1Provision Theater Company

proudly presents

BONHOEFFER’S COSTa world premiere play based on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Written by Mary Ruth Clarke with Timothy Gregory

Director - Timothy Gregory*+Scenic Designer - Inseung Park+

Lighting Designer – Matthew GawrykCostume Designer - Isaac B. Turner+

Composer - Alaric Jans+Sound Designer - Christian E. Gero

Props Designer - Joe DybdalTechnical Director - John Gedeon Jr.+

Production Stage Manager - Sarah Luse*Production Manager - Kristin Toerpe

* Denotes member of Actors Equity Association

+ Denotes Provision Theater Company Member

September 14 – October 30Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm

Sundays at 3:00pm

1001 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago ILwww.provisiontheater.org

The show will be performed in two acts with one fifteen minute intermission.Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other noise making devices.

Please note that the use of cameras (with or without a flash) and the use of recording devices is strictly prohibited.

This theater is a proud member of theThis program is partially supported by a grant

from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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CAST

Dietrich Bonhoeffer ...................................................................................................Rod Armentrout*Klaus Klopstock/Ensemble ................................................................................. John Kelly ConnollyJudge Advocate Rott ........................................................................................................... Ryan Kitley*Hans von Dohnanyi/Ensemble ................................................................................Robert KaercherMaria von Wedemeyer/Charlotte Friedenthal/Ensemble ...........................Kelly Davis WilsonKlaus Bonhoeffer/Maetz/Ensemble ..................................................................................... Don TieriUnderstudies ................................................................Shannon Parr, Luke Renn, Colin Wasmund

PRODUCTION STAFF

Director/Co-Creator ..............................................................................................Timothy Gregory*+Scenic Designer................................................................................................................ Inseung Park+Lighting Designer.......................................................................................................Matthew GawrykCostume Designer ........................................................................................................ Isaac B. Turner+Composer ................................................................................................................................Alaric Jans+Sound Designer ........................................................................................................... Christian E. GeroTechnical Director ..................................................................................................... John Gedeon Jr.+Assistant Technical Director/Props Designer .............................................................. Joe Dybdal Production Stage Manager ............................................................................................... Sarah Luse*Stage Management Intern .......................................................................................Christine NelsonProduction Manager ....................................................................................................... Kristin ToerpeMaster Electrician ............................................................................................................Garvin JellisonScenic Artist ........................................................................................................................Ashley WoodsCasting Director ................................................................................................................Becca KnightsAssistant Director ........................................................................................................ Zachary RobertsBanner Artist/Assistant to the Costume Designer ............................................. Amber BurgessChief Costumer............................................................................................................................... Ty MillsWardrobe ..................................................................................................................................Liz Meenan

PROVIS ION STAFF

Founding Artistic Director................................................................................. Timothy Gregory*+Education Director/Office Manager/House Manager ................................Priscilla Hummel+Box Office Manager ..................................................................................................Megan GallagherMarketing Coordinator ......................................................................................................Alysa TurnerAssistant Box Office Manager ........................................................................................... Jeff SertichBox Office Associates ......................................Cara Dickason, Martin Gonzalez, Kenneth HeftWeb Designer .......................................................................................................................... Luke RennPhotographers....................................................................... John Hockberger, John Gedeon Jr.+

PROVIS ION COMPANY MEMBERS

Timothy Gregory*Susan Moniz*

Michael Mahler*Alaric JansBrad Armacost*

Lia Mortenson*Isaac B. TurnerPriscilla Hummel

John Gedeon Jr.Inseung Park

PROVIS ION BOARD OF D IRECTORS

Bruce Leep, ChairTimothy Gregory

John HockbergerSteve Lavey

Dennis MassaroKevin Moore

David StalleFrances Ryan

* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association+ Denotes Provision Theater Company Member

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DIRECTOR / CO - CREATOR NOTES

“What drew you to this story?” was the question directed toward me by one of the cast members as we embarked on our first rehearsal of Bonhoeffer’s Cost. I must admit that my answer came haltingly as I quickly tried to land on one of a hundred compelling and legitimate reasons. As I fumbled around, trying to provide a strong and measured response that everyone in the room could nod their heads to in collective artistic agreement, I finally landed on the answer: “Because I couldn’t do what he did”…which is basically just a clumsy way of

saying, “I wish I was more like Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I wish I had that type of faith and courage—the kind of sacrificial courage that would lead him quietly to his death—living for good, standing against evil, and trying to follow the will of God as best he could.” For these reasons and many more, I find Bonhoeffer to be a fascinating figure; furthermore, the period of history in which he lived and died makes him all the more fascinating. Though he had quite a lengthy ministry before the outbreak of the Second World War, it was during that great conflict that he came into his own and made his mark on history. It was during the war that he showed he was willing to endure hardship—even death—for the sake of what he believed. Some call Bonhoeffer a martyred theologian and some would say a maverick theologian; but whatever one might call him, one thing is for certain: he was a man for others. He was the right man at the right time. The following quote succinctly captures Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s essence: “We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters & Papers from Prison) Society tends to have a moralistic way of looking at the world, constantly keeping tabs on what people do or do not do. Instead, Bonhoeffer seems to suggest that everyone is fighting a battle, and everyone suffers some burden—most in the silence of their own minds. Therefore, if people view others as experiencing some sort of suffering, it promotes a community that expresses itself out of that suffering and opens up a hope for true sodality with and for one another. There are stories that allow us to learn about their subjects and stories through which we feel like we actually meet the subject. During the process of putting this play together, I feel as though we’ve come face-to-face with the man himself. Thank you, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, for showing us who you are and in turn who we are—but most importantly, for showing us what life can be in a world of hope and true community.

~Timothy Gregory, Co-Creator and Director

PL AY WRIGHT NOTES

Bonhoeffer’s Cost is, first and foremost, a work of fiction whose characters are based on people who actually lived. It is a work of the imagination and yet we hope it is also true. Some “facts” have been altered because of the demands of the story.Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a real person and his character is based on extensive research. Likewise are his fiancée—Maria von Wedemeyer, his brother—Klaus, and brother-in-law—Hans von Dohnanyi. Other characters are either fictional versions of actual people or composites. The following source material was used extensively as we created this play:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, A Biography, by Eberhard BethgeLetters and Papers from Prison, Edited by Eberhard BethgeLove Letters from Cell 92: The Correspondence between Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Maria von Wedemyer, 1943-1945, Translated by John BrownjohnEthics, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, translated by Neville Horton SmithThe Cup of Wrath, by Mary Glazener The Last Days of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, by Donald Goddard

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CAST PROFILES

Rod Armentrout (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) has spent most of this century, and a bit of the last, working as an actor with Willow Creek Community Church and the

Willow Creek Association. During his time at the church, he expanded his interests into script development, directing, and actor training, as well. While working with the association, he was given the opportunities to stretch into on-camera work and perform live in Norway, Holland, Germany and South Africa. He is most grateful to Tim Gregory and Provision Theatre for this first venture back into the Chicago theatre community and would like to thank his wife Deanna and his kids, Erik and Anya, for giving their blessings to his taking part in this project.

John Kelly Connolly (Klaus Klopstock) is excited to work with Provision Theatre and especially Tim Gregory. While learning improvising at Second City, he

studied acting at The Artistic Home, which led to a production of Juno and the Paycock with the Shapeshifters, that eventually flowed into becoming a proud ensemble member of The Gift Theatre Company. He recently appeared as Valene in the production of The Lonesome West, Martin Marcus in The Ruby Sunrise, and last season marked his directing debut with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest all at The Gift Theatre. He is a member of Cinco De Bob, one of the Playground Theater’s founding groups. Earlier this year, he appeared as a crooked Irish Salesman in the “Chicago Code” and is happy to see more TV shows coming to our great city. He would like to thank his family for their constant support. Love to the Cuckoo’s. Love to The Gift. God bless Ron Santo.

Robert Kaercher (Hans von Dohnanyi) has been working the off-Loop theater scene for the past 15 years. He’s had the pleasure of working with the likes of

Griffin Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, Circle Theatre in Forest Park, Roadworks Productions, European Repertory Co., Irish Repertory Theatre of Chicago, Factory Theatre, Noble Fool, Bailiwick Repertory, Theo Ubique, and Prop Thtr, among others. He was most recently seen as Robert Crowe in Never the Sinner and as D.W. DeWitt in Epic Proportions with Project 891 Theatre Co. Bob has also been featured in the “American Express IN: CHICAGO” card print campaign (as a Pizza Chef ) and in a regional TV spot for “Cincinnati Bell”. He can also be seen escorting Armand Assante through the old Joliet Prison in “Chicago Overcoat”, which recently premiered on Showtime.

