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Director’s Notes
The story of Alfie Byrne is, to
me, an Every Man story. I grew up watching Frank Capra films
that featured Gary Cooper or Jimmy Stewart as the Every Man:
Meet John Doe, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Mr. Smith Goes
to Washington. These stories ring true because we know these
men; they work hard, they have ideals that lift them above their
ordinary existence, and they face situations that bring them to
their knees and challenge their faith in God and in mankind. And
yet, through all the turmoil, grace and human kindness shines.
Alfie’s journey to self
awareness and his acceptance of himself as a gay man is an issue
that Frank Capra would never have been allowed to show his
audience. But, to me, it doesn’t change Alfie’s status as an
Every Man. He faces love, bigotry, betrayal and grace.
Though A Man of No Importance
is set in Ireland in 1964, an amazing 44 years ago, we are still
living in a time where people are attempting to put bigotry into
law. I have no understanding of this immense fear that taints
our laws and segregates a section of humanity.
Yes, I am an idealist. I want
fairness and justice to prevail. It is an honor to claim Alfie
Byrne as my Every Man. He is a man of great importance and I
hope to see, in my lifetime, grace and human kindness shining as
brightly as it does at the end of a Frank Capra film.
MUSICIANS
Piano/Conductor
........................................................ John
Allman
Bass......................................................................
Rich Hinrichsen
Flute........................................................................
Matt Johnston
Guitar..............................................................
John Patrick Lowrie
Violin..............................................................................
Mark Lotz
CREW
Ryan
Price...........................................................
Sound Operator
Mark
Chenovick......................................................
Light Operator
Jacque St. Romain ...........................................
Spotlight Operator
PRODUCTION TEAM
Frances Leah
King............................................................
Director
John Allman.............................................................
Music Director
Felicia Cutrone.................................... Production
Stage Manager
Emily Reitman........................................ Assistant
Stage Manager
Jan Hubert.....................................................
Production Manager
Maggie Stenson Pehrson................ Co-Producing Artistic
Director
David-Edward Hughes.................... Co-Producing Artistic
Director
James Spear.................................................
Projections Designer
Dublin, Ireland. Spring, 1964
Act 1
Scene One:
The Empty Parish Hall at St. Imelda’s into the Streets
A Man of No Importance: Alfie and Entire
Company
Scene Two: Alfie and Lily’s Kitchen
The Burden of Life: Lily
Scene Three: Carney’s Butcher Shop
Going Up:
Carney, Mrs. Grace, Baldy, Miss. Crowe, Ernie Lally, Rasher
Flynn, Sully O’Hara, Mrs. Curtin
Scene Four: On a Dublin Bus
Princess: Adele
Scene Five: The Parish Hall at St. Imelda’s Church
First Rehearsal: Carney and Acting Troupe
Scene Six: The Bus Depot to a Kitty’s Pub
The Streets of Dublin: Robbie and Entire Company
Scene Seven: Kitty’s Pub
Love’s Never Lost: Alfie
Scene Eight: Alfie and Lily’s Kitchen
Books: Carney and Lilly
Scene Nine: Alfie’s Bedroom
Man in the Mirror: Alfie and Carney
Scene Ten: The Parish Hall at St. Imelda’s Church
The Burden of Life, Reprise: Lilly
Scene Eleven: A Bench in Phoenix Park
Love Who You Love: Alfie
Act II
Scene One:
Kitty’s Pub/ The Sodality Meeting at St. Imelda’s Hall/The
Confessional
Our Father: Mrs. Patrick and Company
Confession: Alfie, Father Kenny, Robbie
Scene Two: St. Imelda’s Church/The Church Graveyard
The Cuddles Mary Gave: Baldy
Scene Three: The Parish Hall, St. Imelda’s Church
Art: Alfie and Acting Troupe
Scene Four: The Sodality Meeting, St. Imelda’s Church
A Man of No Importance, Reprise: Mrs. Patrick,
Sully, Breton
Confusing Times: Carney
Scene Five: The Bus Depot
Love Who You Love, Reprise: Robbie
Scene Six: Alfie’s Bedroom
Man in the Mirror, Reprise: Sully, Mrs. Patrick,
Acting Troupe, Alfie, Oscar
Scene Seven: Kitty’s Pub
Scene Eight: Alley behind Kitty’s Pub
Scene Nine: Alfie and Lily’s Kitchen
Tell Me Why: Lily
Scene Ten: A Dublin Bus
Love Who You Love, Reprise: Adele
Scene Eleven: The Empty Parish Hall, St. Imelda’s Church
Welcome to the World: Alfie
THE PRODUCTION
TEAM
 Frances Leah King
(Director) - Frances is honored to have the opportunity to
direct A Man of No Importance, as her professional
directorial debut, for Showtunes! Frances is a professional
actress, private singing instructor, voice talent, and a new
adjunct faculty member of Cornish College of the Arts, teaching
Musical Theatre classes. She has been seen in Showtunes!
productions of: Anyone Can Whistle as Nurse Apple, 110
in the Shade as an ensemble member, Do I Hear a Waltz
as Leona Sammish, and in Promises, Promises as the blousy
Margie MacDougal. Frances is grateful for the incredible love
and support of her beloved Lawrence and Mei.
John Allman
(Music Director) - John is thrilled to work with
Showtunes! Previously: Associate MD, On The Twentieth Century.
Seattle Musical Director credits: Village Theatre Originals:
Alchemists, Last Starfighter, Barnstormer, Anna Karenina, Field
of Dreams. Also: Associate Musical Director, Little Women,
Village Theatre Mainstage; Musical Director, Midsummer
Night’s Dream, KIDSTAGE Everett. As a composer, NYC
premieres include: Agamemnon and Henry V at La
MaMa ETC; in Santa Fe, NM: workshop musical based on Alice in
Wonderland co-sponsored by Santa Fe Opera.
Felicia Cutrone
(Stage Manager) – Felicia is glad to be working with
Showtunes! again after she stage managed Annie Warbucks
last October. Other Seattle area credits include, War of the
Currents with Alaballew Productions, and Willy Wonka Jr.
with Village Theatre KIDSTAGE in Everett. On the east coast, she
worked with Opera Boston, The American Girl Place, New Repertory
Theatre, and Barrington Stage Company. She graduated from
Emerson College with a BFA in Stage and Production Management. |
 Richard Gray*
(Alfie Byrne) – Richard’s recent performances include
Rodgers &… at the 92nd St Y in NYC and A Marvelous Party
at ACT. Favorite roles include Albin/ZaZa in La Cage Aux
Folles and Bud Frump in How To Succeed… (both at the
Village Theatre); Carlo in A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the
Ukraine at The 5th Avenue Theatre; and Lou Costello in seven
versions of The Big Broadcast. Richard's work as a
composer/lyricist earned him a place as a finalist for the Fred
Ebb award in both 2005 and 2006. His musical scores include
Cold Turkey (based on the Norman Lear movie of the same
name), History of the Roller Coaster (with Scott
Warrender), Love Is Love (with Martin Charnin), Time
Again in Oz, (L)imitations of Life, The Mom & Pop
Show, The Donk Sisters and Little Rock. His
musical revue, Forbidden Xmas, was a fixture of the
Seattle holiday scene for fifteen years. At Tacoma Actors'
Guild, Richard worked on twenty-six productions including
directing The Mystery of Irma Vep, Das Barbecü,
Forbidden Xmas, I Do! I Do! and Crimes of the Heart.
In addition, Richard has musical directed (and/or conducted)
over 50 productions in the Seattle area including The Rocky
Horror Show, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Buddy and
Pippin at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Recent recordings include
Susannah Mars' “Call It Home: The Music of Richard Gray”
and a track on this year's “Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols
For a Cure”. For more information please visit
www.richardgray.net
 Michaela Koerner*
(Mrs. Grace/Kitty) - Michaela is proud to make her
Showtunes! debut. Favorite roles include: Beth March in
Little Women, Amnesia in Nunsense, Minnie Fay in
Hello Dolly!, Maryjo in Piece of My Heart, Mary
Lennox in The Secret Garden, Sally in You’re a Good
Man Charlie Brown, and Boggerlas in Ubu Roi. Locally,
she has worked with the Village Theatre, Seattle Children’s
Theatre, Village Originals, Centerstage, Secondstory Repertory,
Storybook Theater, Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan, FringeACT,
Theater Schmeater and The Dickens Carolers.
 Jeanne Lee
(Mrs. Curtain) - Jeanne's local credits include the
Seattle Children's Theatre, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,
and the Village Theatre, Quilters and Charlie's Aunt.
She was also in The Washingtonians for two years under the
direction of the magnificent Scott Warrender. The last two
years, Jeanne has been involved in directing and assisting a
variety of shows including some "Soft Rock" extravaganzas full
of glorious 80's music with the appropriate singing, dancing and
comedy. (Lionel Richie rocks.)
 Allen Galli*
(Rasher Flynn/Carson) - This is Allen’s first appearance
with Showtunes! Most recently he was seen as Mr. DePinna in
You Can’t Take it With You at Seattle Rep. He has also
appeared at Seattle Children’s Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre,
the Village Theatre, ACT, Intiman, Seattle Shakespeare Theatre
and Book-It. Regionally, he’s appeared at Arizona Theatre
Company, Sacramento Theatre Center, Portland Repertory Theatre
and Cincinnatti Playhouse. He is a 28-year veteran of Seattle
stages.
 Matt Shimkus
(Ernie Lally/Monsignor) - Matt is thrilled to make his
Showtunes! debut in A Man of No Importance. Matt was last
seen in Wooden O's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Recently, Matt has appeared locally at Harlequin Productions,
and The Village Theatre. Matt's has worked regionally at Chicago
Shakespeare Theatre and Roosevelt University. Matt's voice can
be heard on Her Interactive’s Nancy Drew Mystery videogame
The Haunting of Castle Malloy. Love to Emilie.
 Jon Lutyens
(Sully O’Hara) – Jon is returning for his second of
hopefully several Showtunes! concerts, having been seen in last
January's Promises, Promises. Look for him this March in
the Seattle premiere of The History Boys at ArtsWest.
 Christian Duhamel
(Breton Beret/Peter) – Christian was last seen with
Showtunes! as the Tenor in Rodgers & ..., and he's so
grateful to be a part of this beautiful show. Other local
credits include Luke in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
(5th Avenue), Vinnie in Once Upon a Time in New Jersey
and John Brooke in Little Women (Village Theatre), and
Sebastian in Twelfth Night (2HoursTraffic). Christian
holds a BFA in Acting-Musical Theatre from Wright State
University. He is also an award winning playwright, composer,
lyricist, director, and musical director.
 Vickielee Wohlbach*
(Lily Byrne) - Vickielee happily returns to Showtunes!
where she was Fran in Promises, Promises, Gabrielle in
Dear World, Giovanna in Do I Hear A Waltz? and Marie
in Fiorello. Locally she has performed with; 5th Avenue,
SCT, TAG, Cabaret de Paris, Village Theatre, and ACT. Favorites
include Katarina/Taming of the Shrew, Rhetta/Pump Boys
and Dinettes, Annie Sullivan/The Miracle Worker,
Lilly/Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Cecily/The
Importance of Being Earnest, Brunnhilde/Das Barbecu,
Stellaluna/Stellaluna, Susan/Papa Wa Kazoku no Yojimbo,
Ensemble/Good Night Moon, Iowa Housewife/Menopause the
Musical and many merry seasons with Forbidden Christmas
and Rich Gray!
 Mark Rabe
(Carney/Oscar Wilde) - Over 20 years in theater, acting
credits include: Arthur in Camelot (Village Theatre),
Hamlet (White Raven Productions), Kodaly in She Loves Me
(UW Music Dept, guest artist), Cosme McMoon in Souvenir
(Actor's Rep, Spokane) Max in Lend Me A Tenor (Edge of
the World Theatre), and the Snake in Children of Eden
(Seattle’s Civic Light Opera). As music director and
pianist/conductor, credits include Annie Warbucks, Rodgers
&..., Barnum, It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Superman, Flora
the Red Menace, Do I Hear A Waltz? and Anyone Can Whistle
for Showtunes!; Oh, Coward! at Seattle Repertory Theatre;
Goblin Market at ACT Theatre; Wizard of Oz,
Goodnight Moon, and others at Seattle Children’s Theatre;
and Rich Gray's Forbidden Xmas at Tacoma Actor's Guild
(twice!)
 Jason Kappus
(Robbie Fay) - Jason is always glad to join Showtunes!
for another beautiful show. Between these lovely stints at KPC,
he spends his time at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre,
and most recently in the Wizard of Oz at Seattle
Children's Theatre. He can be seen soon in Stunt Girl
(Village Theatre), the world premiere of Catch Me If You Can
(5th Ave), and just about every elementary school in the Puget
Sound in The Mercer Girls (5th Ave AMT). Much love to
Loni, whom he hopes to see more of soon!
 Charissa Bertels
(Adele Rice) – Charissa loves being Irish! She recently
finished a run of The Wizard of Oz at Seattle Children’s
Theatre. She can be seen this spring in Stunt Girl at
Village Theatre as well as on tour with the 5th
Avenue’s AMT production of The Mercer Girls. Other
favorite credits include Godspell, Once Upon A Time In
New Jersey, A New Brain, On the Town, and
Annie Get Your Gun. She thanks God, her family, friends and
her amazing husband, James. Visit her at
www.charissabertels.com
 Doug Knoop
(Father Kenny) - Doug is thrilled to work with all these
wonderful people in A Man of No Importance. Last fall he
played the King in Cinderella and Roger Sherman in
1776 at Seattle Musical Theatre. Last summer he was a part
of Breeders Theatre’s production of Coriander, in April
he played Tito Merelli in Auburn Regional Theater’s production
of Lend Me a Tenor and directed Crazy/Naked for
Breeders Theater. Other area credits include Seussical at
SMT, A Flea in Her Ear for Centerstage in Federal Way,
Urinetown and Little Shop of Horrors at the Capital
Playhouse in Olympia, Red, Hot & Cole at SMT, Four
Christmases at Centerstage and Blood Brothers at
ArtsWest. Thanks to Frances and all the Showtunes! folks for the
opportunity, and this one is for Janine Steffan. She would have
loved this show.
Trish LaGrua
(Mrs. Patrick) - Trish is thrilled to appear on stage
with Showtunes! Favorite regional roles include Maria in The
Sound of Music Mrs. Lyons in Blood Brothers and Grace
Farrell in Annie also here at KPC. Up next, Stunt Girl
at Village Theatre this spring. Love and thanks to Bill for his
endless support.
 Andy Kopser
(Baldy O'Shea) - If you play bridge, you may have seen
Andy performing with Seattle’s Only Bridge Burlesque, a
troupe of bridge players who produce musical parodies about,
well, bridge. When he’s not playing cards or singing about
them, he may be found in Pioneer Square designing Cray
supercomputers. A master of efficiency, Andy refused to wait for
the opening curtain to break his leg. Thanks to Kristi, for
doing a little extra driving.
 Loretta Deranleau
(Miss Crowe)
- Loretta is always ecstatic to work with Showtunes!, having
previously appeared in Dear World and Promises,
Promises. She was most recently seen in Coming
Attractions with Straight-Edge Theatrics, and performs
regularly around the sound as a member of Bodacious Ladyhood.
Thanks to Fran for offering, Maggie and DEH for all their hard
work, and Patty O’Furniture for helping out! Here’s to all who
“put on a little play” and “head straight on to Dreamland.”
Love to Lee!
* Denotes a member of Actors Equity Association, the union of
professional actors and stage managers in the United States |
