From Artistic Directors Kirby and Bev Ward

To our Rubicon Family, old and new

What an amazing ride we’ve been on for the last five years. We moved to Ventura in the spring of 2018 to begin work as the Directors of Education and Outreach at Rubicon. We felt at home almost at once, welcomed into the Rubicon family without hesitation. We were so grateful. We’d been here a few times before. The first was when we came in the fall of 2008, to direct, choreograph and perform in She Loves Me. We’d heard about the theatre, since we’d been friends with its two founders, Jim O’Neil and Karyl Lynn Burns, since the ‘80s. We were immediately taken by the community, the city, and the incredible support our friends were enjoying from donors, patrons and fans. It was inspiring to see how Karyl Lynn and Jim had changed the face of the Southern California cultural scene. The breathtaking things they were putting on the tiny stage at Rubicon were more than impressive. In She Loves Me, we had a spectacular cast and design team. The set, a full, rotating perfume shop, indoors and out, that transformed into an apartment and then a full stage restaurant in a matter of seconds was a delight. Theatre Magic.

Since then, we’ve guided flying spaceships and alien monsters in Return To The Forbidden Planet, and sent Huck Finn and his friend Jim down the mighty Mississippi in Big River. We’ve helped behind the scenes as other teams mounted their shows. Every production has been so lovingly presented and received. The possibilities seem limitless.

Now we find ourselves in the front office taking on the mantles of Producing Artistic Directors. Suffice it to say, Karyl Lynn and Jim are a tough act to follow. We feel incredibly fortunate to be given the chance now to lead at a company with a history of such exemplary artistic standards. The bar has been set very high for us. But it’s a challenge we relish.

And so…we make this pledge to you, our friends new and old: Like Karyl Lynn and Jim before, our goal will be to produce theatre full of heart and truth, focused on great storytelling, where new plays thrive alongside reimagined classics, and where under-represented voices from around the world can be heard. We’ll do our very best to present those voices and stories with respect and empathy for every guest who comes through the doors here at Rubicon Theatre. And we’ll thank our great fortune every day for having the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful cultural institution.

What a gift we’ve been given.

Kirby and Bev Ward

I am truly honored to make my Rubicon Theatre directorial debut with our production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. When the overture was made for me to helm this Tony Award winning musical revue, celebrating the genius of Thomas “Fats” Waller and his colleagues, I very quickly said yes. My quick yes was based on several things: my absolute love of the broad range of Fats Waller’s music, the fact that Fats came to great prominence in Harlem during the storied Harlem Renaissance, which happens to be one of my favorite and one of the most important intellectual and cultural periods in 20th Century America, and lastly (and most personally), the fact that my father and his parents were living and working in Harlem as performing artists during this fertile artistic time.

My grandfather, Troy Brown Sr., was a comedian and actor, who appeared on the first ever show at the Apollo Theater, my grandmother, Bertha Brown, was a Cotton Club dancer, and my father, Troy Brown Jr., made his debut at four years old on stage with Cab Calloway at Harlem’s Alhambra Theater. With this as a backdrop, I began to think about the show and its setting, and it came to me, that the parlor floor (2nd floor) of a Harlem brownstone seemed the ideal environment for our show to come to life.

The next major step in the process of putting our show together was reaching out to potential collaborators who could bring their gifts to bear in the executing of our artistic vision. Allow me to say out loud, I feel greatly fortunate to have assembled this extraordinary group of actors, designers, and musicians who have come together beautifully to do just that, in a work that examines and celebrates the joy and pain of the human condition. Through songs both humorous and dramatic, and with some of the most memorable melodies you’ll ever hear, it is our goal for you to experience tickled funny bones, touched hearts, and unbridled joy during what has been a very blue time. We hope you enjoy.

Best,

Wren T. Brown

YVETTE CASON (Nell) is a singer, songwriter, writer, television and film actress. Studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Broadway credits: Play On! (Ovation Award) and Dreamgirls. Regional Theatre credits: Blues in the Night (Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts), Shout Sister Shout (Pasadena Playhouse), Barbecue (Geffen Playhouse), A Night With Janis Joplin (Pasadena Playhouse and 5thAvenue), Ella Fitzgerald The Musical (Lesher Theater), Once On This Island (LA Reprise), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (La Mirada), St. Louis Woman (New York City Encores), Into The Woods (Sacramento Music Circus) and Sisterella (Pasadena Playhouse/NAACP Theatre Award). TV credits include “All American Homecoming,” “BUNK’D,” “Bosch,” “NCIS,” “Curb You’re Your Enthusiasm,” “Twenties,” “Why Women Kill,” “For The People,” “Shameless,” “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” “ER,” “King of Queens,” “Hannah Montana,” and “Alias.” Film credits include “A Wrinkle In Time,” “Dreamgirls” and “Middle of Nowhere.” Yvette has toured with some of the music industry’s elite, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, David Foster and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds.

