Jedlicka Performing Arts Center - A Streetcar Named Desire

Proudly Presents

r a c t e e r t S A e r i s e D d e m a N By

Tennessee Williams STARRING

Anslee Burns Ashley Dearborn Kirstin Franklin Carl Herzog Justin Kilduff Katherine Lamb Kristin Lutzeier Michael Nedza Adam M. Overberg Mark Walsh Brian Zane Directed by

CHRISTOPHER PAZDERNIK

Scenic Design by

Lighting Design by

Michael Nedza

Dante J. Orfei

Costume Design by

Sound Design by

Lindsay Prerost

Micheal A. Kott

A Streetcar Named Desire is presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. 440 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 A Streetcar Named Desire

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SET TING The scene is the two rooms of the Kowalski apartment in the French quarter of New Orleans. The action of the play takes place in the spring, summer and early fall. The year is 1947.

There will be one 15-minute intermission between Act I and Act II. There will be a 5-minute pause between Act II and Act III. The use of flash photography and video recording devices without the written permission of the management is prohibited.

Please remember to silence or turn off your cellular phones and other messaging devices.

F R O M T H E D I R E C TO R S C H A I R “I don’t want realism. I want magic!”

When Blanche DuBois makes this statement in the third act of A Streetcar Named Desire, she has reached a point where she can no longer handle reality, but prefers, for her own comfort, to live in the fantasy world she has created for herself. Who among us has not felt the same at one time or another--the desire to refuse the truth of everyday life and instead, live inside our own imaginations? This is the great conflict of what is Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece: the struggle for the magic of Blanche’s fantasy to co-exist with the gritty reality of life as it is lived by Stanley and Stella Kowalski. The captivating way Williams has captured this universal struggle is one of many reasons this fascinating play has been celebrated for well over half a century.

This conflict also calls to mind another great literary character: Don Quixote, the brave knight created by author Miguel de Cervantes. In his own way of describing the struggle between fantasy and reality, he says, “Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be!” As a literature teacher herself, I imagine Blanche might have taken quite a liking to Quixote.

It has been a joy and a privilege to explore A Streetcar Named Desire with the courageous actors and talented designers whose work you will soon see onstage. Thank you for joining us today, and thank you for supporting live theater in your community.

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CAST Stanley Kowalski..........................................................................................................................Carl Herzog Stella Kowalski........................................................................................................................... Anslee Burns Blanche DuBois..................................................................................................................... Kirstin Franklin Harold Mitchell (Mitch)................................................................................................................Brian Zane Eunice Hubbell.......................................................................................................................Kristin Lutzeier Steve Hubbell................................................................................................................ Adam M. Overberg Pablo Gonzalez.......................................................................................................................... Justin Kilduff Mexican Woman/Nurse.................................................................................................... Katherine Lamb Negro Woman.....................................................................................................................Ashley Dearborn Young Collector........................................................................................................................... Mark Walsh Doctor........................................................................................................................................Michael Nedza

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CAST PROFILES Anslee Burns (Stella Kowalski) Originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Anslee is thrilled to be reconnecting with her Southern roots as Stella in Streetcar. A 2012 graduate of Indiana University, Anslee received her Bachelor of Arts studying opera, English and theatre. Since arriving in Chicago, Anslee has been seen as Marilyn Monroe in Kennedy: The Musical, Bea in Theatre 47’s Imitation of Life, and JPAC’s Spamalot. Favorite roles outside of the Windy City include Maria in The Sound of Music, Maria in West Side Story, Truvy in Steel Magnolias and Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. Anslee is also a teaching artist with Dream Big Performing Arts Workshop, Northlight Theatre, Pure Artistry and Spotlight Youth Theatre. “The future is called “perhaps”, which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the only important thing is not to allow that to scare you.”-Tennessee Williams Ashley Dearborn (Negro Woman) Ashley is an actress, singer and storyteller, who has performed across Chicagoland and the United States. As a storyteller, she specializes in stories of hope, healing and the African Diaspora. She believes that everyone has a story to tell and encourages them to get it out. Ashley spent seven years as a Runaway Slave in Naper Settlement’s highly acclaimed Underground Railroad program. She was last seen at the Den Theatre as Rita in Lipstick Goes On Last. Some of Ashley’s cherished roles are Oda Mae in Pirate Bones, Domina in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Jewel in Best Little Whorehouse, Mama Euralie in Once on This Island, and Phoebe in As You Like It. Ashley 4

