Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Stage Managed by Brittany Gaul
Costume Design by Jenniver Sparano
Zombie Design by PJ Toomey
Special Effects by PJ Toomey & Patrick Ciamacco
Set & Lighting Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Live Underscoring by Lawrence Wallace
CAST
Elizabeth Ahlstrom (Zombie) recently moved to Cleveland from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is thrilled to make her Ohio stage debut at Blank Canvas Theatre. No stranger to Night of the Living Dead, Elizabeth previously worked with Milwaukee's premier puppet sketch troupe, Angry Young Men Ltd, adapting Romero's zombie classic into an all-puppet version that blurred the line between surprisingly sophisticated and appallingly juvenile. Favorite credits include Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (Roberta), Balm in Gilead (Babe), and Getting Out (Arlie); but Elizabeth is most satisfied working in schools and streets -- using theatre techniques as a tool for engaging communities and promoting social change.
Ian Atwood (Sheriff McClelland) is very excited to be back at Blank Canvas. Previously, he appeared here in Working. Much thanks to Pat for the opportunity and to this super-talented cast and crew. Enjoy the show and let's get bloody! To the journey! TPOG.
Hannah Beaumont (Zombie/Assistant Stage Manager) has been helping out behind the scenes here and there since the first Blank Canvas Theatre production of The Texas Chainsaw Musical! in 2012, but this will be her first actual appearance in costume. She's pretty psyched. Her backstage performances include "Fire Cat" and "that chick mopping the stage." Previous credits elsewhere include To Kill a Mockingbird (Mayella Ewell), Father of the Bride (Kay Banks), and Camelot (Morgan Le Fay). She would like to thank Patrick and BCT for helping her stave off boredom and giving her shows to rave about to all of her friends and family.
Stephen Berg (Tom) is ecstatic to return to the stage after a short hiatus. He graduated with a BA in Dramatic Arts from Case Western Reserve University. Some of his prior credits include Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sweeney Todd), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Adam), and Gutenberg! the Musical! (Bud).
Tasha Brandt (Judy Rose) is a Cleveland-based singer, songwriter, actor, and performer who was most recently belting backup vocals for the fiercely talented Jessie Cope-Miller at Nighttown and PlayhouseSquare. Tasha is excited to appear on the Blank Canvas Stage for a third time! She has been seen in Blank Canvas' productions of Working and Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical, as well as lots of other theatrical adventures. Tasha is actually scared of horror and zombie movies but doing this show will hopefully help her get over that fear. Fierce love to my Penguin squad. Enjoy!
Tonya Broach (Zombie) is pleased to be working on her second project at Blank Canvas Theatre. Her first project was Blank Canvas’s groovy production of Hair (Dionne). Other credits include Knock Me a Kiss (Lenora), Cut Flowers (Rhonda), Dreamgirls (Michelle), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Nell), Intimate Apparel (Esther), Smokey Joe’s Café (BJ), and Blithe Spirit (Ruth). When she is not doing theatre, she likes to travel to the wonderful world of film. Most recently, she appeared in the film Made in Cleveland, which featured local personalities Leon Bibb and Robin Swaboda, along with TV personalities Gillian Jacobs and Busy Philipps. Tonya also enjoys working behind the scenes and has served as a Stage Manager for Karamu Theatre. She also serves as interim Vice President for the Karamu Alumni Association and as a Board Member at Waterloo Arts in Collinwood Village. “Thank you all for supporting live theatre! Hope you enjoy the show!”
Will Crosby (Zombie/Posse) is elated to make his Blank Canvas Theatre debut with Night of the Living Dead. Will is very excited to be a part of this wonderful production. Some of Will’s favorite past experiences include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Will Barfee), No Sex Please, We're British (Barbara), The Wizard of Oz (The Cowardly Lion and The Wizard), RENT (Ensemble), Lysistrata (Men's Chorus), Man of La Mancha (The Barber), Bye Bye Birdie (Harry Macaphee), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey 2), and The Odd Couple (Oscar Madison). Will attends Cleveland State University, He plans to graduate in 2017 with a double major in education and theater and a minor in statistics. When he's not in class, Will works in the box office at Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. Will also directs at Garfield Middle School in Lakewood. Will would like to thank Pat for this wonderful opportunity, his parents and roommates for the support, and his fellow cast for all the great memories. TPOG!
Theresa Dean (Helen) is thrilled to make her Blank Canvas debut in Night of The Living Dead, despite her absolute revulsion at all things related to zombies and inability to get through even one episode of “The Walking Dead.” She most recently performed in Legally Blonde (Paulette) at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, Sunday in the Park with George (Old Woman), and in Ragtime and Jacques Brel with Near West Theatre. Other favorite shows/roles include West Side Story (Anita), The Full Monty (Georgie), Sweeney Todd (The Beggar Woman) and The Three Penny Opera (Jenny).
Jennifer Furst (Zombie) is thrilled to be playing a zombie in this adaptation of Night Of The Living Dead. As a huge fan of horror films and shows, especially "The Walking Dead," she thought this would be perfect for her first play. When not working full-time, her passion is acting and she pursues opportunities whenever she is available. Most of Jennifer's experience is in television and film, including commercials with Comcast, Subway, and Summa Healthcare. She also played two roles in the feature film Fun Size.
Richie Gagen (Zombie) is so excited to be making his Blank Canvas Theatre debut in Night of the Living Dead! His recent credits include The Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run (Bob/Butler/Harvey) at Cleveland’s Ingenuity Fest, and The Tale of the Name of the Tree (Meerkat) and The Floating Dolls (Fisherman/Ensemble) with Talespinner Children’s Theatre. Richie is a graduate of Cleveland State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance, where he appeared in productions of Lysistrata (Men’s Chorus) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Flute/Thisby). Richie would like to thank Patrick for giving him this opportunity, and the cast and crew for all their talent and hard work.
Venchise Glenn (Zombie) is thrilled to return to Blank Canvas Theatre, having just performed in Hair (Tribe) on the same stage. Her recent and current credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Ensemble), Move On (Ensemble), Children of Eden (Storyteller), and Hairspray (Record Shop Kid). When not performing, Venchise enjoys working downtown as a receptionist at Pease & Associates, indulging her geeky appetite, and being that annoying person in movie theaters who loudly complains about all the ways the movie is different than the book. Venchise would like to thank her Mom and Dad for their constant love and support.
Jonathan Kronenberger (Harry Cooper) is delighted to return to Blank Canvas after last being seen as Juror #2 in Twelve Angry Men. Other local acting credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (VP Panch) and She Loves Me (Sipos) at Beck Center for the Arts, 1776 (Dickinson) at Cuyahoga Community College - West and The Odd Couple (Vinnie) at The Cassidy Theatre. He extends a special thanks to Patrick, Jenniver, PJ, this talented cast, and the incredible production staff for putting up with and allowing him this opportunity.
Amber Revelt (Barbara) is absolutely thrilled to be in Night of the Living Dead and to be working with Blank Canvas Theater for the first time. Amber has previously been in The Maids (Claire), a Wild West rendition of Twelfth Night (Maria / Saloon Girl), Three Generations of Imbeciles (flapper / body double), and Almost, Maine (Ginette). She was nominated for an Irene Ryan for her performance as Claire in The Maids. Aside from acting, Amber enjoys writing and has been featured in the anthology Zombie Survival Crew: Undead Uncensored with her short zombie fiction “Clinical.” She also loves all things Halloween and autumn, studying about and brewing tea, volunteering as a media guest assistant at Spooky Empire horror convention in Florida, strolling through cemeteries, and watching cheesy horror movies with her biggest fan and fiancé, Anthony Hinton.
DeVon Settles Jr. (Ben) is SO EXCITED to be a part of this blood bath!!! Credits include the RENT National tour, Hair, Porgy and Bess, Romeo and Juliet, Topdog/Underdog, and work on CBS' "Elementary"...let’s do it again Pat!!
Matthew Ryan Thompson (Johnny) is thrilled to be making his debut performance at Blank Canvas Theatre. Previous theatre credits include Annie (Rooster), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph), Hairspray (Corny Collins), and Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (Brave Sir Robin). Favorite performances include Beck Center’s re-vamp of Altar Boyz (Mark) in the historic Hanna Theater at PlayhouseSquare and Forever Plaid (Jinx). He started performing on stage competing and performing nationally as a tap dancer and transitioned into musical theatre in high school. He continues to study and perform all over Ohio, the east coast and the Treasure Coast in Florida. A big thanks to the Blank Canvas staff and crew and cast of NOTLD. If any things have been a fixture in my life, they are theatre and horror movies. To make both of these things happen at the same time has been a dream come true. Enjoy the show…
Makenna Weyburne (Karen Cooper) is a unique young lady who is beyond thrilled to be participating in this zombie remake classic. Her recent credits include Annie (Annie's Understudy/Orphan Chorus), Wizard of Oz (Featured Munchkin), Babes in Toyland (Ensemble) and Peter Pan (Lost Boy). Makenna was also featured alongside star Katie Holmes in the upcoming film Miss Meadows. This summer, Makenna was selected to spend a week training in NYC with Michael Rafter and the rest of the Destination Broadway team. Makenna wants to send a special thank you to her amazing coach Amy Hanratty for all she does for her and to Tiffany Haas (Wicked's Galinda on Broadway) for being an amazing role model!
STAFF
Brittany Gaul (Stage Manager) is excited to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre. Recent stage management credits include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (BCT), Adventures in Slumberland (Talespinner Children’s Theatre), and Frankie and Johnny (BCT). Brittany works as a teaching artist for several theatres and arts programs throughout Cleveland. Recent acting credits include Loki & Lucy (Mom/Fenrir), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Nurse Flinn) and Love in Pieces (Ophelia). Brittany would like to thank Patrick for letting her once again manage the stage at Blank Canvas. Much love to CH.
Jenniver Sparano (Costume Designer) enjoys the opportunity to be up to her elbows in blood, entrails and initiative; her previous credits include Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, Evil Dead: The Musical (both at Beck Center for the Arts), Titus: A Grand and Gory Rock Opera (Cleveland Public Theatre), Blasted (the Bang and the Clatter), and, of course, Blank Canvas Theatre’s opening production of The Texas Chainsaw Musical! She has also designed non-bloody costumes for productions including Twelve Angry Men and Next Fall at BCT. In addition to her design work, she is proud to co-produce an annual musical production which has, since 2003, raised over $100,000 for AIDS/HIV agencies in Cuyahoga and Summit counties. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Mount Holyoke College, she also studied in Paris and is employed by KeyBank.