Rogelio Douglas Jr. (Andre) is a proud 1st generation American, Brooklyn, NY native of Panamanian descent. He makes his mark as a triple threat entertainer navigating his way through Broadway, TV and Film, and the music industry. He recently came off tour as the MC for “Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Jukebox”, performing over 100 shows throughout the UK/Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as receiving 4.2 million views on YouTube with the band. He’s the Voice of “The Royal Troubadour” on Disney Junior Network’s Mickey Mouse Fun House. In music, Rogelio has worked with David Foster, Diane Warren, Glen Ballard, Black Eyed Peas, Klingande. Music credits – The Boss Baby 2 soundtrack, Netflix’s “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” IMDBTV’s “Leverage: Redemption”; FX’s Dave (Season 2); ABC’s “The Wonder Years,” ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”, Discovery’s “Deadliest Catch,” HBO’s “Silicon Valley,” and Fox’s “Empire.” Broadway – Tony/Grammy Award Winning Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In The Heights (OBC), Sebastian The Crab in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Lead Tap Dancer in Riverdance, The Show. Tv/Film – “Chicago PD,” “Ray Donavan,” “Orange Is The New Black,” “Whiplash,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “Superfast!”. He received an NAACP Award and 2 Ovation Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his work in The Ebony repertory theater production of Five Guys Named Moe. Truly grateful to return to the stage. Thank you, Wren T Brown!

Connie Jackson (Armelia) Connie is thrilled to be making her Rubicon debut. Television credits include recurring as Mark Harmon’s favorite waitress, Elaine on “NCIS”, and Gloria on Fox’s “Pivoting.” Theater credits include: Dreamgirls (Broadway), Cassiopeia (Boston Court), The Idyllic Life of Lillian Cortessi (Pacific Resident Theatre). Connie volunteers her spare time photographing shelter animals to help them find rescue and forever homes, and begs you to adopt, don’t shop.
www.conniejackson.com

Marty Austin Lamar (Ken) is truly grateful to make his west coast premiere at The Rubicon Theatre. Marty is an accomplished actor, singer, writer, musician, and instructor currently serving as Associate Professor at California State University, Fullerton. Marty has spent much of his life training, scoring, and conducting choirs in the African American church traditions of spirituals, anthems, and gospel music. Off Broadway Credits: Miss Evers Boys (Hofmann); Selected Regional Credits: Ragtime (Attorney), SPUNK (Man 2), Dreamgirls (James “Thunder” Early), Hamlet (King’s Ghost), Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope (Preacher, Ensemble), La Traviata (Barone); A Funny Thing…Forum (Miles Gloriosus), Five Guys Named Moe (Big Moe), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II; Helen Hayes Award). Television/Film – “Law and Order SVU”, “The Corner”, “The Silent Dove”. Musical Director Credits: Merrily We Roll Along, The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson Musical, Black Nativity, Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage presents: To Serve This Present Age, Urinetown, Handel’s Messiah, Ain’t Misbehavin’.
To God be the glory.

ANGELA WILDFLOWER (Charlaine) is honored to make her Rubicon Theatre debut! Angela is a TV/film/stage artist whose work has been seen on “Blue Bloods” (CBS), “The Marvelous Mrs.Maisel” (Amazon), “Russian Doll” (Netflix), “Roxanne, Roxanne (Netflix), “Atlanta” (Fx), “Raising Kanan” (Starz) , “FBI” (CBS) & more. Wildflower made her Broadway debut as Mary Wells in Motown, The Musical, and most recently starred as Cellie in The Color Purple at Broadway Sacramento. Her international/regional stage work includes, but isn’t limited to, Crowns (Ebony Rep/Pasadena Playhouse), Venice (The Public Theatre/Kirk Douglas Theatre), My Lord What A Night (CAFT), October Sky (The Old Globe), Hinton Battle live! (Osaka, Japan), and much more. Angela is a proud graduate of Spelman College & the founder of “Wildflower Dream Camps” for young dreamers. Follow Wildflower’s journey at Instagram: iWildflower  | www.AWildflowerDreams.com

Wren T. Brown (Director) This fourth generation Angeleno, is in his fourth decade as an Actor, Producer and Director. Films include: “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story,” “Beyond the Lights,” “Waiting to Exhale,” “Heart and Souls,” “Under Siege 2: Dark Territory,” and “Hollywood Shuffle.” Partial list of television, voice-over, and theatre credits include: co-starring as Whoopi Goldberg’s brother and comic foil on NBC’s “Whoopi.” Recurring roles: “The Orville: New Horizons” as Moclan leader Rechik, and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Guest Stars: “Transparent,” “Dear White People,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Being Mary Jane,” “The Simpsons,” “Frasier,” “Seinfeld.” Voice-Over Narration: The History Channel’s “U.S.S. Constellation: Battling For Freedom,” “E! True Hollywood Story” on the life of Diana Ross and “Bronzeville.” Theatre: As You Like It, On Borrowed Time, and The Gospel at Colonus. Recent theatre directing credits include: Fences, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, and Blues in The Night. Wren is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of the award winning, Ebony Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles’ first and only African American professional theatre company.

