Launch 2021 Program

O T T E R B E I N T H E AT R E & D A N C E and

D E PA R T M E N T O F M U S I C present

Directed by THOM CHRISTOPHER WARREN Musical Direction by LORI KAY HARVEY

Choreography by STELLA HIATT KANE

Lighting Design by GABE WHITNACK

Sound Design by DOC DAVIS Stage Managed by JULIA KELLEY

December 5, 2021 - 2:00pm Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., Westerville

THE LAUNCH: A SENIOR CABARET Featuring the BFA Acting & Musical Theatre Class of 2022 Ava Arkin Aidan Behrens Stephen Blauch Holden Boger Lindsay Cernek Amelias Elias Ryan Esparza

Hannah Rose Line Abby Messina Brooke Nagel Chase Pittman Logan Reeder Will Anthony Sagers Sarah Simmons accompanied by Lori Kay Harvey, piano

“The ‘Bein Bunch”......................................................................................The Class of 2021 Original Music by Frank De Vol, Lyrics by Sherwood Schwartz Parody Lyrics by Andrew Lippa

“Happiness” from You Go On...................................................................................... Trevin Music and Lyrics by Matthew Gittins Matthew Gittins, Guitar

Homework Horrors..................................................................................... Madeleine Norton Music: “Whipped Cream” by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

Unbearable Hotness............................................................................................................ Evan

By Gabriel Davis Music: “Revelations” by Tristan Barton

By the Water..................................................................................................................... Marin

By Sharyn Rothstein Music: “Horizon” by Cloud Cover

“Title of Launch” a parody of Title of Show.......Grace, Emma Kate, Cameron, & Hannah Original Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen, Book by Hunter Bell Script adapted by Grace Dillon

“Secondary Characters” from Title of Show.......................................Emma Kate & Grace Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen, Book by Hunter Bell

Radium Girls..........................................................................Anna with Desmond & Marin

By D.W. Gregory Music: “Corals Uner the Sun” by Sivan Talmor

Munch!.......................................................................................................................Desmond Music from “Modern Times” by Charlie Chaplin Arranged & Orchestrated by David Roskin & Edward Powell, Conducted by Alfred Newman

THE LAUNCH: A SENIOR CABARET “Changing My Major” from Fun Home....................................................................Hannah

Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Lisa Kron

As You Like It................................................................. Madeleine VanRiper & Emma Lou

By William Shakespeare

“Everything Else” from Next to Normal................................................ Madeleine Norton Music by Tom Kitt, Lyrics by Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey

“Thank You For Asking”................................................................................................. Evan

By Foy Vance Lydia Namakydoost, Bass

Smoke on the Mountain.....................................................................................................Grace

By Connie Ray & Alan Bailey

Peter and the Starcatcher.................................................................................. Trevin & Anna

By Rick Elice Music: “Arrow Flies” (Instrumental Version) by Paper Planes

“Master Harold”... and the Boys................................................................................Desmond

By Athol Fugard Music: “Pilgrim” by Some Were At Sea

Stupid Fuc*ing Bird........................................................................................ Marin & Lauren

By Aaron Posner Music: “At Peace” by Roman P

2.5............................................................................................................................ Emma Lou

By Lisa Cron Music: “Things We Wouldn’t Say” by Michael FK

Cowboy Mouth........................................................................................Madeleine VanRiper

By Sam Shepard & Patti Smith Music: “Metamorphosis” by Ian Post

“My New Philosophy” from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown..............Hannah & Ben Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa

“Someone To Fall Back On” .............................................................................. Emma Kate

By Jason Robert Brown

Intro and Testimonial music: “Helation” by Evolv

THE CLASS OF 2022

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Ava Arkin Previous Otterbein production highlights include The Pajama Game (Mae), The Tempest (Prospera), and Chicago (June). Ava is incredibly grateful for her time here at Otterbein, not just in shows, but also as she found more of herself. She would like to thank Thom, Stella, LK, Lenny, and Melissa for pushing her as an artist and believing in her as a human.

She would also like to thank Sara Fishburn for helping her gain confidence in her voice; Emily Glinski for bringing more Brooklyn to Westerville; Christeen Stridsberg for always making time to go get coffee; and Coach for his generous support and mentorship. Finally, Ava would not be here today if it were not for her classmates to whom she wishes the best; her friends who have helped her up every time she has been knocked down; and her family who has always shown her nothing but love and encouragement. Ava is thrilled to be launched back to her home to join Stephanie Klapper Casting next semester and awaits what the future holds for her.

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Aidan Behrens is a BFA Acting Major from Powell, OH. Recent acting projects include The Tempest (Caliban) and Seascape (Charlie). I also recently directed a production of Endgame by Samuel Becket, but if you wanted to know that you could just look at my resume. There have been plenty of bios that have detailed the work I have done, but I’d like to take this chance to thank the people who supported me in doing that work.

To the men of Sigma Delta Phi, thank you for teaching me the principles that have made me a better person. We made it. I love you more than words can say. Melissa, thank you for introducing me to directing and for encouraging me to keep studying it. It has become some of my favorite work that I have done in school and inspired me to follow that path as I leave school. Coach, you have been one of the best advisors and mentors a young actor could ask for. Thank you for your unyielding support and your trust in my work. Jake, thank you for always having an open ear and an open heart for all of my problems. I am so happy that we have remained friends all these years later. Rowan, you are a star and the best sister anyone could ask for. Keep reaching for new heights and never stop believing in yourself. Kellan, you have never ceased to make me laugh and watching you grow as a human has been incredible. Truly the best younger brother anyone could ask for. Keep being you. Jordan and Bia, woof woof bark bark. Good girl. Good boy. Mom and Dad, we did it. We made it through college. All of those ups and downs throughout the past four years and here we are at the finish line looking forward to what lies ahead. I can never thank you enough for being my parents. You’re incredible human beings who have taught me so much. I love you. Here’s to the future!

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Stephen Blauch is a senior Musical Theatre and Sociology double major.

His past credits include Dennis Sanders in Smoke on the Mountain, Mike in The Theory of Relativity, and Rowley in The School for Scandal. In addition to this, his original music could be heard in Otterbein’s productions of The Tempest and An Enemy of the People. Next semester, Stephen will be in New York City interning with Neil Bartram, the composer and lyricist of shows including The Theory of Relativity and The Story of My Life. He would like to thank his friends and family for continually supporting him throughout the years. Enjoy the show!

THE CLASS OF 2022 Holden Boger is an Acting major at Otterbein. He has performed in The School for Scandal and Guys and Dolls on the Cowan Stage ... but I’m actually his bio writer. Holden finally gave me a chance to talk about myself instead of his “career” so, here we go... My name is James Erikson, but I like to go by Jimmy. I’m originally from Sydney, Australia and I›ve been a professional bio writer for 13 years now. Holden was one of my early clients, but I’ve written for worldwide names like Nicholas Cage and Pat Sajak, so I’m pretty famous in the bio business. I like to read and go on hikes with my wife and our 7-year-old Balthazar, and I’m also pretty into gaming. You can find me on twitch @JimboEriksonGames. Also, I guess Holden wanted me to thank his loved ones for all their support.... I got no support but thanks for helping him I guess ... anyway thanks for reading about me for once.

Goodbye and enjoy the show! ~Sincerely, Jimmy

Lindsay Cernek is a senior BFA Acting major with a minor in English Literary Studies from Naperville, IL. Her favorite past Otterbein credits include Ariel in The Tempest, Alison in Fun Home, and Miss Barley and Phoebe U/S in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Lindsay looks forward to moving to Los Angeles next semester to intern at RPM Talent Agency. She would like to thank her parents for always believing in her!

IG: @lindsaycernek

Amelia Elias is a BFA Musical Theater major with a Dance minor from Culpeper, VA. Some of her favorite Otterbein credits include A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Phoebe D’Ysquith), The Theory of Relativity (Mira), Chicago (Liz), and Singin’ In the Rain (Kathy Selden U/S, Ensemble).

Amelia is extremely excited to be moving to New York in January where she will be interning with The Growing Studio. She would like to thank her family for their support since day one, Sara for always sending inspirational quotes at the perfect time, Lori Kay for being her “cool Ohio mom,” Stella and Emily for always believing in her as a dancer and choreographer, and every other faculty member for their guidance. Of course, she couldn’t end her bio without also thanking Bradford, Ryan, Hannah, and Rachel--she is so thankful for all of you.

Ryan Esparza is a high- class, Tex-Mex diva from Houston, Texas. Some of his credits include, The D’ysquith Family (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), Adam (The Theory of Relativity), Mary Sunshine U/S (Chicago) and Sebastian (The Tempest). He would like to thank his Family (Mom, Dad, Morgan, Trey, and Aaron) for always supporting him and encouraging his outrageous personality, his best friends (Hannah, Rachel, and Amelia) for keeping him sane and Thom, Stella, Lori- Kay, Melissa, Melinda, Sara and Emily Glinski for helping shape the performer he is today. He couldn’t do it without any of you. Also, for Aaron, OORAH!

THE CLASS OF 2022

Hannah Rose Line is so excited to be performing in the Senior Launch.

She has had such an amazing experience at Otterbein the past four years.

Her time has been spent well, making lifelong friends and doing what she loves. She wants to thank her professors for always being encouraging, especially Melissa Lusher who is basically her second mother. She wants to thank her family for their unconditional love and support and her friends for always being there no matter what. Hannah is ready to take New York City by storm with the Class of 2022 and she knows that they will all do amazing things.

Abby Messina is a BFA Acting major with a second focus in Directing, and she is so excited to share her last performance on the Otterbein stage with you! This Westerville native has been seen in a variety of Otterbein shows, including A Lie of the Mind (Beth), Radium Girls (Irene/Wiley), An Enemy of the People (Dr. Stockmann), The Tempest (Gonzala, Prospera & Miranda U/S), and Hay Fever (Jackie U/S, performed). She has directed God of Carnage and Rapture, Blister, Burn as student directing pieces at Otterbein as well. She will be moving to New York City in January for an internship with The Growing Studio. She would like to thank her friends, the faculty, and of course, her parents, for their unwavering support of her theatrical career both in and outside of school. She will miss working at the Box Office, all of the amazing student-led work, and the awesome training she has received here, but she›s excited to see what NYC and the future have in store for her!

Brooke Nagel is completing her college education at Otterbein University (2022) with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Some recent credits include A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Sibella), Fun Home (Little Allison/ Joan), and The Theory of Relativity (Julie). Brooke has been performing since she was eight and has gained experience in other areas of theatre since coming to college. She directed excerpts from Hand to God by Robert Askins along with composing music for a devised musical based on The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. She loves to meet new people and do wheel-thrown ceramics. She will never say “no” to meeting someone’s pet, and she will become your best friend if you offer her cheese or chocolate.

Chase Pittman is a senior Acting major from Jacksonville Florida. He is thankful to have the opportunity to be back on the Cowan stage. He would like to thank Thumb (aka Thom), Coach, LK, Stella, and the entire class of 2022 for their love and support.

THE CLASS OF 2022 Logan Reeder is a Musical Theatre major and Dance minor from Pensacola, Florida. Her previous Otterbein credits include The Tempest (Antonia), Radium Girls (performed as U/S Grace, performed as U/S Mrs. Roeder), The Theory of Relativity (Jenny), The School for Scandal (Maria), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Ensemble/Dance Captain/Dialect Captain), Singin’ in the Rain (Ensemble/Performed as swing for Assist. Director #2) and The Bald Soprano workshop (Mrs. Smith). She is also a member of Mainstage Improv at Logan Reeder Otterbein (Go Musty Chud!). Logan has worked with 11th Hour Theatre Company to create/choreograph The Pod in Festival 2021, and co-create/choreograph/direct the dance concert As I See It with Amelia Elias this fall. For the last two years, Logan has served as the Facebook Social Media Assistant for Otterbein Theatre and Dance and, this fall, she also worked as a social media intern for The Ohio Prison Arts Connection. This spring, Logan will be interning with The Growing Studio in NYC. She would like to thank her family and her many mentors at Otterbein, especially Thom and Elizabeth, for their generous support and guidance. Logan would also like to thank all of her friends for the unwavering love they have given her at school. She is excited to be a part of the next generation of artists taking the stage. Instagram: @slo.reeder

Will Anthony Saygers is very excited to perform with his classmates for the last time on Otterbein’s stage. He’s a bit too nostalgic to write anything funny so he would appreciate a forced but hearty chuckle after finishing this sentence. He looks back fondly on the roles he played here: Monty in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, himself in Into A Lamplit Room, Ryan in The Theory of Relativity, and more. He’d like to thank his ever-supportive family, including but not limited to, his mom and aunt for moving close by and seeing all his shows; his loving but honest FGF; Kip and Stella Kane for always giving him a laugh; every single professor for teaching him so much about theater and life; and, most importantly, his beautiful class for filling the last 4 years with joy, laughter, and friendship. c:::::::!

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Sarah Simmons is a senior BFA Acting major and is so excited to perform for the last time on the Cowan stage. She has thoroughly enjoyed her four years at Otterbein despite some difficult times here and there. She would love to thank her professors, classmates, friends, and family for supporting her. Sarah would especially like to thank her voice teacher, Keyona Willis, for always being someone Sarah could count on.

J

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PRODUCTION STAFF

Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance...................................................................T. J. Gerckens Chair, Department of Music............................................................................................Nick Ross Managing Director...........................................................................................Elizabeth Saltzgiver Production Manager.................................................................................................Brian Sekinger Lighting & Sound Supervisor....................................................................................Doc Davis

BIOGRAPHIES T.J. Gerckens (Chair, Producing Artistic Director, Lighting Advisor) is the lighting design faculty member at Otterbein University, a USA829 Union Lighting Designer, and proud Otterbein alumnus. At Otterbein, he has designed the lighting for Chicago, Snoopy!!!, Oklahoma!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Diary of Anne Frank, Adding Machine: A Musical, Damn Yankees, Dance 2016: The Goddess, The Crucible, Fiddler on the Roof, Dance 2015: Famously Yours...Forever, Dance 2014: Tell-Tale Poe, and Into the Woods. As a freelance lighting designer, T.J. has been part of the design team for the Tony Award winner and MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Mary Zimmerman for the last 27 years. Most recently, he designed lighting for the world premiere of the opera Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl and Matthew Aucoin at the L.A. Opera in co-production with the Metropolitan Opera, The Music Man at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Mary Zimmerman’s world premiere of The Steadfast Tin Soldier at Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre, last year’s revival of Metamorphoses at the Guthrie Theatre and Berkeley Rep, and Rusalka at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. Other notable designs include The Odyssey at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Wonderful Town at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Guys & Dolls in L.A., and Treasure Island at the Lookingglass Theatre and Berkeley Rep. His lighting designs have been seen at regional theatres across the United States, on and off Broadway, and at the Metropolitan Opera. Internationally, he has designed in England, Australia, and at the LaScala Opera House in Milan, Italy.

He has received numerous awards for his designs including New York’s Drama Desk Award and Lortel Awards for his lighting of Metamorphoses on and off Broadway, Jefferson Awards for The Odyssey and Metamorphoses in Chicago, and an award for “Exemplifying the Art of Collaboration” given to the Zimmerman design team by Entertainment Design Magazine. You can see his designs for Lucia di Lammermoor and La Sonnambula on DVDs released by the Metropolitan Opera. T.J. holds a BFA from Otterbein University and an MFA from Boston University. He is married to set designer, scenic artist, and Otterbein adjunct instructor Stephanie R. Gerckens.

Thom Christopher Warren (Director) is currently in his fourth academic year at Otterbein, having come directly from the Broadway production of Disney’s The Lion King. During his short time at Otterbein, Thom has directed Thoroughly Modern Millie, Big Fish, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and classroom projects of Sweeney Todd, The Toxic Avenger, Title of Show, and the past three seasons’ Launch performances. Thom will be directing Into a Lamplit Room: The Songs of Kurt Weill in the spring. Broadway/Regional favorites include: the Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress, Peter and the Starcatcher at Theatre Aspen, the world premieres of Bruce Sussman and Barry Manilow’s Harmony at La Jolla, and Babes in Arms at the Guthrie, and more recently Dan in Next to Normal and Harold Hill in The Music Man at the Porthouse Theatre, Tateh in Ragtime at Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre and, more locally, Albin/Zaza in La Cage Aux Folles and Charles/ Berthe in Pippin at the Short North Stage. Many thanks to LK and Stella, and of course the extraordinary class of 2021!

BIOGRAPHIES Lori Kay Harvey (Music Director) is in her 14th year as a member of the musical theatre faculty at Otterbein. She has music directed over 35 shows in central Ohio and throughout the US and has performed extensively as an actor/ singer/ dancer on both national and international tours and in numerous regional theatres. Recent Otterbein credits include Chicago, Singin’ in the Rain, Big Fish, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Adding Machine: A Musical, Damn Yankees and The Addams Family. Tour credits: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease. Regional: Next to Normal, Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll and Hyde, The Taffetas, Camelot, The Who’s Tommy, Damn Yankees, Brigadoon, Carousel, The Desert Song and The Good War. Concert credits: Soprano soloist - Bernstein’s West Side Story with Maestro Peter Stafford Wilson and the Springfield and Westerville Symphonies, Soprano soloist - Weathervane Playhouse New Year’s Eve Gala with Maestro Russ Mikkelson and the Newark-Granville Symphony, Soprano soloist - Excerpts from Claudel - CDT @ 20, Mozart “Requiem” with The National Chorale (Avery Fisher Hall), Puttin’ On the Ritz with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra (Carnegie Hall and recorded on TELARC label), and The Magical Music of Disney (Cincinnati Music Hall and Circle Theatre, IN, recorded on TELARC label and GRAMMY- nominated). Television credits: Sex in the City, Guiding Light, Mel Torme’s Christmas Special, and various commercials and industrials. Education: BS in Voice Performance and Theatre from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Member of Actor’s Equity Association. Lori Kay and her husband, TJ, live in Galena with their 2 children, Macrae (8) and Clara (5). Best Wishes, Seniors!

Stella Hiatt Kane (Choreographer) is the Director of Musical Theatre and Director of Dance at Otterbein University, and the founding Artistic Director of JazzMet. Ms. Kane has been a member of the national companies of “Sugar” and Bob Fosses’ “Dancin’” and a member of the national and international companies of The American Dance Machine. She has made television appearances in productions such as PBS’ “Dance in America” and “The Ann Reinking Special” with Ann Reinking, Chita Rivera and Ben Vereen. Ms. Kane has taught for New York’s American Dance Machine/Harkness House and the Actors’ and Directors’ Lab. She has been a visiting guest artist/teacher at several universities including The Ohio State University and New York University and has been a master teacher in residence at the Northern Ballet Theatre in Leeds, England. She has also been a guest choreographer for BalletMet and Columbus Dance Theatre, including the world premiere of Women Leading. Her most current Otterbein collaborations have included Chicago, Singin’ In the Rain, Big Fish, Damn Yankees, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Oklahoma!. Additionally, she has directed and choreographed the recent Otterbein University productions of The Wild Within, Move Me, Gloriously Grimm and Together Again.

Doc Davis (Sound Designer/Lighting and Sound Supervisor) was born and raised in Pearl, MS. After receiving a BA in Theatre from Belhaven University, he continued his education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While completing his MFA in Sound Design, he worked as a sound engineer at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, assisting such acts as Mark Morris Dance Company, The National, Derek Trucks Band, Keb’ Mo’, Ralph Lemon Dance Company, and more. After receiving his MFA, he acted as a Mastering Engineer, Sound Designer, A1, Location Recordist, Video Designer, and ReRecording Mixer for various theaters, companies, and films. Since moving to Columbus, OH, Davis has worked at Otterbein University as Lighting and Sound Supervisor and Events Coordinator. He continues to design and mix shows many times a year and especially loves sharing his approach to Audio Engineering and Sound Design with students of all ages!

BIOGRAPHIES

Kristen Cooperkline (Production Manager) joined the Otterbein family in 2013. She was raised in Columbus and earned her Bachelor of Arts in History/Theatre from the College of Wooster and her Master of Arts in American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University. She then received her MFA in Stage Management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her Illinois credits include Macbeth, La Calisto, Battle of Angels, February Dance, and Our Town. Following her time at Illinois, Kristen served as the Event Coordinator for the first-ever American College Dance Festival Association South Regional Conference as well as a stage manager for Bebe Miller Company. She returned to the University of Illinois in 2016 to guest stage manage February 2016, featuring the premiere of American choreographer/director Ping Chong’s piece Baldwin/NOW.

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