JPAC - A Grand Night for Singing

Jedlicka Performing Arts Center presents

Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Conceived by Walter Bobbie STARRING Tiffany Desmond Kristofer Simmons

Christopher Logan

Leslie Allison Smith

Megan Renee Reed

Produced by Diana Visk Sound Design by Micheal A. Kott

Costume Design by Jennifer Ring

Scenic/Properties Design by Michael Nedza

Lighting Design by Dante Orfei

Choreography by Sarah Bright

Music Direction by John Warren

Directed by Micheal A. Kott Presented through special arrangement with Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatricals 229 W. 28th Street - New York, NY A Grand Night for Singing 1

MUSICAL NUMBERS Act I Sounds Of The Earth............................................................................................................................. Ensemble Opening Medley................................................................................................................................... Ensemble Surrey With The Fringe On Top...................................................................Leslie, Logan, Megan & Tiffany Stepsisters’ Lament......................................................................................................................Leslie & Tiffany We Kiss In A Shadow..............................................................................................................Kristofer & Logan Hello Young Lovers............................................................................................................................... Ensemble I’m In Love With A Wonderful Guy.......................................................................................................... Megan I Cain’t Say No.................................................................................................................................................Leslie Maria................................................................................................................................................................Logan Do I Love You.................................................................................................................................................Tiffany Honey Bun............................................................................................................................................... Ensemble It’s Me............................................................................................................................................................. Megan Don’t Marry Me........................................................................................................................Kristofer & Logan Many A New Day/Wash That Man..........................................................................Leslie, Megan & Tiffany If I Loved You....................................................................................................................................................Leslie Shall We Dance...................................................................................................................................... Ensemble That’s The Way It Happens......................................................................................................Logan & Megan All At Once You Love Her.......................................................................................................Kristofer & Logan Act I Finale............................................................................................................................................... Ensemble Act II Beautiful Mornin’..................................................................................................................................... Kristofer Wedding Sequence............................................................................................................................... Ensemble The Man I Used To Be...................................................................................................Leslie, Logan & Megan It Might As Well Be Spring..........................................................................................................................Tiffany Kansas City............................................................................................................................................. Ensemble Parent Medley........................................................................................................................................ Ensemble The Gentleman Is A Dope......................................................................................................................... Megan Love Look Away.............................................................................................................................................Logan Driving Through The Moonlight/A Lovely Night............................... Kristofer, Leslie, Logan & Megan Something Wonderful................................................................................................................................Tiffany This Is Nearly Mine................................................................................................................................... Kristofer Impossible/I Have Dreamed............................................................................................................... Ensemble There will be a 15 minute intermission.

The use of flash photography and video recording devices without the written permission of the management is prohibited.

Please remember to silence or turn off your cellular phones and other messaging devices.

F R O M T H E D I R E C TO R ’ S C H A I R Why A Grand Night For Singing? When you think of American Music, Rodgers and Hammerstein will be very high on the list: 1943 Oklahoma! , 1945 Carousel, 1945 State Fair, 1947 Allegro, 1949 South Pacific, 1951 The King and I, 1953 Me and Juliet, 1955 Pipe Dream, 1957 Cinderella, 1958 Flower Drum Song, 1959 The Sound of Music .

William A. Everett and Paul R. Laird wrote that Oklahoma! was a “show” that became a milestone, so that later historians writing about important moments in twentieth-century theatre would begin to identify eras according to their relationship to Oklahoma!” In The Complete Book of Light Opera, Mark Lubbock adds, “After Oklahoma!, Rodgers and Hammerstein were the most important contributors to the musical-play form – with such masterworks as Carousel, The King and I and South Pacific. The examples they set in creating vital plays, often rich with social thought, provided the necessary encouragement for other gifted writers to create musical plays of their own.

With songs from every Broadway musical written by Rodgers & Hammerstein, this show takes a lively and inventive approach to the beloved songs with elegance and refinement, while at the same time puts a smile on our faces. Join us tonight as we relive and re-imagine these timeless classics.

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CAST PROFILES Tiffany Desmond, a New Jersey native, is excited to be performing again at JPAC! Her most recent engagements include Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Nannetta in Verdi’s Falstaff, and Thérèse in Poulenc’s surrealist opera Les Mamelles de Tirésias. Ms. Desmond received a B.A. in vocal performance and education from Ithaca College and an M.M. from The Chicago College for Performing Arts.

Christopher Logan was last seen performing in Bohemian Theatre Ensemble’s production of Pippin. Logan has a B.A. in Music from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. After graduation, he performed aboard the “Liberty of the Seas” and the “Navigator of the Seas” as a featured artist with Royal Caribbean Productions.

Other credits include: Brick (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Ren (Footloose), Horst / Bent & Matt (The Fantasticks).

Kristofer Simmons was trained at the Boston Conservatory and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He has performed in Chicago with KidsMater National Theater, Pheasant Run, Dream Street, Baliwick, Prologue Productions, New Millennium and most recently in the Jeff Award nominated Sweet

and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen with Theo Ubique. As a cabaret singer he has performed at Davenports Piano Bar, The Big House, the Wilmette Theater and the Chicago Cultural Center.

Leslie Allison Smith is excited to be involved in such a wonderful show and production. She is so grateful for this wonderful opportunity and would like to thank the fantastic cast, crew, designers, and directors. Leslie’s most recent credit is Bohemian Theatre Ensemble’s Production of Pippin (Ensemble). She has also been seen in Les Miserables (Cosette), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie Dilmount), A Chorus Line (Connie), Singin’ in the Rain (Kathy Selden), and Brigadoon (Jean McClaren). Thanks to my family and friends for their undying support and love; I’d be lost without you! Merde.

Megan Renee Reed is pleased to be performing in her first production since returning to Chicago.

Previously she was touring the West Coast performing four onewoman shows with Let’s Pretend Entertainment, an interactive children’s theatre company. Some of Megan’s favorite past roles played include Louisa in The Fantasticks, Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie and the multiple story-telling roles in Cotton Patch Gospel. Megan thanks her family for their unending support and God for inspiring her to perform.

C R E AT I V E S TA F F P R O F I L E S Micheal Kott (Director / Sound Design) has directed numerous plays and musicals both stateside and in Europe, including his critically acclaimed production of Murderer,

by Anthony Shaffer. His JPAC directing credits include Doubt, Lilies of the Field and The Boys Next Door. Michael is also a veteran performer at the JPAC having been involved in 18 shows over the last 12 years. Among his favorites are Blood Brothers, Moonlight and Magnolias, Peter Pan, and Tuesdays with Morrie. He is very grateful to Dante Orfei for his friendship, support, encouragement and trust. Micheal played the scene-stealing

Psychic in Brain Damaged Film’s 2008 release Secrets of the Clown, available at www. blockbuster.com! Micheal is the founding director of the Green Door Theatre in Garlstedt, West Germany. Currently he is the Artistic Director of Master’s Backstage Players in Carol Stream, Illinois. Micheal was also an ensemble member of Cenacle Theatre in Chicago, where he acted and directed numerous productions. Mike is the multimedia specialist for Morton College by day and at night divides his time among the various theatres in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. He is very thankful to Dr. Felicity A Grand Night for Singing 3

C R E AT I V E S TA F F P R O F I L E S Thoet for her guidance and direction. She is a wonderful director and I thank her for her knowledge.

Dante J. Orfei (Artistic Director, Lighting Designer) has been the Artistic Director at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center for over 25 years. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has produced and directed a travel documentary titled European Sojourn, which aired on PBS. Dante also directed the U.S. Premiere of the musical Metropolis and worked closely with the show’s creator, Academy and Grammy Award-winner Joseph Brooks on the development of the show. Dante directed the national regional theatre premiere of Brooks’ most recent Broadway show, In My Life. He has studied with Tony Awardwinners Harold Prince and Jules Fisher. He directed the Midwest Regional Premiere of the Queen rock musical, We Will Rock You, and has also directed the World Premiere of Nefertiti – The Musical, as well as Premiere Chicago Productions of Little Women, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love, Blood Brothers, Jekyll and Hyde, The Baker’s Wife, and numerous plays by Olivier Awardwinning playwright Ray Cooney, including the U.S. Premiere of Cooney’s It Runs in the Family. Dante has directed well over 175 stage productions on the professional, dinner theatre and academic levels.

Michael Nedza (Scenic and Properties Designer/Technical Director) has been designing throughout the Midwest for over 25years. He has designed over 75 shows here at the JPAC. Some of the designs he is most proud of include, Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, In My Life, We Will Rock You, Jekyll and Hyde, and 1776. Michael is a Theatre Arts faculty member here at Morton College.

Michael has been recognized with the “Award of Merit” from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for his set

designs of The Middle Ages and Picasso at the Lapine Agile.

John Warren (Musical Director) is excited to music direct for the first time at JPAC! No stranger to the JPAC stage, John has performed in both Phantom of the Opera and Man of La Mancha. John just began teaching music at Morton College, and he is excited to get a chance to work with a great group of musicians. John is also so happy that his lovely wife, Tiffany Desmond, will be performing as well.

Sarah Bright (Choreographer) is a Chicagobased choreographer and performer, and quite pleased to be working with Michael Kott and JPAC again. Former productions here include The Muckle Man, Grey Gardens, Man of La Mancha, and The Miracle Worker.

Other Chicago credits include roles with City Lit Theatre, Light Opera Works, The Artistic Home, The Drama Group, and others. Sarah has also choreographed and performed in Germany in productions of Grease, Annie, California Suite, and Godspell and in England in a production of Proof. Much thanks to the cast of Its A Grand Night for Singing for their talent and hard work, and to Christopher and Devon for their continued love and support.

Jennifer Ring (Costume Designer) has completed her fifth show working with The Jedlicka Performing Arts Center. Her credits at JPAC include Lillies of the Field, The Muckle Man, Grey Gardens and Wait Until Dark. Her work has also appeared in Lysistrata at Elgin Community College and in Les Liaisons Dangereouses, The Crucible, and The Desk Set for the Albright Theatre Company in Batavia.

She thanks Mr. Kott and the staff at JPAC for the opportunity to work on this production.

Thank you and enjoy the show.

T H E AT R E S TA F F Box Office.......................................................................................................................... Diana Visk Technical Crew................................................................... Keenan Powell, Arthur Stepanek, Natalie Stepanek, Martin Vanegas Usher/Concessions ............................................................... Bob Jadach, Margie McGowen

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