cast and creative
CLAY AIKEN (Joseph) Since coming to national attention on the second season of "American Idol" in 2003, Clay Aiken has evolved into a versatile and beloved popular entertainer. He has released five well-received albums, selling over 6 million units as of 2011. In October 2003, he launched his first solo album Measure of a Man. The record sold 3 million copies and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. With 613,000 copies sold in the first week, it was the highest selling first album for a solo artist in ten years, going double-platinum and netting Aiken an American Music Award. In 2004, Aiken released Merry Christmas with Love, the fastest selling Christmas album in Nielsen Soundscan history. He followed that success with A Thousand Different Ways (2006), All is Well (2006), and On My Way Here (2008). His 5th Studio album, Tried and True, was released in 2010, receiving positive reviews from critics across the board. Notably, Aiken earned the distinction of being only the eighth artist to ever have his first four albums debut in the Billboard Top 5. Aiken also penned a best-selling memoir in 2004. Readers and critics alike embraced his style and his message in Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life. The book was an instant New York Times bestseller, holding the prestigious spot for seven weeks. In addition to taking the stage on nine separate tours, in 2008 Clay Aiken began his critically lauded stint as the inept yet endearing Sir Robin in the Broadway musical Monty Python’s Spamalot. Variety reported that his January 2008 debut benefited the show with a huge uptick in sales. Clay proved to be a tour de force that prompted director Mike Nichols to label Aiken “an excellent comic actor and a master of character.” Throughout his career Aiken has continuously been a supportive activist on behalf of children. As he has often explained, “My music career has allowed me to do the same thing I was doing before – work with kids. It has just given me a bigger stage, so I can enact change on a grander scale.” Clay has been an ambassador for UNICEF since 2004, the same year he started the National Inclusion Project with co-founder Diane Bubel. NIP supports the integration of children with disabilities into the same environments as their non-disabled peers. In 2012, Aiken was runner-up to Arsenio Hall on the 5th season of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice to raise funds and awareness for the National Inclusion Project. Beating the likes of Debbie Gibson, Aubrey O’Day and Lisa Lampanelli, he became an audience favorite, and raised over $350,000 for NIP. He has toured nine times, written a New York Times best-selling memoir, sold more than six million albums, produced and hosted television programs, starred on Broadway, and devoted considerable energy and resources to improving the lives of children all over the world.
KEALA SETTLE (Narrator) was most recently seen on Broadway in Hands on a Hardbody, for which she received 2013 Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, and well as winning the Theater World Award. Other Broadway and National touring credits include: Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Shirley), South Pacific (Bloody Mary) and Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad). Workshops: The Last Ship (music/lyrics by Sting, book by John Logan & Brian Yorkey, directed by Joe Mantello), The Legend of Bobby Stone and the Good Feeling Hat (written by Ben Andron, directed by Peter Scolari), Violet (City Center Off-Encores directed by Leigh Silverman). Special thanks to everyone at DGRW!
CRAIG LAURIE (Reuben/The Butler) is so happy to be spending the summer in Maine. Craig has performed extensively with the hit Off-Broadway show Forbidden Broadway, appearing across the country as well as in the Off-Broadway production in NY. He was seen for over 1000 performances in the mega smash hit musical Jersey Boys where he originated the role of Bob Crewe in the Chicago production. Craig appeared as Guido Contini in Phoenix Theatre's celebrated production of Nine. National Tours: Miss Saigon, Chicago, and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber guest starring Michael Bolton. Regional Theatres: Florida Studio Theatre, Barrington Stage, Stages St. Louis, Lenape PAC, White Plains PAC. Thanks to Craig and everyone at Avalon Artists Group. Love to RWS & family. Craig was trained at NY's LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts and Wagner College...and Craig is a triplet.
BILL NOLTE (Jacob/Potiphar/Baker) RECENT: Marvel, Guard, Wizard in The Wizard of Oz (Sacramento Music Circus); Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (Westchester Broadway Theatre), Tony in The Most Happy Fella (Dallas’ Lyric Stage); Fuzz in the American Premiere of Harmony Kansas (San Diego’s LGBT Diversionary Theatre). BROADWAY: La Cage, Producers, Amour, Jane Eyre, 1776, A Christmas Carol, King David, Joseph…, Secret Garden, Me and My Girl, and CATS (’85 debut). Bill, also an accomplished watercolorist, will be appearing this fall as Tony in The Most Happy Fella at Goodspeed. To learn more about Bill visit www.billnolte.com.
MATTHEW RAGAS (Pharaoh) is super excited to be back at Ogunquit! He was last seen as Warner in Legally Blonde with the hilarious and gracious Sally Struthers. Matthew has toured the country with Hairspray (Link Larkin), Legally Blonde (Warmer) and The Wedding Singer (Swing). Matthew recently finished playing Danny Zuko in Grease at the historic Walnut Street Theatre and Riverside Theatre. Matthew is originally from New Orleans and is a Hurricane Katrina survivor. Gratitude and Love to all my friends and family!!!
ALEX PUETTE (Levi/Ensemble) is thrilled to be at Ogunquit this summer. First National Tours include: Legally Blonde, Young Frankenstein (u/s Monster), and A Christmas Story. International: West Side Story (Riff). Off- Broadway: New Girl In Town (Irish Repertory Theatre). Selected Regional credits: Hello, Dolly! (Ford’s Theatre, D.C.); 42nd Street, The Producers (St. Louis MUNY); Fiddler On The Roof (K.C. Starlight); A Chorus Line (Greg). Proud graduate of the University of Michigan. Love and thanks to Stewart Talent, Billy, and all family and friends.
NICHOLAS WARD (Judah/Ensemble) is so thrilled to be returning after 9 years (in Smokey Joe's Cafe) to his Ogunquit Family here in beautiful Maine. Nicholas grew up in Niceville Florida and currently resides in NYC. He just recently returned from working for the luxury cruise line Seabourn where he was a Principal Singer for a cruise around the world. Some of his other favorites include New York City Center's ENCORES! Pipe Dream, National Tour of Show Boat, European Tour of Porgy and Bess, Booker T. Washington in Ragtime, The Plant in Little Shop of Horrors, and Fred (the Bass) Smokey Joe's Cafe. Sending Love and Thanks to Friends and Family for their endless support.
KEN ARPINO (Issachar/Ensemble) is so excited to be returning to the Ogunquit Playhouse, having last been seen in Legally Blonde: The Musical! as Nikos. National/International tours: Legally Blonde: the Musical! and Hairspray. Most recent credits: The Christmas Rose starring Jane Seymour and Bare: A Pop Opera with Wolfbane Productions. Favorite credits include: Hedwig the Angry Inch, Hair, The Wild Party, West Side Story, Grease and 1776. Boston area native, Emerson College graduate. He wants to thank his mom and dad for being amazing, and his fantastic family and friends for all their continued love and support.
NATHAN CHANG (Zebulun/Ensemble) is positively delighted to be making his debut with the Ogunquit Playhouse! You may have recently seen him in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre), The Drowsy Chaperone (Creede Repertory), Seussical the Musical (TheatreWorks USA), Man of La Mancha, …Spelling Bee (Theatre by the Sea) or other shows hither, thither, and yon. He earned his BFA in Musical Theatre from Emerson College. He is also an avid comedy writer, sometimes composer, and part-time Red Sox fan. Much love to my family and friends for their undying support. For more (as if this wasn't enough) try www.nathan-chang.com.
SCOTT DIFFORD (Naphtali/Ensemble) is thrilled to make his Ogunquit debut! Most recently seen on the First National tour of Memphis the Musical, selected credits include: A Christmas Carol (Broadway); Ragtime (National Tour); Joseph…Dreamcoat (Theater of the Stars and Mountain Playhouse); The Producers (Riverside Theatre); Miss Saigon, Oklahoma!, White Christmas, Cats (PCLO); High School Musical (WVPT); New York Knicks Acroback Tumbler. Much thanks to my friends and family for their continued love and support!
