Production Staff Bios

Mr. Andrew Bevilacqua (Stage Crew Moderator) is happy to be involved in his fifth show at Gonzaga. A member of Gonzaga’s English Department, Mr. Bev has served as the GDA’s Stage Crew Moderator for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Into the Woods, Almost, Maine, and Gonzaga’s Bicentennial Celebration. Last year, Mr. Bev appeared on the Gonzaga stage as Detective/Dr. MacLean in Murder at the Limbic Center during Gonzaga’s Festival of OneAct Plays. (Special thanks to John Jerro for casting him!) He’s proud of the student cast and crew members for all their hard work in making this show so special and awesome. He would like to thank the GDA adult staff members -- especially the awesome Ms. Menconi, as his often-repeated description of their work together is: “Ms. Menconi is the brains, and I am the Bev.” Live long and prosper!

Mr. Paul Buckley ‘86, HoF ‘16 (Producer/GDA Moderator) has been involved in about 60 productions over the years, but this is the first musical he has done with both his son and daughter in the production. And presumably it will be the only one, so he is enjoying the moment. He thanks his stellar production team, the seniors for their talent and steadfastness over the years, and Monica and Gabe for keeping the house afloat while the three of us have been away. He hopes you have fun tonight.

Ms. Marika Countouris (Music Supervisor - she/her) has worked on the music team for the musicals at the GDA for 8 years! Some of her credits include: WOOLLY MAMMOTH: A Strange Loop (Pre-Broadway Run); ARENA STAGE: Ride the Cyclone; FORD’S: Grace (World Premiere);

SIGNATURE: The Color Purple; FLYING V: We’re Gonna Die (Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Music Direction); GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS: Godspell; CONSTELLATION: The Last Five Years; MONUMENTAL: tick,tick…BOOM! (Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Music Direction), Songs for a New World, Head Over Heels, Be More Chill, Daddy Long Legs, and Brooklyn; NEXTSTOP: Beehive; LEVINE MUSIC THEATRE: Matilda; CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY: 9 to 5. She holds a BM in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America and serves as Vocal Instructor & Area Accompanist for Howard University’s BFA Musical Theatre Program. NEXT UP: Passing Strange at Signature.

Mr. Andrew Curtin ‘01, HoF ‘15 (Director) couldn’t be more proud of the entire company working on The Addams Family and is thrilled to be working on another Gonzaga musical, 25 years after his first one (The Pajama Game, 1998). He has spent the last 17 years teaching theater and social studies at Park View High School in Sterling and Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, and is in his first year of service here in the social studies department on Eye Street. He would like to thank the GDA for welcoming him back with open arms, the Addams cast, crew, orchestra, and staff for their tireless efforts, especially Ms. Kate Griffith, without whose wearing of many, many hats this production would not have been half as creepy, kooky, mysterious OR spooky. Lastly, and most importantly, a very special thanks to his wife Anna and son Brennan for their unwaivering support and understanding of the completely unreasonable demands of a life of musical theatre!

Mrs. Meghan Goldsmith, HoF ‘18 (Producer) is in her 22nd season as a member of the production staff. Memorable shows include Singin’ in the Rain, Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me, Kate, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast and The Laramie Project. Thank you to Paul, Andrew, Kate, Marika, Sarah, Lucia, Kimberly, Sophia and Bev for being wonderful colleagues and creators. Congratulations to the cast and crew, especially the seniors, on all your hard work in putting this show togther. Welcome to all of the students (and parents!) for whom this is their first GDA show - we’re so happy you’re here with us. Love and thanks to her amazing husband Dan, and to Matt, Katie and Emmy for graciously sharing Mommy with the big kids.

Ms. Kate Griffith (Assistant Director) is so proud of the cast and crew for their work on another incredible production! She is continually grateful for the production team: Paul, Meghan, Sophia, Bev, Sarah Frances, Marika, Kimberly, and especially her directing partner, Andrew. Memorable directing credits include: The Curious Incident…, Into the Woods, Matilda The Musical, and Death She has a Masters in Theatre Education and has been directing, producing, and teaching drama for the past decade. She also tap dances, moderates Gonzaga’s Improv Club “No Boys Allowed,” and teaches Geometry at Gonzaga.

Ms. Lucia LaNave (Music Director) is a music director and pianist based in VA, and is an active member of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). Recent credits: “Kinky Boots” (Sub. Keys 2, Olney Theatre Center); “Bat Boy” (Music Director, American University); “‘The Hello Girls,’ ‘Urinetown,’” “As You Like It” (Music Director, The Theatre Lab); “Bright Star” (Music Director, Levine Music Theatre); “Lucky Stiff” (Music Director, Nextstop Theatre Company); “The Christmas Angel” (Music Director, Creative Cauldron); “Little Shop of Horrors” (Assistant Music Director, Constellation Theatre Company). Along with her production work, she has participated in several new musical workshops: “Inside My Head,” written and composed by Zak Sandler (Music Director, The REACH at the Kennedy Center); “Vanishing Girl,” composed by Bill Yanesh and written by Hope Villenueva (Rehearsal pianist, Flying V Theatre). She has had the pleasure of working with Broadway talents, including accompanying Lisa Howard (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) in concert. She teaches voice and piano for both Metropolitan Studio of the Arts and Blue Feather Music, and accompanies for the musical theatre program at American University. She is a judge for the Virginia High School League (VHSL) One-Act Theatre Competition.

Ms. Sophia Menconi (Technical Director) is thrilled to welcome audiences to The Addams Family, her fifth show with the GDA and third as Technical Director. This is the most technically complex show she has overseen with the GDA, and none of this would have been possible without the stage crew’s senior leaders: Anthony, August, Dan, and Patrick. Thank you to Bev, Cisco, and Kate, who went above and beyond while supervising and supporting the stage crew. Thank you to Andrew, Meghan, and Paul for putting this whole production together. Finally, she would like to thank her partner Sam who always had a warm dinner ready for her at home!

Mrs. Kimberly Notarianni (Costumer) is in her 7th season as costumer for the GDA and is thrilled to be part of the production staff since 2019. Mom of Spencer (‘17) and Maddie Rose (SR ‘19) she has been costuming the GDA since Mr. Buckley roped her in immediately after chairing Gonzaga’s 35th Anniversary Gala in December of 2016. “Mrs. Noti” has one cardinal rule: Thou shall not eat in costume -- and she always has a secret candy stash in the cage. She promises that all performers will learn how to properly hang up a pair of pants by the end of their GDA career, and she never misses an opportunity to add a little sparkle or sequin to each show. A special shout out to Dr. Noti for his patience with late theater nights, hot glue guns, stray rhinestones, and musical theater playlists!

Ms. Sarah Frances Hope Williams (Choreographer) is in her 9th year with the GDA. Sarah Frances is an actor, choreographer and teaching artist in the DMV. She graduated from The Catholic University of America Department of Musical Theatre. Previous GDA shows are Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, Footloose, Fiddler on the Roof and Hairspray. Previous performing credits include Beauty and the Beast, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Saturday Night Fever, Urinetown and more. Sarah Frances is the Department Chair for Levine Music Theatre at the Levine School of Music. For Mom and Dad always.