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GIL CATES THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
WELCOME TO THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography
THE POWER OF DUFF
FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
UPON READING THE POWER OF DUFF FOR
the first time, I was struck in two ways. First, timeless struggles among nations
and among individuals traverse generations. Depressing thought? Maybe.
The second idea that struck me — the one that prompted the production you
are about to experience — is that these very struggles lead people to seek
out something better. This might be in the form of a person or an organized
religion, a sense of spirituality, or simply in the way a person chooses to
raise his/her children — all to make the world better in some small way. As
members of a global community that faces adversity in a myriad of ways, we
are united in our search for something better.
Enter Charles Duff. Stephen Belber has created a character who, lost in his
own struggle, finds solace in prayer. But, as a public figure, his prayers are
sent out over the airwaves, and his belief begins to permeate the beliefs of
others. Belber has created a piece that examines our collective need to find
peace, no matter the cost.
Peter DuBois, who previously directed Rapture, Blister, Burn, returns to helm
The Power of Duff and, along with a first-rate cast and design team, has brought
to life this wonderfully complicated and timely play.
The Power of Duff tackles large ideas. We hope you find the journey
invigorating, revelatory, and redemptive.
Enjoy the show!
Randall Arney
Artistic Director
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1
LETTER FROM THE CO-CHAIRS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MARTHA HENDERSON
CO-CHAIR
PAMELA ROBINSON HOLLANDER
CO-CHAIR
PATRICIA KIERNAN APPLEGATE
RANDALL ARNEY
BETH BEHRS
DR. GENE D. BLOCK
HAROLD A. BROWN
GIL CATES JR.
VICE CHAIRMAN
MICHAEL CENTENO
MARY ANN CLOYD
DR. BRAD EDGERTON
MARK FLEISCHER
HERBERT M. GELFAND
Photo by Bobby Quillard
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
MARTHA
HENDERSON
PAMELA
ROBINSON HOLLANDER
HELLO, FRIENDS OF THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE.
Welcome to The Power of Duff, written by the phenomenal Stephen Belber and
directed by our good friend, the renowned Peter DuBois. Thank you for joining
us for the West Coast premiere of this witty new play that will surely move and
captivate Los Angeles audiences.
We are moved by the extraordinary generosity of our Geffen Playhouse Board
of Directors, Trustees, Advisory Board, major donors and sponsors of Backstage
at the Geffen, which had a record-breaking year yet again. The March 22 event,
honoring Mellody Hobson & George Lucas with the Distinction in Service Award
and Sir Elton John & David Furnish with the Distinction in Theater Award, broke
all records and exceeded expectations, thanks to the leadership of our Title
Sponsor, City National Bank, and our Presenting Sponsors, Audi of America,
Clay Lacy Aviation, Louis XIII and Robert K. Kraft. A special “thank you” to David
Geffen for being our Honorary Chair this year.
We are grateful to everyone who joined our Host Committee and to those
lucky few who were able to purchase mezzanine tickets before they were sold
out! This kind of extraordinary support gives us the opportunity to explore
new artistic territories while also prioritizing our service to the community
through our education and outreach programs. We wouldn’t have this kind of
artistic freedom without the generosity and commitment of our Geffen family.
Thank you for joining us today and for supporting our work on stage. We look
forward to hearing from you, our loyal patrons and supporters, about your
experience seeing this West Coast premiere. We hope you enjoy the show!
PATRICIA L. GLASER
SAM GORES
ADI GREENBERG
ARTHUR GREENBERG
JOAN KALOUSTIAN
GLORYA KAUFMAN
LORETTA EVERETT KAUFMAN
DR. GERALD S. LEVEY
CARLA MALDEN
SUSAN MALLORY
GINNY MANCINI
BARRY MEYER
SCOTT MINERD
STEVEN A. OLSEN
HOLLY RICE
LOREN ROTHSCHILD
LINDA BERNSTEIN RUBIN
TERI SCHWARTZ
RICHARD SHERMAN
FRED SPECKTOR
LORRAINE SPURGE
CYNTHIA P. STAFFORD
HOWARD TENENBAUM
FOUNDING TRUSTEES
KIRSTEN COMBS
ROBERT A. DALY
DAVID GEFFEN
QUINCY JONES
JEFFREY KATZENBERG
FRANK G. MANCUSO
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
RON MEYER
LESLIE MOONVES
JERRY MOSS
JERRY PERENCHIO
BRUCE M. RAMER
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
VICTORIA MANN SIMMS
ANDY SPAHN
STEVEN SPIELBERG
STEVE TISCH
DR. CHARLES E. YOUNG
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IN MEMORIAM
GILBERT CATES
FOUNDER
Martha Henderson
Co-Chair, Geffen Playhouse
Pamela Robinson Hollander
Co-Chair, Geffen Playhouse
MARCIA ISRAEL-CURLEY
AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS
CHARLES KENIS
KARL MALDEN
EDIE WASSERMAN
LEW WASSERMAN
PETER ROSEN
LEGAL COUNSEL,
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
P2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
SATURDAY MAY 16, 2015
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE AND HANK AZARIA’S
POKER TOURNAMENT
SPONSORED BY
A DAY OF POKER AND GIVING BACK
BENEFITING
TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT IN THE TOURNAMENT
OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jamie Mikelich at 310.208.6500 ext. 128 or [email protected]
Rebecca Haithcoat: Religion is a hot potato in today’s
culture and you’ve stated it was of great interest to you.
Even so, were you concerned that the word “prayer” might
scare off audiences?
Stephen Belber: If I said that, I take it back, because I
don’t have much interest in writing a play about religion.
However, “faith” and “spirituality” are of interest to me,
in part due to their inherent uncertainty, which often
makes for good theater. (Uncertainty is dramatic in that
we don’t know what the characters are capable of doing
next.) Spirituality and faith differ extremely for each
individual, whereas official “religion,” and the prayers
that sometimes go along with it, can be prescriptive
and, as we all know, dogmatic. Which is not to say I’m
anti-“religion” — I simply prefer the drama that often
accompanies subjectivity and doubt. Duff is the story
of one individual’s subjective quest to define faith and
spirituality for himself, which ironically leads him to a
position of power, even as his own uncertainty increases.
Hopefully the fact that he employs prayers along his
search won’t scare people off.
The intersection of faith and news is new, too.
Historically, anchors are supposed to be unbiased,
almost blank slates. What prompted you to center the
play around a TV news anchor?
BREAKING
A TABOO
STEPHEN BELBER
ON HIS PLAY AS
A “NOTE-TO-SELF”
BY REBECCA HAITHCOAT
It’s stating the obvious to say that cable TV news has
decimated the supposed neutrality of TV journalism.
Viewers gravitate to the channels that preach their
preferences, so what Charlie Duff is doing isn’t that crazy.
And yet by invoking God and appealing to a non-partisan
“humanism” rather than political stance, he’s breaking a
taboo we’re less used to seeing broken. And perhaps more
interesting, he’s asking the viewer to activate, to do more
than just shake or nod their head; he’s basically saying, “We
are all accountable, and thus we must act.” And because
he’s a TV news anchor whose job it is to “explain the world
to us,” (rather than a televangelist or a pundit), what he’s
doing from his anchor-pulpit still strikes me as dramatic
and unique.
How did writing this play affect your own ideas about
spirituality?
I’m not sure, actually. I do know it’s made me put my money
where my mouth is in a more proactive way. Basically,
the play is a note-to-self to try to live better, to listen, to
engage, and to remember that a good life is made up of
small but profound acts.
