Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Music Direction by Matt Dolan
Choreography by Katie Zarecki
Assistant Music Direction by Bradley Wyner
Associate Direction by Molly Claassen
Stage Managed by Whitney Miller
Lighting Design by Jeff Lockshine
Projection Design by Perren Hedderson
Lighting Design by Jeff Lockshine
Sound Operation by Anthony Newman
CAST/STAFF
Tonya Broach (Ensemble) is pleased as punch to return to Blank Canvas Theatre for another Ciamacco masterpiece. 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 previous fundraisers. 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. She is looking forward to having lots of fun with the cast of We Will Rock You and its talented staff. Thank you all for supporting Blank Canvas Theatre! Enjoy and Let’s Rock!
BJ Colangelo (Ensemble) is an import from Chicago. BJ's credits include The Rocky Horror Show (Usherette/Phantom and Columbia), Silence! The Musical (Catherine/Lamb), The Wild Party (Ensemble), Urinetown: The Musical (Pennywise), Big Fish (The Witch), Seussical (Mayzie LaBird), Godspell (“Turn Back, Oh Man”), Once Upon A Mattress (Princess Winnifred), 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 Benny & Steve Almost Die, Snuffet, Seven Minutes, Prognosis, and Eat it Up! She recently completed her first feature film (co-directed with Zach Shildwachter), POWERBOMB. She'd like to dedicate this performance to A Night At The Opera, B-Side, second track.
Brett DiCello (Ensemble) is honored to be a part of We Will Rock You! Previous credits include The Addams Family (Gomez Addams), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Doug Panch), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bottom). Brett was a member of IMPROVment: Case Western’s Premiere Improv Comedy Troupe. He spent a semester studying abroad at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Brett also has a B.A. in Theater and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
Richie Gagen (Ensemble) is so excited to be returning to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage! He previously appeared at BCT in The Wild Party (Jackie) and Night of the Living Dead (Zombie). Other previous theatre credits include The Little Mermaid (Ensemble), City of Angels (Ensemble), Body Awareness (Jared), 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). You can next see Richie this fall in The High School Reunion Revenge Murders, a murder mystery comedy at Pickwick & Frolic! 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 (Saramouche) is grateful to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage. She has been seen here previously as Kristy in The Texas Chainsaw Musical!, T-Rex 2 in Triassic Parq: The Musical, and Mary Lane in Reefer Madness. She has also performed at Lakeland Civic Theater, Cain Park, Mercury Theater Company, and The Cleveland Play House. Love to Dan and Taco!
Tony Heffner (Britney) is thrilled to finally be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage, singing some of his favorite music of all time! He resides in Berea and has participated in many productions in the greater Cleveland area at venues including Cassidy Theatre, Cain Park, The Brecksville Theatre, and Beck Center. Some of Tony’s favorite credits include Next to Normal (Gabe), Bonnie & Clyde (Clyde Barrow), American Idiot (Johnny), Urinetown: The Musical (Bobby Strong), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Leaf Coneybear/Carl Dad/Olive’s Dad), and Catch Me If You Can (Frank Abagnale, Jr.). When not on the stage, Tony is an instructor at The Little Gym of Rocky River teaching gymnastics, sports, and dance to children aged four months to twelve years. Tony would like to thank his family and friends for always supporting him in all he does! GBOGB! For Bug.
Frank Ivancic (Ensemble) is so excited to be returning to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage after Urinetown: The Musical last December! He is a soon to be graduate of CSU's Department of Theatre and Dance. Frank was most recently seen in Memphis at Cain Park and Merrily We Roll Along at Lakeland Civic Theatre. Thank you to Patrick and everyone at BCT for the opportunity to sing this incredible music, and thanks as always for all the love and support from friends and family!
Kevin Kelly (Ensemble) is thrilled to join this fierce cast of characters for this show. Thank you, Patrick, for another great time on the boards. Kevin has directed, acted and taught in many of the area’s community theatres and professional venues, including The Cleveland Play House, BCT, Near West Theatre, and Beck Center for the Arts. His favorite roles included Molina in Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical, Bobby in Company, Orrin (the dentist) in Little Shop of Horrors, and Finian in Finian’s Rainbow. And to add one more, he played the oldest recorded Frank-n-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show here at BCT. He won BroadwayWorld.com’s Best Actor in a Musical award for the role of Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, as well as for Little Shop of Horrors. His next project is directing Hay Fever by Noel Coward in November, 2018. TPOG.
