presents

Lombardi

By Eric Simonson

July 24, 2015 – September 6, 2015

Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM Sundays at 2:00 PM

The Lonny Chapman Theatre 10900 Burbank Boulevard North Hollywood, CA 91601

818-763-5990 www.thegrouprep.com

CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Larry Eisenberg Chris Winfield

ARTISTIC ADVISORY BOARD

F. Murray Abraham Ed Asner Bruce Davison Salome Jens Mark Rydell

Lou Antonio

Barbara Bain Florence Henderson

Martin Landau

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bert Emmett, President

Drina Durazo, Lloyd Pedersen Alternates: Jack Csenger, Kevin Dobson

HOUSE STAFF

Treasurer....................................................................................................Richard Alan Woody Bookkeeper.........................................................................................................Lloyd Pedersen Dues Coordinator...................................................................................................Lareen Faye Social Secretary..................................................................................................Renee Gorsey New Member Coordinator.………………………………………...…………..Patrick Burke New Projects.....................................................................................................Irene Chapman Host Coordinator..................................................................Katelyn Ann Clark, Jennifer Drake Maintenance Coordinator.......................................................................................Edgar Mastin Hospitality........................................................................................................Sandra Cusimano Electrician........................................................................................................Robert McCollum Master Carpenter..................................................................................................Chris Winfield Ticketing & Reservations......................................................................................Laura Coker LA Stage Alliance Liaison....................................................................................Irene Chapman Production Photographers.........................Christian Ackerman, Drina Durazo, Doug Engalla Participating Actors Coordinator...........................................................................Drina Durazo

CONSULTANT STAFF

Graphics................................................................................................................Doug Haverty Social Networks.....................................................................................................Drina Durazo Publicity, Public Relations....................................................................................Nora Feldman Web Design........................................................................................................Larry Eisenberg

ARTISTIC COUNCIL

Drina Durazo Doug Haverty Sherry Netherland Lloyd Pedersen Gwen Van Dam

presents

Lombardi By Eric Simonson

DIRECTOR Gregg T. Daniel

PRODUCER FOR THE GROUP REP Drina Durazo

ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR Haley Miller

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Mikel Parraga

SET DESIGN Chris Winfield

LIGHTING DESIGN J. Kent Inasy

COSTUME DESIGN Angela M. Eads SOUND DESIGN

Steve Shaw VIDEOGRAPHER

Christian Ackerman DIALECT COACH

Glenda Morgan Brown PUBLIC RELATIONS

Nora Feldman GRAPHIC DESIGN Doug Haverty +

Art & Soul Design PROGRAM

Drina Durazo

The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is

strictly prohibited.

LOMBARDI By Eric Simonson

CAST

(in order of appearance)

Vincent Lombardi………….……...Bert Emmett Michael McCormick………….…Troy Whitaker Marie Lombardi……………....Julia Silverman* Dave Robinson………….…………Steve West Paul Hornung………………………Ian Stanley Jim Taylor……………....Christopher Hawthorn

TIME Mostly November, 1965; but also 1958, 1959, and 1964

SETTINGS Various Places in Green Bay, WI. and Englewood, NJ.

LOMBARDI is performed without intermission.

Lombardi is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States of America.

Giving to the Arts is an investment in the communities in which we live, work and play. Not only is your presence the lifeblood of theatre, but every penny of your donation goes into the productions at The Lonny Chapman Theatre. We thank all our supporters. We are grateful for your presence and your presents! If you would like to join the list of Supporters as an Angel, Patron, Benefactor, Sponsor or Friend for The Group Rep, please contact Larry Eisenberg or any Company Member.

Supporters of The Group Rep

Angels L & N Andreas Foundation – Lou Antonio - Bix Barnaba - Christina Carson - Laura Coker - June & Barney Meskin - Ronald & Laurie Morgan - Lloyd Pedersen - Jo Shannon - Cliff Robertson Ethics Foundation, Clifford P. Robertson, President – Jay Silverman & Janet Wood

Patrons Anonymous - Polly Barmaper – In Memory of Frances Mizrahi – Dic Morois – Florence Schauffler – David Vowell - Gerrie Weaver - In Memory of Erma Dean Chapman – In Memory of Marion Wright

Benefactors

Michele Aller – Kathleen Aponick - Edward & Sybil Baitz – Phil Baron - George & Kay Beier -Michele Bernath (In Memory of Hank Smith) - Arthur & Sharon Berrick - Jay Bevan – Van Boudreaux - Scott & Pam Bourgeois - David & Susan Boyer – Robert & Shona Brogden-Stirbl Kent Butler – Britt Chichester – C.C. Cooper – Joyce Costanza-Moskowitz – Ben Creighton –Maxine Crosland – Jason & Yvonne Delane - Charlie Dierkop - Kady Douglas – Larry Eisenberg - Lareen Faye - Jocelyn Finn - Shannon Flynn - Shelly Freiberger - Louise K Garside - Sharon & David Goldberg - Renee Gorsey - Barbara & Stan Haberman (In Memory of Bill Chapman) Randy & Rhea Hagan – Robert & Judith Hall – Raymond & Marcie Haug Stew Herrera – Henry Holden - David & Christine Holmes - Diane Glatt & David Holtz – Aaron Johnson - Gertrude Jolicoeur – Tammy Kaitz - Jane Kean – Andrew & Kira Kosove – David & Roberta Kostenbader Don Lazarus - Morgan & Deke Lightholder (In Memory of Dom Salinaro) – Suzanna Shaw Lyons Randi Marell - Stan Mazin – Francisco Medina - Sharon Michaels -Donna Michel – Ron & Karen Millman – Ed Mizrahi - Laurie Morgan - James & Benita Morrow - Sherry Netherland – Daniel O’Connell – Justin Okin - Parker & Crosland LLP – Bache Perry - Chuck Petithomme – Joe Praml – Tom Regan - Betty Jane Rose - David Roth – Mike Sabatino – Barbara & Bob Scheibel In Honor of Janet Wood & Jay Silverman’s 25th Anniversary – Murrey & Sue Seider – Tyler Shirek - Art Shulman – Joe Ellen Simon – Stanley Sludikoff & Shari Geller – Stephen Sobel Allen Solom – Linda Steinbaum – Derek & Emerson Tabone – Arthur Toretsky - Joomi Viereck Craig Warmer – Weaver Family Foundation – Eugene & Phyllis Weinstein – Chris Winfield - Alex Winitsky – Janet Wood

Sponsors

Terrence Bell - Gail Brisco - Alan Corbin – Susan & Michael Conner - Max Drootin - Cliff Fletcher - Karen Goldberg – Mike & Marsha Haverty – Valerie Hunter – Kellard-Beeman Family David & Roberta Kostenbader - Tom Kuhn – Ted Lin - Frank Lucero – Mrs. Saul Marell - Sheila Oaks (In Memory of My Beloved Husband Earl Horwitz) - Patty Paul – Leon Prince - Phylis Rawlings - Bert & Colette Rosario – Carrie Ross - Sybil Scotford - Audrey Singer – Audrey Sperling – Evelyn Stambler – Rudy Vargas – Elizabeth Weller

Friends

Jerry Butler – Barbara & Howard Cooperman - Victoria Deggs – Luke Euzarraga - Lisa Greenberg – Barbara & Stan Haberman – Linda Hartfield - Stephanie Jones - Marjorie & Ellis Katz - Cordell & Janet Krabbenhoft - Nora Meerbaum - Alexandra Orona - Gil & Elaine Skopp Neil Thompson - C. James Wood - Gina Yates

PLAYERS DIRECTORY

Bert Emmett (Vince Lombardi) SAG/AFTRA. LA: Kanute in Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant (Eddon Award), Scoolch in Bulrusher, Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace, Dodgson in Sherlock Through the Looking Glass (Broadway World LA Awards nominee). GRT: Kanute in Don't Hug Me We're Married, Edward in Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Watson in Sherlock’s Last Case (Scenies Award), Ty in Cobb. Other: Every Christmas Story Ever Told. Film: "The Forsaken," "Alien Hunter," "Outside Ozona." See BertEmmett.com. Thanks GRT and Wifey!

