GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE
American Son
2016 – 2017 Season
Board of Trustees Chairman: James N. Heston* President: Penelope Lattimer, Ph.D.* First Vice President: Lucy Hughes* Second Vice President: Janice Stolar* Treasurer: David Fasanella* Secretary: Sharon Karmazin* Ronald Bleich David Capodanno Kenneth M. Fisher William R. Hagaman, Jr. Norman Politziner Kelly Ryman* W. Burton “Tripp” Salisbury
Ben Sifuentes-Jáuregui, Ph.D. Frances C. Stromsland, Ed.D. David Saint* Jocelyn Schwartzman Lora Tremayne Stephen M. Vajtay Alan W. Voorhees *Denotes Members of the Executive Committee
Trustees Emeritus Robert L. Bramson Al D’Augusta
Cody P. Eckert Peter Goldberg George Wolansky, Jr.
Clarence E. Lockett Anthony L. Marchetta
Honorary Board of Trustees Thomas H. Kean
Eric Krebs
Honorary Memoriam Maurice Aaron∆ Dr. Edward Bloustein∆ Dora Center∆∆ Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.∆ Milton Goldman∆ John Hila
Arthur Laurents∆ Richard Sellars∆ Barbara Voorhees∆∆ Edward K. Zuckerman∆ Adelaide M. Zagoren ∆∆ – Denotes Trustee Emeritus ∆ – Denotes Honorary Trustee
From the Artistic Director
I first read American Son by Christopher DemosBrown about a year ago when it was submitted for the prestigious Laurents/Hatcher Award. It went on to win that award and I knew this was an important and timely work which I hoped to be able to produce at George Street Playhouse. David Saint Artistic Director
I am honored that this will be the last play I direct in our current home before we prepare to build our new state-of-the-art performance center.
In addition, I welcome back two extraordinary alumni, Suzzanne Douglas and John Bolger, to play this central couple caught up in a story of race relations, law enforcement, and what it means in today’s world to raise an “American Son.” Together with Mark Kenneth Smaltz, Mark Junek, and a great team of designers, we bring you this powerful new work for the American theatre. I would also like to thank Retired Captain Andrea Craparotta, Lt. Raymond Trigg and Lt. Amish Shah of the New Brunswick Police Dept. for their help and inspiring guidance on this production. Enjoy this sensational new play for our time; the kind of theatre I am proud to be associated with now and for the past twenty years. Sincerely,
David Saint Artistic Director
as Artistic Director
George Street Playhouse David Saint, Artistic Director Michael Mastro, Resident Artistic Director Kelly Ryman, Managing Director Presents
American Son by Christopher Demos-Brown Directed by David Saint Scenic Design by Jason Simms Costume Design by David Murin Lighting Design by Tyler Micoleau Sound Design by Christopher J. Bailey Fight Direction by Rick Sordelet Production Stage Manager Thomas Clewell* Production Manager Christopher J. Bailey Casting by McCorkle Casting, Ltd.
February 7 – 26, 2017 American Son is produced by special arrangement with Mark Orsini, BRET ADAMS, LTD., 448 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. www.bretadamsltd.net The world premiere of American Son was presented at Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA in 2016. Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director. American Son is sponsored by The Karma Foundation and The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.
The American Son exhibit was made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.
In accordance with Actors’ Equity Association regulations, we remind you that all electronic devices, including pagers, cellular phones and watches must be turned off during the performance.
Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/ Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. George Street Playhouse is a constituent of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and a member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. The theatre operates under an agreement between LORT and Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States, and is a member of the New Brunswick Cultural Center.
The Karma Foundation — Celebrating 20 Years (top–clockwise: Underneath The Lentil, Richard Schiff; I Am My Own Wife, Mark Nelson; The 39 Steps, Howard McGillin; The Whipping Man, Ron Canada; Rich Girl, Crystal Finn; I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti, Antoinette LaVecchia; all photos T. Charles Erickson.)
CAST in order of appearance
Kendra Ellis-Connor Officer Paul Larkin Scott Connor Lieutenant John Stokes
Suzzanne Douglas* Mark Junek* John Bolger* Mark Kenneth Smaltz* *- denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association.
A few minutes after 4:00 a.m. in the waiting room of a police station in Miami-Dade County, Florida. American Son runs for 90 minutes with no intermission.
The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
The director is a member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Inc., an independent national labor union.
The stage technicians of George Street Playhouse are proud members of IATSE Local 21.
The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Designers in LORT theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. The George Street Playhouse playbill is published five times a year by George Street Playhouse, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation. Please send advertising inquiries to George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, attn: Playbill Advertising.
Productions sponsored by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation (from top-left clockwise): Bryan Cranston as Lyndon Baines Johnson in All The Way; Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub in a scene from Lincoln Center Theater’s production of Act One; Primary Stage production of Bronx Bombers; and Peter Gallagher, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Karl, Michael McGrath and Mark Linn-Baker in On the Twentieth Century.
THE BLANCHE & IRVING LAURIE F O U N D AT I O N
company bios. John Bolger (Scott Connor) returns to George Street Playhouse for a fifth time, having previously appeared here in Outside Mullingar; Good People; Twelve Angry Men and Lips Together, Teeth Apart. National Tours: South Pacific and Dirty Dancing; Regional : Five Presidents at Bay Street, cover for That Face at MTC; staged concert of Mendellshon’s Midsummer Night’s Dream with The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Richard III at Hartford Stage; The Real Thing and Antony and Cleopatra at The Old Globe; Light Up The Sky at The Roundabout; The Lady From Maxim’s at The Huntington; Safe Sex at La Mama; Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, The Sea Plays and Ages of Man, with The Willow Cabin Theatre Co. TV: Homeland, The Blacklist, Orange is the New Black, The Black Donnelly’s, Sex and the City, Law & Order, NYPD Blue, General Hospital, One Life to Live and Another World. Film: Patriots Day, The Only Living Boy in New York, Just Looking, Parting Glances and Black and White. Suzzanne Douglas (Kendra Ellis-Connor) has recently completed principal photography on the film Black N’ Blue, an indie film that addresses the Black Lives Matter movement. Suzzanne is currently appearing in the independent feature film, Happy Yummy Chicken for which she also wrote the title song. Her films include Tap with Sammy Davis, Jr., How Stella Got Her Groove Back with Angela Bassett, Jason’s Lyric with Forrest Whittaker and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Inkwell with Joe Morton
and School of Rock with Jack Black. Douglas is widely known for her role in the Warner Brothers sitcom, Parent ‘Hood co-starring Robert Townsend. She has appeared in such highly acclaimed shows as Bull, Whitney (the Whitney Houston bio-pic), The Good Wife, Bones, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Theater credits include: Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Threepenny Opera, Wit, Henry V, Lady Day and Crowns. suzzannedouglasmusic. com, facebook.com/SuzzanneDoug, twitter.com/suzzannedouglas, instagram. com/suzzannedouglas, linkedin.com/in/ suzzannedouglas Mark Junek (Officer Paul Larkin) This is Mark’s George Street Playhouse debut. Other credits include The Performers on Broadway, Frankenstein at the Denver Center, The Forgotten Woman at Bay Street Theatre, after all the terrible things I do at Milwaukee Rep, The Vibrator Play at Syracuse Stage, Family Play at The New Ohio, Galileo and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at New York’s Classic Stage Company, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and The Imaginary Invalid at Bard Summerscape. Television credits include the second season of The Outs, Blindspot, Forever, Smash and Law & Order: SVU. Mark is a graduate of Columbia University and a The Juilliard School Drama Division, Group 40. Mark Kenneth Smaltz (Lieutenant John Stokes) Mr Smaltz is making his debut at George Street Playhouse. He has known GSP Artistic Director Saint for over 20 years and is excited
company bios.
Christopher Demos-Brown (Playwright) In addition to American Son (2016 Laurents/Hatcher Award), Chris’ writing credits include Fear Up Harsh (2014 American Theatre Critics Association’s Steinberg Award Citation), When the Sun Shone Brighter (2011 Carbonell Award for Best New Work; 2010 Silver Palm Award for Outstanding New Work; ATCA Steinberg Award nomination; National New Play Network’s Smith Prize), Captiva (Steinberg Award nomination; three 2011 Carbonell Award nominations, including Best New Work), Our Lady of Allapattah (ArtSport New Works Playwriting Contest winner) and So I Was Wondering… (Heideman Award finalist). Chris is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Miami School of Law. He also holds graduate degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the University of Geneva. He lives in Miami, Florida with his wife, Stephanie, and his daughters, Katherine and Jillian. He and his wife are co-founders of Zoetic Stage, an award-winning theatre in residence at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida.
Claire and Sylvia. His time here has been marked by collaborations with such artists as Keith Carradine, Tyne Daly, Rachel Dratch, Sandy Duncan, Boyd Gaines, A.R. Gurney, Uta Hagen, Jack Klugman, Dan Lauria, Kathleen Marshall, Elaine May, Anne Meara, David Hyde Pierce, Chita Rivera, Paul Rudd, Stephen Sondheim, Marlo Thomas, Eli Wallach and many others, including a remarkable partnership with Arthur Laurents. In addition, many new award-winning works have begun their life here during his tenure, such as The Toxic Avenger, Proof, The Spitfire Grill, Clever Little Lies and It Shoulda Been You. He has recently directed Clever Little Lies at Guild Hall in East Hampton, N.Y., and the National Tour of West Side Story. In July 2016, he directed a two-night concert performance of West Side Story at the legendary Hollywood Bowl. He also has directed on Broadway, off-Broadway and regionally at Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, Primary Stages, McCarter, Williamstown, Seattle Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public, Long Wharf and many others on premieres by writers such as Aaron Sorkin, Wendy Wasserstein, Peter Parnell, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Joe Di Pietro and Jonathan Larson. He is the recipient of the Alan Schneider Award, Helen Hayes Award, L.A. Drama Critics Award, several Drama-Logue Awards and is the President of The Laurents/Hatcher Foundation.
David Saint (Director/Artistic Director) is celebrating his 20th anniversary as Artistic Director of George Street Playhouse. American Son marks the 36th mainstage production he has directed during his tenure. He has most recently directed at GSP: Mama’s Boy, Sex With Strangers, Buyer & Cellar, Outside Mullingar, Clever Little Lies (which moved to NYC’s Westside Theater in October 2015), Good People, Twelve Angry Men, God of Carnage, Creating
Jason Simms (Scenic Designer) Productions at GSP. include: Sex With Strangers, Venus in Fur and The Whipping Man. Other Regional Theaters include: Philadelphia Theatre Co., Bristol Riverside Theatre (Bristol, PA), People’s Light and Theatre, (Malvern, PA) Denver Center Theatre Co., TheatreWorks, Silicon Valley, Chautauqua Theatre Co. (Chautauqua, NY), Berkshire Theatre Group, The Old Globe (San Diego), Two River Theatre Co. (Red Bank, NJ),
to be working with him. Mr Smaltz was recently in Berkeley Rep’s production of Sinclair Lewis’s It Can’t Happen Here. Mr. Smaltz has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, film and television.
