Directed by Darius Stubbs
Music Direction by Rachel Woods
Stage Managed by Mandalyn Stevens
Costume Design by Luke Scattergood
Lighting & Set Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Sound Design by Richard B. Ingraham
Sound Mixing by RJ Hetman
Projection Design by Tom West
CAST/STAFF
Wesley Allen is excited to be back on the stage performing. His last performance, in Dance Nation at Dobama Theatre, was cut short due to COVID-19 back in March. Wesley is a Cleveland native who has performed in many productions around the area. An Ohio University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and Theater Performance, he’s at home on the stage. Wesley is no stranger to Blank Canvas Theatre; his credits include Hair (Ensemble) and Triassic Parq (Velociraptor of Innocence). Some of his other favorite performances have been in Bootycandy (Sutter) at convergence-continuum, Incendiaries with Ohio City Theater Project and Cleveland Public Theater, and Central Concern with Ohio City Theater Project. In addition to acting, Wesley has played the violin for over 20 years. Last year was very rough and Wesley is looking to get back into his passion. As always, he would love to thank his mother and his partner, Ben, for their continued love and support.
Dayshawnda Ash is excited to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre. Her credits include Elena (The Bear), Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal), Bare: A Pop Opera (Sister Chantelle), Hairspray (Shayna), Urinetown: The Musical (Little Sally), Avenue Q (Gary Coleman), Sister Act (Sister Mary Patrick), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Muzzy), Ghost (Clara Brown) and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (St. Monica). She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre Performance from Kent State University. Dayshawnda is currently represented by Docherty Talent Agency. When she isn’t performing, she is using other media to create Art! Day hopes you enjoy the show!
Tonya Broach is pleased as punch to return to Blank Canvas Theatre. Past BCT performances include Hair (Dionne), Night of the Living Dead (Zombie), Silence! The Musical (Ardelia/Lamb) and, most recently, Chess (Ensemble). She has performed at various theatres within the Cleveland/Akron area including Karamu House, Beck Center, Ensemble Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, Cleveland Public Theatre, and the State Theatre. When she’s not hanging out in theatres, she spends time designing and creating jewelry (Designs by Tonyarie), some of which has been donated to BCT for benefit raffles. She also performs with a ten-piece party band called Perfect Choice (www.perfectchoiceband.com), serves as a board member at Waterloo Arts, and is the Vice President of the Karamu Alumni Association. Thank you all for supporting BCT! Enjoy!
Kyla Burks is very excited to be a part of this production. Kyla is 18, and has been performing since she was six years old. She’s done a few shows at Near West Theatre, including The Wiz in 2009 and Into the Woods in 2011. Kyla was also able to perform in the musical Aida (Aida) twice, in 2018 at NWT and in 2019 at the Akron Civic. Kyla has also been in productions with Broadview Spotlights Theatre, including Evita (Ensemble) in 2016, Disaster! (Levora) in 2017, and Be More Chill (Chloe) in 2018. Her last production before COVID-19 was Ragtime at Broadview Spotlights Theatre, where she played Sarah. Kyla is so happy that she can be a part of a show during this time and gives thanks to the entire cast and crew for bringing her joy during this show! Hope you enjoy the show!!!!
Hayden Neidhardt is beyond honored to be sharing the stage with such amazing Black creatives. It is not lost on Hayden that an opportunity like this – where the stage looks like it does -- doesn't come around too often. Working alongside people she grew up with has made this experience even more fruitful. Hayden would like to give a special thanks to Darius for his consistent artistic eye on life and his strength, which have always been inspiring. Hayden uses time on social media to boost BLACK-POC- LGBTQIA art and encourages everyone to support @Reparation.Now.Cle. Together, we are stronger. Hayden dedicates this performance to her childhood-self and Nico.
Anthony Savage-Williams is pleased to have this opportunity with Blank Canvas Theatre. Anthony has recently been scene in Memphis (Delray) and Ragtime (Booker T. Washington) at Cain Park. Other local productions include Urinetown: The Musical, Cats, Children of Eden, West Side Story, Godspell, Hairspray, and Six Degrees of Separation. With great shows came some great roles as well, and his favorites include Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II), Miss Saigon (John), Oklahoma! (Ike Skidmore), Seussical (Horton), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Ken), and Rent (Tom Collins). Anthony has performed at Near West Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, Karamu House, Aurora Community Theatre, Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, Cassidy Theatre, French Creek Theatre, and others across northeast Ohio. Thanks to his grandma and his little brother, Warren, for the constant love and support!
Neda was last seen at Blank Canvas Theater in the first Drive-In Theater concert “Still Standing” and is happy to be back for more! Neda was one of the Acid Queens in The Who’s Tommy fundraising concert, and her debut at BCT was as another Queen (Killer) with We Will Rock You. After that, she played with puppets as Gary in Avenue Q. She has performed at Beck Center (Matilda The Musical), Dobama Theatre (Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars), Theater in the Circle (All Night Strut!), and Ensemble Theater (Huck and Holden). It has been such a pleasure to work with Patrick and my adopted BCT family, and I look forward to having fun on that stage, and with these other performers, in the near future. KEEP WEARING YOUR MASK!
Nate Summers, from Cleveland, Ohio, earned his degree at Bowling Green State University, specializing in stage Acting and Directing. He is best known for his work in Motown: The Musical (National Tour, Swing) and on Norwegian Cruise Lines (Lead Soloist). Other theatre credits include Aida (Radames), Dreamgirls (Curtis), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), Pippin (Pippin), Songs for a New World (Man 1), Radio Golf (Roosevelt Hicks), and The Boys in the Band (Bernard). His film credits include Antwone Fisher, directed by Denzel Washington. Nate is beyond grateful to be a part of this special project and pleased to be on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage once again. Hope you enjoy!
Darius Stubbs (Director) is a poet, playwright, performer, vocalist, educator and LGBTQ advocate who has been living and working in Cleveland, Ohio since 2006. Artistically, he has collaborated with many creative thinkers across the city with whom he has created over a dozen original performance pieces spanning the genre spectrum from performance art to fully-staged productions. He was last seen on Blank Canvas Theatre’s stage in the productions Lobby Hero and Yippee Ki Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody. Selected acting credits include Rastus and Hattie (Rastus, Cleveland Public Theatre, 2019), Passing Strange (Narrator, Karamu House, 2018), Fissures of Men (Judas, BCT, 2017), Rusted Heart Broadcast (CatManDu, CPT, 2013), and Titus Andronicus (Aaron the Moor, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, 2010).
Rachel Woods (Music Director) has performed over 30 productions in the Cleveland area since 2012. She served as Music Director for The Toxic Avenger at Blank Canvas Theatre, Les Miserables, Urinetown: The Musical, and Xanadu at Near West Theatre, and for the Shining Star CLE singing competition. Some of her recent theater credits include Ella Enchanted (Dobama Theatre, regional premiere), The 25th Annual...Spelling Bee (Cleveland Play House), Memphis and Ragtime (Cain Park), and Merrily We Roll Along and A Little Night Music (Lakeland Civic Theatre).
Patrick Ciamacco (Artistic Director/ Lighting Design) is thrilled to be working 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. This has been one of the roughest years… but theatre and everyone involved in this show help make each day a bit better.
Richard B. Ingraham (Sound Designer) Richard is excited to be back for another drive-in concert at Blank Canvas Theatre. A freelance Sound Designer and AV Systems Designer, Richard has worked at numerous theatres, schools, and attractions in the Cleveland area and throughout the US including: Ashland University, Beck Center for the Arts, Baldwin Wallace University, Cain Park, Carnegie-Mellon University, Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Academy, The Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland State University, Dobama Theatre, The University of Evansville, Great Lakes Theater, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, The Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, Oberlin College, Playhouse Square Center, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. He has also worked as a consultant to award winning software companies that create products for live event production including Stage Research and Richmond Sound Design. Thank you to everyone for your support of live performance and of all the artists that make it happen.
Luke Scattergood (Costume Design) is excited to be a part of this show. He has been working with Blank Canvas Theatre since the doors opened, and would like to give a big thanks to Patrick for allowing him to be a continued part of the awesome things that make up BCT. He is the director of the Theatre department at Bay High School and works as a freelance costume designer throughout the Cleveland area. Thanks to his wife, Laura, and the kids for letting him escape the house for a few days! Enjoy the show.
Mandalyn Stevens (Stage Manager) is so excited to stage manage again at Blank Canvas Theatre! Mandi has worked recently with Pat Ciamacco on the previous drive-in-style shows, as well as on the wardrobe crew for The Toxic Avenger. Her other recent credits include Legally Blonde the Musical (The Brecksville Theatre), Rasheeda Speaking (Karamu House), Sister Act (The Brecksville Theatre), and Summerland (Clague Playhouse). She is grateful for the opportunity and looks forward to being back in a rehearsal.
Tom West (Video Design) holds a B.F.A. from Ohio University (2006) and M.F.A. from Kent State University (2016) and Is very excited to be helping out at Blank Canvas Theatre. Tom has worked in technical theater for over 20 years, starting in Cleveland with Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts, and Great Lakes Theater. Internationally, he has installed lighting for Bodies: The Exhibition with Primer Exhibitions, and in the NYC area, worked with Bently Meeker, The Lighting Syndicate, Playwrights Horizons, Barrow Street Theatre, and New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, as well as on Fela! The Musical (Electrics/Spot). More recently, Tom has been working in Northeast Ohio with Geauga Lyric Theater Guild, Brecksville Theater on the Square, Cleveland Public Theatre, Porthouse Theater, Near West Theatre, Lake Erie College, OYES, and Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute, and has served as Technical Director at Western Reserve Academy. Tom’s day job is, per usual, filling multiple roles as Drafter/Designer/Producer at InVision Communications, an engagement solutions agency.