SOMETHING INTANGIBLE stagebill by Arden Theatre Company

ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS

a new play by BRUCE GRAHAM directed by TERRENCE J. NOLEN

Production Sponsor: 40 N. 2nd St., Phila., PA 19106

Arden Theatre Company presents

SOMETHING INTANGIBLE By BRUCE GRAHAM Scenic Designer JAMES KRONZER

Costume Designer ROSEMARIE E. MCKELVEY

Lighting Designer F. MITCHELL DANA

Sound Designer JORGE COUSINEAU

Dramaturg MICHELE VOLANSKY

Assistant Director MATT ROSENBAUM

Stage Manager STEPHANIE COOK*

Directed by TERRENCE J. NOLEN April 9 - June 7, 2009

Production Sponsor:

This play is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award. Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting Arden Theatre Company’s new play development. SOMETHING INTANGIBLE was workshopped under the auspices of the Independence Foundation New Play Showcase. * Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the U.S.

Arden Theatre Company receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Applause, please, for our Media Partners:

photo by John Flak

WELCOME FROM THE PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Terrence J. Nolen

Welcome to Something Intangible, a new play by Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham. I remember listening to a reading of this play last winter and deciding then and there that we would produce it. Similar decisions are being made right now for next season. Choosing the plays we do and the artists to bring them to life is the most exciting part of my job. I'm proud to announce the following productions and artists for our 2009/10 season: Blue Door, a beautiful new play by Tanya Barfield, to be directed by Walter Dallas, who directed The Piano Lesson last season and musical-directed Gee’s Bend this past fall. Walter has quickly become an important part of the Arden family, and I am excited to welcome him back next season.

We will produce William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, directed by up-and-comer Matt Pfeiffer, this year’s F. Otto Haas Award recipient (previous winners include actors Scott Greer and Ian Merrill Peakes, both of whom are featured in tonight’s production). Matt’s work can currently be seen in Theatre Exile’s production of David Mamet’s American Buffalo. Last year, he directed Go, Dog. Go! for the Arden. Anyone who can tackle Mamet and P.D. Eastman in the span of one year is all right in my book. We will close the season with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Sunday in the Park with George, starring Philadelphia actors Jeffrey Coon and Kristine Fraelich. Jeff is no stranger to Philly audiences. He’s appeared at the Arden as John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Frog in A Year with Frog and Toad, and Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Walnut Street Theatre, and so many other memorable roles. Krissy last appeared as the Nurse in Michael Ogborn’s Baby Case. I have wanted to do Sunday in the Park with Jeff and Krissy for nearly a decade. Next season, it will finally happen. We are very close to finalizing plans for the other two productions of our 2009/10 season and look forward to announcing them to you soon. We are thrilled (and determined) to continue to bring a wide range of stories to our stages. We are dedicated to putting all the energy, creativity and resources into our work that you have come to expect. In these challenging times, we commit to you the best we have to offer. You deserve nothing less. If you’ve already subscribed to next season, thank you. If you haven’t, please consider joining us. Not only is your support greatly appreciated, but it enables and inspires us to continue to dream. We want to be your theatre company. Bruce Graham’s Something Intangible is our second world premiere this season and the 30th world premiere in the Arden’s 21 year history. Producing new work is incredibly exciting and, in the best of cases, the most rewarding work we do. My thanks to Fox Chase Bank for sponsoring Something Intangible, to the Independence Foundation for their ongoing support of our new play development efforts, and to the Edgerton Foundation for supporting extended rehearsals for this production. Finally, my thanks to you for supporting new plays. Your sense of adventure inspires us. Thank you for joining us. Enjoy.

Terry

CAST

Tony Wiston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Merrill Peakes * Dale Wiston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Greer* Leo Baxter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Doug Hara* Sonia Feldman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Mercer* Doc Bartelli/Gustav Von Meyerhoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walter Charles*

SETTING Southern California, 1940s

UNDERSTUDIES Tom Orr, Angela Sperazza, Andy Wertner

Arden Theatre Company is a professional company employing members of Actors’ Equity Association. *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the U.S. Please check houseboards for program changes. Taking pictures and/or making visual or sound recordings is expressly forbidden. The Arden operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. www.actorsequity.org

Arden Theatre Company proudly participates in the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre, a program of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

It was an oft-repeated question from my childhood: “You wanna play punch-for-a-punch?” “Punch-for-a-punch” is a game where you take turns punching each other in the arm until one person gives up. The key is to make the first few punches count, because by doing so you weaken the punching strength of your opponent. Even if your first few punches lack the desired impact, you can still win if you pull off the “I can do this all day, I can barely feel it” bluff that inevitably leads to a draw. As kids, my brothers and I played this game all the time. I come from a family of seven kids – five boys, two girls. As I remember it, we could make anything a competition. Who could make the last basket before dinner? Pat. Who could do the most push-ups? Again Pat. Who thought they looked the best doing push-ups? Definitely Mike. We were forever trying to beat one another while simultaneously seeking to win each other’s respect and admiration. Even now, decades later, we still play “punch-for-a-punch” every now and then. Such is the bond of brotherhood. Famous brothers – both real and imagined – have long captured our imaginations. Jack and Bobby Kennedy. Biff and Happy Loman. The Wright Brothers, the Marx Brothers. The Brothers Karamazov and Grimm. As you will probably recognize, Something Intangible was inspired by two real-life brothers, Walt and Roy Disney. Though inspired by the Disney brothers, Something Intangible is a work of fiction. It’s a play about brothers by a playwright who, surprisingly to me, has none. I guess that’s a playwright’s gift: the ability to completely concoct worlds and characters and yet get so many of the details right. I first read Something Intangible last year. Bruce called one Sunday morning and asked if I wanted to read his latest play. When I said yes, he told me he had already stuck it in my mailbox. I walked out and there it was, complete with coffee stains on the title page, looking as if the script had come out of central casting. I’ve been a fan of Bruce’s work since I saw Belmont Avenue Social Club at the Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays back in the 1980s. It was a great production of a great script, and I remember thinking that it was a distinctly Philadelphian play. Since then, I’ve learned that wherever Belmont Avenue is performed audiences think it is about their city. That’s one of the wonderful things about Bruce’s work. It’s both specific and universal. In recent years, the Philadelphia community is developing a reputation for fostering new plays and new playwrights. In my mind, Bruce is a pioneer in this movement. He’s the original “Philadelphia playwright.” I am thrilled to welcome Bruce’s work back to the Arden and am honored to have this chance to direct this play. And for the record, I think I could take him in “punch-for-a-punch.”

Terry

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRODUCTION SPONSOR

Thomas M. Petro

In the case of Albert Einstein, it was the measure of energy: E=MC2. For Greek mathematician Pythagoras, it was a theorem (for a right triangle with legs a and b and hypotenuse c then a2 + b2 = c2). In the case of Michelangelo, it was to carve away all the marble that wasn’t David. There is something wonderfully simple and elegant in the product of creative genius that belies the raw struggle of achievement. Call it Something Intangible.

Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham has captured the magic and mess of birthing creative genius in his newest work, Something Intangible. Set in 1940’s Hollywood, it traces the story of two brothers who run an animated movie studio. The studio is famous for its cartoon dog, Petey Pup, but is driven to produce a feature-length animation set to classical music. Arden regulars will appreciate the fanatical genius of Ian Merrill Peakes as the gifted and driven Tony, grounded by his loyal and long-suffering brother Dale, played by the (unusually) soft-spoken Scott Greer, who manages everything in Tony’s wake. Fox Chase Bank Charitable Foundation is delighted to sponsor this production of Something Intangible, the 30th world premiere to come to life on the Arden stage. We are privileged to share this story with you and hope you discover in it...well, something intangible. Cheers!

Thomas M. Petro Chief Executive Officer Fox Chase Bank and Fox Chase Bank Charitable Foundation

Proud sponsor of

Arden Theatre Company Arden Theatre Company brings to life great stories by great storytellers that have been arousing, provoking, challenging, and inspiring audiences for over 20 years. The Fox Chase Bank Charitable Foundation is delighted to sponsor this production of Something Intangible and salutes Arden Theatre Company for their commitment in offering the highest quality theatrical and educational programs. To find a Fox Chase Bank branch nearest you, call 1-866-369-2427 or visit www.foxchasebank.com Safe, Sound and Secure since 1867.

Member FDIC

WHO’S WHO WALTER CHARLES (Doc Bartelli/ Gustav Von Meyerhoff) Broadway: Apple Tree, Woman in White, Big River, Boys From Syracuse, Kiss Me, Kate, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (world premiere), Sunset Boulevard, La Cage Aux Folles, Anna Karenina, Aspects of Love, Me & My Girl, Cats, Sweeney Todd, Grease. Encores!: Music in the Air, Call Me Madam. NYC Opera: Sweeney Todd, 110 in the Shade. National Tours: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, My Fair Lady. Off-Broadway: Wit, The Immigrant. Regional includes: Cabaret, Hello, Dolly!, Company, Martin Guerre. Film/Television includes: A Fine Mess, Fletch Lives, Prancer, Cagney & Lacey, Kate & Allie, Sweeney Todd/Great Performances, Law & Order. SCOTT GREER (Dale Wiston) is thrilled to be back for his 20th show at the Arden! Favorites include: Baby Case, Assassins, Wittenberg, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern…, and this season’s Candide. Philadelphia credits include: Walnut, 1812, Wilma, People’s Light, InterAct, and Delaware Theatre Co. Regional: Actors Theatre of Louisville, Round House, BoarsHead, Westport Country Playhouse. Awards: ’08 Barrymore for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Assassins); ’01 Barrymore for Best Actor in a Play (It’s All True, InterAct);‘02 Barrymore Best Actor in a Musical (Baby Case), and the ’02 F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Theatre Artist. His adaptation of David Foster Wallace’s Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (with 1812) earned him an ‘04 nomination for Best New Play. Scott has appeared as a solo vocalist with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Special thanks to Terry, Bruce, and his dear friend Ian. Love always to Jen and Lily. DOUG HARA (Leo Baxter) recently returned from Chicago where he appeared as Alyosha in The Brothers Karamazov at Lookingglass Theatre. An ensemble member since 1993, he has participated in over 16 productions at Lookingglass including Metamorphoses, West, Up Against It, and Lookingglass Alice. Something Intangible marks Doug’s 5th show at the Arden. Broadway: The Boys of Winter, and Metamorphoses. Off Broadway: The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci. Regional: Two River, The Goodman, The Huntington,

Berkeley Repertory, Seattle Repertory, Mark Taper, Margaret Jenkins Dance, BAM, Joyce, and Second Stage. Film: Since You’ve Been Gone, and Mad Dog and Glory. SALLY MERCER (Sonia Feldman) recent credits include Queen Elizabeth in Richard lll at the Lantern Theatre, Elaine in Breathing Corpses at Luna Theater and the Duenna in Cyrano de Bergerac at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. She played Modron in the Arden’s production of Sleeping Beauty last year. IAN MERRILL PEAKES (Tony Wiston) 13th show at the Arden (Owen Meany, Picasso, Three Days of Rain, R & G Are Dead, All My Sons - Barrymore Award). Walnut, Wilma, Theatre Exile (Red Light Winter - Barrymore Nomination), Philly Theatre Co. (Sideman - Barrymore Award). Philly Shakespeare (R & J - Barrymore Nomination) Regional: Denver Center (Roma in Glengarry Ovation Award Nomination); Actors Theatre of Louisville (John Proctor in Crucible, 12th Night); Folger Theatre (Macbeth, Game of Love and Chance Helen Hayes Nominations; Measure for Measure; Two Gents; Melissa Arctic); Shakespeare Santa Cruz (Much Ado, Benedick); Penn. Shakespeare (Othello, Iago; Henry IV, Hotspur). Winner of 2003 F. Otto Haas Award for Emerging Artist. For Karen and Owen. JAMES KRONZER (Scenic Designer) Arden Theatre Company: Candide, Our Town, Caroline, or Change, and Opus among others. Washington, DC: The Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth, The Olney Theatre, Round House, Signature Theatre, Washington Ballet and The Shakespeare Theatre. Regional: The Wilma Theater, People’s Light, Pioneer Theatre, Weston Playhouse and Clarence Brown. New York: Glory Days (Broadway), Opus (OffBroadway). National tours: Thomas Live!, Backyardigans, Barbie Live!, and Seussical the Musical. Awards: Helen Hayes Award (8); Barrymore Award (1). ROSEMARIE E. MCKELVEY (Costume Designer) is very excited about working with Terry and the Arden on this production of Something Intangible. Rosemarie would like to especially thank Alison and the costume shop for sharing their time and

WHO’S WHO talents in creating the costumes for Something Intangible. When not designing Rosemarie is part of the Fashion Design Department at Moore College of Art and Design. Rosemarie won the 2007 Barrymore award for outstanding Costume Design for her work on Caroline, or Change at Arden Theatre Company. F. MITCHELL DANA (Lighting Designer) has designed almost 600 plays, musicals, and operas, on and off Broadway, on tour, and in regional theatres such as: Mark Taper Forum, Walnut Street Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, BAM Theatre Company, Seattle Rep, Royal Opera, Opera Festival of NJ, MTC, Roundabout Theatre, Goodman Theatre, the St. Louis Muny, Two River Theatre Co, the LA Opera and NYC Opera. He is vice president of United Scenic Artists, and teaches at Rutgers University. JORGE COUSINEAU (Sound Designer) has worked on more than thirty productions here at the Arden. Recent highlights include Candide, Wittenberg, The Piano Lesson, Assassins and Opus, which was later produced in New York City and earned him a Lortel Award for sound design. Jorge also designs sets and creates video and music for many Philadelphia theaters such as the Wilma, Philadelphia Theater Company, 1812 Productions and New Paradise Laboratories. BRUCE GRAHAM (Playwright) Plays: Burkie, Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar & Grille, Moon Over The Brewery, Champagne Charlie Stakes, Minor Demons, Desperate Affection, Belmont Avenue Social Club, According to Goldman, Dex and Julie Sittin’ in a Tree and the one man show, The Philly Fan. Coyote on a Fence won the ’98 Rosenthal Prize, was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards, and ran on London’s West End starring Ben Cross. Feature Films: Dunston Checks In, Anastasia, Steal This Movie. T.V Movies: Hunt for the Unicorn Killer, The Christmas Secret, Right on Track, Tiger Cruise, Ring of Endless Light (Humanitas Award Winner – Best Children’s Screenplay), The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Television: Roseanne, Legwork. Book: The Collaborative Playwright (co-written with Michele Volansky). He has received awards from the Pew Foundation, the Theater Association of Pennsylvania, the Rockefeller Foundation and was the 1992 Princess Grace Foundation Statuette recipient. Graham currently teaches film and theatre courses at Drexel University. He lives in Philadelphia with Stephanie and their daughter, Kendall.

MICHELE VOLANSKY (Dramaturg) is an assistant professor of drama at Washington College. She serves as the dramaturg for the PlayPenn New Play Development Conference and has served as guest dramaturg at theaters across the country, in addition to her staff time at Actors Theatre of Louisville (199295), Steppenwolf Theatre Company (1995-2000) and Philadelphia Theatre Company (2000-2004). She is a recipient of the Elliot Hayes Award for Dramaturgy and a past-President of LMDA. Something Intangible marks her fourth collaboration with Bruce Graham. Volansky is also a doctoral candidate at the University of Hull (England), writing about the critics Kenneth Tynan and Frank Rich. MATT ROSENBAUM (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be working on a brand new play by his pal and former teacher Bruce Graham. His own work as a writer has been produced locally by the Cardboard Box Collaborative and developed by the MK Memorial Theatre Project in New York. Matt is a graduate of the Arden Professional Apprentice program, and he currently works as part of the theatre’s development staff. Thank you Murphy, Nolen, Ditsky and Brown! STEPHANIE COOK (Stage Manager) is excited to be back at the Arden after working on this season’s Gee’s Bend and last season’s Assassins and Go, Dog. Go! A past apprentice of the Walnut Street Theatre, most recently she staged managed Theatre Horizon’s production of The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspre (Abridged). Stephanie is grateful for this opportunity and thanks her family for their support. Love to Colin. TERRENCE J. NOLEN (Director) is the Producting Artistic Director and co-founder of Arden Theatre Company. Favorite Arden productions include allPhiladelphia casts of All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, The Grapes of Wrath and Hedda Gabler and such musicals as Sweeney Todd, Pacific Overtures, Falsettos, Violet and Caroline, or Change. Terry directed the inaugural production of Arden Children's Theatre, Charlotte's Web. He has directed six world-premiere plays by Michael Hollinger, three by Dennis Raymond Smeal, and Michael Ogborn's Baby Case. Terry has been nominated for 19 Barrymore Awards for his directing work at the Arden and received awards for The Baker’s Wife, Sweeney Todd, Opus, Winesburg, Ohio and Assassins. He directed Michael Hollinger’s Opus at Primary Stages in New York City and was nominated for a

