SHOW DATES & TIMES:
October 11-12 - 7:30 PM; October 13 - 2:30 PM
October 17, 18, 19 - 7:30 PM; October 20 - 2:30 PM
LETTER FROM OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT
DAVID LAWRENCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David Lawrence | President
Vannessia Klinsky | Vice President
Ryan Buresh | Treasurer
Jim Miller | Secretary
It has been an incredible journey for Revival Theatre Company over the past decade. An idea was hatched in a few living rooms around Cedar Rapids that a professional theatre company using local talent and professional actors from around the country was not only possible but would fill an artistic need in our community. Now, ten years later, RTC has emerged through both economic struggles and personal tragedy to be stronger than ever and ready to start its next decade of professional musical theatre.
We have seen tremendous growth in the past year, with expanded props and costume storage at the Cherry Building, a new rehearsal hall, and our administrative office and performance hall at CSPS. None of this would be possible without YOU and the generous support of countless individual donors. I would encourage everyone who enjoys their experience to consider investing in RTC’s future.
Finally, I invite you to become a season subscriber and enjoy the courtesies we have to offer you as a patron. Thank you for your enthusiastic support of RTC, a jewel of our community and region.
See you at the theatre!
Nina Brundell
Julie Kraft
Lorelle Lindo
Abby Scheitlin
Janet Shepherd-Meier
Susie Streit
Jill Wilkins
Victor/Victoria
by Tint
Photography
LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
BRIAN GLICK
For ten years it’s been an honor to bring many wonderful and inspiring musicals to the stage. The people I’ve come to know as RTC advocates have cemented the idea that RTC is meant to be here at this time. RTC was founded on being the premiere place to see exceptional musical theatre. A place where excellence in art was key to what we do, every day. Some of the greatest composers and lyricists of the American musical have graced our stages, and this season will be no different.
Our tenth season is eclectic and includes works like the funny and endearing musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The surging score of how a family comes to terms through the struggle of mental illness in the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical, Next to Normal , and the hilarious, poignant, and flamboyant musical love story La Cage aux Folles starring ZaZa and featuring the fabulous Cagelles. A glorious season awaits.
We have much to be thankful for, a vibrant and growing company, spectacular creative teams and gifted artists. Relationships are the bedrock of the arts and we couldn’t do it without you. Cheers to year ten, and a transcending experience with one of the greatest artforms there is, the American Musical Theatre.
On with the show!
FOUNDING BOARD
Nina Brundell
Steve Ginsberg
IN MEMORIAM
Carma Lou Beck
Brian Glick
Vannessia Klinsky
Cameron Sullenberger
Tiffany O’Donnell
Matt Stoner
CREATIVE TEAM
WILLIAM FINN
{ Music / Lyrics }
William Finn (Music and Lyrics) is the writer and composer of Falsettos , for which he received two Tony Awards, Best Book of a Musical (with James Lapine) and Best Original Score. He has also written and composed In Trousers, March of the Falsettos, and Falsettoland (Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, two Los Angeles Drama Critic's Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, the Lucille Lortel Award, and Guggenheim Fellowship in Musical Composition).
Mr. Finn wrote the lyrics to Graciela Daniele's Tango Apasionado (music by the great Astor Piazzolla) and, with Michael Starobin, the music to Lapine's version of The Winter's Tale . His musical, Romance in Hard Times, was presented
at the Public Theater. Recently, he wrote Painting You for Love's Fire , a piece commissioned and performed by the Acting Company, based on Shakespeare's sonnets. For television, Mr. Finn provided the music and lyrics for the Ace Awardwinning HBO cartoon "Ira Sleeps Over," "Tom Thumb and Thumbelina," "Pokey Little Puppy's First Christmas," and, with Ellen Fitzhugh, two "Brave Little Toaster" cartoons. Mr. Finn has written for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and The New Yorker. A graduate of Williams College where he was awarded the Hutchinson Fellowship for Musical Composition, Mr. Finn now teaches a weekly master class at the NYU Tisch Graduate Program in Musical Theatre Writing. His most recent projects include Elegies, A Song Cycle (Lincoln Center), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which ran on Broadway and has been produced nationally and internationally, as well.
Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Tony, Drama Desk awards); Off-Broadway: Striking 12 (Lucille Lortel nomination), Off-Off: Serenade. Regional: Guthrie, Little House on the Prairie; Center Theatre Group, Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Los Angeles Ovation Award); London: Blood Drive. Residencies, fellowships, and commissions include: Eugene O'Neill National Theater Center, Baryshnikov Dance Foundation, MacDowell Colony, Manhattan Theatre Club, Deaf West, McCarter Theatre, Playwrights Horizons. Rachel is a volunteer mentor for TDF's Open Doors program, a visiting instructor at Yale School of Drama, and adjunct faculty member of NYU's Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program.
REBECCA FELDMAN
{ Co ncei ver }
Rebecca Feldman is the conceiver of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for which she won a Lucille Lortel Award, Drama Desk, and Tony Nomination for Best Musical. She directed its world premiere at Barrington Stage Company in the summer of 2004. Rebecca is Associate Producer on Transparent , the Musical Finale and served as Staff Writer on the finale as well. She is currently developing an episodic drama with Big Kid Pictures, called La Coyote , which has been selected to the WeForShe’s 2019 Write her List She is an alumna of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab as well as the AFI Directing Workshop for
Women where she won the Jean Firstenburg Award for Best Short. Her short films include, My First Time Driving (AFI Jean Firstenburg Award, Best Short at Lake Arrowhead Film Fest, Best of Shorts at Outfest), A/V Club (TV Pilot, NYTVF), Uber Alice (Woodstock Film Fest), Dead Cat (Producer, Tribeca Film Fest), and Irving (Official Selection Rhode Island Film Fest, Official Selection USA Film Fest, Ft. Lauderdale Film Fest, Atlanta Jewish Film Fest).
