Welcome to our Virtual Play Reading Series. I am excited to be able to share theatre with all of you in this new way. As you may know we announced our fifth season at The Studio recently, it will include: Spike Heels by Theresa Rebeck, Pipeline by Dominique Morriseau, 9 to 5 The Musical by Dolly Parton and Ada and the Engine by Lauren Gunderson. We chose those stories to highlight seminal moments in herstory so we can celebrate how far women have come and keep an eye on how far women have yet to go. We have selected those stories around the theme: “Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History.” Now as we embark on this new chapter in our global history, I wanted to find a way to continue to bring theatre to our patrons in a way that will support the work we will be doing in the future. We started the series with George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, and now we will continue to bring you stories that highlight the struggles women have faced through out history. This week’s installment is The Squirrel Plays, a trilogy of one-act metaphorical depictions of relevant social issues in America today. Enjoy The Show, Whitney Morse, Artistic Director
Has been cancelled; no longer postponed. All ticket holders will be receiving a gift certificate for the full amount of their purchase. As a special thank you for being a supporter of The Studio Theatre, we have also added an additional 5% onto your gift certificate. We will begin sending these to your primary email address that we have on file. Thank you for your support.
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THE SQUIRREL PLAYS
INFESTATION, COMPENSATION, AND ERADICATION
By Mia McCullough Producer Jason Goedken Artistic Director Whitney Morse Director Grace Zottig
Production Manager Danielle Paccione
Company Manager Ryan Loeckel
Stage Manager Amber Sacks
Assistant Production Manager Layna Hoopfer
Assistant Production Manager Leslie Munson
Man Nathaniel Niemi
Wife Chantelle Cognevich
Realtor/Exterminator/ Animal Control Vallea E. Woodbury
Neighbor 1 Leslie Munson
Neighbor 2 Sarah French
Neighbor 3 Alyson Johnson Stage Directions Sarah Lockard
Stay tuned after the show for a talk back with the actors and director. You can ask questions about the play, its history and the performance! TheStudioTheatre
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THE SQUIRREL PLAYS By Mia McCullough Streaming: JUNE 26 | 1PM EDT Infestation, Compensation, and Eradication The Squirrel Plays is a trilogy of one-acts by Mia McCullough. It’s a metaphorical depiction of relevant social issues in America today. The plays broach many sensitive subjects including unwanted pregnancies, the use of public funds for termination, gun violence, and racism all under the guise of squirrels and the suburban community’s plans to control the small animals. These absurdist comedies about squirrel problems are a hilarious metaphor for social issues presented in a timely dark comedy about middle class liberal hypocrisy.
TARTUFFE By Moliére Adapted by Bobbie Bell Streaming: JULY 3 | 1PM EDT A sap, a shyster, and a slew of sinful shenanigans Tartuffe is a classic comedy by Moliére adapted by The Studio favorite Bobbie Bell (Lysistrata) and is set in the roaring 20’s Jazz Age. This screwball comedy follows the influential Parnell family as the patriarch is duped by Tartuffe. Reverend Tartuffe is a sanctimonious scoundrel who, professing extreme piety, insinuates himself into the household and slowly strips the Parnell family of their wealth. With many of the men duped, the women of the house rebuff Tartuffe’s sexual advances and see through his guise. It’s up to the ladies to expose the Reverend’s hypocrisy and save the estate. Join us this week for this modern twist on a 17th century classic comedy. It sure to be the bee’s knees.
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COMING SOON
EAT YOUR HEART OUT By Nicole Zimmerer Streaming: JULY 10 | 1PM EDT Thirsty for blood, hungry for love In a world where mythological creatures and humans try to coexist in society, Eat Your Heart Out is a play about three sexy siren sisters. After a young man mysteriously goes missing, they flee to Virginia. They try to pass as humans to evade the detective who has hunted them for years. Ilione, the youngest of the sisters, suffered a horrific attack and now uses a wheelchair. Upon their arrival she bonds with their neighbor, Ty. The illusion ends when Ty discovers their secret. Stuck between two worlds, Ilione must choose between the boy she’s fallen for and her sisters. Will Illione find true love or will there be deadly consequences?
COMING SOON
THE VIOLET SISTERS By Gina Femia Streaming Only Available: JULY 17, 24, 31 7PM EDT | $10 Forgiving when you cannot forget In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, two estranged sisters, Pam and Sam, reunite in Brooklyn after the tragic death of their father in the storm. The sisters go head to head over drugs, guilt, and abuse as they struggle to find common ground. After 8 years apart the sisters are forced to deal with all that they have let slip away, all the words that have been left unsaid for years. The Violet Sisters is a modern play in real time that is the perfect mix of comedy and gut-wrenching realism that is rightfully unapologetic.
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NOW APPEARING ON THE SHARON STAGE!
ElegAieSosng Cycle
by William Finn
ON SALE NOW ELEGIES A SONG CYCLE By William Finn Preview: AUG 13 Opening: AUG 14 | Closing: AUG 22
“Elegies: A Song Cycle� is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company.
$15 Preview Performance | $25 Performances "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.
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SEASON 5 | Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History Anne Richards once famously remarked, "Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels." This quote clearly illustrates the awkward balancing act women have been performing for years. Do I nurture my career or my children? Do I support my spouse or my own goals? Do I forego family life all together and focus on myself? This season at The Studio we are going to take a deep dive into the struggles women have faced finding their footing over the last two and a half centuries as homage to the centennial anniversary of women's suffrage this year. Women no longer need to wear heels, or even be the partner that follows. Instead, we can take the lead in footwear of our own choosing! We chose these four stories to highlight seminal moments in herstory so we can celebrate how far women have come and keep an eye on how far we have yet to go. We are proud to present season five at The Studio: "Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History".
SPIKE SPIKE HEELS S HEEL
PIPELINE LINE PIPE
ADA & THE ENGINE
BY DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU
BY THERESA REBECK
BY LAUREN GUNDERSON MUSIC & LYRICS BY DOLLY PARTON
BOOK BY PATRICIA RESNICK
BASED ON THE 20TH CENTURY FOX PICTURE ORIGINALLY PRODUCED ON BROADWAY BY ROBERT GREENBLATT, APRIL 2009
“Spike Heels” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
9/22/20-10/24/20
“Pipeline” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
11/17/20-12/19/20
9 TO 5, THE MUSICAL is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com
1/26/21-3/13/21
4/6/21-5/8/21
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW
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CHANTELLE COGNEVICH (Wife) is currently on the 1st Broadway National Tour of Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville. Previous roles at The Studio: Now. Here. This., It Shoulda Been You, Company. Favorite Credits: It Shoulda Been You, See What I Wanna See, Hairspray, On the Verge. She has also been seen on national television on the game show Cash Cab. Graduate from American Musical and Dramatic Academy and has her BFA in Musical Theatre. Thanks to The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol for inviting her to perform again with them. www.chantellecognevich.com SARAH FRENCH (Neighbor 2) is thrilled to be participating in this virtual reading at The Studio Theatre. Other Central Florida Credits: It’s A Wonderful Life-The Radio Play at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Rapture, Blister, Burn, Clybourne Park, The Big Meal, Picasso at the Lapin Agile at Mad Cow Theatre, Suite Surrender, Hank Williams: Lost Highway at The Ice House Theatre. She has been featured in national and regional campaigns for Credit Karma, Home Depot, Spectrum, Universal Studios Florida, Hertz, and Publix Supermarkets to name a few. Sarah played Young Sally Rayburn (the flashback of Sissy Spacek’s character) on the hit Netflix series Bloodline for 3 seasons. ALYSON JOHNSON (Neighbor 3) has performed for nearly 20 years in Central Florida regional and community theatres. Favorites at The Studio include 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. She has spent this time of uncertainty mostly homeschooling and staring at books, and is eternally grateful to everyone at The Studio for giving her and the community some art and comfort right now. SARAH LOCKARD (Stage Directions) is excited to be reading with The Studio Theatre. She has worked at The Studio as an understudy for Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune and A Doll’s House. Other recent productions include Pride and Prejudice, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and 1776 at Mad Cow Theatre, The Birds at the Garden Theater, and an all-female Twelfth Night with UCF. She works at Sleuth’s Mystery Dinner Shows and dances with Voci Dance. Thanks for watching and stay safe!
