Presents

Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Cast

Allison Bollinger Alison Buechler

Brad Church Charissa Hamel Alex Lindsley

Ashley Marie Rogers Nicholas Root

Production Team

Special Thanks to: West Des Moines Parks & Recreation, Allison Ullestad, Marnie Strait, & Frame Works.

Music Director……............................................………………Charissa HamelSound Design…………........................................….…Light This ProductionsProperties Coordination…...………..…...........................…… Charissa HamelProduction Manager……………………………… Kelly Mayhew, Nicole TaweelTechnical Director…….......................................………….…… Mark MayhewArtistic Director.............................………………….……… Thomas D. PerrineOfficial Pastry Chef…..............................…………..…………..Bob BaskervillePhotography...............................…….………………….………….. Dylan HeuerGraphic Design................................………………………………. Ronnie WellsBox Office Manager…............…………………… Courtney Bench, Eric Bench

Accompaniment by Francine Griffith

Stephen Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist known for his work in musical theatre.

One of the most important figures in 20th-century theatre, Sondheim has been praised for having reinvented the American musical with shows that tackle unexpected themes that range far beyond the genre's traditional subjects with music and lyrics of unprecedented complexity and sophistication. His shows have been acclaimed for addressing darker, more harrowing elements of the human experience, with songs often tinged with ambivalence about various aspects of life.

His best-known works as composer and lyricist include, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), and Into the Woods (1987). He is also known for writing the lyrics for West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959).

He has received an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer), a Special Tony Award, eight Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, a Laurence Olivier Award, and a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2010, the former Henry Miller's Theater on Broadway was renamed the Stephen Sondheim Theatre; in 2019, it was announced that the Queen's Theatre in the West End of London would be renamed the Sondheim Theatre at the end of the year. Sondheim has written film music, contributing "Goodbye for Now" for Warren Beatty's 1981 Reds. He wrote five songs for 1990's Dick Tracy, including "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)", sung in the film by Madonna, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Film adaptations of Sondheim's work include West Side Story (1961), Gypsy (1962), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966), A Little Night Music (1977), Gypsy (1993), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), Into the Woods (2014), West Side Story (2021), and Merrily We Roll Along (TBA).

Weekend in the Country - A Little Night Music .....................................................................................Full Cast Take Me to the World - Evening Primrose ...................................................... Allison Bollinger, Alex LindsleyFinishing the Hat - Sunday in the Park with George .......................................................................Nicholas RootYou Gotta Have a Gimmick - Gypsy ...............................................................Ashley Rogers, Allison Bollinger,

Alison BuechlerBarcelona - Company ..............................................................................................Brad Church, Charissa HamelSooner or Later - Dick Tracy .....................................................................................................Allison BollingerYour Fault/Last Midnight - Into the Woods ........................................................Brad Church, Alison Buechler,

Ashley Rogers, Alex Lindsley, Charissa HamelMove On - Sunday in the Park with George...........................................................Nicholas Root, Ashley RogersGreen Finch and Linen Bird - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street .....................Alison BuechlerGun Song - Assassins .................................................................................................Nicholas Root, Brad Church,

Alex Lindsley, Charissa HamelLosing My Mind - Follies ................................................................................................................Ashley RogersAgony - Into the Woods ............................................................................................Nicholas Root, Alex LindsleyNot Getting Married Today - Company ..........................................................Full Cast: features Ashley RogersNot While I’m Around - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.....................................Brad ChurchHappiness - Passion ...........................................................................................Allison Bollinger, Nicholas RootLadies Who Lunch - Company ........................................................................................................Alex LindsleySomewhere - West Side Story ...................................................................................................................Full Cast

Song List

Tallgrass Theatre Company Board of Directors

Ty Klobassa, President Bob Baskerville, Vice President

Kathy Arndorfer, Treasurer Nicole Taweel, Secretary

Arlene McAtee Rose Mary Schira

Erin Bishop James Stephenson

Artistic Director’s Note:

An Evening with Sondheim: A Musical CabaretWelcome! Welcome! Welcome!I am excited to welcome each and every one of you to our return to producing live local theatre!In March of 2020, I was directing Wonder of the World, a hilarious comedy that was to be our final production at Rex Mathes Theater. In the early days of the pandemic, Tallgrass Theatre Company decided to close Wonder of the World before it opened and moved everything from that production, as well as everything Tallgrass owned, into storage. Our future was on hold.

