June 18-22
June 7-11, 2006
Our first production, The Full Monty, stirred up a bit of controversy, due to its mature themes and adult nature, but when the show opened, it rocked the Concert Hall with screams of laughter, resulting in the most raucous standing ovations we’ve ever experienced here. The show seems to have been euphorically embraced by at least 95% of our audience, and was a terrific hit for us.
We had more “repeat business” on this show than any in our history! People would stagger, laughing, up to the box office at intermission, and buy tickets to see it again later that weekend.
We’re so glad the audiences here agreed with our assessment that this is a worthy story about likable characters. The emails I’ve gotten on the show have been 98% raving about the show, and thanking us for doing it. Many, many people commented on how much they enjoyed seeing a show with a contemporary setting, and with real substance to its story. (And the other folks, for whom this wasn’t their “cup of tea,” should find nothing but enjoyment from the other four shows this season!)
We thought the cast was just perfect, and they couldn’t have been more fun to work with.
GREG STONE (Jerry Lukowski)
Greg is a member of Actor’s Equity, is excited to be back in Wichita where he was last seen as Nick in Baby, Baby, Baby! On Broadway he has played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, was a cowboy / Curly understudy in the recent revival of Oklahoma!, and was a Bud / Wes standby for Urban Cowboy. Greg has starred in the national touring productions of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon as Jean Valjean and Chris respectively. Off-Broadway credits include Nicky in Under The Bridge and Pete in The Summer of ’42. Other favorite roles are Willy Conklin in Ragtime, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Henrik in A Little Night Music, Livingston in The Streets of New York, and Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance. Most recently Greg was part of the critically acclaimed Encores! production Of Thee I Sing. Greg was raised in the Pacific Northwest where he attended the University of Washington. Things that bring him great joy in life are most notably his wife Chelsea, playing softball in the Broadway Show League, cooking and photography. Upcoming later this summer, Greg will be a part of the pre-Broadway run of Pirate Queen from the creators of Les Mis and Miss Saigon in Chicago. Enjoy the Show!
DANNY STILES (Dave Bukatinsky)
Danny is making his debut performance on the MTW stage. He currently works for the Disney Corporation full-time, where he has performed in over 50 shows, including the Genie in Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular, and the a capella sensation Groove 66. Other favorites include Roger in Grease (FCLO), Evil Eye Fleagle in Li’l Abner (MTG), Toad in A Year with Frog and Toad (lCT), David in Company, Eddie/Dr. Scott, and Sweeney Todd at Performance Riverside. He has also performed at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and helped create the Landmark Shakespeare Company in England. Thanks to Wayne, Mark, Steve and Roger. This performance is dedicated to Dawn.
AUDRIE NEENAN (Jeanette Burmeister)
Audrie is THRILLED to be re-united with Wayne Bryan, who mentored, inspired, and directed her in her first professional musical, Tintypes, years ago in Chicago. Since then – Broadway: Oklahoma! (Aunt Eller), The Odd Couple female version (Florence), Curse of an Aching Heart – directed by Gerald Gutierrez; Off Broadway & Regional: The Roundabout & Playwrights Horizons in NYC, The Alliance in Atlanta, Seattle Rep., Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, The Elitch Gardens in Denver, L.A. – Dramalogue Award for Perfect Timing. 36 Chicago: The Second· City – Resident Company, The Goodman, The St. Nicholas, The Body Politic, The Apollo, The Chicago Shakespeare Festival; Jeff Award for Tintypes. Film: Sudden Impact with Clint Eastwood, Funny Farm, Somewhere in Time, and soon, The Departed. TV: Law & Order SVU (Judge Preston), Doctor, Doctor; Not Necessarily the News; Friends; The Cosby Show; Third Watch; and soon, The Black Donnellys and The Brotherhood. Ms. Neenan dedicates her performance to the memory of Kathleen Freeman.
DAVID A. WHITE (Noah “Horse” T. Simmons)
How cool is it that Wayne has invited me back here after all these years! (A Chorus Line ’89). I’m very excited. Last seen with the National Tour of The Full Monty as the Horse u/ s. B’way: The Full Monty, Five Guys Name Moe, and Grand 38 Hotel (National Tour and London’s West End). Off B’way: Sondheim’s Saturday Night, the acclaimed Dinah Was, the original Hello Again at Lincoln Center, and Olympus On My Mind. Regional Favorites: Dinah Was, Dreamgirls, My One & Only, and Comfortable Shoes (the Clint Holmes story). Commercials / TV / Voice Overs: 100 Centre St., Law & Order, Loving, and very happy to have voiced Worriers the play station game. Enjoy!
