A Midsummer Night's Dream
Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare
"True love's passion" never goes out of style. Though classified as one of Shakespeare's tragedies, Romeo and Juliet has it all: bawdy hilarity, swashbuckling duels, a wedding (and a wedding night) and, yes, tragedy: six characters biting the dust. Be a part of this eternal story, quite possibly the greatest entertainment ever put on the stage, and most certainly the last play ever to be performed in Benson Theater.
Director: Peter Canavese
Set Designer/Technical Director: Russ Marcel
Costume Designer: Jessie Spencer-Cooke
West Side Story
Arcadia
BAT BOY: The Musical!
Cast:
Dr. Thomas Parker, husband - Aaron Griffith
Meredith Parker, wife - Madeleine Heil
Shelley Parker, daughter - Lauren Fisher
Bat Boy (Edgar) - Ryan Vasquez
Sheriff Reynolds - John Sousae
Maggie, the Mayor - Rachel Giacalone
Rick, teen spelunker - Paul Di Loreto
Ruthie, teen spelunker - Emily Griffith
Ron, teen spelunker - Dylan Daniels
Mrs. Taylor, their mother - Danny Gould
Lorraine, rancher’s wife - Kelsey Doyle
Daisy, schoolteacher - Sarah Khasrovi
Mr. Dillon, rancher - Patrick Curley
Bud, rancher - Gregory Pisacane
Ned, rancher - Ethan Jefferson
Roy, a townsman - Austin MacPhee
Clem, a townsman - Mike McGill
Reverend Billy Hightower - Zach Hasbany
Pan, god of the forest - Rohith Jayaraman
Young Meredith - Sarah Khasrovi
Meredith’s father & mother - Alex Portman & Dorothy Chorlton
Doctor - Dylan Daniels
Institute Man - Mike McGill
Townsfolk, various animals, angry crowd, assorted yokels - Danielle Ricci, Mandy Heiser, Dorothy Chorlton, Demi Pace, Alex Portman, Christopher Choi, Anderson Cook, Dalton Varvell
Director: Tom Alessandri
Asst Director: Matt McCracken & Palmer Mitchell
Designers: Gregg Carlson & Jean Toohey;
Music Directors: Barbara Mount & Frank Wyant
Choreographer: Kristina Luscher
Rehearsal Accompanist: David Zeppa
Social Directors: Danielle Ricci & Rachel Giacalone
His Girl Friday
Adapted by John Guare from The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur and the Columbia Pictures film, screenplay by Charles Lederer
Today, the American newspaper is in its death throes. But in 1939, the newsroom was where the action was. This romantic comedy poses a classic "battle" of the sexes between divorcees rediscovering passion for news and each other. Bellarmine's production was only the third in the world of this play, after those at London's National Theatre and The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
Cast:
Walter Burns, Chicago Examiner - Erik Johnson
Hildy Johnson, formerly of the Chicago Examiner - Madeleine Heil
Bruce Baldwin - Evan Bartz
Mrs. Baldwin - Dorothy Charlton
Earl Holub - Rosty Brichko
Mollie Malloy - Rachel Giacalone
Mike Endicott, Chicago Daily News - Justin Powell
Eddie Schwartz, Chicago Herald - Chris Orso
Jack Wilson, Chicago Sun - Bill DeRose
Buddy "Mac" McCue, Chicago Times - Tim Reynolds
Ernie Kruger, Chicago Journal - Ryan Ventura
Roy V. Bensinger, Chicago Tribune - Daniel Martinez
Ralph Sweeney, Chicago Examiner - Michael Lott
Woodenshoes Eichorn - Kanishk Desai
The Mayor - Krishna Kalpathy
Sheriff Percival B. Hartman - Garrett McCoy
Diamond Louie - Joey Pisacane
Reverend Cyrus Pickett - A.J. Zekanoski
Flora F. Pinkus - Ivy Adams
Deputy Carl / Photographer 1 - Daniel Zenarosa
Deputy Frank / Photographer 2 - Ryan Morgan
Director: Peter Canavese
Assistant Directors: Matt McCracken '09 and Rudy Martinez '09
Set Designer/Technical Director: Russ Marcel
Costume Designer: Jessie Spencer-Cooke
Spring Awakening
By Frank Wedekind
Too few great plays have been written about teenagers and their everyday existential concerns: sex, grades, friendship, and the meaning of life (not necessarily in that order). The basis for the current Broadway-musical sensation of the same name, Frank Wedekind’s 1891 tragi-comedy remains provocative by addressing—in a teenage context—stress, sexuality, and suicide. In the brand-new 2007 translation by National Book Award winner Jonathan Franzen (The Corrections).
