Whisper House

Music and Lyrics By Duncan Sheik
Book and Lyrics By Kyle Jarrow
Directed by Peter Askin
Musical Direction by Jason Hart
Dance Direction by Wesley Fata
January 13, 2010 - February 21, 2010
Old Globe Theatre

Tony and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Duncan Sheik follows up his Broadway sensation, Spring Awakening, with this haunting new musical. It’s 1942 – at the height of World War II – and Christopher, an imaginative young boy, is sent to live with an aunt he’s never met: Lilly, a reclusive woman who serves as the keeper of a remote lighthouse. Not yet comfortable in his surroundings, Christopher begins to hear strange music no one else can hear seeping through the walls. It doesn’t take long for him to suspect the lighthouse may be haunted, and these ghosts tell him that Yasuhiro, a Japanese worker that Lilly has employed, should not be trusted. Is Christopher’s imagination getting the best of him? Or are these ghosts warning Christopher about the very real dangers that lie ahead? Whisper House is a touching and beautiful story about how we should embrace, rather than fear, the unknown.

 
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David Poe and Holly Brook as Ghosts in the World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Whisper House at The Old Globe, Jan. 13 – Feb. 21, 2010. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
(l. to r.) Ted Kōch as Charles, the Sheriff, Kevin Hoffmann as Lieutenant Rando, David Poe as a Ghost and Arthur Acuña as Yasuhiro in the World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Whisper House at The Old Globe, Jan. 13 – Feb. 21, 2010. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
(clockwise from left) David Poe, Eric Brent Zutty, Arthur Acuña, Holly Brook and Mare Winningham in the World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Whisper House at The Old Globe, Jan. 13 – Feb. 21, 2010. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
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Arthur Acuña as Yasuhiro and Mare Winningham as Lilly in the World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Whisper House at The Old Globe, Jan. 13 – Feb. 21, 2010. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
(bottom) Holly Brook as a Ghost, (top) Eric Brent Zutty as Christopher and David Poe as a Ghost, in the World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Whisper House at The Old Globe, Jan. 13 – Feb. 21, 2010. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
Eric Brent Zuttyas Christopher and David Poe as a Ghost in the World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Whisper House at The Old Globe, Jan. 13 – Feb. 21, 2010. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
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Web (100 ppi)     |     Print (300 dpi)
Web (100 ppi)     |     Print (300 dpi)
The cast of the World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Whisper House at The Old Globe, Jan. 13 – Feb. 21, 2010. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
(l. to r.) Ted Kōch as Charles, the Sheriff, Mare Winningham as Lilly, Eric Brent Zutty as Christopher and Arthur Acuña as Yasuhiro in the World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Whisper House at The Old Globe, Jan. 13 – Feb. 21, 2010. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
Mare Winningham as Lilly and Holly Brookas a Ghost in the World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Whisper House at The Old Globe, Jan. 13 – Feb. 21, 2010. Photo by Craig Schwartz.
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Duncan Sheik. Photo courtesy of The Old Globe.
Kyle Jarrow. Photo by Sarah Sloboda.

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
(click on a photo to download image)
Arthur Acuña (Yasuhiro) just finished a competition short (Philippine entry) for the ASEAN-ROK Film Festival in Korea next year. He also appeared as Lihn at Goodman Theatre's world premiere of Ghostwritten, after a workshop production in Sundance 2006. Some other recent credits include: Two September and Most Wanted at La Jolla Playhouse, and received an Obie Award for The Romance of Magno Rubio in the role of Nick. His international credits include the lead in David Henry Hwang’s The Golden Child in Manila, Philippines. He also played leads in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Real Thing with Repertory Philippines. Some of Acuña’s film credits include: To Maritina, Rigodon, Batang West Side (as Bartolo) at the Manila International Film Festival (for which he received the Best Actor Award). Television roles include: “Law and Order”, “Law and Order: Criminal Intent”, “Third Watch”, “As the World Turns”, “Stella”, “To Maritina” and “One Life to Live.” Acuña will be playing the role of Macario Locsin in the next John Sayles film to be shot next year.