COLIN ISRAEL (Malcolm MacGregor)
Colin is thrilled to join MTW for another fantastic summer season! New York: A Christmas Carol (Peter Cratchit, Personal Space Theatrics), Prometheus Passion (Hermes, Durm and Strang Theatre Co.). Regional: A Chorus Line (Bobby, Casa Manana and MTW), Seussical (Wickersham, MTW), A Man of No Importance (Breton Beret, Speakeasy Stage), The Last Five Years (Jamie, Ovation Theatre). BFA: Boston Conservatory.Thanks to my family and the folks at MTW for their constant support and faith!
BRIAN EMERSON (Ethan Girard)
Brian is overjoyed to be back for MTW 2006 season. Coming straight from the Carribbean, he performed with Disney Cruise Lines, on the Disney Wonder. Since graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 2004, Brian has been working for various regional theatres, cruise lines, and hopping to and from NYc. Some credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), Male swing and u/s for DCL, Swing! The Musical (dancer), Cabaret (Emcee), Much Ado … (Claudio), West Side Story (A-rab), Oklahoma! (Dream Curly), … and more. Brian would like to thank Wayne for amazing opportunities and Nancy (his lovelyOOagentOO ). Much Love to Brittany, dad and mom, and his endearing family and friends for their etemallove and guidance. God bless. Romans 8:28
MONTE WHEELER (Harold Nichols)
A native Kansan, Monte returned to Wichita after a few years in New York. In the Big Apple he performed Off Broadway, in the Fringe Festival, did some recording and became a published artist. Since his return to Wichita, he has performed for Stage One, Mosley Street Melodrama, Cabaret Old Town, and in Once Upon A Mattress as Sir Harry here at MTW last season. He also has designed all the sets, costumes and props for all the shows at Cabaret Old Town including their most recent hit MENOPAUS-A-PALOZZA!! He would like to extend his deepest gratitude to Wayne, Mark and this incredibly brave cast and crew. He dedicates his performance to his beloved Grammy.
KAREN L. ROBU (Vicki Nichols)
Karen happily returns for her 9th MTW season, 15 pounds lighter than last year (Thank you, South Beach Diet)! Past roles include Emma Goldman in Ragtime, Maureen / Lowbutt in HONK!, Dolly in Annie Get Your Gun, and Mayzie in last year’s Seussical. In Kansas since 1993, Karen is thankful for all the theatres in town that keep her busy, including the CrownUptown, Mosley Street Melodrama, Cabaret Oldtown, Center for the Arts, and Stage One. Karen’s CD Songs For My Baby (Broadway tunes and 40’s style music, recorded while Karen was expecting her second child 3 years ago) is available at cdbaby.com. Karen is Director of Youth Ministries for University Congregational Church, where she has directed Godspell in 2005 and Jesus Christ Superstar last February. She has also directed for MTYP and taught classes for MGM Studio of the Dance and Camp Allegro. Many thanks to her understanding husband who is always supportive of her crazy ideas, including her recent fulfillment of a childhood fantasy: Karen has leased a horse for the summer and goes riding every morning before work!
JESSICA CHESBRO (Georgie Bukatinsky)
Jessica recently graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma, and is thrilled to be in Wichita for a second season! Last summer she was featured as Bebe in A Chorus Line and a Bird Girl in Seussical. At college she was Queenie in Lippa’s version of The Wild Party, Jane in Jane Eyre, the Witch in Into the Woods, and Amalia in She Loves Me. Originally from Tulsa, OK, she’s performed in many community theatre productions including Merrily We Roll Along as Beth and as Rizzo in Grease. She’d like to thank her mom and Carl for their constant belief in her. Also, thank you to Nancy for always being there to help, and Wayne for this incredible opportunity. “l feel truly blessed to be in such an amazing company!” She’d like to dedicate her performances this season to her Grandma M&M.
BRYNN O’MALLEY (Pam Lukowski)
Brynn is thrilled to be back in Wichita having served as Wayne’s office assistant in the summer of ’02! A graduate of the University of Michigan Class of 2003, Brynn joins the MTW family directly from the Las Vegas production of Avenue Q performing the role of Kate Monster/Lucy T. Slut. She joined Q directly from the Broadway company of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (where she appeared as Belle). Thanks to Wayne and Mark for keeping me off my mom’s couch for 2 more weeks and, especially, thanks to Nancy Reeves … my American Idol. Proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.
