Death of a Salesman by Cotuit Center for the Arts

75 TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION

BY ARTHUR MILLER

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Death of a Salesman is set in 1949 and takes place primarily in 1949 and in 1933, through flashback scenes in Willy’s memory. The original set contained the framework of a house (here represented by the door frames), which people only broke through the walls of (here avoiding the door frames) when they went into the past. Much of the action from the past takes place in the apron of the stage, so those in the front row please keep your feet back if you see actors venturing into the apron. For Sunday performance attendees, we will be having a 15 minute talk back for anyone who wishes to stay and ask questions. Thanks.

SPECIAL

THANKS to Erin Trainor for helping with the music; Carol McManus for her astute advice about directing and helping with interpreting the show; Jason Mellin and David Kuehn for giving me the chance to direct one of my favorite shows of all time.

JENNIFER ALMEIDA (The Woman) would like to thank her family, John, her amazing cast mates, and everyone who helped to make this production possible. She is a classically trained lyric coloratura soprano and was recently seen as Justice in Rock of Ages, Maria in The Sound of Music, Grace Farrell in Annie, which she co-directed, The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Laurie in Oklahoma, Marian/Chiara in The Bridges of Madison County at FTG, Emily Hobbs in Elf at CCTFTA and as Mary Poppins. Jennifer is The Director of Education, a board member, and teaches private voice at the APA in Orleans.

RICKY BOURGEOIS (Biff Loman) is a veteran of the Black Box and enthused to make his seventh appearance in the venue. Ricky was a member of the troupe which created the playing space in the living room of the Botello House, and acted in its first production, Ibsen’s Ghosts in 2010. His most recent activity in the Black Box was in the 2023 premiere of Rick Martin’s Van Life, in the character of Lone Wolf. Other favorite roles at CCftA include Ben Gunn in Treasure Island, Huxley in Darwin in Malibu, and Lt. Kendrick in A Few Good Men. Recent work at Eventide Theater in Dennis includes the roles of Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird, and George Deever in Miller’s All My Sons. Death of a Salesman--particularly the role of Biff Loman-- has been at the heart of Ricky’s love for theater and passion for acting, since first encountering the classic at college many years ago.

THERESA CEDRONE (Miss Forsythe) an actor, director, dramaturg and theatre historian, Theresa is delighted to be performing in this historic production of Death of a Salesman. A graduate of Brandeis University, Theresa holds an MFA in Theatre Arts, specializing in Dramaturgy. She has appeared in community theatre productions throughout the Cape and is thrilled to return to the CCftA Black Box-- one of her favorite performance spaces. Previous Black Box productions include 84 Charing Cross Road, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens and The Dixie Swim Club. Theresa would like to thank John for inviting her to be a part of this milestone production, her fellow castmates, her extended theater family, and her fiancé (and “showmance”), Phil, for their support and encouragement.

BONNIE CORLISS (Costuming) As a prop designer and production assistant, Bonnie has spent the last 15 years working at multiple theaters in Southeastern MA. She was the 2022 Dash award recipient for best prop design for her work on Eventide Theater Company’s production of Into The Woods. Some of her favorite productions include: Mary Poppins (CCFTA), Grease! (CCFTA), Company (ETC), Assassins (ETC), and currently, Matilda (CCFTA).

MAX DEXTER (Happy Loman) is thrilled to be performing his first show in Cotuit’s Black Box. It’s an honor to be a part of the 100th show in this uniquely intimate performance space. He is grateful to be a member of an amazing cast with incredible talent. Enjoy the show.

NICHOLAS DORR (Set Design) has enjoyed a long career as a Set Designer, actor and director. He has worked on and off Broadway in regional theatre and in Television and Film. Since moving to the Cape, he has served as the Resident Designer at the Cape Playhouse, designed sets for Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre, Cape Rep, Cotuit Center for the Arts, Harwich Jr. Theater and Eventide. Currently he is creating sets together with Matthew Roderick who is the resident Set Designer and Technical Director at the Academy of Performing Arts.

RANDY DOYLE (Willy Loman) is beyond thrilled to be taking on the iconic role of Willy Loman in this all time classic Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play. Some of the roles Randy has played this past year include Clarence the Angel in It’s a Wonderful Life the Musical in Falmouth and Daddy Warbucks in Annie, Capt Von Trapp in The Sound of Music and Lonny in Rock of Ages in Orleans. Cotuit audiences may remember him for being featured in Muskrat Love 1 & 2, Grease, Man of La Mancha and Elf the Musical to name a few.

DREW FRAYRE (Bernard) Drew is thrilled to be departing from his musical theater roots and performing in his first black box show with such an amazing cast. He gives his love to his girlfriend Lily and his dog Kaya. @drewperforms

ERIC JOHNSON (Stanley) has performed in several CCtfA productions, including Tommy, Elf, Sweet Charity, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He has also performed at Falmouth Theatre Guild in Young Frankenstein, Sweeney Todd, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Pippin, Oliver and The Sound of Music, as well as in Eventide’s production, To Kill a Mockingbird. He is a singing plumber by day, whose hobbies include collecting leaves and protecting his pockets!

JENNIFER KANGAS (Stage manager/sound design/light operator) has a B.A. in Education and 20+ years of teaching music. She has performed at many Cape Theaters, directed several children’s shows, and has designed lights and sound for productions at Academy Playhouse since 2022. She will be directing Oliver! this November at APA.

STEVE KOGLIN (Howard) is happy to be making his Black Box debut in this wonderful show. Steven holds a degree in Voice Performance with Opera Emphasis from The Boston Conservatory. Locally, Steven’s been seen of the BCC, FTG, CCtfA, CLOC Fundraiser and Blue Falcon Theater at Mashpee Middle-High School.

DREW KRAUSS (Charley) is happy to make his first Black Box appearance. He was in Arsenic and Old Lace on the Main Stage back in 2019. Since then he has acted mainly at Eventide Theater in Dennis.

JOSEPH O’CONNOR (Uncle Ben) is very pleased to return to CCtfA after appearing as Roberto Miranda in Death and the Maiden on the main stage in 2022. In recent years he has performed with True Rep in Kingston, Nemasket River Productions in Middleboro, Hollywood & Vine in Plymouth, and Shakespeare Under the Stars for Tilden Arts Center on the Cape.

PAULA SCHNEPP (Linda Loman) is excited to perform in the 100th production in the Black Box with such an amazing, talented cast and crew! Thanks, John, for the wonderful opportunity to play Linda in this incredible play. And to Nick and Bob – – I couldn’t have done this without you– –helping me with lines and having infinite patience with my crazy schedule. All my love to you both!

JOHN WELTMAN (Director) John is delighted to be directing his first show after 9 years of performing on the stage at CCFTA in both the Black box (ART, Breaking the Code, Tru) and Main stage, (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Sound of Music, Twisted Broadway) Falmouth Theatre Guild (La Cage Aux Folles, She Loves Me, Beauty and the Beast (Broadway World Award)) and Eventide Theatre (Company). Come see John this November 7-24 as Fagin in Oliver! at the Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans.