HURRICANE DIANE Program

HURRICANE DIANE

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CONTENTS WELCOME STATEMENT 4 PLAYWRIGHT’S PERSPECTIVE 6 IN REHEARSAL 10 BIOGRAPHIES 15 SUPPORTERS 22 GENERAL INFORMATION 23

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WELCOME TO REC ROOM “When Pan is dead then nature can be controlled by a new god: man. Modeled in the image of Prometheus and Hercules. Creating from it and polluting in it without a troubled conscience.”

-James Hillman Hurricane Diane made me consider the parallels between Dionysus and Pan. Both are inherent outsiders associated with the irrational who push us to understand our own otherness. Each brings us closer to both our internal nature and our natural world.

Dionysus, the luxuriating god of fruitfulness, vegetation, ecstasy, and wine (available at the Green Room Bar), entices us to instinct and madness. As a defender of wild animals, Pan is the god of nature and shepherds; a god of the wilds and instinct who resides at the edge of human civilization. Pan also resembles a collision of opposites (i.e., human and animal).

Therefore, Pan is our bridge to nature.

Pan acknowledges how we fit in; we are both part of and detached from the natural world.

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Pan is the only ancient Greek god who dies. We can think of Pan’s death intrinsically transpiring at the start of the industrial revolution. The god of nature died when we became experts at extracting resources from the planet despite it being unsustainable. Pan’s death resembles our disassociation from the planet. The rise of human society can be understood as a departure from natural instinct. Ergo, Pan’s death substantiated massive shame around the natural and instinctive side of our being.

Dionysus is summoned because Pan died. Human instinct is dead and needs to be resuscitated and Diane is here for it. Will we heed her call?

This play is a contradiction. A tragic comedy of epic proportions happening in our insignificant backyards.

Matt Hune Artistic Director

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Playwright’s Perspective

an interview with Madeleine George from The Brooklyn Review Madeleine George is an award-winning playwright and author. She was a founding member of 13P (Thirteen Playwrights, Inc.), the Obie-winning playwright’s collective, and is a resident playwright at New Dramatists. She won the 2016 Whiting Award and was a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. George has also written two novels, published by Viking Children’s Book. Her first book, Looks, was one of Booklist’s 2008 Top Ten First Novels for Youth and a 2009 ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Her second book, The Difference Between You and Me, was a Kirkus Best Teen Book of 2012, a Junior Library Guild selection, and an ALA Rainbow List selection.

You were writing plays from a very early age; what advice would give your younger self?

The things you make are not you—but try telling young artists that. I was first produced in New York at age sixteen and was not produced again until my thirties. For the twelve years in between, I assumed I would quit every day, but I kept writing, bit by bit. I was endlessly interested.

Was there any particular play that served as an early influence for you?

When I was eighteen, I saw Angels in America by Tony Kushner. That play detonated my head and floated in like a piñata.

What can you say about failure?

It is the biggest component of art. The time when your plays aren’t being produced— when they’ve been written but no one is doing them—can feel like failure. But the main thing for a young playwright to remember is that this time allows for privacy.

Sometimes young playwrights who find success too quickly can lose their voice;

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they start trying to write in order to seduce an audience. Having privacy can help you avoid this, can allow you the space to be formally ambitious.

Are you talking about yourself or other playwrights who seem to be exploding in the scene left and right?

Both. I was sixteen when I was produced.

In hindsight, I am so happy that nothing happened for a while after that. It got me back my privacy and helped me hone my point of view.

What was it like being a member of 13P? It was an incredible lesson in doing something and not waiting around. During that time, when I started with this group of playwrights, we wanted our work produced . So at that time, a bunch of us playwrights decided to do 13P. It was a good antidote, this ten-year project, where the plan was to produce our works – at least one per year.

You are a fellow for the Bard Prison Initiative. Can you talk about that experience?

“Cultivate your curiosity.

Cultivate the sense of yourself as an artist.”

It makes me feel like I’m doing something real in the world. This work is real in the way that theatre isn’t. It gives you perspective; when you witness the struggles of incarcerated people, it becomes hard to see the loss of a lighting designer, for example, as a disaster.

