Phoenix Productions Presents: Evil Dead The Musical - October 28 & 29, 2022

DEAD THE MUSICAL

A MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

In 1981, The Evil Dead premiered on the big screen as a low-budget horror flick and introduced the world to the Necronomicon, Deadites and a chainsaw wielding hero named Ash in what director, Sam Raimi, describes as a “gorier the merrier” mentality. It’s difficult to explain why this B-Movie has captured the imagination, fascination, and out-and-out obsession of so many fans worldwide. It stands as one of the most cited inspirations for countless directors, writers, video game developers, and Comic Con cos-play fanatics 40 years after its release. I became a super fan, not of the movie, but of the Off-Broadway musical parody when it premiered in 2003. Everything about the musical screamed deliciously WRONG! - which is the highest praise I can give a show. The songs were over-the-top camp (just look at the song list in your program), the make-up was insanely amateurish but so funny, the hilarious one-liners seemed almost ad-libbed, but the commitment to the Evil Dead legacy, authenticity, and honoring the spirit of the movies was phenomenal. It was the same year I was cast in a production of The Rocky Horror Show – another infamous camp musical parody. I know that my perception of camp theatre was forever changed by Evil Dead The Musical and I began my obsession with approaching parody, camp, comedy, farce, and eventually all theatre with the emotional honesty and serious attention actors and directors usually reserve for Shakespeare, Chekov, and Sondheim. It may seem like a side-splitting (and blood splattering) good time in “an old, abandoned cabin in the woods” – but it’s also serious theatre. I’m grateful to the cast, crew, staff, and everyone at the Count Basie Center for their unwavering support and commitment to making quality theatre.

Enjoy the show and I hope you don’t get any Shelly on your shoe.

James

Phoenix Productions, Inc. would like to thank our dedicated cast and staff that worked so hard to make our Evil Dead The Musical show a success.

ROB

MARISA HELENE MAST

AMBER LYNN TANZI

HUDSON EDER

LYDIA SZLASA

ALICIA ROSE DISHON

ANTHONY VIERA

VOLTAIRE BALDERRAMA

MATTHEW TOBIO

JASON NERI

ANDY BUSLOVICH

ANDREW ROSCISZEWSKI

JAY MACK

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SANTOPADRE

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HESSMAN

MARINO

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DiYANNI, JOANNE PENROSE, DENNIS TOLENTINO

Center for the Arts, the

Together, Phoenix Productions and the Count Basie Center have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of

people want to do their best work. In casting our community

this will mean a commitment and intention to locate and encourage

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pledge to deepen

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PHOENIX PRODUCTIONS

COMMITTEE

SoVonna

PHOENIX

Sarah Bradley Karen Franklin Fran Katz

Michael Parent Mark Regan, Jr.

Jon Vena

Count Basie

Count Basie

Jeremy Grunin Chairperson

Stephen Cutler Treasurer Robin Klein Human Resources

Joe Wajda (Co-Chair)

Jerry Conaty

Marc Goldberg

Jim Marhold

James Grausam

Adam Philipson Izzy Sackowitz

Lauren Quint

Diane DiYanni

Cindy Coffey

Claire Healey

Jaclyn Colaizzo

Executive Committee of the Board

PHOENIX PRODUCTIONS BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Andrea Zawadzky Brian LaRue

Fran Katz

Michael Parent Vice Chair of Operations SoVonna Day-Goins Co-Secretary

Claudia Dulac Diversity,

Jim Marhold Joe Wajda

& Inclusion Officer

Jon D’Agostino

Maggie Riker Vice Chair of Development

Maria Maher Co-Secretary

Adam Philipson President & Chief Executive Officer, Ex Officio

Marc Goldberg Mark Regan, Jr.

SoVonna Day-Goins

Count Basie Center Board of Trustees

Jerry Conaty

Stuart Alderoty Mitch Ansell Peter Ardolino

Alison Banks-Moore Tom Bernard Sarah Bradley Michael Bruno Heather Burke James M. Cadet Robert Chandler

Justine Coleman

Jerry Conaty Craig Cummings Mollie Giamanco Lauren Goldfarb Yvonne Grayson Mark Hogan Marshall Knopf Mario Monello Mark Rohl

Tom Martini

Matthew J. Saker Peter B. Seligman Richard Spengler

Carol Stillwell

Fran Turner

Joe Wajda

Tom Widener Darrell Lawrence Willis Kaye Wise Edward J. Zipprich

Ash, Linda, Scott, Shelly,

Ash

Ash

Cheryl,

Jake

Scott

Annie

Linda and Ash

Ash

Ash,

Jake,

Ash,

D’Agostino & Associates - Jon & Jade D’Agostino

Subaru - Joe & Nicole Wajda

PRODUCTIONS

DONORS

ANGEL LEVEL: $1,000-$1,999

Goins Family, Thomas Hessman, Susan Relyea

RISING

PATRON

LEVEL: $500-$999

Valentino Family

$250-$499

Ercolino, Patrice Simonetti

$50-$249

Chris Adamo, Sean, Melissa & Cricket Bailey, Alfred Bevacqua, Nancy Cavaliere, Frances Crocco, Susan & Doug Culbert, Ronald Danielson, Charles Falk, Eric Klings, Thomas LaBue, Donna Pinamonti, Charles Rodman, Barbara Saake, Diane Tresente, Angela Ensor Tress, John Wells

STARS ON PHOENIX’S “WALK OF DREAMS”

Todd Aikens, Andrea Andrews Zawadzky, Matthew Blankley, Grace Brancato, Brothers Commercial Brokerage, The Brown Family, Chloe Carone, Erin O’Malley Chiaravalloti, Sarah Coleman, Liz & Randy Cooper, Sophie Creed, The Cullen Family, The D’Agostino Family, Mike & Betty Ann Dalberg, Bobby Davis, Lily DelPresto, In Memory of Mildred & Patrick DeLuca, Tina & Mike DeVito, Denise DiBona DDS, The Dobbs Family, Hudson Eder & Jo Wymer Music Studios, Joe Ercolino & Melvin Polisher, FILCO Red Bank, Immediate Care Medical Walk-In & CEO Sal Cannizzaro,In Memory of Jakob Franke, Bob Fuller, Carmen Gemellaro, Kayla Goins, Jennifer Grasso, James Grausam, Anthony Greco, Keegan Robert Haack, Holly Hankins & Family, Don & Lois Heirman, Thomas K. Hessman, Taylor Nicole Kaplan, Nancy Karpf, Fran Centofante Katz, Sydney & Jason Katz, Zoe & Molly Kenney,George & Kelly Kerrick, The Kinneman Family, The LaRue Family, James, Kathleen & Patrick Marhold,The Martini Family, In Loving Memory of Pat Mercandetti, The Monteleone Family, Jillian Mueller, Scott Naef,The Nodes Family, Don Olah Hair/Wigs, Alexa Origlio, Christine Paccillo, Wayne, Daniel & Marisa Peck, The Pennington Family, Joanne Penrose, Red Oak Mortgage, The Regan Family, Remember Jones, Lily Grace Riddle, Kara Robertelli, Harper Robinson, The Robinson Family, The Scherzo Family, Haley & Chris Schmalbach, Thomas Scove,The Sheftel Family, Carl Sterling Smith, Jack & Joyce Sica, The Stefanelli Family, The Thorner Family, Mary Jo Tort-Bergeron, Carol Wade, The Wagar Family, Ellen & Michael Walsh, Amanda Winter, Lindsay Wood, Chip & Ilda Wood, World Subaru

WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST

VOLTAIRE BALDERRAMA (Jake) wants you to know that Jake has all of his vaccinations, including the last rabies shot after he was bit by his neighbor’s three-legged, cross-eyed racoon, Shirley. They named her that because the eyes go one way and the legs go another and that racoon Shirley can’t walk straight. Stage highlights: Miss Saigon (The Engineer), M. Butterfly (Song Liling), The Rocky Horror Show (Frank N Furter), The Elephant Man (John Merrick), Pippin (Leading Player), Lonely Planet (Jody), A New Brain (Nice Nurse), The Tempest (Caliban), Man of La Mancha (Padre), Fuddy Meers (Millet/Binky), Small Craft Warnings (Quentin), The Laramie Project, and Rashomon (Woodcutter).

ALICIA ROSE DISHON (Annie) is thrilled to be in her third Phoenix show! She was last seen with Phoenix Productions on the Basie stage as Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Recent theater credits include: A Chorus Line (Diana Morales), West Side Story (Anita), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), and Rent (Mimi). Thank you so much to James Grausam, the entire cast and creative team, her amazing family and friends, and most importantly to her boomstick-slinging fiancé, Rob!

HUDSON EDER (Scott) is excited to be part of the groovy Evil Dead The Musical, his seventh show with Phoenix Productions! Past credits include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Jehan) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Issachar). He has also done background/ extra work for TV shows such as Starz’s Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and Apple TV+’s Brass Tactics. He would like to thank his family, friends, castmates, and mentors for their constant support and tutelage!

MARISA HELENE MAST (Cheryl) is thrilled to be making her debut with Phoenix Productions! Checking off a bucket list role/show, Marisa is grateful for her coach who not only introduced her to Evil Dead, but also taught her to be fearless onstage and embrace the clown within. Notable credits include: Little Women (Jo March), Avenue Q (Lucy u/s), Noises Off (Brooke), You Can’t Take It with You (Essie), Company (Marta), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Magenta), and Dancing at Lughnasa (Maggie Mundy), which earned an Irene Ryan nomination. Love to the entire company for their warm welcome and dedication, SC4, the Shenanigang, and Mum & Dad for their endless support! יננה marisahelenemast.com

ROB RYAN (Ash) is excited for his Phoenix Productions debut and the opportunity to revisit one of his favorite roles. Past credits include: Newsies (Jack Kelly), Rent (Roger Davis), Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas), Aida (Radames), Next to Normal (Gabe), West Side Story (Tony/Riff), The Wedding Singer (Robbie Hart), and many more. He would like to thank all of his family and friends for their continued support, and cannot wait to take the stage with his groovy fiancé, Alicia. of his family and friends for their continued support, and cannot wait to

THE CAST

LYDIA SZLASA (Linda) is honored to be a part of this cult classic production and to have the opportunity to work alongside such a stellar cast and crew! This will be her first show with Phoenix Productions. She is so grateful to be back and performing on stage after a 3-year-long pandemic-hiatus. She loves all things camp and knows you will all have the spookiest, grooviest time experiencing this show. See you in the woods! Enjoy!

AMBER LYNN TANZI (Shelly) is beyond stoked to play Shelly in Evil Dead The Musical, one of her favorite shows! Amber was last seen as a Tribe Member in Phoenix’s production of Hair last September. Amber graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy with an associates in Acting and has performed in NYC, Boston, and LA. She now works as a vocal teacher in Monmouth County. Favorite credits include: American Idiot (Heather), Rent (Alexi Darling/Seasons of Love Soloist), and The Who’s Tommy (Minister’s Wife/Mrs. Simpson). Amber would like to thank her Evil Dead cast and crew for their support.

MATTHEW TOBIO (Fake Shemp / Knowby / Moose / u/s Ed/Jake) is so excited to be a part of this cast, it’s SCARY! October being his favorite month of the year, he was DYING to get into a horror-comedy like this. Thanks to SPOOKTACULAR director James Grausam, Matthew gets a chance to truly show off his talents and knock ‘em DEAD! A huge thank you to the cast and crew for not just giving him this opportunity, but also putting up with a BONEHEAD like him!

ANTHONY VIERA (Ed) is thrilled to be back on the Phoenix stage after a 6 year hiatus! Thank you to James and team for letting me back. Anthony is a Halloween and musical freak at heart, so being covered in blood, singing, and acting like a fool for all to see is right up his alley! Break legs and die to all of the cast and crew!

WHO’S WHO ON THE PRODUCTION TEAM

JAMES GRAUSAM (Director / Sound Design) has directed several productions for Phoenix at the Count Basie Center including: Fiddler on the Roof, The Full Monty, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy, The 30th Anniversary Gala Concert, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Songs for a New World, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Spring Awakening, Elf, and Putting It Together. He continues to direct and perform other places as time allows. As always, for Olivia.

JASON NERI (Music Director) is thrilled to be back with Phoenix after music directing Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Spring Awakening, Putting It Together, and The Wizard of Oz. He works extensively in the tri-state area as a Music/Vocal Director and Accompanist. Favorite past productions include: Ragtime (Barrymore Nominated for Outstanding Music Direction), The Last Five Years, Godspell (Barrymore Nominated for Outstanding Music Direction and Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical), John & Jen, Rock of Ages, Heathers: The Musical, Bonnie & Clyde, Tick Tick… Boom!, Rent, Tommy, Evil Dead The Musical, Baby, Song of Singapore, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Be here now!

TOM HESSMAN (Production Manager / Sound Effects Operator) is beyond thrilled to make his full Production Manager debut with this groovy show! A lifelong theatergoer, Tom spent 15 years on the media crew for Staples Players (Westport, CT) before fully transitioning to the New Jersey community theater scene. In addition to seeing shows all around NJ, Tom loves volunteering at Phoenix in various capacities. Tom had a brief walk-on role in Phoenix’s 2019 production of Young Frankenstein as one of the hangmen, and Phoenix hasn’t been able to get rid of him since!

Past credits include: Carrie The Musical, The Wizard of Oz, Spring Awakening, and Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Tom also serves as a board member at Exit 82 Theatre (Toms River, NJ). Tom would like to thank Fran, James, and the rest of his Phoenix family for this amazing opportunity, as well as this INCREDIBLE cast for sharing their talents with us! Tom dedicates this show to his AMAZING friends, whom he is so fortunate to have in his life. Twitter: @tkh16

FRAN CENTOFANTE KATZ (Associate Production Manager) started with Phoenix Productions in the cast of Peter Pan back in 1995 and has been a part of all aspects of the organization both on stage and behind the scenes, most recently serving as Production Manager for The Wizard of Oz. Some of Fran’s favorite credits include: Noises Off (Poppy), Into the Woods (Little Red), Cinderella (Fairy Godmother), Daughters (Cetta), and 1776 (Roger Sherman - all women’s version). Fran would like to thank her family for their continued support.

LEAH KRUPNICK (Assistant Stage Manager / u/s Cheryl/Shelly) recently had their professional debut in American Idiot (Asbury Park Theater Company). Other recent credits include: The Who’s Tommy (Algonquin Arts), The Wedding Singer (Phoenix Productions), and Jesus Christ Superstar (Algonquin Arts). Leah also has a number of production credits, including dance captain, stage management, and lighting crew for various theaters in the Monmouth County area. Leah took up rollerskating and roller derby during the pandemic and is a proud Central Jersey Roller Vixen.

AMANDA MARINO (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be part of Evil Dead! Amanda works for A+E Television Networks by day and fulfills her love for theater/music at night. Recent theater credits include: The Wedding Singer (Ensemble / u/s Linda; Phoenix Productions) Goblins & Gates (Tabby; Pleasant Valley Players), and she directed Jersey Voices 2022 (Chatham Community Players). Amanda wants to thank her incredible mom and boyfriend for their continued support. Also: Jo, James, Jason, Tom, and Fran for getting her involved on such a fun production. She hopes the cast and crew break a leg!

WHO’S WHO ON THE PRODUCTION TEAM

MARISA PROCOPIO (Properties) is excited to be back at Phoenix, where she has designed for over a decade, beginning with Miss Saigon for James Grausam. Regional: Mad Love, The Jag, Multiple Family Dwelling, & Juliet, Halftime with Don, F Theory, Theatre Brut 2017, Mutual Philanthropy, The Calling, Wild Horses, Issei, He Say (NJ Repertory Company); The Women of Padilla (Two River Theater); To Kill a Mockingbird, Twelfth Night, Circle Mirror Transformation, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Little Women, The Imaginary Invalid, Of Mice and Men, Much Ado About Nothing (Holmdel Theater Company); Mack and Mabel, Sugar Babies, Seesaw, 42nd Street, Chicago (Red Oak Music Theater). Other credits: 1776 (NJACT Perry Award nominee), Frost/Nixon, The Producers, Les Misérables, The Drowsy Chaperone, Fiddler on the Roof, and many others.

KYLE SANTOPADRE (Technical Director / Lighting Design / Scenic Design) has a BA in Theater with a Design concentration from Rowan University. After college, Kyle worked for Royal Caribbean as Technical Stage Staff on board the Oasis of the Seas (CATS, Frozen In Time, Come Fly With Me, Oasis of Dreams). He is currently the Assistant Technical Director and Lighting Designer for The Count Basie Center for the Arts. Past designs include: Spring Awakening (Phoenix Productions), Hello, Dolly! (Capital Productions), A Chorus Line (Phoenix Productions), and Noises Off (Raritan High School). Many thanks to a wonderful production team!

JO WYMER (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be part of this show’s production team. This show is a family favorite! It really is all about the “BOOMSTICK”, getting GROOVY, champagne, and doing the NECRONOMICON. Plus her son is playing the role of Scott, SO she is no stupid bitch like Shelly, that is what makes this show freakin’ awesome. Thank you for coming and getting bloody with us! www.jowymer.com or www.jowymermusicstudios.com..