It's A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play | Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center

A Susannah’s Gift Scholarship Fundraiser

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018 CAROLING BEGINS AT 6:30PM PLAY BEGINS AT 7:00PM CUTTING HALL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 150 E. WOOD STREET, PALATINE

In Loving Memory of Susannah Kist

“To a woman who continues in our hearts. You brought out the best in us.

You trusted us. You saw the spark, no matter how tiny, and you nurtured it.

You loved, no matter how unlovable. You made us feel special, unique, with gifts to share. You helped us share them. Shine, dance, create, and sing. We remember and miss you, Susannah Kist.”

-Thom Lange

Raffle Tickets! 1 for $1, 6 for $5

Raffle tickets are available in the lobby through intermission. Winners will be announced at the end of the show. All proceeds go directly to the Susannah’s Gift Scholarship Fund.

Please support the businesses that have donated items and services for our raffle:

• Andigo Credit Union

• Blue Box Cafe

• Culvers

• D’Vine Wine and Gifts

• Harper College

• Illinois Spinal Care

• Nothing Bundt Cakes

• Palatine Park District

• Photo’s of Palatine

• Scoopy Poo and We’ll Walk them Too

About the Foundation Palatine Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization created to enhance the quality of life and enjoyment of parks and recreation offered by Palatine Park District. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors including Foundation President Carl Arthur, Fred Hall, Monica Haun, Debbie Lemonidis, Jim Lennon, Kate McNally, and Robert “Dutch” Schultz.

For more information, visit palatineparkfoundation.org.

6:30 PM Preshow Caroling Featuring Palatine Children’s Chorus Under the Direction of Stevee Bellas and Crystalyn Boyer

A Susannah’s Gift Scholarship Fundraiser

7:00 pm

Cast

Mandy Johnson Marshall Kious Chris Mau Hannah Miller Lisa Tosti Michael Wagman

Production Staff: Rob Southgate – Director Martha Southgate – Assistant Director BJ Foley, James Fagen – Cutting Hall Technical Staff Ashley Schiavone – Cultural Arts Coordinator Jeff Greene – Theatre Coordinator Joan Scovic – Communications and Marketing Manager Michael Noens – Digital Marketing Coordinator LoriAnne Nelson – Graphic Designer Jill Kernan & Ann Patti – Communications and Marketing Assistants JP McNamara – Community Outreach Coordinator

Mandy Johnson

Mandy Johnson is no stranger to the Cutting Hall stage. Most recently, she has participated in the Palatine Park District’s Class Act premiere production of Ghost in the Graveyard! as the lead Roxanne. In the spring Palatine Youth Theatre production of Oz!, Mandy stared as the Scarecrow. She also is a performer off stage, as a member of Palatine Gymnastics Club.

Marshall Kious

Marshall is excited to be taking on the role of Jake Laurents/George Bailey in this production of It’s a Wonderful Life. Marshall is a Chicago actor and has credits for productions and stage readings at The Gift Theater, Oil Lamp, Shattered Globe and Three Brothers. Marshall has also done several short and independent films for Columbia and the Harold Ramis Film School at Second City. When not on stage Marshall works Front of House at the Steppenwolf Theater. If you are stopping by to see a show be sure to say hello, it really brightens his day. Marshall would like to wish you a very Happy Holiday and a wonderful New Year.

Chris Mau

Chris Mau is excited to be a part of this year’s It's a Wonderful Life Production where he is portraying Clarence Oddbody among other characters. He is the owner of Blue Box Cafe in Elgin, IL and a host on several podcasts including This Week in Geek and Live at the Blue Box. Chris has also had several parts in OtherWorld Theatre's Paragon Play Festival.

Hannah Miller

Hannah Miller is ecstatic to rejoin the cast of It’s a Wonderful Life; the Radio Play. This is her second time performing in this Palatine tradition.

Last year, she debuted as the voices of Violet, Reineman, and Janie. When Hannah isn’t onstage, she’s usually found playing the piano, doodling, writing, singing and of course; acting! Hannah is 17, and attends Fremd High School. This is her fourth show this year, the previous three being School of Rock (Ms. Shienkopf), Young Frankenstein (Ensemble), and Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (Antonia).

Martha Southgate

Martha Southgate is excited to get a chance to assistant direct on It’s a Wonderful Life through Palatine Park District. Martha has worked in the past with children’s theater through EDGE Youth Theater.

She has assistant directed on Joy to the Otherworld at Paragon Play Festival through Otherworld Theatre Company. Martha co-owns a media company with her husband, Rob. She has performed on many live staged readings, co-hosts dozens of podcasts, and countless live events. Martha was most recently the keynote speaker at the Women in Podcasting Festival.

Rob Southgate

Rob is thrilled to direct It’s a Wonderful Life for Palatine Park District. It is one of his favorite films and as the co-owner of a media company, he loves radio plays. Rob has had various careers throughout his life, both in the creative world and the business sector. He has been a professional actor in commercials and films, a stage director, a teacher, a retail store owner, and is presently a content marketer with a focus on podcasting.

Along with his wife, Martha, Rob started Southgate Media Group as a creative outlet and a way to incorporate all of their interests and their past experiences. Rob is an entrepreneur with two Bachelors degrees in business and an MBA in Marketing from Roosevelt University.

Follow him on Twitter at @rsouthgate.

Lisa Tosti Lisa Tosti, originally from Clifton Park, NY, holds a BFA in Theater Performance from Hofstra University and a MNA in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University.

Before moving to Chicago, Lisa performed with Saratoga Shakespeare, Sporadic Evolution Theater, and Genesis Repertory Theater. Since moving to Chicago in 2010, Lisa has worked with Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Remy Bumppo, The Plagiarists, Hell in a Handbag, E.D.G.E. of Orion, and the Unrehearsed Shakespeare Company of Chicago.

Lisa was seen last as Madge Barker in What’s All This, Then?, an original play by Chicago playwright Bill Daniel. Lisa can be seen next in Unrehearsed Shakespeare’s production of Twelfth Night on January 15th. In her free time, Lisa volunteers for Alive Rescue, and enjoys snuggling with her husband and two cats.

Michael Wagman

Michael Wagman is thrilled to be making his debut with the Palatine Park District and to be helping such a noble cause. Michael has acted with various companies throughout the Chicagoland area for nearly ten years now. His favorite credits include Art (Janus Theatre), Walkabout 2016: Shakes, Beers, Shots (Janus Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Strangeloop Theatre), Mitera (Strangeloop Theatre), The Rogue Aviator (Otherworld Theatre), and An Ideal Husband (Ghostlight Ensemble). Michael would like to thank Rob and Martha for this wonderful opportunity.

Special Thanks to our staff who make a difference and help carry on the legacy of Susannah Kist I would like to personally thank the cultural arts instructors and staff that commit their time, passion, and skill to our programs.

-Ashley Schiavone, Cultural Arts Coordinator Julie Price Julie, a good friend of Susannah, jumped in and assisted, and stepped in to fill the shoes when Susannah could no longer teach. Julie has helped grow Palatine Youth Theatre over the last 9 years, and has made a tremendous impact of the increased enrollment of our theatre program, tripling in size since 2017.

Melissa Schlesinger and Sue Love Managers Melissa and Sue pour hours into the Palatine Children’s Chorus. They support the directors, make sure that registration, music ordering, touring opportunities, and so much more move smoothly. Their leadership in the program has helped create a culture of unity between the six choirs. They have been instrumental in the establishment of the Palatine Children’s Chorus Association, a parents group that focuses on supporting the fundraising efforts of the choir. They have created a community with parents, providing weekly updates and information.

Stevee Bellas and Crystalyn Boyer Stevee and Crystalyn stepped up to lead Palatine Children’s Choir in 2018.

Both have committed years in assistant positions, and with the previous directors pursuing new ventures, these two stepped up and took the lead.

Stevee grew up in the chorus, and her passion and love for the program makes the choir even stronger. The community and relationship of the singers has become so strong in the short amount of time she has been lead. Stevee is dedicated to improving and challenging the singers. Her programming rivals area choirs, and the musicianship and skill of singers shows through each song. Crystalyn, who has been the accompanist for the younger choirs, was excited to take on directing them. The relationship she has already built with these young singers created a platform for her to take them even further. Her dedication to provide excellent instruction at an early age prepares singers to advance within the choir.

Becky Lugovsky and Katherine Siegle Dance Coordinator Becky Lugovsky, and Dance Manager Katherine Siegle have worked to build one of the best dance programs in the area.

Their dedication over the last ten years has created a strong community of children and parents, and has produced amazing and award winning dancers. In addition to Palatine Dance Company, the two provide seasonal classes in a variety of styles to over 100 students each session. They go above and beyond to not only build a strong company, but build strong, confident students.

Kevin Kelly and Patt Carmody Allegro Community Chorus, a program greatly influenced by the leadership of Susannah in its early years, continues to provide community members the opportunity to perform. Allegro opens membership to anyone who wants to sing, regardless of previous experience. Kevin stepped in as Artistic Director in 2015. He dedicates hours each week to find the perfect pieces to not only teach the choir, but to challenge them. Over the years of his direction, the choir has doubled in size, from 20 singers to over 40. Patt Carmody is the “lady behind the curtain.”

She makes sure that the many choir members receive their music, uniforms, communication, and so much more. She leads fundraising efforts, gaining support from local businesses. Through her community relationships, Patt secures multiple performance opportunities for the choir throughout the year.

Visual Arts Staff The Visual Arts Staff has been growing over the last few years, as the program enrollment has been increasing. Special thanks to current instructors Monica Haun, and Joshell Ludington.

And thanks to all of our current Cultural Arts staff that dedicate their skill and passion to our programs: Marcy Angsurat (Theatre), Gina Barto (Dance), Leah Bradley (Dance), Susan Chappell (Palatine Children’s Chorus), Thomas Colao (Allegro Community Chorus), Leah Daly (Dance), Maria Dirkes (Dance), Tracy Dudzik (Pom Camp), Kristen Foley (Theatre), Bryanna Fujino (Dance), Jessica Grever (Theatre), Keith Grossich (Concert Manager), Faith Hollander (Theatre), Colleen Kaminski (Theatre), Natasha Laws (Theatre), Patrick Mahoney (Guitar), Marlena Osterhues (Dance), Chris Pantelis (Theatre), Erin Piper (Dance), Judith Ross (Theatre), Kathy Sbarboro (Palatine Children’s Chorus), Vicki Sowinski (Allegro Community Chorus), Lilly Strech (Theatre), Cherie Uricek (Dance), Benjamin Valle (Palatine Children’s Chorus)

Dona Orr Donna, the Sponsorship Coordinator, works hard to process Susannah Gift recipients, to ensure they receive support needed to participate in it’s arts programs.

Palatine Park Foundation Susannah’s Gift Scholarship Foundation would not be possible without the ongoing support of Palatine Park Foundation: Carl E. Arthur, Mike Clark, who serves as liason to the Foundation Board, Jim Lennon, Fred Hall, Monica Haun, Debbie Lemonidis, Kate McNally, John Melone, Robert “Dutch” Schultz. In addition, Trish Feid and JP McNamara who greatly support the behind the scenes of both this event and the foundation.

Park District Staff A big thank you to the Palatine Park District Staff. The Communications and Marketing Division has gone above and beyond to market, support, and design for this program. The Cutting Hall staff provides support to make the production look and sound as great as possible, from rehearsals to performance, and the Box Office staff provides excellent customer service support.

Carol Lange and Michael Noens Carol and Michael both held the position of Cultural Arts Coordinator prior to my taking the reins. Their years of hard work not only set the foundation for these programs, but also helped keep the love and legacy of Susannah alive. Between Carol’s part with the establishment of the scholarship program, and Michael’s dedication to continue the annual fundraiser, the two have helped countless patrons.

Gift s d r a C Now available for purchase Palatine Park District gift cards are now available for purchase for the holiday season and all year long at Birchwood Recreation Center, Community Center, and Falcon Park Recreation Center.

Additional Gift Card Options Palatine Hills Golf Course

Visit the Pro Shop 512 W. Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067 847.359.4020

Gift Card

Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center Visit Cutting Hall Box Office 150 E. Wood St, Palatine, IL 60067 847.202.5222 Palatine Park District • 847.991.0333 • palatineparks.org Palatine Park District Gift Cards are redeemable for the purchase of programs, passes, or memberships. Please present this card for payment at time of purchase. Card must be present to access account.The available card balance will be applied toward your purchase. All prices are subject to change without notice. Cards cannot be redeemed for cash, and change will not be given. Value can be added to the card at any time. Available balance will print on the receipt and will remain on the card until used. Gift cards do not have any value until activated and gift cards do not expire. Palatine Park District is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or unauthorized use of this card. Lost or stolen cards will not be replaced. Palatine Park District gift cards cannot be used for purchases at Palatine Hills Golf Course, Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, Health and Recreation Center at Harper College, or pool concession stands.