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The Durable Barflyby Kelsey Rain

directed by Autumn Tustin

University of IdahoCollege of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences

Department of Theatre ArtsMoscow, Idaho | Sept. 24, 25, 26

www.uitheatre.com

University of IdahoCollege of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences

Department of Theatre ArtsMoscow, Idaho | Oct. 1, 2, 3

www.uitheatre.com

My husband and I love listening to podcasts during long road trips. One day, we listened to an episode of Criminal covering the history of Michael Malloy - a true story of a barfly who worked in Tony Marino’s Speakeasy for drinks. We only heard the factual story and couldn’t stop laughing the entire ride. I fell in love with the story.

During these difficult times, we need laughter more than ever. How-ever, this dark comedy asks an important question: What are we willing to sacrifice for money?” Thank you for watching the show!

Kelsey Rain, M.F.A. candidate, Department of Theatre Arts

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORMESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR“Based on a true story” is always an interesting descriptor for a show. What exactly does it mean that the story is true? Were these people all there, did this sequence of events happen, or is it mostly a fairy-tale fiction with a few fun historical facts to keep us interest-ed and googling after it’s over?

When I first read the script for “The Durable Barfly” it felt unbeliev-able that the story could be true and yet, somehow, it is. (Spoiler alert!) Michael Malloy was murdered in 1933 after several bizarre attempts on his life by Tony Marino and his various accomplices. It’s an absolute tragedy, but to me, that isn’t the only “truth” of this show. Each character offers a glimpse into a different walk of life: a grocer with a family, a single female teacher, an immigrant sex worker, a bartender- they each have an entirely different set of life experiences, so how in the world do they all get involved in this murder?

Before 2020 if I’m really honest with myself I think it was easy for me to judge someone else’s guilt or innocence based on, well... unrelated factors. This person spent time in jail, so it’s likely they could have committed another crime. This person is a suburban house-wife, so it’s pretty unlikely she’d have anything to do with a crime. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it was an easier way to divide the world and make sure I maintained a safe distance from anything that felt “evil.” Over the course of the last year, however, a meta-phorical mirror was held up to all Americans and I realized that that “distance” I enjoyed was actually just masked complicity.

None of these characters start the show believing themselves to be capable of murder, and yet, through a series of small decisions, they are each culpable in some way. There is no real “bad guy” or “hero” in my opinion, there’s just ordinary people trying to figure out what they’re capable of, and it turns out- they’re capable of murder. You won’t see your-self in one character because I’m hoping you’ll see yourself in all of them. After everything that happened in 2020, we can’t believe that “evil” is just what happens across town, but instead, we must look inward and consider the ways in which we are participating in systems of oppression and inequity. Because yes, Michael Malloy’s death is a true story, but the more difficult truth for us to grapple with is our own complicity.

Autumn Tustin, M.F.A. candidate, Department of Theatre Arts

MESSAGE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHTMESSAGE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT

The play you are seeing is part of our “First Bite” series,

which provides emerging University of Idaho playwrights the

chance to receive development support in the form of staged

readings, workshops and premiere productions. The series

creates a unique space for playwrights to collaborate with

director, cast and crew and the audience in the journey of

preparing a work for the stage.

These readings represent an essential part of the early life

of a new play. Feedback from the audience is critical, there-

fore we invite the audience to a talk-back with the playwright,

director and members of the creative team directly following

the Friday and Sunday readings of the plays.

Thank you for joining us for this unique experience!

Robert CaisleyChair, Department of Theatre ArtsCollege of Letters, Arts and Social SciencesUniversity of Idaho

CASTCASTTony Marino..........................................

Michael Malloy.......................................

Francis Pasqua......................................

Daniel Kriesberg....................................

Joe “Red” Murphy..................................

Harry Green...........................................

“Tough” Tony Bastone............................

Joseph Magliari Magliano......................

Dorothy...................................................

Tadhana.................................................

Police Officer..........................................

