the velveteen rabbit Adapted By Scott Davidson
February 10 - 19
Fridays & Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 3pm
4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village, OH www.MetroParks.cc/Theatre
Coming Soon! LORAIN COUNTY METRO PARKS’ FRENCH CREEK THEATRE PRESENTS:
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING
TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
LYRICS BY TIM RICE | MUSIC BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
MARCH 3 - 19
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS AT 7:30 PM AND SUNDAYS AT 3 PM TICKETS: $10 - $18 | (440) 949-5200 OR WWW.METROPARKS.CC
French Creek
Theatre
French Creek Nature and Arts Center
Cultural Arts Manager / Site Manager....................................Rick Fortney Ranger Supervisor / Park Manager....................................... Brian Holmes Senior Naturalist................................................................................. Aimee Potonic Cultural Arts Programmer..............................................................Brian McNally Front Desk Box Office Staff............................Camille Olsen, Chris Bizub, Patrick Hanlon, Jack Horn FCNAC Building and Grounds Crew............................................Tim Barrett, Thomas Bourque, David Davis
Lorain County Metro Parks
Director.....................................................................................................................James Ziemnik Assistant Director..........................................................................................Jennifer Bracken Operations Supervisor............................................................................................Paul Hruby Chief Naturalist...............................................................................................Grant Thompson Public Information Officer...........................................................................Vanessa Klesta Web Developer and Graphic Artist.....................................................Nicholas Baker
Lorain County Metro Parks Board of Park Commissioners
Chairman ................................................................................................... Ms. Cookie McLoda Board Member..............................................................................................Mr. Joseph Hribar Board Member.............................................................................................. Mr. Fred Alspach
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French Creek
Theatre
2016-2017 season Pijor Hall
E w i n g T h e at r e
The Velveteen Rabbit
Joseph and the amazingtechnicolor dreamcoat
Feb 10 - 19
The tale of a child’s beloved toy yearning to be real graces the stage with all the magic and heart of Margery Williams’ original classic. Adapted by Scott Davidson
Mar 3 - 19
Scorned by his brothers, sold into slavery and jailed for a crime he didn’t commit – how on earth is Joseph going to become the second most powerful man in Egypt? Lyrics by Tim Rice // Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Pijor Hall
E w i n g T h e at r e
Bloom
Parade
Following a violent incident at school, a 15-year-old boy is assigned to work with his social worker’s father, an urban gardener coping with the loss of his wife. Over the course of one summer, a budding friendship empowers them to grow beyond their troubled pasts.
1913. Marietta, Georgia. A teenage girl is found murdered in the factory where she works. The town wants justice at any cost, and all eyes turn to her supervisor, a Brooklyn Jew who has never fit in with their southern way of life.
Mar 31 - Apr 9
By Andrew Morton
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May 5 - 21
Book by Alfred Uhry Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown Co-Conceived and Directed on Broadway by Harold Prince Based on the true story of the trial and lynching of Leo Frank
E w i n g T h e at r e
Pure Imagination Presented by The Musical Theater Project
June 25
Here’s a show that will appeal to the entire family, from the very young to the very young-at-heart. timeless tunes from Disney and Sesame Street will be sure to have kids, their parents and even their grandparents up on their feet for this interactive performance.
E w i n g T h e at r e
Our Town July 14 - 23
Ushering in a new era of modern theatre, Thornton Wilder wrote of a people frozen in the earliest years of the 20th century. Decades later audiences continue to be moved by their simple yet universal struggles, dreams, loves and triumphs. By Thornton Wilder
Featuring Ursula Cataan, Jodi Maile Kirk, Nancy Maier and Shane Patrick O’Neill
E w i n g T h e at r e
Willy Wonka Aug 11 - 20
The world’s most famous chocolatier reemerges after years in hiding, and five lucky children win a once-in-alifetime trip through his factory. Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley Adapted for the Stage by Leslie Bricusse & Timothy Allen McDonald Based on the book Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
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Visit Us! 38790 Chester Road Avon Ohio 44011 440.934.WINE (9463) www.thewoodnwine.com
Proud supporter of French Creek Theatre! Pg. 6
French Creek
Theatre
The Velveteen Rabbit Adapted by Scott Davidson
Artistic Director // Rick Fortney Director // Deborah Cluts Stage Manager // Jacob Barrett Lighting Designer // Michael S. Martinek Sound Designer // Stan Kozak Technical Director // Nathan Kunst Costume Designer // Justin Bilewicz Light Board Op // Jordan Demich-Bogner
–– PLEASE NOTE ––
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited
Welcome to French Creek Theatre Welcome! I love having The Velveteen Rabbit grace our Pijor stage. My thanks to our staff, production team and actors. I stand amazed at the dedication of time and talent each of you gives to further art at French Creek and throughout Northeast Ohio. The tale of a child’s beloved toy yearning to be real graces the Pijor Rick Fortney Stage with all the magic and heart of Artistic Director, Margery William’s original classic. With Lorain County Metro Parks a timeless message and unforgettable characters, this enchanted story is sure to captivate young and old imaginations alike. Thank you for coming to see the timeless classic, The Velveteen Rabbit. Scorned by his brothers, sold into slavery and jailed for a crime he didn’t commit – how on earth is Joseph going to become the second most powerful man in Egypt? With a little help from his friends, a knack for decoding dreams and a certain extravagantly pigmented jacket, watch the original underdog come out on top in the musical sensation. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat plays March 3 - 19 in Ewing Theatre. Following a violent incident at school, a 15-year-old boy is assigned to work with his social worker’s father, an urban gardener coping with the loss of his wife. Over the course of one summer, a budding friendship empowers them to grow
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Welcome to French Creek Theatre beyond their troubled pasts. Andrew Morton’s Bloom plays in Pijor Hall March 31 - April 9. Thank you for coming to the show and hope to see you at some of our upcoming productions.
