Showtunes! Theatre Company

SAIL AWAY

Saturday, May 3, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008

Our spring concert is a marvelous party of a musical with book, music and lyrics by the one and only Noël Coward. Originally written for the Broadway and London sensation Elaine Stritch, it’s rarely been revived since its original Broadway & West End runs. The score still bubbles like vintage champagne with such tunes as “Something Very Strange,” the moving title song, and the witty “Why Do the Wrong People Travel?”

Bobbi Kotula* (Mimi Paragon)

Bobbi is grateful to share the stage with such a talented cast and honored to perform again with Showtunes! (having previously appeared in; Anyone Can Whistle, Do I Hear A Waltz, and Out of This World.) She has also performed at The 5th Avenue, The Village Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Rep and various venues throughout the United States. Favorite roles include: Dolly Levi, Molly Brown, Peter Pan, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Sarah in Company. In June, Bobbi will be appearing in Iron Curtain, a new musical comedy at The Village Theatre. www.bobbikotula.com

Matt Owen* (Johnny Van Mier)

Matt is thrilled to be in his first Showtunes! production. Matt was most recently seen in Seattle as Older Patrick in Mame at the The 5th Avenue. Off Broaway: Sodom! The Musical; NYC Fringe Festival: Swimming Upstream. Matt has a BFA from the Boston Conservatory. Much love to Mom, Dad, Katman, and the Edmonds crew. Enjoy the show!

Laurie Bialik* (Mrs. Van Mier)

Laurie was last seen on the eastside as Ethel in Moon Over Buffalo and Felicia in I Hate Hamlet at Bellevue Civic Theatre. She has performed at Seattle Children’s Theatre, The Bathhouse, ACT, Pioneer Square Theatre, Seattle Civic Light Opera, Live Girls! and Theatre Off Jackson, and has toured the U.S. and Canada with Missoula Children’s Theatre and Montana Rep. She currently records books on tape for the blind and, together with her husband, Bud, is a proud parent of their daughter, Gemma.

Timothy Glynn (Barnaby Slade)

Sail Away marks Timothy’s third Showtunes! voyage, having previously performed in On The 20th Century, and Dear World. Timothy most recently appeared as Pan/Bud in ArtsWest’s Bat Boy the Musical and as Charlie in Lyric Light Opera’s Brigadoon. He has appeared on numerous Seattle stages including The 5th Avenue, The Village Theatre, ReAct, Seattle Civic Light Opera, and Straight-Edge Theatrics (the fledgling theatre company he co-founded with Marcus Wolland.) Timothy can next be seen this summer in his solo show, Broadway Anthems, at Woodinville Repertory (6/27/08), Whidbey Island’s WICA (7/12/08) and West Sound Unity Center (Bremerton 7/19/08). Many thanks to this talented cast and crew and to you for coming on this journey with us.

Darla Cardwell* (Nancy Foyle)

Darla has been seen at The 5th Avenue as Lucinda in Into The Woods and on the National Tour of Cats as Jellylorum/Griddlebone. Regional credits include: Boston Pops (Concert Soloist), Le Nozze Di Figaro (Susanna), Wonderful Town (Eileen), The Crucible (Elizabeth), Norwegian Cruise Line, Some Enchanted Evening - The Music of Rogers and Hammerstein and Music of the Night - The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (Christine-Phantom). Industrials (MSN-User Profile and Windows Media Center - Consumer Electronics Show) M.M: Musical Theatre, The Boston Conservatory. B.M: Vocal Performance, Southern Methodist University.

Mary Jo DuGaw* (Elinor Spencer Bollard)

The 5th Avenue: Marie in Most Happy Fella and Mrs. Anderssen Little Night Music. The Village Theatre: Edith in After The Fair, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Kate/Lilli in Kiss Me, Kate (Seattle Times Footlight Award) and Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret. Off-Broadway: Patience in Patience and Gretchen in The Red Mill. Previous roles include: Eliza in My Fair Lady, Nellie in South Pacific, Laurey in Oklahoma! and Marian in The Music Man). Concert soloist: Seattle Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, Bellevue Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, Seattle Choral Company, Portland’s Choral Arts Ensemble and Master Chorus Eastside. Television appearances include Mrs. Wheaton in Stephen King’s ABC mini-series, Rose Red. www.maryjodugaw.com

Anthony Curry* (Mr. Sweeney)

Anthony is making his Showtunes! debut in Sail Away. He has performed for The 5th Avenue, ACT, The Group, The Empty Space, The Village Theatre, The Bathhouse, Cabaret de Paris and others but his favorite performance was in his own play, Unidentified Flying Object, which chronicled his life with his autistic son, Adam. His television credits include roles on Northern Exposure, The Fugitive, Chrome Soldiers, Jake & The Fat Man, Unsolved Mysteries, Tour of Duty, and Hawaiian Heat.

