2025 PROGRAM
OTTERBEIN SUMMER THEATRE
presents
Created and Originally Directed by TED SWINDLEY
Based on a true story
Directed by Melissa Lusher
Music Direction by Emily Foster & Dennis Davenport
Scenic Design by Isaac Ramsey
Choreography by Halle Audette
Costume Design by Tiffany Howard
Costumes Provided by The REV Theatre Company, Auburn, NY
Lighting Design by T. J. Gerckens*
Sound Design by Jesse Charles
Stage Managed by Savanah Schwartz
June 5-8 & 12-14, 2025
*The Designer is represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall 30 S. Grove St., Westerville
For licensing information on Always...Patsy Cline and all Ted Swindley shows, visit www.alwayspatsycline.com or contact Joan Kovats, (203) 978-0102.
PERFORMERS
CAST
PATSY CLINE ....................................................................................................... Maya Cidale
LOUISE .............................................................................................................. Melody Cohen
JOE BOB (Piano) ....................................................................................... Dennis Davenport^
BILLY BOB (Lead Guitar) ....................... Karl Wohlwend (SUB: Luis Gonzalez 6/6, 6/13)
JAY BOB (Bass) ......................................................................................................Eric Stratton
RAY BOB (Fiddle) .................................. Matthew Opachick (SUB: Davis Hoam 6/7, 6/13)
BOB BOB (Drums) Tomasz Jarzecki^ ^denotes Department of Music Faculty with THE BODACIOUS BOBCATS BAND
PRODUCTION SUPPORT
Author .................................................................................................................. Ted Swindley
Author’s Representative ....................................................................................... Joan Kovats
Business Management Melanie Clark
Licensing Agent ........................................................................................ Erik Kovats-Gibson
Original Music Director .................................................................................... Vicki Masters
Band and Vocal Orchestrations August Eriksmoen, Tony Migliore
Legal Counsel .............................. Clair G. Burrill, Richard Garmise, Sawnie R. Aldredge
PRODUCTION STAFF
Artistic Director ............................................................................................. Lenny Leibowitz
Managing Director ................................................................................... Elizabeth Saltzgiver
Production Manager ......................................................................................... Hannah Hahn
Technical Director ................................................................................................. Olivia Rossi
Costume Coordinator Rebecca White
Costume Shop Supervisor ........................................................................... Anna Grywalski
Lighting Supervisor .......................................................................................... Nicole Hunter
Administrative Assistant Allison Hunter
Assistant Stage Manager ....................................................................................... Gail Sparks
Carpenter .....................................................................................................................JT Baniak
Scenic Charge Artist Natalie Neville
Properties Lead........................................................................................................ Nick Hahn
Wardrobe Lead/Run Crew ..................................................................................Vivian Steele
Lead Electrician/Board Operator Stephen O’Hara
Follow Spot Operators .....................................................Kevin Campbell, Helen Sminkey
Sound Engineer (A1) ............................................................................................. River Perry
Technical Apprentice: General Helen Sminkey
Technical Apprentice: Scenery/Paints/Props .................................................... Dean Buford
Technical Apprentice: Wardrobe............................................................. Theodore Marshall
Technical Apprentice: Lighting/Sound ....................................................... Kevin Campbell
Graphic Designer .................................................................................................... Trevor List
Social Media Team Maya Cidale, Jane Cook, Ana Kusenberger, Katelyn Miller
Company Manager/Box Office Manager ........................................................ Cami Borders
Front of House Manager/Digital Media ......................................................... Maggie Glanc
PRODUCTION NOTE
A haze effect will be used during this performance.
The action of the play takes place at Louise’s kitchen table, and at various places from Patsy Cline’s career, including The Grand Ole Opry, The Arthur Godfrey Show, The Esquire Ballroom, and a Houston radio station.
The time is the past (circa 1957-63) to the present.
THE SONGS
Musical clearances secured and used by permission.
ACT I
HONKY TONK MERRY GO ROUND
Frank Simon/Stan Gardner Acuff Rose Music, Inc.
BACK IN BABY’S ARMS Bob Montgomery Talmont Muisc, Inc.
ANYTIME Herbert Happy Lawson Unichappel Music, Inc.
WALKIN’ AFTER MIDNIGHT
Don Hecht/Alan Block Acuff Rose Music, Inc.
I FALL TO PIECES
Hank Cochran/Harlan Howard Sony/Tree Publishing, Inc.
