denman* Andrea Goss* Matthew Greer* Mackenzie Kristine Jarrett & Sierra Sila Weems Sekou Laidlow* Tracey Conyer Lee* Nicole Lewis* A.J. Shively*

Captain Kate Murphy* Laura Smith*

Decatur Bronson, James Wormley Mary Todd Lincoln Willie Mack, Jim Wormley Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee Raz, Lewis Payne John Wilkes Booth, Ulysses S. Grant Jessa, Little Joe Frederick Wormley, Walker Lewis, Ely Parker Mrs. Keckley Hannah, Rose Chester Saunders, John Surratt, Moses Levy Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association

THE ARTISTIC TEAM A Civil War Christmas is made possible by:

With additional support from:

Season 51 Presenting Sponsor:

Warmly, Media Partner:

— Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director

A Civil War Christmas

Paula Vogel Rebecca Taichman Liz Lerman Victor Simonson Dane Laffrey Scott Zielinski Stowe Nelson Paloma McGregor Evamarii A. Johnson Drew Barker Pat McCorkle

Playwright Director Choreographer Music Director Scenic & Costume Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Associate Choreographer Dialect Consultant Production Dramaturg Casting Director

There will be one 15-minute intermission. World Premiere Production Presented by Long Wharf Theatre Gordon Edelstein, Artistic Director — Joan Channick, Managing Director

Season 51 at Center Stage is made possible by:

Originally Commissioned by Arena Stage, Washington, DC Molly Smith, Artistic Director Original musical arrangements by Daryl Waters

A Civil War Christmas is produced as part of The National Civil War Project, a multicity, multi-year collaboration to create original works and innovative academic programming inspired by the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. Center Stage is partners with The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland. To learn more about The National Civil War Project visit www.civilwarproject.org.

PLEASE TURN OFF ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 410.986.4080 (during performances).

CENTERSTAGE is funded by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

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M USICAL

S ET T IN G

NUMBERS

PLACE & TIME

ACT I All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight/Silent Night O Come, All Ye Faithful I Heard the Bells Follow the Drinking Gourd Rise Up Shepherd and Follow I’m A-Gone Away to Shiloh Marching through Georgia God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Sew the Collar, Finish the Hem/What Child Is This? Maryland, My Maryland The Holly and the Ivy O Christmas Tree ~ 15 Minute Intermission ~

ACT II Ding Dong Merrily on High God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman Roll on the Liberty Ball The Yellow Rose of Texas/Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming Balm in Gilead Silent Night Children Go Where I Send Thee Ain’t that A-Rockin’ All Night O Christmas Tree Reprise I Heard the Bells/Reprise

PLACE: Various locations in Washington, DC and along the Potomac River.

TIME:

Christmastime, near the end of the Civil War.

Viewing the skyline of the nation’s capital in late 1864, one would still be able to recognize the grand symbols of the city. The Capitol dome was finished the previous December, and the Smithsonian Castle completed since 1855. The Patent Office Building (which would eventually house the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum) towered over its neighbors and the White House stood as we see it today, sans West and East Wings. After the war began, the population that could be seen on the streets of the capital boomed from 63,000 to as many as 200,000 as soldiers, bureaucrats, laborers, merchants, prostitutes, doctors, and former slaves flooded into the city. Depending upon the weather, the majority those streets were dirt, mud, or icy mud. And when one of Washington’s coldest winters on record occurred in 1864, The Evening Star reported on December 24 that

“the Potomac River is still covered with ice and the channels are frozen over.”

A Civil War Christmas | 3

“What I’m hoping is that when the kids in my family walk on the streets of Washington, they will think of that place as their legacy. These stories are our stories of American history.” — Paula Vogel

The American Adoption of Christmas By Drew Baker, Production Dramaturg

their paper tablecloth, Vogel sketched out the action of the play in crayon, and the idea for a new play was born. After more than a decade of research, readings, and workshops, A Civil War Christmas premiered in 2008 at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut.

Paula Vogel,

Playwright

By Drew Barker, Production Dramaturg

It all started in 1997 with Dickens,

some crayons, and a desire to tell an American story. While having dinner with Molly Smith, Artistic Director of Washington, DC’s Arena Stage, Vogel asked: “Why are we doing A Christmas Carol about Victorian London poverty? Where is the American Carol?” Upon

It can certainly be said that Vogel’s childhood experience of learning history in the nation’s capital inspired her to create a story that she could share with the children in her family today. Highlights of Vogel’s early years in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC included class trips to Civil War battlefields, Ford’s Theatre, and across the street to the Petersen House where Abraham Lincoln died. That inspiration also came directly from her late brother, Carl, who asked her to teach history to children of their family. As a fulfillment of the promise, Vogel wrote this play as “a very sentimental aunt and godmother.” Vogel has also said, “I wrote this play for every ancestor who sits around my table who celebrates Christmas but also has lit the lights on Hanukkah; I’m writing this for my family who celebrates Kwanzaa.” In this spirit, Vogel’s evolving new play shares the story of American hope and community during one of this nation’s most trying times.

The popularity of the Christmas tree also received royal assistance from Queen Victoria’s German-born husband Prince Albert; when he first set a Christmas tree upon a table in Windsor Castle in 1841, it was subsequently publicized in The Illustrated London News. Beginning as an actor and stage manager in high school, Vogel continued her theater education at Catholic University and then pursued graduate study at Cornell. As a playwright, she rose to national prominence in 1992 with The Baltimore Waltz, which won New York’s Obie Award. Since then, she has amassed many other honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for her 1998 play How I Learned to Drive. Vogel taught at Brown University and Cornell University prior to serving four years as Chair and Eugene O’Neill Professor of Playwriting at Yale, where she is now an adjunct lecturer and commissioned playwright. e

Long, Too Long America Long, too long America,

Traveling roads all even and peaceful you learn’d from joys and prosperity only, But now, ah now, to learn from crises of anguish, advancing, grappling with direst fate and recoiling not, And now to conceive and show to the world what your children en-masse really are, (For who except myself has yet conceiv’d what your children en-masse really are?) —Walt Whitman, 1865 4

The custom of the Christmas tree we are familiar with today came across the Atlantic more than

The Christmas tree received the Presidential seal of approval in 1856, when Franklin Pierce set up and decorated the first Christmas tree at the White House, and afterwards handed out gifts to children from the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church Sunday School. As other Christmas customs solidified into regional and national traditions, the Christmas tree came to symbolize the giving and festive nature of late December.

During the Civil War, soldiers and their families had to adapt to harsh conditions in the field, and empty chairs around the table. In the middle of the 10-month siege of Petersburg, while some soldiers languished in the cold trenches, others received Christmas gift boxes from their families. Proving that war could not spoil all holiday customs, letters from Union soldiers also mention decorating their camp Christmas trees with salt-pork and hard tack in lieu of fruits and cakes. More than anything, families North and South remained hopeful that next Christmas their families would be reunited around a table lit by tradition. e

two centuries ago with early German immigrants.

In We Were Marching on Christmas Day, Kevin Rawlings describes that in cities big and small across the United States, “many homesick German newcomers tried to recreate Christmas memories of home with their families in the old country, and introduced the Christmas tree to their neighbors and friends in their adopted communities.”

The South

CHRISTMAS itself had not always been as accepted—

or acceptable—in America. Stephen Nissenbaum explains in The Battle for Christmas that Puritan settlers forbade any kind of Christmas celebrations because “there is no biblical or historical reason to place the birth of Jesus on December 25.” That date, they objected, had merely been adopted by early Christians from Saturnalia, the pagan winter solstice. Nevertheless, the simple idea of celebrating the return of longer days has proved resilient. e

Christmas 1864: In Their Own Words

“The festivities of Christmas were rendered mournful by the fall of Savannah, and the demolition of hopes which had trusted in that city, as a stronghold which could not be taken… With brave attempt at cheerfulness, we decked our dwellings with evergreen, cedar, aborvitae, and holly, and here and there, under the magical influence of the kind old patron saint of the holiday, the Christmas tree once more reared its cheery head, laden with a precious and incongruous burden of bonbons and simple toys.” —From the diary of Sallie Brock Putnam, Richmond, 1864.

The North

“Today is Christmas—all night long (and it continues) there has been a continual blaze of fire crackers and reports of pistols and guns which sound as most like the skirmishing at the front. This noise keeps the dogs in the neighborhood howling away with perfection and the great discord is really quite amusing. The day seems more like the 4th of July at home than anything I can think of.” —John M. Bell, civilian employee at the Navy Department writing to his friend in the 1st Massachusetts Light Battery, 1864.

A Civil War Christmas | 5

Civil War Washington Antietam/Sharpsburg (70 miles), Gettysburg (85 miles), Baltimore (40 miles)

By Drew Barker, Production Dramaturg

Fort Stevens: In July of 1864, Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early attacked this fort a mere five miles north of the White House.

Armory Square Hospital: Situated on the National Mall, where the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum stands today, the complex contained 1,000 beds, overflow tents, service facilities, and a chapel. The White House: Having just won reelection less than two months before the action of this play, President Lincoln believed this would be his home for another four years.

7 10 2

6 4

Lincoln’s Cottage: Located on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home a few miles northeast from the White House, it was known for refreshing breezes in the stifling Washington summers.

6 Mary Surratt’s House: John Wilkes Booth and his fellow conspirators met at this H Street boarding house prior to the assassination. Old Patent Office Building: Now the National Portrait Gallery, it housed hospital beds for Union casualties. Poet Walt Whitman visited soldiers here as well as at Armory Square Hospital.

8 Ford’s Theatre: This 10th Street theater opened in 1861 and was the site of Lincoln’s assassination of April 14, 1865. Since its restoration in 1964, it has funtioned as a theater and a museum. The Long Bridge: Known today as the 14th Street Bridge, it leads from Arlington, VA to the National Mall. 9

Wormley’s Shop: Located in the hotel district along Pennsylvania Avenue. Wormley’s success with carriages and catering would lead him to buy his own hotel a few years later. 10

Point Lookout (80 miles), Richmond (110 miles), Savannah (575 miles)

Edward’s Ferry: The character Decatur Bronson blacksmiths at this Union supply depot and river crossing, 30 miles northwest of the city.