PATTY REEDER (Susan Hershey, Molly MacGregor, etc.)
Patty is absolutely “over the moon” to be back in this first show of the season. You may remember her as Maggie in 42nd Street or Betty Blast in 66 Footloose, here at MTW. As co-owner of Mosley Street Melodrama in Old Town, she is always thrilled to take time to come down the street and do something fun and crazy. She thanks Wayne, Nancy and all the good folks here, who make that possible and always exciting; And big thanks to the folks back at Mosley, for holding down the fort!!! Love to Pops, her rock.ALEX STOLL (Buddy “Keno” Rogers)
Alex is excited to be in his first season with Music Theatre of Wichita. Currently attending Wichita State University, Alex is majoring in both Dance and Musical Theatre. He has also performed with Ballet Wichita, and is a company member of Alithea Mime Theatre. Thanks to Wayne for the opportunity to live and love the arts, and much thanks to Nick, Sabrina, Lindsey, Jeff, and all of my ever patient parents.MICHAEL PADILLA (Nathan Lukowski)
Michael is happy to be making his Music Theatre of Wichita debut in The Full Monty. Most recently, Michael was seen as Diddy Dudman in Just Another Christmas Show at Cabaret Oldtown, where he also works for his Mom, Christi Moore as doorman / greeter. Last fall he starred as Jack in Who Said Jack Doesn’t Know Beans at Mayberry Middle School, where he just finished 6th grade. Michael’s New York credits include Theo in Pippin and a Fagin’s Boy in Oliver! In his spare time he can be found riding his bike or “jammin out” on his guitar and drums.ANNIE FUNKE (Betty Wallace, etc.)
Annie is thrilled to be making her MTW debut in The Full Monty! A senior at OU, Annie has played Penelope Pennywise in Urine Town and Mickey in My One and Only. She has performed regionally with Casa Manana, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and will spend the remainder of her summer at STAGES St. Louis. Many thanks to Wayne, Nancy, and her amazing family!EBONY BLAKE (Joanie Lish)
Ebony is ecstatic to be returning to Wichita! A recent graduate of Wright State University’s Acting/Musical Theatre program, Ebony’s favorite roles there include Sarah in Ragtime, Bemeice Charles in The Piano Lesson, and Phillis Wheatley in Tina Landau and Ricky Ian Gordon’s States of Independence. She recently starred as Nefertiti at The Human Race Theatre Company’s workshop production of Nefertiti: A Musical Romance. Ebony would like to thank God, the MTW family, and her own for being supportive, loving and AWESOMELY AMAZING!!
TAUREAN EVERETT (Club Dancer, Moving Man, etc.)
Taurean is thrilled to be returning for his second season with MTW. A senior dance major at Wichita State University, Taurean’s most recent musical theater credits include Richard the Nurse in A New Brain and Yertle the Turtle in Seussical. University dance credits include acclaimed pieces Patterns of Change by Sabrina Vasquez, Angels Rising by Nick Johnson, and Ostinato by Janice Garrett. Local dance credits include Snow, Arabian, and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, and Mordred in Merlin’s Song, both by artistic director Jill Landrith of Ballet Wichita. Taurean would like to thank his Lord above for the many bleSSings he has received, followed with thanks to my MTW family, my own family, and a special thanks to all my friends who believed in me. I love you all, but I gotta go … they called “places!”WES HART (Minister, Tony Giordano, etc.)
Wes gratefully returns to MTW for a third summer, where he has played such roles as AI DeLuca (A Chorus Line), Action (West Side Story), and Wickersham Brother (Seussical). He just recieved a B.M. in Music Theatre from Oklahoma City University where he enjoyed roles such as Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls), Mortimer (The Fantasticks), and Njegus (The Merry Widow). Thanks to Wayne and Nancy. Love to Mom, Dad, and Ash.DAVID HULL (Moving Man, etc.)
David is a senior studying Musical Theatre and PreLaw Political Science at the University of Michigan. Recent credits include City of Angels, A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, Biloxi Blues, and … Charlie Brown, among others. He has also been featured in many shows with Paramount Productions. He is infinitely excited to be working with MTW in this, his scond season here, having played Mark in A Chorus Line and a Whatchamacallit in Seussical last summer.ROY LIGHTNER (Policeman, etc.)
Roy is elated to be returning to MTW. Favorites here include West Side Story (Baby John),Seussical (Wickersham), and Joseph … (Benjamin), and Aida, He attends Oklahoma City University, studying under Brenda Holleman. OCU credits include: Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely), Seussical (Horton), Secret Garden (Dickon). Other performances include a guest solo artist with the Kansas City Symphony in The Polar Express and Peanuts, and the title role in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown with Oklahoma City Rep., a role which he’ll reprise at St. Louis Stages after Sweet Charity. Thanks to Wayne, Roger, Nancy, and my family.COLBY Q. LINDEMAN (Dance Instructor, etc.)
Colby is totes excited to be back in Wichita for his third season. Favorite past roles include Larry in A Chorus Line; Diesel in West Side Story, and being dance captain for several shows. Also, he has enjoyed performing in the 2005 Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Pittsburgh / Minneapolis. OCU graduate, Colby graduated first in his class last year. Thank you to my fun family, WB, NR, TD, & NM for all of the love! I couldn’t have done it without you! xoxo!CODY PROCTOR (Teddy Slaughter, etc.)
Cody is from Stilwell, KS and is excited for his first season with MTW after graduating from WSU’s Theatre and Dance programs. He tours occasionally with Alithea Mime (yes, mime) Theatre, with whom he’ll perform at the UN in NY as part of a youth leadership conference in August. Past shows include Raised in Captivity (dir.), Singin’ in the Rain (Don), Pippin (Player), and Into the Woods (Baker). Much thanks to Wayne and much love to the family.PATTY REEDER (Susan Hershey, Molly MacGregor, etc.)
Patty is absolutely “over the moon” to be back in this first show of the season. You may remember her as Maggie in 42nd Street or Betty Blast in 66 Footloose, here at MTW. As co-owner of Mosley Street Melodrama in Old Town, she is always thrilled to take time to come down the street and do something fun and crazy. She thanks Wayne, Nancy and all the good folks here, who make that possible and always exciting; And big thanks to the folks back at Mosley, for holding down the fort!!! Love to Pops, her rock.TIMOTHY W. ROBU (Reg Willoughby, etc.)
Timothy is gladly looking forward to another busy summer with MTW. Audiences might remember seeing Tim last year as General Genghis Khan Schmitz in Seussical. John Hancock in 1776, Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady, and Amos in Chicago are just a few of Tim’s favorite roles at MTW. He will have a chance to reprise another favorite role as the Cowardly Lion in this summer’s season. For those of you who are worried, you won’t be seeing”a lot” of Tim in The Full Monty. Tim is still living in Newton with his talented wife Karen, beautiful daughters Katie and Francie, cats, fish, tadpole and a three legged dog named Lobo. Tim thanks Wichita for their support of Music Theatre of Wichita, and for all the wonderful opportunities they’ve given him.TARA SHAFFER (Estelle Genovese, etc.)
Tara is ecstatic to be returning to MTW for another season, having last been seen as part of the 2003 company and featured as Wendy Jo in Footloose. No stranger to Wichita stages, Tara has been seen at Mosley Street Melodrama, Cabaret Oldtown, Center for the Arts and Crown Uptown. She is a magna cum laude graduate of WSU with a BFA in music theatre. Many thanks to Mom and Dad for years of support, and much love to Dennis for everything
MARK MADAMA (Director)
Mark has directed productions on both coasts, and as far away as Ireland, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, and yet he happily begins his eighteenth consecutive MTW season, with The Full Monty being his 31st production as director here. Favorite MTW shows include Aida, Annie Get Your Gun, West Side Story, Oklahoma!, Cinderella, How to Succeed…, Funny Girl, Fiddler on the Roof, The Pajama Game, Evita, The Music Man, The Sound of Music, State Fair, Meet Me in St. Louis, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, The Secret Garden, Tintypes, Sweet Charity, Gigi, Cabaret, Into the Woods, They’re Playing Our Song, and Good News!, plus his performance as Zach in MTW’s first A Chorus Line. Mark is on the Musical Theatre faculty at the University of Michigan, where he has also directed City of Angels, Guys and Dolls, Assassins, Good News!, Nine, Children of Eden, Company and Horton Foote’s 1918.JOSH PRINCE (Choreographer)