IT WASN’T GOD WHO MADE HONKY TONK ANGELS
JD Miller Peer International, Co.
COME ON IN (AND SIT RIGHT DOWN)
VF “Pappy” Stewart Acuff Rose Music, Inc.
YOUR CHEATIN’ HEART
Hank Williams, Sr. Acuff Rose Music, Inc./Warner Chappel
STUPID CUPID Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield EMI Music Publishing
YOU BELONG TO ME
King/Price/Stewart Ridgeway Music
SAN ANTONIO ROSE Bob Wills Bourne Co.
LOVESICK BLUES
Irving Mills/C. Friend EMI Music Publishing
15-MINUTE INTERMISSION
THE SONGS
ACT II
SWEET DREAMS Don Gibson
Acuff Rose Music, Inc.
SHE’S GOT YOU Hank Cochran
Sony/Tree Publishing, Co.
THREE CIGARETTES IN AN ASHTRAY
Acuff Rose Music, Inc.
Eddie Miller/WS Stevenson
CRAZY Willie Nelson
Sony/Tree Publishing
SEVEN LONELY DAYS
Earl Schuman/Walden Schuman/Marshall Brown Music Sales, Corp.
IF I COULD SEE THE WORLD (THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD) Sammy Masters/ MCA Publishing Richard Pope
JUST A CLOSER WALK (Traditional)
BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY Bill Monroe
Peer International, Inc.
GOTTA LOTTA RHYTHM
Acuff Rose Music, Inc.
Barbara Ann Vaughn/WS Stevenson
SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL Charles Calhoun
Unichappel Music, Inc.
FADED LOVE
Warner Chappell
John Wills/Bob Wills
HOW GREAT THOU ART (Traditional)
TRUE LOVE Cole Porter
Warner Chappell
IF YOU’VE GOT LEAVIN’ ON YOUR MIND
Polygram International
Wayne Walker/Webb Pierce
BILL BAILEY (Traditional)
Any taping, filming, recording or broadcast of this play (musical or otherwise) is strictly prohibited.
BIOGRAPHIES
Maya Cidale (Patsy) is a BFA Musical Theatre major at Otterbein University and is proud to make both her OST and professional theatre debut this season! To see more from her, come see Otterbein University’s production of Urinetown this fall, in which she will play the role of Penelope Pennywise, a dream role in her book. In her free time, you can find Maya flying helicopters, experimenting in her kitchen, and watching videos of her dog, Samba. She would like to thank the cast and crew of the show for their tireless work, Melissa Lusher for her kind guidance, and her friends and family for the light they bring into her life. She would like to dedicate this run of performances to her dearly departed first voice teacher, Divy Nelson, who introduced her to Patsy in her earliest stages of performance. Love, always…Maya Cidale.
Melody Cohen (Louise) is a rising senior Musical Theatre major and Race and Ethnic Studies minor from San Francisco, California. Past shows include Footloose (Rusty), Natasha, Pierre… (Ensemble/US Marya), Beehive! (Gina), 9 to 5 (Roz), Fairview (Keisha), and more. She is so grateful to be a part of this beast of a show, and to be doing it with such a wonderful stage partner as Maya! She’d like to thank Melissa Lusher for pushing her outside of her comfort zone in the best way possible as well as Savanah and Gail for keeping up with all of her line notes. Lastly, she would like to thank Simone and 2E for listening to her do all of the monologues for hours on end at home! Love, Always.
Melissa Lusher (Director) is a tenured Professor of acting, speech, and dialects in the Department of Theatre and Dance, where she also serves as the Director of the BFA Acting Program. Melissa holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the combined program of Carnegie Mellon University and the Moscow Art Theatre, and a B.F.A. in Acting from Carnegie Mellon. She is also a certified teacher of the Michael Chekhov acting technique through the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium. She was deeply honored to receive Otterbein’s 2018 Teacher of the Year award. Otterbein directing credits include Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Everybody, A Lie of the Mind, Chicago (named one of the Best 10 Productions of 2019 by the Columbus Dispatch), “Master Harold”... and the Boys, Rumors, The Crucible, RENT, The Greeks: The Murders, No Exit, and Spring Awakening (named one of the Best 10 Productions of 2012 by the Columbus Dispatch). Favorite roles include Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Otterbein), Barbara in August: Osage County (Otterbein), Goneril in King Lear (Actors’ Theatre), Clytemnestra in The Greeks (Moscow Art Theatre), Marina in Volodya (LaMaMa E.T.C.), and the title role in Miss Julie (CMU). Melissa sends her gratitude to the entire company of Always… Patsy Cline for bringing this story to life with such heart.