CASEY GARVIN (Simeon/Ensemble) is thrilled to be making Joseph… his Ogunquit debut! Past credits include the First National Tour of West Side Story (Diesel, Riff U/S), Bare the Musical off-Broadway (Zack), and regional theaters such as Paper Mill Playhouse and the Fulton Theater. For my family.
KORY GELLER (Benjamin/Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his Ogunquit debut! Recent credits include A Chorus Line (Fulton Theatre) and Annie Get Your Gun (Fireside Theatre). Kory recently graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts (CAP21). Many thanks to the Joseph team, bloc, friends, family, incredible parents and his rocks, Moesh and Jazzy.
TIANA CHECCHIA JONES (Wife/Ensemble) A proud graduate of Notre Dame, avid Yankee fan and native of Long Island, Tiana is excited to be back in Ogunquit after being seen in Shout! (Yellow Girl). During that show she met an incredible electrician and married him three years later! She has toured the country in various productions including the North American tour of Grease (Sandy). She’s tackled tours, regional theatre, dinner theatre, theme parks, summer stock, and even Carnegie Hall! Favorite roles: Annie Get Your Gun (Annie Oakley); …Spelling Bee (Olive); Peter Pan (Peter Pan); and The Marvelous Wonderettes (Suzy). Infinite thanks to my supportive family! www.tianajones.com
ANDRÉ JORDAN (Gad/Ensemble) is thrilled to be working at the Ogunquit Playhouse this summer! National Tours: Shrek The Musical (Donkey), Legally Blonde (Carlos) Madagascar Live! UK (Swing). Other credits include: Aida, Rent, See What I Wanna See,You're a Good Man,Charlie Brown, and Toy Story The Musical (Original Cast). André would love to give thanks to God, his momma, his agent, and his wonderful boyfriend Ryan. Special shout-out to his Godson #Ethanthebaby
DREW KING (Dan/Ensemble) is a New England native and thrilled to be returning to Ogunquit after last appearing in Thoroughly Modern Millie and last season’s production of 9 to 5. Drew was recently seen in the City Center Encores! production of On Your Toes at New York City Center. Tour: 1st National Elf the Musical. Regional: Paper Mill, Goodspeed, Westchester, Gateway, Reagle, MacHaydn. Many thanks to Brad and Jayme, and much love to my teachers, friends, and family who have carried me along the way.
COLBY KINGSTON (Ensemble) is very excited to return to the OPH stage in this wonderful production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! Some of Colby's other credits include The Music Man, South Pacific and Damn Yankees all at the Ogunquit Playhouse, as well as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls at Kennebunk High School. She would like to thank Brad and Jayme for this opportunity, and her parents for their endless support!
PIPER KINGSTON (Ensemble) is thrilled to come back to the Playhouse for another amazing opportunity. Some of her favorite OP credits include The Sound of Music (Brigitta), The Music Man, Damn Yankees, and Pinkalicious (Dr. Wink/Alison). She also was in Honk! (Penny) at the Biddeford City Music Theater, as well as Peter Pan (Tiger Lily) at her school this past winter. She is thrilled to once more be sharing the stage with her sisters. She would like to give a huge thank you to Brad and Jayme for giving her another chance to spend her summer in Ogunquit, as well as her family for their love and support.
SHAE KINGSTON (Ensemble) couldn't be more excited to return to Ogunquit after appearing in Damn Yankees, The Music Man and The Sound of Music (Louisa). She also played Martha Cratchit in A Christmas Carol at The North Shore Music Theatre in the '11 and '12 productions. Thank you to Brad and Jayme for this experience! Love and thanks to family and friends.
LAUREN LUKACEK (Ensemble) is thrilled to return to Joseph, this time at Ogunquit! Theatre: My Fair Lady (Nat'l Tour - Eliza u/s), Edith Stein (York Theatre Co), Sound of Music (Engeman Theatre), Joseph... (North Shore Music Theatre), Genesius, The Musical (TADA! - World Premiere), Of Thee I Sing (Bard SummerScape), Film: Seconds of In Between, 50 Grades of Shay. Training: BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. All thanks to Jayme, Talia and Eric. Lots of love to Mom, Dad, Casey and Tao.
ERIK MAGNUS (Asher/Ensemble) Int’l Tours: Barbie Live! (Ensemble, Male Swing #2), Apassionata: The Beginning (Featured Dancer). Regional: A Chorus Line (Larry), The Mikado (Ensemble), Fiddler on the Roof (Fyedka), Sound of Music (Ensemble, Rolf u/s), The Who’s Tommy (Ensemble, Lover u/s). B.A. in Dance, Muhlenberg College. For Mom and Dad.
BRIDGET NOLTIMIER (Wife/Ensemble/Dance Capt./Assistant Choreographer) TUTS: Yankee Doodle Dandy; Ordway Center: Cinderella, Joseph...Dreamcoat; Eldorado Showroom: Hairspray; Chanhassen Theatre: Swing! The Musical, Oklahoma!; Tokyo Intl. Forum: Joseph...Dreamcoat; Palace Theater: Hairspray; Duke on 42nd: International Dance Festival; Out On a Limb Dance Company Repertoire. BFA University of Minnesota. Much love and laughter to 3B3MDL!
ANNE OTTO (Mrs. Potiphar/Ensemble) is delighted to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut. Anne’s Broadway debut was with Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway, as Mr. Jackman’s principal dance partner. Her regional credits include: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Geminae Twin), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Renee & featured dancer), Sophisticated Ladies, Singin' in the Rain (Green Dress), Sweet Charity, Jubilee (Bally’s Las Vegas showgirl), and Erotic Broadway. Thank you to my incredible agent Ann Steele. All my love to my incredible husband Cory!
LIZZY PALMER (Wife/Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to Ogunquit this season after appearing as Alice/Ensemble in Thoroughly Modern Millie! Other favorite credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie at Paper Mill Playhouse, Guys and Dolls at North Shore Music Theatre, and Amber in Hairspray at New Bedford Festival Theater. Thanks to Brad and Jayme, her loving parents, sister, Justin, and teachers.
LEIGH SCHEFFLER (Wife/Ensemble) is delighted to be here this summer for her debut at Ogunquit Playhouse. She began her professional career with The Young Americans: touring, performing, and teaching music to school children all over the world. After spending three years cruising the seas as dance captain and company manager for Stiletto Entertainment, she collaborated on the creation of the new musical Cash: The Life and Music of an American Legend as part of the dance ensemble as well as the singing voice of June Carter. Leigh currently lives in New York City with her soon-to-be husband.
MICHAEL WARRELL will play Naphatali/Ensemble August 6-25. Michael is thrilled to be making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Broadway/Workshops: All That Glitters (Young George). National/International Tours: Spamalot (Dance Captain/Patsy US), Grease (Doody US), Fame (Nick/Schlomo US). Regional: Grease at Riverside and Walnut Street (Kenickie); Hello! My Baby! at Goodspeed (Dickie the Duck); Guys and Dolls at NSMT (Angie the Ox); A Chorus Line at Maine State Music Theatre (Alan DeLuca); Legally Blonde at the Cape Playhouse (Aaron Schultz); Joseph... at NSMT (Benjamin). Others include: Urinetown (Bobby Strong), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Boyet), Lippa’s The Wild Party (Oscar). BA Ball State. For SJW (my rock), CB, CD, JG, and all my loves. MichaelWarrell.com
TIM RICE (Lyrics) was born in 1944. He began song writing in 1965 in which year the first song he wrote “That’s My Story” (tune as well as words) was recorded by a rock group called the Nightshift whose career never recovered. That same year he met fellow budding songwriter Andrew Lloyd Webber whose musical ambitions were in theatre rather than rock or pop. They teamed up and wrote four musicals together from 1965–1978. The first, The Likes of Us (1965-6) was performed for the first time in 2005 and became available on CD just 40 years after its creation. The other three, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat (1968), Jesus Christ Superstar (1969–71) and Evita (1976–78) were more immediate