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BIOGRAPHIES

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CJ BLANKENSHIP (Mowgli) has performed with regional theater companies in New York and California in shows such as Cats, Dreamgirls, A Little Night Music and Out of This World. He is the recipient of a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for his portrayal of Curly in Oklahoma! He has also performed with the San Francisco Opera Chorus in Porgy and Bess and the world premiere opera Appomattox and danced as a featured member of the San Francisco Opera Ballet Corps in Samson and Delilah and The Rake’s Progress. He has also performed with Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Moving Arts Dance, Huckabay McAllister Dance, San Francisco Taiko Dojo and Motu’aina as the group’s Ra’atira or leading performer. |
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PETER BUDINGER (Lifeguard, Elyot) portrayed Sebastian Sebastian in 42nd Street Moon’s recent production of Irving Berlin’s Call Me Madam. This past summer, he was Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl at the Diablo Theatre Company. A founding member of Dr. Emile’s Theatre Tremendo, Peter has written, directed, produced and acted in original works with his husband, DC Scarpelli. Those pieces include It Came from Beneath the Kilt! (2000 SF Fringe - Best of Fringe) and Where the Sun Don’t Shine (2006 SF Fringe - Best of Fringe). Peter is celebrating his sixth show with 42nd Street Moon. |
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MEGAN CAVANAGH (The Queen) makes a welcome return to ‘Moon’ where she appeared last season as Madame Arcati in High Spirits. Movie fans know her as Marla Hooch in A League of Their Own. Other films include Robin Hood: Men in Tights, For Richer or Poorer and the Academy Award nominated animated feature Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. She currently stars on the GLAAD award nominated series Exes & Oh’s, and on the cartoon The Mighty B! She has also appeared on Home Improvement, Friends, Will & Grace, The West Wing, Just Shoot Me, and ER, to name a few. An Actor’s Equity member since 1987, Megan recently completed a run of Menopause: the Musical at the Laguna Playhouse. |
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DEREK TRAVIS COLLARD (Prime Minister) was recently seen in Oliver! (Mr. Sowerberry, Dr. Grimwig, Fagin u/s) with Contra Costa Musical Theatre. San Francisco/New York City/regional credits include: Wildcat, High Spirits (42nd Street Moon), Angels (Pre-Broadway Workshop), Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre), Nunsense A-Men (Sister Amnesia), The Gold Wuthakee (Lincoln Center), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Snoopy), Funny (Old Globe Theatre), Pageant (Miss Great Plains), Sweeney Todd (Tobias), Rocky Horror Show (Riff Raff). |
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GIANA DE GEISO (Lady Zendl, Mrs. Watkins, et al) recently thrilled Moon audiences as Princess Maria in our production of Irving Berlin’s Call Me Madam. With Jubilee, she celebrates her fourth show with 42nd Street Moon. This past summer she took on one of her most exciting and challenging roles to-date in Stephen Sondheim's revue, Putting it Together, with Custom Made Theatre. Some of her other favorite roles include: Shelly in Bat Boy: The Musical, Lil in Last Summer at Bluefish Cove and participating in PianoFight Productions’ Short Lived 2.0. |
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ALISON EWING (Karen O’Kane) is appearing in her second 42nd Street Moon production, after playing the starring role in Irma La Douce last fall. Her other favorites include: Lulu in the Broadway, National Tour and Paris productions of Cabaret, Rona in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at San Jose Rep, Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, Harold & Maude, Emma and Into the Woods at TheatreWorks and Jacques Brel is Alive and Well at Marin Theatre Company. Alison is also a voice over artist and can be heard on computer and video games like “Monkey Island” and “The Godfather.” |
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SARAH KATHLEEN FARRELL (Laura Fitzgerald) returns to the Eureka stage, having recently performed in 42nd Street Moon’s smash hit, Call Me Madam (Kitty, Dance Captain). Regional credits include The Rocky Horror Show (Columbia, Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Best Supporting Performance Nominee), The Spitfire Grill (Percy), Insignificant Others (Margaret), and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! Sarah is busy planning her February 2010 wedding, but she’ll be back onstage soon thereafter as Liz Spofford in 42nd Street Moon’s upcoming Very Warm for May. |
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MICHAEL PATRICK GAFFNEY (The King) has been performing regularly with 42nd Street Moon since 2003. He was last seen on the boards of the Eureka Theatre earlier this year in High Spirits. Other notable Moon shows include: Li’l Abner, Minnie’s Boys, Mack and Mabel, Coco, and his personal favorite, Finian’s Rainbow. Michael has worked with many theater companies throughout the Bay Area including: The Aurora Theatre, Encore Theatre, Word for Word, Broadway by the Bay, Porchlight Theatre and California Conservatory Theatre. |
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JULIET HELLER (Princess Diana) is thrilled to return to the 42nd Street Moon stage! She was previously seen in Out of This World (Chloe), The Student Gypsy (Ginger Glockenspiel), and One Touch of Venus (Gloria Kramer). Other local credits include As Bees In Honey Drown (Alexa Vere de Vere), The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel), Mr. Marmalade, Brigadoon, and The Heidi Chronicles. She has also played the title role in The Country Wife at the Diorama Studio Theatre, London and performed Off-Off Broadway in A Christmas Carol (Ghost of Christmas Past) with Personal Space Theatrics. www.julietheller.com |
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DYAN McBRIDE (Eva Standing) has proudly worked with 42nd Street Moon for over 15 years as an actress and director. She recently directed Moon’s hit show, Call Me Madam. Other companies: Marin Theatre Company, Laguna Playhouse, Napa Rep, Broadway by the Bay, Golden State, Willows Theatre, New Conservatory, CTA Crossroads, Mondavi Center, Solano College Theatre, Pacific Alliance Stage Company and Performance Riverside. She will play Patsy Cline in Always, Patsy Cline at Sacramento Theatre Company in Spring 2010. Bachelor’s: Cal State Fullerton. Master’s: UC Davis. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Actors’ Equity Association.
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ALEXIS PAPEDO (Sybil, Tour Guide) is making her 42nd Street Moon debut. Lexie has studied Acting and Art Activism at UCLA. She recently returned from New York where she was assistant director for her first Off-Broadway production, yahoo! Favorite roles include Dora Bailey and Mrs. Mayor in Woodminster’s recent Singing in the Rain and Seussical. Erzuli in Berkeley Playhouse’s Once on This Island, Maria in West Side Story, and Catherine in Proof. See her next as Mira in Brendon Simon’s Torch at San Francisco Playhouse, and next spring as Shirley in 42nd Street Moon’s Lady, Be Good! |
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BENJAMIN PITHER (Prince Rudolph) returns to 42nd Street Moon with jubilation! Past appearances: Girl Crazy, Li’l Abner, and Mack and Mabel. Recent roles: Dennis in All Shook Up at CenterRep, Larry in Mr. Marmalade at Custom Made Theatre Company, and Greta/Casper in Act a Lady at New Conservatory Theatre Center. Favorite roles include Gordon in A New Brain, Ethan in Based on a Totally True Story, and Bobby Strong in Urinetown, and Aguecheek in Twelfth Night. B.A. in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University with Highest Honors. |
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JUSTIN TORRES (Photographer, Eva’s Secretary) had an amazing time last season with 42nd Street Moon with his roles in Irma La Douce, High Spirits, Girl Crazy, Wildcat and the We're in the Money gala. Justin recently finished playing the lead role in the world premiere of Zombie! The Musical, a heavy metal musical at the Exit Theatre. Favorite roles include: The Cat in Honk!, Kenicke in Grease, Hank in Wildcat, and Frank in Oskar and the Big Bully Battle (school tour). For him, 42nd Street Moon is his “home away from home.” |
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ZACK THOMAS WILDE (Eric Dare) began his theatrical career in Santa Barbara (with Greg MacKellan) before dancing principal roles with international ballet companies in New York, Holland, Italy, and South Africa. Zack later returned to musical and dramatic theater in New York before moving back to Florence to study art and languages. He then painted portraits, and enjoyed a national award winning pro-bridge career in NYC. He is delighted to have come home to California and the boards in the last few years, singing and acting, directing and choreographing |
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ANDREW WILLIS-WOODWARD (Prince James) returns for his fifth show at 42nd Street Moon, having last appeared in Ben Franklin In Paris (Temple Franklin, SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Nomination) last year. Other recent credits include: The Full Monty (Ethan) at Broadway by the Bay, Forever Plaid (Francis) at Willows Theatre Company, and Altar Boyz (Abraham) at San Jose Stage. He has also studied at a variety of conservatory programs, including the Theater Arts Institute at American Musical Theatre of San Jose and the CAP21 Summer Programs at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. |
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GREG MACKELLAN (Director) co-founded 42nd Street Moon in 1993. From the beginning he’s thought of Cole Porter as his “muse in absentia” and has enjoyed directing productions of Mr.Porter’s Gay Divorce, Nymph Errant, Can-Can, Something for the Boys, Silk Stockings, Red Hot and Blue!, and Leave It to Me. In one of his rare on-stage forays, he co-starred in the Bert Lahr role in Porter’s DuBarry Was a Lady during Moon’s inaugural season.Greg’srevised script for Porter’s Out of This World was produced to great acclaim from the London critics at the Chichester Festival in 2004, and has also been produced in Los Angeles and Seattle as well as twice at Moon. Other directing credits have included such well-received shows as The Student Gypsy, Li’l Abner, Minnie’s Boys, Paint Your Wagon, Do I Hear a Waltz? and Roberta. Greg also guided the NEA-sponsored restoration of Arlen and Harburg’s Hooray for What, as well as the June 2004 Kern Gala with Rebecca Luker and 2003’s I Remember It Well with Leslie Caron. Greg has also produced seven CDs of rare theatre music with performers like Andrea Marcovicci, Patricia Morison, Judy Kaye, Craig Bierko, Douglas Sills and Jason Graae. |
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DAVE DOBRUSKY (Musical Director) is celebrating his 14th season with 42nd Street Moon and recently served as musical director for Call Me Madam. Other favorite productions include Out of This World, The Student Gypsy, Plain and Fancy, Li’l Abner, Mack and Mabel, Red Hot and Blue!, Minnie’s Boys, Can-Can, Finian’s Rainbow, Paint Your Wagon (Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award), By Jupiter, Leave It to Me! (recorded), Dear World, Call Me Madam, and Louisiana Purchase. He has also appeared with Cady Huffman, Nancy Dussault, Susan Watson, Andrea McArdle, Marni Nixon, Rebecca Luker and Leslie Caron. Other Bay Area credits include: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Ray of Light), Man of LaMancha (BATCC Award), Putting It Together(San Francisco Playhouse); The Fantasticks (Shakespeare at Stinson); and Passion, Chess(New Conservatory Theatre). |
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TOM SEGAL (Choreographer) directed and staged Peddling Rainbows for 42nd Street Moon last year and has also choreographed the following Moon productions: Destry Rides Again, Wildcat, High Spirits, Oh, Lady! Lady!!, One Touch of Venus, Lil’ Abner, Once Upon a Mattress (Dean Goodman Choice Award) and Minnie’s Boys. He co-directed the 75th birthday tribute to Stephen Sondheim show, Simply Sondheim. Mr. Segal has performed, choreographed and directed locally, nationally and abroad having done over 80 shows with various Bay Area companies. He is the recipient of numerous awards and was co-choreographer for SF Playhouse’s production, Abraham Lincoln’s Big Gay Dance Party, which was named “Best Play” at the 2009 NY Fringe Festival. He teaches in the Theatre Department of Solano Community College. |
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DANIEL SCHULTZ (Stage Manager) is stage managing his first 42nd Street Moon production. Past shows include Proof, Cuckoo, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Heidi Chronicles, The Diviners, and Songs for a New World. When not calling a show, Daniel can be found on stage singing and dancing. |
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ELLEN BROOKS (Lighting Design) has designed many productions for 42nd Street Moon over the past 12 years– including our Galas atthe Herbst and Alcazar Theatres. For the past nine years she has also designed for Lamplighters Music Theatre at Yerba Buena Center and the Herbst in San Francisco, Napa Valley Opera House, Dean Lesher Center in Walnut Creek and Mountain View Center. Currently the Resident Lighting Director for Marin Shakespeare Company, this summer she designed Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night and The Importance of Being Ernest at its outdoor amphitheatre in Forest Meadows.Her work in 2009 includes Once on This Island for Berkeley Playhouse, Last Night of Ballyhoo, The Miracle Worker and Premiere for Ross Valley Players and Cosi Fan Tutti for North Bay Opera. Earlier this fall she designed the world premiere of Dogsbody at Yerba Buena Forum. |
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LOUISE JARMILOWICZ (Costumer) is in her fourth season as costumer for 42nd Street Moon. She has been costuming around San Francisco for many years. Other groups with whom she has worked, designing and constructing costumes, include Crowded Fire, the Thrillpeddlers, Handful Players, the African-American Shakespeare Co., Children's Fairyland, Stage Door Conservatory, The Lamplighters, the Dark Room Theater, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and many other local artists. www.jarmodesigns.com. |
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SCOTT A. WILBER (Set Design/Decorator) is a painter, sculptor, designer and teacher living in San Francisco. Scott has been a scenic painter since 2005 at New Conservatory and has contributed to over a dozen shows there, including, most recently, MUNI, Anansi, Alice in Wonderland, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He was also set designer for Theatre District in 2006 (New Conservatory Theatre Center). He has also contributed to many Live Oak School Drama productions since 2000. Visit scott@338sf.com/scott to see recent pieces and commissioned work. |
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CHRISTIAN JUSINSKI (Prop Designer) recently served as prop designer for 42nd Street Moon’s production of Destry Rides Again. Previous theater experience includes prop master for Fahrenheit 451at Plan-B Theater Company and assistant prop master for Romeo and Juliette at Utah Opera Company, prop and set builder for Utah Opera Company and Salt Lake Acting Company. He is a sculptor and has been an assistant to several Bay Area visual artists since 2001. He has worked for Beach Blanket Babylon as a theater technician since 2005. |
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ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org. |
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