Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Stage Managed by Cass Penegor
Puppet Design by Miron Gusso
Set and Light Design by Patrick Ciamacco
CAST/STAFF
Miron Gusso (Lloyd Dallas/Concept & Puppet Designer) returns blissfully to Blank Canvas Theatre, where he was last seen as The Player in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He received his M.A. in Puppetry from The University of Connecticut, where Noises Off with Puppets was his thesis project. Thank you to this incredible, fearless, and dedicated cast and crew. A special thank you to Laura Binstock Palmer for your foundational support and inspiration. Thank you to Martin Carlton, Bart Roccoberton, Jr., Patrick, BCT, and Mr. Michael Frayn. Welcome to the world premiere.
Mairéid Hilliard (Poppy Norton-Taylor) is a rising Junior Music Theatre Major at Baldwin Wallace University. Some of her favorite credits include The Prom (Alyssa Greene), Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), and Uhaulin’ (Mags). She also recently made her Blank Canvas Theatre debut in Into The Woods (Lucinda, u/s Cinderella). When she is not acting, singing, or dancing, she can be found knitting, reading, or playing Stardew Valley. She would like to thank all of her teachers and mentors for putting in the time and effort to help her chase her dreams, as well as the cast and crew for creating such a welcoming environment for her.
Joe Kenderes (Garry LeJeune) is elated to return to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage. He has previously been seen here in Of Mice and Men (George), Cannibal! The Musical (Frank Miller), and The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay). His recent credits include Twelfth Night (Sir Toby Belch) at Western Reserve Playhouse, Sense and Sensibility (Col. Brandon) at Broadview Heights Spotlights, and Don't Dress for Dinner (Bernard) at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Joe is endlessly grateful to Jill, Katie, Pat, his parents, and friends who come and support him and live theatre. Now, let's play with some puppets!
Lauren Koleszar (Belinda Blair) is an actor, photographer, and film lab technician, and has her B.A. in English Literature and Film & Media Arts, with a minor in Psychology. Some of her favorite acting credits include the comedies God of Carnage (Veronica), Rumors (Claire), Twelfth Night (Viola), The Underpants (Louise), and Over the River and Through the Woods (Caitlin); and dramas A Streetcar Named Desire (Stella), Steel Magnolias (Shelby), Cyrano de Bergerac (Roxane), The Seagull (Nina), Medea (Nurse), and Murder on the Orient Express (Countess Andrenyi). Lauren is absolutely delighted to be making her debut at Blank Canvas Theatre in a show that has been an ambition of hers since the first time she saw a production of Noises Off as a teenager, after which she was left in a daze, wondering: How are they managing to keep track of all these doors and sardines? She hopes to leave you wondering the same thing tonight, with the addendum: doors and sardines– and puppets.
John Lynch (Selsdon Mowbry) has been acting on various stages in Cleveland now for five decades. He’s always glad when invited to join a talented group of actors putting on a show. He hopes you enjoy this production and thanks you for supporting the arts.
Amy McKenzie Pilgrim (Brooke Ashton) is thrilled to be back performing at Blank Canvas Theatre! She was last seen here in Leap of Faith (Sam Nightingale). Other credits include, at Ohio University, Wicked Bitter Beast(s) — World Premiere (Zoey), DNA (Phil), and The Knight of the Burning Pestle (Rafe); at Tantrum Theater, Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet), The Prom (Kaylee/Angie u/s), 9 to 5 (Missy Hart/Woman 2/Judy u/s), and Unfamiliar Moon: A Musical Workshop (Linda); and elsewhere, Shrek The Musical (Princess Fiona), Ride The Cyclone (Jane Doe), and Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show (Ensemble). Amy is a proud graduate of Ohio University’s B.F.A. Musical Theater program, Class of ’26! Instagram: @amypilgrim_
Tyler Murray (Frederick Fellowes) is thrilled to be performing in his first show with Blank Canvas Theatre. He is a recent graduate of Ohio University, where he participated in productions such as Inherit the Wind (Bert Cates), Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Collins/Mr. Bingley), and the world premiere of Wicked Bitter Beast(s) (Lover). He will soon return to Ohio University as a guest artist to play Boy/Peter in Tantrum Theater’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher.
Lindsay Pier (Dotty Otley) had a girlhood dream to be a puppeteer when she grew up and is thrilled to finalize realize it with this production! Last season at Blank Canvas Theatre, she directed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and appeared in Pippin (Leading Player). 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. Theatre is a place where she can spend her "me" time, meet some cool, different people, and put that B.F.A. degree she FINALLY finished paying off to good use. Love to Josh for his immeasurable support.
Peter Seidl (Timothy Allgood) is thrilled to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre! Past BCT credits include RENT (Ensemble), Frankenstein: The Musical (Robert Walton/Blind Man), and Alice By Heart (Nigel/Dormouse). His most recent credit was The Man of La Mancha (Tenorio/Barber) at Ohio Shakespeare Festival. Other favorite credits include Curtains (Aaron Fox), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), and The Music Man (Harold Hill). In his spare time, Peter practices and plays the accordion, surrounding himself with Greek music while also working toward completing his pre-law degree. He is so thankful to the cast and creative team behind this production and would like to thank his family and friends who continue to inspire him to strive for better!
Patrick Ciamacco (Director, Lighting, and Set Design) is so excited to be directing this show on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage and working with people he loves and respects! Patrick is the Artistic Director and founder of BCT. He dedicates this show to the person sitting in the third row, fifth seat from the left..
Cass Penegor (Stage Manager) is excited to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre and working with this wonderful team, having previously stage managed BCT’s productions of Leap of Faith, Zombie Prom, Green Day’s American Idiot, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Cass has been involved in stage management for twelve years, works in arts education during the day, and is a studio artist at the Screw Factory in Lakewood. Cass would like to thank Pat and BCT for this opportunity, as well as mom, partner, and friends for all of the love and support! Enjoy the show!