Albany Civic Theater – Albany, OR

Albany Civic Theater • Albany, OR

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2018-2019 Season

Seussical Jr. - ACT Summer Camp (Special Event)

by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty

Directed by: Rebecca Douglas

Summer Camp Dates: July 29 – August 16

Performances: August 16, 17(m), 17, 23, 24(m), 24

Costs: Camp Fee: $150 (Sibling discounts available; Some scholarships available)

Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical Jr., a fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, and he must also guard an abandoned egg that’s been left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird.  Although Horton faces ridicule, danger and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him.  Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant!

Director

Rebecca Douglas has been involved in community theater for thirty years!  Some of her local credits include: ACT’s Annie as Grace Ferrell, Big Fish as Josephine, Shrek as the Witch, Avenue Q as Lucy and Mrs. T., Thoroughly Modern Millie as Alice, Meet Me in St. Louis as Anna Smith, The Music Man as Eulalie Shinn, and Hello, Dolly! as Ernestina Money.   She also directed Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Jr., The Wizard of Oz, Once on this Island Jr. and At First Sight, and served as vocal director for The Wizard of Oz, Man of La Mancha, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, as assistant director for Treasure Island and Excalibur! The Story of Young King Arthur and as stage manager for Shakespeare for Kids.  She also performed in On the Verge and Annie Get Your Gun at CCT, An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein with Pipe Dream Theatre, Majestic Eight and The Little Mermaid with the Majestic Theatre.  She has also directed a number of shows for CCT and Majestic Education.  She is the Musical Director for Jefferson elementary school’s Spring Musical in Corvallis.  She is co-directing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in addition to the summer camp program.

Director’s email: rbbailey@hotmail.com

Cast of Characters

The Cat In The Hat: Abby Hobson
Jojo: Jesse Leffler
Horton The Elephant: Kasper O’Neill
Gertrude Mcfuzz: Mia Fisk
Mayzie La Bird: Becca Emry
Sour Kangaroo: Emily Hobson
Young Kangaroo: Nicki Ito
The Wickersham Brothers: Thor Halichishick, Alayna Hammer, Adam Keeling, Brock Neill, Kennedy Sell, Jerrod Vester
The Whos: Elliott Behan, Sailor Brubaker, Preston Froman, Lokelani “Loke” Halichishick, Dallas Headley, Neve Kalberer, Olivia Kattre, Will Leventhal, Carleigh “Rue” Lima, Jessica May, Audrey Merwin, Katie O’Brien, Piper Planalp, Cara Raze, Dimitri Schukow, Alexie Sierra-Vivero, Allie Stephen, Gidion Vester
Mr. Mayor: Logan Rud
Mrs. Mayor: Mallory Parker
Jungle Creatures: Evie Daniels, Hadley Huzefka, Phoebie Yeater
The Grinch: Grayson McMullen
Yertle The Turtle: Miranda Winder
Vlad Vladikoff: Gabriel Benfield
Bird Girls: Emily Clark, Jaci Hadder, Nora Howard, Maddie Merwin, Quinny Riseley, Sammie Vester
Crew: Esme Bohlen, Hailey Eckstein, Sam Howerd, Mia Leffler, Zoey Leventhal

The Unexpected Guest

by Agatha Christie

Directed by: Shauna Kiefiuk

Auditions: May 6, 7, 8

Performances: July 19, 20, 21(m), 25, 26, 27, 28(m), August 1, 2, 3

Lost in the fog, a stranger seeks refuge in a nearby house only to find a man shot dead and his wife standing over him with a smoking gun. But the woman’s dazed confession is anything but convincing and the unexpected guest decides to help. Remarkably, the police clues point to a man who died two years previously but as the ghosts of a past wrong begin to emerge, a tangled web of lies reveals family secrets and chilling motives, where the real murderer turns out to be the greatest mystery of all.

Director

Shauna Kiefiuk has been involved with ACT since 2002. Last season she directed Rabbit Hole. Previously, she directed The Butler Did It, The Odd Couple and Independence. Shauna has been onstage in several shows as well as musicals. She was the assistant director for Fat Pig, Hay Fever, The Game’s Afoot and A Little Piece of Heaven. Shauna also serves on the ACT Board.

