Download Who`s Who in the Company - Beck Center for the Arts

Who’s Who in the Company
Scott Spence (Artistic
Director/Director)
is thrilled as always
to embark on a new
season – in this case –
his 23rd at Beck Center!
Since 1990, Scott has
produced well over 200
productions,
directing
over 70 himself. The list
of favorites grows every season, and includes
Parade, A Man of No Importance, Sweeney Todd,
Hair, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Farnsworth
Invention, Reefer Madness, The Fix, Zombie Prom,
Tommy, Urinetown The Musical, Evil Dead The
Musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling
Bee, and the box office smashes The Producers
and Hairspray. Last season Scott added to those
favorites with productions of Legally Blonde and
the much lauded Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.
He is very proud of the awards and acclamations
Beck has received over the past decade, and is
especially grateful for having won the Northern
Ohio Live Award for Achievement in Theatre in
2006. Outside of Beck’s walls, Scott’s directorial
assignments have included a remounting
of Beck’s hit production of Altar Boyz at
PlayhouseSquare’s beautiful Hanna Theatre,
Das Barbecü at Opera Cleveland, The Last Night
of Ballyhoo at Case Western Reserve University’s
Eldred Theatre, Oh Dad Poor Dad....at Cleveland
State University Summer Stages and Noises Off at
both Weathervane in Akron and Berea Summer
Theatre. An adjunct faculty member at Cleveland
State University, he has also has the privilege to
direct Satre’s No Exit and will tackle Strindberg’s
Miss Julie this spring. Occasionally on the other
side of the footlights, Scott has appeared in Dick
Deadeye (Berea Summer Theatre), Man of La
Mancha (Jewish Community Center), The Secret
Rapture (Dobama) and closer to home at Beck in
Big River, The Boys Next Door and Laughter on the
23rd Floor. He also had the privilege of joining
the cast of Passion, directed by Victoria Bussert,
in his only onstage stint in the Studio Theater.
Scott holds an MFA in Directing from Western
Illinois University and is a trained stage fight
choreographer, having studied extensively with
the SAFD. He would like to dedicate this season
to longtime local actor and friend Frank Mularo
who sadly left us in August. Love you Frankie.
Larry
Goodpaster
(Musical Director) is
pleased to be musically
directing Annie this
holiday season. Annie is
Larry’s 63rd production
and his 15th year at
Beck Center. An awardwinning pianist in high
school, Larry followed
quite a different path and obtained degrees in
biology, chemistry, veterinary medicine, and
business over the next 20 years. Upon receiving
his MBA in 1997, Larry decided to return to
musical theater in his recreational time. Larry’s
love and passion for the arts soon became an
obsession. Beginning in January 2008, he spent
his days at Beck Center as a volunteer business
consultant with Cindy Einhouse, President and
CEO. In fall 2009, Larry was hired as the director
of business operations. Last year, he became the
director of finance and administration at Beck
Center. Sharing both his artistic talent and
business acumen with Beck Center has finally
allowed his circuitous career path to come
together. Larry would like to thank our audiences
and donors for supporting our programming so
generously. Happy Holidays!
**Martín
Céspedes
(Choreographer)
recently staged Xanadu,
Legally
Blonde
The
Musical
and Bloody
Bloody Andrew Jackson for
Beck Center for the Arts
and The Fantasticks for
The Repertory Theatre
of St. Louis. Favorite
productions include Nine: The Musical and
Equus for which he received a 2007 Northern
Ohio Live nomination for best choreography, and
Smokey Joe’s Café, Five Guys Named Moe, Ain’t
Misbehavin’, and My Way: A Musical Tribute to
Frank Sinatra. Martín has appeared in several
Broadway national tours, including Man of La
Mancha with Jack Jones and Ron Holgate; The
King and I with Hayley Mills, Marie Osmond,
Maureen McGovern and Faith Prince; South
Pacific with Robert Goulet and West Side Story with
Bebe Neuwirth. In New York, Martín staged
choreography for the off-off-Broadway production
of Scrooge and Marley and choreographed the
opening acts for Earth, Wind and Fire and The
Bee Gees. Other television appearances include
Dance Fever and NBC’s Weekday Fever, as well
as the Washington National Opera’s lavish
production of Massenet’s Le Cid, starring Placido
Domingo, broadcast live from The Kennedy
Center on PBS, for which he also served as
Associate Choreographer. An alumnus of the
Jacque d’Amboise National Dance Institute
at PS 161 in New York City, Martín has won
numerous awards and was nominated in 2009
for the prestigious Zelda Fichandler Award,
which recognizes an outstanding director or
choreographer who is making a unique and
exceptional contribution through his or her
work in regional theater. Most recently he was
the recipient of the 2011 BroadwayWorld Award
for Best Choreography in a Musical Theater
Production. Martin is dedicating this season to
the memory of his dear friend, Amy Brotherton
Staskus.
Holly K. Harris (Dance
Captain) is thrilled to
be working on another
Beck Center production,
having most recently
assisted the production
team and cast of Xanadu
(Dance Captain). Holly
has also performed here
in various productions
including Legally Blonde The Musical (Delta
Nu), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat (Wife/Potiphar’s Wife), Hairspray
(Brenda), The Producers, and Peter Pan. Holly is
a member of the Theater Education faculty at
Beck Center as a dance instructor and is a guest
choreographer for The Singing Angels. Many
thanks to Scott, Martín and Larry for another
wonderful opportunity and experience. Diana
D’Alessandro
(Stage Manager) is happy
to be involved with this
fabulously talented cast
and as always, a dedicated
crew and production
staff. She can frequently
be found backstage performing various technical
elements required for
stage productions at various theaters in North
East Ohio. Stage management credits at Beck
Center include Legally Blonde The Musical,
Race, Hairspray, Jerry Springer The Opera, The
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The
Farnsworth Invention, Peter Pan, My Favorite Year,
Jekyll & Hyde, Porgy & Bess, The Full Monty, and
By Jeeves. Other favorites at Beck Center include
The Fix, Urinetown The Musical and Miss Saigon.
Love to Patrick, Mom and Dad, whose support
makes it all possible! Happy Holidays!
Becky Adams (Assistant
Stage Manager)
is
delighted to return to
Beck Center after having
recently stage managed
The Little Dog Laughed
in the Studio Theater.
She earned a BA in
Theatre from Baldwin
Wallace University. Since
graduation, Becky has worked on God of Carnage
and The Mighty Scarabs at Dobama Theatre. She
stage managed Children of Eden at TrueNorth
Cultural Arts. Other projects include: A Little
Night Music, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
and Company at Fairmount Performing Arts
Center. Becky also assists on productions for
North Coast Men’s Chorus and Verb Ballet in
Cleveland. Special thanks to all her friends for
their unending love and support.
Hayley Baran (Assistant Stage Manager) is
thrilled to be participating once again in another
holiday production here at Beck Center. Over the
past several years she has been found backstage
or up on the catwalk during many of Beck
Center’s shows. Some of her favorites include:
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
Altar Boyz, and Parade. Thanks to both the Annie
cast and crew for making this such an enjoyable
experience!
Giovanna A. Layne
(Molly) is overjoyed to
be making her debut at
Beck Center for Arts.
Giovanna is nine years
old and is in the fourth
grade. She loves theater
and being on stage
performing.
Giovanna
has previously performed
in Annie Get Your Gun (Little Jake) at TrueNorth
Cultural Arts. She is also involved in gymnastics
and cheerleading. Her dream is to one day live
in New York City and pursue a career in the
arts. Giovanna would like to thank Scott and
Beck Center for welcoming her and giving her
this opportunity. She would also like to thank
her friends, family and most of all her parents
and brother for all of their love, support and
encouragement.
Elise Pakiela (Kate)
is very happy to be
appearing in her first
Beck Center production.
She has appeared in
many productions at
Young Actors Studio in
Hudson. Favorite roles
include: Sleeping Beauty
(Aurora), Seussical Jr.
(Jojo) and Mary Poppins (Jane Banks). Elise
has also participated in the Triple Threat
Musical Theater workshop at Baldwin Wallace
University. She is a company dancer at Creative
Movement Center in Broadview Heights. Elise is
eleven years old and is in the fifth grade. Special
thanks to all of the directors for giving her this
opportunity, and to her family – especially her
Mom, Dad and brother for helping her with this
production.
Jade McGee (Tessie) is
thrilled to be back on
stage at Beck Center as
part of the Annie cast.
Jade made her Beck
Center debut on the
Mackey Main Stage in last
season’s Youth Theater
production of Charlotte’s
Web (Fern) and was a
cast member in the Professional Theater’s 2011
production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat (Youth Chorus). Other credits
include Annie (Annie) at Center Middle School
in Strongsville, and Willy Wonka (Ensemble)
at Beck Center Youth Theater. Jade has been
a triple threat student at here since 2006. She
is very fortunate to have met many wonderful
mentors during her Beck Center professional
theater experiences. Many thanks and much
love to Scott, Caitlin, Holly, Tee, Bethany, Tricia,
and to Ryan – who started it all!
Maggie Devine (Pepper)
is 11 years old and a
student at St. Albert
the Great. She was most
recently seen in the fall
production of Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs
(Slowpoke) at Brecksville
Theater on the Square
(BTOTS). Maggie has
previously been seen here in Youth Theater
productions of The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella,
Seussical The Musical! and Cats; as well as,
Annie and The Little Mermaid at BTOTS; Opera
Cleveland’s production of i Pagliacci at the State
Theater; and The Wizard of Oz at Walsh Jesuit
High School. She has been dancing since the
age of three and is a member of the competition
dance team at Dance by Gloria. Maggie also
loves singing and playing tennis. She would like
to thank her Mom and Dad and her brothers,
Patrick and Thomas; and send special thanks
to her identical twin sister Katie, her biggest
supporter. Thanks to everyone in this wonderful
cast and crew. Break a leg!
Erin Eisner (July) is
excited make her Beck
Center debut in this
holiday production of
Annie. She is in eighth
grade at Solon Middle
School. Erin was recently
featured in The Princess
and the Pea, (Princess
Winifred) at Stagecrafters.
She has also performed in Willy Wonka (Matilda)
at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre and The Little
Mermaid (Pierre) at Brecksville Theatre on the
Square, among others. Special thanks to the
cast, crew, friends, and her family, for all of their
outstanding support!
Natalie Welch (Duffy) is
delighted to be spending
the holidays back at Beck
Center! Beck Center
credits: Grey Gardens
(Lee Bouvier), Peter Pan
(Jane), Beauty and the
Beast (Young Villager),
and the Youth Theater
production
of
Cats
(Munkustrap). Favorite professional credits: A
Christmas Carol at Great Lakes Theater (Sarah
Cratchit 2009, Belinda Cratchit 2010, 2011);
The Wizard of Oz, National Tour (Munchkin)
at PlayhouseSquare. Regional credits: Secret
Garden (Mary Lennox) at Hudson Players
and Annie (Annie) at Players Guild Theatre.
Natalie continues her musical theater training
at Interlochen Center for the Arts during the
summer months (2010-2012), and has studied
a variety of dance styles for over 11 years. She
is grateful to Scott, Martín and Larry for the
opportunity to perform again at Beck Center.
Anna Barrett (Annie) is
thrilled to be performing
for the first time at Beck
Center. Previous credits
include: Annie (Duffy,
Annie U/S) at Olmsted
Performing Arts, Santa’s
Toys (Sprint the Elf) and
Annie (July) at Cassidy
Theater, and HONK!
(Chorus) at Broadview Heights Spotlights
Theater. A sixth-grader at Drake Elementary
in Strongsville’s Gifted and Talented Program,
she enjoys singing in her school choir, theater
lessons at Beck Center, dance lessons at Mary
Kay Manning Dance Studio, and playing the
French horn. Anna’s family is active in St. Mark
Lutheran Church in Brunswick. Special thanks
to her new friends at Beck Center for their warm
welcome and her family for their support.
Lenne Snively (Miss
Hannigan) is happy to
be back at Beck Center
where she last appeared
in Urinetown The Musical
(Penelope Pennywise).
Other
shows
here
include: A Man of No
Importance (Lily), Grey
Gardens (Big Edie), The
Full Monty (Jeanette Burmeister), and Equus
(Dora Strang). Recent shows include: Quilters
(Sarah) at Weathervane Playhouse, To Kill a
Mockingbird (Stephanie Crawford) at Magical
Theatre Company, and The Sound of Music (Sister
Berthe) and Damn Yankees (Sister) at Porthouse
Theatre. Favorite roles include: The Spitfire Grill
(Hannah) at Porthouse Theatre and Hello Dolly!
(Dolly Levi) at Mercury Summer Stock. Lenne
lives in Cleveland with her husband guitaristsinger-songwriter Jim Snively, two dogs, neither
of which look anything like Sandy, and a very
loud bird who hasn’t shut up since he first learned
to talk 20 years ago. Patrick Carroll (Mr.
Bundles/ Fred McCracken/
Morganthau/Ensemble) is
very happy to be back on
stage at Beck Center where
he previously appeared in
productions of Wings, The
Producers, A Man of No
Importance, Seussical the
Musical, 1776, Urinetown
The Musical (twice ), Parade, The Full Monty,
and You Can’t Take it With You. Over the past 35
years, Patrick has performed at Carousel Dinner
Theater, Great Lakes Theater, PlayhouseSquare,
and in productions throughout Northeast Ohio.
He is a graduate of the American Musical and
Dramatic Academy in New York City. In real
life, his latest leading role is that of “Massage
Therapist” at Tomorrows hair salon, massage and
wellness, located in Beachcliff Market Square in
Rocky River.
Kathleen Ferrini (Apple
Seller/Rockette/Ensemble)
is ecstatic to be returning
to Beck Center after
appearing earlier this season
in Xanadu (Erato). She
is a recent graduate of
Wright State University
holding a BFA in Musical
Theatre. Recent college
credits include Phantom of the Opera (Carlotta),
Little Women (Meg March). Kathleen had the
honor of performing in Leonard Bernstein’s
Mass with Dayton Philharmonic. She also has
enjoyed portraying comic characters in I Love
You Because (Diana) and Singin’ in the Rain
(Lina Lamont). Special thanks to her family and
friends who have been a constant source of love
and encouragement in all the silly adventures in
which she seems to find herself, you know who
you are! Psalm 150:6.
Buckley Collier (Sandy) is
a 2 ½-year old Cairn
Terrier/Poodle mix and is
proud to make his Beck
Center debut in Annie!
He previously appeared
with his Mom onstage in
The Wizard of Oz (Toto)
at Fine Arts Association
last Christmas. Although Mom isn’t joining
him this time, Buckley is thrilled to hang out at
the theater with his roomies – Tim, Ryan and
Caitlin. He likes treats, birds and squirrels and is
available for play dates.
John J. Polk (Lt. Ward/
Cordell
Hull/G-Man/
Ensemble) is pleased
and honored to be a
part of this wonderful
cast. He last appeared in
Beck Center’s summer
blockbuster
Legally
Blonde The Musical in
several small parts as
The Token Old Guy. John has appeared here in
The Farnsworth Invention (Wachtel/Ensemble),
My Favorite Year (King Kaiser), Urinetown The
Musical (Senator Fipp), A Man Of No Importance
(Father Kenney), A Raisin In The Sun (Karl
Lindner/The Man), and other roles. He has also
performed at Ensemble Theater and Cleveland
Public Theatre, and in a few episodes of the
deservedly obscure web series, Man In The Box
(The Boss). This performance is our holiday gift
to you. Your enjoyment is your gift to all of us.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Libby Merriman (Sophie
The Kettle/Mrs. Greer/
Ensemble) is excited to
make her Beck Center
debut. She earned a BA
in Speech & Drama/
Speech & Hearing from
Catholic University of
America and an MS in
Audiology from Case
Western Reserve University. Libby has performed
in community theaters throughout Northeast
Ohio including Geauga Lyric Theatre Guild,
Solon Center for the Arts, Aurora Community
Theatre, Happy Ending Lyric Players, Streetsboro
Community Theatre, Hudson Players, and
Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Her favorite roles
include: The Drowsy Chaperone (Drowsy), The
Pajama Game (Babe Williams), Brigadoon (Meg
Brockie), Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider), and Dirty
Rotten Scoundrels (Jolene Oakes). She is grateful
to her family for their loving support of her crazy
hobby.
*Caitlin Elizabeth Reilly
(Grace Farrell) is thrilled
to return to Beck Center
for the holidays! Last
season she was seen by
audiences here in Legally
Blonde The Musical (Elle
Woods)
and
The
Marvelous
Wonderettes
(Suzy). Recent favorites
include: The 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee (Olive) and Picnic (Millie) at
Montgomery Theater; Lydia (Cecilia) at
Amaryllis Theatre; Oklahoma! (Ado Annie)
and Grease (Marty) at the New Candlelight
Theatre; A Musical Christmas Carol (Martha
Cratchit), Ruthless (Swing), My Way (Swing), and I
Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Swing) at
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Caitlin is a proud
AEA Member and UArts grad (BFA Musical
Theater). Gratitude to Scott, Martín, Larry,
Diana, and the cast/crew! Al Nicholas (Drake/
Jimmy Johnson/Ensemble)
A Cleveland native,
Al currently resides
with his wife Angela
in Myrtle Beach. He
was last seen on Beck
Center’s Main Stage in
The Farnsworth Invention
(William Crocker). Most
memorable performances at The Theatre of The
Republic in Conway, SC include Sweeney Todd
(Judge Turpin), Ragtime (Father), Jekyll & Hyde
(Lord Savage), 1776 (John Dickinson), Oliver
(Fagin), Titanic (Captain Smith), A Tale Of Two
Cities (Jerry Cruncher), and Promises Promises (Dr.
Dreyfuss). Al is grateful for another opportunity
to work with Scott Spence and the talented staff
at Beck Center…Happy Holidays!
Carla Petroski (Mrs.
Pugh/Frances Perkins/
Ensemble) was last seen
here at Beck Center in
Jekyll & Hyde The Musical
(Nellie). Other favorite
theaters where she has
performed
include:
Blank Canvas Theatre
(Hellcab),
TrueNorth
(The Diary Of Anne Frank and Steel Magnolias),
Fairmont Performing Arts Center (The Odd
Couple), and Ensemble Theatre (Who’s Afraid
Of Virginia Woolf?). Carla was cast in the full
two-plus-year run of Tony ‘N Tina’s Wedding at
the Hanna Theatre and was a company member
of Something Dada Improvisational Comedy.
She is a graduate of Cleveland State University.
Carla dedicates this show to her past and present
adopted pets who became the best extended
family one could ever want! Kaitlyn Sapp (Cecille/
Connie Boylan/Rockette/
Ensemble) is pleased to be
on stage here for the first
time at Beck Center for
the Arts. A sophomore
BFA in Musical Theatre
major at Kent State
University, Kaitlyn has
most recently been seen in Reefer Madness
(Ensemble). She is excited to be exploring the
theater opportunities here in the Cleveland area.
Kaitlyn would like to give a big hug and thank
you to her wonderful parents, family and friends
for all of their love and encouragement!
Carleigh Spence (Annette/
Star-to-Be/Ensemble) is
charmed to be making
her professional debut
here in Annie at her
second home, Beck
Center for the Arts. She
has recently appeared
in Annie Get Your Gun
(Winnie Tate), Father
of the Bride (Kay Banks), Into the Woods (The
Witch), and various others. Carleigh provides
voice-over for both the Kent State University
and the INFOhio websites, and will soon be
appearing in the film Vacancy (Tammy Tomko).
She likes to think her “real” stage debut was
when her mother played the pregnant Jeanie
in Hair on this very stage. She sends her love
to family, friends, the Barnstormers, and this
marvelous cast. TPOG! Ben Donahoo (Servant/
Assistant Dog Catcher/
Ensemble) is ecstatic
to be returning to Beck
Center
for
another
show after most recently
appearing here in Xanadu
(Thalia). Ben hails from
Pocatello, Idaho, where
he earned his BS in Chemistry and minor in
Theatre from Idaho State University. Some past
credits include: Peter Pan (Mullins/Indian) at
Idaho Summer Repertory, White Christmas (Mike
Nulty) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (George
Gershwin/Ensemble) at Mystique Theatre, the
Ohio premiere of Happy Days, A New Musical
(Richie Cunningham) and All Shook Up (Dean
Hyde) at Trumpet in the Land. Many thanks
to Scott, Martín and Larry for this wonderful
opportunity and many more thanks to his
family for their undying support in his theatrical
endeavors!
J. P. Gagen (Servant/FX
Man/Ensemble) basically
grew up at Beck Center
and is thrilled to be back
after a 10 year absence.
He took Youth Theater
classes starting in fourth
grade and worked in the
box office throughout
high school. He was last
seen here in Lord of the Flies (Sam). He was only
10 when he first worked with Scott in Cinderella,
but somehow Scott still puts up with him. J. P.
would like to thank his friends and his family for
always being there for him. He would also like
to thank the cast of Annie for giving him such a
warm welcome back to Beck Center.
Kevin Lauver (Servant/
Society Man/Ensemble)
is pleased to make his
Beck Center Main Stage
debut after having taken
theater education classes
here back in 1998. He
is a sophomore Musical
Theatre major at Kent
State University where
he was thrilled to be part of the world premiere
work Nathan The Wise last season. Other recent
credits include: Hello Dolly!, Oklahoma!, and The
Wiz, to name a few. Kevin would like to thank
the cast and crew of Annie, and special thanks
to his family, friends, and best pal, Kaitlyn Sapp
for their never-ending love and support. Happy
Holidays :)
Spencer E. Wrolson
(Servant/Street Sweeper/
Ensemble) is excited to be
joining the cast of Annie
in his first production at
Beck Center. Originally from
Wisconsin, he is a freshman at
BaldwinWallace University,
majoring
in
Theatre
with a minor in Vocal
Performance. Some of his favorite performances
include: Rent (Ensemble/Angel U/S) at the
University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc, as well as
Little Women (Laurie) and A Midsummer Night’s
Dream (Demetrius) at Lincoln High School,
Manitowoc. This past year he performed in My
Son Pinocchio (Father/Ringleader) at the Capitol
Civic Centre in Manitowoc. Spencer recently
completed a summer touring with the KIDS from
Wisconsin (a traveling performing group with a
featured band), and is now ready to once again
step foot on the big stage in this production of
Annie!
Gilgamesh Taggett (Oliver
“Daddy” Warbucks) is
extremely thrilled to
have been performing in
Cleveland theater for a
decade now after starting
on this very stage in 2002
where he performed in
Parade (Tom Watson).
It has been his distinct
pleasure to work here so many times as well as such
stages as Cleveland Play House, PlayhouseSquare,
Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland Public Theatre,
Huntington Playhouse, Cassidy Theater, Stow
Players, The Kent Stage, Tree City Players,
and more. In addition, Gilgamesh would like to
thank everyone for spending this holiday season
with him at Beck Center in this production of
Annie. He feels very strongly about this show as
he himself was adopted by two amazing people
– Gene and Janet Taggett to whom he owes
everything. Gilgamesh is the Chief Information
Officer for The EZ Sales Team of Keller Williams
Greater Cleveland West where he works with his
amazing partner, Allison, whom he feels deserves
a medal. “All my love, Pork Chop.” Matthew Ryan Thompson
(Rooster) is ecstatic to
be performing in Annie
– his third holiday show
here on the Mackey
Main Stage. Ryan has
been seen in numerous
Beck Center favorites
such as last season’s soldout holiday hit, Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph)
and the summer 2011 blockbuster Hairspray
(Corny Collins). He joined the original cast of
Altar Boyz (as the flamboyant favorite, Mark) for
Beck Center’s revival of the show in the historic
Hanna Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. Ryan was
most recently seen tap dancing and cross dressing
it up in Beck Center’s production of Xanadu as
a Greek muse (Terpsichore) and tap-dancing
soloist (Young Danny). Matthew Ryan started
performing on stage as a youngster competing
and performing nationally as a tap dancer and
transitioned into musical theater in high school.
He continues to study and perform all over Ohio
and the East Coast. Offstage Ryan works as a
session stylist and a Kevin.Murphy Gold Key
educator for Ichiban Salon (Westlake) and the
Kevin.Murphy team (U.S., Europe, Australia)
traveling all over the country working on shoots,
classes and fashion shows. A big “thank you” to
the talented Annie production staff, orchestra,
cast, and crew for another great holiday season.
And lots of love and thanks to family, friends and
mentors for all the continued love and support.
TPOG.
Molly Huey (Lily St.
Regis)
is incredibly
excited to be a part of
Annie, her first show at
Beck Center. A native
Cincinnati-an,
she
recently moved here to
earn a degree in Theatre
at Baldwin Wallace
University. Molly was
last a part of Peter Pan (Lost Boy) at Baldwin
Wallace and is also currently involved in The
Vagina Monologues. She would like the thank her
amazing Rooster, Spencer, her family and friends
for their support, and the entire cast and crew. Timothy J. Allen (Bert
Healy/Louis
Howe/
Ensemble) is thankful
to return to Beck Center
stage. He recently earned
his MFA in Musical
Theatre
from
San
Diego State University
where he used Beck
Center’s production of
Hairspray as a case study for his thesis: Artistry
in Collaboration: A Director’s Approach in Musical
Theatre. Thank you Scott for that opportunity.
Other Beck Center credits include: Little Shop
of Horrors (Seymour), The 25th Annual Putnam
County Spelling Bee (Leaf Coneybear), Fiddler
on the Roof (Motel), Hairspray (IQ), and Peter
Pan (Pirate). On the west coast: Little Women
(Professor Bhaer), Zanna, Don’t! (Mike Singer),
and The Boy Friend (Lord Brockhurst) at SDSU,
and Fiddler on the Roof (Motel) at Moonlight
Stage Productions. Timothy plans to teach
acting and musical theater performance on the
collegiate level.
Jenyth Rosati (Ronnie
Boylan/Salvation Army
Girl/Ensemble) is positively
delighted to be back on the
Mackey Main Stage after
her star turn as a Munchkin
in Beck Center Youth
Theater’s ‘98 production of
The Wizard of Oz. Jenyth is
a recent graduate of the
Professional Actor Training Program (PATP)
at Wright State University with her BFA in
Acting. Her favorite theater credits include:
Oliver! (Nancy) at West Virginia Public Theatre,
Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney) at Wright State
University, The Marvelous Wonderettes (Betty
Jean) at West Virginia Public Theatre, Godspell
(Sonia) at West Virginia Public Theatre, Little
Women (Amy March) at Wright State University,
and Footloose (Ariel Moore) at the Dayton
Playhouse. Much love to the friends I call my
family, M&P, JJK and Josie.
Llenelle Gibson (Bonnie
Boylan/Roxy
Usher/
Ensemble) A sophomore
Musical Theatre major at
Kent State University,
Llenelle is thrilled to be
a part of this production
of Annie. You may
have seen her this past
summer beating the drums in Legally Blonde The
Musical (Ensemble). She has trained in acting,
voice, ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theater at
the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. A few of her
favorite roles include: Hello Dolly! (Featured
Tumbler) at Porthouse Theatre; Thoroughly
Modern Millie (Millie Dillmount) and Beauty and
the Beast (Babette) at Charleroi Area Theatre;
and Snoopy the Musical (Peppermint Patty) and
Footloose (Urleen) at Geyer Performing Arts
Center. Llenelle would like to thank her mother,
family, friends, and boyfriend, Cody, for their love
and support! She would also like to thank the
entire cast, crew and orchestra for their support,
hard work and unbelievable talent!
*Leslie Feagan (FDR/
Ensemble) gladly returns
to Beck Center after
having been seen here
in Fiddler on the Roof
(Lazar Wolf), Little Shop
of Horrors (Mushnik),
A Man of No Importance
(Baldy), and Polish Joke.
He happily returns to
Annie after appearing in the 2nd and 4th national
touring companies, Theatre of the Stars with
Harve Presnell in Atlanta and the sequel, Annie
Warbucks, at Polka Dot Theatre in Bridgeport,
CT. Mr. Feagan is currently the Minister of Music
for Bennett’s Corners Community and Mt.
Pleasant United Methodist Churches in Medina
County.
Donald Wight (Harold
Ickes/Dog
Catcher/
Chauffeur/Ensemble)
has been involved with
Beck Center since 1994.
Shows here include:
Keely and Du, That
Championship
Season,
Sylvia, Macbeth, The
Crucible, and Hairspray.
Elsewhere Donald has been seen in Krapp’s Last
Tape, Amadeus, The Man Who Came To Dinner,
Brighton Beach Memoirs, and more Shakespeare
than you can shake a stick at, if that’s your idea
of a good time.
*Actor appears courtesy of the American Actors’
Equity Association (AEA), the union of American
actors and stage managers.
** Member of the Society of Stage Directors and
Choreographers
Trad A Burns (Scenic & Lighting Designer) is
a lighting and scenic designer based once
again in Cleveland, Ohio. Designing over
500 productions during the last two decades,
his varied work has been seen around the
world. His extensive credits include designs
for North Shore Music Theatre (Boston), New
York Theatre Workshop (NYC), La Mama
ETC (NYC), HERE (NYC), Classic Stage
Company (NYC), The Public Theatre (NYC),
The Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Public
Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, The Beck
Center for the Arts, Boston Ballet, Cincinnati
Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, New York City
Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet,
Houston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Ballet
British Columbia, Washington Ballet, Spectrum
Dance, Verb Ballets, Inlet Dance Theatre, Cedar
Point, Knott’s Berry Farm, Kings Island, Walt
Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Japan,
Disney Sea, Woodstock Ice Productions, and
The Family of Charles M. Schulz. Recent designs
include; The Nutcracker for Cincinnati Ballet
and Ballet Hawaii, the World Premier of The
Center of the Earth for Inlet Dance Theatre, The
Little Dog Laughed and Xanadu at Beck Center
for the Arts.
Benjamin Gantose (Associate Scenic &
Lighting Designer) is an up and coming lighting
designer in Northeast Ohio theater and dance, a
Resident Lighting Designer at Cleveland Public
Theatre. As Trad A Burns’ Associate Designer,
Benjamin has worked on The Marvelous
Wonderettes, My Fair Lady, The Producers, and
Altar Boyz, at Beck Center and on various
projects at PlayhouseSquare, Verb Ballets, Inlet
Dance Theater, and Cincinnati Ballet, including
multiple world premieres. Benjamin’s own recent
designs include Standing On Ceremony, Akarui,
Carmen, Monster Play, Cut to Pieces, Insomnia,
Darwinii, Mother/Tongue, Don’t Call Me Fat
at Cleveland Public Theatre; A Little Night
Music, Big The Musical, The Prime of Miss Jean
Brody, Les Miserables, Company, Pippin, at
Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory.
Karen Ziegler (Costume Designer) has served
as the costume designer for Rabbit Run Theater
for the past eight years. She has also designed
shows for Willoughby Fine Arts and Chagrin
Valley Little Theatre. By day she is the Director
of Marketing and Group Sales at Rabbit Run
Community Arts Association in Madison. She
wishes to thank Scott Spence for the opportunity
to design at Beck Center and to be able to work
with such a marvelous cast.
Richard B. Ingraham (Sound Designer) is
happy to return for his 10th season of work with
the Beck Center. Favorite previous sound designs
at Beck Center include: Xanadu, Wings, The
Producers, Evil Dead The Musical, The Farnsworth
Invention, The History Boys, Equus, Beauty and
the Beast, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Of Mice
and Men. Richard is a freelance sound designer
based in the Cleveland area. He has worked
at numerous theaters, schools and attractions
in Northeast Ohio and throughout the U.S.
including: Ashland University, Baldwin Wallace
University, Cain Park, Chagrin Falls Performing
Arts Academy, Cleveland Play House, Cleveland
Public Theatre, Cleveland State University, The
Cleveland Theatre Company, Dobama Theatre,
The University of Evansville, Great Lakes
Theater, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, The
Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, The
Lincoln Amphitheatre, The Lincoln Library and
Museum, Oberlin College, PlayhouseSquare,
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Willoughby
Fine Arts Association. Richard has taught
sound design and other related course work at
Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and at
The University of Evansville in Indiana. Richard
has also worked as a consultant to awardwinning software companies that create products
specifically for the needs of live performance
including Stage Research and Richmond Sound
Design.
Joseph Carmola (Technical Director) is in
his seventh year as Technical Director at Beck
Center. In the past Joe has served as Technical
Director for, the Canton Players Guild, Magical
Theatre Company and Paul Green’s Trumpet in
the Land. His freelance credits include lighting
design and scenic artist, as well as a set design for
Les Miserables Jr. which has been seen in many
student programs throughout Northeast Ohio.
He is the proud father of Clayton.