Stand and Deliver - 2007

Stand and Deliver
Opens April 20

Stand and Deliver is a play that has made a journey from real life, to the movie screen, to the stage. Based on the life of teacher Jaime Escalante, it is an inspiring story of what the dedication of one man can do to a group of inner-city students. Stand and Deliver opens on the RTG stage April 20 and runs two weekends through April 29.

The play was adapted for the stage by Robert Bella, based on the screenplay written by Tom Musca and Ramon Menendez. The setting is Garfield High School in east Los Angeles, a tough barrio school with students who are more into gangs, drugs and dropping out than studying. New teacher Escalante has just left his job in industry to become a mathematics teacher and faces a class of street toughs.

Escalante uses unusual teaching methods, reverse psychology, a quirky sense of humor, and examples from real life to motivate his students and keep them in class. He makes his students think for themselves, and tells them that the punishment for not working hard in class is to be kicked out of it.

The students, amazingly, respond to these teaching methods, and soon they are doing hours of homework and coming in on Saturdays for extra study. We meet the students, including the gang member Angel, the car-obsessed Pancho, the pretty girl Claudia, and the shy Rafaela. Escalante’s non-standard teaching methods are backed by Principal Molina, a person who bends some of the rules to accommodate this maverick teacher who gets results.

Pushing his students to learn even higher math skills, Escalante challenges them to study so they can take a tough college-credit calculus exam, a test so hard that only two percent of students nationwide can pass it. Eighteen of Escalante’s students take the test and pass, only to be challenged by the Educational Testing Service, who doubt the results and assume there must have been cheating. In the dramatic climax, the students agree to take the test again to prove their honesty.

The movie Stand and Deliver was nominated in 1988 for an Academy Award for the actor Edward James Olmos, who played Escalante. It received several Independent Film Awards. Lou Diamond Phillips won attention for his portrayal of Angel. Once adapted to a stage play in 1995, Stand and Deliver has achieved success in regional theatres nationwide.

Critical comments about both the play and the movie include: “a film that makes a brave, bold statement about an unexpected subject… a dramatic story and a worthy movie for telling it.” – Roger Ebert

“Powerfully inspirational, laden with tough love.” – Ross Anthony

“Concerned with assumptions and biases held by mainstream authorities about disadvantaged kids, and the teacher’s efforts to keep his students coolheaded enough to prove them wrong.” – Tom Keogh

From the Managing/Artistic Director - Doug Instenes

One of the most interesting aspects of producing plays comes along when we get the chance to bring a true story to life. How does the phrase go, “art imitates life?”

The story of Jaime Escalante is one that every student (strike that) every person should know. Every day in the local paper we read about the school district. Administrators and teachers can and do make a difference in the lives of kids. All kids can learn; we just need to know which buttons to push.

Helping to push those buttons is our guest director, Carolina Soza. She comes from Chile, where she focused on theatre to escape the darkness of that time of her life. She personally knows the power of theatre and education, and is uniquely qualified to share that with the cast and audience.

If you are a season ticket subscriber, you know we attempt to give you a variety of different theatrical experiences. That certainly holds true next season.

The RTG will turn 70 next year, and it’s sure to be a stimulating season full of humor, drama and music. Season ticket holders have many advantages, including having the same great reserved seats each time, reduced prices, and a generous exchange policy.

We understand that not everyone will like every show equally, but the season as a whole includes something for everyone. You’ll find contemporary and historic settings, costumes, laughter and dramas that give a smorgasbord of theatre styles.

We hope you will join us. If you can’t commit to a regular subscription, try a flex pass.

Cast & Crew

Stand and Deliver

Adapted for the stage by

Robert Bella

CAST

Jaime Escalante ........... Ricardo Morales

Mrs. Ortega ................ Stephanie Thompkinson

Tito Guitano ................ Luis Saavedra

Claudia ....................... Laura Chartrand

Pancho Garcia ............ Andy Navarro

Ana ............................ Madeline Hutchinson

Javier .......................... Jacob Aukland

Lupe .......................... Marina Carranza

Principal Molina ......... Mike Pirtle

Angel ......................... Jose F. Martinez

Chuco/Guard .............. Jonathan R. Martinez

Rafaela ....................... Katy Pirtle

Armando/Pearson ....... Kevin Dusenberry

Dr. Ramirez ................ Carolina Soza

Jose ............................ Mitchell Muniz

Mrs. Delgado/student .. Kristina Delgado

CREW

Director ..................... Carolina Soza

Scenic Design ............ Stephen Krempasky

Technical Director ...... Kurt Oian

PSM/Costumes ......... Sharon Johnson

Stage Manager .......... Marge Henze

Asst. Stage Mgrs. ...... Rose Bliss & Ruth Wolf

Light Design .............. Michael Kurhajec

Light Technician ........ Donna Nielsen

Sound Design ........... Daniel Pirtle

Sound Technicians .... Amy Pirtle & Doug

Makeup ................... Nicole Monaghan

Props Chair .............. Heather Bumstead