Untitled - Hippodrome Theatre

PROUDLY PRESENTS
BOOK AND LYRICS BY JOE DIPIETRO
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY DAVID BRYAN
Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s The Toxic Avenger
Directed by Lauren Warhol Caldwell
Orchestrations & Arrangements by David Bryan & Christopher Jahnke
COSTUME DESIGN
Alyssa Couturier
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Michael A. Eaddy
SCENIC DESIGN
Mihai Ciupe
LIGHTING DESIGN
Robert P. Robins
SOUND DESIGN
Amanda Yanes
PROPERTIES DESIGN
Rob Leach
COSTUME DESIGN
STAGE MANAGER
MUSIC DIRECTOR
CONSULTANT
Bryan Mercer^
Amber Wilkerson*
Marilyn A. Wall
DANCE CAPTAIN
CHOREOGRAPHER
Maria Kerrigan*
Stephanie Lynge^
Originally Produced Off-Broadway by Jean Cheever and Tom Polum
World Premiere Production Presented by George Street Playhouse.
October 10, 2008. David Saint, Artistic Director | Todd Schmidt, Managing Director
Please do not use the entrances and exits during the performance. Videotaping or
other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
Hippodrome programs are sponsored
in part by the National Endowment for
the Arts; Florida Department of State,
Division of Cultural Affairs; a Tourist
Development Tax Grant from the Alachua
County Board of County Commissioners
in conjunction with the Alachua County
Tourist Development Council; and by
the City of Gainesville, Dept. of Parks,
Recreation, and Cultural Affairs.
Playbill by Sarah Darden.
BOOK AND LYRICS BY JOE DIPIETRO
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY DAVID BRYAN
Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s The Toxic Avenger
(Cast, In order of Appearance)
WHITE DUDE.........................................................................JORDAN SILVER
BLACK DUDE............................................................NATHANIEL TENENBAUM
MAYOR BABS BELGOODY/MA FERD /NUN.........................KELLY ATKINS*^
MELVIN FERD THE THIRD/THE TOXIC AVENGER .....DAVE SCHOONOVER*
SARAH.............................................................................MARIA KERRIGAN*
^Member of the Hippodrome Acting Company
*Member of the Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
There will be a 15-minute intermission after Act 1.
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Lake & Emerald Publishing
Alter Ego Fitness Downtown
Bevis Chiropractic
Carrsmith
Gator Domino’s Pizza
Target Copy
PRODUCTION CO-SPONSORS
Celebrations Catering
Florida Cancer Specialists
Gator Moving and Storage Company
Pride Community Center (PCCNCF)
The Law Offices of Robert Rush
Sica Taylor Salon Studio
Square 1 Burgers and Bar
Originally Produced Off-Broadway by Jean Cheever and Tom Polum
World Premiere Production Presented by George Street Playhouse.
October 10, 2008. David Saint, Artistic Director | Todd Schmidt, Managing Director
THE TOXIC AVENGER is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performances materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com
Actors’ Equity Association
(AEA) was founded in 1913 as the first of the American actor unions. Equity’s mission is to advance,
promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Today, Equity
represents more than 40,000 actors, singers, dancers and stage managers working in hundreds
of theatres across the United States. Equity members are dedicated to working in the theatre as a
profession, upholding the highest artistic standards. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions
and provides a wide range of benefits including health and pension plans for its members. Through
its agreement with Equity, this theatre has committed to the fair treatment of the actors and stage
managers employed in this production. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an
international organization of performing arts unions. For more information, visit www.actorsequity.org.
