BWW Stage Mag Cry It Out - Capital Stage Stage Mag
 

Artistic Director Michael Stevenson &
Managing Director Keith Riedell Present


CRY IT OUT

by Molly Smith Metzler

Directed by Judith Moreland

May 1 - June 2, 2024

PERFORMANCE LENGTH:  1 Hour, 40 Minutes, No Intermission


FEATURING:

Carissa Meagher      Luisa Frasconi*     

Rinabeth Apostol*      Jason Kuykendall*

 
Scenic Designer
Caleb Jones
 
Lighting Designer 
Shae Mercer
Costume Designer
Rebecca A. Valentino
Sound Designer
Ed Lee
  Properties Designer
Riley Cisneros-Gruenthal
     

 

Stage Manager
Erika L. Placencia*
 
     
Assistant Stage Manager
Yasmine Salmeron

 

SPONSORED BY:
Ted Cobb

 

SEASON WINE SPONSOR:

 

CRY IT OUT is produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.,
of Woodstock, Illinois.
World premiere in the 2017 Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville.

 
*Member Actors' Equity Association 
 

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OUR MISSION

Capital Stage’s mission is to entertain, engage and challenge our audience with bold, thought provoking theatre.

 


 

THINGS TO KNOW

HEALTH & SAFETY:

Visit our COVID-19 Safety Protocols & Procedures Page to stay up to date on our Health & Safety requirements and recommendations. 

 

VIDEO/PHOTOS:

Recording and photography during the performance are prohibited at Capital Stage by copyright law and union regulations.

 

CELL PHONES:

Patrons are asked to turn any noise making devices off upon entering the theatre.

 

LATE SEATING & RE-SEATING:

Due to the design of our theatre, we cannot guarantee seating for late arrivals or for patrons who leave the theatre during the performance. As a courtesy to our artists and our audiences, late arrivals will be seated in a suitable location by our staff if possible and at the appropriate intervals.

 

REFRESHMENTS:

Only concession items purchased in the Wine & Dessert Bar are allowed in the theatre, patio and lobby areas. Yes, you can bring your drinks and snacks into the theatre!

 

CHILDREN:

Capital Stage is noted for bringing intimate bold productions to our region and we encourage young adults to experience a live performance. Children age sixteen and up are welcome at Capital Stage unless specifically noted in the production’s description.

 

WHEELCHAIR SEATING:

Seating locations at Capital Stage for patrons using wheelchairs or with limited mobility are located in the first row. Tickets for these seats may be purchased in person or by calling the Box Office at 916-995-5464. Please call ahead to notify the staff if you required these seats.

 

RESTROOMS:

Restroom facilities are located in the lounge behind the Wine & Dessert Bar.

 

INFORMATION:

Brochures and information about upcoming Capital Stage productions and events are available in the box office or by visiting capstage.org.

 


 

 

Capital Stage is a member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

 

 

Capital Stage is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre.

 

Capital Stage is a member of the National New Play Network, the country’s alliance of leading nonprofit theaters that champion the development, production and continued life of new plays.

 

 

Capital Stage is a member of Blue Star Theatres, offering discounts to Military personnel, Military family members, and Veterans.

 

 

 

SDC is the theatrical union that unites, empowers, and protects professional Stage Directors and Choreographers throughout the United States.

Sponsors

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Cast

Carissa Meagher
Jessie
Luisa Frasconi*
Lina
Rinabeth Apostol*
Adrienne
Jason Kuykendall*
Mitchell

Creative Team

Molly Smith Metzler

Playwright

Judith Moreland

Director

Erika L. Plancencia*

Stage Manager

Yasmine Salmeron

Assistant Stage Manager

Shelby Saumier

Assistant to the Director

Michael Stevenson

Artistic Director

Keith Riedell

Managing Director

Tony Gabrielson

Production Manager

Caleb Jones

Technical Director/Scenic Designer

Rebecca A. Valentino

Costume Designer

Shae Mercer

Lighting Designer/Lead Electrician

Ed Lee

Sound Designer/Engineer

Riley Cisneros-Gruenthal

Properties Designer

David Harris

Dialect Coach

Nicole C. Limón

Dramaturg

K. Kevyne Baar

Resident Dramaturg

Samantha McLean Haas

Scenic Charge Artist

Special Thanks

Joe Bertolucci, Affordable Heating & Air, Inc.

Donna Chipps

Di Arie Vineyard & Winery

Jim Hensley, President Abbey Flooring, Inc.

Oak Park Brewing Company

Shirlee Tully


 

 

Production Staff

Artistic Director - MICHAEL STEVENSON

Production & Company Manager - TONY GABRIELSON

Technical Director/Scenic Designer - CALEB JONES

Lead Carpenter - CONOR WOODS

Technician & Marketing Assistant - ANDREW FRIDAE

Carpenter, Painter - SUNNY MACKEY

Lighting Designer/Lead Electrician - SHAE MERCER

Dialect Coach - DAVID HARRIS

Scenic Charge Artist - SAMANTHA McLEAN HAAS

Sound Designer & Engineer - ED LEE

Lighting Supervisor - ISAIAH LEEPER

Electricians - ISAIAH LEEPER, SHAE MERCER, EVA HERNANDEZ

Stage Manager - ERIKA L. PLACENCIA*

Assistant Stage Manager - YASMINE SALMERON

Assistant to the Director - SHELBY SAUMIER^

Properties Designer - RILEY CISNEROS-GRUENTHAL

Costume Designer - REBECCA A. VALENTINO

Build Crew - SUNNY MACKEY, CONOR WOODS 

Painters - SAMANTHA McLEAN HAAS, CALEB JONES, SUNNY MACKEY, CONOR WOODS

Wardrobe/Run Crew - FATEMEH MEHRABAN^, SHELBY SAUMIER^

Sub Wardrobe/Run Crew - MADDIE JUDD^, OSCAR QUEZADA^

BIAPOC Liaison - VERNON LEWIS

Resident Dramaturg - K. KEVYNE BAAR 

Dramaturg - NICOLE C. LIMÓN

Infection Control Manager - ELIJAH PETERS

Graphic Designer, Webmaster - MISTY MCDOWELL

Graphic Artist - DAN LYDERSEN

Photographer - CHARR CRAIL

 

^ Capital Stage Apprentice  |  * Member Actors' Equity Association


 

About The Play

by K. Kevyne Baar, PhD

 

“The point of the play is that what we do as women is lose-lose. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. You will always question your decision. There’s so much societal pressure to have it all, and having it all is a lie. It doesn’t exist.” – Molly Smith Metzler 

 

The villages that make up the city of Port Washington are only 35 minutes from New York City’s Penn Station. Our play takes place in the village of Manorhaven, heavily populated, middle-class or quite rundown yet in the shadow of the uber wealthy Sands Point. Years ago, when I was working with the Martha Graham Dance Company, we received a grant from Port Washington to bring dancers to teach at the local school. It was there that we learned that our students came from the middle-class, the quite rundown and the wealthy. It was the promise of these schools that attracted parents such as the ones you will meet in this play. 


In adjoining backyards, we first meet Jessie, a corporate lawyer married to a North Shore native who looks to move up in Port Washington society. Jessie’s backyard abuts that of Lina, a nurse from the South Shore who needs to get back to work for the family to survive. As the play continues, we will meet Mitchell, a wealthy dad who hopes that his wife Adrienne, also a new mother, might be able to come down from their Sands Point home and join the obvious camaraderie he has observed Jessie and Lina engaging in.


Prior to the play’s 2018 opening at the Dorset Theatre Festival in Vermont, our playwright sat down for a conversation with fellow playwright Dominique Morisseau. For Metzler, a major challenge was the title. She remembered that the two main characters briefly talk about the “cry it out sleep method…a disputed, controversial method of teaching your baby to sleep through the night by leaving them to scream their lungs out.” 


But for this play, it is not just the child who is crying out. For Metzler, “this play is about the challenges facing new parents. It’s about how unfair the socioeconomics of childcare is in this country. People talk about going back to work after you have a child like it’s always a choice. Or they make it a feminist issue, making new mothers feel like they’re stuck in the 1950s if they want to stay home, or they’re cold-hearted careerists if they don’t want to stay home. We make it black and white, and we’re so judgmental. But it’s a very complicated, personal, emotional, and financial thing.”


“When we go into rehearsal, I warn the cast up front. I say: This play will make people uncomfortable. How we raise our children is a triggering topic, as is a woman’s role in the home. There’s a cloud of sexism around these issues. But that doesn’t mean we can apologize for the play. We cannot soften Adrienne, and we cannot answer Jessie’s question for her. We can’t mute or alter this play to protect the people who won’t go on the ride. Our job is to tell it raw and ugly, like it really is.”

 


 

About The Playwright

by K. Kevyne Baar, PhD

 

“People talk about babies like they are just going to slide into this life that you already have. And everything changes and you don’t necessarily have choices, which is something I experienced and witnessed in some of my new friendships, and I really felt like that question belonged onstage.” – Molly Smith Metzler

 

Award-winning playwright and screenwriter, Molly Smith Metzler was born and raised in Kingston, New York. Through a number of wonderful interviews done in and around this play, we have a good picture of how someone just might become that award-winning playwright and then television and screen writer. 


When asked if she always knew she would be a writer, Metzler replied, “I actually didn’t know that I was always going to be a writer. However, from very early on, my mom knew I was a sensitive soul, so she got me interested in illuminated journaling which includes writing and illustration. My journal didn’t include gossip or crushes…it was more about feelings I experienced…my spiritual response to stuff happening around me.” 


After high school, Metzler decided to major in English at SUNY Genesco. On the way to becoming an academic, she “randomly took a playwriting class,” and fell in “love at first sight.” She went on to study at Boston University, The Juilliard School, and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where she earned an MFA in Dramatic Writing.


