ELLA'S SWINGING CHRISTMAS- A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald

SHANE PETERMAN, PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PRESENTS

CONCEIVED BY ELIZABETH KENSEK MUSIC SUPERVISOR VONDA K. BOWLING PRODUCTION MANAGER KENNEDY STYRON PRODUCTION DESIGN RYAN MATTHIEU SMITH COSTUME DESIGN RYAN MATTHIEU SMITH LIGHTING DESIGN RYAN BURKLE SOUND ENGINEER DAVID CASTELL ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGN CAMERON CASEY DIRECTOR OF CINEMATOGRAPHY DAVID SINGER of STORY & HEART

CINEMATOGRAPHER JEREMY BAY POST PRODUCTION/ EDITING ANDREW WECHT & OMAR ABUSHAIKHA, TEN TWENTY SEVEN FILMS ON THE TERRY MARTIN MAIN STAGE SEASON SPONSOR

THEATRE NAMING BENEFACTORS

Don and Barbara Daseke, The Family of Bob Downs, Kathleen A. Messina and Gary Goodwin, Stan Graner and Jim McBride, and Janiece and Jimmy Niemann OTHER MAJOR FUNDING

S TA R R I N G F E L E C E I A W I L S O N ( B E N TO N ) AC C O M PA N I E D BY KW I N TO N G RAY, P I A N O K J G RAY, B AS S JAC K I E W H I T M I L L , P E R C U S S I O N

I N S P I R E D BY T H E 19 6 0 A L B U M “ E L L A W I S H E S YO U A SW I N G I N G C H R I S T M AS ”

SET LIST

Jingle Bells (J.S. Pierpont) Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin) What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (Frank Loesser) Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish) Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne)/Winter Wonderland (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith)/Frosty the Snowman (Steve Nelson, Jack Rollins) (arr. Gray/Bowling/Wilson) The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé, Bob Wells) (INTERMISSION)

Good Morning Blues (Count Basie, Eddie Durham, Jimmy Rushing) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Johnny Marks) Christmas Island (Lyle L. Moraine) White Christmas (Irving Berlin) duet with Shane Peterman O Come O Come Emmanuel (traditional hymn arr. Gray/Bowling/Wilson) Blue Skies (Irving Berlin) A Tisket, A Tasket (Ella Fitzgerald, Van Alexander)

PERFORMERS FELECEIA WILSON (BENTON) Feleceia is excited to return to WaterTower. She was last seen as John the Baptist in WaterTower’s production of Godspell.

Feleceia frequents Dallas stages, but spends her days as a fulltime momma, speaker and entrepreneur. Favorite credits include: Aida/Ragtime/Songs for a New World-Uptown Players, Les Miserables/The Wiz - Dallas Theater Center, Abyssinia/Newsies/ As Thousands Cheer - Lyric Stage, Smokey Joe’s Cafe/Full Monty - WaterTower Theater. She sits on a number of non-profit boards and holds a BFA in Musical Theater and a BS in Advertising/Public Relations from TCU. www.Feleceia.com | @heyfeleceia K W I N T O N G R AY​, P I A N O Kwinton Gray was born and raised in Dallas, Texas where he received a homeschooled education. He continued his education at Eastfield Community College where he studied music. Kwinton​ started his own jazz fusion group the ​Kwinton Gray Project and released his debut album full of all original compositions titled ‘Leap of Faith’ in 2018. Kwinton is currently a member of the Dallas based psychedelic/ jazz/fusion group T ​ he Funky Knuckles.

Kwinton was awarded the Dallas Observer Music Award for B ​ est Keyboardist​in 2017. He also performs as a freelance musician playing for artists all across the world. He had the opportunity to perform at the a’ la Villette Jazz Festival in Paris, France with Foley and band members of The Rolling Stones, Earth Wind & Fire, and more. In 2018, Kwinton had the opportunity to perform/ tour with Janet Jackson. Kwinton also has a love for theater. In 2014, Kwinton performed in his first musical ​The Rocky Horror Show​at Dallas Theater Center. Since then, Kwinton has conducted and played in several musicals with the most recents being with the Tony Award winning Dallas Theater Center including the world premiere H ​ ood: The Robin Hood Musical​ and the 50th Anniversary production of ​Hair! ​Kwinton currently tours as a pianist for Tony Award nominated choreographer Camile A. Brown and her company Camile A. Brown & Dancers.

