8 Stars of Gold

Written by Ryan Conarro and Maia K. Nolan

Based on interviews by Ryan Conarro with Maia K. Nolan and Merry Ellefson

Directed by Ryan Conarro


Performed at the Old Elks Hall, 109 S. Franklin Street


April 2 - 19, 2009  

 

Alaska turns fifty on January 3rd, the same day that Perseverance turns thirty.  It was an extraordinary time when Americans added Alaska’s star to the U.S. flag, and we still have people living with us who were there when it happened.  Come to 8 Stars of Gold and meet them and hear their stories.  This original play is built from discussions with our political, economic, and cultural leaders from across the state – and with regular sourdoughs and cheechakos. 8 Stars introduces us to the fascinating characters – pioneering, charismatic, and eccentric - whose vision led to Alaska’s unique admission to the union, and takes a closer look at where we’re headed as Alaskans and Americans. 


8 Stars of Gold is sponsored in part by:

Alaska’s Statehood Experience Program:

    Alaska Humanities Forum and the Rasmuson Foundation

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation


Additional support provided by:

National Endowment for the Arts

TCG New Generations Program

Juneau Empire




   








ARTISTIC TEAM

Director Ryan Conarro

Set Design Art Rotch

Costume Design Rick Silaj

Lighting Design Meaghan C. Wills

Sound Design Rory Stitt


ACTORS

James Charlie Cardwell

Sydney George Holly

Irene Erin Tripp

Elsa Carolyn Garcia

Margaret Sally Smith

Steve Flordelino Lagundino



PLAYWRIGHTS, DIRECTORS & DESIGNERS

Ryan Conarro (Playwright & Director) is happy to be part of PT's 30th year. This season, Ryan performed in Perseverance Theatre’s The Government Inspector and in Shakespeare’s R&J with Thunder Mountain Theatre Project. He also directed Dying City for Thunder Mountain Theatre. In late April, he will direct Yupiulleq Nutem: Celebrating Statehood Tundra Style, a multi-disciplinary arts event bringing together young people from the Kuskokwim Delta for a performance run in Bethel. In May he's looking forward to artist-in-schools projects in White Mountain and in Nome. Ryan came to Juneau from New York, after a spell as a reporter at KNOM Radio in Nome. He earned his BFA in theatre and English from NYU. Ryan would like to thank all of the people who opened their schedules, their homes, and their hearts to be interviewed for 8 Stars of Gold. He also wants to thank Maia, Merry, Kristin, Sarah, and Margot.


Maia Nolan (Playwright) grew up in Anchorage’s performing arts community, tagging along to rehearsals and production meetings with her mother, and later performing with Alaska Festival Theatre, Arctic Moon Theatre/Once A Year Productions, Anchorage Youth Symphony, and the Anchorage Opera. In 2005, after eight years Outside, she returned to Anchorage, where she now writes a blog about life in urban Alaska, reviews theatre and music for the Anchorage Daily News, and teaches developmental writing at the University of Alaska Anchorage.  Maia received her Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from UAA, and she was recently awarded a Rasmuson Foundation artist grant to complete work on the novel in progress that was the creative component of her Master’s thesis.


Kristin Garot (Stage Manager) has a BA in history and political science from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas; as a former policy wonk, she sees working on this production as a way to connect her interests in history, politics, and theatre.  She has been involved as a stage manager in several Juneau area productions, most recently this season's Doubt at Perserance Theatre and Dying City with Thunder Mountain Theatre Project. 

 

Art Rotch (Set Design) is the Artistic Director at Perseverance, after having worked in Juneau and at PT for over twenty years.  He has recently returned to Juneau after six years in New York City.  Art has designed dozens of productions over the years at PT with directors Molly Smith, Peter DuBois, and others including premieres by Darrah Cloud, Paula Vogel, and Deborah Brevoort.  Art studied Russian Intellectual History at Harvard and wrote a thesis on Soviet dissident thought, and recently earned an MFA degree in Design from New York University.  Regional theater credits: Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Epiphany Theatre Company, Foothill Theatre Company, Sacramento Theater Company, The People’s Light and Theatre Company,  M Gorky Drama Theatre of Vladivostok, Russia, ActorsExpress and Trinity Repertory Company.  Opera: Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, Anchorage Opera, Aspen.  Next Projects: Treasure Island (Sacramento), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Juilliard), O Lovely Glowworm (Perseverance).  Thanks to Akiko for her support and love.


Rick Silaj (Costume Design) Design credits include: Oklahoma! and Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Weathervane Theatre); Shakespeare’s R&J, The Beauty Queen of Leenane and True West (Thunder Mountain Theatre Project); Mr. Marmalade (Perseverance Theatre 2nd Stage); The Blind Date, The Universal Language, and The Philadelphia (Theatre Northwest).  Assistant Costume Design: Grease (Theatre at the Center); Fashion; or Life in New York and Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp (Theatre Northwest).  Assistant Costumer (film):  For the Rights of All.


Meaghan C. Wills (Lighting Design) is excited to be entering her second year with Perseverance Theatre Meaghan’s costume design credits here include Wittenberg, Lady Day and Yellowman on the Perseverance Mainstage, Brother on the Perseverance Second Stage, and Willy Wonka, Raven at the Head of the Nass,  and The Velveteen Rabbit for this year’s STAR program.  Meaghan holds an MFA in Costume Design/Technology and Lighting Design/Technology from the University of Montana in Missoula.  Originally hailing from Vermont, Meaghan has spent the last fourteen years of her life working as a theatre artisan in theatres across the country and wouldn’t have it any other way.  Past design and technical positions have been held at The Mount Baker and Village Theatres in Washington; The Montana Repertory Theatre, Missoula Children’s Theatre, Bigfork Summer Theatre, and Virginia City Players in Montana; The Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder, Colorado; Advanced Lighting Production Services in Boston, Massachusetts; and The Vermont Shakespeare Company in Burlington, Vermont.  Meaghan is a member of the International Alliance of Theatre and Stage Employees (IATSE) local 919 in Burlington, Vermont.



ACTORS

Charlie Cardwell (James) came to Juneau in 1987 from Anchorage and has been working with Perseverance Theatre since 1988. Charlie has done a few projects over the years, starting with Red Noses, progressing to Angels in America: The Millenium Approaches, Proof, The Crucible and MacBeth to name a few. It's been an adventure all the way and, hopefully, will continue. Charlie is sincere in his hopes that while he struggles to get it right, he is providing Juneau audiences with some memorable moments. 


Carolyn Garcia (Elsa) Outside the UAS Shakespeare Acting class last year, this will be Carolyn's first performance since Voyage on Perseverance Theatre's Second Stage 2003. I am honored once again to participate in an original play sharing the unique Alaskan experience. My heartfelt thanks to Ryan, Art, the cast, and mi familia for making this possible. Happy 50th, Alaska!.


George Holly (Sydney) a circumpolar man (DegXit'an Athabascan/Russian & English/Norwegian), first came to Perseverance Theater as a set design intern fifteen years ago. He wrote music for Tlingit Macbeth, directed for the STAR Program and is currently finishing his BA at University of Alaska Southeast on his way to becoming a certified teacher. His first CD of original music is entitled Raven Flies Over the Rainbow.  George says "Happy 50th! Let your vision be world embracing!"


Flordelino Lagundino (Steve) has worked at Perseverance as an actor, director, teacher, and administrator for the past four years.  This season directed Doubt on the Perseverance Theatre Main Stage as well as Shakespeare’s R & J, an all-male adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, with Thunder Mountain Theatre Project in February (www.thundermountaintheatre.org).  He holds an MFA in Acting with a secondary concentration in Directing from The University of Texas at Austin.  His Perseverance acting credits include the World Premieres of The Long Season, Voyage, and Yeast Nation, as well as The Last 5 Years, Hamlet, Hair, Twelfth Night, Noises Off, The Government Inspector, and King Island Christmas.  He has performed regionally at The Shakespeare Theatre, The Kennedy Center, African Continuum Theatre Company, The Folger Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Zachary Scott Theatre Center, Imagination Stage, Young Playwrights’ Theatre, and was a guest artist with Living Stage Theatre Company. He is the founder of the Thunder Mountain Theatre Project and directed its inaugural production, True West.  He will direct Marisol by Jose Rivera for the University of Alaska Southeast this Spring. www.flordelinolagundino.com.


Sally Smith (Margaret) is usually engaged as a music director, Sally is honored to be on stage for this retrospective of Alaska. Arriving in Fairbanks 40 years ago, Sally says it’s been a gift to be here during this period.  Whether as staff at Tundra Times (a Native newspaper founded to promote land claims), a State Field Representative in northern rural Alaska, or a State Representative (Fairbanks, 1977-1983), Sally has been awed by the issues and the diversity of Alaskans seeking common ground for self determination. “Kudos,” she says “to Ryan, Maia, and Perseverance for bringing so many wonderful stories to the stage.”


Erin Tripp (Irene) a first-year student at the University of Alaska-Southeast. In the past she has participated in 3 plays for the annual Raven Tales production at Juneau-Douglas High School. This is her first time performing for Perseverance Theatre.