Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Music Direction by Matthew Dolan
Stage Managed by Julie C. Oakley
Set, Projection, Sound, and Light Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Sound Operation by Jenna Rhoades
CAST/STAFF/BAND
Benson Anderson (Doody) is grateful for the opportunity to reprise his first role from 8th grade! He and Blank Canvas go together like rammalammalammakadingitydadingadong. His journey with BCT began with One Man, Two Guvnors, then American Psycho, Zombie Prom, Altar Boyz, Alice by Heart, and most recently, Pippin. He also helped Patrick move some really heavy stuff once and he helped to organize the basement storage, something he's never done at his own home. Catch him next as Cinderella's Prince/Wolf in Into The Woods!
Kimberly Eskut-Woodburn (Miss Lynch) is so excited to be back at Blank Canvas working with so many fun, amazing friends. She was there 15yrs ago when it all began. Kim directs occasionally at Brecksville Theatre but has stepped away from performing because the old grey mare ain't what she used to be and has no energy to rehearse and perform. She resides in Brecksville with her husband, David and 2 rescue pups. Thank you to Patrick for bringing her out of retirement.
Stephanie Harden (Sandy)is excited to be a part of the Blank Canvas benefit, having appeared in Pippin (Catherine), Side Show (Violet), Urinetown (Hope Cladwell), and Bat Boy: The Musical (Shelley Parker). Stephanie loves Blank Canvas Theatre because their productions take risks and are fearless. Shows are always of a high quality with fun and talented people involved at every turn: on-stage, off-stage, and in the pit. Thanks for supporting BCT!
Tony Heffner (Sonny)is very excited to be performing in this year’s benefit. His list of BCT shows includes High Fidelity (Mohawk Guy), Chess: 2017 Benefit Concert (Ensemble), We Will Rock You (Brit), A New Hope Drive-In Concert, Disaster! (Chad), Pippin (Ensemble). Tony is so thankful to the wonderful community that Patrick has created for all artists to come together to freely create in a way that not many theaters can replicate. It truly is a one-of-a-kind space and we are all very thankful to have it as a place to call home.
Reed Kruger (Eugene) is so excited to be in this concert production of Grease! He first auditioned here back in 2022 for American Psycho, and basically hasn’t been able to stay away since. This will be his seventh show here at BCT (hopefully many more!), but he also likes to work the box office when he can! He’s always been a fan of horror movies, blood splatter shows, and anything slightly off the wall, and is so grateful to Patrick for letting him be a part of this off the wall family.
Chrissy Margevicius (Frenchy) is so glad to be back on the BCT stage with so many wonderful humans! Previous BCT credits include Pippin (Fastrada), Disaster! (Ensemble, Shirley u/s, Dance Captain), Zombie Prom (Candy), and The Last Starfighter (Jenny/Sgt. Taura). She also dabbles in box office shenanigans from time to time. When not performing, Chrissy enjoys jamming with her band The Rude Sea and working as a Drama and Dance teacher and director at Hathaway Brown School. Many thanks to Patrick for creating one of the most joyous artistic homes. This place is magic.
Jillian Mesaros (Patty Simcox) is delighted to bring this show to all of you who came to support this amazing space! Since 2016, Jillian has shared this stage with incredible casts and crews and deepened her love for the performing arts. Favorite BCT credits include Behanding in Spokane (Marilyn), The Crucible (Abigail), American Psycho (Victoria), and Hair (Tribe). Many thanks to Patrick & everyone who helps make BCT a unique and welcoming home for performers.
Pat Miller(Johnny Casino) is an original cast member of The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Groovy Teen), 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. Select BCT credits include: American Psycho (Paul Owen), The Toxic Avenger (Melvin) and High Fidelity (Dick). trickmiller.com
Shane Patrick O'Neill is a local actor/singer who was most recently seen at Blank Canvas in Altar Boyz (Mathew). Other BCT credits include: Avenue Q (Princeton), High Fidelity (Rob), Leap of Faith (Jonas), and Godspell! Shane would like to thank everyone for their continued support of this amazing theatre!
Melissa Pacetti Hollis (Marty)is thrilled to be back at Blank Canvas! Her first show with Blank Canvas was last season's Rent, and she will be playing Cinderella's Stepmother in the upcoming production of Into the Woods. Melissa is so happy to be a part of the Blank Canvas family, and she can't wait to see how she can be involved in the future. She would like to thank Patrick for the warm welcome and wonderful opportunities!
Venchise Phillips (Cha Cha) has been involved (both on and offstage) in over 30 different Blank Canvas productions. She has recently been on stage in the ensembles of Rent and American Idiot, as well as performing in The Crucible (Tituba), Zombie Prom (Ramona), and comma (Nurse). Offstage, Venchise has worked as Stage Manager for BCT's productions such as Glengarry Glen Ross, Of Mice and Men, Little Shop of Horrors, Pippin, and The Laughter League, and has also served as an Assisted Stage Manager, Sound Operator, Prop Designer, and Costume Designer. Endless thanks to Patrick for always providing a stage to call home. Love to Aaron, now and for always. Enjoy the show!
Lindsay Pier (Rizzo) is excited to be back at Blank Canvas for her third benefit. Most recently at BCT, she directed Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead and appeared as the Leading Player in Pippin. She is a pessimist by nature, but in a delightful way. Lindsay tries to find reasons to laugh whenever she can in this current hellscape. Blank Canvas is a place where she can spend her "me" time, meet some cool people, and put that BFA degree she's still paying for to good use.
Beau Reddington (Kenicki) is stoked to share this iconic show with you at BCT’s Benefit Concert! He was in the Ensemble in Rent this past season, and while that was his first time appearing in a Blank Canvas production, he has been attending shows here for years. Some favorites include Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and The Crucible. Much Love to his wife Kaitlyn Regan, and their three beautiful cats!
Luke Scattergood (Roger)is thrilled to be back on stage at BCT. He has been active both on and off stage here since the very beginning, having served as stage manager for the inaugural production of The Texas Chainsaw Musical. Since that time he has performed in many shows and worked as stage manager, scenic painter, props, costume designer and most recently as director for last season’s production of RENT. He proudly holds more BCT credits on his resume than anyone besides Patrick, whom he would like to thank for this and every opportunity he has had to create and play in this incredible space he calls home! Enjoy the show!!
Emily Schrader (Jan) is so jazzed to be back onstage at BCT and honored to perform and collaborate with such a talented group of people tonight. She played Alf in Peter and the Starcatcher in 2023 and Sarah Good/u/s Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible in 2024, and loves being an enthusiastic audience member whenever she can (“Wish I lived closer!”). Creating art for the enjoyment of others is always a privilege, but doing it at Blank Canvas is tremendously meaningful and endlessly rewarding, each project filled with passionate artists and down-to-earth friends. Thank you for supporting this special organization! Enjoy!
Mikey Silas(Teen Angel) agrees one of the worst kept secrets in history is that theater begets great community. After years of working in Chicago theater and coming to Cleveland, Mikey developed a profound love for immersive, new and adapted works for small stages. Stuff that challenges the status quo. That's exactly why he loves BCT: interesting seasons, entertaining and talent packed shows. Even though he mainly works these days with his band Apostle Jones on venue stages, he considers this marvelous black box theater his theatrical home, he can always come back to. "Pat for mayor!"
Danny Simpson (Danny) was recently seen as Phil Connors in Groundhog Day last season, and is super-happy to be back for this season's benefit show with new and familiar friends. Blank Canvas Theatre has always been a home away from home for Danny, and he is very happy and thankful for the opportunity to sing some awesome songs to help out one of his favorite places to perform. Please consider donating and becoming a season pass holder, and thank you for supporting live theatre.
Patrick Ciamacco(Director) is thrilled to work 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! Patrick sends thanks to all those who believe in him, this theater, and dedicates this show to the person sitting in the first row, first seat from the left.
Matthew Dolan (Music Director) is a Cleveland-based music director, composer, pianist, and conductor, with 70 stage productions to his credit. His first show at Blank Canvas was Triassic Parq: The Musical! Other favorite Blank Canvas productions include American Psycho, Floyd Collins, and Avenue Q. He has music directed many shows here and looks forward to many more!
Julie C. Okuley(Stage Manager) is a Cleveland-based stage manager and arts leader. Stage management credits include the annual Dazzle Awards & Disney Student Share at Playhouse Square, The River Bride, Breakout Session, and The Outstretched Hand (Cleveland Public Theatre); Bloody, Little Pieces (Blank Canvas Theatre); A Streetcar Named Desire and Bright Ideas (The Brecksville Theatre). Performance credits include We Will Rock You and Side Show (Blank Canvas Theatre), If/Then (Lakeland Theatre), Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and A New Brain (Francoeur Theatre), and Mourning Becomes Electra (Adrian Historical). Julie holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from Siena Heights University.
Jenna Rhoades (Sound Operator) is thrilled to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre! Some of her favorite past shows include Groundhog Day (Stage Manager), Disaster! (Sound Operator), Pippin (Sound Operator), Frankenstein the Musical (Sound Operator), RENT (Sound Operator). Jenna attended Heidelberg University as a Communications major and was heavily involved in theatre there as an executive member of Heidelberg’s chapter of the National Theatre Honor Society, Alpha Psi Omega. Lots of love to Nana, Homey, mom, and Zara for their love and support! Enjoy the show!!