Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Assistant Direction by Luke Scattergood
Music Direction by Ian Huettel
Choreography by Katie Zarecki
Stage Managed by Brittany Gaul
Costume Design by Luke Scattergood
Lighting Design by Cory Molner
Sound Operation by Venchise Glenn
CAST
Curt Arnold (Sam) returns to Blank Canvas Theatre, where he has appeared in The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (both times), Next Fall, and 12 Angry Men, and assistant stage managed Hellcab. Other recent performances include Mary Poppins (Mr. Banks) at Beck Center and Three Sisters (Kulygin) for Mamai Theatre Company. Since 2003, he has been proud to direct and co-produce an annual staged reading of a musical to benefit AIDS service agencies in Cuyahoga and Summit counties, raising over $110,000 for these charities. Look for this year’s benefit, The Secret of the Old Queen, on August 22 in Cleveland and August 29 in Akron.
Emma Beekman (Nadine) is ecstatic to be playing Nadine in her debut production at Blank Canvas Theatre. Past credits include Anything Goes (Bonnie), Play On! (Violet), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania). Emma will be graduating from Westlake High School on closing night of this production, and will be moving to Tampa, Florida in the fall to pursue a BFA in musical theatre at The University of Tampa. She wants to thank Patrick for this wonderful opportunity, Jennifer Yachanin-Butler, Doug Warnke, and the Westlake PAC Staff who have kept up with her dramatics for the past four years, and her ever supportive family who have been with her every step of the way.
Patrick Ciamacco (Burrs) is honored to work with such an amazing cast and staff. Past Blank Canvas Theatre shows include High Fidelity (Barry), Of Mice and Men (Lennie) and Hellcab (Cabbie). You may remember Patrick from Shrek The Musical (Shrek) at Mercury Theatre Company and Near West Theatre. Other professional credits include Beck Center’s Jerry Springer: The Opera (Dwight/God), … Spelling Bee (William Barfee), and Evil Dead - The Musical (Jake). His experience also includes PlayhouseSquare's We Gotta Bingo (Bucky Fuller), a musical version of The Nutcracker at The Cleveland Play House, and PlayhouseSquare's two and a half year run of Tony & Tina's Wedding. Favorite performances include The Secret Garden (Archibald), Children of Eden (God the Father), The Baker's Wife (The Baker), Chess (Freddie), The Music Man (Harold Hill), Art (Marc), and The Full Monty (Dave). Patrick also co-founded, directs, performs, and writes for The Laughter League, a Cleveland-based sketch comedy group. Patrick sends thanks to his Mom, Frank, his brothers, Jonathan, and especially Becca for her continued support and love. He dedicates his performance to the person sitting in the third row, fifth seat from the left.
BJ Colangelo (Ensemble) is excited to make her Blank Canvas Theatre debut! An import from Chicago, BJ has credits that include Urinetown (Pennywise), Big Fish (The Witch), Seussical (Mayzie LaBird), Godspell (“Turn Back, O Man”), Once Upon A Mattress (Princess Winnifred), The Rocky Horror Show (Columbia), When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? (Angel), Hair (Cathy), Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad), and Working (“Cleanin' Women”). BJ is also a film actress, having appeared in the films Applecart, Snuffet, Seven Minutes, Prognosis, and Eat it Up! BJ is the co-founder of Sickening Pictures, an award-winning film production company, and is celebrating one year of being pancreatic cancer-free! When she's not performing, BJ is a published horror film journalist and theorist featured on Blumhouse.com, Playboy.com, and Icons of Fright (iconsoffright.com), among others. She'd like to dedicate this performance to her parents who dealt with years of off-key belting and ill-fitting baton costumes to get her to where she is today.
Kimberly Eskut (Madelaine True) is thrilled to be working again at Blank Canvas Theatre under the direction of her dear friend, Patrick. Kimberly has been directing and performing for over 27 years. Favorite roles include Legally Blonde the Musical (Paulette), Bonnie & Clyde (Emma), Anything Goes (Erma), Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Frankie), The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Momma), City of Angels (Oolie), Assassins (Sarah Jane Moore), Urinetown (Ma Strong), Chicago (Mama Morton), Cabaret (Sally Bowles), West Side Story (Anita), Pippin (Fastrada), Bye Bye Birdie (Rosie), and Lucky Stiff (Dominique duMonaco). Thank you to Patrick, Blank Canvas Theatre, Luke, and Katie for this incredible opportunity. She dedicates this show to her mom who lost her battle to cancer in February of this year. God bless and peace!
Joel Fenstermaker (Max) is ridiculously excited to be making his Blank Canvas Theatre debut with this wild cast. Since returning recently to the Cleveland world of stage, he has been privileged to perform in Bonnie & Clyde (Preacher/Frank Hamer) and The Producers (Carmen Ghia). Other credits include Once on This Island (Townsperson), The Who’s TOMMY (Sally's father), and Beauty and the Beast (Magic Carpet/Ensemble). Many thanks to all those who support him as well as the arts; enjoy the party!
Richie Gagen (Jackie) is so excited to be returning to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage! He previously appeared at here in Night of the Living Dead (Zombie). You may have seen him last fall performing at Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends in A Monster’s Trick-or-Treat Musical (Dracula). Other previous theatre credits include Mary Poppins (Valentine/Ensemble), American Idiot (Swing/Pit Vocalist), and She Loves Me (Busboy/Ensemble) at Beck Center for the Arts. He has also performed with Talespinner Children’s Theatre in The Fisherman and the Moon (Narrator), The Tale of the Name of the Tree (Meerkat), and The Floating Dolls (Fisherman/Ensemble). Richie is a proud 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 the cast, crew, and production team for all their talent and incredible hard work, and his family for all their love and support.
Neely Gevaart (Kate) is very excited to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage! She was previously seen here in Reefer Madness (Mary Lane), Triassic Parq: The Musical (T-Rex 2), Hair (Crissy), and The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Kristy). Some of her favorite past shows include The Spitfire Grill (Percy), Violet (Violet), and The Last Five Years (Cathy). When she's not acting, she works as an Administrative Assistant and Receptionist at Jakprints. She'd like to thank Patrick and Ian for letting her be a part of this fantastic cast! Thank you to Taco.
Zac Hudak (Eddie) is beyond thrilled to return to Blank Canvas Theatre, after recently running projections for the smash hit The 39 Steps. Recently, he has been seen at BCT in Reefer Madness. Some credits include Devil Boys From Beyond, Sordid Lives, Dye Jung, Five Flights, Say You Love Satan, MilkMilkLemonade and The Museum Play. Zac would like to thank Pat for drinking the tears of broke actors in order give this theatre eternal life.
Betsy Kahl (Mae) is grateful for the opportunity to return to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage after having appeared in The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Melissa/Joey) and Of Mice and Men (Curly's Wife). She is excited to portray a character who does not die. Love to her parents, pals, pups, and pony.
Kevin Kelly (Phil D’Armano) is thrilled to return to the theatrical brilliance that is Blank Canvas Theatre and artistic director Patrick Ciamacco. He made his debut here in The 39 Steps, the show that opened this season. His other recent credits include Scrooge! (Scrooge), Shrek the Musical (Lord Farquaad), and Jesus Christ Superstar (Pilot). His favorite roles include the title role in Sweeney Todd, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, Molina in Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, Daddy Warbucks in Annie, and Crumpet in The Santaland Diaries. He has two film credits: Chuckie in Edge of Seventeen, which starred Lea DeLaria, and himself in documentary Move On! Much love to my friends who have held me up over the last five years, showing me kindness, strength, and resolve. Enough drama to go around, now, it is time to laugh our asses off. Dedicated to my mother and Aunt Pat, the champions of righteous indignation. TPOG!
Sidney Perelman (Ensemble) is psyched to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut as a part of this awesome production. Sidney is a student at Baldwin Wallace University, where she is studying psychology, music, and neuroscience. You can also catch her on any other night of the week serving chicken wings and beer at Buffalo Wild Wings. Most recent credits include Into the Woods (Florinda), Godspell (female swing), The Great Gatsby (Jordan Baker), The Frogs (Virilla the Amazon), The Who's TOMMY (ensemble), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena). Sidney is a proud Equity Membership Candidate. Thanks to everyone who put their hearts and souls into this show, and of course, undying thanks to my wonderful family and friends for their infinite love and support.
Trinidad Snider (Queenie) is thrilled to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut with this production of The Wild Party! Trinidad was recently seen in Lakeland Civic Theater's production of Into the Woods (Baker's Wife). During the day, Trinidad works as a teaching artist for The Musical Theater Project and is a Recruiter for the Intercontinental Hotel. She is excited to be back in the Ohio area after a four and half year stint in Cedar Lake, Indiana. Some of her recent credits include Les Miserables (Fantine), Lucky Stiff (Rita), Hello, Dolly! (Irene Molloy), Gyspy (Tessie Tura) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Muzzy). She would like to dedicate this performance to Meg Corrigan and Stephanie Taylor Ayers who, she is sure, are having their own wild party upstairs.
Nathan Tolliver (Mr. Black) is an actor/singer from Cleveland Ohio. He is thrilled to be working in his first production at Blank Canvas Theatre. His past credits include Slow Dance on the Killing Ground, Dreamgirls, Aida, The Wiz, and Black Nativity. Nathan would like to thank Patrick Ciamacco for allowing him to be a part of his vision, and the opportunity to grow as an artist. Nathan is currently working on several recording and short film projects.
Liz Woodard (Delores) is a student at Kent State University pursuing her BFA in Musical Theatre. She is very excited to join Blank Canvas Theatre in one of the top shows on her bucket list. Recent credits include Ghost at Mercury Theatre Company, and Bonnie & Clyde as well as Hot Mikado at Kent State University. In August, she will be travelling with Transforum Theatre to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. There, she will be playing the White Rabbit in a new adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Much love for friends and family who have supported her through a most mercurial journey.
Justin Woody (Oscar D’Armano) is a Cleveland-based artist and actor, born and raised in Canton, Ohio, who received a BFA in Painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) in May, 2015. Before and throughout his time at CIA, Justin was involved in many plays and musicals in Canton and the greater Cleveland area. Most recently seen as Donkey in Shrek the Musical at both Near West Theatre and Mercury Theatre Company, Justin is thrilled to be a part of this The Wild Party experience at Blank Canvas Theatre.