cast and creative
SALLY STRUTHERS (Golde) Sally is a two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner for her performance in the groundbreaking series All in the Family. She starred in the Fox television series 9 to 5 and her own CBS series Gloria. Her recurring roles include the CBS comedy Still Standing and the CW’s highly acclaimed Gilmore Girls. Sally was “heard” as the voice of the teenage dinosaur Charlene Sinclair in the ABC prime-time series Dinosaurs. She is also the voice of Pebbles Flintstone on the Pebbles and Bam-Bam cartoon series and the lead female character on the popular Disney cartoon Tailspin. Struthers’ television movies include: “A Gun in the House,” and “Your name is Jonah,” “The Great Houdinis,” “Hey, I’m Alive,” “In the Best Interest of the Children,” “Deadly Silence,” “My Husband is Missing,” and “Intimate Strangers.” Sally co-starred in two legendary motion pictures in the 70’s: “Five Easy Pieces” with Jack Nicholson and “The Getaway” with Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw. She was featured in two independent films: “Out of the Black” and “A Month of Sundays” with Rod Steiger. Sally made a cameo appearance for actor/writer/producer Mario Van Peebles in the Sony feature “Baadassss!” Sally’s first two Broadway forays were in Wally’s Café with Rita Moreno and Jimmy Coco and in Neil Simon’s female version of The Odd Couple with Brenda Vaccaro. For three years she starred as Miss Mamie Lynch on Broadway and on tour in the Tommy Tune production of Grease. In the 20th Anniversary National Tour of Annie, Sally played the coveted role of Miss Hannigan. Sally was named Best Actress by the Los Angeles Artistic Director Theatre Awards for her role as Louise Seger in the musical Always, Patsy Cline, a true story based on the relationship between Seger and Cline. She also won the 2003 Ovation Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Agnes Gooch in the Los Angeles production of Mame. She has also starred in regional productions of Hello Dolly, Anything Goes, The Fifth of July, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and The Full Monty. For thirty years, Struthers has worked tirelessly to help the hungry and uneducated children everywhere. She has visited these children in the United States and many Third World countries, and has filmed numerous public service announcements and documentaries on their behalf. Because of her devotion to children and animals, Sally has received numerous humanitarian awards. Her best reward, however, is her darling daughter Samantha.
EDDIE MEKKA (Tevye) was last seen in Ogunquit’s production of Hairspray last season and is proud to be back in Fiddler on the Roof, and to be performing with Sally Struthers. Although it is far from Las Vegas, where he lives now, it is very close to where he grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is best remembered as Carmine Ragusa on the hit TV classic, “Lavern & Shirley.” The role of Carmine led to many guest appearances on television from “24,” “Crossing Jordan,” “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” “Rockford Files,” “The Big Easy,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Family Matters,” “Guiding Light,” “Bold and Beautiful,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” opposite Danny DeVito, Detective Murdoch in Fox TV movie, “Catch Me If You Can,” “Mulberry Street” series with Connie Sellecca, “Blansky’s Beauties” with Nancy Walker and Scott Baio and more. Eddie has appeared in the movies “Beaches,” “A League of Their Own” as Madonna’s boyfriend, “On Top of the World,” “Stand Up,” “Love Made Easy,” and “Dream Girls.” On Broadway he was nominated for a Tony® and Drama Desk Award as Best Actor for The Lieutenant, along with Joel Grey, Robert Preston, Raul Julia and John Cullum. Other Broadway shows include Jumpers and The Magic Show. He has performed in the National Tours of The Goodbye Girl, Damn Yankees with Ra Walston and Gwen Verdon, Grease with Cindy Williams and for the last 15 years in his favorite show, Fiddler on the Roof. Eddie most recently starred in Hairspray in Las Vegas. He keeps busy between stage and television touring the country with his night club act most recently performing in the North End of Boston in a concert for the Italian Festival.
THOMAS CANNIZZARO (Perchik) Broadway: Monty Python’s Spamalot (original cast) and Cabaret. Tours: Cabaret, Grease (Brazil), The Velveteen Rabbit (TheatreworksUSA). Regionally, Thomas has worked at the Goodspeed Opera House (Babes in Arms, The Goodspeed Cabaret), North Shore Music Theatre (Joseph and the Amazing...), and Lawyers, Lovers, and Lunatics with CY Coleman and Pat Birch. TV appearances on Jay Leno, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Tony’s. A graduate of New York University.
