Photo by Matthew Murphy
AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE Geffen Playhouse is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural life of Los Angeles through plays and educational programs that inform, entertain and inspire.
WELCOME TO THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography
THE LION
FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR THE ART OF STORYTELLING IS AT THE HEART OF everything we do in the theater. Often, the stories we tell grow into extensive productions complete with tools to enhance our experience: a cast of many, an orchestra, multiple settings, costume changes and all manner of spectacle. But without a strong story at a play’s core, all of the bells and whistles are just that. Sometimes these theatrical pyrotechnics can be distilled down to their essence — a single performer in front of an audience telling a tale, an art as old as civilization itself. In The Lion, writer/performer Benjamin Scheuer, with only his six guitars, weaves his autobiographical story with incredible heart and soul. Enriched by a performance that is part raw talent, part theatrical craftsmanship at its finest, this coming-of-age ballad is imbued with an empathy and with questions of family and self that have been relatable to audiences across the world. Rarely has the redemptive power of music served a story so well. We are particularly honored to have Benjamin here as he bids farewell to performing the piece. After more than two years on the road with The Lion, he will be concluding this tour here at the Geffen. Hearing a story from its original storyteller is a uniquely compelling experience, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce Benjamin to the Geffen audience. If a story is a good one, no matter how far its narrative lies beyond the scope of our lives, we will find our own stories in it. We come to the theater for good stories. In fractious times, we gather together, artists and audience in one room, and consider that which makes us human, that which connects us all. Welcome, and thank you for being here. Enjoy the show! Randall Arney ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARTHA HENDERSON CO-CHAIR
PAMELA ROBINSON CO-CHAIR PATRICIA KIERNAN APPLEGATE RANDALL ARNEY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
BETH BEHRS DR. GENE D. BLOCK KEVIN BRIGHT HAROLD A. BROWN GIL CATES JR.
Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
GIL CATES, JR. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE LOS ANGELES premiere of the award-winning production of The Lion. We are thrilled to welcome the incomparable Benjamin Scheuer into our Geffen Playhouse family of artists, especially in his final stop on a much-acclaimed international tour. This fall, we debuted an innovative and exciting public program, Raising the Curtain: Conversations at the Geffen Playhouse. We thank you for helping us kick off the series, and for contributing your voices to the honest and meaningful discussions centered around our first three shows: Barbecue, The Model Apartment and Icebergs. A huge thank you to Presenting Sponsor Participant Media for inspiring these conversations and to our moderator John Horn (KPCC’s The Frame) for brilliantly facilitating these open dialogues between artists, experts and audience members. We look forward to continuing this series in 2017. Additionally, we hope that you will join us on March 19 for our 15th Annual Backstage at the Geffen event, honoring the legendary Quincy Jones and Mel Brooks. Funds raised will support our education and community engagement programs throughout Los Angeles, in addition to the art you experience on our stages. For more information about joining the Host Committee or to purchase tickets, please contact Regina Miller, Chief Development Officer, at reginam@geffenplayhouse.org or 310.208.6500 ext. 112. Please make sure to check geffenplayhouse.org for more information on our season, updates, links to our blog and the launch of our new podcast Geffen Playhouse Unscripted. Thank you again for your loyalty and support of the Geffen Playhouse!
Gil Cates, Jr. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
P2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
MICHAEL CENTENO MARY ANN CLOYD MERLE DANDRIDGE DR. BRAD EDGERTON MARK FLEISCHER SUE FLEISHMAN PATRICIA L. GLASER SAM GORES ADI GREENBERG ARTHUR GREENBERG JOAN KALOUSTIAN LORETTA EVERETT KAUFMAN DR. GERALD S. LEVEY CARLA MALDEN SUSAN MALLORY GINNY MANCINI BARRY MEYER B. SCOTT MINERD STEVEN A. OLSEN HOLLY RICE LINDA BERNSTEIN RUBIN TERI SCHWARTZ RICHARD SHERMAN FRED SPECKTOR LORRAINE SPURGE CYNTHIA P. STAFFORD HOWARD TENENBAUM VICE CHAIRMAN
FOUNDING TRUSTEES KIRSTEN COMBS ROBERT A. DALY DAVID GEFFEN HERBERT M. GELFAND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
QUINCY JONES JEFFREY KATZENBERG GLORYA KAUFMAN FRANK G. MANCUSO CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
RON MEYER LESLIE MOONVES JERRY MOSS JERRY PERENCHIO BRUCE M. RAMER FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
VICTORIA MANN SIMMS ANDY SPAHN STEVEN SPIELBERG STEVE TISCH DR. CHARLES E. YOUNG CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IN MEMORIAM GILBERT CATES FOUNDER
MARCIA ISRAEL-CURLEY AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS CHARLES KENIS KARL MALDEN EDIE WASSERMAN LEW WASSERMAN PETER ROSEN LEGAL COUNSEL, LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
ADVISORY BOARD MIRANDA TOLLMAN CHAIR
NATASHA BARRITT ANNETTE BLUM STEPHANIE CARSON LORI COLLINS DEBRA DAVIS ANN GIANOPULOS PRISCILA GIRALDO KIRSTEN HANSEN ERIC HEER WENDY KURTZMAN JASON LEE YVONNE LEE HANNAH LINKENHOKER JOHN McCRITE DANNY PASSMAN ALLEN SHAY JOHN SONEGO LAURIE ZIEGLER TONY ZINGE
Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography.
AN AMERICAN MASTERPIECE
WRITTEN BY EUGENE O’NEILL DIRECTED BY JEANIE HACKETT F E AT U R I N G J A N E K AC Z M A R E K & A L F R E D M O L I N A ADDITIONAL CASTING TO BE ANNOUNCED
O N S TA G E J A N U A R Y 3 1 – M A R C H 1 8 G I L C AT E S T H E AT E R AT T H E G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E
@GEFFENPLAYHOUSE
GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG | 310.208.5454
A ROARING SUCCESS AN INTERVIEW WITH BENJAMIN SCHEUER
BY AMY LEVINSON
Benjamin Scheuer. Photo by Christie Goodwin.
AS HE BEGINS HIS FINAL RUN in his extraordinary, life–affirming musical,
As you began to perform the show regularly, did you find it morphed and changed over the course of the run? And did your perspective on your story change as
Benjamin Scheuer reflects on the experience
it became more and more popular?
of creating and performing The Lion.
BS: I loved making the album “Songs from The Lion” in
Will you talk about the evolution of this piece? How and when did you decide to tell your story? Did the music lead you to a play or vice versa?
between tour stops. Some tracks sound as they do in the show and some are completely reimagined. Making the album gave me all kinds of new ideas on how I could play these songs live. And even beyond that, it has been
Benjamin Scheuer: In 2012, I was playing at Cornelia
fascinating to see these songs take on lives of their
Street Café, Jack’s Coffee and Vagabond Café in NYC’s
own outside of my experience. The song “Weather the
Greenwich Village, where I live. I realized that in addition
Storm” has been sung by the Brooklyn Children’s Choir,
to writing and memorizing songs for these gigs, I
was a campaign song for someone running for office,
should also write and memorize the banter between the songs, to better frame each song and to better
and has been a post-election anthem for some folks. I hope this doesn’t embarrass you, but I have heard
connect the songs. My job is to keep the audience
numerous people say that The Lion is one of those
compelled the whole time, and at a coffee shop gig
life-changing evenings in the theater. I know that part
you can tell when your audience is bored because they
of this is due to the power of your performance and
check their phones or start talking to one another. So
the profundity of the story, but what do you feel the
each gig would show me what story was working, what
audience connects to in such a deep way?
songs needed to get rewritten, what needed to be cut
BS: To paraphrase lyricist Yip Harburg, who wrote
entirely and what seemed to be missing. Most writing
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” words are how we
is rewriting.
think and music is how we feel, so songs allow us to
P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
A ROARING SUCCESS think our feelings and feel our thoughts. I agree with
teaches at the International Center of Photography,
Harburg. A song is a powerful tool for connection.
and asked her to photograph me once a week during
I’ve learned from Sean Daniels, director of The Lion,
my treatment. We’ve since made a book that includes
that the more specific, the more personal and the
these photos and text from the journals that I kept.
more honest a piece of writing is, the more it will have
The book is called Between Two Spaces, and 50% of
universal appeal. Not because your story is the same as
proceeds are donated to the Leukemia/Lymphoma
my story, but because we basically feel the same way
Society. The book is for sale in the lobby of the theater,
about our individual stories; we feel loss, triumph, love,
and at betweentwospaces.com. It feels wonderful to
fear, acceptance. If we can communicate our version
have turned something bad into something good.