War Department: This military headquarters adjacent to the White House contained a telegraph office frequented by Lincoln. 11

A TOTAL OF 68 FORTS

encircled Washington, DC, guarded by anywhere from 15,000 to 50,000 soldiers. The totality of this fortitude made the capital the most heavily defended city in the world. But even all the forts, cannon, mortars, and rifles did not make it absolutely impervious from attack. Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early attempted just that on July 12, 1864, bearing down on Washington (from the north) after winning the Battle of Monocacy. The threat threw the city into a panic, but a curious Abraham Lincoln went out to Fort Stevens to watch the impending battle. Heat and hesitation, along with Union reinforcements, weakened Early’s offensive— but not before Confederate sharpshooters forced Lincoln to seek cover. Though Early withdrew from the field that night, the battle remains the only one a sitting President has ever personally witnessed. Meanwhile, Lincoln’s audacity became notorious as he frequently declined security while traveling—or attending the theater.

For more background, images, other materials on the Civil War and the play, please visit www.centerstage.org/civilwarchristmas.

A Civil War Christmas | 7

BIOS THE CAST

Sierra Sila Weems (left) and Mackenzie Kristine Jarrett, both playing Jessa, study the scenic design model, created by Scenic and Costume Designer Dane Laffrey.

Oberon K.A. Adjepong*— Decatur Bronson, James Wormley. Center Stage:

debut. Off Broadway—The Flea Theater: Like I Say, Cellophane; Classic Stage Company/Classical Theatre of Harlem: Mother Courage, The Blacks; Ohio Theatre: Wabenzi; Hip-Hop Theater Festival: Hieroglyphic Graffiti; La MaMa E.T.C: The Hamlet Project; National Black Theatre: Oya, Sango. Regional—Two Rivers Theatre Company: Electric Baby; Yale Repertory Theatre: Good Goods; La Jolla: Ruined (also Philadelphia Theatre Company, Berkley Rep, Huntington Theatre/IRNE Award); Arden Theatre: Piano Lesson, Our Town, James and the Giant Peach; Shakespeare Theatre: Timon of Athens, Coriolanus; National Black Theatre Festival/Kennedy Center: A Rhyme Deferred. TV/Film—The Knick, Grand Theft Auto V, Murder in Manhattan, Carry Me Home, Smash, NYC 22, Margin Call, The Son of No One, The Onion News Network, Hope & Faith, Law & Order: SVU. Awards—IRNE Award for Ruined. Education/Training—Lola Louis’ Creative & Performing Arts Studio, Oxford University and Howard University.

Kati Brazda*—Mary Todd Lincoln. Center Stage: debut.

Broadway—Brooks Atkinson: A Moon for The Misbegotten (Josie u/s). Off Broadway— SoHo Playhouse: Bill W and Dr Bob; Actors Company Theatre: Lovers; Barrow Street Theatre: Our Town; Promenade Theatre: Trying. Regional—Broad Stage: Our Town; GeVa Theatre: On Golden Pond; Zoetic Stage: Captiva; Palm Beach Dramaworks: Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Moon For The Misbegotten; Pennsylvania Shakes Fest: Twelfth Night; Wilma Theater: Enemies, A Love Story; Dallas Theater Center: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof; Alliance Theatre: Bluish; Goodman Theatre: The Story, The Death Of Bessie Smith, Finding The Sun; Victory Gardens: Trying, The Action Against Sol Schumann; Court 8

Theatre: Pericles, Cymbeline; Next Theatre: The Misanthrope; Lookingglass: Hard Times; Remy Bumppo: The Secret Of Rapture, Top Girls; Steppenwolf Arts Exchange: Wishes And Suspicions; Collaboration: The Life & Times Of Tulsa Lovechild; Nebraska Shakespeare Fest: Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing; About Face: Whitman. Film—And Then I Woke Up, Melting Crayons, Mapland. Awards—Joseph Jefferson Citations, After Dark Award, Sarah Siddons Chicago’s Leading Lady. Education—Illinois State University, University of Nebraska. For Mom and Dad.

Tyrone Davis, Jr.*— Willie Mack, Jim Wormley.

From left: Director Rebecca Taichman, Jeffry Denman, and Tyrone Davis, Jr.

Dinner with Friends (Tom); Sacramento Music: Into the Woods (Baker); Ogunquit Playhouse: Crazy for You (Bobby), Spamalot (Sir Robin); North Shore: Crazy for You (Bobby, IRNE Award). Choreographer—YANK (Off Broadway, Lucille Lortel Award nom, SDC Callaway Award Finalist), West Side Story (Ogunquit Playhouse), The Music Man (Ogunquit Playhouse, Moss Hart Award), Assistance (Playwright’s Horizons). Director/Choreographer—Damn Yankees (Ogunquit Playhouse), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tuacahn Center). Author of the book, A Year with The Producers, a journal of his time in the original Broadway company of The Producers.

Andrea Goss*— Raz/Lewis Payne. Center

Center Stage: debut. Off Broadway/NY—Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe w/ André DeShields, Coriolanus, The Rape of the Lock, The Loves of Mr. Lincoln, The Drunken City, Life on the Mississippi. Tours—Shrek: The Musical (1st Nat’l), The Mystery of King Tut. Regional—Goodspeed: Amazing Grace; Vineyard Playhouse: Pure Confidence; Crossroads Theatre Co: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (dir. André DeShields); Classical Theatre of Harlem: King Lear. NY Workshops/ Readings—Witness Uganda (dir. Diane Paulus), Amazing Grace, Before Midnight (New Dramatists), Cross That River (Theatre Aspen). Education—New World School of the Arts/ Univ. of Florida, BFA.

Stage—debut. Broadway— Once, Rent. Regional—Alliance Theatre: Zorro (Luisa); McCarter Theatre: A Christmas Carol (Lily/Belle); Kansas City Rep/Center Theatre Group: Venice (Willow); North Shore Music Theatre: Tarzan (Jane); St Louis MUNY: High School Musical (Gabriella); Syracuse Stage: The Sound of Music, Big River; Merry-Go-Round Playhouse: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Miss Saigon, Peter Pan. NYC Readings/Workshops— Freckle Face Strawberry, Casanova Returns, Little Miss Fix-It, Pop. Film—Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway. Thanks and love to my family and CGF.

Jeffry Denman*— Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee. Center Stage: Into the

Matthew Greer*— John Wilkes Booth, Ulysses S. Grant. Center Stage: debut.

Woods (Narrator). Broadway— White Christmas (Phil Davis, Astaire Award nom), The Producers, Cats, Dream, How to Succeed…. Off Broadway—CSC: Passion (Lt Barri); York Theatre: YANK (Artie, Drama Desk nom, Best Supporting), The Holiday Guys; Keen Company: Children of A Lesser God (James Leeds); Incumbo: Pvt Wars (Natwick). Regional—Westport: Into the Woods (Narrator, Connecticut Critics Award); Portland Stage:

Broadway—Seminar, Cabaret (Cliff), The Real Thing, The Judas Kiss. Off Broadway— Barrow Street: Hit the Wall; Roundabout: If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet, Suddenly Last Summer; Lincoln Center: A Fair Country, Ancestral Voices; Red Bull: The Duchess of Malfi, New World Stages: A Mother, a Daughter, and a Gun. Tour—Spamalot (1st Nat’l, Sir Lance-a-lot); Death of a Salesman (Dublin, Biff); Acting Co.: Henry V, Much Ado About

Nothing. Regional—credits include Guthrie: The Secret Fall of Constance Wilde (Oscar Wilde), Hamlet (Claudius), Death of a Salesman (Biff), Pride & Prejudice (Mr. Darcy); Yale Rep: Hay Fever (Simon Bliss); PlayMakers: In the Next Room, or the vibrator play (Dr. Givings), Skylight, Cymbeline (Posthumus); Shakespeare Theatre: Lady Windermere’s Fan (Lord Darlington), A Woman of No Importance (Gerald Arbuthnot). TV—Guiding Light. Directing—Convergent Theatre Company: Never the Sinner. Education—Juilliard. Awards—Presidential Scholar in the Art.

Mackenzie Kristine Jarrett—Jessa, Little Joe.

Center Stage: debut. Mackenzie is a sixth-grade student at Sudbrook Magnet Middle School in Baltimore, MD. She is in the dance magnet program and is extremely passionate about dancing. Mackenzie has been performing at dance recitals since the age of five. Over the years, she has taken ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, tap, hip-hop, ballroom, and gymnastic classes and excelled at gymnastic competitions. She currently studies at Savage Dance Company, and is a member of the Savage Competitive Junior Company. After playing Dorothy in The Wiz at a musical theater camp, she expressed an interest in acting and singing. She loves to sing at church and whenever there is karaoke available. She has a very outgoing personality and a real zest for life that she expresses through, dance, acting, and singing. She aspires to someday become an actress and/or dancer professionally.

Sekou Laidlow*— Frederick Wormley, Walker Lewis, Ely Parker. Center

Stage: debut. Regional— Philadelphia: The Mountaintop (MLK); Pioneer Theater Co: Of Mice And Men (Crooks); Studio Theater DC: Runaway Home (Paul); Lime Kiln: Stonewall Country (Barefoot); Playwrights: You Shouldn’t Have Told (Ray-Ray); Lambs Theatre: Midnight Onto Rain (Samuel); Tower Theater: Seven Brides For Seven Brother (Gideon), A Raisin In The Sun (Asagai); Arena Playhouse: Amen Corner (David), An Enemy Of The People (Nansen), Something’s Afoot (Geoffrey); Lynchburg Theater: Rumors (Officer Welch). Film/TV—The Carrie Diaries, Smash, Law and Order, The Wire, Homicide, Pop Foul, Half Pint, Divided We Stand. Awards— Columbia Short Festival Best Performance for Lead Actor: Pop Foul. Education—The Juilliard School Drama Division.

