April 29 - June 10, 2012
WEST COAST PREMIERE
Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage
Old Globe Theatre
Conrad Prebys Theatre Center
Music and Lyrics by John Kander & Fred Ebb
Libretto by David Thompson
Direction and Choreography by Susan Stroman
Music Direction by Eric Ebbenga
Associate Director and Choreographer, Jeff Whiting
Scenic Design by Beowulf Boritt
Costume Design by Toni-Leslie James
Lighting Design by Ken Billington
Sound Design by Jon Weston
Assistant Choreographer, Eric Santagata
Orchestrations by Larry Hochman Music Arrangements by Glen Kelly
Vocal Arrangements by David Loud
Fight Director, Rick Sordelet
Casting by Janet Foster, CSA
Stage Manager, Joshua Halperin
From the creators of Chicago, Cabaret and Kiss of the Spider Woman comes the critically acclaimed The Scottsboro Boys. This daring and wildly entertaining new musical, directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, explores a pivotal moment in American history with arresting originality, innovative staging and a breathtaking score. Based on the notorious “Scottsboro” case of the 1930s, this inspiring and shocking story tells of the nine unjustly accused African American young men whose lives would eventually spark the Civil Rights Movement. Possibly the most important musical Broadway has seen in recent memory, The Scottsboro Boys was hailed by Entertainment Weekly as “the best new musical of the year. A cause for rejoicing! Stunning! Grade A!” A co-production with American Conservatory Theater.
Video preview of The Scottsboro Boys. The Scottsboro Boys, music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, runs April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe.
Video highlights of The Scottsboro Boys. The Scottsboro Boys, music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, runs April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe.
Meet the cast of The Scottsboro Boys. The Scottsboro Boys, music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, runs April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe.
The cast of the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys: (from left) Nile Bullock, Eric Jackson, David Bazemore, Christopher James Culberson, James T. Lane, Clinton Roane, Clifton Duncan, Clifton Oliver and Shavey Brown. The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, runs April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
(from left) Jared Joseph as Mr. Bones, Ron Holgate as The Interlocutor and JC Montgomery as Mr. Tambo in the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
JC Montgomery as Samuel Leibowitz and the cast of the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
Clifton Duncan as Haywood Patterson (center) and the cast of the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
(foreground, from left) David Bazemore as Olen Montgomery, Eric Jackson as Clarence Norris, James T. Lane as Ozie Powell and Shavey Brown as Willie Roberson and the cast of the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
James T. Lane (above) as Ozie Powell and the cast of the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
Clifton Duncan as Haywood Patterson (center) with C. Kelly Wright as The Lady and Eric Jackson as Clarence Norris in the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
Jared Joseph as Mr. Bones (center) with Shavey Brown as Willie Roberson and Clifton Duncan as Haywood Patterson in the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
(from left) David Bazemore as Olen Montgomery, Nile Bullock as Eugene Williams and Eric Jackson as Clarence Norris in the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
Ron Holgate as The Interlocutor (center) and the cast of the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
Clifton Duncan as Haywood Patterson in the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
(foreground, from left) Clifton Oliver as Victoria Price and James T. Lane as Ruby Bates and the cast of the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
(from left) JC Montgomery as Guard Tambo, Clifton Duncan as Haywood Patterson, Jared Joseph as Guard Bones and Eric Jackson as Preacher in the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco.
Composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb. The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb and book by David Thompson, will run Aprill 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo courtesy of The Old Globe.
Playwright David Thompson. The Scottsboro Boys, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb and book by Thompson, will run Aprill 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo by Michael J. Lutch.
Director and choreographer Susan Stroman. Stroman will direct and choreograph The Scottsboro Boys, which will run April 29 - June 10, 2012 at The Old Globe. Photo courtesy of Paul Kolnik Studio.
The Scottsboro Boys. Illustration courtesy of The Old Globe.