of our experiences and these feelings to other people, we’ll connect our humanity to theirs and we will forge deep understanding. A songwriting teacher once told me, “Want to write a good song? Write what you don’t want other people to
How do you feel about another actor taking over this role? I imagine there will be many incarnations of this story — what do you imagine you’ll discover seeing other people perform your show?
know about you. Want to write a great song? Write what
BS: Ah, well we needn’t cast an actor; we need
you don’t want to know about yourself.” Sometimes the
to cast a guitar player. Guitaristically, the show is
things that we think distance us from others are in fact
very challenging. Many of the songs are played in
the things that most deeply connect us.
alternate tunings, meaning the different guitars are
You have been performing this show for quite some time and as these are your final performances in this role about your life, what would you say has been the most challenging part of creating and performing this piece?
tuned differently to different chords. (That’s one of the reasons there are so many guitars on stage.) For example, “Cookie-tin Banjo,” “The Lion” and “Dear Dad” are played on a guitar tuned CGDGCE. The songs in the show often employ a technique called “hybrid picking” where the right hand is playing three different
BS: Writing The Lion required me to dig deeply and
melodic lines at once: bass with the pick, chords with
honestly into my own experience and emotions. I had
the middle and forefinger and melody with the pinky.
to remember what it felt like to watch my father die
It’s challenging to do. Whoever takes over The Lion
when I was 13, what it felt like to go through my own
from me can be any race, any age, any gender, so long
battle with cancer when I was 28, and then write about
as they can play.
these experiences with clarity and honesty. I knew I needed to choose the right words. This required a lot of hard thinking. Ta-Nehisi Coates, in his book Between the World and Me, talks about “the craft of writing as the craft of thinking; loose and useless words were not separate from loose and useless thoughts.” When I
So what’s next? Have you had the opportunity to develop more ideas while you’ve been on the road with The Lion? Are you looking to explore other mediums or to continue working in the theater? BS: Well, there are three projects I’m excited about.
perform The Lion, my responsibility is to sing the correct
I’d like to make a longer animated musical film with
words and play the correct notes so the experiences and
director/animator Peter Baynton, with whom I’ve made
emotions can live in the audience’s mind; I don’t need to
four animated music videos for my songs “Weather the
“relive” the drama personally every night. Even though
Storm,” “The Lion,” “Cookie-tin Banjo” and “Cure,” which
I’m playing the character of myself, when I’m performing
have played at film festivals all over the world.
The Lion, I’m acting. And on the flip side, can you talk about one of the more rewarding aspects of this experience? BS: Right before I started chemotherapy, my doctor told me, “Ben, as you get better on the inside, you’ll
Since I’ve been on the road with The Lion, I’ve written an album’s worth of songs about travel and about what “home” means. I’m going to record this album with producer Geoff Kraly, who produced the album “Songs from The Lion.” And
lastly,
I’ve
been
commissioned
by
the
look worse on the outside.” As a person I found this
Williamstown Theatre Festival to write a musical for a
horrifying, but as an artist I found this visual paradox
cast. My subject is Peter Mark Roget. Don’t know who
fascinating. So I called Riya Lerner, a friend who
he is? You will soon! PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE IN ASSOCIATION WITH EVA PRICE STACEY MINDICH WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC TOM McGRATH SPRUCE LAKE THEATRICAL JAMIE DEROY/HALEY SWINDAL/DAN SHAHEEN ROBERT KRAFT PRESENT
Written & Performed by
Benjamin Scheuer
Scenic Designer
Neil Patel
Lighting Designer
Ben Stanton
Production Supervisor
Dom Ruggiero
Sound Designer
Leon Rothenberg
Technical Supervision
Mind The Gap
Costume Consultant
Jennifer Caprio
General Management
Maximum Entertainment
Directed by
Sean Daniels Originally produced in the United States by the Manhattan Theatre Club. Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director, Barry Grove, Executive Producer, on June 10, 2014
RUNNING TIME Approximately 70 minutes. There will be no intermission.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS CIRCLE MEMBERS
Laurie & Bill Benenson • Martha Henderson • Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman • Jason & Yvonne Lee • B. Scott Minerd Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin • Kimberly Steward & Josh Godfrey • Miranda & Brett Tollman
Opening Night: Friday, January 6, 2017 SEASON SPONSOR
OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSOR
P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
SEAN DANIELS (Director) Sean has directed at Manhattan Theatre Club (The Lion, Drama Desk Award & Theatre World Award, nominated for Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle), Lynn Redgrave Theater (NYC), The Kennedy Center
NEIL PATEL (Scenic Designer) Mr. Patel’s designs are well known on and off Broadway and at regional theaters and opera
houses in the U.S. and abroad. Recent New York credits include Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play; Stage Kiss; Indian Ink; Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 and 3). Other work includes production design for the HBO series In Treatment and the feature films Some Velvet Morning (Tribeca Films) and Loitering with Intent (Parts and Labor). BEN STANTON (Lighting Designer) Broadway: Fun Home (Tony nomination, Circle in the Square), An Enemy of the People (Friedman Theatre), Seminar (Golden Theatre). Recent OffBroadway: Fun Home (Lortel nomination, Public Theater); The Nether (Lortel nomination, MCC); Our Lady of Kibeho (Drama Desk nomination), Kung Fu, Angels in America (Signature Theatre); Murder Ballad (Lortel nomination, Manhattan Theatre Club/Union Square Theatre); Belleville (Lortel nomination, New York Theatre Workshop); Into the Woods (Delacorte); The Whipping Man (Lortel Award, Drama Desk nomination, Manhattan Theatre Club). Selected regional: Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Kirk Douglas Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, South Coast Repertory (CA); Goodman Theatre (IL); Shakespeare Theatre (DC); Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre (CT); Dallas Theater Center (TX); Huntington Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival (MA); Philadelphia Theatre Co., Paper Mill Playhouse, McCarter Theatre Center (NJ); Intiman Theatre (WA); Actors Theatre of Louisville (KY). Concert & tour designs for Regina Spektor, Sufjan Stevens, Beirut, St. Vincent. Touring LD for The National (summer/fall 2014). 2015 Obie Award winner for Sustained Excellence in Lighting Design. www.benstanton.com LEON ROTHENBERG (Sound Designer) Recent Broadway: Violet, The Realistic Joneses, The Nance (Tony Award). Select NYC/ Off-Broadway: Culture Project, Primary Stages, Second Stage
Theatre, Tectonic Theater Project, Women’s Project Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Public Theater, LCT3 and New York City Center. Select regional: Arena Stage, Seattle Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, New York Stage & Film, Two River Theater, North Shore Music Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, Intiman Theatre, Theatre By The Sea. International: Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza and Wintuk, National Theater of Cyprus, Dijon Festival. klaxson.net JENNIFER CAPRIO (Costume Consultant) Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. West End: The Lion (St. James). Current national tour: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Select NYC: Tail! Spin! (Culture Project), The Lion (Manhattan Theatre Club, tour), Little Miss Sunshine (Second Stage Theatre), In Transit (Primary Stages, Lortel nomination), Fugitive Songs (Dreamlight) and Striking 12 (Daryl Roth). Opera: Florida Grand, Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Mill City Summer Opera. Costume designs at over 60 U.S. regional theaters. DOM RUGGIERO (Production Supervisor) Broadway credits include The Gathering starring Hal Linden, Borscht Belt on Broadway starring Bruce Adler, Mal Z. Lawrence, and Ain’t That A Kick In The Head – The Music of Sammy Cahn directed by Chet Walker. 1st National Tours include: The Cole Porter Songbook starring Melba Moore, The Irving Berlin Songbook starring Carole Lawrence, Greetings! Shalom Aleichem Lives starring Judy Kaye, Bruce Adler and Theo Bikel. Dom has worked on various productions in many capacities from stage management to general management and producing. His projects have taken him across the U.S., Europe, South America and Australia with Aint’ Misbehavin, Phantom, Anything Goes and Song & Dance, among many others. PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7
THE LION
BENJAMIN SCHEUER (Writer/Performer) Benjamin Scheuer is the recipient of a Drama Desk Award, a Theatre World Award and London’s Off West End Award for Best New Musical. The official cast recording “Songs from The Lion” (produced by Geoff Kraly) is available on iTunes, CD and vinyl. Animated music videos for Scheuer’s songs “The Lion” “Cookie-tin Banjo” “Weather The Storm” and “Cure” (all directed by Peter Baynton) have won prizes at the Annecy Film Festival, the British Animation Awards, the Encounters Film Festival and Buenos Aires’ ExpoToons Film Festival. With photographer Riya Lerner, Scheuer is cocreator of the photography book Between Two Spaces, from which 50% of proceeds go to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society (betweentwospaces. com). Scheuer has toured with Mary Chapin Carpenter, and has performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall in London and Lincoln Center in New York. He has been a writer-inresidence at the Goodspeed Theatre, the Weston Playhouse and the Johnny Mercer Songwriting Workshop, and has been commissioned by the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Scheuer lives in New York City. BenjaminScheuer.com Instagram/Twitter: @BenjaminScheuer
(Washington, D.C.), St. James (West End, London - The Lion, winner of Best New Musical), Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Old Globe, Arena Stage, Portland Center Stage, Geva Theatre, Playmakers Rep, A.C.T., Cleveland Play House, Milwaukee Rep, Alliance Theatre, California Shakespeare Theater, Dad’s Garage Theatre Company, Swine Palace, Neo-Futurists, Aurora Theatre Company, Crowded Fire Theater and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Sean has been named “one of the top fifteen up & coming artists in the U.S., whose work will be transforming America’s stages for decades to come” & “One of 7 People Reshaping and Revitalizing The American Musical” by American Theatre magazine. His direction and shows have won “Best Play” and “Best Director” in multiple cities. He is currently the Artistic Director of the Merrimack Repertory Theatre. He’s previously served as the Artist-At-Large for Geva Theatre Center and spent four years at the Tony Award-winning Actors Theatre of Louisville as the theater’s Associate Artistic Director (where he directed 17 productions including five Humana Festivals). Mr. Daniels is the former Associate Artistic Director/Resident Director of the California Shakespeare Theater and before that spent a decade as the Artistic Director and CoFounder of Dad’s Garage Theatre Company in Atlanta. He has developed new work with the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Ars Nova, PlayPenn, The Lark, PlayLabs, New York Stage and Film, Asolo Rep, Goodspeed Opera, Weston Playhouse, Bay Area Playwrights Festival and Magic Theatre, and was the first American director asked to attend the Baltic American Playwrights Conference in Hiiumaa, Estonia. He’d love to hear from you @seandaniels.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES MIND THE GAP PRODUCTIONS (Technical Supervisor) Mind the Gap is a Brooklyn-based production company specializing in custom fabrication, production management, and production logistics. Notable projects include: On the Town (Broadway), Hand to God (MCC), And I and Silence, A Particle of Dread (Signature Theatre), Sex With Strangers, The Substance of Fire (Second Stage Theatre), Romeo and Juliet, Caucasian Chalk Circle (Classic Stage Co.), The Tribute Artist, Poor Behavior, While I Yet Live (Primary Stages). MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT (General Management) Maximum Entertainment is a producing, developing and management company. Maximum Entertainment was founded in 2006 by Avram Freedberg, Mary Beth Dale and Eva Price. Managing Director/General Manager Carl Flanigan joined Maximum in 2016. General Management credits on Broadway, Off-Broadway and on tour include Small Mouth Sounds; Verso; Carefree — Dancin’ With Fred & Ginger; The Hip Hop Nutcracker; 50 Shades! The Musical; Ivy + Bean: The Musical; Blank! The Musical; Colin Quinn: Long Story Short; Forever Dusty; Voca People; The Judy Show; Circumcise Me; The Great American Trailer Park Musical; The Magic School Bus Live!; Ella; ’S Wonderful; Strega Nona and Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano. EVA PRICE (Producer) Eva Price was recently named one of Crain’s New York 40 Under Forty Rising Business Stars. Current and notable productions include: On Your Feet! – The Story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Dear Evan Hansen, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons on Broadway!, Peter and The Starcatcher (5 Tony Awards), Colin Quinn Long Story Short (directed by Jerry Seinfeld), Annie (Tony-nominated musical revival), The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino (Tonynominated play revival), Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking, The Addams Family (starring Nathan P8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Lane and Bebe Neuwirth) as well as several other solo shows and critically acclaimed concerts starring The Temptations & The Four Tops, Kathy Griffin, Lewis Black and Hershey Felder. Recent Off Broadway projects include the Drama-Desk nominated Found (Atlantic Theater Company & Philadelphia Theater Company), and Bess Wohl’s critically acclaimed Small Mouth Sounds. International and touring credits include: Carefree: Dancin’ with Fred and Ginger (directed/ choreographed by Tony winner Warren Carlyle), The Hip Hop Nutcracker (featuring rap icon Kurtis Blow) as well as The Magic School Bus Live!: The Climate Challenge; Ella, a bio musical about the life and music of Ella Fitzgerald; ‘S Wonderful: The New Gershwin Musical; Tomie dePaola’s Strega Nona The Musical; Irving Berlin’s I Love A Piano (National Tour and Japan); The Great American Trailer Park Musical; Private Jokes, Public Places (London). For five years, Eva worked as an assignment editor and coordinating producer for special projects at ABC News, spending her last year producing and reporting on stories relating to Broadway for abcnews.com. STACEY MINDICH (Producer) Stacey is the Tony Awardwinning lead producer of the new Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. Other Broadway highlights: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Bridges of Madison County and Lucky Guy. Stacey is co-chair of the board at New York City Center and the recipient of The 2016 Robert Whitehead Award for Excellence in Commercial Producing. Most beloved productions: Russell, Danny and Charlie. WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC (Producer; Jon Platt, CEO; Sean Patrick Flahaven, SVP Theatre) Warner/Chappell Music is the global music publishing arm of Warner Music Group and home to a wide array of legendary songwriters and a rich catalog of contemporary hits and influential standards. With offices in more
than 40 countries, Warner/ Chappell provides deep expertise across a range of creative services and the most innovative opportunities for songwriters and copyright holders. With a history dating back more than 200 years, Warner/Chappell currently publishes and administers music from every genre, including theater writers Stephen Sondheim, Ahrens & Flaherty, Boublil & Schonberg, Kitt & Yorkey, Lopez & AndersonLopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Benjamin Scheuer, Shaiman & Wittman, and many more. TOM McGRATH (Producer) Tom McGrath is the COO of STX Entertainment, a Los Angelesbased motion picture studio. Previously Chairman and owner of Broadway Across America and Broadway.com. Tony Awards for Pippin, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, Hair, Boeing-Boeing, Memphis, God of Carnage, La Cage aux Folles. Chairman/owner of Bug Music, publishers of Johnny Cash and Bruno Mars among others. Former COO of Paramount Pictures including Titanic, Forrest Gump and Braveheart. At Act III producer of The Princess Bride and Stand by Me. SPRUCE LAKE THEATRICAL (Producer) Spruce Lake Theatrical was founded by David Bloch, Andrew Lippa and Robb Nanus. The Lion is their second collaboration as producers, their first being Andrew Lippa’s I Am Anne Hutchinson/I Am Harvey Milk, starring Mr. Lippa and Kristin Chenoweth. Robb Nanus is also producing The Woodsman off-Broadway. JAMIE DEROY/HALEY SWINDAL/DAN SHAHEEN (Producer) Jamie DeRoy credits include Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof, Sylvia, China Doll, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Norman Conquests (Tony Awards); Cinderella, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Realistic Joneses, Nice Work If You Can Get It The Addams Family, Catch Me If You Can, Finian’s Rainbow, Ragtime,
Thurgood, Blithe Spirit. OffBroadway: Exit Strategy, Kansas City Choir Boy, Tail! Spin!, All in the Timing, The Lives of the Saints, Dividing the Estate. Haley Swindal is thrilled to join The Lion! Recent producing: Warsaw, Uncle Morty’s Funeral, Fat Camp. Haley appeared on Broadway in Jekyll and Hyde, toured with White Christmas and JCS and played 54 Below with her solo show last year. Dan Shaheen produced the smash-hit comedy Buyer & Cellar by Jonathan Tolins (Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics awards) in New York, London and on national tour. Additional producing credits include the national tour of the Tony Award– winning play Peter and the Starcatcher and The Fantasticks, Perfect Arrangement, Kansas City Choir Boy, The Good Swimmer and I Do! I Do! off-Broadway. ROBERT KRAFT (Producer) Robert Kraft is an Oscar-, Grammy-, and Golden Globenominated songwriter, film composer, recording artist and record producer. As President of Fox Music from 1994 to 2012, Kraft supervised the music for more than 300 feature films including the record-breaking scores and soundtracks for Avatar, Titanic, Waiting to Exhale, Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet, Garden State, Walk the Line and Juno. Kraft co-produced the Oscar- and Grammy Award-winning The Little Mermaid soundtrack, including the Academy Award-winning song “Under the Sea.” In 2013, Kraft founded Kraftbox Entertainment, a music and media production, management and consulting firm. He is currently producing the feature film, The Sugar Hill Story at Warner Bros. Studios. MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB (Originating Theatre) Under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, MTC has become one of the country’s most prominent theatre companies. Productions at its Broadway and Off-Broadway venues have earned numerous awards including 19 Tony® Awards and 6 Pulitzer Prizes to date.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
RANDALL ARNEY (Artistic Director) Randall Arney has been a theater professional for over 30 years and has served as Artistic Director of the Geffen Playhouse since 1999. In addition to his artistic programming and oversight at the Geffen, Arney has helmed many productions for the theater, most recently Icebergs, Outside Mullingar, The Night Alive, Reasons to Be Pretty, Slowgirl, American Buffalo, Superior Donuts, The Female of the Species, The Seafarer, Speed-thePlow and All My Sons. Arney is an ensemble member and former Artistic Director of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre where his directing credits include: Slowgirl, The Seafarer, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Death and the Maiden, Curse of the Starving Class, Killers and The Geography of Luck, among others. Arney also directed Steppenwolf’s
world premiere of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile, as well as the subsequent national and international acclaimed productions. Mr. Arney’s acting credits with Steppenwolf include Born Yesterday, Ghost in the Machine, The Homecoming, Frank’s Wild Years, You Can’t Take it with You, Fool for Love, True West, Balm in Gilead and Coyote Ugly. As the Artistic Director for Steppenwolf from 1987 to 1995, he oversaw the creation of a new state-of-the-art theater which is Steppenwolf’s current home. Broadway transfers under his leadership include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Song of Jacob Zulu (six Tony Award nominations) and The Grapes of Wrath (1990 Tony Award, Best Play). Mr. Arney has an M.F.A. degree in Acting from Illinois State University and has taught master classes and workshops at UCLA, Steppenwolf, around the U.S. and in Tokyo.