WHO’S WHO Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director. His short film The Personal Touch was nominated for an Emmy Award. AMY L. MURPHY (Managing Director) A Philadelphia native, Amy co-founded the Arden in 1988 with Terry Nolen and Aaron Posner. She is especially proud of the Arden Professional Apprentice program and its contribution to the Philadelphia cultural community. A graduate of Susquehanna University, Amy received the university’s first-ever Young Alumni Achievement Award. She completed the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders-Arts which is a joint program of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Center for Social Innovation and National Arts Strategies. Amy has served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Jersey State Arts Council and the Executive Committee of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT). Amy was named a Hepburn Fellow 2008-9 by the Katharine Houghton Hepburn Center at Bryn Mawr College.

of the Theatre Communications Group, the League of Resident Theatres, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and Old City Arts Association. The Arden operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Designers in LORT theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE.

SPECIAL THANKS • East End Salon • Headlong Dance Theatre • Ricola USA, Inc.

ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY Founded in 1988, Arden Theatre Company is dedicated to bringing to life the greatest stories by the greatest storytellers of all time. We stage five productions each season as part of our mainstage series and two productions through Arden Children’s Theatre, the city’s first resident professional children’s theatre program. We create and produce new work through our new-work development program, the Independence Foundation New Play Showcase. The Arden Professional Apprenticeship program trains future theatre leaders, and our theatre classes teach children and teens about the craft of making plays. Our access program, Arden For All, makes our work available to the entire community through subsidized tickets and books for economically disadvantaged young people. We also offer sign language-interpreted, captioned and audio described performances and Pay-WhatYou-Can final dress rehearsals that benefit other nonprofits. The Arden has received six Philadelphia Magazine “Best of Philly” Awards, the Arts & Business Council’s Arts Excellence Award, five City Paper “Reader’s Choice” Awards, four Philadelphia Inquirer “Theatre Company of the Year” citations, and 44 awards and 211 nominations from the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia’s Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. Arden Theatre Company, a professional, nonprofit 501(c)(3) theatre company, is a member

DON’T MISS the final show of the Arden’s 08/09 Season

The Seafarer By Conor McPherson Directed by David O’Connorr

Broadway’s recent smash hit - nominated for four Tony Awards - features a collection of misfits on Christmas Eve in Ireland. A group of men, tied loosely together by their affiliation with misfortune, spend a boozy night playing poker. As the evening progresses, the game takes a sinister turn and the stakes rise higher then anyone could have expected. Don’t miss this expert comedy and chilling ghost story that ups the ante on anyone running from their past and features a crackerjack cast including Greg Wood (Opus, Wittenberg), Bill Zielinski (Winesburg, Ohio) and Anthony Lawton (A Prayer for Owen Meany).

May 14 – June 14 On the F. Otto Haas Stage

Recommended for 11th grade students and older.

Tickets $29 - $48, depending on performance chosen • 215.922.1122 • ardentheatre.org 12

INTERVIEW WITH PLAYWRIGHT BRUCE GRAHAM Associate Artistic Director Amy Dugas Brown talks to playwright Bruce Graham ADB: What was the seed for Something Intangible? BG: It was 15 years ago. It was going to be a play about the Van Gogh brothers. I made notes on it. I had Lautrec and Gauguin and all those guys in it. That seemed like too much work! And, also, it was too diverse; too many characters, too many stories to follow. And so I boiled it down to these guys. I started to work on it while I was fishing in Alaska, thinking I’d get a few pages done and I had so much time on my hands I wrote the whole first act! Once it started, after being up (in my head) for so long, it just kind of thaws out. So it was really easy. I guess it was 15 years, so it wasn’t that easy…But once it comes out, it’s a breeze. Top row: (l-r) Ian Merrill Peakes, Scott Greer, Sally Mercer, Kristine Messner, Tom Petro. Bottom row: ADB: Too many characters, too many stories. Any other Doug Hara, Terry Nolen, Bruce Graham reason you made the switch from the Van Goghs to the Wistons? BG: Yeah, that, and, you know I’m a film historian, I teach it. Look, I was in the 6th grade reading Hollywood in the ‘30s. Staying up late at night and watching these old movies on the weekends. I saw every Universal horror movie ever made. My daughter didn’t know movies came in color until she was like six.

ADB: And do you think Tony, like Van Gogh, would cut off his ear for someone? BG: Yes! Not for someone, but for his project. Absolutely. I think real artists would do anything…I think William Wilder said, or one of those famous directors of the 40s and 50s, when they heard about Sam Peckinpah being such a bastard on the set, said,“Hm, sounds like he’s trying to make a good movie.” It was Wilder who said, the first thing a director has to do is repress the urge to be a nice person. When he was off the set he was the nicest guy in the world, but when he got on the set he was a bastard and would make you do it 45 times. He didn’t mind staying there until 10 o’clock at night, and the guy’s track record is pretty impressive. I really think artists do that. Me, I’m too lazy to be an artist. ADB: Yeah, yeah. Bruce, what excites you about this play? BG: It’s the first play I’ve ever written where costumes were important. My plays, traditionally, are not costumers’ delights. You can pretty much go into someone’s closet and pull stuff out. This one is really, really different. And, it’s been something I’ve wanted to say for a long time. I always hate, you know,“the author’s message,” and the, what, the “Aristotelian thought,” and all that, but the whole left brain/right brain interests me. Some of us in the arts often look down our noses at “civilians,” who are out there raising the money, balancing the books. There has to be a real partnership. Even in the best marriages, if anyone is too much alike, forget it. You’ve got to have balance. Tony couldn’t create these things without Dale. And yet people like Dale are often overlooked. I can’t wait to see if it works. I write scenes I don’t want to watch sometimes, scenes where I feel I’m making the characters do embarrassing or awkward things. (There’s a scene) Ian has that I’m going to find it difficult to watch. Once I watch it once in performance, I’m going to be like,“OK! I’m going to be looking the other way!” I feel like I make people do terrible things! ADB: Any surprises so far in rehearsal? Actors teach you anything? BG: Oh, yeah. I’m amazed. We started Tuesday and on Friday we just sat around and read it and already the performances are starting to come alive, in four days. The suggestions from the cast about changes, I’ve probably taken 85% of them. Ian made a terrific suggestion for a change in the second act which I think really improves it. And Volansky (the dramaturg) is kind of a pain in the…, but she’s Volanksy…

