Download winnie-the-pooh - Theatreworks USA!

TWO BEANS PRODUCTIONS
Rob Barron, Artistic Director
presents
WINNIE-THE-POOH
From the stories of
A. A. MILNE
Dramatized by
LE CLANCHÉ DU RAND
Music by
ALLAN J. FRIEDMAN
Lyrics by
A. A. MILNE and KRISTIN SERGEL
Additional Lyrics by
LE CLANCHÉ DU RAND
Directed by Rob Barron
Choreography by Cynthia Thole
Set Design by Mark Delancey
Costume Design by Anne-Marie Wright
Orchestrations by Allen Cohen
Stage Managed by Jillian Zeman
THE CAST
Pooh……………………..….Joelle Wayland-Lewis
Christopher Robin / Rabbit………....Josh Hemphill
Piglet / Roo………………………..Renee Gonzales
Eeyore / Kanga / Owl…………….Shayla Simmons
ROB BARRON (Director) is thrilled to be the Artistic Director of Two Beans
Productions. In addition to directing in New York City, as well as all around the United
States, Rob has directed over one hundred theatre productions for young audiences, many
of which were for Theatreworks USA, such as: Charlotte’s Web; Ramona Quimby; Little
Women; Around the World in Eighty Days; and Romeo and Juliet. He is also a produced
playwright, and some of the musicals he has co-authored include adaptations of
Ferdinand the Bull, and The Phantom of the Opera. A graduate of the Yale School of
Drama, Brown University and the Phillips Exeter Academy, Rob is also a theatre
professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, as well as a happy husband
and the proud father of a six year old.
RENEE GONZALES (Piglet / Roo) is excited to be playing very small animals! Renee
was recently seen at the Barn Theatre, MI in Fiddler on the Roof, Li’l Abner, The Full
Monty, and Hair. Past credits include Erma in Anything Goes, Kathy Selden in Singin’
in the Rain, Hortense in The Boyfriend, and Adele in Die Fledermaus. Renee recently
graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre.
Thanks to her family, friends, Dan, Rob, Cindy, and Wayne for all their support.
JOSH HEMPHILL (Christopher Robin / Rabbit) is thrilled to be part of Two Beans
production of Winnie the Pooh. He recently graduated from the American Musical and
Dramatic Academy in NY. He has done numerous shows at the New Jersey Performing
Arts Center such as Carousel, Oliver, Brigadoon, Once On This Island and South Pacific
with WYACT. He was also in Tommy at NJPAC with Jeffrey Finn Producitons. Some
of his favorites were Willard in Footloose, Hines in The Pajama Game, P.T. Barnum in
Barnum, The Gay Divorce, Peter Pan, Joseph..., Annie and many more. He has also
done several commercials and print. Josh thanks Rob, Cindy, and Wayne for this
wonderful opportunity to go all over the country with an amazing cast and stage manager.
He also thanks his Mom, Dad, Sister, God, family, friends and ALL of his teachers for
their love and never-ending support.
A.A. MILNE (Author) Alan Alexander Milne, born in London in 1882, was the creator of
Winnie the Pooh the beloved stuffed bear. An author and playwright, Milne found his
greatest success writing tales for children, and his book of poetry, When We Were Very
Young became an enduring classic. Winnie-the-Pooh was published in 1926, and the
book was inspired by the toys of Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, who appears in the
stories with Pooh. Pooh’s further adventures were also covered in Milne’s Now We Are
Six (1927) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).
SHAYLA SIMMONS (Eeyore / Kanga / Owl) is more than pleased to a part of Winnie
the Pooh and Two Beans Productions. The AMDA grad has performed in Pippin, Alice in
Wonderland, Into the Woods, The Wiz, plenty of original pieces, and many others. Shayla
is proud to have been a part of the Arena Players in her hometown of Baltimore, MD.
Giving all thanks and praise to God and her mother (soRaya Harden), Shayla also
acknowledges those who have had a part in shaping her to be the young lady she is today,
believing all things are possible.
CYNTHIA THOLE (Choreographer) is proud to be working for Two Beans Productions.
Her New York choreography and directing credits include work for Theatreworks/USA,
The A Train Musicals, AMDA, TADA! and Camp Broadway. Her regional
choreography credits include: Carousel for Farleigh Dickenson University, 42nd Street for
Allenberry Playhouse, Me and My Girl for Mill Mountain Playhouse, My Fair Lady for
The Reagle Players, Annie Get Your Gun, Pirates of Penzance for Montclair Operetta
Club, and Quilters for Penn State University. Cynthia has performed on Broadway in
42ndStreet, Singin’ in the Rain, My Fair Lady, Nick and Nora, Me and My Girl, Meet Me
in St Louis and A Christmas Carol, for which she dance captained the show for ten years.
National Tours include: Oklahoma!, 42nd Street and Sugar Babies. She is currently on the
dance faculty at AMDA and Montclair State University. Cynthia is also a certified
teaching artist in the city schools working for City Center education programs and
TADA! Cynthia is a graduate of Butler University, and the mother of a wonderful teenage daughter.
JOELLE WAYLAND-LEWIS (Pooh) Starting out as a hip-hop clown dancer in
Compton, CA, Joelle would have never imagined himself on the East Coast doing
musical theatre. A recent graduate of AMDA, he also has a B.F.A. in Vocal Jazz and
Jazz Theory, and a certificate in Orchestration/Notation. Some credits include a recent
production of Smokey Joe's Cafe at North Carolina's Temple Theater (KEN), a Gospel
Tour of Germany and France (TENOR SOLOIST), Soul Train and The Source Sound
Lab (HIP HOP DANCER), Little Shop Of Horrors (TRIO-Ronnie), Guys And Dolls
(BENNY SOUTHSTREET), and Tribute To Disney (JACK SKELIGTON and
ALADDIN). Joelle would like to say thanks to his mother and grandparents for their
support, and his wife Rita Kizilos for supporting him in time of need. "Love you. And
thank you, Jesus, for your crucifixion and resurrection."
JILLIAN ZEMAN (Stage Manager) NY credits include: Arpeggio (Producer) with
MTWorks, Greetings from Yorkville (PSM) at the SoHo Playhouse and Jamaica
Farewell for its NY Fringe encore performance at SoHo Playhouse (PSM/Lighting
Designer). Other recent credits include: Oh Virgil! A Theatrical Portrait (PSM/Lighting
Designer) and Backwards (SM/Sound Designer) at the Woodstock Fringe Festival 2007.
Dark of the Moon (PSM) with Thirsty Turtle Productions, Folie A Deux (PSM) with
MTWorks, A Christmas Carol (SM) with Manhattan Children's Theatre, and The
Woodstock Fringe Festival 2006 (PSM). She is the Producing Manager of MTWorks and
holds a BA in Production and Stage Management from Marymount Manhattan College.
Much love to M/D for all the support, M/J for unlimited lunches and dinners, and L for
always providing southern comfort.