THT Rep presents The Marvelous Party at the BrickBox Theater

CREATIVE TEAM

Concept and Direction ............................................................................... Livy Scanlon

Music Director and Pianist ........................................................... Catherine Stornetta

Lighting Designer Lawrence Ware

Sound Designer Lucas Cardwell

Stage Manager......................................................................................... Jane Siebels*

Production Manager ................................................................................ Lisa Hackman

Production Assistant/Wardrobe Supervisor Perri Sylvester

CAST (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

Emcee Joshua Olumide*

Laura Meri Stypinski*

Grace ................................................................................................... Jenna Lea Scott*

Maureen ........................................................................................................... Alley Cote

Millicent Britt Ambruson

Cecil Brandon Lee

Elsie ........................................................................................................... Leigh Barrett*

Bobby Carr ....................................................................................... LaRon Lee Hudson

Frederick Cristiano Lourenço, Jr.

Cyrill Robert St. Laurence*

* Member, Actor’s Equity Association

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Thank you for being a part of THT Rep’s first full season! May tonight’s party be a joyous celebration of this new initiative. Cheers!

REMINDER

Livy Scanlon

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices during the performance.

Make memories that last a lifetime.

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TERRITORY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Land is something sacred to all of us, whether we consciously appreciate it or not, it is the space upon which we play, live, eat, find love and experience life. The land is ever-changing and ever-shifting, giving us and all other creatures and beings on the earth an infinite number of gifts and lessons. Today, we want to acknowledge the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Nipmuc Nation on which we are working and currently performing in Worcester, MA. We recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. This sort of acknowledgement is essential to human rights work across the world. It is essential to our work of honoring stories that explore the human experience. Find more information here:

https://native-land.ca/

CAST

(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

JOSHUA OLUMIDE* (Emcee)

Joshua is thrilled to be returning to The JMAC, where he had the opportunity to play Macduff in the 2022 fall production of Macbeth . Olumide made his acting debut on the big screen in the film “Detroit” where he worked with Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow. Since then, he’s appeared in various theatre, film and TV productions. Highlights of his theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (Classic Theatre of Maryland), Our Town (People’s Light) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival). Joshua hopes to create a sense of harmony through his work. He believes human connection is at its best when we let go of our judgements and allow our true spontaneous selves to flow.

MERI STYPINSKI* she/her/hers (Laura)

With The Hanover Theatre Repertory: The Crucible (staged reading, Elizabeth Proctor), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth) and Julius Caesar (Cassia/Cassius). Other regional credits include A Christmas Carol (The Hanover Theatre), Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (Opera House Arts), The Wild Party (MoonBox Productions) and Dark Room (Bridge Repertory Theatre). Favorite roles include Maria ( Twelfth Night ), Dora Strang ( Equus ), Lysistrata ( Lysistrata ), Abby ( The Musical of Musicals (The Musical)! ) and Liz Morden ( Our Country’s Good ). Meri earned her BFA from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association. All the thanks in the universe to her muse.

JENNA

LEA SCOTT* she/her/hers (Grace)

Jenna is having a marvelous debut at The Hanover Theatre Repertory. Recent credits include A Christmas Carol (Trinity Rep), Tiny Beautiful Things (Trinity Rep), This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing (Wellesley Rep), Ragtime (Wheelock Family Theatre) and “HRO: Adventures of a Humanoid Resources Officer” (video game V.O. Release Date on May 21, 2023 on STEAM). Jenna is grateful to be an actor and teaching artist in the New England area. During the day she’s a standardized patient working with the top medical schools in the region. “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)”

ALLEY COTE (Maureen)

Alley is a musician from Holden, MA and a graduate of Worcester State University. She is a pianist, piano instructor, drummer, composer and arranger. Alley performs locally and is an active member of the “Sounds of Stow,” Master Singers of Worcester and the Worcester Chorus. She is making her theatrical debut in this production.

CAST

BRITT AMBRUSON (Millicent)

Britt is overjoyed to make her Hanover Theatre Repertory debut! She is a vocal student of Mark Mummert here at The Hanover Theatre Conservatory and holds a BFA from Lesley College of the Arts and a M. Arch from Boston Architectural College. Recent credits include Katherine Plumber in Newsies (Stadium Theatre) and Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde (Stageworks Arts). She sends gratitude to The Hanover Theatre for this opportunity and love to family, friends and Ron for believing in her!

BRANDON LEE he/him/his (Cecil)

Brandon is excited to join The Hanover Theatre Repertory for the first time! Regional credits include Mamma Mia! (NCCA Jean’s Playhouse), Next to Normal (Studio Theatre Worcester), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park), Godspell , Tarzan and A Christmas Carol (Berkshire Theatre Group). He trains with Nelson Studios and recently studied with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. Brandon sends love to LO. brandonleeactor.com

LEIGH BARRETT* she/her (Elsie)

Leigh has built her thirty-year career on New England stages including North Shore Music Theatre, Reagle Music Theatre, Lyric Stage Co, SpeakEasy Stage, The Huntington Stage, Greater Boston Stage, Gloucester Stage, New Repertory Theatre, Bridge Rep and Central Square Theatre. Favorite roles include Florence ( Souvenir ), Rose ( Gypsy ), JoAnne ( Company ), Fosca ( Passion ), Little Edie/Big Edie (Grey Gardens) and Sally (Follies). She is the proud recipient of four Elliot Norton Awards, including the Prize for Sustained Excellence. A director as well, Leigh recently directed Sister Act for the Lyric Stage. A passionate advocate for the well-being of artists, she is pursuing certification as a Consent Forward Artist. Leigh sends love to HB and her boys, Nick and Matt.

LARON LEE HUDSON (Bobby Carr)

LaRon is honored and blessed to be part of this production of The Marvelous Party. He was most recently seen onstage at Arizona Broadway in Ghost (subway ghost). Previous credits include Neveah’s Brother Tour, Cabaret, Pippin, Godspell, Next to Normal, The Fantastiks, Sister Act and Ragtime. Directing and choreo credits include Addams Family, The Prom, Willy Wonka, Madagascar Jr. and Mary Poppins . LaRon is proud to serve as Theatre Education Director at Camp Eisner. Other teaching credits include Michigan State University (Wharton: Now Next), Ogunquit Playhouse, Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, and Columbus Children’s Theatre. LaRon wishes you find the joy, healing and peace you deserve.

CAST

CRISTIANO LOURENÇO, JR. he/him/his (Frederick)

Cristiano is a Brazilian actor based in Worcester, MA. He studied at The Hanover Theatre Conservatory and is excited to be back with his third production at The Hanover Theatre. Credits include Macbeth as the First Witch, Julius Caesar (The Hanover Theatre Repertory), Next to Normal as Henry, The Gift of the Magi (Studio Theatre Worcester), Em Azul Um Musical (In Blue, A Musical), Little Prince: The Musical, as well as multiple national tours in Brazil. He received two nominations for the BroadwayWorld Regional Awards 2022 (“Best Performer in a Play” and “Best Supporting Performer in a Musical”). Cristiano is grateful for his parent’s support and every teacher, director and choreographer who believed in his potential. @cristtianojr

ROBERT ST. LAURENCE* (Cyril)

Robert is excited to return to The Hanover Theatre Repertory after appearing in Macbeth . A perennial company member with the Barnstormers Theatre in NH, Robert’s regional credits include Nat Turner in Jerusalem (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater), Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (Lyric Stage), Pirate Princess (American Repertory Theater) and Sunday in the Park with George (Huntington Theatre). Robert is on faculty at Bunker Hill Community College and received his MFA in Acting from Harvard University’s ART/MXAT

CREATIVE TEAM

LIVY SCANLON (Director)

Livy is a versatile theatre professional working as a producer, director, actor and teaching artist. She currently serves as Artistic Director of The Hanover Theatre Repertory and Managing Director of the Jean McDonough Arts Center. Various acting and directing credits include Central Square Theatre, New Rep, Commonwealth Shakespeare, Trinity Rep, Asolo Rep, Paper Mill Playhouse, Hartford Stage and Bridge Rep, which she founded and helmed for five years, and where she received an Eliot Norton Award for “Outstanding Director” (Dark Room) and an IRNE Award for “Best Actress” (Mrs. Packard). Livy is a Lecturer in Acting at WPI. She has been included in Worcester Magazine’s list of “Women to Watch” and in the Worcester Business Journal’s “Power 50.” Livy holds an MFA from Brown University/Trinity Rep.

CATHERINE STORNETTA (Music Director/Pianist)

Catherine has performed Forbidden Broadway , Forbidden Hollywood and/ or Forbidden Christmas in all but three states, in five different countries, on cruise ships circumnavigating the globe and once, after being bitten by a dog outside the Air Force Academy, with only her right hand and left thumb. She has orchestrated both Forbidden Broadway and Forbidden Christmas, and as a result has conducted the Detroit, Hartford, Winnipeg, North Carolina, Rochester, Syracuse, Ft. Wayne, UNLV and Adelaide (Australia) Symphonies. She lives in Boston, has worked at almost all theaters there, and was a recipient of the Elliot Norton Award for her work on Parade with Moonbox Productions. She was most recently the arranger for David Hyde Pierce’s performance as the Child twins on HBO’s “Julia.” In her salad days, she was an occasional soloist with the Boston Pops.

LAWRENCE WARE (Lighting Designer)

Lawrence is an MFA candidate at The University of South Carolina in Theatre with an emphasis in Lighting Design. He holds a degree from The University of Arizona in Theatre Production; Design and Technology with an emphasis in Lighting Design. Recently he was credited as the Lighting Designer for Bud Not Buddy (Wheelock Family Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (University of South Carolina) and Assistant Lighting Designer for Ragtime the Musical (Baystreet Theatre). He wants to thank his family, his wonderful girlfriend Katelyn and audiences supporting art in our community. Visit his website at lawlightingdesigns.myportfolio.com.

LUCAS CARDWELL (Sound Designer)

Lucas has been working in theatre, events and entertainment in Central Mass for over 10 years in various roles. He is thankful for another opportunity to work with the Conservatory team, and sincerely hopes you enjoy the party!

“I’ve been to a marvelous party. I must say the fun was intense. We all had to do what the people we knew might be doing a hundred years hence.”

-Noël Coward, “I Went To A Marvelous Party”

CREATIVE TEAM

JANE SIEBELS* (Production Stage Manager)

Jane is excited to be back with The Hanover Theatre Repertory after stage managing Macbeth, The Edgar Allan Poe Double Header, Judith and The Crucible ! In addition to stage managing A Christmas Carol at The Hanover Theatre, she also did the same at regional venues including The Huntington Theatre, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Greater Boston Stage Company, American Stage Festival, Florida Studio Theatre and the Asolo. New York credits include The Pearl Theatre, Miranda Theatre Co., The John Houseman Theatre and Lincoln Center. Currently, Jane also enjoys working as a Children’s Librarian in Shrewsbury, MA. Many thanks to her family for supporting her during this busy adventure!

LISA HACKMAN (PRODUCTION MANAGER)

Lisa is thrilled to be back with The Hanover Theatre Repertory for this production. Lisa is currently the Vice President of Operations & Production at The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory. Since January 1999, Lisa has been with Blue Man Group as a Stage Manager in Chicago & Boston, the Production Stage Manager with the Boston production from 2006-2022 and the PSM representative for the entire company from 2015-2020. Since 2019 Lisa has also been with Music Worcester and is the Director of Production and Operations presenting concerts and dance shows all around Worcester and the surrounding area. Thank you for coming and please enjoy the show!

PERRI SYLVESTER (Production Assistant & Wardrobe Supervisor)

Perri is a local creative who is thrilled to be part of the production of The Marvelous Party at The Hanover Theatre! Recent credits include Costume Coordinator and Wardrobe Supervisor for The Hanover Theatre Repertory’s staged reading of The Crucible , Costume Designer for the Youth Acting Company’s production of The Seagull and Exhibit This! , both produced by The Hanover Theatre Conservatory. She also served as Wardrobe Manager for The Nutcracker . Perri graduated from Clark University with a major in technical theatre and is active the local theatre scene! She would like to thank friends, family and artists of all kinds for inspiring her. Find her spells in silver on Instagram | @perrisylvr .

* Member, Actor’s Equity Association

SPECIAL THANKS

Special thank to Jenny Gaul for her support in the creation of the music included in this production of The Marvelous Party.

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Gabriele (Reverend Hale in THT Rep’s The Crucible) ©Mike Nyman Photography