Dennis Davenport (Co-Music Director) is a Professor of Music at Otterbein. He teaches in the BFA Musical Theatre program and in general education for the First Year Experience, Honors, and Senior Year Experience programs. Recent music direction includes I Do! I Do!, Baby, Pirates of Penzance, Forever Plaid and Beehive for Otterbein Summer Theatre, and The Pajama Game and Cabaret for Otterbein Theatre.
Emily Foster (Co-Music Director) is a pianist, teacher, and musicologist based in Columbus, OH. Emily is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at The Ohio State University, where she studies with Dr. Caroline Hong. Emily holds master’s degrees in both Piano Performance and Musicology from Ohio State. She earned her bachelor’s in Piano Performance from the Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music (CCM). While at Ohio State, Emily has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including a University Fellowship, the Irma Cooper Graduate Travel Grant, and the 2025 Outstanding Graduate Student Award. An active performer and collaborator, Emily appeared on stage in CCM’s “A View From the Edge” series. She has also served as collaborative pianist for the University of Cincinnati’s Alta Petit treble chorus and the Indianola Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir.
BIOGRAPHIES
Halle Audette (Choreographer) is grateful for the opportunity to be on both sides of the table this OST season! Later this summer season, you can see Halle’s production of [Title of Show] she will be directing for the night of One Acts on June 25th. Also presented that night will be Suppressed Desires directed by Simone Gelety. Halle also will be onstage playing Joan in Dames at Sea this summer. Thank you to Lenny, Elizabeth, and OST’s wonderful audiences for supporting her dreams of both creating and performing musical theatre. Her Otterbein credits include Footloose (Betty Blast/US Ariel), Natasha, Pierre… (Princess Mary/Guitar), 9 to 5 (Ensemble), Dance 2023: Escape to Wonderland (Queen of Hearts), Cabaret (Lulu), Bright Star (Spirit), and Dance 2022: Find Me in The Shadows (The Mistress). She would love to thank Melissa, Maya, and Melody for the absolute joy in the rehearsal room! Proud to be your ellipsis… ! @halleaudette
Isaac Ramsey (Scenic Designer) is the Associate Professor of Scenic Design and joined the theatre and dance faculty in 2022. He teaches courses in Scenic Design, Scenic Painting, Computer Graphics, and Period Styles in addition to mentoring student designers and painters. At Otterbein, Isaac has designed scenery for Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812, The Importance of Being Earnest, Beehive, 9 to 5, Cabaret, Everybody, Bright Star, Dance 2022: Find Me in the Shadows, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Prior to coming to Otterbein, Isaac served as the Associate Professor of Scenic Design at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, GA where he designed many productions including Green Day’s American Idiot, Puffs, Ride the Cyclone, and A Doll’s House Part 2. He is active in several professional organizations and is a regular presenter at the Southeastern Theatre Conference, where he has taught workshops on 3D Printing, Model Making, and Rendering in Procreate. He has designed regionally at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Actor’s Express (ATL), and The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio here in Columbus. Isaac is a central Ohio native and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Miami University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut. In addition to his theatrical work, Isaac is a theatrical and headshot photographer, muralist, and dad. Much love to Rowan and Freya. Portfolio: www.isaacramsey.net (Costume Designer)
Rebecca White (Costume Coordinator) Rebecca holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Specializing in Costume Design, Clothing History, Costume Crafts, and Stage Makeup, Rebecca has been leading the costume area at Otterbein since 2007. In addition to numerous Otterbein University productions, she has had the privilege to design or construct costumes for The Santa Fe Opera, Otterbein Summer Theatre, Denison University, Short North Stage, the Minnesota Centennial Showboat, Park Square Theatre, The Milwaukee Rep, and internationally for equine performer Luke Gingerich. Rebecca is the Director of Design & Technology at Otterbein and leads the student recruitment efforts for all designers, artisans, technicians, and stage managers that make Otterbein productions look, sound, and run so brilliantly. Some of Rebecca’s favorite costume designs at Otterbein include School for Scandal, A little Night Music, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which received a Peggy Ezekiel Award of Outstanding Achievement from the USITT Ohio Valley Section.
TJ Gerckens (Lighting Designer) is the lighting design faculty member at Otterbein University, a USA829 Union Lighting Designer, and proud Otterbein alumnus. At Otterbein, he has designed the lighting for Footloose, 9 to 5, Bright Star, Dance 2022: Find me in the Shadows (with Lucas Fragiotta and Sage Wuertzer), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Into a Lamplit Room, Dance 2020: The Wild Within (with John Diver), Chicago, Oklahoma!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Diary of Anne Frank, Adding Machine: A Musical, Damn Yankees, Dance 2016: The Goddess, The Crucible, Fiddler on the Roof, Dance 2015: Famously Yours...Forever, Dance 2014: Tell-Tale Poe, and Into the Woods. As a freelance lighting designer, T.J. has been part of the design team for the Tony Award winner
BIOGRAPHIES
and MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Mary Zimmerman for the last 30+ years. Most recently, he designed lighting for the world premiere of the Matchbox Magic Flute at the Goodman and subsequent productions in Washington DC and California, Swan Lake for the Australian Ballet performing in 4 cities and at the Sydney Opera House, Florencia en el Amazonas and the new opera Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl and Matthew Aucoin at the Metropolitan Opera, The Notebooks of Leonardo DaVinci in Chicago, Washington DC, and San Diego, The Music Man at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, the world premiere of The Steadfast Tin Soldier at Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre, the recent revival of Metamorphoses at the Guthrie Theatre and Berkeley Rep, and Rusalka at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. Other notable designs include The Odyssey at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Guys & Dolls in L.A., and Treasure Island at the Lookingglass Theatre and Berkeley Rep. His lighting designs have been seen at regional theatres across the United States, on and off Broadway, and at the Metropolitan Opera. Internationally, he has designed in England, Australia, and at the LaScala Opera House in Milan, Italy. He has received numerous awards for his designs including New York’s Drama Desk Award and Lortel Awards for his lighting of Metamorphoses on and off Broadway, Jefferson Awards for The Odyssey and Metamorphoses in Chicago, and an award for “Exemplifying the Art of Collaboration” given to the Zimmerman design team by Entertainment Design Magazine. T.J. holds a BFA from Otterbein University and an MFA from Boston University. He is married to set designer and scenic artist Stephanie R. Gerckens.
Jesse Charles (Sound Designer) Born from a love of music, Jesse developed an interest in audio production. In high school, Jesse experimented with and learned how to use the school’s audio equipment. Following an internship at WOSU, Jesse earned a certificate from The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, OH. Since then, he has freelanced all over Columbus, Ohio, working for Vaud-Villities, Imagine Productions, Actor’s Theater (Shakespeare In The Park), The Kings Avenue Players, Redd Herring Productions, CCT, and The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio.
Savanah Schwartz (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back for a second season at OST! She is an incoming senior BFA Stage Management major at Millikin University in Decatur, IL. Previous Professional credits include Stage Manager for Beehive: the 60s Musical & Forever Plaid (OST 2024). Other select credits include Stage Manager for Joseph… Dreamcoat and ASM for Zombie Prom, & Elf: the Musical (Millikin University), Stage Manager for 25th…Spelling Bee, and Director for The Grown Ups (Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre). She would like to thank her parents for their ongoing support and the OST team for bringing her back for another summer. She hopes you all enjoy the show!
Ted Swindley (Creator & Original Director) For over twenty-five years, Ted Swindley has directed and/or produced over 200 plays. He is nationally known for creating the hit musical Always…Patsy Cline, which opened in New York in June, 1997, while continuing to play throughout the world. Some of his outstanding directorial credits include World Premieres, Classics and Musicals including Pacific Overtures, Follies, and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, and rotating repertory projects such as Thornton Wilder’s Our Town with The Skin Of Our Teeth and Dangerous Liaisons with The Importance Of Being Earnest. Mr. Swindley was named to Esquire magazine’s register of Americans for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Letters and was featured in Southern Living magazine. He was the recipient of the Los Angeles Dramalogue Award for Outstanding Direction and nominated for the prestigious Los Angeles Critics Award for his work at the Pasadena Playhouse. He has been a member of the prestigious Writers and Directors Unit of New York’s famed Actors Studio. As Playwright and Director, Mr. Swindley created the hit musical Always…Patsy Cline, which has been produced all over the world. Mr. Swindley has served as dramaturg on numerous new plays which had their premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston. Internationally, he has directed touring productions in the UK and Australia.
BIOGRAPHIES
Lenny Leibowitz (Artistic Director) is in his tenth year as a member of the Otterbein Theatre faculty. Since his arrival in Westerville, Lenny has recently directed Footloose, Forever Plaid, Cabaret, Our Town, The Pirates of Penzance, Side by Side by Sondheim, The Pajama Game, An Enemy of the People, Guys & Dolls, Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Into the Woods, Baby, Clybourne Park, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Top Girls, Fiddler on the Roof, Radium Girls, Hay Fever, and Adding Machine: A Musical. Lenny will next be directing The Last Five Years for The Contemporary in Columbus. As founding artistic director of Marvell Rep, Off-Broadway, Lenny directed 11 productions, including The Threepenny Opera, which received a Drama Desk nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. Other New York directing credits include the world premiere of Brian Yorkey’s Making Tracks, which ran Off-Broadway at Rockefeller Center’s Taipei Theater. Lenny has directed at some of the nation’s leading regional theatres including the Olney Theatre, the National Players, the Huntington Theatre’s Breaking Ground Festival, and the New Harmony Theatre, where he was artistic director for four years. A Philadelphia native, he made his professional debut as a piano soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He received his B.A. from Columbia University and his M.F.A. from Boston University. Member, SDC and AEA.
Elizabeth Saltzgiver (Managing Director) is celebrating her 25th year with Otterbein University Theatre & Dance. While the years have flown by, she is overwhelmed by the number of people she has had the good fortune to meet at the theater and to work with here at Otterbein. Her experience in Arts Administration includes work for the Ohio Arts Council, dhc productions, the Westerville Symphony, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Ohio Light Opera, Ashland University College of Arts and Sciences, and the Ashland Balloon Fest. Elizabeth holds a B.A. in Music and Business from Otterbein University and is currently Treasurer for the Columbus Arts Marketing Association. Thank you for your continued support of the arts and, especially, Otterbein Summer Theatre.
Hannah Hahn (Production Manager) joined the Theatre & Dance faculty/staff in the fall of 2022 as the Production Manager and Stage Management Mentor. She teaches and mentors student stage managers along with production-related duties. Hannah’s most recent local stage management credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest (Otterbein), Skeleton Crew (The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio), Rigoletto (Opera Columbus), and I Do! I Do! (Otterbein Summer Theatre). Additionally, Hannah stage manages the CAPA Marquee Awards Showcase each year – a Columbus-based theatre education program that feeds into the national Jimmy Awards for high school students. She has worked with the program in many capacities since its inaugural year in 2019. She enjoys teaching and sharing her experiences as a stage manager through workshops and Thespy adjudication at various state Thespian Festivals and International Thespian Festival each year. You might even catch her as a CAPA House Manager at the Riffe Center Theatre Complex or the historic Southern Theatre. Hannah holds a BFA in Theatre Design & Technology from Otterbein University. www.HannahHahn.net
Olivia Rossi (Technical Director) has been absolutely “Crazy” about this show! Every day she goes “Walking After Midnight” to think about how awesome her crew is. Rossi has gotten very used to working on this show and thinks it will be “Strange” to move onto the next show. One might say she will “Fall to Pieces” once the show is over. She would like to thank her family, her crew, and Kate Larson for supporting her through this show. Oh yeah! #Techyeah #teamgirl
JT Baniak (Carpenter) is a fourth year Theatre Major attending The Ohio State University. He has been doing theatre for most of his life and has worked on sets for a number of different shows and companies. He is so excited to be working with Otterbein for the summer!
BIOGRAPHIES
Cami Borders (Company Manager & Box Office Manager) is a rising senior from Bexley, OH. She is an English and History double major and has worked in the Otterbein Box Office since her freshman year. She has had a lifelong passion for theater and is excited to be involved in Otterbein Summer Theatre. She wants to thank her parents, friends, and Elizabeth for all of their support! She hopes you enjoy the show!
Dean Buford (Technical Apprentice: Scenery/Paints/Props) This is Dean’s first summer at OST. He is going into his sophomore year at Otterbein this fall and is very excited to contribute to such an excellent theatre.
Kevin Campbell II (Technical Apprentice: Lighting & Sound) is a fourth-year theatre major at The Ohio State University. He is from Canton, Ohio and specializes in lighting design.
Maggie Glanc (Front of House Manager) is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and is excited to take part in her third Otterbein Summer Theatre season! Maggie just graduated from Otterbein this past May with a degree in AYA Integrated Social Studies. She hopes to work in her own high school or middle school social studies classroom in the fall. When Maggie is not working or job-searching, she can be found crocheting, spending time with family, watching horror movies, and more. Lastly, she is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of OST this summer and would like to thank Elizabeth for her constant support and encouragement. She would also like to thank her Papa Ray, who she misses dearly, for sharing his love for theatre with her and allowing her to be where she is today!
Nick Hahn (Properties Lead) is a Technical Director, Scenic Designer, Props Artisan, and published Playwright based in Columbus, Ohio. A graduate of Otterbein University’s theatre program, Nick has worked all over Columbus and the United States, most notably as the Assistant Technical Director and then Technical Director at the Short North Stage. Nick is also the former Technical Director at the Wellington School, where he rebuilt the technical theatre curriculum from the ground up. Nick is currently the Technical Director at Dublin Jerome High School. Nick would like to thank you for supporting local live theatre. www.nickhahntheatre.com.
Allison Hunter (Administrative Assistant) has dabbled in almost every corner of theatre she could since middle school, starting out as a performer and eventually landing backstage as a technician and stage manager. She is very excited to add a new role to that list as Otterbein’s new Theatre & Dance Administrator. Thank you for supporting the arts, and enjoy the show!
Tomasz Jarzecki (Drums), originally from Poland, is a Columbus based drummer/percussionist. He is a graduate of University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where he completed BM and MM in percussion performance. Tomasz is a self-proclaimed “jack-of-allgenres,” and likes to perform in various musical settings. From a symphony stage to a country band stand, he’s done it. Tomasz can be seen performing regularly for Otterbein University’s theatre productions, OSU opera productions, Columbus Children Theatre, as well as smaller productions throughout the city. On a national level, he was a percussionist for two national tours of the 2001 Broadway revival of the musical Oklahoma! He has played drums for many local bands, including Juke Joint Saints, Christy Angeletti Band, Ray Massa’s Eurorhythms, In Full Swing Big Band, Clavesonic Latin Jazz Project, Big Rockin’ Blues Band, and others. As of 2024, Tomasz is in his 6th year teaching as an adjunct at Otterbein’s Music department where he has taught Percussion Methods class to BME freshmen students, percussion lessons to both majors and non-majors, and has directed the Otterbein University Percussion Ensemble.
BIOGRAPHIES
Dani Kirkham (Carpenter) is a current Otterbein student. They will graduate in 2028. They were recently assistant lead props for Otterbein’s The Laramie Project as well as a Carpenter for Footloose. Outside of theater, they are working on their emergency medicine certifications through The Red Cross. Enjoy the show!
Theodore Marshall (Technical Apprentice: Wardrobe), a rising junior at Otterbein University, is grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate his progress in his first professional theatre job.
Natalie Neville (Charge Artist) is a senior Design/Technology major here at Otterbein. She is happy to be back and painting for another OST season! In her free time, she likes to go on sweet treat runs, read, go on adventures, and collect trinkets. She hopes you enjoy the show and sends love to the entire cast and crew. #techyeah #teamgirl #BOOM
Stephen O’Hara (Lead Electrician) is thrilled to be back for his second season with Otterbein Summer Theatre. Originally from the Cincinnati, OH area, Stephen is a junior BFA Design/ Technology major at Otterbein. His Otterbein credits include Footloose, The Laramie Project, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, The Importance of Being Earnest, 9 to 5, and Cabaret. In his spare time, Stephen enjoys true crime podcasts, cooking, and curling up with a good book. All my love as always to Mom, Dad and Chaz.
Matt Opachick (Fiddler) is currently a Studio Instructor of Fiddle and Guitar at Denison University. He is also one of the Orchestra Directors in the Granville Exempted Village School District, which includes roles as the Assistant Director of the Middle School and High School Orchestras, and Orchestra Director of the Intermediate School. Matt holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Capital University and is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Music Education from Eastern Washington University. He is an avid fiddler in Central Ohio playing with bands such as The Wayfarers, who have shared the stage with some of the biggest names in bluegrass and country music, including Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, and Dailey & Vincent. Matt’s musical background gives him a wealth of experience teaching students at all levels – from beginner to advanced and beyond. He currently lives in Johnstown, Ohio, with his wife and two children. In his free time, Matt enjoys attending arts festivals, experiencing new restaurants, and staying active.
River Perry (Sound A1) is an audio technician and designer with a BFA in technical theater from Marietta College. He has also been training in lighting design and engineering, voice acting, and fiction writing. He gives thanks to his mom, his dog, and his mentors for pushing him to be the best version of himself possible.
Helen Sminkey (General Technical Apprentice) is a rising sophomore Design/Technology major from Elgin, OK. This is her first summer working for OST, but has previously worked on productions at Otterbein including The Laramie Project, and Footloose. Helen is extremely grateful to have the opportunity to work for OST this summer. She is having a lot of fun working with her friends and spending the summer making theatre. Finally, she would like to thank her family and friends for all the love and support. Enjoy the show! #teamgirl
Gail Sparks (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore BA Theatre major at Otterbein. They were previously Stage Manager for Yo Ho and Assistant Stage Manager for The Laramie Project. Their favorite song from the musical is “Stupid Cupid.” Enjoy the show!
BIOGRAPHIES
Vivian Steele (Wardrobe Lead) is a rising sophomore in the Design/Technology Theatre program at Otterbein University with a focus in costume design and construction. As a Texas girl with a love for country music, she could not be more thrilled to work on this show. When she’s not sewing or sketching, she can be found looking for trinkets, lurking on Letterboxd, and squirreling away stickers for her junk journal. She’d like to thank her friends, folks, and faculty for their support! Enjoy the show! #teamgirl viviansteele.com
Eric Stratton (Bass) is a bassist and guitarist from Westerville, Ohio. He graduated from Otterbein University in 2019 with degrees in Double Bass Performance and Jazz Studies, and enjoys playing a variety of genres, ranging from classical to jazz to rock and metal. Musical theatre is one of Eric’s favorite performing opportunities, and his credits include Short North Stage, Columbus Children’s Theatre, and the Contemporary Theatre of Ohio. Eric is also a piano tuner and technician serving the Central Ohio Area.
Karl Wohlwend (Guitar) has performed across North America, Europe, and Asia, playing guitar in various styles and settings. He holds a master’s degree in classical guitar performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with John Holmquist. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of South Carolina, where he studied with Christopher Berg. Wohlwend served on the faculties of The Ohio State University, Capital University, Otterbein University, and Ohio Wesleyan University. He coordinated the jazz/improvisation program for the Chamber Music Connection, and served on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s Classical Guitar Workshop for twenty years.
HONORARY CAST LIST
The entire company extends special gratitude to those who have donated so generously to the 2025 Otterbein Summer Theatre Season. (This donor list only reflects gifts made to the Summer Theatre Patron Fund in 2025.)
Producer ($5,000+)
Oakland Nursery
Paul S. & Sheila Reiner
Director ($1,000-$4,999)
Margaret & Richard Doone
Al & Louise Minor
Charles & Maruja Paule
Carmenza Gutierrez
Vince & Gayle Herried
Vinny Herwig
Emily Hobson
Lynda Huey
Barbara Hughes
Ron & Suzi Jones
Suzanne Martin
William A. McCartney
Pearson McWane
Thomas Mertzlufft
Rebecca Coleman Princehorn & Clay Cormany
Stan & Becky Regas
Karen Russell
Frank Shyjka
Jane Sprague
Ellen Stukenberg
Michelle Wilson Toney
Elizabeth Tracy
Joe Webber
Wirt Whittaker
David C. & Nancy E. Smith Evans
John T. Huston
Douglas R. & Mary Pat Knight
Ron & Susan Musick
Dennis O. & Sue Ann Norton
Roberta Scherer
Designer ($500-$999) Diva ($250-$499)
Edmund & Diane Daily Cox
Brent & Nancy DeVore
Mark Havanec
David Lambert
Brad Ostroff
Patricia Ryan
Jane Schriver
Douglas R. Smeltz
David & Beckey Stamm
Jon & Joyce Stonebraker
Carl & Judith Weaver
Norma F. Worley
Gloria Absi
Richard Arendt & Karen Miller
Patricia Balassone
Thomas & Paula Blue
Carol Boehm
Chip Bruchac
Mike & Gloria Burns
Len & Sharon Bussard
Candyce Canzoneri
Barbara Clapham
David Clark
Alan & Christy Coupland
John & Sharon Davis
Diane Driessen
Margaret English Duffy
Susan R. Fagan
Reynaldo Fagundes
James Farmer
Brian & Sandy Freer
Mark A. Geary
Jack George
James & Martha Owens
Pamela Park-Curry
Nancy Paul
Alison Prindle
Jeff & Veronica Reutter
Elizabeth A. Salt
Albert & Louise Siegel
Ronald G. & Linda Simpson
Alan E. & Linda Smith
Bruce Storts
Janice Townsley
John Volpi
David B. & Joyce Shannon Warner
Laua Cean Wilson
Craig & Carol Young
Anonymous
David & Susan Arnold
Kay F. Ball
Janet Barker-Stonerook
Fred & Patricia Baum
Pat & Linda Blayney
Eileen & Bob Brenner
Mark & Elise Byers
Ted R. Chaney
Deborah L. Coleman
Mary Devore
Keith Dufrane
James & Ramona Edman
Edward Finley
Mary Kay Forster
Lee Fredette
Peggy Garrison & Kenneth Truman
Joanne Swank Gillum
James Gieseke
Philip & Kathleen Gross
John & Beth Gwynn
Mary Heubach
Douglas & Joan Hoover
J. Thomas & Kathleen Jones
David Kandel
Joanne Kosanke
Greg Margulies
Nancy McClees
Jerry & Judi Miller
Bonnie Moses
Ann & Joseph Ottobre
Mark & Carol Pochodylo
Cynthia Adams
James Allen
Madalyn Benjamin
William Bickell
David Binkovitz
Judyth Box
Larry & Margaret Cepek
Mike & Judy Christian
Beverly Cochran
Luna Cummins
Anita Ebbert
Edwin A. Geer
Beverly Green
Francine Harris
Ron & Mary Armstrong Hooker
Susan Howson
Nancy Kenish
Ron & Beth Kenreich
Mary Krause
Barbara Limbert
Barbara L. Martin
Tom & Sandy Masterson
William & Karen Mattes
Jean Mauger
Beth Maxwell
Cecilia McAdams
Mary McRury
Susan Park
Patricia Parsons
James E. Paxton
David & Dorothy Pritchard
Carol Rich
Quincy Robe
Virginia Rogers
Victor Saylor & Anni Efthimiou
Nancy Settles
Rose Sobel
Marcia Staub
Ron & Diann Smith
Gypsy Stultz
James Tarpoff
Dianne Thompson
Jean Trimble
Christine Troutman
Kay Wagner
Carolyn & Joseph Waleko
Joel & Barbara Weaver
David L. Woodyard
Linda Worster
Please join us for a new Otterbein Summer Theatre program, One by One, An Evening of One-Acts.
Halle Audette (‘26) and Simone Gelety (‘26), recipients of the Pamela Hill Lorr Theatre Award, which recognizes and encourages outstanding student directors, will direct their peers on the Cowan Hall Fritsche Theatre stage in two distinctly different, but very entertaining pieces, a play and a musical, all in one evening!
[title of show]
Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, hear about a new musical theatre festival. However, the deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away! With nothing to lose, the pair decides to try to create something new with the help of their friends Susan, Heidi and Larry. They make a pact to write up until the festival’s deadline and dream about the show changing their lives, but what to call it? ... [title of show] -- taken from the space on the festival’s application form which asks for the “[title of show]” -- follows Hunter and Jeff and their friends on their journey through the gauntlet of creative self-expression in this love letter to musical theatre.
Suppressed Desires
A comedic satire on the popular and often misguided application of psychoanalysis, the play centers on Henrietta, a woman obsessed with the phenomenon, who creates a ridiculous interpretation of her husband’s dream, almost causing a divorce! First published in 1924, it’s a lighthearted look at how people can get carried away with the ideas of the day
June 25 - 7:30pm - Admission is Free - General Admission Seating
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EPIC IMAGINATION INTIMATE ENCOUNTERS
LATECOMER'S POLICY
The House Manager may seat latecomers only during times which minimize disruption of the performance. The management accepts no responsibility for inconvenience to latecomers and can make no adjustment because of it.
FIRE NOTICE
The exits are indicated by red lights. In the event of fire or any other emergency, please do not run — walk to the exit as directed by theatre management.
CAMERAS AND RECORDING DEVICES
The use of recording equipment and the taking of photographs during the performance are strictly prohibited.
RESTROOMS
Restrooms are located both on the ground level and in the basement of Cowan Hall. Additional restrooms are available across the street in Roush Hall.
Assistive Listening Devices are available at the Box Office upon request.
THE 2025 OTTERBEIN SUMMER THEATRE SEASON IS PRODUCED WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM:
