Stoop Stories

L O C A L

P R E M I E R E

DAEL ORLANDERSMITH DIRECTED BY ELIZABETH CARTER BY

T H E

U LT I M AT E

I N T I M A T 1E

T H E AT R E

STARTS SEP 3, 2021 E X P E R I E N C E

Dear Friends, What a joy to write those words again! Dear Friends, it has been a long time since I welcomed you to an Aurora Theatre Company season production. The last eighteen months have seen all of us at Aurora working hard to keep this company going, to keep making connections in our community, and to keep telling stories. Our Dear Friends have shown tremendous support, and your presence now shows that the work, the connections, and the stories will continue.

Of course, this story is being told a little differently. We’ve built a set and hung the lights, but instead of an audience in the seats we have a camera crew. While there is no true substitute for being together in the same space, health and safety come first and I am so proud of the experience this resilient and creative team has put together.

Dael Orlandersmith is a remarkable and celebrated American playwright. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Yellowman, she’s an Obie Award winner and a recipient of the prestigious Suzan Smith Blackburn Prize. The LA Times called her “a sly, street-level poet with an angel’s heart,” and that heart is apparent throughout Stoop Stories. Based on her own experiences — ­ and her imagination — Stoop Stories is a tour through a Harlem neighborhood guided by a variety of compelling, complicated characters all played by one actor.

Originally performed by Dael herself, our production stars Jeunée Simon, a luminescent and tremendously talented Bay Area actor who you may recognize from our audio production of The Bluest Eye last spring. This production also marks the Aurora directorial debut of the wonderful Elizabeth Carter, whose acting has elevated many Aurora productions, including Eureka Day, Wittenberg, and Trouble in Mind.

And this is just the beginning of Aurora’s 30th Season. We have four more insightful, provocative, can’t-miss productions in the works; you can find out all about them on our website. While you’re there, you can also read about the work we’re doing — and that we’re inviting you to do — to confront and dismantle oppression in our organization and our community. You can also read about our plans to reopen safely for in-person performances. And if you are so moved, you can make a donation to help Aurora continue our vital work as the storyteller for this beautiful community.

Enjoy the show.

Josh Costello ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

STOOP STORIES SETTING: Then and Now There will be no intermission.

2

Josh Costello

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

L O C A L

Sharon Dolan

INTERIM MANAGING DIRECTOR

P R E M I E R E

DAEL ORLANDERSMITH DIRECTED BY ELIZABETH CARTER BY

THE CAS T

Jeunée Simon* ������������������������������������������� NARRATOR CR E ATIV E TE AM

Ariella Cooley SOUND DESIGNER Regina Evans COSTUME DESIGNER Jon Tracy LIGHTING DESIGNER

Randy Wong-Westbrooke SCENIC DESIGNER

Geri-Nikole Love DIALECT COACH Alicia Lerner* STAGE MANAGER

E XE CUTIVE S E AS ON S PONS OR S

Craig & Kathy Moody AS S OCIATE S PONS OR S

Ellen & Barry Levine SPECIAL THANKS to John and Molly Gordon, Susan Moffat, Karen Chapple, June Grant, Carolyn Johnson, and David Peters The World Premiere of Stoop Stories was produced by the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. in February 2009 (Joy Zinoman, Founding Artistic Director). Stoop Stories was developed in a retreat and subsequent reading at the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company in 2009. Stoop Stories was first developed for the Apollo Theater Salon Series and at the Under the Radar Festival 2008 at New York’s Public Theater with support from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, both produced by Mark Russell. * Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers

3

CREATIVE TEAM

DAEL ORLANDERSMTIH (PLAYWRIGHT) is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and Drama Desk Award nominee for Outstanding Play and Outstanding Actress in a Play for Yellowman, and Obie Award winner for Beauty’s Daughter. Other works include: Liar, Liar (1994); Beauty’s Daughter (1995); Monster (1996); The Gimmick (1999); Raw Boys (2005); Stoop Stories (2008); Bones (2010); Horsedreams (2011); Black n Blue Boys/Broken Men (2012); Forever (2014-2015). Orlandersmith is the recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts Grant, The Helen Merrill Award for Emerging Playwrights, a Guggenheim Fellowship and the 2005 PEN/Laura Pels Foundation Award for a playwright in mid-career. Orlandersmith is the recipient of a Lucille Lortel Foundation Playwrights Fellowship, and she won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for The Gimmick in 1999.

directed King Lear (SF Shakespeare Festival), Feel the Spirit (Shotgun Players/Colt Couer), Every 28 Hours Plays and A Place To Belong (A.C.T), for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf (African American Shakespeare Company), From the Ground Up, Participants and Just One Day (TheatreFirst). She has directed for the California Shakespeare Theater Conservatory for nearly 20 years.

Elizabeth is the inaugural SDCF Lloyd Richards New Futures Resident Artist at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

ARIELLA COOLEY (SOUND DESIGNER) is a sound designer, musician, performance artist, and arts educator based in Alameda. She is the resident sound designer for The Rabbit Hole Children’s Theater (SF), focusing mainly on original audio plays for little ones. Her theatrical credits include productions with the MFA program at American Conservatory Theater (SF), Theatre of Yugen (SF), National Queer Theater (NYC), and Ragged Wing Ensemble (Oakland). In 2017, she received a TBA award for Outstanding Sound Design for her work on The Winter’s Tale (Ragged Wing Ensemble). In 2019, she was nominated in the same category for her work on A Noh Christmas Carol (Theater of Yugen). When she is not designing sound for the stage, Ariella is working on her debut album of original solo music.

JEUNÉE SIMON* (NARRATOR) is an actor, director, and intimacy coordinator in the Bay Area. Recent credits include: La Ronde (Cutting Ball Theater), Men On Boats u/s (American Conservatory Theater), HeLa (TheatreFIRST), and When My Mama Was A Hittite (Magic Theatre). Simon is a proud recipient of the 2017 RHE Artistic Fellowship and a 2019 Directing Apprentice with PlayGround. She was last heard in Aurora’s audio production of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye adapted by Lydia R. Diamond. www.jeuneesimon.com

REGINA EVANS (COSTUME DESIGNER) is an Abolitionist in the fight against Child Sex Trafficking, a Playwright, and a Costume Designer.

ELIZABETH CARTER (DIRECTOR) returns to The Aurora Theatre Company as a director, after appearing several times on its stage. She has had the great pleasure of directing Bondage (Alter Theatre) and since has

JON TRACY (LIGHTING DESIGNER) Jon works internationally as a director, playwright, designer, educator, and facilitator. He is the recipient of awards from the Kennedy Center Meritorious Achievement Award, North Bay Artys, 4

STOOP STORIES COMMUNITY PARTNER

JOE LAMBERT THE STORY CENTER august 30

SUE MARK MARKSEARCH september 13

SUSAN MOFFAT FUTURE HISTORIES LAB september 20

RICK PRELINGER PRELINGER ARCHIVES september 27

SARAH SEITER SF EXPLORATORIUM october 4

BRIAN HOLT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT october 11

DAVID PETERS BLACK LIBERATION WALKING TOUR

A PROJECT OF THE GLOBAL URBAN HUMANITIES INITIATIVE

october 25

SETH EISEN EYE ZEN PRESENTS november 1

PLACE-BASED STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES

MICHAEL EPSTEIN MUSEUM OF THE HIDDEN CITY november 8

WALTER HOOD HOOD STUDIO november 15

1nstructor: Melody Chang Instructor of Record: Susan Moffat

Requirements for S/U 1-unit credit: attend 8 or 11 guest speakers

and write two blog post reflections. Students who wish to receive S/U 2 units will additionally attend tours and performances.

Guest speakers on a variety of projects from across the Bay will present their experiences in curating place-based experiences.

Drop-in visitors are welcome!

Fall Colloquium Speaker Series Mondays 11:00 - 12:30 pm 170 BAUER WURSTER HALL

CYPLAN 198-002/290B RHETORIC 198/295

Future Histories Lab is a UC Berkeley project that researches stories of place in order to propose new futures. We believe that understanding the history under our feet is necessary to plan for change in our communities. We use art, storytelling, technology, and installations in public space to illuminate and analyze questions of equity, race, and environment.

Faculty, students, and community members work together to conduct collaborative, place-based research and create public-facing websites, performances, memorials, artistic interventions, and design and policy proposals.

Community organizations can connect with university partners to create projects in the fields of placekeeping, public history, the arts, and urban planning.

We are based jointly at the Arts & Humanities Division and the College of Environmental Design, with participation from many other parts of campus.

5

CREATIVE TEAM

Marquee Journalists, Ellys, Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, and Theatre Bay Area, and has also been honored with the Solano College Theatre Alumni Award. He is a grant recipient from Theatre Bay Area, Shotgun Players’ Bridging the Gap, SUI Generis, and the National Endowment for the Arts. He is the Company Facilitator for TheatreFirst, Co-Artistic Director of Groundswell: The International Theatre Intensive, Company Member of both Shotgun Players and PlayGround, as well as a proud member of SDC, the union for stage directors and choreographers. www.jontracyplays.com

Ink, Let There Be Love, I’m Still Standing, The Big Meal, and Fields of Gold (American Conservatory Theater.); The Jungle Book (Marin Theatre Company); West Side Story (Mountain Play); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Bay Area Musicals); The Secret Garden (Lucky Penny Productions); The Sound of Music, The Wiz, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Berkeley Playhouse); The Train Driver, Shirley Valentine, and Agnes Under the Big Top (Long Wharf Theatre); Annie Get Your Gun and Radio Girl (Goodspeed Musicals); and Shakespeare Festivals (2007-2009), Dancing in the Dark, and Working (The Old Globe). She holds a BFA in Media-Film Studies from The University of California, San Diego and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

RANDY WONGWESTBROOKE (SCENIC DESIGNER) is an award-nominated scenic designer born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically on the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo-speaking Ohlone people.

Driven by their own mixed-Asian, trans, and non-binary identities, they seek opportunities to work with diverse creative teams to tell radical, provocative, and intersectional stories that question and celebrate our collective histories.

They have designed sets for American Conservatory Theater’s M.F.A. Program, Shotgun Players, TheatreFIRST, Crowded Fire Theater, Ferocious Lotus, SF Playhouse’s Sandbox, New Conservatory Theater Company, Custom Made Theatre, Cutting Ball Theater, Los Altos Stage Company, Palo Alto Players, Contra Costa Civic Theater, as well as many other new and independent projects.

This Fall they will begin pursuing their M.F.A. in Set Design from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. rwwestbrooke.com

CRAIG & KATHY MOODY (EXECUTIVE SEASON SPONSORS) believe live theatre can be life-changing. They are distressed by the paltry government support of the arts in general and of theatre in particular in the United States. Accordingly, they encourage all who read this to donate generously to a theatre or theatres of their liking.

Aurora would be an excellent place to start.

ELLEN & BARRY LEVINE (ASSOCIATE SPONSORS) freely admit that they are long-time theater addicts and believe that this is a wonderful addiction. They have been sharing their theater passion for over 50 years not only in the Bay Area but also with annual visits to New York and, as often as possible, to London. These theatrical “pilgrimages” tie in perfectly with their great love of traveling throughout the world.

JOSH COSTELLO (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) Josh Costello is the Artistic Director of Aurora Theatre Company. At Aurora and previously as the founding Artistic Director of Impact Theatre and the Artistic Director of Expanded Programs at Marin Theatre Company, Josh has worked to make theatre more accessible for more people, sharing a passion for the visceral experience of live theatre with new audiences and underserved communities. Josh has directed six productions at Aurora, including the world premiere of Eureka Day, which won every Bay Area new play

ALICIA LERNER* (STAGE MANAGER) is excited to make her Aurora Theatre Company debut. She most recently stage managed 42nd Street Moon’s productions of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Scrooge in Love!, Hot Mikado and the entire 2018-2019 season. Other stage management credits include Follies in Concert, Me and My Girl, and The Secret Garden (42nd Street Moon); Hedwig and the Angry Inch (San Jose Stage Company and National Tour); La Cage Aux Folles, Noises Off, and The Christians (San Francisco Playhouse); Old Hats, Indian 6

CREATIVE TEAM

award. His world-premiere production of Aaron Loeb’s Ideation with the San Francisco Playhouse in both SF and NYC won the Glickman Award for best new play in the Bay Area and the Theatre Bay Area Award for Outstanding Direction, and was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick. Other directing work includes My Children! My Africa! at Marin Theatre Company, House of Lucky at Magic Theatre, and his adaptations of Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother and Aphra Behn’s The Rover.

recently moved to providing interim leadership and strategic consulting in organizational development.

In each of Sharon’s positions, she has brought her knowledge of and passion for diversity, equity and inclusion to the work. She has helped organizations build strategies, systems, policies, procedures, programs, and partnerships that support this work.

Member of: * Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers

SHARON DOLAN (INTERIM MANAGING DIRECTOR) Sharon is an experienced leader of several non-profit organizations over 30 years. Prior to the Aurora, she was the executive director of the Freight & Salvage, and has also led the Oakland Youth Chorus and several youth development organizations. She also recently served as the chair of the Berkeley Cultural Trust. She has

This Theatre operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

7

DONORS

ANNUAL FUND STAFF

Aurora Theatre Company extends its heartfelt appreciation to all of our generous annual fund donors, whose gifts enable Aurora to provide a nurturing environment for theatre artists and to enrich the lives of our audience. For more information about giving to Aurora’s annual fund, please contact Development at 510.843.4042 x308 or development@auroratheatre.org, or visit auroratheatre.org/donate.

Thank you!

Executive Season Sponsor

$50,000-$99,999 The Estate of Andree L. Abecassis Ellen & Barry Levine Craig & Kathy Moody Season Sponsor

$25,000 - $49,999 Gertrude E. Allen George & Candy Hisert Thomas W. Edwards & Rebecca Parlette-Edwards Premiere Sponsor

$15,000 - $24,999 Kay & Ed Blonz Cindy & Stephen Snow The Wood Foundation, David Wood & Kathleen Garrison Tom & Amy Worth Sponsor

$10,000 - $14,999 Elizabeth Burwell Barbara & Jim Kautz Tamra C. Hege Rosalind & Sung-Hou Kim Maris & Ivan Meyerson Kitt Shute & Jeff Rowlings Sally Shaver Associate Sponsor

$6,000- $9,999 Donna Ano Italo & Suzanne Calpestri Diana Cohen & Bill Falik Margaret & Matt Jacobson

Paul Templeton & Darrell Louie Muffy Thorne Cast and Crew Sponsor

$4,000 - $5,999 Anonymous Carol Emory Dean Francis Deborah & Howard Goodman Bonnie & Earl Hamlin Helen M. Marcus Julianne H. Rumsey Laurie Shapley Valerie Sopher Alison Teeman & Michael Yovino-Young Artistic Director’s Circle

$2,500 - $3,999 Anonymous Broitman Basri Family Chris Hamilton & Donna Dediemar Kathy Roberts & Aaron Loeb Karen & John McGuinn Sallie Weissinger Director’s Circle

$1,200 - $2,499 Anonymous James Helman & Josephine Bellaccomo Joan Catherine Braun Venus & Narsai David Merle & Michael Fajans Judith Glass Greg Gorel Gail & Bob Hetler 8

Joe Simitian & Mary Hughes Lyn C. Isbell Judith Wilber & Bob Miller Karen Mullarkey Hillary & Jonathan Reinis Marianne Robison Anne & Boyard Rowe Deborah Dashow Ruth Sam Test Carolyn Weinberger Evie & Gordon Wozniak Karen & Joel Zeldin Benefactor

$500 - $1,199 Anonymous (3) Norman Abramson & David Beery Charitable Fund of Horizons Foundation Kedar K. Adour Robert & Maria Allen Claire & Kendall Allphin Joel Altman Alan Harper & Carol Baird Anne Pardee & Steve Beckendorf Steven Goldberg & Sandee Blechman Adrian Blumberg Kathryn Frank & Jim Blume Thomas Bosserman Daphne & Robert Bransten Katharine Byrne Barbara Cahn The Leo J. & Celia Carlin Fund Bruce Carlton Jon Carr Daniel Murphy & Micah Cerrone Janaki & Heine Costello

9

DONORS

Jill & Evan Custer Carlotta & Bob Dathe Sharon Dolan Monika & David M. Eisenbud Alan L. Elnick Roger & Jane Emanuel Jacquelin Ewing Nancy & Jerry Falk Shirley Fifield Harvey & Deana Freedman Eva & Alex Glazer Rafael Gonzalez Karen & Ken Harley Tony & Trish Hawthorne Jean Krois & Howard Hertz Charlton G. Holland Janet Huseby Carol & Richard R. Hyman Barbara E. Jones Don Kaufman Bob Shephard & Sandra Keith Beth & Tim Kientzle Laura Korbas Ken Krich Susan Berger Law Susan Ledford Julius Raphaël Leiman-Carbia Kit & Hayne Leland Craig Broscow & Courtney Lennard Bonnie Burt & Mark Liss Michael J. Loeb Eugenia Loken Rosa Luevano Ann & Robert Lynn Ruth Majdrakoff Rena Kirkpatrick & Charles Manning Britt-Marie & Brian Morris Mike & Sharon Morris Adrian Borrero & David Nalley Margo & Roy Ogus Sylvia Pascal Danielle Rebischung Ruth & Jim Reynolds Ken & Kathleen Richardson

Maxine Risley Henry Navas & Deborah Robbins Danny Field & Gary Richard Robinson Steve & Linda Rosen Joan Emery & Eddy Rubin Diane & Ed Ryken Gretchen Saeger Susan Sawyer Betsy Smith Sigrid Snider Andrew Cohn & Kate Stewart Frank Kelly & Alan Stewart Monica R. Salusky & John Sutherland Jane & Jay Taber Harold & Evelyn Thorne Shirley & Michael Traynor Jeff Trescott Gail & Arne Wagner Arlene Waksberg Dorothy Walker Evan White Donna M. Williams Victor Willits Ann Willoughby Viviana Wolinsky Patron

$250 - $499 Anonymous (2) Carlene & Richard Anderson Terry Pink Alexander & John Blaustein Nina K. Auerbach Stephen Twigg & Susan C. Aumiller Richard & Sandy Bails Susan & Barry Baskin Wendy & Robert Bergman Bonnie Bogue Eva & David Bradford Robert Broki Emilie Talbot & Gordon Brooks Caroline & Rande Burton Barbara & Larry Cahn 10

Nancy Catena Steven & Karin Chase Susanne Stoffel & Michael Coan Jane & Tom Coulter Lynn & Chris Crook Sue & Joe Daly Pam Dernham John Ehrlich Beverly Blatt & David Filipek Susan K. Fisher Molly & Harrison Fraker Sarah & Frank Fuller Glennis Lees Glazeski & Michael Glazeski Gretchen & Richard Grant Barry A. Graynor Elizabeth Groenewegen Bonnie & Sy Grossman Sarah & Parke Hafner Oscar Anderson & Holly Hartley John Sweitzer & Joyce Hawkins Woof Kurtzman & Liz Hertz Deet & Bok Bok Kane Kathryn S. Martin & David Kurtzman Pam MacKinnon Karen Mangan David Kurtzman & Bunny Martin Ana Maria Martel Karen Rosenbaum & Ben McClinton Robert McDowell Arnold Yip & Alison McLean Mark & Marjorie Medress Jerry S. Mosher Russell Nelson Celia Karian & James Novosel The Perttula Family Caroline & Roger Purves Ingrid J. Madsen & Victor Rauch Leonard Gabriele & John Richardson Yvonne Lalanne & Mark M. Rubenstein Claire de Chazal & Francisco Santamarina

C ONFRONTIN G & DISMANTLIN G OPPRESSION At Aurora, we use the phrase “Confronting and Dismantling Oppression” rather than “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” because we recognize that this work must be active and ongoing. It is not a box to be checked, it is a continual and intentional process. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about Aurora’s CDO initiatives and commitments, including: • Our new Mission & Values statement, making explicit our commitment to racial justice and to confronting all forms of oppression.

• Our Theatre For Everyone statement, which is also posted in our lobby.

• Welcome To Our Space, a pair of town halls exploring microaggressions in theaters and public spaces.

• Our Community Partners program.

• The list of Commitments we’ve made in the name of confronting and dismantling oppression, including:

• Our CDO Task Force, composed of staff and board members including both staff and board leadership.

• Anti-bias trainings we’ve conducted for staff and board.

• Our monthly Community CDO meeting, attended by Aurora artists, Community Partners, Advisory Council members, staff, and board.

• Our commitments towards inclusivity in our season.

This work is an essential piece of Aurora’s intention to be the storyteller for our community. Thank you for being a part of this process with us.

Visit auroratheatre.org/CDO for more information.

Sam Jackson, Lori Holt*, Mia Tagano*, and Denmo Ibrahim* in Splendour. Photo by David Allen. *Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.

11

DONORS

Linda Sayler Laurel Scheinman Barbara Silverberg John Simpson Betsy Smith Sarilee Janger & Stephen Steiner Robert Kidd & Joan Story Suzanne Titus-Johnson Revan & Elsa Tranter Laurel I Schaefer Trent Susan Tuohy Susan Ward Emily & Robert Warden Jeffrey & Meredith Watts Barbara Baratta & Fred Winslow Linda & Steve Wolan Paul L. Wyman Fran Burgess & Sandy Zirulnik Associate

$100 - $249 Anonymous (8) Mark Aaronson & Marjorie Gelb Ida & Myles Abbott Kathy Allen Eugene R Alward Judith A. Arrigo Helen Hutchison & Lee Aurich Paula Bakalar David Barnes Bobbi Baron Marilyn Beller Irene & Robert E. Belknap Alicia B Benito Gil & Ann Berkeley Christel & Jurg Bieri Barbara Anscher & Steven Binder Holly & James Bogin Carol M. Bowen Marion Brackett Sheila & Arthur Braufman Marilyn & George Bray Roberta Brooks Frank & Nina Brunetti Wayne Bryan Carin & Bob Bryans

Shelley Gordon & Richard Burge Gaylord Burke & Patricia Bruning Alexander Byron John Caner Denys Carrillo Tyler Ochoa & Karin Carter Andrea & Michael Cassidy Diana Gay-Catania & David Catania Cecilia Storr & Mark Chaitkin Yvette Chalom Lisa Chilton Henry Chinn William Chinowsky Susanne Stoffel & Michael Coan Carolyn & Phil Cowan Carolyn Cox Gary & Diana Cramer Ada Burko & Gabriela Crane Rita Reining & John Creighton Ann O’Connor & Ed Cullen Clytia & Joseph M. Curley Joe & Sue Daly Deborah Sanborn & Don Davella Barbara de Janvry Donna Terazawa & Robert Deutsch Kate M. Dickey Susan Driscoll James Nelson & Margery Eriksson Jay H. Espovich Daria Hepps & Franco Faraguna Claudia H. Fenelon Hal Fischer Brigitte & Louis Fisher Robin Flagg Cynthia Fleury Christopher Flores Barbara & Ron Forsstrom Sabina & Michael Frank Stephanie Friedman Kelli Frostad Kevin Gahagan

12

John Rosenberg & Diane Gerstler Anirvan Chatterjee & Barnali Ghosh Heidi Giordano Basha Goddard Margot Golding Daniel & Hilary Goldstine Bobbi Schear & Michael Goloff Ann Goolsby Roy L. Gordon Simon & Paula Goren Gregg & Ruth Gorrin Anita Grandpre Gary Greene Judy & Shel Greene Pat & Lee Hackett Mary & Michael Hanemann Gina & Steve Harris Lynne & Austin Henderson Leslie Henry Irene & Robert Hepps Leslie Paine & Herb Holman Hilary Honore Claudia Horty Barry Hovis Janet Hurwich Gary & Carol Irwin Ying Mei & Jack Betsy Jasny Susan Jenny Susan M. Jenny Susan & Andrew Jokelson Robert & Kathleen Kaiser Linda & Terry T. Kanat Joseph E. Katz Larry & Ann Keiffer Rose Adams Kelly Christopher & Patricia Kenber Herbert B. Kennedy Martha & Michael Kessler Birthe Kirsch Deborah & David Kirshman Martha Schimbor & Nancy Kornfield Gail Krowech

DONORS

Teresa Kulka Joanne & John Lafler Judith Lamberti Carol LaPlant Lori A. Laratro Gretchen M. Larsen Lauren Lassleben Marguerite Lee Joseph Jackson & Joann Leskovar Sandra Lessing Eva Liebermann Jennifer S. Lindsay Catherine Locke Dan & Emily Loeb Monique Elias & Anthony Arthur Long Loo D. Loodaisy Mimi W. Lou Antonia Lozon Wendell Choo & Mark MacKler Christiane Maier Rebecca Kurland & Patrick Mason Claire & Paul Maxwell Miles & Mary Ellen McKey Bill & Suzanne McLean Steve & Patricia L McMahon John Mengel Roberta & Spencer Michels Susanne & Richard Monson Everett & Julia Moore Thomas C. Moore Mark J. Powers & Albert E. Moreno Brenda Moreno Susan Morris Catherine M. Moss Jeff & Sue Mulvihill The Murraywolf Family Len Nathan Helen & John Neville Linda D. Nguyen Azieb Nicodimos Rachel & Ron Nissim Linda Northcott

Joan Sullivan & Walter Norton Aleta Wallace & Peter Nussbaum Linda Perkins Susan Y. Petit Margaret A. Phillips Sylvia & Perry W. Polk Barbara Porter Virginia Poulton Jack & Jessica Powell John F. Price Susan Wheeler Rappe Mary Rees Bill & Ray Riess Irene & Ed Rimer Pauline & Wayman Robertson William Roberts Ellen Rosen Linda & Steve Rosen Rosenthal-Murphy Fund Geri Rossen Marjorie Roth David Rovno M.D. Priscilla Royal Rhea Joyce Rubin Deborah Sanborn Steven Horwitz & Bonnie Sanders Judi & Katherine Sanderlin Sylvia Saunders Thomas A. Savignano Gillian Scharff George Sensabaugh Dennis Setlock Alice Sheehan Ginny Sidells Bonnie Siegel Patricia Silver Harriet Simpson Anne Read Smith Chris & Jeff Smith Judy & Ron Smith Margaret J. Sparks Suzy Spradlin Helen Wickes & Donald J. Stang Laura Steinman Sally Stevens 13

Bonnie Stiles Mary & Jerry Street Margi Stromberg Jay Atkinson & Ariel Summerlin Joan Suzio Harry & Betsey Tabraham Jean C. Thomas Nate & Rebecca Tico Dan McClosky & Nan Toder Stephanie Tucker Joan VanAntwerp Lisa Vandenberg Sandra Venning Penny Veres Gretchen VonDuering Grant & Norma Voth Ruth & Laurence Walker Myrna Walton Richard D. Warren Jim & Irene Watt Georganne Ferrier & Steven Weinberg Janice Weingrod Margo Wesley Laurellee Westaway Kathleen & Roy Whalin Dean Wheatcraft Andrew & Linda T. Williams Richard Willkins Barbara Lanier & John Wilson Jennifer Winch Andrew Witkowski Sally Woolsey Alyosha Zim Bess Zimmerman Thank you to all of our generous donors who have made gifts under $100. List is current as of August 4, 2021.

DONORS

Members of the Barbara Oliver Society for The Next Generation have designated Aurora Theatre Company in their estate plans, enabling us to serve not just you—our first-generation audience— but generations to come. For more information on how to make a charitable bequest or designate Aurora in your estate plan, contact the development office at 510.843.4042 x312 or development@auroratheatre.org. Thank you to the following members:

Anonymous (2) Nancy Axelrod Seteven Beckendorf Norman Abramson & David Beery* Elizabeth Burwell Carol Emory Jacquelin Ewing Marge Glicksman* Candy & George Hisert Ellen & Barry Levine HONOR ROLL List is current as of August 4, 2021.

In Memory of Sheldon Bornstein In Honor of Joan Catherine Braun In Honor of Larry Cahn In Memory of Alex Glass In Memory of Marge Glicksman

Ines Lewandowitz* Sumner* & Hermine* Marshall* Margaret D. & Winton McKibben Alison McLean Shelly Osborne Thomas W. Edwards & Rebecca Parlette-Edwards Gladys Perez-Mendez* Margaret A. Phillips Betty Pirford*

Tom Ross David Rovno Julianne H. Rumsey* Deborah Dashow Ruth Sylvia Saunders Valerie Sopher Lisa R. Taylor Janis Kate Turner

In Memory of Nelson Goodman In Memory of William E. Jones In Honor of Julie Saltzman Kellner (2) In Memory of Jack Kirsch

In Honor of Ellen Levine In Memory of Patricia Mengel In Memory of Julie Rumsey (7) In Honor of Paul Templeton In Memory of David J. Williamson

*In Memoriam

IN-KIND DONORS Aurora is thankful for the following donors who gave generous in-kind contributions of $100 and above (excludes gala).

List is current as of August 4, 2021.

Anonymous FUNDS FOR THE FUTURE Funds for the Future provide lasting tributes and generate continual support for Aurora. We wish to express our sincere appreciation to those who have established the following funds:

Suzanne Adams Fund Traynor Education Fund We strive for accuracy in our program listing, but errors do occur. Please contact Development at 510.843.4042 x312 if you notice a discrepancy, and thank you very much for helping us keep our records as accurate as possible!

14

DONORS

CORPORATE DONORS

$1000-$2,499 Blue Heron Bikes The Caterpillar Foundation +

$100 - $999 Amazon Smile Foundation Aon Foundation + Adobe Systems Incorporated + Chevron Humankind Matching Gift Program + Guidewire +

Network for Good/ Facebook Fundraiser Salesforce + Zynga + + Matching Gift Program

FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT Aurora Theatre Company gratefully acknowledges these foundations and government agencies for their support:

Alameda County Arts Commision Artsfund American Rescue Project/ Shuttered Venues Operators Grant

The Bernard Osher Foundation California Office of the Small Business Advocate City of Berkeley Civic Arts Program The Edgerton Foundation

The Fleishhacker Foundation The Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation The Shubert Foundation The Tournesol Project

You can help to secure Aurora’s long-term future by including Aurora in your estate plans and becoming a member of the Barbara Oliver Society for the Next Generation. As a member, you will play a lead role in ensuring that Aurora continues to shape the minds and hearts of generations to come through challenging, thoughtprovoking theatre.

To learn more, contact Development at 510.843.4042 x312 or visit auroratheatre.org/BarbaraOliverSociety.

Photo of Barbara Oliver by David Allen.

15

A U RO RA T H E AT R E C O MPANY

AURORA STAFF Felicity Cowlin

INDIVIDUAL GIVING MANAGER

Josh Costello

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Sharon Dolan

INTERIM MANAGING DIRECTOR

Dayna Kalakau

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Karen Loccisano

O+G ARTISTS Christopher Chen Britney Frazier Margo Hall Cleavon Smith Jonathan Spector Beth Wilmurt STOOP STORIES PRODUCTION STAFF Charles Clear MASTER ELECTRICIAN

Flying Moose Pictures

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Jenn Ruygt

Colleen Nicole

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Katherine Sanderlin DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Adeline Smith

FOUNDERS Dorothy Bryant Marge Glicksman Ken Grantham Barbara Oliver Richard Rossi ADVISORY COUNCIL Ulises Alcala, John Caner, Joy Carlin, Barbara Damashek, Rafael Jesús González, Robert B. Hetler, Malcolm Margolin, Alan Miller, Helen Meyer, Carol Neil, Bob Oliver, Hilary Perkins, Hillary & Jonathan Reinis, M. Graham Smith, Steve & Cindy Snow, Jonathan Spector, Mia Tagano, Beth Wilmurt

SCENIC PAINTER

Nicole Schulz

Chris Swartzell

GENERAL ACCOUNTANT

CARPENTER

David Shultz

Elizabeth Lada

BOX OFFICE MANAGER

20/21 SHOW PROGRAM/POSTER ARTWORK

Cameron Swartzell

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR/ FACILITIES MANAGER

Storm White

ASSISTANT BOX OFFICE MANAGER

Dawn Monique Williams ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Joan Catherine Braun | VICE-PRESIDENT: Kitt Shute TREASURER: Rebecca Parlette-Edwards | SECRETARY: George Hisert Gertrude E. Allen | Josh Costello | Lance Gardner | Rosalind Kim | Alan Miller Craig Moody | Ed Schneider | Kinman Tong | Tom Worth PAST BOARD PRESIDENTS IN ORDER OF SERVICE:

Thomas Donovan | Grace Fretter | Ron Vincent | Judith Holland | David Wood | Andy Cohn Alison Teeman | Carolyn Weinberger | Robert B. Hetler | Ellen B. Levine | Gary H. Moore 16

C O MI N G UP NEXT AT AURORA TH EATRE COMPANY

By KAIT KERRIGAN Directed by M. GRAHAM SMITH

STARTS NOV 12

In its world premiere, Father/Daughter, by playwright Kait Kerrigan, is a beautifully written contemporary romance.

Two actors play both pairs of lovers in this structurally inventive play that asks how our relationships with our parents and children impact our romantic lives. In parallel stories told 23 years apart, Baldwin is Miranda’s 30-year-old divorced father who is trying to forge a new relationship with a beguiling woman, and Miranda is Baldwin’s 30-yearold daughter, who has found herself in her first serious relationship. What can we learn from the relationships we choose in order to repair the relationships we inherit? Kerrigan is an award winning playwright, librettist, and lyricist (We Have to Hold Hands, Mad Ones). Presented live in our space if health conditions allow, otherwise streamed to your home on video.

AURORA THEATRE COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION BOX OFFICE

Hours: Tues-Friday, 1pm-5pm Phone: 510.843.4822 Online: auroratheatre.org ADMINISTRATION

2081 Addison Street Berkeley, CA 94704 phone: 510.843.4042 fax: 510.843.4826

SUBSCRIBER TICKET EXCHANGE

Free exchanges require at least 25 hours’ notice. Exchanges to a more expensive date require payment of the difference in ticket price.

Exchanges with less than 25 hours’ notice will incur a fee.

SINGLE TICKET EXCHANGE

Single ticket buyers may exchange tickets with at least 25 hours’ notice for a fee of $10 per ticket.

17

POLICIES FOR IN-PERSON PERFORMANCES

Masks are required during the performance and at all times while in the Aurora Theatre building.

Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited.

Please turn off all cell phones during the performance (and any other devices that could be distracting). Photographs and recordings of any kind are strictly prohibited. No children under 5 permitted and every person entering the theatre must have their own ticket. Please arrive early due to observed Covid-19 protocols.

There is no late seating.

W E L C O M E

T O

A U R O R A ’ S

3 0 T H

2 0 21 / 2 0 2 2

S E A S O N

By DAEL ORLANDERSMITH | Directed by ELIZABETH CARTER NOW PLAY ING THR OUGH OCT 3

By KAIT KERRIGAN Directed by M. GRAHAM SMITH

S TARTS NOV 1 2

By CLEAVON SMITH Directed by DAWN MONIQUE WILLIAMS

S TARTS APR 1 5

By JONATHAN SPECTOR Directed by JOSH COSTELLO

By JACLYN BACKHAUS Directed by LAVINA JADHWANI

START S F EB 4

START S JUN 24

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW! C A L L 510 . 8 4 3 . 4 8 2 2 | V I S I T AU R O R AT H E AT R E . O R G