44 Plays for 44 Presidents

44 Plays for 44 Presidents

Written by Andy Bayiates, Sean Benjamin, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, Chloe Johnston, and Karen Weinberg

Showdates: October 2 - 11, 2015, 2017

As another presidential election cycle begins, we invite you on a madcap ride through the past 226 years of presidential history. Created by the Neo-Futurists in Chicago 44 Plays for 44 Presidents features every one of our nation’s presidents in his own short play, with some of the best and worst of American history highlighted: victories in war, landmark legislation, scandals, and assassinations. At times funny and others poignant, the play shows that “the history of the Presidency is in many ways the history of our people.”

Performance run time: 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission

Performances held at the UAA Mainstage Theatre, 3700 Alumni Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508

  • Cast

    1. General Washington in the Garden of Eden
    Alexandra McCall as VOICEOVER
    Jake Beauvais as WASHINGTON

    2. Second Fiddle
    Devin Frey as ADAMS
    Jordan Crenshaw as JEFFERSON
    Jonathan Baird as MADISON

    3. The Roast
    Jordan Crenshaw as JEFFERSON
    Taran Haynes as BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

    4. There was a time when America was small
    Jonathan Baird as MADISON
    Angela Colavecchio as (BRITISH)
    Alexandra McCall as (FRENCH)

    5. Doctrines and Compromises (or, the Cat Fight)
    Kimberly Allely as MONROE
    Taran Haynes as NORTH
    Angela Colavecchio as SOUTH
    Alexandra McCall as CHAIR

    6. An Uncomfortable Position
    Jonathan Baird as ADAMS
    Angela Colavecchio as MOM
    Devin Frey as DAD
    Jake Beauvais as JACKSON

    7. King Andrew I
    Jake Beauvais as JACKSON
    Taran Haynes as ACTOR WITH MONEY FAN

    8. Van Buren: Jackson’s Bitch
    Jake Beauvais as JACKSON
    Devin Frey as VAN BUREN
    Taran Haynes as PASSERBY
    Jordan Crenshaw as PRESS

    9. As Karma Sees Fit
    Angela Colavecchio as HARRISON
    Jonathan Baird and Alexandra McCall as NARRATION

    10. What Do We Call His Accidency?
    Jordan Crenshaw as TYLER
    Devin Frey and Alexandra McCall as SWEEPERS

    11. Destiny
    Taran Haynes as VOICEOVER
    Kimberly Allely as SARAH
    Jake Beauvais as JAMES

    12. The Suspicious Death of Old Rough and Ready
    Devin Frey as TAYLOR
    Jordan Crenshaw as NORTH
    Alexandra McCall as SOUTH

    13. Yawn...
    Jonathan Baird, Angela Colavecchio, Taran Haynes as NARRATION

    14. Broken
    Kimberly Allely as WOMAN
    Jordan Crenshaw as PIERCE
    Devin Frey as AID

    15. Everyone Has a Theory
    Jake Beauvais as BUCHANAN
    Jonathan Baird, Angela Colavecchio, Taran Haynes, Alexandra McCall as GOSSIPERS

    16. Tyrannus Constantine
    Devin Frey as LINCOLN

    17. AJ
    Jake Beauvais as JOHNSON

    18. The Legend of Ulysses
    Taran Haynes as GRANT 
    Kimberly Allely as VOICEOVER
    Angela Colavecchio as JULIA
    Alexandra McCall as FAN
    Jordan Crenshaw as FRIEND

    19. Lemonade and Vote Fraud
    Taran Haynes as TILDEN
    Devin Frey as HAYES

    20. Dance of a Thousand Ironies
    Taran Haynes as GARFIELD
    Jake Beauvais as MADMAN

    21. Will the Real Chester A. Arthur Please Stand Up?
    Taran Haynes as GARFIELD
    Angela Colavecchio as HOST

    22. Uncle Jimbo Does What He Wants
    Devin Frey as CLEVELAND
    Alexandra McCall as FRANCES

    23. Little Ben
    Jake Beauvais or Jonathan Baird as HARRISON

    24. Big Steve Fucks Up
    Devin Frey as CLEVELAND
    Alexandra McCall as FRANCES

    25 The President’s Programme Today:
    Jonathan Baird as MCKINLEY

    26. Teddy
    Kimberly Allely as ALICE
    Jake Beauvais, Angela Colavecchio, Jordan Crenshaw, Devin Frey as TEDDY

    27. William Howard Fatt
    Alexandra McCall as TAFT
    Jordan Crenshaw as TEDDY
    Taran Haynes as WOMAN

    28. A Lecture on Myself
    Jake Beauvais as WILSON

    29. Facts, Opinions and Superlatives (Oh My)
    Jonathan Baird as HARDING
    Angela Colavecchio as FACT
    Kimberly Allely as OPINION
    Alexandra McCall as TAFT