successes. Feeling certain that they could never top this lot, the pair went their separate ways in the early eighties, whereupon ALW immediately topped that lot with Cats. Tim Rice then wrote Blondel (1983), a mediaeval romp, with Stephen Oliver, which ran a mere year in London. (It was last revived at the Pleasance, Islington, in late 2006.) This was followed in 1986 by Chess, in collaboration with ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. Chess had a healthy run in the West End but flopped on Broadway in 1988, the New York Times bloke (since replaced) being particularly forceful in his disapproval. In 1989 Tim translated the famous French musical Starmania (by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon) into English, which merely resulted in a hit album—in France. In the nineties he worked primarily and happily with the Disney empire, contributing lyrics to the movies Aladdin (music Alan Menken) and The Lion King, (music Elton John and Hans Zimmer) and to the stage shows Beauty and the Beast (Alan Menken), The Lion King and Aida (both Sir Elton). Between Disney commitments he wrote the words for Sir Cliff Richard’s theatrical blockbuster Heathcliff (music John Farrar), which toured the UK in 1995–96. For Dreamworks, he and Sir Elton joined forces yet again to write the score for the 2000 animated film The Road to El Dorado. Tim’s recent work has included lyrics for a forthcoming film of the timeless Nutcracker (music by Tchaikovsky) and for the late Sir Malcolm Arnold’s famous Peterloo oratorio. He is reworking an operatic musical he has written with Alan Menken (King David) - most recently staged at New York University in November 2008. In 2008 he produced and presented a new concert version of Chess at London’s Royal Albert Hall starring Josh Groban, Idina Menzel and Adam Pascal. A CD and DVD of this show is being issued worldwide in 2009. Tim has also just finished the first draft of a brand new theatrical idea, which may or may not see the light of day. He is writing and presenting a major new radio series for BBC Radio 2 in 2009/10. He has won a variety of awards, mainly for the wrong things, or for simply turning up. These include 3 Oscars, 4 Tonys, 5 or 6 Grammys and a dozen Ivor Novellos. He was awarded a star on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame in November 2008. He is a Trustee (former President) of the Marylebone Cricket Club and chairman of the UK charitable Foundation for Sport and the Arts. Tim lives in London, Cornwall and on the motorway between the two, has three children, his own cricket team and a knighthood. The first volume of his autobiography, Oh What a Circus, was published in September 1999. If his publishers ask, he is currently working on Part 2, due out four years ago.
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER (Music) is the composer of The Likes of Us, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, By Jeeves, Evita, Variations and Tell Me on a Sunday later combined as Song & Dance, Cats, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, The Beautiful Game (now called The Boys in the Photograph), The Woman in White and Love Never Dies. He composed the film scores of Gumshoe and The Odessa File and a setting of the Latin Requiem Mass. As well as many of his own shows, his producer credits include Daisy Pulls It Off, Lend Me a Tenor, Shirley Valentine, La Bête, the ground-breaking Bollywood musical, A R Rahman’s Bombay Dreams, hissmash hit productions of The Sound of Music andThe Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium and the films of The Phantom of the Opera and the acclaimed Australian production of Love Never Dies. He pioneered television casting for musical theatre with the Emmy Award-winning BBC series "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" and this year has searched for a performer for the title role in an arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. His awards include seven Tonys, three Grammys including Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Requiem, seven Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, two International Emmys, the Praemium Imperiale, the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre and the Kennedy Center Honor. He currently owns seven London theatres, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the London Palladium. He was knighted in 1992 and created an honorary life peer in 1997.
JAYME MCDANIEL (Director/Choreographer/Associate Producer) Jayme is excited about his 3rd season as Associate Producer with Ogunquit Playhouse. His history with the Playhouse commenced in 2001 when he appeared in 42nd Street, then in 2009 he directed and choreographed Singin' in the Rain and received an IRNE nomination for his efforts. Previously he acted as the Associate Artistic Director at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN where he had the fortunate opportunity to produce and direct several highly acclaimed and commercially successful productions. As a Stage Director he directed/choreographed Joseph… at North Shore Music Theatre; Singin’ in the Rain, Grey Gardens, Yankee Doodle and The Rocky Horror Show at the Ordway; The Student Prince at Paper Mill Playhouse; Zorba & H.M.S. Pinafore for the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Violet, Candide & Drood with Connecticut Repertory; It’s a Fabulous Life, Chicago, Zombie Prom, The Merry Widow, People Like Us, They’re Playing Our Song and many others. As an Associate Director and/or Choreographer: Laughing Room Only (Broadway), White Christmas, Wonderful Town, Sound of Music (5th Ave Theatre), Yankee Doodle Dandy (5th Ave), Dallas Summer Musicals (Theatre of the Stars) Camelot and Rags (Paper Mill), Nefertiti (Parker Playhouse), Crazy for You (Musical Theatre West) and The Music Man (CLOSBC). He most recently made his international choreography debut with Rebecca: the Musical in Seoul, Korea. He’s enjoyed a career on the stage as well, most notably in the final national tour of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing. In 2007 the Minneapolis Star Tribune lauded him as the Outstanding Director of a Musical.
ERIC ALSFORD (Music Director) is happy to return to Ogunquit Playhouse and Joseph with director Jayme McDaniel. Eric has previously worked at Ogunquit Playhouse on productions of Cats, Footloose, Chicago and George M. Eric is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. He has musical directed and played for the national tours of Nunsense and Mamma Mia, as well as the Off-bway productions of That's Life and Naked Boys Singing. Regionally, Eric has musical directed for North Shore Music Theatre, Cape Playhouse, Theatre Aspen, Drury Lane Theatre Chicago, Artpark, Arkansas Rep, Solano Rep as well as others. Eric splits his home between NYC and South Florida. In Florida, he regularly music directs for Actors Playhouse, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Theatrezone, Broward Center of Performing Arts, and Arsht Center. He is the recipient of South Florida's Carbonell Award for best musical direction for productions of Floyd Collins, Aida, Miss Saigon, and The Adding Machine. He is the author/composer of several children's musicals for young audiences as well as composer for the independent film Lost Everything.
RICHARD LATTA (Lighting Designer) has called Ogunquit his summer home for many years and is just as excited about the upcoming season as the ones before. Favorite designs include: 9 to 5, Miss Saigon, Legally Blonde, Summer of Love, Evita (twice) Les Miserables, Songs For a New World, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Aida, Chicago, Annie, and Monty Python's Spamalot. In addition, Richard has designed Off-Broadway, dance, opera, and other events since the 1980s. His visual research can be seen in the projections for the Broadway productions of Thurgood (starring James Earl Jones/Lawrence Fishburne), The People In The Picture, The Mark Taper Forum production of Distracted, the operas Moby Dick (Sydney, Dallas, SF Operas) and Mazeppa (Met Opera). Richard is a teaching artist with American Ballet Theater and is a Technical and Design consultant for Arts High School in Newark, NJ. He is based in NY/NJ during the times he is not at the Playhouse.
ROBERT ANDREW KOVACH (Scenic Designer) is thrilled to re-join the creative team of OgunquitPlayhouse. Off Broadway – 45th Street Theatre: Around the World in 80 Days; Theatre Row: The Sphinx Winx; New World Stages: White’s Lies and ImaginOcean (Drama Desk Nom.). National Tours - All Shook Up. Regional Designs – Theatre Under the Stars, Memphis Ballet, Walnut Street Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Fulton Opera House, Phoenix Theatre, and others. He has Art Directed and Designed for TV, Print Ads, Corporate, and Commercials for such clients as the Food Network, General Motors, Jockey, Canon, among a few. Robert would like to thank Jayme and the entire talented OP team. Robert is a proud member of, United Scenic Artists (USA 829).www.KovachDesigns.com
MARK THOMPSON (Costume Designer): Mamma Mia! (worldwide), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (worldwide), Doctor Dolittle (Hammersmith Apollo), Bombay Dreams (London and Broadway), Art (worldwide), The Children's Hour (Comedy), The Lady in the Van (Queen's), La Bête (Comedy and Broadway), God of Carnage (Gielgud and Broadway) and Funny Girl (Chichester Festival Theatre). For the NT: One Man, Two Guvnors (also Theatre Royal, Haymarket, and Broadway), London Assurance, She Stoops to Conquer, England People Very Nice, What the Butler Saw, The Rose Tattoo, The Madness of George III, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Alchemist, The Duchess of Malfi, Life x 3, Arcadia, Once in a Lifetime, Henry IV Parts I & II and The Wind in the Willows. For the Donmar Warehouse: The Blue Room (also Broadway), Company (also Albery), The Front Page and Uncle Vanya/Twelfth Night (costumes only). For the Royal Court: Tribes, Birthday, Mouth to Mouth, Hysteria, The Kitchen and Six Degrees of Separation. For the Almeida: Rope, Betrayal and Party Time. For the RSC: The Unexpected Man, Measure for Measure, Hamlet, The Wizard of Oz, Much Ado About Nothing and The Comedy of Errors. Opera includes: The Mikado (Lyric, Chicago), Macbeth and The Queen of Spades (Metropolitan, New York), Peter Grimes (Opera North), Montag aus Licht (La Scala, Milan), Hansel and Gretel (Sydney Opera House) and Carmen (L'Opera Comique, Paris). Film includes: costume design for The Madness of King George. Mark is the winner of four Olivier Awards and two Critics' Circle Awards. He has been nominated for five Tony Awards.
LEAH MUNSEY-KONOPS (Hair and Makeup Design) is a Chicago based freelance artist. Prior credits include Measure for Measure, A Christmas Carol, and By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Goodman Theater, stitcher/wigs), The Madness of King George III (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, wigs), and White Noise (Royal George Theater, wardrobe). Additionally, she worked as Wig Supervisor on the national tour of South Pacific, for which she styled the Nellie wig at least 235 times. This is Ms. Munsey's second season with the Ogunquit Playhouse, where previously she designed South Pacific, Damn Yankees, 9 to 5, and Buddy. She sends love to the Third Coast, and to her mentors and family, chosen and real.
DUSTIN CROSS (Costume Designer) is a New York based designer who has been designing on and off Broadway and regionally for the last 10 years. His designs have received accolades such as “...Spot on Perfect” by Artes Magazine and “Excellent!” by The New York Times as well as other nods from many different publications. Credits include: Broadway: The 24 Hour Plays; Off Broadway: HIM (Cherry Lane Theater), Cougar the Musical (St Lukes), The Other Josh Cohen (SOHO Playhouse, Lortel Nom. Best Musical), Zelda at the Oasis (St Lukes) SILENCE! The Musical (Associate Designer), The Last Smoker in America (Westside Theater); Regional Theater: The Christmas Rose (starring Jane Seymour/ Brad Kenney dir/Carnegie Hall), as well as others. Dustin continues to focus on maintaining the expectation his work commands while always trying to raise the bar by using different techniques and approaches to create a durable yet distinct design. Enjoy!
GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) is in his 7th season as the Playhouse's Technical Director and his 2nd as the overall Scenic Coordinator. Immediately prior to Ogunquit he served as Technical Director for Worcester Foothills Theatre. He has done supplemental design work for several shows and is also the technical supervisor for the Children's Theatre program. Geof began his technical career working backstage for both of his parents who are theatre directors and began his professional career at Sierra repertory Theatre in California. For 5 years he split his seasons between Maine and Florida, working the same technical areas for the Orlando Shakespeare, but now he fills his off-season drafting, engineering and developing tour trollies for Molly Corp. With his wife Cheryl, (Scenic Charge Artist for the Playhouse) he has designed award winning parade floats. His "born-in-a trunk" 12 yr. old daughter Ashlynn is an aspiring actress, musician and artist who hopes to make her Main Stage debut in the near future!