Rick Fortney Artistic Director
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A Note from the director “What is Real?” The Velveteen Rabbit opens with this simple question, and by the end of our story, we have an answer. The Boy discovers what Real is, but what exactly does that mean to each of us? What is Real in our own lives? I think when we are young the distinction between what is Real and what isn’t is very clear to us. At some point, perhaps when our worlds become insular in the time of adolescence, we lose that sense of Real. Some of us never gain it back. Some of us live looking at the world through rose colored glasses, where everything is sort of a dream – sort of blurry. For me, Realness came back to my life in a full blown way with the birth of my son. I saw the world in a whole new light, and suddenly everything that was hazy became quite clear. May you look to the children in your own life to rediscover what Real is.
Deborah Cluts Director
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Cast Velveteen Rabbit......................................Jailyn Sherell Harris Boy.............................................................................Tobin Grendzynski Nana/Train...................................................................Kristin Brosky Skin Horse.......................................................................Gerald Miller Mouse/Nursery Magic......................................Michael Strama
Production Team Director.........................................................................Deborah Cluts Stage Manager............................................................Jacob Barrett Lighting designer........................................Michael S. Martinek Sound Designer..................................................................Stan Kozak Technical Director.................................................Nathan Kunst Costume Designer..................................................Justin Bilewicz Light Board Operator.....................Jordan Demich-Bogner
setting: A nursery and outdoors.
Time: From Christmas to sometime in the spring.
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Cast and Crew Bios
CAST Kristin Brosky ( N a n a / Tr a i n ) Kristin is happy to be returning to French Creek after having last performed here in Happy Days: The Musical. She was last seen on stage as Elsie in What I Did Last Summer at Clague Playhouse in Westlake. Besides Clague Playhouse Kristin has also performed at Olde Towne Hall Theater in North Ridgeville, Lorain County Music Theater, and with the North Royalton Players. She has helped to assistant direct and stage manage at Olde Towne Hall as well. She is a student at Lorain County Community College and hopes everyone enjoys the show. Kristin would also like to dedicate this show to her nephew and two nieces: Dresden, Valena, & Myla. T o b i n Grendzynski (Boy) Tobin lives in North Ridgeville and is a freshman in North Ridgeville High School where he runs cross country and track. He started acting in 2014 at the Olde Towne Hall Theater.
He started with French Creek two years ago in the play The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig as the Big Bad Pig. Tobin would like to thank his family for all the support that they have given him and directors for believing in him. Jailyn Sherell H a r r i s (Velveteen Rabbit) Jailyn Sherell Harris is excited to appear in her first show at French Creek Theatre. A native of Cleveland, Jailyn holds a Bachelors in Theatre from Bowling Green State University. Other credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitl) at Olde Town Hall Theatre, Little Shop of Horrors (Ronnette) at Fine Arts Association and Sister Act at Karamu. Along with being an actor, Jailyn is also teaching artist with the Center for Arts inspired learning. M i c h a e l St r a m a (Mouse/Nursery Magic) Michael is delighted to return to French Creek Theatre with this energetic director and cast. At Strongsville Community Theatre Michael has performed in Woman in Mind, The Unexpected
Cast and Crew Bios Guest, I Remember Mama, Dearly Departed and Brigadoon. He is also on their Board of Directors. With the former Berea Grindstone Players he appeared in The Sunshine Boys, Assassins, The Art of Murder, and The Mousetrap. Michael has also performed with Royalton Players, Cassidy Theatre, Brecksville Theatre on the Square, Huntington Playhouse and Olmsted Performing Arts. His most recent performance was with Workshop Players in Dearly Beloved. He has been Stage Manager on numerous shows for both Strongsville and Grindstone Players. Michael thanks his family and friends for their support. Thank you, Debbie for the opportunity to work with you, again. It’s always a pleasure. Gerald Miller (Skin Horse) Gerald grew up in Lorain, and served 12 years in the US Army, mostly with the 82nd Airborne Division where he earned, among other things, the Combat Infantry Badge. He enjoys theater and has a wide variety of experience including some minor film work.
Production team Deborah Cluts (Director) Deborah Cluts is a professional teaching artist in and around the Cleveland area. After graduating from Baldwin Wallace University, she spent four years as an Actor-Teacher with Great Lakes Theater. Since then, she has performed, taught, and directed at numerous theaters including: Geauga Lyric Theater, Aurora Community Theater, Talespinner Children’s Theater, French Creek Theater, Cleveland Public Theater and The Beck Center. She most recently played the role of Tuppence in Great Lakes Theaters touring production of The Secret Adversary. She would like to thank her husband for supporting her in everything she does! She dedicates this show to their little boy: Griffin. May you always know what Real is. Jacob Barrett (Stage Manager)Jake Barrett is a part time employee at Lorain County Community College and a full time student at both Lorain County Community College and the University of Akron working towards a bachelor’s of science in computer networking. Jake has lived in Sheffield Lake his whole life. His past productions include You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Children of Eden, Musical of Pg. 13
Cast and Crew Bios Musicals the Musical, and Fiddler on the Roof, all of which were at Olde Town Hall Theatre as a part of tech crew. This is Jake’s first appearance at French Creek Theatre and he hopes everyone enjoys the show. Michael S. Martinek (Lighting Designer) currently the technology coordinator and a teacher at Saint Peter School in Lorain has been involved in Northeast Ohio performing arts for over 6 years. He has conducted various choral and instrumental ensembles; provided theatrical, technical, box office, and event oversight; and served in various behind the scenes roles of Stage Manager, Sound Designer, Lighting Designer, Projection Designer, Set Designer, Technical Director, and Event Consultant to vast number of productions at Saint Ignatius High School’s Breen Center for the Performing Arts, Notre Dame College, and Mercury Theatre Company. He is extremely excited to return for his eleventh show at French Creek Nature Center and would personally like to thank the cast for their wonderful talent, hard work, and enthusiasm; and the production staff for all their wonderful direction, dedication, and leadership in this production.
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Stan Kozak (Sound Designer) Stan Kozak, currently in his twenty-seventh season at Great Lakes Theater, has more than 50 design credits including Bat Boy: The Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Comedy of Errors, Amadeus, You Can’t Take It With You, Private Lives, Into the Woods and the Tom Hanks’ benefit performances. His work in 1979 and 1981 with Geraldine Fitzgerald on Streetsongs at GLTF led to the original cast album. Mr. Kozak was the resident sound designer for four seasons at the Porthouse Theatre Company, including productions of Driving Miss Daisy, Niteclub Confidential and a Nightingale Sang. His collaborations with Victoria Bussert at Baldwin-Wallace College include productions of Chess, Hair, Company, Cabaret, West Side Story, Tommy in Concert, Parade, the Ohio premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, and one of the first nonprofessional productions of Phantom of the Opera. For Cain Park, his design credits include Secret Garden, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Bat Boy, Tick, tick… Boom, Nine, The Wiz, Harold and Maude and Pippin. Mr. Kozak has also designed sound for Wit and Last Five Years for the Dobama Theater, Iolanthe and Sweeney Todd for the Cleveland Opera, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Forbidden Broadway
Cast and Crew Bios SVU for the Hanna Theatre and A Shayna Maidel, Brooklyn Boy and Pangs of the Messiah for the JCC. He has served as sound designer for the All-City Musical for the Cleveland school system for eight seasons. He also had the good fortune to have worked with Bebe Neuwirth in her concert performance for the Ideastream Gala in 2005. He was honored to be among the first group of LORT sound designers to achieve recognition in USA 829. Nathan Kunst (Technical Director) Nathan Kunst is a contemporary artist working in film and new-media, with a background in fine art and film special effects. Proud reptilian shapeshifter and cat dad. Cofounder and residant artist at Dojo Studios LLC in Cleveland.
D. Justin Bilewicz, III (Costume Designer) Justin’s theatrical credits extend across Northeast Ohio, working as a costume designer for community and academic theatres in Amherst, Cleveland, Lorain, Shaker Heights, and Case Western Reserve University. He is also the Costume Shop Supervisor for Ashland University and the drama director for Clearview High School. Justin graduated from Ashland University with a BA in Costume Design. This is Justin’s 8th show he has designed for French Creek Theatre.
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The Morning Journal Lorain, OH | www.MorningJournal.com
Proud Supporter of Lorain County Metro Parks and French Creek Theatre!
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For advertising opportunities call (440) 949-5200 Ext. 229
Coming Soon! LORAIN COUNTY METRO PARKS’ FRENCH CREEK THEATRE PRESENTS:
BLOOM
BY ANDREW MORTON
MARCH 31 - APRIL 9
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS AT 7 PM AND SUNDAYS AT 3 PM TICKETS: $10 - $15 | (440) 949-5200 OR WWW.METROPARKS.CC
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