Directed by LENNY LEIBOWITZ
Musical Direction by Choreography by DENNIS DAVENPORT STELLA HIATT KANE
Lighting Design by Sound Design by JOSIE ROCCA NIK ENGELHART
Stage Managed by LUKE MAYNUS
December 3, 2023 - 2:00pm
Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., Westerville
Featuring the BFA Acting & Musical Theatre Class of 2024
Kandy Boakye Julia Nieman
Nate Dirksen Jessica Noal
Jackson Gifford Quincy Shaindlin
Benjamin Hoover Shelby Zimmerman
Daniel Keener accompanied by Dennis Davenport, piano
Cabaret Medley.................................................................................................
The Class of 2024
“Wilkommen”/”So What”/”It Couldn’t Please Me More”/”Maybe This Time”
Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
“Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid .................................................................. Nate Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater
“Pretty Women” from Sweeney Todd ......................................................... Benjamin & Daniel Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
“Our Lady of the Underground” from Hadestown....................................................... Kandy Music & Lyrics by Anaïs Mitchell
“A New Town is a Blue Town” from The Pajama Game .............................................. Quincy
Music & Lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
“Modern Major General’s Song” from The Pirates of Penzane.................................Benjamin Music Arthur Sullivan, Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert
Black Comedy ..................................................................................................... Jackson & Jessica
By Peter ShafferFalsettos Medley ................................................... Benjamin, Daniel, Jackson, Julia, & Shelby
“Miracle of Judaism”/”The Baseball Game”/”Something Bad is Happening”/”Unlikely Lovers” Music & Lyrics by William Finn
An Acting Medley ...........................................................................................
The Class of 2024
Two Gentlemen of Verona/Julius Caesar/Henry IV Part I/The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare Tartuffe by Molière
“Wondering” from The Bridges of Madison County ........................................................Daniel
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Everybody .......................................................................................................... Kandy & Quincy
By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins“As We Stumble Along” from The Drowsy Chaperone.................................................. Jackson
Music & Lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
“A Summer in Ohio” from The Last Five Years............................................................... Shelby
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
The Children’s Hour............................................................................................ Jessica & Kandy
By Lillian Hellman“The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha....................................................Benjamin
Music by Joe Darion, Lyrics by Mitch Leigh
A Diva Medley....................................................................................................................... Julia
“Popular”/”No Good Deed” from Wicked, Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
“The Trolley Song” from Meet Me in St. Louis, Music & Lyrics by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy, Music by Jule Stein, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
“Bring Me to the Light” from Violet..............................................................The Class of 2024 Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Brian Crawley
Thank you for your support!
Proceeds from today’s performance will benefit the 2024 Senior Showcase in NYC, an annual $15,000 endeavor. We would not be able to provide this capstone experience for our Acting and Musical Theatre majors without donors like you.
Donations will be collected following today’s performance and can also be made directly to the university through the office of Institutional Advancement. We extend gratitude to those who have already contributed above and beyond the price of admission, and to those who may do so today.
Checks may be made payable to Otterbein University Theatre. Please put “Senior Showcase” in the memo field.
Donations may be mailed to:
Institutional Advancement 1 South Grove St. Westerville, OH 43081.
Please note that donations received with postmarks December 31st or earlier will receive credit for the 2023 tax year.
Kandy Boakye, from Westerville Ohio, first generation college student, is so proud to showcase all the hard work she’s done over the last 3 and a half years. You may recognize me as Love from Everybody, or the Stage Manager in Our Town. I’m so grateful for everyone who has helped me on this journey and I can’t wait to make them all proud.
Nate Dirksen is a BFA Acting Major and Film Minor hailing from Barrington, RI. Originally from New Zealand (and resident for 13 years) Nate has had so much fun making Otterbein University his third home for life. Previous shows include Everybody (as Everybody), The Great Influencer (Rocky), Our Town (Joe Stoddard/Prof. Willard), Black Comedy (Mr. Bamberger) and Land of Ours (Warrior). Nate would like to send his sincerest thanks to all the wonderful professors he has had at this institution. All of them have helped Nate develop a more well-rounded view of this world we share. In particular, he would like to thank the performance professors who have opened up the world of acting in ways he could have never dreamed of or imagined. Next, Nate would like to thank his wonderful performance majors, each and every one of them. From the epic 2026 class whom he had the pleasure of serving as a Teacher’s Assistant, to the wonderful class of his own who stuck with him through thick and thin, all the performers at this school are extremely talented and deserving of praise. Finally, shout out to Mum and Dad, love you guys. Shout out to Lilly, Nev, and Quincy for being undoubtedly the best roommates. And shout out to Otterbein for being just what Nate needed (even if he didn’t want it at times). All the best to everyone tonight, and make sure you all stay creative; the refusal to be creative is self-will and counter to our true nature. Love, Nate. (After graduation Nate will continue his career in Film & T.V.)
Jackson Gifford (he/him) is a senior Musical Theatre major and dance minor from Edmond, Oklahoma. Regional Credits: Annie (The Muny); The Sound of Music & Charlie Brown (Parallel 45); Cinderella & Sister Act (Summer Rep). Otterbein Credits: Cabaret (Emcee), Black Comedy (Harold Gorringe), Our Town (Simon Stimson). Jackson is the Founding Artistic Director of Southern Plains Productions, an award-winning site-specific theatre company in Oklahoma City. Most recently, he worked with Lauren Gunderson to stage her play “Silent Sky” in a planetarium. Additionally, he is a recipient of the NextGen Artist Award. In the spring, Jackson will move to New York to intern with Broadway Producer, Jim Kierstead. A special
thank you to his mentor, Anna Elliott, and best friends: Pattie, Cindy, the Rose, Shelbs & Queen. To my parents, thank you for driving me to all those dance classes and voice lessons. FINALLY, congratulations to the class of 2024 -I love you all! We did it! jacksongifford.com
Ben Hoover is so excited to share the stage with the Otterbein BFA class of 2024 one last time. Born and raised in rural north western Pennsylvania, the chance to come to Otterbein was a dream come true and it is very bittersweet to think that soon his time here will come to a close. Ben was very lucky to have many performance opportunities during his time here at Otterbein. Some of his favorites include Nick Bottom (Something Rotten!), Herr Schultz (Cabaret), Marvin (Falsettos), and The Modern Major General (The Pirates of Penzance). He would also be amiss not to mention his fiancée’s favorite of his performances -Michael (I Do! I Do!). He also performed this past summer at Weathervane Playhouse as Charlie Price (Kinky Boots), for which he was nominated Best Performer in a Musical by BroadwayWorld Columbus. This past spring, he directed RED by John LoganthroughOtterbein’s student-run 11th Hour Theatre Company. This coming spring, he will be moving to NYC to internship
at Henderson Hogan Talent Agency. He would like to thank his family for pushing him to be his best; his friends, especially Keegan, Fox, Lindsay, Josh, and Zim, for making the hard times a little easier; and his fiancée, Grace, for driving three and a half hours every other weekend for four years - he couldn’t do it without her constant unending support. Follow Ben on instagram @hoover.ben to keep up with him post-grad.
Emma Rose Johnson (she/her) is a senior Musical Theatre major with an Arts Administration minor from Sarasota, FL. Emma will not be on stage tonight as she is studying at The British American Drama Academy in London, England for the semester, however, she wants her class to know that she is with them in spirit! Professional credits during her time at Otterbein include Wendla Bergman in Spring Awakening at Short North Stage, Suzy in The Marvelous Wonderettes at Porthouse Theatre, Cinderella in Into the Woods at The Carnegie, #11 in The Wolves at The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio (Formerly CATCO), and Frieda/ Sue Snell u/s in Carrie! at Columbus Immersive Theater. At Otterbein, you may have seen her in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, A Little Night Music, Falsettos, and Bright Star. In January, Emma will be moving to NYC to intern with Wojcik Casting Team. I will forever be grateful for the people I met at Otterbein. I found lifelong best friends and mentors on Grove Street in Westerville, OH. Thank you to Shelby, Jackson, Julia, Kandy, Caroline, Roberto, Melody, Halle, LaBron, Lucy, Quincy, Taylor, Gracie, Sara, Anna, Thom, Eric, Aviva, Jessie, Melissa, Lori Kay, Elizabeth, and the man who made me want to go to Otterbein, Lenny, along with so many more for making a positive impact on my life. Instagram: @emmarosejohnson366
Daniel Keener Hey, everyone! It’s finally time for the last hurrah! My time at Otterbein has made for the most substantial, transformative, and fulfilling years of my life. I am honored to have worked alongside immensely talented and radiant people every day, and I am eternally grateful to have worked with them to tell the stories of Cabaret, Brightstar, Falsettos, Something Rotten, and many others, mainstage and off. It has been a truly priceless experience. My next chapter will take place in The Big Apple as an intern for Smith Talent Group. While that’s nerve-wracking and exciting and everything in between, I know that I can rely on the indispensable training I’ve received at this school to succeed. I have endless appreciation for my friends, family, and faculty for always supporting me; I’d be nowhere without them. Thank you for the time of my life and, as always, eat Graeters!
Julia Nieman is a senior BFA Musical Theatre major proudly from Indianapolis, IN! She is so bittersweetly excited to wrap up her time here with her class here for LAUNCH! You may remember Julia in Cabaret (Fräulein Schneider), Baby (Lizzie), A Little Night Music (Madame Armfeldt), Bright Star (Ensemble), Something Rotten (Sharla Maynes/Ensemble), and A Gentleman’s Guide… (the INFAMOUS Tour Guide). Julia always loved to create little characters for her ensemble roles and those were the most memorable for her (it’s what makes theatre so magical is it not?). Julia would like to thank her mom and her sister, the ultimate supporters from her loud screlting toddler days to now; Robert Bux from afar; Stella for her Diva influence (for which Julia is forever changed); Lenny for Art Museums and Peach Tea(!!!!); and Melissa Lusher for teaching her with love, and opening so many doors for Julia.A special shout out to Elizabeth Saltzgiver for being an amazing mentor and friend (Yay social media team!!!!). Finally, she would like to thank the people who made the 4 years fly filled with laughter: Jackson-her Murney (we’re going to the wedding!); Caroline, a now second sister and forever friend; Berti - may you always be a BSB and may she always give you the stare down; and to Emma the Rose and Shell - may MT3 live on forever. She couldn’t have done it without them. To all who she didn’t have room to mention, she loves you. Eat Diva Cookies. Bake them if you can, for her sake. Hold on to the memories; they will hold on to you.
Jessica Noal is a senior BFA Acting major with a Dance minor from Lafayette, CA. She has thoroughly enjoyed her time at Otterbein and is incredibly thankful to share her final bow with her senior class. You may have seen her in Cabaret (Frenchie), Bright Star (Spirit), or Black Comedy (Clea). She would like to thank the faculty, her family, her class, and all of her friends for supporting her throughout her college journey!
Quincy Shaindlin Welcome to the show, you silly goose! Quincy is thrilled to recount the last four years for you all! Some of those memories include: Kinship/A/Mind/Evil (Everybody), Peter Patrone (The Heidi Chronicles), Mr. Webb (Our Town), and Mr. Hasler & Sid u/s (The Pajama Game). When Quincy isn’t acting, he’s fighting writer’s block and listening to Ella Fitzgerald. He’d like to thank his class, to whom he owes a journey, and his professors! The reason he’s here in the first place is because of them. He’d also like to thank Nevaeh and Lilly for getting him through life’s craziness. He hopes this performance makes you feel something. ANYTHING.
Shelby Zimmerman is a senior Musical Theatre major from Tampa, Florida. Some of her favorite Otterbein credits include Cabaret (Sally Bowles), A Little Night Music (Petra), Next to Normal (Diana), Falsettos (Cordelia) and a tap-dancing egg in Something Rotten! In the spring, Shelby will be moving to New York City where she will be interning with Michael Cassara Casting. Shelby would like to thank each and every person at Otterbein who have all shaped her to become the performer and person she is today. She is eternally grateful for every lesson learned, memory made, and laugh shared amongst the best of friends, teachers, and classmates she has ever had. A special thanks to her best friends Jackson, Emma, and Dashawn for the endless laughs, To Zimmermom for being the best mom and supporter through life, and to Jordan for being her rock. A very, very special thanks to Lenny Leibowitz who has been the most wonderful mentor, supporter, and life coach; teaching her that her voice matters and to always find the light in this world. Todah Rabah. She dedicates every performance to her Grandmother, Vicky. Last call for the bus, Shelly’s driving it all the way to the Big Apple!
Acting Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance.........................................................Stella Kane Chair, Department of Music...........................................................................................Nick Ross Managing Director.......................................................................................... Elizabeth Saltzgiver Production Manager.......................................................................................... Hannah Pohlman
Lighting & Sound Supervisor ................................................................................ Kitty Mader
Assistant Stage Manager.......................................................................................Jenna Davies
Lead Electrician/Light Board Operator..................................................................Ryan Lewis
Spot Light Operators ...................................................................Megan Gault, Kateje Palmer Sound Engineers (A2)....................................................................... Paige Vick, Adrian Casto House Manager ..................................................................................................... Libby Carroll
Lenny Leibowitz (Director) is in his tenth year as a member of the Otterbein Theatre faculty. Since his arrival in Westerville, Lenny has directed Our Town, The Pirates of Penzance, Side by Side by Sondheim, The Pajama Game,An Enemy of the People, Guys & Dolls, Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Into the Woods, Baby, Clybourne Park, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Top Girls, Fiddler on the Roof, Radium Girls, Hay Fever, and Adding Machine: A Musical. As founding artistic director of Marvell Rep, Off-Broadway, Lenny directed 11 productions, including The Threepenny Opera, which received a Drama Desk nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. Other New York directing credits include the world premiere of Brian Yorkey’s Making Tracks, which ran Off-Broadway at Rockefeller Center’s Taipei Theater. Lenny hasdirectedat some of the nation’s leading regional theatres including the Olney Theatre, the National Players, the Huntington Theatre’s Breaking Ground Festival, and the New Harmony Theatre, where he was artistic director for four years. A Philadelphia native, he made his professional debut as a piano soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He received his B.A. from Columbia University and his M.F.A. from Boston University. Member, SDC and AEA.
Dennis Davenport (Music Director, Pianist) is Professor of Music at Otterbein. He teaches in the BFA musical theatre program and in general education for the First Year Experience, Honors, and Senior Year Experience programs. Recent music direction for Otterbein includes I Do! I Do!, Baby, Pirates of Penzance, and most recently, Cabaret
StellaHiatt Kane (Choreographer)isaprofessor in the Otterbein Department of Theatre and Dance and is the Associate Artistic Director and Director of Dance. She is also 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 Cabaret, Baby, A Little Night Music, Something Rotten, The Pirates of Penzance, The
Pajama Game and Chicago. Additionally, she recently directed the OST production of I Do!, I Do! and directed/choreographed the Otterbein University productions of Find Me in the Shadows, The Wild Within and Move Me. Congrats to all the seniors and merde!
Josie Rocca (Lighting Designer) is a senior BFA Design and Technology major with a focus in lighting and stage management from Columbus, Ohio. Selected previous Otterbein credits include Dance 2023: Escape to Wonderland (Lead Electrician), Cabaret (Assistant Lead Electrician, A1), Dance 2022: Find Me in the Shadows (Lead Electrician), and A Little Night Music (Stage Manager). Josie will be stage managing 9 to 5 this spring and it will be her final production at Otterbein. Josie spent this past summer as an electrics apprentice with The Santa Fe Opera. She has also worked downtown here in Columbus at The Wexner Center for the Arts, The Davidson Theater, The Lincoln Theater, Opera Project Columbus, and BalletMet. She sends wishes of luck to her classmates graduating this December and those going on internship in the spring. Josie would also like to thank her friends and family for their unwavering support.
Nik Engelhart (Sound Designer/A1) has been the sound designer and engineer for several musical productions at Capital University, where she graduated with a B.A. in Music Technology. Other productions include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Addams Family at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, Evita and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at Brecksville Theatres, Aspects of Love at CATCO theatres, and Man of La Mancha at A Noise Within Theatre in Pasadena, CA. She is currently a touring stage audio technician with the hard rock band Starset.
Luke Maynus (Stage Manager) is a senior Theatre and Political Science double major from Charleston, WV. They are thrilled to conclude their Otterbein career with The Launch. They would like to thank their fellow stage manager, Jenna for all their hard work they put into this production. They would also like to thank their roommates, Jenna and Owen. Go Improv!
Libby Carroll, she/her, (House Manager) is a junior BFA Design/Technology major from Pittsburgh, PA! She would like to thank the class of 2024 for an amazing past 3 years. You will all be missed next semester. She would like to give a special shout out to Jessica Noal for being one of the best housemates, and for being in the theta/theatre pipeline with her. Libby hopes that you enjoy the show!
Connor Christopher (Lead Electrician) is a sophomore BFA Design/Technology major from Tampa, FL. He has been working in the technical theatre industry since the 6th grade. He went to both a middle and high school specific to preforming arts, so it’s safe to say he likes working in the theater. Connor was last the Assistant Lead Electrician for Everybody. Being Lead Electrician on this show has helped him grasp a better understanding of all the little things that you have to tend to that you don’t see just being on a hang crew. He can’t wait to take on more roles to learn and grow from.
Jenna Davies (Assistant Stage Manager) is a senior Design & Technology major from Durham, NC. They are thrilled to conclude their Otterbein career with The Launch. They would like to thank their fellow stage manager, Luke for all their hard work they put into this production. They would also like to thank their roommates, Luke and Lindsey. Go Kappa
Paige Vick (Sound A2) is a junior DT major originally from Ellicott City Maryland. She is excited to be a part of launching off the seniors to New York City and hopes you enjoy the show!