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Marvin's Room

A dramatic comedy by Scott McPherson. [PG-13]

Directed by Craig Bond.

STUDENT TALK BACK NIGHTS: Saturday, April 1 and Friday, April 7. After the performance, students will meet the director, designers, cast and crew, and participate in a question and answer session to discuss the production, both artistically and technically. All Audience Members are invited to attend!

Ever since its debut on stage in New York in 1991, Scott McPherson's Marvin's Room has won universal acclaim for its refreshing take on the power of love, the meaning of family and the value of caring during the deepest struggles of life and illness. This hilarious and heartwarming expression of humor over despair, loving kindness over recrimination, and the simple joy of innocence over cynicism is a story about the years that keep us apart and the moments that bring us together.

McPherson's insight was enhanced by his own experiences taking care of his lover, who was dying of AIDS, and his own subsequent positive diagnosis. Ultimately, McPherson and his lover succumbed to AIDS, but Marvin's Room remains behind as a testament, in McPherson's own words, 'to the power of giving yourself to someone else.'

"A highly creative ingenious approach" - Colorado Backstage. Read their review here.

Director's Notes

As a child, I loved to play cards and board games, and as one player in a family of eleven brothers and sisters, I found lots of partners to play with and lots of time to play. When I first read "Marvin's Room," I realized that the game references in the script mirrored some of my own childhood experiences.

Talking about those games and how they fit into the story led us to the decision to use a chess board as the basis of the set design and scene changes. An exciting challenge not only for our very talented Set Designer Peggy Stenmark, but for the cast and crew as well. I am very proud to reveal to you the results of this game-board process, with all of the characters acting as moveable pieces for Marvin as he experiences his "game of life."

Although we never actually see Marvin, he is clearly a vital character in this play. As you watch it unfold, you may notice that each scene represents a different character's turn to play a part in Marvin's game. "Marvin's' Room" is the story of a family that is living the Game of Life, and in that game, is struggling with how to take care of loved ones when they become ill. Our production is staged from Marvin's perspective, who as a bed-ridden stroke victim can only watch as the players (his two daughters, his sister, and his two grandsons) make their moves around him.

Board games are typically set up with game pieces; we take turns, we have rules, and in the end, the game usually has an outcome or a winner. In most board games we start at "home" and sometimes we have to roll the dice or choose a new direction. Sometimes we just aren't lucky, or it wasn't "in the cards", and we lose the game very quickly. No matter what we as players decide, our moves affect each other and ultimately, the final outcome of the game.

As players within the family game of life, we all face tough decisions during our roll and our turn. Do our choices in life set up the board for the game we are playing? Will we choose to go home again to see our loved ones? Will we stand beside them and help ease their pain as they face death? What obstacles or pieces of our own life do we rearrange in order to be there - to continue as a player in their game? Or do we choose to not play at all?

As adults, we don't find the time to play as many games as we once did - or do we?

Thank you for playing with us... and let the game begin!

Craig A. Bond
Director

Cast

Craig Bond Director

This marks the nineteenth production that Craig has directed, and the second production for the Evergreen Players; the first being last season's "Last Night at Ballyhoo". He has his own theater company in Denver - Vintage Theatre Productions. Beyond the cast and crew, Craig would like to especially thank Peggy, Debbie, Chelley, Molly, and Mr. Trimble for their professionalism, love and support on this crazy adventure.

Peter Burghart Dr. Wally

This is Peter's first show with the Evergreen Players. He just graduated from KSU with a BA in Theatre. He was most recently seen in a production of Romeo & Juliet at the Manhattan Arts Center, along with Tape and Rosencratz and Guilden Stern are Dead at KSU. He would like to thank his friends, family for all their continuing support, along with the cast and crew.

Lisa DeCaro Lee

Lisa received her BFA in Acting from the University of Southern California. During and after college, Lisa acted professionally in Los Angeles, appearing on television, film, and the stage. A member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, her film and TV credits include The Thing Called Love, The Intruder, A Major Find, The Watcher, The Golden Girls, and Highways. Her favorite stage roles include "Sylvia" (with Evergreen Players), "Sally Bowles" in Cabaret, and multiple roles in a long-running improvisational comedy show in Los Angeles called Fumbling With the Light. She is thrilled to be back onstage in Evergreen, working with a truly wonderful director, a talented cast, and a great crew. As always, she sends special thanks to the love of her life, Len Matheo.