A post-collegiate trip took her to Martha’s Vineyard where she thought that perhaps she might gather material she could use for “a newly hatched playwriting career.” Her keen powers of observation led to her first successful production in March of 2011, Elemeno Pea presented as part of the 35th anniversary of the Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, Kentucky, and described as “a keenly observed comedy about ambition, regret, and the choices that shape who we become.”


In December of 2011, her play Close Up Space drew a decidedly different response from the New York critics. As Metzler put it, the show “bombed.” Not long after, she and her husband “accidentally got pregnant” and moved to Port Washington. Her husband began teaching and she raised their daughter, who was born in November 2012. After almost three years of being a full-time mother, Metzler was ready to start working professionally again, starting what would become a successful television and film career in 2015. 


Not one to leave those three years of early motherhood experience behind, Metzler wrote Cry It Out which premiered in 2018, has had more than seventy-five productions across the country, winning the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Playwriting (2018) and the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award Citation (2018). Her other awards include the Harold and Mimi Steinberg National Student Playwriting Award from The Kennedy Center, the David Mark Cohen Award from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), and the Mark Twain Prize for Comic Playwriting. She has also been multi-awarded for her work on the screen including a Writers Guild of America Award for her Netfllix series Maid and has written features for Universal, Disney and Fox 2000.

 


 

Meet the Company

Carissa Meagher

Jessie
Carissa Meagher - Jessie Carissa Meagher is an actor, director, playwright, and theatre instructor. Some of her recent acting work includes the title role in ANTIGONE and THE MOORS (Big Idea Theatre); BRILLIANT TRACES (Ovation Stage); AN OCTOROON and ANNA KARENINA (Capital Stage); THE LITTLE PRINCE, TARTUFFE and HENRY IV (The Theater at Monmouth in Maine); STEEL MAGNOLIAS, MACBETH, and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Sacramento Theatre Company) as well as roles in short films and commercials. As a playwright, Carissa has been featured at Capital Stage, in the Dublin Fringe Festival, and, most recently, her adaptation of Jane Austen’s NORTHANGER ABBEY opened Sacramento Theatre Company’s 75th anniversary season. She holds a BFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and an MFA in Playwriting from Ireland’s RADA affiliate school, The Lir Academy.

Luisa Frasconi*

Lina
Luisa Frasconi* - Lina (she/her) CRY IT OUT marks Luisa’s Cap Stage debut. Most recent credits include POTUS at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, WHITE at Shotgun Players and the world premiere of COW PIE BINGO by Larissa FastHorse at Alter Theatre. Marin Shakespeare Company credits; MEASURE FOR MEASURE, THREE MUSKETEERS, OTHELLO, ROMEO & JULIET, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, AS YOU LIKE IT, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. Additional Bay Area shows THE LIAR and TAMING OF SHREW at Livermore Shakespeare Festival, MECHANICS OF LOVE at Crowded Fire Theatre, and DETROIT at Aurora Theatre Company. Training; Shakespeare & Company. Dedicated to all moms, especially single moms, and her two daughters.

Rinabeth Apostol*

Adrienne
Rinabeth Apostol* - Adrienne Rinabeth is happy to return to Cap Stage after appearing onstage in THE CHINESE LADY, SMART PEOPLE, VIETGONE and THE GREAT LEAP virtual production. She has appeared in many new works onstage at American Conservatory Theater, Actors Theater of Louisville, Seattle Rep, TheatreWorks, California Shakespeare Theatre, The Magic, Arizona Theater Company, East West Players, Skirball Center for the Arts, and Berkeley Rep Ground Floor, among others. 2022-2023 productions include MY HOME ON THE MOON (world premiere, SF Playhouse), BALD SISTERS (San Jose Stage), HAMLET (Marin Shakes), little brown gIRL (her one-woman show, Long Beach), SOUTH PACIFIC (Billings Symphony), FUN HOME (42nd Street Moon), MONUMENT: FOUR SISTERS or A SLOTH PLAY (world premiere, Magic Theatre) and RED WINGED BLACKBIRD (world premiere, Berkeley). Recent directing projects include FUTURE IS FEMALE for USF’s Words of the Wise Festival and co-directing and choreographing over 100+ students in THE LION KING JR. Offstage, she often lends her voice to commercials, video games and children’s toys; and most recently to Sirius XM/Marvel’s UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL Podcast as Gretchen Campbell. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity, SAG-AFTRA and Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company. For my mommy. @rbdtwo or rinabeth.com

Jason Kuykendall*

Mitchell
Jason Kuykendall* - Mitchell Jason Kuykendall is a member of the B Street Theatre’s Acting Company. He has performed in over 60 productions there, including LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, and recently THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. Favorite regional credits include A LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (Edmund) with Arizona Theatre Company, OF MICE AND MEN (Lenny) with Sacramento Theatre Company, THE ELEPHANT MAN (Treves), with Theatre Works, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Brick) with St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse and LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES (Valmont), IDEATION (Brock), and STUPD F##KING BIRD here at Capital Stage.

Molly Smith Metzler

Playwright
Molly Smith Metzler - Playwright Molly Smith Metzler is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter from Kingston, N.Y. She is the creator and showrunner of the limited series Maid, which debuted on Netflix in October 2021 and spent 13 weeks on the top-10 list, viewed by more than 67 million households. In March 2022, Maid won the Writers Guild of America (WGA) Award for Outstanding Writing of a Limited Series–Adapted Long Form, and was named a “TV Program of the Year” by the AFI (American Film Institute). It also received award nominations from The Golden Globes, SAG, the Critics’ Choice Awards, NAACP, and more. Metzler’s TV credits include several seasons of Shameless (Showtime), Casual (Hulu) and Orange Is the New Black (Netflix). In film, she’s written features for Universal, Disney and Fox 2000. As a playwright, Metzler’s plays, including CRY IT OUT, ELEMENO PEA, THE MAY QUEEN, CARVE, CLOSE UP SPACE and TRAINING WISTERIA, have been produced at Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC), Humana Festival/Actors Theatre of Louisville, South Coast Repertory, Northlight Theatre, Studio Theatre (DC), Detroit Public Theatre, City Theatre (Pittsburg), Geva Theatre Center, Chautauqua Theater Company and many more. Her play CRY IT OUT won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Playwriting (2018) and the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award Citation (2018). Her other awards include the Harold and Mimi Steinberg National Student Playwriting Award from The Kennedy Center, the David Mark Cohen Award from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), and the Mark Twain Prize for Comic Playwriting. Metzler is a proud alumna of SUNY Geneseo, Boston University, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and the Juilliard School, where she was a two-time recipient of the Lecomte du Nouy Prize from Lincoln Center.

Judith Moreland

Director
Judith Moreland - Director Judith Moreland’s directing credits include AN OCTOROON at the Fountain Theatre (Hollywood), SMART PEOPLE, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY and AN OCTOROON at Capital Stage (Sacramento), EVERYBODY at Art of Acting/Stella Adler (Hollywood), AT THE TABLE and PICTURES FROM HOME (virtual) at The Road Theatre (North Hollywood), SPACE AVAILABLE at The Inkwell Theater (LA) and INTO THE WOODS and THE MINEOLA TWINS at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television where she is a professor of theater. Her acting film and television credits include the upcoming "Nightbitch", "Aftermath", "Dark Skies", "Eagle Eye", "Magnum", "Upload", "Blackish", "PEN15", "Grey’s Anatomy", "SWAT", "NCIS", and recurring roles on "Bosch" and "Animal Kingdom". She’s performed on and Off-Broadway and has worked with many theater companies including the New York Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights Horizons, American Conservatory Theater, Meadow Brook Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theater/LA and the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles. judithmoreland.com

Erika L. Plancencia*

Stage Manager
Erika L. Plancencia* - Stage Manager Erika Placencia is excited to be making her professional debut at Capital Stage as the production stage manager for CRY IT OUT. She has been an assistant stage manager at Capital Stage for AMERICAN FAST, HOMBRES and HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING. She was also a stage management intern at Broadway at Music Circus. She was also assistant stage manager for B Street Theatre’s ‘TIS THE SEASON. She earned her first degree in Media and Communication studies from University of Maryland University College and received her second degree from William Jessup University with Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. She is a proud Air Force Veteran and is happy being able to live her dreams through the support of her family.

Yasmine Salmeron

Assistant Stage Manager
Yasmine is thrilled to be a part of the team at Capital Stage. Recent graduate from the University of California Davis earning a BA in Theatre & Dance and Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies. At UC Davis earning credits as ASM for DEATH AND HARRY HOUDINI (The Musical) and ALONE/TOGETHER. In collaboration with directors and designers they have also assisted on SMART PEOPLE, GLORIA, THE WICKHAMS: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY, and THE CHINESE LADY. A true jack of many trades - stagehand, wardrobe and makeup assistant, production manager, etc. Yasmine looks forward to fostering community through her passion for theatre and the arts and continuing to master her craft.

Shelby Saumier

Assistant to the Director
Shelby Saumier is thrilled to be a part of Capital Stage for their 2023/24 season as an apprentice, where they are honing their theater skills both on and off the stage. Most recently, Shelby had the privilege of learning under the brilliant guidance of Judith Moreland while assistant directing for CRY IT OUT by Molly Smith Metzler. Shelby's passion for theater is also evident in their diverse acting credits, including memorable roles such as Cel in THE MOST MASSIVE WOMAN WINS (Capital Stage), Witch #3 in MACBETH (Sacramento Shakespeare Festival), Anne Elliot in BEYOND PERSUASION (City Theatre), Henry V in HENRY V (Sacramento Shakespeare Festival), Florinda in THE ROVER (Big Idea Theatre), Claudio in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Women’s Wildflower Ensemble), and Yvonne Chandel in A FLEA IN HER EAR (ARC). Shel is most grateful for the unwavering support of their family, friends, and life partner Reilly.

Michael Stevenson

Artistic Director
For Capital Stage, Michael has directed ARCHDUKE, HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING, GLORIA, THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT, ADMISSIONS, THE HUMANS, THE OTHER PLACE, SWEAT, THE THANKSGIVING PLAY, LUNA GALE, STUPID F##KING BIRD, HOW TO USE A KNIFE, DISGRACED, MR. BURNS, IDEATION, CLYBOURNE PARK, MAURITIUS, ERRATICA (World Premiere), and LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES. He has directed at regional theaters including: B Street Theater, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Orlando Shakespeare Company, Perseverance Theater Company, and Sacramento Theater Company. As an actor he has appeared at many regional theaters including: 42nd Street Moon, American Conservatory Theater, The Aurora Theater, Bailiwick Repertory Theater, Capital Stage, B Street Theater, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theater. He holds an M.F.A. from the American Conservatory Theater.

Keith Riedell

Managing Director
Keith celebrates his 17th year at Capital Stage, joining the company early in the second season. He brings to Capital Stage his varied experiences in the theatre, management, team building, counseling, training and corporate improvement. In his role as Managing Director he hopes to make Capital Stage a world class place to work, while playing an important role in the social justice efforts in our region.

Tony Gabrielson

Production Manager
Tony has worked with many theaters and dance companies locally and around the country over the last 15 years as a stage manager, carpenter, painter, and technician. Favorite productions include: DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST with Barter Theater in Abingdon, VA, ON BORROWED TIME at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ, and developmental workshops of BOTTLESHOCK! THE MUSICAL. He is blessed and beyond grateful to continue working as an artist in our community. Love and thanks to Jessa and Piper - his favorite people.

Caleb Jones

Technical Director/Scenic Designer
Caleb is proud to be joining Capital Stage as Technical Director for the 23/24 season. He is new to Sacramento but has worked at the San Diego REPertory theater and with several theaters within Fresno county. This year serves as his 10th year in the field, and he hopes you enjoy our shows. Lots of love to Clarissa and all of his loved ones.

Rebecca A. Valentino

Costume Designer
Rebecca is delighted to return to Capital Stage where previous productions include AMERICAN FAST, HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING, GLORIA, THE WOLVES and THE GREAT LEAP! Rebecca has worked with many local companies including, The Aurora Theatre Company, 42nd Street Moon, Center REPertory Theatre and Solano College Theatre where she also served as the Costume Shop Supervisor from 2005-2012 and Adjunct professor of Costume and Theatre from 2007-2020. In addition she designed costumes for the Short Film GENERATIONS directed by Kourosh Ahari (The Night). She earned a BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MFA from the University of Michigan. Rebecca is currently the Costume Director for the Theatre and Dance Department at UC Davis.

Shae Mercer

Lighting Designer/Lead Electrician
Shae Mercer is excited to be designing CRY IT OUT as her first professional show. She has been working as Capital Stage’s Lead Electrician for the last year. She has previously worked on projects, including her lighting design thesis, HEARTS LIKE FISTS, at Southern Oregon University, and HEATHERS, at Sacramento Theatre Company. She is overjoyed to be stepping into the professional design world, right here on her home turf. CRY IT OUT will forever hold a special place in her heart, both for the message and a keystone project in her professional career.

Ed Lee

Sound Designer/Engineer
Ed is delighted to be part of another season at Capital Stage. He has been involved in almost every production since the company’s aquatic days at the Delta King, from artwork for SPEECH AND DEBATE to appearing in FIRST PERSON SHOOTER. Favorite sound design credits include: MASTER CLASS; SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME; 4000 MILES; MISTAKES WERE MADE; RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN; and UNCANNY VALLEY.

Riley Cisneros-Gruenthal

Properties Designer

David Harris

Dialect Coach
David is a certified theatrical vocal coach through VASTA. He has coached performers in dialects and speech for several Capital Stage productions over the past fifteen years. David directed PROOF for Capital Stage and has performed under the name Harry Harris in HOW TO USE A KNIFE, among others at Cap Stage and around the country.

Nicole C. Limón

Dramaturg
Nicole is a multidisciplinary theatre artist: an actor/director/dramaturg, and theatre faculty at California State University, Sacramento. She most recently directed: BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK (Celebration Arts,) JUST A PINCH: A UTERUS PLAY (Matriarchy,) EVERYBODY; and DANCE NATION (CSUS,) and WATER BY THE SPOONFUL (Teatro Espejo.) She is also a Theatrical Intimacy Director committed to creating consent-forward spaces for artists and is honored to be working with Capital Stage in this capacity. Locally, she has consulted with and staged intimacy for Capital Stage, B Street Theatre, CSUS, Teatro Espejo, Celebration Arts and Sacramento Theatre Company. She is founder of Matriarchy Theatre and local collective Sacramento Theatres of Color, an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and holds an MFA in Acting from UC Davis. Follow her work @matriarchytheatre

K. Kevyne Baar

Resident Dramaturg
Kevyne is thrilled to be a member of the Capital Stage family as the Resident Dramaturg. Productions include GLORIA, HEROES of the FOURTH TURNING, PREDICTOR, and most recently, ARCHDUKE. A member of Viola Spolin’s Young Actors’ Company who became an Equity Stage Manager, and then the Field Representative for Actors’ Equity’s Western Regional Office, she returned to school in 2001 to work on a PhD. This led to her being Equity’s archivist at the Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at New York University. Kevyne moved from Brooklyn, NY to Davis, CA in 2015, and in 2019 her book, Broadway and the Blacklist was published.

