Tarell Alvin McCraney

26 Pages·2014·17.59 MB·English

gil cates theater at the geffen playhouse

welcome to the geffen playhouse
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Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography From the artistic Director
We Welcome you to the First play oF
the 2014/2015 GeFFen playhouse season

with the eagerly anticipated Choir Boy by Tarell McCraney. A play that
examines what it means to be an outsider in a world of staunch tradition, Choir
Boy observes the power a single voice can have in a cacophony of dissent.
We are pleased to have Tarell and director Trip Cullman who collaborated
on this play previously at Manhattan Theatre Club and the Alliance Theatre.
Together they bring to life a story of boys becoming men in a community that is
aching to change while holding fast to educational and spiritual traditions. With
an ensemble of breathtaking actors and designers, the world of Choir Boy tips
between tradition that shapes us and convention that stifles us.
These ideas, dramatized so elegantly by Tarell, have inspired an overarching
theme in our season — what does it mean to raise one’s voice? In each of the
plays we have selected is a resonant idea of how one person has the capacity
to create change, sometimes incrementally, sometimes globally.
As artists, we seek to do work that ignites conversation. If we choose wisely,
the work should entertain, delight and continue to spark debate long after
the curtain call. We have always encouraged an ongoing conversation and
this season more than ever. Whether you prefer a post-play discussion on a
Tuesday night, during the trip home, or to be heard through social media, we
hope you will join us this season as we raise our voices.
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
MAry Ann CLoyd
dEnnIs doTy
dr. BrAd EdgErTon
MArK FLEIsChEr
hErBErT M. gELFAnd
CHAIRmAn emeRItus
PATrICIA L. gLAsEr
AdI grEEnBErg
ArThur grEEnBErg
JoAn KALousTIAn
gLoryA KAuFMAn
LorETTA EvErETT KAuFMAn
dr. gErALd s. LEvEy
CArLA MALdEn
martha pamela susAn MALLory
henDerson robinson hollanDer gInny MAnCInI
BArry MEyEr
sCoTT MInErd
KEn novICE
sTEvEn A. oLsEn
Welcome to our First proDuction oF hoLLy rICE
LorEn roThsChILd
the 2014/2015 season, Choir Boy, directed by the brilliant Trip Cullman. LIndA BErnsTEIn ruBIn
TErI sChWArTz
We are delighted to begin 2014/2015 in our gil Cates Theater with the
rIChArd shErMAn
West Coast premiere of this exhilarating play, written by the award-winning FrEd sPECKTor
playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney. Thank you for joining us as we welcome LorrAInE sPurgE
dEEAnnA sTAATs
these extraordinary artists to our theater. CynThIA P. sTAFFord
hoWArd TEnEnBAuM
This season, we look forward to learning more about you, our beloved patrons, MIChAEL WALsh
loyal subscribers and extraordinary donors. how many years have you been
founDing trustees
coming to see performances at the geffen Playhouse? What inspired you
KIrsTEn CoMBs
to initially get involved in the theater? What aspect of our work are you roBErT A. dALy
dAvId gEFFEn
most passionate about? Tell us your story by contacting our development
QuInCy JonEs
department at 310.208.6500 or [email protected]. JEFFrEy KATzEnBErg
FrAnK g. MAnCuso
For those of you who are new to the geffen Playhouse this season, welcome CHAIRmAn emeRItus
ron MEyEr
to the family. We think you are in for a stellar season of plays, as well as special
LEsLIE MoonvEs
events. Additionally, our education and outreach programs are designed to JErry Moss
JErry PErEnChIo
use theater arts to ignite positive change in the most in-need communities and
BruCE M. rAMEr
schools in Los Angeles. To learn more about these programs and our impact FounDIng CHAIRmAn
vICTorIA MAnn sIMMs
on the children, youth, adults, schools and communities we serve, please Andy sPAhn
contact Chief development officer regina Miller at 310.208.6500 ext. 112. sTEvEn sPIELBErg
sTEvE TIsCh
Thank you for joining us for today’s performance. We are delighted to dr. ChArLEs E. young
CHAIRmAn emeRItus
experience the 2014/2015 season with you and your family, friends and
in memoriam
communities.
gILBErT CATEs
now we invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy Choir Boy. FounDeR
MArCIA IsrAEL-CurLEy
AudrEy sKIrBALL KEnIs
ChArLEs KEnIs
KArL MALdEn
Martha henderson Pamela Robinson hollander
EdIE WAssErMAn
Co-Chair, geffen Playhouse Co-Chair, geffen Playhouse LEW WAssErMAn
PETEr rosEn
LegAL CounseL,
LAtHAm & wAtkIns LLP
P2 PErFOrMANCEs MAGAZINE
“Funny and thought-provoking!”
