The Marvelous Wonderettes Program

Aiken Community Theatre presents

Written and created

by Roger APRIL 1, 2,Bean 7, 8, Directed by Bradley Watts Aiken Community Theatre 126 Newberry Street SW Aiken, SC 29801 803-648-1438 AikenCommunityTheatre.org

9 @ 7:30 PM APRIL 3 @ 2:00 PM

ACT Mission Aiken Community Theatre (ACT) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to entertain, educate, and enrich our community by providing a quality theatre experience.

ACT Board Executive Director – Kyle Seconi Artistic Director – JC Crider Secretary – Chrissey Morton Treasurer – Jimmy Moore Marketing Director – Jeff Mastromonico Youth Wing Interim Director – Steven McKinney Thurmond Whatley Marcia Harris Wendy Dietzel Jim Schroeder Ellen Williams Angie Galan Collette Miller Cory Herbst Dustin Turner Anrenee Tucker-Brown Angie Richards Jerry West Frances Fields

presents

The Marvelous Wonderettes Written and created by Roger Bean Performed by special arrangement with Stage Rights Directed by Bradley Watts

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A note from ACT’s Executive Director Despite an uncertain journey over the last 2 years, your commitment to ACT inspired us. Because of your support, we were able to navigate the rules and regulations designed to keep people safe while delivering on our promise to entertain, educate, and enrich our community by providing a quality theatre experience.

During our period of closure, our incredible volunteers continued to serve in many capacities: teaching at our free monthly Youth Wing workshops, sharing new streaming events through Entr’Act, and helping with many beautification projects within the theatre. Now, we have almost an entire season of live shows under our belt and are excited about the productions our next season will bring. We are also thrilled to share that subscriptions will be available again soon. Look for more information on our website coming this month.

We thank you for your continued support whether it is a tax-deductible financial gift, in-kind donation, subscription purchase, volunteer time, or simply applause.

With gratitude and best wishes,

Kyle A. Seconi Executive Director

SPECIAL THANKS Mainstreet Players of Edgefield, SC Kelly Harris Caroline Bland Gwen Wade of Mimi’s Alterations and Creations Linda Clancy Vivian Johnson Karlton Timmerman Wendy Dietzel Abigail Turner

MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Director’s note The Marvelous Wonderettes is a show I've loved ever since seeing the original cast on Broadway. It is a wonderful visit in times goneby, when music was music. I have directed this show in Edgefield, SC as well. Both experiences were great but in different ways. I grew up with parents who had a deep love for music, especially from the eras that the show is set in. I hope this show brings you as much joy as it does me. The four talented singers who play these women have utterly amazed me from the first rehearsal and will continue to amaze me all the way through closing night. Thank you, Juli, Whitney, Cara, and Rachel for this production. What an honor to be able to direct four powerhouse performers, I love you girls and love what you've done with these roles. Alex , thanks for the music. You did an awesome job! Audrey , thank you for being a vital part of this show and its music as well. Kelly H., thanks for letting us use your choreography again. Thanks to my awesome stage crew. The biggest thanks goes to my Assistand Director and Stage Manager, Jim Schroder. What an asset you have been to me and to this show You are someone I will continue to admire for the rest of my career.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful stroll through memory lane. This show is dedicated to my parents, David and Brenda Watts, who taught me to love music and musicals.

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy The Marvelous Wonderettes.

Bradley Watts

The CAST

Cindy Lou………………………………………..…………Cara Doolittle Betty Jean…...……………………………………………………Juli Davis Suzy………………………………….........................Rachel Hatfield Missy..……………………………………………….Whitney McDonald

NEXT: Christmas in July

JULY 15-23

In this outrageously funny comedy, it’s Christmas-time in the newest—and tiniest— town in Texas. And it’s beginning to look a lot like trouble in Doublewide. Not only are the trailer park residents dealing with the stress of the holiday season, but they’ve just discovered that Doublewide is being doublecrossed by the County. With their official incorporation papers in jeopardy, this band of eccentric Texans throw themselves into taking on the “Big Guys.” Determined to bolster their legitimacy, they first set their sights on the County-wide “Battle of The Mangers” competition. They conspire to win this smackdown with their “Nativity At The Alamo” entry…by any means possible.

Written by Jessie Jones, Nicolas Hope, Jamie Wooten Directed by Janette Godwin

The MARVELOUS Story This smash Off-Broadway hit takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where we meet Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy: four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! As we learn about their lives and loves, the girls serenade us with classic ‘50s hits.

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There will be a 15-minute intermission between Acts 1 and 2.

The CREW Director...……………….………….…………………..…Bradley Watts Assistant Director/Stage Manager….…...….…………….Jim Schroeder Music Director……………………..………………..… Alex Henderson Assistant Music Director…………..………………………Audrey Ateca Choreographer………………….………………………..…Kelly Harris Choreography Assistants…….…..Cara Doolittle and Whitney McDonald Set Design………….……Bradley Watts, Jim Schroeder, Duane Berning Master Carpenter…………………………………..…....Duane Berning Costumers…………………....Bradley Watts, Linda Clancy, Gwen Wade Lighting Design…….…………………………………….Teddy Palmer Light Board Operator…………………………………………...Liz Day Sound Design…………………………………………….Dustin Turner Sound Board Operators........................................Ella Dietzel, Dustin Turner Spotlight Operators…………………………Audrey Dietzel, Matt Davis Stagehand…………………………………………………..Abby Davis

Bradley Watts, Director • Bradley has been acting and directing for over 30 years in Aiken, Columbia, and Edgefield, SC. He recently directed Steel Magnolias for Main Street players. Some of his credits at ACT include Grease, Steel Magnolias, Chicago, Rent, Dixie Swim Club and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In Edgefield, Bradley directed The Marvelous Wonderettes and Honky Tonk Angels Some of his acting credits include Odd Couple, Dearly Departed , Christmas Belles and his lastest, Hairspray (Edna Turnblad) in Columbia SC opposite Whitney McDonald.

Cara Doolittle • Cara Doolittle (Cindy Lou Huffington) fell in love with theatre in 2011 when she made her debut at ACT in Rent. From Chicago to The Hunchback of Notre Dame, she has appeared in numerous shows since then, most recently as one of this year's new cast members in the annual Aiken Heart Show. Cara played Betty Jean back in 2014, and she is thrilled to be taking the stage as a Marvelous Wonderette for the second time!

Juli Davis • Juli Davis is no stranger to the ACT stage. You may have seen her in Chicago (Velma Kelly) or more recently in Nunsense (Sister Robert Anne). Juli’s directorial credits include Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan. Juli has served on the Board of Directors at ACT and as a past Executive Director of ACT’s Youth Wing.

Rachel Hatfield • Rachel has been acting since she was 12 years old and singing alongside her exceedingly musical family for as long as she can remember. Her favorite credits over the years include Miss Shingle in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, the witch in Into the Woods (twice!), and her most recent role as Shelby in Steel Magnolias in Edgefield. She sends a special thanks to her family for being her biggest fans and teaching her how to properly harmonize.

Whitney McDonald • The Marvelous Wonderettes is one of Whitney’s favorite shows to perform - so much so that this is her 3rd production! She was cast as Cindy Lou in ACT’s production in 2012 and reprised the role in 2014 for the Edgefield County Theatre Company. Now, she is playing the role of Missy. Some of Whitney’s other roles include Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, Curley’s wife in Of Mice and Men, The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Sister James in Doubt: A Parable.

Alex Henderson, Music Director Alex Henderson is a veteran of the Aiken theatre scene, primarily as an orchestra director. His most recent credits are orchestra director for Evita! and The Mystery of Edwin Drood with the Aiken Community Theatre. He is happy to be back in the saddle as music director for this production of Marvelous Wonderettes. Alex is married to Betsy Henderson and has three adult children and two marvelous grandchildren.

Audrey Ateca, Assistant Music Director Audrey has been involved at ACT for 15 years assisting backstage and appearing onstage in shows such as All My Sons, Les Miserables, Prodigal Son, and Silent Sky. She serves as an adult mentor for the ACT Youth Wing’s Garden Theatre. Audrey is thankful for the support of her husband, Tony. She enjoys going on adventures with her family and taking long walks with her adorable dog, Pablo.

Get into the ACT! UPCOMING AUDITIONS

Auditions: May 23 and 24 at 7pm Performances: July 14 - 23

Auditions: June 6 and 7 at 7pm Performances: Sep 9 – 17

For details about upcoming productions and audition requirements, visit our website at www.aikencommunitytheatre.org