The reason that "West Side Story" remains a perennial favorite among theater goers is that it stands the test of time. Just like the source material that inspired the writing of this musical - Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" - this tale of star-crossed lovers who dare to breach the wall of family prejudice and festering feud is timely. Anita may very well have been someone at a Trump rally screaming: "One of your own kind - stick to your own kind!" So, at its heart, this gripping and heart-rending tale asks the question, "Does love determine who is 'my own kind'?"
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| Sydney Mei Ruf-Wong as Consuela Rachel Pearlman as Teresita Michelle Alves as Anita Alex Hairston as Francisca "West Side Story" North Shore Music Theatre Through November 20th Photo by Paul Lyden |
There were several standouts among the cast:
- As Tony, Branson Norris Murphy is not the typical choice for the reluctant leader of the Jets. The first impression is almost that of a tentative would-be gentle man trying to shake off the dust of the streets, but his powerful and passionate Tony comes into full flower as soon as he opens his mouth to sing the iconic "Maria." In this and other songs, he blends his tenor voice beautifully with that of the actress portraying Maria.
- Evy Ortiz reads as a very young, vulnerable, and believable Maria. Her impassioned plea to Anita, "I Have A Love" drives a dagger into the heart. Her voice is strong and unwavering, and she wins all of our hearts.
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Branson Norris Murphy as Tony
Evy Ortiz as Maria
"West Side Story"
North Shore Music Theatre
Through November 20th
Photo by Paul Lyden
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- Michelle Alves is powerful as Anita. She is saucy, seductive and sultry, shining especially in the numbers "America" and "A Boy Like That."
- Alexander Gil Cruz is a true standout as Bernado, the leader of the Sharks. He is swarthy, and simmers with rage and testosterone as he dances and taunts Tony, Riff, and the other Jets. He exudes machismo as he attempts to control Anita in old school Puerto Rican island traditional fashion, but she is not buying it in America.
- The estimable David Coffee returns to NSMT in his 52nd production, this time in the role of the shopkeeper Doc. Many of us make a pilgrimage to NSMT each holiday season to be enraptured by his Ebenezer Scrooge. In this show, he is Doc, whose heart is broken when he fails to stop the cycle of violence and death between the rival gangs.
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"Cool"
"West Side Story"
North Shore Music Theatre
Through November 20th
Photo by Paul Lyden
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Each member of the cast and creative team deserve recognition, so please peruse the full list at the end of this post.
This wondrous production runs through November 20th. On this Election Day, vote with your theater-going dollars and go on-line to secure your tickets before the polls close.
North Shore Music Theatre Website
Enjoy!
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Alexander Gil Cruz as Bernado
Branson Norris Murphy as Tony
Tyler John Logan as Riff
"West Side Story"
North Shore Music Theatre
Through November 20th
Photo by Paul Lyden
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North Shore Music Theatre Website
Enjoy!
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Jane Abbott (Velma, s/c Graziella, s/c Anybodys) is thrilled to be making her debut at the NSMT. She is currently matriculating towards a B.A. in Dance from Columbia University where she has worked with artists such as Chase Brock, John Heginbotham, and Twyla Tharp. She has studied and performed works by Bob Fosse, Mark Morris, Paul Taylor, and Trisha Brown. She is also a member of General Mischief Dance Theatre. Countless thanks to Diane, Bob, and her family for their unending love and support. janeabbott.net
Michelle Alves (Anita) is more than thrilled and excited to be making her North Shore debut! Born and raised in Puerto Rico. Broadway National Tour: West Side Story (Anita 2012-2014) [2013 Best Featured Actress in a Touring Production Award Winner by Broadway World LA]. New Show: Carmen; An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical (Fina/Carmen us). Regional: Rent (Ensemble/Mimi us), Hair (Dionne), Nine (Anabella), Hairspray (Lil Inez/Dynamite) Chicago (June), Godspell (Turn Back O' Man), West Side Story (Anita) [2015 Craig Noel Awards, The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, female] Live Performances: Ricky Martin, The Black Eyed Peas, Pitbull, Nelly Furtado. Film: Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights, Feel the Noise. TV: Grammy Awards, Billboard Awards. Endless love and gratitude to family and friends for their infinite support! www.michellemalves.com
Roberto Araujo (Pepe, Voice of Maria's Father, s/c Bernardo) is native of Mexico City. NYC: Street Lights, Angelina Ballerina: The Very Merry Holiday Musical, Go West, Jackson Heights 3am and Rachel. Regional:Xanadu, Les Miserables(Thenardier) and Evita (Che - Understudy) at ZACH Theatre in Austin, Texas; Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story (Ritchie Valens) at Sierra Repertory Theatre in Sonora, California; Singin’ in the Rain, Legally Blonde and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, NY; West Side Story (Pepe - Bernardo and Chino Understudy) at Theatre by the Sea. He has toured around Latin America with The Disney Special Events Group and in China with Fame, The Musical. Voicework: Joseph in Dreamworks' animated feature Joseph, King Of Dreams. Roberto also has a passion for photography check out his work at: www.RobertoAraujoPhotography.com . For more visit: www.RobertoAraujo.com and and in social media Instagram @robertoaraujophotography and Twitter @BobbyAraujo
Hannah Balagot (Anybodys) is beyond excited to be performing for the first time at North Shore after a wonderful run of West Side Story at Theatre By The Sea. She has also toured as "Anybodys" with the International Touring Company. Other credits include Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Grand Ole Opry, Wizard of Oz with Surflight Theatre and various performances with The Insomnium Theatre Company in NYC. Special thanks to Bob and Diane for passing on the legacy of this powerful story and to my family and Galen for their enduring support.
Bentley Black (Action, u/s A-Rab, u/s Riff) is happy to be back at NSMT after appearing in the 2013 production of The Sound of Music. Other credits: West Side Story (Riff), We Will Rock You (1st natl. tour), Pippin (Pippin), Footloose (Ren), The Rocky Horror Show (Riff Raff). Bentley is also a licensed real estate sales professional and group fitness instructor in NYC. Thanks to CTG, Mom & Pop, Morty, Bob, Diane, and Kevin! BA Theatre from Univ. of Alabama. @BentleyBlack
Erik Joshua Clack (Snowboy, u/s Tony) is proud to make his debut on the North Shore stage performing in his dream show, West Side Story. Fav Credits: Singin' in the Rain (Don), 42nd St. (Billy), White Christmas (Phil). His journey here wouldn't be possible without the support of his family back home in NM. Many thanks as well to Michael (9 Muse), Binder Casting, Bob and Diane, Kevin, and the entire NSMT team. And finally to Rachel, though we are on different sides of the gym in this story... I am so blessed to have you by my side everyday. erikjoshuaclack.com
David Coffee (Doc) returns for his 52nd production at NSMT! In a career that spans 48 years and encompasses all arenas of performance (save the circus), he has been welcomed by audiences from Portland, Oregon to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In addition, David has been the recipient of multiple IRNE Awards, DFW Critics’ Forum Awards, a Broadway.com Award, multiple Column Awards (including Best Actor for his King Lear this past season), the Elston Brooks Lifetime Achievement Award and the honor of having NSMT’s green room named in his honor! Look for David when he returns for his 23rd season as Scrooge! www.DavidCoffee.org
Rob Coughlan (Sergeant Krupke) is both elated and honored to make his professional debut as Sergeant Krupke in North Shore Music Theater's production of West Side Story! Rob is certainly no stranger to the North Shore stage as he has appeared in every Voices of Hope production including: Jesus Christ: Superstar, Once on this Island, Godspell(Apostle), and Fiddler on the Roof (Mendel). Regional: Company, Into the Woods, and Urinetown: The Musical. Special thanks to Greg, Kevin, Tom, Bob and the W.S.S. production team for this amazing opportunity. It’s a privilege to join the NSMT family and give back to a theater which has entertained me over the years. Love and thanks to my friends and family who support me. Love you, Mom & Dad!
Alexander Gil Cruz (Bernardo, Dance Captain, Fight Captain) is excited to return to the role of Bernardo. His previous credits include Bernardo inWest Side Story (Theatre By The Sea), Bolo u/s Diesel in West Side Story (National Tour '13-'14), Paul in A Chorus Line (National Tour '12), Mercedes u/s Jean Michael/Jacob in La Cage Aux Folles (Goodspeed Opera House). TV credits include "The Get Down," "Vinyl," and "Saturday Night Live" with Selena Gomez. Alex would like to thank Bob and Diane for the opportunity, Bloc NYC, as well as his family, friends and Jeff for the support. ¡Baila con fuego!
Diego Guevara (Luis, s/c Chino) is elated to be making his debut at the NSMT in one of his favorite shows! Other credits (select): Ui (Ernesto Roma), Legally Blonde: the Musical (Carlos/Sundeep), Avenue Q (Princeton), columbinus (Freak/Eric Harris), Caucasian Chalk Circle (Fat Prince/ Lavrenti). Diego is a recent graduate from the University of Rhode Island where he earned a BFA in Theatre with a concentration in Acting. He will next be seen as Matt in Mr. Burns: Post-electric play, and later as Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening at the Wilbury Theatre Group in Providence, Rhode Island. I cannot thank Bob, Diane, Kevin and Bill enough for trusting me to be a part of this beautiful story, and my family for the endless support. Los amo! @diego.guev
Alex Hairston (Francisca, Voice of Maria's Mother, s/c Rosalia) is excited to be making her North Shore debut! She received a BFA in Musical Theatre and Dance minor from Western Carolina University in 2014. Immediately following graduation Alex hit the high seas, performing internationally on various ships with Norwegian Cruise Line. She is grateful to return to land and become a shark…pun intended. Favorite roles include Mimi (Rent), Brenda (Smokey Joe’s Cafe), and Pilar (Legally Blonde). Romans 12:12 www.alexhairston.net
Lauren Langbaum (Rosalia, s/c Maria) is thrilled to be making her NSMT debut in one of her favorite shows! She recently performed the role of Maria in this show with Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre this past summer. Other favorite credits include Twelfth Night (Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre), Man of La Mancha (Barrington Stage Company). She was honored to make her Carnegie Hall debut last fall with the New York Lyric Opera. She has sung in various cabarets with music sung and directed by William Finn, Adam Gwon & Drew Gaspariani. Proud graduate of both NYU (MM) & The Boston Conservatory (BM). Many thanks to Binder Casting & everyone involved at NSMT for this incredible opportunity! Always much love to her friends and family. www.laurenlangbaum.com @laurenlangbaum
Tyler John Logan (Riff) is ecstatic to be making his Equity debut after spending the summer playing Riff at Theatre By The Sea. National Tour: Elf The Musical (2014 & 2015) Regional: 7 Brides for 7 Brothers (Caleb), Once Upon A Mattress (Jester), West Side Story (Snowboy), Memphis, Music Man, Wizard of Oz, and S’Wonderful. Tyler has worked alongside and choreographed for Broadway’s Jason Robert Brown, Liz Callaway, Eden Espinosa, Krysta Rodriguez, Susan Egan, and Matthew Morrison. Huge thank you to his parents, family and friends for all of their love and endless support! Instagram: @tylerlogan31
Sarah Kay Marchetti (Graziella), an area native, having grown up in Hampstead, NH and trained with Jose Mateo's Ballet Theatre, is excited to make her NSMT debut! NY Credits: Susan Stroman's The Merry Widow at The Metropolitan Opera and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. National/International Tours: West Side Story (Minnie) and Cats (Victoria). Regional: Cats (Victoria) and West Side Story (Graziella/Dance Captain) at Sacramento Music Circus; Cats (Victoria/Dance Captain) at The Muny; The Music Man at the Cape Playhouse (Dance Captain) and at Geva Theatre Center; and a special concert of Children of Eden at the Kennedy Center. TV: "Boardwalk Empire". Many thanks to Bob, Diane, NSMT, my husband, Chris, and my loving family.
Tim McGarrigal (Big Deal) is thrilled to return to NSMT! Other NSMT: West Side Story, Chicago, Dreamgirls, High School Musical 2. NYC: Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, Nothing But Trash (Theatre for the New City). Vegas: We Will Rock You (Original U.S. Cast), Hugh Jackman: In Time, Tours: Fosse, Joseph…, High School Musical, West Side Story(Action) Saturday Night Fever (Double J). Regional: Sacramento Music Circus, Atlanta TOTS, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Connecticut Repertory Theatre. Film: Across the Universe. M.F.A. Acting, Shakespeare Theatre Co/GWU. Huge thanks to Bob, Diane, Tom, Kevin, and my amazing family!
Christopher Morrissey (Diesel, u/s Action, u/s Krupke) is thrilled to be part of this West Side Story family and also to be joining the American Actors Equity Association. Originally from Australia Christopher is one of Melbourne’s most sought after commercial dancers, musical theatre performers, teachers, choreographers and adjudicators. He was a member of Princess Cruise’s elite production shows for almost 11 years. During this time he was an original cast member of 8 world premier productions. He is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and gained the highest honor in his graduating year by dancing in “Top Acts” 2002 at the Melbourne Concert Hall. Christopher recently appeared at TBTS in West Side Story and before that was on the International tour of Beauty & the Beast. Come the new year Christopher can be seen with New York City Opera Company in their production of Candide. Love to Mum, Dad and his wonderful husband Garfield.
Evy Ortiz (Maria) is very excited to be returning to one of her favorite roles after having played it at Theatre by the Sea this past summer. She toured throughout the USA as Maria in the 1st National Broadway Tour of West Side Story (recent Broadway revival), and debuted that production in Canada and Japan. Other credits include Luisa in the off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks (dir. by Tom Jones), Philia in A Funny Thing…Forum (TBTS) and Masha in The Seagull. She has appeared as a soloist in numerous concerts, including her own NYC solo concert. She also trained for many years as a lyric coloratura. BA Theater (Pace University), MA Vocal Performance (New York University). Much love to her supportive Mom, family and friends! This one is for you Grandpa, a real life Bernardo. www.evyortiz.com
Bronson Norris Murphy (Tony) happily returns to North Shore Music Theatre for the sixth time! For NSMT: Cats(Bustopher Jones, Gus and Growltiger), Saturday Night Fever (Frank Jr.), A Christmas Carol (Fred); Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera (Raoul u/s); National Tour: Cats (30th Anniversary Cast); Regional: Over 40 roles at theatres including: Goodspeed Opera House, York Theatre, Skirball Center, Theatre by the Sea, John W. Engeman Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Mission, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, West Virginia Public Theatre, The 55th Anniversary cast of The Stephen Foster Story (US and Japan). Training: NYU-Steinhardt; Faculty member at The New York Film Academy, Joffrey School of Ballet and Institute of American Music Theatre. For the latest information, visit www.BronsonNorrisMurphy.com and follow @BronsonBiz. – Endless gratitude to the WSS creative team for another opportunity to share this wonderful story. For my family.
Brian Padgett (Glad Hand, s/c Shrank, s/c Doc) returns to NSMT after playing Robertson Ay in this summer’s Mary Poppins, and Mr. Braithwaite in last season’s Billy Elliot, a role he recently reprised at the Fulton Theatre. Last summer he played the monster in Young Frankenstein at Theatre by The Sea, where he also played Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins. Brian toured the country with the Broadway tours of Elf: The Musical and The Drowsy Chaperone. Regional credits include; Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), Hairspray (Edna), Joseph…(Napthali/Baker), Hello, Dolly!(Rudolph/Ensemble), White Christmas (Snoring Man, Zeke), 42nd Street (Bert Barry) among many more. Brian thanks Bill, Kevin, Bob, Diane, his family, friends and, above all, God for love and unending support. Psalms 46:10.
PJ Palmer (A-Rab, s/c Baby John) is so pumped to be making his North Shore debut with West Side Story! Previous credits include the National Tour of Elf: The Musical, as well as Paper Mill, MUNY, Maine State, KC Starlight, Fulton Theatre, John Engeman Theatre, Fireside, and Stages St.Louis. Joffrey Ballet School trainee. In addition to performing, PJ makes incredible milkshakes. They're really good. PJ sends a huge thanks to everyone here at NSMT and a huge thanks to Quentin and Ullyses! @peejpalmer
Rachel Perlman (Teresita) is absolutely thrilled to make her NSMT debut in one of her dream shows! National/International Tours: Joseph...Dreamcoat, The Aluminum Show, Regional: Mary Poppins (Arkansas Rep, NBFT), 42nd Street (Mill Mountain Theatre, Interlakes Theatre), Singin' in the Rain (NBFT), All Shook Up, Christmas Carol, Piano Men (Palace Theatre), Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon (Interlakes), Holland America Cruise Line (Dance Captain), BFA Elon University. Endless gratitude to Binder Casting, Diane, Bob, Kevin, all the creatives, ATB, Mom, Dad, family, friends, and to my very own Jet, Erik, who I couldn't be more proud to share this stage with. www.RachelPerlman.com
DJ Petrosino (Chino). A Boston native and Salem State University alum, DJ is so excited to be making his NSMT debut after experiencing his first taste of theatre here as a child!! Tours: Cabaret. Regional: Signature Theatre: West Side Story(Chino) and La Cage Aux Folles; Merry Go Round Playhouse: Saturday Night Fever; The Engeman Theatre: A Chorus Line; Ogunquit/Gateway Playhouse: Saturday Night Fever; The A.R.T.: The Donkey Show; Harbor Lights Theatre Co. West Side Story; White Plains Performing Arts Center: Tommy, The 39 Steps, The Little Mermaid, Cats; Arizona Broadway Theatre: Young Frankenstein; Buddy Holly Story; Kiss Me, Kate; 7 Brides...; The Palace Theatre: West Side Story; Speakeasy Stage Co.: Zanna, Don’t!; Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre: 9 to 5; American Music Theatre: Christmas Show; Sea and Sun Princess Cruise Lines: Dancer. This is dedicated to my Rosie.
Pedro Rangel (Nibbles, s/c Big Deal, s/c Snowboy, s/c Glad Hand) is thrilled to be making his debut at NSMT and overjoyed to tell such a marvelous story. Pedro is a graduate from UNR with a BFA in theatre. Besides performing Pedro is a sought after Acro teacher and aerialist in NYC creating some award winning competition numbers for studios and dances for many BC/EFA events including Broadway Bonnet and Broadway Bares. International Tours: Cirque du Soleil (Ovo) Fame! The Musical. Off-Broadway: The Orion Experience The Musical. Regional: West Side Story (Big Deal), Singin' in the Rain (Sid/Speech Teacher), 9 to 5 the Musical (us Dick). Love to this creative team, my family and JP. You guys give me a reason to wake up every morning.
Tyler Roberts (Toro) is honored to be making his debut with North Shore Music Theatre. He is a recent graduate of Wagner College, majoring in Theatre (Performance) with a minor in Educational Studies. Previous credits include: A Chorus Line, Cats, Carousel, Hello, Dolly!, Damn Yankees, and David & Lisa. Tyler would like to thank Binder Casting, Bob and Diane, Kevin, and the rest of the NSMT team for the opportunity. Much love for his friends and family!!
Sydney Mei Ruf-Wong (Consuela, s/c Anita) is thrilled to reprise the role of "Consuela" for her first production at NSMT! After receiving a BFA in Musical Theatre from UW-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts, Sydney rooted in NYC where she currently dances with Anabella Lenzu DanceDrama, Silva Dance Company, and flies as an aerialist for Royal Caribbean International. Favorite credits: West Side Story (Theatre By the Sea), Color (Theatre for the New City). Love to her supportive family!
John Wojda (Lieutenant Schrank) was featured in the first national tour of Spring Awakening and toured internationally in West Side Story. On Broadway he's appeared in Present Laughter, Two Shakespearean Actors, The Merchant of Venice and Macbeth, and off-Broadway at the NYSF/Public Theater, Theater For A New Audience, Primary Stages, WPA Theater, The Women’s Project, Classic Stage Company, Ensemble Studio Theater, Theater For The New City, The Soho Playhouse and The New Group (Obie award for Ecstasy). John has played dozens of leading roles in resident theaters including four seasons at Canada’s Stratford Festival. His television and film credits include "Bluebloods", "Madam Secretary", "Mr. Robot", "Law & Order", "Criminal Intent", "SVU", "Third Watch", "The High Life", Manhattan by Numbers, Seven Servants, Shaft, and the upcoming Christmas release of Gold.
Josh Zacher (Baby John) is thrilled to be making his North Shore debut! Regional: The Little Mermaid, West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, Les Misérables, High School Musical. Film/TV: “Dance Moms” “Live! With Regis and Kelly” “The Sorry Project” Nic Hanson’s “Worthy.” Josh is a recent graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and Broadway Dance Center’s Summer Professional Semester. Josh is proudly represented by LDC Artist Representation and assists Broadway choreographer Josh Prince at Broadway Dance Lab. Josh sends his thanks to Bob, Diane, Kevin, Bill, Milton and the Shain family! www.josh-zacher.com Follow: @dancingdudejz
Arthur Laurents (Book) His first play, Home of the Brave, opened on Broadway in 1945, followed by many others. His newest plays are A Key Change and Come Back, Come Back, Wherever You Are, starring Shirley Knight and Alison Fraser. These came right on the heels of his New Year’s Eve starring Marlo Thomas and Keith Carradine at his favorite theatre, the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick. He wrote his first musical, West Side Story, in 1957, followed by Gypsy and others. His first screenplay was The Snake Pit in 1948, followed by others including Rope, Anastasia, The Way We Were and The Turning Point. His own play, Invitation to a March in 1960, was the first of several he directed. I Can Get It for You Wholesale in 1961 was the first musical he directed, followed by others including La Cage aux Folles and Gypsy with Angela Lansbury, then Tyne Daly and most recently, Patti LuPone. In 2000, he wrote a memoir, Original Story By. His latest book, Mainly on Directing: West Side Story, Gypsy, and Other Musicals, was published in March 2009. His posthumous memoir The Rest of the Story was published in 2012.
Leonard Bernstein (Music) (1918–1990). Composer, conductor, author, teacher and recording artist, Bernstein transformed the way Americans and people everywhere hear and appreciate music. A few of his many compositions include the symphonies Jeremiah and The Age of Anxiety, the theatre piece Mass, Chichester Psalms, Divertimento, the film score for On the Waterfront, the ballets Fancy Free and Facsimile and the operas Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place. He was music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1958 to 1969 and, over his lifetime, conducted many of the major orchestras of the world. His Broadway musicals include Wonderful Town, Candide, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the immensely popular West Side Story.
Stephen Sondheim (Lyrics) wrote the music and lyrics for Saturday Night, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, The Frogs, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park With George, Into the Woods, Assassins, Passion and Road Show as well as lyrics for West Side Story, Gypsy, Do I Hear a Waltz? and additional lyrics for Candide. Side by Side by Sondheim, Marry Me a Little, You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow, Putting It Together and Sondheim on Sondheim are anthologies of his work as composer and lyricist. For films, he composed the score of Stavisky, background music for Reds and songs for Dick Tracy and the television production “Evening Primrose.” He co-authored the film The Last of Sheila and the play Getting Away With Murder. Mr. Sondheim is on the council of the Dramatists Guild, having served as its president from 1973 to 1981.
Jerome Robbins (Original Concept, Original Broadway Direction & Choreography) is world-renowned for his work as a choreographer of ballets as well as his work as a director and choreographer in theatre, movies and television. His Broadway shows include On the Town, Billion Dollar Baby, High Button Shoes, West Side Story, The King and I, Gypsy, Peter Pan, Miss Liberty, Call Me Madam and Fiddler on the Roof. His last Broadway production in 1989, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, won six Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director. Among the more than 60 ballets he created are Fancy Free; Afternoon of a Faun; The Concert; Dances at a Gathering; In the Night; In G Major; Other Dances; Glass Pieces; and Ives, Songs, which are in the repertories of New York City Ballet and other major dance companies throughout the world. His last ballets include A Suite of Dances created for Mikhail Baryshnikov (1994), 2 & 3 Part Inventions (1994), West Side Story Suite (1995) and Brandenburg (1996). In addition to two Academy Awards for the film West Side Story, Mr. Robbins received four Tony Awards, five Donaldson Awards, two Emmy Awards, the screen Directors Guild Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. He was a 1981 Kennedy Center Honors recipient and was awarded the French Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur. Mr. Robbins died in 1998.
Bob Richard (Director) Broadway: He has provided the choreography for How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and on tour, this year Grinch was also on stage at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville! Off- Broadway: Co-Director & Choreographer of Inventing Mary Martin, The Revue Of A Lifetime. This work was recognized and nominated for the prestigious Callaway Award; The Road to Qatar at the York. Director: West Side Story 60th Anniversary, Sacramento Music Circus: (National Tours); The 50th Anniversary National Tour of Hello, Dolly! starring, Sally Struthers; Cabaretwhich won several awards around the country, including an Ivey Award, and the National Tour of Guys and Dolls. Also, on the other side of the planet his work is currently seen in the original Chinese musical Shanghai Bund; (TV and Film); Choreographer of “LazyTown” Season 3; by Turner Network Television. “The Tonight Show;” “The Today Show;” and “The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.” Bob is honored to be the Resident Choreographer for Sacramento Music Circus for the past 19 years and has staged over 40 productions. He has been a guest master instructor at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Other notable theatres include; The 5th Ave Theatre (Seattle, WA) where he won a Footlight Award, Madison Square Garden (NYC), North Shore Music Theatre (Beverly, MA), Theatre by The Sea (Wakefield, RI), Theatre Under the Stars (Houston, TX), and The Pioneer Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT). Bob and his wife Diane Laurenson are the Co-Founding Artistic Directors of The American Musical Theatre Dance Company! Dancing, teaching master classes worldwide, and choreographing encompassing over 30 plus years in show business.
Diane Laurenson (Choreographer) began her career as a performer, appearing on Broadway in Sweet Charity, Big Deal, Gypsy (twice!), Dangerous Games and The Little Prince, International/National Tours of Bob Fosse's Dancin', Anything Goes, West Side Story, and Regional productions of A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, and Chicago. Numerous TV, Film and Business Theatre credits include “Law and Order,” Age of Innocence, “The Kennedy Center Honors,” “The Miss America Pageant,” “Royal Variety Show,” “Milliken Breakfast Show” and France 3's documentary: “Getting To Broadway.” She's choreographed highly acclaimed productions of West Side Story for Theatre By The Sea, Sacramento Music Circus, Westbury Music Fair, NY and North Carolina Theatres, and was Associate Choreographer on the 2nd National of Dancin’ and the TV Movie “Gypsy,” starring Bette Midler. Under the tutelage of Gwen Verdon, Diane recreated Sweet Charity starring Donna McKechnie for California Music Theatre. As an IATSE Stagehand in NYC, she was Asst. Electrician on Les Misérables at the Imperial Theatre, also working backstage on Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, The Life and Titanic in Electrics and Sound. Alongside Director/Better-Half: Bob Richard, they've premiered an original musical, Shanghai Bund, currently running in Shanghai, China; are co-founders of The American Musical Theatre Dance Co, NY; and are proud partners in their most extraordinary production: Robert Henry! Ms. Laurenson is on Faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway- NYC, and is sanctioned by the Verdon/Fosse Estate to teach Mr. Fosse's original works. She is a frequent guest Master Theatre Dance Instructor at schools, studios and theatres across the US and around the world, from Argentina and Mexico to Great Britain and Japan, and is a proud member of SDC, AEA, SAG & AFTRA. www.DianaLaurenson.com
Milton Granger (Music Direction) has previously served as Music Director in NSMT productions of Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Saturday Night Fever, A Christmas Carol (’14, ‘15), Anything Goes, Cats and Swing! As pianist/conductor: Broadway: Mary Poppins, The Woman in White, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cyrano the musical, and Camelot (with Robert Goulet). National tours: Sunset Boulevard, Big, The Phantom of the Opera, Only a Kingdom (with Sally Struthers). Off-Broadway: A Fine and Private Place, Fermat's Last Tango (CD and DVD), Company, Different Fields. International: West Side Story in Paris and Berlin; over ninety productions in regional theaters. As composer/lyricist/librettist: Two first-place awards from the National Opera Association; Castle Walk a Next Link selection in the New York Music Theatre Festival; Bronze Mirror a selection of the Manhattan Theatre Mission festival; Peter Rabbit and the Garden of Doom winner of the Actors' Playhouse competition. Eight chamber operas which have been produced by 50 college opera workshops and small opera companies in U.S. and Canada. www.miltongranger.com
Kyle Dixon (Scenic Design). Kyle’s scenic artwork may be seen across the United States, from NYC to Las Vegas. Recent scenic designs include: Camelot (Westchester Broadway Theatre), Buddy, West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, Sister Act, and Young Frankenstein (Theatre By The Sea, BroadwayWorld Regional Award), Growing up 70’s starring Barry Williams (Off Broadway), Angelina Ballerina, The Musical (NYC, Toronto, National Tour), Fancy Nancy, the Musical (NYC, National Tour), StinkyKids (Off Broadway Alliance Award), The Wizard of Oz (Gretna Theatre, BroadwayWorld Regional Award), Xanadu, Doubt, and The Merchant of Venice (Williams Center for the Arts), and many more. Kyle has designed concert events for Faith Prince, Tommy Tune, Pam Tillis, and the NC Gubernatorial Inauguration Gala (Telly Award). In addition to theatre, he is the designer of NC’s historic Elizabethan Gardens’ Winter Lights, a ten-acre holiday display. www.KyleDixonDesigns.com
Mark Nagle (Costume Coordinator and Additional Costume Design). NSMT: Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Funny Girl. Off Broadway: Belleville (New York Theatre Workshop) New York: Bird in the Hand (Fulcrum Theater). Regional: Memphis the Musical (Arkansas Repertory Theatre), Shrek the Musical, Cabaret, Macbeth (Red House Arts Center), Orlando (Colby Sawyer), Some Girl(s) (Salve); Belleville (Yale Rep); Julius Caesar, JIB, Passing (Yale School of Drama); An Incident, Close Up Space (Chautauqua Theater); Rose Mark'd, The Tempest (Yale Cabaret). Assistant: Broadway: Rebecca, The Assembled Parties (Manhattan Theatre Club). Off Broadway: Nikoli and the Others (Lincoln Center) Regional: Assistant Costume Designer at American Conservatory Theater. M.F.A.: Yale School of Drama. www.marknagledesign.com
Jack Mehler (Lighting Design) . Previous work with NSMT includes Scenery & Lighting for Singin’ in the Rain, Billy Elliot The Musical 2015, Miss Saigon 2013, Scenery for West Side Story 2003, and Lighting for A Christmas Carol ('02-'15; 2012 IRNE nomination), Annie, Camelot (IRNE nomination), Children of Eden, 42nd Street, Funny Girl, Gypsy, Hairspray, High School Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, The King and I, A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady, Nine (IRNE nomination), Ragtime, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Wizard of Oz. He received the 2012 (Elisabeth) and 2013 (Rebecca) Korean Muscial Theatre Awards (Korean Tony) for Lighting Design of the Year. Other Theatre design credits include Walnut Street Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Manhattan Theatre Club, Riverside Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Seattle Rep, Syracuse Stage, Weston Playhouse, The Working Theatre and WPA among many others. Dance: Joffrey Ballet, Lar Lubovitch, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Donald Byrd/Spectrum Dance, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Jose Limon, Ballet Memphis and others. Jack also provides owner's design representation for organizations building or renovating performance and rehearsal spaces.
Don Hanna (Sound Design) Regional sound design: Billy Elliot (North Shore Music Theater); regional premieres of Priscilla Queen of the Desert,Rock of Ages, The Addams Family, Young Frankenstein, all for Ogunquit Playhouse/Gateway Playhouse. Nat’l Tour: Million Dollar Quartet (2016 tour, Head Audio), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (20th Anniversary Tour, Head Audio). Huge thank you to my friends, family and Bethany for their love and continual support.
Gerard Kelly (Wig & Hair Design) Broadway: Disney’s The Lion King (Tony© Award - Best Musical), Hair (Tony© Award - Best Revival of a Musical). Gerard's hair and wig design has been seen at North Shore Music Theatre since 1999 as well as many other Regional Theatre's and Shakespeare Festivals across the country. Gerard has also created many wigs for performers such as Harvey Fierstein, Felicity Huffman, Laura Linney, Marlo Thomas, The B-52's (including the cover of their last album Funplex), Varla Jean Merman, Charles Busch, S.Epatha Merkerson, Jennifer Holiday, Ru Paul, Woopie Goldberg, and The Lady Bunny. Gerard's work can be seen in films such as Transamerica, Girls Will Be Girls, The Ten, The Savages, King Bolden, Notorious, The Conjuring and The Other Woman.
Natalie A. Lynch (Production Stage Manager). With NSMT: Spamalot, Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Funny Girl, the 2010, 2011, 2012 Musical Seasons. Other Credits Include: Capital Repertory Theatre, Reagle Music Theatre, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, New Repertory Theatre,Pioneer Theatre Company, STAGES St. Louis, Stoneham Theatre and Maples Repertory Theatre. National Tours: The Magic Tree House: The Musical and A Christmas Carol. Natalie began at NSMT as the SM Intern in 2005 and is thrilled to return once again to her theatrical home. She is a graduate of University of New Hampshire and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Special thanks to her family and friends, especially her parents, for their endless love and support. For Andrew, Abigail and Devin.
Dakotah Wiley Horan (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back having just made her equity debut here at North Shore with Spamalotand Singin’ In The Rain. Some of her previous stage management credits include: NSMT: Funny Girl and Mary Poppins. Capital Repertory Theatre: Marvelous Wonderettes, Cactus Flower, 33 Variations, Leslie Uggams in Uptown Downtown, Man of La Mancha, and Single Girls Guide.Pendragon Theatre: Clean House, Twelve Angry Men, A Christmas Story. CPS: The King And I. She is a graduate of SUNY Postdam and Universidad de Sevilla. She would like to thank her parents for instilling and encouraging her love of theatre, her very supportive friends and Natalie, Tom, and Kevin for this amazing opportunity.
Robert L. Rucinski (Assistant Music Direction). Past NSMT credits include: Singin’ in the Rain, Les Misérables, The Little Mermaid, The King and I, A Christmas Carol '04-'07 & '10-'15, Forever Plaid, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Crazy for You, Cinderella '05-'06, Singing in the Rain, Ain't Misbehavin', Damn Yankees, Camelot, Fame. Robert is thrilled to be returning to NSMT. This past winter, he was music director for Wheelock Family Theater's production of Mary Poppins as well as for shows such as Cinderella, Little Women, and My Fair Lady at the various high school and university theater programs at which he continues to work. A native of Jersey City, NJ, now living in Arlington, MA, Robert is a freelance musician working out of Boston and New York City.
Binder Casting (Casting). Broadway: In Transit (December 2016), Dames at Sea, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Lion King, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Born Yesterday, The Miracle Worker, Finian’s Rainbow, Brighton Beach Memoirs, A Chorus Line, Gypsy, 39 Steps, White Christmas, Is He Dead?, Inherit The Wind, Journey’s End, Butley, Virginia Woolf, Sweet Charity, Wonderful Town, Movin’ Out, 42nd Street, Music Man, Iceman Cometh, Charlie Brown, Sound of Music, Beauty & the Beast, Last Night of Ballyhoo, Chicago, King & I, Damn Yankees, Lost in Yonkers, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, The Goodbye Girl. Film/TV: Dreamgirls, Chicago, Nine, Hairspray, Carousel (PBS/NY Phil), Six by Sondheim(HBO), So You Think You Can Dance. Regional/Other: NY City Center Encores! series, Hartford Stage, West Side Story (San Francisco Symphony), Lyric Opera of Chicago, TUTS. Twelve–time Artios Award winner. An RWS & Associates company.
Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer) is honored and proud to have been responsible for the re-opening of the nationally renowned North Shore Music Theatre in 2010. He began his career in show business at age 19, leasing and developing movie theaters, including his first multiplex in Quincy, Massachusetts. Before long, he was booking rock shows (Jefferson Starship, Rush) and other types of live entertainment, which eventually led to the presenting and producing of Broadway productions. One such show was an appearance by the legendary mime artist, Marcel Marceau. As president of Broadway Productions, Bill presented national tours such as Annie, Amadeus, Dancin', Peter Pan, Rocky Horror Show and Mark Twain starring Hal Holbrook, throughout New England including Worcester, Springfield, Portland, Maine and Boston. Aside from his work operating North Shore Music Theatre, one of Bill's crowning achievements was the 2007 purchase and re-opening of Theatre By The Sea, a landmark 500 seat professional summer theatre and restaurant, which just completed its tenth successful year of operation in Matunuck, RI (theatrebythesea.com). Throughout his career, Bill has stayed focused on his movie theatre chain having bought, built, owned, operated and sold more than 30 cinemas. His company, Entertainment Cinemas, currently operates eight movie complexes in four states. In 2009, Bill was elected President of the Theatre Owners of New England. Bill's ongoing work with NSMT inspires him to consider acquiring additional performance venues at which he plans to someday share his productions between his theatres. Bill has been named to the North Shore Top 100 by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce. In 2012 he was recognized by both the Beverly Chamber of Commerce and Salem Chamber of Commerce as Business Person of the Year. He is the recipient of the 2015 Leslie S. Ray Hall of Fame Award, presented by the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce. Bill is a member of the League of Broadway Producers and was involved with the recent revival of Pippin.
Kevin P. Hill (Producing Artistic Director). Born and raised in Waltham, Massachusetts, Kevin began his theatrical career as dancer and actor. He appeared in National Touring companies of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing, Leslie Uggams and Michele Lee, Anything Goes and the International Touring Company of A Chorus Line. New York audiences have seen him in the Off-Broadway production of Party. Regional credits as a performer include: West Side Story, Good News! A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady and Marvin in Falsettoland. Kevin has directed and choreographed over 100 productions across America. He has had the privilege of working with such stars as Marin Mazzie, Joanne Worley, Kathleen Turner, Josh Groban, Jonathan Groff and Tony Award winner, Cady Huffman. In New York, he was the assistant to the director of On The Twentieth Century at the New Amsterdam Theatre and assistant to the choreographer on the revival of Guys and Dolls. Most recently he directed and choreographed 2 record-breaking musicals, Grease and Disney's Mary Poppins, at Bill Hanney's Theatre By The Sea in Rhode Island, where he is also Artistic Director. Kevin has been nominated as Best Director/Choreographer for his work on Smokey Joe's Café, Rent,The Full Monty, Chicago, and Edwin Drood, and was awarded the NH Theatre Award for Best Choreography for West Side Story at the Papermill Theatre. Future projects include an original danced play called Standing Still. As a Professor of Dance, Kevin has been on faculty at Pennsylvania State University, Kansas State University and most recently The Boston Conservatory of Music. He currently owns Hill Studios Dance and Fitness Center located in Newton, Massachusetts, and is a proud member of SDC, AEA and Dance Masters of New England, Chapter 5.
Tom Amos (Associate Producer) is excited to return to North Shore Music Theatre in his role as Associate Producer. Joining in 2005, Tom began in the Electrics Department and quickly moved into Company Management. Prior to working at NSMT, Tom received his Bachelor's Degree from Westfield State University and his Masters in Arts Administration from Boston University. Tom's passion for theatre and social justice issues motivated him to establish a LGBT Scholarship fund at Westfield State University where he created a Social Justice Theatre program to raise funds needed to maintain the scholarship. A big thank you to Bill, Kevin, Karen for their support and guidance.
Music Theatre International (MTIShows.com) is one of the world's leading dramatic licensing agencies, protecting the rights and legacy of composers, lyricists and book writers and supplying scripts, musical materials and other theatrical resources to theaters around the world. MTI has been a driving force in extending the production life of such great musicals as Annie, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Damn Yankees, Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Ragtime, as well as West Side Story. With more than 250 titles in its catalogue, including hits from the Broadway and London stage, musical revues, the Broadway Junior Collection and other youth musicals, MTI shows have been performed by more than 45,000 amateur and professional theatrical organizations throughout the U.S. and in over 60 countries around the world.
Actors' Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org
North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) Since 1955, NSMT has become one of the most attended theatres in New England, with approximately 250,000 patrons annually. With a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, NSMT has received numerous industry awards including Elliot Norton Awards, IRNE Awards, the Rosetta Le Noire Award from Actors' Equity, and the Moss Hart Award. NSMT produced the World Premiere of Memphis in 2003, the show went on to win four 2010 Tony® Awards including Best Musical. Under the new ownership of Bill Hanney in 2010, NSMT continues to annually produce a musical subscription series and an annual production of A Christmas Carol along with celebrity concerts and children's programming.
Leonard Bernstein (Music) (1918–1990). Composer, conductor, author, teacher and recording artist, Bernstein transformed the way Americans and people everywhere hear and appreciate music. A few of his many compositions include the symphonies Jeremiah and The Age of Anxiety, the theatre piece Mass, Chichester Psalms, Divertimento, the film score for On the Waterfront, the ballets Fancy Free and Facsimile and the operas Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place. He was music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1958 to 1969 and, over his lifetime, conducted many of the major orchestras of the world. His Broadway musicals include Wonderful Town, Candide, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the immensely popular West Side Story.
Stephen Sondheim (Lyrics) wrote the music and lyrics for Saturday Night, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, The Frogs, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park With George, Into the Woods, Assassins, Passion and Road Show as well as lyrics for West Side Story, Gypsy, Do I Hear a Waltz? and additional lyrics for Candide. Side by Side by Sondheim, Marry Me a Little, You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow, Putting It Together and Sondheim on Sondheim are anthologies of his work as composer and lyricist. For films, he composed the score of Stavisky, background music for Reds and songs for Dick Tracy and the television production “Evening Primrose.” He co-authored the film The Last of Sheila and the play Getting Away With Murder. Mr. Sondheim is on the council of the Dramatists Guild, having served as its president from 1973 to 1981.
Jerome Robbins (Original Concept, Original Broadway Direction & Choreography) is world-renowned for his work as a choreographer of ballets as well as his work as a director and choreographer in theatre, movies and television. His Broadway shows include On the Town, Billion Dollar Baby, High Button Shoes, West Side Story, The King and I, Gypsy, Peter Pan, Miss Liberty, Call Me Madam and Fiddler on the Roof. His last Broadway production in 1989, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, won six Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director. Among the more than 60 ballets he created are Fancy Free; Afternoon of a Faun; The Concert; Dances at a Gathering; In the Night; In G Major; Other Dances; Glass Pieces; and Ives, Songs, which are in the repertories of New York City Ballet and other major dance companies throughout the world. His last ballets include A Suite of Dances created for Mikhail Baryshnikov (1994), 2 & 3 Part Inventions (1994), West Side Story Suite (1995) and Brandenburg (1996). In addition to two Academy Awards for the film West Side Story, Mr. Robbins received four Tony Awards, five Donaldson Awards, two Emmy Awards, the screen Directors Guild Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. He was a 1981 Kennedy Center Honors recipient and was awarded the French Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur. Mr. Robbins died in 1998.
Bob Richard (Director) Broadway: He has provided the choreography for How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and on tour, this year Grinch was also on stage at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville! Off- Broadway: Co-Director & Choreographer of Inventing Mary Martin, The Revue Of A Lifetime. This work was recognized and nominated for the prestigious Callaway Award; The Road to Qatar at the York. Director: West Side Story 60th Anniversary, Sacramento Music Circus: (National Tours); The 50th Anniversary National Tour of Hello, Dolly! starring, Sally Struthers; Cabaretwhich won several awards around the country, including an Ivey Award, and the National Tour of Guys and Dolls. Also, on the other side of the planet his work is currently seen in the original Chinese musical Shanghai Bund; (TV and Film); Choreographer of “LazyTown” Season 3; by Turner Network Television. “The Tonight Show;” “The Today Show;” and “The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.” Bob is honored to be the Resident Choreographer for Sacramento Music Circus for the past 19 years and has staged over 40 productions. He has been a guest master instructor at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Other notable theatres include; The 5th Ave Theatre (Seattle, WA) where he won a Footlight Award, Madison Square Garden (NYC), North Shore Music Theatre (Beverly, MA), Theatre by The Sea (Wakefield, RI), Theatre Under the Stars (Houston, TX), and The Pioneer Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT). Bob and his wife Diane Laurenson are the Co-Founding Artistic Directors of The American Musical Theatre Dance Company! Dancing, teaching master classes worldwide, and choreographing encompassing over 30 plus years in show business.
Diane Laurenson (Choreographer) began her career as a performer, appearing on Broadway in Sweet Charity, Big Deal, Gypsy (twice!), Dangerous Games and The Little Prince, International/National Tours of Bob Fosse's Dancin', Anything Goes, West Side Story, and Regional productions of A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, and Chicago. Numerous TV, Film and Business Theatre credits include “Law and Order,” Age of Innocence, “The Kennedy Center Honors,” “The Miss America Pageant,” “Royal Variety Show,” “Milliken Breakfast Show” and France 3's documentary: “Getting To Broadway.” She's choreographed highly acclaimed productions of West Side Story for Theatre By The Sea, Sacramento Music Circus, Westbury Music Fair, NY and North Carolina Theatres, and was Associate Choreographer on the 2nd National of Dancin’ and the TV Movie “Gypsy,” starring Bette Midler. Under the tutelage of Gwen Verdon, Diane recreated Sweet Charity starring Donna McKechnie for California Music Theatre. As an IATSE Stagehand in NYC, she was Asst. Electrician on Les Misérables at the Imperial Theatre, also working backstage on Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, The Life and Titanic in Electrics and Sound. Alongside Director/Better-Half: Bob Richard, they've premiered an original musical, Shanghai Bund, currently running in Shanghai, China; are co-founders of The American Musical Theatre Dance Co, NY; and are proud partners in their most extraordinary production: Robert Henry! Ms. Laurenson is on Faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway- NYC, and is sanctioned by the Verdon/Fosse Estate to teach Mr. Fosse's original works. She is a frequent guest Master Theatre Dance Instructor at schools, studios and theatres across the US and around the world, from Argentina and Mexico to Great Britain and Japan, and is a proud member of SDC, AEA, SAG & AFTRA. www.DianaLaurenson.com
Milton Granger (Music Direction) has previously served as Music Director in NSMT productions of Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Saturday Night Fever, A Christmas Carol (’14, ‘15), Anything Goes, Cats and Swing! As pianist/conductor: Broadway: Mary Poppins, The Woman in White, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cyrano the musical, and Camelot (with Robert Goulet). National tours: Sunset Boulevard, Big, The Phantom of the Opera, Only a Kingdom (with Sally Struthers). Off-Broadway: A Fine and Private Place, Fermat's Last Tango (CD and DVD), Company, Different Fields. International: West Side Story in Paris and Berlin; over ninety productions in regional theaters. As composer/lyricist/librettist: Two first-place awards from the National Opera Association; Castle Walk a Next Link selection in the New York Music Theatre Festival; Bronze Mirror a selection of the Manhattan Theatre Mission festival; Peter Rabbit and the Garden of Doom winner of the Actors' Playhouse competition. Eight chamber operas which have been produced by 50 college opera workshops and small opera companies in U.S. and Canada. www.miltongranger.com
Kyle Dixon (Scenic Design). Kyle’s scenic artwork may be seen across the United States, from NYC to Las Vegas. Recent scenic designs include: Camelot (Westchester Broadway Theatre), Buddy, West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, Sister Act, and Young Frankenstein (Theatre By The Sea, BroadwayWorld Regional Award), Growing up 70’s starring Barry Williams (Off Broadway), Angelina Ballerina, The Musical (NYC, Toronto, National Tour), Fancy Nancy, the Musical (NYC, National Tour), StinkyKids (Off Broadway Alliance Award), The Wizard of Oz (Gretna Theatre, BroadwayWorld Regional Award), Xanadu, Doubt, and The Merchant of Venice (Williams Center for the Arts), and many more. Kyle has designed concert events for Faith Prince, Tommy Tune, Pam Tillis, and the NC Gubernatorial Inauguration Gala (Telly Award). In addition to theatre, he is the designer of NC’s historic Elizabethan Gardens’ Winter Lights, a ten-acre holiday display. www.KyleDixonDesigns.com
Mark Nagle (Costume Coordinator and Additional Costume Design). NSMT: Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Funny Girl. Off Broadway: Belleville (New York Theatre Workshop) New York: Bird in the Hand (Fulcrum Theater). Regional: Memphis the Musical (Arkansas Repertory Theatre), Shrek the Musical, Cabaret, Macbeth (Red House Arts Center), Orlando (Colby Sawyer), Some Girl(s) (Salve); Belleville (Yale Rep); Julius Caesar, JIB, Passing (Yale School of Drama); An Incident, Close Up Space (Chautauqua Theater); Rose Mark'd, The Tempest (Yale Cabaret). Assistant: Broadway: Rebecca, The Assembled Parties (Manhattan Theatre Club). Off Broadway: Nikoli and the Others (Lincoln Center) Regional: Assistant Costume Designer at American Conservatory Theater. M.F.A.: Yale School of Drama. www.marknagledesign.com
Jack Mehler (Lighting Design) . Previous work with NSMT includes Scenery & Lighting for Singin’ in the Rain, Billy Elliot The Musical 2015, Miss Saigon 2013, Scenery for West Side Story 2003, and Lighting for A Christmas Carol ('02-'15; 2012 IRNE nomination), Annie, Camelot (IRNE nomination), Children of Eden, 42nd Street, Funny Girl, Gypsy, Hairspray, High School Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, The King and I, A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady, Nine (IRNE nomination), Ragtime, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Wizard of Oz. He received the 2012 (Elisabeth) and 2013 (Rebecca) Korean Muscial Theatre Awards (Korean Tony) for Lighting Design of the Year. Other Theatre design credits include Walnut Street Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Manhattan Theatre Club, Riverside Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Seattle Rep, Syracuse Stage, Weston Playhouse, The Working Theatre and WPA among many others. Dance: Joffrey Ballet, Lar Lubovitch, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Donald Byrd/Spectrum Dance, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Jose Limon, Ballet Memphis and others. Jack also provides owner's design representation for organizations building or renovating performance and rehearsal spaces.
Don Hanna (Sound Design) Regional sound design: Billy Elliot (North Shore Music Theater); regional premieres of Priscilla Queen of the Desert,Rock of Ages, The Addams Family, Young Frankenstein, all for Ogunquit Playhouse/Gateway Playhouse. Nat’l Tour: Million Dollar Quartet (2016 tour, Head Audio), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (20th Anniversary Tour, Head Audio). Huge thank you to my friends, family and Bethany for their love and continual support.
Gerard Kelly (Wig & Hair Design) Broadway: Disney’s The Lion King (Tony© Award - Best Musical), Hair (Tony© Award - Best Revival of a Musical). Gerard's hair and wig design has been seen at North Shore Music Theatre since 1999 as well as many other Regional Theatre's and Shakespeare Festivals across the country. Gerard has also created many wigs for performers such as Harvey Fierstein, Felicity Huffman, Laura Linney, Marlo Thomas, The B-52's (including the cover of their last album Funplex), Varla Jean Merman, Charles Busch, S.Epatha Merkerson, Jennifer Holiday, Ru Paul, Woopie Goldberg, and The Lady Bunny. Gerard's work can be seen in films such as Transamerica, Girls Will Be Girls, The Ten, The Savages, King Bolden, Notorious, The Conjuring and The Other Woman.
Natalie A. Lynch (Production Stage Manager). With NSMT: Spamalot, Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Funny Girl, the 2010, 2011, 2012 Musical Seasons. Other Credits Include: Capital Repertory Theatre, Reagle Music Theatre, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, New Repertory Theatre,Pioneer Theatre Company, STAGES St. Louis, Stoneham Theatre and Maples Repertory Theatre. National Tours: The Magic Tree House: The Musical and A Christmas Carol. Natalie began at NSMT as the SM Intern in 2005 and is thrilled to return once again to her theatrical home. She is a graduate of University of New Hampshire and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Special thanks to her family and friends, especially her parents, for their endless love and support. For Andrew, Abigail and Devin.
Dakotah Wiley Horan (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back having just made her equity debut here at North Shore with Spamalotand Singin’ In The Rain. Some of her previous stage management credits include: NSMT: Funny Girl and Mary Poppins. Capital Repertory Theatre: Marvelous Wonderettes, Cactus Flower, 33 Variations, Leslie Uggams in Uptown Downtown, Man of La Mancha, and Single Girls Guide.Pendragon Theatre: Clean House, Twelve Angry Men, A Christmas Story. CPS: The King And I. She is a graduate of SUNY Postdam and Universidad de Sevilla. She would like to thank her parents for instilling and encouraging her love of theatre, her very supportive friends and Natalie, Tom, and Kevin for this amazing opportunity.
Robert L. Rucinski (Assistant Music Direction). Past NSMT credits include: Singin’ in the Rain, Les Misérables, The Little Mermaid, The King and I, A Christmas Carol '04-'07 & '10-'15, Forever Plaid, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Crazy for You, Cinderella '05-'06, Singing in the Rain, Ain't Misbehavin', Damn Yankees, Camelot, Fame. Robert is thrilled to be returning to NSMT. This past winter, he was music director for Wheelock Family Theater's production of Mary Poppins as well as for shows such as Cinderella, Little Women, and My Fair Lady at the various high school and university theater programs at which he continues to work. A native of Jersey City, NJ, now living in Arlington, MA, Robert is a freelance musician working out of Boston and New York City.
Binder Casting (Casting). Broadway: In Transit (December 2016), Dames at Sea, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Lion King, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Born Yesterday, The Miracle Worker, Finian’s Rainbow, Brighton Beach Memoirs, A Chorus Line, Gypsy, 39 Steps, White Christmas, Is He Dead?, Inherit The Wind, Journey’s End, Butley, Virginia Woolf, Sweet Charity, Wonderful Town, Movin’ Out, 42nd Street, Music Man, Iceman Cometh, Charlie Brown, Sound of Music, Beauty & the Beast, Last Night of Ballyhoo, Chicago, King & I, Damn Yankees, Lost in Yonkers, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, The Goodbye Girl. Film/TV: Dreamgirls, Chicago, Nine, Hairspray, Carousel (PBS/NY Phil), Six by Sondheim(HBO), So You Think You Can Dance. Regional/Other: NY City Center Encores! series, Hartford Stage, West Side Story (San Francisco Symphony), Lyric Opera of Chicago, TUTS. Twelve–time Artios Award winner. An RWS & Associates company.
Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer) is honored and proud to have been responsible for the re-opening of the nationally renowned North Shore Music Theatre in 2010. He began his career in show business at age 19, leasing and developing movie theaters, including his first multiplex in Quincy, Massachusetts. Before long, he was booking rock shows (Jefferson Starship, Rush) and other types of live entertainment, which eventually led to the presenting and producing of Broadway productions. One such show was an appearance by the legendary mime artist, Marcel Marceau. As president of Broadway Productions, Bill presented national tours such as Annie, Amadeus, Dancin', Peter Pan, Rocky Horror Show and Mark Twain starring Hal Holbrook, throughout New England including Worcester, Springfield, Portland, Maine and Boston. Aside from his work operating North Shore Music Theatre, one of Bill's crowning achievements was the 2007 purchase and re-opening of Theatre By The Sea, a landmark 500 seat professional summer theatre and restaurant, which just completed its tenth successful year of operation in Matunuck, RI (theatrebythesea.com). Throughout his career, Bill has stayed focused on his movie theatre chain having bought, built, owned, operated and sold more than 30 cinemas. His company, Entertainment Cinemas, currently operates eight movie complexes in four states. In 2009, Bill was elected President of the Theatre Owners of New England. Bill's ongoing work with NSMT inspires him to consider acquiring additional performance venues at which he plans to someday share his productions between his theatres. Bill has been named to the North Shore Top 100 by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce. In 2012 he was recognized by both the Beverly Chamber of Commerce and Salem Chamber of Commerce as Business Person of the Year. He is the recipient of the 2015 Leslie S. Ray Hall of Fame Award, presented by the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce. Bill is a member of the League of Broadway Producers and was involved with the recent revival of Pippin.
Kevin P. Hill (Producing Artistic Director). Born and raised in Waltham, Massachusetts, Kevin began his theatrical career as dancer and actor. He appeared in National Touring companies of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing, Leslie Uggams and Michele Lee, Anything Goes and the International Touring Company of A Chorus Line. New York audiences have seen him in the Off-Broadway production of Party. Regional credits as a performer include: West Side Story, Good News! A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady and Marvin in Falsettoland. Kevin has directed and choreographed over 100 productions across America. He has had the privilege of working with such stars as Marin Mazzie, Joanne Worley, Kathleen Turner, Josh Groban, Jonathan Groff and Tony Award winner, Cady Huffman. In New York, he was the assistant to the director of On The Twentieth Century at the New Amsterdam Theatre and assistant to the choreographer on the revival of Guys and Dolls. Most recently he directed and choreographed 2 record-breaking musicals, Grease and Disney's Mary Poppins, at Bill Hanney's Theatre By The Sea in Rhode Island, where he is also Artistic Director. Kevin has been nominated as Best Director/Choreographer for his work on Smokey Joe's Café, Rent,The Full Monty, Chicago, and Edwin Drood, and was awarded the NH Theatre Award for Best Choreography for West Side Story at the Papermill Theatre. Future projects include an original danced play called Standing Still. As a Professor of Dance, Kevin has been on faculty at Pennsylvania State University, Kansas State University and most recently The Boston Conservatory of Music. He currently owns Hill Studios Dance and Fitness Center located in Newton, Massachusetts, and is a proud member of SDC, AEA and Dance Masters of New England, Chapter 5.
Tom Amos (Associate Producer) is excited to return to North Shore Music Theatre in his role as Associate Producer. Joining in 2005, Tom began in the Electrics Department and quickly moved into Company Management. Prior to working at NSMT, Tom received his Bachelor's Degree from Westfield State University and his Masters in Arts Administration from Boston University. Tom's passion for theatre and social justice issues motivated him to establish a LGBT Scholarship fund at Westfield State University where he created a Social Justice Theatre program to raise funds needed to maintain the scholarship. A big thank you to Bill, Kevin, Karen for their support and guidance.
Music Theatre International (MTIShows.com) is one of the world's leading dramatic licensing agencies, protecting the rights and legacy of composers, lyricists and book writers and supplying scripts, musical materials and other theatrical resources to theaters around the world. MTI has been a driving force in extending the production life of such great musicals as Annie, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Damn Yankees, Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Ragtime, as well as West Side Story. With more than 250 titles in its catalogue, including hits from the Broadway and London stage, musical revues, the Broadway Junior Collection and other youth musicals, MTI shows have been performed by more than 45,000 amateur and professional theatrical organizations throughout the U.S. and in over 60 countries around the world.
Actors' Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org
North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) Since 1955, NSMT has become one of the most attended theatres in New England, with approximately 250,000 patrons annually. With a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, NSMT has received numerous industry awards including Elliot Norton Awards, IRNE Awards, the Rosetta Le Noire Award from Actors' Equity, and the Moss Hart Award. NSMT produced the World Premiere of Memphis in 2003, the show went on to win four 2010 Tony® Awards including Best Musical. Under the new ownership of Bill Hanney in 2010, NSMT continues to annually produce a musical subscription series and an annual production of A Christmas Carol along with celebrity concerts and children's programming.
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