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Masterful artists. Varied genres. Memorable performances.
It is our honor to support another year of captivating performances made possible by the area’s premier arts and entertainment organizations.
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Index of Pages
(click on page number to be taken directly to that page)
Portland Presents Advertiser Listing.....................................Page 8 Portland Ovations Information..................................... Page 14 - 19 Merrill Auditorium Information....................................Page 24 - 25 Portland Symphony Orchestra....................................Page 30 - 35 Portland Stage Information......................................... Page 39 - 44
IN THE PROGRAM Saint Dad by Monica Wood at Portland Stage
Welcome Back........................................................................Page 57 Board of Trustees & Staff.............................................. Page 58 - 59 Introduction from Anita Stewart.................................. Page 74 - 75 Production Cast & Title Page................................................ Page 77 Biographies.......................................................................Page 78 - 91 Land & Slavery Acknowledgement.....................................Page 89 PlayNotes Perspectives................................................. Page 92 - 93 Portland Stage Sponsors............................................... Page 96 - 97 Annual Fund Supporters.............................................. Page 98 -103 Portland Presents • Return to Index
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A GREAT CUP OF COFFEE CHANGES LIVES Stimulating conversation, strengthening connections, inviting contemplation. Engaging and awakening community. By design, our coffee is a catalyst for positive change and solidarity. Giving voices to farmers, often unheard. Telling stories, often untold. Creating a union of unique experiences, cultures, and legacies. Grounded in steadfast loyalty for our Maine beginning and our common future. Responsibly. Collaboratively. Ethically. For ALL people. For OUR planet. Sourcing. Roasting. Cupping. Brewing. Cultivating. Refining. Crafting a More Just World. And Great Coffee for All.
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ARE YOU FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE? CALL YOUR OPTOMETRIST TODAY AND MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY.
207.828.2020 EYECAREMED.COM 6
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Portland presents...
A cooperative effort by Portland Ovations, Portland Stage, Portland Symphony Orchestra and Merrill Auditorium Concert Events. Located at: 120 Exchange Street Portland, ME 04101
great performances since 1931 Aimée M. Petrin, Executive Director
Administrative Office: (207) 773-3150
e-mail: info@portlandovations.org Order online at: www.PortlandOvations.org Located at: 25A Forest Avenue Portland, ME 04101
Administrative Office: (207) 774-1043 Fax: (207) 774-0576
Anita Stewart, Executive & Artistic Director
For Tickets: 25A Forest Avenue Portland, ME 04101 (207) 774-0465
e-mail: boxoffice@portlandstage.org Order online at: www.portlandstage.org Located at: 85 Exchange Street 4th Floor Portland, ME 04101
Eckart Preu, Music Director
For Tickets: PortTIX 20 Myrtle Street Portland, ME 04101 (207) 842-0800 TTY:(207) 842-0812 www.PortTIX.com
Administrative Office: (207) 773-6128 Fax: (207) 773-6089
e-mail: psobox@portlandsymphony.org Order online at: www.PortlandSymphony.org Located at: 20 Myrtle Street Portland, ME 04101
Administrative Office: 212 Canco Road Portland, ME 04101 (207) 808-5400
Information: www.portlandevents.com
For Tickets: PortTIX 20 Myrtle Street Portland, ME 04101 (207) 842-0800 TTY:(207) 842-0812 www.PortTIX.com For Tickets: PortTIX 20 Myrtle Street Portland, ME 04101 (207) 842-0800 TTY:(207) 842-0812 www.PortTIX.com
Program & Cover Design by Jennifer Roe, Wild Olive Multimedia
CoveStreetArts.com 71 Cove St. Portland, ME (207) 808-8911
GreenhutGalleries.com 146 Middle St. Portland, ME (207) 772-2693
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Portland presents...
A cooperative effort by Portland Ovations, Portland Stage, Portland Symphony Orchestra and Merrill Auditorium Concert Events.
great performances since 1931
Welcome to Portland Presents. The program book for Northern New England’s premier arts and entertainment organizations.
Portland Presents wishes to thank our advertisers for the 2023-24 season. Visit our website at www.portlandpresents.org for direct links to our advertiser’s websites.
Acadia Insurance Bach Virtuosi Festival Baker Newman Noyes Bath Savings Brann & Isaacson Browne Trading Company Chilton Furniture Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Coffee by Design cPort Credit Union Cross Insurance Cuddledown Davis Landscape Co., Inc Dead River Company Drummond Woodsum Eyecare Medical Group Fogg’s Water Taxi & Charters Gnome Landscapes, Design, Masonry & Maintenance Greenhut Galleries & Cove Street Arts. Hammond Lumber Company HarborChase HeadInvest Home Instead Hopkinson & Abbondanza, P.A. LandVest Inc. LeBlanc & Young M & T Bank and Wilmington Trust Maine Coast Waldorf School
Maine Periodontics Marden’s Surplus & Salvage Market Basket MEMIC New England Cancer Specialists North Yarmouth Academy Northern Light Mercy Hospital Norway Savings Bank OceanView at Falmouth Perkins Thompson Pierce Furniture Piper Shores Port Harbor Marine R.M. Davis, Inc. Reger Dasco Properties Roux & Cyr Gallery Rowe Westbrook The Hill Arts The Bennett Law Firm, P.A. The Cedars The Docent’s Collection The Portland Harbor Group of Raymond James Thos. Moser Veterinary and Rehabilitation Center of Cape Elizabeth Vitalius Real Estate Group Waynflete Wright Ryan Homes
If you or your business would like to advertise with Portland Presents, please contact any of the above organizations or check out our website at www.portlandpresents.org. 8
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Portland Ovations staff, June 2023
ABOUT US Portland Ovations is a nonprofit cultural organization based in Southern Maine dedicated to gathering communities to share in the power of live performance. Ovations connects artists and audiences both onstage and off — making the arts an integral part of community life. Our unique array of live performances for public and school audiences are curated to delight, inspire and educate. Venues used throughout greater Portland include historic and modern theaters, clubs, galleries, and classrooms — chosen carefully to ensure the best possible experience for both audiences and artists. Join us for a season of performances that span the traditional to the contemporary, the intimate to the spectacular, the popular to the unexpected.
OUR VISION To inspire a curious and imaginative community where the experience of the performing arts is a vital part of everyday life.
OUR MISSION
Portland Ovations propels the artistic, social, educational and economic wellbeing of communities through the power of the performing arts.
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STAFF Executive & Artistic Director Aimée M. Petrin
Associate Director Casey Oakes
Office Administrator Mary Campbell
Marketing Manager Katie Day
Production Manager Eric Hager
Development Manager Jamie Barilone
Director of School & Family Programs Liz Schildkret
Director of Community Programs & Partnerships Katelyn Manfre
Bookkeeper Marlene Dye
Front-of-House Coordinator Zoe Pancic
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Sayad Moudachirou
Vice President Peter Genova
Treasurer Michael F. Stillings
Secretary Rachael Alfond
Michael A. Boyson Maile Buker Ken Grady James Isaacson
Mary Allen Lindemann Jack Lufkin Nyamuon Nguany Machar Susan Morris
Mary K. Noyes Daniel Nuzzi Tania Powers April Ylvisaker
FOUNDER’S COUNCIL Judith W. Adam Philip H. Gleason Kimberly Block Judith Halpert Olivier te Boekhorst Heidi N. Hansen Janet M. Bowne Kendall Harnett Bruce Brown Tracy Hawkins Maria Chambers Elizabeth T. High Catherine H. Cloudman Carolyn Hughes Madeline G. Corson Daniel P. Hunter Daniel N. Crewe J. Spencer Jones Charles W. Dibner Felicia Knight Francis A. Ferland Gary Koocher Robert H. Gardner Robert Ludwig Phyllis Givertz Jeff McKinnon
Elizabeth A. McLellan Sigmund D. Schutz Peter Milliken Jaimie Schwartz Marcia G. Minter Lynn Shaffer James T. Morgan John D. Tewhey Nicholas S. Nadzo Louise Thomas Thomas R. Newman June Vail Bob Nielsen Alison Vanderhoof Jean K. Nishiyama Sarah A. Verville Jane A. Parker Margaret A. Wilkis Stephen Poulos Patti Roderick Monroe Scharff
CELEBRATING 93 YEARS OF PERFORMING ARTS Portland Presents • Return to Index
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Jerusalem Quartet
MOMIX: Alice
Ustad Shafaat Khan Trio
OCTOBER 19, 2023 • 7 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
OCTOBER 26, 2023 • 7 PM HANNAFORD HALL, PORTLAND
CO-PRODUCED WITH STATE THEATRE
BROADWAY NATIONAL TOUR
Martha Redbone Roots Project
DECEMBER 6 & 7, 2023 • 7 PM
JANUARY 12 & 13, 2024 • 8 PM, 1 PM & 7 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
OCTOBER 7, 2023 • 3 PM MAINE JEWISH MUSEUM, PORTLAND
Palaver Strings + little house dance: Noisefloor
Come From Away
FEBRUARY 1, 2024 • 7 PM FIRST PARISH CHURCH, PORTLAND
POP ANNUAL FUNDRAISER Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience
360 ALLSTARS
POP Annual Fundraiser
BROADWAY NATIONAL TOUR
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Handel & Haydn Society
MARCH 8, 2024 • 7 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
Jesus Christ Superstar
APRIL 12 & 13, 2024 • 8 PM, 1 PM & 7 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
MARCH 14, 2024 • 7 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
APRIL 30, 2024 • 7 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
MARCH 21, 2024 O’MAINE STUDIOS, PORTLAND
MAY 5, 2024 • 3 PM HANNAFORD HALL, PORTLAND
Tickets can be purchased in person, online or over the phone. • Online at PORTLANDOVATIONS.ORG • Phone by calling PortTIX 207.842.0800 • In person by visiting the PortTIX Box Office at 20 Myrtle Street, Portland
BUY TICKETS 16
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CO-PRESENTED WITH STATE THEATRE
It’s Okay to Be Different Stories by Todd Parr
STOMP
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Zlata Chochieva, piano
Faye Driscoll
Sirocco: Manchester Collective & Abel Selaocoe
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Bluey’s Big Play
Daniel Bernard Roumain
OCTOBER 30, 2023 • 6 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
NOVEMBER 18 & 19, 2023 • 7PM & 1 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
FEBRUARY 17, 2024 • 3 PM HANNAFORD HALL, PORTLAND
FEBRUARY 15, 2024 • 7 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
MARCH 28, 2024 • 7 PM WESTBROOK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
BROADWAY NATIONAL TOUR
Mean Girls
MAY 16 & 17, 2024 • 7 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
APRIL 5, 2024 • 7 PM STATE THEATRE, PORTLAND
MAY 22 & 23, 2024 • 6 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
DakhaBrakha
NOVEMBER 28, 2023 • 7 PM STATE THEATRE, PORTLAND
CO-PRESENTED WITH STATE THEATRE
An Evening with Sasha Velour FEBRUARY 29, 2024 • 7 PM STATE THEATRE, PORTLAND
APRIL 9, 2024 • 7 PM MERRILL AUDITORIUM, PORTLAND
SPRING, 2024 LOCATION TBA
PORTTIX IS OUR TRUSTED TICKET SELLER Portland Presents • Return to Index
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BE AN OVATIONS MEMBER TODAY JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF PERFORMING ARTS SUPPORTERS
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER DANCER: KHALIA CAMPBELL PHOTO BY DARIO CALMESE
CONNECTING AUDIENC 18
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Ovations Offstage Ovations Offstage (O2) creates interactive programming for audiences at all ages and stages of their performing arts exploration. From workshops, masterclasses and lectures with artists and scholars to community events and School-Time Performances, O2 is where artists and audiences connect, creating magical moments that last a lifetime. Masterclasses Work with masterful artists from around the world and learn something new at an O2 workshop, available throughout the season. Masterclasses with select artists can be booked by school and community groups. Pre-Performance Lectures Join us before Mainstage performances for a wide variety of events, including talks, screenings, book clubs and demonstrations that contextualize and bring new meaning to the art and its thematic ties to our community. School-Time Performances Energize and engage students with the performing arts through onstage school-time matinees, in-school workshops and professional development for educators. Experiences are aligned with Common Core standards and are supported by educator resources and learning guides. Cultivating Curiosity Bringing stories to life onstage and in students’ homes and classrooms by providing every young person who attends select School-Time Performances with a free book to take home, along with classroom activities and resources to encourage embodied literacy. Community Events Be on the lookout throughout the season for free events around the area. From walking tours to shared meals to pop-up performances, O2 hosts gatherings that bring visiting art and artists into our vibrant local community.
CES WITH ARTISTS Portland Presents • Return to Index
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76 CONGRESS STREET PORTLAND, MAINE THEHILLARTS.ME (Formerly St. Lawrence Arts)
Support. We provide it to our patients every day. And we’re proud to support another season of exceptional and wide-ranging cultural performances for the Greater Portland community.
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Working in harmony with your needs. Acadia Insurance is proud to support our local arts community. And when the show’s over, we welcome the chance to help our local Maine neighbors tend to their real-world needs. That includes providing the coverage that can protect your business from all major exposures. Because we believe the best place for drama is on the stage. C O N TA C T Y O U R L O C A L A G E N T F O R A Q U O T E O R F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , V I S I T US ONLINE: ACADIAINSURANCE.COM
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Welcome to Merrill Auditorium, Portland’s Premier Performing Arts Venue Welcome to Merrill Auditorium, Home to Prime Tenants -‐ Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Ovations and Portland’s Premier Performing Arts Venue The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ. Home to Prime Tenants - Portland Symphony Orchestra, Each year we host a variety of concerts, dance performances, children’s programming, comedy shows, Portland and ThewFriends of thepatrons Kotzschmar Organ. corporate meetings Ovations and non-‐profit events ith over 150,000 in attendance annually! Each Thank year ywe host a avariety dance ou for being guest at oof ur tconcerts, heater, please enjoy tperformances, he show! children’s programming, comedy shows, corporate meetings and non-profit events with over 150,000 patrons in attendance annually! Merrill Auditorium is managed by the City of Portland Public Assembly Facilities Division 212 Canco Rd Portland Maine Thank you for PHONE: being 2a07.808.5400 guest at W our theater, please enjoy the show! EB: PortlandEvents.com
Merrill Auditorium is managed by the City of Portland Public Assembly Facilities Division Andrew J Downs, Director
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- UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday September 23rd @ 7:00 pm Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ presents “THE GENERAL” SILENT FILM Wednesday September 27th @ 6:00 pm Round Room presents BLIPPI ~ THE WONDERFUL WORLD TOUR Wednesday Oct. 4th @ 7:00 pm & Thursday Oct. 5th @ 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm Outback presents NATE BARGATZE ~ THE BE FUNNY TOUR! Wednesday October 11th @ 7:30 pm Emporium presents LOREENA MCKENNITT Saturday October 14th @ 7:00 pm Live Nations presents ILIZA ~ HARD FEELINGS TOUR Saturday October 28th @ 10:00 am Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ presents SPOOKTACULAR SONGS & STORYTIME Saturday October 28th @ 7:00 pm Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ presents “DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE” SILENT FILM Friday November 10th @ 7:30 pm STEVE MARTIN & MARTIN SHORT ~ YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE TODAY Thursday November 16th & Friday November 17th @ 7:30 pm Maine Public presents WAIT WAIT… DON’T TELL ME! Friday November 24th thru Sunday December 3rd Maine State Ballet presents THE NUTCRACKER Tuesday December 19th @ 7:00 pm Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ presents CHRISTMAS WITH KENNERLEY Friday December 22nd @ 7:30 pm & Saturday December 23rd @ 7:30 pm Portland Ballet presents A VICTORIAN NUTCRACKER Saturday December 30th @ 6:00 pm Ikirenga Cy’intore presents TALES OF BELLS AND DRUMS Friday March 22nd @ 7:00 pm Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ presents BACH’S BIRTHDAY BASH Thursday April 18th @ 7:00 pm & 10:00 pm Live Nations presents MATT RIFE ~ PROBLEMATTIC TOUR
Welcome to Merrill Auditorium, Portland’s Premier Performing Arts Venue Home to Prime Tenants -‐ Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Ovations and The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ. Each year we host a variety of concerts, dance performances, children’s programming, comedy shows, corporate meetings and non-‐profit events with over 150,000 patrons in attendance annually! Thank you for being a guest at our theater, please enjoy the show! Merrill Auditorium is managed by the City of Portland Public Assembly Facilities Division 212 Canco Rd Portland Maine PHONE: 207.808.5400 WEB: PortlandEvents.com
For more information about these and all our performances or to purchase tickets please visit PortTix.com or Call 207-842-0800
PortTix is the Official Box Office for Merrill Auditorium. Please make sure when purchasing tickets, you are buying from PortTix.
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Total Family Wealth Management Christopher Rogers, WMS™ Managing Director Senior Vice President, Investments christopher.rogers@raymondjames.com 207.771.1803
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Please contact us for a complimentary review of your financial plan. 2 Portland Square, Seventh Floor // Portland, ME 04101 T 207.771.1800 // TF 866.680.1196 // F 207.253.5480 portlandharborgroup.com “Helping simplify a complex world” Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®. © 2023 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Raymond James® is a registered trademark of Raymond James Financial, Inc. 23-BR3CT-0148 TA 6/23
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Savor today, plan for tomorrow. 1-866-670-7517 bathsavings.bank
BATH SAVINGS TRUST COMPANY IS A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF BATH SAVINGS INSTITUTION. INVESTMENT PRODUCTS ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC, ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF THE BANK, AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK. INVESTMENT PRODUCTS ARE SUBJECT TO INVESTMENT RISK, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT AN INDICATION OF FUTURE RESULTS.
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Are you ready for your closeup? To keep your health in harmony, Northern Light Mercy Hospital offers a full range of care for our community. Join in the chorus of people who consider Mercy their place for care. HOW ARE YOU?
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Ŀilmin‹Ōon ľŐōőŌ ”nŅ 7&ľ ĭ”n— őō((oŐŌ Ō›ņ (ņo(lņ ”nŅ oŐ‹”niz”Ōionő w›oőņ miőőion iő Ōo im(Őovņ Ō›ņ (l”ňņő ”nŅ ő(”ňņő w›ņŐņ wņ livņ, woŐ—, ”nŅ (l”ǿ. ľo‹ņŌ›ņŐ, wņ offņŐ oōŐ Ōimņ ”nŅ ŐņőoōŐňņő ”nŅ ņnňoōŐ”‹ņ oŌ›ņŐő Ōo –oin ōő.
Ŀilmin‹Ōon ľŐōőŌ ”nŅ 7&ľ ĭ”n— őō((oŐŌ Ō›ņ (ņo(lņ ”nŅ oŐ‹”niz”Ōionő w›oőņ miőőion iő Ōo im(Őovņ Ō›ņ (l”ňņő ”nŅ ő(”ňņő w›ņŐņ wņ livņ, woŐ—, ”nŅ (l”ǿ. ľo‹ņŌ›ņŐ, wņ offņŐ oōŐ Ōimņ ”nŅ ŐņőoōŐňņő ”nŅ ņnňoōŐ”‹ņ oŌ›ņŐő Ōo –oin ōő.
wi()in—tontrust.‹o) ”i()in—ton Trust is a re—istere› servi‹e )ark use› in ‹onne‹tion with various –i›u‹iary an› non-–i›u‹iary servi‹es o––ere› by ‹ertain subsi›iaries o– :&T 2ank 3orporation. ����� :&T 2ank an› its a––i(iates an› subsi›iaries. 1(( ri—hts reserve›.
wi()in—tontrust.‹o) ”i()in—ton Trust is a re—istere› servi‹e )ark use› in ‹onne‹tion with various –i›u‹iary an› non-–i›u‹iary servi‹es o––ere› by ‹ertain subsi›iaries o– :&T 2ank 3orporation. ����� :&T 2ank an› its a––i(iates an› subsi›iaries. 1(( ri—hts reserve›.
