1Moby Dick

THEATER ON THE L AKE

Hello friend! Are you sitting down? Good. Because you’re about to experience the 2012 season of Theater on The Lake, for the first time selected through a process involving two artistic curators. We thought curators only worked in gardens and museums, but there you have it. We’re curators. Seriously, though, we love being working artists in Chicago, a city so rich with imaginative and emotional theater that it makes choosing only eight plays for you a hair-graying, heartbreaking, but ul-timately exciting, proud-parents moment. Here, you will encounter world premieres and Chicago premieres; scripts written out of necessity, scripts written through workshopping with an ensemble, scripts adapted from great works, and scripts written right before your very eyes—carved out of the air and the summer moment. The shows you’ll experience this summer have stopped us in our tracks, made us think, laugh, and cry. But perhaps most importantly, they’ve made us dream. Someone once said that a play never really closes until every single person who saw it stops dreaming about it. These plays have been running in our dreams for quite some time. Perhaps because of you, they will remain open forever.

Your Artistic Curators,Meghan Beals McCarthy & Michael Patrick Thornton

Special thanks to the League of Chicago Theatres for being not only a tremendous resource to the Chicago theatre community but also for partnering with Theater on the Lake to make our 2012 season unforgettable.

FROM THE SUPER INTENDENT

June 13, 2012

Thank you for joining us for the 60th anniversary season of Theater on the Lake: The Chicago Summer Theater Festival. As part of this landmark year, we’ve brought Michael Patrick Thornton and Meghan Beals McCarthy from the local theater community on board as our new co-artistic curators. Together they have planned eight weeks of the best theatrical productions the city has to offer on our unique open-air stage.

In addition, you’ll find pre and post-show programming at Theater on the Lake this season to round out our celebration of the city’s rich cultural heritage. The Chicago Park District is dedicated to showcasing premier theatrical productions and providing high quality, affordable cultural programming to patrons through-out our neighborhood parks no matter where they live.

We value your support of our parks and programs and encourage you to enjoy the lake breeze, the skyline view and the wonderful performances. Here’s to another successful season, and we invite you to join us for additional cultural programming in our parks.

Michael P. KellyGeneral Superintendent & CEOChicago Park District

2 Theater on the Lake

presents

HIT THE WALL

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Inconvenience is a community of interdisciplinary artists who seek to create a new way of experiencing art through a collaboration of music, theatre, dance, fine art and celebration. We create, produce and curate works that challenge audience and artist perspective and ignite social dialogue. Since 2008, The Inconvenience has collaborated with over 350 artists and companies, and played to over 15,000 people throughout Chicago. To learn more about The Inconvenience and find out about upcoming events, visitwww.theinconvenience.org

CAST

Walter Briggs ................................................................................................................................CopManny Buckley ......................................................................................................................CasronDaeshawna Cook ................................................................................................................RobertaDaniel Desmarais ................................................................................................................ NewbieDesmond Gray ...........................................................................................................................MikaRicardo Gamboa .......................................................................................................................TonoZach Kenney .............................................................................................................................A-GaySteve Lenz .....................................................................................................................................CliffRania Salem Manganaro .......................................................................................................... PegMary Williamson ..............................................................................................................Madeline

BAND

Ryan Murphy ....................................................................................................Guitar/ ComposerJohn Cicora ...............................................................................................Bass/ Musical DirectorJosh Lambert ......................................................................................................................... Drumz

3Hit the Wall

PRODUCTION

Ike Holter ......................................................................................................................... PlaywrightEric Hoff ................................................................................................................................. DirectorGus Menary................................................................................................................ Asst. DirectotMissi Davis ................................................................................................... Production ManagerMichael Solomon............................................................................ Asst. Production ManagerKrissy Larson ...................................................................................Production Stage ManagerNora Mally .................................................................................................... Asst. Stage ManagerJohn Holt ......................................................................................................................... Set DesignCoral Gable ..........................................................................................................Costume DesignJeff Glass ................................................................................................................Lighting DesignJoe Court .................................................................................................................. Sound DesignErin Kilmurray .........................................................................................................ChoreographyRyan Bourque ............................................................................................. Fight ChoreographyKelly Kerwin ....................................................................................................................DramaturgDavid Seeber ......................................................................................................Script Supervisor

