DIRECTOR’S NOTE
I discovered Freaky Friday: A New Musical a decade ago, shortly after its premiere. However, Freaky Friday (2003, with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, of course) was a Perine Family Classic, to the extent that we had it on VHS and DVD. The idea of trading lives was a personal pinnacle of magical thinking and escapism, and my early obsession with this story shaped my fish-outof-water sense of humor. I found the exploration of the inter-generational journey of establishing empathy, one of adults and children developing an understanding of the trials parents and children face, to be universal. It has proven to be evergreen, from the initial 1972 novel for young adults by Mary Rodgers, FIVE subsequent films, and this musical, not to mention the countless films and television episodes that have explored the body-swapping trope since then. When the Education team began
discussing titles for our Summer Conservatory, Freaky Friday: A New Musical quickly rose in our favor for its high energy as well as the educational opportunities in its complicated music, various dance styles, and vibrant cast of characters. I love this musical for its celebration of loving life, regardless of the chapter you find yourself in, while holding space for the difficult truths of life.
This musical adaptation of Freaky Friday: A New Musical is absolutely a product of its 2016 premiere, and it feels all the more special to be producing it this summer, a decade later. Julianna, Kennedy, all of our wonderful designers, and I have had a blast bringing 2016 to life with these students (who held up on their fingers “how many they were” that year in our first rehearsal and immediately made us feel ancient).
Thank you for supporting live theatre. Enjoy the show!
–
John Perine
Book by
BRIDGET CARPENTER
Music by TOM KITT
Lyrics by BRIAN YORKEY
Based on the novel Freaky Friday by MARY RODGERS AND THE DISNEY FILMS
Orchestrations by MICHAEL STAROBIN & TOM KITT
Vocal Arrangements by CARMEL DEAN & TOM KITT
Dance Arrangements & Incidental Music by TOM KITT
Scenic Designer NATALIE ROSE MABRY
Stage Manager
Costume Designer HELEN DOMINGUEZ
CONNOR J. REILLY
Lighting Designer ELIZABETH KNUDSON
Assistant Stage Manager DYLAN GELLETT
COO & Managing Director JOEL MARKUS
Music Director
KENNEDY MCALISTER
Sound Designer MAX HEYLIGER
Director of Production RAY INKEL
CEO & Producing Artistic Director KRISTEN COURY
Choreographer JULIANNA BABB
Director/Director of Education JOHN PERINE
Show Sponsor
Freaky Friday is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
CAST (in order of appearance)
Ellie Blake ....................................................................... Cadence Castaneda
Katherine Blake .......................................................................... Taylor Polly
Fletcher Blake ........................................................................ Olivia Radosti
Mike ...................................................................................... Elijah Warfield
Gretchen ............................................................................. Kendall Guercio
Hannah ................................................................................. Brooke Hunter
Adam ................................................................................. Nicholas Radosti
Savannah .............................................................................. Hadley Hacker
Wells ....................................................................................... Allie Aulestia
Parker/Louis .......................................................................... Sophia Brown
Laurel/Ensemble ....................................................................... Lola Brewer
Grandma Helene/Mrs. Luckenbill/Mrs. Time ........................ Jia Cinnamon
Grandpa Gordon/Mr. Blumen/Senor O’Brien .............................. Dom Diaz
Danielle/Ms. Meyers/Officer Sitz/Savannah’s Mom ............. Jordan Daniels
Dr. Ehrin/Pastor Bruno/Officer Kowalski ............................. Taliah Williams
Torrey ....................................................................................... Ella Eastman
Ensemble ............................................................ Mallory Howe, Olivia Svec
RUNTIME
MUSICAL NUMBERS
MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT I
“Just One Day ...................................................... Ellie, Katherine, Company
“The Hourglass” .....................................................................Ellie, Katherine
“I Got This” ............................................................... Ellie, Katherine, Adam, Savannah, Ensemble
“What You Got” ................................................................ Katherine, Torrey, Danielle, Louis
“Oh, Biology” ........................................................................ Ellie, Ensemble
“Vows” ................................................................................................... Mike
“Busted” .............................................................. Ellie, Katherine, Company
“Somebody Has Got To Take The Blame” .............. Katherine, Ellie, Dr. Ehrin, Señor O’Brien, Mrs. Luckenbill
“Shoppin’ With My Mom” ................................................................. Fletcher
“I Got This (Reprise)” ..................................................................... Katherine
“Watch Your Back” ............................................................ Ms. Meyers, Ellie, Ensemble
“Drivin’ With My Mom” ................................................................... Fletcher
“Parents Lie” .................................................................................. Katherine
“Just One Day (Reprise)” ................................................................Company
ACT II
“I’m Not Myself Today”............................................ Katherine, Ellie, Torrey, Ensemble
“Women and Sandwiches” ................................................... Adam, Fletcher
“Bring My Baby (Brother) Home” .......................... Ellie, Officers, Katherine, Mike, Adam, Fletcher
“Go” .......................................................................... Adam, Ellie, Katherine, Ensemble
“After All This And Everything” ...................................................... Katherine
“No More Fear” ...................................................................................... Ellie
“The Other Hourglass” ...........................................................Ellie, Katherine
“Today and Ev’ry Day” ...........................................................Ellie, Katherine
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
BRIDGET CARPENTER A playwright, television writer, and producer, Carpenter created the 2016 miniseries “11.22.63” for Bad Robot and Hulu from Stephen King’s bestselling novel. “11.22.63” premiered at the Sundance Festival, was nominated for a Writers Guild Award, and won the Saturn Award for best limited series. Prior to “11.22.63,” she wrote and coexecutive-produced all five seasons of the Peabody Award-Winning series Friday Night Lights. She was a Consulting Producer for HBO’s Westworld and a Co-Executive Producer for Parenthood. In 2013 she was the Executive Producer/ Showrunner for the Sundance Channel drama series The Red Road. Carpenter’s plays have been produced by Steppenwolf, the Public Theater, the Alley Theatre, La Jolla Rep, Berkeley Repertory Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and many other theaters across the country. She has written several songs for film (Basmati Blues; Dear Dumb Diary) and has adapted Freaky Friday as a movie musical for the Disney Channel, airing in 2018. Most recently, she was awarded the Princess Grace Statue. Awards: a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Jerome Fellowship, a McKnight Grant, the Princess Grace Award, the Kesselring Prize, and the
Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. WGA and Emmy nominations for Friday Night Lights. Her plays Fall, Up and The Faculty Room are published by Samuel French. An alumnae of New Dramatists, Carpenter received her BA and MFA from Brown University. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Chris Harrison, and their children, Rita and Henry.
TOM KITT is a two-time Tony, two-time Emmy, Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award winner. As a musical theater composer, he has written the music for six Broadway shows: Next to Normal (Tony Award, Olivier Nomination), If/Then (Tony Nomination), Almost Famous (Tony Nomination), Flying Over Sunset (Tony Nomination), High Fidelity, and Bring it On, The Musical. His work for the stage has also been seen Off Broadway at Second Stage (Next to Normal, Superhero), The Public Theater (The Visitor, Shakespeare in the Park) and he has worked at some of the most prestigious regional theaters including The Old Globe, Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep, The Signature Theater, and ART. In addition, Tom’s Broadway credits as an orchestrator include: Next to Normal (Tony Award), Hell’s Kitchen (Tony Nomination), The SpongeBob Musical (Tony Nomination), Jagged Little Pill (Tony Nomination),
Almost Famous, Head Over Heels, Everyday Rapture, and American Idiot. Tom has also been active in the world of film and TV. As one of the vocal arrangers working on the Pitch Perfect films, Tom most notably helped create the classic “Riff-off.” Tom also served as music supervisor/arranger/orchestrator for Grease Live, and contributed songs for Royal Pains, Penny Dreadful, and Sesame Street. He also provided music supervision for the NBC series, Rise and served as a Supervising Music Producer on the Bobby Lopez/ Kristen Anderson-Lopez/Steven Levenson/Thomas Kail musical television series “Up Here.” And he is known for his three original opening numbers for The Tony Awards, “This Party’s for You” in 2024, written with Amanda Green for Ariana Debose, “Live” in 2019, written with David Javerbaum for James Corden, and the Emmy Award winning “Bigger” in 2013, written with Lin-Manuel Miranda for Neil Patrick Harris. Tom is also proud that his musical adaptation of Freaky Friday, cowritten with Bridget Carpenter and Brian Yorkey was turned into an original movie musical for Disney Channel. Tom is a Sony Masterworks artist, with whom he recorded his debut album, Reflect in 2021.