Cast and Creative Team
(click on image to download a high-resolution photo)
David Bazemore (Olen Montgomery) most recently appeared in The Scottsboro Boys at Philadelphia Theatre Company. His favorite credits include Leading Player in Pippin (Tri-County Performing Arts Center), Seaweed in Hairspray (Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre), Four-Eyed Moe in Five Guys Named Moe (Wilmington Drama League) and Belize in Angels in America (Shenandoah University Conservatory). He received a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah University Conservatory in which he graduated summa cum laude.
Cornelius Bethea (Willie Roberson) is no stranger to the work of Kander and Ebb. He has toured the U.S., Canada and Asia with Chicago as Swing and Mary Sunshine understudy. Aside from performing, he cherishes his chances to nurture future talent working with such programs as Students Live! in New York City, Rising Stars in Boston, Broadway Connection on tour and as guest choreographer for Stratford High School in Stratford, CT. An avid, reader, writer and knitter, Mr. Bethea is thrilled to share this experience.
Shavey Brown (Male Swing) is ecstatic about making his West Coast premiere with this amazing show at this beautiful theater. His tours include Radio City Christmas Spectacular and The Pajama Game. Regionally he has appeared in Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), The Producers (Maine State Music Theatre and Walnut Street Theatre, Barrymore Award nomination for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical), Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar (Maine State Music Theatre), Big River (The Human Race Theatre Company) and High School Musical on Stage! (Beef & Boards). Brown trained at Wright State University. Thank you Jeff, Susan, Bloc, mom, my friends DJB, family and God. Peace, love and happiness.
Nile Bullock (Eugene Williams) reprises the role he played in Philadelphia. He has attended Broadway Dance Center for three years studying jazz, hip hop and ballet. He was awarded the Gregory Hines Youth Scholarship at the American Tap Dance Foundation. Bullock has performed in many theater productions at the Garage Theater. He has also appeared in numerous commercials including ads for Honda and Xbox. He is thrilled to be part of this production and grateful for the opportunity to share the story of The Scottsboro Boys.
Christopher James Culberson (Andy Wright), a Los Angeles native, is thrilled to be back in California and to be working with this amazing cast and creative team. In New York, Culberson appeared in Scandalous People (Minetta Lane Theatre), Bathory: The Musical and as Tiger Woods, Serena Williams and a host of other characters in Chuckleball. Some of his other favorite theater credits are Bernardo in West Side Story, Adrian in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Matthew Henson in Ragtime, a New Rhythm Boy and Mrs. O'Malley in My One and Only and Stephen Sondheim's 75th birthday concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Culberson’s television credits include "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," "Bill Nye, the Science Guy" and portraying Billy Dee Williams on Biography Channel's "Celebrity Ghost Stories.” He studied at the Hamilton Academy of Music and UCLA.
Clifton Duncan (Haywood Patterson) is both thrilled and honored to make his debut at the historic Old Globe. He has appeared Off Broadway in Lost in the Stars (City Center Encores!), Twelfth Night (The Public Theater) and as a featured artist at Ars Nova's ANT Fest in his hip-hop solo piece The uniVERSE Project. His numerous regional credits include productions at Yale Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, Barrington Stage Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, CENTERSTAGE, Signature Theatre Company, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and others. He has also appeared on Comedy Central's Onion SportsDome. Duncan received his M.F.A. from New York University's Graduate Acting Program. Dedicated to the Scottsboro Nine, Emmett Tills, Oscar Grants, Amadou Diallos, Sean Bells, Troy Davises, James Byrd Jr.'s, Trayvon Martins, Shaima Alawadis and the countless other victims of racial injustice. We must never forget.
Ron Holgate (The Interlocutor) most recently starred in Heroes Off Broadway and in Lowell, Massachusetts. He has been on Broadway in Kiss Me, Kate, Annie Get Your Gun, The Grand Tour (Tony Award nomination), Lend Me a Tenor, Guys and Dolls, 42nd Street, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Milk and Honey, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Musical Chairs and 1776 (Tony Award, and the film version). He has done National Tours of Urinetown, Can-Can, 42nd Street, Annie, Man of La Mancha and Funny Girl. Holgate has directed several shows around the country including Reunion, a show of our Civil War that he co-created with Jack Kyrieleison.