INTERVIEW WITH PLAYWRIGHT BRUCE GRAHAM ADB: She’s brilliant… BG: Yeah, and she’s helping. And Terry’s just kind of the ring master. He just kind of sits back and let’s all the nutcases bounce off each other and then says,“Let’s get back to work.” I love Terry, I’ve never worked with him before and so far we don’t want to kill each other. ADB: But to be a good director, he’s going to have to repress the urge to be a nice person. So, you might want to kill him soon. BG: I don’t think I will! ADB: How do you know when a script you’re working on is ready? BG: I don’t, always. I don’t even try to write the script until I have the end of the first act. The end of the first act is going to drive the rest of the play. Then I want at least two conflicts or twists or something in the second act. Once I have all those ingredients, I think I have a play that will work. And it has to be a world that interests me. I think human experiences are universal. I’m always telling my students, you write a play about your family, that’s great, we all have families, but what is it about your family that I’m going to be interested in? Why am I going to sit there and pay attention to your family? My world cannot be further from the world of Asher Lev, but I still got caught up in the story. Opus – I know nothing about music except that I like it, but I could get caught up in the story of (Opus’) characters. To me, that’s smart playwriting. ADB: You are a screenwriter as well. How similar or different are the disciplines? BG: For me, the actual writing discipline is similar. You write for x amount of hours, find act breaks, that sort of thing. You don’t fall in love with it, because they (the producers) can do anything they want to it. Sometimes you get a producer that protects you. The guy I just did my Christmas movie with at Hallmark, I’ve done a couple movies with him and he always tries to protect me. But I’ve dealt with some very well-educated, stupid people in Hollywood. Look, back when Tony and Dale were working, these guys weren’t artists. Louis B. Meyer was a junkman. Harry Cohen was a song plugger. These were all just immigrants, no money. Sam Goldwyn was a glove maker. But their gut told them if a story would work, if people would buy tickets to see something. They put out 52 movies a year back then as opposed to the ten that Universal will put out this year. So, I’m dealing with a bunch of people who know nothing about the history of movies, know nothing about audiences. I made a reference to African Queen one time in a meeting with a young executive and he had no idea what I was talking about. I’m like,“1951, Humphrey Bogart won his Oscar for it, what, are you a moron?” It’s like baseball players who don’t know who Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig are. You gotta know the history of your business! Once one guy was telling me something about a story when (my) Minor Demons was running off Broadway, and was being done with six chairs and it was a brilliant production and audiences were sitting there on the edge of their seats and I was like,“I got a show right now being done with six chairs. No spaceships, no car crashes, none of that stuff, and I’ve got people on the edge of their seats, don’t tell me about story, alright?” This all may explain why I’m a has-been in Hollywood. But, the money’s great. And sometimes a project will come along that I love. ADB: What’s in the pipeline? I’ve got Any Given Monday, which will open next year at Theatre Exile and then moves up to Act II. It looks as if I’ll be acting in the Act II production. The next play is up in my head. I go back to 1919. It takes place on an Indian Reservation in Nebraska. I’m heading out there after this project. Once again, something different. I don’t want to write the same place twice. I could write a dozen Belmont Avenue Social Clubs, but I won’t.

Bruce on the set of the Arden World Premiere Dex and Julie Sittin’ in a Tree

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT $100,000 & above The 1976 Foundation Hamilton Family Foundation Independence Foundation Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development The Pew Charitable Trusts The Philadelphia Theatre Initiative, a program of the Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by The University of the Arts The Wallace Foundation William Penn Foundation $50,000 to $99,999 The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Pennsylvania Council on the Arts The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and philly.com+ Shubert Foundation $15,000 to $49,999 Campbellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Soup Foundation Comcast Corporation Claneil Foundation Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Edward M. Story Memorial Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation Evantine Design+ Fox Chase Bank Harmelin Media Hirsig Family Foundation of the Philadelphia Foundation Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Kieran Timberlake Associates, LLP Lincoln Financial Group Foundation McLean Contributionship Medical Legal Reproductions+ National Endowment for the Arts PECO Philadelphia Cultural Fund PNC Bank Target Corporation $7,500 to $14,999 Anonymous Boeing Corporation Gallagher Family Memorial Foundation John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Philadelphia Humanities Council PNC Charitable Trust The Vanguard Group Foundation Verizon

$2,500 to $7,499 The Addis Group Allegiance Bank Arronson Foundation Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. Barefoot Wine + Barra Foundation Berwind Brook J. Lenfest Foundation Caroline Alexander Buck Foundation Caroline J. S. Sanders Charitable Trust Catering by Design+ Civic Foundation Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation Eagles Youth Partnership+ Larry Farnese Anne M. and Philip H. Glatfelter, III Family Foundation Graboyes Commercial Window Co. Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation The Haley Foundation The Hassel Foundation Hatboro Beverages+ Independence Blue Cross Karr Barth Associates Merck, Inc. National Association of Musical Theatre Nordstrom, Inc. Paul E. Kelly Foundation Philadelphia Activities Fund Samuel S. Fels Fund Studley, Inc. Susquehanna Bank Tierney Communications The Victory Foundation Wachovia Foundation Walter J. Miller Trust Zipcar Philadelphia+ $749 to $2,499 Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC Citizens Bank Foundation Dilworth Paxson, LLP Dramatists Guild Fund, Inc. Drumcliff Foundation Garfield Refining Co. Albert M. Greenfield Co., Inc. Jenkintown Building Services+ Johnson and Johnson Louis N. Cassett Foundation Manko Gold Katcher and Fox, LLP Maxwell Strawbridge Charitable Trust Media Copy+ Park America+ Philadelphia Activities Fund Quaker Chemical Foundation

$749 to $2,499 continued Ann Shaw Foundation Union Benevolent Association Walker Foundation Whole Foods Markets+ $749 and under Actors' Equity Association Foundation Bluecoat Gin+ Corporate Synergies Eclat Chocolates+ Pennsylvania Womens Forum The Rittenhouse Foundation William Goldman Foundation +denotes gifts of services or goods

Matching Gift Partners Archie D. and Bertha H. Walker Foundation AXA Financial DCR Environmental Services Inc. Dilworth Paxson LLP Endo Pharmaceuticals ExxonMobil Foundation Federated Department Stores Foundation Gannett Foundation GE Foundation GlaxoSmithKline IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs Independence Foundation Johnson and Johnson Matching Gifts Program Merck Partnership for Giving Merrill Lynch National Philanthropic Trust Penn Virginia Corporation Philadelphia Foundation PNC Foundation Quaker Chemical Corporation Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sap America, Inc. Subaru of America Foundation United Way The Vanguard Group Foundation Wachovia Foundation Matching Gifts Program

Make a donation through your workplace United Way program. Our Donor Choice Number: 14198 Contributions made through the United Way support our work with children.

SYLVAN SOCIETY MEMBERS 2008/09 Sassafras Grove ($10,000 and Above) Mr. Frederick W. Anton, III Mr. and Mrs. Albert M. Greenfield, III Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust A, recommended by Carole Haas Gravagno Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust A, recommended by John Otto and Dr. Janet Haas Mr. and Mrs. N. Peter Hamilton Hirsig Family Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Arts Education Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation The Suzanne F. and Ralph J. Roberts Foundation Cherry Grove ($5,000-$9,999) Dorothy Delbueno Marie and Joseph Field Matthew and Marie Garfield Ms. Elizabeth Gemmill Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust B, recommended by Leonard C. Haas Barbara and Leslie Kaplan Peggy and Steve Morgan Charles Rose and Mindy Goldberg Rose Monica Horan and Philip Rosenthal Anonymous Terry and Amanda Foster Spahr, through the Betty and Wes Foster Family Foundation Rosalyn and Stephen Weinstein June and Steve Wolfson Family Foundation Filbert Grove ($2,500-$4,999) Mrs. Valla Amsterdam Sally and Michael Bailin Carol and Tom Beam Lois G. Brodsky Chip Capelli Anne M. Congdon Robert M. Dever Ann Diebold Bob and Nancy Elfant Tim and Ellen Foster Narinder and Patricia Garg Glenn Gundersen and Susan Manix Paul Kelly Josephine Klein Anonymous Lee and Christopher van de Velde Sally Walker and Tom Gilmore Ted and Stevie Wolf