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B o a r d o f Tr u s t e e s President
•••••••••• •• •• •• •• •• •
Colleen Khoury
Vice Presidents
Gretchen Johnson Michael Johnson Mary B. Neal Breda White
•••••••••• •• •• •• •• •• •
Rick Abbondanza Lucas Desmond Vicki J. Gordan
Trustees •••••••••••••••••••••
Tony Alaimo
Sally Bancroft Talya Edlund Omar Hasan Peter Haynes Richard Kelly Holly Sargent Jen Segal Lendall Smith
Nate Stevens Wendy Suehrstedt Olivier te Boekhorst John Tanzer William Thornton Seth Webber April Ylvisaker Tardiff
P r e s id e n t ’s C o u n c il Sally Bancroft, Chair Jerry Angier Jonathan W. Ayers Ken Blaschke Stephanie Bowe Carole Case Harper Lee Collins Dan Crewe Susan Dench Austin H. Farrar Karen Foster
Vincent E. Furey, Jr. Deborah Galarneau Ed Gardner Gordon Gayer Janice P. Gerry Phyllis Givertz Jerome F. Goldberg Linda L. Graffam Peter Haynes Jerry W. Johnston Jeffrey D. Kane
James Karen Sally Ann Serunian Gregory Link Ed Simensky Senator George Mitchell Ann E. Spaulding Robert Nanovic Patricia Spock Kenny Nelson Carlyle Voss Leonard M. Nelson Kay Whitmore Mary P. Nelson Merle Nelson Verrill, General Counsel Elisabeth (Ellie) Osborn Herbert Paris John I. Riddle
D is t in g u is h e d S e r v ic e Tr u s t e e s Peter S. Plumb
Ad min is t r at ive S t a f f Senior Director
Staff
•••• • •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Carolyn Nishon, Executive Director
Directors •••• • •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
McKenzie Blanchard, Director of Learning &
Kayla Adelman, Marketing Manager Andrea Cole, Donor Relations & Database Manager Lucas Goodman, Music Librarian
Community Impact
Sarah A. McCullough, Graphic Designer
Allison Page, Director of Marketing & Communications
Hallie Pike, Operations Coordinator
Zoe Pancic, House Manager
Leah Robertson, Director of Development Jennie Ryan, Director of Finance
Sara Hallie Richardson, Annual Fund Manager
Eva Tartaglia, Director of Artistic Operations
Alyson Spencer-Reed, Finance Coordinator
Liz Shapiro, Production Manager Martin Webster, Orchestra Personnel Manager & Grant Writer Hillary Winslow, Special Events Manager & Board Liaison
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9/19/23 9:47 AM
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I N S P I R E YO U N G L I ST E N E R S
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As we approach our 100th anniversary in the 2024-25, consider either a one-season or multi-season gift. Join the journey towards this memorable milestone – and help us start launching what’s to come.
C R E AT E C O M M U N I T Y T H R O U G H S H A R E D M U S I C A L E X P E R I E N C E S .
FO ST E R A RT I ST I C E XC E L L E N C E
S U PP O R T TH E A N N UA L FU N D PortlandSymphony.org | 207.773.6128 ext. 174
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8/28/23 4:47 PM
Wo r l d - C l a s s P e r f o r m a n c e s & E x Tickets starting at $26 **
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PortlandSymphony.org
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Sunday Classical | Tuesday Classical | POPS!
SEPT 2023
Concert Sponsor:
OCT 2023
OPENING NIGHT:
VISUAL SOUNDS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 2:30 PM Eckart Preu, Music Director ChoralArt Masterworks George GERSHWIN: An American in Paris Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Serenade to Music Giuseppe VERDI: “Va, Penierso” (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) from Nabucco Giuseppe VERDI: “Coro di Zingari” Anvil Chorus from The Troubadour Modest MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. Maurice Ravel).
NOV 2023 Media Sponsor:
KINGS OF SOUL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22 | 2:30 PM Matthew Scinto, guest conductor Michael Lynche, vocals Chester Gregory, vocals Darren Lorenzo, vocals A dazzling performance honoring the kings of classic soul, including tributes to legendary artists such as Marvin Gaye, James Brown, The Temptations, and Al Green.
SYMPHONIC SEASONS
JAN 2023
FEB 2023 Media Sponsor:
Classical Season Sponsor:
Season Supporter:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5 | 2:30 PM Michael Cavanaugh, vocals and piano Your PSO and the charismatic Michael Cavanaugh honor the music of celebrated singers & songwriters such as Paul Simon, Neil Diamond, James Taylor, and more in this electric celebration of the American Rock & Roll Songbook. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12 | 2:30 PM Tito Muñoz, guest conductor Giora Schmidt, violin Juan Pablo CONTRERAS: Mariachitlán Astor PIAZZOLLA: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires Robert SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1, op. 38 (“Spring”)
MUSICAL LANDSCAPES
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17 | 7:30 PM Eckart Preu, Music Director Andreas Boyde, piano George ENESC0: Rumanian Rhapsody, op. 11, no. 1 Antonín DVOŘÁK: Piano Concerto, op. 33, B. 63 Jean SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2, op. 43
SINGERS & SONGWRITERS
WITH MICHAEL CAVANAUGH
Broadcast Partner:
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BEETHOVEN’S 5TH:
COMPOSITIONS OF RESISTANCE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 | 2:30 PM TUESDAY, JANUARY 30 | 7:30 PM Eckart Preu, Music Director Camille Thomas, violoncello Mykola LYSENKO: Overture to Taras Bulba Valentin SILVESTROV: The Messenger Fazil SAY: Never Give Up: Concerto for cello and orchestra
AMERICAN BEATS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 | 2:30 PM Marco Parisotto, guest conductor Pei-Ching Wu, percussion Leonard BERNSTEIN: Overture to Candide John CORIGLIANO: The Conjurer: Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra Aaron COPLAND: Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes George GERSHWIN: Catfish Row: Symphonic Suite from Porgy and Bess
2
xceptional Musical Experiences
207.842.0800
11 AM—3 PM *
MAY 2023
BROADWAY BY REQUEST
Eckart Preu, Music Director James Kennerley, organ Franz SCHMIDT: Intermezzo from Notre Dame César FRANCK: Le chasseur maudit (The Accursed Huntsman) J.S. BACH (orch. Stokowski): Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 Camille SAINT-SAËNS: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, op. 78 (“Organ Symphony”)
Dates, programs, and offerings may be subject to change.
This concert will be filmed for release on PSO TV.
TUESDAY, JUNE 18 | 7:30 PM Eckart Preu, Music Director Terrence Wilson, piano Ethel SMYTH: Overture from The Wreckers Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, op. 23 Leonard BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Dances, from West Side Story
|
THE MIGHTY KOTZSCHMAR
SUNDAY, APRIL 21 | 2:30 PM TUESDAY, APRIL 23 | 7:30 PM
RISE UP:
AN EXPLORATION OF IDENTITY AND QUEER VOICES
**Plus applicable service fees.
JUN 2023
PEPE ROMERO & MAHLER
TUESDAY, MAY 7 | 7:30 PM Eckart Preu, Music Director Pepe Romero, classical guitar Joaquín RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez Gustav MAHLER: Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor
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SATURDAY, MARCH 9 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 10| 2:30 PM Filippo Ciabatti, guest conductor Teri Hansen, vocals Destan Owens, vocals It’s Broadway your way! Your PSO performs a selection of classic and contemporary favorites—with a twist. Vote for what you want to hear in our survey sent prior to the performance to create the setlist YOU want to see!
Box office hous subject to change.
APR 2023
MONDAY—FRIDAY |
*
MAR 2023
|
JOHN WILLIAMS WITH ECKART
SATURDAY, APRIL 6 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, APRIL 7 | 2:30 PM Eckart Preu, Music Director Music Director Eckart Preu and your PSO honor one of the most iconic film composers of all time—the great John Williams. Experience his critically acclaimed works live, including selections from Jurassic Park, Star Wars, and E.T.
Portland Presents • Return to Index 33 8/28/23 4:46 PM
L IST EN L AU G H L EARN FOR ONLY $10 A TICKE T , treat your family to an unforgettable afternoon out with classical concerts conducted for children of all ages.
These 50-minute performances are designed to ignite your kids’ lifelong interest in the magic of live symphony music.
Arrive 1-hour early for pre -concert opportunities to connect with the stars on the stage.
J O I N YO U R P S O FO R FO R U P CO M I N G
DISCOVERY CONCERTS SYMPHONIC SUPERHEROES It’s a bird, it’s a plane… it’s your PSO! Soar through the skies and defeat evil villains as you find the hero inside. This musical celebration serves as a reminder that we all have the power to change the world .
UNDER THE SEA From the crashing waves on a beach to the unexplored depths of the ocean, get ready to dive in and be immersed in music inspired by our most valuable resource.
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS: REMIX Take a journey around the world in this twist on Camille SaintSaëns Carnival of the Animals. Experience musical styles from all seven continents as you meet the different native animals.
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Performances begin at 2:30 PM. Pre-Concert activites begin at 1 PM.
21 JANUARY
24 12 MARCH
M AY
MERRILL AUDITORIUM E c ka r t P r e u , M u s i c D i r e c t o r S u s i e P e p p e r, vo c a l s Magic of Christmas Chorus J a m e s Ke n n e r l e y, o r g a n
Sponsors:
Media Sponsor
Prev iew S how! F R I D AY, D E C E M B ER 8 | 2 PM Available On Demand: D E C E M B ER 16–J A N 8, 2024
Enjoy this cherished Maine holiday tradition (now in its 44th year)! Join your Portland Symphony to celebrate the season with Christmas classics new and old—including the beloved “Sleigh Ride”! B U Y T I C K E T S AT P O R T L A N D S Y M P H O N Y . O R G
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A Different Way of Looking at Things In business, you have a lot to keep your eye on. Sometimes it’s hard to see the opportunities and the risks clearly. That’s where Drummond Woodsum can help. We use a team approach – a small group of highly specialized attorneys focused on helping your business see what’s ahead before you take that next step.
dwmlaw.com | 800.727.1941
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~The Landscape Professionals~ Family owned and operated in Lisbon, Maine for over 45 years. www.DavisLandscape.com 1-800-675-4885 Voted “Best of the Best” 20 years running!
YOUR
LOCAL
INSURANCE AGENCY
HOME • AUTO • BUSINESS 2331 Congress St., Portland | 800.286.5352 www.CrossAgency.com Portland Presents • Return to Index
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Legal Guidance, without the Theatrics
Our attorneys have a combined 400 years of experience providing legal counsel across a variety of fields. We take the guesswork and jargon out of the equation, striving to empower you and your team.
MAKING WORKERS' COMP WORK BETTER SINCE 1993 38
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(207) 774-2635 perkinsthompson.com
MEMIC.COM
MAKING AN ENTRANCE A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE HEART OF PORTLAND
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CREATING THEATER Portland Presents • Return to Index
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OCT. 25 - NOV. 19
JAN. 31 - FEB. 25
MARCH 6 - 24
DECEMBER 2 - 24 *A Christmas Carol is not included in the subscriber package. 40
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APRIL 3 - 21
MAY 1 - 26
Ticket Options
Seated Subscription Same seat, every show As low as
$32 Per Show
BEST-SELLING SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE
JUNE 5 - 16
Flex Pass
Tickets that fit your schedule
Weekends as low as
$44 Per Show
35 Pass
Standard Ticket
Weekend matinees as low as
Weekend matinees as low as
Flexible tickets for ages 35 and under
$16 Per Show
Single-show purchase
$57 Per Show
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CREATING THEATER Portland Presents • Return to Index
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ON STAGE • JUNE 5 - 16, 2024 FOSTERING EXPERIMENTATION & ARTISTIC RISK
NEW WORK
Portland Stage is known for its role in cultivating new voices in theater and for creating a significant body of theatrical work that has gone on to success beyond our stage. By incubating new work and supporting writers, Portland Stage has established Maine as a place to launch original and compelling plays. Since its debut in 1990, the Little Festival of the Unexpected (LFU) has established a tradition of nurturing artists, invigorating audiences, and exploring new voices, visions, and forms of theater. Past LFU scripts include Almost, Maine (LFU 2003) and Papermaker (LFU 2014).
Playwright Benjamin Benne, 2022 Clauder Competition Grand Prize Winner for his play Manning, soon to be a Mainstage production. Benjamin’s play was selected to be a part of the 2023 Little Festival of the Unexpected, where it was performed for audiences.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CREATING THEATER 42
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INSPIRING LITERACY, CULTURAL AWARENESS, COLLABORATION, & CREATIVITY
EDUCATION
Education is central to Portland Stage’s mission. Vital education programs are offered in schools for students from pre-K through high school, and to children ages 4-18 through classes in our Susie Konkel Theater for Kids storefront space. Portland Stage’s Education Programs provide over 14,000 student experiences each year. PLAY ME A STORY, presented by Portland Stage Theater for Kids, allows participants to enjoy dramatic readings of picture books, then participate in an interactive acting workshop with professional theater artists.
Top Feature: Elementary students enjoying an in-school workshop. Above: Actor Nolan Ellsworth and students during an interactive theater experience at the Portland Stage Theater for Kids.
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HANDCRAFTED THEATER MADE IN MAINE
MAINSTAGE
With a season of six Mainstage shows, Portland Stage brings a wide range of performances to Maine. Every Mainstage show is handcrafted in our historic building in the Portland Arts District. Over one season, Portland Stage creates over 200 live performances and serves 50,000 people from around the state and beyond.
Photos from the 2023 production of Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas by Richard Blanco & Vanessa Garcia Top Feature: JL Rey (AEA) & Ashley Alvarez (AEA) Above: Dustin Tucker (AEA) & Karen Ball Side: Kevin O’Leary (AEA) Photos by NoUmbrella Media
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CREATING THEATER 44
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Discover luxurious comforters, pillows, bedding, sleepwear & more, with savings up to 70% at our Freeport Outlet Store!
554 US Route 1, Freeport | 207-865-1713 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm | Sunday 10am-6pm Facebook.com/CuddledownFreeport
Locally owned and managed, OceanView at Falmouth is just minutes from Portland, offering an independent, active lifestyle on 80 beautifully wooded acres and a heated four-season saltwater pool. You can enjoy maintenance-free living in a wide variety of cottages and apartments with peace of mind for the future. Call or visit our website today! oceanviewrc.com (207) 781-4460
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207.865.4519 | THOSMOSER.COM • 149 MAIN STREET, FREEPORT, MAINE
Gardens so stunning, you’ll give them a standing ovation.
M A I N E G A R D E N S . O R G B o o t h b a y ,
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M a i n e
There is an art to living well. INDEPENDENT LIVING AT THE ATRIUM is luxurious and carefree,
focused on wellness and personal growth, and filled with culture, activities, and friends. From farm-to-table dining to the saltwater pool, we give you the time to truly enjoy all Portland, Maine offers. Schedule your personal visit today! 640 Ocean Avenue, Portland, Maine (207) 221-7100 | thecedarsportland.org
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Shine Bright.
Portland • Scarborough • Augusta • cPortcu.org Federally Insured by NCUA
502 Main St Gorham, ME 04038 207.839.0441 Homeinstead.com/321
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Rowe Westbrook is proud to be a sponsor of the
2023-2024 Portland Presents program to promote
Northern New England’s Most Prominent Arts and Entertainment Organizations Rowe Westbrook 91 Main Street, Westbrook, Maine 04092 Tel. 207-854-2555 or 800-872-7693 rowewestbrook.com
Where learning is doing, and becoming.
MAINE COAST WALDORF SCHOOL 57 Desert Road, Freeport, ME MAINECOASTWALDORF.ORG
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HAMMONDLUMBER.COM
WHAT YOU NEED. WHEN YOU NEED IT. WHERE YOU NEED IT.
Scan to Experience HarborChase
ELEVATE YOUR LIVING SOUTH PORTLAND | (207) 900-1761
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Proud to support the communities we service. DeadRiver.com
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Proudly Supporting Maine’s Arts Community From your friends at
TAX | ASSURANCE | ADVISORY
Proudly Supports
Portland Presents MAINE | MASSACHUSETTS | NEW HAMPSHIRE
207 Ocean House Road (Route 77) Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 (207) 799-6952 | info@vrcce.com | www.vrcce.com
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Fogg’s Water Taxi & Charters Providing a variety of options — from private charters on our small boat fleet that can accommodate up to six passengers, to our two larger vessels that can hold up to 49 passengers, we also offer daily public cruises aboard our 49 passenger Joseph S. Kennedy. The perfect way to see Casco Bay. Give us a call to book your next charter. Foggswatertaxi.com
207-415-8493
explore portland’s waterfront views
433 Fore Street Portland, Maine 04101 207 775 1000
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Ideally located within Portalnd’s Historic Old Port, every Urban Home is steps away from a vibrant arts community, local boutiques, and nationally recognized cuisine.
thedocentscollection.com
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What kind of school knows that learning should spark joy? Hands-on learning personalized to each student’s passions and potential. Small class sizes filled with diverse perspectives. Trusted teachers and new friends. At Waynflete, our students love to learn. The joy of painting their self-portrait as an astronaut and building Mars rovers from recyclables in Lower School becomes, as they grow, the thrill of working with NASA scientists to identify and name real asteroids in Upper School. Visit waynflete.org to learn how a Waynflete education can unlock the world for your child.
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Building Maine’s Great Spaces.
10 Danforth Street Portland Maine 04101 207.773.3625 wright-ryanhomes.com
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“We are thrilled to welcome you back.”
Welcome home! As Portland Stage celebrates our 50th anniversary season, we are thrilled to share all that is new with you, our community. Our building is transforming! From the new elevator and lobby space, to a marquee that will enliven the streetscape, we’re creating a whole new look and feel for our home this season. We are “Making an Entrance” to better serve you. Thank you in advance for helping us navigate the new. We are celebrating this year with a blockbuster season. In keeping with Portland Stage’s own transformational journey, the characters in each of this season’s plays are moving through the process of change and discovery. We witness how life-altering events impact their futures in unexpected ways. As always, each production is made right here in Maine by an incredible group of dedicated artists and technicians whose creativity and passion connect us all to the power of live theater. We are thrilled to welcome you back.
Anita Stewart, Artistic Director CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CREATING THEATER
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Portland Stage Mission
Portland Stage is committed to creating great art, passionate about using the theater to educate, and dedicated to enriching our community. WE: • Engage, connect, inform: Through intimate, personal exchanges that can only happen in a live theater, we foster a shared empathy and sense of belonging. • Build community: We create productions from the ground up, combining local talent with artists from away: enriching both through lasting relationships and deeper understanding of each other and the world. • Evolve to stay relevant: We innovate, cultivate, and incubate new ideas on our stages, in our classrooms, and with community partners.
Board of Trustees Todd Nicholson, President
Samantha Bowen Sarah Campbell Susan Carter Peter Clough Scott Cowger
Fredric Farber Margaret Groban Amanda Hannan Edith Iyer-Hernandez John F. Leonard IV
Theresa McCarthy Alissa Conroy Morton Sara Murphy Carole Palmer Cathy Stankard Jane Stevens Robin Talbot Courtney Thorpe Nelson A. Toner Daniel Tucker Anne Wade
Pictured: Ray Yamamoto & Jim Shankman (AEA) from the 2022-23 Portland Stage production of Lauren Yee’s The Great Leap
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Portland Stage Team
LEADERSHIP Artistic Director ................................................................................Anita Stewart Managing Director........................................................................... Martin Lodish ARTISTIC • PRODUCTION Associate Production Manager • Sound Supervisor ............... Seth Asa Sengel Associate Technical Director ......................................................... Jacob Coombs Company Manager..................................................................... Jennifer London Costume Shop Manager................................................................. Susan Thomas Literary Manager ..................................................................... Todd Brian Backus Production Manager • Lighting Supervisor ............................... Mary Lana Rice Props Manager .................................................................................. Emily St. John Stage Managers....................................................... Myles C. Hatch & Meg Lydon Technical Director ................................................................................Ted Gallant ADMINISTRATION Apprentice Coordinators................................ Jennifer London & Julianne Shea Audience Services Manager............................................................ Donald Smith Box Office Assistant Manager .....................................................Renee Myhaver Business Manager.......................................................................... Paul Ainsworth Campaign Assistant................................................................................Allison Fry Development Associate................................................................Lindsey Higgins Development Director ..................................................................... Covey Crolius Education Administrator................................................................. Julianne Shea Education Assistant.............................................................................Isabel Bates Education Director.................................................................Michael Dix Thomas Front of House Associate .................Madeleine St. Germain & Shannon Wade Graphic Designer • Assistant Marketing Director...................James A. Hadley Group Sales Coordinator ............................................................... Myles C. Hatch House & Concessions Manager ......................................................Chris DeFilipp House Manager ...........................................................................Adam Thibodeau Marketing & Communications Director .......................................Erin Elizabeth APPRENTICES Company Management ....................................................................Lucie Green Costumes.......................................................... Crow Traphagen & Elena Truman Directing & Dramaturgy ......................Julia Jennings, Alex Oleksy, & Jessi Stier Education ................................................................... Ellis Collier & Ellery Kenyon Lighting & Sound.................................................................................. Claire Lowe Scenic Design ....................................................................................Isabel Martine Stage Management .......................................Katie Barnes & Elizabeth Sarsfield
BECOME A SUBSCRIBER TODAY Enjoy the BEST Seats at the BEST Prices!
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Become a Subscriber
Subscribers are the Backbone of Our Organization Providing ongoing support for the theater both within our community as well as financially. Seated Subscription
Flex Pass
Standard Ticket
As low as
Weekends as low as
Weekend Matinees as low as
Same seat, every show
$32
Tickets that fit your schedule
$44
BEST SELLER
Per Show
Per Show
Single-show purchase
$57 Per Show
Seated Subscription A full 6-show seated subscription, same days and seats throughout the season, plus the ability to exchange tickets if your plans change. Note: Previews are working performances before opening night.
Adult
PREVIEWS $191.48
EVENING $241.16
WEEKEND MATINEE $264.20
Senior
PREVIEWS $171.98
EVENING $216.60
WEEKEND MATINEE $237.29
(65+)
Flex Pass Subscription All the benefits of a seated package, with the flexibility to choose your dates and make your reservations as the season progresses. Choose a package of 4 or 6 tickets, or combine packages to see more of the season.
Adult
4-TICKET $177.80
6-TICKET $264.60
Senior
4-TICKET $163.74
6-TICKET $243.68
(65+)
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CREATING THEATER 60
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Benefits Comparison
Choose the best plan for you!
-
1
Misplaced or forgotten tickets can be easily reprinted at the Box Office on the day of the show. 2 Per-ticket price is lower than average single ticket prices and you only pay a one-time handling fee for each subscription package in your purchase. 3 Get access to reservations, exchanges, and additional tickets before shows go on sale to the general public. 4 The first exchange for each show is at no extra charge for a performance of the same price (i.e., evening to evening).
Pictured: Ezra Barnes (AEA) from the 2022-23 Portland Stage production of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure written by Steven Dietz, based on the original 1899 play by William Gillette and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
BECOME A SUBSCRIBER TODAY Enjoy the BEST Seats at the BEST Prices!
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Connect with Us!
Discover behind-the-scenes content and keep up to date about upcoming shows and events.
FIND US ON FACEBOOK PORTLANDSTAGE
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @PORTLANDSTAGECO
PORTLANDSTAGE.ORG
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CREATING THEATER
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Rush35 provides an affordable and inclusive gateway into live theater for audiences age 35 and under by offering low-cost rush tickets to ANY Portland Stage Mainstage production. 35 Pass
New this season!
$15
The 35Pass is a 6-show Flex Pass for Rush35 Members. Sign up today and discover the power of live theater!
Flexible tickets for 35 & under Weekend matinees as low as
Per Show
NEW!
plus a one-time $5 subscription handling fee
Rush35 Membership* Includes
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO MONTHLY PRE-PERFORMANCE PARTIES! These parties are a great happy hour and networking event for young professionals to meet before seeing our performance.
$20 SAME-DAY TICKETS TO ANY MAINSTAGE SEASON PRODUCTION! Tickets are available at the Box Office beginning at 12 noon on the day of the performance. (1 ticket per Rush35 member, per performance; must show ID at pickup)
*Season subscriber benefits only apply to 35Pass Holders
20
$
Tickets
JOIN RUSH35 FREE TODAY portlandstage.org/rush or call 207.774.0465
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Your Support Matters
Because each contribution is an investment to the arts Tax-deductible contributions keep Portland Stage a living, breathing, thriving theater, and ultimately ensure the fulfillment of our mission and the enrichment of our community. The generosity of individual donors, corporations, and foundations enables us to surround the work on our Mainstage with Education Programs, New Work Development Initiatives, and Community Engagement Events that deepen and broaden the impact of the shows themselves.
WAYS TO GIVE CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT RECURRING GIFTS COMPANY MATCH PLANNED GIVING
TO LEARN MORE:
PORTLANDSTAGE.ORG/SUPPORT-US Pictured: JL Rey (AEA) from the 2022-23 Portland Stage production of Richard Blanco & Vanessa Garcia’s Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas Señoritas.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CREATING THEATER
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Make it a Group Event
It only takes 10 people to receive a group rate for your visit to Portland Stage. With 10 or more people, we offer group discounts starting at 20% off the regular ticket price.
TO LEARN MORE: EMAIL AT GROUPSALES@PORTLANDSTAGE.ORG OR CALL 207.774.1043 EXT 304
Pictured: (front row) Elleon Dobias, April Lee Uzarski (AEA), Larry Tobias (AEA), (back row) Andrew Crowe (AEA), & Daniel Emond (AEA) from the 2022-23 Portland Stage and Maine State Music Theatre co-production of Smoke on the Mountain • Book by Connie Ray, Conceived by Alan Bailey and Musical Arrangements by Mike Craver & Mark Hardwick.
BECOME A SUBSCRIBER TODAY Enjoy the BEST Seats at the BEST Prices!
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Portland
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Educational Camps & Classes
The classes and camps at Portland Stage produce a safe environment for young people to find a higher sense of play, stretch their imaginations, and gain valuable social skills.
Serving children pre-K to grade 12 year round in our theater, the community, and schools. Past offerings included: Fall Afterschool Classes, Shakespeare Teen Company, February & April Vacation Camps, and High School Intensives. Visit Portlandstage.org/education to learn about our programs and how you can get involved.
Theater for Kids is made possible by the support & vision of Susie Konkel.
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DRAMATIC READING & ACTING WORKSHOPS SATURDAYS AT 10:30AM OCT. 14 - NOV. 18, JAN. 13 - MAR. 30 • AGES 4 - 10
New picture books & activities each week!
Theater for Kids is made possible by the support & vision of Susie Konkel.
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Your Safety Matters
To address safety concerns, WH Demmons updated our HVAC system to utilize bipolar ionization technology to deactivate harmful substances like bacteria, mold, allergens, and viruses.
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Discover More!
Created by the Portland Stage Literary Department, these extensive guides present a broad spectrum of information and perspectives on each play in our Mainstage season. Read more on our website Portlandstage.org
counselors-at-law LeBlanc Young Estate Planning and Estate and Trust Administration
Elizabeth T. High Abigail King Diggins Justin D. LeBlanc Matie B. Little Eliza M. Nichols Kristin P. Barry
Four Canal Plaza Post Office Box 7950 Portland, Maine 04112-7950 phone 207.772.2800 fax 207.772.2822 email info@leblancyoung.com
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Discussion Series Page to Stage
Join us for a book club discussion of the plays in our 50th season at the Portland Public Library. Portland Stage Literary Manager, Todd Brian Backus, will lead discussions alongside assistant directors, dramaturgs, and special guests. Scripts are available at the Main Branch Reference Desk at the Portland Public Library and take place in the Rines Room Auditorium at the following dates and times. Saint Dad........................................................................ Tuesday, October 10 5 - 6pm The Play That Goes Wrong .......................................... Tuesday, January 16 5 - 6pm What the Constitution Means to Me................................Tuesday, Feb 20 5 - 6pm Clyde’s ............................................................................... Tuesday, March 19 5 - 6pm Angels in America: Millennium Approaches ........Tuesday, April 16 from 5 - 6pm Manning...................................................................... Tuesday, May 21 from 5 - 6pm
The Artistic Perspective
Join us after the first Sunday Matinee of each production for a discussion with Artistic Director, Anita Stewart, as well as artists and scholars related to the production. These discussions are always free and open to the public, and attendees can join even if they didn’t attend the matinee itself. Check in with the Box Office for runtimes and try to arrive at Portland Stage about five minutes before curtain to join the audience after bows.
Curtain Call
Join us after the second Sunday Matinee of each production for a discussion with the cast of each show, moderated by Literary Manager, Todd Brian Backus. These discussions are always free and open to the public, and attendees can join even if they didn’t attend the matinee itself. Check in with the Box Office for runtimes and try to arrive at Portland Stage about five minutes before curtain to join the audience after bows. Pictured: Lizz Mangan, Hannah Cordes, Sam Rosentrater*, John Cariani*, Kathy McCafferty*, & Raymond McAnally* (* Member AEA) During Almost Maine Discussion (2020)
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CREATING THEATER
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24 COMING THIS SPRING
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OCT 25 - NOV 19
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“I’m reminded of how much success comes from trusting and supporting those around us, especially when things don’t go as planned.”
Welcome to our 50th season! We start this year with Saint Dad, a new Made in Maine play by Monica Wood. Watching the changes made during rehearsals, I’m reminded what a giant undertaking it is to craft a new work. As Monica has continued to finesse the text, working with a great team of artists, our entire space has been buzzing with creative energy. On your way to the theater you can see the results of work by Wright-Ryan and their skilled technicians who are in the midst of 2
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constructing our new entrance space. A piece of that work is the installation of a five-stop elevator which will make getting to the theater easier (as well as getting the couch you see on stage back to basement storage!). It is exciting to share that creative process with you. Being in the midst of these two creative processes, I’m reminded of how much success comes from trusting and supporting those around us, especially when things don’t go as planned. In Saint Dad, comedy grows from two families colliding in a world that has undergone change. It is only when they share “embarrassing” truths, instead of dancing around each other, that the group finds ways to pull together, and positive motion forward becomes possible. Saint Dad speaks to the world we are in right now: full of seismic shifts that feel impossible to address. It offers the suggestion that by starting in our own backyard and sharing and listening to those around you, we might make things right in our little corner of the world. So as we continue in transition, reach out to your family, neighbors, and friends, give grace and share in the struggles, look for bright spots, and think about what really matters most in life. None of us are perfect, but by supporting one another, we can get closer. To a bright future!
Anita Stewart, Artistic Director
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SAINT DAD Written by
Monica Wood
ON STAGE • OCTOBER 25 - NOVEMBER 19
SETTING
A recently renovated cottage on Greaney Lake in mid-October. This theater operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. *Members of the Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. **The Scenic, Costume, Lighting, and Sound Designers in LORT are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. ***The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society is the theatrical union that unites, empowers, & protects professional Stage Directors and Choreographers throughout the United States.
CAST
Suzanne Casey ........................................Jenny Woodward Bud Casey ....................................................... Liam Craig* Denise Thibodeau ......................................Moira Driscoll* Leona Williams ....................................Pilar Witherspoon* Thomasina Williams........................................Emily Upton Chummy O’Brien ..................................... Patrick O’Brien* Bambi....................................................................Moosie
ARTISTIC/PRODUCTION
Director .................................................................... Sally Wood Scenic Designer .................................................Anita Stewart** Costume Designer........................................... Michelle Handley Lighting Designer ..................................................Gregg Carville Sound Designer ................................................. Seth Asa Sengel Stage Manager ....................................................... Meg Lydon* Casting Director .................................................... Jenn Haltman Assistant Director/Dramaturg ...................................Alex Oleksy Production Assistant ...............................................Katie Barnes Light Board Operator ............................................... Claire Lowe Wardrobe .........................................................Crow Traphagen Run Crew .............................................................. Julia Jennings Run Crew Swings .............................Elena Truman & Alex Oleksy
Saint Dad is a Made in Maine Play and was developed here at Portland Stage. This production is the world premiere of this play and has been generously supported by a grant from the Moser Family Foundation. The video and/or audio recording of this live production by any means whatsoever are strictly prohibited.
Special Thanks: Adam Thibodeau
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MONICA WOOD, PLAYWRIGHT Monica Wood a novelist, memoirist, and playwright, who recently received the Maine Humanities Council Carlson Prize for contributions to the public humanities. Her award-winning fiction has been widely anthologized and translated, and her nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times, Down East, O, and many other publications. How to Read a Book, her sixth novel, will appear in June from Mariner Books. Her first play, Papermaker, debuted at Portland Stage with many subsequent productions in regional theaters. Her second play, The Half-Light, recently debuted at Portland Stage and is currently in production at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills. She lives in Portland with her teammate, Dan Abbott, and their cat, Susie. Monica sends huge thanks to the actors and other theater folks, especially Todd Brian Backus, who helped develop Saint Dad, and to Portland Stage for providing an artistic home. Experiencing the genius of Sally Wood for the third time is an unmitigated joy, and having Moira Driscoll in the rehearsal room again is as good as it gets. Thanks to Moira, Pat, Liam, Pilar, Jenny, and Emily for creating these characters with such love and surprise. And to Meg Lydon and our apprentices: without you this place would collapse into a pile of feathers. And our audience: thank you for coming back. We love you!
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195 Lancaster St. in Portland 740 Broadway in South Portland or online at twofatcatsbakery.com
DRAMATIC READING & ACTING WORKSHOPS OCT. 14 - NOV. 18 & JAN. 13 - MAR. 30 SATURDAYS AT 10:30AM AGES 4 - 10
NEW PICTURE BOOKS & ACTIVITIES EACH WEEK!
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SALLY WOOD, DIRECTOR
Can you believe that this is her third production with the great and mighty Monica Wood? When Sally is not directing, she can be found teaching people how to beat each other up—safely, as a fight choreographer. Sally is also an actor and is currently enjoying a stint as Professor Wood at Bowdoin College. Around town, Sally’s directing credits include AIRE, Bates and Bowdoin Colleges, the University of New England, the Theater at Monmouth, the Good Theater, Portland Theater Festival, and Fenix Theater Company. No stranger to Portland Stage, Sally has directed Doubt; The Drawer Boy; The Gin Game; Hidden Tennessee; Last Gas; LOVE/SICK; Veils; Dancing at Lughnasa; String Around My Finger; Papermaker; The Half-Light; Almost, Maine; and Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas. Much love and huge thanks to the excellent Tucker, Charley, and Matt.
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Proud Supporter of Portland Stage Company
Building Maine’s Great Spaces 207.773.3625 WWW.WRIGHT-RYAN.COM WWW.WRIGHT-RYANHOMES.COM
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PLAYNOTES PERSPECTIVES
AN INTERVIEW WITH PLAYWRIGHT MONICA WOOD & DIRECTOR SALLY WOOD Edited for Length and Clarity by Alex Oleksy
Assistant Director and Dramaturg Alex Oleksy sat down with the creative team of Saint Dad for a “Playwright Happy Hour” to sip on a “chewy cab” and chat about the creation of this Made in Maine play, which is the duo’s third collaboration at Portland Stage. Alex Oleksy (AO): To start things off, Monica, what inspired you to tell the story of Saint Dad right now? Monica Wood (MW): Well, I didn’t tell it right now. I’ve been working on [Saint Dad] for several years off and on. In fact, I actually started this play before I wrote The Half-Light. But then it was a big drought. I wrote that, and I actually wrote another book, and then I came back to it about a year and a half ago, but I didn’t know where to go with it. But Portland Stage is kind of my artistic home. So I knocked on the usual doors and wound up with the literary manager Todd Brian Backus, who is a really good dramaturg. And he read the script for me, when all I had was Act One, and it went nowhere. So we talked about it a lot over a few months’ time, and then I took another crack at it. And this is what it is now. That’s before Sally got her mitts on it. AO: Both of you are longtime collaborators with Portland Stage. What about this theater community keeps bringing you back? Sally Wood (SW): It’s just such a great place to be, especially with new work because with the Little Festival [of the Unexpected] often being the jumping off point for plays, it’s remarkable to see where they begin, and where they go after that. I always feel like we’re in the middle of the process. We will have this production, but then based off of this production, who knows how it will morph and what it will turn into. But Anita [Stewart] has always loved new work, and especially locally sourced. MW: I’m like a turnip. SW: She’s like a turnip. So I often think of Monica as my favorite turnip. But no, there’s a real commitment to [locally-sourced new work]. And that matters, I think, so that Monica can feel safe enough to come to Todd with something that’s halfway done. And say, “Here, is this something?” You can’t do that everywhere. Sometimes you feel like you have to really have the whole thing all figured out and perfected. And this is just not the case here. We’re allowed to be a little messy. Good thing. Darn good thing. AO: What has excited both of you the most about getting this play on its feet?
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PLAYNOTES PERSPECTIVES SW: I think what has surprised me the most would be how heartfelt the play is, and it’s funny. What’s remarkable about this play is that if you have humor, that’s your way into so many other things. I’ve been really surprised by how moved I have felt at several different moments. It’s really fun because all of a sudden, my breath kind of gets taken away. And I’m like, “Oh, wow. I am deep into this right now.” MW: From a writer’s point of view, there’s something really difficult, but also so poignant, at the point when I realized the characters have completely moved out of my head. They will live in the bodies of these people I didn’t even know a few weeks ago, and now they own these characters forever. I create them to a certain extent, but they don’t really arrive until the actors get a hold of them. They teach me everyday things that I didn’t know about the characters I wrote. AO: Saint Dad grapples with how our home can change over time, whether we like it or not. What changes have you witnessed in Maine while you’ve lived here? MW: Well, at this point, I have two hometowns. One is Mexico, Maine, which is where I was born Monica Wood, Sally Wood, & Alex Oleksy and raised and lived till I was a young adult. And then Portland, which is where I moved to from there. So, you know, my original hometown is, a mill town, and when I was a child, Rumford and Mexico had the highest per capita income in the state of Maine. And then I’ve been in Portland since 1977. When we moved here, my husband and I, it was a gritty waterfront town, and young people lived on Munjoy Hill. Our apartment was $168 a month. The apartment building right next door to [our old] building, just listed a condo for $3.45 million. So to say I have witnessed a lot of change in this town is a gross understatement. People I know whose kids grew up here can’t live here. And I think that should be the bar for a thriving city: if you grow up there, you can afford to live there. But that is simply not the case here. And we’re not the only ones obviously, it’s going on all over America. SW: I think a counterpoint to that is, yes, this should be a place where your kid should be able to live. But I also love the fact that in our own individual stories, when it comes time for us to sell, what are our priorities? Is it community? [Am I] gonna sell to the people who I feel like will honor the space, or do we sell to the highest bidder? I think when we get really quiet about that, sometimes the answer isn’t so great.
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DISCOVER MORE!
Created by the Portland Stage Literary Department, these extensive guides present a broad spectrum of information and perspectives on each play in our Mainstage season. Available for free online, or to purchase in the Lobby or Box Office! 84
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CAST BIOGRAPHIES Jenny Woodward (Suzanne Casey) Saint Dad is the first full play Jenny has done since she left the acting business years ago. After graduating with a degree in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University, Jenny was active for years in the New York and regional theater scene. She helped develop and performed in many new plays, including the title role in The Countess, based on the true love triangle of Effie Ruskin, John Ruskin, and preRaphaelite painter John Everett Millais. Having run for over two years in New York, The Countess closed at the Lamb’s Theater on 44th Street as the longest running off-Broadway drama at the time. Jenny also worked professionally in various regional theaters, including a 2002 world premiere at Portland Stage called Hallowed Ground. Shortly after, she left the theater business and focused her career on the visual and digital arts, but a move to Maine three years ago inspired a return to acting. She took classes and was cast as Zoe in Dimitria’s Kitchen, part of the Maine Playwrights Festival’s short play series. Now back in the rehearsal room – her favorite place – Jenny wonders why she ever left, and feels beyond lucky to be back “home.” Liam Craig* (Bud Casey) Broadway: Boeing Boeing (u/s; appeared). OffBroadway: Timon of Athens, Julius Caesar, The Killer (Theatre for a New Audience); Later Life (Keen Company); The Internationalist (Vineyard Theatre); Aunt Dan and Lemon (The New Group); Juno and the Paycock (Roundabout). Regional: Much Ado About Nothing (St. Louis Shakespeare Festival); Henry V, Seder (Hartford Stage); The Book of Will (World Premiere, Denver Center Theatre); The School for Lies, The Tempest, Servant of Two Masters, The Government Inspector (Shakespeare Theatre Company); Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Uncle Vanya (Weston Theater Company); (*Member of AEA)
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Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Servant of Two Masters (Yale Rep); The Lady From the Sea (Intiman). TV: Ripley (upcoming), Madam Secretary, Mozart in the Jungle, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Film: The Royal Tenenbaums. Training: MFA (NYU Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting Program). Moira Driscoll* (Denise Thibodeau) is thrilled to be working again with the dream team of Wood & Wood (Monica & Sally), after the Portland Stage world premieres/smash hits The HalfLight and Papermaker. Last summer, Moira worked with Sally on Body Awareness, the inaugural production of the Portland Theater Festival. Other Portland Stage productions include Last Gas, Peer Gynt, The Price, The Foreigner, Women and the Sea, Two Rooms, The Misanthrope, and A Christmas Carol. PS Studio Series: The Haunting Hour and The Haunting Hour 2.0 (director). SPACE: True West. Good Theater: Next Fall. NY Theater: The Builders Association, Playwrights Horizons, MCC, Naked Angels, NY Stage & Film, and others. Film & TV: Spotlight (Academy Award, Best Picture), I Care a Lot, Boston Strangler, Olive Kitteridge, Boardwalk Empire, The Devil You Know, Law & Order, Law & Order: CI, Stronger, Jungleland, and Heightened. Moira has worked extensively in the world of voiceovers (numerous national network campaigns), and has narrated many audiobooks and national museum exhibitions. She is featured on The Dark Tome and Undertow audio fiction podcasts (Realm Media), and X-Files: Cold Cases. Proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.
