northeastern university-secret garden

1Northeastern University

Northeastern Illinois UniversityDepartment of Music

presents

THE SECRET GARDEN

Books and Lyrics by Marsha Norman

Music by Lucy Simon

Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Original Broadway production produced by:Heidi Landesman

Rick Steiner, Frederic H. Mayerson, Elizabeth WilliamsJujamcyn Theaters/TV ASAHI and Dodger Productions

Originally produced by the Virginia Stage Company, Charles Towers, Artistic Director

First premiered on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on April 2, 1991

Licensed by Samuel French Inc., used with permission

Performance running time: 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission

2 Northeastern University

PROGR A M

Act OnePreludeOpening...........................................................................................................Lily,.Fakir,.EnsembleThere’s.a.Girl......................................................................... Holmes,.Shaw,.Wright,.Alice,.ClaireThe.House.Upon.the.Hill...........................................................Mrs..Medlock,.Mary,.EnsembleThere’s.a.Girl.II......................................................... Holmes,.Shaw,.Wright,.Alice,.Claire,.AlbertI.Heard.Someone.Crying................................................................Mary,.Lily,.Archie,.EnsembleIf.I.Had.a.Fine.White.Horse................................................................................................. MarthaA.Girl.in.the.Valley...........................................................................................................Lily,.ArchieIt’s.a.Maze........................................................................................... Mary,.Martha,.Ben,.DickonWinter’s.on.the.Wing............................................................................................................ DickonShow.Me.the.Key........................................................................................................ Mary,.DickonA.Bit.of.Earth............................................................................................................................ArchieStorm.............................................................................................. Holmes,.Shaw,.Wright,.Albert,.. Claire,.Alice,.Ayah,.Fakir,.RoseLily’s.Eyes.................................................................................................................... Neville,.ArchieStorm.II...............................................................................Mary,.Ayah,.Claire,.Shaw,.Alice,.Rose,.. Wright,.Albert,.Fakir,.Lily,.HolmesRound.Shouldered.Man................................................................................... Ayah,.Colin,.MaryFinal.Storm........................................................................................................................ Company

INTERMISSION

Act TwoThe.Girl.I.Mean.to.Be................................................................................................................MaryHouse.Upon.the.Hill.transition...............................................................................Wright,.ShawQuartet..................................................................................................... Neville,.Rose,.Lily,.ArchieThere’s.a.Man.transition.......................................Albert,.Shaw,.Wright,.Holmes,.Alice,.ClaireRace.You.to.the.Top.of.the.Morning...................................................................................ArchieMaze.transition.............................................................................................................Albert,.RoseWick..............................................................................................................................Dickon,.MaryRace.You.transition...................................................................................................................AliceCome.to.My.Garden......................................................................................................... Lily,.ColinCome.Spirit,.Come.Charm............................................................................................. CompanyA.Bit.of.Earth.Reprise............................................................................................ Lily,.Rose,.AlbertDisappear.transition.............................................................................................................NevilleHold.On.................................................................................................................................. MarthaLetter.Song....................................................................................................Mary,.Martha,.ArchieWhere.in.the.World.................................................................................................................ArchieHow.Could.I.Ever.Know?...............................................................................................Lily,.ArchieTo.the.Day.Garden..........................................................................................Dickon,.Mary,.ColinFinale.................................................................................................................................. Company

Congrats to the cast and crew of The Secret Garden!

Love, The Cosgroves


DESCR IPTION OF CHAR ACTERS ( i n o r d e r o f a p p e a r a n c e)

Mary Lennox – a ten year old girl. The daughter of Albert and Rose Len-nox. She alone survives the cholera breakout in India and is sent to live with her Uncle Archibald. He is the husband of her deceased Aunt Lily, her mother’s sister.

Lily Craven – the aunt of Mary Lennox, the sister of Rose Lennox and the wife of Archibald Craven. She is now de-ceased, having died in child birth, when having her son Colin Craven.

Albert Lennox – Mary’s father and a Captain in the Army. He loves Mary very much and after he dies of the cholera, his spirit remains in limbo to help her.

Rose Lennox – the mother of Mary Lennox, the wife of Capt. Albert Lennox and the sister of Lily Craven. She too dies in the cholera outbreak.

Ayah – Mary’s Indian nanny and servant of the Lennox household. She dies in the opening scene but her spirit lingers on to protect Mary.

Fakir – a sage and wise man from India. He exists as a spirit helping to guide the living.

Lieutenant Wright – a friend of Albert Lennox, a fellow member of the regi-ment. He finds Mary the next day after everyone else has been killed.

Major Holmes – a friend of Albert Len-nox, a fellow member of the regiment. He goes with Lt. Wright and finds Mary.

Lieutenant Shaw – a friend of Albert Lennox, a fellow member of the regiment.

Alice – A close friend of Rose Lennox, also killed by cholera at the party.

Claire Holmes – the wife of Major Hol-mes. Friends of Albert and Rose Lennox, also killed by cholera at the party.

Major Shelley – the head army of-ficial who is charged with delivering Mary Lennox to England after her family is tragically killed. He was the leader of the regiment that Albert Lennox was a captain in.

Mrs. Shelley – Major Shelley’s wife. A very high society lady.

Mrs. Medlock – Mr. Craven’s house-keeper. An older spinster women, not very happy in her life. Seems to be grumpy all the time.

Dr. Nevile Craven – the younger brother of Archie Craven. He is jealous of Archie. Neville was in love with Lily himself and always resented all that Archie had.

Archibald “Archie” Craven – the lord of Misselthwaite Manor. He is the hus-band of the now deceased Lily, he is the uncle of Mary Lennox and the brother of Neville. He is reclusive and broken after the death of his wife. He is also the father of Colin. Archie is somewhat hunchbacked and crippled.

Martha – a housemaid in the home of Archie Craven. Young and saucy, Martha is an ally to Mary and Colin. Martha is somewhat mystical.

Dickon – Martha’s brother and the assistant to Ben in the gardening of the manor. Also somewhat mystical.

Ben Weatherstaff – the head gardener of Misselthwaite Manor. He was Lily’s gardener and the keeper of the “Secret Garden”.

Colin – the crippled son of Archie and Lily Craven. He is spoiled and unreason-able. Since his father is gone so often, he is left in the care of his Uncle Neville most of the time.

Mrs. Winthrop – the headmistress of the school that Dr. Craven wants to send Mary to.


LET TER FROM THE D IRECTOR

Dear friends – thank you so much for being here tonight to celebrate and support this production of The.Secret.Garden. There is NO way I could’ve pulled this off without the dedication of so many people – especially Drew, Kay, Shayne, Jane, Paul, Sarah and of course my wonderful husband Eugene Jarvis, who supports my efforts in every way.

Thanks my friends – I don’t know what I’d do without you!

The members of the ensemble/chorus are my family, dearest friends, NEIU stu-dents, fellow PRCC Chancel Choir members and L’Opera Piccola family members and artists of the highest caliber. Working with them has been amazing – such characters! Please sing in every show, forever, okay?

The kids singing in the show…well, what can I say? They are rock-stars. And spe-cial thanks as well to their parents, who drive them here and there and support their musical theater careers, you are awesome parents. This has been such a fun project; I really hope we can all collaborate again!

The students, community listeners, faculty, staff, coaches, tech crew, children and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for believing in us, and coming to see our show. We have been working really hard for the last four months to be able to present the highest quality production.

So, to conclude I can only say mille.grazie,.merci.beaucoup,.muchas.gracias,.danke.schön.and in every other way “thank you” for making this possible. Next year at this time we will present a modern opera in English, from the standard repertoire, as is our tradition to rotate every other year. Please keep in touch.

Fondly,

Sasha GerritsonDirector

Antares

NEIU Class of '80

GE Antares Capital

T 312 697 3955F 312 697 [email protected]

500 W. Monroe StreetChicago, IL 60661

David K. SwansonManaging Director


Mary Lutz Govertsen

Grace Goble

Andre Owens

David W. Mitchell

Brennan Roach

Jillian Mayer

Nick LaPaglia

Alex Makkawy

Michelle Guy

John Baumgardner

Philip Platakis

Theresa Egan

Angela Zuniga

Sarah Linske

Livvie Goble

Neydi Jimenez

Wellington Da Silva

Mark Biedke

David Wotojwicz

Michael Harris

Madeline Nelson


CAST L IST

Lily (April 13 & 15)..................................................................................... Mary Lutz GovertsenLily (April 14 & 16)......................................................................................................Sarah LinskeArchibald Craven .........................................................................................Wellington Da SilvaMary Lennox (April 13 & 15) ..................................................................................Grace GobleMary Lennox (April 14 & 16) ..................................................................................Livvie GobleDickon ..................................................................................................................David W. MitchellMartha ...........................................................................................................................Jillian MayerDr. Neville Craven ...................................................................................................Alex MakkawyColin Craven (April 13 & 15) ...................................................................................Mark Biedke Colin Craven (April 14 & 16) ............................................................................... Michael HarrisCaptain Albert Lennox ............................................................................... John BaumgardnerRose Lennox ..............................................................................................................Theresa EganFakir ............................................................................................................................. Andre OwensAyah ...........................................................................................................................Neydi JimenezBen Weatherstaff .............................................................................................. David WojtowiczMrs. Medlock ......................................................................................................Madeline NelsonLieutenant Wright ............................................................................................... Brennan RoachLieutenant Shaw ..................................................................................................... Nick La PagliaAlice ...............................................................................................................................Michelle GuyMajor Holmes ...........................................................................................................Philip PlatakisClaire Holmes ......................................................................................................... Angela ZunigaMrs. Shelley ................................................................................................................Carrie DahlbyMajor Shelley ........................................................................................................... Eugene JarvisMrs. Winthrop ..................................................................................................Michelle JacobsonWilliam ....................................................................................................................Jerry Lee BrownTimothy ...............................................................................................................Cristian AudiffredJane ..........................................................................................................................Laura CamachoBetsy/Nurse .............................................................................................Janelle GianakopoulosPhotographer ................................................................................................................Josh Harris

Dancers ............................................................................................. Rachel Burton, Lyz Krieger, Juan Carlos Castellon,

Andrew Waters (choreography)

ENSEMBLE

Anthony Albergo, Cristian Audiffred, Vanessa Barrera, Jenny Bezold, Diane Blumensaadt, Jerry Lee Brown, Laura Camacho, Jean Collier, Carrie Dahlby,

Robyn Falasz, Kristine Falck-Pedersen, Janelle Gianakopoulos, Michelle Guy, Joshua Harris, Maggie Harris, Michelle Jacobson, Eugene Jarvis, Miguel Long,

Sara Minton, Jan Much, Jackie Nowotnik, Evelyn Priebe, Fred Sivils, Heather Sluga,Janette Spenny, Krystal Starr, Angela Zuniga


ORCHESTR A

R. Shayne Cofer, Conductor

Violin I ..................................................................................... Thomas Oswald, ConcertmasterViolin II .............................................................................................................. Songhea SackriderViola.......................................................................................................................... Emmanuel BanCello ...................................................................................................................................Paul GhicaBass .................................................................................................................Christian DillinghamFlute/Piccolo ..............................................................................Lyon Leifer, Stephanie BurgerOboe/English Horn .................................................................................... Riccardo CastanedaClarinet .....................................................................................................................Rose SperrazzaBass Clarinet ............................................................................................................. Christie MillerTrumpet ......................................................................................................................... Brian FisherTrombone ............................................................................................................... John McAllisterHorn I ........................................................................................................................... Trey JohnsonHorn II ......................................................................................................................... Peter JacksonPercussion .............................................................................................Clay Condon, Dan FuchsKeyboards ......................................................................Jane Kenas-Heller, Jeff KowalkowskiContractor ........................................................................................................................Paul Ghica

Park RidgeNonprofit Center

SERVING THOSE THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY

720 Garden Street Park Ridge, IL www.ParkRidgeNonprofitCenter.org

PRNC offers resources – from services to space –

so that nonprofits can grow stronger,

be more sustainable, and spend their resources

ttowards their missions. We encourage interaction,

networking, and collaboration between nonprofits, businesses,

and our community in one central location.

TTogether, we can build a stronger community

through stronger nonprofits.

Best Wishes to the cast and crew of

The Secret Gardenfrom your friends at


TECH / NE IU PERSONNEL

Director .................................................................................................................. Sasha GerritsonConductor ..............................................................................................................R. Shayne CoferProduction Manager & Scenic Designer .....................................................Kay Lea MeyersAssistant Director & Choreographer ............................................................ Andrew Waters Lighting Designer....................................................................................... Christopher BurpeeCostume Designer .........................................................................................................Bill MoreyTechnical Director .......................................................................................................Rich BryantSound Designer ........................................................................................................ Miles PolaskiSound Engineer .................................................................................................. Claudette PerezHair/Makeup Designer ................................................................................... Sienna MacedonMaster Electrician ..................................................................................................Alec BernsteinSet Dresser ...............................................................................................................Mollie SlatteryProps Mistress ...................................................................................................Gretchen SheirokVideographer ..................................................................................................................Greg BorisAudio Recording Engineer ....................................................................................... Rick MartinCostume Assistant............................................................................Kate Setzer KamphausenHair/Make Up Assistant ........................................................................................ Chloe DreiskeHouse Manager .............................................................................................................Steve ZivinAccompanists .................................................................... Paul Hamilton, Jane Kenas-HellerAssistant to Director .................................................................................................Sarah LinskePoster Design ......................................................................................................Lauren LakomekPoster/Flyer/Postcard Printing ...............................................................................The Ink WellPrograms ........................................................................................................Marcus PromotionsPhotography ..................................................................................................................... Joe DavisCostume Shop ............................................................................................Broadway CostumesScenic Shop .........................................................................................................Left Wing Scenic

B IOGR APHIES

Anthony Albergo (Ensemble) This is Anthony’s first time performing at the college level and his first time to the NEIU stage. He is so happy to be a part of this cast and excited to be a part of this show. He would like to say thanks to Drew, Sasha, and his family to mak-ing this a wonderful experience.

Cristian Audiffred (Ensemble) is a freshman at NEIU, studying Vocal Performance. Working with Sasha is an awesome experience and he can’t wait for more years to come. He studies voice with Dr. Hurt. He gives thanks to his parents and Mrs. Quattrin-Campag-na for their endless support. “I.wouldn’t.be.here.today.with.out.them!”.

Vanessa Barrera (Ensemble) is a junior at NEIU where she is a Music Major. She takes private voice lessons with Kathy Cowan. She is also a cosplay photographer and makes video game inspired jewelry.

John Baumgardner (Captain Albert Lennox) is currently pursuing a Master’s

degree in Vocal Pedagogy at NEIU and is a student of Dr. Heitzinger. He has performed in numerous opera and musical productions at NEIU.

Alec Bernstein (Master Electrician) is excited to be working with NEIU. Alec is a freelance Lighting Designer, Assistant Lighting Design and Master Electrician around Chicago for theatre and corporate productions. Most recent theatre credits include Assistant Lighting Design for Ethan.Frome and Peter.Pan (Lookingglass Theatre Com-pany) The.Arabian.Nights (Berkeley Rep Theater) and Master Electrician for The.Gondoliers (DePaul Opera Theatre).

Jenny Bezold (Ensemble) played the role of Mrs. Winthrop in Trinity Players’ 1999 pro-duction of The.Secret.Garden, and is thrilled to be able to sing this wonderful music in her third appearance on the NEIU stage. Jenny has been singing her whole life and is an active member of her church choir and Lutheran Choir of Chicago.

DePaul Opera Theatre

presents two one-act french operas

Steven Mosteller, Music Director • Harry Silverstein, Director

Darius Milhaud’s

le pauvre matelot (the poor sailor)

An Operatic Film Noir with Deep Comic Undertones

a duet of operas about love, marriage and the

battle of the sexes as only the french could see it.

Jacques Ibert’s

angéliqueA Wild French Farce

free and open to the public

Friday, May 20 at 7:30 pm Sunday, May 22 at 2:00 pm

DePaul Concert Hall800 West Belden Avenue

music.depaul.edu


B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

Mark Biedke (Colin Craven) is a 6th-grader in Park Ridge and has been in choir with Sasha for 5 years. He also likes soccer, chess, trumpet, and handball. He is a private student of Sasha Gerritson. He thanks Sasha for this exciting opportunity and hopes this is just the beginning of his per-formance career!

Diane Blumensaadt (Ensemble) In 1971 Diane performed at NEIU in her very first musical, The.Apple.Tree. Since then, she has performed in numerous musicals here in Chicago and currently teaches children’s dance and theater classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music, hoping to pass down her love for the performing arts. Diane is pleased to celebrate that first performance now, 40 years later, by performing in NEIU’s production of The.Secret.Garden.

Greg Boris (Videographer) enjoys any chance to work with other artists. He is currently studying cinematography at

Columbia College Chicago. He would like to thank his awesome parents for supporting him.

Jerry Lee Brown (William, Ensemble) Long a stage and concert hall per-former, Jerry has appeared at NEIU in Opera Workshop productions of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience in 2007, Stephen Sondheim’s Into.The.Woods in 2009 and, most recently, in the 2010 production of La.Bohème. He is pleased to appear here again working with this fine en-semble of friends and musicians.

Rich (“Richie”) Bryant (Technical Director) is a grad of the University of Illi-nois (BFA) and Roosevelt University (MA). Rich would like to thank Rick Combs for this opportunity and Kay Meyers for her patience with me. When not doing theater, Rich spends time traveling, practicing Aikido and working with the Korinji Foundation to help with the establishment of a Rinzai Zen monastery in Wisconsin. (www.korinji.org)

Congratulations to the Secret Garden cast and crew!

professional singingfor all occasions



Christopher Burpee (Lighting De-signer) designs lighting for many theatre companies around Chicago, including Redtwist Theatre, where he is the Resi-dent Lighting Designer. Chris is a gradu-ate of The Theatre School at DePaul University. When he’s not designing, he freelances as a lighting technician, and an event and portrait photographer.

Rachel Burton (Dancer) has danced professionally with several Chicago dance companies, including Concert Dance, Inc. and Melissa Thodos and Dancers, performing in the United States, South America and at the Ed-inburgh Festival in Scotland. Currently she is a full time Instructor in the NEIU Dance Program and coordinates the NEIU Community Dance Program.

Laura Camacho (Jane, Ensemble) is a music student at NEIU where she studies with Phyllis Hurt. This is her first college musical and she is thrilled to be dancing and singing with the company.

Juan Carlos Castellon (Dancer) dances with the internationally acclaimed En-semble Español Spanish Dance Theater in residence at NEIU. He has toured with the Ensemble Español throughout the United States and internationally to Poland and China. He has also per-formed as a guest artist for the Chicago Chamber Opera’s productions of Amahl, Carmen, Vanessa, Maria.La.O’ and Te.Amo.

R. Shayne Cofer (Conductor) is delight-ed to work with Sasha Gerritson and the cast and crew to produce The.Secret.Garden. A graduate of The University of Iowa, Shayne serves as Chair of the Department of Music and conducts the NEIU Wind Ensemble.

Jean Collier (Ensemble) is thrilled to be in her first NEIU performance, and hopes there will be many more now that she has given up her hectic travel schedule following her recent retire-ment. Jean is a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Choir in Park Ridge and has also toured in Europe with Sasha and the PRCC choir.

Wellington Da Silva (Archibald Craven) is a student in NEIU’s Music Education program. He has performed leading roles in numerous operas and musicals at NEIU and is so pleased to have been a part of this production of The.Secret.Garden.

Carrie Dahlby (Mrs. Shelley) earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance degree at Augsburg College in Min-neapolis, Minnesota in 2001. Nowadays she enjoys singing as a paid soloist for the Park Ridge Community Church Chancel Choir, performing and record-ing comedy/parody songs, and singing with the NEIU Opera Workshop.

Theresa Egan (Rose Lennox) is cur-rently working towards her Masters in Vocal Pedagogy at NEIU. She recently was the Papagena understudy in Verismo Opera Club’s production of Magic.Flute and can be seen as the Kate Pinkerton understudy in Madama.But-terfly with the same company for their July performance. She was also recently seen as Gianetta in the Elixir.of.Love in NEIU’s Opera Scenes and as Musetta from La.Bohème both as an understudy with Verismo and as the principal with NEIU last April.

Robyn Falasz (Ensemble) is a sopho-more music major in college. She is thrilled to be in her first full production at NEIU!

Kristine Falck-Pedersen (Ensemble) has a BA in Theatre/Music from Colum-bia College and is currently finishing up her Masters in Education. She is delighted to be in the Chorus, and to be working with all the professors during this production, along with the theater community at NEIU.

