in partnership with Hug High School presents Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Transcription

1 Reno Little Theater in partnership with Hug High School presents Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

2 Scenes Act I Scene 1 - Canterbury Cathedral, then King Henry s Palace Scene 2 - King Henry s Council Chamber Scene 3 - The Forest, then a Saxon Hut Scene 4 - Becket s Palace Act II Scene 1 - A Forest in France Scene 2 - A Street in France Scene 3 - A Cathedral in France Intermission Act III Scene 1 - King Henry s Palace Scene 2 - The Episcopal Palace Scene 3 - King Henry s Palace Scene 4 - The Court of Louis, King of France Scene 5 - A Convent Cell ACT IV Scene 1 - The Court of Louis, King of France Scene 2 - The Plain of La Ferte Bernard in France Scene 3 - King Henry s Palace Scene 4 - Canterbury Cathedral Special Thanks Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services for the loan of the scaffolding Mark Wilkerson for help with the scaffolding Mark Vucovich for tomb construction Carolyn Wray of TMCC Drama Dept., UNR Costume Shop, Brüka Theater, and the SPCA for loans of costumes, props and set pieces

3 King Henry II Thomas Becket Archbishop Folliot, Bishop of London Soldier 1 st Baron 2 nd Baron 3 rd Baron Saxon Father Saxon Girl Saxon Boy Gwendolen French Girl Young Monk Queen Mother Young Queen Prince Henry Monk King Louis of France French Baron Director Assistant Director/Stage Manager Executive Producer Producer Set Design Cast Behind the Scenes Sound Design Lighting Design Costumes Set Construction Poster and Program Art Michael Peters Jorge Hoyos Dale Fast Dan Morgan Jeff Chamberlin Colin Coate Kevin Taylor Jerold Steven McCarty, Jr. Sam Coleman Camille Abelow Owen Bryant Annikki Larsson Camille Abelow Ashley Osborne Nancy Podewils Kathleen Sharkey-Brockmeier Evan Gadda Owen Bryant Dale Fast Owen Bryant Holly Natwora Mona Young-Quinby Doug A. Mishler Nancy Podewils Lew Zaumeyer and Holly Natwora Gabriel Plank Doug A. Mishler Diana Carter, Cast and Crew Doug A. Mishler, Don Brochu and Matt Geiger (Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services) Andrew Mowers

4 Cast Biographies Camille Abelow (Saxon Girl, French Girl) Camille almost didn't get a chance to work with this wonderful cast, and she was desperate to reunite with Holly and Jorge, with whom she worked in A Doll's House. She cannot begin to tell how thrilled she is to be part of this amazing production. Owen Bryant (Saxon Boy, Monk, French Baron) Owen has loved doing theater since his childhood. He has studied acting in school and has performed in a few local productions, including playing The Emcee in Cabaret (TMCC). This is his first experience with Reno Little Theater. Jeff Chamberlin (Soldier) This is Jeff s second stage appearance with RLT, having recently played several roles in The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Jeff also serves on the RLT Board of Directors. He hopes all of you will consider supporting us as we work toward building our new theater this year. Colin Coate (1st Baron) Colin is happy to be returning for his fourth show with RLT. Most recently he appeared in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, for which he received the Blythe Award. He has also worked with Nevada Rep, TMCC, the Brewery Arts Center and others. He looks forward to many more shows. Sam Coleman (Saxon Father) Finally, a part Sam might be able to remember: two lines with ten words. When not memorizing lines, Sam has done just about everything in the theater construction, destruction, stage crew, tech operator, director, board member and chairman, hauling, webmaster, cleaning, etc.

5 Dale Fast (Archbishop, King Louis) Dale is happy to be back at RLT working with Holly and this great cast, having recently been in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and previously Bus Stop and Henry V. Dale has also been seen in The Weir and Nuts (TheatreWorks), Reefer Madness (Brüka), and The Grapes of Wrath (TMCC) Evan Gadda (Prince Henry) Evan returns to RLT directly from the critically acclaimed Nuts which he directed for TheatreWorks. He would like to dedicate this show to his student Adam Semus, who has shown what a true student is. Reach for the stars, Buddy, this is for you! Jorge Hoyos (Thomas Becket) Performing in his fourth production with RLT, Jorge is deeply proud and honored to be part of bringing Becket to Reno. He believes this timeless play speaks to contemporary audiences about current and relevant issues. Jorge last appeared for RLT in The Hollow and A Doll s House. Acting for Brüka Theater, he most recently appeared in Steambath, Cloud Nine, and Italian American Reconciliation. Jorge dedicates this work in loving memory of his dear friend, Maxie. Annikki Larrson (Gwendolen) Annikki discovered the magic of theatre at the tender age of 5 and has never shaken the bug! She s been seen in over 30 shows across the West Coast, most notably in Vegas as Honey in...virginia Woolf?, Bianca in Othello, and as Linda in RLT's The Bug. She is grateful and inspired to work with such a talented, passionate, diverse group of bohemians in such a rich play! Jerold Steven McCarty Jr. (3 rd Baron) Jerold first became enthralled with the arts while playing various roles in children's theater productions. A trained linguist, arm chair musician and vocalist, he loves brogues, ethnic voicings, cycling and long walks on the beach while picking up after his Border Collies, Cramer and Roweena.