GIL CATES, JR. (Executive Director) Gil Cates, Jr. has proudly served on the Geffen Playhouse Board since 2012 and has years of producing and directing experience in theater, film and television. Gil’s theater credits include the award-winning Names (Matrix Theatre) starring Dixie Carter and Greg Mullavey, The Night I Knocked Out Joe Frazer and Lost 90 Pounds (Gardner
Stage Theater), as well as Three Sisters and David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre (both at Syracuse Stage). Gil’s film credits include The Surface (starring Sean Astin and Geffen Playhouse alumnus Chris Mulkey), Jobs (starring Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot Mulroney, as well as Geffen Playhouse alumni Matthew Modine and Ron Eldard) and the 2011 feature film Lucky (starring Colin Hanks, Ari Graynor, AnnMargret and Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Tambor). In addition, Gil produced and directed the critically acclaimed Life After Tomorrow, featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, which won best documentary at the Phoenix Film Festival and later had its premiere Christmas Eve on Showtime. His other films include Deal (starring Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison and Charles Durning), The Mesmerist (starring Geffen Playhouse alumnus Neil Patrick Harris), and the critically acclaimed independent film Order of Chaos. Gil also made his television directorial debut with an episode of the NBC comedy, Joey, starring Emmy winner Matt LeBlanc. He studied at the National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut, and holds a B.F.A. in Drama from Syracuse University in 1991.
working with non-profit institutions, foundations and corporations on strategy, analysis and fundraising. She has worked for Simon Wiesenthal Center, The Clinton Foundation, Ben Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative, Hank Azaria’s Determined to Succeed, Charlize Theron's Africa Outreach Project, Water. org, Codenow.org among others. Prior to the Geffen, Regina served as the Director of Partnerships for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire where she led strategic planning and development while executing policies that advanced the organization’s visibility and growth. Regina also has a strong passion for teaching. After graduating from University of North Carolina School of the Arts, she taught in preschools and kindergartens in New York. From the age of 13, Regina worked as a professional dancer on Broadway as well as with a number of prominent modern dance ensembles. Fusing two of her interests, she created a highly successful program which incorporated dance therapy and creative movement into an early childhood curriculum as well as wrote and produced a television show based on this concept. In addition to being a published author and photographer with Tallfellow Press and Prometheus Books, Regina has taught and lectured at numerous schools in New York, Los Angeles and abroad.
REGINA MILLER (Chief Development Officer) Regina has been a development professional for over 18 years,
This theater operates under agreement between the League of Resident Theaters and Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. This theater operates under agreement between the League of Resident Theaters and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, an independent national labor union. The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P9
THE LION
MTC’s World, Broadway and New York premieres have included the world premiere of The Lion, Constellations, Casa Valentina, Outside Mullingar, The Assembled Parties, Heisenberg, Choir Boy, Murder Ballad, Venus in Fur, Good People,The Whipping Man, Ruined, Blackbird, The Explorer’s Club, The Columnist, Rabbit Hole, Doubt, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Proof, Love! Valour! Compassion! and Ain’t Misbehavin’. www.manhattantheatreclub.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GEFFEN AT A GLANCE
TOURING STAFF FOR THE LION
ADDRESS
GENERAL MANAGEMENT MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS Eva Price Carl Flanigan Andrew Hartman Emily Snyder Avram Freedberg Mary Beth Dale
Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024
TECHNICAL SUPERVISION MIND THE GAP PRODUCTIONS Pete Fry J. Michael Stafford Kaitlin Ciccarelli Company Manager Andrew Hartman Production Supervision Dom Ruggiero Technical Director Pete Fry Assistant Director Emily Maltby Assistant Set Designer Cate McCrea Assistant Lighting Designers Michael Cole Associate Sound Designer Danny Erdberg Artwork Situation Interactive Website The Pekoe Group Accountant FK Partners LP/Robert Fried Controller Galbraith & Co./Tabitha Falcone Banking JPMorgan Chase Bank/Christina Ciniglio Insurance John M. Glover Agency/Linda Schwartzman Legal Counsel Levine Plotkin & Menin LLP/Susan Mindell PRODUCTION STAFF FOR THE LION Sound Mixer James Grabowski A2 / Guitar Tech / Stagehand Matthew Colleran Light Board Operator Brittany Cobb Wardrobe Supervisor Jenny Foldenauer
Administrative Offices ... 310.208.6500 Mon – Fri ................. 10:00 am — 6:00 pm Box Office Phone Line ... 310.208.5454 Daily ............................ 7:00 am — 6:00 pm Subscriber Hotline . ......... 310.208.2028 Daily .......................... 12:00 pm — 6:00 pm Please visit geffenplayhouse.org for hours, parking and more information
TICKET SERVICES BOX OFFICE WINDOW When shows are not in performance, the box office window is open: Daily .......................... 12:00 pm — 6:00 pm During the run of a show, the window will be open until curtain. Please note: the box office is unable to process exchanges and future sales one hour prior to curtain time on any performance day.
ACCESS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Lighting Equipment provided by 4Wall Entertainment Lighting Sound Equipment provided by Jon Sound Inc. Guitar Strings and Guitar Picks provided by The Lion was developed in part at a retreat at the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, Weston, Vermont; at Goodspeed Musicals, East Haddam, CT; and with support from the Johnny Mercer Foundation.
ASL
ACCESSIBLE ACCOMMODATION Geffen Playhouse is fully committed to ensuring a satisfying theater experience for our patrons with special needs or disabilities. Please contact the box office or an usher to discuss your needs.
www.TheLionMusical.com
AT THE THEATER
SPECIAL THANKS
LATE SEATING Should you arrive late to the theater or vacate your seat during the performance, please expect to be held in the lobby until an appropriate pause in the action on stage. To minimize disturbance to other patrons, you may be seated in the first available location by the house staff even if it is different from your assigned seat. Be advised that some productions or circumstances may not allow for late or return seating.
UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Scene, Prop, Sound and Costume Shops; London Cleaners; Westwood Music; Mandy Greenfield; Leah Hamos; Bob Alwine; Rick Miramontez; Molly Barnett; Michael Jorgensen UCLA SCHOOL OF THEATER, FILM AND TELEVISION Geffen Playhouse is affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles, specifically the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Geffen Playhouse values its role as an important educational resource by providing students with master classes, workshops and internships. Students are also able to work and learn from distinguished visiting Geffen artists such as Alan Ayckbourn, Jon Robin Baitz, Annette Bening, Ed Harris, David Ives, Neil LaBute, David Mamet, Donald Margulies, Terrence McNally, John Rando and Kathleen Turner in areas of directing, playwriting, acting, design, dramaturgy, management and production. Geffen Playhouse also draws upon the distinguished experts in the university to enhance the theater’s programs and research.