Sasha Gerritson (Director) is extremely grateful to all the people who helped make The.Secret.Garden possible. A graduate of NEIU and DePaul, Sasha has been the NEIU Opera Director for four years, in addition to teaching Music Theory and Sight Singing and Ear Train-ing. In her spare time she sings opera


a JOYOUS accomplishmentto our dear friend Sasha!

Lauran and Myrna Bromley


and musical theatre and serves as the Music Minister of the Park Ridge Com-munity Church. Sasha lives in Glenview with her husband Eugene and their sons Nate and Josh.

Janelle Gianakopoulos (Betsy, Nurse, Ensemble) is very excited for her first musical during her college experi-ence. She would like to thank her director Sasha Gerritson for giving her this opportunity. She is a vocal education major and studies voice with Kathy Cowan.

Grace Goble (Mary Lennox) is excited and honored to have the chance to play this role as well as to share the experience with her big sister. She has been singing with Sasha Gerritson since age 4 and also studies with John Komasa. Grace thanks these wonder-ful teachers as well as her family for always believing in her.

Livvie Goble (Mary Lennox) is thrilled to have the chance to perform this dream role and to share it with her little sister. She has studied voice with Sasha Gerritson since the age of 7 and also studies with John Komasa. Livvie thanks these life-changing teachers and her family for their unconditional love and support.

Michelle Guy (Alice) is very excited for the opportunity to play Alice. She is a third year Music Major at NEIU and studies privately with Dr. Robert Heitzinger. Michelle is extremely grate-ful to her family, friends, as well as the wonderful faculty and staff at NEIU for their support along the way!

Paul Hamilton (Vocal coach, Accompa-nist) is a pianist/composer & cinema-tographer in Chicago. Favorite venues: Carnegie Hall, New York; Tsuda Hall, Tokyo; Galway Music Festival, Ireland; St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Gibraltar.

$10 Reserved Seatingwww.ravinia.org

or (847) 266-5100

CDI’ celebrates its 30th Anniversary Season with a program highlighting its relationship with the Ravinia Festival

over the years –“THE RAVINIA COMMISSIONS.”

Featured on the program will be the world premiere of the 2011 Ravinia Festival commission to the music

of Franz Liszt, with live musical accompaniment.

Secret Garden ad NEIU 3/25/11 11:13 AM Page 1



Josh Harris (Photographer, Ensemble) Known as Sir Apollo of Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc. at NEIU, Josh loves and lives for music. The.Secret.Garden is his first musical and he is looking for-ward to participating in more musical performances in the future.

Maggie Harris (Ensemble) is a 6th grader at Lincoln Middle School in Park Ridge. She enjoys dancing, singing in choir with Sasha, and performing in community theater. She is a private student of Sasha Gerritson.

Michael Harris (Colin Craven) is an 8th grader at Lincoln Middle School in Park Ridge. He enjoys singing in choir at PRCC and doing Community Theater. He is a private student of Sasha Gerritson.

Michelle Jacobson (Ensemble) is thrilled to be in another musical at NEIU. Since her first production in the music department, Sondheim’s Into.the.Woods (Little Red Riding Hood), Michelle has appeared in Puccini’s La Bohème and in Opera Workshop scene recitals. She graduated from NEIU in December with a degree in English.

Eugene Jarvis (Major Shelley) has appeared in numerous operas and musicals at Northeastern and other places. He loves to sing, play piano and guitar, as well as write songs. When not pursuing music, he also cre-ates video games.

Neydi Jimenez (Ayah) is extremely grateful and excited for the opportu-nity to participate in her first college musical during her first year at NEIU. She is studying vocal performance and has private lessons with Dr. Heitzinger. In her spare time she loves to watch Disney movies and read comics!

Jane Kenas-Heller (Accompanist, Vocal Coach) served as the staff accompanist for the NEIU music department until her recent retirement in December 2010. Jane earned her Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy degree at NEIU and

accompanies the Park Ridge Chorale, is organist at Edgewater Presbyterian Church in Chicago, and enjoys perform-ing with her clarinetist husband, Irwin.

Lyz Krieger (Dancer) grew up dancing ballet in many programs like SAB and San Francisco Ballet. Having decided to broaden her horizons, she began to study Modern and Contemporary movement which she continues to do at NEIU’s Dance Program. Lyz’s true passion is contemporary movement on point. She presently performs with the modern company Reveries.In.Motion, and teaches privately working with many Ice skaters.

Nick LaPaglia (Lieutenant Shaw) is excited to be participating in his first performance at NEIU. It has been a wonderful experience working with the director, conductor, cast and crew for the production of this amazing musical.

Sarah Linske (Lily) is thrilled to be a part of this beautiful production! Some of her favorite roles include First Lady (The.Magic.Flute), Adina (L’Elisir.D’Amore) and Rapunzel (Into.the.Woods). Sarah received her Bachelor of Music from Western Michigan University and Mas-ter of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy from NEIU. She would like to invite you to check out her ad in the program.

Miguel Long (Ensemble) is thrilled to be performing in his second NEIU production, his last being La.Bohème..He was last seen as a Shark in West.Side.Story with Music On Stage. And as Seaweed in Hairspray with The Rising Stars Theater Company. Some of his favorite roles include: Hero (A.Funny.Thing.Happened...) with Wright College, Roger (Grease), and Lun Tha (The.King.and.I) with TRSC. He would like to thank all of his family and friends for their love and support.

Mary Lutz Govertsen (Lily) is currently working on her teaching certificate at NEIU, and is thrilled to be singing the role of Lily. She was seen last year at NEIU as Mimi in La.Bohème; regionally,


Sasha & Crew:Sasha & Crew:

CongratulationsCongratulationsOn anotherOn another

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she has sung the roles of Fiordiligi/Cosi.fan.tutte, Rusalka/Rusalka, Mimi/La Bohème, and Clorinda/La.Cenerentola, among others. This spring and summer, she will sing the roles of First Lady in The.Magic.Flute and Alice in Le.Comte.Ory while covering the roles of Adele in Le.Comte.Ory and Cio-Cio-San in Madama.Butterfly. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two bad kitties.

Sienna Macedon (Hair/Make-up De-signer) was the Make-up/Hair Designer is last year’s production of La.Bohème. She is a current artist in residence at Northbrook Theatre, and her designs can be seen this season with Evanston’s Light Opera Works.

Alex Makkawy (Dr. Neville Craven) is a voice performance major at NEIU and is thrilled to be returning to the NEIU stage this year as Doctor Neville Cra-ven. He has played various supporting and leading roles in NEIU productions over the years including Schaunard in last year’s production of La.Bohème..Alex is very grateful to get to work with such an amazing director and talented cast and crew.

Jillian Mayer (Martha) is very excited for this opportunity to work with and learn from such amazing and talented people. Ever since seeing the show when she was a young kid, Jillian has been dreaming of playing Martha, and is very grateful for this chance. Thank you to friends, family, and professors for always being supportive throughout this journey. Enjoy the show!

Kay Lea Meyers (Production Man-ager/Scenic Design) is a graduate of Columbia College of Chicago. She has worked as Company Stage Manager for Luna Negra Dance Theater of Chi-cago and Ballet Hispanico of New York. Kay is thrilled to be near the love and hugs of her lovely siblings and swims in joy when she gets to work for Sasha Gerritson. She sends great thanks to all who have worked to make this production a success.

Sara Minton (Ensemble) is pleased to return to NEIU in this production of The.Secret.Garden. A graduate of University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, with a major in voice/opera performance, Sara has performed in nu-merous theatre productions through-out Chicago as well as the national tour of Into.The.Woods. Thanks to Sasha and the talented cast!

David W. Mitchell (Dickon) is an under-grad in NEIU’s Communication, Media and Theatre program with a minor in Music. David is also a company member with Chicago Fusion Theatre (CFT) and has performed with LiveWire Theatre, The Rising Stars Theatre Company, as well as in the Stage Center here at NEIU. He’ll be appearing in CFT’s upcoming production of Big.Love by Charles L. Mee as Giuliano. Many thanks to Sasha, Dr. Heitzinger, the cast and creative team, as well as friends and family for their continued support.



Bill Morey (Costume Design) has designed costumes for many Chicago theaters including Timeline, Lifeline, Theo Ubique, Boho, Bailiwick, Piven, Griffin, Hell in a Handbag and others. He has just designed his first off-Broadway show Tomorrow.Morning at the York. He has been nominated three times for a Jeff Award, winning in 2008 for Porchlight Music Theatre’s Nine. www.billmorey.com

Janice Much (Ensemble) would like to thank Sasha for this wonderful opportunity and Jan’s husband, Todd, for all of his love and support. A few of Jan’s favorite past performances include La.Bohème, Grease, Forum,.A.Little.Night.Music, Fiddler, Man.of.La.Mancha, Cinderella, Bye.Bye.Birdie and The.Sound.of.Music.

Madeline Nelson (Mrs. Medlock) has appeared in more NEIU Opera Work-shop Productions than she can count, portraying characters ranging from Konstanze, to Pamina to Aida to Gor-gonia (a favorite if only for her name). A past member of such distinguished groups as Lyric.Opera.of.Chicago, the Grant.Park.Chorus and Pro.Arte.Chorale, Madeline was co-founder and Execu-tive Producer of Chicago’s acclaimed L’Opera.Piccola and has worked with Sa-sha Gerritson in musical pursuits for the past too many years. Madeline is the Soprano Soloist/Section Leader of the Edgebrook Community Church choir and served as interim Choir Director for the 2009/10 season.

Jackie Nowotnik (Ensemble) is a vocal performance major, who would soon like to minor in theatrical performance at NEIU. The.Secret.Garden is her first major production since grade school, and she credits Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly for her love of musicals.

Andre Owens (Fakir) is ecstatic about be-ing in this year’s production of The.Secret.Garden. This is Andre’s fourth appearance on the stage at Northeastern Illinois University. He is planning on returning to NEIU for his performance degree.

Claudette Perez (Sound Engineer) is happy to be working on Secret Garden. She has interned at Goodman Theater and worked all over Chicago as a designer and engineer. She would like to give a special thanks to Miles for being awesome!

Philip Platakis (Major Holmes) is excited to be a part of this wonderful show for the second time, having previously played Dickon. An NEIU Music alum, Phil has performed/worked crew in several NEIU productions, most recently appearing as a chestnut vendor in the chorus of La.Bohème. Thanks to family and friends for support and patience. Special thanks to Sasha and everyone involved for this op-portunity and an awesome experience!

Miles Polaski (Sound Design) is a sound designer, composer and musi-cian in Chicago. He is the resident sound designer with Collaboraction and a music director/curator with Serendipity Theatre’s 2nd.Story. This summer Miles received a Jeff Award for his sound design on Mouse.in.a.Jar with Red Tape Theatre.

Evelyn Priebe (Ensemble) has a long history of performing. She has a particular affinity for the musical stage, having performed in many operas, operettas and Broadway-style musicals. She again returns to the NEIU stage as a Community Listener in Musical Theatre.

Brennan Roach (Lieutenant Wright) is a graduate of Boston Conservatory. With a degree in musical theater, Bren-nan is active in plays and musicals in the Chicago area.

Kate Setzer-Kamphausen (Costume Assistant) has been costuming live theater and indie film in Chicago for ten years, lately with Hell in a Handbag Pro-ductions and Lifeline Theater. She also creates clothing for special occasions, textile sculptures for worship spaces - and modern kilts for men (and women) who are tired of bifurcation! Kate is delighted to work for the first time with NEIU. You can find her on Facebook.

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Gretchen Sheirok (Props Mistress) For the past 14 years Gretchen has enjoyed singing and being the Prop Mistress for the NEIU Opera Program. “The.next.season.can.not.come.fast.enough!”

Fred Sivils (Ensemble) is making his third appearance in a Sasha production..La.Bohème and the Fall 2010 Recital were his previous appearances. “I.am.thrilled.to.be.part.of.this.wonderful.cast...Thanks,.Sasha!”.

Mollie Slattery (Set Dresser) works at a variety of theatres in the Chicagoland area. Most recently her work has been with the Marriott Theatre in Lincoln-shire and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Cheers to her family and friends for all their support.

Heather Sluga (Ensemble) is very excited for the opportunity to be a part of The.Secret.Garden. Heather is in her 4th year as a Music Education Major with a focus in voice. In addition to her coursework at NEIU, Heather teaches piano and voice at Allegro Music Acad-emy and the Beverly Arts Center. She spends her free time enjoying family and songwriting with friends.

Janette Spenny (Ensemble) last performed at NEIU in the chorus of La.Bohème and is excited to be back! She loves to sing and act and is grateful to share the stage with so many other wonderful singers.

Krystal Starr (Ensemble) is very excited because this is her first play. Krystal is a Business Management and Music Major at NEIU. Krystal is very excited for you to see the play, and said it was very fun working in the production rather than actually wondering what goes on behind the scenes.

Andrew Waters (Choreographer/Assistant Director) has been a freelance choreographer and proud member of Actor’s Equity for the last seventeen

years. Most recently he staged the City Lit’s production of Wind.in.the.Willows and was the Associate Choreographer for Theo Ubique Theatre’s big hit, Cats. Andrew also just finished the very suc-cessful ten-week run of Monty Python’s Spamalot at the Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace. He would like to thank you for supporting live theater.

David Wojtowicz (Ben Weatherstaff ) returns to NEIU for his 13th show. He has sung leading and supporting roles with Chamber Opera Chicago, James Downing Theater, Light Opera Works, L’Opera Piccola, Music Institute of Chicago, Northeastern, Savoyaires and Trinity Players. David is active in Chorus-es at Northwestern and Northeastern Universities, North Shore Choral Society, Park Ridge Civic Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia and is a soloist at Park Ridge Community Church. AND… Dave maintains an active dental prac-tice in Skokie.

Angela Zuniga (Claire Holmes) is a Sophomore at NEIU and this is her first college musical production. She is majoring in Vocal Music Ed and also plays jazz piano here at NEIU. Angela is very excited to be singing with and learning from such a talented cast. Thank you to everyone who came to support our production.

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THE SECRET GARDEN (MUSICAL) SYNOPSIS

Act I Mary Lennox, a 10-year-old English girl who has lived in India since birth. One night there is a big party thrown by her parents. Her father puts her to bed and the next morning she awakes to learn that her parents and nearly everyone she knew in India, including her Ayah (nanny) have died of cholera. Found by survivors of the epidemic (officers who worked along-side her father), Mary is sent back to England, via train, to live with her only remaining relations.

Her mother’s sister, Lily, died many years ago. Lily’s widower is Archibald Craven, a cripple, who is still overcome by grief. The management of his manor house, Mis-selthwaite, is largely left to his brother, Dr. Neville Craven. The house is persistently haunted by ghosts (i.e. Lily, Ayah, Fakir, Rose and Albert Lennox, officers from India, etc.) and spirits of Archibald’s and Mary’s pasts, due to their holding on to what used to be. The housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock, coldly welcomes Mary to Yorkshire on her arrival (“The.House.Upon.the.Hill”). Mary has difficulty sleeping her first night there (“I.Heard.Someone.Crying”) as she and Archibald both mourn their losses. The next morning, Mary meets Martha, a young chambermaid who encourages Mary to go play outside by telling her about the surrounding moorland and grounds.(“If.I.Had.a.Fine.White.Horse”),.in particular, a secret (hidden) garden. Meanwhile, Archibald remains submerged in his memories of Lily (“A.Girl.In.the.Valley”), while ghosts waltz to Lily’s and Archibald’s serenading.