Holly Brook (Female Ghost) is a Wisconsin native and lives on the southern coast of Oregon, deep in the woods, with her own little recording studio. After seven years of bouncing between LA, New York and tour, she left the over-stimulating, empty promise-lands to nurture her creative muses and refocus on what's really important. Brook had three independent albums under her belt by age fifteen, in mother-daughter duo, “Generations”. At 19, she was recognized worldwide for her vocal contribution on a song called, "Where'd You Go," by Fort Minor, which was a Linkin Park side project. Soon after she released her debut solo record, “Like Blood Like Honey”, on Machine Shop Records/Warner Bros., she teamed up with Duncan Sheik. Together, they've worked on many projects and have toured the country numerous times. She is the featured female vocalist on the “Whisper House” album. Brook is currently awaiting the release of her new album, “O'Dark Thirty” for which Sheik has had a major hand in producing (date TBA). This is Brook's first step back into a theater production in 10 years, when she participated in a dozen or so community theater musicals.
A.J. Foggiano (Christopher) has previously appeared at the Globe in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (’06-’09).  His other credits include Randolph McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie (San Diego Musical Theatre), the Coroner in The Wizard of Oz (Starlight Theatre), Michael in Peter Pan (Christian Youth Theater), and Harold Hill in The Music Man and the title role in Oliver! (F.A.M.E.).  His film credits include Ready? Ok! by James Vasquez and The Legend of Pocahontas.  A.J. extends his thanks to all of his friends, family and the Whisper House team for their support.  He hopes to one day make his way to the bright lights of Broadway.
Kevin Hoffman (Lieutenant Rando) has appeared at The Old Globe in Twelfth Night (Sebastian), Cyrano de Bergerac (Musketeer), Coriolanus (Senator) and Six Degrees of Separation (Ben). He most recently played Speed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona with The Old Globe/USD Professional Actor Training Program where he was also seen in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Greeks: The Murders. Regionally, Hoffman has performed in Antony and Cleopatra and Merry Wives of Windsor at The Theater at Monmouth, as well as Proof at Barksdale Theatre. His TV credits include “As the World Turns” and “All My Children.” His many commercials include Sony, Callaway Golf, and Fidelity Financial. Hoffman holds a BFA in Acting from Elon University.
Ted Kōch (Charles) has appeared in several Broadway productions including: The Pillowman, Death of a Salesman, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His Off Broadway credits include: Meshugah, Naked Angels; The Chaos Theories, Shotgun Productions; Topsy Turvy Mouse, Cherry Lane Theater. His national tours include: Frost/Nixon, Death of a Salesman. Koch as also appeared in the following regional production: The Front Page and Sweet Bird of Youth, Williamstown Theater Festival; True West, Arena Stage (Helen Hayes Nomination- Outstanding lead Actor); Pig Farm and Sea of Tranquility, The Old Globe; Ella, Crossroads Theatre; Broadway, Pittsburgh Public; A Streetcar Named Desire, Studio Arena Theatre; The Fair Maid of the West and Orphans, CT-20 Ensemble (Joseph Jefferson Award- Best Actor); As You Like It, the Goodman Theatre; Guys and Dolls, North Carolina Theatre; Macbeth, Burning Chrome and All’s Well That Ends Well. TV and film credits include: “Gossip Girl,” “Cashmere Mafia,” “The Sopranos,” “The West Wing," “Law & Order," “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, “Ed”, “Third Watch”, “Hack”, “One Life to Live”, “Guiding Light,” “Chicago Hope,” “Early Edition,” Cold Souls, Collar, A Crime, Griffin and Phoenix, Hannibal, Autumn in New York, Dinner Rush, Stranger and Death of a Salesman for Showtime.
David Poe (Lead Singer Ghost) is a songwriter, performing musician, producer and composer for film and dance. Transplanted from the American Midwest to New York City, Poe served as the sound engineer at CBGB before being signed to Sony Music. He has released five critically-acclaimed studio albums and two live albums: his debut, "David Poe" (Sony/550 1997), produced by T-Bone Burnett, "The Late Album" (Sony/Epic 2002), "Love Is Red" (Universal/Fuel 2004), "David Poe Live & Solo" (The Artists Den 2005) a live performance DVD, "David Poe Onstage at World Café" (Universal/Decca 2006), and two commissioned works for dance: "The Copier: Music for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet" (2008) and "Shadowland: Music for Pilobolus," (2009) the company's first-ever full-length shadow dance piece, currently on tour. Poe has produced recordings for Regina Spektor, Joseph Arthur and Kraig Jarret Johnson, collaborated with several other songwriters, including T-Bone Burnett, Grace Potter and Reni Lane and scored five films, including The Brooklyn Heist, Dare and the forthcoming Harvest, with longtime collaborator Duncan Sheik. In 2009, the Sundance Institute named him a composer fellow for his film score work. His songs have taken him around the globe as support act for Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Tori Amos and have been featured in numerous film and television soundtracks: Transamerica, “The OC,” “Dawson's Creek,” Seibutsu: Still Life, Jesus Henry Christ and Sam Shepard's play The Tooth of Crime (Second Dance).
Mare Winningham (Lilly) is currently appearing in the world premiere of Frank Wildhorn’s musical, Bonnie and Clyde, at La Jolla Playhouse. She has appeared on stage, screen, and in over 60 movies for television. Her work has earned an Academy Award nomination (Georgia) and two Emmy Awards (Wallace, Amber Waves), among others. For her New York stage debut in Atlantic Theater’s musical 10 Million Miles, Winningham received the Lucille Lortel Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination in 2008. As a singer/songwriter, Winningham most recently released an album of original Jewish Country/Folk songs, “Refuge Rock Sublime.”
Duncan Sheik (Music and Lyrics) is a Grammy and Tony Award-winning singer-songwriter and composer.  Sheik initially found success as a singer, most notably for his 1996 debut single, “Barely Breathing,” which spent 55 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100.  He has since expanded his work to include compositions for motion pictures and the Broadway stage.  Sheik won two Tony Awards, as composer and arranger, for the Broadway production of Spring Awakening.  Written with lyricist Steven Sater, Spring Awakening also received the Tony Award for Best Musical.  Sheik’s and Sater’s creative partnership began with the album, Phantom Moon, released on Nonesuch in 2000.  They are currently developing two new musical theater projects.  Nero (Another Golden Rome) had a workshop production this summer at Vassar College, featuring Wicked star Idina Menzel and Spring Awakening ingénue Lea Michelle.  Their other project, The Nightingale, is slated for a 2010 opening at San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater.  His albums include “Duncan Sheik” (1996), “Humming” (1998), “Phantom Moon” (2001), “Daylight” (2002), “White Limousine” (2006), “Brighter/Later: A Duncan Sheik Anthology” (2006) and “Greatest Hits: A Duncan Sheik Collection” (2007).  His concept album for Whisper House was released earlier this year on RCA Victor.  www.duncansheik.com
Kyle Jarrow (Book and Lyrics) is a writer and musician based in New York City.  He writes for the stage as well as film and television, and he plays in the bands The Fabulous Entourage and Super Mirage.  He won the prestigious OBIE Award at age 24 for his Off-Broadway hit A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, which has subsequently been produced all over the country.  Jarrow’s play Armless won the Overall Excellence Award at the New York International Fringe Festival.  Other plays include Love Kills, Trigger, President Harding is a Rock Star, Rip Me Open (co-writer), Hostage Song (music & lyrics), Gorilla Man (script available from Samuel French), and the upcoming Big Money (with Nathan Leigh) and Whisper House (with Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik).  