Throughout the pandemic the TTC New Home Committee continued to search for a new space that Tallgrass could call home. Ty Klobassa and Ronnie Wells, Co-Chairs, put in countless hours looking at possible new spaces. On behalf of the Trust and Board of Directors I thank them both for their dedication to finding a new home.

In December of 2020 Tallgrass Theatre Company signed a 10 year lease for space located at 2019 Grand Ave, West Des Moines – the former Skate West space. Our Fundraising Committee, Co-Chaired by Arlene McAtee and Bob Baskerville, started working on our Capital Campaign to raise the funds needed to build out the new space into a functioning theatre. TTC had already been raising money for our new home and we had a great start. However, the cost of building out the new space has increased. The cost of basic materials has skyrocketed in just a few short months.

While our theatre, like all theatres around the world, was dark for month after month, I had the idea to produce a concert version of a musical at the new Jamie Hurd Amphitheater. I talked to numerous local theatre artists about this idea, everyone felt it was a good idea, including our partners, West Des Moines Parks and Recreation. Rather quickly TTC and Director Megan Helmers landed on the idea of producing the concert version of The Bridges of Madison County. I hope you had an opportunity to see that production last month. I also learned about the cabaret that several local musical artists had been working on: An Evening with Sondheim. This cabaret, like so many other productions had been put on hold due to COVID-19.

Tallgrass Theatre Company is honored to produce this wonderful celebration of Stephen Sondheim and his music. This one night only engagement features local musical theatre artists Allison Bollinger, Allison Buechler, Brad Church, Charissa Hamel, Alex Lindsley, Ashley Rogers and Nicholas Root, accompanied by Francine Griffith. This talented cast will be singing songs from these Stephen Sondheim musicals: A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, Gypsy, Company, Into the Woods, Dick Tracy, Evening Primrose, Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Assassins, Follies, Passion, and West Side Story.

I wish I could tell you when our New Home will be ready to welcome audience members, but I cannot. Construction has started and we are hoping to announce a season soon! Thank you for making a donation and I invite you to visit our website and watch our social media for announcements regarding construction and our season announcement.I hope you enjoy An Evening with Sondheim: A Musical Cabaret.

s�cWftPJ-: SEEDLINGS' CHILDREN'S THEATRE CLASSES

PLAY IN A WEEK: BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Does your child have a flair for the dramatic? Here's a chance to get them involved in

theater, without a long-term commitment. Led by experienced drama instructors, kids will

bring an original, age-appropriate script to life. Throughout the week, they will work to

develop their characters and interact with others to create the show, which will be based on

this year's theme, "Snow White Four Ways". Each of the four camp sessions will tell part of

Snow White's story from a different character's perspective.

All four pieces will be performed for family and friends on Friday night and Saturday

morning at no charge (performance details to be provided at the beginning of camp).

Families of AM camps are invited to Friday 7PM performance, PM camps to a Saturday

1 0AM performance.

�gistration Details· Queen's View ID #16599 7/26-7/30 M-F 9AM-12PM Ages: 7-16 $90 Activity Center

Grumpy's View ID #16598 7126-7130 M-F 9AM-12PM Ages: 7-16 $90 Activity Center

Bird's-Eye View ID #16600 7-26-7130 M-F 1-4PM Ages: 7-16 $90 Activity Center

Mirror's View (Shadow Puppet) ID #16601 7126-7130 M-F 1-4PM Ages: 10-16 $90 Activity Center

Registration Details:

FABULOUSLY FUNNY FAIRYTALE PLAYS: mm Who doesn't love a good fairy tale? What if they aren't quite the stories we grew up

with? Your child can show off their acting skills while telling the story of Little Late

Riding Hood or Goldilocks and the Three Bullfrogs. Led by experienced drama

instructors, this fun camp will teach kids about all the different aspects of being in a

place, from auditioning to memorizing lines and picking costumes and props.

This week-long camp will culminate in a free performance for family and friends on

Saturday, 817, at 6PM, at the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater (performance details will be

provided at the beginning of camp).

ID #16602 8/2-816 M-F 9AM-12PM Ages: 7-16 $90 Activity Center

ID #16603 8/2-816 M·F 1-4PM Ages: 7-16 $90 Activity Center

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

◄ ,!b . '"'""'" l'� II ��\�,!I�l�!)}CS

To REGISTER or LEARN MORE visit ta I lgrassth eat re .org/seed Ii ngs

Like Us! Follow Us!

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T ALLGRASS THEATRE COMPANY

Cast and Crew

Allison Bollinger is a graduate from the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in Drama & Theatre for Youth. After college she remained in the Waterloo and Cedar Falls area for multiple years and worked on many varying productions during her time there. Some of her favorite roles to date include Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain , Fraulein Kost in Cabaret , and Maggie Cutler in The Man Who Came to Dinner , all performed at the Waterloo Community Playhouse. Allison returned to the Des Moines area in early 2018 and has been busy ever since, performing in 2-3 productions each year.

Allison was about to enter tech week for Wonder of the World at Tallgrass, appearing in the title role of Cass Harris right before the pandemic began. She is so excited to be returning to Tallgrass and can't wait for theatre to make a huge comeback!

Alison Buechler is no stranger to the stage in the Des Moines area. She has done numerous shows at Des Moines Playhouse, Ankeny Community Theatre, Knoxville Community Theatre, and Newton Community Theatre. Some of her credits include: Jekyll and Hyde (Emma), Mary Poppins (Winifred), Kiss Me Kate (Lilli/Kate), Elf (Deb), Doubt (Sister James), and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive). She also had the opportunity to do a summer in Ohio with Trumpet in the Land Theatre Company as an actor and assistant music director. Outside the theatre, Alison enjoys biking, running, singing, teaching vocal lessons, reading, and hanging with friends.

Brad Church is excited to be performing live again and as a first time performer at Tallgrass Theatre Company. Brad has been seen at various theater companies in Des Moines since moving back to Iowa in 1995. Some of Brad’s favorite roles include Sir Robin in Spamalot , Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka (Dionysus Award), Harold Hill in The Music Man , Franz Liebkind in The Producers , Josh Baskin in Big: The Musical , Fred Graham/Petruchio in Kiss Me Kate , to name a few. Brad enjoys craft beer, breweries, traveling, going to the movies and collecting vinyl records. By day, Brad works as a Program Integrity (Quality Assurance) Examiner for Social Security Disability.

Charissa L. Hamel (Music Director) is a local actor, singer, designer and director. She has a degree in Music: Vocal Performance from Graceland University and studied Jazz Vocal Performance under Ken Ryals in Santa Barbara, CA.Charissa has been performing in theatre since she was 3 years old. Over the years she has done any roll you could imagine in the theatre. Currently she serves as the Board President for DMYAT. She is very excited to make her Tallgrass debut and hope you all enjoy her quarantine project!

Alex Lindsley is so excited to be taking part in another Tallgrass production. The last time he had the chance to work with Tallgrass was when he joined the movement ensemble of Ordinary Days in 2019. Alex is a board member at large for Carousel Theatre of Indianola and was recently on stage in their production of Eurydice as Orpheus. Before that he directed their 2019 summer musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Alex has taken part in a number of other productions with Carousel, including Lefou in Beauty and the Beast and Pinocchio in Shrek . Alex is a graphic designer and currently works at the Science Center of Iowa as a Programs Presenter.

Ashley Marie Rogers is originally from Waterloo, but relocated to the Des Moines area in 2018. Ashley has been in love with this theater community ever since, and is very excited to be sharing the stage with some wonderful, talented artists. Recent credits include Peter Pan, in Tinkerbell at Des Moines Playhouse, Janet in Rocky Horror Picture Show for Kata Klysmic Productions, and Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me Kate at Ankeny Community Theater. Ashley is also a part of a lovely trio, the A-Sisters, which pay homage to the Andrews Sisters and music of the 1940’s. She is regularly seen clad in vintage garb, holding a coffee, and listening to the latest record she has purchased.

Nicholas Root most recently directed Puffs the Play for Ankeny Community Theatre Virtual Reader's Theatre. Other credits include Bert in Mary Poppins with Knoxville Community Theatre, Roger DeBris in The Producers with Newton Community Theatre, and Roscoe Dexter in Singin' in the Rain with The Des Moines Playhouse. In the daytime Nicholas works as a Research/Remediation Analyst for Wells Fargo.

Operational support provided in part by Bravo Greater Des Moines

Board's Circle of Honor $1,000 and up

Iowa Department of Cultural AffairsWest Des Moines Community FoundationDairy QueenMidAmerican Energy FoundationBob Baskerville & Tom PerrineRachel BaskervilleCheri Cipperley - Meredith Corporation Foundation Sue DittmerSally Dix - Bravo Greater Des MoinesSuzanne FrankKimberly & Dan Haymes*Ty KlobassaKristi Knous - Community Foundation of Greater Des MoinesKelly & Mark MayhewArlene McAtee & Bob ChristensonKathleen MilliganJulia NoyceRose Mary SchiraJames StrotherJan Stump*Nicole Taweel

Artistic Director's Circle $500-$999.99

Marcia L. BaumhoverJeanette BodermannKatherine HarringtonJim MillerGail NielsenSusan Smith

Director's Circle $200-$499.99

James ArthurPatricia BrammerJill BroshanhanBeverly & Duane FrideresDebra GarnerRay HallPat HensonMary Ellen KimballPeter LauritzenThomas & Sheila PflanzGeorge PhillipsMary K (Katie) RothShannon SamuelsonRyan SchmitzJean Schwegler*Michael TallmanJames Work

Kathy ArndorferMichael BanksBarbara BarnardMary BartemesJeanette BauerEtta BerkowitzDani BoalTeri BognannoDale & Lu BoomMary Bricker-SmithCarol BrownMichele BrownGlenda BrownBarb & Mike BurchJohn ChaplinJohn ClaesCheryl ClarkMatthew ClarkSydney CoderMary CosimoJason CrowleyJo Ann DavisJudith EastburnJerry EisenhourAnita EllingsonWendy FerraroDawn FlammDenise ForneyEllen FreiRobin FultonAmy GettyDr. Harvey GillerKristin GlockhoffMary Anne GreenRosie GullMarianna HallLaura HansenCheryl HardingWendell & Lois HarmsCoryAnne HarriganChristopher HarrisUrsula HeuerHarold HinkhousePatricia HippleDenise HornerDonna IbsenElissa JohnsonLaura JordanKarla KasperJeff & Cheryl KenyonIgor & Nataliya KhalandovskiyMichelle KingKeaton LaneDebra LasterJoseph LillyCarl LindbergBhupinder Singh & Lindsay FoxDennis LittlejohnBarbara Martin

Donor List

Helga MayhewKirk Mayhew

Actor's Circle $199.99 and lower

*Christal McAteeSheryl McGoughDiane McKenzieLarry MeachamLarry MendenhallScott MenkeJulie MilliganBarb MoellerErnest Rip MooreMarilyn MuellerBobby NaleanMoira NashMichael O'NeleNathan OhortCarol PalmerToni Parkins*Frances PaterikPamela PattonRebecca PepperGriffith Reese IIIKaren Reese-ElliottJames RiceMary Beth RichardsDavid RoszakWilliam RyanJosh SampsonKarina San MartinDiane Sass*Karen SchaefferMax SchaefferJean Scherr*Natalie SchiraAmber SchmidtJackie SchmillenTeresa SchultzJill SedlacekPeg & Ernie SheltonShelly SilverHeather SoenerErica SpillerVicki SpillerEvelyn SpillerKevin SpireJoylynn StephensonLinda StranskyKaren SwansonDavid TharpJoyce VandegriftLisa VeldkampKaren ViolaBrad WatkinsCaron WedekingKaren WeissRebecca WestbergCatrin WheelerMary Kay WilsonDarin Zahn

* Recurring Donations

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65 After 13 years in Rex Mathes, Tallgrass Theatre

Company is developing a shared arts venue inWest Des Moines, to continue our mission ofproviding high-quality theatrical programmingand educational programs to the community.

The space will enable Tallgrass to incrementallygrow both our own programs and our areapartnerships, as other groups will use the spaceduring "our dark" periods. As part of the project,this new space will enable us to enhance ouradult and children's educational workshops witha modern, energy-efficient, and technologicallyadvanced performance space.

Today we launch the public phase of ourcampaign as we finalize the buildoutconsiderations for our new home.

We look forward to welcoming you into our newspace later this year. Stay updated on ourprogress or make a donation attallgrasstheatre.org/newhome.