Mulberry Grove ($1,000-$2,499) Brian Abernathy and Elizabeth Ireland John Alchin Peggy Anderson Arden Professional Apprentice Class 15 Bethany Asplundh Jim and Janet Averill Sheryl and Allen Bar Giséle Sambar Bathish Ivy Bayard Sandy and Mickey Bernstein John Bitman Reggie Blaszczyk and Lee O’Neill Louis Bluver Jean G. Bodine Patty Bowman Tony Braithwaite+ Bernard Brewstein and Ellen Rosenthal DeDe and Tony Brown Thomas Burke and Rick Fountas Laurada Byers Jean Canfield* Priscilla and John F. Clement Jeffrey Coon+ John and Susan Coleman Joy De Jesús and Jamie Reynolds Ben Dibble+ Michael A. Donato and Peter R. Sonzogni Deb Dorsey and Mike Green Jaimie and David Field Jeanne Fisher* Oliver M. Ford Sandi Foxx-Jones Richard Frey+ David and Christina Fryman Lou and Rhoda Fryman Linda and David Glickstein Thomas Golabek Terry Graboyes Bonnie Graham Marcy Gringlas and Joel Greenberg Chara and John C. Haas David and MaryJane Hackney Ronna F. and Robert Hall Mr. and Mrs. Jon Harmelin Don and Lynn Martin Haskin Jane and Steve Heumann Karen and Mark Hite Susan Jacobson and Michael Golden Mr. and Mrs. D. Scott and Carol Kelley Caroline Kemmerer Mr. Peter Kenney and Dr. Dorothy Novick Holly Kinser Kenneth and Eve Klothen Bill and Beth Landman

Winnie and Eric Lien William A. Loeb Larry and Barbara Magid Drs. Robin and Saifuddin Mama Lewis R. and Sue Ann Marburg Gloria and Dan Mariano Jean S. Markovitz John J. McCawley* Andrea Mengel and George A. Ritter Seymour Millstein A.C. Missias J. Williams Mills III* Ann and George Morris Ellen and Michael Mulroney Amy L. Murphy Ron and Suzanne Naples Terrence J. Nolen Michael Norris and Matt Varrato Diane Palmer Thomas Petro and Kristine Messner Dr. and Mrs. Joel Porter Anonymous Ann and Frank Reed, through the Malfer Foundation Kurt and Mary-Ann Reiss Phyllis and Martin Rosenthal Mike Salmanson and Tobi Zemsky Marilyn Sanborne and Richard Labowskie Jane Scaccetti Julianna Schauerman Dolly Beechman Schnall and Dr. Nathan Schnall Hether, Don and Sarah Smith Richard and Amanda Smoot David and Daria Spingler Kathleen A. Stephenson William K. Stewart Foundation Keith and Jim Straw Adelaide Sugarman and Marshall Greenberg Harvey B. Swedloff Marguerite V. Rodgers and James H. Timberlake Eileen Heisman Tuzman and Martin Tuzman Tom and Pat Vernon Sandy and Michael Wax Richard E. Woosnam and Diane Dalto Woosnam Ellen Yin+ *Denotes a gift made through The United Way +Denotes a gift of goods or services

Arden for All is supported by a generous gift from

Virginia & Harvey Kimmel

The Sylvan Society recognizes individuals who make annual gifts of $1,000 or more. The exceptional generosity of these donors enables the Arden to tell great stories by having the resources to achieve the highest level of artistic quality. Sylvan Society benefits bring members closer to our work and deepen their appreciation for the role they play in the Arden’s success. To join the Sylvan Society or for more information, please contact Manager of Individual Giving, Angela DuRoss, at 215.922.8900, ext. 25 or aduross@ardentheatre.org.

ANNUAL DONORS 2008/09 $500 - $999 Iris Melendez and Henry R. Adamczyk, Jr. Rebecca and John Adams Stan and Lisa Altman Peter and Lynne Berman Robert and Almut Breazeale Debbie and Alan Casnoff Carol Caswell Ruth Miller Cox James R. Fairburn and David A. Wickard Carole M. Foley* Charles Gear Edith Klausner Kenneth Kopple Jim and Pat Lockhart Culbertson Donald J. Martin and Richard Repetto Stephanie and Michael Naidoff Paul Nutaitis and Robert Clark Barbara and Don Parman Michael L and Judy Paul John and Pinkie Philbrick Whitney Quesenbery and John Chester Paul Rabe and Cheryl Gunter Franklyn and Cintra Rodgers Eva and Marvin Schlanger Family Foundation Robert & Karen Sharrar Karen and Jon Sirlin James L. Smith Harold and Emily Starr Dr. & Mrs. Stephen G. Vasso Hella and Lew Volgenau Fred and Arleen Weinstein Tom and Jackie Zemaitis $250-$499 Charles and Stephanie Andrews Joann White and William Beckett Richard and Joan Behr Sheila Bell and Thomas Dodds Pat and Tom Bender Barry and Marilyn Bevacqua Mr. and Mrs. J. Robert and Marilyn Birnhak Ruth E. Brown Mr. Joseph Casey Nelly and Scott Childress Charles J. Coyle Sue and Robert Evans Anne Ewers Jeffrey Farenback-Brateman Shannon and Edward Farmer

Charlotte and Mickey Feldman Ruth and Andre Ferber Drs. Barbara and Len Frank Dan Gannon David K. Gifford Terry Gillen Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Rita Goldberg Douglas and Harriet Heath Bill Hendrickson Jim and Carolyn Hessinger Mr. Frank Hollick Mr. Philip Kalodner Susan Kellogg and Dick Hoffman Alan and Elaine Klawans Patricia and Charles Kling Barbara and Leonard Klinghoffer Marilyn and David Kraut Mary Ellen Krober Ruth and Peter Laibson Joan and Marc S. Lapayowker Joanne Lawson Robert and Laurel Lipshutz Barbara Patterson Lobb Mike and Helene Loeb Frank and Sally Mallory Tina Manco Lynn and Joe Manko Ted and Ronnie Mann George and Judy McCarthy Gloria McNutt Madeline Miller Ken and Moira Mumma William Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Laura Offutt and Steve Fukuchi Stanton and Bernice Oswald Mr. Richard Pariseau Judy and John Peeler Mary and F. Laurence Pethick Helen Phillips Dan Promislo Sherri and Abe Reich Dulcie Romm Faye and Daniel Ross Jerry and Bernice Rubenstein Irwin C. and Carole M. Saft Susan Greene Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Shuster Frank and Catherine Signorello James Akerberg and Larry Simmons Drs. Richard and Rhonda Soricelli Marilyn and Dean R. Staats Robert and Sydney Stevens Anonymous Eric Tamulonis and Deirdre Gibson John Urofsky

Emily and Charles Wagner Marlene Weinberg Bertram and Lorle Wolfson Paul and Barbara Yeagle $125-$249 Carol and Bennett Aaron Howard Aaronson Jennifer and Brian Allebach and Family Janet and Roger Alwang Natalie Levkovich Dr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Andrews Alan and Sandy Ault May and Ethan Ball Joe and Susan Baltake Judith Barrett Ron and Joyce Bayer Susan Becker and Aaron Rubin Bikki Bevelhymer-Chiang Doris and Aaron Bitman Linda and Alden Blyth Craig H. Boddorff* Tony Braithwaite Joseph and Mary Lou Breidenstine Charles Brennan Bernard and Pamela Brownstein Robert J. Butera John and Lucille Byrne Bob Carfagno Caroline Castagno Wanna Be a Star Leah Chaplin Rhoda and Michael Coben Arminta and William B. Collins Dr. W. Robert and Margaret Cook Robert and Frances Corlies Sandra and James Corry Zoe Coulson James Crawford and Judith Dean Marta Dabezies Daniel Dagle Angelina and Michael DeAngelis Rita and Grace Denbo Ellen Dipinto Larry and Pat Dixon Ellen and Max Dooneief Marie and Peter Dooner Lois S Durso Marcia Eisenberg Linda V Ellsworth Paul and Adele Epstein William Ewing Cynthia Heininger and James Feeney Mark and Rene Feitelson

ANNUAL DONORS 2008/09 $125-$249 continued Ms. Joanne E. Fields Edwina Findley Deborah and Martin Fishbein Mr. Allan P. Freedman Ellen and David Freeman Paulette and Paul Freeman Buzz and Linda Gamble In memory of Bob Gallagher Peggy Glover Micki and Larry Goldberg Bob and Jan Goren Priscilla Grosick Judge Marvin R. and Mrs. Marcia O. Halbert Stephen Hamilton* Brian Hanna Mary C. Harbison Susan Harries Barbara and Robert Hauptfuhrer Charles Head Susan W. Herron Arnold and Esther Horn John Houle and Katherine Hayden Kathleen Jacobs Timothy and Carol Johnson David and Beth Medoway Kagan Lucy Kaufman Steven and Patricia King Bernadette Koller Joan Kremer and Jim Luther Jeff Larsen Richard Lee Lorraine and late Richard Leff Karen Lisker Perry Watts and Samuel Litwin William Lutz Donald and Nancy Maclay Ronnie and Larry Margel Mary Louise Martin Mr. and Mrs. James Matarese Patrick and Judith McCoyd Emmett and Patricia McVey Paul and Lee S Miller Marianne Miller Alan and Susan Miller Martin and Sandra Miller Daniel P. Monbourquette Ellen Monsees Keith and Liz Mosley Claire Moyer Kathleen Moyer Jerome Napson Anonymous Brenda J. Oliphant Gerald Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill

Linda Osler Clare and Dwayne Osman Sandra Packel Alice and Albert Packman Anonymous Sydney S. Pasternack Ms. Sandra Paul John and Judith Peakes Bob and Leila Peck David and Sylvia Perelman Rhoda Polakoff John and Margaret Preg Linda Quam Joy Rickabaugh Fred Rizzo Graham and Betsy Robb in honor of Lee van de Velde George and Zara Roberts Francoise and Louis Rollmann Edwin and Sally Rosenthol Alan Rothenberg Janet Rupert Diane Rurode Ruth and Marvin Sachs Bonnie Schorske Jane Beechman and Steven Segal Ellen Schwartz Siegel Leslie E. Skilton David and Carleene Slowik Corinne Stahl John and Susan Stedman Robert Stewart and Barbara Barnett-Stewart Ken Sugarman and Robin Goldfaden in honor of M.Greenberg and A.S Elaine and Sal Tagliareni Bob and Tina Tate Doris M. Toll Lisa Truckess Clifford and Ann Wagner Richard and Fenching Wainstein Michael Walraven and Mary Lou Starling Jim and Suellen Weiner Leslie and Ellen Welson Harry and MaryAnn Woodcock Sam and Kuna Yankell Joseph and Renee Zuritsky

$75-$124 Emily Aiken Maureen Alexander Helen Aster Ron Baron Robert Bauer and Sandy Clay Bauer Lisa Becker Roberta Berg Michael and Rosalyn Bernstein Sydney and Doris Beshunsky Charlotte Biddle Steve Zettler and Cordelia Biddle Thomas H. Blackburn Myron and Sharon Blumberg Hazel Bowers Frank Boyer Michael P. Boyle Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and Mary Pat Boyle Rosemary and Lee Brahin Beth Brooks and Bob Waterson David Brownlee Carol Buettger John T. Callari Barbara Carmine Howard Cell Ronald and Christina Chang Elissa and Norman Chansky Jennifer Coffey John Condello Susan Cook Kimberly L. Crown* Mary Ann Dailey Daniel Devlin Carole Dichter In Honor of Marjorie Dickey Margaret Chew Dolan and Peter Maxwell Beverly Dotter Catherine Dougherty William and Joan Douglas Judith Drasin Donald and Geraldine Duclow Angela DuRoss Sylvia Egnal Jane Eisner, in honor of Adena Potok Paul and Judith Farber Stephanie and Stanton Felzer Mitchell and Pia Fenimore Malcolm and Martha Fick John Fischer Joan and Aron Fisher Camille Focarino and Joseph Dimaio Mr. Raymond Ford

ANNUAL DONORS 2008/09 $75-$124 continued Harriet Foreman Ms. Judy Frank Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Frank Dr. John and Elaine Frank Helene and Michael Freidman Paula Freilich Joel Gardner and Holly Phelps Eileen and William Gemmell Stan Gibell David Glancey Ms. Joan Gmitter Grace Gonglewski and Eric Schoefer Kelley A. Grady* Roseanne and David Grant Carl and Helene Gumerman Joyce K. Hackman Jeanne and Murray Halfond Donald Hargreaves Linda Fowler Hartnett Marcy Hasbrouck Beverly Hayden Joseph Herbst Grace Hershman Marcia and John Hiehle Daniel and Monica Hilferty Isidore and Sharon Hofferman Aram and Jackie Jerrehian Sarah C. Jordan Thomas Lloyd and Jane Kamp Nancy Kane Ginny and Len Karabell Ira and Linda Katz Margaret Keller Cynthia Killion Lorraine Kilmer Gregory Kleiber Arlene Kline Joel Koppelman James Kronzer Sylvia and Robert Lange Sonya Lawrence* Marlies Levenger Mr. and Mrs. Craig and Stephanie Lewis Edward Lichtenberg Barbara and Dick Linde Will and Sandy Lock Melissa Lore* Virginia Lowe Joan Ryder and Robert Ludwig Dr. Edward Lundy and Debra Reiff Anonymous Whit MacLaughlin and Catherine Slusar Todd and Susan Makler

Patricia and James Malloy Lolly Marchant Betty Margolis and Sidney Arenson Richard and Julie May Linda McAleer and Maitlon Russell Faith J McDowell Deborah McKinley and David Rich Samuel and Cecile Merion Douglas and Fredaricka Moffitt Jeff and Maxine Morgan Kenneth and Susan Myers Mary Ann Naulty Mr. and Mrs. Gene Nicholls Bonnie and Eliot Nierman Etta and Chuck Nissman Kathy Nolen Edwards Dave and Arline Olim Betsy Oliphant Jane G. Pepper John and Victoria Podolski Leslie and Curt Pontz Aaron Posner Nancy Post Avra and Harry Pressman Shirley and Charles Preston Keith Quinton Karen and Mark Reber Mary Jo Reilly Eleanor Reinhardt Leslie Rescorla Clifford Ridley and Betsey Hansell Dr. Elnora Rigik and Andrew Bushko Sharon and Mark Robb Claire Rocco John and Claire Rodgers Jane A. Rose, CPA/PFS Kenneth and Shelley Rosenberg J. Randall Rosensteel Dr. Harry Rosenthal Flora and Nick Ruben Bernard and Barbara Ruekgauer Barbara Ryalls Romayne and David Sachs Thekla Sacksteder Joan and Bill Saidel Herbert Salzman Mark Sandberg John Sands Michael Sanyour Mr. and Mrs. A. Schmidt Mary Ellen and Carl Schneider Harold and Sharon Schwalm Jeanne C. Scott

Robert and Karen Serenbetz Frances Sheehan and Rick Gelman Betty and Arthur Sherman Elaine L. Sherman Mr. and Mrs. J. Thomas Showler Jason and Danielle Smereczynski Anonymous Corey and Jonne Smith Richard Smith Richard and Doranne Smith Leon Steinberg Paul Stone Bethy and Vinson Stouck Sharon and Robert Strochak Ruth P. Stuessy Shirley Swerdloff Richard and Anne Tax Marion and Richard Taxin Joseph Terry Pamela Thaxter Linda and Keith Thomson Cathy J. Toner* Marian Tracey Mailin Van Antwerp* Pam Ventrella Martin and Dorothy Vogel Mr. and Mrs. Howard Yusem* Thomas Watkins Samuel and M. Judith Wenzel Edward Wilk John and Donna and Jenna Wojcik Askold Zagars Francis A. Zampiello Joan D. Zeidner*

* Denotes gift made through the United Way + Denotes gift of goods or services

The list acknowledges donors as of March 18, 2009. If your name has been omitted or misprinted, please accept our apologies. Notify us by contacting Manager of Individual Giving Angela DuRoss at (215) 922-8900, x. 25 or aduross@ardentheatre.org. Although space does not allow us to list supporters whose gifts are less than $75, we gratefully acknowledge their contributions.

BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS Board of Directors David Fryman, President N. Peter Hamilton, Vice President Andrea Mengel, Vice President Michael A. Donato, Treasurer Nancy Hirsig, Secretary Brian Abernathy Nancy Burd Karen Butler Joy L. De Jesús Ellen P. Foster Matthew Garfield Elizabeth H. Gemmill Carole Haas Gravagno Albert M. Greenfield, III Ronna F. Hall Joanne Harmelin Lynn Martin Haskin, Ph.D. Steve Heumann Susan G. Jacobson Barbara Kaplan Virginia Kimmel Holly Kinser Richard L. Maimon John J. McCawley Amy L. Murphy Terrence J. Nolen Aaron Posner Charles H. Rose H. Hetherington Smith Harvey B. Swedloff Joseph A. Tammaro, Jr. Lee van de Velde Diane Dalto Woosnam Ellen Yin Board Executive Committee David Fryman, chair Brian Abernathy Michael A. Donato Ronna F. Hall Peter Hamilton Nancy Hirsig Virginia Kimmel Andrea Mengel Charles Rose Hether Smith Lee van de Velde Board Development Committee Michael Donato, chair Peter Hamilton Lynn Haskin Lee van de Velde Diane Dalto Woosnam

Education Committee Sheryl Bar Marla Diamond Dr. Dennis W. Creedon Dr. Carol Domb John King Jacqueline Matusow Ilene Miller Judy Paul Ilene Poses Facilities Committee Hether Smith, chair Richard Maimon John McCawley Myles Pettengill Paul Thais Finance Committee Michael Donato, chair Nancy Burd Ellen Foster Elizabeth Gemmill Steve Heumann Martin Rosenthal Ed Stavetski Harvey Swedloff Personnel Committee Lee van de Velde, chair David Fryman Elizabeth Gemmill Charles Rose Advocacy Committee Brian Abernathy, chair David Glancey Terry Gillen Julie Hawkins Susan Jacobson Holly Kinser Institutional Giving Committee Michael Donato David Fryman Elizabeth Gemmill Carole Haas Gravagno Joanne Harmelin John McCawley Hether Smith Strategic Planning Committee Andrea Mengel, chair Ellen Foster David Fryman Ellen Yin

Individual Giving Committee Virginia Kimmel, chair Charles Rose, chair Sheryl Bar Giséle Bathish John Bitman Chip Capelli Joy L. De Jesús Terry Graboyes Wendy Greenfield Lynn Haskin Steve Heumann Nancy Hirsig Jill Kaplan Eric and Winnie Lien Peggy Morgan Richard Quinn Steven Segal Harvey Swedloff Rosalyn and Steve Weinstein Diane Dalto Woosnam Ellen Yin Special Events Committee Ronna F. Hall, chair Gary Bramnick Tom Burke Karen Butler Chip Capelli Michael Donato Nancy Elfant Carmel D. Ferrandino Ellen Foster Sara Furey David Hackney Marlo Hall Jamie Joffe Barbara Kaplan Joanne Lawson Kelly Lee Barbara Link Bob Marburg Peggy Morgan Michael Norris Betsy Oliphant Dolly Beechman Schnall Brian Seaman Bill Swoope 2008/09 Honorary Producers’ Circle Frederick W. Anton, III Carole Haas Gravagno Barbara and Leslie Kaplan Harvey and Virginia Kimmel

OUR 30TH WORLD PREMIERE Something Intangible is our 30th World Premiere. Getting to produce a world premiere is a little like: inaugurating a president; having a baby; getting drafted into the major leagues. A lot of good work has already been done, but it’s understood that it’s going to take a whole lot more work in order to achieve true success. And it is that journey toward success that makes working on new plays so rewarding. We love taking that journey, and have launched many new plays toward success. Two regional theatres have already committed to producing My Name is Asher Lev next season. Michael Hollinger’s Opus is running at the Old Globe in San Diego right now. Other Arden/Hollinger world-premieres have been done nationally and internationally. The Chosen has been done extensively in the regions, including a production at Steppenwolf in Chicago.

Scott Greer and Greg Wood in Wittenberg, by David Davalos, 2008

Sharon Sampieri and Jeffrey Coon in Baby Case, by Michael Ogborn, 2001

We, probably not surprisingly, strive for excellence with each of our productions. However, we consider it a matter of particular importance to make a world-premiere production as good as it possibly can be. This production of Something Intangible will become its gold standard. Producers in New York and throughout the nation will look to our production as a prime way to evaluate the script and how successful it can be on stage. Luckily, we love working with playwrights to help them realize their best possible play. I often refer to the Arden as a “dramaturgical organization,” which is really just a theatre-y way of saying that everyone on staff deeply cares about – and pays attention to – what the playwright has put on the page. A dramaturg serves the playwright and makes sure that her or his intentions are well represented, both on page and on stage. The official dramaturg on this play is Michele Volanksy. She’s keenly adept at getting playwrights to make their plays better, clearer, sharper. She feels it is her job to help the playwright to realize his best play.

Peter Schmitz, Christopher Sapienza, Jillian Louis & Donna Migliaccio in The Dinosaur Musical, by Rob and Willie Reale, 2005/06

Douglas Rees in Opus, by Michael Hollinger, 2006

The Arden as a whole approaches every play with a similar reverence to the text. Our technical director Glenn Perlman’s job is to take the set designer’s vision and make it three dimensional – he blueprints and builds each set. He doesn’t need to do a textual analysis of the play to do that, but he will. In design meetings he will reference the text to challenge the designers to serve the play as it is written. Similarly, when we cast, I will comb the script carefully for clues that reveal exactly who should be cast. I’ll say,“if you notice what Dale says about Leo on page 64,” in order to lead the creative team to the best possible cast, which is to say a cast the playwright will feel

John Lumia and Jennifer Childs in Dex and Julie Sittin’ in a Tree, by Bruce Graham, 2007 All photos by Mark Garvin.

OUR 30TH WORLD PREMIERE

good about. Every Arden department, from marketing to general management, approaches their work this way. We love putting the story in the center of our work, so it makes good sense that we all get excited when we get to be the ones to tell the story first. Luckily, the Arden has been receiving national attention and support to help us do just that. Something Intangible, as well as My Name is Asher Lev received the coveted Edgerton Award for New American Plays. We recently were awarded a multi-year grant from the prestigious Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust. We are the first Philadelphia theatre to ever receive support from the Steinberg Charitable Trust for the development of new work. We are honored that our passion for producing new plays is being recognized with such enthusiasm. This support will enable us to devote even more time and resources to this passion to assure that the plays and playwrights we believe in can reach the heights we always hoped they would reach. Amy Dugas Brown

—————— Master of Arts in—————

Villanova’s M.A. program combines both scholarly and practical approaches to theatre. Learn from faculty and staff involved in the region’s professional theatre industry. Gain knowledge and experience in: • Acting • Directing • Dramaturgy

• Script Analysis • Theory and Criticism • Playwriting

Villanova Theatre has received 50 nominations and six Barrymore Awards since 1995!

610.519.4760 www.theatre.villanova.edu 24

Carl C. Granieri and Rachel Anne Stephan in The Illusion, 2008. Photo: Paola Nogueras

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Ever wonder what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to be a stage manager? Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a day in the life of an Arden Professional Apprentice...

Visit the Arden Insider blog! We share behind-the-scenes stories and current happenings. Hear from the Arden staff as well as actors and other visiting artists, and we hope we'll hear from you, too!

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ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY Harmelin Media is celebrating our 25th anniversary with the singular purpose of planning and buying the most efficient, effective and innovative media for our clients.

Corporate Office 525 Righters Ferry Road Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 P 610.668.7900 www.harmelin.com Joanne Harmelin, CEO Mary Meder, President

2009 SALONS BRUCE GRAHAM

Get up close and personal with the Arden’s favorite artists! Salons are a lively, intimate way to get the inside scoop while sharing a glass of wine with the regions hottest theatre professionals. Hosted by Arden’s Associate Artistic Director Amy Dugas Brown, nothing is off-limits during these fun-filled, provocative evenings at the Arden.

Monday, May 11

Bruce Graham, playwright of Something Intangible and one of our most popular salon guests, returns for an in-depth discussion. An accomplished playwright (Coyote on a Fence, The Philly Fan, Belmont Avenue Social Club) and screenwriter (Anastasia, Steal this Movie), he will share insights into his process and stories ranging from stage to TV set to film screen.

SOMETHING INTANGIBLE

Thursday, May 28

Actors Scott Greer and Ian Merrill Peakes, two of Philadelphia’s most dynamic actors, often share the stage. How did they work together to create the roles of these two brothers at odds? How has their onstage relationship changed as this new work developed from a reading to a full production?

