1. 1. Theme Music: Frederic Chopins THOUGHTS at NIGHT Nocturne In E Flat Major; Op.9, No.2
2. 2. Circle of LifeTheatre presents The Elephant Man Circle of Life Theatres The Elephant Man, directed by Allison Bergman, runs Friday, May 1st - May 17th at Brava Theaters Second Stage, San Francisco. Tickets may be purchased here: In this heartbreaking and dramatic account of the real- life Joseph John Merrick, a Victorian-age sideshow freak, is living with a mysterious, terrifyingly disfiguring disease and is assumed to be profoundly intellectually disabled, ignorant, uneducated, and emotionless. When, by a stroke of good luck, he ends up in the care of a London doctors hospital, Merrick is revealed to be a highly intelligent, acutely sensitive soul, capable of the most sweetly eloquent and artistic expression, and whose dreams are more truthful and real than anyone elses waking state. Not only does our professional cast of actors and artists include a brilliant, Carnegie-Mellon-MFA-educated director and three incredibly talented Actors Equity Association actors in leading roles, but the rate of disability among actors in this cast and crew nears 50%. Also, Philip Watt, the AEA actor in the title role of Merrick, is a 2014 Theatre Bay Area Titan award- winner and also has served on the Performers with Disabilities Caucus at Screen Actors Guild. www.CircleofLifeTheatre.Org
3. 3. The Director of The Elephant Man, ALLISON BERGMAN For more than two decades, Allison Bergman has been directing plays and musicals throughout the country, including many premiere productions and developmental workshops in New York and Los Angeles. Recent directing credits include productions of SEMINAR, ARCADIA, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, DADDYS DYIN, THERE GOES THE BRIDE, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, LITTLE WOMEN, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, URINETOWN, THE SUNSHINE BOYS, WMKS: WHERE MUSIC KILLS SORROW and SPIDERS WEB. Other directing credits include A WONDERFUL LIFE, BARNUM, DRIVING MISS DAISY, LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, BEAU JEST, COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA (7 Drama-Logue Awards), FORGET HEROSTRATUS!, ORPHEUS, ANGRY HOUSEWIVES, SWEENEY TODD, and THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT...(3 Drama-Logue Awards). Ms. Bergman directed the original productions of THE MIRACLE MUFFIN, UNCLE SAM'S UMBRELLA,THE FIRST BEDROOM, TURTLE TEARS, FOREVER THE OLDEST, MYTH OF PLASTIC MOON, and INSOMNIA. With long-time creative partner Holly Addy, she conceived and staged the musical revues I FEEL A SONG COMIN' ON and SHE WRITES THE SONGS, as well as the Ms. Bergman is the former Artistic Director of Broadway On Sunset and co-founder of The West Coast Musical Theatre Conference. She served on the SDC Los Angeles Advisory Board and the selection committee for the Piedmont Laureate Playwright. She is a recipient of Women In Theatres prestigious Outstanding Woman In Theatre Award, a Drama-Logue Award for Directing, and a nomination for an Artistic Director Award by the Valley Theatre League. She holds an MFA in directing from Carnegie Mellon University where she was named the Steven Bochco Scholar, and a BFA in theatre studies/directing from Boston University. She also studied acting, dance and voice at L.A. City College Theatre Academy, American National Academy of Performing Arts, and The Southern California Conservatory of Music. In tandem with her professional directing career, Ms. Bergman is committed to arts education. She is the co-author of ACTING THE SONG, Performance Skills for Musical Theatre, (Allworth Press, 2008) used by many musical theatre training programs as a text book and a teachers guide. She has appeared as a guest speaker at several educational theatre conferences, served on the selection committee for The Young Playwrights Institute in New York, and the Capital Awards in Raleigh. She recently held the position of Assistant Director of Theatre and Head of Performance at North Carolina State University, where she taught acting and directing, chaired the curriculum committee and directed University Theatre productions each season. childrens opera OPERAMANIA. Both revues were produced in Los Angeles, and the opera aired on educational TV networks nationwide. She has directed numerous developmental workshops of musicals, including THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, STORMY WEATHER, PABLO, MATES, and THE LITTLE WITCH OF WICHITA. She has also provided dramaturgy for many more, including GENERATION ME, IN THE HANDS OF THE RAVEN, BEACHES, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, DUKE AND THE DUCHESS, JOSEPHINE, BLACKOUT, SHEBA, and ANCIENT CITY for which she later became the librettist. She has recently joined the Bay Areas Ragged Wing Ensemble as a visiting artist, and will be directing her first feature-length film in Los Angeles over the summer.
