It’s Only a Playby Terrence McNally

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Program November 6-23, 2019

It’s Only a Play is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

Whitby Centennial Building, 416 Centre Street South | 905.668.8111

whitbytheatre.ca

Whitby Courthouse

TheatreBoard of DirectorsPresident ......................EDWARD NILESVice-President ........... MARK RITTINGERTreasurer ...............BRANDON RIDEOUT Secretary .....GENEVIÈVE HÉBERT-CARRExecutive Producer ..HEATHER DOUCETTEArtistic Director ............. SHAEL RISMANFront of House .......CHARLON BRUNERMarketing/Publicity ....SHARON BERMANYouth Group ................. NICOLE VEZEAU

Department ManagersBox Office .........................TRACY SAVAGEOffice ...................................................VACANTProps ......................HEATHER DOUCETTE

SUSAN WABBTechnical ....................................ALEX KONCWardrobe .......................DONNA GUNTERWebmasters .....................EDWARD NILES

BRANDON RIDEOUTWorkshop ........................... CHRIS SAVAGE

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O N T A R I O • C A N A D A

Whitby Courthouse Theatre would like to thank the Town of Whitby and the Grants Review Committee

for choosing to support our investment in upgraded lighting equipment through the Performing Arts Community

Development Fund. Their generosity is greatly appreciated.

It’s Only a Playby Terrence McNally

Whitby Courthouse Theatre Presents

Producers Heather Doucette & Geneviève Hébert-Carr

Lighting Design Brandon RideoutSound Effect Design Margo Rodgers

Director Melissa Gibson

Stage Manager Paul Sowerbutts

Set Design Charlon Bruner

Costume Design Valerie Skinner

Please be courteous to everyone and silence your mobile devices. The taking of photos or videotaping of this production is strictly prohibited.

It’s Only a Play is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

As we gather today, we acknowledge the sacred and traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nations. This territory is covered by the Williams Treaties. Whitby Courthouse Theatre recognizes the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this community, and on this territory.

From

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r From the Director A person for whom I have immense respect and admiration once told me that the most horrific thing she had ever witnessed was a baby judging contest. Yes, that’s correct. A contest where you take the thing you love most in the entire world, the living, breathing expression of your love for your partner, a literal piece of yourself, and you put it on display to be JUDGED alongside others…This child, whom you regard as the most incredible, beautiful, funny, amazing creature ever on God’s earth, is now being looked at for technical merit and conventional ideals for beauty.

Horrific, indeed.

That, in a nutshell is what this play is about. It explores the insecurities and subsequent insincerities that go hand in hand with putting your baby out there to be judged. Art, in all its forms is the very definition of having a piece of yourself living outside your body. Whether a painter, poet, author, playwright, singer, actor…the list is endless…you give your art to others to be judged and it opens a vulnerability inside you that you didn’t know existed. And it can be brutal.

As in all things, with great risk can come great reward. (Or total devastation: see RISK; definition) And in art, as in life…the worse it gets, the funnier it is (when happening to others, naturally). So I invite you to enjoy this tremendous enactment of the mother of all baby-judging contests.

My heartfelt gratitude to this amazing cast and production team for making my inaugural foray into the director’s chair such an incredible experience. Together, we have created something for which we are all incredibly proud, especially me. It’s Only a Play, except “It’s Actually Our Baby”.

Onwards and upwards in the arts! Melissa Gibson

SettingA home in Manhattan following the Broadway opening of The Golden Egg.

Cast and Production TeamCastJulia Budder ..........................................................................................................LISA FERREIRAPeter Austin ....................................................................................................DESMOND HARTYGus P. Head ........................................................................................................DILLON HUNTERJames Wicker ................................................................................................................PAUL LOVEVirginia Noyes ................................................................................................JENNIFER MANCEFrank Finger .......................................................................................................MARC MANTEIAIra Drew ...................................................................................................................SHAEL RISMAN

Creative & Production TeamProducers ...................................HEATHER DOUCETTE, GENEVIÈVE HÉBERT-CARRDirector .............................................................................................................. MELISSA GIBSONStage Manager .........................................................................................PAUL SOWERBUTTSSet Design ....................................................................................................CHARLON BRUNERLighting Design ........................................................................................BRANDON RIDEOUTSound Effects Design................................................................................MARGO RODGERSCostume Design .......................................................................................... VALERIE SKINNERHair/Make-up .....................................................................................................DIANE COBBINGProperties ..................................................................................................................SUSAN WABBSet Construction ........... IAN HANDSCOMB (lead), LEN HARDY, EDWARD NILES

ALIX RALSTON, BRANDON RIDEOUT, PHIL WOODScenic Painting/Décor ..............................................................CHARLON BRUNER (lead)

JACQUELINE AZZARELLO , HEATHER DOUCETTE GERRY FARRUGIA, IAN HANDSCOMB

DEBRA SMITH, SELENA WOODCostume Construction .......... VALERIE SKINNER (lead), KAREN DICKIE-EVANS

PAULA DICKIE, AVA HARDY, GENEVIÈVE HÉBERT-CARR LORI LITTLE, JENNIFER MANCE

Assistant Stage Managers ........ GENEVIÈVE HÉBERT-CARR, PEGGY SOWERBUTTSLighting Technicians ......................... BRANDON RIDEOUT (lead), EDWARD NILESLighting Operator ...................................................................................PAUL SOWERBUTTSSound Technician ...................................................................................................... ALEX KONKSound Operator ............................................................................................... ANNA SIMMONSProgram Design/Lobby Display ............................. EDWARD NILES (efndesigns.ca)Program Photography ....................................................RAPH NOGAL PHOTOGRAPHYHead Shots/Lobby Display Photos ...EMILY DOUCETTE, HEATHER DOUCETTE

EDWARD NILES, BRANDON RIDEOUT

Special Thanks The It’s Only a Play production team wishes to thank the following groups and individuals for their contribution: Emily Doucette, Sir Teddy Knight, Town of Whitby and Centennial Building Facility Staff. A special thanks to the volunteers of Whitby Courthouse Theatre for the countless ways they help make each production possible.

Who

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Cast Who’s Who in the Cast

LISA FERREIRA (Julia Budder) is thrilled to be in her fifth Whitby Courthouse Theatre production, and in Melissa Gibson’s directorial debut! Past shows with Whitby Courthouse Theatre: Murder in

the First (Mary), Avenue Q (Bad Idea Bear), August: Osage County (Karen), and The Full Monty (Georgie). Other favourites: Cathy Elliott’s one-woman show, Moving Day, in the Women of Musical Theatre Festival, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Miss Mona), Cabaret (Fraülein Kost), and Young Frankenstein (Inga), all with Curtain Call Players. Playing a producer in this show has inspired Lisa to step into another role – she will be the producer for Curtain Club Player’s January production of Steel Magnolias! Follow @MomOfKai to see what’s next!

DESMOND HARTY (Peter Austin) was last seen at the Whitby Courthouse Theatre as Eric, the director everybody loves to hate, in Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van. Other shows at Whitby Courthouse Theatre include Catch

Me If You Can, August: Osage County, and Spamalot. As Peter Austin, Des is delighted to once again be part of the amazing Whitby Courthouse Theatre experience.

DILLON HUNTER (Gus P. Head) is very excited to be up on Whitby Courthouse Theatre’s stage again! You may have seen him dance across it in 2019’s Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van, or you have seen him

in Ajax Community Theatre’s production of Wait Until Dark. You may have also just seen him around Durham Region, at the grocery store, buying coffee, etc. In fact, you’re about to see him up on stage! Many thanks to family and friends for their support! Enjoy!

PAUL LOVE (James Wicker) is thrilled to be performing on the Whitby Courthouse Theatre stage for the first time in about 22 years, and this talented cast and crew have made it well worth the wait. Recent roles include

Glenn in Ajax Community Theatre’s Rumors and Mr. Lawrence in Durham Shoestring Performers’ Girl in the Goldfish Bowl. Many thanks to family and friends for watching, and special thanks to Carrie and Carter for their endless patience and support.

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JENNIFER MANCE (Virginia Noyes) is thrilled to be making her Whitby Courthouse Theatre debut as the dramatic diva, Virginia Noyes and to be working with such a wonderful cast! Jennifer has enjoyed playing such a sharp contrast to last fall’s role of Truvy in Steel

Magnolias at Oshawa Little Theatre. She is a busy grade 1-2 teacher and Cheer Mom, so she is extremely grateful to her family for supporting her passion. Thank you to the entire production team for their tireless efforts to make us all look great, and to Melissa for taking a chance on a “newbie”!

