ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST BY DARIO FO IN A NEW ADAPTATION BY
JAMES SANDLIN ASHBY JAN 23 - FEB 10 2019
JANUARY 23 FEBRUARY 10
BY / Dario Fo
COCKROACH THEATRE
ADAPTATION / James Sandlin Ashby
EXACTLY! THERE YOU GO: SCANDAL IS THE FERTILIZER OF DEMOCRACY! EVEN BETTER: SCANDAL IS THE ANTIDOTE TO THE WORST SOCIAL POISON: AWARENESS. IF PEOPLE FIGURE OUT THE SYSTEM WE’RE ALL SCREWED. LOOK AT AMERICA! THEY NEVER TRY TO COVER UP ATROCITIES! -The Maniac Accidental Death of an Anarchist
DIRECTOR / Allegra Libonati CAST / Brett Alters* Jillian Austin Christopher Brown Annette HoulihanVerdolino* Brent Mukai Brian Sloan SET DESIGN / Jesse Soper LIGHTING DESIGN / Ellen Bone COSTUME DESIGN / Abby Stroot SOUND DESIGN / Rosalie Chaleunsouck PROPS / Rebecca Sass PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER / Marni Lewis STAGE MANAGER / Shelly J. Lewis *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, The Union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, appearing under a special appearaance contract.
Director’s Note Dario Fo won the Nobel Peace Prize for literature in 1997. The Swedish Academy praised Fo as a writer, “who emulates the jesters of the Middle Ages…scourging authority and upholding the dignity of the downtrodden.” Fo’s selection as a Nobel Laurette was a surprise to most and it proved unpopular with Italian government officials and the Roman Catholic Church - favorite targets of Fo’s through the decades of his career. His work through 1960s-1980s is filled with criticisms of the government, assassinations, corruption, organized crime, racism, Roman Catholic theology and war. In the 1990s and 2000s, he focused on poking holes at Forza Italia and its leader Silvio Berlusconi. Through the 2010s he has targeted the banks - the main players amid the European Sovereign Debt Crisis. Fo is a clown, writer, activist, and politician who transforms injustice with relentless humor and activism. With his family he created an arts based healing center especially for artists themselves. He selflessly joined the Soviet Army during WWII as a cover up while his father smuggled Jewish scientists into Switzerland. Even when his family was brutally attacked by fascist groups for their plays - he and his wife Franca Rame continued to create several hit plays that toured around the world. Fo, Rame and their family are heroes of humanity.
Meanwhile … James Ashby (our adaptation’s writer) and I went to grad school together in 2008 during the Bush administration, “when nothing could get worse,” as James puts it. My mentor on the production was a thoughtful and passionate Bulgarian director, Mladen Kiselov, who grew up under the Soviet regime. He said to me, “Farce is about rage. Where is your rage?” James and I created this adaptation in 2008 to rage at an administration of war mongering profiteers, cover-ups of mass-demolitions and a nationally embarrassing inarticulate puppet president… mission accomplished! How could things be worse? Fast forward 10 years… I was lucky enough to meet the risk-taking, artist driven, kick-ass Cockroach theater team. Daz Weller posed THE question, “What work can a theater artist do right now?” Mladen had passed on, but his voice sprung into my mind… “Allegra, a school of fish can swim very deep… but in every school of fish... there is always the fish... with the funny mustache. You must find the funny fish.” I thought of Fo’s words “Laugher does not please the mighty.” I called James. Dario Fo passed in 2016, three years after his wife and collaborator, Franca Rame. Mladen Kiselov passed in 2012. This show is dedicated to these artist spirits - a few of the funniest fish who’ve swum in the deepest stream. My sincere gratitude to Cockroach Theatre, a place fostering freedom of expression and humanitarian pursuits. My extreme admiration for this team of actor heroes and theater makers. My love to the maniac on and off stage, Brett Alters - my own funny fish. Welcome welcome welcome welcome! Allegra Libonati Director Accidental Death of an Anarchist
The producers, cast and crew of Accidental Death of an Anarchist would like to thank: Vijaya Poulri, OogOog Productions, Leslie Barr, Gina Fackrell, Toby Allen, The Las Vegas Weekly, Cindi Moon Reed, UNLV Theatre Department, Las Vegas Little Theatre, Super Summer Theatre, The Las Vegas Review Journal.
JAMES SANDLIN ASHBY Adaptation
ALLEGRA LIBONATI Director
James Sandlin Ashby graduated from Carnegie Mellon’s Dramatic Writing MFA program in 2008 with first-place awards in screenwriting from the Sloan Science Fellowship and Family Friendly Programming Forum. From 2009 - 2013, he served as the Co-Creator/ Co-Writer and Executive Producer of SMBC Theater a weekly on-line sketch show that has been featured by Dan Savage, The Daily Beast, Kotaku, College Humor, Funny or Die, Patrick Rothfuss, and more. In 2013, SMBC Theater released the award winning web series STARPOCALYPSE. Most recently, James served as an Executive Producer on the first film by 5 Second Films, Dude Bro Party Massacre 3.
Allegra was the Resident Director at the American Repertory Theater for nine seasons: selected productions include The Pirate Princess, The Light Princess, Hansel and Gretel, The Snow Queen, Sleep No More (Artistic Associate), Pippin Workshop (Associate), The Tempest (Associate), Prometheus Bound (Associate), The Donkey Show (Resident Director). Broadway: Tony Award-winning revival of HAIR (Assistant). Off-Broadway: In the Body of the World (Associate) Opera: Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress at Boston Lyric Opera; Verdi’s Falstaff at Opera Omaha. Shakespeare: Julius Caesar, The Old Globe, San Diego; Romeo & Juliet, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company; King Lear, Wayne State University. Regional: Always...Patsy Cline, Northcoast Rep, Henry IV Pt 1&2, Resonance Theatre Co. She has directed outdoor musicals and Shakespeare productions for thirteen seasons at the Summer Theatre of New Canaan. Internationally she directed a new immersive adventure show, Peter Pan’s Neverland in Beijing, China. Allegra guest teaches at Harvard University, UNLV, Westfield U, Wayne State U, and is a MIT Director’s Fellow. She is a member of Tut’Zanni Commedia Company and a graduate of NYU and CMU. Love to the ever a-muse-ing Brett Alters and this incredible company.
BRETT ALTERS maniac
JILLIAN AUSTIN journalist
Brett Alters is a native San Diegan and graduate from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Past creditsinclude: The Beatles’ LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, Piff the Magic Dragon, Le Reve, P!NK’s World Concert Tour, Slava’s Snowshow, MEATLOAF in Concert, Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged with Summer Theater of New Canaan, Laughter on the 23rd Floor with North Coast Repertory Theatre... Proud Member of the Actor’s Equity Association. Love to Allegra, sage of farce, puppies, joy and understanding. “When you know how to listen, everybody is the guru.” Ram Dass www.brettalters.com @brettalters
Jillian Austin was born in Detroit and reared in Southfield, Michigan and is a graduate of Grand Valley State University. She last appeared at Majestic Repertory Theater in the world premiere of Bigfoot: The Musical by Amber Ruffin. Jillian last appeared at Cockroach in The Christians. Other credits include The Righteous Brothers residency show at Harrah’s, The Wiz at The Smith Center, An Octoroon and Little Shop of Horrors at Majestic Repertory, Reservoir Dolls at The Onyx. She currently serves as Business Development Lead for Lyft in Nevada and the Producer of the TV series SECRET IDENTITY SHOW on Amazon Prime.
CHRISTOPHER BROWN deputy chief Christopher Brown has 26 years of experience as a professional actor. He has been seen on stages in New York, Nashville, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Las Vegas with companies including Nashville Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of D.C., Jean Cocteau Repertory, Cockroach Theatre, A Public Fit, among many others. Some roles he has taken on include Benedick in Much Ado about Nothing, Coriolanus, The Creature in Frankenstein, Juror 7 in Twelve Angry Men, Mark Rothko in Red, King Henry in Henry V, Garcin in No Exit. He has directed multiple plays and three of his own films. He was a Blue Man with Blue Man Group for fourteen years where he performed all over the world. He holds a degree in Commercial Music. He studied acting at GATE in New York, The Shakespeare Theatre in D.C., and Steppenwolf in Chicago.
ANNETTE HOULIHAN VERDOLINO comissioner Annette Houlihan Verdolino is originally from Queens and graduated from the High School of Performing Arts and NYU. In New York she was a company member of the OBIE Award-winning HERE Arts Center, notably appearing in the original cast of Lizzie Borden: The Musical and Cry Pitch Carrolls (with puppeteer Basil Twist). In Las Vegas, she has inhabited the title role in Miss Margarida’s Way at The Smith Center (Table 8 Productions), and Margaret White in Carrie: The Musical (Majestic Theatre). For nine years she played the Iowa Housewife in Menopause the Musical in Las Vegas and on National Tours. She’s also opened for Cyndi Lauper, achieved notoriety in burlesque, lived in London performing in Burning Habits, and was Tarzan’s Girl in the feature film Magic Mike.
BRENT MUKAI officer
BRIAN SLOAN bertozzo
Brent Mukai is a voice actor, improv trainer and entertainer. When he’s not working in the booth, he’s out performing improv, or teaching classes at the Voice Actors Studio. He also hosts his own podcast: Brent Mukai Podcast, for which this is a shameless plug.
Brian Sloan last appeared here in 2017 as the titular character in Shotspeare’s ‘Macbeth (Dir. Matt Morgan,) and he’s delighted to be back working with Daz, Levi, Marni, and the entire Cockroach Team. Further, he couldn’t be more excited to meet and work with Allegra and the entire cast for the first time. It has been and will continue to be a rewarding and wild ride. Thank you all!
JESSE SOPER scenic design
ELLEN BONE lighting design
ABBY STROOT costume design
Jesse Soper is a third-year graduate student at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He received his bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. His most recent designs were The Importance of Being Earnest at the Judy Bayley Theatre, and Julius Caesar in the black box at UNLV.
Ellen has designed The Dog/ The Cat, The Wolves and Grounded for Cockroach and Seven Deadly Sins/ Ewartung for Cockroach/ Sin City Opera. She has also designed Incognito for A Public Fit; Big Fish, Man of La Mancha, In the Heights, and Memphis for Super Summer Theater; and Shrek for Huntsman Productons. In NYC, she designed for several dance companies as well as assisted lighting designers for companies such as Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons, Mabou Mines, Cleveland Playhouse and Feld Ballet. She has previously designed for Yow Dance in Orlando and Stray Cat Theatre in Tempe.
Abby is excited to be a part of another production with Cockroach Theatre. Her recent designs include Bring It On with Super Summer Theatre, Bug, Love, Love Love and Still Dance the Stars with Cockroach Theatre, and Iphigenia with The LAB. She would like to thank Allegra and the cast for their support and patience. She would also like to thank the entire team at Cockroach for continually welcoming her back.
REBECCA SASS props master Rebecca is happy to be returning to her roach home. Previously part of Cockroach production No Exit, Bug, Native Speech, Mr Burns, The Wolves and The Dog/The Cat, she has since been seen running productions at Super Summer Theatre and on the strip with Evil Dead: The Musical. Thanks and much love to my jerk cats, the See You Next Tuesdays, the Deadites and all the countless theatre and art lovers for continuing to participate in this community.
ROSALIE CHALEUNSOUCK sound design
MARNI LEWIS production stage manager
Rosalie Chaleunsouck is a local sound and lighting designer born and raised in Las Vegas. She is currently a biochemistry major at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a minor in theatrical design and technology. Her most recent sound design credits include The Crucible and Love’s Labours Lost at the Nevada Conservatory Theater. She is honored to work alongside talented artists every day and cherishes every aspect of the design process.
Marni has worked in nearly all positions for many companies but has made a career for herself as a production stage manager and event producer. Some productions that hold special memories include the West Coast premieres of The Who’s Tommy and Chess (SJCLO / AMTSJ); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (City Lights Theatre); The Pirates of Penzance (Sin City Opera); and Stage Kiss (Cockroach Theatre Company). Marni has a deep affection for all things Cockroach and is proud to include Death of an Anarchist on her list of favorite productions, thanks to the talented cast and crew who made it an amazing adventure.
SHELLY J. LEWIS stage manager Shelly J. Lewis is a recent graduate from The University of Nevada Las Vegas where she received her MFA in Stage Management. She is excited to work on the production Accidental Death of an Anarchist!! Her recent credits include MAT FRANCO: Magic Reinvented Nightly(Sub Deck Stage Manager, The LINQ), Marilyn Monroe the Musical (Production Assistant, Paris Hotel), BIG FISH (Production Stage Manager), Julius Caesar (Production Stage Manager), King Richard III (Assistant Stage Manager), and Good Kids (Production Stage Manager). She is excited to connect with an AWESOME group of individuals for her first season with Cockroach Theatre.