JAMES LAPINE
{ Playwrig ht / Director }
James Lapine is a playwright and director. On B roadway he has worked with Stephen Sondheim on Sunday in the Park with George; Into the Woods; and Passion. He also conceived and directed the musical review Sondheim on Sondheim. With William Finn he created Falsettos recently revived by Lincoln Center Theater; Little Miss Sunshine; Muscle; and directed Finn's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Other Broadway credits include his play based on Moss Hart's memoir Act One (also LCT), Amour , The Diary of Anne Frank , Golden Child , and Dirty Blonde He has written the plays Table Settings , Twelve Dreams, The Moment When, Fran's Bed and Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing. Lapine has been nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning on three occasions. He has also been the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, SDC's Mr. Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater, and inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
BRIAN GLICK
{ Executive and Artistic Director }
Brian is the Executive and Artistic Director of Revival Theatre Company. During the past 10 years he has directed more than 30 stage productions, earning him high praise for his dynamic and richly layered productions. The Gazette wrote, "Artistic Director Brian Glick has a knack for his wonderful elite talent for his productions on stage and behind the scenes..." In recent seasons, Brian has directed the Midwest premiere of Dogfight and staged the Iowa premieres of White Christmas and Grey Gardens . Brian has developed musical pieces in non-traditional spaces, creating intimate and contemporary experiences for actors and audiences.
As a freelance director, Brian has worked on operas, musicals, and plays. Brian produced and directed Side Show as a fundraiser for Families Helping Families and Baby for The Young Parents Network. Most recent credits include: Jim McDonough's Holiday Grande tour; Victor/ Victoria , Parade In Concert , Evita , and Funny Girl with RTC; Amy at the Opus ; A Sondheim Cabaret and Brucemorchestra with Orchestra Iowa; and La Boehme , Carmen , Don Giovanni , and La Traviata with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre.
Brian spent nine seasons with Starlighters Theatre as resident director – Forever Plaid , Oliver , Some Enchanted Evening , Last Five Years , My Way , Scrooge , Anything Goe s and Honk! His work with Theatre Cedar Rapids and Orchestra Iowa on The Music Man won a collaboration award, and he’s directed multiple concerts and fundraisers. Brian has also worked with the Cedar Rapids Follies as a designer and stage manager.
Brian was honored to work with The New York Drama League and Tony-nominated director Marcia Milgrom Dodge. He also collaborated on Opal with Broadway composer and lyricist Robert LindseyNassif and served as an Academy and First Stage teacher with the Omaha Playhouse.
Brian's strong leadership and vision has caught the attention of industry professionals across the region. In 2019 Brian staged a world premiere of the musical Chaplin before its London debut. In 2020, Brian was the recipient of the Corridor Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 of most influential leaders.
Brian is the founder, creator, and producer of Iowa Concert of Hope, a relief concert to benefit those who suffered loss from the 2020 derecho that hit Cedar Rapids and the state of Iowa. Concert performers included, most notably, Ron Livingston, Tim Shew, Linda Eder, Betty Buckley, Edwin McCain, Kim Scharnberg, Elena Shaddow, and Chris Brubeck.
HARRIET BUTLER
{ Stage Manager }
Harriet Butler (Stage Manager) is thrilled to make her RTC debut! Recent regional credits include Split with the New London Barn Playhouse and Transport Group (ASM), Child of Aphrodite with The VORTEX (SM), Richard III with Austin Shakespeare (SM), the 2024 Pre-Professional Company Showcase with ZACH Theatre, The Girl
Who Became Legend with ZACH Theatre and The Kennedy Center (Takeover SM), and Sweeney Todd with Theatre Under the Stars (ASM). She would like to thank her family, friends, and Joey for their unending support!@harriet.butler
SARA FRIED
{ Hair / Makeup Designer }
This is Sarah Fried’s twelfth show as Wig and Makeup Designer for Revival Theatre Company. Sarah also designs for Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre and is on call for wigs at Theatre Cedar Rapids. For 15 years she was Wig and Makeup Designer for Arizona Opera before moving back to Mount Vernon, Iowa, and also has worked for several Midwest theatre and opera festivals.
MEGAN HELMERS
{ Choreographer }
Megan Helmers is a Minneapolis-based choreographer whose work has been featured across the midwest. Megan’s recent choreography includes Carrie the Musical , Something Rotten! , Cabaret , The SpongeBob Musical , Meet Me in St. Louis , The Sound of Music and Hello, Dolly! for Theatre Cedar Rapids; Titanic , Brucemorchestra XIV , Oklahoma! and Chaplin for Revival Theatre Company; Little Shop of Horrors , Kinky Boots , Cabaret , Godspell , A Christmas Story , Disney’s
Newsies , Elf the Musical and Billy Elliot at the Des Moines Playhouse; and Adore Us!, Line , Fun Home , and Company at Iowa Stage Theatre Company. In addition to her work with area theaters, she has choreographed productions for the University of Central Missouri, Simpson College, Iowa State University, Grandview University, and many more.
