presents
May 19 - June 11, 2023
Fri & Sat 8pm • Sun 2pm
Saturday Matinees: May 20 and June 10 at 2pm (no shows June 2 and 4)
by Neil Simon
Directed by Jacquelyn Ritz
As you journey through Yonkers tonight – meeting three generations of flawed and exuberant humans - we ask you to keep an open mind and an open heart. Doggedly hopeful, these so-andsos have gotten themselves in a world of trouble; sometimes as victims of their circumstances, sometimes through their own human folly.
And there’s the comedy – for what is comedy but an exposé of human folly? I promise you there will be bucket loads of human folly. And error. And forgiveness. And joy.
Sit back, I think you may recognize some folks you know – maybe even yourself. I know I did.
A special thanks to Samantha Goldstein, our Dramaturg, and Nick Ritz Daugherty for his assistance. The information, insight and conversation they brought to the room enlightened and invigorated us. The Devil is in the details, (but they were both Angels).
A big shout out to Andrew and Rosemary at Clayton’s Coffee Shop in Coronado for hosting our pre-publicity photo shoot. What a difference a great shoot makes in this visual and digital age. They were very gracious. Ruth Russell corralled a fantastic group of talented designers who created a living, breathing world in which these characters could play. Alyssa, Bob, Mashun, Dawn, John, it has been a joy and a gift to work with you all. We have an amazing team of can-doers on the board and on staff at SRT lead by Artistic Director, Jill Drexler. Much thanks for keeping the arts alive in this Neck-of-the-Woods. You’ve built something to be proud of.
And Charmaine Reed, the Stage Manager extraordinaire. Her generosity knows no bounds.
Extra thanks to our volunteers and supporters: Neal Soderberg, Geoffrey Graeme, Holden Russell, Alyssa Anne Austin, Ken Jacques, Gwenmarie Hilleary, Hafsa Fathima, and Allan Salkin.
“…how sad and funny life is. I can’t think of a humorous situation that does not involve some pain. I used to ask, ‘What is a funny situation?’ Now I ask, ‘What is a sad situation and how can I tell it humorously?’”
-Neil Simon
Yonkers, New York. 1942.
A note about money: $5,000 in 1942 is roughly equivalent to $95,000 today. A movie ticket in 1942 cost 30 cents. A loaf of bread cost 9 cents.
The show will run approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
“Lost in Yonkers” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com.
BE CAREFUL, IT’S MY HEART - Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Used by Special Arrangement with Rodgers and Hammerstein: A Concord Company, on behalf of the Estate of Irving Berlin, www.irvingberlin.com.
a fundraiser to benefit SRT!
Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 5:30pm
at the home of SRT Executive Director, Casey Tibbitts
This unforgettable event will feature entertainment from the “Queen of Boogie,” Sue Palmer, as well as dancing, a dinner reception and the opportunity to bid on incredible auction items. Proceeds from the event will ensure that SRT can continue bringing high quality theatre to life on stage.
BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY AND SAVE! Tickets are on sale now for $100 per person. After June 1, the price will increase to $125 per person. Tickets can be purchased at https://scrippsranchtheatre.org.
JAY
ARTY
Giovanny Diaz de Leon
JP Wishchuk
EDDIE Kenny Bordieri
BELLA Katee Drysdale
GRANDMA KURNITZ Jill Drexler
LOUIE Eddy Lukovic
GERT
Melanie Mino
DIRECTOR
Jacquelyn Ritz
PRODUCER Ruth Russell
STAGE MANAGER
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
COSTUME DESIGN
Charmaine Reed
Cody Dupree
Dawn Fuller-Korinek
SCENIC DESIGN & PAINTING, Alyssa Kane
PROPS DESIGN, SET DRESSING
SET CONSTRUCTION
SOUND DESIGN
LIGHTING DESIGN
DRAMATURG
DIALECT COACH
WIG DESIGN
John Owen
Robert May
Mashun Tucker
Samantha Goldstein
David Huber
Peter Herman
Kenny Bordieri (Eddie) is a San Diego-based artist. He last appeared in SRT/ OTC’s co-production of Lucky Stiff as Vinnie. Regional credits include: All the Way as George Wallace, Mamma Mia! as Harry, and Clybourne Park as Tom/ Jim (Lyric Rep.); Deathtrap as Clifford (Oceanside Theatre Co.); Good People as Stevie (SRT); Accomplice as several characters, and more. Kenny was trained at the Pacific Conservatory theatre, and has a BFA in acting from Utah State University. Kenny is happy to be bringing this classic Neil Simon story to life with such a talented team of artists.