Teaching also does this for me. It gives me another way of creating relationships with a group. I taught at NYU, Bard. It’s a lot about creating a critical thinking culture with a population that isn’t exactly there yet. Seeing that radical transformation is important. That’s what most deeply affected me. I admit that I’ve been sometimes jealous of people whose sole focus is theater. But then I don’t want my vision to be so telescoped, monomaniacal…I never want to lose that broader perspective.

sense of yourself as an artist. The terrible irony is that people in power want to choose things that are new to them, but those things have to be new to you first.

Have a mindfulness practice. Get to know what the real things in your life are. Learn what’s real and what’s not. What’s not real is hoping to get into the O’Neill. What is real is going to see you friend’s show.

What is real is what’s tangible, what brings tangible relationships into your life. This is the stuff that combats the emptiness, the longing, the bitterness that comes when writing.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

What advice do you have for early career playwrights?

Write plays that delight you. Disregard the realities of current production parameters.

Write exactly the thing that needs to be written for you. Train your own ear.

Cultivate your curiosity. Cultivate the

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T A E R T F L E S R U YO TO

“One of Houston’s finest theatre companies.” -Houston Chronicle “A Houston local business you should support.” -Thrillest “One of Houston’s most innovative and surprising companies.” -CultureMap “Shows that resonate with us as modern audiences...Shows that are often just better than what we see elsewhere.” -Houston Press 8 | HURRICANE DIANE

THEATRE.

IN REHEARSAL Photography by Tasha Gorel

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Rec Room Arts | 11

REC ROOM ARTS SALUTES THE SPONSORS OF HURRICANE DIANE

The City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Dedicated to removing the stigma of mental illness through art, education and community engagement.

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Matt Hune Artistic Director

Stefän Azizi Managing Director

Sophia Watt Associate Artistic Director

Rec Room Arts presents

Obie Award Winner

HURRICANE DIANE

by MADELEINE GEORGE directed by LILY WOLFF Featuring

ELIZABETH MARSHALL BLACK, JEANEE HARRIS, KASI LOVE, CHELSEA RYAN MCCURDY, and JASMINE RENEE THOMAS

PRODUCTION

Scenic Design STEFÄN AZIZI† Lighting Design MADELEINE REID Costume Design HARRI HORSLEY Sound Design ROBERT MEEK Movement and Intimacy Director SKYE BRONFENBRENNER Vocal Consultant TERESA ZIMMERMANN Technical Director BRANDON CHO Master Electrician ANDREW ARCHER Scenic Artists LEE BARKER, MEGAN HENDRIX, JEFFERY RUDD Photography TASHA GOREL, SAMUEL HERRERA Assistant Director TRIN VIỆT HỒ Assistant Scenic Designer JAMI AGUIRRE Assistant Stage Manager EMMA BACON Production Stage Manager JESSICA CASANOVA HURRICANE DIANE had its New York City Premiere at New York Theatre Workshop in 2019, in a co-Production between WP Theatre, Lisa McNulty, Producing Artistic Director, Michael Sag, Managing Director and New York Theatre Workshop, Jim Nicola, Artistic Director, Jeremy Blocker, MAnaging Director HURRICANE DIANE was commissioned and originally produced by Two River Theater John Dias, Artistic Director, Michael Hurst, Managing Director HURRICANE DIANE is presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals Company on behalf of Samuel French. *member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers † member of the Rec Room Arts company Rec Room Arts | 13

COMPANY CAST

(in alphabetical order)

Beth Carol Dine Pam Renee

ELIZABETH MARSHALL BLACK JEANEE HARRIS KASI LOVE CHELSEA RYAN MCCURDY* JASMINE RENEE THOMAS

This play will be presented without an intermission.

Entry and re-entry to the theater after the performance begins is not guaranteed.

As a courtesy to everyone in the theater, please silence all electronics.

To help mitigate the risk of COVID-19 spread, it is recommended that patrons wear a face mask that covers their face and mouth at all times.

Rec Room Arts and the production team of HURRICANE DIANE would like to acknowledge and thank Clear Creek Community Theatre.

Rec Room Arts is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for nonprofit professional theatre. *member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers 14 | HURRICANE DIANE

CAST

Kasi Love

Jeanne Harris

Jasmine Renee Thomas

Chelsea Ryan McCurdy

Elizabeth Marshall Black

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BIOGRAPHIES ELIZABETH MARSHALL BLACK (Beth) Local theatre credits include: Rec Room: Dance Nation; A.D. Players: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Harvey, You Can’t Take it With You, The Miracle Worker; Catastrophic Theatre: Tragedy, A Tragedy, Trevor, The Blackest Shore; Main Street Theatre: Private Lives, The Secretary, The Book of Will, Silent Sky, Peace in Our Time, Fallen Angels, Heartbreak House; Mildred’s Umbrella: The Hunchback of Seville, Becky’s New Car, Carnival ‘Round The Central Figure; Celebration Theatre: The Divine Sister, The Beebo Brinker Chronicles; Classical Theatre Company: The Government Inspector; Ensemble Theatre: By the Way, Meet Vera Stark. Elizabeth holds a B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and also studied acting at SUNY Purchase.

JEANNE HARRIS (Carol) received her MFA in acting from Columbia University and her BA from University of Houston. Credits include: A.D. Players: The Christmas Shoes; Catastrophic Theatre: Fefu and Her Friends, Toast, First Suburb, Rhinoceros, Talk House, Trevor, Marie and Bruce; Alley Theatre All New: Queen of Basel; The City Theatre: Hamlet; La Mama: Richard 3; Here Arts Center: Island of the Slaves, Horace Mann: A Winter’s Tale, The Visit, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead; Alley Theatre: The Crucible; Houston Shakespeare Festival: A Midsummer’s Night Dream; University of Houston: Crimes of the Heart.

Jeanne is delighted to be working with Rec Room. She is currently represented by Boysen Talent Agency. Special thanks to Rita, John, Tom, and Carrington for always being so supportive, funny, and loving.

KASI LOVE (Diane) steps out from behind the curtain, ecstatic to make her acting debut at the Rec Room! Love is a theatre artist whose 15+ year career has flowed between stage operations, technical direction, & production management. Her favorite production credits include High School Play: A Nostalgia Fest (Alley Theatre), Holmes and Watson (Arizona Theatre Company), February House (Long Wharf Theatre), Give It Up! (Dallas Theater Center, now

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Lysistrata Jones). Special thank you to Christine Friale. Pineapple, Ashley. @LoveTheatreCo CHELSEA RYAN MCCURDY (Pam) is pleased to be making her Rec Room debut. You have previously seen Chelsea at The Alley in Amerikin (Alma), A Christmas Carol (Mary Stuart App./ Mrs. Fezziwig & Mrs. Cratchet US), Crimes of the Heart (Meg) All My Sons (Lydia); TUTS: Oklahoma (Vivian); Rogue Productions: Sole Mates: A Laundered Love Story - Public Reading (Laken), I Love You Because (Marcy); AD Players: Godspell (Self); 4th Wall: Lobby Hero (Dawn); Stages Repertory Theatre: The Doyle and Debbie Show (Debbie), Five Course Love (Woman), Big Fish (Jenny Hill), Honky Tonk Angels Series (Angela), The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical (Darlene), The Marvelous Wonderettes Series (Missy), Panto Cinderella (Cinderella); Unity Theatre: BoeingBoeing (Gretchen); as well as Main Street Theater and Theatre Lab productions. Voice actor for Funimation & Sentai Filmworks. Chelsea would like to thank the incredible Rec Room team of artists for bringing all of their gifts together to create something so magical and letting her be a part of that!

JASMINE RENEE THOMAS (Renee) has loved her first experience onstage with Rec Room!

Previously, Jasmine has performed in various productions, including The Revolutionists (Marianne) with Dirt Dogs Theatre Company; Dreamgirl Deferred (Connie), Hattie’s Big Night (Louise Beavers), and Just Lena (Ethel Waters) with Vincent Victoria Presents; Infancy (Mrs. Booker) with Sankova Collective; and 702 Punchlines & Pregnant (Waitress) at The Davenport, NYC. She has also starred in various filmed projects with Landing Theatre Company and Mildred’s Umbrella. Jasmine also enjoys teaching, connecting with family and friends, and volunteering with her church community. www.jasminereneethomas.com; @ thejasminereneethomas LILY WOLFF (Director) is a director and new play fan girl. She is also the Literary Manager at

BIOGRAPHIES the Alley Theatre and has worked passionately on the new play program there since 2018.

Recently, Lily directed a series of audio plays for Rec Room Writer’s Group Sound Scripts project, mentored student playwrights at the University of Houston, designed and facilitated collaboration workshops at HSPVA, dramaturged a new play set in Galveston for New York Stage and Film/New Georges, directed at an Italian new play festival in London, and became a Pandemic Parent!

Previous directing credits include: The Oresteia, From White Plains (Houston Press “Best Play/ Production” and “Best Director” nominations), The Madres (NNPN Rolling World Premiere), Cry It Out, A Bright Room Called Day, The Effect, Fahrenheit 451, Lungs (“Best Direction” Austin Critics Table Award), As You Like It, and Gidion’s Knot. Lily is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her participation in this project has only been possible because of her Moose, Seth – Super Dad, Super Hubs, Do-er of All, Fixer of Everything – thank you for running our life, so I could play pretend.

MADELEINE GEORGE (Playwright) plays include Hurricane Diane (Obie Award), The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence (Pulitzer Prize finalist; Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award), Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England (Susan Smith Blackburn finalist), Precious Little, and The Zero Hour (Jane Chambers Award, Lambda Literary Award finalist). Honors include a Whiting Award, the Princess Grace Award, and a Lilly Award. Madeleine’s translation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters is set to premiere at Two River Theater in 2022, and her audio adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For is forthcoming from Audible Originals. Madeleine is a founding member of the Obie-Award-winning playwrights’ collective 13P (www.13p.org), the Mellon Playwright in Residence at Two River Theater, and a writer on the Hulu mystery-comedy Only Murders in the Building. Since 2006, she has worked with the Bard Prison Initiative at Bard College, where she currently serves as Director of Admissions.

STEFÄN AZIZI (Scenic Design/Executive Director) is the Executive Director here at Rec Room Arts. His Rec Room design credits include: Dance Nation, Pass Over, The Children, Woyzeck, The Royale, On the Exhale, Hansel and Gretel (both times), Exit Strategy, and Sender.

Additional scene design credits in Houston: Putnam County Spelling Bee and Sensitive Guys at Stages. He graduated with departmental honors in Scene Design and Technical Direction from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University. He is currently a freelance scene designer and a Project Manager for Caspian Enterprises based in Houston,TX. Recently finished The Sanctuary Lofts, a conversion of a Gothic Revival Church(built by the Tellepsen family) into a forty-five unit residential loft. @TheSanctuary_Lofts / @Stefan_Azizi MADELEINE REID (Lighting Design) is a Chicago and Houston based Lighting Designer and Assistant Lighting Designer of theatre, dance, opera, and live events. She is excited to return to Houston to design her second production with Rec Room. Previous Lighting Design credits include: The Chinese Lady (Kitchen Theatre Company – transferred to Geva Theatre Center); Mac Beth (The Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Webster University); The Living (The Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Webster University); Chasing Waterfalls (TLT Productions); Voices of America (TLT Productions). Assistant Lighting Design credits include The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (Goodman Theatre); Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Alabama Shakespeare Festival); Mlima’s Tale (Repertory Theatre St. Louis); Thanksgiving Play (Repertory Theatre St. Louis); upcoming: King John (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Trouble In Mind, The Sound of Music, Clue (Utah Shakespeare Festival). Madeleine is currently the Assistant Lighting Supervisor at Chicago Children’s Theatre and works at Production Resource Group. She recently graduated from The Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University with her B.F.A in Lighting Design and a Minor in Business. www.madeleinegreid.com

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BIOGRAPHIES HARRI HORSLEY (Costume Design) is currently a 3rd-year MFA Costume Design candidate at the University of Texas with a BFA in Design/ Technology from Kent State University. Harri is a 2nd generation Afro Costa Rican-American that was raised in Dallas, Texas, which is where they lived for 12 years. They then moved to Chicago, Illinois which is where they currently reside primarily with their family. Since setting off in the arts, Harri has worked professionally at acclaimed theatre companies like, Broadway Costumes (Chicago), Porthouse Theatre, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Harri believes that education should constantly flow in art so artists can evolve seamlessly. Currently and in the future, Harri strives to refine their technology skills in draping, tailoring, millinery, crocheting, beading, embroidery, Adobe photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and as well as their costume design and illustration skills. Harri has been named the recipient of the 2020 Judy Dearing Award by the Black Theatre Network for their work in Costume Design. Harri’s favorite things to do are eating Portillo’s Italian Beefs, reading a really well written book, and playing with their dog, Harper, a Giant Schnoodle puppy.

ROBERT MEEK (Sound Design) is very excited to be working with Rec Room again.

He has Directed and done Sound Design for: The Tempest, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Haunting of Hill House, Veronica’s Room, Titus Andronicus, Christmas Carol, Macbeth, & Much Ado About Nothing (CCCT). He has also done sound design for Collected Stories, Pride & Prejudice, The Glass Menagerie, Between Riverside & Crazy, and The Lifespan of a Fact at 4th Wall Theatre Co. and for Woyzeck here at Rec Room. He has assistant directed for The Landing Theatre Company for the world premiere of Small Jokes About Monsters, at 4th Wall Theatre Company for their production of Ho Ho Humbug 2.0, and at Classical Theatre Company on Government Inspector. Robert is also a music producer and releases original music as “J U N O”, you can listen and learn more at www. junomusichtx.com.

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SKYE BRONFENBRENNER (Movement/Intimacy Direction) is thrilled to be working at Rec Room!

She has an MFA in Acting from the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Houston and has been fight directing, intimacy directing, and choreographing in Houston since graduating.

Recent credits include Dance Nation at Rec Room, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Assistant Fight and Intimacy director) with the Alley Theatre, Picnic (Fight Director, Intimacy Director, and Choreographer) and The Carrier (Fight Director) both at the University of Houston, and She Kills Monsters (Fight Director) at Summer Creek High School. She taught Movement/Stage combat to the advanced students at the High School for the Visual and Performing Arts and currently teaches at Rice University where she is choreographing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. A huge thank you to the incredible team of artists on this production and to Adam Noble, Sophia Watt, and Matt Hune for trusting me with such wonderful opportunities!

JAMI AGUIRRE (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a second year BFA Production student at the University of Houston. She is an aspiring scenic designer who has worked on a number of shows including Seussical Jr. with Pharr Parks and Recreation, How I Learned to Play Tennis with the University of Houston, as well as produced a number of award winning model designs through Texas’s UIL Theatrical Design competitions. This is her first show with Rec Room and is excited to work on more shows within Houston’s professional theatre scene.

EMMA BACON (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior Stage Manager at the University of Houston and is thrilled to take part in a new theatre experience at Rec Room Arts. Recently, Emma assisted on Ocean Filibuster, a touring production from A.R.T. at UH. Previous credits include University of Houston’s Holy Ghosts, The Oresteia, Our Lady of 121st Street, 10 Minute Play Festival, and TEATRX’s La Vida Es Cortos festival. Emma is so grateful to her friends and her mom for their continued support, and to all

BIOGRAPHIES those who are supporting the arts in this time we so desperately need artistic expression.

TRIN VIỆT HỒ (She/They) is a Vietnamese

American activist, director, dramaturg, and playwright based in Houston. She directed, wrote, and produced in The Phone Call Collections, a series of new plays centering Black, Indigenous, and Global Majority voices, alongside Comfort Ifeoma Katchy. Her play, iPhone 12 XZ Plus, was read, workshopped, and produced at Sartartia Middle School. She also workshopped her tenminute play, Fingertips, at the University of Houston. Her assistant directing credits include The Oresteia by Ellen McLaughlin and The Carrier by Patrina Randolph at The University of Houston. Her dramaturgy credits include The Nest by Theresa Rebeck, Haroun and The Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie and adaptation

by Tim Supple and David Tushingham, Spirits to Enforce by Mickle Maher, and The Carrier by Patrina Randolph at The University of Houston.

Her new adventure is directing Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them at Thunderclap productions.

She would like to thank Lily for giving her this opportunity along with many others. She hopes y’all enjoy the show!

BRANDON CHO (Technical Director) returns to Rec Room after Dance Nation. He is a junior at UH currently working towards his Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. He specializes in sound and has recently worked on shows around Houston such as: Pipeline, School Girls, and Picnic.

JESSICA CASANOVA (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back at Rec Room for Hurricane Diane, and is so excited to be stage managing again for the first time in 18 months.

Select Professional credits include: American Shakespeare Center’s Twelfth Night and Othello (SM), Rec Room’s Pass Over (SM), Stages Repertory Theatre: Sin Muros Latin Theatre Festival (SM) 2018, 2019, and 2021, Theatre Under the Stars’s Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (ASM) and Elf The Musical (SM Intern), and Houston Shakespeare Festival 2017 (PA). Jessica is currently the

Company Manager at Theatre Under the Stars.

In her free time she enjoys reading, knitting, working out, and good food and coffee.

SOPHIA WATT (Director/Associate Artistic Director) is the associate artistic director at Rec Room Arts and a freelance director in Houston, Texas. Directing credits include: Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (Hangar Theatre/ Wedge), Jack and the Beanstalk (Hangar Theater), The Diaries of Adam and Eve (Unity Theatre), The Nest (University of Houston- Guest Artist), The Effect (MATCH), Oleanna, The Visit and Creatures of Habit (The Landing Theatre Company), Hedda Gabler (part of Rec Room’s artist residency), Three Sisters (University of Houston- Guest Artist). She has assistant directed for Theresa Rebeck at the Alley Theatre as well as James Bohnen and Bill Brown at the University of Houston. She is an alumni of Barn Arts Residency, the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and SDCF observership class 2016-2018.

Sophia is a 2019 Drama League Directing Fellow. BFA : The Hartt School. MFA: University of Houston. Sophiawatt.com MATT HUNE (Artistic Director) is co-founder and Artistic Director of Rec Room Arts where he is dedicated to energizing a new generation of theatre artists and audiences. In Rec Room’s short history, Hune and staff have produced plays, opera, dance, and concerts. Before cofounding Rec Room, Hune developed the Living Room Series, where he converted a Montrose living room into a 22-seat black box theater. In addition to Rec Room Arts, he has been involved in the development of The Loring Theatre in Minneapolis. As a director, he has worked on world and regional premieres in addition to reimagining classics. He currently is a faculty member in the acting program at HSPVA. He has also taught acting in the graduate Opera Studies program at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He is an alumnus of The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, graduate candidate at Boston University, and a recipient of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts award for Theatre. He is a member of SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society).

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UP NEXT|Starts July 14 “A RICH, FUNNY, UNNERVING, EXHILARATING GOLD MINE.” -New York Magazine

IS GOD IS

written by

Aleshea Harris directed by

Candice D’Meza

A modern myth about twin sisters who sojourn from the Dirty South to the California desert to exact righeous revenge. This Obie Award winning play collides the ancient, the modern, the tragic, the Spaghetti Western, and Afropunk in this darkly funny and unapologetic Houston premiere play.

FALL|Starts October 20 “A COMBINATION OF THE JORDAN PEELE MOVIE GET OUT AND THE DELICIOUSLY DYSTOPIAN DANISH DRAMA SERIES KNOWN AS THE RAIN.” -Chicago Tribune

PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER

written by

Ike Holter directed by

Matt Hune

A romantic-comedy/horror/thriller about a first date that spirals into a race against an invading force. This Houston premiere from playwright Ike Holter (Exit Strategy, Sender) explores new beginnings at the end of the world.

SUPPORTERS SUPPORTERS $10,000+ City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance $5,000-$9,000 Dr. Robert Card & Karol Kreymer Vince & Jackie Foster Annette McBride $1,000-4,999 Courtney & Colin Brokaw Julia Fox & Alex Brewer JS Greene Memorial Foundation Caroline & Perryn Leech Mesh by Alex Terrylin Neale Ostdiek Family Salners Family Foundation Suzanne Skie-Azizi Kim Titus Vreni von Arx Watt & Jerry Watt Evan Wildstein & Huda Alsheikh $500-$999 Barbara Bennett Stephanie Carroll Catherine Holste Jillian Jopling Aaron Kohlhepp Chesley Krohn Nan Lefforge & Joe Evans Dena & David Linda Shahin Naghavi Nora Nickel Singleton Family Joyce Baier Steensrud Martha Stein Steven Wachs What It’s Like Project Aimee Woodall Mark & Nancy Wozny $150-$499 Desiree Alejandro R. Scott Allen Sandra Barrash Susan Baum Jared Berry Deborah Best 22 | HURRICANE DIANE

Supporter list updated January 2022.

Every effort is made to keep it accurate and up to date. If you notice any discrepancies, please contact info@recroomhtx.com or our box office.

Bob Singleton & Joe Boyd John Bradshaw Elissa Brown Gwyneth Campbell Jan Cohen Margaret Culbertson Brad Dalton Kelly Dean John Eymann Joyce Fadem Sylvia Fink Marris Goldberg Dana Harrell Pamela Hoffer Catherine Holste Kristina Hulten Janis & Paul Jarosz Abby Koenig Leigh Mohney Leslie The Linda Family Henry Liu Marcie Lou Brannon Lloyd Kathy & Gary Marks Sue and John Marsh Jenny Marshall Nicole Kenley-Miller Beverly Parker Eric Bradley & Wanderson Rezende Marti and Billy Rosenberg Jay Solomon Rima & Ryan Soroka Sommer Stash Marty & Bob Stein Leslie & Ten Eyck Swackhamer Todd Waldman Eileen & Richard Westerman $50-$149 Afsaneh Aayani Natasha Azizi Deborah Best Linda Boyko Harriet Choice Carolyn Codwell Alene Coggin Jan Cohen Cook Family Nancy I. Cook

Marc Corman Nancy Douthey Perry Edwards John Eymann Karl Floyd Cece Fowler Elizabeth & Michael Gonzalez Carleen Graham Kara Greenberg and Adam Gross Harold Hardaway Joe Hinojosa Steve Hoffman Mike Jadick Matthew Jamison Thomas Janowski Kenny Kelley Karin Knapp David Lake Sherry LeBlanc-Dehan Casey & Ginger Lucas Jenny Marshall Amy Miller James A. Miller Leigh Mohoney-Leslie Todd Molesky Consuelo Oyervidez Ginger Travis Page Donna Palmer Kendall Toarmina Pang Beverly Parker Stephen Patlan Cynthia Pawlick Lynette Pebernat Janet Phillips Sandra Ramsey Marcia Richards Kathryn Ritcheske Sallie Gordon and Ken Schwenke Bryan Scrivner Cathy Selber David Senior Shawn Sinclair Claudia Soroka Lee Strickland Shelby Strudler Lyndsay Sweeney Emily Todd Jennifer Touchet Brandon Weinbrenner Alice Youngbar

GENERAL INFORMATION Rec Room 100 Jackson Street Houston, TX 77002 Box Office | 713-344-1291 info@recroomhtx.com www.recroomarts.org BOX OFFICE HOURS Box office opens one hour before showtime on performance days.

Non-show days, please email info@recroomhtx.com ACCOMMODATIONS Rec Room provides a range of accommodations to ensure the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of our events and facilities for all audience members.

If you have specific questions, please contact our Administrative Offices at info@recroomhtx.com or call our box office at 713-344-1291.

ACCESSIBLE SEATING Accessible seating is available in the front two rows of the Main Stage Theater. If you need additional assistance or would like to reserve an accessible seat, email info@recroomhtx.com.

CYCLING You may lock your bike on the gate outside Rec Room’s front doors at your own risk. You may also bring your bike inside and a staff member will store your bike indoors depending on availability.

EATING AND DRINKING There is a bar located in the Rec Room lobby that serves a selection of local beer and wine. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early and stay after the performances to take advantage of the bar. Drinks are allowed into the theater.

Food is allowed in the bar and lobby. No food is allowed inside the theater space. There are a range of restaurants in the downtown area for you to choose.

Here are some Rec Room favorites: FRANKS PIZZA | $

MKT BAR | $$

IRMA’S ORIGINAL | $$

NINFA’S | $$

417 Travis Street 713-225-5656

22 N Chenevert Street 713-222-0767

1001 Austin Street 832-360-2222

2704 Navigation Blvd 713-228-1175

JACKSON STREET BBQ | $$ OSSO KRISTALLA | $$ 209 Jackson Street 713-224-2400

1515 Texas Avenue 713-221-6666

WHEELCHAIR STORAGE For guests who wish to transfer to a seat from their wheelchair, we will store your wheelchair in our lobby during the performance. The House Manager will make arrangements to return the wheelchair to you at the end of the performance or any other time of your choosing.

KULTURE | $$

TOUT SUITE | $$

LOCAL FOODS | $$

XOCHI | $$$

PARKING Street parking after 6:00 pm is free. There are paid lots surrounding our building and are open to the public for a fee. Rates vary between lots. Please allow extra time to park during Astros home games.

GREEN ROOM BAR HOURS The lounge is open for your enjoyment on performance days 6:30pm -midnight.

TRANSPORTATION Lyft, Uber, and taxis are always good choices if you plan to drink.

METRORail lines are reasonably close.

RED LINE (12 min walk / 0.6 mile): Use the Preston stop. Walk northeast on Main St. towards Congress Ave. Turn right onto Congress Ave. Turn left (NE) onto Jackson St. Rec Room will be on your left at Franklin St.

701 Avenida De Las Americas 713-357-9697

420 Main Street 713-227-0531

2379, 2001 Commerce St 713-227-8688

1777 Walker Street 713-400-3330

CONTENT ADVISORY We do not offer advisories about subject matter, as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have any questions about content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that might have a bearing on patron comfort, please contact info@recroomhtx.com.

CELL PHONES Best when used outside of the theatre. Please respect our audiences and artists by silencing phones during performances.

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STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Evan Wildstein, President Artistic Director.............................................MATT HUNE Abigail Koenig, Vice President Managing Director......................................STEFAN AZIZI Stephanie Wittels Wachs, Treasurer Associate Artistic Director........................SOPHIA WATT Colin Brokaw, Secretary Line Producer...........................................JAKOB HULTEN Casting Consultant....................................TASHA GOREL Casting Cooridinator....................................NATHAN SHU Artistic Assistant..............................REBECCA LEMBCKE COVID Compliance Officers.....................STEFAN AZIZI,

MATT HUNE, MADISON SUTTON Technical Director.....................................BRANDON CHO Audience Services............................SAVANNAH COYNE, ANNA GRACE HETHCOX, OLLIE GRISHABER,

ELLIE LINDE, NIARA SINGLETON Photography..............................................TASHA GOREL, GERARDO VELASQUEZ, SAMUEL HERRERA Video Production................INDIGO DEWDROP GHONIMA Development Intern............................DYLAN THIBODEAU Company Associate.........................RORY JAMES LEECH Special Events.............................JONATHAN FLEISSNER Comedy.....................................COMEDY HUB HOUSTON Resident Rec Room Writers..........................FI CONNORS, CHRISTIAN GILL, ARTHUR JOLLY, COMFORT KATCHY, ELIZABETH KEEL, PHILIP KERSHAW, ALICIA MOLIVO, SHAWANNA RENEE, JELISA JAY ROBINSON BRENDAN BOURQUE-SHEIL, NICOLE ZIMMERMAN ERIC MOORE

This theatre operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

#NotInOurHouse

This theatre has adopted the Chicago Theatre Standards, a set of standards and practices for the prevention of harrassment and abuse in theatre.

FIRE NOTICE: The door out of this room will lead to the main exit door indicated by a red lighted EXIT sign. In the event of a fire or other emergency, please walk to that exit.

There is no smoking allowed inside Rec Room.

Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the House Management.

As a courtesy to the actors and your fellow patrons, please turn off your cell phones before the performance.

The theater reserves the right to refuse admission to patrons who become a distraction to the performers and other audience members.

GREEN ROOM BAR Bar Management...............................WACHS & HUNE, LLC Bar Manager..................................JONATHAN FLEISSNER THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC SPECIAL SERVICES Insurance..........................HOFFMAN INSURANCE GROUP Box Office....................AUDIENCEVIEW PROFESSIONAL Telephone Services.................................................OOMA Cleaning and Sanitation..............................................COIT Bond Services....................................MCQUAIN AGENCY Banking...............................................BANK OF AMERICA Building Management..........CASPIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. Graphic Design............................PANORAMA FOXTROT Printing..................................................MESH BY ALEX, COPY.COM, LITTLEFORD PRESS, THE DOCUMENT GROUP Catalogue Services..................................................ISSUU

OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS ON ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. Rec Room Arts is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for nonprofit professional theatre.

Rec Room Arts is supported in part by funding from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Arts Reach: The Association Of Arts Management, Marketing & Development Professionals

24 | HURRICANE DIANE

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Rec Room Arts donors fuel the mission of energizing new audiences for theatre. They are super informed art lovers who support cutting-edge theatre and are among the first to learn about our performances. Rec Room Arts has been the home of some of the most innovative and popular productions in the city and our supporters are the people who are directly responsible for making those shows come to life. Join our family and help shape the future of Houston theatre.

Rec Room Arts is a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 81-5035115) and all contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

a revelation of nature through the human medium