company bios. Pioneer Theatre Co. (Salt Lake City), and many others. New York venues include: The Public, The Cherry Lane, 2nd Stage Uptown, The Pearl Theatre Co., Ensemble Studio Theatre, Soho Playhouse, The New Ohio, and more. MFA: NYU, BFA: Cornish College of the Arts. David Murin (Costume Designer) American Son marks Mr. Murin’s 20th production at George Street Playhouse. Previously at GSP: My Name is Asher Lev; Outside Mullingar; Good People; The Nutcracker and I; Ken Ludwig’s The Fox on the Fairway; Sylvia; Doubt; The Things You Least Expect; Gunmetal Blues; Celadine; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; Agnes of God; Wilderness of Mirrors; Proof; The Sisters Rosensweig; Human Events; Darlene and The Guest Lecturer and Down the Garden Paths. Broadway credits include Steel Magnolias, Ned and Jack, Devour the Snow, Mixed Emotions, Blues in the Night and Gorey Stories. OffBroadway: Crimes of the Heart, directed by Kathleen Turner, and the recent revival of The Foreigner with Matthew Broderick, The Fourth Wall, The Middle Ages, Lady House Blues, The Common Pursuit, Translations, The Baby Dance, Jane Avril, Down the Garden Paths. Regional: The Alley Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Seattle Repertory, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Berkshire Theatre Festival and Long Wharf Theatre. Mr. Murin has designed madefor-television movies and received an Emmy for ABC’s Ryan’s Hope. Mr. Murin is in his 27th year serving on the design faculty of Rutgers University. Recently, Mr. Murin had the pleasure of designing the 137th edition of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Tyler Micoleau (Lighting Designer). Regional Theatre: (recent) Miss You Like Hell at La Jolla Playhouse; The City of Conversation at Arena Stage; A Midsummer Nights Dream for The Shakespeare Theater (in Macau, China); and The Harassment of Iris Malloy at Peoples Light. Off-Broadway: (recent) The Band’s Visit at the Atlantic Theater; Familiar at Playwrights Horizons; The Effect at Barrow Street Theatre; and First Daughters Suite (Public Theater). Additional Credits: Antlia Pneumatica (Playwrights Horizons, Drama Desk nom.); When The Rain Stops Falling (Lincoln Center Theater, Lucille Lortel Award); Blasted (Soho Rep, American Theatre Wing Hewes Award); Bug (Lucille Lortel and OBIE Awards). 2010 OBIE award for Sustained Excellence. B.A. Bowdoin College Christopher J. Bailey (Sound Designer/ Production Manager) This season marks Mr. Bailey’s 19th at George Street Playhouse and 13th as its Production Manager, having previously served the Playhouse as Technical Coordinator and Sound and Lighting Manager. He was Sound Designer for off-Broadway productions of The Fourth Wall at Primary Stages and Down the Garden Paths at the Minetta Lane Theatre. He was recently Lighting Designer for GSP’s production of Daddy Long Legs, My Name is Asher Lev, Sex With Strangers, Nureyev’s Eyes and Clever Little Lies, which moved to the Guild Hall Theatre in East Hampton and then off-Broadway to the Westside Theatre. His work includes 6 scenic designs and 9 sound designs for GSPs’ Educational Touring productions and 22 lighting designs and 39 sound designs for GSP’s mainstage productions. He has also designed for: French Institute Alliance Française, The Pearl Theatre,
company bios. Barrington Stage Company, Premiere Stages, The Bickford Theatre, Abingdon Theatre, Strand Theatre, The Berkshire Theatre Festival, Two River Theater Company, Ashlawn Highland Opera Festival, LKB Dance, Randy James Dance, The Rand Theater, The Irish Repertory Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Jacob’s Pillow, and more. Rick Sordelet (Fight Director) Rick and his son, Christian Kelly-Sordelet, are the creators of Sordelet Inc., an exciting new stage combat company bringing over 30 years of action movement experience to the entertainment community. 72 Broadway productions from Beauty and the Beast to Sunset Boulevard. 52 firstclass productions worldwide, including: Ben Hur Live in Rome and European Tour, dozens of opera productions, Cyrano and Don Carlos at the MET, The Royal Opera House and La Scalla. Cold Mountain, Don Giovanni, Romeo and Juliette and La Funciulla del west for Santa Fe Opera. The films The Game Plan, Dan in Real Life, Brave New Jersey, LIV. Stunt Coordinators for the new hit comedy series Kevin Can Wait on CBS, 12 years as Stunt Coordinators for Guiding Light. Instructors at Yale School of Drama CUNY Harlem, HB. Winners of the Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence from the Lucille Lortel off-Broadway League, Jeff Award for Best Fight Direction for Romeo and Juliet at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Author of the play Buried Treasure. The upcoming feature film, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, directed by Bryan Singer. www.sordeletink.com Tom Clewell (Production Stage Manager) Celebrating his 25th year as resident Stage Manager for George Street Playhouse, where he has stage managed over 60 productions with