HIPPODROME STAFF
LAUREN WARHOL CALDWELL
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION
JESSICA HUROV
MANAGING DIRECTOR
ADMINISTRATION
STEPHANIE LYNGE
Artistic Associate
NICOLE DAENZER
Director of Operations
ROBERT P. ROBINS
Lighting Designer-in-Residence
RUSTY SALLING
Information Systems Director
MICHAEL A. EADDY
Technical Director
ROBERT P. ROBINS
Production/Facilities Manager
LIZZI NEHLS | AMBER WILKERSON
Stage Managers
STACIE DANAHY
Director of Public Programs
BRIAN LIBERA
Shop Foreman
SARAH DARDEN
Director of Marketing & Communications
WARREN GOODWIN
Master Carpenter
JESSICA JOSEPH
Office Manager/Accounting Assistant
KEN BROWN
Scenic Artist
AMADOR SANTIAGO
Caretaker
AMANDA YANES
Sound Designer-in-Residence
TAYLOR J. PETRY
Development Associate
JESSICA NILACALA KREITZER
Costume Shop Supervisor
STEFANIE JONES
Subscriptions
DORIS EDWARDS | LESLIE KLEIN
Costume Consultants
HIPPODROME CINEMA
ROB LEACH
Properties Designer
JED DANIELS
Master Electrician
KATIE GRAYSON
Assistant Stage Manager
ANTHONY BIDO
Click Track Operator
INTERNS
TYRANNY DUGUÉ GRIFFITH
Costume Coordinator
ERIN JESTER Wardrobe
SAM KENNEDY Wardrobe
HARLEY O’NEILL Cinema
MACEY WILSON Marketing
DEMI WOLFE Community Outreach &
Literary Management
SUMMER SPECTACULAR TEACHING ARTISTS
Matthew Lindsay, Kristina Johnson, Jake Lesh,
Lizzy Snow, Chelsi Stancil, Nick Clark Tanner,
Erin Tucker and Marissa Vairo
SARAH KUNKLER
Cinema Director
THAD WALSH | KEVIN WISE
Projectionists
EDUCATION
GABRIELLE BYAM Education Program
Coordinator
MARCIA BROWN Education Program Associate
FRONT OF HOUSE
SARAH KUNKLER Patron Services Manager
JESSICA LENNON House Manager
TAYLOR J. PETRY House Manager
MARISSA TOOGOOD House Manager
LOGAN WOLFE House Manager
BOX OFFICE / BARTENDERS
MATT DIBBLE Box Office Manager
ALNYCEA BLACKWELL Box Office Staff
NIKKI TORRES Box Office Staff
TRISTAN WHITEHILL Box Office Staff
LOGAN WOLFE Box Office Supervisor
ZACHARY YOUNG Box Office Supervisor
MEET THE HIPPODROME
LAUREN WARHOL CALDWELL* (Artistic Director)
Lauren is the Artistic Director of the Hippodrome Theatre. She began
her career at the theatre as an actress. She most recently appeared
as Cassandra in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. She has also
appeared on the Hippodrome stage in such productions as Other
Desert Cities, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Steel Magnolias, Sugar Bean
Sisters, Marvin’s Room, Always Patsy Cline, Absent Friends and eight
years in A Tuna Christmas. She was the first woman in the country to
be granted permission to appear in a professional production of A Tuna Christmas. Lauren’s
mainstage directing credits (too numerous to list in their entirety) include The Tempest, A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, Master Class, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Glass Menagerie,
Alice in Wonderland, Eurydice, and Good People. In 2004 she adapted and directed the world
premiere of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds on the Hippodrome Mainstage. Lauren has studied
extensively with world-renowned director Anne Bogart, completing Viewpoints training,
composition and also a six-week observership at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Before her
position as Artistic Director, Lauren was Director of Education at the Hippodrome. During her
tenure in this position she worked with the HITT program the Summer Spectacular program,
and wrote and directed four original plays for the Theatre for Young Audiences program.
These plays toured Alachua County as well as the State of Florida serving thousands of public
school students. Prior to her arrival in Gainesville, Lauren traveled extensively for Success
Motivation Institute (an international communications company), lived a season in Graz,
Austria with the American Institute of Musical Studies, and toured with Liza Minnelli. At
the University of Florida’s School of Theatre and Dance, she has taught adjunct, conducted
master classes and served as adjudicator for the school’s mainstage plays. Lauren is the
founder and owner of Legal Acts, a company that provides training for courtroom attorneys.
She has been affiliated with the University of Florida College of Law for over twenty years.
Lauren has been recognized as Artist of the Year in The Gainesville Sun and was a keynote
speaker for the Florida Humanities Council. Lauren was nominated for a Spirit of Gainesville
Award by Gainesville Magazine and named one of Gainesville’s Twenty Most Interesting
People by INsite Magazine. Lauren is currently in collabaration with international company
The Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski, a year long project provided by a NEA grant. She is a
native Texan. Lauren holds a BFA in directing from Baylor University and an MFA in Acting
from the University of Florida.
JESSICA HUROV (Managing Director)
Jessica began at the Hippodrome as the Director of Marketing in 2005,
during which time she oversaw marketing, public relations, advertising,
graphic design, video and social media efforts for all divisions of the
institution. Subsequently, Jessica became the Hipp’s Director of
Communications, with expanded administrative responsibilities in the
areas of fundraising, subscriptions, membership, and patron relations.
