Algonquin Arts Theatre (Pamela Ward-Executive Director) is proud to
announce the cast and creative team for its spring production of Rodgers and
Hammerstein’s Cinderella WHEN: Friday, April 1
through Sunday, April 10.
WHERE: Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, New Jersey
TICKETS: $25-$42 and may be
purchased at www.algonquinarts.org, by calling
732-528-9211 or by visiting the Algonquin Arts Theatre box office
on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, 10AM-3PM located at 60 Abe
Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, New Jersey.
The cast for Cinderella
includes:
SOPHIA
LEPORE (Cinderella) is a high school student. In
her school, she played Maria in West
Side Story, Sophie in Mamma Mia!, and Cinderella in Into the Woods.
Sophia is overjoyed to be playing Cinderella again with the most
amazing cast!
MICHAEL
MORCH (Prince) is thrilled to be part of this
wonderful cast of Cinderella.
He has been unofficially dubbed a “Professional Prince” as you will
also see him soon on the Algonquin stage as Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods.
BRENDAN
FLANAGAN (King) is over the moon to be a part of Cinderella!
Brendan is an audience favorite at the Algonquin Arts Theatre. He
was most recently seen in Amadeus
and Elf: the
Musical as Santa. Henceforth, Brendan wishes to be
addressed as "Your Majesty."
DENI
SOBOTKA (Queen) is thrilled to be performing
at the Algonquin and to be a part of this amazing cast. Thank you
Derek, Mark, Sean and Maggie for giving me this opportunity.
Some favorite roles include Mae Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie,
Yente in Fiddler
on the Roof, Rosie in The Wedding Singer, Mrs Medlock
in The Secret
Garden, Mrs Fezziwig in Scrooge and Lewis Morrisin 1776.
NICOLE
GRASSANO (Stepmother) is thrilled to be performing
on the Algonquin stage in Cinderella!
She was most recently seen in Rumors
at Spring Lake Theatre.
BRIANNE
BATES (Portia) is thrilled to return to the stage
after starting her family and focusing on furthering her
education. She has been busy in her role of a mom, educator,
and director of her school’s drama program. Favorite roles to date
are Little Red in Into
the Woods, a Delta Nu in Legally Blonde, and Helga in Cabaret.
KATIE DE
CATALDO (Joy) This is Katie's second musical with
Algonquin. She was in West
Side Story four years ago. Katie is thrilled to be cast
in Cinderella
as Joy. She has always wanted to do this musical. Katie performed
in plays in grade school, all through college and continued in
community theatre.
LORETTA
BOYLE (Godmother) is thrilled to be back at
Algonquin after appearing as Adelaide in Guys & Dolls &
M’lynn in Steel
Magnolias. Some of Loretta’s other favorite roles
include Mama Rose in Gypsy
, Smitty in How
to Succeed..., Alice in The Addams Family & Lady
Thiang in The
King and I. When Loretta is not performing in a show
she is preparing her students for their productions and
performances.
EDWARD
ITTE (Herald) was last seen at Algonquin as Buddy
the Elf in Elf:
The Musical. He is honored to be portraying the role of
Herald in Cinderella.
JOHN
ALBRECHT (Chef, Minister, Townsperson) is thrilled
to be returning to the Algonquin stage in his 11th
production. John was most recently seen in this year’s
production of Amadeus.
Prior Algonquin productions include Annie, Mamma Mia, Christmas Carol, Beauty
and the Beast, Christmas Story, Guys and Dolls, Carousel, White
Christmas, Little Mermaid and Miracle on 34th Street.
John has also been the Assistant Stage Manager/Stage Manager at the
Algonquin for several productions.
STEPHEN
DOUCETTE (Steward, Townsperson). is a graduate of
Rowan University with a BFA in Radio/Television/Film. This is his
seventh production at the Algonquin Arts Theatre, and he is very
happy to be among such talented and dedicated people, whose passion
shines in every aspect of the show. Past roles include Corporal
Howard (A Few
Good Men), Fred the Ventriloquist (Annie), and
Seitz (Newsies).
ROD BELLE
(Coachman, Townsperson) is making his Alongquin debut. He recently
appeared in Phoenix's The
Wedding Singer and previously in CDC's Rumours.
Other credits include Spamalot,
West Side Story, Chorus Line, Grease, and Rocky Horror.
He is also a freelance entertainment industry producer and award
winning filmmaker (current project an action/horror Stranger
Danger).
JAMES
BEECROFT (Footman, Trumpeter) is thrilled to be
singing, dancing, and flailing about the stage in Roger and
Hammerstein's Cinderella!
Previous credits at the Algonquin include Roy Selridge in Biloxi Blues
and William T. Santiago in A
Few Good Men.
GAVIN
POWERS (Footman, Trumpeter) is a freshman at Point
Pleasant Beach High School. His experience includes All Shore
Chorus and BCCT productions of A
Christmas Carol and The
Descendants.
KELLY BECK
(Townsperson, Maid, Ball Guest) is thrilled to make her Algonquin
debut! A recent graduate from the Montclair State BFA Dance and
Theater Program, she has been performing in NYC, most recently at
Little Island. Kelly also assists choreographers at Broadway Dance
Center and Steps on Broadway.
JACLYN
ITTE (Townsperson, Maid, Ball Guest) is thrilled to
be taking the stage for the first time in over two years! Her prior
Algonquin appearances include Beauty
and the Beast and Mamma
Mia!
KAITLYN
HULME (Townsperson, Maid, Ball Guest) is thrilled
to be back on the AAT stage! Some past credits include Elf the Musical
(Saleswoman/Ensemble), Mamma
Mia! (Lisa), and Annie
(Connie Boylan/Ensemble).
CIARA
DIMAIOLO (Townsperson, Maid, Ball Guest) is
thrilled to be in Cinderella!
She was last seen here in Amadeus
playing Katerina. She has also worked with Algonquin in
the Rising Stars Opera Competition. Ciara has been training in both
theater and opera. Other favorites include: Hunchback of Notre Dame (Gargoyle)
& Shrek
the Musical (Fiona). She studies Hospitality Management
and volunteers at her local fire department.
MIKAYLA
NELSON (Townsperson, Maid, Ball Guest) is excited
be back at the Algonquin, opening a show, and to be in Cinderella
again! She’s been performing in the tri-state area for 12 years.
Favorite credits include Vivian Kensington in Legally Blonde
the Musical,
Fairy Godmother in Cinderella,
and Levora Verona in Disaster!
the Musical.
OLIVIA
CROWE (Townsperson, Maid, Ball Guest) is thrilled
to be back at Algonquin. Olivia is currently a sophomore at Point
Pleasant Beach High School! Past shows include: Beauty and The Beast (enchanted
object), Mary
Poppins (Mary Poppins), Wizard Of Oz (Glinda), Peter Pan
(Wendy Darling).
SOPHIA
NELSON (Townsperson, Ball Guest) is thrilled to be
a part of this amazing show. She has studied for many years at the
Algonquin Arts Theatre and is excited to join this mainstage
production.
JOANNA
DOUGLAS (Townsperson, Ball Guest) is delighted to
make her debut at the Algonquin Theatre. Past roles include Wendy
in Peter Pan,
Auntie Em in The
Wizard of Oz, and a lady of Camelot in Camelot.
Offstage, Joanna is a Kindergarten teacher at Antrim School &
she sings at the First Baptist Church of Manasquan.
ROXANE
SOUTHCOTT - ROBERTS (Townsperson, Ball Guest) is
thrilled to be returning to the Algonquin stage. She previously
participated in the Beauty
And The Beast ensemble. Prior theater experience
includes numerous roles for Jackson Council for the Arts and two
years traveling with a repertoire theater company.
The creative team for Cinderella
includes:
DEREK
HULSE (Director) received his B.A. in Theatre from
DeSales University and his M.A. in Education from Georgian Court
University and serves as the Asst. Principal at Nellie F. Bennett
School in Point Pleasant. Derek has worked on many area productions
as an actor & director for over 30 years. Derek was last seen
at Algonquin as Sam in Mamma
Mia! and most recently as Scrooge in Spring Lake
Theatre’s annual production of Scrooge!
He also directed last season’s Mass
Appeal here at AAT. Some favorite directing
credits include Private
Lives, The Producers, Into The Woods, Anything Goes, Pirates,
Noises Off!, One Man, Two Guvnors, Spelling Bee, How to Succeed...,
Godspell and his original comedy At Any Rate...
SEAN
OPENSHAW (Choreographer) is thrilled to be back at
the Algonquin Arts Theatre once again! Some favorite past
choreography credits include: The
Wedding Singer, Rock of Ages, Chicago, Shrek, Legally Blonde,
Grease and The
Music Man.
MARK
MEGILL (Musical Director) is an actor, music
director & teacher, and is delighted to return to Algonquin,
where he recently played Father Tim Farley
in Mass Appeal.
He played Jean Shepherd in the national tour of A Christmas Story:
The Musical.
He has served as musical director at the Algonquin
Arts Theatre for Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar,
West Side Story, A Funny Thing..
Forum, Carousel, Peter Pan and The Full Monty.
He serves as the Music Director for Count Basie Performing Arts
Academy, and at The Spring Lake Community House. He retired after
35 years as a public school teacher, and was recently named to the
Allentown High School Hall of Fame.
JOANNE
PENROSE (Costumes) is wondering how she got so
lucky to be on this production team of Cinderella. This is her 8th
show with Algonquin & she is insanely proud to have been a part
of this amazing cast & crew. Some of her previous shows
are Beauty
& the Beast, Elf, Christmas Carol, Mamma Mia, Annie, Brighton Beach Memoirs,
and A Few Good
Men.
ROMAN
KLIMA (Lighting Design) is a Lighting, Scenic,
Sound & Video designer. His work has been seen at Algonquin
Arts Theatre, The Bickford Theatre, Middlesex County College,
Brookdale Community College, State Theater New Jersey, Middlesex
County's Plays in the Park, The Forum Theater, & countless
venues throughout the tristate area.
JAN
TOPOLESKI (Sound Design/Producer) Algonquin's TD.
Acting credits: A
Christmas Carol (One-man Show), Salieri (Amadeus),
King Arthur (Camelot),
& The Old Man (Christmas
Story). Other roles: Juan Peron (Evita), Don
Quixote (Man
of La Mancha), Lord Farquaad (Shrek),
Captain Von Trapp (Sound
of Music), Emile De Becque (South Pacific). Directing
credits: Noises
Off, Carousel,
South Pacific, The 39 Steps,
Jekyll &
Hyde, The
Producers,
A Few Good Men.
JOSEPH
FICARRA (Props, Co-Producer) is proud to be
producing once again for the Algonquin stage. Joe is the company's
Production Manager but wears many hats around the theatre. He can
be found at the back of the house mixing sound for the musicals, in
the workshop building props, or on stage performing. Credits
include such roles as The Ghost of Christmas Present (Scrooge!),
Cliff (Cabaret),
and Jigger (Carousel).
GINA LUPI
(Stage Manager) recently directed Rent and Amadeus at
AAT. Other directing credits: Jesus
Christ Superstar,
Kiss Me Kate, A
Christmas Story, The
Full Monty, Gypsy,
and Man Of La
Mancha. AAT Stage Manager for: Annie, Newsies, The Producers &
South Pacific.
Gina most recently appeared on the AAT stage as the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast,
Prudy in Hairspray
and Gingy in Shrek.
MAGGIE
SCHNEIDER (Asst. Stage Manager) is so excited to be
part of the production team for Cinderella
& feels lucky to be surrounded by such an amazing cast &
crew. Maggie is currently a senior at Communications High School
& is planning on majoring in Film & Television in college.
Cinderella
is sponsored by Sunnyside Manor. Show and series sponsors include:
Janice Blanton, Deborah Dec, James & Arlene Donegan, JL
Grandinetti, Vincent Gifford & Jean Jaslovsky, Boris Jelic,
Diane & Jerry Levitz and “Broadway” Ray Soehngen.
For more information about Algonquin Arts Theatre, please visit www.AlgonquinArts.org.
ALGONQUIN
ARTS THEATRE (AAT) is a 501c(3) non-profit center
for performing arts, providing cultural enrichment and arts
education for residents and visitors of Central New Jersey and the
Jersey Shore through high quality performances and programs in
theatre, music, dance and film. Located in Manasquan, N.J., AAT is an integral part of the Shore
region, offering broad access to arts experiences across multiple
disciplines. Deeply committed to education, AAT serves students of
all ages not only through art and music instruction, but also
through the unique communal conversation that exists between
audience member and performer. A journeyman house, AAT features the
work of young and emerging artists, designers and directors working
alongside seasoned professionals.
AAT provides a platform for local and regional performers to
showcase their work and offers audiences the opportunity to engage
very directly and personally in the arts, fostering greater
participation and providing an engaging means for exploring
personal and societal issues through the world of the stage.
Algonquin Arts Theatre's programs are made possible in part by
funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts / Department of
State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Funding is also provided by Hackensack Meridian Health, the
PNC Foundation, Manasquan Bank, the OceanFirst Foundation, the
Dodge Foundation, the Provident Bank Foundation and the generosity
of other businesses and our patrons.
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