BRIAN YORKEY received the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the 2009 Tony Award for Best Score, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Next to Normal and was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. He partnered again with the Next to Normal team on If/ Then (Tony Award Nominee for Best Score) starring Idina Menzel. Brian co-wrote the libretto for The Last Ship (Outer Critics Nomination, with John Logan), with a score by Sting. He wrote lyrics for the Disney Theatricals musical adaptation of Freaky Friday, which also became a Disney Channel Original Movie. Brian most recently served as the Executive Producer and Co-Show runner for the Netflix series “Echoes.” Prior to that, Brian was the Creator, Executive Producer and Showrunner of “13 Reasons Why” for Netflix and Paramount Television. He has also directed for theatre and television. Brian is a graduate of Columbia University, where he was artistic director of the Varsity Show, an alum of the BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, the WGA, and the DGA.
ABOUT THE CAST
CADENCE CASTANEDA (ELLIE BLAKE)
is thrilled to be in Freaky Friday! Cadence is going in to the 7th grade at Naples Microschools. You might have seen her in Footloose Jr., Bickle/Ensemble (The Naples Players), Willy Wonka Jr., Veruca Salt (First Baptist Academy, and Gulfshore Playhouse), Annie Kids, Mrs. Hannigan (The Naples Players), and much more! When she’s not singing you can find her reading, sewing, or hanging out with friends! She would like to thank her wonderful family, her best friend Myra, and everyone at Gulfshore Playhouse who has been with her at the start of her acting journey to now!
TAYLOR POLLY (KATHERINE
BLAKE) is very excited to be playing Katherine Blake in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of Freaky Friday! She has been with the company for going on six years, and has been in many productions including: Junie B. Jones The Musical (May), Annie (Pepper), Frozen (Olaf), Chicago Teen Edition (Ensemble), Puffs (Various Characters), Anything
Goes: Youth Edition (The Captain), and most recently Six: Teen Edition (Catherine of Aragon). Taylor has also been in productions within her school theatre program at Barron Collier High School, including: Fame! (Ensemble), Clue (Mrs. Peacock), and Chicago High School Edition (Roxie Hart). She is proud to be starting her senior year this fall, and is excited to have one last year of shows with Gulfshore! So please, enjoy the show!!
OLIVIA RADOSTI (FLETCHER BLAKE)
is thrilled to be playing the role of Fletcher in this production. She has been involved in theatre with Gulfshore Playhouse since 2021 and has grown tremendously through the many roles she has performed over the years. Olivia is passionate about acting, dancing, and singing. She is also a competitive Irish dancer and a seventh-grade student at Saint Ann Catholic School. One of a kind, Olivia has an absolute heart of gold. She hopes you enjoy the show.
ELIJAH WARFIELD (MIKE) is very excited to be a part of this production of Freaky Friday! He is currently graduated and about to attend Florida Southwestern college. He has previously been in many other productions as an ensemble member, but his standout roles are Vince Fontaine in Grease and Friar Lawrence in Romeo + Juliet. He also enjoys trivia and reading mystery books. He would like to thank his family, his directors, and everyone on the cast and staff for providing him with this amazing experience. He hopes that you enjoy the show!
KENDALL GUERCIO (GRETCHEN)
is a rising 7th grade student at Gulfview Middle School. She was recently cast as Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition, TNP), Gertrude McFuzz (Seussical Kids, TNP) Annie (The Magic Treehouse: Dinosaurs Before Dark, TNP), Winthrop (The Music Man Kids, TNP), Star To Be (Annie Kids), Matilda Shadow/Annie (Matilda Jr., Gulfshore Playhouse),
and Ensemble (Footloose Jr., TNP). She’s performed with the Collier County 5th grade Honors Choir. Also, she has performed as Molly in her school’s winter cabaret of Annie as well as Little Red Riding Hood in her school’s spring cabaret of Into the Woods. Kendall is so excited to be back at Gulfshore Playhouse and hopes you enjoy the show!
BROOKE HUNTER (HANNAH)
is beyond excited to be playing Hannah in Freaky Friday and to be returning to the stage for her seventh production with Gulfshore Playhouse. Some of her favorite past roles include Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka, a Wickersham Brother in Seussical, Dippy in Anything Goes: Youth Edition, Minnie and Pepper in Matilda Jr., Mrs. Pugh in Annie (twice), and Tybalt in Romeo + Juliet. She loves to sing and dance in her spare time. A big thanks to all the supportive creative team for trusting her in one of her bucket list roles. Enjoy the show!!!
ABOUT THE CAST
NICHOLAS
RADOSTI (ADAM)
is so excited to be playing Adam in this production! Some of his favorite past performances include, Romeo in Romeo + Juliet, Peter Pan in Peter Pan, Elisha Whitney in Anything Goes: Youth Edition, Miss Trunchbull in Matilda Jr., and Jack Scott in High School Musical Jr. His other interests include fishing and snorkeling. Nicholas will be entering Saint John Newman High School as a freshman next year. Special thank you to Gulfshore Playhouse for this incredible opportunity. Enjoy the show!
HADLEY HACKER (SAVANNAH)
is so excited to be part of Freaky Friday! Hadley has always had a passion for performing, feeling most at home while on stage. Some of her favorite past shows include You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, High School Musical, Matilda Jr., Willy Wonka Jr., Finding Nemo Kids, and Winnie the Pooh. Outside of theatre, she enjoys singing karaoke to annoy her little brother, listening to Olivia Rodrigo, and doing nails with friends. She would like to thank her family,
friends, and everyone at Gulfshore Playhouse for their support!
ALLIE AULESTIA (WELLS) is proud to be in this production of Freaky Friday! She is a rising 7th grader at Gulfview Middle School. She has previously been in Anything Goes: Youth Edition as Spit and Matilda Jr. as Hortensia. She has also enjoyed Finding Nemo as Pearl and Aladdin as the Guard. Allie is also active playing tennis, lacrosse, and golf. She hopes you enjoy the show!
SOPHIA BROWN (PARKER) is delighted to be in this production of Freaky Friday. Sophia is an incoming 7th grader. This is her fourth production with Gulfshore Playhouse and she is excited to be back on stage! She has previously performed in Jungle Book Kids, Willy Wonka Jr., Seussical, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Matilda Jr., and most recently The Little Mermaid Jr. Sophia wants to extend a special thank you to Heather Ivy of Heather Ivy Music for her invaluable voice lessons. Sophia hopes you enjoy the show!
LOLA BREWER (LAUREL/ ENSEMBLE)
is more than excited to be in this production of Freaky Friday! She has previously performed as the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland Jr., and cannot wait to continue her theatre era here at Gulfshore Playhouse! She would like to thank her family and friends (including fellow cast member Mallory Howe) for all the encouragement and support for this production! Enjoy the show!
