DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA
DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA
PRESENTS
A Musical Fable of Broadway
BASED ON A STORY AND CHARACTERS OF Damon Runyon
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY Frank Loesser
BOOK BY Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY Banji Aborisade
MUSIC DIRECTED BY Brian Cimmet
SCENIC DESIGNER
Robert John Andrusko
FIGHT AND INTIMACY
CHOREOGRAPHER
Alec Barbour
COSTUME DESIGNER
Katharine Tarkulich
DIALECT COACH
Blake Segal
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Ethan Newman
DRAMATURG
Alethea Shirilan-Howlett
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA
Ralph Zito
SOUND DESIGNER
Kevin O’Connor
STAGE MANAGER
Tess Vocalina
Guys and Dolls is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
SEASON SPONSOR
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CAST
Zach Simpson……………....................………………..Sky Masterson
Jessica Cerreta…………………....................……………..Sarah Brown
Diego Echeverria De Cordova……….........……….Nathan Detroit
Sydney Kamel…………………………................……….Miss Adelaide
Ethan Shavelson……………………………….Nicely-Nicely Johnson
Ian Purcell………………………………….......……..Benny Southstreet
Jaemon Crosby…………………………….......…….Arvide Abernathy
Mackenzie Furlett…………………………..…….General Cartwright
Morgan Perry………………………………..............……..Lt. Brannigan
Alice Meyer…………………………………..................…….The Reader
Thomas Locke……………...........……..Harry the Horse, Ensemble
Justin Zimmerman………………......……..Rusty Charlie, Ensemble
Adam Forward………………………………....…….Big Jule, Ensemble
Ally Ebert…………………………………….....................……..Ensemble
Connor English………………………………....................……Ensemble
Samantha Harnick………………………….................………Ensemble
Morgan Lewis…………………………………..................……Ensemble
Madison Marie Manning……………………...……………..Ensemble
Jaelynn Ricks……………………………………..................…..Ensemble
Blaise Rossmann……………………………….................……Ensemble
Emma Sucato……………………………………...............……Ensemble
Axel Vera……………………………………………................…Ensemble
Rileigh Very……………………………………..................…….Ensemble
SWINGS
Lauren Grace Holland, Caroline Marchetti, Hayden Poe, Austin Rose, Alex Russ, Lili Williams
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UNDERSTUDIES
For Sky Masterson – Tom Locke
For Sarah Brown – Rileigh Very
For Nathan Detroit – Adam Forward
For Miss Adelaide & Big Jule – Mackenzie Furlett
For Nicely-Nicely Johnson – Connor English
For Benny Southstreet – Hayden Poe
For Arvide Abernathy & Rusty Charlie – Austin Rose
For General Cartwright – Ally Ebert
For Lt. Brannigan – Caroline Marchetti
For Harry the Horse – Morgan Lewis
SETTING
2023 and 1950s New York City
INTERMISSION
There will be one fifteen-minute intermission.
SPECIAL THANKS
Special Thanks to Annie Meng
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ADDITIONAL CREDITS
Dance Captain: Ally Ebert
Fight Captain: Jaemon Crosby
Intimacy Captain: Tess Vocalina
Assistant Director: Samantha Croco
Assistant Choreographer: Samantha Harnick
Assistant Scenic Designer: Alexis Wilner
Assistant Costume Designer: Sofia Pizer
Assistant Lighting Designers: Maddy Clark, James Klemmer
Assistant Stage Manager: Rachel Mondschein
PRODUCTION STAFF & RUN CREW
Faculty Advisor to Student Designers: Robert John Andrusko
Faculty Advisor to Stage Managers: Don Buschmann
Light Board Operator: Kai Ayush
Sound Board Operator: Sami English
Spotlight Operators: Natalie Haras, Ethan Lang
Deck (Run Crew): G.B. Bellamy, Andrej Humiston, Carsten Kjaerulff, Grace Mineiro
Dressers (Run Crew): Fotini Lambridis, Amelia Mindlin-Leitner, Natalie Steinbeg, Bella Torrinello, Maya Landry
Electrics: Henry Killbourn, James Klemmer, Hannah LoGiudice, Clara Permuy, Reyna Sanchez, Natalie Steinburg, Abby Thurmon
Costume Maintenance: Violet Lanciloti, Lara Mehlig
Production Assistants: Tristan-Teja McDaniel, Ethan Lang, Carsten Kjaerulff, Leah Steinman
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SONGS
ACT 1
Overture.......................................................................................................................Orchestra
Fugue for Tinhorns......................................................Nicely-Nicely, Benny, Rusty Charlie
Follow the Fold..................................................................Sarah, Arvide, the Mission Band
The Oldest Established......................Nathan, Nicely-Nicely, Benny, the Crapshooters
I'll Know........................................................................................................................Sarah, Sky
A Bushel and a Peck..................................................................Adelaide, Hot Box Dancers
Adelaide's Lament........................................................................................................Adelaide
Guys and Dolls........................................................................................Nicely-Nicely, Benny
If I Were a Bell......................................................................................................................Sarah
My Time of Day......................................................................................................................Sky
I've Never Been in Love Before..............................................................................Sarah, Sky
ACT 2
Take Back Your Mink.................................................................Adelaide, Hot Box Dancers
Adelaide's Second Lament.........................................................................................Adelaide
More I Cannot Wish You................................................................................................Arvide
Luck Be a Lady......................................................................................Sky, the Crapshooters
Sue Me.............................................................................................................Adelaide, Nathan
Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat........................................Nicely-Nicely and Ensemble
Marry the Man Today.....................................................................................Sarah, Adelaide
The Happy Ending.......................................................................................................Company
ORCHESTRA
Nancy Boone-Bahr..................................................clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, tenor sax
Joe Carello.....................................................................................flute, piccolo, clarinet, alto sax
Pat Carney...............................................................................................................................trumpet
Brian Cimmet.........................................................................................................conductor/piano
Josh Dekaney.......................................................................................................drums, percussion
Dave DiGennaro................................................................................................................trombone
Josef Lorenz....................................................................................................................................bass
James Spadafore..........................................................................................clarinet, alto sax, flute
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Jessica Cerreta (she/ her) (Sarah Brown) is a senior musical theater major from Hopewell Junction, NY. She feels extraordinarily lucky to be a part of this show alongside this company. She thanks all of her professors, friends, family, and the creative team for their endless support. Recent credits: Xanadu (Cortland Repertory Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Cortland Repertory Theatre), The Myth of the Mountain (Department of Drama Staged Reading), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama co-production), Sweet Charity (Department of Drama, mainstage), The Play That Goes Wrong (Syracuse Stage), Murder on the Orient Express (Cortland Repertory Theatre). @jessica.rose.cerreta
Jaemon Crosby (Arvide Abernathy, Fight Captain) is a senior acting major in the actorsinger track. He has had a wonderful time in his four years here at Syracuse University and he feels bittersweet about this being his last show with the Department of Drama. In his time here he has had the pleasure to have worked on two other Department of Drama shows and two Syracuse Stage shows. He is ecstatic to be working with Syracuse Stage again in their upcoming Department of Drama co-production of A Christmas Carol, where he will
be playing the role of Fred, Scrooge’s nephew. He is so grateful to his family and friends that have supported him thus far and gotten him to this point, he couldn’t have done it without them. He loves this program and the people he has met along the way and couldn’t be more grateful to be doing his last show with this cast!
Ally Ebert (she/her) (Ensemble, Dance Captain, u/s General Cartwright) is a senior musical theater major from Ridgewood, NJ. She was previously seen in the ensemble of the 2022 New Works New Voices musical, Miss Havisham’s Wedding and most recently as the State Fair Girl in The Bridges of Madison County at The Redhouse Arts Center. Thank you to all her family, friends, and teachers for their continued love and support. Hugs to Claire, Lotsa, and Beanie!
Diego Echeverria De Cordova (Nathan Detroit) is a senior actorsinger from Caracas, Venezuela and raised in the suburbs of Boston, MA. Recent credits include: George Gibbs in Our Town (Syracuse Stage), Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Redhouse), Posthumus in Play
On Shakespeare’s Cymbeline (Department of Drama, mainstage) and Raul in In Love And Warcraft (Department
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of Drama, mainstage). He is delighted to be a part of this show once more after having played Sky in 7th grade. Diego thanks his amada familia, fieles amigos, professors, and the Guys and Dolls company for their love, teachings y cariño throughout his four years in the Department of Drama. Diego le dedica su actuación a Papacha y a Don Enrique @diegs.alejandro
Connor English (he/ him) ( Ensemble, u/s Nicely-Nicely Johnson) is a sophomore musical theater major from Highlands Ranch (Denver), CO. This is his first production at the Department of Drama, and he is honored to be working with this incredible company. He is very grateful for the love and support from his peers, instructors, friends, and family.
Adam Forward (he/ him) ( Big Jule, Ensemble, u/s Nathan Detroit) is a senior acting major from Calgary, Canada. Syracuse University Department of Drama mainstage credits include Sender (Jordan) and As You Like It (Bronco). Other credits include Next to Normal (Henry), and a New Works Initiative Myth of the Mountain (Mateo). He is thankful for all the support and guidance from the Syracuse University Department of Drama faculty throughout his acting program and his peers and family.
Mackenzie Furlett (she/her) (General Cartwright, u/s Miss Adelaide, u/s Big Jule) is a senior musical theater major from Vernon Hills, IL (a suburb of Chicago). She is so excited to be working with the Department of Drama again after working on productions such as Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical (mainstage), H*llo K*tty Syndrome (studio project), and Miss Havisham’s Wedding (New Works New Voices). She is so grateful for getting to work with such an amazing company and would like to thank her family and friends, as well as her fellow peers and instructors, for all their love and support! Enjoy the show! Feel free to follow @mackenzie.furlett and/or @mackenziefurlettcreative for more info on me.
Samantha Harnick (she/her) ( Ensemble, Assistant Choreographer) is honored to be assistant choreographing her final Syracuse Mainstage production. Previously, she has cherished playing Tilly in Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical and Celia in As You Like It: The Musical. This past summer she had the privilege of working at the Hangar Theater for their KIDDSTUFF Season. She is so grateful for this university and all the lifelong lessons she has learned.
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CAST
Lauren Grace Holland (she/her) (Swing) is a sophomore musical theater major from Jacksonville, FL. This is her first production with the Department of Drama and she is honored to have worked with this incredible cast. She is very grateful for the love and support from her classmates, instructors, friends, and family.
Sydney Kamel (Miss Adelaide) is thrilled to be playing such a special role alongside so many wonderful people. This past summer, Sydney spent her time in NYC originating the role of Ailbhe in a new adaption of Riders to the Sea, directed by George Abud. Some of her other favorite roles include Imogen in Cymbeline, Natalie in Next to Normal, Ariel in The Tempest, Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest and Cinderella in Cinderella She cannot wait to spend her upcoming winter in the Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama co-production of A Christmas Carol to end her time at Syracuse! She is feeling incredibly blessed and so thankful for her wonderful Family, her friends and all her teachers who pour so much into her. Insta: @SydneyKamel
Morgan Lewis (she/ her) (Ensemble, u/s Harry the Horse) is beyond excited to rock the boat in the Syracuse University Department of Drama production of Guys and Dolls. Morgan is a senior musical theatre major originally from Nashville, TN. Recently, she performed in The Lexington Theatre Company’s production of Memphis as a member of the ensemble and the Felicia Ferrell understudy. Other recent credits include Mrs. Phelps in Matilda the Musical (Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama co-production), Arviragus in Cymbeline (Department of Drama), and the Deidre/Arelia understudy in the world premiere of Tender Rain (Syracuse Stage). You can catch Morgan this winter performing in the ensemble of A Christmas Carol (Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama co-production). She’d like to thank her castmates, family, and friends for their undying support! IG: @morgmlew
Thomas Locke (he/ him) (Harry the Horse, Ensemble, u/s Sky Masterson) is a senior musical theater major from Long Island, NY. He’s very excited to perform in his first Syracuse University mainstage musical! Previous Department of Drama credits: Play On Shakespeare’s modern verse translation of Cymbeline
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(Frenchman, Posthumus/Iachimo u/s) and the Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama co-production of Matilda (Ensemble). He’s also looking forward to taking part in the upcoming Syracuse Stage/Department co-production, A Christmas Carol. He’d like to thank his family for their unending support as well as his cast mates and the creative team for their hard work and dedication to building a safe environment, a wonderful rehearsal process, and a fantastic end product!
Caroline Marchetti (she/her) (Swing, u/s Lt. Brannigan ) is a junior musical theater major from Westport, CT. This is her first production with the Department of Drama and she is thrilled to be working with such an amazing company. She is so grateful for all the support and love from her peers, instructors, and family.
Madison Marie Manning (she/her) (Ensemble) is a sophomore musical theater major from Denver, CO. This is her first production with the Department of Drama and she’s honored to have worked with such a passionate, loving, and talented group of artists. She’d like to thank her family, friends, her recent cast members of In the Heights at Vintage Theater in Aurora, CO, and current/
former teachers for providing a supportive environment to foster her passions. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Alice Meyer (she/her)
(The Reader) is a senior musical theater major from Hoboken, NJ. This is her final production with the Department of Drama and she is thrilled to have worked with this unbelievably talented cast and crew. She is very grateful for the memories and love from her friends, mentors, and family.
Morgan Perry (she/ her) (Lt. Brannigan) is a senior musical theater major from Augusta, GA. She has appeared in two mainstage plays: Sender (Cassandra) and Barbecue (Black Barbara) and is excited to be in her third mainstage production within the department. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support, and to her Syracuse University Department of Drama peers for their talent and dedication to theater art. Instagram: @perrymorgs
Hayden Poe (He/Him) (Swing, u/s Benny Southstreet) is a senior musical theater major from Seattle, WA. He is thrilled to be swinging for the first time in this exciting production of Guys and Dolls. Some past cred-
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its include Andy in the Department of Drama production of As You Like It, Gabe Goodman in Next to Normal (Black Box Players), Charles Compeyson in Miss Havisham’s Wedding (New Works New Voices), Roger Davis in Rent, Jesse Tuck in Tuck Everlasting, Ren McCormack in Footloose, and Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia Additionally, catch him in the ensemble of the Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama co-production of A Christmas Carol this winter! Hayden would like to thank his wonderful roommates, peers, family, and professors for their unconditional love and support. He hopes you enjoy the show! IG: @itshaydenpoe
Ian Purcell ( Benny Southstreet) is a senior actor-singer from Petaluma, CA, the egg capital of the world. He has twice preformed in the New Works New Voices initiative in the Department of Drama as well as As You Like It (mainstage) and Urinetown (mainstage) in the 2021/2022 season. He’s had a ton of fun studying at Syracuse University and is very excited to give a new spin to this classic musical and its iconic characters and songs!