THE COMPANY

Christopher Chmelik ......................................................................................... Artistic Director Emily Reusswig ............................................................................................... Executive DirectorMissi Davis ...........................................................................................................................ProducerWalter Briggs .......................................................................... Theatre Programming DirectorErin Kilmurray ...........................................................................Dance Programming DirectorGus Menary.................................................................................Music Programming DirectorMary Williamson ............................................................................ Art Programming DirectorSam Deutsch ................................................................................................................. PR DirectorRyan Bourque ........................................................................................................Media Director

Ryan Bourque, Walter Briggs, Christopher Chmelik, John Cicora, Missi Davis, Sam Deutsch, Sierra Dufault, John Holt, Ike Holter, Erin Kilmurray, Gus Menary,

Nic Jones, Brian Rad, Emily Reusswig, and Mary Williamson

B IOGR APHIES

PERFORMERS

Walter Briggs (Cop) is thrilled to make his Theatre on the Lake debut with Hit The Wall. He feels incredibly fortunate to be back on stage with his Chicago family, The Inconvenience, where he is a founding member and serves as Head of Theater programming. Inconvenience credits include: The Earl, Ike Holter’s Chicagoland, The Little Things, Like The Fish, and Moss Lady. Other Chicago credits include: Seven Sickness’s and Woyzeck (The Hypocrites); Pornography (Steep Theater); Louis Slotin Sonata (A Red Orchid Theatre); and Cowboy Mouth (Mary-Arrchie.) Film credits: Possessions and Older Children. Walter earned his BFA from the CCPA at Roosevelt University. Many thanks to his family.

Manny Buckley (Carson) Manny Buckley returns to the role of Carson, the role he originated, that has recently earned him the Best Actor 2012 Award from Chicago Reader. He has also worked with Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Next Theater, Gift Theater & Mary Arrchie Theater. Manny recently performed in both The Interview, a part of Leapfest, and The Eight Reindeer Monologues, with Stage Left. Manny is a proud ensemble member of Ameri-can Blues Theater, where he will next perform in the Pulitzer Prize nominated The Heavens are Hung in Black in the company’s educational outreach.

Daeshawna Cook (Roberta) is both thrilled to return to the stage and to make her Theatre on the Lake debut

starts june 28

three sistersBy anton ChekhovAdApted By ensemBle memBer traCy Lettsdirected By ensemBle memBer anna D. shapiroFeaturing ensemble members Alana Arenas, Ora Jones, Sally Murphy and Yasen Peyankov with Usman Ally, Chance Bone, B. Diego Colón, Maury Cooper, Derek Gaspar, Scott Jaeck,John Judd, Caroline Neff, Mary Ann Thebus and Dan Waller

three sisters, unCertain of their future, Long for the happiness of their ChiLDhooD.

Tickets start at just $20Buy tickets at steppenwolf.org or call 312-335-1650

Corporate Production Sponsor

5Hit the Wall

B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

with The Inconvenience. Performance credits include: A Midnight Cry: The Underground Railroad (Auditorium Theatre) and countless performances at the CCPA, including Bury the Dead. She received her B.F.A from the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA). Special thanks to my mom for her unconditional love.

Daniel Desmarais (Newbie) is thrilled to be performing at Theatre on the Lake. Chicago credits include: Spring Awaken-ing (Griffin Theatre), Powerless (Society of Young Superheroes), and The Diary of Anne Frank (Metropolis Performing Arts Center). Last season he was an acting apprentice at Actors Theatre of Louisville where he appeared in The Mystery of Irma Vep, A Christmas Carol, and The End as part of the Humana Festival. Thanks to The Inconvenience for letting him be in their play.

Ricardo Gamboa (Tono) Ricardo is a writer, performer, and filmmaker based in New York City. Ricardo graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and worked several years in his native Chicago. He was a Company Member of Barrel of Monkeys, found-ing Artistic Director of Teatro Ameri-cano, and performs comedy with the Southside Ignoramus Quartet. In New York City, he is a member of the NY Neo-Futurists and was an EmergeNYC fellow at the Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics. Gamboa has worked with over 5,000 young people across the country and in Mexico using performance and media as an avenue for empowerment.

Desmond Gray (Mika) Desmond is thrilled to back hitting the Lake with the Inconvenience after being a part of the original production of “Hit the Wall” in this season’s Steppenwolf Garage Rep. In addition, Desmond has worked for Theatre Seven of Chicago (“We Live Here” and “The Chicago Landmark Project”), Collaboraction (“Sketchbook:

Reincarnate”), Bailiwick Chicago (“Aida”), and TimeLine Theatre (“In Darfur”) as an understudy. Thanks and love to my parents and family, the Inconvenience, Dawn and Brooke at Gray Talent Group, and to an awesome group of very sup-portive friends. Thanks folks!

Steve Lenz (Cliff) makes his Theatre on the Lake debut with Hit The Wall which is so-far-out. Previous theatre credits include: Peter Pan and Lookingglass Alice (Lookingglass Theatre Company); The Comedy of Errors, MacBeth, and Cymbeline (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Wintertime Tale and Misan-thrope: Or the Impossible Lovers (Vintage Theater Collective); Much Ado About Nothing and Robin Hood (Oak Park Festival Theatre); Peer Gynt, Henry V, and Machinal (CCPA); and As You Like It (Montana Shakespeare in the Schools). TV Credits: Boss. Film Credits: Red Dawn (2012). Steve received his M.F.A. from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and his B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Rania Salem Manganaro (Peg) is honored to be working at Theatre on the Lake with The Inconvenience. Chi-cago credits include 1001, Sketchbook 11: Evolution, Franz Fest (Collaborac-tion); and Jackie and Me (The Chicago Children’s Theatre). After moving to Chicago a year ago from Beirut, Leba-non, she is very excited to have Hit the Wall bring her on board. Rania received her BA in Drama from Kenyon College in 2010 and attended the London Dra-matic Academy in the UK.

Zach Kenney (A-Gay) is excited to be a part of this production. Most recently, he performed in Next Stop: A Chicago Musical, which featured a piece by Ike Holter. He recently worked as an un-derstudy for The March (Steppenwolf Theatre). Other Chicago credits include Chicago Boys, (Goodman Theatre); It’s A Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!, Waiting for Lefty (American Blues

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B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

Theater); The Gospel According to James (Victory Gardens Theater); and The Farnsworth Invention, Not Enough Air (TimeLine Theatre). A San Francisco native, Zach played Charlie in Mary’s Wedding (Indiana Repertory Theatre) and originated the title role in The Actor by Horton Foote (A.C.T. Young Conservatory). This fall, he’ll perform in 1776 at Asolo Rep in FL.

Mary Williamson (Madeline) is excited to be working at Theatre On The Lake, and even more excited for the opportu-nity they have given The Inconvenience, where she acts as Creative Director and Head of the Art Department. She has worked with many theatre companies around Chicago including: TimeLine, Griffin, Redmoon, The Hypocrites, Dog and Pony, Lifeline, Jacalope, Emerald City, NWaC, LightsOut, and of course, The Inconvenience. She graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University with a BFA in acting. When she is not acting she is working as a designer, director, stylist, curator, and visual artist.

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

Christopher Chmeik (Artistic Direc-tor) is a founding member of The Inconvenience and an actor within the company and around Chicago. Some of the projects he has worked on include Chicagoland, The Earl (The Inconvenience),Wuthering Heights, (Life-line Theater), The Hostage, Letters Home, On The Shore of the Wide World (Griffin Theatre),Moonshiner (Jackalope Theater), Short Shakespeare! Comedy of Errors (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Chris graduated with a BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul in 2008.

John Cicora (Musical Director/ Musician) is a multi-instrumental ar-ranger and composer. He has taught private lessons and worked closely with the music, visual arts, dance, and theater communities in Chicago for eight years. After graduating from

Columbia College of Chicago with a degree in Jazz Studies, he recorded two records with independent label Vanguard Records and signed a pub- and signed a pub-and signed a pub-lishing deal with Warner Bros. Televi-sion. He found The Inconvenience in 2009 and became part of the music department when the company formed. He has worked with many theaters in town including: Mary Ar-rchie, The Chopin, The Viaduct, Stage 773, Theater Wit, The Bailiwick, The Den, Collaboraction, and Steppenwolf. John is ecstatic to be working with Theatre on the Lake and to be a part of The Inconvenience.

Missi Davis (Producer/Production Manager) is lucky to have been able to produce, production manage, act, direct, curate and create in many mediums with The Inconvenience as a founding member. Other acting credits include The Cabinet, Last of my Species ‘09, Last of my Species ‘10, Winter Pageant ‘08, Winter Pageant ‘09, Winter Pageant ‘11 (Redmoon Theater); As Told by the Vivian Girls (Dog & Pony Theatre Co.); and Woody Guthrie’s American Song (Blindfaith Theatre). She studied with The Actors Gymnasium and Plasis-cene after having graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University. She can be seen in the upcoming pro-duction of Butcher of Baraboo (A Red Orchid Theatre). Many thanks to her talented co-creators in The Inconve-nience, as well as this outstanding cast and crew.

Jeff Glass (Lighting Design) is delighted to be working with The Inconvenience and Theatre on The Lake. Chicago credits include: Sweet Bird of Youth (The Artistic Home, Jeff Award Nomination); Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible…, Snow White, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (Emerald City Theatre); Invasion of the Body Snatchers (City Lit Theater). Jeff is an ensemble member of New Suit Theatre Company, as well as a protégé with Shattered Globe Theatre.

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B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

John Holt (Scenic Design) serves as production designer and techni-cal director for the Inconvenience, of which he is a founding member. John has played an integral role in events since the company’s inception, col-laborating in the creation of the play festivals Strapped and Post-Traumatic, as well as Brett Neveu’s The Earl as a co-production with A Red Orchid Theatre, The Fly Honey Show burlesque, the original dance salon Standing Room Only, and the A Little Bit Louder Now live music series. Favorite Chicago designs include Paloma Querida (Luna Negra Dance Theatre), Passing Strange and Aida (Bailiwick),That Sordid Little Story (New Colony), Riff Raff (Mary-Arrchie), Arrangements (Pavement Group) and Paper Thin Walls (Abraham Werewolf ).

Ike Holter (Playwright) Ike Holter’s work has been developed by The Playwrights Center, The Eugene O’Neil Theater Center, and The Kennedy Cen-ter. His plays have been produced at EP Theatre, The Mixed Blood, Jackalope, The Chopin, Vintage, City Lit, and Noth-ing Without a Company, where he is the Associate Artistic Director. Ike has written 6 shows for The Inconvenience (where he is the Resident Writer); most recently “Hit The Wall” at The Step-penwolf Garage, which sold out two extensions in record time. His work will also be produced this summer by Route 66, Colloboraction, The Ex-Pats, and LiveWire, Jackalope. Recently, he was commissioned by DePaul Univer-sity’s Theater school (where he is an alum of ‘07 for Playwriting) to write a play for the Merle Reskin Theater to be directed by Dexter Bullard in May of 2013. *This show is dedicated to my Mother, Catherine Cullen, who taught me how to fight.*

Eric Hoff (Director) is very excited to Hit The Wall with you. Eric’s mis-sion is to explore the intersection of beautiful art and social justice. For The Inconvenience, Eric directed Woyzeck

of Sarajevo, part of 2011’s city-wide The Woyzeck Project, which he co-produced. For About Face Theatre, he worked with Bonnie Metzgar on Pony, by Sylvan Oswald. He directed Brooke Allen’s Ruby Wilder for the New York International Fringe Festival and served as Manag-ing Director of (a)Symmetry Cycle for Chelsea Marcantel. A recent alumnus of The Directors Lab at Lincoln Center Theater, Eric is based in New York where he works with International Contempo-rary Ensemble. He returns to Chicago this summer to direct What’s the T? with About Face Youth Theatre.

Ike Holter (Playwright) is back for his fourth show with The Inconvenience, where he is the Resident Writer. His work has been developed by The Play-wrights Center, The Eugene O’Neil The-ater Center, and The Kennedy Center’s ACTF. His plays have been produced by EP Theatre, The Mixed Blood Theatre, Jackalope Theatre, City Lit, and Nothing Without a Company, where he is the Associate Artistic Director.

Kelly Kerwin (Dramaturg) is thrilled to be working with The Inconvenience again after co-directing Chicagoland and acting as Producing Director for Strapped. Favorite dramaturgy credits include Oblivion, part of Steppenwolf’s First Look Repertory of New Work, and the world premiere of The House Theatre of Chicago’s The Sparrow. She has worked in the literary departments at Steppenwolf, The House, and Atlantic Theatre Company in New York. Current-ly, Kelly curates a monthly performance series for Salonathon, and she is the Associate Producer at Collaboraction. She received her BFA in Dramaturgy/Dramatic Criticism from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Erin Kilmurray (Choreography) has been the dance programmer and collaborating artist with The Inconvenience since 2010. She has worked on Company (Griffin Theater),

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B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

Chicagoland, The Fly Honey Show, The Little Things, Standing Room Only (The Inconvenience), Spring Awakening (Northwestern University), and various independent projects around Chicago, including co-producing The Open Space Project. In addition, Erin has performed with Same Planet Different World Dance Theater, Kate Corby & Dancers, The Moving Architects, Becca Lemme, Jacqueline Stewart/Jaxon Movement Arts, and Thodos Dance Chicago/New Dances. Erin would like to thank her Incon family for providing a continuous opportunity to create.

Josh Lambert (Musician) was born and raised in southeastern Michigan. After several failed attempts at finding a major focus of study at the University of Southern Michigan (which doesn’t exist), he decided to focus on music and life experience. Thus far, his travels have led him to Logan Square, Chicago, Illinois, where he currently works as a bartender, musician, actor, and haver of fun. He is in two musical projects, one with fellow cast member Ryan Murphy, Vamos, and Bring Your Ray Gun. Josh would like to thank the Inconvenience and the Theatre on the Lake for al-lowing him to take part in what has proved, and is still proving to be, one of the greatest times in his life: HIT THE MUTHAF*CKIN WALL!!!

Krissy Larson (Production Stage Manager) Krissy is thrilled to be working with The Inconvenience on this incred-ible production. In March she made her Chicago debut with Jackalope Theatre Company’s world premiere of The Last Duck. Recently transplanted from Houston, Texas, Krissy was PSM at Stages Repertory Theatre for Speech and Debate, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Auntie Mane, Panto Pinocchio,Oh, The Humanity, Yankee Tavern, and Winter Wonderettes. She also spent a summer in upstate NY at Forest-burgh Playhouse where she was ASM for Idaho! (dir. Matt Lenz), Biloxi Blues, Shirley Valentine (with Loretta Swit), The Man of

LaMancha, Jekyll & Hyde, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Chicago, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and PSM for The Wizard of Oz and The Three Little Pigs. She has a BFA in theatre from Sam Houston State University. A very spe-cial thanks to Missi, Eric, and the wonder-ful Ellen Willett. TTMAB.

Nora Mally (Assistant Stage Manager) Nora moved to Chicago in August of 2011 to work as a stage management apprentice at Steppen-wolf Theatre Company. While at Step-penwolf she had the great pleasure of working on Clybourne Park, Time Stands Still, and assistant stage managing Life and Limb for the Steppenwolf/North-western Next Up series. Hit the Wall will be her first non-Steppenwolf show in Chicago. She could not be more grate-ful or excited for the opportunity.

Gus Menary (Assistant Director) is honored to be working on this produc-tion. He is a company member and Director of Music Programming for The Inconvenience. He directed Andrew Swanson’s Moonshiner and Shawn Reddy’s My Name is Mudd (Jackalope Theater Company); and next October he will be directing Mickle Maher’s Spirits to Enforce (Abraham Werewolf ). He has worked with many Chicago the-atre companies including Mary Arrchie, NWAC and EP Theater. He attended Co-lumbia College’s directing program and was trained at The American Conserva-tory Theatre, The New Conservatory Theatre and attended the San Francisco School of the Arts. Much love to The Inconvenience.

Ryan Murphy (Composer/Musician) has played music all his life. Enjoys VHS, John Candy and a good tickle. He’s from the south suburbs and went to Columbia for a minute. Now he fronts the band VAMOS! and writes for punk band The Bedpans with Inconvenience member Chris Chmelik. He would like to thank The Inconvenience for being his friends, roommates and lovers and

9Hit the Wall

B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

Dj Rahm Emanuel for bringing the house down last night. Let the good times roll…

Ryan Bourque (Fight Choreog-raphy) graduated from Columbia College with a degree in acting. He has acted inSophocles: Seven Sicknesses, Woyzeck, The Pirates of Penzance, Miss Julie (The Hypocrites),The Earl (The Inconvenience),Cherrywood (Mary Arrchie), and The Hostage (The Griffin). Fight Choreography: Oedipus El Rey, We are proud to Present: a Presentation, (Victory Gardens), Romeo Juliet, Sophocles: Sicknesses, Woyzeck (The Hypocrites Hit The Wall, Fight Night, The Earl, Chicago-land (The Inconvenience), Moonshiner (Jackalope), Company (The Griffin), Bus Stop (The Den), Cherrywood (Mary Ar-Ar-rchie),), and Festen (Steep Theatre). Ryan is a freelance photographer, the Director of Media Relations, and a company member of The Inconvenience.Thank you Family, and Friends for your Love and Support.

David Seeber (Script Supervisor) is very excited to be working with The Inconvenience again. A recent gradu-ate from Columbia College, David is an actor, director, clown, musician, and performance artist. He conceived and directed the site-responsive play,

QuarryProject (AltSpaces), The Invention of Space at Columbia College’s Mani-fest, and Three Plays by Tron Von Trier at Mary-Arrchie’s Abbiefest 23. Most recently he directed the live installation piece, Steam Orkestra (Liminality The-(Liminality The-atre). David was the stage manager for LiveWire Chicago’s A Bright New Boise, and ASM for Conquest of the South Pole at Strawdog Theatre Company.

Michael H. Solomon (Asst. Production Manager) is thrilled to be working with the Incon once again. He is a graduate of the Ohio State University ‘07 and Step-penwolf Casting Intern ‘11. Michael is an actor, director, producer and all around supporter of the arts. He is the site direc-tor for JCC Chicago’s AfterSchool pro-gram in Skokie. He co-founded ArtRat-Productions in Columbus, OH in 2008, an arts organization dedicated to the pro-liferation of outstanding artworks in the community. Michael will be sitting on the board for the 2012 Creative Chicago Expo and is a company member of the Murder Mystery Co. Chicago. His work on HTW is dedicated to the memory of John K. Adams. Many thanks to family, friends and supporters.

10 Theater on the Lake

Moby-DickAdapted byThe Building Stage

From the novel byHerman Melville

Conceived and directed byBlake Montgomery*

Original music byKevin O’Donnell

Scenic Design byPamela Maurer* and Blake Montgomery

Costume Design byIzumi Inaba

Lighting Design byJared Moore

Sound Design byClaudette Perez

Stage Management byAmanda Frechette

The Building Stage creates new works through the rehearsal process, with no separation between play and production. This adaptation of Moby-Dick has been developed and shaped by the designers and performers who worked on the show in 2006 and 2011:

David Amaral, Casey Baker, Sarah Goeden, Rachel Griesinger,Sarah Hecht, Fannie Hungerford, Izumi Inaba, ChelseaKeenan*, Ian Knox, Jason Martin, Stephanie Millar, KevinO’Donnell, Danny Osburn, Justin D.M. Palmer, Mike Przygoda,Meghan Raham, Marcus Stephens, Jon Stutzman*, JoelSugerman, Leah Urzendowski, and Nathan Wonder.

*company member of The Building Stage

11Moby Dick

The Ensemble

IshmaelsRachel GriesingerSarah HechtChelsea KeenanIan KnoxBlake MontgomeryNathan Wonder

PercussionistsCasey BakerKevin O’DonnellMike Przygoda

A Note on the Adaptation

“Call me Ishmael.” With this bold direct address of the audience, Herman Melville launches into one of the greatest American literary creations. Passionate, philosophical, and funny, Melville’s Moby-Dick is a grand and messy work. In order to capture the giddy swirl of ideas that characterize the book, The Building Stage adaptation employs a chorus of “Ishmaels” to tell the story, each Ishmael in turn plays the key characters of the story, allowing for six united but unique perspectives on Ahab, Starbuck, Stubb, and the crew of the Pequod.

The adaptation’s tight focus allows us to invest fully in our chosen theme — the contagious nature of obsession — instead of frantically chasing down every narrative detail from the novel. This means that characters and events essential to Melville’s work — including the beloved Queequeg — have been excluded from this production. We apologize to you, Melville, and Queequeg for this cruel treatment.

We do not pretend that this is the definitive adaptation of Melville’s novel. It is simply our adaptation.

— Blake Montgomery, Artistic Director of The Building Stage

Moby-Dick runs for 2 hours and includes one intermission.

12 Theater on the Lake

THE ARTISTS

Casey Baker PercussionistDuring the week, Casey is a producer at the Chicago Tribune for , a stage and radio show created by the Tribune and The Second City. On Sundays, he is the producer of on WGN Radio. In his free evenings, he can be found hanging around various theatres (currently drumming in this lovely production, most recently performing with Be the Groove and stage managing with The House) or playing volleyball. His preferred ride is a 1980 Honda c70 Passport, his preferred beach is Montrose. Countless thanks to his kind parents, Barbara Butts, Erika, and providence.

Amanda Frechette Stage ManagerAmanda is very happy to join The Building Stage for their remount of at Theatre on the Lake. Amanda has been seen working around Chicago with New Leaf Theatre (Artistic Associate), The House Theatre of Chicago, and Red Tape Theatre to name a few. She earned her BA from Plymouth State University with an option in Acting and Design & Technology. As always love to Mum, Dad and Cindy!

Rachel Griesinger IshmaelRachel graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in the performing arts. She has been seen in Street Scene (National Pastime Theatre), (Redmoon), (State Theatre Chicago), as a puppeteer in the original new musical Stalk (LaCosta), as Juliet in (Stone Soup Shakespeare). Rachel is excited to be working with The Building Stage again after having recently performed in . Immeasurable gratitude for her parents’ and little bro’s support.

Sarah Hecht IshmaelSarah grew up in Knoxville, TN, and earned her BA from Tufts University and her MFA in Acting at DePaul.

Before making Chicago her home, Sarah lived in New York City where she pursued a variety of theatrical adventures. In Chicago, she’s appeared in and with Cock and Bull Theatre, with Arc Theatre, and As You Like It with Soundstage Radio. Last summer, she co-wrote and performed in in The Chicago Fringe Festival with The Vox Theatre. Most recently she appeared at The Building Stage in . Please visit www.sarah-hecht.com.

Izumi Inaba Costume DesignerIzumi is so excited to be working with The Building Stage where she also designed the costumes for .... She has recently worked with About Face Theatre and Chicago Dramatists for their co-production of , Sideshow for , Immediate for , and Griffin for . A recipient of a non-Equity Jeff Award for make-up design for Cats (Theo Ubique Cabaret), Izumi received her MFA in Stage Design from Northwestern University.

Chelsea Keenan IshmaelChelsea has performed with The Building Stage in and . She also was the Associate Director on their recent production of . Chelsea is a founding company member of Sandbox Theater Project, appearing in and co-writing in the site-specific comedies and . She has also appeared with The House Theatre of Chicago in and and in productions with The Mill and sprung movement theatre. A native of California, Chelsea is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts and UC Santa Barbara’s BFA program. She is proud to serve as the Director of Strategic Engagement at The House Theatre of Chicago.

Ian Knox IshmaelIan recently performed with The Building Stage in . Ian has also worked with many Chicago theatre

GOOD PEOPLETHE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HATTHE BIRTHDAY PARTYHEAD OF PASSESBELLEVILLE

THE RECKONINGFive stories about what happens when the past comes knocking.

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14 Theater on the Lake

THE ARTISTS (c o n t.)

companies; most recently he’s been seen in LOTC’s Armless, Aston Rep’s , 45 min Production’s 365 Sketches, WNEP’s , OPFT’s , Infamous Commonwealth’s , Annoyance Theater’s , Quest Theatre Ensemble’s , and Theater Wit’s. Ian is also a musician and plays the accordion with The New Switcheroo. He would like to thank his fantastic girlfriend, his amazing friends, and his loving family.

Pamela Maurer Co-Scenic DesignerPamela is a graduate of the CCPA at Roosevelt University. As a company member of The Building Stage, she has performed in and as well as having served as scenic designer for and props designer for . She has designed scenery and props for Will Act for Food, Open Eye Productions, Oak Park Festival Theater, and Polarity Ensemble. She regularly performs as a musician in Chicago, and is currently working with Andrew Francis as the blues and gospel duo Poor Elvis.

Blake Montgomery Director/Co-Scenic DesignerIshmaelBlake is the founder and artistic director of The Building Stage, where he has conceived and/or directed Hamlet, (co-directed), , and With The Building Stage, Blake has performed in, , and . Recent work outside the company includes performing in The House Theare of Chicago’sand at Court Theatre. He trained at the Ecole Jacques Lecoq and Dell’Arte School of Physical Theater.

Jared MooreLighting DesignerJared studied Theatre & Design at Georgia College & State University graduating in 2001. He has completed internships with the Berkshire Theatre Festival in

Stockbridge, Massachusetts and the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, Florida. He resides in Chicago as a professional freelance lighting designer where he has lit more than 200 shows, in a variety of genres ranging from opera to outdoor spectacle, over the past ten years. He is a resident designer/artistic associate with The Hypocrites, New Leaf Theatre, NoMi LaMad Dance Inc., and currently serves as Lighting Director/Designer for Luna Negra Dance Theater, undertaking national & international touring projects. His work has garnered him seven Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards for Outstanding Design and two After Dark Awards. He returns to The Building Stage after previously providing the lighting for

Kevin O’DonnellComposer/Music DirectorKevin is a composer and musician based in Chicago. At The Building Stage he has worked on music for , and His work in theater has earned 18 Jeff Nominations (8 Awards), and 2 consecutive After Dark Awards (for Outstanding Season). In Chicago he has worked with The House (company member), The Hypocrites (artistic associate), Redmoon, TimeLine, A.T.C., The Next, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, and Lookingglass, amongst others; regionally his work has been heard at The Cherry Lane, 59E59, St Anne’ s Warehouse, DTW (NYC), The Taper Forum (LA), A.C.T. (San Francisco), Tangént (Montreal), The Arsht Center (Miami), The Stages Rep (Houston), The Kansas City Rep, and Baltimore CenterStage. As a musician he has worked extensively with Andrew Bird, with whom he co-produced the music for the film “Norman”. For theatre, film, and gig info: www.kevinodonnellmusic.com.

Mike PrzygodaPercussionist

15Moby Dick

THE ARTISTS (c o n t.)

Mike Przygoda never knew when he was in high school that playing in the drumline and reading Herman Melville would be combined. This experience has given him hope to finally produce ”Bartleby, The Scrivener” as a rock opera.

Nathan WonderIshmaelNathan is thrilled to work with The Building Stage again after having recently performed in. Previously he appeared as Hoppner/Ensemble in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s production of . He holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the Theatre Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He is also a graduate of the University of Oregon’s Theater Arts and Mathematics programs. Nathan would like to thank his girlfriend for her unwavering support.

Call me IshmaelRachel Griesinger Sarah Hecht Chelsea Keenan

Ian Knox Blake Montgomery Nathan Wonder

16 Theater on the Lake

THEATER ON THE L AKE 2012

Managing Director .......................................................................................... Samantha ChavisManaging Director Emeritus ................................................................. Krista Bryski RichardArtistic Curator ................................................................................... Meghan Beals McCarthyArtistic Curator ..................................................................................Michael Patrick ThorntonProduction Manager .............................................................................Maude Graham-NiedsBox Office Manager ........................................................................................... Matthew PierceBox Office Staff ............................................................................... Erika Geller, Andrea YoungHouse Manager ............................................................................................................. Kitty BakerMaster Electrician ............................................................................................. Jacob SnodgrassTechnical Director ......................................................................................................Patrick FriesSound ......................................................................................................Red Line Event ServicesSound Board Operator ........................................................................................... Brian ShaderLighting Board Operator............................................................................... Karen ThompsonLighting Crew ...............................................Elizabeth Boros-Kazai, Andrew Glasenhardt, Sarah Lackner, Megan SnowderPress/PR: Chicago Park District ..........................................................................Marta Juaniza

Special thanks to Fullerton Beach Grill and Rub BBQ Company for partnering with Theater on the Lake. Thanks also to our sponsors Pequod’s Pizza and IZZE Sparking Fruit Juice for providing delicious and refreshing food and beverages

for our Theater Thursdays.

ABOUT THE BU ILD ING STAGE

Company Members

Blake Montgomery, Artistic DirectorDaiva BhandariChelsea KeenanPamela MaurerJon StutzmanMax Wirt

Theater on the Lake would like to pay special tribute to the memory of cherished, longtime subscriber, Lucy E. Redmon, who will be dearly missed.