Jay Lee (Ensemble/ Khashoggi Understudy) is a Case Western Reserve University graduate and is very excited to be part of this production as an ensemble member and understudy to Khashoggi. His recent credits include Urinetown: The Musical (Bobby Strong) and Barefoot in the Park (Paul).
Bryce Evan Lewis (Ensemble) is excited to make her Blank Canvas Theatre debut in the closest thing to a Queen cover band she could find. Bryce is a senior B.A. Theatre Major at Baldwin Wallace University, where she most recently appeared in Third Person: A Devised Piece (Herself). Other credits include The Oba asks for a Mountain (Agiri Asasa) at Talespinner Children’s Theatre, The Slipstream Drive (Crewmember 2) at Dobama Theatre, and Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble) at Near West Theatre. Later this year, you can see her at TCT again in A Song in The Flame (Leah). She’d like to thank her family, friends, her cat Monty, and the BW faculty for the continued support. Most of all she’d like to thank the audience because without you all, we’d just be singing to ourselves.
Kate Leigh Michalski (Oz) is so stoked to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre! Recent favorites include Parade (Lucille Frank) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky) at French Creek Theatre, The Toxic Avenger (Mayor/Ma) at Cain Park, The Spitfire Grill (Shelby Thorpe) at Beck Center, Reefer Madness (Mae) and The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Lucretia) at BCT, and Annie Get Your Gun (Annie Oakley) at Silhouette Productions. She has a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Point Park University and is a proud EMC. Love you, Mom! Love you, Dad.
Julie C. Okuley (Ensemble) returns to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage after her debut performance as Venus de Milo in Sideshow in April. A 2011 graduate of Siena Heights University, her other credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Quince, Aurora Community Theatre), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Stage Manager, Francoeur Theatre), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (lights, Croswell Opera House), Disney Musicals in School Student Share (Stage Manager, Playhouse Square), and most recently, she has reprised her role as ASM for the third annual Dazzle Awards at Playhouse Square. Favorite roles include Hannah in Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, Nancy D in A New Brain, and Lavinia in the two-part production of Mourning Becomes Electra. She has been seen on the Croswell Opera House stage in multiple productions, including A Chorus Line (u/s Kristine, Connie) and Titanic. Julie is currently employed full-time for the Community Engagement & Education Department at Playhouse Square.
Aaron Patterson (Buddy) Has been seen in many Blank Canvas Theatre Productions including One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Chief Bromden), High Fidelity (Ian/Neil Young), Triassic Parq: The Musical (Velociraptor of Faith), and Reefer Madness (Jesus). He has also been lucky enough to perform with The Laughter League and is a member of the long-running Improvisational comedy company Something Dada. Aaron would like to thank his beautiful wife Fae for her love and support, and Patrick for the opportunity to rock!
Amber Revelt (Ensemble) is ecstatic to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre as part of the ensemble for We Will Rock You. Her credits include Godspell (“By My Side”), The Rocky Horror Show (Magenta), Night of the Living Dead (Barbara), The Maids (Claire), and Twelfth Night (Maria). When Amber is not acting, she is an active member of Blackwater Cabaret, which was featured in the music video "House of Freaks" by Brickwall Jackson. She is also a belly dancer, a fire performer, and a writer. She would like to thank Patrick Ciamacco for this amazing opportunity, the wonderful cast and crew, her friends and family, Tony, and YOU!
Michael Silas (Khashoggi) is happy to be back in his hometown of Cleveland! As graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Music Theater, he spent over a decade in Chicago. Some favorite stage roles include All In Love is Fair (Venie, Black Ensemble Theater), Camelot (Merlin, Light Opera Works), Man of La Mancha (Anselmo, Light Opera Works), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Sgt. Gudule, Bailiwick Repertory), Jerry Springer: The Opera (Ensemble, Bailiwick Repertory), Evita (Magaldi and Che, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre), and Cabaret (Bobby, Theo Ubique ). His film work includes Ephemera (Jim) and B-Side Studio (Marvin). Much thanks to Patrick, Brad, Matt, Jay, and all the cast and crew. Currently, Mikey performs regularly as a local indie-soul singer, musician, and songwriter with Apostle Jones Band. See theater and support local music! www.mikeysilas.com
Danny Simpson (Galileo Figaro) is very thankful for Patrick, Matt, and Bradley’s allowing him the opportunity to be a part of this great cast, and for the chance to sing some of his favorite music ever. Recent credits include Blank Canvas Theatre’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Riff Raff), Lakeland Civic Theatre’s Merrily We Roll Along (Joe Josephson) and Strongsville Community Theatre’s Godspell (Jesus). Danny graduated from John Carroll University with a B.A. in Communications and Theatre Arts, and currently works for Granite City Food & Brewery as a table-turner, bartender, and marketer. BIG thanks to his family, extended family, and friends for coming to see his performances over the years. He hopes you enjoy the show.
Neda Spears (Killer Queen) is making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut with We Will Rock You! She has performed in over 30 productions, both here and in Chicago, most recently with Dobama Theatre in Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars and Theater in the Circle with All Night Strut! Local productions also include Song for Coretta (Mona Lisa) and Huck and Holden (Kali), both with Ensemble Theatre, Once on this Island (Mama Euralie) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Helena Landless) at Cain Park, and And The World Goes 'Round (Ensemble) at the Mayfield JCC’s Halle Theatre. She has performed in productions of Buddy (Apollo Performer- National tour) and The Who's Tommy (Acid Queen) and was one of the original ensemble members of Could It Be Magic?, written and directed by Barry Manilow. Favorite roles include Sr. Hubert (Nunsense and Nunsensations!), Alice (Big River), Susannah (Tintypes), and the original roles she portrayed in the American Girls' Revue (Momma) and Pearl Cleague’s comedy, The Nacirema Society... (Jessie), which debuted at the Alabama Shakespeare Theater and the Alliance Theater. Much thanks to Patrick. Neda considers "Fat Bottomed Girls" her own personal theme song and has used it as her ringtone for years... so, destiny.
Molly Claassen (Associate Director) is thrilled to be back in her hometown to work with Blank Canvas Theatre. Molly is currently the professor of directing at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA. She has an MFA in directing from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a BA in theatre and teaching certification from Baldwin-Wallace University. She is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), recipient of the Fredric March Award for Excellence in Professional Theatre in 2010 and 2011, recipient of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Meritorious Achievement Award for Excellence in Directing of "The Wedding Singer" and "The Rocky Horror Show." Molly is also the mother of two beautiful children, Charlotte and Carter.
Whitney Miller (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre for this production. Whitney recently moved into the stage manager role after spending the majority of her theatre career in lighting and sound design. Some of her favorite past shows include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Stage Manager), Dogfight (Stage Manager), Forbidden Broadway (Stage Manager), Songs for a New World (Stage Manager), The Last Five Years (Lighting Designer), and Avenue Q (Lighting Designer). Whitney attended Case Western Reserve University for Chemical Engineering, but spent most of her time with the CWRU Footlighters. She would like to thank her cat for being patient and understanding with her busy schedule. Here's to many more!
Luke Scattergood (Costume Design) is excited to be working on another show at Blank Canvas Theatre. His designs have been seen onstage in many shows including Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Rocky Horror Show, Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical, Reefer Madness, Hair and MANY others. He has also been seen onstage in Sweeney Todd…, Bathroom Humor, and Of Mice and Men. Thanks to Pat for the opportunity, and thanks to Laura, Lucy, Levi, and Lincoln for their unconditional love and support!
Bradley Wyner (Assistant Music Director) has worked on the Blank Canvas Theatre productions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Rocky Horror Show , Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Hair. He has worked as Musical Director for Titus: A Grand and Gory Rock Musical, The Rocky Horror, and Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play at Cleveland Public Theatre, Bunnicula and Mambo Italiano at The Cleveland Play House, Gutenberg! The Musical! at Dobama, 3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down at Weathervane Playhouse, Little Shop of Horrors at Cassidy Theatre, Lobo A GoGo at Tri-C West, and Cabaret, Christmas Carol Rag, A Little Night Music, Baby, and Opal at Kalliope Stage. As a singer/rock pianist, Brad spent a year in New York performing with Piano Loco: The Rock’n’Roll Dueling Piano Show, and currently plays keyboards for Diamond Dogs: The Sound and Vision of David Bowie. Teaching music and arts for diverse groups has led to a second career as a dual diagnosis specialist for people with autism, mental health issues, and developmental disabilities.