Manning Up
by Sean Christopher Lewis | National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere
November 7 – December 9, 2012 (Chapel Theatre)
A fun peek inside an average man cave where two soon-to-be-first-time dads question whether they are up to facing the challenges of fatherhood.
National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere
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Cast & Creative Team
Lanny Langston* (Donnie) recently moved to Salt Lake City after receiving his MFA in Acting from the University of Idaho, and is super duper happy to be working with SLAC for the first time and would like to thank everyone involved for making it such a fantastic experience! Recent credits include Saturninus in TITUS ANDRONICUS (Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, MN), Benvolio in ROMEO AND JULIET and Eric Sheridan in UNNECESSARY FARCE (Idaho Repertory Theatre), Walter in UP, Guy in SOME GIRLS, Howie in RABBIT HOLE (University of Idaho), Paris in ROMEO AND JULIET (Davis Arts Council) and several other plays at Utah State University and Dixie State College. Thank you to my awesome, lovely wife for being ACTUALLY pregnant, and for loaning me out every night even though I know you'd rather be watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer with me. And to my equally lovely daughter for being such a joy in my life. I'll be home soon!
Jesse Peery* (Raymond) In keeping with the man-theme, Jesse was last seen on the SLAC stage in the world premiere of (A MAN ENTERS) and, before that, he was privileged to be part of the cast for the celebrity reading of SOME MEN at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center with special guest Terrence McNally. Other regional roles include the M.C. in CHICAGO for Dark Horse Company Theatre, Court in The New Works Theatre Machine's world premiere of RIDE ME: A PLAY WITH CRUEL INTENTIONS, Austin in TRUE WEST and Rick in SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION for Wasatch Theatre Company, himself for Pygmalion Theatre Company's WELL, Danny in DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA for the Egyptian Studio Theatre in Park City, and Pale in the Utah Theatre Artists Company production of BURN THIS, While a repertory artist for the Juilliard Conservatory in Chautauqua, New York, Jesse's credits included Michael in A.R. Gurney's THE DINING ROOM, and Malvolio in TWELFTH NIGHT. His next project will be sharing the stage with a man-tastic cast in A NIGHT WITH THE FAMILY for Pygmalion Theatre Company! Thank you, Tracy.
Sean Christopher Lewis (Playwright) can be heard as a commentator on NPR'S This American Life. His plays have won the Kennedy Center's Rosa Parks Award, the 2010 National New Play Network's Smith Prize, the NEA Voices in Community Award, a Puffin Foundation Artists Award, a Barrymore Award from the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, a Central Ohio Critic's Circle Citation for Best Touring Production, a Central Ohio Critic's Circle Citation for Best New Work, a National Performance Network Creation Fund Grant, the William Inge Fellowship and more. He served as National New Play Network Emerging Playwright in Residence at Interact Theatre in Philly and as Playwright in Residence at the William Inge Arts Center in Independence, Kansas. His work includes MAYBERRY (Hancher Auditorium, Bucksbaum Performing Arts Center, Iowa Arts Center); KILLADELPHIA (Baltimore Centerstage, Woolly Mammoth, Interact Theatre, Cape May Stage, Adirondack Theatre Festival, Touchstone Theatre, Hartbeat Ensemble, Drilling Company, Riverside Theatre, CSPS/Legion Arts, John Jay University/Gerald W. Lynch Theatre, Available Light Theatre, Revolutions International Theatre Festival); JUST KIDS (Available Light Theatre, Sandglass Theatre, Working Group Theatre, Pontine Theatre); I WILL MAKE YOU ORPHANS (Uno Festival of Solo Performance, Available Light 01 Festival, Equinox Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Center for Independent Artists, Galapagos Art Space, Hyde Park Theatre, TIXE Arts Center, Bowery Poetry Club);THE GONE CHAIR (Penn State University's Cultural Conversations Festival, Openstage Harrisburg's Flying Solo Festival, Riverside Theatre); MILITANT LANGUAGE (National Premiere at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Halcyon Theatre of Chicago, Bang and Clatter in Cleveland, and Theater for the New City in NY, published by Original Works Publishing); THE APERTURE (Cleveland Public Theatre); THE HOMESCHOOLING OF JONATHAN ANDERSON (Drilling Company NYC, Luna Theater and Theatre of Note); SURVIVING THE BABY (Riverside Theatre); THE TEACHER SHOW (Revolutions International Theatre Festival) andGOODNESS (Project Y Theatre, Clockwise Theatre). He has been a playwriting fellow at the O'Neill Playwrights Conference and has had his work developed at the PlayPenn New Play Conference, Lark New Play Development Center, Orlando Shakespeare Festival's Harriet Lake Festival of New Work and at the National Center for New Plays at Stanford University. He is currently under commission with Davenport Theatricals, Interact Theatre, Hancher Auditorium, Available Light Theatre and Adirondack Theatre Festival. Internationally he has collaborated on MAJNOON SAITARA with the Ashtar Theatre of Palestine and with the International Theatre and Literacy Project he worked on JOURNEY TO THE DREAM a new play by high school students in Tanzania, East Africa. In 2011 he collaborated and directed WE STOOD UP for the Centre X Centre International Theatre Festival in Rwanda that incorporated the performances and stories of 23 orphaned survivors of the genocide. Lewis is also a noted actor, working Off Broadway at the Pearl Theatre, in NYC at La Mama ETC, regionally with companies like the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, in television and feature films from COMEDY CENTRAL'S Upright Citizen's Brigade to GOD'S COUNTRY and his work has been nominated for the Fox Foundation Fellowship and the Princess Grace Theatre Fellowship.
Tracy Callahan (Director) is thrilled to be working once again with SLAC. Former SLAC directing credits include COURSE 86 B IN THE CATALOGUE, SIX YEARS, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, and co-directing MERE MORTALS. She is a freelance director in the Salt Lake Area where she has had the opportunity to direct for Plan-B Theatre and Dark Horse Theatre Company. Tracy is the Head of the Acting and Directing Program at Weber State University where she has directed over 30 productions. Two of her productions have been chosen to be presented at the Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts in Washington DC and several others have been selected to travel to various theatre festivals regionally.
Jennie Sant* (AEA Stage Manager) has worked at Salt Lake Acting Company as the AEA Stage Manger on THE PERSIAN QUARTER and ANGELS IN AMERICA PART I AND II. She has also worked at The Egyptian Theatre Company as the AEA Stage Manager on PAGENT and THE MUSIC MAN. Pioneer Theatre Company as the 1st ASM on LES MISERABLES, PAINT YOUR WAGON, DOUBT, A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, THE FOREIGNER, VERTICAL HOUR, and THE PRODUCERS. As well as the AEA ASM on NEXT TO NORMAL. Other credits Stage Managing include ANGELS IN AMERICA PARTS I & II at the Babcock Theatre, TRUE WEST in Studio 115, HENRY V and MEASURE FOR MEASURE for Salt Lake Shakes and TALKING WALES II for Utah Contemporary Theatre. For my Mom who always supported me.
James M. Craig (Lighting Design) has designed the lighting for 40+ shows at SLAC since 1997, most recently for Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Saturday's Voyeur 2012, COURSE 86b IN THE CATALOGUE, DOTTIE-THE SISTER LIVES ON, A MAN ENTERS, GOD OF CARNAGE, SATURDAY'S VOYEUR 2011, CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, BOOM, and ANGELS IN AMERICA. James has also designed lights for Plan-B Theatre, Utah Contemporary Theatre, Utah Musical Theatre, The Egyptian Theatre Company, Peery's Egyptian Theatre, Odyssey Dance Theatre, The Grand Theatre, Weber State University, The Emily Company, Georgia Shakespeare Festival, Virginia Stage Company, The Generic Theatre, Little Theatre of the Rockies, U of U Youth Theatre, U of U Lyric Opera Ensemble, and Theatre Inc. Currently James is the Technical Director for the Park City Performing Arts Foundation. James holds a B.S. in Theatre from Weber State University, and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Find out more at http://about.me/jamesmcraig
Brenda Van der Wiel (Costume Design) As always, Brenda is happy to be working for SLAC. Brenda is part of the design faculty for the University of Utah Theatre Department. She designs regularly for that department as well as for Pioneer Theatre and for SLAC. Recent works include RENT, CHRISTMAS STORY, NOISES OFF, THE FOREIGNER, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU and EMMA for Pioneer Theatre Company; MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO and COMEDY OF ERRORS for Alabama Shakespeare Festival; and BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, A MAN ENTERS, HOW I BECAME A PIRATE, IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE, CHARM, MASTER CLASS, SIX YEARS, THE CLEAN HOUSE, ROUNDING THIRD and END DAYS for SLAC. She also designed several of the recent SATURDAY'S VOYEUR productions, and all but one of the University of Utah's Classical Greek Festival productions for the last eighteen years. Before moving to Utah, Brendaalso worked at the Seattle Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, and the Utah Shakespearean Festival.