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(*Member of AEA)
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CAST BIOGRAPHIES Pilar Witherspoon* (Leona Williams) International Theater: The Doctor and the Patient, opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov. Broadway: The Father with Frank Langella. Off-Broadway: Lincoln Center Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, 59 E. 59th Street Theater, Cherry Lane Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Mint Theater, Dixon Place, and many others. Regional Theater: The Guthrie Theater, The Kennedy Center, The Shakespeare Theatre (DC), Center Stage, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, among others. Film/TV: Dr. Death, The Last O.G., New Amsterdam, Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector, Sneaky Pete, The Blacklist, The Good Wife, The Big C, Instinct, Blue Bloods, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Lust Life Love, Custody, The Taking of Beslan, Ten Stories Tall. Pilar has narrated over 200 audiobooks and has been nominated for the Audie Award, and has been awarded a Fox Foundation Fellowship. pilarwitherspoon.com Emily Upton (Thomasina Williams) is honored to be joining the Portland Stage Company community amongst such caring and wonderful people. A Portland local from the opposite coast, she is excited to explore “the other Portland.” You may have last seen her passionately educating through theater at the Bronx Zoo’s Wildlife Theater or bringing the colorful adventure of Maestro’s Magical Music Box Live! to the children of NYC. Other regional credits include Anybodys in West Side Story, Mercy Lewis in The Crucible, and the title role in Sleeping Beauty. A proud graduate of Wagner College. Utmost thanks to her incredible family.
(*Member of AEA)
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Patrick O’Brien* (Chummy O’Brien) returned to Minneapolis sixteen years ago after twenty-five years in L.A. and New York. He’s been in dozens of films including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Pleasantville, Stuart Little, Intolerable Cruelty, and Forget Paris. He got his first lead role in a film earlier this year, one of those “Hallmark-y” Christmas movies titled Rescuing Christmas, which will be released December 7th of this year. He’s guest starred in dozens of TV shows, including ER, C.S.I., The West Wing, Monk, Reba, Home Improvement, Married with Children, Sabrina, The Wonder Years, and Night Court, and (if you’re around 40) was Mr. Dewey on Saved by the Bell. Stage credits include shows with the New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles Shakespeare Festivals; the Pasadena, Cleveland, and La Jolla Playhouses; the Arizona Theatre Company, the Old Globe in San Diego, the Arena Stage in DC, the Guthrie, and many theaters in and around the Twin Cities. And for the last twelve years, he’s been touring his productions of Underneath the Lintel, Whisper Into My Good Ear, and Tom Stoppard’s Heroes. Thinking of you, Sue.
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(*Member of AEA)
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LAND & SLAVERY ACKNOWLEDGMENT We are creating theater on land that has been cared for by the Wabanaki. We honor their community and invite you to go to the Wabanaki Reach website to learn more about the Wabanaki culture, as well as about restorative justice and truth-telling that is necessary for healing. We encourage you to learn more about the peoples who cared for the land that you now reside on whether you’re from here in Portland or are visiting from away. For more information about the Wabanaki Confederacy, visit mainewabanakireach.org, and to find out whose land you are on, visit native-land.ca. We also want to acknowledge that the history of Maine is deeply connected to the institution of slavery in the United States, and that residents of Maine participated in both slavery and the transatlantic slave trade even after slavery was outlawed in the District of Maine. While it may be easy to think of Maine and more specifically Portland as a very White place, we recognize that this is simply not the case and we are working to dismantle these harmful ideas. We encourage our audiences to visit the Abyssinian Meeting House (learn more at abyssinianmeetinghouse.org) or the Eastern Cemetery here in Portland, and to explore scholarship on the subject, like Lives of Consequence by Patricia Q. Wall, to learn more about this oft-neglected part of Maine’s history. We recognize that the American Theater has also exploited, misrepresented, and excluded communities of Latine, Asian, Indigenous, and Middle Eastern descent for centuries. Portland Stage is recommitting to telling authentic stories from diverse backgrounds that all of our audiences can experience and enjoy. Portland Presents • Return to Index
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ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION BIOS Anita Stewart** (Scenic Designer) has worked as a set and costume designer at leading theaters across the country, including the Guthrie, Seattle Rep, Canadian Opera Company, Minnesota Opera, A.R.T., Steppenwolf, Hartford Stage, Dallas Theater Center, Long Wharf Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, Boise Contemporary Theater, New Jersey Shakespeare, and Portland Stage. Anita’s desire to play a meaningful role as an artist in a specific community brought her to Portland Stage as Artistic Director, a company for which she had previously done significant freelance design. Anita holds an MFA in Design from the Yale School of Drama. Michelle Handley (Costume Design) is so glad and grateful to be part of the Saint Dad team! It’s a joy collaborating with the lovely folks of Portland Stage, and she is humbled by, and happy for, the opportunity to do so. As well, she designs with Theater at Monmouth, University of Maine Orono School of Performing Arts, Good Theater, and Penobscot Theatre, and has coordinated wardrobe for documentary shoots for Smithsonian Channel and Hulu. Michelle is the blessed mum of Lydia and Ethan, and calls Monmouth, Maine, home. Gregg Carville (Lighting Designer) has worked with Portland Stage for many years. He is currently the Resident Technology Designer at Bowdoin College where he provides technological solutions to theater and dance productions. He has recently worked for the Portland Symphony Orchestra and Colby College, as well as various one-off events. Seth Asa Sengel (Sound Designer) Seth has spent decades making theater with creative souls all over our United States. He is glad to be home in Maine, and at Portland Stage, where he has collaborated on dozens of wonderful productions. Some highlights include Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas, The Cake, Last Ship to Proxima Centauri, Talley’s Folly, The Half-Light, The Haunting Hour, and Dancing at Lughnasa. For more about Seth Asa, visit: sethasa.com. Please be kind to each other, and to yourself. Much Love to Mary Lana.
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(**Member of USA)
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ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION BIOS Meg Lydon* (Stage Manager) is thrilled to join Portland Stage for a third season! Recent work has been at the Theater at Monmouth, Fenix Theatre Company, Dramatic Repertory Company, and Bates and Bowdoin Colleges. She also loves to spend summers at Chester Theatre Company in the Berkshires. Meg is a proud member of AEA and is forever grateful to Darren. Many thanks to Monica, the cast, and the entire production team – here’s to a great show! Jenn Haltman (Casting Director) is a freelance theater, film, and new media casting director. Previous PSC shows include Sherlock Holmes: The FInal Adventure, The Cake, Perseverance, and The Niceties. Regional theaters include Pig Iron Theatre Company, Hartford Stage, Gloucester Stage, Virginia Stage Company, Veterans Repertory Theater, and Sharon Playhouse. Films include Boy Meets Girl (dir. Eric Schaeffer), the awardwinning shorts “Behind the Wall” (dir. Bat-Sheva Guez) and “Someone Will Assist You Shortly” (dir. Jon Levenson), and the 2017 Sundance selection “Madeline’s Madeline” (Josephine Decker). As Co-Producing Artistic Director of Between Two Boroughs Productions, Jenn has cast and directed Cannibal Galaxy: a love story, Summertime, The Understudy, and most recently Trich. Previously, Jenn was the Casting Associate at New York Theatre Workshop (shows include Peter and the Starcatcher, Little Foxes, Aftermath) and worked with Page 73 Productions and Soho Rep. She is a proud graduate of Muhlenberg College. www.jennhaltman.com
(*Member of AEA)
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PLAYNOTES PERSPECTIVES GETTING OUT, THE PUSH FOR YOUNG MAINERS TO LEAVE WHILE THEY CAN By Jessi Stier
In Saint Dad, we see the Casey family grapple with the choice many of their friends and neighbors have made to move out of state. The looming lack of job opportunities, financial stability, and cultural/social initiatives statewide are pushing young people to move out of Maine while they can. In a study done by the University of Maine, onethird of graduating seniors cited a lack of jobs in Maine as a significant reason to leave the state. Further, when asked about their overall confidence in the strength of Maine’s economy to provide “a secure future for new college graduates,” 75% of the seniors said Maine could not offer them the necessary aspects of life to be successful and feel financially stable. Statistics like this have caused Maine to fall victim to “brain drain,” a term that defines the trend of talented individuals leaving their rural hometowns and states for larger US cities in order to better pursue jobs in their chosen fields. According to Catherine Reilly, Maine’s former state economist, state initiatives cannot undo an innately pessimistic attitude about youth lifestyle in the state, perpetuated by rhetoric in Maine schools and across the media. The departure of young Mainers is cyclical, and influenced by so many other factors, including personal perceptions of their role in Maine. Therefore, breaking this cycle has to start from within Maine itself: its values, messaging, and outlook.
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VACATIONLAND & MAINE’S HOUSING CRISIS By Julia Jennings
The housing crisis has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as the United States experienced mass migration from urban centers to less populated areas such as Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Approximately one-third of buyers and half of mortgage inquiries in the current Maine housing market are coming from out of state. Such high demand for limited housing resources has led to the current dramatic increases in housing costs. The median sales price for a home in Cumberland County saw an increase from $380,125 in September 2020 to $500,625 in August 2023. The Caseys, of course, serve as just one example of how the Maine housing crisis is affecting residents. And while the Caseys’ situation may not be as dire as those currently without housing, the play demonstrates how events like mill layoffs and automation are also forcing families to make difficult choices in the high-stakes market. Maine must grapple with the many implications of its contradictory identity as a charming vacation destination and a refuge for asylum seekers and the unsheltered, while also caring for its aging population of longterm residents. Can it do both, providing for its residents in need while also sustaining the tourism industry that has so integrally shaped the state’s identity? Can our state make good on its promise of “The Way Life Should Be”?
Read more in the Portland Stage PlayNotes Available for free online, or to purchase in the Lobby or Box Office!
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SCAN FOR TICKETS
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*A CHRISTMAS CAROL IS NOT PART OF THE SUBSCRIBER PACKAGE
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We love local. Local music. Local performers. Local theater. Local news.
Visit metln.org to learn about our network of independent local newspapers and our commitment to Maine. Portland Presents • Return to Index
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS WRIGHT-RYAN is known for their commitment to building high-quality homes throughout Maine. Just like building a fine home, bringing a play to life requires the imagination and skills of a dedicated team, from the playwright who puts pen to paper, to the designers who envision the set, lighting and costumes, to the carpenters, painters, seamstresses, actors, and artists who make it a reality. Thanks to the longstanding support of Wright-Ryan, Portland Stage is able to bring Monica Wood’s Saint Dad to life on our Mainstage. W.H. DEMMONS: TAKE A BREATH SPONSOR
SUPPORTING AIR PURIFICATION AND AIR QUALITY
A very special thank-you to W.H. Demmons for supporting our public safety! The HVAC system installed by W.H. Demmons utilizes bipolar ionization technology, which releases charged atoms that attach to and deactivate harmful substances like bacteria, mold, allergens, and viruses by pulling the hydrogen atom away, causing the harmful substances to die. Testing of the building’s system for effectiveness against the COVID-19 virus by two different independent laboratories, Analytical Lab Group and Innovative Bioanalysis, revealed that the level of the virus would be cut by 90% within 60 minutes.
Our corporate partners help us to enrich our community while positioning their companies as cultural leaders. Want to learn more about how a corporate partnership can benefit both your business and the theater you love? Contact Covey Crolius, Development Director, at 207.774.1043 x109. Saint Dad by Monica Wood is funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Generous support also provided by the Moser Family Foundation, Maine Theater Fund/ Maine Community Foundation, and the Shubert Foundation.
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2022-23 ANNUAL FUND SUPPORTERS Executive Producer ($50,000+)
Director ($5,000 - $9,999)
Edwin F. Gamble Bequest
Nancy J. Aldrich
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Foundation
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Producer ($25,000 - $49,999)
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Community Foundation Moriah Moser & Dan Morgenstern, MD Leonard & Nancy Nemon
Maine Community Foundation
Carole Ann Palmer
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Executive Director
($15,000 - $24,999) Libra Foundation
Demmons, Inc. Production Manager
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($2,500 - $4,999)
Moser Family Foundation
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($10,000 - $14,999)
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Trust Darrell Pardy & Carolyn Hughes The Performing Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation
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Pierce Atwood
Marta Morse
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Collins
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Gary E. Duford & Thomas L. Hinkle
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Douglas Green Jebediah Foundation
Investor ($500 - $999)
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2022-23 ANNUAL FUND SUPPORTERS Donald & Patricia Carter
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Richard Hanks & Virginia Mackey
Kari & Bob Suva
Mary Jane Hanneld
Louise Valati
Karen Herold & Mark Isaacson
Cheslye & John Ventimiglia
Helaine & D. Brock Hornby
Wigeon Point Charitable
Charles Johnson & Jean Appleby Johnson
Foundation Sam & Tracy Zager
Brigitte & Hal Kingsbury
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Marilyn Lalumiere & Ed Reed
Supporter ($250 - $499)
Greg Lanou & Tracy Skillin-Lanou
Anonymous (2)
Harvey & Pamela Lodish
Peter & Lyn Ballou
Martin Lodish & Kristin Schardt
Ben & Judy Bertram
Mark Love & Marcia Taylor
Gregory & Mary Caron
Emily & Dick MacKenzie
Pamela Cleghorn
Jerry & Liz Mansfield
Peter H. Clough
Rob McAfee
Jacqueline Cohen
Theresa McCarthy
Scott Cowger
Stewart Newell
Carol & Dick Davis
Sara & Michael Perfetti
Mary Ellms
Malcolm & Patti Poole
David Ertz & Carol Ryan-Ertz
Carole A. Pope
John Fay
Nancy & Frank Read
Dr. & Mrs. David Flavin
Dixon & Susan Myer Riley
Terry & Mandy Garmey
Lee Robbins
James Gertmenian & Susan King
Donald J. Rudalevige
Tom & Peggy Gilbert
Elena Schmidt
Margaret Groban & Larry Fischman
Curtis & Nina Scribner
Lisa Hangoc
Andre & Daniela Skalina
Peter Haynes
Joseph & Susan Spagnola
Bob & Marge Healing
Portland Presents • Return to Index
Roslyn & Steve Hershfield
Lance & Gina Vardis
Scott Horton & Leslie Richfield
Meg Thompson Villarreal
Tom & Laurie Hyndman
Nancy R. Wade
Stephen & Suzanne Irish
Randall Weill & Catherine Coughlin
Robin Ishmael Herbert & Kathleen Janick Bud & Wendy Kellett
Friend ($100 - $249)
Angus & Catherine King
Anonymous (5)
Dennis & Sandra King
Paul Ainsworth
David Kling & Kathryn Sanders
Jacqueline Alpert & Christopher Leighton
Neil & Cathy Lamb Sally Walker Madore
Robert & Linda Ayotte
Alice Moisen
Bob Bahm & Jan Baker
Rick & Debby Molander
Joseph & Mary Louise Bates
Susan Morris
Michael & Connie Beck
Jeremy Moser & Laura Kittle
Craig & Abigail Belanger
Richard & Sandra Neiman
Elizabeth Belliveau
Catherine O’Connor & John Kelly
Nancy Bogg & Mark Kiefner
Janet O’Toole
Chris & Stephanie Bowe
Rebecca Oreskes & Brad Ray
Jim & Sarah Bowie
James & Judith Parkhill
Nona & Doug Boyink
Dean & John Paterson
John Brandt
Charlene & Jerry Petruccelli
Emily & Norman Breitner
Hugh & Norma Phelps
Betty Bricker-Small & David Small
Orrin & Linda Shane
Jane G. Briggs
Rick & Celeste Shinay
Helen Brock & Doug Knight
Mary Snell & Irwin Novak
Susan Bruce & Rick Hauck
Betty & Barry Stallman
Dan & Dale Bryant
Ernie Stanhope
Allie Byers
Darwin & Kathleen Stanley
Priscilla Campbell-Wyman & Ross
Frank & Carrie Strasburger
Wyman
David & Kathleen Stuchiner
Robin and William Carter
Deborah & Hall Thompson
Paul & Stephanie Castle
Daniel Tucker
Jennifer Caven
Portland Presents • Return to Index
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101
2022-23 ANNUAL FUND SUPPORTERS
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102
Rae Clark-McGrath
Chris Hourcle
Andrew & Judith Coburn
Elizabeth & Christopher Hunt
Susan & James Cook
Al & Pauline Huntley
Ann Corbey
Vance Huntley & Jennifer Hitchcox
Mary Anne & David Crawford
Catherine & Matthew Hyde
Bill Cullen
Jack & Kenneth Jackowitz
Dick & Margaret Curran
Sandra Jensen & Samuel Broaddus
Richard & Judy Curtis
Allen S. & Sarah S. Johnson
Cara David
Patrick & Valerie Kelly
Jerry & Gretchen Davis
David & Linda Kirstein
Donna Deletetsky
Paul M. Knight
Mary Doherty
Dan & Stacey Koloski
Mary C. Doughty
Ken & Jean Kriedberg
Moira Driscoll & David Pence
Denise LaRue & Bob Furman
Mary Lou Dyer
Calien Lewis & Martha Mickles
Katherine Dyhrberg
Christine Linnehan
John Edwards
Burke & Judith Long
Michael & Jill Epstein
Benjamin Lund
Rich Evans & Jean Foy
John & Jane Lunt
Herbert & Alice Ferran
Chris & Carson Lutes
Deborah Wathen Finn
Karen Malm
Anne Fisher
Libby & David Margolis-Pineo
David Fluharty & Linda Hjortland
David & Jeanne Mason
Tom Ford & Mike Rodgers
John & June McClean
Susan Garfield & Lynda Mullen
Sheila McGarr
Leslie Gibbons
Susan & Frank McGinty
George & Martha Gilmore
Paula Gibbs McKenney
Phyllis & Bernard Givertz
Mary Ann McLean
Richard & Anna Hamilton
Sarah & Standish Meacham
Amanda Hannan
Joseph & Gloria Melnick
Ann Havener & Richard Estabrook
Nate Meyer
Marilyn & John Heise
Ellie & Charlie Miller
Janet Henry & Vernon Moore
Bernard Mohr & Karin Wagner
Stephen & Debra Honey
Bruce Moore & Jan Chapman
Portland Presents • Return to Index
Wendy Moore
Vicki Sullivan
Robert & Susan Nielsen
Kristin G. Sweeney
Erin & Jon Nitschke
Adam Thibodeau
Victoria Nolan & Clark Crolius
David & Holly Travers
David & Carolyn Sue Nutty
Patricia Vantuyl
John & Karen O’Brien
Elizabeth Walsh
Richard O’Meara & Christine
Deena Weinstein Susan & Francis Whitten
Bulsa-O’Meara Jackie Oliveri
David & Elise Wilson
One4All Charitable Fund
Judy & Norman Wilson
Jonas Oppenheim
David & Gail Witherill
David & Jacqueline Orsmond
Rick & Janet Wolf
John & Denise Palmer
Laura Young
Richard & Carole Palmer
Elliot Zeisel PhD, DF-AGPA
Larry Perkins
Margaret & David Zellinger
Norma Piper
Anne B. Zill
Hope Putnam
Bill & Patty Zimmerman
Lenore Rapkin Kathryn Reid & Hugh Tozer
In Memory of ($1000+)
John & Marsha Reynolds
Wendy DesAutels in Memory of Wil Meacham
Mathew Reynolds Erika Richardson Larry & Robin Rubinstein
In Honor/Memory of ($250+)
Stephen Ryan & James Bishop
Mathew Goldfarb in Memory of
Helen Ryder Paul & Penelope Sarvis Mike & Pam Schwotzer
Lynn Goldfarb Kathleen Silvia in Honor of Bud & Cheryl Higgins
Ellen Seidman
In Memory of Morgan Wakelin
Peggy Shapiro
Benjamin Weiss in honor of
Linda Shary & Jeffrey Logan
Julianne Shea
Fred & Viola Sheehan Sarah Smith Patricia Stevens Betta Stothart
Portland Presents • Return to Index
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Portland Presents • Return to Index