The Swan Song
A Study in Terror
by
Mike Johnson
Produced
by Special Arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Director’s Notes:
Directing The Swan
Song has presented many rewarding challenges, not the least of which was
how to present the show as “theatre noir”, fashioning it after the look and
feel of classic old movies. How to best present this classic genre and still
preserve the audience’s visual interest was our set designer’s biggest
challenge, and the ultimate decision to incorporate the sepia tones of films
like The Wizard of Oz and to include
the blacks, whites and greys of the movies of the
40’s seemed the definitive compromise. From conception to fruition of the set,
the sound, the music, the costumes, the props and the characters and the plot,
it’s been a great ride! My sincere thanks to a committed and extremely talented
cast, an insightful and incredibly supportive assistant director and Frank
McCulla, the hardest working set construction chief around. We hope you enjoy
the show!
The Players
(In Order of Appearance)
Emma Thorpe Monica
Burke Gangloff
Aletha Dru Ann
DeVaro
Lolinda Hebdon
Marie
Williamson
Olivia Hebdon Missy Mead
Miles Jarvis Dennis
Dougherty
Gary Krager James
McBride
Rhamat Singh Tom
McCurdy
Alec Hebdon Kevin
Esmond
The Team:
Director: Nikolette Adams
Assistant Director:
Robert Broadbent
Producer: Brian
Edwards
Stage Manager: Daniel
Boris
Set Design: Patti
Billow
Lighting Design:
Andrew Flothmeier
Sound Design: Richard
Rauth
Portraiture in Parlor:
Fred Flothmeier
VISIT FOOTLIGHTERS ON THE INTERNET
www.bcfootlighters.com
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT:
• Dates and times of productions
• Ordering tickets
• Reviews of current plays
• Audition notices
• "Footnotes" (newsletter)
The Place & Time
The Parlor of Hebdon Manor
Lancashire,
Great Britain, Spring, 1949
Act I Early Afternoon
into Evening
Act II Nearly Midnight
There will be One
Intermission
Thank you for not smoking. In compliance with the local ordinance, we must ask that
all
persons refrain from smoking in the building.
We request that NO FLASH PICTURES be taken during the performance.
About The Players
Monica Burke Gangloff (Emma Thorpe) This
is Monica's first appearance at Footlighters. She has performed on both sides
of the River, and some favorite roles include Dorothea in Eleemosynary, for Walnut Street Theatre,
Professor Nemur in Flowers
for Algernon, Maggie in Roomies
for Stagecrafters, and Ma Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life
for Haddonfield Plays and Players. Monica offers her thanks to Nikki for
"bringing her back to Jersey" and to Bob for
always lending a helping hand, and offers this bit of wisdom: "Never let
go of a dream until you're ready to wake up and make it happen."
Ann DeVaro (Aletha Dru) Annie is very
thankful to have had the opportunity to be so involved with Footlighters for
the past five years. She has recently removed her director’s cap, having just
directed BCF’s run of “Shoes” and is very excited to
be back “on” stage. Her previous acting credits include Mina in Mina Tonight
for Bridgeplayers, Emily in Our Town for Haddonfield
Plays and Players, and Dawn Hammond in Return Engagements for BCF. She would
like to thank Nikki and Bob for such a fun experience and a great cast and crew
for all of their hard work and crazy antics (yes, Jim, that means you!). Very
special thanks to her family (especially her niece and nephew, Mikey and Amanda) for their continued support.
Marie Williamson (Lolinda Hebdon) Marie
has appeared in numerous stages in the Tri-State area. Some of her favorite
roles include Audrey in Little Shop of
Horrors, Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, Blanche DuBois in Streetcar
Named Desire, Miranda Jablonski/Nagorski
in Return Engagements, for
which she earned Best Supporting Actress at BCF in 2001, and Velma Sparrow in Birdbath, for which she won Excellence in
Acting Awards at the HP&P Festival, the NJTL Festival and the ESTA Fest. As
always, Marie dedicates her performance to her late brother Robert,
who inspired her love of the theatre. She also dedicates her performance
to her biggest fan and supporter, her father, Richard Williamson, whom she lost
this past year.
Missy Mead (Olivia Hebdon) Missy’s last appearance on BCF’s
stage was as Katherine in A View from the
Bridge in 1999, which was followed closely by her work in The Actor’s Nightmare at Haddonfield
Plays and Players as Sara Siddons, for which she won
Excellence in Acting awards at the New Jersey Theatre League State Festival and
at the Eastern States Regional Theatre Festival. Another of Missy’s favorite
roles was Chris in Rumors at Philip
Lynch Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
Missy wishes to thank Nikki for her guidance – for everything, and she thanks
the rest of the cast and crew for the good times and the laughter … sea
potatoes for everyone! And thanks and love to her husband, Jim, for always
supporting her in everything she does.
Dennis Dougherty
(Miles Jarvis) was first drawn to the theatre when he was cast as a crying
Indian baby for a Cub Scout pageant. Since then, he has worked throughout NJ,
PA, and NY as an actor, director and stage manager. He last appeared at BCF as
Lord John in The Elephant Man.
Favorite roles include Bobby in American
Buffalo, Harding in One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest, Gus Sharkey in Leader
of the Pack, Eugene in Grease,
Titus Savage in The Curious Savage
and Mike in Lovers and Other Strangers.
He has also appeared in productions of To
Kill a Mockingbird, Godspell,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, La Ronde and The Dresser. Directing credits include Our Town at Haddonfield Plays and
Players last season, Beyond Therapy, It’s Only a Play, Beehive and Belles, among
others.
James McBride (Gary Krager)
I have often asked myself "Why do I spend so much time
involved in theater?" But then I often talk to myself; aloud; sometimes
using different accents so I know who is talking. Fortunately, my new
medication seems to be working. I suppose the biggest reason is the joy of
letting my imagination run wild. As a former police officer, I am aware of the
importance of an unfettered imagination, both on stage and while testifying
under oath. At least on stage, I can't be charged with perjury again. I want to
thank Nikki and the rest of the cast for putting up with me and say " gracias diosa mio, for all your love and
support."
Tom McCurdy (Rhamat Singh) Tom returns to Footlighters’ stage for
the second time this season, after appearing as Louis Schlang
in Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? Tom is grateful to be working with Nikki
again, in another character role, after appearing in The Elephant Man last season. He has also appeared in Don Juan in Chicago, Pygmalion, and Mina Tonight but is not quite ready to quit his day job. He is very
grateful to his daughters for their support.
Kevin Esmond (Alec Hebdon) Kevin’s
last work for BCF was as Assistant Director for Shoes. The Swan Song
would be his first appearance in a play at BCF, though many will likely
remember him from an Improv show he wrote and directed last year. He would like
to thank the cast and crew for their support and Nikki for the opportunity.
Nikolette Adams (Director) Nikolette
began her community theatre career at Footlighters more than 16 years ago as
Vera in The Odd Couple – Female Version,
and has directed many shows here in the last 7 years. She most recently
directed The Elephant Man for BCF,
closely followed by Our Town for
Haddonfield Plays and Players. Nikolette has the
distinction of representing New Jersey
at Regional Competition for three consecutive years (1999-2001), and at
Nationals in 1999 and 2001. She earned the National AACT Outstanding
Achievement in Directing Award for Scooter
Thomas Makes It to the Top of the World in 2001, and actors under her
direction have won local, state, regional and national awards in Festival
plays.
SPECIAL THANKS
Our most grateful appreciation to Adam Hepp and Suburban Wholesale Lighting for the generous gift
of the chandelier that graces the Hebdon parlor.
For all of your lighting needs, both commercial and residential, contact Adam
at 800-423-2805.
Special thanks to Frank McCulla for the best 3 a.m. ideas around and to Lynn Johnson for last
minute miracles.
You are invited to meet the cast
and director
in the Lounge
immediately following
the performance.
ORIGINAL WATERCOLORS IN THE GRAND HALL BY:
Edward Shinn
Riverside, New Jersey
PRODUCTION CREW
ARTWORK COORDINATOR PAMELA GRIMME’
BOX OFFICE BOB MILLER AND MAE TREBING,
Gerri Dietrich, Larry Driscoll, Pamela Grimme’, Pat
Muldowney, Jim Pritz, Peggy Venella
COSTUMES
THE CAST, Robert Broadbent,
Lynn Johnson, Mary Oglesby
HOSPITALITY DORIS FOULKE: Frank McCulla, Peggy Venella, Pamela and Don Grimme’,
Tina Bloom, Rich and Pat Brunker, Gerri Dietrich,
Annette Hart, Sandra Scheer, Anne Macintosh, Stella
McCarthy, Pat and Bill Muldowney, Jim and Trish Pritz,
George Wenghofar
HOUSE MANAGRS PAMELA GRIMME’, Scott Adams, Torben Christiansen ,,
Hazel Edwards, Stella McCarthy, Ted
Davis, Robert Miller, Tony Patrizi, Mark Silveri, Brian and Jeanne Wayman
LIGHTING BOARD OPERATORS ANDREW FLOTHMEIER, Brian
Edwards, Robert Broadbent, John Schweiker
LIGHTING DIRECTOR ANDREW FLOTHMEIER
MAKE-UP VALERIE MAZZAGATTI, Jeanne Wayman
PUBLICITY STELLA MCCARTHY
PICTURE BOARD PAT MULDOWNEY
PROGRAMS BARBARA STARK
PROPS NIKOLETTE ADAMS, Daniel
Boris, Robert Broadbent, Brian Edwards
SET CONSTRUCTION & DECORATION
FRANK MCCULLA, Robert
Broadbent, Nikolette Adams, Scott Adams, Brian
Edwards, Tim Wilkinson, Bruce Smith, Carl & Frank McCulla, Jim Pritz, Andrew Flothmeier, Ralph Holzapfel,
Jim Pritz, Patty Billow, Daniel Boris, Jane Sideman,
Lynn Johnson
SET DESIGNER PATTI
BILLOW
SOUND BOARD OPERATORS Brian Edwards, Nikolette
Adams, Bob Broadbent, Rich Rauth
SOUND DIRECTOR RICH RAUTH
STAGE CREW DANIEL BORIS, Valerie
Mazzagatti, Torben Christiansen, Jenna Howe
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR BRIAN EDWARDS, TORBEN CHRISTIANSEN