Christopher Hawthorn (Jim Taylor) is delighted to be making his Group Repertory debut as Jim Taylor in Lombardi. He just finished his Solo Performance, Normal, this past fall along with The American Clock and As You Like It at University of Southern California's MFA Acting Program. He is excited to be heading into his final year at USC and looking forward to this journey with the Lombardi team. Thanks Mom!

Julia Silverman (Marie Lombardi) at GRT: Collected Stories (Eddon and Scenie Awards), Mom’s Gift, The Paris Letter, My Three Angels. Other theatres: The Boston Court, A Noise Within, International City Theatre, La Mirada, Nevada Shakespeare, The Odyssey, West Coast Ensemble, WalkerSpace NYC, Pittsburgh Playhouse. TV: “Ray Donovan”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Criminal Minds”, “Parks and Recreation”, “Secret Life/American Teenager”, “General Hospital”, “Medical Investigation”, “Gilmore Girls”. Film: “Our Father”, “The Goat

Shearing”, “Love Addict”, The Halloween Party”, “Falling”, “Working Girl”.

Ian Stanley (Paul Hornung) has acted in numerous stage, TV, and film productions. Having studied at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York, Ian’s theatre roles include Charles Stott in Harold Pinter’s The Basement, David Moss in Glengarry Glen Ross, Mr. Kraler in Diary of Anne Frank, and Sturdyvant in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. His TV credits include “Sons of Anarchy”, “ NUMB3RS”, “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “Oliver Beene”. Ian is also a lead actor in a Montana Meth anti-drug campaign directed by Academy Award Winner Alejandro González Iñárritu. He would like to thank his family and friends for their

continued support and dedicates his performance to the memory of his father, who was a proud fan of the Lombardi era of football and Notre Dame, specifically Paul Hornung. Ian is represented by ABRAXAS Talent.

PLAYERS DIRECTORY, cont’d.

Steven West (Dave Robinson) is no stranger to your television or the silver screen. You’ve seen him in “Space Cowboys,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Bring It On: All or Nothing,” “Bring It on Again,” “Walking Across Egypt,” “The Confession,” in a recurring role on the television series “Sheena” and on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” His stage credits include Reuben in a west coast revival and sold-out run of Charles Fuller’s Obie award-winning play Zooman and the Sign here in Los Angeles. Steven would like to thank his wife Angie, Karin Stapelton, Eddie Stapleton, and his

daughter Lauren Alvarado for their love and never ending support.

Troy Whitaker (Michael McCormick) is a graduate of Cal State University, Northridge's Screenwriting program. He has been a member of The Group Rep for over four years. He has appeared in shows such as Awake and Sing!, Don't Hug Me, We're Married, Putting On Your Shorts (1, 2, and 3), as well as Arsenic and Old Lace with the Burbank United Methodist Players. This one's for you, dad. War Eagle!

PRODUCTION TEAM

Gregg T. Daniel (Director), Most recently directed a revival of Alice Childress’s, Wedding Band for the Antaeus Company. Wedding Band won the 2014 Stage Raw Theatre Awards for both Best Revival & Best Ensemble. Gregg directed the New Jersey premiere of Katori’s Hall’s The Mountaintop for Cape May Stage. He received a Best Director Nomination from the NAACP Theatre Awards for the West Coast premiere of Kwame Kwei-Armah's, Elimina’s Kitchen. The production won in the NAACP’s Best Ensemble category in 2013. Other credits include a production of Lee Blessing’s Cobb at the Group Repertory Theatre. Also for GRT, he directed Tom Stoppard’s translation of Heroes and Frank McGuinness’s Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me. Gregg is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He is the Artistic Director and founding member of Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble. The company recently co-produced with the Skylight Theatre the West Coast premieres of Eisa Davis’ Bulrusher and Nathan Alan Davis’ Dontrell...Who Kissed The Sea. For LDTE, he has directed the West Coast premiere of Mustapha Matura’s Three Sisters After Chekov. For further info on the company, visit them at www.LowerDepthTheatreEnsemble.org Drina Durazo (Producer) is a director, producer, and board Vice President at The Group Rep. Her GRT credits include: as Director- Moon Over Buffalo, Hotel Paradiso, I Sing Walt Whitman, Don’t Dress for Dinner; and as Producer- Sherlock’s Last Case, and Awake and Sing. Other directing credits include: for Mammoth Lakes Rep.- Every Christmas Story Every Told (And Then Some) and All The Great Books (Abridged); and for The Porters of Hellsgate- Breaking Bard, which earned her the Spirit of the Fringe Award Nomination for Best Director at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

