Grantors

Sponsors

Donors

We would like to thank all of our 60th Anniversary Season Donors, you are the real Arts heroes!

Tributes

Performers

Cindy Blevins

*

Mrs. Dubose

Timothy Booth

*

Atticus Finch

Keira Booze

*

Ensemble

Jade Dyer

*

Helen

Rory Grant

*

Dill

Larry Kufel

*

Judge Taylor

MaryJean Redon Levin

*

Miss Maudie

Keeley Morgan

*

Mayella Ewell

Anders Plunkett

*

Jem

Ginger Poole

*

Jean Louise Finch, The Narrator

Akilah Ramsey

*

Calpurnia

Amelia Raring

*

Scout

Frank Riley

*

Reverend Sykes

Chris Shepard

*

Heck Tate

Larry Robert Smith III

*

Tom Robinson

Kenan Starnes

*

Nathan/Boo Radley

Scott Watson

*

Mr. Gilmer

Setting

Maycomb, Alabama 1935 in the memory of Jean Louise Finch

There will be a 15-minute intermission

Songs & Scenes

Act I

Act II

Production Staff

Director

Neil David Seibel*

Producing Artistic Director

Ginger Poole

Production Stage Manager

Peppy Biddy*

Assistant Stage Manager

Erin Alexis Markham*

Scenic Designer

Jimmy Ray Ward

Lighting Designer

Bill Webb

Props Designers

Ginger Poole* Matt Shields

Costume Designer

Audrey Hamilton

Projection Design & Artwork

Michael Krek Tony Veronese

Sound Designer

Savannah Woodruff

Sound Operator

Samuel Wood

Technical Director

Matt Shields

Spot Operator

Kamryn Cox

Wardrobe

Sydney Poole

Production Videographer

Richard Maddox

MMT Production Photographer

Richard Clompus

Stitchers

Mary Williams Cassie Layman Susan Adams

Associate Costume Designer

Jesslyn McAllister

Venue Staff

School Administration Staff

Producing Artistic Director

Ginger Poole

Business Manager

Larry Kufel

Director of Development

Suzanne Cresswell

Director of Production

Matt Shields

Director of Education

Francesca Reilly

Conservatory Music Director

Bethany Costello

ATD/Lighting & Sound Supervisor

Savannah Woodruff

Carpenter

Trenten Woods

Master Carpenter

Joey Neighbors

Creative Director of Marketing

Chris Tucker

MMT Production Videographer

Richard Maddox

MMT Production Photographer

Richard Clompus

Musicians

No items found.

2024 Board of Directors

President

William L. Lee

Vice President

Doris Rogers

Secretary

Amy Bridge

Treasurer

David Allen

Board Members

David K. Allen* Amy Bridge Kerry Edmunds Linda Garbee Robyn Hakanson MD Larry Kufel Anthony LaMantia PhD Beverly Learman William L. Lee Laura McKeage Amanda Nelson PhD Carolyn L. Rakes Nancy F. Reynolds Doris Rogers Edward Smith Will Trinkle* Armida Valles-Klute Sherrene Wells

*Past President Board of Directors

Student Advisory Board

Credits

Lighting equipment from PRG Lighting, sound equipment from Sound Associates, rehearsed at The Public Theater’s Rehearsal Studios. Developed as part of Irons in the Fire at Fault Line Theatre in New York City.

Special Thanks

*Appearing through an Agreement between this theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

“Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers, Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an International organization of performing arts unions. www.actorsequity.org

United Scenic Artists ● Local USA 829 of the I.A.T.S.E represents the Designers & Scenic Artists for the American Theatre

ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), represents the Press Agents, Company Managers, and Theatre Managers employed on this production.

A Note from the Director

To Kill a Mockingbird is a play about making choices in challenging times. Choices that shape future generations. Do we try to leave the world better inside the circumstances we inherit or do we make things worse? Doing nothing is a choice. Doing nothing creates a precedent, passing on a tradition of ignoring something or someone. I don’t think our founders charged us to strive towards a tradition of inequality and I think the choices in To Kill A Mockingbird are still demanding to be made in 2024. Do we teach our children not to use ugly language towards other people? Do we physically put ourselves between a target and those who would harm that human being? Do we challenge institutions that don’t live up to the ideals they profess? Do we remind each other of our humanity even when the other person seems less than human, maybe even during an election year? I hope that most of us are trying to make good choices in our homes, our families, our workplaces and our communities. I hope we do this so that one day, our children can focus on the challenges of their times, rather than the problems handed over from those who came before them.

While many people helped me in my early research, a few shoutouts are required: Miss Joanne Blowe and Miss Michelle Johnson who were the alpha and omega in teaching me about the songs that comforted their grandmothers during hard times in Montgomery; AJ Baldwin who stepped in as my cultural consultant; my husband Hoyt, who has been working for justice since the day I met him; and the whole team at Mill Mountain, who kept saying, “Yes, let’s make that happen.” I hope you enjoy our production of To Kill a Mockingbird and that it sparks meaningful conversations about the choices you make.

-Neil David Seibel

Meet the Cast

Cindy Blevins

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Mrs. Dubose

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(

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Pronouns:

she/her

Cindy Blevins is a lifelong theatre enthusiast and performer. She began performing in and around the Richmond area for several years. After moving to the New River Valley she continued performing with Opera Roanoke, Summer Musical Enterprise, Mill Mountain Theatre, Blacksburg Master Chorale, Virginia Tech Theatre Department and Virginia Children’s Theatre. She stays busy as a collaborative pianist/accompanist with individuals and groups, and as a director and coach with music makers of all ages, most recently serving as Musical Director for Bat Boy the Musical at Radford University. Past MMT productions she has supported as an actor include 2019 The Sound of Music and 2020 Timeless Twenties; as a keyboard player includes Jersey Boys, Elf the Musical and the 60^th Anniversary Concert; and she was the Music Director for Cabaret. Cindy is the Chairperson for Summer Musical Enterprise headquartered in Blacksburg, and the Assistant Director of Music at Blacksburg United Methodist Church. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor with Life in Balance Counseling Center in Christiansburg. Cindy is always thrilled to be performing with her Mill Mountain Theatre family!

Timothy Booth

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Atticus Finch

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Pronouns:

Timothy is humbled to be retuning to MMT to take a swing at this iconic role. He's originally from Charlottesville and graduated with a B.A. in theatre from VA Tech. This is Timothy's 9th production with MMT from '87 to the present including: A Christmas Story, Mamma Mia!, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, and Tomfoolery. He performed many years on Broadway and on tour with Mamma Mia! and has numerous theatrical credits from across the country, the world, and the open seas. He's been on TV, radio and Film as well as catching the directing bug. He hopes audiences will truly hear these beautiful words by Harper Lee (dramatized by Christopher Sergel) and sit with them. Swim around with them awhile. And, perhaps, just maybe, begin to consider things from someone else's point of view every now and then. Proud AEA member since 1990.

Keira Booze

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Ensemble

(

Mayella U/S

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(

Mayella U/S

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Pronouns:

Keira Booze is ecstatic to make her Mill Mountain Theatre debut. She is a high school senior who won the Best Supporting Actress award from Glenvar High last year. She is also part of the Burton Center for Performing Arts program. In addition to school performances, she has been seen on stage with Showtimers and Attic Productions over the last 8 years. Favorite roles include Annie (Annie), Winnie Foster (Tuck Everlasting), Gracie Shinn (The Music Man), Winnie Tate (Annie Get Your Gun), Miranda (The Tempest), Maria (9 to 5) and Madam Arcati (Blithe Spirit).

Jade Dyer

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Helen

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Pronouns:

she/her

Jade Krystal Dyer (JKD) is an actor from sunny South Florida. In the Spring of 2024, JKD completed her Acting Apprenticeship at New Stage Theatre where she performed in shows such as Elf the Musical, The Secret Garden, Anne and Emmett, and Junie B. Jones the Musical. Outside of her apprenticeship, JKD has acted in shows like Hair the Musical, Men on Boats, Julius Caesar, and Sweet Charity. In addition to performance, JKD also has experience producing and directing, working as Assistant Director on Chicken and Biscuits, and acting as an Associate Producer for Tri-County the Series. JKD is ecstatic to perform in her first Mill Mountain production and become a part of the Mill Mountain family!

Rory Grant

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Dill

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Rory is delighted to be back on the Trinkle MainStage. He has been acting in the Roanoke Valley for 8 years, taking MMT Conservatory classes since he was 6. Some of his favorite roles include Bruce Bogtrotter in Matilda, Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, and Charlie Winslow in Holiday Inn. He was recently in a film celebrating the 250th anniversary of Smithfield Plantation, Roots of a Nation. When he’s not on stage, he enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons and video games, reading, and participating in scouting. He would like to thank his parents for their support and all of you for coming to see the show!

Larry Kufel

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Judge Taylor

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Pronouns:

As a graduate of the University of Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting, Larry spent most of his career in the financial field within the wholesale and retail industry in his native area of western New York. He relocated to Roanoke in 2000 to assume the position of director of financial planning and analysis with Advance Auto Parts. He later held a similar role with the Sheraton Roanoke Hotel and Conference Center until his retirement in 2015. Larry began his career with Mill Mountain Theatre by volunteering his services as the theatre house manager before he was employed as the business manager. Larry has made singing appearances in the Mill Mountain Theatre Crooner’s Concert, Best of Broadway concert, and the 60th Anniversary Concert this year.

MaryJean Redon Levin

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Miss Maudie

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)

(

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Pronouns:

she/her

MaryJean Redon Levin is pleased to return for the tenth time to Mill Mountain Theatre”s stage, especially with this extraordinary cast and crew. She has appeared in numerous other local and regional theatres, including Off the Rails, Dumas Drama Center, Roanoke Children’s Theatre, and most recently as Flora, Countess de Lage in The Women at Showtimers and in Overnight Sensations at Hollins University. She is also an interior design consultant at Halifax Fine Furnishings.

Keeley Morgan

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Mayella Ewell

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)

(

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Pronouns:

She/Her

Keeley is a recent graduate from The University of West Florida where she acquired her BFA in Musical Theatre. Some of her recent roles include Suzy in The Marvelous Wonderettes, Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde, and Carla in Nine. She previously performed in Cabaret and in The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley here at Mill Mountain Theatre and she couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to perform as one of MMT's Apprentices this season!

Anders Plunkett

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Jem

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)

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Pronouns:

He/Him

Anders Plunkett is delighted to be making his debut with Mill Mountain Theater. Recent credits include Newsies, Peter Pan, and Matilda, at James Madison Middle School for which he is grateful for introducing him to the art of acting. He is a student at Patrick Henry High School and the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School. When he’s not on stage or at school, he may be found playing soccer, refereeing the sport, or chatting it up with friends.

Ginger Poole

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Jean Louise Finch, The Narrator

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(

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Pronouns:

She/Her

Ginger Poole is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and an Associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union. She has studied, taught, choreographed, and performed throughout the U.S. She has worked in GA, HI, FL, MS, SC and VA with, Theatre in the Square, The Alliance City Series, Theatre Gael, Synchronicity Performance Group-GA, Mill Mountain Theatre-VA and SC Children’s Theatre. Originally from Atlanta, she has worked with the N.F.L. and The Atlanta Falcons as their director and choreographer and The Atlanta Opera. Prior to coming to Mill Mountain Theatre, she was based out of North Carolina where she has worked with Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, in over 25 productions. She was a part of the Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse for 5 years where she taught for their Apprentice Companies and their Conservatory Program in Acting, Dance, and Musical Theatre. Ginger has taught at The University of Southern Mississippi, Western Carolina University, William Carey College, Mississippi University for Women, and currently teaches at Hollins University. With Ginger’s strong background in dance she finds herself not only acting and dancing on stage but also directing the choreography and classroom skills for her students. Ginger holds her M.F.A. in Acting Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and continues to teach acting and dance. She has worked with students that range in age from kindergarten through professionals.

Ginger has worked in commercials, voice-overs, film, stage, and the classroom, and was profiled in the book FIRESTARTERS as “the actor”.

Ginger serves on the following Board of Directors: South Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC Secretary, Second Term), Junior League of the Roanoke Valley (Past President and Current Nominating Committee, Second Term), Burton Performing Arts Advisory Board, The Roanoke City Public Schools Education Foundation, and she has served on the Review Panel for theVirginia Commission for the Arts. She was the recipient of the DePaul’s Women of Achievement Award in the Arts in 2013 and was named the 2016 Kendig Award recipient for Individual Artist. Ginger is also a guest host with WSLS, the NBC affiliate, Daytime Blue Ridge television show, and is the host of the new Mill Mountain Theatre Podcast, Meet Me at Mill Mountain. She is very proud to be a member of the Mill Mountain Theatre team and looks forward to its continued growth, success, and artistic influence in the region.

Akilah Ramsey

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Calpurnia

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Pronouns:

She/her

Akilah, born and raised in the Star City, was born to be a star! She has always been a performer whether at work or with some of the acting guilds of Roanoke City. Akilah has done a great deal of productions with Opera Roanoke including “Sweeney Todd”, “Carmen” and “The Pirates of Penzance.” She’s performed with Showtimers in “Rent” and “Amen Corner.” She has performed with Virginia Children’s Theatre in “The Addams Family”, “Madagascar” and “James and the Giant Peach.” Her latest show was "Song of Mark" with Logos Theatricus for the second go round! Akilah is looking forward to making her debut with Mill Mountain Theatre and many more to come!

Amelia Raring

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Scout

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Pronouns:

She/Her

Amelia is delighted to return to Mill Mountain Theatre’s Trinkle Stage for To Kill a Mockingbird, playing one of her favorite literary characters. She is an 8th grade student at Hidden Valley Middle School and a Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory student. You may recognize Amelia from her performances in MMT’s Matilda (Matilda), Write Stuff, and Peter and Wendy (Master Panther). Other credits include Grandin Film Lab’s Wysteria: the Series (Young Mary), StageCenter Louisiana’s productions of Matilda (Lavender), The Little Mermaid Jr. (Flounder), and Annie Jr. (Tessie.) Outside of theatre, Amelia enjoys reading, cross country, and ninja and bo staff training. She extends her heartfelt appreciation to the MMT Staff, her family and friends, and invites you to absorb and reflect on this marvelous tale as you sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Frank Riley

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Reverend Sykes

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Frank Riley is a Native of Richmond, Va. and a Father of two adult Sons. This will be his second time a Mill Mountain Theatre. He was previously in Dreamgirls as Marty before covid. He played Rev Sykes at the Little Theatre of Alexandria. I played Hambone in August Wilson two trains running at Arena Stsge in DC. I played the same role at Seattle Rep. I was in the movie Harriet where I played Joe. I was in a tv series called Dailey Bread.