Tracey Conyer Lee*— Mrs. Keckley. Center Stage:

debut. Off Broadway/NY— St. Luke’s: Sistas; TFTT: Crisis of the Negro Intellectual; NY Fringe: Standing Up: Bathroom Talk & Other Stuff We Learn From Dad. Tour/International—The Who’s Tommy (Nat’l); Yo, Alice! (Amsterdam); Hair (Europe). Regional—Actors Theatre of Louisville: Spunk (dir. Seret Scott), Wild Blessings (Humana), Hair (dir. Jon Jory); Theater of the Stars: Dreamgirls; Great Lakes Theatre Festival: Love, Langston; Pittsburgh CLO: The Who’s Tommy; St. Louis Rep/Cincinnati Playhouse: Everything’s Ducky; Cleveland Play House: Lincolnesque; Merrimack Rep: Intimate Apparel, Constant Star; Delaware Theatre Co: The Piano Lesson, Constant Star, Winter Wonderettes; Westport Playhouse: Constant Star, Blackbirds Of Broadway; Weston & Cape Playhouses: Ain’t Misbehavin’; Florida Stage: Permanent Collection, Constant Star. Film/TV—Sophisticated Romance, Apt 2B, Smash, Sistas, Family Affair, Ed, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, All My Children, Guiding Light.

Nicole Lewis*— Hannah/Rose. Center

Stage: debut. Broadway— Hair (Original Cast, 2009 Tony Award, Best Revival), Rent (Joanne), Lennon. Off Broadway—The Public Theater: Measure for Measure (Isabella, dir. Michelle Hensley’s Mobile Unit), Hair; Lincoln Center Theater Workshop: Happiness; Manhattan Theatre Club: Boy Gets Girl, Murder Ballad; New World Stages: Sidd. Regional—Intiman Theatre: All My Sons (Ann Deever); Philadelphia Theatre Company: Race (Susan); Williamstown/Act I Co.: The Tempest (Miranda); The Old Globe: Nobody Loves You (Tanya/Nina); Hartford Stage: Constant Star; A.C.T.: The Threepenny Opera (w/ Bebe Neuwirth), Tartuffe (dir. Charles Randolph Wright); Weathervane Theatre: Funny Money (dir. Steve Witting); Symphony Space: Flowers are Sleeping by Eisa Davis (dir. Liesl Tommy); Dance Theatre of Harlem: Far But Close by Daniel Beaty. TV/ Film—Blue Bloods, A Gifted Man, Law & Order: SVU, Mercy, As the World Turns, Naked Brothers Band, London Betty. Education—BA, Yale University; MFA, American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco. Thanks to the Mine.

A. J. Shively*— Chester Saunders, John Surratt, Moses Levy.

Center Stage: debut. Broadway —Cage Aux Folles (JeanMichel); Brigadoon (Charlie, Benefit Concert). Off Broadway—The Public: February House; The Duke: Unlock’d; Cherry Lane: A Contemporary American’s Guide to a Successful Marriage; Second Stage: Things to Ruin; Ensemble Studio Theatre: Little Airplanes of the Heart. National Tour—The Sound of Music. Regional—George Street Playhouse, Long Wharf, Gulfshore Playhouse. Readings/Workshops— DreamWorks, Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, NYMF, Fringe NYC, Center Theatre Group, TheatreWorks– Palo Alto. Film/TV— Syrup, HairBrained (upcoming), The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Education— BFA, University of Michigan.

Sierra Sila Weems— Jessa, Little Joe. Center

Stage: debut. Sierra is a third-grade student at Lutherville Lab Elementary School in Lutherville, MD. She has an affinity for art of all distinction, and recently enjoyed enrollment at the Center Stage Summer Camp. She began taking piano lessons when she was in kindergarten class, has studied dance and gymnastics, and for the past two years she has studied Chinese at the Baltimore Chinese School. She also sings in her church choir, and is training to be a competitive swimmer. Sierra has the backing of a very supportive and loving family who try to make certain that she stays grounded and well-rounded. • Members of Actors’ Equity Association

A Civil War Christmas | 9

BIOS

THE ARTISTIC TEAM

Rebecca Taichman, Director, at first rehearsal.

Paula Vogel—Playwright. Center Stage: How I Learned to Drive, The Baltimore Waltz. The Vineyard Theatre: How I Learned to Drive (World Premiere, Pulitzer Prize, NY Drama Critics, Obie), The Long Christmas Ride Home (World Premiere); Roundabout Theatre: The Mineola Twins; Signature Theatre, NY: The Oldest Profession, Hot ’N’ Throbbing; Circle Repertory: And Baby Makes Seven, Desdemona, The Baltimore Waltz. Ms. Vogel is currently working with Rebecca Taichman on Rehearsing Vengeance (commissioned by Yale Repertory and Oregon Shakespeare Festival). Her new play, Don Juan Comes Home from Iraq will be directed by Blanka Ziska at the Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia in March 2014. She was Director of playwriting at Brown University, 1984-2008 and chaired the playwriting Department at Yale School of Drama, 2008-2012. She dedicates this production to all her family in Maryland. Rebecca Taichman—Director.

Center Stage: debut. New York/Off Broadway—Playwrights Horizons: Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl (upcoming), Milk Like Sugar by Kirsten Greenidge; LCT3: Luck of the Irish by Kirsten Greenidge; CSC: Orlando by Sarah Ruhl; MTG/Gotham/OCP: Dark Sisters with music by Nico Muhly, libretto by Stephen Karam (World Premiere); NYC Opera: Orpheus by Telemann; Second Stage: The Scene by Theresa Rebeck; The Ohio Theatre: Menopausal Gentleman; Gotham Opera: Rappacinni’s Daughter. Regional—Select credits include: Old Globe: Time and the Conways (upcoming); Soho Rep/Yale Repertory/ART: Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi (world premiere); La Jolla Playhouse: Sleeping Beauty Wakes, Milk Like Sugar (world premiere); Shakespeare Theater Company: A Winter’s Tale, Cymbeline, Twelfth Night, Taming of the Shrew; McCarter Theatre: A Winter’s Tale, Twelfth Night; Yale Repertory: Sleeping Beauty Wakes book by 10

Rachel Sheinken, music and lyrics by Groove Lilly; The Evildoers by David Adjmi (world premiere); Woolly Mammoth: Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl (world premiere), The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl.

Victor Simonson, Music Director.

everything, most especially his wife Ciara! www.VictorSimonson.com.

Dane Laffrey—Scenic & Costume Designer. Center Stage: debut. Off

Play Lab, Blood Muscle Bone (work in progress, 2012). Liz is a choreographer, performer, writer, educator, and speaker, and the recipient of numerous honors, including a 2002 MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship and a 2011 US Artists Ford Fellowship in Dance. A key aspect of her artistry is opening her process to various publics from shipbuilders to physicists, construction workers to ballerinas, resulting in both research and outcomes that are participatory, relevant, urgent, and usable by others. She founded Liz Lerman Dance Exchange in 1976 and led it until 2011. Current projects involve Healing Wars, an investigation of the impact of war on medicine; the genretwisting work Blood Muscle Bone with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and Urban Bush Women; and an online project called “The Treadmill Tapes: Ideas on the Move.” She teaches her Critical Response Process around the world. Her third book, Hiking the Horizontal: Field Notes from a Choreographer, was published in 2011 by Wesleyan University Press.

Broadway—Recent credits include set and/ or costumes for Roundabout: Bad Jews, Tigers Be Still; Lincoln Center Theatre: Disgraced (2012 Pulitzer Prize winner); Second Stage: The Talls; SoHo Rep: Sixty Miles to Silver Lake; MCC: The Other Place; Transport Group: The Patsy (Hewes Award nom), See Rock City..., The Boys in the Band (Hewes Award & Drama Desk noms); Red Bull Theater: The Maids (Hewes Award nom) The Joyce Theatre: 12 Chairs, Exit (both for Keigwin + Company), many others. International—The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (Parco Productions, Tokyo and Osaka), The Colour of Panic (Sydney Opera House & Det Apne Theater, Oslo), numerous productions in Australia including Some Explicit Polaroids (Sydney Theatre Award nomination). Regional—The Old Globe, Denver Center, Dallas Theatre Center, NYS+F, The Huntington, Signature, Two River, Asolo Rep., Chautauqua, Yale Opera, others. TV/ Film—The Roast (entering its second season, ABC, Australia), and numerous short films. Mr. Laffrey is a founder and the lead design editor for Chance magazine.

Victor Simonson—Music Director.

Scott Zielinski—Lighting Designer.

Liz Lerman—Choreographer. Center Stage:

Center Stage: The Wiz (Associate Conductor). Tours—Memphis; The Color Purple (Nat’l); Three Mo’ Tenors. Regional—Kennedy Center: Wicked; Denver Civic Theater: Brooklyn: The Musical; A Good Man: The Musical; Three Mo’ Divas (nominated for Helen Hayes Music Award, Best Musical Dir., 2006). Film/TV— Good Morning America, ABC Nightline, Rosie O’Donnell, PBS, WORD Network. Other—The McLurkin Project (Orchestrator); Total Praise (Grammy Nom. CD, composer); Victory (Debut CD, 2008). Victor thanks God for this opportunity and gives God praise for

Center Stage: Mud Blue Sky, The Mountaintop, Intimate Apparel, Fall. Broadway—Topdog/ Underdog. New York—Atlantic Theater, Classic Stage Company, Lincoln Center Festival, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, Public Theater, Signature Theatre, Theatre for a New Audience, others. International—Productions in Adelaide, Amsterdam, Avignon, Berlin, Bregenz, Edinburgh, Fukuoka, Gennevilliers, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Linz, London, Lyon, Melbourne, Orleans, Oslo, Ottawa, Paris, Reykjavik, Rotterdam, Rouen,

St. Gallen, Singapore, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Tokyo, Toronto, Vienna, Vilnius, Zurich, others. Regional—Most theaters throughout the US Dance—American Ballet Theatre, American Dance Festival, Houston Ballet, Joyce, San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, others. Opera—Bregenzer Festspiele, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Canadian Opera, English National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lithuanian National Opera, Nederlandse Opera, New York City Opera, Opera de Rouen, Royal Opera House London, San Francisco Opera, Spoleto Festival, others. scottzielinski.com

Stowe Nelson—Sound Designer. Center Stage: debut. New York—Barrow St. Theatre: Buyer & Cellar; Studio 42: WASPS; Clubbed Thumb: Phoebe in Winter; Women’s Project: We Play for the Gods; Mad Ones/New Ohio: Samuel & Alasdair (Drama Desk nom). Regional— Studio Theatre: The Aliens; SITI Company/ArtsEmerson: Cafe Variations; WHAT: The Ding Dongs; Totem Pole Playhouse: Red, White & Tuna, Honus & Me, Hank Williams: Lost Highway. Dance—Dance Exchange: From the Desk of Rachel Carson, How to Lose a Mountain. Mr. Nelson is a member of Wingspace Theatrical Design and a proud graduate of Wake Forest University. Captain Kate Murphy*—Stage Manager.