Jarrow’s playwriting work encompasses both music theater and straight plays, and has been presented at New York Theatre Workshop, Performance Space 122, The John Houseman Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Abron Arts Center, HERE Arts Center, Boston Theatre Works, New Dramatists, The Flea, The Hangar Theatre, and Dad's Garage in Atlanta among others.  He's particularly well-known for incorporating rock and pop music into the theater, a topic that he's written and spoken about widely.  Kyle was a 2005-2006 Dramatists Guild Fellow.  He was nominated for a 2004 Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award and a 2004 Backstage West Garland Award, and was runner-up for the 2002 Princess Grace Playwriting Award.  He was winner of the 2001 John Golden Prize.  He's a co-founder of the indie publishing company Awkward Press.  Jarrow has guest-lectured at Juilliard, Pratt, and the Actors Studio.  Jarrow has developed film and TV projects for ABC, Paramount, Touchstone, Fox TV, and Deline Pictures among others, and his debut indie film Armless (dir. Habib Azar) is slated for release in 2010.  His band The Fabulous Entourage appeared as part of the 2006 Whitney Biennial, on the Knitting Factory Mainstage, at Joe’s Pub, Viper Room, Bowery Ballroom, and with bands such as Hot Chip and We Are Scientists, and put out an album called Play Nice Now.  Kyle can also be heard on the "This Drama" EP from Super Mirage and the album "There Will Come Soft Rains" from his synth pop side project Krakow! Jarrow also produced the cast album of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant.  He is a graduate of Yale University, where he majored in religious studies.  www.landoftrust.com
  Peter Askin (Director) NY stage credits include John Leguizamo’s Sexaholix, Spic-O-Rama (Drama Desk Award) and Mambo Mouth (Obie, Outer Critics’ awards); Paul Weitz’s Show People and Privilege; Pulitzer Prize finalist Dael Orlandersmith’s Monster and Beauty’s Daughter (Obie Award), as well as her play The Gimmick (conceived and directed). Other credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Trumbo and Eve Ensler’s The Good Body. Askin’s upcoming projects include Stephen King and John Mellencamp’s The Ghost Brothers of Darkland County. He has directed regionally at Goodman Theater, American Conservatory Theater, Seattle Repertory Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, Ahmanson Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse and Dorset Theatre Festival. His film and television credits include Smithereens (co-writer), Company Man (co-writer, director) and Trumbo (director) and HBO’s “Spic-O-Rama.”
  Jason Hart (Musical Director) has toured internationally with Rufus Wainwright and was a core member of Mercury-Prize winners Antony and the Johnsons. His other performing and/or recording credits include Gavin Degraw, Elton John, Lou Reed, Keren Ann, Kris Kristofferson, the B52's and others. His theater credits include Burleigh Grimes at New World Stages (keys, bass and guitar), Medea: In Concert at New York University (original music, musical direction) and The Shadow at the High School of the Performing Arts (original music, musical direction). Hart is also a songwriter and recording artist whose debut CD is entitled “If I Were You”.
  Wesley Fata (Dance Director) has choreographed several productions at the Old Globe including the 2008 Shakespeare Festival and Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me a Little. His Broadway credits include Master Harold...and the Boys (dir. Athol Fugard); David Merrick's I Won't Dance (dir. Tom O'Horgan); The News, Senator Joe (dir. Tom O'Horgan); and Hair (assistant director/choreographer, original production). Fata’s regional credits include James Lapine's 12 Dreams, Public Theatre; Gertrude Stein (dir. James Lapine), New York Theatre of the Eye; Lost in the Stars (dir. Arvin Brown); Camille with Kathleen Turner, Long Wharf Theatre; Travels With My Aunt (with Jim Dale), Minetta Lane Theater; and Capitol Cakewalk, Vineyard Theater. He has also choreographed numerous operas including Les Troyens, Vienna State Opera; A Soldiers Tale (cond. Gerald Schwartz), Carnegie Hall; Leonard Bernstein's Mass, Kennedy Center (10th anniversary production); and Daphne and News of the Day, Santa Fe Opera. His film credits include The Coen Brothers’ The Hudsucker Proxy and The Good Shepherd (co-choreographed with Julie Arenal; dir. Robert de Niro). Fata has taught at the Yale School of Drama for 32 years and has choreographed as many plays there.