Once | Boston University CFA School of Theatre Program

BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE PRESENTS

A NOTE FROM THE DEAN

Five years ago, we opened the Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre, the finest flexible Black Box theatre in Boston (or on any college campus in the USA).

Over the years, it has been a joy to witness the many transformations of this space—an artistic laboratory dedicated to innovation.

Booth is a place where the next generation of creators are encouraged to dream big. Together, we, as audience members, sit and share in the experience of storytelling. We are transported back in time and across oceans.

For five years, this building has been our beacon. It is a welcoming light and a guiding presence. The Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre is a reminder that even during challenging times we are not alone.

- Harvey Young Dean, College of Fine Arts

DECEMBER 7 - 10, 2022 JOAN & EDGAR BOOTH THEATRE

book by ENDA WALSH

music & lyrics by GLEN HANSARD & MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ

based on the motion picture written and directed by JOHN CARNEY orchestrations by MARTIN LOWE directed by SHAMUS

originally produced on Broadway by Barbara Broccoli; John N. Hart Jr.; Patrick Milling Smith; Frederick Zollo Brian Carmody; Michael G. Wilson; Orin Wolf; The Shubert Organization Robert Cole, Executive Producer

in association with New York Theatre Workshop

Once was originally produced Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop in December 2011; Jim Nicola, Artistic Director, William Russo, Managing Director

Once was originally developed at the American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in April 2011 Diane Paulus, Artistic Director; Diane Borger, Producer

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

Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. There are mentions of suicide and death.

FROM BOSTON’S SYMPHONY HALL TO CARNEGIE HALL IN NEW YORK CITY, JOIN US FOR CONCERTS, WORKSHOPS, AND SPECIAL MUSIC EVENTS ALL YEAR!

A NOTE FROM THE SCHOOL OF THEATRE DIRECTOR

Every time I even think of Once I immediately start hearing the song in my head. You know the one. The one you are going to leave this theatre humming all the way home. The one that will stay with you as you go through your day…your week. That is the power of music. Music becomes a part of us. It helps us celebrate, it helps us worship, it causes us to move and it soothes us in our time of need. There is something intrinsic that links the soul with the rhythm, the beat, the tone and the tune. But this story you will watch today is not just about music it also tackles the other epic narrative theme, love. Love that is powerful, complicated, and washes over us like music. Described in Music Theatre International as “achingly beautiful and joyously uplifting” this story is one we cherish as it continues to be told.

Once is the only music in a show to have won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Olivier Award and a Tony Award. As you will see and hear, the accolades are deserved. This production will cause you to slowly fall into the story and music that is Once.

Susan E. Mickey Director, School of Theatre

CREATIVE TEAM

DIRECTOR

Shamus

CREATIVE TEAM

SCENIC

Alyssa Jewell

Riley Satterfield Evan Johnson Andrew Loren Wehling Yao Kuang Lee

Eduardo M. Ramírez Kortright

Isaak Olson

John Holmes Lily Bitner Zoe Charbonneau Sarah Lloyd Maggie Shivers Gage Baker Angela He Irene Wang Jackson Hamman

Autumn Munsell

Nathaniel F. Crain Lena Broach Rowen Bailey India Silverman

CAST

GUY GIRL EAMON ANDREJ REZA DA BARUSKA ŠVEC IVONKA BANK MANAGER EX-GIRLFRIEND BILLY EMCEE ENSEMBLE

Peter DiMaggio

Maurie Michelle Moore

Jacob Schmitt

Matthew Beagan Louie Rude

Liam McCarron Victoria Van Loon Aidan Close Sky Vaux Fuller Dylan Avillanoza Lydia Grosswendt Billy McColl Trevor Turnbow Sarah Coleman Jenna Dean Christine Dvorak Sage Gunning Jameson P. Murray Anna Riggins Charley Danger

UNDERSTUDIES

GUY GIRL EAMON ANDREJ REZA BARUSKA ŠVEC

BANK MANAGER EX-GIRLFRIEND

Keith Robinson Anna Riggins Charley Danger Jacob Schmitt Christine Dvorak Jenna Dean Trevor Turnbow Charley Danger Jenna Dean

FRONT OF HOUSE

Courtnie Beatty

Francesca Butera

Elizabeth Anderson

Christian Donnerson Donna Callery

Avery Russey

Jules Trager

Lillian Devlin Wendy Morera Katie Nelson

Eva Cirilo Dany Dakhlallah Sydney Jackson Rachel Kanter

Julia Lynch Chloe McFarlane Janie Mcrae Jayce Ross

MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL BIOS

Enda Walsh (Playwright) is an acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and director. His recent work includes the play Arlington and the opera The Second Violinist which both premiered at the Galway International Arts Festival in 2016 and 2017 respectively. He also worked on the new musical, Lazarus, with David Bowie, which opened at New York Theatre Workshop in December 2015. Enda adapted and directed Max Porter’s Grief is the Thing with Feathers, which ran both in Glasgow and New York. His work has been translated into many languages and has been performed internationally since 1996. In 2014 he received an Honorary Doctorate from Galway University.

Glen Hansard (Music & Lyrics) is an award-winning musician with a host of real-life songs and lilting vocals that reflect a passion for his diverse influences. Film: The Commitments, Once. Albums: Between Two Shores, This Wild Willing, Didn’t He Ramble, Rhythm and Repose, Strict Joy, the soundtrack of Once (Academy Award for Best Original Song, ‘Falling Slowly’; Olivier award for Outstanding Musical Contribution), The Swell Season, The Cost, Burn the Maps, Set List, For the Birds, Dance the Devil, Fitzcarraldo, and Another Love Song.

Markéta Irglová (Music & Lyrics) is an Academy Award winning musician and actor born in the Czech Republic. Film: Once and Milluji tě Modře. Albums: Muna, Anar, The Swell Season, the soundtrack of Once (Academy Award for Best Original Song, ‘Falling Slowly’, Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Contribution), Strict Joy. John Carney (Motion Picture Writer and Director) is a Dublinbased writer-director who came to the world’s attention following the box office hit and critically acclaimed musical feature film Once, which garnered multiple Independent Spirit, Sundance and Raindance awards. Previously, John was a bassist in the Irish rock band the Frames, where he met Glen Hansard. These musical roots continue to be evident in John’s work with his latest production, Can a Song Save Your Life?. Other projects include Dogs of Babel for David Heyman and Nathan Kahane starring Steve Carrell and a feature adaptation of M.R. James’s Casting the Runes for Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. •

CAST BIOS

Dylan Avillanoza (Bank Manager) is thrilled to be a part of Once. A senior Theatre Arts major, Dylan’s work includes Mother May I? (Playwright), which is greenlit to perform at Boston Center of the Arts December 16-18, and Going Down (Head Writer), his thesis. Follow him @dylanoza and @weare.goingdown.

Matthew Beagan (Andrej) is honored to be a part of this incredible cast and to share the music and story of Glen Hansard. Previous work includes; Shakespeare in Love, and Everybody. In the summers, Matthew owns and operates Smash Up, a Mobile Food Truck in his hometown Annapolis, MD. @smashupburgers

Aidan Close (Švec) is a current senior pursuing an Acting BFA, with a Musical Theatre Concentration, at Boston University. Recent productions: Timon of Athens (Flavius) at RADA in London, Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio) and Henry VI III (Henry) at PSC in Prague, and Incels and Other Myths (Avery) at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre. Aidan would love to thank his family, friends, and, especially, his roommates, who continually prove to be anchors when the waves become too strong.

Sarah Coleman (Choreographer/ Ensemble) is making her Booth and choreographer debut in School of Theatre’s Once! Most recently she could be found playing Witch 3 in Erica Schmidt’s Mac Beth. Favorite credits include Millie Dillmount (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Wendla (Spring Awakening). Big love and thanks to the cast! xo

Jenna Dean (Ensemble, u/s Barushka and Ex-Girlfriend) is thrilled to be involved in this incredible production with such a talented cast and crew. She is an Acting major and Political Science minor. Some recent credits involve: Mercury (BU) & The Robber Bridegroom (SCGSAH.) Special thanks to her family <3.

Peter DiMaggio (Guy) is a junior BFA Acting student with a concentration in Musical Theatre. Favorite BU credits include Henslowe in Shakespeare in Love, Brian in Mercury, and original music composition for Laure. He’d like to thank his family, friends, and castmates for their overwhelming love and support. He wouldn’t trade them for gold.

Christine Dvorak (Ensemble, u/s Reza) is so excited to be a part of Once. She is so grateful and proud to be a part of a show where the cast IS the orchestra. Some other credits include Everybody (Death), The Diary of Anne Frank (Margot Frank), Steel Magnolias (Shelby). Enjoy the show!

Lydia Grosswendt (ExGirlfriend) is a junior BFA Acting student who is beyond thrilled to be a part of another Booth production! Her BU credits include Shakespeare in Love and Dead Man’s Cellphone. Some favorite past credits include Tilly (She Kills Monsters), Seymour Krelborn (Little Shop of Horrors), and Leontes (The Winter’s Tale). In the spring Lydia plans on studying at RADA through their program with NYU Tisch. Lydia would like to send some love to her

CAST BIOS

mother, father, and twin sister, Sophie, as well as to the class of 2024! Follow her on Instagram for more: @lydiagrosswendt

Sage Gunning (Ensemble) is thrilled for the opportunity to put her musical theatre skills and choral training to use in this production!

Liam McCarron (Da) is a junior BFA Acting major, with past BU credits including Burbage/Wabash (Shakespeare in Love) and Somebody 4 (Everybody). He is so beyond excited to bring this story to life with such a wonderful group of people.

Billy McColl (Billy) is a junior acting major at Boston University and is thrilled to be part of the very inspiring Once team. He is grateful to have the opportunity to combine his background in music with his acting training.

Maurie Michelle Moore (Girl) is a senior Acting major with a concentration in Musical Theatre. She recently studied abroad at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art where she played Macbeth. You can catch her in her upcoming film premiering in February 2023 on Pureflix! She extends her whole heart and soul to her family, friends and partner. All of this is for and because of them.

Jameson P. Murray (Ensemble) is an actor, writer, and director finishing his final year at Boston University. The New Orleans native has taken his studies all over the map, studying at the New Orleans Center For Creative Arts (NOCCA) and The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). After acquiring his BFA, he

plans to continue his artistic ventures in Film & TV.

Anna Riggins (Ensemble, u/s Girl) is thrilled to share the music and heart of Once. She most recently played Olympia in Laure at BU and spent last spring in London studying at LAMDA. Anna is ecstatic about her senior thesis next semester, Andromeda in the Stars by Claire Gardner! Thanks mom and dad!

Keith Robinson (u/s Guy) is incredibly grateful to be a part of this project. He would like to thank the entire production team for their incredible work creating the world of this show.

Charley Danger (Ensemble, u/s Bank Manager and Eamon) starred in Oscar Award-winning director Cynthia Wade’s narrative short, Sproutland, which began its release in April 2021 at the Florida Film Festival. The film has won numerous awards and has been featured in over twenty festivals, with more slated for the coming months. He is an actor from New England who is currently in his ultimate year at Boston University School of Theatre. In his junior year, he completed a semester of study in England at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA). He is very excited to be a part of this production and to work with such a talented team. For more information visit www.charleydanger.com.

Louie Rude (Reza) is overjoyed to be playing her violin in front of people again. She also did it in Everybody (BUSOT) but did not do it in Antigone (BUSOT) as Farmer.

Once is her triumphant return to musicals after not having done them for a while. She’s really excited!

Jacob Schmitt (Eamon, u/s Andrej) is a junior Acting major at Boston University with a minor in Film Studies. His previous shows at BU include Colossal, Chariot Reversed, and Shakespeare’s R&J where they played Juliet. Jacob is beyond proud to work with Shamus again and such a talented ensemble of theatre practitioners.

Trevor Turnbow (Emcee, u/s Švec) is super excited to be making their Booth debut at Boston University in Once! Trevor is a dual degree student in International

Relations and Theater Arts and primarily is a playwright. Their adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Salome was just produced as part of SOT’s New Works Festival and it was very exciting and very queer. Thanks to the Housewives, Nick & Juju, for keeping me alive and laughing. Enjoy Once!

Victoria Van Loon (Baruska) is a senior at the Boston University School of Theatre, months away from earning her BFA in Acting. Previous BU credits include Machinal (Shamus) and Grounded (Shamus)... there is a pattern indeed. Much gratitude for my mom, my dad, and especially for my roommates for letting me rehearse songs from the show at full volume. •

CREATIVE TEAM

Shamus (Director) he/him/his, made his Boston debut this fall with J.C. Pankratz’s Eat Your Young at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre. Recent credits include Kevin Esmond’s Vintage Illustrations of the Devil for PlayPenn, Jay Eddy’s Big Red Button for the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival and Driving in Circles for Improv Acadia (Associate Director) and the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. His original musical, Close Your Legs, Honey, co-created with Hannah Parke, premiered at PHIT Comedy and was subsequently produced by Bootless Stageworks. For BU: Machinal, Murder Ballad, Assistance, Shakespeare’s R&J and Grounded. Other favs: The Kimmel Center, the Arden, Die-Cast, Temple & Philadelphia Young Playwrights. Next up Make Way for Ducklings at Wheelock (Associate Director) and Alligator-A-Phobia in 3D! at BPT. www.shamushuntermccarty.com @mononymous_shamus

E Ellene Bernard (Assistant Director and Assistant Music Director) is ecstatic to be a part of this production of Once. They want to extend their gratitude and love to the whole team and are looking forward to directing two STAMP productions at BU in the spring.

Jayna Shoda Meyer (Assistant Director) is an actor, director, writer, and senior Theatre Arts major. She is thrilled to be working on one of her all-time favorite musicals — big thanks to the production, creative, & management teams as well as the cast for bringing this story to life. @jaynashodameyer

Jay Eddy (Music Director) is a writer, composer, and performer. Stage works include: Driving in Circles (Richard Rodgers Award, Kennedy Center’s Jean Kennedy Smith & Musical Theatre Awards), The Boys Are Angry (FringeNYC, Fringe Encore @ Soho Playhouse), Alligator-a-Phobia in 3D! (upcoming Boston Playwrights’ Theatre). MFA Playwriting BU. MA Music Theatre RCSSD.

Alexa Connors (Assistant Movement/Choreographer) she/ they, current sophomore Theatre Arts and Philosophy double major, is delighted to be a part of this production of Once. Former projects at BU have included: Assistant Director (Lizzie: the Musical ), and Lucia ‘Understudy’ (Eat Your Young, BPT).

Eric Sprosty (Production Manager) is a third-year graduate student at BU. Credits include: Exit The King, The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace, Assistance, and Grounded

Youyou Huang (Associate Production Manager) is glad to see everyone in Once. I look forward to seeing all of you during work and on the stage.

Nicole Schneelock (Stage Manager) is a senior BFA Stage Management student with a concentration in Acting. She is also an alum of the Classical Acting program at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). Her recent credits include Kinky Boots (Nicola), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth/Witch 2), and Into the Woods (SM).

CREATIVE TEAM

Chris Daly (Assistant Stage Manager) is very excited to be working as one of the Assistant Stage Managers on Once! They are a third year Stage Management student, having worked on a variety of productions at BU from The Legend of Georgia McBride to Passage. They want to thank their team for their support throughout this process!

Elliot Dupcak (Assistant Stage Manager) is a senior Stage Management student. Previous selected credits at BU include Proving Up, Mansfield Park, and Photograph 51. Dupcak is also a sound designer (Hamlet, The Midsummer Projects) and a

playwright (Against a Village). He is looking forward to his future work at BU and beyond.

Charles Linshaw (Dialect Coach) is delighted to be collaborating with such a great team at the SOT! Break a leg everyone! More at: www.charleslinshaw.com

Kira Gandolfo (Dramaturg) she/her, is thrilled to join the creative team of Once! Previous credits include The Corruption of Morgana Pendragon (Boston University), Antigone (Boston University), The Chinese Lady (Central Square Theatre). Thank you to Mom & Dad, Grandma & Jiji <3, Alex, Clarissa, Aya, Meg & the Emmas. @kiragandolfo •

CREATIVE TEAM

Rowen Bailey (Assistant Production Electrician) is a sophomore Theatre Arts major concentrating in Lighting Design and Performance. Originally from Davis, California, they enjoy farmers’ markets, their cat, and exploring. Rowen’s grateful to have worked on this beautiful show with such as wonderful team, and thanks Joe for his unending support!

Gage Baker (Sound Designer) is a sound designer and mixer from Houston. He is pursuing his MFA in Sound Design at Boston University. Production credits include Alley Theatre (Quixote Nuevo, Alley All New), Hangar Theatre (Cabaret), and Stages (The Fantasticks). Design credits include Catastrophic (Innominate), and Rec Room (The Moonlit Princess, The Children, Dance Nation, Sound Scripts Series). He also currently mixes the Boston company of Blue Man Group. www.gagebaker.com

Lena Broach (Production Electrician) she/her, is a secondyear Lighting Design student and hopeless romantic. She wishes the cast and crew a good run and looks forward to her spring assignments: El Nogolar and Alcina.

Zoe Charbonneau (Props Coordinator) is super excited to be part of an amazing show as a sophomore Theatre Arts student here at Boston University! She would like to thank her scenic/ props team for being amazing team members, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

Nathaniel F. Crain (Master Carpenter) is proud and happy to work on this production. He is delighted to get to be a part of such a talented group coming together to make art.

Lily Bitner (Props Coordinator) is a sophomore studying Scenic Design at Boston University School of Theatre. She is so excited to be a part of this production and wants to thank her production team for all of their hard work!

Jackson Hamman (Technical Director) is proud to be a part of Once in the Booth Theatre. As the peak of his work at BU this really feels like a dream come true. Hope everyone enjoys the show!

Angela He (Associate Sound Designer) is a third-year Sound Design major at Boston University School of Theatre. She has most recently worked on Let the Right One In as the Assistant Sound Designer. She is grateful for all the hard work that has been put into this show and is excited to share it with everyone!

John Holmes (Lighting Programmer) he/him, is a senior Lighting Designer at BU. Recent designs include Our Town, Avenue Q, and Proof, and he’s always looking for new collaborations. When not working on a show, he can be found running along the Charles, painting a landscape, or enjoying a smoothie.

Alyssa Jewell (Scenic Designer) is a BU Scenic Design student (MFA 2023) whose passion for

CREATIVE TEAM

music and theatrical storytelling truly intertwined in the making of this production. During her time at BU she has had the pleasure of designing a series of innovative works including, Exit the King (BU, Studio ONE), Patterns of Wind (Booth Theatre), HalfLife of Marie Curie (BU, Studio ONE), Grounded (CFA 106) and Motion. (Guggenheim Museum Bilbao) in collaboration with MIT Media Lab. She hopes to continue her work as a designer through exploring the intersections of music, theatre and multimedia, and their impact on sparking conversation via this extraordinary medium of experience. @callme_al_ _ _

Evan Johnson (Scenic Charge) is a second year Scene Painting Certificate student at BU. They are thankful for the team behind this production.

Eduardo M. Ramírez Kortright (Lighting Designer) Boston University design credits include: Patterns of Wind, The Legend of Georgia McBride, and BUSTI 2022. Other credits include: Revitalized (Teatro Chelsea), Everybody (Southern Rep Theatre), and Romeo and Juliet (Loyola University New Orleans) among others. For more information please visit www.emramirez.com

Yao Kuang Lee (Assistant Costume Designer) is happy to assist with costume designing for Once. Lee is a first-year costume design graduate student. She got her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Art Studies at Brigham Young

University (costume and theatrical makeup design emphasis).

Sarah Lloyd (Props Coordinator) is excited to be back in the Booth and working on a musical for the first time!

Autumn Munsell (Assistant Technical Director) is a junior studying Technical Production. Past projects include a summer at Berkshire Theatre Group doing carpentry for Dracula, Songs for a New World, Once, and Broken Code At BU she worked as the TD for The Legend of Georgia McBride and as the ATD for the 2021 Fringe Festival.

Isaak Olson (Assistant Lighting Designer) is thrilled to be returning to assist on another show in Booth Theatre. After a wonderful summer as the Staff Electrician at Weston Theatre Company in Vermont, he is excited to work in Boston postgraduation as a freelance designer, programmer, and electrician.

Riley Satterfield (Assistant Scenic Designer) is currently a senior at Boston University School of Theatre. Past BU design credits include The Chariot Reversed, Hamlet, and Mud. This spring, she will be designing Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea in Studio ONE. She is so thankful for everyone who made this show possible!

India Silverman (Assistant Production Electrician) is a second-year lighting design undergrad originally from Seattle, Washington. She has worked on the lighting teams of Boston University’s Shakespeare in Love

CREATIVE TEAM

and Little Row Boat, or Conjecture. Over the summer she was the spotlight operator for Village Theatre’s You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Irene Wang (Sound Engineer) is a sophomore Sound Design major. Most recently she’s worked on Let the Right One In with Actors’ Shakespeare Project at BU and is looking forwards to Assistant Sound Designing for BU’s production of El Nogalar in spring.

Andrew Loren Wehling

(Costume Designer) is a second

year MFA Costume Design candidate. He comes from New York City where he spent over a decade as an actor and costume technician. He has supervised wardrobe for clients that include Santa Fe Opera, Rock of Ages Off Broadway, and Tectonic Theatre Project. As a design assistant, Andrew assisted costume designers such as Isabel Toledo for Miami City Ballet and Emilio Sosa for New York City Center Encores! Andrew is a proud member of Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 764 IATSE in New York. www.andrewwehling.com •

BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

Established in 1954, Boston University College of Fine Arts (CFA) is a community of artist-scholars and scholar-artists who are passionate about the fine and performing arts, committed to diversity and inclusion, and determined to improve the lives of others through art. With programs in music, theatre, and visual arts, CFA prepares students for a meaningful creative life by developing their intellectual capacity to create art, shift perspective, think broadly, and master essential 21st-century skills. CFA offers a wide array of precollege, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, as well as a range of online degrees and certificates. Learn more at bu.edu/cfa .

BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS SCHOOL OF THEATRE

The School of Theatre at the College of Fine Arts at Boston University is a leading conservatory for the study of acting, stage management, design, production, and all aspects of the theatre profession. These programs of study are enriched by the School’s access to the greater liberal arts programs at Boston University. The School of Theatre values the notion of “the new conservatory” and seeks to provide students with opportunities for artistic growth through a rigorous curriculum, professional connections, and an emphasis on collaboration and new work.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY JOAN & EDGAR BOOTH THEATRE

Since its inaugural season in 2018, this bold, state-of-theart structure encourages innovation, conversation, and collaboration. The flexible design of Booth Theatre allows for the inventive evolution of performances and a deep engagement with audiences. Research is at the core of Boston University, and BU College of Fine Arts practices it every day in the form of creative experimentation. Booth Theatre and the adjacent CFA Production Center are laboratories for such research, and in every detail, they are purpose-built for discovery. Recent productions include Angels in America (Parts I and II), Shakespeare in Love, If I Were You, Patterns of Wind, The Rake’s Progress, Mansfield Park, Dolores Claiborne, The Lathe of Heaven, The Exonerated, ...and Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi, and Antigone. Learn more at bu.edu/booth. bu.edu/cfa