Jan 16-Feb 8, 2015by Nell Benjamin

Directed by Jim CovaultA co-production with Stage West

PLAYGOERSGUIDE

Table of Contents

2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PAGE TO STAGE: a design process in the spotlight: Kellen Voss

BEHIND THE TABLE: meet the creative team

ON OUR STAGE: meet the cast in the spotlight: Thomas Ward in the spotlight: John-Michael Marrs

THE PLAYWRIGHT: Nell Benjamin

NO WOMEN ALLOWED: Female Explorers

THE STYLE: Farce

The cast of The Explorers Club

3

4

5

9

12

13

115

3The Playwright

The Explorers Club, was produced by Manhattan Theatre

Club in 2013, receiving an Edgerton Foundation New

American Plays Award, and an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant. Nells work for television includes Unhappily Ever After, Animal Unhappily Ever After, Animal Planets Whoa! Sunday with Mo Rocca, and the new Electric Company. Nell received the 2003 Kleban Foundation Award for lyrics and a 2003 Jonathan Larson Foundation Grant. She enjoys being married to a enjoys being married to a

genius.

Nell Benjamin (right) with composer-husband Laurence OKeefe

Nell Benjamin

Nell Benjamin co-wrote the score to Legally Blonde, The Musical with Laurence OKeefe, for which they received Tony Award nominations, Drama Desk nominations, the Olivier Award and the Helpmann Award for Best Musical. Nells Pirates!Pirates! (or Gilbert and Sullivan plunderd) ran at Goodspeed, Paper Mill, the Huntington, and the St Louis MUNY. Nell and her husband, Larry O'Keefe have written Life of the Party, Sarah, Plain and Tall, the Drama Desk-nominated Cam Jansen, and the L.A. Ovation award-winning The Mice. For TheatreworksUSA, Nell and Larry have written musical versions of I Want My Hat Back and How I Became A Pirate

4The Style: Farce

Defined:

Theatrically speaking, farce is comedy that utilizes highly exaggerated situations and characters, and overly complicated plots to entertain the audience.

Great quotes:

farce doesn't deal with human character at its subtlest or most refined. farce doesn't deal with human character at its subtlest or most refined. What it does, from Plautus onwards, is propel stock figures into a living

nightmare of mistaken identities, thwarted lusts and spiralling invention.

at its best, farce makes us laugh uncontrollably while showing human beings reduced to a state of desperation. Which is, after all, what drama is

all about. --- Michael Billington (The Guardian, 9-5-2013)

A A Few Famous Farces:

Shakespeares Comedy of ErrorsMolieres Tartuffe and The MiserFeydeaus A Flea In Her EarSondheim & Gelbarts A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The ForumPeter Shaffers Black ComedyMichael Frayns Noises OffCharles Ludlams Charles Ludlams The Mystery of Irma VepMarc Camolettis Boeing-BoeingKen Ludwigs The Games AfootAnd everything that Christopher Durang has ever written

No Women Allowed:Female Explorers

The Royal Societya fellowship of scientists from all over the world, was founded in 1660. At some point during the next two hundred and eighty-five years, Queen Victoria was named as a patron to the society, but no other women

got in the door until 1945.

No Women Allowed was, unfortunately, a sign of the times. The Royal

Geographical Society, founded in 1830, didnt admit Geographical Society, founded in 1830, didnt admit women until 1913, and only after a protracted debate that lasted more than twenty years. In France, Marie Cure, arguably that countrys most famous scientist, was denied membership in the Academy of Sciences. (Women would not be admitted there until 1979.) The Explorers Club, founded in New York City in 1904,

didnt admit females until 1981. didnt admit females until 1981.

5

No Women Allowed: Female Explorers

HARRIET CHALMERS ADAMS(1875-1937)Explored and photographed South America, Asia, South Pacific.

ISABELLA BIRD(1831-1904)

Was an explorer, writer and naturalist Was an explorer, writer and naturalist who travelled solo through North America, Hawaii, Japan, Korea,

China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Persia, Kurdistan, Turkey, and

Morocco.

ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEL(1868-1969) Dared to travel to Tibet when it was closed to foreigners.

LADY HAY DRUMMOND-HAY(1895-1946)

Was the first woman tocircumnavigate the world by

air (via zepplin).

6

No Women Allowed: Female Explorers

OSA JOHNSON(1894-1953)

Was an explorer and and writer who made films and wrote books about her

travels in Africa, South Pacific, and Borneo.

