Cover

Open Circle Theatre 
The Who’s Tommy
Silver Spring Black Box Theatre
October 27-November 20, 2016
www.opencircletheatre.org

inside cover

Open Circle Theatre
Presents
TOMMY
Music & Lyrics by Pete Townshend
Book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff
Additional Music & Lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon
Originally Produced on Broadway by Pace Theatrical Group
and Dodger Productions with Kardana Productions, Inc.

Director
Suzanne Richard

Music Director
Jake Null

Assistant Music Director
Deborah Jacobson

Musical Staging/Choreography
Jen Bevan

Stage Manager
Jenny Rubin

ASL Master
Neil (Michael) Sprouse

Set Design
Jimmy Stubbs

Sound Design
Edward Moser

Lighting Design
Marianne Meadows

Projection Design
Arnulfo Moreno

Costume Design
Jesse Shipley

There will be one 15 minute intermission between acts.

Director’s Note

Open Circle Theatre’s vision is to advance the idea that disability can enhance the artistic experience, inspire aesthetic innovation, and influence a community to become accessible for all. We’ve tackled a lot with our comeback show:  exploring the ideas of language and healing, adding the rock back into the Broadway version, and continuing our mission to give all audience members an equitable experience. During our rehearsal process, sometimes it can be a bit of a three-ring circus, actors are working in ways and with people they are not used to and are stretching outside of their comfort zones. But the payoff makes it all worthwhile, and we always end up with a unified cast that has learned a lot about themselves and each other. 

The Who’s original concept album and subsequent concert performances of Tommy were legendary. Even with the more recent Broadway version of the show, the actual experience of disability was never considered to be part of the show’s message. Disability was used as a metaphor and Tommy was thought to be cured in the end. As I listened to it as a person who has lived with a disability my entire life, I began to wonder – what does it mean to be cured? Who gets to decide what is healthy or “normal”? How does violent crime victimization impact the disability community? How can a person deal with the extremes of villainy versus virtue that society applies to people with disabilities? I decided it was time for the metaphor to get a dose of what the real experience of disability was like. What would happen if, when Tommy turns around to speak for the first time, it’s in American Sign Language? My vision of our production was completed when the wonderful Russell Harvard joined the cast. I began to call it THE METAPHOR STRIKES BACK!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This year’s theme is #InclusionWorks. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, only 19.8% of people with disabilities are employed as compared to 68.7% of people without disabilities. Look around. The fabric of humanity is comprised of individuals of many shapes, sizes, and colors. Yet most of what we see on television, in film, and on the stage does not reflect what our society looks like. I’m so proud and thankful that Open Circle Theatre is BACK to continue our work demonstrating that inclusion of people of all abilities can make a production MORE intriguing, MORE innovative, and MORE beautiful by combining the talents of all of humanity.

Thanks for joining us on this adventure.

Setting:
America, briefly in 1945, but quickly shifting to Present Day

Cast
Tommy played by Russell Harvard
Narrator (Voice of Tommy) played by Will Hayes
Mrs. Walker played by Autumn Seavey Hicks
Captain Walker played by Malcolm Lee
Cousin Kevin played by Carl Williams
ASL Cousin Kevin played by Aarron Loggins
Uncle Ernie played by Mikey Cafarelli
Acid Queen played by Maggie Leigh Walker
Sally Simpson played by Molly Janiga
Tommy (Age 10) played by Chloe Mitchiner
Tommy (Age 4) played by Kira Mitchiner

Ensemble
Joey Antonio, Elver Ariza-Silva, Rachel Barlaam,
Jen Bevan, Tina Ghandchilar, JP Illarramendi,
Christian Kelly, Monica Lijewski, Jackie Madejski,
Amy Maniscalco, Jose Martinez, Edward C. Nagel,
D’Arcee Charington Neal, Lynley Peoples,
Michelle Mary Schaefer, Eric Teran

Pit
Piano/Conductor is Jake Null
Keyboard 2 is Deborah Jacobson
Bass is Jason Wilson
Guitar 1 is Jaime Ibacache
Guitar 2 is Brad Emmett
Drums is David Lu

THE WHO’S TOMMY
is presented through special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.MTIShows.com
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Songs

Act I
Overture
It’s a Boy
Twenty-One
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Amazing Journey (Reprise)
Christmas
Do You Think it’s Alright?
Fiddle About
See Me, Feel Me
Cousin Kevin
Sensation
Sparks (Reprise)
Eyesight to the Blind
The Acid Queen
Pinball Wizard

Act II
Underture
There’s a Doctor I’ve Found
Go to the Mirror, Boy
Tommy Can You Hear Me?
I Believe My Own Eyes
Smash the Mirror
I’m Free
Sensation (Reprise)
I’m Free/Pinball Wizard (Reprise)
I’m Free (2nd Reprise)
How Can We Follow?
Tommy’s Holiday Camp
Sally Simpson
Welcome
We’re Not Gonna Take It
Finale

Production Staff
Director is Suzanne Richard
Music director is Jake Null
Producers are Jen Bevan/Mikey Cafarelli
Assistant Music Director is Deborah Jacobson
Musical Staging/Choreography by Jen Bevan
Stage Manager is Jenny Rubin
ASL Master is Neil (Michael) Sprouse
ASL Consultant is Rita Corey
ASL Intern is Eric Murphy
Assistant Stage Manager is Caelan Tietze
Additional Choreography by Matt Cumbie/Cassie Meador
Dance Exchange
Costume Design by  Jesse Shipley
Sound Design by Edward Moser
Lighting Design by Marianne Meadows
Projection Design by Arnulfo Moreno
Projection Assistant is Emily Kranking
Publicity Director is Doretha Dixon
Audio Description by David Berkenbilt/Joel Snyder
Audio Description Associates, LLC
Scenic Carpenters are Wesley Kramer/Karen Dolle/
Catherine Trobich
Scenic Charge is Sofia Moustahfid

Cast Bios

Russell Harvard (Tommy) has been recognized for the following productions: Deaf West Theatre: Broadway revival of Spring Awakening; Huntington Theatre: Boston premiere of I Was Most Alive With You (Knox), Barrow Street Theatre: New York premiere of Tribes (Billy) - for which he received a 2012 Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance and nominations for Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor.  He is well known for appearing in the award-winning film There Will Be Blood as Adult HW.  Russell played the villain Mr. Wrench in the critically acclaimed Fargo series on FX Network.  He also portrayed Matt Hamill, a UFC fighter, in The Hammer, based on a true story.

Will Hayes (Narrator/Voice of Tommy) DC credits include Arena Stage, Folger Theatre, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Longacre Lea, WSC Avant Bard, Flying V and a Helen Hayes nomination for Best Ensemble in Olney Theatre Center’s Colossal. He was most recently seen in Synetic Theater’s The Man in the Iron Mask and will be appearing in their upcoming production of The Taming of the Shrew. He would like to thank his parents for their love, support, and the gift of Tommy at an early, impressionable age.

Autumn Seavey Hicks (Mrs. Walker) is honored to be a part of this production. Previous DC credits include: The Keegan Theatre: National Pastime, The Full Monty, Working, Hair; Flying V & NCDA: You, or Whatever I Can Get; KAT: Rent, Violet; Olney Theatre Center: Annie; Capital Fringe: Disco Jesus and the Apostles of Funk, Lysistrata the Musical; Washington Savoyards: The Rocky Horror Show. Autumn is a proud graduate of Marshall University, mother of two hilarious little boys, and advocate for wellness and self-love. www.autumnseaveyhicks.com 

Malcolm Lee (Captain Walker) is excited join the OCT family. Previous credits include: Landless Theater Company: The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Chairman William Cartwright), Sweeney Todd: Prog Metal Version (Ensemble/Beadle Understudy); Dominion Stage: Dreamgirls (James “Thunder” Early), Boys in the Band (Bernard); Little Theater of Alexandria: The Full Monty (Noah T. “Horse” Simmons), Ragtime (Coalhouse Walker, Jr.), The Rocky Horror Show (Eddie/Dr. Scott); Creative Cauldron: Thunder Knocking on the Door (Dregster/Jaguar Sr.), Once On This Island (Ague/Armand Beauxhomme), Caroline or Change (The Dryer/The Bus); Port City Playhouse: Blues for an Alabama Sky (Guy Jacobs). 

Carl Williams (Cousin Kevin) is so happy to be making his Open Circle debut. He was recently seen understudying both of the parts of Senator Fipp & Tiny Tom in Constellation Theatre Company’s production of Urinetown. Other favorite credits include: Adventure Theatre: Three Little Birds National Tour (Ziggy); Riverside Dinner Theatre: Sister Act (Eddie); Creative Cauldron: Once On This Island (Papa Ge); and Little Theatre of Alexandria: In The Heights (Benny). UPCOMING: Riley/Jim Conley (u/s) in Keegan Theatre’s Parade.

Aarron Loggins (ASL Cousin Kevin) The Illinois native didn’t take being hard of hearing as a limitation as he managed to learn American Sign Language by the age of 3. Aarron joined and performed with several companies such as Wild Zappers, the National Theatre for the Deaf, the Gallaudet Dance Company, and he was a former founder of the deaf step team Da Jump Back. He was the first ever Mister Deaf International (USA) at London in 2014 during Miss/Mister Deaf International. His previous credits include: Visible Language (Ennals Adams Jr.); D-PAN Music Video: You Brought Me The Sunshine; Source DC: Sign Language (Benny); Sheldon of DC as theater political campaign; Dog And Pony DC: Sense-ABLE, and several plays and ASL Music Videos. He is now a deaf activist for LEAD-K (Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids) Virginia regional and working on future foundations such as Believe In YOURSELF.

Mikey Cafarelli (Uncle Ernie/Producer) Local area credits include: Constellation Theatre: Avenue Q (Helen Hayes’ Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical); Landless Theatre: Sweeney Todd Prog Metal Version; Spooky Action Theatre: Jarry Inside Out; WSC Avant Bard: Visible Language; NextStop Theatre: The Secret Garden, Go Dog, Go!; 1st Stage: Flora the Red Menace; Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Grease, The King and I; Adventure Theatre: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Emperor’s Nightingale; Imagination Stage: Mulan, Bunnicula. He has a BA in Theatre and a Vocal Performance Minor from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Lots of love to Jen and Rumbo.

Maggie Leigh Walker (Acid Queen/Ensemble) is thrilled to be working with Open Circle Theatre for the first time! LOCAL CREDITS: Adventure Theatre-MTC: Pinkalicious (Allison/Dr. Wink & Mrs. Pinkerton (u/s)); 1st Stage: Bat Boy (Maggie/Ron); Compass Rose Theatre: The Sound of Music (Sister Berthe); OUT OF TOWN: Round Barn Theater at Amish Acres: Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping (Vivian Snustad); Midtown Arts Center: Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad), The Sound of Music (Sister Margaretta) The Dinner Detective; Catholic University: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Miss. Flannery/Mrs. Meers (u/s)), Man of La Mancha (Housekeeper), Nine, and The Age of Dreams: Musicals from 1961. EDUCATION: BM in Musical Theatre Performance, Catholic University, and London Dramatic Academy. 

Molly Janiga (Sally Simpson) is so excited and honored to be a part of OCT’s production of The Who’s Tommy! She was most recently seen as Wendy in Monumental Theatre Company’s staged reading of Wendy: A New Musical at the Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival. Other REGIONAL CREDITS include: Signature Theatre: La Cage Aux Folles (u/s Anne Dindon), The Fix (u/s Danielle/The Mistress); Keegan Theatre: American Idiot (Heather); RBTC: Heathers the Musical (Young Republicantte); Capital Fringe 2015: 315 (Colby). EDUCATION: The London Dramatic Academy; The Catholic University of America, B.M. UPCOMING: Iola Stover in Keegan Theatre’s Parade.

Joey Antonio (Hawker/Ensemble) was born in Detroit, MI. He started moving his feet to the beat as a young child and has developed a strong love for performing through dance and acting. Joey has danced with local and national artists, and acted in plays and film. Now, residing in Washington, D.C. He continues to live out his dreams and goals while going to Gallaudet University. Some of his credits include: Dance Camp as Alex; Deaf West Theatre: Spring Awakening; MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew Season 2 alongside his crew “ASIID” and its national tour; Far East Movement; Flo-rida; and the Goo Goo Dolls.

Elver Ariza-Silva (Judge/Ensemble) Colombia: Manantial Productions: Laura (Assistant Manager); DFL TV: Documentary Revelations (Script Continuity); ALFASAN TV: Influences (Narrator). U.S.A.: The National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped: Mass Appeal/Our Town/Chorale Session (Priest/George/Singer); Lord Fairfax Community College: The Glass Menagerie (Michael); Krauss & Company Inc.: Seize the Day, Celebration (Dancer); OCT: Caucasian Chalk Circle (Ensemble), Evita (Ensemble), Songs for A New World (Ensemble), Story Theatre (Ensemble); Liz Lerman Dance Exchange: The Farthest Earth from Thee: A Suite of Sonnets (The Young Handsome Man/Romeo/Dancer), Gumdrops and The Funny Uncle (“The Meat”/Dancer); The Kennedy Center - Family Theater: Izzy Icarus fell off the world (Poetry Reader); Gallaudet University: Film shooting-MFA Thesis Project (Young man); Weber Dance Company: Of Bones and Marrow (Dancer); American University: Film - The Boomers (Clerk).

Rachel Barlaam (Specialist’s Assistant/Ensemble/Dance Captain) is very excited to perform in her first show with Open Circle Theatre! Previous performance credits include: Keegan Theatre: American Idiot (Ensemble; Heather U/S); Monumental Theatre Company: Urinetown (Penelope Pennywise); The Kennedy Center: In His Own Words: A Concert in Tribute to Walter Dean Myers (Ensemble); University of Maryland: Rent (Mrs. Cohen; Maureen U/S), Twilight: LA 1992 (Featured Ensemble), Some Girls (Sam); Dominion Stage: The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Pickles - WATCH Award Winner), Carrie: The Musical (Chris Hargensen); Rockville Musical Theatre: Next to Normal (Natalie). Rachel is a singer/songwriter and was placed twice on the official ballot for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Pop Solo Performance.Education: BA in Theatre, University of Maryland.

Jen Bevan (1st Lad/Ensemble/Producer/Choreography) is happy to be back at OCT after interning during Evita. Previous performance credits include: Molotov Theatre Group: Blood Sweat and Fears (Chanteuse), Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom (Girl), The Margins (Phyllida), Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe (Lenore – Helen Hayes Nomination for Best Choreography in a Play); Scena Theatre: War of the Worlds (Ensemble – Toured to Prague Fringe), Lady Lay (Frau F); Adventure Theatre: Pinkalicious (Pinkalicious u/s); LiveArtDC: R&J Star-Cross’d Death Match (Tybalt); Chesapeake Shakespeare: Our Town (Lady in the Box) BA in Theatre, Rollins College.  Eternal love and gratitude to Mikey and Rumbo.

Tina Ghandchilar (Hawker/Ensemble) is very humbled and thrilled to be working with such a brilliantly talented cast and crew. Previous credits include the following, (u/s) Christmas Eve in Avenue Q with Constellation Theatre, Gospel Choir Singer with the Joyce Garrett Choir in Christmas in Washington and Kennedy Center Honors, (previous honorees included Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, Al Greene). She has also performed in an original workshop production of Harry Connick Jr.’s The Happy Elf as Gilda the Elf with Adventure Theatre. Tina is a Speech-Language Pathologist who currently practices in the public school and private practice settings. Besides singing, acting and working with students, she enjoys playing the piano, practicing yoga, and meditation. Cheers!

JP Illarramendi (Ensemble) OCT: Story Theatre (Ensemble), Songs for a New World (Ensemble), Evita (Ensemble), Jesus Christ Superstar (Apostle); Imagination Stage: Looking for Roberto Clemente (Tommy-Bat Boy); Liz Lerman Dance Exchange: Farthest Earth from Thee (Shakespeare). 

Christian Kelly (Second Lad/Ensemble) is delighted to be making his debut with Open Circle Theatre. Credits: Berkshire Theatre Group: Mary Poppins , I Saw My Neighbor On The Train And I Didn’t Even Smile (u/s); Auburn Public Theater: Human Again; Cornell University: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged], The Mineola Twins. Christian is a 2016 graduate of Cornell University and holds a B.A. in Performing & Media Arts. Love to his family and friends for their continued support!

Monica Lijewski (Mrs. Simpson/Ensemble) has appeared at the Kennedy Center: Words and Music series: Bells are Ringing with Faith Prince; Ford’s Theater: A Christmas Carol; Olney Theatre Center: Witness for the Prosecution, Oliver, Carousel, Cinderella; and the West End Dinner Theatre: Something’s Afoot, Lend Me a Tenor, and many more. She is a spinal cord injury survivor. Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1999. It’s trite to say it, nevertheless the finest production with which she has ever been involved was raising two highly intelligent, humorous bookworms.

Jackie Madejski (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her debut with Open Circle. Credits: DC Dogs: 99: A Rock Opera; Annapolis Shakespeare: The Schemings of Scapin; Capital Fringe: Normal/Magic; Next Day Theatre: Murderella; Catholic University: Into the Woods. Training: BM Catholic University.

Amy Maniscalco (Officer/Ensemble) is very excited to be working with Open Circle Theatre! Previous performances include: Keegan Theatre: American Idiot (Ensemble); Kennedy Center: Eisenhower Hall- Catholic University 50th Anniversary Concert (Featured West Side Story soloist), Page to Stage - Still Alive (Pauline); Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre: Pinocchio (Fox/Tour Director); Capital Fringe: Song Reader (Whorenet); Catholic University: Side Show (Fortune Teller), Company (Sarah), Bat Boy (Bud/Female soloist). Education: BM in Musical Theatre, Catholic University of America. www.amymaniscalco.com 

Jose Martinez (The Specialist/Ensemble) is a four-year Gallaudet University student pursuing a B.A. in Deaf Studies, having transferred from community college in Houston. The District of Columbia has always been a historical district with open doors toward people with disabilities. He’s been involved in multiple productions ever since he was a little boy. Visible Language is the first musical production he was involved with since enrolling at Gallaudet and his first co-production with WSC Avant Bard. After the production wrapped up, he continued work with WSC Avant Bard in Madwoman of the Chaillot. He is grateful to be able using American Sign Language as his primary communication mode. Across the country, ASL is lacking recognition on the stage. Thanks #OCTTommy for allowing to bring the spotlight toward ASL. This is #DeafTalent.

Chloe (10 years old) and Kira (7 years old) Mitchiner are excited about their theatrical debut in this production. Both girls are KODAs (Kids of Deaf Parents) and bilingual in ASL and English. They participated in several theater camps, The Theater Lab in DC and Clear Space’s Musical Theatre Summer Intensive in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Chloe and Kira are appreciative of the cast members taking them under their wings.

Edward C. Nagel (The Lover/Hawker/Ensemble) is delighted to be performing with Open Circle Theatre. Previous work includes: NextStop: Catch Me If You Can (Agent Johnny Dollar); 1st Stage: Floyd Collins (William Burke “Skeets” Miller), Altar Boyz (Mark), By Jeeves (Bertie Wooster) at 1st Stage; SCENA: Lady Lay (Herr K.), Handbag (Tom/Cardew), The Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily Cardew); Red Knight Productions: The Ballad of the Red Knight (The Yellow Knight), Medieval Storyland (Todd). He also co-composed and performed in Flying V’s The Best of Craigslist as part of the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage.

D’Arcee Charington Neal (The Minister/Mr. Simpson/Ensemble) is a singer, actor and award-winning storyteller recently featured on the Advocate’s Top 40 Under 40, The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, and as a soloist with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C. Raised in North Carolina, he spent years immersed in drama, theatre, and music; getting his degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in English and Musical Theatre; and later his Masters from Roehampton University in London. Advancing people with disabilities through media is his main purpose, but when he’s not doing that he’ll be at Nandos drinking sangria, or crying over Grey’s Anatomy.

Lynley Peoples (Ensemble) is excited to be making her Open Circle Theatre debut. She is an Advanced Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. Previous performance credits include: Baltimore Shakespeare Factory: Henry IV, Part 1 (Bardolph, Mortimer); American Century Theater: Judgement at Nuremberg (Ensemble); Pandemonium Productions: Alice in Wonderland (Tweedle Dee), Emperor’s New Clothes (Hattie); Riverside Center Children’s Theatre: Good Night Moon (Mama Bear, Clarabelle), Narnia (u/s White Witch), We the People (Swing).

Michelle Mary Schaefer (The Girl in the Mirror) who was born and raised in Baltimore is thrilled to be back onstage in Maryland after not performing here for years. Ms. Schaefer is honored with the opportunity given to her to be part of Open Circle Theatre. Ms. Schaefer is proud to have portrayed Sarah Norman in Mark Medoff’s Children of a Lesser God, and to have added Nina Raine’s Tribes, where she was the first Deaf female actor portraying the role of Billy as a guy three times in 2016 (Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Upland, California, Greeley, Colorado), to her long list of theatrical and film experience. She wants to thank everyone for believing in and welcoming her, and allowing her to continue her passion in acting.

Eric Teran (Uncle Ernie’s Friend/Specialist’s Assistant/Ensemble) is thrilled to debut in his first production with Open Circle Theatre and so honored to be working with such an exceptional cast! He is currently a student at Gallaudet University studying interpretation and hopes to have a B.A. in Interpretation. He couldn’t be more grateful to be working with a Deaf/Hearing cast! He thanks Susie and Neil for giving him the opportunity to work on this show! He hopes you enjoy the show as much as he has enjoyed working on it!

Production Staff Bios
Suzanne Richard (Director) - A winner of the Montgomery County Executive’s Excellence in the Arts and Humanities Community Award, has a BA in Theatre from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Susie is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Open Circle Theatre Washington where she directed Jesus Christ Superstar, Low Level Panic, Songs for a New World, Story Theatre, and Assistant Directed Evita. She was seen for four winters as the Ghost of Christmas Past in Ford’s Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol, toured with Dance Exchange as an Adjunct Teaching Artist, and most recently Co-Directed with Assistant Professor Susan Lynskey in a production created by students at Georgetown University and Gallaudet University focused on the experience of disability. She has also worked as a performer with Folger Theatre, Washington Shakespeare Company, Studio Secondstage, Project Y, Imagination Stage, 1st Stage, Seize the Day, Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre Program, and Baltimore Shakespeare Festival. She authored the chapter “Dealing With Being Different” in Growing Up With OI published by the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation.

Jake Null (Music Director) is proud to direct his first production at Open Circle Theatre. He has to thank Susie and Debbie for keeping him sane and getting this whole insane idea into a workable piece of theatre! In his downtime (what’s that?), he likes to pretend like he’s a computer guy and works in IT and studio production to make sure he keeps his sleep to a minimum! He also is a sound designer and composer/arranger just to make sure he stays well-rounded and doesn’t sleep. He is a proud alumnus of Virginia Tech and Berklee School of Music. Previous regional music direction credits include: Constellation Theatre Company: Urinetown, Avenue Q (Helen Hayes Award); Keegan Theatre: Next to Normal, American Idiot, Dogfight, Hair (Helen Hayes Nomination), The Full Monty, Spring Awakening (Helen Hayes Nomination), Working, National Pastime; Capital Fringe: The 27 Club. Upcoming – Keegan Theatre: Parade, Big Fish.

Jenny Rubin (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be making her Open Circle Theatre debut. In May, she graduated from Long Island University (LIU) Post with a BFA in Musical Theater and Stage Management. Her recent local stage management credits include: Wildwood Summer Theater: Rent; Encore Stage and Studio: Mary Poppins. Most recently she Assistant Stage Managed The Last Schwartz with Theater J. Love to her family and friends for their continued support.

Deborah Jacobson (Assistant Music Director) is a regular music director at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD, where her recent credits include Looking for Roberto Clemente, Wiley and the Hairy Man, 101 Dalmatians, Lyle the Crocodile, James and the Giant Peach, Dr. Dolittle, and George and Martha: Tons of Fun. Next up: Beauty and the Beast. Other recent credits: Capital Fringe: Breast in Show (Music Director); Rockville Musical Theatre: The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Orchestra Director); Do or Die Productions: Murder Mystery: The Musical! (Arranger/ MD); Composer/MD; I Like Nuts! the Company: The von Pufferhutte Family Singers. Deborah also teaches musical theatre for grades K-12 at Imagination Stage and has composed three musicals for their Speak Out On Stage program.

Neil (Michael) Sprouse (ASL Master) B.A. Theatre Arts, Gallaudet University. Previous credits include: Play Conservatory: ASL Master for Children of Eden; New York Deaf Theatre: ASL Master for Captive Audiences: An Evening of David Ives; Assistant Director of Artistic Sign Language for Movements of the Soul; Deaf West: Assistant to the ASL Masters for Spring Awakening, Gallaudet: ASL Master: Lysistrata, ASL Consultant: Hamlet.

Eric Murphy (ASL Intern) has starred in three productions at Gallaudet University: Lysistrata (Old Men Chorus), Julius Caesar (Marc Antony), Cloud 9 (Gerry). He is thrilled to be involved with American Sign Language (ASL) translation for The Who’s Tommy with Open Circle!

Caelan Tietze (Assistant Stage Manager) is very excited to work with Open Circle Theatre! Previous credits include: Flying V Theatre Company: Be Awesome: A Theatrical Mixtape of the 90’s (Assistant Stage Manager); Capital Fringe Festival: Let the rich asshole Be the rich asshole (Stage Manager); American University Department of Performing Arts: All (R)over Again: Loose and Negligent Adaptations (Stage Manager/Director/Playwright), Big Love (Stage Manager), The Lower Depths (Stage Manager). She also spent four years in various roles for the AU Players student theatre troupe, including Stage Manager, Director, and Playwright, as well as Technical Director for one year. She graduated from American University in May 2016 with a degree in Theatre Design/Production and Creative Writing.

Edward Moser (Sound Design) is a regional audio production veteran whose theatrical work encompasses several dozen DC area productions in the past decade. Favorite sound design credits include: The American Century Theater: Marathon 33, An Evening with Danny Kaye, Visit to a Small Planet, among others; Quotidian Theatre: The Birds, Master Harold and the Boys, A Walk in the Woods, among others; Olney Theatre Center: A Christmas Carol; The Smithsonian’s Rasmuson Theatre: The Conversion of Ka’ahumanu; Paul Morella at The Arts Barn: Tuesdays With Morrie, Underneath the Lintel. Favorite musical credits include: Arena Stage: Señor Discretion Himself; The Clarice Smith Center: Urinetown; Theatre J: David in Shadow and Light.

Jesse Shipley (Costume Designer) recently designed costumes for Molotov’s Blood Sweat and Fears. Other Costume Design/Construction credits: Molotov: Lovecraft: The Nightmare Suit; Keegan Theatre: Dogfight; Victorian Lyric Opera Co.: Ruddigore, Haddon Hall; Washington Rogues: Agents of Azeroth, Straight Faced Lies, Campsite Rule, In the Forest She Grew Fangs, Mitzi’s Abortion, Eight; Flying V: Flying V Fights: Love is a Battlefield; The Alden Theater: Totally RED, Miss Nelson is Missing, Charlotte’s Web, Raggedy Ann and Andy; Doorway Arts Ensemble: Morning Miranda. Additional credits: Wardrobe: Round House Theater: Stage Kiss; Royal Farms Arena: Disney of Ice: Treasure Trove, Cirque du Soleil: Verikai; The Hippodrome: Motown: The Musical, Book of Mormon, Wicked: Tour II; The Lyric: Alvin Ailey; No Rules Theater Co.: Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers; Studio Theater: Penelope. Construction: Round House: Stage Kiss, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Troika: 42nd Street, Annie, Wizard of Oz; Imagination Stage: Sinbad: The Untold Tale; Theater J: Yentl; No Rules Theater Co.: Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers; Wolf Trap Opera: 2008 Season; Properties Design credits: Factory 449: The Saint Plays; Washington Rogues: Agents of Azeroth, Straight Faced Lies, In the Forest She Grew Fangs, Mitzi’s Abortion, Eight.

Marianne Meadows (Lighting Designer): Member, United Scenic Artists Local #829; BA Sarah Lawrence College, MFA University of Washington, training at Lester Polakov’s Studio and Forum of Stage Design NYC. Local designs in the Wash. D.C. area include productions at The Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theatre, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, RepStage, Solas Nua, Theatre J, Washington Shakespeare Company, Scena Theatre, Washington Stage Guild, Histrio, Step Afrika, and more. Four nominations for the Helen Hayes Award, Theatre Lobby’s Mary Goldwater Award, 2004. Ms. Meadows also works as a designer with Atmosphere Lighting, providing corporate, concert, and special event lighting. 

Arnulfo Moreno (Projection Designer) is a writer, director, producer and any other hat that’s needed at Cadejo Films. Having always looked up to the great storytellers in his family, he was blessed to have such varied influences from his roots in Spain, El Salvador, and Paraguay. There is no better creature that more embodies the sharp contrasts found in his films, from dark comedies, to experimental and religious films. His relatives ingrained in him to make sure he told his stories, shaped his own history. With Cadejo Films, he hopes to do just that.

Doretha Dixon (Publicity Director) is new to the Open Circle Theatre volunteer staff this season as publicity and administrative amazon. She’s a current fed and former actress (actually, on hiatus!) who’s thrilled to be back in the wonderfully interesting world of theatre. 

Open Circle Theatre would like to dedicate this production to Jamie Kendall.

Special Thanks

American Association of People with Disabilities
Katrina Clark, resident rehearsal interpreter
Jen Bevan
Gary DuBreuil, Valerie Adams Rigsbee DuBreuil / Chisel & Brand
Silver Spring Theatre Consortium
Jonathan Rubin
Jake Null
Deborah Jacobson
Panera
Rita Corey and Eric Murphy
Gallaudet University
Molotov Theatre Group
Joel Markowitz / DC Metro Theater Arts
Team Richard
Adventure Theatre MTC
Keegan Theatre
David Berkenbilt and Joel Snyder, Audio Description Associates, LLC
Joi Bannister
Kidville
Grove Printing

Open Circle Theatre Artistic Staff

Artistic Director - Suzanne Richard
Producers - Mikey Cafarelli, Jen Bevan
Financial Manager/Development Director - Monica Lijewski
Publicity - Doretha “Doe” Dixon

Board of Directors
President - Suzanne Richard
Vice President - Elena Widder
Treasurer - Jean-Paul Richard
Advisory Board Chair - Rob McQuay

Members At Large
Sid Jaffe, Harv Lester, Arianna Ross, Jay Shapiro, Joel Snyder

OCT Moonbeams! Lend Us Your Light!

Harvest Moons
• Liam Conlon
• Doretha Dixon
• Monica Lijewski
• Bob Lyness
• Nicholas Olcott
• Jean-Paul Richard
• Paula Sweeny Rothfuss
• Elena Widder
• Timothy Zimmerman

Half Moons
• Ron Dominicis
• Amy Harbison
• Paul Douglas Michnewicz
• Elizabeth and Francois Mollard
• Sarah Rizor
• Ed & Shaunna Robey
• Brian Scott
• Stefan Sittig
• Joel Snyder

Quarter Moons
• Tracy Brennan
• Anna May Lijewski
• Chris Phelps
• Deborah Rogers
• Lyle Smythers

New Moons
• Ian Armstrong
• Kristina Marie Doyle
• Lana Lambert
• Kristin Nelson
• Myra Paul

Kidville. Happy Kids. Happy Families

Adventure Theatre.  Musical Theater Center

The Keegan Theatre in good company

DC Metro Theater Arts

Gallaudet University

Molotov Theatre Group

Chisel + Brand LLC  Web Design and Marketing
Proud Crafters of the logo and advertising materials for The Who’s Tommy at Open Circle!
www.chiselandbrand.com 
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