MARC MANTEA (Frank Finger) is a graduate from the University of Alberta’s Acting Program. Since then, he has toured with Alberta Opera’s Jack and the Beanstalk (the Giant), starred in the world-premiere of Colleen Murphy’s Bright Burning, wrote/directed for Blackout

Sketch Comedy and performed for the 11’O Clock Number, the weekly improv show. Other notable shows are Grindstone’s Urinetown, In Arms Theatre’s Harun, Studio Theatre’s Governor General and Twelfth Night. Catch him this season in Capitol Theatre’s Hobbit, and Northumberland Player’s Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.

SHAEL RISMAN (Ira Drew) Thrilled to be back treading the boards here at Whitby Courthouse Theatre, Shael was most recently seen in Ajax Community Theatre’s Rumors, Oshawa Little Theatre’s NOISES OFF! and Whitby Courthouse Theatre’s productions of Two on the Aisle, Three in a

Van, Moon Over Buffalo, and August: Osage County. He is also proud to be part of the annual ONE BRAVE NIGHT with Shael Risman – a charity performance featuring some of the greatest performers in Durham Region benefiting CAMH every spring. Special thanks to his family and friends who tolerate his incessant neediness and endless cries for attention.

Who

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ion Who’s Who in Production

HEATHER DOUCETTE (Producer) is pleased to be co-producing alongside the lovely, Geneviève. She would like to thank Mel, and the cast and crew for all the fun times. As always, Heather thanks Mike for his countless trips back and forth to

the theatre and Emily for being the voice inside her head. She hopes you enjoy the show as much as she does!

GENEVIÈVE HÉBERT-CARR (Producer and Assistant Stage Manager) is proud to once more step into the role of co-producer for this season’s hilarious opener! She would like to thank her amazing partner-in-producing, Heather

Doucette, and their fearless director, Melissa Gibson. To the cast and crew, thank you for rising to the occasion and making this play even more amazing than she could have hoped. As always, special thanks to her parents and husband, who allow her the fancy of living her theatre dreams with their love and support.

MELISSA GIBSON (Director) This is Mel’s directorial debut! She has been a member of Whitby Courthouse Theatre for nine years and has appeared in many productions, recently Two On the Aisle, Three In a Van (Meredith), Things My

Mother Taught Me (Max) and August: Osage County (Barbara). She has worked behind the scenes as an assistant director and as a co-producer and stage manager. She wants to thank this amazing cast and crew for being so gentle with her. First times can be scary.

CHARLON BRUNER (Set Designer) would like to thank Director Mel Gibson for asking her to design Mel’s directorial debut set, Nicole Vezeau for recommending her to Mel, and Campbell Bruner-Ralston for getting her involved

with community theatre in the first place. Charlon would also like to thank her partner in crime for the past 21 years, Alix Ralston. Just one more thing she couldn’t do without you. Charlon’s past set design experience includes Into the Woods Jr. and The Music Man, both Whitby Courthouse Theatre Youth Group productions.

BRANDON RIDEOUT (Lighting Design) is excited to be a part of this production. Previous lighting credits at Whitby Courthouse Theatre include Murder In the First, Mambo Italiano, Things My Mother Taught Me, August:

Osage County, Moon Over Buffalo, and Communicating Doors. In his spare time, Brandon is the set, lighting and projection designer for Little Women the Broadway Musical and is directing and designing Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun.

MARGO RODGERS (Sound Effects Design) is a former drama teacher at Anderson CVI. There, in an unspecified decade, she first met and worked with Melissa on Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth in the role of

director to her actor. Margo is delighted to reunite with “Missy” as colleagues on this fabulous show.

VALERIE SKINNER (Costume Design) is drawn to madcap mayhem so could not resist another comedy at Whitby Courthouse Theatre. Fake jewels, faux fur and an ersatz designer tux all quicken the heart of a costume designer. Add to that

piles of outer-wear for Broadway idols, particularly those with legendary proportions, and you’ve got a pile of fun.

PAUL SOWERBUTTS (Stage Manager) is overjoyed to be working with a fabulous cast, crew and production team for It’s Only A Play. Having most recently appeared in Whitby Courthouse Theatre’s production of Murder in the First, Paul felt it was time to get back in the booth. Being

a part of the creative process from this side of the curtain is as rewarding as being onstage. Thanks go out to the cast, crew, production team and of course his wife for their support.

PEGGY SOWERBUTTS (Assistant Stage Manager) is thankful for the opportunity to work with the wonder-fully talented cast and production team of It’s Only a Play. She’s looking forward to working backstage again after her last stint which was “up in the booth”. A special thank you to Paul and her

family for supporting the emotional ride that comes with each production.

DIANE COBBING (Make-Up) is honoured to be working with the wonderful cast and crew for It’s Only A Play. This is her fourth production with Whitby Courthouse Theatre. Other notable contributions were with August: Osage County and Two On the Aisle, Three In a Van. She hopes you enjoy the show!

SUSAN WABB (Properties) “I live between reality and theatre.” Sue started working at the theatre when her daughter was in youth group and has never left. Properties allows her to be creative. She thanks her family for always supporting her during theatre season.

She knows you will enjoy this extremely funny show!

IAN HANDSCOMB (Lead Set Construction) Ian is thrilled to back building sets at Whitby Courthouse Theatre. His set designs for Avenue Q, Mambo Italiano, How to Succeed in Business without Trying, Sweeney Todd and Suds have been recognized by ACT-CO, and he won Thea Awards for The

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Cabaret. His other design credits include Steel Magnolias, The Phoenix Lottery, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, Ten Lost Years, Waiting for Godot, The Tempest, and Das Rheingold. He has assisted on Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar, On Golden Pond, Urinetown, Leading Ladies, Christmas Carol, Things My Mother Taught Me, Addams Family, Footloose and Beauty and the Beast. Ian recently retired as the Artistic Director of the Claude Watson School for the Arts in Toronto and is currently working on the costume designs for Whitby Courthouse Theatre’s next show Little Women the Broadway Musical.

Auditions

Auditions: November 17 & 18 Producer: Geneviève Hébert-CarrDirector: Brandon Rideout

About the PlayAt 35-years old, Robert has the mental capacities of an 8-year old, but that doesn’t make him any less wise in the ways of the world. Holly is pregnant, alone and simply needs the right break. A story about people finding the nerve to take responsibility and persevering against the odds.

CastingRobert (30s) Claire (50s-60s) Holly Fitch (mid-late 20s) Simon Garvey (late-30s-early 40s) Dr. Andrews (30s-60s, male or female)

For full audition details and to secure a spot, visit: whitbytheatre.ca/auditions

COMING SOON...W

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Whitby Centennial Building, 416 Centre Street South | 905.668.8111

whitbytheatre.ca

Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8pm (Feb.15, 22: 2pm & 8pm)

February 6-22 $28Little Women is presented through special arrangment with Music Theatre International (MTI).

LittleWomen

The Broadway Musical

Book by Allan KneeMusic by Jason HowlandLyrics by Mindi Dickstein

Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott

WHI

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Whitby Centennial Building, 416 Centre Street South | 905.668.8111

whitbytheatre.caLittle Women is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Sunday February 16

LittleWomen

The Broadway Musical

Book by Allan KneeMusic by Jason HowlandLyrics by Mindi Dickstein

Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott

Reception 5:30pm Curtain 7pm

$50

Gala Evening for CharityCash Bar • Pre-show Appetizers • Silent Auction

In support of Victim Services of Durham Region

WHI

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Whitby Centennial Building, 416 Centre Street South | 905.668.8111

whitbytheatre.ca

Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8pm (April 18, 25: 2pm & 8pm)

April 9-25 $28Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun is staged by arrangement with Pam Winter, GGA, ggagency.ca

2409

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by Norm Foster

Little Women The Broadway MusicalBased on Louisa May Alcott’s classic 1869 semi-autobiographical novel, it focuses on the four March sisters — traditional Meg, wild, aspiring writer Jo, timid Beth, and romantic Amy at home in Concord, Massachusetts.

Struggling while their father is away serving as a Union Army chaplain during the Civil War, the young March women’s lives unfold through several recreations of melodramatic short stories Jo writes in her attic studio.

Gala Evening for CharityWhitby Courthouse Theatre is honoured to be hosting a Gala Evening for Charity in support of Victim Services of Durham Region.

There will be a pre-show reception, auction, and a performance of Little Women The Broadway Musical.

Kiss the Moon, Kiss the SunAt 35-years old, Robert has the mental capacities of an 8-year old, but that doesn’t make him any less wise in the ways of the world. Holly is pregnant, alone and simply needs the right break.

A story about people finding the nerve to take responsibility, and persevering against the odds.

Uplifting, poignant and funny, Kiss The Moon, Kiss The Sun will capture your heart and possibly change the way you view people forever. “Before this glorious life is done, I shall kiss the moon and kiss the sun. It’s about trying to get the most out of life, but Robert and I have a different meaning for it. I’m the moon that watches over him at night, and he’s the sun who brightens up my days.”

— Norm Foster

whitbytheatre.ca416 Centre Street South | Whitby | 905-668-8111