Who’s Who in the Company

My Favorite Year
May 16 – June 8, 2008
Mackey Main Stage
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**William Roudebush (Director) (SSDC) Most recently at Beck Center, Bill directed the critically acclaimed Equus last February. He has been directing for over thirty years at theaters such as Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Cleveland Play House, Syracuse Stage Company, Theatre Virginia, The GeVa Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, The Boar’s Head Theatre, The Miami and Palm Beach Opera Guilds, and many others. In New York, he was Artistic Director for the Ten More By Noonan series at the John Houseman Theatre as well as directing for Ensemble Studio Theatre, The American Folk Theatre, The Mint Theatre Company, The Actors Outlet, Pulse Ensemble Theatre, The Samuel Beckett Theatre, and the Village Gate where he researched his soon to be produced new musical, Village Gate Follies. Bill has been based in Philadelphia for the past twelve years where he works as a freelance director/writer. His 2002 revival of Equus was nominated for eight Barrymore awards and won five including Best Overall Production of a Play, Best Ensemble and Best Director. Most recently, he adapted and directed a new musical based on the works of singer/songwriter Harry Chapin called Remember When The Music, which played the Barter Theatre last summer. Bill is also an educator having taught at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, The University of Memphis, The University of the Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University, along with being Theatre School Director for the Walnut Street Theatre for four years. He is currently director of Musical Theatre for the Performing Arts Institute in Kingston, PA. His book entitled “Acting By Mistake” is available online and at select bookstores.

Shawn Galligan (Benjy Stone) Chicago highlights include Navy Pier Players (singer), company stage manager for Chicago Tap Theatre, director and actor with Tremont Avenue Productions, and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Eugene). Pennsylvania productions include King Lear (Soldier), The Civil War (Choir), Little Red Riding Hood (Henry von Snoot). Ohio highlights include Ten Nights in a Barroom (Harvey Greene), Jekyll and Hyde (Proops), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Snoopy), the Ten Minute Play Festival at Cleveland Public Theatre. Shawn is currently in his second year working with The Illusion Factory. Last year he was an understudy for Lil' Red.

*Matthew Wright (Alan Swann) Matthew is very pleased to return to the Beck Center where he has been seen in Equus, A Man of No Importance, Urinetown The Musical, The Imaginary Invalid, Reefer Madness, and The Fix. A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association for twenty years, Matthew has worked across the country at many wonderful theaters such as Trinity Rep, Studio Arena of Buffalo, La Jolla Playhouse, McCarter Theatre, The Clarence Brown Company, Florida Stage, New Theatre, Actor’s Playhouse, Florida Studio Theatre, and many others. Matthew is grateful to Bill, Scott, Larry, Martín, and John for their assistance and giving him the opportunity to work “out of the box.” He’s especially excited to pick up a fencing foil again after twenty years…he hopes no one regrets this decision!

John J. Polk (King Kaiser) John last appeared on the Beck Center stage in A Man of No Importance (Father Kenney) and in Beck’s highly-acclaimed production of Urinetown The Musical (Senator Fipp). Other favorites include A Raisin In The Sun (Karl Lindner/The Man), Spinning Into Butter (Dean Burton Strauss) and You Can’t Take It With You (Mr. Kirby). My Favorite Year marks ten seasons that John has acted here at the Beck Center. Thanks to Scott and all the many friends and colleagues in the Beck Center ‘family” who have made it so much fun. Thanks to Laura for her tolerance, understanding and support. Thanks to the kids for laughing. And thanks, Mom and Dad, for all those hours watching live TV comedy in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. See? It DID come in handy for something…

*Jean Zarzour (Belle May Steinberg Carroca) Jean has performed internationally for over 25 years. She has appeared in films opposite Joe Pesci, Stanley Tucci, Mercedes Ruehl, James Coburn, Rob Lowe, Clint Howard, Marc Singer, and appears as Auditioner in the film Zack & Miri Make A Porn starring Seth Rogen, opening this summer. Off-Broadway: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nuts, Scapino, and West Side Story. Regional: The Cleveland Play House, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Actors Summit, Dobama, Ensemble, Cleveland Public Theater, and in Menopause: The Musical for 2 years, nationwide. T.V. credits: Candid Camera and America's Funniest People. As owner of Lipschtick, Jean has put the "show" in "business" nationwide since 1989. She is founder of the Find Your Voice – Voice Over Institute serving Cleveland and Pittsburgh and The GOT PAY? Organization, an artist advocacy and education resource. Jean is a proud member of AFTRA, SAG and AEA and is thrilled to make her Beck Center debut with this brilliant cast and crew.

