Pioneer Theatre Company

While running for over two years on Broadway, Doubt was hailed by numerous critics as the must-see show of the year. Time Magazine called it “The #1 show of the year” and went on to describe it as “…simple in outline, complex in resonance.” The New York Times called it “inspired and extraordinary,” and the Washington Post called it “remarkable.” It comes to audiences in Utah for the very first time at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre November 2 – November 17, 2007.

Playwright John Patrick Shanley was awarded the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play for Doubt. He also won an Academy Award for his screenplay of the 1987 film Moonstruck.

Guest artist Martin Platt directs the production. Mr. Platt is very familiar with the show, having directed the European premiere in Vienna, Austria last year. He is returning to PTC after directing To Kill A Mockingbird in 1995. Mr. Platt was a Drama Desk Award nominee for the Mint Theatre’s The Daughter-in-Law in New York. His other New York credits include The Power of Darkness and John Ferguson. Mr. Platt has directed for theatres all over the country, including the Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, New Mexico Rep, Atlanta Opera, and Birmingham Opera Theatre. He was the Founding Artistic Director of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and is a former Artistic Director of Santa Fe Stages. He has also produced and directed shows on tour all over the world, in cities such as Vienna, Sevilla, London, and Edinburgh. Mr. Platt is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University and currently resides in New York.

The hard-nosed disciplinarian Sister Aloysius is played by Greta Lambert. Ms. Lambert has been a company member of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival since 1985. She has played such great roles as Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman, Kate in All My Sons, Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire, Hedda Gabler, Eliza Doolittle, Candida, and Hanna in Night of the Iguana. Her Shakespeare credits include the roles of Cleopatra, Lady Macbeth, Hermione, Gertrude, Beatrice, Goneril, Rosalind, Cressida, and Titania. Ms. Lambert teaches acting and currently serves as the Associate Program Director of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival Professional Actor Training Program.

The charismatic parish priest Father Flynn is played by Jeff Talbott. Mr. Talbott has appeared on Broadway in Sly Fox and Fortune’s Fool. Off-Broadway he appeared in the new musical Such Good Friends, and in the first NYC revival of Arthur Laurents’ Home of the Brave. He has worked extensively regionally, most recently as Kent in the world premiere of King Lear: The Storm at Home, in the Southwestern Premiere of Opus, as Cliff in Cabaret, and Felix in The Odd Couple. He has appeared on television in The Sopranos, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: CI, One Life to Live, and As The World Turns. Mr. Talbott has written several plays and is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.

The character of Mrs. Muller, the mother of a young student, is played by Tamela Aldridge. Ms. Aldridge returns to Pioneer Theatre Company after her performance as Rheba in last season’s production of You Can’t Take It With You. Her New York credits include Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (for which she received the AUDELCO Award), Same Train (OOBR Award), Medea, Trojan Women, and The Collard Green: Contributions by Cornbread Divas. She has also appeared at New York theaters including The Classical Theatre of Harlem, John Montgomery Theatre Company, The Cracked Plate Production Company, and Expanded Arts. A graduate of Howard University, Ms. Aldridge has several film and television credits. She also completed the two-year professional acting program at William Esper Studio.

The optimistic young nun and teacher Sister James is played Shannon Koob. Ms. Koob has worked extensively in Europe, and recently appeared in the same role in the European premiere of Doubt in Vienna, also under the direction of Martin Platt. In Frankfurt, she appeared in her fifth production of her award-winning performance in The Syringa Tree. She has worked at theatres across the U.S. including Yale Rep, Denver Center Theater Company, Long Wharf, Shakespeare in Santa Fe and Lizard Head Theater Company in roles as diverse as Dawn in Lobby Hero, Kate in Taming of the Shrew, Millie in Picnic, Perdita in The Winter’s Tale, Miranda in The Tempest and Cherie in Bus Stop. Her TV credits include Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, and Guiding Light. Ms. Koob has an MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory.

Set design for Doubt is by William Barclay, whose Broadway design credits include Solitary Confinement with Stacy Keach and Sally Marr & Her Escorts with Joan Rivers. Mr. Barclay has designed more than 150 productions in New York and at regional theatres across the country, and has been nominated for the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Helen Hayes, and Drama-Logue Awards. He has also designed award winning TV commercials, consulted on PBS documentaries and designed Corporate Events internationally. In film, he has served as Production Designer on She’s The One, I Love You, I Love You Not, Men of Respect, Seven Girlfriends, Simply Irresistible and others. He has also been Art Director on over a dozen feature films, including Glengarry Glen Ross, Beaches, and The Crow.

Costumes for Doubt are designed by Pioneer Theatre Company resident costume designer and costume shop supervisor Carol Wells-Day. Ms. Day’s recent designs for PTC include Lost in Yonkers, Pride and Prejudice, James Joyce’s The Dead, The Importance of Being Earnest, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Cyrano de Bergerac, Peter Pan, The Three Musketeers, Joyful Noise, Big River, As You Like It, The Count of Monte Cristo, A Streetcar Named Desire, An Ideal Husband, Misalliance, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Hay Fever. She was assistant designer for Inherit the Wind at the Ford Theatre in Washington D.C. She worked for the Utah Shakespearean Festival for 13 years as a costume shop supervisor and designer.

Lighting design is by Michael Gilliam, whose Broadway credits include Brooklyn, Big River and Stand-Up Tragedy. Mr. Gilliam also designed lighting for The West End’s Gershwin Alone. He has worked for theatres all over the country such as Arena Stage, Mark Taper Forum, Seattle Repertory, The Goodman Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, The Pasadena Playhouse, The Geffen Playhouse, The Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, The Prince Music Theatre, Denver Center and Arizona Theatre Company. Mr. Gilliam has received numerous awards for his designs, including the Los Angeles Ovation Award, the Drama-Logue Award, the Garland Award and the 1999 Career Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.

Sound design is by PTC resident sound designer Joe Payne. Mr. Payne has designed sound and/or composed music for more than 100 productions in theatres throughout the country. His composition and design for PTC’s Julius Caesar will be presented at the Prague Quadrennial design exhibition 2007 and he has been nominated for a Kevin Kline Award for his sound design for the Theatre of St. Louis’ production of I am My own Wife.

Hair and make-up designer Amanda French, PTC resident designer, has worked for theatres all over the west. She is a contributing writer in the ninth edition of Stage Makeup by Richard Corson and James Glavan and is a featured artist in The Costume Technician’s Handbook by Rosemary Ingham and Liz Covey.

Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah's premier resident professional theatre, performs at Roy W. and Elizabeth E. Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, located on the University of Utah campus at 300 South and 1400 East in Salt Lake City, easily accessible by TRAX light rail. Free parking is also available and the theatre is equipped with an elevator, handicap parking, hearing assistance devices and other easy-access features.

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MEDIA PHOTO SHOOT: There will be a media photo shoot at 5:30 p.m. on October 23, 2007, at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 E., SLC. Please RSVP by calling 581-7222.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD: High-resolution color photos of this production will be available for media use on the PTC website beginning Wednesday, October 24, 2007 after 3:00 p.m. Go directly to www.pioneertheatre.org /season/presspix.html

TV CAMERA FILMING: Filming the production during Preview or Opening Night for press use can be arranged. Call 581-6270.

INTERVIEWS: Interviews with the cast and artistic staff are available. Call 581-7222.

PRESS TOURS: Tours of the set for the press are available. Call 581-6270.

WHO: Pioneer Theatre Company

WHAT: Doubt

WHEN: November 2 – November 17, 2007

TIMES: Mondays—Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 p.m.

Saturday matinees, 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre

300 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City

PRICE: $21 - $39; Children K – 12 are half price on Mondays and Tuesdays.

MORE INFO: Box Office (801) 581-6961. The Box Office is open 10 am to 6pm Mon—Fri, and Saturdays when there are performances.

CAST:

Greta Lambert............................................................. Sister Aloysius

Jeff Talbott.................................................................. Father Flynn

Shannon Koob............................................................ Sister James

Tamela Aldridge.......................................................... Mrs. Muller

ARTISTIC TEAM:

Director....................................................................... Martin Platt

Set Designer................................................................ William Barclay

Costume Designer....................................................... Carol Wells-Day

Lighting Designer......................................................... Michael Gilliam

Sound Designer........................................................... Joe Payne

Wig and Make-up Designer......................................... Amanda French

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Banner picture is PTC's 2006 production of You Can't Take It With You. Max Robinson, Michael Lluberes, Brenda Sue Cowley.