Michael Dyer Charlie

Michael is a 6th grader at Devinny Elementary School who loves to act. This is his third show with the Evergreen Players. He was previously seen in Inherit the Wind and The Miracle Worker, and is also in the Evergreen Children's Chorale. Michael loves working with the Evergreen Players, and would like to thank his family for their encouragement.

Jos Esqueda Hank

Jos is thrilled to be making his stage debut in Marvin's Room! He is an accomplished author and musician, and is ecstatic about adding "actor" to the list! He would like to send endless love to his family and his extended family (to call them "friends" would surely not do!)

Michelle Hanks Bessie

This is Michelle's first show with the Evergreen Players. She was last seen as Murial Pilar at the Bug Theatre in Land of the Dolls. Favorite performances include, Beverly in The Shadow Box, Dolores, in The Dead Monkey, and Beatrice in A View From the Bridge. Michelle would like to thank her friends for their support and care.

Debbie Laureta Stage Manager

This is Debbie's second show with the Evergreen Players, having stage managed "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" last spring. Debbie is thrilled to be working with the wonderful people of The Evergreen Players, again, as well as with her business partner, and co-owner of Vintage Theatre Productions, Craig Bond. Welcome back to the States and to theater, Craig. A special thanks to the entire cast and crew for making this such an enjoyable experience.

Katherine Quinby Lighting Design

Lighting designer for dozens of Players' productions, Katherine is two credits shy of her BFA in Technical Theater at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her recent credits include lighting design for Lucky Stiff, Hallelujah House, Sylvia, Inherit the Wind, and Breaking Legs.

Rose Rogers Ruth

This is Rose's first production with the Evergreen Players although she has seen numerous productions and admired the venue for many years. Rose is glad to be working with Craig Bond again after performing with the Vintage Theatre Production's comedy Lend Me A Tenor as Julia. Rose would like to dedicate her performance to all those who love and care for their aging family members. Rose is a Customer Account Representative at Thomson MICROMEDEX. She has written, directed and taught acting in the Denver area and graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Her favorite recent role is Mrs. Watts in A Trip to Bountiful.

Tyler Schroeder Bob

This is Tyler Schroeder's first performance with the Evergreen Players, but he is no stranger to the stage. He has an extensive resume with Conifer's StageDoor Theatrical School, most recently appearing there as the Tin Man in The Wiz. Apart from that program, he has been seen in such roles as Ellard Simms in The Foreigner and Cobweb Spider in The Snow Queen. Tyler is also an avid guitar player, teaching the instrument as well as performing locally. He wishes to thank the full cast and staff of this play, as well as family and friends for support.

Peggy Morgan Stenmark Set Design

The Players' former Artist in Residence (2004-2006), Peggy has been involved with the set design and construction for the past 13 productions. Her most recent credits include Sabrina Fair, Lucky Stiff, and The Last Night of Ballyhoo.

John Wakefield Dr. Charles

John is a Conifer resident, professional photographer, world traveler, writer, and "budding actor". Last seen as George in Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, he has also performed in The Good Doctor, A Thousand Clowns and Mere Mortals. It is an enormous learning experience and an honor to be associated with such a professional theater, director, cast and crew.

Linda Williams Retirement Home Director

Since her appearance last spring as Boo in The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Linda has been playing the role of Public Relations Manager for the Players, and she is very happy to be working under the lights again. As in real life, "Acting is the art of speaking in a loud clear voice and the avoidance of bumping into the furniture." (Alfred Lunt)

Production Crew

Images from Marvin's Room

Photography by Ellen Nelson and other volunteers.

The Family

Hank (Jose Esqueda), Lee (Lisa De Caro) and Dr Charles (John Wakefield)

Charlie (Michael Dyer), Hank (Jose Esqueda), Bessie (Michelle Hanks), Lee (Lisa De Caro) and Ruth (Rose Rogers) at Disneyland

Cast & Crew of 'Marvin's Room'