Rent

erforming rts enterC A P

university at albany State University of New York

2022-23

Cover photo: Urban Bush Women’s “Give Your Hands to Struggle” | Photo by Ian Douglas

Photo this page: UAlbany Performing Arts Center | Photo by Patrick Ferlo

UAlbany Theatre

Department of Music & Theatre

College of Arts and Sciences presents

RENT

Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson

Musical Arrangements

Steve Skinner

Musical Supervision/ Additional Arrangements

Tim Weil

Music Direction Michael Lister

Lighting Design

Andi Lyons

Makeup Design

Arianna Bozac

Directed by Chuck Kraus

Original Concept/ Additional Lyrics

Bill Aronson

Original Dramaturg

Lynn Thomson

Choreography/Musical Staging

AshleySimone Kirchner

Scenic Design

Andrew Mannion

Stage Manager

Taylor Doran

Costume Design

Anne Croteau

Technical Direction

John Knapp

RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and the New York Theatre Workshop.

RENT is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

This production is made possible with the generous support of The John Orser ’55 Theatrical Endowment, the Futterer-Gould Fund and University Auxiliary Services.

Mark Cohen

Roger Davis

Mimi Marquez

Benny Coffin III

Maureen Johnson

JACOB BELL

CALEB LEE

DAVANI MELENDEZ

GODSWILL UTIONKPAN

OLIVIA SCOPPETTO

Joanne Jefferson AUTUMN BOSTICK

Tom Collins

Angel Schunard

ANDREW CALVACCA

DEASIA CLARKE

NATHAN COOPER

FIONA FACCILONGA

MARILYN FEERICK

AYELE BROCKINGTON

ALEX REYNOSO Ensemble

ALISON KRAWCZYK

PETER MOSTERT

MADISON RIVERA

AMANDA ROGERS

ROZANNA SASA

STEPHEN KAPALCZYNSKI

BRUCE KONOPA

The Band

JILLIAN SHARP

BRIANA START

TOM MONKELL, guitar

TOM MCGRATH, bass

JEAN-PAUL KLEM, drums

JARA MANATAN, second keyboard

DYLAN SORENSEN, second guitar

Special Thanks

Kathryn Jersen

Playhouse Stage Company

Assistant Technical Director………………………..………JOSEPH WEST

Scene Shop Supervisor………….. …………………………….JOHN KNAPP

Costume Shop Manager…………………….………….. ANNE CROTEAU

Sound Engineer………………………………………….RACHEL BRATAGER

Sound Technician……………………………………………..SHANELL WEST

Props Supervisor…………………………………………….ISABEL SANCHEZ

Props Assistant………………………………………..MARWA BENZOUINA

Master Electrician………………………………….DEANNA GREENBLATT

Assistant Stage Managers… MAGGIE ROWLES, LUCY SKIDMORE

Dramaturg……………………………………………………JACK BESTERMAN

Marketing…………………………………………..……………….MINSEO KOO

Marketing Assistant………………………..……………. FATIMA YOUSSEF

Light Board Operator………….…………….…………….….… JAY POTTAK

Video Editor…………………………………………………..MIKAYLA PABON

Electrics Crew…………………………………………………NAT SCHULMAN

Spot Operators…………………..MICHAELA ADAM, RACHEL ULRICH

Wardrobe Crew…………………. BRYAN ANTINORE, EMILY CHOON

LAUREL IZZO, RHYS LEWIS, KEZIAH STEWART

Stage Crew……………………..……….BRIA KNOX, VLAD PANCHISHAK

TORY SHROPSHIRE-HOWERTON, AMANDA SPRINGER

Prop Run Crew……………………………………….CLAIRE DELL-PRISCOLI

Scene Shop TAs……………….…NATHAN COOPER, TAYLOR DORAN

DEANNA GREENBLATT, MINSEO KOO, CALEB LEE, JOSEPH WEST

Scene Shop Crew….MINSEO KOO, CALEB LEE, VLAD PANCHISHAK

Scene Shop Lab Students…… JAYLEN ADISON, CATHERINE ALESIO

VANESSA AVEMEE, AMARI BANKS, OLIVIA BENOIT

AUTUMN BOSTICK, CHENIA JONES, ALLISON KRAWCZYK

YOONA LEE, KAMERYN MARTIN, FATOU MBAYE

CHRISTALENE MIRTIL, COLE O'CONNELL, MIKAYLA PABON

JUSTIN POLANCO, JAY POTTAK, MADISON RIVERA, MYA THOMAS

Costume Shop Technical Assistant………………………..LAUREL IZZO

Costume Shop Crew ……………………………………………PAUL HARTER

CHRISTALENE MIRTIL, RACHEL ULRICH

JACOB BELL he/him (Mark) is thrilled to be involved in his first Theatre Program production at UAlbany. In past years he has played roles such as Thenardier in Les Miserables and Kurt Kelly in Heathers: The Musical. Jacob would like to thank the entire production team for all their hard work during this quick rehearsal period. Jacob would also like to thank his mother, his father, his sister, and his grandmother, as well as his friends, who have all supported him through thick and thin.