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has appeared in commercials, industrials and film. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and was recently elected to the board of the Chicago branch. As a community activist, she advocates for youth, affordable housing and the arts.

Ashley gives thanks to Jesus Christ for the opportunity to work with this talented cast and crew. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths - Prov. 3:6.

Kirstin Franklin (Blanche DuBois) Regionally Kirstin has been performed at The Guthrie, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Asolo Rep, Pangea World Theatre, and the NY Fringe among others. Since arriving in Chicago Kirstin has performed at the Raven Theatre and became a company member with Akvavit Theater performing in Red and Green, Kokkola and most recently as the lead role in Autumn Dream at the DCASE Storefront Theatre. Kirstin studied theatre at St Olaf College and received her MFA in acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory.

Major thanks go to family and friends for all the much needed support.

Carl Herzog (Stanley Kowalski) Carl is thrilled to make his professional Chicago theater debut with JPAC and this exciting production team! A graduate of the SIUC theater program, Carl has already appeared in several short films and taken acting classes under Darrell W Cox and the Profiles acting school since arriving in Chicago in January. In March, Carl will be appearing as the lead in The Shakespeare Conspiracy at the Actors Ensemble Theater in Rockford. Thanks to all friends and family for their support, and love to Mere.

CAST PROFILES

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Justin Kilduff (Pablo Gonzalez) Justin is a native of west Michigan hailing from Grand Rapids. Since arriving he has had various new opportunities to hone his craft both on stage and behind the camera. You may have seen him baring his most vulnerable parts as Berger in a local production of Hair. His facial hair and ethnic ambiguity landed him not only the coveted role of Pablo in this production of Streetcar, but recently also the role of Jesus in a comedic student film written by Second City Alumni. He is excited to be returning to “straight” theater after a long stint of musicals. Some of his favorite past roles include Jimmy in Reefer Madness, Seymour-Little Shop of Horrors, and Brad in Rocky Horror. You can catch some of his past film work at www. backstagedrama.com. He would like to thank his sister Jillian for pointing out to him that he appears to be sporting a Jesus-esk look. He would like to thank his co-worker Jade for consistently likening him to the pirate Jack Sparrow. He would also like to thank his friend William Panek for reminding him that he needs to shave and please cut off all of his hairs.

Katherine Lamb (Mexican Woman, Nurse) Katherine Lamb is pleased to be making her JPAC debut. She is a graduate of New York University and most recently appeared in Cast of Characters for Baby Crow Productions.

Kristin Lutzeier (Eunice Hubbell) Kristin is excited to be back at JPAC as Eunice. Her favorite JPAC roles include, The Narrator, Fricka, Erda, Needa, The Backup Singer, Katsy, a

Rivermaiden and a Valkyrie in Das Barbecu, Paulette in Legally Blonde and Miss Skillon in See How They Run. She was seen most recently as Trix the Aviatrix in The Drowsy Chaperone with Fremont Street Theater Company. Kristin holds a BFA in Musical Theater from the Chicago College of Performing Arts and would like to thank her parents for all their love and support.

Michael Nedza (Doctor) is a full-time faculty member at Morton College, and is the technical director of the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center. In addition to his extensive design experience, Michael has been a regular actor here at the JPAC. Audiences have seen him most recently as Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde, the Doctor in Miracle Worker, and Lefevre in Phantom of the Opera. Other roles include J.D. Sheldrake in Promises, Promises, Andrew Duncan in 45 Seconds from Broadway, and Mr. Laurence in Little Women.

Adam M. Overberg (Steve Hubbell) Adam Overberg is excited to once again be performing for JPAC in their production of Streetcar Named Desire.

Originally from the Quad Cities, he moved to Chicago in 2011.

He most recently could be seen here at JPAC in Whistle Down the Wind, Dream Theatre Company’s production of The Samaritan Syndrome, Nothing Special Productions’ A Midlife Something, Cold Basement Productions’ Henry Moore is Melting and Arcas Productions’ Beowulf. He would like to thank his family for their on going support and as always his wife.

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CAST PROFILES

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Mark Walsh (Young Collector) Mark is thrilled to be making his JPAC and Chicago debut with one of his favorite plays of all time! Mark recently graduated from the University of Missouri, where he acted in many academic and regional productions including, Bright Ideas, A Funny Thing…

Forum, Hamlet, and Chicago (MU Theatre), two original KCACTF award winning plays The Lost Slipper, and Nights on the Couch (Irene Ryan Nomination), tempOdyssey (Independent Actors Theatre), and Fuddy Meers (Talking Horse Productions). Mark would like to thank the cast and crew, as well as his family and friends for the outrageous support over the past ten years.

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Brian Zane (Harold Mitchell “Mitch”) Brian Zane, a native New Yorker, has been heavily involved with theatre for most of his life. He received his BA in English and Theatre from the College of William and Mary in 2007. Since then, Brian has worked as an actor, music director, pianist, vocal coach and acting teacher in various settings around the country. Favorite productions include: A View from the Bridge (Alfieri), The Fantasticks (El Gallo), West Side Story (Riff ), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Picasso) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Vice Principal Panch). Brian recently finished his MA in Educational Theatre at NYU. He teaches Drama at an elementary school in Evanston.

C R E AT I V E S TA F F P R O F I L E S Dante J. Orfei (Artistic Director, Lighting Designer) has been the Artistic Director at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center for over 25 years. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has produced and directed a travel documentary titled European Sojourn, which aired on PBS. Dante also directed the U.S. Premiere of the musical Metropolis and worked closely with the show’s creator, Academy and Grammy Award-winner Joseph Brooks on the development of the show. Dante directed the national regional theatre premiere of Brooks’ most recent Broadway show, In My Life. He has studied with Tony Awardwinners Harold Prince and Jules Fisher. He directed the Midwest Regional Premiere of the Queen rock musical, We Will Rock You, and has also directed the World Premiere of Nefertiti – The Musical, as well as Premiere Chicago Productions of Little Women, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love, Blood Brothers, Jekyll and Hyde, The Baker’s Wife, and numerous plays by Olivier Awardwinning playwright Ray Cooney, including the U.S. Premiere of Cooney’s It Runs in the Family. Dante has directed well over 175 stage productions on the professional, dinner theatre and academic levels.

Christopher Pazdernik (Director) Christopher is delighted to return to Jedlicka after choreographing Spamalot last spring. Other Chicago directing or choreography credits include Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Show Us Your Love & F***ing Men (Bailiwick Chicago), Bombs Away! (Bailiwick Repertory); Candide, Miracle on 34th Street & A Catered Affair (Porchlight Music Theater), Time After Time: The Songs of Jule Styne (Theo Ubique), The Full Monty (Village Players), and a series of musical theater revues at Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret. He also works frequently with new musicals in development and as a guest artist at Elmhurst College, his Alma Mater. He is a proud to be the Artistic Producer at Bailwick Chicago, an Artistic Associate with Porchlight Music Theater and the Annual Fund Coordinator at Chicago Shakespeare

Theater. Next up, he will be directing a concert production of Anyone Can Whistle for Porchlight.

Michael Nedza (Scenic and Properties Designer/Technical Director) is a full-time faculty member at Morton College and has been designing throughout the Midwest for over 25years. He has designed over 75 shows here at the JPAC. Some of the designs he is most proud of include Sunset Boulevard, Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, In My Life, We Will Rock You, Jekyll and Hyde, and 1776. Michael has been recognized twice with the “Award of Merit” from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Melanie Lamoureux (Managing Director) Melanie is thrilled to be part of the JPAC team. She has performed on the JPAC stage many times, most recently as Annie Sullivan in the 2011 production of The Miracle Worker. In addition to serving as the Managing Director of JPAC, Melanie is the Founding Artistic Director of BAMtheatre, a youth educational theatre company based in Hinsdale, IL that involves over 250 students every summer. Through BAM, Melanie has directed and produced such musicals as Into the Woods, Violet, and Chicago. Melanie is also a part-time faculty member of Fenwick High School, teaching choir and theatre. She holds a Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Toronto, and a Masters of Music from the Boston Conservatory.

Micheal Kott (Sound Designer) has directed numerous plays and musicals both stateside and in Europe, including his critically acclaimed production of Murderer,

by Anthony Shaffer. His JPAC directing credits include Doubt, Lilies of the Field and The Boys Next Door. Michael is also a veteran performer at the JPAC having been involved in 18 shows over the last 12 years.

Among his favorites are Blood Brothers, Moonlight and Magnolias, Peter Pan, and Tuesdays with Morrie. He is very grateful to A Streetcar Named Desire

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Dante Orfei for his friendship, support, encouragement and trust. Micheal played the scene-stealing Psychic in Brain Damaged Film’s 2008 release Secrets of the Clown, available at www.blockbuster.com! Micheal is the founding director of the Green Door Theatre in Garlstedt, West Germany. Currently he is the Artistic Director of Master’s Backstage Players in Carol Stream, Illinois.

Micheal was also an ensemble member of Cenacle Theatre in Chicago, where he acted and directed numerous productions. Mike is the multimedia specialist for Morton College by day and at night divides his time among the various theatres in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. He is very thankful to Dr. Felicity Thoet for her guidance and direction. She is a wonderful director and I thank her for her knowledge.

Lindsay Prerost (Costume Designer) is excited to be costuming another JPAC production! Lindsay is the theatre assistant/designer at Downers Grove North High School and has costumed four one act plays including Bus Riley’s Back in Town, Relative Strangers, Law and Order Fairytale Unit and A Backwards Fairytale. Lindsay has also designed hair and makeup for many shows including Sunset Boulevard, Grease, Phantom of the Opera and University of Chicago’s Nutcracker Ballet.

Ryan P. Jones (Stage Manager) Ryan is grateful to be the Stage Manager for Jedlicka Performing Arts Center’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire. He is new to the area, being a recent graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. Stage Management credits include Grease, Dido and Aeneas, Beauty and the Beast, Steel Magnolias and the coordination of the American College Dance Festival’s annual regional dance conference this past spring.

Along with Stage Management, he has been a Lighting Designer for several dance concerts and was the Scenic Designer for an original play, Murphy’s Law. He hopes to work in the Chicago area for the next few years.

Conner Wilson (Assistant Director/Fight Choreographer) This is Conner’s first JPAC show. He just finished work at The Great River Shakespeare Festival assistant directing productions of Twelfth Night and Macbeth. Past Directing credits include: Detroit: Lisa D’Amour, The Proposal: Anton Chekhov, A New World Order: Harold Pinter, Romance: Neil Labute.

T H E AT R E S TA F F Artistic Director............................................................................................................................ Dante Orfei Technical Director..................................................................................................................Michael Nedza Managing Director..................................................................................................... Melanie Lamoureux Theatre Assistant..............................................................................................................Samantha Nieves Public Relations.................................................................................................................David Rosenberg Theatre Staff...............................................................Bryant Arteaga, Antonio Barrios, Anna Garcia,

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Marian Lamoureux, and Natalie Stepanek Jedlicka Performing Arts Center