Director’s email: theatregirl21@yahoo.com

 

Cast of Characters

Laura Warwick: Alyssa Joy
Michael Starkwedder: Jeff McMahon
Inspector Thomas: Michael Wren
Julian Farrar: Adam Reed
Miss Bennett: Kaela Bauer
Jan Warwick: Nicodemus Flotten
Henry Angell: Alex Asher
Mrs. Warwick: Kathie O’Brien
Sergeant Cadwallader: Tyler Anderson
Richard Warwick (Guest actors): Garry Burris, Chuck Skinner, Josh Anderson, Timothy Kelley, John Carone, Mathew Swenson, Lance Duddlesten, Bill Brown, Loren Dunn, Scott Harvey

The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon

by Don Zolidis

Directed by: Conner Riley

Auditions: April 1, 2, 3

Performances: June 14, 15, 21, 22, 23(m), 27, 28, 29

The fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are turned on their heads in this fast-paced, rollicking ride as two narrators and several actors attempt to combine all 209 stories ranging from classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel to more bizarre, obscure stories like The Devil’s Grandmother and The Girl Without Hands. A wild, free-form comedy with lots of audience participation and madcap fun.

Director

Conner Riley was the assistant director and costume designer for Pride and Prejudice at ACT. He was also Jr. assistant director for Willy Wonka, Jr. and Little Women. He’s worked as a stage hand and prop assistant, in addition to acting. He was in The Butler Did It, The Lion in Winter here at ACT, but got his start in several shows at Memorial Middle School and West Albany High School.

Director’s email: connerriley61@gmail.com

Cast of Characters

Narrator 1: Megan Dorn
Narrator 2: Serenity Wilson
Actor (Cinderella Scene): Aly Fisher-Berri
Actor (Scene 1): Rebecca Thiss
Girl: Aly Fisher-Berri
Dirt Merchant: Karlie Scott Guillot
Rumplestiltskin: Joshua Winter
Enchantress: Erah McMullen
Devil 1/Devil 2: Shedell Zurak
Prince 1: Jonah Peake
Rapunzel: Madison Hearing
Prince 2: Garrett Peake
Hansel: Garrett Peake
Gretel: Gabrielle Graham
Witch 1/Witch 2: Erah McMullen
Girl Without Hands: Lucy Elgin
Mother: Jennifer Hibbard
Father: Travis Hubbard
Fisher Girl: Julia Caswell
Crab Person 1: Madison Hearing
Crab Person 2: Leo Bulgren
Host: Shedell Zurak
Giant: Travis Hubbard
Frog: Leo Bulgren
Frog Prince (Human): Garrett Peake
Elf Cobbler: Leo Bulgren
Plant: Rebecca Thesis
Frog Princess: McKenzie Lockhart
Dwarf 1: Karlie Scott Guillot
Dwarf 2: Joshua Winter
Snow White: Julia Caswell
Prince 3: Jonah Peake
Devil’s Grandmother: Jennifer Hibbard
Doctor: Gabrielle Graham
God: Travis Hubbard
Little Red: Rebecca Thesis
Wolf: Joshua Winter
Grandma: Jennifer Hibbard
Wood Cutter: Jonah Peake
Cinderella: McKenzie Lockhart
Walt: Travis Hubbard

The Addams Family

Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elise
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa

Directed by: Christi E. Sears

Performances: Dates: May 3, 4, 10, 11, 12(m), 16, 17, 18, 19(m), 23, 24, 25

The Addams Family features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents (Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 2018).

Director

Christi E. Sears has a string of hit musicals and plays to her credit, including: Annie, Big Fish, Shrek, Young Frankenstein, Avenue Q, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Curtains, Steel Magnolias, The Producers, The Music Man, Hello, Dolly!, The Rocky Horror Show, Pirates of Penzance, Into the Woods, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Bell, Book and Candle, Auntie Mame, and Greater Tuna at ACT. Christi also directed at CCT: Cinderella, Damn Yankees, and Little Shop of Horrors. A long-time administrative member at ACT, Christi has served three terms as president and two terms as treasurer. She currently is our Cheer and Condolence Manager. Christi resides in Albany and has worked for over 24 years as the Accounting Manager at Palm Harbor Homes.

Director’s email: cirsey@comcast.net

Cast of Characters

Gomez Addams: Dean Keeling
Morticia Addams: Mirinda Keeling
Uncle Fester: Ed Beaudry
Grandma: Stephanie Marie
Wednesday Addams: Emily Dale
Pugsley Addams: Adam Keeling
Lurch: Logan Burt
Lucas Beineke: Daniel Lutz
Mal Beineke: Josh Anderson
Alice Beineke: Kim Garwood
The Addams Family Ancestors: 
Michelle Anderson
Nicodemus Flotten
Karlie Guillot
Nicki Ito
Lily Johnson
Shauna Kiefiuk
Tamara Merry
Kasper O’Neill
John Ross
Teza Ross
Isabella Snyder
Jules Snyder
Claire Spotswood
Audrey Spotswood
Jacob Stokesbary
Kayla Stokesbary
Christa Tillman

Too Good to Say Goodbye

by Jim Gustafson

Directed by: Melissa Mills

Performances: March 22, 23, 29, 30, 31(m), April 4, 5, 6

Redmon Hunter, a best-selling author of pulp fiction, has created an unusual world for himself.  His talent lies in his ability to make his characters come to life for his readers; they’re so real, in fact, that they literally take up residence in his home while he’s working on a novel.  Once the book is published, they pack up and leave him to “live in the minds” of the readers. Recently, writer’s block has set in, so all the characters from his works in progress have set up semi-permanent residence in literary limbo.  Redmon’s chance meeting with Amanda Hawkins, a beautiful, young pop literature professor, sets the wheels in motion for a madcap comedy where wild imaginary characters clash with real world snobs.

Director

Melissa Mills has spent the last 8 years with ACT. Acting in several shows including Alice in Wonderland, Pirates of the Chemotherapy, Oliver, Crimes of the Heart and as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire. She has assistant directed on shows such as Tom Sawyer the Musical, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Murder on the Nile. Her Directing includes Paradise Lost and Found, Peter Pan and Fox on the Fairway. When she isn’t busy with those things her passion is set dressing for numerous other shows. She lives here in Albany with her husband and three teenagers, who also love theater. Her other hobbies include reading, writing, baking and going to OSU games.

Director’s email: MissyMills@aol.com

Cast of Characters

Redmon Hunter: Jeff McMahon
Amanda Hawkins: Susan Hobbs
Dutch Van Dyke: Josh Mitchell
Pomeroy Smith: Tom Martin
Valerie Lesure/Chancelor Cedric Chandler: Sam Sapington
Sheriff Barlow: John Slater
Deputy James: Vincent Bottaro
Gino Rotelli: David Milner
Millie Monroe: Lucy Elgin
Alexander LaBrae: J.J. Halchishick
Prof. Edith Kittle: Colleen Franzoia
Howard Garrett: Scott Harvey
Percival Johnson: John Sams
Thaddius Stewart/Don: Adam Vester
Sylvia LeBrae: Mckenzie Lockhart
Portia Garrett: Cynthia Harvey
Eugenia Johnson: Dawn Draper
Cassandra Stewart: Angeliki de Morgan
Louise Chandler: Becky McMahon
Betty the Bartender: Michaela Bauer

Daddy's Girl

by Gary Ray Stapp

Directed by: Scott Harvey

Performances: February 15, 16, 22, 23, 24(m), 28, March 1, 2

A widower for twenty-five years, Benard Muloovy, proprietor of Maudie’s Diner, is served a full plate of comic chaos when his deceased wife, a talking portrait on the diner wall, enlists the services of an angel to help her reunite Benard with their long, lost daughter, Elizabeth. But true to his mischievous nature, Michael, the angel, brings into Benard’s life, not one, but two Elizabeths, each with the same birthday and adopted from the same orphanage. Benard’s task is to decide which young woman is his real daughter, but there’s one problem: He doesn’t like either of them. E.L. is a snobbish restaurant critic with her eye on Benard’s secret wealth, while Lizzy suffers from a split personality disorder. However, there is no shortage of people eager to contribute to his dilemma: a forgetful waitress, a PHD student with a communication disability, a yin-yang geriatric duo, and a motorcycle mama anxious to become the next Mrs. Muloovy. But Darlynn, a woman who has been trying to get Benard to the altar for a quarter of a century, has her own bizarre strategy to win his heart. In a contest of laughter and tears, lines are drawn, sides are taken, and rules are broken, as one young lady reveals a secret and ultimately claims her paternity, but not without a twist, or two.

Director

Scott Harvey got started with ACT in 2001 and made his directorial debut at ACT in 2016 with the hit The Trouble With Cats. He also directed last season’s hit No Body Like Jimmy. He has been involved in almost every aspect of the theater productions, from assistant director (Singin’ in the Rain, Waiting for Godot) to acting (Peter Pan, The Secret Garden, It’s a Wonderful Life, Man of La Mancha, Looking for Normal) to behind the scenes duties (Little Women,Treasure Island, The Game’s Afoot, The Mousetrap).

Director’s email: actdaddysgirl@gmail.com

 

Cast of Characters

Benard: Chuck Skinner
Bob: Allen Pilgrim
Walter: Tyler Anderson
Maudie: Jessica Lenox
Betsy: Serenity Wilson
Michael: John Sams
Darlynn: Amy Dunn MacRostie
E.L.: Jamie Muller
Alex: Daran Gosnell
Daisy: Jo Ogluin Judge
Violet: Catherine Dorn
Lizzy: Claire Simpson
Big Earl Ella: Angeliki de Morgan

Love and Information

by Caryl Churchill

Directed by: Cathleen Hockman-Wert

Performances: January 18, 19, 20(m),  24, 25, 26

Like a scroll through a Facebook feed turned into live action, in Love and Information a troupe of exceptionally versatile actors portray over 100 characters in 57 vignettes by turns hilarious and heart-wrenching. Smart and tender-hearted, this whirlwind dramatic comedy explores the ways people try to connect with and understand each other in our modern age of information overload and ever-shortening attention spans.

Director

Cathleen Hockman-Wert is directing for the first time at ACT. She has extensive acting experience with highlights including: Fastrada in Pippin and Suzy in Wait Until Dark (ACT); Brooke in Other Desert Cities (Red Octopus Theatre Company, Newport); Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire (Pentacle Theatre, Salem); and Teresa in The Memory of Water (Willamette Stage Company, Corvallis). She lives in Corvallis with her husband, Dave, and is a writer/editor for the OSU Foundation. Assistant directors are Johanna Spencer and Laurie Mason.

Director’s email: cathleentheater@gmail.com

Cast of Characters

Ensemble: 
Ash Berri
Dorrie Board
Leigh Matthews Bock
Danita Hamel
Charlotte Headrick
Chris Kastet
Tom Martin
Kay Nepote
Dinee Rae
Conner Riley
Brianna Saling
Sam Sappington
Ellie Smith
Rose Taylor
Joshua White

 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

by Joseph Robinette

Directed by: Rebecca Douglas & Timothy John Kelley II

Performances: Dec. 7, 8, 9(m), 13, 14, 15, 16(m), 20, 21, 22 

This new dramatization of C.S. Lewis’ classic, set in the land of Narnia, faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the exciting, never-to-be-forgotten Narnia. The intense action features chases, duels and escapes as the witch is determined to keep Narnia in her possession and to end the reign of Aslan. All the memorable episodes from the story are represented in this exciting dramatization. The supporting characters are also here: the unicorn, the centaur and other forest animals, along with Father Christmas, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and Tumnus the Faun. This story of love, faith, courage and giving, with its triumph of good over evil, is a true celebration of life.

Director

Rebecca Douglas and Timothy John Kelley II have been active ACT artists on and off the stage for several years. They each have over 30 years of theater experience (60 years if you add it together) working with a healthy mix of professional and non-professional organizations. In addition to directing they have acted in a number of productions (including Annie and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang coming up in Spring 2018), they have collectively been involved in over 100 productions in one capacity or another. One of Rebecca’s many recent hits was The Wizard of Oz at Albany Civic Theater. Tim’s recent hit was Disney’s The Little Mermaid at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Corvallis.

Cast of Characters

Aslan: Joshua Winter
White Witch: Kayla Lesser
Peter: Joseph Baisch
Susan: Maddie Price
Edmund: Logan Rud
Lucy: Elliette Barlow
Mr. Beaver: Jacob Birchard
Mrs. Beaver: Kaspar O’Neill
Unicorn: Jillian Griffith
Centaur: JJ Halchischick
Tumnus: Jakob Holden
Ulf: Marko Kenney
Dwarf: Leo Cheng
Father Christmas: Chris Miller
Elf: Miranda Winder
White Stag: Claire Simpson
Ensemble: Gabriel Benfield, Justine Bontrager, Vincent Bottaro, Alyssa Cannell, Marie Guthrie, Dru Huddelston, Rebekah Kenney, Jesse Leffler, Drew May, Mercedes Mendez, Georgie Merback, Quentin Mitchell,  Hannah Morris, Garrett Peake, Lola Starcevich, Rebecca Theiss, Anabelle Thompson, Tyler, Serenity Wilson

August: Osage County

by Tracy Letts

Directed by: Kay Roth

Performances: November 9, 10, 11(m), 15, 16, 17

A father who vanishes, a pill popping mother, three sisters with shady little secrets, and the rest of the Weston clan know how to love each other and be cruel to each other- often at the same time. A black comedy written by Tracy Letts, August: Osage County first came to the stage at Steppenwolf Theater. The winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best New Play, the play has been called ‘fiercely funny and bitingly sad.” August: Osage County is packed with complicated and compelling characters, is funny, vicious and compassionate and spins toward a conclusion that will keep the audience’s attention.

