The
Thanksgiving JUNE 6 - 23
Play
by Larissa FastHorse OCTOBER 2-27 2019
V
VEGAS THEATRE COMPANY
OCTOBER 2-27 ART SQUARE THEATRE I DON’T THINK WE’RE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK FOR ANYONE BUT OURSELVES. - Jaxton The Thanksgiving Play This performance runs for 1hr 30minutes
V
“The Thanksgiving Play” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company.
VEGAS THEATRE COMPANY
WRITER / Larissa FastHorse DIRECTOR / Daz Weller CAST / Christopher Brown Kelly Hawes Scott McAdam Amy Lee Reusch SET DESIGN / Alexia Chen LIGHTING DESIGN / Andy Killion COSTUME DESIGN / Candice Wynats SOUND DESIGN / Toby Allen PROPS / Rebecca Sass PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER / Nichole Killion ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER / Heather Gibeau Horvat LIGHTING ASSISTANT / Gary Parlanti
Playwrights Horizons, Inc., New York City, produced the World Premiere of“THE THANKSGIVING PLAY” in 2018. “THE THANKSGIVING PLAY was commissioned and originally produced by Artists Repertory Theatre Damaso Rodriguez, Artistic Director Sarah Horton, Managing Director Portland, Oregon” Playwrights Horizons is dedicated to cultivating the most important American playwrights, composers, and lyricists, as well as developing and producing their bold new plays and musicals. Tim Sanford became Artistic Director in 1996 and Leslie Marcus has been Managing Director since 1993. Under their decades of leadership, Playwrights builds upon its diverse and renowned body of work, counting 400 writers among its artistic roster. In addition to its onstage work each season, Playwrights’ singular commitment to nurturing American theater artists guides all of the institution’s multifaceted initiatives: our acclaimed New Works Lab, a robust commissioning program, an innovative curriculum at its Theater School, and more. Robert Moss founded Playwrights in 1971 and cemented the mission that continues to guide the institution today. André Bishop served as Artistic Director from 1981-1992. Don Scardino succeeded him and served until 1996. Over its 47-year history, Playwrights has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including six Pulitzer Prizes, 13 Tony Awards, and 39 Obie Awards.
WELCOME to Vegas Theatre Company! Yes, we have a new name which better reflects our love of the city we call home and positions us strongly to achieve our vision of continuing to build a fully profesional regional theatre company for Las Vegas. Thank you for sticking with us and spreading the word about what we do. We have a great season of plays in our 2019/2020 season, all Vegas premieres, and are thrilled to be joining dozens of theatre companies across the country in producing Larissa FastHorse’s The Thanksgiving Play. Check out the full season in the back of the program and if you like what you see, consider purchaing a ticket to the remaining shows with a 3 show subrcription. The world is an unpredictable and divided place right now, so join us as we explore stories that connect us, challenge us and remind us of our common humanity. I’m so happy you’re here. Daz
The VTC staff, board and cast and crew of The Thanksgiving Play would like to thank: Vijaya Poulri, Human Nature: Phil Burton, Andrew Tierney, Mivhael Tierney and Toby Allen, Mandy Iacono, Troy Heard, Jane Walsh, Richard Brusky, Fawn Douglas
LARISSA FASTHORSE Playwright Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Lakota) is an award winning playwright. Larissa’s produced plays include The Thanksgiving Play (Playwrights Horizons, Artists Rep), What Would Crazy Horse Do? (KCRep, Relative Theatrics), Urban Rez (Cornerstone Theater Company, ASU Gammage, NEFA National tour 2019-20), Landless and Cow Pie Bingo (AlterTheater), Average Family (Children’s Theater Company of Minneapolis), Teaching Disco Squaredancing to Our Elders: a Class Presentation (Native Voices at the Autry), Vanishing Point (Eagle Project) and Cherokee Family Reunion (Mountainside Theater). Additional theaters that have commissioned or developed plays with Larissa include Yale Rep, History Theater, Kennedy Center TYA, Baltimore’s Center Stage, Arizona Theater Company, Mixed Blood, Perseverance Theater Company, The Lark Playwrights Week, the Center Theatre Group Writer’s Workshop and Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor. Larissa’s awards include the PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award for an American Playwright, NEA Distinguished New Play Development Grant, Joe Dowling Annamaghkerrig Fellowship, AATE Distinguished Play Award, Inge Residency, Sundance/Ford Foundation Fellowship, Aurand Harris Fellowship, the UCLA Native American Program Woman of the Year and numerous Creative Capital, Ford, Mellon and NEA Grants. Larissa is the vice chair of the board of directors of Theater Communications group and represented by Jonathan Mills at Paradigm NY.
DAZ WELLER director
Daz Weller moved from Australia to Las Vegas in 2010 and is the Artistic Director at Vegas Theatre Company (VTC). Daz graduated with a BA in Acting from the Queensland University of Technology in 1998 and has worked extensively with most of Australia’s major theatre companies including The Sydney Theatre Company, Company B Belvoir, Griffin Theatre Company, The Bell Shakespeare Company, Theatre of Image, Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company and The State Theatre Company of South Australia. His US directing credits include: “Macbeth”, “Good Kids” and “The Crucible” at Nevada Conservatory Theatre, “Spinning into Butter”, “Seven Deadly Sins”, “The Father”, “Gianni Schicchi” and “Sweat” at VTC, “27” and “Cooperstown” for Opera Las Vegas, “Piano’s to the Death Game Show” for The Space LV, “The Piff the Magic Dragon Show” at The Flamingo, “The Small Space Festival” at Emergency Arts, As Resident Director: “Human Nature’s The Motown Show” at The Venetian Resort and Casino, and Spiegelworld’s “Vegas Nocturne” at Rose.Rabbit.Lie. inside The Cosmopolitan. Since moving to Vegas he has appeared for; VTC in “The Christians” and “Love, Love, Love”; NCT in “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Pippin”; A Public Fit in “The Beauty Queen of Leenane”; Las Vegas Little Theatre in “Doubt”; The Las Vegas Shakespeare Company in “The Wizard of OZ” and “A MidSummer Nights Dream”.
CHRISTOPHER BROWN Jaxton
KELLY HAWES Logan
Christopher Brown 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”, among others. 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.
Kelly Hawes Kelly is originally from MA. She graduated, with honors, from UNLV in theatre. Her recent credits include “Pianos to the Death” (The Space), “Sweat” (Cockroach Theatre Company), “The Importance of being Earnest” (Nevada Conservatory Theatre), and “The Secret Garden” (Missoula Children’s Theatre Tour).
SCOTT McADAM Caden
AMY LEE REUSCH Alicia
Scott Carl McAdam, Los Angeles, CA. Scott has been acting for more than 20 years. His Las Vegas acting resume includes his Best Lead Actor-nominated performance as Sims/Papa in Cockroach Theatre’s production of “The Nether”, which won “Best Play 2016” (Las Vegas Valley Theatre Awards), and his fiery portrayal of the Reverend Jim Jones in Table 8’s original production of “Jonestown” (Las Vegas Weekly, Best of 2014). Other significant, recent roles include Mr. Burns in “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” He in “Stage Kiss”, Stanley in “The Birthday Party” (Las Vegas Weekly, Best of 2013), and Peder in A Public Fit’s world premiere of “A Summons From The Tinker” (Las Vegas Weekly, Best of 2015). Scott is also an accomplished business attorney with a degree from the UCLA School of Law.
Scott Carl McAdam (Caden), Los Angeles, CA. Scott has been acting for more than 20 years. His Las Vegas acting resume includes his Best Lead Actor-nominated performance as Sims/ Papa in Cockroach Theatre’s production of “The Nether”, which won “Best Play 2016” (Las Vegas Valley Theatre Awards), and his fiery portrayal of the Reverend Jim Jones in Table 8’s original production of “Jonestown” (Las Vegas Weekly, Best of 2014). Other significant, recent roles include Mr. Burns in “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” He in “Stage Kiss”, Stanley in “The Birthday Party” (Las Vegas Weekly, Best of 2013), and Peder in A Public Fit’s world premiere of “A Summons From The Tinker” (Las Vegas Weekly, Best of 2015). Scott is also an accomplished business attorney with a degree from the UCLA School of Law.
ALEXIA CHEN scenic designer
ANDY KILLION lighting designer
Alexia Chen (Scenic Design), Alexia is thrilled to work with Daz again. Her credits at CTC include the 2018 Valley Award-winning production of “The Father”, “Sweat”, “The Christians”, and “Seven Deadly Sins” and “Erwartung”, a CTC collaboration with Sin City Opera. She has also designed for “Cat on the Hot Tin Roof” and “Suddenly Last Summer” for Super Summer Theatre’s off-season series in collaboration with Speeding Theatre. By day, Alexia is an architect at LGA. You might have seen her work at the Discovery Children’s Museum and DesertSol at the Springs Preserve. Alexia was the project manager who led UNLV’s team to compete and take home second place at the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013. She has a BA in Theatre from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Andy Killion is a freelance lighting and digital media designer. He just received his Masters in Lighting Design from UNLV, but has worked extensively over the last ten years in the fields of theatre, opera, and dance. Previous credits here in Las Vegas include “Satango” (Cockroach) “Into the Woods” (SST), “African Company Presents Richard III” (NCT), “The Father” (Cockroach) “She Loves Me” (SST), “Pippin” (NCT). Past awards include 2nd Place National KCACTF Barbizon Excellence in Lighting Award (“Evil Dead the Musical”), The Edgy Award for best lighting design in a season (“Bengal Tiger in the Baghdad Zoo”).