Samantha McLean Haas

Scenic Charge Artist
Samantha has been painting sets for over a decade in the greater Sacramento area. She's worked at Sacramento City College, Sierra College, University of California Davis, Sacramento Theatre Company, B Street, and Broadway at Music Circus. This is her fourth season with Capital Stage.

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA)

Founded in 1913, this union represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence.

Capital Stage Staff

MICHAEL STEVENSON - Artistic Director

KEITH RIEDELL - Managing Director

KIRK BLACKINTON - Development Manager

TONY GABRIELSON - Production & Company Manager

MISTY MCDOWELL - Marketing Manager

LOGAN JACOB GERMANO-HELLER – Education & Box Office Manager

AVERY HERSEK - Box Office Associate

THEODORE ALEXANDER - House Manager

CALEB JONES - Technical Director/Scenic Designer

CONOR WOODS - Lead Carpenter

SUNNY MACKEY - Carpenter, Painter

ED LEE - Resident Sound Designer & Engineer

ISAIAH LEEPER - Lighting Supervisor

SHAE MERCER - Lead Electrician/Lighting Designer

ANDREW FRIDAE - Technician & Marketing Assistant

CECILIA CASTILLO JUAREZ - Concessions & Box Office Associate 

YASMINE SALMERON - Production Associate

K. KEVYNE BAAR - Resident Dramaturg

JAMIE JONES, PETER MOHRMANN, GAIL RUSSELL, JANIS STEVENS – Associate Artists

ELIJAH PETERS - Infection Control Manager, Payroll & Administrative Assistant

2023/24 SEASON APPRENTICE COMPANY - Maddie Judd, Fatemeh Mehraban, Oscar Quezada, Shelby Saumier


 

Capital Stage Board Members

Chastity E. Benson
California State Association of Counties

Dan Brunner, Treasurer
Arts Patron

Melissa Conner
Seed Communications Design

Kathryn E. Doi, Board President
Feldesman Leifer LLP

Sherry Hartel Haus
Downey Brand

Leili Khalessi
California Dept. of Human Resources

Steve Koonce
Arts Patron

Dena Martinez
Talen Agent, Director, Actor

Kristi Quesada Mathisen
Sacramento Country Day School

Lori Abbott Moreland
Arts Patron

Brian Rickel
Dean of Arts, Media & Entertainment at Cosumnes River College

Vince Sales
Everyday Impact Consulting

Mike Tentis
University of the Pacific

Peggy Wheeler
California Hospital Association


Board Emeritus:

Stephanie Gularte, Founding Artistic Director
Capital Stage

Peter Mohrmann, Co-founder
Capital Stage

Jonathan Williams, Co-Founder
Capital Stage

Clif McFarland
Mitchell Chadwick

Arlen Orchard
SMUD

Julie Stark
Arts Patron


 

Donors

Special Thanks to our Donors

Donation Totals from 5/1/23 to 5/1/24

Please alert us to any errors or omissions by contacting Development Manager, Kirk Blackinton at kblackinton@capstage.org.


 

Founder's Circle: $20,000+

Kathryn Doi
Lesley & Steve Koonce
Anita Scuri & James Simon

 

Executive Producer: $10,000+

John Abbott & Lori Abbott Moreland
Dan Brunner
Jeffrey Farley & Mike Tentis
Gloriette C. Fong
Kris Martin
Art & Sue Scotland

 

Producer: $6,000+

Chastity Benson
Susie & Jim Burton
Donna Chipps
Ted Cobb
Drs. John & Lois Crowe
Steven Debry
Downey Brand
Linda McAtee & Steve Sphar
Leonard Vincent Sales
Ed Telfeyan & Jeri Paik
Gloria & Don Yost

 

Director: $3,000+

Melissa Conner & Theodore Harris
Theresa Corrigan
Kathy Davenport & Ken Weiss
Susan Edling
Foundation for California Community Colleges
Deborah Franklin & Douglas Mitten
LSL Fund
Patty Garcia & Jim Mattesich
Tuan Hoang
Scott & Linda Lasher
Bob Mandelson
Clif McFarland
Keetha Mills & Phil Nanni
Gretchen Peralta
Ken Rothaus
Kim Silvers & Sheila Cardno
Howard Slyter
Marty & Janet Steiner
Patricia Wall & David Stavarek
Susan Wheeler

 

Lead Actor: $1,200+

Chris Abare
Anonymous
Jacob Appelsmith
Ann Bailey
Peggy Beasley
David Bell & Katherine Newman
Linda Brandenburger
Karen Broido
Dr. William Bronston & Lisa Levering
John & Randi Brooklier
Lyndsay Burch
Margaret L Buss
Les & Peggy Chisholm
Kathleen Collins
Gayle Dax-Conroy
Jim & Kathleen Deeringer
Fred Deneke & Jim Eastman
Gail Finney
Donald Fraulob & Melissa Brown
Patty French
Carole Fritz
Curtis Fritz
Catherine Globus
Stephanie Gularte
Mary Hargrave
James R Hargrove
Eileen Heaser
Larry Hendrick
Josh Horowitz & Patti Baggett
Stephanie & David Hunt
Brian & Dorothy Landsberg
Doron Levitan
Janet Lial
Dena Martinez & Paul Verke
Kristi Quesada Mathisen & Josh Mathisen
Ed Mills
Peter Mohrmann & David Harris
Katherine Muris
Suzanne Ness
Sara Nichols
Gail Pereira
Christopher Price
Laurie Nelson Randlett & Jim Randlett
Nathan Rangel
Marshall & Maureen Rice
Brian Rickel
Glenn Rondeau
Sacramento City Office of Arts and Culture
Lori Saper
Diane Schertz
Chuck & Nancy Shulock
Roger & Barbara Smith
Barbara Sommer
Rae-Nani Stokes & Griff Field
Shirlee Tully
Claudia Wrazel & Frank Horowitz

 

Designer: $600+

John Angell
Stephen & Melva Arditti
Walter Barnes
David & Marsha Baskins
Donna Campbell
Beth Carlsen
Michael Cohen
Edward Condon
Annabel Cooper
Stuart Eldridge
Richard & Barbara Falcon
Ellen Ferguson
Muffy & Terry Francke
David Fulk & Keith Riedell
Brian Galacio
Carol & Steven Goldberg
Alex Gonzalez
Adrienne Graham
Mary Graziose
Patricia & James Grieshop
Helen & Glenn Hakanson
Ed Hall & Warren Lindeleaf
Suzanne Hanrahan
Team Hanseth
Gary & Eva Incaudo
Laura Jackson
Janet Jensen
Leili Khalessi
Dawn & Dave King
Charles & Elizabeth Kuehner
Dr. John & Rosemary Lamb
Nancy Lee
Shannon Mahoney & Kirk Blackinton
Dennis Mangers & Michael Sestak
John Marinko
Carol McCormick
James McElroy & Ann Gerhardt
Mr. Colin A. Miller
Roger & Kristina Montero
Shelley Mydans & John Griffing
Greg Ohanesian
Richard Pearson & Jean Hart
David Pitman & Rani Pettis
Bob & Shirley Rosenberg
Susan & Ross Siragusa
Peggy Stare
Julie Stark
John Stefanki
Stephanie Tucker
Kim Varner
Marian Ver Wey
Elaine Verbarg
Denise Verbeck
Megan Van Voorhis
Chris Wagner
James Watkins
LeRose Weikert
Tim Whalen
John Wilson & Susie Monary-Wilson
Buzz Winfield

 

Ensemble: $300+

Candace & Doug Adams
Merle Axelrad
Barbara Black
Bruce Bowers
Sandra Briggs-Howell
Margaret & Stephen Brush
Carin & Bob Bryans
Celia Buckley
Sharon Cammisa & Joseph Orr
Kathryn & Jim Carlson
Steven Chase
Bernice Chin
Melissa Cirone
Idelle & Dan Claypool
James Crouch
Daniel DeFoe
Katherine Downey
Cindy Dunning
Anne Eisenberg
Tracie & Richard Fike
Sara Floor
Daphna Fram
Dalinda Harman
Sherry Haus
Brian & Tiffany Heacox
Charlotte Hegle
Zheyla Henriksen
Kim Hunter
Linda Iseri
Barbara Jeffus
Anne Jennings
Don Johnson & Elizabeth Miller
Lial Jones
Maria Jurado
Margaret Kane & Richard Frey
Dean & Sandi Karagianes
Shenandoah & Andrew Kehoe
JR Keith
Jolanta Kieturakis
Jane Kirkland
Pamela Kisor
Nancy LaCasse
Susie LaPointe
Daniel Leahy
Sandy Lee
David & Ruth Lindgren
Spencer Lockson
Olga Mandrussow
Elizabeth McClatchy
Steve & Cheryl Meyer
Shirley Nelson
Allison Noren
Tracey O'Reilly
Frank Pajerski
Steve Patwell
Sarah Phelan
Ann Porten
Ron Robie
Allan Robin
Donald Rubin
Peter Saucerman
Michael Scheible
Elaine Silver
Chris & Julia Smith
Harold Smith
Robert Snider
Susanne Sommer & George Ramsey
Michael Stevenson
Robert Suskind & Leslie Lewinter-Suskind
Patrica Symkowick
Linda & Scott Taylor
Carrie Thomsen
Jelena Tiemann
Peter & Karen Von Elten
Bryan Weare
Martha West
Peggy Wheeler
Joan Williams
Richard Williams
Karen Willstatter
Claudia & Olin Woods
Robert Young
Karen Ziskind
Wendy & Mark Zlotlow

 

Patron: $150+

John & Kathleen Agnew
David Alois & Jacquie Embs
Rebecca Armstrong
John Atwood
Jose Barbosa
Robert & Jean Bonar
Constance Brown
Carol Buck & Dennis Beaty
Russell Burgess (Marie Smith)
Margaret Burns & Roy Bellhorn
Ann Byfield
Allison Cagley & Farel Brosio
Allison Claire
David A Combies
Mary Jo Compton
Kelly Coplin
Jennifer Cummings
Gretchen Cypin
Brenda Davis & Edward Phillips
Gail & Tom Devitt
Martha & Jim Dickson
Lily Douglas
Anne Duffey
David Felderstein & Dan Hoody
Stephanie Finelli
Mary Helen Fischer
Pamela Fitch
James Fitzpatrick
James Flynn
Elaine Freedman
Marc Gabrys
Jan Geiger
Anne Geraghty
Cynthia Gerber
Wayne & Mary Ginsburg
Lisa Gonzales
Barbara Greenwood
Linda Gregory
Kathryn Grey
Dan Harlan
Shirley Hazlett
Suzanne Hermreck
Robert Herne
Alexandra Hewitt
Hirst Law Group, P.C.
Mike & Doris Horton
Marlys Huez
Patricia Hull
Lydia Inghram
Myrna Johnston
Jamie Jones
Jacquelyn M. Kelly
Mimi Khan
Kay Michelle Khayat
Kellie Kilgore
Anne Knuut
Paul & Jane Lammerding
Patricia Levin
Lisa Luthra
Brian Lutz
Margaret McCarthy Household
George Ed McCune
Diane & Lisa Moore
Hallie Morrow
Becky & Bob Norris
Douglas Patton
Barbara Payne
Catherinie Pierini
Enid Pritikin
Diana & Bill Proctor
Richard Rawson & Cynthia Neuman
Raymond Reis
Tina Reynolds
Lowell Richardson & Paula Sugarman
Ted Ridgway
Patti Roberts
Carol Rogers & Jon Courtway
Sunny Romer
Laura Rosenthal
Linda Roth
Nai Saechao
Lisa Sargent
Seasons Coffee Roasters Inc.
Adrienne Shapiro
Adrienne Sher
Walter Sherwood
Daniel G. Stone
Michael Storey
Harry & Linda Struthers
Patricia Sturdevant
Janet Summers
Penelope Taylor
Susan & Ken Taylor
Nina Thomson
Rachel Tooker
Patty Torbert & Ken Graber
Michael & Barbara Ullman
Roger Paul Villaluz
Debra Waltz
Steven Winlock
Arnold Wolf & Fern Tablin
Megan Wygant
Timothy Zindel

 

"The Crew" - Recurring Donors

Chris Abare
John Abbott & Lori Abbott Moreland
Candace & Doug Adams
John Angell
Merle Axelrad
Jose Barbosa
Peggy Beasley
Bill Bronston & Lisa Levering
Margaret & Stephen Brush
Celia Buckley
Margaret L Buss
Ann Byfield
Kathryn & Jim Carlson
Bernice Chin
Les & Peggy Chisholm
Kathleen Collins
Kaoru Cruz
Jennifer Cummings
Daniel DeFoe
Gail & Tom Devitt
Martha & Jim Dickson
Lily Douglas
Katherine Downey
Stuart Eldridge
Ellen Ferguson
Mary Helen Fischer
Sara Floor
Muffy & Terry Francke
Deborah Franklin & Douglas Mitten
David Fulk & Keith Riedell
Mary Graziose
Kathryn Grey
Stephanie Gularte
Suzanne Hanrahan
Courtney & Nate Hans
Dalinda Harman
Josh Horowitz & Patti Baggett
Suzanne Houlton
Stephanie & David Hunt
Kim Hunter & Sherry Reser
Linda Iseri
Eillen Jacobowitz
Anne Jennings
Iris Johnson
Maria Jurado
Dean & Sandi Karagianes
Pamela Kisor
Dr. John & Rosemary Lamb
Sandy Lee
Doron Levitan
Shannon Mahoney & Kirk Blackinton
John Marinko
Kristi & Josh Mathisen
Linda McAtee & Steve Sphar
Carol McCormick
Shelley & James McFarland
Peter Mohrmann & David Harris
Diane & Lisa Moore
Suzanne Ness
Ann OConnell
David Pitman & Rani Pettis
Laurie Nelson Randlett & Jim Randlett
Carol Rogers & Jon Courtway
Sunny Romer
Linda Roth
Donald Rubin
Leonard Vincent Sales
Peter Saucerman
Diane Schertz
Susan Scott
Chris & Julia Smith
Jennifer Sommer
Peggy Stare
Michael Stevenson
Michael Storey
Linda & Scott Taylor
Martha West
John Wilson & Susie Monary-Wilson
Claudia Wrazel & Frank Horowitz

 

Learn more about "The Crew": capstage.org/play-a-part/donate/ 

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