ADAM SHUBERT (Sound Coordinator) is honored to be a part of Ogunquit Playhouse’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He attended Webster University in St. Louis, MO where he received a bachelor’s degree in Audio Production. Adam was the sound engineer for Hairspray onboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship. After giving up his life at sea, Adam became the sound engineer and designer for The Gateway Playhouse on Long Island where some of his favorite production credits include Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Sweeney Todd, Cats, and White Christmas.
TALIA KRISPEL (Production Stage Manager) received her Master’s Degree in May 2012 at NYU in the Program in Educational Theatre. Talia became the Educational Theatre Department's Production Stage Manager in the Fall of 2011. She has been known to stage manage and child wrangle on and off Broadway and regionally. Some of her credits include: The Sound of Music, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Joseph… Technicolor Dreamcoat, Radio City Musical Hall Christmas Spectacular, Inherit the Wind (starring Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy), Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance, How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Original Broadway Company), the Broadway Workshop of Legally Blonde and The Times They Are A-Changin’ (directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp). For the past 10 years, Talia has joined Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS for their annual charity event, Broadway Bares. Talia is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. This performance is dedicated to Mychal Adair-Lynch.
JOSHUA R PILOTE (Assistant Stage Manager) OGT Playhouse: Fiddler on the Roof, The Producers. Broadway/Tours: Other Desert Cities, RENT, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Off-Broadway: Angels in America (Signature) Forbidden Broadway, Frankenstein, I Love You… Now Change!, Other: Blue Man Group, Shakespeare in the Park (Public Theater), Roundabout. B.A.: The College of Idaho. Proud AEA Member. Thanks to Talia and Stephanie. In the past two years Joshua has raised $21,500 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids – Follow him @StageMgrBares.
RYAN NEELY (Production Manager) is thrilled to join the team at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Previously Ryan was the Producing Director at THEATREWORKS in Colorado Springs, Adjunct Professor of Stage Management at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and the Assistant Production Manager at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Ryan has also worked as Stage Manager for many theaters across the country including the Disneyland Resort. Ryan received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California Irvine. Ryan would like to thank his wife for all her love and support.
BRADFORD T. KENNEY (Executive Artistic Director) is a New England based artistic director, producer, stage director and artist. Since he joined the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2005, the Playhouse has doubled its audience growing from a single season summer stock theatre into one of the Northeast’s pre-eminent regional theatres with a three season performance schedule. During his stewardship, the Playhouse has garnered a number of awards and honors including the Moss Hart Award, Regional Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement in the American Theatre from the New England Theatre Conference, multiple IRNE award nominations and a number of BroadwayWorld awards including Best Musical and others. Mr. Kenney is also noted for his work at Carnegie Hall including directing the holiday special, The Christmas Rose starring Jane Seymour and producing An American Christmas Carol with Tim Janis also at Carnegie Hall. In New England, Mr. Kenney is proud to have been associated with a number of different theatre companies. Ogunquit highlights include Damn Yankees starring Carson Kressley, Sunset Blvd starring Stefanie Powers, Charles Shaughnessy and Rachel York in Monty Python’s Spamalot, Jefferson Mays in My Fair Lady, Lorenzo Lamas in The King and I, Rue McClanahan in Crazy for You, Sally Struthers in Hello, Dolly! and Andrea McArdle in Cabaret. He was also formerly the Artistic Director of the Foothills Theatre and Wachusett Theatre Companies in Massachusetts. He is a fourth generation plein air landscape artist, having studied with Beth Ellis, Rhode Island School of Design, Heartwood College of Art, and Maine College of Art. His artwork is represented by the Beth Ellis Gallery, Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, Maine.
MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI) is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theatres from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 60,000 theatrical organizations in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.
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