Puffs - Count Basie Center Academy of the Arts - Spring 2022

Count Basie Center Academy of the Arts P RO D U C TI O N O F

Puffs is not authorized, sanctioned, licensed or endorsed by J.K Rowling, Warner Bros. or any person or company associated with the Harry Potter books, films or play.

“Puffs (One Act for Young Wizards)” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

WHO’S A PUFF NARRATOR Shea Preston WAYNE HOPKINS Gianna Giglio MEGAN JONES Alyssa Kiselev OLIVER RIVERS Max Oster ERNIE MAC & others Olivia Conti HANNAH & others Ainsley Lang SUSIE BONES & others Gabby Constanza J. FINCH FLETCHLEY & others Korbyn Selby LEANNE & others Ella Swift SALLY PERKS & others Zoe Kenney CEDRIC & others Addy O’Mara

PRODUCTION STAFF Producer

Jessica O’Brien

Directors

Anthony Greco & Ariana Centamore

Lighting Design

Kyle Santopadre & Anthony Greco

Sound Design

Charlie Christensen

Set Construction & Painting

Justin Odon

Wand Holster Design

Joanne Penrose

Sound Effect Operator & Playbill Design Julia Catuogno

PRODUCTION INTERNS Stage Management:

Julia Catuogno

Production Interns: Paige Singer & Carl Smith Backstage Crew & Prop Managers: Jenna Barry, Benjamin Neller, Paige Singer, & Carl Smith

SPECIAL THANKS Ellen Phillips, Trinity Hall, Joanne Penrose, Phoenix Productions, Andrew Musser, Kyle Santopadre, Charlie Christensen, Mike Jacoby, the Count Basie technical crew, Chris Lomazzo, Samantha Giustiniani, the Education Department, our fabulous production interns, and, of course, the parents for their continued support!

TO THE PUFFS We cannot begin to express how proud we are of you all! This is truly a challenging, demanding ensemble show and the eleven of you made the perfect family of Puffs to bring it to life! We hope you have enjoyed every minute, as much as we had in creating this play with you!

Remember what the greatest magic in life is and you can achieve anything you set your minds to.

We are so proud! Third or nothing!!!

With all our love, Coach Anthony, Miss Jess, Miss Ariana, and our production Interns

SHEA PRESTON (Narrator) is thrilled to be performing in another show at the Count Basie Academy of the Arts! Her previous roles include A Seussified Christmas Carol (Mrs. Cratchit) Decision Height, The Addams Family, Sister Act, Jr Willy Wonka, Jr (Mrs. Bucket) and Moana, Jr. She would like to thank everyone for another amazing experience! “Break a leg everyone!”

GIANNA GIGLIO (Wayne Hopkins) is a junior at Red Bank Regional High School and is so excited to be doing another fantastic show with the Basie Academy. She has been in many of the other productions at the Basie such as Frozen (Sven), Radium Girls (Mrs. Fryer), Moana (Gramma Tala), A Seussified Christmas Carol (Bob Cratchit) and so many more. She was also in Moby Dick: Rehearsed at her high school.

She would like to give a huge thank you to the amazing directors and the whole cast for another awesome show!

Break-aleg :)

ALYSSA KISELEV (Megan Jones) is a Senior at Marlboro High School, and is thrilled to be part of another production with the Basie Academy of the Arts. Some of her favorite productions include Decision Height (Norma Jean), Godspell (Judas), James and the Giant Peach (Ladahlord), Steel Magnolias (M'Lynn), 12 Angry Men (Juror 3), and The Little Mermaid (Scuttle). She would like to thank the entire cast and crew for putting on a wonderful production and making this experience so magical!

MAX OSTER (Oliver Rivers) is thrilled to be back on stage at the Basie Academy for the Arts!

His previous credits at the Basie include You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Linus), and Annie (Rooster). Other credits include Camp, A New Musical (Baxter) which is slated to open Off-Broadway on Theatre Row this Summer, The Music Man (Harold Hill), Once on This Island (Agwe), and Willy Wonka (Mike Teavee). He would like to thank Coach Anthony, Miss Jessica, and Miss Ariana for this incredible opportunity!

OLIVIA CONTI (Ernie Mac, Very tall Man, Seamus, Certain Potions teacher, Professor Turban, Ghost history teacher, Professor Locky, Mr. Nick, Sal, Second headmaster, Real Mr. Moody) is a sophomore at Marlboro High School and thrilled to be in another incredible show at the Basie Academy of the Arts! Many roles include: The Addams Family (Wednesday Addams), Honk!

(Ugly), Frozen, Jr. (Elsa), Decision Height (Virginia Hascall), Elf, Jr. (Buddy), Godspell (Bless the Lord), Steel Magnolias (Annelle), and more. She would like to thank the entire cast for their hard work and dedication to this show and also give a very special thanks to Coach Anthony, Miss Ariana, and Miss Jessica for making this production of Puffs such a magical experience!

