ENCOMPASS MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION

THE MOTHER OF US ALL

Music by Virgil Thomson Text by Gertrude Stein
Directed by Nancy Rhodes Conducted by William Boswell

The Mother of Us All is a collage of characters, situations, and memories which revolves around Susan B. Anthony’s battle for women’s rights.

“Rhodes is one of the most inventive directors in the theatre. Her production of The Mother of Us All was one of the highlights of the past decade.”
- Emory Lewis, Bergen Record

“...a thoughtful and moving production… Miss Rhodes has read the text The Mother of Us All with very special care and taken pains to make it as clear as possible through visual means…the big cast has been molded into a team that performs with notable smoothness.” - Allen Hughes, The New York Times

“The Encompass Music Theatre’s opera performances have been rare theatrical experiences… Virgil Thomson’s The Mother of Us All… were staged in past seasons with unusual distinction by Miss Rhodes.” - Robert Jones, CUE

“The Mother of Us All was cited for Excellence in the Creative Arts and one of the Best Productions of the Season.” - Bonnie Marranca, Gautam Dasgupta, Soho Weekly News

Directed by Nancy Rhodes
Music Director (William Boswell)
Producer (Roger Cunningham)
Scenic Designer (Christina Weppner)
Lighting Designer (T. Winberry)
Costume Designer (Mimi Berman Maxmen)
Choreographer (Deborah Geffner)
Production Stage Manager (Nancy Harrington)

CAST
Susan B. Anthony (Esther Zytnick)
Anne (Teresa Elwert)
Gertrude S./Lillian Russell (Eileen Swedish)
Virgil T./Indian Elliot’s brother (John Festa)
Daniel Webster (William Cason)
Jo The Loiterer (John Shackelford)
Chris The Citizen (Dennis Banks)
Indiana Elliot (Kathleen Roche-Zujko)
Angel More, Daniel Webster’s former sweetheart (Deirdre L. Tincker)
John Adams (Roger Spear)
Thaddeus Stevens (Bernard Thacker)
Constance Fletcher (Stephanie Tisheff)
Isabel Wentworth (Bebe Landis)
Jenny Reefer (Lynn Kearney)
Ulysses S. Grant (William Bremer)
Andrew Johnson (Craig Sturgis)

MUSICIANS
Assistant Music Director (Ben Malensek)
Clarinet (Jeffrey Adler, Laurie Friedman)
Piano (Ben Malensek)
Organ and Percussion (William Boswell)

PRODUCTION STAFF
Press Representative (Herb Striesfield)
Technical Director (William J. Stiegel)
Assistant Stage Manager (Jo Hazelton)
Assistant to Ms. Maxmen (Nancy L. Johnson)
Board Electrician (Josephine Steinway)
Electricians (Gloria Albee, Rick Belzer)
Wardrobe (Jacqui Zupo)
Carpenters (Peter Reitz, Neile Weissman)

Special thanks to Cedarcrest College and William Pucilowsky, Colin Lee, and a very special thanks to Rick Umbaugh and Buddy McGhee.

THE MOTHER OF US ALL, opera in two acts, with text by Gertrude Stein, music by Virgil Thomson, scenario by Maurice Grosser, used by arrangement with G. Schirmer Inc. publisher and copyright owner.

ACT I
Scene 1: Prologue
Scene 2: A Political Rally
Scene 3: A Village Green
Scene 4: Susan B’s Dream
Scene 5: A Village Green

ACT II
Scene 1: Susan B’s Drawing Room
Scene 2: The Same
Scene 3: The Congressional Hall – Many Years Later