More Women ROCK! by Cotuit Center for the Arts

JULY 31 TO AUGUST 18

MORE WOMEN ROCK!

“Get to this show!”

- THE CAPE COD TIMES

A musical celebration of the Greatest Women Rockers featuring the music of

JANIS JOPLIN • JONI MITCHELL • CAROLE KING • HEART

PAT BENATAR • TORI AMOS • BILLIE EILISH • ADELLE

TAYLOR SWIFT • THE PRETENDERS • LADY GAGA

And so many more!

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

It started with the likes of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Memphis Minnie, Big Mama Thorton, Laura Lee Perkins, Big Mabelle, Patsy Cline, and Ruth Brown; women breaking barriers in the early blues, country and R&B fields. It continued through the early rock and roll and Doo Wop years with “Girl Groups” like the Ronettes, Shirelles, and the Crystals, and on into the folk revival of the 1960’s with Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell. When the late 60’s rolled into the 1970s & 80s Rock Stardom world of coliseums and festivals, groups like Heart, Fleetwood Mac and Pat Benatar shook the male dominated domain by the Stratocaster and pushed their Marshall stacks to eleven! Today, women rule the Rock and Roll roost, dominating the top of the charts and outselling the biggest venues.

More Women ROCK! is the follow-up to the smash hit from 2023, a musical celebration, spanning 50 years of amazing women rockers, from the early pioneers to today’s superstars. Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and trailblazing women we are proud to showcase the work of are featured here. Big guitars, big voices, big attitudes and some big hair too, these songs will get you out of your seat and on your feet. Join us as we celebrate More Women ROCK!

Special thanks to: David Kuehn and the entire staff, volunteers, and board of directors for their incredible work and support in making shows like this possible… you all ROCK!

There will be one 15-minute intermission

Please make sure that you have silenced all electronic devices

Please, no flash photography or recording devices

More Women ROCK! is a rock concert. Amplification, loud guitars and drums, swear words and strobe lights will be used in the presentation of this concert… prepare yourself and… enjoy!

THE ARTISTS WE CELEBRATE

Adelle, Tori Amos, The Bangles, Pat Benatar, Edie Brickell, Brandi Carlile, Shawn Colvin, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Chrissie Hynde, Indigo Girls, Joan Jett, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Avril Lavigne, Annie Lennox, Sara MachLachlan, Madonna, Aimee Mann, Joni Mitchell, The Motels, Alannah Myles, Sinead O’Connor, Dolly Parton, Sister Sledge, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Lucinda Williams, Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart), Lee Ann Womack

STARRING

Lily Anderson • Sara Bleything Sneed • Natalia Bonfini

Emma Fitzpatrick • Trish LaRose

WITH THE ALL*STAR BAND

Misao Koyama, Keys

Shane Fitzgerald, Lead Guitar

Natalia Bonfini, Rhythm Guitar

Jill Stevenson, Rhythm Guitar (August 3)

Rich Hill, Bass

Michael Dunford, Drums

Heather Swanson, Violin

Sam Holmstock, Percussion

CREW

Produced by Sara Bleything Sneed and Michael Dunford

Music Direction: Michael Dunford | Sound: Jeff Johnson & Jay Sheehan

Sound Designer: Rich Hill | Lighting: Greg Hamm & Moose Hoagland

Photography: Joe Navas | Videography: Maeve Moriarty | Stage Manager: Emma Hennessy Set Design: Cris Reverdy | Stage Build: Michael Ernst, John Fitzpatrick

LOCAL WOMEN ROCK!

Please join us as we recognize and celebrate these amazing local women and the incredible work they are taking on right here in our own backyard and beyond!

ABOUT OUR ROCKIN’ CAST

LILY ANDERSON You may have seen Lily in recent productions at CCftA including WomenRock!,Matildaas Miss Honey, MattandBenas Ben, LegallyBlonde as Vivienne, and LittleShopofHorrorsas Audrey. You can see her next in StupidF*ing Bird in the Black Box. Lily is thrilled to be back on stage with an amazing cast and crew. A special shout-out to her family and friends.

SARA BLEYTHING SNEED A classically-trained lyrics coloratura soprano by way of Kansas City, KS, Sara moved with her family to Cape Cod in 2013. Sara has been seen on many stages across the Cape and was awarded Broadwayworld’s Best Actress Boston in 2017. She has recently been performing live at various venues in the area, expanding into Rock, Blues, Jazz and Pop.

EMMA FITZPATRICK

Emma is thrilled to be returning to the Cotuit stage for More Women Rock along side such a stellar team. You can see her performing all across Cape Cod, and can catch her next in StupidF*ckingBird in the Sigel Black Box theater. She would like to thank her friends and family and her husband Jason for all their love and support.

NATALIA BONFINI

An award winning songwriter and finalist on American Idol’s 20th season, Natalia Bonfini is a blues and rock musician to her core with a natural storytelling ability and powerhouse vocals. She has performed alongside phenomenal national acts such as fellow idol winners David Cook and Crystal Bowersox, Grammy nominee Allen Stone, Blues Legend Joe Louis Walker, and the boss himself Bruce Springsteen. Taking inspiration from the 70’s to the 90’s, Natalia has a gritty sound reminiscent of Amy Winehouse and Janis Joplin, and loves commanding lyrics such as those of Alanis Morissette. You can catch Natalia performing locally year round, go to www.nataliabonfini.com for details.

TRISH LAROSE

Trish LaRose is a resident artist at Cape Rep Theatre where she’s performed for over 20 years. Her commissioned show, ComeOn-AMyHouse, made a return this summer to Cape Rep, after a successful run this past fall. Favorites include: Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia, Mae West in Dirty Blonde, Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, Halina Cygansky in Indecent, and Serafina Delle Rosa in The Rose Tattoo. Other credits: Mrs. Lovett in SweeneyTodd (opposite Tom Hewitt) at Provincetown Theater, Paulette in Legally Blonde, The Odd Couple, Dark Night Cabaret Series, Cry it Out & The Muskies ll at CCftA, Grandma in TheAddamsFamily, Piggie in Elephantand Piggie’s“WeAreInAPlay!”at CCTC/HJT, the nat’l tour of UrbanCowboy, and Legally Blonde at North Shore Music Theatre. She’s also appeared as a guest with the NYC cabaret group The Skivvies and has sung with the Cape Symphony. Special thanks to everyone involved with More Women Rock, and big love to her family, especially her two best girls, Ava & Maya. Up next: Pickle Me Tink at Cape Rep 11/6-12-8.

LILY ANDERSON SARA BLEYTHING SNEED EMMA FITZPATRICK NATALIA BONFINI TRISH LAROSE

This show is dedicated in loving memory of Janice Joplin, Sinead O’Connor, and Whitney Houston.

ABOUT THE ALL*STAR BAND

MISAO KOYAMA, Keyboard - Misao Koyama is a local collaborative pianist. She has worked on many theatrical productions and concerts, including appearances with the Cape Symphony, Eventide Theatre Company, Falmouth Theater Guild, Cape Cod Chorale, Cape Cod Community College, and several local schools. Recent productions at CCftA include Women Rock, September Morn, and Matilda. Born in Sapporo, Japan and a Berklee College of Music graduate, she serves as the organist and music director at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sandwich.

SHANE FITZGERALD, Lead Guitar - Originally from Rochester Massachusetts, Shane has been playing music since he was a kid. Starting on drums and continuing on to the guitar, bass, and singing, Shane plays with a variety of musicians and bands throughout the New Bedford area. He was last seen on the Cotuit stage with the Piano Men, and has also worked with the Barnstable Comedy Club in their production of RockofAges and is a guitar instructor at Steepe Street Music Academy in Mashpee.

HEATHER SWANSON, Fiddle - Boston area classical Violinist who crossed over to folk and traditional Irish music and is loving it! Participant and past board member of The Acadia Festival of Traditional Music and Arts; a regular at O’Shea’s Old Inne in West Dennis; duo partnerships with singer/songwriter, Kim Moberg performing across southern New England; Fiddle grooving for singer/songwriter, Caroline Brennan; Fiddler for TheMagicofIreland at the Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston; Special wedding music as The Cape Violin Cello Duo with cellist daughter, Krista Lucich. Cotuit Center for the Arts band member for PianoMenand upcoming show Fiddler On The Roof at CCtfA. One of my greatest joys is teaching violin at my studio in Centerville where I pass along my love of music to family and students in my community.

Debut album, “Beside Quiet Waters”, a collection of traditional and contemporary Irish and Celtic music with my talented musical friends and producer, Jon Evans of The Studio at Brick Hill, Orleans, MA. Available on all platforms.

RICH HILL, Bass - Cape’s Rich Hill began playing piano at age 8, then Bass at 11 and was working lounges and functions at 12 years old. Rich studied music at UMASS Amherst, Berklee College of Music and recently New England Conservatory. Rich maintains a robust schedule as a freelance electric and upright bassist, and recently synth and keys. From his home studio, Rich also teaches bass, music theory and electronic music as well as offering recording and chart writing services. Visit his website at richhillbass.com

ABOUT THE ALL*STAR BAND (CONT’D)

MICHAEL DUNFORD, Drums (Music Director, co-producer, Encore Music Productions) - Dunford began creating shows in 2019 with WeAreTheChampions (A Musical Tribute to Queen) and followed with Piano Men (2021) & Piano Men II (2022) (Musical Tributes to Billy Joel & Elton John), Women ROCK! (2023), More Women ROCK! (2024) and SweetHomeChicago:TheBluesBrothersMusicalRevue (August 2024). Coming just in time for the holidays (November/December 2024) is Bandstand: The Birth of Rock & Roll, a nostalgic trip back to the 1950s to celebrate the early days of Doo Wop, Girl Groups and Rock & Roll! Music Director credits include Tommy (2022), Something Rotten (2023), Rent (2024), Come On-A My House (2024).

SAM HOLMSTOCK, Percussion - Sam Holmstock is one of the co-founders of the world fusion ensemble, ENTRAIN. He toured and performed with this incredible group of talented musicians for 20 years. In addition to his work with ENTRAIN, Sam has had the honor of playing music with artists such as Bo Diddley, Gil ScottHeron, Kate Taylor, James Taylor, Bob Weir, Babatunde Olatunji, and even President Bill Clinton at a White House Press Core event.

Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in music composition from Berklee College of Music as well as a Certification from Remo Health Rhythms. Since 2009, he has been on the teaching faculty of Cotuit Center for the Arts. Through his organization Drum Strategies for Healing, Sam brings therapeutic drumming to several neurodiverse communities. Drum Strategies for Healing currently serves Autistic Adults and Children, Memory Impaired individuals, At-Risk Teens involved in the Juvenile Justice System, PTSD Vets, and individuals living with Traumatic Brain Injuries. More detailed information can be found at https://samholmstockdrumming.com.

BEN SLOAN, Bass Cover (8/15) - Ben Sloan began playing bass guitar high school in Western NY. Having enlisted upon graduation, he served in both the Marine Corps and The Coast Guard retiring from active duty in 2015. Through all that time and many geographical locations, he had a bass with him. He has played in many genres from Rock, to Blues to Country and Jamband music, and has studied bass and theory through Berklee online. Ben has been supporting local artists on Cape Cod, most recently performing in musical RockofAges at the Academy Playhouse in Orleans.

JILL STEVENSON, Rhythm Guitar Cover (8/3) - Jillian Stevensonis going into her junior year at Monomoy Regional High School and thoroughly enjoys playing in the student pit band for their musicals, as well as shows outside of the school. Jill has always thought that it is important to highlight the talents of women in the music industry, so she is super happy to be a part of a show like this!

EMMA HENNESSY, Stage Manager - Emma Hennessy is thrilled to be working on her second production for Michael Dunford and Encore Music Productions. Emma can be seen in many different places around the Center but her stage managing and tech credits include, Tommy, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Piano Men II, Wait Until Dark, & Cry it Out. Special shoutout to her best friend Lily who she’s gotten to go on this ride with.

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BEER SPIRITS WINE

Complimentary Tastings

Organic, Biodynamic Wines

Cellar Selections

Wine Accessories, Gifts

Event Consultations

Quantity Discounts

Craft Spirits

Premium Mixers & Bitters

Ready to Drink Cocktails

Rare & High End Selections

Barware & Accessories

Walk-In Cooler

Craft Brews

Mix-a-Six, Mystery 6 pks.

Hard Seltzers & Ciders

Artisnal Cheese, Crackers, Meats, Specialty Foods

AUGUST 8 TO SEPTEMBER 1

OCTOBER 8 TO OCTOBER 27

Our new seasonal gathering space, The Back Yard, awaits! Bring your family and friends (and snacks and chairs if you’d like, too!) and join us on Fridays from 5 to 7PM. Enjoy a cold drink and enjoy live music by local musicians. Admission is free, so come along, and enjoy our lovely space. We can’t wait to hang out in the Back Yard with you! AUGUST 21 TO SEPTEMBER 1