Cast Lists

Directed by Patrick Ciamacco

Music Direction by Matt Dolan

Choreography by Katie Zarecki

Stage Managed by Brittany Gaul

Costume Design by Luke Scattergood

Lighting Design by Cory Molner

Assistant Direction by Erin Moran

Set & Sound Design by Patrick Ciamacco

Sound Operation by Venchise Glenn

 

CAST

*Denotes Member, Actors Equity Association

Leslie Andrews (Texas) is excited to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre after taking a long hiatus from theatre to restore her Mustang!  Favorite roles include those in Young Frankenstein (Inga) and Jerry Springer: The Opera (Zandra/Irene/Mary) at Beck Center, and Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical (Debbie) at Blank Canvas.  Other credits include The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Nun/Parishioner/Ensemble) and High Fidelity (Laura) at Blank Canvas, Xanadu (Calliope/Aphrodite) and Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me a Tenor (Diana) at Beck Center, and The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Pippi) at Mansfield Renaissance.  Leslie earned a degree in Voice from Cleveland State University and also studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  She thanks Patrick and Matt for bringing her along for this incredible journey, as well as the amazing cast and crew.  Love to the drummer who does not have a messed-up face, for which Leslie is very grateful!


*Tricia Bestic (Sally Bowles) is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA unions. She holds a BA (Communications and Political Science) with post baccalaureate work (Education) from John Carroll University, an MFA in Acting from Kent State University, and is a certified teacher of the Michael Chekhov acting technique.  She teaches the Art of Theatre/Acting at Kent State University. Theatre credits include Steel Magnolias, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Trying, Respect…A Musical JourneyUnbeatable, and Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit at Playhouse Square.  She has also been on stage at The Cleveland Play House, Porthouse Theatre, Cesear’s Forum, Dobama Theatre, Beck Center, and Actors’ Summit.  Film/commercial work includes the PBS mini-series The War That Made America, advertisements for Tums (Tammy the Tums waitress) and  Foot Locker, and national voiceovers for Kleenex, Walmart, Dannon, Huggies, Nestle, and McDonald’s.  For more information and upcoming projects, please visit TriciaBestic.com.


Tasha Brandt (Lulu) is ecstatic to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage!  She has recently been seen in Mighty Goliath Players' production of Urinetown: The Musical (Hope) and Near West Theatre’s production of Hair (Tribe).  She has performed at Blank Canvas numerous times, including Night of the Living Dead (Judy Rose), High Fidelity (Marie), Working (Woman 1), Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical (Lisa), along with appearing in True North's production of Children of Eden (Eve/ Momma Noah).  So much gratitude to YOU for supporting the arts and being here with us! 


Kenzie Critzer (Frenchie) is a sophomore BFA acting student at Baldwin Wallace University.  She’s so excited to be participating in her first show at Blank Canvas Theatre!  Her previous credits include Essie in You Can’t Take it with You, Understudy Lydia/Chorus girl in Big Love, and Susan in Company.  She would like to thank her family for their constant support, as well as the faculty of BW for the amazing training she is receiving.

 

 

Kimberly Eskut (Fraulein Kost/Fritzie) is thrilled to be working with one of her favorite theatres, Blank Canvas. Favorite roles include those in The Wild Party (Madeline True), Bonnie & Clyde (Emma), Steel Magnolias (M’lynn), The Addams Family (Granny Addams), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Frankie), The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Momma), Anything Goes (Irma), Legally Blonde The Musical  (Paulette), West Side Story (Anita) ,Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Urinetown : The Musical (Ma Strong) , Blood Brothers (Mrs. Johnstone),  Gypsy (Tessie Tura), City Of Angels (Oolie / Donna), Assassins (Sarah Jane Moore), Chicago (Mama Morton), Pippin (Fastrada), Bye Bye Birdie (Rosie) and  Lucky Stiff (Dominique Dumonaco). Special thanks to Patrick, Luke, Matt, Katie, and Brittany.  She dedicates this show to her amazing dad who's THE BEST MAN she knows!


Bernadette Hisey (Fraulein Schneider) - is making her debut at Blank Canvas Theatre, but is no stranger to area theaters.  Favorite roles include those in Footloose (Vi Moore), Hello, Dolly (Dolly Levi), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett), White Christmas (Martha Watson), Baby (Arlene), and Don't Dress For Dinner (Jacqueline).  She retired from a 30+ year career as a music teacher and is now pursuing her dream of performing on as many stages as possible! 

 

 

 

Stuart Hoffman (Ernst Ludwig) is appearing in his third Blank Canvas Theatre show this year, following Birds of Paradise (Archie) and his original cinematic comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Sean).  He has also been seen around town at Mamai Theatre (Lady Windermere’s Fan), convergence-continuum (My Barking Dog), Cleveland Public Theatre (Standing on Ceremony, Johanna: Facing Forward), and several others. Up next: Death of a Salesman at French Creek Theatre. Thank you for supporting live theatre.

 

Noah Hrbek (Cliff Bradshaw) is thrilled to be back on this stage!  Aside from writing/performing in comedy shows with the Laughter League, he has also appeared on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage in Godspell (Jesus) and Of Mice and Men (Curley).  More often than not, he has continued to be involved off-stage, creating scenic paintings for many shows (most recently Silence! The Musical) and an animated sequence for Bat Boy: The Musical, as well as painting the lobby mural. Thanks to Pat and everyone involved for an always amazing experience!

 

 

Daryl Kelley (Hans) is honored to be making his Blank Canvas Theatre debut with Cabaret. Having become active in the Cleveland area community theatre scene over the past few years, Daryl has racked up quite a list of credits, of which a few favorites include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Mitch Mahoney), The Producers (Ensemble),The Addams Family (Lurch), and Damn Yankees (Sohovik).  Daryl holds a B.A. in Theatre and Spanish from Otterbein University. Благодария!


Michael Knobloch (Victor) is thrilled to be making his debut on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage with a brilliant cast made up of some dear old friends and new ones!  Recent credits include Jekyll & Hyde (Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde), Assassins (John Wilkes Booth), Next to Normal (Henry), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Boy/Peter). Michael is currently pursuing his Acting Certification in the Michael Chekhov acting technique with the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium, and hopes to pursue an MFA in Acting in the near future. Thanks for supporting live theatre and enjoy the cabaret!


 

Madeline Krucek (Rosie) Doing what she loves, Madeline is ready to kick-line this show in the behind for her Blank Canvas Theatre debut in Cabaret, with such a wonderful and talented group of friends.  Her most memorable performances are in  Heathers: The Musical (Veronica Sawyer) at Beck Center for the Arts, Bonnie & Clyde (Bonnie Parker) at Cassidy Theatre, and RENT (Mimi Marquez) at Tri-C West Theatre.  While trying to balance graduating from Baldwin Wallace University in only one year with part-time jobs, lessons, training, and performing, she feels life is pretty hectic. But she has endless adoration and gratitude for all of her loving family and friends as they support her to their fullest in her pursuits.


Evan Martin (Herman) is thrilled to make his debut at Blank Canvas Theatre with this amazing show!  He is currently studying at Cleveland State University with a major in Film and a minor in Finance.  Credits include Pirates of Penzance (The Pirate King) at George Rogers Clark High School. He would love to thank his family and friends who have loved, supported, and encouraged him along the way!

 

Sarah Menser (Helga) is thrilled to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut!  Favorite past credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet van de Graaff), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), and Bonnie & Clyde (Eleanor).  She is a proud alumna of Baldwin Wallace University (B.S. Psychology and Dance). For Bird. 

 

 

Colin Myers (German Boy) is happy to be returning to the Blank Canvas stage. His first performance at Blank Canvas was in Our Town alongside his sister Cara and dad Kevin. Colin spent the last year playing the role of Little Boy on the national tour of Ragtime The Musical. Colin is in the 8th grade at Olmsted Falls middle school. In his spare time he likes to play video games, watch You Tube videos and play tennis and golf. Thank you Patrick for the opportunity to be a part of this great show!  

 

John J. Polk (Herr Schultz) is pleased to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre, where he’s done some of his best work in some of his favorite plays.  Blank Canvas audiences may have seen him in a variety of roles in productions such as Our Town (Doc Gibbs), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Dale Harding), 12 Angry Men (Juror #12) and Of Mice And Men (The Boss). He has also brought a parade of authority figures, blowhards, villains, and foils to the stage at Beck Center, in productions such as Mary Poppins (Admiral Boom, The Chairman) Lend Me A Tenor (Henry Saunders), My Favorite Year (King Kaiser), Urinetown: The Musical (Senator Fipp), You Can’t take It With You (Mr. Kirby), and Spinning Into Butter (Dean Strauss). He spent his summer vacation with the Oberlin Summer Theatre Festival, where he appeared in Macbeth (Duncan, Old Siward) and Inherit The Wind (The Judge), and with Mamai Theatre Company, where he appeared in The Woman Hater (Stephens). Thanks to Patrick and the production staff for the chance to join this distinguished cast, and to Laura for letting him out of the house to play with his friends, and letting him back in when rehearsals and performances are over


Devon Turchan (Emcee) is a Cleveland-based performer and the marketing director at Talespinner Children's Theatre. He earned his B.S. in journalism from Ohio University. Recent theatre credits include Gaylord Ravenal in Show Boat (2016) and Claude in Hair (2015) at Near West Theatre, Tommy in the 2016 Great Lakes Theater outreach tour The Secret Adversary, and Cleveland Opera Theatre's A Streetcar Named Desire (2015).  He is a current performance company member at Talespinner Children’s Theatre.

 

 

David Turner (Bobby) is back again and excited to take on this Kander and Ebb classic. He was last seen on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage in Silence! The Musical (Pembry/Lamb), Hair (Tribe/Margaret Mead), and Bathroom Humor (Sandy),  Other theatrical credits include The Wedding Singer (Robbie Hart), The Producers (Leo Bloom), Bonnie & Clyde (Buck), A Funny Thing Happened... Forum (Hero), The Secret Garden (Dickon), and Guys and Dolls (Rusty Charlie).  During the day, David works in development for Playhouse Square. He also is a Licensed Massage Therapist at the Studio Cleveland on the east bank of the Flats. Thank you to Jason for his love and support and to Patrick for this opportunity! 

 

Brittany Gaul (Stage Manager) is pleased to manage so much talent on one stage!  A frequent flyer of the stage management booth, this marks Brittany's 10th show at BCT!  When not at the theatre Brittany, serves as a teaching artist throughout the Cleveland area, teaches yoga on the beach, and runs with her dog. She is so grateful for all of the opportunities Patrick has given her. 

 

 

Erin Moran (Assistant Director)  is excited to start he involvement with the Blank Canvas Theatre. As a 2015 graduate from Saint Mary’s College with a degree in Theater and Communication, Erin now lives in Westlake and works for the independent baseball team, the Lake Erie Crushers. Her recent credits include The Conners web series (Jessica), Field Below interactive theater experience (Jess), Next to Normal (Natalie) and Rabbit Hole (Becca).  Erin also had the pleasure of directing and designing 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress at Saint Mary’s during her senior year. She would like to thank Scott and Hannah for their support.