SUSAN CELLA* (Yente) is delighted to return to Ogunquit after having played the deliciously evil Velma Von Tussle in last season’s Hairspray with Eddie Mekka. Ms. Cella’s Broadway credits include: The Graduate, Crazy He Calls Me, Me and My Girl, Evita, On the 20th Century, and Allegro, and Lady in the Dark for Encores!. National tours include: Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof (Golde, opposite Theo Bikel), 42nd Street, La Cage Aux Folles, Me and My Girl, and Can-Can. Regionally, Susan has worked at The Old Globe, The Denver Center, St. Louis Rep, Arizona Theatre Co., Goodspeed Opera House, the Huntington Theatre, Helen Hayes PAC, and The Walnut Street Theatre, to name a few. TV and Film credits include two episodes of “Law and Order,” “The Sopranos,” “Hi Honey, I’m Home” (series regular), “Tavern on Jane,” “The Astronaut’s Wife,” “Follies,” and “A Sondheim Celebration for PBS.”
ANDREW CHARTIER (Ensemble) Andrew is happy to be returning to Ogunquit after last season’s Crazy for You. Since last summer Andrew has recently been seen as Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street and Phil Davis in White Christmas. Other favorites include Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain, Sir Harry in Once Upon a Mattress, Bobby Child in Crazy for You, and Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. Andrew is a graduate of the Hartt School, and thanks his family and friends for their constant love and support.
JOE COOPER (Ensemble) is finally making his Playhouse debut! A York, Maine native, Joe studied theatre, film and music at CUNY Hunter College in Manhattan. Recently you may have seen him playing Moose in the Palace Theatre’s production of Crazy for You. This spring Joe was awarded the Spotlight on the Arts Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Brad in The Rocky Horror Show at Seacoast Repertory Theatre. Thanks to Brad, Robert and BT. Love and thanks to mom, dad and the core. This one is for Nan. Regional Credits: Dave in The Full Monty, Rapunzel’s Prince, Into the Woods, Caleb the Spitfire Grill, Miles ...Forum. Joe was also a recurring extra in season 30 of NBC’s Saturday night Live.
J.TYRELL ELLIS (Yeshiva Boy) is 9 years old. He lives in Portsmouth, NH with his mom, dad, brother Anthony, and sister, Delilah. He is looking forward to his very first appearance in a play at the Ogunquit Playhouse. He would like to thank the Sulley family and Mrs. Connelly for making this happen.
ANDY GALE (Ensemble) is delighted to be revisiting Fiddler on the Roof, having played both Mendel and Motel earlier in his performing career. Andy has appeared on Broadway in Jane Eyre, The World of Sholem Aleichem, Rags (original cast album); and he loved playing the Bearded Lady in Side Show(original cast album). National and international audiences have seen Andy as The Fakir in The Secret Garden, Gus/Growltiger in CATS, and Feuilly in the original tour of Les Misérables. Andy is also a respected director and a sought-after teacher and acting coach in the Broadway community.
STEVE GAGLIASTRO (Ensemble) is pleased to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse, having performed in 2006’s Hello, Dolly! and Cabaret. Other credits include: International Tours: Spongebob Squarepants: Live! The Sponge Who Could Fly! [Original Cast] (Broadway Asia/nickelodeon), Cabaret (netWorks Tours), Cinderella starring Lea Selonga (Broadway Asia). Regional Credits: Sisters of Swing, You Never Know [IRNE Award nominee] (Stoneham Theatre), Kong’s Night Out (Lyric Stage Co., Boston), Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story, Cabaret, Sisters of Swing, Titanic, A Christmas Carol (Worcester Foothills), American Twistory (Comcast Cabaret Theatre, Boston), Jerry Finnegan’s Sister, First Night (Majestic Theater, W. Springfield). Steve is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a B.A. in Music/Music Education and is a proud member of Actors Equity.
ANDREW HASERLAT (Ensemble) With Ogunquit: The Full Monty and La Cage aux Folles... and thrilled to be back! NYC: Cat’s Cradle (UTC#61) and Empire (backers reading) staring Karen Ziemba and Matt Cavenaugh. Regional: Bill in the world premiere of John Pielmeier’s Slow Dance with a Hot Pick-Up(Barnstormers), Jesus Christ Superstar (NSMT), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, (Wheelock Family), Evita and The Full Monty (Worcester Foothills).TV: “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (USA). Numerous films and proud member of SAG.
KYLE ERICKSON HEWITT (Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to Ogunquit for a second season! He appeared here in last summer’s Crazy for You and The King and I. Favorite credits include several productions of Crazy for You in several different states and in several different roles. Others include A Chorus Line, Fiddler on the Roof, CATS, 42nd Street, and Anything Goes. A native New Yorker, Kyle holds a BA in theatre and speech from Wagner College. Later this summer he will be appearing in Evitaand The Producers in Rhode Island. Thanks to family, friends, and Ogunquit Playhouse for having me back!
MATT JONES (Rabbi) Previously at Ogunquit: Cabaret (Max), La Cage Aux Folles (Francis). Regional: Beauty & the Beast (Le Fou), Gypsy (Angie/Pastey), Damn Yankees (Rocky), Annie (Rooster), Seussical! (Mr. Mayor) all at Foothills Theatre. Titanic (Harold Bride) Bucks County Playhouse, Olympus on my Mind (Tom)-Barksdale Theatre, A Chorus Line (Mike)-WC Light Opera, National Tours: A Christmas Carol (Young Scrooge/Featured Dancer), A Thousand Cranes (Kenji), My Little Pony Live! (Swing). Thanks to Brad and BT.
MATTHEW JOHN KACERGIS (Fyedka) is thrilled to make his Ogunquit Playhouse debut. Other professional credits: The Secret Garden (Dickon), 1776 (The Courier), South Pacific (Lt. Cable), Thoroughly Modern Millie, (Trevor Graydon) and others. He wishes to send love and gratitude to his parents, friends, family, mentors and Merissa. Watch for him later this season in High School Musical and Les Misérables. www.Matthewkacergis.com.
RACHAEL LEFEBVRE (Bielke) is 11 years old and resides in Portsmouth, NH with her mom, dad and brother, Ty. She is thrilled to be making her second appearance on the Ogunquit Playhouse stage. She appeared in last season’s The King and I and thoroughly enjoyed making new friends with the cast and the Playhouse family. Other credits include a walk on performance in Oliver at the Prescott Park outdoor summer theatre, the role of Gillian in The Princess and the Pea. A big thank you is extended to Mrs. Connelly and to Robert for having me back!
MATTHEW MARKS (Ensemble) Matthew is excited to be at the Ogunquit Playhouse and performing such a classic! He most recently was seen in a new show called YANK! The Musical. Matthew has also been in La Cage Aux Folles, Gypsy, Swing, Mame, and Sweet Charity, to name a few. He is also very happy to spend a few weeks in the lovely state of Maine where the air is clear and the grass is always green, which is a nice change from New York City where he resides. He would like to thank his family, friends, Jack and always Robert for all of their love and constant support! Matthew is a proud Equity member!
ERICA MIXON (Spritze) is thrilled to make her debut in Ogunquit Playhouse this season as a main-stage performer. She has been doing Ogunquit Playhouse Children’s Theater since 2002, and has been seen in numerous productions including Mulan and Alice in Wonderland. She has also participated in Seacoast Repertory Theater’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and 101 Dalmatians. She will be returning to Berwick Academy as a sophomore, where she takes dance lessons and has acted in Berwick’s theater production The Sound of Music as Marta. Erica would like to thank and send love to her supporting friends and family, and everyone at the playhouse for this amazing opportunity.
VAL MORANTO (Furma-Sarah) is thrilled to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Broadway: Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Actors’ Fund). European tour & Japan: Tommy (Acid Queen). Favorite regional credits: Beehive at the Carousel Dinner Theatre, directed by Donna Drake and Fiddler on the Roof at the Fulton Theatre, directed by Gary John La Rosa. Feature film and TV credits include: “The nanny Diaries,” “Mona Lisa Smile,” “The Sopranos,” “Law & Order,” and “Guiding Light.” Thanks to the Ogunquit Playhouse, BT McNicholl, Robert Levinstein, Ken Clifton, Steven Yuhasz, Brad Kenney, this lovely cast and crew, Barry Kolker, friends, family, and my husband TJ. This one’s for you mom!
CATI AOJEDA (Tzeitel) New York performances include: Hope in Urinetown, The Musical (Gallery Players, NY IT Award: Best Musical), Claire in Proof (Astoria Performing Arts Center), Erica in Erica Seeing Red, (Juilliard), and the premiere of Liz Swados’ Judith (Playwrights Horizons). Regional: Williamstown Theatre Festival, John W. Engeman Theatre (Lend Me A Tenor, Dir. BT McNicholl). TV: “Law and Order,” “The Black Donnellys.” BFA, Marymount Manhattan College. For Dad.
ZALOWEN (Mendel, u/s Motel) is very excited to be making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut. Most recently, he made his Off-Broadway debut in Last Jew in Europe (Jozef) and performed in The York Theatre Company’s reading of The Toy Maker (Capek). Regional credits include Wuthering Heights at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Forever Plaid (Jinx), Titanic (Harold Bride), and Jesus Christ Superstar(Simon). Training: CCM. Zal would like to thank his Mom, Dad, family and friends for their constant love and support.
JIM POULOS* (Motel) recently played Max in Lend Me A Tenor at the John W. Engemann Theatre, directed by BT McNicholl. Broadway: Mark Cohen in RENT, Huck Finn in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. National Tours: Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, The Graduate. Regional: Bill Gates in Nerds: A Musical Software Satire at Philadelphia Theatre Company (Barrymore Award nom.) Guissepe Zangara in Assassins at Arden Theatre Co., Bobby Strong in Urinetown at Geva Theatre Center.TV/Film: “Guiding Light,” “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Slo-Mo.” Love to Lis.
SHOSHANNA RICHMAN (Grandma Tzeitel, Ensemble) is thrilled to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut, and to return to Anatevka in the role she played earlier this year at Pennsylvania’s Fulton Opera House. Other favorite credits: Patty Andrews in Sisters of Swing, Little Red in Into the Woods, Bella in Rags, Monica in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and Broadway’s World AIDS Day Concerts. Most recently, Shoshanna work shopped If You Give a Pig a Pancake for Theatreworks/USA. NYU graduate. Thanks to all at the Playhouse for this opportunity, love to family and friends! www.ShoshannaRichman.net.
KERRY SCHNEIDER (Shaindel, Ensemble) is excited to be working at The Ogunquit Playhouse this summer, where she will also be Mrs. Darbus in High School Musical. Regional credits: The Palace Theatre, NH - Jeannette in The Full Monty, Mama Rose in Gypsy, The Armory Theatre, WI - Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, NCCA Papermill Theatre, NH - Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, Maggie in 42nd St, The Actorsingers, NH - Emma Goldman in Ragtime, and over 15 years of zany dinner theater comedy with Stage One Productions in Manchester, NH. Love to children Lauren, Brian, and Beth and to my biggest fan - hubby Dennis, “the light of my life.”
LAURA SHOOP* (Hodel) Jerry Springer: The Opera (Baby Jane) at Carnegie Hall. Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), Oklahoma! Bernarda Alba (original cast recording) also in New York: Sherlock Holmes: The Early Years (NYMF Award 2007 for Outstanding individual performance). National Tour: Thoroughly Modern Millie. Regional: Belle in Beauty and the Beast (Alabama Shakespeare), A Funny Thing...Forum (Sacramento Music Circus), Carousel (Paper Mill), Lady in the Dark (Prince). TV: “Guiding Light,” “As the World Turns,” “Martha.” Graduate of the Juilliard School. www.Laurashoop.com
DOUG STENDER* (Constable) Broadway: The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Noises Off, Honour, Broken Glass, The Visit, Run For Your Wife, The Changing Room. Off-Broadway: Our Lady of 121st St. Passion Play, London Suite, Blithe Spirit, The Libertine. National Tour: Deathtrap, with Elliott Gould. Regional includes Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Boston Theatre Award), Arsenic and Old Lace, with Joanne Woodward. Television: a recurring role as “Judge Thomas Flint” on “Law and Order.” He is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
TIMOTHY STOKEL (Ensemble) just graduated from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Originally from Portsmouth, NH he has performed at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre and Prescott Park Arts Festival, as well as the Cutler Majestic Theatre in MA and Surflight Theatre in NJ. Timothy is thrilled to be joining the Ogunquit Playhouse for its season and thanks them for this wonderful opportunity. He also thanks his family and friends for their love and support. Enjoy the show!
STRIDER STONE SULLEY (Yeshiva Boy) is 9 years old and resides in Portsmouth, NH with his mother, father and sister, Michaela. This is Stone’s first appearance on stage and he is really excited about his involvement in this production with such a talented cast. Stone’s interests include reading, drawing, judo and lacrosse.
LILLY TOBIN (Chava) is thrilled to be working at Ogunquit Playhouse this summer. Regional credits: Into the Woods (Little Red), Pirates of Penzance (Isabel), Biloxi Blues (Daisy) at Saint Michael’s Playhouse, and A Chorus Line (Judy) at Stowe Theatre Guild. Lilly will be a senior at Wagner College this fall. Favorite Wagner credits include Ado, Annie in Oklahoma!, Essie in You Can’t Take It With Youand Peep-Bo in The Mikado. Last summer Lilly trained at The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art.
STEVE VALENTI (Lazar Wolf, butcher) Steve is pleased to be making the trip north from his Long Island, NY home to appear in Ogunquit. Previous credits include over 15 productions at Hofstra University including favorite roles of Lazar (of course!) in Fiddler, Padre in Man of LaMancha, M. Renaud in La Cage and Carnes in Oklahoma! Other regional roles include Tevye in Fiddler, Sancho in Man of LaMancha, Max in Sound of Music and Marcellus in Music Man. When not playing these alter-egos on stage Steve keeps busy as a Professor of Accounting and Tax at New York University, manages his own CPA firm, and is a nationally recognized speaker on taxes, estate and financial planning issues. Love to my wife Mary Lou and fellow thespian daughter’s Laura and Diana.
BRADFORD T. KENNEY (Executive Artistic Director) with a sincere sense of appreciation, Mr. Kenney continues his stewardship of “America’s Foremost Summer Theatre.” He is proud to include many wonderful theatrical productions and the guidance of some of the most significant theatre companies in New England as part of his career. Highlights include Ryan Landry and Eddie Mekka in Hairspray, Lorenzo Lamas in The King and I, Rue McClanahan in Crazy for You, Sally Struthers in Hello, Dolly!, Andrea McArdle in Cabaret and Leslie Uggams in Cinderella. While at Foothills Theatre in Worcester, MA, he produced such highlights as: Miss Saigon, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, Proof, Cabaret(national Regional Premiere), Smokey Joe’s Café, Dick and Jimmy Van Patten in The Sunshine Boys, Romeo & Juliet, Titanic The Musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Regional Premiere), Macbeth, Ten Little Indians, Chicago, Gypsy, Our Town and Ragtime. He is also founder of the Wachusett Theatre Company in Massachusetts with shows such as The Sound of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Disney/Elton John’s AIDA (northeast Regional Premiere), Ted Lange from The Love Boat in Damn Yankees; and Eddie Mekka from “Laverne & Shirley” in Fiddler on the Roof, among others. His children’s theatres have produced Disney’s Jungle Book Kids, SeussicalTYA (northeast premiere) and Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids and the new production, Fairy Houses, The Musical. In addition to his producing credits, Brad has appeared on stage in the title role of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Sorcerer with Salisbury Lyric Opera, Strephon in Iolanthe with the Savoyard Light Opera, Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Barrett the Stoker in Titanic, Eric Burling in An Inspector Calls, Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap, Bobby in Company, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, the King in The King and I, Cornelius in Hello, Dolly! and Oberon in Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as many other roles in shows throughout New England. He is a fourth generation artist, having studied at Rhode Island School of Design, Heartwood College of Art and Maine College of Art. Bradford dedicates this time in the theatre to the memory of Ryan Francis Curtis.
ROBERT LEVINSTEIN* (Director of Production) Broadway: Waiting in the Wings (with the legendary Lauren Bacall), Voices in the Dark, Parade (Lincoln Center). Off-Broadway: Clue: The Musical. Pre-Broadway Workshop: The Jazz Singer. National Tour: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Regional Tours: AIDA, Fame: The Musical. Regional Theatre: Resident PSM for North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA 2000/2001 Seasons. Resident PSM for the Ogunquit Playhouse 2003/2005 season which included Always Patsy Cline with the lovely Sally Struthers and Christa Jackson, Tale of the Allergists Wife with Karen Black and Auntie Mame with Charles Busch.
BT MCNICHOLL (Director) is delighted to be returning to Ogunquit for his third season, having previously directed Cabaret and La Cage aux Folles for the Playhouse; in fact, Fiddler marks his fifth happy collaboration with Producer Brad Kenney. Currently, McNicholl is represented on Broadway as the Associate Director for Mike Nichols on Spamalot and The Country Girl (with Morgan Freeman). A veteran of ten Broadway plays and musicals, he has directed for The Roundabout Theatre Company. Internationally, he won the 2003 Australian “Tony” Award, directed the European Premiere of The Producers, and a musical for Disney (now in its 4th year of worldwide tour). Winner of a Drama League Grant, he is a BMI Award-winning lyricist whose credits include The It Girl. Regionally, he has staged successful productions for The Goodspeed Opera House (Best Musical 2004), Dorset Theatre Festival, Walnut Street Theatre and the New Engeman Theatre (where he will stage Lobby Hero next year). Upcoming projects include being part of the creative team for the forthcoming Broadway musical, Billy Elliot.
ANDREW GLANT-LINDEN (Choreographer) is the recipient of two Carbone Regional theatre awards – as Best Director for Man of La Mancha and Best Choreographer for West Side Story. He was also nominated for his direction and choreography of Grand Hotel and The Secret Garden. Off-Broadway productions include: Fifth of July, Buried Treasure, Side by Side by Sondheim, The Baker’s Wife (with composer Stephen Schwartz) and the NY premieres of Heaven Knows, Not In Our Town, No Man Can Serve Two Masters and the musical revue I Prefer to Dream. Other Regional Theatre credits include multiple productions of: Sweeney Todd, Blood Brothers, Carousel, Fiddler on the Roof, Evita, Cabaret, Gypsy, A Little Night Music, Amadeus and Moliere’s The Miser. Later this summer he is off to direct and choreograph Chicago and Baby.
KEN CLIFTON (Musical Director) returns to Ogunquit after his time here last season, having done The Full Monty, The King and I, and La Cage aux Folles. Previous Ogunquit credits include Hello Dolly! and Menopause, the Musical. He is thrilled to escape New York City for a little while. Ken is a musical director, vocal coach, and composer/lyricist. He’s conducted musicals up and down the east coast. Disney uses his writing in Orlando and Tokyo. His project appearing on the Disney Cruise Line was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. He has written two full length musicals, Midnight Clearand A Christmas Carol, both produced in Florida. Ken wrote the music and lyrics to the opening production number of 2007’s Rose Bowl Parade. He has played on “Live with Regis and Kathy Lee” and CNN’s “Larry king Live.” ken had the great pleasure of coaching Oscar® award winning actress, Jennifer Hudson on her final call-back for “Dreamgirls.” He has also coached at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Music. Special thanks to Brad for inviting me back to this beautiful place for another exciting summer season. All of my love to Michael... truly my better half.
JENNIFER WERNER (Asst. Director) is thrilled to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse this season. Her choreography includes ABC’s “Ugly Betty;” NFL national commercials; “As Long As We Both Shall Laugh” (Broadway/Roundabout Theatre); as well as numerous regional productions of Cabaret. Jennifer’s credits an Associate Choreographer and/or Associate Director: Follies (Encores!), Winnie the Pooh (International Tour), La Cage aux Folles (Ogunquit), and the U.S. and Australian Tours of Cabaret. She has had a long-standing relationship with New York University, choreographing Floyd Collins, A New Brain, Merrily We Roll Along , and Urinetown. Thus far in 2008, Jennifer was on faculty for the Alabama Dance Festival, choreographed the Drama League’s Spring Gala (hosted by David Hyde Pierce) and performed in the workshop of Minsky’s (Dir/Choreo, Casey Nicholas). Upcoming projects this year include choreographing The Black Suits (The Public Theatre/SPF), The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks (TheatreworksUSA/Lucille Lortel Theatre), and My Fair Lady (Ogunquit Playhouse).
RICHARD LATTA (Lighting Designer) has worked in NYC, Ogunquit and elsewhere for the past twenty- some years, designing countless Off-Broadway, regional, and industrial shows. Credits include: the Ogunquit Playhouse 75th Anniversary Season, Blithe Spirit (Bloomsburg, PA,) The upcoming Nunsense 25th Anniversary Tour starring Sally Struthers, Nunsensations (Tour and TV Special), Meshugganuns (Tour & TV Special.) As a Projection Design Photo Researcher: Thurgood with Laurence Fishburne (Broad - way) Mazeppa (Metropolitan Opera), Thurgood (original production with James Earl Jones-Westport), and Distracted (Mark Taper Forum). At the American Ballet Theatre, Mr. Latta has been a teaching professional for the school’s program since 2002, mentoring students at Newarks’ Arts High School, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and other New York City schools. Thanks to Brad and all responsible for sparking the amazing growth of the Playhouse over the past three years.
RICHARD ELLIS (Scenic Designer) Most recently an industrial for Miller Beer in Medellin, Columbia, South America. A few of the productions he has designed include... NYC: Yardbird, Gardens of Frau Hess, Home of the Brave, Fifth of July, Cradle Song, and Radio City Music Hall. Ogunquit Playhouse: La Cage aux Follies, Cabaret, Beauty and the Beast, CATS, Swing, Evita, Chicago, Aida, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Always...Patsy Cline. Stock: Crazy for You, Taming of the Shrew, Dancing at Lughnasa, Far East, Beaujest. Regional: My Way, West Side Story, Sound of Music, Little Shop..., 1776, Hamlet, A Christmas Carol, Dames at Sea, Fly’n West, and What the Butler Saw. Opera: La Traviata, Tragedy of Carmen, Suor Algelica, Amahl ..., and Hansel and Gretel. Industrials/Theme Parks: American Brands, Showtime, Pizza Hut, Dollywood, Opryland, Silver Dollar City. And scenery for Alley Theatre, American Theatre Co., Ogunquit Playhouse, Stamford Theatre Works, Stages St. Louis, Playhouse on the Square, Westport Playhouse, Tennessee Rep., Helen Hayes Theatre, Seacoast Rep., Downtown Cabaret, Coconut Grove Playhouse. He has taught at Lehman College, for six years, and Queens College NYC and is a member of United Scenic Artist Local 829.
ADAM RIGBY (Sound Designer) is excited to be back in Ogunquit. He is looking forward to an exciting summer.
JAMES E. CROCHET (Costume design) has designed over thirty-eight productions, over fifteen musicals, among them Fiddler, High Society, Dames at Sea, La Cage aux Folles, Mame, South Pacific,Cabaret, and West Side Story; eight operas including Aida, La Traviata, The Tales of Hoffman and La Boheme. Among the theatres are St. Bart’s Players, the Oberon Theatre Ensemble, the Helen Hayes Theatre Company, and Theatre at St. Clements, Denver Civic Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, designing plays from playwrights Elmer Rice to Shakespeare. Mr. Crochet was Staff Designer for the famous Dodger Costumes and Head of Manufacturing for the equally famous Eaves-Brooks Costumes. As Adjunct Professor at Hunter and Wagner colleges, he taught various aspects of Costume design and construction, Period Styles and Stage Makeup; and his technical expertise extends from cutting/stitching, draping, millinery, and crafts, to wardrobe and costume shop management.
JOSHUA PILOTE (Production Stage Manager) New York credits include: Frankenstein, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!, Forbidden Broadway, Blue Man Group: Rewired, The Playwright’s Realm, The Public: Shakespeare in the Park, Roundabout Theatre Co., World Of Disney NYC, and various sub positions. Regional: Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespearean Festival, American Players Theatre. B.A. Theatre, Albertson College of Idaho. AEA Member.
PAUL O’TOOLE (ASM) is originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, where he spent many seasons working at Foothills Theatre. He recently spent a year working as the Technical ASM for The Palm Spring Follies in Palm Springs, California. Paul is proud to be returning for his second season here in Maine. He would like to thank everyone at the Playhouse for their trust and support.
FRED RUBINO (General Manager) joined the Playhouse staff as the project manager in 2006, overseeing major renovations to the electrical and theatre rigging systems. Fred is a member of the Playhouse Theatre Guild and has volunteered many hours working on the restoration of the Playhouse building as well as the Checkoway Pavilion and Children’s Theatre facilities. Fred was appointed General Manager in 2007. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has extensive experience in financial management, human resources, and grant writing. Fred has lived and worked in the seacoast area since 1977. He retired after a 32-year career in law enforcement in which he was the Chief of Police for two local communities.
JOSEPH STEIN (Author) started his career in television and was one of a noted group of writers on Your Show of Shows and The Sid Caesar Show. His first work for the theatre was as co-author of Plain and Fancy, the musical about the adventures of a pair of sophisticated New Yorkers living among the Amish in Pennsylvania. His next show was Mr. Wonderful, starring Sammy Davis, Jr. He created the libretto for the Bock and Harnick musical The Body Beautiful. His next librettos were for Take Me Along, based on Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness and Juno, with score by Marc Blitzstein. He then wrote the adaptation for the hit stage comedy Enter Laughing. Fiddler on the Roof was his next show, for which he won the Tony as well as the Drama Critics’ Circle Award. He was also nominated for a Tony for his next show, Zorba, with score by Kander and Ebb. His other productions include King of Hearts, Irene, Rags(for which he also was nominated for a Tony), and The Baker’s Wife, which was produced in London and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award. Mr. Stein is also the author of the screenplay for Fiddler on the Roof.
JERRY BOCK (Music Composer) was born in New Haven, Connecticut on November 23, 1928. That was his first out-of-town tryout. Thirty years later, he and Sheldon Harnick gave birth to The Body Beautiful in Philadelphia. That was his fourth out-of-town tryout. In between was Catch a Star, a fleeting revue that, according to critic Walter Kerr, posed the question; “What do you call something between a flop and a smash?” Kerr’s answer? “A flash.” Next, Jule Styne and Tommy Valano midwifed Bock, Larry Holofcener and George Weiss into birthing Mr. Wonderful starring Sammy Davis Jr. The title song and Too Close for Comfort are still active off springs. Bock and Harnick’s celebrated collaboration yielded five scores in seven years. The Body Beautiful, Fiorello! (winner of Broadway’s triple crown: The Tony Award, The New York Critics’ Circle Award and The Pulitzer Prize in drama, the fourth musical to do so). Tenderloin, She Loves Me (winner of Variety’s poll of critics as best musical, citing Bock and Harnick as best composer and lyricist). Fiddler on the Roof (nine Tony’s, notably the citation for best musical of the year), The Apple Tree and The Rothschilds. In addition to the 1989 silver anniversary production of Fiddler (from which a major excerpt was featured in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway), a highly esteemed revival of The Rothschilds enjoyed a successful run off-Broadway the following year. Since then, Bock and Harnick were triply honored by being inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame, receiving the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Spirit of American Creativity Award from the Foundation for a Creative America. But the “award” that Bock holds near and dear is the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Wisconsin. It was there that he met his wife Patti, and it was there that he decided to be a composer. Mr. Bock is a member of a number of professional guilds and associations, among which the BMI Foundation, Inc. is a membership he relishes.
SHELDON HARNICK (Lyrics) Started studying violin while in grammar school, attended Carl Schurz High School, and continued violin studies and music theory at the Boguslawski Musical College. During his junior and senior years, Schurz began to write parodies, sketches and some original songs with collaborator Stanley Orzey. Drafted 1943, he was stationed at Robins Field, Georgia and worked as a performer and wrote songs for shows put on by the volunteer Special Service Group. Later he attended Northwestern University School of Music. After graduation he worked with Henry Brandon’s dance orchestra around Chicago and the Midwest. He went to New York in 1950 to try to be a theatrical songwriter. His first song in a Broadway show: The Boston Beguine in New Faces of 1952. Over the next few years he contributed songs to On and Off-Broadway revues including Two’s Company, John Murray Anderson’s Almanac and The Shoestring Revue. SHOWS WITH JERRY BOCK: Fiorello(1959), Tenderloin (1960), Man in the Moon (1963) for the Bill Baird Marionettes. She Loves Me (1963), To Broadway with Love (1964), Fiddler on the Roof (1964). IMPORTANT AWARDS: Fiorello: Tony Award, Pulitzer Prize, NY Drama Critics Circle Award. She Loves Me: Grammy Award, Fiddler on the Roof; Tony Award, NY Drama Critics Circle Award, Newspaper Guild of NY Page One Award and many more. Mr. Harnick is a member of The Dramatists Guild and the Songwriters Guild of America.
MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (www.MTIShows.com) is one of the world’s leading dramatic licensing agencies, protecting the rights and legacy of composers, lyricists and book writers and supplying scripts, musical materials and other theatrical resources to theatres around the world. MTI has been a driving force in extending the production life of such great musicals as Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Damn Yankees, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, The Music Man, and Ragtime. With over 250 titles in its catalogue, including hits from the Broadway and London stage, musical revues, the Broadway Junior Collection and other youth musicals, MTI shows have been performed by over 45,000 amateur and professional theatrical organizations throughout the US and in over 60 countries around the world.
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org