How involved do you like to be in the play once it is in
the hands of an entire production team (director, actors,
designers, etc.). Do you ever feel it’s, “out of your hands”?
Playwright Stephen Belber. Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography.
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What other plays or books were important in
your research of The Power of Duff?
Gosh I get nervous when people ask that because
I like to think that everything I happen to be
doing and reading and listening to and thinking
about, and everyone who magically crosses my
path or is invariably in my life, are finding their
way into my brain as I work on any given piece.
This includes my family, studio executives in
Hollywood, my friend the Jesuit, my dead aunt
the nun, my father the Jew, my 15-year-old son,
the prisoners I’ve been interviewing at Pendleton
Correctional Facility, the Atticus Lish book
Preparation For The Next Life, Colum McCann’s
Let The Great World Spin, various religion texts,
Anand Giridharadas’ book The True American.
This script has changed significantly since its
prior production. Unlike books, scripts continue
to evolve, even after first productions. What’s
the impetuous for these evolutions? Were
there specific things you wanted to address in
making them?
Coming off the last production, I knew I wanted
the “spiritual obstacles” faced by Charlie to be
more difficult and intense. I wanted to confront
him with more intractable problems and less
solvable situations. I even wanted to bludgeon
him, Job-like, so as to more strenuously test
his ill and un-defined faith. In part, this meant
cutting two entire characters, adding a new
one, and doubling down on and amping up the
dilemmas he was already facing. Life is not easy;
bad things happen to good people; lots of people
die unhappy and without resolution; moments of
profundity are generally fleeting; our deathbeds
are most likely filled with doubt and regret, but
hopefully elements of love, peace and fulfillment
slide in and find their tiny place. I was going for a
little more of all of that.
FIVE INFAMOUS INSTANCES
OF VEERING OFF-SCRIPT
WHILE ON-AIR
When news anchor Charlie Duff goes off-script and offers a
prayer at the end of his broadcast, he gains a crop of new
followers. In real life, reactions to surprise on-air departures
can be mixed. Below, five of the most infamous clips.
ANDERSON COOPER GETS
THE GIGGLES
In a 2011 “Ridiculist” segment, the popular
CNN anchor called out French actor
Gerard Depardieu for urinating in the cabin
of an airplane. But Cooper’s pun-laden
monologue gets the better of him, and he
dissolves into giggles for over a minute.
Wiping tears out of his eyes, he says, “Sorry,
this has actually never happened to me.”
ANCHOR QUITS ON-AIR
Instead of staying on script during a segment
on an Alaskan cannabis club, news reporter
Charlo Greene announces that she actually
is the owner of the club in question.
Considering the journalistic conflict, she
quits — on air, and with an expletive.
BILL O’REILLY FLIPS OUT
AT A TELEPROMPTER
Reading a teleprompter, a young Bill O’Reilly
doesn’t understand the directive and gets
so frustrated he stands up and rips off his
suit jacket. Eventually, he delivers the line
smoothly, but the minute the cameras stop
rolling, he’s still visibly angry.
NEWS ANCHOR
CONFUSES ACTORS
KTLA’s morning team is known for being
chatty. But Sam Rubin shrinks away with
egg on his face when he casually asks
Samuel L. Jackson — who is on the program
to promote a new film — about his Super
Bowl commercial. Without changing his
expression, Jackson replies, “What Super
Bowl commercial?” Turns out, Rubin had
confused him with Laurence Fishburne.
A COCKROACH CRAWLS UP
A METEOROLOGIST’S LEG
While delivering the forecast, Florida
meteorologist Justin Mosley glances down,
gasps and runs off camera. In the background,
Mosley calls out that it was on his leg, and a
woman concurs, “That thing is huge!”
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5
THE POWER OF DUFF
If I were smart, I’d fully let it go during the rehearsal
process. I would trust more, I would be open to
the obvious genius and creativity of all involved,
I would welcome innovation and surprise, I would
buy cookies and drop them off for the cast at the
top of each rehearsal and then take a long walk
while listening to Terry Gross on my iPhone so
that the actors, designers and director can be left
alone to do what they do best without a meddling
and neurotic writer. I’m working on all that.
THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
PRODUCTION OF
Written by
Stephen Belber
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Clint Ramos
Lighting Designer
Bobby Frederick Tilley II
Sound Designer
Rui Rita
Projection Designer
M.L. Dogg
Production Stage Manager
Kyra Hansen
Dramaturg
Aaron Rhyne
Assistant Stage Manager
Michael Vitale
Casting Director
Amy Levinson
Phyllis Schuringa, CSA
Directed by
Peter DuBois
Originally Produced by New York Stage and Film Company and Vassar at the Powerhouse Theatre in July 2012
Produced in November 2013 by Huntington Theatre Company
Peter DuBois, Artistic Director; Michael Maso, Managing Director
Opening Night: Wednesday, April 15, 2015
OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSOR
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(In order of appearance)
Charlie Duff ............................................................................................................................ Josh Stamberg
John Ebbs ............................................................................................................................. Brendan Griffin
Sue Raspell .................................................................................................................. Elizabeth Rodriguez
Ron Fitzpatrick and Others ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Joe Paulik
Scott Zoellner ................................................................................................................................. Eric Ladin
Ricky .................................................................................................................................... Tanner Buchanan
Casey ................................................................................................................................... Maurice Williams
SETTING/TIME
Rochester, New York
Present Day
RUNNING TIME
Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes
There will be one 15 minute intermission.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7
THE POWER OF DUFF
CAST OF CHARACTERS
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
TANNER BUCHANAN
(Ricky)
Tanner is thrilled to be
making his Los Angeles
stage debut at the Geffen
Playhouse. Having done local
theater productions in his
native Ohio, he moved to Los
Angeles with his family at the
age of nine to pursue his dream
of becoming a professional
actor. Since then, his credits
include guest-starring roles
on Major Crimes, Grey’s
Anatomy, Modern Family,
The Goldbergs, Mixology,
Growing Up Fisher, as well as
a series regular role on the
CBS pilot Home Grown. His
feature film credits include
Jake Squared (with Virginia
Madsen) and The Real Saint
Nick (directed by Penelope
Spheeris). Tanner has a great
passion for gymnastics,
music (playing piano, guitar,
singing and composing) and
dance. He has won numerous
awards in tap and jazz. He
would like to thank Stephen
Belber, Peter DuBois, Phyllis
Schuringa, and the entire
team at the Geffen for this
incredible opportunity.
BRENDAN GRIFFIN
(John Ebbs)
Brendan is thrilled to be
reprising his role of John
Ebbs in The Power of Duff
(IRNE Nomination). He
P8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
previously appeared in
Clybourne Park at the
Walter Kerr Theatre (Tony
Award). His Off-Broadway
credits include Bottom of
the World (The Atlantic) and
Clybourne Park (Playwright’s
Horizons). Regionally he
has worked at the Mark
Taper Forum, Huntington
Theatre Company, The
Old Globe Theatre (Back
Back Back, Cyrano de
Bergerac, Coriolanus) and
Chicago’s Dog & Pony
Theatre Company (Clouds),
of which he is a founding
member. Film credits include
Fathers & Daughters,
Movement & Location, The
Wolf of Wall Street, Return,
Taking Chance, The Nanny
Diaries. Television: Gotham,
Unforgettable, The Black
Box, Blue Bloods, Person of
Interest, Pan Am, The Good
Wife, Generation Kill, Law &
Order: Criminal Intent, Law &
Order: SVU, etc. Brendan is
a proud graduate of Kenyon
College and a member of AEA.
ERIC LADIN
(Scott Zoellner)
Geffen Playhouse Debut.
Film: American Sniper,
Annabelle, Highland Park,
Bar Starz and Cursed.
Television: Series regular
on The Brink (premiering on
HBO in June), The Killing
(AMC) and Generation
Kill (HBO). Recurred on
Boardwalk Empire (HBO),
Mad Men (AMC) and Big
Love (HBO). Other television
credits include Justified,
Suits, Dexter, Criminal Minds,
Castle, Law & Order: SVU,
and The Mentalist. Eric
attended The University of
Southern California School
of Dramatic Arts where he
received a B.A. in theater.
He resides in Los Angeles
with his wife, Katy, their sons
Maxfield and Stormy and
dog, Chance.
JOE PAULIK
(Ron Fitzpatrick and Others)
Off Broadway: P.S. Jones
and the Frozen City (New
Ohio Theatre), Timon of
Athens (The Public Theater/
NYSF), A Feminine Ending
(Playwrights Horizons), The
Sporting Life (Vineyard
Theatre), Measure for
Measure (45 Bleecker
Street Theater) and a
staged reading of The Good
Smoke with Meryl Streep
(The Public Theater/NYSF).
Regional: Bad Jews (Studio
Theatre); The Power of
Duff (Huntington Theatre
Company); The Adventures
of Tom Sawyer and Twelfth
Night (Hartford Stage);
Moonchildren (Berkshire
Theatre Group, dir. Karen
Allen); Major Barbara
(Guthrie Theater); Old
Wicked Songs opposite
Michael Cristofer (Westport
Country Playhouse);
Eurydice, Cabaret & Main
and Kilroy Was Here
(Williamstown Theatre
Festival). TV: Guiding Light,
The Good Wife and Person
of Interest. MFA from NYU;
the Shakespeare course of
study at the Royal Academy
of Dramatic Art. Joe has
created two solo shows, Me
and the Moon and Time Man.
He is a member of Get to
the Chopper, a Los Angelesbased sketch comedy group.
www.get2thechopper.com
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ
(Sue Raspell)
Broadway world premiere
of The Motherfucker With
the Hat (Tony Award
nomination, Outer Critics
Circle Award, Theatre World
Award). Other theater: three
world premieres at NYC’s
Public Theater—The Last
Days of Judas Iscariot, A
View from 151st Street, and
Unconditional. Additional
theater includes Beauty
of the Father (Manhattan
Theatre Club), Roger and
Vanessa (Actors’ Gang), Den
of Thieves (Black Dahlia),
Robbers (American Place
Theater), Unorganized
Crime (Elephant Theater,
Ovation Award nomination).
Select television: Aleida
Diaz on Orange Is the New
Black (SAG Award, Best
Ensemble), Power, Grimm,
Prime Suspect, Law & Order,
Law & Order: SVU, All My
Children, The Shield, ER,
Six Feet Under, Cold Case,
Just Shoot Me, NYPD Blue.
Select film: The Drop, Miami
Vice, Tio Papi (Imagen Award
nomination), Jack Goes
Boating, Return to Paradise,
Dead Presidents, Acts of
Worship, Take Care, 11:55
Holyoke. Proud member of
Labyrinth Theater Company.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
MAURICE WILLIAMS
(Casey)
Maurice is thrilled to be making
his West Coast premiere in
this intricate exploration of
faith, bravery, family and the
media. “I hope and pray our
work brings you a step closer
to your beliefs, whatever
they may be. Thank you for
coming!” NYC Off-Broadway:
When January Feels Like
Summer (Ensemble Studio
Theatre), Pitbulls (Rattlestick
Playwrights Theatre). For
every dream ever dreamed in
a small apartment in Queens.
Temple Made. UCSD Trained.
Maurice offers the following
as a tribute to those near and
dear to him: J.MP.R - 1.Zr.iV MyN.r .X. .doable.
STEPHEN BELBER
(Playwright)
Stephen Belber’s plays have
been produced on Broadway
and in over 25 countries.
They include Match; Tape;
Don’t Go Gentle; Dusk Rings
a Bell; McReele; Finally;
Geometry of Fire; Fault
Lines; Carol Mulroney; A
Small, Melodramatic Story;
One Million Butterflies;
The Power of Duff and The
Muscles In Our Toes. He was
an associate writer on The
Laramie Project and co-writer
on The Laramie Project:
Ten Years Later. Movies
include Tape (directed by
Richard Linklater), The
Laramie Project (associate
writer), Drifting Elegant,
Management (starring
Jennifer Aniston) and Match
(starring Patrick Stewart),
the last two of which he also
directed. Television credits
The New Yorker, Newsday,
Variety, Entertainment Weekly
and The Evening Standard.
PETER DuBOIS
(Director)
Peter DuBois is the Artistic
Director at the Huntington
Theatre Company. His
West End/London credits
include Rapture, Blister, Burn
(Hampstead Theatre); All New
People with Zach Braff (Duke
of York’s Theatre) and Becky
Shaw (Almeida Theatre).
New York credits include
The Power of Duff with Greg
Kinnear (New York Stage and
Film/Powerhouse Theater);
the premiere of Rapture,
Blister, Burn (Playwrights
Horizons) and Sons of the
Prophet (Roundabout Theatre
Company); Modern Terrorism,
Becky Shaw, Trust with Sutton
Foster and All New People
(Second Stage Theatre);
Measure for Pleasure, Richard
III with Peter Dinklage,
Mom, How Did You Meet the
Beatles?, and Biro (The Public
Theater/NYSF); Jack Goes
Boating with Philip Seymour
Hoffman and The View
From 151st Street (LAByrinth
Theater Company/The Public
Theater). Regional US and UK
credits include productions
at American Conservatory
Theater, Trinity Repertory
Company, Humana Festival of
New Plays, Manchester Opera
House, and King’s Theater
Glasgow. Before arriving at the
Huntington, he served for five
years as associate producer
and resident director at The
Public Theater, preceded by
five years as artistic director of
the Perseverance Theatre in
Juneau, Alaska. Prior to his work
at Perseverance, Mr. DuBois
lived and worked in the Czech
Republic where he co-founded
Asylum, a multi-national
squat theater in Prague. His
productions have been on the
annual top ten lists of The New
York Times, Time Out, Boston
Globe, New York Magazine,
CLINT RAMOS
(Scenic Designer)
Geffen Playhouse debut.
Broadway: costumes for
Elephant Man (also West End),
Violet. Off-Broadway: recent
sets and/or costumes for Here
Lies Love (Public Theater, NY
and National Theatre, London);
Punk Rock (MCC); Appropriate
(Signature, NY); Bootycandy
(Playwrights Horizons); Cradle
Will Rock, I’m Getting My Act
Together…, tick, tick, BOOM!,
Randy Newman’s Faust,
Pumpboys and Dinettes (City
Center Encores! Off-Center);
many others. Regional: over
100 regional and international
design credits including Kid
Victory (Signature Theatre), The
Colored Museum (Huntington),
Five Guys Named Moe
(Arena Stage and Cleveland
Playhouse), One Night In
Miami (Center Stage), Marie
Antoinette (Steppenwolf).
