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People of the Production
Production Team
 George Pinney (Director) Nominated for a 2001 Tony Award and National Broadway Theatre Award in choreography, George received an Emmy Award for outstanding choreography for the PBS broadcast of Blast. He was a member of the creative team, acting director, and one of three choreographers for Cyberjam which opened at the Queen's Theatre in the West End of London. George, a Professor of Theatre and Drama, has directed and/or choreographed over 150 productions for national tours, regional and university theatres. Recent productions at IU include Bat Boy the Musical, Pal Joey, Sweet Charity, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street , Parade , and the IU Broadway Cabaret. At the Brown County Playhouse, George directed Forever Plaid last season. This summer he will direct Smoke on the Mountain for the Brown County Playhouse and Slow Dance with a Hot Pickup in our first New Musical Development Workshop. Recognized for his teaching, George was awarded the Friedrich Herman Lieber Award for Distinguished Teaching, 5 Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence in Teaching and membership in the Faculty Colloquium of Excellence in Teaching. At IU George teaches musical theatre and stage movement and mentors numerous Independent Major Program in Musical Theatre majors.
J. Adam Burnette (Co-Musical Director/Conductor) is a first-year masters student in conducting in the School of Music. He holds a B.M. in piano performance from Shorter College. He served as the assistant conductor and vocal coach for the Phoenix Productions national tour of Grease. Musical direction credits include West Side Story and Honk! (Shorter College) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Antidote Theatre). He is from Chatsworth , Georgia.
Courtney Crouse (Co-Musical Director) is a graduate student pursuing her Doctorate of Music in Voice. She received her B.A. from Texas Wesleyan and her M.M. from IU. On the stage of the Musical Arts Center she has appeared as Mrs. Gibbs in the world premiere of Our Town, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, and the Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte. She served as co-musical director for last semester's Falsettos. Currently she is an Associate Instructor in Voice for the School of Music and is the Music Director for All Souls Unitarian Church in Indianapolis. Courtney is from Fort Worth, Texas .
Jeff Grace (Assistant Director) is a second-year Ph.D. student in theatre and drama. He holds an M.S. in secondary education, curriculum and instruction from IU and a B.A. in theatre arts from Brigham Young University. His musical directing credits include productions of Once on this Island, Chess, Grease, And the World Goes ‘Round,  Schoolhouse Rock Live!, and Pippin. Jeff is from Pleasant Grove, Utah .
Gordon R. Strain (Scenic Designer) is a third-year M.F.A. student in Scenic Design who received his B.F.A. from Ithaca College. At IU he has designed Arcadia, Bacchai, Dracula, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, and Proof. He also served as Scenic Artist for the 2004 Brown County Playhouse productions of Steel Magnolias and The Odd Couple. Other theatrical designs include The Credeaux Canvas, Pippin , Bugsy Malone, Steel Magnolias, The Boy Next Door, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, Anything Goes, Annie, and The Canterville Ghost . He is currently the assistant scenic designer for the Indiana Repertory Theatre production of Driving Miss Daisy. Gordon was also Director for Shakespeare On Love at Cincinnati Country Day School and Scenic Designer for Dark Rapture at Ithaca College, which won the Barbizon Award for Theatrical Design Excellence by the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). He is from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Katherine N. Garlick (Costume Designer) is a second-year M.F.A. student in costume design. Previous IU designs include Arcadia and Happy Birthday, Wanda June. She received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she designed costumes for The Laramie Project and Zastrozzi: The Master of Discipline , for which she was first runner-up for the 2004 National Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival Barbizon Award for Excellence in Costume Design. She has also worked as a properties designer, and her prop designs for Oya: A Yoruba Dance Dream at IUP won the 2003 KCACTF Region II Award for Excellence in Properties Design. Katherine is from Connellsville , PA.
 Ryan Davies (Lighting Designer) is a third-year M.F.A. lighting design student who received his undergraduate degree from Eastern Washington University . Previous lighting designs at IU include Arcadia, “ MASTER HAROLD”… and the boys, Bat Boy, and Proof, as well as Our Nature, Joining Forces, and The Return. Other designs include Peter and the Wolf at the Columbus Dancer's Studio, Arcadia at the John Waldron Arts Center, Patty Red Pants at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, and Camino Real at EWU. Ryan was the assistant lighting designer for The Color of Justice at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. A Chorus Line is Ryan's MFA thesis production. He is from Bangor, North Wales.
Katie Seibel (Stage Manager) is a senior in the individualized major program for stage management in the College of Arts and Sciences. IU stage management credits include Macbeth, The Cherry Orchard and The Laramie Project, as well as assistant stage manager on Betty's Summer Vacation and Sweeney Todd. She has stage managed frequently at the Theatre Building Chicago, where credits include Bringers, The Strange Affair of Dr. Crippen, The Big Beginning and the Big Ending, The Devil and Dexter Webster, Cleopatra, Saratoga Trunk Songs, American Klezmer , and Doo-Dah . Credits at the Guildhall School of Music include Corpus Christi, The Breasts of Tiresius, and The Spanish Hour. She has also worked at the John Waldron Arts Center, and for two years worked as a stage management intern at the Chicago Opera Theatre. For her next project she will be a production assistant on Blast 2. Katie is from Clarendon Hills, Illinois.
Makenzie Kus (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior majoring in theatre and drama. She is from La Porte, Indiana.
Heather Potter (Assistant Stage Manager) is a first-year student in the School of Education seeking a degree in secondary exceptional needs education. She is from Montoursville, Pennsylvania.
Nancy Lipschultz (Voice and Speech Coach) has worked as an actress in New York, California, regionally in Michigan, Texas and in her hometown of Chicago. She has also worked overseas in London and is a veteran of six Fringe festivals in Edinburgh, Scotland . In addition to appearing on stage she has worked on several feature films, in numerous industrial films, many commercials, as well as, on network Television. She is a member of Screen Actors Guild, Actors' Equity Association and VASTA. Nancy holds an M.F.A. in Theatre from Wayne State University and has been a professor of Acting, Voice and Directing at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, Michigan State University, Ohio Wesleyan University and was most recently Head of Graduate and under graduate Voice for the Actor at Wayne State. Directing credits include: Evita, Much Ado About Nothing, Twilight Los Angeles, Fires in the Mirror and Jackie and the Beanstalk. She has been the vocal coach for many professional and university productions and recently coached the New York City Opera production of Dead Man Walking directed by Tony award winner Leonard Foglia.
Cast
 Stephanie Benkert (Pit Singer) is a first-year student majoring in Voice in the School of Music . This is her first appearance on the IU stage. She is a 2005 NFAA Arts Merit Award winner. Stephanie is from Rochester, New York.
Jesse Bernath (Zach) is a senior majoring in vocal performance and theatre and drama. At IU he has appeared as Whizzer in Falsettos, Rick Taylor in Bat Boy, and also appeared in Pal Joey and Parade. He has appeared twice on the stage of the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, playing Leon Czolgosz in Assassins and Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls. Additionally he appeared as Dream Tony in the Musical Arts Center production of West Side Story. Elsewhere he has played Peter Cratchit in A Christmas Carol for the Yellow Rose Touring Company. He has also worked at the MUNY alongside Lauren Kennedy in South Pacific and Ken Page in Jesus Christ Superstar . Jesse is from St. Louis, Missouri .
 Alyson Bloom (Lois) is a freshman majoring in theatre and drama. Since coming to Bloomington she has appeared as Sophie in Honour and Margot in The Diary of Anne Frank for IU Hillel. She is from Deerfield, Illinois .
Erin Daugherty (Sheila) is a junior in the Independent Major Program in musical theatre. At IU Erin has appeared in the chorus of Pal Joey , as Shelly in Bat Boy, and as a dance hall hostess in Sweet Charity. Erin appeared in the chorus of Guys and Dolls at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Marilyn Monroe in The Fabulous Fifties and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at American Cabaret Theatre. Erin is from Carmel, Indiana .