AUTUMN BOSTICK she/her (Joanne) recently began her training in theater; this is Autumn’s first performance at UAlbany. Autumn studied different styles of musical theater while in London at Regents University. She enjoys traveling, as well as museums, to discover the fine arts of the world. Autumn is looking forward to being part of more productions to come within the world of theatre.

AYELE BROCKINGTON he/they (Collins) is excited about his latest Theatre Program production at UAlbany and loves when he can do shows that both his girlfriend and mom like. Past productions included Twelfth Night, New Works/New Ways, Our Country’s Good and multiple FRESH ACTS festivals. Ayele is happy to bring to the stage the beautiful message of the character Tom Collins: that the system is corrupt and broken, we can’t forget, and we will all have to band together to fix it.

ANDREW CALVACCA he/him/his (Paul/Homeless/Company) is thrilled to be in his first Theater Program production. He is currently a junior at UAlbany, with a double major in Music and Human Development. He would like to thank his family and friends for pushing him to pursue his musical theater passion.

DEASIA CLARKE she/they (Vendor/Company) is a senior at UAlbany with a major in Economics and a minor in Business. She loves all things in the performing arts and has played the

saxophone for over a decade. Deasia made her acting debut through previous Theatre Program productions playing parts in FRESH ACTS such as Cheluchi in Chioma Ofodile’s debut of Before War, and the role of Shola/Aeris in Yetunde’s Josephine in the New Play Arena. She wants to thank her friends and family for their support, and she sends best wishes to her Rent family.

NATHAN "NATE" COOPER he/him (The Man/Vendor/Company) is excited to return to the world of musical theatre at UAlbany after getting his debut onstage in two Disney musicals back in high school. He would like to thank his fellow cast and crew for making this quick production process a success through their hard work and dedication and would like to extend special recognition to vocal teacher Rachel McKenzie for inspiring him with the skills and confidence to audition for such a prestigious musical after such a long hiatus.

FIONA FACCILONGA she/her (A Girl/Vendor/Company) is a sophomore at UAlbany, majoring in English and minoring in Italian and Creative Writing. Her previous stage work includes Beauty and the Beast (Wardrobe) and Heathers: The Musical (Veronica) with Musical Theatre Association. She thanks the creative team for all their hard work and dedication to this show throughout the process.

MARILYN FEERICK she/her (Coat Vendor/Company) is a senior at UAlbany, with a double major in Theatre and English, and a minor in French. This is her eighth show with the Theatre Program, and she has is super-hyped to work with such a fantastic cast and crew. Previous roles include Viola in Twelfth Night, #13 in The Wolves, and Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She wants to thank her family for encouraging and supporting her.

STEPHEN KAPALCZYNSKI he/him (Company) is so happy to be a part of the cast of Rent of this Theatre Program production. He

has participated in many high school shows, before but has truly never felt more honored to be a part of a cast and crew. He would like to thank his teachers who have supported him throughout his musical journey, and all his friends and family no matter if they traveled from Buffalo or State Quad to come to see him perform.

BRUCE KONOPA he/him/his (Cop/Homeless Man/Company) is a sophomore at UAlbany with a Communications major and Theatre minor, and he is very excited to perform in the Theatre Program’s production of Rent. Previous credits with Music Theatre Association include Maurice in Beauty and the Beast, and Kurt’s Dad in Heathers. He would like to thank everyone for their hard work in putting the show together.

ALLISON KRAWCZYK she/her (Roger’s Mom/Ali/Junkie/Company) is making her UAlbany stage debut with this production, and she is so excited to be a part of the cast of Rent. She has previously been in multiple productions playing roles such as Velma Kelly in Chicago, Madame Thenardier in Les Misérables, Martha Dunnestock in Heathers. She wants to thank the creative team for this opportunity.

CALEB LEE he/him (Roger) is a senior at the UAlbany with a major in Theatre and a double minor in Musical Theatre and Business. His credits include Off the Charts (Florida Studio Theatre), Twelfth Night (Orsino), Spring Awakening (Melchior), Footloose (Ren McCormack), Guys and Dolls (Benny Southstreet), First Date (Man #2) and Beauty and the Beast (Featured Ensemble). He would like to thank his mom for her continuing love and support.

DAVANI MELENDEZ she/her (Mimi) is thrilled to make her Theater Program stage debut in Rent. Born and raised in New York City, she studied Musical Theatre at Talent Unlimited High School. She is currently a first-year student studying Communi-

cations and Theatre. She is grateful to her family and friends for their love and support and would like to thank all those involved in this amazing production.

PETER MOSTERT he/him (Steve/Cop/Homeless/Company) is very excited to be involved with UAlbany’s production of Rent. This is his first appearance in a Theatre Program show. Some of past roles in Musical Theatre Association productions include The Beast (Beauty and the Beast), Reverend Shaw (Footloose), and Jimmy Ray (Bright Star). He would like to thank his friends and family for supporting him, and hopes you enjoy the show.

ALEX REYNOSO he/him (Angel) is a first-year student, making his debut in a Theatre Program production. His previous experience with musical theater was in his high school production of Mama Mia. He is ecstatic to have the opportunity to embody such an iconic character and hopes to share with the audience a bit of the joy and optimism that Angel has inspired in him. Alex would like to thank his close friends and family for always supporting and encouraging him to venture out of his comfort zone and try new things.

MADISON RIVERA she/her (Alexi Darling/Sue) is excited to be performing in her second show at UAlbany. Previously she played Stoner Chick in Musical Theatre Association’s production of Heathers: The Musical. She also has played roles such as Cinderella in Cinderella and Jasmine in Aladdin. She would like to thank her mom, dad, siblings, and grandmother for always supporting her in life. She is looking forward to this awesome show.

AMANDA ROGERS she/her (Homeless/Company) is thrilled to be a part of this production. Previous credits include Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts), Once Upon a Mattress (Queen), and The Music Man (Dancer). She would like to thank the director and choreographer for entrusting her with this role, and her family for all their support. She hopes you enjoy the show.

ROZANNA “ROZ” SASA they/them (Homeless/Mark’s Mother/ Company) is a Criminal Justice major and Sociology minor with a passion for acting. Their interests include singing, songwriting, and playing guitar. They are also learning piano in their free time. They have been in many productions, but this is their first production here at UAlbany, and they are already looking forward to the next one.

OLIVIA SCOPPETTO she/her (Maureen) is excited to be performing in UAlbany Theatre Program’s production of Rent. She participated in many productions in high school including Les Miserables (Cosette), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), and Phantom of the Opera (Christine), and is thrilled to be returning to the stage. She is grateful to her family, friends, and girlfriend for their ongoing encouragement and support during this experience and always.

JILLIAN SHARP she/her/hers (Junkie/Homeless/Company) is a senior Theatre major and Creative Writing minor. Previous UAlbany credits include Six Scenes in a Theater, Lovers & Lunatics, Love and Other Destinations, and FRESH ACTS. She is grateful to her family and boyfriend for their love and support, and she would like to thank her professors and the Rent creative team for making her senior year one to remember.

BRIANA START she/her (Mrs. Cohen/Pam/Homeless/Company) is very excited to be a part of her first show at UAlbany. She has always had a love for singing and started acting at local theatres in the third grade. Some of her favorite roles include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, and Duchess Estonia in Nice Work If You Can Get It. She would like to thank her friends and family for encouraging her to go after her dreams.

GODSWILL UTIONKPAN he/him (Benny) is a junior majoring in Informatics (software development) and minoring in Theatre. He was first drawn to acting after watching Marlon Brando in A

Streetcar Named Desire, but it was not until he took Acting 1 at UAlbany that he found it was something that he loved to do. Godswill was an ensemble member in the 2022 FRESH ACTS festival. He was also the assistant director of The Piano Lesson last semester. He is excited to be participating in his first musical and thanks all who made it possible.

TAYLOR DORAN she/her (Stage Manager) is a senior at UAlbany majoring in Theatre and minoring in Theatre Design and Technology. She is from Albany, NY. Past credits include stage manager of the Theatre Program’s production of The Wolves, co-stage manager in MTA’s production of Heathers, and stage manager in Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead. She would like to thank the cast and crew for their hard work.

MAGGIE ROWLES she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is a firstyear student at UAlbany, double majoring in Theatre and Business Administration. She is from Syracuse, New York. She is so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of Rent and watch the show come alive. Past credits include the Theatre Program’s production of The Wolves (Assistant Stage Manager) and Musical Theatre Association’s production of Heathers: The Musical (Assistant Stage Manager). She would love to thank her sister Clara for sparking her passion for theatre.

LUCY SKIDMORE she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore at UAlbany double majoring in Anthropology and Sociology. She is from Syracuse, New York. Past credits include: The Addams Family (Sound Board Operator) and Musical Theatre Association productions of Footloose (Run Crew), Beauty & the Beast (Run Crew), and Heathers: The Musical (CoStage Manager). She would like to thank the cast and crew for all their hard work, and she hopes you enjoy the show.

CHUCK KRAUS he/him/his (Director) hails from the Capital Region and is a graduate of the Department of Theatre Arts at

SUNY New Paltz. He previously worked in arts administration with Theatre for a New Audience in New York, Hartford Stage, and Albany’s Palace Theatre, and currently serves as the Managing Director of Playhouse Stage Company and the Cohoes Music Hall, after nearly two decades of experience with the organization. He is also the Resident Director for Playhouse Stage Academy, the education arm of PSC. Directorial credits include: Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors, Always...Patsy Cline, Matilda, The Wedding Singer, and Oklahoma. Upcoming: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical and The Secret Garden.

ASHLEYSIMONE KIRCHNER she/her/hers (Choreography) is a native of Harrisburg, PA. She received her dance training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, and The Joffrey Ballet School, and has danced regionally in musicals including: The Producers, Cabaret, Spamalot, Avenue Q, Will Rodger’s Follies and Sugar Babies starring Sally Struthers. She was formerly the lead dance instructor and choreographer for the musical theater department at Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull, CT, and Director of Education at the Palace Theatre in Albany. She is Director of Education, Associate Artistic Director, and Resident Choreographer at Playhouse Stage Co. in Cohoes, where credits include: Head Over Heels, In The Heights, Chicago, Ragtime, Damn Yankees, Oklahoma!, Matilda, Newsies and Urinetown. Ashley began teaching at SUNY Albany in the fall of 2022 and continues to teach and choreograph at theaters and dance studios across the country. BFA in Dance, magna cum laude, Marymount Manhattan College. Proud member of SDC .

MICHAEL C. LISTER he/his (Music Direction) holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Choral Conducting at Ball State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and a Master of Music in Music Theory from Indiana University. He has served on the faculty of Otterbein College, Butler University, and has served as a music

director at Ball State University and with Akron Light Opera. He was a staff accompanist at The University of Miami, where he worked closely with the musical theater students and served as a collaborative pianist for the Musical Theater and Opera Workshop. For 12 years at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, Michael conducted several vocal ensembles and taught courses in conducting, music education, and music theater. He is currently a professor in the Music Program at UAlbany, where he conducts the university choral ensemble and teaches courses in conducting and related topics.

ANNE CROTEAU (Costume Designer) returns to the UAlbany Theatre Program after previously designing and constructing costumes for Eurydice, Spring Awakening, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Good Kids, and In the Next Room. Professional theatre credits include the American Repertory Theatre; Huntington Theatre Company; Costume Works, Inc.; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and many others. She holds an MFA in Costume Construction and Design from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and a BA in Theatre from the University at Albany. Anne is the owner of Dress You Up, a custom bridal and formal gown design studio in Ballston Lake.

JOHN KNAPP (Scene Shop Supervisor/Technical Director) holds a BA in Theatre from UAlbany. He has been part of the team of students and artistic colleagues for approximately twenty-seven years, helping to build roughly 100 productions at UAlbany. John’s designs include The School for Scandal, Cloud 9, My Children! My Africa!, Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, The Importance of Being Earnest, and In the Next Room. John doubles as the Theatre Program’s Archivist. In 2006 John started collecting documents (photos, programs, posters, etc.) to create a digital archive of Theatre at the University. We now have over 110 years of known Theatre history at UAlbany. If you have memorabilia that relates to theatre here, please contact John at: jknapp@albany.edu.

ANDI LYONS (Lighting Designer) is Professor Emeritus/O’Leary Professor of Theatre, former chair of UAlbany’s Theatre Department, and former head of Design and Technology. Andi has designed over 300 productions for a variety of professional and academic venues. Favorites include Ann for Dallas Theatre Center and Arena Stage, WAM Theatre’s Emilie, Capital Repertory Theatre’s The Seahorse, La MaMa E.T.C.’s Sole Sisters, Theater for the New City’s Distant Music, Tri-Cities Opera’s Tosca, and Des Moines Metro Opera’s Il Trovatore. Andi received both Chancellor’s and President’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching and in Academic Service. She is a lifetime fellow of USITT, a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, and earned her MFA from Yale University’s School of Drama.

ANDREW MANNION (Scenic Designer) is an Artist in Residence of Scenic Design at Union College. Past productions at UAlbany include A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Our Country’s Good. Recent designs include A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Union College, Time Stops at Rinker Playhouse and A.Lone at CCIAC. As a scenic painter he worked at Santa Fe Opera for their 2022 summer season. Upcoming productions include Sweat at Union College, The Prom at Proctors Collaborative, and Adirondack Theatre Festival’s Summer Season. While living in New York City he worked with Broadway designers John Lee Beatty, David Zinn and Anna Louizos, and was also the resident scenic associate at City Center Encores! He has also designed and painted at Stella Adler School of Acting, NC Stage, Flat Rock Playhouse, Mount Baker Theatre Company, Julliard School, Gala Hispanic Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals and Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Coming Soon

Pranayama

by James Anthony Tyler

Tuesday, March 28 at 7:30pm Staged reading followed by Q&A with playwright, director, and cast

Theatre Program Director/Producer…………............KATE WALAT

Head of History, Literature & Criticism………….ESZTER SZALCZAR

Department Administrative Assistant…..… .BERNADETTE SOCHA

Administrative Services ...................................... ........PAC STAFF

Theatre Faculty & Staff

Professors...................................ANDI LYONS , ESZTER SZALCZER

Associate Professor.................................................KAT E WALAT

Visiting Assistant Professors…ANNE CROTEAU, RYAN GARBAYO

Instructional Support Associate..............................JOHN KNAPP

Adjunct Instructors………………..…... JOSEPH HAN, MELISSA HURT

ASHLEY KRAUS, ANGELA LEDTKE

R. CHRISTOPHER MAXWELL, YVONNE PERRY

CORINE SALON, MICHAEL SCHANTZ

JAMES ANTHONY TYLER

Support UAlbany Theatre

Thank you for supporting 110 years of live theatre at the University at Albany. The UAlbany Theatre Program has a long, proud history of creating thought-provoking theatre while training the next generation of theatre artists, and we need your help to continue.

We hope you will consider donating to the UAlbany Theatre Program to support our productions, student scholarships, and special endowments to ensure we can provide the best training for our talented students for the next 100 years. You will also help us cover a portion of the costs of the sets, costumes, lighting, royalties, and other expenses required to produce theatre. For more information on how you can help, contact the Theatre Program at 518-442-4200. www.albany.edu/theatre

The UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s six theatres, three lounges and other spaces are available for rental.

The UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s six theatres, three lounges and other spaces are available for rental.

erforming rts enterC A P

HOUSE POLICIES

Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the management and its staff.

The use of photographic or recording devices of any kind during this performance is strictly prohibited.

There is no food or drink allowed in the theatres, nor is smoking allowed in UAlbany buildings.

.

To avoid disrupting the performance, kindly disable any noise making electronic devices you may have with you.

Please take time to note the location of the fire exits nearest to you. In the event of an emergency, an announcement will be made from the stage. Please proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion.

The UAlbany Performing Arts Center is no longer operating a box office. All ticketing is done on-line and can be easily navigated from the web site provided through the QR code above or address below.

www.albany.edu/pac