Ryan Kitley (Judge Advocate Rott) is excited to return to Provision Theater where he recently appeared as Kemp in Wonders Never Cease. Chicago and LA

theater credits include major roles at Writers’ Theater, Organic Theatre, Shattered Globe, Matrix Theater, Colony Theater, Mercury Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Piven Theatre, and Meadow Brook Theatre, among others. Awards include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Best Ensemble, Non-Equity Jeff Award, Shattered Globe) and The Big Funk (Best Supporting Actor, Non-Equity Jeff Nomination, Clock Productions). Film and television credits include “Boss”, “Detroit 1-8-7”, “Turks”, “Early Edition”, “Miss March”, “San Gabriel”, “Dream Slashers”, “Soul Survivors”, “Barbershop II”, “Heart of the Matter”, and “Jimmy Kimmel Live”. As a voice-over artist, Ryan recently voiced numerous characters for Lucas Arts Productions. Ryan is a

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CAST PROFILES (c o n t . )

member of SAG, AFTRA, and AEA, with his MFA from The Theatre School at DePaul. Thanks to Tim, the cast and crew, Gray Talent, and my family!

Don Tieri (Klaus Bonhoeffer/Maetz) was last seen in Anna Christie at Illinois Theatre Centre. Don has performed in over 50 theatrical productions in

Chicago and Los Angeles. Chicago theater credits include The Hiding Place here at Provision Theater, Steppenwolf, Northlight, Next, Victory Gardens, Shattered Globe, Organic, Infusion, and Stage Left where he received a Joseph Jefferson Citation as part of “Best Ensemble” in Leander Stillwell. Don’s Los Angeles theater credits include L.A. Theater Works, Writers and Actors Lab, Open Fist, and the Lee Stassberg Theater production of Leander Stillwell, which was voted Best Play in Los Angeles 1996. His TV credits include “The Untouchables”, “Profiler”, “7-Days”, “Dead Last”, and the TV movie “Overexposed”.

Kelly Davis Wilson (Maria von Wedemeyer/Charlotte) is thrilled be making her Provision Theatre debut! She hails from the cornfields of Southern Illinois and

is a recent graduate from The Theatre School at DePaul University. She was recently seen as Sandy in ATC’s The Original Grease and Juliet in Glass Onion’s Romeo & Juliet. Special thanks to her parentals, bros, The Twisted Baker, and Gray Talent Group.

Shannon Parr (Understudy) was last seen in Wolf by Paul Cosca with Brikenbrak Theatre Co. and before that as File in The Rainmaker with The James Downing

Theatre Co. last spring. Other credits include

the original hit comedy Mono by Steve Tanenbaum at Surf Reality in New York, Blackbird by Adam Rapp at Mabou Mines in NY, Clubland written and directed by Dan LaMorte with The Artistic Home NY, Ghosts in the Cottonwoods also by Adam Rapp at Victory Gardens, and The Adventures of Don Quixote with Oak Park Festival Theatre. Film credits include Indie features “Fortunes” and Heidi Van Lier’s “Chi-Girl”. He and his wife, Anna (the greatest lady in the world), live in Chicago and have three beautiful daughters.

Luke Renn (Understudy) has also performed at Provision in The Time of Your Life, The Hiding Place, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Other Chicago

credits include Metropolis Performing Arts (The Nerd), Bailiwick (Kissing), Apple Tree Theatre for Young Audiences (Where the Red Fern Grows, Number the Stars), Circle Theatre (The Philadelphia Story) and Mary-Arrchie (Toronto, Mississippi).

Colin Wasmund (Understudy) is new to the Chicago Area and is proud to be part of Provision Theater’s Bonhoeffer’s Cost! For the past two years, Colin was

teaching in rural Minnesota at Ridgewater College in Willmar. Prior to that, Colin received his MFA in Acting from Western Illinois University. Recent acting credits include Rumors (Cortland Rep Theatre), The Sweet Stuff (CBETC), Rabbit Hole (The Barn Theatre, Willmar, MN) Picasso at Lapin Agile and All Shook Up (McLeod Summer Playhouse). Thank you all for coming to the show!

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PRODUCTION STAFF B IOS

Timothy Gregory (Director/Co-Creator) is the Founding Artistic Director of Provision Theater. Recently at Provision, he has directed productions of Wonders Never Cease, Sanders Family Christmas and Godspell. Other Provision Theater directing credits include the Jefferson Award–Nominated productions of Shadowlands, The Hiding Place, C.S. Lewis On Stage, The Spitfire Grill, A Christmas Carol, Beast on the Moon and A Christmas Memory & The Thanksgiving Visitor. Other directing credits include The Comedy of Errors at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Welcome, Yule! at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra: A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera; Treasure Island and Alice in Wonderland at Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre; The Twilight of the Golds, The Diary of Anne Frank and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry at the Apple Tree Theatre; Plaza Suite at the Lyric Theatre; and ’Dentity Crisis at the Studio Theatre. Tim’s acting credits include numerous roles at Provision Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre, Next Theatre Company, as well as the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta and Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. His television credits include Cupid on ABC, DeClassified on WGN and Family Practice on LIFETIME. Tim can now be seen as the host of HGTV’s New Spaces.

Mary Ruth Clarke (Playwright) writes for the stage and screen. She co-wrote and starred in the original low-budget “Meet the Parents” and adapted it into the blockbuster “Meet the Parents”, starring Robert De Niro, for which she shares Story credit with Greg Glienna. Their play Suffer The Long Night recently enjoyed a long run at the Meta Theater in Los Angeles. Mary Ruth is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists where she teaches Writing The American Screenplay. She also coaches business folks on how to tell really good stories. Around town, her plays have been produced and work-shopped by Chicago Dramatist, Prop, and Live Bait. Her screenplay “Chimney Rock” is under option at Universal Studios.

Mary Ruth is working on a commissioned TV pilot about the dawning days of the unisex health club, set in 1979, and is happy to be learning the new discipline of writing for television. And she is currently finishing up her one-woman musical based upon her character in the original “Meet the Parents”, who was tragically cut from the blockbuster and who has never forgiven her.

Inseung Park (Scenic Designer) is pleased to join the world premiere production, Bonhoeffer’s Cost. He designed the set for Provision Theater’s production of The Hiding Place as his Chicago debut in 2010, which was nominated for a Jeff Award in Scene Design. His other Provision credits include Godspell, Sanders Family Christmas, Shadowlands, and Wonders Never Cease. Inseung has designed numerous shows at Indiana University including West Side Story, After Juliet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Raisin in the Sun. He also designed South Bend Civic Theatre’s Grease and Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, Overshadowed Theatrical Production’s Shadowlands, and Looking Glass Theatre’s Springs Awakening in New York City. One of his designs in film, “Wake”, was awarded a grand prize in the 2004 Kodak Competition and screened internationally at Cannes International Film Festival, Cinema Texas International Film Festival, Arizona International Film Festival, and Seoul Net Festival in 2005. Inseung holds an MFA in Scene Design from the University of Texas. He loves to dedicate this work to his family.

Isaac B. Turner (Resident Costume Designer) A Cincinnati native, Isaac relocated to Chicago in 2005 and is thrilled to have found a home here at Provision. Isaac’s designs at Provision have included: Bonhoeffer’s Cost, Wonders Never Cease, Shadowlands, The Hiding Place, and Cotton Patch Gospel. In Cincinnati, Isaac served as a staff Costume Designer for the Costume Gallery, as a Producer for Monmouth Theatre—where he directs each summer—and as Production Manager for The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati—where he also created and ran the STAR Young Performer training program. Having worked across the country in Ohio,

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PRODUCTION STAFF B IOS ( c o n t . )

Kentucky, Indiana, Texas, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Alaska, Isaac’s local work has been seen at the Goodman Theatre, Writers’ Theater, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Northlight Theatre, River North Dance Company, and Joffrey Ballet. Other theatre credits include Performance, Directing, Stage Management, and Writing. Isaac devotes his life’s work to his mother, whose love always inspires him to never give up.

Alaric Jans (Composer) is Chicago’s most noted composer for theater and film. He is a six-time Joseph Jefferson Award Winner for his work in Chicago theater (with eighteen nominations), as well as an After Dark Award winner. Broadway credits include music for The Water Engine (in which he appeared as “The Musician”) and music and lyrics for Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? (with James Quinn). Several films directed by David Mamet feature Mr. Jans’s music: House of Games, Things Change, Homicide, and The Winslow Boy. For Provision Theater, Jans has scored A Christmas Memory & The Thanksgiving Visitor, C.S. Lewis On Stage, and The Hiding Place (Jeff nomination for musical score). He designed the sound for Beast On the Moon, and served as music director for Cotton Patch Gospel and also for Godspell, for which he led the onstage rock band from the keyboard. For the company’s production of the classic children’s musical, The Adventures of Captain Marbles & His Acting Squad, he served as composer, co-lyricist, and music director, and appeared as “Rocko the piano player.” Jans has also performed in Provision’s ongoing concert series.

Christian E. Gero (Sound Designer) is excited to be working with Provision Theater for the first time. Regional design credits include shows with The Court Theatre, The House Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company, and Emerald City Theatre Company. When not designing sound for theatre, Gero is the Production Manager and in-house Engineer for the Chicago-based live recording company, MunckMix. He tours as the live recording engineer for The Allman Brothers Band and has worked with many other

music acts including The Black Crowes, Arlo Guthrie, Widespread Panic, and Michael Franti.

John Gedeon, Jr. (Technical Director) holds a BFA in Technical Direction from Ohio University. His technical direction credits include productions of MacBeth, The Tempest, Blue Surge, On Naked Soil, and he technical directed Monomoy Theater Company’s 2009 Season. John has worked with Ohio Valley Summer Theater in 2007 and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival in 2008. Since moving to Chicago, John has worked for the Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, Greene Tree Productions, Stage Left, and as Technical Director for Provision Theater Company. John owes his success to the support of his wonderful family, amazing sister, Britney, and beautiful girlfriend, Samantha.

Joe Dybdal (Props Designer/Assistant Technical Director) is excited to be apart of yet another Provision Theater Company show; he also worked with Provision on Wonders Never Cease (Props/ATD), Shadowlands (Props/ATD) Sander’s Family Christmas (Props), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Production/Stage Manager/Props), and Godspell and The Hiding Place (Sound Operator). He also served as a Carpenter for all of the above shows. Joe is the resident Technical Director for City Lit Theater, where he has worked on Alice Adventures Underground, The Sign of Four and Copperhead. He is currently working with Big City Sets and Fear City where he builds for commercials and an upcoming Haunted House. Joe has also worked on set construction crews with About Face Theater, Stage Left, WildClaw Theatre, North Central College, Judson College, Marriott Lincolnshire Theater, and Christian Youth Theater. In addition to his technical experience, Joe acts on stage from time to time and is a certified Stunt Performer from The International Stunt School in Seattle.

Sarah Luse (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be working with Provision Theater again. Other Provision credits include Boys Next Door, The Spitfire Grill, and Captain Marbles and His Acting Squad. Some other Chicago credits include Long Days Journey Into Night, W;t, The

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PRODUCTION STAFF B IOS ( c o n t . )

Ruby Sunrise and Lonesome West (The Gift), The Lady From Dubuque and Keely and Du (Infamous Commonwealth), Coronado (Steep), and Medea and The Ruling Class (BackStage). Sarah also production manages around the city with various companies including Infamous Commonwealth, InFusion, Chicago Opera Vanguard, and Strange Tree Group.

Kristin Toerpe (Production Manager) is excited to be working with Provision! Her management experience includes the Late LiveBait Theater’s Fillet of Solo, Ambrose Bierce; Tales and Times at Lincoln Square Theater, And Time Runs On with Dragoncello Theater Co., Sex Marks the Spot for both its runs with Grippo Productions, KISS Fest and Competitive Theater League with Simple Theater, First Night and The Subject was Roses with Oil Lamp Theater, Kingsville and LeapFest 8 with Stage Left Theater, and Corazon de Manzanas with Mortar Theatre. She would like to thank Tim and her parents

Christine Nelson (Stage Management Intern) is thrilled to be working with Provision Theater. She is excited to be entering the world of dramatic theater after working for 5 years with such shows as Martina McBride’s Shine All Night Tour, Bon Jovi’s The Circle Tour, Passion Pit’s Campus Consciousness Tour, Barney Live in

Concert – Birthday Bash, ASA BMX Triples, and the Lipizzaner Stallions at Northern Illinois University’s Convocation Center..

Zachary Roberts (Assistant Director) is pleased to be a part of his first production with Provision. A graduate with an MFA in Directing from Western Illinois University, he has recently moved to Chicago. He would like to thank his beautiful wife, Shannon, and his precious baby girl, Lila, for their love. A special thanks to Priscilla and Tim for giving him the opportunity to be a part of the Provision family. Enjoy the show.

Amber Burgess (Banner Artist/Assistant to the Costume Designer) is pleased to be returning to Provision. She most recently played The Wicked Witch of the West in Provision’s recent theater for young audience’s production, The Wizard of Oz. You may also remember Amber from Shadowlands or as June Sanders in both Sanders Family Christmas and Smoke on the Mountain. Amber hopes to perform in all 50 states before retiring from theatre, and has been traveling across the country to pursue that goal since 2003. In her spare time, Amber enjoys knitting, quilting, training her dog, and reading. Visit www.amberburgess.com.

ABOUT PROVIS ION

SPECIAL THANKS

Our Mission: Provision Theater Company is devoted to producing works of hope, reconciliation, and redemption; works that challenge us to explore a life of meaning and purpose.

The Staff of Easter Seals, Saint Ignatius College Prep, Reed Rigging, the Provision Theater Board Members, our dedicated Financial Supporters, and our wonderful Volunteers and Interns.