TONY AWARD for Best Musical Score! WINNER of the PULITZER PRIZE!

DUSTIN OLIVER, director Tim Shaffer, music director

AMIE WESLEY GABEL, choreographer MARC C. HOWARD & D. KEITH STIVER, co-producers

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ACT MEMBERSHIP ALL Members receive program listing.

Sponsors and Benefactors receive Main Season tickets & Priority Registration for Children’s Summer Workshop 2018

FRIEND (fully tax-deductible) $30

SPONSOR ($76 tax-deductible) INCLUDES ONE Subscription $80

BENEFACTOR ($78 tax-deductible) INCLUDES TWO Subscriptions $160

2017—2018

MAIN SEASON FALL WINTER SPRING

BENEFIT SHOW

Dad’s an architect. Daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens. Mom rushes to pack lunches, pour

cereal and cope. On the surface, they’re an all Ameri-can family, but their story of love, sympathy and heart, as they struggle to manage normally under the mantle

of Mom’s manic depression, will take audiences warmly into the hearts and minds of each character in this

deeply moving piece of musical theatre.

This tale of star-crossed lovers set in a world of fantasy, whimsy, and imagination combine to make this classic comedy endlessly fun and appealing. One of The Bard’s most popular works, it is widely performed throughout the

world and now —- in Aurora, Ohio.

In this Broadway blockbuster, Anna, a British schoolteacher, is brought by the

King of Siam to help modernize his country. Their relationship, marked by

polite but potent cultural conflict, is underscored by a love that neither can

admit. Featuring such beloved songs as: I Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to

Know You, Hello, Young Lovers, and Shall We Dance?

WINNER of the Pulitzer Prize! Tony Award for Best Play!

Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, FENCES examines the cultural, economic, and generational challenges of an African-

American, blue-collar family.

Leapin' Lizards! The irrepressible comic strip

heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved musicals.

TOTAL $________

SUMMER SHOW

book by

THOMAS MEEHAN music by

CHARLES STROUSE lyrics by

MARTIN CHARNIN

MICHAEL DEMPSEY, director JOHN KROL, music director

CARRIE MAZZUCCO & MICHAEL DEMPSEY, co-choreographers

MARIANNE PAUL, producer

MICHAEL OATMAN, director MARC C. HOWARD, producer

by RICHARD RODGERS & OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II

by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE RACHEL M. MURAR, director

D. KEITH STIVER, producer

music by TOM KITT book & lyrics by BRIAN YORKEY MARC C. HOWARD, director D. KEITH STIVER, music director

by AUGUST WILSON

MAIN SEASON SUBSCRIPTION Offer expires Dec 2, 2017

One Main Season Subscription includes one ticket each for

ANNIE FENCES THE KING & I

# of adult subscriptions ____ @ $42 =

# of youth (age 18 and under) subscriptions _____ @ $33 =

SINGLE TICKETS

SHOW______________________________DATE______________

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# youth (age 18 and under) _____ @ $13 =

330.562.1818 OR AURORACOMMUNITYTHEATRE.COM

Aurora Community Theatre

P.O. Box 9

Aurora, Ohio 44202

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PRSRT STD

US POSTAGE

PAID TWINSBURG, OH

PERMIT NO 807

Aurora Community Theatre

extends special appreciation to

THE ATRIUM AT

ANNA MARIA

for their generous support of

ANNIE

For more information, call

Diane Barben 330-562-0600

Geneviève Adelman (Grace Farrell) Julia Ashkettle (Annie)

Gilgamesh Taggett (Warbucks)

The Orphans: clockwise from top: Ella Stec, Molly Kessler, Frankie Ashkettle, Eva Logan, Marin Carlson, Mia Custer, Gianna Malie, Gabriella Bozan, Jackie Armstrong, Skye Kubinski. Center: Julia Ashkettle, Brigitte Edwards. Not pictured: Jordyn Freetage, Jane Gerdes

Vibrant, brash and innately cheerful, ANNIE, the effervescent Broad-

way hit opens ACT’s 58th season on Oct. 27 for a record-setting 13

performance run. The show will be performed at 8 pm Fridays and

Saturdays through Nov. 18, Dec. 1 and 2, plus at 3 pm Sundays Nov.

5, 12, and 19 at Aurora Community Theatre, 115

E. Pioneer Trail.

Set in the hard-luck days of 1930s New York

City, the Tony award-winning musical is based on

the popular Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan

Annie.”

Featuring music by Charles Strouse, lyrics

by Martin Charnin, and book by Thomas

Meehan, ANNIE tells the story of the carrot-

haired cutie whose pluck and positivity drive her

never-give-up hope that she will find the parents

who left her on the doorstep of a New York City

orphanage.

Annie’s adventure-filled pursuit takes her

from the wretched children’s home run by the

cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan to tough city

streets, where she rescues a lovable mutt named

Sandy; to a lavish, uptown mansion, where Oliver

“Daddy” Warbucks takes her under his wing, and

even to the White House, where the president

falls under her charm.

Michael Dempsey makes his Aurora Com-

munity Theatre directorial debut with ANNIE,

while John Krol returns as musical director, with

Carrie Mazzucco and Michael Dempsey choreographers, and

Marianne Paul, producer.

Julia Ashkettle performs the role of Annie, and Gilgamesh

Taggett, who just completed one international and two national tours

of ANNIE as Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks reprises that character for the

ACT stage.

Paula Kline-Messner*, last seen at ACT in Good

People, plays Miss Agatha Hannigan, while Geneviève

Adelman plays Grace Farrell. Michael Guffey takes on

the role of Daniel “Rooster” Hannigan, with Laura

Swinsburg as Lily St. Regis.

The cast of ANNIE also features: Dennis Runkle

(President Roosevelt), Guy Custer (Bert Healy),

Bernie Keister (Judge Brandeis), Mary Pat Crockford

(Mrs. Greer), Shelly Palumbo (Mrs. Pugh), Glen

Johnston (Drake), with ensemble performers including:

Jennifer Kubinski, John Webb, Dennis Dumont, Eric

Grow, Emmie Ferguson, Stone Dupree, Danielle

Dupree, and Sydney Goldstein.

Joining Annie in the orphanage are: Frankie

Ashkettle (Duffy), Brigitte Edwards (Molly), Eva

Logan (July), Ella Stec (Kate), Molly Kessler (Tessie),

Skye Kubinski (Pepper) plus Jackie Armstrong, Gab-

riella Bozan, Marin Carlson, Mia Custer, Jordyn

Freetage, Jane Gerdes, and Gianna Malie.

Macs, owned and handled by are Leigh Garrett

and Macey Staninger plays Sandy the dog.

Todd Plone designed the set for ANNIE, and

Barb Trueman and Linda Weinkamer served as sce-

nic artists.

Ann Nyenhuis,

stage manager and

technical

director, also oversaw

set construction crew

that included: Joe

Mira, Martin Pekarcik,

Jerry Schaber, Dave

Nyenhuis, Brad Hills,

Linda Weinkamer,

April Sike, Sarah

Kuchcinski, Mary Pat

Crockford, Stone

Dupree, Kimberly

Stec, Kailey Stec, Marianne Paul, Glen Johnston, Brandon John-

son, and Olivia Johnston.

Marianne Paul was in charge of costumes with assistance from

Gracie Frazier, Laura Dupree and Nancy Welsh.

Maggie Hamilton designed the sound and will serve as sound

technician during performances. T.L. Codella designed the lighting

with assistance from Sarah Kuchcinski and April Sike, lighting

technicians.

April Sike assists Ann

Nyenhuis as the assistant stage

manager. Jerry Schaber, Dave Nyenhuis, Nate Welsh and

Brandon Johnston serve as the run crew.

Vicki Rizzo-Prato,

the show’s liaison

to the board of

trustees, is also in

charge of hospital-

ity and intermission

refreshments.

Marc Howard will

manage front of

house. Marianne

Gingras designed

the sign and

poster.

The original Broad-

way production

ANNIE opened in

1977 and ran for nearly six years followed by international produc-

tions and national tours. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical,

the show includes the popular songs "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard

Knock Life," among others.

Based on "Little Orphan Annie"® By Permission of

Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ANNIE is presented

through special arrange-

ment with Music Theatre

International (MTI). All

authorized performance

materials are also supplied

by MTI, MTIShows.com

Aurora Community Theatre

is located at 115 E. Pioneer

Trail, near the intersection

of SR 43 and 306, at the

gazebo, in the center of

Aurora. ACT extends ap-

preciation to The Denise G. & Norman E.

Wells, Jr. Family Foundation for their gener-

ous underwriting of the Wells Main Stage.

The amazing talents of area youth were showcased in “Willy Wonka Jr” dur-ing the 2017 Children’s Summer Workshop. Each two-week session culmi-nated in full productions of the musical, complete with costumes, props, mu-sic and lighting. In addition to making sure the children learn acting, singing, dancing and backstage skills, co-producers Michelle Regelbrugge and Vicki Rizzo Prato make sure they understand that good thea-tre will enlighten as well as entertain. “Willy Wonka, Jr.” features the Bucket family: Charlie Bucket, his siblings, parents, and grand-parents, who struggle to put food on the table and must stretch their thin cabbage soup every eve-ning for dinner. Inspired by play, the over 120 Workshop actors decided to help local families in need. Becky Carlino from the Aurora branch of Volunteers of America spoke with participants about the need for food donations as well as paper products and school supplies. In response, CSW children and their families collected and donated over 200 pounds of food and other items to Aurora Food Pantry.

CSW counselors, back row: Sydney Manderbach, Karson

Taylor, Nathan Welsh, Ben Sutter, Sophie Longo, Noah

White. Front row: Katie Kronz, John Kushan, Tatum Miller. Not pictured: Ryan Kacmar,

Emily Wedding, Caitlin Spicer, Eve Regelbrugge, Grace Caffoe,

Ashlyn White, Liz Keller, Lexy Jensen, Kennedi Hobbs,

Phoenix Cyronek

OCT 2017

Leapin’ Lizards!

OCTA Bravos Ohio Community Theatre Association recognized Aurora Community Theatre

excerpts from WORDS, WORDS, WORDS , part of last season’s Benefit Show

“ONE ACTS.” BY David Ives. Awards included:

Excellence in Direction: Theresa Benyo-Marzullo

Excellence in Ensemble: The Full Cast

Merit in Acting as Swift: Travis Reilly

Excellence in Acting as Milton: Rob Walter

Merit in Acting as Kafka: Macey Staninger

JOIN ANNIE, DADDY WARBUCKS, MISS HANNIGAN

and all the ORPHANS For a Delicious, Delightful, De-lovely time with

yummy sandwiches, scones, tea cakes, lemonade and tasty tea.

PLUS A special live performance of “It’s a Hard Knock Life”

You can sing along, then meet and greet the actors. $20 adult ticket ♥ $10 child’s ticket (12 and under)

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Seating is LIMITED.

Buy online at www.auroracommunitytheatre.com or call 330-562-1818

TEA PARTY

6 to 7:30 pm Saturday Nov 4 Aurora Community Theatre Downstairs Gallery 115 E. Pioneer

Discount for groups of

15 or more.

Discount plus party for

groups of 20 or more.

For group details, call

330-562-1818

ANNIE

TICKETS $18 for all adults

$13 youth (age 18 and under) online, anytime, including seat selection

auroracommmunitytheatre.com

or call 330-562-1818

A Big CSW THANK YOU to:

♦ Nancy Welsh, Nichol Kacmar and Cyndi Caffoe for helping with costumes..

♦ Hannah Gang, a veteran of several Workshops, who also played Sandy in

GREASE at ACT last summer, for speaking about her life post-CSW.

♦ Becky Carlino, from Volunteers of America, for speaking to our kids about

those in our area living without basic needs.

♦ Dorothy Edwards at Subway for donating subs for the cast party.

♦ Gionino’s, and Guys, and Angelo’s for donating pizza for the cast party.

♦ Paul Carlson and Laura Phillips for donating photography services.

♦ Ashlyn White and Eve Regelbrugge for helping with choreography.

♦ Maggie Hamilton and Craig Kollai for technical assistance.

♦ Logan Family and Archer Family for hosting our program director.

♦ The Church in Aurora for donating set decorations.

♦ The many, many Workshop Parents for donating supplies, food and,

especially, your time.

Children’s Summer Workshop 2017: Acting, Singing, Dancing & Community

Aurora Food Bank volunteer Chris Morris and CSW co-producer Vicki Rizzo Prato

unload donations from CSW families

John Webb, Dennis Runkle, Eric Grow, Stone Dupree, Glen Johnston. Not pictured: Michael Guffey, Dennis Dumont, Bernie Keister, Guy Custer

*Paula Kline-Messner is appearing Courtesy of

Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional

Actors and Stage Managers in the United States,

appearing under a Special Appearance Contract.

Mary Pat Crockford, Shelly Palumbo, Jennifer Kubinski, Danielle Dupree, Sydney Goldstein. Not pictured: Emmie Ferguson, Stone Dupree

Julia Ashkettle (Annie) and Gilgamesh Taggett (Warbucks)

Paula Kline-Messner* (Miss Hannigan) and Julia Ashkettle (Annie).