4. 4. The Elephant Man Cast *PHILIP WATT as JOHN MERRICK *JESSICA BATES as MRS. KENDAL ALISON WHISMORE as NURSE SANDWICH *CHRISTIAN HAINES as FREDERICK TREVES MARK SHEPARD as CARR GOMM MEGAN LUIS as PRINCESS ALEXANDRA / PINHEAD KATHARINE OTIS as COUNTESS / PINHEAD MEIRA PERELSTEIN as DUCHESS /PINHEAD RORY KEANE as LORD JOHN / SNORK / CONDUCTOR SCOTT RAGLE as BELGIAN POLICEMAN KYLE GOLDMAN as LONDON POLICEMAN BEAU BROWN as WILL / PINHEAD MANAGER JEFF TRESCOTT as ROSS / BISHOP WALTHAM HOW *MEMBERS of ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION
5. 5. Composer of Original Underscoring, PAUL GODWIN Paul Godwin is an award-winning composer and music educator with thirty years experience. Paul authored the score for Tony Kushner's "Homebody/ Kabul" in its West Coast Premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and, for his work, won the Bay Area Critics Circle Award for Best Composer. Paul is the Musical Director and Composer for Coastal Theatre Conservatory at Coastal Repertory Theatre, Half Moon Bay, CA. For CTC he composed and co-authored the book for "Alice in Wanderland," a 21st century, techno-inspired reinterpretation of Lewis Carroll's classic. The play debuted in May, 2014. In 1999, he was Music Director and Producer for "DJ Christ Superstar" a millennial remix performance of Andrew Lloyd Weber's rock opera, performed one time only at Burning Man. He appeared in Forbes Magazine with regard to this show. Paul has recorded and toured for over 20 years with Venezuelan electronic musician Miguel Noya as Dogon. Wired Magazine called them "the best of progressive ambient." Paul is the recipient of the Cannes Gold Lion for his 1991 IKEA commercial campaign, and he has composed the scores for films such as the Sundance premieres "The Tribe" by Tiffany Slain and the feature "Road Scholar" featuring poet/commentator Andre Codrescu. Paul was the founder and lead singer of the nationally-acclaimed rock and roll band "The Sippy Cups" and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Production & Engineering from Berklee College of Music, Boston.
6. 6. Scenic & Projection Designer, AMEE EVANS GODWIN Beginning as a painter and filmmaker in New York, Amee Evans Godwin has several decades of experience working in media. A former director/producer of award-winning video documentaries, she has recently designed scenic projections for Coastal Theatre Conservatory's original production of Alice in Wanderland and Coastal Repertory's I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Working at the intersection of technology, creativity, and learning, she is currently the Director of Innovation at ISKME, an education research and technology non-profit in Half Moon Bay, CA. She is part of a team engaged in the development of programs that support cross-disciplinary teaching, learning, and knowledge sharing. Before joining ISKME, Amee was the Program Director at the Sanchez Art Center, leading arts education programs, and was awarded a Fellowship in the Arts Leadership for the Future program for emerging non- profit leaders. Prior to this, she worked for several years as a consultant in interactive media for Silicon Valley tech firms. Amee earned a Masters Degree from New York University in Interactive Telecommunications at Tisch School of the Arts, and a B.A. at the University of Buffalo, Center for Media Study, majoring in media study and art, and a minor in physics. She studied Scenic Design at the Polakov Studio of Stage Design in NYC.
7. 7. Costume Designer CALLIE FLOOR Having earned her BFA at University of Utah, followed by a Higher Diploma from Slade School of Fine Art University College London, Callie Floor has worked as a professional costume designer in the Bay Area for three decades, formally beginning with California Revels as Artistic Associate/Resident Designer in 1989; she continues her design work to this day as Resident Costume Designer with that musical theatre company, which celebrates the health of the human spirit through Music Theatre. In 1991, she became, and still is, the manager of A.C.T./American Conservatory Theatres expansive archive of costumes and costume rentals. An expert in every period of costume, she also has worked in costuming with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, CMC and Design, Marin Theatre Company, The San Francisco Mime Troupe, West Bay Opera, Zaccho Dance Theatre, Theatre of Yugen, The Magic Theatre, and the Aurora Theatre. Upcoming projects include Choir Boy for Marin Theatre Co. and Sense and Sensibility for Livermore Shakespeare. This production of The Elephant Man marks the beginning of Callies new adventure with Circle of LifeTheatre.
8. 8. San Franciscos Circle of Life Theatre may be the worlds only theatre company intentionally casting and reasonably accommodating actors, singers, dancers, directors, and theatre professionals of all kinds with any type of disability: sensory, physical emotional/psychological, cerebral/neurological, developmental, and those living with any disease. These performers interact harmoniously and seamlessly on the same stage at the same time with performers who have no disabilities at all. Circle of Life Theatre breaks down barriers and opens minds by revealing to the able world that, when reasonably and effectively accommodated, an artist with a disability can deliver moving, authentic performances at least as well as any other actor, and in surprising ways! With the ultimate, uncompromising goal of producing consistently excellent live theatre, Circle of Life offers to audience members, artists, staff, and volunteers alike a harmonious, respectful, dignified place where the seeds of creativity may take root, unfurl, and inspire. Disability is a characteristic, but it does not define the entire identity of an actor (or a person), nor is it a reason for automatically disqualifying an actor from a role. However, neither is it cause for casting an actor when someone else is better for the part. In other words, at Circle of Life Theatre, the playing field is leveled, so the best actor wins the role, regardless of ability/disability status. Mission Statement www.CircleofLifeTheatre.org San Francisco 415.385.5055 ICanDoAnything@CircleofLifeTheatre.org
9. 9. Circle of LifeTheatres 501(c )3-Non-Profit Status Courtesy of NYC Fiscal Sponsor Fractured Atlas EIN #11-3451703 In March, 2014, Fractured Atlas, a well-established and highly respected New York City fiscal sponsor of tens of thousands of arts organizations, granted Circle of Life Theatres application for non-profit sponsorship. Fractured Atlas is located at 248 W. 35th Street 10th Floor, New York, New York, 10001; the company may be reached by telephone at 212.277.8020. The Fractured Atlas non-profit IRS EIN # is 11-3451703, which may be viewed on the companys most recently filed IRS form 990, found on the About Us page of the FracturedAtlas website: All donations made to Circle of LifeTheatre are tax-deductible as allowed by law! www.fracturedatlas.org.
