Five Women Wearing the Same Dress by ALAN BALL
Directed by ROYSTON COPPENGER
Set Design .................................................................................. ALEX BEJA Costume Design ..................................................................... PEI-‐CHI SU Lighting Design ............................................................... BRYAN CHESS Sound Design ........................................................ RYCHARD CURTISS Dramaturgy .................................................... GIANFRANCO LENTINI Stage Manager ............................................................ KATIE HESKETH Assistant Director .................................................... MICHELLE RIZZA
CAST (in order of appearance) Frances ............................................................................................................. LIZZIE PAROT Meredith ................................................................................................................ ELIZA HILL Trisha ...................................................................................... CORINNE MESTEMACHER Georgeanne ............................................................................................... MORGAN SMITH Mindy .......................................................................................................... SOPHIE GAGNON Tripp Davenport .............................................................................................. TOM MYERS
PRODUCTION STAFF Assistant Stage Manager ..................................................... KELSEY USHER, ............................................................................................. LAURA WALSH Prop Master ................................................................................ ANNA HOLMES Assistant Costume Designer ..................................... NOAH EITAN ELHAI Dress Maker ..................................... JACQUELINE BENEDICT-‐MANTELL Production Manager ....................................................... JAMES P. HART JR. Associate Technical Director ........................................ ABBIE CLEMENTS Light Board ........................................................................ JORDAN SCHNOOR Sound Board ......................................................................... COURTNEY RAGO
TIME: Summer, 1986
Place: An upscale suburban home on the outskirts of Knoxville, TN
There will be one fifteen-‐minute intermission. PRODUCTION CREWS PRODUCTION: Sophie Gagnon (Crew Head); Tyler Beloin, Chip Connell, Jessica High, Benjamin Koster, Maura Nahrevar, Juan Juarez COSTUMES: Samantha Cunha (Crew Head); Alexa Arent, Maya Carter, Caitlyn MacNeill, Montana Marsilio, Ryan Mooney, Kristin Papadopoulos RUN CREW/DRESSERS: Cassandra Demarco, Holly King, Courtney Rago, Paige Spinola, Eric Ziwak COSTUME MAINTENANCE: Caitlin Sheppard, Corinne Mestemacher FRONT OF HOUSE: Chelsea Beeck, Maren Ford, Kerry Gaudreau, Kelly Geiger, Deanna Krug PUBLICITY: Gary Newman (Crew Head); Alexis Di Gregorio, Cameron Draper, Mahalia Lerebours, Justin Morales, Jenna Notar, Asia Nicole-‐Facey, Alexis Robbins, Max Seijas, Kelli Spellman
DIRECTORS NOTES I grew up outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, and during the time this play is set I attended more than a few weddings of my high school and college friends. One of the things that drew me to this play is the precise way it depicts the collision of the old south and the new in the person of its well-‐to-‐do characters. Alan Ball manages to capture something very real about the heightened backstage life of weddings. In the course of a few hours, Ball’s characters are moved to re-‐examine and reevaluate some of the choices they’ve made. New friendships will be born, old friendships will be transformed, and characters will learn to let go of some of the painful aspects of the past as they strive to embrace the future.
-‐Royston Coppenger
CAST AND CREW BIOS
Alex Beja (Set Design) is a junior pursuing a B.F.A. in Production, with concentration in scenic design. Past design credits include My Decay (a Protin Pictures short film) and Much Ado About Nothing (assistant designer). Special thanks to caffeine, L216, rhyming, numerous llamas, Tim[m], and the rest of the Beja 6 for all their support and entertainment.
Bryan Chess (Lighting Design) is a senior pursuing a B.F.A. in Production. Recent credits: La Gazza Ladra (assistant lighting-‐ Bronx Opera Company), Urinetown (lighting-‐Hofstra), Ken Ludwig’s Midsummer/Jersey (sound-‐Interlochen Arts Camp [professional premiere), Everyone Has Tears (lighting-‐NYC), Spring Awakening (direction-‐Masquerade). Bryan thanks his family, friends, and everyone involved in this production. L216.
Abbie Clements (Associate Technical Director) is excited to be involved with Five Women! Previous building experience includes Urinetown (assistant technical director), Learned Ladies (scenic carpenter), and Princess Ida (scenic carpenter). She is thrilled to continue along the theatre production track and would like to thank her family, friends, Jim, and Sampson.
Royston Coppenger’s (Director) new English version of Chekhov’s “The Seagull” was recently produced in New York City by Stella Adler Studios, directed by John Gould Rubin. Recent Hofstra credits include directing The Marriage of Bette and Boo and The War of the Roses, his own adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry VI trilogy for the Hofstra Shakespeare Festival. He has directed theater and opera in The United States and Europe. Mr. Coppenger holds a D.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama.
Rychard Curtiss (Sound Designer) Associate Professor, Managing Director, Director of Lighting: Hofstra University. M.F.A. in Theatre Design and Technology: Northern Illinois University. B.A.: Eastern Connecticut State University. Designs and stage manages professionally in NYC. Recently designed lights for the Bronx Opera. Member of AEA.
Noah Eitan Elhai (Assistant Costume Designer) is a sophomore B.F.A. Theatre Arts student in the scenic and costume design tracks. Previous credits include scenic artist for Learned Ladies and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and properties master for Hamlet: A Bare Bodkin. He would like to
thank Pei-‐Chi, Sam, and Christina for helping him learn the ropes of the shop, and L216.
Sophie Gagnon (Mindy) is a junior pursuing a B.F.A. in Performance. This is her department debut and she could not be more grateful for this amazing experience. Thank you to Royston, the talented cast and crew, family, friends and ZAT house for all the support. Cha cha cheese whiz!
James P. Hart Jr. (Production Manager) Jim received a bachelor's degree from Whittier College and an M.F.A. from the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Other academic positions include the University of Central Florida, and Salisbury University. He dedicates his life and work to his son, Charlie, and his wife, Jennifer.
Katie Hesketh (Stage Manager) is pursuing a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts with a concentration in stage management. Previous SM credits include Miss Julie, Much Ado About Nothing (ASM), Brutality of Fact, and Spike Heels. Thanks to the cast and crew for this wonderful process, Llamas, and L216. She dedicates her work to the memory of her father.
Eliza Hill (Meredith) is a senior B.F.A. Performance major. Previous credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Maggie), Dead Man's Cell Phone (Jean), and The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Emily). A big thank you to Katie, Laura, Michelle, and the cast, and a million thanks to Royston for such a fun and invaluable experience. Love to Mom, Dad, and Lindsay.
Anna Holmes (Prop Master) is a Sophomore B.F.A. in Performance. This is her second production as prop master and it has been an exciting challenge. She was last seen in BBAJ and Urinetown. Thank you to everyone for all your moral support and your gas!
Gianfranco Lentini (Dramaturgy) is a sophomore pursuing a double major in Drama and English. He is beyond grateful to have experienced a piece of 1985. Previous work includes The Learned Ladies (ASM, Hofstra University) and Twelfth Night (Production Crew, New York Classical Theatre). Special thanks to his family!
Corinne Mestemacher (Trisha) is a junior pursuing a B.F.A. in Drama. Past Hofstra credits include Armande in The Learned
Ladies and Ophelia in Hamlet: A Bare Bodkin. Originally from Tennessee, she wants to thank Royston and this wonderful cast and crew for all the joy! She also apologizes to her mother.
Tom Myers (Tripp Davenport) a sophomore B.F.A. Performance major, is pumped to be letting his inner 80’s out in Five Women Wearing the Same Dress. Tom had his Hofstra debut last spring in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and was last seen in Marriage Play. Special thanks to his parent’s for their endless support and Royston for this opportunity.
Lizzie Parot (Frances) wants to give thanks to Royston and Michelle for leading such a fun, rewarding ride, and Katie, Laura, cast and crew for helping make the fun. Love to R&R, family, Bear, Balloon Federation, Classy Columns, APO, friends and you for coming to see the show! www.lizzielamorgia.com
Michelle Rizza (Assistant Director) is thrilled that her final Hofstra production is such a fun one! Thanks to Katie, Laura, Gianfranco, these five beautiful women (and Tom) for their incredible talent! Special thanks to Royston for the opportunity to work on a show with zero blood, maiming or dead babies.
Morgan Smith (Georgeanne) is a senior B.F.A. Performance major. She is absolutely thrilled to connect with her southern roots and be a part of Five Women! She was last seen as Ma Strong in Urinetown. She would like to thank Royston for giving her this wonderful opportunity and Michelle and Katie for all of their hard work and of course Mom and Dad for always supporting her!!
Pei-‐Chi Su (Costume Design) M.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University. Design credits include ICL at 59E59 Theater, Garajistanbul in Istanbul, and Theatre Rampe in Stuttgart. Pan Asian Repertory, The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Galway Arts Festival in Ireland and more than 80 productions at City Theater, PICT, Pittsburgh Playhouse and Quantum Theater in Pittsburgh area.
Laura Walsh (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working on this show! The cast and crew have been incredible; the experience will be unforgettable. Thanks you guys! Special thanks to Katie Hesketh, Michelle Rizza, and Royston Coppenger.
Partial support for this production of FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS has been provided by the Dr. Frank A. Calderone Endowment Fund
THE DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA AND DANCE CHAIR: David M. Henderson DRAMA FACULTY AND STAFF Professors Royston Coppenger, Jean Dobie Giebel, James J. Kolb, Cindy Rosenthal, Peter Sander; Associate Professors Rychard Curtiss, Ilona Pierce, Robert Westley; Assistant Professor Pei-Chi Su Production Manager/Technical Director James Hart; Shop Manager/Technical Director Thomas Sampson; Costume Shop Manager Cheryl McCarron; Adjunct Professors Jon Cantor, Christopher Dippel, Edward Elefterion, Maureen Connolly McFeely, Richard Omar, Alan Rackham, Brett Smock DANCE FACULTY AND STAFF Director of the Dance Program: Rachel List Associate Professors Robin Becker, Stormy Brandenberger; Assistant Professor Anita Feldman; Adjunct Professors Darrah Carr, Giada Ferrone, Glen Fittin, Dyane Harvey-Salaam, Ellie Kusner, Amy Marshall, Jason Melms, Devin Pullins, Maxine Steinman, Karla Wolfangle Music Director for the Dance Program Arthur Solari; Dance Accompanists Jordan Chiolis, Glen Fittin, Jennifer Heinlein, Nydia Mata, Marienela Santurio, Lauren Shapiro, Jennifer Wells PLAYHOUSE TECHNICAL AND BOX OFFICE STAFF Director of Theater Facilities Alan Pittman; Assistant Technical Directors of the Playhouse Peter Hague, Brian Canese, Brian Hetland; Manager of Theater Facilities Stacy Lane; Assistant House Manager Goslet Piper; Box Office Staff Diane Wilson, Judy Bertrand, Shirley Ackerman, Angela Laterza DRAMA AND DANCE OFFICE STAFF Angela Visco, Andrea Dempsey UNDERGRADUATE ASSISTANTS Christina Bracco, Kara Burzynski, Abigail Clements, Jaimie Cook, Samantha Cunha, Danielle DeMatteo, Athena Ellis, Devin Gee, Caitlyn MacNeil, Meaghan Maloney, Samantha Newby ALPHA PSI OMEGA (The National Dramatic Honor Fraternity, Mu Psi Chapter) President Elizabeth Reese; Vice-President Philip Schaffer; Cabaret Coordinators Cody Dericks, Lizzie Parot; Fund Raising and Philanthropy Megan Heverin, and Treasurer Allie Rightmeyer; Secretary Eliza Hill; Psibrarian Lee Moore; Members: Max Baudisch, Rita McCann, Bryan Chess, James Crichton, Marina De-Yoe Pedraza, Athena Ellis, Matt Engle, Kaitlin Frisch, Stefanie Harris, Katie Hesketh, Codee Hutchins, Dani Letshe, Meaghan Maloney, Corinne Mestamacher, Gary Newman, Peter Previte, Michelle Rizza, Alan Stentiford, Phil Tyler, Jen Van Pelt