Laura Kenny* (Mrs. Sweeney)

Laura appeared in Showtunes! first production Anyone Can Whistle. Most recently she was seen in Mame at The 5th Avenue and The Women at ACT. She has performed at the Old Globe Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre in DC, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Seattle Rep, Intiman, The Village Theatre, and numerous others. She has appeared in several films and was Kay Waterman in the ABC TV mini series Rose Red. She is a proud member of AEA, AFTRA, SAG actor’s unions and serves on the local SAG council.

Patricia Britton (Mrs. Lush)

Patricia's credits include work at Center Stage in Federal Way, Theater Schmeater, The 5th Avenue, The Village Theatre, Annex Theatre, Seattle Civic Light Opera, Tacoma Actors Guild, Showtunes!, and Breeders Theater. She has appeared in print ads, commercials, and industrial, and, long ago, on Almost Live. By day, Ms. Britton is the marketing and development director for Book-It Repertory Theatre and serves on the board of Theatre Puget Sound.

David Edward Hughes (Sir Gerald Nutfield)

Showtunes! co-producing artistic director, David has appeared in such ST! concerts Fiorello! (Morris) and Anyone Can Whistle (Chef Magruder), as well as directing Promises, Promises, It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane It’s Superman, Dancing With Time, and Do I Hear A Waltz? Favorite roles: Bazzard (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Cheswick in (Cuckoo’s Nest), Melvin in (Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Norman (The Boys Next Door), and Otto (The Food Chain). Heartfelt thanks to Jim, Scott, a swell cast, Maggie and the board, and of course James and Kitty.

Michele Greenwood Bettinger (Lady Nutfield)

Michele is thrilled to be working with Showtunes! again. She’s been performing since a stint on Romper Room at age seven. She spent many years in the Streemosphere cast at the Disney-MGM studios, performing improvisational comedy. Favorite roles include: Truvy in Steel Magnolias; Miss Tweed in Something’s Afoot, Lina in Singin’ in the Rain; Sally in Cabaret; Sheila in Hair; Louise in Gypsy; and Mom to Fern and Guthrie. She thanks her exceedingly patient husband, Shawn, for his love and support.

Marcus Wolland (Mr. Rawlings)

Sail Away marks the eighth voyage for Marcus with Showtunes!, having previously embarked on Do I Hear A Waltz?, Fiorello!, Flora The Red Menace, On The 20th Century, It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane It’s Superman, Dancing With Time, and Dear World. Together with local composer Kim Douglass, he is currently working on The Greatest Showman On Earth, a play with music about Broadway impresario David Merrick. Thanks to Jim, Scott, David and Maggie.

Kyle Fitzgerald (Mr. Candijacks)

Thrilled to work with Showtunes! once again having recently appeared in Promises, Promises as Dr. Dreyfuss. From the SF. Bay Area, Kyle is a Bay Area Theater Critics “Shelly” Award winner for supporting actor in Me and My Girl, a nominee as the Phantom in Kopit/Yeston’s Phantom, and Peron in Evita. Appeared as Maximilian in Candide and Pirelli in Sweeny Todd. Off-Broadway in Star Crossed Lovers. Dedicates his performance to his partner of 16 years, “thank you for ALL your love and constant support in life!”

Nancy Martin Hughes (Mrs. Candijacks)

Nancy is a Seattle native who has performed with MusiComedy Northwest, Evergreen Theatre Conservatory, Burien Little Theater, The Washingtonians!, The Don Shirley-Quirk Singers, Cambialaria and now happily, Showtunes! All time favorite role: Val in A Chorus Line with ETC.

Peter McDonnell (Joe/Ali)

Peter has performed in musical theatre, cabaret, and vocal ensembles of all types in the Seattle area for nearly 30 years. Favorite projects include Scott Warrender’s The Texas Chainsaw Manicurist (original cast), Friends for Life (concerts with Mimi MacLeod and Todd Moeller), and two productions of Company (as Robert and Paul), as well as recording projects for the likes of Terry Palasz, Paul Prappas, and Scott Warrender. Sail Away is Peter’s first production at Showtunes!

Eli Lotz (Alvin Lush)

Eli, 8, is happy to be in his first show with Showtunes! Previous shows include Peter Pan (King’s Players), Oliver (KPC), and Yes Virginia…(Driftwood Players). Eli attends Edmonds Homeschool Resource Center where he was most recently seen as a nice boy, Charlie, in Willie Wonka, Jr. Eli plays piano and guitar, and enjoys spending time with his many pets.

Nichole Elise (Ensemble/Dance Captain)

Nichole is thrilled to be working with Showtunes! again. After such a great experience with her internship in Promises, Promises - she definitely wanted to come back. Nichole is a senior at Cornish College of the Arts, majoring in the Theatre Department with an emphasis in Performing Arts. She graduates May 9th! Cornish roles include: Jenny Diver in The Beggar's Opera, Nurse Angela in The Cider House Rules, and recently she appeared as Poopsie in The Pajama Game. She has been in a short film entitled Prizes and appeared in a Vern Fonk commercial. Nichole plans to move to Los Angeles to pursue acting in the film industry, but never wants to give up the theater. Thank you to Showtunes! for another great experience!

Jessica Low (Ensemble)

Jessica is delighted to be part of such a talented cast for her Showtunes! debut. Jessica has a BA in Drama from the University of Washington and is a local performer, choreographer and director. She has worked with companies such as The Village Theatre, Seattle Civic Light Opera, ArtsWest, Capital Playhouse, Bainbridge Playhouse and Coeur d’ Alene Summer Theatre. Up next: playing Miss Tulla in the world premier of a new opera, The World Below, in May 2008.

Jacob Mahoney (Ensemble)

Jacob is elated to make his Showtunes! debut. He has graced the Seattle Cabaret scene in such shows as When Pigs Fly and in a slight twist starred in the one-man musical Tell Me on a Sunday. Other past credits include the role of Nick Cricker in The Mystery of Edwin Drood with the Minneapolis Musical Theater, participation in the Minnesota Fringe Festival, and solo singing engagements at the fabulous Martin’s Off Madison.

Spencer Fairbanks (Ensemble)

Couldn't be happier to be back on the boards with Showtunes! Previously appearing in Do I Hear A Waltz and Out of This World. Seen at The Village Theatre, Seattle Civic Light Opera and the lost (but not forgotten) Alice B, New City, and Evergreen Theatres. He would like to dedicate this performance in memory of his mother Marilyn.

Joshua Pehrson (Youth Ensemble)

Joshua is twelve and in the sixth grade at Seattle Country Day School. He enjoys swimming (Salmon Bay Swim team), basketball, tennis, biking, golf, baseball, etc., playing video games, and hanging out with friends. He has done many school shows, but this is his first show with Showtunes! Special thanks to mom and dad. Break a leg, Gabe, Rudi, and Moriel! Acta est fibula, plaudite!

Gabriel Stenson Pehrson (Youth Ensemble)

Gabriel is 9 ½ years old and in the 4th grade in John Hay Elementary School. Gabe has been in a lot of school plays, and sings with the Northwest Boy Choir (Intermediate.) This is his first show with Showtunes! Special thanks to mom and dad, and to all my friends and people in the audience for all your support. Quando omni flunkus, mortati!

Rudi Behar (Youth Ensemble)

Rudi is in the 6th grade at Seattle Academy. He made his stage debut this spring in KPC’s own production of Oliver playing a starving orphan and a newsboy. He has been sufficiently fattened up on PBJ sandwiches since then to avoid typecasting.

Moriel Behar (Youth Ensemble)

Moriel performed with Showtunes! in last season’s production of It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane It’s Superman. Most recently she played Bet in KPC’s production of Oliver. Moriel is a veteran of Seattle Children’s Theatre summer musicals and of Broadway Bound including roles as Ronette Little Shop of Horrors (SCT), Lily St. Regis and Annie in Annie (BB). Moriel is an 8th grader at Seattle Country Day School.

Jim Hutchison (Director/Choreographer)

Jim has worked as an actor, dancer, writer, producer, director, and choreographer in theater, television, and motion pictures for over 50 years. His love for theater took him from his hometown, England, Arkansas (population 2500 including the horses and cows), to a scholarship at the Balanchine School of American Ballet in NYC. He appeared in several Broadway shows (the first - Pajama Game in which Shirley McClaine was his dance partner), numerous television productions (a favorite - Dancing Is A Man's Game w/Gene Kelly), a half-dozen major films in Los Angeles (including Hello Dolly with Barbra Streisand, Finian's Rainbow with Fred Astaire), and finally, to beautiful Hawaii, where he has appeared on episodes of Hawaii 5-0, Magnum PI, and others. He was the Artistic Director of Diamond Head Theatre for 18 years where he directed over 100 productions. He has co-produced a daughter, a son, and a daughter, in that order. He teaches tap dancing, is a produced member of the National Society of Arts and Letters, serves on the local Council and National Board of the Screen Actors Guild and is on the board of Ballet Hawaii. Read More About Our Director

Scott Warrender (Music Director/Pianist)

Scott has composed and arranged music for The Seattle Symphony, The Bellevue Philharmonic and The Seattle Men’s chorus. His best-known theater work, Das Barbecu!, a comic re-telling of Wagner’s Ring Cycle with five actors, was commissioned by Seattle Opera in 1991. In 1994, at the Minetta Lane Theater, it enjoyed the dubious honor of being the second most expensive Off-Broadway production up until that date. The show continues to be produced throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Other musicals include: Living Color, World’s Fair Cruise, The Plexiglass Slipper, HappyPants!, Lights, Blankity-Blank, and his first show, The Texas Chainsaw Manicurist, which first premiered at Seattle Rep and has since enjoyed 40 productions throughout the US. With over 50 shows on his resume, Scott has extensive musical direction and compositional credits at such theaters as ACT, Seattle Rep, Empty Space Theater, Dallas Theater Center, Cleveland Opera, Seattle Opera, Center Stage in Baltimore and Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut. The song he co-wrote with Joss Whedon, “My Lullaby” was one of five songs featured in Disney’s The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. The Plexiglass Slipper, a retelling of the Cinderella story, recently enjoyed a successful production at Asolo Repertory in Sarasota, Florida. His latest show, Blankity-Blank, enjoyed its world premiere on January 27th at Central Washington State University, where it is currently in production. He currently conducts a women’s ensemble Cambialaria, which redirects money to the world’s poor.

Janette L. Hubert* (Production Stage Manager)

Janette is happy to be working with Showtunes! again after doing Barnum, Dancing with Time, and Rodgers & … Janette is also proud to serve on the Showtunes! board. Janette is the Theater Department Coordinator at Cornish College of the Arts. Prior to that, she was Production Stage Manager at The Village Theatre for 6 seasons, and a freelance stage manager for nearly 20 years, working at The 5th Avenue, The Bathhouse, Tacoma Actors Guild, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and many others.

Brian Cordoba (Assistant Stage Manager)

Brian is continuously active in the theatre communities of Los Angeles and Seattle where he studies Performance Production at Cornish College of the Arts. He has done shows with the Colony Theatre, the Alex, A Noise Within, Brentwood Playhouse, Company of Angels, and the Orpheum Theatre, and locally for Showtunes! and Cornish. Recently he ran lights for the Tony Award winning Jay Johnson: the Two and Only, served as Assistant to the Technical Director for The Thousandth Night, and Trying, stage-managed Dido and Aeneas for Cornish College of the Arts, served as the assistant stage manager for Showtunes! production of Barnum, and found himself onstage in Cornish’s production of The Pajama Game. Following Sail Away, Brian will serve as a production assistant for The 5th Avenue’s pre-Broadway engagement of Shrek the Musical.

Maggie Stenson Pehrson (Co-Producing Artistic Director)

In addition to devoting countless offstage hours to Showtunes!, Maggie has appeared in Dear World (Constance), 110 In The Shade (Lizzie), On The 20th Century (Imelda), and the Narrator in Do I Hear A Waltz? Warm thanks to Jim for his Aloha spirit, to Scott for his supreme musicianship, to Beth for her generous support, and to Jan and the rest of the crew for keeping us all on an even keel. Please tell your friends about Showtunes! Love to Clint, Joshua and Gabriel. Carpe diem!

Showtunes! Theatre Company
PO Box 19845
Seattle, WA 98109

Showtunes! Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) organization

Season Graphic Design by: Justin Robertson at Squigs' Ink Illustration & Design.