Chris Shepard

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Heck Tate

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Chris Shepard is thrilled to return to MMT, once again taking on the role of Heck. He was last seen on this stage as Officer Krupke in West Side Story. Recently, Chris portrayed Thomas Jefferson in 1776 at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. Other credits include such roles as Jesus in both Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell, Juror #7 in 12 Angry Men, Berger in Hair, and Bill Sikes in Oliver!. Chris is grateful for the opportunity to rejoin MMT and contribute to this classic production.

Larry Robert Smith III

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Tom Robinson

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he/him

Larry Robert Smith III born in Southern California, is an alumnus from West Virginia University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre and a B.A. in Dance. At WVU, he performed as Prince Topher in Cinderella, Daryl Ames in Bright Star, and Billy Nolan in Carrie. Other credits include Cabaret (Mill Mountain Theatre), Tarzan, Annie, and The Wizard of Oz (Theatre West Virginia). Apart from performing, Larry is a very passionate choreographer and director. Most recently he restaged his choreography, "Indecorous"; which explores themes of seduction, propriety, and authority. He is beyond thrilled and grateful to be with Mill Mountain Theatre for their 60th season. Be sure to see him in MMT’s upcoming productions of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) and Annie. Instagram: @larry_thespian Website: larrythespian.com

Kenan Starnes

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Nathan/Boo Radley

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Pronouns:

He/Him

Kenan Starnes is an award-winning, Charlotte based actor whose past few years have been spent exploring the world of acting for the camera and performing on stage. He has worked professionally in Atlanta, Charlotte, Richmond, and many other areas surrounding the Southeast, and has been on projects spanning from high-budget feature films and commercials, to low budget short films and musical productions. Kenan’s professional endeavors have proven beneficial as they have lead to accomplishments such as: Best Teen Actor at Talent Inc. Showcase (2022), Top 6 Best Actor at the Blumey Awards (2022), and an Associates Degree in Arts. Some notable roles include: Jack Kelly in Newsies the Musical, Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, Marcus in Formative Years, Naphtali in Joseph..., Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid, and Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret.

Scott Watson

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Mr. Gilmer

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Pronouns:

He/Him

Brooklyn, NY based actor Scott Watson is delighted to return to the stage for the 8th time at his favorite theatrical home, Mill Mountain!

Thank you to Ginger and the rest of this hard-working, passionate, and fearless team of artists at Mill Mountain who make all this possible!

Previous shows at Mill Mountain: Mamma Mia!, The Diary Of Anne Frank, A Christmas Story (2017, 2021), The Christians, Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Odd Couple.

Off-Broadway: Drunk Shakespeare (Brass Jar Prod), Taming of the Shrew & Henry V (New York Classical Theatre), Going Once, Laughing Twice (St Luke’s Theatre)

Regional: Othello, Much Ado About Nothing (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), Twefth Night, Hamlet, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare on the Sound) Julius Caesar (Teatro Delle Due, prod in Italy.)

Other Credits: Scott can be spotted in many national commercials, including campaigns for Grammarly, Ray-Ban, Midea, NJM, Giant, Zenni, Hopper, the NFL and more!

Much love to Amanda and their Chihuahua Peanut. BA Grand Valley State University, MI.

Meet the Team

Ginger Poole

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Producing Artistic Director

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)

Pronouns:

She/Her

Ginger Poole is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and an Associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union. She has studied, taught, choreographed, and performed throughout the U.S. She has worked in GA, HI, FL, MS, SC and VA with, Theatre in the Square, The Alliance City Series, Theatre Gael, Synchronicity Performance Group-GA, Mill Mountain Theatre-VA and SC Children’s Theatre. Originally from Atlanta, she has worked with the N.F.L. and The Atlanta Falcons as their director and choreographer and The Atlanta Opera. Prior to coming to Mill Mountain Theatre, she was based out of North Carolina where she has worked with Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, in over 25 productions. She was a part of the Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse for 5 years where she taught for their Apprentice Companies and their Conservatory Program in Acting, Dance, and Musical Theatre. Ginger has taught at The University of Southern Mississippi, Western Carolina University, William Carey College, Mississippi University for Women, and currently teaches at Hollins University. With Ginger’s strong background in dance she finds herself not only acting and dancing on stage but also directing the choreography and classroom skills for her students. Ginger holds her M.F.A. in Acting Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and continues to teach acting and dance. She has worked with students that range in age from kindergarten through professionals.

Ginger has worked in commercials, voice-overs, film, stage, and the classroom, and was profiled in the book FIRESTARTERS as “the actor”.

Ginger serves on the following Board of Directors: South Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC Secretary, Second Term), Junior League of the Roanoke Valley (Past President and Current Nominating Committee, Second Term), Burton Performing Arts Advisory Board, The Roanoke City Public Schools Education Foundation, and she has served on the Review Panel for theVirginia Commission for the Arts. She was the recipient of the DePaul’s Women of Achievement Award in the Arts in 2013 and was named the 2016 Kendig Award recipient for Individual Artist. Ginger is also a guest host with WSLS, the NBC affiliate, Daytime Blue Ridge television show, and is the host of the new Mill Mountain Theatre Podcast, Meet Me at Mill Mountain. She is very proud to be a member of the Mill Mountain Theatre team and looks forward to its continued growth, success, and artistic influence in the region.

Neil David Seibel

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Director

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he/him

Neil David Seibel (he/him) is a multifaceted artist with a career spanning acting, directing, playwriting and education. His directorial work has been showcased at venues such as the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Teatro Prometeo in Miami and MiniTeatern in Stockholm, Sweden. A proud member of Actors Equity, he has appeared Off Broadway in New York City and nationwide on such stages as the Denver Center Theatre Company, the Alley Theatre in Houston, Actors Theatre of Louisville and six seasons in the Rocky Mountains as a company member of Theatre Aspen. Onscreen credits include the role of Lewis in the TV musical Passages: Lewis & Clark, the award winning indie film Unspoken, and the dance-theatre film Clown at War.

Seibel is a playwright whose works, including The Normal Giant, Paternity Leave and The Daughters of Abraham, have been staged across the country and abroad. His solo show, My Appalachia, was recorded at the LA Improv and featured on PBS. A Kentucky native who now resides in Alabama, he earned a Bachelor’s degree from Northern Kentucky University and an MFA from the University of California, Irvine. He currently serves as a Distinguished Teaching Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery. Roanoke audiences may recognize his contributions to the partnership between Mill Mountain Theatre and the Playwrights Lab at Hollins University, where he teaches alternating summers.

Peppy Biddy

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Production Stage Manager

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he/him

Peppy Biddy is happy to return to Mill Mountain Theatre and to Roanoke.Biddy is a Professor Emeritus of Theatre at Mississippi University for Women (Columbus, MS). He earned his MFA in Theatre at Trinity University (San Antonio, TX) and has worked as either actor, director, or stage manager at such companies as Dallas Theatre Center, Dallas Summer Musicals, Casa Manana (Ft. Worth, TX), Dallas Children’s Theatre, and New Stage Theatre (Jackson, MS.) He served as the Production Manager for the Sundance Theatre Lab in Utah from 2000-2017.Previous MMT credits include director of ,, and as stage manager for and last season’s closer . Proud member of Actors Equity Association. (www.peppybiddy.com).

Audrey Hamilton

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Costume Designer

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Audrey Hamilton delights in joining Mill Mountain Theater as Costume Designer of Bright Star.

Audrey earned a BFA in Theatre from the Mississippi University for Women and an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Alabama. Costume/hair/makeup designs include: Le Nozze di Figaro, Rigoletto, Gianni Schicchi, La Bohème, Don Giovanni, (La Musica Lirica, Novafetria, Italy) Die Fledermaus, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, The Ballad of Baby Doe, Cinderella (Opera in the Ozarks, Eureka Springs, AR) La Traviata, Sweeney Todd (Opera Roanoke), Wittenberg, Antony and Cleopatra (American Shakespeare Center) Shrek (New Stage, Jackson, MS).

Currently, Audrey is visiting assistant professor of costume design and technology at Roanoke College. Roanoke College Costume Design: The Importance of Being Earnest(Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Faculty Design nomination), Blood Wedding, and Mac Beth.

Michael Krek

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Projection Design and Artwork

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he/him

Michael Krek is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Auburn University at Montgomery. He is also the Technical Director of Theatre AUM. He has been active in professional theatre for over 30 years in a variety of capacities: actor, director, designer, technical dirctor, and lead carpenter. Michael has worked extensively across Canada and the United States, and also in the United Kingdom and China. He is excited to be joining Mill Mountain Theatre, albeit remotely. Break legs!!!

Erin Alexis Markham

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Assistant Stage Manager

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She/her

Erin Markham is a Roanoke native with a lifelong passion for the theatre. She graduated summa cum laude from Radford University with a B.S. in Theatre and an emphasis in stage management. Along with stage managing several productions and student projects at Radford, Erin worked as a House Manager, Box Office Assistant, and an Assistant to the Chair. Her most recent work includes Assistant Stage Manager for Mill Mountain Theatre’s productions of To Kill a Mockingbird, Cabaret, Escape to Margaritaville, and Elf. She is thrilled to be returning for her fourth holiday show at Mill Mountain and thinks you’re gonna like it this year!

Tony Veronese

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Projection Design & Artwork

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Pronouns:

He/Him

Tony Veronese is a Contemporary Painter and the Assistant Professor of 2D and Digital Art at Auburn University at Montgomery. Tony earned his M.A and M.F.A at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas. Awards and Recognitions for Tony include: Edward L. Robbins Award (2023), Wells Fargo Artist Grant (2021), Oso Bay Biennial Invitational (2018), Rising Star of Dallas Artist (2018).

Matt Shields

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Technical Director & Props Designer

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Matt Shields is a native of Virginia. Having grown up in Loudoun County, he first moved to the region in 2013 to attend school at Radford University where he graduated with a BS in theatre. After working for a few other companies, Matt is happy to call MMT his artistic home. In the past few years Matt has served in a variety of jobs around Mill Mountain, including Props Master, Costumes Manager, Teaching Artist, Scenic Designer, and Company Manager. Matt is very happy to now be serving MMT as the Production Manager and is grateful to MMT for all the faith they have put in him over the years.

Samuel Wood

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Sound Operator/Designer

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Samuel Wood is from West Monroe Louisiana and is a graduate of Radford University. Throughout his studies, he designed sound for several productions at Radford University including recent productions like Rainbow Fish: The Musical, Much Ado, and Silent Sky. He also designed scenic for productions like Red Light Winter and Cows Don’t Fly and Other Known Facts. He is currently working as a production assistant, as well as, a sound and set designer. He would like to thank all his family and friends who have supported him in pursuing his passion for theatre.

Savannah Woodruff

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Sound Design

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she/they

Born and raised in Southern Pines, North Carolina, Savannah has been a resident of Roanoke since they graduated with a BFA in Technical Production from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Savannah is an aficionado of a variety of arts and crafts, and is thrilled to be able to continue working and growing (and crafting!) with Mill Mountain Theatre. They are grateful for the support of their family, including their cats, in all of their endeavors.

Jimmy Ray Ward

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Scenic Designer

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he/him

With an MFA in Design from UNC-Greensboro, his credits include work at many theatre companies along the East coast such as Spoleto Festival USA, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Seaside Music Theatre, Flatrock Playhouse, and the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Locally, Jimmy designs for Opera Roanoke, Roanoke Children's Theatre, and Mill Mountain Theatre, where he worked as resident designer for its last nine seasons. Some favorite designs over the years include scenery for Il Trovatore, The Flying Dutchman, The Adventures of Frog and Toad, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Seussical, and Grease, costumes for Hamlet, Beauty and the Beast, Joseph…Technicolor Dreamcoat, and lighting for Driving Miss Daisy, Wit, and Rapunzel, among many others. Despite years of working in a field he loves, Jimmy feels that his best productions to date are his children, Henry and Lily, Gracie and Frank.

Sydney Poole

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Associate Costume Designer/Wardrobe/Stitcher

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She/Her

Sydney B. Poole (Associate Costume Designer and Wardrobe Supervisor) recently celebrated her for first anniversary with Mill Mountain Theatre and is overjoyed to get to be a part of this amazing company. While in the fourth grade Sydney was inspired by her High schools musical production and eventually fell in love with the art form as she became more involved with her high school theatre dept. She’s since received her B.S. from Radford University in Theatre with a focus in Costume design and construction and a minor in Peace Studies. During her time at MMT she’s had a hand in Holiday Inn, Jersey Boys, Matilda, Elf and Escape to Margaritaville. She’s grateful to have found an artistic and creative family at MMT and would like to thank Ginger, Matt, and Héctor for believing in her. Along with her mom for always encouraging her to follow her passion. She is excited to keep making more magic with and for the city and artists of Roanoke.

Richard Clompus

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MMT Production Photographer

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he/him

Everyone comes to Roanoke with a story. After twenty years in private practice as an optometrist in West Chester, PA, I was
recruited by Johnson & Johnson to join a new spectacle lens company in Roanoke. Our youngest children grew up in Roanoke. My wife and I recently moved back to enjoy all of our kids and grandkids. I have been photographing since 1970 carrying a camera to many parts of the world and have studied with Ralph Gibson, Mark DePaola, Mark Cohen and Michael Smith. When venturing out to photograph, my kids tell me that “I look like a tourist in my own town”. It suits me well. IG: @rclompus

Richard Maddox

*

MMT Production Videographer

(

Production Photographer

)

Pronouns:

he/him

Richard enjoys being behind the camera as much as the folks he records enjoy being on the stage.

Over the past 15 years, Richard has recorded countless shows on both the Trinkle Mainstage and Waldron Stage for archives as well as clips that actors use in their reels.

Over the years, many of the promotional videos for MMT social media have been recorded and edited by Richard along with B-Roll footage for TV stations around the valley.

In his spare time, Richard gets great pleasure and satisfaction working with several local churches in and around the Roanoke valley; helping with their audio and video solutions.

Richard is most happy when he is hanging with one of his four children or eleven grandchildren. He would like to thank Mill Mountain Theatre and Ginger Pool for giving him this opportunity to be a part of what the Mission Statement says..."Mill Mountain Theatre strives to inspire, entertain, enrich, educate and challenge audiences of Southwest Virginia through high-quality, professional theatrical productions and experiences.”

Jesslyn McAllister

*

Associate Costume Designer

(

)

Pronouns:

she/her

Jesslyn is a current junior at Roanoke College and is majoring in Theatre. Jesslyn worked as
Costume Assistant for Opera Roanoke’s production of The Marriage of Figaro and their
production of The Turn of the Screw. She has also worked as Costume Design Assistant at Mill
Mountain for their production of Bright Star.

Media

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2021 National Touring Cast

Pre-Show Snack or
Post-Show Dinner?

Don’t let the evening end when the curtain comes down. With The Marquee Local, you can find the perfect place for a pre-show snack, an evening meal, or a post-show cocktail. Enjoy exclusive deals from our local partners as you catch up, discuss the show, and create memories to last a lifetime.

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Fortunato

Italian

|

104 Kirk Ave SW

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia, Fortunato is the region's only traditional Italian kitchen & Neapolitan style pizzeria.

Fortunato

Italian

|

104 Kirk Ave SW

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia, Fortunato is the region's only traditional Italian kitchen & Neapolitan style pizzeria.

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Martin's

Tavern

|

413 1st St SW

Casual dining on burgers, BBQ & other bar food in an open tavern setting with live music & a patio. ‍

Martin's

Tavern

|

413 1st St SW

Casual dining on burgers, BBQ & other bar food in an open tavern setting with live music & a patio. ‍

Marquee Deal!

The Hangry Bulldog

Burgers and Bratwurst

|

32 Market Square SE #134 inside.

We are a family-orientated business who enjoy sharing our culinary combinations! Get 15% off when you show your ticket stub from any Mill Mountain show!

The Hangry Bulldog

Burgers and Bratwurst

|

32 Market Square SE #134 inside.

We are a family-orientated business who enjoy sharing our culinary combinations! Get 15% off when you show your ticket stub from any Mill Mountain show!

Marquee Deal!

Get 15% off your meal when you show your ticket stub or ticket from your phone for any Mill Mountain Theatre production.

The Pine Room

American

|

110 Shenandoah Ave NE

From the snack n' share options and hearth flatbreads to the farmland offerings and signature items, The Pine Room features American Rustic cuisine that presents simplistic, sustainable, and high-quality ingredients in an inviting presentation.

The Pine Room

American

|

110 Shenandoah Ave NE

From the snack n' share options and hearth flatbreads to the farmland offerings and signature items, The Pine Room features American Rustic cuisine that presents simplistic, sustainable, and high-quality ingredients in an inviting presentation.

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

The Regency Room

American

|

110 Shenandoah Ave NE

Enjoy dining al fresco! Spring is here and it's patio season! The Regency Room and The Pine Room Pub are the perfect place to enjoy dinner or drinks on the patio with spring in the air!

The Regency Room

American

|

110 Shenandoah Ave NE

Enjoy dining al fresco! Spring is here and it's patio season! The Regency Room and The Pine Room Pub are the perfect place to enjoy dinner or drinks on the patio with spring in the air!

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Awful Arthur's‍

Seafood

|

108 Campbell Ave SE

Modern tavern offering varied seafood, bar bites & a raw bar plus sports on TV & live music.

Awful Arthur's‍

Seafood

|

108 Campbell Ave SE

Modern tavern offering varied seafood, bar bites & a raw bar plus sports on TV & live music.

Marquee Deal!

Corned Beef & Co‍

Gastropub

|

107 S Jefferson St

Sports bar serves sandwiches & pub grub in expansive digs equipped with pool tables & countless TVs.

Corned Beef & Co‍

Gastropub

|

107 S Jefferson St

Sports bar serves sandwiches & pub grub in expansive digs equipped with pool tables & countless TVs.

Marquee Deal!

Crescent City Bourbon and Barbecue

Barbecue

|

19 Salem Ave SE

The smoked meat is made with care and passion in a stick burner smoker and indoor wood burning smoker.

Crescent City Bourbon and Barbecue

Barbecue

|

19 Salem Ave SE

The smoked meat is made with care and passion in a stick burner smoker and indoor wood burning smoker.

Marquee Deal!

Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint

Hamburger

|

210B Market St SE

Bar chain serving creative burgers & a lengthy list of beers in a casual, funky space.

Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint

Hamburger

|

210B Market St SE

Bar chain serving creative burgers & a lengthy list of beers in a casual, funky space.

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Nawab Indian Cuisine

Indian

|

118A Campbell Ave SE

Indian classics & all-you-can-eat buffet lunches, served in a low-key traditional dining room.

Nawab Indian Cuisine

Indian

|

118A Campbell Ave SE

Indian classics & all-you-can-eat buffet lunches, served in a low-key traditional dining room.

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Wasabi's

Japanese

|

214 Market St SE

Casual Japanese restaurant offering a large sushi menu, plus maki, traditional entrees & bento.

Wasabi's

Japanese

|

214 Market St SE

Casual Japanese restaurant offering a large sushi menu, plus maki, traditional entrees & bento.

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Raise a Glass

Sidecar

Tavern

|

413 1st St SW

Casual dining on burgers, BBQ & other bar food in an open tavern setting with live music & a patio.

Sidecar

Tavern

|

413 1st St SW

Casual dining on burgers, BBQ & other bar food in an open tavern setting with live music & a patio.

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Three Notch'd Brewing Co.

European

|

411 1st St SW

The food menu features traditional European foods like handmade sausages in traditional German, Polish, and English styles, as well as Belgian hand-cut fries, mussels, steak frites, and Polish pierogies.

Three Notch'd Brewing Co.

European

|

411 1st St SW

The food menu features traditional European foods like handmade sausages in traditional German, Polish, and English styles, as well as Belgian hand-cut fries, mussels, steak frites, and Polish pierogies.

Marquee Deal!

‍Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Twisted Track Brewpub

Pub

|

523 Shenandoah Ave NW

In addition to hand crafted beer, we offer pub fare with yet another twist and a selection of wines, ciders and soft drinks – something for everyone.‍

Twisted Track Brewpub

Pub

|

523 Shenandoah Ave NW

In addition to hand crafted beer, we offer pub fare with yet another twist and a selection of wines, ciders and soft drinks – something for everyone.‍

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Benny Marconi's

Pizza

|

120 Campbell Ave SE

Serving huge slices of pizza in downtown Roanoke, VA. Established in 2012.

Benny Marconi's

Pizza

|

120 Campbell Ave SE

Serving huge slices of pizza in downtown Roanoke, VA. Established in 2012.

Marquee Deal!

Billy's

American

|

102 Market St SE

Buzzy dining room with a full wooden bar plating refined American cuisine such as lobster Alfredo.

Billy's

American

|

102 Market St SE

Buzzy dining room with a full wooden bar plating refined American cuisine such as lobster Alfredo.

Marquee Deal!

Fork in the Market

American

|

32 Market Square SE

Quirky, independent eatery offering updated comfort food, a full bar, a patio & live music nightly.

Fork in the Market

American

|

32 Market Square SE

Quirky, independent eatery offering updated comfort food, a full bar, a patio & live music nightly.

Marquee Deal!

Texas Tavern

American

|

114 Church Ave SW

Family-owned since 1930, this 24/7 diner offers breakfast, burgers, sandwiches & its popular chili.

Texas Tavern

American

|

114 Church Ave SW

Family-owned since 1930, this 24/7 diner offers breakfast, burgers, sandwiches & its popular chili.

Marquee Deal!

While You Wait

With the help of our friends at Theatrely.com, Marquee Digital has you covered with exclusive content while you wait for the curtain to rise.

A Superb Jonathan Groff Brings Bobby Darin To Life In JUST IN TIME — REVIEW

Kobi Kassal

April 27, 2025

It seems every other year at this point we get a new bio-jukebox musical of some singer with a troubled past living in the 40s, 50s, or 60s, and Donnie Kirshner appears in some way. There is just one issue that all those other musicals have… they don’t have Jonathan Groff in them.

Fresh off his Tony Award-winning performance as Franklin Shepard in last season’s fantastic Merrily We Roll Along revival, Groff is back on Broadway this time at the intimate Circle In The Square where Just In Time officially opens tonight. Based on the life of Bobby Darin, and featuring all his greatest hits, this new musical takes everything we know about conventional bio-musicals and throws it out the window.

Groff became enamored with Darin after performing his music at the 92nd Street Y back in 2018, and ever since then has been waiting for tonight. He enlisted the help of Alex Timbers who directs (and developed) the piece with a book by Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver. The show starts out in a nightclub in 2025 with Groff on stage and he effortlessly transforms right before our very eyes — it's an astonishing feat that has the audience enraptured at every point.

During intermission, a very polite British tourist asked me if I had ever seen Groff perform on stage — it was her first time ever seeing him and she was gobsmacked by his talent. As well she should be, since Groff is delivering a career-defining highlight that is sure to be talked about for years to come.

__wf_reserved_inherit — Gracie Lawrence and Jonathan Groff | Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

When we add in the cast of stunning supporting characters including the heartwrenching Michele Pawk (who should be in every musical ever) as Darin’s mother Polly and the incredible Emily Bergl as his sister Nina, the performance really comes together. Timbers directs Groff and company to use up every inch of space around the theatre and immerses us in Darin’s life. Pop icon Gracie Lawrence returns to Broadway as the vibrant Connie Francis — her belting is worth the price of admission alone. She’s paired with the equally charming Sandra Dee who graciously takes over narration from Darin at points to give us her POV. Of course the highlight of the evening was the music (Andrew Resnick oversaw music supervision and orchestrations with Michael Thurber). That big band sound carries us away as if we were at the Copa. And boy are they moving! Shannon Lewis makes her Broadway debut as a choreographer, and what a lovely debut it is.

With a terrific full band right on stage the entire time, we are transported to the streets of East Harlem, Vegas, and even Portofino thanks to versatile nightclub scenic design by Derek McLane. I task you with finding a leading man today with half the charisma that Jonathan Groff possesses. He brings not just the story, but the very soul of Bobby Darin to life. If there is one musical to see this season, you might as well grab your bathing suit and come Splish Splash in the basement of Wicked - you won’t be disappointed.

Just In Time is now in performance at the Circle In The Square on West 50th Street in New York City. For tickets and more infromation, visit here.

DEATH BECOMES HER Leads OCC Nominations With 12; Full List Announced

Alan Koolik

April 25, 2025

It's Awards Season! Today the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town, national, and digital news publications, has announced the nominees for the 2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards, honoring the 2024-2025 Broadway and Off-Broadway season. Leading the pack with the most honors of the season is the Broadway musical Death Becomes Her, with twelve nominations, followed by Maybe Happy Ending with nine nominations. Stranger Things: The First Shadow leads in the play categories with a total of seven nominations, followed by The Hills of California with six. See the full list below:

2025 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD NOMINATIONS

Outstanding New Broadway Play

Cult of Love

The Hills of California

John Proctor Is the Villain

Purpose

Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Outstanding New Broadway Musical

Boop! The Musical

Death Becomes Her

Maybe Happy Ending

Operation Mincemeat

Real Women Have Curves

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical

The Big Gay Jamboree

Drag: The Musical

We Live in Cairo

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play

The Antiquities

Grangeville

Here There Are Blueberries

Liberation

Table 17

John Gassner Award (new American play preferably by a new playwright)

Amy Berryman, Walden

George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Good Night, and Good Luck

Marin Ireland, Pre-Existing Condition

Lia Romeo, Still

Emil Weinstein, Becoming Eve

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Floyd Collins

Gypsy

Once Upon a Mattress

Sunset Boulevard

Outstanding Revival of a Play

Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave

Glengarry Glen Ross

Romeo + Juliet

Vanya

Yellow Face

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play

Kit Connor, Romeo + Juliet

Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California

Mia Farrow, The Roommate

Jon Michael Hill, Purpose

Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play

Kieran Culkin, Glengarry Glen Ross

LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose

Francis Jue, Yellow Face

Mare Winningham, Cult of Love

Kara Young, Purpose

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical

Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending

Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins

Audra McDonald, Gypsy

Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop! The Musical

Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard

Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical

Danny Burstein, Gypsy

Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat

Michele Pawk, Just in Time

Christopher Sieber, Death Becomes Her

Michael Urie, Once Upon a Mattress

Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical

Nick Adams, Drag: The Musical

Marla Mindelle, The Big Gay Jamboree

Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Safety Not Guaranteed

Alaska Thunderfuck, Drag: The Musical

Taylor Trensch, Safety Not Guaranteed

Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical

Ali Louis Bourzgui, We Live in Cairo

Paris Nix, The Big Gay Jamboree

Eddie Korbich, Drag: The Musical

J. Elaine Marcos, Drag: The Musical

Andre De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Henry Stram, Three Houses

Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play

Caroline Aaron, Conversations with Mother

F. Murray Abraham, Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave

Jayne Atkinson, Still

Adam Driver, Hold On to Me Darling

Anthony Edwards, The Counter

Paul Sparks, Grangeville

Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play

Betsy Aidem, Liberation

Sean Bell, The Beacon

Michael Rishawn, Table 17

Richard Schiff, Becoming Eve

Frank Wood, Hold On to Me Darling

Outstanding Solo Performance

David Greenspan, I'm Assuming You Know David Greenspan

Khawla Ibraheem, A Knock on the Roof

Sam Kissajukian, 300 Paintings

Andrew Scott, Vanya

Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending

David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat

Daniel Lazour and Patrick Lazour, We Live in Cairo

Bob Martin, Boop! The Musical

Marco Pennette, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending

David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat

David Foster and Susan Birkenhead, Boop! The Musical

Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, Real Women Have Curves

Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Orchestrations (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending

Doug Besterman, Death Becomes Her

Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters, Pirates! The Penzance Musical

Daniel Lazour and Michael Starobin, We Live in Cairo

Andrew Resnick, Just in Time

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending

Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her

Robert Hastie, Operation Mincemeat

Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Jerry Mitchell, Boop! The Musical

Outstanding Direction of a Play

Trip Cullman, Cult of Love

Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Sam Mendes, The Hills of California

Phylicia Rashad, Purpose

Danya Taymor, John Proctor Is the Villain

Outstanding Choreography

Jenny Arnold, Operation Mincemeat

Warren Carlyle, Pirates! The Penzance Musical

Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her

Shannon Lewis, Just in Time

Jerry Mitchell, Boop! the Musical

Outstanding Scenic Design

Miriam Buether, Jamie Harrison, and Chris Fisher, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Rachel Hauck, Swept Away

Rob Howell, The Hills of California

Dane Laffrey, Maybe Happy Ending

Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Costume Design

Gregg Barnes, Boop! The Musical

Wilberth Gonzalez and Paloma Young, Real Women Have Curves

Rob Howell, The Hills of California

Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Lighting Design

Kevin Adams, Swept Away

Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California

Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending

Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her

Outstanding Sound Design

Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard

Peter Hylenski, Death Becomes Her

Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending

John Shivers, Swept Away

Outstanding Video/Projections

59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, Sunset Boulevard

David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Hana S. Kim, Redwood

Finn Ross, Boop! The Musical

Note on Eligibility

The following productions were considered in previous seasons, with only new elements eligible during this cycle: Buena Vista Social Club; Dead Outlaw; English; Hold On to Me Darling; Job; and Oh, Mary!. The following productions were not eligible for awards this season: All In: Comedy About Love, and Ben Platt: Live at the Palace.

Shows with Multiple Nominations

12 - Death Becomes Her

9 - Maybe Happy Ending

8 - Boop! The Musical

7 - Stranger Things: The First Shadow

6 - The Hills of California, Operation Mincemeat

5 - Drag: The Musical, Purpose

4 - Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Sunset Boulevard, We Live in Cairo

3 - The Big Gay Jamboree, Cult of Love, Gypsy, Just in Time, Real Women Have Curves, Swept Away

2 - Beckett Briefs, Becoming Eve, Floyd Collins, Glengarry Glen Ross, Grangeville, Hold On to Me Darling, John Proctor Is the Villian, Liberation, Once Upon a Mattress, Pirates! The Penzance Musical, Romeo + Juliet, Safety Not Guaranteed, Still, Table 17, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Vanya, Yellow Face

A Reworked PIRATES! For Our Time — Review

Joey Sims

April 25, 2025

How do you prefer your Gilbert and Sullivan?

Traditionalists may balk at Roundabout Theatre Company’s lightly reinvented Pirates! The Penzance Musical, a jazzy, Caribbean-infused take that relocates the enduring G&S classic to New Orleans. This new adaptation by Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) mostly tinkers with the original, adding some inconsequential French Quarter trappings and a metatheatrical framing device that proves needless—if, also, harmless.

For audiences less expert on the source material, myself included, these changes mostly glide by innocuously. At times, a stray lyric or bit of dialogue did hit the ear oddly. But outside of a cringey closing number (more on that later), the adjustments are neither enhancing nor crippling. This still feels like Pirates in all its buoyant charm and bottomless heart.

More than that—it is Pirates staged with wonderfully energetic aplomb by director Scott Ellis, wittily choreographed by Warren Carlyle and expertly performed by a dream ensemble. In keeping Gilbert & Sullivan’s shrewdly crafted text, this Pirates! is very serious about being seriously ridiculous, and a joyful trip to musical theater heaven is the result.

An incompetent pirate crew, led by the wild Pirate King (Ramin Karimloo), dock in New Orleans to celebrate his ward Frederic’s 21st birthday. But when Frederic (Nicholas Barasch) falls for local girl Mabel Stanley (Samantha Williams), daughter of the controlling Major-General Stanley (David Hyde Pierce), complications quickly ensue.

__wf_reserved_inherit — Photo: Joan Marcus

Karimloo serves up a plate of prosciutto ham as the Pirate King, belting and mugging to hilarious effect. Barasch is a wonder as Frederic, in gorgeous voice and fully committed to the character’s immense sincerity. Surprisingly, only the typically genius Jinx Monsoon (as Ruth, Frederic’s hopeless nanny) struggles, hitting some laughs but letting others slip by—Jinx can sing it, but her Ruth lacks a clear emotional grounding.

Ellis’ embrace of over-the-top silliness is a breath of fresh air, and his creative team fully understands the assignment. David Rockwell’s brightly colored sets, cheap but not cheap-looking, are a delight. Linda Cho’s frilly costumes look fabulous. Charles G. LaPointe’s wacky wigs are invaluable—not to mention Major General Stanley’s wildly oversized mustache and mutton chops, which feel like whole characters in and of themselves.

The Major General is played, of course, by the undeniable David Hyde Pierce, a stage master at the height of his powers. Every line reading, every intonation, every blink of the eyes, each is here an individual lesson in perfectly-pitched comedic restraint. Pierce’s “Modern Major General” is such a thrill, a totally astonishing barn-burner, you practically want to throw an engraved Tony into the man’s arms right there and then.

Pirates stumbles at the end with a clumsy reworking of “He Is An Englishman,” plucked from H.M.S. Pinafore and rewritten with the new refrain, “We’re All From Someplace Else.” No-one could argue the message, but Pirates is simply not a message piece, and this ham-fisted effort at modern resonance has no place amidst W.S. Gilbert’s lyrical sophistication.

Good comedy is gravely difficult, and in this case the task nearly gets screwed by an excess of modern tinkering. But in spite of overcomplicating its own task, this Pirates still triumphs.

‍Pirates! The Penzance Musical is now in performance at Roundabout Theatre Company’s Todd Haimes Theatre on West 42nd Street in New York City. For tickets and more information, visit here.

Theatrely News

EXCLUSIVE: Watch A Clip From THEATER CAMP Starring Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, and Molly Gordon

Theatrely News

READ: An Excerpt From Sean Hayes Debut YA Novel TIME OUT

Theatrely News

"Reframing the COVID-19 Pandemic Through a Stage Manager’s Eyes"

EXCLUSIVE: Watch A Clip From THEATER CAMP Starring Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, and Molly Gordon

By: Maia Penzer

14 July 2023

Finally, summer has arrived, which can only mean one thing: it's time for camp! Theater Camp, that is. Theatrely has a sneak peak at the new film which hits select theaters today.

The new original comedy starring Tony Award winner Ben Platt and Molly Gordon we guarantee will have you laughing non-stop. The AdirondACTS, a run-down theater camp in upstate New York, is attended by theater-loving children who must work hard to keep their beloved theater camp afloat after the founder, Joan, falls into a coma.

The film stars Ben Platt and Molly Gordon as Amos Klobuchar and Rebecca-Diane, respectively, as well as Noah Galvin as Glenn Wintrop, Jimmy Tatro as Troy Rubinsky, Patti Harrison as Caroline Krauss, Nathan Lee Graham as Clive DeWitt, Ayo Edebiri as Janet Walch, Owen Thiele as Gigi Charbonier, Caroline Aaron as Rita Cohen, Amy Sedaris as Joan Rubinsky, and Alan Kim as Alan Park.

Theater Camp was directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman and written by Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman & Ben Platt. Music is by James McAlister and Mark Sonnenblick. On January 21, 2023, Theater Camp had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

You can purchase tickets to the new film from our friends at Hollywood.com here.

‍

READ: An Excerpt From Sean Hayes Debut YA Novel TIME OUT

By: Kobi Kassal

29 May 2023

Actor Sean Hayes is what we in the biz call booked and blessed. On top of his Tony-nominated performance as Oscar Levant in Good Night, Oscar, Hayes has partnered with Todd Milliner and Carlyn Greenwald for the release of their new YA novel Time Out.

Heralded by many as Heartstopper meets Friday Night Lights, Time Out follows hometown basketball hero Barclay Elliot who decides to use a pep rally to come out to his school. When the response is not what he had hoped and the hostility continually growing, he turns to his best friend Amy who brings him to her voting rights group at school. There he finds Christopher and… you will just have to grab a copy and find out what happens next. Luckily for you, Time Out hits shelves on May 30 and to hold you over until then we have a special except from the book just for Theatrely:

The good thing about not being on the team the past two weeks has been that I’ve had time to start picking up shifts again at Beau’s diner and save up a little for college now that my scholarship dreams are over.

The bad part is it’s the perfect place to see how my actions at the pep rally have rotted the townspeople’s brains too.

During Amy’s very intense musical theater phase in middle school, her parents took her to New York City. And of course she came back home buzzing about Broadway and how beautiful the piss smell was and everything artsy people say about New York. But she also vividly described some diner she waited three hours to get into where the waitstaff would all perform songs for the customers as a way to practice for auditions. The regulars would have favorite staff members and stan them the way Amy stans all her emo musicians.

Working at Beau’s used to feel kind of like that, like I was part of a performance team I didn’t know I signed up for. The job started off pretty basic over the summer—I wanted to save up for basketball supplies, and Amy worked there and said it was boring ever since her e-girl coworker friend graduated. But I couldn’t get through a single lunch rush table without someone calling me over and wanting the inside scoop on the Wildcats and how we were preparing for the home opener, wanting me to sign an article in the paper or take a photo. Every friendly face just made the resolve grow inside me. People love and support the Wildcats; they would do the same for me.

Yeah, right.

Now just like school, customers have been glaring at me, making comments about letting everyone down, about being selfish, about my actions being “unfortunate,” and the tips have been essentially nonexistent. The Wildcats have been obliterated in half their games since I quit, carrying a 2–3 record when last year we were 5–0, and the comments make my feet feel like lead weights I have to drag through every shift.

Today is no different. It’s Thursday, the usual dinner rush at Beau’s, and I try to stay focused on the stress of balancing seven milkshakes on one platter. A group of regulars, some construction workers, keep loudly wondering why I won’t come back to the team while I refuse proper eye contact.

One of the guys looks up at me as I drop the bill off. “So, what’s the deal? Does being queer keep ya from physically being able to play?”

They all snicker as they pull out crumpled bills. I stuff my hands into my pockets, holding my tongue.

When they leave, I hold my breath as I take their bill.

Sure enough, no tip.

“What the fuck?” I mutter under my breath.

“Language,” Amy says as she glides past me, imitating the way Richard says it to her every shift, and adds, “even though they are dicks.” At least Amy’s been ranting about it every free chance she gets. It was one thing when the student body was being shitty about me leaving the team, but the town being like this is even more infuriating. She doesn’t understand how these fully grown adults can really care that much about high school basketball and thinks they need a new fucking hobby. I finally agree with her.

[She’s wearing red lipstick to go with her raccoon-adjacent eyeliner as she rushes off to prepare milkshakes for a pack of middle schoolers. I catch her mid–death glare as all three of the kids rotate in their chairs, making the old things squeal. My anger fades a bit as I can’t help but chuckle; Amy’s pissed-off reaction to Richard telling her to smile more was said raccoon makeup, and her tolerance for buffoonery has been at a negative five to start and declining fast.

I rest my arms on the counter and try not to look as exhausted as I feel.

“Excuse me!” an old lady screeches, making me jump.

Amy covers up a laugh as I head to the old lady and her husband’s table. They’ve got finished plates, full waters. Not sure what the problem is. Or I do, which is worse.

“Yes?” I say trying to suppress my annoyance.

“Could you be bothered to serve us?”

Only five more hours on shift. I have a break in three minutes. I’ll be with Devin at Georgia Tech tomorrow. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” I say, so careful to keep my words even, but I can feel my hands balling into fists. “What would you—?”

And suddenly Amy swoops in, dropping two mugs of coffee down. “Sorry about that, you two,” she says, her voice extra high. “The machine was conking out on us, but it’s fine now.”

Once the coffee is down, she hooks onto a chunk of my shirt, steering us back to the bar.

“Thanks,” I mutter, embarrassed to have forgotten something so basic. Again.

“Just keep it together, man,” she says. “Maybe you’d be better off with that creepy night shift where all the truckers and serial killers come in.”

Honestly, at least the serial killers wouldn’t care about my jump shot.

It’s a few minutes before my break, but clearly I need it. “I’ll be in the back room.”

Right before I can head that way though, someone straight-up bursts into the diner and rushes over to me at the bar. It’s a middle-aged dad type, sunburned skin, beer belly, and stained T-shirt.

“Pickup order?” I ask.

“You should be ashamed,” he sneers at me. He has a really strong Southern accent, but it’s not Georgian. “Think you’re so high and mighty, that nothing’ll ever affect you? My kid’ll never go to college because of you and your lifestyle. Fuck you, Barclay Ell—”

And before this man can finish cursing my name, Pat of all people runs in, wide-eyed in humiliation. “Jesus, Dad, please don’t—”

I pin my gaze on him, remembering how he cowered on the bench as Ostrowski went off, how he didn’t even try to approach me. “Don’t even bother,” I snap.

I shove a to-go bag into his dad’s arms, relieved it’s prepaid, and storm off to the break room.]

Amy finds me head in my arms a minute or two later. I look up, rubbing my eyes. “Please spare me the pity.”

She snorts and hands me a milkshake. Mint chocolate chip. “Wouldn’t dare.” She takes a seat and rolls her shoulders and neck, cracks sounding through the tiny room. “Do you want a distraction or a shoulder to cry on?”

For more information, and to purchase your copy of Time Out, click here.

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Reframing the COVID-19 Pandemic Through a Stage Manager’s Eyes

By: Kaitlyn Riggio

5 July 2022

When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency in the United States in March 2020, Broadway veteran stage manager Richard Hester watched the nation’s anxiety unfold on social media.

“No one knew what the virus was going to do,” Hester said. Some people were “losing their minds in abject terror, and then there were some people who were completely denying the whole thing.”

For Hester, the reaction at times felt like something out of a movie. “It was like the Black Plague,” he said. “Some people thought it was going to be like that Monty Python sketch: ‘bring out your dead, bring out your dead.’”

While Hester was also unsure about how the virus would unfold, he felt that his “job as a stage manager is to naturally defuse drama.” Hester brought this approach off the stage and onto social media in the wake of the pandemic.

“I just sort of synthesized everything that was happening into what I thought was a manageable bite, so people could get it,” Hester said. This became a daily exercise for a year. Over two years after the beginning of the pandemic, Hester’s accounts are compiled in the book, Hold Please: Stage Managing A Pandemic. Released earlier this year, the book documents the events of the past two years, filtering national events and day-to-day occurrences through a stage manager’s eyes and storytelling.

When Hester started this project, he had no intention of writing a book. He was originally writing every day because there was nothing else to do. “I am somebody who needs a job or needs a structure,” Hester said.

Surprised to find that people began expecting his daily posts, he began publishing his daily writing to his followers through a Substack newsletter. As his following grew, Hester had to get used to writing for an audience. “I started second guessing myself a lot of the time,” Hester said. “It just sort of put a weird pressure on it.”

Hester said he got especially nervous before publishing posts in which he wrote about more personal topics. For example, some of his posts focused on his experiences growing up in South Africa while others centered on potentially divisive topics, such as the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Despite some of this discomfort, Hester’s more personal posts were often the ones that got the most response. The experience offered him a writing lesson. “I stopped worrying about the audience and just wrote what I wanted to write about,” Hester said. “All of that pressure that I think as artists we put on ourselves, I got used to it.”

One of Hester’s favorite anecdotes featured in the book centers on a woman who dances in Washington Square Park on a canvas, rain or shine. He said he was “mesmerized by her,” which inspired him to write about her. “It was literally snowing and she was barefoot on her canvas dancing, and that seems to me just a spectacularly beautiful metaphor for everything that we all try and do, and she was living that to the fullest.”

During the creation of Hold Please, Hester got the unique opportunity to reflect in-depth on the first year of the pandemic by looking back at his accounts. He realized that post people would not remember the details of the lockdown; people would “remember it as a gap in their lives, but they weren’t going to remember it beat by beat.”

“Reliving each of those moments made me realize just how full a year it was, even though none of us were doing anything outside,” he adds. “We were all on our couches.” Readers will use the book as a way to relive moments of the pandemic’s first year “without having to wallow in the misery of it,” he hopes.

“I talk about the misery of it, but that’s not the focus of what I wrote... it was about hope and moving forward,” Hester said. “In these times when everything is so difficult, we will figure out a way to get through and we will move forward.”

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