A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Winter 2019

Cleveland’s Classic Company Presents

Charles Dickens’

a christmas Carol MIMI OHIO THEATRE

November 29-December 22, 2019

5,000 years of civilization reborn

“A must-see!” —Broadway World

March 21-22

Playhouse Square®

All-new progrAm with live orchestrA

216-241-6000 ShenYun.com/Cleveland Presented by: Ohio Falun Dafa Association

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GreatLakesTheater.org

Welcome..................................................................................................................... 4 About Great Lakes Theater............................................................................................ 6 A Christmas Carol......................................................................................................... 9 Cast of Characters...................................................................................................... 10 Spotlight on A Christmas Carol.................................................................................... 11 The Artistic Company................................................................................................. 22 Donors....................................................................................................................... 32 Trustees..................................................................................................................... 37 Staff.......................................................................................................................... 38 December/January at Playhouse Square....................................................................... 39

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WELCOME Dear Friends,

W

at Playhouse Square

elcome to Great Lakes Theater’s 31st annual production of Gerald Freedman’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The production has been experienced by more than 775,000 people in its over-quarter century on stage at the Mimi Ohio Theatre, nearly half of whom were students and children, many seeing their very first play. We are truly grateful to Mr. Freedman and his extraordinary design team for giving Great Lakes Theater and our entire region this amazing gift of theater, which has transcended generations and united our community in powerfully meaningful ways. We are grateful to so many people for the enduring success of A Christmas Carol, from the artists and technical staff who have and continue to keep this production as fresh as the day it opened, to the funding community of foundations, corporations and individuals who have supported our work on Dickens’ masterpiece over the years. We express special thanks again this year to the John P. Murphy Foundation, whose support of A Christmas Carol began with our original production in 1989 and has continued ever since. And we extend a very special thank you this year to US Bank, the newest member of the Great Lakes Theater family and the generous Production Sponsor of our 31st annual production of A Christmas Carol, for their vital support! In addition, we encourage you to look through this playbill at the list of individual members, corporations and foundations that support us. Please consider joining them with a year-end contribution to Great Lakes Theater! This winter/spring, we invite you to join us across the street in our intimate Hanna Theatre home during the second half of our 58th season for our productions of Anthony Shaffer’s ultimate thriller, Sleuth; Shakespeare’s sublime comedy, Much Ado About Nothing; and the Tony Award-winning musical celebration of Fats Waller, Ain’t Misbehavin’. From all of us at Great Lakes Theater, we wish you a very happy holiday.

Charles Fee Producing Artistic Director

Bob Taylor Executive Director

NEW LOOK NEW SEARCH NEW RESOURCES 4

for caregiving

COME EXPLORE THE NEW BENROSE.ORG

Tri-C Creative Arts Dance Academy

SETTING THE STAGE

for success

We believe that all Cleveland youth should have access to high-quality arts education. Through the generosity of our donors, we have invested more than $5 million since 2016 to scale up neighborhood-based programs that now serve 3,000 youth year-round in music, dance, theater, photography, literary arts and curatorial mastery. That’s setting the stage for success. Find your passion, and partner with the Cleveland Foundation to make your greatest charitable impact.

(877) 554-5054 clevelandfoundation.org/success

ABOUT GREAT LAKES THEATER

at Playhouse Square

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he mission of Great Lakes Theater (GLT), through its mainstage productions and its education programs, is to bring the pleasure, power and relevance of classic theater to the widest possible audience. Since the company’s inception in 1962, programming has been rooted in Shakespeare, but GLT’s commitment to great plays spans the breadth of all cultures, forms of theater and time periods –– including the 20th century –– and provides for the occasional mounting of new works that complement the classical repertoire. Classic theater holds the capacity to illuminate truth and enduring values, celebrate and challenge human nature and actions, revel in eloquent language, and preserve the traditions of diverse cultures and generate communal spirit. On its mainstage and through its education programs, GLT seeks to create visceral, immediate experiences for participants, asserting theater’s historic role as a vehicle for advancing the common good and helping people make the joyful and meaningful connections between classic plays and their own lives.

The company’s commitment to classic theater is magnified in the educational programming that surround its productions. Since its inception, GLT has had a strong presence in area schools, bringing students to the theater for matinee performances and sending specially trained actor-teachers to the schools for weeklong residencies developed to explore classic drama from a theatrical point of view. GLT is equally dedicated to enhancing the theater experience for adult audiences. To this end, GLT regularly serves as the catalyst for community events and programs in the arts and humanities that illuminate the plays on its stage. Great Lakes Theater is one of only a handful of American theaters that have stayed the course as a classic theater. As GLT celebrates over-a-decade in its permanent home at the Hanna Theatre, the company reaffirms its belief in the power of partnership, its determination to make this community a better place in which to live, and its commitment to ensure the legacy of classic theater in Cleveland.

Photo: Roger Mastroianni

Great Lakes Theater

Winter/Spring 2020 Cleveland’s Classic Company Hanna Theatre

presents

Playhouse Square

The Ultimate Whodunit Thriller

Feb. 14 - Mar. 8, 2020 Shakespeare’s Sublime Battle of Wits & Wills

Mar. 27 - Apr. 11, 2020 A Sassy Musical Celebration of Fats Waller

May 1 - 24, 2020 TICKETS START AT $15!

•

STUDENTS SIT IN ANY SEAT FOR $13!

216.241.6000 / GreatLakesTheater.org Groups of 10 or more save big! Call 216.453.4457.

“...a drama company of exceptional quality...” -The Wall Street Journal

season sponsors:

Mimi Ohio Theatre | Nov. 29 – Dec. 22, 2019

Charles Fee Producing Artistic Director

With generous support from: Presents

A CHRISTMAS CAROL CHARLES DICKENS

ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY

GERALD FREEDMAN

Company

Leilani Barrett* Laura Welsh Berg* Lynn Robert Berg* Josephine Bullock Aled Davies* Caroline Didelot Jodi Dominick* Jack Kanaris

Patrick John Kiernan* Colleen Longshaw* Sophia Massie Andrew May* Ian McLaughlin Jessie Cope Miller* Marlowe Miller Daniel Millhouse* Andrew Nelin

Laurien Palmer Avery Pyo David Anthony Smith* Sun-Hee Smith Nick Steen* M.A. Taylor* Logan Williams Michael Younkin

Scenic Design John Ezell Gene Emerson Friedman

Costume Design James Scott

Lighting Design Mary Jo Dondlinger Jeff Herrmann Cynthia Stillings

Sound Design Tom Mardikes Stan Kozak

Music Adaptor/ Arranger Robert Waldman

Production Stage Manager Nicki Cathro*

Music Director Matthew Webb

GreatLakesTheater.org

BY

Choreographer David Shimotakahara

Assistant Stage Manager Casey Burke-Ruhl*

*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

There will be one fifteen-minute intermission. Great Lakes Theater student subscriptions are subsidized by a generous gift from Eaton.

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CAST OF CHARACTERS Cleaveland Family

at Playhouse Square

Father, who will become Bob Cratchit..................................................................... Nick Steen * Mother, who will become Belle and Fred’s Wife..............................................Laura Welsh Berg*† Miss Elizabeth, who will become Fan................................................................ Caroline Didelot Master Richard, who will become Dick Wilkins......................................................Andrew Nelin Miss Abigail...................................................................................................... Sun-Hee Smith Master Robert................................................................................................. Michael Younkin Miss Polly......................................................................................................... Logan Williams Master William, who will become Tiny Tim..........................................Ian McLaughlin, Avery Pyo Samuels, who will become Ebenezer Scrooge.................................................. Lynn Robert Berg * Muggeridge, who will become Christmas Present..................................................Leilani Barrett * Jane, who will become Mrs. Cratchit....................................................................Jodi Dominick * Nephew Fred.................................................................................................. Daniel Millhouse * First Charity Man.................................................................................................... M.A. Taylor * Second Charity Man............................................................................................... Aled Davies * Street Singer............................................................................................. Patrick John Kiernan * Sled Boy............................................................................................................ Marlowe Miller Skate Girl.......................................................................................................... Sophia Massie Street Children......................................................................Laurien Palmer, Josephine Bullock Marley......................................................................................................David Anthony Smith * Christmas Past......................................................................................... Patrick John Kiernan * Boy Scrooge....................................................................................................... Marlowe Miller Adolescent Scrooge......................................................................................... Michael Younkin Mr. Fezziwig........................................................................................................... Aled Davies * Young Scrooge................................................................................................ Daniel Millhouse * Mrs. Fezziwig................................................................................................ Colleen Longshaw * Fezziwig Guests…………….. Leilani Barrett*, Laura Welsh Berg*†, Caroline Didelot, Jodi Dominick*, Jessie Cope Miller*, Sun-Hee Smith, M.A. Taylor*, Michael Younkin

Cratchit Family Peter...................................................................................................................Andrew Nelin Martha............................................................................................................ Caroline Didelot Belinda............................................................................................................ Sun-Hee Smith James............................................................................................................ Michael Younkin Sarah............................................................................................................... Logan Williams Miners................................................................................ Patrick John Kiernan*, Andrew May * Lighthouse Keeper....................................................................................David Anthony Smith * Helmsman.............................................................................................................. M.A. Taylor * Cynthia......................................................................................................... Colleen Longshaw * Topper...................................................................................................................Andrew May * “Ignorance”....................................................................................................... Marlowe Miller “Want”............................................................................................................. Logan Williams Christmas Future....................................................................................... Patrick John Kiernan * Rich Men...................................................... Aled Davies*, Andrew May*, David Anthony Smith * Joe the Keeper........................................................................................................ M.A. Taylor * Laundress..................................................................................................... Colleen Longshaw * Charwoman.........................................................................................................Jodi Dominick * Undertaker...............................................................................................David Anthony Smith * Debtor................................................................................................................Leilani Barrett * Debtor’s Wife................................................................................................ Jessie Cope Miller * Soloist.............................................................................................................. Laurien Palmer Delivery Boy.......................................................................................................... Jack Kanaris

Scene: London, 1864, and in the imagination of the listener

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† Dance Captain

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

SPOTLIGHT AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO CHARLES DICKENS’

A CHRISTMAS CAROL no rt

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Fa east ho vor ohi tr li ite o’s ad da it y io n

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Generous support for Spotlight was provided by

Donald F. and Anne T. Palmer

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SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL

From inspiration to the stage

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Then-Artistic Director Gerald Freedman displays elements of John Ezell’s scenic design scale model for the Great Lakes Theater production of A Christmas Carol.

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n the spring of 1988, Great Lakes Theater made an enterprising decision: to invest in a lavish new take on Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol. Opening night, in November 1989, was 18 months away, but there wasn’t a moment to lose. There was money to raise. The theater’s production team estimated that the ambitious show would cost $550,000 which was double the amount budgeted for a typical production at the time. The theater’s then-board-chair John Collinson agreed to take the lead in securing corporate support at an unprecedented level. There was a script to develop. Artistic director Gerald Freedman had a vision for the adaptation: he would frame it within the context of a family reading Dickens’ story aloud before bedtime. The “frame story” would allow Freedman to incorporate Dickens’ narrative voice, as well as evoke the intimacy of the writer’s own public readings where Dickens famously strove to make the audience feel — as he explained to a friend — “as if we had been sitting around the fire.” There was spectacle to create. Freedman and scenic designer John Ezell were determined that the production would fully exploit the resources of the Ohio Theatre, which served as the home venue for Great Lakes Theater at the time. The Ohio Theatre’s trap doors, fly

John Collinson, a civic leader, the CEO of Chessie Systems, and Great Lakes Theater’s Board Chair in 1989, played a leading role in securing the theater’s future by helping to raise the $550,000 needed to launch Great Lakes Theater’s inaugural production of A Christmas Carol.

space and counterweight system were ideally suited for creating the dramatic scene changes and other stage tricks needed for a ghost story. There were things to be built. “As the set design evolved,” production manager Tony Forman later explained, “it became clear that there was not enough space in the Ohio Theatre to go quickly and effectively from location to location with complete sets.” Moveable set elements would have to suggest different locations, and technical director Martin Simonsen would have to figure out the turntables, pulleys and levers needed to make them move. But the set elements could only glide quickly if they were lightweight. Victorianera filigrees and other scenic elements had to be carved out of Styrofoam — including a 19-foottall cornucopia filled with 5,000 grapes the size of ping-pong balls. Costume designer James Scott sketched renderings for 80 costumes, 30 of which would be built from scratch by three drapers and five seamstresses. Freedman didn’t originally plan

Actors John Buck Jr. (left) and William Leech (right) portrayed the iconic roles of Jacob Marley and Scrooge in the 1990 staging of A Christmas Carol.

SPOTLIGHT ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL

A Christmas Carol’s Scenic Designer John Ezell, with Technical Director Martin Simonsen, surveys Styrofoam carving in the Great Lakes Theater scene shop.

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SPOTLIGHT ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL

From inspiration to the stage (continued)

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Scenic designer John Ezell championed the use of innovative methods and materials, such as carved/painted Styrofoam, in order to realize his large-scale vision for the original production – including the gargoyles that populate Scrooge’s bedroom, a 19' tall cornucopia, and a festive “Christmas Fantasy” finale scenic element. Great Lakes Theater’s scene shop has referenced Ezell’s original renderings to faithfully match his visual instructions when restoring the painted Styrofoam elements ever since.

for music to play a major role in the production, but music began to seep in, and sound designer Stan Kozak soon found himself organizing allnight recording sessions. And then there were practical problems for actors and stagehands to solve. For his sudden and fearsome entrance as the ghost of Jacob Marley, actor John Buck Jr. found that he had to crouch on a ladder with eight lengths of chains arrayed around him, his head and shoulders pulled in and ready to rear up against the trap door above him. Two stagehands had to help him manage the chains and navigate the ladder. Onstage, Buck developed a way of flicking the chains, twisting and untwisting them around himself so that they wouldn’t get caught on the grates needed for the fog machines. Sound board operator John Reilly drilled with him so he could precisely time clanking sound effects with Buck’s movements.

Out of such attention to detail, stage magic was conjured. Designed to be repeated multiple seasons, the show is now in its 31st year. Maintaining the production requires the same painstaking commitment each year. The wear and tear of time cannot show on the production’s elaborate costumes and set pieces, which are refurbished on a rotating basis. In its long history, the Great Lakes Theater production of A Christmas Carol has always hewed to Gerald Freedman’s original direction. But its annual restaging has given opportunities to emerging directors within the company. Victoria Bussert, who arrived in Cleveland as a directing intern to Freedman in 1985, restaged the piece 12 times over the years, more than any other director. Other longtime company members have stepped up in turn to ensure the ever-fresh vitality of the theater’s cherished holiday tradition.

❅

SPOTLIGHT

playnotes: A Christmas Carol

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s the year 1843 wore on, Charles Dickens was increasingly hard-pressed. Although the 31-year-old writer had already authored six successful novels, his latest entry, Martin Chuzzlewit, was selling poorly. His publishers wanted their advance back. His spendthrift father stoked his worries. His wife Catherine was pregnant with their fifth child. He needed a best-seller. A Christmas Carol was one for the ages. Scrooge — the very name has entered dictionaries as a synonym for miser. His phrase, “Bah, humbug,” is still on our lips. In the United States alone, a million copies of the story have been sold. But the book was a gamble at the time.

An image of Dickens at the shoe polish factory, included in one of the earliest biographies of Dickens in 1892

By 1843, the young man already had the wildly successful Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby to his name. But fear of financial failure dogged him. Born in 1812 to John and Elizabeth Dickens, the second of eight children, the novelist later described his father as “a jovial opportunist with no money sense.” The elder Dickens spent several months in Marshalsea Debtor’s Prison in 1824. His 12-year-old son had to go to work in a rat-infested shoe polish factory. Undaunted by his scant schooling, the younger Dickens pursued respectability relentlessly.

“A Christmas Carol is a national benefit and to every man or woman who reads it, a personal kindness.” – William Makepeace Thackeray

SPOTLIGHT ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL

A portrait of Charles Dickens painted by Francis Alexander during Dickens’ American tour in 1842, a year before he published A Christmas Carol

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playnotes

SPOTLIGHT ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL

(continued)

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from a cheap pirated edition and a lawsuit against the pirating printer ate up most of the profits. Dickens didn’t relieve his financial pressures, although he notched a timely and timeless accomplishment. The festivities that we still associate with Christmas — trees and cards, family gatherings, carolsinging and seasonal food and drink — were just becoming popular in England in the 1830s and 1840s. Queen Victoria and her GermanEight illustrations by Punch caricaturist John Leech also marked born husband were popularizing his the first edition of A Christmas Carol as a prestige publication. native holiday custom of decorating live evergreen trees indoors. Between 1827 and 1836, he vaulted from law Antiquarians were publishing anthologies of old clerk to court stenographer to court reporter to English carols and ballads. The Oxford newspaper sketch writer to author of The Pickwick Movement was promoting the restoration of Papers. And yet, with improvident parents and ritual to Anglican worship. Dickens had already siblings and a growing family to support, the written several brief Christmas sketches in 1835 writer could not rest. and 1836. The time was right in 1843 for a Charles Dickens first gained attention with longer piece that indulged the growing taste for humorous sketches published in newspapers holiday cheer. and periodicals under the pseudonym Boz. He A child-centered depiction of Christmas pioneered the practice of releasing fictional resonated with Dickens’ personal mythology. work in serialized form, several chapters at a Commentators have noted that he often put time, usually once a month. But Dickens and his children at the heart of his work. Witness Oliver publishers decided to present his new seasonal Twist, David Copperfield and Pip of Great story in a hardcover volume, bound in crimson Expectations. Dickens’ sunny memories of early cloth, with pages edged in gilt. Dickens financed childhood, eclipsed by his family’s indigence, the printing himself, in return for a cut of the left an indelible mark. In A Christmas Carol, a profits. The gamble might have paid off. bitter man finds redemption in compassion for Released on December 19, the first run of 6,000 his own lost childhood and the crippled Tiny copies of A Christmas Carol ran out by Christmas Tim. As the story’s narrator proclaims, “It is Eve. The second and third editions sold by year’s good to be children sometimes, and never better end, and there were 11 printings in 1844. than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder However, high production costs, competition was a child himself.”

“The beauty and blessing of the story ... lie in the great furnace of real happiness that glows through Scrooge and everything around him. ... Whether the Christmas visions would or would not convert Scrooge, they convert us.” – G. K. Chesterton

Images of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert celebrating Christmas with their family, such as this 1850 engraving from Godey’s Lady’s Book, helped to popularize Christmas trees.

laissez-faire capitalist approach to social problems, mocking: “Are there not treadmills, gibbets; even hospitals, poor-rates, New PoorLaw?” In Dickens’ story, Carlyle’s litany becomes a searing refrain — “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”— while Scrooge gives chilling voice to the common perception of Malthus’ solution for overcrowding: “If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.” We’re still reckoning with Dickens’ probing questions and clinging to the humanity and hope in his answers.

“There is no clear sign that [Dickens] wants the existing order to be overthrown, or believes that it would make very much difference if it were overthrown. For in reality his target is not so much society as ‘human nature.’” – George Orwell

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SPOTLIGHT ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL

The childhood theme of A Christmas Carol may have also prompted the ghost story form. Later in life, Dickens often recalled how his nanny told gruesome ghost stories. Four of the five stand-alone Christmas stories that he would publish between 1843 and 1848 would contain elements of the supernatural. But the Christmas setting also spoke to Dickens’ profound sympathy for impoverished children in industrialized cities. In A Christmas Carol, two “Charity Men” solicit money from Scrooge for poor families at Christmas. “We choose this time,” they explain, “because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.” In Great Expectations, Dickens would write of childhood as a time when “there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt as injustice.” The injustices felt by poor children were on Dickens’ mind in 1843. Earlier that year, he toured tin mines in Cornwall, where children labored in filth. He visited a so-called “ragged” or “charity school” in London — before the advent of universal public education — and was appalled by the students’ destitution. He originally planned to write a political pamphlet titled, An Appeal to the People of England, on behalf of the Poor Man’s Child. While he did give a speech about educational reform in Manchester that October, he decided that a Christmas story might have greater impact. Abstract ideas about education give way in Dickens’ story to spectral images: “This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy.” Arguments raged in the newspapers of the day. Economist Thomas Robert Malthus, an older contemporary of Dickens, observed the paradoxical cycle of plenty, population growth, overcrowding and population-thinning diseases. Philosopher Thomas Carlyle countered the

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SPOTLIGHT

A Christmas Carol Through The Ages

SPOTLIGHT ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL

❅ Stage adaptations of

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A Christmas Carol proliferated quickly. Eight stage productions hit English stages within two months of the book’s release. But the most notable performances of A Christmas Carol during the author’s lifetime can be attributed to Dickens himself. As his career advanced Charles Dickens at one of his and he no longer many public readings, in 1867 had time to put out a new Christmas story every year, he announced that Dickens’ memorable appearance in he would instead do public readings of his greatest Birmingham was reported in the Cleveland Christmas “hits.” Particularly memorable were read- Plain Dealer on February 16, 1854. ings conducted in December 1853 at the Birmingham Town Hall to benefit a proposed “Industrial and Literary Institute.” The entry fee was reduced for workers; 2,500 were in attendance one night. As Dickens wrote to a friend afterward, “a more delicately observant audience it is impossible to imagine. They lost nothing, misinterpreted nothing, followed everything closely, laughed and cried with the most delightful earnestness and animated me to that extent that I felt as if we were all bodily going up into the clouds together.” Dickens would continue to read publicly from A Christmas Carol until his death in 1870.

