SHOW SPONSORS
MEET THE CAST
CREATIVE TEAM
VOLUNTEER WITH US
STAFF & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OUR SUPPORTERS
photo by Alex Aguilar
Hare & Tortoise
Adapted from Aesop’s fable by Brendan Murray
Produced by special arrangement with Plays for New Audiences
May 29 - June 8, 2025 I Wells Fargo Playhouse
Director Steven Levine
Composer Jose J. Gonzales
Scenic Designer Tim Parati
Lighting Designer Lawrence Csernik
Costume Designer Sara Petty
FOR THIS PRODUCTION
Scenic Carpenter - Maddie Anthony
RUN TIME 35 MINUTES
Videotaping, photography and other recording of this production is prohibited.
photo by Alex Aguilar
The 2025-26 Season
On Sale Now
The 2025-26 season celebrates the power of storytelling through journeys both physical and emotional. Embark on an unforgettable adventure with this lineup. Visit ctcharlotte.org for details.
The 2024-25 Season
Today’s celebration is brought to you, in part, by these family sponsors:
Robin & Bill Branstrom
Mary Coyle
Lisa & Mark Hedrick
Elizabeth Devenney
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is supported, in part, by the City of Charlotte and its generous donors, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. Additional support is provided by the Shubert Foundation.
I
I NEW! SUMMER STAGE - Experiences for students ages 3 to 18 led by Professional Teaching ArtistsCamps are grouped by age and offered at ImaginOn, with select satellite camps offered at at CPCC’s Levine Campus (Matthews) & Gaston Day School.
Meet the Cast
CLAIRE HILTON HARE
Claire Hilton is thrilled to be returning to the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte this season for DIARY OF A WIMPY KID THE MUSICAL and HARE & TORTOISE. Favorite CTC credits include Rose (GRACE FOR PRESIDENT), Madison/Mom, original cast (THE INVISIBLE BOY) and serving as a member of the Resident Touring Company. Claire dedicates her work on this production to her students “in the middle”! Follow her at @firstclairelast on instagram.
Meet the Cast
MELISSA J MENDEZ TORTOISE
Melissa J Mendez is an actor, puppeteer and designer working in this crazy beautiful entertainment world bringing characters and environments to life since she can remember. She is excited to be making her onstage debut this season at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte as Tortoise! Some past credits include: Drama of Works’ production of LEAKEY’S LADIES (puppeteer for Bonnie/Baby Orangutan), FREAKY FRIDAY THE MUSICAL (Grandma Helene), TIGHTS (Break Fast) and THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (Fenris Ulf). Melissa would like to thank her family for their love and support, especially her wife Sarah and their pup, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. She hopes you enjoy cheering on Tortoise and Hare as they race towards the finish line!
Creative Team
STEVEN LEVINE (Director) A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Steven has enjoyed a 30-year career as an Actor, Director, Fight Choreographer, and Movement Coach. He trained at the University of South Carolina, and the Dell’ Arte International School of Physical Theatre. Steven served as Artistic Associate at the dearly departed Bathhouse Theatre in Seattle. It is there that he launched his directing career with productions of ENDGAME and THE BELLE OF AMHERST. While on the West Coast, he served as a Guest Artist at Cornish College of the Arts, where he Directed THE THREEPENNY OPERA; acted in the world premiere of LILY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE at Seattle Children’s Theatre, directed by Steven Dietz; performed the roles of Fred & Marley’s Ghost in A CIRCUS CHRISTMAS CAROL at San Diego Repertory Theatre; and created the role of the Soldier in the world premiere of Philip Glass’ opera, IN THE PENAL COLONY – a production directed by JoAnne Akalaitis at A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle. Since moving to Charlotte, Steven has directed SEMINAR for Three Bone Theatre, BAR MITZVAH BOY for J-Stage and the world premiere of PIGS IS PIGS here at CTC. As an actor, Charlotte audiences may have seen him as Mr. Banks in CTC’s MARY POPPINS, or as Oberon/Theseus in Actors Theatre of Charlotte’s outdoor production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. Steven is Director of Production at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.
