by eugene o’neill

directed by dr. mary cutler

Lex-Ham Community TheaterSince its start in 1995, the Lex-Ham Community Theater strives to achieve its mission of producing quality theatrical experiences by and for the residents of the Lexington-Hamline and surrounding neighborhoods in St Paul. The company has enhanced the local theatrical scene by:

- selecting lesser-known works by noted playwrights, such as: Soul Gone Home by Lanston Hughes, The Vegetable by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Motomorphosis by Václav Havel; - giving the regional and world premieres of works by local authors, such as There's Talk in Town by John Solensten and Bullets and Beauties by Urban Landreman; - reviving wonderful classics such as The Women by Clare Boothe Luce, Under the Gaslight by Augustin Daly, and All My Sons by Arthur Miller; and - winning awards for Outstanding Performance by an Actor (Shad Cooper) and Sound Design (David Lind) at the Minnesota Association of Community Theatres Play Festival in 2003 and 2005.

The theater offers many opportunities for people to get involved at any level or time commitment. Opportunities range from attending an evening reading of a play, participating as an actor or crew member in a production, to enrolling in a beginning or advancing acting class.

To get involved, contact theater@LexHamArts.org or www.LexHamArts.org/theater.

Special Thanks toJames J. Hill House

Jehovah Lutheran ChurchConcordia College

Kay Robinson, Concordia College Theater Dept.St. Catherine's University Theater Dept.

Hamline University Theater Dept.Carol Ann Winter, Theater in the Round

Lisa MangoneJosie Dodge

The First Man

Produced by Lex-Ham Community Theater

Time & Place: 1922, the home of Curtis Jayson, Bridgetown, Connecticut

Act I: An afternoon in early fall

Act II: Morning of the following day

Act III: Three o’clock in the morning in early spring of the next year

Act IV: Three days later

The show runs approximately two hours,

including one ten-minute intermission.

CAST

Curtis Jayson……………………………………………........Stuart Alger Martha Jayson………………...…...……………….Megan Noel Johnson Bigelow……………………………………………..………..Colin Healey John Jayson…………………………………...…….….William P. Studer

John Jr….…….……………………………………….…..Aaron Wlaschin Richard…………………………………...……………….Corey DiNardo Esther………………………………………………….…..Maureen Trepp Emily………………………...…………………………..Alison Anderson

Lily……………………………………………………………..Kira Pontiff Mrs. Davidson…………………………..…..Mary Kay Fortier-Spalding Mark Sheffield………………………………………………..Bill Sikorski Nurses………………..…..Erin Malody, Jodi Matheson, Denise Remak Maid…………………………………………………….....Jessie Fullerton

ARTISTIC TEAM

Director…………………………………………….……..Dr. Mary Cutler Stage Manager………………………………………….Becca Greenstein Set Designer…………………………………………..…….Dutton Foster

Props Manager…………………………………………..…...Terri Ristow Costume Designer.……………………………………..…….Judy Larsen Sound Designer …………………………….…………..George Spalding Graphic Artist………………………………………..…...Jessie Fullerton

Producers……...……..Jennifer Newell, Terri Ristow, Aaron Wlaschin

Dutton Foster (Set Designer) At age 12, Dutton Foster built

a puppet theater replete with footlights and a fancy act curtain,

intended for puppet shows he never actually produced. His first role

was Lady Macbeth in grade nine (in a boys’ school). Dutton has

directed, designed, and built well over a hundred school and commu-

nity shows, including a number of sets for Lex-Ham. His published

plays comprise several melodramas (including the musical Lurking

on the Railroad) as well as a one-act entitled “Our Rotten Town,” which imports

Shakespearean (tragic) characters into a small American town.

Becca Greenstein (Stage Manager) This is Becca’s first show

with Lex-Ham, and her first time stage managing since graduating

from Carleton College last year and realizing since that she really

needs theatre in “real life.” Favorites at Carleton include Angels in

America, The Fantasticks, and Fifty Percent Illusion. She thanks

Aaron, Mary, and Lee for giving her this opportunity.