P10 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
SAVE THE DATE
BACKSTAGE at the GEFFEN Sunday, March 19, 2017
PHOTO BY GREG GORMAN
PHOTO BY STEVEN R. STACK
HONORING
MEL BROOKS DISTINCTION IN THEATER AWARD
QUINCY JONES DISTINCTION IN SERVICE AWARD
MEZZANINE TICKETS START AT $1,500 HOST COMMITTEE PACKAGES START AT $5,000 For more information, please visit geffenplayhouse.org/backstage or email reginam@geffenplayhouse.org
OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO OUR SPONSORS TITLE SPONSOR
PRESENTING SPONSORS
GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/BACKSTAGE As of printing date December 16, 2016.
ANNUAL DONORS Geffen Playhouse recognizes the following individuals and organizations for their generous support of our Annual Fund and Backstage at the Geffen. Donors are listed at the Associate level and higher for gifts made between October 1, 2015 and December 1, 2016. In appreciation, donors enjoy a host of special benefits including house seats, complimentary drinks, receptions and much more. For more information, please call Jamie Mikelich at 310.208.6500 ext. 128.
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE $50,000+ Anonymous Audi of America, Inc Ben/Joyce Eisenberg Foundation Mrs. Carol K. Block & Chancellor Gene D. Block Claudia & Kevin Bright City National Bank Elizabeth & Gil Cates, Jr. Mary Ann Cloyd David Geffen Foundation Douglas Elliman Real Estate Edgerton Foundation The Edward A. & Ai O. Shay Family Foundation Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer & Melvin Keefer Herbert M. & Beverly J. Gelfand In Memory of Alice Ghostley & Felice Orlandi Sam Gores The Adi & Jerry Greenberg Foundation Guggenheim Partners Investment Management Holdings, LLC Carole & Bill Haber Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Martha Henderson Rabbi Uri D. Herscher & Dr. Myrna Herscher Cindy & Alan Horn Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Glorya Kaufman Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation Keyes Automotive Group Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald L&N Andreas Foundation Latham & Watkins LLP Mr. and Mrs. Jason & Yvonne Lee Susan & David Leveton Ginny Mancini Fay & Frank Mancuso John McCrite & Juan Lopez Donna McKenna & Flynn Chernos Kelly & Ron Meyer B. Scott Minerd Ann & Jerry Moss Moss Foundation Paradigm Talent Agency Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Participant Media Plaza La Reina PricewaterhouseCoopers Madeline & Bruce Ramer Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin Richard & Barbara Sherman Shubert Foundation P12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Skirball Foundation Karen & Vic Smith Cynthia P. Stafford Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum Miranda & Brett Tollman UCLA The Walt Disney Company Ken Willner & Jim Stine Judy & Chancellor Charles E. Young Dirk & Natasha Ziff
ARTISTIC CIRCLE $25,000 - $49,999 Anonymous (2) Aegon Transamerica Foundation Patricia Kiernan Applegate Robert C. Baral Laurie & Bill Benenson Valarie De La Garza & Michael Centeno City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Classic Party Rentals Dwight Stuart Youth Fund Carol & Paul Frimmer Mellody Hobson The Lear Family Foundation Los Angeles County Arts Commission Los Angeles magazine George Lucas Family Foundation Marcia Israel Foundation, Inc. Sandra E. Milken Napa Valley Grille Lynda & Stewart Resnick Holly Rice Samsung Electronics America Judith & Bruce Stern Kimberly Steward & Josh Godfrey Shel & Cynthia Stone
PRODUCER $10,000 - $24,999 Anonymous (2) Ariel Investments Beth Behrs Georgette Bennett & Leonard Polonsky Charles A. Black, Jr. Board of Supervisors County of Los Angeles Brotman Foundation of California Eileen & Harold Brown Roma Downey & Mark Burnett The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation Capricorn Investment Group Marcy Carsey Stephanie & Jonathan Carson Carole Bayer Sager & Robert A. Daly Edward Avedis
Dr. & Mrs. Paul Eisenberg EMC Eric Flamholtz & Yvonne Randle Susan & Mark Fleischer Susan & Eric Fleishman Fox Entertainment Group The Friedman Group Gagosian Gallery, Inc Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc. Ghurka Ann & Jim Gianopulos The Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Foundation Patty Glaser & Sam Mudie Goldman Sachs Andy & Carlo Brandon-Gordon Manuela & James Goren Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association Arthur Greenberg Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP C. Curtis Grisham In Memory of Morris A. Hazan Samantha & Eric Heer Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa Stanley Iezman & Nancy Stark Liberty Ross & Jimmy Iovine Joseph Drown Foundation Julie & David Kavner The Kinloch Club, New Zealand Janine & Peter Lowy Carla Malden Mona Malden Susan & Peter Mallory Nancy & Michael McClelland Wendy & Barry Meyer MOCA Foundation Marcia & Brett Molotsky Morgan Stanley National Endowment for the Arts Northern Trust, NA Christine Marie Ofiesh Mo Ostin Carol & Bill Ouchi Palomino Paramount Pictures Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes Popland Studios Judith Reichman, MD Rouse Appraisals Richard Ruskell Pastries The Simms/Mann Family Foundation The Skoll Foundation Fred Specktor & Nancy Heller STK Sugarfish Thompson Coburn LLP Steve Tisch U.S. Bank Union Bank Uniworld River Cruises Inc Warner Bros. Entertainment Well Done Catering Westfield Group Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks Richard & Mae Ziman
ANNUAL DONORS $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Jehan F. Agrama & Dwora Fried Paul G. Allen AMC Amgen Foundation Hilary & Jack Angelo Cathy & Shel Bachrach The Alec Baldwin Foundation Belmond La Samanna Annette Blum Mara & Jonathan Blum Heather Thomas & Skip Brittenham The Eli & Edythe L. Broad Foundation Cindy & Bob Broder Amanda Brown & Justin Chang Linda & Jerry Bruckheimer Maya Burkenroad & Tai Lopez Glenn & Lynn Cardoso Beate & Christopher Chee Comcast | NBC Universal Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Creative Artists Agency Merle Dandridge & Christopher Johnston Debra Davis Robin Dearden & Bryan Cranston Dream Warrior Group Fielding Edlow & Larry Clarke Susanna Felleman & Erik Feig FENDI Americas Lawrence N. Field First Republic Bank Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea Kiki & David Gindler Priscila Giraldo Sue & Steve Glusker Gloria & Peter Gold Mary Ann & Irwin Gold Elizabeth Guber Sugarman & Jason Sugarman Leo S. Guthman Fund Jackson Henry Gail & Stanley Hollander Vicki Iovine & David Coiro Bernice Jeffrey Marvin Jubas & Janet Wald Jubas Mannon Kaplan Sally & Dr. Manny J. Karbelnig KIND Bars Alex Kurtzman & Samantha Kurtzman-Counter Wendy Kurtzman La Valencia Cody Lassen & Nitzan Mekel Eileen & Kase Lawal Drs. Gerald & Barbara Levey Lucques Catering Padma & Rao Makineni Anne & Steve Martin Sherry Martin & Chaim Troman Merle & Jerry Measer Lance & Hillary Milken Judy Zaban Miller & Lester Miller Kate Moran & Mikki Rosenberg Rio & Frank Morse Benedicta & Geoffry Oblath
