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The Most Happy Fella Cast and Creative team

The Most Happy Fella Cast and Creative team

Meet the Cast       Meet the Creative Team

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CAST

Ann Arvia
ANN ARVIA* (Marie) Broadway: Mary Poppins (Bird Woman), Les Misérables (Mme. Thenardier), Beauty and the Beast (u/s Mrs. Potts/Mme. de la Grande Bouche). Off-Broadway: Time and Again (Manhattan Theatre Club), Children & Art: Stephen Sondheim's 75th Birthday Celebration (soloist). National Tours: Ragtime, Les Misérables. Regional: Gypsy (Rose), Ragtime (Mother), Rags (Rebecca), Happy End (Lillian), The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess), The King & I (Lady Thiang), Phantom of the Opera (Carlotta), Titanic (Alice Beane), Footloose (Vi Moore), Company (Sarah). Film/TV: Man on a Ledge, 3 Backyards (Sundance 2010), Let it Snow (Sundance 2000), Rescue Me, Nurse Jackie, The Big C, Law & Order: SVU, and Made in Jersey.
   
Daniel Berryman

DANIEL BERRYMAN* (Ciccio) is thrilled to be making his debut at the Goodspeed! Most recently, Daniel spent the summer in Colorado with Theatre Aspen performing Marius in Les Misérables and Charlie Brown in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Other theatre credits include Mark Cohen in Rent at 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle; Mr. Erlanson in A Little Night Music at the Indiana Repertory Theatre; Freddie Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady at the Heritage Theatre Festival, Charlottesville, Virginia. Thanks to Jesus, wife, family, and friends for their love and support and to the guys at CGF for their encouragement. Love you all!

   
Doug Carpenter
DOUG CARPENTER* (Joe) Education: BM in Voice from UNLV, MM in Voice from UCLA. Regional: Lancelot in Camelot (Pasadena Playhouse), Curly in Oklahoma! (Pennsylvania Shakespeare, FCLO), Tony in West Side Story (FCLO), Thief in See What I Wanna See (Blank Theatre), Prince in Cinderella (CLOSBC), Chris in Miss Saigon (Moonlight Amphitheater), Curtis in Summer of Love (Ogunquit Playhouse), and Joe in The Most Happy Fella (Dallas Lyric Stage). NYC Theatre: Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (NYMF), Skip in Life Could Be A Dream (LA Weekly, LADCC Winner, NYMF). Doug is the only singer to win both the American Traditions Competition (2011) and the Lotte Lenya Competition.
   
Natalie Hill NATALIE HILL* (Cleo) is happy to return to Goodspeed where she earned her Equity Card in Brigadoon and appeared in Camille Claudel (Chester). Broadway: Wonderland (OCR), Bye Bye Birdie (Rosie u/s opposite John Stamos), Grease (Cha Cha, OCR). Las Vegas: Jersey Boys (Mary Delgado), Footloose (Rusty). National Tours: The Grinch (Mama Who, Madison Square Garden/WANG); Joseph..Dreamcoat (Narrator opposite Patrick Cassidy), Hairspray. Regional: In the Heights (Daniela), Miss Saigon (Ellen) at Pioneer; Romeo and Bernadette (Bernadette, Paper Mill and Coconut Grove—Carbonel nomination); Les Misérables in Concert (Eponine, SCERA), Joseph… (Narrator, NSMT). VO: The Swan Princess 5 (singing voice of Princess Odette). For Syd and family. @nataliekhill.
   

Bill Nolte

BILL NOLTE* (Tony) Goodspeed: Don Quixote, Man of La Mancha 2000; Beadle Bamford, Sweeney Todd 1997. Recent: Jacob/Potiphar/Baker in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,  Ogunquit Playhouse; Professor Marvel/Guard/Wizard in The Wizard of Oz, Sacramento Music Circus; Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Westchester Broadway Theatre; Tony in The Most Happy Fella, Dallas' Lyric Stage; Fuzz in Harmony, Kansas (American Premiere), San Diego's LGBT Diversionary Theatre. Broadway: The Producers, Amour, Jane Eyre, 1776, A Christmas Carol, King David, Joseph…Dreamcoat, The Secret Garden, Me and My Girl, La Cage aux Folle (Revival), Cats ('85 debut). Bill is also an accomplished watercolorist and Tommy Award-winning textile designer. "Distinguised Alumnus" Award 1987, Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. To learn more visit: www.billnolte.com.
   
Mamie Parris
MAMIE PARRIS* (Rosabella) A native Texan, Mamie attended Paseo Academy of the Arts in Kansas City, Missouri before graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Broadway and National Tours include Wicked (Elphaba, 1st National), 9 to 5 The Musical (Judy Bernly, 1st National), Ragtime (2009 Revival), The Drowsy Chaperone, Legally Blonde, 110 in the Shade (Roundabout revival). Mamie created the role of Dodi in the new Off-Broadway musical See Rock City & Other Destinations (cast album just released!). Numerous regional roles, concerts, and readings. Thank you Rob and all at Goodspeed, SH Entertainment, Pete and The Talent House, and my Johnathan.
   
Greg Roderick
GREG RODERICK* (Giuseppe) Previous Goodspeed productions: Show Boat (2011), 1776 (2007), King of Hearts (2002), A Little Night Music (2001), and Brigadoon (2001). Broadway: South Pacific (Lincoln Center), Ragtime (15th Anniversary Concert at Lincoln Center); Off-Broadway: Barcode (NY Int’l Fringe Festival), Is There Life After High School? (York),The Butterfly(Mint). Tours: Lincoln Center’s South Pacific, Parade (dir. Harold Prince), and Sound of Music and numerous regionals, including Paper Mill, The Muny, TOTS, TUTS, Pittsburgh Public, Maltz Jupiter and Northern Stage.
   
Martin Sola
MARTÍN SOLÁ* (Pasquale) is thrilled to be making his debut with Goodspeed Musicals. He has appeared on Broadway in Coram Boy, Baz Luhrmann's La Bohème, and The King and I. Other New York credits include Pipe Dream and Fanny with City Center Encores; Michael John LaChiusa's Giant, the The Pirates of Penzance Gala in the Park, and the 2012 Shakespeare Lab with The Public Theater; as well as more than a dozen productions with The New York City Opera. Martín has made numerous television appearances singing for Andrea Bocelli, and this fall he will appear in the new CBS series Hostages.
   
Kevin Vortmann
KEVIN VORTMANN* (Herman) makes his Goodspeed debut in The Most Happy Fella! Broadway: A Little Night Music. Off-Broadway: Death Takes a Holiday, On the Town, Applause, Face the Music, Fiorello, Lost in the Stars, Stairway to Paradise, Juno, and For Lovers Only. Carnegie Hall: Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, Show Boat, and Mother Russia. Other favorites: Miss Saigon (Chris), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), Next to Normal (Dan), and Les Misérables (Enjolras).  Kevin has been a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and with Omaha Symphony. Love and thanks to his beautiful wife, Amanda, and to his supportive family. www.kevinvortmann.com
   
Noah Aberlin NOAH ABERLIN* (Ensemble) is very excited to be returning to Goodspeed! He was last here in Annie Get Your Gun.  Previous regional and touring credits include Young Frankenstein (National Tour), The Wizard of Oz (National Tour), Candide (NYC Opera), The Producers (National Tour), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Denver Center), Carnival! (Paper Mill). He is a Brooklyn, NY native and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University. Thanks to M&D, PJ, Mila, Nick, Rob, and TKO!
   
Elizabeth Ann Berg
ELIZABETH ANN BERG* (Ensemble) is thrilled to return to Goodspeed, where she was last seen in Rob Ruggiero's Show Boat. Tours: Mary Poppins, Regional: Hello! My Baby (Goodspeed's Festival of New Artists), IRNE award-winning Into the WoodsCompany (April), A Class Act (Sophie). BFA Boston Conservatory. Love and thanks to Abrams and my family.
   
Victoria Castle
VICTORIA CASTLE* (Ensemble) is a singer, actress, pianist, and musical director. This season, she musically directed The Taffettas and They’re Playing Our Song at The Theater Barn in the Berkshires. Earlier this year, she was seen Off-Broadway in the one-act play The Invention of the Living Room at Metropolitan Playhouse in New York City. And she will soon be seen in the indie thriller film Of Sound Mind. Web series include City of Dreams, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Unlikely Allies.
   
Christine Cornell
CHRISTINE CORNELL (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her Goodspeed debut! She was last seen in the premiere of Laquearia (Edinburgh Fringe) and as Sophie in Masterclass (Gulfshore). Other credits include The Sound of Music (Paper Mill), M. F. K. Fisher in The Art of Eating, Buffy in the collegiate premiere of Bolcom’s A Wedding, Mark Morris’s Four Saints in Three Acts, and Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street. She sends love to her supportive family and friends.
   
Seth Danner
SETH DANNER* (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his Goodspeed debut! Seth was just seen as Duke in The Great American Trailer Park Musical at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. Other recent credits: Peter Pan (Northern Stage), How to Succeed... (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), A Chorus Line (National & Japanese Tours). Look for Seth in the upcoming film Other Plans, starring Jamie Kennedy. BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University. Many thanks to Paul, Craig, Rob, and Parker, and lots of love to his family and Anthony.
   
Michael Deleget MICHAEL DELEGET* (Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to Goodspeed. He was last seen here in Camelot. Degrees from Wabash College and Indiana University. He just finished playing Lt. Cable in South Pacific at Surflight. Past productions: Giuseppe, The Most Happy Fella starring George Hearn (Ravinia); Jamie, The Last Five Years (Skylight Music Theatre); Tony, West Side Story (Maine State); Atlanta TOTS’s touring production of Les Misérables. Other credits: Bernstein’s Mass, Carnegie Hall and the Vatican (DVD). Love always to Alison.
   
Eloise Kropp ELOISE KROPP* (Ensemble) is excited to be back at Goodspeed Opera House. NY: Tuck Everlasting. Favorite Regional credits: Louise in Carousel (Goodspeed), June in Gypsy (Music Theatre Wichita), and Amber in Hairspray (Lyric Theatre Oklahoma). Love and thanks to her family, CGF, ARR, JBR, Parker, and Peggy!
   
Danny Lindgren DANNY LINDGREN (Ensemble) is thrilled to make his Goodspeed debut! New York: Parade (Tom Watson). Regional: A Christmas Carol (Fred), Camelot (Ensemble), The Flying Dutchman (Ensemble), The Taming of the Shrew (Tranio), Romeo & Juliet (Samson), Rent (Roger), A Chorus Line (Don). Graduate of Ithaca College. Many thanks to the Most Happy Fella team, friends, and family.
   
Danny Lindgren JOHN PAYONK* (Ensemble) has performed such varied roles as Germont in La Traviata, Scarpia in Tosca, Tonio and Canio in I Pagliacci, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Tony in The Most Happy Fella, Old Deuteronomy in Cats, Captain E.J. Smith in Titanic, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde The Musical, Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, and the title roles in Rigoletto, Don Pasquale, and Falstaff.
   
Rachel Rhodes-Devey RACHEL RHODES-DEVEY* (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her debut at Goodspeed Opera House! She was last seen in Lincoln Center's concert of Carousel with the New York Philharmonic, which aired on PBS as part of Live From Lincoln Center. Other credits include the 2nd National Tour of Lincoln Center's South Pacific and regional productions with Maine State Music Theatre, Gateway Playhouse, and The John Engeman Theatre. Proud OCU graduate. She is incredibly thankful for the support of her family, friends, and the gang at Judy Boals, Inc. www.RachelRhodesDevey.com
   
Sarah Tranchina SARAH TRANCHINA* (Ensemble) is so thrilled to be a part of this wonderful production! Past credits include the National/International Tours of Shrek The Musical (Shoemaker’s Elf/Dragon Puppeteer) and Disney Cruise Line. Favorite roles include The Wedding Singer (Linda); You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy); and Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl), to name a few. BA Wagner College Theatre. So many thanks to all involved at Goodspeed Musicals!
   
Eric Ulloa ERIC ULLOA* (Ensemble) is thrilled to be here and check “Goodspeed” off the life goal list. Eric has performed at North Shore Music Theatre, Signature Theatre, Fulton Opera House, Arvada Center, Riverside Theatre, North Carolina Theatre, The Human Race Theatre Company, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and many others. As a writer, Eric is the librettist of the musicals Molly Sweeney and The Boardwalk Boys. Eric is also the author of the play 26 Pebbles. All the love and thanks go to the Krasny Office, Rob, Parker, MOF, and his incredible family! Wanna learn more? www.ericulloa.com
   
James Zannelli JAMES ZANNELLI* (Ensemble) is excited to make his Goodspeed debut. Tours: Les Misérables: The New 25th Anniversary Production (Bishop of Digne, Thenardier cover). Regional favorites: Les Misérables (Thenardier) at Tuacahn Ampitheater, Jesus Christ Superstar (Caiaphas) at PCLO and KS City Starlight, Chess (Molokov) at NCT, Jekyll & Hyde (Simon Stride) at J. W. Engeman and NCT,  Tommy (Uncle Ernie) at Hilton Head, Peter Pan (Hook) at Media Theatre, Pirates of Penzance (Boatswain cover) with Santa Fe Opera. 
   
Matthew Amira MATTHEW AMIRA* (Swing) is thrilled to be making his Goodspeed debut! Most recently, he was seen as Kodaly (She Loves Me) at the Infinity Theatre. Regional includes Perchik (Fiddler on the Roof), Snowy (Honk!), and Aaron Shultz (Legally Blonde) at Music Theatre of Wichita. At CCM, he was seen as Macheath (The Threepenny Opera), Rapunzel’s Prince (Into the Woods), and Pierce (The Civil War). He holds a BFA from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Love to Kathryn, friends, family, and the Lookers! Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.
   
Sabrina Marlene SABRINA MARLENE* (Swing) After moving to NYC in March and working on TV and film, Sabrina is thrilled to be joining the company of The Most Happy Fella. Favorite Regional credits include Oklahoma! (Laurie), The Wizard of Oz (Glenda, Aunt Em), Hairspray (Shelly, Amber u/s), Virginia Opera's The Magic Flute (Spirit). BFA Elon University. Loads of love to the whole Fam Damily, Mom, Dad, Chase I love you!!
   

CREATIVE TEAM

Rob Ruggiero
ROB RUGGIERO (Director) is thrilled to be returning to Goodspeed this season, after having directed past productions of 1776, Big RiverCamelot , Annie Get Your GunShow Boat, and last season’s highly praised production of Carousel . His Broadway credits include Looped (starring Valerie Harper in a Tony-nominated performance) and High (starring stage and screen star Kathleen Turner), which premiered here in Connecticut. Other New York credits include All Under Heaven (also starring Valerie Harper), as well as conceiving and directing the original musical revue Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn  (Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award nominations). Regionally, Mr. Ruggiero has earned national recognition for his work on both plays and musicals, having received numerous awards including multiple Connecticut Critics Circle Awards and a Joseph Jefferson Award in Chicago; he currently has the distinction of being the only director to have received four Kevin Kline Awards in St. Louis. Connecticut audiences are also familiar with Mr. Ruggiero's work through his association with TheaterWorks in Hartford, where he was recently appointed the new Producing Artistic Director. He has been a key partner in the artistic leadership there since 1993. He conceived and directed the highly successful Ella (Kevin Kline and Joseph Jefferson Awards) at TheaterWorks, which has been produced at over twenty major regional theaters around the country. He recently directed productions of South Pacific at The MUNY and Time Stands Still at TheaterWorks. Upcoming projects include a new production of Show Boat at The Asolo this fall. www.robruggiero.com
   
  PARKER ESSE (Choreographer) is honored to return to Goodspeed after choreographing Carousel  last season (Connecticut Critics Circle Nomination and Choreographer of the Year accolades, BroadwayWorld). Recently choreographed Guys and Dolls to international acclaim at Shaw Festival Canada.  Choreographed several productions for Arena Stage, including nationally acclaimed Oklahoma! (Helen Hayes Award) and The Music Man (Helen Hayes Nomination). Broadway: Associate Choreographer contributing on A Tale of Two Cities; Tony-nominated Finian’s Rainbow. Currently choreographing A Bed and A Chair: A New York Love Affair, presented by City Center’s Encores! and Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis, Stephen Sondheim, and John Doyle.
   

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.
   

MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT (Scenic Design) For Goodspeed Musicals: Carousel, Show Boat, Hello! My BabyAnnie Get Your Gun, 1776, Big RiverCamelot. World premieres of Nobody Loves You and Duncan Sheik’s Whisper House at The Old Globe. Motherhood The Musical, G4 Productions. Ella, a musical about Ella Fitzgerald, appearing in cities all across the country. Bloodsong of Love, Ars Nova. Barnum, The Asolo. American premieres of Frank McGuinness’ Gates of Gold and The Bird Sanctuary. Oklahoma! starring Kelli O’Hara and Will Chase, and National and International Tours of James Taylor’s One Man Band. www.msportfolio.com
   

THOMAS CHARLES LEGALLEY (Costume Design) Broadway: Lysistrata Jones; Associate Design, Kinky Boots. Regional: Hartford Stage: The 39 Steps, Boeing Boeing; Dallas Theater Center: Next Fall, God of Carnage; La Jolla Playhouse: Frida Libre. Assistant /Associate: Off-Broadway:The Orphans’ Home Cycle, The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, Restoration. Goodspeed: Annie Get Your Gun, Carousel. Paper Mill Playhouse: On The Town, Damn Yankees. Dallas Theater Center: FLY. National Tour: West Side Story. Education: MFA Stage Design, Southern Methodist University.
   
  JOHN LASITER (Lighting Design) Connecticut: Goodspeed (1776, Big River, Camelot, Carnival!, Annie Get Your Gun, Show Boat, City of Angels, Hello! My Baby, Carousel), Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, TheaterWorks. Broadway: High. Off-Broadway: Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn, Alarm Dog Repertory Company, Blue Light Theater Company, Music Theatre Group. Regional: Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage, Arizona Repertory, Asolo Repertory, Centerstage Baltimore, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Play House, Dallas Theater Center, Florida Stage, George Street Playhouse, Geva, Milwaukee Repertory, New Mexico Repertory, Northlight, Pittsburgh Public, South Coast Repertory, Syracuse Stage, Virginia Stage. www.johnlasiter.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 is pleased to be working with director Rob Ruggiero once again. Other Goodspeed collaborations with Mr. Ruggiero include 1776, Big River, Camelot, Show Boat,  and last season’s Carousel. Jay has also designed countless other productions at both the Goodspeed Opera House and Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre in Chester. His work has also been heard on Broadway, National Tours, and at regional theatres from coast to coast. Jay also serves as Goodspeed’s Lighting & Sound Supervisor.  He and his wife, Goodspeed Line Producer Donna Lynn Hilton, make their home (and garden) in Hadlyme.
   
  MARK ADAM RAMPMEYER (Wig & Hair Designer) is very happy to return to Goodspeed for this production. His work has been seen here in Good News!, Something's Afoot, 42nd Street, 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 CycleThe Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore with Olympia Dukakis, and, most recently, Talley's Folly at Roundabout Theatre Company. 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*
   
 

GILLIAN LANE-PLESCIA (Dialect Coach) is pleased return to Goodspeed, where she coached The Fabulous LipitonesAmazing Grace, My One And OnlyAnnie Get Your GunCamelotBig RiverHalf a Sixpence, and 1776. She recently coached War Horse and Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Broadway, is currently coaching the War Horse tour, and will shortly start work on a new Broadway show. Recent Regional work includes The Tempest at McCarter; CenterStage Baltimore, Hartford Stage, McCarter, and The Guthrie. She was English Diction coach at Chicago’s Lyric Opera for five seasons. She teaches at Juilliard. Her dialect materials are used throughout the US and overseas.

 


*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.