COCKROACH THEATRE COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lauren Rosenblatt (Chair), Alexia Chen (Vice-Chair), Johnathon Fayeghi (Secretary), Jessica Scheitler (Treasurer), Matthew Neely, Ann C. Pongracz. ADVISORY BOARD Vijaya Poluri, Chuck Akin, Will Adamson, Scott McAdam, Lisa Howell. ARTISTIC & PROGRAMMING Artistic Director / Daz Weller Executive Director / Levi Fackrell Associate Producer / Kelly Hawes Casting Director / Jamie Carvelli Cockroach Incubator Directors / Jasmine Kojouri Brenna Folger
Volunteers are the life blood of Cockroach Theatre Company.
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
While we have been able to build a budget that supports a wage for our casts and crews, our staff positions remain completely volunteer.
Accounts and Venue Manager / Marni Lewis MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Season Photographer / Robert John Kley Graphic Design / Annette Houlihan Verdolino Daz Weller TICKETING & BOX OFFICE Box Office Manager / Rebecca Kennard PRODUCTION Resident Stage Manager / Nichole Killion Technical Director / Shannon Bradley Event Director / Jami Jones Special Events Stage Manager / Amanda Peterson
Thank you to all of our wonderfully committed staff who love creating theatre in Las Vegas as much as you love seeing it. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering for CTC, we have many opportunities available. Visit us at cockroachtheatre.com/volunteer
SEASON SPONSOR Jaguar Land Rover Las Vegas COMMUNITY PARTNERS Tacos Huevos, Artifice Bar, EatMoreArtVegas.com INDIVIDUAL DONORS Mike Humel Brett Sperry Lysander Abadia K&D LLC Tod Story Toby Allen Andrew Kaempfer MaryAnne Taglia Bob & Jeri Amblad Glenn Kalaf Paul Thornton Paul Atreides Jane Karadbil Jeff Tidwell Keith Barker Benny Katz Nancy Uscher Joe Basso Martin Kaye Wendy Van Vacter Paul Beard John Klai Jane Walsh Susan K. Beck Norm Kresge Maythinee Washington Megan Belk Robert Laney Kai Wells Barnard A. Bernard and Alice Loy Thomas Wong Rebecca S. Bernard Dan Marks Jonas Woolverton Foundation Matthew Martello William and Sarah Wray Richard & Valerie Bernstein John Mattos Mace Yampolsky Cheryl Blevens Scott McAdam Kate Campbell Thomas & Elizabeth McGrath Angela Chan Matt Neely Tony Chaskelson Sarah O’Connell Douglas Crawford Harold Pearce Patricia Crown Rosemary Cunningham, M.D. Edward Placencio Gordon & Schyler Richards Susan Danielewicz Massimo & Alice Ronconi Lisa Davis Front Room Sarah Debruyn Giovanni & Gretchen Roselli Patty Donahue Lauren Rosenblatt Matt Donnelly Cathy Rosenfield Mark Ellis Suzanne Seguin Dina Emerson Robert Shupe Althea Fackrell John & Nancy Shepherd Russell & Brenda Frank Charlene Sher Harold A Fremer Robert Shupe Jim Gogert Ansul Singh Toni Gogert Stephen Sitar Norma Gratrix Jim Sohre Robert Gratrix Martin Hackett
US PREMIERE Puccini’s
SATANGO
MUSIC BY STEWART D’ARRIETTA LYRICS AND BOOK BY JUSTIN FLEMING A SIZZLING NEW MUSICAL FEATURING some of vegas’ biggest names, HEART-PUMPING SONGS played by a live band AND AN OBSCENE AMOUNT OF TANGO!
june 6 - 23 DIRECTED BY WAYNE HARRISON FEATURING TOBY ALLEN & SAVANNAH SMITH
COCKROACHTHEATRE.COM
a tough yet empathetic portrait of the America that came undone. -the newyorker
WINNER OF THE 2017 PULITZER PRIZE
SWEAT
BY LYNN NOTTAGE march 20 - april 7 2019 DIRECTED BY DAZ WELLER
With: Joe Basso, Stuart J. Elzy, Kelly Hawes, Monica Heuser, Dezmyn Murphy, Byron Napier, Jason Nious, Luke Striffler, Richie Villafeurte & Maythinee Washington.
COCKROACHTHEATRE.COM
SIN CITY OPERA & COCKROACH THEATRE COMPANY PRESENT
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COCKROACHTHEATRE.COM
Gianni Schicchi is an irresistible satyr play set around the death-bed of a rich man. The scheming relatives who vie for a chunk of his fortune are all too recognizable and reveal the greed and avarice which lie just below the thin veneer of their family loyalties.