Liza & Conan O’Brien Maura O’Neill Pottash/Ferguson Family Foundation Kay & Bob Rehme Joyce Rey The Richenthal Foundation Mayor Richard Riordan Jane Rissman & Richard Sondheimer Eden & Steven Romick Ronen Levy Events Rikki Rosen Thomas L. Safran Hon. Nicole A. Avant & Ted Sarandos Dawn & Joel Scherer Judi & Bruce Schindler Jody & Arthur Schmid Michael Schwab Steve & Paula Mae Schwartz Tina & David Segel Michael & Glenda Shaw The Simon-Strauss Foundation Singer Family Foundation Gussie Sitkin Lorraine Spurge & Patrick Mitchell Arnold Stiefel Tanino Ristorante The Tuck Room & Tavern Thomas Safran & Associates Theatre Communications Group Todd Reed, Inc. Karen Zoller, MD & David Tillman, MD The Travel Corporation Alice & Norman Tulchin Michael E. Walsh West LA Poker William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Karen & Rick Wolfen Jennifer Young & Katrina Nason Diva Zappa In Loving Memory of Herman Ziegler Ruth & Stan Zicklin Ziffren Brittenham LLP
SPONSOR $3,000 – $4,999 Janis Adams & John Lyons Annette Bening & Warren Beatty Madelyn Bennett & Eric Gibson Paula & Bruce Bennett Shelly & Libby Bergen Hilton Bora Bora Pearl VJ Boyd Robert Brook & Jacqueline Kosecoff Dr. Fanya Carter, PhD Scott, Susan & Joshua Corwin Shelley Wike Cranley Janice & Billy Crystal The Galin Family Marion Goldenfeld Mary Lynn & Howard Gottfried Stephen Sass & Steven Hochstadt Dora & Neil Kadisha Barbara & Ronnie Kahn Deborah & Ivan Kallick Lenny & David Kelton Peggy Crosby Klugman & Jack Klugman Thea & Neal Koss
Renee & Meyer Luskin Vicki Magasinn & Robert Somer Stewart Mayeda One & Only Palmilla Cheryl Petersen & Roger Lustberg Judi & Tim Ritchie Maria Rodriguez & Victoria Bullock Craig E. Rogers Sue Rosenwasser Lori & David Rousso Paula & Allan Rudnick Judy & Mike Sapir Vanessa & Dr. Stephen Shew Leigh Silverton Allen Blue & Kira Snyder Karen & William Timberlake Triada Palm Springs Vernon, Barry & Dale Tyerman In Honor of Ruth Tyerman Lentz Jennifer von Schneidau The Waterman Family Foundation Joanne & Ken Weinman Leslie White & Al Limon Patricia Youngman
PARTNER $1,500 - $2,999 Anonymous (4) Pat & Sandy Adams Miriam Aguiar Olga S. Alderson Debbie Allen Bonnie & Bill Apfelbaum Aversano Family Trust Kathy Baker & Steven Robman Allison Balson Irene Baron Robert E. & Maria H. Barron Richard Bautzer & David McDowell Patricia & Mark Benjamin John Bjorge & Mary McKelvey Carolyn & Martin Bloom Dr. Wallace P. Brithinee Marla Campagna Debra & Peter Cappos Pat & Bill Chin Darcy Christal Laurel & Aaron Clark Linda & John Coleman David Conney, M.D. Janine Cristiano Elizabeth Dalling Pam Dawber Dana Delany Deborah Divine Janie Docter Susan & Jonathan Dolgen Victoria Dummer Natalie Eshaya Carol & J.B. Esterkin Judy & Mike Fantasia Lisa Field, Field Family Foundation Sonia & Robert Freedman and Family Helen & Arthur Geoffrion Tina & Michael Gittelson Sunny & Alvin Grossblatt Craigar Grosvenor The Guerin Foundation Vera & Paul Guerin Melissa Harman
Teri Hatcher Bucky Hazan, Teles Properties Alan & Michelle Heilpern Dr. John D. Hofbauer & Dr. Laura E. Fox In Honor of Development Roger & Linda Howard Lynn Hunt & Margaret Jacob Brian Irving & Dayna Cussler Nancy & Len Jacoby Carrie Johnson Willette & Manny Klausner Katherine Kleindienst Tatiana & Howard Lipson Mary & John Lithgow Eduardo Martinez Jill Mazursky Janis B. McEldowney Sue McHugh & Herb Seese Sheila & Joel Mendelsohn Patrice & James Mitchell Patricia Mitchell The New York Palace Michael Nicklin Debbie & Norman Nixon Olympus Theatricals Michael R. Oppenheim Carol & Alan Ostroff Soundis & Danny Passman Tara & Robert Pietri Herbert & Marilyn Piken Ruth Popkin Robert Quayle Lee Ramer Lindy Robbins Sonny & Cynthia Rodriguez Rose Brand Rosa Rosenberg Nancy Stephens & Rick Rosenthal and The Rosenthal Family Foundation Wil Rosser Michael Schlesinger Susan Schwarz Berton Carol & Charles Schwartz Dean Teri Schwartz Matthew Shakman Peggy & Robert Shapiro Dominique Shelton Robert Siew & William Mark Hafeman Snyder Family Foundation Ray Stark Mitch & Sherry Stein Lisa Stonich Meghan Strange Surf Air Audri & Stan Tendler Paul Tetreault Daniel Tongbai Jane & Theodore Valentine Susan & Peter Van Haften Karen & Francesco Vanderbaan Deborah Walsh Denise & Peter Walsh Gelena & Seth Weissman Cherie Wrigley Debra Zavala Barbara & Stanley Zax Leslie & Robert Zemeckis Ellen & Arnold Zetcher David Zuckerman & Ellie KannerZuckerman
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P13
THE LION
DIRECTOR
ANNUAL DONORS EDUCATION ADVOCATE $1,000 - $1,499 Anonymous (2) Harry & Gay Abrams/Abrams Artists Agency Dr. Richard Ackerman & Miriam Shakter Laura & Harvey Alpert Charitable Foundation Patti & Harlan Amstutz Bonnie R. Arnold Margaret Campbell Arvey AudioQuest Russ, August & Kabat Richard & Shelley Bayer Jerry Beckman Sigrid & Alan Belinkoff Lydia & David Bell Susan & Eric M. Bender Wendy & John Bergquist Diane & James Berliner Sharon & Artie Berrick Joe Blackstone & Jamie Mohn The Bordy & Leibovic Families Brenda & Alan Borstein Helen Breitwieser & James Jacks Wendy & David Brotman Chancellor Albert Carnesale & Mrs. Robin Carnesale Peg Casey David Cates & Christine Vavak Jane Cates Jonathan & Elena Cates Melissa Cates & Roger Claman Steven Cerasale & Mary Katherine Cocharo Martha Chase Sachiko T. Cochran MD & Joseph T. Araki In Recognition of Carl & Barbara Cohen Culver Hotel Ruth Daugherty Phil Davis Suzanne Deal Booth & David Booth Deluscious Cookies Carolyn Dirks/Brett Dougherty Dennis & Jeralyn Doty Jan & Thea Drayer Ed & Barbara Dreyfus Gerald & Sally Ducot Marilyn P. Dunn Dr. & Mrs. William M Duxler In Honor of Education & Community Engagement Colleen M. Ellis Terri & David Elston The English Language Center Carl & Courtenay Enright Lynne & Michael Feldman Donnovan Field Sydney M. Finegold, M.D. Steve Freedman Ben & Susan Friedman G2 Graphic Service, Inc. Jeanne & Arnold Geffner The Gibbs Family Cherna & Dr. Gary Gitnick Charlotte Gold Dr. Irene Goldenberg Louis & Linda Goldsman Roz & Abner Goldstine Ellie Goodman Helene Gordon Adrienne Grant & Paul Jennings Jack Grossbart & Marc Schwartz Deidre Hall Salli Harris Michael Parks & Judith Hayward Murray & Gail Heltzer Hella Hershon
P14  PERFORMANCES  MAGAZINE
David Coleman & Jean Himmelstein Coleman Rand Hoffman & Charlotte Robinson Toni Hoyt Linda Janger Joseph B. Gould Foundation J.W. Hulme Co Linda & David Kagel Joyce & Don Kaiserman Marcy Kaplan & Eric Gold Karney Guren Family Foundation In Honor of Judi Kaufman Barbara & Stuart Klabin Kent Klavens & Judy Vourlas Lynda & Neal Hersh Judy Knapp Leslie & Norman Koplof Jeffrey Kramer Carol Krause Lena & Mark Labowe Deborah Lacusta & Daniel Castellaneta Helene Laub Joyce Lederer Steven & Nancy Lippman Elisabeth & Jeffrey Lipsman Judith Locke & Dennis Massie Karen & Peter Locke London Cleaners, Inc Karen & Frederick Lorig The Jennifer and Greg Malins Foundation Eric G.C. Mark The Miles Family Barbara & Fred Miller Cookie Miller Andrew & Laura Mintzer Joanne & Joel Mogy Montage Hotels and Residences In Loving Memory of Harvey S. Morse Lon Morse & Toni Hollander Morse Joan & Fred Nicholas Albert & Barbara Nichols John Nickoll Deborah & Stacey Olliff Ornest Family Foundation Gia Paladino & Michael Wise Philip & Leslie Paton Amanda Crick & Glenn Pfeffer Pier South Craig Piligian Jane Rascoff Richard Rasiej & Joan Herman Harvey & Joyce Reichard Sandra C Ribble Donald B. & Susan F. Rice In Memory of Frances Richman Esther & Howard Richmond Linda & Manny Rider Beth Roberts & Warren Smith Dolores Rogers Ronda & Fred Rose Brad & Nancy Rosenberg David A. & Karen Richards Sachs Susana Salazar Mark San Filippo Nancy & Ted Sanborn Jay Sandrich Toni & John Schulman Don & Cynthia Schwartz David Schwartz Foundation, John S. Schwartz Don & Cynthia Schwartz John Schwartz John & Lori Shaw Phyllis & Martin Shephard Doris & Michael Sherman Holly & Larry Shulman Rita & Jose Sigal Ron Silverman & Soraya Ross Joan & Jerry Snyder