Center Stage: Resident Stage Manager; Stage Manager: Animal Crackers, Mud Blue Sky, The Mountaintop, …Edgar Allan Poe, A Skull in Connemara, American Buffalo, Crime & Punishment, Let There Be Love, The Santaland Diaries; Assistant Stage Manager for The Importance of Being Earnest, Things of Dry Hours, Trouble in Mind, Three Sisters, Radio Golf, The Murder of Isaac, Once on this Island, King Lear, Assistant Production Manager 2008–09. Regional—Trinity Rep: Boeing-Boeing; Actors Theatre of Louisville: All Hail Hurricane Gordo*, The Clean House, Moot the Messenger*, Dracula, The Ruby Sunrise*, Tall Grass Gothic*, The Drawer Boy, Amadeus, As You Like It (*premieres at the Humana Festival of New American Plays); Contemporary American Theater Festival: The Overwhelming, Pig Farm; Totem Pole Playhouse: Over 75 productions through 13 summer stock seasons. Film/TV— Route 30, Route 30 Too!, Next Food Network Star. Proud Actors Equity and ASCAP Member.

Laura Smith*—Assistant Stage Manager. Center Stage: Resident Stage Manager: dance

of the holy ghosts; Clybourne Park; Beneatha’s Place; Bus Stop; An Enemy of the People; The Whipping Man, Gleam; The Rivals; Snow Falling on Cedars; Cyrano; Working it Out; Fabulation or, The Re-Education of Undine; Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf; Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Regional—Everyman: Pygmalion, Shipwrecked, The Exonerated, Rabbit Hole, Doubt, Gem of the Ocean, And a Nightingale Sang, The School for Scandal, A Number, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, Yellowman; Woolly Mammoth: Gruesome Playground Injuries, House of Gold, The Unmentionables, Vigils, After Ashley; Folger: Measure for Measure, The Comedy of Errors (ASM); Olney Theatre: Stuff Happens; Theater Alliance: Headsman’s Holiday, Pangea, [sic]; Catalyst: Cloud 9; Longacre Lea: Man with Bags.

Paloma McGregor— Associate Choreographer. Center Stage:

debut. Paloma is a Harlem-based movement artist, journalist, and community builder. Recent choreography credits include A Winter’s Tale and Spunk (California Shakespeare Theatre), Four Electric Ghosts (The Kitchen), Children of Killers (Castillo Theater), Indomitable: James Brown (SummerStage), For a Barbarian Woman (Fordham University) and Blood Dazzler (Harlem Stage). She co-founded Angela’s Pulse with her sister, director Patricia McGregor, to create collaborative performance work rooted in engaging communities, telling undertold stories and animating progress. They are currently creating a new musical about the supreme court case Loving v. Virginia, with playwright Marcus Gardley and composer Justin Ellington. Paloma is also developing Building a Better Fishtrap, an iterative performance project about water, memory and home, inspired by the stories of her father, an 87-year-old fisherman. Paloma toured internationally for six years with Urban Bush Women and has danced in work by Liz Lerman, Cassie Meador, Christal Brown, Jill Sigman, Camille Brown, and others.

Evamarii A. Johnson—Dialect Consultant. Center Stage: Beneatha’s Place,

Clybourne Park, Gleam. Regional—Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Eight seasons; Illinois Shakespeare Festival: Three seasons; Dell’Arte International Theatre: Paradise Lost, The Iliad, Peer Gynt: The Liar/Logneren (in cooperation with Denmark’s Jomfru Ane Teatret); Philadelphia Theatre Company: The Mountaintop; New Haarlem Arts Theatre

(NYC): Flying Folktales. Teaching—Cal Arts, California State Summer School for the Arts, Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, Cornell University, Illinois State University, Northwestern University, Semester at Sea (The Institute for Shipboard Education). Member—AEA, SAG, Canadian AEA, VASTA. Education—BFA, Howard University; postgraduate work, New York University; PhD, University of Washington.

Drew Barker—Production Dramaturg. Center Stage: The Whipping Man, Assistant Dramaturg. Production Dramaturg—Round House Theatre: Glengarry Glen Ross; Theatre J: The Whipping Man; Triad Stage: The Night of the Iguana, The Glass Menagerie, Ghosts, Masquerade, The America Play, The Sunset Limited; Kennedy Center: MFA Playwright Festival & Dramaturgy Intensive, Summer 2012. Education—BFA, Theatre Education, UNC Greensboro; MA, Theatre & Performance Studies, MLS Candidate, University of Maryland. Pat McCorkle—Casting Director. Center Stage: Animal Crackers, The Mountaintop, Bus Stop, Gleam. Pat McCorkle (C.S.A.) Memorable Broadway casts include End of the Rainbow, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Amadeus, She Loves Me, Blood Brothers, A Few Good Men, and New York premieres of Almost Maine, Down the Garden Paths, Killer Joe, Mrs. Klein, Driving Miss Daisy. Most recently, Pat cast critically acclaimed Off Broadway productions of: Becoming Dr. Ruth, Lady Day, Tribes, Our Town. Feature film credits include: Girl in the Lake, Premium Rush, Ghost Town, Secret Window, Basic, Tony and Tina’s Wedding, The Thomas Crown Affair, The 13th Warrior, Madeline, Die Hard with a Vengeance, School Ties, etc, and for television, Twisted (ABC Family) humans for Sesame Street, Californication (Emmy nomination), Hack (CBS), Strangers with Candy, Barbershop, Chapelle’s Show, among many others.

A Civil War Christmas | 11

BIOS

Q & A

The Staff

with Paula & Rebecca

A conversation with Director Rebecca Taichman and Playwright Paula Vogel.

It’s not just from a desire to teach the children of my family where we’ve come from, but I think that when we know and learn music, it’s history coming alive. I want these tunes to be in their heads.

Can you share what makes this production unique, in terms of the music and movement? Managing Director Stephen Richard greets Director Rebecca Taichman during first rehearsal.

Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE,

an award-winning British playwright, director, actor, and broadcaster, is in his third season as Artistic Director of Center Stage in Baltimore, Maryland. At Center Stage he has directed dance of the holy ghosts; The Mountaintop; An Enemy of the People; The Whipping Man (one of City Paper’s Top Ten Productions of 2012), for which he was named Best Director; and Naomi Wallace’s Things of Dry Hours. Among his works as playwright are Elmina’s Kitchen and Let There Be Love—which had their American debuts at Center Stage—as well as A Bitter Herb, Statement of Regret, and Seize the Day. His latest play, Beneatha’s Place, debuted at Center Stage in 2013 as part of the groundbreaking Raisin Cycle. His other directorial credits include Let There be Love and Seize the Day at the Tricycle Theatre, the World Premiere of Detroit ’67 at The Public Theatre, and the World Premiere of The Liquid Plain at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Kwame has served on the boards of The National Theatre and The Tricycle Theatre, both in London. He served as Artistic Director for the World Arts Festival in Senegal, a month-long World Festival of Black Arts and Culture, which featured more than two thousand artists from 52 countries participating in 16 different arts disciplines. He was named the Chancellor of the University of the Arts London, and in 2012 was named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Managing Director Stephen Richard,

a leader on the national arts scene for more than 30 years, is the Managing Director of Center Stage in Baltimore, Maryland. Stephen most recently worked as Vice President, External Relations, for the new National Children’s Museum. Previously, he served 18 years as Executive Director of Arena Stage, where he planned and managed the theater’s $125 million capital campaign for the Mead Center for American Theater. Also a professor of Arts Management at Georgetown University, he has served on the boards and committees of some of the nation’s most prestigious arts organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts, American Arts Alliance, the League of Resident Theatres, and the Theatre Communications Group, and currently serves on the Advocacy Committee of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance and on the board of directors of the Maryland Citizens for the Arts.

Associate Artistic Director/ Director of Dramaturgy Gavin Witt came to Center

Stage in 2003 as Resident Dramaturg, having served in that role previously at several Chicago theaters. As a dramaturg, he has worked on well over 60 plays, from classics to new commissions— including play development workshops and freelance dramaturgy for TCG, The Playwrights Center, The New Harmony Project, The Old Globe, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, CATF, The Kennedy Center, and others. A graduate of Yale and the University of Chicago, he was active in Chicago theater for more than a decade as an actor, director, dramaturg, translator, and teacher, not to mention co-founder of greasy joan & co. theater, while serving as a regional Vice President of LMDA, the national association of dramaturgs. He has been on the faculty of the University of Chicago and DePaul University, and locally at Towson University.

Can you share a little about your connections to the area? Paula: I was born in Washington, DC, and then became a Beltway Baby—you name a suburb of Washington, I’ve lived there. Baltimore for me was the hot city when I was in high school, with incredible food and night clubs. I spent my youth driving the back roads all over the state of Maryland. Rebecca: I received a grant from Theatre Communications Group to be an Associate Artistic Director at Woolly Mammoth in DC for two years. It was a wonderful way to get to know this area and the astounding theatrical community that is here. PV: A Civil War Christmas really comes from everything I’ve experienced as a Marylander. From childhood trips to forts and battlefields, to learning the music, going down to the Library of Congress, and listening to the WPA tapes of spirituals. There is an extraordinary richness to this area: you walk outside and you’re walking on streets where all of the people in the play walked.

