Lakewood Playhouse
​presents

 
Johanna                   Cassie Jo Fastabend
Theo                                         Jacob Tice
Anna                                   Dana Galagan
Vincent                                  Tim Samland
 
 
 
Technical Direction & Stream Mixing                    Nicolai Roycroft
Scenic Renderings                                                   Blake R. York
Props & Sound Effects                                         James Venturini
Costumes                                                               Heather Hinds
Technical Assistance                                   Djeneba Toure-Burke
 
 

Special Thanks to our staff and board, all of our individual donors
who have made our continuing existence possible, and to:
Arts Fund
The City of Lakewood
Crimestoppers
Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
Pierce County
The Small Business Administration
Robert Warfield
The Washington State Arts Commission
Jen York

setting

Time
1890-1891 and 1914
 
Place
Variously: an apartment, the gallery of an art dealership,
a room in an asylum, the countryside. Holland and France.

Director's Note

There is an abundance of material out there--articles, television shows, movies, books--
about the life and works of Vincent van Gogh, but I’m willing to bet very few people
(myself included) had previously heard about his sister-in-law, Johanna. Though she is
largely responsible for anyone even knowing Vincent’s name, as is all too often the case, the woman behind the man is left out of the history books.
 
I had the honor to play the role of Johanna in one of the very first readings of The
Asymmetrical Embrace in Seattle, Washington about six years ago. The story and script
stuck with me, occasionally drifting back into my mind throughout the years. So when I
had the opportunity to direct a show for Lakewood Playhouse, I contacted the playwright to see if she would be open to us producing a virtual version of her play. To my absolute delight, she agreed, and the journey began!
 
It is a strange time for theatre. Beloved spaces all around us went dark for a long time.
And then, slowly, we started seeing sparks of life as people adapted to producing and
consuming plays in a virtual forum.
 
Lakewood Playhouse, too, has adapted, putting on several virtual readings and scaled-
down productions this season. This time, we hoped to up the ante just a little. You are
about to witness a hybrid production with some actors and a skeleton crew in the theatre, and some actors in their homes, serving as their own crew, all live. What I hope emerges on your screen is an immersive experience that, while not the theatre we all know and love, is something special nonetheless.
 
I would like to express my deep gratitude to the playwright, the actors, and everyone
who worked on this show in any capacity. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished in this rather uncharted territory, and I really hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.
 
Thank you for watching.
 
~Nicole Lockett

​The Woman Who Made van Gogh - The New York Time Magazine
How van Gogh became van Gogh: Rare show presents artist alongside those who inspired him - PBS News Hour
​

Who's who

Cassie Jo Fastabend

as Johanna

Cassie has been performing since childhood in dance, music composition, and acting. She holds a dual BA from the University of Puget Sound in Theater and English, and has also been a youth arts teacher in the South Sound for years. Recent performances include Macbeth and Lear(s) at the Slate Theater in Seattle, Hamlet and A Streetcar Named Desire at UPS, A Few Good Men and The Importance of Being Earnest at Lakewood Playhouse, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stopkiss, and Gypsy at Tacoma Little Theatre, The Pajama Game and Robinhood: A Holiday Panto at Centerstage.

DANA gALAGAN

as Anna​

Dana is pleased to be part of this beautifully written play which has given her new insight into the very real persons who were integral players in Vincent’s world. She has worked as an actor and Stage Manager in theaters and locations in the Northwest, most recently appearing onstage in Inspecting Carol at Lakewood Playhouse. As always thanks to Dan who gives her space to take part in things she loves.

Jacob Tice

as Theo

Jacob has been performing around the South Sound for 10 years, appearing in many shows including The Pillowman and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance at Tacoma Little Theatre, and most recently in Theatre Magic (and Other Things We Need) and The Hound of the Baskervilles (as John Watson) at Centerstage. He is beyond excited to be back to storytelling in a theatre again, and hopes this show is the first step on the road back to the productions we all miss so dearly. He would like to thank you from the bottom of his heart for your support of the theatre; it is your help and your enthusiasm that keep arts vibrant through trying times. Thank you. (he/him)

Tim Samland

as Vincent

Tim Samland has been involved in theatre for most of his time on this earth. From acting to directing, design to construction, Tim enjoys it's all. He is currently working for Taproot Theatre Co and St. Martins University as Technical Director. Last time Tim graced the boards at Lakewood Playhouse it was for Death of a Salesman, playing Biff Loman. Other local acting credits include Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me at Tacoma Little Theatre and A Dark Dark House at Theatre Artists Olympia. Tim would like to thank his family for their support of the arts over the years and dedicates tonight's performance to his late mother Kathy.

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