OCTOBER 2024 July 2024
A Note from the director -Nate Cohen
Thank you so much for joining us at the Ghostlight for ou Letts’ The Minutes. It has been an absolute pleasure to w dedicated community of artists. But what is really going p y about something - a city council meeting - that on its surface seems so mundane?
Sacred narratives have power. They are how we understand how we fit into the world. How we decide who we are and what we value. And when sacred narratives get questioned…the gloves can come off and anything goes in a smack-down, drag-out, lincoln-top-hat-adorned cage fight to retain identity at all costs.
At its core, The Minutes is a play about the power of our sacred narratives. The town of Big Cherry is so invested in its sacred narrative, no matter how wrong or horrific that narrative may be, that any challenge to it must be rebuffed at all costs.
We are at a moment in America where it feels like we are being pulled apart at the seams by the dueling power of our sacred narratives. Can we confront our history? Can we build communities that change and grow, and strive together towards achieving the American Dream? Can we even agree on what that Dream is anymore?
To me, this play is brilliant because it balances two things - the horrible power of conviction unchecked by reason, and the side-splitting absurdity that is the dysfunction of local government. Tracy has crafted a play that attempts to hold those two pieces in balance. With one hand to gently lift up the humor, the lightness, the absurdity, and the excess. And with the other, to clamp onto that sacred narrative for all we’re worth, even if it means crushing it to dust.
Our Sponsors!
MIchael Bond
Michael is thrilled to be in this production! You may have seen Bond on stage for many local productions this past year including John Proctor is the Villain at LMC, The Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights at The Acorn, Sound of Music with GhostLight and SMSO, and staged reading of Waiting for Johnny at Acting Ensemble
Rebecca Maxey
Rebecca Maxey is delighted to make her GhostLight debut with such a fun and talented cast and crew. Previous favorite roles include Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, Squeaky Fromme in Assassins, and Big Betty Balou in Escanaba in Love. Enjoy the show!
Madison Mosher
Madison is excited to be a part of the cast of The Minutes and has enjoyed being back at GhostLight Theatre after previously performing as Laura in Significant Other. She is thankful to be able to enjoy theatre in her community whether that’s onstage or not, and to everyone that has supported her.
James Gunter
James Gunter is a native of Benton Harbor Growing up, his parents made sure that he and his siblings were exposed to music and his mom often took them to the Benton Harbor Public Library for reading and arts programs. James has always been into the arts, especially music, painting, sketching, and drama A highlight was participating in the Building Bridges Through the Arts project in 2001, and he is most proud of being a four-year Tuba Player and section leader in the Benton Harbor High School Tiger Marching Band. As a professional, James remains committed to youth and families having access to the arts through his work at Boys & Girls Clubs in Michigan, Florida, and Indiana and through his work at Present Pillars.
JOHN COOK
SAM DONOHO
John is very excited to make his acting debut as Mr Breeding in The GhostLight Theater’s production of The Minutes. In other critically acclaimed performances, John stars in the highly improvised spectacle of being a responsible adult, a doting father to his scene-stealing and amazing daughter, Chloe Cook, and the lead romantic love interest to his beautiful and encouraging wife, Candice Elders. Offstage, John is the Founder, Digital Media Specialist, and Web Developer at Jovian Media, a digital marketing agency in Southwest Michigan. John extends a heartfelt (and dramatically paused) thank you to his friends and family for their unwavering support and for laughing on cue during this bio
Back from South Bend and hitting the stage after 10 years, Sam is excited to get back into performing. This is Sam’s first show at GhostLight, and will be in the upcoming production, Bright Star Sam is big into movies, TV, music, gaming, and basketball! And you as well, for reading this bio and coming to the show!
Doug Peterson
Doug is excited to be back at the GhostLight to celebrate its 5th season as Mr Assalone in The Minutes This winter he played Huey Lewis in Murder on the DeLorean Express with the Greenman Theater Troupe. Past GhostLight productions are Cabaret, Once, Dr Scott in Rocky Horror, and Herr Zeller in The Sound of Music with the SMSO directed by Paul Mow. All my love to the cast and crew and Cindy, Julie, Brian, Rayna, and Toungus for their support.
CAROL SIZER
Carol says it took some pulling and tugging to find out just who Ms Innes was She hopes you like the person that emerged. Or maybe not. Carol previously appeared in GhostLight Theatre’s productions of Lewiston-Clarkston, Significant Other and Clybourne Park. And for a brief moment, one performance only, in Much Ado About Nothing presented at Eden Springs Park before COVID shut things down.
JULIA BLYVEIS
This is Julia’s first show at the GhostLight Theatre and “I’m having a great time! Thank you Nate and Lauren for this amazing experience!” Julia is the proud mother of Madeline Blyveis and Sam Blyveis.
BILL KLEIN
Bill has been performing in Southwest Michigan for many years recently played Aubrey Verdeen in The Red Velvet Cake War at Twin City Players and Dogberry/Friar in Much Ado About Nothing last season at the GhostLight. “This show has been a wonderful experience and I hope you enjoy the work of this talented cast and crew ”
MICHAEL RIGGENBACH
Mike is excited to be back for his second show at The GhostLight after playing Herr Schultz in Cabaret last season. “Special thanks to my parents, Jim and Ellen, and as always, to my David.”
Lauren Mow
Lauren is thrilled to help bring The Minutes to life at the GhostLight Theatre Usually more at home behind the scenes, she is grateful for the chance to learn and explore this piece with Nate and the cast and crew, which includes both of her parents! Thanks as always to her husband Paul for following his dreams and creating a space for all of us to play.
Nate Cohen
Nate is a director, teacher and activist He is currently an adjunct professor and curriculum development consultant at Northwestern University in Chicago, where he recently graduated with an MFA in Directing, and an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Chicago credits include productions with Griffin Theatre (DirectorHeisenberg), Porchlight Music Theatre (Director - I Am A Camera, Dramaturg/Cultural Consultant - Cabaret), Steppenwolf Theatre (AD - Curious Incident df the Dog in the Nighttime, Script Assistant - Linda Vista), Northlight Theatre (AD - Mr Dickens' Hat, The Book of Will, and Beauty Queen of Leenane) , Collaboraction (Director - Manspread Madness) and the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts (Director - Peter and the Starcatcher, Winnie-the-Pooh,The Angry Brigade, Midsummer A Play with Songs). Prior to moving to the Midwest, he was a Company Member at Theatre Vertigo, sat on the board of the Portland Area Theatre Alliance, and worked extensively in various capacities with companies such as Artists Repertory Theatre (AD - American Hero and Grand Concourse ) where he was also the casting associate, the Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble, Third Rail Repertory Theatre (AD - Static, The Night Alive, Director - Bull, ID[ea], Reverse/Loop/Repeat, Off the Rails Festival ), Action/Adventure ( Director - All's Faire, Pilot Season ) and Theatre Vertigo ( Director - A Maze ) He was the lead producer of the international touring production of EM Lewis’ The Gun Show and has also directed the world premieres of the KCACTF recognized original plays Middle Names and Alone in a Taxicab in a Snowy Foreign Country at Three in the Morning.
Nate is also the author of the viral flow-chart "Should I Direct this Play? A Guide for Wellintentioned Straight White Men"
As a teacher, Nate has worked at Northwestern University, and as a teaching artist at Northlight Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, the Institute of Contemporary Performance, Lewis & Clark College, the National High School Institute, Oregon Children's Theatre, and more than a dozen public schools in and around Portland. He served for four years as the Program Director of Isinglass and Artists Repertory Theatre's esteemed Egg Summer Theatre Leadership Academy and has taught Non-violent Direct Action, protest safety, and bias intervention workshops throughout the United States.
Design team
Matt Dolphy Clark, Technical Designer
Donna Metz & Barb Klein, Costume Designers
Cindy Jakeway, Mural Artist
Curtis Munson, Board Operations
SpECIAL THANKS
The Schalon Foundation
Southwestern Michigan College
Twin City Players
Lake Michigan College
Cindy Jakeway
Andy Sawyer
Ghostlight Theatre Board of Directors
Doug Peterson
Paige Mulick
Judson Vosburg & Tyler Bauer
Land Acknowledgement Statement
We collectively acknowledge that The GhostLight Theatre occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabek – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. We recognize, support, and advocate for the sovereignty of Michigan’s twelve federally-recognized Indian nations, for historic Indigenous communities in Michigan, for Indigenous individuals and communities who live here now, and for those who were forcibly removed from their Homelands. By offering this Land Acknowledgement, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty and will work to hold The GhostLight Theatre more accountable to the needs of American Indian and Indigenous peoples. We are committed to bringing Native American voices to the forefront. As part of an ongoing effort to celebrate and tell the histories and contemporary experiences of Native American people, we also recognize the Native American presence on the land where our building is located.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jim Vondale, Co-Chair
Kristen Wielenga, Co-Chair
Roni Buckley, Vice Chair
Carol Sizer, Treasurer
Mary Lynn, Secretary
Jeff Dunlap
James Kalabokis
Chokwe Pitchford
Leslie Pickell
LaToya Turner
Paul Mow, GM & Artistic Director
THE GHOSTLIGHT THEATRE PRESENTS
KIDS SUMMER CAMP FIFTH ANNUAL
Hosted at the Boys & Girls Club
JUNE 24-28
This exhilarating day camp builds self-esteem & mutual respect through the practice & performance of circus arts!
For SW Michigan Boys & Girls Club
Members Ages 6-16
NO COST to Campers
Applications Due May 15th
Limited to 35 Campers
8 . 3 . 2 4
2023-24 Donors
Laura Jolly
William G & Joan A Kistner
Gabriel's Trumpet Foundation
Donna Metz
Durward Gehring
Bud Shuler
Ed & Pat Blumen
Jeff Dunlap & EL Lindau
Doug Peterson
Mike and Julie Kopp
John & Stacy Lynch
Ray & Lynanne Kunkel
Jean Tuzak
Jodie Wilson
Veronica Buckley
Mary Ann Cox
Thomas LaTrofa
Cheryl Weise
Mike and Lisa Regan
Sandra Gill
Martha Hesse
Barb and Bill Klein
Brian Young
Meryle Merritt
Michele Priefer
Alexandra Lee
Schalon Foundation
Denise Barowicz
Sven Erickson
Van E & Jeanne L Simpson
Sherry Dee Meyer
Theresa A Dunten
Barbara Klein
Brett Lutz
Ron & Peg Cichon
Kristen Wielenga
Alice Blair Ford
Roland Batten
NOBO Michigan
Eugene A Weil
Michael H Piraino
Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club
Carol L Sizer
Kenneth F Ankli III & Ann R Miller
Carol L. Sizer
THe Marzke family foundation
Chicago Records MANAGEMENT
Mr and Mrs Mark A Lester
Berrien Community Foundation
Combined Insurance Agencies, Inc
Timothy's Restaurant
Harbor Village at Harbor Shores LLC
Oliver C Songlingco MD PC
Benton Harbor Schools
Gloria and Kevin Brushwyler
Lake Michigan Nephrology, PLC
Benton Harbor Education Foundation
Eugene A. Weil
Berrien Community Foundation
Raymond S. Reck D.D.S. and Matthew R. Reck, D.D.S.
Berrien Community Foundation
Arcadia Gardens, LLC
Freya Badt
Connie Weaver
Carol L Sizer
Sterling Schrock
Jeff and Laura Lukas
Robert J Hiddema & Joan B Hiddema
Jeff Mahelek
Jim Kalabokis
Mead & White Electric Contractors, Inc
Frederick S Upton Foundation
Doug Peterson
B&L information Systems
Mary Lynn 3 Pillars Music LLC
Ron & Peg Cichon
Valenziano Productions
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
Marzke Family Foundation
Schalon Foundation
Alice Mow
Todd Dockerty
Mary Lynn
Robert Judd
Gretchen P Rock
Lydia Groth
A M Anderson
Tom and Roni Buckley
American Electric Power
Jim Marohn
Cynthia A Brown
Scott Berry Promotions