Christmas - The American Century Theater

The American Century Theater
presents
An American Century
Christmas

The American Century Theater
presents
An American Century
Christmas
A Musical Memory
Conceived and compiled by
Jack Marshall, Thomas D. Fuller and Kathryn Fuller
December 10, 2008 – January 4, 2009
Director
Jack Marshall
Stage Manager
Rhonda Hill
Costumer
Rip Claassen
Gunston Theatre II
2700 South Lang Street
Arlington, Virginia
Producer
Ann Marie Plubell
Set Designer
Trena Weiss–Null
Sound Designer
Bill Gordon
Musical Director
Tom Fuller
Lighting Designer
AnnMarie Castrigno
Technical Director
Michael Null
An American Century Christmas will be presented
with one 15-minute intermission.
Supported in part by the Virginia Commission of the Arts and
the Arlington Commission for the Arts.
The American Century Theater
P.O. Box 6313 • Arlington, VA 22206
703-998-4555 www.americancentury.org
PLEASE NOTE:
The use of recording equipment and/or the taking of
photographs during the performance is strictly prohibited.
Performers
Ann DeMichelle
McCall Noelle Doyle
Kathryn Fuller
Bill Gordon
Adam Juran
Production Staff
Producer ...................................................................................................... Ann Marie Plubell
Director ............................................................................................................... Jack Marshall
Assistant Director .............................................................................................. Kathryn Fuller
Stage Manager ....................................................................................................... Rhonda Hill
Musical Director ...................................................................................................... Tom Fuller
Set Designer .................................................................................................. Trena Weiss–Null
Lighting Designer .................................................................................... AnnMarie Castrigno
Sound Designer ...................................................................................................... Bill Gordon
Costumer .............................................................................................................. Rip Claassen
Technical Director ............................................................................................... Michael Null
Program ........................................................................................................ Michael Sherman
Photographer .......................................................................................................... Micah Hutz
Musicians
Scott Kenison
Steve Lebens
Mick Tinder
Patricia Tinder
Glenn L. White
Piano ................................................................................................................ Alvin Smithson
Rehearsal Accompanist ........................................................................................... Larry Kolp
Arranger ........................................................................................................... Loren Platzman
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The American Century Theater wishes to thank and acknowledge all the writers,
poets, composers, lyricists, film makers, producers, directors, designers, publishers,
illustrators, performers, and others who have contributed to and enriched the Christmas
experience in America.
In addition, TACT also acknowledges
Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore, Marshall High School of Falls Church,
IONA Senior Services of Washington, Backstage Inc., Jason Beagle, Deborah Rinn
Critzer, and all others whose names were not available as this program went to press.
TACT is funded in part by Arlington County through the Cultural Affairs Division
of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources and the Arlington
Commission for the Arts; the Virginia Commission for the Arts; numerous foundations;
and many generous donors.

Director’s Notes: An American Century Christmas
It wasn’t so long ago that the Christmas season only seemed to arrive when Bob Hope, Bing
Crosby, Andy Williams, Perry Como and any number of other popular entertainers hosted
their annual “Christmas Specials.” The shows varied widely in quality from year to year,
but not in format and spirit. Familiar songs, both religious and secular, were sandwiched
around skits, stories and dramatic scenes portraying various aspects of Christmas in America,
past and present. Accompanying these variety shows were either new or repeated animated
specials, many of them using the “Puppetoons” that were the trademark of producer George
Pal. Of course, the regular variety shows-and once they were as thick on the networks as
passenger pigeons-had special holiday installments too: Ed Sullivan, the Hollywood Palace,
Red Skelton, the Bell Telephone Hour and the Hallmark Hall of Fame, to mention just a few.
Then there were the Christmas movies, as familiar as Santa himself: Alistair Sim (or Reginald
Owen) as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Bing and Rosemary Clooney in White Christmas.
Young Natalie Wood and a bearded Edmund Gwenn in the non-colorized Miracle on 34 th
Street. The look and feel and sound of Christmas in America, in those days, was a collage of
memories, brought to our families by beloved performers who were always welcome in our
living rooms.
Time marches on, and, at least in the view of The American Century Theater, not always
to a more pleasant place. TV holiday specials became a casualty of the gradual decline and
extinction of the television variety show. Hollywood today still turns out Christmas movies
every year, but they are increasingly less about the holiday itself than about the hectic nature of
it: last minute shopping (Jingle All the Way); annoying family members (National Lampoon’s
Christmas Vacation); celebrating Christmas in families of divorce (The Santa Clause). Every
season, TV critics express amazement at the ratings racked up by well-worn Christmas fare
like It’s a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Why are they amazed? We are
trying to hold on to our memories of what Christmas used to be like, and it is becoming more
and more difficult. The memories are fading, as the 20 th Century rapidly recedes from view.
We at The American Century Theater felt that this year of so much upheaval, stress and
change, both good and bad, would be an appropriate time to consider how Christmas felt in
the 20 th Century, to brighten some of those fading memories, and perhaps to make this 21 st
Century Christmas a little more joyous and meaningful to grownups and children alike. And
so we assembled a show we call An American Century Christmas, stuffed it full of Christmas
tunes, moments and stories, and found just the right members of The American Century
Theater family to perform it for you.
It is our Christmas Special, presented in the home of the Day family, whose saga we are telling
in our other holiday production, Life With Father. No matter what holiday you celebrate this
time of year, be it Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or something else, the message of the
season, and the message of our show, is the same for all Americans, and it is a message that
we can only hope lasts all year long:
Joy to the world. Peace on Earth. Good will toward men and women and children, too.
And “God Bless Us, Every One!”
Jack Marshall,
Artistic Director
Director of An American Century Christmas
THE AMERICAN CENTURY THEATER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF
Chair: Wendy Kenney
Vice–Chair/Secretary: Steven Scott Mazzola
Treasurer: Ann Marie Plubell
Board: Richard Barton, Elizabeth Borgen Rebecca Christy, Kimberly Ginn
Vivian Kallen, Peri Mahaley, Jack Marshall, Loren Platzman
Jack Marshall, CEO and Artistic Director
Rhonda Hill, Production and Casting Manager
Steven Scott Mazzola, Associate Artistic Director
Jason Beagle, Volunteer Manager
Rip Claassen, Community Programs/Outreach
Brian Crane, Database/Communications Manager
Deborah Rinn Critzer, Front of House/Volunteer Manager
Karen Currie, Group Sales
Ellen Dempsey, Controller
Bill Gordon, Web Marketing/Podcasts
Rebecca Hunger, Director of Operations
Tom Fuller, General Counsel/Resident Musical Director
Michael Null, Technical Director
Trena Weiss–Null, Technical Director
Yvonne Hunger, Marketing Director/Publicist
Ginny Tarris, Director of Development
Michael Sherman, Graphic Artist & Design
Robert McElwaine is the Residential Playwright of
The American Century Theater
Still to come ...
Don’t miss the rest of TACT’s 2008-9 Season
by Howard Lindsay
and Russel Crouse
January 8 – 4, 2009
by Richard Wright and Paul Green — April 14 – May 9, 2009
by Edward Albee — July 30 – August 22, 2009
Visit www.AmericanCentury.org or call 703-993-4555

THE COMPANY
ANN DEMICHELE TACT debut. Ann’s credits include The Greek Myth Project at the George
Street Playhouse, Brigadoon at the Riverside Theater, Gladys (Pajama Game) at the Lazy
Susan Dinner Theater, and Crazy for You at the former West End Dinner Theater. She has toured
with American Family Theater’s production of Babes in Toyland and was Annie in Chicago,
as well as numerous other shows. Ann is a professional horsewoman and travels the country
competing. She helped come up with the “Ride for the Cure,” which raises money for the Susan