Awards: 2013 Obie Award for
Sustained Excellence, three
Lucille Lortel Awards, TDF
Irene Sharaff Young Master
Award, two American Theater
Wing Henry Hewes Awards,
two Drama Desk Nominations,
Craig Noel Award and Helen
Hayes Award. Upcoming:
Melancholy Play (Trinity Rep);
After All The Terrible Things
I’ve Done (Huntington); The
Wild Party, Little Shop of
Horrors and A New Brain (City
Center Encores! Off-Center).
MFA from NYU.
BOBBY FREDERICK
TILLEY II
(Costume Designer)
Theater includes The Taming
Of The Shrew (Virginia
Stage Company); the world
premiere of Open House
(Signature Theatre); The
Power Of Duff, Captors, Sons
of the Prophet and Circle
Mirror Transformation (The
Huntington Theatre Company);
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P9
THE POWER OF DUFF
JOSH STAMBERG
(Charlie Duff)
Josh is thrilled to return
to the Geffen where he
appeared in Female Of The
Species opposite Annette
Bening. He co-developed
and starred in Stephen
Belber's Tape (productions in
New York, Los Angeles and
London). He has performed
in many L.A. Theater Works
productions including the
international tour of Top
Secret: The Battle for the
Pentagon Papers. Josh
also loves being involved
with the Ojai Playwright’s
Conference. New York:
Roundabout, Atlantic and
MCC. Chicago: Steppenwolf
and others. Television:
regular roles include
Showtime’s Golden Globewinning The Affair, NBC’s
Parenthood and Lifetime's
Drop Dead Diva. Recurring:
Six Feet Under, Studio 60 on
the Sunset Strip, Over There
and Castle. Favorite guest
roles: Justified, Sex and the
City and It’s Always Sunny
in Philadelphia. Upcoming
film: Zoe Cassavetes’s Day
Out of Days and Havenhurst
with Fionnula Flanagan.
Other roles: Clint Eastwood's
J. Edgar, Jill Soloway’s
Afternoon Delight, Scott
Stewart’s Dark Skies and
Legion and Stephen Belber’s
Drifting Elegant. Josh lives
in Los Angeles and New
York with his wife, actress
Myndy Crist, and their two
daughters.
include Rescue Me, Law &
Order SVU, and pilots for
F/X, FTVS and HBO.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
Chapter Two (Bucks County
Playhouse); The Power of
Duff (NYS&F); Sons of the
Prophet (Roundabout); the
world premiere of All New
People (Second Stage); Proof
(Merrimack Repertory Theatre);
Thinner Than Water (LAByrinth
Theater Company); The
Loneliness of the Long Distance
Runner, The Pinter Plays:
The Collection and A Kind Of
Alaska, the world premiere of
Annie Baker’s Body Awareness
and Birth and After Birth
(Atlantic Theatre Company);
the world premiere of Annie
Baker’s The Aliens (Rattlestick);
The Aliens (Company One,
Elliot Norton Award for
Outstanding Design) and Body
Awareness (Speakeasy Stage
Company); Lizzie Borden (The
Living Theater, Drama Desk
Nomination); Top Girls (Act 1,
MTC/Biltmore); Mel and El:
Show & Tell (Ars Nova). Film
includes Hello, I Must Be Going;
The Green; Four Lane Highway;
Little Kings; and Rubout.
RUI RITA
(Lighting Designer)
Broadway: Velocity of Autumn,
The Trip to Bountiful, Present
Laughter, Dividing the Estate,
Old Acquaintance, Enchanted
April, among others. OffBroadway premieres: Just Jim
Dale (Roundabout); Happiest
Song Plays Last (Second
Stage); Horton Foote’s The
Old Friends and The Orphans’
Home Cycle (Hewes Award,
Signature); Nightingale,
Moonlight and Magnolias
(Manhattan Theatre Club);
Big Bill, Carpetbagger’s
Children, Far East (Lincoln
Center Theater); The Day
Emily Married (Primary Stages);
Dinner with Friends (Variety
Arts Center). Off-Broadway
revivals: Piano Lesson
(Signature); Talley’s Folly
and Milk Train Doesn’t Stop
Here Anymore (Roundabout);
Engaged (Obie Award, Theatre
for a New Audience). Regional
credits: Alley Theatre, Arena
P10 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Stage, American Conservatory
Theater, Center Stage, Center
Theatre Group, Ford’s Theatre,
Goodman, Hartford Stage,
Huntington Theatre Company,
The Shakespeare Theatre,
Center Theatre Group, Old
Globe, Oregon Shakespeare
Festival, Westport Country
Playhouse and Williamstown
Theatre Festival.
M.L. DOGG
(Sound Designer)
M.L. Dogg has designed
for Long Wharf Theatre,
Roundabout Theatre Company,
New York University, Actors
Theatre Of Louisville, Royal
National Theatre, Debate
Society, Ars Nova, Keen
Company, Dorset Theatre
Festival, Huntington Theatre,
Joey Parnes Productions,
American Repertory Theatre,
South Coast Repertory,
Signature Theatre, Pearl
Theatre, Gingold Theatrical
Group, Almeida Theatre,
Williamstown Theatre Festival,
Public Theatre, Milwaukee
Repertory Theater, Second
Stage Theatre, New York Stage
And Film, Playwrights Horizons,
Waterwell Productions,
Nicholas Ward Productions,
Fordham University Theatre,
Out Of Balanz, Shelby
Company, Scott Sanders
Productions, Why Not Theatre,
Living Room For Artists,
Inc., 13P, Two River Theater
Co., Working Theatre, Epic
Theatre Ensemble, fringeNYC,
Stillpoint Productions,
Women’s Project, Theatre B,
Depot Theatre, Classic Stage
Company, Shakespeare &
Company, Clubbed Thumb,
Wash And Fold Productions,
and Monster(less) Actors,
Inc. Drama Desk, IRNE and IT
nominee; Lucille Lortel Award
for Here Lies Love; fringeNYC
award for Go-Go Kitty, GO!.
AARON RHYNE
(Projection Designer)
Broadway: A Gentleman’s
Guide to Love and Murder
the Veil at Lincoln Center for
Performing Arts and Tosca,
Arabella, Don Giovanni,
Don Pasquale, La Grande
Duchesse, La Donna del Lago,
La Traviata, Elixir of Love, The
Magic Flute, Oscar, Falstaff
and La Boheme at The Santa
Fe Opera. Kyra has a Bachelor
of Fine Arts in theater design
and technology from the
University of South Dakota.
(Drama Desk Award), Bonnie
and Clyde. Opera: The Ghosts
of Versailles (LA Opera), La
Traviata (Wolftrap), Florencia
en el Amazonas (Opera
Colorado, Utah Opera),
Jerry Springer: The Opera
(Carnegie Hall, The Sydney
Opera House). Off Broadway:
Bootycandy (Playwrights
Horizons); Appropriate
(Signature); Water By the
Spoonful; Lonely, I’m Not; The
Blue Flower; All New People
(Second Stage); Wild With
Happy (The Public, Drama
Desk Nomination); Graceland
(Lincoln Center); Spirit Control
(MTC); Taylor Mac’s Obie
Award-winning The Lily’s
Revenge (HERE); Dutchman
(Cherry Lane). Regional: A
Gentleman’s Guide to Love and
Murder (Hartford Stage, Old
Globe); Bonnie and Clyde (La
Jolla Playhouse, Asolo Rep);
The Power of Duff (Huntington);
Strange Interlude (Shakespeare
Theatre); Pericles (Chicago
Shakespeare); The Rocky
Horror Show, Welcome to
Arroyo’s, Whisper House (The
Old Globe). Additionally, Mr.
