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a world premiere production
boston, ma // september 2014
stanford calderwood pavilion
at the boston center for the arts
ABOUT THE PLAY
Synopsis.
Desperate to cure his epilepsy, a young man underwent an experimental neurosurgery in
1953 — shockingly, the procedure destroyed his brain's ability to form new memories. Now
known as Patient HM, he became widely studied, and his fascinating case serves as
inspiration for The Forgetting Curve, a new play told in a non-linear style through the lens of
fictional neuroscientist, Dr. Laura Nebbens.
She has studied HM for several decades, and on the eve of accepting a prestigious award,
struggles to reconcile all she has sacrificed to leave the legacy of her life's work. Both she
and HM have made significant contributions to the scientific community, and the human
race — but at what cost?
History.
Originally developed at Emerging Artists
Theater in New York, THE FORGETTING
CURVE was further refined at the Continuum
Writer’s Group at The Player’s Club, and The
Oracles Writing Group. The play was a semifinalist in the Eugene O’Neill National Writers
Conference, and most recently enjoyed a
staged reading at SoHo Playhouse in New
York City for a select audience of industry
guests. Producers Carl White (Gore Vidal’s
The Best Man), Neil Danoff (Spring
Awakening), and Tom Polum (The Toxic
Avenger), spoke on a panel with the play’s
director and lead producer, Kimberly Loren
Eaton, about the future life of the project. All
four agreed that Boston would be an ideal
location for a premiere production before
transferring to New York.
Peak inside the script…
“
It’s just a loss
of memory.
Not reality.
”
Playwright.
Vanda, an Edward Albee Fellow and Lambda National Literary Award Finalist, was profiled
in the Dramatist Guild’s Magazine article, 50 (playwrights) To Watch. Original Works
published her play, VILE AFFECTIONS, in 2008 after five standing room only performances
at the international New York Fringe Festival. Another play, WHY’D YA MAKE ME WEAR
THIS, JOE?, won first place in Celebration Theater’s Best LGBT Play Contest.
Fun Fact:
Iconic playwright Edward Albee reads several plays from all the
finalists before Edward Albee Fellows are named. Above is a
letter he penned in support of Vanda.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
When.
September 2014 Where.
Wimberly Stage
Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts
527 Tremont St // Boston, MA
The Calderwood
Pavilion is Boston’s
premiere theatre
venue, located in
the city’s posh
South End
neighborhood,
convenient to
hotels, transit,
parking and award
winning restaurants.
ABOUT THE PRODUCERS
Kimberly Loren Eaton, Theatrum Mundi Productions
Kimberly Loren Eaton is the Principal and Founder of Theatrum Mundi Productions, a New
York City company which provides theatrical producing, directing, and general
management services, and most recently served as an above-the-title producer on The
Velocity of Autumn, on Broadway, starring Estelle Parsons (TONY Nomination, Best Actress
in a Play) and two-time TONY winner Stephen Spinella. During her tenure as the Artistic
and Managing Director of the Off-Broadway Marjorie S. Dean Little Theater, Kimberly
oversaw the $2 million capital renovation of the historic space, re-branded it, developed an
audience, and had the theater operating at a profit within two years. She curated
compelling productions, including Freud’s Last Session, which received an Off-Broadway
Alliance Award, a Jeff Award, and was honored by the Library for the Performing Arts.
Selected directing credits include: Closer, Once on This Island, The Music Man, Guys and
Dolls, Private Lives, and Jack London: Sex, Love and Revolution. She is a member of the
League of Professional Theatre Women, serves on the Board of two non-profit
organizations, and also works as a non-profit Consultant. She received her formal
education at Queens College, Hofstra University, and the London Academy of Music and
Dramatic Arts.
Bridge Repertory Theater of Boston
Bridge Repertory Theater of Boston has just completed its inaugural season, which
included a large-scale co-production, a world premiere, a musical, and an award-winning
contemporary drama.
