Step Up Productions - Holidaze

Artistic Director & Founder Elizabeth Antonucci Presents

HoliDaze Original One Act Plays By Lisa Dillman, Tate A. Geborkoff, Nambi E. Kelley, Joshua Rollins and Steven Simoncic CAST The Space Behind Your Heart Connor............................................................................................................................................Andy Luther Sloan..............................................................................................................................Amanda Dahl Powell And The Snow Came Down Stuart Brannon.................................................................................................................................. Jake Carr Phillip Cohen.............................................................................................................................Greg Geffrard Karen Cohen.............................................................................................................................. Gina Taliafero For My Brothers...Whenever I May Find Them Rae..................................................................................................................................................Nadirah Bost Rae Lyn..................................................................................................................................... Jennifer Glasse Raymond........................................................................................................................................... Eric Lynch Pookey...................................................................................................................................... David Goodloe The Intruder Jay...................................................................................................................................... Connor McNamara Erica................................................................................................................................. Elizabeth Antonucci Christmas Is Made For Fools Storyteller..........................................................................................................................................Nick Polus Fool...................................................................................................................................................... Eric Lynch Wench..............................................................................................................................................Ashley Neal This show will be performed without an intermission.

HoliDaze

1

PRODUCTION TEA M Steven Simoncic......................................................................Playwright (The Space Behind Your Heart) Tate A. Geborkoff....................................................................... Playwright (And The Snow Came Down) Nambi E. Kelley........................................... Playwright (For My Brothers...Whenever I May Find Them) Joshua Rollins...........................................................................................................Playwright (The Intruder) Lisa Dillman................................................................................. Playwright (Christmas Is Made For Fools) Vincent Teninty..............................................................................Director (The Space Behind Your Heart) Tara Branham................................................................................... Director (And The Snow Came Down) Daniel Bryant................................................... Director (For My Brothers...Whenever I May Find Them) Laura Hooper.................................................................................................................Director (The Intruder) Adrianne Cury.................................................................................. Director (Christmas Is Made For Fools) Adrienne Bader......................................................................................................................... Stage Manager Catherine Allen............................................................................................................... Production Manager Sarah JHP Watkins...................................................................................................................... Scenic Design Becca Jeffords.......................................................................................................................... Lighting Design Raquel Adorno....................................................................................................................... Costume Design Haley Borodine.............................................................................................................................. Props Design Steve Baldwin.............................................................................................................................. Sound Design Corinne Bass......................................................................................................................... Technical Director Megan Snowder................................................................................................................... Master Electrician Jon Martinez................................................................................................................................Choreographer Emily Finck................................................................................................ Assistant Director (The Intruder) Alyson Kulin............................................................................................................. Assistant Stage Manager Megan Kowalsky.................................................................................................... Assistant Stage Manager Sheila Spencer............................................................................................................ Assistant Props Design David Rosenberg................................................................................................................................... Publicity Michael Brosilow........................................................................................................................... Photography Bridgette Baggio....................................................................................................................... Graphic Design Elizabeth Antonucci......................................................................................... Artistic Director & Founder

Lakeview Pantry is one of Chicago’s largest and longest-lived food pantries.

Our mission is to eliminate hunger and poverty in our community by: Providing food to fill the basic need of hungry people; Increasing the independence of our clients through self-help initiatives and other innovative programs; and Raising awareness of hunger and poverty and working towards solutions to eliminate them.

To do this, we provide on-site food distribution, deliver food to home-bound clients, distribute free clothing, and have a case management program that helps clients connect with other services they need to address the causes of food insecurity.

2

Step Up Productions

A L E T T E R F R O M A R T I S T I C D I R E C TO R A N D F O U N D E R Dear Step Up Productions Patron, Happy HoliDaze! Welcome to the second production of our 2013/2014 season!

On the heels of the success of The BenchMark, we are very happy to embark on HoliDaze. As NBC News, CBS News, WGN Radio and many more media outlets stated, we are taking theatre to a new level. We present the truth even if the topics are hard to swallow. Step Up’s mission is to communicate stories authentically, inspiring audiences to identify and embrace their own personal truths.

So what is HoliDaze?? I brought together five talented playwrights to represent the holiday season and the experiences of love, happiness, craziness, sadness, magic, anger, loss, and disappointment in a series of short, moving, and original plays.

When I was growing up, I thought all holidays were like those showcased in movies. Magical moments where everyone got along, money wasn’t an issue, Christmas trees were in excess, fireplaces were in every house, families sat around a table in the fanciest clothes, shared great meals and everyone was happy. Like a Norman Rockwell painting. Sure this may be reality for some of us, but for many, the holidays are a time of chaos and dysfunctional celebration, as HoliDaze so poignantly portrays!

I hope you are able to take the next 90 minutes and enjoy yourself. Forget the stresses of holiday shopping, cooking, family, travel and sit back and enjoy! Laugh at yourself. Laugh at your family members you see in these plays. Laugh because you have been there too. We all have!

I am beyond excited to be back on the stage as an actor in this production and am looking forward to meeting & talking with you after the show!

Your Artistic Director, Elizabeth Antonucci

T H E C O M PA N Y Step Up Productions is a non-profit theater company with a mission to communicate stories authentically and inspire audiences to identify and embrace their own personal truths. Step Up Productions became a nonprofit company to better serve other nonprofit organizations in and around Chicago that are committed to helping people get to a better place.

One of Step Up Productions’ core values is generosity. We are dedicated to doing our part by finding organizations that support the themes in our stories and donating a portion of our proceeds to support their cause. For this production, we will be donating five light therapy lamps to LINDEN OAKS @ Edward Hospital for Seasonal Affective Disorder. In addition, we are collecting nonperishable goods for Lakeview Pantry at each performance.

If you are interested in supporting Step Up Productions beyond the price of admission, donations are tax-deductible and can be made anytime you choose. You can call our office at 312-316-8355 or find us on the web at www.stepupproductions.org.

You can send a check payable to: Step Up Productions 40 E Chicago Ave, Suite 121 Chicago, IL 60611

HoliDaze

3

CAST Andy Luther (Connor) most recently appeared in 9 Circles for his fourth performance with Sideshow Theatre Co. at the DCase Storefront Theatre. Other Chicago credits include The Birthday Party, u/s performed--Stanley (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Northlight Theatre), Picnic, u/s performed--Howard Bevans (Writers Theatre), The Gacy Play, Heddatron, and Theories of the Sun (Sideshow Theatre Co.), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Hiding Place (Provision Theatre), As Fat As You Can (Next Theatre), and Rhymes With Evil (Infusion Theatre). Regional credits include Comedy of Errors, Julius Caesar, Pericles (u/s performed), Macbeth, Twelfth Night, and Henry VII (Illinois Shakespeare Festival).

Amanda Dahl Powell (Sloan) comes from Gainesville, Florida and graduated with a BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University. She has most recently been seen along with her current co-star Andy Luther in Sideshow Theatre’s production of Bill Cain’s 9 Circles, as well as Rivendell’s The Electric Baby and Wrens, and Profiles Theatre’s Bachelorette.

Jake Carr (Stuart Brannon) is thrilled to be working for the first time with Step Up Productions. In Chicago, he has performed with First Floor Theatre, Emerald City, Redmoon, The Mammals, Cock and Bull Theatre, and understudied at Drury Lane last Christmas season. He is an Artistic Associate with Genesis Ensemble and GayCo Productions. A script of Jake’s is a finalist in WildClaw Theatre’s Deathscribe 2013, an annual international festival of horror radio plays.

Jake is proud to be an instructor with Black Box Acting, where he has trained extensively.

Much love to his newlywed husband Allen.

4

Step Up Productions

Greg Geffrard (Phillip Cohen) is grateful for this opportunity, humbled by this journey and is ready to play dangerously with his onstage family. “No matter how many miles you walk in the shoes God gave you, you can never wear out your soul.” May the words not be the only thing you hear today. Enjoy!

Gina Taliaferro (Karen Cohen) A Gary, Indiana native, Gina has worked with many Chicago theatre companies, among them MPAACT, ETA, and Chicago Children’s Theatre. She recently toured as Regina Jordan in Canamac Production’s Defamation. Gina has several regional and national commercials to her credit, including spots for US Mint, Jewel, and the Illinois Lottery.

Nadirah Bost (Rae) is pleased and excited to join the cast of For My Brothers... She finds herself honored to finally “werk” with both Daniel Bryant and Nambi E. Kelley. It further thrills her to be included in the company of such a talented cast of actors and characters. Finally, I can’t thank YOU, the audience, enough for choosing us at this time, on this day, during your holiday season. To God be the Glory!

Have fun!

Jennifer Glasse (Rae Lyn) is thrilled to be working with Step Up Productions’ HoliDaze.

She’s especially excited to work with Daniel, Nambi, and the talented cast on such a powerful piece. Other Chicago credits include: The Mountaintop, The Misanthrope, Tartuffe (all u/s Court Theatre), The North Plan (Theatre Wit), Amuse Bouche (Pavement Group), and The Darkest Pit (Prop Theatre). Jennifer received her degree in Musical Theatre from North

CAST

c o n t.