Megan’s most recent work as a Director/ Choreographer includes Theatre Cedar Rapids’s School of Rock , Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre’s Heathers: The Musical , Bring it On , The Des Moines Playhouse’s A Chorus Line and Disney’s Freaky Friday ; Noce’s Tick, Tick . . . Boom! and Murder Ballad ; Tallgrass Theatre’s Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley , The Revolutionists , The Bridges of Madison County , and Ordinary Days
Megan works in digital marketing for the arts at Capacity Interactive and has taught various dance styles for the Drake University Theatre Department, The School of Classical Ballet and Dance, and more. meganhelmers.com
MATTHEW MECKES
{ Musical Director / Conductor }
Matthew is pleased to be making his Revival Theatre Company debut. A few recent credits include Broadway: MJ The Musical . Regional: Escape To Margaritaville , 42nd Street (Arrow Rock Lyceum), 42nd Street , Passing Through , Cyrano (Goodspeed), 42nd Street (Riverside), Knoxville (Asolo Rep), In The Heights , Man Of La Mancha (PCPA), and Sweeney Todd (Ensemble Theatre Company). Most recently he published his first volume of poetry titled "A Smile Remembers." Endless gratitude to his parents for their support and his dog, Dixie, for her love and companionship.
AMANDA NIRENBERG
{ Assistant Stage Manager / P rops }
Amanda Nirenbe rg (AS M/Props) is excited to be a part of the Revival Theatre Company team for the first time! Since graduating from University at Buffalo, her recent projects have included Three Decembers at Buffalo Opera Unlimited, The 39 Steps and Renascence at UB Center For the Arts, and Titanic with Starring Buffalo at Shea's 710. Amanda would like to thank the cast and crew for their talent and dedication, as well as her friends and family for their support. Enjoy the show!
SCOTT OLINGER
{ Scenic / Lighting / Pro jection Designer } Scott Olinger (Scenic/Lighting/Projecti on Des igner) serves as the Head of Design and Production for the Cornell College Department
of Theatre and Dance, where he has worked since 2000. Recent designs include Parade in Concert and Over the Rainbow for Revival Theatre Company, Christmas with Wartburg on IPTV, Ordinary Days at UNI, Tosca and Cosi Fan Tutte for Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Rock of Ages and Sponegebob: The Musical for TCR, Sondheim on Sondheim at City Circle, and Macbeth and A Chorus Line at Cornell. Upcoming designs include Next To Normal for Revival Theatre Company, Cendrillon for Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, and The Wild Party at City Circle. He holds an MFA in Design from Penn State University and a BA in Theatre from the University of Northern Iowa. Scott also serves as lighting designer for the midwest band The Pork Tornadoes, and is the director of lighting for RGS Productions.
MELONIE STOLL
{ Costu me Des igner }
Melonie Stoll (Co stum e Designer) is in her fifth season as costume designer for Revival Theatre Company. She is a freelance designer who has worked with many area theatres, including TCR and RHCR. Favorite shows include Honk! (RTC), Chaplin (RTC), Mamma Mia (TCR), A Doll's House (TCR), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (RHCR), The Wizard of Oz Jr. (RHCR), and Comedy of Errors (Riverside).
ROBERT KURT
{ Technical Director }
Robert Kurt is a new addition to the Revival Theatre Company. He has spent many years in local community theater companies design and building theatrical sets and spending time on stage acting. In 2018 his set for, She Loves Me won “Best Scenic Design” from the ICTA. He has had other sets nominated for the same award. He and his wife Erin have four adult children, a dog, a two cats. They reside in Coggon, Iowa.
Our operations are partially supported by a Hotel Motel Tax grant from the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Revival Theatre Company presents
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
MUSIC AND LYRICS by William Finn
BOOK by Rachel Sheinkin
CONCEIVED by Rebecca Feldman
CREATIVE TEAM
DIRECTION / Brian Glick
MUSIC DIRECTION / Matthew Meckes
CHOREOGRAPHY / Megan Helmers
SCENIC, LIGHTING, PROJECTION DESIGNER / Scott Olinger
COSTUME DESIGNER / Melonie Stoll
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / Robert Kurt
SOUND DESIGNER / Darin Ulmer
STAGE MANAGER / Harriet Butler
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER, PROPS / Amanda Nirenberg
HAIR, MAKEUP DESIGNER / Sarah Fried
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL by Jay Reiss ORIGINALLY DIRECTED ON BROADWAY by James Lapine
REVIVAL THEATRE COMPANY WITH GENEROUS SUPP ORT FROM PRODUCTION SPONSOR / UFG Insurance
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS PRODUCTION WAS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY / Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC, Mark & Tracy Zimmerman, Terry & Johanna Abernathy, TrueNorth Companies, Cassill Motors, Hills Bank
Based upon C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E , an original play by THE FARM
The Barrington Stage Company workshop of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE was originally co-directed by Michael Barakiva and Rebecca Feldman
{ THIS SHOW CONTAINS HAZE, ADULT HUMOR AND THEMES } Produced with special agreement through Music Theatre International (MTI) • www.mtishows.com
FULL BLEED IMAGE
CA ST
RONA LISA PERETTI / Jennifer Ford
CHIP TOLENTINO / Jeffrey Harrington
LOGAINNE SCHWARTZANDGRUNENIERRE (SCHWARTZY) / Allison Dixon
LEAF CONEYBEAR / Bryant Duffy
WILLIAM BARFEE / Seth Turner
MARCY PARK / Kimi Galang Villages
OLIVE OSTROVSKY / Eloise Prince
VICE PRINCIPAL DOUGLAS PANCH / Patrick Du laney*
MITCH MAHONEY / Anthony Hendricks
*This actor appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, and the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT / Elizabeth Kimmel, Blue Sky Productions
MASTER ELECTRICIAN / Jim Vogt
SCENIC ARTIST / Leslie Delavan
ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / Ann Newhouse
CUSTOMER ASSISTANT / Sandi Conklin
WARDROBE SUPERVISOR / Grace Black
BOARD OPERATOR, A2 / Will Hancock
CARPENTER / Jon Day & Ann Newhouse
RIGGER / Britin Tylar Robinson
FOLLOW SPOT / Sara Ulmer
VOCAL AUDITION CONSULTANT / Bradley Barrett
AUDIO VISUAL / David Medin
PRODUCTION PHOTOS / Seth Walters
PUBLICITY PHOTOS / Alisabeth Von Presley, Tint
SEASON ARTWORK / James Lacey, Dennard Lacey & Associates
THANK YOUS / Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Cornell College, Theatre Cedar Rapids, and City Circle Theatre
STAFF
EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / Brian Glick
DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR / Hilery Livengood
BOOKKEEPER / David Maier
ADMINISTRATOR / June Schumacher
FRONT OF HOUSE / Barb Colehour
ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS / KZIA
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT / Blue Sky Productions
HOST FAMILIES
Roger and Colleen Cassill
Matt and Jen Ford
Gayle Glick
Dick Haynes and Julie Kraft
David and Vannesia Klinsky
IN MEMORIAM
CO-FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / Cameron Sullenberger
FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER / Carma Lou Beck
MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT 1
"THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE": Company
"THE SPELLING RULES": Panch, Spellers, Rona, Mitch
"MY FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE BEE": Rona
"MY FRIEND, THE DICTIONARY": Olive, Chip, Leaf, Logainne, Rona, Marcy, Barfee, Mitch
"PANDEMONIUM": Spellers, Mitch
"I'M NOT THAT SMART": Leaf
"MAGIC FOOT": Barfee, Company
“MAGIC FOOT PLAYOFF”: Rona, Olive, Marcy, Logainne, Leaf, Chip, Mitch
"PANDEMONIUM (REPRISE)": Mitch, Company
“CHIP GOODBYE”: Olive, Barfee, Marcy, Logainne, Leaf
"RONA MOMENT #2": Rona
"PRAYER OF THE COMFORT COUNSELOR": Mitch, Company
THERE WILL BE A 15 MINUTE INTERMISSION.
ACT 2
"CHIP'S LAMENT": Chip
"WOE IS ME": Logainne, Logainne’s Dads, and Company
"SPELLING MONTAGE": Panch
"I'M NOT THAT SMART (REPRISE)": Leaf
"I SPEAK SIX LANGUAGES": Marcy, Olive, Logainne, Rona
"JESUS": Marcy, Olive, Logainne, Rona
"THE I LOVE YOU SONG": Olive, Olive's Mom, Olive's Dad
"WOE IS ME (REPRISE)": Logainne, Mitch
"RONA MOMENT #3": Rona
"SECOND (PART 1)": Barfee, Olive, Company
"WELTANSCHAUUNG": Barfee, Company
"BARFÉE AND OLIVE PAS DE DEUX": Rona, Chip, Marcy, Logainne, Leaf, Mitch
"SECOND (PART 2)": Barfee, Olive, Company
"THE CHAMPION": Rona, Chip, Logainne, Leaf, Mitch, Marcy
"FINALE": Company
"THE LAST GOODBYE": Company
CAST
ALLISON DIXON
{ Logainnne Schwartzandgrubenniere }
Allison Dixon is elated to be returning to the Revival Theatre Company stage! She is a L.A. native (that’s Lower Alabama) and currently calls Nashville home by way of NYC. She is a proud alumna of Western Carolina University BFA Musical Theatre, and NYC Stella Adler School of Acting. Select regional credits include: The Boy Who Kissed The Sky (Alliance Theatre), Les Misérables (Connecticut Repertory Theatre), Beehive (Atlanta Lyric Theatre), A Chorus Line (Springer Opera House), SUDS! (Highlands Playhouse), The Yellow Wallpaper (Atlanta Musical Theatre Festival), Honk! (Revival Theatre Company), Mary Poppins (City Circle Theatre Company), The Lost Colony (2014), and Della’s Diner National Tour (2015). | IG: @allisonpdixon | “In here, life is beautiful.”
PATRICK DU LANEY*
{Douglas Panch }
BROADWAY: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
CHICAGO: The Adding Machine (The Hypocrites), Cabaret (The Paramount Theatre). NATIONAL
TOURS: Gypsy , A Christmas Carol . REGIONAL: Into the Woods , Our Town (Kansas City Rep), title roles in Macbeth and Floyd Collins , Pierre in the regional premiere of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 , A View From the Bridge , Title of Show , Ears on a Beatle , and seven seasons with Riverside Shakespeare. Founding member of The Alaska Shakespeare festival and Iowa’s own Crooked Path Theatre Company. EDUCATION: MFA in Acting, The University of Missouri, Kansas City. Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Patrick dedicates this performance to his fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Seymour.