Mary explores the garden, and meets Ben Weatherstaff, an old gardener, and Mar-tha’s brother Dickon, (“It’s.a.Maze”), each with a different agenda. Ben tells Mary that the secret garden has been locked since Lily’s death, as it reminds Archibald of her. Dickon invokes the spring (“Winter’s.On.the.Wing”) and he claims to con-

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The Park Ridge Community Churchis proud to support the

Cast & Crew of The Secret Garden

Join us for worship every Sunday8:30 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

All are welcome!In the heart of Park Ridge!

100 S. Courtland AvenuePark Ridge, IL 60068

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Rev. Dr. Brett W. McCleneghan, Senior MinisterSasha Gerritson, Music Minister


THE SECRET GARDEN (MUSICAL) SYNOPSIS (c o n t.)

verse with animals and teaches Mary to speak the Yorkshire dialect to an English Robin (“Show.Me.the.Key”). The bird leads Mary to the key for the garden, but does not show Mary the door.

Archibald has a formal meeting with his niece, who asks him for.“A.Bit.of.Earth” to plant a garden of her own; he is startled and compares her to Lily for their shared horticultural interests. As the Yorkshire gloom turns to rain and “Shakes the souls of the dead” (“Storm.I”),.Archibald and his brother Neville both notice that Mary also physically resembles her aunt (“Lily’s.Eyes”), with whom both men were in love.

As the rain continues, Mary again hears someone crying (“Storm.II”), but this time she finds the source: her cousin Colin, confined to bed since his birth, when his mother Lily died. He has been in bed his entire life because Archibald feared that Colin would also become a hunch back. In reality, Colin’s spine is perfectly fine but his father is convinced that he has passed on his curse. Colin confides in his cousin his dreams of “A.Round-Shouldered.Man”.who comes to him at night and reads to him from his book “of all that’s good and true”. However, just as it seems they have become friends, Neville and Mrs. Medlock burst in and dismiss her angrily, telling her she is never to see Colin again. As the storm reaches its peak, Mary runs outside and finds the door to the garden (“Final.Storm”).

Act II Mary has a reverie about “The.Girl.I.Mean.to.Be,” with “a place I can go when I am lost.” In reality, the garden is like her uncle and Mary herself, neglected and half-wild. Archibald relates a dream to Neville about seeing Lily and Mary together in the gar-den. But Neville’s dreams are darker: recalling his unrequited love for Lily, Neville wants Archibald to leave Misselthwaite entirely to him. The two brothers’ musings are inter-woven with ghostly echoes of old arguments between Lily and her sister Rose (Mary’s mother) about Archibald’s suitability as a prospective husband and father (“Quartet”). At Neville’s urging, Archibald leaves for the Continent, pausing only to read a fairy tale to the Colin as the boy sleeps (“Race.You.To.the.Top.of.the.Morning”).

Mary asks Dickon for help with the garden, which appears dead; Dickon explains that it is probably just dormant and that “somewhere there’s a single streak of green inside it” (“Wick”)..Mary tells Colin about the discovered garden, but he is initially reluctant to go outside until encouraged by a vision of his mother (“Come.to.My.Garden”). Mary, Dickon, and Martha clandestinely bring Colin to the garden in a wheelchair. In the garden, the exercise and fresh air begin to make Colin well.(“Come.Spirit,.Come.Charm”). The dreamers sing the praises of the renewed garden (“A.Bit.of.Earth.(Reprise)”).

Back in the house, Mary faces down Neville as he threatens to send her away to boarding school. Martha tells Mary she must “Hold.On”--”when you see a man who’s ragin’/And he’s jealous and he fears/That you’ve walked through walls he’s hid be-hind for years...” Mary writes to Archibald (“Letter.Song”) urging him to come home.

At first Archibald feels defeated and frustrated (“Where.In.the.World”), but Lily’s ghost convinces him to return (“How.Could.I.Ever.Know”). Entering the garden, he finds Colin completely healthy; in fact, he is beating Mary in a footrace as Archibald walks through the door. Archibald, a changed man, accepts Mary as his own, and the dreamers invite all to “stay here in the garden,” as Lily and Mary’s parents Albert and Rose promise to look over them for the rest of their days.(“Finale”)..


PROGR A M NOTES

by Aggie ZarkadasBecause The.Secret.Garden is based on a children’s book, we trust the story will end happily. In the meantime, though, Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon give us a picture of the strange beauty and corrosiveness of static, crippling grief and the healing power of nature.

Like the locked garden, the residents of Misselthwaite Manor are neglected and stunted, unseen, spiritually dead. Mary has never really belonged anywhere. As a British child in India, she was coddled by native servants, but her mother couldn’t be bothered with her. Her very privilege has crippled her: when we meet her, she is an imperious brat who can’t even dress herself. Colin is literally crippled by his father’s fears for the boy. He is confined to bed, isolated, and grows weaker by the day, simply because his father Archie fears that he will be an invalid. Archie travels the world running from his pain and waltzes with his lost wife Lily in his fantasies, while his grief for her makes ghosts of the living. So afraid is he of losing his son that he forbids himself a waking relationship with the boy. He visits Colin nightly, but only when the boy is sleeping; the stories he tells where father and son are healthy and strong become Colin’s dreams. Archie longs for his son even as he is present. His grief is the only beauty he allows himself. His waltz with Lily and the song he sings to his son are soar-ing and transcendent, the substance of his desires.

The music of the Yorkshire natives, