King Hedley II Program

AUGUST WILSON’S

KING HEDLEY II

DIRECTED BY Gregg T. Daniel

March 31–April 28, 2024

August Wilson’s King Hedley II

Directed by Gregg T. Daniel§

A NOISE WITHIN’S 2023-24 SEASON IS PRESENTED BY

S. Mark Taper Foundation

PRODUCING SPONSORS

Dick & Sally Roberts

CAST

King Aaron Jennings*

Ruby Veralyn Jones*

Mister Christian Henley

Elmore Ben Cain*

Tonya Kacie Rogers*

Stool Pigeon Gerald Rivers*

UNDERSTUDIES

King ............................................................ Andre Brown*

Ruby .......................................................... Amber Liekhus*

Elmore ........................................................ Herb Newsome*

Tonya ...................................................... Kiziana Jean-Louis*

Stool Pigeon Tony Winters*

THERE WILL BE ONE 15-MINUTE INTERMISSION

Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

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† Designer is represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829 of the IATSE. * Represented by the Actors Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. § The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

CAST

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ARTISTS.

Aaron Jennings* (King) Veralyn Jones* (Ruby) Christian Henley (Mister) Ben Cain* (Elmore) Kacie Rogers* (Tonya)

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Gerald Rivers* (Stool Pigeon)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: AUGUST WILSON

August Wilson (April 27, 1945–October 2, 2005) authored Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Fences, Two Trains Running, Jitney, King Hedley II, and Radio Golf. These works explore the heritage and experience of AfricanAmericans, decade-by-decade, over the course of the twentieth century. His plays have been produced at regional theaters across the country and all over the world, as well as on Broadway. In 2003, Mr. Wilson made his professional stage debut in his one-man show, How I Learned What I Learned. Mr. Wilson’s works garnered many awards including Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (1987); and for The Piano Lesson (1990); a Tony Award for Fences; Great Britain’s Olivier Award for Jitney; as well as eight New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, Jitney, and Radio Golf. Additionally, the cast recording of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom received a 1985 Grammy Award, and Mr. Wilson received a 1995 Emmy Award nomination for his screenplay adaptation of The Piano Lesson. Mr. Wilson’s early works included the one-act plays The Janitor, Recycle, The Coldest Day of the Year, Malcolm X, The Homecoming and the musical satire Black Bart and the Sacred Hills. Mr. Wilson received many fellowships and awards, including Rockefeller and Guggenheim Fellowships in Playwriting, the

Whiting Writers Award, 2003 Heinz Award, was awarded a 1999 National Humanities Medal by the President of the United States, and received numerous honorary degrees from colleges and universities, as well as the only high school diploma ever issued by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. He was an alumnus of New Dramatists, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a 1995 inductee into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and on October 16, 2005, Broadway renamed the theater located at 245 West 52nd Street—The August Wilson Theatre. Additionally, Mr. Wilson was posthumously inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2007. Mr. Wilson was born and raised in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and lived in Seattle, Washington at the time of his death. He is immediately survived by his two daughters, Sakina Ansari and Azula Carmen Wilson, and his wife, costume designer Constanza Romero.

♦

August Wilson, 2003. Photo from The Estate of August Wilson

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CHARACTER MAP

King

A proud, tenacious man with a large scar on his face who is struggling to make ends meet after spending seven years in prison.

Ruby King’s mother, a woman in her sixties who used to be a big band singer. For those familiar with August Wilson’s work, this is the same Ruby from Seven Guitars.

Tonya King’s wife. A determined woman in her thirties.

Elmore Ruby’s former lover who is trying to restart the flame. Professional hustler.

Mister King’s best friend and occasional business partner.

Aunt Ester

An important presence in many of August Wilson’s Pittsburgh plays. Although she does not physically appear in King Hedley II, she represents the community’s spiritual connection to the ancestors.

Stool Pigeon King’s next-door neighbor. An eccentric spiritualist in his sixties. For those familiar with August Wilson’s work, Stool Pigeon is in fact Canewell from Seven Guitars.

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Photo by Daniel Reichert. Aaron Jennings.

AUGUST WILSON’S AMERICAN CENTURY CYCLE

Beginning in 1979 until his death in 2005, August Wilson composed ten plays, known collectively as the “American Century Cycle” (or sometimes the “Pittsburgh Cycle”). Each play is set in a different decade of the twentieth century, and together they shed light on the experiences of Black Americans throughout the changing social and political circumstances between the years 1904 and 1997. All of the plays except Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom are set in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—the neighborhood where Wilson himself grew up— and by focusing on the changes that occurred in the Hill over the course of 100 years, Wilson tells a story that extends far beyond the action of any one play. As Wilson himself said, “Put them all together and you have a history”: the history of Black Americans.

Wilson did not intentionally set out to write a 10-play cycle, and he did not write the plays in chronological order. By the time Wilson wrote King Hedley II in 1999, he had long since committed to writing a cycle of ten plays; with King Hedley II completion, he noted that only the “bookends” remained

WILSON’S AMERICAN CENTURY CYCLE INCLUDES:

Gem of the Ocean (written in 2003) set in 1904

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (written in 1986) set in 1911

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (written in 1984) set in 1927

The Piano Lesson (written in 1989) set in 1937

Seven Guitars (written in 1995) set in 1948

Fences (written in 1985) set in 1957

Two Trains Running (written in 1990) set in 1969

Jitney (written in 1982) set in 1977

King Hedley II (written in 2001) set in 1985

Radio Golf (written in 2005) set in 1997

(the plays set in the first and last decades of the twentieth century). In 2000, Wilson wrote that “I often remark that I am a struggling playwright. I’m struggling to get the next play on the page. Eight down and counting. The struggle continues.” ♦

By Dr. Miranda Johnson-Haddad Resident Dramaturg

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CAST

Aaron Jennings he/him (King) WITH ANW: Debut. ELSEWHERE: The Whipping Man, LA Theatre Works; Facing Our Truth, Kirk Douglas Theatre; My Children, My Africa, Actors Co-Op; Elmina’s Kitchen, Lower Depth Theatre; among others. Most recently he was seen as Anthony in NBC’s sitcom Grand Crew, Guy in Amazon Prime’s A League Of Their Own, Kwame in Focus Features’ film The American Society of Magical Negroes and as the voice of ELIJAH in Audible’s scripted podcast, Big Envelopes. Aaron would like to thank God for the opportunity, August Wilson for his creation, ANW for their trust and his village for shaping, reflecting and fostering his growth and well-being.

