Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Choir Music Direction by Matthew Dolan
Stage Managed by Brittany Gaul
Costume Design by Luke Scattergood
Lighting and Set Design by Patrick Ciamacco
CAST
Joseph Daso (Wally Webb) is very excited to be in his first show at Blank Canvas Theatre! Joey recently performed in Mary Poppins (Michael Banks) at Beck Center for the Arts. Other favorite productions include Pied Piper of Hamelin (Hans, the lame boy), Going Medieval (King Arthur), Wizard of Oz (Barrister Munchkin), and most recently, Oliver! (Oliver understudy/pickpocket/orphan). He recently had a lot of fun at Music Theatre camp at Baldwin Wallace University. And he’d like to give a shout out to his younger sister who didn’t die when she had appendicitis!
Sharron DeCosta (Mrs. Soames) This is Sharron’s first show at Blank Canvas Theatre after a 24 year history of doing musicals at Near West Theatre. She is a lifelong, deep-rooted resident of the Gordon Square Arts District. Sharron enjoys her job managing courier accounts at Brightstone Insurance in Middleburg Heights, and attends Bay Presbyterian Church. She is the proud “Dog-Ma” of a very active two-and-a-half-year-old Border Collie named Jackie. Sharron is thrilled for this opportunity to learn from some amazingly talented actors and actresses, and to be directed by her dear friend, Patrick.
Christopher Fortunato (Constable Warren) is pleased to be making his Blank Canvas Theatre debut in one of his favorite plays. Chris is a Thornton Wilder devotee and played Constable Warren before at Porthouse Theatre under the direction of Matthew Earnest. He also played the Stage Manager years ago. Chris was recently seen in Evita at Brecksville Theatre on the Square. He has appeared at BTOTS, Mercury Summer Stock, and Porthouse-KSU. Favorite roles include Richard Nixon in "Frost/Nixon" at Rabbit Run and over 100 performances of FDR in "Annie" at various venues as well as any part in "Our Town" and "1776."
Becca Frick (Emily Webb) is thrilled to be back on the Blank Canvas stage! She was last seen in HAIR (Jeanie) and Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical (Roberta). Some of her other favorite credits include Miss Julie (Julie), Chicago (Velma Kelly), and Hairspray (Velma Von Tussle). During the day, Becca is the Donor Relations Associate for Great Lakes Theater, and she also spends time directing at Bay High School and choreographing for various local youth theaters, although her favorite thing to do is spend time with her amazing fiance and puppy. Thanks to this amazing cast and staff who gave me the opportunity to be a part of bringing my favorite play to life. For my own mom, and for that “something way down deep that’s eternal about every human being.”
Perren Hedderson (George Gibbs) is thrilled to be a part of Our Town. Congratulations to Blank Canvas Theatre on its third season -- the wall just keeps filling up with show posters! Recent productions include One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Billy), The Laughter League, and projection design for HAIR at Blank Canvas, and projection design for Shrek The Musical at Near West Theatre. BOOMBA BOOMBA !!!
Brett Heidinger (Sam Craig) is excited to make his debut for Blank Canvas Theatre and to work with this talented cast and crew. He has also been seen in Romeo and Juliet (Romeo) and Arsenic and Old Lace (Mortimer Brewster). He would like to thank his family and friends for all of their support, as well as David Cotton and Christina Baratta for helping him to become a better actor.
Lance King (Mr. Webb) is thoroughly enjoying wrapping up his first year in public theatre by being a part of this production of Our Town with Blank Canvas Theatre. Lance’s other stage experiences include The Diary of Anne Frank (Otto Frank), And Then There Were None (General McKenzie) and The Twentieth Century (George Smith). In smaller venues, Lance has performed in The Long Christmas Dinner (Cousin Brandon), The Last Leaf (Russian Doctor ), and in the elaborate passion play The Centurion (The Centurion). He is looking forward to more opportunities to participate in Cleveland’s theatre community.
Len Lieber (Simon Stimson) happily and proudly returns to the Blank Canvas Theatre, having most recently appeared here in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Scanlon). Celebrating his 58th year in various areas of the theatre and related media, Len has also been seen in Bathroom Humor (Old Man), The Cemetery Club (Sam), Of Mice and Men (Candy) and a CPT production of Our Town (playing George at 16 when turning 67). Now retired from a career in the mental health and child abuse field, Len spends much non-theatre time playing a "hot" third base in a senior softball league, working out at the Westlake Rec Center, and being an active grandpa and travel planner for himself and Liza, to whom he is indebted for her patience and support. They will be visiting her homeland of Russia later this year. And, good night, Ellen Jo, wherever you are.
Lynna Metrisin (Mrs. Webb) is thrilled to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut in Our Town. Her recent credits include Lorain County Community College Theatre’s American Enterprise (Jenny Curtis/Ensemble), Ensemble Theatre’s Zebediah (Alice Anne), and Clague Playhouse’s Almost, Maine (Glory/Waitress/Gayle/Marci/Hope). Lynna has also been seen in various productions at Cleveland Public Theatre, including its production of Our Town.
Cara Myers (Si Crowell) is very excited to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut. Cara is a fifth grader from Olmsted Township. When not acting and singing, she loves to write, spend time with her friends, and watch YouTube videos. Cara’s recent credits include A Bully Carol (Sarah), Shrek (Shoemaker’s Elf) and Annie (Duffy). She has also performed on the regional level in A Christmas Carol (Turkey girl/Street girl) at Great Lakes Theater. Cara will begin the national tour of Ragtime (Little Girl) along with her brother Colin in September. She is thrilled she can share the stage with her dad, brother, and best friend Makenna before leaving town for nine months. Cara would like to thank her parents for supporting her dreams.
Colin Myers (Joe Crowell) is thrilled to have his first role at Blank Canvas Theatre. Colin is a seventh grader from Olmsted Township. In his free time he enjoys playing Minecraft, watching YouTube videos, and spending time with his friends. Some of Colin’s recent credits include Big Fish (Young Will), Oliver! (Oliver) and Bye Bye, Birdie (Randolph MacAfee). Colin’s regional theater credits include A Christmas Story (Schwartz) and Dawg Pounded (Young Paul). Colin will make his national theater debut in the musical Ragtime (Edgar) next month, where he will again share the stage with his sister, Cara. Colin would like to thank his mom and dad for supporting his love of acting.
Kevin Myers (Prof. Willard/Joe Stoddard) is excited to return to Blank Canvas Theatre after performing in High Fidelity (The Most Pathetic Man In The World). Recently you may have seen him in Jesus Christ, Superstar (Caiphus) and Shrek The Musical (Big Bad Wolf). Kevin began acting again with his children two years ago in Babes in Toyland (The Muffin Man). He then scored roles in Romeo and Juliet (Balthazar) and Jekyll and Hyde (Lord Savage) before sharing the stage with his oldest son in Oliver! (Bill Sykes). Kevin is very busy this year with his children who are also in this show. He would like to thank his family for all their love, support, and for encouraging him to audition.
John J. Polk (Doc Gibbs) is happy to join with this talented ensemble in bringing you this production of his favorite play. Blank Canvas regulars might remember his performances in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Dale Harding), 12 Angry Men (Juror #12), and Of Mice And Men (The Boss). He’s also appeared at Beck Center in Lend Me A Tenor (Saunders), Mary Poppins (Admiral Boom/ The Chairman), Annie (Lt. Ward, Cordell Hull), Urinetown: The Musical (Senator Fipp), My Favorite Year (King Kaiser) and as many other blowhards, villains, and foils, as well as at Cleveland Public Theatre in Spirits To Enforce (The Snow-Heavy Branch) and Fever/Dream (Fred Clotaldo). I can’t think about Our Town without thinking of my Mom, Jeanette, who was the most “alive” person I ever knew. This is for her.
Laura Starnik (Mrs. Gibbs) is making her first onstage appearance at Blank Canvas Theatre in Our Town and very happy for that. Her recent credits include Becky Shaw (Susan Slater), Sons of the Prophet (Mrs. McAndrew), Middletown (Librarian), and Humble Boy (Mercy Lott) at Dobama; Come Back, Little Sheba (Mrs. Coffman) at Oberlin Summer Theater Festival; This is Not The Play (White Woman) at Cleveland Public Theatre, and Prelude To a Kiss (Marion Boyle) at Ensemble.
Darius Stubbs (Stage Manager) is excited to be joining Blank Canvas Theatre for Our Town. Darius is an actor, director, vocalist, and teaching artist. He has been creating original theatre work, also known as “devised” theatre, since 2007. He has also worked as an arts educator with Cleveland Public Theatre's S.T.E.P. and Y-Haven programs. Some acting credits include, Cleveland Public Theatre’s Rusted Heart Broadcast (CatManDu), Cleveland Shakespeare Festival’s Titus Andronicus (Aaron the Moor), Great Lakes Theatre’s Comedy of Errors (Sir Balthazar), and Medina Showbiz’s The Boys Next Door (Lucien P. Smith).
Nate Summers (Howie Newsome) is excited to be a part of Blank Canvas Theatre this summer and encourages the audience to sit back and enjoy while we take you into the world of Our Town. Nate has participated in various arts as actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, and choral director. More specifically, his works include The Wiz (U/S Scarecrow & Asst. Choreographer), Leap of Faith (Isaiah Sturdivant), Xanadu Jr. (Sonny Malone), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph), Sweet Charity (Oscar Lindquist), Deliverance (Westchester and SM), Rumors (Ken Gorman), The Aristocats Kids (Edgar), Denzel Washington's Finding Fish: The Antoine Fisher Story (U/S Jesse), The Greek Chronicles (Mike), and Hacked (Mail Brother). He has also been involved in various dance and choral concerts, musicals, benefit performances, background vocals, voice-over work, web series, films, and production management within the state of Ohio. Nate graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, with a focus in Theatre, specializing in Acting and Directing. He also graduated from Cuyahoga Community College with an Associate of Arts.
Makenna Weyburne (Rebecca Gibbs) is very excited to be returning to the Blank Canvas stage where she was previously seen as the chilling Karen Cooper in Night of the Living Dead. Her recent credits include A Bully Carol: Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival (Vickie ), Oliver! (Orphan/Pickpocket) and Alice in Wonderland Jr (Flower/Royal Cardsmen). She would like to thank Patrick for his encouragement and opportunity to be part of an amazing show!