in partnership with Hug High School presents by A. R. Gurney, Jr. directed by Tony DeGeiso and Starring

Transcription

1 Reno Little Theater in partnership with Hug High School presents g{x ZÉÄwxÇ Tzx by A. R. Gurney, Jr. directed by Tony DeGeiso and Starring Harriet Beaman, Paul Dancer, and Kristen Davis-Coelho January 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 and February 1 at 8:00 pm January 26 and February 2 at 2:00 pm 2003 Produced by special arrangement with The Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

2 g{x ZÉÄwxÇ Tzx The Golden Age takes place in a once-elegant townhouse in Manhattan, the home of Isabel Hastings Hoyt, an aging but still charming recluse who had been a glittering figure in the literary salons of the 1920s. Now short of money, Mrs. Hoyt is concerned about the future of her granddaughter Virginia, a twice-divorced near alcoholic whom she hopes to see securely married before she herself, as she puts it, "kicks the bucket." In earlier years, Mrs. Hoyt was friend and confidant of many world figures, especially F. Scott Fitzgerald who, it is rumored, used her as the model for Daisy in The Great Gatsby. This leads Tom, an ambitious young academic, to seek her out. Tom believes that Mrs. Hoyt possesses an unpublished chapter from Gatsby which depicts passionate lovemaking between Gatsby and Daisy, a literary treasure which he is determined to procure no matter how devious the means. This obsession sets up the increasingly complex and perilous relationships between the three protagonists. The play is set in the front room of the second floor of a brownstone house on the upper East Side of New York during the 1970s. Act I Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 4:00 in the afternoon on a fine spring day 2:00 PM the next day 4:00 PM several weeks later Ten-minute Intermission Act II Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Later the same night Afternoon, six weeks later Later that night Afternoon, a month later Other plays by A. R. Gurney, Jr. include Sylvia and Love Letters.

3 Cast (in order of appearance) Virginia Kristen Davis-Coelho Tom Paul Dancer Isabel Hastings Hoyt Harriet Beaman Behind the Scenes Director Tony DeGeiso Assistant Director Sam Coleman Stage Crew Diana Davis, Tony Sambrano Set Construction Harriet Beaman, Diana Carter, Sam Coleman, Paul Dancer, Kristen Davis-Coelho, Tony DeGeiso, Diane Nichols, Michael Peters, Anne Swewart Costumes, Set Dressing Anne Stewart Special Thanks Debbie Feemster, Principal; Jim Studer, Vice Principal; and Keith Roberts, Theater Director, all with Hug High School, for their support of this performance. Kevin Sak edited our music and KOLO News Channel 8 s Brent Boynton recorded the voice of the radio announcer. Diane Nichols provided some of the furniture. Volunteer Power Reno Little Theater's family of volunteers helps keep the organization running smoothly. They greet you as ushers and box office personnel, mail you newsletters, build the scenery, costumes, and props, and operate the light and sound boards, among many other tasks, both pleasant and dull. They are, singly and taken together, pearls beyond price. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY THEATRE

4 Biographies Cast Kristen Davis-Coelho (Virginia) has been performing and studying theater for eighteen years. She has been involved with Reno Little Theater for the past four seasons, and won Blythe Awards in 2000 and 2001 for her roles in Jake s Women and Lost in Yonkers. Most recently, Kristen performed in The Laramie Project with the Nevada Repertory Company. By day, Kristen is a psychologist at Washoe Medical Center. Paul Dancer (Tom) is a graduate of California Institute of the Arts. Paul has acted in movies, such as Armed and Dangerous, Raging Bull, and The Boys Next Door, has done Stand-Up during his years in Los Angeles (he opened for one of the few live Spinal Tap shows), and has had many different local TV and radio shows around the country (Zomboo s House of Horror Movies comes to mind). Paul has done many mystery dinners with Fun Time Theatre, and is currently a member of The Tahoe Improv Players (you know, like Whose Line is it Anyway?). Paul has tried to hold down regular office jobs, but most of his supervisors have said he is just too wacky or weird. Harriet Beaman (Isabel Hastings Hoyt) has been a regular performer at RLT for the past seven years. Her first role was a nameless crazy lady in The Time of Your Life. Her last role was a gorgon in The Importance of Being Earnest. Over the seven years, Harriet has accumulated five Blythe Awards, four for acting and one for directing. She is thrilled to be in this production with such lovely people. In real life, Harriet is a nurse, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandma! Director Tony DeGeiso started his acting career in 1981 as a singing waiter. He received training in acting and directing from the Manteca Community Theatre and the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. A familiar name to Reno theater-goers, Tony has directed more than 20 plays and performed in at least as many during his eight years in Reno. He is also an accomplished musician. Tony is employed as a sales planning manager for SBC.

5 Working Under Lights We take theater lights for granted, but there is more to the art than first meets the eye. Stage lights are particularly uncomfortable for the actors. To be seen in their best light, so to speak, the glare of the lights must be in their eyes and the heat on their faces. In fancy theaters, with moving lights, the light operator can follow the performer. On stages with fixed lights, actors must find their light. It seems natural to position oneself in the middle of the bright spot on the stage. However, with lights positioned above and in front of the stage, the bright spot is right only for tap dance performances. The actor must move forward, down stage, to find the most uncomfortable position with the light on his or her face. The light operator must be ready to adjust the lights as needed when the performers find the wrong light. It s not easy for the light operator either. Powerful stage lights take time to heat up, so the light comes on slowly. For rapid scene changes, the operator has to anticipate what is needed to have the lights up in time. Actors need to learn, too, that the lights cool off slowly, and they can be seen on stage during the after glow as the lights cool. Shows like The Golden Age are simple, from a lighting point of view; the stage lights are either on or off. RLT s Back to Bacharach and David, for example, was more complicated, with different light requirements for each song. The lights also changed during the songs. In earlier years, light operators had to adjust lights individually, manipulating dozens of controls, or deal with bulky arc lights manually. Modern light boards still have many controls, but they can be programmed to initiate complex lighting changes with single commands.

6 Reno Little Theater Board of Directors Chairman Diana Carter Vice-Chairman Diane Nichols Secretary Julie Douglass Financial Secretary Carol Pevney Board Members Jack Beaman, Sam Coleman, Paul Dancer, Paula Kennedy, Shelly Lescott, Judy Mosher, Candace Wheeler Message from the Board of Directors Welcome to RLT! If you've seen us before, thanks for your continued support we depend on it. If you've not been to RLT before, we hope you enjoy what you see and urge you to become involved. RLT exists only through the unselfish giving of our members in time and/or money. In 1935, in the midst of a world-wide depression, Reno Little Theater was founded by Ed Semenza, and several like-minded theater aficionados, with the goal of producing plays for their own satisfaction and to entertain area residents. We are now in our 68th year of continuous performances. RLT remains a community theater, open to all, and provides the pleasure of working towards a creative goal with like-minded people. Theater is a magical, transporting and, ultimately, learning art form for which there is no substitute. Live theater the interaction of actor and audience is an experience unparalleled by film or video, allowing all participants the freedom to develop a point of view.

7 A Lifetime of Memories RLT Life Members are listed below. We thank them for their continuing interest. Frank Bender Peter S. Bing Mrs. Karl Breckenridge Mrs. Robert Brigham Mrs. Louise Carll Diana Carter Lester Conklin, Jr. Gregory D. Corn, Esq. Mr. & Mrs. Wm. K. Cowan III Mr. & Mrs. Ken Cusick Countess Angela Dandini Mrs. Jack Douglass Robert & Kathy Easly John Flanigan Robert & Cathy Gabrielli Kirk Gardner & Julie Douglass Bert Goldwater Mr. & Mrs. Robert Gorrell Art & Caryn Hawman Mrs. Helen Heppner Patrick & Mary Hughes Mrs. Martin Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Larry Kirk Joan Long Mrs. E.F. Loomis Mrs. Eve Loomis Mr. George Manilla Mrs. H. E. Manville Dr. & Mrs. Thomas McCleary Mrs. Rollan Melton Mrs. Fran Merrell Mrs. John Morrison Mrs. Lilika Newman David & Kelly Radu Mr. & Mrs. George Randolph Mrs. Warren Richardson Mrs. Sidney Robinson Ella Savitt Mrs. Edwin Semenza Carl Shelly Donald Stanke Anne Stewart Mrs. Joyce Sweger Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Tedford Mrs. Hewitt C. Wells Mrs. Loring Williams Mrs. Emerson Wilson James & Dani Woods UNR s Nevada Repertory Company celebrates Reno Little Theater and its 68th Season Want to see more theater? Give us a call at February 28, March 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 at 7:30 p.m. March 9 at 1:30 p.m. in the Redfield Studio Theatre Escape From Happiness by George F. Walker directed by Sue Klemp A wonky comedy from English Canada's most celebrated playwright which paints an all too accurate picture of family life in our insane, out-of-control, disconnected world. A family of grown children, a mother who tries to hold things together, and a father (or is he?) doing his best to reform himself and the family he nearly destroyed. Complete with cops and robbers, the story is part mystery and partly how dysfunctional families REALLY approach healing.

8 The Reno Little Theater Season RLT s 68th season continues with: Taking Steps (modern English farce) March 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29,30 For group tickets, call the theater office at or ask at the box office. We originally planned to present Proof as the last play of the season. However, Proof is still running on Broadway, so we have moved it to our next season. To round out this season, we will perform Deathtrap, based on the movie starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeves. We are sure that you will enjoy this gripping thriller. DSL Fastest Speeds Available ADSL, SDSL, IDSL, T-1 and Beyond DIAL UP ACCESS As Low as $9.95 Roaming Available WEB HOSTING/DESIGN E-Commerce Business Solutions Boost Sales Expert Design Team Available COLOCATION Your Server at Our Facility Dedicated Connection Secure Location LONG DISTANCE As Low as 2.5 cents, anytime minutes International Rates Available EXTRAS Spam Filter Remove those unwanted s Packaged Deals Available