directors such as Arthur Laurents, David Saint and David Hyde Pierce, and with performers such as Chita Rivera, Jack Klugman, Rosemary Harris, Marlo Thomas and Tyne Daly. Off-Broadway: The Spitfire Grill, The Last Session, Smoke On the Mountain, The Film Society with Nathan Lane, and Anne Meara’s Down the Garden Paths with Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach. Westport Country Playhouse: Don’t Make Me Laugh with Gene Wilder and Carol Kane. Regional: Asolo Repertory Theatre, Kennedy Center, Huntington Theatre Company, Long Wharf Theatre and Arena Stage. McCorkle Casting, Ltd. Pat McCorkle, (C.S.A.) has been the proud casting director of George Street Playhouse for over 20 years. Over 50 productions including; On The Town, Amazing Grace, End of the Rainbow, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Amadeus, She Loves Me, A Few Good Men. OffBroadway: Highlights; Clever Little Lies, Shear Madness, Tribes, Our Town (Barrow Street), Freud’s Last Session, Toxic Avenger, Almost Maine, Driving Miss Daisy. Feature films: Year by the Sea, Premium Rush, Ghost Town, The Thomas Crown Affair, Die Hard with a Vengeance, School Ties, etc. TV: Twisted, Humans for Sesame Street, Hack (CBS), Californication (Emmy nomination), Max Bickford (CBS), Chapelle’s Show, Strangers with Candy, Barbershop and many more. Regional: Well over 75 theatres throughout the country. Michael Mastro (Resident Artistic Director) is in his second season as GSP’s Resident Artistic Director. Here at GSP, he has helmed this season’s Daddy Long Legs, last season’s Nureyev’s Eyes, 2014’s The Fabulous Lipitones and 2011’s The Subject Was Roses with Stephanie Zimbalist. He has also
company bios. appeared on our stage in such productions as The Sunshine Boys, The Pillowman, The Fox on the Fairway and Inspecting Carol. In recent years, he has directed Ingmar Bergman’s Nora at Delaware Theatre Company, where he was Associate Artistic Director, and appeared in Ayckbourn’s The Things We Do For Love at the Westport Country Playhouse. He has also helmed several NYC celebrity play readings to benefit various nonprofits, working with actors like Zachary Quinto, Bernadette Peters, Jean Smart, Beau Bridges, Michael McKean, Stockard Channing, Melissa Leo, Laura Benanti, Cynthia Nixon, John Slattery and Cecily Strong. Other directorial assignments include associate director of the recent first national tour of West Side Story, helmed by David Saint, as well as the direction of many new American one-acts for several NYC theatre companies. As an actor, he works regularly on and off Broadway, regionally, and in film and TV, where he is currently recurring on Law & Order: SVU. Member: Actors Equity, SAG-AFTRA, SDC, Naked Angels, The Actors Center. Kelly Ryman (Managing Director) is now in her 17th season at George Street Playhouse. As Director of Marketing and Public Relations from 2000 to 2013, Kelly spearheaded promotional efforts resulting in the top 10-highest grossing productions in the Playhouse’s history, including the hit musical It Shoulda Been You, which ran on Broadway in early 2015. Off-Broadway, Kelly was a member of the marketing team for The Toxic Avenger, which premiered at GSP and won the 2009 Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical. She serves on the Board of Directors of New Brunswick City Market as well the Advisory Board of Elijah’s Promise. Prior to her tenure at George Street Playhouse, Ms. Ryman worked at McCarter Theatre, and The Wilma Theatre. She is an adjunct
professor of Arts and Entertainment Business at Mercer County Community College, and was recognized in 2012 by ArtPride NJ with their Jersey Arts Marketers Leadership Award. Kelly is proud to be a recipient of a Boy Scouts of America 2015 Tribute to Women Award. The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation was established in 1983 by New Brunswick philanthropist Irving Laurie. The Foundation supports a variety of projects across broad issue areas. The 2016/2017 program of cultural support currently includes the Paley Center for Media’s programs on the 2016 Presidential election; the 2016/2017 Drew Forum – New Jersey’s most prestigious ongoing speakers series ; the New Group’s revival of Sweet Charity; Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn; New York City Center’s famed Encores! Series; the public television series American Masters; NJPAC’s American Song series; various programs relating to the Centennial celebration of President John F. Kennedy’s birth; and the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s 54th Annual New York Film Festival. In other aspects of the Foundation’s funding interests, ongoing projects include capital renovation projects at Rutgers Hillel, the acquisition of a Proton Beam Radiotherapy System at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and various social service programs attending to the interests of New Jersey residents. The Foundation was gratified to have been selected as the Outstanding Foundation of 2016 by the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. It is proud to report that the Foundation has provided approximately $73,000,000 in grants to philanthropic endeavors, addressing the Foundation’s interest in the arts, education, health care and social services.
Sunday, APRIL 2, 2017 at The Heldrich
For Further Information Contact Peggy Aronson at 732-846-2895, x145 or paronson@georgestplayhouse.org
Congratulations to David Saint on his 20th Anniversary! Joan and Bob Campbell
summer is coming! Enroll your kids in Theatre Academy now!
July 3 – July 28, 2017 Monday – Friday 9:00am – 4:00pm (early drop-off and late pick-up available)
• Learn Acting • Build Self-Confidence • Develop Collaboration • Make Friends • Have Fun! george street playhouse
Summer 2017
Theatre Academy Sign-up today at GSPonline.org or 732-846-2895 x117
Inspirers’ Circle members are individual donors who provide core financial support for George Street Playhouse’s Education Department. Their generous support helps to provide exceptional theatre arts education experiences for children and adults throughout New Jersey.
Members of the Inspirers’ Circle Joyce and Georg AlbersSchonberg Laura and Norm Baron Al Berger Laura Cahill and the Honorable James Cahill Mary and Patrick Callan Andrea Cunnell Dr. Richard DeLisi Alice DeVoe Dina Elkins Suzanne B. Engel JoAnn and Kenneth Fisher Judy and Jim Hancock
Pam and John Harbour James N. Heston Carol Hila Betty Wold Johnson Sharon Karmazin Suzanne and Eric Krebs Dr. Penelope Lattimer Jocelyn Schwartzman Vikki Schwartzman Rozann and George Shackleton Dr. Frances and Ken Stromsland Lexine and Cuyler Tremayne Lora and William Tremayne
photo by Brad Resnick
We heard you. Now hear us better than ever with our new and improved Assisted Listening System!
Every component has been upgraded, from the headsets to the personal receivers to the Broadway–class microphones on the stage. There are now options for different types of headsets — for patrons who use hearing aids equipped with a T-coil, we now have a “loop” transmitter. You can choose the option that works best for you. We have also increased the number of available headsets, including additional units for audio-described performances.
With the new Assisted Listening System the reception is clearer, the sound is louder, and the devices are more comfortable.
NEXT @GSP
“The BEST COMEDY of the season”
– The New York Times
Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon directed by Jessica Stone
March 21 — April 9
BROADWAY SERIES MEDIA SPONSOR
MARCH 24-25 3 SHOWS ONLY 732-246-SHOW (7469) StateTheatreNJ.org
For Your Information GSP is located at 9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Box Office: 732-246-7717 • www.GSPonline.org AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES The audio-described performances for patrons with visual impairments are at 8pm on:
American Son, February 23 Bad Jews, April 6 Season Finale, May 18 Please call the Box Office, 732-246-7717, for further information. Large print and Braille brochures and programs are available upon request. Audio-described performances are made possible by support from the Fund for the New Jersey Blind, Inc. OPEN-CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES The open-captioned performances for patrons with hearing impairments are at 2pm on:
American Son, February 25 Bad Jews, April 8 Season Finale, May 20 Please inform the Box Office that you wish to use this service so that you may be seated appropriately. George Street Playhouse’s accessible programming is made possible in part by the Fund for the NJ Blind, Inc., the Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation, the William G. and Helen C. Hoffman Foundation, the Hyde and Watson Foundation, the Union Foundation and the E.J. Grassmann Trust. ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM For patrons who have a hearing impairment, light-weight, comfortable, padded earbuds and receivers are available in the lobby at the bar. George Street Playhouse offers all people equal access and opportunities to participate in its services, programs and activities. If any individual requires special assistance or assistive technology, please contact the Patron Services Manager at 732-246-7717 as far in advance of the program as possible.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY If necessary, patrons are asked to leave pagers and cellular phones with the bartender or House Manager, along with their seat location. FIRE NOTICE The exit indicated by the red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event of a fire or other emergency, please do not run, WALK TO THE EXIT. INCLEMENT WEATHER George Street Playhouse maintains a policy of not cancelling performances due to inclement weather, except in the event a State of Emergency has been declared by the State or Local Government. LATE SEATING POLICY The theatre is open to the public one halfhour prior to the performance. In consideration of all patrons, latecomers will be seated at the discretion of House Management. Late patrons will be seated in the best available seating at an appropriate break or interval during the performance. RECORDING EQUIPMENT Due to copyright and union regulations and restrictions, still cameras, video cameras or any type of recording equipment is not permitted at any time in the theatre and will be confiscated. SMOKING The Playhouse is a smoke-free environment. There is no smoking in the building. If you wish to smoke, you may do so outside where there are ashtrays available.
Contributors
as of January 12, 2017
George Street Playhouse gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the many individuals, corporations,foundations, organizations and government agencies whose gifts play a significant role in our mission to produce worldclass theatre and to bring the power of theatre education programs to over 35,000 students each year. Corporations, Foundations & Government Contributors Executive Producers ($100,000 and Above) The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey Johnson & Johnson The Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Middlesex County Cultural Arts and Trust Fund New Jersey State Council on the Arts Producers ($50,000 - $99,999) The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation The Karma Foundation The Shubert Foundation, Inc. The Wilf Family Foundation Co-Producers ($20,000 - $49,999) Bank of America Bloomberg Philanthropies Bristol-Myers Squibb J. Seward Johnson, Sr. Charitable Trust Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission New Jersey Council for the Humanities Rutgers Community Health Foundation TD Charitable Foundation The Union Foundation Associate Producers ($10,000 - $19,999) Flemington Car & Truck Company E. J. Grassmann Trust The Hyde and Watson Foundation Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation Novo Nordisk, Inc. PNC Bank Foundation Rita Allen Foundation RJW Barnabas Health The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust Wells Fargo WithumSmith+Brown
Contributing Partner ($5,000 - $9,999) The Actors Fund Albert Garlatti Construction Inc. Borden Perlman Salisbury & Kelly Colgate-Palmolive Company William G. and Helen C. Hoffman Foundation McCarter and English, LLP New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) PSE&G Schumann Fund for New Jersey Sidney J. Harris Trust TD Bank Guarantors ($2,500 - $4,999) Amboy National Bank The Fred C. Rummel Foundation Nederlander Organization Patrons ($1,000 - $2,499) Anela Kolohe Foundation The Campbell Family Foundation EisnerAmper LLP Engel and Devlin, P.C. DI Group Fund for the New Jersey Blind, Inc. Gilbane Building Company Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation Infineum USA, L.P. I.A.T.S.E. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 456 LCK Wealth Advisors New York Yankees Parker Home at Stone Gate Saint Peter’s University Hospital Auxiliary Somerset Health Care Foundation Backers ($500 - $999) Central Jersey Property Maintenance Services Franklin Mutual Insurance Genova Burns
Glenmede Trust Company Heath Village Retirement Community Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas, LLP I.A.T.S.E Local #21 Joan Jhett Productions Kelso & Bradshaw Mack-Cali Realty New Brunswick Cultural Center, Inc. New Brunswick Parking Authority New Jersey Theatre Alliance North Brunswick Board of Education Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 9 Rutgers Office of Community Affairs Schenck, Price, Smith, & King LLP SchoolWorks LLC Spiezle Architectural Group University Radiology Group, PC WeiserMazars LLP Angels (Gifts Under $500) Ace Office Solutions Actors Equity Foundation, Inc. AlphaGraphics American Repertory Ballet Birnn Chocolates The George Passaic Valley Coach Line Siperstein’s Fords Paint Corporation GIFTS-IN-KIND Catherine Lombardi Restaurant Derby Appliances The Frog and The Peach Greater Media Newspaper The Heldrich Jim Heston Nassau Communications Panico’s Brad Resnick Stage Left Tumulty’s Wegmans WMGQ/WCTC
If you notice an error here, please do not hesitate to contact the Development Office at 732-846-2895 x144 so that we may correct it for our next printing.
