Embedded Files
JESSICA SPILLANE (Artistic Director) is delighted to finally be directing this musical theatre staple HELLO, DOLLY! as her 17th musical at THS. By day, she teaches English and Drama and also acts as the troupe director for THeSpians, the THS troupe of the International Thespian Society. Jessica has served as the Directing Mentor for the three student-directed fall plays, ALMOST, MAINE (’12) and GAME NIGHT (’13) and THE CRUCIBLE (’14). She has also had the immense privilege of directing three summer productions for the amazing TYA program (SEUSSICAL, GREASE and ANYTHING GOES). Jessica has been fortunate enough to attend the Directing Shakespeare Workshop for Theatre Teachers at the Juilliard School and to chaperone the Connecticut High School Musical Theater Award winners to nationals in NYC in the summer of ’11. She is so proud to be surrounded by the most amazing production team—from former students and parents to award-winning professionals, this is a team that constantly pushes her to be better. Most of all, Jessica thanks her wonderful family for always supporting her, and is thrilled to be directing her own daughter as a freshman (finally, a place where you HAVE TO listen to me, Jules!). Much love to cast and crew, who are the reason we do this. Your talents, creativity, and hard work amaze me!
SHANNON BOLAN (Producer) cannot believe that she is producing another Trumbull High School Musical. It has been such a pleasure helping the theatre program to grow over the last seven years. Shannon couldn’t be more proud of the thespians, both on and off stage. She wouldn’t be able to do it all without the amazing production team, creative staff, and parents and is thankful for the wonderful community that continues to support the arts in Trumbull. Most importantly, Shannon thanks her husband, parents, sisters, and in-laws for making it possible for her to continue to produce the musical with a newborn at home! Past production credits include: RENT: SCHOOL EDITION (2014), CRAZY FOR YOU (2013), THE WIZ (2012), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (2011), THE MUSIC MAN (2010), and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (2009).
MATT BRACKSIECK (Technical Director) is excited to be working again with the award winning THS Musicals. In addition to teaching English at THS, he has been part of productions of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE WIZ, CRAZY FOR YOU, and RENT: SCHOOL EDITION. Matt has also worked as LD for TYA’s production of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, as well as technical mentor to THeSpians productions of ALMOST, MAINE, GAME NIGHT, and THE CRUCIBLE. Thanks especially to Sam, Steph, Joe, John, and Cathy who turn paper ideas into Dolly’s world; to Jessica and Shannon for always pushing for perfection; and the team at home--Jill, Orion, and Maia--for all the support. Special thanks goes to Jess R. who has done so much and will do so much more.
JEROLD GOLDSTEIN (Musical Director) is delighted yet again to be working with the students at Trumbull High School as he learns from them every year. Jerold has been directing, musical directing, and teaching in schools and privately throughout Connecticut for the last 25 years. He has appeared on Broadway in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING with Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker and John Stamos, and in the musical AIN’T BROADWAY GRAND. He was featured in the national tour of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM starring Rip Taylor (standing in for Mr. Taylor) and co-starred with Dick Van Patten in SCANDALS at Theatre Virginia. Jerold played Chico Marx in both ANIMAL CRACKERS at Arena Stage, Washington, and THE COCOANUTS at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. He won Philadelphia’s prestigious Barrymore Award for his performance in GUN METAL BLUES at the Wilma Theatre and toured Europe as Bert Barry in 42ND STREET. On television he has been featured on NBC’s LAW AND ORDER and CBS’ HACK.To find out where Jerold will be popping up next go to: www.Jerold.com.
FRANK ROOT (Choreographer) is happy to be back at Trumbull with his 13th show and is thrilled to be working with his daughter, Abigail, again. He won The State of Connecticut High School Music Theatre Award for THE WIZ and with Abby for CRAZY FOR YOU. Recently he directed SHREK and directed and choreographed THE WIZ for Bridgeport Theatre Company. As an actor Frank recently filmed an episode of VEEP with Julia Louis- Dreyfus and was featured in HELLO, MY BABY at Goodspeed Opera House. Other TV, as a featured dancer in three episodes of the HBO series, BOARDWALK EMPIRE. Frank’s last Broadway production was the revival of 42ND STREET. National tours: PIRATES OF PENZANCE, SHOWBOAT, GEORGE M, YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN. Off- Broadway: BUY BONDS BUSTER, DEALERS CHOICE, OH! WHAT A LOVELY WAR and over 40 plays regionally. Frank was on the theater faculty at both the Hartt School and NYU. His proudest achievement is owning and running Broadway Bootcamp. He has directed and Choreographed INTO THE WOODS, FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, SHE LOVES ME, CARNIVAL, and 42ND STREET. He has also staged production numbers for the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade seen nationally on NBC. Frank is a proud member of Actors Equity and has been for the past 48 years.