In just one season, Bridge Rep earned eight nominations from the Independent Reviewers
of New England, including Best Play and Best Director, and has been featured in all of
greater Boston’s major media outlets, including the Boston Globe and WGBH.
With a mission to “connect actors to audiences, artists to artists, and the theatre to our
city,” Bridge Rep has already built a strong reputation for staging intimate productions
rooted in top-notch acting.
Producing Artistic Director, Olivia D’Ambrosio
www.bridgerepofboston.com
“…thoughtful, eclectic choices of
material have quickly and deservedly
put Bridge Rep’s name on the Boston
theater map in bold letters.”
- Broadway World
Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company, NYC
Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) incorporated non-profit organization
committed to working with a diverse network of artists, and to giving back to the community
it serves.
In September of 2013, Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company partnered with Bridge Rep
of Boston to produce The Libertine, by Stephen Jeffreys – a collaboration that garnered a
prestigious Elliot Norton nomination for Best Production of a Play.
Producing Artistic Director, Joseph W. Rodriguez
w w w . p l a y h o u Introducing
s e c r ea aF resh
t u New
r e Tsheatre
. o rCompany
g
“The Libertine is must-see debauchery.”
- The Boston Globe
Press Pack 2011
PLAYHOUSE CREATURES THEATRE COMPANY
Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company
[email protected]
www.PlayHouseCreatures.org
Cole Burden, Producer
Cole is honored to work with Theatrum Mundi, Bridge Rep, Playhouse Creatures, and Alan
Swanke. He is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory and has called New York City
home for the past eight years. In New York, he has been primarily an actor and currently
studies at HB Studio under the guidance of Austin Pendleton. His passion has always been
for developing new plays and musicals and has worked at City Center ENCORES!, The
Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Planet Connections
Theatre Festival, and Two River Theatre Company. Cole was on tour with the 25th
Anniversary production of Les Miserables, and has enjoyed playing the roles of Warner in
Legally Blonde at the Marriott Lincolnshire, Joe/Jerry in Grey Gardens at the Philadelphia
Theatre Company, and Che in Evita at Mason Street Warehouse. His TV/FILM credits
include: Beautiful Creatures for Warner Bros, The Real Housewives of New York for Bravo,
30 Rock, One Life to Life, and As The World Turns. Aside from acting and developing new
works in NYC, he co-manages GET SERVICES, a private concierge service to artists within
the entertainment industry. He has had the pleasure of working alongside, and learning
from, Tony Goldwyn, Zach Braff, Patrick Wilson, William H. Macey, and Felicity Huffman.
Having two Grandparents that were affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Cole is very
passionate about The Forgetting Curve. He is most excited to help bring this story to
Boston audiences!
Alan Swanke, Producer
Most recently, Alan co-produced a presentation of the new musical Wild and Willful Women
as part of annual TRU Voices Reading Series. Other theater projects include managing the
marketing efforts for the New York International Fringe Festival production of Jack London:
Sex, Love and Revolution, The Midtown International Theatre Festival production of Teach
Me to Cry, and the Rock Tonic Theatrical Concert Series presented by The Show Goes On
Productions. Outside of theatre Alan spent 6 years in brand management with MillerCoors.
During this time he led many high profile marketing campaigns. Alan holds a Bachelor’s
degree in economics from St. Norbert College and a Master’s degree in applied
economics from Marquette University.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
Key Creatives
Ann Talman, playing Dr. Nebbens
Ann made her Broadway debut as a young actor playing opposite Elizabeth
Taylor in The Little Foxes. She has since made her career on Broadway, at
our country’s finest regional theatres, and in London’s West End. Her
enormous experience and natural warmth make her a great fit to take on the
role of Dr. Laura Nebbens. Dale Place, playing Old HM
A long-time, IRNE-nominated, Boston-based actor, Dale is well known to
local audiences, and also has significant New York credits at the
Public/Shakespeare in the Park and Lincoln Center. He brings a depth and
an age that are both crucial to the final scene of the play, and we are lucky
to have him. Shura Baryshnikov, Movement Designer
The Forgetting Curve blurs time and place, lending itself to unique movement
composition. Shura is a Providence-based modern dancer and
choreographer with extensive background in Viewpoints and other forms.
The daughter of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Jessica Lange, Shura is no stranger
to movement and physical theatre – indeed, she is a key part of Curve. Complete Creative Team
Kimberly Loren Eaton ... Director
Shura Baryshnikov ... Movement Design
Bevin Kelly … Musical Composition & Sound Design
Meganne George ... Costume Design
Julia Noulin-Mérat ... Scenic Design
Annie Wiegand ... Lighting Design
Eamonn Farrell ... Projection Design
Esme Allen & John Tracey ... Props Masters
CAST
Ann Talman* ... Dr. Nebbens
Dale Place* ... Oldest HM
Conor William Wright ... Youngest HM
Joleen Wilkinson* ... Mom
Thomas Kee* ... Pop / Middle HM
Laura Darrell* ... Laura Nebbens
Lillian Kelly ... The Girl Next Door
Jasmine Rush ... Claire
Alexander Platt* ... Dr. Tilden / Dr. Scutter / Dr. Clark
Fun Fact:
Our Youngest HM looks
an awful lot like the real
life HM, don’t you think?
MANAGEMENT
Cassie M. Seinuk* ... Production Stage Manager
Niko Companies ... General Managers
John Tracey ... Assistant Stage Manager
Erach Screwvala / Screwvala LLC ... Legal
Laura Sullivan / DRIVE PR + Consulting ….. Public Relations
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE VISION
The Forgetting Curve will be an intimately staged, three-quarter round production rooted in
top-notch acting and evocative design. A large, ensemble style cast will combine with
exciting production elements – including projection design, movement design and original
music composition. Actors will weave through an installation style unit set consisting
primarily of picture frames – some empty, some illuminated momentarily with a flash of
light, some doubling as projection surfaces – creating a stunning, unexpected visual
representation of memory and the mind.
In this setting, the story’s narrator and protagonist – fictional neuroscientist, Dr. Laura
Nebbens – will encounter and attempt to reconcile three different worlds: her present
reality, her surreal past, and a constructed imagining of Patient HM’s boyhood. Each world
will have a distinct and discrete stylization. From the audience, it may seem the play is set
inside Dr. Nebbens’ mind. Indeed, the intimacy and immediacy of the actors and the
production elements will allow for a visceral sense of participation in Nebbens’ experience
of memory, space and time.
At left, a research
image from the
PInterest board of
Director/Producer
Kimberly Loren Eaton.
BRINGING CURVE TO LIFE
Up to $1000
Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ $1000 - $2500
Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ $2500 - $5000
Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ $5000 - $10,000
Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ $10,000+
Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ A
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GIVING TIERS
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creating a memory
leaving a legacy
Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ At the ARTIST SPONSOR level, your gift goes directly toward
compensating one of our artists. Your name will appear next to your
sponsored artist’s name in all printed materials, including playbills and
posters.
At the DESIGN SPONSOR level, your gift goes directly toward the realization of
our costume, scenic, sound, lighting, props and projection design elements,
and your name will appear in a special listing in playbills and online.
At the PERFORMANCE SPONSOR level, you will be billed and announced live as the
generous supporter of a specific performance during the run of the show.
Thank you for your generous support.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
please contact us
Kimberly Loren Eaton
Principal & Founder, Theatrum Mundi Productions
[email protected]
Olivia D’Ambrosio
Producing Artistic Director, Bridge Repertory Theater of Boston
[email protected]
Joseph W. Rodriguez
Producing Artistic Director, Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company
[email protected]
Cole Burden
Producer
[email protected]
Alan Swanke
Producer
[email protected]