View Playbill PDF - Muhlenberg College

T h e Mu h l e n b e r g Co l l e ge
Department of Theatre & Dance
presents
Book, Music & Lyrics by
Rupert Holmes
Based on the unfinished novel by Charles dickens
Director
Charles Richter
Choreographer
Jeffrey PetersonEd Bara
Scenic Designer
Musical Director
Lighting Designer
Costume Designer
Tim AverillSusan HamburgerNicole Wee
Dialect Coach
ConductorSound Designer
JarrodVince
Yuskauskas
Di Mura
James ‘Doc’
Hayman
Production Stage Manager
Rebecca Grady
October 25 — November 3, 2013
Produced by arrangement with, and music and dialogue material furnished by
Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc., 560 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022
The Cast
Chairman William Cartwright����������������������������������������������������������������� George Primavera
Mr. Clive Paget as John Jasper ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Joe Marx
Miss Alice Nutting as Edwin Drood�������������������������������������������������������Stefanie Goldberg
Miss Dierdre Peregrine as Rosa Bud����� (10/26, 11/1, 11/2 at 2, 11/3) Rachel L. Kaufman
(10/25, 10/27, 10/31, 11/2 at 8) Samantha Simon
Miss Isobel Yearsley as Wendy������������������������������������������������������������������������������Seana Benz
Miss Emily Redman as Beatrice������������������������������������������������������������������ Elizabeth Harris
Miss Janet Conover as Helena Landless �������������������������������������������������������Emily Phillips
Mr. Victor Grinstead as Neville Landless������������������������������������������������������Alan Mendez
Mr. Cedric Moncreiff as The Rev. Mr. Crisparkle ����������������������������������Wesley MacBeth
Miss Angela Prysock as The Princess Puffer����������������������������������������������������� Caitlin Sing
Mr. Nick Cricker as Durdles����������������������������������������������������������������������������Dan McKenna
Master Nick Cricker as Deputy����������������������������������������������������������������������� Zachary Love
Mr. Phillip Bax as Bazzard������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Josh Portera
Ense mble
Miss Sarah Cook, Principal Dancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mae Rose Adubato
Miss Lynne Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allison Bloechl
Miss Jessica Harrison, Dance Understudy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zoë Briggs
Mr. Medford Moss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christian Dessler
Mr. Harry Sayle as the Shade of Jasper, Principal Dancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Evans
Mr. Edward Eliot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Simon Evans
Miss Madison Smith as Maid #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellen Herschel
Miss Violet Balfour as Maid #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Molly Israel
Mr. Alan Eliot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zachary Jackson
Miss Carolyn Watson . . . . . . . . . . . . . (10/25, 10/27, 10/31, 11/2 at 8) Rachel L. Kaufman
Mr. Christopher Lyon, Principal Dancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will Kellogg
Mr. Robert Edwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie Killoran
Miss Gwendolen Pynn, Principal Dancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paige Klibanoff
Mr. Charles Christopher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mac Myles
Miss Jennifer Lynn, Principal Dancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lillian Pritchard
Mr. Nicholas Michael as Horace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Raynor
Mr. James Throttle, Stage Manager and Barkeep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evan Richter
Mr. Anthony Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin F. Rogers
Mr. Ryan Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Schwartz
Miss Florence Gill as Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgie Simon
Miss Carolyn Watson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (10/26, 11/1, 11/2 at 2, 11/3) Samantha Simon
Mr. Peter Tice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William B. Smith
Miss Meredith Holland, Principal Dancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elissa Wells
Dance Captain: Emily Phillips
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The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 3
Programme
for this evening
Opening Comments by Your Chairman, Mr. William Cartwright
Scene 5: The graveyard of Cloisterham Cathedral. Early Christmas Eve.
“Perfect Strangers” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Drood, Rosa
Scene 6: The home of John Jasper. A short time later.
“No Good Can Come From Bad” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neville, Rosa, Helena,
Drood, Crisparkle, Jasper, Bazzard
Scene 7:Cloisterham High Street. Christmas Day.
Stage of the Music Hall Royale.
“Off to the Races” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Company
Immediately Followed by
The Music Hall Royale’s Premiere Presentation of
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Act II
Act I
Entr’acte
Prologue
“England Reigns” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Company
“There You Are” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Company
The Sleuths
Stage of the Music Hall Royale
The Situation
Scene 1: The home of John Jasper in the cathedral city of Cloisterham.
A morning in late December.
“A Man Could Go Quite Mad” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasper
“Two Kinsmen” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasper, Drood
Scene 1: Cloisterham Station. Six months later.
“Private Investigation” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Puffer, Datchery, Ensemble
Scene 2: Cloisterham High Street / Stage of The Music Hall Royale
“Name of Love” / “Moonfall” (Reprise) . . . . . . . . . . Rosa, Jasper, Ensemble
“Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Puffer, Company
The Voting
Scene 2: The conservatory at The Nun’s House, a seminary for young
women in the Cloisterham High Street. Later that morning.
“Moonfall” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosa
“Moonfall Quartet” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosa, Helena, Wendy, Beatrice
Scene 3: The opium den of the Princess Puffer in the East End of London.
Dawn, the next day.
“The Wages of Sin” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Puffer
“Opium Den Ballet” . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasper, Puffer, Rosa, Principal Dancers
Scene 4: Cloisterham High Street. The following afternoon.
“A British Subject” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neville, Helena, Rosa,
Drood, Crisparkle, Ensemble
“Both Sides of the Coin” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasper, Chairman, Ensemble
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The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
Stage of the Music Hall Royale. Immediately followed by…
The Solution
Near the Cathedral. Dawn.
“The Garden Path To Hell” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Puffer
“Puffer’s Revelation” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Puffer
“Out on a Limerick” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Datchery
“Jasper’s Confession” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasper
“Murderer’s Confession” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Murderer
“Perfect Strangers” (Reprise) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Lovers
“The Writing on the Wall” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Company
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 5
Orchestra
Violin������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Linda Kistler, Connie Trach,
Robert Kuntz, Stephani Bell,
Cello ���������������������������������������������������������������Melissa Anthony, Andrew Jurkiewicz
String Bass��������������������������������������������������������������������������������Tynan Hooker-Haring
Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Trach
Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Hulse
Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Rabenold
Bassoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kimberly Seifert
French Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Derek Foster, John DeVivo
Trumpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donald Hughes, Gregory Seifert
Tenor Trombone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rob Stoneback
Bass Trombone, Tuba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry McCommon
Piano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rebekah Ruth
Synthesizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Hardt
Drums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Groller
Percussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Karchner
Muhlenberg College 2013-2014
30th Anniversary Concert Series
Curtis on Tour
“Evidence of Things Not Seen”
In celebration of composer
Ned Rorem’s 90th birthday
Friday, November 8 – 8:00 pm
Paul C. Empie Theatre, Baker Center for the Arts
Rachel Sterrenberg, soprano, Lauren Eberwein, mezzo-soprano,
Spencer Lang, Tenor, and Jarrett Ott, baritone,
with Mikael Eliasen, Curtis Opera Theatre Director, piano
Tickets: $25 Adults, $17 Seniors (65+), $12 Students (7+). Call the box office 484-664-3333
Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Questions? 484-664-3363.
6
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 7
production staff
General Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Bien
Technical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Damon Gelb
Master Electrician and Audio Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul E. Theisen, Jr.
Costume Shop Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Caroline La Porta
Assistant Technical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Covell
Props Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cheryl Soper Christensen
Rehearsal Accompanist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rebekah Ruth
Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ariel Holman
Assistant Stage Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rena Lourie, Sean Watkins, Sarah Weinflash
Assistant Sound Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron Gerschel
Light Board Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Molly Caballero
Sound Board Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James “Doc” Hayman
Follow Spot Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jared Loeb, Jeff Mintz
Scenic Run Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Desrosiers, Sara Rosenman, Haley Parker
Wardrobe Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miranda Evans
Wardrobe Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Geneses Bello, Molly Caballero, Melanie Curtis,
Sabrina Fuchs, Jess Jones, Samantha Silverman
Hair & Makeup Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mandy Brady, Amanda Foote
Staff Stitcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Evans Gartley, Lex Gurst
Work Study Stitchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seana Benz, Jane Bertelsen, Ann Corrao, Nicole Esposito,
Miranda Evans, Emmaline Friederichs, Meghan Garvey,
Elizabeth Spilsbury, Kate Wetzel
Stagecraft Stitchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chandler Cross, Alex La Tournous
Overhire Stitchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Earle, Anne M. Evans, Jude Kohn
Scenic Charge Artist and Drop Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Baldasarra
Scenic Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie McCoy
Overhire Shop Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Faragasso, Kevin Gallagher, Kristen Mayer
Carpenters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dalit Agronin, Sam Bernstein, Rebecca Canziani, Demetra Demetriades,
Alex Donnelly, Sarah Franzel, Emma Handlin, Rebecca Hernandez,
Evan Hershman, MJ Hodge, Philip Kaufman, Kathryn Kooistra,
Alex La Tournous, Lauren MacCready, Bob Madani, Colin Megna,
Alexander Michaels, Phillip Middleton, Brian Pacelli,
Neshama Sonnenschein, Aly Trombitas, Tommy Walters
Student Electricians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benjamin Burwell, Gordon DuGan, David Forbes, Sean Fowley,
Ron Gerschel, Zachary Heffner, Evan Hershman, Matthew Lebron,
Jared Loeb, Malcolm McClain, Patrick Moren, Brian Pacelli,
Jacob Shelor, Claire Waggoner
Box Office Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine DeLuca, Avery Deutsch, Sara Grasberg, Hannah Gross
Box Office Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Beckman, Marie DiNorcia, Sarah Mitchler,
Jackie Schweighardt, David Triplett
House Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasmine Anderson, Christine DeLuca, Jessielyn Kreitzer
Marketing & Development Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Snyder
Presidential Assistant for Marketing & Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jena Verlin
The Mystery of Edwin Drood Poster Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark McGillivray
Marketing & Publicity Associates . . . . . . Briana Boche, Allison Conley, Natalie Coy, Taylor Hunsberger,
Molly Israel, Rachel Kaufman, Jillian Mauro
Dec. 14 & 15 @ 2 pm
Miller Symphony Hall
Land of the Sweets Party
after the Dec. 14 show
Call now! 610-432-6715 or visit
www.repertorydance.org
Tickets $22 to $42
8
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 9
Historical Notes
Performing Masculinity on the Victorian Stage
I
n The Mystery of Edwin Drood,
Rupert Holmes utilizes the
English Music Hall as a backdrop for a musical retelling of Charles
Dickens’s unfinished novel. He carries the imagery further by creating
the character of Alice Nutting, a male
impersonator, to play the role of Edwin
Drood.
To an uninformed audience member,
this may seem odd, but male impersonators were a popular form of entertainment on the English stage. Why all the
fuss? According to Laurence Senelick,
author of The Changing Room, the
tradition became popular during the
Victorian Era, “owing to the fixation on
the female legs and bosoms” (262). The
typical dresses and corsets that women
would wear at the time would cover up
these body parts, so seeing a woman in
man’s clothing allowed for her form to
be in view. These principal boys, as they
were called, achieved massive notoriety among theatregoers of the period.
Women such as Vesta Tilley and Nellie
Stewart made their living performing
masculinity onstage, and had fairly successful careers doing so.
Vesta Tilley (1864-1952) was the
most notable male impersonator
of the Victorian Era. Born Matilda
Alice Victoria Powles in Worcester,
Worcestershire, England, she made
her stage debut at the age of three. Her
father, William Henry Powles (stage
name: Harry Ball), was a chairman at
multiple music halls during the period.
Tilley first started impersonating males
at a very young age, after her father
discovered her trying on his coat and
hat. She was also active in pantomime,
playing the role of Robinson Crusoe at
13 (“The Vesta Tilley Collection”).
Tilley appeared in female roles as
well, but her favorite role in pantomime
was Dick Whittington from the English
folktale, Dick Whittington and His Cat
(“The Vesta Tilley Collection”). She
also had successful original songs such
as “The Piccadilly Johnny with the
Little Glass Eye” and “Following in
Father’s Footsteps,” which she performed in her solo act (“Vesta Tilley”).
In 1890, she married Walter DeFrece,
who composed many of her songs, and
later became Lady DeFrece when her
husband was knighted (“Vesta Tilley”).
Tilley remained active in the theatre
until 1920, when she retired from the
stage (“Vesta Tilley”).
Nellie Stewart (1858-1931),
Cooper, Ross. “Stewart, Eleanor Towzey (Nellie) (1858-1931).” Australian Dictionary of Biography 1990. n. pag. Web.
4 Oct. 2013.
Senelick, Laurence. The Changing Room: Sex, Drag, and Theatre. London: Routledge, 2000. Print.
“The Vesta Tilley Collection.” The Vesta Tilley Collection. Worchestershire Country Council, n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2013.
“Vesta Tilley.” Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.
Warden, Ian. “Nellie Stewart.” National Library of Australia News (2008). Pandora Archive. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.
10
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
while better known as one of the most
beloved actresses to ever come out of
Australia, also played principal boy
roles. Stewart was born Eleanor Towzey
Stewart in Woolloomooloo, Sydney,
Australia to a singer/comedian father
and an English actress mother. Like
Vesta Tilley, she started early on the
stage, claiming to have made her first
appearance at the age of two (Warden
7). She played the roles of Sinbad the
Sailor and Romeo in addition to other
parts, both male and female (Cooper;
Warden 8).
Stewart also took roles in the
comic and grand opera, earning special
praise for her portrayal of Yum-Yum
in The Mikado (Cooper). Her greatest role, however, in 1902, was that
of Nell Gywnne, actress and mistress
to Charles II, in Sweet Nell of Drury
Lane, in which she toured the world
for many years (Cooper). Stewart
continued performing throughout her
life, even performing as Nell in a revival when she was almost 70 (Warden
8). Vesta Tilley and Nellie Stewart serve
as a foundation for the character of
Alice Nutting. From their lives, one
can speculate that she might have been
much beloved by her audience and have
had a long and successful run on the
stage. Through her character, Holmes
pays tribute to these principal boys and
others who put on a pair of pants and
stepped into the spotlight.
— Mary Elizabeth Donofrio ’16
Victorian actress Vesta Tilley, in and out of costume.
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 11
About the Playwright
Chef Robert Irvine LIVE
Host of Restaurant: Impossible
sponsored by The Express-Times
November 16 | 7:30 pm
$49 | $39
Marty Stuart and
The Byrd’s Roger McGuinn
The Large Flowerheads
November 23 | 8 pm
$12 | $10 Advance
$17 | $15 Day of Show
sponsored by Klunk & Millan Advertising
November 8 | 7:30 pm
$54 | $42
Enter the Haggis
Bacontopia:
A Celebration of Bacon
November 27 | 8 pm
$30 | $25 | $20
sponsored by 100.7 WLEV
wxpn welcomes
November 10 | 1-4 pm
$35 ($30 for ArtsQuest Members)
Hot Tuna Acoustic
December 3 | 7:30 pm
$40 | $30
The von Trapps
November 21 & 22 | 2 pm
$35
Ben Bailey of Cash Cab
November 22 | 8 pm
$30 | $25
Rupert Holmes
was born in 1947
in Cheshire,
England. His
father was in the
Air Force, forcing his family to
relocate from England to New York. He
graduated from the Manhattan School
of Music. He decided to become an
independent artist in 1974, releasing
his first album Widescreen. In 1986,
Holmes wrote the iconic Mystery of
Edwin Drood, receiving Tony Awards
for both the book and lyrics. In 2003,
he received a Tony Award Nomination
for his play, Say Goodnight Gracie. His
Broadway comedy-thriller Accomplice
won him the Mystery Writers of America “Edgar” Award for Best Play, the
second time he’s received their highest
honor. Other awards include the 2007
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding
Book of a Musical for Curtains. Holmes
also created and wrote the Emmy
Award-winning TV series Remember
WENN. Most recently, Holmes wrote
Christmas 1954
musical revue
December 5-7 & 12-14 | 1:30 pm
$57 includes lunch
62nd Season 2013-2014
Modigliani String Quartet
Friday, November 8, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Musikfest Café™ at SteelStacks™
Foy Concert Hall, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA
101 Founders Way | Bethlehem, PA 18015
The Mystery of Edwin Drood The Young People's Philharmonic
String Quartet will perform a
curtain warmer at 7:00 p.m.
For more information on dates, programs, concert
venues, and ticket purchase, please visit our website:
artsquest.org | 610-332-3378
12
the book and lyrics for a musical called
The Nutty Professor, based on the 1963
film of the same name, with a score by
Marvin Hamlisch. The musical was
directed by Jerry Lewis and played in
Nashville, Tenn., in July and August
2012. Prior to his career in theatre,
Rupert Holmes was a pop singersongwriter whose work was recorded
by many of the outstanding vocalists of
our time, most notably Barbra Streisand, for whom he wrote, arranged and
conducted several platinum recordings,
including the album Lazy Afternoon
and his original songs for the Grammywinning score of A Star Is Born. His pop
hits include the chart-topping ballad by
the Jets, “You Got It All Over Him,” and
his own recordings of “Him,” “The People That You Never Get To Love,” and
his No. 1 smash in the United States,
Canada, Australia, Japan and Europe:
the inescapable “Escape (The Pina
Colada Song),” heard most recently in
such movies as Shrek, Bewitched, The
Sweetest Thing, American Splendor, and
How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
October 2013
October 2013
www.cmsob.org
610-435-7611
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 13
Creative insights
Composer Rupert Holmes describes the origins of ‘Drood’
I
said, we’ve got an audience
there. It’s live. It’s happening in
real time. Maybe I could construct it so that instead of [the missing ending] being a problem, it’s
the height of theatricality to allow
the audience to weigh in on what
they, that night, that performance,
thought the ending might be. I bet
I could structure it like a labyrinth,
and just as long as every actor
knows what they will do under any
given circumstance, I could allow
them not only to pick the murderer,
but decide who this detective in
disguise really is, and maybe even
let them choose the happy ending.
How I would do it did not come
immediately to my mind — the
frame of the Victorian musical, in
order to make the show … instead
of being this very dark, Dickensian
work, which is a literary curiosity.
It wasn’t like I was taking a beloved
classic like Great Expectations or
14
Hamilton Family Restaurant
David Copperfield; this was relatively
unknown at the time. How could I
have wonderful, theatrical fun with
it?
Then, later came the notion of,
“No, I won’t write it as Dickens. I’ll
create this musical company, a little
bit overambitious and definitely
hammy as all hell and license to
steal, and let them be putting on
this story which they believe is the
most incredible thing they’ve ever
done.” That way, when we get to
the moment when Charles Dickens
ceased to write, the audience won’t
be stranded alone without a companion. They’ll have this wonderful
company that they’ve been spending the first half of the show with to
help them, guide them through the
rest of it.
—Rupert Holmes,
interviewed by Michael Riedel
for Theater Talk, Nov. 16, 2012
City University of New York
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
Open
24 Hours
Late-Night
Specials
We accept ’Berg Bucks!
www.hamfamrestaurant.com
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 15
Allentown Academy of the Arts Alliance
invites you to the fourth annual
610.794.6010 | phoebe.org
Allentown, PA
8x8 Art Show & Fundraiser
Wednesday, Nov. 13 • 4-7 p.m.
Baker Theatre Lobby, Muhlenberg College
THE STAGE IS SET FOR
WORRY-FREE LIVING
Live the life of your dreams with a move to
The Terrace at Phoebe Allentown. Independent
living at The Terrace includes elegant dining services,
on-site amenities such as a beauty/barber shop, library,
fitness room, and garden area. We also offer extensive
social, cultural and recreational programs.
Come explore maintenance-free living at The Terrace!
DON’T WAIT—CALL US TODAY
AT 610-794-6010
B E A U T I F U L A PA R T M E N T S R A N G I N G F R O M S T U D I O
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16
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
Fifty plus original art, created by Allentown Academy of the Arts
students, faculty and alumni and local artists will be exhibited
and sold at silent auction. Proceeds benefit arts education in
the Allentown School District. Participating artists include Claire
Marcus, Lydia Panas, Lee Butz, Rosemary Geseck. Performances
will include the Allen Chorale and Double String Quartet.
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 17
Faculty & Guest
Artist Profiles
Tim Averill (Scenic Designer) is
professor of scenography in the
Muhlenberg Department of Theatre &
Dance. He has been the scenic designer
for Muhlenberg theatre productions
of An American Tragedy, Orpheus
Descending, Life’s a Dream, Tartuffe,
Juliet and Her Romeo, Pentecost, Cloud
Nine, The Mikado, and Dido and Aeneas,
among others. He has been awarded
the Kennedy Center/American
College Theatre Festival Medallion for
his service to the mid-Atlantic region
states. His professional experience
includes work for Glimmerglass Opera,
Yale Repertory Theatre, Powerhouse
Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Syracuse
Opera, Arena Theatre of Buffalo,
Theatre of the First Amendment, and
MacHaydn Theatre. His designs for
Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre
include Anything Goes, The Pirates of
Penzance, Gypsy, 42nd Street, Kiss Me
Kate, Evita, Godspell, and The Mikado,
among others.
Ed Bara (Musical Director) has performed with numerous ensembles as
a soloist and recording artist. He has
been heard in 14 countries and some
of the world’s most beautiful venues,
including St. Stephen’s Cathedral in
Vienna; The National Cathedral in
Washington, D.C.; Carnegie Hall and
Radio City Music Hall, New York;
and the Basilica of Saints Peter and
Paul, The Academy of Music, and The
18
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
Kimmel Center, Philadelphia. In all, he
has performed over 100 feature roles
of opera, oratorio, theatre, and musical
theatre. He is also a featured soloist
on over a dozen orchestral recordings
for Sony-Vox Classics, Time-Warner,
and Lyrichord Records, and recently
record the role of Jesus in a live inconcert performance of Bach’s St.
John Passion for Lyrichord Records
at the Kimmel Center. Drood marks
Ed’s eighth production at Muhlenberg
College, most recently as musical
director for last summer’s Crazy for
You and in the role of Caiaphas in Jesus
Christ Superstar.
Cheryl Soper Christensen (Props
Coordinator) has coordinated props
for all of the department’s Mainstage
productions since The Crucible in
spring of 2001 and for the Muhlenberg
Summer Music Theatre starting with
You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown
in the summer of 2001. Previously,
Cheryl was prop coordinator, then
production manager, for The Whole
Theatre in Montclair, N.J., where,
alongside artistic director Olympia
Dukakis, she worked with renowned
talents including director Susan
Strohman, playwright Romulus Linney,
and many others. She then served as
production manager at her alma mater,
Upsala College. The productions
Cheryl is most proud of are her sons,
Kramer, Alex, and Ethan.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 19
Vince Di Mura (Conductor) is a
veteran jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and musical director. He serves
as the resident composer and musical director for the Lewis Center of
the Arts at Princeton University. He
has conducted theatre seasons at The
Bethesda Nederlander Theatre, Laguna
Playhouse, and El Portal Theatre in
California; the Arkansas Shakespeare
Theatre in Michigan; Artpark
and Company in Lewiston, N.Y.;
Tennessee Repertory in Nashville;
the Asolo Theatre Company, Floriday
Studio Theatre, and American Stage
in Florida; Passage Theatre, Act II
Playhouse, and The Arden Theatre
Company in Philadelphia; the
Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre;
and The Little Theatre in the Rockies.
Vince has fulfilled many compositional
commissions from universities and
theatre companies across the country.
No stranger to the recording studio,
Vince has five CDs out, all available at
cdbaby.com, including the 2012 release
Love Was.
is the lighting designer for the Bessie
Award-winning dance company Urban
Bush Women. She has worked extensively in live theatre with such notable
artists as Craig Harris, Lucinda Childs,
Shirin Neshat, Philip Glass, Mark
Rucker, and numerous dance companies including Bessie Award winner
Nora Chipaumire, Troika Ranch,
Blondell Cummings, Urban Tap,
Ellis Wood, Alice Farley, Christopher
Caines, and Cherylyn Lavagnino
among others. She has also designed
Hamletmachine, A Child’s Christmas in
Wales, Little Shop of Horrors, Suddenly
Last Summer, The Great Highway, West
Side Story, The Cryptogram, Hamlet,
Much Ado About Nothing, Waiting for
Godot, and Mame, as well as many
other original plays and performance
pieces. Susan is an adjunct professor at
New York University and The Juilliard
School and is a member of USA 829,
IES, ACT-UAW. She has been published in Majestic Modern Living, Real
Simple Magazine, The New York Times
and the Rosco Lighting Tutorial website. www.susanhamburger.com
Susan Hamburger (Lighting
Designer) is thrilled to be returning to
Muhlenberg for her 18th season. Susan
Jeffrey Peterson (Choreographer)
serves as an assistant professor of dance
serving breakfast and lunch
An
Uncommon Commitment
to
Purity
–Susan Gottshall
Restaurant Reviewer,
The Morning Call
1342 Chelsea Ave. | Bethlehem | 610.866.1660 | jumbars.com
20
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 21
at Muhlenberg College, where he
teaches modern, jazz, and partnering
techniques. He holds an MFA from
New York University’s Tisch School
of the Arts, and a BFA in dance from
the University of Minnesota–Twin
Cities. Pre-professional performing highlights include dance works
by Chris Aiken, Zvi Gotheiner, Bill
T. Jones, José Limón, Doug Varone,
and Johannes Wieland, as well as
colorguard with The Madison Scouts
Drum and Bugle Corps and EveryBody Winter Guard. Mr. Peterson
began his professional dance career
in national tours with JAZZDANCE
with Danny Buraczeski in 2000. Since
then, he has performed in the work
of Clare Byrne, Edisa Weeks, and
Mathew Janczewski, as well as Stephan
Koplowitz’s Grand Step Project, and
the Minnesota Opera’s production of
The Pearl Fishers with choreography by
John Malashock. His choreographic
work for Jeffrey Peterson Dance, called
“poetic precision” by The Minneapolis
Star Tribune and “moving and heartracingly joyous” by The St. Paul
Pioneer Press, often utilizes a theatrical,
integrative approach to modern, jazz,
and colorguard to alter our perspectives regarding social constructs.
His work has been commissioned
by Dance New Amsterdam’s In the
Company of Men, Movement Research
at Judson Church, and Rhythmically
Speaking. Jeffrey Peterson Dance
has also appeared at Joe’s Pub, Joyce
SOHO, and Dixon Place in New York
City, The Minnesota Fringe Festival,
Intermedia Arts, and Bryant Lake
Bowl in Minneapolis, and in The Cloth
22
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
Peddler at the Dorothy Chandler
Pavilion in Los Angeles. Mr. Peterson’s
choreography has appeared in the
concert repertory of dance programs
at Gustavus Adolphus College,
Hamline University, Minnesota State
University–Mankato, St. Mary’s
University of Minnesota, and Old
Dominion University. His ongoing
creative work includes choreographic
projects, colorguard and visual consultation for the Govenaires Drum and
Bugle Corps, and sound design. Mr.
Peterson is currently working toward
his certification in Laban Movement
Analysis / Bartenieff Fundamentals
through Integrated Movement Studies.
Charles Richter (Director) is the
director of theatre at Muhlenberg
College, where he has taught and
directed for the past 35 years. His
productions of The Good Woman of
Setzuan, The School for Scandal, and
Spring Awakening were selected for presentation at American College Theatre
Festival regional festivals; he has also
directed, among others, Life’s a Dream,
Cabaret, The Pirates of Penzance,
Wonderful Town, The Mikado, West
Side Story, A Chorus Line, Hamlet, and
On the Town. He is a founding artistic
director of the Muhlenberg Summer
Music Theatre, former artistic director
of the Pennsylvania Stage Company,
and a member of the Stage Directors
and Choreographers Society. Charles
directed the world premiere of On
the Sporatic by Muhlenberg alum Jim
Ryan at the Ensemble Studio Theatre
in New York City in May 2006. His
productions for the summer stage also
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 23
include Candide, Annie Get Your Gun,
Hairspray, 42nd Street, Anything Goes,
and Man of La Mancha, among others.
He has also directed for the New York
City Opera Education Department,
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and
Theatre Three in Dallas. He holds
an MFA in directing from Southern
Methodist University, and a Certificate
in Drama from the University of
Bristol, England. Charles is a fellow
of the Society for Values in Higher
Education.
Start dancing!
MCDC
Nicole Wee (Costume Designer)
Off-Broadway: Closer Than Ever (Dir.
Richard Maltby) and Storyville (York
Theatre Co.), The Body Politic (At
Hand Theatre Co.), The Sensational
Josephine Baker (Emerging Artists
Theatre). Off-Off Broadway: Tiny
Dynamite (Origin Theatre Co.), The
Wundelsteipen and Other Difficult
Roles for Young People (The Flea),
Letters to the End of the World and As
Wide as I Can See (At Hand Theatre
Co.), First Prize (kef productions).
Regional: Crazy for You (Muhlenberg
Summer Music Theatre), I Do! I
Do! (Peterborough Players), Tosca
(Boheme Opera, N.J.), Ruined (Florida
Studio Theatre: regional premiere;
Best Costume Design — Best of the
Suncoast 2010). MFA: New York
University. www.nicolewee.com
Jarrod Yuskauskas (Dialect Coach)
currently serves as director of theatre
arts for Moravian Academy, where
he has directed Man of La Mancha,
Twelfth Night, and The Mystery of
Edwin Drood (Freddy Award for
Outstanding Production by a Smaller
School) and teaches a variety of theatre
courses. As an actor, he has performed
with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare
Festival, Philadelphia Shakespeare
Theatre, BRAT Productions, Bucks
County Playhouse, Media Theatre,
and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
Locally, he has been seen onstage at
Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre
in Crazy for You (as Bela Zangler) and
HMS Pinafore (as Sir Joseph Porter)
and served as Combat Choreographer
for Civic Theatre’s August: Osage
County. He received his MFA from
the Alabama Shakespeare Festival/
University of Alabama Professional
Actor Training Program and his
Bachelor of Arts from DeSales
University.
Muhlenberg
Community Dance Center
Programs for Young Dancers
Classes for children and teens at all levels,
in creative movement, ballet, modern, tap, jazz, pointe, hip hop.
Adult Pilates & Fitness Classes • Adult Ballet
Tap Dance with Shelley Oliver
484.664.3087 • muhlenberg.edu/MCDC
24
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 25
“
Company Profiles
At The Wescoe School, we are
Mae Rose Adubato (Principal Dancer,
Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her
Mainstage debut as a freshman. Past credits
include New Jersey Youth Theatre’s West
Side Story (Shark Dancer), Paper Mill
Playhouse’s 2012 Summer Musical Theatre
Conservatory, and Cranford High School’s
productions of Sweet Charity (Charity),
Bye Bye Birdie (Ursula), Oklahoma, and Into
the Woods. Mae will be performing in the
Moving Stories dance concert later in the
fall.
proud to partner with the local employers who
understand the value of supporting lifelong
learning for their staff. The investment they make
in their employees not only contributes to the
growth of those individuals and the organization,
but also our community as a whole.
”
Jane Hudak, M.Ed.
Dean of The Wescoe School
Seana Benz (Wendy, Ensemble) is making her Mainstage debut. She is a senior,
double-majoring in theatre and music. Her
previous Muhlenberg College appearance
was in the 2012 Summer Music Theatre
production of Hairspray. Regional credit:
Footloose (Pines Dinner Theatre). Other
credits include: Striking 12 (Genesius
Theatre), Joseph…Dreamcoat (EPAC),
Sweeney Todd (Alpha/Omega Players).
Seana studied abroad last fall at Goldsmiths
College in London. She is a brother of
Kappa Kappa Psi, works in the costume
shop, and sings in various ensembles on
campus.
Allison Bloechl (Ensemble) is thrilled
to be making her fifth appearance on
the Muhlenberg Mainstage. Previous
Mainstage credits include Bartholomew
Fair (Mistress Overdo), Three Sisters
(Ensemble), Merrily We Roll Along (Mrs.
Spencer), and La Dispute (Hermione). She
is a senior theatre major with concentrations in acting and performance studies, as
well as an environmental science major and
Muhlenberg Scholar. She is president of
the Muhlenberg Women’s Ensemble and a
brother of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Contact our office for information on tuition deferment
and how we can bring Muhlenberg College classes
to your site: 484-664-3300.
muhlenberg.edu/wescoe
26
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
Zoë Briggs (Ensemble, Dance
Understudy) This is Zoë’s second appearance on the Mainstage. She also appeared
in last season’s 44 Plays for 44 Presidents.
Zoë appeared most recently in The
Goodbye, a studio production directed and
written by Jerald Kaplan ’13. Zoë is a sophomore here at Muhlenberg, a member of
the Muhlenberg Theatre Association board,
a tour guide, and a dancer in Dance Max
Moving Co. Favorite roles are Penny from
You Can’t Take It With You and Aldonza in
Man of La Mancha.
Christian Dessler (Ensemble) is excited
to be making his Mainstage debut. Credits
include: the Summer Music Theatre
production of Seussical (Swing, Horton
and Wickersham Cover); the Studio
Productions of The Goodbye (Mark, Sorrell),
and The Real Inspector Hound (Major
Magnus Muldoon). Christian directed Inside
Voices and Half-Windsor in the Red Door
Play Festival. He appeared Off-Broadway in
his junior year of high school. He is a member of the Muhlenberg Chaimonics and a
theater major with a music minor.
Henry Evans (Ensemble, Principal Dancer,
the Shade of Jasper) appeared in On the
Town on the Mainstage last year and has
also performed in the informal dance concert series. Other credits include Seymour
in Little Shop of Horrors (Churchill School),
Will Parker in Oklahoma! (Stagedoor
Manor), and Small Steps, Tiny Revolutions
(Pascal Dance Company). Henry is a
sophomore at Muhlenberg and can’t wait
to continue his journey.
Simon Evans (Ensemble) most recently
performed in Beauty and the Beast at
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 27
Hopewell Valley Central High School, where
he also appeared in a number of other shows,
including Our Town, The Skin of Our Teeth,
and his fondest, You Can’t Take It With You.
Simon is a member of Muhlenberg’s show
choir group, Live In Color.
Stefanie Goldberg (Edwin Drood), Class
of 2014, is a theatre and media & communication double-major. Past credits include
Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre’s
productions of Jesus Christ Superstar (Soul
Girl), HMS Pinafore (Cousin Hebe),
and The Music Man (Dance Ensemble),
the Muhlenberg Mainstages Merrily We
Roll Along and The Pajama Game, Master
Choreographers ’14, and Dance Emerge ’12
and ’13. She is currently workshopping the
production My Five Best Friends (David).
Stefanie is an assistant musical director of
the a cappella group NoteWorthy and the
liaison between the Muhlenberg Theatre
and Dance Associations.
28
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
Rebecca Grady (Production Stage
Manager) served as the stage manager for
Master Choreographers ’13 and an associate
stage manager for 44 Plays for 44 Presidents.
Other credits include Muhlenberg
Summer Music Theatre’s Seussical and The
Enchantment Theatre Company’s Harold
and the Purple Crayon. ASM credits include
Master Choreographers ’12 and New Voices
’11: Transcranium. Rebecca is a junior theatre major (stage management concentration), a business minor, and a sister of the
Phi Sigma Sigma sorority.
Elizabeth Harris (Beatrice, Ensemble) is
a junior theatre and history double-major
who hails from Great Barrington, Mass.
This is Elizabeth’s Mainstage debut, but
you may have seen her most recently in the
Studio Productions of The Dutchman and
The Goodbye. Elizabeth is a resident advisor
in Martin Luther Hall and a member of the
Muhlenberg Theatre Association.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 29
James “Doc” Hayman (Sound
Designer) is excited to be back working
in Muhlenberg theatre, this time with
a twist. Doc is a senior at Muhlenberg,
and a theatre major with a concentration
in design. He spent the summer of 2012
studying electronic music production at
the Dubspot School in New York City. That
same year he had the wonderful experience of traveling to London to study at
Goldsmiths College. Doc enjoys producing music and deejaying in his spare time;
he is currently the resident deejay for
College Night at The Maingate nightclub.
Doc is a proud brother of the Phi Kappa
Tau National Fraternity.
Ellen Herschel (Maid #2, Ensemble)
is thrilled to be a part of her second
Mainstage production. She has appeared
in Iphigenia and Other Daughters on the
Mainstage and in the Studio Production
of A La Luz Del Miedo. Other Muhlenberg
credits include NPRS readings of Agnostic
at Acheron and Brushstrokes. Ellen is a
member of An Artist Collective, Dance
Max Moving Company, and the Women’s
Ensemble. She is a Dana Scholar, and
she has studied abroad in France and
Bangladesh.
Ariel Holman (Assistant Director) is a
sophomore here at Muhlenberg and is
happy to be involved in her first Mainstage
production. She is a theatre major with a
directing concentration, and she is also
working on her early education teaching certification. Last year she directed
The Game as a part of the Red Door
Play Festival. She is a member of the
Muhlenberg Women’s Ensemble and the
College Choir, and she participates in the
Muhlenberg Feminist Collective.
Diverse
Innovative
Molly Israel (Maid #1, Ensemble) is a
double major in theatre and media &
communication. Last semester she studied
abroad in Dublin, Ireland, and interned at
The New Theatre in Temple Bar. Favorite
roles on the Muhlenberg stage include
Riley in The Bourgeois Pig and Hermia in A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, for which she
received an Irene Ryan nomination. Molly
is a resident liaison, a Dean’s List student,
and a marketing volunteer in the Theatre &
Dance office.
Breathtaking
Zachary Jackson (Ensemble) is a sophomore theatre major. This production marks
his second musical at Muhlenberg, following the Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre
production of Jesus Christ Superstar (Philip).
Last year he appeared in the mainstage
productions of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents
and The Marriage of Figaro. Zachary is
happy to be one of the newest members of
the AcaFellas. His first and favorite role was
Jojo in Seussical at Danbury High School.
Rachel L. Kaufman (Rosa Bud,
Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her
Mainstage debut. Rachel is a senior theatre
and business administration double-major.
Last fall, she studied commedia dell’arte
and physical theatre at the Accademia
dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. Favorite roles include Ginny (For Whom the Southern Belle
Tolls) and Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd).
On campus, Rachel is a member of the
Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honors
society, a tutor for the Academic Resource
Center, and a proud sister and president of
Phi Sigma Sigma sorority.
Will Kellogg (Ensemble, Principal
Dancer) is a senior theatre major who has
previously appeared on the Mainstage
in Bartholomew Fair and Merrily We Roll
Along. He’s also been seen over the summer
in Seussical and HMS Pinafore for Summer
Music Theatre. Will is a proud member of
the Muhlenberg Chaimonics a cappella
group. He spent last fall studying physical theatre at the Accademia dell’Arte in
Arezzo, Italy.
Charlie Killoran (Ensemble) is a senior
theatre major and business minor who is
beyond overjoyed to be in Drood. Previous
Muhlenberg Mainstage roles include Flute
in Midsummer, Boy in The Man Who Turned
into a Stick, and ensemble in The Pajama
Game. Chaz appeared in Jesus Christ
Superstar this summer in Muhlenberg
Summer Music Theatre and studied
abroad in Arezzo, Italy, last fall. Charlie is
in two improv groups on campus, MIA and
UiP, and plans to pursue acting, improv and
comedy next year in New York City.
Paige Klibanoff (Principal Dancer,
Ensemble) Drood is Paige’s third Mainstage
production at Muhlenberg, following The
Marriage of Figaro and On the Town. She
also appeared in the Muhlenberg Summer
Music Theatre production of Crazy for
You. Paige is a junior theatre and dance
double-major. She is looking forward to
participating in the informal dance concert
this semester.
Rena Lourie (Assistant Stage Manager)
This is Rena’s third Mainstage and second
musical at Muhlenberg. Some of her
other credits include On the Town and
Bartholomew Fair with Muhlenberg;
Merrily We Roll Along, and Sweeney Todd
with Youth Musical Theatre Company in
Berkeley, Calif.; and Macbeth with San
Francisco Shakespeare Company. She is a
double-major in theatre and English.
Zachary Love (Deputy) is thrilled to be
back on the Muhlenberg Mainstage in
the cast of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
He has previously appeared as Moose in
the Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre
Serving the Lehigh Valley’s
Educational Employees since 1934
MAIN OFFICE 3720 Hamilton Boulevard
Allentown, PA 18103-4503
SCHNECKSVILLE 4031 Independence Drive
BRANCH Schnecksville, PA 18078-0399
PHONE 610-820-0145
WEBSITE www.lvecu.org
30
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 31
production of Crazy for You, and on the
Mainstage as the Diamond Eddie’s Emcee
in On the Town and as Bartholo in The
Marriage of Figaro. Zach is a tour guide on
campus, host of the Muhlenberg Improv
Association, and a member of NoteWorthy,
Muhlenberg’s Broadway-based a cappella
group.
Wesley MacBeth (The Rev. Mr.
Crisparkle) has previously appeared as
Ralph Rackstraw in the Muhlenberg
Summer Music Theatre production of
HMS Pinafore. He has also appeared in
Mainstage productions of Bartholomew Fair
and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and was
a dancer in On the Town and the SMT productions of The Music Man and Jesus Christ
Superstar. A senior at Muhlenberg, Wesley
is a math and theatre double-major. He is
president of the a capella group InAcchord
and SongSycle.
Joe Marx ( John Jasper) appeared in the
Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre
production of Crazy for You as Mingo, the
Muhlenberg Mainstage production of On
the Town, and the MSMT production of
HMS Pinafore. Joe is the music director
of the a cappella group NoteWorthy. He
is also a member of the Muhlenberg performance ensemble SongSycle and a tutor
for Muhlenberg’s Academic Resource
Center.
Dan McKenna (Durdles) is excited to be
making his Mainstage debut in The Mystery
of Edwin Drood. He previously appeared
in the Studio Production of What Heaven
Doesn’t Have to Know. Other recent credits
include Crazy for You, Young Frankenstein,
and Hair (Downtown Performing Arts
Center), as well as Footloose and Peter Pan
(Notre Dame High School). Dan is a
Dana Scholar and the coordinator of the
Muhlenberg Dynamics.
Alan Mendez (Neville Landless) is
humbled and grateful to be a part of his
first Mainstage production. A theatre
and physics double-major, Alan last appeared on the Muhlenberg stage in HMS
Pinafore during the 2012 Summer Music
Theatre season. Past credits include Peter
in Company (Pennsylvania Playhouse)
and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet: A Musical
Tragedy (Salisbury High School). Alan is
also a Dana Scholar and a member of the
AcaFellas and Unscripted Improv Project.
Mac Myles (Ensemble) is a sophomore,
originally from the Chicagoland area.
He recently appeared in the Muhlenberg
Summer Music Theatre production of Jesus
Christ Superstar and the Mainstage production of The Marriage of Figaro. Other credits
include Tobias in Sweeney Todd and Wally
in The 1940s Radio Hour. Mac is a theatre
and media & communication double-major.
61st Season 2012-2013
Adaskin String Trio with Ensemble Schumann
November 18 at 4:00pm. • Baker Theatre • Muhlenberg College
For more information on dates, programs, concert www.cmsob.org
venues, and ticket purchase, please visit our website: 610-435-7611
32
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 33
Emily Phillips (Helena Landless, Dance
Captain) is a senior at Muhlenberg and
a declared business and theatre doublemajor. She is the business manager of the
Muhlenberg Theatre Association. Emily
was featured on Season 9 of So You Think
You Can Dance, where she advanced to the
Vegas Week audition round from New York
City. Past Muhlenberg productions include:
On the Town (assistant choreographer and
ensemble), Merrily We Roll Along (Meg
Kincaid), The Pajama Game (ensemble),
Moving Stories ’10-’12, Dance Emerge ’11,
and Master Choreographers ’11-’14. Other
favorite roles and shows include: Rizzo
(Grease), Penny Pingleton (Hairspray), Mrs.
Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Lucy Harris (Jekyll
and Hyde), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty
and the Beast, and All Shook Up.
Josh Portera (Bazzard) is thrilled to be a
part of Drood, his third Mainstage performance. A senior theatre major, Josh has
appeared previously in Mainstage productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Snout)
and 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, the Studio
Production of The Moustache (Phil), and the
Red Door production of Forgive and Format
(Henry Nottingham). Other credits include
Sideshow and How to Succeed in Business
Without Really Trying (Regional Center for
the Arts).
George Primavera (Chairman William
Cartwright) is a theatre and communications double-major, and is the current president of the A Capella Council. Previously he
has appeared in Gabey in On the Town and as
Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk, both produced
at Muhlenberg College.
Lillian Pritchard (Principal Dancer,
Ensemble), a sophomore from North
Clarendon, Vt., is overjoyed to be taking
part in her second Mainstage production at
Muhlenberg. You may have seen Lillian as
Fanchette in The Marriage of Figaro, tapping with Copasetic Rhythms, singing with
Muhlenberg Women’s Choir, or hiking with
Muhlenberg Outdoors Club.
William Raynor (Ensemble) is making his
Mainstage debut. He has served as an assistant stage manager for several Muhlenberg
productions, including New Voices 2011,
Three Sisters, Master Choreographers ’13, and
Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre’s HMS
Pinafore. William was also assistant director
for On the Town, and made his Muhlenberg
stage debut as The Sour Kangaroo in
SMT’s Seussical this past summer.
Evan Richter (Throttle, Ensemble) is
thrilled to make his mainstage debut with
The Mystery of Edwin Drood. His past
performances include Drood, Man of La
Mancha, Honk! and Once Upon a Mattress
(Moravian Academy). As a freshman, Evan
is planning to major in theatre.
Kevin F. Rogers (Ensemble) is a sophomore with a double major in theatre and
business. This is Kevin’s second appearance in a Mainstage production. Last
year, Kevin was proud to be apart of the
ensemble in The Marriage of Figaro. Other
productions at Muhlenberg include the
Studio Production ‘Dentity Crisis (Robert)
and the IJCU Special Production of Face
Forward (Ernst). Other credits include:
Carousel (Mr. Snow), Les Misérables
(Marius) and A Little Night Music
(Henrik).
Michael Schwartz (Ensemble) is a freshman here at Muhlenberg and is making
his Mainstage debut in Drood. Recent
credits include Once Upon a Mattress
(Dauntless), Footloose (Willard), and Aida
(Radames)Mike spent the past couple
of summers at the Surflight Theatre in
Long Beach Island, N.J., as a performing
apprentice.
Coming in November
Est.
performing arts
1969
Labuda Center for the Performing Arts • 2755 Station Avenue • Center Valley, PA 18034
Tickets & Info: 610-282-3192
eler
AE M cE R GINc G CH O R EO G R AP H E R S aCO NCEt RTe
November 8 to November 10 • Schubert Theatre
34
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
• desales.edu/act1
SCREENDANCE
F E S T I VA L
Merging the arts
of dance and film
November 16 & 17 • DeSales University Center
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 35
Georgie Simon (Ensemble) has appeared on the Mainstage previously in The
Marriage of Figaro (Marceline) and On the
Town (Madame Dilly). Other credits include Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre
productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and
Hairspray (u/s Tracy). Georgie is a junior
with a theatre and religion studies double
major, and is the president of the Religion
Studies and Cultures Forum.
Samantha Simon (Rosa, Ensemble)
is a junior theatre and music doublemajor and is thrilled to be making her
Mainstage debut. Next semester she
will be going abroad to study opera in
Vienna. Previous credits include: The
Cloth Peddler (Telli u/s, Muhlenberg),
Dido and Aeneas (Belinda, Muhlenberg),
Aida (Aida) and Titanic: The Musical
(Ida Straus) at Discovery Center Times
Square, Les Misérables (George Street
Playhouse), Wicked in Concert (Galinda,
BergenPAC), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide,
Hawthorne Arts), and Candide in Concert
(Cunegonde, NJPAC).
Caitlin Sing (The Princess Puffer), a senior
theatre major, is incredibly thankful for the
opportunity to work with such a genuinely
talented company and artistic team on this
production of Drood. Her Muhlenberg
credits include this past summer’s production of Crazy for You, the 2012 Mainstage
Stop Kiss, the 2012 Studio Production
’Dentity Crisis, and The Sedehi Diversity
Project (2011 cast, 2012 director). On
campus, Caitlin is the president of the Girls
Next Door a cappella group, vice president of the long-form improv group UiP, a
member of the short-form improv group
MIA, and the social coordinator of the
Muhlenberg Theatre Association.
William B. Smith (Ensemble) is very
36
happy to be cast in his first Mainstage
show, and is blessed to be performing
with such a wonderful cast and crew.
Most recent roles include: Mr. MacAfee
in Bye Bye Birdie, the Grandfather in You
Can’t Take It With You, Zach in A Chorus
Line, and Jud Fry in Oklahoma!, all at the
Staples Players High School Company last
year.
Sean Watkins (Assistant Stage Manager)
is excited to be working on his first
production at Muhlenberg. He has stage
managed countless productions over the
course of his high school career, including shows with Newtown High School,
Sabrina’s Encore Productions, and The
12.14 Foundation. For his work on How
to Succeed in Business Without Really
Trying at NHS, Sean received an award for
Outstanding Student Achievement at the
2013 Connecticut High School Musical
Theatre Awards.
Elissa Wells (Principal Dancer, Ensemble),
a freshman theatre major, is incredibly
excited and humbled to perform in her
Muhlenberg Mainstage debut. Some of her
favorite past roles include Reno Sweeney
in Anything Goes at Mira Costa High
School and Soupy Sue/Dance Captain
in Urinetown at the Walnut Hill School.
In addition to Drood, Elissa is part of the
NoteWorthy a cappella group here on
campus.
Sarah Weinflash (Assistant Stage
Manager) has worked on 44 Plays for
44 Presidents and Bartholomew Fair on
Muhlenberg’s Mainstage, as well as two
Red Door Play Festival productions and
Crazy for You for Muhlenberg Summer
Music Theatre. She also stage managed
Carrie: The Musical at the Fine Arts
Connection this summer.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 37
Muhlenberg College
Department of Theatre & Dance
Theatre Faculty
Beth Schachter – Department Chair;
Associate Professor: Acting, Directing,
History & Theory
Charles Richter – Director of Theatre;
Professor: Directing, Theatre History,
Theory
Curtis Dretsch – Director of Design and
Technical Theatre; Professor: Scenic,
Costume, and Lighting Design
Timothy Averill – Professor:
Scenography
Holly Cate – Assistant Professor: Acting
Michael Chin – PT Lecturer: Acting,
Stage Combat
Troy Dwyer – Associate Professor:
Acting and Voice & Speech
Mark McKenna – PT Lecturer: Acting
Matthew Moore – PT Lecturer: Theatre
History & Theory
James Peck – Professor: Directing,
Performance Studies, Theatre History
Francine Roussel – Associate Professor:
Acting
Larry Singer – Visiting Assistant
Professor: Directing, Acting
38
The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013
Gayanne Grossman – Dance Clinic
Director; PT Lecturer: Anatomy and
Kinesiology for Dancers
Madeline Hoak – PT Lecturer:
Aerial Acrobatics
Lela Aisha Jones - Visiting Lecturer: African
Dance & Cultures, Dance Technique and
Performance
Ellen Troy Mulcahy – PT Lecturer:
Pilates, Ballet
Shelley Oliver – Director of the
Muhlenberg Tap Ensemble; Lecturer: Tap
Jeffrey Peterson – Assistant Professor:
Modern, Jazz, Dance Technique and
Performance
Tara Repsher – Director of the Muhlenberg
Community Dance Center youth classes;
PT Lecturer: Ballet, Jazz
Sammy Reyes – Guest Artist: Hip Hop
Teresa VanDenend Sorge – Lecturer:
Modern, Dance Education, Dance &
Society; MCDC Education Training
Mentor
Jessica Warchal-King – PT Lecturer: Ballet
Lynn Wiener – PT Lecturer: Ballet, Jazz,
Lester Horton Modern Dance Technique
Dance Musicians
Dance Faculty
Paul Fejko Rebekah Ruth Natalia Varlashova
Karen Dearborn – Dance Program Chair;
Professor: Ballet, Composition,
Dance History
Pattie Bostick – PT Lecturer: Jazz, Ballet
Lisa Bottitta-Busfield – PT Lecturer:
Modern, Dance Education
Corrie Franz Cowart – Assistant Professor:
Modern, Ballroom, Composition, Dance
on Camera
Susan Creitz – PT Lecturer: Improvisation,
Movement for Actors and Dancers
Heidi Cruz-Austin – ­­PT Lecturer: Ballet
Megan Flynn - PT Lecturer: Ballet
Professional Staff
October 2013
Jessica Bien – General Manager
Damon Gelb – Technical Director
Caroline La Porta – Costume Shop
Manager
Scott Snyder – Marketing and Development
Manager
Eric Covell – Assistant Technical Director
Alexis Gurst – Staff Stitcher
Tracy C. Kline – Department Secretary
Jena Verlin – Presidential Assistant for
Marketing & Development
Paul E. Theisen, Jr. – Theatre Technician
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 39
Muhlenberg Theatre Association
- Executive Board -
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessielyn Kreitzer
Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine O’Connell
Executive Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Becca Grady (Fall), Carrie Jablansky (Spring)
Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Phillips
Historian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Baldasarra
- Advisory Board -
Fundraising Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lana Gallo
Publicity Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hannah Cook (Fall), Matt McAlister (Spring)
Studio Productions Coordinator . . . . . . . . . Kaity Doran (Fall), Lena Schneider (Spring)
Student Master Carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Pacelli (Fall), Alex Michaels (Spring)
Student Master Electrician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ben Burwell
Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Claire Waggoner
Red Door Play Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alyssa Haning
Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avalon Esposito
Performance Ensemble Coordinator . . . . . Alex McKhann (Fall), Jeffrey Robb (Spring)
Social Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caitlin Sing
Concessions Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zoe Briggs (Fall), Russell Norris (Spring)
Community Outreach Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aly Tromitas
MTA/MDA Liaison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stefanie Goldberg
Muhlenberg Dance Association
- Executive Board -
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jaclyn Birkner
Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allison Berger
Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Gumbert (Fall), Meredith Testa (Spring)
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Melanie Ludy
Public Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annie Williams
Community Engagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brittany Van Natta
MTA/MDA Liaison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stefanie Goldberg
Class Representative 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ali Lambert
Class Representative 2015 . . . . . . . . . . Zoe Papaeracleous (Fall), Sarah Braviak (Spring)
Class Representative 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erica Braun
The Muhlenberg College experience offers a direct learning partnership among faculty and
students in the classroom, laboratory, and performance studio. Muhlenberg offers students
opportunities to foster the most important goal of the liberal arts education—education of
the whole person.
In Theatre and Dance, faculty and staff have developed a multi-faceted approach to
education that combines exciting creative experience with rigorous professional standards.
The production program reinforces the belief that as academic disciplines, theatre and dance
must be intellectual and practical. Serious training and intense interaction between faculty
and students provide a collaborative rather than competitive atmosphere in the department.
Students are challenged as artists in the studio and classroom, working closely with
distinguished faculty and nationally recognized guest artists to achieve a conceptual
understanding and a practical working knowledge of the arts and the profession. Stage
experience is considered one of the most important elements in the training process for
actors and dancers, directors and choreographers, production stage managers, designers and
technicians. Students provide considerable talent and leadership in the staging of both main
stage and studio projects.
Performing Arts graduates of Muhlenberg College are prepared for study at the graduate
level, pursue lives as professional artists, and contribute creative leadership in many other
careers. The blend of academic work in the liberal arts with a professional level of training
in theatre and dance has prepared them to work as actors, directors, designers and stage
managers, choreographers, dancers, and dance educators, and production assistants and arts
administrators on Broadway, in film and television, and in major regional and educational
theatres across the nation.
Muhlenberg’s production program has been ranked in the top ten in the country for six
years running, according to The Princeton Review, including a No. 1 ranking for 2012. The Fiske
Guide to Colleges ranks Muhlenberg among the top 20 small college programs in the nation in
both theatre and dance—one of only eight schools in the country to appear on both lists.
For more information, visit our website at
www.muhlenberg.edu/theatre&dance
Muhlenberg Theatre Association & Muhlenberg Dance Association
are supported by funds provided by Student Government
and the Department of Theatre and Dance.
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October 2013
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 41
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The Mystery of Edwin Drood October 2013