presents
Book & Lyrics by
Music by
JOEL PALEY
MARVIN LAIRD
Featuring BECCA SEARS
BETSEY BRANNEN
MEGAN E. WEST
with
JORDYN MORGAN as Tina Denmark and
JESSICA BILLONES
SHAWN NAKIA LAW
as Judy Denmark
as Sylvia St. Croix
Choreography by
MALLORY ROME Music Direction by
MEGAN E. WEST Direction & Staging by
BILL KISKA Ruthless! is produced through special arrangement with CONCORD THEATRICALS 250 West 57th Street, 6th Floor | New York, New York 10107 | www.concordtheatricals.com
THE WAY OFF BROADWAY DINNER THEATRE
5 Willowdale Drive • Frederick, Maryland 21702 • Box Office: (301) 662-6600 • www.wayoffbroadway.com
THE CAST
Page 2
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(In Order of Appearance)
Sylvia St. Croix ...............................................................................................................SHAWN NAKIA LAW Judy Denmark ....................................................................................................................JESSICA BILLONES Tina Denmark ..................................................................................................................... JORDYN MORGAN Miss Torn.................................................................................................................................. MEGAN E. WEST Louise Lerman ............................................................................................................................. BECCA SEARS Lita Encore.......................................................................................................................... BETSEY BRANNEN Eve Allabout .................................................................................................................................. BECCA SEARS
BEHIND THE SCENES ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Director ................................................................................................................................................ BILL KISKA Music Director ....................................................................................................................... MEGAN E. WEST Choreographer...................................................................................................................... MALLORY ROME Lighting Design......................................................................................................................JUSTIN M. KISKA Set & Costume Design ................................................................................................................... BILL KISKA Wigs ................................................................................................................... APRIL HORN of HAIR WORX
MUSICAL NUMBERS & SCENES
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
~ ACT I ~ Scene 1: The Denmark Living Room - Morning “Tina’s Mother”................................................................................................................................ Judy “Born to Entertain” ........................................................................................................................ Tina “Talent”............................................................................................................................................. Sylvia Scene 2: Turner School Auditorium - Later that Afternoon “To Play This Part” ......................................................................................................................... Tina Scene 3: The Denmark Living Room - Later that Afternoon “Teaching Third Grade” .................................................................................................Miss Thorn Scene 4: The Denmark Living Room - Six Weeks Later “Where Tina Gets it From” .................................................................................. Judy and Sylvia Scene 5: Turner School Auditorium - That Afternoon “The Pippi Song” .........................................................................................................................Louise Scene 6: The Denmark Living Room - Later that Afternoon “I Hate Musicals” ...............................................................................................................................Lita “Angel Mom” ................................................................................................................. Judy and Tina ~ Act II ~ Scene 1: Ginger DelMarco’s New York Penthouse - Four Years Later “Penthouse Apartment” ................................................................................................................ Eve “It Can Never Be that Way Again”.......................................................................................Ginger “I Want the Girl” ........................................................................................................................... Sylvia “Parents and Children” ........................................................................................ Ginger and Tina “Ruthless!” ..................................................................................................................... Full Company
The use of gunshot effects will be used during this performance.