Eric Jackson (Clarence Norris) was seen on Broadway in the productions of Young Frankenstein and Thoroughly Modern Millie. He also performed in the National Tours of Dreamgirls, Ragtime and Chicago. His Off Broadway and regional credits include Show Boat (Carnegie Hall), Howard in Finian’s Rainbow (Irish Repertory Theatre), Paul in Kiss Me, Kate (Weston Playhouse), Mereb in Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida (Westchester Broadway Theatre), The Wiz and Xanadu (Maine State Music Theatre), Rent, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon and Chicago (Pioneer Theatre Company) and Tales from the Tunnel (New York International Fringe Festival). His film and television credits include Romance & Cigarettes and “As the World Turns.” Jackson received a B.F.A. University of Michigan.
Jared Joseph (Mr. Bones), a native of Houston, Texas, is humbled by the opportunity to present The Scottsboro Boys to the West Coast. Since completing the most recent National Tour of Dreamgirls directed by Robert Longbottom, Joseph has had the honor to continue work on various projects with other award-winning artistic visionaries such as Bill T. Jones (Superfly), Maurice Hines Jr. (Josephine Tonight), Charles Randolph-Wright (Motown) and now Susan Stroman. He holds a B.F.A. in Theatre from New York University and currently resides in New York City. Thank you God, family and friends for their love and support.
Max Kumangai (Male Swing) is so honored to be a part of such an amazing show. He was last seen as a hippie in the Broadway National Tour of Hair. His Off Broadway credits include What’s That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling and Lysistrata Jones. His other New York credits include Where’s Charley?, Bells Are Ringing and Anyone Can Whistle (City Center Encores!). Some roles he has enjoyed playing include Jetsam in The Little Mermaid and Paul in Kiss Me, Kate (The Muny). He also filmed an episode of “Boardwalk Empire.” Kumangai received a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. He hails from Spokane, Washington. Kumangai is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
James T. Lane (Ozie Powell) has appeared on Broadway in The Scottsboro Boys, Chicago and A Chorus Line as Richie Walters. His tours include Cinderella with Eartha Kitt and Tyrone Jackson in Fame. His regional credits include Josephine Tonight directed and choreographed by Maurice Hines, Scarecrow in The Wiz (Dallas TheaterCenter) and more. Lane has appeared twice at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops. He has made concert appearances with the Indianapolis, Naples, Baltimore and Ottawa Symphonies. He also played James Brown on “One Life to Live” and made three Tony Award appearances. He once was the dance double for Whoopi Goldberg.
Audrey Martells (The Lady Understudy) has built a successful career as a songwriter for such gifted legends like George Benson and Randy Crawford. Martells has sung background with Whitney Houston, Jewel, Britney Spears and Joan Osborne, among many others. She is thrilled to be making her theater debut as the understudy for the role The Lady and thanks Susan Stroman, Kander and Ebb, David Thompson and the entire Scottsboro cast and crew.
JC Montgomery (Mr. Tambo) was part of the original Broadway production of The Scottsboro Boys. He also appeared on Broadway in Bye Bye Birdie, The Little Mermaid, The Color Purple, Thou Shalt Not, Swing!, Parade, Smokey Joe’s Cafe and The Boys from Syracuse. His regional credits include The Color Purple (Alliance Theatre) and Chess (Paper Mill Playhouse) as well as television credits with recurring roles on “Law & Order” and “Another World.” He has appeared in over 30 national and regional commercials. Love to wife Kim and their boys Marcus and Trevor.
Clifton Oliver (Charles Weems),a native of Jacksonville, FL, has appeared on Broadway as Benny in In the Heights opposite Jordin Sparks and Fiyero in Wicked. His Off Broadway credits include Wig Out and Miracle Brothers (Vineyard Theatre), and his tours include Benny in Rent (Australia) and Teen Angel in Grease (Second National Tour). He originated the role of Simba in the Las Vegas and Los Angeles casts of The Lion King. His also appeared in the Los Angeles company of Ragtime. His television credits include “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Good Morning America” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
Clinton Roane (Roy Wright) is thrilled to be returning to The Scottsboro Boys having been a part of the original Broadway company. He also played the role of Roy Wright at the Philadelphia Theatre Company. His New York credits include Icarus in The Sporting Life of Icarus Jones, and his regional credits include Noble T. Jones in Hello! My Baby and Joey in Frosty the Snowman as well as readings and workshops. He received a B.F.A. from Howard University and trained at CAP21. Thank you God, family, Stro, Tommy, Kander, Jeff, Eric, friends and this amazing cast and crew.
C. Kelly Wright is honored to make her Globe debut. Off Broadway, Wright’s work as Madam in Langston in Harlem at Urban Stages earned her an AUDELCO Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and her portrayal of Pearl Johnson in Black Pearl Sings at InterAct Theatre Company earned her a Barrymore Award nomination for Best Actress. For work on various Northern California stages, Wright garnered numerous other nominations and awards including Best Actress in a Musical as Caroline in Caroline, or Change, Best Supporting Actress in a Play as Mame in Radio Golf and as Keckley in A Civil War Christmas and Best Principal Performer in It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues, all at TheatreWorks. Her other regional favorites include Gem of the Ocean, The Piano Lesson and Crowns. She has appeared in the World Premieres of Bricktop, A Little Princess and Memphis. Wright returns to New York at the conclusion of The Scottsboro Boys to continue development of two new musicals: Rosa Parks in Red Clay and Betty Jo in On Kentucky Avenue. You can catch Wright currently on BET in Everyday Black Man. Thank God for opportunity.
John Kander and Fred Ebb (Music and Lyrics) have collaborated for the theater on Flora, the Red Menace, Cabaret (Tony Award, Best Composer and Lyricist), The Happy Time, Zorba, 70, Girls, 70, Chicago, The Act, Woman of the Year (Tony Award, Best Original Score), The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award, Best Original Score), The World Goes Round, Steel Pier, Curtains, All About Us, The Visit and The Scottsboro Boys. Their film work includes Funny Lady, Lucky Lady, Cabaret, New York, New York, Steppin' Out, Chicago, Kramer vs. Kramer, Places in the Heart, Still of the Night, Blue Skies Again. Their television credits include “Liza with a Z,” “Steppin' Out” (Emmy Award), “My Coloring Book,” the Academy Awards, “Baryshnikov on Broadway,” “Goldie and Liza Together,” “Breathing Lessons,” “The Boys Next Door” and “An Early Frost.” In 1985, “New York, New York” became the official anthem of New York City.