Josh Prince hails from New York, but is happy to return to MTW, where he spent a collegiate summer and then returned to star in How to Succeed in Business … and play the villainous Cat in HONK!, preserving that performance on the American Cast Album. Josh’s directing and choreographing credits in Los Angeles include One Way Ticket to Hell – The Musical and Radio Show at the Art / Works Performance Space, as well as The Big Funk and Barnum at The NoHo Arts Center. He has also choreographed Guys and Dolls, and directed and choreographed Cabaret, both for Northern Stage in Vermont. He has created dances for the Indianapolis Opera, Gateway Playhouse, and the Wagon Wheel Theater. As an actor in New York City, Prince has appeared on Broadway in Little Me and Saturday Night Fever. He has also been seen in the National Tours of Cats and The Producers, creating the role of Carmen Ghia opposite Jason Alexander and Martin Short at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles. Prince has also appeared Off-Broadway in Forbidden Broadway and In The Wings. He has performed at New York City Opera and in three City Center Encores! productions, and was featured in the film A Cinderella Story.THOMAS WESLEY DOUGLAS (Musical Director / Conductor)
Honored, privileged, thrilled … can these words describe how it feels to join the MTW family for his seventh season! Thomas has been musical director for Ain’t Misbehavin’, Show Boat, Ragtime, Good News!, Footloose, Oklahoma!, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Phantom, and Once Upon a Mattress. He has done more than 150 musical theatre, opera, orchestral and oratorio productions, including conducting Webber’s Phantom of the Opera in Switzerland. On other stages he has enjoyed the roles of Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Amonasro in Aida and Fats Waller in Ain’t Misbehavin ‘, both in the U.S. and in Malaysia. Thomas is on the faculty of both the Drama and the Music schools at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He is the founder 57 and Artistic Director of the Neighborhood Opera Company and is the Artistic Director of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh.JOHN ARNONE (Set Designer)
Recipient of L.A. Theater Critics, Dora Mava Moore, Outer Critics Circle, American Theatre Wing, Drama Desk and Tony Awards for set design for The Who’s Tommy. Regional and NYC: over 150 productions for La Jolla Playhouse, Guthrie Theater, Arena Stage, Mark Taper Forum, The Old Globe, Folger Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Roundabout, Circle Rep and Public Theater. B’way credits include The Full Monty, The Who’s Tommy; How to Succeed in Business … ; Twilight L.A., 1992; Sacrilege; The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public; Grease!; Sex and Longing; The Deep Blue Sea; Patio I Porch; Lone Star I Pvt. Wars; Marlene; Minnelli On Minnelli; The Best Man; and The Ride Down Mt. Morgan.ROBERT MORGAN (Costume Designer)
For 30 years Robert has designed for regional theatres across the U.S., most notably the Ahmanson, American Conservatory Theatre, Denver Theatre Center, Guthrie, Kennedy Center, Seattle Rep, and the Globe in San Diego, where he is an Associate Artist and where his designs have garnered roughly two dozen West Coast critics’ awards. For Broadway, Mr. Morgan has designed costumes for The Full Monty, I’m Not Rappaport and Sherlock’s Last Case. Off-Broadway: The Affairs of Anatol (Drama Desk nomination) and Prides Crossing.DAVID NEVLLE (Production Manager/lighting Designer)
David Nevlle is thrilled to be returning for his 23rd season of “Camp MTW.” In addition to many productions at MTW, David has designed lighting for North Shore Music Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, Omaha Symphony, The United States Air Force, Stage One, Ordway Music Theatre, Papermill Playhouse, The University of Michigan, Penn State University, Portland Center Stage, North Carolina Theatre, Music Theatre West, Arkansas Rep, Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera, George Street Playhouse, The 5th Avenue Theatre and Off-Broadway. David’s favorite designs at MTW include Ragtime, Once on this Island, Children of Eden and Jesus Christ Superstar. David starts a new position this fall, teaching lighting and scenic design at Wichita State University. He makes his home in Wichita with his wife Robin and his kids, Ryan and Jocelyn.TIM MILLER (Hair and Wig Designer)
Tim Miller is excited to be working at the Music Theatre of Wichita for his first season. He works in N.Y. as a costume shop assistant and wardrobe supervisor at Playwrights Horizons, where he worked on Grey Gardens and Pen. As the Assistant Wig / Hair/ Makeup Designer to Erin Kennedy Lunsford, he has worked at various off-Broadway theaters like the Mint Theater, Playwrights Horizons, The Culture Project and 59E59 Primary Stages. Some design credits include Rue (Hair Designer) at Theater for a New City, and Seascape with Dancer and Shark (Costume Designer) at Binghamton University.DAVID MUEHL (Sound Designer)
David Muehl is excited to be returning to MTW for his second summer as sound designer, having also been the sound assistant three years ago. During MTW’s “off season,” David is audio producer for WSU College of Fine Arts, and sound designer for the Opera and Musical Theatre program. Some of his favorite sound designs have been Anything Goes, A Chorus Line, Pippin and Into. the Woods. (“How does one mic a giant anyway?”) At WSU David was sound designer and audio engineer for the WSU production of Pippin which was selected to compete at the Kennedy Center Regional College Theatre Festival in St. Louis, and was selected as an alternate to the National Festival. David has also been sound designer for Cabaret Oldtown. David would like to thank Ray for his support and encouragement of professional development. And a huge thanks to Dave Temby and all the great people at Oearwing Productions in Phoenix.KERRY GRISHAM (Property Master)
This is Kerry’s second year with MTW. He lives in Tulsa, OK, where he has 17 years technical experience with the Tulsa theatrical community. He is currently Props Master with Tulsa Ballet, a position he has toured with, both nationally and internationally. Grisham also serves as Assistant Carpenter / Props for Tulsa Opera and Head Props for the TulsaPerforming Arts Center when National Broadway Touring Shows are in that venue. Kerry retired from the Tulsa fire department with 21 years’ service.MATT MITCHELL (Costume Coordinator)
Matt Michell makes his home in Key West, Florida. As costume designer and leather master he has worked at University of Michigan (where he also studied), Performance Network, Purple Rose Theatre, Michigan Shakespeare Festival (for three years), and St. Louis Opera. Matt arrived in Wichita last year to help George Bacon create Seussical, and stayed to collaborate with Debbie Roberts in the creation of Amneris’ fashion show, and other specialty costumes, for Aida. He is happy to return to MTW for his second summer, and looks forward to all five shows this season.DEBBIE ROBERTS (Costume Shop Manager)
Debbie Roberts has designed costumes for many shows here, including State Fair, Funny Girl, The Most Happy Fella, On the Town and West Side Story, plus special costumes for Aida (the fashion show, in partnership with Matt Mitchell), My Fair Lady (all of Eliza’s gowns), Annie Get Your Gun, Man of La Mancha, Crazy for You, The Sound of Music, My One and Only, various Festival of Broadway shows, plus the upcoming Thoroughly Modem Millie. A graduate of Friends University, Debbie received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Ballet. “1 am so proud of the work that Music Theatre of Wichita does, it is always a pleasure to work each season. While California is home, work in the costume field takes me to New York each Christmas season to work for the World Famous Radio City Rockettes. It has been over 15 years that Wichita has been my summer home and I look forward to meeting new people and learning new skills each time. Enjoy the shows!”SUANN POLLOCK (production Stage Manager)
Suann Pollock rejoined MTW in 1997 after an eight-year absence. She is one of the resident stage managers with the Tony Award winning Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where her credits include the world premiere of Notebook of Trigoin with Lynn Redgrave, A Little Night Music with Donna McKechnie, Closer, Art, Wit, and Everything’s Ducky, and John Doyle’s Company, which will be moving to Broadway this fall. While at the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, she had the pleasure of stage managing several premieres, including Edward Albee’s Fragments and Lee Blessing’s The Rights. Professional directing credits include Seussical at Miami University SummerTheatre, Bat Boy at Stage One, Lanford Wllson’s Day at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Soldiers Tale with No. Kentucky Symphony, Company, A Day In Hollywood/ A Night In The Ukraine, and The Nerd, among others. Thanks to Wayne for his support and encouragement.EMILY F. McMULLEN (Stage Manager)
Emily McMullen is happy to be back for her 7th summer and 4th production of Wizard of Oz. Previous productions here include Phantom, Seussical, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Chicago, Good News!, How to. Succeed In Business, Cinderella, Show Boat, Fiddler on the Roof, and Pajama Game. The rest of the year, she is the Production Stage Manager at Merrimack Repertory Theatre outside of Boston. She has also stage managed for North Shore Music Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, South Coast Repertory, Capital Repertory Theater, Musical Theatre Guild, Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Broadway Texas, Theatre Emory, and The Shadowland Theatre.MARY SUE DYMAK (Director of Rentals &: Inventory / Drop Fabricator / Orchestra PitManager / Archivist / A Bunch of Other Stuff)
[Whew!] For 31 seasons at MTW, this will mark summer productions numbering 151 to 155. Stage manager for the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (13 years), Metropolitan Ballet Orchestra (10 years), and Opera Kansas (15 years). I seem to get around a lot but only inside Century II. This year’s clever anecdote really isn’t that clever. Milestones are marked this year that create many eye openers. My life is happily engaged in newer and larger tasks working for my favorite employer. My thanks to WB, NR, VK, JM, DN. I offer my deepest love and respect to all who work in this crazy business we call “SHOW.” I dedicate this season to the administration, staff, crew, and performers of Music Theatre of Wichita. The first 30 seasons were great and here’s a toast to 59 the next 30!! I love this place!!!!!!!!!!!! (Of course, I’m nuts.) ROGER CASTELLANO (Assistant to Producer)
Roger Castellano is elated to be working again with MTW, and looks forward to being a part of all five productions again this year. As an award-winning director and choreographer, Roger has created original shows, parades and industrials for companies like Sesame Street Live, Sanrio Inc. and Disney, and worked with stars such as Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Bennett, Bill Cosby, Natalie Cole, Christopher Reeve, Kenny Loggins and John Lithgow. Career highlights as an actor include My One and Only (Billy) with Susan Egan (Drama-Logue Award), Anything Goes (Billy) with Tracy Lore, On The Town (Ozzy), How to. Succeed in Business .. . (Bud Frump), and Into the Woods (The Baker). But the best reward is to be associated with MTW, where he’s directed Me and My Girl, The Will Rogers Follies, choreographed Footloose-directed and co-choreographed Seussical, and acted in Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), Once Upon a Mattress (The Jester), and A Chorus Line (Zach). Roger holds a BA in Theatre from California Stare University, Fullerton. He thanks God for his wife Tracy and daughter Carlin, and is grateful to Wayne for the many opportunities that he’s given him.GABRIEL BENNETT (Asst. Sound Designer)
Gabriel Bennett is returning to MTW for his third season; previously he held the position of Sound Assistant. The majority of Gabriel’s experience lies in the Wichita area, including sound design for Cabaret Oldtown, audio engineering for Cabaret Oldtown. Stage One, Wichita State University and various professional recording studios and musical events. Gabriel would like to show appreciation to his family and friends for their support and understanding with special thanks to David Muehl for all of his encouragement and guidance.STEVE LANDES (Director of the Apprentice Program / Shopper-Buyer)
Steve Landes is proud to return for his thirteenth sununer as the Apprentice Program Director. A Wichita resident for twenty two years, Steve worked for Friends University, the Wichita Center for the Arts, and Shakespeare in the Park. Steve moved to the Kansas City area three years ago for a teaching position. As an educator, Steve continues to be very excited about working with the apprentices in this unique training program (and MTW is deeply grateful for Steve’s creative dedication to our young people!)JESSE WARKENTIN (Pianist / Musical Assistant)
This year has found Jesse in many musical roles around Wichita. He has been musical director for several shows with MTYP (including Joseph, Annie and their recent Wizard Of Oz), Stage One’s production of I Do! I Do!, and he has also been seen at the piano with Mosley Street Melodrama. He conducted the MTW orchestra for the Festival of Broadway in 2005 and 2006, and he is excited to be here playing his third season of summer musicals. During the school year, he also works at Wichita High School East as accompanist to the choirs. Jesse wishes to thank his wonderful (and hilarious) family for their constant love and support in all his endeavors.LINDA STARKEY (Pianist / Musical Assistant / Keyboards)
Linda Starkey continues her relationship with MTW, having performed in Oliver!, Cabaret, and The Sound of Music, and having conducted the Teen Choir and assisted with MTW’s apprentice program. She is Associate Director of the Opera and Music Theatre program at Wichita State University, where she has also taught voice for the past 26 years. She has directed for Opera Kansas, WSU Opera Theatre, WSU Theatre, Wichita Community Theatre, Wichita Children’s Theatre, and the Center for the Arts. In 2005, her production of Pippin was chosen to be an alternate for the American College Theatre Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington D. C.NANCY REEVES (Company Manager)
Nancy Reeves happily sits on her throne as the Mother of all company members here at MTW. Every summer Nancy coordinates transportation, housing, schedules and everything that young people could find necessary to spend their summer in Wichita. Her brain holds telephone numbers for most every hotel, doctors office and airline connection in Central Kansas. When Nancy is not organizing the lives of theatre people she is an accomplished gourmet cook and caterer. Her husband Mark, a celebrated jewelry designer, and their son Tyson enjoy sailing in waters around the globe. She feels blessed to be loved by so many.WAYNE BRYAN (Producing Director)
Wayne Bryan is now in his 19th season here, overseeing Music Theatre of Wichita as it heads into its 35th Anniversary Season. Raised in southern California, Wayne performed extensively on Broadway, in such shows as Good News!, Rodgers and Hart, and Tintypes, and on television in such shows as M*A*S*H* and PBS’ American History. He also directed productions for theatres all across the country before coming to Kansas, but he feels he’s doing his most challenging and rewarding work now. Local audiences may remember his performances in The Will Rogers Follies, Me and My Girl, The Pajama Game, The Music Man, Where’s Charley?, 1776, and Sweet Charity. Under Wayne’s guidance, Music Theatre of Wichita has maintained enviable attendance figures, received numerous local awards, and garnered international praise for its quality. In addition, Wayne received the 2002 Governor’s Arts Award for his contributions to the local arts scene, and the NCCJ Brotherhood / Sisterhood Award, given to those who help fight prejudice and encourage diversity. Wayne is inordinately proud of the fact that almost every Broadway musical running now, and most of the national tours, feature performers onstage who spent formative summers as part of the MTW company.
We are thrilled to begin our 35th Anniversary Season with this uniquely touching and hilariously funny contemporary musical adventure. Let’s start by discussing the origins of the phrase: “the full monty.”
This British phrase, meaning the whole thing, has been popularized in America recently due to the 1997 film of the same name. It has been common in Britain, however, since the 1980s. The earliest attested usage is from 1986 in the book Street Talk, the Language of Coronation Street (Coronation Street being a popular British television show at the time). The origin of the phrase, however, is unknown, but there are probably as many suggestions as to its origin as there are for its American equivalent the whole nine yards. None of the following explanations, however, has any serious evidence to support it:
In any event, a small independent British film released in August of 1997 quickly popularized the phrase worldwide.
The movie, written by Simon Beaufoy, is set in Sheffield, England, at one time a booming center for steel manufacture, but now almost a ghost town. With the factory workers laid off, and unable to secure meaningful employment, the men have fallen into a desperate situation. The arrival of a traveling group of male strippers in town gives the men inspiration to try a new line of work.
This refreshingly original comedy (with a fun soundtrack of popular songs, but not by any means a “musical”), took both sides of the Atlantic by storm, gathering awards and attracting such huge, diverse crowds that it became the highest grossing independent film of the year.
One of the producers at Fox Searchlight Pictures in the U.S. was a gentleman named Lindsay Law, who saw potential in the story as a stage musical, and approached his friend Jack O’Brien, artistic director of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. O’Brien shared his enthusiasm for the project, and committed to present the as-yet-unwritten musical in the Globe’s upcoming season.
With O’Brien set to direct, they recruited esteemed playwright / librettist Terrence McNally (Ragtime, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Master Class) and young Broadway choreographer Jerry Mitchell (whose annual “strip-a- thon” for charity, Broadway Bares, was a classy and humorous demonstration of his appropriateness for this assignment). Looking for a new “voice” to pen the songs, they decided on David Yazbek, an inventive pop composer who had not ever written a show score (but who has, since his success with Full Monty, created yet another delightful score for the current hit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).
With surprisingly little fuss, the creators were able to whip up a smashingly successful new show, true to the film’s story line and characterizations, set to jazzy new music and very comfortably Americanized. After its San Diego premiere on June 1, 2000, it moved (with very few changes) into a long Broadway run four months later. Critics loved the show, calling it a “new American classic.” Its 10 Tony nominations included Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book, Best Orchestrations, Best Direction and Best Choreography. (Only the opening of a little show called The Producers prevented The Full Monty from capturing all the awards that year.) The Full Monty concluded its remarkable Broadway run on September 1, 2002.
We are delighted to present the Kansas premiere of this insightful, touching, and very funny show!
225 W. Douglas, Ste. 202
Wichita, KS 67202
316.265.3107
office@mtwichita.org