2022 Summer Playbill

Sponsored by:

HAIR

Musical Numbers

ACT I

Aquarius – Ronny & Tribe
Donna – Berger & Tribe
Hashish – Tribe
Sodomy – Woof & Tribe
Colored Spade – Hud & Tribe
Manchester, England – Claude & Tribe
I’m Black – Hud, Woof, Berger, Claude & Tribe
Ain’t Got No – Woof, Hud, Dionne & Tribe
Sheila Franklin – Tribe
I Believe in Love – Sheila & Trio
Ain’t Got No Grass (Reprise: Ain’t Got No) – Tribe
Air – Jeanie, Dionne & Crissy
The Stone Age – Berger
Manchester (Excerpt) – Claude
I Got Life – Claude & Tribe
Initials – Tribe
Going Down – Berger & Tribe
Hair – Claude, Berger & Tribe
My Conviction – Margaret Mead
Easy to Be Hard – Sheila
Frank Mills – Crissy
Where Do I Go – Claude & Tribe

ACT II

Electric Blues – Quartet
Oh Great God of Power – Tribe
Manchester, England (Reprise) – Claude & Tribe
Black Boys – Tribe
White Boys – Tribe
Walking in Space – Dionne, Sheila, Jeanie & Tribe
Don’t Put It Down – Sergeant, Washington, Grant
Fourscore and Seven Years Ago/Abie Baby – Abraham Lincoln
Give Up All Desires – Buddhadalirama & Monks
Three-Five-Zero-Zero – Tribe
What A Piece of Work Is Man – Tribe Woman, Tribe Man & Claude
How Dare They Try (Reprise: Walking in Space) – Tribe
Good Morning, Starshine – Sheila & Tribe
Aquarius Goodnights – Tribe
Ain’t Got No (Reprise) – Claude & Tribe
The Flesh Failures – Claude
Eyes Look Your Last (Reprise: Manchester, England)– Claude & Tribe
The Flesh Failures / Let The Sun Shine In – Tribe

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Dereck Atwater (Tribe) is an up-and-coming performer of many trades from musical theatre, dance, and voice-over, whose passion for the arts can be seen in everything he does. Originally from Maryland, he graduated from The Baltimore Actors’ Theatre Conservatory (‘18), where he discovered his love and appreciation for the performing arts. He has spent the last four years at Nazareth College training and honing his skills to better communicate and share stories with audiences. “Special thank you to everyone who has been an integral part of my training, everyone at CRT, and most importantly my family!” *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. www.dereckatwater.com

Grace Brad (Jeanie) (she/they) is an upcoming junior Musical Theatre major at Rider University, and they are thrilled to be joining CRT this summer! Professional credits include Evita (Lyric Stage, TX). Rider credits include Pippin (Dance Captain/Swing), Fun Home (Alison), and Cabaret (Ensemble). Grace is a Broadway World Next Onstage Dance College finalist and an Equity Membership Candidate. *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company.

Shaun Collins (Tribe) is thrilled to be making his CRT debut! He grew up in Hingham, MA and is pursuing a BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University. Most recently he was in Syracuse Stage / SU Drama’s co-production of Matilda (Nigel). He would like to express his gratitude to his friends, teachers, and most importantly his parents for all their love, support, and wisdom. * A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. IG: @_shauncollins_

Chelsea Hooker (Ronny) is so excited join the cast of Hair as Ronny! She is a proud Floridian living her best life in NYC. She is currently a student at Circle in the Square Theatre School and is set to complete her training in 2023. Her previous regional credits include Orange Girl in Shout the Mod Musical (Straz Center, FL) Othello in Othello (Festival 56, IL) Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (Stageworks, FL) and many more that can be found on www.chelseahooker.com

Ellie Kallay (Crissy)is excited to be performing live again! She is a recent graduate of Syracuse University’s Musical Theater Program. Ellie is from Bloomfield, NJ and is happy to be back upstate for the summer after moving to NYC. Recent credits include Orange Girl in Shout! The Mod Musical at SU Drama, originating the role of Emily Roebling in the workshop of The Bridge, and originating the role of Sam in The Sundogs at Planet Connection Theater Festival NYC. Special thanks to my teachers, my family, and my cat for getting me this far. Follow @ellie_kallay to see what’s next! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company.

Jefferey Keller (Berger) is thrilled to be returning to CRT after appearing here in 2019 in Mama Mia! (Sky) and Legally Blonde (Warner). Past credits include The Last Five Years (Jamie), Elf (Buddy), Xanadu (Sonny). He received his BFA in musical theatre from Illinois Wesleyan University. Jeffrey would like to thank his parents for their never-ending love and support and Amanda for putting up with him. @jeffrey_keller

Mikey LoBalsamo (Margaret Mead / Sergeant) is thrilled to be back at CRT this summer, inside! You may remember seeing him last summer (outside) in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged or Pirate Schmirate!. Favorite regional roles include George (Same Time, Next Year), Tateh (Ragtime), Harry (Mamma Mia), Mr. Green (Clue) and Rudy the Voice (A Bronx Tale). He would like to thank the entire cast and crew for another wonderful experience.

Emily Madison (Tribe) received her BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University this May. While at Syracuse, she appeared as Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown, and in Working and On the Lake on the Department of Drama Main Stage. Also at SU, she appeared with the Black Box Players in Next to Normal, and as Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, she now resides in New York City. * A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. Instagram: @emmyschmeds

Jerome Stephen Manning (Hud) is excited to make his professional theatre debut at CRT! Since graduating from Rider University in May 2021 with a BFA in musical theatre, Jerome has been pursuing any and all creative endeavors. His most recent projects have been as lead choreographer for Grosse Pointe South show choir in Michigan and acting in various film & television works in Atlanta, GA where he resides. Insta: @__g_rome. Follow the journey at JeromeStephenManning.com

Abby McGrath (Tribe) is thrilled to be returning to CRT! A rising sophomore musical theatre major at Kent State University, Abby made her college stage debut as Olivia in Chaining Zero. At CRT: Newsies, Mamma Mia! Other credits: Hello, Dolly! (Ernestina Money), Anything Goes and 16 musicals with Syracuse Children’s Theatre including Addams Family (Morticia), Beauty and the Beast Jr. (Belle), Legally Blonde Jr. (Elle), Oz the Musical Jr. (Dorothy). In high school Abby was a competitive dancer at Tawn Marie’s Dance Centre and currently works in the summer as a choreographer. Thanks to her family and friends for their love and support!

Thabitha Moruthane (Dionne) is thrilled to be making her CRT debut! She is a rising senior at The Hartt School of Music where she is pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. Some of her theatre credits include: Legally Blonde (Serena), Head Over Heels (Philoclea), Urinetown (Hope) at Hartt, and A House Without Windows (Barbara) at the Goodspeed Opera House. She would like to thank the creative team here at Cortland along with her friends, and her wonderful mother.

Gabe Moses (Tribe) (he/him) is a multi-faceted theatre and art maker. Recent credits include A Tempest (Delaware Shakespeare), A Soft Landing (Elevate Theatre Company), and Ragtime, Crazy For You, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival). Gabe recently worked alongside director Steve H. Broadnax III (Broadway’s Thoughts of A Colored Man) as the assistant director for Bayard Rustin Inside Ashland at People’s Light. Gabe has previously directed and choreographed his original piece, run 4 ur lyfe, centered around police brutality and being a black man in America. www.gabemoses.com, @gabejmoses

Bree Ogaldez (Tribe) is thrilled to be making her CRT debut! Past roles include Lisa (Mamma Mia), The Lady in Purple (The Color Purple), and Yvonne (Sunday in the Park with George). After graduating from Muhlenberg College and before moving to New York City, she spent a year living and working in Madrid, Spain. When not onstage, you can find her binging Netflix, playing guitar, or curled up with a great book. Sending gratitude to God, her family, and a very supportive circle of readers!

Ellie Pearlman (Sheila) is thrilled to spend the summer at CRT! Ellie was born and raised in Southern California and is now a junior musical theatre student at Rider University. Some previous credits include Miss Bingley/Mrs. Gardiner in Pride and Prejudice (Rider University), God/Evil/Dancer in Everybody (Rider University), Viola De Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love (Saugus Theatre), Ariel Moore in Footloose (Saugus Theatre), and Tootles in Peter Pan (The Canyon Theatre Guild). *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company.

