Disney's Mary Poppins

Disney's Mary Poppins
July 2 - 19, 2014
in Patchogue

Playbill

   

The Company

GAIL BENNETT GAIL BENNETT (Mary Poppins)
performed the title role in Mary Poppins over 100 times on the First National Tour and Regional Premiere and played Usherette/ Lick-me Biteme in the Las Vegas and Hollywood Bowl companies of Mel Brooks’ The Producers, directed by Susan Stroman. Other favorites: Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady opposite Tony winner Jefferson Mays, Maria in The Sound Of Music opposite Rex Smith, Janet Van der Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone with Sally Struthers, Marian Paroo in The Music Man opposite Davis Gaines, Irene Malloy in Hello, Dolly, Betty Schaeffer in Sunset Boulevard, Betty Haynes in White Christmas, Claudia in NINE, Annie in Annie, Get Your Gun, Jellylorum in Cats, Dinah in Starlight Express, and Belle in A Christmas Carol with Christopher Lloyd and John Goodman. Gail has also starred in films and on television. Her most treasured roles are Wife to Aaron and Mother to Baby Lydia.
STEPHANIE BROOKS STEPHANIE BROOKS (Ensemble/u/s Mary Poppins)
hails from Arizona and holds a BFA in Dance and minor in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona. She is thrilled to return to Gateway, where she was last seen in 42nd St. Recent credits: White Christmas, My Fair Lady, and Chicago. Stephanie has danced with Ad Deum Dance Company (TX), the National Tour of the European equestrian show Apassionata, and H&M. She is the Co- Founder of Alma NYC dance company (www. almanyc.org). Big thanks to her loving family, MSA Agency, and the Gateway family. stephaniebrooks.org.
ANTHONY CHRISTIAN DANIEL Anthony Christian Daniel (Robertson Ay/ Asst. Director)
makes his Gateway Playhouse debut with Mary Poppins. He has been seen on national and international tours of Disney’s Mary Poppins, High School Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, and Grease! Other regional favorites include: How To Succeed... (Finch), SHREK (Pinocchio), I Love a Piano (Jim), Mary Poppins (Robertson Ay), South Pacific (Professor), and more. Special thanks to Seth, the Gateway family, Craig, Lisa, and of course, Shaun. Au revoir... www.anthonycdaniel.com
ALISON CORDARO ALISON CORDARO (Jane Banks))
is thrilled to back on the gateway stage after recently performing in the children’s production of Suessical and White Christmas (Susan Waverly). Alison has also played roles in many other gateway productions and has come to feel at home on the Gateway stage. She can be seen in the movie Brooklyn’s Finest, Chucky Cheese commercials and is the voice of Geraldine from the Very Fairy Princess book series. Alison enjoys her acting lessons as well as singing and studying tap, ballet, jazz and leap and turn. She is 13 years old and lives in Ridge with her Dad and two brothers. Alison would like to thank Shaun and her family at Gateway for giving her the opportunity to be a part of Mary Poppins this summer, and hopes everyone enjoys this production as much as she enjoyed being a part of it.
LISA DONMALL-REEVE LISA DONMALL- REEVE (Ms. Corry/Ensemble)
Born in the UK and trained at London Studio Centre, The Conservatoire de Paris (with Matt Mattox), and Martha Graham. West End: Velma Kelly in Chicago, 1st U/S Ulla in The Producers (original company), Sweet Charity, Crazy For You, My Fair Lady (RNT original company), and Once in a Lifetime (RNT). International touring: A Chorus Line, The Opera Show, Cats, The Rat Pack, Chicago and 42nd Street. Numerous choreography credits, and faculty member at Joffrey Ballet School, NY, as well as a flybarre instructor. www.lisadonmallreeve.com.
ETHAN EISENBERG ETHAN EISENBERG (Michael Banks)
after performing as Chip in Beauty and the Beast, Ethan is thrilled to be returning to The Gateway. Ethan is excited to announce that he will also be back on the Gateway stage later this season as Pugsley in The Addams Family. Other favorite credits include Nine (Little Guido) and Auntie Mame (Michael). Many thanks to Shaun, Michael and Rachel for this fantastic opportunity, his Gateway teachers, and his family for their love and support.
THEA BELL FLANZER THEA BELL FLANZER (Jane Banks)
is elated to be making her Gateway Debut! She is a current student at The Gateway Acting School. She would like to give special thanks to Shaun Kerrison, Michael Baker, Robin Joy Allan, Rachel Colson, the rest of the Gateway Family, the Mesiano Family, as well as her family, teachers and friends! She is dedicating her performances in memory of her Great Aunt Helen.
KORY GELLER KORY GELLER (Ensemble)
is thrilled to be doing this show! Previous credits include Joseph... (Ogunquit), A Christmas Carol (McCarter), A Chorus Line (Fulton), and the Broadway Dance Lab. Graduate of NYU/Tisch (CAP21). Many thanks to the magical Poppins team, bloc, parents, family, friends, and his rocks, Moesh and Jazzy. For Grandpa, who loved Disney.
DARYL GETMAN DARYL GETMAN (Dance Captain/Miss Smythe/Ensemble)
is thrilled to have choreographed and worked with Dick Van Dyke earlier this year (PBS). Likewise, she couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this cast of Mary Poppins! Performance credits include: Jimmy Kimmel Live, 1st National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, West Side Story, Damn Yankees, The Music Man (Ogunquit Playhouse), Singin’ in the Rain (Goodspeed), Joseph (MUNY), and Gigi in Gigi. Creative credits include: Pride and Prejudice the Musical (Assoc. Choreographer), Christmas Rose at Carnegie Hall (Asst. Director), and Cougar Town’s Broadway Dream Sequence on ABC (choreographer).
TIMOTHY GRADY TIMOTHY GRADY (Fannie/Ensemble/u/s Park Keeper/Northbrook)
is thrilled to be back at The Gateway Playhouse! Recent credits include the Broadway National Tour of Elf The Musical, NY City Center, Radio City Music Hall, Maltz-Jupiter Theater, McCarter Theater, Riverside Theater, and Ogunquit Playhouse. Proud graduate of Wagner College Theatre. Tim is also a freelance videographer at www.TimGradyFilms.com. Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Colleen, the cast and creative team!
NOLAN LYONS NOLAN LYONS (Michael Banks)
Nolan is glad to be back on the Gateway stage after numerous productions here such as A Christmas Carol (Tiny Tim), Phantom (Young Eric) and Beauty and the Beast (Chip). He has also performed in many of Gateway’s children’s theatre productions, including The Little Mermaid (Flounder) and Seussical (Jojo). Nolan made his television debut in January on an episode of The Blacklist and is currently filming multiple episodes in a television series. Nolan would like to thank Shaun Kerrison for this wonderful opportunity. Special thanks to the Gateway Acting School, Michael Baker, his family and everyone involved in the production.
TONY MANSKER TONY MANSKER (Bert)
is originally from Manhattan Beach, CA, and is thrilled to be returning to Cherry Tree Lane after a four year run in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins. An original cast member, he tap danced across the ceiling as Bert on numerous occasions. Regional credits include: Sophisticated Ladies starring Maurice Hines (Arena Stage), The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), 42nd Street (Andy Lee) and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Tours: West Side Story (US Tour), West Side Story (International Tour). Big thanks to both of my Eddies. Chim Chim Cheroo!
ASHLEY MARINELLI ASHLEY MARINELLI (Annie/Ensemble)
hails from Poughkeepsie, NY, and is thrilled to be a part of this production! THEATER: West Side Story (Ogunquit Playhouse), Funny Thing... Forum (Shakespeare Theatre Company, Helen Hayes Nominee), Petrouchka (NYMF 2010).COMMERCIAL: Performed with Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, Lady Sovereign, Shakira and for X-Box, Wii, and Cirque du Soleil. OTHER: Disney Cruise Line, Superstarz Live!, works by Susan Marshall, and Jill Johnson. Graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Ashley dedicates this performance to her courageous family, and to her father. www.ashleymarinelli.com
KELLY MARTENEY KELLY MARTENEY (Miss Lark/Ensemble/u/s Ms. Brill/Miss Andrew/Bird Woman)
is thrilled to be making her Gateway Playhouse debut! Recent credits include: 9 to 5 (Margaret/Violet cover), 42nd Street (Anytime Annie), Sweet Charity, Camelot. Kelly is a native to Los Angeles with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the College of Santa Fe (SFUAD) in Santa Fe, NM. She also studied acting abroad in London through Ithaca College’s London Center. Many thanks to Lisa and Shaun. For Dad, Mom, Ryan, and Grandpa!
BRYAN CHARLES
MOORE BRYAN CHARLES MOORE (Policeman/ Ensemble/u/s Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman)
is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University in Winona, MN. A native of St. Paul, MN, Moore was brought up dancing and performing in the Twin Cities’ extraordinary arts scene. Credits include: Sweet Charity(National Tour), Fiddler on the Roof (Virginia Rep.), West Side Story (Ogunquit Playhouse), Disney’s High School Musical and Fashion 47 (Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company). Love and thanks to Mr. Peabody and all my mentors.
JOHN O’CREAGH JOHN O’CREAGH (Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman)
has just appeared at the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington DC in The Importance of Being Earnest and the Pittsburgh Public Theater in Candida. John has appeared on television on The Late Show with David Letterman, John Adams, Life On Mars, Law and Order SVU, Kidnapped and Sex and The City. He’s currently preparing a book of light verse for publication.
ASHLEA POTTS ASHLEA POTTS (Katie Nanna/Ensemble/u/s Winifred Banks)
received her BFA in Music Theatre from Elon University. Since graduation, Ashlea has performed in theatres around the US. Favorite Credits include: Eurydice, Spamalot, and Drowsy Chaperone (Cape Rep), Diff’rent (Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival), The Who’s Tommy (Arkansas Rep), Joseph..., Beauty and the Beast, and Aida (Artpark). Commercial Credit: Definitions Gym. Ashlea is thrilled to join this production of Mary Poppins, and thanks her parents, B, and her angel, Danielle.
JAKE PRIMMERMAN JAKE PRIMMERMAN (Annie/Von Hussler/ Ensemble/u/s Bert)
couldn’t be more excited to be back at The Gateway and to “soot” up for Mary Poppins! Recent credits include Anything Goes (NSMT), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Westchester Broadway / Gateway), Singin’ in the Rain (Gateway), and 42nd Street (Engeman). Other regional: The Will Rogers Follies, Funny Girl, Hairspray. TV/Film: The Rachael Ray Show, State Debate. Jake would like to send special thanks and love to his family, friends and mentors, the entire MP team, and everyone at Gateway. www.jakeprimmerman.com
JONATHAN RAYSON JONATHAN RAYSON (George Banks)
at Arkansas Repertory Theatre in the new Duncan Sheik musical Because of Winn Dixie, directed by John Tartaglia. Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour); A Year with Frog and Toad. National Tour: Little Shop of Horrors; Legally Blonde. Off- Broadway: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!; Adrift in Macao; That Time of the Year. Regional: Next to Normal (Dan) at Pioneer Theatre, Ark Rep and Kauffman Center; Goodspeed’s Carousel; Paper Mill’s Hello, Dolly!; Closer Than Ever at Mason Street Warehouse; and A Christmas Memory at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Jonathan’s CD, Shiny and New, is available on iTunes and Amazon. jonathanrayson.com
SANDY ROSENBERG SANDY ROSENBERG (Miss Andrew, Bird Lady)
is thrilled to return to Gateway after appearing last summer as Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein. Broadway credits include The Scarlet Pimpernel (Lady Digby), Mamma Mia! (Rosie U/S) and NYC Opera’s Candide. Sandy’s roles range from a Jewish immigrant (The Golden Land) to Mother Superior (Nunsense)…from Agnes Gooch (Mame) to Carlotta (Phantom). Other favorites include Les Miserables (Mme. Thenardier U/S), Jekyll and Hyde (Lady Beaconsfield), Menopause the Musical (Earth Mother), Lend Me a Tenor (Maria), and The Odd Couple (Mickey) with JoAnne Worley and Cindy Williams. Love my Sid.