EMIR DZAFEROVIC

COREY BOWES

TY HARRINGTON

ELI BAKER

MALACHI DODSON

BLAKE PRESNELL

BRENNEN COULSON

TUCKER HOLLAND

ALAYLIA NORTON

VEE CREASER

NICK HANSEN

THE DURABLE BARFLY THE DURABLE BARFLY by KELSEY RAIN

*Work on “The Durable Barfly” helps fulfill degree requirements for MFA Theatre Arts candidates.**Faculty

ARTISTIC TEAMARTISTIC TEAMPlaywright..............................................

Director..................................................

Dramaturg..............................................

Stage Manager......................................

Crew......................................................

Technical Director..................................

KELSEY RAIN*

AUTUMN TUSTIN*

SARAH ALICE CAMPBELL**

HANNAH VERDI

HADLEY CABITTO

JOSE AGUAYO MARQUEZ

RAMSEY MARQUIS

MICHAEL BRANDT**

BIOS BIOS (ALPHA ORDER)(ALPHA ORDER)ELI BAKER (Daniel Kriesberg) is a third-year Bachelor of Fine Arts performance candidate from Boise. Eli’s performed in the U of I’s “Gross Indecency” as a narrator and assorted lovers in “Sydney Mavor and Alfred Wood” and Caroler, Car-oling boy, and Father for “A Christmas Carol.” Eli is honored and happy to be a part of this reading project and would like to thank his family for the continuous support.

COREY BOWES (Michael Malloy) Corey is a third-year computer science major. This is his first production with the University of Idaho. He is happy to be a part of this production and hopes that everyone enjoys it!

BRENNEN COULSON (“Tough” Tony)is a third-year student from Boise, studying mechanical engineering at U of I. Previous productions he’s appeared in include “Babes in Toyland” by Jack Donohue as Roderigo and “Matchmakers” by Don Zolidis as Brock. Brennen can’t wait to get down and dirty as he plays Tough Tony in this production.

VEE CREASER (Tadhana) is a freshman majoring in pre-vet-erinary sciences at U of I, from Nampa. Some notable roles she’s previously played include Alice Sycamore and Rheba in “You Can’t Take it With You” and Joyce McGuckin in “The Sparrow.” She is excited to take part in this different style of performing, and is thankful to be a part of the Zoom pro-duction “The Durable Barfly” with such a talented group of people.

MALACHI DODSON (Joe “Red” Murphy) is a first-year student majoring in the-atre performance at U of I. Though his focus is in performing, he has done technical theatre as well. Some notable previ-ous productions he’s appeared in, include “The Servant of Two Masters”, “No Exit”, and a Zoom performance at North Idaho College called “The Few.” Malachi is extremely excited about being able to perform and be a part of this production of “The Durable Barfly”.

EMIR DZAFEROVIC (Tony Marino) is in his final semester, about to complete his Bachelor of Fine Arts in performance. Previously, he had the wonderful opportunity to understudy for the role of Tim Ward in “This Random World.” He is very grateful to be able to be a part of this production and see it come to life for the first time. He wants to thank his parents for letting him change his mind so many times, and still supporting him, and his sister, for sending him funny memes.

NICK HANSEN (Policeman) was born in Oregon, and grew up in Maine before earning his honor roles at Ellsworth High School. Nick worked in various theatre productions in Maine with many different directors and used his acting skills to work in a Maine anti-bullying commercial for Acadia Hospital Cares. Now studying at U of I, Nick has played roles includ-ing Peter Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol” and the Marquess of Queensberry in “Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde.” Nick is an avid theatre enthusiast who incor-porates voice, martial arts, and physical fitness training into his theatrical skills.

TY HARRINGTON (Francis Pasqua) s a junior Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate and transfer student from North Idaho College. Originally from Idaho Falls, he is excited to make his U of I debut. Career highlights include Lloyd in “Noises Off,” Mr. Reed in “These Shining Lives” and Orcus in “She Kills Monsters.” He is incredibly excited to help bring this hilarious new piece to life.

TUCKER HOLLAND (Joseph Magliari Magliano) is a junior Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate in performance and senior Bachelor of Science student in film & television from Mountain Home. This is his first year performing for U of I but he appeared in many shows in his high school theatre group, Encore Company. Tucker is excited to be able to work on this new work and hopes everyone enjoys it. He would like to thank his family and friends.

