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john jen Music By
Lyrics By
Andrew Lippa Tom Greenwald Book By
Tom Greenwald & Andrew Lippa
John & Jen is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com
Over the last two decades, our country has grown more and more divided. The effects have been taken out on families, politics, social class, and the culture at large. No matter your affiliation, we all have the topics we want to avoid over Thanksgiving dinner. This season at The Studio we have chosen four stories that search for unity in a nation fighting for common ground. The titles we chose for this upcoming season convey important relationships hurt and broken by divisive opinions of loved ones. Through listening, can we reach across the divide? Only then can we truly begin to manifest the American Dream. In the words of George H. W. Bush, "In crucial things, unity. In important things, diversity. In all things, generosity." Presenting season four at The Studio Theatre™: We, the people, reach across the divide. —Whitney Morse, Artistic Director
JOHN AND JEN
Music by ANDREW LIPPA
Lyrics by TOM GREENWALD Book by TOM GREENWALD & ANDREW LIPPA Originally Produced by Goodspeed Opera House Michael P. Price, Executive Producer
Originally Produced in New York City by The Lamb's Theatre Company, Ltd. Carolyn Rossi Copeland, Production Director is presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 423 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019, Tel.: (212) 541-4684, Fax: (212) 397-4684, www.MTIShows.com The videotaping or other video or studio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
ABOUT THE STUDIO THEATRE™: Tierra del Sol was formerly a Country Club with performances as a backdrop to the outstanding food and impeccable golf course views. It has since transitioned, bringing the performances to the forefront by evolving into a new Black Box Theatre. The Studio Theatre™ is now a flexible theatre with 120 seats and options for Thrust, Round, or Proscenium style seating. The Studio Theatre at Tierra del Sol's season runs from late September through April each year with four productions running approximately 130 total performances. The Studio Theatre is an extension of The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center, located in The Spanish Springs Town Square®, in The Villages® community. The Sharon is primarily a touring house hosting a variety of artistic disciplines ranging from concerts and comedians to dance, musicals, and operas. The Sharon seats just over 1,000 guests in a multi-level theater offering state of the art audio, visual, and theatrical rigging systems to create an entertainment experience second to none. The Studio Theatre is led by Producer Jason Goedken and Artistic Director Whitney Morse. Resident Director, Nathaniel Niemi; Resident Musical Director, Gary Powell; Scenic Designer, Kenneth Constant; Lighting Designer, David Krupla; Sound Designer, Nick Erickson; Production Manager, Danielle Paccione; Technical Director, Clayton Becker; Stage Manager, Grace Zottig and House Manager, Grace Petty. #TheStudioTheatreTDS #John&Jen
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Producer Jason Goedken Artistic Director Whitney Morse Director Jeremy Seghers
Music Director Gary Powell
Set Designer Kenneth Constant
Costume Designer Alison Reid
Lighting Designer Lindsey Young
Sound/AV Designer Nick Erickson
Asst. Scenic Designer Peyton Fuchs
Production Manager Danielle Paccione
Technical Director Clayton Becker
Lighting Director David Krupla
Stage Manager Grace Zottig
Asst. Stage Manager Stephanie Horn
Company Manager Autumn Encarnacion
House Manager Grace Petty
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JOHN AND JEN
CRAIG SMITH (John) is honored to make his Florida debut at The Studio Theatre with John and Jen. Craig is a South Carolina native and a graduate of the SC School of the Arts at Anderson University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Regional Credits: Mamma Mia!, Oliver!, It’s a Wonderful Life, Catch Me if You Can, Beauty and the Beast. Film/TV: “The Watch”, “The Philosopher”, “The Rumor”. Love to friends, family, & Christopher! @actcraigsmith
Honor the old, but live for the new. From secret handshakes to hidden family bonds, this two-person musical presents the question: how can two siblings brought up in the same household become such contrasting adults? John and Jen are always there for each other, but as the country becomes divided over the war in Vietnam, so does the family, and battle lines are drawn between the onceclose siblings. From creators Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald, John & Jen is a two person original musical that honors brothers and sisters, as well as parents and children. It is set against the background of a changing America between 1950 and 1990.
KELLY MORRIS ROWAN* (Jen) This production marks Kelly’s debut at The Studio Theatre! Central Florida credits: Heartbreak House, It was a Very Good Year, God and Stephen Hawking (Mad Cow Theatre); Showtune, Gigolo (Winter Park Playhouse); Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (CFC Arts). Favorite regional roles: Polly in Crazy for You (Arundel Barn Playhouse), Betty in White Christmas (Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre), and Queen Elizabeth at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. She holds a BFA - Music Theatre (Shenandoah University) and has studied at T. Schreiber Studios (NYC) and Class Act Studios (Orlando). Proud Actors’ Equity member. She’s dedicating this one to her two brothers, Art and Mike, as well as her husband Arthur, who always encourage her to ‘Think Big.’ www.kellymorrisrowan.com
STARRING: CRAIG SMITH as John
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KELLY MORRIS ROWAN as Jen
SONG LIST Act I Prologue........................................................................................................ John and Jen Welcome to the World.................................................................................................... Jen Christmas 1................................................................................................... John and Jen Think Big...................................................................................................... John and Jen Dear God...................................................................................................... John and Jen Hold Down the Fort...................................................................................... John and Jen Timeline....................................................................................................... John and Jen It Took Me a While..................................................................................................... John Transition + Reunion..................................................................................... John and Jen Out of My Sight............................................................................................ John and Jen Run and Hide............................................................................................... John and Jen Epilogue........................................................................................................ John and Jen Act II Old Clothes.................................................................................................................. Jen Christmas 2................................................................................................... John and Jen Little League................................................................................................. John and Jen Just Like You............................................................................................................... .Jen Bye Room................................................................................................................... John Talk Show..................................................................................................... John and Jen Smile of Your Dreams.................................................................................................... Jen It Took Me a While........................................................................................ John and Jen Graduation................................................................................................... John and Jen The Road Ends Here..................................................................................................... Jen That Was My Way......................................................................................................... Jen Every Goodbye is Hello................................................................................... John and Jen
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DAVID PAUL ROWAN (U/S John) is excited to be back with The Studio Theatre for John and Jen. David attended the University of North Florida where he received his Bachelors of Music Education concentrating in violin and voice. He served as the choir and theatre director for The Villages High School for three years. David has had the opportunity of performing for Star Wars in Concert with the Royal Philharmonic and sang on stage with Patti Lupone at The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. Previous roles include Jonah in Bad Jews, David in Company, Lt. Cable in South Pacific, Dr. Neville in Craven in The Secret Garden, Marty in It Shoulda Been You and Man 2 in Now. Here. This. David would like to thank his family and friends for their unwavering support. IG - @davidpaulrowan
*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers, appearing under a special agreement with Actors' Equity Association.
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MONICA TITUS (U/S Jen) is an Orlando based actress most recently seen at The Studio Theatre in It Shoulda Been You and Company. Other local credits include Honky Tonk Angels, and Some Enchanted Evening (Winter Park Playhouse), A Christmas Story the Musical, James and the Giant Peach, and Lend Me a Tenor (Athens Theatre), Peter Pan the Musical (Garden Theatre), Death of a Salesman, and Sunday in the Park with George (Mad Cow). Regionally she performed in Pippin (Thin Air Theatre Company) and in Hillbilly Hotspot (Great Plains Theatre). She also premiered her original show, Black Crow Cabaret at the 2018 Orlando Fringe Theatre Festival. A proud graduate of Mercer University, she would like to thank her loved ones for their support! www.MonicaTitus.com
JERRY BRUNO (Percussion) has been playing drums and performing in bands since grade school. His first record deal with Buddha Records was in the 70's and he went on to write for ABBA's publishing arm, Sweden Music. Jerry's band, The Jerry Bruno Orchestra played for President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, for the presidential campaign of Senator Bob Dole, and for Princess Diana. Jerry was music director for world-famous "St. James' Club" on Sunset Blvd, and he produced one season of the daily talk show "Live With David Lynch" and served as music director and band leader for the show. He also owned and operated "Jerry Bruno Productions", a live music production company in Ohio. As a drummer, Jerry has performed with Tony Bennett, Lou Rawls, Jim Nabors and Shirley McClain, and Hal Holbrook. Jerry performs locally with The Orion Trio and The Valerie Gillespie Ensemble.
JEREMY SEGHERS (Director) is an independent producer and director known for staging immersive theatre in site-specific environments. These credits include: A Clockwork Orange (DRIP), Equus (The Acre Orlando), Dracula (Carmine Boutique), This Is Our Youth (Macbeth Studio), and Saint Joan (The Fred Stone Theatre). Other Orlando credits: Mysterious Skin (Orlando Fringe), A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney (Orlando Shakespeare Theater), and Mr. Burns, a Post-electric Play (Valencia College). Having directed The Story of My Life last season, Jeremy is thrilled to be returning to The Studio Theatre, and would like to thank Whitney, Jason, Gary, and Danielle for this incredible opportunity.
RYAN LOECKEL (Strings) is an active musician, actor, vocalist, and collaborative arts producer. Last season he was heard at The Studio Theatre during It Shoulda Been You, featured at The Sharon in Bach to Broadway, fiddled as Joe-Bob in Always...Patsy Cline (Victory Productions), and played the role of Righteous Brother Bill Medley in That Lovin’ Feelin’ (Beefhouse Dinner Theatre). Ryan trained as a violist with Marcia Ferritto, and has shared the stage on tour with Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, Barry Manilow, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra among many others. His performances have been heard on syndicated broadcasts, aboard five-star ships, and at venues internationally. Ryan’s duo album “A Quiet Christmas” will be released in December 2019. www.loeckel.com IG- @loeckelmusik
GARY POWELL (Musical Director) Gary Powell has been musically directing and staging shows for over 30 years in Texas, Chicago, NYC, and now Central Florida. Gary currently serves as the Resident Music Director for both The Sharon and The Studio Theatre. Gary is proud to have been the Music Director since the inaugural season of The Studio Theatre and has worked with such talented actors and musicians for Next to Normal, The Last Five Years, and Songs For a New World. Select standouts of Gary's career include Into The Woods, Sound of Music, Godspell, Brigadoon, South Pacific, and Next to Normal. He has worked on world premiere productions including: Jerry Springer-The Opera, Tomorrow Morning and Scotch Verdict. While directing in Chicago, Gary was nominated for several Jeff Awards for the following productions: American Premier of Jerry Springer-The Opera, Thrill Me, Addam's Family, Opus 1861, The Baker's Wife, Kiss of The Spider Woman, Evolution/ Creation, and Cats among several others. Gary has recently been nominated for Best Music Direction by Broadway World for Next to Normal, The Last Five Years, and Songs for a New World.
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TOM GREENWALD (Lyrics & Book) is a Creative Director at Spotco, a theatrical advertising and marketing company. Some of his current clients include Rent, Chicago, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Avenue Q and All Shook Up. Tom's first screenplay, Sweet Emotion, was optioned by Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, the producers of Rent, and he is currently at work on a second. He lives with his wife and three sons in Connecticut.
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for Ms. Chenoweth, among others. Additionally, he is an accomplished singer having been heard in many venues in New York and, in 2005, as a guest artist at the Adelaide Cabaret Convention in Adelaide, Australia. Recordings include Julia Murney's CD I'm Not Waiting (producer, 3 songs), The Addams Family (Decca Broadway), Big Fish (Broadway Records), The Wild Party (RCA Victor) which he also produced, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (RCA Victor) which earned him a Grammy Award nomination, The Addams Family (Decca Broadway), A Little Princess (Sh-k-boom), and John & Jen (Broadway Records). Jazz phenom Peter Cincotti recorded the song Raise The Roof on his CD titled On The Moon (Phil Ramone, producer). In addition, Mr. Lippa produced the original cast recording of Bat Boy for RCA Victor and his singing voice can be heard on The Sondheim Album on Fynsworth Alley and If I Sing on PS Classics. Vocal selections from The Addams Family, Big Fish, A Little Princess, The Wild Party and John & Jen are published by Hal Leonard. Hal Leonard also released The Andrew Lippa Song Book in Winter, 2013.
ANDREW LIPPA (Lyrics & Book) Andrew's hit song Evil Like Me appears in Disney's Descendants. Written for Kristin Chenoweth the film's soundtrack hit #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, is currently #1 on the iTunes and Billboard soundtrack charts, and has been viewed over 9 million times on YouTube. He wrote the music and lyrics for Big Fish, book by John August, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, which played the Neil Simon Theater on Broadway. His epic oratorio for men's chorus, orchestra and soloists, I Am Harvey Milk (words and music), was premiered by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and the recording, released in October, 2013, reached number 2 on the iTunes Classical Chart. I Am Harvey Milk was presented at Los Angeles' Disney Hall in July, 2014 and in New York City at Lincoln Center in October, 2014 starring Mr. Lippa as Harvey Milk. It has had over 20 productions across the USA. He wrote he Tony-nominated music and lyrics for the Broadway musical The Addams Family, book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), which opened in April of 2010 and starred Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth and has since been seen in over 1,000 productions worldwide. Mr. Lippa wrote the music for the Broadway production of Aaron Sorkin's play (The Social Network, A Few Good Men) The Farnsworth Invention directed by Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys). Asphalt Beach (music and lyrics) was premiered at Northwestern University by the American Music Theatre Project in October, 2006. The Wild Party (book/music/ lyrics) was given its world premiere in 2000 at the Manhattan Theater Club in New York City. The Wild Party won the Outer Critics Circle Award for best Off-Broadway musical of the season and Mr. Lippa won the 2000 Drama Desk Award for best music. 2004 saw the premiere of A Little Princess (book and lyrics by Brian Crawley) at Theatreworks in Palo Alto, CA. In 1999 he contributed three new songs to the Broadway version of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (including My New Philosophy for Tony-Award Winner Kristin Chenoweth) and created all new arrangements. He wrote the music and co-wrote the book (with Tom Greenwald) for John & Jen, which premiered in New York City in 1995 at The Lamb's Theater and had a successful revival presented by The Keen Company in 2015 starring Kate Baldwin.
Awards include a Tony and Grammy nomination, sharing in an Emmy for the Nickelodeon TV series The Wonder Pets, the Gilman/Gonzalez-Falla Theater Foundation Award, ASCAP's Richard Rodgers/New Horizons Award, The Drama Desk, The Outer Critics Circle and second place for the Alice B. Deucey Award for all-around outstanding fifth-grader (lost to Cynthia Fink). Memberships include ASCAP, Actor's Equity and the American Federation of Musicians. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Mr. Lippa serves as president of The Dramatists Guild Fund. He was born in Leeds, England but grew up in suburban Detroit. www.andrewlippa.com ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages and working conditions, and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension. Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. #EquityWorks
Mr. Lippa is proud to have been music director for Kristin Chenoweth since 1999 for many of her greatest concerts. He conducted/played her sold-out shows at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC in 2007, at Carnegie Hall in 2004, and at the Donmar Warehouse in London in 2002. He has conducted the San Francisco, Chicago, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras
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CAST John...........................................................................Craig Smith Jen................................................................Kelly Morris Rowan* U/S John......................................................... David Paul Rowan U/S Jen....................................................................Monica Titus BAND Music Director/Conductor/Keyboard........................Gary Powell Percussion.................................................................. Jerry Bruno Strings......................................................................Ryan Loeckel PRODUCTION TEAM Production Manager..........................................Danielle Paccione Technical Director.................................................Clayton Becker Set Designer.....................................................Kenneth Constant Costume Designer...................................................... Alison Reid Lighting Designer..................................................Lindsey Young Lighting Director.................................................... David Krupla Sound/AV Designer............................................... Nick Erickson Assistant Scenic Designer.........................................Peyton Fuchs Sound Op/PA.......................................................... Amber Sacks Stage Manager...........................................................Grace Zottig Assistant Stage Manager.......................................Stephanie Horn Props Master..........................................................Tony Fairchild Master Carpenter.................................................Preston Speaker Read more about our production team and designers at www.TheSharonStudio.com SPECIAL THANKS The Villages® Marketing Tierra del Sol Bar & Grill Silo Oaks Ken Qualheim City Furniture for providing The Studio Theatre with all the furniture for this season’s productions. *Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers, appearing under a special agreement with Actors' Equity Association.
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TICKETS ON SALE NOW! NEIGHBORS: A FAIR TRADE AGREEMENT by Bernardo Cubria NOV 19th-DEC 22nd | $15-$35
MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT DEC 14TH | 4PM | $15
Come enjoy an afternoon with playwright Bernardo Cubria, writer of Neighbors: A Fair Trade Agreement. He will answer questions about the play and the writing process. Event moderated by Artistic Director Whitney Morse.
www.CityFurniture.com | 888.882.5436 1110 Canal Street The Villages, FL 32162 352.751.2980
1070 Bichara Blvd. Lady Lake, FL 32159 352.750.8044