Rick Desloge (Al) is a junior in the individualized major program in musical theatre. Previously at IU he has appeared as Rick in Pal Joey and Ron in Bat Boy, as well as appearing in the 2006 Faculty Dance Concert. At the Musical Arts Center he has appeared in both Romeo et Juliette and La Boheme. Also in Bloomington he has played Brad in The Rocky Horror Show for University Players and appeared in Guys and Dolls for Union Board. At the Barn Theatre in Michigan he has appeared in Disney's AIDA, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Guys and Dolls. He has also appeared as a Bottle Dancer in Fiddler on the Roof for Southern Illinois University. He is a member of the IU Broadway Cabaret and also of Singing Hoosiers. Rick is from St. Louis, Missouri .
Rebecca Faulkenberry (Cassie) is a junior in the individualized major program in musical theatre with a double major in English. Previous performances at IU include Gladys Bumps in Pal Joey, Nickie in Sweet Charity, and Maggie in Bat Boy. Favorite roles elsewhere include Sally Bowles in Cabaret , Marta in Company , Hope in Anything Goes (City Hall, Bermuda ) and Gwen in The Royal Family (Seaside Music Theater). Rebecca is from Bermuda.
Mallorie Fletcher (Val) is a senior majoring in business and in voice in the School of Music. Previous IU performances include Helene in Sweet Charity, Lorraine in Bat Boy, and The Kid in Pal Joey. Other Bloomington performances include Woman 2 in Little by Little (Independent Student Project) and Hot Box Girl in Guys and Dolls (Buskirk-Chumley). Elsewhere she has played Alice in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Gertie in Oklahoma! for Discoveryland USA and the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods and Rosalind in Moon Over Buffalo at Rhynsburger Summer Rep. Mallorie is from Columbia, Missouri.
Margot Gendreau (Bebe) is a junior in the Independent Major Program in musical theatre with a double major in history. At IU, Margot appeared as Valerie and Janet in Pal Joey and Rosie in Sweet Charity. She also appeared in the Modern Dance Faculty Concert in both 2005 and 2006 in the Ruth N. Halls Theatre. She previously appeared in A Chorus Line as Cassie with Scarsdale Summer Music Theatre. Margot is from New Rochelle, New York .
Codey Girten (Mark) is a junior in the individualized major program in musical theatre. IU performances include Gus/Augustus in Arcadia, Ernest in Pal Joey, Paul in Happy Birthday, Wanda June, Daddy's Assistant in Sweet Charity, and Voice One in Betty's Summer Vacation. He has served as the fight choreographer for the University Players production of Tommy and for the Independent Student Production of Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). Codey is an alumnus of the 2002 Midsummer Theatre Program. He is the recipient of the 2006 Charles Aidman Spoon River Scholarship and the 2004 Faculty Scholarship. Codey is from Benton, Illinois.
 Michael E. Hall (Butch/Pit Singer) is a senior majoring in theatre and drama. This is his Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center debut. Performances elsewhere include 1 st and 2 nd Priest in Jesus Christ Superstar at the John Waldron Arts Center and Schlomo Metzenbaulm in Fame: The Musical at Irrington Arts. Michael is a member of Singing Hoosiers and the assistant choreographer for Varsity Singers. He is from Greenwood, Indiana.
Brian Landisman (Pit Singer) is a freshman majoring in theatre and drama. A Chorus Line is Brian's debut performance in the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center, Brian is from Plainview, New York.
Amanda Mae Magadia (Connie) is a junior majoring in theatre and voice in the School of Music. This is her first performance with the IU Department of Theatre and Drama. She has appeared in the Chorus of both HMS Pinafore and La Boheme at the Musical Arts Center, and is a member of Singing Hoosiers and Varsity Singers. She is from San Francisco, California.
