Audience | She Loves Me | CenterStage at The Trager Family JCC | May 2024

Book by JOE MASTEROFF

Music by JERRY BOCK

Lyrics by SHELDON HARNICK

presented by sponsored by

Visit speedmuseum.org/belong for details.

Photography: Josh Svoboda

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THEATRE INFORMATION

CenterStage performs in the Shapira Foundation Auditorium at the Trager Family JCC, 3600 Dutchmans Lane, Louisville KY 40205. Tickets at jcclouisville.org/centerstage

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DIRECTOR’S

Barrett Cooper Director

Good evening and welcome to the final production of CenterStage’s 2023-2024 season. A season of “Love.” And just as each of the shows in this show have been about different kinds of love, Harnock, Bock and Masteroff’s romantic comedy musical She Loves Me, explores many different kinds of love and how love is perceived, felt and accepted. It is an adaptation of the play Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo, which in turn was made into the 1940 film, “The Shop Around the Corner,” starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan. The first musical adaption was the Judy Garland film, “In the Good Old Summertime,” in 1949. And finally, Nora Ephron’s film adaptation in 1998, “You’ve Got Mail,” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

She Loves Me takes place in Budapest in 1934, in a Europe that was still in the grip of the repercussions of the Great War and struggling in the looming shadow of the next World War to come. The Great Depression was having its effect all over the world, not just in America. Maraczek’s parfumerie is catering to a clientele who can still afford to lavish themselves with these types of products and the clerks who work there willingly make themselves subservient to their “shoppers” because jobs and money are hard to come by. People who are just trying to find their way in the world and looking for love and companionship. In many different ways.

Another aspect of the play tonight, deals with loneliness and how the characters deal with the difference of being alone and lonely. And the sacrifice they make to their own self-esteem and character to prevent being one or the other.

She Loves Me is considered to be one of, if not the most, perfect American musicals. We hope tonight you will come to believe so, too.

PRODUCER’S NOTE

Erin Silliman Producer

Thank you for celebrating our 2023-24 season with us! What a year of stories and experiences. Our productions this year examined how love can inform and transform our lives. Forming relationships is what we are called to in life – whether that’s with family members, friends, partners, and, perhaps most importantly, with ourselves. Our season closer is a familiar tale of missed connections and the humor that can ensue in these moments. It’s also a story that showcases the strength that lies within being honest with yourself and others. We are also thrilled to announce our 2024-25 season! Please join us in August as we kick off our season examining characters who wrestle with “welcoming the stranger” into their lives and the power that resides in embracing others. Thank you for supporting local theatre and CenterStage with your ticket purchases and donations. We look forward to continuing to serve our community together!

at the Trager Family JCC presents

BOOK BY

JOE MASTEROFF

MUSIC BY

JERRY BOCK

LYRICS BY

SHELDON HARNICK

BASED ON BASED ON A PLAY BY MIKLOS LAZLO. ORIGINALLY DIRECTED ON BROADWAY BY HAROLD PRINCE.

ORIGINALLY PRODUCED ON BROADWAY BY HAROLD PRINCE IN ASSOCIATION WITH LAWRENCE N. KASHA AND PHILIP C. MCKENNA

MAY 9-19, 2024

FEATURING

JESSICA ADAMSON, DAKOTA BURNS, JOHN CAMPBELL, TAYLOR DANT, ANDY EPSTEIN, CAMERON FONTES, LOUISA FREY, PHIL GOSSELIN, ERIK MOTH, JOSH O’BRIEN, JENNIFER POLISKIE, BRADLEY POWELL, VICTORIA SAUNDERS, AUSTIN SEELEY, ERIN SILLIMAN, RACHEL STREET

DIRECTOR BARRETT COOPER

STAGE MANAGER LOGAN McNEELEY

SCENIC BUILD

CLAY CHAPMAN & KARL ANDERSON

COSTUME DESIGN ROSE RIEHM

SOUND BOARD OPERATORR TEDDY STEVENS

MUSICAL DIRECTOR ROB LEFFLER

SCENIC DESIGN KARL ANDERSON

LIGHTING DESIGNER NICK DENT

CHOREOGRAPHER SANDRA RIVERA

SCENIC ARTISTS KARL ANDERSON & SARAH STEWART

SOUND DESIGNERS NICK STEVENS & TEDDY STEVENS

LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR COLTON BACHINSKI

SPOTLIGHT OPERATOR AIDRICK SMITH

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

She Loves Me is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

CAST

JESSICA ADAMSON

JOSH O’BRIEN

ERIN SILLIMAN

PHIL GOSSELIN

ERIK MOTH

DAKOTA BURNS

JOHN CAMPBELL

ANDY EPSTEIN

TAYLOR DANT

CAMERON FONTES

LOUISA FREY

AUSTIN SEELEY

BRADLEY POWELL

JENNIFER POLISKIE

VICTORIA SAUNDERS

RACHEL STREET

CAST

LADISLOV SIPOS.................................................................................................................. ERIK MOTH

ARPAD LAZLO DAKOTA BURNS

ILONA RITTER .......................................................................................................... JESSICA ADAMSON

STEVEN KODALY ........................................................................................................... PHIL GOSSELIN

GEORG NOWACK ............................................................................................................. JOSH O’BRIEN

MR. MARACZYK........................................................................................................... JOHN CAMPBELL

AMALIA BALASH ........................................................................................................... ERIN SILLIMAN

WAITER .......................................................................................................................... ANDY EPSTEIN

ENSEMBLE TAYLOR DANT, CAMERON FONTES, LOUISA FREY, JENNIFER POLISKIE, BRADLEY POWELL, VICTORIA SAUNDERS, AUSTIN SEELEY, RACHEL STREET

CONDUCTOR ROB LEFFLER

REEDS

PERCUSSIONS ............................................................................................................. SUSAN CROCKER

KEYBOARD .............................................................................................................................. JACK FOX

2024–25 SEASON

CLASSICS SERIES POPS SERIES

The Planets

September 14, 2024

Carmina Burana

October 19, 2024

Ray Chen Plays Barber

November 16–17, 2024

Midori and An Alpine Symphony

January 18, 2025

Teddy Conducts Der Kaiser Von Atlantis

January 25, 2025

Ravel’s Romantic Reverie –

A Valentine’s Day Concert

February 15, 2025

Stravinsky’s Firebird

March 8, 2025

Creators Fest

May 10, 2025

Star Trek: Musical Voyage Through the Stars

October 25–26, 2024

Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey

November 09, 2024

Holiday Pops

December 14, 2024

Decades: Back to the 80s

February 22, 2025

A Night of Symphonic Boy Bands

March 22, 2025

Special Guest to Be Announced

April 18, 2025

FILM SERIES

(Un)Silent Film: Nosferatu

October 23, 2024

The Nightmare Before Christmas

November 23, 2024

Raiders of The Lost Ark

February 19, 2025

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 1

April 09, 2025

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 2

April 11, 2025

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT I

Good Morning, Good Day

Sounds While Selling

Days Gone By

No More Candy

Three Letters

Tonight At Eight

I Don’t Know His Name Perspective

Goodbye, Georg Will He Like Me?

Ilona I Resolve

A Romantic Atmosphere

Dear Friend

15-MINUTE INTERMISSION

ACT II

Entr’acte Try Me

Where’s My Shoe?

Vanilla Ice Cream

She Loves Me

A Trip To The Library

Grand Knowing You

A Christmas Carol

Twelve Days to Christmas

Finale

WHO’S WHO in the CAST

JESSICA ADAMSON (Ilona) is excited to be returning to Centerstage after a small hiatus. You may have seen her previously in Jekyll and Hyde (Lucy), Tommy (Tommy’s Mom), Oliver (Nancy), Oklahoma (Ado Annie), 9 to 5 (Doralee), and many other CenterStage classics over the last two decades. When she isn’t playing with her corgis, or pretending to know how the law works, she enjoys singing in her band “Wax Factory”. Check them out on Instagram and Facebook @waxfactoryband. Huge thanks to all her amazing friends and family for all of their love and support over the years. When you love and laugh abundantly, you live a beautiful life. @jessicaleslie2791

DAKOTA BURNS (Arpad) is a High School Senior at Louisville Male High School and has been involved in both the Male Choir and Drama programs. Most recently he has played the Mad Hatter in his school’s production of Alice in Wonderland. He is incredibly excited for this opportunity to perform with Center Stage.

JOHN CAMPBELL (Mr. Maraczyk) is delighted to join the CenterStage Company. He recently performed at Shelby County Community Theatre as Stage Manager (Our Town); and Clarksville Little Theatre as Potiphar and Simeon (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and George Hay (Moon Over Buffalo). Previous roles with theatres in West Virginia and central Kentucky include Prospero (Tempest), Buddy (Follies), Benjamin Franklin (1776), Warbucks (Annie), and Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof), among others.

TAYLOR DANT (Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to Centerstage for She Loves Me! Previous roles include Jigger in Carousel, Anthony in Sweeney Todd, Rapunzel’s Prince in Into The Woods, and many others. Many thanks to my family and friends who have supported me and to YOU for supporting live theatre!

ANDY EPSTEIN (Waiter) is thrilled to be returning to CenterStage after a long absence, (pandemic and baby-related acting break); his last show with the company was 2017’s

“Driving Miss Daisy” (Boolie). Andy has been a proud CenterStage company member since 2006, and is very excited to be performing with this talented crew in the new JCC theater space! A lawyer by day and an actor by night, Andy has appeared in dozens of local theatre productions. Favorite roles include: Barefoot in the Park (Victor Velasco), Legally Blonde (Prof. Callahan), Wit (Dr. Posner), Kiss of the Spider Woman (Warden), Assassins (Guiteau), Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), and The Sound of Music (Uncle Max) just to name a few! Much love to Ashley and Sam for all your encouragement and support!

CAMERON FONTES (Ensemble) is thrilled to be diving into theatre again after several years. You can see him later this summer as Snout in Drag Daddy Productions’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Queer Tale. He would like to thank his friends and family for their support, especially Mom, Dad and Bailey. And the biggest shout-out to Alexis Paxton for helping him find his role in this classic show.

LOUISA FREY (Ensemble) is excited to be returning to the JCC stage with the cast of She Loves Me. Previous Credits include: First Date (Casey), Spamalot (Ensemble), Humanity Theatre Festival (Lucy, Lala), Big Fish (Witch), A Killer Party (Justine Case)... She would like to thank her friends, family, and community for their ongoing support.

PHIL GOSSELIN (Kodaly) returns to CenterStage after appearing in Carousel and First Date earlier this season — and he’s loving it! Phil holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University. Favorite roles include Everybody Else in SUDS, Tito in Lend Me a Tenor, Lenny in Rumors, Clown 1 in The 39 Steps, and Nicely in Guys and Dolls. Thank you to Barrett and Rob for the opportunity. For Flint and Jenny. Phil works in the Membership Department, here at the Trager Family JCC.

ERIK MOTH (Sipos) is excited to be back for his third season with CenterStage. He is a voice/musical theatre teacher with Louisville

Academy of Fine Arts. Erik holds a BFA in Acting (Musical Theatre) from Wright State University. Recent credits: Alexander Romm in Chagall in School with ShPIeL, Ensemble in RENT with Pandora, Buck in Bonnie and Clyde with METC, and Barfée in Spelling Bee with CenterStage. He thanks his family and friends for their support.

JOSH O’BRIEN (Georg) is so grateful to be back with CenterStage at the Trager Family JCC. He was seen earlier this season in First Date (Man 1). Other credits with the company include Hair (Berger) and Assassins (John Hinckley Jr.). When not on stage with one of the wonderful local companies (Pandora Productions, METC, TheateWorks of So. Indiana, among others), he can be found at home making dinner and watching TV with his incredible wife Jennifer Poliskie. Thank you to Barrett for the great opportunity!

CenterStage. She was last seen in the season opener Carousel as Julie Jordan. Some of her favorite shows include: Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett), Funny Girl (Fanny Brice), Bright Star (Alice Murphy), Talking With... (Dragons/ Marti) and Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End (Erma Bombeck). Thanks to Barrett, Erin, Logan and all the old friends and new on this production. Love to Josh. For Bryce.

BRADLEY POWELL (Ensemble) is so excited to make his Centerstage debut! When he’s not doing theatre he is working as an instructional assistant at Silver Creek High School. Some of his favorite credits include: Travis in Footloose, Assistant Director/Stage Manager of Spamalot, Tech Assistant for Big Fish and A-Rab in West Side Story. He would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support, he hopes you enjoy the show!

Paroo (The Music Man), Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family Musical), and Louisa (The Fantastic!). She would like to thank her loving family and friends for the contiguous love and support!

AUSTIN SEELEY (Ensemble) is excited to be back on stage in She Loves Me with CenterStage! Austin was last on stage in The Prom and Carousel at CenterStage. Some previous roles include Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Scuttle in Disney’s The Little Mermaid at CenterStage and Houdini in Ragtime at Faith Works. When not performing, Austin enjoys traveling, being an uncle and worshipping his lord and savior, Beyonce. He would always like to thank his friends and family for their love and support.

ERIN SILLIMAN (Amalia) after dedicating the last couple of years to directing and leading CenterStage in its new space, Erin is delighted to step onto the stage in SHE LOVES ME. She is thrilled to be a part of this “season of love”

in telling this much-loved story and getting to do so with her wonderful friends. Thank you to Barrett Cooper, Rob Leffler, and Logan McNeeley for indulging this brief return to the spotlight! Thank you to my family and Semir for making life so sweet.

RACHEL STREET (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her debut with CenterStage! You may have previously seen her in Bonnie and Clyde (Stella/Congregation) with Mind’s Eye, Proof (Catherine), and The Laramie Project, both at IU Southeast, as well as in other shows around the Louisville area. She would like to thank the cast and crew for their tireless work and hopes you enjoy the show!

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CENTERSTAGE COMMITTEE

Sarah Harlan, Committee Chair

Colette Delaney Mattingly

Gene Dorf

Scott Goodman

Rusty Henle

Mimi Housewright

Cindy Hytken

Actors Theatre of Louisville Crossfade Design LLC

Phoenix Lighting

Stage Right Corp.

A.G. Exhibitions, Bar Ties

Brian Martin

Rabbi Stan Miles

Alexis Paxton

Graham Pilotte

Sam Pilotte

Donald Platoff

SPECIAL THANKS

Shapira Foundation

Downtown Recording Audience Magazine

Thomas Wissinger & Trager Family JCC Administration

Tymika Prince

Daniel Riddlesmith

Sandra Rivera

Larry Singer

Trager Family JCC Marketing & IT Teams

Trager Family JCC Custodial Services

Centerstage Committee & Volunteers

GOLD AND SILVER MEMBERS

Allison and Daniel Noonan

Bruce and Marcia Roth

David & Barry Roth

Edwin Goldberg

Elaine Bornstein

Jon and Sarah Klein

Mark and Lisa Eichengreen

Steven and Sloan Goldberg

CENTERSTAGE: KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Box Office and VIP Lounge open one hour prior to showtime curtain.

• General Admission seating will open 30 minutes prior to showtime curtain.

• Accessible seating is available.

• Exchange Policy: Tickets are non-refundable but may be exchanged PRIOR to your performance time. The exchange must be for another performance time of the same production, availability permitting.

• CenterStage and the Trager Family Jewish Community Center will follow CDC Heath Guidelines and best practice recommendations. Patrons will receive email communication with current health requests, requirements, and any changes or updates to our practices.

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