— Los Angeles Times
Written by scott carter
Directed by matt august
Featuring Larry cedar, david meLviLLe & armin shimerman
october 7 – november 16
A Founding Father, a Victorian novelist and a Russian revolutionary walk into a … stop me if
you’ve heard this one. Thomas Jefferson (yes that one), Charles Dickens (the very same) and
Count Leo Tolstoy (who else?) are brought together in a blistering battle of wits for the ages.
From Scott Carter (Executive Producer of Real Time with Bill Maher), this whip-smart comedy
examines what happens when great men of history are forced to repeat it.
audrey skirball kenis theater at the geffen playhouse
like us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on instagram
geffenplayhouse.com | 310.208.5454
Genius Five Fallacies
about the
macarthur
in the arts “Genius Grants”
you have to Be
a genius to win it
The John d. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation does not use
choir boy marks the seconD
the name “genius grant.” The news
media coined that nickname with the
West coast premiere oF
inaugural class of Fellows in 1981 and
it stuck.
a macarthur FelloW’s Work
the selection process
at the GeFFen playhouse is shrouDeD in secrecy
Information on the selection process
can be readily located on the
foundation’s website: macfound.org.
The following excerpts, (used with permission from the John d. and
the winners are usually
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation) provide more information on
acaDemics anD artists
the MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the “genius grant.”
Fellows come from every field of
2013 recipient Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy is the second West
human endeavor from theoretical
Coast premiere of a MacArthur Fellow after the 2010 production of physics to urban farming.
Lynn nottage’s Ruined.
creativity
The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships “just happens”
to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and
one of the biggest misunderstandings
dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self- is that creativity is a flash of brilliance
direction. There are three criteria for selection of Fellows: exceptional that does not require support — that
people are either creative or they are
creativity, promise for important future advances based on a track
not. In fact, virtually all Fellows have
record of significant accomplishment, and potential for the fellowship invested years honing their expertise,
to facilitate subsequent creative work. and many have overcome obstacles
to projects that have later defined
The MacArthur Fellows Program is intended to encourage people
new frontiers.
of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual, and
professional inclinations. In keeping with this purpose, the foundation it’s all Downhill after
winning the fellowship
awards fellowships directly to individuals rather than through
The MacArthur Foundation notes:
institutions. recipients may be writers, scientists, artists, social
“We do not track the hundreds of
scientists, humanists, teachers, entrepreneurs, or those in other fields,
books published, patents granted
with or without institutional affiliations. They may use their fellowship and awards received by our Fellows.
to advance their expertise, engage in bold new work, or, if they wish, to It is not even clear that these are
the right metrics to capture the
change fields or alter the direction of their careers.
program’s success or theirs. The
Although nominees are reviewed for their achievements, the Fellowship is speculative, based
fellowship is not a reward for past accomplishment, but rather an on the potential for creativity, and
creativity involves taking risks. If
investment in a person’s originality, insight, and potential. Indeed, the
every Fellow hit only home runs, we
purpose of the MacArthur Fellows Program is to enable recipients to
would worry that they were not taking
exercise their own creative instincts for the benefit of human society. enough risks or that we’d chosen the
wrong people. Also, the success of the
The foundation does not require or expect specific products or
program cannot be measured solely by
reports from MacArthur Fellows, and does not evaluate recipients’
individual outcomes.”
creativity during the term of the fellowship. The MacArthur
Fellowship is a “no strings attached” cash award in support of people,
not projects. visit macfound.org/fellows for
more information on the program.
P4 PErFOrMANCEs MAGAZINE
tarell alvin
mccraney
2013 macarthur FelloW
Tarell Alvin McCraney is a playwright exploring the
rich diversity of the African American experience in
works that imbue the lives of ordinary people with
epic significance. Complementing his poetic, intimate
language with a musical sensibility and rhythmic,
often ritualistic movement, McCraney transforms
intentionally minimalist stages into worlds marked by
metaphor and imagery. his most well-known works,
a triptych collectively titled the Brother/sister Plays
(2009), weave West African yoruban cosmology into
modern-day stories of familial self-sacrifice, unrequited
love, and coming of age. The audience becomes an
essential part of the story as the characters speak
their stage directions and inner feelings directly to the
viewers. In Head of Passes (2013) and Choir Boy (2012),
McCraney draws on themes that run throughout the
Book of Job and traditional spirituals, respectively,
to explore the role of faith and tradition in two very
different close-knit worlds. Head of Passes, set in the
isolated marshlands of the Mississippi river delta,
dramatizes a matriarch’s struggle to maintain her faith
as her world literally falls apart around her. In Choir
Boy, students at an elite boarding school remain united
in their dedication to performing traditional spirituals
even as they navigate the fraught nature of adolescent
self-expression.
tarell alvin mccraney — MacArthur Foundation
lynn nottaGe
2007 macarthur FelloW
Lynn nottage is an original voice in American theater,
a playwright whose entertaining and thought-provoking
works address contemporary issues with empathy and
humor. her ambitious expressive early works … reveal
nottage’s rich poetic imagination as she portrays
periods of American history from unexpected vantage
Arthur Foundation phhaiosvitneot rsgi aaanrnnsde. hrceredarf ltmist toclreoe mn ropetlciecexen cta hwmaoorarnkcgst eo…rt haoerfe ra wc korinintdsei rdtshe aarnet dd
Mac
Photos courtesy tmoa bjoer haertri smtiocs at cahciceovmempleisnhtes.d thus fa—r ManacdA rrtehpurr eFosuenndta tion lynn nottaGe
PErFOrMANCEs MAGAZINE P5
the geffen playhouse
proDuction oF
Written by
tarell Alvin McCraney
scenic designer Costume designer Lighting designer sound designer
david Zinn e.b. brooks Peter Kaczorowski Fitz Patton
Musical director & vocal Arranger
Jason Michael Webb
Production stage Manager Assistant stage Manager
Jill Gold Kyra hansen
original Casting for MTC by Casting director
nancy Piccione, CsA Phyllis schuringa, CsA
& Kelly Gillespie
directed by
trip Cullman
Choir Boy received a world premiere co-production
by the English stage Company and Manhattan Theatre Club
(Artistic director Lynne Meadow, Executive Producer Barry grove)
at royal Court Theatre in the Jerwood Theatre upstairs on september 4, 2012.
Choir Boy was originally commissioned by Manhattan Theatre Club,
Lynne Meadow, Artistic director, Barry grove, Artistic director, daniel sullivan, Acting Artistic director,
2007/2008 season with support from Time Warner Inc.
opening night: Friday, september 26, 2014
openinG niGht sponsors
P6 PErFOrMANCEs MAGAZINE
CAst oF ChARACteRs c
h
(In order of appearance) o
ir
b
headmaster Marrow ............................................................................................ Michael A. shepperd o
y
Pharus Jonathan young ...................................................................................................... Jeremy Pope
Bobby Marrow ............................................................................................................... donovan Mitchell
Junior davis ...................................................................................................................... nicholas l. Ashe
Anthony Justin ‘AJ’ James .................................................................................... Grantham Coleman
david heard ...................................................................................................................... Caleb eberhardt
Mr. Pendleton ........................................................................................................ leonard Kelly-Young
undeRstudies
(In alphabetical order)
headmaster Marrow .......................................................................................................... Reggie burrell
Pharus Jonathan young/Junior davis ........................................................................ Jaime Cepero
david heard/Bobby Marrow/Anthony Justin ‘AJ’ James ...................................... Austin scott
Mr. Pendleton ............................................................................................................................ david Willis
RunninG tiMe
Approximately 95 minutes
there will be no intermission.
The geffen Playhouse gratefully acknowledges the following media sponsors
for their generous support of Choir Boy.
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.