6 Dan Morgan (Folliot) Dan comes to Reno Little Theater from the Gold Hill Theater Troupe and Nevada Shakespeare Company. He has appeared in productions of As You Like It, The Sunshine Boys, Much Ado About Nothing, and Oliver!, among others. Ashley Osborne (Young Monk) Ashley, a newcomer to RLT, has acted with companies in New York, Arizona and Reno. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this cast and has enjoyed every moment! Her credits include You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Little Shop of Horrors. Ashley hopes that she isn't mistaken for a boy outside of the theatre! Michael Peters (King Henry II) Now in his 14th year with RLT, Michael most recently directed Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and appeared as Teller, Groves and J. Edgar Hoover in The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer. A multiple Blythe Award winner, his credits include roles in Wrong Turn at Lungfish, The Hollow, Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar & Grill, and Death Trap and direction of The Odd Couple and Henry IV. Off-stage, he is an administrator at UNR s graduate school, and the happy husband of Diane. Nancy Podewils (Queen Mother) This is Nancy s third acting role (and sixth stint as producer) for RLT. A clinical social worker, RLT Board Member, and community volunteer in real life, she is thrilled to be part of this wonderful production! Kathleen Sharkey-Brockmeier (Young Queen) Kathy has been doing theater since she was 11, and has been with RLT since 1992 s Grease (Rizzo). Over the ensuing 16 years, she has played Kate in Taming of the Shrew and Renfield in Dracula. She hopes you enjoy Becket, for without you there is little point in us being here!

7 Kevin Taylor (2 nd Baron) Kevin is returning to the stage after a long absence (rumors of his doing productive work during this absence are completely false). He is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a wonderful cast and crew. Director Biography Holly Natwora Holly is very pleased to be directing Becket for Reno Little Theater. This marks Holly s directing debut here in Reno and there couldn t have been a better venue on which to cut her teeth. Most recently, Holly has appeared on the stage at the Brüka Theatre in An Italian American Reconciliation, Fat Men in Skirts, and The Birthday Party. Holly became involved with RLT two years ago when she played Nora in our production of A Doll s House and hopes to continue acting and directing for RLT in the future. Thank you, Jorge. Director s Notes Becket tells the story of the troubled relationship between Thomas Becket and Henry Plantagenet, known to history as King Henry II of England. In an act of political maneuvering, Henry names Becket Archbishop of Canterbury, causing a rift in their relationship as Becket s loyalties shift from Henry to God. Although Becket begins the play as a man without honor, he closes the play as a man who dies to defend God s honor. It is as a martyr that Becket finds his life s purpose and his place in history. As our western world spirals toward another holy war, I believe that the prominent themes in Becket are relevant to today s audience, especially the themes of separation of church and state and the idea of a responsibility to the greater good (rather than the focus on personal success, which has been at the center of American society since the end of the 1960s). Although Becket takes place in England during the twelfth century, I have staged the play to reflect a certain timelessness, for it is a story that could have happened anywhere in the world at any time in history. Ultimately, it is a human story. In fact, it is the most basic of human stories, one that we all must grapple with at some point in our lives, as we search for the meaning of our existence and our relationship to the one who knows the answer. Holly Natwora

8 DON T MISS A SINGLE SHOW IN RENO LITTLE THEATER S 74TH SEASON! Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl February 6-8, 13-15, The myth of Orpheus seen through the eyes of its heroine. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. Contemporary characters and ingenious twists make this a fresh look at a timeless love story. Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott April 3-5, 10-12, A Broadway hit, this masterfully constructed thriller involves a mysterious doll, two ex-convicts, a con man, a resourceful blind woman and a young girl, moving from one moment of suspense to another and building to an electrifying final scene. Love Song by John Kolvenbach May 29-31, June 5-7, Beane is an exile from life, an oddball. Following the burglary of his apartment, his well-meaning sister Joan is baffled to find him blissfully happy, and tries to unravel the story behind her brother s mysterious new love. RENO LITTLE THEATER P.O. Box 7071 Reno, NV