KJ G R AY, BAS S KJ Gray is a self-taught Bassist, born and raised in Dallas, TX. KJ was homeschooled and began working as a full-time musician at the age of 15. In 2017 he made his theater debut in Dallas Theater Center’s production of HAIR!, where he sang, played bass, and participated in comedic improv. He has since performed in A Christmas Carol and performed/composed for Twelfth Night at the Dallas Theater Center. KJ remains in Dallas where he performs live, records, cooks and stands in various places being a tall-like figure with his family band, ‘The Grays’.

JAC K I E W H I TM I L L , P E R C U S S I O N Childhood exposure to drums opened Jackie’s mind to a world full of many possibilities. With many influences he’s chosen his path of freedom and continues to let his creativeness speak for itself. As an alum of Booker T Washington HSPVA and with a bit of exposure to The New England Conservatory, his skills and efforts show his appreciation for the gift he’s been given. With that, Jackie will continue to raise the bar.

CREATIVE TEAM VO N DA K . B OW L I N G, M U S I C S U P E RV I S O R WaterTower Theatre: The Ballad of Little Jo, One Addison Concert. Dallas Theater Center: In The Heights, Public Works Dallas’ As You Like It, Public Works Dallas’ A Winter’s Tale, Hairspray, Hair, Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure, Public Works Dallas’ The Tempest, The Christians, Bella: An American Tall Tale, Dreamgirls, A Christmas Carol (2015-2019), Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical, The Rocky Horror Show. Casa Mañana: Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Tuck Everlasting, Frank - N - Friend, Matilda.

Theatre Three: The Manufactured Myth of Eveline Flynn, Assassins, The Drowsy Chaperone, Crazy for You, A Dog’s Life, Lost in the Stars, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Blankity-Blank, A Catered Affair. Much love to Jeffrey, Harrison and Mason. For TD.

RYA N B U R K L E , L I G H T I N G D E S I G N Ryan Burkle is a Dallas based Lighting Designer and Technician, and he's very excited to be designing with WaterTower Theatre. He received his BFA in Theatre Performance with a concentration in Lighting Design from Baylor University in 2017. He has had the pleasure of working in the DFW area with companies like Dallas Theater Center, Kitchen Dog Theatre, Imprint Theatre, Echo Theatre, and Shakespeare Dallas. He has also worked with theaters across the country, such as Trinity Repertory Theatre, Opera Saratoga, and Zachary Scott Theatre. He is currently the Production Electrician for SMU while freelancing on the side.

CA M E R O N CAS E Y, AS S I STA N T L I G H T I N G D E S I G N E R Cameron Casey is a Dallas-based designer, actor, and writer. Their previous WaterTower Theatre credits include assistant direction for Everything is Wonderful and scenic art for I Am My Own Wife, A Doll’s House, Hand to God, and The Last Five Years. More of their work can be found on the walls of Union in Oak Lawn and online at camerongcasey.com.

DAV I D CAS T E L L , S O U N D E N G I N E E R David Castell is an American record producer, musician, and recording engineer based in Dallas, Texas. Castell's recording career spans nearly three decades; his work with many major record labels and independent labels alike includes both platinum-selling national recording artists and unsigned regional acts, and a wide range of musical genres. He has been instrumental in career albums of Blue October, Burden Brothers, Course of Empire, Deep Blue Something, and SouthFM.

RYA N M AT T H I E U S M I T H , P R O D U C T I O N & C O ST U M E D E S I G N Ryan Matthieu Smith is an award winning Director and Designer working in film, television, and theatre in New York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Regional theatre credits include work for Theatre Three, The Dallas Theatre Center, Lyric Stage, Circle Theatre, Echo, Wingspan, Ochre House, Amphibian Stages, Cara Mia, Lone Star Circus and WaterTower Theatre. Past WTT shows designed by Ryan include Hit The Wall, The Ballad of Little Jo, Godspell, Cirque Holidays, and Sister Act. Being a native of Oak Cliff, Ryan has created for movies, theaters, television, commercials, print, and celebrities all over the country but is very excited to bring his passion home to Dallas.

K E N N E DY S T Y R O N , P R O D U C T I O N M A N AG E R A self-described “theatre maker”, Kennedy’s artistic background encompasses work both on and offstage. Kennedy has worked as an actor, a carpenter, a musician, costumer, and a myriad of other positions within the realm of theatre production. Since starting at WaterTower two years ago, their build credits include resident master carpenter at WTT, Giant Entertainment, and Mainstage Irving Las Colinas. Other technical credits include costume/makeup design for LIP Service and Granbury Theatre Company, stage management for Imprint Theatreworks, live musician at Theatre Three, LIP Service, Theatre of North Texas, and music director/composer for Giant Entertainment and North Texas Performing Arts.

DONORS W E ’ D L I K E T O SAY A S P E C I A L T H A N K YO U T O T H E F O L LOW I N G DONORS:

$500 - $999

$10,000 AND UP

$250 - $499

Stan Graner & Jim McBride Kathleen Messina & Gary Goodwin Jimmy & Janiece Niemann Shubert Foundation

$ 5 , 0 0 0 - $ 9,9 9 9 Philip & Janeva Longacre Don & Barbara Daseke KPhilip & Janeva Longacre

$ 2 , 5 0 0 - $ 4 ,9 9 9 BKM Sowan Horan - Tim Horan First United Bank The Paulos Foundation Craig & Deborah Sutton Texas Commission on the Arts

$1,000 - $2,499 Addison Rotary Foundation Amli Residential Ida Jane & Doug Bailey Tom & Anita Braun Nancy Brenner and Jerry Oliverez Laree Hulshoff & Ben Fischer Jennifer Martinez Ken and Cheryl Mindell Ralph Weber Rasa Floors & Carpet Cleaning The Rosewood Foundation Nancy Williams

David & Mary Ellen Cassman Kay F. Champagne Claudia & Scott Davis Tom Mason William Pfeiff Andrea Redmon

Peggie & Fendol Chiles ExxonMobil JD Hearn Burdette Katzen in memory of Bob Katzen Bill Keslar & Sandy Baker Sam & Barbara MdKenney Delynda & Kipton Moravec Mark & Renita Partin Karol Omlor Rick Russell Texas Instruments Walker Trigg The Wellik Family Charitable Fund

The above listing reflects gifts received between 11.16.2019 and 11.15.2020. We apologize for any unintentional omissions.

We gratefully acknowledge the 500+ donors who each year, through their contributions, make it possible for WTT to present over 125 performances each year. Although space limits our ability to publicly recognize donors at levels below $250, we deeply and sincerely appreciate every contribution. As ticket sales cover only a portion of our annual costs, these generous gifts of patrons, corporations, foundations and others are critical to WTT’s ability to create quality professional theatre for our audience. Should you wish to be added to this extraordinary list of donors, please visit our website at www.watertowertheatre.org/donations or contact Delynda Moravec at 972-450-6230 or via email at dmoravec@watertowertheatre.org.

Thank you!

WAT E R T OW E R T H E AT R E B OA R D O F D I R E C T O R S Nancy Williams, President Phil Longacre, Vice President Steven Pipes, Vice President Ken Mindell, Treasurer Rebecca Neef, Secretary Bruce Arfsten Rosalind Benjet Blake Clemens Grace Daniels

Barbara Daseke Tim Horan Kita Hobbs Jeanette Johnson Nadia Loudon

WAT E R T OW E R T H E AT R E S TA F F Shane Peterman Producing Artistic Director Delynda Johnson Moravec Director of Finance & Administration Elizabeth Kensek Associate Producer

Craig Sutton Andrea Redmon Tiffany Richmond Maggie Vera

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emily Holt

M A R K E T I N G BY Zoe Communications Agency: Feleceia Wilson Frankie Wilson Sydney Cornelius

Phil Gosselin Patron Services Manager

DIRECTOR OF C I N E M AT O G R A P H Y

Kennedy Styron Production Manager

David Singer

C I N E M AT O G R A P H Y L I G H T B OA R D O P E R AT O R

Jeremy Bay

Ryan Burkle

S C E N I C CA R P E N T E R Keith Gillespie ELECTRICIANS Ryan Burkle

F R O N T O F H O U S E AS S O C I AT E S Maggie Herrick Dylan Owen John Rawley Aaron Verrill Megan Wamsley

S P E C I A L T H A N KS T O MainStage Irving-Las Colinas Steve Barcus

P H O T O G R A P H Y: M I C H A E L E VA N WO O D S

Helen Holy’s Holiday Streaming Spectacular!

Starring Paul J. Williams

STREAMING

DEC 4 - 20 214-219-2718

uptownplayers.org

COMING IN JANUARY:

THINGS MISSING / MISSED A Co-production with the Danielle Georgiou Dance Group

By Justin Locklear, Melissa Flower and Philip Hays

Streaming January 13 -31, 2021 Tickets are $15

Box Office: 214-747-5515

www.undermain.org