CANDICE WYNATS costume designer
Is #grateful to be working with such talented & kind turkeys at Vegas Theater Company’s first show under its new name. Her most recent credits include “Assassins” (LVLT -Valley Nominated for best Costume Design),”The Siegel” (LVLT), “Falsettos”(LVLT), “The Father” (Cockroach Theater). She currently works for “Vegas! The Show” and M&M American Dance Theater. Thank you times a ‘frillion’ to everybody in the Las Vegas community who has trusted her to design and work behind the scenes on SO many shows during her time in the LV theater community. You can follow her upcoming design & theater adventures in New York on Instagram(@cw_ costumedesign) or candicewynants.carbonmade.com
TOBY ALLEN sound designer
REBECCA SASS props designer
Toby Allen has been entertaining Las Vegas crowds for the past 10 years as a member of the Australian pop vocal group Human Nature - with “The Motown Show”, “Jukebox” and their current production, “Human Nature Sings Motown & More” at The Venetian. Human Nature have had a 30-year career selling more than 3 million albums worldwide and celebrating chart-topping success including #1 in Australia (2016) for their album - “Gimme Some Lovin’ - Jukebox Vol II”. Toby has previously done sound design for Nevada Conservatory Theatre’s “Macbeth”, Cockroach Theatre & Kinetic’s “Love Love Love” and Cockroach Theatre’s “The Father” and “Sweat”. He recently made his US musical theatre debut in “Satango” with Cockroach Theatre Company.
Rebecca is happy to be returning to her Roach Home...I mean the Vegas Theatre Company. Previously part of Cockroach Productions such as “The Dog/The Cat”, “Bug”, “Accidental Death”...and “Mr. Burns”, she has since been seen running productions Super Summer Theater and the Strip. Thanks and much love to my jerk cats, the house of. Debauchery, Follow your heART and create
NICHOLE KILLION stage manager
Nichole Killion is the Resident Stage Manager for Vegas Theatre Company. She has a BA in Stage Management, from Colorado State University. She has worked professionally as a stage manager in many fields of the performing arts including theatre, rock concerts, dance, fashion shows, and festivals. Her Las Vegas credits include “The Father”, “Every Brilliant Thing”, “Sweat”, and “Satango”(Cockroach Theatre) and “The Odd Couple Female Version” (LVLT).
COCKROACH THEATRE COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lauren Rosenblatt (Chair), Alexia Chen (Vice-Chair), Jessica Scheitler (Treasurer), Matthew Neely, Ann C. Pongracz, Michael Roitman 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 FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Accounts and Venue Manager / Marni Lewis MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Marketing and Social Media / Nicci Lee 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 Event Director / Jami Jones Special Events Stage Manager / Amanda Peterson
Volunteers are the life blood of Cockroach Theatre Company. While we have been able to build a budget that supports a wage for our casts and crews, our staff positions remain completely volunteer. 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
COMMUNITY PARTNERS Artifice Bar, EatMoreArtVegas.com,
INDIVIDUAL DONORS Lysander Abadia Toby Allen Bob & Jeri Amblad Paul Atreides Keith Barker Joe Basso Paul Beard Susan K. Beck Megan Belk Barnard A. Bernard and Rebecca S. Bernard Foundation Richard & Valerie Bernstein Cheryl Blevens Kate Campbell Angela Chan Tony Chaskelson Douglas Crawford Patricia Crown Rosemary Cunningham, M.D. Susan Danielewicz Lisa Davis
Sarah Debruyn Patty Donahue Matt Donnelly Mark Ellis Dina Emerson Althea Fackrell Russell & Brenda Frank Harold A Fremer Jim Gogert Toni Gogert Norma Gratrix Robert Gratrix Martin Hackett Mike Humel K&D LLC Andrew Kaempfer Glenn Kalaf Jane Karadbil Benny Katz Martin Kaye John Klai Norm Kresge Robert Laney Alice Loy Dan Marks Matthew Martello John Mattos Scott McAdam Thomas & Elizabeth McGrath Matt Neely
Sarah O’Connell Harold Pearce Edward Placencio Gordon & Schyler Richards Massimo & Alice Ronconi Front Room Giovanni & Gretchen Roselli Lauren Rosenblatt Cathy Rosenfield Suzanne Seguin Robert Shupe John & Nancy Shepherd Charlene Sher Robert Shupe Ansul Singh Stephen Sitar Jim Sohre Brett Sperry Tod Story MaryAnne Taglia Paul Thornton Jeff Tidwell Nancy Uscher Wendy Van Vacter Jane Walsh Maythinee Washington Kai Wells Thomas Wong Jonas Woolverton William and Sarah Wray Mace Yampolsky
VThe
VEGAS THEATRE COMPANY
2019/202
Thanksgiving Play
Holmes and Watson
by Larissa FastHorse
by Jeffrey Hatcher
Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions in Larissa FastHorse’s wickedly funny satire, as a troupe of terminally “woke” teaching artists scrambles to create a pageant that som ehow manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month.
Sherlock Holmes has not been seen for more than three years and is presumed dead. Dr. Watson is called upon to disprove the many frauds, fakes and charlatans who have popped up claiming to be Holmes. Suddenly… a remote mental institution on an island off the coast of Scotland reports that three patients have been recently admitted, each claiming to be the late detective.
Age 11+ (language, mild adult themes)
Age 11+ (mild adult themes)
OCTOBER 2-27
NOV 14 - DEC 8
20 SEASON Men on Boats
The
The OLD Mo
n
by Jaklyn Backhaus
By Pig Pen Theatre Co
and
Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon. Men on Boats is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River. Masculinity and manifest destiny meet their gender-flipped match in this hilarious and highly physical show.
The Old Man has kept his post as the sole caretaker of the moon for as long as he can remember. When his wife is drawn away by a mysterious melody he abandons his post to follow her, throwing the world into chaos. The Old Man and The Old Moon is a musical odyssey that is a blend of storytelling, live indie-folk music and inventive puppetry that will get your toes tapping and win you over with its big heart.
Age 11+ (language, mild adult themes)
Suitable for all Ages
FEB 19 - MARCH 15
OLD MAN and
APRIL 8 - MAY 3
history
“We love our city - our new identity honors that conn with our home. In a way the mission is in the name, w stories by and for Vegas.” - Artistic Director, Daz Weller
Vegas Theatre Company began its journey as Cockroach Theatre Com founded in 2003 by a group of UNLV students to expand the theatric experience in the valley. After 15 intrepid years of growth and chang Cockroach Theatre Company decided to transform into Vegas Theatr Company. The rebranding marks the evolution of the company as it w toward creating the first professional theatre company in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Cockroach Theatre Company kindle a new fire by reo placeholder CTC thank you for seasonwill 2018/19 around its founding mission of producing new and neglected works a developing original work with local talents.
2019 LAS VEGAS VALLEY TH
BEST PL BEST DIREC BEST ACT
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HEATRE AWARDS
LAY CTION TRESS
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mission Vegas Theatre Company is Nevada’s home for compelling theatrical productions that illuminate our shared human experience, awaken our sensibilities about our world, and develop our art form and artists. We tell stories that bring us together.
Why Theatre? Theatre connects the community through complex ideas, timeless emotions, and joyous laughter. Theatre provides a window into another reality, instilling passion in the audience - a reminder that, although we each live separately, we have empathy. Theatre is where we tell our stories and bear witness to our common humanity.
make a difference VegasTheatre Company has big plans for next season, with budgets that support the talent and new programming in between productions. We need you, our family of patrons and fans, to help us meet our goals for the season. Consider sponsoring the season, a particular production, or giving any amount that is significant to you. 2019 LAS VEGAS VALLEY THEATRE AWARDS
BEST ACTOR “Every Brilliant Thing� (2018) Photo by Richard Brusky
vision
Nominated for Best Direction and Best Ensemble “Accidental Death of an Anarchist” (2018) Photo by Richard Brusky Vegas Theatre Company seeks to become a fully professional regional theatre housed in an innovative and highly-adaptable venue in the heart of Vegas. We will develop a robust outreach program throughout Nevada with a special focus on underserved populations and Nevada’s youth.
DONATE on our website by clicking “DONATE” button for a tax deductible donation VOLUNTEER to become ambassadors, help build sets, work the box office, or support marketing IN KIND products or services including: radio advertisements, print or web-marketing, catering, equipment or construction materials, etc.
get involved Join the Vegas Theatre Company! Support our innovative, diverse, and powerful programming. Everyone can contribute and we are eager to engage you as patrons, volunteers, and donors to ensure you are realizing your VTC experience to the fullest potential. Use your passion for theatre by getting involved today. Speak with VTC staff or volunteers for more information. TICKETS $33 General Admission | $25 Discounted SHOWTIMES 7:30 p.m. Evenings | 2:00 p.m. Matinees
5:00 p.m. Sunday
Box Office opens 1 hour before every show Doors open 30 minutes before every show
box office: 725.222.9661 1025 s. 1st st. #110, Las vegas, nv 89101