by marc camoletti adapted by robin hawdon directed by gigi ... · and cry and ponder the profound...

by Marc Camoletti

Adapted by Robin Hawdon

Directed by Gigi Fusco Meese

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

A Note from the Executive & Producing Artistic Director, Andrew Vonderschmitt

Hello and welcome to the Playhouse. I wanted to take a moment of your time to say thank you. Thank you for your continued support of the Playhouse and thank you for supporting the arts in general. As an artist I understand the commitment and responsibility I have to you, the audience. Art is not created in a vacuum. It takes an observer to finish the formula. This particular art form, on this particular day and time, in this particular venue, is for you, and you alone. I honestly hope that you enjoy your visit with us and that you will return soon.

I am always open to comment, complaint, compliment, concern, or just plain conversation. How’s that for alliteration? Of course, I enjoy compliments over complaints, but who doesn’t learn from input of any kind? A healthy dialogue with you, the audience, is very important to me. I can be reached via email, snail-mail, phone, fax, or you can drop by the Playhouse. However you choose to contact me and tell me how I’m doing, I welcome it.

Thank you, once again, for your patronage. Enjoy the show.

Andrew Vonderschmitt

[email protected] • Office: 562-494-1014 ex 503 Cell: 714-390-2107 • Fax: 562-961-8616

5021 E. Anaheim St. LB, CA. 90804

562-494-1014 * www.lbplayhouse.org * 5021 E. Anaheim St. LB, CA. 90804

Coming soon...

Established in 1929, Long Beach Playhouse is recognized as the first performing arts organization in Long Beach with over 85 continuous years of production. Our eight-play Mainstage season is presented with the undying energy of cast, crew and house volunteers. Long Beach Playhouse is financially supported through memberships; funding and grants from foundations, corporations and government programs; along with contributions of generous patrons like you.

The Mainstageat Long Beach Playhouse

The DirectorGigi Fusco MeeseGigi is thrilled and honored to return home to the Long Beach Playhouse. She recently directed Newport Theatre Arts Center’s production of Ken Ludwig’s Postmortem. Gigi has directed productions of Boeing Boeing, Brooklyn Boy, ART, The Foreigner, Biloxi Blues, Run For Your Wife, A Few Good Men, Moonlight and Magnolias, Killjoy, Caught in the Net, Bedroom Farce, Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Goodnight Mrs. Puffin, Mister Roberts, The Sunshine Boys, The Solid Gold Cadillac, The Odd Couple, Over the River and Through the Woods just to name a few. Gigi was named “2010 Woman of the Year” in theatre by the Daily Pilot Newspaper. Gigi is no stranger to LB Playhouse as she was its Executive Director/Producer for most of the 2000s and she and her husband Richard got married right here on the Mainstage. She would like to send specials thanks and love to her cast and crew and her entire Playhouse family.

Behind the Scenes

Stage ManagerPhyllis M. Nofts Phyllis is honored to return for her 8th production at the LBP. LBP audiences may recognize her as Betty Meeks in The Foreigner and Mrs. Dubose in To Kill A Mockingbird. Some of her favorite roles are Emma Cristano in Over the River and Through the Woods, Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias and Norma Hubley in Plaza Suite. Phyllis is currently on the LBP New Works Festival Committee. She wants to thank her loving spouse, Evie, for accepting her lifelong role of Theatre Widow.

Allison MamannAllison is a recent graduate of CSU Long Beach with a B.A. in Theatre Arts, with a focus in Directing. Past work credits includes Prop Master for OC-Centric’s New Play Festival ‘16 , Assistant Director at the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, and Prop Master for Little Fish Theatre’s productions of The Ladies of Ithaca Read Medea, Rapture, Blister, Burn and The Clean House. She is currently teaches for the Arts & Learning Conservatory, works as a Prop Master for the Children’s Theatre of Long Beach, and as a Theatre Technician at the James R. Armstrong Theatre. Thank you Mom and Dad!

Assist. Stage Manager

Director’s Notes

The SettingThe Time: 1960s The Place: The living room of a country house some distance from Paris.

Act One - Early evening Act Two - Two hours later

How lucky we are to experience live theater! How lucky we are to laugh and cry and ponder the profound messages of our best playwrights as their stories unfold before us only a few feet from our seats. You can’t Snapchat it, Facebook it, or Instagram it. You can’t multi-task it or save it to your hard drive. You have to experience it in the moment, fully engaged, with all your senses freed from distraction, so you don’t miss a vital plot point or the funniest moment or the surprise ending. Each actor gets one shot at delivering a line, and each audience member gets one chance at receiving it. We share this experience in real time, collectively operating without a net, and that’s what makes this the most intimate of all the performing arts. I am so lucky to have spent the last 20 years directing, acting and producing live theater and events. Being here at the Long Beach Playhouse I can’t help but think of some of the talented people in the Playhouse family who have inspired me along the way: Betty Motsinger, Lolly Daggett, Lucy Daggett, Dottie and Ken Reiner, Mitchell and Jane Nunn, Michael Ross, Donna Fritsche, Darlene Hunter Chaffee and Kathy Davis. I labor in the shadow of their generosity and support, and I hope some of what I learned will provide you with something that entertains you and transports you into the hilarious world these hard-working actors have created for you. Spencer Tracy once said of acting, “Know your lines and don’t bump into the furniture.” Great advice to be sure, but there is so much more to it – it’s knowing to buy your director drinks after the show. - GFM

There will be one 15 minute Intermission

Matt FrantaGreg FritscheDonny JacksonJulie MooreDonna FritscheDrew OteroLarry MuraAllison MamannMike Hardy Daisy Ramirez-GutierrezRosy Anselmo, Abertha Montgomery, Rebecca Roth, Jill Soloway, Analidia Lopez

Stunt CoordinatorSet DesignLight DesignSound DesignCostume DesignScenic PainterProp Master/DesignerBoard OperatorPhotographyPromotional DesignCostume Shop

Behind the Scenes

Gregory Cohen (Bernard)Greg is thrilled to be back acting at LBP in this wonderfully silly production. You may remember Greg as Scrooge in last year’s production of A Christmas Carol. He will be directing his 26th LB production later this year with A Murder is Announced. Greg and his lovely and talented wife, Kysa, share their lives in Orange with their beloved fur-babies -- Bethy and Lovey.

Yvonne Robertson (Jacqueline)Yvonne returns to LBP with a lot of excitement, Don’t Dress for Dinner is one of her favorite shows. Yvonne has enjoyed performing in Long Beach for over 34 years, recently taking time to travel. You may remember her as Suzette in a previous rendition of Don’t Dress for Dinner, Mrs. Puffin in Goodnight Mrs. Puffin, Mrs. Erlynne in Lady Windermere’s Fan and Judith Bliss in Hay Fever. Very best wishes to all you wonderful patrons and enjoy the show.

Cort Huckabone (Robert)Cort was seen earlier this year as Paravicini in Agatha’s Christie’s The Mousetrap. Other favorite roles include Orgon in Tartuffe, John Smith in Run For Your Wife, and Serge in ART. Mr. Huckabone is also a company member of the Long Beach Shakespeare Company and serves on the board of directors of Friends of Long Beach Animals. Cort lives in Long Beach with his “fur kids” – Fannie, Elvis, Lola, and Miss Diva.

Meet

The Cast(in order of appearance)

Victoria Serra (Suzette)Don’t Dress for Dinner is Victoria’s first performance on the LBP stage. This production marks her second farce in a row, after appearing in Rumors at the Costa Mesa Playhouse. Past credits include, Alais in The Lion in Winter, Clara in The Light in the Piazza, Alice in Alice’s Wonderland: An Adaptation, and Sir Hugh Evans in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Victoria enjoys ice-cream and ballroom dance.

Della Lisi (Suzanne)Della has explored the theatrical arts on many stages in Southern California. She’s very pleased to be back at LBP. Miss Lisi was seen earlier this year as Eleanor of Aquitaine in Lion in Winter and last year as Louise in Post-Mortem directed by Gigi Fusco-Meese. Miss Lisi would like to thank Mrs. Fusco-Meese, Andrew Vonderschmitt and the staff at LBP for their outstanding talent and support. Guardare dal cielo amore.

Mitchell Nunn (George)Mitchell was born and raised in Long Beach and started performing on stage in elementary school. He is delighted to be working once again with the fabulous Ms. Gigi and this very talented cast. He just directed Hound of the Baskervilles and performed in Pygmalion and Lysistrata. Mitchell lives in Long Beach with Jane, his wife of 36 years, and their “little one’s” – Darwin and the Beagle.

Meet

The Cast(in order of appearance)

COMING SOON

An announcement in the local pa-per states the time and place when

a murder is to occur in MissBlacklock’s Victorian house. The vic-tim is not one of the house’s several occupants, but an unexpected and

unknown visitor. What follows is a classic Christie puzzle of mixed mo-tives, concealed identities, a sec-

ond death, a determined Inspector grimly following the twists and turns, and Miss Marple on hand to provide

the final solution.

Returning for its 5th incarnation at LBP, this quick-paced, highly theatrical

re-telling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale will delight the entire family. In 19th century England, the ghosts of

Christmases past, present and future show Ebenezer Scrooge the poverty of his material wealth and the blessings that come with generosity. Can they convince him to change before it’s too late? Come spend time with the

characters you’ve come to love – Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and of course the

irascible miser himself.

Dec 10 - 18 Jan 14 - Feb 11

Andrew Vonderschmitt Executive & Producing Artistic Director

Madison Mooney Business & Operations Manager

Sean Gray Technical Director &Production Manager

Donna Fritsche Costume Shop Manager & Resident Costume Designer

Larry MuraProperties Master

Alex ShewchukPatron Services Manager

Stephen OlearVolunteer Coordinator

Evan BattleKellee CullinghamLottie FrickAngela KozikNatasha LopezFront of House Staff

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TreasurerDan Ryan

President Tony Diaz

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER:

In consideration of our performers and patrons, please turn off all cellular devices during the show. Cameras and recording devices are prohibited. Late seating is at the discretion of the House Manager. Beverages and concessions are offered before performances and during intermission and you may bring drinks purchased at our bar into the theatre. Smoking is restricted to the area in front of the theatre on Anaheim Street.

Extra Funding made possible by:

Special thanks to our Set Sunday Volunteers! Ray Smith, Jerry Loeb, Flo Dartt, Marie Santora, Bob S. Turner, Tom Long, Lana Haines, Tammy Barile, Roscoe Evans, David Lovegren, Mal Groff, Emmett W. Fry, Bob Boyce, and the Cast, Crew and Design team for Don’t Dress for Dinner! Many thanks.

Vice President Jane Nunn

SecretaryHalley Hardy

Cheryl Avirom, Kysa Cohen, Carl DaSilva, Gaurav Datta, Bart DeLio, Emily Holman, Tom Long, Anna Kate Mohler,

Roxanne Patmor, Ray Smith, Miguel Solario

THE STAFF

Legacy CircleMary Lou BusbyPeggy HolmesJoan A. Ryan

Honorary Producers ($1,000 and Up!)Roxanne Patmor

Cynthia RustaniusDr. Ronald &

Miriam SommerMarlene Temple and The Temple Family Charitable

Foundation

Executive Producer ($500-$999)Kaye Briegel

Pamela CincolaLouis Euzarrage

Phyllis Nofts & Evie RayPat & Ray Smith

Director ($250-$499)Harriet Whitmyer &

Danial GolsonMartin Fiebert & Margo Kasdan

Geraldine FuentesWilliam & Polly Ridgeway

Dan RodgersJohn H. Sullivan

Johanna & Robert Tramazzo

Patty Williams

Starring Role ($150-$249)

Tony & Cyndy DiazRon & Paula Duffaut

Beverly O’NeillJerry Barba & Stephen Olear

Harold & Betty OlsonGeorge & Beverle Ray

Dan & Deb RyanSam Tanng

Vonderschmitt Family

Ensemble Cast ($50-$149)Bart DeLioJill Aversa

Michael & Marie DownsDavid & Joanne Feldman

Floyd & Annie GillsRichard & Alvena Graham

Mike & Halley HardyStephen Harvey &

Venetia LaiCarol Hobaugh

Sharon HollanderDr. Glen & Joyce Howard

Sam & Donna KellyMelvin & Susan Lefkowitz

Long Beach RegularsTom & Irina Long

Joseph MacDonaldPhillip & Barbara Materi

Janeice McConnellWilliam McDonaldFrank & Katherine

McIlquham

Legacy Circle Starring Role 2016 MEMBERS & DONORS

Madison MooneyMargie & Paul Muns

Miles NevinMargaret Nolde

Doug OttoCharmaine Pack

John RoyceWayne Russ

Douglas SeagravesRobert SlaterNatalie SwiftBruce Tanis

Edward Van BoemelRon & Janee West

Dan WilkinsonLiliana Witz-Hancsak

Friends (Up to $49)M. AndagMatthew &

Jacqueline AzzaraJames &

Constance DavisBeverly HampsonMary Hochenauer

Pravin & Catherine Parmar

Joy RosenthalPauline Strong

Brucelle Williamson

2015 Members & Donors

Honorary Producers ($1,000 and Up!)

AnonymousEvalyn M. Bauer Foundation

Phil King & Anna KalmanMyra Kremen

First Congregational Church of Long Beach

Jerry & Flora LoebRoxanne Patmor

Dottie ReinerStuart B. ScudderPat & Ray Smith Marlene Temple

& The Temple Family Charitable Foundation

Andrew & Martina Vonderschmitt

Executive Producer ($500-$999)Cheryl AviromKaye BriegelPam CincolaJohn Gilbert

Mal GroffMichelle MolinaDan Rodgers

Cynthia Rustanius

Director ($250-$499)Scott FinnAnn Hoff

Cheryl McNultyMiles Nevin

Phyllis Nofts & Evie RayBeth Nolan &

Scott MahlbergFloyd E. Riggle Jr.Shewchuk Family

Media Sponsorswww.signaltribune.com www.gazettes.com

www.lbpost.comwww.presstelegram.com

www.straighttalktv.com www.lbdaily.com

www.sunnews.com www.longbeachcomber.com

ARE YOU A MEMBER YET?Become a Member of the Long Beach Playhouse

during our Annual Membership Drive

Members receive drink vouchers, invites to members only events, our thanks, and more!

Memberships start at $50, see our brochures in the lobby or visit www.LBPlayhouse.org for more info!

Many Thanks to our Honorary Producer

Marlene Temple and The Temple Family Charitable Foundation

by marc camoletti adapted by robin hawdon directed by gigi ... · and cry and ponder the profound...

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