Rhyne creates video content
for various television projects,
including Project Runway and
NBC’s The Marriage Ref.
www.aaronrhyne.com
MICHAEL VITALE
(Assistant Stage Manager)
Michael is thrilled to be
returning to the Geffen for
his third production. He has
been working professionally
in the L.A. area for the past
eight years. Some favorite
productions include: The
Simpsons Take the Bowl, Hair,
Chicago, The Producers,
Hairspray, Rent (Hollywood
Bowl/LA Philharmonic); Alice in
Wonderland (LA Philharmonic/
Barbican, London); Rapture,
Blister, Burn (Geffen
Playhouse); The Black Suits,
Race (Center Theatre Group);
Cosi fan tutte, Le Nozze di
Figaro (LA Phil); I Due Foscari,
La Boheme (Los Angeles
Opera). Michael holds an MFA
in Stage Management and
currently teaches at California
State University, Fullerton.
KYRA HANSEN
(Production Stage Manager)
Past Geffen Playhouse credits
include Choir Boy; Slowgirl;
I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with
Sue Mengers; Play Dead;
Good People; The Jacksonian;
Radiance; Extraordinary
Chambers; Love, Loss, and
What I Wore and Coney Island
Christmas. Other Los Angeles
credits include Love Noël at
the Wallis Annenberg Center
for the Performing Arts, The
Barber of Seville, Cenerentola,
Dulce Rosa and A Streetcar
Named Desire at Los Angeles
Opera, Tchaikovsky Secondary
and Zappa’s 200 Motels at
Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Other credits include Beneath
AMY LEVINSON
(Dramaturg)
Amy is the Artistic Associate
and Literary Director at the
Geffen Playhouse. Dramaturgy
credits include the commissions
and world premieres of Donald
Margulies’ Time Stands Still
and Coney Island Christmas,
Jane Anderson’s The Quality of
Life and The Escort and Jeffrey
Hatcher’s new adaptation
of Wait Until Dark. Other
credits include The Weir,
Extraordinary Chambers,
Build, Equivocation and Joan
Rivers: A Work in Progress.
At the Geffen she has helped
to build programs for the
purpose of fostering new work
including the commissioning
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
PHYLLIS SCHURINGA, CSA
(Casting Director)
Phyllis has been the casting
director at the Geffen for
12 years and now is also an
artistic associate. Recent plays
are Reasons to Be Pretty;
The Country House; Death of
the Author; Wait Until Dark;
American Buffalo; Yes, Prime
Minister; The Gift; Coney
Island Christmas; Build and
the Los Angeles production of
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.
Before joining the team at the
Geffen, she was the casting
director for Steppenwolf
Theatre in Chicago where
her favorites include Frank
Galati’s adaptation of The
Grapes of Wrath (also La Jolla
Playhouse, National Theatre in
London, and Broadway, where
it received the Tony Award
for Best Play), the original
production of Steve Martin’s
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
(and subsequent productions
including Westwood Playhouse
and Briar Street Theater in
Chicago), Austin Pendleton’s
Orson’s Shadow and Charles L.
Mee’s Time to Burn. Broadway
transfers include One Flew
Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Tony
for Best Revival) and The Song
of Jacob Zulu. She teaches
auditioning at Steppenwolf
West and is a member of the
Casting Society of America.
RANDALL ARNEY
(Artistic Director)
Randall Arney has been a
theater professional for over
30 years and has served
as artistic director of the
Geffen Playhouse since 1999.
In addition to his artistic
programming and oversight
at the Geffen, Arney has
helmed more than 10
productions for the theater,
most recently Reasons to Be
Pretty, Slowgirl, American
Buffalo, Superior Donuts,
The Female of the Species,
The Seafarer, Speed-thePlow and All My Sons. Arney
is an ensemble member
and former artistic director
of Chicago’s Steppenwolf
Theatre where his directing
credits include: Slowgirl,
The Seafarer, The Beauty
Queen of Leenane, Death
and the Maiden, Curse of
the Starving Class, Killers
and The Geography of Luck,
among others. Arney also
directed Steppenwolf’s world
premiere of Steve Martin’s
Picasso at the Lapin Agile,
as well as the subsequent
national and international
acclaimed productions. Mr.
Arney’s acting credits with
Steppenwolf include Born
Yesterday, Ghost in the
Machine, The Homecoming,
Frank’s Wild Years, You
Can’t Take it with You, Fool
for Love, True West, Balm
in Gilead and Coyote Ugly.
As the artistic director for
Steppenwolf from 1987
to 1995, he oversaw the
creation of a new stateof-the-art theater which is
Steppenwolf’s current home.
Broadway transfers under his
leadership include The Rise
and Fall of Little Voice, The
Song of Jacob Zulu (six Tony
Award nominations) and The
Grapes of Wrath (1990 Tony
Award, Best Play). Mr. Arney
has an MFA degree in Acting
from Illinois State University
and has taught master
classes and workshops at
UCLA, Steppenwolf, around
the U.S. and in Tokyo.
Joey, starring Emmy winner
Matt LeBlanc. He studied at
the National Theatre Institute
in Waterford, Connecticut, and
holds a BFA in Drama from
Syracuse University in 1991.
GIL CATES, JR.
(Interim Managing Director)
Gil Cates, Jr. has proudly
served as Geffen Playhouse
Board Vice Chairman
since 2012 and has years
of producing and directing
experience in theater, film,
and television. Gil’s theater
credits include the award
winning Names (Matrix
Theatre) starring Dixie Carter
and Greg Mullavey, The Night
I Knocked Out Joe Frazer and
Lost 90 Pounds (Gardner Stage
Theater), as well as Three
Sisters and David Mamet’s
A Life In The Theatre (both
at Syracuse Stage). Gil’s film
credits include The Surface
(starring Sean Astin and Geffen
Playhouse alumnus Chris
Mulkey), Jobs (starring Ashton
Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot
Mulroney, as well as Geffen
Playhouse alumni Matthew
Modine and Ron Eldard) and
the 2011 feature film Lucky
(starring Colin Hanks, Ari
Graynor, Ann-Margret and
recent Golden Globe winner
Jeffrey Tambor). In addition,
Gil produced and directed
the critically acclaimed Life
After Tomorrow, featuring
Sarah Jessica Parker, which
won best documentary at the
Phoenix Film Festival and later
had its premiere Christmas
Eve on Showtime. His other
films include Deal (starring
Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison
and Charles Durning), The
Mesmerist (starring Geffen
Playhouse nus Neil Patrick
Harris), and the critically
acclaimed independent film
Order of Chaos. Gil also made
his TV directorial debut with an
episode of the NBC comedy,
REGINA MILLER
(Chief Development Officer)
Regina has been a
development professional
for over 18 years, working
with non-profit institutions,
foundations and corporations
on strategy, analysis and
fundraising. She has worked
for Simon Wiesenthal Center,
William J. Jefferson Clinton
Foundation, Ben Affleck’s
Eastern Congo Initiative,
Hank Azaria’s Determined
to Succeed, National Center
for Missing and Exploited
Children, Kind Campaign,
Jewish Museum of Prague,
among others. Prior to the
Geffen, Regina served as the
Director of Partnerships for Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Greater
Los Angeles and the Inland
Empire where she led strategic
planning and development
while executing policies that
advanced the organization’s
visibility and growth. Regina
also has a strong passion for
teaching. After graduating from
University of North Carolina
School of the Arts and touring
the world as a professional
dancer, she worked as a
teacher in preschools and
kindergartens in New York, as
well as lecturing at numerous
schools in the U.S. and abroad.