Central College. She is also a graduate from The Conservatory at Act One Studios and The School at Steppenwolf. She’d like to thank her family, close friends, and mentors for all their love and support. Romans 8:24-25 Eric Lynch (Raymond/ The Fool) is very excited to be a part of Step Up Productions’ HoliDaze!

Eric’s recent credits include Broken Fences at 16th Street Theatre, Blacktop Sky at Theatre Seven of Chicago (presented as part of the Steppenwolf Garage Rep), A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Sankofa Theatre Company and understudied for Othello, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Yellowman at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Eric has also collaborated with Chicago Dramatists, Pegasus Players, Stage Left, and Mortar Theatre Company.

Television credits include Chicago Fire on NBC. Eric is an Associate Artistic Director with Sankofa Theatre Company and is happily represented by Shirley Hamilton. Eric hopes that you enjoy the show! Happy Holidaze!

David Goodloe (Pookey) is a Chicago native who has been acting professionally since 2006. At the University of Chicago, he began to hone his skills and build a repertoire which reignited his love of performing. After college, and also after Peace Corps, David started doing theater and many on-camera projects, where he has worked with various production companies including August Jackson Agency, Draft/FCB, Twist, T2 Studios, Back Ally Films, Crossroads Films, One at Optimus, Mothlight Productions, Ferderici Video, and Elkhorn Entertainment. On stage credits include An Improv Play (InFusion Theatre), A Fool Such As I (eta Creative Arts), The Last Saint on Sugar Hill (MPAACT Theatre), and Between Legs & Open Ears (Black Ensemble Theater). Film credits include D.I.N.K.s (Sole Productions), Thanks Mom (Breakwall Pictures LLC), Perceptions and Mourning After Mirabelle (Acestroke Productions). For more information on his work, please go to www.davidgoodloe.com.

Connor McNamara (Jay) is thrilled to be working with Step Up Productions for the first time. He was last seen in Chicago in The Brig for the Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. He would like to thank all collaborative forces involved in this production, and hopes to work with them again in the future. Connor is also a writer, currently finishing a short story collection titled We Ain’t Dead, We Are Only Off Being Pirates, and is a very proud graduate of The School at Steppenwolf. He is exclusively represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.

Elizabeth Antonucci (Erica) is thrilled to be back on Step Up’s stage as an actor in HoliDaze.

She has most recently been seen in The Academy’s production of Ashville directed by Brad Akin and Maggie in Jason Gerace’s production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. Previous credits include; The Sweetest Swing In Baseball, Handicap This!, Anesidora, Cupid & Psyche, and Irina in Three Sisters. She is also a proud graduate of Black Box Acting Studio, ACADEMY 2012/2013 ensemble. Thanks to her family and friends for their incredible support, Laura & Emily for their support & guidance, Connor for making the rehearsal & performances so fun.

Nick Polus (Storyteller) is a Chicago theater veteran having enjoyed roles in productions with a number of Chicago theaters, most notably the Touchstone/Organic Theatre. Mr. Polus was seen as Sam Katz in ShawChicago’s production of Clifford Odets’s Paradise Lost and Judge Brock in the Vintage Theater Collective production of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.

He has performed at the Library Theater appearing as Svetlovidov in Chekhov’s Swan Song and as Orlovski in the Wood Demon also

by Chekhov, Creon in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Pastor Manders in Ibsen’s Ghosts. At the Mercury Theater Mr. Polus was seen as Walter HoliDaze

5

CAST

c o n t.

Fonzack in Tom Dudzick’s King ‘O the Moon.

He portrayed Gilbert in the Organic Theater production of Allen Ayckbourn’s The Things We Do For Love. Other roles include Mike in Goodnight Children Everywhere by Richard Nelson, Jamie Tyrone in Eugene O’Neill’s A Long Days Journey into Night, James Tyrone Jr. in A Moon for the Misbegotten, Mark Twain in the Tom Creamer adapted Roughing It, Leo in The Real Thing and Hamilton in the Kendall Marlowe comedy, Give the Lady What She Wants. He portrayed Mr. Elwood in the STARZ drama BOSS starring Kelsey Grammer. Mr. Polus is an avid fly fisherman and cyclist.

Ashley Neal (Wench) is thrilled to be working with Step Up Productions for the first time! She is a proud member of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble where she has appeared in many productions, including: Wrens, 26 Miles, The Walls, Expecting Isobel, Be Aggressive, and many other projects. She has also had the pleasure of working with Redtwist Theatre, Pine Box, Griffin Theatre, Seanachi Theatre, Victory Gardens theatre, greasy joan and co., Jackalope, and many others. Thanks to Lisa Dillman for the gift of a shadowy figure, a mourning dog, and now a wench...Can’t wait to see what’s next!

