The Cake Portland Stage 2023 Playbill

by Bekah Brunstetter

We are proud to support the talented artists and the people behind the scenes who make Portland a regional leader in the performing arts.

A cooperative effort by Portland Ovations, Portland Stage, Portland Symphony Orchestra and Merrill Auditorium Concert Events.

Program & Cover Design by Jennifer Roe, Wild Olive Multimedia

Aimée M. Petrin, Executive Director

Anita Stewart, Executive & Artistic Director

Eckart Preu, Music Director

Portland presents...

Welcome to Portland Presents.

The program book for Northern New England’s premier arts and entertainment organizations.

Portland Presents wishes to thank our advertisers for the 2022-23 season. Visit our website at www.portlandpresents.org for direct links to our advertiser’s websites.

Acadia Insurance

Baker Newman Noyes

Bath Savings

Brann & Isaacson

Browne Trading Company

Chilton Furniture

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Coffee by Design

cPort Credit Union

Cross Insurance

Cuddledown

Davis Landscape Co., Inc

Dr Arthur Gager

Drummond Woodsum

Eyecare Medical Group

Fogg’s Water Taxi & Charters

Gnome Landscapes, Design, Masonry & Maintenance

Greenhut Galleries & Cove Street Arts

HeadInvest

Home Instead

Hopkinson & Abbondanza, P.A.

Kennebec Company

Knickerbocker Group

LandVest Inc.

LeBlanc & Young

Maine Coast Waldorf School

National Distributors

New England Cancer Specialists

North Yarmouth Academy

Northern Light Mercy Hospital

Norway Savings Bank

OceanView at Falmouth

Opera Maine

Perkins Thompson

Piper Shores

Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care

Portland Yacht Services

R.M. Davis, Inc.

Reger Dasco Properties

Rowe Westbrook

The Bennett Law Firm, P.A.

The Cedars

The Portland Harbor Group of Raymond James

Veterinary and Rehabilitation Center of Cape Elizabeth

V.I.P. Eyes

Vitalius Real Estate Group

Waynflete

Wright Ryan Homes

If you or your business would like to advertise with Portland Presents, please contact any of the above organizations or check out our website at www.portlandpresents.org.

A cooperative effort by Portland Ovations, Portland Stage, Portland Symphony Orchestra and Merrill Auditorium Concert Events.

Photo © Darren Setlow

PSO Education Everywhere

Your digital resource for all things educational at the PSO!

KinderKonzerts

EDUCATION PARTNER:

These early-age performances are designed to engage K-3rd grade students while providing an introductory overview of orchestral instruments and music.

Watch all these amazing videos at PortlandSymphony.org

Meet the Instruments

Meet the different instruments that make up an orchestra from the PSO musicians who play them!

Long Story Shorts

Learn everything you need to know about your favorite composers in less than 2 minutes!

At Home Instruments

Learn how to make your own instruments with simple items you can find around your house!

PSO Masterclass

Learn from PSO musicians as they introduce you to the ins and outs of being a professional musician.

Classical

JAN 2023

World-Class Performances & Exceptional

THE RITE OF SPRING †

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 | 2:30 PM

MONDAY, JANUARY 30 | 7:30 PM

WATCH ON DEMAND: WED, FEB 8–FRI, MAR 10

Eckart Preu, Music Director

Pepe Romero, classical guitar

Osvaldo GOLIJOV: Sidereus

Joaquín RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez

FEB 2023

MAY 2023 MOZART & BRAHMS

TUESDAY, MAY 23 | 7:30 PM

Eckart Preu, Music Director

Alon Goldstein, piano

Brian NABORS: Pulse

W.A. MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor

MAR 2023

Igor STRAVINSKY: Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring)

THE ROMANTICS: RACHMANINOFF & SCHUMANN

TUESDAY, FEBRUDAY 14 | 7:30 PM

Eckart Preu, Music Director

George Li, piano

Fanny Mendelssohn HENSEL: Overture in C major

Sergei RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Robert SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 4 in D minor

RAVEL’S BOLÉRO

SUNDAY, MARCH 12 | 2:30 PM

Nir Kabaretti, guest conductor

Gilles Apap, violin

Noam SHERIFF: Akeda

W.A. MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major (“Strassburg”)

Richard STRAUSS: Death and Transfiguration

Maurice RAVEL: Boléro

APR 2023

ECKART CONDUCTS MÁRQUEZ †

SUNDAY, APRIL 2 | 2:30 PM

TUESDAY, APRIL 4 | 7:30 PM

WATCH ON DEMAND: WED, APR 12–FRI, MAY 12

Eckart Preu, Music Director

Ina Zdorovetchi, Principal harp

Enrico CHAPELA: Rotor

Arturo MÁRQUEZ: Máscaras Concerto for Harp & Orchestra

Ana LARA: Angels of Fire and Ice

This concert will be professionally recorded to promote the works of living Mexican composers.

Johannes BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E minor

Goldstein

Classical season sponsor:

Exceptional Musical Experiences

PSO POPS!

MAR 2023 LOUIS ARMSTRONG & FRIENDS

SATURDAY, MARCH 18 | 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 19 | 2:30 PM

Byron Stripling, guest conductor & trumpet

Carmen Bradford, vocals

The charismatic and hugely popular Byron Stripling returns to your PSO with an electrifying tribute to the great Louis Armstrong and his famous friends including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and so many others.

APR 2023

THE NAT KING COLE SONGBOOK

SATURDAY, APRIL 15 | 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, APRIL 16 | 2:30 PM

Eckart Preu, Music Director

Denzal Sinclaire, vocals

Your PSO and celebrated vocalist Denzal Sinclaire pay tribute to the icon with the incandescent voice, Nat King Cole. Revisit his greatest hits in this unforgettable musical event!

MAY 2023

LIGHTS! CAMERA! POPS!

SATURDAY, MAY 6 | 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, MAY 7 | 2:30 PM

Bob Bernhardt, guest conductor

Mela Dailey, vocals

Experience some of the silver screen’s most iconic scores LIVE! Beloved blockbusters will be brought to vivid life by your PSO and acclaimed guest conductor Bob Bernhardt.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE PSO PLAY ON!

Discovery Concerts

Enjoy an unforgettable afternoon out with classical concerts conducted for children of all ages. For only $10 a ticket, it’s the fun, affordable way to spark your kids’ lifelong interest in the magic of live symphony music.

JOIN US AT AN UPCOMING EVENT

Once Upon a Time

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19 | 2:30 PM

Michelle di Russo, guest conductor

Angelica Michelle, vocalist & actor

Spend an afternoon with your PSO traveling through beloved fairy tales and daring adventures! Special guests Mirabel from Encanto and Anna from Frozen will join us on our exciting journey!

Around the World with the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra (Side-by-side)

SUNDAY, MARCH 26 | 2:30 PM

Eckart Preu, Music Director

Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra

Led by Robert Lehmann

Buckle your seatbelt and put your tray table in the upright position as the PSO and the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra take you around the world!

Peter and the Wolf

SUNDAY, MAY 14 | 2:30 PM

Michelle Merrill, guest conductor

Matt Laberge, narrator

Enjoy this timeless classic and hear the sounds of the countryside as Peter defeats the fiendish wolf!

ARRIVE ONE HOUR EARLY FOR THESE PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITIES

Podium Hero!

Ever wondered what it would be like to conduct your own symphony orchestra? Find out at this pre-concert event that features two real PSO musicians along with the conductor! Learn how to use a baton and beat a pattern that the musicians will follow.

The Instrument Petting Zoo!

This is an opportunity for children to touch, play, and hear instruments with demonstrations by real professional PSO musicians. About 600 people experience the petting zoo during each of Discovery Concert. What instruments? Violin, Viola, Bass, Harp, and assorted Percussion instruments.

For Maine patients, leading-edge cancer research just got...

NEW ENGLAND CANCER SPECIALISTS IS PROUD TO BE AN AFFILIATE MEMBER OF THE DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE IN BOSTON.

After decades working together, we have embarked on a new, deeper relationship to make exceptional, compassionate care even more available to every patient.

...a lot closer to home.

Working in harmony with your needs.

Acadia

Welcometo  MerrillAuditorium,Portland’sPremierPerforming Arts Venue

Welcome to Merrill Auditorium, Portland’s Premier Performing Arts Venue

Home  toPrime  Tenants Portland  SymphonyOrchestra,Portland  Ovationsand The Friendsof  the KotzschmarOrgan.

Home to Prime Tenants - Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Ovations and The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ.

Eachyearwehost a  varietyofconcerts,dance  performances, children’sprogramming,comedyshows, corporate  meetings and  non profiteventswith  over150,000patronsin  attendance annually!

Thankyouforbeinga  guestat ourtheater,pleaseenjoytheshow!

Each year we host a variety of concerts, dance performances, children’s programming, comedy shows, corporate meetings and non-profit events with over 150,000 patrons in attendance annually!

Thank you for being a guest at our theater, please enjoy the show!

Merrill  Auditorium  is  managed  by  the  City  of  Portland  Pub licAssemblyFacilitiesDivision 212Canco  Rd  Portland  Maine PHONE:207.808.5400  WEB:PortlandEvents.com

Merrill Auditorium is managed by the City of Portland Public Assembly Facilities Division Andrew J Downs, Director

Welcometo  MerrillAuditorium,Portland’sPremierPerforming Arts Venue

-UPCOMING EVENTS -

Home  toPrime  Tenants Portland  SymphonyOrchestra,Portland  Ovationsand The Friendsof  the KotzschmarOrgan.

Eachyearwehost a  varietyofconcerts,dance  performances, children’sprogramming,comedyshows, corporate  meetings and  non profiteventswith  over150,000patronsin  attendance annually!

Sunday February 11th — Joshua Hughes Entertainment presents MOSES THE STAGED PLAY

Thankyouforbeinga  guestat ourtheater,pleaseenjoytheshow!

Saturday February 18th — Roberts Group presents MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL

Merrill  Auditorium  is  managed  by  the  City  of  Portland  Pub licAssemblyFacilitiesDivision 212Canco  Rd  Portland  Maine PHONE:207.808.5400  WEB:PortlandEvents.com

Saturday February 25th & Sunday February 26th — Falun Dafa Assoc presents SHEN YUN

Friday March 10th — Outback Concerts presents HEATHER MCMAHAN

Saturday March 25th — Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ presents BACH’S BIRTHDAY BASH

Monday April 24th — USM School of Music YOUTH ENSEMBLE

Tuesday May 9th — Live Nation presents NATALIE MERCHANT

Thursday May 18th — TEMPTATIONS AND THE FOUR TOPS

Thursday July 27th & Sunday July 30th —

Opera Maine presents ROSSINIS LA CENERENTOLA

For More Information about these and all our performances or to purchase tickets please Visit PortTix.com or Call 207-842-0800

PortTix is the Official Box Office for Merrill Auditorium. Please make sure when purchasing tickets, you are buying from PortTix.

Y OUR CARE IS OUR C OMMITMENT

W e s t r i v e e v e r y d a y t o m a k e h e a l t h c a r e w o r k b e t t e r f o r

t h e p e o p l e o f M a i n e . N o w , w i t h m o r e o f o u r n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i z e d s e r v i c e s o n o n e c o n v e n i e n t c a m p u s , w e a r e m a k i n g i t e a s i e r t h a n e v e r t o a c c e s s t h e c a r e y o u n e e d .

Learn more at MaineMadeUs.com/Mercy

Rush35 provides an affordable and inclusive gateway into live theater for audiences age 35 and under by offering low-cost rush tickets to ANY Portland Stage Mainstage production.

Same-Day*

$15 ALSO Tickets as low as

Exclusive access to monthly pre-performance parties & more!

*Tickets are available at the Box Office beginning at 12 noon on the day of the performance. (1 ticket per Rush35 member, per performance; must show ID at pickup)

A SEASON TAILORED TO OUR AUDIENCES.

FOSTERING EXPERIMENTATION & ARTISTIC RISK

NEW WORK

Portland Stage is known for its role in cultivating new voices in theater and for creating a significant body of theatrical work that has gone on to success beyond our stage. By incubating new work and supporting writers, Portland Stage has established Maine as a place to launch original and compelling plays.

Since its debut in 1990, the Little Festival of the Unexpected (LFU) has established a tradition of nurturing artists, invigorating audiences, and exploring new voices, visions, and forms of theater. Past LFU scripts include Almost, Maine (LFU 2003) and Papermaker (LFU 2014).

Playwrights

Richard Blanco (photo by Craig Dilger) & Vanessa Garcia and their play Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas.

The play was selected to be a part of the 2022 Little Festival of the Unexpected, where it was performed virtually over Zoom for audiences.

A SEASON TAILORED TO OUR AUDIENCES.

Written by Richard Blanco & Vanessa Garcia

INSPIRING LITERACY, CULTURAL AWARENESS, COLLABORATION, & CREATIVITY

EDUCATION

Education is central to Portland Stage’s mission. Vital education programs are offered in schools for students from pre-K through high school, and to children ages 4-18 through classes in our Susie Konkel Theater for Kids storefront space. Portland Stage’s Education Programs provide over 14,000 student experiences each year.

Top Feature: Elementary students enjoying an in-school workshop.

A SEASON TAILORED TO OUR AUDIENCES.

Above: Actor Nolan Ellsworth and students during an interactive theater experience at the Portland Stage Theater for Kids.

PLAY ME A STORY presented by Portland Stage Theater for Kids allows participants to enjoy dramatic readings of picture books, then participate in an interactive acting workshop with professional theater artists.

HANDCRAFTED THEATER MADE IN MAINE

MAINSTAGE

With a season of six Mainstage shows, Portland Stage brings a wide range of performances to Maine. Every Mainstage show is handcrafted in our historic building in the Portland Arts District. Over one season, Portland Stage creates over two hundred live performances and serves 50,000 people from around the state and beyond.

Conan Doyle

Top Feature: Ezra Barnes (AEA), Brian Lee Huynh (AEA), & Isabelle Van Fleet (AEA)

Above: Ezra Barnes (AEA) & Tom Ford (AEA)

Side: Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper (AEA)

Photos by NoUmbrella Media

A SEASON TAILORED TO OUR AUDIENCES.

Photos from the 2022 production of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, by Steven Dietz, based on the original 1899 play by William Gillette and Sir Arthur

A Different Way of Looking at Things

In business, you have a lot to keep your eye on. Sometimes it’s hard to see the opportunities and the risks clearly. That’s where Drummond Woodsum can help. We use a team approach – a small group of highly specialized attorneys focused on helping your business see what’s ahead before you take that next step.

We practice law differently. Since 1965.

dwmlaw.com | 800.727.1941

Fogg’s

Water

Taxi & Charters

Providing a variety of options — from private charters on our small boat fleet that can accommodate up to six passengers, to our two larger vessels that can hold up to 49 passengers, we also offer daily public cruises aboard our 49 passenger Joseph S. Kennedy.

The perfect way to see Casco Bay. Give us a call to book your next charter.

Foggswatertaxi.com

207-415-8493

ABOUT US

Portland Ovations is a nonprofit cultural organization based in Southern Maine dedicated to gathering communities to share in the power of live performance. Ovations connects artists and audiences both onstage and off — making the arts an integral part of community life.

Our unique array of live performances for the public and school audiences are curated to delight, inspire and educate. Venues used throughout greater Portland include historic and modern theaters, clubs, galleries, and classrooms — chosen carefully to ensure the best possible experience for both audiences and artists.

Join us for a season of performances that span the traditional to the contemporary, the intimate to the spectacular, the popular to the unexpected.

OUR VISION

To inspire a curious and imaginative community where the experience of the performing arts is a vital part of every day life.

OUR MISSION

Portland Ovations propels the artistic, social, educational and economic wellbeing of communities through the power of the performing arts.

Dancing with Garba360 at Deering Oaks Park

OVATIONS 2022-23 SEASON

All tickets are exchangeable to another Portland Ovations performance within the

All tickets are exchangeable to another Portland Ovations performance within the

OCTOBER

season. All events are subject to change.

season. All events are subject to change.

Dwayne Tomah (Passamaquoddy) Jennifer Pictou (Mi’kmaq)

MEMBERS MAKE

MEMBERS MAKE THIS POSSIBLE

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF OVATIONS MEMBERS

CONNECTING

Ovations Offstage

Ovations Offstage (O2) creates interactive programming for audiences of all ages. From workshops, masterclasses, and lectures with artists and scholars to community events and School-Time Performances, O2 provides experiences for our communities to deeply engage with the artists, and art, creating those magical moments when audiences and artists connect.

Masterclasses

Work with and learn from exceptional artists through our masterclasses. Over a season we offer an array of masterclasses –for the general public or for students studying a specific art form.

Pre-Performance Lectures

An in-depth look at an art form, artist, or performance theme, these presentations contextualize the performance and bring new meaning to the main event.

School-Time Performances

Energize and engage your students with the performing arts and artists through onstage school-time matinees and offstage theater activities. Experiences are aligned with Common Core standards and are supported by educator resources and learning guides.

Cultivating Curiosity

Cultivating Curiosity helps grow young people’s love of books by pairing reading opportunities with School-Time Performances, by providing each child who attends the performance a free book inspired from its title.

Gatherings

From a processional performance to shared meals to a walking tour of Portland’s Freedom Trail, Ovations Offstage gathers communities to connect more deeply and locally with the art, artists, and ideas onstage.

AUDIENCES WITH ARTISTS AUDIENCES WITH ARTISTS

Executive & Artistic Director

Aimée M. Petrin

Office Administrator

Mary Campbell

Director of Marketing & Development

Casey Oakes

Bookkeeper

Marlene Dye

Development Manager

Jamie Barilone

Marketing Manager

Katie Day

Director of Community Programs & Partnerships

Katelyn Manfre

House Manager

Zoe Pancic

Production Manager

Eric Hager

Director of School & Family Programs

Liz Schildkret

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Mary Allen Lindemann

Secretary

Carolyn Hughes

Rachael Alfond

Michael A. Boyson

Maile Buker

Luisa Deprez

Ken Grady

Vice Presidents

Peter Genova

James T. Morgan

Sayad Moudachirou

James Isaacson

Jack Lufkin

Nyamuon Nguany Machar

Susan Morris

Mary K. Noyes

FOUNDER’S COUNCIL

Treasurer

Michael F. Stillings

Daniel Nuzzi

Tania Powers

Olivier te Boekhorst

April Ylvisaker

Judith W. Adam

Kimberly Block

Janet M. Bowne

Bruce Brown

Maria Chambers

Catherine H. Cloudman

Madeline G. Corson

Daniel N. Crewe

Charles W. Dibner

Francis A. Ferland

Robert H. Gardner

Phyllis Givertz

Philip H. Gleason

Judith Halpert

Heidi N. Hansen

Kendall Harnett

Tracy Hawkins

Elizabeth T. High

Daniel P. Hunter

J. Spencer Jones

Felicia Knight

Gary Koocher

Robert Ludwig

Jeff McKinnon

Elizabeth A. McLellan

Peter Milliken

Marcia G. Minter

Nicholas S. Nadzo

Thomas R. Newman

Bob Nielsen

Jean K. Nishiyama

Jane A. Parker

Stephen Poulos

Patti Roderick

Monroe Scharff

Sigmund D. Schutz

Jaimie Schwartz

Lynn Shaffer

John D. Tewhey

Louise Thomas

June Vail

Alison Vanderhoof

Sarah A. Verville

Margaret A. Wilkis

CELEBRATING 92 YEARS OF PERFORMING ARTS

This is Antonia.

We were there when she took her first violin lesson.

We’re here now as she performs in her high school honors recital.

Someday she will become a member of a renowned metropolitan orchestra. And when that day arrives, we’ll be there.

What kind of school knows that learning should spark joy?

Hands-on learning personalized to each student’s passions and potential. Small class sizes filled with diverse perspectives. Teachers and friends they trust.

At Waynflete, our students love to learn. The joy of painting their self-portrait as an astronaut and building Mars rovers from recyclables in Lower School becomes, over time, the thrill of solving complex equations alongside working NASA scientists to measure and name real asteroids in Upper School.

Visit waynflete.org/more to learn how Waynflete will make sure every student gets the most out of this school year.

This season is full of stories that come from the heart. Stories of family and friends, of caring, of finding new ways forward with humor and grace. You will meet a 5’5” Chinese basketball player intent on making the team; a Cuban American transplant to Maine making new friends and learning more about her roots in the process (a first play by poet Richard Blanco); a Black playwright, spinning stories and bringing to light a life in the theater; a baker concocting sweet ways to resurrect her marriage and make peace with another; Dr. Watson as he remembers the final adventure with his best friend Sherlock; and the entire town of Tuna, Texas. It will be fun, it will be moving, it will make you remember what it means to come together and share.

We thank you for joining us for this performance, whether this is your first show or you are a returning subscriber.

Anita Stewart, Artistic Director

“Experience Handcrafted Theater!”

Portland Stage Mission

As the leading professional theater in Northern New England, Portland Stage is committed to creating great art, passionate about using the theater to educate, and dedicated to enriching our community.

Board of Trustees

Darrell Pardy, President

Samantha Bowen

Susan Carter

Peter Clough

Scott Cowger

Fredric Farber

Margaret Groban

Amanda Hannan

Edith Iyer-Hernandez

John F. Leonard IV

Theresa McCarthy

Sara A. Murphy

Todd Nicholson

Carole Palmer

Darrell Pardy

Cathy Stankard

Jane Stevens

Robin Talbot

Courtney Thorpe

Nelson A. Toner

Daniel Tucker

Anne Wade

A SEASON TAILORED TO OUR AUDIENCES.

Pictured: Ray Yamamoto & Jim Shankman (AEA) from the 2022-23 Portland Stage and Hangar Theater coproduction of Lauren Yee’s The Great Leap

Portland Stage Team

LEADERSHIP

Artistic Director ................................................................................... Anita Stewart Managing Director ............................................................................. Martin Lodish

ARTISTIC • PRODUCTION

Associate Production Manager • Sound Supervisor ..................... Seth Asa Sengel

Associate Technical Director ............................................................. Jacob Coombs

Company Manager Jennifer London

Costume Shop Manager ................................................................... Susan Thomas

Literary Manager........................................................................ Todd Brian Backus

Production Manager • Lighting Supervisor .................................... Mary Lana Rice

Props Coordinator .............................................................................. Everett O’Neil

Stage Managers ........................................................ Myles C. Hatch & Meg Lydon

Technical Director ................................................................................... Ted Gallant

ADMINISTRATION

Apprentice Coordinators ................................... Jennifer London & Julianne Shea

Assistant Marketing Director ......................................................... James A. Hadley

Audience Services Manager ............................................................... Donald Smith

Box Office Assistant Manager .........................................................Renee Myhaver

Business Manager............................................................................ Paul Ainsworth

Campaign Assistant ..................................................................................Allison Fry

Development Associate ...................................................................Lindsey Higgins

Development Director .............................................................................Beth Given

Education Administrator .................................................................... Julianne Shea

Education Director ...................................................................Michael Dix Thomas

Front of House Associates ....... Beka Bryer, Audrey Erickson, Elizabeth Randall, ........................................................... Madeleine St. Germain, & Shannon Wade

Group Sales Coordinator .................................................................. Myles C. Hatch

House & Concessions Manager .........................................................Chris DeFilipp

House Manager ............................................................................. Adam Thibodeau

Marketing & Communications Director ............................................ Erin Elizabeth

APPRENTICES

Company Management ......................................................................... Thalia Wolff

Costumes .......................................................... Andrej Nawoj & Elizabeth Randall

Directing & Dramaturgy ............ Audrey Erickson, Moira O’Sullivan, & Rachel Ropella

Education ............................................................................... Nick Hone & Liana SC

Lighting & Sound .............................................................................................. Ashley Ward

Stage Management .............................................. Amanda Cooper & Brady Willis

Props....................................................................................................... Maddie MacDonald

Subscribers are the Backbone of Our Organization

Providing ongoing support for the theater both within our community as well as financially.

$

Flex

Sold as packs of 4 or 6 tickets, FlexPasses can be shared and combined to build yourself or you and your friends a season package that suits your needs. Make your reservations ahead of time, or wait until the week of the show to call and schedule; the box office will always help you find the best seats possible on the day you’re looking for. Made a reservation and then your plans changed? As a subscriber you can always exchange your tickets when you need to.

Benefits Comparison

Choose the best plan for you!

1 Misplaced or forgotten tickets can be easily reprinted at the Box Office on the day of the show.

2 Per-ticket price is lower than average single ticket prices and you only pay a one-time handling fee for each subscription package in your purchase.

3 Get access to reservations, exchanges, and additional tickets before shows go on sale to the general public.

4 The first exchange for each show is at no extra charge for a performance of the same price (i.e., evening to evening).

Pictured: Ezra Barnes (AEA) from the 2022-23 Portland Stage production of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure by Steven Dietz, based on the original 1989 play by William Gillette and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Connect with Us!

Discover behind-the-scenes content and keep up to date about upcoming shows and events.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

PORTLANDSTAGE

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

@PORTLANDSTAGECO

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

@PORTLANDSTAGECO

PORTLANDSTAGE.ORG

A SEASON TAILORED TO OUR AUDIENCES.

Rush35 provides an affordable and inclusive gateway into live theater for audiences age 35 and under by offering low-cost rush tickets to ANY Portland Stage Mainstage production.

MEMBERSHIP* INCLUDES:

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO MONTHLY PRE-PERFORMANCE PARTIES!

These parties are a great happy hour and networking event for young professionals to meet before seeing our performance.

$15 SAME-DAY TICKETS TO ANY MAINSTAGE SEASON PRODUCTION!

Tickets are available at the Box Office beginning at 12 noon on the day of the performance. (1 ticket per Rush35 member, per performance; must show ID at pickup)

$15 Tickets

portlandstage.org/rush or call 207.774.0465

Your Support Matters

Because each contribution is an investment to the arts

Tax-deductible contributions keep Portland Stage a living, breathing, thriving theater, and ultimately ensure the fulfillment of our mission and the enrichment of our community. The generosity of individual donors, corporations, and foundations enables us to surround the work on our Mainstage with Education Programs, New Work Development Initiatives, and Community Engagement events that deepen and broaden the

impact of the shows themselves.

WAYS TO GIVE

TO LEARN MORE:

Pictured: Nathaniel P. Claridad (AEA) from the 2022-23 Portland Stage production of Ed Howard, Joe Sears, & Jaston Williams’s A Tuna Christmas

Make it a Group Event

It only takes 10 people to receive a group rate for your visit to Portland Stage. With 10 or more people, we offer group discounts starting at 20% off the regular ticket price.

Pictured: (front row) Elleon Dobias, April Lee Uzarski (AEA), Larry Tobias (AEA), (back row) Andrew Crowe (AEA), & Daniel Emond (AEA) from the 2022-23 Portland Stage and Maine State Music Theatre co-production of Smoke on the Mountain • Book by Connie Ray, Conceived by Alan Bailey, and Musical Arrangements by Mike Craver & Mark Hardwick Crav

Educational Camps & Classes

The classes and camps at Portland Stage produce a safe environment for young people to find a higher sense of play, stretch their imaginations, and gain valuable social skills.

Past offerings included: Fall After-School Classes, “Shakespeare Teen Company,” February & April Vacation Camps, and High School Intensives.

Serving children pre-K to grade 12 year round in our theater and in schools. Visit

Theater for Kids is made possible by the support & vision of Susie Konkel.

DRAMATIC READING & ACTING WORKSHOPS

SATURDAYS AT 10:30AM

JAN. 7 - MARCH 25 • AGES 4 - 10

New picture books & activities each week!

Theater for Kids is made possible by the support & vision of Susie Konkel.

Your Safety Matters

To address safety concerns, WH Demmons updated our HVAC system to utilize bipolar ionization technology to deactivate harmful substances like bacteria, mold, allergens, and viruses.

Written by Bekah Brunstetter

I care about supporting the people closest to me—my friends, my coworkers and my family. But what happens when someone I know and love makes choices that go against what I believe in? Do I adjust my moral compass to support them? Or do I stand firm behind my beliefs? In Bekah Brunstetter’s The Cake, we meet a group of individuals who are put in the position of having to face these quandaries as they seek to honor family, find love, and support beliefs.

“If we can keep communicating, we might find ways to shift what seems like an impossible divide.”

We live in a world where the media has learned that by making arguments—black/ white, red/ blue, conservative/liberal—they stoke emotions that keep people watching. Reality TV shows are popular precisely because they create conflict between people, while in reality, most of us live our day-to-day lives in shades of gray.

So what happens when two realities occupy the same space? When your brother supports Trump and your family is Black, when you have a sincere conversation with the gay owner of the local Chick-Fil-A. Do you stop seeing your brother? Do you picket the local Chick-Fil-A? How will the choices you make help change perspectives or bring awareness of an injustice? How do we get to change?

In The Cake, Bekah Brunstetter leaves us with hope in the gift of a piece of cake. In the play, the inability to compromise has significant consequences, yet we are left with the possibility that maybe, just maybe, if we can keep communicating, we might find ways to shift what seems like an impossible divide.

To sharing—

Anita Stewart, Artistic Director

THE CAKE

Written by Bekah Brunstetter

ON STAGE • APRIL 5 - APRIL 23

SETTING

This theater operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

*Members of the Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

**The Scenic, Costume, Lighting, and Sound Designers in LORT are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE.

***The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society is the theatrical union that unites, empowers, & protects professional Stage Directors and Choreographers throughout the United States.

THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/ OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS, AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/ resources/protecting-artists

April 2018, North Carolina—A Bakery, A Home.

CAST

Della .............................................. Sam Rosentrater*

Tim ............................................ Raymond McAnally*

Jen ........................................................ Eileen Hanley

Macy .................................................... Echaka Agba*

ARTISTIC/PRODUCTION

Director ................................................ Todd Brian Backus

Scenic Designer ..................... Germán Cárdenas Alaminos

Costume Designer ........................................... Emily White

Lighting Designer ....................................... Mary Lana Rice

Sound Designer ........................................ Seth Asa Sengel

Stage Manager .............................................. Meg Lydon*

Intimacy Coordinator ...................................... Hollie Pryor

Casting Director ........................................... Jenn Haltman

Voice Over ..................................................... Evan Maltby

Assistant Director/Dramaturg .................... Rachel Ropella

Production Assistant ................................ Amanda Cooper

Light Board Operator ..................................... Ashley Ward

Wardrobe ...................... Andrej Nawoj & Elizabeth Randall

Run Crew Swing ................... Rachel Ropella & Brady Willis

The Cake is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Originally produced in New York City by the Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer on February 12, 2019.

The Cake was originally produced by The Echo Theater Company, Los Angeles, California, Chris Fields, Artistic Director; Jesse Cannady, Producing Director.

The Cake received a developmental reading at The Alley Theatre, Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director; Dean R. Gladden, Managing Director.

The Cake was developed at The Ojai Playwrights Conference; Robert Egan, Artistic Director/Producer.

Special Thanks: To the Moser Family Foundation and Adam Thibodeau

BEKAH BRUNSTETTER, PLAYWRIGHT

Bekah Brunsetter hails from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and currently lives in Los Angeles.

As a TV writer and producer, she has written for Switched at Birth, American Gods, This is Us, and Maid (Netflix, 2021). She is currently developing a TV adaptation of the musical Oklahoma! with John Lee Hancock and Skydance Television. She has previously developed content with Bad Robot and Hulu.

As a playwright, her work has been staged and developed by The O’Neill Playwrights Conference, The Atlantic Theater, Portland Center Stage, The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Naked Angels, South Coast Repertory, The Echo Theater, and Ojai Playwrights Conference. Her play The Cake has been produced over 80 times worldwide and ran Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club. She is currently working on commissions for South Coast Rep, Manhattan Theatre Club, Barrington Stage, and PlayMakers Rep. She is currently developing a musical adaptation of The Notebook with Ingrid Michaelson.

She is an alumna of the CTG Writers Group, Primary Stages Writers Group, Ars Nova Play Group, The Playwrights Realm, the Women’s Project Lab, and the Echo Playwrights Group.

TODD BRIAN BACKUS, DIRECTOR

Todd Brian Backus is Portland Stage’s Literary Manager. Additionally he’s a new works director, dramaturg, and illustrator. He likes to work on “weird theater” by which he means: sci-fi plays about absentee voting, Chekhovian cavemen plays, time-traveling gentrification musicals for kids, and plays that combine poetry, swordplay, and ghosts. His work focuses on showcasing stories that stretch the theatrical imagination as he did in his Too Strange to Live, Too Weird to Die reading series, showcasing work by Caridad Svich, Kevin R. Free, and Topher Payne. In 2021, Todd received grant funding to launch a second season of Too Strange to Live from the Maine Arts Commission. He used that funding to produce readings of plays by Madeleine George, Kate Benson, and Jiehae Park in 2022. Todd is a co-producer of Dungeons + Drama Nerds, a weekly podcast that explores the intersection of theater and tabletop roleplaying games (currently in its third season with over 16,000 downloads); a co-founder and Artistic Producer with PowerOut; and a co-founder and former producer of Hot Pepper Theater. The Cake at Portland Stage marks his mainstage directorial debut. Many thanks to his partner Stephen Engel for his knowledge of jurisprudence (and putting up with Todd’s schedule), and his friend Beka Bryer for making sure he got the GBBO. Now on your mark, get set, bake!

LAND & SLAVERY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We are gathered on the unceded land of the Aucocisco and Abenaki peoples of the Wabanaki Confederacy. Portland Stage asks you to join us in acknowledging the Wabanaki community, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. Portland Stage also acknowledges that it was founded upon exclusions and erasures of many Indigenous peoples, including those on whose land this institution is located. This acknowledgment demonstrates a commitment to beginning the process of working to dismantle the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism through our work at Portland Stage.

We encourage you to learn more about the peoples who stewarded the land that you now reside on whether you're from here in Portland or are visiting from away. For more information about the Wabanaki Confederacy, visit mainewabanakireach. org, and to find out whose land you are on, visit native-land.ca.

We also want to acknowledge that the history of Maine is deeply connected to the institution of slavery in the United States, and that residents of Maine participated in both slavery and the transatlantic slave trade even after slavery was outlawed in the District of Maine. While it may be easy to think of Maine and more specifically Portland as a very White place, we recognize that this is simply not the case and we are working to dismantle these harmful ideas. We encourage our audiences to visit the Abyssinian Meeting House (learn more at abyssinianmeetinghouse.org) or the Eastern Cemetery here in Portland, and to explore scholarship on the subject, like Lives of Consequence by Patricia Q. Wall, to learn more about this oftneglected part of Maine’s history.

We recognize that the American Theater has also exploited, misrepresented, and excluded communities of Latine, Asian, Indigenous, and Middle Eastern descent for centuries. Portland Stage is recommitting to telling authentic stories from diverse backgrounds that all of our audiences can experience and enjoy.

PLAYNOTES PERSPECTIVES

AN INTERVIEW WITH TODD BRIAN BACKUS

By Rachel Ropella

Directing and Dramaturgy Apprentice Rachel Ropella sat down with director Todd Brian Backus to talk about the collaborative nature of theater and building space for queer theatermakers.

Rachel Ropella (RR): This is the first Mainstage production you’ve directed here at Portland Stage. What’s something that’s excited you during the rehearsal process?

Todd Brian Backus (TBB): Our cast is incredible. We are a week in, and they are mostly off book and we are just playing and exploring in this space in a way that’s really exciting to me. I am the sort of person that wants to give people a little structure, and then play to see what we can build together. I think that is the most fun part of the collaborative process—just entering this place where we’re here to do a job but we’re also here to figure out how this thing works together.

RR: The Cake has heightened moments of emotional intensity as well as intimacy. How do you approach making space for actors to be vulnerable in the rehearsal process? How do you make that space for yourself as well?

TBB: On the first day of rehearsal, I sat down with the cast and we talked about how this play is very funny, and also a lot of other things. This play deals with a lot of hard topics, particularly for people in the queer community. In rehearsal, we’re making space to talk about what it means to get rejected on coming out. What does it mean to have someone that you love disapprove of how you love? As someone who came out in high school, I haven’t grappled with it in a long time. I have for a long time felt like I can very authentically be myself. In working on these scenes in this play, I have to figure out how do we make these moments feel raw for Jen and for the audience watching it, but also safe for Eileen, our actress portraying this character. With this show, we can’t just run these scenes full throttle all the time. So I tell them if there’s ever a moment where this becomes too much for you, let’s take a pause or let’s do another scene. It’s about making sure that it is a safe emotional space for both myself and everyone in the room with the level of intensity in this work.

RR: How have you approached working on a play that humanizes such a politically divisive conflict?

TBB: I think what’s really hard about doing plays about political topics is that if

you really want to convince someone of anything, truly anything, the two of you need to see each other as people. In a worse version of this play, Della could be one-note, very ideological, and “bad.” I think what Bekah Brunstetter does so well is showing that this lady is trying hard, but she’s not perfect, she’s gonna mess up, and so many people do. I think it’s really hard that in our world right now, there’s this feeling that people are either ideologically pure or disposable, and nothing in between. I think that that’s such a hard way to live because so many of us are contradictions of different things. It gives me hope that people who really sympathize with Della at the start of the play will also see what is possible on the other side of that conflict. To consider what it might mean, if we could all just love each other a little more, and have grace for one another. I think that’s one of the things that drew me to this script is the grace. Macy has an incredible amount of grace, despite a lot of times where Della says just the wrong thing. My hope is that an audience watching this will leave the show thinking, how can I bring a little more grace into my life? How can I offer kindness and understanding to people that I might not agree with right away? How can we find a way forward together?

Scan

Sam Rosentrater* (Della) This is Sam’s third show at Portland Stage, where she is honored to be working alongside these extremely talented artists. At PSC: A Christmas Carol (Mrs. Cratchit/Mrs. Fezziwig) and Almost, Maine with John Cariani. Other theater credits include: The Agitators (Playhouse on Park), Charlotte’s Web (Arden Theatre Co.), Elemeno Pea (Shadowland Stages), Ugly Lies the Bone (Lake Dillon Theatre), and Grand Concourse (Theatre Horizon), for which she was nominated for the Barrymore Award for Outstanding Leading Performance. Sam has helped develop new work in NYC and across the country at the Ashland New Play Festival, Dixon Place, New Georges, and Premiere Stages, among others. On TV, she can be seen on The Other Two (HBO Max), Harlem (Amazon Prime), and FBI: Most Wanted (CBS). Her most recent film, Breaking Fast with a Coca-Cola, premiered at this year’s South by Southwest. Sam is a graduate of the MFA Acting Program at Wayne State University, and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA. Enormous thanks to my team at Gregg Baker Management. All of my love to my favorite baker, Ilene. IG: @samrosentrater. For Barbara.

Raymond McAnally* (Tim) is an awardwinning actor, produced writer, and lecturer. It is a pleasure to be back at Portland Stage after the 2020 production of Almost, Maine. TV credits include Black Mirror : San Junipero (2017 Emmy); guest stars Little America, Better Call Saul, Modern Family, Chicago Fire, Law & Order: SVU, 30 Rock, among others. Feature films include Marvelous and the Black Hole (Sundance 2021), The Revival, Compliance (Sundance 2012), among others. Favorite theater credits include God’s Ear (original cast, Off-Broadway); Casa Valentina, Pasadena Playhouse; One Man, Two Guvnors, US regional premiere; Mrs. Mannerly, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati; The Foreigner, Cincinnati Playhouse; among

(*Member of AEA)

many others. Raymond’s solo-play, Size Matters, has received productions around the country and streams on Amazon Prime. Raymond was the head content writer for Daily Fiber Films with features by FunnyOrDie.com, CNN, and The Food Network. Raymond has been a part-time lecturer for Rutgers Arts Online since 2013. He has been a guest lecturer at colleges and conservatories since 2009. He holds an MFA in Acting from Mason Gross and a BA in Philosophy from Sewanee. For clips and footage, please go to www.raymcanally.com.

Eileen Hanley (Jen) is thrilled to be making her Portland Stage debut! A Portland native and now based in NYC, Eileen is an actor, singer, filmmaker, comedian, Aries, and gay woman who is so excited to be a part of this important story. Please consider donating to the Trevor Project in support of young queer lives. Instagram: @glitterwrists. www.eileenhanley.com

Echaka Agba* (Macy) is an award-winning theater, film, television, and teaching artist based in New York and Chicago. She has performed on various stages in Chicago, including Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Theater Wit, and Writers Theatre. In front of the camera, she has appeared on several network and cable programs, including Work in Progress and The Chi (Showtime), South Side (HBO Max), Chicago Med (NBC), and The Red Line (CBS), and has actively worked in independent series development in Chicago. She received a teaching fellowship at Acting Studio Chicago where she is a member teacher today. Awards and honors: Jeff Award (Best Supporting Actress, Best Ensemble, At the Table; Best Ensemble, United Flight 232), Black Theater Alliance Award (Best Supporting Actress, At the Table).

ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES

Germán Cárdenas Alaminos (Scenic Designer) is an architect, scenic designer, and painter born in Mexico City, who joined the Theater and Dance Department at Bowdoin College in 2019. He has taught and served as resident scenic designer previously at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. He continues to work locally in Maine for Portland Stage Company, Theater at Monmouth, and OperaMaine. Recent design credits include Last Ship to Proxima Centauri; The Flying Dutchman (Merrill Auditorium); Henry VI, Part II; Cows of War ; The Wolves ; A Raisin in the Sun; Age of Bees ; Sofonisba; Anthony and Cleopatra; Amphitryon; These Seven Sicknesses ; Assassins ; L’enfant et les sortilèges ; Jelly’s Last Jam; and Eclipsed.

Emily White (Costume Designer) is a Brooklyn-based costume designer and artist originally from Northern Minnesota. She values work that is collaborative and innovative, especially those theatrical moments where the familiar becomes magical. Past work includes Matilda (Cape Fear Regional Theatre); Gusher, a devised dance piece with Blaze Ferrer; Black No More (associate costume design/The New Group); Mac Wellman’s Bad Penny (The Flea); and The Clean House (Portland Stage Company); as well as work with The New School, NYU/Tisch, NYU/Steinhart, Strange Sun, Cutting Ball Theater, and Jennifer Muller/The Works, among others. MFA Costume Design, NYU. emilyelizabethwhite.com

Mary Lana Rice (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to join Portland Stage this season and looks forward to many more! She has a BS in Theatre Design and Technology and has worked across the country as a lighting designer and electrician. Recent design credits include Born Yesterday and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cortland Repertory Theatre, NY); Wait Until Dark, I Am My Own Wife, and Five Guys Named Moe (Fulton Theatre, PA). All my love to Seth and Hazel!

Seth Asa Sengel (Sound Designer) is a lifelong listener and tinkerer from southwestern Maine, and a graduate of Waynflete School (‘93). Seth has always loved making soundscapes for stories, especially at Portland Stage where he has designed many productions over the years, including this season’s Sherlock

Holmes: The Final Adventure and Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas. Seth is blessed to have spent decades collaborating with powerful and inspiring people across our United States. For more information about Seth, please visit www.sethasa.com. Please be good to yourself, and to each other, and let people know that you love them. Much Love to Mary Lana and Hazel.

Meg Lydon* (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be rounding out her second season here at Portland Stage! She has loved getting to know the fabulous theater community in Portland; recent work has been at Fenix Theatre Company, Good Theater, Dramatic Repertory Company, and Bates and Bowdoin Colleges. She also loves to spend summers at Chester Theatre Company in the Berkshires. Meg is a proud member of AEA and is forever grateful to Darren. Many thanks to the cast and production team– here’s to a beautiful show!

Evan Maltby (The Voice) With PSC: The Absentee, Little Fest ’18. VO: ya boy Guzma on Pokémon, Rino on Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens, additional credits with Audible, Netflix, etc. Recent Off-Bway: Our Man in Santiago, The Magnificent Seven, Only Human. Other New York/Regional: Rent, Assassins, Puffs, KEVIN!!!!!, Kapow-i GoGo, Sweet Charity, Big River, Jerry Finnegan’s Sister. Readings/ workshops with Playwrights Horizons, Two River Theater, EST, Pipeline, Ma-Yi, the Lark, The Civilians, En Garde Arts, etc. Film: People People, Lucy and the Stars. IG @maltbysfalcon, Twitter @ evanmaltby, evan-maltby.com. Thanks to Todd and Seth for helping me join in from afar!

Hollie Pryor (Intimacy Coordinator) has been making theater in the Portland area since 2014. After getting her B.A. in Theatre from the University of Southern Maine, Hollie became the Program Director at STAGES Youth Theater in Portland, where she teaches, acts, writes, and directs plays and musicals for ages 0-17. Outside of STAGES, Hollie has worked with The Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, The Theater Project, Fenix Theatre Company, and Mad Horse Theatre Company. She is so (*Member of AEA)

ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES

grateful to be working with Portland stage for the second time this season as Intimacy Coordinator, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

Jenn Haltman (Casting Director) is a freelance theater, film, and new media casting director and is thrilled to be returning for her fifth season with Portland Stage. Previous PSC shows include Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, Sabina, Perseverance, Native Gardens, Babette’s Feast, and The Last Five Years. Regional theaters include Pig Iron Theatre Company, Hartford Stage, Gloucester Stage, Virginia Stage Company, and Sharon Playhouse. Films include Boy Meets Girl (dir. Eric Schaeffer), the award-winning shorts “Behind the Wall” (dir. Bat-Sheva Guez) and “Someone Will Assist You Shortly” (dir. Jon Levenson), and the 2017 Sundance selection “Madeline’s Madeline” (Josephine Decker). As Co-Producing Artistic Director of Between Two Boroughs Productions, Jenn has cast and directed Cannibal Galaxy: a love story, Summertime, and The Understudy, and most recently Trich. Previously, Jenn was the Casting Associate at New York Theatre Workshop (shows include Peter and the Starcatcher, Little Foxes, Aftermath) and worked with Page 73 Productions and Soho Rep. She is a proud graduate of Muhlenberg College. www.jennhaltman.com

MASTERPIECE CAKESHOP

By Audrey Erickson

When Charlie Craig and David Mullins approached Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, in 2012 for a cake for their big day, Phillips refused to bake or decorate a cake for the happy couple, stating that his religious beliefs did not support same-sex unions. What followed was a multi-year, highly publicized legal battle that culminated in the 2017 Supreme Court case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The press from this case (herein referred to as Masterpiece) caught the attention of playwright and television writer Bekah Brunstetter, who would later draw from the details of Masterpiece to create her complicated, human drama, The Cake. While Brunstetter’s play finds levity and humor within a challenging topic, the case itself is a huge event in LGBTQIA+ history, and its legal implications are still being seen and experienced today.

When they were turned away from Masterpiece Cakeshop in July of 2012, Craig and Mullins saw the injustice of the situation and turned to the Colorado Civil Rights Division to file a discrimination complaint. The Commission, in their examination, found that, by refusing to make a cake for a same-sex couple, “Phillips violated Colorado’s public accommodations law that prohibits business establishments from discriminating”; the Court of Appeals agreed, and when the Colorado Supreme Court did not take the case, it went to the Supreme Court of the United States. With all the media, the anticipation, and the public’s divisive perspectives on a hot-button issue, it was a devastating loss for Craig and Mullins, as well as LGBTQIA+ activists, when they lost in the Supreme Court on Monday, June 4, 2018.

In a decision that remains debated today, seven of the court’s nine judges opted to reverse the original ruling and decide in Phillips’s favor, with only

justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor disagreeing with the ruling. The Supreme Court cited the Commission’s hostility to Phillips’s religion as enough reason to reverse the decision, picking out a couple specific quotes that the majority justices found to be evidence. Both quotes—one stating that Phillips couldn’t use his personal beliefs to inform how he runs his business, and the other speaking more broadly to the use of religion as a rhetoric to commit wrongdoing—have been closely examined by legal experts in the years since the 2018 decision, leaving many dubious that these statements show evidence of mistreating the case.

The Supreme Court’s decision was viewed by many as weak and politically motivated, but it did not provide full permission for LGBTQIA+ people to be discriminated against, as SCOTUS “did not rule on the broader constitutional questions of freedom of religion and anti-discrimination,” and rather ruled on the Commission’s practices. While this may seem like a small detail, it means that Masterpiece cannot be used as a precedent for people making the same argument as Phillips.

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE GREAT AMERICAN BAKE -OFF?

By Rachel Ropella

In The Cake, Della is preparing to be a contestant from the fictional reality TV contest The Big American Bake-Off. This fictional contest is a parody of the popular show The Great British Bake Off. The Great British Bake Off (often shortened to GBBO) began in 2010 on the UK TV channel BBC 2 and is now in its thirteenth season. Each season features twelve amateur bakers competing against each other to win the title of Greatest British Baker across a series of weeks in the summer. Each episode contains three challenges: The Signature (a classic/basic recipe), The Technical (a challenging recipe with few instructions given), and The Showstopper (a chance to show off skills and talent).

Within a limited period of time, the bakers have to make the tastiest and most unique treats in order to make it to the final round to win the title (and a cake stand trophy). The two judges, originally Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, sample the treats and give critiques. After the three challenges are finished, the judges choose the Star Baker of the week and eliminate the contestant who wasn’t up to their standards. With lovable hosts who give comedic commentary, an intense but charming soundtrack, and an ever-rotating cast of plucky bakers to become invested in and tweet about, GBBO quickly became a hit in the UK as well as in America, hitting over 9 million viewers per season in the UK alone.

With GBBO’s popularity in America, it wasn’t long before an American spin-off was developed. In 2015, the first season of The Great American Baking Show aired on ABC as a direct adaptation of GBBO. Curious about the title change? When GBBO originally aired in the United States, it was under the title The Great British Baking Show, which quickly was switched back to the title we know and love when it moved to Netflix. The Great American Baking Show has run for five seasons and has a rotating cast of hosts, including actress Ellie Kemper and Spice Girls singer Emma Bunton, as well as different judges, which have of course included GBBO favorites Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. The Great American Baking Show has also produced a special holiday mini-season with celebrity contestants, which was won by actress D’Arcy Carden in 2022. Similar to the original GBBO, the show has been praised for its compelling contestants from across the country, such as Brother Andrew, a Filipino-American Franciscan friar who won season 5, and its unique bakes like Stephanie’s pineapple bread Santa. No matter what side of the pond, both shows have found an enthusiastic fan base of amateur bakers who dream of winning the coveted title of Greatest Baker!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

WRIGHT-RYAN is known for their commitment to building high-quality homes throughout Maine. Just like building a fine home, bringing a play to life requires the imagination and skills of a dedicated team, from the playwright who puts pen to paper, to the designers who envision the set, lighting and costumes, to the carpenters, painters, seamstresses, actors and artists who make it a reality.

Thanks to the longstanding support of Wright-Ryan, Portland Stage is able to bring Bekah Brunstetter’s The Cake to life on our Mainstage.

W.H. DEMMONS: TAKE A BREATH SPONSOR SUPPORTING AIR PURIFICATION AND AIR

QUALITY A very special thank you to W.H. Demmons for supporting our public safety! The HVAC system installed by W.H. Demmons utilizes bipolar ionization technology, which releases charged atoms that attach to and deactivate harmful substances like bacteria, mold, allergens, and viruses by pulling the hydrogen atom away, causing the harmful substances to die. Testing of the building’s system for effectiveness against the COVID-19 virus by two different independent laboratories, Analytical Lab Group and Innovative Bioanalysis, revealed that the level of the virus would be cut by 90% within 60 minutes.

Our corporate partners help us to enrich our community while positioning their companies as cultural leaders. Want to learn more about how a corporate partnership can benefit both your business and the theater you love? Contact Beth Given, Development Director, at 207.774.1043 x109.

The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter is funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Generous support also provided by the Moser Family Foundation, Maine Theater Fund/Maine Community Foundation, and the Shubert Foundation.

2021-22 ANNUAL FUND SUPPORTERS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ($50,000+)

Edwin F. Gamble Bequest

Susie Konkel

The Shubert Foundation

Anna Marie & John E. Thron Fund of the Maine Community Foundation

U.S. Small Business Administration

PRODUCER ($25,000 - $49,999)

Brooks Family Foundation

East Point Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, Gordon Russell

Harry W. Konkel

The Onion Foundation

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ($15,000 - $24,999)

Anonymous

George & Cheryl Higgins

Libra Foundation

Maine Arts Commission

Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust

MANAGING DIRECTOR ($10,000 - $14,999)

Anonymous

L.L.Bean

Migis Hotel Group

The Moser Family Foundation

Carole Ann Palmer

The Virginia Hodgkin

Somers Foundation

Wright-Ryan Homes

DIRECTOR ($5,000 - $9,999)

Anonymous

Dan & Joan Amory

Francis Hollis Brain Foundation

Susan & James Carter

Patricia A. Clark

Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund

Fisher Charitable Foundation

Ed & Jan Gerry

Paul & Karen Goodman

Roy A. Hunt Foundation

Maine Theater Fund

Moriah Moser & Dan Morgenstern, MD

Leonard & Nancy Nemon

The Parsons Family Foundation

Nelson & Lisa Toner

WEX

PRODUCTION MANAGER

($2,500 - $4,999)

Anonymous

Nancy J. Aldrich

Lisa Hertz Apkon

Mauria Brough & Bryon Winn

Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust

Custom Float Services

Carol De Tine & Roger F. Woodman, Jr.

Diversified Communications

Karen & Fredric Farber

Austin & Eileen Farrar

Ron & Donna Forest

The Robert & Dorothy Goldberg

Charitable Foundation

William Holtzman

Jamie & Beth Kilbreth

Helen & George Ladd

Charitable Corporation

Darrell Pardy & Carolyn Hughes

Pierce Atwood

The Alfred M. Senter Fund

Kenneth Spirer & Joan Leitzer

Anne Wade & Gil Hagan

Ashley Wernher-Collins & Scott Collins

BACKER ($1,000 - $2,499)

Anonymous (2)

Apple Lane Foundation

Gunard Erik Bergman

Brown Dog Carriers

Chadwick-Loher Foundation

Emily Y. Chew & Robert Murphy

Debra L. Coyman

Beth De Tine

Barbara & Gil Dichter

Gary E. Duford & Thomas L. Hinkle

Elizabeth Ehrenfeld

Charlotte Fullam

Bob & Marge Healing

Steve & Carolyn Jenks

David & Lynn Jourdan

Sara Kingdon & Dmitry Opolinsky

The Performing Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation

Daniel Marra & Barbara Leonard

Brian McNiff & Heather McCargo

Irv Meeker

Sara Murphy & Peter Wetzel

Ann & Ted Noyes

Carson Pease & Sandy Evans

Ralph T. Perry & Mary Louise Seldenfleur

Richard & Carolyn Peterson

Malcolm & Patti Poole

Harry & Anne Pringle

Hilary Rapkin & William Stiles

John Ryan & Jenny Scheu

Louis F. & Prudence H. Ryan

Jennifer Sarah & Joe O’Donnell

Stephen & Cathy Sears

Spinnaker Trust

Anita Stewart & Ron Botting

Nina & Robert Trowbridge

Meg Thompson Villarreal

Gretchen Wetzel & Cindy Halliday

Peregrine Whittlesey

Sue Yandell

Gail & Melvyn Zarr

2021-22 ANNUAL FUND SUPPORTERS

INVESTOR ($500 - $999)

Anonymous

A Friend

Sally & Ron Bancroft

Benjamin & Judy Bertram

Don & Diane Bessey

Andrew Cadot

Rick & Chris Carmon

Donald Carter

Benjamin H. Cheever & Janet Maslin Cheever

Nancy Crowell

Cathey Cyrus & William Clark

Carol De Tine & Roger F. Woodman, Jr.

Lynn & John Erkkinen

Rol Fessenden

Dr. & Mrs. David Flavin

Lori Garon & Tim Cloudman

James Gertmenian & Susan King

David Glendinning

Marilyn & John Goodloe

Sue Gosin

Guy & Stella Hernandez

Peter Haynes

Karen Herold & Mark Isaacson

Robin Ishmael

Charles & Jean Johnson

C. David Keith & Stephen Simpson

Dennis & Sandra King

Brigitte & Hal Kingsbury

Gloria Ladd

Marilyn Lalumiere & Ed Reed

Greg Lanou & Tracy Skillin-Lanou

Harvey & Pamela Lodish

Emily & Dick MacKenzie

Sally Walker Madore

Elizabeth & David Margolis-Pineo

Paul & Kelly McDonald

Sarah & Standish Meacham

Morgan Stanley Foundation

Michael Nash & Janice Gregg

Todd & Gloria Nicholson

Carole A. Pope

Charles W. & Melissa G. Redman

Dixon & Susan Myer Riley

Rachel & Joe Rosenfield

Curtis & Cornelia Scribner

South Portland Wine Company

Joseph & Susan Spagnola

Cathy Stankard & Gregg Palmer

John Stewart

Bud & Susan Stiker

Eric & Wendy Suehrstedt

Kari & Bob Suva

Deborah & Hall Thompson

Brit & Yasmin Vitalius

Susanna Weld & Peter Milliken

Natalie West & Robert Sellin

Monica Wood & Daniel Abbott

Sam & Tracy Zager

SUPPORTER ($250 - $499)

Anonymous

Alice M. Abbott

John & Judy Adelman

Janice B. Adler

William C. Arnold

Atlantic Sportswear, Inc.

Judy & Jack Bauman

Jane & John Berry

Dorothy Blanchette

Jim & Sarah Bowie

Broadturn Farm

Malcolm Burson & Eleanor Goldberg

Kristen Buteau

John Cariani

Pamela Cleghorn

Jacqueline Cohen

Happy & Ernie Copley

Richard & Judy Curtis

Stephen Davis & Nina Hope

Devenish Wines

Anthony Donovan

Donnelly & Abby Douglas

Katherine Dyhrberg

Melissa Duffy

Mary Ellms

Herbert & Alice Ferran

Terry & Mandy Garmey

Judy Gass

Douglas Green

Gordon & Judy Hamlin

Mary Jane Hanneld

Roslyn & Steve Hershfield

Becky Hunt & John Monroe

Mical Hutson

Phyllis Jalbert

Herbert & Kathleen Janick

Peter & Nancy Kaye

Bud & Wendy Kellett

Gail Kezer

David Kling & Kathryn Sanders

Paul M. Knight

Richard & Nancy Lemieux

Sandy & Chet Lunner

William & Paige Mangum

Jerry & Liz Mansfield

Andrew Marsters

John & June McClean

Jan McCormick

Paula Gibbs McKenney

Cristine McMurdo-Wallis & Thomas Eldon Anderson

Judy & Charlie Micoleau

Alice Moisen

Rick & Debby Molander

Susan Morris

Jeremy Moser & Laura Kittle

Richard & Sandra Neiman

Michael & Lucretia Nelson

Mr. & Mrs. John Paterson

Norma Piper

Hugh & Norma Phelps

Nancy & Frank Read

Lee Robbins

Lynne Rowe & Jonathan Radtke

William A. Rogers Jr. Trust 33

2021-22 ANNUAL FUND SUPPORTERS

Donald J. Rudalevige

Helen Ryder

Jeff & Susan Saffer

Gwen & James Sartoris

Robert Scribner & Clair Julian

Rick & Celeste Shinay

Kathy Silvia

Hugh & Mary Smith

Mary Snell & Irwin Novak

Betty & Barry Stallman

Jane & Nate Stevens

David & Kathleen Stuchine

Linden Thigpen

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, Inc.

Adam R. Travis

Two Fat Cats Bakery

Cheslye & John Ventimiglia

Nancy R. Wade

Randall Weill & Catherine Coughlin

Robin & Les Wilkinson

David & Gail Witherill

Anne B. Zill

FRIEND ($100 - $249)

Anonymous

Camille Alden

Christenia Alden-Kinne

Andrew Allen

Jacqueline Alpert & Christopher Leighton

Peter & Lyn Ballou

Mary Barnes

Barbara Barrall

Lynne Beasley

Tiffanie Bentley

Thomas & Marjorie Berman

Christa Berry

Paul & Barbara Berry

Nona & Doug Boyink

Dee Dee Bradford

Norman & Emily Breitner

Patricia Briggs

Dan & Dale Bryant

Anthony S. Bucci & Victoria Brown

Robin & William Carter

Jennifer Caven

Cynthia Churchill & Edward Benjamin

Peter Clough

Andrew & Judith Coburn

Scott & Qamar Cowger

Richard & Margaret Curran

Endicott & Nanette Davison

Bonnie & Jonathan Dietz

Moira Driscoll

Marvin Ellison & Frank Brooks

Richard & Lynne Gammon

Alan & Doreen Gay

Katherine Gilfillan

George & Martha Gilmore

Bernard & Phyllis Givertz

Margaret Groban & Larry Fischman

Karen Harris & Rob Gips

Ken & Sandra Hayes

Michael Healy

Maura Heffernan

Chris Hourcle

Sue & Bob Isler

David & Linda Kirstein

Ken & Jean Kriedberg

Neil & Cathy Lamb

Calien Lewis & Martha Mickles

Theda Logan

Mark Love & Marcia Taylor

Ingeborg Marquardt

Damon Mayrl

Rob McAfee

Anne McBride

Aileen Mickey

Ellie & Charlie Miller

Kristina Minister

Carl Monk

Wendy Moore

Kevin Mullen

Leonard & Merle Nelson

John & Karen O’Brien

Jackie Oliveri in memory of Lindsey & Andy Cadot

Richard O’Meara & Christine Bulsa-O’Meara

John & Denise Palmer

Richard & Carole Palmer

Lenore & Norman Rapkin

Heidi & Daniel Reidman

Frank & Sharon Reilly

Jan Roberson

Howard & Mary Jane Rosenfield

Larry & Robin Rubinstein

Stephen Ryan & James Bishop

Bonnie Nelson Schwartz & Arlie

Schardt in honor of Martin Lodish

Mike & Pam Schwotzer

Aurelia Scott

Catherine Sengel

Nancy Shaw & John Gilmour

Jane Shepard

John Shetterly

Robert & Linell Slaktowicz

Betty Bricker-Small & David Small

Kevin Smith & Michelle Cacho-Negrete

Sarah Smith

Frank & Carrie Strasburger

Tania & Beth Sturtevant

Karen Sumner

Adam Thibodeau

David & Tina Treadwell

Patricia VanTuyl

Donald & Paula Watson

David & Elise Wilson

Judy & Norman Wilson

Mark & Janet Wrona

Margaret & David Zellinger

HONORARY GIFTS ($250+)

Walt Dunlap in honor of Michael Rafkin

Elizabeth & David Margolis-Pineo in memory of Libby Zerner

Kathleen Stevens in memory of Morgan Wakelin 35