Thank you for your support Individual Contributors IMPRESSARIOS ($50,000 and Above) Anonymous Sharon Karmazin PRODUCING DIRECTORS ($20,000 - $49,999) Joan and Robert Campbell The Honorable Thomas H. Kean, in Honor of David Saint James N. Heston The Family of Robert Wood Johnson, Jr. Elizabeth and Arthur Roswell Marlene and Anthony Volpe EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ($10,000 - $19,999) Anonymous Joann and Ken Fisher Peter Jewell and Fred Eisinger Betty Wold Johnson Alan Voorhees and Lisa Moro Nancy and Duncan MacMillan David Saint Jocelyn Schwartzman Vikki Schwartzman Producers ($5,000 - $9,999) Anonymous Laura Z. Baron Joseph Benincasa Lois and Ronald Bleich Elaine and Robert Ciatto David M. Greene Mary and Edward Hartnett Lucy Hughes and Sean Devlin Suzanne and Steve Kalafer Penelope E. Lattimer, Ph.D. Dorothy and Norman Politziner Lexine and Cuyler Tremayne Lora and William Tremayne CO-PRODUCERS ($2,500 - $4,999) Isa and Michael Beck Jean Cheever Marylou and Al D’Augusta Dina Elkins William V. Engel William Hagaman Barbara and Leonard Littmann Pat McElraft Ellen Ozur and Stuart Brown Rita Paszamant Richard Patt Ann and Robert Rafano Janice G.and Lewis Stolar Frances Stromsland, Ed.D. Stephen M. and Gabriella Vajtay
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS ($1,000 - $2,499) Joyce and Georg Albers-Schonberg Dudley Anderson, in Honor of Sharon Karmazin Edward S. Atwater Frank Barker Regina Belowsky Al Berger Walter Bradhering and Daniel Kluchinski Nancy Boucher and W. John Bauer Joan and Robert Bramson Laura Cahill and the Honorable James Cahill Mary and Patrick Callan Carol and Joe Ciorciari Andrea and John Cunnell Brenda A. and Jerome Deener Richard DeLisi D’Maris and Joseph F. Dempsey Alice DeVoe Barbara and Paul Eggermann Jane Engel Lyn and David Fasanella Jennie and John Fischer Susan Forman and Richard Lehne Shirley and Robert Gallagher Marc Gonzer Clara and John Grosso Mark Gruber Pam and John Harbour Lorraine and Robert Henry Winnie Holzman and Paul Dooley Tillie and Bob Kahle Mindy Raso Kirstein and Phil Kirstein Suzanne and Eric Krebs Charles T. Larsson Nancy L. and Arthur E. Lee Laura and Joel Leizer Laura and Dean B. Livingston Pamela and Andrew Lovasz Doreen Molloy and John Manfredi Marc McMahon and Roberto Moreira Christine Renz and Noah R. Levy Adrienne and Andrew Ross Carole and Stephen Schneider Thomas Schumacher Rozann and George Shackleton Ben Sifuentes-Jáuregui Margaret Velden Bob Virgadamo Caroline S. and F. Helmut Weymar Nancy and Edward Winant Michele and George Wolansky PARTNERS ($500 - $999) Anonymous Jacqueline Brendel Josi Irene Callan and George Cole Kathleen and Tom Carral Graham Cox Leo Devine
Patrick J.Diegnan, Jr. Jon Donnelly Rick Engler and Brad Caswell David A. Feigley Bobbi and Barry Freedman Susan and Bryan Garruto Wilma and Arthur Gelfand Willard Geller Joyce and Alvin Glasgold Julie and Robert Goldstein Marjorie and Bruce Goldstein Midge and Hugo Golin Thomas Gorrie Clara and John Grosso Dorothy W. Guarniero Beth and Martin Hammer Elizabeth and James Hance Dorothy and George Heinze Jean and Claude Heller Carol Hila Nancy and Richard Hines Chip Hoever Ellen and George Horowitz William J. Howard Susan and Jeffrey Hyman Karen and Ronald Joho William Jonat Thomas Kelso Renee and Steven Levin Steven Leone Irene M. Lieberman Emily Lyssikatos Adele and Joseph Macula Barbara and Robert Martalus Michael Mastro Joan Barry and Richard L. McCormick Joy and Dr. Thomas McPartland Maria and Abel Moreyra Daphne and Steve Mishkin Marlene and Michael Nissenblatt Elizabeth Otterbein Mary Patten and Joseph Dudis Mary and Ted Petti Mona and Barry Portnoy Joan Raffe Mary and Gary Reece Marie and Marshall Rosen Adrienne and Andrew Ross Sue and Evan Schwartzman Rozann and George Shackleton, in Honor of Penelope Lattimer Lynn and Barry Sherman Barbara and Howard Sorkin Willa and Michael Spicer Renee Troiano Maurice Williams Nickie and L. Richard Wolff Backers ($250 - $499) Penny and Bud Ackerman Ellen Berman Karen A. Beverly Mr. and Mrs. Terrill Brenner
Contributors Adele and Jack Borrus Christine and Benjamin Bucca Andrea and James Carroll Scott Corbett Lynnette Durko Nancy and Richard Engle Joe Ercolino Stephen Garvey Paula and Jack Gentempo Margaret Grove Irwin Hametz Sally and Nathan Hindes Rachel and Jeff Humphrey Ruth B. Klein Joseph Kosmo Susanne and Alexander Kucsma Howard R. Levine Mr. and Mrs. Michael Levine Nicky and Paige L’Hommedieu Rose and Anthony Lo Castro Kyle Lucas Kathy Mattingly Richard McAdams John McEwen Mary Ann McLaughlin Carol Natarelli Barbara Nathan Brenda Overcash and Thomas West Cori and Jim Palmere Marion and Michael Portnoy Janet and Joseph Potenza Karen and Robert Predale Bethany and Jonathan Rabinowitz Stephen L. Ritz Karen and Henry Ross Rita Seplowitz Saltz Patricia Sheehan Merle Soroco and Steven Rifkin Robert Stone Bonnie and David Sudol Blanquita B. Valenti Dan Vickery Joanne and Allan Williams Angels ($100 - $249) Anonymous Beatrice Abrams Carol Adelman David Alberts Jennifer Allen Mr. and Mrs. Marc L. Alterman Carol and Thomas F. Arnold Maryjane Austin Barbara Baier Isabelle and John Baker Peggy Barbella Nancy R. Baron Jeanne and James F. Barrett, II Shirley and Stuart Bauer Kathi and Greg Baxter Susan and Alan Blanchette Nancy and Russell Block Sanders Book Bill Braden Jody and Phil Bramson
as of January 12, 2017
Shelley Brankner Eileen and John Bufe Joanne and James Bunce Judith E. Burgis Cynthia Butler Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Carroll Linda and Theodore M. Choplick Susanne Clark Arthur Cohen Sylvia and Howard Cohen Marjorie Cohen Carol Condon Donald B. Cook Sheila Cooper Mark Corso Ellen and Cliff Cramer Toni Cvetko Natalie Darwin Nancy and Jeff Davis Dean A. Dent Madeline Detalvo Norman Diamond Ellen and Richard Diamond Vincent DiNicola David Drinkwater and Jonathan Mills Diana and Phil Dumont Patricia and Michael Egan Sondi and Allan Ellis Paulette Ewert Tom Exton Paula and Irwin Feifer Gail and S. Ashby Foote Marie Fouchei and Daniel D. Hyman Bonnie and William Fox Barbara and Sheldon Freidenreich Judith E. Gardner Stacey and David Garfield Marilyn Glassner Joel Goldsmith Marjorie and Bruce Goldstein Anne and Robert Gordon Marlene and Joel Gordon Elizabeth and Roy Gotta Robert Grant Arlene Greenberg, in Memory of Aaron Greenberg Marcia Greenberg Judy and Michael Greenwood Brenda Hagan James Hastings Ellen Hartmann Nathaniel Hartshorne Lucille Heller Ellen and Joel Henkin Deborah Herman and Shelby Wells Laura and James Holdsworth Frederick Holt Ann and John Holt Bernice and Robert Howatt Brian R. Humphrey Pamela Imbimbo Edna Ingold Jim Jack Marilyn Jeris Dr. and Mrs. Frank Jones Maxine and Mark Kasdin Liz and Murray Katz John P. Khouri
Scott Killian Elisabeth and Donald King Roger E. Klein Heddy and Robert Ladinsky Evelyn and George Lander Kathleen Larkin and Frank Sonnenberg Ann and John Lech Renee and Steve Levin Joyce Levine Michael Levine Karen and David Levinsky Rita and Philip Levy Lanny and Lee Livingston Michael Loch Marlaine Lockheed and Steven Frakt Bobbi and Milton Loeb Vanessa Logan Kathleen Love Carolyn and Frank Lumia Mr. and Mrs. Robert Margolies James Marinello Joanne M. and Tom Marino Mary McDermott Susan and Jack Meola Marion Mezzetti Jane A. and Stephen Miller Joan and Rabbi Bennett Miller Michele and Irwin Millinger Lilia and Roberto Muniz Judith S. Musicant Suzanne S. Nacson Barbara and Kurt Nathan Rochelle and Bruce D. Newman Debbie and Henry E. Newman Walter Newman Esther Novak Dennis O’Dea Eugene F. O’Neill Sophie M. Orloff Anita and Harry Paborsky Virginia and Michael Palmer Melissa and Simon Pankove Cora and Tom Park Glenn M. Parker Kimberly and Gregory Parris Margaret and Harry Perrin Patrizia Perugia Barbara and Jim Petrosini Marlene and Gerald Pomper Marcus Peter Porcelli Joan Pritchard Ellen O. Rebarber Maureen and Frank Rees Susan Rivkind and Richard Zucker Ruth Robinson David Rogoff Naomi and Jerry Rose David Rosen Andrew Rosenberg Buena Rosenbloom John Samsel Michael S. Sarnoff Karen Satterthwaite Barbara Schafer Donna and George Scher Dr. and Mrs. Ronald S. Schotland
Thank you for your support Ken Schurzky Susette Schwartz and Marvin Brauth John Seiber Todd and Tara Schwartzman Lurlee Shutkin and Donald White Mr. and Mrs. Michael Seletsky Lynn and John Semmlow Amy Shakun Marjorie Shakun Carolyn and Arthur Sherbin Victoria and Michael Shernicoff Pat Shiffner Harvey B. Singer Karen and Sheldon Singer Elaine and Gene Sletvold Roger Smith Cecile Spector Patricia and Robert Spencer Mark Spindler Susan Steinfeld Robert Stone Gail and James Szeluga Beverly Teich Raymond Testa Nancy Thielmann Donald Thomas Germaine and Richard Trabert Kerry Tremayne Bridget Troccoli Cecilia Tyler Bonnie and Allan Warton Martha Weisberger Barbara Westergaard Adam White Caroline Willard Frank J. Wilson Jon Winer Philip Witt Anita H. Wolfson
Arthur Laurents Memorial Fund Donors: J. Wood, in honor of Marc Vogt
Lauren Bacall* Roger Berlind Lois and Ronald Bleich Paddy Briglio Tyne Daly Joe DiPietro Holly and Orlando Esposito Freddie and Myrna Gershon David M. Greene David Hatcher Marcia Hefter Shirley Herz* James N. Heston Winnie Holzman and Paul Dooley Betty Wold Johnson Sharon Karmazin The Honorable Thomas H. Kean Jonathan Lomma Judith A. McDowell Anne Meara* and Jerry Stiller Karen S. Price David Saint Jocelyn Schwartzman Stephen Sondheim The Streisand Foundation Margaret Styne Lora and Bill Tremayne Ralph W. Voorhees* * – deceased
Maximize the impact of your gift with a matching gift from your company!
Double or triple the impact of your gift to George Street Playhouse! Include the name of your affiliation on your pledge form and your company’s matching gift form. GSP will credit the amount of your matching gift toward your gift total and include you in the higher level of benefits based on the combined gift total. Matching gifts play an essential role in the financial support of George Street Playhouse. Current Matching Gift Companies Supporting the Playhouse
Bristol-Myers Squibb General Electric Corporation The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey IBM
Johnson & Johnson Merck Company Merrill Lynch & Co Pfizer Robert Wood Johnson Foundation UBS
Official Florist of George Street Playhouse The area’s most unique floral & gift accessory shop Weddings & Special Events Imported soaps - candles - home decor - gourmet and kosher baskets 732-828-1107 www.robertsflorals.com Mark Froehlich - Doug Otrimski
Staff David Saint, Artistic Director • Michael Mastro, Resident Artistic Director Kelly Ryman, Managing Director DEVELOPMENT
ARTISTIC Producing Associate Casting
Scott Goldman McCorkle Casting, Ltd.
EDUCATION Director of Education and Outreach Assistant Director of Education Manager of Tour and Academy Programs Education Administrative Assistant
School-based Project Coordinator 2016/17 – Touring Cast
Stage Manager Teaching Artists
Jim Jack Christa Cillaroto Diana Gundacker Angela Peletier Annie Rutherford Lutz Carol Foose Desmond Martin Christian James Potterton Auriel Thompson Erica Leigh Dustin Ballard Laura Bozzone Madeline Calandrillo Sam Leichter Annie Rutherford Lutz Rachel Matusewicz Lucas Pinner Dave Seamon Jaime Ward
Director of Development Development Associate, Special Events Development Associate, Institutional Relations Development Associate, Donor Relations
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Assistant to Business Manager Volunteer Coordinator
Jacqueline Brendel Peggy Aronson Cassidy Nogueira Megan Shook Karen Price Lynne Holton Joel Schwartz
PRODUCTION Production Manager Company Manager/ Assistant Production Manager
Christopher J. Bailey Megan Cherry
SETS Technical Director Assistant Technical Director Master Carpenter Carpenters Scenic Charge
Marc Vogt Matthew Schmutz Frank Giamella Mohamed Haddara Theodore Hoelter James Hancocks
PROPERTIES Properties Master Assistant Properties Master Deck Hand
Helen Tewksbury Jeanette Mieses Andre Penn
MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS Director of Marketing & Public Relations Rick Engler Marketing & Public Relations Associate Brian Kelley Patron Services Manager Jaci D’Ulisse Graphic Designer/Marketing Associate Mark Kieran
COSTUMES Costume Shop Manager Wardrobe Supervisor
Esther Arroyo Samantha Meyerson
Photographer
SOUND & ELECTRICS Master Electrician Sound Engineer
Tommy Williamson Ted Crimy
Assistant Master Electrician and Lighting Console Operator
Brian Sivetz
T. Charles Erickson
PATRON SERVICES & BOX OFFICE Patron Services Manager House Manager/Usher Coordinator House Manager/Concessions Manager House Manager Sales Associates
Front of House Staff
Shakera Blakney Gerry Porcaro Harene Pitter Lolly Schenck Kirk Geritano Diana Gundacker Abid Hassan Cassidy Nogueira Aaron Ratzan Carol Foose Aime Zimel
For This Production Assistant Stage Manager
Heather Ber