PRODUCTION TEA M

6

Steven Simoncic’s (Playwright—The Space Behind Your Heart) plays have received productions, readings and workshops at The Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Pegasus Players, Second City, 16th Street, The Road, Ballybeg New York and The Soho Theatre in London. His play, Once Upon a Time in Detroit was recently selected as a semifinalist for the 2013 Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference, and was a finalist in the 2013 Dionysus Cup Festival at Polarity Ensemble. His play, Toxic Donut, won the NAAA Playwriting Festival in London and received a staged reading at the Wright Theatre at The London Central School for Dramatics. Maraschino Red was a finalist for both the 2013 Play by Play Unchained Festival at Stageworks/Hudson and the 37th Annual Samuel French Festival where it received a production at The Beckett Theatre in New York. Steven was recently selected as a featured writer for RIPPED, a short play series co-produced by American Blues Theatre and the University of Chicago and his play, Water Fight, was selected as a finalist for both The Artistic Home’s 2013 Cut to the Chase Festival, and the American Theatre Company’s 2012 Big Shoulders New Play Festival. Steven was recently nominated for the 2013 Arts & Letters Susan Atefat Prize, has been nominated for a Pushcart prize, and has recently won an Emmy. His play, Broken Fences, was selected as a finalist for both The Road Theatre’s Summer Playwrights Festival in Los Angeles and Stage Step Up Productions

Left Theatre’s 2013 LeapFest in Chicago and received critically acclaimed productions in both New York and Chicago. Steven is currently a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists Theatre and Writer in Residence at 16th Street Theatre.

Tate A. Geborkoff (Playwright—And The Snow Came Down) is a proud member of Chicago Dramatists, the Dramatists Guild of America and is the founding member of the Moody Artists Group. Tate’s work is heavily influenced by the Meisner Technique and the study of human behavior. He studied extensively with Amy Morton and at Black Box Acting, where his plays Minotaur and All Around the Mulberry Bush are used in the text analysis courses. Most recently his poem, The Carnal Flower, was published by Burningword Literary Journal and he participated in the ACT UP! FIGHT AIDS! play festival at the Rivendell Theatre where his piece, You Haven’t Even Seen My Bad Side Yet, received rave reviews. He is thrilled to be working with Step Up Productions on HoliDaze.

Nambi E. Kelley (Playwright—For My Brothers…Wherever I May Find Them) has penned plays for Steppenwolf, Goodman Theatre, and Court Theatre in Chicago, Lincoln Center in New York, and internationally.

Most recently, Kelley returned to Singapore to perform in her co-adaptation of The Book of Living and Dying that will be published

PRODUCTION TEA M

c o n t.

in an anthology of plays in Singapore in 2014. Recent playwriting honors include: Goodman Theatre Playwright’s Unit where she penned For Her As A Piano for which she received an award for mental health advocacy, Xtigone (American Theatre of Harlem workshop production) and Harlem 9’s 48 Hours in Harlem Playwright 2013.

Nambi is in pre-production for her adaptation of Richard Wright’s Native Son that will be produced at Court Theatre in Chicago fall 2014 (co-producer American Blues Theatre).

Other honors include: Norman Mailer Writing Colony Fellow 2012, Dramatists Guild Writers Intensive Fellow 2011, Goodman Theatre Fellowship Recipient, La MaMa Playwrights Symposium Playwright-In-Residence in Spoleto, Italy under the tutelage of Lisa Kron and Pulitzer prize winner Lynn Nottage, The Friends Fellowship (Ragdale Foundation), the 3 Arts Fellowship (twice nominated), TCG Candidate for Playwriting: Goodman Theatre, the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference nomination, and was honored at the Black Ensemble Theatre for her contributions in playwriting. Kelley also serves as a Chicago Dramatists Playwright-In-Residence, MPAACT Playwright-In-Residence (Chicago), and is a company member with American Blues (Chicago) and The American Theatre of Harlem in New York. Also an actress, Nambi has worked on stage and television in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and internationally, playing opposite such artists as Phylicia Rashad, Alfre Woodard, Blair Underwood, and Patrick Swayze. Ms. Kelley guest lectures at Northwestern University and Lake Forest College, has a BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University, formerly known as The Goodman School of Drama, and holds an MFA in interdisciplinary arts from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. www.nambikelley.com Joshua Rollins’s (Playwright--The Intruder) play Concealed Carry was selected for the 2013 Seven Devils’ Playwrighting Conference with ID Theatre. His play A Girl With Sun In Her Eyes debuted in Chicago in 2011 with Pine Box Theater. It is in development for production in Los Angeles, New Orleans and New York. Other works include American Rex, which premiered with Chicago Street Theatre and was a finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference; Darlin’ which will debut early 2014 in Chicago with Step Up