AMELIA EARHART (1897-1937)Was an aviation pioneer, and first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

ISABELLE EBERHARDT(1877-1904)

Was a Swiss explorer and writer who lived and travelled freely in North Africa, dressed as a man.

AMY JOHNSON(1903 1941)Was an aviation pioneer who set numerous long-distance records, and served as a pilot in the World War II.

7

No Women Allowed: Female Explorers

MARY KINGSLEY (1862-1900)Was an ethnographer andexplorer of West Africa.

ANNIE SMITH PECK (18501935)

Was an explorer, scholar and Was an explorer, scholar and author who scaled the major peaks of Europe, and then

tackled Mt. Huscarn, the highest mountain in Peru.

KRYSTYNA CHOJNOWSKA-LISKIEWICZ (1936-) Was the first woman to sail solo around the world.

GERLINDE KALTENBRUNNER (1970- )

Was the first woman to climb all fourteen 8,000-er mountains

without supplementary oxygen.

8

On Our Stage:Meet the Cast

9

Aaron Roberts (Professor Cope)Aaron is making his WaterTower stage

debut in The Explorers Club.

Mark Shum (Professor Walling)Mark last appeared on the WaterTower

stage in Is He Dead? inthe 2009-2010 Season.the 2009-2010 Season.

Michael Corrolla (Professor Sloane)Michael is making his WaterTower stage

debut in The Explorers Club.

Jeff McGee (Sir Bernard Humphries)Jeff last appeared on the WaterTower

stage in The Grapes of Wrath inthe 2012-2013 Season.the 2012-2013 Season.

Kyle Igneczi (Beebe)Kyle last appeared on the WaterTower

stage in Bonnie & Clyde inthe 2014-2015 Season.

John-Michael Marrs (Lucius Fretway)John-Michael is making his WaterTowerstage debut in The Explorers Club.

Thomas Ward (Harry Percy)Thomas last appeared on the WaterTower stage in Humble Boy in the 2006-2007Season.Season.

Dana Schultes (Phyllida Spotte-Hume)Dana last appeared on the WaterTowerstage in The Diary of Anne Frank in the2011-2012 Season.

Michael Ulmer (Luigi)Michael is making his WaterTower stage Michael is making his WaterTower stage debut in The Explorers Club.

Michael Ulmer and Dana Schultes

Michael Ulmer, Mark Shum, Aaron Roberts, Thomas Ward

Jeff McGee, Thomas Ward, Michael Corrolla, John-Michael Marrs

In the Spotlight:Thomas Ward

10

Vicki Cheatwood: Wow, youre a busy guy! You have this show, and next up youre appearing in WaterTowers production of All My Sons. You also maintain a full-time teaching job, and you have a family. What's the best part of your day?

Thomas Ward: Thomas Ward: Its so funny to see that list! I dont actually feel busy, which is good. I think that means Im enjoying everything Im doing and I appreciate the reminder! The best part of my day is when Im feeling the most creative. So it changes. Some days it comes from writing, some days it comes from a rehearsal, some days it comes from from a rehearsal, some days it comes from students. But thats definitely the buzz that Im chasing.

VC: How do you prepare your mind/body/voice to do a comedy like The Explorers Club? Is it different from how you might prepare for a drama?

TW: Its been a while since I did a flat-out comedy, and my listening muscle felt a little rusty when rehearsals started. I compare it to how professional athletes talk about the speed of the game changing when they get to the pros. This play moves very fast and it takes a lot of repetition and listening and trust to settle into it, for the listening and trust to settle into it, for the pace to eventually feel natural. The only difference in my approach would be that theres more rigorous timing. The play really sets the tempo and you have to get on board as an actor and not mess things up. Comedy is all about timing, so as an actor you have to humble yourself to it and not you have to humble yourself to it and not mess it up.

VC: Ever gone hunting? How much of an explorer type are you?

TW: Ive done some hiking and backpacking with my brother that was fun. We were in the Smoky mountains and came on a family of wild boars or something on the trail. I screamed and ran. Scared the poop out of me. Im not much of an explorer, but thats what I like about playing Percy.

His talk is way more fierce than his bite. Playing a doofus who fancies himself a bril-liant and tough man might be the most fun thing to play.

VC: Name one role thats on your bucket list. And one role that would never be right for you, but youd love to play.