Dominique Kelley (Choreographer) is originally from Bridgeport, CT. He has been creating movement for musical theatre, tv, film, recording artists, and sports team entertainment for over two decades. At the ripe old age of 16 he co-choreographed Wild Women Blues, and has also choreographed such musical theatre staples as Oklahoma! (DCPA), Sophisticated Ladies (ZACH), and Singin’ in the Rain (ZACH). “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special”, “SYTYCD”, “Perry Mason”, “Come Dance with Me”, “Flirty Dancing”, “The Masked Singer”, “DWTS” and “Bar Rescue” are a few of the television shows he has lent his artistic talents to. No stranger to stage and live performance, he has collaborated with recording artists such as Beyoncé’, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Pink, Camila Cabello, Taylor Swift and countless others. He has been one of the main choreographers for such sports teams as the San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, LA Clippers, and various teams around the country. Dominique’s goal and endeavor are to bring movement and dance artistry to every facet of the entertainment industry.

WILLIAM FOSTER McDANIEL (Musical Director, Conductor, Pianist) is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at Capital University in his native Columbus, Ohio. He earned his Master of Music degree at Boston University and continued his studies in Paris, France as a Fulbright Scholar. Based in New York, Mr. McDaniel musical directed and conducted Broadway musicals throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. In that capacity he brought three National Tours, back to back, to Los Angeles: Bubblin’ Brown Sugar, and Timbuktu! (starring Eartha Kitt), both at the Pantages, and the original cast of Ain’t Misbehavin’ at the Aquarius Theatre. Since recently relocating to L.A., Mr. McDaniel has musical directed Blues In The Night at the Ebony Repertory Theatre and at the Beverly O’Neill Theatre in Long Beach, CA. and Carmen Jones at the Ensemble Theatre Company in Santa Barbara, CA. Mr. McDaniel utilized his Pandemic “free time” to study, record and post his interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations on YouTube.

JOHN IACOVELLI (Scenic Designer) has received the following awards for his work as a Scenic Designer: USITT Distinguished Award 2018, the Emmy Award for Peter Pan (starring Cathy Rigby on A&E), and the LA Drama Critics Circle for Lifetime Achievement in Scenic Design. Also on Broadway, John designed The Twilight of The Golds, and the National Tour of Camelot. John has designed over 300 productions at theatres including The Mark Taper Forum, Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, GeVa, Pasadena Playhouse, The Globe, Berkeley Rep, Magic, Dallas Theatre Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Portland Stage, San Jose Rep, San Diego Rep, Walnut Street Theatre, La Mirada Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company. Iacovelli designed the world premiere of Wole Soyinka’s adaptation of Oedipus at Colonus for The Cultural Olympiad in Greece and the world premiere of a full-length dance based on the Warner Bros. classic film “Casablanca” at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Andrew Schmedake (Lighting Designer) is an award-winning technical director and lighting designer for the arts and live entertainment, both in-person and virtual. Recent credits include activations for “Black Adam”, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Cynthia Erivo, Disney+ ,WarnerMedia, Netflix, Amazon and Blumhouse through Little Cinema Digital, designs for Center Theatre Group, South Coast Repertory, Gabriel Iglesias, After Hours Theatre Company, and Antaeus Theatre Company. Awards: Clio Award (with Little Cinema) Three-time LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award recipient. Two-time LA Drama Critics Circle Award. NAACP Theatre Award. Education: MFA from Carnegie Mellon University.

DANNY FIANDACA (Sound Designer) has served as assistant/associate to Peter McBoyle for ten years for productions across the U.S. and Asia as well as Broadway (Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away). Danny designed all of the musical theatre productions for Princess cruises between 2010 & 2020. During this time he collaborated with Stephen Schwartz and the Jim Henson company on multiple stage productions. Favorite credits include The Secret Silk (Stephen Schwartz/Princess Cruises), Henson Inspired Silliness (Jim Henson Company/Princess Cruises), Fantastic Journey (THEA Award – Princess Cruises), Once – Enchanted Storybook (Vinpearl Land, Phu Quoc, Vietnam) and Lonesome Traveler – Generations (Rubicon Theatre).

KEVIN WILLIAMS (Props/Furniture Designer) Recovering actor and LA native, Kevin has spent over two decades working as a designer, fabricator and consultant for clients such as Walt Disney Imagineering, The HUB Network, Red 5 Studios and Twentieth Century Fox, among many others. Notably, he worked as the resident Production Designer for the interactive theater company, Delusion, for seven years – Lies Within (2014), His Crimson Queen (2016), the Lies Within VR series (2017), The Blue Blade (2018), and most recently, Reaper’s Remorse (2021). Kevin is currently the Prop Department Supervisor for UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television. He works as a freelance designer and lives in Orange County with his incredible family. Proud S.P.A.M. member.

WENDELL C. CARMICHAEL (Costume Designer) Theatre credits: Head Over Heels, Phantom of the Opera, Lavender Men, Uncle Vanya, Both and Laughing While Black, Blues for An Alabama Sky, Three Sisters, Yellowman, Spring Awakening, Miss Julie Freedom Summer, Paradise Blue, Cyrano De Bergerac, McBeth, A Winters Tale, Sweeney Todd, Waiting for Godot, Salvage, Ragtime, Scraps, The Mountaintop, Our Town, The Wizard of Oz, WINK, Fool for Love, In the Heights, Happy Ending, American Saga: Gunshot Medley, Jews, Christians and Screwing Stalin, Vol. 1: A Post Racial America, Violet, Her Portmeanu, Native Son, A Walk in the Woods, Cabaret, West Side Story, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Desdemona: A Play about a Handkerchief, The Crucible, An Octoroon, Br’er Cotton, Waiting for the Parade, The Good War, Greenwood 1964. 2018 Stage Raw winner – Costume Design. Three-time L.A. Ovation Award nominee. 2017 Orange County’s Best Costume Designs. 2015 NAACP Theatre Award winner. Member of Local 768, the Theatrical Wardrobe Union/LA Opera.

ART BRICKMAN* (Stage Manager) has been a production stage manager for over 40 AEA productions as well as multiple Actors’ Fund (Entertainment Community Fund) benefits, over 50 staged readings, over 125 college productions, many fundraisers and special events. Art is pleased to join the Rubicon family with Ain’t Misbehavin’. He has been an AEA member since 1982. Special gratitude to Tara Sitser, who makes this all possible.

Land Richards (Drums) Television appearances include, “The Tonight Show Into The Night”. “The Paul Rodriguez Show”,  “The Byron Allen Show”,  “The Arsenio Hall Show”, “Good Morning America”,  “Soul Train”,  “Dick Clark’s Rockin New Year’s Eve”, “Sesame Street”,  VH-1’s “Story Tellers”, UNCF’s “Lou Rawls Parade Of Stars”, ALMA Awards/American Latin Music Awards NAACP Image Awards, “Motown Live”. Land has worked with artists such as Gerald, Namie Amuro, Ashford and Simpson, Atushi/Exile, Patti Austin, Phillip Bailey, George Benson, Angela Bofil, Michael, Bolton, Ron Brown, Rick Braun, Vernell Brown Jr. ,Peabo Bryson, Bobby Caldwell, Alex Bugnon, Cab Calloway, Chris Camozzi, Larry Carlton, Jose Carreras, Nell Carter, Norman Conners, Randy Crawford, Natalie Cole, Placido Domingo, Will Downing, Earth Wind and Fire Sheena Easton, Kevon Edmonds, Emotions, Sheila Escovedo, Rodney Franklin, Victor Fields, Rosie Gaines, Johnny Gill, Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Dorion Harewood, Everett Harp Eddie Harris, Lahla Hathaway, Heather Headley, Jennifer Holidays, Clint Holmes, Bruce Hornsby, George Howard, Englebert Humperdinck, James Ingram, Paul Jackson Jr. Boney James, Al Jarreau, Danny Jung, Chaka Kahn, Greg Kararukas, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Patte LaBelle, Neil Larson and Howard “Buzzy” Feiton band, Ronnie Laws, Triny Lopez, Jeff Lorbert, Bobby Lyle, Stephanie Mills, Steve Nicks, Tony Orlando, Jeffrey Osborne, David Pak, Michael Paulo, David Peaston, Phil Perry, the Pointer Sisters, Doc Powell, Phylicia Rashaad, Diane Reeves, Lee Ritenour, Diana Ross, Brenda Russell, Joe Sample, Dwight Sills, Jessica SImpson, Lonnie LIsten Smith, Jude Swift, The Temptations, Stenlaey Turrentine, Phillip Upchurch, Ben Vereen, Dionne Warwick, Jody Watley, Ernie Watts, Kirk Whalum, Denise Williams, Pauline Wilson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Bobby Womack, Stevie Wonder, Ali Woodson, Michael Wycoff and Eikichi Yazawa.

Keith Fiddmont (Saxophone) Educator/woodwind specialist Frederick (Keith) Fiddmont moved to Los Angeles in 1991 after leaving the legendary vibraphonist Lionel Hampton to begin a two-year stint with singer Rickie Lee Jones. He has recorded or performed live with such legends as Stevie Wonder, Luis Miguel, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, Diana Krall, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, James Brown, The Temptations, Jennifer Holliday, Natalie Cole, Nancy Wilson, and B.B. King (Grammy award winning “One Kind Favor”), as well as gifted artists like Wayne Brady, Billy Childs, Queen Latifah, Michael Bublé, and John Pizzarelli. As a freelancer, he has performed with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Frank Capp’s Juggernaut, the Bob Mintzer Big Band, the Ed Neumeister Big Band, the Luckman Jazz Orchestra, and the Southeast Orchestra, and Phil Ranelin’s Tribe Renaissance. Keith has been a member of the award-winning Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra for the past twenty-three years. The group’s credits include “The Big Band Bash” with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, and the Benny Golson 80th Birthday Celebration at the Kennedy Center, as well as recording projects with Milt Jackson, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Leon Thomas, Diana Krall, and many other prominent artists. Keith joined the music faculty of Santa Monica College as an adjunct in 1996 and became a full-time faculty member in the Fall of 2010. In addition to SMC, Keith was the Jazz and Commercial Music Coordinator for the Orange County High School of the Arts from 2008-2011.

Fernando Pullum (Trumpet) earned his bachelor’s degree in music education (1981) and master’s in trumpet performance (1983). Fernando moved to Los Angeles in 1984 to follow his dream of becoming an educator and professional musician. He assumed the music program at L.A.’s Washington Prep High School. Under his tutelage, the program thrived. In 1989, Los Angeles Unified School District recognized Fernando’s music program as the first music magnet in South Los Angeles. During the years that followed, 100% of Fernando’s students graduated with a high school diploma and only one student failed to enroll in college during the next fifteen years. Fernando has been recognized by many organizations and individuals throughout his tenure, including Oprah, VH-1, the John Lennon Foundation and the State of California as its teacher of the year. He has performed and recorded with many industry greats, such as Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackson Browne, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Eddie Murphy, Fishbone and more. Over the years, Fernando’s students have performed for many dignitaries, including President Ford and Prince Charles. The students have performed with Jackson Browne, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Wynton Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and many other incredible musicians. They have opened the Playboy Jazz Festival four times and traveled to Cuba, Brazil, Spain, and New York. Six of his former students have won Grammys.

Dwayne “Augi” Augustine (Bass) was born and reared in Los Angeles; the middle child of three. His grandfather sang Blues and played guitar, and his father sings Jazz. Dwayne’s father bought a guitar for him at the age of 0, but when he heard the sound of the bass at the age of 14 he fell in love with it, instantly. He finally got his first bass guitar at 16. By the age of 18, he was playing in garage bands of every style of music. In college, Augi aspired to compose, conduct and play in classical orchestras, but did not choose upright bass until his third year in college. Within three years, he became the youngest member in the New American Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles. Augi has been a musician, band leader and DJ for over 20 years. Because of his versatility as well as a multi-genre instrumentalist, he is highly requested by all ethnic groups. He released his debut CD “Citizens of the World” in January of 202. His unique sound fits into many categories- Afri-Latin Jazz, Smooth Jazz, World Funk, Pop, Folk, Dance, Trance, Adult Contemporary and even a touch of Classical (as evidenced in track 10 “Sentimental Heart” on his CD.

THOMAS “FATS” WALLER (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an African-American jazz pianist, organist, composer and comedic entertainer. He was born Thomas Wright Waller in New York City. Waller studied classical piano and organ before apprenticing himself to legendary Harlem stride pianist James P. Johnson. Johnson introduced Waller to the world of rent parties (a party with a piano player, designed to help pay the rent by charging the guests), and soon he developed a performing career. He was an excellent pianist–now usually considered one of the very best who ever played in the stride style–but his songwriting and his lovable, roguish stage personality (“One never knows, do one?”) overshadowed his playing. Before his solo career, he played with many performers, from Erskine Tate to Bessie Smith, but his greatest success came with his own five- or six-piece combo, FATS WALLER AND HIS RHYTHM. Among his songs are “Squeeze Me” 1919, “Ain’t Misbehavin'” 1929, “Blue Turning Grey Over You” 1930, “Honeysuckle Rose” 1929, “I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling” 1929, and “Jitterbug Waltz” 1942. He collaborated with the Tin Pan Alley lyricist Andy Razaf and had a commercially successful career which, according to some music critics, eclipsed his great musical talent. His nickname came about because he weighed nearly 300 pounds (136 kg). His weight and drinking are believed to have contributed to his death. Waller also made a successful tour of the British Isles in the late 1930’s and appeared in one of the earliest BBC Television broadcasts. He also appeared in several feature films and short subject films, most notably STORMY WEATHER in 1943. With Razaf he wrote “What Did I Do (To Be So Black and Blue)?” in 1929 which became a hit for Louis Armstrong. This song, a searing treatment of racism, black and white, calls into question the accusations of “shallow entertainment” leveled at both Armstrong and Waller. On December 15, 1943, at age 39, Waller died aboard an eastbound train in the vicinity of Kansas City, Missouri, following a west coast engagement.

RICHARD MALTBY, JR. (Original Director, Conceiver) On Broadway, he conceived and directed two Tony Award winning musicals: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978: Tony, N.Y. Drama Critics, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards — also Tony Award for Best Director); Fosse (1999: Tony, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards); as well as Ring of Fire, (2006). With composer David Shire: Director/Lyricist: Baby (1983, seven Tony nominations); Lyricist: Big (1996, Tony nomination: Best Score; also Dominium Theatre London 2019). With Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, Co-Lyricist: Miss Saigon, Evening Standard Award, London 1990; Tony nomination: Best Score, 1991; Co-Lyricist: The Pirate Queen, (2007). Director: The Story of My Life (2009). Director/Co-Lyricist: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance (1986 Tony Award for star, Bernadette Peters.) Off-Broadway Work includes: with David Shire: Director/Lyricist Starting Here, Starting Now (1977, Grammy nomination) and Closer Than Ever, (1989, two Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Score; also Off-Broadway Alliance Award, Best Musical Revival 2013; and London Jermyn Street Theatre 2014,). Director: Just Jim Dale (Roundabout Theatre 2014, Vaudeville Theatre, London 2015). Regional Credits include: Lyricist/conceiver, Take Flight, (Menier Chocolate Factory, London 2010; McCarter Theatre 2012); Book and Lyrics, Waterfall (2015, Pasadena Playhouse and Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre); Lyricist, new musical Sousatzka (2017, Toronto). Film credits include: Screenplay, “Miss Potter”, (2007: Christopher Award, best screenplay.). Contributes cryptic crossword puzzles to “Harper’s Magazine.” He is the son of a well-known orchestra leader; Five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily and Charlotte.

MURRAY HORWITZ Horwitz began his career working with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus as a clown for three years. In 1973, after moving to New York City, Horwitz appeared in the one-man show, An Evening of Sholom Aleichem, which was directed by Richard Maltby Jr., and in which he continues to perform at The Kennedy Center, The Manhattan Theatre Club, and The New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater. In 1978, Horwitz created Ain’t Misbehavin’ with Richard Maltby Jr. The musical is named after a Fats Waller song. Horwitz received multiple awards for co-writing Ain’t Misbehavin’, including a Tony, Obie, Emmy, Grammy, and New York Drama Critics’ Circle award. He became the assistant director of Opera-Musical Theater at the National Endowment for the Arts in 1987.] Since 1998, Horwitz has been creative consultant to the annual Mark Twain Prize ceremonies at the Kennedy Center. In 1989, he began his career at NPR, where he was instrumental in giving radio game show Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! its start.[2] He is also frequently a panelist on another public radio game show, Says You! He was also involved with ’Wynton Marsalis: Making the Music,” and ”The NPR Basic Jazz Record Library.” Horwitz received three Peabody awards for his work at NPR. In 2002, Horwitz became the founding director of the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was the director and chief executive officer from 2002 until 2009. He later served in fundraising positions at Washington National Opera and the Washington Performing Arts Society. In 2016, Horwitz took over as host of WAMU’s ”The Big Broadcast” old-time radio show. He gave Lin-Manuel Miranda critical suggestions and bought him his first rhyming dictionary when Miranda was writing his first play, In the Heights. He is also a co-host of the podcast “Question of the Day.”

STEPHANIE A. COLTRIN (Associate Artistic Director/Producer) is an award-winning producer and director with credits ranging from musicals to Shakespeare to World Premieres, from comedies to dramas. Rubicon directing credits include Almost Maine, Buyer and Cellar, Taking Sides, Sylvia (V.C. Reporter Award-Best Play and Stage Scene L.A. Award), Moonlight and Magnolias, and the Ovation-recommended production of The Last Five Years. Stephanie is the Artistic Director for Shakespeare by the Sea, (a summer Shakespeare festival touring two shows in rep to more than 24 locations throughout Southern California), having directed Richard III, Richard II (virtual) Twelfth Night (virtual), Henry V, Titus Andronicus, The Winter’s Tale, Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, The Tempest, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and King John. For her work with SBTS, Stephanie was interviewed on PBS as well as for a Folger Shakespeare Library podcast. Other directing credits include Bloody Poetry, The Weir, The Lonesome West (Stage Scene L.A. Award), Oswald, Panache, The Santaland Diaries, Stones in His Pockets, Spit Like a Big Girl, The Love List, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Godspell, Barefoot in the Park, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Garland Award nomination), Private Lives, Steel Magnolias, Blithe Spirit, Art, The Green Room (World Premiere), Moonlight and Magnolias, Come Back to the Five and Dime…, Sylvia, Quilters, Wait Until Dark, The Eight: Reindeer Monologues; Fully Committed, Godspell, Manson’s Girls and others. Stephanie previously served as the Artistic Director of CLO of South Bay Cities and the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, helming a ten-show season at both venues, and directing productions including Miss Saigon (Ovation winner for Best Musical, and earning her a directing nomination), Seussical the Musical (Broadway World Award for Best Director), Jesus Christ Superstar (Stage Scene L.A. Award, Director) Oklahoma, Bark!, She Loves Me (Stage Scene L.A. Award- Director of the Year) and The 1940’s Radio Hour.
www.stephaniecoltrin.com

JULIA DONLON (Associate Production Manager) was born and raised in Oxnard, California, and graduated from Pepperdine University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Production Design with an emphasis in Stage Management. She spent the years following doing theatre onboard a cruise ship in New Zealand, around Los Angeles, and now Ventura County. Previous credits include Les Miserables, Moana Jr., Mamma Mia! (Rubicon Academy of Drama), Lonesome Traveler Generations, Almost, Maine (Rubicon), Crazy for You, Die Zauberflote: The Magic Flute, Curtains, Medea, Well (Pepperdine University), and The Abode (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). Julia recently finished being the Production Manager for the Rubicon Academy of Drama’s 2022 Summer Season as well as Assistant Stage Managed the mainstage production of In the Heights. She is passionate about theatre and human connection and is excited to take on her new role as Associate Production Manager here at Rubicon Theatre. She would like to thank Kirby and Bev Ward and Stephanie Coltrin for their mentorship; and her family and boyfriend for supporting her endlessly.

EDUCATION DONORS

Anonymous
Susan Adamich
Amanda McBroom and George Ball
Penelope Barnds
Dr. Norma Beck
Gary Best
Marla Brown
Bonnie Hellman Brown
Donna Burger
James and Lori Burke
Robert and Carol Cole
Barbra Conway
Coastal Copy
Loretta Collet
Freddie Contarino
Melinda Dannenberg
Michelle and Matthew Demaria
Lynda and Fred Evans
Ken and Carolee Feltch
Judith and Mark Fleischman
Rebecca Fox
Nancy and Richard Francis
Katie Goode
Jeannie and Rick Graham
John Hankins
Julia and Walter Hamann
Eileen Hansen
The Harry and Judy Friedman
Family Foundation
Martha Jaffe
Donna Jones
Joanne Kaplan
Judy Kerr
Jordan Laby
Kate Larsen
Ed McCombs
Robert and Elmira McDonough
Lily Mallare
Carol Manzani
Jennifer Macafee
Paul and Christine Magie
Geoffrey Matlock
Laura Lee Merewether Fund*
Katharine Metropolis
William Mitchell
Heather Nicksay
Ruth and George Owens
Debbie and John Perry
Derek and Carey Poultney
Georgianna Regnier
Joyce A. Robinson
Christopher Rowland
Stacy Ruppel
Doris Schaffer
The Sence Foundation
Lorraine and Frank Serena
Jody Shapiro
Arthur and Nancy Simpson
Dawn Stidham-Husted
Robert Stroh
Karen Trainor
Ken and Adela Trainor
Allen Vail
Carol Ann Wiley
Stephanie Zierhut

*Administered through the Ventura County Community Foundation

The listing below reflects gifts received from October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022. To make a donation, or to notify us regarding any errors or omissions, please contact Araceli Aggarwal, Development Associate, at 805.667.2912, ext. 246, or aaggarwal@rubicontheatre.org.

$50,000+

Barbara Meister
Eileen Ogle

$10,000 – $49,999

Judith Nelson
Thomas Pecht
Lori and Richard Reisman
Smith-Hobson Foundation Fund*
Steven Snyder
The Kurtz Family in Honor of Normand Kurtz
The Steven E. Kurtz Foundation
Anne Smith Towbes
Susan Van Abel and Eric Oltman
Stephanie and Kurt Zierhut

$1,000 – $9,999

Dr. Norma Beck
Claire and Reid Bowman
Anonymous
Donna Burger
Ginger and Kim Caldwell
Betsy Chess
Sol Chooljian
Carol and Robert Cole
Barbra Conway
Randy Encinas and Doug Halter
Frances Elson
Abra and Ed Flores
Evelyn and Howard Boroughs
Education Fund*
Judi and Manny Garcia
Renee and Mark Garrett
Lynn and Al Geller
Jeffrey and Gerald Grove
Gene Haas Foundation
Jessica and Harvey Harris
Mary and Jim Harrison
Genevieve and Tom Hinkle
Ann and Jon Ives
John Johnston
Marilyn Juday
Alan Keevy
Lucien Lacour
Sandra and Neal Lassila
Irene Lawler
Limoneira Foundation Fund*
Terri and Mark Lisagor
Lloyd Properties
Jeannette and Dennis Longwill
Michael Mance
Doris Mleczko
Kay and Jerry Rich
Susan and Louis Samonsky
Mary Schaeffer
Darrel Schultz
Diana Troik and Art Shaffman
Jody Shapiro
Rebecca and Jeffrey Smith
Sparagna & Sparagna
Kevin Surace
Jeri Sutherling
Kathryn and R. Allen Urban
Nancy Rasmussen and William Wayson
Laurie and Steven Weiss
JoBeth Williams
Annie Winch
Birgit and Harald Wulff
Leah and Jim Zondlo

*Administered through the Ventura County Community Foundation

$100 – $999

Michael Ahn
Denise and Wendell Allen
Denisse Ambert
Brooke and Everard Ashworth
Catherine and John Baker
Jill and Edward Banman
Casey Barbaro
Penelope Barnds
Sara and Andrew Barnicle
Victoria Basolo
Donna and Gerald Beatty
Kim Bell
Robert Benham
Jane Berg
Dell and Paul Bishop
Theresa Brenner-Farrell
Kathy and Robert Brooks
Suzanne and Peter Brown
Barbara Brown
Bonnie Hellman Brown
Colleen Bruns
Douglas Burbank
Donna Burger
Carole Burns
Patricia Butler
Faye Campbell
Kathy Campitelli
Antonio Casares
Kim and Bobby Castagna
Sonia Chala Tower
Peter Chapa
Amy Cherot
Gloria and Ronald Chess
Harriet Clune and Rich Stewart
Shelley and David Cole
Takako Colman
Dorothy and Gary Davis
John Dobroth
Leonard Dryer
Lorraine Ebdon
Elaine Edwards
Wanda Edwards
Jennifer Jannone and John Edwards
Lynda and Fred Evans
Paul Finkel
Lois and Roy Fischman
Linda Kay Fisher
Anita Flood
Terrence Foley
David Fuhrmann
Clarissa and Bill Garlington
Joyce Gelsinger
William Goldsmith
Marjorie Goldstein
Lea Gould
Stephanie Greger
Barbara Harison
Lori and Gregory Harris
Cynthia Hashbarger
Deanna Hehl
Ellen Henahan
Barbara and Larry Hilburn
Marilyn Hilton
Kathie Hira
Linda Hitt
Charlotte Hoyt
Janice and Bruce Hunter
The Hon. Hannah-Beth Jackson
      and The Hon. George Eskin
David Jaffe/Lisa West Charitable Trust
Martha Jaffe
Robert Gibson Johnson
Lisa Kadowaki
Joanne Kaplan
Marion Keiter
Karen and Doug Kirk
Alan Kirschbaum
Wendy Leib and Ronald Kopp
Jean Kraabel
Ronald Kramar
Carol Lande
Haady Lashkari
Edward Lay
Harriet and Eric Leibovitch
Nancy and Robert Lopez
Heidemarie Lundblad
Valerie Magro
Rita March
Paula Markgraf
Manuel Marquez
L. Paige Marvel
Margaret and Gerald Matchin
Nancy Maxson
Christopher May
Emma Mayer
Stuart McDaniel
Brian McDonald
Kay McElroy
Sharon McGahan
Stephanie McNamara
Angelina Melero
Suzanne and Ernie Melonas
Margaret Melton
Jean and J. Midgley
Margret Miller
Diane Moore
Carlton and Peter Nebreklievski
Phyllis and Richard Nielsen
Jean and Zelma Olson
Judith Owen
Matty Park
Lauren Patten
Diane and Judge Steven Perren
Gene Pitman
Susan Poulson
Michelle Prichard
Lynda Racimora
Chris Rae
Jeane Renick
Margery Ricards
Eleanor and Dr. Mark Richman
John Russell
Judy Russo
Mary and Sam Saputo
Cheryl Schuler
Lainey and Dan Scully
Lorraine and Frank Serena
Nancy Sieh
Dale and Stuart Silfen
Harvey Silverberg
Mary Sorrelle
Elizabeth Stookey
Jenny Sullivan
Adriana Sullivan
Debra Renick and Greg Thayer
Rosemary Tobin
Jane Totten
Kim Trainor
Allen Vail
S. Blake and Charles Wade
Beverly and Kirby Ward
Marie Warner
Pam Warren
Kathy Weber
Judith and Mort Weisman
James Whitney
Sylvia and Duane Wikholm
Carol Ann Wiley
Duane Williamson
Judith and David Wittig
Hiroko Yoshimoto
The Yuss Family Trust

$50 – $99

Jane Advani
Tamara Ashford
Michael Beyries
Lynn and Jim Brady
Mary and Bob Braitman
Donn Browne
Dianna Burdick
Marsha and John Carroll
Kim Charnofsky
Stephanie Coltrin-Beyries
Dale Alan Cooke
Lilia Coppa
Chice Davison
Susan Drapkin
Kathleen and Robert Ellison
Paula Feinberg
Judith and Mark Fleischman
Pamela Fuller
Give Lively
Arline Grether
Martha Groszewski
Shirley Hackleman
Jean Hall
Betty Harris
Karen Harter
Anyce Hency
Victoria Hill
Camille Hunter
Ruth Johnson
Karen and Martin Kinrose
Cheryl Lewis
Kay Liddi
Joanne Lopez-Rojas
Lou Lotorto
Meredith McMinn
Irene Miller
Janna Minsk
Arlene Miro
Debra and John O’Neal
Jone Pence
Sandi Pierce
James Roberts
Robert Rubin
Sandra Rush
Jackie Saltz
Jean Smith
Ellen and Leslie Spiegel
Lane Stalbird
Dale Stamos
Robert Ward

Tributes are made to honor a loved one, celebrate a special occasion, or remember those who have passed away. Thank you to the following individuals for commemorating landmark moments with a gift to the theatre. These listings reflect one-time gifts of $100 or more, received October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. To make a gift, or to let us know about a correction, please contact Araceli Aggarwal, Development Associate, at 805.667.2912, ext. 246, or aaggarwal@rubicontheatre.org.

In Honor of Karyl Lynn Burns
Barbara Meister
James Whitney

In Memory of Richard A. Burns
Carole A. Burns

In Honor of Julia Campbell
Fred and Lynda Evans

In Honor of Mary Ann Cohen
Lynda Paige Marvel
Cheryl Schuler

In Memory of Susan Cooper
Gloria and Ronald Chess

In Honor of Jack and Rivie Drapkin
Susan Drapkin

In Memory of Diana Einhorn
Leonard Dryer

In Memory of Karen Finkel
Paul Finkel

In Honor of Roy Fishman
Judi and Manny Garcia

In Memory of Rite Harris
Lori and Gregory Harris

In Memory of Tom Hashbarger
Cynthia Hashberger

In Honor of Patricia Lay
Edward Lay

In Honor of Joseph Fuqua
Penelope Barnds

In Honor of Doug Halter and
Randy Encinas
Sonia Chala Tower

In Memory of Normand Kurtz
Jane Berg
Deanna Hehl
Jenny Sullivan

In Honor of Barbara Meister
Eleanor and Dr. Mark Richman

In Memory of Nick and Olga Melonas
Suzanne and Ernie Melonas

In Honor of Loretta and Mike Merewether
Penelope Barnds
Brett Hilton

In Honor of Loretta and Mike Merewether’s 60th Wedding Anniversary
Donna J. Burger

In Honor of Lori and Richard Reisman
Barbara Meister

In Memory of Marlena Daly Roberts
Wanda Edwards

In Memory of Nancy Tonkin
Emma Mayer

In Memory of Kim Weiskopf
Jody Legendre

In Memory of Kathleen Yuss
The Yuss Family Trust