Productions and 25 Saints, which completed a run at Victory Garden’s Greenhouse Theatre in Chicago in 2013 and will be produced in Seattle and LA later this year. His one acts have been produced by Pine Box, American Theatre Company, the Artistic Home, and many others. Joshua is also an actor and has appeared with companies including The Blue Man Group, Steppenwolf Theatre, The Gift Theatre, About Face Theatre, Commonwealth Shakespeare and the Huntington Theatre. Film credits include The Dark Knight, Contagion, Living Hell, Killshot, Awake and The Lake House, among others. He is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf.

Lisa Dillman (Playwright--Christmas Is Made For Fools) is a Chicago-based playwright whose plays have been produced at Steppenwolf Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Theatre Company and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, where she is playwright in residence. She has received new play commissions from the Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, the Chicago Humanities Festival and Rivendell.

Her work is published by Samuel French, Smith & Kraus, Playscripts, Inc., Heinemann and Dramatic Publishing.

Vincent Teninty (Director--The Space Behind Your Heart) is the current Artistic Director of Pine Box Theater Company and has been acting professionally in Chicago since 1999.

He has worked with several esteemed theatre companies such as Goodman Theatre (Sweet Bird of Youth, Talking Pictures, The Good Negro and Dartmoor Prison), Steppenwolf (Mother Courage and her Children and A Lesson Before Dying), The Hypocrites (Desire Under the Elms), Steep Theatre (The Resistible of Arturo Ui and Insignificance) and TimeLine Theatre (A Cry of Players). He was nominated for a Jeff Award in 2002 for Trivial Pursuits (Visions & Voices).

His television credits include BOSS (Starz),The Beast (A&E), Doubt (ABC pilot), Peep Show (Spike TV pilot) and has been cast in various films including Janie Jones (Unified Pictures) and Mulligan (Midway Films). Vincent is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf ’04.

Tara Branham (Director--And The Snow Came Down) is a freelance director in Chicago. She is very excited to be working again with Step Up Productions on such a fun project with an amazing team. Currently in production, HoliDaze

7

PRODUCTION TEA M

c o n t.

Tara has a selection from Danny and the Deep Blue Sea in All the Plays I Wanted to Do, But was Told I Couldn’t with Fulton Street Collective at Fulton Street Gallery. Her remount of one week in spring by Kristiana Colón will be a part of RhinoFest at Prop Theatre this winter after a successful run with Halcyon Theatre’s Alcyone Festival. This spring, Tara will be directing the US premiere of RAW by Chris O’Connell for Deluge Theatre Collective’s inaugural production. Recently, she directed The BenchMark with Step Up Productions.

Other previous credits include: the world premiere of Patria Libre by Zoe Miller-Lee with Prologue Theatre Company, the midwest premiere of The All-American Genderfuck Cabaret by Mariah MacCarthy with Pride Films and Plays, and the world premiere of The Last Daughter of Oedipus by Jennifer Mickelson with Babes With Blades. Tara has also had the good fortune to assistant direct for Tina Landau, Amy Morton, Kimberly Senior, Sean Graney, Lisa Portes, and Meghan Beals-McCarthy at various theaters including Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Chicago Dramatists. Previously, Tara was the Lead Producer of InchWorm Playreading Series, a series committed to producing readings of first drafts for under explored playwrights.

Plays featured by InchWorm have gone on to receive full productions with LiveWire Theatre, Victory Gardens and Azuka Theatre.

Tara is also a founding member of The Deluge Theatre Collective and Director of Casting for Step Up Productions. An active student of theatre, Tara has trained in Meisner at Black Box Acting Studio and with Mary Lowry and Phil Timberlake in Ecstatic Voice and Lamentation and Roy Hart Technique. Tara has a Bachelor of Arts from Ball State University where her direction of Parkersburg by Laura Jacqmin won the American College Theatre Festival Region III 10-minute play competition.

8

Daniel Bryant (Director--For My Brothers...

Whenever I May Find Them) has been a theatre practitioner in Chicago for the past 18 years and has worked as an actor, director and producer at theaters throughout the city as well as regionally. He is an ensemble member and current artistic director of Congo Square Theatre. A few recent directing credits include the Jeff nominated production Brothers of the Dust (American Theatre Critics Award for Best New Play, BTAA Award for Best Production, Best Director) and most recently Walter Step Up Productions

Mosley’s The Fall of Heaven (Black Excellence Awards nominee for Best Production). He will be directing Congo Square’s upcoming production of August Wilson’s King Hedley II opening in March. Daniel is also an Associate Artist at Chicago Dramatist.

