Download Five Little Monkeys - Adventure Theatre MTC

ADVENTURE THEATRE MTC PRESENTS
ERNIE NOLAN (Playwright), a proud graduate of both the University of Michigan Musical Theatre Program (BFA Musical Theatre) and The Theatre School at DePaul University
(MFA Directing), is a nationally and internationally recognized playwright dedicated
to new works and re-imagining classic stories for young audiences. His work has been
featured both at such theatres as Emerald City Theatre, Magik Theatre in San Antonio,
First Stage in Milwaukee, Walnut Street in Philadelphia, Orlando Rep, Children’s Theatre
of Charlotte, and The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. He has written commissions
for Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo, MD, La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, CA, and The
Milwaukee Zoological Society. His anti bullying play Beasts, published and licensed
by Dramatic Publishing has had over 40 productions across the country. He currently
serves as the Vice-President of Theatre for Young Audiences USA., Ernie has been awarded an Anne Shaw Fellowship and was selected in 2011 as one of DePaul University’s “14 Alumni Under 40.” He is a proud member
of the Theatre Studies faculty at The Theatre School at DePaul University and the Artistic Director of Emerald
CIty Theatre in Chicago, IL.
EILEEN CHRISTELOW (Author) was born in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 1943. As a
child, books were a huge part of Christelow’s life: they were always presents for her
birthday and Christmas, as well as when she was sick. Much of her childhood was
spent reading and rereading them. In high school, Christelow wrote stories for the
school magazine, and planned on majoring in English in college. Instead, when Christelow entered her freshman year at college she became interested in art history and
eventually found her true passion in photography. Christelow received her B.A. degree
from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965, and soon after she began photographing
buildings for architects and shooting photo essays on urban life for small magazines.
While earning a living as a photographer and graphic designer, Christelow began
experimenting with writing and illustrating children’s picture books. Her first published book, Henry and the
Red Stripes, was inspired by a poster she created for a science museum. Many of Christelow’s books, including
Don’t Wake Up Mama!, Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree, and Henry and the Dragon, have been named
Children’s Choice Books of the Year by the Children’s Book Council and the International Reading Association.
A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Christelow has published over a dozen
books and her photographs have appeared in publications such as Home, Progressive Architecture, and the
New York Times Book Review. Christelow lives in Vermont.
MICHAEL J. BOBBITT (Producing Artistic Director) of Adventure Theatre MTC has
directed, choreographed and performed at many theatres in the DC region, including Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre Society, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature
Theatre, Metro Stage, Rorshach Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth
Theatre Company, Center Stage, Roundhouse Theatre, The Music Center at Strathmore,
The Kennedy Center, The Helen Hayes Awards and the Washington National Opera.
His national and international credits include the NY Musical Theatre Festival, Mel Tillis
2001, Jefferson Performing Arts Center, and 1996 Olympics. He studied creative writing and music at Susquehanna University and theater and dance at The Washington
Ballet, The Dance Theatre of Harlem, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy
and NY University’s Tisch School of the Arts (Cap 21). He is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America
and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. As a writer, his work has been accepted in the 2006
NYC International Fringe Festival, The New York Musical Theatre Festival and has received grants from the
National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Producer-Writer Initiative, The Creative Projects Grant from the Arts and
Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Maryland State Arts Council and the Puffin Foundation. Michael
has taught theater and dance at George Washington University, Catholic University, Montgomery College,
Howard University, and the Washington Ballet. Michael was co-chair of Young Non-Profit Network DC- Executive Director Roundtable, NAACP chair for his son’s school in Montgomery County, a Commissioner for the
Montgomery County Commission on Children and Youth.
Recommended books by Eileen Christelow
Five Little Monkeys
Directed By Karin Abromaitis w
BASED ON:
FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS© JUMPING ON THE BED
By Eileen Christelow
Copywright© 1989 by Eileen Christelow
FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS© GO SHOPPING
By Eileen Christelow
Copywright© 1989 by Eileen Christelow
FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS© BAKE A BIRTHDAY CAKE
By Eileen Christelow
Copywright© 1989 by Eileen Christelow
FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS© SITTING IN A TREE
By Eileen Christelow
Copywright© 1989 by Eileen Christelow
Adapted with Special Arrangement by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS© is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, and the monkey logo is a trademark of Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
CAST
Mama . .................................................................................................................................................................Haely Jardas
Monkey 1.................................................................................................................................................. Michael Litchfield
Monkey 2.......................................................................................................................................................... Katie Culligan
Monkey 3..............................................................................................................................................................Ryan Sellers
Monkey 4.........................................................................................................................................Jessica Shearer-Wilson
Monkey 5...........................................................................................................................................................Tyler Herman
Female Swing............................................................................................................................................. Karen O’Connell
Male Swing................................................................................................................................................Moses Rodrigues
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director.....................................................................................................................................................Karin Abromaitisw
Playwright.............................................................................................................................................................Ernie Nolan
Scenic Designer..................................................................................................................................................... Rob Berry
Costumes..............................................................................................................................................................Katie Touart
Props Designer....................................................................................................................................................Dre Moore°
Lighting Designer........................................................................................................................................Jason Arnold l
Sound Designer...........................................................................................................................................Neil McFadden
Stage Manager..........................................................................................................................................Will Pommerinig
Sound Engineer................................................................................................................................... Eric Wallace Brown
Master Electrician....................................................................................................................................John Rose-Caron
Adventure Theatre MTC is supported by a grant from the Arts and
Humanities Council of Montgomery County and a grant from the Maryland
State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural
community where the arts thrive.
ATMTC WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING
FOR THEIR SUPPORT:
DLA Piper, The Bean Bag, Bruce Douglas, Mike Horan,
Stephen Baydush, Fitzgerald Auto Malls
° Adventure Theatre MTC Resident Artist.
w This Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a
national theatrical labor union.
lRepresented by the United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 of the International
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
ADVENTURE THEATRE MTC STAFF
Michael J. Bobbitt
Janet Butler Berry
Mel Bieler
Melynda Burdette
Rumana Chaudhuri
Tom Eisman
Madeleine Evans
Toni Goldberg
Kathryn Hnatio
Stori Lauritzen
Lacey Nicolosi
Chelle Parsky
Amanda Russell
Jared Shortmeier
Martita Slayden
Producing Artistic Director
Managing Director
Assistant Production Manager
Registrar
Individual Giving Manager
Corporate Giving Manager
Production Associate
Patron Services Associate
Education Director
Technical Director
Sales & Outreach Coordinator
Finance Manager
Communications Director
Assistant Education Director
Production Manager
CAST
HAELY JARDAS (Mama) DC AREA: Adventure Theatre MTC - The 12 Days of Christmas (U/S), NYMF- Dizzy
Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Review Presents: The Brontës (Anne Bronte), Capital Fringe- Polaroid Stories (Production), Stone Age Recreation (Lou); UNIVERSITY: Guys and Dolls (Adelaide/Fight Capt.),The Who’s TOMMY
(Acid Queen), Ubu Roi (Jan/Fight Capt.), Orpheus Descending (Carol Cutrere), Nine: The Musical (Lina
Darling), Bluebeard! (Lamia); FILM/COMMERCIAL: Tabu Cinema: Suffering Cassandra (Cassandra), Cartel
Cinema Productions: Mother Monster (Christina), American University: “All the Wonks Are Talking” (Opera
Wonk), GreenPeace: “Keep the Change” (Spokesperson). 2012 Kennedy Center American College Theatre
Festival Irene Ryan Region II Winner and National Finalist. Haely is a company member of Lean & Hungry
Theater, La Ti Do, and Blind Pug Arts Collective. Haelyjardas.com
MICHAEL LITCHFIELD (Monkey 1) REGIONAL: Adventure Theatre MTC: A Little House Christmas, Big: The
Musical; Shakespeare Theatre Company: Measure for Measure; Round House Theatre: Next Fall (Assistant
Director); Capital Fringe Festival: Stopgap. OTHER: Ubu Rex, Dead Man Walking, The Three Sisters, Tartuffe,
Oklahoma!, The Wild Party. TRAINING: American University, BA Theatre: Performance; British American
Drama Academy (Studied with John Barton).
KATIE CULLIGAN (Monkey 2)’s recent credits include: Adventure Theatre MTC: Five Little Monkeys World
Premiere (Monkey 2). Off-Broadway/NY: Golden Fleece Ltd.’s Madame Workshop(Helena Rubinstein); Nosedive Prod/Molotov Theatre – Fat Men in Skirts(Pam/Popo). Regional: Ford’s Theatre - A Christmas Carol
(‘07-’08) with a special performance at The White House for President George W. Bush (Sister); Arena
Stage - Legacy of Light; The Cumberland Theatre -The Rocky Horror Show (Magenta); Creative Cauldron
– Nevermore (Virginia) and The Christmas Cabin of Carnaween (Oona); The American Century Theatre –
Stage Door (Olga); The Washington Savoyards - Iolanthe (Leila), Imagination Stage – Wind in the Willows
(Barge Woman u/s); Zemfira Stage – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Jolene). Film: Game Change (Bristol Palin’s
Friend), Someday this Pain... (Mandy Lamb) TV: Panic 9-1-1 on A&E (Joan); Deadly Affairs on ID (Kaya);
House of Cards; VEEP. Training: James Madison University BA in Musical Theatre. www.Katieculligan.com
.
MARK CHANDLER (Monkey 3) TOURS: Wizard of Oz (NETworks). REGIONAL: The Normal Heart, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Fiddler on the Roof, Xanadu, Giant, Kiss of the Spider woman, Glory Days, Merrily We
Roll Along, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Reefer Madness (Helen Hayes Award, Best Musical). TV: The
View, Season 14 Episode 1 (ABC). EDUCATION: Catholic University of America, Bachelor of Music 2009.
UPCOMING: Forever Plaid (Theatrezone).
JESSICA SHEARER (Monkey 4) Local credits include: Adventure Theatre MTC: Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat,
Washington Stage Guild: Inventing Van Gogh, Spooky Action Theatre: Optimism! Or Voltaire’s Candide,
Imagination Stage: Mouse on the Move, 1st Stage: Almost Maine, Don’t Dress for Dinner, Synetic Theatre:
Don Quixote, the Nutcracker, and Olney Theatre Center: National Player- Tour 60. Jessica holds an MFA
from the University of Houston.
TYLER HERMAN (Monkey 5) is thrilled to be appearing with Adventure Theatre MTC for the second
time after the hit Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat! He is an actor, director, and teacher in the DC area. Recent
acting credits include: A Commedia Christmas Carol (Faction of Fools), Goldfish Thinking (Longacre Lea
Productions), The Servant of Two Masters (Shakespeare Theatre Company), On The Waterfront (American
Century Theatre), Pride and Prejudice (Round House Theatre). Tyler is Treasurer of the Actors’ Center and
an Associated Artist with Faction of Fools Theatre Company. UPCOMING: Titus Andronicus (Faction of
Fools) Education: BA, Cornell University: Theatre, Dance, Music
KAREN O’CONNELL (Swing) recent credits include: National Tour: VeggieTales Live! Happy Birthday
Bob and Larry!. Regional Theatre: Adventure Theatre MTC- The Cat in the Hat (Sally u/s); Studio Theatre
2ndstage- Astro Boy and the God of Comics (Astro Boy); Synetic Theater- A Trip to the Moon (Laika); Wayside
Theatre- Boeing Boeing (Gabriella), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy); Discovery
Theater- Seasons of Light; Troupe America Inc.- The Medora Musical (Burning Hills Singer); The In SeriesBerlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill; RWS & Assoc.- Joy! The Gift of Giving (Dancer); Six Flags AmericaJumpin’ Jammin’ Jubilee, Hall of Justice Stunt Spectacular (Wonder Woman). B.M. Musical Theatre, The
Catholic University of America.
MOSES RODRIGUES (Understudy): Moses is thankful to have the chance to return to Adventure
Theatre MTC and be apart of such a wonderful show and cast. Most recently he was in Artscentric: It’s
A Wonderful Life (George), Shakespeare Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing (ensemble, drummer boy),
Toby’s Dinner Theatre: In The Heights (ensemble, u/s Sonny), Legally Blonde (Carlos, Grand Master Chad).
Local commercials for Next Day Blinds and Disabled Veterans commercial just to name a couple, and also
national tours for Altar Boyz and Sesame Street Live. He also was the assistant choreographer for Severna
Park HS production of In the Heights. Moses received his BFA in musical theatre from the University of the
Arts in Philadelphia.
PRODUCTION TEAM
KARIN ABROMAITISw(Director) is thrilled to be back at ATMTC. Previous shows at Adventure include:
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse (Helen Hayes nomination), If You Give a Mouse
a Cookie, If You Give a Pig a Pancake (Helen Hayes Award), If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, Holes, Mirandy and
Brother Wind, and she directed the smash hits Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat and Go, Dog. Go! Other movement
and choreography credits include: Alice, Eurydice and Around the World in 80 Days at Round House Theatre; Shipwrecked at Everyman Theater; Either/Or at Theater J; and In The Blood at Woolly Mammoth. She is
a member of SDC and ATME.
ROBERT BERRY (Scenic Designer) is Assistant Professor of Theatre at Prince George’s Community
College. Recent credits include Animal Farm, To Be Young Gifted and Black, Circle Mirror Transformation,
Cyrano, Big Love, The Glass Menagerie, Androcles and the Lion, and Twelfth Night. He has also designed
for BoarsHead Theater (MI), Maine Shakespeare Festival (ME), Phoenix Theatre (KY) and Wayne State
University’s Hilberry Theatre. Rob has a BFA in acting from Western Kentucky University and an MFA in
scenic design from Wayne State University, which is all the more outstanding given that he was raised by
wolves.
KATIE TOUART (Costume Designer) is a visual artist who began designing costumes in 1999. Recent costume credits include: Winnie the Pooh, Just a Dream: the Green Play, Spot’s Birthday Party, The Little Engine
That Could, Harold and The Purple Crayon (Adventure Theatre MTC); Aladdin’s Luck -Helen Hayes Outstanding Production Nominee/TYA, Wind In The Willows, Ferdinand The Bull, Zomo the Rabbit -Helen Hayes
Outstanding Production Nominee/TYA (Imagination Stage); The Uses of Enchantment, House Halfway,
Qualities of Starlight (2012 Source Theatre Festival). When not designing for professional productions,
Katie can be found creating costumes with children and young adults in a variety of schools and theatre
education settings. Katie is a graduate of the University of Chicago and Massachusetts College of Art.
ANDREA “DRE” MOORE° (Properties Designer) has made theatrical properties her career for 10 years
and has been a theatre technician for more years than she cares to admit. Adventure Theatre MTC credits
include The Twelve Days of Christmas, Goodnight Moon, Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat, Big Nate, Three Little Birds,
Winnie the Pooh, A Little House Christmas, Big, The Musical-TYA, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, The Snowy Day,
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse (both of them!), Charlotte’s Web and many, many more. Her work has also graced
the stages of Round House Theatre, Theatre J, Rorschach Theatre, Imagination Stage, Olney Theatre,
The Kennedy Center, and Rep Stage. She also helps to train our future designers and craftspeople at the
University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park.
JASON ARNOLD l (Lighting Design) has designed The Twelve Days of Christmas, Big Nate, If You Give a Cat
a Cupcake, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown with Adventure Theatre MTC. Other children’s theatre
productions at Imagination Stage include Aladdin, Junie B. Jones, The Jungle Book, Pirates, BusyTown, and
Seussical. In the DC area, Jason has designed for Arena Stage, Theatre J, Rep Stage, MetroStage, and the
Studio Theatre. Jason teaches at American University.
NEIL MCFADDEN (Sound Design) Neil’s sound and lighting designs have been heard (or seen) in many
area theatres, including Arena Stage, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Olney Theatre, Adventure Theatre MTC, the Washington Savoyards, Rep Stage, Flying V, Everyman Theatre, and Round House Theatre
(where he was the Resident Sound Designer and for eleven years). A ten-time nominee, Neil received the
Helen Hayes Award for his design of Round House’s Heathen Valley. Neil is also a musician and composer:
he has played in many area shows; he also performs regularly with his rock/blues band Mike’s Garage
(www.MikesGarageRocks.com), and as a solo acoustic performer. Love to Elizabeth.
WILL POMMERENING (Stage Manager) is excited to work with Adventure for the first time! Local credits
include Carried Away on the Crest of a Wave, Act A Lady (Hub Theatre), The Sunshine Boys, The Full Monty,
and Cabaret (Keegan Theatre). He has also worked at Hanger Theatre in Ithaca, NY on Titanic, The Trip to
Bountiful, Macbeth, and Junie B. Jones In: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. Will graduated from Elon University
with a BA in Theatrical Design and Production. When he is not on the road, he teaches preschool in
Arlington, VA.