GOOD NEWS! Cast and Creative Team
Cast
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TESSA FAYE* (Babe) Television: "The Electric Company" (Harper), MTV’s "Made." Voiceover: Pokemon Learning League (Siara). Regional Theatre: Young Frankenstein (Inga, NHTA Best Supporting Actress Nominee, Regional Premiere, Weathervane Theatre); 9 to 5 (Doralee); Sylvia (Sylvia); Sisters of Swing (Patty Andrews); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Schwartzandgrubbenierre); Dames at Sea (Joan); Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah (Sarah). NY Workshops: Volleygirls!, Who's Your Baghdaddy?, Republic. Graduate of The University of Michigan's musical theatre program and client of The Krasny Office. Acting student of Matthew Corozine. Thanks to Paul Hardt, the entire team at Goodspeed, and Craig. |
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BETH GLOVER* (Professor Kenyon) is thrilled to be back at Goodspeed after portraying Mama in High Button Shoes. 1st National Tours: All Shook Up (Mayor Matilda); Dirty Blonde (Jo/Mae u/s); Promises, Promises (Marge); The Taffetas (Donna). NYC: Drama Desk-nominated Take Me Along (Lily), Irish Rep; Lortel-winning Counsellor-at-Law (Cora), Peccadillo, and more. Regional: San Francisco Bay Area Best Actress Grey Gardens (Big Edie/Little Edie), TheatreWorks, Palo Alto; Shakespeare Theatre; Paper Mill; Pioneer; Walnut Street; Gateway; Ogunquit Playhouse; Mason St.; Depot Theatre; etc. National commercials and TV; Netflix her last film, Immigration Tango. Current club act: Mississippi VooDoo. This one is for my mama. www.bethgloveractress.com |
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ROSS LEKITES * (Tom) is excited to be making his Goodspeed debut! National Tours: 1st National West Side Story (Tony), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph) directed by Vince Pesce, Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Vocalist). Regional: The Full Monty (WVPT), Joseph…Dreamcoat (TOTS), Jesus Christ Superstar, and South Pacific. He would like to thank his family, friends, SH Casting, The Roster, and Mandy. www.Rosslekites.com |
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MYLES J. McHALE* (Beef) is excited to make his Goodspeed debut with Good News!. Recent shows include Chicago at the Media Theatre, Damn Yankees at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, and full seasons at Gretna Theatre and Cortland Repertory Theatre. He received his BFA in Drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied at the Stella Adler Studio. Past shows at NYU include Take Me Out, The Who’s Tommy, The Wake of Jamey Foster, and In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play). Thanks to friends, family, and the wonderful cast and creative team of Good News!. |
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LINDSAY O'NEIL * (Pat) is thrilled to be making her Goodspeed debut. Broadway/National Tour: A Christmas Story, The Musical (Ensemble/Mother u/s (performed); Cats (Jellylorum, Griddlebone). New York: Carousel (NY Philharmonic), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Encores!), W.S. Gilbert and the Broadway He Inspired (Lyrics and Lyricists), Babes In Toyland (Avery Fisher Hall). Regional: Pirates of Penzance (Mabel), The Cabaret Girl (Marylinn), Music Man (Marian), Sweeney Todd (Johanna), Oklahoma (Laurey), Sunset Boulevard. Lindsay holds a MM from Manhattan School of Music and a BM from Eastman School of Music. |
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MAX PERLMAN * (Pooch) recently sang with legendary rock group Phish on New Year’s Eve at Madison Square Garden. He is a featured soloist on the Grammy nominated recording of Bernstein's Mass. Film/television credits: "Monk" and "Junkyard Dog." Broadway credits: Kiss Me, Kate; Jekyll & Hyde ; and Chess in concert. Tours: Jekyll & Hyde, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and internationally in Jesus Christ Superstar. Regional: The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Guthrie, Arena Stage, Barrington Stage, Bay Street, Paper Mill Playhouse, Repertory Theater St. Louis, New York Stage And Film, New York Music Theater Festival, and singing with both Baltimore and Virginia Symphonies. |
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BARRY SHAFRIN * (Bobby) Goodspeed debut! Favorite credits include Seussical (Cat in the Hat, National Tour); Broadway Bound (Eugene Jerome, Chenango River Theatre); The Legend of Julie Taymor, or the Musical That Killed Everybody! (NY Fringe encore selection); Sweeney Todd (Tobias Ragg, A.R.T.); Last 5 Years (Jamie); as well as performing in cabaret and nightlife venues around NYC. Endless gratitude to his NYC family, Vince, team Judy Boals, and especially his parents for steadfastly supporting his dream of one day becoming a mediocre football player. Harvard graduate (BA in Psychology). www.barryshafrin.com |