Drs. Matthew & Marion Solomon The Somaini Family Christine Taylor & Ben Stiller Jordan Strauss Photography Barbra Streisand & James Brolin David & Katherine Stritzinger Eric Strom & Eileen Goodis Aaron & Melissa Stroud Sugarfina Sunrise Springs Katy Sweet The Tatasciore Family Anne C. Taubman & David Boyle John Teeples & Nicolas Martinez, Jr. John Turmes Catherine & Leonard Unger Daniel & Shauna Valenzuela Alan Van Vliet Julie & Peter Weil Marcia Williams & Gene Lucero Judith & Philip Winik Wright Maritime Group Anna & Stephen Yallourakis June Yip & David Wong Marcie & Howard Zelikow
ARTISTIC ADVOCATE $500 - $999 Anonymous (5) Terry & Richard Abrams Betsy Alevy Nancy Antoniou Eloise & Mark Appel Jeanne Bailey Janet & Irwin Barnet Linda Barnett Irene Baron Yvette Bergeron & Dean Bailey Kristen Bird Diane & Richard Birnholz Black Market Gelato Larry & Julie Blivas In Honor of Phyllis Blivas Pamela & Bill Bohnert Michael J. Bordy Laura D. Campbell Andrew Carlberg Scott Carter & Bebe Johnson Lee & Shelby Chaden Cindy Clark Ginger Conrad In Loving Memory of Ed Cypert Greg & Leslie Dannon Dr. Udayakumar Devaskar Roni & Ethan Eller Lidia & Mauricio Epelbaum David & Joyce Evans Marjorie & Arthur Fine The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Fund Michael & Lynne Flynn Myrna Forest Burt & Nanette Forester Judith R. Forman and Dr. Cynthia Pikus Sharlene & Sol Galper The Gewecke Family Benita & Bert Ginsberg Marcy Goldstein Lori & Robert Goodman Diana & Ronald Granit Gigi & Don Grant Gaby & Rob Greenberg Marcy & Edgar Gross Madeline Gussman Carolyn & Bernie Hamilton Arlene S Harris Sheila & Chester Hasday
Zvia Hempling Jack Hileman & Roxanne Huddleston Jim Hliboki & Hildi Snodgrass Dorothy Hoffman Kelley M. Hogan Gerald Isenberg Jackie & Warren Jackson Brad & Kay Jensen Brett Johnson Robert Jones Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kamine Christine Kaplan Stan Kasten Dean Kauffman & Carlos Andres Mosquera-Tangarife Patricia Keating Nancy Mette & Barnet Kellman Beverlee Bickmore & James Kelly Corie & Michael Koss Marlene & Donald Kottler Tam & David Lachoff Joan & Christopher Larkin Jeanne & Christopher Lavagnino Ginger Leibovitz Suzann Levine Brenda & Warren Lincoln Neil L. & Ora D. Macfarlane George Manet Elizabeth Marcellino Mr. & Mrs. Phillips H. Marshall David Israeli & Dr. Marie Mazzone Richard Milling Teddie J. Milner Sue & Monty Mohrman Paula Moseley, EdD Sandra Moss Carol & Jerry Muchin Sherri & Arnie Nelson Robert & Anita Nitta Doreen & Donald Nortman Barbara & Gary Pasquinelli Barbara & Peter Patman Jonna & Alfred Peguero In Memory of Michael Piller Ruth Pilot Berta & Lou Pitt Rabbi Steven & Didi Carr Reuben Carrie Richman Carlene Ringer Allison Rosenthal Tyler Rubin Crystal Salapatas In Memory of Hon. Maxwell Salter Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers Nancy & Steven Schneider Stanley Schneider Susan & Peter Schwab Traci Shelton Robin & Robert Sills Manish Singh Martin & Leah Sklar Dr. Jerry & Marci Smith Trudy Sokol Sold Out Crowd Rita Spiegel Arthur Stern Sharon Suarez Mr. & Mrs. David Tann Ira & Laurie Waldman Marcia & Dr. Charles Wasserman David Weiss Pat West Connie & John Weston In Memory of Milton A. Williams, Jr. Charlie Wilson Jay Weinstein & Lori Woldar Arnold & Tricia Zane Crystal Zehetner & Julia Ramadan
ANNUAL DONORS $250 - $499 Anonymous (10) Nancy & Emanuel Abrams Norman & Toshka Abrams Patricia Abrams Actors Equity Foundation, Inc Anne Adair & Steve Ganzberg Barbara Adams Elaine & Michael Agran Charles & Annick Allen Sylvia Almstadt Merryl & David A. Alpert Jan & David Altemus Peter Anderson Robert C. Anderson Philip Angerhofer & Stephen A. Jones Debra & Benjamin Ansell Jc & Jack Appelbaum Steven D. Arias Dr. Sandra & Dr. Charles Aronberg Barbara & Ethan Aronoff Marc & Elizabeth Axelrod Lynne Babbitt Cecilia Ball Victoria Bates Randy Bayard Judith & Thomas Beckmen Dawn & Marshall Bein Dr. Timothy Belavich & Bernie Knobbe Marshall Bell Richard N. Berger JoAnn Bernard Barbara Berkowitz Karen Berkowitz Marsha C. Berkowitz Beverly Bierer Claudia & Ronald Bitzer Edward Blume Jeff Boland Frances & Thomas Booth Toby Bornstein Nina & Hon. Anthony S. Borwick Burt Boyar Paula Brand Mona Brandler Leah Lynn Broidy Lionel Brown Mitchell Brown Marshall Bull David & Kathy Burke Marcia Burnam Marlene & David Capell Anthony Carbone Phil Carlin Miss Irene Castaldo Ellen & Jeff Catania Ling Chan Richard Pezner & Sandra Chan Diane Chernansky Mike Clements Anselm Clinard In Memory of Dr. Alan Cohn Ivan Contreras Lionel Conway Linda Covette Jon Cowan Susan Georgine Craig Norman & Nancy Cravens Shawn Cunningham Ingrid Curtiss, MD Ames Cushing Col. Tony, Donna & Taylor Daniell Jeffrey S. Davidson Ruth B. Davis
Elizabeth De Oliveira & Moacyr Da Silva Bert Deixler Hal & Roberta Delevie Brian Demsey Gayle & Dan Devin Robert Ditullio Suzanne & Bruce Dodds Carol Jean Doehring Sandy & Gerry Dorfman Daryl & Paul F. Doucette Jacki & Murray Drechsler Earthlings.com Michael East Roy Eddleman Mona & Barry Edwards Chiedu Egbuniwe Larry & Elke Ereshefsky Janet Fattal Francesco Federico Mimi Alpert Feldman Abby & Malcolm Field Paul & Karen Finkel Donna Finley Evaline Fishman Margaret Flanders William & Elisabeth Fleischman Lynne & Michael Flynn Myrna ‘Pepper’ Forest Dolores Franco Julia Franz Fran Fredella & Scott Rubin Sandy & Donald French Kenneth J. Friedman & Marilynn J. Friedman Family Foundation Lynn & Barry Friesen Laurelle Frome & Brady Frome Yuri & Yelena Furman Gina Furth Larry & Judith Garshofsky Russell Gersten Karen Berko Gibson Dr. Diane & Michael Glazer Hannah Godwin Michael Golamco Carol & Neil Goldberg Lorain Goldberg Mark & Molly Goldberg Francine Golden & Marvin Schlossman Dr. Peter Goldman Dina Goldstein Ellie & Barry Goldstein Roger Gordon Liz Gottainer & David Sadkin Russell Grant Debbie & Glenn Gray Joan Green Madelyne Green Paul & Louise Greenberg Randi & Jerome Greenberg Larry Guli Eve Haberfield & David N. Johnson Hanif Haji Kambiz Hakim Mary & Alan Halkett Jane Hall Roberta Hamilton Tess Harper Richard Hart Judy L. Hartley Dr. & Mrs. Samuel Haveson Michael & Candice Herman Winifred C. Hervey Penny Hildebrand Cina Hodges
Gayle Hooker Dale & John Hopmans In Memory of Ross Hunter & Jacque Mapes Lonnie Levi Israel Robert & Gail Israel Frederic A. & Nancy Jacobus Martha Jones & Paul Zerella Robert Jones & Julie Anne Robinson Jerry Joseph Joanne & Larry Kahn Lesly Kahn Yolla Kairouz David Kaminow Jean Kaplan Susie Kater & Tom Chappell Donald Kates Harris Katleman Owen Kato Dana Katz Morgan Kay William & Renee Kendall Louanne Kennedy Debra Kessler Cathy Kirkpatrick Dr. Ann Kirsch & Mr. Jonathan Kirsch Irwin Kishner Dr. Phyllis Klein Laurie & Milton Klorman Dolph Kornblum & Florence Robins Kimberly & John Kruse Eleanor & Mark Lainer Bruce Landau Carol D. Lande Ana Launes Susan Lava Sharon & Lawrence Lavenberg In Memory of Katie Layman Learning Encounters Ann Leland Donna Levi Gail J. Levine Marla E. Levine Anita & Burton Levinson Dr. & Mrs. Isaac Levy Rick & Vivian Levy Lawrin & Linda Lewin Reuben Lim Molly & Peter Lindgren Bonnie Lisle Cynthia Llaca Leslie & Adam Lobel Alex Loewenthal Lori & Tom Low Anne L. Lynch Guillaume & Crystal Maillet John & Susan Mamer Marcus Mancini Carol & Doug Mancino Pauline Marks Annette Marmalefsky Goran Marnfeldt Douglas Mcavoy, Jr. Jim & Kathy McCaffery Patrick W. McDivitt Jeanne McDonald-Powers & Travis Powers Robert Mercer Eileen & Paul Meshekow
