On behalf of all of the staff of Valley Christian Theatre, welcome to Bye Bye Birdie! With one of our largest casts to date, including our largest number of staff cast members ever (!), I have no doubt that you will enjoy our performance immensely. Who can help but tap their toes to this fun, fantastic score?
It is no small feat to direct a cast of this size. Practically speaking, our stage is simply not large enough to handle sets, props, and this many actors! And it would be easy to simply make my job easier by casting fewer students. This year, however, I felt strongly that I wanted to follow the lead of new VCHS principal, Dr. Jennifer Silva Griffin: Be Known & Know Others. So tonight as you watch, I hope you relish in getting to know the newest students to our programs as much as I have (how many new faces do you see?), and that you are delighted by uncovering the hidden talents of so many of our VCS staff members.
Be known...without fear or shame, and as God intended you to be. Know others...so that they might see the light in you.
Myra Kaelin, Director
BOOK BY MICHAEL STEWART
MUSIC BY CHARLES STROUSE LYRICS BY LEE ADAMS ORIGINALLY PRODUCED BY EDWARD PADULA
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR and SCENIC DESIGN JUSTIN McPHERSON *
SOUND DESIGN ROBERT RUBINO
ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR KEATON MILLER *
SOUND ENGINEER JEREMY LE
PROPERTIES MISTRESS AND SET DRESSING LISA KESTER
SCENIC DESIGN PAUL “SKIP” SHARP, III
LIGHTING DESIGN JASON KUZIA *
BACKSTAGE MANAGER MATEO ROSS
COSTUME DESIGN KATHY RISK
STAGE MANAGER REBEKAH RISK *
ASSISTANT BACKSTAGE MANAGERS AVA DELKE AND AUDREY STARINK
LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR AND PROJECTIONS
JOSHUA WATTS
HAIR, WIGS AND MAKEUP LISA KESTER
ASSISTANT HAIR, WIGS AND MAKEUP GRACE EUERLE *
RUNNING CREW BAILEY COFFEE, ALEXANDRA CORDERO, GRAYSON LUNDHOLM, WALTER KUCHAREWSKI, AIDEN TANNER, RYAN WORCESTER
GRAPHIC DESIGN JILL CARLSON
VOCAL DIRECTION BY LAYNA CHIANAKAS
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT CATHY MCFALL
MUSIC DIRECTION BY TROY GUNTER
CHOREOGRAPHY BY CHLOE DIEPENBROCK *
DIRECTED BY MYRA KAELIN *
ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER ALISON ERISMAN
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
https:/ /concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
BYE BYE BIRDIE is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.comPROGRAM
ACT I
An English Teacher……………………………………………………………........... ...................... Rosie
The Telephone Hour…………………………………………..…………......................................Teens
How Lovely to Be a Woman ………………………………………………...................................... Kim
Put On a Happy Face ……………………………………………………........... .......................... Albert
A Healthy, Normal, American Boy …………………………......................... Albert, Teens & Adults
Penn Station to Sweet Apple ………………………………………………................................. Teens
One Boy ………………………………………………………........ ........................ Kim,Teen Trio,Rosie
Honestly Sincere …………………………………………………….............................. Conrad & Teens
Hymn For a Sunday Evening .......................................... .............. The MacAfees & Company
One Hundred Ways Ballet ……………………………………………………................................ Rosie
One Last Kiss ………………………………………………….................................. Conrad, Company
INTERMISSION ACT II
What Did I Ever See in Him? ………………………………….................................. ... .. Rosie & Kim
What Did I Ever See in Him? (reprise) ....................................................................... Rosie
A Lot of Livin’ To Do ……………………………………..................................... Conrad, Kim, Teens
Kids …………………………………………………………................................... Mr. & Mrs. MacAfee
Baby Talk to Me …………………………………....................... Albert, Maude, Maude’s Customers
Kids (reprise)……………………………............................... Mr. & Mrs. MacAfee, Darlene, Adults
Ice House Livin’……………………………………………………………..................................... Teens
An English Teacher (reprise) ……………………………………………….................................. Rosie
Rosie ………………………………………………………………................................... Albert & Rosie
ORCHESTRA
Kayla Lee ………………………………………………........................................................................Violin
Michael Adint ………………………………………............................................................................Bass
Daniel Lee ………………………………………………......................................................................Guitar
Jeremy Darrow ……………………………………….........................................................................Piano
James Li ……………………………………………….................................................................... Keyboard
Aiden Bergey …………………………………………..................................................................... Clarinet
Nina Huang ……………………………………………........................................................................ Flute
Brock Jones …………………………………………........................................................................... Flute
Vedant Kularin ……………………………………….........................................................Tenor Saxophone
Nathan McCann *……………………………………….................................................. Baritone Saxophone
Shane Ryan Δ*/Calvin Lee ……………………………………………................................................. Trumpet
Joseph Yang* /Joshua Thompson …………………………………….............................................Trombone
Conner O’Brien ………………………………………….............................................................. Vibraphone
Jacob Anderson ……………………………………….................................................................Percussion
CAST
(in order of appearance)
ETHAN KIM……………………………........................................................................... Albert Peterson
GWENYTH LUNDGAARD ……………….........................................................................
KATE
TALIA SANTIZO
MAYA BANGALORE
HEENA
ETHAN
JOSHUA
JACK BAUER …………………………...........................................
KAYLA LEWIS ………………………...................................................................................... Penelope
ALISON ERISMAN ………………………..........................................................................
Sad Girl
LILY LE …………………………………............................................................................. Ursula Merkle
ANJALI KHIANI …………………………............................................................................ Kim MacAfee
KATHERINE LOPES ……………………....................................................................
MR. STEPHEN TORODE Δ
CAMILLE BAHAM
KATHRYN
OLIVER KAELIN
VEDANTH RAMACHANDRAN
Doris MacAfee
KEYA SHAH ……………………………....................................................................................
Trio
LONNI ADAMS ……………………........................................................................................ Teen Trio
INIKA MUKHERJEE …………………….............................................. First Reporter, Sweet Apple Parent
CHRISTINE AGBONBHASE …………….......................... Second Reporter, Stagehand, Sweet Apple Parent
ISABELLA NGUYEN ………………………........................... Third Reporter, Stagehand, Sweet Apple Parent
MR. KIT REICHOW Δ …………………….................................................................................... Mayor
MRS. DANIELLE CARTER Δ/MS. BLAIR NORBY Δ .............................................................. Mayor’s Wife
KAYLA CHAU …………………………................................................................................ Deborah Sue
DR. NICCOLE CARNER Δ …………………........................................................................... Mrs. Merkle
GREY HILL ………………………………........................................... Gloria Rasputin, Penn Station Parent
MR. MIKE MACHADO Δ………………….............................................................................. Ed Sullivan
MARIAN KUCHAREWSKI ………………...................................................... Traveler, Sweet Apple Parent
HANNAH GIL ………………………….............................................................................. Mrs. Johnson
VARAN VERMA ………………………….................................. Trainman/Conductor, Maude’s 3rd Customer
JORDAN JONES …………………………........................................................................... Sad Girl, Teen
CARLY HAN ………………………..……............................................................................ Sad Girl, Teen
LAKARAH VANCE ………………………............................................................................ Sad Girl, Teen
PASTOR STEVE DANG Δ*.................................................................................... Sweet Apple Parent
CASSANDRA FRY ………………………...................................... Penn Station Parent, Ed Sullivan Audience
JOHAN GONZALEZ …………………........................................................... Penn Station Parent, Doctor
GABRIELLE CASTRO ……………………............................................ Sweet Apple Parent, Stage Manager
AANYA CHAUHAN ……………………............................................. Sweet Apple Kid, Ed Sullivan Audience
LEXIN DENG …………………………......................................... Sweet Apple Parent, Ed Sullivan Audience
MIKAELA OLSEN ……………………….......................................... Sweet Apple Parent, Wardrobe Woman
VALERIE TSAI …………………………….............................................. Sweet Apple Kid, Wardrobe Woman
BIOGRAPHIES
A founding member of Valley Christian Theatre, Myra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from Santa Clara University, and is currently a candidate for a Master of Arts in Theatre Education at University of Northern Colorado. Aside from directing, she was last seen in 2019 as M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias, and has worked extensively with her local theatre community both on and off the stage, including serving as President of the Board of Directors for South Valley Civic Theatre. Directing credits include this past Fall’s smash hit, The Play That Goes Wrong, as well as The Addams Family, The Crucible, Mary Poppins, Hello, Dolly!, You Can’t Take It With You, Guys & Dolls, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Producers, City of Angels, God’s Favorite, Harvey, and The Fantasticks, among others. During the 2020-2021 school year, she spearheaded two fully produced and filmed online productions for VCS: Godspell, and Check Please. She would not be here today without the unflinching support of her husband, Michael, and her three beautiful children, Lucia, Oliver, and Ginger. Glory to God in all things!
Chloe currently serves as a Theatre Teacher & Choreographer for Valley Christian School. She has previously held numerous artistic and production team roles, including Director of HEART Academy Youth Theatre (Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man) and Director, Production Manager, Stage Manager, Assistant Director and Choreographer for the VCHS and VCE Theatre and Dance Departments. Projects with VCT include assistant directing The Play That Goes Wrong (VCHS Fall 2022), directing Cinderella, Youth Edition (Summer 2022), choreographing The Addams Family (VCHS Spring 2022), creating, directing & choreographing FOUND: A New Musical Revue (VCHS Fall 2021), directing A Charlie Brown Christmas (VCHS Winter 2019), Disney’s High School Musical, Jr. (Summer 2019), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Some Enchanted Evening (VCHS, Fall 2018), and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. (Summer 2018). Chloe is a graduate of Corban University (M.A. in Christian Leadership and Nonprofit Leadership), Biola University (B.A. in Theatre Arts) and the Foothill College Theatre Conservatory (A.A. in Theatre). She has recently performed on stage with Palo Alto Players (Beauty and the Beast) and South Bay Musical Theatre (On The Town).
Myra Kaelin, Producer and Director
In a career that has spanned over three decades, Stage Director, Mezzo-Soprano, and Voice Teacher, Layna Chianakas has portrayed over 50 leading opera roles across the United States, including over 80 performances of Carmen. Most recently she performed in Livermore Valley Opera’s award-winning Otello as Amelia in Verdi’s Otello which she also directed. As an award-winning opera Stage Director, her most recent win was the 2021 American Prize for Opera Production for Livermore Valley Opera’s doublebill of Zemlinsky’s A Florentine Tragedy and Pucinni’s Gianni Schicchi and the National Opera Association third prize for Postcard from Morocco for the San José State Opera Theater. For Opera San José, she directed La Voix Humaine, Hansel & Gretel, Carmen and Il barbiere di Siviglia. Other directing credits include, Le nozze di Figaro, Cavalli’s L’Ormindo, Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges, Die Fledermaus, Orpheus in the Underworld, as well as a fully-staged version of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Most recently she directed Ching’s Speed Dating, Tonight! and Puccini’s Tosca for Opera Santa Barbara, and Madama Butterfly for the Lubbock Symphony. She will return to Santa Barbara this March to direct Goettel’s The Light in the Piazza. In June she will direct La Bohème for the Santa Cruz Opera Project, and Tosca for Amarillo Opera in October. In addition to a thriving private voice studio, Bye, Bye Birdie! marks Ms. Chianakas’ 7th production as vocal director for Valley Christian’s theater department. “Prof C” thanks Myra Kaelin and Chloe Diepenbrock for allowing her to be a part of their incredible program!
For the past 33 years, Troy Gunter has enjoyed working in a number of teaching and administrative capacities for Valley Christian Schools, directing elementary, junior high and high school bands, orchestras and choirs. He received his B.A. in Music Education from Bethany University and holds a M.A. in Education with an emphasis in Administrative Leadership. Mr. Gunter has served as the director and administrator of the Valley Christian Conservatory since its inception in 2006, and was named Vice President/Director, Conservatory of the Arts in 2008. Over the years, Mr. Gunter has enjoyed recording and performing with a variety of performers, including Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Lillie Knaulls, Tony Award nominee Alan Campbell, and the voice of Disney’s “Ariel,” Jodi Benson.
