Audience Talkbacks

Sunday, Jan. 22nd & Friday Jan. 27th after the show. Stay and ask the Cast and Staff those questions you’ve always wanted to know the answers to.

The Cast Florence Foster Jenkins ANNALISA ERICKSON Cosme McMoon ERIC PIERCE Maria ARIELLA FIORE St Clair Byfield LARRY GESLING Dorothy JOANNA CHURGIN Mrs. Verrinder-Gedge DIANE BAKER Dorothy (Understudy performs January 14 & 15) MARINA TIDWELL

Synopsis of Scenes

ACT I Scene 1 – Florence’s apartment at the Hotel Seymour. Scene 2 – The Melatone recording Studio, 54th Street.

ACT II Scene 1 – Ballroom of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, with added décor.

Scene 2 – Funerary garden outside a church. Scene 3 – The Stage of Carnegie Hall Scene 3 – The Stage of Carnegie Hall

Time – 1944

There will be one 1 5- minute intermission.

Commissioner Santa Monica Rent Board 2008-2012

2010 Realtor of the Year

Our Gallery Artist - Zenith Daniel GebhardtZenith is from the state of Punjab in Northern India. From her early childhood she was fascinated by the vibrant colors and patterns around her, which inspired her to draw, paint, and sculpt. While attending an art class in college, she entered a national competition and received second place for a landscape in oil. After attaining multiple degrees in the liberal arts, she became an educator in India. In the early 70’s, she moved to Los Angeles with her husband and settled in the community of Westchester, where they raised their two children. For 20 years, Zenith taught Adult Education in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She also owned and operated a Kumon Math and Reading Center for 20 years. Throughout her many years in education, Zenith never lost touch with her curiosity and drive to create art. She painted whenever possible and visited art galleries both locally and while traveling the world. After retiring and with the encouragement of her family, she threw herself into painting full time. Zenith is a member of the Pacific Art Guild, and has studied with various artists and teachers. Over the past six years her paintings have won many awards at local art shows. Zenith's inspiration comes from constantly changing nature. She endeavors to capture the splendor of nature all around us. She hopes that in this busy life we all make time to witness the wonders of nature around us. Professional art accomplishments include sales to private art collectors, and participation in art auctions and various exhibits. Zenith is a multimedia artist and is currently doing commission work. For further information, please contact her at zenith.gebhardt@gmail.com.

The StaffProducer MEREDITH WRIGHTDirector \ Music Director ANNE GESLINGSet Design THOMAS BROWNLighting Design WILLIAM WILDAYCostume Design KRISTIE MATTSONSound Design ANNE GESLING & BOB MARINOStage Manager JANET OWENSLight Technician BRENDAN CRAIGSound Technician SEBASTIAN HOCHMANStage Crew EMMA BAKER, ELLEN TAURICHGraphic Design LINDA BAERProgram Design LARRY GESLING

Santa Monica’s Morgan-Wixson Theatre StaffTechnical Director WILLIAM WILDAYBox Office Manager KAREN MILLER

WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST

Diane Alayne Baker (Mrs. Verrinder–Gedge) has acting credits in Los Angeles, New York and the Midwest, receiving a Geoffrey Award for her portrayal of Martha in A PIECE OF MY HEART at Santa Monica’s MWT. She was also seen at the MWT as Nola in SAND IN THE AIR and has produced theatre for Rogue Machine Theatre, Pacific Resident Theater, L.A. Women’s Shakespeare Company, West Coast Jewish Theater and the Santa Monica Theatre Guild. Diane holds a BFA in acting from Adelphi University and pursued her MFA

in acting at Rutgers Mason Gross School for the Arts.

Joanna Churgin (Dorothy) continues a close relationship she has enjoyed with this theatre since playing Ouiser in STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Other plays she has appeared in here are CABARET, THE FULL MONTY, BEAU GESTE, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, SISTER MARY IGNATIUS EXPLAINS IT ALL FOR YOU, SWEENEY TODD, SPRING AWAKENING and NOISES OFF. At other venues, some of her favorite roles have included performances in ALL MY SONS, TALES OF THE ALLERGIST’S WIFE, SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, DOUBT, COPENHAGEN,

RAGTIME, and THE SPITFIRE GRILL. Many thanks to Anne for her unwavering trust and deepest gratitude to Steve for his love, support, and patience.

AnnaLisa Erickson (Florence Foster Jenkins) loves to spend time on LA stages and has seen the country from summer stock in Wisconsin and Missouri to regional theatre in North Carolina and Minnesota. Favorite roles include: Mrs. Lovett in SWEENEY TODD (earning her a Geoffrey Award here at MWT); Gertrude in THE SEA HORSE; Aldonza in MAN OF LA MANCHA; and Sister Hubert in NUNCRACKERS alongside Sally Struthers. BroadwayWorld and StageSceneLA cited her Fraulein Schneider as one of Southern California’s Best

Supporting Performances in Music Theatre LA’s CABARET; that role also earned her Garland Award nominations from Backstage. 2010 Best Performance Award from StageSceneLA as Ms. Pennywise in URINETOWN and in 2012 as Mrs. Lovett in SWEENEY TODD. Proud member of critically-acclaimed Rogue Machine Theatre. AnnaLisa is currently seeking commercial/theatrical representation. May Florence inspire each of us to always give our best and to relish every step of the way!

The MAGIC of Theatre! Share it with a Friend!

WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST (Continued)

Ariella Fiore (Maria) está muy entusiasmada de estar en esta obra de teatro, su 3ª al MWT, la última fue THE ODD COUPLE (versión femenina) (Sylvie). Aunque español es su primera idioma, esta obra es la primera vez que ella he tenido la oportunidad de ser un carácter que solo habla en español. Ella estudió teatro en la Academia de Lee Strasberg, la Academia de Música de Hamilton, y la universidad UCLA. Carácters que le ha gustado representar son Camila Rosario en IN THE HEIGHTS, Fraulein Schneider en CABARET, Eulalie

Shinn en THE MUSIC MAN y Mae Pollit en CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Talvez has visto ella rapidísimo en televisión donde apareció en el programa Shameless o en Angie Tribeca. Esta muy agradecía a Anne para la oportunidad y a su familia para su paciencia y fe. She also speaks English.

Larry Gesling (St. Clair Byfield) is excited to be appearing in GLORIOUS!, he saw this production in London and from that point was dying to play St. Clair. He most recently appeared as Jim Haller in ALL SHOOK UP and in past MWT productions such as, King Arthur in SPAMALOT, Mr. McAfee in BYE, BYE BIRDIE, Neville in THE SECRET GARDEN and Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Larry would like to thank this incredibly talented cast of MWT regulars and newbies for making this one of his Favorite Theatrical experiences and his wife Anne

and the 2 new members of the Gesling Clan, Lady Jane and Giovani, for all their Love and Support. Also, Love to those no longer with us, Pierre, Mom & Dad, Mischief, Mayhem and most recently his Mother-in-Law Janet. Larry likes to say, “That Theatre is how he keeps his sanity”, and would like to thank the audience for their participation in his Therapy.

Eric Pierce (Cosme McMoon) University of Michigan BFA Performance. Recent theatre: PRIVATE EYES (Morgan-Wixson Theatre) DELUSION: LIES WITHIN, DEATH BY POWERPOINT, and THE GRADUATE (Long Beach Playhouse). Recent film: The Eastsider, Six Ways to Die, The Magician, and Chrysalis. Recent television: My Crazy Ex (Lifetime), Eros (Punch TV).

Marina Tidwell (Dorothy Understudy) trained as an actor in London a lifetime ago, graduated from USC film school, and acted with the San Francisco Theater Project. She heads the Performing Arts Ministry at Grace Church in Culver City where she stages concerts and the summer musical theater camp. Marina studies singing with Cathy Gabrielle Wallace and appears in her annual showcases in July. Marina gives a huge thank you to Anne and the cast for their warm welcome to her and hopes everyone enjoys the show!

SANTA MONICA’S MORGAN-WIXSON THEATRE PROUDLY PRESENTS THE BALANCE OF

OUR 2016 ~ 2017 SEASON

COMPANY! Book by George Furth,

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

March 4th ~ April 1st

Harold & Maude By Collin Higgins

April 29th ~ May 21st

SEUSSICAL! Book by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty,

Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens,

Co-conceived by Eric Idle June 24th ~ July 29th

WHO’S WHO ON THE STAFF

Meredith Wright (Producer) is delighted to be working on this Play With Music, even if she is up to her elbows in papier mâché birds. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard on this show. Anne Gesling (Director) has been at the MWT for 30 years, and has directed and/or music directed over 100 musicals here, but this is her first mainstage “non-musical” (although there is singing in the show….she couldn’t completely get away from the musical component). Past shows include: THE ADDAMS FAMILY, AVENUE Q, LEGALLY BLONDE, THE PRODUCERS, CRAZY FOR YOU, A CHORUS LINE, CHICAGO, 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, SWEENEY TODD, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, NEXT TO NORMAL, THE SECRET GARDEN, THE FULL MONTY, PIPPIN, WEST SIDE STORY, RUTHLESS, to name just a few... She is a ten time Geoffrey Award winner for Best Director, and has even won Best Costume Design a few of times. She was honored to have been recognized with an Outstanding Direction Award for CHICAGO and Best Music Direction Award for CHICAGO and SPELLING BEE from StageSceneLA, and Best Director and Music Director from the NAACP, also for CHICAGO. Anne is also a Board member at MWT, co-founder of the Youth Education/Entertainment Series (YES), and is embarking on the 22nd Annual Youth Musical next fall. She will also be directing SEUSSICAL, THE MUSICAL later this season. Anne is privileged to have worked with this incredibly talented cast full of old friends, new friends and her husband. Huge thanks to all, and to Ms. Meredith, of course! Thomas Brown (Set Design) is a professional set designer and burgeoning script writer. He has been designing and building sets since 1975 and has designed for over 1000 productions in a variety of entertainment formats - including television, theater, musical concerts, award shows, theme parks and film. Some of these shows include designs for DISNEYLAND, THE McDONALD’S GOSPELFEST, FRIEDA PAYNE, OLETA ADAMS and THE MINORITY AIDS PROJECT. He also served as Concept and Convention Art Director for five years with THE NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION. One of his most memorable projects was designing for several gala entertainment events for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. He is a four-time winner of the NAACP THEATER AWARD and a three-time winner of THE DRAMALOGUE AWARD for theater set design. In television he served as either assistant Art Director or Art director for a variety of network and cable programs on ABC, NBC and FOX-TV. He did extensive work with BET serving as Production Designer/ Art Director for numerous productions with them, including their first cable sitcom “COMIC VIEW: AIN’T NOTHIN’ BUT A WOMAN”. He has also served as Art Director for several network shows, "TOTALLY HIDDEN VIDEO" for FOX-TV, "SOUL TRAIN" for KTLA, as well as Art Director for the HBO Comedy Specials, "SINBAD: BRAIN DAMAGED" and "CHRIS ROCK:BORN SUSPECT". Some of the feature films he has worked on include PRETTY WOMEN, TOO: a Troy Beyer Production; I’M LOOKING OUT FOR YOU: a Clever Films Production; and GANGTAPES.

Live Theatre, there is nothing like it!

WHO’S WHO ON THE STAFF (Continued)

William Wilday (Lighting Design) Acts 9: 4-6. Kristie Mattsson (Costume Design) is an L.A. native who started designing clothing for her Barbie dolls at the age of 5. Her favorite toy as a child were her Fashion Plates until her mother bought her a sewing machine at age 10, after she woefully failed at piano lessons. Fortunately sewing lessons worked out better for her and she has been costume designing for nearly 20 years now, the last ten as the primary costume designer for Santa Monica College Theatre Arts Department. Kristie is happy to be returning to the MWT team for GLORIOUS!

TELL YOUR FRIENDS! YOU’RE OUR BEST ADVERTISEMENT!

SANTA MONICA’S MORGAN-WIXSON THEATREYouth Education/Entertainment Series

Winner - Outstanding New Children’s Theatre Company

THE TRUE STORY OF THETHREE LITTLE PIGS

Based on the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane SmithWritten By Paul Gilvary, Robert Kauzlaric and William Rush

JANUARY 28TH ~ FEBRUARY 12TH

THE MUSICAL ADVENTURES OFFLAT STANLEY

Based on the book “Flat Stanley” by Jeff BrownBook by Timothy Allen McDonald

Lyrics by Timothy Allen McDonald and Jonathan K. WallerMusic by Timothy Allen McDonald, Jonathan K. Waller,

David Weinstein and Stephen Gabriel

MARCH 18th ~ APRIL 2nd

HONK!Book and Lyrics by Willie Reale, Music by Robert Reale

Based on the books by Arnold Lobel

MAY 13th ~ MAY 28th

PINOCCHIOBy Carlo Collodi, Adapted By Greg Banks

JULY 15th ~ JULY 30th

Y.E.S. offers four Saturday and Sunday morning productions and one Fall Youth Musical, as part of the Theater’s commitment to developing young talent through

training and performance. Adult Theatre mentors provide a rewarding and entertaining theatre experience for all ages.

SANTA MONICA’S MORGAN-WIXSON THEATRE

The Morgan-Wixson is one of the oldest arts organizations in Santa Monica but, true to its dramatic mission, it is constantly reinventing itself. The organization was founded in the 1940s, with the present theatre building being constructed in the 1960s with mostly community volunteer labor. Geoffrey Morgan was a prominent Santa Monican, playwright, and orator who also served as a State Assemblyman. Mel Wixson, whose name was added in 1981, was also a long-time Santa Monica resident and actor, who died shortly after performing on our stage. Thanks to their vision, and the dedication of many like them, the Morgan-Wixson has been the home of hundreds of productions from across the performing arts spectrum and is known as a place where talent can train, theatrical passions can be sustained, and the community can be engaged in live theatre that entertains, enriches, and educates.

EXPLORE “BEHIND THE SCENES” AT MWT Santa Monica’s Morgan-Wixson Theatre is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) theatre for the community, and we’re always interested in expanding our organization with new talent and energy. Donors – This play was made possible in part by tax-deductible donations from grateful patrons just like you. Ticket revenue covers a portion of MWT’s operating costs, but royalties, insurance, property taxes, and more mean that we depend on donors’ generosity. Donations of any amount are always appreciated. Thank you for helping keep small, independent theatre alive and thriving in Los Angeles! Volunteers – The play you are enjoying is a collaboration of many different people. We’re seeking people to assist with ushering, auditions, preparing mailings, hospitality, set construction, painting, props, costume design and alterations, sound, lights, and any other aspect of the theater. No experience necessary to begin and you’ll gain experiences that you’ll never forget. Some of us came in to see a show and we’re still here! Send an email to info@morgan-wixson.org and we’ll find a way for you to become involved. Membership – Members are individuals interested in making a longer commitment, by assisting with at least three productions, attending occasional member meetings, and paying annual member dues ($35, or $50 for families, $25 for youth). Members receive admission to each Mainstage production and the right to vote at member meetings, plus they can attend (and vote for) for the annual Geoffrey Awards night. Membership forms are available in the lobby and on our website, or ask any of our volunteer staff.