High Society

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

ARTHUR KOPIT (Book) Throughout a career spanning seven decades, Kopit authored an extraordinary string of admired, acclaimed, and award-winning stage works, beginning with Oh Dad, Poor Dad; Mamma’s Hung You in the Closet; and I’m Feelin’ So Sad, while still an undergraduate at Harvard. Other works include Indians (Tony Nominee, Pulitzer Prize finalist); Wings (Tony Nominee, Pulitzer Prize finalist); End of the World, with Symposium to Follow; a new translation of Ibsen’s Ghosts; the musical books for Nine and Phantom (both with scores by Maury Yeston); Road to Nirvana; Because He Can (originally entitled Y2K); A Dram of Drummhicit (written with Anton Dudley); and numerous one-act plays. More recent projects include Discovery of America, based on the journals of the Spanish conquistador, Cabeza de Vaca; and two new plays, Secrets of the Rich and The Incurables. Mr. Kopit was a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Lark Play Development Center, where he headed the Lark Playwrights’ Workshop, influencing and mentoring countless young playwrights. He was, up to his death, a tireless advocate for playwrights, theater makers, theater companies, and especially The Lark.

SUSAN BIRKENHEAD (Additional Lyrics) received a Tony nomination, a Grammy nomination, and a Drama Desk Award for her lyrics for Jelly’s Last Jam; was nominated for a Drama Desk for Triumph of Love; was one of the writers nominated for a Tony for Working; won an Outer Critics Circle award for What About Luv?; was one of the contributors to A… My Name Is Alice; wrote the lyrics for BOOP! with David Foster, Terry Johnson and Sally Robinson; and the lyrics for Minsky’s, written with Charles Strouse and Bob Martin, directed by Casey Nicholaw winning the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Score. Susan has served on the steering committee of the Dramatists Guild, the Publications Committee, the Dramatists Guild Fund, and the Dramatists Guild Council since 1992.

PHILIP BARRY (Original Playwright), one of the most gifted writers of American comedy, wrote over 20 plays for the Broadway stage, including such hits as The Philadelphia Story, Without Love (both with Katherine Hepburn), Foolish Notion (with Tallulah Bankhead), Hotel Universe, Paris Bound, Here Come the Clowns, and The Animal Kingdom. Although he made his reputation with distinguished high comedies, he was also noted for his unique excursions into fantasy and serious drama. Produced by the Theatre Guild, The Philadelphia Story opened March 28, 1939 at the Shubert Theatre in New York City.

BT McNICHOLL (Adaptation for Ogunquit Playhouse) is delighted to return to Ogunquit Playhouse, having been part of Brad Kenney’s first season in 2006 and many more since. OP: Director of Cabaret, West Side Story, Billy Elliot, Fiddler, Seven Brides…, La Cage aux Folles, and Spamalot. Broadway: On the creative team of 12 Broadway shows as Associate Director for Jerry Zaks, Sam Mendes, David Hare, Stephen Daldry, and the legendary Mike Nichols. He staged the European premiere of The Producers and won the Helpmann (the Australian Tony Award) for Best Director. A BMI Award-winning lyricist and bookwriter whose work has been produced Off-Broadway, on National Tour, and at Madison Square Garden. His musical The IT Girl is published by Concorde Theatricals. BT is currently the Producing Artistic Director of the Tony-nominated La Mirada Theatre in LA. Special tribute to the late Philip Barry, whose brilliant original play is the basis for High Society.

MATT LENZ (Director) OP: Grumpy Old Men, Victor/Victoria. Broadway: Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Velocity of Autumn (Associate Director), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Resident Director). Off-Broadway: Pageant: The Musical, The Irish Curse, Idaho! The Comedy Musical, The Great Daisy Theory and Fingers and Toes. Tours:: The Music Man (upcoming), Hairspray, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sound of Music, A Christmas Story, Cheers: Live, Catch Me, Tommy. Regional: Paper Mill, The Ahmanson, The Muny, George Street Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Maltz Jupiter, La Mirada, Zach Theatre, Gulfshore, Casa Manana, Gateway, Forestburgh Playhouse. Matt is the Founding Artistic Director of the In The Works ~ In The Woods Festival of new plays and musicals. mattlenzdirector.com @magicmattlenz

JEFFRY DENMAN (Choreographer) is so happy to be returning to his “second home” to choreograph this production. OP: An American in Paris (Dir/Chor, IRNE Award Winner for both), Damn Yankees (Dir/Chor), West Side Story (Chor), The Music Man (Chor), Annie (Rooster), White Christmas (Phil Davis), Crazy For You 2007 (Bobby Child), Spamalot 2011 (Sir Robin). Jeffry is a five-time Broadway performer (White Christmas *Astaire Award nom, The Producers, Cats, Dream, How to Succeed) and an Off-Broadway performer (Kid Victory, Passion, The Holiday Guys) and choreographer (YANK!, Naked Boys Singing, If Love Were All). He is the author of the book, A Year with The Producers. Jeffry currently lives in Longmont, Colorado and is the Creative Production Manager for Imprint Events Group.

ALEXANDER DODGE (Scenic Design) Ogunquit Debut. Broadway: I Need That; Anastasia (Outer Critics Nomination); A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Nominations); Present Laughter (Tony nomination); Old Acquaintance; Butley; Hedda Gabler. Off Broadway: Prosperous Fools, Russian Troll Farm, Harry Clarke, The Whisper House, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Toward the Somme (Lortel winner). Regional: Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame (La Jolla, Paper Mill; Tours: Japan, Germany, Austria). West End: Harry Clarke, All New People. Opera: Samson et Dalila (Met Opera); The Thirteenth Child (Santa Fe); Ghosts of Versailles (LA Opera); Ukiyo-E (Grand Théâtre de Genève); Il trittico (Deutsche Opera Berlin); Lohengrin (Budapest). MFA: Yale. Upcoming NYC: Messy White Gays (The Duke on 42) and Archduke (Roundabout’s Laura Pels). @alexanderdodgedesign

RICHARD LATTA (Lighting Design) has enjoyed a long and varied career designing lighting Off-Broadway, Regional theatre, Corporate Events, Dance, and Opera. He has also enjoyed a decades long relationship with Ogunquit Playhouse. At OP he designed Come From Away, Waitress, Crazy For You, A Little Night Music, Little Shop of Horrors, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Disney’s Frozen at The Music Hall in Portsmouth. Thanks to all who helped out so much this season, congratulations to Brad for his 20th season, and dedications to Mom & Dad and the memory of Thom Roberts.

TRACY CHRISTENSEN (Costume Design) is pleased to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut. Broadway: Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close, Souvenir starring Judy Kaye. Off-Broadway: The Devil’s Disciple (Theater Row), Kate Hamill’s Pride & Prejudice (Cherry Lane), Scotland, PA (Roundabout), The Jonathan Larson Project (Orpheum), Love Life (NYC Encores). Other: About Time (Goodspeed), Beaches the Musical at Theater Calgary (BroadwayWorld Calgary Award), Carousel (English National Opera), 25^th Anniversary reunion concert of Ragtime, Sweeney Todd (starring Emma Thompson), Candide (at Carnegie Hall with John Lithgow), Love’s Labour’s Lost at the Folger (Helen Hayes nom). Film: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill (with Audra McDonald). 10 seasons with Chautauqua Theatre Company. Faculty: Purchase College SUNY, Southern Methodist University. tracychristensen.com

HALEY PARCHER (Sound Design)  is thrilled to be joining this team for her first production at Ogunquit Playhouse! Broadway: Spamalot. Regional: Annie, Something Rotten (Stratford Festival); Life After (Mirvish Productions); Schmigadoon, Spelling Bee, NINE, Bye Bye Birdie, Tick Tick Boom, Spamalot, Sunset Boulevard, Guys and Dolls (Kennedy Center); Waitress, Mary Poppins, Something’s Afoot, White Christmas, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, The Wiz, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (5^th Avenue); The Last 5 Years (A Contemporary Theatre); Cabaret (Old Globe); Mamma Mi!, Guys and Dolls (Village Theatre); How Can I Love You (Cave B); We’ve Battled Monsters Before, Violet (ArtsWest).

ROXANNE DE LUNA (Wig/Hair & Make-Up Design) Ogunquit Playhouse: My Best Friend’s Wedding, Little Shop of Horrors, Crazy for You, A Little Night Music, Waitress, Sound of Music, Tootsie, The New Broadway Musical (Regional Premiere), Da Vinci Code (American Premiere), Singing In The Rain, Beautiful, The Carole King Musical, Mr. Hollands Opus The New Musical (World Premiere), The Nutty Professor, The Cher Show, Young Frankenstein, Mystic Pizza (World Premiere), Escape to Margaritaville, Annie the Musical, Kinky Boots, Menopause, Cabaret, 42nd Street, Elf the Musical. Cleveland Playhouse: Amadeus, Light It UP! (World Premiere). Two River Theater: The Scarlet Letter (World Premiere). Big League Productions: The Cher Show 1st National Tour, North Carolina Theater: Beautiful, The Carole King Musical (2023) Kinky Boots (2020). Tuacahn: Beautiful, The Carole King Musical (2023). Playmakers Repertory Company LORT-D: My Fair Lady, Intimate Apparel (2017). She was born and raised in El Paso, TX. Graduate with her Master of Arts from University of Cincinnati- Conservatory of Music in Wig & Makeup Design, 2015.

GREG JARRETT (Music Supervisor/Orchestrator) received Drama Desk and OCC nominations for his Assassins orchestrations (CSC). He orchestrated and supervised The 12 (Goodspeed) and orchestrated Last of the Red Hot Mamas (Bucks County), Thousands of Blue (SPAC), and shows for Symphony Space and 92Y. Broadway: Gigi, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Dames at Sea, Side Show, Fun Home, The Nance. Off-Broadway: Assassins, Anything Can Happen (Maury Yeston), The Cradle Will Rock, Pacific Overtures, The Beast in The Jungle, Passion, Red Eye of Love, Death Takes A Holiday. New York: Promenade and other Encores! at City Center. Regional: August Rush (Paramount), Waterfall (Dance Arrangements), Timon of Athens (TFANA, STC). Film: Kiss of the Spider Woman (upcoming). Education: University of Michigan.  

SAM DAVIS (Music Consultant) Broadway: Death Becomes Her; New York, New York (Tony nomination); Smash; Company; An American In Paris; Holiday Inn; Side Show; Gigi; Big Fish. West End: Joseph… (Palladium). Composer: The Penelopiad (Goodman), Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare in the Park), Red Eye of Love (Off-Broadway), The Lost Colony (Manteo). Film/TV: Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025); Wonka; Beauty and the Beast; Hail Caesar!; A Christmas Story Live (Fox); Good Behavior (TNT). Winner of the Jonathan Larson Award. Graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music.

NICHOLAS CONNORS (Music Director) is thrilled to return to Ogunquit Playhouse. OP: Spamalot (Keyboard). Broadway: Almost Famous (Asst Music Director), Kristin Chenoweth’s For The Girls (Assoc Music Director, Orchestrations), Mean Girls (Keyboard). TV: Kristin Bell’s Encore! (Disney+). Nicholas has orchestrated music for Kristin Chenoweth, André De Shields, Lea Salonga, Jessica Vosk, and many other stars of stage and screen. He received the Dramatists Guild Fellowship for musical theatre writing and is currently developing multiple new musicals. @Nick_Connors Nicholas-Connors.com

ARC (Casting) 150+ productions across the globe & 13 Artios Awards for Casting.  Broadway/NY Past & credits include: Othello, Real Women Have Curves, A Wonderful World, Life of Pi, Chicago the Musical, Disney’s The Lion King & Beauty and the Beast, Hadestown, Lost in Yonkers, Great Comet of 1812, Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, 39 Steps, Pippin, La Cage aux Folles. TV/Film: Netflix, 20th Century Fox, NBC, Lionsgate, Disney Channel. West End/U.K.: Hadestown, Thriller Live, Menier Chocolate Factory. Tours: 1776, Hairspray, Waitress, Urinetown, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland, Into the Woods, We Will Rock You. Regional: A.R.T., Berkeley Rep, Alley, Bay Street, Goodspeed, Hollywood Bowl, McCarter, Signature. ARC, Part of RWS Global. castingbyarc.com
@castingbyarc

HALEY BENNETT (Music Contractor) is an NYC–based Music Supervisor, Conductor, Arranger, and Coordinator. Broadway: & Juliet, Redwood, Diana: The Musical, Once on This Island, Escape to Margaritaville, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, Anastasia, Bandstand, Paramour, Finding Neverland. Nat’l/Int’l Tours: Hamilton, Tales from Margaritaville, Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Prince of Broadway. TV/Film: Schmigadoon!, Diana: The Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar Live!, Peter Pan Live!. Haley is also a Music Contractor for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and a Recording Coordinator for Broadway cast albums. BA from Harvard University, originally from Maine! 
@haleybmusic

DEVIN DAY (Production Stage Manager) OP: A Little Night Music, Tootsie. Broadway: Grey House, 1776, Hillary & Clinton, 1984, The Humans, The Audience, Skylight, Disgraced, I’ll Eat You Last. New York: Blood of the Lamb (59E59); Like They Do in The Movies (PAC-NYC); Terce: A Practical Breviary (Prototype Festival); The Humans (Roundabout); Adoration of the Old Woman, Pinkolandia, Lucy Loves Me (INTAR); Breakfast with Mugabe (Theatre Row). Regional: Jordan (Northern Stage), The Cottage (Engeman Theatre). London: The Humans (Hampstead Theatre).

ANTHONY C. DANIEL (Associate Director) is so happy to return the Playhouse with this incredible team. OP: The Sound of Music (Director/Choreographer), Grumpy Old Men, Victor/Victoria, Witches of Eastick, Mary Poppins (Assoc. Director). National/International Tours: The Sound of Music, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Cheers! Live on Stage (Assoc. Director). Numerous Regional credits. Anthony also serves as the Associate Artistic Director for In The Works~In The Woods New Works Festival for the Forestburgh Playhouse, alongside Matt Lenz. Special thanks to Matt for yet another incredible adventure. For Angelo, my TL.
www.anthonycdaniel.com

LIZA PICCOLI (Associate Choreographer) is pleased to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Regional: Newsies (Assoc Choreographer/ Dance Captain/Hannah: u/s Katherine), An American in Paris (Asst Choreographer/Dance Captain, Musical Theatre West); 42nd Street, Chicago, Pippin, Drowsy Chaperone, Sound of Music (Music Theatre Wichita). She holds a BFA in Dance from Point Park University and is a 200-hour certified yoga teacher offering private yoga training in NYC. Teaching: Broadway Dance Center’s Dance Teacher Workshop. Her choreography has been featured across New York, Missouri, and Kansas. Endless love and gratitude to her parents, grandparents, and Jack. Follow the flow: @lizastinyflowclub

KYRA TEBOE (Associate Music Director) is pleased to make her return to Ogunquit Playhouse. OP: Camp Rock (AMD). Regional: The Wizard of Oz (AMD), The Color Purple (Keyboard II), Kinky Boots (Keyboard II), South Pacific (Keyboard II), Funny Girl (Keyboard II, MSMT); Clue (Musician, New London Barn Playhouse). Kyra would like to give a special thanks to her family for their endless support of her various musical endeavors. @kyrateboepiano

EMILY KATHERINE (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Off-Broadway: Cellino v. Barnes, Dracula A Comedy of Terrors, FIVE: A Parody Musical, The Jonathan Larson Project. A huge thank you to friends and family for supporting my journey thus far. May we all be so lucky!

KELLY MERRITT (Assistant Stage Manager) is pleased to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut. Broadway: The Inheritance, Hillary and Clinton, The Ferryman, The Boys in the Band. Off-Broadway: The Big Gay Jamboree, Dracula A Comedy of Terrors, The Gospel According to Heather, Slave Play. Regional: Enchanted April (STNJ); Soft Power, Bright Star, Archduke, and Zoot Suit (CTG); A Funny Thing Happened (Geffen Playhouse); Born for This (Broad Stage). Love to her family for their endless support and encouragement.

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

CONCORD THEATRICALS (Licensing) is the world’s most significant theatrical company, comprising the catalogs of R&H Theatricals, Tams-Witmark, Samuel French, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection, Dramatists Play Service and Playscripts, plus dozens of new signings each year. It is the only firm providing truly comprehensive services to the creators and producers of plays and musicals, including theatrical licensing, music publishing, script publishing, cast recording and producing. As a producer and record label, the company has won three Tony Awards and two GRAMMY Awards in the past six years.