For Immediate Release: September 9, 2005
Media Contact: Mary Bashaw, People's Light & Theatre Company, 610.647.1900 x103

One of American theatre's great stories of innocence and experience, The Member of the Wedding gives us the fervent spirit of 12-year-old Frankie, a girl yearning to belong to a world beyond her small-town backyard. By her side is Berenice, the African-American maid who's known the heartbreak and harshness of that wider world. Their passion for connection and what they discover one bittersweet summer unfolds in a tale that is as exuberant as youth and as wrenching as the blues.

The Member of the Wedding runs September 14 through October 23, 2005, on the Mainstage at People's Light & Theatre Company. Directed by Artistic Director Abigail Adams, the production features resident actors Melanye Finister, Stephen Novelli and Kathryn Petersen, and returning guest artists Anne Berkowitz, Jerrell Henderson, Michael LiDondici, Kalev Rudolph and Julianna Zinkel. Also featured is guest artist Franklin John Westbrooks. The production team includes set designer James F. Pyne, Jr., lighting designer Dennis Parichy, costume designer Marla J. Jurglanis and sound designer/stage manager Charles T. Brastow.

About the Play: Half a century after its premiere, The Member of the Wedding is a fondly remembered but little-seen play. "It's ordinarily not a play that's done very often," admits director Abigail Adams, though she cites recent well-regarded regional revivals at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut's Westport Country Playhouse. Part of the reason, she notes, is the play's casting challenges. "You can't do Member without a Frankie, Berenice, and John Henry."

Anne Berkowitz, a stage veteran at age 13 who's appeared in four People's Light productions as well as The American Girls Revue in New York City, plays Frankie, the motherless 12-year-old who fixates on her soldier brother's upcoming nuptials, deciding she will leave with him and his bride to escape her confining, small-town world to become, as she puts it, part of a "we."

Resident actor Melanye Finister plays Berenice, the world-weary maid who raises Frankie, and Kalev Rudolph plays John Henry, Frankie's doll-loving, hat-wearing six-year-old cousin. The beauty of the play is in McCullers' writing of the companionship that Frankie, Berenice and John Henry provide for one another; their bonding and bickering confirms their unspoken friendship pact.

John Henry proves an ideal foil for Frankie; while she is hysterical and off-the-wall, he is calm and collected; she's a young soul eager to grow up, while he is an old, wise soul who is very much a child. Frankie uses John Henry as a sounding board, onto which she projects her fears and insecurities, using him to distance herself from her own childhood. Berenice is a foil for Frankie in another way, representing all that Frankie needs to learn. Berenice knows about love, sex and relationships-which fascinate and terrify Frankie-and about the harsh realities of the real world, particularly how racism divides people.

"It's taken a long time to have the right actors in our midst for all three characters," Adams explains. "Without Anne, we wouldn't have done it. I feel strongly that Frankie should be played by an actual young person. With film and television, you-or at least, I-don't buy a 25-year-old playing Frankie anymore."

People's Light, with Berkowitz and many other young actors, has consistently cast age-appropriate actors in roles calling for children and teens. At other theatres, adult actors would typically play the leading roles in The Forgiving Harvest and The Little Red Riding Hood Show that were done by Berkowitz at People's Light.

"Anne and I began talking about doing this play a couple of years ago," Adams points out. "We actually started working on it together in April."

Also featured in People's Light's production of The Member of the Wedding are returning guest artists Michael LiDondici as Frankie's brother Jarvis, Julianna Zinkel as his bride Janice, and Jerrell Henderson as Berenice's disgruntled brother Honey Camden Brown. Resident artists Stephen Novelli, as Frankie's distant father Royal Addams, and Kathryn Petersen, as neighbor Mrs. West, are joined by Franklin John Westbrooks in his People's Light debut as T.T. Williams, Berenice's suitor.

"This is one of the few plays I've always wanted to direct," Adams adds, "since I was Frankie's age. The story really gets me, really matters to me for all sorts of reasons. Wanting to belong-whether you're young, old, black or white-seems to me one of the big yearnings of our lives."

About the Physical Production

Resident designers James F. Pyne, Jr. (set), Marla J. Jurglanis (costumes), and Charles T. Brastow (sound), along with returning guest artist Dennis Parichy (lighting), will create the small town in Georgia and the sultry August weekend in 1944 where McCullers sets The Member of the Wedding.

"I am using pictures of Carson McCullers' own house," Pyne explains about his scenic design's inspiration, "as well as other vintage photographs of southern houses of the period and location of the play." Pyne also referenced the 1952 feature film as a source for atmosphere and props details of the house and yard.

"The set will be lush with foliage and Spanish moss," Pyne explains, "as well as a dried lawn in need of water. A grape arbor and elm trees will adorn the back yard as well." Parichy's lighting will contribute to creating Frankie's world, and will also suggest the town's sweltering heat and humidity.

"A variety of photos and vintage clothes have inspired the costume designs," says Jurglanis. "I'm using a mixture of real 1940's clothes and pieces that we are constructing, so I am trying for a very historical look."