THE SEAFARER

Thursday, June 11

Conor McPherson’s twisting tale set in Baldoyle, Ireland presents several challenges for the actors. How do they balance humor and suspense in this story of an out-ofwork chauffeur and the mysterious stranger who visits him? How do they inhabit the lives and language of these men? Join us as Bill Zielinski and Greg Wood share their experiences.

Salons are held from 6pm - 7:30pm at the Arden.

Reservations are encouraged. Call 215.922.1122. $25 each, buy three or more for $15 each, $10 for students In addition to the discussion, the ticket price includes a delicious array of hors d’oeuvres generously provided by Whole Foods. Salon dates and times are subject to change.

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Looking for a great place to eat in Old City? Try one of these fine establishments. Be sure to mention you heard about them from us!

Bookbinder’s 125 Walnut St. • 215.925.7027 • www.bookbinders.biz Old Original Bookbinder's has long been a Philadelphia landmark. For Joe DiMaggio, Lillian Russell, Richard Nixon, The Rat Pack, Bob Hope and a host of other celebrities, Old Original Bookbinder's was a special place to enjoy seafood, cocktails, and friendship. A complete renovation at the original location in 2005 ensured success for a new generation of luminaries and locals. Bookbinder's Executive Chef, David Cunningham drives famous classics such as Snapper Soup and Strawberry Shortcake to some very modern shores, while adding such signature dishes as Bouillabaisse, Seafood Cobb Salad and more.

Campo’s 214 Market Street • 215.923.1000 www.phillyhoagie.com A legacy of quality, this classic, deli-style restaurant has been churning out delicious sandwiches since 1947. Order any of the special soups, salads, and sandwiches from this Philadelphia kitchen and you’ll see why it’s “where the locals go.” –USA Today

Fork and Fork: etc 306-308 Market Street • 215.625.9425 www.forkrestaurant.com Fork continues to set the standard for New American bistro dining. The fresh, seasonal cuisine reflects international influences with an original twist. Part of Fork’s allure is its sophisticated interior, where the dining experience is anything but stuffy and uncomfortable. Open seven days a week, there is plenty of time before or after the show to enjoy lunch, dinner, or even just dessert. Come in to Fork:etc, our gourmet café for a quick and satisfying breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A private dining room and catering are also available. Reservations are recommended.

Patou 312 Market Street • 215.928.2987 www.patourestaurant.com From acclaimed French chef/owner Patrice Rames, Patou offers a menu ranging from casual hearth baked gourmet pizzas to the most elegant dishes from the Cote D’Azur. City Paper Reader’s Choice Award “Best New Restaurant”. Visit www.patourestaurant.com for all information.

Ristorante Panorama 14 N. Front Street • 215.922.7800 www.pennsviewhotel.com Featuring contemporary authentic Italian cuisine such as homemade pastas, tender veal and daily seafood specialties, Ristorante Panorama is located in the charming Penn’s View hotel, Front and Market Streets, Philadelphia. The wine program offers over 120 wines by the glass, and has received Sante’ Magazine’s “Wine Hospitality Award for Fine Dining,” Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence,” Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best of Philly,” and Decanter Magazine’s “Best Wine by the Glass Program in North America.”

Serrano 20 S. 2nd Street • 215.928.0770 Serrano has been a fixture in Old City since 1985. With a reputation for serving international fare at neighborhood prices, it is the perfect place to visit, kick back and enjoy, to bring friends and make friends. After dinner, move the evening upstairs to the Tin Angel, our intimate acoustic café. Tin Angel has presented an astonishing array of stars from the world of blues, rock, folk and country and has earned a reputation as the best club of its size in the country.

Triumph Brewing Company 117 Chestnut Street • 215.625.0855 www.triumphbrewing.com Triumph Brewing Company is a sophisticated restaurant & brewery featuring regional American cuisine and hand-crafted freshly brewed beer. Triumph is located in the heart of Old City.

STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Producing Artistic Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terrence J. Nolen Managing Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amy L. Murphy Associate Managing Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Ditsky Associate Artistic Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amy Dugas Brown Artistic Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erin Read Artistic Intern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elana Boulos Literary Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dennis Smeal Director of Marketing and Public Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth Yeagle Marketing Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abigael Reed Public Relations Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janine Zappone Design Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristy Giballa Education Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maureen Mullin Fowler Education and Group Services Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Wojcik Manager of Individual Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela DuRoss Manager of Institutional Giving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Rosenbaum Development Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tina Morrison General Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Peck Associate General Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Beth Simon Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Courtney Spiker House Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryane Studivant, James Yandoli Box Office Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynn Keily Assistant Box Office Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corey Masson Box Office Assistants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Beyer, Thomas Choinacky, Carla Emanuele, Amanda Grove, Michael McElroy, Fred Ott, Ryane Studivant Arden Professional Apprentices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bobby Bangert, Katherine Fritz, Hillary Rea, Maura Roche, Richard Sonne, Gary Thayer Arden Drama School Faculty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kala Moses Baxter, Jeff Coon, Matt Decker, Ben Dibble, Erin Driscoll, Carla Emanuele, Liz Filios, Larry Fowler, Steve Gravelle, Jefferson Haynes, Millie Hiibel, Gina Leigh, Michael McElroy, Steve Pacek, Erin Read, Alison Roberts, Scott Sheppard, Vanda Thomas, Anneliese Van Arsdale, Jon Ward Arden In Class and On Stage Teaching Artists . . . . . . . Kala Moses Baxter, Jeffrey Coon, Erin Driscoll, Carla Emanuele, Steve Gravelle, Jefferson Haynes, Danielle Herbert, James Ijames, Michael McElroy, Sally Wojcik Interns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joshua Bernaski, Elana Boulos, Kagiso Kesupile-Reed, James Yandoli Arden Volunteer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jean Markovitz PRODUCTION STAFF Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Courtney Riggar Technical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glenn Perlman Assistant Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Day West Master Carpenter/Shop Foreman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will Lambrakos Production Stage Managers . . . . . . Stephanie Cook, Alec E. Ferrell, John David Flak, Katharine M. Hanley, Elana Wolff Assistant to the Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Thayer Costume Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alison Roberts Costume Interns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leah Delfiner, Alyssa Duval, Ashley Johns, Andrea Milnik, Alice Scanlon Stitcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lorraine Anderson, Derwyn Cooper, Mary Beth Regan Wardrobe Intern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asaki Kuruma Property Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Ward Master Electrician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martin Stutzman Sound Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Austen Brown Charge Scenic Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristina Chadwick Electricians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Corrado, Georgia Schlessman Dialect Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neil Hartley

Announcing shows for the 2009/10 Season! Subscribe Today.

BLUE DOOR By Tanya Barfield Directed by Walter Dallas January 14 - March 14, 2010 on the Arcadia Stage Lewis is a successful mathematics professor whose wife of 25 years has just left him because of his refusal to participate in the Million Man March. So begins Lewis' sleepless night where a series of ancestors visit him and reveal the hardships and victories of their lives. Lyrical, funny and poignant, this two person tour-de-force is a thought-provoking window into the soul of one African American man grappling at the intersection of his own identity and his cultural history.

ROMEO AND JULIET By William Shakespeare Directed by Matt Pfeiffer February 25 - April 11, 2010 on the F. Otto Haas Stage Remember what it feels like to love with abandon and surrender to raw elation? We give you an unadulterated Romeo and Juliet. Come experience Shakespeare's masterpiece, without pretense or gimmick, and tap into the heart of this timeless love story.

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by James Lapine Directed by Terrence J. Nolen May 27 - June 27, 2010 on the F. Otto Haas Stage Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical was inspired by Georges Seurat's stunning masterpiece, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Brimming with beauty and light, Sunday in the Park celebrates the power of creation. Jeffrey Coon (Seurat) and Kristine Fraelich (Dot) star in this passionate production featuring Sondheim's full orchestrations and a world of “color and light”. Hold on to your hat!

Two additional mainstage productions will be announced soon!

Take advantage of priority seating offered through June 15. Subscribe today to receive a significant discount off single ticket prices and great benefits: exclusive ticket exchange privileges, the best choice of seats and a host of parking and dining discounts.

215.922.1122 • ardentheatre.org