1776 Music & Lyrics by Sherman Edwards Book by Peter Stone
1776 America’s Prize-Winning Musical Music & Lyrics by Sherman Edwards Book by Peter Stone Based on a concept by SHERMAN EDWARDS Original Production Directed by PETER HUNT Originally Produced on the Broadway Stage by STUART OSTROW
Mad Cow Theatre Contact INFORMATION Mad Cow Theatre 54 West Church Street Second Floor Orlando, FL 32801 Mailing ADDRESS: Mad Cow Theatre P.O. Box 3109, Orlando, FL 32802-3109 BOX OFFICE: 407.297.8788 or madcowtheatre.com
1776 America’s Prize-Winning Musical Cast of Characters President........................John Hancock ............... Meghan Colleen Moroney* New Hampshire.............Dr. Josiah Bartlett........... Marjorie Tingle Massachusetts................John Adams.................. Laura Hodos* Rhode Island..................Stephen Hopkins............ Beryl Rochatka Connecticut....................Roger Sherman............. Hilda A. Cathey New York.......................Lewis Morris.................. Lauren Muller ..Robert Livingston........... Christina Griffith New Jersey.....................Rev. Johnathan Witherspoon........ Roberta Emerson Pennsylvania..................Benjamin Franklin.......... Karel K. Wright* ..John Dickinson.............. Jamie Middleton ..James Wilson................ Sarah Lockard Delaware........................Caesar Rodney.............. Julie Zimmerman ....Col. Thomas McKean..... Patti McGuire ..George Read................ Whitney Morse Maryland........................Samuel Chase............... Pilar Rehert Virginia..........................Richard Henry Lee......... SaraCatherine Barnes Thomas Jefferson........... Melissa Whitworth North Carolina...............Joseph Hewes................ Jessica Womack South Carolina...............Edward Rutledge........... Lulu Picart* Georgia...........................Dr. Lyman Hall............... Eileen Antonescu Secretary.........................Charles Thomson........... Janine Papin Custodian.......................Andrew McNair............ Jac Le Doux Abigail Adams................................................... Hannah Laird* Martha Jefferson................................................ Jennafer Newberry* A Leather Apron................................................. Rachel Whittington
A Courier....................................................Emilie Jean Scheetz
Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) founded in 1913, represents more than 49,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org
1776 America’s Prize-Winning Musical DESIGNERS Director................................................................... Mark Edward Smith Music Director ............................................................... Heather Langs Choreographer.................................................. Sara Catherine Barnes Scenic Designer............................................................ Robert F. Wolin Lighting Designer............................................................... Amy Hadley Dramaturg ...............................................................Shami McCormick Costume Designer............................................................Aubrey Hess Properties Master................................................................. Lisa Buck Sound Designer........................................................Waylon Lemasters Stage Manager................................................................ Karl Lengel* Dramaturgy Consultant ............................................ Lauryn R. Sasso
PLACE & TIME The Chamber and the Anteroom of the Continental Congress, and Thomas Jefferson’s Room, in Philadelphia; and certain reaches of John Adams’ mind. May, June and July, 1776.
1776 America’s Prize-Winning Musical PRODUCTION TEAM Assistant Production Manager................................Danielle Paccione Assistant Stage Manager...................................................Dana Huss Assistant Technical Director.....................................Waylon Lemasters Scenic Charge ......................................................................... Lisa Buck Scenic Artist......................................Angela Strauss, Rachel Whittington Lighting/Crew..................... Shennon Allen, David Clenney, Luis Garcia, ........................................ Kashime Joseph, Kyle Stefanowicz, Herb Wright
MUSICIANS Trumpet............................................................................ Kristen Duncan Flute.............................................................................Rachel Whittington Drums/percussion ............................................................ Adam Langs Electronic keyboard........................................................Heather Langs
MUSICAL NUMBERS Scene 1. The Chamber of the Continental Congress “For God’s Sake, John, Sit Down”.Adams & The Congress “Piddle, Twiddle”.....................................Adams “Till Then”............................... Adams & Abigail Scene 2. The Mall “The Lees of Old Virginia”.Lee, Franklin & Adams Scene 3. The Chamber “But, Mr. Adams —“.Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Sherman & Livingston Scene 4. Thomas Jefferson’s Room and High Street “Yours, Yours, Yours”............... Adams & Abigail “He Plays the Violin”.Martha, Franklin & Adams Scene 5. The Chamber “Cool, Cool Considerate Men”.Dickinson & The Conservatives “Momma Look Sharp”............................Courier There will be a 15-minute intermission Scene 6. A Congressional Anteroom “The Egg”................Franklin, Adams & Jefferson Scene 7. The Chamber “Molasses to Rum”............................... Rutledge “Compliments” ...................................... Abigail “Is Anybody There?.................. Adams, Franklin, ......................................Jefferson & Thompson
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS SHERMAN EDWARDS (Composer and Lyricist) Sherman Edwards was born in New York and taught American history at James Monroe High School. After earning an undergraduate degree in history at New York University, he later did graduate work in history at Cornell University. He appeared as an actor in My Sister Eileen and the Broadway revue Pins and Needles. He began working as a pianist, playing for performers Lisa Kirk, Eddie Fisher and Mindy Carson. Later, he played in the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong. In the late 1950s, he began writing popular music, including the hit songs “Broken-Hearted Melody” (lyrics by Hal David), “See You in September” (music and lyrics co-written by Sid Wayne) and “Wonderful, Wonderful” (lyrics by Ben Raleigh). 1776 (for which he won a 1969 Tony Award) was his only Broadway score. PETER STONE (Librettist) One of the most accomplished Broadway bookwriters, Stone graduated from Bard College and earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. He began writing for CBS Radio and soon moved to writing for television, including the shows Studio One, The Defenders (for which he won an Emmy Award); Asphalt Jungle and Espionage. He has written the plays Friend of the Family and Full Circle. In addition to 1776, his Broadway bookwriting credits include the musicals Kean; Skyscraper; Two by Two; Sugar; Woman of the Year (for which he won a 1981 Tony Award); My One and Only; Grand Hotel and The Will Rogers Follies (1991 Tony Award for Best Musical). Stone also wrote the screenplay for the film version of 1776. His other screenplays include Charade; Father Goose (for which he won a 1964 Academy Award); Mirage; Arabesque; Sweet Charity; The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 and Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?
Actor’s Bios EILEEN ANTONESCU (Dr. Lyman Hall) is thrilled to return to the
Mad Cow Theatre, where she last appeared in 2006 as the Nanny in Antigone, when she returned to acting after taking time out to raise her lovely daughters. This year she was blessed to have performed in The Playwrights Round Table Summer Shorts production of Shore Leave, at Osceola Arts Center as Sister Aloysius in Doubt, and at the Breakthrough Theatre as Aunt March in Little Women and the Hospice Worker in As Is. She has a reoccurring role as Ida Straus at the Titanic Gala Dinner Show on International Drive. Eileen studied acting with Sanford Meisner at New York City’s Neighborhood Playhouse. She thanks her daughters Lexi and Tiffany for all their support and love. SARA CATHERINE BARNES (Choreographer/Richard Henry Lee) is thrilled to be returning to Mad Cow for her 11th show in the pasture. Sara Catherine’s previous roles at Mad Cow include Martha in The Secret Garden, Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Jenny in Company, Gymnasia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Rose Mundy in Dancing at Lughnasa, and the tour guide in The Light in the Piazza. She also choreographed James Joyce’s The Dead and The Light in the Piazza. Other favorite roles include the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Maria in The Sound of Music, Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, Woman 2 in Songs For A New World, and Wendy Jo in the national tour of Footloose: The Musical. Sara Catherine received a bachelor of fine arts in musical theatre from the University of Central Florida Conservatory Theatre, and she heads the dance department at Celebration High School.
LISA BUCK (Properties Master) Set designs include The Road to Mecca, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, and Painting Churches (Mad Cow Theatre), Don Pasquale, Abduction from the Seraglio, and Carmina Burana with Cirque du Soleil dancers (Orlando Opera), and Madama Butterfly, II Barbiere di Siviglia, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Tosca, and The Magic Flute (Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra). Scenic charge credits include The Magic Flute (designed by Cary Wong), Later Life (directed by Martin Charnin), Sunday in the Park with George, Enchanted April, and My Name is Asher Lev. Lisa studied painting at Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, and Cobalt Studios in White Lake, NY. She has won numerous awards for her painting and has written how-to-paint articles for North Light Publications. HILDA A. CATHEY (Roger Sherman) is excited to be on stage with so many incredibly talented women. She previously appeared in the Mad Cow/OPO production of Sweeney Todd. She was last seen as Domina in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Osceola Arts. Other shows in the Central Florida area include Joseph . . . Dreamcoat; Nunsense; Nunsense II; Nuncrackers; Godspell; 1776; The Sound of Music; The Taffetas; Guys & Dolls; Two by Two; Damn Yankees; Hello, Dolly!; and Falsettos. Hilda is a proud graduate of Florida State University where she received her degree in elementary education. Much love to Rod and Lauren.
ROBERTA EMERSON (Rev. John Witherspoon) is a graduate of both the University of Minnesota with a BFA in acting and New York University with an MFA in acting. She has worked in many regional theaters around the country, performed extensive voice over and film work, and has been a teaching artist both state-side and in Europe. She is currently the theatre director at Montverde Academy and an affiliate director with CFCARTS. She is excited to be with Mad Cow for the first time on this amazing production with such strong women. CHRISTINA GRIFFITH (Robert Livingston) is thrilled to make her debut with the Mad Cow herd. Born and raised in the greater Los Angeles area, she received her bachelor of music degree from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. A few theatrical career highlights include M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias; Doris in Same Time, Next Year; Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Maria in Sound of Music; Eliza Doolitte in My Fair Lady; Lexie in Dixie Swim Club; and Claire in Proof. Her greatest role is playing the founding mother of three brilliant boys, and she is married to her favorite person, Rob. Soli Deo Gloria! AMY HADLEY (Lighting Designer) is a professional lighting designer who works with many local theaters throughout Central Florida and is the staff lighting designer for Beth Marshall Presents. She is very excited to join the creative team of 1776 which will be her second production with Mad Cow Theatre. When she is not working as a lighting designer, she serves as the technical director for the Orlando Fringe Festival.
LAURA HODOS (John Adams) is ecstatic to return to Mad Cow. Audiences may remember her as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, as Margaret in The Light in the Piazza, or from five solo shows at the Cabaret Festival. She’s a four-time Carbonell Award nominee and winner of the New Times Critic’s Choice for Best Supporting Actress of 2016. Laura just finished being a cabaret fellow with the Cabaret & Performance Conference at the O’Neill Theatre Center, after playing Abigail Adams and John Hancock in 1776 at Palm Beach Dramaworks. Other favorites include A Minister’s Wife (Gable Stage); Into the Woods (Arsht Center with Tituss Burgess); Les Misérables (Missouri Street Theatre); Blithe Spirit, Hair, Spelling Bee (American Stage); Agamemnon (Orlando Shakespeare); Streetcar (Seaside); First Date, Toxic Avenger (Actors’ Playhouse); Will Rogers Follies (Maltz Jupiter Theatre); Romance/Romance (Slow Burn); Working, She Loves Me, Into the Woods, Folies (Caldwell); Company, Zorbá, The Most Happy Fella, 1776 (Palm Beach Dramaworks); Bonnie & Clyde (Asolo Rep with Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes). www.LauraHodos.com HANNAH LAIRD (Abigail Adams) won a Drama Desk Award for her performance as Ali in the Off Broadway a cappella musical In Transit. Previously at Mad Cow she appeared as Dot in Sunday in the Park with George. Other local credits include Carousel (Carrie) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Rosemary) with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Ragtime (Mother) with Encore Cast Performing Arts. Other regional credits include The Marriage of Figaro, The Importance of Being Earnest, Much Ado About Nothing, Harry Connick Jr.’s The Happy Elf, The Secret Garden, Disney’s Finding Nemo – The Musical (original cast). She is a graduate of the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music and a proud member of AEA. Love to Mom & Dad. Jer. 29:11
HEATHER LANGS (Music Director) A professional accompanist for over 25 years, Heather divides her time among UCF; Seminole, Orange, and Osceola school districts; and choirs and theater companies throughout Central Florida. She has conducted and played over 50 musical theatre productions, most recently Avenue Q, Tommy, The Last Five Years, The Addams Family and Songs for a New World. For over 10 years, she had a successful clarinet studio that produced many top All-State performers, and she continues to help students prepare for college and graduate school auditions. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Miami University (Ohio) and a Master of Music from University of Michigan. Love to Steve, Lexi, Chase and Adam for supporting me in everything I do. JAC LE DOUX (Andrew McNair) has been entertaining audiences for over 40 years. After attending Siena Heights College in Adrian, Michigan, she appeared in over 100 productions from Michigan to Connecticut to Florida. Some of her favorite roles include Little Mary Sunshine from the musical of the same name, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Jez in A Slow Ride, Veta in Harvey, and Abigail Adams in 1776. Jac has also branched out into the directing realm. While in Connecticut, she directed Godspell, Prisoner of Second Avenue, and Deathtrap. For the past two years, she was privileged to direct shows and workshops at Long Lake Camp for the Arts in beautiful upstate New York for their summer season. Jac is overjoyed to be appearing onstage in her first Mad Cow production in the company of such amazing women.
KARL LENGEL (Stage Manager) has worked in the lively arts as a performer, manager, director, administrator, and teacher nationwide, including as a stage manager for Broadway productions of Miss Saigon and Minnelli on Minnelli, national tours of Les Miserables; Cats; Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; and Annie, and for regional productions of Shakespeare and contemporary theatre. Karl also worked with Disney in the ‘90s, including as a stage manager with the opening team of EuroDisney in 1992. When not compiling contact sheets, rehearsal schedules, and prompt scripts, he can be found with Grammy and their granddaughters Mia and Hannah. “With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?” – Oscar Wilde. SARAH LOCKARD (James Wilson) is thrilled to be back in the pasture with this amazing group of ladies. Previous Mad Cow credits include Mrs. Warren’s Profession (Vivie Warren); The Lion in Winter (Alais); Amadeus (Constanze); Major Barbara (Jenny Hill); and Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Marina). She recently returned from Seattle, where she performed in I Gelosi with Stage Right Theater and at the Bumbershoot Music Festival with Playlist Seattle. She performs regularly at Sleuth’s Mystery Dinner Shows and Voci Dance. She would like to thank her sister Bethany for singing these songs with her in the canoe, on road trips, and to annoy the rest of the family.
JAMIE MIDDLETON (John Dickinson) graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida and has been performing on stage for almost 30 years. This marks her 15th production at Mad Cow, which includes You Can’t Take It with You, Table Manners, Assassins, The Heidi Chronicles, Present Laughter, A Delicate Balance, Arcadia, Later Life, Romeo and Juliet, The Butter and Egg Man, The Life of Galileo, Anton in Show Business, The Cherry Orchard, and an actor’s nightmare weekend in Candida. She was most recently seen as Liz in The Whale at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden. She has worked as an actress for Universal Orlando since 1995 and is a former model for Walt Disney Feature Animation. She also enjoys performing voiceover work. She sends her love and gratitude to Stephen, Christian, and Ariel, who make everything possible and worthwhile. MEGHAN COLLEEN MORONEY (John Hancock) has been lucky enough to have an eclectic career featuring performances on Broadway (Mamma Mia), cruise ships (NCL, Dolphin), theme parks (Universal, Disney, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens), regional theatres, and TV (as a host for the Home Shopping Network). Favorite roles include Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit, Charlotte in A Little Night Music, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, and Madame Thenardier is Les Miserables. Recently, she was seen at the DPAC in Encore’s production of Ragtime as Emma Goldman. In the pasture of Mad Cow, she has been seen as Dolly Levi in The Matchmaker, Old Lady/Blair in Sunday in the Park with George, and Gretta in James Joyce’s The Dead. She is a proud member of Actor’s Equity and thanks you for supporting live theatre.
WHITNEY MORSE (George Read) is so excited to be back with “the herd” here at Mad Cow, where she was last seen as Hannah Jarvis in The Science Play Festival’s reading of Arcadia and as Claire Holmes in The Secret Garden. Her recent Chicago credits include Next to Normal, Other Desert Cities, The Children’s Hour, Spike Heels, Down Range, Trafford Tanzi, I Carry Your Heart, Accomplice, The Turn of the Screw, Jeeves at Sea, Unnecessary Farce, The Merchant of Venice, and Little Women. New York credits include Hold Music (Culture Project) and Love’s Labour’s Lost and Three Sisters (both directed by Andrei Serban.) Next up are Next to Normal, The Last Five Years, and Proof with The Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol’s in their inaugural season. Whitney is also the Artistic Director of The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center in The Villages, Florida. PATTI McGUIRE (Col. Thomas McKean) is happy to be in her fifth show with Mad Cow Theatre; she previously appeared as Aunt Julia in James Joyce’s The Dead, two separate productions of My Fair Lady, and in The Music Man. Patti moved to Orlando when cast as the original Iowa Housewife in Menopause The Musical. She has also appeared in shows at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, Winter Park Playhouse, SeaWorld, and Fringe Festival. Patti is the 504 Coordinator and the Speech/Debate coach at Winter Park High School. She earned her master of fine arts degree in acting from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
LAUREN MULLER (Lewis Morris) is so excited to be making her mainstage debut at Mad Cow. A native of Orlando, Lauren received her degree in theatre from Florida State University. She has previously performed in Mad Cow’s stage reading of Headstrong in the Science Play Festival. She has also had the privilege of portraying the role of Yolanda in every Central Florida production of Crowns (Wayne Densch, Cultural Fusion). She has performed with the Orlando Repertory Theatre (Busytown) and directed the Black Actors’ Guild productions of Zooman and the Sign and Ruined. Lauren can currently be seen puppeteering in various shows throughout Walt Disney World and singing at Universal Orlando. She would like to thank her family and friends for their continued support. JENNAFER NEWBERRY (Martha Jefferson) is thrilled to return to the pasture alongside such a talented cast of women. Some favorite credits include Shelley in Bat Boy: The Musical; Clara in Mad Cow’s The Light in the Piazza; the NYC Off-Broadway Production of Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?; and roles in Parade, Little Women, and Bye Bye Birdie. She can currently be seen in Finding Nemo the Musical at Walt Disney World. Occasionally you can also see her at Disney in the Hoop Dee Doo Revue and American Music Machine. Jennafer is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. She sends endless love and gratitude to her family: near and far, blood and chosen. They know who they are. Ps 63:7
JANINE PAPIN (Charles Thomson) joyfully returns to the pasture to play with the Mad Cow Theatre herd. Janine was last seen in our production of Secret Garden. She works at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, where she is the fine arts chair, auditorium manager, theatre teacher, and director. In 2006 she was awarded the H. Benton Ellis Award for excellence in teaching. She loves performing and sharing her passion for the stage with her students. Some of her favorite roles include the Mother Superior (Nunsense, Theatreworks Florida), Gertie (33 Variations, Beth Marshall Presents), Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd, Mad Cow Theatre and Theatreworks Florida), Pennywise (Urinetown, Valencia College), Mrs. Pierce (My Fair Lady, Orlando Philharmonic/Mad Cow Theatre), and Fräulein Schneider (Cabaret, Valencia College and Starlight Dinner Theater). LULU PICART (Edward Rutledge) has toured in R+H Cinderella First National Tour (Charlotte) and Listen to My Heart with David Friedman. Off-Broadway she performed in Disenchanted! (Lortel nomination) and at Mad Cow in The Drowsy Chaperone (Musical Director, Pianist) and The Orlando Cabaret Festival. Regional credits include Man of La Mancha (Aldza), Wit, Mame (Agnes Gooch, Tampa Bay Theatre Award), Rent, Hair, The Rocky Horror Show (Eddie/Dr. Scott), and How to Succeed … (with the Orlando Philharmonic). Concerts include Toxic Audio, In Transit at 54 Below, and A Tribute to David Friedman (Metropolitan Room). Film work includes Frozen (Blu-Ray special features) and Going in Style (2017). She is a Comedy Warehouse alum and co-founder and coach at www.findyourlightcoaching.org. She sends thanks and love to all her family and friends. They’re her happy. @lulupicart
PILAR REHERT (Samuel Chase) is thrilled to be making her Mad Cow debut in 1776. She is honored to be part of telling such an impactful and relevant story with such an extraordinary cast of incredible women. Recent credits include Capone’s Dinner and Show, Ursula at Titusville Playhouse, and co-composer of the Fringe Patron’s Pick show Doro & Diega. Film work includes House of Payne, Hustler the Series, and Lust. She wants to give a huge thanks to her brilliant mother for all her love and support. Thank you to Mark, Heather, and Mitzi for letting her be part of this transformative experience. As current political developments seem worrisome, the need to tell this story is only amplified. Let us remember “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” BERYL ROCHATKA (Stephen Hopkins) hails from Boston where she performed with Reagle Music Theatre. Beryl has studied at HB Studios in New York and SAK Comedy Lab here in Orlando, to name a few. She has been a SAG voice-over agent in LA, wrangled stars for six years on the Hollywood Christmas Parade, and worked on AIDS Project Los Angeles with Donna McKechnie and Julie Harris. Last seen at Mad Cow in The Music Man with the Orlando Philharmonic, her other roles include Mrs. Lovett in Sweeny Todd, Dolly in Hello Dolly, Mama Morton in Chicago, and the Queen of the Snowflakes in Mickey’s Nutcracker at Disneyland. Beryl can be heard working her improv at Universal Orlando as The Mystic Fountain.
EMILIE JEAN SCHEETZ (A Courier) is ecstatic to be making her Mad Cow debut. A junior at Windermere Preparatory School, her past roles include Susan in Tick, Tick ... Boom!, Pennywise in Urinetown, and Drowsy in The Drowsy Chaperone at Dr. Phillips High School. She has also played Fiona in Shrek the Musical at Windermere Prep and Liza in Peter Pan at the Garden Theatre. She would like to thank “the herd” for this amazing opportunity and her mom and dad for always supporting her. YouTube.com/user/EmmyShines MARK EDWARD SMITH (Director) is happy to have been a part of the herd for the past 19 years, beginning with our inaugural season production of Blithe Spirit. Recent directing credits include The Big Meal, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Art, My Name Is Asher Lev, The History Boys, and James Joyce’s The Dead for Mad Cow Theatre and The Tricky Part for the Orlando Fringe. Favorite directing projects elsewhere include The Triumph of Love, Boy Gets Girl, and A Doll’s House. As an actor, Mark has been seen in more than a dozen Mad Cow productions, including season 18’s acclaimed engagement of Tribes. MARJORIE TINGLE (Dr. Josiah Barlett) Mesiner-trained actress Marjorie Tingle has performed in several repertory theatres throughout Central Florida, such as the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. Born and raised in NYC, Marjorie has been cast in numerous independent films. Her most recent short “Protection” won for Best Short Drama at the Orlando Urban Film Festival. She was given the lead role as detective in Mistakeout which was selected in the Orlando 48 Hour Film Project. Marjorie has trained with several talented and brilliant directors in the industry. Currently she has been in training with Mr. Ken Eulo, the founder of the NYC Acting Ensemble. Her greatest blessings are her three beautiful children. Marjorie’s life long dream is to return to NYC to perform on Broadway.
RACHEL WHITTINGTON (A Leather Apron) is thrilled to back with the Herd. Rachel is an Elon University graduate. She was featured in several operas with the Opera Academy of California, led by Metropolitan Opera director Yefim Maizel. In 2012, she performed with multi-platinum singer/songwriter Ben Folds. Central Florida credits include Gypsy (Louise), Into the Woods (Rapunzel), The Secret Garden (Alice), James Joyce’s The Dead, Equus, and The Philadelphia Story. Other credits include The Music Man (featured/understudy Marian), Don Giovanni, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Gianni Schicchi (understudy Lauretta). Rachel would like to thank her family, friends, and everyone who chooses live theatre for making her dream job a reality. MELISSA WHITWORTH (Thomas Jefferson) is thrilled to be returning to Mad Cow Theatre after appearing in It Was a Very Good Year as part of the Orlando Cabaret Festival for the past two years. Mel graduated in 2013 from the Florida State University College of Music and currently works as an actor for Universal Studios with witches, robots, spinach, and a capella singers. Recent credits include the title role in the Florida premier of Mary Poppins, Princess Fiona in Shrek, Cindy in SUDS, and Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein. Upcoming engagements include Another Night Before Christmas at the Broadway Palm and a tribute show to the Carpenters at Theatre Winter Haven. “Where there is gratitude, there is no fear.”
ROBERT F. WOLIN (Scenic Designer) is pleased to return to the herd at Mad Cow Theatre having last designed Avenue Q and My Name is Asher Lev. His career spans several decades and includes design work Off Broadway for An Evening with Quentin Crisp, Queen of Hearts, and several productions for The Glines; as an assistant designer on Broadway with Young Frankenstein, The Producers, Flower Drum Song, Never Gonna Dance with Robin Wagner, Liza’s at the Palace with Ray Klausen; and designing at numerous regional theatres for King Lear, Cinderella, Comedy of Errors, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Cymbeline (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), I and You (Arts Garage), Clark Gable Slept Here (World Premiere, Zoetic Stage), Master Class, The Importance of Being Earnest, I Am My Own Wife (Gulfshore Playhouse), Educating Rita, and God of Carnage (Florida Repertory Theatre) among many, many others. Other designs include live-action shows for Hersheypark and Hershey Lodge and as a freelance art director for MTV Networks special events. www.RFWolin.com JESSICA WOMACK (Joseph Hewes) is excited to make her Orlando debut in such an innovative version of 1776. She graduated from East Tennessee State University with a B.A. in theatre and a minor in dance. Jessica interned at The Jewish Ensemble Theatre in Michigan, where she became a part of the Equity Membership Candidate program performing in 4000 Miles. She most recently starred in two of The Jewish Ensemble Theatre’s anti-bullying Detroit outreach shows: Mean Girls and I was Just Kidding. Jessica would like to thank her friends, family and boyfriend for all their love
KAREL K. WRIGHT (Benjamin Franklin) is thrilled to be back in the pasture as Ben Franklin. Previous roles at Mad Cow include Aunt Kate in James Joyce’s The Dead, Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Ruth Steiner in Collected Stories, Mrs. Graves in Enchanted April, Mrs. Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer, and Lavinia in The Heiress. Some of Karel’s favorite regional credits include Mattie Fae in August: Osage County; Claire Castle in Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun; and Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit. Karel is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and received her BFA from the University of Minnesota and MFA from the University of Illinois with additional training at The American Conservatory of Theatre in San Francisco. JULIE ZIMMERMAN (Caesar Rodney) Manufactured in Sandusky, Ohio, circa the late 1950s, Julie Zimmerman feels completely at home in the pastures of Mad Cow. Zimmerman began her career in musical theater, but after moving to Los Angeles at the tender age of 20, she found herself working at the Comedy Store as an improvisational comedian. A member of the long-running improvisational comedy group Off the Wall, she worked with the illustrious Robin Williams; John Ritter; Andy Goldberg; and Kenny Levine, the Emmy Award-winning comedy series writer of M*A*S*H, Cheers, The Simpsons, and Frasier. Her 19-year-old daughter Olivia wants you to know her mother worked for Universal Studios Hollywood and Florida for 15 years and is the creator of Halloween Horror Nights.
Mad Cow Theatre is celebrating its 20th season as one of Orlando’s most respected professional theatre companies, committed to presenting compelling works of theatre for a wide range of audiences, with a passion for both classic and contemporary plays representing the best of American and world literature. Mad Cow Theatre attracts the area’s most talented and actors, designers, and directors. A mainstay of the company is its dedication to the process of creating theatre, incorporating in-depth rehearsal and research periods along with a nurturing collaborative process. The company’s awards include Arts Innovator of the Year (United Arts of Central Florida), “Best Place to See a Play” (Orlando Sentinel), “Best Live Theatre” (Orlando Weekly), “Best Local Theatre Company” (Orlando Magazine), and “Best Performance Theatre” (Orlando Business Journal).
SPECIAL THANKS TO The City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer & City Council Downtown Development Board Community Redevelopment Agency
MAD COW MISSION STATEMENT: Mad Cow Theatre was founded on the belief that the theatre is a dynamic and powerful means of social understanding, as well as a hugely entertaining art form. Through the combination of passionate, skillful acting and compelling, insightful writing, nurtured by an attentive and ever-changing process, Mad Cow presents entertaining works of theatre to an ever-widening audience — promoting, enhancing and celebrating the human condition through art. Mad Cow Theatre is supported in part with public funds from the United Arts campaign and by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, the Florida Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Downtown Development Board, and Orange County through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program. A great nation deserves great art! Mad Cow is a 501(c)(3) organization and welcomes all donations including funds, materials, time and good will. We are especially delighted when audience members bring others to share the theatrical experience. Mad Cow Theatre was founded on the belief that the theatre is a dynamic and powerful means of social understanding, as well as a hugely entertaining art form.
Acknowledgements Mad Cow Theatre has forged many alliances and made many friends. This endeavor would not be possible without the generous spirit, passion and good will of the following individuals and organizations. 3cStudios
Holland & Knight
55 West
Holland & Reilly
L2 Studios, Inc.
Philip King
Zac Alfson
Bill & Claudia Lefkowitz
Asolo Repertory Theatre
Orange County Arts and Culture
Church Street District
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
The City of Orlando
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
DirectOne
Orlando Shakespeare Theater
Doubletree by Hilton Orlando Downtown
The Russian Ballet of Orlando
Dr. Phillips Center for the
Tom Hurst Photography
Performing Arts Downtown Development Board Jennifer Greenhill-Taylor and Joseph Hayes
Seminole State College
Valencia College Jonathan White All the cows in the pasture!
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Accessibility Statement In order to meet its values of diversity and inclusiveness, Mad Cow Theatre is committed to making its theatre and productions accessible to all, including wheelchair access and large format programs. Our box office is always available to accomodate guest’s individual needs. Call 407.297.8788