Cast:
Melchior Gabor - Stephen Elrod
Moritz Stiefel - Erik Johnson
Wendla Bergmann - Rachel Giacalone
Hansy Rilow - Matthew Spencer-Cooke
Ernst Röbel - Steven Zbin
Fanny Gabor - Loreli Alba
Mr. Gabor - Nick Miller
Mrs. Bergmann - Paige Fodor
Rentier Stiefel - Justin Powell
Ilse - Madi Tindall
Martha Bessel - Kiely Reedy
Thea - Anna Pan
George Zirschnitz - Paul DiLoreto
Robert - Michael McGill
Otto - Dylan Daniels
Ina Müller - Melissa Cheponis
Lämmermeier / Locksmith - Andrew Navarrete
Diethelm / Starver - Danny Gould
Reinhold / Fitztongue - Joe Schneider
Rupert / Brockenbohn - Gregory Pisacane
Helmuth / Blodgett - Michael Rosa
Gaston / Killaflye - Krishna Kalpathy
Headmaster Hart-Payne - Thomas Carine
Reverend Bleekhead - Evan Bartz
Ziegenmelker - Edward Ramirez
Uncle Probst / Dr. Procrustes - Anthony Seuferer
Fetch - Kanishk Desai
Dr. Seltzer - Michael Creekpaum
The Man in the Mask - Jason Kapoor
Set Designer/Technical Director: Russ Marcel
Costume Designer: Claire Hansen
Director:Peter Canavese
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
The Foreigner
The Foreigner tells the farcical story of a painfully shy Brit, Charlie Baker, who pretends to be a foreigner in order to avoid conversation at all costs. All sorts of damaging revelations are made in his presence with the assumption that he can't speak or understand English whatsoever.
Cast:
Charlie Baker - Stephen Elrod
Froggy LeSueur - Matt Spencer-Cooke
Betty Meeks - Loreli Alba
Catherine Simms - Rachel Giacalone
Ellard Simms - Ryan Vasquez
Rev. David - Erik Johnson
Owen Musser - Garrett McCoy
Townspeople - Danny Prikazsky and Bill DeRose
Run Crew:
Stage Manager – Rob Giusti
Assistant Stage Manager – Rahul Gupta
Backstage Crew – Max Calehuff, Mark Leberknight
Head Sound – Marshall Smith
Head Lights – Palmer Robert Mitchell
Assistant to Lights – Drew Antes
Design Team:
Tech Director: Paul Spitzmueller
Costume Design: Carol Chapman
Assistant Directors: Joe Schneider and Ethan Jefferson
Director: Russ Marcel
Inherit the Wind
Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee’s classic American drama (based on the Tennessee vs. John Scopes “Monkey” Trial of 1925) pits the teachings of Darwinist evolution against Fundamentalist Christianity. The town of Hillsboro, Tennessee, is the sight of this epic legal clash between Matthew Harrison Brady and Henry Drummond. This production was performed in-the-round, and contemporary headlines about the creationism vs. evolution debate were projected on screens throughout the performance.