ABIGAIL ROOT (Choreographer) was awarded a BFA in Music Theatre from Illinois Wesleyan University, graduating with honors. She has recently appeared in Downtown Cabaret’s production of PETER PAN (Wendy). Abigail has choreographed Bridgeport Theater Company’s SHREK, Downtown Cabaret’s ANNIE, Illinois Wesleyan’s HELLO AGAIN, and Trumbull High School’s CRAZY FOR YOU (CHSMTA Outstanding Choreography). Abigail is also the Assistant Artistic Director of Broadway Bootcamp. She has studied with many of the top voice, acting, and dance teachers in New York City. Thanks to Dad for being a creative mentor and collaborator!
ALEX LUFT (Dolly Levi), a junior, is beyond thrilled to be playing Dolly Levi in her first THS musical! She spent her last two years of high school performing in Christian Heritage School’s productions of BYE BYE BIRDIE (Mae Peterson), THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (Adriana), and HELLO, DOLLY! (Ermengarde) . . . Two years later, she is very excited to be in it again! Her other recent favorites include: TYA’s CHILDREN OF EDEN (Aysha) and INTO THE WOODS (Little Red/Lucinda). Alex would like to thank the entire cast for being so welcoming and incredible. She would also like to thank Mrs. Spillane, Jerold Goldstein, Frank Root, and everyone else who has dedicated so much time and hard work to making this production fabulous! Break legs!
ZAC GOTTSCHALL (Horace Vandergelder) a junior, is excited to be in his third THS Musical. Although he does not get to paint his nails black as he did last year in RENT, he is still delighted and thrilled to be playing Horace in this year’s production of HELLO, DOLLY!. His past credits include ALMOST, MAINE (Jimmy), CRAZY FOR YOU (Moose), GAME NIGHT (Donnan & Mr. Green), RENT: SCHOOL EDITION (Roger), and assistant lighting designer for THE CRUCIBLE. Zac would like to thank Mrs. Spillane, Mrs. Bolan, Jerold, Frank, Abby, “the Mamas,” and the entire cast for their assistance and support. He would also like to give a special thanks to his parents and siblings for inspiring him to do theater. Good luck to the cast and crew!
ANNIE STACHURA (Irene Molloy) is thrilled to be part of the incredible cast of HELLO, DOLLY!. She is a senior and this is her third THS musical. She has also been featured in local productions of FOOTLOOSE (Wendy Jo), THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Millie), 13! THE MUSICAL (Patrice), and CHILDREN OF EDEN (Yonah). She’d like to thank Mrs. Spillane, Mrs. Bolan, Jerold, Frank and Abby, the Mamas, Amanda and the rest of the production crew for helping to create this ridiculously wonderful show. She would also like to thank her amazing vocal coach, Beverly Blanchard. Finally, she wants to thank her parents because they support her so much AND they are not even the slightest bit lame. Break a leg to the cast and crew!!
MICHAEL LEPORE (Cornelius Hackl) is thrilled to be returning for his third THS Show! A Junior, Michael could not be happier with his experiences so far at THS. Past credits include THS’s productions of RENT: SCHOOL EDITION (Tom Collins), Arthur Miller’s THE CRUCIBLE (Reverend Hale), and CRAZY FOR YOU (Sam). He is also a proud member of TYA, appearing in their productions of CHILDREN OF EDEN (Abel), and was a part of the incredible ensembles of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and FOOTLOOSE. He would like to thank his family for their continued ridiculous support of his endeavors. He would also like to thank the cast and crew of HELLO, DOLLY! for nurturing his insanity, and for being a very functional family of severely dysfunctional individuals. Break legs everyone.
JACK LEONARD (Barnaby Tucker), a junior, is thrilled to be in the cast of his third Trumbull High School musical! He has previously performed in INTO THE WOODS (Cinderella’s Prince), RENT: SCHOOL EDITION (Gordon), CRAZY FOR YOU (Custus), and was featured in the amazing ensembles of TYA’s CHILDREN OF EDEN and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Jack is super excited to share the stage with some of his closest friends and his loving sister, Mimi. He sends a heartfelt thank you to his biggest fans, Mom, Dad, Nic, and Charlie for all their love and numerous car rides. He would also like to thank Mrs. Spillane, Mrs. Bolan, Jerold, Frank, and Abby for this incredible opportunity and experience. He hopes the audience has a “whale” of a time!
KATHERINE GRIFFIN (Minnie Fay) is honored to have been a part of HELLO, DOLLY!. Katherine is a member of the New Paradigm Theatre Company’s youth board (nptheatre.org) and has been dancing for nearly 14 years at Ann’s School of Dance. Past credits include: ARTHUR MILLER’S THE CRUCIBLE (Elizabeth Proctor), CHILDREN OF EDEN (Snake/Featured Storyteller), RENT: SCHOOL EDITION (Seasons of Love Soloist), THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Speed Tappist), CRAZY FOR YOU (Follies Girl- CHSMTA Winner for Best Featured Ensemble Group). Katherine would like to congratulate the cast and crew on a fabulous production. She would like to thank the efforts of Mrs. Spillane, Mrs. Bolan, Mr. B, Frank, Abby, Jerold and everyone else who spent hours upon hours making high schoolers look like stars. WA-A-AH!
TINA DELUCIA (Ernestina) is extremely excited to be a part of HELLO, DOLLY! for her senior year of THS Musical Theatre! Tina was last seen in THE CRUCIBLE, as the elderly Rebecca Nurse, and her other straight play credits include: Madame Edith in GAME NIGHT and Rhonda in ALMOST, MAINE. This will be her third THS Musical performance on stage, her former roles being everyone’s favorite Bag Lady in RENT: SCHOOL EDITION and an ensemble member in CRAZY FOR YOU. Plus, her ensemble roles in TYA’s CHILDREN OF EDEN and FOOTLOOSE, and her role as Rita in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. A big thank you to all of her brilliant cast mates. And she reminds her friends not to take the lemons, and to burn life’s house down!
LAUREN CHASE (Ermengarde) is excited to be performing in her fourth and final production at THS. She has most recently been seen as Assistant Director/Dramaturge of THE CRUCIBLE and as Alexi Darling in RENT: SCHOOL EDITION. Other credits include Casey in GAME NIGHT, Linus in YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, and as an ensemble member in both CRAZY FOR YOU and THE WIZ. She would like to thank everyone in the cast and crew for this great experience. She wishes everyone the best of luck.
MATT BUCKWALD (Ambrose Kemper), a junior, has most recently been seen as the director of the THS Fall Play, THE CRUCIBLE, and in RENT: SCHOOL EDITION (Angel), for which he was nominated for a Connecticut High School Musical Theatre Award. Other past credits include: GAME NIGHT (King Kandy/Duke of Swirl/David), URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry), SPAMALOT (Ensemble/Dance Captain), ONE ENCHANTED EVENING: A RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN TRIBUTE (Featured Soloist), LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL (Aaron Shultz), OLIVER! (Noah Claypool/Swing), and THE JUNGLE BOOK (Akeela). He would like to thank the entire cast and crew for a wonderful experience!
VICTORIA CARTER (Dance Captain) a senior, is excited to be performing in her final THS production! Victoria has danced for 15 years and was a featured dancer in the THS musical THE WIZ as well as TYA’s production of THOUROUGHLY MODERN MILLE. She has been acting since age six and had featured roles in THE CRUCIBLE (Mercy), RENT: SCHOOL EDITION (Bohemian Girl), GAME NIGHT (Scarlet), THE BEATLES SLEPT HERE (Eleanor), ANNIE (Lily St. Regis), HONK (Beaky), and the WIZARD OF OZ (Lullaby League). She would like to thank all of those who helped her grow as a performer and person – Mrs. Spillane, Mrs. Bolan, Jerold, Frank & Abby, Gary Nastu, Ms. Annie, Ms. Andrea, and Ms. Saunders. Victoria would also like to thank everyone else who made this production possible.
SAM MALONEY (Set Design) is a THS alumnus and currently studies architecture at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Sam’s biographies have previously appeared in four THS Musicals (THE MUSIC MAN, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE WIZ, RENT). This is Sam’s second time designing for THS and he is honored to work with such an amazing group of people, especially Ms. Stephanie Bont. As a student of architecture, Sam finds it thrilling to watch a design go from paper to reality. Sam would like to formally apologize to anyone who grew tired of constructing this enormous set. Special thanks to Jessica Spillane, Shannon Bolan, Matt Bracksieck, Cathy Bolton, Joe Amaturo, Jess Rende, Ian Maloney, and the dedicated crew of HELLO, DOLLY!
STEPHANIE BONT (Set Design) is thrilled to be set designing another amazing show with the wonderfully talented Sam Maloney. As a Trumbull High School graduate, Stephanie is honored to be working on her sixth musical with THS. Although she primarily performed on stage at THS, Steph was the Technical Advisor of Boston University’s premier musical theater group, BU on Broadway. She has set designed shows including GODSPELL, CHICAGO, EURYDICE, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, as well as THS’s 2014 performance of RENT: SCHOOL EDITION! and is very excited to add this production of HELLO, DOLLY! Thank you to Spillane, Shannon, and Mr. B for making this all possible. Stephanie is truly amazed at all the hard work the cast and crew has put into this process and couldn’t be prouder. Have fun and BREAK LEGS everyone!
RACHEL TROPP (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be a part of her third Trumbull High School musical. She was previously in the ensemble of CRAZY FOR YOU at THS and FOOTLOOSE, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, and CHILDREN OF EDEN with TYA. She also assistant stage-managed during GAME NIGHT and RENT: SCHOOL EDITION, as well as stage managed for THE CRUCIBLE. She would like to thank her family for their support and also the amazing cast and crew for being such a pleasure to work with. Thanks also to Mrs. Spillane for being an inspiring director. Break a leg, everyone!
AMANDA LEE (Assistant Costumer) is thrilled to be working on her fourth THS musical! She is currently a senior at Trumbull High School where she has immensely enjoyed working on numerous shows as crew, assistant, or designer. Credits include Trumbull High’s THE CRUCIBLE, RENT: SCHOOL EDITION, GAME NIGHT, CRAZY FOR YOU, ALMOST, MAINE, and TYA’s THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and CHILDREN OF EDEN. She would like to thank her family for their support, the wonderful cast and crew, and Merial Cornell, Jeannette Davidson, and Mary Joan Wright whom she is blessed to have as mentors.
AVA GALLO (Assistant Choreographer), a junior at Trumbull High, is thrilled to be the assistant choreographer for this year’s show of HELLO DOLLY! Her most recent credits include Louise in BMA’s production of CAROUSEL and Mimi Marquez in THS’s production of RENT: SCHOOL EDITION where she was nominated for the CHSMTA award for Outstanding Leading Actress. Ava also has won a CHSMTA award for Outstanding Ensemble Group for the Folly Girls in CRAZY FOR YOU. Thank you to Frank and Abby Root, Mrs. Spillane, Mrs. Bolan, Jerold Goldstein and Mr. Bracksieck for this amazing opportunity to grow. As always, thank you to PACC, Beverly Lambert, BMA, my friends and my family, especially my mom, dad, and James. Love you! Merde to the cast and crew of HELLO, DOLLY!
CAMERON KIMBALL (Art Designer) is honored to be part of the production crew of HELLO, DOLLY!. It has been Cammy’s privilege to work with the cast and crew of THS theater since her freshman year as part of lobby design for THE WIZ. Cammy continued her involvement with THS theater as a lobby/set design crew member for ALMOST, MAINE, she was part of the ensemble and crew in CRAZY FOR YOU, a lobby/set design crew member for GAME NIGHT and RENT: SCHOOL EDITION, and Art Designer for THE CRUCIBLE. Cammy has also been a performer in several TYA productions. Cammy would like to thank Mrs. Bolton, Mrs. DeVito, Mrs. Bolan, Mr. B., Mrs. Spillane, and the cast and crew of HELLO, DOLLY! for the wonderful experience.
BETH BOLTON (Director’s Assistant) is thrilled to be doing her fifteenth show. She is lucky to have theater as part of her everyday life because of her sister for introducing theater to her 5 years ago. Beth would like to give special thanks to her mother for putting up with her craziness, the spectacular cast and crew, and a special thanks to Mrs. Spillane for giving me the opportunity to work with her this year! Thank you all for being part of my theater family and for the hilarious memories. Break a leg everyone!!!!
LAHARI KOTA (Properties Manager) I am very excited (and more than a little sad) for my final show. I have always been passionate about creative activities and therefore joined prop crew in my sophomore year. Although I could not even tell stage right from stage left, everyone patiently helped me along. I must thank Mrs. Bolton for teaching me to think very abstractly so that I now believe nothing is impossible to make. Mrs. Bolan encouraged me and gave me the opportunity of being prop manager, an experience I would never wish undone. I have taken part in CRAZY FOR YOU, GAME NIGHT, RENT: SCHOOL EDITION, THE CRUCIBLE and look forward to viewing the success of the cast’s and crew’s hard work in HELLO, DOLLY!
BRITTANY KUBICKO (Playbill Design) is a senior at Trumbull High School and is delighted to be designing the program for HELLO, DOLLY! Past credits for playbill design includes designing the program for CRAZY FOR YOU, GAME NIGHT, RENT: SCHOOL EDITION, and THE CRUCIBLE. Additionally, she has designed the logo for GAME NIGHT, THE CRUCIBLE, and AESOP’S FABLES (and also for the musical you are seeing right now). She would like to thank Mrs. Spillane, Mrs. Bolan, and Mr. B for helping her during the playbill and logo designing process as well as her friends in the cast and crew for making her three years in THS musicals one of the most memorable. Break a leg to the cast and crew
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