WHO’S WHO
Page 3
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
JESSICA BILLONES (Judy Denmark): is excited to return to the role of Judy/Ginger after having performed it alongside Shawn Nakia Law at OOH in 2018. She has been appearing at WOB on and off since playing the role of Muzzy Van Hossmere in the theatre’s 2008 production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Since Millie, her WOB credits include Little Women (Marmee), Mamma Mia! (Donna), Sister Act (Mother Superior), Into the Woods (Witch), Noises Off (Belinda), The Addams Family (Morticia), Jekyll & Hyde (Lucy), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Baroness), and a number of other Mainstage, Christmas, New Year’s and Children’s Theatre productions. Favorite local roles include June in Musical of Musicals: The Musical, Donna/Oolie in City of Angels, and Georgia in Curtains. After having worked in the theatre for over 30 years (in roles from costumer to choreographer to stage manager), Jessica made her directorial debut in 2019, staging the first regional theatre production of the new musical The Book of Merman following its New York premiere. Thanks to Justin for "whatever he does,” my family for their support, and God for His many blessings. BETSEY BRANNEN (Lita Encore): is returning to WOB for the first time since playing Sister in the 2012 production of Damn Yankees and Bloody Mary in 2011’s South Pacific. Since then, Betsey has enjoyed calling such places as North Carolina and Kentucky home, courtesy of the U.S. Military. Now, settled back in her childhood home in Walkersville, she is thrilled to be able to make audiences laugh again. When not on the WOB stage, Betsey scratches that performing itch by regularly appearing in the interactive murder mystery trains staged by WOB on the Walkersville Southern Railroad and at the BoonsBoro Inn. When not on stage, you can find her in the stacks of
not on stage, you can find her in the stacks of the Urbana Regional Library where she is a Children’s Librarian, often called “The Human Google.” Much love to my family! SHAWN NAKIA LAW (Sylvia St. Croix): has been seen, over the past 32 years, at theatres and in productions throughout the tri-state region, as well as Las Vegas and LA. Some of his favorite roles include Arles and his 10 characters (Greater Tuna), Peter Pan (Peter Pan), Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors), Sister Amnesia (Nunsense AMen), Lord Farquaad (Shrek), and Sylvia St. Croix (Ruthless - The Musical). Shawn has done several local commercials, extra work in multiple feature films and reenactments for The Discovery Channel & the Reelz Channel. He is also a featured singer for the annual Little Song, Little Dance AIDS benefit and has been a part of The Miss America Scholarship Organization at the state level for over 25 years, where he has previously served on the Miss West Virginia Board of Directors. He would like to thank you all for supporting live theatre!! Now sit back & get in touch with your Ruthlessness! JORDYN MORGAN (Tina Denmark): is thrilled to be joining WOB again all the way from New York City after appearing as Beth in Little Women - The Broadway Musical last season! Recent credits include - Off Broadway: Molly Barnes in The Long Rail North; Regional: Sophie in Mamma Mia, Olive Ostrovsky in Spelling Bee, Dorothy in Wizard of Oz (play & musical), Sunny Freitag in The Last Night Of Ballyhoo, Helen Keller The Miracle Worker, and Nora in Brighton Beach Memoirs. Jordyn is a graduate from AMDA (NYC). Growing up in Colorado, she had her first contract at 5 years old and she has been blessed to continue doing what she loves year-round as a career in The Big
AT THIS PERFORMANCE The The use use of of any any recording recording device, device, either either audio audio or or video, video, and and the the taking taking of of photographs photographs is is strictly strictly prohibited. prohibited. We We also also ask ask that that you you kindly kindly refrain refrain from from texting texting and and silence silence your your cell cell phone. phone. Thank you.
WHO’S WHO
Page 4
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
a career in The Big Apple. She has received awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Play and Best Young Adult in a Musical. Jordyn sends a special thanks to Megan for helping make this happen and Roger and her parents for their endless support and love! BECCA SEARS (Louise Lerman, Eve Allabout): is excited to return to the theatre to perform in Way Off Broadway's Ruthless! You may have seen her in WOB's productions of Mamma Mia and Elf – The Musical, JR. Most recently, she has become a member of East Coast Murder Mystery. She’s thoroughly missed live theatre and is blessed to be able to perform once again! MEGAN E. WEST (Miss Thorn/Music Director): has worked at many theaters in the region over the last several years, including the Old Opera House and The Apollo Civic Theatre. Some of her credits include Mary Poppins (Winnifred Banks), Little Women – The Broadway Musical (Jo), My Fair Lady (Eliza Doolittle), Gilligan’s Island – The Musical (Mary Ann), Annie (Grace), Disney’s Beauty & the Beast (Mrs. Potts), Sister Act (Sister Mary Patrick), Dogfight (Rose Fenny), and Legally Blonde (Enid Hoops). For WOB, she has music directed the past three Summer Theatre Camp shows, as well as two Jr. productions at the Apollo Civic Theatre. In the fall of 2019, she music directed the post-OffBroadway regional premiere production of the musical comedy The Book of Merman. Megan has a BME and BA in Vocal Performance from Shepherd University and is currently the Music teacher at Winchester Avenue and Gerradstown Elementary Schools in Martinsburg, WV.