Cast:
Melvin - Jorge Meza (’10)
Howard - Dylan Daniels (’10)
Rachel Brown - Loreli Alba (Presentation, ’08)
Meeker - Evan Pearson (’08)
Bertram Cates - Erik Johnson (’09)
Mr. Goodfellow - Palmer Mitchell (’09)
Mrs. Krebs - Kandace Arens (Presentation, ’07)
Reverend Brown - Baron Cannon (’07)
Sillers - Mike Lanier (’07)
Mr. Krebs - Frank Moreno (’09)
Bannister - Tory Magtoto (’07)
Dunlap - Andrew Nguyen (’07)
Hurdy-Gurdy Man - Allen Mark Aranas (’07)
Mrs. McLain - Melissa Cheponis (St. Francis, ’09)
Mrs. Blair - Anna Pan (St. Francis, ’10)
Elijah - Phillip Binder (’09)
E.K. Hornbeck - Matt Spencer-Cooke (’08)
Matthew Harrison Brady - Adam Griffith (’07)
Mrs. Brady - Ali McInnis (’07)
Mayor - Kanishk Desai (’09)
Tom Davenport - Ben Sigrist (’07)
Radio Man - Krishna Kalpathy (’10)
Henry Drummond - Stephen Elrod (’08)
Judge - Jason Kapoor (’09)
Crew:
Stage Manager – Anatole Figueroa (’08)
ASM – Patrick Lefaver (’07)
Backstage Crew – Kyle Martin (’08), Jerald Westendorf (’08)
Head Sound – Joe Herzog (’08)
Assistant Sound – Max Borkenhagen (’07)
Head Lights – Liam Dempsey (’07)
Assistant to Lights – Tim Durstenfeld (’07)
Assistant Directors: Sean McFeely (’07) & Danny Loskot (’07)
Director: Russ Marcel
Set Design: Paul Spitzmueller
Costume Design: Claire Foley
Urinetown: The Musical
A Flea in Her Ear
By Georges Feydeau
Adapted by David Ives
Pardon our French, but the colloquialism “flea in the ear” translates to “bee in the bonnet” or, in other words, maddening trouble for three jealously suspicious couples and their unfortunate acquaintances. A seedy hotel with a rotating bed becomes the setting for confusion and hilarity in French farceur Georges Feydeau’s classic, fast-paced romp, staged by Bellarmine exactly 100 years after its original debut (and the David Ives adaptation exactly a year after its world premiere).
Cast:
Victor Chandebise / Poche - Stephen Elrod
Raymonde Chandebise -Loreli Alba
Camille Chandebise - Matthew Spencer-Cooke
Lucienne Homenides de Histangua - Paige Fodor
Don Carlos Homenides de Histangua - Danny Gould
Dr. Finache - Mike Lanier
Romain Tournel - Erik Johnson
Antoinette - Rachel Giacalone
Étienne - Ben Sigrist
Ferraillon - Adam Griffith
Olympia - Rachel Nadler
Eugenie - Madeleine Heil
Baptiste - Thomas Carine
Rubgy - Alexander Dvorsky
Set Designer/Technical Director: Russ Marcel
Costumes: Patsy McClure and Jean Toohey
Director:Peter Canavese
Crew:
Student Assistant Directors & Props: Patrick Lefaver and Baron Cannon
House Managers: Aaron Juni and Ulises Aguirre
Stage Manager: Anatole Figueroa
Assistant Stage Manager: Kyle Martin
Head Sound: Joe Herzog
Head Lights: Palmer Mitchell
Lighting Design: Liam Dempsey & Palmer Mitchell
Assistant Lights: Marshall Smith
Backstage Crew: Sam Amador, Dylan Daniels, Evan Bartz, Jimmy Hare, Nick Miller
Poster Design: Kanishk Desai
Set Construction:
Aaron Juni, Adam Griffith, Allen Mark Aranas, Alvin Ciby, Anatole Figueroa, Andrew Navarrete, Arjun Banerjee, Chris Wilson, Dylan Daniels, Evan Bartz, Evan Pearson, Jerald Westendorf, Jimmy Hare, Joe Herzog, Jordan Muna, Kyle Martin, Marshall Smith, Matthew Fidere, Maxwell Borkenhagen, Michael Byrne Samuels, Michael Visenio, Mike Wilson, Nick Mascoli, Nick Miller, Niemen Maske, Palmer Robert Mitchell, Patrick Lefaver, Paul DiLoreto, Rahul Gupta, Robby Masi, Robert Giusti, Sam Amador, Sean McFeely, Teddy Schilling, Theo Touneh, Tim Durstenfeld, Tom Carine, Tory Magtoto, Ulises Aguirre, Victor Valladares
A Few Good Men
By Aaron Sorkin
This 1989 thriller of questionable ethics at Guantanamo Bay asks hard questions about the Marine code of honor: does moral justice govern military conduct, and who draws the line that should not be crossed? To prepare, student actors spoke with a former Navy JAG lawyer and endured a Marine-run boot camp.
Cast:
Lt. j.g. Daniel A. Kaffee - Jeffrey Adams
Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway - Meredith Müller
Lt. j.g. Sam Weinberg - James Peiffer
Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep - Merlin Huff
Capt. Matthew A. Markinson - Sean Sullinger
Lt. Jonathan James Kendrick - Adam Griffith
Lt. Jack Ross - Daniel Cook
Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson - Barclay Iversen
Pfc. Louden Downey- Michelle Viñal
Pfc. William T. Santiago - Robert Russell
Capt. Isaac Whitaker - Michael Creekpaum
Cpl. Jeffrey Owen Howard - Steven Elrod
Capt. Julius Alexander Randolph - Dean Santiago
Cmdr. Walter Stone - Baron Cannon
Dave / Thomas / MP2 - Erik Johnson
Dunn / Sergeant-at-Arms / MP1 - Andrew Nguyen
Hammaker / Orderly / Lila - Cat Aurelio
Director:Peter Canavese
Poster Design: Kevin McMahon
Set Designer/Technical Director: Jim Gross
Costume Designer: Patsy McClure
Crew:
Physical Training Coach - Merlin Huff
Assistant Director - Tomi Mendel
House Manager - Nick Furnal
Stage Manager - Chris Spencer-Cooke
Assistant Stage Manager - Maxwell Aloysius Borkenhagen
Lighting Design - Liam Dempsey
Light Board Operator - Tim Durstenfeld
Assistant Light Board Operator - Palmer Robert Nicholas Mitchell
Sound Design/Operator - Anatole Figueroa
Assistant Sound Operator - Thomas Carine
Assistant Technical Director - Maxwell Aloysius Borkenhagen
Master Carpenter/Head Scenic Artist - Chris Spencer-Cooke
Backstage Crew - Joseph Anthony Herzog, Patrick Lefaver, Nick Miller, Brendan Wheatley
Set Construction:
Ulises Aguirre, Maxwell Aloysius Borkenhagen, Jeremy Cabrilo, Thomas Carine, Chris Casuga, Liam Dempsey, Tim Durstenfeld, Anatole Figueroa, Michael Hausle, Joseph Anthony Herzog, Aaron Juni, Steve Katzman, Matt Leberknight, Patrick Lefaver, Kyle Tomás Martin, Tomi Mendel, Nick Miller, Palmer Robert Nicholas Mitchell, Anthony Mitchell, Stephen Savignano, Chris Spencer-Cooke, Michael Byrne Samuels, Jerald Westendorf, Brendan Wheatley, Chris Wilson, Michael Wilson
Grease
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Our 2006 Spring Comedy brought to life Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Set in a Parisian bar in 1904, the play expresses Mr. Martin’s love for art, wit, clever characterization and, yes, bathroom humor. By placing two of the most original minds of the 20th century side by side, Martin demonstrates the similarity of their accomplishments. Albert Einstein is about to publish his theory of relativity. Pablo Picasso will soon paint “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” which is regarded as the seminal cubist painting, and its singular impact on 20th Century Art is unmatched.
Cast:
Freddy - Merlin Huff ('06)
Gaston - Matt Spencer Cooke ('08)
Einstein - Stephen Elrod ('08)
Germaine - Stephanie Kent (Mitty, '06)
Suzanne - Autumn Mirassou (Presentation, '07)
Sagot - James Peifer ('06)
Picasso - Jeff Adams ('06)
Countess - Caitlin Berger (Presentation, '07)
Schmendiman - Barclay Iverson ('06)
A Visitor - Evan Pearson ('08)
Director and Tech Director: Russ Marcel
Assistant Directors: Dan Cook and Chris Casuga
Costume Design: Jean Toohey
Crew:
Stage Manager: Max Borkenhagen
ASM: Anatole Figueroa
Sound: Liam Dempsey
Head Lights: Patrick Lefaver
Asst. Lights: Palmer Mitchell
Backstage Crew: Thomas Carine
Dead Man Walking
By Tim Robbins
Based on the Book by Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J.
In the early ‘80s, Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J. became the spiritual adviser to Patrick Sonnier, a killer on Louisiana's Death Row. The profoundly moving course of their friendship--set against the backdrop of opposing views on the death penalty--forms the basis of Dead Man Walking, adapted by Academy Award-winner Tim Robbins from his screenplay and Prejean's bestselling memoir. Produced by special arrangement with Prejean and Robbins, Dead Man Walking had its world premiere at a Jesuit school, only two weeks before Bellarmine became the second high school in the nation to perform the play. Christian Service Program director Steve Pinkston brought cast and crew members, the director, and technical director to San Quentin Prison as part of the preparation for the production; Sister Helen also visited Bellarmine to chat with cast and crew and answer their questions.