Jim McCormack (Sy Benson) is pleased to return for his tenth show at Beck. He has appeared throughout NE Ohio, including Beck Center, Berea Summer, Bodwin, Cain Park, Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, Fine Arts Association, JCC/Halle & Tri-C East, Lakeland Civic, Mapleleaf Summer, and River Street. A humble commercial voice-actor/actor, represented by Docherty Agency, Jim offers his thanks to Bill Roudebush (snookered him!), the ever-patient Larry Goodpaster, the over-worked Diana D’Alessandro and especially to Beth, who knows far better than anyone. Jim is also a proud member of AFTRA and really a delight, once you get to know him. Imagine peace…

Woodie Anderson (Herb Lee) Woodie is happy to indulge in theater once again at the Beck Center. Taking a break from his usual life of the day job, comedy game show host, AFTRA actor, magician, single dad, etc…Woodie has previously been seen at the Beck Center in A Man of No Importance, Inherit the Wind, Fahrenheit 451, and 1776 (the musical, not the year). Other theaters, other plays, and each have been special for their own reasons. Special thanks to Alex and Zack for letting Dad out to play with this fun cast.

Rachel Spence (Alice Miller) Rachel has been a professional youth theater playwright/director for the past (gulp!) 18 years. Past shows include Auntie Mame (Agnes Gooch), Assassins (Squeaky Fromme) and Hair (Jeannie). She thanks her husband, Scott for doing the laundry (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) and her daughter, Carleigh for being the coolest daughter evah!!11! She also thanks Larry G., Don S., Mike H., Jon K., “Elle Woods” and her current/former thousands (!) of students. But most importantly, Rachel thanks Bill Roudebush for teaching the teacher how to have fun.

Bob Abelman (Leo Silver) Bob returns to the Beck Center after a two-year engagement as Belle’s father in Beauty and the Beast. He was recently seen in Cain Park’s Oliver (Mr. Sowerberry) and won an OCTA Best Lead Actor Award for his work in Chagrin Valley Little Theatre’s Over the Tavern (Chet). Bob is a proud ex-member of Actors’ Equity Association. Love to A.J., Judy (his rehearsal schedule widow) and Zaydee (Patron Saint of the Dramatic Arts).

Geoffrey Darling (Uncle Morty/Ensemble) Geoffrey is back at the Beck Center after more than a year. Last seen here in Equus, also directed by Bill Roudebush, he has filled the intervening time with writing and directing a summer school production of The Little Prince, Actor's Summit (Child's Christmas in Wales and Macbeth), Magical Theater (Tuck Everlasting), and churches and prisons around Ohio with Mark's Gospel. It's great to be home.

Rhoda Rosen (Aunt Sadie/Ensemble) Rhoda has appeared in over seventy productions in the Cleveland area including The Cleveland Play House Fusion Fest, Great Lakes Theatre Festival Outreach and theaters in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and Columbus, Georgia. Recent shows have included Our Town at Cleveland Public Theatre and Holy Ghosts directed by Matthew Wright here at the Beck Center. Rhoda received two Times' Tribute Actor Awards and is host of the four-time Telly Award-Winning cable television program, A Community of Learning. She's enjoyed working in this delightful musical with Bill, Larry, Martín and this multi-talented cast. Thanks for the exquisite wedding gown, Allison!

Joey Cayabyab (Rookie Carroca) Joey was last seen at the Beck Center in Miss Saigon (Thuy). Credits include Bah, Humbug! (Bob), South Pacific (Henry), Tony and Tina’s Wedding (Sal), Annie (Rooster), Once Upon A Mattress (Jester), King and I (King), Oklahoma (Ali Hakim), A Little Night’s Music (Carl Magnus), among others. He was a vocal scholar with the UP Conservatory of Music and a dance scholar with the Metropolitan Dance Theatre. As a former Equity actor, he was seen in A Chorus Line ({Paul) at the Repertory Philippines home of Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, in Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon) and in the Metropolitan Theatre production of My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison. Thanks to June for her support.

Tricia O’Toole (Tess/Ensemble) Tricia is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful production. Past credits include The Children’s Hour (Peggy Rogers) at Beck Center; four seasons in A Christmas Carol (Belinda Cratchit) at Great Lakes Theater Festival; As It Is in Heaven (Izzy) at CCC West; in Our Town (Rebecca Gibbs) at Ensemble Theater; Jane Eyre (Young Jane) at Cassidy Theatre; and most recently, in Judgment at Nuremberg (Maria Wallner) at St. Ignatius High School. This summer, Tricia will participate in the MPulse Theater and Drama Academy at the University of Michigan. She is a freshman at St. Joseph Academy. Many thanks to Bill, Lynnette and her ever-supportive family and friends.

Theresa Kloos (K.C. Downing) Theresa is very happy to be making her Main Stage debut here at the Beck Center. You may have seen her in the Studio Theater as the Mistress in Passion last year and was part of The Break-Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical cast this year. Previous credits include Sunday in the Park with George (Dot), Side Show (Violet), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Nine (Annabelle/Claudia US), and the first non-union production of The Phantom of the Opera (Opera Chorus). She’s heading into her junior year at Baldwin-Wallace College as a Music Theatre major. Special thanks to Vicky, Scott and Bill. Love to Mom and Dad. For Randy.

*Actor appears courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union of actors and stage managers.
** Member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC)

Cast of Characters
Benjy Stone Shawn Galligan
Alan Swann Matthew Wright *
King Kaiser John J. Polk
Belle May Steinberg Carroca Jean Zarzour *
Sy Benson Jim McCormack
Herb Lee Woodie Anderson
Alice Miller Rachel Spence
Leo Silver Bob Abelman
Uncle Morty/Ensemble Geoffrey Darling
Aunt Sadie/Ensemble Rhoda Rosen
Rookie Carroca Joey Cayabyab
Tess/Ensemble Tricia O’Toole
K.C. Downing Theresa Kloos

Company
(in alphabetical order)
Cowgirl, Babe, Neighbor, Gypsy, Coffee Cup Elizabeth Adamescu
Martian, Neighbor, Prom Boy, Gypsy, Musketeer Tim Anderson
Cow Girl, Babe, Bingo Girl, Passerby Yvonne Buemi
Sound Tech, Bingo Girl, Prom Girl Caitlin Coleman
Speedy Alka Seltzer, Bingo Girl, Passerby, Princess Veronica Jacqueline Cummins
Skater, Babe, Neighbor, Prom Girl, Gypsy, Coffee Cup Megan DePetro
Tech/Grip, Neighbor, Passerby, Gypsy Ed Dragony
Daisy, Neighbor Aubrey-Kristen Fisher
Camera Man, Deli Max, Roquefort Kris Hebble
Choreographer, Neighbor, Passerby, Gypsy, Musketeer Paul Hoffman
Assistant Stage Manager, Rabbi, Scungilli James Lenahan
Floor Manager, Boxer, Announcer Darryl M. Lewis
Indian, Bingo Girl, Passerby, Sound Tech Nicole Lublin
Cow Girl, Babe, Neighbor, Gypsy, Coffee Cup Jordan Renee Malin
Wardrobe, Bingo Girl, Coffee Pot Jenna Messina
Cow Girl, Babe, Neighbor, Coffee Cup Catherine Pikus
Camera Man, Boxer, Doorman Michael J. Rogan
Caveman, Neighbor, Prom Boy, Gypsy Ryan Smith
Opera Diva, Babe, Bingo Girl, Countess, Coffee Cup Susan Wagner

*Actor appears courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union of actors and stage managers.

Production Staff
Artistic Director Scott Spence
Director William Roudebush **
Musical Director Larry Goodpaster
Choreographer Martín Céspedes **
Stage Manager Diana D’Alessandro
Assistant Stage Managers Rebecca Lamb
Tony Weishar
Scenic Designer Richard Gould
Costume Designer Alison Garrigan
Lighting Designer Jeremy K. Benjamin
Sound/Projection Designer Richard B. Ingraham
Technical Director Joseph Carmola
Fight Director John Davis
Light Board Ken Parsons
Sound Operator Kirk Gaughan
Follow Spots Hayley Baran
Mary Kahelin
Mike Majer
Anna Verbiak
Props Kate George
Book Holder Jean Fyfe

** Member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC)

Orchestra
Musical Director/Conductor Larry Goodpaster
Keyboards Douglas Collier
Larry Goodpaster
Reeds Karen Langenwalter
David Nelson
French Horn Meredith Evans
Trumpets Melissa Mejia
Matt Wirfel
Malachy Rodriquez
Trombone Kevin Wenner
Bass Kevin Aylward
Gary Thobaben
Percussion Don Safranek

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