About the Show
Cast:
John Scherer is Bob Wallace
Amy Bodnar is Betty Haynes
Denis Lambert is Phil Davis
Shannon M. O’Bryan is Judy Haynes
Ruth Williamson is Martha
Erick Devine is General Waverly
Tony Lawson is Ralph Sheldrake
Mary Peeples is Susan Waverly
Don Rey is Mike Nulty
James Young is Ezekiel Foster
Ensemble: Adinah Alexander, Andrew Black, Scott Brateng, Melinda Cowan, Con O’Shea-Creal, Brandon Davdison, Jenny Florkowski, Megan Jimenz, Matthew Kirk, Janelle Neal, Amanda Paulson, Ashley Peacock, Kristyn Pope, Kelly Sheehan, Haley Swindal, Merrill West and Richard Riaz Yoder.
Who's Who:
Principals
JOHN SCHERER (Bob Wallace) most recently appeared on Broadway in Lovemusik, directed by the legendary Harold Prince. He also worked with Mr. Prince in 3hree at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles. He starred in the Broadway and film versions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s By Jeeves, written and directed by Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Other Broadway credits include Sunset Boulevard, The Most Happy Fella (NYC Opera) and the Actors Fund benefit performance of Funny Girl. He toured nationally in 42nd Street and Cats. He received critical acclaim for his performance as George M. at the Goodspeed Opera House. Other regional credits include the Kennedy Center, Goodman Theatre, Arena Stage, Paper Mill Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse and many others. Film and television credits include Spinning into Butter, “The Shield,” “Crossing Jordan,” “Law and Order” (all three series), “Titus” and “Guiding Light.”
AMY BODNAR (Betty Haynes) is thrilled to reprise the role of Betty Haynes after playing it at the Tony award-winning Denver Center. On Broadway, Amy played Laurey in the recent revival of Oklahoma! and was in the original production of Ragtime. Off-Broadway credits include Leila in Sessions at Playwright’s Horizons (cast recording) and Joyce in The Brain from Planet X at NYMF. She starred as Marguerite in the national tour of The Scarlet Pimpernel, as well as performing as Betty Schaefer in the Canadian company of Sunset Boulevard. Her numerous regional credits include World and American premieres at the Guthrie, Goodspeed, St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Riverside Theater, TOTS, TUTS, Sacramento Music Circus and a Barrymore nomination for her performance as Ulla in The Producers at Walnut Street Theater.
DENIS LAMBERT (Phil Davis) Broadway: A Chorus Line. Off-Broadway: Yank! and Zorba (York Theatre), Finian’s Rainbow (City Center Encores!). Recent roles: Rooster in Annie (Music Theatre of Wichita), The Visitor in Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Syracuse Stage), Craig/Peter in Dying City (TBG Theatre). First National Tours: A Chorus Line, The Producers (also LA & Toronto). Regional: Kennedy Center, Paper Mill Playhouse, Ordway Center, Charlottetown Festival. Film: Coming Home. Faculty, NYFA. B.F.A., Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
SHANNON M. O’BRYAN (Judy Haynes) is thrilled to be back with Theater of the Stars in one of her favorite roles. Broadway Credits include: White Christmas, 42nd Street, City Center’s Encores!, productions of Face The Music, Follies and Of Thee I Sing. Some other favorites include: Gypsy (Dainty June), Grease (Sandy), American In Paris (MiMi/Leslie Caron), 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer — Broadway, 1st National, TOTS, Moscow, etc.). Shannon wants to send all of her love to her new hubby Brian, her entire family, Randy, Norb and her whole TOTS family.
RUTH WILLIAMSON (Martha Watson) Broadway: White Christmas, La Cage Aux Folles, The Music Man (Outer Critics Nomination), Epic Proportions, Little Me, Guys & Dolls, Smile, Musical Comedy Murders, Annie. Off-Broadway: The Green Heart (Drama Desk Nomination), The Good Times Are Killing Me, Queen Amarantha. Regional: The Music Man, Les Misérables, Guys & Dolls (Hollywood Bowl), Sacramento Music Circus, Arena Stage, Old Globe, Long Wharf, Goodspeed, MUNY, and six shows with LA’s Reprise Series. Film: Evan Almighty, The Producers, Legally Blonde II, Family Man, Malcolm X, Foreign Student, Easy Six, Psycho Beach Party and Die Mommie, Die! (Charles Busch’s singing voice). TV: “Monk,” “Medium,” “The O.C.,” “The Practice,” “ER,” “Star Trek: Enterprise,” “Law & Order,” “Hannah Montana” and Mrs. Grubman on “Nip/Tuck.”
ERICK DEVINE (General Henry Waverly) Broadway: Ragtime, Sid Caesar & Co., Cats (1st replacement to original co.), Seussical. National Tour: Big River (Deaf West), Ragtime, Me & My Girl (Helen Hayes Award Nominee, D.C.), Grand Hotel, Annie Get Your Gun (with Cathy Rigby). NYC: A Sondheim Tribute at Carnegie Hall; Of Thee I Sing & Allegro, City Center’s Encore!; Leontes, The Winter’s Tale. Directed: Candide & HMS Pinafore (with Kristin Chenoweth), Anything Goes (with Kelli O’Hara), Annie Warbucks (with Gavin MacLeod), …Molly Brown (with Cathy Rigby), Complete Works of Wm. Shkspr. (Abridged), Miracle on 34th St., and others.
TONY LAWSON (Ralph Sheldrake/u/s Bob Wallace) played Pat Denning in the TOTS’ tour of 42nd Street opposite Loretta Swit. He was Gaston in the U.S. National tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Joe Hardy during the tour of Damn Yankees with Dick Van Dyke. He stood-by for Randy Quaid in the pre-Broadway production of Lone Star Love, performing the Falstaff role after Quaid left the run. Tony’s held roles for the Goodspeed Opera House, Paper Mill Playhouse, Houston’s Alley Theatre and the Atlanta Alliance. He recently finished a run of Camelot singing Lancelot opposite his wife, actress Krista Severeid.
Gianna LePera (Susan Waverly) is an 11 year old NYC native who made her 2009 professional debut off Broadway in Summer Shorties. She starred as Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street, for which she received critical acclaim from the NY Times: “Gianna LePera, the 10-year old who plays Susan, is equally beguiling, displaying a delicate somberness similar to the haunting performance the young Natalie Wood gave in the film.” TV/Film credits: “Law & Order SVU,” Vamperifica, Finding Father. Gianna is so grateful for the love and support of her parents, managers at BTM and agents at FBI.
MARY PEEPLES (Susan Waverly) Eleven years old, is thrilled to be a part of White Christmas and Theater of the Stars. Other credits include Peach State Summer Theatre’s White Christmas (Susan) and Ragtime (Little Girl). Mary enjoys singing, dancing, soccer and horseback riding. Many thanks to her family.
DON REY (Mike Nulty/Ed Sullivan Show Announcer/Regency Room Announcer/Quintet/ Train Conductor) is thrilled to join this wonderful company and ring in the holidays with White Christmas. New York: City Center Encores! Pardon My English, Children And Art. Tours: The Sound of Music, Camelot with Robert Goulet, Music Man and Evita. Regional includes: Fulton Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre, California Music Theatre and seven seasons at Maine State Music Theatre. Favorites include Peron in Evita, The Beadle in Sweeney Todd, Mr. Erlanson in A Little Night Music, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast. Thanks to the whole TOTS organization, especially Chris Manos and Norb.
JAMES YOUNG (Snoring Man/Ezekiel Foster/Quintet/u/s General Waverly) Broadway: Crazy For You, My Fair Lady, Me and My Girl, A Chorus Line, The Tap Dance Kid. National Tours/Regional: High School Musical, 42nd Street, Ballroom, Beauty and the Beast, Dr. Doolittle, Annie, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ In The Rain. The productions for which Mr. Young is most proud continues to be his daughters Kristina and Alessandra.
Ensemble
ADINAH ALEXANDER (Ensemble/Mrs. SnoringMan/Quintet/Sheldrake’s Secretary/ u/s Martha) TV: Mrs. Dzubenko in “Nurse Jackie,” Judge Schaft on “Law and Order” and Dr. A.J. Waxman in “Lights Out.” Broadway: Original cast member of Wicked, Wedding Singer, Parade and Urban Cowboy. Off-Broadway: Adding Machine, Two Rooms by Lee Blessing, Janis Joplin in Love Janis. Regional: Jack’s Mother in Into The Woods, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Golde in Fiddler, Mme. Thenardier in Les Misérables, Mama Rose in Gypsy, Rosalie in Carnival, Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music. Plays include Dirty Blonde, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life In The Universe by Lily Tomlin, Eleemosynary, Danny And The Deep Blue Sea and All In The Timing.
ANDREW BLACK (Dance Captain/Swing/u/s Ralph Sheldrake) has performed from the stage of Carnegie Hall to the streets of Tokyo’s DisneySea. Credits include: First National and Atlanta TOTS’ tours of 42nd Street; Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Dance Captain and Swing); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Dance Captain) at Gateway Playhouse; and Freshly Tossed (NYMF). Andrew teaches theater dance and tap at STEPS, NYC.
SCOTT BRATENG (Ensemble/Martha’s Quartet/ Regency Room Dancer) Tours: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Scooter), Cabaret (Two Ladies). Regional: Singin’ In The Rain (Sid Philips/The Baron), West Side Story (A-rab), Evita (Mario), Best Little Whorehouse…, Pippin, Wonderful Town, Anything Goes, Footloose. Training: B.F.A NYU/Tisch/CAP21 class of ’04, Pacific Northwest Ballet. Thanks to his family and friends for their love and support.
MELINDA COWAN (Ensemble/u/s Rita) is thrilled to spend the holidays performing in White Christmas! Favorite credits include IBWC (First National Tour), Ellie in Show Boat (NSMT), Kitty in Drowsy Chaperone, Rose in Meet Me in St. Louis, Anytime Annie in 42nd Street, and Singin’ in the Rain at Goodspeed. Love and thanks to my family!
CON O’SHEA-CREAL (Ensemble/Regency Room Dancer/Martha’s Quartet/ u/s Phil) Broadway: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Regional: 42nd St, Annie Get Your Gun, A Christmas Carol, Urinetown, Singin’ in the Rain. Performances at The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Town Hall Theatre. Originally from Lincoln, Neb. B.F.A., University of Oklahoma. Love and thanks to my family and Vladamir and Anna.
BRANDON DAVIDSON (Ensemble/Regency Room Dancer/Martha’s Quartet) New York: No, No, Nanette (Encores!), Billy in Billy Haines (Theatre Row). Tour: White Christmas (B’way Tour & Detroit). Regional: Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain (Forestburgh Playhouse), 42nd Street (Goodspeed), Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees, Joseph in Joseph. Soloist with Boston Pops. Boston Conservatory. To M&D in San Diego!
JENNY FLORKOWSKI (Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to the TOTS family! Favorite credits include IBWC (National Tour, Detroit), 42nd Street (Goodspeed), Singin’ in the Rain (Goodspeed, NSMT), Show Boat (NSMT), Oklahoma! (TOTS), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Walnut Street), Best Little Whorehouse… (Ogunquit Playhouse), CATS (National Tour), 42nd Street (National Tour). Lots of love to my awesome family!
MEGAN JIMENEZ (Ensemble/Rita) feels so blessed to be in IBWC again this Christmas! Favorites: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Lenore); Cats (Bombalurina), Sacramento Music Circus; Gypsy (Louise), AMTSJ; Mame, John F. Kennedy Center; 42nd Street (Annie u/s), 1st National Tour; Rockette. NYU Tisch. Chuck Leonard, my love, my life, thank you for my joy. Happy Holidays everyone!
MATTHEW KIRK (Ensemble/Martha’s Quartet) Original Broadway Cast/First National Tour: White Christmas. Regional: An American in Paris (Alley Theatre), White Christmas (Toronto, St. Paul, San Francisco), Atlanta TOTS, MUNY, Kansas City Starlight, Maine State Music Theatre, Cape Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Pioneer Theatre. B.F.A., Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Love, light and Happy Holidays!
JANELLE NEAL (Ensemble) is excited to return, after previously performing in Theater of the Stars’ production of 42nd Street. Other credits/shows include: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Dreamgirls, Seesaw, Anything Goes, Oklahoma!, Aida, The Producers, Black & Blue and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. She thanks God, family and friends for their support and love.
AMANDA PAULSON (Ensemble/Rhoda) has toured the country in productions of My Fair Lady, Yankee Doodle Dandy and Beauty and the Beast. Regionally, Amanda has been seen dancing on the stages of Sacramento Music Circus, Walnut Street Theatre, Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, the Ordway Centre, Pittsburgh CLO, North Carolina Theatre, Village Theatre and Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars. Love to her friends, family and Kevin. Merry Christmas!
ASHLEY PEACOCK (Ensemble) is excited to be a part of this wonderful show and company! Recent credits: 42nd Street (Westchester Broadway Theatre, Goodspeed Opera house, Nat’l and Asia Tour) Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano — Eileen (National Tour). Our Hit Parade (Joe’s pub, NYC). Holiday Spectacular (Gateway Playhouse). Former champion Irish dancer. Member of Actors Equity. Thanks to Randy, Kelli and everyone at TOTS. Gratitude.
KRISTYN POPE (Ensemble/Assistant Dance Captain/ u/s Tessie/Quintet) sends love and gratitude to family, friends, teachers, TOTS, Randy, Kelli and WC fam! Broadway and NYC: 42nd Street (Revival), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Rockette/Swing). Regional: Sophisticated Ladies, The Producers, Anything Goes (Purity), Cabaret (Frenchie), Singin’ in the Rain, Yankee Doodle, and Hello, Dolly! B.A. Psychology, Northwestern University. PS100.
MATTHEW SCHNEIDER (Ensemble/Jimmy/ Quintet/ u/s Snoring Man/Ezekiel) White Christmas (three previous productions with Randy Skinner), 42nd Street (maybe seven productions … Matt lost count), Pride and Prejudice (Mark Lamos director), direction for Hedwig and the Angry Inch (New Helvetia Theater; Sacramento, Calif.). CAP 21; NYU. AEA. Thanks: RandySkinner, TUTS, Michael Rodriguez. Dedication: This one’s for you, Grandma.
KELLY SHEEHAN (Ensemble/u/s Judy) started her career at age six on Star Search! Broadway: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (ensemble), 42nd Street (Lorraine, original revival). Other: No, No, Nanette, Ensemble, City Center Encores, NY Tap Ensemble at Carnegie Hall (choreo Noah Racey). Thank you to Randy & family for their support! Happy Holidays!
HALEY SWINDAL (Ensemble/Tessie/Quintet/ u/s Betty/Mrs. Snoring Man) is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful company! Credits: Kids On Deck (YES Network); Jesus Christ Superstar, I Love A Piano national tours, Nine, Cabaret (Sally Bowles), and NY Pops soloist at Carnegie Hall. Tampa, Fla., native, UNC-CH Morehead Scholar. Big thank you to family, Luedtke and all at TOTS. For Bumpa.
MERRILL WEST (Ensemble/ u/s Rhoda) is thrilled to be a part of White Christmas. She was seen in the Broadway Revival of 42nd Street and has the honor of being a Radio City Rockette for seven seasons. Favorite regional credits include Bombularina in Cats, Dorcas in Seven Brides and Vera in Crazy for You. She holds a Bachelor of Music from NYU. Thank you to Mr. Skinner and Kelli for always believing in me!
RICHARD RIAZ YODER (Ensemble) Richard is elated to be making his TOTS debut with White Christmas! OKCU Grad! Broadway: White Christmas. Recently in Arena Stage’s record-breaking musical Sophisticated Ladies with Maurice Hines. NYC: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Town Hall. Tour: 42nd Street. Regional: Northshore, Muny and Lyric of OKC. Thank you Randy! For my family and friends! MLY!
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. Actorsequity.org.
Stage Management
JOHN W. CALDER, III (Production Stage Manager) Equity 30th year. Cinderella (Sally Struthers), 42nd Street, Les Miserables, A Chorus Line (Donna McKechnie), Dreamgirls (Jennifer Holliday), Anything Goes (Chita Rivera), The King & I (Sandy Duncan), South Pacific, Hello, Dolly! (Madeline Kahn), Sound of Music, Lincoln Center’s Carousel (Patrick Wilson), Hal Prince’s Show Boat. Worked with: Gwen Verdon, Angela Lansbury, Jane Powell, Barbara Cook, Julie Andrews, Meryl Streep, Madonna, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, President Bill Clinton. 10,000+ musical theater recordings. JWCalder3 LA CA@aol.com
SARAH MARSHALL (Stage Manager) is pleased to continue her longstanding relationship with Theater Of The Stars, having previously participated in the premiere production of High School Musical and High School Musical 2 in Atlanta. Tour credits include: High School Musical, Bombay Dreams, Beauty And The Beast, Sound Of Music, Parade & Brigadoon.
DAN ZITTEL (Assistant Stage Manager) TOTS: Disney’s High School Musical 1 & 2, White Christmas, 42nd Street. Stage manager for B’way: Retribution. Production stage manager for Off B’way: Playwrights’ Horizons, Barrow Street, Women’s Project, Cherry Lane, City Center, York Theatre. Regional: The Barter, McCarter, Caldwell, Olney, Two River theaters. Summer: Cape Playhouse, Ogunquit, Music Theater of Wichita, Starlight Theater. Touring: Man of La Mancha starring Jack Jones, The Value of Names with Jack Klugman and six years production coordinator for Kennedy Center’s ACTF.
Authors
IRVING BERLIN (Music and Lyrics) Born Israel Beilin in a Russian Jewish shtetl in 1888, he died as Irving Berlin in his adopted hometown of New York City in 1989. Songwriter, performer, theatre owner, music publisher and soldier, he wrote scores to more than a dozen Broadway musicals (including Annie Get Your Gun) and dozens of Hollywood movie musicals. His more than 1,200 songs include “White Christmas,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “Easter Parade,” “Always,” “Blue Skies,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and “God Bless America.” Irving Berlin’s love and generosity to his country is legendary, and through several ongoing foundations, including the God Bless America Fund, he donated millions of dollars in royalties to Army emergency relief and the Boy and Girl Scouts. Numerous awards and accolades include an Academy Award for White Christmas, a Congressional Gold Medal, a special Tony Award and commemoration on a U.S. postage stamp.
DAVID IVES (Book) is the author of All in the Timing, Time Flies, Is He Dead? (adapted from Mark Twain) and New Jerusalem: The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza, among other titles. His off-Broadway hit of last season, Venus In Fur, is headed for Broadway this season, and in the spring he will have a new show off-Broadway, The School For Lies, his adaptation of Moliere’s Misanthrope. Also expected in New York is hit recent hit at the Shakespeare Theatre of Washington, The Liar, translated and adapted from the comedy by Corneille.
PAUL BLAKE (Book) is currently the executive producer of the legendary St. Louis MUNY, where his 100-plus productions have included the premiere of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Among the other musicals with a book by Mr. Blake is Roman Holiday with a score by Cole Porter, which set box office records during its three-year tour of Italy. Upcoming in 2011 are Mr. Blake’s 22nd season at the Muny and a new musical based on a play by Preston Sturges and songs by the great Jimmy McHugh.
Creatives
NORB JOERDER (Director) His work can be seen from Broadway to regional theaters across America and to European and International productions. He reunited Robert Goulet and Camelot for a critically acclaimed revival on Broadway and a record breaking National tour. He also staged the Richard Harris International Camelot that toured Australia and Europe. In New York, he has directed and choreographed revivals of 42nd Street with Jerry Orbach and Tammy Grimes, La Cage Aux Folles with Gene Barry and Lee Roy Reams, Gypsy with Lanie Kazan, Guys and Dolls with Vic Damone, The Music Man with John Schneider, Annie Get Your Gun with Andrea McArdle and My Fair Lady with Michael Moriarty. Regionally, he has worked for Theater Under The Stars in Houston, the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Dallas Summer Musicals in Dallas and Music Fair Productions in New York and Pennsylvania. He has also staged over 25 musicals for The Jupiter Theatre and Richard Akins Productions of Jupiter, Fla. For his work there, Norb was nominated over 12 times and received the Carbonell Award for excellence in theater in southern Florida.
RANDY SKINNER (Choreographer) received Tony and Drama Desk nominations for his work on Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Other shows include: 42nd Street (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Astaire nominations); State Fair (Outer Critics nomination); Ain’t Broadway Grand (Tony, Outer Critics nominations); After the Night and the Music (MTC/Biltmore); Do Re Mi, Of Thee I Sing, Face The Music and No, No, Nanette (the last four for City Center Encores!); Lone Star Love (Lucille Lortel nomination); Broadway Three Generations (Kennedy Center); Stormy Weather (with Leslie Uggams); An American in Paris (The Alley Theatre). In Los Angeles: Happy Days; Hello, Dolly! (with Nell Carter); Pal Joey (with Dixie Carter, Elaine Stritch); Strike Up the Band (with Tom Bosley). He has received the L.A. Drama Critics, L.A. Drama Logue, Bay Area Critics, Connecticut Critics and Cleveland Times Theatre Award. Mr. Skinner most recently choreographed the new musical version of Lend Me A Tenor in England.
JOHN VISSER (Musical Director/Conductor) conducted the national tour revivals of South Pacific, Camelot, Man of La Mancha, and the 30th Anniversary Tour of The Fantasticks starring Robert Goulet. Other national tours include Anything Goes with Mitzi Gaynor, Guys and Dolls with Maurice Hines and five productions of Camelot with Richard Harris. Internationally, he joined an Australian Tour of Camelot and was music director of the European Tour of 42nd Street with Elizabeth Allen. He became the Music Director for the 1993 Broadway revival of Camelot with Mr. Goulet. Regional credits include: Theater of the Stars, Theater Under The Stars, Syracuse Stage, Asolo State Theater of Florida, and Sacramento Music Circus. He has conducted over 50 operas for the Asolo Opera Company and on tour for Columbia Artists.
KENNETH FOY (Set Design and Adaptation) Houston Grand Opera: Carmen, Madama Butterfly, Pagliacci and A Little Night Music, Porgy and Bess for Milan’s La Scala Opera House. National Tours: The Sound of Music, The King and I, My Fair Lady, Bombay Dreams, Doctor Dolittle and Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. American Opera Center: Xerxes and Regina. Broadway: Candida, starring Joanne Woodward; Macbeth with Nicol Williamson; David Merrick’s Oh, Kay!; Annie; An Evening With Jerry Herman; and the Tony award-winning productions of Gypsy, directed by Arthur Laurents and Dame Edna: The Royal Tour. West End: Annie and the English National Theatre production of The Syringa Tree, which he also designed in New York. Art direction for the Emmy winning Pulitzer Prize documentary, Moment of Impact, Annie in Australia, sets for Radio City Music Hall, video animation for The Mariah Carey Charm Bracelet Tour, production design for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the world premier production of Disney’s High School Musical.
ANNA LOUIZOS (Set Design for Broadway) designed the Broadway production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas as well as annual U.S. and U.K. productions since 2004. She has received two Tony Award nominations for In the Heights (2008) and High Fidelity (2007). Other Broadway credits include Avenue Q (including the national tour and London); Curtains; Steel Magnolias; Golda’s Balcony (also national tour with Valerie Harper); All About Me; To Be Or Not To Be. Off-Broadway: Vanities, the Musical; Crimes of the Heart (directed by Kathleen Turner), The Foreigner (starring Matthew Broderick); The Altar Boyz (world premier); Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick… BOOM! (world premier). Other U.S. tours and regional: Disney Live Winnie the Pooh; Minsky’s; Baby It’s You; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; The Baker’s Wife; Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, Me and My Girl, Band Geeks, Radio Girl and many other regional theatre productions. Art Direction film/TV: “Sex and the City” (HBO) Feature Film: The Secret Lives of Dentists.
CARRIE ROBBINS (Costume Designer) Costumes for over 30 Broadway shows, including 2001’s Class Act, Grease (original), Agnes of God, Yentl (Feldshuh), Octette Bridgeclub (Marchand), Sweet Bird of Youth (Bacall), Frankenstein (Wiest), Happy End (Streep), Boys of Winter, Cyrano (Langella), and more that closed in a blink. Along the way Robbins has collected numerous awards/ nominations including: two Antoinette Perry Nominations, five Drama Desk Awards/one Nom., Maharam, three USITT/Prague International Design awards, Henry Hughes noms., F.I.T-Surface Design and Audelco. Robbins designed M. Butterfly, On the Verge (Arena Stage-DC) and Death in Venice (Glimmerglass) for director Tazewell Thompson, Gershwin musical American in Paris by Ken Ludwig (Alley Theatre, Houston), and Samson et Dalila (San Francisco Opera). Known for her drawing ability, Robbins’ work is featured in the Time-Life Series – Collectibles (between Telephones & Trivets). She’s profiled in Costume Design, Techniques of Modern Masters (Pecktal, Watson-Guptil), A new book on Robbins’ design work published by USITT/Broadway Press, will be released Spring 2011.
KEN BILLINGTON (Lighting Designer) has 93 Broadway shows to his credit including such theatre milestones as Sweeney Todd and the current production of Chicago. Current touring productions Dreamgirls, Chicago (Worldwide), Fiddler on the Roof, and 9 to 5. Past touring productions have included High School Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Doctor Doolittle and Riverdance (lighting supervisor) to name a few. Other projects include New York’s Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular from 1979 to 2005, the Las Vegas spectacular Jubilee!, and Shamu Rocks! for Seaworld Orlando and San Diego. Ken is the recipient of Tony, NY Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Ace Award for Television lighting and The Lumen for his architectural work.
PETER FITZGERALD (Sound Designer) Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Burn the Floor, Freckleface Strawberry. He is president of Sound Associates, Inc. Noted designs: Will Farrell’s Your Welcome America, New York Philharmonic’s 2007-08 My Fair Lady & Camelot, Movin’ Out, Gypsy, Paul Simon’s The Capeman, The Will Rogers Follies, 42nd Street, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, City of Angels and The Life. Noted plays: Blithe Spirit, The Odd Couple, M. Butterfly, The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Peter and wife Maritza are the proud parents of daughters Lori and Mallori.
ERICH BECHTEL (Sound Designer) is pleased to be working with Peter Fitzgerald and Theater of the Stars again. In New York City, Erich has created theatrical sound designs for Broadway and Off Broadway shows as well as a number of regional and touring productions. As a principal in the New York based company Audible Difference Inc., he has also successfully executed designs both nationally and internationally for large scale corporate and televised events.
KELLI BARCLAY (Choreography Coordinator) Many projects with Mr. Skinner including Broadway’s 42nd Street (Revival), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, State Fair, Ain’t Broadway Grand. City Center Encore’s productions of No No Nannette, Face the Music, Of the I Sing, Do Re, Me. Most recently she choreographed How to Suceed in Business Without Really Trying at the Goodspeed Opera House. Other choreography credits: MUNY: Beauty and the Beast, 42nd Street, 50 Years of Muny Magic, White Christmas, Hurricane the Musical (NYMTF), Pure Heaven starring Ruth Williamson, and the feature film, Made for Each Other. Extensive dance company work including American Ballet Theatre Intensive.
MKA CASTING (Barry Moss, Bob Kale & John Anastasi) Broadway: Tale of Two Cities, Souvenir, August Wilson’s King Hedley II, Little Women, Crazy For You, Jekyll & Hyde, Titanic, and An Inspector Calls, among others. Tours: Thommie Walsh’s Best Little Whorehouse starring Ann-Margret, Atlanta TOTS’ White Christmas; 3 Mo’ Divas; Barry Manilow’s Copacabana; Nunsense (25th Anniversary Tour); Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk starring Savion Glover, among others. Feature Films: Blood Simple, Dominick and Eugene, additional New York casting for the Adam Sandler feature films I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Don’t Mess with the Zohan and the upcoming film Jack & Jill, among others. Television includes “Cosby Show”for 10 years and “Cosby Mysteries.”
LARRY BLANK (Orchestrations) Tony nominated for Orchestrations for Irving Berlin’s White Christmas; Catch Me If You Can with composer Marc Shaiman and Carousel (London), The Drowsy Chaperone, Fame Becomes Me, La Cage aux Folles, The Producers (Broadway, London), Guys and Dolls (London), Fiddler On The Roof (London), The Black and White Ball (London), An American In Paris, Cinderella, Roman Holiday, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beautiful and the Damned (London), Seussical (Tour) and White Tie and Tails. Film work includes Chicago, The Producers and six films for composer Marc Shaiman (including South Park). He has done concert and recording orchestrations for Barbara Streisand, Barbara Cook, Liza Minnelli, Michael Crawford, John Barrowman, Michael Feinstein, Barry Manilow, Bernadette Peters, Martin Short, Tommy Tune, Nathan Lane and Marilyn Horne; served as music director for the acclaimed Sweeney Todd at the Kennedy Center’s Sondheim Festival as well as many Broadway shows.
BRUCE POMAHAC (Dance and Vocal Arrangements) was the musical director and (with composer Hugh Martin) co-vocal arranger for Broadway’s Meet Me in St. Louis. He orchestrated the Broadway productions of State Fair (Rodgers & Hammerstein) and The Curse of an Aching Heart (Claibe Richardson). He orchestrated the premiere recordings of Richard Rodgers’ first and final musicals: Fly With Me and I Remember Mama (which he also conducted). With Joshua Logan (book, lyrics and direction) he composed the score for Huck and Jim (On the Mississippi). Mr. Pomahac is the director of music for Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company and lives in New York City.
Management
BRIAN D. FREY (General Manager) Mr. Frey’s career in live entertainment spans 24 years and thousands of miles around the world working as a performer and behind the scenes as a production manager, lighting designer and pyrotechnician. He was the associate lighting designer for the renovation of San Diego’s US Grant Hotel and the project coordinator for Cirque du Soleil and Celebrity Cruises’ Bar at the Edge of the Earth. He currently serves as co-chair for the judging panel for the Shuler Hensley Awards, Technical Supervisor for the Junior Theatre Festival, and Production Manager for Broadway Dreams Foundation.
AMY A. WHITE (Company Manager) started her theater career as the associate company manager for the national tour of Master Class starring Faye Dunaway. After surviving that the rest has been a breeze. She recently was company manager for national tours of August: Osage County (Estelle Parsons), 42nd Street, Twelve Angry Men (Richard Thomas), Disney’s High School Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Bombay Dreams, The King & I (Sandy Duncan/ Stefanie Powers), My Fair Lady, Annie (John Schuck, Marcia Lewis), A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls (Frenchie Davis) and the 2003 tour of The Sound of Music. Hal Prince’s Parade, the 20th Anniversary tour of Annie (John Schuck, Sally Struthers) Chicago (1st National Tour), West Side Story and Rocket Power.
JOHN R. EDKINS (Production Technical Supervisor) has worked with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera for over 15 years, 10 of them as their production supervisor. He owns JE Scenic Technologies, Inc., a theatrical scenic production services and storage company. The company designs and constructs everything from sets for television news rooms to grand scale operas. Nationally and internationally, John was production supervisor for The Phantom of the Opera and Cabaret. He is one of three technical supervisors who oversee all new productions for Cameron Mackintosh’s office.
Producers
THESEUS PRODUCTIONS, LLC (Executive Producer) was created in 2010 by Christopher B. Manos and Nicholas F. Manos to acquire, manage and nurture long term touring rights for established Musical Theater titles. The Company’s first touring production is Irving Berlin’s White Christmas with the hope of many touring productions with the company in the future. Chris is the producer of Theater of the Stars, Inc. (TOTS) and has been with TOTS for over 50 years. Nick is the president of TOTS and has been with the company for 10 years. Both are committed to Executive Producing exceptional musical theater productions.
THEATER OF THE STARS (Christopher B. Manos, Producer; Nick Manos, President) is one of America’s premier not-for-profit regional theaters with a 58-year mission of producing and presenting the best of musical theater. Based in Atlanta, TOTS mounts lavish productions of new and classic musicals at affordable prices with the goal of expanding traditional audiences, enhancing the availability of quality family entertainment, and exposing new audiences to the magic of live theater. Visit us at theaterofthestars.com.
Licensors
PARAMOUNT PICTURES (Licensor) Paramount Licensing Inc. license