Cast & Artistic Staff Bios

CAST

Olivia Lacie Andrews

(Ensemble, u/s Mrs. Phelps, u/s Nurse) couldn’t be happier to make her Syracuse Stage/Syracuse University Department of Drama co-production debut in Matilda the Musical! Recent credits include: Chicago as Annie (Theatre Aspen), Rock of Ages as Constance (Theatre Aspen), The Matchmaker as Ermengarde (Department of Drama mainstage), and Songs for a New World as a featured soloist (student project). Olivia would like to give huge thanks to the cast and crew for creating a magical, safe space to make art. All the love to my family. @livdrews

Samuel Asa Brownstein

(Ensemble, u/s Children’s Entertainer, u/s Mechanic, u/s Sergei) is a senior musical theatre major from Shrewsbury, MA. They were recently seen in Lonely Planet (Black Box Players). He was also previously seen in A Grand Night for Singing (Department of Drama mainstage) and A Chorus Line (Department of Drama mainstage), as well as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Syracuse Stage/ Syracuse University Department of Drama co-production). They could not be more excited to be a part of Matilda the Musical! He would like to thank his friends, his incredible roommates, and his family for the continuous support. Thank you and enjoy the show! Insta: sambrownstein Charlotte Bush(Ensemble, u/s Miss Agatha Trunchbull) is thrilled to be a part of Matilda here at Syracuse Stage! Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Charlotte is a junior musical theatre major here Syracuse University. Some of her previous credits include The Bridge Workshop and Shout! The Mod Musical. A huge thanks to Donna Drake, the entire creative team, Syracuse Stage, and the cast for all their wonderful work on this production. Finally, she sends love to her friends and family for all the love and support.

Alessandra Casanova

(Ensemble, u/s Mrs. Wormwood) is a senior musical theatre major from Dorado, Puerto Rico. Alessandra has been seen as #14 in The Wolves (Syracuse Stage/ Syracuse University Department of Drama co-production), Woman 1 in Working: The Musical (Department of Drama Mainstage), and Penelope in Danny, King of The Basement (Bank of America Children’s Tour). She is grateful for the opportunity to perform for an audience again! She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her in every way.

Annabel Cole (Matilda Wormwood) is a 7th grader from Brooklyn, NY, and is thrilled to be making her debut with Syracuse Stage in what has long been one of her dream roles! She was last seen as Little Cosette/

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Young Eponine in the Broadway National Tour of Les Miserables. Other favorite past productions include Annie (Molly), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy) and the ONEOFUS world premiere of Jack and the Beanstalk at Abrons Arts Center in NYC. Annabel is in the film version of In the Heights (director John Chu) and has worked with The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. She has always wanted to be an actress and loves dancing, singing, and gymnastics. She also likes sports and really enjoys swimming, ice skating, and horseback riding. She would like to thank Syracuse Stage, her director Donna Drake, and everyone in the cast and crew of this incredible production. She would also like to thank Judith and Michelle at Sinclair Management, CESD and her parents for making this all possible! @annabelcoleofficial

Shaun Collins (Nigel) is a junior musical theatre major from Hingham, MA. He is thrilled to be part of this production with this incredible company. Department of Drama credits include Lonely Planet (studio project) and The Aliens (sophomore project). He would like to express his gratitude to his family, friends, and teachers for their endless amounts of love and support.

Jaemon Crosby (Ensemble) is a current sophomore at Syracuse University. He is from Philadelphia, PA, and has been doing theatre since his freshman year of high school. Jaemon is so excited to have this opportunity to work in this Syracuse Stage/Syracuse University Department of Drama co-production. He is overjoyed to be back on the stage after almost two years of not being in a show because of the pandemic. He would like to thank his family for their constant love and encouragement and for supporting him and his dreams. Instagram: @jcros1214

Luke Darnell (Mr. Wormwood). A fourth-generation performer, Luke’s family legacy includes Vaudeville, Broadway, and film/TV. As an actor, musician, and stunt performer, he has appeared on four continents in venues ranging from arenas to theatres to dive bars. Off-Broadway/NYC: The Other Josh Cohen, Cyrano de Bergerac (Christian), and The Goree All-Girl String Band. Las Vegas: Million Dollar Quartet (Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash). Select regional: The Understudy (Jake), End Of The Rainbow (Mickey Deans), Jersey Boys (Gyp DeCarlo), MDQ (Perkins, Sam Phillips), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (with our esteemed director, Donna Drake!), Oliver! (Bill Sykes). TV: Gotham, Ghost Whisperer, General Hospital, Momsters, and many films you probably haven’t seen. Luke can also be found playing guitar, bass, and/or mandolin in various projects including a duo act, Lianne & Luke, with his partner, Lianne Marie Dobbs. www. lukedarnell.com @actormusicianguy @LianneandLukeDuo

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Emily Kate Decker (Ensemble, u/s Miss Honey) is a senior musical theatre major from New Jersey and she’s thrilled to be making her Syracuse Stage debut! Department of Drama credits include Red Girl in Shout! (studio project) and Gertrude/ Rudolph/Cook in The Matchmaker (mainstage). Other favorite credits include Sandra in Big Fish, Fantine in Les Misérables, and Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie. She’d like to thank her incredible friends and family for their love and support! Enjoy the show! @emilykatedecker

Christina DiMare

(Swing) is a senior acting major from Northborough, MA, and she is thrilled to be making her Syracuse Stage/Syracuse University Department of Drama co-production debut. Drama Department credits include Love and Information and The Secret in the Wings. She would like to thank Syracuse Stage and the Department of Drama for the opportunity to join such a wonderful team of people, as well as her family, friends, and teachers for their constant support.

