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DINING

Written by A.R. GURNEY

THE DINING ROOM was first produced Off-Broadway by Playwrights Horizons in 1982.

Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited

Erika

Miller Director

Becky

Ochoa Stage Manager & Lighting Designer

Emily Barton Assistant Director

Krista Pishny Show Coordinator

from the director

Hello!

Thanks for joining us tonight for The Dining Room.

The Dining Room is a tapestry of moments, a collection of seconds that make life what it is —small, intimate vignettes that together paint a portrait of WASPs (white Anglo-Saxon Protestants) from the 1920s through the 1980s. Each scene introduces us to a different family, a different generation, and a different turning point. But one constant remains: their gathering place. The dining room. For a culture slowly fading, this room was once the daily gathering place where families came together as one, no matter what else was happening outside. We as society have moved away from the dining room as our center point. How has that evolved for your own family?

I read a review that states "Gurney invites us not to judge these families, but to observe them," and I think that sums it up perfectly.

This production demands a great deal from everyone involved. With so many moving parts, The Dining Room relies on its cast for authentic story telling and character work. Our cast embraced this, and I'm proud of every single one of them with their determination in this unique learning opportunity and the challenges it presented. A big thank you to our crew of parents and Culture House as well!

I hope you enjoy stepping into the dining room with us and perhaps reflect on the places where your own stories come together.

Erika Director, The Dining Room

artistic team

Krista, Becky, Emily, & Erika

Scene by Scene

INTERMISSION

cast of characters

Liz Bird………...Howard, Buyer/Psychiatrist, Stuart, Chris, Harvey, Dinner Guest

Alexa Dust……….......................................................Annie (x2), Margery, Sarah, Claire

Kaylee Dust...........................................Mother, Architect, Fred, Tony, Dinner Guest

Kaeleigh Johnston.......................Client, Grace, Old Lady, Standish, Dinner Guest

Ellie Krumsick.....................................................Agent, Nick, Ben, Aunt Harriet, Ruth

Nash McGinness-Wood Boy/Charlie, Michael, Paul, Dick, Dinner Guest

Ray Rosenwald.............................................Sally, Dora, Helen, Emily, Dinner Guest

Maggie Stultz.............................................................Girl, Carolyn, Beth, Bertha, Host

Hayley Williams......................Father, Grandfather, Gordon, David, Dinner Guest

Seven Williams..............................Arthur, Ellie, Aggie, Nancy, Kate, Dinner Guest

Meet the Cast

Liz Bird

Liz is 15 years old and a sophomore at LEAD Innovation Studio. This is her 16th show with First Act Theatre Arts. Liz’s favorite shows she’s performed in are Radium Girls and Joseph Off stage, Liz enjoys singing, hanging out with her dogs, tap dancing, and going to shows. Liz would like to thank her family for their love and support.

Alexa Dust

Alexa is 12 years old and a seventh grader at Trailridge Middle School This is her 12th show with First Act Theatre Arts. Alexa’s favorite show she’s performed in is Frozen Jr. Off stage, Alexa enjoys making art, reading, dancing, and soccer. Alexa would like to thank her parents, her sister, Kaylee, and her cats.

Meet the Cast

Kaylee Dust

Kaylee is 15 years old and a sophomore at Shawnee Mission Northwest. This is her 11th show with First Act Theatre Arts. Kaylee’s favorite show she’s performed in is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Off stage, Kaylee enjoys writing and playing video games Kaylee would like to thank her parents, her sister, Alexa, and her cats for watching her practice performing.

Kaeleigh Rose Johnston

Kaeleigh Rose is 17 years old and homeschooled as a senior. This is her 13th show with First Act Theatre Arts. Kaeleigh’s favorite shows she’s performed in are Hello, Dolly and Newsies. Off stage, Kaeleigh enjoys singing, drawing, and yapping. Kaeleigh would like to thank her parents and God for blessing her with all these incredible privileges and opportunities that not everyone can come by. She would also like to thank her directors and fellow actors for noticing her skills and appreciating her

Ellie Krumsick

Ellie is 14 years old and an eighth grader at Monticello Trails Middle School. This is her 10th show with First Act Theatre Arts. Ellie’s favorite show she’s performed in is Frozen Jr. as a Snow Dancer, and Tarzan as Young Terk. Off stage, Ellie enjoys hanging out with friends, reading, annoying her sisters, and hanging out with her dogs and cat. Ellie would like to thank her parents for always being her biggest supporters, her sisters for always being there to make her laugh, her dogs, Maddie and Emmett for always being there to cuddle her, her cat, Katie for always laying on her at a time of need, and Jesus her Lord and Savior.

Meet the Cast

Nash McGinness-Wood

Nash is 12 years old and a sixth grader at Gateway Sixth Grade Center. This is his 6th show with First Act Theatre Arts. Nash’s favorite show he’s performed in is Newsies. Off stage, Nash enjoys playing volleyball, soccer, video games, reading, and studying for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Nash would like to thank his parents, his sister, God, and the artistic team.

Ray Rosenwald

Ray is 13 years old and a seventh grader at Prairie Star Middle School. This is her 4th show with First Act Theatre Arts. Ray’s favorite show she’s performed in is Newsies. Off stage, Ray enjoys writing, reading, and hanging out with her girlfriend and friends Ray would like to thank her sister for pushing her to get into theatre like her.

Meet the Cast

Maggie Stultz

Maggie is 13 years old and an eighth grader at Baldwin Junior High School This is her 6th show with First Act Theatre Arts. Maggie’s favorite show she’s performed in is Radium Girls. Off stage Maggie enjoys swimming, making bracelets, listening to Taylor Swift, reading, and cooking. Maggie would like to thank her parents for listening to Taylor Swift with her on the way to rehearsal, her sister for being so supportive, and her brother for enduring all the Taylor Swift she listens to.

Hayley Williams

Hayley is 14 years old and a freshman at Blue Valley High School. This is her 6th show with First Act Theatre Arts. Hayley’s favorite shows she’s performed in are Urinetown and Newsies. Off stage, Hayley enjoys hanging out with friends, playing guitar, watching movies, and drawing. Hayley would like to thank her friends, parents, teachers, and Stephen Sondheim cause he’s the GOAT.

Seven Williams

Seven is 16 years old homeschooled as a sophomore. This is her 3rd show with First Act Theatre Arts. Seven’s favorite show she’s performed in is Diary of a Wimpy Kid as Rodrick Heffley. Off stage, Seven enjoys learning new instruments, trying new coffee shops, and playing with her cats, Grimm, Winnie, and Mama Big Girl Baby.

Congratulations!

Kaeleigh Johnston

Kaeleigh, We are so extremely proud of your hard work and perseverance in the world of theatre. We have been blessed to watch you grow in your love for Jesus and performing. You are fun and entertaining to watch. Congrats!

Ellie Krumsick

Ellie- We are so proud of you! Keep challenging yourself and keep shining! Love -Mom, Dad, Annie, Abby

Nash McGinness-Wood

Nash - We are so excited to see you in this play! It takes courage to do new things and we know you will absolutely shine! Break a leg! Love Trish, Michelle, and Tatum

Maggie Stultz

Congratulations, Maggie, on your wonderful performance. You have truly found your passion, and it shows in every moment on stage. Your talent, confidence, and dedication are inspiring, and it’s exciting to see you shine doing what you love.