Director

Kay has directed 11 shows at ACT. She has also appeared on stage, first in The Rocky Horror Show and most recently in Bell, Book and Candle. Her other directing credits include Cemetery Club, Oliver, The Runner Stumbles, Noises Off, The Laramie Project, Of Mice and Men, And Then There Were None, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Game’s Afoot, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Pippin. Kay has also designed props, sets and costumes, stage managed and been assistant director for a number of shows, including Shrek the Musical, Avenue Q, Hello Dolly, Big Fish and Annie. Kay is a past board member and currently acts as the theater’s program editor. She is a graduate from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Digital Communication Arts and currently works for Lee Enterprises. Kay lives in Albany with her husband Ken. Three generations of the family are involved at ACT, including grandson, Sebastian.

Cast of Characters

Johnna: Jessica Lenox
Karen: Dinee Rae
Ivy: Stephanie Lunceford
Charles: Ron Seymour
Little Charles: Gary Burris
Mattie Fae: Sidra Metzger
Sheriff: Rick Hammel
Steve: Alex Asher
Jean: Karlie Guilliot
Bill: Bruce Wells
Barbara: Dawn Draper
Violet: Anya Corbitt
Beverly: Craig Hamnquist

Once Upon a Mattress

Book by Jay Thompson, Deann Fuller & Marshall Barer
Music by Mary Rodgers
Lyrics by Marshall Barer

Directed by: Karlissa Cornwell

Performances: September 28, 29, October 4, 5, 6, 7(m), 11, 12, 13, 14(m), 18, 19, 20 

Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea”. Set in a fictional medieval kingdom ruled by the devious Queen Aggravain and the mute King Sexitmus the Silent, who suffers from a curse that can only be reversed “when the mouse devours the hawk.” The populace of the castle complains about an unjust law levied by Queen Aggravain: “Throughout the land no one may wed, till Dauntless (the prince) shares his wedding bed.” However, every petitioning princess is sent away after failing unfair tests devised by the Queen. When Sir Harry discovers that his girlfriend, Lady Larken, is pregnant, he sets out to find a princess. He returns with Princess Winnifred of the swamp, who Dauntless falls for immediately. The Queen and her Wizard set up a test for sensitivity by placing a pea under twenty mattresses. But was it the pea that kept the princess up all night?

Director

Karlissa Cornwell previously directed Pride and Prejudice and Little Women at ACT, and has acted in The Odd Couple, A Little Piece of Heaven, Pippin and Crimes of the Heart. She taught English and drama for 18 years, and is now an education professor at Western Oregon University.

Cast of Characters

Minstrel: Cadence Schuerger
Wizard: Jacob Birchard
Lady Larken:  Josie Davis (even dates), Lindy Hatcher (odd dates)
Bird: Lindy Hatcher (even dates), Josie Davis (odd dates)
Sir Harry: Clayton Hollingsworth
Queen Aggravain: Jo Judge (even dates), Kim Kelley (odd dates)
Prince Dauntless: Timothy John Kelley II (even dates), Cory Warren (odd dates)
Princess Winnifred: Brittany Drier (even dates), Ally Faber (odd dates)
King Sextimus: Jeff McMahon
Jester: Janessa Minta
Sir Studley: Conner Riley
Sir Luce: Dustin Davis
1st Knight: Travis Wisner
1st Knight (understudy): Megan Dorn
2nd Knight: Andy Craig
3rd Knight: Melanie Schwarz
Lady Rowena: Hannah Brunson
Lady Rowena (understudy): Mackenzie Wang
Lady Merrill: Kristina Reynolds
Lady Lucille: Rachael Stephen
Princess 12: Sofia Poston
Lady Giggles: Erika Poston
Lady Aequabis: Frankie Caswell
Featured Dancer (pointe): Amy Sisson
Featured Dancer: Brianna Saling
Lady Mabelle: Kaspar O’Neill
Sir Harold: Jillian Griffith
Lady H: Mackenzie Wang
Beatrice: Ashlee Nunez
Maid: Rebecca Theiss
Ensemble: Frankie Caswell, Julia Caswell, Andy Craig, Brittany Drier, Nicodemus Flotten, Jillian Griffith, Jo Judge, Lexi Longstreet, Ashlee Nunez, Kasper O’Neill, Grace Porter, Erika Poston, Sofia Poston, Gwendolyn Schwarz, Dan Simmons, Claire Simpson, Rebecca Theiss, Mackenzie Wang, Corey Warren
Girls: Imogene Schwarz, Beatrice Bartholomew