Ruthie Evans (Amanda) is thrilled to be a part of the Syracuse Stage/ Syracuse University Department of Drama coproduction Matilda the Musical. Ruthie is a senior musical theatre major in the Department of Drama from Atlanta, GA. During her time in the Department, Ruthie has performed as Arlie in Getting Out, Mary-Ann in the workshop of The Bridge, a new musical, and served as a swing in the Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama coproduction of The Wolves. She has an abundance of love for her family and friends and wants to sincerely thank them for their encouragement and support through the past few years.

Emerson Glick (Matilda Wormwood, Alice), a junior musical theatre major, is thrilled to join the company of Matilda the Musical. Past credits include the first national tour of Fiddler on the Roof (Bielke), The Little Mermaid (Big Sister/Lady in Waiting), and Stoo’s Famous Martian American Gumbo (Jen) at the Hangar Theatre. In the Department of Drama, she has been seen in Spring Awakening (Wendla), and The Bridge (Kingsley). She would like to thank her parents, the wonderful team behind the production, and Caitie for all their support. @Emerson__Ferris

Haley Grogan (Alice, u/s Matilda Wormwood) is grateful and excited for the opportunity to perform in her Syracuse Stage/Syracuse University Department of Drama debut! In 2019, she was in A Syracuse Christmas Carol (Jane/Cora) at Redhouse Arts Center. Favorite community theatre roles include Princess Fiona (Shrek),

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Princess Anna (Frozen), and Mal (The Descendants). She can be seen in A Grim Miniseries: Final Fracture (Young Dani) this fall and in The Horrific Evil Monsters (Little Girl). Voiceover audiobook roles include Ivy (Ivy) and Chris Gurney (The Ghost in the Third Row). Haley co-hosts a podcast called Two Kids and a Broadway Star (Instagram: @twokidspod), where she and her best bud playfully interrogate and fawn over their favorite Broadway performers. Special shout out to Spotlight Theatre Arts for introducing Haley to theatre and giving her a home away from home. For information on Haley’s performances and skits about the idiosyncrasies of theatre kids, check out @haleygroganacts on Instagram.

Brian Hebert (Bruce) is thrilled to be making his Syracuse Stage debut in Matilda the Musical! He is a 7th grader at Eagle Hill Middle School. Brian’s favorite credits include Gavroche in Les Misérables (FayettevilleManlius High School), The Beast in The Enchantment of Beauty and the Beast (SCT), The Bullfrog in Honk!, Jr, (Eagle Hill), and Mr. Mayor in Seussical, Jr. (SCT). When not on stage he loves singing in the EH Showchoir, playing trumpet, building Legos, and creating haunted houses for Halloween. He’d like to thank his brother and sister for inspiring him, his grandparents for always supporting him, and his parents for driving him to rehearsals and performances.

Taylor Gary Hendricks

(Michael Wormwood, Doctor) is ecstatic to make his Syracuse Stage/Syracuse University Department of Drama co-production debut. Originally from the Bay Area in California, he is now working on receiving his B.F.A. in musical theatre at Syracuse University. He would like to thank his family, friends, and teachers for the love and support. Instagram: @hendricks.taylor96

Rachel Langetieg (Ensemble) is a junior musical theatre major from Hermosa Beach, CA. She is having so much fun in her first Syracuse Stage/ Syracuse University Department of Drama co-production! Huge thanks to the cast and production team for the hard work and unforgettable laughs. Shoutout to her teachers, family, and friends for their guidance, support, and pure amazingness. She wishes that all who watch this splendiferous production may morph into a sponge to soak in the dazzling cast, crew, and orchestra. @racheltieg #freeBritney

Maddie Lentz (Swing) is ecstatic to be making her Syracuse Stage/Syracuse University Department of Drama debut in Matilda the Musical! She is also celebrating her first live performance since the world shut down, and what an incredible show

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to come back to. She is a junior musical theatre student at Syracuse University from Little Rock, AR. Favorite credits include: A Chorus Line (Maggie), Matilda the Musical (Big Kid/Acrobat), Footloose (Ariel), and at the Arkansas Rep, The Crucible (Susanna Walcott) and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Susan Waverly). Big thanks to everyone at Syracuse Stage and the Department of Drama for this opportunity and much love to Mom, Dad, and Shoes. Support Theatre! Instagram: @_maddielentz

Morgan Lewis (Mrs. Phelps, Ensemble) is beyond excited to join the company of Matilda the Musical in her first regional production. Morgan is a Nashville native and current sophomore musical theatre major at Syracuse University. She was last seen on stage in University School of Nashville’s 2020 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Helena. Morgan is also an aspiring beekeeper. She would like to thank her parents (Rashonda and Peete), family, friends, professors, and cast mates for their endless love and support. Enjoy the show! Follow her on instagram @morgmlew

Thomas Locke (Ensemble), 19, is a sophomore at Syracuse University earning his B.F.A. in musical theatre. He is honored to be making his Syracuse Stage/Syracuse University Department of Drama co-production debut in the ensemble of Matilda the Musical! He began his training at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music, Art, and the Performing Arts as a vocal major. His previous credits include: Heathers (JD/Ram), Footloose (Ren), Spring Awakening (Melchior), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (John Jasper) and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (Prince Topher). He’d like to thank his family for their unending support. He’d also like to thank Syracuse Stage and the Department of Drama, especially the production team of Matilda, for the opportunity and for letting him be a part of their family! Instagram: @tlocke04

David Lowenstein (Miss Agatha Trunchbull) was last seen as Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Mr. Greenway in Elf The Musical (SALT Award Best Supporting Actor in a Musical). Other Syracuse Stage credits include Professor Marvel andThe Wizard in The Wizard of Oz, Admiral Boom, Bank Chairman, and Policeman in Mary Poppins, and his SALT Awardwinning turn as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. Lowenstein’s Broadway credits include: The Frogs (original cast) at Lincoln Center, Seussical (original cast), On the Town, 1776 (original cast, Joseph Hewes), King David, A Christmas Carol (original cast) at Madison Square Garden, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (original cast). He performed as Major Duomo in Fanfare for New York

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City Ballet. Concerts include: South Pacific, Anyone Can Whistle, and Jubilee! at Carnegie Hall. Lowenstein’s Off-Broadway credits include: Howard Crabtree’s Whoop-Dee-Doo!, The Truth about Ruth (all the men), Anything Cole, Lady Be Good (Birdie). National Tours include: Company (Paul), 42nd Street (Andy Lee), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, On Your Toes (Hank J. Smith/Louis Capataletti). Regional credits include: The Threepenny Opera (Tiger Brown) at The Connecticut Grand Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita at Papermill Playhouse, The Merchant of Venice and A Christmas Carol at Syracuse Stage. David’s voice is featured on the original cast recordings of the above Broadway credits, concerts, Whoop-Dee-Doo!, and in the animated films Anastasia, Bartok the Magnificent, and Buster and Chauncey’s Silent Night. David is professor of practice in the Syracuse University Department of Drama, as well as an alumnus, and artist in residence at Cazenovia College.

Pascal Pastrana (Rudolpho, Ensemble). Recent credits include Broadway: Shane Omen in Mean Girls; International Tours: Carmen La Cubana; National Tours: Chefs: The Sizzling Sensation; Regional: Danny Zuko in Grease, Jesus in Godspell, Sky in Mamma Mia. Thrilled to be making my Syracuse Stage/Syracuse University Department of Drama debut. Special thanks to Donna Drake. Rachel Revellese (Swing) is a New Hampshire born singer, actress, dancer, and choreographer currently pursuing her B.F.A. degree in musical theatre at Syracuse University. For Rachel, it all began with tap dance. She holds multiple national and regional titles in the style of tap and is a brand ambassador for the worldwide dance wear company SoDanca. Rachel has also twice held the title of first in New Hampshire and third in New England in the NATS Musical Theatre singing competition. She has also had the privilege of studying theatre intensively at University of Michigan, Penn State, and Emerson College. She has previously been featured as Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Velma in Chicago, and Cinderella in Into the Woods. To see more of Rachel’s work find her on YouTube @Rachel Revellese and on Instagram @rachel.rev!

Blaise Rossmann (Swing) is thrilled to be making his Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama debut in the company of Matilda the Musical. Blaise is a current sophomore musical theatre major at Syracuse University reigning from New Jersey. He was last seen as Jesus in Godspell and as everyone’s favorite, Roger Debris, in The Producers. Blaise would like to thank his family, friends, teachers, and cast for their support and to his

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fellow swings for creating the magic both on stage and off! Follow him on instagram @alexiosblaise

Kim Sava (Mrs. Wormwood) is thrilled to be making her Syracuse Stage debut! Broadway: Beetlejuice the Musical (Ensemble, u/s Delia, Barbara, Maxine Dean, Juno). NY Workshops: First Date and Cutman - A Boxing Musical. 1st National Tours: Matilda the Musical (Acrobat, u/s Miss Wormwood and Miss Honey). Canadian/Toronto Production: Matilda the Musical (Mrs. Wormwood). Regional: Lily St. Regis in Annie starring Beth Leavel and Christopher Sieber (Paper Mill), Lina Lamont in Singing in the Rain (Maine State, Vicki Award Winner), Mary in Jersey Boys (MSMT), Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof (Pioneer), Ilona in She Loves Me (Montana Opera), Rizzo in Grease (Tuacahn), Pegeen in Mame (Goodspeed), Guys and Dolls (Goodspeed), Harmony - Barry Manilow’s hit musical (The Ahmanson, The Alliance), Anita in West Side Story (New London Barn, NH Theatre Award Winner), Annie (Fulton Opera House), A Christmas Carol (North Shore). Thank you Donna and much love to her hubs Micheal.

Stella Schwartz (Ensemble) is a junior musical theatre major from South Jersey. In the Department of Drama, Stella assisted with building the choreography for Urinetown and was seen in Black Box Player’s production of Lonely Planet. Recently, Stella performed in a cabaret at St. Luke’s Theatre, NYC, with the Verdon Fosse Legacy. Much love to the cast/crew and Department of Drama professors. Special thanks to Ms. Andrea Leigh-Smith and Ms. Greta Schwartz. @stellaschwartz__

Blake Segal (Ensemble, u/s Mr. Wormwood) is thrilled to return for his fourth production with Syracuse Stage. National Tour: Mary Poppins; Regional: Williamstown, The Old Globe, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Yale Rep, Paper Mill Playhouse, PlayMakers Rep, Connecticut Rep, Chautauqua Theater Company, Tantrum Theater, The Public Theatre, Heritage Rep; NYC: Noor Theatre, The Araca Project, NYMF, Fault Line Theatre, Three Day Hangover; TV: Blue Bloods; Awards: Barrymore Award nominee; Training: University of Virginia (B.A.) and Yale School of Drama (M.F.A.); Faculty: Syracuse University Department of Drama. Please visit www.blakesegal.com for more.

Malaika Wanjiku (Hortensia, u/s Bruce) is a Kenya-born native and is so thrilled to be a part of Matilda the Musical. She has been listening to the soundtrack since seventh grade and never did she think she would be in it. But, alas!

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Here I am. Oops, I mean here “she” is. When she isn’t singing, acting, or falling out of turns, she is probably playing golf or reading. She is so excited to continue telling stories and she is so thankful for each and every person reading this. Enjoy the show! Instagram: @malaikawanjiku

Damon Robert Will-

iams (Ensemble, u/s Rudolpho, u/s Big Kid, u/s Michael Wormwood, u/s Doctor) is a senior musical theatre major from Huntington Beach, CA. He is thrilled to be returning to Syracuse Stage after a long two year hiatus. Past credits include: Disney’s Beauty and The Beast (u/s Beast), Amadeus, A Chorus Line (Greg). Love to the best family and friends. @damonrobwilliams

Haley Wright (Lavender) is a senior musical theatre major from Long Island, NY. Previous credits include Silly Girl in Disney’s Beauty and The Beast (Syracuse Stage/Syracuse University Department of Drama coproduction), Tricia/Swing in A Chorus Line (Department of Drama mainstage), Victoria in A Grand Night for Singing (Department of Drama mainstage), and choreographer for Lonely Planet (Department of Drama studio project). She would like to thank her wonderful family and friends for their constant love and support. “Even if you’re little, you can do a lot!” Kathleen Wrinn (Miss Honey) is a performer, teacher, writer, and lover of musical theatre. Favorite roles include Eva Perón (Evita, Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra); Rona Lisa Peretti (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Papermill Theatre); Edwin Drood (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Papermill Theatre); and Henriette Henriot (The Woman in the Blue Dress, Syracuse Stage). As a bookwriter and lyricist, Wrinn’s full-length musicals include Ten: The Story of Grace and Joe (The Rev’s Pitch Series); The Forgetting of Snow (NYU Tisch; Berklee College of Music; NAMT Songwriters Cabaret), and The Bridge (NYTB’s New Works Series; two-time semi-finalist O’Neill NMTC; finalist SDSU New Musical Initiative; two-time recipient Catwalk Art Residency; 2021 workshop Syracuse University). She is currently developing Our Soliloquy, a new musical work with composer Jessica Hunt, adapted from dozens of interviews with women and gender diverse performers in the musical theatre industry. Wrinn is an assistant professor of musical theatre at Syracuse University’s Department of Drama, where she teaches musical theatre performance, singing voice, and collaborative songwriting. Proud member AEA, Dramatists Guild, and Maestra (Directory Manager). M.F.A. NYU Tisch; B.F.A. Syracuse University. For Antonio, Mom, and Dad. www.kathleenwrinn.com

ARTISTIC STAFF

Czerton Lim (Scenic Design) is excited to be returning to Syracuse Stage (and will be back for The Play that Goes Wrong) since designing last year’s production of Talley’s Folly and having designed both holiday productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Elf the Musical (SALT Award for Best Set Design of a Musical 2019). Most recently, he collaborated with The Hangar Theatre Company’s reinterpreted production of An Odyssey. He frequently works at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (now the Rev Theatre Company) in Auburn during the summer, having designed Murder for Two, Ghost the Musical, Parade, Crazy for You, Sweeney Todd, and West Side Story to name a few. NYC credits include Storm Theatre, Ma-Yi Theatre Company, National AsianAmerican Theatre Company, Theatre Mitu/NYU-Abu Dhabi, and New York Musical Theatre Festival. He teaches scene design and other related topics at the State University of New York at Fredonia. A proud member of USA local 829, he is originally from the Philippines. www.czlimdesign.com

Ryan J Moller (Costume Design). Syracuse Stage premiere. Recent design credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Tuacahn), Kinky Boots, Treasure Island (premiere), Hunchback of Notre Dame, Chicago, 42nd Street (Fulton), Hello, Dolly!, Guys and Dolls, Beauty and the Beast (Maine State Music Theatre), Mary Poppins, Peter Pan (Children’s Theatre of Charlotte) Broadway Backwards 2013 (BCEFA), five seasons with Santa Fe Opera, and associate designer for Donna Del Lago at the Met Opera. He has worked backstage on over 25 Broadway shows including: Hamilton, Mean Girls, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Xanadu, American Psycho, Head Over Heels, and Spring Awakening (OBC). Upcoming designs include: Moon Over Buffalo (OCT), Joseph.... Dreamcoat (Tuacahn), Titanic and Phantom (Fulton). M.F.A. - University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Member: USA829. More info at RyanMollerDesigns.com. Love to Eric.

Thomas C. Hase (Lighting Design). Mr. Hase’s body of work includes many of the regional theatres throughout the United States including: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Center Stage Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Alliance Theatre, The Dallas Theater Center, The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Maine State Music among others. He has also designed at many of the regional opera companies in the United States including: Washington National Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, The Santa Fe Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Seattle Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Philadelphia Opera, Minnesota Opera, Goodspeed Opera, and Dallas Opera. As lighting designer with Ping Chong and Company his

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work was seen worldwide. In New York City he has been active both on Broadway Company and OffBroadway as well as at New York City Opera and BAM Next Wave Festival. He has designed throughout Europe, Asia, and South America including: Vienna State Opera, Theater Erfurt, Bayerische Staatsoper, Staatstheater Kassel, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Stadttheater Giessen, The Barbican and Sadler’s Wells in London, Opera North in the UK, The Abbey Theatre and for Riverdreams in Dublin, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Malmö Opera in Sweden, The Dutch, Finnish and Colombian National Operas, Stageholdings and the Nationale Reisopera in Holland, Opéra de Marseille, Canadian Opera Company, The Luminato Festival in Toronto, Singapore Arts Festival, and Tokyo Metro Arts Center. Mr. Hase has been the resident lighting designer and lighting director for Cincinnati Opera Association for 25 years. More information is available at Haseltd.com.

Jacqueline R. Herter (Sound Design) has served as resident sound designer at Syracuse Stage and Syracuse University’s Department of Drama since 1997. She shifted and combined theatrical design with video/film design for last year’s season. Herter has designed for Indiana Repertory Theatre, Studio Arena, the Wilma, Geva, Round House, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Virginia Stage and the Hangar Theater as well as other theatres across the nation. Some favorite designs have been: Annapurna, Beauty and the Beast, Next to Normal, Mary Poppins, Nine, Hairspray, The Overwhelming, Caroline, or Change, The Miracle Worker, The Wolves, The Day Room, The Christians, Radio Golf, Parade, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Red Noses, The Real Thing, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, M. Butterfly, A Raisin in the Sun, A Lesson Before Dying, Copenhagen, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Inherit the Wind, and Big River.

Brian McMullen (Projection Design) has recently worked as the projection designer for Man of La Mancha (Triad Stage) Beehive, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (The Rev Theatre Company), and Nathan Gun Flying Solo (Laguna Playhouse). Brian has also worked as the associate projection designer for Jagged Little Pill, The Cher Show, and The Parisian Woman (Broadway), Blue Man Group Speechless, On Your Feet (National Tour), as well as a video content creator for the 70th through 72nd Annual Tony Awards (CBS). www.brianpmcmullen.com

Jason Kyle Estrada (Wig Design) is a hair and makeup artist and costume designer currently based out of Winston-Salem, NC. He is a graduate of the UNC School of the Arts with an M.F.A. in wig and makeup design. Jason has worked in many arenas of the entertainment industry from the stage to the screen. He builds custom wigs from his studio and loves to garden. He is also a proud member of IATSE local 322.

ARTISTIC STAFF

Stephen Cross (Movement Coach) is an associate professor of physical theatre at Syracuse University where his directing credits include Arabian Nights, Lyisistrata, and A Flea In Her Ear and most recently, On the Lake. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts in ensemble based physical theatre from the Dell’ Arte School in Blue Lake, California. In 2012 he founded Building Company Theater based in Syracuse. As a performer of physical theatre with Building Company he originated the works, Lunch Money, Wood Moves, Alice, Chairs, and in February, 2019, the solo production - Fragile White Guy. As the artistic director of Building Company, he has conceived, co-written, and directed Not Normal-Art in the Age of Trump, The Walls of Palestine and Belfast, Transition Position, Metal Meddle, The Military Monday Radio Hour, Prognosis: Poor, Immigration Dialogue, and most recently, The Apprentice-White House.

Celia Madeoy (Dialect Coach). Matilda the Musical marks Celia’s eleventh year on performance faculty at Syracuse University Department of Drama. Syracuse Stage performances include Deb in Elf The Musical (SALT Award), Madame de la Grande Bouche in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins, Frances Flute/Thisbe in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mrs. Dubose in To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Ev in The Miracle Worker, and Mrs. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol, plus Guido’s Mother in the Department of Drama’s production of Nine. Other Syracuse Stage productions Celia has dialect coached include Pride and Prejudice, Deathtrap, Mary Poppins, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, To Kill A Mockingbird, Peter Pan, The Underpants, and The Glass Menagerie. Celia originated the role of Flo in the North American world premiere of Saturday Night Fever at Merry-Go-Round/Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. She also served as dialect coach on the musical Parade at Merry-Go-Round, which won the 2017 Syracuse Area Live Theatre (SALT) Award for Best Production. Celia has acted in almost all of Shakespeare’s canon with the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Folger Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, Marin Shakespeare Company, and the American Shakespeare Center where she performed in the Blackfriars Playhouse as Lady Macbeth, Emilia in Othello, and Phoebe in As You Like It. Celia has also played Kate and Petruchio separately in The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare & Company, and was twice named most outstanding actress of the Berkshires those seasons. Internationally, Celia has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in three world premiere plays, To Chekhov With Love, Who Killed Pablo Neruda?, and A Scarlet Letter. She’s also worked alongside Andrew Wade, Giles Block, Patsy Rodenburg, and other distinguished directors and voice teachers of the Royal Shakespeare Company,

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British American Drama Academy, Canada’s Moving Voice Institute, Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. Celia received her M.F.A. in acting from The Theatre School Conservatory at DePaul University in Chicago.

Jacob Stebly (Associate Music Director) is a Syracuse-based pianist and a graduate of The Eastman School of Music. He is the assistant music director and a voice teacher for the Department of Drama at Syracuse University where he has music directed A Grand Night for Singing, a workshop of the new musical The Bridge, and Little Shop of Horrors and assistant music directed A Chorus Line, The Wild Party, Into the Woods, and Crazy for You. He has been the associate conductor for the Syracuse Stage/ Department of Drama co-productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Elf The Musical, and The Wizard of Oz and has music directed The Last Five Years for the Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre. Some of his compositions have been heard as incidental music for productions of The Matchmaker, The Cat’s Meow, and the theme song for the podcast Please Don’t Remake This.

Laura Jane Collins (Stage Manager) is happy to return to Syracuse Stage, bringing audiences back into the theatre, and to be a part of multiple productions this 2122 season: Matilda The Musical, Somewhere Over the Border, and The Play That Goes Wrong. Additional Syracuse Stage credits include: I and You, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Talley’s Folly, Amadeus, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Elf The Musical, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime, Next to Normal, The Magic Play, Stupid F***ing Bird, Chinglish, Scorched, and The Boys Next Door. Regional credits include: Footloose, 42nd Street, Grease, South Pacific, Anne of Green Gables: A New Folk Rock Musical, Ghost (The Rev, formerly Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival); The Foreigner, Third, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Around the World in 80 Days (Hangar Theatre). She has also worked on several productions with Rochester City Ballet. LJ is a graduate of the stage management program in the Syracuse University Department of Drama.

Bass/Valle Casting, formerly Harriet Bass Casting, is a leading NYC boutique casting office. To know more about their upcoming projects and casting philosophy please visit www.bassvallecasting.com. Harriet Bass has cast for ABC/TV, Fox Television Studios, The Public Theatre: NEW WORK NOW, The Minetta Lane Theatre, The Women’s Project, La MaMa E.T.C., New York Women in Film and Television, and The Jewish Repertory Theatre. She has cast the last three of the late August Wilson’s ten part play series: the original Radio Golf, Broadway Gem of the Ocean, and Off-Broadway Jitney. Harriet is also a leading educator in audition technique, side and monologue coaching, and the business of acting. She has taught at the nation’s top universities and professional training pro-

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grams. Gama Valle is a director, playwright, screenwriter, children’s book author, and casting director. His casting credits include: The American Tradition, The Great Novel, Split Second, I Wanna Fuck Like Romeo and Juliet, among others. He is a proud member of New Light Theatre Ensemble and the recipient of the Van Lier Directing Fellowship at Repertorio Español. Gama received the First Prize in playwriting from Puerto Rico’s Institute of Culture for his play Queishd&Dilit. Their regional casting credits include: Mark Taper Forum, Hartford Stage, Arena Stage, Trinity Rep, San Jose Rep, GeVa, Syracuse Stage, Pittsburgh Public, Merrimack Rep, Longwharf Theatre, Alliance Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, Kansas City Rep, Baltimore Center Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, Virginia Stage Company, Dallas Theatre Company, Berkeley Rep, Portland Center Stage, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. Feature films credits include: Pushing Hands directed by Ang Lee, Underheat, starring Lee Grant, First We Take Manhattan, produced by Golden Harvest Inc., and Graves End, directed by Sal Stabile.

DIRECTOR

Donna Drake. Broadway: as a performer, the original production of A Chorus Line, Sophisticated Ladies, Woman of the Year, The Wind in the Willows, 5678-Dance, It’s so nice to be Civilized and the original production of The 1940s Radio Hour. She directed four Broadway concerts of Nothing Like a Dame for BC/EFA. She is co-writer and director for the acclaimed singing string quartet, Well-Strung, having debuted at London’s West End, Leicester Square, NYC, and National Tour. Awards: an Emmy nomination, four Drama Desk nominations, a Mac Award nomination, a Theatre World Award and an Off-Broadway Alliance nomination. She choreographed Catherine Zeta Jones for the American Film Institute Awards, 2009 and the AFI 2011 honoring Morgan Freeman and starring Betty White. She directed a new children’s show Addy & Uno Off-Broadway, John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean – OffBroadway, National and International Tours. TV credits: Julie’s Greenroom, starring Julie Andrews (choreography), Monica’s Mixing Bowl, Disney’s Johnny & the Sprites, AFI Awards (2009, 2011), Word Party 2019 at Henson Studios, ABC TV’s Dear Alex & Annie, One Life to Live, and The Edge of Night (contract roles). Regional credits: Direction - The Wizard of Oz, starring Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt; Romance In The Dark, starring Jennifer Holliday; Nothing Like A Dame; BC/EFA 2004-06; All the World is a Stage at Carnegie Hall; A Chorus Line (National Tour); AIDA; Cats; Chicago; Godspell; Elf The Musical; On Your Feet; Hello Dolly; Hairspray; Sister Act; Rent; Tommy; Damn Yankees; NEWSicle; Annie; Love Always, Patsy Cline; Smokey Joes Café;

DIRECTOR

Sweet Charity; Honk!; Lucky Guy; Disney’s Beauty & the Beast; Anything Goes; and Chess. National Tour and documentary film for Varla Jean Merman, BOOBS! The Musical, Christmas with the Crawfords, The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors, The Buddy Holly Story, The Medium, and John Tartaglia at 54 Below, NYC. Miss Drake is currently teaching acting at Pace University, New York City, and Musical Theatre at AMDA- LA.

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Brian Cimmet has previously served as music director for Syracuse Stage’s productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Last Five Years, Elf The Musical, Next to Normal, The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, and Hairspray. He also is a member of the Department of Drama’s fulltime faculty and serves as program coordinator for musical theatre. 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, Screen Buddies, and Newsical; and a lifetime of summer stock and regional theatre. 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, please visit www. bemoresmarter.com to learn more.

CHOREOGRAPHER

Andrea Leigh-Smith is a member of the dance faculty in the Department of Drama’s musical theatre program. Department of Drama choreographic credits include Arabian Nights, Lysistrata, A New Brain, The Cradle Will Rock, Merrily We Roll Along, Violet, Seussical, Spring Awakening, Parade, Avenue Q, Kiss Me, Kate, The Spitfire Grill, Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill: A Musical Voyage, The Baltimore Waltz, The Wild Party, and On The Lake. Andrea choreographed The Underpants with Syracuse Stage as well as Louis Braille: The World at Your Fingertips and Into the Woods at The Hangar Theater. She has worked as a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher in the U.S. and Canada. Broadway credits include Jerome Robbins Broadway and SMILE. She also has numerous credits with national tours, Radio City Music Hall, and major regional theatres in the U.S. and Canada. Andrea is co-founder and resident choreographer for The Irondale Ensemble Project Canada. Her choreographic works include contemporary concert, jazz, and musical theatre repertoire. Andrea is also a company member of The Building Company, a new theater company residing in Syracuse.

CREATIVE TEAM

Roald Dahl (Author) (1916-1990) was the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG and many more of the world’s best-loved children’s stories. He remains one of the world’s greatest storytellers and is celebrated annually by the world’s biggest author-based event, Roald Dahl Day – which is recognised across the globe on 13th September. His first children’s story, James and the Giant Peach, published in 1961 and was a huge hit. Every subsequent book became a best-seller. Today, his stories are available in 59 languages and, by a conservative estimate, he has sold more than 250 million books. Many of these stories have also been adapted for stage and screen, including the 1971 film classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Wes Anderson’s acclaimed Fantastic Mr. Fox, and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award winning production of Matilda the Musical. https://www.roalddahl.com, www.facebook.com/roalddahl, http://www.twitter.com/roald_dahl www.instagram.com/roald_dahl/

Dennis Kelly (Book) Work for theatre includes Debris, Osama the Hero, After the End, Love and Money, Taking Care of Baby, DNA, Orphans, The Gods Weep, and The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas. He has written the book for the new musical of Pinocchio which opened at the National Theatre at the end of 2017, and in 2018 his new play Girls and Boys opened at the Royal Court. His plays have been performed worldwide and to date have been translated into nearly forty languages. For television he co-wrote and co-created Pulling and wrote and created Utopia. For film, he wrote the screenplay for Black Sea, directed by Kevin MacDonald. He also wrote the book for the Olivier and Tony winning Matilda the Musical. In 2010, DNA became a set text on the GCSE English Literature syllabus.

Tim Minchin (Music and Lyrics) is an Australian musician, comedian, composer, actor, writer, and director. He has toured extensively in the US, UK, and Australia, performing solo, with bands, and with symphony orchestras. He’s released five DVDs, the most recent recorded with the Heritage Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. He is the composer lyricist of two hit West End/Broadway musicals, Matilda and Groundhog Day, both of which won the Olivier Award for Best West End Musical and garnered nominations for Best Score and Best Musical in Broadway’s Tony Awards. Minchin wrote, produced, and starred in the Sky Atlantic/Foxtel TV series, Upright, in 2019. Other screen-acting credits include Atticus Fetch in Season 6 of Californication, a Logie Awardwinning Smasher Sullivan in the ABC’s Secret River, and Friar Tuck in Lionsgate›s Robin Hood reboot. Stage highlights include Judas in the UK/ Australian Arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2012, and Rosencrantz in the Sydney Theatre Company’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead the following year. He has published two books: the graphic novel, Storm, and

CREATIVE TEAM

the illustrated childrens' book, When I Grow Up. He is a member of the Order of Australia, a philanthropist, and a mediocre juggler.

Chris Nightingale (Orchestrations and Additional Music) is the musical supervisor, orchestrator and created additional music for Matilda the Musical for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Orchestrations and a Grammy Award nomination for his work as co-producer on the Matilda album. He recently composed the score for the film Pride, which was BAFTA nominated. Theatre credits include: composer Future Conditional (Old Vic), musical supervisor, arranger, and orchestrator for Ghost the Musical (London and Broadway), co-composer for The Lord of the Rings (London and Toronto, also musical supervisor, arranger, and orchestrator). He was musical supervisor and arranger for Yusuf Islam’s Moonshadow and was musical supervisor and co-arranger for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams, composed additional arrangements and was the musical supervisor of The Pet Shop Boys’ Closer To Heaven (Arts Theatre). He was musical director for Whistle Down The Wind (West End), Oliver! (London Palladium), and musical director for three years at the RSC, working on many productions. Film credits include coaching, recording, and conducting the cast on the set of Alan Parker’s Evita. Recordings include: co-producer Matilda the Musical original London and Broadway cast album, associate producer Ghost original London cast album, co-producer Lord of the Rings original London cast album. An organ scholar at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Christopher was musical director of the Cambridge Footlights for three years before graduating in 1987 and working for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

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 70,000 professional, community, and school theatres in the US and in over 60 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.

MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL

MTI maintains its global headquarters in New York City with additional offices in London (MTI Europe) and Melbourne (MTI Australasia).

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Robert Hupp is in his sixth season as artistic director of Syracuse Stage. He recently directed Eureka Day, Annapurna, Talley’s Folly, Amadeus, Noises Off, Next to Normal, and The Three Musketeers for Stage. Prior to coming to central New York, Robert spent seventeen seasons as the producing artistic director of Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Little Rock. He directed over 30 productions for Arkansas Rep ranging from Hamlet to Les Miserables to The Grapes of Wrath. In New York City, Robert directed the American premieres of Glyn Maxwell’s The Lifeblood and Wolfpit for the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble. He also served for nine seasons as the artistic director of the Obie Award-winning Jean Cocteau Repertory. At the Cocteau, Robert’s directing credits include works by Buchner, Wilder, Cocteau, Shaw, Wedekind and the premieres of the Bentley/Milhaud version of Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children, Seamus Heaney’s The Cure at Troy, and Eduardo de Filippo’s Napoli Millionaria. He has held faculty positions at Pennsylvania’s Dickinson College and, in Arkansas, at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Hendrix College. Robert served as vice president of the Board of Directors of the Theatre Communications Group and has served on funding panels for the New York State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, the Theatre Communications Group, the New Jersey State Council of the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. While in Arkansas, Robert was named both Non-Profit Executive of the Year by the Arkansas Business Publishing Group, and Individual Artist of the Year by the Arkansas Arts Council. He and his wife Clea ride herd over a blended family of five children, one dog, and two cats.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Jill A. Anderson has served as managing director of Syracuse Stage since 2016. Jill is responsible for Stage’s nearly $6.5 million operating budget and has oversight of fundraising, marketing, and operational matters within the organization. Prior to joining Stage, Jill spent a decade as general manager at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. During her tenure, the O’Neill completed a $7 million capital campaign and campus expansion, doubled its operating budget, and was honored

MANAGING DIRECTOR

with a 2015 National Medal of Arts and the 2010 Regional Theatre Tony Award. Under the O’Neill’s aegis, Jill also developed the Baltic Playwrights Conference, an annual international new play development retreat held in Hiiumaa, Estonia. Previously, Jill spent five years in the production office at Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage, after working as a stage manager in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Massachusetts. In addition to her work at Stage, Jill is an instructor in the Theater Management program of the Syracuse University Department of Drama, building on her work with high school and college students elsewhere, including at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Jill was recognized as part of the Central New York Business Journal’s “40 Under Forty” awards in 2017 and has served on numerous municipal and non-profit boards. Jill is delighted to call Central New York home, but will always be a proud cheesehead, originally hailing from Marshfield, Wisconsin.

ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Melissa Crespo is a director of new plays, musicals, and opera. Upcoming: world premiere of Selena Maria Sings by Miriam Gonzalez, music by Daniel J. French (Childsplay & Magik Theatre) and Yoga Play by Dipika Guha (Syracuse Stage). As a playwright, her play Egress, co-written with Sarah Saltwick, will receive an NNPN rolling world premiere starting this fall. Fellowships and residencies include: Time Warner Fellow (WP Theatre), Usual Suspect (NYTW), The Director’s Project (Drama League), Van Lier Directing Fellow (Second Stage Theatre), and the Allen Lee Hughes Directing Fellow (Arena Stage). Melissa received her M.F.A. in directing from The New School for Drama. She is a founding editor of 3Views on Theater and was featured in the 2020 Broadway Women’s Fund “Women to Watch on Broadway”. https://www.melissacrespo.com

RESIDENT PLAYWRIGHT

Kyle Bass is the author of the play Possessing Harriet, commissioned by the Onondaga Historical Association, which received its world premiere at Syracuse Stage in 2018, was subsequently produced at Franklin Stage Company, and will be produced at the East Lynn Theater Company in 2022. His new plays are salt/city/blues, which will have its world premiere at Syracuse Stage in 2022, Citizen James, or The Young Man Without A Country, a one-man show on James Baldwin, commissioned by Syracuse Stage,

RESIDENT PLAYWRIGHT

which streamed in 2021 and will tour live in 2022, and the libretto for Libba Cotton: Here This Day, a new opera based on the life of American folk music legend Libba Cotten, commissioned by The Society for New Music. Kyle’s other full-length plays include Tender Rain, Bleecker Street, Baldwin vs. Buckley: The Faith of Our Fathers, which has been presented at Cornell University, Colgate University, the University of Delaware, and was presented at Syracuse University in September 2021, and Separated, a documentary theatre piece about the student military veterans at Syracuse University, which was presented at Syracuse Stage and the Paley Center in New York. With National Medal of Arts recipient Ping Chong, Kyle is the co-author of Cry for Peace: Voices from the Congo, which had its world premiere at Syracuse Stage and was subsequently produced at La MaMa Experimental Theatre in New York. Kyle has also written for Noh theatre under commission by Theatre Nohgaku. Kyle is the co-author of the original screenplay for the film Day of Days (Broad Green Pictures, 2017), which stars award-winning veteran actor Tom Skerritt, and the author of the screenplay Abundance, an adaptation of the novel Milk by Darcy Steinke. As dramaturg Kyle worked with acclaimed visual artist and MacArthur Fellow Carrie Mae Weems on her theatre piece Grace Notes: Reflections for Now, which had its world premiere at the 2016 Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, subsequently produced at Yale Rep and the Kennedy Center, and he was script consulted on the Broadway-bound Thoughts of a Colored Man, which premiered at Syracuse Stage in 2019. Kyle’s plays and other writings have appeared in the journals Callaloo, Folio, and Stone Canoe, among others, and in the essay anthology, Alchemy of the Word: Writers Talk about Writing. Kyle is the founding curator of Syracuse Stage’s annual Cold Read Festival of New Plays, which has hosted some of the country’s most-produced playwrights, including Larissa FastHorse and Kate Hamill. He has also served Syracuse Stage as literary manager and resident dramaturg and received the 2021 Impact Award as Artist as Manager, presented by the Arts Administration Program at Le Moyne College. After five seasons as associate artistic director at Syracuse Stage, Kyle was recently announced as the theatre’s first-ever resident playwright. Kyle is assistant professor in the Department of Theater at Colgate University, where he previously served as the Burke Endowed Chair for Regional Studies. Previously, Kyle was faculty in the M.F.A. Creative Writing program at Goddard College from 2006 to 2018, taught playwriting in Syracuse University’s Department of Drama and at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, and was the 2019/20 Susan P. Stroman Visiting Playwright at the University of Delaware. A twotime recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Fellowship (for fiction in 1998, for playwriting in 2010), a finalist for the Princess Grace Playwriting Award, and Pushcart Prize nominee, Kyle holds an M.F.A. in playwriting from Goddard College, is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America and is represented by The Barbara Hogenson Agency.