Cast and Creative:
DWAYNE COOPER is pleased to make his debut at Ogunquit Playhouse. Broadway: Hairspray, Motown; National Tours: Showboat, Seussical The Musical, Smokey Joe's Cafe; Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar; Film/TV: "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," "Law and Order," "The Get Down," "The Deuce," "RuPaul's Drag Race;" Principal Singer aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines and founding member/bass singer of The Doo Wop Project. Special thanks to Mike Stoller, the SJC NY and Ogunquit Team for believing in me, my partner Stas, family and friends. I dedicate my performances to former Coaster and fellow "svelte bass singer" the late great, Ronnie Bright. Don't give up on your dreams because your map is yours only. Be a star wherever you are in the world. www.thedoowopproject.com
EMMA DEGERSTEDT is thrilled to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! She was recently seen originating the lead role of Susanna in the hit Off-Broadway musical, Desperate Measures. Previously she starred as Ariel in The Little Mermaid at the MUNY. TV/Film: "Unfabulous" on Nickelodeon (Maris, Young Artist Award), "The Big Bang Theory," "Hannah Montana," "Life," "Monk," "Samantha Who?," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button;" Theatre: Legally Blonde (Elle Woods, Los Angeles Ovation nomine), 13 (originated Kendra, Mark Taper Forum), A Chorus Line (Cassie, Val), Company (April), Xanadu (Kira), Footloose (Ariel), Rocky Horror Show (Janet), and Sleeping Beauty (originated Aurora, Pasadena Playhouse). Love to Mom, Dad, John, DGRW, and Tara Rubin Casting. IG: @officialemmadegs
JOHN EDWARDS is so excited to be in a part of this incredible company! Theatre credits include: Jersey Boys (Hal Miller/others, Broadway and National Tour), I Am: Anne Hutchinson/Harvey Milk starring Andrew Lippa and Kristin Chenoweth (Castro Soloist/choir member), In The Heights at the Kennedy Center, Rock of Ages (Mayor/Ja'Keith), Hairspray (Seaweed, National Tour), Dreamgirls (Jimmy Early), Five Guys Named Moe (Little Moe); Member of the Grammy-nominated gospel choir Broadway Inspirational Voices. Special thanks to GOD, my family and friends. Peace Love and Light. IG: @therealjohnedwards
DIONNE D. FIGGINS is pleased to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Broadway: Motown (OBC, U/S Diana Ross, Lunt-Fontaine), Leap of Faith (Assistant Choreographer, St. James Theatre), Memphis (OBC, Asst. Dance Capt., Shubert Theatre), Hot Feet (OBC, U/S Kalimba, Fox Theatre); Off-Broadway: Trip of Love (Jennifer, Stage 42), Soul Doctor (U/S Nina Simone, NY Theatre Workshop); Regional: Happy Hour the Musical: Prohibition Edition (Madame Lulu White, Co-Choreographer, NCL), Smokey Joe's Cafe (Brenda, El Portal Theatre, Ovation Nominee), Chicago (Velma, New Theatre); Film: "Across the Universe" (East Village Denizen), "Louis" (Muse); TV: "Flesh and Bone" (Yasmine), "Power," "She's Gotta Have It," "Glee," "House;" Former member of Dance Theatre of Harlem and Guest Artist with Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Co-Founder of Broadway Serves. Figgins Tribe Forever! IG: @ddfiggs
NICOLE VANESSA ORTIZ originally from New Jersey, is a Vocal Major Alumni of Arts High School of Performing Arts in Newark, NJ and has been exposed to many genres of music such as: Gospel, Blues, Jazz, DooWop, Disco, Soul, R&B, Pop, Rock, Classical, as well as Musical Theater. In 2017, she made her debut as the leading lady in the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway parody, Spamilton. Today she currently stands as the 1st Grand Prize Winner of Empire City Casino Lucky Break Season 1, 1st Grand Prize Winner of "Wendy's Next Great Voice" 2012 on the "Wendy Williams Show," 2012 Super Top Dog Finalist of Amateur Night at the Apollo, 1st Place winner of Amateur Night Goes to London at the Apollo and a Top 45 finalist of "American Idol" Season 5. She is incredibly grateful to be in the Smokey Joe's Cafe cast and gives thanks to God, her family and friends for the continued love and support!
KYLE TAYLOR PARKER Recently seen on NBC in "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert." Known for his work in the original Broadway casts of Kinky Boots and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Other credits include: Off-Broadway: Finian's Rainbow; Tours: Kinky Boots (Lola), In the Heights; Regional: Dreamgirls, Hair, I Left My Heart; Solo Concert: "The Soul Session." IG @ktpway.
JELANI REMY is thrilled to be making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut in Smokey Joe's Cafe! Broadway: The Lion King (Simba), National Tours: High School Musical (Chad), The Lion King (Simba); Regional: High School Musical 2! (Chad), Parade (Jim Conley), Cabaret (Bobby), The Lion King (Swing); A New Jersey native who has a passion for directing, choreography and teaching. Thanks to God, his family and friends and this incredible cast and crew! "Be the change that you wish to see in the world" - Gandhi. IG: @itsjelaniremy
MAXIMILIAN SANGERMAN is so pumped be making his Ogunquit and Stage 42 debut. NY Theatre: Blue Man Group, SPUN: A new rock musical, The Lightning Thief (First National Tour), The Shakespearean Jazz Show, God Lives in Glass (LPAC); Other Theatre: The 12 (Denver Center of Performing Arts), The Buddy Holly Story, Rocky Horror (Bucks County Playhouse); B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Emerson College. Thanks and love to DGRW, Tara Rubin Casting, my friends and my beautiful family. @maxsangs
ALYSHA UMPHRESS is pleased to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Broadway: On The Town (Hildy), American Idiot (OBC), On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Bring it On!; Off-Broadway: Make Me a Song (The Music of William Finn); Regional: Dallas Theatre Center: Hood (Meg), Paper Mill Playhouse: Pump Boys And Dinettes (Rhetta Cupp), Signature Theatre: Beaches (Cee Cee Bloom, Helen Hayes nomination Best Leading Actress in a Musical); TV: "The Climb" (Misty), "Law and Order SVU," "Nurse Jackie," "Royal Pains;" Recordings: I've Been Played; Alysha Umphress swings Jeff Blumenkrantz (available on iTunes and Amazon). Most recently, Alysha played Ruth in Wonderful Town with the London Symphony Orchestra. That recording will be released on the LSO label and will be available on iTunes. Thanks to Josh. Love to Joby and Lele. IG: @alyshaumphress
SHAVEY BROWN (Standby) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. National Tours: Dreamgirls (Curtis Taylor Jr., Korean Tour); Off-Broadway: The Fantasticks (El Gallo, Jerry Orbach Theatre), The Battles (Botticelli, Gym at Judson); Regional: The Scottsboro Boys (Swing, The Old Globe, American Conservatory Theatre, Center Theatre Group-Ahmanson), Annie (Lt. Ward, Papermill Playhouse), South Pacific (Johnson, Walnut Street Theatre), The Producers (O'Houlihan, Maine State Music Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre); Film: "The Only Living Boy In New York" (Amazon Studio); TV: "Vinyl" (HBO). Thank you to Tara Rubin (Kaitlin), Josh, Sonny, Roster, WAM, my friends and family, and God! Let's rock 'n' roll!
ANTOINETTE COMER (Standby) is so excited to be making her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! Broadway: Mamma Mia! (u/s Ali, Ensemble); Off-Broadway: Sistas: The Musical (Gloria); National/International Tours: Dreamgirls (Lorrell Robinson), Mamma Mia! (Lisa); Regional: Sister Act (Deloris Van Cartier, Palace Theater), A Bronx Tale (Swing, Paper Mill Playhouse); Grateful to God. She thanks all of her friends and family (Mom, Dad, Dominique, Nick, Colette, the unicorn, and Koby) for all their love and support. Special thanks to Take 3, Encompass Arts and the entire Smokey Joe's team! Philippians 4:6.
DAN DOMENECH (Standby) Broadway: Rock of Ages (Drew); Off-Broadway: Heathers: the Musical (Hipster Dork); Tour/Sitdowns: Rock of Ages (1st National Tour), Rent, Sister Act, Wonderland, Kinky Boots; Other roles include PSF's Evita (Che), DTC's Rocky Horror (Frank n Furter), Tuachan's Aladdin (Aladdin), as well as guest appearances on "Glee" and "Gotham" on FOX. When not in theater, Domenech can be seen singing around the country with the Symphony and Neil Berg. Shout out to the "PureBreads" and my incredibly supportive family.
BRONWYN TARBOTON (Standby) is pleased to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. National Tour: A Chorus Line (Maggie); Regional: Annie, Mary Poppins, and Oliver! (Paper Mill Playhouse), A Chorus Line (MUNY, North Carolina Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Pioneer Theatre Company), Smokey Joe's Cafe, Anything Goes, and How to Succeed (Stages St. Louis), and Grease, The Little Mermaid, and Hairspray (Tuacahn Amphitheater); BFA Music-Dance-Theater from BYU. IG: @btarboton
JERRY LEIBER AND MIKE STOLLER Over the course of a 61-year partnership, Jerry Leiber (d. 2011) and Mike Stoller created enduring classics in a variety of genres including rhythm & blues, pop, country, jazz, cabaret, and-perhaps most notably- rock 'n' roll. They wrote the Elvis Presley hits "Hound Dog," "Loving You," and "Jailhouse Rock" as well as all of the Coasters' hits, including "Searchin'," "Young Blood," "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," "Along Came Jones," "Poison Ivy" and "Little Egypt." In 1955, Atlantic Records signed Leiber and Stoller to the first independent production deal, forever changing the course of the record industry. Leiber and Stoller's songs and productions were constantly on the charts during the next decade. Aside from the Coasters' many hits, there were Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" and "I (Who Have Nothing)"; The Drifters' "There Goes My Baby," "Dance With Me," and "On Broadway"; LaVern Baker's "Saved"; and Ruth Brown's "Lucky Lips." During this same period, while Leiber and Stoller were producing the Clovers ("Love Potion # 9"), Jay and the Americans ("Only In America"), and Chuck Jackson ("I Keep Forgettin'"), other artists were having hits with Leiber and Stoller compositions. There was Wilbert Harrison with "Kansas City," the Drifters with "Fools Fall In Love," Dion with "Ruby Baby," Peggy Lee with "I'm A Woman," "Is That All There Is?," and Edith Piaf with "L'Homme est la Moto." Elvis Presley recorded more than 20 songs written by Leiber and Stoller, including "Love Me," "Treat Me Nice," "Don't," "(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care," "Bossa Nova Baby," "Santa Claus Is Back In Town," and "Trouble." Leiber and Stoller have received countless awards and honors, including: induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1985) and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1987), having their star placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and their handprints embedded into the Hollywood Rockwalk (1994), receiving a Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album for Smokey Joe's Cafe (1995), a NARAS Trustees Award (Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement, 1999), a Johnny Mercer Award (National Academy of Popular Music, 2000), and a Songwriters Hall of Fame Towering Song Award for "Stand By Me" (2012). In 2009, Simon & Schuster published Hound Dog: The Leiber and Stoller Autobiography. In 2010, Leiber and Stoller celebrated their 60th anniversary as a songwriting team. In April of 2011, the musical The People in the Picture, with music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler and book and lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart, opened on Broadway at Studio 54 and was nominated for a Tony Award, three New York Drama Desk Awards, a New York Outer Critics Circle Award and two New York Drama League Awards.
JOSHUA BERGASSE (Director/Choreographer) most recently choreographed Broadway's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His other Broadway choreography credits include the acclaimed revival of On The Town (for which he received an Astaire Award and Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Circle Award nominations), and the revival of Gigi. As a director/choreographer, Joshua co-directed and choreographed the acclaimed Bombshell on Broadway concert at the Minskoff Theatre, and directed and choreographed Hazel, a new musical at the Drury Lane Theatre last spring. His other New York choreography credits include Cagney (Drama Desk, Astaire, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations) and Sweet Charity starring Sutton Foster at The New Group (Chita Rivera Award, Lortel Award nomination). He also received an Emmy Award for his choreography on NBC's musical drama "Smash."
SONNY PALADINO (Music Supervision, New Arrangements, and Orchestrations) most recently served as Music Supervisor for the new Broadway musical, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. Music Director for the upcoming new Broadway musical, Getting the Band Back Together. Associate Conductor for The Last Ship (written by 16 time Grammy Award winner, Sting), and the TONY winning best revival, Pippin; Other Broadway credits: Jesus Christ Superstar, Billy Elliot, Grease, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Guys and Dolls, Mamma Mia!, Promises, Promises, The Addams Family, and Women on the Verge; Music Supervisor for Disney's High School Musical (Milan/Italy tour.) 1st National Tours: Disney's High School Musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Grease. Arrangements and orchestrations for The Indianapolis, Baltimore, Vancouver, Detroit and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestras. As a composer: The Return of the Blue Cat (with poet F.D. Reeve.) TV: "The X-Factor" (Australia), and "The Next Big Thing." Sonny is also a founding member and arranger of the hit group The Doo Wop Project, which tours the country performing classic Doo Wop music and contemporary songs in that style. B.F.A. in Jazz Piano from CUNY City College.
BEOWULF BORITT (Scenic Design) Broadway: Act One (Tony Award), The Scottsboro Boys (Tony Nomination), Therese Raquin (Tony Nomination), Come From Away, Meteor Shower, A Bronx Tale, Prince Of Broadway, Sunday in the Park with George, Hand To God, On The Town, Sondheim On Sondheim, ...Spelling Bee , LoveMusik, Rock Of Ages, Chaplin, Bronx Bombers, Grace, and The Two And Only; Off- Broadway: 100 shows including The Last Five Years, Sleepwalk With Me, and Miss Julie; He has designed for The NYC Ballet, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and around the world in England, Russia, China, Australia, and Japan. 2007 OBIE Award for sustained excellence.
ALEJO VIETTI (Costume Design) New York: Holiday Inn, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (West End, Olivier Nomination, National tour, Japan and Australia), Allegiance (Drama Desk Nomination), Amy and the Orphans (Roundabout), Nightingale (MTC), Grace (MCC Tryst, Storefront Church (Atlantic Theatre), Old Jews Telling Jokes. City Center Encores. Regional: Alley, Goodspeed, Guthrie, Hartford Stage, Paper Mill, Shakespeare Theatre, and Old Globe among others. Opera: NY City Opera, Chicago Lyric, Minnesota Opera, Wolf Trap and Donesk Opera (Ukraine). Other: Radio City Rockettes, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baileyís . TDF Irene Sharaff Young Master Award.
JEFF CROITER (Lighting Design) Broadway: Bandstand, Falsettos, Holiday Inn, Something Rotten, Disaster, Penn and Teller, Newsies, Peter and the Starcatcher (Tony Award), Mothers and Sons, A Time to Kill, Soul Doctor, Jekyll and Hyde, The Anarchist, The Performers, The Pee-wee Herman Show, Next Fall and Kiki & Herb; Off-Broadway: The Jerry Springer Opera; Tiny Beautiful Things; F-king A; Cost of Living; Good For Otto; Sweet Charity; Head of Passes; The Robber Bridegroom; King Lear; Loves Labors Lost; Fly By Night; Last Five Years; A Lie of the Mind; Ordinary Days; The Internationalist; Cam Jansen; Old Jews Telling Jokes; Love, Loss and What I Wore; Almost Maine and The Voysey Inheritance; Other credits: The Big Apple Circus; Penn & Teller at The Rio in Las Vegas; Rufus Wainwright's Judy concert; Family Guy Sings; and Jennifer Muller The Works; Jeff has received Tony, Hewes and Bass awards and has been nominated for Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lortel, Ovation, IRNE and Audelco awards.
PETER FITZGERALD (Sound Design) His most recent designs include: John Lithgow's Stories by Heart, China Doll, Trip of Love, Sylvia, Penn & Teller on Broadway and the acclaimed production of Into the Woods at the Hobby Center in Houston. Mr. Fitzgerald designed the sound for All the Way, Old Jews Telling Jokes, The New York Philharmonic's productions of Sweeney Todd and Carousel, Will Farrell's You're Welcome America, Billy Joel's Movin' Out, Gypsy; Paul Simon's The Capeman, The Will Rogers Follies, 42nd Street, La Cage Aux Folles, City of Angels, Hello Dolly!, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, to name a few. Noted plays: Glengarry Glen Ross, Speed-the-Plow, Blithe Spirit, The Odd Couple, M. Butterfly, The Beauty Queen of Leenane. President of Sound Associates, Inc., a leading provider of sound and video systems to the entertainment and business communities. Peter and wife Maritza are the proud parents of daughters Lori and Mallori.
CHARLES G. LAPOINTE (Wig Design) Over 50 Broadway shows including: On Your Feet, Hamilton, Doctor Zhivago, The Color Purple, Of Mice and Men, Violet, Sideshow, Elephant Man, After Midnight, Beautiful, Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Motown, Jekyll and Hyde, Clybourne Park, Bring It On, Newsies, The Mountaintop, Memphis, Lombardi, Fences, In the Heights, Jersey Boys, and A Raisin in the Sun. Emmy nominee for The Wiz Live!
STEVE MARGOSHES (Orchestrations) composed the score for Fame: The Musical. Fame has played worldwide for 25 years, and is still going strong. He has orchestrated many Broadway musicals, including Big River (Drama Desk Award), The Who's Tommy (Drama Desk Award), Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida, and Soul Doctor (Drama Desk nomination). He has contributed to many Jim Steinman recordings including Bat Out of Hell, and orchestrated Steinman's musical Tanz der Vampire (directed by Roman Polanski) and still running in Germany and Austria after 20 years; he has also written special symphonic arrangements for Andrew Lloyd Webber. With Hair authors James Rado & Gerome Ragni, he composed the musicals Sun and Jack Sound. Steve has composed an extensive body of 'pops' pieces for Symphony Orchestra, recorded by the Budapest Symphony on Hungaraton & Albany Records.
TARA RUBIN CASTING (Casting) Selected Broadway: King Kong (upcoming), Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, The Band's Visit, Prince of Broadway, Indecent, Bandstand, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Dear Evan Hansen, A Bronx Tale, CATS, Falsettos, Disaster!, School of Rock, Les Miserables, The Heiress, The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, Shrek, Spamalot, ...Spelling Bee, The Producers, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys; Off-Broadway: Jersey Boys, Here Lies Love, Love, Loss, and What I Wore; Selected Regional: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, Asolo Rep. www.tararubincasting.com
JOHN MILLER (Music Coordinator) Broadway: over 120 shows, including: Summer, Beautiful, Waitress, Jersey Boys, Once on this Island, Hello Dolly, Rock of Ages, Miss Saigon, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Indecent, The Great Comet of 1812, A Bronx Tale, Something Rotten, Les Miserables, Pippin, Once, Newsies, Elf; Studio Musician (bass): Leonard Cohen, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bette Midler, Peter, Paul and Mary, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, Carly Simon, BB King, Mose Allison, Portishead, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan. www.johnmillerbass.com
PAMELA EDINGTON (Production Stage Manager) is delighted to make her debut and be a part of the Smokey Joe's Cafe team here at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Representative/favorite credits from over the years would include for Broadway/Production Touring: The Weir, Prelude to a Kiss, Three Mo' Tenors, and Coastal Disturbances; Off-Broadway: Murder Ballad, Falling, The Last Smoker in America, Fifty Words, Collected Stories (with Miss Uta Hagen), Always, Patsy Cline; Regional: Rock And Roll Man, Jacques Brel..., Flight of the Lawnchair Man, Wings; Special thanks to Frankel Green Theatrical Management.
CHRISTOPHER FLORES (Assistant Stage Manager) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Off-Broadway: The Boy Who Danced On Air, Cleopatra, and 3 Kind of Exile; Select Regional: Rock And Roll Man, After A Hundred Years, Ebenezer Scrooge's Big Playhouse Christmas Show, Million Dollar Quartet, Company, The Divine Sister; Tours include Mamma Mia! and Encore.
STEVEN BARUCH, MARC ROUTH, RICHARD FRANKEL, AND TOM VIERTEL (New York Producers) have produced and managed a wide range of productions for the past 32 years including, among others, the original Broadway productions of The Producers, Hairspray, Young Frankenstein, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Angels in America, Penn & Teller, The Weir, The Encounter, Swing!, and most recently Beau Willimon's The Parisian Woman starring Uma Thurman. Their notable revivals include Gypsy with Patti LuPone and Laura Benanti, The Norman Conquests, A Little Night Music with Catherine Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury and later Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch, John Doyle's groundbreaking productions of Sweeney Todd with Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris and Company with Raul Esparza, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Nathan Lane and later Whoopi Goldberg, Damn Yankees and the first-ever Broadway revivals of The Sound of Music and Little Shop of Horrors. Notable Off-Broadway premieres include Driving Miss Daisy, Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune, The Cocktail Hour, Love Letters, Oleanna, Jeffrey, Marvin's Room and Stomp. They've mounted many national tours and productions in London, Australia, Canada, Europe, and throughout Asia. This season they are co-producing The Band's Visit and Angels in America on Broadway and Young Frankenstein in the West End. Their productions have received dozens of awards including two Pulitzer Prizes, four Grammy Awards and two Olivier Awards for Best Musical. Their six Tony Awards include all four Best categories: play, musical, revival of a play and revival of a musical. They own and operate the acclaimed Broadway-themed nightclub/cabaret Feinstein's/54 Below, which presents over 700 performances each year and has set a new culinary standard for New York City entertainment venues.
STEPHEN HELPER (Original Concept) has conceived, written, directed and/or produced quality theatre productions for 40 years from Broadway to numerous productions at the Sydney Opera House. His work ranges from major musical revivals of Fiddler on the Roof (nominated for the "Best Revival" Tony Award), musical revues (Co-Conceiver of the worldwide smash Smokey Joe's Cafe), FOLLIES in Concert at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, to developing original works. These include his acclaimed play A Sign of the Times; Syncopation by Allan Knee (touring 40 theatres throughout Australia); the ground-breaking musical works including Café Rebetika! set in a rundown café in Piraeus, Greece and new Aboriginal work: The New Black, a sensational musical about a young Aboriginal man trying to climb the corporate ladder and The Adventures of Namakili. In Sydney, Steve is about to present an all-star revival of a legendary Australian musical, Lola Montez for which he has rewritten the book and has plans also for Pal Joey. In New York, Stephen is developing productions of A Sign of the Times and a new play, Waiting for the Ball to Drop by celebrated New York writer David Simpatico, starring Mario Cantone. Stephen, a graduate of Yale, got his start by assisting Jerome Robbins, Ruth Mitchell, Arthur Laurents and Richard Matlby Jr.
JACK VIERTEL (Original Concept) is currently the Senior Vice President of Jujamcyn Theaters, which owns and operates five Broadway Theaters, currently presenting The Book of Mormon, Springsteen on Broadway, Kinky Boots, Mean Girls and Frozen. He is also the Artistic Director of New York City Center's Encores! series, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year and presenting Hey, Look Me Over!, Grand Hotel, and Me and My Girl. He spent two years as Dramaturg of the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and from 1980 to 1985 was the drama critic and arts editor of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. He was the original conceiver and co-producer of Smokey Joe's Cafe, and the conceiver of After Midnight. He helped shepherd six of August Wilson's plays to Broadway, as well as Tony Kushnerís Angels in America, the original production of Into the Woods, City of Angels, Jelly's Last Jam and Hairspray, among many others. His first book "The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows are Built" was published in March 2016. He spent ten years as an adjunct professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, teaching musical theater structure, and began his career playing National Steel-body guitar behind Bonnie Raitt, Son House and the Pointer Sisters. Mr. Viertel is a certified Memphis-in-May contest
barbecue judge.
SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING established in 1995, is the world's leading music publisher. Sony/ATV Music Publishing owns or administers more than 3 million copyrights, including those of EMI Music Publishing and iconic music catalogs such as Leiber & Stoller, Mijac Music, Motown and Famous Music. Sony/ATV also controls many of the best known songs ever written such as "New York, New York," "Hallelujah," "All You Need Is Love," "Youíve Got a Friend," "Moon River," "Jailhouse Rock," "The Mission Impossible Theme," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Over the Rainbow," "Stand By Me," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "Singin' in the Rain." Sony/ATV represents copyrights of such legendary artists as The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Willie Nelson, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Hank Williams and Stevie Wonder, among many others. Its ever-growing list of chart-topping artists, writers and producers includes Cardi B, The Chainsmokers, Drake, Calvin Harris, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Pink, Shakira, Ed Sheeran, Sia, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.
ALISON SOLOMON (Associate Choreographer) Associate Credits: Broadway: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Gigi, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical; NY/Regional: Sweet Charity, Bandstand, The Honeymooners, Bull Durham; TV: Acer Electronics, NFL Super Bowl "Dirty Dancing," Lord & Taylor, "The View," "Dora's Explorer Girls." Performance: Finding Neverland, Billy Elliot, In the Heights, Swing!, "Boardwalk Empire," and more!
www.alisolomon.com
MATT OESTREICHER (Associate Conductor) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Matt is a graduate of Tufts University and New England Conservatory of Music. He is a long-time member of The Apollo Theater Amateur Night Band where he plays keyboards and guitar. Broadway: Beautiful: The Musical (Guitar). TV: "Showtime At The Apollo" (house band, keyboards/guitar), "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Night of Too Many Stars." Matt has performed with: Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Ben E. King, Dionne Warwick, Snoop Dogg, Blue Man Group, Jon Bon Jovi, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Krishna Das, and many more. Films: "We Cause Scenes," "Carvalho's Journey," "Handsome Harry." Matt is a co-founder of the arts non-profit Yourtime2shine.org. Matt thanks his wife Alisa, his parents and siblings.
ED ROMANOFF (Production Manager) Ed brings to the Playhouse an extensive career in live entertainment: lighting, scenic design, theatrical rigging, stage management, and audio; the latter amassing 20 years on television talk shows, news networks, and special events. He has been the Production Manager at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center, Sugar Loaf, New York, overseeing the 689- and 200-seat proscenium theatres, art gallery, and 3500-seat outdoor amphitheater. As company manager, he toured with Mame starring Loretta Swit, The Sound of Music starring Debby Boone, Guys & Dolls starring Vic Damone, and New York Voices. Television Audio: Montel Williams, Sally Jessy Raphael, Robert Klein, Judge Hatchett, Dr. Joy Browne. He has been a rigging foreman for I. Weiss, and assisted Stephan Weiss in fabricating the original scenic draperies for Broadwayís Phantom of the Opera. An accomplished guitarist, he has performed with folk legends Pete Seeger, Tommy Makem, and Maineís own Schooner Fare. Recordings: Annie: 30th Anniversary CD, The Most Happy Fella (1992 Broadway revival), Up In Arms puppet musicals: Helping Drew, Monster Intelligence, and Welcome Park. Gloriously married to (Ogunquit Playhouse Company Manger) Joyce A. Presutti, theyíve moved here to his home state for new adventures in Show Business.
GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) is excited to be returning for his 12th season as the Ogunquit Playhouse's Technical Director and Scenic Coordinator. Immediately prior to Ogunquit, he served as Technical Director for Worcester Foothills Theatre. He has done supplemental design work for several shows. He is also the Technical Supervisor for the Children's Theatre program. Geof began his technical career working backstage for both of his parents who are theatre directors and began his professional career at Sierra Repertory Theatre in California. For five years, he split his seasons between Maine and Florida, working the same technical areas for the Orlando Shakespeare, but now stays with the Playhouse year-round. His wife Cheryl (Scenic Charge Artist at the Playhouse for ten seasons) has designed award-winning parade floats and designs many of the Childrenís Theatre shows. His daughter Ash is an aspiring writer and artist who can definitely call the Playhouse her
second home.
CHERYL DOLAN (Resident Scenic Charge) is excited to be returning to the Ogunquit Playhouse for her 11th season. After taking over as Resident Scenic Charge eight years ago, she has designed several Children's Theatre sets, as well as added her artistic eye to many of the main stage productions. In the off-season, Cheryl is a Scenic Charge and Prop Master for The Good Theater in Portland, Maine. Since falling in love with the Ogunquit Playhouse, Cheryl, her husband Geof Dolan (the Ogunquit Playhouse Technical Director) and their daughter Ash, who is a budding writer, have made the Seacoast their home year-round. Cheryl considers the staff at OP her family and hopes that her love and passion for theater is translated through the productions to all of you.
KENT BRIDGES (Managing Director) is a seasoned business leader with 30 years of experience in business administration, finance and strategic planning both in the private sector and as an independent consultant. He joined Ogunquit Playhouse in the fall of 2017. Working with the board of directors, the executive artistic director, dedicated managers and staff, the community, and the organization's business partners, Kent's focus is to strengthen the theatre's financial position, guide its long-term future, and ensure its rich and well-respected legacy is firmly secured. A native of Presque Isle, Maine, Kent returned to the state in late 2014 after a successful career in the Washington, DC metro area. He is excited to be back in Maine and to call Ogunquit his home.
BRIAN J. SWASEY (Associate Producer) Originally from South Portland, ME and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. After moving to NYC in 1995 and focusing on pursuing a career as an actor, he changed focus and became the Founding Artistic Director of The Astoria Performing Arts Center, followed by the Associate Producer position at Queens Theatre in the Park in Flushing, NY. There he was involved in producing the 20th Anniversary Revival of Closer Than Ever starring Sally Mayes and Lynne Winterstellar. Prior to coming to Ogunquit, he was the Managing Director for The New York Theatre Barn. NYC developmental projects have included: the rock musical The 12 and a new holiday musical entitled Tim and Scrooge. As a Director/Choreographer, Brian has had the pleasure of directing such shows as Pump Boys and Dinettes, Hairspray, Chicago, A New Brain, and Altar Boyz. He was the Assistant Director for the NYC Revival of Die, Mommie, Die! starring Charles Busch. At the Playhouse, Brian directed the TYA productions of The Berenstain Bears and The Cat In The Hat. In addition, Brian has been involved with booking cabaret entertainment at The Triad in NYC, as well as bringing such artists as Christina Bianco and Bruce Vilanch to MaineStreet in Ogunquit, ME.
BRADFORD T. KENNEY (Executive Artistic Director) is an artistic director, producer, stage and film director, and artist. Since joining the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2005, the Playhouse has tripled its audience growing from a single season summer stock theatre into one of the America's pre-eminent regional theatres with a three-season performance schedule and year round operation. During his stewardship, the Playhouse has garnered a number of awards and honors including the Moss Hart Trophy, Regional Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement in the American Theatre from the New England Theatre Conference, multiple IRNE Awards and a number of BroadwayWorld Awards including Best Musical and others. Mr. Kenney is also noted for his work at Carnegie Hall including directing the holiday special The Christmas Rose starring Jane Seymour and producing An American Christmas Carol with Tim Janis. Mr. Kenney's film work includes the upcoming movie musical "Buttons" starring Dick Van Dyke, Jane Seymour, and Charles Shaughnessy. In New England, Mr. Kenney has been proud to be associated with a number of different theatre companies. He was also formerly the Artistic Director of the Foothills Theatre and Wachusett Theatre Companies in Massachusetts. He is a fourth generation plein air landscape artist, having studied with Beth Ellis and at Rhode Island School of Design, Heartwood College of Art, and Maine College of Art.
THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR MUSICAL THEATRE founded in 1985, is a not-for-profit organization serving the musical theatre community. Our mission is to advance musical theatre by nurturing the creation, development, production and presentation of new and classic musicals; providing a forum for the sharing of resources and information relating to professional musical theatre through communication, networking and programming; and advocating for the imagination, diversity and joy unique to musical theatre. Their 200 members, located throughout the U.S. and abroad, are some of the leading producers of musical theatre in the world, and include theatres, presenting organizations, higher education programs and individual producers.
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA) founded in 1913, represents more than 50,000 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