G. Komen Foundation “Race for the Cure.”
MCCALL NOELLE DOYLE is a voice and dialect coach with an opera degree from Loyola
New Orleans. Recent local credits include The Ingenue (A Thurber Carnival), Kate (Art of
Murder), Annelle and Shelby (Steel Magnolias), Elizabeth Proctor (The Crucible), Wanda (The
Baby Dance), Nora (A Doll’s House), Gillian (Bell, Book, and Candle), and Alice Sycamore
(You Can’t Take It with You). McCall just finished a series of one-act festivals in Virginia
(NVTA) and Maryland (SSS), taking home NVTA’s Best Actress award for The Typists. She
had a featured role in the indie film Violent Karma in late 2007 and has worked as a voiceover
artist for the Discovery Channel. The best roles are the ones that her brilliant and wonderful
playwright/hubby Brian writes for her! When not performing, McCall is a theatre critic for
Showbiz Radio.
KATHRYN FULLER TACT: Hellzapoppin’, Tea and Sympathy, If Only in My Dreams, The
Robber Bridegroom, Laughter at 10 O’Clock: Memories of the Carol Burnett Show, Picnic,
Hollywood Pinafore, The Cradle Will Rock, Lady in the Dark. Signature Theatre: Anyone Can
Whistle in Concert, My Fair Lady, Crossings (reading), Assassins, Nevermore (u/s), Hedwig
and the Angry Inch (u/s), Christmas Carol Rag (u/s). Keegan Theatre: Suddenly Last Summer.
BILL GORDON TACT: Major Von Konigswald (Happy Birthday, Wanda June) and Cabbie
and Lt. Buchevski (Cops). Spooky Action Theatre: Boo (The Marriage of Bette and Boo). A
former radio producer, Bill designed sound for many professional productions in Richmond,
VA, during the 1990s, including shows at the Firehouse Theatre Project, of which he was a
founding member and former president. He has also designed sound for TACT.
ADAM JURAN TACT: Ensemble (Stunt Girl). Opera credits include: Figaro (Il Barbiere di
Siviglia), Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Escamillo (Carmen), Marcello (La Bohème),
Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), and the title role in Eugene Onegin. Musical theater credits include
Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance), Cinderella’s Prince (Into the Woods), Jigger (Carousel),
and Caliph (Kismet). Adam is singing musical theater again after a 15-year hiatus: upcoming
performances include Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. When not singing, he is a senior web developer
for Interactive Strategies, a web consulting firm in Washington, DC.
SCOTT KENISON TACT: Steve Lawrence (Laughter at 10’Clock, Memories of the Carol
Burnett Show). Also Major General (The Pirates of Penzance) with the Washington Savoyards;
Joseph Hewes (1776) at Olney Theatre Center; Bunthorne (Patience), King Hildebrand
(Princess Ida), The Judge (Trial by Jury), Ko-Ko (Mikado), Sir Joseph (Pinafore), Duke (The
Gondoliers), and General (Kiss Me, Kate) with TAP; and Jacob (Shenandoah) at The Little
Theatre of Alexandria. While in New York, he performed for 8 years with the New York Gilbert
and Sullivan players during their NY season and on the road. For the past three years, his The
Condensed Mikado has been part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival for the Savoyards.
Scott will be directing Iolanthe for the Washington Savoyards in March 2009.
STEVE LEBENS TACT: Hellzapoppin’, Drama under the Influence, Call Me Mister.
International: K2, A Walk in the Woods, Tres Hermanas, True West. Regional: The Entertainer
(Guthrie Theatre). Local: Cabaret, Passion (Signature Theatre); Hot Fudge, Virgin Molly,
Muzeeka, A Clockwork Orange (Studio SecondStage); The Merchant of Venice, Playing Juliet/
Casting Othello, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Purloined Patience (The Folger Theatre).
Television: Law and Order: Criminal Intent, El Amor es Mas Fuerte, Te Amo Pecas.
MICK TINDER TACT: Winemiller (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale) and Robert (Stunt
Girl). Mick has played Teddy (Keegan Theatre’s Faith Healer) and has played Finbar Mack,
Jack Mullen, Nathan Detroit, John Proctor, Deputy Governor Danforth, Lycus, Asher, Potiphar,
and Paul Bratter. He has served as director, executive producer, and/or stage manager for various
productions around the DC area. Mick recently returned to harass the Congress once again in
his perennial role, John Adams, for the Little Theatre of Arlington’s Diamond Jubilee Season
opener, 1776.
PATRICIA TINDER TACT: Ensemble (Stunt Girl). Prior roles include Abigail Adams (1776),
Miss Adelaide (Guys and Dolls), and Catherine (Pippin). Costuming credits include The Iceman
Cometh (ESP) and Taking Leave and Father of the Bride (VTC). Patricia has a Bachelor of
Music from George Mason University.
GLENN WHITE TACT: Ensemble (Stunt Girl) as well as Call Me Mister, Moby Dick
Rehearsed, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Andersonville Trial, The Crucible, and Twelve Angry Men.
Glenn also voiced TACT’s telephone-radio show production of A Christmas Carol and appeared
in ten skits and seven songs as a character in Hellzapoppin’. He is Vice Chairman of the Warren
County (VA) Board of Supervisors and sings with The Academy Arts Chorale, a community
chorus at Shenandoah University, Winchester VA.
PRODUCTION STAFF
JACK MARSHALL (Director) is the Artistic Director of The American Century Theater
and, with Tim Lynch, its co-founder. He has directed more than 70 plays, revues and musicals
professionally, including the TACT productions of Twelve Angry Men, all three productions
of Moby Dick Rehearsed, Lady in the Dark, archy and mehitabel, Thirst, The Cradle Will
Rock, Hollywood Pinafore, The Andersonville Trial, Laughter at Ten O’Clock, Memories of the
Carol Burnett Show, Call Me Mister, Mister Roberts, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Hellzapoppin’, and
three productions of Danny and Sylvia. He also has written or adapted several TACT shows,
including The Clarence Darrow Story (with Paul Morella), Laughter at 10 O’Clock, Memories
of the Carol Burnett Show, the W.W.II Christmas revue If Only in My Dreams (with Jacqueline
Manger and Tom Fuller), Uncle Tom’s Cabin (with Tom Fuller), and Hellzapoppin’.
TOM FULLER (Musical Director) TACT: adapted Uncle Tom’s Cabin for TACT, his first foray
into serious drama, and also collaborated with Jack Marshall on TACT’s W.W. II Christmas
revue If Only In My Dreams. Tom has been an actor, singer, pianist, director, musical director,
and playwright since 1967. His musical comedy Softly Stealing, with music by Gerald Moshell,
was produced to rave reviews in Boston, and has since been produced in Hartford and Stamford
as well. Tom has also authored countless comedy and satirical sketches for local groups in
Washington, including The Music Lobby.
RHONDA HILL (Stage Manager) TACT: Stage Manager credentials include 35 productions,
among them Hellzapoppin’, Moby Dick Rehearsed, archy and mehitabel, Lady in the Dark, and
TheTitans.

TRENA WEISS–NULL (Set Designer and Construction) most recently completed the design
and build for the sets of Life With Father and Dr. Cook’s Garden. Trena also designed and built
the props and set for The Titans. She has also designed Happy Birthday, Wanda June and Cops
for TACT. Trena also does freelance design and is a director. Trena holds a Bachelor’s degree
in Acting-Directing and Masters degrees in both Theatre and Education and has worked in
professional, educational and community theatre for most of her life.
ANNMARIE CASTRIGNO (Lighting Designer) TACT: Life With Father, The Emperor Jones,
Cops, Happy Birthday, Wanda June, The Titans. Nominations and awards for Outstanding
Lighting Design: Murder Room (LTA, 2000), Misery (LTA, 2001), Master Class (LTA, 2002),
Kiss Me, Kate (TAP, 2003), Evita (Vienna, 2004), The Weir (ESP, 2005) and Fiddler on the
Roof (TAP, 2006). AnnMarie holds both community and professional credits in lighting and
electrics at many DC metro area theaters, including Toby’s Dinner Theatre in both Columbia
and Baltimore, MD.
RIP CLAASSEN (Costumer) TACT: recent costume credentials include Ah, Wilderness!,
Cops, and Happy Birthday, Wanda June. Rip is directing TACT Life with Father. He is the
Dramaturg at Backstage, Inc., Washington’s theatre supply store. He has taught theatre and
acting at The Institute for the Arts for Fairfax County public schools, Duke Ellington School of
the Arts, and several other local theatre programs. Rip founded the Northern Virginia Theatre
Festival for high schools and provides coaching to theatre students seeking admission to college
theatre programs, Governor’s School, roles in community and professional theatres and other
competitive programs. He also serves as the artistic director of Teens N Theatre (TNT), a local
youth theatre training company, and the TACT/TNT Summer theater camp.
BILL GORDON (Sound Designer: See THE COMPANY)
MICHAEL C. NULL (Technical Director) was most recently Technical Director for Life With
Father. Recently completed set construction for Dr. Cook’s Garden and the world premiere of
The Titans as well as the Washington premiere staged reading of Stunt Girl. Michael designed
sound for Cops and Stage Managed for Ah, Wilderness! Michael has extensive experience in
both professional and community theater.
ANN MARIE PLUBELL (Producer) TACT: Produced Washington premiere staged reading
of Stunt Girl. Treasurer, TACT Board of Directors. Served on board of Washington Performing
Arts Society, as Vice Chair Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts and as a theater critic (radio
and print). Also Vice Chair of the ABA China Law Committee and Mayor’s Beijing-Washington
Sister Cities Steering Committee. Founder, The Plubell Firm “East-West Business Bridge”
focused on helping organizations do successful business in China (www.plubellfirm.com). BA
Theater SUNY Buffalo.

DONORS
GROUP THEATER GOERS ($5000+)
Robert & Sandra McElwaine
Arlington Commission for the Arts
PROVINCETOWN PLAYERS ($2,500 – $4,999)
Bob & Wendy Kenney
THEATER GUILDERS ($1,000 – $2,499)
Anonymous
The Arlington Community Foundation
Jason Beagle
Rebecca Christy
John Dawson
Vivian & Arthur Kallen
MERCURY THEATER BACKERS ($500 – $999)
Alan & Susan Branigan
Steven Cohen & Mary McGowan
Deborah Rinn Critzer
Robert DuBois
Jacqueline Manger
Constance McAdam
LIVING THEATER LOVERS ($250 – $499)
Joya Cox
Dennis Deloria & Suzanne Thouvenelle
Gloria Dugan
Tomas & Kathryn Fuller
Bill Gordon
Lou & Jane Kriser
Jim Meyer & Marjie Mayer
Harriet McGuire
THE PLAYERS ($100 – $249)
Anonymous
Deborah Ashford
Tom & Loretta Beaumont
Sally Beth Berger
Jon Blackman
Elizabeth Borgen
David W. Briggs
David Bernstein & Deborah Brudno
Marvin & Ellen Cantor
Dr. Coralie Farlee
Timothy Farris
Tracy Fisher
Virginia Commission for the Arts
Kim–Scott Miller
Peter S. Kellogg
Peri & Joe Mahaley
Jack & Eleanor Marshall
Ann Marie Plubell
Sheldon & Marilyn Wallerstein
Bruce Rauscher
David & Willa Siegel
Adam S. Posen & Jennifer A. Sosin
John Tweel
Annette Zimin
Thene Martin & George Mernick
Margaret Mulcahy
Carl & Undine Nash
Bill & Connie Scruggs
The Troy Foundation
Frontis Wiggins
Bonnie Williams & Bob Skelly
Charles Kennedy
Robert L. Kimmins
Alicia & John Klaffky
Paul Klingenberg
Nathan & Mary Lynn Kotz
Jo Ursini & Ken Krantz
Phil & Pat Larson
Mary Ann Lawler
Donald Adams & Ellen Maland
Suzy Platt
Robert Schiff
Jol & Elizabeth Silversmith
Michael Kahn
Gabriel Goldberg
Hilton Lee Graham
Hal Handerson
Alan Herman
Roger & Katharine Hood
Elaine Howell
THE FEDERAL THEATER FUNDERS ($10 – $99)
Jules Abrams
Richard & Jean Barton
Jim Bertine
Janet & David Bond
Ron Brandt
Ann Caracristi
W. Seth Carus
Boris & Earlene Cherney
Peter Garcia & Diane Clark
Ronald Cogan
Sally & Jack Cooper
Judy Davis
Janet & Marty Fadden
Charles Feingersh
Donna Feirtag
Renee Fischman
Cathy Garman
James & Maria Gentle
Madi Green
Jean Handsberry
Angela Hughes
Howard & Myrna Kaplan
William Kelleher
Dianne Levine
Mark Linton
Margaret Lorenz
DONORS–IN–KIND
Steve Cosby
Karen Currie
Ellen Dempsey
Ayun Fedorcha
Rhonda Hill
Wendy Kenny
Jack Marshall
Alan Simon
Pat Spencer Smith
Jean V. Smith
John & Alison Steadman
Virginia Tarris
Professor Heathcote W. Wales
Glenn & Nancy White
Gundrun Luchsinger
Winnie Macfarlan
Angus & Sharon MacInnes
Phebe Masson
Judith & David McGarvey
Margaret Meath
Richard Pariseau
Sherman & Anastasia Pratt
Pearl & Cecil Richardson
Loretta Rowe
Charline Rugen
Ryan Schmelz
Sharon Schoumacher
Henry Shields
Carole Shifrin
Bertha Shostak
Linda & William Smith
James & Patricia Snyder
Robert L. Spatz
Barbara Stearns
Sue Swift
Kathryn Tatko
Marjorie Townsend
George & Kay Wagner
Douglas & Evelyn Watson
Maura Burke Weiner
Steven Scott Mazzola
Kim-Scott Miller
Ann Marie Plubell
Lonny Smith
Mariano Vales
Anne Paine West
This listing reflects donations received from October 1, 2007 through November 30, 2008

The American Century Theater
“Theater you can afford to see —
Plays you can’t afford to miss!”
Now celebrating it’s 14th year
Cofounded by, and under the Artistic Direction of ,CEO Jack Marshall, TACT is
one of the region’s outstanding, award-winning, non–profit professional theaters.
TACT performs on stages in Arlington and regionally, as well as sponsoring radio
and touring productions, and special education and theater intern projects. TACT also
seeks and produces new stage works about significant events, movements and figures
in 20 th century through its “Robert L. McElwaine American Reflections Project”, an
initiative designed to complement the company’s repertoire of important American
plays and musicals from the twentieth century. Stunt Girl and The Titans are the most
recent examples.
The American Century Theater’s mission is to promote 20 th century theater as
a vital part of our cultural dialogue. Our mission is based on the firm conviction
that this theatrical repertoire — influential and critically acclaimed dramas,
comedies, and teleplays first produced during what Henry Luce called the
American Century — portrays a uniquely American vision that is vital to our
shared cultural heritage. In today’s increasingly polarized society, finding this
common ground has become essential.
Our mission is also driven by the belief that theater should be accessible to
all. For the mainstream audience today, the combination of prohibitive
cost and adult-only themes makes it increasingly difficult to find appropriate
theatergoing experiences for the entire family. We know this need not be the
case, and that America’s finest theatrical works — written for a broad audience
— contain significant themes and ideas that should be part of our collective
wisdom as a nation.
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride, In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride, In a one horse open sleig
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