TONY AWARD for Best Musical Score! WINNER of the PULITZER PRIZE!
DUSTIN OLIVER, director Tim Shaffer, music director
AMIE WESLEY GABEL, choreographer MARC C. HOWARD & D. KEITH STIVER, co-producers
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Sponsors and Benefactors receive Main Season tickets & Priority Registration for Children’s Summer Workshop 2018
FRIEND (fully tax-deductible) $30
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2017—2018
MAIN SEASON FALL WINTER SPRING
BENEFIT SHOW
Dad’s an architect. Daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens. Mom rushes to pack lunches, pour
cereal and cope. On the surface, they’re an all Ameri-can family, but their story of love, sympathy and heart, as they struggle to manage normally under the mantle
of Mom’s manic depression, will take audiences warmly into the hearts and minds of each character in this
deeply moving piece of musical theatre.
This tale of star-crossed lovers set in a world of fantasy, whimsy, and imagination combine to make this classic comedy endlessly fun and appealing. One of The Bard’s most popular works, it is widely performed throughout the
world and now —- in Aurora, Ohio.
In this Broadway blockbuster, Anna, a British schoolteacher, is brought by the
King of Siam to help modernize his country. Their relationship, marked by
polite but potent cultural conflict, is underscored by a love that neither can
admit. Featuring such beloved songs as: I Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to
Know You, Hello, Young Lovers, and Shall We Dance?
WINNER of the Pulitzer Prize! Tony Award for Best Play!
Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, FENCES examines the cultural, economic, and generational challenges of an African-
American, blue-collar family.
Leapin' Lizards! The irrepressible comic strip
heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved musicals.
TOTAL $________
SUMMER SHOW
book by
THOMAS MEEHAN music by
CHARLES STROUSE lyrics by
MARTIN CHARNIN
MICHAEL DEMPSEY, director JOHN KROL, music director
CARRIE MAZZUCCO & MICHAEL DEMPSEY, co-choreographers
MARIANNE PAUL, producer
MICHAEL OATMAN, director MARC C. HOWARD, producer
by RICHARD RODGERS & OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE RACHEL M. MURAR, director
D. KEITH STIVER, producer
music by TOM KITT book & lyrics by BRIAN YORKEY MARC C. HOWARD, director D. KEITH STIVER, music director
by AUGUST WILSON
MAIN SEASON SUBSCRIPTION Offer expires Dec 2, 2017
One Main Season Subscription includes one ticket each for
ANNIE FENCES THE KING & I
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# of youth (age 18 and under) subscriptions _____ @ $33 =
SINGLE TICKETS
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330.562.1818 OR AURORACOMMUNITYTHEATRE.COM
Aurora Community Theatre
P.O. Box 9
Aurora, Ohio 44202
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PAID TWINSBURG, OH
PERMIT NO 807
Aurora Community Theatre
extends special appreciation to
THE ATRIUM AT
ANNA MARIA
for their generous support of
ANNIE
For more information, call
Diane Barben 330-562-0600
Geneviève Adelman (Grace Farrell) Julia Ashkettle (Annie)
Gilgamesh Taggett (Warbucks)
The Orphans: clockwise from top: Ella Stec, Molly Kessler, Frankie Ashkettle, Eva Logan, Marin Carlson, Mia Custer, Gianna Malie, Gabriella Bozan, Jackie Armstrong, Skye Kubinski. Center: Julia Ashkettle, Brigitte Edwards. Not pictured: Jordyn Freetage, Jane Gerdes
Vibrant, brash and innately cheerful, ANNIE, the effervescent Broad-
way hit opens ACT’s 58th season on Oct. 27 for a record-setting 13
performance run. The show will be performed at 8 pm Fridays and
Saturdays through Nov. 18, Dec. 1 and 2, plus at 3 pm Sundays Nov.
5, 12, and 19 at Aurora Community Theatre, 115
E. Pioneer Trail.
Set in the hard-luck days of 1930s New York
City, the Tony award-winning musical is based on
the popular Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan
Annie.”
Featuring music by Charles Strouse, lyrics
by Martin Charnin, and book by Thomas
Meehan, ANNIE tells the story of the carrot-
haired cutie whose pluck and positivity drive her
never-give-up hope that she will find the parents
who left her on the doorstep of a New York City
orphanage.
Annie’s adventure-filled pursuit takes her
from the wretched children’s home run by the
cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan to tough city
streets, where she rescues a lovable mutt named
Sandy; to a lavish, uptown mansion, where Oliver
“Daddy” Warbucks takes her under his wing, and
even to the White House, where the president
falls under her charm.
Michael Dempsey makes his Aurora Com-
munity Theatre directorial debut with ANNIE,
while John Krol returns as musical director, with
Carrie Mazzucco and Michael Dempsey choreographers, and
Marianne Paul, producer.
Julia Ashkettle performs the role of Annie, and Gilgamesh
Taggett, who just completed one international and two national tours
of ANNIE as Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks reprises that character for the
ACT stage.
Paula Kline-Messner*, last seen at ACT in Good
People, plays Miss Agatha Hannigan, while Geneviève
Adelman plays Grace Farrell. Michael Guffey takes on
the role of Daniel “Rooster” Hannigan, with Laura
Swinsburg as Lily St. Regis.
The cast of ANNIE also features: Dennis Runkle
(President Roosevelt), Guy Custer (Bert Healy),
Bernie Keister (Judge Brandeis), Mary Pat Crockford
(Mrs. Greer), Shelly Palumbo (Mrs. Pugh), Glen
Johnston (Drake), with ensemble performers including:
Jennifer Kubinski, John Webb, Dennis Dumont, Eric
Grow, Emmie Ferguson, Stone Dupree, Danielle
Dupree, and Sydney Goldstein.
Joining Annie in the orphanage are: Frankie
Ashkettle (Duffy), Brigitte Edwards (Molly), Eva
Logan (July), Ella Stec (Kate), Molly Kessler (Tessie),
Skye Kubinski (Pepper) plus Jackie Armstrong, Gab-
riella Bozan, Marin Carlson, Mia Custer, Jordyn
Freetage, Jane Gerdes, and Gianna Malie.
Macs, owned and handled by are Leigh Garrett
and Macey Staninger plays Sandy the dog.
Todd Plone designed the set for ANNIE, and
Barb Trueman and Linda Weinkamer served as sce-
nic artists.
Ann Nyenhuis,
stage manager and
technical
director, also oversaw
set construction crew
that included: Joe
Mira, Martin Pekarcik,
Jerry Schaber, Dave
Nyenhuis, Brad Hills,
Linda Weinkamer,
April Sike, Sarah
Kuchcinski, Mary Pat
Crockford, Stone
Dupree, Kimberly
Stec, Kailey Stec, Marianne Paul, Glen Johnston, Brandon John-
son, and Olivia Johnston.
Marianne Paul was in charge of costumes with assistance from
Gracie Frazier, Laura Dupree and Nancy Welsh.
Maggie Hamilton designed the sound and will serve as sound
technician during performances. T.L. Codella designed the lighting
with assistance from Sarah Kuchcinski and April Sike, lighting
technicians.
April Sike assists Ann
Nyenhuis as the assistant stage
manager. Jerry Schaber, Dave Nyenhuis, Nate Welsh and
Brandon Johnston serve as the run crew.
Vicki Rizzo-Prato,
the show’s liaison
to the board of
trustees, is also in
charge of hospital-
ity and intermission
refreshments.
Marc Howard will
manage front of
house. Marianne
Gingras designed
the sign and
poster.
The original Broad-
way production
ANNIE opened in
1977 and ran for nearly six years followed by international produc-
tions and national tours. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical,
the show includes the popular songs "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard
Knock Life," among others.
Based on "Little Orphan Annie"® By Permission of
Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
ANNIE is presented
through special arrange-
ment with Music Theatre
International (MTI). All
authorized performance
materials are also supplied
by MTI, MTIShows.com
Aurora Community Theatre
is located at 115 E. Pioneer
Trail, near the intersection
of SR 43 and 306, at the
gazebo, in the center of
Aurora. ACT extends ap-
preciation to The Denise G. & Norman E.
Wells, Jr. Family Foundation for their gener-
ous underwriting of the Wells Main Stage.
The amazing talents of area youth were showcased in “Willy Wonka Jr” dur-ing the 2017 Children’s Summer Workshop. Each two-week session culmi-nated in full productions of the musical, complete with costumes, props, mu-sic and lighting. In addition to making sure the children learn acting, singing, dancing and backstage skills, co-producers Michelle Regelbrugge and Vicki Rizzo Prato make sure they understand that good thea-tre will enlighten as well as entertain. “Willy Wonka, Jr.” features the Bucket family: Charlie Bucket, his siblings, parents, and grand-parents, who struggle to put food on the table and must stretch their thin cabbage soup every eve-ning for dinner. Inspired by play, the over 120 Workshop actors decided to help local families in need. Becky Carlino from the Aurora branch of Volunteers of America spoke with participants about the need for food donations as well as paper products and school supplies. In response, CSW children and their families collected and donated over 200 pounds of food and other items to Aurora Food Pantry.
CSW counselors, back row: Sydney Manderbach, Karson
Taylor, Nathan Welsh, Ben Sutter, Sophie Longo, Noah
White. Front row: Katie Kronz, John Kushan, Tatum Miller. Not pictured: Ryan Kacmar,
Emily Wedding, Caitlin Spicer, Eve Regelbrugge, Grace Caffoe,
Ashlyn White, Liz Keller, Lexy Jensen, Kennedi Hobbs,
Phoenix Cyronek
OCT 2017
Leapin’ Lizards!
OCTA Bravos Ohio Community Theatre Association recognized Aurora Community Theatre
excerpts from WORDS, WORDS, WORDS , part of last season’s Benefit Show
“ONE ACTS.” BY David Ives. Awards included:
Excellence in Direction: Theresa Benyo-Marzullo
Excellence in Ensemble: The Full Cast
Merit in Acting as Swift: Travis Reilly
Excellence in Acting as Milton: Rob Walter
Merit in Acting as Kafka: Macey Staninger
JOIN ANNIE, DADDY WARBUCKS, MISS HANNIGAN
and all the ORPHANS For a Delicious, Delightful, De-lovely time with
yummy sandwiches, scones, tea cakes, lemonade and tasty tea.
PLUS A special live performance of “It’s a Hard Knock Life”
You can sing along, then meet and greet the actors. $20 adult ticket ♥ $10 child’s ticket (12 and under)
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Seating is LIMITED.
Buy online at www.auroracommunitytheatre.com or call 330-562-1818
TEA PARTY
6 to 7:30 pm Saturday Nov 4 Aurora Community Theatre Downstairs Gallery 115 E. Pioneer
Discount for groups of
15 or more.
Discount plus party for
groups of 20 or more.
For group details, call
330-562-1818
ANNIE
TICKETS $18 for all adults
$13 youth (age 18 and under) online, anytime, including seat selection
auroracommmunitytheatre.com
or call 330-562-1818
A Big CSW THANK YOU to:
♦ Nancy Welsh, Nichol Kacmar and Cyndi Caffoe for helping with costumes..
♦ Hannah Gang, a veteran of several Workshops, who also played Sandy in
GREASE at ACT last summer, for speaking about her life post-CSW.
♦ Becky Carlino, from Volunteers of America, for speaking to our kids about
those in our area living without basic needs.
♦ Dorothy Edwards at Subway for donating subs for the cast party.
♦ Gionino’s, and Guys, and Angelo’s for donating pizza for the cast party.
♦ Paul Carlson and Laura Phillips for donating photography services.
♦ Ashlyn White and Eve Regelbrugge for helping with choreography.
♦ Maggie Hamilton and Craig Kollai for technical assistance.
♦ Logan Family and Archer Family for hosting our program director.
♦ The Church in Aurora for donating set decorations.
♦ The many, many Workshop Parents for donating supplies, food and,
especially, your time.
Children’s Summer Workshop 2017: Acting, Singing, Dancing & Community
Aurora Food Bank volunteer Chris Morris and CSW co-producer Vicki Rizzo Prato
unload donations from CSW families
John Webb, Dennis Runkle, Eric Grow, Stone Dupree, Glen Johnston. Not pictured: Michael Guffey, Dennis Dumont, Bernie Keister, Guy Custer
*Paula Kline-Messner is appearing Courtesy of
Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional
Actors and Stage Managers in the United States,
appearing under a Special Appearance Contract.
Mary Pat Crockford, Shelly Palumbo, Jennifer Kubinski, Danielle Dupree, Sydney Goldstein. Not pictured: Emmie Ferguson, Stone Dupree
Julia Ashkettle (Annie) and Gilgamesh Taggett (Warbucks)
Paula Kline-Messner* (Miss Hannigan) and Julia Ashkettle (Annie).