JOSE J. GONZALEZ (Composer) From a very young age Jose Gonzales had a creative curiosity. It all started with the piano where he cultivated a relationship with Bach, Chopin, Beethoven and Joplin. Theater caught his attention in high school and after a summer session studying acting at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, he was inspired to get his BFA in Acting from Cornish College of the Arts. He dove head first into the Seattle theater scene- the pinnacle experience was performing as Franz Kaka in the Philip Glass opera “In the Penal Colony” at ACT. At the same time, Jose began teaching himself how to play jazz, which became a wonderful obsession that has led to a lifetime of making and sharing music on both coasts, including venues like Joe’s Pub in NYC. His jazz trio has become a Northwest favorite with their performance of Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
TIM PARATI (Scenic Designer) is an artist, actor and designer and has been the resident Scenic Artist at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for over 20 years. For CTC, he has designed many productions including ELEPHANT & PIGGGIES: WE ARE IN A PLAY!, THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, ACCIDENTAL FRIENDS, NEW KID, DANNY, KING OF THE BASEMENT, AESOP’S FABLES, and THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS and co-designed PE-
Creative Team
TITE ROUGE and LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE. He has also designed for Theatre Charlotte, Opera Carolina, BNS Productions and Queen City Quiz Show. Visit timparati.com to see his work! As an actor, Parati’s credits include recurring roles on “Army Wives” and “The Walking Dead” and in “A Time to Kill”, “Cabin Fever”, “From the Earth to the Moon”, and “John Adams”. He sends all his love and thanks to his wife and muse, Kim, for her support and inspiration and to their amazing daughter Ava Luna. Family is strength.
LAWRENCE CSERNIK (Lighting Designer) is excited to be a part of Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s production of HARE AND TORTOISE. Lawrence has recently relocated from Cincinnati, where he was a lighting designer for opera, theater, and dance over the past decade, he has designed for academic institutions, local theatres, non-profits, and dance troupes. Of all the works he’s collaborated on, he takes particular joy in designing new works and has been fortunate to present MUD NOSTALGIA and THE DIVINE VISITOR at his alma mater (Northern Kentucky University), SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS with the Cincinnati Remembers World War I Project, and GEORGE REMUS (The Carnegie Theatre of Covington). While in Cincinnati, Lawrence worked closely with Queen City Opera, a non-profit that focuses on supporting local emerging artists and high-
lighting community socio-political issues, and the Contemporary Dance Theatre of Cincinnati (CDT) that later merged in Mutual Dance Co. With CDT/Mutual Dance he fully embraced its mission to provide an artistic laboratory for the regional community, first by technical directing their Performance and Time Arts Series and then later production/lighting designing their annual Area Choreographer Festivals and other projects. Outside of his design work, Lawrence continues to work for the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte as their Head Electrician, where he enjoys working with other passionate artists.
SARA PETTY (Costume Designer) is a local of North Carolina who has been involved in theater her entire life. After earning her BFA in Theatre Technology and Design at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she started her professional career in The Berkshires of Massachusetts. Having always wanted to go back for her masters in design, she found herself returning to her home state in 2019 to earn a MFA in Costume Design. Through University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Sara was able to experience film, and find a new medium to explore with design. She is interested in the connection between people’s personality and the expression of it through clothes as a medium.”
When I grow up I want to be...
KATY SIGMON is thrilled to be returning to work at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte with her husband on this magical show! Recent Professional Credits include: Costume Design for A Sick Day For Amos McGee, and Danny, King Of The Basement with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, A Year With Frog And Toad and The Ugly Duckling (Jim Henson Award Winner) with the North Carolina Theatre for Young People as well as Dr. Seuss’ The Cat In The Hat, The Addams Family, Mary Poppins, and Tuesdays With Morrie at The Green Room. Wig & Makeup Design/Artist at Ghost Train Halloween Festival, The Carolina Pumpkin Spelltacular, and Carl White’s Life in the Carolinas. She is Co-Founder and Production Designer of SIGMON
Ready to explore. Ready to create. Ready for whatever life has in store for me. Country Day Ready.