Giovanny Diaz de Leon (Jay). As a San Diego native, Giovanny has been working as an actor for the last few years. He is an alum of the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (Class of ‘22) where he trained in Musical Theatre. He is extremely excited to be joining the cast of Lost In Yonkers and would like to thank his family, friends, mentors, and anyone he has had the pleasure to work with in the past for their continued love and support. Regional credits: New Village Arts: The Ferryman. CCAE Theatricals: Witnesses. San Diego Repertory Theatre: Hershey Felder Sings The Great American Songbook.
Jill Drexler (Grandma Kurnitz). Jill’s most recent stage credits at SRT: I Hate Hamlet and Move Over, Mrs. Markham. Other theatres in San Diego she has worked at include: Cygnet, North Coast Rep, Moxie, Backyard, Ion, Moonlight, Diversionary, and La Jolla Playhouse. She is the proud recipient of the Critics Circle award and is also proud to be the Artistic Director of SRT. She is joyful to be with the amazing cast, crew, designers and director of Lost in Yonkers, and she sends her personal thanks to all those in the audience for supporting live theatre.
Katee Drysdale (Bella) is a born-and-raised San Diego actor and holds a BA in Acting from Sonoma State University. She is grateful and thrilled to be returning to the SRT stage in this Neil Simon classic. Previous credits include: Patricia in The Taming (SRT), Kathleen in And Neither Have I Wings to Fly (SRT), Viola in Twelfth Night (SSU), and Melody in Bad Jews (Left Edge).
Eddy Lukovic (Louie). This is Eddy’s SRT debut! Recent acting credits include: Air Turbulence (PowPAC), Turning Off the Morning News (OnStage Playhouse), Dial M for Murder (Lamplighters Theater) and The Comedy of Errors (Coronado Playhouse). Eddy is a San Diego native who has trained extensively with SITI Company out of NYC. A big thank you to his family and friends for their love & support of his theatrical work.
Please turn off all cell phones and noise-making devices during the performance. No photography or videography is allowed during the show. Thank you.
Melanie Mino (Gert) is a native San Diegan making her SRT debut. She was recently onstage as Christa in The Lobster Man (Trinity Theatre Co.), Margie in The 1940’s Radio Christmas Carol (PowPAC), and Saving Magdi (San Diego Memoir Writers Association). Other credits include: Jacqueline De Severec in Murder on the Nile and Maggie in another Neil Simon classic Jake’s Women. Melanie has studied acting locally with Jacqueline Ritz, Justin Lang and Jo Anne Glover. When she is not performing, Melanie loves to cook, travel, sing and volunteer for a local Bichon Frise rescue organization. Check her out at melaniemino.com.
JP Wishchuk (Arty) is thrilled to be making his SRT debut! Some of his regional theater credits include: Boo Who and Danny Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Old Globe), Ralphie in Christmas Story, Fletcher in Freaky Friday (SDMT), Nigel in Matilda (Moonlight Stage Productions), Whiffle #2 in Cry-Baby, and Eddie in Mamma Mia (Coronado School of the Arts). JP thanks the SRT artistic team for this opportunity. He also thanks his teachers and family for their support. JP grew up in Scripps Ranch and is now a tenth grader attending Coronado School of the Arts, Musical Theater and Drama Conservatory.
Jacquelyn Ritz (Director) is delighted to return to Scripps Ranch Theatre where she’s directed Accomplice, Communicating Doors, and And Neither Have I Wings to Fly, and assistant directed Crimes of the Heart. Jacquelyn also teaches the ongoing showcase class for professional actors at SRT called Acting with Jacquelyn Ritz. Other directing credits include: Dance of Death (Theatre Undone’s Reading Series), Assistant Director to Tom Markus on Laughter on the 23rd Floor (North Coast Repertory), the Fringe’s That 24 Hour Thing (2014-2016, 2018). Jacquelyn has been an acting coach, a fight director, a teacher, and mostly an actor for many years. She’s worked at La Jolla Playhouse (Baroness in LEMPICKA), North Coast Repertory (the title role in Annabella in July among many others), Intrepid, The Kennedy Center, Goodman Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory, Asolo Center for the Arts, Colorado Shakespeare and many more, working with and learning from world-famous Tony and Jeff Award-winning directors, including Rachel Chavkin, Hal Prince, Oscar Eustis, Rachel Rockwell, and Gabriel Barre. Jacquelyn is a member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA. www.JacquelynRitzBiz.com
Cody Dupree (Assistant Stage Manager) is so excited to be back at Scripps Ranch Theatre and working alongside some of San Diego’s premier talent. Stepping into the role of ASM, Cody is looking forward to bringing his knowledge of the stage to support this amazing cast. Being a San Diego-based performer, Cody has worked at PowPAC, Lamplighters Theatre, and SRT both on and off-stage. You may have seen him recently flying high with Spirit Airlines in PowPac’s Air Turbulence but have no fear, the safety he brings to this show is sure to keep you from bouncing out of your seat. Break all the legs! YouTube/IG @CodesSD
Dawn Fuller-Korinek (Costume Design) is delighted to return to SRT after her last opportunity to costume And Neither Have I Wings to Fly. Other SRT costume credits: She Loves Me, Fleming, For Better, Accomplice, and Out on a Limb 2017. For Oceanside Theater Company; Same Time Next Year and Red. Occasionally she has stepped in as prop mistress: Accomplice (SRT) and Red (OTC). Dawn has procured and designed costumes for over 135 productions, consisting of a wide range of professional, academia and dance theater performances. Prior to becoming a costumer, she was a menswear designer. Dawn is an alumna of FIT, NYC.
Samantha Goldstein (Dramaturg) has a Ph.D. in Literature from UCSD on the history of Jewish humor through the lens of the Borscht Belt. She is also an actor and director, and her interest in dramaturgy combines her love of research, history, and all things related to theater. This is her fifth Neil Simon play—three as actor: Ethel Banks in Barefoot in the Park (Patio), Karen in Jake’s Women (PowPAC) and Cookie in Rumors (Star) and two as researcher: talkback moderator for Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Roustabouts) and this one! Thank you to Jackie and Ruth for the opportunity.
Alyssa Kane (Scenic Design & Painting, Props Design, Set Dressing) She/her/hers. Alyssa is SRT’s resident scenic designer. Some of her favorite past productions at SRT are The Outsider, I Hate Hamlet, and Move Over, Mrs. Markham. Other recent projects include scenic design for Ripped (Loud Fridge) and Yellow Wallpaper (Write Out Loud). Recent prop design projects include The Ferryman (New Village Arts), The Mystery of Irma Vep (Diversionary), and The Great Khan (SD Rep). Alyssa is an operational board member at SRT. She is also a performer and founding member of a burlesque and variety troupe in Southeast Alaska.
Robert May (Sound Design) is a freelance sound designer whose credits include, SRT: Love Song, Move Over, Mrs. Markham, Deathtrap, Blithe Spirit, and The Last Night of Ballyhoo; New Village Arts: The Miss Firecracker Contest; Portland Stage Company: Halpern and Johnson; North Coast Rep: The Rainmaker, The Last Five Years, Halpern and Johnson; Renaissance Theatre: The Gingerbread Lady, Shirley Valentine; Playwrights Project, and various productions at San Diego Junior Theatre. Robert is also an award-winning director and actor.
John Owen (Set Construction) is a retired construction superintendent. This is his first project with SRT and he’s pretty darn happy with the results. Thanks to Alyssa for her guidance and to Neal, Geoffrey, Holden and others who volunteered their time. In his free time, John enjoys helping friends and family with their home improvement projects and driving his buggy around the desert. Love and thanks to his wife, Diana.
Charmaine Reed (Stage Manager) is grateful to be with the awesome folks at SRT. Latest credits are SM for Lucky Stiff (SRT/OTC), The Taming (SRT), I Hate Hamlet (SRT). Other credits include PSM for the Playwrights Project Young Playwright’s Festival 2017, 2018, at The Old Globe Theatre. She has been SM for more than 20 productions since 2013. Favorite credits include Vanya, and Sonia and Masha and Spike (SRT), Amazons and Their Men (Diversionary), Intern, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Old Globe). She has a Technical Theatre degree from Palomar College, and a BA from CSUSM.
Ruth Russell (Producer) is SRT’s resident Producer. Producing credits include: The Dining Room, The Taming, The Outsider, Extreme Home Makeover, and Neat. Ruth studied acting at the University of St. Thomas and has trained locally with Jacqueline Ritz, Justin Lang and Jo Anne Glover. Ruth’s current acting project is Neil Simon’s Rose and Walsh at Point Loma Playhouse, running until June 4. Outside of theatre, Ruth is a communications professional and occasionally spends time with her husband and adorable dogs. IG: @yogafullyruth and @citydoggossd.
Mashun Tucker (Lighting Design) is an artist based in San Diego. He has worked with multiple companies in the area including Coronado Playhouse, Oceanside Theatre Company, San Diego Rep, New Village Arts and The Old Globe. He is excited to be working on his second Neil Simon piece while making his debut with Scripps Ranch Theatre.
A law went into effect in 2020 (AB-5) that impacts the way theatres throughout California pay performers and production teams. As a result of this, plus inflation, our production costs have skyrocketed. Please consider making a donation or choose to sponsor one of our actors or crew members. Visit scrippsranchtheatre.org/donate for more information.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MANAGING DIRECTOR
TREASURER
Casey Tibbitts
George Moy
Nick Torres, CPA
SECRETARY Open
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PRODUCING DIRECTOR
AUDIO SUPERVISOR
Jill Drexler
Barbara Barber
Ted Leib
Anthony Hamm, Alyssa Kane, Kate Reynolds, Judy Splitgerber, Tom Splitgerber
AUDITIONS & MARKETING MANAGER
PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR
PATRON SERVICES MANAGER
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
OPERATIONS MANAGER
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
YOUTH EDUCATION COORDINATOR
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
PRODUCTION MANAGER (PRODUCER)
LIGHTING TECH CONSULTANT
Cristyn Chandler
Susan Clausen
Dani DeCarlo
Jacqueline Gregory
Jerrica Ignacio
Caitlyn McTaggart
Ben Natkin
Jerry Neimark
Ruth Russell
Mitchell Simkovsky
“A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT” by Grant Gelvin
June 12, 2023 at 7:30pm
San Diego Playwrights in conjunction with Scripps Ranch Theatre presents the Local Flavor Play Readings. An artist sets out to lure and humiliate a predatory painter. But what she lands is an old man who just desperately wants to be friends with her and her wife. If persistence is the answer, he’s going to find a way. Suggested donation: $10 at the door.
YOUTH THEATRE CAMP: July 15 - August 12, 2023
Do you know a 10-12 year old looking for a fun summer activity? SRT is offering a 5-week theater workshop on Saturdays with veteran youth instructor Ben Natkin, where he’ll teach kids the fundamentals of performing and get them ready to step into the wonderful world of acting! No theater experience required. Students can expect to: play improv games, act out fun scenes, learn how to read scripts and prepare for auditions. They’ll feel more comfortable and confident expressing themselves both on and off stage. Contact education@scrippsranchtheatre.org for more information.
Your support makes our theater-making possible! We extend our sincere gratitude to all of our donors for their support and commitment to bringing high-quality productions to the SRT stage. It is the generosity of these individuals that allows SRT to continue bringing incredible performances and impactful outreach programs to our community. Visit scrippsranchtheatre.org/donate to donate. Thank you!
PRODUCTION ANGEL $5,000+
The City of San Diego
Robert Kilian
Anne & Dave McClure
DIRECTOR DEVOTEE $2,500-$4,999
“In Memory of Dr. Richard Gundry” (Phyllis Massino Gundry)
ACTING ENTHUSIAST $1,000-$2,499
Scripps Ranch Welcome Club
The Samuel I. & John Henry Fox Foundation
Alan Binks
Will & Lynn Cooper
Gigi Cramer
Karyn Farr & Don Berkebile
Darrell Mead
Tom & Judy Splitgerber
Bob & Ellen Svatos
FD & Jacqueline Talbert
CREW EXTRAORDINAIRE $500-$999
Brian & Kathy Allman
Wilma & F.R.George
Phil Nerhood
June & Richard Nygaard
Dr. Terry O’Donnell
Russ & Lynn Owens
Lynn & Rick Parke
Jane & Bob Petering
Jacqueline Ritz
Marty & Allan Salkin
Paul Sodeman
Jan Stormoren
Bridgette & Ty Young
SUPPORTING PLAYER $250-$499
Scripps Ranch Dinner Theatre Group
Adele & Wally
Richard & Berna Danziger
Hilliard & Mary Ann Harper
Richard & Gail Harriss
Kent Hildreth
Phil Johnson
Craig & Dianna Kelly
Daniel McClellan
Jay & Julie Sarno
Nancy Thompson
COSTUME CAMEO $100-$249
Michael & Katie Acampora
Michael & Arlene Bardin
Susan Boland
Kathy Brombacher
Bruce & Becky Carlquist
Bill DeRisi
Donna Gangi
Joan & Arnold Gass
Thomas & Sharon Harpley
Ruby Moy
Steven Oberman
Dr. Fredrick Orton
Jan Otis
Susan & Hugh Parsons
John & Arlene Sherwood
Doug & Bev Smay
Sandy & Ollie Smoot
Linda Vasconcellos
Maureen Wiskerchen
Scripps Ranch Theatre would like to thank CLAYTON’S COFFEE SHOP for lending us their space and ice cream!
