Spring 2007
 Catherine (Danielle DiBianco) watches as Hal (Michael Slas) and Claire (Linnea Carrera) try and decide if she is a genius or something worse. |
 Catherine (Danielle DiBianco) gets comfort from her father (Ken Craig) on the evening before his funeral |
On the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, Catherine, a troubled young
woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a
famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her
own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and
the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father's who hopes to
find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind.
Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the
discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most
difficult problem of all: How much of her father's madness - or
genius - will she inherit? (Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Catalog)
Director’s Note
When a play has won the Pulitzer Prize, as Proof did in 2001, there is a certain amount of expectation to fulfill. Suddenly, everyone looks at the cast from Broadway and sees names that they recognize from TV and movies. Once the theatre decides to produce the play you find out that there will be many other productions that are going to be done around town just before or just after yours. Also, someone makes it into a movie, in this case a movie with Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. When you decide to put on a play, any play, it is because you think about the unique things that you can bring to this particular story. Ideally, your production would appear from the vacuum and exist solely on its own merits. Even if that is not the case for this show, we as a cast came together and looked at this struggle of one woman to define her own life against the pressures of family, expectation and the ghosts of her past with as much innocence as could be possible. Like Catherine, who has the expectations of others and the shadows of the past; like all of us who spend the day making choices we hope will bring a positive future amid hope and disappointment; like the cast and crew of this play; we start at the beginning, work our way through and see if we have found something elegant.
Director’s Note
When a play has won the Pulitzer Prize, as Proof did in 2001, there is a certain amount of expectation to fulfill. Suddenly, everyone looks at the cast from Broadway and sees names that they recognize from TV and movies. Once the theatre decides to produce the play you find out that there will be many other productions that are going to be done around town just before or just after yours. Also, someone makes it into a movie, in this case a movie with Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. When you decide to put on a play, any play, it is because you think about the unique things that you can bring to this particular story. Ideally, your production would appear from the vacuum and exist solely on its own merits. Even if that is not the case for this show, we as a cast came together and looked at this struggle of one woman to define her own life against the pressures of family, expectation and the ghosts of her past with as much innocence as could be possible. Like Catherine, who has the expectations of others and the shadows of the past; like all of us who spend the day making choices we hope will bring a positive future amid hope and disappointment; like the cast and crew of this play; we start at the beginning, work our way through and see if we have found something elegant.
Place: [South Side of Chicago]
Time: [Present]
ACT I - INTERMISSION (Ten Minutes) - ACT II
Time: [Present]
ACT I - INTERMISSION (Ten Minutes) - ACT II
Cast
Catherine…Danielle DiBianco
Claire…Linnea Carrera
Robert…Ken Craig
Hal…Michaeal Slas
Production Crew
Producer.....Anna Antaramian
Director.....Bill McIntosh
Stage Manager.....Shama Dardai
Assistant Director.....Rachel Backing
Scenic Designer/Co-Technical Director.....Lizz Otto-Cramer
Lighting Designer/Co-Technical Director.....John Rodriguez
Costume Designer.....Jana Anderson
Sound Designer.....Leroyd Manuel
Master Electrician.....Elias Morales
Assistant Electrician.....Beth Turkin
House Manager.....Kimberly Crawford
Box Office Manager.....Lauren Carter
Bookkeeper.....Becca Raven Uminowicz
Light Board Operator.....Dallas Mallory
Sound Operator.....Leroyd Manuel
Wardrobe Head.....Talojia Wright
Public Relations.....Lauren Carter
Playbill Designer.....David Ropinski
Set Crew.....Theatre Practicum class
Catherine…Danielle DiBianco
Claire…Linnea Carrera
Robert…Ken Craig
Hal…Michaeal Slas
Production Crew
Producer.....Anna Antaramian
Director.....Bill McIntosh
Stage Manager.....Shama Dardai
Assistant Director.....Rachel Backing
Scenic Designer/Co-Technical Director.....Lizz Otto-Cramer
Lighting Designer/Co-Technical Director.....John Rodriguez
Costume Designer.....Jana Anderson
Sound Designer.....Leroyd Manuel
Master Electrician.....Elias Morales
Assistant Electrician.....Beth Turkin
House Manager.....Kimberly Crawford
Box Office Manager.....Lauren Carter
Bookkeeper.....Becca Raven Uminowicz
Light Board Operator.....Dallas Mallory
Sound Operator.....Leroyd Manuel
Wardrobe Head.....Talojia Wright
Public Relations.....Lauren Carter
Playbill Designer.....David Ropinski
Set Crew.....Theatre Practicum class
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Photographs by Ray Gonzalez
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Danielle DiBianco
(Catherine) is a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University. She is
currently studying classical piano and teaching ballet at NEIU.
Danielle would like to thank Bill McIntosh for giving her this
wonderful opportunity of working with such talented individuals. She
would also like to thank Anna Antaramian and Ellen O’Keefe for their
words of wisdom and encouragement. |
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Linnea Carrera
(Claire) is currently a student at Northeastern Illinois University,
where she is majoring in Communication, Media and Theatre. She was most
recently seen in the Center Stage production Simply Maria
as Carmen, and as a member of InFusion in the studio series of
Backwardly Mobile. She is currently working with ¡Salsation!
Theatre Company, and can be seen in their upcoming production The Fanta
Menace at the Gallery Mextli in Pilsen. When not at school or working
she likes to geek out over Jane Austen and Harry Potter. And when she’s
not doing that, she’s working on her music, piano and vocal, even
occasional composition. She is excited for the production and wants to
thank the cast, crew and the Director for making this such a wonderful
experience. She would like to send a huge shout out to all her friends
and family for their support and love. |
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Ken Craig
(Robert) is thrilled to be returning to the stage after a two year
absence during which time he pursued film and commercial work. Look for
him as General Eli Cooper in the film Dog Jack scheduled to premier in
a couple of months. He was last seen right here at Stage Center playing
Dodge in Buried Child. Other
credits include Nathan Jessep in A Few Good Men, Dave Moss in Glengarry
Glen Ross, Phil in Hospitality Suite and Andy in Love Letters. Nothing
replaces the magic, excitement and sheer exhilaration of live theater
and this production is no exception. A special thanks to director Bill
McIntosh, and the cast and crew for your passion and hard work to make
this happen. Love you Babe, thanks for believing in me. Enjoy the show!! |
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Michael Slas
(Hal) the youngest, but by no means the most immature member of the
cast, has been acting for almost 5 years. Not just one show, but
several over the years. Previous roles include a Floridian Mobster, a
13-year old wise man, and an ambiguously gay survivor. He would like to
thank his parents for giving him talent, and all the people who wanted
to see this geek transform into an even bigger geek. Mike is extremely
pleased to be working with a cast of this caliber and hopes that you
enjoy the show as much as he does. |
Bill McIntosh (Director)
has been involved with Northeastern for a number of years. Now that
surprises him if he actually thinks about it. He has been lucky enough
to direct two times previously; Inspecting Carol and last year’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile and he has been on stage twice; as the title role in Scapino and as Harlequin in Game of Love and Chance.
While Stage Center is a bit of a home for him, he has been seen in
other Chicago venues as well as across the country; Los Angeles,
Seattle and Colorado. He has been involved with touring theater that
has taken him to Panama and to South Korea. He would like to thank
everyone along the way, but mostly you for coming out tonight.
Lizz Otto-Cramer (Set Desiger, Co-Technical Director) is pleased to be a new faculty member here at Northeastern. Lizz earned her Master of Fine Arts at the School of the Arts in Winston-Salem North Carolina. She has been working professionally since graduation and has designed and painted in Milwaukee WI, North Carolina, and Washington D.C. Her credits include Dracula, Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Story, and Cole among others.
John Rodriguez (Lighting Design, Co-Technical Director) joined the theatre faculty at Northeastern three years ago and has been teaching courses in technical theatre as well as working as a designer on Stage Center productions. John shares responsibilities of Technical Director along with Lizz Otto-Cramer. John most recently designed the set and lighting for Dracula and the lighting for Picasso at the Lapin Agile.
Jana Anderson (Costume Design) after working on Dracula last year, is delighted to be working with Stage Center Theatre again. Her work has been featured by numerous theater groups including Redmoon Theater, Light Opera Works, Irish Repertory Theatre, Rivendell, Experimental Theatre and Collaboraction. Prior to coming to the United States, Jana created elaborate costumes for classical opera productions at the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. She also attended the University of Art in Bratislava, where her interest in working on period pieces originated. Since moving to Chicago in 1997 her focus has been to create costumes for theatres. However her costume designs have also been featured in fashion photo shoots and advertising campaigns. When she is not preparing costumes for theatrical productions, Jana is busy designing and creating unique haute-couture fashions for individual clients in the United States and Europe.
Opening night festivities sponsored by:The Miracle Center, a faith-based youth agency, uses multi-disciplinary arts instruction to cultivate children and youth to become committed students, loving family members, and responsible citizens. Check out our website at www.themiraclecenter.org.
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Lizz Otto-Cramer (Set Desiger, Co-Technical Director) is pleased to be a new faculty member here at Northeastern. Lizz earned her Master of Fine Arts at the School of the Arts in Winston-Salem North Carolina. She has been working professionally since graduation and has designed and painted in Milwaukee WI, North Carolina, and Washington D.C. Her credits include Dracula, Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Story, and Cole among others.
John Rodriguez (Lighting Design, Co-Technical Director) joined the theatre faculty at Northeastern three years ago and has been teaching courses in technical theatre as well as working as a designer on Stage Center productions. John shares responsibilities of Technical Director along with Lizz Otto-Cramer. John most recently designed the set and lighting for Dracula and the lighting for Picasso at the Lapin Agile.
Jana Anderson (Costume Design) after working on Dracula last year, is delighted to be working with Stage Center Theatre again. Her work has been featured by numerous theater groups including Redmoon Theater, Light Opera Works, Irish Repertory Theatre, Rivendell, Experimental Theatre and Collaboraction. Prior to coming to the United States, Jana created elaborate costumes for classical opera productions at the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. She also attended the University of Art in Bratislava, where her interest in working on period pieces originated. Since moving to Chicago in 1997 her focus has been to create costumes for theatres. However her costume designs have also been featured in fashion photo shoots and advertising campaigns. When she is not preparing costumes for theatrical productions, Jana is busy designing and creating unique haute-couture fashions for individual clients in the United States and Europe.
Opening night festivities sponsored by:The Miracle Center, a faith-based youth agency, uses multi-disciplinary arts instruction to cultivate children and youth to become committed students, loving family members, and responsible citizens. Check out our website at www.themiraclecenter.org.
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
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