During her career, both in Boston and Gainesville, she has worked in market research, event
planning, and theatre administration. She has worked with Gainesville’s professional arts
organizations on the Gainesville Entertainment Sampler, the Chris Morris Arts Education
Endowment at P.K. Yonge, the University of Florida’s P.K. Yonge Performing Arts program,
and is a design partner for Dance Alive National Ballet. Prior to moving to Gainesville,
Jessica was the Administrative Manager of the Tsai Performance Center in Boston and a
national research director at a marketing agency. Jessica graduated with honors and has
dual degrees in English and Psychology from Boston University. She is proud to play her
part in supporting the Hipp’s artistic mission, and through her work, create a sustainable
and thriving artistic home at the Hippodrome.
MEET THE HIPPODROME
HIPPODROME THEATRE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Betsy Styron Chairman
Elizabeth Bedell
Harvey Ward Vice Chairman
Natalie Claggett Treasurer
Lauren Warhol Caldwell
Jorgia McAfee
Jessica Hurov Secretary
Sandy Fackler
THE MUSIC OF THE TOXIC AVENGER
ACT 1
Who Will Save New Jersey
I Will Save You Sarah
Jersey Girl
Jersey Girl(Reprise)
Get the Geek
Get the Chick
Kick Your Ass
Toxic Carries Sarah
My Big French Boyfriend
Thank God She’s Blind
Disappointment
Hot Toxic Love
The Legend of The Toxic Avenger
Evil Is Hot
Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore
15-MINUTE INTERMISSION
ACT 2
Choose Me Oprah
Death Promise
You Tore My Heart Out
He Tore Her Heart Out
All Men Are Freaks
Till the Monster’s Dead
The Chase
Hot Toxic Love (Reprise)
Toxie Kicks It
Promise (Reprise)
A Brand New Day in New Jersey
WHO’S WHO IN THE TOXIC AVENGER
DAVID BRYAN (Music and lyrics)
Keyboard Player and Founding Member, Bon Jovi. Singer/Songwriter Composer,
Lyricist and Programmer. David Bryan lives near Exit 109 off the Garden State Parkway.
He was conceived, born and raised in New Jersey. As a young man, he saw The Toxic
Avenger at a midnight showing in Newark, and from that day on, he dreamed of
writing a musical about the first mutant superhero from his home state. This show
is a fulfillment of that dream. David has accomplished some other stuff, too. He is
the keyboard player, songwriter and a founding member of Bon Jovi one of the most
successful bands in music history. They’ve sold over 130 million records worldwide,
performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million
fans, and were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006. They’ve survived
and thrived the rock and roll years, the grunge years, the rap years and everything in
between. On the bands award-winning CD Have A Nice Day , David and Jon wrote the
WHO’S WHO IN THE TOXIC AVENGER
song Last Cigarette. David has also written and released a solo record, Lunar Eclipse
(Rounder/Universal) an instrumental collection with a single vocal bonus track
highlighting all of the aspects of his training and influences blues, classical, jazz and
of course, rock & roll. In his time off from recording and touring with Jon, Richie and
Tico, David began a career as a composer and lyricist of musicals. The song, Memphis
Lives In Me, which he performs on Bon Jovi s recent box set, is actually from his
musical, MEMPHIS which recently won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
David also won a Tony for Best Orchestrations (with Daryl Waters) and Best Original
Score (Music and Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (with Joe DiPietro). In addition to his
musical theatre compositions and writing with bandmates Jon Bon Jovi and Richie
Sambora, with whom he co-wrote the bands hit, In These Arms, David continues to
write with and for other artists. The most successful cover of a Bryan song may be
Curtis Steiger’s rendition of This Time, which was a major International hit for him.
David has also dedicated his time to become a National Spokesperson for VH1 s Save
The Music Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of
music education in America’s schools. For more on David, visit www.DavidBryan.com.
JOE DIPIETRO (Book and lyrics)
Joe’s current Broadway hit Memphis won the Tony Award for Best Musical and two
additional Tony Awards (Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics)
Written for the Theatre (with David Bryan). Joe was born and raised off Exit 166 in New
Jersey and thus has been a Toxic Avenger fan for the last twenty years. Joe wrote the book
& lyrics to I LoveYou, You’re Perfect, Now Change, the longest running musical revue in
New York history which has had hundreds of productions across the country and around
the world. He also wrote the book and lyrics to the Broadway musical All Shook Up, and
the award-winning musical, The Thing About Men, which has played internationally.
His plays include the Edgar Award-winning mystery, The Art of Murder, as well as the
long-running hit comedy Over the River and through the Woods, which has had over a
hundred productions around the world and is currently being developed into a feature
film. He lives in Manhattan and Connecticut, but his heart will always be in New Jersey.
KELLY ATKINS*^ (Mayor Babs Belgoody/Ma Ferd/Nun)
Most recognizable to Gainesville audiences for her portrayals
of Pippi in The Great American Trailer Park Musical and the
title character in the macabre Alice in Wonderland, Kelly has
also appeared in Hippodrome Theatre productions of The
Marvelous Wonderettes, Suds: The Rocking 60’s Musical Soap
Opera, Shout! The Mod Musical, and 8 Track: The Sounds of the
70’s,She has enjoyed several busy seasons at the Alhambra Theatre, appearing
opposite Sally Struthers in Hello Dolly, Jamie Farr in Lend Me a Tenor, and
Loretta Swit in the world premiere of Amorous Crossing, as well as in The King
and I (Anna), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona), Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels (Christine), Hairspray (Velma), The Foreigner (Catherine), Lost in Yonkers
(Bella), My Fair Lady (Eliza), Guys and Dolls (Sarah), and Showboat (Magnolia).
WHO’S WHO IN THE TOXIC AVENGER
Other recent performances include starring roles in Pirates of Penzance (Jacksonville
Symphony Orchestra),The Great American Trailer Park (Actor’s Playhouse), Victor/
Victoria (Show Palace), Little Shop of Horrors (American Stage), and My Way: A
Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra (Florida Studio Theatre). Film/ TV: Recount, America’s
Most Wanted, numerous commercials, guest hosting on Designing Spaces. Recent
concert engagements include appearances as a principle soloist with the Jacksonville
Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre of Connecticut, and as a national finalist in the
American Traditions Vocal Competition.
MARIA KERRIGAN* (Sarah)
Maria studies voice with the Michelle McGee vocal studio in
Gainesville. She can be seen working as a Musician in Residence
at UF Health and is a graduate student, actively researching the
epigenetic mechanisms involved in the biochemistry of music
therapy, to improve patient care, with UF’s College of Medicine.
NY: NYU, Tara Rubin Casting, & the Ailey School. Credits: Snoopy!
(Sally, Off B’way), Beauty and the Beast (Belle, Disney Entertainment), The Little
Mermaid (Ariel), Finding Nemo, Hoop De Doo Revue, O’ Wondrous Night, Famous the
Musical (Lila Knight, Off B’way), and Peter Pan (Peter, Seaside Music Theatre - Best
Actress, alongside B’way’s Michael Shawn Lewis). With The Walt Disney Company,
Ms. Kerrigan served as a Judge for Disney’s American Idol Experience, and sent
many aspiring singers to the finals in Hollywood, CA. She is thrilled to be making her
Hippodrome Theatre debut!
DAVE SCHOONOVER*(Melvin Ferd the Third/The Toxic Avenger)
Dave is stoked to be making his Hippodrome Theatre debut. NYC
credits include Off Broadway: The Fantasticks (El Gallo standby),
Gallery Players: Company (Bobby), National Tours: Young
Frankenstein (Dr. Frankenstein u/s), Cats (Tugger). Regional credits
include TUTS: Annie (Rooster), Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival:
Sweeney Todd (Pirelli), Westchester Broadway Theatre: Irving Berlin’s
White Christmas (Bob Wallace), Arrowrock Lyceum: Little Shop of Horrors (Orin),
Forestburgh Playhouse: The Music Man (Harold Hill), Ogunquit Playhouse: Young
Frankenstein (Dr. Frankenstein). BFA Wisconsin Stevens Point. Proud AEA member.
DaveSchoonover.com
JORDAN SILVER (White Dude)
Jordan is a recent graduate of the musical theatre program at Ithaca
College. He just finished performing in Dogfight and A Chorus Line
on their main stage this season. Jordan has also performed at the
Cortland Repertory Theatre as Marius in Les Miserable. He originated
the role of Norm in The Other Direction at 54 below in NYC last
summer and has been a featured soloist in the Macy’s Thanksgiving
Day Parade. Jordan is very excited to be making his Hippodrome Theatre debut!
WHO’S WHO IN THE TOXIC AVENGER
NATHANIEL TENENBAUM (Black Dude)
Nathaniel is beyond thrilled to be making his Hippodrome Theatre
debut! Originally hailing from London, England he is now a Chicago
based film and stage actor. Past credits include HAIR (Woof),
Guys&Dolls (Nicely-Nicely), RENT (Benny/Seasons of Love Soloist),
Boeing Boeing (Robert), The Pillowman (Michal) and The Infernal
Machine (Tiresias). He’s excited you’re here, get ready to rock.
JAKE LESH (Male Understudy)
Jake is a third year MFA candidate at the University of Florida. Recent
shows include The Liar, The Comedy of Errors, Metamorphoses, and
Sweeney Todd. He has also worked Off-Broadway with Titan Theatre
Company on shows such as King Lear and The Edwin Booth Company
Presents.
LAUREN ROBINSON (Female Understudy)
Lauren is currently enrolled at the University of Florida’s in the BFA
Musical Theatre program. She is thrilled to be taking part in her first
show with the Hippodrome Theatre. She was most recently seen
in UF’s productions of La Boheme (Musetta) and Phantom of the
Opera (Christine).
AMBER WILKERSON* (Stage Manager)
Amber spent two full seasons at the Hippodrome Theatre, first as Properties Intern,
then as Assistant Stage Manager before moving to New York City to pursue a career
in theatre. She returned to the Hipp as the Equity Stage Manager of A Christmas
Carol in 2005 & 2006. She has worked professionally for The Metropolitan Opera
(NYC), The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Madison, NJ), North Shore Music
Theatre (Beverly, MA), and Times Square New Year’s Eve 2006-2010 (NYC). In 2006,
Amber served as Production Assistant on the Broadway musical, Grey Gardens. More
recently, Amber spent five years working with Manhattan Theatre Club as a Subscriber
Services Representative and two years as a House Manager at Playwrights Horizons,
both in New York City. Originally from Maryland, she received a B.A. in Theatre Arts
from Salisbury University in 2002.
MIHAI CIUPE (Scenic Designer)
Originally from Romania, Mihai Ciupe received a double MFA degree in costume and
set design from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to the United States, he was resident
scenographer at The National Theatre of Cluj, Romania. During his former years, he
traveled extensively in Europe in tours with the shows that he designed, getting exposure
to the various schools of theatre from England, Scotland, Hungary, France and Yugoslavia.
* Member of the Actors’ Equity Association
^ Member of the Hippodrome Acting Company
WHO’S WHO IN THE TOXIC AVENGER
As a designer he worked with some of the greatest Romanian directors: Gabor
Tompa, Alexandru Dabija, Iulian Visa, Mihai Manutiu, and Victor Ion Frunza. In
1991 he received a scholarship to attend The London International Festival of
Theatre. Since 1995 he is a member of the United Association of the Romanian
Fine Artists in the scenography section. Currently he is an Associate Professor
in Scene Design in the School of Theatre and Dance at the University of Florida.
ALYSSA COUTURIER (Costume Designer)
Alyssa is a third year MFA candidate at the University of Florida.
MARILYN A. WALL (Costume Design Consultant)
Marilyn Wall is a co-founder of the Hippodrome Theatre and she has designed and
built costumes for more than 350 professional productions for the stage and for film.
Her stage designs have been seen in San Diego, Boston, Denver, Connecticut, New York,
Alabama, Massachusetts, and Toronto. In the film world she has designed costumes
and makeup for: A Flash of Green, with Ed Harris; Shimmer, with MaryBeth Hurt; Ruby
in Paradise, with Ashley Judd; Gathering Evidence, with Angelina Jolie; Miami Hustle,
with Kathy Ireland; and Ulee’s Gold, with Peter Fonda and Patricia Richardson. Ms. Wall
has also served as a designer for Phil Donahue, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Todd Field, Joan
Steffend, Scott Simon, and Travis Tritt, and is a two-time Emmy Award winner for her
design work on Salsa, a national television children’s series. She received an Audelco
Award nomination for her original costume design for Cookin’ at the Cookery and a
Beverly Hills/Hollywood Theatre Award nomination for Best Costume Design. She
designed puppets and costumes for the children’s television series called OrganWise
Guys. Marilyn was the invited artist for HGTV White House Christmas Special 20032005. Marilyn was awarded a Florida Individual Artist Fellowship in 2009.
ROBERT P. ROBINS (Production/Facilities Manager and Lighting Designer-in-Residence)
This season marks Bob’s 31st anniversary of collaboration with the Hippodrome as
Lighting Designer. A thirty five year career has afforded Bob the chance to design
almost a thousand productions for theatre, dance, industrials, and special events.
Regional and local credits also include Florida Repertory Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse,
Dance Alive!, Florida Audubon Society, Florida Foundation, Shands Hospital, Southern
Legal Counsel, Ocala Civic Theatre, Theatre Winter Haven, and Marion Ballet Theatre.
Bob also works with local artists, business owners and realtors, consulting on projects
that range from lighting art installations, exterior lighting of local businesses, to
working with homeowners and realtors, providing architectural lighting design and
consultation. Bob also volunteers his design and consulting services to a wide range
of local schools and organizations. Bob is an Actors’ Equity Association Stage Manager,
and proudly holds a BFA in Theatre Production from the University of Florida. See
more of Bob’s work at robertrobins.com
WHO’S WHO IN THE TOXIC AVENGER
MICHAEL A. EADDY (Technical Director)
This is Michael’s 16th season at the Hippodrome Theatre. Michael started working
at the Hippodrome as Master Carpenter in 2000 and since January 2002 has been
the Hippodrome’s Technical Director/Production Manager. He is known in the area
for his fine woodworking and award-winning photography. His work can be found
in galleries in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Set design credits include:
Leveling Up, 2 Pianos 4 Hands, The Dead Guy, The Chosen, Gutenberg! The Musical,
Shipwrecked, UP, The Winter Wonderettes, and most recently scenic adaptation
for Honky Tonk Angels. See Michael’s work at michaelaeaddyphotography.com
BRYAN MERCER^ (Music Director)
Bryan, a native of Ocala returns to the Hippodrome Theatre after the success of The
Elephant Man as John Merrick. Musical Director credits at the Hippodrome include
Mr. Burns, Winter Wonderettes, Avenue Q, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Trailer Park,
College: The Musical, and SHOUT! He has been known to Atlanta audiences for over
thirty five years as an actor, singer, director, designer, painter, and served as puppeteer,
composer, musician and musical director for 15 years at the internationally acclaimed
CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS. Bryan has helmed over 120 musicals and looks forward
to his next apperance on the Hippodrome stage for the 2016/17season!
STEPHANIE LYNGE*^ (Choreographer)
Choreography credits here at the Hippodrome Theatre include Avenue Q, The
Tempest, Mr. Burns. Directing credits: Tick Tick Boom (Constanz), Ancient History
(45th St Theater, NY). Acting credits: Broadway: Beauty and the Beast (Sugarbowl,
u/s Mrs. Potts and Wardrobe). National Tours: Mamma Mia (Ensemble, u/s Donna,
Rosie), She Loves Me (Amalia). Off-Bway: Three Penny Opera (Polly.) Regional:
Showtune (Pasadena Plyhs), A Little Night Music (Goodspeed), Clybourne Park, Mr.
Burns (Hippodrome).
AMANDA YANES (Sound Designer)
Amanda is thrilled to be designing her third season at the Hippodrome Theatre. Other
regional credits include Cape Fear Regional Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar, Legally
Blonde: The Musical, and The Parchman Hour: Songs and Stories of the ’61 Freedom
Riders as the mix engineer in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Dorset Theatre Festival:
Good People, The Whore and Mr. Moore, Boeing Boeing, and Deathtrap.Keep moving
forward.
ROB LEACH (Properties Designer)
Rob has over a decade of experience working in New York City. He has an MFA in
Technical Direction from North Carolina School of the Arts and most notably he served
as Assistant Technical Director at New York City Ballet, Technical Director of the New
Victory Theatre, and substitute Assistant Head Carpenter of Pippin at the Music Box
* Member of the Actors’ Equity Association
^ Member of the Hippodrome Acting Company
WHO’S WHO IN THE TOXIC AVENGER
Theatre. Having recently relocated to Gainesville, Rob has been an adjunct instructor
at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College, and assists the faculty and students
at the PK Yonge performing arts center.
KATIE GRAYSON (Assistant Stage Manager)
Katie is the Assistant Stage Managemer at the Hippodrome Theatre. She graduated May
2014 with a degree in BFA Stage Management and a minor in Business Administration
from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Katie worked professionally in Milwaukee
before moving to Gainesville to join the Hippodrome family in 2014. She is more than
excited to be working for the Hippodrome and thankful for this opportunity!
Piano.........................................................................................BRYAN MERCER
Bass.................................................................................................ALI CHE REE
Guitar.................................................................................................JOEL SAIDI
Drums................................................................................LORENZO SANFORD
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Skylab Recording Studios, Ali Che Ree, Gerry King, Mark G. Pinske for
recording and mastering the music.
Lisa McDaniel
Hampton Inn and Suite Downtown Gainesville