AINSLEY LANG (Hannah, First Headmaster, Professor McG, Professor Sprouty, Xavia Jones, Professor Lanny, Runes Teacher, Ms. Babble)

is thrilled to be performing with the Basie Academy of the Arts once again! She is a senior at Communications High School where she produced a production of Peter and the Starcatcher.

Some of her past productions with the Count Basie include: A Seussified Christmas Carol (Scrooge), James and the Giant Peach (Spiker), Sister Act (Mary Robert), and so much more!

Ainsley would like to thank the production crew for their endless dedication. Enjoy the laughs and magic at Hogwarts!

GABBY CONSTANZA (Susie Bones, Harry, Colin, Hermeoone #2, Ric Gryff, Myrtle) is very grateful for the chance to be a part of this production! Most recently she has played roles such as Babe in Crimes of the Heart at Howell High School. She has also portrayed roles such as Grace Fryer in Radium Girls at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, and Narrator in the Mini Misfits Podcast. Gabby worked as the video editor for Two River Theater Tiny Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet.

She will appear in Studio 7 Productions upcoming short film Clift.

She is a Level 3 Actor in the FPAC program. She wishes her cast the best of luck and hopes they know how incredible it was to work with them.

KORBYN SELBY (J. Finch Fletchley, Uncle Dave, Goyle, A Fat Friar, Clumsy LongBottom, Hermeoone #3, Viktor, Mr. Bagman, Zach Smith)

is a sophomore at Matawan Regional High School. This is his second time performing with the Basie Academy of Arts, he performed A Seussified Christmas Carol (Belle's Husband) not that long ago. His two other performances were Guys and Dolls (Drunk) and a mashup of Jekyll and Hyde, Little Shop of Horrors, Queen, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

ELLA SWIFT (Leanne, Ginny, Helga, Frenchy) A student at middletown high school south is happy to be back in action with the count basie. She has been part of many performing theater programs. These include: Alice in wonderland (Narrator), Seussified Christmas Carol ( Fred's wife ) and more! She would be happy to take the opportunity to do another show to make more memories to remember

ZOE KENNEY (Sally Perks, Hermeoone, Blondo, Malfoy, Rowena, Rita Scooter, Bippy) is a sophomore at Middletown High School South, and is excited to be back at the Count Basie! She has performed in: Addams Family, James and the Giant Peach, and many more.

She would like to thank the cast and crew for another amazing production. "Break a leg everyone!"

ADDY O’MARA (Cedric, Mr. Voldy) is super excited to be performing in puffs with the Basie Academy for the Arts! She has performed in multiple of our productions including: Seussified Christmas Carol (Jake Marley), Addams Family (Lurch), Sister Act (Eddie Souther), Wrinkle in Time calvin, Moana, Elf, and many more!

PRODUCTION INTERNS

JULIA CATUOGNO (Stage Management, Sound Effect Operator) is a sophomore at Marlboro High School and is ecstatic to be apart of another incredible show with the Basie Academy of the Arts! She has been a part of several productions including: Godspell, Decision Height, Elf, and A Seussified Christmas Carol. She would like to thank Anthony Greco, the cast and crew for another amazing show! "Break-a-leg everyone!”

PAIGE SIGNER (Company Management, Props Manager/Crew) is a senior at Holmdel High School and is very excited to be interning for Puffs! She previously interned for Willy Wonka Jr. Kids. Paige has performed in numerous Count Basie shows, such as Moana Jr. (Maui) and Mary Poppins Jr. (Miss Andrew). She wishes the cast and crew to break-a-leg!

CARL SMITH (Company Management, Props Manager/Crew) is a sophomore at Communications High School. He is over the moon to be returning to the Basie Academy’s intern program! He would like to thank all of the teaching artists for their constant support!

BENJAMIN NELLER (Props Manager/Crew) is a sophomore at Brick Memorial High School and is very excited to be interning again at the Basie! He has interned for various other shows including: Wrinkle in Time, Radium Girls, Moana Jr, Willy Wonka Jr, Sister Act Jr, James and the Giant Peach Jr, and The Addams Family.

He would like to wish the rest of the cast good luck and hopes the audience enjoys the show!

JENNA BARRY (Props Manager/Crew) is a sophomore at Brick Memorial High School and this is the first time she’s interned at the Basie! She has worked in tech in The Great Gatsby, Little Women, and Beauty and the Beast Jr. She also stage managed for Radium Girls. She would like to wish everyone break-a-leg!

COMING IN TWO WEEKS!

We are so excited to see you perform on stage again Max! Break a leg! Love Mom

AUDITION SLOTS AVAILABLE NOW!!!