PRODUCTION TEAM, cont’d.

Mikel Parraga (Assistant Director) is very pleased to make his assistant director debut. Working on Lombardi has been fundamental in his development as an actor and director in the dramatic arts. As an actor, Mikel has dedicated himself almost exclusively to Shakespeare and has played such roles as Leontes, Julius Caesar, and Orsino. On screen he has acted in numerous short films and recently shot a national commercial. Currently he is directing a project at the GRT as well as working on a short film soon to have a strong festival run. Glenda Morgan Brown (Dialect Coach) Glenda is happy to be back with GRT after dialect coaching the acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire and their latest farce, Don’t Dress For Dinner. Some of the dialects she has coached include Standard British, British North Country, Cockney, Irish, Boston, Georgia, NYC, Deep South, and German. Glenda is also a professional actress, having played the VP’s wife on “Commander in Chief”, and co-starred on “West Wing”, “Boston Legal”, and “Monk”, among others.

Chris Winfield (Set Designer) has been a member of The Group Rep for 27 years, and has appeared in over 30 productions, most recently as Dad in Phil Olson’s Mom’s Gift, Various roles in Hotel Paradiso, as Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock’s Last Case, and as George Hay in Moon Over Buffalo. Film and TV credits include “Firefox,” “MASH,” “Baywatch,” “The Nanny,” and “Eli Stone.” He designs and builds most of the Group Rep’s sets, and is the co-artistic director of the company.

J. Kent Inasy (Lighting Designer) is an award winner for his work in LA Theatre. His designs have appeared across the North American continent. Recent shows: Me, Myself and I, by Myself in Seattle. J. Kent designed the acclaimed The Paris Letter, The Ghost of Gershwin, and Love Again, all here at Group Rep.

Angela M. Eads (Costume Designer) Graduate of FIDM with degrees in Fashion Design and Costume Design. Her film work includes “In Another Life,” “Meteor: Path to Destruction,” “Accidental Christmas,” and her theater work includes Hamlet; Much Ado about Nothing; Twelfth Night; iGhost; Next Window, Please; My Three Angels; Moon Over Buffalo; Boeing, Boeing; The Ghost of Gershwin; A Streetcar Named Desire; Don’t Dress for Dinner; Tiger by the Tail; The American Dream; and Love Again.

Steve Shaw (Sound Designer) is a Group Rep member who has designed sound for Tiger by the Tail, Don’t Dress for Dinner, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Ghost of Gershwin, Mom’s Gift, Awake and Sing, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, Stepping Out, Sherlock’s Last Case, Collected Stories, The Paris Letter, Moon Over Buffalo, and many others. Other recent credits include The Real Thing (at Two Roads Theatre), and Ryan Is Lost for the New York Fringe festival.

Christian Ackerman (Videographer) GRT credits include Cobb, Collected Stories, and The Poor of New York.

Nora Feldman (Publicist) is on staff at The Group Rep and Actors Forum Theatre. She has publicized numerous theatre productions and events such as World Championships of the Performing Arts and Experience NoHo 2011. Nora has also served as producer of the theatre component for the NoHo Theatre & Arts Festival, NoHo Scene, and Experience NoHo 2011. She is married to actor Steve Peterson.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

“Be not afraid of greatness, some men are born great, some achieve

greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

Malvolio

Shakespeare’s, Twelfth Night

“Unless a man believes in himself and makes a total commitment to his

career and puts everything he has into it-his mind, his body his heart! -what’s

life worth to him?”

Vince Lombardi

What is the nature of greatness? Vince Lombardi was arguably one of the

greatest football coaches ever to influence the game. To this day, Lombardi

remains an iconic figure whose legendary status is as powerful as it was in

the 1960s when he led the Green Bay Packers to the first two Super Bowl

Championships.

What were the influences in Lombardi’s life, his environment and ultimately

his nature that drove him (and in turn, others) to win at all costs? Based on

David Maraniss’ book, “When Pride Still Mattered,” playwright Eric Simonson

invites us to take a look inside one week of Lombardi’s life for clues.

I discovered that perhaps Lombardi’s special gift was his ability to inspire

others (regardless of their talents and abilities) to unearth the greatness

within themselves. It is a potential I like to think we all possess.

The Director Wishes To Thank: Larry Eisenberg, Drina Durazo, Haley

Miller, Mikel Parraga, Dan Sykes, Glenda Morgan Brown, Veralyn Jones

Daniel, and Kennedy Daniel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Simonson is the writer (with Jeffrey Hatcher) of Work Song: Three Views of Frank Lloyd

Wright, which was commissioned by Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Milwaukee

Repertory Theatre, and was subsequently produced across the United States. His film, “A

Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin,” won the 2005 Academy

Award for Short Subject Documentary. That film also received a nomination from the

International Documentary Association (IDA) for Distinguished Achievement. Other recent

films include the documentaries “Studs Terkel”: “Listening to America” (Emmy nomination)

and “On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom” (Oscar nomination, IDA Award, Emmy

nomination). All three films subsequently aired on HBO/CINEMAX. Other films include

“Hamlet” (co-directed with Campbell Scott) for Hallmark Entertainment, and the

independent feature, “Topa Topa Bluffs.” Simonson has also written and developed

multiple television series for HBO, FX, USA, TNT and STARZ networks.

In 2007 he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

He also directed the premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie's opera, The Grapes

of Wrath, at Minnesota Opera in 2007, and, in 2011, the premiere of Kevin Puts and Mark

Campbell's Silent Night, which won the Pulitzer Prize in music. Other opera directing

credits include the North American premiere of The Handmaid's Tale.

His recent plays, Lombardi/The Only Thing (Madison Repertory Theatre), Carter's

Way (Steppenwolf Theatre) and Slaughterhouse-Five (Godlight Theatre of New York)

received premieres in 2008. Honest premiered at Carthage College in 2009 and was then

part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 5th Annual First Look Repertory of New Work.

The Carthage production traveled to the 2010 Kennedy Center American College Theatre

Festival (Region 3). Simonson's play Lombardi ran on Broadway from October 2010 to

May 2011.

Simonson's Louder Faster, co-authored with Jeffrey Hatcher, premiered at City

Theatre in Pittsburgh in May 2011. His play, Magic/Bird, premiered on Broadway in March

2012.

His play, Bronx Bombers, about the New York Yankees, opened Off-Broadway on

September 20, 2013, and closed on October 19 in a Primary Stages production. The play

opened on Broadway on January 19, 2014 (previews), officially on February 6 at the Circle

in the Square Theatre, starring Peter Scolari and Tracy Shayne.

 

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The acting company began in May 1973 with a rag--tag group of 12 actors performing scenes for audiences in a Laundromat--turned 36-seat theatre on Van Ness Boulevard. When Lonny Chapman first entered that theatre, the magic began. Here was an Artistic Director searching for a theatre and a theatre company searching for an artistic director. The match was perfect and The Group Repertory Theatre was born with Lonny Chapman at the helm. The first show, Round Dance, an adaptation of Schnitzler’s La Ronde, was an immediate hit, and The Group Rep was on its way. By 1974, with the growth in the number of productions and additional company members, as well as having acquired its professional status with Equity, Chapman suggested that a bigger space was needed. A new 58--seat venue was rented on Magnolia Blvd., which began playing to sold--out houses. The Group Rep’s growth and success required yet a larger venue. In 1980, Chapman secured the current Burbank and Vineland location, which was renovated into its present 90-seat configuration. The Company honored Mr. Chapman in 1999 with a naming ceremony, making the theatre officially The Lonny Chapman Theatre. He continued to serve as the Company’s Artistic Director until his death in 2007. Lonny Chapman’s artistic vision for the Company spanned more than three decades. The Group Rep is a permanent Company of actors, directors, writers and technicians. The Company has produced over 300 shows, including dozens of World Premieres. We now have over 80 active Company members,