*This actor appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, and the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
BRYANT DUFFY
{ Leaf Coneybear }
Spelling Bee marks Bryant’s sixth production with Revival Theatre Company; he was previously seen in, Parade: In Concert (Det. Starnes), Honk! (The Cat), Titanic (Henry Etches), Chaplin (ensemble), and 9 to 5 (Dick Bernly). Other recent credits include: School of Rock (ensemble), The Rocky Horror Show (Brad Majors), Eddie & Dave (Valerie Bertinelli), The Importance of Being Earnest (Algernon Moncrieff), and Cabaret (Ernst Ludvig). Bryant is on the board of directors for RHCR Theater, and studied theatre performance (acting) at the University of Northern Iowa. Thank you for supporting the arts in Cedar Rapids! Please support Revival Theatre Company by attending the rest of their fantastic 2024-25 season! Enjoy the show!
JEN FORD
{ Rona Lisa Peretti }
Jen Ford is thrilled to be back on stage with Revival Theatre Company. Jen has been performing in theatre productions in the area for several years. Some of these include Catch Me If You Can (Paula Abagnale) with City Circle, Mama Mia (Tanya) with TCR, Newsies (Medda Larkin) with TCR, The Rocky Horror Show (Magenta) with RHCR, Victor/Victoria (Norma) with RTC, and several years performing with the Cedar Rapids Follies. Jen resides and works in Cedar Rapids, is Mom to five awesome kids, and GiGi to Oliver and Presley! Thank you to her family and friends for always being so supportive and encouraging, especially to her husband Matt for running things at home while I play on stage. Thank you to Brian and RTC for this wonderful opportunity and to the amazing cast, production team and crew for their hard work and support!
JEFFREY HARRINGTON
{ Chip Tolentino }
Jeffrey Harrington is studying acting as an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa. He graduated in 2023 from Washington High School, where he played roles such as Bat Boy in BatBoy: the Musical , Oliver Rivers in Puffs!, and Dennis in the One Act Play that Goes Wrong Most recently, he played Moritz in Spring Awakening this last May at City Circle Theatre Company in Coralville. You may have also seen him as Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten! at TCR last winter. Spelling Bee is his first time working for Revival Theatre Company and he’s grateful for the opportunity. Who’s ready to spell bee?
ANTHONY J. HENDRICKS
{ Mitch Mahoney }
Anthony J. Hendricks is thrilled to be playing Mitch Mahoney in the Revival Theatre Company's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. A resident of the area for six years, Anthony has been performing in community and regional theatre across the Midwest for the past 30 years. After earning a Bachelor’s in Theatre Performance from Western Illinois University, he made Iowa City home, participating in productions with various local theatres. Some favorite roles include Leading Player in Pippin (ICCT), Che in Evita (City Circle), JoAnn in Company (ICCT), Man #2 in Songs for a New World (City Circle), Frank in Rocky Horror Picture Show (Circa 21), Martin Luther King Jr. in The Mountaintop (Mockingbird on Main), Balaga in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Riverside), and most recently, Jim Conley in Parade in Concert (Revival). Anthony thanks the cast and crew for their hard work and hopes you enjoy the show!
ELOISE PRINCE
{ Olive Ostrovsky }
Eloise Prince is a senior at CR Washington High School. There, she is very involved in the Fine Arts department, including choir, speech, show choir, and drama. Some of her favorite roles have been Julia in 1984 , Shelley in Bat Boy , Leanne in Puffs , Mother in Trail to Oregon , and Cady in Mean Girls She is president of the Drama Club, Thespian Troupe #2814, and co-president of her school’s chamber choir, the Madrigal Singers This will be her second show with Revival Theatre Company, after playing Iola in the concert version of Parade This show has been such an enriching experience for her, and she is so grateful for the directing team, cast, and crew. She hopes you have as much fun watching the show as she does performing it!
SETH TURNER
{ William Barfee }
Seth Turner is an actor and singer based out of New York City and is so, so, so excited to be bringing Spelling Bee to life. Recent credits include You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown , Spring Awakening (Roxy Regional), Cinderella (Winnipesaukee playhouse). TV: CJ’s Grill (Tubi). This show is one he has wanted to be a part of for so long, and he hopes if this is your first time experiencing it, it can become one of your most memorable experiences watching live theatre. Proud Graduate of AMDA (NYC) .
KIMI GALANG VILLEGAS
{ Marcy Park }
Kimi Galang Villegas is so excited to be making her Revival Theatre Company debut! Originally from Fresno, CA, Kimi graduated with her BA in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies from UC Berkeley and is now based in NYC. Her favorite credits include the Addams Family (Wednesday Addams, Landmark Musical Theatre), Spring Awakening (Ilse, Ray of Light Theatre), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie Dillmount, Phoenix Players), and American Idiot (Whatsername, BareStage Productions). Love and gratitude to God, the RTC team, her mom Cristina, boyfriend Dylan, her agent Chondra Profit at FireStarter Entertainment, mentors, and loved ones for their undying support. Kimi would like to dedicate her portrayal of Marcy to her younger self and would like to let her know that she doesn’t have to try so hard to live up to her own expectations; everything will be okay and then some. @oneinkimillion www.kimigalangvillegas.com
SPONSORS PRODUCTION SPONSOR
UFG Insurance
ACTOR SPONSOR
Mark & Tracy Zimmerman
ORCHESTRA SPONSOR
Terry & Johanna Abernathy
VENUE SPONSOR
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
TECHNICAL SPONSOR
Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC
COSTUME SPONSOR
TrueNorth Companies
TRANSPORTATION SPONSOR
Cassill Motors
FRONT OF HOUSE SPONSOR
Hills Bank
We strive for accuracy. Our apologies for any errors or omissions in this listing.