Regina is also a published
author and photographer
with Tallefellow Press and
Prometheus Books and is
currently working on a book
with her 11 year old son Jaden.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P11
THE POWER OF DUFF
and development of plays.
Also a translator of Yiddish
drama, she holds an MFA in
Dramaturgy from the University
of Massachusetts, Amherst.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GEFFEN AT A GLANCE
ADDRESS
PRODUCTION STAFF FOR THE POWER OF DUFF
Assistant Set Designer Craig Napoliello
Assistant Costume Designer E.B. Brooks
Assistant Lighting Designer Jenna Pletcher
Assistant Projection Designer Ned Stresen-Reuter
Light Board Operator Josiah Davis
Wardrobe Supervisor Carol Ann Sparks
Production Assistant Jessica Standifer
Automations Operator Joel Fullerton
Stage Crew Alexandre Norkus
Followspot Operator Jack Herndon
Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Administrative Offices.......... 310.208.6500
Weekdays.........................10:00 am — 6:00 pm
Box Office Phone Line........... 310.208.5454
Daily......................................7:00 am — 6:00 pm
Subscriber Hotline.................. 310.208.2028
Weekdays.........................10:00 am — 6:00 pm
Weekends........................ 12:00 pm — 6:00 pm
Please visit geffenplayhouse.com for
hours, parking and more information
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Set provided by Scenic Highlights
Lighting Equipment provided by Entertainment Lighting Services
Sound Equipment provided by Jon Sound Inc.
Production Photographer Michael Lamont
Media Filming Four Leaf Media
SPECIAL THANKS
UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Scene, Prop, Sound and Costume
Shops; London Cleaners; Keurig; Zoe Perry; Joe Crow; Soledad O’Brien
UCLA SCHOOL OF THEATER, FILM AND TELEVISION
The Geffen Playhouse is affiliated with the University of California at
Los Angeles, specifically the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
The Geffen Playhouse values its role as an important educational resource
by providing students with master classes, workshops and internships.
Students are also able to work and learn from distinguished visiting Geffen
artists such as Alan Ayckbourn, Jon Robin Baitz, Annette Bening, Ed Harris,
David Ives, Neil LaBute, David Mamet, Donald Margulies, Terrence McNally,
John Rando and Kathleen Turner in areas of directing, playwriting, acting,
design, dramaturgy, management and production. The Geffen Playhouse
also draws upon the distinguished experts in the university to enhance the
theater’s programs and research.
This theater operates under agreement between the League of Resident
Theaters and Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors
and stage managers in the United States.
This theater operates under agreement between the League of Resident
Theaters and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, an independent
national labor union.
The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT theaters are
represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE.
P12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
TICKET SERVICES
Box Office Window
When shows are not in performance,
the box office window is open:
Weekdays.........................10:00 am — 6:00 pm
Weekends........................ 12:00 pm — 6:00 pm
During the run of a show, the window will
be open until curtain. Please note: the
box office is unable to process exchanges
and future sales one hour prior to curtain
time on any performance day.
ACCESS
ASL
Accessible Accommodation
The Geffen Playhouse is
fully committed to ensuring a
satisfying theater experience
for our patrons with special
needs or disabilities. Please
contact the box office or an
usher to discuss your needs.
AT THE THEATER
Late Seating
Should you arrive late to the theater or
vacate your seat during the performance,
please expect to be held in the lobby until
an appropriate pause in the action on-stage.
To minimize disturbance to other patrons,
you may be sat into the first available
location by the house staff even if different
from your assigned seat. Be advised that
some productions or circumstances may not
allow for late or return seating.
SCENE AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
1
Opening Night of
The Night Alive
Sponsored by Audi of America, Inc.,
Keurig, Los Angeles magazine,
Malibu Family Wines
and Napa Valley Grille
2
3
4
1. The cast of The Night Alive with director
Randall Arney
2. Robert Hollander, Board Co-Chair
Pamela Robinson Hollander, Randall Arney
and Geffen alumnus Shawn Hatosy
Photos by Jordan Strauss
3. Geffen Chair Emeritus Frank Mancuso with
Fay Mancuso and Vice Chair Gil Cates, Jr.
4. Board Co-Chairs Martha Henderson and
Pamela Robinson Hollander
5. Donors Stanley and Ruth Zicklin
6. Geffen partners Micheal Wilson and
Shane Upson from Bliss
5
6
BE A PART OF THE SCENE AT THE GEFFEN AND ATTEND OUR OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATIONS
CALL THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT 310.208.6500 EXT. 128
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P13
CRITIC’S CHOICE!
A “remarkable portrait … richly entertaining
and ultimately touching.”
— Los Angeles Times
“Enriching, humorous and replete with most
of the brilliant Berlin tunes … you do not
want to miss a delicious moment of it!”
— Broadway World
Hershey Felder brings to life the remarkable story of Irving Berlin, “America’s Composer.”
From the depths of anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia, to New York’s Lower East Side, and
ultimately all of America and the world, Berlin’s story epitomizes the American dream.
Featuring the composer’s most popular and enduring songs from “God Bless America,”
to “White Christmas” and beyond, Hershey Felder’s masterful creation of character and
musical performance makes this evening with Irving Berlin an unforgettable journey.
RETURN ENGAGEMENT BY POPULAR DEMAND
AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 16
GIL CATES THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.COM |
310.208.5454
Photo by Eighty-Eight Entertainment
Lyrics & Music by IRVING BERLIN
Book by HERSHEY FELDER
Directed by TREVOR HAY
SHARE YOUR VOICE
@OFFICIALTOBIN
The Night Alive @GeffenPlayhouse
is beautifully acted. Personal and
compelling. Paul Vincent O’Connor and
Fiona O’Shaugnessey touch your heart!
#THENIGHTALIVEGP
JOHNNY CLARK
Phenomenal acting, writing and directing.
Paul Vincent O’Connor absolutely slays the
role of “Tommy” in this one. Unreal good.
@MISSMORAHAN
#THENIGHTALIVEGP
CINDY MCQUADE
#THENIGHTALIVEGP
It was a beautiful, luminous and nearly
perfect production. Thank you for this great
theatre experience. Bravo to the actors,
director and, of course, the playwright.
#THENIGHTALIVEGP
@AARONCRAVEN
Saw very cool Connor McPherson play
The Night Alive @GeffenPlayhouse tonight.
Great performances, rich dark language...
#THENIGHTALIVEGP
#GEFFENPLAYHOUSE
@YOUNGJI06
JAKE BRODER
A tremendous piece of work all around.
The play itself is sublime. The direction is
subtle and clear, and the performances are
really out of this world.
#THENIGHTALIVEGP
ENGAGE WITH US THIS SEASON!
Post, smile and share during your
next visit to the Geffen!
@IMPIERRE
#GEFFENPLAYHOUSE #POWEROFDUFFGP
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P15
THE POWER OF DUFF
#THENIGHTALIVEGP
OUTREACH
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
LITERACY PROJECT
CONGRATULATIONS TO MENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL
10TH GRADERS FOR COMPLETING THE
CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM!
Being able to pass the CAHSEE in the spring of their sophomore year can be a deciding
factor in whether or not students drop out of high school. According to Mendez High
School principals, the writing portion of the test is the toughest for their students.
To help students succeed and stay in school, the Geffen Playhouse has been working
closely with all 10th graders in an immersive program that is centered upon our season
of plays and the rich opportunity to use our plays as highly captivating experiences in
which to develop and sharpen their writing and critical thinking skills.
P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
OUTREACH
Mendez High School students with Jennifer Zakkai, Geffen Playhouse Director of Education & Community Outreach
STUDENTS WORK WITH TEACHING
ARTISTS BEFORE AND AFTER EACH
Photos by Jeff Lorch Photography
Student Matinee to deepen their knowledge of
theater, increase their understanding of the topics
and themes of the plays and enhance their speaking
skills. They write essays based on a theme from
the play and receive individualized feedback from
UCLA Center X Literacy Coaches, as well as their
English teachers. In special small group sessions, the
coaches and teachers advance students’ capacities
to comprehend and analyze different ideas, express
their own thoughts clearly and cohesively, and
support their opinions with evidence.
In the inaugural year of the Geffen Playhouse’s
collaboration with Mendez High School, the
percentage of students who passed the CAHSEE
on their first attempt increased by 11 % — breaking
every previous record.
“In the beginning of the year,
I disliked writing a lot. The plays and
learning how to write through them
and through our work with the teaching
artists and writing coaches have opened
my eyes to a whole new perspective.”
— Adriana
“This program helps us in ways that are
hard to describe. It opens our minds. It
shows us that anything is possible with a
little help! Without the people who give
to make this program possible, I would
not have experienced any plays. I would
not have explored all of the new ideas.
I know I will be more successful in life
because of this program.”
— Ashley
JOIN US IN HELPING THESE STUDENTS.
VISIT GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.COM/DONATE
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P17
BACKSTAGE AT THE GEFFEN
THANK YOU TO OUR INCREDIBLE SPONSORS WHO HELPED
MAKE THIS A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR
TITLE SPONSOR
PRESENTING SPONSORS
R O B E RT
K. KRAFT
Photographed by Greg Gorman
THANK YOU TO OUR 2015 HONOREES
Distinction in Service Award
Distinction in Theater Award
MELLODY HOBSON
& GEORGE LUCAS
SIR ELTON JOHN
& DAVID FURNISH
GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.COM/BACKSTAGE
ANNUAL DONORS
In appreciation, donors enjoy a host of special benefits including house seats, complimentary drinks, receptions and much more.
For more information, please call Jamie Mikelich at 310.208.6500 ext. 128.
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Anonymous
Audi of America, Inc
Ben/Joyce Eisenberg Foundation
City National Bank
Elizabeth Lacey & Gilbert Cates, Jr.
Mary Ann Cloyd
David Geffen Foundation
Edgerton Foundation
Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer & Melvin Keefer
Herbert M. & Beverly J. Gelfand
In Memory of Alice Ghostley & Felice Orlandi
Sam Gores
The Adi & Jerry Greenberg Foundation
Guggenheim Partners Investment
Management Holdings, LLC
Carole & Bill Haber
Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust
Martha Henderson
Rabbi Uri D. Herscher & Dr. Myrna Herscher
Cindy & Alan Horn
HSBC Private Bank USA
Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg
Glorya Kaufman
Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman
Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation
Keyes Automotive Group
Robert K. Kraft
Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald
L&N Andreas Foundation
Latham & Watkins LLP
The Lauder Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Jason & Yvonne Lee
Susan & David Leveton
George Lucas Family Foundation
Ginny Mancini
Fay & Frank Mancuso
Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Fund for
Arts Education at the Geffen Playhouse
John McCrite & Juan Lopez
Donna McKenna & Flynn Chernos
Kelly & Ron Meyer
Scott Minerd
Ann & Jerry Moss
Moss Foundation
Paradigm Talent Agency
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Madeline & Bruce Ramer
Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander
Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin
Richard & Barbara Sherman
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Kate Capshaw Spielberg & Steven Spielberg
DeeAnna Staats
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Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum
UCLA
The Walt Disney Company
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Dirk & Natasha Ziff
Anonymous
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Aegon Transamerica Foundation
Patricia Kiernan Applegate
Aria Resort & Spa
Ariel Investments
Robert C. Baral
Beth Behrs
Stephanie & Jonathan Carson
CBS Corporation
Valarie De La Garza & Michael Centeno
Classic Party Rentals
Daedalus Foundation, Inc
Designer 8 Event Furniture Rental
The Douglas Foundation
DreamWorks Animation
Dwight Stuart Youth Fund
The Edward A. & Ai O. Shay Family Foundation
Fox Entertainment Group
Carol & Paul Frimmer
Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc.
Jim & Ann Gianopulos
Goldman Sachs
Andy & Carlo Brandon-Gordon
Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association
Mellody Hobson
InterActive Corp (IAC)
The Lear Family Foundation
Los Angeles County Arts Commission
Los Angeles magazine
Louis Vuitton
Marcia Israel Foundation, Inc.
Sandra E. Milken
Leslie Moonves & Julie Chen
Napa Valley Grille
Mike Nichols & Diane Sawyer
Anna K. Nupson
SOCIAL by Samantha Sackler & Tammy Ratner
Shel & Cynthia Stone
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Warner Bros. Entertainment
Wells Fargo Foundation
Samantha & John Williams
$50,000+
$25,000 - $49,999
PRODUCER
$10,000 - $24,999
Anonymous
Laurie & Bill Benenson
Charles A. Black, Jr.
Board of Supervisors County of Los Angeles
Heather Thomas & Skip Brittenham
Brotman Foundation of California
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Eileen & Harold Brown
Brunello Cucinelli
Bulgari Corporation of America
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The Capital Group Companies
Charitable Foundation
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CenterStaging
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Fielding Edlow & Larry Clarke
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Susan & Mark Fleischer
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Dr. Hilary Garland
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Patty Glaser & Sam Mudie
Manuela & James Goren
Arthur Greenberg
C. Curtis Grisham
In Memory of Morris A. Hazan
HBO
Samantha & Eric Heer
Stanley Iezman & Nancy Stark
Vicki Iovine & David Coiro
Joseph Drown Foundation
Joan Kaloustian
Fred Latsko
Janine & Peter Lowy
Carla Malden
Mona Malden
Malibu Family Wines
Susan & Peter Mallory
Martin Katz, Ltd
Nancy & Michael McClelland
Wendy & Barry Meyer
MOCA Foundation
Marcia & Brett Molotsky
Montage Hotels & Residences
James L. Nederlander
& Margo MacNabb Nederlander
Northern Trust, NA
Paramount Pictures
Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes
Popland Studios
Rollin Ransom & Chris Lacroix
Judith Reichman, MD
Holly Rice
Richard Ruskell Pastries
The Richenthal Foundation
Jane Rissman & Richard Sondheimer
Ronen Levy Events
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The Simms/Mann Family Foundation
Sondheimer Foundation
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Fred Specktor & Nancy Heller
St. Regis Princeville Resort
Steve Tisch
Miranda & Brett Tollman
U.S. Bank
Union Bank
W Hotel Los Angeles
Westfield Group
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Lynn & Mark Williams
Ken Willner & Jim Stine
Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks
Linda Yellin
Ruth Ziegler
Ellen & Ken Ziffren
Ziffren Brittenham LLP
Richard & Mae Ziman
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P19
THE POWER OF DUFF
The Geffen Playhouse recognizes the following individuals and organizations for their generous support of our Annual Fund and
Backstage at the Geffen. Donors are listed at the Associate level and higher for gifts made between January 1, 2014 and February 28, 2015.