THEATRICAL, Co-Founder of GiggleBox Circus, and full time mama to Levi and Charlie.
Call or Come Visit:
(704) 943-4530 charlottecountryday.org/Admissions
Bring this with you on your visit. We would love to see your masterpiece.
Volunteer with Us
Be a part of the wonder. Volunteers help in many areas across the Theatre from Production to Education to Development to Outreach.
Opportunities like...
• Ushering public performances and school shows
• Delivering thousands of holiday gifts to Charlotte children through The Winter Wonderland Shop
• Inventorying costumes with our Production team
• Checking in guests at Celebrate!, our annual gala
• Selling concessions during OnStage weekend with our Education team
JOIN US
Staff & Board of Directors
CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE
LEADERSHIP
Artistic Director - Adam Burke
Managing Director - Nao Tsurumaki
Administration
Human Resources Manager - Carolyn Lugo-Allred
Business Manager - Alex Doxey
Senior Accountant - Crystal Johnson
ImaginOn Partnership Coordinator - Maryann O’Keeffe
ImaginOn Administrative Support - Casey Kaufmann
Artistic & Production
Director of Production - Steven Levine
Artistic & Community Relations Fellow - Alicia Tafoya
Costume Shop Manager - Anna Klinger
Cutter/Draper - Emily Heilig
Crafts Specialist - Elizabeth Swanson
Technical Director - Andrew Gibbon
Assistant Technical Director - Shane Burgett
Resident Stage Manager - Steven James
Charge Scenic Artist - Tim Parati
Master Carpenter - John Slechta
Head Electrician - Larry Csernik
Assistant Electrican - Amber Bidwell
AV Supervisor - MIchael Russo
Properties Manager - Rebecca Xhajanka
Props Carpenter/Deck Chief - Sterling Lett
Scenic Carpenter - Maddie Anthony
Sound Assistant - Maddi Penn
Production Assistant - Katie Kinser
Education
Director of Education - EG Engle
Camps & Community Programs Manager - Mary Katherine Smith
Education Program Manager - Morgan Southard
Resident Teaching Artists - Karen Steele & Breana Venablé
Development
Institutional Giving Manager - Amanda Ayers
Special Events & Volunteer Manager - Cassandra Wiselka
Development Coordinator - Jean Edwards
Marketing and Communications
Director of Marketing & Communications - Cindy Taylor
Associate Director of Marketing - Rob Odum
Customer Experience Manager - Ashley Hughes
PR & Social Media Mananger – Alex Aguilar
Touring Performance Coordinator - Margot Parrott
School Group Sales & Performance Coordinator - Chris Stonnell
Data & IT Manager - Claire Whitworth-Helm
Audience Service Coordinator - Louise Lawson
Marketing Assistant - Aaron Bunzey
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sallie Beason - Chair
Lisa Miller - Chair-Elect
Stephanie Isham - Treasurer
Nichelle Weintraub - Secretary
Mitchell Kelling - Past Chair
Cynthia Banks
Dr. Veronica Bell
Mary Alice Boyd
Mike Burgess
Stephanie Couch
Caryn Craige
Charlitta Hatch
Leigh Hickman
Ben Hume
Tim James
Brian Litwak
Mitzi Lynch
Jennifer Madara
Scott Manning
Rosemary Morgan
Maddie Myers
Katie Ramseur
Eric Ritz
Michael Tarwater, Jr.
Tanya Taylor
Kristin Tokić
April Whitlock
Honorary Lifetime Members
Robin Branstrom
Carla DuPuy
Peter Flur
Cynthia Lank
Linda Lockman-Brooks
Advisory Board
Robin Branstrom
Tom Eiselt
Jami Farris
Peter Flur
Gina Lawrence
Our Supporters
EXECUTIVE PRODUCING PARTNERS
($50,000 and more)
Bank of America
North Carolina Arts Council
PNC Foundation
C.D. Spangler Foundation, Inc.