BILL KISKA (Director, Exec. Producer): is WOB’s Executive Producer and CEO. Since taking over the theatre in 2002, he has overseen every production, directing a majority of them, including Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Gilligan’s Island - The Musical, Beauty & the Beast, Sister Act, Happy Days, SPAMALOT, Anything Goes, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, as well as most of the theatre’s holiday shows. No stranger to appearing on stage himself, he has played roles ranging Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music to Georges in La Cage aux Folles to Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. MALLORY ROME (Choreographer): is a Maryland based actress/choreographer and is very excited to be choreographing her second Mainstage show at WOB! Originally from New Jersey, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Theater from Westminster College of the Arts of Rider University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with Baccalaureate Honors. Mallory began her WOB career in 2014 and has appeared in many of the theatre’s productions including Into the Woods (Cinderella), Anything Goes (Hope Harcourt), Fiddler on the Roof (Chava), Annie Get Your Gun (Winnie Tate), SPAMALOT, West Side Story, and The Addams Family, and made her choreography debut with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. When not on stage, Mallory directs, music directs, and choreographs for the Music Theater Factory at 24/7 Dance Studio, is a former Miss Frederick County United States (2016)/Miss Maryland Intercontinental USA 2015, and is a proud Mama to her little boy. Break-a-Leg to the fabulously talented cast!
Printing provided by
93 Monocacy Blvd., Suite A-1 Frederick, Maryland, 21701 Tel: (301) 694-8825
WHO’S WHO
Page 5
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WAY OFF BROADWAY (Producer): The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, under the direction of the Kiska family since 2002, is now in its 27th Season of producing live theatre. Since it first opened in 1995, the theatre has been a leader in the area’s theatre community, proudly bringing both classic musicals, as well as regional and area premieres to the Frederick stage. Productions have included Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast, Sister Act, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Noises Off, The Addams Family, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, Legally Blonde, Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5: The Musical, Hairspray, South Pacific, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Mel Brooks’ The Producers, CATS, The
Wedding Singer, Evita, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, La Cage aux Folles, Guys & Dolls, Steel Magnolias, Annie, Bye Bye, Birdie, The King & I, …Forum, Lend Me a Tenor, Joseph…, Blood Brothers, Mame, and 42nd Street. In addition to its regular season, Way Off Broadway produces a number of special events throughout the year, including family theatre productions and an annual Breakfast with Santa (and Mrs. Claus). Through its outside producing brand, WOB LIVE! Entertainment, the theatre also presents Marquee Mysteries - an interactive murder mystery series - not only at Way Off Broadway, but on the Walkersville Southern Railroad and at the Inn BoonsBoro.
THE WAY OFF BROADWAY DINNER THEATRE www.wayoffbroadway.com
Executive Producer & Chief Executive Officer ............................................................. .............................................................BILL KISKA President & Managing Director .............................................................................. JUSTIN M. KISKA General Manager & Chief Financial Officer.................................................................... Officer ................................................................... DEB KISKA Associate Producer .......................................................................................................... TREY T. KISKA Artistic Director ............................................................................................ JORDAN B. STOCKSDALE Resident Choreographer............................................................................................. Choreographer ............................................................................................ DEE BUCHANAN Assistant Kitchen Manager ............................................................................... SUZETTA HARRISON
JUNE 18 - AUGUST 28, 2021
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!