Stage IIIPlaybill

Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

Gil Brady and Claire Warden. Photo by Matthew Holler.

Ben Rosenbach. Photo by Matthew Holler.

by Aaron Posneradapted from the novel by Chaim Potok

* Denotes member Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

MY NAME IS ASHER LEVby Aaron Posner

adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok

Aryeh Lev, Jacob Kahn, and others.............Nathan Kaufman*Rivkeh Lev and others.............................. Naama Potok*Asher Lev................................................ Ben Rosenbach*

Season UnderwritersGeorgia Court, Dennis & Graci McGillicuddy, Anne Nethercott

Show Co-ProducersGulf Coast Community Foundation, Herald Tribune Media Group,

Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, Virginia Lipton & Frank Malickson

Setting: Asher Lev’s Memories

Scenic Designer Bruce Price

Costume Designer Donna Riggs

Lighting DesignerTom Hansen

Stage ManagerRebekah Small*

Directed byJason Cannon

CAST(in alphabetical order)

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Originally commissioned and produced by the Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Dramaturgy by Michele Volansky.

My Name Is Asher Lev is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Services, Inc., New York.

NATHAN KAUFMAN (Aryeh Lev, Jacob Kahn, and others) is thrilled to be making his FST debut. Stage credits include Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Julius Caesar, Galileo, As You Like

It, Cymbeline, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear (The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey); Coriolanus, Pericles, Harvey (The Texas Shakespeare Festival); The Tempest, Romeo & Juliet (The Human Race Theatre Company); The Cmplete Wrks of Wllm Shkspr Abridged (Shadow Lawn Stage); Beyond Therapy, Time Flies (Bohe-mian Archaeology). Television Credits include ABC’s What Would You Do? and The View as well as Discovery Family’s American Icons. Nathan received his BFA in Acting from the Purchase College Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film and lives in New York City. www.nathankaufman.com

NAAMA POTOK (Rivkeh Lev and others) was last seen as Christine in Two Mothers at a Roadside Cafe (Schreiber Shorts Festival of Short Plays). Earlier cred-its include Rivkeh Lev, Anna

Schaeffer, and Rachel in My Name is Asher Lev at Penguin Rep Theatre and in the Off-Broad-way production, Eileen Rafferty in Slides (dir. Geraldine Fitzgerald), Scheherazade in Arabian Nights (dir. Mary Zimmerman), Greek Princess in Mirror of the Invisible World (Goodman The-atre), Katherine in Henry IV, and Manke in God of Vengeance (A Contemporary Theatre). Film credits: Christie, Waiting for Marilon Cotillard (Mediane-Art &Communication); The Chosen

(20th Century Fox); Carol, Reindeer Games.

BEN ROSENBACH (Asher Lev) is very excited to be making his FST debut playing Asher Lev. This is Ben’s second Potok/Posner show, his first was while playing Danny Saunders in

the Barrington Stage Company production of The Chosen. Other credits include: Laughter on the 23rd Floor at the Flat Rock Playhouse; South Pacific at the Engeman Theatre on Long Island; Rent at the Harbor Lights Theater Company on Staten Island. Very grateful for this extremely “worthwhile” experience.

JASON CANNON (Director) is an Associate Artist at FST, where his responsibilities include directing, acting, New Play Development, supervising the Acting Apprentice Program, and teaching in Adult Education. Most recently he directed Butler, and his performance last season as Ever Montgomery in Dancing Lessons garnered him “Best Actor of 2015” awards from both Sarasota Magazine and the Herald-Tri-bune. He holds an MFA in Directing, an MA in Drama, and a BA in Theatre and English. Proud member SDC, AEA, SAG-AFTRA. jasoncannon.biz

REBEKAH SMALL (Stage Manager) is excited to be back at Florida Studio Theatre! Her NY credits include: Trojan Women, Single Room Occupancy (NYC Fringe), and Summertime. Her Regional Credits include: Butler; Hairspray; Tom Jones; Taking Shakespeare; The World Goes ‘Round; Too Darn Hot; Spamalot; Let’s Twist Again: The Wanderer’s, and Urban Cowboys.

ARTIST PROFILES

BRUCE PRICE (Scenic Designer) joined the FST staff in 2002 as the Production Stage Manager and stage managed 14 productions. In 2004, Mr. Price was promoted to Production Manager and has overseen the technical aspects of over 100 productions here at FST. In addition, Mr. Price has designed sets, lighting, and costumes for dozens of production over his 30 year career including FST’s production of Thurgood, as well as a number of the FST Cabaret productions. Mr. Price has an MFA in Directing from the University of Houston where he studied with Edward Albee, Jose Quintero, and Stewart Ostro. Mr. Price has worked regionally at The Alley Theatre and Stage Repertory Theatre both on stage and backstage. He has found his home here at FST.

DONNA RIGGS (Costume Designer) Local costume and clothing designer, Donna Riggs is excited to costume yet another great play for FST, My Name Is Asher Lev. She has designed and styled wardrobes for movies, (Dinesh D’souza’s America, Gena Rowlands in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks) national commercials (Honda) and created costumes for corporate branding, mascots, cosplay, and recently the FST production, Butler. Donna is also an award-winning illustrator and graphic design-er. www.costumes-donnariggs.com.

TOM HANSEN (Lighting Designer) FST Credits: Soul Mates, Yesterday, and Laughing Matters. Awards: Singing In the Rain , Oklahoma!, Harvey, Philadelphia Story, The Sound of Music, Beauty & the Beast, The Great Sebastians, Mornings At Seven, Big River, and Crazy For You (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Council nominee). Favorites: The Foreigner (American Stage), Grey Gardens (freeFall Theatre) Chicago (Eight

O’clock Theatre), 42nd Street (Sarasota Players), Hairspray (Voldasta State University), Man of LaMancha (Show Palace) and Joseph...Dream-coat (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center).

AARON POSNER (Playwright) is a Helen Hayes and Barrymore Award-winning director and playwright. He is the founder and former Ar-tistic Director of Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre, is an Associate Artist at both the Folger Theatre and Milwaukee Repertoy Theatre, and has directed at major regional theatres from coast to coast including the Folger, Seattle Rep, Port-land Center Stage, The Alliance, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Arizona Theatre Company, Mil-waukee Rep, California Shakespeare Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Roundhouse Theatre, Studio Theatre, Signature Theatre, Theatre J, American Player’s Theatre and many more. His adaptations include Chaim Potok’s The Chosen and My Name Is Asher Lev (both of which have enjoyed successful runs at more than 50 other theatres across the country), Ken Kesey’s Some-times a Great Notion, Mark Twain’s A Murder, A Mystery, And A Marriage, an adaptation of three Kurt Vonnegut short stories, entitled Who Am I This Time? (and Other Conundrums of Love) and Stupid Fucking Bird, a variation on Chekhov’s Seagull. Aaron was raised in Eugene, Oregon, graduated from Northwestern University, is an Eisenhower Fellow, and lives near Washington, D.C.

SPECIAL THANKS - Thank you, Rabbi Brenner Glickman, Marian Raupp (Ritual Chair) and Judy Dean (Administrative Assistant) at Temple Emanu-El for contributing items to our ward-robe! www.sarasotatemple.org. 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232. (941) 371-2788.

ARTIST PROFILES

SEASON UNDERWRITERS

COPRODUCERS

GEORGIA COURT I love great theater and FST delivers that. FST is among the best theater companies I have seen, but it is more than a theater company. It is an organization that recognizes it is part of the greater community--and it reaches out to that community in positive, productive ways. Having FST so accessible adds to the joy of living in the fabulous arts community that is Sarasota.

DENNIS & GRACI MCGILLICUDDY FST is important to us because we believe so strongly in the transformative power of the arts. For close to 30 years now, we have been so fortunate to experience first-hand how that transformative power works its magic in the hands of an organization that is not only experienced and dedicated but so highly skilled in their craft. The values of the theater and

its leadership, as reflected in its mission, and as manifested in its work, whether it be on the main stage, in the cabaret, and in its education and community outreach programs, are values that we so strongly believe in. As a consequence, it is a privilege for us to be a part of, and supportive of this great theater.

ANNE NETHERCOTT When asked to define giving, Anne said: “My mother used to say, ‘The best way to find you is to lose yourself, by focusing on the needs of others rather than on oneself.’” So, giving has always been an important family value, which in childhood was reinforced by the community experience of surviving The Depression. Anne is proud to be a supporter of FST.

GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Together with its donors, Gulf Coast creatively invests in unique cultural assets like Florida Studio Theatre. Gulf Coast is the philanthropic home of more than 600 families who have established charitable funds there and together they have invested over $208 million in grants in the areas of arts and culture, health and human services, civic and economic development, education, and the environment. Learn more about their bold and proactive philanthropy at GulfCoastCF.org.

The HERALD-TRIBUNE MEDIA GROUP enjoys a history in this community that spans more than 90 years. Partnering with organizations such as Florida Studio Theatre allows us to contribute to our region’s rich creative culture in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice, providing an unparalleled media landscape through the newspaper, HeraldTribune.com, HT Studio, and popular niche sites such as TicketSarasota.com.

THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE’S mission is to strengthen Jewish life and identity in our community, provide for Jewish people in need, and promote support for Israel. Sponsoring FST’s production of My Name Is Asher Lev gives Federation the opportunity to expose the greater Sarasota-Manatee community to a glimpse of Jewish life and Jewish tradition. Our partnership with FST allows us to support innovative educational initiatives such as The Roots of Hatred: Anti-Semitism Yesterday and Today.

VIRGINIA LIPTON & FRANK MALICKSON Florida Studio Theatre: A deceptively simple name for a brilliant inspiration. First, naturally, I think of dazzling theater: thought-provoking plays, superbly acted and produced. But then I think of other FST programs: Talk backs, Fireside Chats, new play readings, the Readers’ Circle, all of which test, deepen and promote understanding of the theater. FST is not just theater, but also a studio, a crucible, for completing and enhancing the theatrical experience.

FST FORUMSGlossary of Yiddish Vocabulary

Bubbela: A term of endearment, like “darling” or “sweetheart.”Chochkes: Trinkets.Dreidels: A spinning top; There is a Hebrew letter embossed or printed on each of the dreidel’s four sides. These four letters form the acronym of the phrase: Nes gadol hayah sham, “A great miracle happened there”; a reference to the Chanukah miracle that transpired in the Land of Israel.

Eretz Yisroel: Greater Israel. Gevalt!: “For heaven’s sake!” or “My God!”Goy: (singluar) Gentile, or non-Jew; outsider.Goyim: (plural) Gentiles.Goyishe Narishkeit: directly translates to “Gentile foolishness”; or pleasures that only non-Jews would enjoy.Guttenu: “Good Heavens”; an exclamation of disbelief.Kabbalah: Directly translates to “to receive”; a school of thought founded in Judaism which teaches a way of looking at how the universe works and how to receive fulfillment from life. All branches of our lives stem from one root, and the principles of the universe affect all people the same way, regardless of faith, religion, ethnicity, etc. Kibud ov: “Honor your father.”Moshiach: “Anointed one”; The Messiah.Nu...: “Well...?” or “So?”Passover Seder: A Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Pesach: Passover.Rashi: Famous 11th century commentator on the Bible and Talmud.Reb: A title of respect for a man who is not a Rabbi.

Join us for a panel discussion!The Roots of Hatred: Anti-Semitism Yesterday and Today

March 31 from 5:00pm -6:00pm

Also join the online discussion at www.fst-blog.com

FST FORUMS

Character Names and Meanings

Rebbe: “Rabbi”; meaning “master” or “teacher.”Ribbono Shel Oylom: “Master of the World”; used to refer to God.Shabbos: Judaism’s day of rest and seventh day of the week, the Sabbath.Shofar: Horn sounded on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.Shul: School, or SynagogueSiddur: A Jewish prayer book of daily prayers. Sitra Achra: Directly translates to “The other side”; refers to the side of every soul that contains “evil” forces, concealing us from God.Talis: A prayer shawl. Talmud: A collection of interpretations and commentary on the Torah. Torah: Definition varies with context; can refer to the Hebrew bible or the five books of Moses.Yeshiva: Jewish school of high Talmudic learning.Zemiros: Jewish hymns.

Asher: Hebrew, meaning “happy” or “blessed.”Aryeh: Also spelled Arieh; Hebrew meaning “lion.”Rivkeh: Is the Hebrew form of “Rebecca”; also spelled Rivka, or Rivqah in Hebrew, or Rifka in Yiddish. Rivqah most closely translates to “captivating” in Hebrew.Lev: Hebrew, meaning “heart.”

366.90001241 North Palm Avenue • Downtown Sarasota, FL 34236

www.floridastudiotheatre.org • info@floridastudiotheatre.org

FST COMPANYBOARD OF TRUSTEES

President.........................................Dennis McGillicuddyVice-President........................................Richard HopkinsSecretary/Treasurer..........................................Tom HayesTrustee........................................................Kate AlexanderTrustee...........................................Carol Poteat BuchananTrustee.........................................................Georgia CourtTrustee.....................................................Patricia CourtoisTrustee.............................................................Harold JoelsTrustee........................................................Barbara LupoffTrustee......................................................Jennifer Michell

EXECUTIVE STAFFProducing Artistic Director……..........Richard HopkinsAssociate Director.....................................Kate AlexanderManaging Director................................Rebecca Hopkins

ARTISTIC STAFFCasting/Hiring Coordinator.....................James AshfordResident Pianist...............................................Jim ProsserAssociate Artist...........................................Jason CannonAssociate Artist................................Catherine RandazzoAssistant to the Artistic Director................Doris IemoloDirector of Improvisation................................Will Luera

PRODUCTION STAFFProduction Manager….............................….Bruce PriceProduction Office Manager.................Joseph GoepfrichGompertz Stage Manager..................................Roy JohnsKeating Stage Manager..............................Rebekah Small Technical Director.........................................Tom HansenScene Shop Supervisor..................................Dan YermanCostume Shop Manager….................Susan AngermannProps/Paint Supervisor.........................Kristine Kreutzer

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFIT Manager....................................................Lee SchlosserAssociate Managing Director......................Jim Sorensen Business Manager.................................Carmen GonzalezBookeeper......................................................... Kim SmithAsst. to the Managing Dir....................Phyllis SilvermanOperations Manager.........................Mark QuackenbushCompany Manager......................................Luke JohnsonMarketing Director.......................................Audra LangePublic Relations Associate........................Nicole Clayton Marketing Assistant.............................Mackenzie NilsenDirector of Audience Services........Kaylene TorregrossaDevelopment Associate.................................Steve TurrisiDevelopment Associate............................Corriane OsterTicket Operations Manager.....................Kathleen SmithBox Office Manager...................................Jill ZakrzewskiAsst. Box Office Manager.............................Gigi DelperoAsst. Box Office Manager...........................Kelsey WehdeAsst. Box Office Manager..........................David WallaceRestaurant Manager.........................................Tom CurryRestaurant Manager....................................Karen Kraster

Restaurant Manager......................................Josh Rodoski

Restaurant Manager.....................................Kalin Delfino Receptionist..................................................Joan O’Dowd

EDUCATION & TOURSDirector of Children’s Theatre................Caroline KaiserInterim Director of Education...........Christine HopkinsEducation Administrator............................Pamela SmithTeaching Artist/YPF Coordinator.............Adam Ratner WRITE A PLAY Coordinator............Patrick A. Jackson

COMMUNITY RESOURCE GROUP

AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT GROUPHon. Larry L. Eger Mr. Trevor Harvey Commissioner Carolyn Mason Dr. Lisa Merritt Dr. Eddy Regnier Mayor Willie Charles Shaw Rabbi Howard Simon Mr. Howard Tevlowitz Mr. Tom Tryon Mr. Paul White, LCSW Chief Judge Charles E. Williams

OUTSIDE ASSISTANCEHouse Counsel..........................................John PattersonFacility Custodian..............................Carlos De Oliveira.......................................Confidence Cleaning CompanyCaretaker..........................................................Doctor Nik

INTERN COMPANYActing Apprentice..................................Julia AmundsonActing Apprentice.................................Alison CampbellActing Apprentice..................................Trevor CatalanoActing Apprentice..........................................Allison DayActing Apprentice......................................Andrew DeebActing Apprentice........................................Jason HewettActing Apprentice....................................Kourtney PaigeActing Apprentice............................................T.J. PatrickActing Apprentice.......................................Cat PattersonActing Apprentice.............................................Peter RuizActing Apprentice...................Timothy VanBeverhoudtArtistic Intern................................................Dana ErnestCarpentry Intern...................................Johnnie SchleyerCostume Intern.....................................Abdiel Portalat í nDevelopment Intern..............................Dana BesmanoffEducation Intern........................................Jennifer FullerLiterary Intern.......................................Noah ScheibmeirLiterary Intern....................................David OsmundsenLiterary Intern............................................Blake LouthanLiterary Intern...............................................Katie BooneProps & Paint Intern........................Stephanie GonzalezProd./Sound Intern......................Allison-Marie MolnaaStage Management Intern........................Julienne BaileyStage Management Intern.....................Samantha CastleStage Management Intern...............Kellie McMenemonStage Management Intern...............................Matt NeierStage Management Intern.........................Mariah Young

Betty NimtzGene Noble

Jim RoqueSheila RoseIna Schnell

Alan Schottenstein Lois Schottenstein

Ann WurlitzerFred Wurlitzer

Dale Berkowitz Howard DossAlfred GoldsteinJanet HeveyBob IsraeloffBonny IsraeloffValerie JoelsDaniel Mandelker Dick Nimtz