Josh Martin (Sound Design) – is thrilled to be working on another comedy this season. Selected sound designs include BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, SATURDAY'S VOYEUR 2010,2011,2012, GOD OF CARNAGE, (A MAN ENTERS), HOW I BECAME A PIRATE and RED. In addition he is the Master Electrician here at the Salt Lake Acting Company.
Keven Myhre (Set Design, Executive Producer) was chosen to receive the Mayor's Artist Award in the Performing Arts for 2009. Keven was awarded the 2008 City Weekly Award for directing THE CLEAN HOUSE and MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS at Salt Lake Acting Company. His other directing credits at SLAC are RED, ANGELS IN AMERICA: PARTS 1 & 2, THE OVERWHELMING, RABBIT HOLE, I AM MY OWN WIFE, BAD DATES, KIMERBLY AKIMBO, GOING TO ST. IVES, WATER LILIES, THE MEMORY OF WATER, TWO-HEADED, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE, C'EST MOI in MERE MORTALS, and THREE DAYS OF RAIN. Keven has designed all of SLAC's sets and many of the costumes for the last seventeen years. He also designed sixteen sets for The Grand Theatre, including ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE, JOHNNY GUITAR, MY FAIR LADY, SONG OF SINGAPORE, MORNING'S AT SEVEN, and GODSPELL. ACCORDING TO COYOTE, WEST SIDE STORY, CROW AND WEASEL, and SOUTH PACIFIC were designed for Sundance Theatre. His designs have also been seen at Pioneer Memorial Theatre, Utah Musical Theatre, Egyptian Theatre, Kingsbury Hall and the Babcock Theatre. His work for the Utah Arts Festival includes site design for the 20th Anniversary. He received a BFA from the University of Utah and a MFA in Theatre from the University of Michigan.
Cynthia Fleming (Executive Producer) was first seen at Salt Lake Acting Company in its 1978 production of PIPPIN. Since then she has worn many hats at SLAC – Choreographer, Box Office Manager, Director of Audience Services. She was Creative Director of Communications and Audience Development, leading the Communications Team and overseeing the Box Office and House Management, before taking on her current title of Executive Producer. For 15 years Cynthia has choreographed SLAC's infamous musical satire, SATURDAY'S VOYEUR and this past year marked her third as Director. She's choreographed many SLAC productions; her favorites include THE PERSIAN QUARTER, GO, DOG. GO!, BAT BOY THE MUSICAL, and WATER LILIES from CABBIES, COWBOYS, AND THE TREE OF THE WEEPING VIRGIN. Cynthia has been in the world of dance and theatre professionally for 35 years, during which time she performed in the Broadway, National, and International companies of A CHORUS LINE. Cynthia is proud to serve the Salt Lake Acting Company and its mission to develop and produce vital new work.
National New Play Network (NNPN) is the country's alliance of non-profit professional theatres that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays. Since it's founding in 1998, NNPN has commissioned almost two dozen playwrights, provided nineteen MFA graduates with paid residencies, and supported more than 100 productions nationwide through its innovative Continued Life of New Plays Fund, which creates "rolling world premieres" or new plays. Hundreds of artists have gained employment through these efforts in the dozens of regions of the country where NNPN member theatres are located. NNPN receives substantial support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, the Shubert Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Actor's Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org
*Member of Actor's Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
Panel Discussion | Live From SLAC's Man-Cave: Men Unplugged
A free Panel Discussion inspired by the themes in MANNING UP
Sunday, December 9th at 4:00 PM
"Babies and Bottles and Binkies.... Oh My!"
The conversation through a man's eyes will explore gender-roles in pregnancy and parenthood, allowing the panelists and the audience to articulate fears, questions, expectations and wonderments about fatherhood in today's world.
We'd love your company & insights!
The Panel Discussion has received funding from the Utah Humanities Council. UHC enriches our cultural, intellectual, and civic life by providing opportunities for all Utahns to explore life's most engaging questions and the wonders of the human experience.
Terry Gildea (Moderator) is the News Director at KUER 90.1. Terry came to Utah from San Antonio where he spent four years as a reporter and host at Texas Public Radio. While at KSTX, he created, produced and hosted the station's first local talk show, The Source. He covered San Antonio's military community for the station and for NPR's Impact of War Project. Terry's features on wounded warriors, families on the home front and veterans navigating life after war have aired on Morning Edition, Weekend Edition and All Things Considered. His half-hour radio documentary exploring the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center was honored by the Houston Press and the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. Prior to his position in San Antonio, Terry covered Congress for two years with Capitol News Connection and Public Radio International . He holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Washington and a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. Terry enjoys spending time with his wife and two young sons, fixing bicycles and rooting for his hometown Seattle Mariners.
Matt Basso (Panelist) holds appointments in History and Gender Studies at the University of Utah. Besides editing Men at Work, he is the author
of a for thcoming book about men on the American home front men during World War II, and the co-editor of Across the Great Divide: Cultures of Manhood in the U.S. West. He is also the former Director of the University of Utah's American West Center where he spearheaded a wide variety of public history initiatives, including oral history projects on Pacific Islanders and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans and the award winning We Shall Remain: A Native History of Utah and America <www.utahindians.org>.
Joe Borgenicht (Panelist) is a D.A.D. and the co-author of the best-selling, staple baby-shower gift THE BABY OWNER'S MANUAL. Joe is a writer, entrepreneur and avid father twice over. He learned how to "man-up" about 2 years ago (9 years into father-dom) and attributes this to being in shock for nearly a decade after becoming a father. Joe currently lives in Salt Lake City with his wife and two sons and is on a mission to get men to communicate with each other, because he believes they can actually help each other out by sharing their experiences. Who knew?
Louis Borgenicht (Panelist) Co-Author of "The Baby Owners Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips, and Advice on First-Year
Maintenance." Lou Borgenicht is the father of Joe & Dave. He is a Pediatrician and a Writer. He looks like his sons, or rather his sons look like him.
Josh Martin (Panelist) Soon to be father, and only getting closer. January 6th is the official...rough birth date of my son Declan Thomas Martin. My partner Meagan and I, have called the Salt Lake valley our home since we were born. Currently I'm working as the Master Electrician/ Sound Designer at Salt Lake Acting Company.
Zachary Sloan (Panelist) is a high school teacher and drummer for rock/pop band, King Niko. A University of Utah transplant form Illinois, Zack graduated with a degree in Geography before deciding his calling was to be teacher, not Carmen San Diego. For the last seven years he's been a special educaton resource teacher at Copper Hills High School. In his spare time, he enjoys playing with his band, King Niko, attending as many Utah Jazz games as possible, and spending time with family. Zack has been married to his wife, Dani, for almost a year, has a dog child named, Scout and a human child expected on December 14, 2012.
This program has recieved funding from the Utah Humanities council. The Utah Humanities Council (UHC) enriches our cultural, intellectual, and civic life by providing opportunities for all Utahns to explore life's most engaging questions and the wonders of the human experience.
News & Reviews
Get thee to the theatre | Cheryl Cope, Salt Lake Tribune, Editorial | November 29, 2012
Youtube Preview | Inside the Man-Cave with actors, Lanny Langston & Jesse Peery
Salt Lake Acting Company: Manning Up | by Scott Renshaw, Salt Lake City Weekly | November 8, 2012
Salt Lake Acting Company: Manning Up | by Gavin Sheehan, Gavin's Underground, Salt Lake City Weekly | November 7, 2012
The Veteran Newbie: A Conversation on New Plays | by Janine Sobeck, Utah Thetare Bloggers Association | October 31, 2012
Press Release
News Release
PRESS CONTACT: CYNTHIA FLEMING • 801 363 7522 •
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY PRESENTS:
NNPN Rolling World Premiere
MANNING UP
By SEAN CHRISTOPHER LEWIS
Directed by TRACY CALLAHAN
"Childbirth is a journey for you too."
-Donnie to Raymond, Manning Up
Salt Lake Acting Company is pleased to present the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of MANNING UP by Sean Christopher Lewis. This warm-hearted comedy is the second production of SLAC's 42nd Season and it will be directed by Tracy Callahan, performed in the Chapel Theatre. The National New Play Network is an organization which unites nonprofit theatres that champion the development and production of new plays. Through its program the Continued Life of New Plays Fund, NNPN supports three or more theatres which choose to mount the same new play within a twelve-month period. The result is a "Rolling World Premiere" where the playwright develops a new work with at least three different creative teams, for three different communities of patrons, and will join the repertoire of frequently produced new American plays. NNPN provides grants to each participating theatre. We share MANNING UP's Rolling World Premiere with Riverside Theatre in Iowa and Actors' Summit in Ohio.
In MANNING UP, we meet Raymond and Donnie, long-time friends and soon-to-be-fathers. The way pregnancy is changing their wives is obvious -- but Donnie and Raymond are discovering that fatherhood is changing who they are, too. Together, in Raymond's 'Man-Cave' the guys discuss their fears, harness their energies and explore their pasts and their futures as....men. The quirky friends are an odd yet endearing pair, based off of Playwright, Sean Christopher Lewis' true life best friends; two men who discovered their wives were pregnant at the same time. Drawing on the realities unfolding in the lives of his friends, Sean felt compelled to articulate his personal fears about fatherhood through comedy.
MANNING UP gives new fathers a voice in a typically female dominated conversation. From Lamaze Class to the rediscovery of their own masculinity, MANNING UP is a humorous insight into what men can expect when they're expecting.
Salt Lake Acting Company's production of MANNING UP is directed by Tracy Callahan, Head of the Acting and Directing Program at Weber State University. Tracy's directing credits at SLAC include the World Premiere of COURSE 86 B IN THE CATALOGUE, SIX YEARS, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, and MERE MORTALS. Real life, soon-to-be-father Lanny Langston is happily making his debut in Salt Lake City after recently receiving his MFA in Acting from the University of Idaho. Jesse Peery returns to the SLAC stage after appearing in last season's World Premiere of A MAN ENTERS. Jesse will next be seen in Pygmalion Theatre's Production of A NIGHT WITH THE FAMILY, a play that was a part of SLAC's New Play Sounding Series in 2011.
SEAN CHRISTOPHER LEWIS (Playwright) Sean Christopher Lewis is the Artistic Director of Working Group Theatre. He is a contributor to NPR'S This American Life and his plays have been awarded the National New Play Network Annual Commission, the Kennedy Center's Rosa Parks Award, the National New Play Network Smith Prize, NEA Voices of Community Award, the William Inge Fellowship, a National Performance Network Creation Fun Grant, a Barrymore Award, two Central Ohio Critic Circle Citations and a National New Play Network Emerging Playwright Residency. His plays and solo pieces include KILLADELPHIA (Available Light Theatre, Baltimore CENTERSTAGE, Drilling Company NYC, Gerald W. Lynch Theatre, InterAct Theatre, Hartbeat Ensemble, Touchstone Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Legion Arts, Empty Boat Theatre, Adirondack Theatre Festival and more); JUST KIDS (Pontine Theatre, Sandglass Theatre, Working Group Theatre); I WILL MAKE YOU ORPHANS (Galapagos Art Space, Riverside Theatre, Uno Festival of Solo Performance, Hyde Park Theatre); MILITANT LANGUAGE (Know Theatre; Halcyon Theatre); THE APERTURE (Cleveland Public Theatre) and MAYBERRY (Hancher Auditorium; Bucksbaum Performing Arts Center and Iowa Arts Center).
NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN) is the country's alliance of non-profit professional theatres that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays. Since it's founding in 1998, NNPN has commissioned almost two dozen playwrights, provided nineteen MFA graduates with paid residencies, and supported more than 100 productions nationwide through its innovative Continued Life of New Plays Fund, which creates "rolling world premieres" or new plays. Hundreds of artists have gained employment through these efforts in the dozens of regions of the country where NNPN member theatres are located. NNPN receives substantial support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, the Shubert Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
FACT SHEET
SLAC PRODUCTION: MANNING UP
PLAYWRIGHT: Sean Christopher Lewis
DIRECTOR: Tracy Callahan
CAST: Lanny Langston, Jesse Peery
SET DESIGN: Keven Myhre
COSTUME DESIGN: Brenda Van Der Wiel
LIGHTING DESIGN: James M. Craig
SOUND DESIGN: Josh Martin
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER: Jennie Sant
DATES Previews: November 7 & 8, 2012
Press Opening: November 7, 2012
Closes: December 9, 2012
TIMES Previews:Wed & Thurs- 7:30 p.m.
Regular: Wed – Sat- 7:30 p.m. Sun- 1:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
SLAC NOTES
SLAC has tickets for every budget. Student, Senior and 30 & Under discounts are available. Single tickets range from $15-$42 depending on the performance. Discounts are also available for groups of ten or more. Subscribers always pay the lowest price.
For tickets call 801-363-SLAC, visit www.saltlakeactingcompany.org, or come to the box office at 168 West 500 North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
SLAC is a not-for-profit 501(c) in 1970 and is dedicated to producing, commissioning and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists. SLAC has been nationally recognized by the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Edgerton Foundation, among others. SLAC operates under a STP Actors Equity Association contract. SLAC is a Constituent Member of Theatre Communications Group, a national organization for non-profit professional regional theatres, and the National New Play Network.
Manning Up Photos
Photos by Dav.D Photography
Actors: Jesse Perry & Lanny Langston