The Shubert Foundation
PRODUCING PARTNERS
($25,000 to $49,999)
First Horizon
DIRECTING PARTNERS
($10,000 to $24,999)
Clear Blue Insurance Group
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated
Cornwell Foundation
Paige Johnston Thomas Giving Tree
SPX Corporation
Triad Foundation
STANDING OVATION PARTNERS
($5,000 to $9,999)
Carolina Panthers
The Daniel, Edward, Cora & Strickland Foundation
The Dickson Foundation, Inc.
LendingTree
Parker Poe
Publix Super Markets Charities
South Arts
CENTER STAGE PARTNERS
($3,000 to $4,999)
Deloitte & Touche LLP
LEADING ROLE PARTNER
($1,000 to $2,999)
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Our Supporters cont’d
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS
We recognize and thank our generous donors who gave as of May 12, 2025. Our annual Donors are recognized at the most current giving level.
LEADING PLAYERS SOCIETY
($10,000 - $24,999)
Dorlisa & Peter Flur
Mitchell Kelling
Linda Reynolds
Tammy Stringer & Richard Viola
Derek & Iris Wang
($5,000 - $9,999)
Omid & Julie Ahdieh
Dr. Daniel Donner
Andrew & Stephanie Fulford
Lise Hain
David Holland
Ben and Christy Hume
Bruce & Anita LaRowe
Brian Litwak
Jennifer & Eric Madara
Ann & Scott Manning
Arrington Mixon
Rosemary Morgan & Fielding Huseth
Brian & Laura Murdock
Sarah Pollock
Sandy & Greg Vlahos
April & Thomas Whitlock
($3,000 - $4,999)
Mike & Katie Burgess
Herb & Gina Clegg
Stephanie Couch
Rob & Caryn Craige
Davant Family Charitable Trust
David & Marti Head
Pat Burgess & Joan Martin
Ken & Lisa Miller
Maddie & Brian Myers
Stephen & Stephanie Sorenson
Lauren & William Voorhees
Nichelle & Sasha Weintraub
Judith & Matthew Whelan
($1,000 - $2,999)
Stephen Allred & Carolyn Lugo-Allred
Cynthia Banks
Sallie & Gary Beason
Veronica Bell
Robin & Bill Branstrom
Susan & Richard Buckley
Craig & Mary Bunzey
Julie & Stoke Caldwell
Mary Coyle
Amy & Alfred Dawson
Elizabeth Devenney
Tom & Julie Eiselt
Dr. Gloria Ann Evans
Christi Farr
Beth & Gaston Gage
Pam and Bill Giono
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Gonzalez
Watts & Carol Hamrick
Charlitta Hatch
Lisa & Mark Hedrick
Scott & Claire Helm
Leigh Hickman
Ryan & Danielle Hutcheson
Stepanie Isham
Timothy James
Ashley & Matthew Joseph
Cole Kissam in memory of Talia Petoia
Andrew Kott
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald W. Lamberth
Craig & Mitzi Lynch
Michael & Leslie Marsicano
Seah & Robert McCammon
Valecia McDowell
Gary Monie
Mallory Navin & Joe Shreve
Anna & Tom Nelson
John & Suzy Nurkin
Sarah Peck
Katie Ramseur
Allison Rauch
Eric Ritz
Jay Thomas
Our Supporters cont’d
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS
We recognize and thank our generous donors who gave as of May 12, 2025. Our annual donors are recognized at the most current giving level.
Kristin Tokic
Patrick & Elizabeth Vaughn
Rosa Maria Vega
Jodi Warner
John & Carrie Woolley
SUPPORTING PLAYERS SOCIETY
($500 - $999)
Sylvia Bartee
Susan Butler-Staub
Dallas & Kathy Craven
Brian & Jean Edwards
John & Mara Gose
Brad & Karen Harris
Steve & Mary Hunting
Laurie Johnston
Soli Kennerly
Caroline Knight
Mrs. Catherine Lecompte
Louis Leone
Lynn Manock
Saumya Mehta
Amy Merino
Daniel Merlin
Ron & Janet Meyer
Elizabeth Murphy
Eileen Manlove O’Brien
Michael and Denise Shields
Nedra Tawwab
Cindy & Rob Taylor
Tanya Taylor
Ina Whitley-DeRochi
