Elegies Program

s e i g e l E A Song Cycle

by William Finn

“Elegies: A Song Cycle” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company.

Elegies: A Song Cycle is a collection of eighteen distinct musical moments from composer William Finn. These moments are non-linear and do not provide a complete narrative. Instead, they embody individual moments of loss from Finn’s life. The memories of friends and family members who have passed on, and even the events of Sept. 11th are brought to life by five performers. At times the performers sing from the perspective of those who have passed, at other times from the perspective of the composer himself. Elegies is a collection of songs where the dead are not allowed to stay dead. Instead, through song, their memories are kept alive, filling the air with hope, gratitude and infinite joy.

—Nathaniel Niemi, Director

ABOUT THE STUDIO THEATRE™: Tierra del Sol was formerly a Country Club with performances as a backdrop to the outstanding food and impeccable golf course views. It has since transitioned, bringing the performances to the forefront by evolving into a new Black Box Theatre. The Studio Theatre™ is now a flexible theatre with 120 seats and options for Thrust, Round, or Proscenium style seating. The Studio Theatre at Tierra del Sol's season runs from late September through April each year with four productions running approximately 130 total performances.

The Studio Theatre is an extension of The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center, located in The Spanish Springs Town Square®, in The Villages® community. The Sharon is primarily a touring house hosting a variety of artistic disciplines ranging from concerts and comedians to dance, musicals, and operas. The Sharon seats just over 1,000 guests in a multi-level theater offering state of the art audio, visual, and theatrical rigging systems to create an entertainment experience second to none.

The Studio Theatre is led by Producer Jason Goedken and Artistic Director Whitney Morse. Resident Director, Nathaniel Niemi; Resident Musical Director, Gary Powell; Scenic Designer, Kenneth Constant; Lighting Director, David Krupla; Assistant Lighting Director, Lindsey Young; Sound Designer, Nick Erickson; Production Manager, Danielle Paccione; Technical Director, Clayton Becker; Production Stage Manager, Grace Zottig; Company Manager, Ryan Loeckel; Literary Manager, Rachel Whittington; Assistant Production Manager, Leslie Munson and Assistant Stage Manager, Stephanie Horn. #TheStudioTheatreTDS #Elegies

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ELEGIES: A SONG CYCLE by William Finn "Elegies: A Song Cycle" is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company.

Producer Jason Goedken Director Nathaniel Niemi

Artistic Director Whitney Morse Music Director Gary Powell

Scenic Designer Kenneth Constant

Lighting Designer Dave Krupla

Sound/AV Designer Nick Erickson

Costume Coordinator Stephanie Horn

Production Manager Danielle Paccione

Technical Director Clayton Becker

Company Manager Ryan Loeckel

Literary Manager Rachel Whittington

Rehearsal Stage Manager Grace Zottig

Performance Stage Manager Stephanie Horn

House Manager Heather Ard

Assistant Production Manager Leslie Munson

Assistant House Managers Sierra Baggins & Doug Montgomery

THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)'S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://shop.samuelfrench.com/content/files/pdf/piracy-whitepaper.pdf (352) 751-7799

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ELEGIES: A SONG CYCLE "The living was the prize, the ending's not the story" -Goodbye lyrics from Elegies The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol presents their annual summer song cycle, Elegies by Tony Award-winning composer, William Finn. This 5-person show is inspired by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Elegies is a heartfelt collection of songs about the deaths of various people Finn has known, including some of his closest friends and family members. This work is a commentary on the rewards and woes of being part of a family, a group of friends, and a society in good times and bad. Although the show is all about death and dying, it's no sad trip down memory lane.

Never morbid, Elegies is touching, funny, and ultimately buoyant; floating on the spirits of those who inhabit its songs.

Runtime: 90 minutes

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HISTORICAL CHARACTERS MONICA ANDRES and ANDY FEINSTEIN were close friends of William Finn and his partner Arthur.

Monica died of cancer, leaving behind her partner and two young children.

QUENTIN CRISP, born Denis Charles Pratt, was an English-born writer, actor, artists’ model, and raconteur, which is a kind way of saying he was an eccentric who gave a good soundbite. Crisp moved to New York in 1981, where he famously quipped that he “looked forward to receiving his naturalization papers so that he could commit a crime and not be deported”. Crisp’s refusal to hide his flamboyant homosexuality has made him an admirable figure in the history of gay rights. Crisp died in 1999.

BARBARA FINN was “William Finn’s beautiful, smart, life-affirming mother who rejoiced in her son’s talent and success but loved him unstintingly simply because he was her son.”

RICKY IAN GORDON is a composer who is still very much alive. His opera The Grapes of Wrath premiered in 2007. Gordon has also written a number of song cycles himself, including Genius Child, Only Heaven, and Orpheus and Eurydice.

BOLEK GRECZYNSKI was the Polish-born founder of the Living Museum at Creedmore, the first museum in the United States dedicated to the production and collection of art by people with mental illness. Begun in 1983, the museum is an “oasis for innovative therapeutic healing through creative expression”. Greczynski was known in Poland for his political art and experimental theatre. He died in New York in 1995.

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PEGGY HEWITT was a popular character actress whose greatest success was A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine. Her girlfriend, Dr. Mysty Del Giorno, was a skillful chiropractor with a large theatre clientele. She died of Leukemia in 2002.

ROBERT MOSES was New York’s city planner for much of the 20th century. No one had more to do with the way we think of New York or the way people live there today than Robert Moses. In 1962 he argued against Joe Papp who wanted to build a theatre for the public. He lost. Moses died at age 92 in 1981.

JOE PAPP founded the New York Shakespeare Festival in 1954. He fought city planner Robert Moses to build a theatre in which to present Shakespeare’s plays for free in Central Park. Since 1962, over 4 million people have seen a production for free! Joe also founded The Public Theatre in New York which produces Shakespearean works alongside new plays. Joe’s Pub, named for Mr. Papp, also opened onsite in 1998. The eponymous club has become an important fixture for theatre and cabaret performers in New York. Joe Papp died in 1991, at the age of 70.

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BILL SHERWOOD His only success as a filmmaker was 1986’s Parting Glances, a film about the last day of a New York couples’ relationship. Though Sherwood never made another film, Parting Glances launched Steve Buscemi’s career (he still counts it among his greatest performances), broke ground with its depiction of gay relationships and AIDS on film, and is still a cult classic today. Sherwood died in New York in 1990.

MARK THALEN was a “socially conscious lawyer who was an advocate for the disadvantaged and an activist for gay rights.” Thalen died of AIDS-related complications.

JACK ERIC WILLIAMS starred in the 1976 revival of The Threepenny Opera, and opposite Angela Lansbury, Len Cariou, and Victor Garber in Stephen Sondheim’s original Sweeney Todd. Williams was also a gifted composer and lyricist. He wrote the offBroadway musical Romance Language in 1984, and scored the 1981 slasher b-movie Nightmare. Williams died in New York City on January 28, 1994 from cardiac arrest due to complications of diabetes.

Biographical information taken from Wikipedia and The Musical Stage Company’s Study Guide for Students.

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CAST & DIRECTORS ROBERT JUSTIN DRESNER is thrilled to be making his debut at The Studio Theater Tierra del Sol. He was most recently seen as Stanley Kowalski in Osceola Arts Center’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Prior to that, Robert served a nine-month contract with Disney Cruise Lines, working as a Mainstage Performer and portraying such notable characters as The Beast and Gaston (understudy) in DCL’s award winning musical adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Robert received Bachelor’s degrees in Opera Performance and Theater from Northwestern University in 2018, and would like to thank Mom, Dad, Jacen, Hannah, Leon, and Hades for their continued and unwavering love and emotional support throughout all of his performance endeavors.

Be Brilliant.

MARK KIRSCHENBAUM is delighted to rejoin The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol for Elegies. Most recently, Mark played Sam Byck in The Studio's production of Assassins. He has been seen all over the world as an actor, educator and director. In 2007, Mark received critical acclaim from the New York Times for his portrayal of The Padre in the off-Broadway production of Man of La Mancha.

Regional credits include Sancho (Man of La Mancha), Sam Posner (Crossing Delancy), Mal Beineke (Addams Family: The Musical) and Bob Cratchit (A Christmas Carol). He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Miami. Mark is delighted to be performing in The Villages where Mom and Dad, now, call home.

WHITNEY MORSE has most recently been seen as Violet in 9 to 5! Other credits with The Studio: Next To Normal, The Last Five Years, Proof (Broadway World Award), Songs for a New World, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Company, Tell Me On A Sunday, Now. Here. This, A Doll's House. In 2018, Morse performed the once-in-a-lifetime White Rabbit, Red Rabbit.

Central Florida Theatre credits include The Secret Garden, 1776, Big River, Outside Mullingar. Chicago: Next To Normal, Other Desert Cities, The Children's Hour, Spike Heels, Down Range, Trafford Tanzi, I Carry Your Heart, Accomplice, The Turn of the Screw, Jeeves at Sea, Unnecessary Farce and The Merchant of Venice.

Whitney is the Artistic Director of The Sharon and The Studio Theatre. MFA Acting - Columbia University School of the Arts. www.whitneymorse.com

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ANGIE ROSE is thrilled to be performing at The Studio Theatre.

Previously, she presented Life in the Pits as part of the Lobby Lounge Cabaret Series at The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. A veteran of both stage and orchestra pit, she's traveled as conductor/keyboardist with national tours of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Color Purple and performed at Riverside Theatre, Arvada Center, Kansas City Repertory, Carousel Dinner Theatre, Carnegie Hall and as a chosen soloist at St. Peter's Bascilica. Angie can be seen weekly leading worship at New Covenant United Methodist Church and heard as a DJ on WVLG. She thanks God, family, friends and her son Max for life's Infinite Joy! CRAIG SMITH is delighted to be performing again at The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol in Elegies: A Song Cycle. Craig is a SC native and a graduate of the SC School of the Arts at Anderson University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Previous credits at The Studio: 9 to 5, John and Jen, Negotiating the Elusive Perfect One Night Stand. Regional Credits: Mamma Mia!, Oliver!, It’s a Wonderful Life, When Herod Came to Georgia, Beauty and the Beast.

Film/TV: “The Plymouth Period”, “Respect”, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”, “Dynasty”. Love to friends, family, & Christopher! @actcraigsmith ALYSON JOHNSON (Understudy) has performed for nearly 20 years in Central Florida regional and community theatres.

Favorites at The Studio include 9 to 5, Neighbors: A Fair Trade Agreement, A Doll's House, It Shoulda Been You, Stop Kiss, and Next to Normal. Graduate of University of Central Florida, 2001 and 2019. For Scott and Rob, at long last together again.

ALEC SPEERS (Understudy) Last seen at The Studio's in Ada and the Engine. Alec recently moved to Florida where he has been working with the Central Florida Lyric Opera in productions like The Magic Flute, as well as a previous position as a Singing Server. His favorite performances include La Traviata and La Boheme performed with the University of Northern Colorado and Opera Classica Europa in Germany. Alec holds two bachelor degrees in Theatre Studies and a BA in Music from the University of Northern Colorado. Alec would like to thank his immensely supportive family, and everybody who gives him a chance to work on what he loves to do most.

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NATHANIEL NIEMI (Director) is the Resident Director at The Studio Theatre. In Season Six, he is directing The Cake and Urinetown. The Studio directing credits include: Company, Now. Here. This., Neighbors: A Fair Trade Agreement, Assassins, 9-5, Ada and the Engine and Elegies. At The Sharon, Nathaniel is the Director of Education, instructing the Arts Academy and coordinating Youth Education Programs. Nathaniel holds a BA in Theatre from East Texas Baptist University and an MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences (Directing) from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. In Hawaii, Nathaniel was an Artistic Associate of Honolulu Theatre For Youth (HTY) directing H2O: The Story of Water and Hawaii, Pinocchio, Extraordinary Stories of an Ordinary Ohana, and You and Me and the Space Between. As an actor, Nathaniel has appeared onstage with many companies in Hawaii and Chicago, and on Hawaii 5-O. Nathaniel is the recipient of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival's National Directing Award and is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

GARY POWELL (Music Director) has been musically directing and staging shows for over 30 years in Texas, Chicago, New York City, and now Central Florida. Select standouts of Gary’s career include Sound of Music, Godspell, Brigadoon, South Pacific, and regionally Sweet Charity and Next to Normal at the Skokie Theatre. He has worked on several world premiere productions including: Tomorrow Morning and Scotch Verdict. While directing in Chicago, Gary was nominated for several Jeff Awards (The Chicago equivalent of the Tony’s) for the following productions: Jerry Springer-The Opera, Thrill Me, Adam’s Family, Opus 1861, The Baker’s Wife, Kiss of The Spider Woman, Evolution/Creation, and Cats among several others. Gary currently serves as the resident Music Director for both The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center and The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol. WILLIAM FINN (Author/Composer) is Finn is an American composer and lyricist. He is best known for his musicals, which include Falsettos, for which he won the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Book, A New Brain (1998), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005). Finn is a heavily autobiographical writer. His topics have included the gay and Jewish experiences in contemporary America, and also family, belonging, sickness, healing, and loss.

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CAST Robert Justin Dresner Mark Kirschenbaum Whitney Morse Angie Rose Craig Smith Alyson Johnson, Understudy Alec Speers, Understudy

MUSICIANS Music Director/Piano.................................................Gary Powell

DIRECTION Producer................................................................ Jason Goedken Artistic Director................................................... Whitney Morse Show Director.................................................... Nathaniel Niemi Music Director...........................................................Gary Powell

PRODUCTION Production Manager..........................................Danielle Paccione Assistant Production Manager................................Leslie Munson Technical Director.................................................Clayton Becker Literary Manager........................................... Rachel Whittington Company Manager...................................................Ryan Loeckel Rehearsal Stage Manager...........................................Grace Zottig Performance Stage Manager.................................Stephanie Horn

SCENIC Scenic Designer................................................Kenneth Constant Master Carpenter............................................... Alison Scharvella Scenic Carpenters.............................Tony Fairchaild, David Bost, Chad Pavlovich, Luke Bezio

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COSTUMES Costume Coordinator..........................................Stephanie Horn

LIGHTING Lighting Director/Designer..................................... David Krupla Assistant Lighting Designer/Master Electrician/ Light Board Operator.............................................Lindsey Young Spot Light Operators....................Chad Pavlovich, Tony Fairchild

AUDIO VISUAL Sound/AV Designer............................................... Nick Erickson Audio Engineer/Board Operator................................. Luke Bezio

PROPERTIES Properties....................................... Stephanie Horn, Grace Zottig

HOUSE MANAGEMENT House Manager......................................................... Heather Ard Assistant House Manager....... Sierra Baggins, Doug Montgomery Read more about our production team and designers at www.TheSharonStudio.com

SPECIAL THANKS The Villages® Marketing Tierra del Sol Bar & Grill

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ANNOUNCING SEASON 6 Tiny Revolutions,Big Changes.

BROADBEND, ARKANSAS

Act 1 (“Just One Q”) book & lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, with music by Ted Shen Act 2 (“Ruby”) book & lyrics by Harrison David Rivers, with music & additional lyrics by Ted Shen

URINETOWN, THE MUSICAL

By Bekah Brunstetter

“The Cake” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

No. 6

By T.J. Young

Music & lyrics by Mark Hollmann Book & lyrics by Greg Kotis

URINETOWN was produced on Broadway in September, 2001 by the Araca Group and Dodger Theatricals in association with TheaterDreams, Inc., and Lauren Mitchell

3/29/22-4/30/22

1/25/22-2/26/22

Presented by special arrangement with Stage Rights (www.stagerights.com)

THE CAKE

11/22/21-12/18/21

9/28/21-10/30/21

BACK ON THE STUDIO STAGE THIS FALL!

“No. 6” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

New subscriptions & individual tickets ON SALE NOW Visit our website to review seating charts.

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