Laura Hooper (Director--The Intruder) is excited to be directing The Intruder by Joshua Rollins at Step Up Productions. She is the proud Owner and Co-Founder of Black Box Acting, where she is an instructor for both The STUDIO and The ACADEMY training programs. She has also taught at The School at Steppenwolf, The University of Chicago, Columbia College, and The High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas.

Laura is an actor and director in Chicago and has directed for several theatre companies, including American Theater Company, Pine Box Theater, The Women’s Theatre Alliance, and The Around the Coyote Festival. She most recently co-directed The House of Yes at The University of Chicago. Upcoming, she is a director in Deathscribe at Wildclaw Theatre.

She is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf and the University of Texas at Austin, with a BA in Theatre and Dance. Viva la Black Box! www.blackboxacting.com Adrianne Cury (Director--Christmas Is Made For Fools) began directing in 2008 and has been at the helm for the experiment -Stockyards Theatre Project; You Never Can Tell - Village Players; Scoundrel Time and The Thin Man - City Lit; Sense & Sensibility and Mauritius for Theatre of Western Springs; and Ravenscroft for Triton College. Cury has had the privilege of working as an actor in Chicago with Writer’s Theatre, Famous Door, Next, First Folio, Chicago Shakespeare, Chicago Shakespeare Project, About Face, Drury Lane Evergreen Park, Bailiwick, Strawdog, Apple Tree, National Jewish, Lifeline, and a dozen principal roles with both Organic/ Touchstone and ShawChicago, where she was an associate artist. Her honors include: Jeff Award nomination (Two by Shaw - Writer’s Theatre); Jeff Citation (Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - Zebra Crossing); and two After Dark Awards (Shrapnel in the Heart - Famous Door & David’s Redhaired Death - Bailiwick). Regional theatre credits include: Indiana Repertory, BoarsHead, Human Race, New American, Artists Ensemble, and Wisconsin Shakespeare.

PRODUCTION TEA M

c o n t.

Ms. Cury is a proud member of Actor’s Equity & SAG-AFTRA, and teaches and coaches both adults and teens at Acting Studio Chicago.

Adrienne Bader (Production Stage Manager) is a proud graduate of Northwestern University.

Since then she has worked as a freelance stage manager with numerous theaters in the Chicago area, including Writers Theatre, New Suit Theatre Co., Pegasus Players, The Music Theatre Company, Metropolis Performing Arts Center and Chicago Folks Operetta. This is her second production with Step Up, having stage managed The BenchMark earlier this year. She would like to thank her family for their love and support.

Catherine Allen (Production Manager) is an ensemble member with Pine Box Theater Company where production management credits include A Girl With Sun In Her Eyes and The Jammer. She also served as company manager during their most recent production, 25 Saints. Last year, Catherine co-produced ElectionFest 2012, a festival featuring twelve original short plays inspired by the 2012 presidential election. Other production credits include casting associate on the feature film I Heart Shakey 3D, producer for the live storytelling event, 3 Guys, 4 Stores, 5 Songs and assistant directing Oblivion, part of Steppenwolf’s 2011 First Look Series.

Catherine is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she received a BFA in Acting.

Sarah JHP Watkins (Scenic Design) is excited to collaborate with Step Up Productions. She is a freelance scenic designer, photographer and educator in the Chicago area. Chicago scenic design credits: The Pajama Game and Young Artists Program 2011 (The Music Theatre Company); South of Settling (Steppenwolf Garage Theatre); Twelfth Night,The Glass Menagerie, The Secret Garden, The American Pilot and MASS (Northwestern University).

Other scenic credits: Sweeney Todd (Hope College); She Loves Me, L’Etoile (Anderson University); In Trousers (assistant lighting designer, Northwestern University). Her design work was exhibited at the 2012 Prague Quadrennial in the Czech Republic. Training: MFA in Stage Design for Scenic Design (Northwestern University); BA in Theatre and Studio Art (Hope College). www.sarah-jhp-watkins.com

Raquel Adorno (Costume Design) is pleased to be working with Step Up Productions once again for the HoliDaze! Raquel is artistic associate at Profiles Theatre, having designed costumes for their productions of the seasonal favorite Hellcab, Wrecks, In God’s Hat, In the Company of Men, and The Dream of the Burning Boy. Raquel’s credits include Gambit for Artemisia, A Chicago Theatre, The BenchMark for Step Up Productions, Cowboy Mouth for Black Ribbon Theater, Patria Libre for Prologue Theatre Company, The All-American Genderf*ck Cabaret for Pride Films and Plays and Starting Here, Starting Now for Theo Ubique Cabaret Theater. Raquel is a designer and milliner living in Chicago.

Haley Borodine (Props Design) is very excited be working on her second production with Step Up Productions. She is new to the Chicago scene and has just recently been the Properties Designer for StepUp’s The Bench Mark and Hellcab for Profiles Theatre. Haley graduated from Ball State University where she won several awards for her prop artisan work and achievements. She would like to thank her friends and family for giving her endless support over the years.

Becca Jeffords (Lighting Design) Becca Jeffords is a Chicago area lighting designer who recently received her MFA from Northwestern University. Recent designs include: The Dead Prince, The Half Brothers Mendelsshon, Funeral Wedding: The Alvin Play (Strange Tree Group); The Pride (About Face Theatre), Glass Inward (The Island Theatre Company), The Wizard of Oz (Wilmette Children’s Theatre); Best of the Best Volume 1 (Evanston Dance Ensemble), Machinal (Northwestern University), Sweeney Todd (Hope College), South of Settling and The Glass Menagerie (Steppenwolf Garage), and Romeo and Juliet (Two Pence Shakespeare).

Steve Baldwin (Sound Design) has been a recording engineer/sound designer for 15 years, give or take. He is extremely pleased to be collaborating once again with Step Up Productions. His sound design credits include Step Up Productions’ The Benchmark and The Sweetest Swing in Baseball, Halcyon Theatre’s The Runner Stumbles, Steep Theatre’s Coronado and Speaking Ring’s The Diviners. Recently he has finished the final sound mix of the film Scary Normal by Hot Diggity Productions. His HoliDaze

9

PRODUCTION TEA M

c o n t.

production company, Toxic Bag Productions, has also created sound designs and scores for animated shorts, independent films, and the gaming industry.

Corinne Bass (Technical Director) is a recent graduate of Northwestern University. Her latest projects include set design for The Artistic Home’s The Goddess, space design for Rabid Bat’s production of Romeo and Juliet at Moody’s Pub, and props and assistant set design for The Hypocrites’ Coriolanus.

When not designing, painting, and building sets, Corinne works in the box office at Lookingglass Theatre. More of her design work can be seen at corinnebassdesign.com.

Megan Snowder (Master Electrician) Megan Snowder is thrilled to be working as the Master Electrician for HoliDaze. She comes to us from California where she studied Math and Theatre at the University of California Irvine, before moving on to become the Electrics Apprentice at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Now, after two years as the Master Electrician of Northlight Theatre, she works as a freelance electrician and lighting designer throughout the Chicago area theaters, including Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, Writers, Court, and the Athenaeum among many others. Recent projects include her work as the lighting and automation operator for Old Jews Telling Jokes at the Royal George Theater and the Master Electrician for Garage Rep, Next Up, and First Look series in the Steppenwolf Garage.

Jon Martinez (Chroeographer) is very excited to be making his debut with Step Up Productions! He most recently choreographed Rocky Horror Picture Show Live! at the Chopin with Underscore Theatre Company. He graduated with a BA in Musical Theatre: Directing/Choreography from Columbia College Chicago. Other Choreography credits include: Pr0ne: A Casting Couch Musical Comedy (Underscore Theatre), 13: The Musical, Cats (Gallery 37/Journeymen Theatre), Oliver and The Fantasticks. Jon currently teaches at Intrigue Dance Studios and is the social media manager for Bailiwick Chicago.

10

Step Up Productions

Emily Finck (Assistant Director--The Intruder) is excited to be working with Step Up Productions and honored to take her steps into the directing world with Step Up. Most recently, she had the privilege of working with Brad Akin in Ashville (Black Box Acting).

Other acting credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sankofa Theatre), Julius Caesar (Muse of Fire Theatre), Macbeth (Muse of Fire Theatre), Lysistrata (Ludicrous Theatre), Measure for Measure (Central Michigan Summer Theatre Repertory), The Changeling (LAMDA), and Othello (LAMDA). Emily is originally from Michigan, where she earned her BFA from Central Michigan University. She then continued her studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and The Academy at Black Box Acting.

Megan Kowalsky (Assistant Stage Manager) is a recent graduate of Columbia College Chicago, having majored in both Theatre Directing and Live & Performing Arts Management. She recently worked on Double Trouble with Porchlight Music Theatre. Megan currently serves as Lookingglass Theatre’s education intern and a teaching artist at Emerald City Theatre School. Megan would like to thank her family and friends for dealing with her, because she’s literally been listening to “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by ‘N Sync on repeat since October.