Erik & Melanie Messerschmidt Reed & Linda Metzger Lori Meyers & James Marano Norma & Larry Meyers Philip & Joan Miller Jeff Milman Matlin & Robert Mirman Thomas Mitchell Irina & Andrew Molasky Laurie & Chuck Mondrus Henry Moon Shelagh Moriarty Howard Morris John Moschitta Carol & Jerry Muchin My-Petite Alexander Levine & Catherine Nameth Jason Neidleman Sherri & Arnie Nelson Mark & Diane Neubauer Tom Nevermann Chris & Richard Newman Jeff Newman Charna & Allen Nissenson Myra Nourmand Lawrence Ross & Linda Nussbaum Doron Ofir Sandy & Alan Olick Adrienne & Arthur Omansky Dr. Ronald & Iris Onkin Cynthia & Todd Palm Edward Parker Abhilash & Kelly Patel Joanne Patten Naidu & Jane Permaul Susan Petelik Bruce Peters Jack & Jane Pollock Zazi Pope Lance Powell Jeff Prater Philip Pritchett Neil & Lisa Greer Quateman Elaine Richards Mr. & Mrs. James Richards Steve & Linda Richman Lindy Robbins Barbara & David Rognlien Janis & Avi Rojany Robert Rosania Barry Rosen & Neil Bokal Beverly & Melvin Rosenthal Dr. Martin & Lorraine Ross Terry Ross Virginia Ross Michael, Michon & Jackson Roth Susan Rovner Leslie & Daniel Sackheim Anne Sacks Mr. & Mrs. Simon Salloom Lori Sanchez Nan Sarno Susan & Kenneth Sarno Ellen Sassa Janet Sasson Linda & Cliff Schaffer Chris T. Schmidt Joel & Sonia Schneider Gary & Karen Schneider Jane & Bill Schopf
Christine Schultz John H. Scott Nell Scovell Marc Seltzer Scott Shagrin Dr. Mary Jo & Paul Shane Elise Shanfeld Annette & Leonard Shapiro Sasha & Eugenia Shapiro Barbara Vickery & Martin Shapiro Judy & Tom Sharp Melanie Sharp & Kevin Miller Netta & Uri Shohet Seymour & Dorothy Siegel Linda & Ronald Slates Diane Good & Frank Smith Barbara & Hal Smith James Smith & Loreen Ayer Marcia L. & Mark J. Smith Jean Smith-Moore Karen Smits Donald & Caitlin Sohn Christine Sorgi Dr. Robert & Margo Sorrentino Bruce Spector Debra Spector M Leslie Stearns Frances & Sy Strasberg William Stringer Penny Strowger Mr. Kayser Sume & Dr. Renee Sabshin Ann Sunderland Katherine Sung Lance & Maureen Tan Phyllis & Franklin Tell Marjorie Thomson Courtney & Jay Tobin Judy & Art Tompkins Jacqueline G. Tousley Joyce & Josh Trabulus Miriam Trogdon Brigitta Troy Dr. Gerald D. Turbow Sofia Vaisman Deborah Valdez Lorraine & Ehrich Van Lowe Anthony Vasek Bobette Vikan Carole Wagner-Vallianos & Peter Vallianos Dr. & Mrs. William Walsh Gloria Walther Marvin Wasserman Elisa Wayne Polly & Herb Weinberg Myrna & Art Weiner Sherry Weinman & Michael Umansky Marsha & Steven Weiss Richard & Joyce Wickline Rae Jeane Williams Gary & Karen Winnick Bruce & Marci Wiseman Marc Wishingrad Susan Wolford Shana Wong Diana Lynn Woods Joseph Wu Harriet Zaretsky Lynn & Meir Ziv Sandy Zwirn
HAVE WE MADE AN ERROR? To report a misspelling or omission in these listings, please contact the Development Department at 310.208.6500 ext. 128
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P15
THE LION
ASSOCIATE
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE STAFF Randall Arney Artistic Director ARTISTIC
Gil Cates, Jr. Executive Director MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Amy Levinson Phyllis Schuringa Young Ji Rachel Wiegardt-Egel
Artistic Associate / Literary Director Artistic Associate / Casting Director Artistic Coordinator / Company Manager Literary Associate
DEVELOPMENT Regina Miller Ellen Catania Jessica Brusilow Rollins Jamie Mikelich Kristen Smith Eshaya Scott Kriloff Clay Dzygun Taylor Cerny Jessie Sherman Austin Merrill
Chief Development Officer Senior Vice President, Development Director of Education Partnerships & Donor Relations Director of Individual Giving & Spotlight Manager Development & Education Programs Coordinator Development Concierge & Database Manager Office Coordinator for Executive Director / Development Development Assistant Development Assistant Development Intern
Jessica Buzzard Director of Marketing & Communications Karen Gutierrez Director of Advertising & Audience Development Mark San Filippo Director of Ticketing & Database Administrator Brian Dunning Associate Director of Marketing Creative Ashley Bodul Associate Director of Public Relations Kevin O’Brien Marketing Coordinator Janice Bernal Box Office Manager Bryan Martin Box Office Manager Zack Hamra Assistant Box Office and Audience Services Manager Vaneh Assadourian, Kaitlin Huwe, Richard Martinez, Cameron Reck, Celia Rivera, Celeste Russi, Alyssa Tyson Box Office Staff Sue Fleishman Communications Consultant Quinn Francis Outreach Assistant Ramon Garcia Mission Continues Fellow
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION
Karim Bouzzit
Jennifer Zakkai Director of Education & Community Engagement Carolyn Marie Wright Manager of Education & Community Engagement Brian Allman, Ramy Eletreby, David Guerra, McKenna Kerrigan, Robert Paterno, Connor White Teaching Artists Hermie Castillo Mission Continues Fellow
FRONT OF HOUSE
ADMINISTRATION Behnaz Ataee Peter Banachowski Samone Watts Marguerite Harris
Chief Financial Officer Accounting and Payroll Manager Accounts Payable Receptionist
PRODUCTION Daniel Ionazzi Jill Barnes Sam Craven-Griffiths Evan Friedman Rich Gilles James Grabowski Darren Rezowalli Ramine Ameli
Production Manager Associate Production Manager / Company Manager Technical Director Associate Technical Director Properties Master House Sound Supervisor Lighting & Video Supervisor Production Electrician
System Administrator
Jeni Pearsons Director of Special Events David Gerhardt Supervising House Manager Jane Phillips Harper Deputy Supervising House Manager Amy Farkas Lead Concierge James Porter Lead House Manager Josiah Davis, Brett Donaldson, Caroline Harrison Kohler, Nathaniel Meek, Roxana Meyers House Managers Claudia Baffo, Rebecca Birstock, Kailey Bray, Toshi Calderon, Taylor Cerny, Vianney Cossyleon, Ida Herndon, Isaac Jay, Olivia Lowe, Sarah Lyddan, Aaron Newman, JoJo Nwoko, Shannon O’Hara, Madison Shamoun, Charmee Taylor, Adam Turney, Cody Williams, Dennis Woullard Ushers Rob Mersola Bar Manager & Mixologist Manuel Mayorga Weekend Bar Manager Skylar Adams, Adam Carr, Brenda Davidson, Sarah Drescher, Ryan Turner Bartenders/Event Staff
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Miguel del Castillo Mario Santillan-Perez Juan Carlos Umaña Camerina Martinez
Facility Manager Custodial Cleaning Custodial Cleaning Custudial
Geffen Playhouse is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. This project was also funded in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles. Geffen Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater company, is proudly affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles.
P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE