Mainstage Playbill

Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director

This project is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida.

Ben Williams and Elizabeth Nestlerode. Photo by Matthew Holler.

book by Enda Walsh, music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

Based on the Motion Picture Written and Directed by John Carney

* Denotes member Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

OnceBook by Enda Walsh with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

Based on the Motion Picture Written and Directed by John Carney

Guy ..................................... Ben Paul Williams*Girl .................................. Elizabeth Nestlerode* Billy ...............................................Chris Blisset*Da ............................................... James Young*Ex-Girlfriend ........................ Lauren Wainwright Andrej ............................................. Seth Eliser*Reza .............................................. Sarah Hund*

Season UnderwritersGerri Aaron, Gaele Barthold, Ed & Judy Christian, Georgia Court, Shirley Fein, Wendy & Bob Grady,

Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Robert & Bonny Israeloff, Ernie Kretzmer in loving memory of Alisa Kretzmer, Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy, Anne H.S. Nethercott, Gail & Skip Sack, Dorothy Waldron

Music DirectorDarren Server

Scenic DesignerJeff Dean

Costume DesignerSusan Angermann

Lighting DesignerThom Beaulieu

Sound DesignerThom Korp

Dialect Coach: Greg London

Movement Director: Savannah Holds

CAST(in order of appearance)

Directed by: Jason Cannon

LORTLeague of resident theatres

The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited.

Originally Produced on Broadway by: Barbara Broccoli; John N. Hart Jr.; Patrick Milling Smith; Frederick Zollo; Brian Carmody; Michael G. Wilson; Orin Wolf;

The Shubert Organization; Robert Cole, Executive ProducerIn association with: New York Theatre Workshop

Once was originally developed at the American Repertory Theater, Cambridge, Massachusetts in April 2011, Diane Paulus, Artistic Director; Diane Borger, Producer

Thanks to Social Eatery & Bar for their prop donations.

Show Co-ProducersJane Baisley, Joan & Larry Castellani, Sandy & Jim Goldman,

Jim Roque – SunTrust Private Wealth Management

Stage Manager: Roy Johns*

Original production concept: John Tiffany

Setting: Dublin, present day

BEN PAUL WILLIAMS (Guy) Roles include Lee Harvey Oswald (Oswald: The Actual Interrogation); Nat Paradis (Last Gas by John Cariani); Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet); Hamlet

(Hamlet); Carl Perkins (Million Dollar Quartet); Steve (Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash); Jim (Pump Boys and Dinettes); and Mozart (Amadeus). Ben has been a singer/songwriter for over 20 years, received actor training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, holds a degree in Philosophy and Performance from Cornell University, and is currently developing a solo show based on his original music. benpaulwilliams.com @benpaulinfo

ELIZABETH NESTLERODE (Girl) is thrilled to be making her Florida Studio Theatre debut. BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Miami, Off-Broadway: The Meanest Birthday Girl

(Meanest Birthday Girl). New York/Regional: Gypsy (Louise); Violet (Violet); …Spelling Bee (Olive); The Buddy Holly Story (Vi Petty, with director Hunter Foster); 54 Forever (director Tommy Tune); Aida, and The Who’s Tommy (director Brian Yorkey). Readings: Clue; One Hit Wonder. TV: The Late Show with David Letterman. elizabethnestlerode.com @elnestle

CHRIS BLISSET (Billy) is pleased to be at FST. Other credits include: Stand by Your Man (2 national tours – Actor, MD); Ring of Fire; and Pump Boys and Dinettes (Director,

MD, Actor, all over); Cotton Patch Gospel; The

Full Monty; Twelfth Night; Keep on the Sunny Side; Smoke on the Mountain; Great American Trailer Park Musical; Million Dollar Quartet; and Civil War (Actor/Musical Director/Director in various projects). He can be seen coast-to-coast and on YouTube doing stand-up comedy. chrisblisset.com

JAMES YOUNG (Da) Broadway: Crazy For You (Custus); My Fair Lady (Zolton Karpathy) with Richard Chamberlain; Me and My Girl (Bill Snibson stand-by for Jim Dale); The

Tap Dance Kid; A Chorus Line. Numerous tours and regional theatre, in a career spanning 38 years as an AEA member. Film and Television: Annie; Ricki and the Flash; Search Party/TBS; numerous national and regional commercials. The productions Mr. Young continues to be most proud of are his daughters, Kristina and Alessandra.

LAUREN WAINWRIGHT (Ex-Girlfriend) is an NYC-based actor/musician who’s thrilled to be a part of this beautiful show! Regional: Violet; The Winter’s Tale; Brighton Beach Memoirs;

Guys and Dolls (Festival 56); Love’s Labour’s Lost (Great Lakes Theatre); Medea (Hydrama Theatre, Greece); Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming (LaComedia). New York: Peace, Love and Cupcakes (Vital Theatre); The Tempest (Torn Out Theatre); Twelfth Night (FringeNYC); Camino Real. Film: The Ides of March. Follow along: laurenkwainwright.com, @wrenwainwright

ARTIST PROFILES

SETH ELISER (Andrej) is excited to join the FST team for the chance to help share this heartfelt story, again! Nat’l Tour: The Lightning Thief; The Music Man. Regional: Once; The

Buddy Holly Story; Million Dollar Quartet; Pump Boys and Dinettes; and Hairspray. Seth can also be found playing NYC night clubs and cabarets with various artists. Loves sunflower seeds, beef jerky, and jumping off of waterfalls. @seth_lsr

SARAH HUND (Reza) FST: Pump Boys and Dinettes; Cowgirls; Poems, Prayers, and Promises; American Pie; The Blue Eyed Bettys. Regional: Into the Woods (The Witch); Les Miserables

(Fantine); 9 to 5 the Musical (Judy Bernly); The Foreigner (Catherine Simms); Run For Your Wife (Mary Smith); The Addams Family (Alice) with companies such as The Cherry Lane NYC, Walnut Street Theatre, and Signature Theatre NYC. She has played with her band, The Blue Eyed Bettys, throughout the U.S., including Lincoln Center. TV: Law & Order: SVU. sarahhund.com

GRANT ALAN WATKINS (Svec) is very grateful for the opportunity to jump back into Once! National Tour: Once (U/S Svec, Billy, Eamon); Regional: Rock of Ages (Lonny); Dream a Little

Dream (John Phillips); The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical (Jackie) at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte; Coraline (Other Father/Policeman) at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte; The Aliens (KJ) at PaperHouse Theatre.

EMILY MIKESELL(Baruska) most recently appeared on an FST stage in Older Than Dirt last season in the Court Cabaret. Audiences may also remember her from

Kings of Country; Urban Cowboys; Guitar Girls; or Pump Boys and Dinettes. Off-Broadway: Woody Sez; Lone Star Love; Radio Gals; Cotton Patch Gospel; Swingtime Canteen. Favorite Regional credits include: James Joyce’s The Dead (Capital Repertory Theatre); Stonewall Country (Barter Theatre); and Oil City Symphony (Pasadena Playhouse).

NYA CHAMBLESS (Ivonka) is excited about her first play at FST. Nya was last seen in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Players and has been in several indie short and thesis films as

well as national commercials. Some of her film/commercial credits include Fear; Stars; Drawn to the Broken; Life’s Milestones; The Giving Challenge; and Krylon campaign. Nya studies music, dance, acting, and martial arts and is in the gifted 2nd grade program at Bay Haven.

OLIVIA SCHAEDLER-LUERA (Ivonka) is very excited to be making her Florida Studio Theatre debut. She has previously taken part in FST Youth Summer camps, and has

performed at the Sarasota Opera House with the Sarasota Ballet School productions of Alice in Wonderland and Aladdin. She is currently in the second grade and the proud caretaker of two puppies, a frog, a snail, and several lizards.

ARTIST PROFILES

NYA CHAMBLESS

PAUL LINCOLN (Bank Manager) is happy to be making his Florida Studio Theatre debut. He is one of New York’s most prominent vocal coaches and teachers. As a performer, favorite

productions include Allegro directed by John Doyle, Cabaret directed by Rob Marshall and Sam Mendez, and Souvenir. At the Goodspeed Opera House, he has performed in Very Good Eddie and Houdini, as well as Indian Joe written by Elizabeth Davis; who was nominated for a Tony for Once on Broadway. paullincoln.com

NICK LERANGIS (Emcee) This is Nick’s

first stage musical. As a performer, Nick tours and records in his band, Evening Darling, who were featured in Jam in The

Van’s 2016 SXSW showcase. As a songwriter, Nick co-wrote “Anna Sun” in 2011 with indie-pop darlings Walk The Moon. The song found top-20 positions in the Billboard charts as well as several year-end awards. Nick composed the music for and starred in an original garage-rock play called The Highwayman that was featured in Ars Nova theater’s 2014 ANT Fest.

KENT M. LEWIS (Eamon) comes to us direct from Chicago where he appeared as Sam Phillips in Million Dollar Quartet at The Paramount Theatre. This past summer Kent played

lead electric guitar and brought Norman Petty to life in The Buddy Holly Story at Bucks County Playhouse. Kent toured North America with Billy Elliot and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and starred in

ARTIST PROFILESMamma Mia in Las Vegas. For more about Kent visit kentmlewis.comJASON CANNON (Director) is an Associate Artist at FST, where his responsibilities include directing, teaching, New Play Development, and the Acting Apprentice Program. Most recently he directed Robin Hood; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Burt & Me; The Dragon vs. the Hiccups; Gidion’s Knot; Stalking the Bogeyman; Million Dollar Quartet; The Velveteen Rabbit; Relativity; My Name is Asher Lev; and Butler (which earned him Best Director nominations from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Creative Loafing). His performance as “Ever Montgomery” in Dancing Lessons garnered him “Best Actor of 2015” awards from both Sarasota Magazine and Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He also appears regularly with FST Improv. Proud member SDC, AEA, SAG-AFTRA. jasoncannon.bizDARREN SERVER (Music Director) is proud to be back at FST for his third season. Last season, he music directed: Million Dollar Quartet; Piano Men; Older Than Dirt; and Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves. At the Asolo Repertory Theatre, he music directed, composed, and arranged the music for Ah, Wilderness! and The Drunken City. This season he music directed Oedipus. Interesting fact: Darren’s grandfather is “Curly” Howard of The Three Stooges and his great-uncles are Moe and Shemp Howard. This has always been a source of pride and inspiration for him. Follow Darren on his family’s website: thegrandstooges.com. JEFF DEAN (Scenic Designer) has designed over 200 shows in Florida including televison/film. Asolo Repertory, Sarasota Opera Association, American Stage, and Banyan Theatre. For Florida Studio Theatre: Million Dollar Quartet; Over The River And Through The Woods; Execution of Justice; Invictus; The Sum of Us;

ARTIST PROFILESand Burt & Me. A nationally-recognized sculptor and member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, New York, recipient of two Florida Individual Artist Fellowship Awards for Set Design. Jeff recently designed the new theatre spaces in the Gompertz renovation, including lobby, cafe, and marquees.SUSAN ANGERMANN (Costume Designer) began designing for Florida Studio Theatre in 1993 for the WRITE A PLAY production of The Emperor’s New Clothes. She has designed for the Mainstage, Stage III, Cabaret, and other WRITE A PLAY productions. Among recent productions are The Exonerated; Stalking the Bogeyman; Yesterday; Older Than Dirt; Piano Men; Chapatti; and Robin Hood. THOM BEAULIEU (Lighting Designer) is an award-winning lighting and sound designer. His work has been experienced throughout the eastern US including Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves, brownsville song (b-side for tray), Older Than Dirt, and Burt & Me (Florida Studio Theatre); The Waltz, Godspell, Carrie: the Musical, and Cabaret (The Winnipesaukee Playhouse); A Chorus Line, Floyd Collins, Sweet Charity, and Singin’ in the Rain (Aurora Theatre). He holds a BFA in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, and an MS in Physics.THOMAS KORP (Sound Designer) a former FST intern, is excited to be entering his second season as staff. Sound design credits include Burt & Me; The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey; The Columnist; Talley’s Folley; A Chorus Line; Spamalot; and The West Side Waltz. Mixing Credits: Next to Normal; Das Barbecü; Smokey Joe’s Café; The World Goes Round; Tango: Buenos Aires; We Will Rock You; Sound engineer with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines 2014 – 2016.

ROY JOHNS (Stage Manager) is pleased to be back for another season at FST. He has had an exciting and varied career both on stage and behind the scenes from Tokyo Disneyland to the White House. Past credits at FST include: Doublewide; The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey; Burt & Me; Rich Girl; brownsville song (b-side for tray); Million Dollar Quartet; The God of Isaac; The Roommate; The Fabulous Lipitones; Alabama Story; Outside Mullingar; One Man, Two Guvnors; The Hound of the Baskervilles; Chapatti; Hairspray; and Taking Shakespeare.GREG LONDON (Dialect Coach) National tours: Hairspray (Edna Turnblad); West Side Story (Doc); Fiddler on the Roof (Lazar). International tours: Hairspray (Edna); The Fantasticks (Bellamy). Off-Broadway: Spurn. Regional: Hairspray (Edna, Florida Studio Theatre); The Drawer Boy (Angus, Cortland Rep); Richard III (Shakespeare Theatre, D.C.). Created role of “Peter” in world premiere of Lanford Wilson’s Los Alamos, directed by Marshall W. Mason. L.A. Critic’s Choice Award: Best Actor in a Touring Production: Edna, Hairspray. Greg was the 2007 national winner of the Eugene O’Neill Award for Dramatic Writing.SAVANNAH HOLDS (Movement Director) is a second-generation choreographer, television actress, and Broadway performer. Some of her choreography credits include Working; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; and Cabaret. She has also had the pleasure to teach with Fineline Theatre Arts, The Broadway Theatre Connection, and Mount Carmel Academy. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music. HANNAH BAGNALL (Movement Supervisor) is the Education and Outreach Associate at FST, coordinating the WRITE A PLAY program.

ARTIST PROFILESPrior to moving to Sarasota two years ago, she performed, choreographed, and served on the Board of Directors at Ozark Actors Theatre in Rolla, Missouri, and owned a sewing business. In 2011, after earning her BFA in Musical Theatre Performance, she toured with Missoula Children’s Theatre in Pinocchio. She likes to do lots of things around FST: you may find her choreographing, sewing, greeting students, or even on the stage!ENDA WALSH (Author) Recent work includes - Arlington (Landmark/Galway International Arts Festival); Lazarus (New York Theatre Workshop/King’s Cross Theatre); The Last Hotel (Landmark/Wide Open Opera, Edinburgh International Festival, Dublin Theatre Festival, Royal Opera House, St. Ann’s Warehouse New York); 3 installation pieces – Kitchen, A Girl’s Bedroom and Room 303 (Galway International Arts Festival); Ballyturk (Landmark/Galway International Arts Festival, Irish Tour, Royal National Theatre); and Misterman (Landmark/Galway International Arts Festival, Royal National Theatre, St. Ann’s Warehouse); Other work – Once (New York Theatre Workshop/West End/Broadway/Worldwide); Penelope (Druid, Irish Tour, Edinburgh, London, New York St. Ann’s Warehouse); The New Electric Ballroom (Kammerspiele, Munich, Druid, Ireland, London, New York St. Ann’s Warehouse, LA, Australia); The Walworth Farce (Druid, Ireland, Edinburgh, Royal National Theatre, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Australian and American Tour); Chatroom (Royal National Theatre, British and Asian Tours); The Small Things (Paines Plough/Menier Chocolate Factory); Bedbound (Dublin Theatre Festival, Traverse, Royal Court Theatre, Irish Rep New York); and Disco Pigs (Corcadorca, World Tour).His work has been translated into many languages and has been performed internationally since 1996. In 2014, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Galway University.

GLEN HANSARD (Lyrics) Glen Hansard is best known for his work with bands The Frames and The Swell Season. Hansard gathered a group of fellow buskers and formed The Frames. He wrote the guitar-blazing anthem “Revelate” and “Say It to Me Now.” In 2003, Hansard played host to Other Voices: Songs from a Room, a popular television show featuring Ireland’s best in new music. Three years later, while The Frames readied the release of their sixth effort, The Cost, Hansard unveiled a new side project called The Swell Season. The group featured his collaborations with Markéta Irglová. He and Irglová also appeared in the movie Once, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007 and won an Oscar later that year.Rhythm and Repose, Hansard’s solo debut was released by Anti in 2012. Later in 2012, Hansard’s track “Take the Heartland” appeared on The Hunger Games soundtrack, and the following year he joined up with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder to record a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Drive All Night.” In 2015, Hansard released It Was Triumph We Once Proposed: Songs of Jason Molina, an EP in which Hansard presented reworked interpretations of five songs by his late friend Molina, who was best known for his work with songs: “Ohia” and “Magnolia Electric Co.” In September 2015, Hansard returned with a new album of original material, Didn’t He Ramble, followed by an American concert tour.MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ (Lyrics) is an Academy Award-winning musician and actor born in Valašské Meziříčí in the Czech Republic on February 28, 1988. At seven years old, Marketa began learning the piano. In 2004, Markéta met

ARTIST PROFILESGlen Hansard of the band The Frames.In 2006, Markéta was approached by Glen to collaborate on music for a small Irish film he was being asked to score. The film was called Once. Once went to Sundance in January 2007. The film featured a score by the two of them and won the World Cinema Audience Award. The movie was released to critical acclaim in May of the same year. At the start of 2008, one of the songs Markéta wrote with Hansard for Once, “Falling Slowly,” won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Markéta became the first Czech woman to win an Oscar, and at 19-years-old became the youngest person to win an Oscar in a musical category.Throughout 2008, Markéta continued to tour as The Swell Season, covering the world twice over. In the fall of 2009, The Swell Season released their second album, Strict Joy. The Swell Season, would begin a world tour that would run until October of 2010. During 2011, her debut album ANAR was written. ANAR became Marketa’s creative outlet in documenting and expressing the personal journey she had been on the previous year.In the spring of 2012, she began recording her follow-up album, MUNA, in Iceland.

JOHN CARNEY (Motion Picture Writer and Director) is a Dublin-based writer-director who came to the world’s attention following the box office hit and critically acclaimed musical feature film Once, which garnered multiple Independent Spirit, Sundance, and Raindance awards. Previously, John was a bassist in the Irish rock band The Frames, where he met Glen Hansard. These musical roots continue to be evident in John’s work with his latest production, Can a Song Save Your Life?. Other projects include Dogs of

Babel for David Heyman and Nathan Kahane starring Steve Carell, and a feature adaptation of M.R. James’ Casting the Runes for Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.FST WOULD LIKE TO THANK the Cavanaugh Family and Black Diamond Strings of Sarasota, for their generous gift of instrument strings for the musicians.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Stitcher Brenda Tiano

RICHARD HOPKINS Mr. Hopkins is the Producing Artistic Director of Florida Studio Theatre. Mr. Hopkins has fostered the development of FST’s Mainstage and Cabaret productions. His many directing Mainstage credits include: Inspired Lunacy, The Best of Enemies, Next to Normal, Race, Ruined, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Boleros for the Disenchanted, Permanent Collection, and Metamorphoses, among numerous other plays. Mr. Hopkins led the development of FST’s Cabaret productions of Piano Men, The Prima Donnettes, Too Darn Hot, and By Gershwin. Mr. Hopkins also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Florida Studio Theatre. This includes overseeing the creation and implementation of all FST programming, including Mainstage, Cabaret, Stage III, New Play Development, Education, and Touring. Since his arrival at FST in 1980, Mr. Hopkins has guided the theatre from a small touring company to a nationally recognized regional theatre which impacts over 200,000 adults and children annually. He created the New Play Development Program, The Cabaret Series, FST’s award winning WRITE A PLAY Program, and he has directed the

EXECUTIVE STAFF

SEASON UNDERWRITERSQuality and diverse stage productions at affordable prices are but one component of FST’s offerings. Other contributions include extensive contact with local schools to foster student creativity and theatre appreciation, structured and wide-ranging educational programs for adults and children, community forums, and other community outreach programs, and a strong commitment to new play development and excellence in the arts. FST is a gem which well warrants our widespread financial and artistic support.

GERRI AARON To me, FST is a great theater experience in the respect that I’ve seen plays in New York City and then seen the very same plays here; they are just as good if not better. Richard Hopkins is amazing; he continues to select plays that both confirm and challenge one’s beliefs. FST is a Sarasota treasure that keeps getting better.

GAELE BARTHOLD FST is family and an integral part of my life. Its community contributions are myriad and a model of theatrical excellence.

design and renovation of all FST’s theatres. Mr. Hopkins is the recipient of numerous awards including the Arts Leadership Award from the Sarasota Arts Council, the Richard G. Fallon Award for Artistic Excellence from the Florida Professional Theatres Association, and the 2012 Cultural Champion Award from the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. In 2016, Mr. Hopkins was awarded the Luminaire Award honoring excellence in creativity, philanthropy, advocacy, and all elements that are keys to future growth of the Arts in Sarasota.

REBECCA HOPKINS Mrs. Hopkins serves as Managing Director for Florida Studio Theatre, and as such, is the Chief Operations Officer. Mrs. Hopkins is responsible for oversight of FST’s Administration, including the Business Office, Development, Marketing, Box Office, Front of House, Restaurant, budgeting, and maintaining the overall quality of FST’s internal management. Nationally, Mrs. Hopkins is President of the National New Play Network and serves on the Board of Directors for the League of Resident Theatres and the Theatre Communications Group. She has been actively involved in development of FST’s

Cabaret productions since her arrival in 1998. This season she is the lead developer on Blue Suede Shoes and on the development team for Mack the Knife and Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits. Previously, she was the lead developer on Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves; Older Than Dirt; Yesterday; American Pie; and Poems, Prayers, and Promises, and co-developer of Piano Men. She has been the head writer on all five Laughing Matters shows. Some of her favorite shows she helped develop include: The Prima Donnettes, That’s Life; The Wanderers; My One and Only Gershwin; Hot and Cole; Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits; The British Invasion; The Flip Side; and Outlaws and Angels. In addition, she is the founder and producer of FST Improv and the Sarasota Improv Festival. In 2012, the Arts & Cultural Alliance awarded Mrs. Hopkins the Cultural Champion Award in recognition of her many years of accomplishment and growth with Florida Studio Theatre. In 2016, Mrs. Hopkins was awarded the Luminaire Award honoring excellence in creativity, philanthropy, advocacy, and all elements that are keys to future growth of the Arts in Sarasota.

ARTIST PROFILES

SEASON UNDERWRITERSED & JUDY CHRISTIAN For business travel, we experience many towns in the US. I always ask the question, “What’s important about your community?” In Sarasota, the overwhelming answer is “it’s the arts,” followed with, “We have a great theatre company with Florida Studio Theatre.” We are so fortunate to have such a professional and creative venue with so many facets. It is a cultural beacon in our community, and with your support, the future of FST will be bright.

GEORGIA COURT I love great theatre and FST delivers that. FST is among the best theatre companies I have seen, but it is more than a theatre company. It is an organization that recognizes it is part of the greater community – and it reaches out to that community in positive, productive ways. Having FST so accessible adds to the joy of living in the fabulous arts community that is Sarasota.

SHIRLEY FEIN My support of FST was immediate. I felt a comfortable intimacy and a grandeur regarding their intellectually stimulating and entertaining performances. I salute FST for having exceptional management, a friendly and caring staff, and performers extraordinaire! It is my sincere pleasure to be a sponsor of the 2017-18 Winter Mainstage Season, full of new and exciting productions for us all to enjoy. See you there!

WENDY & BOB GRADY We were so impressed when we first visited Florida Studio Theatre, that we immediately wanted to become involved. Whenever you come across a system as unique as FST’s, where the key to getting art into the hearts of so many has been found – in a comfortable and easily accessible way – you know you’ve spotted a winner. We are proud to

be season underwriters and hope that others will join us in supporting FST’s important work.

GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Together with its donors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation transforms our region through bold and proactive philanthropy. Gulf Coast is a public charity that was created in 1995 through the sale of the Venice Hospital. Since then, we have become the philanthropic home of more than 650 families who have established charitable funds here, and we have invested over $260 million in grants in the areas of health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Learn more at GulfCoastCF.org

ROBERT & BONNY ISRAELOFF Our favorite FST story happened while attending a performance for the first time, many years ago and saying, “This is theatre! Do they have a season subscription?!” FST is thought-provoking, Broadway-worthy theatre. We believe FST is important because it enriches our community; it helps make Sarasota what it is. This is why we have proudly contributed to past expansions – especially the new Gompertz Theatre complex, to aid FST’s mission in being even more accessible to the public.

ERNIE KRETZMER IN LOVING MEMORY OF ALISA KRETZMER I would describe FST as uncommonly intimate theater that is well-articulated and succinct. FST is important to me because it is the perfect window to take in the American contemporary theatre scene. A favorite play was Golda’s Balcony; superbly acted. I continue to support FST’s five stages of engaging theatre.

CO-PRODUCERSJANE BAISLEY I have been coming to Sarasota since 1959, when my husband’s parents retired here. In 1996, Bill and I moved to Siesta Key and became active in Sarasota’s community life. I have remained active in the community and am especially interested in FST – reading plays for the literary department as part of the theatre’s “Reader’s Circle,” attending Children’s Theatre productions, and becoming a faithful supporter.

JOAN & LARRY CASTELLANI We choose to donate to the performing arts in Sarasota to keep them alive and well. We are proud to be sponsors of FST, and are excited to see this Tony Award-winning production this season.

SANDY & JIM GOLDMAN One of the main reasons we moved to Sarasota was because of the abundance of artistic venues. After moving

here in 2001, we immediately joined Florida Studio Theatre, and the company never ceases to amaze us. The talent is wonderful, and the play selection and variety is always exciting and different. There have been many changes to the theatres since then, and they all have allowed the theatre to reach more people and to remain current. We are also so impressed with the effort they make to reach out and enrich our community. We look forward to each season with anticipation, and they always deliver wonderful theatre.

JIM ROQUE - SUNTRUST PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT It is a pleasure to support the wonderful work going on at Florida Studio Theatre, and especially this marvelous play, Once.

SEASON UNDERWRITERSDENNIS & GRACI MCGILLICUDDY FST is important to us because we believe so strongly in the transformative power of the arts. For close to 30 years now, we have been so fortunate to experience first-hand how that transformative power works its magic in the hands of an organization that is not only experienced and dedicated, but so highly skilled in their craft. The values of the theater and its leadership, as reflected in its mission, and as manifested in its work, whether it be on the Mainstage, in the Cabaret, in its education and community outreach programs – these are values that we so strongly believe in. As a consequence, it is a privilege for us to be a part of, and supportive of, this great theater.

ANNE H.S. NETHERCOTT When asked to define giving, Anne said: “My mother used to say the best

way to find you is to lose yourself, by focusing on the needs of others rather than on oneself.” So giving has always been an important family value, which in childhood was reinforced by the community experience of surviving the Depression. Anne is proud to be a supporter of FST.

GAIL & SKIP SACK Florida Studio Theatre brings world-class acting and phenomenal, thought-provoking plays to Sarasota. We’re delighted to support FST in this mission.

DOROTHY WALDRON I support FST for its diversity of programming: Mainstage, Cabaret, Improv, WRITE A PLAY children’s programming, summer camp, adult education classes, and the VIP program for special needs children. It is truly a wonderful community asset.

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www.floridastudiotheatre.org • info@floridastudiotheatre.org

FST COMPANYBOARD OF TRUSTEES

President ...........................................Dennis McGillicuddyVice-President ............................................... Richard HopkinsSecretary/Treasurer ........................................Jennifer MichellTrustee ............................................................. Gaele BartholdTrustee ..................................................Carol Poteat BuchananTrustee .................................................................Georgia CourtTrustee ............................................................ Patricia CourtoisTrustee ..................................................................Jeff HotchkissTrustee ................................................................Barbara LupoffTrustee ..............................................................Jennifer Michell Trustee ............................. Chief Judge Charles E. Williams

EXECUTIVE STAFF Producing Artistic Director ........................ Richard HopkinsManaging Director .......................................Rebecca Hopkins

ARTISTIC STAFF Director of Artistic Operations .........................Greg LondonAssociate Director At-Large ...........................Kate AlexanderCasting/Hiring Coordinator ............................James AshfordResident Pianist ...................................................... Jim ProsserAssociate Artist .................................................. Jason CannonAssociate Artist ....................................... Catherine RandazzoDirector of Improvisation .......................................Will LueraAssistant to the Artistic Director .......................Doris Iemolo

PRODUCTION STAFFProduction Manager ..............................................Bruce PriceMainstage Stage Manager ........................................ Roy JohnsTechnical Director...............................................Mike SchwentCostume Shop Manager .............................Adrienne WebberSound Supervisor ...................................................Thom KorpProps/Paint Supervisor ................................Kristine Kreutzer

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFIT Manager .......................................................... Lee SchlosserBusiness Manager ....................................... Carmen GonzalezBusiness Office Associate .................................David WallaceBusiness Office Associate. ...................................... Bart DolceAsst. to the Managing Dir ...........................Phyllis SilvermanFacilities Manager ........................................ Joseph Goepfrich Facilities Technician ................................ Mark QuackenbushGeneral Manager .............................................. Jill Zakrzewski Events Coord/Gen Mgmt Asst................Christina CharlotteCompany Manager .............................................Luke JohnsonMarketing Director ..........................................Becca JenningsPublic Relations Associate ...............................Nicole ClaytonMarketing Associate. .......................................Alexandria HillDigital Marketing Associate. .............................. Emily BlazekDirector of Indiv. Giving ................. Melody Mora-ShihadehDevelopment Associate ...................................Samus HaddadBox Office Manager ............................................Kelsey WehdeAsst. Box Office Manager ................................... Gigi DelperoAsst. Box Office Manager ........................... Katelyn McKelleyAsst. Box Office Manager ............................Noah ScheibmeirRestaurant Manager ............................................... Tom CurryRestaurant Manager ...........................................Karen KrasterRestaurant Manager ............................................ Josh RodoskiReceptionist/ Volunteer Coord ......................... Joan O’Dowd

EDUCATION & TOURSDirector of Children’s Theatre .......................Caroline KaiserDirector of Education ................................Christine HopkinsEducation Administrator...................................Pamela SmithTeaching Artist/YPF Coordinator .................... Adam Ratner Education Group Sales Assoc .......................Hannah BagnallTeaching Artist ...................................................... Denee Lortz

COMMUNITY RESOURCE GROUP

AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT GROUP

OUTSIDE ASSISTANCEHouse Counsel ..................................................John PattersonFacility Custodian ......................................Carlos De Oliveira............................................... Confidence Cleaning CompanyCaretaker .................................................................Doctor Nik

INTERN PROGRAMActing Apprentice ......................................Brooke BensonActing Apprentice ........................................Erin BradfordActing Apprentice ................................... Carey BlackburnActing Apprentice ...........................................Randy BoydActing Apprentice .......................................Davion BrownActing Apprentice ........................................... Jon DeVriesActing Apprentice ...........................................Eileen DoanActing Apprentice ...................................... Michael FraserActing Apprentice ......................................Ryan FriedmanActing Apprentice ...............................Kihresha RedmondActing Apprentice ...................................... Brianna RocheActing Apprentice ................................................... J VanceArtistic/Co. Mgmt Intern ............................... Katie NoyesCompany Management Intern .................. Dianna BurgosDevelopment Intern..................................Amanda MothsDirecting Intern .............................................. Meg GilbertEducation & Outreach Intern ..................Maclain HardinLiterary/Playwriting Intern ..................... Alexander HehrLiterary Intern ...........................................Mary DonofrioLiterary Intern ............................................... Lydia BaxterLiterary Intern .......................................... Jordan OrlandoLiterary Intern ............................................Melanie SlusarProd./Carpentry Intern ............................... Marco AcostaProd./Costume Intern .................................... Shaye HurstProd./Lighting Intern .................................. Bryce BensonProd./Scenic Intern....................................... Dow ZabolioProd./Sound Intern....................................Jonathan BakerProduction Management Intern .............. Kristina RamosStage Management Intern ...................Kelsey PeavyhouseStage Management Intern ..............................Sarah LevettStage Management Intern ...............................Tanner LiasStage Management Intern ....................... Addison PowersStage Management Intern .........................Jynelly Rosario

Jan ColemanLarry Coleman

Shirley FeinMaddy Freshwater

Carol GilbertSy Goldblatt

Jim GoldmanSandy Goldman

Robert GradyWendy Grady

Robert IsraeloffBonny Israeloff

Hon. Larry L. EgerTrevor Harvey

The Jewish Federationof Sarasota-ManateeGilbert King

Michele D. RedwineDr. Eddy Regnier