Alyson Kulin (Assistant Stage Manager) has lived in many places but calls Colorado home.

She is a recent graduate of Columbia College where she studied Stage Management. Her most recent credits include Grey Ghost’s The Book of Spectres, Waltzing Mechanics’s Kate’s Dates, and New Millennium Theater Company’s Kill Viktor: Volume 1 & 2. She would like to thank her family, friends and Jose Cuervo for all their continued love and support. Happy Holidaze and enjoy the show!

Elizabeth Antonucci (Artistic Director & Founder of Step Up Productions) recently emerged as the Founder & Artistic Director of the Chicago based nonprofit Step Up Productions. The 2013-2014 season marks her second year at the helm of the theater company, where powerful original and published works are produced in alignment with a mission focused on the revelation of truth. She has created a company that explores relevant topics in an honest and

PRODUCTION TEA M

c o n t.

thought-provoking manner, providing unique insight for theater audiences to experience. Guided by her personal core values, Antonucci has created a safe, open and trusting space for her production team, allowing them to work collaboratively and share their true passion for theater.

In 2008, Antonucci received a Bachelor’s degree in Theater from Loyola Marymount University of California. While attending school, she worked at Mandalay Entertainment in Los Angeles and learned about the production side of the industry.

After graduating, she enjoyed five years managing the programs and fundraising for

the nonprofit Health, Education, and Relief (HEAR) Foundation. When Antonucci is not producing, she enjoys performing on stage.

In June of this year, she graduated from The Academy, a Conservatory Training Program at Black Box Acting Studio.

Antonucci wishes to thank the theater patrons and investors, “You are helping us sustain a business so that we can continue to fund other organizations and help people through theater.” Step Up Productions continues to donate a portion of their proceeds to organizations that support issues often highlighted in the stories they produce.

SPECIAL THANKS Steve Brownstone. Lauren Pohn. Anthony Venturini. Kimberly Holley. Nonie Brennan. Donnetta Philpot. Jeff DeLong. Sarah Augusta. Beth Bullock. Allan Chambers. Anna Brooks. Kailee Tomasic. Katie Springmann. James Freund. Mark Balich. Josephine Balich. Todd Kiech. Profiles Theatre. Joseph Balich. Tawnya Patterson. First Free. Brian Pastor. City Lit Theater. Rachael Patterson. Acting Studio Chicago. David Rosenberg. Bridgette Baggio. Greg Antonucci. Jenine Antonucci. Cristina Antonucci. Jenna Antonucci. Joseph Antonucci. Diane Testa. Stephen Starr.

Audrey Francis. Laura Hooper. The Black Box Community. Matthew Barnes. ProMed Supply.

Steve Mazza. Print Management Group. BaggioGraphics. The ACADEMY Class of 2013. Samara Anderson. Jacqueline Cesaroni.

U P C O M I N G S H OW S

HoliDaze

11

DONORS We would like to thank the following corporate sponsors and donors who enable us to carry out our mission to the fullest extent.

Corporate Sponsors: Michelle Companik BP Oil Circle of Life Foundation Cesaroni Design Antonucci Investment Group The Robert Wise Family Debbie Jarol

Opening Night Sponsors: Dr. Ray Pollina Patricia Pollina Bill & Jessie Cesaroni Scott & Chris Gordon Len & Gaye Wislow Greg & Jenine Antonucci Michael & Judy Mason Mike & Mary Lee Antonucci

Tech Week Sponsors: Mary & Fred Huebner Barbara & Michael Lauesen Patricia & Robert Huffman Barbara & Dennis Saviano Jerry Manne Andrew Schreiber Rehearsal Level Sponsors: Diane & George Silca Amy & David Paloyan James Weiss Marty & Suzanne Crofton

OUR ANNUAL COSTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Performance Space Rental: $18,000 Director Fee: $6,000 Set Build: $6,000

Programs: $3,000 Actors Salaries: $7,000 Designer Fees: $8,000

Please consider becoming a corporate sponsor for Step Up Productions 2013/2014 season.

With a sponsorship of $2500 or more you will receive the following Your company logo on Step Up Productions’ website. o Logo & Name recognition in our program .

o Name mention during our curtain speech before each show. o Four (4) tickets to all three opening night performances.

o Four (4) tickets to all three opening night party with cast & crew.

o Exclusive invitation to sit in on rehearsals throughout the process. o VIP at our annual fundraiser

o Your company will be showcased at our fundraisers.

Checks should be made payable to Step Up Productions and sent to 40 E Chicago, Suite 121, Chicago IL 60611.

12

Step Up Productions