TW: My bucket list role is Biff in Death of a Salesman. The role Id love to play that Id never be right for is Hal in Shakespeares Henry IV, Part II, which I was taught in grad school is a perfect play. Im more right for Falstaff (which Ive played twice in Merry Wives of Windsor) so thats not too bad. VC: VC: Okay, both you and John-Michael Marrs have Alabama in your background. Did you guys know each other before you got to DFW? What about WTTs Producing Artistic Director, Alabama native/UA alum Terry Martin? In other words, is there some vast left-wing Alabama conspiracy that we all need to be made aware of? need to be made aware of?

TW: ROLL TIDE! I love having the Alabama connection with Terry. If theres a con-spiracy, we havent had enough meetings or crafted any mission statements, but you can count me in. And John-Michael and I have had a very fun and strange crisscross-ing. I worked at Baylor for six years, and before I took the job I was put in touch with JMM through our Alabama Shakespeare connection. Then he taught temporarily at Baylor while I was there, and we became friends. And now hes back at Baylor as a professor, and were finally in a play together in Dallas. The universe takes care of things. Or, better yet, Alabama the Beauof things. Or, better yet, Alabama the Beau-tiful looks out for her own.

11

Vicki Cheatwood: How do you prepare your mind/body/voice to do a comedy like The Explorers Club? Is it different from how you might prepare for a drama?

John-Michael Marrs: John-Michael Marrs: Preparing for any role requires looking at the demands of the script... for instance, catching glasses. This particular show really focuses on language, timing, and physical comedy. It's also incredibly fun to do, so as formu-laic and specific as the comedy is, in the end, it's really about playing with one end, it's really about playing with one another.

VC: Your character is the romantic lead, and probably the only "sane" person in the show. Where did you start in creating the person that we see on stage now? How do you make him real, and keep the crazy comedy going?

JMM: IJMM: I think my colleagues do a pretty good job of keeping the crazy comedy going. It always comes back to your partner. We have a wonderful time playing with one another. It's really about listening to the other actors and attempt-ing to respond honestly. Lucius is a pretty easy guy to relate to. Most of us have easy guy to relate to. Most of us have been in love... been unsure in love... been afraid of being hurt in love. Lucius is no dif-ferent. He certainly doesn't know he's the romantic lead. He doesn't know if he'll ulti-mately get the girl. He believes the odds are stacked against him, and that uncertainty makes for a great obstacle.

VC: Ever gone hunting? How much of an explorer type are you?

JMM: I'm definitely not a hunter, but I love a good adventure. VC: VC: Name one role thats on your bucket list. And one role youd never be right for, but youd love to play.

JMM: Role on my bucket list...Richard III. Definitely. Role I'd never play but would love to...either Othello or Lady M. VC: VC: Okay, both you and Thomas Ward have Alabama in your background. Did you guys know each other before you got to DFW? What about WTTs Producing Artistic Director, Alabama native/UA alum Terry Martin? In other words, is there some vast Alabama conspiracy that we all need to be aware of? to be aware of?

JMM: I plead the fifth. Roll tide!!

John-Michael Marrs and Dana Schultes

In the Spotlight:John-Michael Marrs

Behind the Table:Meet the Creative TeamJim Covault(Director)The Explorers Club is Jims first time working with WaterTower.

Peggy Kruger-OBrien(Stage Manager)The Explorers ClubThe Explorers Club is Peggys first time working with WaterTower.

Jessica Petit(Assistant Stage Manager)Jessica last worked with WaterTower on the 2014 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival.

Babakayode Ipaye(Director of Physical Comedy)(Director of Physical Comedy)The Explorers Club is Babakayodes first time working with WaterTower.

Vicki Cheatwood(Dramaturg)Vicki last worked with WaterTower on Bonnie & Clyde in the 2014-2015 Season.

Clare Floyd DeVries(Set Designer)Clare last worked with WaterTower on Hank Williams: Lost Highway in the 2013-2014 Season.

Michael Robinson(Costume Designer)(Costume Designer)Michael last worked with WaterTower on Bonnie & Clyde in the 2014-2015 Season.

Bryant Yeager(Lighting Designer)Bryant last worked with WaterTower onThe Great American Trailer Park Christmas The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical in the 2014-2015 Season.

Kellen Voss(Sound Designer)Kellen last worked with WaterTower on The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical in the 2014-2015 Season.

LLynn Lovett(Properties Designer/Set Decor)The Explorers Club is Lynns first time working with WaterTower.

12

Page to Stage:A Design Process

13

Kellen Voss,Sound Designer

Kellen Voss graduated from Full Sail University in Orlando with a degree in Recording Arts. He spends his days working on various film, televi-sion, music and video game projects around Dallas. His theatre work includes Watertheatre work includes Water-Tower Theaters The Great American Trailer Park Christ-mas Musical, Honky, Good People and Dogfight, Kitchen Dogs The Arsonists, Detroit and Barbeque Apocalypse, Nouveau 47s Metamorphosis II, and Theatre Threes On The Eve and Hands on a Hardbody. He is currently pro-ducing a web series about board games called Board with Life.

In the Spotlight:Kellen VossVicki Cheatwood: What was your biggest challenge for The Explorers Club? Most fun?

Kellen Voss:Kellen Voss: The biggest challenge with this script was creating a cue that needed to convey a very specific offstage action to the audience; namely, the warrior monks attacking the British guardsmen. The cue is supposed to convey that the monks are such adept fighters that the guardsmen dont get a fighters that the guardsmen dont get a chance to fire a single shot. In other words, the script asked me to convey a lack of sound, a challenge for sure.

I had the most fun designing the cue for Lucius plants. It plays during a blackout so its all the audience has to focus on; I wanted to be sure to keep their atten-tion. The script describes the moment as a riot of greenery, so I felt I had license to go big with it. I wanted it to sound like a steampunk laboratory had gone a steampunk laboratory had gone haywire in the night. I kept adding layers upon layers of steam, dripping water, rustling leaves, and splitting wood until I felt like it was crazy enough to sell the joke. VC: As a sound designer, how do you first approach a script?

KV: KV: I choose a theme early on and let it guide me through a design process. Sometimes its only vaguely related to the content of the play, but I still use it to point me in the right direction. Some examples from some past designs include "electricity, fire, and "the sounds of Boston. Boston. Not only does this help inspire the design, it also adds a sense of cohesion to the play.

VC: Whats your favorite Foley?

KV: My favorite tool for Foley is the human voice.

Its amazing how often you end up making a sound with your mouth rather than finding it in a sound library. I really enjoy spending time manipulating vocalizations to create sound effects. A baby cooing might end up being a monster's growl or a quick exhale becomes a whoosh for an arrow. Fun stuff. VC: You have a strong background in sound for film and television. What brought you into the theatre?

KV: KV: My girlfriend is a local actress, and she introduced me to some really talented people from the world of Dallas theatre, who quickly invited me to work with them. By the time I did my first show, the Nouveau 47 pro-duction of On The Eve, I had been working in a recording studio for about five years. The shift from such a controlled, metered envishift from such a controlled, metered envi-ronment to live theatre was like a shot of adrenaline for me. Theres no going back, no undo button in theatre. On top of that, you also get real-time feedback from your audience from night to night. Each show is its own living, breathing organism. I hadnt ever worked that way and I was hooked. KV: So, how much of an explorer are you? Got any mountain climbing/bear wrestling/discovery of lost city stories to share?

KV: A few years back I went on vacation to Seattle with three friends. Seattle is the Geo-caching capitol of the world and we were there to find some of the most sought after caches in the world. One day we found our-selves trying to grab our last cache as the sun was starting to set. My search had caused me to stray away from the group a bit, just like in a cheesy horror movie. I was leaned over, low to the ground, conducting my search in the bushes when I heard a large, low, nasal exhale from just a few steps away. My friends told me afterwards that I came flying out of the bushes but, as I remember it, I calmly informed my friends remember it, I calmly informed my friends that we needed to leave quietly so as not to anger the creature further. With our fingers on Send for 911 we briskly made our way to the car and to safety. I now often describe this story as the time I fought a bear.

14

Acknowledgements

15

Photo by Kelsey Leigh Ervi

January 16-February 8, 2015By Nell Benjamin

Directed by Jim CovaultSponsored by Liberty Capital Bank, Million Air Dallas and Barbara and Bob Bigham: the Baylor Oral Health Foundation

Play Guide Created ByKelsey Leigh Ervi

Edited ByKyle Bradford

Janeth FarnsworthKyle Igneczi

GGreg Patterson

Special thanks toVicki Cheatwood

For More Informationon this production:

Call 972.450.6232 or visitwww.watertowertheatre.org

ECPlayGuideCoverECPlayGuidePage2ECPlayGuidePage3ECPlayGuidePage4ECPlayGuidePage5ECPlayGuidePage6ECPlayGuidePage7ECPlayGuidePage8ECPlayGuidePage9ECPlayGuidePage10ECPlayGuidePage11ECPlayGuidePage12ECPlayGuidePage13ECPlayGuidePage14ECPlayGuidePage15