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LESLIE MUNSON (Neighbor 1) is delighted to make her debut with The Studio Theatre. Some of her favorite acting credits include The Tin Woman, I Love You Because, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (The Black Box Theater, IL), and Rocky Horror Show (Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, IL). Leslie has also enjoyed bringing kooky characters to life performing with It’s A Mystery, professional dinner theatre back home in the Midwest. Most recently she can be found behind the scenes with her talented work family at The Sharon L. Morse Performing Art Center. Thank you to The Studio Theatre and their wonderful team for the opportunity and for keeping art alive when we need it the most. NATHANIEL NIEMI (Man) previously directed The Studio's virtual play reading of Lysistrata, A Woman of No Importance and Accommodation. Recent credits include Sparkle at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Hawaii: Thumbelina, Ouch!, Elephant and Piggie's We Are in a Play (Honolulu Theatre for Youth), Noodle Doodle Box (Hawaii Theatre). Chicago: How to Survive a Fairy Tale, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Musical, Dooby Dooby Moo, Duck for President, Click Clack Boo (Lifeline Theatre), The Baker's Wife (Circle Theatre), Into the Woods (Quest), Hey Dancin'! Hey Musical! (Factory Theatre). TV: "Hawaii 5-O". Nathaniel holds an MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and is a recipient of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Directing Award. Nathaniel is currently the Resident Director at The Studio Theatre and the Director of Education at The Sharon. VALLEA E. WOODBURY (Realtor/Exterminator/Animal Control) is delighted to return to The Studio and collaborate to create art in these trying times. You may have seen her in the 2018 production of Company. Other favorite credits include Caroline or Change (Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe), Ain't Misbehavin' (Stage Door Players), La Cage aux Folles (Out Front Theatre), Bob's Marley's Three Little Birds (Synchronicity), The Crucible (Actors Express), Singles in Agriculture (Aurora), Tell Me My Dream (Alliance Theatre), The Color Purple, The Musical and A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre), Ragtime (Drury Lane Oakbrook), and The Second City Chicago. Vallea trained at the School at Steppenwolf and The Second City Chicago Improv Conservatory, and holds degrees from the University of Georgia (MFA) and Northwestern www.vallea.com
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GRACE ZOTTIG (Director) Resident Stage Manager for The Studio Theatre can typically be found in the audio/visual booth in the space. She has been with the team since August 2018, with her first production being Stop Kiss. Some other titles she has staged managed are: Assassins, Neighbors: A Fair Trade Agreement, It Shoulda Been You, and Now. Here. This. She is stoked to switch gears and direct the live stream table read series. Grace's directing debut, Silent Sky​, premiered at the Fred Stone Theatre, 2017. A special thanks to her friends, family, teammates at The Studio, and Noah. Without y'alls love and support, she wouldn't be the young professional she is today. MIA MCCULLOUGH (Playwright) is the author of numerous plays, most of which have been seen at theatres around the country and in the UK including Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the Goodman Theatre, and Chicago Dramatists (Chicago), The Old Globe (San Diego), Red Fern and Ensemble Studio Theatre (NYC), InterAct and PlayPenn (Philadelphia), and the Victory Theater and the Road Theatre (Los Angeles). Most recent productions include Wisdom From Everything at Local Theatre Company in Boulder, CO and two of The Squirrel Plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her play Impenetrable was a finalist for the ATCA Steinberg Award and Chagrin Falls won the ATCA Osborne Award in 2002. McCullough also wrote and co-produced a web series called The Haven, inspired by her experiences working at a domestic violence shelter. In 2019 OTV - Open Television released The Haven at www.weareo.tv
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CAST Man.........................................................................................Nathaniel Niemi Wife.................................................................................. Chantelle Cognevich Realtor/Exterminator/Animal Control................................Vallea E. Woodbury Neighbor 1.................................................................................. Leslie Munson Neighbor 2.....................................................................................Sarah French Neighbor 3.................................................................................Alyson Johnson Stage Directions...........................................................................Sarah Lockard
PRODUCTION TEAM Director......................................................................................... Grace Zottig Stage Manager................................................................................ Amber Sacks Production Manager............................................................... Danielle Paccione Assistant Production Manager.....................................................Layna Hoopfer Assistant Production Manager..................................................... Leslie Munson Company Manager/Editor............................................................ Ryan Loeckel Reading Graphics..................................................................... Kenny Constant Sound Design...............................................................................Nick Erickson
SPECIAL THANKS The VillagesÂŽ Marketing
Stay safe & enjoy the show!
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