COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE & DANCE-RIVER STAGE
proudly present
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
or A TRIVIAL COMEDY FOR SERIOUS PEOPLE
By OSCAR WILDE
at the Black Box Theatre
2023-24 #TheTiesThatBindUs Season
Follow Us on Instagram: @seeaplayatCRC
Featuring
AUDREY DI PAOLO CHLOE ESPINOZA ERIC CHARLTON FAYE CROOK MICHAEL VAUGHN PURJON BICKHAM RYAN REECE SARAH EDWARDS STEPHEN BYRUM
Creative Team
Scenic Design	Lighting, Sound & Projection Design	Costume Deisgn
TRICIA TECSON	CARY BABKA	MARI CARSON
Production Stage Manager
MACIE UTILE
Assistant Director
ELFIE MARCEWICZ
Director
SCOTT GILBERT
JULY 12-21, 2024 Performances Fridays, July 12 & 19 and Saturdays July 13 & 20 @ 7:30 pm Sundays, July 14 & 21 @ 2:30 pm Thursday, July 18 @ 2:30 pm Tickets PAY WHAT YOU CAN Get THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Tickets   SHOW INFORMATION Setting & Time In and around London, England, U.K. in 1895 (and also, the present, onstage in a theatre) Run Time 110 minutes including one intermission. Electronic Devices Please be courteous to your fellow audience members and to the cast & crew by turning off all electronic devices - phones, tablets, smart watches, etc. - so that you don't interrupt the show. Don't be that person!  Photography & Recording Please take selfies and pictures before the show - and don't forget to tag our Instagram account @seeaplayatCRC! During the show, there is no photography or recording of any kind.

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LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We acknowledge the land currently occupied by Cosumnes River College as the traditional home of the Miwok and Nisenan people. These sovereign people have been caretakers of the area since time immemorial. The state of California is home to more than 110 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, representing the most diverse set of tribal nations anywhere in the United States. Despite centuries of genocide and occupation, the Miwok and Nisenan people continue as vibrant and resilient federally recognized tribes, bands, and rancherias. The waters of the Sacramento, American, and Cosumnes Rivers have nourished Miwok and Nisenan tribal communities with cultural and dietary sustenance throughout time. ‘Cosumnes’ of Cosumnes River derives from the Plains Miwok language. Stemming from the words "kosumu," meaning salmon and "umne," meaning the place of, it translates as "The Place of the Salmon." Today, we celebrate our Miwok and Nisenan tribal neighbors as the ancestral stewards of this land and honor their sustained existence. It is with their blessing and continued guidance that Cosumnes River College seeks to provide an accessible, equitable, and principled institution of learning.

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About the Show

Time & Place

Time: 1895. (Also, the present, onstage in a theatre.)

Location: England, United Kingdom.

Scene Order & Locations

Act I. Algernon's Flat in Half-Moon Street, London.

Act II. The Garden at the Manor House, Woolton.

Act III. Drawing-Room at the Manor House, Woolton.

Show Description

In THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, dashing men-about-town John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff pursue fair ladies Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. Matters are complicated by the imaginary characters invented by both men to cover their on-the-sly activities—not to mention the disapproval of Gwendolen’s mother, the formidable Lady Bracknell. 

Cast

Creative Team

Meet the Company

RYAN REECE

Jack Worthing

Ryan is thrilled to be back at CRC for THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Ryan is active in the Sacramento theatre community working with Valkyrie Theatre Company and American River College Theatre. Ryan is also a founding member of Trailblazer Student Productions, a theatre company comprised of mostly Los Rios college students that aims to offer creative positive to college students looking for hands on experience, where he will be the assistant director for their summer show. Ryan hopes you will all greatly enjoy this wonderful cast of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.

SARAH EDWARDS

Gwendolen Fairfax

Sarah Edwards (she/her) is excited to return to the CRC stage! She has performed locally with Musical Mayhem Productions, Broadway Sacramento, and Sacramento Theatre Company. Previous roles: Olive Ostrovsky (THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE), Kira (XANADU), and Hope Cladwell (URINETOWN). Thanks to family, friends, and teachers for the support. Enjoy!

ERIC CHARLTON

Algernon Moncrieff

Eric is excited to be playing the role of Algernon in River Stage’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. This is Eric’s 5th show here at River stage and he is ready to send this season off with a bang. His British accent may need a little work but he is ready to show off all of the work he has put in. When Eric is rehearsing and performing he likes to spend his time reading books, playing games, and trying new foods. He hopes that everyone enjoys watching the show as much as he enjoyed working on it !

AUDREY DI PAOLO

Cecily Cardew

Audrey Di Paolo is a Theatre student here at Cosumnes River College. She has been a lighting tech for previous CRC shows DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE and ELECTRA, and she Co-Stage Managed for ASSASSINS. This is Audrey’s second onstage roll, after playing the part of Clemencia in ELECTRICIDAD last Fall.

STEPHEN BYRUM

Lady Bracknell

Stephen is a 27 year veteran of the Theatre. He is an active Performer, Playwright, Director, D&D Player, Husband, and Cat Dad. He holds a B.A. in Performing Arts Studies from Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC. Past Roles include Gaston (Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), Cory Jr. (BACK TO THE 80s), Christopher Belling (CURTAINS), Sharyar (THE ARABIAN NIGHTS), and The Young Gambler (HELLO OUT THERE). His writings can be found on the New Play Exchange. He would like to thank Scott Gilbert, the Faculty of CRC's Theatre Department, his fellow cast mates and crew, his "Mummy," Toni, Husband, Dalton, and his two cats Leo and Zelda. "Seek a life useful."

CHLOE ESPINOZA

Miss Prism

Chloe has been involved in CRC’s theater program for 2 years now. She has played Emma Goldman in ASSASSINS and has worked on costumes for various shows. She previously attended UC Riverside where she was an assistant director for the show 2020 Vision and was the narrator for the show At The Pass. She is excited to continue working with local theater companies and furthering her education in the department.

PURJON BICKHAM

Dr. Chasuble

Purjon Bickham (Dr. Chasuble) is a recent alumnus of Valley High School, where he began his discovery and affinity for theater. His most prized roles from his time in Valley consist of Wadsworth (CLUE), Ponyboy (THE OUTSIDERS), and Brian (THE BREAKFAST CLUB). He has also performed at the Lenaea festival in an ensemble performance of SURE THING by David Ives. He has eagerly added this production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST to his repertoire. He has gained experience from it, and hopes that you will delight in the show!

FAYE CROOK

Merriman/Lane

Faye is so excited to join CRC for their last show of the season in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST! They appeared in other shows this season such as: ELECTRICIDAD (Ifigenia), ASSASSINS, ELECTRA (Chrysothemis) and others! They had such an amazing time working with the cast and the crew on this show, and they hope that you will enjoy the show as well!

MICHAEL VAUGHN

Lane/Merriman

Michael is so excited to be a part of the amazing cast of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Michael has been a student at CRC for two years and is majoring in Theatre Arts. His previous performances include ASSASSINS (Ensmeble) at CRC River Stage, CHICAGO (Ensemble) and SYMPATHY JONES: THE NEW SECRET AGENT MUSICAL (Richard Oscill) at Elk Grove High School. They hope that you enjoy the show!

AUDREYLYNN BARNETT

Backstage Crew

JARED SHIH

Backstage Crew

SHAN LEE

Backstage Crew

SCOTT GILBERT

Director

Scott is a director, actor, and designer who has taught at CRC for over 10 years. For CRC, he directed THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE LIAR, and SIDE MAN, and his design work includes the set for ARMS AND THE MAN and costumes for A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Previously, Scott was the Producing Director of The Foothill Theatre Company in Nevada City. He directed many productions there and for the Lake Tahoe and Sierra Shakespeare Festivals, including HAMLET, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, OTHELLO, NOISES OFF, and A CHRISTMAS STORY. Around the country, he has directed, designed, or choreographed fights for literally hundreds of productions. In this region, he has worked with Sierra Rep, Capital Stage, The B Street Theatre, and Sierra Stages. As an actor, he originated the role of Trout Shue in Zona at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, and helped create the original production of LONG SHADOW at FTC. For ten years, he was on the theatre faculty at Louisiana Tech University, and is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors and Actor’s Equity.

ELFIE MARCEWICZ

Assistant Director

Elfie is a mortuary science major with a lifelong passion for acting. Some of her acting credits include: Sarah Jane Moore in ASSASSINS, La Connie in ELECTRICIDAD, Chorus/Messenger in ANTIGONE here at River Stage at CRC, and Matilda in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, as well as some voice acting.

TRICIA TECSON

Scenic Designer

Tricia has previously worked with Capital Stage, Music Circus, Teatro Nagual, and Berkeley Playhouse. Tricia has had the privilege of designing shows such as ANTIGONE and DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE here at River Stage, and THE CHINESE LADY and ARCHDUKE at Capital Stage and has assisted in many others. Tricia would like to thank the Cosumnes River College Theatre department for their encouragement and guidance which have been immeasurable.

MARI CARSON

Costume Designer

Mari Carson is a costume and sound designer based in the Sacramento area. She received her BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley and her MFA in Dramatic Arts from UC Davis.

CARY BABKA

Lighting, Sound & Projection Designer

Cary made his stage debut in 1st grade, playing the Wizard in THE WIZARD OF OZ behind a cardboard palace wall. He’s still interested in wizardry, but now it tends to run on A/C current or RF mic packs…. He is an Adjunct here at Cosumnes River College, where he teaches theatre and film, while designing and occasionally still busting out the top hat and handlebar moustache to act in shows around the Sacramento area.

MACIE UTILE

Production Stage Manager

Macie Utile is excited to continue participating in theatre through stage managing this production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Growing up, Macie Utile participated in community theatre and dance. While in high school, she was involved in Sheldon High School's TheatreWorks program. Macie would like to thank her past directors, including her high school teacher, Craig Howard, for spending countless hours helping her explore the art of theatre.

IAN CAMPBELL

Assistant Stage Manager

MARTIN FLYNN

Technical Director, Faculty, Department Chair

Martin Flynn, Professor of Technical Theatre, has been teaching at CRC since 2017. Martin has designed scenery for over 150 productions, mainly in Northern California, for theatre companies such as American Conservatory Theater, Broadway at Music Circus, Capital Stage, Berkeley Playhouse, Shotgun Players, Town Hall Theatre, TheatreFIRST, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, and over 40 shows for Bay Area Children's Theatre where he was the resident scenic designer. In the academic world, Martin has designed for U.C. Berkeley, U.C. Davis, Montclair State University, Chabot College, Napa Valley College and Cosumnes River College. Martin's design for PICASSO AT THE LAPINE AGILE at Town Hall Theatre won a Shellie Award for Outstanding Scenic Design. His work has been nominated 3 times for the Theatre Bay Area Awards, 5 times for the Shellie Awards, and 4 times for Elly Awards. From 2007-2010 Martin was the Scenic Design Associate at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Some of his favorite experiences were assisting Tony Award winning director John Doyle on SWEENEY TODD and THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE and designing the world premiere of Lauren Gunderson's FIREWORK, directed by the amazing Mina Morita, at TheatreFIRST in Berkeley.

MIKE RUIZ

Assistant Technical Director, Theatre Technician

ELIDA SOUZA

Light Board Operator, Run Crew, Scenic Painting, Carpentry

AUDREYLYNN BARNETT

Run Crew, Scenic Painting, Carpentry

JARED SHIH

Run Crew, Scenic Painting, Carpentry

SHAN LEE

Run Crew, Scenic Painting, Carpentry

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