Cast:
Sister Helen Prejean - Caitlyn Tella
Matthew Poncelet - Merlin Huff
Lucille Poncelet / Sister Colleen / Woman 2 - Alexis Konevich
Hilton Barber - Matt Sobel
Earl Delacroix - Sean Sullinger
Chaplain Farley - Mark Hayden
Gilardi / Fredericks / Jim / Man 2 - Sam Propersi
Clyde Percy / Reporter 1 / Polygraph Operator- Dan Cook
Marybeth Percy / Nurse / Guard - Monica Alba
Hope / Emily / Reporter 2 / Woman 3 - Elaina Tia
Helen's Mother / Sister Neal / Woman 1 - Marissa Smith
Trapp / Mitch Poncelet / Montoya - Dominic Gomes
Walter / Troy Poncelet / Voice of Purvis Slade / Reporter - Steven Elrod
Herbie / Guard / Radio Reporter - George Bayuga
Sgt. Beliveau / Mirabeau / Reporter 3 / Man 3 - Alex Alvarez
Warden Hartman / Man 1 / Guard - Joey Amant
Director:Peter Canavese
Poster Design: Kevin McMahon
Set Designer/Technical Director: Vern Cleary
Costumes: Patsy McClure
Crew:
Assistant Director - David Gibb
House Manager & Ticket Sales: John Higgins
Stage Manager - Luke Sharkey
Assistant Stage Manager - Matt Leberknight
Head Sound - Max Borkenhagen
Assistant Sound - Daniel Strawbridge
Head Lights - Liam Dempsey
Assistant Lights - Matt Watley
Backstage Crew - Tomi Mendel
Set Construction:
Joseph Amant, Max Borkenhagen, Jeremy Cabrido, Josh Cabrido, David Coldren, Dennis Caserza, Liam Dempsey, Tim Durstenfeld, Anatole Figueroa, Nick Furnal, Dominic Gomes, Nick Jones, Kevin Juri, Michael Hausle, Matt Leberknight, Matthew Linhares, Luis Martinez, Scott Meisburger, Tomi Mendel, Ferguson Mitchell, Sam Propersi, Nicholas Raye, Nick Ricossa, Stephen Savignano, Luke Sharkey, Alex Slowikowski, Chris Spencer-Cooke, Daniel Strawbridge, Dana Stringer, Matt Watley, Brendan Wheatley, Brandon Williams
A Chorus Line
Twelfth Night
"If music be the food of love, play on!" So begins William Shakespeare's comedy, which Bellarmine Theatre brought to life in Spring of 2005.
Cast:
Duke Orsino - Jeff Adams ('06)
Viola - Emily Yelencich (Castilleja, '06)
Sir Toby Belch - Mark Hayden ('05)
Maria - Alexis Konevich (St. Francis, '05)
Andrew Aguecheek - David Gibb ('05)
Feste - Alex Brightman ('05)
Olivia - Monica Alba (Presentation, '05)
Malvolio - Merlin Huff ('06)
Antonio - Dan Cook ('06)
Sebastian - Stephen Elrod ('08)
Fabian - Joseph Amant ('05)
Valentine / Officer 2 - William Martin ('07)
Curio / Officer 1 - Jay Troop ('05)
Captain / Priest - Neal Albright ('05)
Director: Russ Marcel
Assistant Director: Brendan Lynch ('05)
Tech Direction & Design: David Myers
Original Music arrangements: Vern Cleary, Alex Brightman ('05), Jay Troop ('05)
Costume Design: Jean Toohey
Crew:
Stage manager - Matt Leberknight ('06)
Assistant stage manager - Michael Hausle ('06)
Backstage Crew - Patrick LeFaver ('07)
Head Sound - Joe Herzog ('08)
Assistant Sound - Tim Durstenfeld ('07)
Head Lights - Liam Dempsy ('07)
Spotlight - Thomas Carine ('08)
Assistant to Lights - Anatole Figueroa ('08)