Playmakers Youth Theatre – Disney’s Descendants

Descendants

DISNEY’S THE MUSICAL

DIRECTED BY ANNIE PERUSEK

May

7, 14 & 15, 2023

Joseph & Florence

Mandel Jewish Day School

Book by Nick Blaemire

Music Adaptation by Madeline Smith Vocal and Incidental Arrangements by Madeline Smith

Orchestrations by Matthew Tishler

Music Produced by Matthew Tishler

Additional Lyrics by Nick Blaemire

Songs by Johan Alkenas, Adam Anders, Aristeidis Archontis, Antonia Armato, Howard Ashman, Par Astrom, Stephen Mark Conley, Doug Davis, Charity Daw, Andrew C. Dodd, Josh Edmondson, Pipo Fernandez, Nikki Hassman, Samuel Hollander, Ben Hosteler, Tim James Price, Hannah Jones, Jack Kugell, Craig Lashley, Andrew Lippa, Jeannie Lurie, Alan Menken, Grant Phillip Michaels, Anthony Mirabella, Shayna Mordue, Chen Neeman, Susan Paroff, Shelly M. Peiken, Joacim Persson, James K. Petrie, Adam Schlesinger, Adam Schmalholz, Tyler Shamy, Jodie Shihadeh, Nikki Ann Sorrentino, Thomas Armato Sturges, Ali Dee Theodore, Matthew Wong, David Zippel

Based on the Disney Channel Original Movies written by Josann McGibbon and Sara Pariott

Message from Emma

Dear Playmakers families and friends, Welcome to Disney’s Descendants, a Playmakers premiere and the last show of our 2022-2023 Season! As you journey with us to Auradon and the Isle of Evil, we hope you will join us in thanking our wonderfully generous friends at The Joseph & Florence Mandel Jewish Day School. Mandel JDS so graciously opened their doors to us after our original venue, Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, experienced a fire earlier this spring. We feel grateful as ever to be part of the supportive and resilient Cleveland Jewish community! This season, we partied at an 80s wedding, wiped away tears during “Edelweiss,” and saw dancing dressers and napkins come to life in Inside Beauty & The Beast. Now, we have the joy of bringing a Disney mega-hit from the big screen to the stage. What a way to end a whirlwind year!

The story of Descendants is one of community, togetherness, perseverance, and true friendship – all values we teach and celebrate at Playmakers. It feels right, too, that during our season “honoring the past and looking towards the future,” we’re showing a contemporary twist on some of the most classically well-known Disney tales. What strikes me most about this story is that the message at its core is the message at our core, too -- we are better and more powerful when we are team. At Playmakers and in Auradon, we learn that every voice deserves to be heard, that every individual belongs, and that there’s magic in togetherness. We are so proud of our two remarkable casts who’ve demonstrated those very ideas since their first rehearsal, and I am so thankful to Annie and our outstanding production team who’ve brought Descendants to life with patience, heart, and imagination.

We hope to see you this summer at a camp show or at our fan-favorite 24-Hour Musical (save the date: July 15) and as we unroll exciting news about next season.

Enjoy the show, Emma

The 2022-2023 Playmakers Youth Theatre season, our 25th anniversary year, is dedicated in loving memory to longtime Playmakers Costume Designer Linda Joynt (z”l). Linda made Playmakers a place where generations of children and teens felt loved, comfortable and ready to shine on stage from head to toe. We miss her deeply.

Message from Director Annie Perusek

“We’re better together, stronger side by side…” You’ll hear these words and this theme echoed throughout our presentation of Descendants. It’s been my pleasure to witness this reality throughout our production process as well! In my opinion, there is no better classroom for the art of collaboration than theatre. When producing a show, we learn how to work within the whole and discover that every person, both on and off stage, is important in bringing the story to life for our audience. Often in rehearsal, I have seen the students helping one another, encouraging each other, and using their individual creativity to raise the quality of our whole production. Our young artists have shown they understand that we truly are better together! I’m new to the Playmakers family and I’ve been so kindly welcomed and supported by our production team and students. My heartfelt thanks to our wonderful core production team: Emma, Liza, Adri, Joan, Jessie, Aviva, Marin, and Phoebe. We are certainly “stronger side by side” and your hard work and dedication is so appreciated. Special thanks to my family for making it possible for me to work on this show, your encouragement means the world to me!

Annie Perusek Director, Disney’s Descendants

Please consider helping support our matching grant through The Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Your contribution will go directly towards enhancements and improvements that will make our technical equipment as magical as the Playmakers experience and will give kids and teens the summer of a lifetime at The Francine & Benson Pilloff Family Performing Arts Camp.