David Thompson (Libretto) wrote the books for the Broadway productions of The Scottsboro Boys (Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations, Hull-Warriner Award, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Musical), Steel Pier (Tony nomination), and Thou Shalt Not as well as the script adaptation for the current revival of Chicago, now in its 15th year on Broadway. His upcoming Broadway credits include The Prince of Broadway. His Off Broadway credits include And the World Goes ‘Round (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards) and the revival of Flora, the Red Menace (Drama Desk nomination). Thompson’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol is now in its 20th season at McCarter Theatre Center. This past spring, Thompson produced and wrote James Taylor’s critically-acclaimed Perspective Series for Carnegie Hall. His television work includes “Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall,” the PBS specials “Razzle Dazzle,” “Bernstein on Broadway” and “The Music of Richard Rodgers” and, for “Great Performances,” “My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies.” Thompson is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Susan Stroman (Original Direction and Choreography) won critical acclaim for her direction and choreography of the Broadway production of The Scottsboro Boys. She directed and choreographed The Producers, winner of a record-making 12 Tony Awards including Best Direction and Best Choreography. She co-created, directed and choreographed the groundbreaking musical Contact for Lincoln Center Theater, winning the 2000 Tony Award for Best Choreography, as well as Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards and a 2003 Emmy Award for “Live at Lincoln Center.” Her other Broadway credits include Oklahoma! (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Olivier Awards), Young Frankenstein, Thou Shalt Not, The Music Man (Outer Critics Circle Award), The Frogs, Steel Pier, Big, Show Boat(Tony, Outer Critics Circle Awards), Picnic and Crazy for You (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Olivier Awards). Her Off Broadway credits include The Scottsboro Boys (Lucille Lortel Award), And the World Goes ’Round (Outer Critics Circle Award), Flora, the Red Menace and Happiness. For 10 years she choreographed Madison Square Garden’s annual spectacular event A Christmas Carol (Outer Critics Circle Award). For New York City Opera she choreographed A Little Night Music, 110 in the Shade and Don Giovanni. For New York City Ballet, Stroman created Double Feature, a full-length ballet featuring the music of Irving Berlin and Walter Donaldson, and For the Love of Dukefeaturing the music of Duke Ellington. She has created the ballets But Not For Me for the Martha Graham Company and Take Five…More or Less for Pacific Northwest Ballet. Her choreography received an Emmy nomination for the HBO presentation Liza: Live from Radio City Music Hall starring Liza Minnelli. Her other television credits include co-conceiver/choreographer for PBS’s “Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall” and “An Evening with the Boston Pops – A Tribute to Leonard Bernstein”. She received the American Choreography Award for her work on the Columbia Pictures feature film Center Stage. Stroman directed and choreographed The Producers: The Movie Musical, nominated for four Golden Globes. She is the recipient of the George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Theatre and the winner of a record five Astaire Awards. Currently she is preparing for the upcoming Broadway show Prince of Broadway, opening fall 2012.
Jeff Whiting (Original Direction and Choreography Recreation) Broadway credits include The Scottsboro Boys (associate director/choreographer), Hair (associate director), the Wicked fifth anniversary (associate director) and Young Frankenstein (assistant choreographer). His National Tour credits include Young Frankenstein (director), Hairspray (associate director) and The Producers (associate director). His other New York credits include James Taylor: Carnegie Hall (director), Happinesss (assistant director/choreographer, Lincoln Center Theater), We Open in Paris (director, Glimmerglass Opera) and Tarantella: Spider Dance (director/choreographer). His other credits include Jersey Boys on the West End (assistant choreographer) and Hairspray in Brazil (director/choreographer). Whiting is the founder and artistic director of Open Jar Productions, dedicated to the development and direction of new plays, musicals and special events around the world. Stage Write iPad App, designed and developed by Whiting, is a digital method for documenting staging and choreography and is already in use for many Broadway shows and tours.
Eric Ebbenga (Music Director) is absolutely thrilled to be working on The Scottsboro Boys. He previously music directed the production at Philadelphia Theatre Company, where he has also music directed The Light in the Piazza (Barrymore Award) and Grey Gardens (Barrymore nomination). His other recent shows include Ordinary Days, The Threepenny Opera, Sunday in the Park with George (Barrymore nomination), See What I Wanna See, Candide, Assassins (Barrymore Award), Caroline, or Change(Barrymore nomination) and Sweeney Todd (Barrymore nomination). He is also on the music theater faculty of University of the Arts. Next he will music direct Next to Normal and A Little Night Music (Arden Theatre Company). Love to daughters Caite and Carley and to lovely HR.
Beowulf Boritt (Scenic Design) designed Working at The Old Globe. He has designed the Broadway productions of The Scottsboro Boys (Tony Award nomination), Rock of Ages, Sondheim on Sondheim, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, LoveMusik and Jay Johnson: The Two and Only. He has designed more than 50 Off Broadway shows including The Last Five Years, The Toxic Avenger, Miss Julie and productions at The Public Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage Theatre, Vineyard Theatre, MCC Theater, The New Group, The Pearl Theatre Company, The American Place Theatre and Keen Company. His other designs include The Seven Deadly Sins (New York City Ballet), Paradise Found (London), Reel to Real (Beijing) and two editions of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He received a 2007 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Set Design.
Toni-Leslie James (Costume Design) has designed the Broadway productions of The Scottsboro Boys, Finian’s Rainbow, Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, King Hedley II, One Mo’ Time, The Wild Party, Marie Christine, Footloose, The Tempest, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, Chronicle of a Death Foretold and Jelly’s Last Jam. Her Off Broadway credits include Lincoln Center Theater, The Public Theater, Vineyard Theatre, Second Stage Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, The Foundry Theatre, Circle Repertory Company and 15 productions for City Center Encores! Her regional theater and other credits include The Old Globe, Hartford Stage, Cleveland Play House, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Guthrie Theater, Ford’s Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company, The Kennedy Center, Long Wharf Theatre, Berkley Repertory Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, CENTERSTAGE, Alliance Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Mark Taper Forum, Round House Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, The McCarter Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Bay Street Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Alvin Ailey Repertory Company and Ballet Hispanico. James has also designed internationally at Royal Court Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and the Athens Greek Festival. Her television credits include“Whoopi” for NBC, five specials for WNET/13’s “Great Performances” series,” As the World Turns” (1995-1998) and The Huey P. Newton Story. She is the recipient of a Tony Award nomination, three Drama Desk Award nominations, a Lucille Lortel Award nomination, a Hewes Design Award and three additional Hewes nominations, a Connecticut Critics Circle Award, The Irene Sharaff Young Master Award, the 2009 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Costume Design and the 2011 National Black Theatre Festival Outstanding Costume Designer of the Year Award. James is director of costumes at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Ken Billington (Lighting Designer) has designed 97 Broadway shows including this season’s Don’t Dress for Dinner, William Shatner in Shatner’s World: We Just Live in It and Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway. Past seasons have included Chicago, The Scottsboro Boys, Sondheim on Sondheim, White Christmas, [title of show], The Drowsy Chaperone, Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Footloose, Sweeney Todd, the Broadway revivals of Bye Bye Birdie, Finian’s Rainbow, Sunday in the Park with George, Annie, Hello, Dolly!, Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady and hundreds of touring productions from High School Musical on Stage! to Fiddler on the Roof. His other credits include Shamu: One Ocean and Shamu Rocks for the three SeaWorld parks and Jubilee! at Bally’s Las Vegas: He has received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Lumen and CableACE Awards.
Jon Weston (Sound Design) most recently designed the Globe’s production of A Room with a View. He has designed the Broadway productions of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, 13, Les Misérables, The Color Purple, The Glass Menagerie, Caroline, or Change (AUDELCO Award), Nine, Imaginary Friends, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Green Bird, It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues, On the Town, Company in concert Lincoln Center Theater and Man of La Mancha starring Raul Julia and Sheena Easton. His Off Broadway and regional credits include The First Wives Club directed by Francesca Zambello (The Old Globe), Dangerous Beauty (Pasadena Playhouse), Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin directed by Warren Carlyle (La Jolla Playhouse), Parade directed by Rob Ashford (Mark Taper Forum), Rooms – A Rock Romance directed by Scott Schwartz, A Little Night Music (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award), Himself and Nora, The Thing About Men, tick, tick… BOOM!, Bright Lights, Big City and Family Guy Sings! (Carnegie Hall).
Eric Santagata (Assistant Choreographer) has worked on Broadway and in New York on The Scottsboro Boys (assistant director/choreographer), The Apple Tree, Happiness, Face the Music (cast recording), Stairway to Paradise, The Broadway Musicals of 1965 and How to Save the World and Find True Love in 90 Minutes. His tours include Bobby Van Husen in The Boy Friend directed by Julie Andrews and Guido in Casper starring Chita Rivera. His regional credits include Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Bobby Child in Crazy for You, Cosmo in Singin’ in the Rain and Riff in West Side Story. He has appeared on television in the Mel Brooks tribune on “The Kennedy Center Honors.” Santagata is a graduate of the Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music.
Rick Sordelet (Fight Director) has worked on 53 Broadway shows including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Scottsboro Boys, Urinetown and A Streetcar Named Desire andalso the National Tours of Beauty and the Beast and Les Misérables. His international credits include 52 productions worldwide such as Tarzan, Aida, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Ben Hur Live in Rome and on European Tour. His opera credits include Cyrano starring Placido Domingo (Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House and La Scala), Don Carlo directed by Nicholas Hytner (Metropolitan Opera) and the new opera Heart of the Soldier (San Francisco Opera). His regional credits include Sucker Punch (Signature Theatre Company) and King Lear starring Stacy Keach and directed by Robert Falls (Goodman Theatre). Sordelet has worked on the films The Game Plan starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dan in Real Life starring Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche. For television he was stunt coordinator for “Guiding Light”for 12 years and worked on “One Life to Live.” He is an instructor at Yale School of Drama and The New School for Drama and is a Board member for The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. He has received an Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence from the Lucille Lortel Foundation and a Jeff Award for Best Fight Direction for Romeo and Juliet at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Janet Foster, CSA (Casting) cast the Broadway productions of The Light in the Piazza (Artios Award nomination), Lennon, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Taking Sides (co-cast). Her Off Broadway credits include Lucky Guy, Lucy, Close Ties, Brundibar, True Love, Endpapers, The Dying Gaul, The Maiden’s Prayer, Dream True and The Trojan Women: A Love Story. At American Conservatory Theater she cast Scorched and Maple and Vine, and at Playwrights Horizons she cast Floyd Collins, The Monogamist, A Cheever Evening, Later Life and many more. Her additional regional credits include The Old Globe, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre, California Shakespeare Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Yale Repertory Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, CENTERSTAGE, Westport Country Playhouse, Two River Theater Company and American Repertory Theater. Foster’s television, film and radio credits include “Cosby” (CBS), Tracy Takes on New York (HBO), The Deal by Lewis Black, Advice from a Caterpillar, “The Day That Lehman Died,” which won Peabody, SONY and Wincott Awards (BBC World Services and Blackhawk Productions) and WNYC Tom Stoppard radio plays for 2010/2011.
Joshua Halperin (Stage Manager)was the Production Stage Manager for the Broadway run of The Scottsboro Boys. His other credits include the Broadway productions of West Side Story, LoveMusik, The Drowsy Chaperone, Movin’ Out, Anna in the Tropics, The Graduate, Seussical The Musical, Parade, Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk and Candide.
Evangeline Rose Whitlock (Assistant Stage Manager) has worked regionally on A Room with a View, Odyssey and Engaging Shaw (The Old Globe), Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin, HOOVER COMES ALIVE! and A Dram of Drummhicit (La Jolla Playhouse), What is the Cause of Thunder? (Williamstown Theatre Festival) and miXtape (Lamb’s Players Theatre). Her dance credits include Michigan Ballet Academy, Las Mariposas with Eveoke Dance Theatre (San Diego premiere and Dominican Republic tour), Malashock Dance and Grand Rapids Ballet Company. Whitlock teaches with Christian Youth Theatre San Diego. She is an avid runner and figure skater and a UC San Diego M.F.A.
American Conservatory Theater (Co-Producer) nurtures the art of live theater through dynamic productions, intensive actor training in its conservatory and an ongoing engagement with its community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Carey Perloff and Executive Director Ellen Richard, A.C.T. embraces its responsibility to conserve, renew and reinvent the rich theatrical traditions that are our collective legacy while exploring new artistic forms and new communities. A commitment to the highest standards informs every aspect of A.C.T.’s creative work. Visit www.act-sf.org for more information.