We applaud the many names on this page who have invested in RTC with generous donations and sponsorships. Space limitations do not allow us to recognize the many donors of $50 or less. Please know that all gifts are appreciated!
RTC’s productions and educational programs would not be possible without private contributions. If you’d like to join this list of donors, you may make a tax-deductible contribution by scanning the QR code below, by visiting www.revivaltheatrecompany.com, or by mailing a check to 329 Tenth Avenue, Suite 005, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401. RTC also accepts appreciated securities. Please contact Hilery Livengood, hlivengood@revivaltheatrecompany. com, with any questions.
* Denotes current service on the Board of Director
**Denotes current service on the Friends of RTC Guild
DONORS
Donations received between October 1, 2023, and October 4, 2024
FOUNDER $10,000+
City of Cedar Rapids Hotel-Motel Tax Grant
Dennard Lacey & Associates
Giacoletto Foundation
Ann Lawrence
David Lawrence*
Mark & Tracy Zimmerman
FOUNDER $7,500+
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC
UFG Insurance
FOUNDER $5,000+
Terry & Johanna Abernathy
Cassill Motors
PACESETTER $2,500+
Cedar Memorial
Karen & Mike Delaney**
GreatAmerica Financial Services
In Tolerance Contract Manufacturing
Susan & Gary Streit*
TrueNorth Companies
Dick & Kate Minette
PATRON $1,000+
Anonymous
Catherine Basile
Jacki & Todd Bergen
Catherine Blades
Elizabeth Blocksome
Randy & Nadine Borngraeber
Ryan & Katie Buresh*
Cedar Rapids Follies
Bryant Duffy & Joshua Figg
Jack & Nancy Evans
Ginsberg Jewelers
Gayle Glick
Hills Bank
Vannessia & David Klinsky*
Jon & Cathy Koebrick
Kyle & Patti Kunz
Lorelle Lindo & Christopher Ellis*
Clay & Becky Lindwall
LPL Financial
Mike & Tina March**
The Maurice Foundation
Ryan & Lura McBride
Wilma McGrane
Mike & Lisa McGrath
Andrea & Jason McVay
MidAmerica Energy Foundation
Jim & Elaine Miller*
Paul Morf & Amy Friedl
Tiffany & Michael O’Donnell
PayPal Giving Fund
Tom Peffer & Carroll Reasoner
Eloise & Phoebe Prince
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll
Siegel’s Jewelry & Loan
Libby Slappey & Charles Crawley
Tom & Sherri Voss
Adam Woods, MD
ARTIST $500+
Basepoint Wealth LLC
Tara & Arlon Berkhof
Paul & Nina Brundell*
Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation
David & Lijun Chadima
Terri, Tessa, & Brian Cohen
Barb Colehour
Glenda Dixon
Bob & Ana Filippone
Shannon & Eric Hanson
Greg & Keelyn Kanz
Julie Kraft & Richard Haynes*
Kay Landuyt & Larry Robinson
Mark & Corenne Liabo
John & Dina Linge
Hilery Livengood & Ben Fashimpauer
Philip & Sue Lowder
David Maier & Matthew McGrane**
Karen & David Martin
Anne & Shane Ohrt
Kim Scharnberg
Janet Shepherd-Meier*
Marlyse & Terry Strait
Joe Wetrich
FRIEND $250+
Nancy Andreasen
John & Stephanie Ballard
Chuck & Amy Blades**
Karen & John Brandt
Robert Brost
Scott & Janice Byers
Patrice & Tom Carroll
David & Paula Colton
Mary Kersten Crandall
Pat & Carol Deignan
Jim Eichhorn
Joseph Ellis
Lori L. Ferguson
Carol Gorman
Frederick Grask
Barbara Green
Timothy & Jillien Hankewich
John & Kay Hegarty
Dawn Hysler
Kory Kazimour
Kieck’s Career Apparel
Diane Lund
Darrel & Middie Morf
Nicole Pedron
Joan & Peter Riley
Abby Scheitlin*
June Vanover Schumacher
Mary & Greg Seyfer
Greg & Marcia Smith
Leland & Peggy Smithson
Nina & Carl Swanson
Ann & Tom Wicke
Thad & Jill Wilkins*
DIRECTOR $100+
Heather Adams
Nancy Baumgartner
Robert Becker & Diane Handler
Cyndie & Lee Birchansky
Marjorie Bode
Anthony Burton
Jeff & Annette Busbee
Dina & Jon Dusek
Michael Egel
Julie Facion
Jennifer & Matt Ford
Marie & James Forrestal
Colleen Cahill Holmes
Amy Johnson
Thies & Kelly Kolln
Don & Marty Norton
Meg & Tad Paulson
Dr. David & Mary Jo Rater
John & Linda Ryal
Linda & Ray Smith
Bryon & Lisa Stolba
Keith Sutherland
Derith Vogt
Paul & Gail Williams
ENSEMBLE
$50+
Anonymous
Karen & Mike Dulaney
Saul Ervin
Paula Grady
Emma Hoffman
Wayne & Anna Holstine
Kathleen Kingman
Linda & James Kipp
Eric Langston
Viola McConville
Joyce Niebuhr
Claire Reimer
Luke Reimer
Lora Schmoll
Kim & Gordon Urbi
Norah Weber
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
A TRADITION 100 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
Every year, students from all walks of life have the opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program. They progress from classroom to cafeteria, from auditorium to civic center, just as millions of other students have done before them. The National Spelling Bee began in 1925 when nine
newspapers joined together to host a spelling bee. Little did they know that a century later their literacy effort would reach millions of students each year.