❅ The great actor-managers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Henry Irving and Herbert Beerbohm Tree, were more drawn to the role of Fagin in adaptations of Oliver Twist. Interest in adapting A Christmas Carol grew with the rise of radio, which could replicate the intimacy of Dickens’ own readings. In 1934, the Columbia Broadcast System signed American actor Lionel Barrymore to a five-year contract to perform A Christmas Carol for an annual holiday radio broadcast. Barrymore would go on to perform the role of Scrooge on radio nearly every year until 1953. In 1947, he recorded an abbreviated version of the story for a record released by MGM. He was tapped to star in MGM’s 1938 movie version of the story, but broke his leg just before filming was to begin and had to be replaced by Reginald Owen.

Promotional poster for Lionel Barrymore’s radio broadcast in 1939

❅ The 1951 film starring

❅ The character of Scrooge has entered popular culture in a variety of ways, from the cartoon figure of Scrooge McDuck to Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol to comedian Bill Murray’s Scrooged.

bah humbug

scrooge through the seasons

❅ Great

Lakes Theater has produced A Christmas Carol every year since 1989, spanning the tenures of three artistic directors. Five actors have played the role of Scrooge; four have played Jacob Marley. The resident company developed under current producing director Charles Fee has provided opportunities for individual actors to play a variety of roles over time and for longtime cast members to try their hand at staging as well. Lynn Robert Berg, 2016-present (photo 2016)

William Leech, 1989-1995 (photo 1994)

Dudley Swetland, 1997-2007 (photo 2001)

John Woodson, 1996 (photo 1996)

Aled Davies, 2008-2015 (photo 2008)

SPOTLIGHT ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Scottish character actor Alistair Sim, which was released in the United Kingdom under the title Scrooge, is frequently screened on television during the holiday season. Although Turner The 1951 film of Dickens’ story, starring Classic Movies has Alistair Sim, has become a classic. deemed it “the standard by which all other Scrooges are compared,” numerous television and film versions of the story have appeared over the Patrick Stewart as Scrooge years. Scrooge has most notably been played by Albert Finney in 1999 (1970), George C. Scott (1984) and Patrick Stewart (1999), who also created a “reading” performance of the piece for the stage.

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Generous Support Provided By:

2019

2019

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

pre-show choir

writing contest

Performance Partners

On behalf of all of us at Great Lakes Theater, we say thank you to each of our Choir Performance Partners for sharing their talents with us! Bay High School Choraleers Berea Midpark High School Symphonic Singers Brimfield Elementary 5th Grade Choir Canterra Musica of the Oberlin Choristers Constellation Schools Old Brooklyn Honors Choir Constellation Schools Parma Community High Concert Choir Divine Word Choir & Friends Firelands Honors Choir Gayle Gett’s Holiday Flute Ensemble Saint Joseph Academy Chorale Southeast Swing Choir St. Bernadette School Choir St. Joseph Parish Choir Sweet Erie The Greater Cleveland Chorus The Men of Independence The Singing Angels Tri-C Vocal Arts Academy Choir US Bank Holiday Choir

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very November since 1989 Great Lakes Theater (GLT) has been abuzz with preparations for our annual Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) “A Christmas Carol” Writing Contest. Launched simultaneously with the inaugural production itself, the Writing Contest has been providing CMSD middle school students with an “up-close” experience of Dickens’ classic tale. GLT’s annual literary effort enables students to engage with the story in a personal way by writing original stories, songs or poems inspired by Dickens’ timeless themes. Over 1,600 CMSD students from 24 schools submitted entries last year; and most of the student writers attended special matinee performances. Grade-level winners are invited on stage and recognized for their accomplishment by the actors who play Scrooge and Marley and celebrated by their peers in the audience. Each grand-prize winners’ writing is read by A Christmas Carol cast members and broadcast by Cleveland’s NPR affiliate 90.3 WCPN ideastream. Photos from the recording sessions display smiles that signal the validation that these talented students experience. With generous support from our partners at The Abington Foundation and, this season, US Bank, we look forward to celebrating 2019’s student writers and inspiring another generation of young people.

Special Thanks

Margaret Lynch, Writer/Researcher Stacy Mallardi-Stajcar, Casual Images Graphic Design

THE ARTISTIC COMPANY

at Playhouse Square

Leilani Barrett* Muggeridge/Christmas Present/Debtor/Ensemble Great Lakes Theater debut season Previous shows on stage include Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear, Richard II, Merchant of Venice, Ragtime, The Silent Princess, The Oba Asks for a Mountain, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Radio Golf and most recently, A Raisin in the Sun. Film: Real Steel, Dog Eat Dog, Curvature and The Big Ugly. Other theaters include Ensemble Theatre Cleveland, Cleveland Public Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, The Beck Center, The Second City Cleveland and Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati. Leilani is an adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University and a Teaching Artist for Playhouse Square. Laura Welsh Berg* Mother/Belle/Fred’s Wife/ Ensemble Thirteen seasons with Great Lakes Theater Shows with GLT include Julius Caesar (Cassius), Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet), Mamma Mia! (Rosie), Hamlet (Hamlet), Macbeth, And Then There Were None, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Richard III, Sweeney Todd, The Tempest, Hay Fever, My Fair Lady, All’s Well That Ends Well, Major Barbara, Macbeth, Measure for Measure and She Stoops to Conquer. At Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival: Viola in Twelfth Night and Speed in Two Gentlemen of Verona. Chicago credits include The Farnsworth Invention at Timeline Theater, Arms and the Man at Centerstage and Mill Fire at SheilPark. She has a BA in theater from Baldwin Wallace University and an MFA in acting from DePaul University. L’MLS

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✶ Thank you to our Character Sponsors for their generous support of the Great Lakes Theater acting company.

Lynn Robert Berg* Samuels/Ebenezer Scrooge ✶ Eighteen seasons with Great Lakes Theater Great Lakes Theater: Macbeth (Macbeth), Brutus (Julius Caesar), The Ghost and Player King (Hamlet), Malvolio (Twelfth Night), Richard III (Richard III), Frank Ford (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Polixenes (The Winter’s Tale), Doctor Parker (Bat Boy: The Musical), Caliban (The Tempest), Demetrius (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Other credits: Don Armado (Love’s Labour’s Lost), Dr. Watson (The Hound of the Baskervilles) with Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Hucklebee (The Fantasticks), Bill Walker (Major Barbara), Edmund (King Lear), Hastings (She Stoops to Conquer) with Idaho Shakespeare Festival. M.F.A. from the University of Delaware Professional Theater Training Program. SLL’M | ✶ Karen Nemec Aled Davies* Second Charity Man/ Mr. Fezziwig/Rich Man 1 Nineteen seasons with Great Lakes Theater Previously with GLT: Cicero/ Lepidus in Julius Caesar, Conductor/ Constable in The Music Man, Sir Wilfrid Robarts QC in Witness for the Prosecution, Sir William Lucas/Mr. Gardiner in Pride and Prejudice, Seyton the Porter in Macbeth, Marcellus/The Gravedigger in Hamlet, Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady, The Old Actor in The Fantasticks, Scrooge/Samuels in A Christmas Carol, King Lear in King Lear, John Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Oberon/Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Your Chairman in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dorn in The Seagull, Deputy Governor Danforth in The Crucible, Prospero in The Tempest, Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest. A proud and appreciative member of Actors’ Equity since 1984. GO BROWNS!

Caroline Didelot Miss Elizabeth/Fan/Martha Cratchit/Ensemble Great Lakes Theater debut season Caroline is so excited to be making her GLT debut with this year’s A Christmas Carol family! Previous credits include The Music Man (Marian understudy) at GLT; Kinky Boots (Nicola), Anything Goes (Virtue) at Baldwin Wallace University; 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer) at the New London Barn Playhouse; and South Pacific (Nurse) with the Cleveland Orchestra. You can also catch her in the final episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 3, airing this December. Many thanks to her parents, Charlie and Vicky. @carolinemdidelot

Previous shows include The Music Man, Julius Caesar, Witness for the Prosecution, Wait Until Dark, Mamma Mia!, Pride and Prejudice, Les Misérables, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sweeney Todd, The Mousetrap, Cabaret, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, An Ideal Husband, The Imaginary Invalid, My Fair Lady, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Richard III. Ten seasons at The Idaho Shakespeare Festival, GLT’s sister company. Other theaters: New World Stages, Hudson Backstage Theater, The Beck Center, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, The Hayworth Theatre, Dobama Theatre and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Jodi is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music. Patrick John Kiernan* Streetsinger/Christmas Past/ Christmas Future/Ensemble Six seasons with Great Lakes Theater Great Lakes Theater: A Christmas Carol, Hamlet, As You Like It. Lake Tahoe Shakespeare’s Young Shakespeare Program: As You Like It, Romeo

Colleen Longshaw* Cynthia/Mrs. Fezziwig/ Laundress/Ensemble Three seasons with Great Lakes Theater Credits include Kiss Me, Kate (National Tour), The Groove Factory (New York Music Theatre Festival), Hairspray (Northshore Music Theatre, Porthouse Theatre), Fences, (Karamu House), Caroline or Change, (Tantrum Theatre, Karamu House/Dobama Theatre, Mercury Theatre), The Full Monty (Northshore Music Theatre), Piano Lesson, Cleveland Play House, Sister Act (Porthouse Theatre, Karamu House), Starmites (Porthouse Theatre), Made in America (Dobama Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Great Lakes Theater), The Color Purple (Karamu Theatre), Dreamgirls (Cain Park), Once On This Island, (Porthouse Theatre), Avenue X (Cain Park), Godspell (Cain Park and Porthouse Theatre), Aida (The Beck Center), Twelfth Night (Ohio Shakespeare Festival). Luke 1:45

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Jodi Dominick* Jane/Mrs. Cratchit/ Charwoman/Ensemble Eleven seasons with Great Lakes Theater

and Juliet, Comedy of Errors, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Macbeth. Idaho Shakespeare’s Shakespearience: Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare Stealer, Julius Caesar, As You Like It. Patrick has also appeared onstage regionally in upstate New York; Vermont; and Reno, Nevada. In addition to his roles onstage, Patrick is a sound designer whose work has appeared off-Broadway and in regional theaters around the country.

Andrew May* Topper/Miner/Rich Man 3/ Ensemble Ten seasons with Great Lakes Theater Andrew has lost count of how many times he has been happily affiliated with this production either acting, directing or both. It is the gift that keeps on giving to him, this company and community — to the children who grew up performing in it and to their dedicated families that make it possible. Thank you Charles Dickens for continuing to teach the lesson which we seem to keep forgetting. We may never learn it completely, but if it weren’t for Dickens’ compelling “ghost” of a reminder we most certainly would be more amiss.

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Jessie Cope Miller* Debtor’s Wife/Ensemble Seven seasons with Great Lakes Theater Jessie is so thankful to return to A Christmas Carol! She most recently played Mrs. Squires in The Music Man and Trebonius in Julius Caesar this past fall with GLT. Just over 10 years ago, she played the Witch in Into the Woods during GLT’s inaugural season at the Hanna Theatre. Other credits include A Christmas Carol, Abuela Claudia (In The Heights), Lady of the Lake (Monty Python’s Spamalot), Irene Molloy (Hello Dolly!) and the Leading Player (Pippin). A graduate of the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music and a proud Actors’ Equity member since 2005. Many thanks to the entire company. Much love to Marlowe, family and friends. For Dougfred, Always. Daniel Millhouse* Young Scrooge/Nephew Fred/ Ensemble Two seasons with Great Lakes Theater Previous shows include Pride and Prejudice and Mamma Mia! One season at The Idaho Shakespeare Festival, GLT’s sister company. Chicago theaters: Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Shakespeare Project of Chicago, ShawChicago, A Crew of Patches, Remy Bumppo and The Second City Training Center. Regional theaters: Michigan Shakespeare Festival and Great River Shakespeare Festival. Motion Capture: Call of Duty Video Game Franchise. Education: MFA - University of Wisconsin-Madison; BS - Eastern Michigan University. Daniel is an Acting Adjunct Professor at the College of DuPage, a proud member of AEA, and is represented by Big Mouth Talent. Find out more information on www.danielmillhouse.com. Andrew Nelin Master Richard/Peter Cratchit/Dick Wilkins/ Ensemble Two seasons with Great Lakes Theater

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Andrew is a junior at Baldwin Wallace

University where he studies music theater. He was recently seen as Tommy Djilas in GLT’s The Music Man. Other credits include Laurie in Little Women, Race in Newsies (New London Barn Playhouse) and J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed… (Virginia Musical Theatre). Many thanks to Mom, Dad, and everyone at GLT! David Anthony Smith* Marley ✶/Lighthouse Keeper/ Rich Man 2/Undertaker Seventeen seasons with Great Lakes Theater GLT: Mayor Shinn (The Music Man), Prospero (The Tempest), Iago (Othello), Jaques (As You Like It), Duke of Buckingham (Richard III), Viscount Goring (An Ideal Husband), Bottom (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Malvolio (Twelfth Night), Macduff (Macbeth), Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing), Sergius (Arms and the Man) and Algernon (The Importance of Being Earnest). David recently completed his 19th consecutive season with The Idaho Shakespeare Festival. He has performed at the Tony Award-winning Old Globe Theater in San Diego, South Coast Repertory, Laguna Playhouse, Sierra Rep, Madison Rep and Shakespeare festivals of Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Garden Grove, Rhode Island, Nevada and Lake Tahoe. Forever and a day — Natalia. | ✶ Kris & George Tesar Nick Steen* Father/Bob Cratchit/ Ensemble Seven seasons with Great Lakes Theater Nick is thrilled to be returning to the Mimi Ohio Theatre for this amazing holiday tradition. Previous roles include Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, Sam in Mamma Mia!, MacDuff in Macbeth, Theseus and Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Laertes in Hamlet, Mike Talman in Wait Until Dark, Phillip Lombard in And Then There Were None, Clifford in Deathtrap. Nick holds an MFA from the American ✶ Thank you to our Character Sponsors for their generous support of the Great Lakes Theater acting company.

Conservatory Theater. Nick hosts a web series about cars, Gearhead Garage, that he and his wife Nicki created. Nick has endless gratitude for his family and his wife. <4 you, my gorgeous fish! www.NickSteen.com M.A. Taylor* First Charity Man/Helmsman/ Joe the Keeper/Ensemble Sixteen seasons with Great Lakes Theater

Young Company Josephine Bullock Street Child/Swing Great Lakes Theater debut season Josie is a sixth-grader at Hathaway Brown School. Favorite roles include Patsy in Spamalot Jr. (French Woods Festival of the Arts), Gladys Herdman in Best Christmas Pageant Ever (University School), Oklahoma! (University School), Seussical (Hathaway Brown), Dr. Dolittle (French Woods), and Guys and Dolls (JCC Playmakers). She played Squirrel in the recently released movie Three Bears Christmas. Josie studies at the Houde School of Acting and Cleveland Play House Theater Academy and studies voice with Joan Ellison. She enjoys Girl Scouts, basketball, lacrosse and playing with her dogs. She wants to thank her friends, family and the incredible team at GLT!

Jack is 12 years old and in seventh grade at Berea Midpark Middle School. He is fresh off backto-back productions of The Addams Family at Near West Theatre and CounterPoint Studio. Previous credits: Into the Woods, High School Musical, Shrek the Musical, Willy Wonka and Bye Bye Birdie. Jack has studied with OPA, Baldwin Wallace CAS and CounterPoint Studio CLE, where he studies vocals with Michelle Cha. He is also very lucky to have a school system that supports performance opportunities starting at the elementary level. Thank you always Marta Zelaski and Meg Verba for the introduction! Sophia Massie Skate Girl/Ensemble Great Lakes Theater debut season Sophia is ecstatic to be joining the cast of Great Lakes Theater! Previous shows include: Seussical at The Beck Center, Oliver! at French Creek Theater and The Great Russian Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet. Sophia loves playing with her dog, fairy gardening, ballet and reading. She studies dance and theater at The Beck Center. She is grateful to everyone at GLT for this opportunity and to her vocal/acting coach, Amy Hanratty, for believing in her. She is also thankful to her friends and family, especially her mom, dad and brother Jaden, for their support. Sophia is 9 years old and in the fourth grade.

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M.A. also makes GLT’s annual production of A Christmas Carol his Holiday Tradition. Previous credits: Calphurnius, Julius Caesar; Tailor, Taming of the Shrew; Carter/Dr. Wyatt, Witness for the Prosecution; Murderer, Macbeth; Puck, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Reynaldo, Hamlet; Feste, Twelfth Night; Alfred Doolittle, My Fair Lady. Also at PTTP/Rep, Boise Contemporary Theater, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. He holds an MFA from the University of Delaware’s Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP). Many thanks to his families (genetic and professional). May your Holidays be Delightfully Joyous. To a bowl of Smoking Bishop, Dougie.

Jack Kanaris Delivery Boy/Ensemble Great Lakes Theater debut season

Ian McLaughlin Master William/Tiny Tim Four seasons with Great Lakes Theater Previous credits include Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man (Great Lakes Theater and Idaho Shakespeare Festival), Michael Banks in Mary Poppins Jr. (82nd Street Theatre), Randy in A Christmas Story (Cleveland Play House) and Bud Ogden-Porter in Mothers and Sons (Beck Center for the Arts). Ian has studied acting with

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Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland Play House Academy and Broadway Artist Alliance in New York City. Many thanks to his family, friends and the amazing directors, cast and crew of A Christmas Carol for their love and support in helping him fulfill his dreams. Happy Holidays!

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Marlowe Miller Sled Boy/Boy Scrooge/ Ignorance Two seasons with Great Lakes Theater Marlowe is very excited to return to A Christmas Carol! She’s practically grown up in the theater with her actor parents, Jessie Cope Miller and the late Dougfred Miller, and loves being with her theater family and friends. She made her professional debut last year performing as Sled Boy/Young Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at Great Lakes Theater and also played Ivanka in Once at the Beck Center in Cleveland, Ohio. When Marlowe isn’t acting, singing and dancing, she loves to sketch, paint, read, write stories and play with her friends. Thanks and love go out to her family, especially her Dad. Laurien Palmer Soloist/Street Child Four seasons with Great Lakes Theater Laurien is ecstatic to be back performing in A Christmas Carol! She was most recently seen in Addams Family at Near West Theater. Previous shows include Seussical at the The Beck Center, A Christmas Story at Cleveland Play House, Mary Poppins and Godspell at Near West Theater, Sacco e Vanzetti with International Opera Theater and Aunt Leaf at Helen Theatre. Additionally, Laurien enjoys dancing, singing, baking and playing lacrosse. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support and hopes that you enjoy the show! Avery Pyo Master William/Tiny Tim Two seasons with Great Lakes Theater

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Previous shows include The Music Man, South Pacific, A

Christmas Carol, Oz, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Little Mermaid Jr., James and the Giant Peach, Madagascar Jr., The Pirates of Penzance, We the People, Big Bad Musical, Ho Ho Ho! The Santa Clause Chronicles, Jungle Book Jr. and Willy Wonka. Other theaters: Medina Showbiz, Academy of Dramatic Arts, 82nd Street Theatre, Buckeye Community Theater, Ohio Youth Ensemble, Spotlights. Avery is a fifth- grade student at C.R. Towslee Elementary School in Brunswick. Avery would like to thank her family for all their support in chasing her dreams. Sun-Hee Smith Miss Abigail/Belinda Cratchit/Ensemble Three seasons with Great Lakes Theater Sun-Hee was previously in The Music Man (Great Lakes Theater). This summer she performed in South Pacific at Blossom Music Center with the Cleveland Orchestra. Her other credits include A Christmas Story at Cleveland Play House, Snow White’s Adventures and Hillbilly Holiday at The Beck Center, The Music Man at Cain Park, La Bohème with Cleveland Opera Theater and Mary Poppins and Newsies at Near West Theater. As a winning author in the 10-10 Festival of New Plays, her play The Heart of a Princess was produced by Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. She plays piano and flute and enjoys singing, volleyball and softball. Logan Dior Williams Miss Polly/Sarah Cratchit/ Want Great Lakes Theater debut season Previous shows include Fences, Brownsville Song (b song for tray), Sugar Belle, The Hollow Image (A daughter’s Trilogy), What if?, The Four Angels of Sixteenth Street, We Call Him George, What We Could Have Been, Tomorrow’s Dance, Juba (Song of Negroes), Journey to the New Star, Children without Faces, Theaters: Karamu House Performing Arts Theater, Dobama Theater, Cleveland Music Settlement, Cleveland Public Theater, Aurora Community Theater, City of Cleveland Little Theater, Cleveland Institute of

Music and The University of Akron Black Box. Logan is an honor roll student at Wade Park Elementary School. Michael Younkin Master Robert/James Cratchit/ Adolescent Scrooge/Ensemble Great Lakes Theater debut season

Understudies Aled Davies*, Gordia Hayes, Elisa Fuentes, Andrew May*, Jessie Cope Miller*, Julia Miller, Andrew Nelin, Liam Stilson

Directors Gerald Freedman Director, Adaptor Thirty-two seasons with Great Lakes Theater Gerald Freedman is Dean Emeritus of the School of Drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, one of the leading undergraduate acting conservatories in the nation. A book about Gerald’s life and teachings, The School of Doing, was published last year, and is available at the GLT gift shop and online. An Obie Award winner and the first American invited to direct at the Globe Theatre in London, Gerald is regarded internationally for his direction of productions of classic drama, musicals, operas, new plays and television. He served as leading director of Joseph Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival from 1960 to 1971, the last four years as artistic director. He was co-artistic director of John Houseman’s The Acting Company from 1974 to 1977, artistic director of the American Shakespeare Theatre from 1978 to

Charles Fee Producing Artistic Director Eighteen seasons with Great Lakes Theater Directing credits at GLT: Witness for the Prosecution, Misery, Hamlet, And Then There Were None, Dial “M” for Murder, Deathtrap, Blithe Spirit, Romeo and Juliet, The Two YOU’RE INVITED!

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Michael is overjoyed to make his debut at Playhouse Square with GLT! He is 9 years old and lives in Wadsworth, Ohio. Previous shows include Mary Poppins Jr. (Michael Banks), The Music Man Jr. (Winthrop Paroo), Peter Pan Jr. (Pirate), all with the Wadsworth Footlighters and A Tale of Snow White (Big Mike) with Orrville Community Theatre. Michael loves to act, sing, dance and play the piano. He is on his way to fulfilling his dream of one day performing on Broadway. Michael would like to thank his family and friends for all they do to support his dream.

1979, and artistic director of Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1985 to 1997. Gerald has staged 29 of Shakespeare’s plays, along with dozens of other world classics. He made theater history with his off-Broadway premiere of the landmark rock musical Hair, which opened the Public Theater in 1967. Broadway direction includes The Robber Bridegroom; The Grand Tour; the revival of West Side Story, co-directed with Jerome Robbins; the premiere of Arthur Miller’s The Creation of the World and Other Business and Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession. Gerald also directed opera productions for the Opera Society of Washington (Kennedy Center), the San Francisco Opera Company and the New York City Opera. Prior to becoming Dean of the UNC School of the Arts, he also taught at Yale and Juilliard. A native of Lorain, Ohio, he received both his BS and his MA (summa cum laude) from Northwestern University, and trained with Alvina Krause, Emmy Joseph and at The Actors Studio.

Backstage April 18, 2020 HANNA THEATRE, PLAYHOUSE SQUARE Enjoy an original show, featuring

performances by our acting company members and a party backstage with our artistic company! • Food Stations • Open Bars • Live Music • Dancing

TICKETS & INFORMATION: 216.453.4457 GreatLakesTheater.org/event/ BACKSTAGEBASH

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Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, All’s Well That Ends Well, Hay Fever, The Importance of Being Earnest, Arms and the Man and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Charles holds a unique position in the American theater as producing artistic director of three independently operated, professional theater companies: Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, Ohio (since 2002); Idaho Shakespeare Festival in Boise, Idaho (since 1991) and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival in Incline Village, Nevada (since 2010). His appointments have resulted in a dynamic and groundbreaking producing model for the companies, in which more than 60 plays have been shared since 2002. In 2009, Charles was honored to receive recognition for his leadership by the Cleveland Arts Prize as a recipient of the Martha Joseph Award. Other awards include The Mayor’s and Governor’s awards for Excellence in the Arts, Idaho. From 1988 to 1992, he held the position of artistic director at the Sierra Repertory Theatre in California. He has also worked with The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, the Milwaukee and Missouri repertory theaters, Actor’s Theatre of Phoenix and the Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival. In addition to his work with the companies in Ohio, Idaho and Nevada, Charles is active within the community. He has served as a member of the strategic planning committee for the Morrison Center, as producer of the FUNDSY Award Gala (’96, ’98 and 2000), and as producer of the 1996 Idaho Governor’s Awards in the Arts. Charles has served on the board of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. He received his B.A. from the University of the Pacific and Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, San Diego. Along with his wife, Lidia, and daughter, Alexa, Charles resides in Boise, Cleveland and Lake Tahoe — a feat that is only possible because of the incredible love and support of his family, and the generous communities he serves! David Shimotakahara Choreographer Thirty-one seasons with Great Lakes Theater David Shimotakahara was a member of the

Atlanta Ballet, Boston Repertory Ballet, Kathryn Posin Dance Company and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. He performed with Ohio Ballet under the direction of Heinz Poll from 1983 to 1998. In 1998, he founded GroundWorks Dance Theater, for which he is Executive, Artistic Director. Based in Cleveland, the company is committed to creating and producing new work in dance. Mr. Shimotakahara has choreographed for opera and theater with Cleveland Opera, Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland Play House and the Dallas Theater Center. From 1996 to 2018, he received eight Individual Artist Fellowships for Choreography from the Ohio Arts Council. In 1998, he received a McKnight Foundation Fellowship from the Minnesota Dance Alliance to create new work in the Minneapolis, St. Paul communities. Mr. Shimotakahara was awarded the 2000 Cleveland Arts Prize for Dance. In 2002, his work with GroundWorks Dance Theater was voted “One of 25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine. In 2007, he received the OhioDance award for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of the Dance Artform. In 2010 and 2014, Mr. Shimotakahara was a recipient of a Creative Workforce Fellowship, a program of the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, funded by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Matthew Webb Music Director Thirteen seasons with Great Lakes Theater Matthew is Music Director for music theater at Baldwin Wallace University. As Music Director for Great Lakes Theater: Mamma Mia!, Beehive, Forever Plaid, The Fantasticks, Sweeney Todd, Sondheim on Sondheim, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, Bat Boy: The Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Into the Woods, A Christmas Carol, Two Gentlemen of Verona and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Elsewhere: Be More Chill (Playhouse Square), Once (Beck Center), Kinky Boots (Baldwin Wallace University). As Sound Designer for GLT: Julius Caesar, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth and Hamlet. Many thanks to Charlie, and Matthew’s incredible parents, Carol and Jerry. Merry Christmas!

Designers Mary Jo Dondlinger Lighting Designer Thirty-two seasons with Great Lakes Theater Career design credits include productions for Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Circle in the Square, The Irish Repertory Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, TheatreWorks (Hartford) and many others. Mary Jo has long been associated with the York Theatre Company off-Broadway where she designed the original production of The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), as well as many other musicals and plays. Most recent credits at Great Lakes Theater are The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Fantasticks, Les Misérables, Sweeney Todd and Sondheim on Sondheim.

Award-winning associate artistic director and director of design at GLT under Vincent Dowling, Gerald Freedman and James Bundy. He has designed for Broadway; New York Shakespeare Festival; NY Public Theatre; Crossroads Theatre; Roundabout Theatre; Shakespeare Theatre at the Folger; Williamstown; Berkshire; Old Globe; Coconut Grove; Asolo State Theatre; Arizona Theatre Company; Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Dallas Theatre Center; Indiana and Kansas City repertory theaters; Cincinnati Playhouse; Hong Kong Repertory Theatre; Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa; the Istanbul Cultural Olympics; Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts; Lyric Opera; Blackstone Theatre and Second City in Chicago; Cincinnati Ballet; Royal Danish Ballet; Royal Theatre in Copenhagen; Swedish Riksteater and the Cullberg Ballet in Stockholm; and CBS, PBS-TV and Swedish State Television. His drawings have been exhibited in New York, San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Prague and Brussels. His work received the Award for Experimental Television Art in Milan, Italy; two Corporation for Public Broadcasting Awards for Excellence; and 15

Gene Emerson Friedman Scenic Designer Thirty-one seasons with Great Lakes Theater Gene has designed Gerald Freedman’s adaptations of A Christmas Carol and People Who Led to My Plays, as well as The Dearest Friends, The Boor, The Enemies, The World of Sholom Aleichem and What the Butler Saw (Great Lakes Theater Festival). Other designs include Calderon’s Life is a Dream (New York’s Lincoln Center); Richard III, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, Romeo and Juliet (Heart of America Shakespeare Festival); Second City Does Arizona (Arizona Theatre Company); A Christmas Carol, Death of a Salesman, Master Class, I’m Not Rappaport (Kansas City Rep); The Music Man, Carousel, La Cage aux Folles (StagesSaint Louis); Death and the Maiden (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis). Gene is architectural historian of the Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe [1629] at Zuni Pueblo, and serves as archivist and curator of the Casa de Santo Nino, also at Zuni. He is a tenured associate professor of design at UMKC. His fine art, “Stages Of Conversion,” has been seen at multiple galleries.

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John Ezell Scenic Designer Forty-three seasons with Great Lakes Theater

national Critic’s Circle awards, including the 2011–2012 Connecticut Critics Circle Award for best professional sets at the historic Westport Country Playhouse. He is a Fellow of the College of the American Theatre at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Jeff Herrmann Lighting Designer Fourteen seasons with Great Lakes Theater Previous productions for GLT include The Music Man, Mamma Mia!, Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, Bat Boy: The Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Into the Woods, Les Misérables, The Secret Garden, My Fair Lady and last season’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, all joint productions with Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Jeff also serves as the production manager for the company. He holds an MFA in scene and lighting design from Southern Illinois University and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.

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Stan Kozak Sound Designer Thirty-four seasons with Great Lakes Theater Stan Kozak, among his more than 50 design credits, most recently designed sound for Bat Boy: the Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Comedy of Errors. His work in 1979 and 1981 with Geraldine Fitzgerald on Streetsongs at GLT led to the original cast album. Mr. Kozak was the resident sound designer for four seasons at the Porthouse Theatre Company, including productions of Driving Miss Daisy, Niteclub Confidential and And a Nightingale Sang. His collaborations with Victoria Bussert at Baldwin-Wallace College include productions of Chess, Hair, Cabaret, West Side Story, Tommy in Concert, the Ohio premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion and one of the first nonprofessional productions of Phantom of the Opera. For Cain Park, his design credits include Secret Garden; Fiddler on the Roof; Bat Boy: the Musical; Tick, tick...Boom; Nine; The Wiz; and Pippin. Mr. Kozak has also designed sound for Dobama Theater, Cleveland Opera, Beck Center, the Jewish Community Theater and TrueNorth Cultural Arts. He has served as sound designer for the All-City Musical for the last nine seasons, as well as for the Ideastream Gala concert with Bebe Neuwirth in 2005. He was honored to be among the first group of LORT sound designers to achieve recognition in USA 829. Tom Mardikes Sound Designer Thirty-one seasons with Great Lakes Theater

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Tom Mardikes most recently designed sound for GLT’s summer 2005 production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. His past designs have been for Julius Caesar, The Dybbuk, King Lear, Hamlet and The Cherry Orchard. He has worked on more than 250 professional productions nationwide, where he has designed for Kansas City (formerly Missouri) Rep, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Starlight Theatre, the Unicorn Theatre, the Dallas Theatre Center, Syracuse Stage, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout, Buffalo Studio Arena, Alley Theatre, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. In the spring of 2015, he designed

sound for Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing for Repertory Theatre St. Louis and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. He is a professor and the head of graduate sound design training at the nationally prominent professional theater-training program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In 2005, he co-founded Kansas City Actors Theatre that has successfully produced acclaimed productions with its artist-led, artist-driven mission. James Scott Costume Designer Twenty-nine seasons with Great Lakes Theater James Scott has designed costumes for productions of works by Shakespeare, Moliere, Ibsen, Chekhov, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi and Puccini at regional theaters and opera houses across the country. Among his favorite productions are Love’s Labour’s Lost for the New York Shakespeare Festival; Ten Little Indians, Arcadia, The Miracle Worker and The Most Happy Fella for the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; The Merchant of Venice for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival; Norma and Il trovatore for the Minnesota Opera; Il barbiere di Siviglia for the Washington Opera; MacBeth, Othello and The Taming of the Shrew for the Acting Company’s national tours; Funny Girl, Fiddler on the Roof and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg for the Sundance Theatre; and Sweeney Todd, I pagliacci, and Il viaggio a Reims for the Portland Opera in Oregon. His production credits for Great Lakes Theater span more than 20 years, and include Romeo and Juliet, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Rough Crossing, As You Like It and A Little Night Music. Mr. Scott is a graduate of New York and Brown universities, and attended the School of Law at The City University of New York. He is also an elite figure-skater and is thrilled that Cleveland hosted the Gay Games in 2014. He would like to dedicate the design for this production in memory of Susan Gregg, director of Fallen Angels for Great Lakes Theater. Cynthia Stillings Lighting Designer Thirty seasons with Great Lakes Theater Cynthia Stillings designs regionally and nationally, and designed the Great Lakes Theater premiere of Adrienne Kennedy’s

Ohio State Murders. Opera and dance credits include Sweeney Todd, Carmen, Of Mice and Men, Man of La Mancha and Turandot for Cleveland Opera, where she was resident lighting designer; Tartuffe for Skylight Opera Theatre; and An American Festival for the Cincinnati Ballet. Regional theater credits include Utah Shakespearean Festival, where she designed The Matchmaker, Candida and the world premiere of the new musical Lend Me a Tenor, the Musical; Madison Repertory Theatre; Porthouse Theatre; Cain Park Theatre; The Contemporary American Theatre Company; Phoenix Theatre Circle and an award-winning production of Assassins for Players Theater Columbus. Ms. Stillings is currently Associate Dean of the College of the Arts and Interim Dean of Graduate Studies at Kent State University.

Robert Waldman has written primarily for the theater. He began his career as a protégé of Frank Loesser, and his music has been heard in Alfred Uhry’s The Last Night of Ballyhoo at Cleveland Play House and Edgardo Mine at the Guthrie Theater, as well as in GLT’s production of Glass Menagerie; in New York in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Driving Miss Daisy, The Heiress and Voices in the Dark; and Lincoln Center’s Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Ivanov, Dinner at Eight, The Rivals, Jon Robin Baitz’ A Fair Country and Ten Unknowns. Most recently, his work was heard in Wendy Wasserstein’s Third, David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre and Peter Parnell’s The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket. Waldman composed the score for Broadway’s Here’s Where I Belong and The Robber Bridegroom, which was nominated for a Drama Desk Award, as well as winning most recently the 2016 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Revival in NYC, and Florida’s Poinciana and Parker Playhouse’s revue of Lois Wyse’s Funny You Don’t Look Like a Grandmother. His music has been heard in Arthur Laurents’ 2 Lives; Hartford Stage’s musical, America’s Sweetheart; Long Wharf’s As You Like It and The School for Scandal; Washington Shakespeare Theater’s Richard II and The Country Wife; as well as the Kennedy Center

Stage Management Nicki Cathro* Production Stage Manager Four seasons with Great Lakes Theater Nicki is thrilled to be returning for her fourth season with Great Lakes Theater. Previously, she worked as stage manager for Julius Caesar and assistant stage manager for The Music Man, Witness for the Prosecution, Misery, Macbeth and Pride and Prejudice; and as production assistant for A Christmas Carol, Hamlet, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Great Lakes Theater and ISF. Nicki earned her BFA in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas. She also works in film production and photography, and is incredibly lucky to work with her husband Nick <4. For more information on her media company, visit www.cavernmedia.com.

GreatLakesTheater.org

Robert Waldman Music Adaptor and Arranger Thirty-one seasons with Great Lakes Theater

musical, Swing. Performances of Mr. Waldman’s compositions have been heard in films, on television, in ballets and in numerous commercials and concert halls. Illustrated collections of some 40 of his piano compositions for children have been published by G. Schirmer — among them A Swing Bag, A Rag Bag, A ¾ Bag and A Santa Bag. He has received a National Endowment for the Arts grant in musical theater, the Dramatists Guild of America’s Flora Roberts Award for Outstanding Music for the Theater and the JEFF Award in Chicago for Best Original Music for Driving Miss Daisy.

Casey Burke-Ruhl* Assistant Stage Manager Two seasons with Great Lakes Theater Casey is beyond thrilled to be in back in Cleveland after a five-year hiatus, previously having worked for previous shows Dial “M” for Murder and The Tempest, as well as working as a production assistant for nine seasons for the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and two seasons for Idaho Shakespeare Festival. He earned his BFA in theater production from the University of Nevada, Reno. While back in New York City, he works for the off-Broadway theater New World Stages. Thanks to family and friends for all the support.

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DONORS The trustees, staff and artistic company of Great Lakes Theater express our deepest gratitude to the hundreds of supporters of Cleveland’s Classic Company. The donors listed below and on the following pages made generous gifts to our Annual Fund between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. “I can no other answer make but thanks.” Twelfth Night, Act III, Scene iii

at Playhouse Square

Make a Contribution Great Lakes Theater served more than 125,000 students and adults last season through its Hanna and Mimi Ohio Theatre mainstage productions and education programs throughout northeast Ohio. This would not have been possible without the annual support of the hundreds of generous donors listed below. Please consider joining the Great Lakes Theater family by making a contribution to support Cleveland’s Classic Company. Visit the “Support Us” section of our website (GreatLakesTheater.org) or call us at (216) 453-4449 to learn more about our Membership and donation opportunities.

Sponsors: $100,000 and above Cuyahoga Arts & Culture*** $50,000 to $99,999 The Cleveland Foundation*** The George Gund Foundation*** The Kulas Foundation*** The John P. Murphy Foundation***

The David & Inez Myers Foundation*** Ohio Arts Council*** The Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation***

$25,000 to $49,999 The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation** The Community Foundation of Lorain County*** The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation*** The Reinberger Foundation***

Shakespeare in American Communities: National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest* John & Barbara Schubert***

Season Sponsors:

*3 – 5 consecutive years as a donor **6 – 9 consecutive years as a donor ***10 or more consecutive years as a donor

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THE LEGACY SOCIETY

Great Lakes Theater’s Legacy Society honors individuals, families, foundations and other generous donors that make gifts to Great Lakes Theater’s Endowment Fund or have made a provision for Great Lakes Theater through their estate plans. Please consider becoming a member of the growing list of generous Great Lakes Theater Legacy Society supporters and help ensure that classic theater endures for future generations in northeast Ohio by designating Great Lakes Theater a beneficiary in your will, trust or other estate plans.

“Evermore thanks.” Kathleen L. Barber° Marilyn° & Paul° Brentlinger Willard & Donna Carmel Mary° & Leigh Carter Natalie & Morton° Epstein Gerald Freedman GAR Foundation Edward S. Godleski Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson Mary Jane Davis Hartwell°

Richard II, Act II, Scene ii

Samuel S. Hartwell The Hershey Foundation Jack & Mary Ann Katzenmeyer Kate Lunsford Thomas° & Margaret Lynch Charitable Trust Mary Anne° & Jack McGrath Donald W. Morrison° Janet & Bob° Neary James A . Nelson° Donald & Anne Palmer

Jean Z.° & John S.° Piety Tim & Lynn Pistell Ron° & Nancy° Pottorff Professor Alan Miles Ruben & Judge Betty Willis Ruben The John Sherwin Family George° & Marjorie° Springer Thomas G. & Ruth M. Stafford Arthur L. Thomas Audrey° & Dick° Watts

°Deceased: The legacy of these generous donors lives on for future generations.

LEAVE A LEGACY!

For more information regarding planned gifts, please contact Todd Krispinsky, Director of Institutional Advancement. (216) 453-4449 | tkrispinsky@greatlakestheater.org

THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY Annual Fund donors of $1,000 and above are members of Great Lakes Theater’s “Shakespeare Society” and are entitled to special, exclusive benefits, including invitations to special events and activities. For more information, contact Todd Krispinsky at (216) 453-4449 or via email at tkrispinsky@greatlakestheater.org.

at Playhouse Square

Avon Circle ($10,000 to $24,999) The Abington Foundation** The Eva L. & Joseph M. Bruening Foundation*** Eaton Corporation*** FirstEnergy Foundation* The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation Jack & Mary Ann Katzenmeyer*** Susan & John Lebold* Thomas & Margaret Lynch Charitable Trust Janet E. Neary*** The Nord Family Foundation*** Nordson Corporation Foundation*** Don & Anne Palmer*** Tim & Lynn Pistell*** Georgianna T. Roberts*** The Shubert Foundation*** Thomas G. & Ruth M. Stafford*** The Thomas H. White Foundation***

Stratford Circle ($5,000 to $9,999) Fred & Mary Behm*** Mr. Todd M. Burger & Ms. Kristie Beck** Carol Dolan & Greggory Hill*** Evelyn Dolejs** Natalie Epstein*** Ernst & Young, LLP*** The FORM Group The Harry K. & Emma R. Fox Foundation*** Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Hartwell*** Paul R. & Denise Horstman Keen** Mary Elizabeth Huber* Diane Kathleen Hupp* Mr. & Mrs. Leslie H. Moeller*** Greg Pribulsky & Donna Heinz Robert C. & Emily C. Williams**

Globe Circle ($2,500 to $4,999)

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Anonymous (2) Chuck & Bonnie Abbey*** Michelle R. Arendt*** Walt & Laura Avdey*** BakerHostetler, LLP

Dalia & Robert Baker*** Gina L. Beebe David & Carolyn Bialosky** Glenn & Jenny Brown*** Bill & Judie Caster** Mr. & Mrs. Homer D. W. Chisholm*** The George W. Codrington Charitable Foundation*** Gail Cudak & Thomas Young*** Timothy J. Downing & Ken Press*** Charles, Lidia & Alexa Fee** Dianne V. Foley** Lynn M. Gattozzi Elizabeth Grove & Rich Bedell* Mr. & Mrs. Arthur C. Hall III William W. Jacobs*** Katie Kennedy & Doug White* Faisal Khan & Angela DiCorleto* Donna M. Koler* Mr. & Mrs. John J. Lane** The Laub Foundation*** Victor C. Laughlin, M.D. Memorial Foundation Trust*** The Lubrizol Foundation*** David and Denise Maiorana Mrs. Mary J. Mayer*** Jack McGrath*** Mr. & Mrs. John C. Morley*** Donald W. Morrison*** Karen Nemec** Nicholas & Sue Peay*** Dr. Scott & Mrs. Judy Pendergast*** Michael & Barbara Peterman*** Thomas A. Piraino & Barbara C. McWilliams** David P. Porter & Margaret K. Poutasse*** Pablo R. Ros Kim Sherwin*** Sally J. Staley*** Christopher & Gail Steward* Geoff & Catherine Tanner Kris & George Tesar Arthur L. Thomas* Ulmer & Berne LLP*** Ms. Rebecca A. Zuti & Mr. Anthony D. DeCello**

Folio Circle ($1,000 to $2,499) Anonymous (1)