JIA
CINNAMON (GRANDMA
HELENE/MRS. LUCKENBILL/
MRS. TIME) is very excited for you to see this production! Some of her favorite past roles here at Gulfshore include: Nurse (Romeo + Juliet), Mrs Doods (The Lighting Thief) and Bird Girl #1 (Seussical Jr.). Jia would like to thank all the cast and crew for helping make this show possible and her family for all the support through the process.
DOM DIAZ (GRANDPA GORDON/MR. BLUMEN/SENOR O’BRIEN)
is excited to be part of this production. A rising 7th grader, he enjoys theatre, playing piano, spending time with friends, and going to the beach. His recent stage credits include Matilda Jr. (Summer 2025) and Willy Wonka Jr. (Summer 2024). This past May, he performed the classical piano piece “Arabesque.” Dom loves being on stage and looks forward to every opportunity to perform. He would like to thank his family, friends, and the team at Gulfshore Playhouse for their support and encouragement.
JORDAN DANIELS (DANIELLE/ MS. MEYERS/ OFFICER
SITZ) is thrilled to be back at Gulfshore Playhouse performing in Freaky Friday! She is going to be a sophomore at Gulf Coast High School and is a proud member of GC Drama. Recently at Gulfshore Playhouse, she has been in the roles of Anna of Cleves in SIX: Teen Edition and Ares in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Jordan would like to thank all her friends, family, and directors for their continuous support and hopes you enjoy the show!
ABOUT THE CAST
TALIAH WILLIAMS (DR. EHRIN/ PASTOR BRUNO/ OFFICER
KOWALSKI/LOUIS)
is so excited to be in the production of Freaky Friday! She goes to Aubrey Rodgers High School and is in 10th grade. She’s previously been in the show Mamma Mia as Ally and Moana Jr. as Moana. Taliah loves to sing and dance with the aspiration of becoming a singer. She would also like to thank her parents for all their love and support, her directors for all their guidance and her friends for all their help and kindness! She hope you enjoy the show!!
ELLA EASTMAN (TORREY)
will be a sophomore at Aubrey Rogers High School in the Fall. Her love for theatre started when she took part in Godspell Jr. at St. Elizabeth Seton. Ella has been in 7 TNPA Productions. She was also in The Addams Family at SJN. Last year, she was nominated for president of the ARHS Drama Club. At ARHS, she was part of the ensemble in Sister Act and played Lisa in Mamma Mia. She also costume designed and constructed both Sister Act and Mamma Mia. This is her first show
at Gulfshore Playhouse and she is extremely excited to be here! She thanks her family and friends for their unwavering support. Enjoy the show!
MALLORY HOWE (ENSEMBLE) is a rising 6th grader, and is eager to be back on stage for the third time with Gulfshore Playhouse. Other shows Mallory has been part of include Finding Nemo, Willy Wonka Jr., and Matilda Jr. Besides singing and dancing on stage, she loves playing soccer, volleyball, and being with her friends and family. She hopes you enjoy the show!
OLIVIA SVEC (ENSEMBLE) is excited to be in the Freaky Friday production. She is in the 7th grade at Gulfview Middle School. She has previously been in Seussical Jr. and Matilda Jr. Olivia loves to write poetry, do gymnastics, sing, dance, and hang out with friends. She is involved in her church youth group. She is a very outgoing person who loves to be around people.
ABOUT THE CREATIVES
JOHN PERINE (DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION)
is a director, performer, playwright, and educator originally from the Nashville, Tennessee area and is the Director of Education at Gulfshore Playhouse. Recent directing with The Conservatory includes Romeo + Juliet, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, and he is looking forward to Starcrossed this fall in partnership with Artis-Naples and the Naples Philharmonic. Selected other directing: Peter and the Starcatcher (top three finalist for Best Director of the Decade and Best Musical of the Decade by BroadwayWorld Birmingham), Kate DiCamillo’s Flora & Ulysses (North Carolina Theatre for Young People) and the world premiere of his play icarus x apollo for University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Centennial celebration. Additional teaching artistry: The Rose Theater (Omaha, NE), The Virginia Samford Theatre (Birmingham, AL), and Lexington Children’s Theatre (Lexington, KY). Education: Theatre for Youth at Samford University (BFA) and UNC Greensboro (MFA). More about John’s work can be found at www.johnperine.com
KENNEDY MCALISTER (MUSIC DIRECTOR) is a Philadelphiabased performer, musician, and educator. She is delighted to be back at Gulfshore for another fabulous summer! Kennedy loves working with all kinds of voices and learners, and believes making music together is one of the best things about life. Recently, Kennedy returned from a four-month tour of Japan with Disney on Classic. Other recent music directing credits include 42nd Street, Hello, Dolly!, and Legally Blonde. IG: @kennedy.mcalister
JULIANNA BABB (CHOREOGRAPHER) is a Philadelphia based director, choreographer, and teaching artist. Favorite credits include: Something Rotten, Ragtime, Cabaret (Candlelight Theatre), Spring Awakening (Relic Theatre Co), The Lightning Thief TYA, Frozen Jr. (Upper Darby Summer Stage), School of Rock, Joseph… Dreamcoat (Ogunquit Playhouse), Frozen Jr. (Walnut Street Theatre). She currently teaches for Paper Mill Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre, and Ensemble Arts Philly. Proud New Hampshirite, proud UARTS alum. For the Fam.
ABOUT THE CREATIVES
HELEN DOMINGUEZ (COSTUME
DESIGNER) is grateful to return to the Gulfshore Playhouse Conservatory, where she joyfully creates costumes for young performers. Her recent works include Seussical Jr. and Matilda Jr., and Six: Teen Edition where she delights in inspiring students through storytelling. She thanks her family for their steadfast love and support. Soli Deo Gloria.
ELIZABETH KNUDSON (LIGHTING
DESIGNER) has been with Gulfshore Playhouse since Fall 2019. She has a BFA in Theatre from Emporia State University. Some of her favorite lighting design work at Gulfshore Playhouse includes The Lightning Thief and Six: Teen Edition. She has also worked as L1&2 for corporate events, concerts, and small tours. elizabethlkennell.wixsite.com/ portfolio
MAX HEYLIGER (SOUND
DESIGNER) is in his second season as the Assistant Sound Supervisor at Gulfshore Playhouse. He is very excited to be designing again for the conservatory program! Other GP credits include The Lightning Thief, Anything Goes: Youth Edition, and Teen Cabaret 2025. Max would like to thank his partner, Laura, and his cats,
Bert and Arthur.
CONNOR J. REILLY (STAGE MANAGER)
Grand Rapids, MI; Off-Broadway: Little Match Girl (Production Stage Manager), Regional: Beautiful (Stage Management Swing) , The Mousetrap (Production Assistant), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Production Assistant), Gulfshore Playhouse, Waitress, Saugatuck Center for the Arts (Production Assistant, Intimacy Captain), Thirst, Williamston Theatre (Asst. Stage Manager), Fools (Production Stage Manager), Summer Circle Theatre. Young Playwrights Festival, Wharton Center for Performing Arts (Production Stage Manager, Intimacy Director). Connor is thrilled to be working with Gulfshore Playhouse this Summer and is so excited to return in the Fall! www.connorreillytheatre.com.
DYLAN GELLETT (ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER)
is a graduate of the University of South Florida Theatre program with a Bachelor in Theatre Arts. He has been working with Gulfshore in the production department for three years, going into his fourth. Recent credits include: Beautiful, Sweet Charity, Anything Goes as a PA and Lehman Trilogy, Importance of Being Earnest
as PA/ASM with Gulfshore, Jersey Boys (Mountain Theatre Company). and Rock of Ages (Mountain Theatre Company).
JOEL MARKUS (COO & MANAGING DIRECTOR) is thrilled to be in his eighth season as Gulfshore Playhouse’s COO & Managing Director. Joel enjoys working side by side with Kristen to produce Broadway caliber theatre while focusing on cultivating a great staff and culture. In his time at Gulfshore Playhouse, Joel has helped grow and quadruple the theatre’s budget, triple the staff, has co-managed the design and construction of the new $75M Baker Theatre and Education Center, the production shop construction project, has been instrumental in joining LORT (most recently, being on the negotiating committee for LORT and Actors’ Equity Association), and navigated and guided the organization through the pandemic and Hurricane Ian. Joel was recognized as one of the top COOs in SWFL by the Community Foundation. Joel’s thirty year career has taken him to some of our nation’s leading professional regional theatres. He most recently spent seven seasons at America’s oldest theatre, Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Joel has played integral roles in the
production of hundreds of plays over ten seasons at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, four years at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY, five summers at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont, American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts. Joel is a graduate of Indiana University and originally from Miami, Florida.
KRISTEN COURY (CEO & PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR)
is the Founder, CEO and Producing Artistic Director of Gulfshore Playhouse. She founded the Playhouse in 2004, and shortly thereafter started producing with no staff and virtually no funding. Under her leadership, the Playhouse has grown to a staff of 83 people with an annual budget of $14.5M with no long-term debt. Kristen led the charge to create the iconic $75M state-of-the-art Baker Theatre and Education Center at the gateway to downtown Naples, which opened on November 1st, 2024. As part of this project, Coury ignited one of the largest public/private partnerships in City of Naples history, initiating a land-swap with the Wynn family and subsequently donating over an acre of land to the City upon which to build a public parking garage. While in New York, she worked on Broadway for
ABOUT THE CREATIVES
Walt Disney Theatrical Productions and for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company, The Really Useful Group, and made her feature film directorial debut with an independent film entitled Friends and Family. Kristen is also a frequent investor in Broadway productions, most recently A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. Kristen has directed nearly 50 productions for the Playhouse. Most recently, she directed the inaugural show in the Baker Theatre and Education Center, Anything Goes. This season, she also directed Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Kristen was named one of the Men and Women of the Year by Gulfshore Life in 2013 and again in 2024. She
also received the Murray Hendel Award for Civic Achievement in 2023. She served two terms on the board of Theatre Communications Group, the national advocacy group for professional theatre and is currently a member of the board of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. Kristen is very honored to have been appointed to Florida Council for arts and culture by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. She was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in Collier County by Naples Illustrated for the last four years, and, this year, was listed in the 2025 Edition of Florida Trend Magazine as one of the 500 Most Influential Business Leaders in the State of Florida.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
We gratefully acknowledge the dedication and leadership of our Board of Directors.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Steve Akin
VICE- CHAIR
Rich Struthers
BOARD MEMBERS
Patty Baker
Jim Bosscher
Kristen Coury
David Drobis
Gary Gregg
Tim Habbershon
Mitchell Hertz
George Kraus
Jason Hunter Korn
Vince Maffeo
Sandi Moran
EMERITUS
Don J. Gunther
Bob Harden
Dave Wilson
LIFETIME TRUSTEES
Tom Gallagher
Don McCulloch
Gerry Moss
Jack Nortman
Tony Panzica
Gail Kern Paster
Susan Regenstein
Rick Rondinelli
Cynthia Scholl
Tennille Sevigny
David Schockley
Pat Sweet
Joanne Wyss
OUR STAFF AND LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP
Kristen Coury CEO & Producing Artistic Director
ARTISTIC & EDUCATION
CEO & Producing Artistic Director .............. Kristen Coury
Associate Artistic Director .............................. Dann Dunn
Line Producer ..................................... Audrey Zielenbach
Director of Education ..................................... John Perine
ThinkTheatre Coordinator .................. Meredith Singleton
ArtReach Coordinator .............................. Frances Barnett
ADMINISTRATION
COO & Managing Director ............................. Joel Markus
Human Resources Manager ....................... Carol Koolhof
Director of Facilities ..................................... Joe Salemme
Assistant Director of Facilities ...................... Mark Murray
Director of Events/Food & Beverage .............. Erin Burney
Assistant Events/Food & Beverage Managers .Crystal Diggs, Lee Smith
Executive Assistant ..................................... Sydney Mixon
Administrative Assistant .................. Hannah Schumacher
FINANCE
Chief Financial Officer ................................... Joey Rudder
Director of Finance ..................................... Alyson McCoy
Finance Associate ................................... Maureen Devine
IT Specialist ............................................ Drew Whitcomb
ADVANCEMENT
Chief Advancement Officer ............................. Lisa Halsey
Director of Advancement Events ................... Sarah Owen
Chief of Staff ........................................... Brandon Horwin
Advancement Officer ...................................... Amy Talbot
Associate Advancement Officer ............... Mary Hackeloer
MARKETING
Chief Marketing Officer ......................... Rachel Applegate
Marketing Manager .................................. Heidi Overman
Art Director ..................................................... Trevor List
Graphic Designer .................................... Ashley Martinez
Web Strategist .............................................. Gaston Barua
Patron Services Managers ................. Meghan Fitzpatrick, Ashleigh Jennings
Assistant Patron Services Manager ............... Joan Cannon
Patron Services Assistants ......................... Zoë Bradshaw, Timothy Coryell, Sara Ross, Sabina Valery
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
General Manager .............................................. Jim Dallas
Company Manager .................................. Emily Lostracco
Assistant Company Manager ............. Chanda Hawthorne
Front of House Manager ..................... Jeremy Bennington
Joel Markus COO & Managing Director
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
Director of Production ....................................... Ray Inkel
Associate Production Manager ............................. Lila Sell
SCENERY
Technical Production Manager ..................... Brooke Oteri
Technical Director - Moran Mainstage ........... John Forton
Technical Director - Struthers Studio ................ Alex Riggs
Scene Shop Supervisor ......................... Anthony Knudson
Stage Supervisor ......................................... Andrew Geier
Carpenter ......................................... Deborah Samuelson
Scenic Technicians ........... Brian Richards, Chris Williams
SCENIC ART
Scenic Art Supervisor ..................................... James Allen
Assistant Scenic Arts Supervisor ............. Katherine Burns
Scenic Artists .............. Melena Scott, Larashleigh Wallace
PROPERTIES
Properties Supervisor ............................... Jonathan Willis
Assistant Properties Supervisor .............. Gwendolyn Rygg
Properties Artisan ....................................... Hunter Booth
Properties Technician ................................. Rylee McNeal
LIGHTING
Lighting Supervisor ............................ Elizabeth Knudson
Assistant Lighting Supervisor ........................ Lynn Slutsky
Lighting Technicians .................. Jaden O’Berry, Ray Ward
SOUND
Sound Supervisor ............................................ Owen True
Assistant Sound Supervisor .......................... Max Heyliger
Sound Technicians ....................................... Emily Parker
COSTUMES
Costume Shop Manager ........................ Jennifer Bronsted
Assistant Costume Shop Manager ............ Elizabeth Eaton
Drapers ....................................................... Sarah Greene
First Hands ........................... Mya Nunez, Gabby DePrizio
Wardrobe Supervisor .............................. Marissa Mascolo
Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor ................. Emma Madden
Assistant Wig & Makeup Supervisor .............. Joan Harlow
Costume Technicians ............................ Suvonna Bynum, Sarea Kelly, Viva Sammatova
STAGE MANAGEMENT
Stage Management Production Assistants .. Dylan Gellett, Connor J. Reilly