CLAY STEFANKI CLAY STEFANKI (Ensemble)
is thrilled to be making his Gateway Playhouse debut! California native. Regional credits: Mary Poppins (u/s Bert), Starlight Express, and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tuacahn Center for the Arts); Miss Saigon (L.A. Ovationnominated), Life Could Be A Dream, 42nd Street, Spamalot, Hairspray, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret (Cliff), White Christmas, Anything Goes. International: Miss Saigon (Macau, China). Graduate of UCLA. Special thanks to Shaun, Lisa, Steven Dry at Connor/Ankrum & Associates, teachers, and family.
MARY VANARSDEL MARY VANARSDEL (Mrs. Brill)
Broadway Tour: Mary Poppins (originated The Bird Woman). Regional: Mama Rose in Gypsy, Carlotta in the Yeston/Kopit Phantom, Lily Byrne in A Man Of No Importance, and dozens more. Film/TV: In The Line of Fire, LA Law, Boardwalk Empire, Gilmore Girls, Miracles and many more. Cabaret: New York’s famed 54 Below Cabaret with the cast of the ill-fated Rebecca. Proud graduate of Bowdoin College, and a 30 year member of Actors Equity. www.maryvanarsdel.com
KRISTEN BETH
WILLIAMS KRISTEN BETH WILLIAMS (Winifred Banks))
Gateway debut. West End: Dale Tremont in the Olivier Award winning Top Hat. Broadway: Nice Work If You Can Get It; Anything Goes; Promises, Promises. Off- Broadway: The Marvelous Wonderettes, Follies, Applause, Face The Music. Regional: Closer Than Ever (Riverside Theatre), An American In Paris (The Alley), Turn of the Century (The Goodman), Irene Molloy in Hello Dolly (Ogunquit Playhouse), Hedy LaRue in How To Succeed... (Music Theatre of Wichita), Kathy Seldon in Singin’ in the Rain (Reagle Music Theatre), Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie (The Moonlight). Kristen Beth has performed at The Royal Albert Hall in London, Carnegie Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl, and she can be heard on several cast albums. Favorite role to date: wife to actor James Ludwig. Proud member of Actors’ Equity. BFA University of Oklahoma. This one’s for my dad.
TANNER WILSON TANNER WILSON (Neleus/Ensemble/u/s Robertson Ay)
is so thrilled to be performing Mary Poppins for the first time this summer! National Tour: Elf The Musical. Regional: White Christmas (Arkansas Rep.), FAME, Cinderella (ArtPark). Thanks to God, Elon MT, 870, family and friends, Julie at CESD, and Mary-Katelin for being the best.
SHAUN KERRISON (Choreographer)
This Summer Shaun is reunited with conductor John Wilson, directing Kiss Me Kate for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Kiss Me Kate will be broadcast live on BBC Radio and televised this coming Christmas on BBC2. He is also returning to the US to direct The Witches of Eastwick. Shaun has recently directed the European Premiere of Bonnie and Clyde at Arts Ed.with Olivier award winning choreographer, Bill Deamer and the Scandinavian Premiere of Shrek the Musical in Sweden. In Dublin he directed a major concert staging of South Pacific, starring Jenna Russell and Maria Ewing which was broadcast on RTE. Other recent work includes My Fair Lady for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London, South Pacific for the Ogunquit Playhouse in the USA (BroadwayWorld and IRNE Award Nominations Best Director) and the The Magic of Disney in Concert for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, an open air concert in Hyde Park. Shaun directed the Swedish Premiere of Crazy For You for Varmland Opera and two separate productions of Sunset Boulevard, for both Goteborg Opera and the shows US Regional Premiere starring Stephanie Powers (BroadwayWorld and IRNE Award Nominations for Best Director). Other regional work in the USA include new productions of Les Miserables and My Fair Lady (IRNE Award Nomination Best Director). On Broadway, Shaun was the Resident Director of Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Associate Director for the Broadway revival of Les Miserables at the Broadhurst Theatre and he redirected the National Theatres Production of My Fair Lady for its 50th Anniversary US National Tour. In the UK, Shaun directed Super Alice Smith- a new musical for Perfect Pitch at the Trafalgar Studios in London. He was the Associate Director of Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre London and its UK National Tour, My Fair Lady at the National Theatre, Theatre Royal Drury Lane and UK Tour, Martin Guerre at the Prince Edward Theatre, Peter Pan and The Pirates of Penzance both at the Savoy Theatre, Resident Director of The Lion King at the Lyceum and Assisted Trevor Nunn on Acorn Antiques The Musical at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Shaun has directed Baby at Mountview, The Life at Guildford School of Acting and both Merrily We Roll Along and The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the RWCMD. His Concert Staging includes Les Miserables-in concert in Tokyo and Japanese Tour and for a Gala to celebrate 100 years of the Entente Cordiale at Windsor Castle for Queen Elizabeth and President Chirac also in Chelmsford Festival, Cardiff Castle and the Royal Albert Hall. Hey Mr Producer! at the Lyceum Theatre. The Hired Man, Cavalcade of Coward and many cabaret and concert performances in London, New York and Nationally as both director and performer. He has toured internationally with the musical group “The WestEnders”. As an actor Shaun played the title role in Candide -Riverside Studios-, Pirates of Penzance- London Palladium, Marry Me a Little-Water Rats, Chicago-Leicester Haymarket, Sweeney Todd - Oldham, Rodgers and Hammersteins Cinderella- Tokyo, and Les Miserables- Palace Theatre London.
LISA STEVENS LISA STEVENS (Choreographer)
Regional - Spamalot (Arts Club Theater Vancouver & Drayton Ent); Xanadu (Arts Club); Mary Poppins (Citadel/Theater Calgary), Anne of Green Gables, Cats, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (Theater Calgary), First Wives Club (Old Globe San Diego). Off Broadway - Bingo! The Musical. Tours: US Tour of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5; UK Tour of 9 to 5; US tour of Bombay Dreams; World Premier of Disney’s High School Musical US and UK Tours, West End, Australia, Japan, and Spain. Film - Diary of A Wimpy Kid 2. Other - Winter Olympics (Victory Ceremonies); NYMF’s Common Grounds. Awards & media: www.lisastevens.biz
DAVID APICHELL (Production Stage Manager)
Recent Off-Broadway credits include the acclaimed thirtieth anniversary edition of Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking!; American Jornalero and Intringulis (INTAR Theatre). Additional SM credits: The Music Man In Concert (Two River Theater/ NJPAC); The Sound Of Music (Mill Mountain Theatre); Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof and Les Miserables (Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston); Three years as PSM for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and eleven years on the national tour of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Upcoming: To Kill a Mockingbird and Children of Eden (Mill Mountain Theatre). Bravo to SK, LS, JP, ACD, DG.
JONATHAN PARKS (Music Director)
is excited to be back at Gateway this summer! He has most recently served as Music Director for Gateway’s productions of 42nd Street and Young Frankenstein. Currently, Jonathan is working on his Master of Music degree at Florida State University, assisting both the opera and musical theatre departments. Previously, he was the Associate Music Director on the national tour of Young Frankenstein and the resident Music Director for the Lake Dillon Theatre Company in Colorado. www. jonathankparks.com
KIM HANSON (Lighting Designer)
has designed numerous international tours. He’s been resident designer for several dance companies and currently designs for The Waterfront Playhouse in Key West. Kim lives in New Fairfield Ct. where he chaired the Board of Education for eight years and is currently a Selectman. This year marks Kim’s 30th season here at Gateway. “A big thanks to all the Allans, past and present, and to my extended Gateway family. There’s no place like home!”
MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI)
is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theatres from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 60,000 theatrical organizations in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.