PErFOrMANCEs MAGAZINE P7
proDuction Biographies
Present... (dir: Eric Ting);
new york shakespeare
Festival’s As You Like
It (dir: daniel sullivan).
regional: Actors Theatre
of Louisville’s Romeo and
Juliet (dir: Tony speciale).
Television: the Americans
(FX). Training: Juilliard
school of drama.
niCholAs l. Ashe leonARd KellY-YounG donovAn MitChell
(Junior davis) (Mr. Pendleton) (Bobby Marrow)
nicholas is honored to Last geffen Playhouse donovan is grateful to
be reprising the role of appearance in Alan Alda’s be making his geffen
Junior as he makes his Radiance. Theater: new Playhouse debut with this
geffen Playhouse debut. york off-Broadway at production of Choir Boy.
nicholas originated ELT, new york Theater As a graduate of Carnegie
the role in the critically Co., riverwest, soho Mellon school of drama,
acclaimed production at repertory, Titus in darko his recent theater credits
the Manhattan Theatre Tresjnak’s titus Andronicus include: duke of Burgundy
Club and joined the at the old globe, The in king Lear, Arviragus
CAleb ebeRhARdt
cast for a production at Mark Taper Forum, in Cymbeline (oregon
(david heard)
the Alliance Theatre in Laguna Playhouse, La shakespeare Festival) and
This is Caleb’s geffen
Atlanta. his professional Mirada Theater, Ensemble Cobb in A soldier’s story
Playhouse debut. A proud
credits include: national Theater, rubicon, Missouri (Ebony repertory Theatre).
graduate of the suny
Tour of the Lion king repertory, goodman originally from virginia
Purchase B.F.A. Acting
(young simba). Television: Theatre (Jefferson Beach, vA, he would like to
Conservatory, Caleb
songbyrd (E! Pilot), the nomination), Cincinnati thank god, his family, and
was last seen onstage in
Divide (AMC Pilot), Are Playhouse, studio Arena friends for their patience,
the Alliance Theatre’s
we there Yet? (TBs). Buffalo, geva Theatre, laughs, and loving support.
production of Choir
he has also appeared in huntington Theater,
Boy. he has since made
numerous commercials and Worcester Company and
his television debut on
voiceovers. nicholas would many shakespeare festivals
CBs’s unforgettable, and
like to thank his teams across the country. Leonard
released a third album with
at Innovative Artists and received the santa Barbara
his band Quincy vidal. he
MKs&d. he sends his love Independent Theatre Award
is incredibly humbled to
to his family and friends for Performance twice,
once again be a part of this
back in new york! once as dodge in Buried
amazing production. he
Child and as doc Lyman in
sends love and thanks to
Bus stop. In Los Angeles:
his mother and family (JME,
Detective story (ovation JeReMY PoPe
Wr), his agents at Carson/
nomination) at the Marilyn (Pharus Jonathan young)
Kolker org., and of course
Monroe Theatre. Films Jeremy Pope is a 2014
his artist family in nyC.
include david Fincher’s drama League Award
Purchase mafia!! Love and
gone girl premiering this nominee for his new york
good dreams. Previous
fall, and many award winning debut as Pharus in Choir Boy
credits: guy in Blues for
indie film releases, including where the new York times
an Alabama sky, Chaplain
an adaptation of ray heralded his work as “moving
in mother Courage and
GRAnthAM ColeMAn Bradbury’s kaleidoscope and magnetic.” he is the
Her Children (adapted by
(Anthony Justin ‘AJ’ James) featured at Comic-Con founder of Pope Collection
ntozake shange) (Purchase
Theater: off-Broadway: Independent Film Festival Photography. Proud graduate
rep.); Laertes in Hamlet
rattlestick Playwrights in July. Television: CsI, of the The American Musical
(Theatre of War).
Theater’s one night (dir: the shield, scandal, and dramatic Academy. he
Clinton Turner davis); Justified, Boston Legal, thanks his family for all of
Manhattan Theatre the Defenders, Carnival, their love and support and
Club’s Choir Boy (dir: House of Lies, ellen, married is grateful to be sharing this
Trip Cullman); soho rep with Children, star trek story again.
Theatre’s we Are Proud to enterprise and many others. www.jeremy-pope.com
P8 PErFOrMANCEs MAGAZINE