American Stage "Kate - The Unexamined Life of Katharine Hepburn" Program

DIGITAL THEATRE SERIES

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DIGITAL THEATRE SERIES November 11 – 29, 2020 Approximate Run Time: 75 minutes

KATE THE UNEXAMINED LIFE

OF KATHARINE HEPBURN

By Rick Foster

Advisory: This material is intended for ages 14 and up.

There are adult situations and language, including a description of a suicide, alcohol and pill use.

MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT

RICK FOSTER

Rick has worked with Janis Stevens on many projects over the last twenty-five years including, recently, KATE. Their first show was VIVIEN in 1997, which premiered at Sierra Repertory Theatre and performed widely over ten years. In 2009, Rick wrote for Janis the role of Clytemnestra in his CHILDREN OF LIGHT, which she also directed at California Stage. In 1999, Rick and actor Thomas F. Maguire founded Duende: Drama & Literature, whose mission is to create dramas of social conflict, accessible to middle school students and appealing also to adult audiences. Most recently Duende has produced ABOLITION about the contentious friendship of Frederick Douglass and John Brown in the decade before the Civil War.

MEET THE DIRECTOR

BENJAMIN T. ISMAIL Benjamin Ismail was most recently seen in various digital productions this summer at American Stage. His last main stage performance was in last winter's SILENT SKY. Other credits include ANGELS IN AMERICA parts I & II (Berkeley Rep), Mary Zimmerman's METAMORPHOSES (Guthrie) and THE INVISIBLE HAND (American Stage) among others. AST directing credits include MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE & CRAZY, 4000 MILES & INFORMED CONSENT. Black Lives Matter.

MEET THE CAST

JANIS STEVENS*

Katharine Hepburn *Member of Actors’ Equity Association

MEET THE CAST

JANIS STEVENS* (KATHARINE HEPBURN) JANIS STEVENS (Katharine Hepburn) is extremely honored to return to American Stage with KATE for this virtually reimagined season. Previous roles with ASTC include: Vera in 4000 MILES (Theatre Tampa Bay Award for Outstanding Lead Performance), Marjorie in MARJORIE PRIME, Mary Tyrone in LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT and Ree in HEAR ME ROAR! for the "New Shorts" series this past summer. Regional and International credits include: San Diego’s Old Globe; Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia; TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, CA and Vienna’s English Theatre of Austria. A proud member AEA: thanks to all who have continued to support theatres around the globe! *Member of Actors’ Equity Association

MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM STEPHANIE GULARTE

CEO/Producing Artistic Director

BENJAMIN T. ISMAIL Director

Based on the Stage Direction of Peter Sander.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA).

MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM RACHEL HARRISON*

JERID FOX

Production Coordinator and Stage Manager

Production Designer

GAIL RUSSELL

JILL CASTLE

Costume Designer *Member of Actors’ Equity Association

Costume Assistant

“Sometimes the perfect actor and the perfect role align and provide the opportunity for a transcendent performance experience. I am thrilled for the opportunity to bring this powerful depiction of an American icon, Katharine Hepburn, performed by a modern American theatre master, Janis Stevens.”

– Stephanie Gularte, CEO/Producing Artistic Director

DIGITAL THEATRE SERIES LETTERS TO KAMALA

OF KATHARINE HEPBURN

By Rachel Lynett

By Rick Foster

AN EXPLORATION OF INSPIRING FEMALE FIRSTS, TOLD WITH HUMOR AND WISDOM

THE ICONIC STORY OF AN UNCONVENTIONAL, INDEPENDENT AND FORMIDABLE AMERICAN ACTRESS

AN AMERICAN STORY OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

OCT/NOV 2020

NOV 2020

DEC 2020

KATE THE UNEXAMINED LIFE

NOSOTROS LA GENTE (WE THE PEOPLE)

By Jerry Montoya

KATE THE UNEXAMINED LIFE

OF KATHARINE HEPBURN

By Rick Foster

NOSOTROS LA GENTE (WE THE PEOPLE)

By Jerry Montoya

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY

Adapted by Joe Landry

REIMAGINE THEATRE PASS For $60 (Save $10)

Enjoy unlimited streams to each of the above productions.

Upgrade to our REIMAGINE THEATER FAMILY PASS for $80 (Save $20) Your whole family can enjoy each of the productions above plus the Family Series production of FAIRYTALES REIMAGINED: Stories for a New World Offer valid Nov. 9 thru Dec. 27, 2020 | Purchase today at AMERICANSTAGE.ORG

collectiveness of Slide “Ultimately, #20 from the Amended theatre in general: when we laugh deck will go here together, when we gasp together, when we cry together.�

- Rachel Lynett, Playwright

Slide“Being #20 ‘in from Amended the room’ with my fellow deck will go– here artists the visceral energy of creative collaboration.”

- Janis Stevens, Actor

Text REIMAGINE4ALL to 44-321 to donate and support sustainable professional theatre throughout the season.

FAMILY SERIES IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY Adapted by Joe Landry The Family Series continues with “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” adapted by Joe Landry. This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940’s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings dozens of characters, and live sound effects, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers a world in which he’d never been born one fateful Christmas Eve.

DECEMBER 18-27, 2020 Visit AMERICANSTAGE.ORG/IAWLRADIO to learn more.

FAMILY SERIES FAIRYTALES REIMAGINED: STORIES FOR A NEW WORLD

Adapted from Grimm’s Fairytales by Sadie Lockhart, Patrick A. Jackson and Tiffany Ford

When the power goes out at Abuelo’s, Mateo and his older sister Isabella are stuck with nothing to do, but Abuelo has other plans. With the turn of a page from the family’s storybook, some familiar classic fairytales are reimagined in brand new ways and Mateo and Isabella discover just how fun and powerful sharing stories can be.

All it takes is a little imagination.

NEW DATES ADDED!

Sat. Dec. 12, 11am & 4pm; Sun. Dec. 13, 11am & 4pm Visit AMERICANSTAGE.ORG/TOUR to learn more.

CREATIVE COLLABORATORS YOU can join the AS Membership Community, as we link creative arms across the country, with REIMAGINE CREATIVE COLLABORATORS for the 20-21 season: Aurora Theatre Company Hippodrome Theatre Company Riverside Theatre Company

Join the American Stage Membership Community today at: AMERICANSTAGE.ORG

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Nathan Stonecipher at Green Bench Brewing Company, Community Partner

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