PRODUCTION STAFF

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 is 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 and Head of Acting/Directing at Indiana University, has directed and/or choreographed over 100 productions for regional and university theatres, including IU productions of Bat Boy; Sweet Charity; Jacques Brel is Alive and Well; Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street; and Parade. Recognized for his teaching, George was awarded the Friedrich Herman Lieber Award for Distinguished Teaching and is a member of the honorary Faculty Colloquium of Excellence in teaching. At IU George teaches musical theatre and stage movement and mentors numerous IMP Musical Theatre majors.

James Kallembach (Musical Director) is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Music, focusing on Choral Conducting, at Indiana University. James has already received his B.A. and M.A. from Indiana University. He has served as Assistant Conductor of the Richmond Symphony Chorus, Assistant Choral Director at Earlham College, and is Artistic Director of the City Beautiful Voices. His Four Songs on Poems of E.E. Cummings premiered in Boston as a finalist for ALEA's international competition. He was Musical Director for IU's productions of Sweet Charity and Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Dathan Powell (Scenic Designer) is a second-year M.F.A. Scenic Design student who did his undergraduate work at Illinois Wesleyan University. At IU Dathan has been scenic designer for Bat Boy, The Laramie Project, and The Alien from Cincinatti, as well as Props Master for Jacques Brel is Alive and Well at IU. Elsewhere, he has scenic designed The New Jersey Book of the Dead at Bloomington Playwrights' Project and Black Comedy, Christopher Durang's Titanic, and Glory in the Flower at IWU. He is from Bloomington, IL.

CC Conn (Lighting Designer) is a third year M.F.A. lighting design student who received her training at Ball State University. At IU she served as Lighting Designer for Dracula, Last Days of the High Flier, Betty's Summer Vacation, Playing the Bones; assistant lighting designer for Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and master electrician for A Moon for the Misbegotten and This is Our Youth (IU); Lighting Designer for A Chorus Line and Fences (Ball State University); Lighting design for Honeywell Foundation in Wabash, Indiana; OutProud Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, where she designed a production of The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me. Pal Joey is CC's M.F.A. thesis production. She is from Pendleton, IN.

Dixon Reynolds (Costume Designer) is a third-year M.F.A student in Costume Design. He received his B.F.A in Costume Design from the North Carolina School of the Arts. For IU, he has designed costumes for The Cherry Orchard, Playing the Bones, and Romeo and Juliet. Dixon has also designed costumes for Steel Magnolias and Picasso at the Lapin Agile for the Brown County Playhouse. He has also worked for Playmakers Repertory Company, Florida Repertory Theatre, Wake Forest University, the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Winston-Salem Journal, Roanoke Festival Park, Doomsday Man Production, and CBS Productions. He was the Costume Coordinator for Ragtime with the Music Theatre of Wichita, designer for TCCP for the American Dance Festival, and designer for Crumbs from the Table of Joy at Triad Stage. Dixon comes to IU from Candor, NC.

Taylor E. James (Stage Manager) is a senior majoring in Theatre and Drama. She has previously stage managed Dracula and The Alien from Cincinatti and assistant stage managed Trelawny of the Wells for the Department of Theatre and Drama. At the Brown County Playhouse she was Stage Manager for Caught in the Net, The Foreigner, Steel Magnolias, Love Letters and Angel Street , as well as Assistant Stage Manager for Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Previously this season she appeared onstage as Mildred in Happy Birthday, Wanda June and last year she played the role of Dr. Frank-n-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show with University Players. Taylor is from Grand Rapids, MI.

Allison Ackmann (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore majoring in Theatre and Drama. She worked last semester as a member of the wardrobe run crew for Bat Boy. Allison is from Indianapolis, IN.

Curt Shearer (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior majoring in General Studies. This is his first time working with the Department of Theatre and Drama. He is from Channahon, IL.

Matt Harding, (Vocal Coach) is a Visiting Professor ( Voice and Speech ) (Advanced Certificate in Voice Studies, Central School of Speech and Drama, 1999; M.A. Northwestern University, 2000; BFA, Acting, Wright State University, 1998.) Matt returns for his third non-consecutive term as lecturer of voice and speech at IU, teaching graduate and undergraduate students and coaching all departmental productions. Some IU credits include: Sweeney Todd , A Streetcar Named Desire, Lysistrata, A Moon for the Misbegotten and Death of a Salesman. Matt spends half of his time in Chicago where he works as a voice, speech and dialect coach through his business Vocal Enhancement Instruction (V.E.I.). Selected Chicago credits include: Heartbreak House (Goodman Theatre), Hard Times (Lookingglass - Jeff), The Invention of Love (Court Theatre - After Dark Award), Guys & Dolls (Court), Blue/Orange (Northlight), The State of Mississippi and the Face of Emmett Till; Broadway Bound (Pegasus Players),  Noises Off! (Metropolis), and Fuddy Meers (Strawdog). Other credits include:  Four Dogs and a Bone (Etc. Theatre Club, London; Crispin Bonham-Carter, dir.), Arcadia (IRT; Peter Amster,dir.), The Secret Garden (IU Opera Theatre), Maleficia (BPP) and numerous productions at the Brown County Playhouse including, My Three Angels and Picasso at the Lapin Agile in which he played The Visitor. Some local acting credits include: The Adventures of Mog & Lor (BPP), Last Train to Nibroc (BAAC), The Howie Lee in Howie the Rookie  (Keep Out of Reach of Children at the BPP) and Carlson in the Human Race Theatre Company's Production Of Mice and Men in Dayton, OH. Matt arranged violence for Detective Story (Strawdog) and Richard III ( Sinclair College ) and is a member of SAG, AFTRA, VASTA, the SAFD. He will return this summer for his third term as the Director of the Midsummer Theatre Program.

Tom Shafer (Dramaturg) Training: M.A., Indiana University. Theatre: As the staff dramaturg for the Department of Theatre and Drama, Tom negotiates rights for plays and musicals, researches production histories and playwrights, and provides background and criticism that helps to formulate the production. He is a member of the University Caucus of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas.

CAST

John R. Armstrong (Ludlow Lowell) is a first year M.F.A. acting student, having received his B.A. from Indiana University. At IU he has appeared as Harold Ryan in Happy Birthday, Wanda June, Seward in Dracula, Leo Frank in Parade, the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, and the Narrator/Mysterious Man in Into the Woods. Elsewhere John has played Wickersham Brother/Understudy for the Cat in the Hat in the national tour of Seussical the Musical, David in Company for Stagedoor Theatre in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Cinderella's Prince/Wolf in Into the Woods with Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre. He is from Indianapolis, IN.

Allison Batty (Vera Simpson) is a third-year M.F.A. in Acting, and Vera Simpson is her thesis role. She received her B.M. from Pacific University and is a graduate of Portland Actors Conservatory. At IU, Allison has appeared as Varya in The Cherry Orchard, Catherine in Proof, Betty in Betty's Summer Vacation, Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, and Rose Trelawny in Trelawny of the Wells. In addition, she has appeared in Caught in the Net, Steel Magnolia s, Angel Street, My Three Angels and The Good Doctor at the Brown County Playhouse. Some of her favorite professional credits include Daphne Stillington in Present Laughter and Reporter No. 2 in the West Coast premier of Never the Sinner for Artists Repertory Theatre, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet for the Portland Actors Ensemble, Lady Windermere in Lady Windermere's Fan for Cygnet Productions, Johanna in Sweeney Todd (for which she was nominated for an Oregon Theatrical Awards Society best supporting actress award) and Brooke/Vicki in Noises Off (for which she won an OTAS best actress award) at the Lakewood Theatre Company. Allison is a founding member of Quintessence Language and Imagination Theatre in Portland, Oregon. Allison has also appeared as Sarah in the award-winning independent film All We Know of Heaven, for which she won a best actress award from NYU First Run Film Festival. She originally hails from Portland, OR.

Jesse Steven Bernath (Jason) is a senior majoring in Vocal Performance and Theatre. Past roles include Rick Taylor in Bat Boy and Det. Starnes in Parade at IU, Leon Czolgosz in Assassins and Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, Dream Tony in West Side Story at the MAC. Outside of Bloomington he played Fruma Bottom in Fiddler on the Roof and the Dog Catcher in Annie at the MUNY in St. Louis. Jesse is from Chesterfield, MO.

Vanessa Ballam Brenchley (Linda) is a second-year M.F.A. in Acting. She received her B.A. from Utah State University. Vanessa appeared last semester as Lyubov Ranevskaya in The Cherry Orchard and has appeared in the ensembles of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and The Laramie Project at IU. Vanessa's other roles include Lady Mortimer in Henry IV Part 1 at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Peg in Peg O'My Heart and Tranio in Taming of the Shrew for the Old Lyric Repertory, Anna in King and I for the Eccles Theatre, and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice and Governess in The Turn of the Screw for the Morgan Theatre. She was an NSAL Drama winner in 2004, and was a featured artist in IU's 2005 Faculy Dance Recital. Vanessa comes to Indiana from Logan, UT.

Erin Daugherty (Claire) a sophomore in the Individualized Major Program in Musical Theatre. At Indiana she has played Shelley in Bat Boy, a Dance Hall Hostess in Sweet Charity, and a Hot Box Girl in Guys & Dolls at the Buskirk-Chumley. Elsewhere, she has played Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at American Cabaret, Ginger/Judy in Ruthless at The Vanity, and Serena in Fame at Footlite Musicals. She is from Carmel, IN.

Allison Rose Davis (Tilda) is a senior majoring in Journalism. Previously at IU she appeared in the Chorus for Sweet Charity . Elsewhere she played the role of Babette in Beauty and the Beast for Wagon Wheel Theatre. She is from Warsaw, IN.

Rick Desloge (Rick) is a sophomore in the Individualized Major Program in Musical Theatre. Last semester he appeared as Ron in Bat Boy. Other roles since coming to Indiana include Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Show at the Rose-Firebay Theatre, a Crapshooter in Guys and Dolls at the Buskirk-Chumley, and a member of the Opera Chorus for La Boheme at the MAC. He performed with the Barn Theatre of August, MI, this past summer, appearing in Aida , Beauty and the Beast and Guys & Dolls. In non-musical work he appeared as the County Attorney in an independent student production of Trifles. Rick is from St. Louis, MO.

Colin Donnel (Joey Evans) is a senior majoring in the Independent Major Program of Musical Theatre. His roles at IU include Lopakhin in The Cherry Orchard, Daddy/Charlie/Vidal in Sweet Charity, Buck in Betty's Summer Vacation, Anthony in Sweeney Todd and Brit Craig in Parade. Colin has also appeared as Warren Sheffield in Meet Me in St. Louis for MUNY, and as Courier in 1776 at the Stages St. Louis. He is the recipient of Betty Aidman Spoon River Scholarship and winner of NSAL Musical Theatre Chapter 2004. Colin comes from St. Louis, MO.

Rebecca Faulkenberry (Gladys Bumps) is a sophomore majoring in Theatre and Drama. Previously at IU she appeared as Maggie in Bat Boy and Nickie in Sweet Charity . Roles elsewhere include Roxie in Chicago and Samantha Lourdes in High Society, both at Choate Rosemary Hall. She is from Bermuda.

Mallorie Fletcher (The Kid) is a junior majoring in Voice with an outside field of Business. At IU she has played Lorraine in Bat Boy, Helene in Sweet Charity, and was a Hot Box Girl in Guys & Dolls for the IU Union Board. She performed for the Rhysburger Summer Repertory, playing the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods and Rosalind in Moon over Buffalo. She is from Columbia, MO.

Josh Gaboian (Mike Spears) is a senior majoring in Political Science and Theatre and Drama. At Indiana he has played the Herdsman in Bacchai, Dr. Parker in Bat Boy, Kevin in Last Days of the High Flier , Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet , Steve in A Streetcar Named Desire, Kinesias in Lysistrata, and Gadd in Trelawny of the Wells, as well as Lucius in Titus Andronicus. He is from Merrillville, IN.

Margot Gendreau (Janet/Valerie) is a sophomore majoring in the Individualized Major Program in Musical Theatre and History. She has twice appeared on the stage of the Ruth N. Halls, as Rosie in Sweet Charity and as a dancer in the Joining Forces dance concert. Elsewhere she appeared as Cassie in A Chorus Line at Scarsdale Summer Music Theatre, Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream at New Rochelle Theatre Works, and the title role in the ballet Cinderella at the Westchester Theatre of Dance. Margot is from New Rochelle, NY.

Codey Girten (Ernest/Ensemble) is a sophomore majoring in Theatre and Drama. Previously at Indiana he appeared as Paul Ryan in Happy Birthday, Wanda June, Voice One in Betty's Summer Vacation, and Daddy's Assistant in Sweet Charity. He has also played Iachimo in an independent production of Cymbeline. He is the recipient of a faculty memorial scholarship for 2004. Codey is from Benton, IL.

Amy Linden (Melba Snyder) is a junior majoring in Voice and Theatre. At Indiana she has appeared as Meredith Parker in Bat Boy, in the ensembles of Sweet Charity and Sweeney Todd , and as Professor Slosh in The Alien from Cincinatti . She has also appeared in the Chorus of La Boheme at MAC. Elsewhere, she has appeared in Chess at Buskirk-Chumley and in Cabaret Our Way at the John Waldron Arts Center . She is a member of Singing Hoosiers. Amy is from Cleveland , OH

Zander Meisner (Multiple Characters) is a junior majoring in Voice and Theatre and Drama. At IU he appeared as an Ensemble member in Sweet Charity . He has performed several times on the stage of the Buskirk-Chumley, appearing in Assassins, Man of La Mancha, Guys and Dolls, Chess, and H.M.S. Pinafore. He has also appeared in West Side Story (IU Opera Theatre); Guys and Dolls, Bat Boy, and Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Barn Theatre); Big River (Apple Tree Theatre), Over the Tavern (Northlight Theatre); and The Rocky Horror Show (Stage Two Theatre). Zander is from Deerfield, IL.

Christopher B. Nachtrab (Victor) is a junior majoring in Ballet. He has performed regularly with the Ballet Theatre on the stage of the Musical Arts Center, appearing in Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Viva Vivaldi! and Glass Works, Sleeping Beauty, and Serenade. In the summer of 2004 he performed with both the Chautauqua Ballet Company and the Chautauqua Opera Company. He is from Selden, NY.

John Olson (Robbie) is a junior majoring in English. For the Theatre and Drama Department he has appeared in both Sweet Charity and The Cherry Orchard . Most recently he played the role of John Wilkes Booth in the University Players production of Assassins . Other roles include Richard in Fuddy Meers (John Waldron Arts Center ), Big Deal in West Side Story (IU Opera), Dr. Simm in Wild Wood Park (University Players), and Ensemble in Godspell (Hedback Theatre). John is from Indianapolis, IN.

Quinto Ott (Louis/Vera's Party/Workman/Scholtz) is a first-year student majoring in Voice and Theatre and Drama. This year he appeared in the chorus for Dialogues of the Carmelites at the Musical Arts Center. He is from Tucson, AZ.

Gerold Schroeder (Bobby) is a junior majoring in Biology. He recently performed in the Chorus for La Boheme at the Musical Arts Center. A member of Singing Hoosiers, Gerold is from Indianapolis, IN.

Peter Stoffan (Charlie) is a junior in the Individualized Major Program in Musical Theatre. At IU he has been seen as Pan and Daisy in Bat Boy, in the ensemble for Sweet Charity and Sweeney Todd, and appeared as Benny Southstreet in Guys & Dolls at the Buskirk-Chumley. Elsewhere, he has appeared as an ensemble member in Chicago at the Cherry County Playhouse, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance at the Reeths Poffer Theatre, and as Linus in Snoopy at Muskegon Community College. Peter is from Muskegon, MI.

Amanda Tanguay (Diane) is a junior majoring in Theatre and Drama and in the Individualized Major Program in Dance Performance. She has twice before performed in the Ruth N. Halls Theatre, as a member of the Women's Chorus in Sweet Charity and as a dancer in Joining Forces. She has also appeared as Teresita in West Side Story at the Musical Arts Center and performed in An Evening of Contemporary Dance at the Buskirk-Chumley. Amanda is from Downers Grove, IL.

Zach Noe Towers (Waldo) is a first-year student majoring in Broadcast Journalism. This is his first appearance on the IIU stage. Elsewhere he has appeared as Brandon in Big: The Musical at Stages St. Louis and appeared in A Chorus Line, Miss Saigon, White Christmas and The Sound of Music at the MUNY. He is from St. Louis, MO.

Ashley Allison Waldman (Terry/Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain) is a senior majoring in Theatre and Drama. She has worked extensively at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, serving as the director and choreographer for Man of La Mancha , choreographer and assistant director for Assassins, and choreographer for Guys and Dolls. She has also appeared there in the ensembles for Chess and How to Succeed in Business . She appeared as the Hostess Girl in last season's Sweet Charity on the stage of the Ruth N. Halls Theatre. Other favorite roles include Succubus in Vampire Lesbians of Sodom at the Theatre Annex and Jennie in Twisted in a Sense: Decisions and Revisions at the Bloomington Playwrights Project. She is from Calabasas, CA.

• Pre-show Lecture
• Press Release
• Pal Joey Home
• Department Home Page