Gaining Ground : A Celebration of Diverse Voices in Musical Theater Program

and

The Mason Players Present

Gaining Ground: A Celebration of Diverse Voices in Musical Theater Directed by Erin Gardiner and James Gardiner Musical Direction by Joe Walsh

Gaining Ground is dedicated to the memory of Darius Smith, a gifted composer and lyricist who served as one of the first musical directors of Mason Cabaret. In 2019, Darius Smith passed away suddenly at the age of 36. His work is represented within the program and we hope offers a glimpse of his monumental talent.

Featuring: Darren Badley, Jessica Barraclough, Cristina Casais, Erin Cleary, Makayla Collins, Hasan Crawford, Natalie Cumming, Steven Franco, Annie Graninger, Sophia Inserra, Liz Jacobsen, Drake Leach, Tony Lemus, Grace McNamee, Brandon Morris, Bianca PeĂąa, Erin Pugh, Gillian Rydholm, Deema Turkomani, Walker Vlahos Everybody Rejoice: A Brand New Day from The Wiz Music and Lyrics by Luther Vandross Performed by the Company Lemme Be on the Wrestling Team from U.G.L.Y. music and lyrics by Darius Smith Performed by Darren Badley, Makayla Collins, Hasan Crawford, Natalie Cumming, Drake Leach, Tony Lemus, Grace McNamee, and Deema Turkomani Secretly Hoping music and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson Performed by Annie Graininger

A Soft Place to Land from Waitress music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles Performed by Jessica Barraclough, Erin Pugh, Liz Jacobsen Dear Theodosia from the musical Hamliton

by Lin-Manuel Miranda Performed by Tony Lemus and Steven Franco I Wish I Could Go Back to College from Avenue Q music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx Performed by Darren Badley, Erin Cleary, Hasan Crawford, Natalie Cumming, Drake Leach, and Walker Vlahos See Me Now from Better than Dreaming music by Joy Son and lyrics by Alan Gordon Performed by Liz Jacobsen and Sophia Inserra If I Could Have Been from Working music and lyrics by Micki Grant Performed by the Company Learning to Let Go from Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens music by Janet Hood and lyrics by Bill Russell Performed by the Company

Musicians Piano and Keyboard Joe Walsh Electric and String Bass Brian Bera Drums Michael Barranco

Production Staff Stage Manager Amelia McGinnis Assitant Stage Manager Fe Miranda Costume Coordinator Alex Hardin Lighting Coordinators Caleb McMurtry Merin Lemoine Editing Billy Kessinger Reid May Producer Haley Smyser Production Manager Ruth Yamamoto

ARTS SUPPORT UMBRELLA Production Manager Dan Hobson Scene Shop Supervisor Ethan Osborne Technical Director Carrie Cox Master Carpenter Stephan Starling Venue Technical Directors Micah Stromberg TheaterSpace Tom Terlecki

VenueTechnical Director Adrianna Daugherty-Smith Harris Theatre Costume Shop Supervisor Laurel Dunayer Costume Shop First Hand Vicki Burroughs Sarah Alspach Sound Intern Chris Tait

MASON PLAYERS STAFF Company Manager Amelia McGinnis Associate Company Manager Erin Cleary Company Secretary Addison Picardat Sales Coordinator Megan Lederman Development Manager Christian Jost Historians Erin Pugh Deema Turkomani Marketing Manager Ariel Kraje ALPHA PSI OMEGA OFFICERS President Erin Cleary Vice President Sarah Millard Secretary Xavier Howard Treasurer Marty Bernier Associate Member Coordinator Ariel Kraje Historian Madison Bacino Community Service Chair Hasan Crawford

SCHOOL OF THEATER FACULTY & STAFF Director of the School of Theater (Interim) Kevin Murray Production Manager Ruth Yamamoto Academic Adviser Sara Simanski Office Manager Mary Burgess Voice Elizabeth Alman Intro to Theater John Carlson Scenic Painting Carrie Cox Lighting Stagecraft Sean Cox Directing Rick Davis Event Technology, Sound Design Kevin Dunayer Movement David Gaines Musical Theater, Acting Erin Gardiner Musical Theater James Gardiner Acting Edward Gero Screenwriting David Goldstein Theater Technology Dan Hobson World Stages, Directing Nicholas Horner Theater Education, Acting Mimsi Janis Dramaturgy, Criticism K. Johnsen-Neshati Sound Engineering Billy Kessinger Acting Mary Lechter Acting Kaiulani Lee Acting Bryce Lennon Theater Technology Phil Male Playwriting Heather McDonald Acting Ahmad Maaty Lighting Design, Stage Management Sherrice Mojgani Acting for the Camera, Audition Techniques Kevin Murray Voice, Intro to Theater, Contemporary Women Playwrights Theresa Ohanian

Movement for Musical Theater, Stage Combat Stefan Sittig Costume Design, Set Design Deb Sivigny Dance & Movement Workshop Morgan Taylor Musical Theater Joe Walsh Stage Management, Acting Improvisation Ruth Yamamoto The School of Theater wishes to thank the following donors for their generous support Professional Artist Residency in Theater (PART) Legacy Donors Kenneth and Carol Adelman Mr. Daniel C. Beck John and Deborah Blacksten Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt Rev. Dr. Elizabeth P. Braxton Jane and Chris Brewster Ms. Lois Brown Charles and Patsy Byrd Gordon and Judy Canyock Ms. Grace Chae Ms. Chris Downey Charles and Eileen Duggan Linda Evans Dr. and Mrs. William H. Gilcher Irwin and Fay Gold Vernon W. Gras, Ph.D. Verizon Foundation Mr. Carl Hemmer Emmett L. Holman, Ph.D. Ted and Anne K. Rosenblum Ms. Ann Steers Daniel and Ann Toohey Mikki Van Wyk Edward and Wava Vigen Boeing Company

Byrd International, L.L.C. Chevy Chase Trust Council on American-Islamic Relations Ken and Molly Elston and The Greater Manassas Christmas Parade Committee IBM International Foundation Captain Marsha and Robert Rease Marilyn Jones Eileen Mandell Dr. Alan Merten and Mrs. Sally Merten Mack and Paulette Miller Merle L. Mulvaney Diane and Tim Naughton Warner and Cheryl North Mr. Ronald Page Robert and Ida Portland Mrs. Lauren W. Rabb Diane and Robert Rafuse 1,001 Plays Supporters Anonymous The Mostaghim Family Phyllis A. Krochmal

Friends of Theater Gifts from January 1, 2019 to September 1, 2020 Angel ($5,000+)

Mr. Ronald A. Boykin Howard V. Kurtz Mack and Paulette Miller Diane and Tim Naughton

Patron ($1,000-$4,999)

Helen and Bill Ackerman Susan J. Aitel and Jonathan Goldman Elizabeth F. Alman Anonymous Dianne and Gerard Blais Gene Frogale Judy Canyock Dr. Rick Davis and Ms. Julie Thompson Charles and Eileen Duggan Art and Linda Hamerschlag Dr. Joy Hughes and Mr. Kenneth Lee Donna L. Kidd and Peter N. Stearns Henry Linsert Vafa Mostaghim David Ottaway Cass and Lisa Panciocco The Honorable J. Chapman Petersen &

Mrs. Sharon Kim Petersen Robert and Ida Portland Norma Jean Reck Sheralyn Watkins

Producer ($500-$999)

Anonymous Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt Thomas and Pam Maskey Mr. and Mrs. Kosmo Tatalias Verizon Foundation

Performer ($200-$499)

Clayton and Jacqueline Austin Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and Mr. Amin Neshati Harriet Kaplan Robert Langelier Ms. Mary Lechter and Mr. Kevin Murray Brian and Laurie Lindberg Alice and Matt Magelssen-Green William Schneider Ken and Joanne Schoonover Joseph Walsh Bob and Pat Warakomsky Dean and Andrea Westman

Friend (up to $199)

Anonymous Jane and Carlos Arancibia Michelle and Steven Barraclough Sarah Brady and David Lanphear Brassard Family Julia A. Bratton Mary M. Burgess Olga and Robert Burns Pat and Pat Carroll Cody Clarke and Brianna St. Clair Giovanna Doyle Nancy Eller Timothy B. Cooke BA’08 and Megan Fowler Cooke BA’10 Beverly George Dr. and Mrs. Robert Gerbracht Edward and Marjike Gero Linda and Shelly Gersten Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Gholz Lynn S. Gramzow Alan Green and Lea Edwards Dr. and Mrs. Dwight H. Harrison Jacqueline Havener Steven and Raquel Hecker Pat Hertig Michael and Ellen Hilert Katherine Hood

Friend (up to $199) cont.

Catie and Mark Hubbard Barbara Jacksier and Everett Chasen Mr. Edward Jones Evelyn Kiley David and Barbara Kilpatrick Ms. Diane Kiser Dr. Michael and Mrs. Linda Kostrzewa Phyllis Krochmal Christine D. Lange Hyla London Eileen Mandell Patricia and Evans Mandes Mr. R. Wesley Meekins Marianne and Symour Metz Richard Mitchell Kim and Ralph Moden Jill Norris Don and Sonja Palomaki Ms. Patricia M. Papadopoulos Norman and Lorraine Rosenberg May E. Roy Mark and Merrill Shugoll Arlene Singer and Gerald Riske Dorothy Smith Kirsten Smith Kitty Lou Smith Walter and Janice Smith Jeffrey and Joy Stephens Brad and Gayle Thayer Kelly Thomas Steven L. Tipton Kathy Trainor Frank and Lakyntiew Watrous Dr. and Mrs. George Whipple Joan R. White Zachary D. Wilcox Kenneth and Kathie Wilson Maiju and Dick Wilson Philip and Helen Zubaly

The School of Theater’s and Mason Players’ 2020-2021 Fall Season Mason Players Staged Reading Hookman

By Lauren Yee Directed by Julia Rudgers October 9 (Mason Arts At Home) presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com Gaining Ground: A Celebration of Diverse Voices in Musical Theater Directed by Erin and James Gardiner Musical Direction by Joseph Walsh October 22 (Mason Arts At Home) Mason Players’ Originals!

November 21 (Mason Arts At Home) Mason Players Staged Reading Alabaster

By Audrey Cefaly Directed by Rachel Sharp December 4 (Mason Arts At Home) presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

The School of Theater’s and Mason Players’ 2020-2021 Spring Season Mason Cabaret: Sing Happy! The Music of Kander and Ebb Directed by Erin Gardiner and James Gardiner Musical accompaniment by Joe Walsh February 1 (Center for the Arts Concert Hall) February 5 (Hylton Performing Arts Center Mason Fringe February 24-28 (TheaterSpace) Chimichangas and Zoloft

By Fernanda Coppel Directed by Esteban Marmolejo-Saurez presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com In repertory with Come My Beloved

By Emma Weinstein Directed by Jacob Horowitz Men on Boats

By Jaclyn Backhaus Directed by Mimsi Janis March 25-April 3 (TheaterSpace) Romeo and Juliet

By William Shakespeare Directed by Nicholas M. Horner April 22-25 (TheaterSpace)

1,001 Plays Co-directed by Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and Nicholas M. Horner April 27 (Theater Space) A Concert Presentation of Runaways

By Elizabeth Swados Directed by Erin Gardiner and James Gardiner Musical Direction by Joe Walsh April 31 & May 1 (Center for the Arts Concert Hall)

Theater at Mason would like to thank the Friends of Theater for their ongoing support of our programs, especially their support of scholarships for our students. Please consider becoming a Friend.

Please consider giving by logging onto our website https://theater. gmu.edu/give