Her primary inspiration, she adds, has been the book Southerners: Portrait of a People by Charles Kuralt, which has been useful for everyone involved in the production.

"In the South," Kuralt writes, "the breeze blows softer.neighbors are friendlier, nosier and more talkative . . . this is a different place. Our way of thinking is different, as are our ways of seeing, laughing, singing, eating, meeting and parting. Our walk is different, as the old song goes, our talk and our names. Nothing about us is quite the same as in the country to the north and west. What we carry in our memories is different too, and that may explain everything else."

About the Playwright:

Carson McCullers was born in Columbus, Georgia as Lula Carson Smith on February 19, 1917. Most of her writing was inspired by her southern heritage, though she moved from the South in 1934 and only returned for visits. Carson experienced success early; she was only 23 when The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter was published in 1940. Its theme of spiritual isolation as the human condition in modern times foreshadowed nearly everything else she wrote thereafter. Reflections in a Golden Eye, published in 1941, was generally considered not as successful as her first novel. That same year, Carson suffered the first of several strokes-believed to be the result of a misdiagnosed case of rheumatic fever when she was fifteen. After receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1942 and a $1,000 grant from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1943, McCullers was able to work on her next novel, The Member of the Wedding (1946), which again won high critical acclaim. She adapted the novel for the stage where it became a Broadway hit in 1950, running fourteen and a half months and winning the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award. Ms. McCullers was also awarded a Gold Medal by the Theatre Club, Inc. as the best playwright of the year. In 1952 the play was turned into a successful motion picture. Her next book, The Ballad of the Sad Café, is often considered her finest work. It was published as a novella in 1951. It was adapted by Edward Albee for the Broadway stage in the 1963-1964 season, but had only limited success.

In addition to her five novels and two plays, McCullers wrote twenty short stories, over two dozen articles and essays, and some poetry and verse. She received numerous awards for her work throughout the years. On August 15, 1967, she suffered a major stroke, slipped into a coma, and died on September 29.

About the Cast

Anne Berkowitz (Frankie) previously appeared at People's Light as the cat in Sleeping Beauty: A Comic Panto in the British Style, Mika in The Forgiving Harvest, Little Red in The Little Red Riding Hood Show and Fan in A Christmas Carol. In 2004, Anne appeared as Josefina in the original cast of The American Girls Revue in New York City. She is also a member of the Youth Performance Company at Broadway Dance Center.

Emily Berkowitz (Helen) is 12 years old and this is her first professional production. Emily attends classes and Summerstage at People's Light and has been performing in community musical productions since the age of seven.

Rebecca Berkowitz (Doris) was an ensemble member in A Christmas Carol for all three seasons. She is a ninth-grader and has performed in many regional and community musical theater productions.

Melanye Finister (Berenice) is currently the Director of Audience Development at People's Light. She has been a company member since 1991 and has appeared in over a dozen plays at People's Light, including 30FEST, String of Pearls, Afternoon of the Elves, Gospel at Colonus, More Grimm Tales and Beauty and the Beast. She has also worked for the Arden, InterAct Theatre Company, Venture Theater, The Wilma and The Walnut Street Theatre.

Jake Helgenberg (Barney) is a 7th grader at Valley Forge Middle School, who has taken classes at People's Light and been a part of Summerstage program for three years. He has danced for seven years and performed live in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Jerrell Henderson (Honey) made his PLTC debut last season in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He is ecstatic to be back in the Philadelphia area, after touring the East Coast in the Theatre IV productions of The Little Red Hen and A Christmas Carol (as Scrooge!). As a 2003-2004 Dorothy Haas Acting Apprentice, he performed numerous times on Walnut Street Theatre's Mainstage, including roles in both Annie and The Philadelphia Story.

Michael LiDondici (Jarvis) appeared as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He studied at the Actor's Center, the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts and Carnegie Mellon University. His professional credits include Juno and the Paycock at the Roundabout Theatre Co. Regionally Michael has been seen in Romeo & Juliet at Theatreworks, USA, as well as in La Bete at Two River Theatre Co., Candida at Holmdel and Biloxi Blues at Scranton Public Theatre.

Stephen Novelli (Royal) was recently seen in 30FEST, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Around the World in 80 Days, Born Yesterday, Julius Caesar and Arthur's Stone, Merlin's Fire. He is an Associate Artistic Director at PLTC, as well as an actor. He has directed POPS and The Mourning Show for 30FEST, Camping with Henry and Tom, The Hope Zone and As You Like It, among others. Other PLTC credits include Midons - or The Object of Desire, The Little Foxes, The Little Prince, all 3 versions of A Christmas Carol, The Merchant of Venice, Sacco and Vanzetti: A Vaudeville, Sign of the Lizard, Sister Carrie, Hamlet and Have It Your Way.

Kathryn Petersen (Mrs. West), a member of the acting company since 1986, has appeared in 30FEST, A Midsummer Night's Dream, String of Pearls, Julius Caesar, Holes, Midons - or The Object of Desire and The Little Foxes. People's Light has also produced three of her plays: The Icarus Box (1998), Through the Glass Looking (1999) and Arthur's Stone, Merlin's Fire (2003). In 2004, People's Light produced Sleeping Beauty: A Comic Panto in the British Style, which Kathryn adapted.

Kalev Rudolph (John Henry West) is a fifth-grader at Swarthmore Rutledge Elementary School who began acting "for real" playing Tiny Tim in all three PLTC productions of A Christmas Carol-starting at the age of 5. Also at People's Light, he appeared as the Changeling Boy in last season's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Eric Shaw (Barney) is a 13-year-old who attends Haverford Middle School and is currently in 8th grade. This is his first production at People's Light, although he has attended PLTC's summer program for the past five years.

Franklin John Westbrooks (T. T. Williams) is making his first appearance with People's Light & Theatre. He has worked Shakespeare Theatre of DC, Weathervane Theatre, Pittsburgh Musical Theatre and Kuntu Rep Theatre, as well as on the New York Stage in The Merchant of Venice (Revolving Shakespeare Co.), Blood Wedding (Blue Herron Theatre) and multiple characters in a solo performance about Miles Davis, for which he received an AUDELCO award nomination. In addition he has performed as Coalhouse in Ragtime, the Tin Man in The Wiz, Jake in Sideshow and Audrey II in Little Shop.

Julianna Zinkel (Janice) made her PLTC debut as Elise in The Miser and then returned for A Midsummer Night's Dream. She was also seen in The Wilma Theatre's production of Wintertime. Other credits include Big Love at the Wilma, As You Like It at The Arden and The Amazing Adventures of Estro-Jen with Brat Productions.

About the Production Team

Abigail Adams (Director) is Artistic Director of the People's Light & Theatre Company. During her 28-year association with the Theatre, she has directed more than 50 plays. Recent productions include The O'Conner Girls, Sleeping Beauty, The Miser, String of Pearls, Arthur's Stone, Merlin's Fire, In the Blood, The Little Red Riding Hood Show and The Little Foxes. Abbey served for ten years on the faculty at Swarthmore College and has also taught at New York University, Bryn Mawr College, Carnegie Mellon University and the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario.

Charles T. Brastow (Stage Manager/ Sound Designer) is the resident Sound Designer and Production Stage Manager for People's Light and most recently designed sound for The O'Conner Girls, A Higher Place in Heaven and Around the World in 80 Days. His work on The Miser marked his 100th design for PLTC. Previous sound designs include String of Pearls, Born Yesterday, Arthur's Stone, Merlin's Fire and Midons-or The Object of Desire. In addition, he has served as stage manager for over 60 PLTC productions-mostly on the Mainstage-since 1990.

Marla J. Jurglanis (Costume Designer) is manager of our Costume Shop. Her recent designs include 30FEST, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sleeping Beauty: A Comic Panto in the British Style, Born Yesterday, Holes and The Fantasticks. Resident Costume Designer at PLTC for the past 16 years, she has designed costumes for over 70 productions, including The Little Red Riding Hood Show, He Held Me Grand, The Dreaming of Aloysius, Playhouse Creatures, Book of Days; The Memory of Water, The Road to Mecca, Sally's Gone, She Left Her Name and many more.

Dennis Parichy (Lighting Designer) created the lighting for The O'Conner Girls, A Higher Place in Heaven, Sleeping Beauty: A Comic Panto in the British Style, The Miser, String of Pearls, Arthur's Stone, Merlin's Fire, The Little Red Riding Hood Show, The Little Prince and In the Blood. Other credits here include He Held Me Grand, The Secret Garden, Book of Days and The Memory of Water. He has worked throughout the United States, Off-Broadway, Broadway and internationally since 1959. He was Resident Lighting Designer for Circle Repertory Company from 1976-1995 and designed the premieres of many of Lanford Wilson's plays, the American premieres of Athol Fugard's recent plays and the Broadway productions of Talley's Folly, Fifth of July, Redwood Curtain, Crimes of the Heart and Penn & Teller.

James F. Pyne, Jr. (Scenic Designer) is Director of Design at People's Light. In his 29 seasons with People's Light, he has created sets and/or lights for over 200 productions, including 30FEST, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sleeping Beauty: a Comic Panto in the British Style, Julius Caesar, Holes, Once in a Lifetime, A View from the Bridge, A Delicate Balance, The Little Foxes, He Held Me Grand, Playhouse Creatures, Book of Days, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Adventures of Pinocchio, A Village Fable, The Road to Mecca, Sally's Gone, She Left Her Name and Sister Carrie.

Post-Show Discussions: Audiences are cordially invited to join the artists after each Thursday night performance to discuss the making of this production.

Our Sponsors: We at People's Light & Theatre Company are most grateful to WACHOVIA for sponsoring the first production of our 2005-2006 season. A major corporate and community leader in the region, Wachovia marks 27 years as a corporate donor to People's Light and 24 seasons as a production sponsor. Wachovia is committed to serving the needs of Chester County residents and businesses with 15 conveniently located banking offices. It also maintains a Business Banking Center in West Chester and a West Chester Trust Office. We sincerely appreciate Wachovia's commitment to People's Light and to the enrichment of the cultural life of the Delaware Valley.

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