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CHELSEA MORGAN STOCK* (Connie) is thrilled to be back at Goodspeed! She was last seen on this stage as Winnie Tate in Annie Get Your Gun. Broadway: The Little Mermaid (Ariel first replacement, Andrina original cast and cast recording), Baby It's You (Mary-Jane standby,) Sister Act (Sister Mary Robert u/s). Regional: Footloose (Ariel Moore, Cape Playhouse and North Shore Music Theater), Sound of Music (Liesl von Trapp, Paper Mill Playhouse.) In addition, Chelsea is a dedicated and certified fitness instructor. A special thanks to Mom, Dad, and Whit for ALWAYS being there through thick and thin. I love you! chelseamorganstock.com |
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MARK ZIMMERMAN* (Coach) Goodspeed: Paper Moon. Broadway: West Side Story, A Catered Affair, The Rainmaker, Shenandoah, On The 20th Century, Brigadoon, Face Value. 1st National Tours: Mamma Mia!, Kiss of the Spider Woman. Regional/Off-Broadway: A Little Night Music (Joseph Jefferson Award), Moonlight and Magnolias, Paper Moon, Olympus on My Mind, 110 in the Shade, 1776. Television: "Political Animals," "A Person of Interest," "NYC 22," "Royal Pains," "30 Rock," "Damages," "Law and Order" (including "Criminal Intent" and "Special Victims Unit"), "Murphy Brown," "Ed". Film: The Thomas Crown Affair, A Price Above Rubies, Dash and Lilly, Claire Dolan, The Giraffe, For Love or Money, Bonfire of the Vanities. Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. |
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JULIANE GODFREY (Ensemble) is thrilled to return to Goodspeed after her debut at The Norma Terris in The Great American Mousical, directed by Julie Andrews. Other credits include: Zaneeta in The Music Man (Arena Stage), A Wonderful Life (Engeman), Volleygirls (NY Reading/Workshop), Maggie in A Chorus Line, Erma in Anything Goes (Woodstock Playhouse). UCLA BA and proud new member of AEA! Thanks to Goodspeed, BBR, and Paul Hardt, and love always to Mom, Dad, and Steven. |
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GRAHAM KEEN* (Ensemble) is honored to be making his debut at Goodspeed in Good News!. National Tours: Young Frankenstein and The Music Man. Regional: White Christmas (Gateway Playhouse), 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor-TriArts), Hello Dolly! (Ambrose-Studio Tenn), Mack and Mabel (Bickford Theatre), as well as two seasons with Surflight Theatre. Wagner College grad, native of Nashville, TN. Always grateful for his friends and family who love and inspire him. |
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KATE MARILLEY* (Ensemble) is thrilled to return to Goodspeed for the 4th time! She was recently seen as Judy Haynes in White Christmas. Previous roles/shows include: Billy Elliot Broadway 1st National Tour, Mrs. Catlett in Amazing Grace at Goodspeed Norma Terris, Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Ivy Smith in On the Town, Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain, Flo Bates in Half a Sixpence here at Goodspeed, Sheila in A Chorus Line, Ruth in Seven Brides..., Ninotchka in Silk Stockings and more! BFA from Carnegie Mellon. Love to Mom and Dad, and her wonderful husband Marcellus! |
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DREW NELLESSEN* (Ensemble) was thrilled when he heard the “Good News” that he would be making his Goodspeed debut! Credits include the National and International Tours of Chicago and West Side Story, Sacramento Music Circus, North Carolina Theatre, Stages! St. Louis, Marriott Theatre, and Riverside Theatre. He would like to thank Vince for this opportunity and dedicates this performance to N, D, R, and S. He is a proud Millikin University Graduate and Actor’s Equity Member. Life is good! |
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ANDREW ROUBAL* (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his Goodspeed debut! 1st National Tour: A Chorus Line (Mark). Regional: The Music Man, Damn Yankees (American Musical Theatre San Jose); The Wizard of Oz and Kiss Me, Kate (Cabrillo Stage). Graduate of Cal State Fullerton (BFA Musical Theatre). Thanks to Paul Hardt, Vince Pesce, family, and friends. Proud Equity member. |
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JOHN SCACCHETTI* (Ensemble) Broadway: 2001 Tony Award-winning revival of 42nd Street and 2008 revival of Gypsy starring Patti LuPone. National Tours: 42nd Street, My Fair Lady. Regional: How To Succeed…, West Side Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Anything Goes. Web Series: Who Could Ask For Anything More, which pays tribute to MGM movie musicals and silent films (www.whocouldaskforanythingmore.webs.com). John holds a BS in theatre performance from Bradley University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. |
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LAUREN SPRAGUE* (Ensemble) Goodspeed Debut! National Tour: La Cage Aux Folles; Regional: Joseph..Dreamcoat (Maltz Jupiter Theatre); Crazy for You (Cape Playhouse); The Producers (Riverside Theatre, PCLO); Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Stepmom), Hairspray (Shelly) and Les Miserables at PCLO. Also: How to Succeed…(Hedy LaRue), Anything Goes (Hope Harcourt), Two Gentlemen Of Verona (Silvia), 42nd St.(Peggy). Lauren is proud to be a CCM Alum, AEA member and Michael Linger’s wife. Special thanks to the incredible creative team, DGRW, Paul Hardt and my wonderful family! |
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VADEN THURGOOD* (Ensemble) is thrilled to be at Goodspeed and part of Good News!. Other regional credits include: Dr. Hart in Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (La Jolla Playhouse), Rocky in Damn Yankees: Red Sox Version (Ogunquit Playhouse), Vernon in Damn Yankees (Paper Mill Playhouse, 5th Avenue Theater). To Mom, Pop, Fred, and Becky: Thank you so much for your love, encouragement, and support in all areas of life. Thanks also to Mr. Craig Holzberg, friends, and family. |
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JESSI TRAUTH* (Ensemble) Thrilled to be making her debut with Goodspeed! Montana native. BFA theatre NYU- Tisch. Credits: Chicago (Roxie) Seacoast Rep, A Chorus Line (Val) National Tour and Tokyo, West Side Story European Tour (Velma), Cabaret (Sally Bowles) with Tony Stevens, The Music Man (Zanetta) Riverside Theatre, 1940’s Radio Hour (Connie Miller) NYSAF, Peter Pan (Wendy) Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. Love and thanks to my wonderful family and to Vince and the Goodspeed for this precious opportunity! www.jessitrauth.com |
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ZURIN VILLANUEVA* (Ensemble) is from Brooklyn, NY. A recent grad, her credits include Witness Uganda (ART NYC workshop), Ain't Misbehavin’ (Riverside and Crossroads Theatre), Nobody's Perfect (The Kennedy Center), and Crowns (Arena Stage). She recently played the iconic Josephine Baker in the new musical Josephine Tonight!. BFA Howard University and proud graduate of LaGuardia High School of performing arts in NYC. For Dolly. |
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JESSICA JAROS (Swing) Goodspeed debut! Recent credits include Miracle on 34th St at Westchester Broadway, All Shook Up (Miss Sandra) and Anything Goes (Charity) at West Virginia Public Theater, and Happy Days (Pinky) at La Comedia Dinner Theater. She also performed with Disney Cruise Lines as an opening cast member onboard the Disney Dream. BFA, Syracuse University. She would like to thank God, the entire Goodspeed team, and her unbelievably supportive family and friends. |
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LUCAS THOMPSON (Swing) is thrilled to be in Good News! Credits: Westchester Broadway Theater’s Fiddler on the Roof (Nachum/Russian soloist), North American Tour of CATS (Swing), and West Side Story (Snowboy) conducted by Broadway’s Rob Fisher and directed by NBC’s "Smash" choreographer Josh Bergasse. Other favorite roles include Anas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Larry in A Chorus Line, and Mr. McQueen in Urinetown the Musical. BM/MM Jacobs School of Music. Love to family and friends! |
Creative Team
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VINCE PESCE (Director & Choreographer) directed and choreographed Something’s Afoot as well as choreographing Mame for Goodspeed last season. Associate Choreographer on the Broadway productions of Anything Goes, (2011 Tony Award, Choreography), The Pajama Game starring Harry Connick, Jr. (2006 Tony Award, Choreography), Wonderful Town (2004 Tony Award, Choreography), and Little Shop of Horrors. Vince directed/choreographed the National Tours of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, ‘S Wonderful, and Victor/Victoria (Mexico City Company). He also choreographed the National/International Tours of Cinderella starring Lea Salonga, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Oliver!. Other New York credits include Abraham Lincoln’s BGDP (Off Broadway), Dancing With Abandon (NY Fringe Festival), and Lucky Break (pre-Broadway workshop) directed by John Caird. Television choreography credits include Tracey Ullman: Live and Exposed starring Tracey Ullman (HBO), Clash of the Choirs starring Patti Labelle (NBC/Series Choreographer), Grease: You’re The One That I Want (NBC/Series Choreographer), Holiday Splendor (Disney Channel), The Music Man (Associate Choreographer) starring Matthew Broderick (ABC/Disney), and Once Upon a Mattress (Associate Choreographer) starring Carol Burnett. www.vincepesce.com |
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MICHAEL O'FLAHERTY (Music Director) is in his 22nd season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director. Broadway: By Jeeves, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, A Streetcar Named Desire. Also: Paper Mill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Ford's Theatre, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Kennedy Center, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, and the Smithsonian Institution. Musical Supervisor and Cabaret Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival for 11 years. His original musical Genesius, for which he wrote music and lyrics, was recently showcased in NYC. |
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COURT WATSON (Scenic Design) Annie Get Your Gun, Blizzard at Marblehead Neck, King for a Day (Glimmerglass); Liberty Smith, Little Shop of Horrors (Ford’s Theater), Tales of Hoffmann (Beijing), Sound of Music, Fledermaus, Himmel über Berlin, Frau Luna, Johnny spielt auf (Salzburg); Rockville, Hairspray, Jekyll & Hyde (European Tour); O Wondrous Night, Christmas Countdown, Monster Stomp, Azul (SeaWorld). Broadway Assistant Designer: Guys & Dolls, South Pacific, Coast of Utopia, CryBaby, Mauritius, Grease!, Lestat, Little Women. MFA, New York University. www.courtwatson.com |
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TRACY CHRISTENSEN (Costume Design) previously designed Something’s Afoot and City of Angels at Goodspeed. Other recent design credits include Abundance (Hartford Stage), Thoroughly Modern Millie (MUNY), The Boys from Syracuse (Shakespeare Theater Company, DC), Eternal Equinox (59E59 Street), Luv (Guild Hall, East Hampton), SkippyJon Jones (Lucille Lortel), Curtains (Paper Mill Playhouse), Company (New York Philharmonic), Souvenir (Broadway), the new whale and dolphin show Blue Horizons (Sea World, Orlando/San Diego), Annie Get Your Gun (Chicago’s Ravinia Festival starring Patti LuPone), The Ohmies (off-Broadway, Peter Jay Sharp Theater). Also, seven seasons designing for the Chautauqua Theater Company. Faculty member: SUNY Purchase for costume design. www.tracychristensen.com. |
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| CHARLIE MORRISON (Lighting Design) NYC: Groovaloo (off B'way), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Madison Square Garden). National and International Tours: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Miss Saigon, Aida (US, Taiwan, & China), Guys and Dolls, Groovaloo (LA, Foxwoods, & US Tour), My Fair Lady, The King and I (US Tour & Korea), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Gypsy, 42nd Street (US & Japan), Smokey Joe’s Café, The Who’s Tommy (Europe & Japan), Titanic, The Music Man. Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC), Seattle Rep, George St. Playhouse, Theatre Under the Stars, Kansas City Starlight, Playmaker's Rep, Tulsa Opera, many others. Charlie is the recipient of the 2006 and 2007 Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Lighting Design and has been nominated for seven Helen Hayes Awards. Website: www.cmlighting.com. | |
| JAY HILTON (Sound Design) ) is proud to continue his long association with Goodspeed and wishes to congratulate the entire organization on its 50th Anniversary season. Jay has been the resident sound designer for many years and has designed countless productions at both the Goodspeed Opera House and Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre in Chester. Jay received the Broadway World Connecticut Award for Best Sound Design in 2012 for last season’s Carousel. His work has also been heard on Broadway, National Tours, and at regional theatres from coast to coast. Along with his design duties Jay serves as the Lighting & Sound Supervisor. He and his wife, Goodspeed Line Producer Donna Lynn Hilton, make their home (and garden) in Hadlyme. | |
| MARK ADAM RAMPMEYER (Hair & Wig Design) is very happy to return to Goodspeed for this production. His work has been seen here in 42nd Street, A Funny Thing...Forum, Big River, and Half a Sixpence, to name a few. Broadway: West Side Story, Lysistrata Jones, The Farnsworth Invention. Off Broadway: The Toxic Avenger, Horton Foote’s Orphans’ Home Cycle, The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore with Olympia Dukakis, and, most recently, City Center Encores’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Megan Hilty. Mark is the Associate Artistic Director at the John W. Engeman Theater on Long Island. Thanks to all for their continued support on this journey. *peep* | |
| DAN DeLANGE (Orchestrator) has scored music for Paul Williams, Julie Andrews, Rosie O'Donnell, Jerry Herman, Harvey Schmitt, Peter Link, and the Jim Henson Company. He orchestrated the premiere of Charles Strouse’s You Never Know, conducted the Broadway National Tour of Chicago, and was music director/conductor for Musical America's National Tours of Crazy For You, Beauty and the Beast, and Singin' in the Rain. Graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and Oberlin Conservatory of Music. DanDeLangeOrchestrations.com |
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| DAVID KRANE (Dance Arrangements) arranged and produced songs for Oscar-nominated Michelle Williams for My Week With Marilyn, arrangements and scoring for the film of Nine and the Oscar-winning Chicago. Upcoming: Into the Woods film. He composed Aspire (the first American musical produced in the Middle East) with Stephen Cole and the musical comedy The Road To Qatar! about their wild experience. Cast recording: jayrecords.com. Dance music and arrangements for over 30 Broadway shows. www.davidkrane.com |
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