Winter 2015

Hangar TheatreBoard of Trustees PresidentMargaret Shackell Vice PresidentJacqueline K. Powers TreasurerLaurel Southard SecretaryJudith Pastel Past PresidentShelley S. Semmler Marty AlleeRobert D. BloomJessica CaseyAnn CostelloRandy EhrenbergTilly GarnettChris IrvingSusan J. KaplanPaul KirkBrett R. MelloKathryn PearceCarolyn W. SampsonRebecca SchwedArno SelcoGeorge W. TaberKate TravisJamie WellsStephen Yale-Loehr

EmeritusAndrea Fleck ClardyRoy DexheimerDavid G. FlinnLinda Trees MackTom Niederkorn Managing DirectorJoshua Friedman

Artistic DirectorJen Waldman

From the Desk of the Artistic Director

The last weekend in January, the Hangar held auditions in Ithaca for our 2015 Mainstage season. Although we saw actors for all four shows, it was clear that the majority of the actors were there for one reason: Spring Awakening. Some drove as many as 1,200 miles round-trip to sing a 1-minute song in the hopes of being a part of the show.

These young actors were so full of passion for this show, so driven by its mes-sage, so hungry for the opportunity to sink their teeth into the characters – I was absolutely blown away. Spring Awakening is the show of their generation. Many of them were just preteens when the show opened on Broadway in 2006, and the score became the soundtrack of their own lives. One young man shared with me that this show gave him the courage to come out to his parents. Another said that the show opened up tough topics for conversations within her family, topics that her parents would otherwise not have been able to approach. Another young ac-tor said that he had been suicidal as a teenager and this show had literally saved his life. Wow. THAT is the power of theatre.

More than ever, I am certain that Spring Awakening is the perfect fit for our 2015 Mainstage season. This powerful rock musical touches everyone - teenager, adult, teacher, student, theatre aficionado or theatre newbie. This is a universal story about coming to terms with who you really are and celebrating life. This musical sends the simple and powerful message that “you are enough” and “you are perfect, exactly as you are.”

I believe theatre can change the world. I say that a lot. Sometimes those words can seem silly and hyperbolic, but with Spring Awakening, the proof is in the pudding.

I am excited to share this musical and our entire 2015 season with you.

Jen Waldman Artistic DirectorEach season, the Hangar relies on the generosity of our

supporters to provide artist housing. Get involved with the Hangar in a unique way; contact Abigail Scaduto at 607.273.8588 x21 or abigail@hangartheatre.org if you have a housing opportunity for the Hangar.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR!March 6 South Hill Elementary School Project 4 Hangar performance

March 16 Annual Meeting

March 25 Beverly J. Martin Elementary School Project 4 Hangar performance

March 26 Belle Sherman Elementary School Project 4 Hangar performance

April 11 Dan Smalls Presents: Iris Dement

April 17 Hangar Aces Red Event

April 22 Civic Ensemble and OAR: Employment Through the Arts: ReEntry Theatre Program

May 2 Ithaca Community Orchestra: Spring Concert

May 3 Dan Smalls Presents: Bruce Cockburn

May 9 Theatre Magic: A Behind-the- Scenes Party & Tour

June 1 Insider Event: Features in-depth presentations on the artistic and production activities for the Hangar

June 12 Season Launch Party

July 15 Working Rehearsal: A rare opportunity to watch theatre professionals working to create a performance

The Hangar is always looking for individuals who would like to get involved in a leadership capacity.

Contact Josh Friedman at 607.273.8588 x15 or josh@hangartheatre.org to learn more about our long-range plans and how you can get involved.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

As we prepare for our 2015 Mainstage season, the Hangar is looking for individuals who are interested in sponsoring an individual artist or designer. This is a great opportunity to not only support the Hangar’s artis-tic mission but also get a behind-the-scenes view of how live theatre is created. Sponsorship benefits are tailored based on the artist and the sponsoring patron.

Contact Josh Friedman at 607.273.8588 x15 or josh@hangartheatre.org for more information, or to sponsor an artist today.