The word bee, as used in spelling bee, is one of those language puzzles that has never been satisfactorily accounted for. A fairly old and widelyused word, it refers to a community social gathering at which friends and neighbors join together in a single activity (sewing, quilting, barn raising, etc.) usually to help one person or family.
The earliest known example in print is a spinning bee, in 1769. Other early occurrences are husking bee (1816), apple bee (1827), and logging bee (1836). Spelling bee is apparently an American term. It first appeared in print in 1875, but it seems certain that the word was used orally for several years before that.
Those who used the word, including most early students of language, assumed that it was the same word as referred to the insect. They thought that this particular meaning had probably been inspired by the obvious similarity between these human gatherings and the industrious, social nature of a beehive. But in recent years scholars have rejected this explanation, suggesting instead that this bee is a completely different word.
One possibility is that it comes from the Middle English word bene, which means "a prayer" or "a favor" (and is related to the more familiar word boon). In England, a dialect form of this word, been or bean, referred to "voluntary help given by neighbors toward the accomplishment of a particular task." (Webster's Third New International Dictionary). Bee may simply be a shortened form of been, but no one is entirely certain.
IN 2025, THE BEE WILL CELEBRATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF T HE VERY FIRST NATIONAL SPELLIN G BEE.
While only 9 spellers participated in that first competition, their legacy lives on in the millions of students who compete at all levels of the spelling bee program today.
Photography by Tint
THE MUSICAL WAS BASED UPON C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E,
an original improvisational play created by Rebecca Feldman and performed by The Farm, a New-York-based improvisational comedy troupe.
Sarah Saltzberg, Wendy Wasserstein's weekend nanny, was in the original production, and Wasserstein recommended that Finn see the show. Finn brought Rachel Sheinkin on board, and they worked together with Feldman to transform C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E into a scripted full-length musical.
Spelling Bee was workshopped and developed at the Barrington Stage Company (BSC), Massachusetts, where Julianne Boyd is the Artistic Director, in two different stages. In February 2004, a workshop was done in which a first act and parts of a second act were created –this stage of the process was directed by Michael Barakiva and Feldman. The script was fleshed out and the show was given a fuller production in July 2004, directed by Feldman and Michael Unger. Dan Knechtges choreographed the workshop, summer productions, and the Broadway production. Dana Harrel produced both productions as the Producer of Stage II at BSC. Several cast members, Dan Fogler, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzberg remained from C-R-E-P-U-
S-C-U-L-E. The musical opened Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre on January 11, 2005, in previews, officially on February 7, 2005, and closed on March 20, 2005.
The production won several awards, among them the 2005 Lucille Lortel Awards, Outstanding Musical and 2005 Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Ensemble Performance. Spelling Bee premiered on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre on April 15, 2005, and closed on January 20, 2008, after 1,136 performances and 21 previews.The director was James w and the choreographer was Dan Knechtges. The show won Tony Awards for Best Book (Rachel Sheinkin) and Best Featured Actor (Dan Fogler).
The original Broadway cast of Spelling Bee reunited for a one-night only 10th anniversary concert at The Town Hall on July 6, 2015. All actors reprised their roles for the performance with the exception of Celia Keenan-Bolger as Olive Ostrovsky, with Jenni Barber who had previously played the role on Broadway stepping into the role: Keenan-Bolger joined the cast for the concert's finale, performing Olive's monologue as she had a decade prior. The concert was organized in tribute to original production stage manager Andrea "Spook" Testani-Gordon, who passed away from cancer the previous November.
References. A Dictionary of American English. Sir William A. Craigie and James R. Hulbert, eds. University of Chicago Press, 1944.• A Dict ionary of Americanisms. Mitford M. Matthews, ed. Univ. of Chicago Press, 1951. • Mencken, H.L. The American Language. New York: Alfred Knopf, 1938 (suppl. I, 1945: suppl. II, 1948). Scripps National spelling bee. 100 Years of the Bee | Scripps National Spelling Bee. (n.d.). https://spellingbee.com/100-years-bee
{Tom Burke} {Christopher Johnstone}
THRILLING MUSIC. BELOVED STORIES.
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTONE & TOM BURKE IN CONCERT
January 24-25, 2025, 7:30 p.m. | CSPS Hall
{ General admission tickets are $82 for floor seating and $52 for riser seating. }
What do you get with an Iowa native and Broadway singer Christopher Johnstone, joined by pianist, vocal coach, and executive speaker coach Tom Burke, who over the past 20 years has helped TED speakers, Google execs, authors, Hollywood Actors, and Broadway singers become more powerful storytellers? An incredible night of song and storytelling in the second annual Cameron Sullenberger Overture Series, RTC’s annual benefit.
Christopher Johnstone and Tom Burke in concert is part of the annual Cameron Sullenberger Overture Series , RTC’s annual benefit. A pre-show event for donors and patrons will occur Friday night before the performance in the art gallery. Season ticket subscribers may add this concert onto their ticket package. Speak with the box office for more details.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTONE / is a Cedar Rapids native who has performed with the Cedar Rapids Symphony, Revival Theater Company and Brucemore’s “Cabaret in the Courtyard.” He is a classically trained bari-tenor who most often performs classic music theater rep. A graduate of Jefferson High School, his performing has taken him all over the country and world in multiple operas, musicals, and as a concert soloist.
Concert Soloist: Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Toronto Symphony, Houston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Tanglewood Music Festival, Indianapolis Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, The New Mexico Philharmonic, The Castleton Music Festival, The Modesto and Omaha Symphonies. 1st National Tours: Love Never Dies (Raoul u/s, Ensemble); Evita (Augustin Magaldi), Lincoln Center’s Production of South
Pacific (Lt. Cable; Thomas Hassinger). Regional: South Pacific (Lt. Cable, Ogunquit Playhouse), Chicago (Billy Flynn, Arkansas Repertory Theater), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Phoebus, Ogunquit Playhouse), Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik, Lyric Opera San Diego), Dido & Aeneas (Aeneas, Mark Morris Dance Group), A Little Night Music (Mr. Lindquist, Boston Pops), Mother of Us All (Thaddeus Stephens, Hudson Opera House), Pirates of Penzance (Glimmerglass Opera), Mahagonny (Tanglewood), A Tale of Two Cities: The Musical (Charles Darney, Bob Jones University). Love to Karla and my extended Cedar Rapids fam! www.johnstonechristopher.com
TOM BURKE / is a speech-language pathologist, pianist, vocal coach, and executive speaker coach who over the past 20 years has helped TED speakers, Google execs, authors, Hollywood Actors, and Broadway singers become more powerful storytellers. His work has been featured on HBO, MTV, the Oprah Winfrey Network, Good Morning America, and as co-host and voice coach for Bravo TV’s “In a Man’s World” a social experiment produced by Viola Davis designed to reveal gender inequities in the workplace and at home. Most recently he was the vocal supervisor for Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen in Book Club 2.
INVEST IN RTC
RTC THRIVES THANKS TO GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THEATRE LOVERS LIKE YOU.
Revival Theatre Company proudly acknowledges its individual donors and corporate partners for their generosity to the arts and their leadership as a civic neighbor.
RTC exists because of people like you. Less than half of RTC’s $330,000 annual operating budget comes from ticket sales. So how do we pay actors, musicians, technical crew, royalties, rent, and other bills? The answer is charitable contributions – sponsorships, donations, and grants. We invite you to consider joining those who have already committed to helping RTC achieve and secure a strong future.
Individual donations, corporate, foundation and public partnerships help to support outstanding theatre experiences for Cedar Rapids audiences. The generosity of our philanthropic community ensures that Revival Theatre Company is part of Cedar Rapids vibrant cultural landscape.
Revival Theatre Company looks forward to its tenth season! Now is the time to add your support to ensure success and vitality for our next ten years and beyond. As we look forward to the joys and challenges ahead, we rely on the generosity of friends such as you to help Revival Theatre Company build a sound future.
CONSIDER GIVING:
• Cash or check
• Online donations
• Qualified chartable distributions from your retirement plan
• Appreciated securities SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFORMATION!
• Corporate matching
• Name RTC as beneficiary in your will, retirement plan or insurance policy
End of the Rainbow
The Color Purple
REVIVAL THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS
A DECADE OF
EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS
SEPTEMBER 2014 / Children of Eden
OCTOBER 2014 / Dogfight
JUNE 2015 / Pippin
NOVEMBER 2015 / Parade in Concert
FEBRUARY 2016 / Violet
JUNE 2016 / Funny Girl
NOVEMBER 2016 / Evita
FEBRUARY 2017 / Grey Gardens
JUNE 2017 / Victor/Victoria
MARCH 2018 / Ragtime in Concert
JUNE 2018 / The Bridges of Madison County
NOVEMBER 2018 / Sunday in the Park with George
MARCH 2019 / Nine to Five
JUNE 2019 / Chaplin
NOVEMBER 2019 / Oklahoma!
SEPTEMBER 2021 / Brucemorchestra XIV: The Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein
OCTOBER 2021 / End of the Rainbow
JUNE 2022 / T he Color Purple
SEPTEMBER 2022 / Titanic: The Musical
MARCH 2023 / Million Dollar Quartet
JUNE 2023 / Honk!
APRIL 2024 / Parade in Concert
OCTOBER 2024 / The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
MARCH 2025 / Next to Normal
MAY/JUNE 2025 / La Cage aux Folles
UPCOMING SHOWS
NEXT TO NORMAL
Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize. Dad’s an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens, appearing to be a typical American family. And yet their lives are anything but normal because the mother has been battling bipolar disorder for 16 years. Next to Normal takes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family’s story with love, sympathy, and heart. Winner of three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Score.
PERFORMED AT CSPS HALL
DATES: March 21, 22, 23 & 27, 28, 29, 30, 2025
TIMES: 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, SCAN THE QR CODE!
Photography by Tint
UPCOMING SHOWS
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
Winner of the 1984 & 2010 Tony Award La Cage aux Folles remains one of musical theatre’s all-time biggest hits, adding a new dimension to the boulevard comedy. After 20 years of partnered bliss, Georges and Albin, two men partnered for better or worse, get a bit of both when Georges’ son announces his impending marriage to a daughter of conservative parents. Further complicating the situation is the “family business” – Albin and Georges run a drag nightclub in St. Tropez, where Albin is the star performer, “Zaza.” Georges reluctantly agrees to masquerade as “normal” when he meets the family of the bride-to-be. But Albin has other plans, with hilarious results.
PERFORMED AT CSPS HALL
DATES: May 30, 31 & June 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 2025
TIMES: 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Photography by Tint
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Victor/Victoria