Anna Malone (Pit Singer) is a sophomore in the individualized major program in musical theatre. She appeared earlier this season as Cordelia in Falsettos. Also in Bloomington she has played Antonia in Man of La Mancha for Union Board. Last year she appeared in Chicago at the Croswell Opera House. Anna is an alumna of the 2003 Midsummer Theatre Program. Anna is from Toledo, Ohio.
Maggie Mountsier (Maggie) is a sophomore majoring in vocal performance in the School of Music and theatre. This is her first Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center production, but she appeared on the stage of the Ruth N. Halls earlier this year as a dancer in the New Frontiers/Contemporary Traditions faculty dance concert. She has appeared twice with Amish Acres Round Barn Theatre, as Iris/Dance Captain in Fame and Katie Yoder in Plain and Fancy. She is a member of Singing Hoosiers and Varsity Singers. Maggie is from Granger, Indiana.
Christopher Nachtrab (Greg) is a senior majoring in ballet with an outside field of comparative literature. Last year he appeared as Victor in Pal Joey. He has extensive ballet credits at the Musical Arts Center , including Cavalier in The Nutcracker (2005), Principal Male in Spring Waters, Jester in Cinderella, Snow King/Harlequin in The Nutcracker (2004), Soloist in Viva Vivaldi!, and Gold in Sleeping Beauty. Also at the MAC he appeared as Puck in the opera A Midsummer Night's Dream. He was an Apprentice Dancer for several ballets with the Chautaqua Ballet Theatre, and also appeared as a Bottle Dancer in Fiddler on the Roof for the Chautaqua Opera Theatre. Christopher is from Selden, New York.
Catherine Niemeyer (Tricia) is a sophomore majoring in voice and theatre and drama. Last year she appeared as a Temptress in the ensemble of Jesus Christ Superstar at the John Waldron Arts Center. She has performed extensively as a singer and dancer in Georgia. Performances there include Copacobana, Little Shop of Horrors, Footloose, and Crazy for You at the Cobb County Civic Center and Glass Slipper Ball at the Fox Theatre. She is a member of Singing Hoosiers and Varsity Singers. Catherine is from Atlanta, Georgia.
John Olson (Don) is a senior majoring in theatre and drama, English, and psychology. No stranger to the Ruth N. Halls Theatre, John has previously been seen in Macbeth, Arcadia , Sweet Charity, The Cherry Orchard, and Pal Joey. John also appeared as John Wilkes Booth in Assassins for the University Players. John is from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Betina Pereira (Diana) is a junior in the individualized major program in musical theatre. She appeared in last season's production of Bacchai. Other Bloomington-area credits include Jesus Christ Superstar at the John Waldron Arts Center and an independent production of The House of Bernarda Alba. She is a member of Singing Hoosiers and Varsity Singers. Last year she appeared in Jukebox Junction at the Nashville Follies Musical Theatre. Betina is from Silver Spring, Maryland.
Angie Perez (Kristine) is a junior majoring in theatre and drama and French. This is her debut performance in the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center. Other Bloomington roles include Squeaky Fromme in Assassins for University Players and Opera Chorus in La Boheme at the Musical Arts Center. Angie is a Varsity Member of Singing Hoosiers. She is from Carmel, Indiana.
 Gerold Schroeder (Paul) is a senior majoring in biology. He appeared as a member of the Chorus in last season's Pal Joey. Other performances in Bloomington include Simon Zealot in Jesus Christ Superstar at the John Waldron Arts Center and Chorus Member in La Boheme at the Musical Arts Center. He is a varsity member of Singing Hoosiers. Gerold is from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Adam Shaff (Frank/Pit Singer) is a sophomore majoring in marketing in the Kelley School of Business. This is his debut performance on the IU stage. In 2005 he played Lefou in Beauty and the Beast for the Mill Race Players in Columbus, IN. He is a varsity member of Singing Hoosiers and is originally from Columbus, Indiana.
Arri Lawton Simon (Roy/Pit Singer) is a sophomore majoring in voice and composition in the School of Music. Previous roles include Tony in West Side Story (MTYP of Wichita) and Judas/John the Baptist in Godspell ( WCT Shannon Theatre ). He is from Wichita, Kansas.
Lauren Skirvin (Vicki) is a senior majoring in theatre and drama. She appeared as a member of the Chorus in last season's Bacchai. Elsewhere in Bloomington she has appeared as Calpurnia in Julius Caesar and Amelia in The House of Bernarda Alba (IU Independent Projects), Apostle/Chorus in Jesus Christ Superstar and Hannah in Arcadia (John Waldron Arts Center), and Cassie in Bicentennial Babies (Bloomington Playwrights Project). She has appeared twice at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre, as Roberta in Working and as Jeannie in Hair. Lauren is from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Peter Stoffan (Mike) is a senior in the Individualized Major Program in musical theatre. Previous IU credits include Charlie in Pal Joey; Daisy, Pan, and the Institute Man in Bat Boy; a chorus member in Sweet Charity; and in the ensemble in Sweeney Todd . He appeared as the Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald in the University Players production of Assassins, and last summer at the Brown County Playhouse as one of the members of Forever Plaid. Peter is from Muskegon, Michigan.
Laura Sweitzer (Lois/Pit Singer) is a sophomore majoring in Voice in the School of Music with an outside field of Theatre. Previous credits include Bielke in the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof, Young Cathy in Wuthering Heights: The Musical (The Mint Theatre, NYC), Ensemble in La Boheme (American Opera Musical Theatre Company), several skits on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Blue's Clues, multiple national commercials. She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Laura is from Pleasantville, New York.
  Amanda Tanguay (Judy/Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain) a senior majoring in theatre and drama and in the individualized major program in dance performance. Previous IU performances include Diane in Pal Joey and Dance Hall Hostess in Sweet Charity. She has also appeared in West Side Story at the Musical Arts Center and in dance concerts on the Ruth N. Halls stage for the last four years. She directed and choreographed the independent student project Little by Little this winter, and also choreographed Guys and Dolls for Rose Hulman University, as well as Bye Bye Birdie and Guys and Dolls for Bloomington South High School. Amanda is from Downers Grove, Illinois.
Lucas Thompson (Larry) is a freshman majoring in vocal performance in the School of Music . He appeared in the Chorus for Romeo and Juliet at the Musical Arts Center, and played Anas in Jesus Christ Superstar at the John Waldron Arts Center. He has received full scholarships to Ballet Austin and the American Ballet Theatre in New York. Lucas is from West Lafayette, Indiana.
Malia Tilden (Lois) is a junior majoring in theatre and international studies. She has performed twice with the Cincinnati Opera, in Nabucco and in the Tony Kushner-Maurice Sendak children's opera Brundibar . She is from Villa Hills , Kentucky .
Zach Noe Towers (Bobby) is a sophomore in the Individualized Major Program in musical theatre. Last season at IU he appeared as Waldo in Pal Joey . Credits elsewhere include Bobby in Big at STAGES St. Louis , Rat in The Nutcracker at The Fabulous Fox, and appearances in White Christmas , Miss Saigon , and Joseph… at the MUNY. Zach is from St. Louis , Missouri .
Samuel Turner (Richie) is a senior majoring in ballet in the School of Music . He has danced extensively on the stage of the Musical Arts Center , appearing in the title role in The Nutcracker , the Spaniard in Cinderella , and the Wolf in Sleeping Beauty. He also has appeared twice at the Kravis Center, dancing the Hungarian Prince in Swan Lake and the Peasant Boy in Giselle. Samuel is from West Palm Beach, Florida .
Courtney Willibrand (Pit Singer) is a sophomore in the individualized major program in musical theatre. She has appeared in the Chorus of Jesus Christ Superstar at the John Waldron Arts Center and Nora in Brighton Beach Memoirs in an independent student project. She also appeared in the Chorus of Godspell at the Muny St. Louis. Courtney is from St. Louis, Missouri.
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