ALAYLIA NORTON (Dorothy) is a sophomore from Sun Valley, majoring in journalism and minoring in theatre per-formance and creative writing at U of I. Last year she was a part of “The Revolutionists” and can’t wait to see what other exciting journeys this amazing department will take her on!

BLAKE PRESNELL (Harry Green) is a third-year Bachelor of Fine Arts perfor-mance candidate from Hayden, Idaho. In his first year at U of I he had the amazing opportunity to be an understudy in the production of “Drowning Ophelia.” In his sophomore year he played the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and Fezziwig in the Zoom production of “A Christmas Carol” and appeared in “Gross Indecency” this last spring. He is so excited to be able to work on this hilarious new work. He would like to thank his family and his friends.

KELSEY RAIN (Playwright) has an Master of Arts in theatre and is currently working towards a Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in playwriting. She enjoys writing, directing, and performing for the stage. She’s acted and sang professionally throughout Idaho, but has recently turned her focus to play-writing. She is a member of the Shoshone Bannock tribes and resides in Blackfoot Idaho. She spends her time outside of the theatre teaching and coaching Speech and Debate or spending time with her husband and their five children.

AUTUMN TUSTIN (Director) is thrilled to be directing her first show at U of I! Having grown up just about everywhere, theater was something that always felt like home- it’s good to be back after such a long pandemic hiatus! Autumn is in her second year at U of I, studying in the Master of Fine Arts directing program as a distance student. Most recently, she was seen onstage as Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme in K&E Theatre Group’s “Assassins” in Northampton, MA and will be

backstage this fall working on “Babette’s Feast” at Taproot Theatre in Seattle. In the spring, she looks forward to directing at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho and returning to Massachusetts when the snow finally melts. Many thanks to: this wonderful cast for playing, impeccable production team for making us look so good, U of I for believing in her, and her husband Andy for listening to every bad creative idea while trapped in the car on a road trip across America.

HANNAH VERDI (Stage Manager) is a senior Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate in performance, and even though she is stage managing “The Durable Barfly” she is usually seen on that big bright stage! Some notable roles include Jo March in “Little Women,” Somebody in “Everybody” and Brenda Strong in “Catch Me If You Can.” Most recently, she won the national award for musical theatre from the Kennedy Center and at-tended a week-long intensive at Open Jar Institute. She is so honored to be a part of such a hilarious show and is excited for everyone to see it!

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program, is generously funded by DDaavviidd MM.. RRuubbeennsstteeiinn. Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Additional support is provided by The Honorable Stuart Bernstein and Wilma E. Bernstein; and the Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation. Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts. This production is entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The aims of this national theater education program are to identify and promote quality in college-level theater production. To this end, each production entered is eligible for a response by a regional KCACTF representative, and selected students and faculty are invited to participate in KCACTF programs involving scholarships, internships, grants and awards for actors, directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, designers, stage managers and critics at both the regional and national levels. Productions entered on the Participating level are eligible for invitation to the KCACTF regional festival and may also be considered for national awards recognizing outstanding achievement in production, design, direction and performance. Last year more than 1,500 productions were entered in the KCACTF involving more than 200,000 students nationwide. By entering this production, our theater department is sharing in the KCACTF goals to recognize, reward, and celebrate the exemplary work produced in college and university theaters across the nation.

“Macbeth: Alba Gu Brath” by William ShakespeareAdapted & edited by Rachael Forn-arotto, KT Turner, MFA CandidatesDirected by KT Turner

7:30 p.m., Oct. 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 24 Hartung Theatre | 625 Stadium Way | Tickets: www.uidaho.edu

Biochemical warfare ravages through a free an independent Alba (Scotland), but a different contagion plagues the country and its people. What is foul? What is fair? And who is really in charge? “Macbeth: Alba Gu Brath” is an adaptation that is firmly rooted in the Scottish and Celtic identities. Introduc-ing characters such as The Morrígan and the Three Morrígna, this horror play is an ode to the Scottish culture.

Warning: This play is not suitable for younger audiences. The play includes imag-es of death, suicide and substance abuse. Parental guidance and viewer discre-tion strongly advised.

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