    30. Silent Cal
    Devin Frey as CAL

    31. Know When to Walk Away
    Jordan Crenshaw as HOOVER 
    Taran Haynes as NARRATION

    32. Character Above All
    Jonathan Baird as FDR

    33. The Not-So-Fair Deal
    Angela Colavecchio as TRUMAN

    34. Like Ike?
    Alexandra McCall as EISENHOWER
    Kimberly Allely, Jonathan Baird, Jordan Crenshaw, Taran Haynes as POUNDERS

    35. Undone
    Original music composed and performed by Jonathan Baird

    36. LBJ
    Devin Frey as JOHNSON

    37. One Nixon, Underdog
    Alexandra McCall as SINGER
    Kimberly Allely, Jake Beauvais, Angela Colavecchio, Jordan Crenshaw, Devin Frey, Taran Haynes as BURGLARS

    38. The Rise and Fall of a President
    Taran Haynes as FORD

    39. Jimmy Who?
    Jake Beauvais as CARTER
    Kimberly Allely, Angela Colavecchio, Alexandra McCall as CONGRESS
    Jonathan Baird, Jordan Crenshaw, Taran Haynes as LADIES

    40. Reaganolitics
    Kimberly Allely as REAGAN
    Jonathan Baird as OLLIE
    Jordan Crenshaw as VOICEOVER
    Alexandra McCall as SANDINISTA

    41. The Bargain: Prelude to a Great Divide
    Devin Frey as BUSH, SR
    Taran Haynes as W
    Jake Beauvais as LEE ATWATER

    42. How the left was lost
    Alexandra McCall as WOMAN
    Jordan Crenshaw as CLINTON

    43. The Great Divide
    Jonathan Baird as GORE
    Taran Haynes as W
    Alexandra McCall, Angela Colavecchio as LIBERALS
    Devin Frey, Jordan Crenshaw as CONSERVATIVES

    44. Can he?
    Jake Beauvais, Kimberly Allely as NARRATION
    Jordan Crenshaw as OBAMA
    Devin Frey as CONSERVATIVE
    Alexandra McCall as LIBERAL


    Kimberly Allely (Monroe, Reagan and many others) is currently in her final year at UAA finishing an Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies. She was born and raised in Alaska and has been involved in theatre productions for over ten years. She has worked and performed with various local theatre companies around Anchorage, most recently, as Crystal in Mad Myrna’s Little Shop of Horrors and Babe in Anchorage Community Theatre’s Crimes of the Heart. In her spare time, Kimberly can be found devouring Disney Parks trivia and reading scripts from The Twilight Zone.

    Jonathan Baird (Madison, McKinley and many others) is a first-year music education major at UAA. He was born and raised in Alaska and has always been interested in acting but this is the first time he’s actually done it. He’s been playing the piano for 3 years (all self-taught), and at UAA he hopes to learn everything there is to know about the art, allowing him to finally release the music that has been in his head his whole life into the world.

    Jake Beauvais (Washington, Jackson and many others) is currently a fourth year theatre major with a performance emphasis here at UAA. He has been in other department productions such as Night of the Iguana as Nonno and William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead as Francis Bacon. He was last seen on stage in Anchorage Community Theatre’s production of Bus Stop as Bo Decker. Jake is also a founding member of the university’s resident improv troupe, The Ad-lib Alchemists. Fun interesting fact: Jake learned to juggle in an intro to acting course and has yet to find a proper application for such a skill inside or outside of theatre.

    Angela Colavecchio (Harrison, Truman and many others) is a first-year theater and journalism/communications major at UAA. She previously appeared as Demon in Demon of Darby Castle and Jackie in Cheaper by the Dozen, both at Bartlett High School. She did 3 years of DDF, and went to nationals in 2013 and took 3rd place at state in 2015. She hopes to one day open a theatre for youth so she can share her passion for acting with young people.

    Jordan Crenshaw (Pierce, Obama and many others) is a second-year theatre major at UAA is a recipient of the Dayle Skore Memorial Scholarship. He appeared as a Tragedian in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and as Soldier in William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead and was the sound board operator for Twelfth Night at UAA. He would like to create and manage a performing arts center and to create a world where one’s imagination can come to life.

    Devin Frey (Lincoln, Bush 41 and many others) is a senior on the verge of graduating with a BA in Theater with a performance emphasis. His previous UAA acting credits include Henry in The Fantasticks and God in SPAMalot, among others. Outside of UAA, Devin can either be found onstage or backstage at Cyrano’s, A.C.T., or the Performing Arts Center. He is currently lead sound designer of UAA’s upcoming Marie Antoinette and can be found running live sound around Anchorage in his off time.

    Alexandra McCall (Taft, Eisenhower and many others) is a theatre student in her third year at UAA.  Past work at UAA includes roles in Big River (2013), Sister James in Wolfpack Theatre Club’s production of Doubt: A Parable (2014), and most recently Viola in Twelfth Night (2014), as well as working on student-directed scenes and dabbling in tech work.  Alexandra has also worked with the Seawolf Student Filmmakers, having acted in two films and helped to create one for the 24 Hour Film Royal last spring.

  • Creative Team & Crew

    Director: Dr. Brian EG Cook
    Assistant Director: Taran Haynes
    Musical Director, Arranger, Composer: Dr. Mari Hahn
    Choreography: Taylor Hicks
    Fight Choreography: Ty Hewitt
    Stage Manager: Adi Davis
    Assistant Stage Manager: Galina Deitz
    Costume Designer: Lisa-Marie Castro
    Costume Design Advisor: Colleen Alexis Metzger
    Costume Shop Manager: Denice Jewell
    Costume Shop Assistants: Lisa-Marie Castro, Emily D. Pratt, Jane Lee
    Costume Construction Crew: Meredith Mapes, Joshua Rutten, Katie O’Laughlin, Angela Colavecchio, Robin Figueroa
    Wardrobe: Emily D. Pratt, Taylor Hicks, Matthew Meyer, Rick Fulton
    Lighting & Sound Designer: Daniel J. Anteau
    Sound & Light Board Operator: Hayden Tiner
    Master Electrician: Kyle Campbell
    Lighting Crew: Hayden Tiner, Katie O’Laughlin, Henry Schildback, Kirby Hutchings, Students from THR 131 & 295
    Sound Crew: Katie O’Loughlin, Melissa Downey
    Scenic & Projection Designer: Daniel Glen Carlgren
    Assistant Projection Designer: Ryan Anderson
    Projection Operator: George Hyde
    Technical Director & Scenic Artist: Daniel Glen Carlgren
    Student Scenic Artist: Nikki Adams
    Scene Shop Manager: Henry Coleman
    Scene Shop Assistants: Christopher Evans, Ray Leonard
    Scenic Carpentry, Props & Paint Crew: Students enrolled in THR A141, THR A295, THR A491, & THR A495
    Props Master: Ray Leonard

    House
    Box Office Manager/Publicist/Media: Jessica Pervier-Brown
    Event Support Assistants: Aleksander Altukhov, Katie Bailey-Nixon, Jonathan Heynen, Luda Steadman
    Videographer: Cedar Cussins
    Photographer: Jessica Pervier-Brown
    Poster Design: Daniel Glen Carlgren


    Lisa-Marie Castro (Costume Designer) is a senior theatre major at UAA and is a two-time recipient of the Dayle Skore Memorial Scholarship. She previously designed the costumes for Twelfth Night and appeared as Suzuki and Comrade Chin in M Butterfly and Clarisse in When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder? at UAA. This past summer, she worked as the costume designer for Footloose at Bigfork Summer Playhouse in Montana. She hasn’t decided on her future plans yet, but she’s interested in continuing acting and costume designing.

    Henry Coleman (UAA Scene Shop Supervisor) is an IATSE theatre and arena rigger, and has worked on large shows such as The Lion King and Cirque du Soleil as well as smaller productions at the university and community level. He plans to eventually go to graduate school to study technical director or design, and he loves to bike, ski, and play outside in his spare time.

    Adi Davis (Stage Manager) is a junior Theatre and Economics major. She has been involved in various productions at UAA, both on and off the stage. Her most recent credits include Assistant Stage Manager for UAA’s Production of Rosencratz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and Stage Manager for UAA’s William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead. Her current career dreams include graduate school for scenic design or law school. She really can’t decide.

    Galina Deitz (Assistant Stage Manager) is a first-year theatre major at UAA. 44 Plays for 44 Presidents is her first UAA production. She previously did theatre and choir at South Anchorage High School and is interested in pursuing either acting or stage management.

    Christopher Evans (Scene Shop Assistant) is a senior theatre major at UAA and recipient of the Dayle Skore Memorial Scholarship. He was previously the technical director for William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead, assistant technical director for Twelfth Night, and scenic designer for The Fantasticks at UAA. Chris will be designing scenery for Marie Antoinette. He plans to attend graduate school and to work professionally in technical theatre.

    Raymond Leonard (Properties Designer) is a senior theatre major with a concentration in technical theatre at UAA. Recent properties designs include 44 Plays for 44 Presidents (2015), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (2014), and The Fantasticks (2014). He has also successfully been a costume designer and technician, an assistant scenic designer and carpenter, lighting designer and master electrician for various productions at UAA. He is very excited to hone his craft even further in more professional environments after his graduation.

    Taran Haynes (Assistant Director; Grant, Ford and many others) is currently a theatre major at UAA. He previously appeared as Tom Sawyer in Big River, Not-Dead-Fred in SPAMalot and as Larry in Mr. Marmalade at UAA. Taran is very active with Seawolf Student Filmmakers, and is Chief Contact Officer for the club. He’s also worked on several film projects as an actor, director of photography, and director. In the future, he hopes to make movies—directing, acting, writing, producing—all of it.

    Daniel Anteau (Lighting & Sound Designer) received a B.A. from the University of Alaska Anchorage and his M.F.A from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in Lighting Design. In his academic career Daniel has taught for the University of Alaska Anchorage as term technical director/lighting designer, The University of Hawaii as Assistant professor in Lighting Design and Technical Director. After returning to the University of Alaska Anchorage He now serves as department chair, Professor in design and Technical Director for the Dance department. Daniel is also the academic advisor for the Department of Theatre and Dance and manages the light shop as well as sound, projections, and special effects. Professionally, Daniel’s Lighting Designs have been seen across Alaska & Hawaii, to New York City, and internationally to Africa. For the past 5 summers Daniel served as technical director for Trollwood Performing Arts School in Moorhead, MN. In Hawaii, Daniel continues to stay active as Lighting Designer working with Manoa Valley Theatre on their January production.

    Daniel Glen Carlgren (Scenic & Projection Designer) is currently the Faculty Scenic Designer, Projection Designer, and Technical Director at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Oregon University in 2001 and his Master of Fine Arts from University of Oregon in 2012. Daniel’s recent credits include Scenic Design, Projection Design, and Technical Director for Hot n Throbbing, SPAMalot, Sense and Sensibility, When You Comin’ Back Red Ryder, Night of the Iguana, and Big River. Daniel has also worked on the automation for Julie Taymor’s Grendal and Wagner’s Ring Cycle for the Los Angeles Opera and Disney’s Aladdin at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington. Daniel worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a Scenic Carpenter for 4 seasons and has worked as a scenery, staging and rigging specialist in the entertainment industry for many years. Daniel’s research is in scenic design, projection design, technical production, and automation with an emphasis on sustainability and safety.

    Dr. Brian Cook (Director) is an assistant professor of theatre at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He received his PhD in Theatre Arts from the University of Oregon, and his MA from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and King’s College, London. He previously taught at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he headed the directing concentration and directed productions, including Nickel and Dimed, Tartuffe, An Inspector Calls, and The Ash Girl. His research focuses on contemporary British theatre, particularly on the work of the Cherub Company in the United Kingdom and abroad between 1978 and 2003. Brian has presented at conferences in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, and published in Theatre Survey, Performing Arts Resources and the LMDA Sourcebook. He previously ran the untitled Theatre Company which toured a short play dealing with interpersonal violence to schools and volunteer organizations, and he has worked at professional theatres in upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, Florida, and the U.K.

    Colleen Metzger (Costume Advisor) Her costume design work has taken her across the country. She has designed for the Barter Theatre in Virginia, Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, The New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire, CATco and The Human Race Theatre Company in Ohio, Riverside Theatre in Iowa, and the Mad Horse Theatre Company in Maine. Colleen has also run wardrobe at the Glimmerglass Opera, worked as costume technician at the Hangar Theatre, Portland Stage Company, and the Chautauqua Opera, and has worked as a crafts artisan for the Santa Fe Opera.

  • Production Photos
     
    44 Plays for 44 Presidents, UAA Theatre and Dance, 2015
    44 Plays for 44 Presidents, UAA Theatre and Dance, 2015
    44 Plays for 44 Presidents, UAA Theatre and Dance, 2015
    44 Plays for 44 Presidents, UAA Theatre and Dance, 2015
    44 Plays for 44 Presidents, UAA Theatre and Dance, 2015
    44 Plays for 44 Presidents, UAA Theatre and Dance, 2015
    44 Plays for 44 Presidents, UAA Theatre and Dance, 2015
    44 Plays for 44 Presidents, UAA Theatre and Dance, 2015

 

A Special Thanks to
Robin Figueroa, Kevin Lee, Logan Shunmugam, Creative Technology, Chicago

“44 Plays for 44 Presidents” is presented by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.
Written by: Andy Bayiates, Sean Benjamin, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, Chloë Johnston & Karen Weinberg
Founding Father: Andy Bayiates
Musical compositions and arrangements originally by:
Steve Goers, Laura McKenzie & André Pleuss

Originally produced by The Neo-Futurists of Chicago (neofuturist.org)