Veralyn Jones she/her (Ruby) WITH ANW: Veralyn is an ANW Resident Artist, is thrilled to be back in the role of Ruby. Seven Guitars, Gem of the Ocean, Argonautika, and The Madwoman of Chaillot ELSEWHERE: A Raisin in the Sun, A Christmas Carol, My Wandering Boy and Ben and the Magic Paintbrush (South Coast Rep); Immediate Family (Mark Taper Forum); A Selfish Sacrifice (Denver Center); Wedding Band and Hamlet (Antaeus Theatre Company); A Perfect Wedding (Kirk Douglas Theatre); The Old Settler (International City Theatre); The Father (La Scala Theater, Stockholm, Sweden); Three Sisters After Chekhov (Lower Depth Theatre). TV/FILM: The Equalizer (recurring), S.W.A.T, The Unit, Southland, Brooklyn South, Threat Matrix, City of Angels (recurring). She can be seen in the upcoming limited series, The Lady in the Lake and The Girls on the Bus. She was recently honored with the Integrity Award from the Los Angeles Women’s

Theatre Festival. Other awards; twotime, LA WeeklyTheatre award as well as StageScene and Stage Raw awards. She is the Co-Founder and Associate Producer at Lower Depth Theatre and is a longtime member of Antaeus Theatre Company and the Actors Studio. Love always to G & K!!! Christian Henley (Mister) WITH ANW: Debut. ELSEWHERE: Christian is a stand-up comedian and performer based in Los Angeles, CA. In 2016 he graduated from the University of Southern California with an MFA in Acting. Shortly after, he was cast in an independent series that was accepted and shown at the Sundance Film Festival 2018 titled It’s Not About Jimmy Keene. Also in 2019, Christian was selected for the 2019 ABC/Disney Discovers Talent Showcase for actors. In 2020, he expanded into production and hosting and produced his first Digital-Documentary series titled What Do You Do?! In 2022, Christian was selected for Warner Brothers/ Rooster Teeth’s Digital Creators program for comedians. He most recently wrapped post-production on his short film, AWoL, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in, and which is loosely based on his experience working at a special needs high school. Most recently he led the theatrical production of Dutch Masters, directed by Stephanie Shroyer at The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in November, 2023. He is thrilled to be joining the team and cast of King Hedley II at a Noise Within Theatre!

Ben Cain (Elmore) WITH ANW: A Carnegie Mellon Graduate who hasn’t been on the ANW stage since A Raisin in the Sun, Ben is super excited to be back with this

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wonderful company. ELSEWHERE: He once played the role of King but he is honored to be able to come back to this world, over a decade later, through the eyes of Elmore His theater credits include Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Mark Taper Forum), King Hedley II (August Wilson Center) and The Exonerated (The Actors Gang). Film and Television credits include, Bel-Air (Peacock), Cruel Summer (Freeform), Buried in Barstow (Lifetime), American Rust Season 2 (Amazon), Beacon 23 Season 2 (MGM+) and currently co-starring in the film That’s Funny (Amazon and Apple) @iambencain

Kacie Rogers she/her (Tonya) WITH ANW: Claudia, The Bluest Eye.

ELSEWHERE: Usually on a stage, Kacie is a two-time NAACP Award winning actor/writer. She has worked with several prestigious theatre companies in the Los Angeles area including The Robey Theatre Co., The Road Theatre Co., Circle X, Greenway Court, The Getty Villa, Sacred Fools Theatre Co., The Skylight Theatre, IAMA, Inkwell Theatre and The Fountain Theatre. She is a proud member of the Center Theater Group Community Storytellers and you can find her self written and performed short, Ol’ Auntie Jemmie, streaming on their website. In 2021, Kacie was a recipient of the Shay Fellowship through which she wrote her one woman show, I Sell Windows, which made its LA debut in April of 2023 following a successful public workshop in New York. You can find Kacie on screen as the face of the

UNDERSTUDIES

Andre Brown (U/s King Hedley)

WITH ANW: Debut. ELSEWHERE: Midsummer (Pittsburgh Public), Choir Boy (Dezart Performs), Blues for an Alabama Sky (Playmakers),

new board game Disparity Trap.

TV/FILM: Appeared on episodes of several TV shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Grace & Frankie, Grand Crew, and Home Economics Kacie co-produced, wrote, and starred in her first short film, SHOUT, in 2022 which is currently enjoying a successful run in the film festival circuit! She extends her most sincere thanks to God, her family, and chosen family for all of their support.

Gerald C. Rivers he/him (Stool Pigeon) WITH ANW: Debut. ELSEWHERE: He is a classically trained actor and has been a company member at the Will Geer Geer Theatricum Botanicum, other theatres where he has worked include Tony Plana’s East LA Classic Theatre, Garry Marshall’s Falcon Theatre, The Hippodrome in Florida, The Georgia Shakespeare Festival and Jomandi in Atlanta. Training includes: LA City College, Morehouse College and work in improv and voice over. TV/FILM: He has an incredible voice-over resume with over 100 credits including Wreck it Ralph, Disney’s the Lion Guard, ABC Mouse, Tobacco Free Florida Campaign, television and radio commercials as well as several popular video games including Zelda, Word of Warcraft, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, just to name a few. He spends his time playing golf and teaching West African Djembe as a Master drummer. And is most known as “The Voice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Afterwords (5th Avenue Theatre), The Mountaintop (AAPAC Albuquerque, Garry Marshall), Wine in the Wilderness (EgoPo), Milk Like Sugar (ArtsWest), And In

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This Corner Cassius Clay (Seattle Children’s Theatre), Hooded: Or Being Black for Dummies (Theatre Battery), F*cking A (UW), Hoodoo Love (Sound Theatre). Currently Andre is completing a feature length documentary titled A Soul Cleansing (Instagram: @asoulcleansing).

EDUCATION: M.F.A., University of Washington and M.A. New York University. Andre is thrilled to be making his ANW debut alongside this stellar cast for a Wilson classic.

Amber Liekhus she/her (U/s Ruby)

WITH ANW: Beggar Woman, Sweeney Todd. ELSEWHERE: Described as a “versatile singer, whose voice is at once regal and affectionate” (LA Times), Amber has had a thrilling career in the US and abroad. Favorites include: La Cage! at The Hollywood Roosevelt, Annie at The Hollywood Bowl, Sweet Charity with Reprise 2.0, Blues in the Night at The Wallis, Ovation Award winning Ain’t Misbehavin’ with McCoy Rigby, and Rent—also with McCoy Rigby. Accomplished operatic soprano, Amber appeared as Queen of El Dorado in Candide at LA Opera, the title role in Suor Angelica with Opera di Roma, and Lily in Porgy and Bess at San Francisco Opera and Los Angeles Opera. Amber’s favorite role is mommy to Julien and Jasper, alongside her supportive husband, Justin.

Herb Newsome he/him (U/s: Elmore) WITH ANW: Debut. ELSEWHERE: The First Deep Breath, Paradise Blue (Geffen Playhouse), A Raisin in the Sun (Fresno City Theater), A Fox on the Fairway, Fences, and Twelfth Night (Lyric Repertory Company) Macbeth, Richard III (Colorado Shakespeare Festival), Revenge of a King (National Arts Festival-South Africa), Take Me Out (Foothills Theater), No Place To Be Somebody (Penn Stage Center Stage) and five August Wilson plays: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Kuntu Rep), Fences, The Piano Lesson, and Radio Golf (Penn State Centerstage) and Jitney (Elmwood Playhouse).

FILM/TV: The Brother from Another Planet, Untamed, American Exit. Visit herbnewsome.com for more info.

Kiziana Jean-Louis she/her (u/s Tonya) WITH ANW: Debut.

ELSEWHERE: Beatrice, The House That Will Not Stand; Olivia, Twelfth Night; Professor Brown et al, The Realness; April, Half Truths Full Plate; Hester, F*cking A; Mrs. Mueller, Doubt- The Parable. EDUCATION: MFA in Acting, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Tony Winters (U/s Stool Pigeon)

WITH ANW: Debut. ELSEWHERE: His credits include The Storyteller in The Devil and Billy Markham, Joe in his self-penned, self produced Section 8, Gabriel in Fences and Duke in Women of Manhattan. Watch him this summer on the big screen in the titular role of Earl in Searchlight’s The Supremes at Earl’s-All-You-Can-Eat.

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DESIGNERS & CREATIVE TEAM

Gregg T. Daniel (Director) WITH ANW: Radio Golf, Seven Guitars, Gem of the Ocean and A Raisin In The Sun (Ovation Nominee-Best Production)

ELSEWHERE: He directed the West Coast revival of Anna Deveare Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 at The Mark Taper Forum, the Denver Center of Performing Art’s World Premiere of Beaufield Berry’s, In The Upper Room, Lanie Robertson’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill and Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop at the Garry Marshall Theatre. West Coast premieres of Mfoniso Udofia’s Her Portmanteau at Boston Court Theatre, Tearrance Arvelle Chisolm’s Br’er Cotton for Lower Depth Theatre. With Rogue Machine Theatre, Lorraine Hansberry’s Les Blancs (Ovation-nominated, Best Director), the L.A. premieres of Can I Touch it by Francesca da Silveira and Greg Kalleres’, Honky a revival of Alice Childress’, Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White for the Antaeus Company (Winner Stage Raw Award–Best Revival, Best Ensemble). Regional work includes, Samm-Art Williams’ Home for the International City Theatre (ICT) & the New Jersey premiere of Katori’s Hall’s, The Mountain Top & Matthew Lopez’s, The Whipping Man at Cape May Stage. He is a recipient of the NAACP Best Director award for the International City Theatre’s production of August Wilson’s Fences (nominated L.A. Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, and StageScene LA awards). Gregg is a Founding Member and current Artistic Director of Lower Depth Theatre (www.Lower-Depth.com)

Additional L.A. credits- Lee Blessing’s Cobb, Eric Simonson’s Lombardi, Frank McGuinness’s Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Broadway World nomination, Best Director), and Tom Stoppard’s translation of Heroes for

Group Repertory Theatre. For Lower Depth Theatre, the West Coast premiere of Kwame Kwei-Armah’s Elmina’s Kitchen (Winner-NAACP Best Ensemble).

Efren Delgadillo Jr. (Scenic Designer) WITH ANW: Debut. Mexican-American Scenic Designer born and raised in East Los Angeles. Recipient of Henry Awards for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts productions of In The Upper Room and Quixote Nuevo. Recipient of a LA Weekly Theater Award for both Production Design and Lighting Design for Poor Dog Group’s Brewsie and Willie. Nominated for an Ovation Award in Best Scenic Design for Culture Clash’s Bordertown Now as well as a Barrymore Award in Outstanding Scenic Design for Bienvenidos Blancos with Team Sunshine Corporation and Mushroom at People’s Light. Head of Scenic Design at UC Irvine.

Brandon Baruch he/him (Lighting Designer) WITH ANW: Radio Golf ELSEWHERE: Brandon is an Ovation Award-winning lighting designer specializing in theater, opera, dance, and immersive performance. His design work has been seen at Center Theatre Group (Mark Taper Forum and Kirk Douglas Theatre), The Wallis, El Portal Theatre, REDCAT, The Ford Amphitheatre, Getty Villa, 5 Star Theatricals, Musical Theatre West, Long Beach Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Chicago Opera Theater, Apollo Theater Chicago, New York City Center, Jerry Orbach Theater, and across Southern California, regionally, internationally, and off-Broadway. Brandon frequently collaborates with interdisciplinary artist Derek Fordjour to design commissioned theater pieces which accompany Fordjour’s

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gallery installations. Brandon also designs “Liquid Light Flight,” an annual, sustainable, solar-powered trapeze and aerial arts festival at Wild Arts Collective in New Paltz, NY. brandonbaruch.com

Jeff Gardner (Sound Design) WITH ANW: Sound Designer: Sweeney Todd, The Bluest Eye, Radio Golf, Anna In The Tropics, Seven Guitars, The Winter’s Tale, Buried Child, Noises Off, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, A Raisin in the Sun, The Madwoman of Chaillot; Ensemble in The Tempest ‘93. ELSEWHERE: Inherit The Wind and The Sound Inside for Pasadena Playhouse; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 and The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe for the Mark Taper Forum. He has designed and performed throughout the country including Williamstown Theatre Festival, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Baltimore Center Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Playhouse, The Shakespeare Theatre, DC, The Studio Theatre, Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center, Geffen Playhouse, The Kirk Douglas Theatre, Antaeus Theatre Company, as well as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. jeffthomasgardner. net

Mylette Nora (Costume Designer) WITH ANW: Radio Golf, and Seven Guitars. ELSEWHERE:King Hedley II, Shay Youngblood’s Shakin’ The Mess Outta Misery, David Austin’s Has Anyone Seen My Rainbow, Dura Temple and Sheri Bailey’s Southern Girls, Matt Donnelly and Jamelle Dolphin’s Recorded in Hollywood, Kathryn Taylor Smith’s A Mile In My Shoes, Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop and Boni B. Alvarez’s BLOODLETTING, Karen Abercrombie’s Ciao Bella at the Loreto Theater and Mark Wilding’s Our Man In Santiago.

Her designs have been seen at numerous theatre and theatre companies in Los Angeles including Kirk Douglas Theater, The Geffen, LATC, Playwrights Arena, East West Players, Open Fist, Odyssey Theater Ensemble, Atwater Village Theater, Skylight Theater and The Hudson.

TV/FILM: American Boy, Church

The Movie, All American Family and Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, Grace for a Gangsta. Mylette worked for thirteen years in television on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and has continued to work with the comedian on You Bet Your Life and for the last seven years on Jay Leno’s Garage. She is the esteemed recipient of multiple NAACP Theatre Awards and the prestigious Ovation Award for Best Costumes. She is listed in the honors edition of the Cambridge Registry of Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women.

Stephen Taylor he/him (Properties Designer) WITH ANW: Sweeney Todd, Much Ado About Nothing, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Book of Will, Bluest Eye, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Christmas Carol ELSEWHERE: Stephen is a member of the House Theatre of Chicago, where he has been an actor, writer, and designer. Love to Lauren and Oliver. EDUCATION: BFA Theatre, Southern Methodist University

Shelia Dorn (Wig/Makeup Designer) WITH ANW: The Bluest Eye, The Book of Will; Radio Golf; Anna in the Tropics, All’s Well That Ends Well, Seven Guitars; Gem of the Ocean. ELSEWHERE: “THREE”Sisters, Black Cyprus Bayou, Mountaintop, The Wiz, Open Fist, Picnic, The Great Jheri Curl Debate, Mommie & Clyde, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lion King, The Direction Home, The Producers, Lady Day, Our West Side Story, Shooting Star, Two Trains

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Running, Beauty and the Beast, Drama Queens, Letters from Zora, King Hedley II, I Go Somewhere, Heartbreak Hotel, Siamese Sex Show, The Story of Alice, Hattie: What I Need You to Know, Painting in Red, Dunbar Hotel. FILM/TV: Something About Mother, Dragon Fly, Remember Me (The Mahalia Jackson Story). Shelia’s Passion project is donating her services as the resident hair and makeup designer for Amazing Grace Conservatory, a nonprofit Performing Arts organization for aspiring artists ages 7-18.

Miranda Johnson-Haddad she/ her (Resident Dramaturg) WITH ANW: Dramaturg, Sweeney Todd, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Bluest Eye, The Book of Will, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Much Ado About Nothing, Radio Golf, Animal Farm, Metamorphoses, All’s Well That Ends Well, Argonautika, Othello; Educator and Consultant since 2010.

ELSEWHERE: Dramaturg, Inherit the Wind, Pasadena Playhouse State Theater; Dramaturg, Measure Still for Measure, Boston Court Theater; Consultant, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C. Dr. Johnson-Haddad has taught Shakespeare, Drama, and Literature at Howard University, UCLA, Vassar College, and Yale University. She is a frequent speaker at Los Angeles Opera, the Shakespeare Club of Pomona Valley, and elsewhere.

EDUCATION: PhD Renaissance Studies, Yale University; BA Comparative Literature, Princeton University.

Taylor Anne Cullen she/her (Stage Manager) WITH ANW: Anna in the Tropics, Radio Golf, A Christmas Carol ELSEWHERE: Hamlet, Measure for Measure, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Little Foxes (Antaeus); Native Son (Kirk Douglas Theatre); Seven, How We’re Different From

Animals (Élan Ensemble); Alcina (USC Thornton School of Music); A Weekend with Pablo Picasso (Casa 0101 Theatre); The Kentucky Cycle, Mockingbird, Love and Information, That Long Damn Dark (USC School of Dramatic Arts). Stage Management Internship credits include: Tosca (LA Opera); Bull, Dutch Masters (Rogue Machine Theatre), and Annapurna (The New Group). EDUCATION: BFA - Stage Management, University of Southern California.

Arielle Hightower she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) WITH ANW: Assistant Stage Manager, The Bluest Eye. ELSEWHERE: Lines in the Dust, Support Black Theatre x Collaborative Artists Bloc at The Matrix Theatre Company; Middle of the World at The Matrix Theatre Company; Almost, Maine, She Kills Monsters, Cabaret, CSUF College of the Arts; Reverb Tap Company at Old Town Temecula Community Theater

EDUCATION: BA-Theatre Arts with an Emphasis in Stage Management, CSUF. She would like to thank God, her family, and the ANW King Hedley II team for their love and support!

Tiffany Oglesby she/her (Assistant Director) WITH ANW: Debut.

ELSEWHERE (As an actor): Confederates, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Byhalia, Mississippi, B Street Theatre; Flyin’ West, American Blues Theatre; The Light, New Colony Theatre. TV credits include: Ruthless (BET+), The Chi (SHOWTIME), Chicago Med (NBC), The Neighborhood (CBS), and Empire (FOX). EDUCATION: BFAPerforming Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design. MFA - Acting, The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Mariko L. Cilley she/her (Assistant Scenic Designer) WITH ANW: Debut.

ELSEWHERE: Assistant Scenic Designer, The Prom, Bald Soprano,

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UC Irvine. EDUCATION: MFA Scenic Design Candidate, UC Irvine; BA—Art & Drama, UC Irvine.

Julia Rodriguez-Elliott she/her (Producing Artistic Director) WITH ANW: ANW has produced more than 175 works, and she has directed over 50 productions including Sweeney Todd, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, An Iliad, Metamorphoses, Argonautika, A Christmas Carol, Animal Farm, Man of La Mancha, Noises Off, Henry V, A Tale of Two Cities, Man of La Mancha, King Lear, The Imaginary Invalid, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Julius Caesar, The Threepenny Opera, The Tempest, The Dance of Death, Come Back, Mourning Becomes Electra. EDUCATION: MFA—American Conservatory Theatre. Julia is a multiple award winner, most recently she was awarded the 2022 recipient of the Career Achievement in Direction Milton Katzelas Award.

Andrea Odinov (Dialect Coach)

WITH ANW: Sweeney Todd, The Book of Will, Radio Golf, Animal Farm, Seven Guitars, Gem of the Ocean, and A Christmas Carol.

ELSEWHERE: The Geffen Playhouse, The Odyssey Theatre, Rogue Theatre Machine, Ghost Road Theatre Company, Antaeus Theatre Company, The Road Theatre Company, Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble, The Group Rep, 24th St. Theatre, Sea Glass Theatre Company, and Long Beach Playhouse. Andrea is a Clinical Asst. Professor of Voice and Speech at Loyola Marymount University, a Certified Associate Instructor of Fitzmaurice Voicework®, and member of VASTA, SAG-AFTRA, and AEA.

EDUCATION: M.F.A from University of CA at Irvine.

Kenneth Merckx he/him (Fight Choreographer) WITH ANW:(Resident Artist) Ken Merckx has choreographed fights for film, television, theater and universities all across the country. ELSEWHERE: He has taught stage combat for AMDA (LA), Cal State Fullerton & Long Beach, PCPA, Cal Arts and UC, Santa Barbara. Ken has been the resident fight choreographer for the Idaho and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festivals, A Noise Within (Los Angeles) and Great Lakes Theater (Cleveland). He is proud to have staged violence for the world premieres of Steven Dietz’s Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (Pasadena Playhouse), Jeffery Hatcher’s Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (San Jose Repertory) and The Suicide Club (Arizona Theatre Company), Octavio Solis’ Cloudlands (South Coast Repertory), Jane Martin’s Somebody/Nobody directed by Jon Jory (Arizona Theatre Company) and the theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner (San Jose Repertory). Mr. Merckx received Ovation Awards in 2013 & 18 for his fight work at A Noise Within and his MFA, in acting, from the University of Illinois and his BA, in theatre studies, from the University of Washington.

Geoff Elliott he/him (Producing Artistic Director) WITH ANW: Director: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale, The Glass Menagerie, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Arcadia, All My Sons, Endgame, Eurydice, The Playboy of the Western World, and many others. Actor: Boxer/Old Major, Animal Farm; Midas, Metamorphoses; The Poet, An Iliad; Dodge, Buried Child; Ebenezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol; Don Quixote, Man of

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La Mancha; Lloyd Dallas, Noises Off; King Lear, King Lear; The Father, Six Characters in Search of an Author; and more. ELSEWHERE: South Coast Repertory, Arizona Theatre Company, American Conservatory Theatre, Berkeley Shakespeare Festival, California Repertory. EDUCATION: MFA—American Conservatory Theatre. Mr. Elliott is a recipient of multiple LADCC, Backstage Garland, Robby, Drama-Logue, and LA Weekly awards as well as the Margaret Hartford Award for Distinguished Achievement for ANW.

Douglas Love-Ramos he/his (Managing Director) has created intellectual property businesses for some of the largest entertainment, publishing, and digital companies in the world. He served as Managing Director of Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Producing Artistic Director

of Walden Playhouse for film studio Walden Media, and FamilyStage San Francisco at the historic Orpheum Theater. He is the creator and executive producer of awardwinning children’s television series including: Out of the Box for Disney and Jammin’ Animals for HBO. He is the author of more than 30 books published by HarperCollins, Disney Press, and others. Douglas co-wrote and produced the stage adaptation of Marlo Thomas’s Free To Be You And Me published by Rogers and Hammerstein Theatre Library. He has built two theaters and a children’s museum, and created the arts education product, World Book’s Dramatic Learning, used by 11 million students worldwide.

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Make a child’s dream come true.

Send a student to the theatre— it’s a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Use the simple Dip Jar in the lobby to help a student with a credit card donation. One dip is all it takes!

Photo by Will Kerner.

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“This is such an amazing camp! It’s an incredible experience.”

INsiders Discussion Groups: Join in this unique event for our patrons— the perfect way to exchange ideas. INsiders Discussions take place at A Noise Within from 12:30-1:30 pm, preceding a Sunday matinee for select shows in our season.

The conversation will feature Director Gregg T. Daniel and Resident Dramaturg Miranda Johnson-Haddad, discussing August Wilson, King Hedley II, and the American Century Cycle.

April 7, 2024, 12:30-1:30 pm | Free Admission | Please RSVP

To RSVP, please email marketing@anoisewithin.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE 17-JULY 19, 2024 OPEN TO AGES 3–18 • ANOISEWITHIN.ORG/SWS | 626.356.3104

Photos by Will Kerner.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO THE INCROWD!

A Noise Within gratefully acknowledges the generosity of our donors. The following donors made gifts of $250 or more between January 1, 2023–February 27, 2024.

* Producer Pass subscribers generously made a donation equal to the cost of their season subscription to support the full cost of theater operations.

SEASON SPONSOR ($50,000+)

Heather & Paul Haaga

Terri Murray

Richard & Sally Roberts

James & Trevessa Terrile

PRODUCING SPONSOR ($30,000 TO $49,999)

Bill & Priscilla Kennedy*

Alan M. & Sheila R. Lamson*

Joseph & Denise Lumarda

Bill & Claire Bogaard

Kathy & Jim Drummy

Jeanie & Terry Kay*

Jerry & Terri Kohl

Jay Lesiger & Tom Klebba

Robert Ronus

Anonymous

SPONSOR ($15,000 TO $29,999)

Tieu-My Nguyen & Chris Burt

Susan Stevens

Elizabeth & Rhodes Trussell

Lee & Deborah Walcott

Joyce White*

Anne Marston & Jan Paul Favero

DIRECTOR CIRCLE ($5,000 TO $14,999)

Peter & Molly Bachmann*

Pat Green & Vic Cole

Ginny Cushman

Sharon & Rick Ellingsen

Pat & Sandy Gage

Suzanne & Lawrence Hess

Dr. Patricia Hoppe

Drs. Robert & Jennifer Israel

Ryan & Denise Jay

Mr. James King

Marlene Konnar & John Baldeschwieler

Cynthia J. Nunes & Barbara Nye*

Nancy & Keith Price*

Gail Samuel & William Christian

Jane W. Schlegel

Lyn Spector

Eugene & Marilyn Stein

Randi Tahara*

Marianne Wallace

PLAYWRIGHT CIRCLE ($2,500 TO $4,999)

Meg Huntington Cajero & Channa & Paul Cajero*

William & Mary Coman

Jennifer Diener

Becky Doody, In Memory Of Jack Doody & Don Wallschlaeger*

Barbara Durham

Geoff Elliott & Julia Rodriguez-Elliott

Carole Fritz*

Beth Gertmenian

Steven & Elizabeth Green

Sandy Greenstein

Erica Hahn

Doug Hutchinson*

Molly Joseph

Susan Kramer*

Sally Abood

Helen Baatz

Linda Dozier*

Patrick Garcia

Gloria & Tom Lang*

Lucy Lynch

Rick and Jennifer Madden

Valerie & Bruce Merritt

Emily Murray

Michael & Marianne Newman

Eric & Lorey Persing

Gregory Shapton & Barbara Rugeley*

Jan & Carl Siechert

Patricia & Lawrence Sparks

Louise Mayeri Spillman

Vickie & Alex Taylor

Leilani Jones Wilmore, In Memory of Josephine Flanders

David & Julia Zuckerman

Anonymous

ARTIST CIRCLE ($1,500 TO $2,499)

Elyse Klein, In Honor of Terri Murray & Denise Jay

Theodore Krontiris & Sue Parilla

Dennis McNamara

Armando Gonzalez & Brenda Berg

Gary and Dee Dee Ewell

Mark Haddad & Miranda Johnson-Haddad

Sherry G. Hepp

Allan & Dr. Susan Mohrman

Diana Peterson-More

Mark & Louisa Nelson

Barbara & Anthony Phillips*

18 A NOISE WITHIN

Paul & Patricia Sinclair

Gerry Szeman & David Pavot*

ARTIST CIRCLE CONTINUED...

John Van Horn & Ray Owens

Steven Warheit & Jean Christensen*

ADVOCATES ($500 TO $1,499)

George Abdo & Sara Campbell

Richard A. Andersen

Jeannine & John Ballister

B. Barton & J. Dawson*

Steven & Judy Bass

Claire Bellanti

Charles & Jo Berryman

Julie Blackshaw

Jeannine Bogaard

Karina Boog In Honor of Art, Education, and Talent

Joan Boyett

Annette Brandin

Darrell Carr & Susan Toler Carr

Joan & Mike Cathcart

Dennis Cohen

Joyce & Donald Dean

Malik El-Amin & Kelsey Scott

Fred & Sandy Engler

Walt Fidler

Kay & Fred Findley

Dr. Curtis Fritz

Craig & Yvonne Flint

David D. Fox & Diane R. Morrison

Dr. Julia Greer

Dick & Ruth Halverstadt

David Hanpeter*

Melinda Herrold-Menzies & Nick Menzies

Dr. Alice Huang

Ursula Hyman

Veralyn Jones

Dr. Norman Kachuck

Thomas Kallay*

Chuck & Jane Kerford

Karl & Margaret Kohn

Leann Kruse-Arcia

Andrea & Jay Labinger

Cynthia Leva & Fred Barker

Ilona Linden*

Deanna Lohse

Chris Lopez & Jessica Jew

Gerrie Maloof

Rob McManus

Jerome Mersky & Vincent Finnochio

Tanya Mink & James Collier

Joanne & James Morse

Esther Mott

Michael M. Mullins & James A. Newman

Mishele & Benjamin Myers*

Barbara Goen Nemer, In Memory of David Nemer

Janice Ohta & Fred Weiss

Joyce & Robert Oltman*

Rebecca Omahen

Marilyn Omernick

Lawanda Allee*

Patti Amesbury

Deborah Anderson

Robert Anderson

Theodora Page

Thomas Palfrey

Greg Porée

Leslie & David Regal

Carol & Francois Rigolot

Sally & Brian Rivera

Dr. Carole & Donald Roback

John & Jennifer Robinson

Karen M. And Michael Rosenthal

Dr. Ellen Rothenberg In Memory of Jerome Rothenberg

Elan Ruskin

Sara Sadwhani

Alec Brooks & Carol Samek

Kevin Schaeffer

Chris Schmidt

George & Carolyn Seitz

Nayan Shah & Ken Foster

Richard Sheehan In Honor of Tom Klebba & Jay Lesiger

William Shepherd & Arthur Fisher

Beverly & Brydon Shirk

Robert & Laurie Silton

Jeff Simmonds & Valerie Duval*

Eric Small

Jonathan Smilove

Angela Conner & Kevin Speaks

Richard Stadler

Tara Steffens

Deborah Strang

Lynne Sullivan

Sarah Sullivan

Eliazar Talamantez

Joaquin Talleda

John D. Taylor*

Shivani Thakkar

Charlene & Vernon Tolo*

Jorge & Guadalupe Uribe*

Daniel & Jocelyn Vilter*

Alex Wang

Greg & Beth Weisman*

Patrick Whaley & Lynda Jenner

Holly Whatley

Laurie & Stan Whitcomb

Ian & Barbara White-Thomson*

Kene & Elaine Williams In Memory of Jack and Lula Williams

Jim & Lynn Winegarden

William Wirshing

Nancy Wischhusen*

Mahlon & Gwen Woirhaye

Julianne & David Worrell

Marianne Kearney Wright

Michael Wright

Richard Yaffe & Kathie Boyle

FRIENDS ($250 TO $499)

Hon. Lourdes G. Baird

Patricia Beauchamp

Anonymous

Bill & Susan Boyd

2024 SPRING 19

FRIENDS CONTINUED...

Jim Brunet & Anne Pautler

Scott Bryson

Stacy Christopher*

Alfred Clark & Rebecca Reagan

Gerard Clarke

Bronwyn Dawson and Ken Yapkowitz In Honor of Fionn James

James Dolan

Cynthia Edwards

James Freed

Frederick & Barbara Gable

Jeffrey Gale & Julane Marx

Lynn & Ron Gelfand

Shimica Gaskins & James Perez

Richard Gerber

A&C Glover

Joyce & Eric Goldman

Drs. John Goodman & Pauline Merry

Marti Griffin

Michael & Alison Gunson

Steve Harwood & Jane Tubman

Leah Heap & Freeman Baldwin

Michael Hegeman

Catherine & Mark Helm

Elisabeth Hunt

Agnetta Hurst

Ellen & William Ireland

Mirta F. Isla

Gary Izumi

Andrew Johnson

William & Beatrice Jennings

Loma Karklins

Kathleen Larsen

Jennifer & Joseph Lazio

Eric & Jasmin Levander

Daniel & Sharon Lowenstein

Dr. Nancy Macky In Memory of Dr. Peter Macky

Fred Manaster

Please email:

Candace McGee

Michael McGrady

Jonathan Mersel

Earle Miller

Marlene F. Mills

Leslie Mitchner

Ilyanne Morden Kichaven & Mike Kichaven

David & Janice Moritz

Pantazis Mouroulis*

Dr. & Mrs. Arnold Mulder

Michael R. Oppenheim*

Glenn Orton

Marion Peters

Dale Pittman*

Roberta Pollock & Jim Sadd

Sharlyn & Richard Pulice

Edwin Robinson

Mr. William Robinson In Honor of Edwin Robinson

Steven Robman & Kathy Baker

Kathryn Rogers & Daniel R. Gilbert, Jr.

