The Life of Galileo – Performance Program

ELMHURST UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE Presents

The Life of Galileo

By Bertolt Brecht

Directed by Andrew Behling

November 11-13 and 18-20 @ 8:00 p.m.

November 21 @ 2:00 p.m.

Presented with the permission of the estate of Bertolt Brecht.

CAST _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Galileo Galilei .................................................................................... Regan Bobich Andrea Sarti …....................................................................................... Carly Serpe Virginia Galilei …................................................................... Grace Geschwandner Ludovico Marsili, Chamberlain, Inquisitor, and Child …............... Amelia McNeil Sagredo and Fulganzio …................................................................. Finn Hopmann Mrs. Sarti and Crier ….......................................................................... Sarah Gross Federonzi …......................................................................... Blake Macias Martinez Bursar, Philosopher, Bellarmin, High Official, Monk, and Guard ….... Zach Yates Senator, Mathematician, Scholar, Barberini, Pope…................... Ruthie Rakowski Cosimo, Clavius, Secretary, Gaffone, Peasant …......................... Henry Anderson

PRODUCTION STAFF ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Director ….................................................................................... Andrew Behling* Stage Manager ….............................................................................. Alyssa Boning Assistant Stage Manager …......................................................... Jessica Sanderson Deck Manager............................................................................... Grace Wadsworth Deck Scenic Decoration and Props Design …....................................... Nate Fields Scenic Design ................................................................................. Bridget Delaney Lighting Design …............................................................................ Alexa Nastasi* Costume Design …........................................................................ Angelina Hermiz Sound Design …............................................................................ Lindsay Janicki* Technical Director and Projection Design ................................... Rick Arnold, Jr.* Costume Crew: Amelia McNeil, Alexa Williams, Alexis Colatorti, Cooper Meeks, Amber Bretana, Raven Rhone, Anya Flammang and Elizabeth Khouri.

Run Crew: Amber Bretana, Bridget Delaney, Nate Fields, and Grace Wadsworth.

Technical Crew: Bridget Delaney, Peter Frey, Nate Fields, Raven Rhone, Elizabeth Khouri, Karabeth Footman, and Amber Bretana.

Theatre & Box Office Staff: Lindsay Janicki*, Alexa Nastasi*, Alexis Colatorti, and Jessica Sanderson *Indicates membership in Theta Alpha Phi, the National Dramatics Recognition Society.

THANKS TO... ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dorothy Arnold Joe Nicoll Julia Jazwiec Joyce Pohl Sabrina Zeidler College of DuPage

DIRECTOR'S NOTES ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A still more glorious dawn awaits. Not a sunrise, but a galaxy rise. A morning filled with 400 billion suns. The rising of the milky way.

- Carl Sagan As we celebrate Elmhurst University’s 150th Anniversary, we collectively reflect upon our history and look forward to the many possibilities ahead. In our infancy, we were a German-speaking school intended to prepare young men for the theological seminary and to train teachers for parochial schools. Today, we are a vibrant and diverse liberal-arts university, strong in the sciences, with an affiliation to the United Church of Christ - an offshoot of the German Evangelical Synod of the Northwest, to which the land was initially gifted. The balance between science and faith is deeply imbedded in our heritage.

Meanwhile, the EU Department of Theatre & Dance is returning to the stage for the first time since March of 2020, still in the midst of a global pandemic and in an American culture that is rife with science denial and conspiracy theories. Bertolt Brecht’s “Life of Galileo” is a German expatriate exploration of the tug of war between science and religion, a scientist’s duty to society, our fear of change and the unknown, and the passing of the torch of curiosity from one generation to the next as we attempt to build a better world for ourselves.

This play does not pull its punches. Those who use religion as a means of subjugation are figures of ridicule, deserving of our disdain. It does not, however, vilify the religious. The curious young monk Fulganzio carries his faith with him as he helps Galileo push the boundaries of astronomy. At the end of the first act, that monk asks Galileo a question, the answer to which sits at the heart of the play and what we all face as we soldier forward, attempting to build a life under the great shadow of the COVID-19 virus, climate change, and the threat of American fascism.

Fulganzio: Don’t you think that the truth, if it is the truth, will win out, even without us?

Galileo: No. The truth will only win if we win. Reason will triumph only if we reason.

There is hope for us yet if we do stand up. There is hope and great potential if we fight - and fight to win - for what we believe in. We’re only just beginning.

PLAYWRIGHT BIOGRAPHY _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bertolt Brecht Born in Bavaria, 1898. At 24, his cutting-edge Drums in the Night won him Expressionist recognition. His quickly written Threepenny Opera was Germany’s greatest hit of the 1920s. Revolutionary in form for 1928 Berlin – non-operatic, anti-highbrow musical theater - and cynically satirical, it irritated the Nazis; Brecht left Germany with his family in 1933. He continued to write in Scandinavia (e.g. Mother Courage) until the Nazi invasion. In California, along with some work for Hollywood, he wrote The Caucasian Chalk Circle and Galileo, produced in L.A. in 1947. The House Un-American Activities Committee interrogated him that same year; he left the U.S. the following day. He established the Berliner Ensemble in 1949 in East Berlin, opening Mother Courage with his wife Helene Weigel; its 1954 tour to Paris brought him recognition as Europe’s most important director, a year before his untimely illness and death.

PROFILES _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Andrew Behling (Director) Andrew Behling is a Chicago-based actor, director, and educator. He has worked with First Folio Theatre, Crossroads Repertory Theatre, Backroom Shakespeare, Redhouse Arts Center (Syracuse, NY), The One Year Chekhov Project, Theatre at the Center, Oak Park Festival Theatre, and The Classical Theatre Project of Toronto. He has his MFA in Acting from Western Illinois University and is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. Alyssa Boning (Stage Manager) St. Louis, Missouri. Alyssa is pursuing a Master’s in project management and is stoked to participate in her first show at the Mill Theatre. Previously, she was a stage manager for The Glass Menagerie and The Little Mermaid. She would like to thank Chris, Alejandro and the Fallout crew, Tasnima, and her parents for their support!

Bridget Delaney (Set Designer) Decatur, Illinois. Bridget is a sophomore and majors in production and technical design. She was so excited to design her first set and hopes you enjoy the show!

Nate Fields (Props Master) Bloomingdale, Illinois. Nate is a Junior Technical Theatre major. He is honored to be working on the production of Life of Galileo. Previously, he was in the cast for Camp Comedy. Nate thanks his family and the Theatre department for the opportunity to follow his passion.

Beatrice Harbaugh (Crew Member) Minier, Illinois. Beatrice is a sophomore multimedia journalism and digital media major running projection for Life of Galileo. Previously, she was Echo in Eleemosynary, and Clover for Animal Farm. She thanks her boyfriend and friends for all the good vibes this semester!

Angelina Hermiz (Costume Designer) Morton Grove, Illinois. Angelina is a sophomore theatre education major at Elmhurst and is so excited for the costumes to be showcased! She wants to thank everyone who has helped make designing possible.

Linsay Janicki (Sound Design/ Operator) Chicago, Illinois. Lindsay is a junior theatre education major/English minor, who is super excited to be making her design and operating debut in sound! Most recently at the Mill, Lindsay was stage manager for Camp Comedy and starred in A Night Avril’s- A Gershwin Cabaret as a soloist and dancer! She would like to thank her family, her boyfriend Jimmy, and all her amazing friends for all their love and support! Enjoy the show!

Alexa Nastasi (Lighting Designer) Salisbury, Maryland. Alexa is a junior theatre arts education major with English and Music minors. She is so thrilled to be working behind the scenes more! She would like to give the biggest thanks to her friends and family and their continued support!

Jessica Sanderson (Assistant Stage Manager) Houston, Texas. Jessica is a first-year musical theater and business administration major with a dance minor. She is thrilled to be working with such an amazing cast and crew on this amazing show!

Grace Wadsworth (Deck Manager) Dixon, Illinois. Grace is a sophomore psychology major with theatre and social work minors. Grace has been involved in theatre for most of her life in almost every aspect. She would like to thank her family for encouraging her to do what she loves.

Henry Anderson (Cosimo, Secretary, Peasant, Clavius, Gaffone) Schaumburg, Illinois. Henry is a freshman student planning to major in psychology and theatre direction, and he is delighted to be working on Life of Galileo. He thanks the cast and crew of the show for supporting him in this new endeavor.

Regan Bobich (Galileo Galilei) Upland, California. Regan is a freshman musical theatre major and honored to be a part of the cast of Life of Galileo. This is her first lead role in a play. Regan gives special thanks to her friends and family for supporting her and her dreams.

Grace Geschwandner (Virginia) Quincy, IL. Grace is a junior digital media major who is very excited to trade acting on camera for the stage! She would like to thank her family, friends, cast, and crew for making her first college theatre experience one to remember!

Sarah Gross (Mrs. Sarti/ Crier) Waukesha, Wisconsin. Sarah is a junior vocal performance major who is glad to be a part of the wonderful cast Life of Galileo. Sarah wants to thank her family and friends for supporting her and pushing her to grow.

Finn Hopmann (Sagredo/ Fulganzio) Mascoutah, Illinois. Finn is a first-year Sociology major with a love for performing. Previously, Finn played Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Finn thanks their friends, family, cast, crew, and everyone else that helped provide this safe space to explore and play with Life of Galileo.

Blake Macias Martinez (Federonzi) Cicero, Illinois. Blake is a theatre education major. They are also a dance and English minor. They feel happy to be a part of the cast. This is their first official play that will feature a live audience. Blake thanks everyone in the theatre department for being so welcoming and accepting.

Amelia McNeil (Ludovico, Inquisitor, Cardinal, Chamberlain, Child) South Portland, Maine. Amelia is a sophomore majoring in musical theatre and digital media. Previously, she was in both virtual cabaret performances last year. Amelia would like to thank her family, friends, and girlfriend for their support, and Andrew for this opportunity.

Ruthie Rakowski (Senator, Mathematician, Scholar, Barberini, Pope) Cedar Lake, Indiana. Ruthie is a freshman Criminal Justice major who is thrilled to be working on her first play The Life of Galileo. Ruthie thanks her family and friends for supporting her.

Carly Serpe (Andrea Sarti) Chicago, Illinois. Carly is a freshman English education major who is thrilled to be working on Life of Galileo! Previously, she was Nala in the Lion King the Musical.

Carly thanks her family and the Mill Theatre office for helping her write her bio.

GENERAL INFORMATION _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Support for the Arts If you would like to contribute financially to Elmhurst University Theatre, please make your donation out to the Mill Theatre Fund, the Festival Fund, or the Student Production Fund.

The Festive Fund helps students attend and participate in the Kennedy American College Theatre Festival every January. Students can compete in acting and design competitions and attend workshops developing skills in all areas of theatre.

For subscription information and reservations Call the Mill Theatre Box Office at (630) 617-3005. To guarantee seating at any performance, reservations must be made in advance.

In consideration of other patrons: • Please turn off or silence all cell phones and pagers.

• Please do not text others during the production.

• Camcorders, cameras, and other recording devices, visual or audio, are not permitted inside the theatre. (Please check them with the house manager).

• Smoking any tobacco products is not permitted.

• For the wellbeing and safety of other audience members and actors, we ask you to please wear a mask while in the Mill Theatre.