SPONSOR AN ARTIST

DONATE HOUSING TO THE HANGAR THIS SUMMER

A newsletter for Hangar supporters

Director: Steve PacekScenery: Ken Goldstein (Red Hot Lovers, Lend Me a Tenor, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)Lights: Will Kenyon Costumes: Becki Stafford (Design Fellow 2014)Sound: Sean Hagerty (Around the World in 80 Days, Red)

Director/Choreographer: Jen Waldman (Red, Little Shop of Horrors)Assoc.Choreographer: Stephanie Card (Lab Company 2014)Scenery: Steve TenEyck (Other Desert Cities, Clybourne Park, Once onThis Island)Lights: Steve TenEyckCostumes: Meggan Camp Sound: Jon Herter (Little Shop of Horrors, Gypsy, Next to Normal)Music Director: Rich Silverstein

Director: Mark Shanahan (Other Desert Cities)Scenery: David Arsenault (Little Shop of Horrors)Lights: Matt Richards (Around the World in 80 Days, Gypsy, Next to Normal)Costumes: Jeni ShaeferSound: Sean Hagerty

Director: Jen WaldmanScenery: David ArsenaultLights: Steve TenEyckCostumes: Gretchen Darrow-Crotty (Red, Lend Me a Tenor, The 39 Steps)Sound: Don Tindall (Other Desert Cities, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)

2015Mainstage Season Creative TeamsHangar Family Updates

The Hangar family grows with each class of alumni. The rela-tionships these artists share often last long beyond the time spent at the Hangar, with our alumni continuing to collaborate on artistic work long after the summer is over.

John Michael DiResta (2014 Drama League Director) wrote and directed a play starring Bruce Warren (Little Shop of Horrors); Derek Miller (2014 scenic

design fellow) did sets, and Dylan Uremovich (2014 light-ing design fellow) did lights. John assisted Jen Waldman on Michael John LaChiusa’s Little Fish, produced by Jasper Grant’s (music director for Little Shop of Horrors) B-Side Productions and starring Michael Di Liberto (Around the World in 80 Days). John opened the world premiere play Body of Words at Theater for the New City where David Arsenault (Red and Little Shop of Horrors) did sets. John will be directing a concert of Adam Gwon’s Ordinary Days, which he was referred for by Steve Pacek.

The Hangar would like to wel-come Steve Pacek as our new Associate Artistic Director. Steve is a Hangar alum, having spent time onstage in 2000 (Dames at Sea), 2007 (Beauty and the Beast) and 2014 (Little Shop of Horrors). He has also taught for Next Gen and mentored the Lab Compa-ny. He lives in Philadelphia, where he is the Associate Artistic Director of 11th Hour Theatre Company, a musi-cal theatre non-profit which

he co-founded in 2004. Steve also teaches at the Jen Waldman Studio in NYC. “Ithaca has

always felt like a second home since attending IC from ‘96 to ‘00, so I’m very excited to be coming home again!”

The Hangar is gearing up for several invitation-only events. On May 9, Theatre Magic: A Behind-the-Scenes Party & Tour is a family-friendly event featuring a guided back-stage tour with stops in the scene and costume shops, an opportunity to meet some of our artists, a live theatre demonstration, and a sneak peek of our upcoming season.

On June 1, our Insider Event features in-depth presentations on the artistic planning and design activities for the Hangar, including an engaging lecture and discussion about a specific design challenge we are facing this season.

Our Working Rehearsal on July 15 is a rare opportunity to watch theatre professionals working to create a performance. Join us to learn the fas-cinating ins-and-outs of how the technical aspects of a play come together during the dress rehearsal process.

For more information, watch your inbox or call our Development office at 607.273.8588 x21.

Ithaca’s Civic Ensemble, in partnership with OAR (Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources) of Tompkins County, is piloting Employment Through the Arts: ReEntry Theatre Program, offering a play-wrighting program to people who face the challenge of re-entering the Ithaca community after incarceration. The program will culminate in a staged reading of par-ticipants’ work at the Hangar on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:30 pm.

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Hangar Collaborates with Civic Ensemble: Social Activism Through Theatre

The Hangar is committed to youth programming and arts education, helping children learn to collaborate, communicate, and create.

Project 4 brings teaching artists into fourth-grade classrooms to facilitate the creation and perfor-mance of original plays and musicals. A teaching artist and a professional musician guide students through the process of devising a play that relates to a subject they’re studying and stage a produc-tion. Students perform their show both at school and on the Hangar stage.

We are offering our supporters a special opportunity to learn more about this program and to attend a Project 4 Hangar Day.

Join us at 11:30 am on March 26 for a special presentation about Project 4 and to see Belle Sherman Elementary School’s Hangar perfor-mance. RSVP to info@hangartheatre.org or call 607.273.8588.

Hangar Aces Red EventThe Hangar Aces is a social and philanthropic group of young professionals interested in meeting new people with a passion for the arts. The Aces will be hosting their second annual Red Event at the Hangar on April 17. Join us for dancing, socializing, and chances to win fabulous prizes. The proceeds from the event will support the Hangar’s professional development programs.

To purchase tickets, and to learn more about the Hangar Aces, visit HangarTheatre.org oremail Aces@hangartheatre.org.

Michael Di Liberto in Around the World in 80 Days

Benefit Events

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June 11 - 20

June 25 - July 11

July 16 - 25

July 30 - August 8