10. 10. Show Dates,Tickets, Discounts & Disability Accommodations 8 PM SHOWS - - - THURS, APR 30 (PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN PREVIEW & FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL) - FRI, MAY 1 - OPENING NIGHT! - SAT, MAY 2 - THURS, MAY 7 - FRI, MAY 8 - THURS, MAY 14 - FRI, MAY 15 - SAT, MAY 16 EARLY EVENING SHOWS - SUN, MAY 3 @ 6 PM - SUN, MAY 10 @ 7 PM - SUN, MAY 17 @ 6 PM MATINEES - SAT, MAY 2 @ 2 PM - SUN, MAY 3 @ 2 PM - SAT, MAY 16 @ 4 PM - SUN, MAY 17 @ 2 PM *TICKETS *DISCOUNTS $10 OFF ANY TICKET! ** PERSON with DISABILTY SENIOR CITIZEN STUDENT TBA MEMBER GROUPS of 10 (Call 415.385.5055) OPENING NIGHT! *VIP - $65 REG - $45 EVENING SHOW *VIP - $55 REG - $45 MATINEE *VIP - $35 REG- $25 *VIP: For not much more than the price of a regular ticket, VIP patrons enjoy first-choice-preferred-seating; a complimentary, pre-show glass of red or white wine (or beverage); another glass of wine or beverage (personally delivered to seat during intermission!); autographed THE ELEPHANT MAN poster; and invitations to private, extra-theatrical events throughout the year. VIPs will be entered automatically in drawings for special prizes, including a pair of season tickets at every show a $1,000 value! Only VIPs will be invited to walk our photographed red-carpet before every show, and only opening- night VIPs will be invited to an upscale cocktail party with cast after the show. ** DISABILITIES of all types cheerfully accommodated with just a few days notice. Kindly allow us to custom-tailor our service to you by calling call 415.385.5055.
11. 11. Next Up for Circle of LifeTheatre: BIG RIVER Producing Artistic Director Fritz Lambandrake directs AEA actor-singer Douglas Giorgis in Roger Millers Tony-Award-winning, huge-cast musical, based on Mark Twains classic, yet controversial The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with Music Direct0r Paul Godwin. In this quintessentially American tale, a white, runaway juvenile delinquent and an African-American runaway slave travel down the Mississippi River together, become unlikely best friends, and discover that human hearts love and ache just the same, no matter how different people may appear to be on the outside. starring AEA ACTOR-SINGER DOUGLAS GIORGIS as HUCK With racial antagonism in the U.S. at a fifty-year high, what better to sing about than the equality of the soul, no matter the color of the skin? Can a fictional, musical folk tale spark conversation between races today, when it is needed more than ever? Perhaps the ultimate disability is ones inability to see the beautiful humanity in another.
12. 12. HELP CIRCLE of LIFETHEATRE byVOLUNTEERING! How would you like to see our shows completely free of charge? Volunteer in one of many ways, and you may! An ambitious, uniquely inclusive, mixed-ability, professional-performing-arts mission like ours doesnt produce itself! It takes careful planning, time, energy, resources, and the collaboration and good will of literally scores of talented professionals and volunteers like you! You can help in so many ways! If you have any special skills, talent, or just time on your hands, we could use your help with: Ushering/Fr0nt of House/Hosting, Assisting guests with disabilities, Concessions and merchandise sales, Working backstage as a stagehand, props assistant, as a dresser, or in costume-maintenance, Working the ticket booth/will-call, Advance poster distribution, Social media blogging, Marketing support, Assisting the producer, as needed. To find out more about how you may help, Call 415.385.5055 or write to us at ICanDoAnything@CircleofLifeTheatre.org.
13. 13. YOU CAN HELP OUR MISSIONTHRIVE! Sometimes a volunteer also enjoys making a gift of another kind. And sometimes not. On the other hand, many times a donors only wish is to underwrite some or all of our budget, breathing life into our art, while leaving volunteerism to others. Wed like you to know that, whichever type of help you care to offer, well be happy to have you. Its people like you who literally enable us to make our nonprofitCircle of Life world go round. 415.385.5055 ICanDoAnything@CircleofLifeTheatre.org If you would like to offer a gift and underwrite any part, or all, of the production budgets for either The Elephant Man or Big River, then, by all means, please DO! We would be enormously grateful to you. Please also consider bec0ming one of only a handful of select board members, either or without responsibilities, other than your financial support. As a more active board member, you could be intimately involved in the fulfillment of the artistry and inclusivity of our mission all year long. We would appreciate your gift, and wed enjoy knowing you personally even more! We also happily accept checks, money orders, willed bequests, and in-kind donations. For such gifts, please reach Founder & ProducingArtistic Director Fritz Lambandrake. THANKYOU! NonprofitCircle of LifeTheatre accepts gifts via all major credit cards here: http://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/fiscal/profile?id=9992