from those with notable careers to those building new careers.

The Company has been home to untold numbers -- many of whom continue to enjoy successful careers in the entertainment industry today. The Group Rep looks forward to welcoming new, passionate artists to its distinguished roster. In addition to professional stage productions, The Group Rep gives back to the community with its Annual Foster/Cancer Children’s Holiday Party. Its Participating Actor and Technical Associates (PATA) program provides internship opportunities for aspiring artists in the creative and technical fields. Past graduates of The Group Rep’s PATA program include such notables as Sean Penn and Jennifer Tilly. In June of 2010, Larry Eisenberg and Chris Winfield were appointed Co-Artistic Directors of the theatre. Both men are long--time members of The Group Rep. They have the experience, passion and creativity to maintain the Company’s exceptional reputation within the Los Angeles Community and to guide it to even greater heights. With you, our audience, we continue to strive to fulfill the vision of Lonny Chapman. His Vision? “First to entertain, then to illuminate the human condition, and to never be boring.”

The audience, play and actor have equal parts in this exciting venture.

We Welcome You To The Lonny Chapman Theatre For Many Years

To Come!

Company Members Linda Alznauer Diana Angelina Mannette Antill Mark Atha Robert Axelrod Bix Barnaba Robert Benedict Michele Bernath Van Boudreaux Barbara Brownell Cynthia Bryant Patrick Burke Kent Butler Truett Jean Butler Paul Cady Fox Carney Christina Carson Irene Chapman Kathleen Chen Katelyn Ann Clark Roslyn Cohn Laura Coker Stephanie Colet Glen Collins Jack Csenger Sandra Cusimano Julie Davis Kevin Dobson Jennifer Drake Drina Durazo Larry Eisenberg Bert Emmett Doug Engalla Mark Espinosa Lareen Faye Rich Fullman Robert Gallo Pascale Gigon Renee Gorsey James Guinn

Doug Haverty Henry Holden Jenny Sue Johnson Daniel Kaemon Sarah Karpeles Jennifer Laks Suzy London Rhonda Lord Sandy Mansson Larry Margo Diana Martin Edgar Mastin Stan Mazin Robert McCollum Madeline McDonough Maher Lisa McGee-Mann Nicholas McLeod Kelsey Jane Murray Bruce Nehlsen Sheila Oaks Phil Olson Mikel Parraga-Wills Lloyd Pedersen Lauren Peterson Jennifer Popagain Tom Regan Michael Robb Colette Rosario Judy Rosenfeld Veronica Roy Angelique Scarpelli Loraine Shields Art Shulman Julia Silverman Marc Singer Phoebe Singer Patrick Skelton Ian Stanley Caron Strong Dan Sykes Debi Tinsley

Vesna Tolomanoska Cathy Diane Tomlin Gwen Van Dam Troy Whitaker Chris Winfield Janet Wood Carol Woodbury Marcia Woodridge Richard Alan Woody Gina Yates Aly York John William Young

Technical Assistants Christian Ackerman Shira Dubrovner Judith E. Nora Feldman Diane Frank Elliott Goldwag Liz Nankin Hersha Parady Wayland Pickard Steve Shaw

PA Program Members Andrew Bourgeois Tim Damiano Andre Jack LizAnne Keigley Marcel Licera Francisco Medina Chandler Patton Jennifer Ross Natalia Santamaria Leah Shaw

Honorary Members William Arrigon Nora Meerbaum Lillian Robinson Audrey Sperling