How did you come to know each other’s work? RT: I have admired Paula’s work all of my theater-making life. I decided to launch an all-out pursuit of her maybe six years ago. I hoped, and believed, we would share a theatrical language. Paula and I are now working on this as well as creating a new play together. It’s a dream come true for this director.

PV: Really true. I have been tracking Rebecca for the last decade—and very jealous of my friends who got to work with her. There is a moment that always happens for me in a Rebecca Taichman evening, where I feel my heart do a somersault. It’s extraordinary. And yet, the work is simple and clear and urgent.

Rebecca, what about A Civil War Christmas most interests you? RT: There are so many reasons that I’m drawn to this particular piece—and am really in love with it. To me, at the heart of it there is a profound longing, an enormous yearning for connection, love, and intimacy in a lonely and divided world. The title represents that. The Civil War was a shockingly bloody and devastating war, and to then to pair that with Christmas, a time of family connectedness and love…. Just the juxtaposition of those two speaks to this profound longing for hope and peace, but through enormous pain.

How did the music shape the play? PV: I was doing my annual rant of “Why are we doing A Christmas Carol? Why aren’t we doing an American Carol?” You know those restaurants that have paper tableclothes and crayons? I grabbed a crayon and started pairing Civil War songs and Christmas carols—I started with “All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight” and “Silent Night.” The music came first, and then I went through history looking for a true story that actually fit the music.

RT: The idea is to celebrate our company of actors as storytellers. We’re hoping to make the experience of creating the story transparent and organic—to trust that the power of storytelling can be the production’s organizing principle. This piece has music at its dead center, and so music director Victor Simonson will be at a piano center stage. We’re also incorporating actor-generated sound— through instruments and Foley sound effects. If the story requires the sound of water or a bullet, you see the actor create that sound. Also, choreographer Liz Lerman will weave the piece through with a gestural vocabulary that will bring into the actors’ bodies the contradictions, the brutal power, and the soaring beauty of the story.

Why this play, here and now? PV: I love my country. More particularly, I love this land. I love the smell and the sight of Maryland, and Virginia, and Delaware. This is where I grew up and it’s been an incredible gift. But this is a land that has borne a lot of pain. When we unearth and face that pain together, it increases our appreciation of the beauty of the land. I feel that in any age, at any time, Christmas is the evening in the midst of war where we put down our weapons and we wish each other peace. And I hope that’s true of our production. e

A Civil War Christmas | 13

AU DIEN CE The Baltimore Sun Online

Feb 12–14, 2014 Feb 15–23, 2014

for

Celebrating its 37th year,

The Baltimore Sun Online Auction for Center Stage will return in February, giving people around the country and the world the opportunity to bid on hundreds of unique items. Bidding will be open from February 15-23, 2014.

for making for making a mark in in a mark Baltimore. Baltimore.

Stay tuned for further details!

For information on donating an item to this season’s auction, please contact Auction Coordinator Sydney Wilner at swilner@centerstage.org.

SERVICES

DINING

Sascha’s Express, our pre-performance dinner service, is located up the lobby stairs in our Mezzanine café. Service begins two hours before each performance.

DRINKS

You are welcome to take beverages with lids to your seats! But please, no food.

PHONES

Please silence all phones and electronic devices before the show and after intermission.

RECORDING

Photography and both audio and video recording are strictly forbidden.

ON-STAGE SMOKING

We use tobacco-free herbal imitations for on-stage smoking and do everything possible to minimize the impact and amount of smoke that drifts into the audience. Let our Box Office or front of house personnel know if you’re smoke sensitive.

ACCESSIBILITY

PNC is proud to bePNC a part of CENTERSTAGE. Because isisproud totobe CENTERSTAGE. PNC proud beaapart partofof CENTERSTAGE.Because Because we know a community thataaworks together thrives we community that works weknow know community that workstogether togetherthrives thrives together. together. together. pnc.com

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Wheelchair-accessible seating is available for every performance. We offer free assistive listening devices, braille programs, and magnifying glasses upon request. An Open Captioned performance* is available one Sunday performance of each production. Several performances also feature Audio Description*.

PARKING

Share your love of Center Stage

with the next generation

Catherine Smitko and Bruce Randolph Nelson

Each season, Center Stage provides valuable community and education programs to nearly 10,000 students each year. We’re working to build the next generation of arts and theater-lovers—and we can do more with your help. This holiday season, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Center Stage in support of this important programming.

Here’s how:

Online: Visit www.centerstage.org/donate Phone: Call Katelyn White at 410.986.4026 Mail: Center Stage, Attn: Development Office, 700 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Thank you! 14

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If you are parking in the Baltimore Sun Garage (diagonally across from the theater at Monument & Calvert) you can pay via credit card at the pay station in the garage lobby or at the in-lane pay station as you exit. If you have a pre-paid voucher, proceed directly to your vehicle and enter your voucher after inserting the parking ticket you received upon entering the garage, in the machine as you leave. We are unable to validate parking tickets.

FEEDBACK

We hope you have an enjoyable, stress-free experience! Your feedback and suggestions are always welcomed: info@centerstage.org. *Open Captioning & Audio Description performances for A Civil War Christmas: Sun, Dec 15. Audio Description at both 2 pm and 7:30 pm, Open Captioning at 7:30 pm. A Civil War Christmas | 15

A Civil War Christmas | 17

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The Annual Fund at Center Stage (April 15, 2012 through October 16, 2013.)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The following list includes gifts of $250 or more made to the Center Stage Annual Fund

Robert W. Smith, Jr., President Edward C. Bernard, Vice President Juliet Eurich, Vice President Terry H. Morgenthaler, Vice President E. Follin Smith, Treasurer J.W. Thompson Webb, Secretary Penny Bank Katharine C. Blakeslee* James T. Brady C. Sylvia Brown* Stephanie Carter August J. Chiasera Janet Clauson Lynn Deering Jed Dietz Walter B. Doggett, III Jane W.I. Droppa Brian Eakes Beth W. Falcone Daniel Gahagan C. Richard Gamper, Jr. Suzan Garabedian Carole Goldberg Adam Gross Cheryl O'Donnell Guth Martha Head* Elizabeth J. Himelfarb Hurwitz Kathleen W. Hyle Ted E. Imes Murray M. Kappelman, MD* John J. Keenan E. Robert Kent, Jr. Joseph M. Langmead* Kenneth C. Lundeen* Marilyn Meyerhoff* Hugh Mohler J. William Murray Charles E. Noell Esther Pearlstone* Judy M. Phares Jill Pratt Philip J. Rauch Harold Rojas Monica Sagner* Renee C. Samuels Rosenfeld Todd Schubert Charles Schwabe George M. Sherman* Scott Somerville Scot T. Spencer Michael B. Styer Harry Thomasian Donald Thoms Katherine Vaughns+ Cheryl Hudgins Williams Linda S. Woolf * Trustee Emeriti + Center Stage honors the legacy of Katherine Vaughns and her many contributions as a Trustee, patron, donor, and friend of our theater.

between April 15, 2012 and October 16, 2013. Although space limitations make it impossible for us to list everyone who helps fund our artistic, education, and community programs, we are enormously grateful to each person who contributes to Center Stage.

We couldn’t do it without you! INDIVIDUALS & FOUNDATIONS

The Center Stage Society represents donors who, with their annual contributions of $2,500 or more, provide special opportunities for our artists and audiences. Society members are actively involved through special events, theater-related travel, and behind-the-scenes conversations with theater artists. INDIVIDUAL SEASON 51 SPONSORS

($50,000+)

Ellen and Ed Bernard Lynn and Tony Deering Jane and Larry Droppa Judy and Scott Phares Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Rauch Jay and Sharon Smith Ms. Barbara Voss and Charles E. Noell, III. PRESIDENTS’ CIRCLE

($50,000+)

The Annie E. Casey Foundation The Charlesmead Foundation The Shubert Foundation Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Ms. Katherine L. Vaughns+ ARTISTS’ CIRCLE

($25,000-$49,999)

The Miriam and Jay Wurtz Andrus Trust William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, creator of the Baker Artist Awards Penny Bank Stephanie and Ashton Carter James and Janet Clauson Edgerton Foundation New American Play Awards Kathleen Hyle JI Foundation Kenneth C. and Elizabeth M. Lundeen Marilyn Meyerhoff Terry H. Morgenthaler and Patrick Kerins PRODUCERS’ CIRCLE

($10,000- $24,999)

The William L. and Victoria Q. Adams Foundation and The Rodgers Family Fund Peter and Millicent Bain The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation, Inc. James T. and Francine G. Brady The Bunting Family Foundation The Nathan & Suzanne Cohen Foundation The Helen P. Denit Charitable Trust Ms. Nancy Dorman and Mr. Stanley Mazaroff

Fascitellli Family Foundation Daniel P. Gahagan

John Gerdy and E. Follin Smith

DIRECTORS’ CIRCLE

($2,500- $4,999)

Anonymous

The Goldsmith Family Foundation

The Lois and Irving Blum Foundation

Francie and John Keenan

August and Melissa Chiasera

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Mary & Dan Dent Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation

The Laverna Hahn Charitable Trust Mr. and Mrs. E. Robert Kent, Jr.

Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds

Drs. Joanna and Harry Brandt

Gene DeJackome and Kim Gingras

Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Doggett, III

Mr. J. William Murray

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Falcone

Mr. and Mrs. George M. Sherman

The Harry L. Gladding Foundation/ Winnie and Neal Borden

George Roche

Mr. Louis B. Thalheimer and Ms. Juliet A. Eurich

Department of VSA and Accessibility at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts PLAYWRIGHTS’ CIRCLE

($5,000- $9,999)

Ms. Suzan Garabedian

Goldseker Foundation/ Ana Goldseker

Robert and Cheryl Guth

The Hecht-Levi Foundation, Inc.

David and Elizabeth JH Hurwitz

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Immelt

Ms. Katherine C. Blakeslee

Jonna and Fred Lazarus

Sylvia and Eddie Brown

Mr. and Mrs. Earl and Darielle Linehan/Linehan Family Foundation

Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation

Mary Catherine Bunting

The Cordish Family

The Jane and Worth B. Daniels, Jr. Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation Brian and Denise Eakes

Dick and Maria Gamper

Dr. and Mrs. Neil D. Goldberg Fredye and Adam Gross

Martha Head

Murry Kappelman

Kwame and Michelle Kwei-Armah

The John J. Leidy Foundation, Inc. The Macht Philanthropic Fund Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker

Stephen Richard and Mame Hunt

The Jim & Patty Rouse Charitable Foundation Charles and Leslie Schwabe

Lainy Lebow Sachs and Leonard Sachs

Mrs. Diane Markman

Linda and John McCleary

Mr. and Mrs. John L. Messmore

Jim and Mary Miller

The Israel & Mollie Myers Foundation/ Herschel and Judith Langenthal and Jonathan and Beverly Myers Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence C. Pakula

Marjorie Rodgers Cheshire and Mark Cheshire Monica and Arnold Sagner

Mr. and Mrs. Todd Schubert

Scott and Mimi Somerville Scot T. Spencer

Mr. Michael Styer

Mr. and Mrs. Donald and Mariana Thoms

Trexler Foundation, Inc. – Jeff Abarbanel and David Goldner

Mr. and Mrs. Loren and Judy Western

Mr. Gilbert H. Stewart and Ms. Joyce L. Ulrich

Ted and Mary Jo Wiese

Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Thompson Webb

Sydney and Ron Wilner

Dr. Edgar and Betty Sweren, in honor of Center Stage’s 50th Anniversary

Cheryl Hudgins Williams and Alonza Williams

Ms. Linda Woolf

Drs. Nadia and Elias Zerhouni A Civil War Christmas | 19

SU PPO RT CORPORATIONS

ASSOCIATES

($1,000-$2,499)

Anonymous Ms. Taunya Banks Mr. and Mrs. Marc Blum John and Carolyn Boitnott Jan Boyce Dr. and Mrs. Donald D. Brown Sandra and Thomas Brushart Meredith and Joseph Callanan The Campbell Foundation, Inc. Caplan Family Foundation, Inc. Sally and Jerry Casey John Chester Ann K. Clapp Constantinides Family Foundation Ms. Gwen Davidson The Richard and Rosalee C. Davison Foundation

Ms. Kathleen C. Ridder, in honor of Peter Culman The James and Gail Riepe Family Foundation Nathan and Michelle Robertson Dr. David A. Robinson The Rollins-Luetkemeyer Foundation Kurt and Patricia Schmoke Gail B. Schulhoff

Ms. Nicole Epp Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Freedman Frank and Jane Gabor Jose and Ginger Galvez Pamela and Jonathan Genn, in honor of Cindi Monahan and Beth Falcone Richard and Sharon Gentile, in honor of the Center Stage Costume Shop Ms. Sandra Levi Gerstung Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin H. Griswold, IV Annie Groeber, in memory of Dr. John E. Adams

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Eliasberg

Kevin and Judy Rossiter

Dr. and Mrs. Clayton Moravec

Bill and Winnie Flattery

Buddy and Sue Emerson, in appreciation of Ken and Elizabeth Lundeen

Mrs. Bette Rothman

Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Fleishman

Ms. Cassie Motz, in memory of Nancy Roche

Mr. Al Russell

Mr. and Mrs. George Flickinger

Donald and Margaret Engvall Faith and Edgar Feingold, in memory of Sally W. Feingold Sandra and John Ferriter Ms. Nancy Freyman Dr. Joseph Gall and Dr. Diane Dwyer Frank and Tara Gallagher Mary and Richard Gorman

The Earle & Annette Shawe Family Foundation

Stuart and Linda Grossman

Dr. Barbara Shelton Dana and Matthew Slater Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Smelkinson

Dr. and Mrs. John Strahan

Jack and Nancy Dwyer

Genine and Josh Fidler, in honor of Ellen and Ed Bernard

Megan M. Gillick

Albert F. DeLoskey and Lawrie Deering

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Dott

Dorothy L. and Henry A. Rosenberg, Jr.

Barbara and Sig Shapiro

Judith R. and Turner B. Smith

Mr. Jed Dietz and Dr. Julia McMillan

Patricia Yevics-Eisenberg and Stewart Eisenberg

The Tim and Barbara Schweizer Foundation, Inc.

James DeGraffenreidt and Mychelle Farmer

Rosetta and Matt DeVito

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Smith Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Taylor John A. Ulatowski Kathryn and Mark Vaselkiv Carolyn and Robert Wallace Nanny and Jack Warren, in honor of Lynn Deering Janna P. Wehrle Mr. Todd M. Wilson and Mr. Edward DeLaplaine Ann Wolfe and Dick Mead John W. Wood Dr. Laurie S. Zabin Mr. Calman Zamoiski, Jr., in honor of Terry Morgenthaler

COLLEAGUES

Louise A. Hager Terry Halle and Wendy McAllister Donald and Sybil Hebb Mrs. Heidi Hoffman Mr. and Mrs. James Hormuth Dr. and Mrs. J. Woodford Howard Ralph and Claire Hruban Mr. James Hughes Mr. Edward Hunt Ms. Harriet F. Iglehart Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Imes Richard Jacobs and Patricia Lasher Ms. Mary Claire Jeske James M. and Julie B. Johnstone BJ and Candy Jones Kirk and Debbie Joy Dr. and Mrs. Juan M. Juanteguy Ms. Shirley Kaufman B. Keller Judith Phair King and Roland King Mr. George W. King

Kenneth and Christine Lobo

Sandy and Mark Laken

Dr. and Mrs. George Lentz, Jr. Robert and Susan Mathias Joseph and Jane Meyer John and Beverly Michel Tom and Cindi Monahan The Honorable Diana and Fred Motz, in memory of Nancy Roche Roger F. Nordquist and Joyce Ward

Mr. and Mrs. Barbara and Paul Timm-Brock Sharon and David Tufaro

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bank Family Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation Amy and Bruce Barnett Charles and Patti Baum Jaye and Dr. Ted Bayless Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation Judge Robert Bell Steve and Teri Bennett Harriet and Bruce Blum Cindy Candelori Mr. and Mrs. Carl F. Christ Joan Develin Coley and M. Lee Rice Barbara Crain and Michael Borowitz Robert and Janice Davis Richard and Lynda Davis The Honorable and Mrs. E. Stephen Derby

Irene E. Norton

Lynne Durbin and John-Francis Mergen

Mr. and Mrs. Lee Ogburn

Dave and Joyce Edington

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Lynch The Dr. Frank C. Marino Foundation, Inc. Maryland Charity Campaign Ms. Mary L. McGeady Mr. Jeston I. Miller Stephanie F. Miller, in honor of The Lee S. Miller Jr. Family George and Beth Murnaghan Rex and Lettie Myers Michael and Phyllis Panopoulos Chris and Deborah Pennington Mr. and Mrs. James and Mimi Piper Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation Bonnie Pitt Dave and Chris Powell Robert E. and Anne L. Prince Richard and Kay Radmer

Donna Flynn Joan and David Forester Dr. Neal M. Friedlander and Dr. Virginia K. Adams Mark and Patti Gillen Hal and Pat Gilreath Herbert and Harriet Goldman Mr. Bruce Goldman Mr. Howard Gradet Joseph Griffin Jane Halpern and James Pettit Ada Hamosh Dr. and Dr. James and Vicki Handa Melanie and Donald Heacock

United Way of Central Maryland Campaign

Aaron Heinsman and Nick Simko

Mr. and Mrs. George and Beth Van Dyke

Sue Hess

In memory of Sally Wessner Mr. Michael T. Wharton Dr. and Mrs. Frank R. Witter Eric and Pam Young Mr. Norman Youskauskas

William and Monica Henderson Mrs. James J. Hill, Jr., in memory of James J. Hill, Jr. Mr. Donald H. Hooker, Jr. Ms. Irene Hornick Ms. Sarah Issacs Mr. William Jacob

Mr. Paul Zugates

James and Hillary Aidus Jacobs

ADVOCATES

A.H. Janoski, M.D., in honor of Jane Stewart Janoski

($250-$499)

Anonymous Walter and Rita Abel Mr. and Mrs. Delbert L. Adams Bradley and Lindsay Alger Ms. Donna Arbogast

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred and Muriel Berkeley

Mayer and Will Baker, in honor of Terry Morgenthaler

Andie Laporte, in honor of Philip and Lynn Rauch

Sanford and Karen Teplitzky

Joseph M. and Judy K. Langmead

Ms. Diane Abeloff, in memory of Martin Abeloff

Marilyn Leuthold

Francine and Allan Krumholz

Station North Arts and Entertainment District

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Beer

Mr. Robert and Dorothy Bair

Max Jordan

Georgia and George Stamas

Michael Baker

F. Barton Harvey, III and Janet Marie Smith

Joseph J. Jaffa

Susan Somerville-Hawes, in honor of The Encounter Program

Mr. John Lanasa, in honor of Peter Culman Claus Leitherer and Irina Fedorova

The A. C. and Penney Hubbard Foundation

The Sinksy-Kresser-Racusin Memorial Foundation

Anonymous

Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Lesser

Len and Betsy Homer

Eugene and Alice Schreiber Philanthropic Fund

Mr. Alan M. Arrowsmith, II

Mrs. Alexander Armstrong

Drs. Dahlia Hirsch and Barry Wohl

Renee C. Samuels Rosenfeld and Jordan Rosenfeld

Stewart and Carol Koehler

The Alsop Family Foundation

Sandra and Thomas Hess

Sheila and Steve Sachs

($500-$999)

H.R. LaBar Family Foundation Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Bill and Scootsie Hatter

Dr. Bodil Ottesen Jill and Darren Pratt

Rachel and Steven Bloom, in honor of Beth Falcone Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bryan Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Burnett II Ms. Deborah W. Callard The Jim and Anne Cantler Memorial Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation Mr. and Mrs. David Carter Mr. Andrew J. Cary Mr. and Mrs. James Case Ms. Cynthia Cindric Stanton Collins Combined Federal Campaign Comprehensive Car Care/ Robert Wagner David and Sara Cooke B.J. and Bill Cowie

Stephen and Terry Needel In memory of Nelson Neuman Claire D. O’Neill Mr. Thomas Owen The P.R.F.B. Charitable Foundation, in memory of Shirley Feinstein Blum Justine and Ken Parezo George Edward Parrish, Jr. Fred and Grazina Pearson Linda and Gordon Peltz Mr. William Phillips Ron and Pat Pilling Thea Pinskey Mr. Mike Plaisted and Ms. Maggie Webbert Mr. Rex Rehfeld and Ms. Ellen O’Brien Cyndy Renoff and George Taler Dr. Michael Repka and Dr. Mary Anne Facciolo Natasha and Keenan Rice

Dr. and Mrs. Myron Kellner

Dr. Chris Schultz

Steve and Laurie Kelly, in memory of Rodney Stieff

Clair Zamoiski Segal, in honor of Judy Witt Phares

Edward Kuhl Drs. Don and Pat Langenberg Mr. Richard M. Lansburgh Mr. and Mrs. William Larson

Center Stage’s catalog of Education Programs has been selected by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities as a 2011 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award Finalist. Baltimore County Executive, County Council, & Commission on Arts and Sciences Carroll County Government

GIFTS IN-KIND

Louis and Luanne Rusk

Gina Kotowski

Center Stage is funded by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. Funding for the Maryland State Arts Council is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Mr. Wilfred Roesler Steven and Lee Sachs

David and Ann Koch

GOVERNMENT GRANTS

Liz Ritter and Larry Koppelman

Richard and Judith Katz

Donald Knox and Mary Towery, in memory of Carolyn Knox and Gene Towery

The Leading National Theatres Program, a joint initiative of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Howard County Arts Council through a grant from Howard County Government

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kaplan

Leslie Shepard Mrs. Kimberly Shorter Mr. and Mrs. L. Siems Dr. and Mrs. Donald J. Slowinski Ms. Jill Stempler Mrs. Clare H. Stewart, in honor of Bill Geenen

The Afro American Akbar Restaurant Atwater’s The Baltimore Sun Berger’s Cookies Blimpie The Brewer’s Art Cakes by Pamela G Casa di Pasta The Classic Catering People The Charles Theater Chipotle

Drs. Ronald and Mary Leach

Renee Straber, in memory of Joan Marilyn Kappelman

The City Paper

Leadership--Baltimore County

Ms. Joann Strickland

Edible Arrangements

Sara W. Levi Marty Lidston and Jill Leukhardt Dr. and Mrs. John Lion Cheryl London Scott and Ellen Lutrey Nancy Magnuson and Jay Harrell, in honor of Betty and Edgar Sweren Ms. Karen Malloy Mr. Elvis Marks Joan and Terry Marshall Don Martin Eleanor McMillan

Mr. and Mrs. David and Gloria Crockett

Mary and Barry Menne

Ms. Alice M. Dibben

Ms. Darlene Miller

Sally Digges and James Arnold

Dr. and Mrs. C.H. Murphy

SPECIAL GRANTS & GIFTS:

Bruce Mentzer Minds Eye Cinema

Mrs. Peggy L. Rice

Ms. Rhea Feikin, in memory of Colgate Salsbury

Ms. Jane Rodbell

Ms. Jeannette E. Festa

The Montag Family Fund of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, in honor of Beth Falcone

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Rojas

Bob and Susie Fetter

James W. and Shirley A. Moore

Mr. and Mrs. James R.and Gail Swanbeck Becky and Andrew Swanston Mr. Joseph Terino, in memory of Joan Marilyn Kappelman Cindy and Fredrick Thompson

Eddie’s on Saint Paul Eggspectations Express Vending Fisherman’s Friend/ Pez Candy, Inc. The Fractured Prune Gertrude’s Restaurant

Mr. Martin Toner, in memory of Joan Marilyn Kappelman

Gianni’s Italian Bistro

Laura and Neil Tucker, in honor of Beth Falcone

GT Pizza

Millie Tyssowski April Duncan Wall Ms. Magda Westerhoust Mr. and Mrs. Barry and Linda Williams Brian and Patricia Winter Deborah King-Young and Daniel Young

Greg’s Bagels

Mitchell Kurtz Architect, PC

SEASON 51 PRESENTING SPONSOR

Mount Vernon Stable and Saloon New System Bakery Oriole’s Pizza and Sub

PRESIDENTS’ CIRCLE

Pizza Boli’s Pizza Hut

PLAYWRIGHTS’ CIRCLE

Planit Agency

Anonymous

PromoWorks Republic National Distributing Company

American Trading & Production Corporation

Sabatino’s Shugoll Research

The Baltimore Life Companies

The Signman Style Magazine Subway

T. Rowe Price Foundation, Inc.

Urbanite Utz Quality Foods Village Square Café

ARTISTS’ CIRCLE

Chapel Valley Landscape Company Environmental Reclamation Company Ernst & Young FTI Consulting, Inc.

A Vintner’s Selection Wawa

Howard Bank

Wegman’s Whitmore Print & Imaging

Lord Baltimore Capital Corporation

WYPR Radio

McGuireWoods LLP

www.thecheckshop.us

The P&G Fund of The Greater

MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES

Cincinnati Foundation

The Abell Foundation, Inc.

Pessin Katz Law P.A.

Bank of America BGE The Annie E. Casey Foundation Constellation Energy The Deering Family Foundation Exxon Corporation

PRODUCERS’ CIRCLE

PNC Bank Saul Ewing LLP Stifel Nicolaus Sylvan/Laureate Foundation

GE Foundation

Venable, LLP

Illinois Tool Works Foundation

The Wells Fargo Foundation

Kraft Foods

Whiteford, Taylor and Preston

MASCO Corporation McCormick Foundation

Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.

Norfolk Southern Foundation PNC Bank Stanley Black and Decker SunTrust Bank

DIRECTORS’ CIRCLE Alexander Design Studio

T. Rowe Price Group

Baxter, Baker, Sidle, Conn & Jones, P.A.

We make every effort to provide accurate acknowledgement of our contributors. We appreciate your patience and assistance in keeping our lists current. To advise us of corrections, please call 410.986.4026.

Bay Imagery Funk & Bolton, P.A. Schoenfeld Insurance Associates The Zolet Lenet Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

HoneyBaked Ham Co. The Helmand Hotel Monaco

ASSOCIATES

Iggie’s

Ayers Saint Gross, Incorporated

The Jewish Times Mamott Mars Super Markets Maryland Office Interiors

Harold and Joan Young

Maryland Public Television

Mr. William Zerhouni

Michele’s Granola

Chesapeake Plywood, LLC Stevenson University

A Civil War Christmas | 21

THE VALUE OF

RECOGNIZING ACHIEVEMENTS. Congratulations to Center Stage for reaching new heights and new narratives.

ÂŠ 2013 Northrop Grumman Corporation

THE VALUE OF PERFORMANCE.

w w w. n o r t h r o p g r u m m a n . c o m

A Civil War Christmas | 23

PH OTOS

Center Stage Celebrations

Opening Night of dance of the holy ghosts Top, left to right: Catherine María Rodríguez, Michael Genet, Jasmine Carmichael, Denise Burse, Doug Eskew, chandra thomas, Sheldon Best, Samantha Godfrey, and Kwame Kwei-Armah (front) Middle: Mariana and Donald Thoms, Roland and Sharon Campbell, and guest; Stephen Richard, Linell Smith, Tom Hall, and Suzan Garabedian; Tracie Thoms and Michael Genet Bottom: Kwame Kwei-Armah and guests; Memphis Gold; Jeff Kirkman III, Te’La Williams, and Maria Broom.

Corporate & Government Reception

Top: Kaliope Parthemos; BJ Jones and Jay Smith Middle: Fronda Cohen, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Jill and Kevin Kamenetz Bottom: Augie and Sophia Chiasera; Carl Stokes and guest, Bill Henry, and Isaac Manjoe

Christmas with Choral Arts

Tuesday, Dec 10 at 7:30 pm cathedral of mary our Queen 5200 N. charles street (free parking)

Tom Hall leads the Chorus and Orchestra in this festive program which includes beloved Christmas favorites in the beautiful setting of Baltimore’s Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. Tickets: $25 - $75

Opening Night photography by Tyrone Eaton

Sing-Along Messiah Friday, Dec 20 at 7:30 pm Kraushaar auditorium

Music Director Tom Hall leads the Chorus, Orchestra, and YOU the audience in the magnificent Choruses of Handel’s Messiah. Tom Hall will be your musical coach and whimsical guide. Enjoy the surround-sound of this exhilarating experience, even if you don’t sing along! Bring your own musical score or purchase one at the concert. Tickets: $25

Christmas for Kids saturday, Dec 21 at 11 am Kraushaar auditorium

Viewing Party for PBS documentary, “A Raisin in the Sun Revisited: The Raisin Cycle at Center Stage”

Night Out for Animal Crackers Celebrating our LGBT community

This new holiday program for the young and young at heart features Pepito the Clown, and a special visit from Santa! Tickets: $13

Call 410-523-7070

or visit www.BCAsings.org

Tom Hall, music DirecTor

Kids Christmas is also made possible by the Rouse Company Foundation.

A Civil War Christmas | 25

PREV IEW

U P N EX T

UP NEXT IN SEASON 51

@ CENTER STAGE

“THE EVENING MOVES WITH INFECTIOUS GUSTO FROM THE SECOND IT BEGINS.”

By William Shakespeare Directed by Gavin Witt

–New York Daily News

“IT IS SHEER, NUTTY, RAREFIED FUN… WORTH A LEPRECHAUN’S RANSOM.”

Mar 5–Apr 6

Jan 15–Feb 23 When a big Hollywood film crew takes over a small Irish town,

the locals line up to earn their

“40-quid-a-day” as extras—and maybe pursue some dreams of

their own. Charlie wants to write a

blockbuster screenplay, while Jake

would settle for a date with the

lovely leading lady. Where they and

their neighbors end up ultimately

surprises them all. An “uproarious, joyful evening” (New York Daily

News) with two actors playing more than a dozen characters,

Stones is an acting tour de force both rollicking and poignant.

JAKE: Terrible bloody accent. en that many film CHARLIE: Doesn’t matter… Be body thinks stars playing Irish leads every that’s the way we talk now. In this highly theatrical, contemporary romp, the beautiful American actress Caroline Giovanni calls the Irish countryside “heaven on earth,” and the people there “contented and uncomplicated.” But as personal stories and the secrets of the town unfold, we learn these local extras are far from simple. Unfulfilled dreams and very real flaws are revealed under the Hollywood lights, and neither the townsfolk nor the film crew go unchanged. Stones explores both the pride of home and the universal desire for escape. Stones in His Pockets has earned multiple awards including the Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Award for Best Production in 1999, two Olivier Awards in 2001, and was nominated for three Tony Awards in 2001.

Do you know a budding writer? Are you looking to stimulate your students’ creativity? Encourage them to submit to Center Stage’s 28th annual Young Playwrights Festival (YPF).

Students in grades K-12 throughout Maryland are eligible and may get to see their play on stage! Numerous plays are honored each year with workshops, in-school performances, and even performances at Center Stage.

–New York Post

By Marie Jones Directed by Derek Goldman Starring Clinton Brandhagen and Todd Lawson

Young Playwrights Festival

SHAKESPEARE’S MOST PERFECT COMEDY Revelry, disguises, swashbuckling, and (of course) pining

lovers abound in what some call Shakespeare’s most perfect

comedy. Twins Viola and Sebastian, separated in a shipwreck

and presuming each other dead, wash ashore in the beautiful

My America/My Baltimore

In response to Center Stage’s My America project—where we asked 50 leading American playwrights “What is my America?”—we decided to ask the same question to local students in grades K-12. Submit a 2-3 minute monologue exploring what is your America. Selected monologues will be filmed and presented at this year’s Young Playwrights Festival.

Submission Deadline

but mysterious land of Illyria. A tale of mistaken identity and

for YPF and My Baltimore: February 7, 2014

masters wind a topsy-turvy path to happiness.

Young Playwrights Festival: Monday, May 5, 7 pm

mismatched ardor unfurls as lords and ladies, servants and

“Twelfth Night is a perennial favorite… with its multifaceted plot mixing sweetness, sadness, and silliness.” –The New York Times

For question and submission information, contact the Community Programs & Education Department at 410.986.4039 or education@centerstage.org or visit www.centerstage.org/ypf.

SPONSORS:

Maryland State Arts Council

Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation The P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation M&T Bank

Transamerica

A Civil War Christmas | 27

STAFF Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE–Artistic Director | Stephen Richard–Managing Director Administration

Associate Managing Director–Del W. Risberg Executive Assistant–Kacy Armstrong Management Fellow–Kevin Maroney Yale Management Fellow–Molly Hennighausen

Artistic & Dramaturgy

Associate Artistic Director/Director of Dramaturgy– Gavin Witt Artistic Producer–Susanna Gellert Artistic and Dramaturgy Intern– Catherine María Rodríguez The Lynn and Tony Deering Artistic Intern– Samantha Godfrey Summer Intern–Alexis Kocerhan Hot Desk Resident Playwright–Miranda Rose Hall Playwrights under Commission–de'Adre Aziza, Ken Greller, James Magruder, Daniel Reitz, KJ Sanchez

Audience Relations

Box Office Manager–Mandy Benedix Assistant Box Office Manager/Subscriptions Manager– Jerrilyn Keene Assistant Box Office Manager–Blane Wyche Senior Patron Services Associate–Lindsey Barr Patron Services Associates–Zerica Anderson, Samrawit Belai, Tiana Bias, Shaquille Carbon, Maura Dwyer, Caitlin Joseph, Froilan Mate, Quincy Price, Santio Russo, Kristina Szilagyi, Paul Wissman Bar Manager–Sean Van Cleve Audience Relations Intern–Laura Baker Audio Description–Ralph Welsh & Maryland Arts Access Front of House|Volunteer Coordinator–Alec Lawson

Audio

Supervisor–Amy Wedel The Jane and Larry Droppa Audio Intern– Daniel Hogan

Community Programs & Education

Director–Rosiland Cauthen Community Programs & Education Fellow– Dustin Morris Community Programs & Education Fellow– Kristina Szilagyi Community Programs and Education Intern– Joshua Thomas Teaching Artists–Miranda Rose Hall, Kimberly Lynne, CJay Philip, Wambui Richardson, Oran Sandel, Susan Stroupe, Ann Turiano

Costumes

Costumer–David Burdick Craftsperson–Wil Crowther Tailor–Edward Dawson First Hand–Jessica Rietzler The Judy and Scott Phares Costumes Intern– Eileen Chaffer Wardrobe Intern–Lucy Wakeland

Development

Events Manager–Brad Norris Development Associate–Julia Ostroff Development Assistant–Christopher Lewis Auction Coordinator–Sydney Wilner Auction Assistant–Norma Cohen The Edward and Ellen Bernard Development Intern– Astoria Avilés

Finance

Director–Susan Rosebery Business Manager–Kathy Nolan Associate–Carla Moose

Graphics

Art Director–Bill Geenen Production Photographer–Richard Anderson Marketing Multimedia Fellow–Leslie Datsis Graphics Intern–Callan Silver

Information Technologies

Director–Joe Long Systems Administrator–Mark Slaughter

Electrics

Lighting Director–Lesley Boeckman Master Electrician–Bevin Miyake Staff Electrician–Anthony Reed The Gilbert H. Stewart and Ms. Joyce L. Ulrich Lighting Intern–Carly Shiner Multimedia Intern–Gregory Towle

Marketing & Communications

Director–Tony Heaphy Marketing Manager–Madeline Long Public Relations Manager–Heather C. Jackson Publications Manager–Maggie Beetz Marketing Associate/Group Sales–Tia Abner Digital Content Associate–Emily Salinas The Jay and Sharon Smith Marketing and Public Relations Intern–Sarah Bichsel

Technical Director–Tom Rupp Assistant Technical Director–Laura P. Hilliker Shop Supervisor–Trevor Gohr Carpenters–Mike Kulha, Hunter Montgomery, Scott Richardson Scene Shop Intern–Amber Chaney

Scenic Art

Scenic Artist–Stephanie Nimick Intern–Roxanne Miftahittin

Stage Management

Resident Stage Managers–Captain Kate Murphy, Laura Smith Production Assistant–Lindsay Eberly The Peter and Millicent Bain Stage Management Intern–Chandalae Nyswonger

Stage Operations

Stage Carpenter–Eric Burton Wardrobe Supervisor–Linda Cavell The following individuals and organizations contributed to this production of

A Civil War Christmas

Assistant Costume Designer–Caitlin Conci Assistant Director–Samantha Godfrey Assistant to the Director–Elena Day Carpenters–Seth Foster, Mike Steiner Assistant Lighting Designer–Serena Wong Electricians–Alison Burris, Amanda Chang, Jake Epp, Aaron Haag Drapers–Sue MacCorkle, Ginny McKeever First Hand–Maggie Masson Followspot Operator–Christina Elwell Front of House Engineer–Patrick Calhoun

Operations

Operations Manager–Shawn Whitenack Building Engineer–Dan Pearce Custodial Services–MultiCorp. Grady Hughes Security Supervisor–James Williams

Production Management

Production Manager–Mike Schleifer Company Manager–Sara Grove Associate Production Manager–Caitlin Powers Production and Stage Management Intern– Quincy Price Company Management Intern–Te’ La Williams

Properties

Manager–Jennifer Stearns Assistant Manager–Nathan Scheifele Artisan–Samantha Kuczynski The Kenneth C. and Elizabeth M. Lundeen Properties Intern–Elizabeth Chapman

Director–Cindi Monahan Annual Fund Manager–Katelyn White Grants Manager–Debbie Joy

The Center Stage Program is published by: Center Stage Associates, Inc. 700 North Calvert Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Editor Maggie Beetz Art Direction/Design Bill Geenen Associate Editor Heather Jackson Advertising Sales ads@centerstage.org

Scenery

Center Stage operates under an agreement between LORT and Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. The Director and Choreographer are members of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union. The scenic, costume, lighting, and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE. Musicians engaged by Center Stage perform under the terms of an agreement between Center Stage and Local 40-543, American Federation of Musicians. Center Stage is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the nonprofit professional theater, and is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the national collective bargaining organization of professional regional theaters.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Box Office Phone 410.332.0033 Box Office Fax 410.727.2522 Administration 410.986.4000 www.centerstage.org info@centerstage.org

Material in the Center Stage performance program is made available free of charge for legitimate educational and research purposes only. Selective use has been made of previously published information and images whose inclusion here does not constitute license for any further re-use of any kind. All other material is the property of Center Stage, and no copies or reproductions of this material should be made for further distribution, other than for educational purposes, without express permission from the authors and Center Stage.

210 E.Centre St. Baltimore MD 21202

443.453.9139 â&#x20AC;˘ www.platesbaltimore.com

$5 centerstage happy hour! stop in before your show! $5 small plates fried calamari, chicken wings, chicken quesadillas, coconut shrimp,

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spinach pies,

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gourmet flatbreads

drink specials $5 wines and sangria $4 imports & craft beers $3 domestics weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just around the corner for cocktails or dessert!

let us host your private holiday gathering for colleagues, family, or friends!