Who’s
Who in the Company
December 5, 2008 – January 4, 2009
Main Stage
Scott Spence (Artistic Director/Director) Scott is excited to enter into his 19th season at the Beck Center. He hopes that as always you are enjoying the great diversity Beck Center offers. In his tenure as Artistic Director and Associate AD, Scott has produced well over 200 productions, directing over 50 himself. The list of favorites grows every season, and includes Altar Boyz, Parade, A Man of No Importance, Sweeney Todd, Hair, The Secret Garden, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Greater Tuna, Reefer Madness, The Fix, Zombie Prom, Tommy, and so many more, including Urinetown The Musical being revived as this season's opener. He is very proud of the awards and acclamations Beck has received over the past several years, and is especially grateful for having won the Northern Ohio Live Award for Achievement in Theatre in 2006. Outside of Beck's walls, Scott's directorial assignments have included Das Barbecü at Opera Cleveland and Noises Off at both Weathervane in Akron and Berea Summer Theatre. Occasionally on the other side of the footlights, Scott has appeared in Dick Deadeye (Berea Summer Theatre), Man of La Mancha (Jewish Community Center), The Secret Rapture (Dobama) and closer to home at Beck in Big River, The Boys Next Door and Laughter on the 23rd Floor. He also recently had the privilege of joining the cast of Passion, directed by Victoria Bussert, in his first onstage stint in the Studio Theater. Scott holds an M.F.A. in Directing from Western Illinois University and is a trained stage fight choreographer, having studied extensively with the SAFD. As always, he dedicates his work to the two leading ladies in his life – Rachel and Carleigh.
**Fred Sternfeld (Director) Fred is widely represented on Northeast Ohio stages through diverse projects, garnering numerous honors and awards. For Beck Center, Fred has directed Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night, Of Mice and Men, On the Town, La Cage aux Folles, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Joseph amd the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Foxfire, Noises Off, Gypsy, Play It Again Sam, The Foreigner, Side by Side by Sondheim, Biloxi Blues, Children of a Lesser God & The Importance of Being Earnest. Currently, Fred is Artistic Director of Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory (FPAC) which presents professional and youth productions and a summer program that provides professional training for young people. At FPAC he recently directed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and will be directing their inaugural professional production of The Odd Couple in April 2009. He previously served as Artistic Director at Lakewood Little Theatre - Beck Center for the Arts and the Seattle, Dallas and Cleveland Jewish Community Centers. Other selected credits: This Is How It Goes at The Bang and the Clatter Theatre, Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver! and The Sound of Music at Cain Park; The Tale of the Allergist's Wife and The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek at Dobama Theatre; Ragtime, the musical, A Shayna Maidel, Jolson and Company, Modern Orthodox, South Pacific, From Door to Door, Man of La Mancha, Rags, The Twilight of the Golds, The Immigrant, Crossing Delancey, Beau Jest, Fiddler on the Roof and Conversations With My Father at the Cleveland Jewish Community Center; Bad Seed at Ensemble Theatre; Amadeus at Willoughby Fine Arts; Table Settings, Isn't It Romantic, The Diary of Anne Frank andBroadway Bound at Center Stage in Seattle; Proof at GLTG and All My Sons, Milk and Honey and Enter Laughing at the Dallas JCC. Fred also is the founder and administrator of NEohioPAL (Northeast Ohio Performing Arts List), an online email newsletter. He lives in Beachwood with his wife Randi, and is proud of his "college boy" sons, Adam and Daniel.
Randi Sternfeld (Assistant Director) Randi holds a B.A. in Theater Arts Cum Laude, with departmental honors from The University of Cincinnati. She began performing at the age of five. A few favorite roles include Fiddler on the Roof (Chava) at Rabbit Run Theater, Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel) at the Seattle Jewish Community Center, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Snoopy) at Tri-C East, Uncommon Women and Others (Muffet) at The University of Cincinnati and Peter Pan (Tiger Lily) at Beck Center. Randi has choreographed for musicals including Fiddler on the Roof at Rabbit Run Theater and the Cleveland Jewish Community Center and Rags at the JCC. After the birth of her sons, Adam and Daniel, she stopped performing in order to focus on parenting. Randi is married to director Fred Sternfeld and they just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Randi thanks the entire Peter Pan company for making this production such a joyful experience.
Larry Goodpaster (Musical Director) This production of Peter Pan marks Larry’s 46th production at the Beck Center and 72th Northeast Ohio production since re-entering the world of theater in 1998. An award-winning pianist while in high school, Larry followed quite a different path and obtained degrees in biology, chemistry, veterinary medicine, and business over the next 20 years. Upon receiving his MBA in 1997, Larry decided to pursue musical theater in his recreational time. What started as an avocation quickly became an obsession. Thanks to the thoughtful tutelage and support provided by Beck Artistic Director, Scott Spence, he is now able to fill his evenings 12 months a year musically directing shows at multiple venues in the Cleveland area. As he approaches his 10th year at the Beck Center, Larry fondly remembers some of his favorite productions – Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Floyd Collins, The Rocky Horror Show, Parade, Eating Raoul, Zombie Prom, Urinetown The Musical, Moby Dick the Musical, and A Man of No Importance. As always, Larry is indebted to our faithful patrons and loyal donors for keeping theater alive and vibrant in Cleveland.
**Martín Céspedes (Choreography/Musical Staging) Martín most recently staged Idaho Shakespeare's Production of Into The Woods, directed by Victoria Bussert which opened at the newly renovated Hanna Theater. Some favorites are Nine The Musical, The Breakup Notebook: the Lesbian Musical directed by Victoria Bussert, and Beck Center's critically-acclaimed production of Equus, for which he has received a 2007 Northern Ohio Live Nomination for choreography. Other favorites include Smokey Joe's Café, Five Guys Named Moe, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and My Way (the Music of Frank Sinatra). He has appeared in several Broadway National Tours including Man of La Mancha with Jack Jones and Ron Holgate; The King and I with Hayley Mills, Marie Osmond, Maureen McGovern and Faith Prince; South Pacific with Robert Goulet; and West Side Story with Bebe Neuwirth. In New York , Martín staged choreography for the off-off-Broadway production of Scrooge and Marley. He choreographed the opening acts for Earth, Wind, and Fire and the Bee Gees and has appeared on TV's Dance Fever and NBC's Weekday Fever. His most recent opera credit was the lavish PBS production of Le Cid with Placido Domingo and the Washington Opera live from Kennedy Center where he served as associate choreographer. He is an alumnus of Jacque d'Amboise’s National Dance Institute at New York City ’s PS 161. Martín was featured in Bravo magazine for his work in the theater. He has won numerous Times Tribute Awards and was named in Scene Magazine as Cleveland ’s Best Choreographer of 2006. Upcoming productions include I Love You Because at the 14th Street Theater, Grey Gardens, Reefer Madness, Evil Dead, The Musical, and Little Shop of Horrors.
Diana D'Alessandro (Stage Manager) Diana is happy to be back at the Beck Center working with a fabulous cast and as always, a dedicated crew and production staff. She is thankful that organizations such as this exist to showcase local talent. Diana can frequently be found backstage performing various technical elements required for stage productions at a variety of theaters in Northeast Ohio. Favorites at Beck Center include The Fix, Urinetown The Musical, The Full Monty and Jekyll & Hyde. By day, Diana is an I.S. specialist at MetroHealth. Love to Patrick – her Peter Pan, and Mom and Dad – whose support makes it all possible!
Rachel Budin (Assistant Stage Manager) Rachel has worked on stage crew, done props and costumes, and constructed and painted sets for productions including Grease, Footloose, South Pacific, Fame, and Bye-Bye Birdie at Orange High School, and is a member of the International Thespian Society. She is thrilled to be working at the Beck Center on her first professional production and would like to thank Fred Sternfeld for giving her this opportunity.
Anthony Weishar (Assistant Stage Manager) Tony became a Beck "roadie" after answering an ad for the T.I.D.Y. crew. Accused by friends of having a Peter Pan complex, he is in his element on this J.M. Barrie masterpiece. Thanks to his Indian, Charity, and Lost Boy, Morgan, for returning him to the performing arts.
Stephen Sandham (Michael Darling) Stephen is thrilled to perform in Peter Pan! Previous productions include Scrooge (Tiny Tim) for which he received a FAA 2006 and 2007 Actor’s Choice Award, Stuart Little (School Child) and The Hobbit (Bob the Assistant) at Fine Arts Association; Oliver (Smallest Orphan/Pickpocket) at Cain Park; Wind in the Willows (Randolph the Hedgehog) and Cats (Kitten) at RRCAA; and Seussical the Musical (Who/Cadet) at Geagua Lyric Theater Guild. Stephen thanks Fred for the chance to fly, and God for the wonderful imagination to always see Neverland.
Rachel Fichter (Liza, the Darling’s maid) Rachel is thrilled to be back at the Beck Center after appearing in last season’s production of Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl/Plate). Recent favorite roles include Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbitt) and Moon Over Buffalo (Eileen) at Weathervane, and The Emperor’s Groovy New Clothes (The Kid) at the Cleveland Play House. She has also spent two wonderful seasons working with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival. A proud graduate of the College of Wooster, her favorite undergraduate roles include King Lear (Cordelia), Once On This Island (Asaka) and Good Night Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) (Constance). Love to her family!
Kelly Smith (Wendy Darling) Kelly is thrilled to return to the Beck Center after appearing in last year's, Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl). Previous productions include Peter Pan (Wendy) at Fine Arts Association, High School Musical (Kelsi), Little Women: The Musical (Amy March), and Romeo & Juliet (Nurse) FPAC Presents. Thank you to Mom, Dad, Jess, and Kim.
Lincoln Sandham (John Darling) Lincoln is pleased and honored to be making his first appearance at the Beck Center. Previous roles include Titanic the Musical (Bellboy) and The Wind In The Willows (Badger) at RRCAA, To Kill A Mockingbird (Jem) at Geagua Lyric Theater Guild, To Kill A Mockingbird (Dill) at Lakeland Theatre, The Hobbit (Bilbo Baggins) at Fine Arts Association, (Subscriber's Choice Award), and Oliver (Oliver Twist) at Cain Park, where he previously appeared in The Secret Garden (Colin Craven). He is extremely grateful to his family and to director Fred Sternfeld, and thanks God for all these wonderful opportunities.
Gregory K. White (Nana/Cecco, a Pirate) This past year finds Gregory no stranger to the Cleveland stage. Recently, Greg performed in Waiting To End Hell (Alvin) at Karamu House and in The Colored Museum (various roles) at Cuyahoga Community College. At Cleveland State University’s Factory Theater he performed in Double Nickel Blues (Junebug the Skin-Man) and in Take Me Out (Skipper the Coach) at Dobama. While receiving his training at Ohio University's School of Theater, Greg was also director of the Black Forum Theater, and was later the chairman of the drama department at the Arts Academy in Lorain.
Maggie Stahl-Floriano (Mrs. Darling/Ostrich) Maggie is always happy to be onstage at the Beck, her home away from home. Beck audiences have seen her in Miss Saigon, The Full Monty, Jekyll & Hyde, and others. Most recently, she appeared in Urinetown The Musical (Hope Cladwell). Gosh!! Favorite roles include Ragtime (Mother), Children of Eden (Yonah) and Victor Victoria (Victoria Grant). Much thanks to Fred, Larry and Martin for the chance to, once again, “never grow up”. Merry Christmas, Aidan & Abby. Happy Birthday, Aidan! Love and gratitude to my parents and my wonderful hubby, Paul.
*Michael Mauldin (Mr. Darling/Captain Hook) Michael is delighted to make his Beck Center debut in this wonderful play, and to once again share the stage with his student and colleague, John Paul Soto, with whom he previously appeared in M4M at Cleveland Public Theatre. As Chair of the Theatre Department at Cleveland State University and Artistic Director of CSU'S Summer Stages, Mauldin has directed The Laramie Project, She Stoops to Conquer, and The Robber Bridegroom. He has appeared in Booth (Junius Brutus Booth) and Rough Crossing (Sandor Turai). Broadway and regional credits include Les Miserables, The Tempest, Oh, Coward!, Tonight at 8:30, Othello, Dear Liar, etc. He has performed his one-person play An Evening With Mark Twain nationally since 1976, and the performance has been aired on PBS, ABC and NPR.
John Paul Soto (Peter Pan) Stage credits include : Two Gentlemen Of Verona (The Musical) Measure For Measure (M4M) ,The Wiz ,Twelfth Night, The Birthday Party, As You Like It, The 9/11 Project, Story Theater, Bye Bye Birdie, Love’s Fire, Double Nickel Blues, and The Miser. Directing credits: The General of Hot Desire, For Colored Girls…, Cultura Latina, Story Theater, and Night of the Living Dead. John has served as Assistant Director for The Laramie Project (Michael Mauldin), Machinal (Holly Holsinger), The Other Shore (Raymond Bobgan), and Dark Of The Moon (Everett Quinton).
Evan Wilhelms (Lion) Evan has performed as a guitarist in a few recent productions including Altar Boyz also at Beck Centerand The Last Five Years. This is his first role as an onstage character since entering what could be called maturity. Evan's days are spent as an employee of Case Western Reserve University.
John Peters (Kangaroo) John is thrilled to return to the Beck Center for his sixth production. His last Beck appearance was in The Wizard of Oz (Cowardly Lion). He would like to thank the production staff for being so amazing and a shout-out to the cast for all their hard work and the great moments they have created on stage.
Nicholas Hyland (Slightly Soiled, a Lost Boy) Nicholas is ecstatic to be making his Beck Center debut in this ever-amazing show, Peter Pan. He attends Shaker Heights High School where he is involved with their many choral groups, as well as Tom Fulton's Performing Arts Academy in Chagrin Falls. Nicholas was last seen in FPAC’s performances of Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Pharaoh, Reuben). He is honored to be working with such an amazing cast and crew and would like to thank all of his friends and family for their awesome support! Enjoy the show!!
Alex DiLallo (Twin 1, a Lost Boy) Alex is happy to be a part of the Beck Center's production of Peter Pan. Musicals have always held a special place in his heart, and it's always great to participate in one. Some shows of note include Romeo and Juliet at the Fairmount Performing Arts Center, Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, and Arsenic and Old Lace and Measure for Measure at Great Lake Theatre Festival. Alex is delighted to be with such wonderful cast of actors and is going to learn as much as he can from them. Best wishes everyone!
Jesse Markowitz (Twin 2, a Lost Boy) Jesse is thrilled to be in his first Beck Center production. He was recently seen in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph) under the direction of Fred Sternfeld and 42nd Street (Pat Denning) under the direction of Sheri Gross. Jesse has received training through the Fairmont Performing Arts Camp this past summer as well. He was also seen on local cable on the television show, smARTS, and as the lead on a local cable musical, both under the direction of Dave Cockly. Jesse will be making his independent film debut, in Johnny Wu's, Jean Claude the Gumming Zombie, in a supporting role. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this experience, especially his parents; and to everyone who, like himself, does not want to ever grow up.
Douglas Puskas (Nibs, a Lost Boy) Douglas is thrilled to join the Peter Pan cast and work with director Fred Sternfeld. He recently performed in Beauty and the Beast at the Palace in Lorain. Other credits include: The Wizard of Oz (Guard), Pirates of Penzance (Pirate), Once Upon A Mattress (Sir Studley), and Alice In Wonderland (Executioner). He has attended Beck Center for theater, music and dance classes for 7 years. He would like to thank his parents and grandmothers for their continued support in his theater ambitions. To Tia, we made it!
Santino Russo (Tootles, a Lost Boy) Santino is a Theatre major at Baldwin-Wallace College where he was seen recently in The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Boo). His other credits on the BW stage include Macbeth (Donalbain) and The Crucible (Ezekial Cheever). Santino hopes to pursue a career in theater, whether it’s in theater management, acting, directing, or playwriting – he doesn’t quite know yet. He would like to thank his family for all of their love and support, especially his parents, Mike and Kim.
Billy Lawrence (Curly, John Darling - US) Credits include: A Christmas Story, 2005 production (Randy) and 06-07 productions (Ralphie) at The Cleveland Play House. Community theater: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other credits: The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, Oklahoma!, The Three Musketeers, The Hobbit, and Oliver at University School where he is in the 8th grade. Billy has attended Fairmount Performing Arts Camp for the past three years. He takes voice lessons with Sarah Lyon and has taken 6 years of piano with Nicolas Underhill.
Brendan Sandham (Smee, a Pirate) Brendan was last seen in Titanic (Etches) at Rabbit Run Theatre (RRT), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Albert Einstein) at the Fine Arts Association, and in the one-man show Brief Lives for which he received the John H. Berkey Award. Other favorites include Forever Plaid (Frankie), Art (Yvan) and Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour). Brendan’s directing credits include The Trial of Goldilocks (Winner, Best Director) and RRT’s Little Women. He has completed several short films, the most recent of which screened in Hollywood. Brendan will direct Willy Wonka Jr. for Fine Arts Association in February 2009.
Trey Gilpin (Bill Jukes, a Pirate) Trey is a huge J.M. Barrie fan and thrilled to make his Beck Center debut in Peter Pan. Most recently seen in Assassins (Giuseppe Zangara) at Berea Grindstone Players. Trey has appeared at many Northeast Ohio theaters including: The Blogger (Vince) at Cleveland Public Theatre; 12th Annual One Act Festival (The Ninja), Scrooge! (Tom Jenkins) and Guys and Dolls (Harry the Horse) at Willoughby Fine Arts Association; Titanic (Lightoller) at Rabbit Run Theatre, and Cabaret (Ernst Ludwig) at Aurora Community Theatre. He would like to thank his parents for their love and support, and his friends for their inspiration.
Bob Abelman (Starkey, a Pirate) Bob is proud to be a buccaneer in this marvelous production. He was last seen in Beck Center’s My Favorite Year (Leo Silver) and Beauty and the Beast (Maurice), and in Cain Park’s Oliver (Mr. Sowerberry). Bob has performed in musical theater on Broadway, off-Broadway and in obscure parts of New Jersey. Love to Judy, his rehearsal schedule widow and accent-tweaker, as well as A.J., Rys and Zaydee, the Patron Saints of Community Theatre. Thanks to Fred, who cast Bob’s beard and allowed him to come along for the ride. Yo ho.
Brian Altman (Mullins, a Pirate) Brian is thrilled to be making his Beck Center debut. Before he joined Hook's crew he was seen going down with the ship in Titanic at Rabbit Run Theatre. Originally from Pennsylvania, Brian has enjoyed countless shows on numerous stages and holds Ragtime, Into The Woods, and Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol as some of his all-time favorites. He is a designer of kid’s cards at American Greetings in Cleveland and looks forward to performing (on dry land) in Lakeland Theatre’s upcoming production of Sweeney Todd in February 2009. Brian sends thanks to Brendan, his family, friends, and the cast and crew for their love and wishes you all the happiest of holidays!
Eric Fancher (Noodler, a Pirate) Eric is proud to return to the Beck Center stage, having been seen here last season in The History Boys (Dakin) and The Diary of Anne Frank (Peter Van Daan). Other credits include The Rocky Horror Show (Brad Majors), and Grease (Kenickie)at Cassidy Theatre; and The Who’s TOMMY (Local Lad), Urinetown The Musical (Ensemble) and Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble) at Near West Theatre. Eric would like to thank Fred, Larry and Martín for the chance to be a part of the musical he’s been watching since he was 3 years old!
Clayton Sandham (McLeish, a Pirate) Clayton has been running and designing sound in theaters for seven years and has recently gotten back into acting after a four-year hiatus. He has been in shows in New York and at various community theaters in the area, the most recent being Titanic (The Major) at Rabbit Run Theatre. This is his debut performance at the Beck Center along with his sister and three brothers. Clayton thanks God for all his talent and blessings.
Aaron D. Elersich (Luigi, a Pirate) Aaron is proud to make his Beck Center debut in Peter Pan. Since his return to the stage last summer, he has appeared in Hamlet (Claudius) and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead at The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival and Romeo & Juliet (County Paris) at Dover Players. Aaron would like to thank everyone who has been so supportive over the last year, most importantly his Mom and Dad, for their undying support and (mostly) good counsel; and his wife, Carrie and daughter, London, for simply being the world in which he lives.
Tim Allen (Murphy, Pirate) Tim is delighted to add to his repertoire of dialects especially when it is that of a pirate. Most recently he appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest (Jack Worthing), directed by Martin Friedman at Lakeland Theatre. Also among his credits include Cabaret (Emcee) at Medina’s Stage Left Theatre, West Side Story (Bernando), Fools (Leon Tolchinsky), and Godspell (Jesus). Originally a native of Cleveland’s Westside, he currently teaches English and Drama at Midpark High School. Tim hopes to obtain his MFA in Theatre in the near future.
Michael Columbro (Crocodile) Michael is thrilled to be making his Beck Center debut in this production of Peter Pan as the Crocodile. This show is dear to his heart since he started acting more than twelve years ago as a Pirate in Peter Pan and he is delighted to return to this show. Michael, a recent Baldwin Wallace graduate with degrees in Integrated Social Studies Education and Theatre, last appeared in BW’s production of Macbeth (King Duncan), and has charmed audiences at Cassidy, Tri-C, Strongsville, and Huntington. Michael thanks his family and friends for all their love and support.
Alexis Generette Floyd (Tiger Lily, an Indian) Alexis recently appeared in Caroline, or Change at Karamu Theater and The Wiz at Cain Park. She has also appeared in Children of Eden and Footloose at Heights Youth Theatreand The Wiz at East Cleveland Theater. Alexis has studied voice and violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music and has been a vocal soloist with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. She has studied dance at Shaker Dance Academy, Duffy Liturgical Dance and Cleveland School of Ballet. She is an alumnus of Fairmount Performing Arts Camp and Camp Cleveland Play House and is a freshman at Hawken School.
Erin R. diLauro (Aponi, an Indian) Erin is back at Beck after performing in Beauty and the Beast the past two holiday seasons. Favorite shows include Suds (Dee Dee), Violet (Young Violet), Into the Woods (Cinderella), and the title role in Gigi. In addition to performing, she started her own Triple Threat Training program, and directs children and teen theater productions. Most recently she was seen in Company (Jenny) at Cassidy Theatre and up next is Sweeney Todd at Lakeland Theatre.
Jana Marie Burkhardt (Dyani, an Indian) Most recent roles include Jungle Book (Mother Wolf) for which she received an Actors' Choice Award for Best Actress, Suds (Dancer) and Guys and Dolls (Ensemble)at Willoughby Fine Arts Association. Jana has also choreographed Schoolhouse Rock and Seussical the Musical for Willoughby Middle School. She is a Junior at Willoughby South High School where she plays on the varsity golf team and is a figure skater. She thanks her family and Kenny for their support and Fred, Martín, Deanna, Diana, Larry, Aimee, and crew for all of their hard work!
Holly K. Harris (Halona, an Indian) Holly is very excited to be a part of Peter Pan. She was most recently seen in Dreamgirls and Cabaret at Cassidy Theatre. During the day, Holly is a donor relations associate for University Circle Inc. She was a 10-year member of The Singing Angels and currently choreographs for the performing chorus. Holly also is a Teaching Artist for Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio, an arts-in-education program teaching ballroom dance to upper elementary school students, as seen in the documentary film Mad Hot Ballroom. Many thanks to the cast and production staff for a wonderful experience.
Kate Buddenhagen (Mosi, an Indian) Kate is thrilled to return to the Beck Center after performing in Beauty and The Beast. This show, Peter Pan is near and dear to her heart since she played Peter at age 12 in Independence’s Youth Theater production. She feels she was meant to be an Indian because she spent over four years working in PR for the Cleveland Indians. Kate currently owns a home in Independence and is the editor of CBC®, Cleveland Business Connects Magazine. She holds a Master’s in Journalism from The Ohio State University and a degree in Communications and Music from the University of Miami (FL).
Kelsey Smith (Kachina, an Indian) Kelsey is so excited to be back at the Beck Center performing in Peter Pan! She was previously seen in last year’s production of Beauty and the Beast (Villager/Napkin) and recently choreographed the Time Warner Cable film, The Movie Makers. Kelsey has danced at The Dance Centre by Heidi Glynias for 8 years and has taught there for the last 3. She has studied voice from Lynnette Guttmann for 5 years. Kelsey would like to thank her family and friends for their endless support as well as Heidi, Lynnette and Fred for giving her so many great opportunities – their hard work and dedication are an inspiration!
Sarah Clare (Olathe, an Indian/Dance Captain) Sarah works as the Co-Managing Director and StarWorks! teen class instructor at Cassidy Theatre. She has served as director, choreographer and costumer for various productions from the Cleveland area to Chicago’s southwest side. Recent credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Children of Eden, and The Wizard of Oz. Favorite roles include 1776 (Martha), Peter Pan (Tiger Lily), and Anna in the Tropics (Marela). Sarah would like to thank her ever-supportive Tiger Tank and Erin for the peer pressure. Her next project will be directing and choreographing A Year With Frog and Toad at Cassidy Theatre this spring!
Tia Karaplis (Tiponi, an Indian) Tia started her theater journey in Sunshine Summer Theatre's Katastrophe Kate (Snakebite Sally). Since then she has appeared in many shows including Beck Center’s Youth Theater production of Honk ( Ida ) and The Wizard of Oz ( Dorothy). She has also appeared in Oliver (Workhouse Girl) at Cain Park and this past summer in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Dan) at Fairmont Performing Arts Camp. She was featured on That's Life as a superstar kid and was a finalist in Rising Star at the State Theatre last year. Tia is thrilled to be part of this show and is grateful to Fred for the opportunity. Break a leg everyone!
Lindsey Sandham (Grown-up Wendy) Lindsey is delighted to make her Beck Center debut with the majority of her siblings! She was most recently seen in Little Women (Jo March) at Rabbit Run Theatre. Lindsey has performed in Cleveland area theaters such as Cain Park, Fine Arts Association, LCC, and Geagua Lyric Theater Guild. She can next be seen in Sweeney Todd (Johanna) at Lakeland Theatre in February 2009. Colossians 3:23.
Natalie Welch (Jane, Michael - US) Natalie is happy to spend another holiday season at the Beck Center in the cast of Peter Pan! She appeared at Beck last December in Beauty & the Beast (Villager/Napkin). Most recently she was seen in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Fairmount Performing Arts Camp. Other performances include: Oliver! at Cain Park, Peter Pan (Michael) at Beachwood Community Theater, and numerous performances at Stagecrafters and the Chagrin Valley Youth Theater program. Natalie has studied dance since the age of three, and sings in the Select Choir at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School. She would like to thank her family and giant dog, Schooner – her real life Nana!
*Actor appears courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union of actors and stage managers.
** Member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreograhers (insert SSDC logo)
Ben Needham (Scenic Designer) Ben returns again this year to design the set for another Beck Center holiday show. Previous designs include the critically-acclaimed Beauty and the Beast. He is the founder of Digital Squirrel Studio, a full-service theater design, 3-D animation and architectural illustration studio. Ben has designed over 90 productions for a number of theaters in the Cleveland and Atlanta areas. He has worked with organizations such as Geauga Lake, Signstage on Tour, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Stage Crafters, the Jewish Community Center/Tri-C East, The Fine Arts Association, Porthouse Theatre, LaGrange Opera, and Lyric Opera of Cleveland. He would like to thank Christie, Aaron and Helen for all their support.
Aimee Kluiber (Costume Designer) Aimee is a costume designer who resides in Lakewood. She studied theatre and music at Wittenberg University and The Cleveland Institute of Music and fashion and millinery design at The Virginia Marti College of Art and Design. Her theatrical associations include Cleveland State University, Lyric Opera Cleveland, The Cleveland Play House, The Cleveland Institute of Music, Cain Park, Case Western Reserve University, Cesear’s Forum, Red Hen Productions, Dobama Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts, Willoughby Fine Arts Association, and the Cleveland Jewish Community Center.
Michael Boll (Lighting Designer) Recent Cleveland designs include the CASE MFA productions of Angels in America and Arcadia (The Cleveland Play House), The Wiz (Cain Park) Colder Than Here (Dobama) and Blackbird (Bang and Clatter). In New York, he designed the off-Broadway productions of The Moliere Cycle (Classic Stage Company), Songs for a New World (George Street Playhouse), Dog Sees God (Soho Playhouse), and The Moonlight Room (Beckett Theater-Associate Lighting Design). Michael designed the NY International Fringe Festival’s award-winning productions of Ellen Craft and Valiant. His work has also been seen at La Mama ETC, Here Arts, Blue Heron, and Center Stage NY. He has designed many shows at the Yale Cabaret including Say You Love Satan, Fake, Three Days of Rain, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He has designed numerous productions at Karamu House including Black Nativity (Cleveland Music Hall). He has taught classes and workshops on Lighting Design and Technology at Yale School of Drama, Barnard College (NY) and the University of Cincinnati-CCM. Michael is Lighting Supervisor for Opera Cleveland and Lighting Designer for Robert Stark Lighting, a NYC-based Special Event and Architectural Lighting Design company.
Richard B. Ingraham (Sound Designer) Richard is happy to be returning for his sixth season of work with the Beck Center. Previous sound designs at the Beck Center include: History Boys, Equus, Beauty and the Beast, The Diary of Anne Frank, T.I.D.Y., Agnes of God, and Of Mice and Men. Richard is the Resident Sound Designer for Hope Summer Repertory Theatre in Holland, Michigan. He has designed sound for numerous theaters in the area and around the country, including: The Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland State University, The Cleveland Theatre Company, Dobama Theatre, The University of Evansville, The Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, Playhouse Square Center, Rabbit Run Theatre, Shakespeare and Company, and Willoughby Fine Arts Association. Richard also works for Stage Research Inc., an award-winning software company that creates sound and lighting applications for live production. Richard has worked as a Show Control Programmer and Trainer for clients such as Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum and Stone Mountain Park.
Joseph Carmola (Technical Director) Joe enters his third season as Technical Director at the Beck Center. Hailing from Canton, in the past he has served as Technical Director/Lighting Designer at the Canton Players Guild, The Magical Theatre Company, as well as Paul Green’s Trumpet in the Land, and numerous freelance credits as well as a design for Les Miserables Jr. which has been seen in many student programs throughout Northeast Ohio. He is also the proud father of Clayton who has always brought light to his life.