Weston Pytel (Tribe) (he/him) is from Meriden, CT, and is currently a Junior B.F.A Musical Theatre Major at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Credits include Mark Cohen (RENT), Charlie Chaplin (Chaplin The Musical), and most recently The Baker in Into The Woods directed by Broadway veteran Hunter Foster. Weston is grateful to be with CRT this summer and for this to be his first professional performance experience! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. To find more about Weston check out: @westonpytel, westonpytel.com

Maclain Rhine (Woof) is thrilled to be spending his summer with CRT. He is a junior musical theatre major at Rider University. Credits include: Cabaret (Dance Captain/Swing), Polaroid Stories (Narcissus), Cats (Mistoffelees), and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Stanley Jerome). Special thanks to my Mom, grandparents, and sisters. This is for you! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. Socials: @rhinemaclain

Taylor Joseph Rivera (Claude) (he/him) is grateful to join CRT for their 50th Anniversary Season. Regional credits include; Next to Normal (Gabe), A Chorus Line (Paul), Beauty and the Beast and Anything Goes. Much love to my family, and my tribe in Washington Heights. IG: TaylorJosephRuch love to my family, and my tribe in Washington Heights. IG: TaylorJosephR

Alissa Rojas (Tribe) (she/her) is extremely excited to start her journey here at CRT! Alissa is a Long Island native and a recent graduate of SUNY Fredonia with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Some of her previous credits include Rent (Maureen), Songs for a New World (Woman 2), and West Side Story (Maria). She wants to thank her supportive family, friends, and amazing boyfriend, Damian for everything they have done and all the endless support! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. IG: @Alissarojas

Rashawn Sangster (Tribe) is a Brooklyn, NY native and a recent graduate of SUNY Cortland’s Musical Theatre program. He is very excited to make his regional theatre debut at CRT for its 50th season this summer. Some favorite credits include being a part of Big Fish and Holiday Inn at SUNY Cortland. He would like to thank the people of CRT and his friends and family for always being a great support in his life. *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. IG: @rashawnsangster

Reese Stojanovski (Tribe) is a rising junior BFA musical theatre major at Nazareth College and was born and raised in Rochester, NY. Some of her favorite credits include, Into the Woods (The Witch), Pippin (Fastrada), Something Rotten! (ensemble & U/S Bea) and selections from Chicago (June). She is so beyond grateful and excited to be working with CRT this summer and would like to thank all of her family, friends, and mentors for all of their love and support. Enjoy the show! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. @reesestojanovski, reesestojanovski.com

Directors / Choreographers

Trey Compton (Director) a New York based director, choreographer, and fight director. As a director, regional credits at The Fulton, Riverside, Engeman, Sierra Repertory, The Herb Strauss, Pittsburgh Musical Theatre, and Millbrook Playhouse. Here at CRT, Honky Tonk Angels; Complete Works of Shakespeare, Abridged; Rough Crossing, Sleuth, and Legally Blonde (SALT Award: Best Director.) As an assistant or associate director, Off-Broadway credits include Yank! (The York) and White’s Lies (New World Stages.) Also, multiple credits regionally at Seattle 5th Avenue, Goodspeed, The Ogunquit Playhouse. Upcoming: Urinetown at Mac-Haydn Theatre. Love to the Tribe and the Team. For Donna. treycompton.com

Leon Glover (Choreographer) is thrilled to be making his CRT debut with the renowned Hair. Based in NYC, Leon wears many hats as a performer, director/choreographer and instructor. Previous performance credits include Hair (Arizona Broadway Theater), Cinderella (Capital Rep), Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Collective) and more. Recent creative credits include Dance Out: Love & War and Disney’s Newsies (AfterWork Theater) the latter being a production that was postponed due to the pandemic and remounted last fall. When not in the rehearsal room, Leon can be found teaching dance and cardio fitness classes throughout NYC and Boston. Socials: @Ieonheartedboy || www.leonwglover@gmail.com

Michael Meketa (Music Director) is a composer/orchestrator/music director based in Pittsburgh, Pa. Some recent credits as composer: Kalopsia (2017 & 2021 Co-Lyrics/Orchestrations New Hazlett Theater), The Axeman’s Jazz (2019), Dog God (2018), Songs of Suffrage (2021 Seton Hill University), and What Makes The Season (2020 Cal U of PA). As arranger/orchestrator: It Had To Be You (2021 Winnipesaukee Playhouse), Clicquot: A Revolutionary Musical (2021 [Pre-B’way]), Die Young: The Ke$ha Romeo & Juliet (2020), Ramona (2020), Assistants (2019 Orchestrations [off b’way debut!]). NYU Musical Theatre Writing Program Graduate! Much love to my Parents and Sarah. www.Meketamusic.com

Jahmar Ortiz (Director of Culture and Inclusion) (They/Them) is a Black, Queer, and Latinx Theatre Artist based in Brooklyn, NY. They graduated from Ithaca College’s BFA Acting program in 2021 and are currently attending NYU for their Masters in Drama Therapy. Jahmar was an intern with CRT in 2018 (Saturday Night Fever, Newsies, Our Town) and is happy to be back at the pavilion! Sending warmth and compassion to the CRT community. @godseaortiz

Creators

Gerome Ragni (book & lyrics) (1935-1991) From Pittsburgh PA, Gerome was the youngest of a large family with six sisters and two brothers. After four years as a medic in the United States Air Force, he began acting and was recognized by winning the Barter Theatre Award as Outstanding Young Actor. He appeared on Broadway in John Gielgud’s Hamlet featuring Richard Burton, and he starred off-Broadway in The Knack. A dynamic stage and life presence, he originated the role of Berger in Hair. On his own, he authored the Broadway musical Dude, with score by MacDermot. He teamed up with another composer, Steve Margoshes, who wrote the music for the Ragni opus Jack Sound and His Dog Star Blowing His Final Trumpet on the Day of Doom. Soon thereafter, he and Rado rejoined forces to collaborate on a new musical they called Sun. A gifted actor and prolific writer and painter, he originated “paper-napkin art” and he wrote a volume of dynamic poetry under the pen name Virginia Miller. He passed in 1991. His son, Erick Ragni, is an innovative architect.

James Rado (book & lyrics) is an actor and songwriter. He taught himself how to write lyrics from intense study of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, etc., as well as pop music from the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. After a two-year gig in the U.S. Navy, in 1956 he moved to New York. Five years later he got his first Broadway break when the famed Lee Strasberg plucked him from a class for a small part in June Havoc’s Marathon ’33 starring Julie Harris. This led to a string of roles in Luther, Generation, The Knack and, in 1964, Hang Down Your Head And Die, where he met fellow actor Gerome Ragni. In 1966, in the midst of writing Hair, Rado got a leading role as Richard the Lionhearted in the James Goldman play The Lion in Winter starring Robert Preston, Rosemary Harris and Christopher Walken. By 1967, Rado and Ragni had a presentable script of Hair, which they gave to the producer Joseph Papp. Papp liked what he read and decided Hair would be the inaugural production of his newly-founded New York Shakespeare Festival at The Public Theater on New York City’s Lower East Side. Hair opened on Broadway in the spring of 1968 and starred Rado and Ragni in the lead roles. The rest is theatrical history. Over the intervening years, Rado has been working on two other pieces: American Rainbow and Sun.

Galt MacDermot (music) (1928-2018). This two-time Grammy and Tony-award winning composer is best known for his Broadway scores of Hair and Two Gentlemen of Verona. He garnered his first Grammy for the song “African Waltz” in 1960. His work spans the gamut of performing arts: musicals, ballet scores, film scores, chamber music, the Anglican liturgy, orchestral, poetry, drama accompaniments, band repertory and opera. His work encompasses a wealth of musical genres, crossing the boundaries of jazz, folk, funk, gospel, reggae and classical styles. The son of a Canadian diplomat, Galt was born and raised in Montreal. He received a Bachelor of Music from Cape Town University, South Africa. He moved to New York in 1964 and, three years later, wrote the music for the landmark Broadway production Hair, which he later adapted for the screen. He formed the New Pulse Band in 1979, which features his original music played by some of the world’s greatest musicians, including Bernard Purdie and Wilbur Bascomb. Galt’s music is consistently sampled by hip hop and rap artists who find his rhythms perfect for setting their lyrics to, as in Run DMC’s Grammy award-winning “Down With The King,” and Billboard’s top chart-buster, “Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check” by Busta Rhymes. Galt MacDermot has written more than 3,000 songs over his lifetime. His music is listened to and enjoyed in 122 countries worldwide, and Hair has been performed constantly since its inception in over 40 countries worldwide.

Creative Team

Rosalind (Rozy) Isquith (Scenic Designer) is a scenic designer and artist from Vermont. As a designer, Rozy works for SUNY Geneseo, The Pennsylvania State University, New London Barn Playhouse, Downtown Cabaret Theatre, University of Vermont’s Royall Tyler Theatre, and the Very Merry Theatre Company. As a scenic artist, she continues to work with Goodspeed Musicals, The Glimmerglass Festival, Scenic Art Studios, and the New London Barn Playhouse. Her design work can be viewed at https://rosalindisquith.com/.

Jimmy Johansmeyer (Costume Designer) is excited to be back at CRT for his 16th season! Most recent CRT designs include Pirate Schmirate!, Rough Crossing, Saturday Night Fever, Newsies, The 39 Steps, La Cage Aux Folles and Footloose. Other CRT designs include West Side Story, The Marvelous Wonderettes, The Addams Family, All Shook Up, Buddy!, Cats, Grease, Chicago, Joseph… Dreamcoat, and many others. His work has also been seen at Allenberry Playhouse, Penobscot Theatre Company, Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Gateway Playhouse, Theatreworks New Milford, Stamford Center for the Arts, The Emelin Theatre, Tampa’s Gorilla Theatre, The Theater Barn and at Off-Broadway’s American Theater for Actors. Jimmy is also co-founder of the award-winning Pantochino Productions Inc. in Connecticut.

Eric Behnke (Lighting Designer) is in his 16th year with CRT. He started as a stage manager in 2006 and began designing lights in 2010 with Andrews Brothers. He has also designed Legally Blonde, Appointment with Death (SALT Winner), The 39 Steps (SALT nominee) and others. In 2015, Eric became a year-round employee as Production Manager/ Facilities manager. Outside of Cortland, Eric was on the national tours of The Phantom Tollbooth, Chasing George Washington,and Knuffle Bunny (The Kennedy Center), The Magic School Busand 50 Shades, the Musical Parody (NYC), and toured internationally with Dreamgirls. He has also worked for The Downtown Cabaret Theatre (CT), The Hippodrome Theatre (FL), the Performing Arts Center at SUNY Purchase as well as many Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters. Love to Kris, Rosie and Teddy!

Cory Kosman (Sound Designer) has designed for CRT’s Legally Blonde and Mamma Mia!, The Coercion Theatre Company’s production of The Maybe Pile, and Into the Woods, Thoroughly Modern Mille and Irena’s Vow at Kent State. He is currently the Technical Director for Lake Middle / High School in Uniontown, Ohio. Previously, he has worked as the Audio Supervisor for Cedar Point Amusement Park’s Live Entertainment.

Production Staff

STAGE MANAGEMENT

Meaghan Finlay (Stage Manager/Company Manager) is thrilled to be joining the CRT family this summer as a Stage Manager/Co-Company Manager. She holds a Masters in Arts Management from Rider University, and can be found during the year working for the Princeton University Theater Dept. Favorite theater management credits include: The Lehman Trilogy at the Park Avenue Armory, Ride the Cyclone at McCarter Theatre and Little Shop of Horrors at Bristol Valley Theatre.

Anna Vu (Stage Manager/Company Manager) is a recent graduate from Auburn University with a BFA in theatre management and marketing minor. She is super excited to be returning to CRT for another summer, after being Assistant Stage Manager last summer. (You might remember her from appearing on stage in a few performances of Goin’ To The Chapel!) Some previous stage management credits include: The Wolves, Spring Awakening, Blithe Spirit, The Theory of Relativity, and Big Fish. She would like to thank Kerby and Eric for the opportunity and her friends for their constant support. Much love to KC and Kenny. vuanna.weebly.com

Carli Shapiro (Assistant Stage Manager /Company Manager) is thrilled to be joining CRT this summer. She is a rising senior at Elon University where her credits include Sense and Sensibility, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds her Chameleon Skin, The Cherry Orchard, and Fugitive Songs. Her professional credits include Pippin, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Robber Bridegroom and Ain’t’ Misbehavin’ (Assistant Stage Manager, Timberlake Playhouse). Special thanks to the CRT team for this opportunity!

Tess Vocalina (Assistant Stage Manager /Company Manager) is incredibly excited to be working with CRT. Tess is from Orange, CT, and is a rising junior at Syracuse University pursuing a BFA in Stage Management. Last summer, she was a stage management intern at Summer Theatre of New Canaan in New Canaan, CT. This is her first summer at CRT and she would like to thank everyone here for this amazing opportunity. She would also like to thank her friends and family for their continued love and support throughout her theatre career.

SCENIC DEPARTMENT

Dana White, Jr. (Technical Director), a South Florida native, serves on faculty, and as Technical Coordinator, at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He earned his MFA in Technical Production from Florida State University. Dana is passionate about the elements of artistry, community, and humanity as it relates to storytelling. Previous credits include: Cortland Repertory Theatre, Bristol Valley Theatre, Palm Beach Shakespeare, Sunrise Theater, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Actor’s Rep, and tech for theater departments in the Palm Beach County School District.

Sophie Rodriguez (Assistant Technical Director) recently graduated from Otterbein University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design & Technology, and in the fall will begin pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Technical Direction from Carnegie Mellon University. Previously, she has worked on both musicals and operas as a scenic carpenter at Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, as well as several productions at Theatre Aspen as a scenic apprentice. She would like to thank her family and friends as well as the scenic team here at CRT for their support this season.

Alison Nickerson (Carpenter) is currently in her junior year of studying technical theatre at the University of Arizona, as it has been a dream of hers to work in the industry since she was in middle school. She loves working with her hands to build beautiful scenery that can take the audience to another world.

Patrick Wellman (Carpenter) recently graduated from the College of Wooster with a BFA in Technical Theater and Studio Art. He has been involved in a variety of areas in theater tech, both at college and for many years in his hometown of Ann Arbor, MI. He seeks to continue and expand his involvement in the industry, and eventually move towards a technical director role in the future.

Claire Alderfer (Scenic Shop Intern) is a student at the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH majoring in Theatre and Dance with a minor in Education. She has been highly involved in her community and school theatre programs as both an actor and student director and is now a technician and stage manager at the College of Wooster. She is very excited about her first season with CRT as the Scenic Shop Intern.

PROPS DEPARTMENT

Gregory Pernicone, Jr. (Props Designer)

Ales Munn (Props Artisan) is happy to be joining CRT this summer. He is going into his last year at Virginia Tech for his MFA in Properties Design and Management. When not being part of the props team, he is with his partner along with their two cats Nugget and Noodle. Please enjoy the show!

Alex Webb (Props Department Intern) is a prop artisan and scenic artist from Chapel Hill, NC. They recently graduated from East Carolina University with a BFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Design and Production, and a BA in English. They have professionally worked as a scenic artist at Contemporary American Theatre Festival and North Carolina State University.

COSTUME DEPARTMENT

Andrea Herrera (Costume Shop Supervisor) is a designer from Colombia. After receiving her B.A in Fashion, she worked for four years as a costume designer in multiple dance productions. Currently, she is pursuing an M.F.A in Theatre at the University of Florida, where she has designed Antigone and is in the process of designing her thesis project, Cabaret. She is beyond excited to be part of the summer season at Cortland Repertory Theatre!

Sophie McGuire (Costume Shop Intern) is a recent graduate from University at Buffalo, with BA’s in Asian Studies and Theatre Design/Technology. Sophie’s primary focus in the theatre world is costumes and props, with experience in scenic and lighting. As a costume shop intern with CRT, she hopes to further her knowledge in costume construction and tailoring while growing confidence in her sewing. Sophie is an outgoing individual wanting to meet all sorts of people from around the world.

LIGHTING DEPARTMENT

Connor Beattie (Head Electrician) is excited to be back at CRT, after also working as Head Electrician last summer. He graduated SUNY Cortland in 2020. He is eager to be spending this summer doing what he loves, he would like to thank Eric and Kerby for this amazing opportunity!

SOUND DEPARTMENT

Lex Allenbaugh (Sound Engineer) graduated from West Virginia University with a BFA in Theater Design and Technologies with an emphasis in sound design. Previous experience includes sound designing The Insect Play and Indecent, as well as audio engineering A Christmas Carol, Rent, King Lear, and Sweet Charity. Lex is excited to join CRT for the summer of 2022.

Sponsored by:

Over the River and Through the Woods

By Joe DiPietro
Directed by Dr. Deena Conley

OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS is presented by arrangement with
Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Originally produced on the New York stage by Jonathan Pollard, Bernie Kukoff, Tony Converse and James Hammerstein. Presented at The Berkshire Theatre Festival (Arthur Storch, Artistic Director; Kathy Maguire, Managing Director) on 8/12/97. Produced by The American Stage Company (James N. Vagias, Executive Producer) on 01/10/96. Developed at the 1994 National Playwrights Conference/ Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center (Lloyd Richards, Artistic Director). First produced at The Belmont Italian American Playhouse (Dante Albertie, Artistic Director; Marco Greco, Executive Director) in April 1994.

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Scenic Designer: Jacob Brown
Lighting Designer: Connor Beattie
Costume Designer: Emily Liberatore
Sound Designer: Lex Allenbaugh
Properties Designer:
Production Stage Manager: Anna Vu
Technical Director: Dana White, Jr.
Company Manager: Meaghan N. Finlay
Assistant Stage Mangers: Carli Shapiro & Tess Vocalina

Setting: The Gianelli home in Hoboken, NJ. Time: Most of the play takes place several years ago

CAST (in alphabetical order)

John Cavaseno (Nick Cristano) is delighted and grateful to be returning to CRT. A member of the 2018 intern company, CRT credits include Newsies, Saturday Night Fever, and Our Town. Other favorite regional credits: West Side Story and Joseph…Dreamcoat at the Tibbits Opera House and most recently Bye Bye Birdie at The Palace Theatre. Proud graduate of the SUNY Cortland Performing Arts department. Thanks to his teachers, mentors, and the amazing production team here at CRT! John would like to dedicate this performance to his family. Tengo famiglia. @JohnCavaseno “Shinzo wo Sasageyo”

Bill Coughlin (Nunzio Cristano) always enjoys returning to CRT. Past CRT credits include CRT’s 2005 production of Over the River…for which he won a SALT Award for Best Actor. Other CRT credits: Harry Brock in Born Yesterday, The Music Man, Corpse! The Nerd, Bye Bye Birdie, Barefoot in the Park, and many others. CRT directing credits include The King and I, The Sound of Music and State Fair. Bill established a summer drama program in 1994 which evolved into CRT’s Stars of Tomorrow program. He has an MFA in theatre from Brooklyn College and was a high school English and Drama teacher for 35 years. Bill thanks his wife Michele for her undying love and understanding.

Richard Daniel (Frank Gianelli) is pleased to return to CRT to help celebrate its 50th season, having previously appeared in 1776 (Ben Franklin) and Cards on the Table (Dr. Roberts). More recent credits include Da, Once (APEX National Tour), Mr. Potter, A Wonderful Life (Chaffin’s Barn), Judge Turpin, Sweeny Todd (Springer Opera House), Grimsby, The Little Mermaid (Nashville Children’s Theatre), Arvide, GUYS & DOLLS (Chaffin’s Barn), Stephano, THE TEMPEST (Nashville Children’s Theatre), and Burl/Stanley Sanders, Smoke on the Mountain (Theatres all over the place).

Cara D’Emanuele (Emma Cristano) is thrilled to make her CRT debut this season. She is an actor/director/musical director and master performing arts teacher specializing in musical theatre. Notable performances include Ouiser in Steel Magnolias, Rebecca in Rags, Nurse in Sunday in the Park with George, Violetta in The Rose Tattoo, Louella Parsons in The Cat’s Meow, and Aaronetta Gibbs in Morning’s at Seven. Cara is a proud graduate of Wagner College and Syracuse University.

Catherine Gaffney (Aida Gianelli) is grateful to return to the Little York Pavilion after appearing at CRT in 2018: Our Town and 2019: The Lady With All The Answers. Additional credits include Holes (Lexington Children’s Theatre), The Cake (AthensWest), Clybourne Park (Generic Theatre) and The Nerd (Tidewater Stage). When not on stage, Catherine enjoys recording audiobooks (and other voiceover gigs), teaching acting at Asbury University (KY), cuddling her cats, and hanging out with her talented, ever-supportive husband, Sean. Many thanks to Kerby for inviting me back to play. @cathgaff

Alice K. Johnson (Caitlin O’Hare) CRT debut! Alice is a Brooklyn-based actor/playwright who’s originally from Seattle. Ms. Johnson trained at Fordham University and The London Dramatic Academy and has been working in NYC and Seattle for over a decade. She’s a member of SAG-AFTRA. NYC theater credits include 59E59 Theaters, Dixon Place, The Wild Project, IRT, and The Tank. Alice is currently writing and developing a digital theatrical installation which will be released later this year. She also owns a cooking business called Alice Cooks For You. Find and her at www.alicekjohnson.com

Director

Deena Conley (Director) is the Musical Theatre Coordinator at SUNY Cortland. She has lived and worked all over the country. Directing highlights include Lysistrata, Urinetown, Fool for Love, Chicago, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Twenty-Fifth Annual Spelling Bee, A Little Night Music, next to normal, Sweet Charity, Rabbit Hole, and The Widow’s Blind Date. Deena’s excited to make her CRT debut. Ph.D. in Directing from Wayne State University, MI.

Creators

Joe DiPietro (Playwright) is a playwright and lyricist and his work has received thousands of productions across the country and around the world. He has won two Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award and three Outer Critics Circle Awards. Broadway: Nice Work If You Can Get It starring Matthew Broderick and Kelli O’Hara (10 Tony noms, including Best Book, Best Musical), Memphis (4 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score,) All Shook Up, Living on Love (starring Renee Fleming) Off-Broadway: Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, Clever Little Lies (starring Marlo Thomas) The Toxic Avenger (OCC Award – Best off-Broadway Musical) The Thing About Men (OCC Award – Best off-Broadway Musical), the much-produced comedy, Over the River and Through the Woods, and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (the longest running musical revue in off-Broadway history) .Other recent regional credits include: The Second Mrs. Wilson (Long Wharf Theatre & George Street Playhouse) Hollywood and Chasing the Song (La Jolla Playhouse,) The Last Romance (The Old Globe,) Creating Claire (George Street Playhouse.) His murder mystery, The Art of Murder, won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Play. He sits on the board of Only Make Believe, a charity dedicated to bringing interactive, therapeutic theatre to chronically ill children.

Creative Team

Jacob Brown (Scenic Designer) is a Harlem based Scenic Designer hailing from Bakersfield, California. His work can be seen across the country including Stars Dinner Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, Pioneer Summer Theatre and Theatre Row. He has most recently been working on a New Musical, National Commercials, Film and Television. Excited and eager for theatre to return after Covid-19. Jacobbrowndesign.com

Emily Liberatore (Costume Designer) grew up in Hamburg, NJ. Her love of music and storytelling led her to the world of theatre, and the more she dived into its different concentrations, the more she found to love. It introduced her to costume design, a perfect combination of her skills and passions. Today she is pursuing an MFA in Costume Design at University of Connecticut and an M.S in Energy and Environmental Management at University of Connecticut. She is passionate about applying her environmental studies to her work as a designer by working towards a more sustainable future for the entertainment industry. She holds a BFA in Theater Design and Technology from Syracuse University ‘18. She loves film, theatre, and working to create new worlds and characters in entertainment. www.eliberatoredesign.com

Connor Beattie (Lighting Designer) Please see Connor’s bio under the Lighting Department.

Lex Allenbaugh (Sound Designer) Please see Lex’s bio under the Sound Department.

Production Staff

STAGE MANAGEMENT

SCENIC DEPARTMENT

Claire Alderfer (Scenic Shop Intern) is a student at the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH majoring in Theatre and Dance with a minor in Education. She has been highly involved in her community and school theatre programs as both an actor and student director and is now a technician and stage manager at the College of Wooster. She is very excited about her first season with CRT as the Scenic Shop Intern.

PROPS DEPARTMENT

Gregory Pernicone, Jr. (Props Designer)

COSTUME DEPARTMENT

Andrea Herrera (Costume Shop Supervisor) is a designer from Colombia. After receiving her B.A in Fashion, she worked for four years as a costume designer in multiple dance productions. Currently, she is pursuing an M.F.A in Theatre at the University of Florida, where she has designed Antigone and is in the process of designing her thesis project, Cabaret. She is beyond excited to be part of the summer season at Cortland Repertory Theatre!

LIGHTING DEPARTMENT

SOUND DEPARTMENT

Sponsored by:

Kiss Me, Kate!

Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Book by Sam and Bella Spewack
Directed by Mark Reynolds

KISS ME, KATE is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.
www.concordtheatricals.com

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Music Director: Canaan Harris
Choreographer: Bryan Knowlton
Scenic Designer: Rebekah Clark
Lighting Designer: Jessica Winward
Costume Designer: Emily N. Brink
Sound Designer: Cory Kosman
Properties Designer: Gregory Pernicone, Jr.
Production Stage Manager: Meaghan N. Finlay
Technical Director: Dana White, Jr.
Company Manager: Anna Vu
Assistant Stage Mangers: Carli Shapiro & Tess Vocalina

Musicians for this production: Stephen Calkins (Trombone), Sam Forrester (Reeds), Dennis Goettel (Guitar), Erica Moiser (Drums/Percussion), Jake Nicolini (Trumpet).

Scenes & Musical Numbers

Act One

Scene 1: The Stage of Ford’s Theatre, Baltimore

Another Op’nin, Another Show – The Company

Scene 2: The Backstage Corridor

Why Can’t You Behave? – Lois and Bill

Scene 3: Dressing Rooms of Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham

Wunderbar – Fred and Lilli

So In Love – Lilli

Scene 4: A Market Square in Padua

We Open in Venice – Katharine, Petruchio, Bianca and Lucentio

Scene 5: A Market Square in Padua

Tom, Dick or Harry – Bianca, Gremio, Hortensio and Lucentio

I’ve Come to Wife it Wealthily in Padua – Petruchio and Men

I Hate Men – Katharine

Scene 6: The Backstage Corridor

Scene 7: Dressing Rooms of Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham

Scene 8: The Market Square in Padua

Kiss Me, Kate – Petruchio, Katharine, and Ensemble

ACT II

Scene 1: The Theatre Alley, Baltimore

Too Darn Hot – Paul and Ensemble

Scene 2: Before the Taming of the Shrew Show Curtain

Scene 3: The Main Room in Petruchio’s House

Where is the Life that Late I Led? – Petruchio

Scene 4: The Backstage Corridor

Always True to You in My Fashion – Lois

Scene 5: Dressing Rooms of Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham

Scene 6: The Backstage Corridor

Bianca – Bill and Ensemble

So in Love (Reprise) – Fred

Scene 7: Before the Taming of the Shrew Show Curtain

Brush Up Your Shakespeare – The Two Men

Scene 8: The Market Square in Padua

I Am Ashamed That People Are So Simple – Katharine

Kiss Me, Kate (Reprise) – Katherine, Petruchio and Ensemble

CAST (in alphabetical order)

Dereck Atwater (Bill Calhoun / Lucentio) is an up-and-coming performer of many trades from musical theatre, dance, and voice-over, whose passion for the arts can be seen in everything he does. Originally from Maryland, he graduated from The Baltimore Actors’ Theatre Conservatory (‘18), where he discovered his love and appreciation for the performing arts. He has spent the last four years at Nazareth College training and honing his skills to better communicate and share stories with audiences. “Special thank you to everyone who has been an integral part of my training, everyone at CRT, and most importantly my family!” *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. www.dereckatwater.com

Grace Brad (Ensemble) (she/they) is an upcoming junior Musical Theatre major at Rider University, and they are thrilled to be joining CRT this summer! Professional credits include Evita (Lyric Stage, TX). Rider credits include Pippin (Dance Captain/Swing), Fun Home (Alison), and Cabaret (Ensemble). Grace is a Broadway World Next Onstage Dance College finalist and an Equity Membership Candidate. *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company.

Shaun Collins (Hortensio) is thrilled to be making his CRT debut! He grew up in Hingham, MA and is pursuing a BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University. Most recently he was in Syracuse Stage / SU Drama’s co-production of Matilda (Nigel). He would like to express his gratitude to his friends, teachers, and most importantly his parents for all their love, support, and wisdom. *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. IG: @_shauncollins_

Conley Egnor (Cab Driver / Priest) is thrilled to be part of CRT’s production of Kiss Me Kate! Conley is a sophomore musical theatre sophomore from the University at Buffalo, starring most recently in their production of Violet as the Preacher. Conley would like to thank director Mark Reynolds for this incredible experience, and Kerby Thompson for this opportunity. Instagram: @conleye_

Briana Gantsweg (Lilli Vanessi / Katharine) is elated to return to CRT, having last been seen here as Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday and Natasha Navrátilova in Rough Crossing. National Tours: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Phoebe D’Ysquith), A Christmas Story: the musical (Mother). Regional credits: Beauty and the Beast, Annie, and School of Rock (Tuacahn Amphitheatre), Murder on the Orient Express and Kinky Boots (The Gateway), The Odd Couple and All Shook Up (New London Barn Playhouse), and Austen’s Pride (ACT of CT). Rays of gratitude to Kerby Thompson, Mark Reynolds, Nathaniel Shaw, Avalon Artists Group, and the entire team at CRT!

Ellie Kallay (Ensemble)is excited to be performing live again! She is a recent graduate of Syracuse University’s Musical Theater Program. Ellie is from Bloomfield, NJ and is happy to be back upstate for the summer after moving to NYC. Recent credits include Orange Girl in Shout! The Mod Musical at SU Drama, originating the role of Emily Roebling in the workshop of The Bridge, and originating the role of Sam in The Sundogs at Planet Connection Theater Festival NYC. Special thanks to my teachers, my family, and my cat for getting me this far. *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. Follow @ellie_kallay to see what’s next!

Rob Lescarbeau (Pops (Stage Doorman) / Harrison Howell) is thrilled to be participating in live theater once again and is grateful to Kerby and Mark for the opportunity to be a part of a classic Broadway show with such a talented company. Rob was last seen on the CRT stage in 2019’s Legally Blonde. Previous CRT credits include Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, A Few Good Men, West Side Story, and Newsies. When not performing, Rob is an English teacher and theater director for Quirk’s Players at G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton, New York.

Mikey LoBalsamo (Second Man) is thrilled to be back at CRT this summer, inside! You may remember seeing him last summer (outside) in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged or Pirate Schmirate!. Favorite regional roles include George (Same Time, Next Year), Tateh (Ragtime), Harry (Mamma Mia), Mr. Green (Clue) and Rudy the Voice (A Bronx Tale). He would like to thank the entire cast and crew for another wonderful experience.

Emily Madison (Lois Lane / Bianca) received her BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University this May. While at Syracuse, she appeared as Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown, and in Working and On the Lake on the Department of Drama Main Stage. Also at SU, she appeared with the Black Box Players in Next to Normal, and as Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, she now resides in New York City. *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. Instagram: @emmyschmeds

Jahmar Ortiz (Fred Graham / Petruchio) Artist based in Brooklyn, NY. They graduated from Ithaca College’s BFA Acting program in 2021 and are currently attending NYU for their Masters in Drama Therapy. Jahmar was an intern with CRT in 2018 (Saturday Night Fever, Newsies, Our Town) and is happy to be back at the pavilion! Sending warmth and compassion to the CRT community. @godseaortiz

Ellie Pearlman (Ensemble) is thrilled to spend the summer at CRT! Ellie was born and raised in Southern California and is now a junior musical theatre student at Rider University. Some previous credits include Miss Bingley/Mrs. Gardiner in Pride and Prejudice (Rider University), God/Evil/Dancer in Everybody (Rider University), Viola De Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love (Saugus Theatre), Ariel Moore in Footloose (Saugus Theatre), and Tootles in Peter Pan (The Canyon Theatre Guild). *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company.

Derek Emerson Powell (First Man) is thrilled to be making his CRT debut. Regional credits include RedHouse Arts Center, Hangar Theater, The Cherry Arts Collective, and Syracuse Stage. He most recently appeared in the world premiere of Love is Love is Love: The Musical at Feinstein’s/54 Below. Derek is a member of the Building Company Theater ensemble, which devises original plays and facilitates workshops in the Syracuse community. He would like to thank his coach Dominick, as well as his family for all their love and support.

Weston Pytel (Ensemble)(he/him) is from Meriden, CT, and is currently a Junior B.F.A Musical Theatre Major at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Credits include Mark Cohen (RENT), Charlie Chaplin (Chaplin The Musical), and most recently The Baker in Into The Woods directed by Broadway veteran Hunter Foster. Weston is grateful to be with CRT this summer and for this to be his first professional performance experience! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. To find more about Weston check out: @westonpytel, westonpytel.com

Maclain Rhine (Paul)is thrilled to be spending his summer with CRT. He is a junior musical theatre major at Rider University. Credits include: Cabaret (Dance Captain/Swing), Polaroid Stories (Narcissus), Cats (Mistoffelees), and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Stanley Jerome). Special thanks to my Mom, grandparents, and sisters. This is for you! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. Socials: @rhinemaclain

Alissa Rojas (Hattie) (she/her) is extremely excited to start her journey here at CRT! Alissa is a Long Island native and a recent graduate of SUNY Fredonia with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Some of her previous credits include Rent (Maureen), Songs for a New World (Woman 2), and West Side Story (Maria). She wants to thank her supportive family, friends, and amazing boyfriend, Damian for everything they have done and all the endless support! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. IG: @Alissarojas

Mark Bennett Roth (Harry Trevor / Baptista) appeared at CRT 31 years ago in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and he’s thrilled to be back for this 50th Anniversary season! Credits include: Androcles and the Lion (Syracuse Stage); A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre); Titus Andronicus, Pericles (Shakespeare Festival of New Jersey); Peter and the Starcatcher, End Days, Odd Couple, When We are Married, Dial M for Murder, The Lonesome West, It Runs in the Family, A Flea in her Ear, Much Ado About Nothing, 1776 (Cider Mill Playhouse), and Death and the Maiden (Know Theatre). Thank you, Lisa.

Rashawn Sangster (Gremio) is a Brooklyn, NY native and a recent graduate of SUNY Cortland’s Musical Theatre program. He is very excited to make his regional theatre debut at CRT for its 50th season this summer. Some favorite credits include being a part of Big Fish and Holiday Inn at SUNY Cortland. He would like to thank the people of CRT and his friends and family for always being a great support in his life. *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. IG: @rashawnsangster

Reese Stojanovski (Ensemble) is a rising junior BFA musical theatre major at Nazareth College and was born and raised in Rochester, NY. Some of her favorite credits include, Into the Woods (The Witch), Pippin (Fastrada), Something Rotten! (ensemble & U/S Bea) and selections from Chicago (June). She is so beyond grateful and excited to be working with CRT this summer and would like to thank all of her family, friends, and mentors for all of their love and support. Enjoy the show! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. @reesestojanovski; www.reesestojanovski.com

Directors / Choreographers

Mark Reynolds (Director) Cortland Repertory Theatre directing credits: Born Yesterday, Newsies (SALT Award for Best Musical 2019), The Rat Pack Lounge, Footloose, The Kitchen Witches, The House at Pooh Corner, Dorothy meets Alice, The Velveteen Rabbit and Pinocchio! During CRT’s intermission season Mark was the lead collaborator on Stories… and Ghosts in the Park. CRT costume design credits: The Lady with all the Answers, A Chorus Line, Miracle on South Division Street. Mr. Reynolds is the resident Costume Designer for the Performing Arts Dept at SUNY Cortland. Other directing credits: The Children’s Hour, Top Girls, The Laramie Project, Sunday in the Park with George, The Glass Menagerie, The Crucible and The Rocky Horror Show. He has had the privilege of being an improv instructor for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stonybrook University. Mark would like to thank and dedicate this full circle moment to Marie Allen King, who gave him the role of the Cab Driver in her 1984 production of Kiss Me Kate here at CRT.

Bryan Knowlton (Choreographer) Bryan’s extensive career has spanned from dancing on Broadway in the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line to appearing in multiple national tours, as well as on film and TV. He is an award-winning choreographer with credits that include Cabaret, Chicago (NH Theatre Award “Best Choreographer”, ONSTAGE Theatre Award Nomination “Best Choreography”), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Award “Outstanding Choreography”), Beehive! (Berkshire Theatre Award nomination “Best Choreographer”), Saturday Night Fever, Mamma Mia! here at CRT (SALT Award nomination “Best Choreographer”), Curtains (BroadwayWorld Award Nomination “Best Choreography”), Gypsy (NH Theatre Award nomination “Best Choreographer”), A Chorus Line, Pippin, Damn Yankees, The Rocky Horror Show, Urinetown, Hairspray, Rent, Godspell, Guys and Dolls, 9 to 5, Oliver!, West Side Story, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hair, La Cage aux Folles, Smokey Joe’s Café, A Christmas Story and A Christmas Carol. For more information visit bryanknowlton.org.

Canaan J. Harris (Music Director) is a NYC based composer/pianist/musical director with a Master’s in Music Composition from Binghamton University. He is currently on the composer track with the Musical Theatre Writers Collective headed by Sam Carner. Having played keyboard books in Saturday Night Fever, Newsies, Legally Blonde, and Mamma Mia here at CRT, he is excited to be back this time as music director!

Creators

Cole Porter (Music and Lyrics) was born in Peru, Indiana in 1891 and died in Hollywood 73 years later. In between, he wrote some of the most memorable songs ever heard on stage or screen, among them “Night and Day,” “Begin the Beguine,” “You’re The Top,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “Love For Sale,” and “Just One of Those Things.” During the 1930s, his most productive decade, he provided a series of sparkling scores for such hits as Gay Divorce, Anything Goes, Jubilee, Born to Dance and Red, Hot and Blue. Despite a crippling riding accident in 1937 which left him in constant pain, he achieved his greatest commercial success in 1948, with Kiss Me, Kate. His name remains synonymous with wit and sophistication to this day.

Samuel Spewack (1899-1971) and Bella Spewack (1899-1990) (Book) met while working as journalists and married in 1922. Bella’s youth was chronicled in Streets: A Memoir of the Lower East Side (1995, Feminist Press). Their first play, Solitaire Man, premiered in 1926. Clear All Wires (1932) became Leave It To Me! (1938), their first collaboration with Cole Porter. They collaborated on 20 films, including My Favorite Wife (1940) and Weekend at the Waldorf (1945). Kiss Me, Kate (1948) won the Spewacks the first Tony® Award ever for the book of a musical. Their other theatre projects included Boy Meets Girl (1935), Two Blind Mice (1949), My Three Angels (1953), and Once There Was a Russian (1961).

Creative Team

Rebekah Clark (Scenic Designer) (they/she) is thrilled to be collaborating with the CRT team! Rebekah’s scenic design work has been previously seen at the Hangar Theatre Company, Arizona Repertory Theatre, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, and American Blues Theatre. They graduated in May of 2021 from the University of Arizona with an MFA in Scenic Design, and are currently based in Milwaukee, WI.

Emily N. Brink (Costume Designer) has followed her career to a total of nine different US states, but she currently lives and works in Chicago as a costume designer and assistant designer for theatre, film, television, and opera. Companies of note that she has worked with include Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the DePaul University Theatre School, Hangar Theatre Company, Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company, Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, the Independent Spirit Awards, and many more.

Jessica Winward (Lighting Designer) is excited to be making her design debut at CRT this summer! She has continually worked in the theatre industry since 2016 holding many hats in various companies and colleges across Rhode Island including Production Manager, Lighting Designer, and Stage Manager amongst others. Jessica graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2019 with a B.S. in Animal Science and a B.F.A. in Theatre and is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Lighting Design at Carnegie Mellon University.

Production Staff

STAGE MANAGEMENT

SCENIC DEPARTMENT

Alison Nickerson (Carpenter) is currently in her junior Claire Alderfer (Scenic Shop Intern) is a student at the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH majoring in Theatre and Dance with a minor in Education. She has been highly involved in her community and school theatre programs as both an actor and student director and is now a technician and stage manager at the College of Wooster. She is very excited about her first season with CRT as the Scenic Shop Intern.year of studying technical theatre at the University of Arizona, as it has been a dream of hers to work in the industry since she was in middle school. She loves working with her hands to build beautiful scenery that can take the audience to another world.

PROPS DEPARTMENT

Gregory Pernicone, Jr. (Props Designer)

COSTUME DEPARTMENT

LIGHTING DEPARTMENT

SOUND DEPARTMENT

Sponsored by:

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express

By Agatha Christie
Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Kerby Thompson

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

This play was originally staged by McCarter Theater Center, Princeton, NJ.
Emily Mann, Artistic Director; Timothy J. Shields, Managing Director.
The production subsequently transferred to Hartford Stage, Hartford, CT.
Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director; Michael Stotts, Managing Director.

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Scenic Designer: Darin V. Himmerich
Lighting Designer: Matthew Webb
Costume Designer: Wendi R. Zea
Sound Designer: Seth Asa Sengel
Properties Designer: Taylor Barr
Production Stage Manager: Melanie Ernst
Technical Director: Dana White, Jr.
Company Manager: Joshua Stenger
Assistant Stage Manger: Talene Pogharian
Deck Crew: Kate Lee

Setting: Most of the play takes place aboard the Orient Express as it travels from Istanbul to Western Europe
Time: 1934 Act One: Mid-day to morning Act Two: Morning to mid-day

CAST (in alphabetical order)

Danny Adams (Colonel Arbuthnot) is thrilled to be making his case that he did not murder anyone in his debut show at CRT! Off-Broadway: The Office: A Musical Parody. Regional: Ivoryton Playhouse, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Rocky Mountain Rep, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Palace Theatre. B.F.A in Music Theatre with Honors from Illinois Wesleyan University. Danny wouldn’t be where he is today without the love and support of his family, friends, and Hannah and cannot thank them enough. Huge thanks to Kerby for this wonderful opportunity and to Brian and Travis at the Hell’s Kitchen Agency. dannyeadams.com @dannyeadams.

Michael Antico (Hercule Poirot) gratefully returns to CRT for his third season after 2018’s Newsies (Wiesel) and 2019’s Born Yesterday (Eddie Brock) for which he received a SALT nomination. He voices Isaac in the sci-fi podcast Windfall by Rogue Dialogue entering its second season. Michael has been seen locally in The Rev Theatre Company’s From Here To Eternity (Galovitch) and Crazy For You (Everett), and Hangar Theatre’s staging of You Can’t Take It With You (Mr. De Pinna). Offstage, Michael loves to read, stargaze, yell at sports, and is an avid hunter of beach glass. Many thanks to all who made this happen!

Bill Coughlin (Samuel Ratchett) always enjoys returning to CRT. Past CRT credits include CRT’s 2005 production of Over the River…for which he won a SALT Award for Best Actor. Other CRT credits: Harry Brock in Born Yesterday, The Music Man, Corpse! The Nerd, Bye Bye Birdie, Barefoot in the Park, and many others. CRT directing credits include The King and I, The Sound of Music and State Fair. Bill established a summer drama program in 1994 which evolved into CRT’s Stars of Tomorrow program. He has an MFA in theatre from Brooklyn College and was a high school English and Drama teacher for 35 years. Bill thanks his wife Michele for her undying love and understanding.

Cara D’Emanuele (Princess Dragomiroff) is thrilled to make her CRT debut this season. She is an actor/director/musical director and master performing arts teacher specializing in musical theatre. Notable performances include Ouiser in Steel Magnolias, Rebecca in Rags, Nurse in Sunday in the Park with George, Violetta in The Rose Tattoo, Louella Parsons in The Cat’s Meow, and Aaronetta Gibbs in Morning’s at Seven. Cara is a proud graduate of Wagner College and Syracuse University.

Catherine Gaffney (Helen Hubbard) is grateful to return to the Little York Pavilion after appearing at CRT in 2018: Our Town and 2019: The Lady With All The Answers. Additional credits include Holes (Lexington Children’s Theatre), The Cake (AthensWest), Clybourne Park (Generic Theatre) and The Nerd (Tidewater Stage). When not on stage, Catherine enjoys recording audiobooks (and other voiceover gigs), teaching acting at Asbury University (KY), cuddling her cats, and hanging out with her talented, ever-supportive husband, Sean. Many thanks to Kerby for inviting me back to play. @cathgaff

Anna Gion (Countess Andrenyi) is a bi-coastal actor trained in both contemporary and classical work. Most recently, Anna was seen Off-Broadway in Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest and Sleepy Hollow the Musical. Regionally, Anna has performed with The REV Theatre Company, NJ Rep, and Luna Stage. Some West Coast credits include Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bella in Lost in Yonkers, Emilia in Othello, and Natasha in Chekhov’s The Proposal. More information can be found at www.annagion.com. Anna is honored to be making her CRT debut!

Alice K. Johnson (Mary Debenham) CRT debut! Alice is a Brooklyn-based actor/playwright who’s originally from Seattle. Ms. Johnson trained at Fordham University and The London Dramatic Academy and has been working in NYC and Seattle for over a decade. She’s a member of SAG-AFTRA. NYC theater credits include 59E59 Theaters, Dixon Place, The Wild Project, IRT, and The Tank. Alice is currently writing and developing a digital theatrical installation which will be released later this year. She also owns a cooking business called Alice Cooks For You. Find and her at www.alicekjohnson.com

Mikey LoBalsamo (Hector MacQueen) is thrilled to be back at CRT this summer, inside! You may remember seeing him last summer (outside) in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged or Pirate Schmirate!. Favorite regional roles include George (Same Time, Next Year), Tateh (Ragtime), Harry (Mamma Mia), Mr. Green (Clue) and Rudy the Voice (A Bronx Tale). He would like to thank the entire cast and crew for another wonderful experience.

Brennan Lowery (Michel the Conductor) is making his debut at CRT and is thrilled to be part of their 50th season! He recently finished a run of the new play Cherry House (Garland) as part of the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival at Theatre Row. You can see Brennan regularly on Comedy Central or live with The Armory improv house teams. For my loving family that supports me day in and day out, B&L.

Weston Pytel (Head Waiter) (he/him) is from Meriden, CT, and is currently a Junior B.F.A Musical Theatre Major at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Credits include Mark Cohen (RENT), Charlie Chaplin (Chaplin The Musical), and most recently The Baker in Into The Woods directed by Broadway veteran Hunter Foster. Weston is grateful to be with CRT this summer and for this to be his first professional performance experience! *A member of the CRT 2022 Performing Intern Company. To find more about Weston check out: @westonpytel, westonpytel.com

Rebecca Tucker (Greta Ohlsson) is thrilled to be at CRT! New York: New Victory Theatre (Caps for Sale the Musical) Regional: Ford’s Theatre (Widow Lincoln), Portland Stage (Or,), Oregon Cabaret (Moon Over Buffalo), Sierra Repertory (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Sharon Playhouse (Barefoot in the Park), Interlakes Theatre (Gypsy), Broward Stage Door (Nice Work If You Can Get It), Okoboji Summer Rep (Little Women the Musical), Great American Melodrama (Steel Magnolias, Unnecessary Farce), Winnipesaukee Playhouse (Miss Julie, The Importance of Being Earnest, Cabaret, Rocky Horror, Boeing Boeing). Tours: Caps for Sale, Christmas Carol. Rebecca holds a BFA from California State University, Fullerton. Love you, Nick <3 www.rebecca-tucker.com

Nicholas Wilder (Monsieur Bouc) is thrilled to be returning to CRT for his 7th summer! Previous shows: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), The Ladies Man, Women in Jeopardy, The 39 Steps, Sleuth and Rumors. Off-Broadway: Major Barbara (The Pearl Theatre) Regional: Centennial Casting (Seven Angels), Equivocation (Virginia Rep), Peter and the Starcatcher (Winni Playhouse), Angels in America (Richmond Triangle Playhouse), The 39 Steps (Laguna Playhouse, Forestburgh, Surflight) and Living in Exile (theatre KAPOW) for which he won the Best Actor New Hampshire Theatre Award. Tours: The 39 Steps (Natl. Tour), A Christmas Carol (Natl. Tour), The Learned Ladies, Richard II (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ). Many thanks to Kerby for this opportunity and to his wife Rebecca for her constant love and support. www.nicholaswilder.com

Director

Kerby Thompson (Director) has served as CRT’s Producing Artistic Director since 2000. During his time here, CRT has accomplished two capital campaigns: an elevator/sprinkler system installed at the Pavilion in 2005, and CRT Downtown opened in 2015 for winter shows and events. Kerby handles grant writing, publicity, play selection, casting and show booking for CRT. Directing highlights: Our Town (SALT Award), Saturday Night Fever (SALT Award), Mama Mia!, Million Dollar Quartet, 1776, Buddy!, Unnecessary Farce, and others. CRT acting highlights: Billy Flynn, Chicago (SALT Award); David Selznick, Moonlight and Magnolias (SALT Award); Michael Minetti, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (SALT nom); Harold Hill, The Music Man (SALT nom); Harold, The Full Monty and others. Pre-Cortland, he lived in New York City as an actor/singer/dancer/temp administrative assistant, director and choreographer. Performance highlights credits include Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Loni Anderson and The Best Little Whorehouse… with Barbara Eden. He said Hello to Dolly! and Bye Bye to Birdie on two national tours, and performed in two international tours with Dolly! and Anything Goes to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

Creators

Agatha Christie (Author)(1890-1976) is the author not only of The Mousetrap, the longest running stage production in history, but also Witness for the Prosecution and And Then There Were None, to name but a few of her greatest stage successes. Her novels have sold more than 2 billion copies around the world, and she is only outsold by the Bible and Shakespeare. Born in 1890 in Torquay, Devon, England, to an American father and English mother, she wrote her first play, Black Coffee, (the only play in which she chose to feature Poirot) in 1930, having been disappointed by the way The Murder of Roger Ackroyd had been adapted into Alibi in 1928. She adapted her bestselling novel And Then There Were None for stage in 1943, giving it a different ending, followed by, in quick succession, Appointment with Death (1945), Murder on the Nile (1946) and The Hollow (1951). With The Mousetrap (1952), Witness for the Prosecution (1953), and Spider’s Web (1954), she became the only female playwright to have three plays running in the West End at the same time. Later plays include Towards Zero (1956) co-adapted with Gerald Verner, Verdict (1958) possibly her most unusual play, Go Back for Murder (1960), and Rule of Three (1962) a series of three one-act plays. After a hugely successful career and a wonderful life, Ms. Christie died peacefully on 12 January 1976. Christie’s own account of her life, An Autobiography, was published after her death in 1977. Agatha Christie Limited (ACL) has been managing the literary and media rights to Agatha Christie’s works around the world since 1955, when the company was set up by Christie herself. Recent theatre collaborations include the critically-acclaimed Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall in London, working with Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions, and Murder on the Orient Express adapted by Ken Ludwig, with productions at McCarter Theatre in Princeton and Hartford, Connecticut, USA. ACL also works closely with international theatre companies developing in-territory stage productions.

Ken Ludwig (Playwright/Adapter) has had six shows on Broadway, seven in London’s West End, and many of his works have become a standard part of the American repertoire. His 28 plays and musicals have been performed in over 30 countries in more than 20 languages and are produced throughout the United States every night of the year. Lend Me a Tenor won two Tony Awards and was called “one of the classic comedies of the 20th century” by The Washington Post. Crazy For You was on Broadway for five years and won the Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Musical. In addition, he has won the Edgar Award for Best Mystery of the Year, two Laurence Olivier Awards, two Helen Hayes Awards, and the Edwin Forrest Award for Contributions to the American Theater. His plays have starred, among others, Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Tony Shaloub, Joan Collins and Hal Holbrook. His stage version of Murder on the Orient Express was written expressly at the request of the Agatha Christie Estate, and his latest play, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, won the 2020 Charles MacArthur Award for Best New Play of the Year and is optioned for Broadway. His book How To Teach Your Children Shakespeare, published by Penguin Random House, won the Falstaff Award for Best Shakespeare Book of the Year, and his essays are published in the Yale Review. He is a graduate of Harvard and Cambridge and is a frequent guest speaker for groups as varied as The Oxford-Cambridge Society, The Jane Austen Society of North America, The Folger Shakespeare Library, and The Baker Street Irregulars. For more information, see his website at www.kenludwig.com.

Creative Team

Darin V. Himmerich (Scenic Designer) returns to CRT after designing the sets for Saturday Night Fever and La Cage Aux Folles in previous seasons. Darin teaches at the University of Nebraska – Kearney where he is the Director of Theatre as well as Scenic Designer and Technical Director. His most recent progessional designs include Mauritius and Unnecessary Farce for Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Inspecting Carol and All Shook Up for The Black Hills Playhouse, and Red and Tuesdays with Morrie for Crane River Theatre. Prior to that he spent time in Hollywood working in TV and film production.

Wendi R. Zea (Costume Designer) is Associate Professor and Resident Costume Designer at Southern Illinois University, where designs include Sunday in the Park with George, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, as well as her fourth production of The Jungle Book. In 2018 she designed costumes for the national tour of a new holiday musical, Noël. Favorite shows designed at CRT are too numerous to mention but include 1776 and several Agatha Christie mysteries. She has designed for a number of theaters, but CRT remains her longest association, going back to 2001.

Seth Asa Sengel (Sound Designer) is a lifelong listener from the backwoods of Southern Maine, celebrating a terrific ten years making art with his friends at CRT. Seth has spent over a quarter-century as a performing artist, and is blessed with a wonderful life among creators and visionaries. For more information on Seth Asa, visit www.sethasa.com. Please be kind to yourselves, and to one another. Much love to Mary Lana, Hazel, and Boo.

Matthew Webb (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to return for his third season at CRT, having previously designed Mamma Mia!, Sleuth, and Our Town. In Central New York, Matt’s been nominated for two SALT Awards for his work with CRT, and he recently lit The Play That Goes Wrong at Syracuse Stage. Elsewhere, Matt’s designed with Arden Theatre, Seattle Rep, Asolo Rep, ZACH Theatre, San Jose Rep, Arkansas Rep, Phoenix Theatre, and many others. Matt teaches stage design at Mississippi State University and holds an MFA from the University of Washington.

Production Staff

STAGE MANAGEMENT

SCENIC DEPARTMENT

Patrick Wellman (Carpenter) recently graduated from the College of Wooster with a BFA in Technical Theater and Studio Art. He has been involved in a variety of areas in theater tech, both at college and for many years in his hometown of Ann Arbor, MI. He seeks to continue and expand his involvement in the industry, and eventually move towards a technical director role in the future.

PROPS DEPARTMENT

Taylor Barr (Props Designer) is a woodworker turned theatre practitioner. He attends Mississippi State University for two degrees, one in math and the other theatre. He writes plays, designs props, hosts a radio show, manages community events, and is here to have fun. This upcoming Autumn he is producing his second play, “The Coyote”, a horror play.

COSTUME DEPARTMENT

LIGHTING DEPARTMENT

SOUND DEPARTMENT

Full Season Benefactors

2022 Summer Playbill

HAIR

Musical Numbers

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Directors / Choreographers

Creators

Creative Team

Production Staff

Over the River and Through the Woods

CAST (in alphabetical order)

Director

Creators

Creative Team

Production Staff

Kiss Me, Kate!

Scenes & Musical Numbers

CAST (in alphabetical order)

Directors / Choreographers

Creators

Creative Team

Production Staff

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express

CAST (in alphabetical order)

Director

Creators

Creative Team

Production Staff

Contact Cortland Repertory Theatre Box Office & Administrative Office

Downtown Cortland Theater

Summer Theater at Little York Lake

Quicklinks

CRT IS SPONSORED IN PART BY: