JPAC-Miracle Worker

Proudly Presents

– By William Gibson –

STARRING Emily Forberg Melanie Lamourex Kelly Levander Warren Karas William Chengary Sarah Bright Bibi Lebechi Catherine Hood Eden Strong Christopher Grella Michael Nedza Katelyn Smith Zack Newman Juliana Tomecki & Ogechi Onyewuchi

Directed by Micheal A. Kott Scenic Design by Michael Nedza

Lighting Design by Dante Orfei

Costume Design by Multimedia Design by Joelle Beranek Micheal A. Kott Produced by Diana Visk Produced by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC of New York, NY Jedlicka Performing Arts Center 1

CAST Emily Forberg................................................................................................................Helen Keller Melanie Lamourex................................................................................................. Annie Sullivan Kelly Levander................................................................................................................ Kate Keller Warren Karas.............................................................................................................Captain Keller William Chengary.......................................................................................................James Keller Sarah Bright........................................................................................................................... Aunt Ev Bibi Lebechi............................................................................................................................... Viney Catherine Hood.........................................................................................................................Percy Eden Strong............................................................................................................................ Martha Christopher Grella.............................................................................................................Anagnos Michael Nezda........................................................................................................................Doctor Katelyn Smith..............................................................................................................Young Annie Zack Newman........................................................................................................................ Jimmie Juliana Tomecki........................................................................................................................ Sarah Ogechi Onyewuchi............................................................................................................. Servant SET TING The action takes place in and around the Keller homestead in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and Boston in the 1880’s There will be one 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 “It’s already one of the more compelling stories in American theater. Gibson has done a masterful job of distilling young Helen Keller’s story into its essential elements. Helen, blind and mute, is a wild child, striking out in her rage and frustration (and her own canny sense of entitlement) at everyone who loves her. Annie Sullivan is brought in to tutor and tame her. But to do so, she must not allow herself or the Keller family to indulge in the easiest and least helpful of emotions, pity. She hardens herself and hardens the family and eventually, she gives Helen the key to unlock the world: language.” The Spokane-Review What shapes our character, determines the person we will become? Of course, no one can point a finger to only one person, but Helen can point five to Annie Sullivan. The Miracle Worker is not a show about blindness or deafness, it is about bringing light, enriching a life through language: infusing knowledge. Apart from our parents, each of us has at least one “Annie Sullivan” in our past, the one who turned on the “light.” I wish to dedicate this show to all of the “Annie Sullivans” in my life: every teacher I have ever met …

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CAST PROFILES Sarah Bright (Aunt Ev) is pleased to be making her third appearance on the JPAC stage in The Miracle Worker.

Audiences may remember her from Man of La Mancha and as Marina in The Muckle Man last fall. Other Chicago area credits include roles with City Lit (Wind in the Willows), Light Opera Works (My Fair Lady), The Artistic Home (Where You Once Stood), The Drama Group (Proof, City of Angels), and others. Sarah has also spent time performing abroad in England and Germany in productions of Grease, Proof, Godspell, and California Suite.

Billy Chengary (James) is a senior at Downers Grove South. He has been in theatre ever since he started at the age of thirteen when he landed the role of Oliver Twist in Oliver. Some of his favorite roles include: Doody (Grease) as well as The Master of Ceremonies (Chicago) at BAM theatre, with Melanie Lamoureux, as Director! He has also done theatre at his high school. Some other credits include: Luther (Inspecting Carol), Leon Tolchinsky (Fools) and Bobby Child (Crazy for You). He also has film and commercial credit. Big thanks to Mom, Dad, Katie, Johnny, Maggie, and friends!

Emily Forberg (Helen) is making her JPAC debut and is grateful for the opportunity to work with this talented group. She is a recent high school grad where she was involved in speech, improv, and theatre, including roles in The Boys Next Door, Cabaret, and Meet Me In St. Louis. Emily has also enjoyed community theatre for many years.

Favorite credits include Charlie and the

Chocolate Factory (Mrs. Salt), Peter Pan (Captain Hook), and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Lucy). At the conclusion of tonight’s performance you can follow Emily to the Greenhouse Theatre where she is a cast member in the sketch comedy show Conceit with Noble Street Productions. Endless thanks to her supportive family and friends. Enjoy the show!

Christopher J. Grella (Anagnos) is thrilled to be a part of this show. Other credits include: 4x2, Emma, Unmatched, Little Shop of Horrors, The Odd Couple, Antigone, Psycho Beach Party, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Six Degrees of Separation. He would like to thank everyone, both involved with the show and not.

Catherine J. Hood (Percy) holds a BFA from American Musical and Dramatic Academy, located in the heart of Hollywood, California. Catherrine is an aspiring actress with a talent and a heart. The day she discovered she was made for the stage was a day her third grade teacher pointed out that she had the voice and the look to pursue acting. With that, she directed her first play “The Man Who Came to Dinner” inspired by her favorite actress, Bette Davis. She has starred in many on and off stage performances and has done numerous film work. At the moment, she works at WGN News as an Entertainment Intern for Dean Richards; this performance is a part of many more.

Warren Karas (Captain Keller) is excited to be on the JPAC stage again, having appeared in Hairspray as the ‘Male Authority Figure’, Jedlicka Performing Arts Center 3

C A S T P R O F I L E S ( c o n t .)

‘Tevya’ in Fiddler on the Roof, ‘Sweeney ‘ in Sweeney Todd, ‘The Narrator’, in Blood Brothers, ‘Norman’ in The Boys Next Door, ‘John Freeman’ in Metroplis, ‘Juan Peron’ in Evita and most recently in Phantom of the Opera as ‘Andre’. He has also performed at “The Drama Group” in Chicago Heights in Midsummer Night’s Dream as ‘Oberon’. Special thanks to all his family and friends for their love and support, and to Micheal Kott for casting him in this great role.

Melanie Lamoureux (Annie Sullivan) is honored to be part of such a wonderful piece of theatre at one of her favorite theatres in Chicago!

This past spring, Melanie graduated from the Boston Conservatory with her Masters in Musical Theatre Performance. She also holds a Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Toronto. Favorite roles include Hope (Urinetown), Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors), and Jeannette Walls (The Glass Castle – an original musical using the music of Styx that she wrote as her graduate thesis project). Though she loves to be onstage, Melanie’s true passion is behind the scenes. Melanie is the Artistic Director of BAMtheatre (www. bamtheatre.com), a youth educational theatre company she founded in 2001.

During the year, she is the Theatre Director at SciTech Hands On Museum in Aurora! Lots of love to my family, friends, teachers, and students!

Bibi Lebechi (Viney) is excited to be making her JPAC debut. She has recently appeared in The Miracle Worker for Actors Factor Theatre Company’s inaugural season. She is a company member of Greenman Theater Troup, where she has appeared in Shakespeare in Hollywood and in its earlier produc4 Jedlicka Performing Arts Center

tion of The Rimers of Eldridge. Prior credits include: To Kill a Mockingbird (Stage Coach Players), Incomplete and Random Acts of Kindness (The Artistic Home Theatre and Acting Studio), and The Other Side of the Pond (Chicago ScriptWorks). Bibi has also appeared in several short films and independent projects, and is thrilled to have had a supporting role in The Lioness of Lisabi, filmed on location in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. She wishes to thank God for everything, as well as her husband and children for their endless support.

Kelly Levander (Kate) is excited to be making her Chicago theatrical debut. She recently moved to the area from the East Coast where she worked for the Virginia Stage Company.

Prior to her time at VSC, she has been seen in the New York debut of The Confessional. Select Regional credits include: The Scarlet Letter (Hester Pryne), Betrayal (Emma), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania), The Miss Firecracker Contest (Elaine) and The Glory Man (Florence Jordan). Thanks to both the cast and crew for making her first Chicago show a positive experience.

Michael Nedza (Doctor) is on faculty here at Morton College and is the JPAC’s technical director. In addition to his extensive design experience, Michael has been a regular actor here at the JPAC. Audiences have seen him most recently as Lefevre in Phantom of the Opera. Other roles include J. D. Sheldrake in Promises, Promises, Andrew Duncan (45 Seconds from Broadway) and Mr. Laurence (Little Women).

C A S T P R O F I L E S ( c o n t .)

Zack Newman (Jimmie) is very happy to be playing another tragic character at Jedlicka, where he has also appeared as Malcolm in The Muckle Man and Young Gaspard in Tale of Two Cities. His other plays include MacBeth, Cheaper by the Dozen, A Doll’s House and The Wiz. He will soon appear in his dream role as a zombie in Night of the Living Dead with Theater Hikes. When he is not acting, Zack likes to play Magic the Gathering and Warhammer and he wrestles for the Washington Jr. High team. Special thanks to his chauffeurs, also known as Mom and Dad. Ogechi Onyewuchi (Servant) is excited to be making her JPAC debut, acting alongside her mom, Bibi Lebechi. Her most recent appearance was in Promise You, a musical production at her church (Calvary Memorial in Oakpark). She has also worked with Stage Coach Players in its production of To Kill a Mockingbird. She is a ‘gifted student’ at Walt Disney Magnet School on Chicago’s north side, where she has performed in various “CAC Musicals” and class project presentations. She loves art, music, and spending time learning how to cook. She thanks Mr. Mike for the opportunity.

Katelyn Smith (Young Annie) is very excited to be back in her third show at JPAC after appearing in The Nutcracker Sings and Grey Gardens. Other favorite credits include The Philadelphia Story (Dinah Lord), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Dixie), Gypsy (Baby Louise), Peter Pan (Lost Boy Tootles) and

Wizard of Oz (Munchkin). Katelyn has also been in many shows with Circle Theatre’s Youth group. Sending big hugs and thanks to Micheal, the entire cast/crew and to all the special people in her life for their love, support and encouragement.

Eden Strong (Martha) is very excited to be working with JPAC’s production of the The Miracle Worker.

She has performed in The Chicago Landmark Project, The Iliad, Annie, Seussical, and Life During School Times. She is also a budding gymnast and alto saxophone player.

Eden has studied theatre arts at both Stagecoach and ETA theaters. She is a student at Lincoln Elementary where she’s in the 6th grade.

Juliana H. Tomecki (Sarah) is pleased to be performing at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center and would like to thank the theatre family for welcoming her. Juliana is seven years old and fairly new to the world of theatre. Most recently, Juliana completed a play entitled, Life During School Time. Aside from, The Miracle Worker, Juliana is currently working on, Dracula: The Musical and will also be appearing in an upcoming short film.

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C R E AT I V E S TA F F P R O F I L E S 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 Awardwinner 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 Award-winners 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 Award-winning 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.

Micheal Kott (Director, Multimedia/ Sound Designer) 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 scenestealing 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 Thoet for her guidance and direction. She is a wonderful director and I thank her for her knowledge.

Michael Nedza (Scenic and Properties Designer/Technical Director) has been designing throughout the Midwest for over 25 years. 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.

Joelle Beranek (Costume Designer) is happy to design another show at JPAC! She previously costume designed many shows over the last three years, including Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, Cupid and Psyche, and C opacabana. Joelle is a resident designer at Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences and has also recently costumed Raven Theatre’s The Cherry Orchard and Redtwist Theatre’s Jeff Award winning Man from Nebraska. A native Chicagoan, and graduate of Northwestern University, Joelle is most proud of her newest title: Mom.

T H E AT R E S TA F F Ushers/Concessions...................................................................................................Bob Jadach,

Margie McGowen Theatre Technical Staff.................................................................................... Arthur Stepanek,

Natalie Stepanek, Martin Vanegas, Box Office Staff................................................................................................................ Diana Visk Jedlicka Performing Arts Center 7

Continues its 2011-2012 Season!

Wait Until Dark

A Grand Night for Singing

See How They Run

What Will It Be?!

Pure Suspense October 28-November 12, 2011 In this classic Broadway thriller, a criminal targets a helpless blind housewife. But when the lights go out, who will the helpless one actually be?

Farce at it’s finest February 24-March 10, 2012 If you liked No Sex Please We’re British, you’ll love this farce chockfull of mistaken identities, vicars and of course, plenty of slamming doors!

Hit Songs January 13-28, 2012 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most glorious songs all in one beautiful production! “If I Loved You”, Shall We Dance” and many more!

April 20-May 5, 2012 Who knows which fantastic Broadway show we will get this year?! Plenty of drama, music and Boadway spectacle guaranteed!

For tickets call 708-656-1800 www.jpactheatre.com Friday and Saturday Evenings at 7:30 pm - Sunday Matinees at 3:00 pm