ANNUAL DONORS
DIRECTOR
$5,000 - $9,999
Anonymous
Jehan F. Agrama & Dwora Fried
AMC
Amgen Foundation
Hilary & Jack Angelo
The Alex Baldwin Foundation
AVID
The Baxter International Foundation
Ruth & Jake Bloom
Annette Blum
Mara & Jonathan Blum
The Eli & Edythe L. Broad Foundation
Linda & Jerry Bruckheimer
Glenn & Lynn Cardoso
Comcast | NBC Universal
Creative Artists Agency
Directors Guild of America
Lauren Shuler Donner
& Richard Donner
Mica Ertegun
Jo & Larry Feldman
Lawrence N. Field
Eric Flamholtz & Yvonne Randle
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Lela Rochon & Antoine Fuqua
Michael Gendler & Jessica Teich
Priscila Giraldo
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Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
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Tracey Jacobs
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Bernice & Wendell Jeffrey
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P20 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P21
THE POWER OF DUFF
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P22 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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HAVE WE MADE AN ERROR?
To report a misspelling or omission in these listings, please contact the
Development Department at 310.208.6500 ext. 128
DATES TO NOTE
APRIL 7 – MAY 17
MAY 19 – JUNE 28
GIL CATES THEATER
JUNE 9 – JULY 19
AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER
the power of duff Opening Night
GIL CATES THEATER
4/7/15
Artists, donors, press and sponsors, including longtime supporter Audi of America, celebrate
the West Coast premiere opening with a post-performance party at Napa Valley Grille.
switzerland Closing Night
Joanna Murray-Smith’s anticipated co-world premiere and Geffen Playhouse commission
closes in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater.
the power of duff Talk Back Tuesdays
4/19/15
4/21/15 – 5/12/15
Tuesdays only: Geffen Playhouse artists lead a post-performance discussion of
The Power of Duff while guests enjoy complimentary beverages courtesy of Keurig.
the power of duff Girls Night Out
4/23/15
The Geffen Playhouse’s popular after-party, held at Westwood’s stunning Skylight Gardens
restaurant, features artist and author, Toula Mavridou-Messer plus DJ Mike, hosted bar and
buffets, photo booth, a Keurig coffee and tea bar plus a Pixi Beauty take-away gift.
the power of duff ASL-Interpreted Performance4/26/15
Geffen Playhouse is fully committed to ensuring a satisfying theater experience for patrons
with special needs or disabilities. Contact ticketing or usher staff at 310.208.2028 for details.
the power of duff Student Matinee
4/30/15
Students from Mendez, Jordan, Santee, Roosevelt and Westchester High Schools attend a special
matinee performance featuring a post-show discussion with Geffen Playhouse artists and staff.
bad jews First Rehearsal
The “best new comedy of the season” (The New York Times) and West Coast premiere
begins rehearsal in the newly named Jason & Yvonne Lee Geffen Playhouse Annex.
5/12/15
THIS TIME IN
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
HISTORY
APRIL 2014
The West Coast premiere of
Slowgirl (helmed by Geffen Playhouse
Artistic Director Randall Arney)
extends in the Audrey Skirball Kenis
Theater at the Geffen Playhouse.
The production would later receive multiple
Ovation nominations and be awarded
the Ovation for Best Sound Design.
MARCH 2013
The world premiere of Nothing to Hide
(featuring Derek DelGaudio and Helder
Guimarães, directed by Neil Patrick
Harris) ends its record-breaking multimonth extension in the Audrey.
APRIL 2012
The West Coast premiere of David LindsayAbaire’s Good People opens and receives
a record eight Ovation nominations in
the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen
Playhouse. Director Matt Shakman will
return this summer to helm the West
Coast premiere comedy, Bad Jews.
ENHANCE YOUR EVENING AT THE GEFFEN!
Attend one of our Signature Series and enjoy the FREE festivities with your ticket purchase.
Event details at geffenplayhouse.com/signatureseries
TGIF
AT THE GEFFEN
TALK BACK
TUESDAYS
GIRLS
NIGHT OUT
LOUNGE
FRIDAYS
WINE DOWN
SUNDAYS
FRIDAY OF PREVIEW WEEK
EVERY TUESDAY AFTER PREVIEW WEEK
THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY RUN
FOURTH & FIFTH FRIDAY OF EVERY RUN
EVERY SUNDAY AFTER PREVIEW WEEK
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P23
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE STAFF
Randall Arney
Artistic Director
ARTISTIC
Gil Cates, Jr.
Interim Managing Director
MARKETING & SALES
Mary Garrett
Amy Levinson
Phyllis Schuringa
Young Ji
Nick Johnson
Artistic Manager
Artistic Associate / Literary Director
Artistic Associate / Casting Director
Artistic Coordinator
Literary Associate
DEVELOPMENT
Regina Miller Chief Development Officer
Ellen Catania Director of Major Gifts &
Corporate/Foundation Partnerships
Jessica Brusilow Rollins
Director of Education Partnerships & Donor Relations
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Kristen Smith Eshaya
Development & Education
Programs Coordinator
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EDUCATION
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Director of Education &
Community Outreach
Connor White
Resident Teaching Artist &
Education Associate
ADMINISTRATION
Behnaz Ataee
Chief Financial Officer
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the Managing Director
Peter Banachowski
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Marguerite Harris
Receptionist
PRODUCTION
Daniel Ionazzi
Jill Barnes
Matthew Carleton Evan Friedman
Rich Gilles James Grabowski
Darren Rezowalli
Production Manager
Associate Production Manager
Technical Director
Assistant Technical Director
Properties Master
Sound Master
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Joseph Yoshitomi
Director of Marketing & Communications
Karen Gutierrez
Director of Advertising &
Sponsorships
Mark San Filippo
Ticket Services Director &
Database Administrator
Stephanie Strand
Audience Services Manager
Brian Dunning
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Janice Bernal
Box Office Manager
Bryan Martin
Box Office Manager
Korie Benavidez, Joshua Davis, Clay Dzygun,
Natalie Gregory, Zack Hamra, Kaitlin Huwe,
Richard Martinez, Celia Rivera, Celeste Russi
Alyssa Tyson
Box Office Staff
COMMUNICATIONS
Tim Choy, Peter Goldman,
David Barber, Niki Blumberg Davidson & Choy Publicity
Rebecca Haithcoat
Communications Editor
FRONT OF HOUSE
Jeni Pearsons Director of Special Events
David Gerhardt Supervising House Manager
Michelle Cantrell, Kevin Cernansky, Josiah Davis,
Amy Farkas, Brennan Kelleher, Roxana Meyers,
Erik Odom
House Managers
Sevana Baghdasarian, Kailey Bray, Christopher Caron,
Taylor Cerny, Vianney Cossyleon, Brett Donaldson,
Brigid Donovan, Dan Foote, Chelsea Fryer, Mariel Higuera,
Netta Lee Joseph, Erica Keller, Caroline Harrison Kohler,
Nathaniel Meek, Keith Mitchell, JoJo Nwoko, Chase O’Donnell,
Cassandra Orrantia, Luis Ruiz, Jonathan Schwartz,
Oliver Vaughn
Ushers
Rob Mersola
Bar Manager
Manuel Mayorga
Weekend Bar Manager
Adam Carr, Brenda Davidson, Mariel Higuera, Lyndsi LaRose,
Kimberly Legg, Bartenders
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Miguel del Castillo
Mario Santillan-Perez
Juan Carlos Umaña
Facility Manager
Custodial
Cleaning Custodial
The Geffen Playhouse is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
This project was also funded in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.
The Geffen Playhouse, a non-profit theater company, is proudly affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles.
P24 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE