Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Stage Managed by Mandi Stevens
CAST/STAFF
Brian Altman (Benny Southstreet) is happy to be back supporting Blank Canvas Theatre with so many friends! He made his debut here in Bat Boy: The Musical (Dr.Parker) in 2015, and has enjoyed lots of shows since then, including Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Judge Turpin), Silence! The Musical (Dr. Hannibal Lecter), Little Miss Sunshine (Uncle Frank), American Psycho (Detective Kimball), and most recently, Peter and the Starcatcher (Black Stache) ! He's sung three of the previous BCT benefit concerts, including Jekyll & Hyde (Gabriel John Utterson) and Chess (Anatoly Sergievsky). In addition to performing, Brian lent a hand with some scene painting for Bat Boy: The Musical and Reefer Madness. He hopes to be back in another BCT role very soon. But first, be sure to catch him in his Cain Park debut this summer in The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee, directed by BCT's own Patrick Ciamacco! Thanks for supporting Cleveland's BEST live theatres!
Tasha Brandt (Miss Adelaide) is delighted to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage. Tasha has done numerous shows at BCT including benefit concerts, The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (2021), The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, Night of the Living Dead, High Fidelity, Working, and Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical. BCT has a special place in Tasha's heart as a community hub and a place that reinvigorates the love and fun of doing theatre. Tasha has met so many great friends -- as well as her fiancé – working here. The love for this place runs deep! Thank you for supporting this amazing community!
Patrick Ciamacco (Nicely Nicely Johnson) is thrilled to share the stage with so many talented and amazing people! Without them -- and YOU -- this place would not exist. Patrick is the Artistic Director and founder of Blank Canvas Theatre. Every day when he walks into this place, he feels like the luckiest man alive!
Alicia Diamond (Hot Box Girl) is thrilled to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage. She made her debut at BCT as Lulu in the 2021 production of Cabaret. More recently she was seen as The Mayor in the Cleveland premiere of The Spongebob Musical. Alicia loves working at BCT because it feels like a second family. She would like to thank Patrick and everyone with whom she has worked at this wonderful theatre for keeping her passion alive.
Neely Gevaart (Hot Box Girl) is very excited to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage! She has been seen in many productions here, including the very first BCT show, The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (2012, 2013), The Wild Party, Triassic Parq: The Musical, HAIR, and We Will Rock You. More recently, she has been seen volunteering at the bar and accidentally under-pouring the wine. Thank you for coming out to support this amazing theatre!
Trey Gilpin (Rusty Charlie) loves to be at his-home-not-too-far-away-from-home. He’s proud to have been a part of the BCT family since (nearly) the beginning, playing Juror #4 in 12 Angry Men (2013), Woof in HAIR and Barry Allen in Night of the Living Dead (2014), Ralph in Reefer Madness (2015), Dr. Chilton in Silence! The Musical (2016), Hot Blades Harry in Urinetown: The Musical (2017), and Nicky in Avenue Q (2018). That’s not to mention many BCT benefits and special appearances, including Night of the Living Theatre in 2020, one of Patrick’s safe and innovative drive-in showcases that held us together through dark times.
John Lynch (Arvide Abernathy) most recently appeared in Rocky The Musical (Mickey) here at the Blank Canvas Theatre. It was a memorable experience and he's happy to return to the theatre as part of this talented cast. He'd like to thank you all for supporting the Arts and helping this theatre to thrive.
Kate Leigh Michalski (Hot Box Girl) is thrilled, as always, to be back here at Blank Canvas Theatre! She has been seen here over the years in The Texas Chainsaw Musical (2012, 2013, 2021), We Will Rock You, Evil Dead - The Musical, Godspell, HAIR, Reefer Madness, High Fidelity, Triassic Parq: The Musical, Avenue Q, Yippee Ki-Yay, Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody, The SpongeBob Musical, The Last Starfighter, Leap of Faith, and Zombie Prom. If she's not on stage, she might be pushing buttons in the booth or handing you your tickets. BCT is one of her favorite places to be with so many of her favorite people! "Thanks" is not enough to give to Patrick for creating this place.
Pat Miller (Big Jule) returns to the Blank Canvas Theatre benefit as another small, bad guy after appearing in The Who’s TOMMY (Cousin Kevin) and Jekyll & Hyde (Lord Savage/Spider). He is an original cast member of The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Groovy Teen, 2012, 2013), the very first production at Blank Canvas Theatre. He later appeared in Bat Boy: The Musical (Bat Boy), which garnered him “Best Actor in a Musical” awards from the Cleveland Critics Circle and SCENE Magazine. Pat also designs the BCT season logos. trickmiller.com
Allison Naso (General Matilda Cartwight/Hotbox Girl) most recently appeared at Blank Canvas Theatre as Gloria in Rocky the Musical. Past BCT credits include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (ensemble) and Jekyll & Hyde in concert (ensemble). In addition to appearing on stage, Allison has occasionally appeared behind the bar and in the ticket booth, but her absolute favorite place to be is in the audience, which is where she makes most of her frequent BCT appearances. She is a proud season ticket holder for the upcoming season. Enjoy the show!
Shane O'Neill (Harry the Horse) is grateful to be here to help support Blank Canvas Theatre; this was the first stage Shane stepped onto after moving back to Cleveland a little over ten years ago. At BCT, Shane has been seen in Leap of Faith (Jonas), Avenue Q (Princeton), High Fidelity (Rob), and Godspell. Shane would like to encourage everyone to continue supporting local theatre! www.shanepatrickoneill.com
Anna Parchem (Hotbox Girl) is so excited to come back to Blank Canvas Theatre for this event! She's only had the chance to appear on this stage once before as Rosie in the 2021 production of Cabaret, after having first fallen in love with this theatre from the audience when watching the 2016 staging of that same production. Some other favorite BCT productions she's had the joy of seeing include Urinetown: The Musical, Equus, and The Wild Party. She firmly believes Guys and Dolls is a joy of a show, so "sue me" if you don't have a grand ol' time.
Lindsay Pier (Sarah Brown) is excited to be out of her house and back at Blank Canvas Theatre! Her previous BCT credits include Next Fall (Holly), the benefit concert of Merrily We Roll Along (Mary), One Man, Two Guvnors (Dolly), and singing in a window for the concert A New Hope. Since its first season, BCT has been a place where Lindsay can spend her "me" time, meet some cool, different people, and put that B.F.A. degree she's still paying for to good use. Love to Josh, A, and KK!
Venchise Phillips (Hotbox Girl) is elated to be a part of another Blank Canvas Theatre production! Her favorite BCT onstage credits are Zombie Prom (Ramona Merenge/ Ensemble), comma (Nurse), Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody (Fabrique/Theo/Dancing Twinkie) and Cannibal! The Musical (Liane). Behind the scenes, Venchise has also served as a prop designer, costume designer, sound operator, assistant stage manager, and stage manager. Thank you to every performer, musician, designer, volunteer, and audience member who is part of BCT’s uniquely exceptional community. Special thanks to Patrick for literally everything. Love to Aaron, now and for always. Enjoy the show!
Danny Simpson (Nathan Detroit) considers Blank Canvas Theatre is a home away from home. He has had the pleasure of working on and off the BCT stage since 2017; many of his favorite were made here, in productions including We Will Rock You, The Rocky Horror Show, The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (2021), and Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody. From working behind the scenes helping Patrick get ready for the next show, to acting and singing on stage, BCT has been such a supportive outlet for Danny’s creativity, and it is where he met and got to know Tasha, his fiancée, the love of his freaking life. Shout out to the late, great KJK.
Michael Snider (Sky Masterson) is honored to be a part of his second benefit at Blank Canvas Theatre. Most recently, you may have seen him throwing punches, instead of dice, in Rocky The Musical (Rocky). His other past performances at BCT include the title role in the 2017 production of Floyd Collins, and Valentin in Kiss of the Spiderwoman. He also made a cameo appearance as The Singer for one performance of the 2018 production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile. This is one of his favorite places to perform and he hopes to be back again soon! Special thanks to Trinidad, Kirstin, Colin, Dylan, and Michaela for all their love and support!
Daniel Telford (Lieutenant Brannigan) has appeared in several productions at Blank Canvas Theatre including David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, and Jeff Glover’s comma and Fissures of Men. In addition to appearing onstage, Daniel has had the privilege to work with Patrick building several of the sets and hanging lights at BCT.
Mandi Stevens (Stage Manager) is excited to return to Blank Canvas Theatre after stage managing The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (2021). During the pandemic, she worked on all of the drive-in shows, parking cars, running projections and stage managing. Her first BCT show was The Toxic Avenger as wardrobe crew. You can also find her volunteering as a bartender or at the box office. She has a deep connection to BCT through Patrick, as they went to high school together and fell in love with theatre on the same cafetorium stage. There’s nothing like The Crucible being performed in a room that smells like French fries!