Directed by: Patrick Ciamacco
Lighting Design by: Cory Molner
Costume Design by: Jenniver Sparano
Set Design: Patrick Ciamacco
Stage Manager: Erin Riffle
CAST
Curt Arnold (Juror #1) returns to Blank Canvas Theatre, where he appeared in Next Fall and The Texas Chainsaw Musical (and will be seen in this fall’s revival) and assistant stage managed Hellcab. As an actor, director, and stage manager, he has worked on over 140 productions in the last 36 years in Cleveland and the central Ohio area. Favorite roles include: Assassins (Lee Harvey Oswald) and Sunday in the Park with George (Franz/Dennis) at Lakeland Theatre; Boys in the Band (Michael) at convergence-continuum; A Man of No Importance (Sully), The Dying Gaul (Robert) and Noises Off(Frederick/Philip) at Beck Center; and Annie (Rooster) at Weathervane Playhouse. Each summer since 2003, he has been proud to direct and co-produce a staged reading of a musical to benefit AIDS service agencies in Cuyahoga and Summit counties, raising over $88,000 for these charities. This year’s production is Lucky Stiff at Weathervane Playhouse on August 19 and at Beck Center onAugust 26.
Joey Dienes (Guard/ASM) is honored to share the stage with some of the best male talent around. Thanks again to Patrick for this opportunity and continued opportunities at Blank Canvas onstage and off. Most recent credits include Psycho Beach Party (Nicky), House of Blue Leaves (MP), and Arsenic and Old Lace (Officer Klein). Other credits include The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Judas), Tartuffe (Cleante), Cloud Nine (Joshua/Gerry), and Dog Sees God (CB). Thanks for the support!
Scott Esposito (Juror #8) is thrilled to be making his debut with Blank Canvas Theatre. His favorite credits include The Normal Heart (Felix Turner) with Ensemble Theatre, Assassins (John Wilkes Booth) with Lakeland Civic Theatre, The Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), and Twelfth Night (Sebastian) with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (Billy) with Dobama Theatre, Jeffrey (Jeffrey), Lord of the Flies (Jack), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander) with the Beck Center. Scott would like to thank his husband, Vince, for his continuous love and support.
Trey Gilpin (Juror #4) is honored and humbled to share the stage with these gentlemen in his Blank Canvas debut. Trey has been extremely active in the northeast Ohio theatre scene since 2007, and was most recently spotted playing Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes at Cassidy Theatre. Favorite credits include The Importance of Being Earnest (Algernon Moncrieff) at Actors' Summit, ASSASSINS (Giuseppe Zangara) at Lakeland Civic Theatre, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Martin Van Buren) at Beck Center for the Arts, The Last 5 Years (Jamie Wellerstein) at Salem Community Theatre, and The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho) at Huntington Playhouse. He'd like to thank Patrick for this incredible opportunity, and also his parents for their long-suffering indulgence of his artistic endeavors.
Benjamin Gregg (Juror #5) is very excited to be a part of the talented cast and crew of the classic 12 Angry Men at Blank Canvas. Over the last year and half, he has appeared in numerous shows and staged readings around the area including at Cleveland Public Theater, Ensemble Theater, Convergence Continuum, and Karamu House. Ben would like to thank Patrick Ciamacco for the opportunity to be a part of this great show. In addition, he would like to thank his parents Bill and Sue for all their support and his sister Chrissy for the long distance good vibes from New Orleans. Thanks to Joe Sestito, Elana Averbach, Tracey McKee, and Sarah Greywitt for the open ears and open arms. Thanks to the sacred communities of Pebble Ledge Ranch in Novelty, OH and Mt. Irenaeus at St. Bonaventure University, NY.
Robert Hawkes (Juror #10) is making his Blank Canvas début. He has been seen earlier this year in The Miracle Worker (Captain Keller) at TrueNorth, Half Cut (Mr Penderson) at Cleveland Public Theatre, The Iceman Cometh (Larry Slade) at Ensemble Theatre, and Medea (Creon) at Mamaí Theatre. In the fall, he will appear in The Bald Soprano (Mr Smith) for the Ohio City Theatre Project, and in Fool for Love (Old Man) at convergence-continuum, where he is a member of the acting company.
Perren Hedderson (Juror #11) is humbled to be part of this production. He has done mostly musicals in his acting career, and has been looking for a chance to ‘just say some words, and do some stuff’. Film credits include, Hero Tomorrow (David), Horror In The Wind (Richard), and a bunch of stuff he has no lines or face in! Recent on stage work include, Texas Chainsaw The Musical (Eddy), and Hairspray (Wilbur). Perren acts as ATD and Video Effects Producer for Near West Theatre full time. The current and next season, will be the last performances at St. Pats club building, before it moves to its new home and facility, at 67th and Detroit Ave! Wow, what a time! Much love to Momma Carole and Big B, who’s effort, he strives to emulate.
Tom Hill (Juror #7) is delighted to make his Blank Canvas debut with this fantastic cast and crew. Over the past few years Tom has appeared in Hairspray (Edna), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Durdles), The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Ensemble), ART (Serge), Anyone Can Whistle (Treasurer Cooley), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Pseudolus), Moon Over Buffalo (George Hay), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Val), A Christmas Carol (Scrooge) and The Producers (Max Bialystock). By day Tom is a financial advisor and owner of Thomas Hill Investment Services in Mentor, and also co-owns Family Karate with his wife Libby. Major thanks to Patrick for this opportunity and to family and friends for putting up with the frequent absences caused by theater addiction.
Jonathan Kronenberger (Juror #2) is thrilled to finally be onstage at Blank Canvas after almost getting to be in the inaugural production. It’s about bloody time. By day (and often night) Jonathan serves as Associate Director of Theater Education at Beck Center for the Arts. He is a graduate of both Miami University and Ohio University and an awkward member of the Dramatists Guild. Jonathan would like to thank Patrick (and anyone else who might be responsible) for this amazing opportunity to hang out with – and be bullied by - the big boys.
Mitch Manthey (Juror #3) - is very excited to be a part of one of his favorite plays. It also happens to be one of his father’s favorite movies. Some of his favorite credits include Kiss Me, Kate! (Fredrick Graham), Oliver (Bill Sykes),1776 (Edward Rutledge), Wait Until Dark (Harry Roat Jr.), LUV (Milt Manville) and Accomplice (Derrick Taylor), an OCTA Award Winner. Mitch has also directed a number of plays over the years and makes his living as a Graphic Designer.
Joseph Milan (Juror #6) - is very excited to be joining Blank Canvas for the first time for 12 Angry Men! His recent credits include Medea (Aegeus), Cocopelli (Bear), a Cracker Maker and a Dead Barber. Joe also plays an analog accordion and is an avid bicyclist and pedestrian.
John J. Polk (Juror #12) is honored to join this distinguished ensemble in bringing you this excellent production. He enjoyed his Blank Canvas debut in last season’s Of Mice And Men (The Boss). He has appeared at Cleveland Public Theatre in Fever/Dream (Fred Clotaldo) and Andrew Jackson Ate My Homework (Andrew Jackson), He also hangs around Lakewood’s Beck Center, where he has appeared in Annie (Lt. Ward, Cordell Hull), Legally Blonde: The Musical (Token Middle-Aged Guy); The Farnsworth Invention (Ensemble); Urinetown: The Musical (Sen. Fipp); My Favorite Year (King Kaiser); A Man Of No Importance (Fr. Kenney); A Raisin In The Sun (Karl Lindner); Spinning Into Butter (Dean Strauss); Inherit The Wind (The Mayor); You Can’t Take It With You (Mr. Kirby); and The Crucible (Deputy Governor Danforth). Thanks, Patrick…It’s a pleasure to watch your vision for Blank Canvas strengthen and evolve. And thanks to my family, for letting Dad play
Tim Tavcar (Juror #9) has been pleased to work at various area theatres, after returning to Cleveland in 2010, including Cleveland Public’s My Dear Boy, The Ensemble Theatre’s Miracle and Wonder, The Beck Center’s My Fair Lady & Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Dobama Theatre’s Varicose Vanities and his favorite - Of Mice and Men at the Blank Canvas Theatre. He is also the Creator/Director of WordStage, a Chamber Music Theater which performs self-produced works that draw from the rich history of classical Music and the Spoken Word at the West Shore Unitarian/Universalist Church in Rocky River, as well as creating and performing commissioned works from such institutions in Northeast Ohio and Central Vermont as the Lakewood and Beachwood Public Libraries, The Shaker Heights Arts Council, the Rowfant Club and the Friends of the Vermont State House.