Jaelynn Ricks (she/ hers) (Ensemble) is a sophomore musical theater major from New Orleans, LA. This is her first production at the Department of Drama and she is honored
to have worked with this incredible company. She’s very grateful for the love and support from her peers, instructors, friends, and family.
Austin Rose (Swing, u/s Arvide Abernathy, u/s Rusty Charlie) is a senior acting major from Bethesda, MD. Prior credits include: Swing in As You Like It (mainstage), Artie in Miss Havisham’s Wedding (New Works New Voices), various roles in ID (Studio Project), and Dr. Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Black Box Players). Austin would like to thank their family for always supporting their dreams with unconditional love.
Blaise Rossmann (he/ they) (Ensemble) is thrilled to put his heels back on for Syracuse University Department of Drama’s production of Guys and Dolls! Blaise is a senior Musical Theatre major from Dumont, New Jersey and was last seen in the Department of Drama’s production of As You Like It (musical adaptation) as Papa Corin and the Dance Captain. Recent Regional Credits include CATS, Ragtime, Beauty and The Beast (MT Wichita), Kinky Boots, Cinderella, Footloose (Theatre By The Sea) and Matilda: The Musical (Syracuse Stage). Love and gratitude to Mom, Dad, Banji and this amazing team for bringing this show together! IG: @blaiserossmann
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CAST
Alex Russ (he/him) (Swing) is a senior acting major from Long Island, NY. This is his second mainstage production here at the Syracuse University Department of Drama. He was last seen in the Department of Drama mainstage production of Dance Nation as Luke. Alex is honored to have worked with this incredible cast, crew, and creative team. He is very grateful for the love and support from his classmates, instructors, friends, and family throughout all four years of his college experience. For more, follow him on Instagram @itsalexruss
Ethan Shavelson (he/ him) (Nicely-Nicely Johnson) is a sophomore acting major, with a concentration in music performance, from Parkland, FL. This is his first production with the Department of Drama and he is honored to be a part of this incredible company. He is grateful for the endless support from his professors, friends, and family.
Zach Simpson (Sky Masterson) is a senior acting major from Saratoga, NY. Syracuse University Department of Drama Credits: As You
Like It (mainstage), Miss Havisham’s Wedding (New Works New Voic-
es), A Stroll in the Air (Studio Project), and Push Pull Together Apart (Theatre for the Very Young). Zach was also a student understudy for Syracuse Stage’s production of How To Dance in Ohio. Other favorite credits: Bells are Ringing (Jeffrey Moss), Nice Work if You Can Get It (Jimmy Winter), and Godspell (Jesus). Zach would like to thank his parents and sister, as well as his voice teacher, for their continued support.
Emma Sucato (she/ her) (Ensemble) is a junior musical theater major from Dallas, Texas. She is so excited to be performing in her first show in the Department of Drama with this incredible cast, creative team, and crew. She was most recently seen at The Glimmerglass Festival in their productions of Candide, La Bohéme, and Rinaldo (Ensemble). Recent Department of Drama credits include last fall’s mainstage production of Sweet Charity (Assistant Choreographer). She would like to thank her professors for helping her grow as an artist and her friends and family for their unwavering support and love! @emmasucato
Axel Vera (Ensemble) is a first-generation Venezuelan American actor from Miami, FL. He is a senior musical theater major who is extremely excited to be working on his final De-
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partment of Drama production, Guys and Dolls. His recent credits include The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus (Syracuse Stage Bank of America Children’s Tour), Movie Night, Sweet Charity (Department of Drama, mainstage), The Little Mermaid (Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama co-production), and Dance Nation (Department of Drama, mainstage) as Luke u/s. He would like to thank his family for always supporting him in his journey and the amazing talent in this cast. Love you mom, dad, and broski! @axel_vera__
Rileigh Very (she/her)
(Ensemble, u/s Sarah Brown) is a senior musical theater major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the Syracuse University Department of Drama, Rileigh was previously in ID as a writer, actress, and choreographer of the devised film piece. She has been seen as Mama Corin/Ensemble in the Department of Drama mainstage production of the musical As You Like It, as well as White Barbara in the Department of Drama mainstage production of the play Barbecue. Rileigh was also seen in her first professional production as a Swing in the Syracuse Stage/Department of
Drama co-production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and is soon to be seen in the Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama co-production of A Christmas Carol as Dance Captain/ Ensemble. She is extremely excited to be a part of such an amazing cast and show! She gives thanks to everyone involved, as well as to her friends and family for the endless support.
Lili Williams (she/her) (Swing) is a junior musical theater major from Leesburg, VA. She has previously performed as a part of the ensemble and u/s Tricia for the New Works New Voices production of Myth of the Mountain with the Department of Drama. She sends love to all friends and family that have supported her.
Justin Zimmerman (he/him) ( Rusty Charlie, Ensemble) is a senior musical theater major at Syracuse University. This is his first production with the Department of Drama, and he is honored to be a part of such a talented cast and crew. He would like to say a big thank you for all the support from his parents, peers, and instructors.
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CAST
ARTISTIC STAFF
Robert John Andrusko (Scene Designer) Previously for the Department of Drama, Romeo and Juliet, Steel Pier, Punk Rock. Recent Film: production design, The Mermaid; assistant art director, Miguel Wants to Fight, 23 Hours to Kill. West End: associate scene designer, 42nd Street, Thoroughly Modern Mille. Broadway: associate scene designer, All My Sons, The Frogs, Thoroughly Modern Mille, Gem of the Ocean, King Hedley II, The Farnsworth Invention, Swinging On a Star. Broadway: assistant scene designer, Nantucket Sleigh Ride, 42nd Street, Dance of the Vampires, Voices in the Dark, Titanic, The King and I, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Assistant art director, Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill Member of the fabrication team for Star Trek The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton. Member of the United Scenic Artists Local 829. Currently a faculty member, Syracuse University, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Department of Drama, since 2006. And, most importantly, proud Dad of Daria.
Katharine Tarkulich (Costume Designer) is happy to be collaborating on Guys and Dolls at the Syracuse University Department of Drama. Favorite regional designs: Mamma Mia, Cortland Repertory Theater, Cortland NY; Oliver!, Much Ado About Nothing, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Color Purple, The Redhouse Arts
Center, Syracuse NY; Blood Brothers, Irish Classical Theatre Company, Buffalo NY; Secret Garden, Lees-McRae Summer Theater, Banner Elk NC; Taking Steps, Abigail’ s Party, Odyssey Theatre; Hay Fever, School for Scandal, Crimes of the Heart, Little Fish Theatre, San Pedro CA; Woyzeck , Gangbuster’s Theatre (2009 participant in NYC Fringe Fest.), Burbank CA; Assassins; The Cannibals, Cal Rep, Long Beach CA. To see her portfolio, visit: www.ktcostumedesign.com. Member of USA 829.
Ethan Newman (Lighting Designer) With an M.F.A. in lighting design from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, Ethan moved to New York City from the small town Midwest to pursue his dream of working in the art of professional theater. Recent lighting design credits include: Silhouettes (East Coast Contemporary Ballet), Jersey Boys (Rocky Mountain Rep), and Babes in Arms (Forestburgh Playhouse). More of Ethan's work can be found at eanewmandesigns.com.
Kevin O’Connor (Sound Designer) is currently in his 15th season working for Syracuse Stage and the Syracuse University Department of Drama. He graduated from St. Lawrence University with a B.A. in music in 2008. Almost all of Kevin’s Sound Design credits have been with the Department of Drama over the past 12 years, and some of his favorite designs have
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ARTISTIC STAFF
been; Dance Nation (2023), Bright Half Life (2021), Romeo & Juliet (2020), Good Kids (2019), The Baltimore Waltz (2018), Laura and the Sea (2016), Measure for Measure (2015), and Stepping Out (2014). Kevin also created the Sound Designs for Red Riding Hood (currently performing), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (2022), Danny, King of the Basement (2021), and Miss Electricity (2018) for the Syracuse Stage in association with the Department Drama Children’s Tour. Besides Sound Design, Kevin has also worked as the A1 position, controlling the audio console/ live mixing, for most of the musicals for both Syracuse Stage and the Department of Drama over the past 15 years. Some of his favorite productions have been Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Elf the Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, Next to Normal, Ring of Fire, Berlin to Broadway, Nine, Avenue Q, Hairspray, Parade, Seussical, Merrily We Roll Along, and Cabaret. He also feels privileged to have worked as the A1 on the productions of Thoughts of a Colored Man (2019) and How to Dance in Ohio (2022), during their Syracuse Stage runs before moving to Broadway.
Blake Segal (Dialect Coach) Dialect
Coaching credits include NYC: Ensemble Studio Theatre, New Georges, The Araca Project, Fault Line Theatre; Regional: Syracuse Stage, Geva Theatre Center, Berkshire Theatre
Group, Two River Theater, PlayMakers Rep, Cleveland Musical Theatre, Luna Stage, Passages Theatre, & Walkerspace at SoHo Rep; Educational: Yale School of Drama, Fordham, Columbia, Syracuse University, Kean, and Stella Adler. Blake currently serves on the Voice/Verse faculty of Syracuse University’s Department of Drama. As an actor, he has performed on film and television, off-Broadway, in major regional theaters across the country, and on the national tour of Mary Poppins. MFA in Acting: Yale School of Drama. www.blakesegal.com
Alec Barbour (Fight and Intimacy Choreographer) is a Rochester, NY based actor, fight choreographer, and playwright. He has been studying stage combat since 2005 and is a certified teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. He received his M.F.A. in acting at the Hilberry Repertory Theatre at Wayne State University in Detroit, where his roles included Iago in Othello, Carson in Gross Indecency, and Charles Lomax in Major Barbara. Regional acting credits include Sir Castor (and fight captain) in Camelot at Drury Lane Theatre and Horner in The Country Wife at Franklin Stage. Intimacy Direction: (for Syracuse Stage) Amadeus; (for Syracuse University Department of Drama) Romeo & Juliet, Everybody, Wild Party; (for Wallbyrd Theatre Co.) Bard Bending: Fight Club Edition, Two Gentlemen of Verona; (for Utica College) Dracula. Fight Direction: (for Syracuse Stage) Ama-
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ARTISTIC STAFF
deus, Suzette who Set to Sea, Deathtrap, Disgraced; (for Syracuse University Department of Drama) Wild Party, Kiss Me, Kate; (for University of Rochester) Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (with J. David Brimmer); (for Nazareth College) Spring Awakening, Hayfever, Vinegar Tom; (for Le Moyne College) She Kills Monsters, Macbeth in Concert, Romeo & Juliet in Concert, The Liar; (for Hilberry Repertory Theatre) The Cripple of Inishmaan, Macbeth, The Mousetrap, Moon Over Buffalo; (for Wayne State University) Arabian Nights, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, SubUrbia; (for Wallbyrd Theatre Co) Two Gentlemen of Verona, Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Dracula Alec teaches stage combat courses at Le Moyne College, Nazareth College, and Utica College. He is an apprentice with Intimacy Directors International, and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA.
Alethea Shirilan-Howlett (Dramaturg) is a senior drama and creative writing double major from Syra-
cuse, NY. In addition to Guys and Dolls, she has also worked on the Department of Drama productions The Bridge and Lungs. She thanks everyone who has supported this production with their time and effort.
Tess Vocalina (she/her) (Stage Manager, Intimacy Captain) is a senior stage management major with a minor in public communications from Orange, CT. Previous Department of Drama credits include stage manager for Barbecue (mainstage) and Movie Night (faculty project) as well as assistant stage manager for In Love and Warcraft (mainstage) and The Matchmaker (mainstage). This summer, Tess was a production assistant at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and has previously served as an assistant stage manager and assistant company manager for Cortland Repertory Theatre. She would like to thank this entire company for their diligence, enthusiasm and collaboration throughout this process as well as all the wonderful people in her life for their love and support always.
ASSISTANTS AND ASSOCIATES
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Maddy Clark (Assistant Lighting Designer) is a junior theater design and technology major with a concentration in lighting design from Austin, TX.
Samantha Croco (she/her) (Assistant Director) is a sophomore musical theater major from Iowa City, IA.
ASSISTANTS AND ASSOCIATES
James Klemmer (he/him) (Assistant Lighting Designer) is a sophomore theater design and technology major from Lansdale, PA.
Rachel Mondschein (she/her) (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore stage management major from Glastonbury, CT.
Sofia Pizer (she/her) ( Assistant Costume Designer) is a senior theater design and technology major from Los Angeles, CA.
Alexis Wilner (she/her) (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a senior Drama B.S. student with concentrations in theater management and theater design and technology (scenic design).
DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER
Banji Aborisade is very excited to return to his Alma Mater to Direct Guys and Dolls. Credits include: Broadway: Beetlejuice the Musical Other Assistant/Associate credits include: Hairspray National Tour, Oliver at New York City Center, The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation at 5th Avenue, Virgin Voyages’ It’s a Ship Show!, Beetlejuice on Norwegian Cruise Line, How to Load a Musket at 59e59, and SoftPower at the Public Theater. Select directing/ choreography credits include: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown at Forestburgh Playhouse, Derailed, Urinetown off-Broadway (choreographer), Starblasters at Manhattan School of Music (choreographer), Shout: The
Mod Musical at Syracuse University, and Urinetown at Manhattan School of Music. Film/TV: SC7NARIO on BroadwayHD, The Last Fall, While You Were Dreaming, SYNC: The Dance Series (choreographer), and Every Right. Productions he performed in during his time at Syracuse University include: Merrily We Roll Along, Seussical, Parade, A Christmas Carol, Hairspray, and Sunday in the Park with George. Banji thanks his mother and father for their endless support. He would like to dedicate his work on this production to the late Syracuse University Department of Drama professor Victor Lazarow, whose teachings serve as the foundation of his artistry.
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Brian Cimmet has been the Music Director for both the Department of Drama and Syracuse Stage since
2010. He is also a member of the fulltime faculty and serves as Program Coordinator for Musical Theater.
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MUSIC DIRECTOR
Outside of Syracuse, Brian’s credits include the Broadway companies of The Drowsy Chaperone, Mary Poppins, and Grease; the OffBroadway companies of I Love You Because (also the cast album), The Tin Pan Alley Rag, Stop Meowing Like a Cat, and Newsical; and a life-
time of summer stock and regional theater. In an unrelated but parallel universe centered on crossword puzzles, Brian hosts a weekly podcast (Fill Me In) and an annual tournament (Lollapuzzoola), and if that sort of thing interests you, you can visit www.bemoresmarter.com to learn more.
CREATIVE TEAM
Damon Runyon (Story and Characters). Harry the Horse, Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Sky Masterson, and other such Broadway characters immediately come to mind when one thinks of newspaperman and author Damon Runyon. Yet, although he is indelibly identified with Manhattan, New York, Runyon was actually a westerner, born October 4, 1880 in Manhattan, Kansas. Following service in the SpanishAmerican War, Runyon served as a reporter with the Pueblo Chieftain, moving on later to newspapers in Denver. In 1911 he joined the William Randolph Hearst organization as a staff writer on the New York American, and was associated with Hearst enterprises for the rest of his life. Noted as a sports writer and columnist, Runyon also wrote numerous short stories, some of which were included in the book, Guys and Dolls, later a successful Broadway musical and a movie. Today the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer Research, founded by his friends after his death in 1946, serves as a lasting tribute to this popular and well-known figure.
Frank Loesser (Music and Lyrics)
One of America’s great composer/ lyricists, Frank Loesser began his songwriting career during the Depression as a lyricist, contributing songs to Broadway revues and nightclub acts. His work with composer Irving Actman in the 1936 revue The Illustrator’s Show led to a songwriting contract in Hollywood, where he spent the next eleven years working with such composers as Burton Lane, Jule Styne, Arthur Schwartz and Hoagy Carmichael. Some of his film songs from that period include “Two Sleepy People,” “Jingle Jangle Jingle”, and “I Don’t Want To Walk Without You.”
The first song for which Loesser wrote both words and music was “Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition,” written during his World War II service. His Hollywood work after the war included the hit songs “Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year,” “A Slow Boat To China,” and the 1949 Oscar-winning song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” In 1948 Loesser was approached by fledgling Broadway producers Cy Feuer and
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CREATIVE TEAM
Ernest Martin to write music and lyrics to George Abbott’s libretto for an adaptation of the classic Brandon Thomas play Charley’s Aunt. The new musical, which starred Ray Bolger, was called Where’s Charley? and was a hit. This led to Loesser’s next show, the hugely influential and successful Guys and Dolls in 1950, also produced by Feuer and Martin, with a script by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling. In 1956 Loesser wrote the libretto, music and lyrics for his next show, The Most Happy Fella, adapted from Sidney Howard’s play, They Knew What They Wanted. This impressive score contains over 30 musical numbers and makes extensive use of operatic techniques and forms, including recitative, arias, duets, trios and choral numbers. In 1960 he provided the score and was co-librettist for Greenwillow. In 1961, Loesser wrote the score for the Pulitzer Prizewinning How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. His last show, Pleasures and Palaces, closed in 1965 during out-of-town try-outs.
For more information on Frank Loesser, please visit his official website
Jo Swerling (Book). Born in Russia in 1897, Jo Swerling was a playwright, screenwriter and vaudeville sketch writer. Mr. Swerling’s long career began as a reporter and feature writer in New York and Chicago.
Abe Burrows (Book) After studying to be a doctor and an accountant, Abe Burrows had a career in sales before becoming a successful radio script writer and writer/performer of musical parody numbers. His first Broadway libretto was Guys and Dolls, cowritten with Jo Swerling, with a score by Frank Loesser. Among the musicals for which he provided librettos are Make A Wish, Can-Can and Silk Stockings (both with scores by Cole Porter), Say, Darling, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (which he also directed; score by Frank Loesser). His non-musical plays include Cactus Flower (wrote and directed) and Forty Carats (directed).
MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL
Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator
Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists, and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, commu-
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MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL
nity and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide. MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance
by elementary and middle schoolaged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students. MTI maintains its global headquarters in New York City with additional offices in London (MTI Europe) and Melbourne (MTI Australasia).
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA
Ralph Zito (he, him) is in his fourteenth year as chair of the Department of Drama. He came to Syracuse University from the Juilliard School Drama Division, where he had been a teacher and director from 1992 to 2010 and chair of the Voice and Speech Department since 1999. He was a director and adjunct lecturer in the Barnard College Theater Department from 2006 until 2010 and has been a guest artist at training programs across the country, including the Old Globe in San Diego, The University of Texas at Austin, and the Academy for Classical Acting in Washington, DC. Directing credits for the Department of Drama include: The Spitfire Grill, As You Like It, Gruesome Playground Injuries, and The Aliens. He has served as a voice, text or dialect consultant for numerous professional productions both on and off-Broadway, including: The Light in the Piazza; Awake and Sing!; The Herbal Bed; Mrs. Klein; The Fiery Furnace;
The Time of the Cuckoo (Lincoln Center Theatre); Tongue of a Bird; The Merchant of Venice (New York Shakespeare Festival); The Pitchfork Disney (Blue Light Theatre Company); Birdy (The Women’s Project); The Model Apartment (Primary Stages); the New York premiere of Tony Kushner’s SLAVS! (New York Theatre Workshop); and The African Company Presents Richard III (The Acting Company). His regional theater credits include numerous productions at The Shakespeare Theatre and Arena Stage in Washington, DC; Syracuse Stage; Baltimore CENTERSTAGE; Hartford Stage; and the McCarter Theatre, among others. A former touring member of The Acting Company, he served as artistic associate of The Chautauqua Theatre Company for seven years and was a member of the Board of Directors of The American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT) for six years. He is a graduate of Harvard University, The Juilliard School, and the American Center
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CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA
for the Alexander Technique. He was recently awarded the prestigious Juilliard President’s Medal in recognition
of his contributions to both Juilliard and to the broader performing arts community.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA
Part of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Syracuse University Department of Drama offers degree programs in acting, musical theater, theater design and technology, stage management, and theater management
utilizing conservatory-style training in a university setting and in collaboration with Syracuse Stage. With much appreciation, the Department of Drama wishes to acknowledge the valuable contribution of the Syracuse Stage staff.
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SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA
Chair.......................................................................................................................................Ralph Zito
Business Manager.................................................................................................................Lisa Tucci
Administrative Specialist...............................................................................................Leslie Noble
Director, Tepper Semester in NYC...............................................................................Erica Jensen
Academic Operations Manager, Tepper Semester NYC.....................................Casey O’Neil
Associate Music Director.................................................................................................Jacob Carll
Dean, VPA...................................................................................................................Michael S. Tick
FULL-TIME FACULTY
Christine Albright-Tufts
Robert Andrusko
Rufus Bonds, Jr.
Jacob Carll
Kiira Schmidt Carper
Brian Cimmet
James A. Clark
Stephen Cross
Danyon Davis
Izmir Ickbal
Rebecca Karpoff
Andrea Leigh-Smith
Daisy Long
David Lowenstein
Celia Madeoy
Carmen Martínez
ADJUNCT FACULTY
Jill Anderson
Dianna Angell
Alec Barbour
Kathleen Baum
Bradley Beckman
Kerry Bereza
Dave Bowman
Don Buschmann
Diane Coloton
Gretchen Darrow-Crotty
Marina de Ratmiroff
Danita Emma
Kathryn Fathers
Marcus Herndon
Jacqueline R. Herter
Emily Holm
Robert Hupp
Sandra Knapp
Richard Koons
Nicholas Kowerko
Zizi Majid
Michael McCurdy
Aldo Katton Santiago
Mendez
Kathryn Miranda
Amanda Moore
ACCOMPANISTS
Kerry Bereza, Abel Searor
Katherine McGerr
Thom Miller
Ricky Pak
Felipe Panamá
Holly Thuma
Kathleen Wrinn
Ralph Zito
Leslie Noble
Whitney Pak
Stuart Plymesser
Rebecca Schuetz
Hanni Schwarzlander
Abel Searor
Blake Segal
SEVAN
Randy Steffen
Bradley Stone
Joseph Whelan
Matthew Winning
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SEASON
IN THE STORCH THEATRE GUYS AND DOLLS
BASED ON STORY AND CHARACTERS BY DAMON RUNYON MUSIC AND LYRICS BY FRANK LOESSER | BOOK BY JO SWERLING AND ABE BURROWS | DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY BANJI ABORISADE
MUSIC DIRECTION BY BRIAN CIMMET
OCT 6 – 15 | OPENING NIGHT: OCT 7
IN THE STORCH THEATRE GHOST SHIP
BY PHILIP VALLE | DIRECTED BY RICKY PAK
NOV 10 – 18 | OPENING NIGHT: NOV 11
IN THE ARCHBOLD THEATRE A CHRISTMAS CAROL
BY CHARLES DICKENS | ADAPTED BY RICHARD HELLESEN AND DAVID DEBERRY WITH MUSIC ORCHESTRATION BY GREGG COFFIN | DIRECTED BY MELISSA RAIN ANDERSON FEATURING 2 RING CIRCUS | CO-PRODUCED WITH SYRACUSE STAGE
NOV 24 – DEC 31 | OPENING NIGHT: DEC 1
IN THE STORCH THEATRE HEAD OVER HEELS
CONCEIVED BY AND ORIGINAL BOOK BY JEFF WHITTY ADAPTATION BY JAMES MAGRUDER | DIRECTED BY KIIRA SCHMIDT CARPER AND KATHLEEN WRINN MUSIC DIRECTION BY BRIAN CIMMET
MAR 1 - 9 | OPENING NIGHT: MAR 2
IN THE LOFT THEATRE RANDY’S DANDY
COASTER CASTLE
315.443.3275
Monday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm
Syracuse Stage 820 E. Genesee Street Syracuse, NY 13210
BY ALEXANDER PEREZ | DIRECTED BYKATHLEEN CAPDESUÑER MAR 29 – APR 14 | OPENING NIGHT: MAR 30
IN THE STORCH THEATRE THE DROLL (OR, A STAGE-PLAY
ABOUT THE END OF THEATRE)
BY MEG MIROSHNIK | DIRECTED BY CELIA MADEOY
APR 19 - 28 | OPENING NIGHT: APR 20
DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA 23/24
TICKETS SEASON SPONSOR BOX OFFICE