Jennifer & Michael Armstrong Kim & Bart Bixenstine** Mitch & Liz Blair H.F. & J.C. Burkhardt*** Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP*** Jack & Janice Campbell*** Donald & Annamarie Chick*** Carolyn & Charles Dickson*** Ms. Leslie C. Dickson** Dr. Howard Epstein* Evans Charitable Foundation* Dale & Linda Gabor* Steve Gariepy & Nancy Sin*** The Giant Eagle Foundation** Gary & Joanna Graeff** Rich & Barbara Gray*** The Gries Family Foundation*** Drs. Thomas & Cynthia Gustaferro* Geoffrey Michael Heller Memorial Fund* Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.*** Joseph James Kenneth Karosy*** James & Rosemary Koehler The Milton A. & Charlotte R. Kramer Charitable Foundation** Eva & Rudolf Linnebach* Mr. & Mrs. John S. Lupo Mr. & Mrs. William E. MacDonald III** Rita & Charles Maimbourg McGrath/Spellman Family Trust Mr. & Mrs. Douglas McGregor Katie McVoy & Justin Cernansky* Pamela G. Noble & E. Macke Bentley IV** Mr. & Mrs. Patrick W. O’Connor*** Mary Perkins Mr. & Mrs. Wilmer M. Piper*** John & Norine Prim*** Rick & Paula Reed Ms. Ana G. Rodriguez* Linda Schlageter*** Brit & Kate Stenson*** A.J. and Nancy Stokes The Alvah Stone & Adele Corning Chisholm Memorial Fund* Diana & Eugene Stromberg*** Jason R. Suslak Karl & Carol Theil** Gerald F. Unger*** Mary C. Warren** Mr. & Mrs. Paul L. Wellener IV***

Welcome! The following individuals made their first gift, returned as active donors or increased their gift to Great Lakes Theater’s Annual Fund during the period of July 1, 2019 through October 15, 2019. The Great Lakes Theater family is grateful for your support! Ms. Pamela Benson Kim & Bart Bixenstine Beverly & Bruce Cameron Bill & Judie Caster John & Donna Clifford Larry & Eva Dolan Mr. Theodore Elrick Mr. Joseph A. Ferritto Steve Gariepy & Nancy Sin Frank & Gerry Hoffert

Ms. Gail Jones-Nemeth Ms. Margaret P. Joy Michael & Lynn Kleinman Thomas & Sheryl Love Mr. & Mrs. John S. Lupo Rita & Charles Maimbourg David & Denise Maiorana Mr. Francis Martin Katie McVoy & Justin Cernansky Ms. Barbara H. Nahra

Patrons ($250 to $499)

Robyn & David Barrie*** John & Laura Bertsch** Dolan/Hill Oscar Awards Pool Ken & Mary Loparo*** Brian Wynne & Patrick Cozzens**

The Thomas & Joann Adler Family Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland*** Joel & Teresa Andreani* Ms. Nancy J. Arndt & Mr. Andrew P. Houghton* Mr. & Mrs. Benham S. Bates*** Laura Bauschard Kathy Berkshire* John & Jeannene Bertosa** Gary & Kay Bluhm** Richard & Mary Ann Brockett* Julia & Ben Brouhard** Tim & Cindy Carr** Patricia Brownell & James Collins Robert & Susan Conrad Rollin & Anne Conway** Dr. & Mrs. Kevin D. Cooper** Bruce & Maryellen Cudney*** Elizabeth W. DeBoer Mary J. Decker Pete & Margaret Dobbins* Barry & Suzanne Doggett*** Gene & Patricia Ewald Dr. & Mrs. Robert L. Fairchild Jon & Mary Fancher** Bob & Mia Graf Tom & Kirsten Hagesfeld*** Mr. Herbert J. Hoppe, Jr.* Robert & Linda Jenkins** Bernie & Nancy Karr*** Samuel C. Kennell* Larry & Joy Kent** Bill & Susan Kirchner* Bob & Nanci Kirkpatrick*** Ronald G. Kollar*** Chris & Laura Larson*** Mr. & Mrs. Brian Lawler** Gregory Leach* Morton & Lola Litt* Anne R. & Kenneth E. Love** Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. McDonald*** Francis & Viola McDowell** Jennifer & Peter Meckes** Steven & Dolly Minter

Sustainers ($500 to $749) Anonymous (1) Gary D Benz & Betsy A Karetnick Paul & Heather Blonsky* Barbara J. Burke** Christopher & Nancy Coburn Audrey DeClement*** James Eschmeyer*** Ann & Harry Farmer* Mr. Joseph A. Ferritto* Janet & Patricia Glaeser*** Deb & Gar Kaminski Eileen Kennedy & Greg Cloyd* Ms. Catherine M. Kilbane & Mr. Donald H. Bullock Mr. & Mrs. Donald Kimmel*** Ursula Korneitchouk* Stephen & Carolyn Kuerbitz* James F. Lang Mark & Barbara Mazzone** Helen & Harry Mercer*** The Mersol Family*** Michael Mumford & Neil Vakharia Deborah L. Neale*** Mr. John Rampe Thomas & Helen Rathburn** John Reynolds Mrs. Sharon L. Rogers*** Alan Shubert Dr. & Mrs. Lynn A. Smith*** Albert Stratton Wulf & Moira Utian Raymond & Carolyn Voelker** Mr. & Mrs. James L. Wamsley III Dr. & Mrs. Gregory A. Watts** Women’s Committee of Great Lakes Theater Festival*** Mr. Lee C. Zeiszler** Patrick M. Zohn*** John & Jane Zuzek***

David & Leslee Miraldi*** Steve Z. & Mary Gibbs Mitchell*** Dale Sr., Dale Jr. & Gayle Montgomery Roy & Cindy Moore*** Toni & Linda Moore*** Glenn & Susan Morley Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Patalon* Frank Rausche Dr. Edward J. Rockwood*** Otmar & Rota Sackerlotzky*** Jim & Joan Schaefer Mr. Bahman Y. Sharif Ms. Sunny M. Simon Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Slavin*** Anita Stoll & Pete Clapham* The Edward & Katherine Thomas Family* Jeanette H. Thomas Frank & Vicki Titas** Joanne M. Uniatowski* Carol Lee Vella*** Nancy-Anne Wargo* Chris & Mary Weaver Jean Wingate

Associates ($125 to $249) Anonymous (2) Bridget & Michele Adams Lori Adler** Lynne M. Bajec** Carol Barnak Ms. Pamela Benson** Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Berges* Roger Bielefeld*** Tom & Dorothy Bier* Phyliss M. Boggs* John Bolton*** Joanne R. Bratush*** Mike & Carole Brown** V. Elizabeth Brown*** Larry & Andi Carlini*** Joanne Clifford John & Donna Clifford*** Stan & Lisa Corwin* Dr. & Mrs. Dale H. Cowan* David & Gayle Cratty***

Daniel & Joyce Dyer ** Ms. Elizabeth Eckstein Mr. & Mrs. Robert Eikenburg*** Mr. & Mrs. L. William Erb* David V. Foos*** Mr. & Mrs. Gerald R. Frei*** Carla & Jim Gallagher** Mrs. Barbara J. Garris Deborah A. Geier*** Thomas Gilbride Mr. & Mrs. Randall J. Gordon Kathy Grekco Jean E. Gubbins** Ms. Bonnie Ann Hajek Ms. Eleanor W. Helper* Curt & Karen Henkle*** Ms. Robin Herrington-Bowen** Mr. & Mrs. Douglas M. Hicks* Mark & Lynn Hofflund** Kathy & Jamie Hogg*** Marie Ivkanec* Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Janson** Marilyn & Howard Karfeld*** Lauren Kawentel*** William & Marion Kettering** Kerry King Mr. & Mrs. Mark D. Kozel*** Eleanor & Stephen Kushnick** Fred & Joann Lafferty*** Leslie Lahr* Jennifer & Robert Larson** Gregory & Vickie Leyes** Brian & Renee Lowery*** Joseph Marinucci Antoinette Miller*** Tom & Mary Neff** Robert & Margery Orth* Mr. John Patton Mr. & Mrs. James M. Petras Ms. Mary L. Pollak* Ms. Bette M. Prendergast James & Susan Prince* Ms. Betsy R. Quinn* Ms. Lori Riga Robinson Family Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland* Reinhold & Ginny Roedig*** Doris A. Schultz*** Steve & Kathy Schultz**

GreatLakesTheater.org

Benefactor ($750 to $999)

Perkins Charitable Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Louis Pongracz Ms. Ana G. Rodriguez Mr. & Mrs. Timothy L. Sullivan Kris & George Tesar Dr. & Mrs. Ken Tomecki Nancy-Anne Wargo Martha Webster Ms. Suann M. Winczek Arthur & Deborah Zinn

35

at Playhouse Square

36

Donna Sheridan*** James Sonday* William E. Spatz*** Susan St. John** Margaret C. Stark Kathlyn & Harry Stenzel*** Katherine Stokes-Shafer* Sean & Tabitha Swick Frank Talerico Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. Tatman* Dr. & Mrs. Ken Tomecki*** Mr. & Mrs. James D. Vail** Christine & Daniel Vento** Carol A. Vidoli*** Mr. Kenneth Vinciquerra Ms. Kimberly A. Vivolo* Michael Wagner Gerald R. & Susan Walters Michael Wesel Ms. Suann M. Winczek Thomas M. Wladyka* Jeanne Wojciechowicz* James & Sandra Wood** John & Dianne Young***

Friends ($75 to $124) Anonymous (4) Carol Arbaczewski Thomas & Joan Baker** Carol Barasha Ms. Maurene Barry Thomas D. Basco Brian & Teresa Bester* Linda Bickerstaff Dr. & Mrs. Dieter F. Bloser*** Susan Bobey*** Mr. & Mrs. Charles P. Bolton*** Ms. Dorothy F. Borer* William Bost Kathy Caldwell* Patricia Campbell Edward A. Chuhna Samuel Cowling*** Ms. & Mr. M. Judith Crocker* Mr. & Mrs. Ronald A. Danes Judith Darus* Mark Davis Lowell & Carole Davis Mr. & Mrs. Joseph D. DeFrank Chris & Mary Ann Deibel*** Mr. Alex Derkaschenko John Doucette* Mary Emerson Dr. & Mrs. Michael Eppig Janice Evans** Kathryn Eyring Nancy Facchiano Frank L. Field, Jr.*** Dr. J. Robert Fowler Ms. Barbara Fretthold Jeanne Frey Nicholas & Marsha Gallo Katherine A. Ganz** Ms. Pamela S. Goetsch Linda Grau*

Lisa Greb* John Greene** Marian Hancy*** Richard & Jo Anne Harris Ron & Christine Hawes Linda A. Heath** Jean Heller** Stephen Hirschfield Frank & Gerry Hoffert** Jessica Holtsberry Ms. Carolyn R. Horn Clyde A. Horn*** Michael Hotz James & Gale Jacobsohn* Tom & Terri Jecker Robert Kasler Mr. Gilbert P. Kenehan** Mr. Kenneth R. Kessler* Mr. & Mrs. Albert Kirby Mary Jo Klements* David R. Knowles Jacob Kronenberg & Barbara Belovich*** David Kruse Al & Cynthia Kuntz George Leggiero James and Tayna Lewan Chuck & Donna Loper* Susan E. Lust Sharon Madger Paul S. Malchesky Mr. & Mrs. J. Adin Mann Anne Martin* Gretchen Mates Connie May* James L. Mayer* Mr. John A. Mazzella Ms. Allison E. McCallum Mr. David McKissock Rev. Edward E. Mehok*** Ms. Patricia A. Monreal Ms. Cheryl A. Moskwa Mr. John M. Moss & Mrs. Karen J. Moss* Ms. Barbara H. Nahra* Gerald Norton* Joan M. Oravec*** Meribeth Pannitto* Peggy & Michael Partington*** Rudy Perdan Brian Perry & Ka Pi Hoh* Mr. Alan A. Pomiecko Mr. & Mrs. Louis Pongracz** David Porter Mr. James E. Racic Larry & Susan Rakow** Judy & Clifford Reeves*** Mr. & Mrs. Gerald P. Rencehausen Sue Reusser Ms. Jacqueline Y. Rhodes** William & Lisa Schonberg Donna Schuerger*** Randall & Sara Shaner Richard Shirey* Dr. Dave & Faye Sholiton*

Naomi G. & Edwin Z. Singer Family Fund, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland*** Mary Slak Mr. & Mrs. John Southworth** Laura L. Sutera Kara Suzelis Kathryn Sweeny Linda Taege* John & Emily Hartwell Taylor Joseph Toner Mrs. Lori Trehan Anne Unverzagt & Richard Goddard*** Edward Vargo Mary S. Velotta Adele Viguera* Natalie Vloedman Thomas Wagner & Malinda Smyth** Ms. Kathleen Waits** Rev. & Mrs. David M. Walker*** Mrs. Carole R. Warren Mrs. Betty S. Weiss** Lance Whitson & Terry Juhn Mr. & Mrs. Harold L. Williams

Endowment Fund Gifts to the Great Lakes Theater Endowment Fund were received from the following donors between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. Edward S. Godleski Mary Jane Davis Hartwell° Donald W. Morrison°

Gifts were received in honor of: Jane Lehr Ecker By: Dr. Gary & Leslie Gelesh Janet Neary By: Ms. Emily Holdge Brasfield Mrs. Robert H. Martindale By: David Wildermuth Rebecca Zuti By: Barbara Ackerman

Gifts were received in memory of: Claudine Clinton By: Mary Slowey Donald Mayer By: Thomas G. & Ruth M. Stafford Elsa Pavlik By: Women’s Committee of Great Lakes Theater Lindsay Morgenthaler By: The Gries Family Foundation

Matching Gift Corporations Eaton Corporation GlaxoSmithKline Foundation IBM Corporation The Lubrizol Foundation Nordson Corporation Foundation PNC Foundation Schneider Electric North America Foundation The Sherwin-Williams Company Many companies, like the ones listed above, match all or a portion of their employees’ charitable giving. Is your employer a matching gift company? Find out by contacting your employer or the Great Lakes Theater Development Office at (216) 453-4449.

The Women’s Committee Formed in 1961, the committee is Great Lakes Theater’s longest standing volunteer support group. Members act as hosts for our actors, provide support in our administrative office and at events, and cheer us on throughout the season. If you would like to become a member, call Joanne Hulec at (216) 252-8717 for more information. Officers Janice Campbell, President Kathy Berkshire, Co-Vice Chair Barb Chernus, Co-Vice Chair Viola McDowell, Recording Secretary Bernice Bolek, Corresponding Secretary Nanci Kirkpatrick, Treasurer *3 – 5 consecutive years as a donor ** 6 – 9 consecutive years as a donor *** 10 or more consecutive years as a donor ° Deceased: The legacy of these generous donors lives on for future generations.

Every effort is made to ensure that our donor records are current and correct. Please contact Great Lakes Theater’s Development Office at (216) 453-4449 or via email at tkrispinsky@ greatlakestheater.org with questions or to report updates and revisions.

TRUSTEES President

William Caster *

Secretary

Elizabeth A. Grove *

Treasurer

Kathleen Kennedy *

Trustees

John W. Lebold * William MacDonald III † Charles Maimbourg David M. Maiorana Ellen Stirn Mavec† Mary J. Mayer John E. McGrath † Katie McVoy * Mike Mumford Janet E. Neary † Pamela G. Noble Michael Novak Michael J. Peterman † Timothy K. Pistell † David P. Porter † Gregory Pribulsky * Uma M. Rajeshwar Georgianna T. Roberts † Ana G. Rodriguez

John D. Schubert † Peter Shimrak † Thomas G. Stafford *† Sally J. Staley Diana W. Stromberg Catherine Tanner Kristine M. Tesar * Arthur L. Thomas Nancy Wellener Patrick Zohn

* Executive Committee † Life Trustee

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE In 2002, Great Lakes Theater (Cleveland, Ohio) and Idaho Shakespeare Festival (Boise, Idaho) conceived a unique, strategic producing alliance designed to maximize return on organizational investments, increase production efficiencies, create long term work opportunities for artists and share best practices. In 2010, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival (Incline Village, Nevada) joined the collaborative — further contributing to the momentum of the revolutionary producing prototype's success. The long term results have been remarkable. The alliance's three independent, 501c3 regional theaters have shared over 60 jointly-created productions — each featuring long term, multi-city employment opportunities for artistic company members. This revolutionary producing model has realized its vision and exceeded expectations while simultaneously resulting in notable audience growth for each company.

GreatLakesTheater.org

Michelle Arendt Jennifer Dowdell Armstrong* Walter Avdey* Dalia Baker Gina L. Beebe Gary D. Benz Kim Bixenstine * Todd M. Burger *

Gail L. Cudak Carolyn Dickson † Leslie Dickson Barry Doggett † Carol Dolan * Timothy J. Downing * Dr. Howard G. Epstein Natalie Epstein † Dianne V. Foley* Stephen H. Gariepy Lynn M. Gattozzi Arthur C. Hall III * Samuel Hartwell * Mary Elizabeth Huber Diane Kathleen Hupp Joseph H. James John E. Katzenmeyer † Denise Horstman Keen Faisal Khan *

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STAFF Leadership Charles Fee, Producing Artistic Director Bob Taylor, Executive Director

Management Team

at Playhouse Square

Director of Educational Services.................Kelly Schaffer Florian Production Manager................................Jeff Herrmann Director of Institutional Advancement.................Todd Krispinsky Director of Educational Programming...... Lisa Ortenzi

Artistic Artistic Associate................................Laura Welsh Berg

Education Education Assistant.................Chennelle Bryant-Harris Education Outreach Associate................David Hansen School Residency Program Actor-Teachers.....................Tyler Collins, Craig Ester, Adam Graber, Klara Hricik, Tim Keo , Adrionna Powell Lawrence, Kimberly Martin, Zyrece Montgomery

Finance & Administration Manager of Finance & Administration...................Stephanie Reed

Institutional Advancement Audience & Community Engagement Coordinator.............................................. Jeremy Lewis Advancement & Annual Fund Administrator............................... Olivia M. McParland Marketing & Communications Manager................................................. Kacey Shapiro

Production Assistant Production Manager................ Shaun O’Neill Company Manager.......................................Amy Essick Technical Director.......................................Mark Cytron Assistant Technical Director.............Richard Haberlen Master Carpenter.......................................Lindsay Loar Carpenter/Welder...............................Richard Haberlen Properties Master..............................Bernadine Cockey Costume Director............................ Esther M. Haberlen Assistant Costume Shop Manager/Draper....Leah Loar

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First Hand........................................... Christina Spencer Crafts/Stitcher.........................................Zachary Hickle Wardrobe Supervisor........................Mackenzie Malone Wardrobe Crew..................Zach Hickle, Emily Kovalcik, Sheila Scanlon, Christina Spencer Wig Styling........................................... Wigs & Whiskers Master Electrician.....................................Tammy Taylor Charge Scenic Artist.................................... Ruth Lohse Audio Supervisor.....................................Brian Chismar Production Stage Manager........................Nicki Cathro Assistant Stage Manager.................. Casey Burke-Ruhl Production Assistant.................................... Amy Essick Young Company Supervisor.................Imani Robinson Run Crew............................. Brian Chismar, Amy Essick Richard Haberlen, William Langenhop, Lindsay Loar, Ralph Melari, Tammy Taylor, Gary Zsigrai Ohio Theatre Crew................Thomas Boddy, Chris Guy, Shaun Milligan, Nathan Tulenson

Volunteers

Company Doctor.......Dr. Donald Ford & Cleveland Clinic Trinity High School Costume Interns..........................Joi Bailey, Nya Davis

Special Thanks Great Lakes Theater is a member of the League of Resident Theaters (LORT) and operates under agreements with LORT, Actors’ Equity Association, American Federation of Musicians, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and the United Scenic Artists, which are unions representing professional actors, stage managers, musicians, stagehands, directors, choreographers, and designers, respectively, in the United States.

LORT

1501 Euclid Ave., Suite 300 Cleveland, OH 44115 P: (216) 241-5490 F: (216) 241-6315 W: GreatLakesTheater.org

Playbill Editor: Linda Feagler For advertising information, please contact Matthew Kraniske: 216-377-3681

DEC./JAN. AT PLAYHOUSE SQUARE OUTCALT/ HELEN/ MIMI CONNOR KEYBANK US BANK WESTFIELD ALLEN ALLEN ALLEN HANNA KENNEDY’S OHIO PALACE STATE PLAZA STUDIO Sunday

Monday

DECEMBER

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Mean Girls Mean Girls Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing Every Brilliant Thing Every Brilliant Thing Pure Yanni A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story Cirque Musica The Nutcracker

Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story The Nutcracker

Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story The Nutcracker Andy Borowitz

Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story The Nutcracker

Mean Girls Mean Girls Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing Every Brilliant Thing Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story The Nutcracker Dave Koz and Friends

Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story The Nutcracker Hip Hop Nutcracker

Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story The Nutcracker Jim Brickman

Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story The Nutcracker Straight No Chaser

Mean Girls Mean Girls Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing Every Brilliant Thing Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Story A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story

Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story Rebel Force Radio

Mean Girls Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story

White Christmas Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol CLE Pops Holiday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 JANUARY

Flanagan’s Wake

Flanagan’s Wake

29 30 31 1 2 3 4 The Illusionists

The Illusionists

The Illusionists

The Illusionists Flanagan’s Wake

The Illusionists Flanagan’s Wake Mandy Patinkin in Concert: DIARIES

GreatLakesTheater.org

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Mean Girls A Christmas Story Every Brilliant Thing A Christmas Carol A Christmas Story

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular Birthday Edition

Flanagan’s Wake The Mozart Effect: Live!

Flanagan’s Wake

The sTory of frankie Valli & The foUr seasons 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Jersey Boys The Unauthorized Biography Series

Jersey Boys The Unauthorized Biography Series

Jersey Boys The Unauthorized Biography Series The Office! A Musical Parody

Jersey Boys Flanagan’s Wake The Office! A Musical Parody Paula Poundstone

Clue The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites

Flanagan’s Wake Clue The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites

Jersey Boys Flanagan’s Wake The Office! A Musical Parody Clue

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Jersey Boys Clue Make Someone Happy: The Songs of Comden & Green

Clue The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites

Clue The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites

26 27 28 29 30 31

New shows are announced every week. Sign up for the Playhouse Square newsletter at playhousesquare.org to get advance notices by email!

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