Book by Chad Beguelin & Bob Martin
Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Music by Matthew Sklar
Directed by Sarah Ripper*
Music Directed by Jennifer Schniepp
Choreographed by Courtney Ozovek*
Associate Choreographer: Amber Dupuy
Production Stage Manager: Cory Smith
Scenic Designers
Carolyn Mraz (guest), Destiny Manewal
Costume Designer Greer Gardner
Prop Master Jenna Scordino
Lighting Designer Scott Bolman*
Makeup Designer Kieran Tierney
Hair Designer Joyce Cantrell*
Sound Designer Aerik Harbert*
Technical Director Eric Rodriguez (guest)
Dramaturgs Dr. Heather Denyer,* Dr. Thomas Fitzgerald*
*Faculty
Please be advised of the use of flashing lights, fog, and haze in this production.
This musical includes discussions of teen suicide, bullying, homophobia, and anti-rural biases.
October 10–19, 2024 • Little Theatre
RONALD S. ROCHON
President, California State University, Fullerton
AMIR H. DABIRIAN
Provost and VP for Academic Affairs
ARNOLD HOLLAND, EDD
Dean, College of the Arts
FULL-TIME FACULTY | Theatre
Acting
Maria Cominis
Svetlana Efremova*
Eve Himmelheber
John Short
Design and Technical Production
Scott Bolman^
Hyun Sook Kim
Fred Kinney
JR Luker
Omar Ramos
Jamie Tucker
Kathryn Wilson
Directing
Mark Ramont*
Musical Theatre
Josh Grisetti
Marty Austin Lamar*
Theatre Studies
Dr. Heather Denyer*
Amanda Rose Villarreal, PhD
Voice and Movement
Anne James
David Nevell*
FULL-TIME FACULTY | Dance
Muriel Joyce
Lisa D. Long
Debra Noble
Alvin Rangel-Alvarado*
KATHRYN WILSON
Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance
ALVIN RANGEL-ALVARADO*
Vice Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance
FULL-TIME STAFF
Department of Theatre & Dance
Administration
Denean Dyson
Technical and Production Staff
Michael August, Production Manager
Lois Bryan, Master Electrician
Matt Connelly, Amanda Horak
Staff Scenic Lab Forepersons
Heidi Enzlin Cole, Charge Scenic Artist
Jen Frauenzimmer
Business/ Production Coordinator
Terri Nista, Costume Lab Manager
Lori Koontz, Costume Lab Techncian
Melody Hu, Wardrobe Supervisor
Eric Sheehan, Video & Projections Technician
Jeff Lewis, Production Sound Engineer
William Lemley, Audio Technician
Bob West, Properties Master
Brigitte Bellavoine, Jennifer Schniepp & Ben Rempel, Accompanists
Stephanie Tancredi
Box Office Manager & Safety Coordinator
Josiah Sanchez, Night Mgr./Lead House Mgr.
Charlotte Bouck
Audition Coordinator and Production Assistant
* denotes area coordinator | ^denotes graduate coordinator
Land Acknowledgement: The Department of Theatre and Dance acknowledges our presence on the traditional, ancestral and unceeded territory of the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation. We pay our respects to the Indigenous land caretakers past, present, and emerging. For more information please visit the Gabrielino-Tongva Tribe website.
Resources: https://native-land.ca/ • https://gabrielinotribe.org/ http://nahc.ca.gov/cp/tribal-atlas-pages/gabrielino-tongva-nation/
Welcome to the College of the Arts 2024–2025 season – our first in three years where performing and visual arts programming will take place on one cohesive arts campus following the completion of the Visual Arts Modernization Project. We are thrilled you have joined us! As our visitors, you are part of our extended family of patrons, parents, friends, and fellow Titans, and we strive to reflect your stories and experiences in the programming we present.
To us, community engagement is more than just opening the doors of our performance and exhibition spaces and inviting you in; it’s about creating a space for dialogue through the work we share. This season, we are proud to bring you a slate of exhibitions, concerts, and performances that not only reflect our humanity but also have the power to transform how we see ourselves and others. In Theatre, “The Prom” opens the season with a joyful celebration of love and acceptance that follows teen Emma Nolan and her quest to attend the prom after she is disinvited for being gay. Will Emma get the prom she deserves? Next, Begovich Gallery presents four exhibitions to celebrate the public opening of Building G on November 2, including “Vitae: A New Generation” featuring CSUF visual arts alumni whose work explores self-discovery and issues of social justice. The following week, the Fullerton Jazz Orchestra and University Symphony Orchestra, along with guest artists Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea, perform in “Fullerton Pops!” Our award-winning choreographers and dancers take the stage in December for “Fall Dance Theatre,” a powerfully moving collection of performances in a variety of dance styles. And don’t forget everyone’s holiday concert favorite, “Deck the Hall at Cal State Fullerton!” on December 14 and 15.
With the completion of the Visual Arts complex this past summer, we are one of the largest comprehensive colleges of the arts in the CSU system. The complex boasts digitally enhanced classrooms, a green screen lab for film and animation, an expanded photography studio, four art galleries, and several indoor and outdoor spaces to encourage cross-disciplinary exploration. But with the distinction of being a large college of the arts comes great need, and many of our students face personal and financial challenges that prevent them continuing their education. The Dean’s Fund for Excellence provides our students with funding for immersive, off- and on-campus experiences that contribute to their academic success, including CSU Summer Arts, conferences, and study abroad programs. Your support is not just appreciated; it is vital. If the arts and their continued importance in higher education are essential to you, please consider a gift of any amount to the Dean’s Fund today.
I thank you for joining us and for championing the arts in our community. Your support means the world to me and to our students. When you return, I invite you to visit the Visual Arts complex to see what’s new and to check out the galleries in Building G, across from Clayes Performing Arts Center and open late on select performance nights beginning in November. I hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Arnold Holland, EdD Dean, College of the Arts
EMMA NOLAN…………………………………………………..................….Keira Lopez-Ward UNDERSTUDY…………………………………………………..……..................Riley Blackwell
ALYSSA GREENE……..................………………………………........…..…………Elise Ruvira UNDERSTUDY………………………………………………………….....….….. Aurora Villareal
BARRY GLICKMAN……..................………………………………........…........Logan Cabieles UNDERSTUDY……………………………………………….………….....….….......Quinn Sonis
DEE DEE ALLEN…..…………………………………..………….…………….……Grace Miguel UNDERSTUDY……………………………………………….…..……..................Payton Homer
TRENT OLIVER..……………………………………………..………....................Erick Sanchez UNDERSTUDY……………………………………………….....….…..Braden Michael Harrison
ANGIE DICKINSON……..................………………………………........….............……Aja Jett UNDERSTUDY..……....................………………………………...........…..…………Katie Cruz MR. HAWKINS……………………………..……….......................………...……Garret Sullivan
MRS. GREENE
STUDENTS & RALLY GOERS............................................................
Brooke Halliday (Olivia Keating) Anthony Huang
Billy Hules (Hotel Clerk) Caitlyn Ilar Ainsley Johnston Jimmy Leys (Truck Rally Announcer) Aurora Villareal Avalyn Walton
GODSPELL CAST/B’WAY ATTENDEES/ PARENTS............................................. Katie Cruz
Ethan Davis (Reporter 3) Braden Michael Harrison
Payton Homer
Michael Navarro (Reporter 1)
Sydney Park (Reporter 2)
Spencer Sharp (Male Coach) Quinn Sonis
Orchestra
Conductor/Keyboard 1 Jennifer Schniepp
Bass Mike Selfridge
Drums Cindy McKinney
Guitar Ryan Navales
Keyboard 2 Zach DeChance
Reed 1 Vince Hizon
Reed 2 Gil Alvarado
Trumpet 1 Ian Holmquist
Trumpet 2 Max Maynard
Scenes & Songs
ACT ONE
Scene One - A Step and Repeat Overture: Orchestra
Changing Lives: Barry, Dee Dee, Trent, Angie, Shelly, Broadway Attendees
Changing Lives (Mini-Reprise): Barry
Changing Lives (Reprise): Barry, Dee Dee, Trent, Angie
Scene Two - School Just Breathe: Emma
Scene Three - School Gym
It’s Not About Me: Dee Dee, Barry, Trent, Angie, Shelly, Mrs. Greene, Parent Nick, Kevin, Shelby, Kaylee, Parent Ensemble
Scene Four - School Hallway
Dance With You: Emma & Alyssa
Scene Five - Motel
Scene Six - Concert (Rally) for Emma
The Acceptance Song: Trent, Dee Dee, Barry, Angie, Shelly, Godspell Cast
Scene Seven - Motel Room
Scene Eight - School Gym
You Happened: Nick, Kevin, Emma, Alyssa, Teen Ensemble
Scene Nine - Applebee’s
We Look To You: Mr. Hawkins
Scene Ten - Emma’s Room; the Greene’s Home; the Prom
Tonight Belongs To You/Act I Finale: Barry, Emma, Shelby, Kaylee, Mrs. Greene, Teen Ensemble
ACT TWO
Scene Eleven - Press Conference
Entr’acte: Orchestra
Scene Twelve - Emma’s Bedroom
Zazz: Angie & Emma
Scene Thirteen - Principles Office
The Lady’s Improving: Dee Dee
Scene Fourteen - In Front of The 7-Eleven
Love Thy Neighbor: Trent, Godspell Cast, & Teen Ensemble
Scene Fifteen - School Hallway
Alyssa Greene: Alyssa
Scene Sixteen - Barry’s Motel Room
Barry is Going to Prom: Barry
Scene Seventeen - Emma’s Bedroom Unruly Heart: Emma & Full Ensemble
Scene Eighteen - Hawkins’ Office
Changing Lives Act II: Barry, Dee Dee, Trent, Angie, Shelly, Mr. Hawkins
Scene Nineteen - Alyssa’s Home / High School Gym
It’s Time To Dance: Full Company
Bow & Exit Music: Orchestra
About the Director | Sarah Ripper
Sarah Ripper (she/her) Is so honored to share and celebrate the story of “The Prom” with all of you! Sarah earned her M.F.A. in Directing at California State University Fullerton, an M.A. in Educational Theatre from NYU, and a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Sam Houston State University. She is trained in Theatrical Intimacy and has directed and choreographed throughout Orange County as well as Texas and the Tri-state area. In 2008-2009, she traveled all over Asia in Broadway Asia’s production of “Cinderella,” starring Tony Award Winner Lea Salonga. After appearing in the Off-Broadway show “Looking for Billy Haines,” she became a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. She has assisted directed at Pasadena Playhouse and at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. Directing credits: “Avenue Q,” “Girls Like That,” “The Revolutionists,” “The Laramie Project,” “The SpongeBob Musical,” “35mm,” “Lizzie: The Musical,” “9 to 5,” ”God of Carnage,” “Maple and Vine,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Godspell” (A.D. and choreographer), “CryBaby: The Musical,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor, “Dancing at Lughnasa,” and “Really Really.” Sarah currently serves as the Chair of Musical Theatre Initiative for KCACTF Region 8 as well as the resident Intimacy Choreographer for The Wayward Artist in Santa Ana. She wants to give a huge thanks to her husband, Chris Buttars, for being the best support system and dad to their three cats and dog! Let’s lift up the room and lead with love!
www.sarahripper.org
Ellie and Jim Monroe, OLLI, Alliance, TPOT, Nathan Longcrier, and Michael Kingsbury Special Thanks
About the Musical Director | Jennifer Schniepp
Jennifer Schniepp is a professional musician, raised in Bakersfield, California. She fell in love with music at a very young age and has been singing, playing piano, and handbells most of her life. Currently, Jenny is the Accompanist for the Musical Theatre Department at Cal State Fullerton and a very busy music director. If you have auditioned for any theatre in SoCal, it’s likely you have found Jenny smiling at the piano and ready to play for your audition as that is most favorite of her many, MANY jobs!
Select Credits include “Little Shop of Horrors” {OCTG Award nominated}, “Cabaret,” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” “Side Show,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!” Non music/theatre related interests include theme parks, cooking, traveling especially by cruise ship, Christmas, and eating fancy food! @ladivajenny
About the Choreographer | Courtney Ozovek
Courtney Ozovek is a dance artist, choreographer, educator, and lighting designer rooted in the Los Angeles and Orange County area. She earned her M.F.A in Dance Choreography and Performance from CSU Long Beach and her B.A. in Dance from CSU Fullerton. Most recently, Ms. Ozovek collaborated on Pacific Chorale’s presentation of, ”To the Hands,” composed by Caroline Shaw under the direction of Marty Austin Lamar, whom she had the pleasure of working with as choreographer and co-director for “A Chorus Line” at CSU Fullerton. Other musical choreography credits include “Cabaret,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “The Spongebob Musical,” “35MM,” “Heathers,” “West Side Story,” “Lizzie,” “The King and I,” “Carousel,” and more. Courtney has presented concert dance works in California, Arizona, Alaska, and Guantanamo Bay as well as developed movement for shows at Universal Studies, Disneyland and private corporate events. Previously, she collaborated on the LA Philharmonic’s production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, alongside award-winning Broadway choreographer, Patrick McCollum, as Assistant Choreographer. Currently, she is a company member with Keith Johnson/Dancers from Long Beach. Courtney additionally serves as the Dance Department Chair at the Young Americans College of the Performing Arts and is proud to be in her nineteenth year on faculty at CSU Fullerton supporting a variety of students on their individual journeys through dance and musical theatre.
About the Associate Choreographer | Amber Depuy
Amber Dupuy began her training at the age of three at Encore Dance Centre in San Dimas, CA and continued on to study at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Amber was accepted into the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she received a B.F.A. in Modern Dance Performance in May of 2010 where she had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Ronen Koresh of Koresh Dance Company, Brian Sanders of JUNK, Kim Bears-Bailey from PHILADANCO, Scott Jovovich of Brandywine Ballet Theater, Zane Booker of Smoke Lilies, and Jade Arts Initiative, and the world renowned Louis Johnson. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA where she continues to perform in the industry while choreographing for various schools, studios, and corporate entertainment companies. This is Amber’s fifth semester participating as a guest associate choreographer for the Musical Theater program at California State University, Fullerton. Stage/Live Performance: Steve Wynn’s “Showstoppers” (ensemble/onstage swing), Nuit Blanche (ensemble), Eddie Garcia’s “Twisted” Branches (Peggy Branch), Melinda Sullivan’s “Gone: A Sound and Theater Project” (ensemble). Television/Film: “Bathtubs Over Broadway” (finale dancer), “Sinatra 100 CBS Special” (Lady Gaga dancer). Music Videos:“Get Up” by TJ Stafford, “My Universe” by Ashley Chambliss, “Shakin Ain’t a Crime” by Andy Frasco. Dance Companies: Paradigm Dance Theatre (performer/rehearsal director), Runway Ballet (performer), SoleVita Dance Company (performer/assistant choreographer).
