Kevin GlaccumProducing Artistic Director

by STEPHEN KARAM

StarringBRYAN BLACK DANE EISSLER ZOE RICHARDS REBEKAH SHARP

Production Stage ManagerMICHAEL AMBLER

Directed byKEVIN GLACCUM

PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE!

May 6 – 24, 2015Azuka Theatre is a 501(c)(3) Not for profit organization

Media Sponsor: Geekadelphia

AZUKA THEATREpresents

Virginia & Harvey Kimmel Arts Education Fund

Honorary Producer

Scenic DesignCAT JOHNSON

Costume DesignCOURTNEY BOCHES

Lighting DesignBEN LEVAN

Assistant Director/ChoreographerKAREN GETZ

DramaturgLENA BARNARD

Production ManagerLAUREN TRACY

Sound DesignZACHARY MCKENNA

PropertiesMOLLY WARNKEN

CASTSolomon ..................................................... Dane Eissler

Diwata ....................................................... Rebekah Sharp

Howie ........................................................ Bryan Black

Teacher/Reporter ......................................... Zoe Richards

There will be NO intermission.

Please turn OFF all electronic devices prior to theperformance. Photography or recording of this production,

including cell phones, is strictly prohibited.

Azuka Theatre is a proud participant in the BarrymoreAwards for Excellence in Theatre, a program ofTheatre Philadelphia.

Proud member of Off-Broad Street.Celebrating Philadelphia Independent Theater!

Azuka Theatre is an Associate Member of the National New Play Network (NNPN).

Azuka Theatre is a member of the Greater PhiladelphiaCultural Alliance (GPCA).

Support provided in part by The Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF).

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Everyone has secrets. It may be something as minor as what you really think of your co-worker to the larger secrets that keep us awake at night. Whether we are aware of it or not, we assign currency to our secrets, by sharing certain information we create circles of intimacy; if you know THIS about me, we must be really close if you don’t, then we might just be acquaintances.

But it’s the secrets of adolescence that loom largest. Everything that happens during those years seems to take on greater importance; the feelings we have at that time of life are the ones that feel as if no one in the history of the world has felt like you do at that moment. More often than not those secrets revolve around sex; who’s done it, HOW do you do it, who do you do it with? It’s all so new and foreign and exciting and scary. Now layer on top of all that anxiety the fact that you’re not one of the ‘cool’ kids, you don’t quite fit in, you’re not particularly popular and the answers to those questions feel even further away. This is what the characters in Speech & Debate are dealing with, and then some. This is also exactly the kind of story we tell here at Azuka Theatre—shining the light on the outcasts and underdogs of our society, and via that light we can see ourselves more clearly.

This is our fourth New Professionals production and we’re thrilled with how this program has thrived. Hiring recent college graduates as actors and designers we hope to provide these theater artists with a platform that shines a light on their talents and takes them to the next level of their careers.

This is also the first show since 2011 that we haven’t performed at The Off-Broad Street Theater. The church building was sold and the new owners of The First Baptist Church wanted us to sign a lease that would have allowed them to censor our work. Needless to say we refused and so they terminated our lease (talk about outcasts and underdogs!). I’m a firm believer in ‘everything happens for a reason’ and in this case it’s true—we’ve found wonderful new office space and in the fall will become one of the resident companies at The Drake, the newest performing arts space in Philadelphia. We’re thrilled to be a part of this exciting development in the theater community and look forward to the work we will create there.

— Kevin Glaccum

DRAMATURG NOTES

SPEECH AND DEBATE 101The National Speech & Debate Association was founded in 1925. Originally called the National Forensics League, it was created to encourage high school students to participate in speech and debate events that had been practiced by collegiate debating societies since the 18th century.

Since its founding, the organization has grown to over 130,000 students and coaches who participate in 19 events including:

Lincoln-Douglas Debate – In this one-on-one format, students debate a topic provided by the Association. An entire debate is roughly 45 minutes and consists of constructive speeches, rebuttals, and cross-examination.

Extemporaneous Commentary – Extemp Comm is a public speaking event where students draw topics on a range of societal, political, historic, or popular interest and in 20 minutes prepare a five minute speech which responds to the selected prompt.

Cross-Examination Debate – A two-on-two debate that focuses on a policy question for the duration of the academic year, this format tests a student’s research, analytical, and delivery skills.

Duo Interpretation – Two competitors team up to deliver a ten-minute performance of a published play or story. No props or costumes are used.

Student Congress – A simulation of the U.S. legislative process in the Senate and the House, students generate a series of bills and resolutions for debate in Congressional Debate.

Original Oratory – Students deliver a self-written, ten-minute speech on a topic of their choosing. Limited in their ability to quote words directly, Original Oratory competitors craft an argument using evidence, logic, and emotional appeals. The speech is delivered from memory.

(All event descriptions courtesy of the National Speech and Debate Association.)

THIS THEATRE IS A PROUD PARTICIPANT IN THE

BARRYMOREAWARDS

FOR EXCELLENCE IN THEATRE

a program of THEATRE PHILADELPHIA

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THE CRUCIBLE – ARTHUR MILLER Reading Notes

The Crucible dramatizes the events of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. The hunt for alleged witches begins after a local reverend claims to have seen several young girls dancing in the forest with a slave woman. The play quickly devolves into a hysterics as the residents of Salem toss around blame to protect themselves. In the end, the only thing that can save them is their own confessions.

Written in 1953, Arthur Miller used the events of the Salem Witch Trials to explore hearings held by Senator Joseph McCarthy to root out and blacklist accused communists. Like the witch trials, the only way to escape the McCarthy hearings was to confess and identify more potential suspects. Miller was attracted to the way the ritualistic hysteria of the witch trials made the private lives of its suspects into public business. He also explored how a community deteriorated into a group of isolated and paranoid skeptics obsessed with naming names and protecting whatever innocence they could find. Through this microcosm, Miller found a way to address a national witch hunt in his own time. In the words of Marion Starkey, from her book The Devil in Massachusetts: By grasping the local, the parochial even, it is possible to make a beginning at understanding the universal.”

WHO’S WHOBryan Black (Howie) Bryan is excited beyond words to be making his Azuka debut with such an extraordinary team! Recent credits include: Dogfight (11th Hour), Fiddler on the Roof (New Candlelight), Do Patent Black Leather Shoes... (Broadway Theatre of Pitman). Thanks to absolutely everybody who made this production possible and every single audience member who made it out to see it!

Dane Eissler (Solomon) Dane received his BA in Theatre (Acting/Directing) from Rowan University, where he was awarded The Joseph Robinette Excellence in Theatre & Dance Medallion. Rowan credits include Chicklet in Psycho Beach Party, Pete Gint in GINT, Baker in Into the Woods, Performer in Will You Marry Me Pina Bausch?, and Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, as well as starring in his two original pieces I Love You, Jane Doe and Violet of the Garden of Eden. Philadelphia credits include Donald Belch/Ygor Chopsky in Melanie Stewart’s Kill Me Now: The Ultimate Dance Competition,

Alyoshka in Fando y Lis (FringeArts), and Singapore/Seigal in The Last Plot in Revenge (BRAT), as well as Associate Director for EgoPo’s Stairs to the Roof. Thanks to Kevin and this talented cast, designers, and crew.

Zoe Richards (Teacher/Reporter) Zoe is a recent graduate of the University of the Arts Acting program. Her recent credits include: Mz. Fest (Plays and Players), Macbeth (u/s Arden Theatre), La Bête (u/s Arden Theatre); UArts: The Winter’s Tale (Paulina), Pretty Theft (Waitress), The Crucible (Tituba). She is so excited to make her true Azuka debut with this great ensemble. Much love and thanks to Kevin and her family.

Rebekah Sharp (Diwata) Rebekah is absolutely thrilled to be making her Azuka debut and performing in the Philly premiere of Speech & Debate! Rebekah graduated from the University of the Arts in 2014 with a BFA in Acting. Previous credits: Little Girl in Green in The Secret Life of Wonder: A Prologue in G (Plays & Players), Greed in Lauren Tuvell’s Parthenon (UArts). Rebekah also performs every second Friday with Tongue & Groove Spontaneous Theater at the Adrienne Playground. Endless love and respect for Zoe, Bryan, Dane, and our fearless leader, Kevin. Love you Mom and Dad!

Stephen Karam (Playwright) Stephen is the author of Sons of the Prophet, a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize and the recipient of the 2012 Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel and Hull-Warriner Awards for Best Play. Other plays include Speech & Debate, the inaugural production of Roundabout Underground; columbinus (New York Theatre Workshop); and his forthcoming play, The Humans. He wrote the libretto for Dark Sisters, an original chamber opera with composer Nico Muhly (co-produced by Gotham Chamber Opera, MTG and Opera Company

of Philadelphia). His plays are published by Dramatists Play Service, American Theatre Magazine, Northwestern University Press and Dramatic Publishing Co. Stephen is a MacDowell Colony fellow, and the recipient of the inaugural Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Drama Desk Award. He teaches playwriting at The New School. Born and raised in Scranton, PA, he’s a graduate of Brown University.

Kevin Glaccum (Director) Kevin has been a member of Azuka Theatre since their inaugural production of La Rue des Faux. For Azuka he has directed productions of Moon Cave, Tigers Be Still, Dutch Masters, Pookie Goes Grenading, Everyone and I, Hope Street and Other Lonely Places, Act a Lady, Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom, Nerve, Whisky Neat, Greek Active, Kid Simple, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Barrymore Nomination; Best Director of a Musical, Philadelphia Weekly), Azuka One-Acts, Four, The Boys and Sincerity Forever. Other credits include

Say Goodnight, Gracie (Act II Playhouse) Iron Kisses (Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Theater Festival), The Shoes (Philadelphia Fringe Festival) and The Rocky Horror Show, Club California, Proof and The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon at Arcadia University where he’s also an adjunct professor. Kevin currently serves as Board President for Theatre Philadelphia, the organization responsible for The Barrymore Awards, Philadelphia’s professional theater awards program; for the past ten years he has been a peer panelist for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The City of Philadelphia’s organization that supports and enhances the cultural life and vitality of the City of Philadelphia and its residents through the awarding of grants; he is a member of Lincoln Center’s Directors Lab.

Cat Johnson (Scenic Designer) Between undergrad and graduate school Cat designed for theaters from Seattle to Cincinnati. Some of her favorites were two seasons at The Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Colorado and productions of The Miracle Worker and Hairspray for MCT in Michigan. During graduate school at Temple University she spent a summer set designing and being Technical Director at Upper Darby Summer Stage. Johnson is thrilled to make her Philadelphia professional debut with Azuka Theatre’s production of Speech & Debate.

Ben Levan (Lighting Designer) Ben received a B.A. in Theater from West Chester University where he studied lighting and playwriting. This is his first design for Azuka but he has previously been their Master Electrician for Neighborhood 3, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence, and most recently Moon Cave. Previous design credits include: Voices of a People’s History (Plays and Players), Closer and Quills (Luna Theater), and Emperor Jones (Iron Age Theatre.) Upcoming: Coalition of Freedom at the National Constitution Center.

Courtney Boches (Costume Designer) Courtney is a recent graduate of Villanova University’s Masters in Theatre program. Costume design credits include Everyman (Villanova Theatre), Twelfth Night (Commonwealth Classic), Bat Boy and Spring Storm (Germantown Academy), Antigone (Penn Charter), and The Shadow of a Gunman (Irish Heritage Theatre), among others. She recently completed an internship in New York with Tony-winning designer William Ivey Long on the new musical Little Dancer. She is a teacher and board member at Firebird Theatre, where she runs the summer workshop program, directing and designing two children’s musicals each year. This July she will be playing Miss Mazeppa in Gypsy at King of Prussia Players.

Zachary McKenna (Sound Designer) Zack McKenna is elated to make his Philadelphia debut with Azuka. While studying at Arcadia University, Zack wrote his first score for an original collaborative puppet piece, Alive! Since then, he has had the privilege of attending the Kennedy Center National American College Theatre Festival and spent last summer as a fellow at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. He has had the privilege to be a sound technician for Pigpen Theatre’s The Old Man and the Old Moon, in addition to Pig Iron Theatre’s I Promised Myself to Live Faster. He holds a B.A. in Media and Philosophy from Arcadia University.

Molly Warnken (Properties) Molly is currently a Senior at Drexel University receiving a major in Entertainment and Arts Management with a minor in Business Administration. Her previous work includes the prop design for Blood Wedding and Fair Maid of the West with the Philadelphia Artists’ Collective. She also works as a Theatrical Rental Assistant with Avista Custom Theatrical Services, LLC. Congratulations on a great production everyone! Love you Mom, Dad, Meagan, and Justin.

Lena Barnard (Dramaturg) Lena is a Playwright and freelance Stage Manager. As a Playwright she was a member of the SoLow Fest Incubator Residency with Simpatico Theatre Project and a member of the Foundry. As a Stage Manager she has worked with Plays & Players, Azuka, Shakespeare in Clark Park and Murmuration Theater. This year she is one of the organizers of SoLow Fest. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College.

Michael Ambler (Stage Manager) Mike is thrilled to be working with Azuka for the first time! A Drexel University graduate, he has previously stage managed with Mauckingbird Theatre Company and Drexel University, as well as worked deck crew with 1812 Productions and the Wilma Theater. He would like to thank Kevin & Mark for this opportunity and for their continual support.

Karen Getz (Assistant Director) Karen is a Philadelphia-based theater maker whose primary disciplines are choreography and interactive, improvisational theater. She is the recipient of two Philadelphia Theatre Initiative Grants (Suburban Love Songs and The A.I. Project), an Independence Foundation Fellowship (Suburban Love Songs), 3 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater (Suburban Love Songs 2008 @ 1812 Productions (Best Choreography and Best Ensemble) and HAIR @ The Prince Music Theater 2007 (Best Choreography) and A League of Cincinnati Theater’s Award (Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Cincinnati Anthropological Inquisitorial Probe 2012 - Best Improv.)

Lauren Tracy (Production Manager) Lauren is thrilled to be returning to Azuka as their Production Manager after working on Tigers Be Still for them last season. She also stage manages for Azuka and some of her favorite plays include: Moon Cave, Skin & Bone, Dutch Masters, and the terrible girls along with many others. Lauren has also production managed for Inis Nua Theatre Company, Revolution Shakespeare, Cheltenham High School and Plays & Players. She would like to thank her family, friends, and especially Andrew for all of their love and support.

Joshua Klein (Technical Director) Joshua is a Technical Director and designer around Philadelphia, including positions as Technical Director for companies such as Plays & Players and Flashpoint Theatre Company, as well as Master Electrician for Storybook Musical Theatre. A graduate of Emerson College, Joshua is happy to be back working in Philadelphia, and is extremely excited to be doing his first show with Azuka Theatre.

Johanna Austin (Production Photographer) Johanna of AustinArt has had the pleasure of working with Azuka since she fell in love with them and their Nerve (April 2010 production). For 14 years Johanna has been exploring her perceptions of the world through photography. She hones her sense of composition by focusing on the essence of what she sees, and presents it with a fresh eye. Johanna specializes in creating dynamic, vibrant images in low-light atmospheres of performance venues of all kinds. Although she shoots everything, her photography is inspired by a desire to create a still life out of performance art. She thrives on constructing images that would otherwise be forgotten, and often, not even seen at all. With her calm, unobtrusive presence, clients find her to be a joy to work with as she captures the energy and spirit of the moment.

STAFF & CREDITSBOARD OF DIRECTORS2014-2015Tamanya Garza – PresidentNatalie Diener – Vice-PresidentAndrea Sheaffer – TreasurerRoz DeKett – SecretaryMark H. AndrewsHeather EvansDavid FedorKevin GlaccumLee Porter

AZUKA THEATRE STAFF Producing Artistic DirectorKevin Glaccum

Associate Artistic Director Allison Heishman

Marketing DirectorMark H. Andrews

Artistic AssociateEmily Acker

Administrative InternRyker Fry

Playwrights in ResidenceJacqueline GoldfingerDouglas Williams

Resident DramaturgSally Ollove

PR CoordinatorCarrie Gorn, Perpetual Motion PR

AZUKA THEATRE1700 Sansom StreetSuite 800Philadelphia, PA 19103215.563.1100AzukaTheatre.org

PRODUCTION CREW & CREDITS Technical DirectorJoshua Klein ElectriciansLena BarnardTessa Young CarpentersLena BarnardRob CutlerJoe DanielsKevin MeehanAdam RzepkaTessa Young Photo CreditsJohanna Austin

Original ArtworkChristine Ormsby Graphic DesignMark H. Andrews & Derek Carnegie IT, Website Design & MaintenanceAndrew Nelson PrintingQuaker Printing

SPECIAL THANKSKaren DiLossi, Stephanie Kish & Partners for Sacred Places Theatre ExilePlays & Players TheaterMike DeesGreg St. GermainAlex BockJoel SumnerCarly BodnarGreg NanniJoe DanielsJoshua KleinMegan SlaterMichael OsinskiDarrin DunstonHannah Van SciverJessica SnowRob Cutler

202. S. Chester PikeGlenolden, PA 19036610.583.4400

Kevin M. LyonsSupervisor

Kevin M. LyonsFUNERAL SERVICE, LTD.

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

SUPPORT Azuka Theatre thanks all of our donors for their continued support of the work we do. If you have questions about supporting Azuka, please call Kevin Glaccum at 215.563.1100

FOUNDATION SUPPORTThe Wyncote FoundationThe William Penn FoundationThe Independence FoundationMKM FoundationThe Virginia & Harvey Kimmel Family FoundationThe CHG FoundationThe Samuel S. Fels FundThe June & Steve Wolfson Family FoundationThe Lida FoundationSuzanne F. Roberts Cultural Development Fund

CorporateThe Goldenberg Group & People Helping People FoundationPhiladelphia Cultural Fund

PRODUCERS CIRCLE Honorary ProducersLouis BluverPatrick & Robin TracyAnonymous

Executive ProducersDr. & Mrs. Joel PorterAndrea SheafferDavid & Gayle Smith

ProducersDavid FedorKevin GlaccumDavid & Linda GlicksteinMr. & Mrs. Jon HarmelinKaren & David Jones

Associate ProducerMark H. Andrews & Derek CarnegieRoz DeKettMichael & Connor KernsStephen & Pamela HeishmanKevin LyonsMichael Norris & Matt VarratoLee & Charles Van de Velde

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTIdealist ($100 - $499)Robert & Mary Anne AndrewsSarah D. AntonPatrick BellJay & Nancy BerkowitzJane BibermanMartin BodtmannCindy CarterMaya Choldin & Nick KourtidesJames Crawford & Judith DeanBarton DienerNatalie Diener & Michael CosenzaHeather EvansKaren EwingMichael & Jill FeighanMary Q. FrantzDan GannonTamanya M.M. GarzaElizabeth GemmilGreg GephartBryan & Kathleen GlaccumMaureen Glaccum & David SpearsMichael Golden & Shelley GreenAnnie GoldenbergMichael N. GoldfingerSarah GoldfingerCarrie & Chad GornTerry & Paul GuerinJoanne HarmelinTheodore & Betsy HershbergStephen & Jane HeumannMichael Hollinger

Ron HunterThomas Juarez Drs. Ken & Julie KendallDan Kern & Nancy BoykinMichael & Connor KernsThomas Korman & Ann KirschnerAudrey KrisberghJacqueline LichtmanNoris W. MalveyNancy McCauley & Pat WoodsPaul MeshejianSusan MockBrian MooreSusan MurphyGenne MurphyBrian NorrisSteven OrganHoward PardueClifford PearlmanKathryn PetersenMatthew PettigrewStephen Platt & Robin SchauflerLee PorterJames & Mary RandlesKevin RiordanJason RubinMichael RuthNoreen & Eric TarrJohn TobinDito Van ReigersbergPeter C. WoolAnonymous (6)

Realist (up to $99)Maureen AckerEmily AckerS. AdelizziSuzanne Allaire & Sophia CupperRon & Diana AmesDebi ArmstrongTodd ArmstrongPeter BakerAli BarwickDeborah BenzelMark BernazzoliJane BibermanAlan & Sherry BlumenthalAlex BockDavid BradleyAnthony BraithwaiteJennifer BurkhartGail ByrneJoan O. CahanAlethia CalbeckTimothy P. CareyJose Antonio ChaconSarah ChandlerBryan & Katie ClarkChris & Peggy ClinePhyllis CohenJane Combrinck-GrahamSteve Conway & James MastersonAisha & Scott CrellinKaren DiLossi & Josh SchulmanRenee DorseyTim DoughertyKatie DowlingAnthony & Susan FaillaceFrank & Ellen FoleyJack & Laura FoleyJohn Frisbee & Jill GarlandAmanda GambierNarinda & Patricia GargLaToya GatesConnie & Bill GeorgovNan GilbertStuart GleichenhausJennie Grace GonglewskiJenn & Brady GonsalvesBrian Grace-DuffGrace GrilletAndrew GuyonNoah HermanElizabeth G. Hersch & Greg H. GoldmanFiona HankensonHeather HelinskyElizabeth Hersh & Greg Goldman

Johnnie Hobbs, Jr.Diane HodgkissKelsey HodgkissStephen HoneymanCharles HordisLaurel HostakHyphen HuffmanparentFrederick JackesLisa JohnsonRobert JonesMJ KaufmanMike & JoAnn KeanPatrice KellyDanielle Kindt & Nate TinderJulie & Roger KroppAlison KurtzDavid LathropDebby LauKendra & Obi AjubaDaniel T. LeeNatalie LevkovichMargaret LonzettaMaryAnne LyonsChris M.Michael MaddenStephen MandatoDana MarcusTim MartinShane McAleerChristopher McCarrickShawna McMenaminKevin MeehanJane MiloradovichJeffrey MorrisKaren & Rob MorrisTerry Nolen & Amy MurphyThomas O’LearyHannah OlanoffLauren OlecknaElizabeth PardueBruce PearsonSteven PeitzmanCybele M. PerryWallace & Hanna PickworthLee PorterNora & Sam QuinnPatty QuinnPhil Reeves & Nancy ZeppaJackie RennickRobyn RennickMelissa RodisAdelle RubinBozhena RyshchakMark SandbergDrucie & Mark SaxtonRobin SchauflerAmanda SchoonoverJessica SchwartzObaid SiddiquiMatt SilvaHeather SmalleyMargaret SpencerRobin StameyRichard St. ClairGreg St. GermainArin Sullivan & Andrea TaylorAnna SzapiroMiriam SzapiroNoreen & Eric TarrMark TillyKristin & Ryan TonerAllison TrimarcoAnnemarie Vaeni & Scott CaseStephen VinebergLeah WaltonNoris Weiss MalveyTammy L. WentzelDavid WierzDouglas WilliamsTed Wioncek IIIShirley YoungJulie & David ZaffaranoNeighbors ProductionsThe Smith FamilyAnonymous (2)

(List complete as of May 1, 2015)

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