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Cast of Characters MAY 4 & 7

Isle of the Lost

Mal ......................................................... Indira Dobbs

Evie ........................................................ Sofia Lazzaro

Jay .......................................................... Lielle Greler

Carlos .................................................... Moriyah Roland

Maleficent .......................................... Bianca NK Bittencourt

Grimhilde (Evil Queen) ........................................ Alexa Zitelli

Jafar .................................................... Daniel Groysman

Cruella De Vil .................................................. Atara Sher

Auradon

Ben ........................................................ Avraham Haas

King Adam/Beast ........................................... Josh Buchner

Queen Belle.

Atara Hochheiser

Fairy Godmother ........................................... Isabella Sweet

Jane .................................................. Louella “Lulu” Segal

Chad ........................................................ Lucy Hinton

Audrey ................................................... Neshama Teller

Doug ..................................................... Shira Glickman

Maurice.................................................. Claire Feldkamp

Coach ................................................... Vivian Goldstein

Snow White ..................................................... Orli Teller

Royal Page ................................... Sophie Brown, Kayla Zeffren

Royal Guard ............................................... Owen Holmes

Auradonian Choir

Eliana Cole Brown, Maggie Carr, Haley Morris, Caroline Siwick

Coronation Crowd

Aya Balkan, Oliver Crabtree, Bella Elmalich, Logan Feher, Eliana Heching, Eleanor Horn, Charlotte Myers, Emma Scher, Kayla Schwartz, Serena Schwartzben, Pearl Segal, Orly Shoag, Cindy Sun, Ayden Zukowsky

Playmakers Jr. Ensemble

Hazel Bruch, Fleur Carr, Sibby Duttweiler, Woodsie Duttweiler, Blaine Feher, Audrey Friedman, Cece Friedman, Coco Johnson, Rosie Johnson, Beatrice Myers, Nili Roland, Caroline Tomer, Daisy Segal, Danika Shaper, Ava Sopko, Ethan Spence

Cast of Characters MAY 14 & 15

Isle of the Lost

Mal ...................................................... Sasha Silverman

Evie ........................................................ Lauren Lyden

Jay ........................................................ Liora Fieldman

Carlos .................................................. Federica Salvagni

Maleficent ............................................... Sadie Schonfeld

Grimhilde (Evil Queen .................................. Kendall Silverstein

Jafar ........................................................ Josh Buchner

Cruella De Vil ................................................Astrid Burkle

Auradon

Ben ........................................................... Maya Zelin

King Adam/Beast ........................................... Lucien Apffel

Queen Belle.

Hannah Lindberg

Fairy Godmother ...................................... Brooke McCullough

Jane ........................................................ Coretta Klein

Chad .................................................... Henry Friedman

Audrey ....................................................Hannah Singer

Doug ..................................................... Sydney Karfeld

Maurice................................................... Sophia Morrow

Coach ....................................................... Talya Phillips

Snow White ............................................... Molly Weingart

Royal Page ................................... Selah Eisenberg, Zorrie Lefko

Royal Guard ............................................ Charlie Schonfeld

Auradonian Choir

Eliana Cole Brown, Kaylie Cohen, Chaya Laytin, Emily Lubow, Rutie Sanders, Margalit Shuck

Coronation Crowd

Isla Brown, Lily Bruch, Oliver Crabtree, Logan Feher, Emily Goldenberg, Anna Graves, Malcolm (Mac) Klein, Sarah Markowitz, Naomi Miller, Harper Stein

Playmakers Jr. Ensemble

Hazel Bruch, Fleur Carr, Sibby Duttweiler, Woodsie Duttweiler, Blaine Feher, Audrey Friedman, Cece Friedman, Coco Johnson, Rosie Johnson, Beatrice Myers, Nili Roland, Daisy Segal, Danika Shaper, Ava Sopko, Ethan Spence

Musical Numbers

Act I

Better Together (Prelude 1) ........................................... Ben

Rotten To the Core (Part 1) .............. Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos, Isle Ensemble

Rotten To the Core (Part 2) .................. Evie, Jay, Carlos, Isle Ensemble

Evil Like Me ............................................... Maleficent, Mal

Be Our Guest (Part 1) .................................... Auradonian Choir

Be our Guest (Part 2) ..............................Chad, Auradonian Choir

Good Is The New Bad (Preprise) ......................... Fairy Godmother

Good Is The New Bad (Part 1) ............ Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos, Auradonians

Good Is The New Bad (Part 2) ..... Douge, Audrey, Chad, Evils, Auradonians

Evil Like ME (Reprise 1) ................................................ Mal

Rotten To The Core (Parents Revenge ) . Maleficent, Jafar, Grimhilde, Cruella

Goal .................. Jay, Carlos, Mal, Evie, Ben, Chad, Coach, Auradonians

Good Is The New Bad (Reprise 1) .............................. Auradonians

Ways To Be Wicked (Preprise) ......................... Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos

Did I Mention (Prelude) ............................................... Ben

Did I mention ........................... Ben, Jay, Carlos, Evie, Auradoninas

Better Together (Prelude 2) ....................................... Ben, Mal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intermission (10 Minutes)

Act II

Space Between ..................................................Mal, Evie

Chillin’ Like A Villain (Part 1) ................................ Evie, Jay, Carlos

Chillin Like A Villain (Part 2) ........................... Evie, Jay, Carlos, Ben

Good Is The New Bad (Reprise 2) .............................. Auradoninas

If Only ........................................................... Mal, Ben

Ways To Be Wicked ...... Audrey, Chad, Evils, Ben, Auradoninas, Evil Parents

Go The Distance ....................................... Auradoninas Choir

Evil Like Me (Reprise 2) ......................................... Maleficent

Better Together ................................................. Company

Break This Down ................................................ Company

Production Team

Director ................................................... Annie Perusek

Assistant Director ........................................... Eliza Kammer

Playmakers Youth Theatre Director ........................... Emma Miller

Music Director ............................................... Joan Bendix

Choreographer ..................................... Adri Powell Lawrence

Playmakers Jr. Director ....................................... Jessie Pollak

Scenic Design ................................................ David Wagar

Graphic Design ............................................ Rifka Claypool

Sound Engineer ............................................ Bobby Vaughn

Lighting ................................................. Hannah Hulewat

Stage Managers .............. Phoebe Litwak, Marin Millstone, Aviva Soclof

K-2 Assistant ................................................ Hannah Light

“Techies” ................... Abs Burkle, Oliver Goldstein, Eliana Lehmann, Emunah Lehmann, Dylan Rocker

Special Thanks

Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, Janice Adell, Debbie Arnold, Romi Balkan, Perry Bataglia, Deborah Bobrow, Glenda Bogar, Jason Bricker, Jill Cappy, Larry Chiu, Kyle Cohen, Ben Crabtree, Michael Cunningham, Jill Davidson, Danielle Eisenberg, Mia Euton Goldstein, Laurie Gross-Kammer, Sheri Gross, Ron Hale, Hawken Middle School, Dave Holland, Desmond Jones, Josh Kammer, The Joseph & Florence Mandel Jewish Day School, Abby Lausin-Berkowitz, Steve Miller and Suzanne Fisher, Kelly Millstone, Andrew Newman, Jack Ovalles, Gary Patrick, Abbey Phillips, Matt Putnam, Nate Ramos, Aaron Reynolds, Jodie Ricci, Jamie Ross, Gil Rubanenko, Sara Shore, Julianna Johnston Senturi, Tami Sidhu, Lindsay Silverstein, Laura Simon, Barbara Smith, David Vegh, Jelanie Watkins, Tom West, the Mandel JCC Support Staff, and all of the supportive volunteers – a million thanks!

Mazal Tov to our Mandel JDS Stars!

Bianca Bittencourt - Maleficent

Liora Fieldman - Jay

Charlie Schonfeld - Royal Guard

Sadie Schonfeld - Maleficent

Sasha Silverman - Mal

Hannah Singer - Audrey

Maya Zelin - Ben

We are so proud of your hard work both on and off the stage! You shine!

You are Our graceful star!

We are blessed to hear your angelic voice and see you shine on stage

Live your dream & Break a leg!

YOUR VERY PROUD MOM, PAPA, NANA, AUNT DEBBY, UNCLE KC, AUNTIE CASSANDRA, AARON AND YOUR CUZZIES KENNY, CASSIDY, & KAMERON

Sofia aka Evie!

We are so proud of your hard work and preparation to perform in this show. We love watching you shine on and off stage.

LOVE, BUBBE AND ZAYDE

We love you Maya Zelin!

You are a star!

LOVE, DAD, MOM, NOAH, SADIE AND ROXIE

Coretta and Mac

We are so excited to see you together on stage! Break a leg!

LOVE FROM ALL YOUR FAMILY FANS

AS ALWAYS, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU Eliana!

We love you, support you, and cheer for you in every step of your life journey! ULI!

MOM & DAD

Sofia,

We are so proud of you for all the effort you put into preparing for the show and your commitment and dedication during a very busy time. We are proud of you today and always!

We love you! Mommy, Daddy, Sammy & Victor

We are so incredibly proud of you!! You will always be our star!!

LOVE, GRANDMA PHYLLIS AND GRANDPA JOE

Sasha

We are so proud of you as you take the stage as Mal in the production of Descendents! You shine as a performer and a beautiful person.

WE LOVE YOU! MOM, DAD, AND RAFI

CONGRATULATIONS

Molly

We are so proud of our favorite reporter.

LOVE, MOM, DAD, RYAN AND FERGIE J. CAT

Dear Molly

We love watching you shine on stage!

LOVE, GRANDMA & GRANDPA AND GRAMMY & ZAIDA

Break a leg

We Love You!

Molly

We love watching you shine on stage!

Love, Grandma & Grandpa and Grammy & Zaida

The Belle of the ball!!

WE LOVE YOU, GRANDY, GRANDPA, AND UNCLE DAVE

EMMA! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND LOVE WATCHING YOU PERFORM! YOU’RE OUR STAR!

LOVE, MOMMY, DADDY, AUDREY AND JULIA

So proud of you Caroline and Haley!

LOVE WATCHING YOU SHINE TOGETHER GIRLS! XOXO

Congratulations Henry & Cece! Lielle!

ALL YOUR HARD WORK IS PAYING OFF!

POPPA AND BUBBE

The most beautiful Jay to grace the stage. Break a leg!

Love you

Mommy, Abba, Maya, Jonah and Zoe

Maggie and fleur!

We can’t wait to see you shining bright on stage!

We are so proud of our Queen Belle!

GOOD LUCK TO HANNAH LINDBERG AND TO THE ENTIRE CAST!

ALL OUR LOVE, MOMMY AND G’PA

LOVE, MOM, DAD AND JOSH

Hannah!

We are so proud of you! Enjoy every minute of the production.

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH! BEBE AND PAPA

We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see you shine on stage as Evie!

LOVE, MOM & DAD

Chaya

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE AN AMAZING SINGER AND DANCER!

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.

Love, Dad

CONGRATULATIONS Indi!

We are so incredibly proud of you and know that you are going to do an amazing job as Mal!

We love you so much. Break a leg!

LOVE, UNCLE KC, AUNTIE CASSANDRA, KENNETH, CASSIDY & KAMERON

Break a leg, Indi!

You’re going to be the best Mal!

Keep on Shining sophia

WE LOVE WATCHING YOU PERFORM.

LOTS OF LOVE, MOM, DAD AND WYATT

~DYLAN, ELLA, & MADDIE

Margalit

We’re So Proud of You!

We know you will be a shining star.

LOVE, BUBBE AND ZAYDE

Selah!

YOU ARE AN AWESOME ROYAL PAGE. CONGRATS ON A GREAT SHOW.

LOVE MOM, DAD, SOLLY, LEVI AND SELAH

Sadie &

Congratulations

“No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.”

- The Greatest Showman

You do you, no matter where that leads you.

WE LOVE YOU, MOM AND DAD

We are so very proud of you!

Eliana Heching

“Did we mention” how proud we are of you and all your Playmakers friends?!

Our love for you is R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!

Keep singing, dancing, and laughing!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

MOMMY, DADDY, ASA AND ZEEVA

You truly are our own BEST Fairy

Godmother.

WE LOVE YOU

Margie!

Playwright.

Imagination. Joy.

And now Actress!

There she goes, Our Sunshine!

NANA, POPSIE & EMA

<3 MOMMY, DADDY, ELIANA, EZRA, AND LEV

Ordinary people show extraordinary kindness and generosity by leaving legacy gifts to organizations that have made an impact on their lives or those close to them.

Swim Team Prep Class

Wednesdays June 7 – July 26

Thursdays June 8 – July 27 6:30-7:30 pm

NEW Youth ages 6 and older looking to further develop backstroke and freestyle strokes will enjoy this summer training class in The J’s outdoor pool. Coaches will focus on the foundations of these two strokes and will explore breaststroke and butterfly. Registration opens May 15

Member $160 / Community $200

JOIN THE J IN MAY

GET ONE MONTH OF CLUB J ON US

Already a member? Here’s how you can get one month of Club J free

• Swipe 10 times in May and be entered in a drawing

• Refer a new member who joins The J

Join us as the curtains rise at Mandel JCC’s largest annual family-friendly fundraising event in celebration of 25 years of Playmakers Youth Theatre.

GET TICKETS • BE A SPONSOR

PURCHASE A PLAYBILL AD

August 23, 2023-June 7, 2024

Introducing a Reimagined Out-of-School Program

• Discover new interests and hobbies

• Create in a variety of mediums

• Play with friends new and old

• Learn while doing homework

• Connect with friends while disconnecting with the school day

Register early for priority access to enrichment classes. Registration opens May 18