25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Cast

Rona Lisa Peretti – Rebecca Fisher

Vice Principal Douglas Panch – Jeff Lindberg

Mitch Mahoney – Anachebe Asomugha

William Barfee – Kit Cleto

Olive Ostrovsky – Kayla Alvarez

Chip Tolentino – Ricky Cona

Logainne SchwatzandGrubenierre – Savannah Simerly

Leaf Coneybear – Eric Desnoyers

Marcy Park – Melina Kay

 

Production Team

Producing Artistic Director – Beth Marshall
Director – Kenny Howard
Musical Director – Julian Bond
Choreography – Dion Leonhard
Assistant Director – Chris Yakubchik
Stage Manager – Paige Gober
Assistant Stage Manager – Blue Estrella
Set Design – Daniel Cooksley, Kenny Howard, Beth Marshall
Light Design – Amy Hadley
Sound Design/Mixer/Tech Coordinator – Joshua Seyna
Costume Design – Kyla Swanberg
Lead Carpenter – Daniel Cooksley
Vocal Coach – Priscilla Bagley
Crew – Alexia Correa, Clark Levi, Nakary Hurtado
Website Manager – Winona Wiley
Photographer – Patty Wolfe
Garden Theatre Production Coordinator – Anastasia Kurtiak

Meet the Cast:

Kayla Alvarez (Olive Ostrovsky) is thrilled to be appearing in her first show here at The Garden. She has been performing for nine years with theaters all around Central Florida. Some favorite past productions include ROCK OF AGES (Sherrie), BONNIE AND CLYDE (Bonnie), ADDAMS FAMILY (Wednesday), SHREK (Wicked Witch/Gingy), and LEGALLY BLONDE (Vivienne). She thanks her fierce family and friends for their constant love and support.

Anachebe Asomugha (Mitch Mahoney) is excited and ecstatic to take part in his first BMP production, particularly in the role of Mitch Mahoney, one he’s wanted to play for quite some time. In the Orlando area, Anachebe has been fortunate to work as an Acting Intern for Orlando Shakespeare Theater during the 2013-2014 season. That was an explosive season of theatre, including roles in shows such as The Taming of the Shrew, It’s a Wonderful Life, and the beast that was The Life and Times of Nicholas Nickleby.

Kit Cleto (William Barfée) is thrilled to be returning to the Garden Theatre with Beth Marshall Presents! He was last seen on the Garden stage in BONNIE & CLYDE (Preacher) and HANDS ON A HARDBODY (Jesus Peña). Other favorite credits include A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Ghost of Christmas Present), SPAMALOT (Sir Galahad), and THE SECRET GARDEN (Fakir). Kit serves on the voice faculty at Valencia College and the Orlando School of Music. Special thanks to my loving family and friends for their continued love and support!

Ricky Cona (Chip Tolentino) is a native of Tampa, FL and a graduate of the University of South Florida with a BA in Communication as Performance. Currently, he resides in Orlando, where he can be seen performing in several different shows at Universal Studios. Other notable credits include: Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), RENT (Angel), and of course Bat Boy: The Musical (Edgar) at the Abbey to name a few. This is Ricky’s second time playing the oh so lovable Chip Tolentino and his favorite word is “flatulence” for obvious reasons. Special thanks to Kenny Howard and Beth Marshall for this amazing opportunity. To my family and friends, thank you for the constant and unwavering support. I love you! Oh yeah…and Justin Lore…SHUT UP! 🙂

Eric Desnoyers (Leaf Coneybear) Eric is elated to join BMP and the Spelling Bee Team! Previously at Garden Theater- TheatreWorks FL’s Sweeney Todd. Other Area credits include Wanzie’s Orange Blossom Trail Living Nativity Spectacular, Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour) at Osceola Arts, HAIR at Mad Cow, Grinchmas Universal Studios and Carousel with the Orlando Philharmonic. Orlando Fringe credits include 3 Patron Pick Winners-Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Wanzie’s The Lion Queen (Timba)  and was the producer of last year’sDoro & Diega Explore Middle Class America. Eric assistant directed for the Generation Production’s Orlando Premiere of HEATHERS: the musical.  Originally from the little state of Rhode Island, but now proud to be a denizen of Orlando and feels lucky to be surrounded by the arts!

Rebecca Fisher (Rona Lisa Peretti) – This is Rebecca’s debut at The Garden Theatre.  She occasionally appears in various theatres around the country in the role of Soap Star in Menopause The Musical.  Rebecca and director, Kenny Howard, have worked together on Bat Boy: The Musical, Cabaret, Wanzie’s The Lion Queen, Hedwig And The Angry Inch, and  Lizzie: The Musical. Other credits include The Book Of Liz, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, How I Learned To Drive,  and the role of post-stroke Bette Davis in Me And Jezebel.  She performed her cabaret show, Sin. Play. Live. at both The Abbey, and The Metropolitan Room in New York City, and most recently performed Becky’s Fun Time Hour at the Winter Mini-Fringe.  Rebbecca graduated from Stephens College with a BFA in Theatre.  Graduate studies at University Of Miami brought her to Florida, where she discovered her primary habitat.  Proud member of actors’ equity.   More  at http://www.therebeccafisher.com.

Melina Kay (Marcy Park) is so excited to be making her debut at the Garden Theatre! Melina just graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre Studies and a minor in Sociology. Past credits include Hope Cladwell in Urinetown: the Musical, Maria in West Side Story, Wendla in Spring Awakening, and Liat in South Pacific. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support.

Jeff L. Lindberg (Vice Principal Douglas Panch) – Jeff is thrilled to be back moderating the “Bee!” This is Jeff’s third time in Putnam County; reprising the role of your word pronouncer, Vice Principal Douglas Panch. Other previous credits include The Adult Men, SPRING AWAKENING, Peck, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, Dr. Parker BAT BOY: The Musical (Valencia Character Company) Jonathan, ARSENIC & OLD LACE, Albert, BYE BYE BIRDIE (Ice House/Sonnentag), Wilbur Turnblad, HAIRSPRAY, Sipos, SHE LOVES ME, Dr. Treves, THE ELEPHANT MAN, Dr. Carasco, MAN OF LA MANCHA, The Narrator, BLOOD BROTHERS (Bay Street Players) The Narrator, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Theater Downtown.) Jeff has also been in the standby/understudy companies of the Orlando Shakes productions of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, A CHRISTMAS CAROL and NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, Parts 1 & 2. By day, Jeff is a mouseketeer at Disney Parks. Special thanks to Beth Marshall, Kenny Howard and the entire 25PCSB cast and creative team for this amazing opportunity!

Savannah Simerly (Logainne SchwatzandGrubenierre) is so happy to join Beth Marshall Presents for this hilarious production. Savannah has a BFA in Musical Theater from UWF, and studied with the Musical Theater Company at the International Performing Arts Institute in Germany. She has performed professionally for Red Trolley Repertory Theater, Pensacola Shakespeare Theater, Pensacola Opera, Orlando Repertory Theater, Universal Studios and Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Favorite credits include; Kate Monster (Avenue Q), Lucy Harris (Jekyll and Hyde), Tracy Turnblad (Hairspray), Barbara Pitts track (The Laramie Project), Tragedian (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead), Olive Ostrovsky (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Cindy Lou (Grinchmas), Bonnie Jean (Brigadoon). Choreography credits include; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Pensacola Little Theater), Dumpster CATS (Lil Theater Co./Patrons Pick at 2015 Orlando Fringe), Lil Women the Rap Musical (Lil Theater Co./Patrons Pick at 2016 Orlando Fringe), and Seussical the Musical (CFCA). Savannah is currently a full time Banshee in, and the head dance captain for Celestina Warbeck and The Banshees at Universal Studio’s Diagon Alley. She recently co-wrote, produced, and performed in Not Another High School Musical which played to sold out audiences at the 2016 Orlando Fringe Festival, and the most recent 2017 Winter Mini-Fringe. A huge thank you to Beth Marshall, Kenny Howard, and the entire cast and crew! Break legs, everyone!

Meet the Production Team:

 

Kenny Howard (Director/Sound Design) – (Select NY Credits) Red Light Winter, PieFace! The Adventures of Anita Bryant, Ladies of Eola Heights, and New Rochelle (Select Orlando Credits) Bat Boy, Heathers (FL Premiere, Broadwayworld.com Best Direction of a Musical Award & 2016 Critics Pick for Orlando’s Best Musical), The Flick (FL Premiere, Broadwayworld.com Best Direction of a Play & 2016 Critics Pick for Orlando’s Best Play), Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (FL Premiere), [title of show](FL Premiere), and The Lion Queen. Howard is currently the Artistic Director of The Abbey and Education Director for Florida Theatrical Association, as well as creating/directing shows for Norwegian Cruise Lines. He is a Tony Award winning Broadway producer for Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess and seven other Broadway Shows Co-Founder of Broadway Records, among those released include How To Succeed, Matilda, and Big Fish Original Cast Recordings, two of which received Grammy nominations, He is a graduate of UCF and currently serves on the board of The Orlando International Fringe Festival.

Julian Bond (Musical Director) is originally from Winchester, England, where he began piano lessons at the age of seven. Over the next decade he undertook studies in several other instruments, as well as composition, and in his twenties he moved to London where he graduated from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama with an honors degree in Music Composition, including specialism in conducting, music production and film scoring. His piano studies continued in both classical and jazz, and he has performed internationally in both genres. He has been the recipient of many awards, including the European Junior Piano Festival, the EMI “Make Music” composing competition, the Alexander Grotsz Prize for Composition (London) and in 2005 he was ranked as one of the country’s top ten young film score composers by Turner Classic Movies, under the auspices of the late Elmer Bernstein. Julian is currently writing for various orchestras and clients around the country, including the Mantovani Orchestra, who perform his arrangements on tour around the world. While in Orlando he also enjoys working as a pianist, director and clinician for various companies including the Walt Disney company. Julian has been working with Beth Marshall Presents for the past 5 years. Shows include: 33 Variations, Julian Bond: Music & Magic, Janine Klein: The Mutha F&#%in’ Musical, The Wishing Well Girl and Play-In-A-Day.

Chris Yakubchik (Assistant Director) Director of Michael Wanzie’s In Close Quarters and at Beth Marshall’s Play-in-a-Day.  Chris has also assistant directed several shows, Cabaret, Bat Boy (Abbey), The Flick (Florida Premiere – DPC) Wanzie’s Ladies of Eola Heights, Wanzie’s Court Ordered Therapy: Ladies of Eola Heights Continued!, Ladies of Eola High Seas, Carolina Moon, Trailer Trash Christmas, Naughty is Nice: A Christmas Cabaret, and was co-writer/assistant director of VarieTEASE: Carnies. Producer of From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando.  Special thanks and love to Kenny, Beth, Anna, and this incredible cast and crew.

Dion Leonhard (Choreographer) is a certified Pilates/Barre instructor, dancer & dance teacher, working both regionally & nationally. She has performed with multiple professional ballet companies throughout the U.S. & currently performs as principal dancer “Cimorene”/additional choreographer for the original Victorian troupe “Phantasmagoria Orlando”. She choreographs for professional groups, high schools, & colleges throughout Central Florida.

Paige Gober (Stage Manager) is feeling quite ebullient to be working with Beth Marshall and the company of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!” An autochthon of Nashville,  Tennessee, Paige received her Bachelor of Arts from Middle Tennessee State University. She moved to Orlando three years ago and is proud to call it home. She has antecedently worked with the Orlando Fringe Festival, Mad Cow Theatre, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and Nashville Shakespeare Festival; she currently works as the Company Manager for Orlando Shakespeare Theater. She has never competed in a spelling bee, but was the two-time runner-up in her school geography bee (5th and 7th grades).

Ileana “Blue Estrella” Johns (Assistant Stage Manager) is super proud to join Beth Marshall Presents as the ASM! Since her move to Orlando in 2000, she’s received a Film Degree at FMU and a Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts at Stetson concentrating on lighting and sound design. She’s performed in the parades at Disney World and has choreographed several High School Color Guards throughout the state of Florida. She began her theater career at SAK Comedy Lab as the head house manager and lighting/sound improviser. In 2012, Blue decided to write, direct and choreograph “SPINZophrenia” for the Orlando Fringe and since then has been heavily involved with the Orlando Fringe. Recent work includes Stage Managing for “Obsessed”, “Bubble Gum Party” and “Slut Like Me”. Blue also loves being involved as a Stage Managing for Play-in-a- Day.  She would like to thank Beth and BMP for giving her this incredible opportunity! When she is not teching, or stage managing, you can find her directing/choreographing the Ocoee HS and Lake Highland Preparatory Color Guards.

Kyla Swanberg “Misstitched” (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be a part of Beth Marshall Presents for the first time and will be designing for the season. Kyla has been working in her hometown of Orlando for different artists; designing and building costumes, puppets, creatures, and anything else they are crazy enough to come up with. She has most recently worked with the fabulous Blue Star with VarieTease: Carnivale at the Fringe (Awarded both “Patrons Pick” and “Best Dance Show”), Aqueous, VarieTease 50th, and Monster. She also designed for Gen Y Productions season directed by Kenny Howard- Cabaret, Heathers: The Musical (Awarded “Best Costume Design” by broadwayworld.com), and Bat Boy. Also with director David Lee on a Mac Wellman play Girl Gone (winning “Best Tech” at districts). Outside of Orlando, she has recently been designing for Norwegian Cruise Lines. Kyla is continuing her education as an Art History major at UCF. She would like to thank her amazing family, including her parents Rebecca Fisher and Joe Swanberg and her partner Steven Caito for supporting her stitch by stitch.

Joshua Seyna (Sound Mixer/Technician) – Since graduating from a ARTI in 2008, Josh has worked on a number of BMP shows in varying capacity including “alice lost in wonderland” “33 variations” “doubt” and “the whale” .. he loves working in theater as every show presents a different set of challenges and it keeps him from getting bored.. When not hanging lights or chopping up sounds for a show he can usually be found chasing after his 2 daughters.

Daniel Cooksley (Lead Carpenter) is crazy excited, not only because he and Vera have moved back to Orlando from Raleigh, NC. but because also is teaming up with Mrs. Beth Marshal/ BMP as her lead carpenter. He will head the build team for both the upcoming  “The Glass Menagerie” in addition to “Spelling by Bee”.  Daniel has previously assisted in BMP’s “Alice, Lost in Wonderland” and “”33 Variations” along side the wonderfully talented and  beautiful spirit, Tommy Mangerie.  Past productions as lead carpenter, also along side Tommy boy include “Heathers” at DPAC, “Boieng,  Boieng” and “La Cage”. Both at Winter Garden Theatre.

 

Priscilla Bagley (Vocal Coach) – To Bee or not to Bee. There is no question! Priscilla Bagley is elated to Bee a part of this great team and delightful musical! Priscilla recently returned to Orlando after making her Lincoln Center solo debut in July 2016 and also completing the Lincoln Center Teaching Artist development program. Priscilla holds a Master of Music degree in Music History and Literature (G.A. for Conducting) and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She has over 20 years of voice teaching/coaching experience and 30 years of performing internationally in opera, musical theatre, concertizing with orchestras and in cabarets. Priscilla is an internationally renown voice teacher and her students/clients include Tony winners, Metropolitan Opera National Council winners (district, regional and national 2012-2015), Universal Pictures titular role in “Jem and the Holograms” (2015), and leads on London’s West End and on Broadway. Her client’s television appearances include America’s Got Talent (1st runner up), American Idol (semi-finalist), Drop Dead Diva, Grey’s Anatomy, and Disney’s “Austin and Ally” and the up-coming NBC “Bye Bye Birdie” Live. Priscilla was a vocal coach for the last three seasons of ABC’s “Nashville” and has worked in the recording industry since 1998, having the honor of encouraging the inclusion of global music and the melding of diverse musical styles across genres. Priscilla believes that artists can lead the way in exemplifying that the celebration and inclusion of our differences only makes us stronger and more beautiful. She is equally comfortable coaching opera arias, art songs, musical theatre pieces, jazz standards or pop songs of any genre or decade. Her language diction proficiency includes Latin, Italian, French, German, Hebrew and a touch of Czech.

Priscilla is a member of The Voice Foundation, Opera America, Manhattan Assoc of Cabaret, NATS and SAI. She founded Florida’s premiere multi-disciplinary Voice Care Team (including an ENT, SLP, SVS) for the curative and preventive care of elite professional voices and to continue teaching and applying 21st century voice science to a healthy and functional singing technique.