Daniel Rothmuller

Luis Samaniego

Janet Samuel

Marleen Scheffy

Paul & Kristen Schmidt

Chris & Carol Shelton

Michael & Carol Sholer

Mike & Peggy Sloan

Mark Sprecher*

Carl & Linda Stude

Kathy Talley-Jones & Richard Talley

Donna Tucker*

Daniel and Jocelyn Vilter

Orvin Shane Wilson

Jo-Anne Woolner

Judy Yamagata

Nancy and George Rothwell

development@anoisewithin.org if your name is omitted or incorrect. We apologize for any errors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bill Kennedy, President & Board Chair

Molly Bachmann

Bill Bogaard

Susan Toler Carr

Malik B. El-Amin

Geoff Elliott

Armando Gonzalez

Robert Israel, M.D.

Denise Jay

Jay Lesiger

Trisha Miller

Terri Murray

Cynthia J. Nunes

Dick Roberts

Julia Rodriguez-Elliott

Randi Tahara

Shivani Thakkar

Joyce White

Terry Kay Emeritus

John Lawrence

Charles Redmond

Elizabeth Redmond

Margaret H. Sedenquist

In Memoriam

20 A NOISE WITHIN

INSTITUTIONAL GIVING

Thank you to the following institutions who support A Noise Within’s operations, education, artistic development, and other special projects. If you are interested in learning about the benefits of institutional giving or sponsorship, please contact our Development Department at development@anoisewithin.org.

Season Sponsor

The Ahmanson Foundation

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Perenchio Foundation

The Rose Hills Foundation

S. Mark Taper Foundation

SNAP Foundation

Steinmetz Foundation

Producing Sponsor

The Ann Peppers Foundation

The Capital Group Charitable Foundation

Dwight Stuart Youth Fund

Helen and Will Webster Foundation

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors & Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture

The Shubert Foundation

www.arts.ca.gov.

Sponsor

BCM Foundation

The California Wellness Foundation

David Lee Foundation

Edward A & Ai O Shay Foundation

The Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation

Kuchleffel Foundation Corp.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger

Pasadena Community Foundation

Sally and Dick Roberts Coyote Foundation

Shakespeare in American Communities: National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest

Director Circle

The Caplin Foundation

Mara W. Breech Foundation

Michael & Irene Ross Endowment Fund of the Jewish Community

Peter Glenville Foundation

Z. Clark Branson Foundation

Playwright Circle

Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation

Pasadena Lions Memorial Trust

This organization is supported by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at This organization is supported by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture as part of the LA County Performing Arts Recovery Grant.

Join our Ambassador VOLUNTEER PROGRAM More information: Volunteers@anoisewithin.org PERKS include... Free Tickets Voucher Program Ambassador Appreciation Awards Special Ambassador Events & Invitations Access our Private Facebook Page See the shows for FREE! 2024 SPRING 21

This organization is supported by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan

Artistic Staff

Julia Rodriguez-Elliott & Geoff Elliott, Producing Artistic Directors

Administrative Staff

Douglas Love-Ramos, Managing Director

Conner Criswell, General Manager

Jim Miller, Director of Development

Alzena Henry, Development Associate

Lauren Marks, Director of Marketing & Communications

Lindsey Steed, Marketing Manager

Kelvin Hicks, Content & Community Manager

Michelle Calhoun, Education Coordinator

Front of House

Melody Archer Moore

House Manager & Volunteer Usher Coordinator

Sarah Gonzalez, Patron Services Manager

Jessica Martin, Group Sales Coordinator

Evelyn Coffey Box Office Assistant

Teresa English, Graphic Designer

Lucy Pollak, Publicity

Craig Schwartz, Production Photographer

Daniel Reichert, Promotional Photographer

Invisible Harness, Videographer

Head Ushers

Violet Morris, Christopher Magallanes, Nadia Santamaria, Noah Muronaka, Ani Darbinyan

Production Staff

Julianne Figueroa-Castro, Production Manager

Stephen Taylor, Bryan Tiglio, Michael DiNardo, James Edward Walsh, Carpenters

Aven Gonzalez, Lilah Capp, Scenic Painters

Ken Booth, Lighting Supervisor

Georgia Shupper, Master Electrician

Resident Artists

Susan Angelo

Ken Booth

Angela Balogh Calin

Apollo Dukakis

Mitchell Edmonds

Rafael Goldstein

Peter Gottlieb, In Memoriam

William Dennis Hunt, In Memoriam

Stanley Andrew Jackson

Nicole Javier

Veralyn Jones

Kasey Mahaffy

Maria Uribe, Costume Shop Manager

Ruby Mae Novak, Alethia Moore-Del Monaco, Elaina Davis, Isabel Wing, August Mayer, Stitchers

Alison Rodriguez, Associate Producer / Casting Director

Sets To Go: Entertainment Construction, Scenic Construction

Kenneth R. Merckx, Jr.

Trisha Miller

Alex Morris

Cassandra Marie Murphy

Frederica Nascimento

Robert Oriol

Jeremy Rabb

Carolyn Ratteray

Alison Rodriguez

Erika Soto

Deborah Strang

Frederick Stuart

22 A NOISE WITHIN

Space Bank Mini Storage Proudly Supports the Arts in Pasadena In Production for 40 Years! 3202 E. Foothill Blvd. Pasadena CA 91107 (626) 449-4405 spacebank.net

MISS THIS HIGH-FLYING COMEDY! THE 2023-24 SEASON IS PRESENTED BY THE S. MARK TAPER FOUNDATION. anoisewithin.org 626.356.3100 MAY 12–JUNE 9, 2024 DIRECTED BY GUILLERMO CIENFUEGOS GEORGE BERNARD SHAW’S MISALLIANCE

Photos by Craig Schwartz. Top: Desean K. Terry and Cherish Monique Duke. Bottom: Deborah Strang, Jill Hill, and Susan Angelo.

DON’T

NEXT ON STAGE

Trisha Miller by Daniel Reichert.

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