HOLLAND TAYLOR (Ann Richards and playwright)
The New Yorker has called Holland Taylor “the first vaudeville Gentile we ever saw.” Her New York stage performances include Bess in Breakfast With Les and Bess, the original productions of Butley, opposite Alan Bates, and A.R. Gurney’s The Cocktail Hour. In Los Angeles she has performed in Kindertransport and in Yasmina Reza’s The Unexpected Man at the Geffen. She has worked extensively in film, appearing in Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile, To Die For, Next Stop Wonderland, One Fine Day, George of the Jungle, The Truman Show, Happy Accidents, Spy Kids (2 and 3), Keeping the Faith, Legally Blonde and Baby Mama, with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Nominated for an Emmy seven times, she won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for the sexy judge Judge Roberta Kittleson on “The Practice.” Among her series starring roles: “The Powers That Be,” Norman Lear’s highly acclaimed political satire; “Bosom Buddies,” with Tom Hanks; and, currently, “Two and a Half Men,” with Jon Cryer and Ashton Kutcher. She has performed narrations for the Los Angeles Philharmonic with Esa-Pekka Salonen and John Adams and narrated for John Williams at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Holland was a dedicated student of Stella Adler, and has given talks about this great teacher. A Philadelphia native, she went to Westtown Friends School, and took a BA at Bennington College. In 2005 she became a student again, earning an MA from the University of Santa Monica, and in ’07, began work on this play. She will always be grateful to the Galveston Grand Opera’s Maureen Patton, who took an enormous “Ann Richards-sized” risk in launching its first run; to Kevin Bailey, our shepherd from the start; to Benjamin Endsley Klein for his promise to “make the vision flesh;” and to Bob Boyett, who read the play as a friend, and looked up from the page as its producer. Visit Holland's website. http://www.hollandtaylor.com
JULIE WHITE (Voice of Nancy Kohler)
Broadway: The Little Dog Laughed (Tony Award for Best Actress), The Heidi Chronicles. Off-Broadway includes: Twelfth Night, The Understudy, From Up Here, Fiction (Drama League nomination), Bad Dates. Regional includes Bad Dates (Elliot Norton Award). Television: “Grace Under Fire,” “Six Feet Under.” Film: Lincoln, Hello I Must Be Going, Inside Out, The Astronaut Farmer, War of the Worlds, Michael Clayton, The Nanny Diaries and Transformers 1, 2 and 3. She stars on NBC’s “Go On.”
BENJAMIN ENDSLEY KLEIN (Director)
Directing credits include Ann (Kennedy Center, Chicago and Texas productions), Hello Out There (Adirondack Theatre Festival), Sick (New Jersey Repertory), Hairspray (Charlottetown Festival), Notes to MariAnne (O’Neill Musical Theatre Conference), Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Old Globe). Resident, associate or assistant director: War Horse (LCT), Love Never Dies and Hairspray (West End), The Coast of Utopia (LCT), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Broadway, U.S. tour and Old Globe). Awards: Ockrent Fellowship (SDC), Paul Green Foundation Award (National Theatre Conference), Emerging Artist Award (University of Michigan). Go Blue! www.bendsley.com
MICHAEL FAGIN (Scenic Design)
Selected credits: New York: Reminiscin’ (Alvin Ailey); Boy (Primary Stages); In the Absence of Spring… (Second Stage); Sarah, Plain and Tall (Lucille Lortel); David Auburn’s Skyscraper (Greenwich House). West End: Shakespeare’s R&J, Hotmouth. U.S. regional: Old Globe, Shakespeare Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Syracuse Stage, Geva, Berkshire Theatre Festival. Mr. Fagin has also served as production designer for numerous film and television projects.
KEN HUNCOVSKY (Sound Design)
Credits include the national tours of Tuna Does Vegas, A Tuna Christmas (including Broadway), Red White and Tuna, Greater Tuna and The Foreigner. Notable regional credits: Tru, Camping With Gasoline, Cowboy Noises, Trail of Tears, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Cow Pattys, The Fantastics, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Chairs and American Fiesta.
MATTHEW RICHARDS (Lighting Design)
Lincoln Center Theater: Graceland. Off-Broadway: Storefront Church and Port Authority (Atlantic Theater Company), RX (Primary Stages), Hand to God (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Invasion! (Play Company), Brooklyn Academy of Music, Playwrights Horizons, MCC, Rattlestick, Second Stage, Theatreworks USA. Regional: Actors Theater of Louisville, Arena Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Cleveland Play House, Ford’s Theatre, the Goodman, the Guthrie, Hartford Stage, the Huntington, La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf, the Old Globe, Shakespeare Theatre, Westport Playhouse.
ZACHARY BOROVAY (Projection Design)
Recent Broadway: Evita, Elf, Lombardi (Drama Desk nom.), Rock of Ages (also London, U.S. national tour, Toronto, Australia, Las Vegas), To Be Or Not to Be, A Catered Affair (Drama Desk nom.) and Xanadu (also North American national tour, Japan). Regional: Nerds (North Carolina Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Co.), Limelight (La Jolla Playhouse), The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Peepshow (Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas) and Voyage de la Vie (Resorts World International, Sentosa, Singapore). Zachary is a trustee on the board of United Scenic Artists. Visitborovay.com.
JULIE WEISS (Costume Design)
Broadway includes Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Elephant Man (Tony nom.), Macbeth, Piaf, Liza (Radio City). TV includes “The Dollmaker” (Emmy Award), “Little Gloria…Happy at Last” (Emmy nom.), “Evergreen” (Emmy nom.), “Mrs. Harris” (Emmy nom.), “A Woman of Independent Means” (Emmy Award). Film includes American Beauty (Costume Designers Guild Award), Frida (Academy Award nom.), Twelve Monkeys (Academy Award nom.), Blades of Glory (Costume Designers Guild Award), HBO’s “Criminal Justice,” “Hitchcock.” Recipient of the Costume Designers Guild’s Award for Career Achievement. I believe and continue to believe in Holland Taylor as Ann and Ann as Holland Taylor.
PAUL HUNTLEY (Wig Design and Fabrication)
London-born Paul Huntley has worked on hundreds of Broadway shows, including the original productions of Amadeus, Cats, Evita, Les Misérables, The Producers and Hairspray. A recipient of Drama Desk and Tony awards, his current projects include Big Fish, Cinderella and Nice Work if You Can Get It.
J.P. ELINS (Production Stage Manager)
Broadway & National Tours: Frost/Nixon, The Lion King, Show Boat, Chicago, Blast, Beauty and the Beast, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Starlight Express, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Titanic, Crazy For You, The Secret Garden, Cuba and his Teddy Bear, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Off-Broadway: Hapgood, Nunsense, Zombie Prom, The Woman In Black. Regional: Stratford Festival Canada, Shakespeare & Company, GeVa Theatre, Virginia Stage Company.
ROBERT TOLARO (Stage Manager)
Served as production stage manager for the national tours of The Foreigner, The Greater Tuna Series, Menopause the Musical and the Broadway production of A Tuna Christmas. He has many regional credits including Carol Burnett in Laughter and Reflection and Tru at Zach Theatre in Austin, Texas.
PETER FULBRIGHT (Production Manager)
Peter, along with long-time associate Mary Duffe and new team member Shaminda Amarakoon, comprise TPS, Inc. On Broadway: Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lucky Guy. Favorites: The Normal Heart, Hairspray, Bombay Dreams, 42nd Street, Urinetown, Aspects of Love, The Sound of Music, …Forum, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Crazy for You, Guys and Dolls, The Secret Garden, Starlight Express, Singin’ in the Rain and Foxfire.
101 PRODUCTIONS, LTD. (General Manager)
Wendy Orshan and Jeffrey M.Wilson founded their company in 1994, having first worked together at Gatchell & Neufeld, Ltd. Their associates are Elie Landau, Ron Gubin and Chris Morey. Current productions: Nice Work If You Can Get It, Annie, Lucky Guy, I’ll Eat You Last, Big Fish. Special projects: New Island Festival, “A Broadway Celebration: In Performance at the White House” and IBM’s Centennial Gala.
KEVIN BAILEY (Executive Producer)
With partner James Mellon and their production company MB Artists, they’ve created/produced more than 50 theatrical, film and television productions. They’ve been working with Holland Taylor and spearheading Ann for the last three years. MB Artists uses its L.A. home, the award-winning NoHo Arts Center, as a launching pad for many of its theatrical productions. MB Artists is a partner in the Global Truth Network: globaltruthnetwork.com. Their favorite production to date is the Will and Nora project.
SANDRA CASTELLANOS (Consultant)
Sandra was born in Texas and worked for Governor Ann Richards in the appointments office and later in NY. She now works for the president of a company in Manhattan with 10,000 employees. Sandra is profoundly grateful to Ann Richards.
BARBARA CHAPMAN (Consultant)
After serving as special assistant to the chief of staff during Governor Richard’s term, Barbara continued to be Ann’s executive assistant until her death, a total of almost 16 years. She lives in Austin with her husband, Willie. They have two children and three grandchildren.
AVE BONAR (Documentary Photographer)
Chronicled Ann Richards’ 1990 campaign adventures for her 1991 book, With Ann: A Journey Across Texas With a Candidate for Governor. She has photographed Holland Taylor and the production of Ann since its beginning in 2010.
BOB BOYETT (Producer)
Broadway: One Man, Two Guvnors; Other Desert Cities; War Horse (2011 Tony); La Bête; The Pitman Painters; Next Fall; 13: A New Musical; The Seagull; Boeing-Boeing; South Pacific (2008 Tony); Sunday in the Park With George; The 39 Steps; The Seafarer; Rock ’n’ Roll; Journey’s End (2007 Tony); The Coast of Utopia (2007 Tony); Deuce; The Drowsy Chaperone; The History Boys (2006 Tony); Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005 Tony); Bridge & Tunnel; The Woman in White; The Pillowman; Glengarry Glen Ross (2005 Tony); Democracy; The Frogs; Jumpers; Fiddler on the Roof; The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (2002 Tony); Topdog/Underdog (2002 Pulitzer Prize); Sweet Smell of Success; The Elephant Man. In 2012, Queen Elizabeth bestowed a special honor upon Bob, naming him Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his contribution to the Arts.
HARRIET NEWMAN LEVE (Producer)
Broadway productions: Nice Work If You Can Get It starring Matthew Broderick and Kelli O’Hara; War Horse; One Man, Two Guvnors; The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett; A Little Night Music starring Catherine Zeta Jones; La Cage aux Folles starring Kelsey Grammer; The 39 Steps; The Norman Conquests; Burn the Floor; Superior Donuts; The Lieutenant of Inishmore; Hedda Gabler starring Kate Burton; Eve Ensler’s The Good Body; The Crucible starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney; The Diary of Anne Frank starring Natalie Portman. Off-Broadway productions: Stomp, The Beebo Brinker Chronicles, Family Secrets, Necessary Targets, Shockheaded Peter, Communicating Doors starring Mary-Louise Parker.
JANE DUBIN (Co-Producer)
Tony winner; President, Double Play Connections. Productions: Peter and the Starcatcher (five Tony Awards), The Norman Conquests (2009 Tony), The 39 Steps (Off-B’way, tour), Groundswell, The Beebo Brinker Chronicles (GLAAD Award), The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (London), unFRAMED (Iyaba Ibo Mandingo), MentalPause (Margaret Liston). Member: Broadway League, LPTW. Co-producer: Hudson River Rising, presenting events in Westchester for V-Day’s 15th anniversary initiative, One Billion Rising. www.DoublePlayConnections.com.
JACK THOMAS (Co-Producer)
New York: Freud’s Last Session (winner Best Play 2011); Triassic Parq, the Musical; Colin Quinn Long Story Short; Desire Under the Elms; The 49 Project (Best Playwright Award, NY Fringe 2009); Almost, Maine; Our Lady of 121st Street. Chicago and L.A.: Freud’s Last Session. West End: Marguerite, Fiddler on the Roof (nom. Best Musical Revival), Summer and Smoke.
MARS THEATRICALS - AMY DANIS & MARK JOHANNES (Co-Producer)
Broadway: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Desire Under the Elms, Little Shop of Horrors, Swing! Tours: Little Shop of Horrors, Swing! London: The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Taboo, The Fantasticks. Off-Broadway: Tabletop, World of Mirth, My Old Lady, Cookin’, Bug, Striking 12, The Fantasticks. Most expensive production: Zoe Johannes.
SARAHBETH GROSSMAN (Co-Producer)
Broadway: Stick Fly (Associate Producer) and raised funds for Time Stands Still and Ghetto Klown. Off-Broadway: The Irish Curse, the 60th anniversary revival of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Film production credits include Bopha!, Three Wishes, Out to Sea (Associate Producer).
JON CRYER/LISA JOYNER (Co-Producer)
An Emmy-winning producer and host, Lisa started in live television, then segued to creating unscripted television and documentaries. Next, she will be executive producing and hosting a late-night talk show. Jon produces independent films, television and theatre and plays Holland Taylor’s son on “Two and a Half Men.”
MINERVA PRODUCTIONS LLC (Co-Producer)
Minerva Productions, LLC is an award-winning theatrical and film company founded in 1996 to give women more opportunities in the performing arts. Partners Anne O’Shea, Brian Quattrini and Henry Cosec have had many theatrical successes regionally and are best known for their Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated film, The Kids Are All Right. www.minervaproductionsllc.com.
LARY BRANDT (Co-Producer)
Broadway debut. Off-Broadway and regional credits most recently include The 39 Steps. Other live entertainment productions include concert, cabaret and fashion shows for international stars/brands. Member of the Broadway League.
BRIAN DORSEY (Co-Producer)
Co-owner: Sellers Dorsey. Board of Directors: The Trevor Project. Recent productions: Evita, The 39 Steps. In development: The Red Rose Girls. Much thanks to Kevin Myers and Elaine Lamarre.
KATE HATHAWAY (Co-Producer)
Broadway debut! A graduate of the Commercial Theater Institute, Kate has an established presence within the theatrical community both onstage (as Kate McCauley) and off: www.katehathawayproductions.com.
ALLISON THOMAS (Co-Producer)
Allison Thomas is a film producer (The Tale of Despereaux, Seabiscuit, Pleasantville). Ann is her first Broadway play. Thanks to Gary Ross for all your support.
JENNIFER ISSACSON (Co-Producer)
Credits: The Norman Conquests (Broadway, Tony Award), The 39 Steps (Off-Broadwayand tour), The Beebo Brinker Chronicles (37 Arts), Road to Ruin (NYMF). As an associate with Leve Productions, Isaacson raised funding for The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson.
LINCOLN CENTER THEATER (Producer)
Lincoln Center Theater is now celebrating its 28th year, is one of NY’s favorite not-for profit theatres. Current and upcoming productions include The Nance at the Lyceum Theatre, Nikolai and the Others at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater and the LCT3 productions of Luck of the Irish and A Kid Like Jake, both at the Claire Tow Theater.
COLLEEN BARRETT (Associate Producer)
Colleen Barrett is president emeritus of Southwest Airlines. She is known for her passion for (and LUV of) servant leadership and exemplary customer service delivery.
FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO/FAITH GAY (Associate Producer)
Faith Gay is a partner at Quinn Emanuel, and Francesca Zambello is the Glimmerglass Festival’s artistic and general director and artistic director of the Washington National.
NANCY BEREN (Associate Producer)
City of Houston CitizensNet Director; Chair of Governor Richards’ Inaugural Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. Ann continues as my inspiration and mentor.
PATRICK TERRY (Associate Producer)
I’m proud to be a producer of Ann. Ann Richards was my boss and friend while Governor of Texas, and Holland Taylor is my friend today.
RICH AFFANNATO (Associate Producer)
Tony® Nominated producer. Credits include Peter and the Starcatcher, Silence! The Musical, and Broadway Rox! Rich is the Executive Artistic Director for Nederlander Worldwide Productions.
MARCY ADELMAN (Associate Producer)
Making her debut as a Broadway producer. Dr. Adelman is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Openhouse in San Francisco.
PAULA KAMINSKY DAVIS (Associate Producer)
Producer of Rock of Ages, an investor in Broadway and film including Nice Work, Cinderella and the cabaret 54 Below; owner of real estate and Gem Financial Services; board member of the Drama League.
CAMPBELL SPENCER (Associate Producer)
Campbell Spencer makes her producing debut with Ann. She is a public affairs consultant who served as White House Midwest political director under President Obama. She lives in Washington, DC.
SUISMAN GASPARIAN (Associate Producer)
Elsa and Marty have produced on Broadway together for 16 years. Some favorites: Say Goodnight Gracie, The Best Man, All My Sons, Steel Magnolias, Finian’s Rainbow, Impressionism.
BONNIE LEVINSON (Associate Producer)
After years working in museums, Bonnie returns to her first love — theatre. Her new play, Whoops I Forgot to Have Kids, is currently in development.
EMILY CONNER (Associate Producer)
Emily is a native of Texas and the President of Columbus Circle Productions. She began in entertainment at NBC's Weekend Today Show and CBS Sports. She has hosted and produced several political and special events including Gov. Ann Richards’ book launch party for “I’m Not Slowing Down” and the War Horse segment of the 2012 “Hooves on First” event at Citi Field. Emily is employed at AREA Property Partners.