Judy Larsen (Costume Designer) Judy Larsen is happy to costume another

LexHam production. Some of her previous Lex-Ham shows include Enemy of the

People, Sylvia, The Women, The Fantasticks, and Trojan Women. Judy has been

involved in dance and theater since her college days and has worked as a

choreographer, director and costumer.

Jennifer Newell (Producer) This is Jen’s first year on the Lex-Ham

Board and Theatre Committee. This past spring, she also served

as the Volunteer Coordinator for Lex-Ham’s Bandwidth Festival.

Although originally from Kansas, she received her MA in Arts

Administration from Indiana University in 2012 and now works as

the Development and Marketing Assistant at History Theatre and as a

House Manager at Park Square Theatre. She enjoys the many oppor-

tunities the Twin Cities has to offer -- especially in regard to theatre and the arts!

Terri Ristow (Props Manager and Producer) Terri is both

a scientist and visual artist, and has worked with Lex-Ham,

Chameleon Theatre Circle, Northfield Arts Guild, 20% Theater,

Theatre in the Round, and the Soap Factory. Terri loves the endless

variety of projects and skills involved with bringing a script to

life. “Art exists and theater will happen because the people involved

are passionate in what they create. I feel so privileged to be part of

this.” You can see Terri’s Prop Designer skills at Chameleon’s ‘Twas the Night

before Christmas in December, and Theatre in the Round’s The Prime of Miss Jean

Brodie in January.

Thank you for supporting Lex-Ham Community Theater. Please turn off all electronic devices and enjoy the show!

William P. Studer (Jayson) After 40+ years practicing law, William P.

Studer returned to the theatre in 2007. Currently, the feature, The

Current, (Chaplain Christopherson), in which he has a major supporting

role, played in theatres nationally and is now released on DVD. His

favorite stage roles include Scrooge (A Christmas Carol - Lyric Arts);

Norman (On Golden Pond - Gallery); Jack (The Weir - Pioneer Place);

Looseleaf Harper (Happy Birthday, Wanda June - Nimbus); Simms

(Sympatico - TRP); Old Man Brunner (Old Man Brunner Country - Jon Hassler) and

Grandpa Vanderhof (You Can’t Take It With You - Lyric Arts and Gallery).

Maureen Trepp (Esther) Performing in MHS sites makes up a lot of

Maureen's acting career: a maid in the Ramsey House holiday show

for 3 years and currently a History Player at the Mill City Museum.

She has also worked with the Corcoran Park Players, MCTC Theater

Department and St. Louis Park Players production of Our Town.

She directs/writes three plays a year at her church along with doing

puppet shows for PACER. She is pleased her own family isn't as

dysfunctional as the Jaysons.

Aaron Wlaschin (John Jr. and Producer) This is his third time as

a co-producer, and would like to thank Jen and Terri for joining him on

this adventure. Aaron has performed with various groups in the Twin

Cities including: Lex-Ham Community Theater, Augsburg

College, Sweet Charities, The Lowry Lab, Curtain Call Theater,

Zamzow Productions, Workhouse, Historic Mounds Theater, Perimeter

Productions, Rosemount Area Arts Council, and Kingman Studios.

He is also an actor with Mr. Mystery Productions. Aaron welcomes his mom to the

audience on the 14th. It will be her first time watching him since elementary school.

She will be blushing as she reads this. He would also like to show gratitude to Alex,

Josie and Katie for letting him play.

Mary Cutler (Director) Equally at home on stage or off, Mary's area

directing credits include: A Murder Is Announced for Phipps Theatre,

Unraveled for Theatre Unbound, Moonlight and Magnolias for

Bloomington Civic, Dixie Swim Club and Quilters for Buffalo Com-

munity Theatre: plus Our Town, Jeffrey, Willy Wonka and Annie. Her

most recent acting credits include: Rapture at Savage Umbrella, The

Red Velvet Cake War and Arsenic and Old Lace at Lyric Arts; Theatre

in the Round's In the Restroom at Rosenblooms and Born Yesterday,

Yellow Tree's Steel Magnolias, 20% Theatre's Helen, and Minnesota Shakespeare

Company's A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also teaches acting for Lex-Ham

Players.

THE ARTISTIC TEAM

Eugene Gladstone O'Neill (October 16, 1888 – November 27,

1953) was an Irish American playwright and Nobel laureate in

Literature. His plays were among the first to include techniques

of realism and speeches in American dialect. Amongst O’Neill’s

notable plays are Beyond the Horizon (1920), Anna Christie

(1922), Strange Interlude (1928), The Iceman Cometh (1946), and

his masterpiece, Long Day's Journey into Night (produced posthu-

mously in 1956). 1, 2

O’Neill wrote The First Man in 1922, and the play opened at the

Neighborhood Playhouse on March 4, 1922. Reviews of the production ranged from

the negative to the violently condemnatory. There was general agreement that the play

was miscast and that a vital idea had been lost in murky writing. But The First Man

introduced the paradox of true marriage and human individuality, a theme which

O’Neill would develop in later studies. 2

The First Man is also considered to parallel O’Neill’s own alienation from his son

Eugene Jr. At the time he wrote the play his conflicting responsibilities of artist and

husband were aggravated by the 1919 birth of another son, Shane, and his now ines-

capable role of father. O’Neill’s plays of this period reflect an undisguised anguish

which has been heavily documented in the drama of his own life.2, 3

Eugene O’Neill died on November 27, 1953, at the age of 65. As he was dying, he

allegedly whispered his last words: "I knew it. I knew it.”

Sources: 1Wikipedia; 2eOneill.com; 3The Eugene O’Neill Newsletter Vol. VIII, No. 3, Winter 1884).

Stuart Alger (Curtis) Stuart lives in the Lexington-Hamline neigh-

borhood and has appeared in several Lex-Ham Theater productions,

including State of the Union in 2008. He joined his son, Jack,

in Beauty and the Beast at St. Thomas More. Over the past few

years he has had a great time appearing in the Landmark Center/

Lake Shore Players annual trial reenactments at the Landmark Cen-

ter in St. Paul. Stuart wants to thank the great cast and crew of The

First Man, and his wife Patricia Eaves, for making this wonderful experience possible.

Allison Anderson (Emily) Allison’s credits include Julius Caesar and

Bourgeois Gentleman for Shakespeare & Company; Ravenscroft, Ham-

let and Fortinbras for Phrenic Impact Theater, Treasure Island and

Appointment with Death for Theatre in the Round; Heaven Can Wait

for Lyric Arts; Our Town for Park Theater; A Midsummer Night's

Dream for Theatre Terra Firma; And Then There Were None for

Bloomington Gallery Players; Jack and the Beanstalk for Stages Thea-

ter, and more. She also has 22 film credits, one television credit and soon will start

work on a new web series.

THE CAST

THE PLAYWRIGHT

Corey DiNardo (Richard) Corey graduated from Bowling Green

State University in Northwest Ohio. Shortly after getting his

degree, he moved to the Twin Cities in 2013. The Twin Cities

companies that he's acted for include Six Elements Theatre,

The Cromulent Shakespeare Company, Forgotten Goddess

Productions, and CLIMB Theatre. He is very grateful to be a part

of his first Lex-Ham production.

Mary Kay Fortier-Spalding (Mrs. D) Mary Kay is pleased to

add Mrs. Davidson to her list of stage roles. Some other past

roles include Abby – Arscenic and Old Lace, Daisy - Driving

Miss Daisy, Mother Maria Martha – Lilies of the Field, Betty

Meeks – The Foreigner, Mrs. Winemiller – Summer and Smoke,

Mary Tyrone in Long Days Journey Into Night, Golde – Fiddler

on the Roof, Lady Macbeth - Macbeth, Meg Boyd – Damn Yan-

kees, Mary – The Vagina Monologues and several film roles, including Betty

Vogel in the feature film, Memorial Day, with James Cromwell. She holds a

BFA in acting and directing and is enjoying spending her “silver years” doing

what she loves…theatre. Love to hubby, George.

Jessie Fullerton (Maid and Graphic Artist) Jessie Fullerton is a

graphic designer living in the Minneapolis area. She is interested in all

creative pursuits, particularly theater, and is excited to be involved

with the Lex-Ham on this production. When not at work or rehearsal

you can typically find Jessie reading, writing, or illustrating at

home...or complaining about her cats.

Colin Healey (Bigelow) Colin is making his debut with Lex-Ham

Community Theater. His other credits include Giles in The Mousetrap

for Bloomington Gallery Players, Hamlet in Rosencrantz and Guilden-

stern are Dead for Theater On The Park, and Justin in Go Back For

Murder for Westminster Community Theater in California. And if you

ever watch re-runs on television, you may have seen him delivering the

verdict on The Practice or guarding Pres. Bartlet on The West Wing, or

dancing to ‘Saturday Night Fever’ on The King of Queens. Colin would like to thank

his wife and two beautiful daughters for making his life endlessly entertaining.

Megan Noel Johnson (Martha) Originally hailing from the suburbs

of Louisville, Megan Noel has spent the past five years in the Twin

Cities training for a career in theatre. She has a BA in Theatre with

an emphasis in Acting/Directing from Bethel University. She has

previously worked with Shadow Horse Theatre Company, Box Wine

Theatre, NewBridge Theatre Company and The Interact Center. Some

of her favorite roles include Babe in Crimes of the Heart and Annie

in Crazyface. This fall she debuted as a storyteller at the MN Renaissance Festival.

This production marks her debut with Lex-Ham Theatre.

Erin Malody (Nurse) Erin is very excited about her Lex-Ham

debut. Erin has also acted with South Saint Paul Community Theater

and Children’s Castle Theater. The First Man has been such a great

experience for Erin; she is so thankful for being given this chance. Erin

would like to thank her family for their unfailing love and support, and

the cast of The First Man for being such a great group of people to

work with.

Jodi Matheson (Nurse) Although Jodi has not had professional

training, she recently played the role of Cinderella in a condensed

stage version of various Disney films. She also had stage experience

with a role in the play Creeping Shadows while in high school.

Jodi is single and lives in Minneapolis where she enjoys biking and

walking around the lakes. She currently works full time at Wells

Fargo Bank N.A. and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Liberal

Arts at Metropolitan State University.

Kira Pontiff (Lily) Kira first caught the theater bug while attending

South High School and went on to major in theater at Hamline

University. This is her second performance with Lex-Ham

Community Theater; she played Petra in last year's production of

Enemy of the People. She has been in several productions around

the Twin Cities such as Women's Minyan at the Minnesota Jewish

Theater Company, Archival Revival with Freshwater Theater

Company and Panties on My Head: Real Stories from the MN Roll-

er Derby as part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. She can also be seen in the film The

Giant Spider directed by local film maker Christopher R. Mihm.

Denise Remak (Nurse) After a 36 year career being “on stage”

teaching history to a captive audience at Apple Valley High, Denise

fulfills a lifelong dream of performing in theater. She thanks her

two older sisters who, while playing “school,” forced a young Den-

ise to shout Principal’s announcements down the laundry shoot

which they gleefully ignored, her parents’ “just do it” encourage-

ment, and her brother, a real “First Man.” Residing in Minneapolis,

Denise and Bruce have two daughters living in NYC. Having thrice

ruptured her Achilles tendon, Denise is not a huge fan of the expression “Break a leg!”

Bill Sikorski (Sheffield) Bill works as a Lab Manager at 3M and

lives in Birchwood Village with his two children. He thanks Mary

for the opportunity to work with her, this talented cast, Becca, and the

entire crew who have made this show possible.