Newsies - 2019
making of Newsies
Newsies was a fantastic show, and even after it closed our cast was still in the Newsies mood. Audrey Grant, stage manager of Newsies created a making of documentary, featuring the cast rehearsing and having fun leading up to closing bows.
cast and crew bios
Rhea Apicelli-Abel - Newsie, Nunzio, Nun - Rhea is an eighth grader at Hazen Union. She plays alto saxophone in band, and sings in chorus and the middle school Select Chorus. She has been in lots of Hazen Middle school productions, Complaint Department and Lemonade as TV Problem, and The Big Bad Musical as Miss Muffet. She is excited to be in a high school musical with all her friends, and has had an amazing time as a Newsie! She hopes you enjoyed the show.
Alex Aubuchon - Race Track - Alex is a sophomore at Hazen, and has participated in drama since he was in fifth grade. He has been a part of 12 shows, including this one. In his spare time, Alex enjoys swimming, baking, reading, playing video games, listening to music that is louder than it should be, and hanging out with his dogs. Alex would like to thank his best friend Olie for encouraging him to hit the stage again.
Beatrix Avery - Bunsen, Buttons, Bowery Beauty - This is Beatrix’s 2nd play with Hazen, her first was The Big Bad Musical as the Judge. She has also been in a play with Get Thee to the Funnery and Cabot Community Theater. She is in 8th grade and is very glad not to be on crutches in this play.
Grace Cloutier - Henry, Bowery Beauty - Grace is a 7th grader at Hazen. She has done many shows in the past not just at Hazen. She enjoys dancing, singing, playing percussion, and making jokes with her friends. She wants to thank a girl when she was 5 that dropped out so she could be the lead in the musical and start acting.
Rebekah Cloutier - Les - Rebekah is an 8th grader at Hazen. She has been in 6 shows at Hazen Union, such as The Tempest and Into the Woods. In her free time, she enjoys writing and playing music, spending time with her friends, and making horrible puns. She would like to thank her mom for getting her into theatre arts in the first place.
Sarah Collier - Mush - Sarah is a 7th grader at Hazen. She has been in many plays not just at Hazen her first play at Hazen was the sound of music. In her free time she enjoys sleeping swimming and playing softball. She would like to thank her family and friends for making her life so much fun.
Lilly Cookson - Ballet Wolcott Youth Dancer - Lilly goes to school in Craftsbury. She is in 5th grade. She just performed in Firebird with Ballet Wolcott, and she choreographed a solo for Sleeping Beauty as part of the enchanted garden. In her freetime she relaxes while she watches her kindle, but when it is nice outside and she’s on summer vacation she likes to swim in her pool. She likes to sew, dance, sing, bake with her mom, and hang out with her friends. She stated dance when she was 3 years old and loved it ever since.
Maya Fliegelman - Assistant Stage Manager - Maya is an 8th grader at Hazen. In their free time, they love listening to musicals and reading. Maya has been a part of six shows at Hazen including Into the Woods and The Tempest, and they want to continue doing tech theater after graduation. They would like to thank Alan Turner, for being a pretty cool guy and saving millions of people, and their friends, especially Elias, who's pretty cool too.
Maddie Foster-Pudvah - Hannah, Nun, Specs, Bowery Beauty - is a junior at Hazen Union School. She’s been in 14 plays and musicals throughout her life, such as a Nun in Sound of Music, Mrs. MacAfee in Bye Bye, Birdie, Doctor in Witness, the doctor’s wife in Blithe Spirit and Lydia in The Princess. She enjoys baking, acting and reading. She would like to thank everyone who has been to her performances supporting her.
Deanna Gann - Katherine Pulitzer- Deanna has been in over 16 plays and wishes to continue acting in the future. She enjoys music and acting, along with writing and playing basketball. She would like to thank both of her parents for supporting her in everything she does. She also wants to thank her siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents for being her fans, and for coming to every show she is in. She is excited to continue to act with the Hazen Union Drama Club for the next three years.
Olie Grant - Davey - Olie Grant has been acting with Hazen Union for many many years. They usually play ensemble rolls, such as a teenager in Bye Bye, Birdie. They're very excited for Newsies! They’d like to thank their sister, Audrey, for always being cool, and encouraging them to keep doing their best. They hope you enjoy the show!
Xavier Hart-Marion - Romeo, Sietz - Xavier is excited to be in Hazen’s Newsies. He’s a Junior at Hazen, and enjoys being VP of the Drama Club Council, and helping others. He’s into graphic design and video production, and is also an aspiring filmmaker.
Carter Hill - Spot Conlon - Carter is in 9th grade and this is his first high school production. Outside of drama he enjoys playing basketball and scarfin’ down pizzas with the boys. He is also an active member of the Kyle Behrsing fan club. He’d like to thank those dudes that made minecraft and local club owner Brent Curtis.
Kaitlyn Kaiser - Medda Larkin/Nun - KK is a junior at Hazen Union High School. This is her eighth show at Hazen, she has been in Bye Bye Birdie as Mrs. Peterson, Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit, Into the woods, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, Witness and Almost Maine. Aside from theater, KK enjoys hanging with her friends and playing Ukulele. Later in life she would like to keep doing theatre as a side activity, an outlet for the stress that is life.
Zola Kehler - Gymnast - Zola is a seventh grader at Hazen Onion. This is her first production. She enjoys sketching and in her free time she can be found painting, playing piano, hanging with her buddies, doing gymnastics, or listening to music. Every friday her friend Mary Jane comes over and they eat a quart of Aldens chocolate chip ice cream. She enjoys musicals such as Heathers, Dear Evan Hansen, and of course Hamilton. She would like to thank her family for supporting her, and her teacher, Ms. Robinson, for opening up a whole new world of educational opportunities. She would also like to thank her friend Maryjane for always being there for her and spending as much time
Sophia Kittredge - Sophia is a 13 year old homeschooler from Walden. She has been dancing for seven years with Ballet Wolcott, and has been doing their shows each year. When she’s not dancing or rehearsing, she enjoys playing violin, reading and sleeping. This is her first musical and she’s very excited to be involved.
Erica Laxer - Ballet Wolcott Youth Dancer - Erica is an 8th grader from Lamoille Union Middle School. She dances with Ballet Wolcott and loves dancing, acting, and performing. She has performed in many of Ballet Wolcott’s performances and has also been in a few school plays including Twinderella, Princess Whatsername, and Annie. She is really excited to perform Newsies with the students from Hazen.
Jay Lecours - Newsie (Saturday Only) - Jay is a Senior at Hazen Union, and is going to Castleton University next fall. He was involved with Mrs. Harple’s theater arts production of Our Town, playing George. This is his only other play he’s been in. He is only here for Saturday’s show, as Friday he is going on the Senior Trip.
Abe Leveillee - JoJo - Abe is a 7th grader at Hazen Union. In his free time, he enjoys watching TV, playing the guitar, listening to music & just generally procrastinating school work. He would like to thank Rebekah for being the reason he continues to do drama because she can show how fun it really is.
Sean McIntyre - Snyder - Sean teaches English at Hazen Union Middle and High School and is a big fan of the theater and talented young people. This is his first on-stage role since playing the bumbling Superhero “Captain Action” in South Kingstown High School’s Theater for the Youth program in the late 1990s.
Leo McMurtrie - Crutchie - Léo is a sophomore at Hazen Union High school. This is one of the musicals he’s most excited for, because for once in his life he’s only counting partial comedy relief. He was Charles in Blithe Spirit, the narrator in Into the Woods, Cryil in The Princess and some roles he doesn’t want to talk about. He’d like the thank the original newsboys for performing the strike otherwise Newsies the musical would not exist.
Jan Mueller - Pulitzer - Teacher, coach, and easily persuaded musical recruit. This is his first dramatic role since he played Hamlet in middle school, so thanks Hazen Drama Club! for the opportunity. Kudos and high fives to all our awesome and talented kids (and adults) who put this fun show together.
David Perrigo - Weisel, Jacobi, Gov. Theodore Roosevelt- David lives in Hardwick but sleeps in West Glover to the soothing calls of the loons (a big deal for a city boy). After having enjoyed watching numerous productions at the beautiful Highland, David is delighted to be on the other side under the lights with some of the most talented and committed young people that the Northeast Kingdom has to offer. In the words of TR “I believe that the future in your hands will be bright and prosperous.” Seize the Day!
Elias Robertson - Finch - Elias is a student at Hazen. He has been in many shows over the years, such as Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory, Pirate of Penzance, and Bye Bye Birdie. A few of Elias's favorite hobbies are crying, biking, and playing video games. When he is not doing the aforementioned activities or rehearsing for a show, he can be found practicing Tae Kwon Do, which he is a fourth degree brown belt in. He would like to thank his friend Maya for being the coolest person ever. He would also like to thank Maya for writing his bio.
Maryjane Skelton - Gymnast - Maryjane is an eighth grader at Hazen Onion. This is her 3rd show. Some of her hobbies are gymnastics, running, and hanging out with her friends. She would like to thank her family for supporting her activeness (though it isn’t much) in this production. She would also like thank her friend Zola for helping her cope during long rehearsals and for providing her with entertainment such as memes and TikToks. We spend every weekend together eating quarts of Alden’s chocolate chip ice cream.
Tyler Welles - Jack Kelley - Tyler is a senior at Hazen. He will be attending the University of Lynchburg to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy next fall. Newsies is not only his second production but also his second lead role (the first being the Baker in last year’s production of Into the Woods). A perfect 2 for 2 streak. He’s honestly a legend. The Jerry Seinfeld of his time. As an anonymous, unbiased third party, I would also like to speak to his intelligence, charisma, charm, and humbleness. In all seriousness, he’s really glad to have experienced the Hazen Drama Club these last 2 years and is looking forward to future theatrical experiences.
Ryker Willet - Morris Delancey - Ryker is a freshman at Hazen Union. This is his first performance with the Hazen drama club, and his first performance. He is a funny, likeable, and talented young man. He is very happy to be a part of the Drama Club, and is looking forward to all of the performances he will be participating in. Ryker is also an active member of the Hazen Band, and part of both the basketball team and soccer team at Hazen.
Creative Team and Musicians
Talan Bryant - Music Director, Mayor - has been the choral director at Hazen Union for the past six years also teaching guitar, piano, and middle school general music courses. When not conducting Hazen’s Choirs or teaching a seminar on music theory, Mr. Bryant can be found gardening, working in his woodshop, and jamming on his guitar.
Marc Considine - Director - Mild mannered science teacher by day, director by night. After getting involved in theater by breaking his leg in high school, he has been a part of theater groups around the country for thirty years. Since 1999 he has led, directed, and written for the Hazen Drama club. He also likes to spend his time with his family and outdoors, ideally at the same time. His favorite shows are the ones he gets to do with his family.
Mariana Considine - Dance Captain/Movement Coach/Costumer - Mariana Considine is a junior at Hazen Union School. Usually she is found onstage, most recently as Elvira in Blithe Spirit, she found herself suddenly in Mexico during this production, and could sadly not make it back in time - but she says she’ll drop into Santa Fe on the way and see if its everything they say it is.
Bruce Fortmann - Drums - Bruce is an aspiring young drummer who is influenced by many 70s rock bands. He is a freshman at Hazen Union. His musical influences have taken him far since his first years at Hazen, as he begins his third year of band, his second year of chorus, and his first year of high school select chorus. He has played for the Hazen drama club once before in their production of Bye Bye Birdie. Bruce loves flying to new destinations, helping his family on the farm, and of course, drumming.
Audrey Grant - Production and Stage Manager, Stage Manager - Audrey Grant is a Junior at Hazen. This is her umpteenth show at Hazen. She’s a very busy bee, and might be seen at Vermont Vaudeville, Highland Center, Blood Drives, the Jeudevine Library, and Hazen’s Select Chorus. She’s stage managed or did lighting for every show since 2015 at Hazen, and has worked at Lamoille County Players, GAAR/Mirror Theater, and has done photography for Ballet Wolcott. She is onstage for this production, both as Medda’s Stage Manager, and as Hazen’s Stage Manager. She’d like to thank this amazing cast and crew that has dealt with her craziness and always shown her support, without them, she wouldn’t be able to do what she loves.
Robin Grant - Lighting Designer and Board Operator - Robin is Audrey and Olie’s dad, and as a result, has seen every show they’ve done. His daughter, Audrey, is following in his footsteps of videography and lighting design. When Hazen got a new light board - one that he used when he worked at Art At St. Ann’s in Brooklyn through the 90s - he helped Audrey and Marc Considine learn the board. This year he helped with the Regional One Acts when Hazen hosted. He works at Dartmouth College and Flynn Theater doing technical theater, and does freelance media conversion and camera work. He hopes you enjoy the show, and would like to thank his many Volvos through the years that have always gotten him to where he needed to be.
Calvin Robertson - Spotlight Operator - Calvin has been working on tech and spotlight for the last 3 years in productions at Hazen and elsewhere. I would like to thank they boys for the sole reason of being the boys. I would also like to thank Hideo Kojima for making video games that make you question the fabric of reality.
Brandy Ofciarcik-Perez - Choreographer - Brandy has been teaching dance for over 25 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in dance from Point Park College in Pittsburgh, PA. She has been a member of the Vermont Dance Collective, taught at Johnson State College, and has collaborated with many local choreographers, teachers, and dance studios all over Vermont. Brandy currently teaches dance at Ballet Wolcott, directs their Youth Company, and creates original choreography for performances, community events, and ballets.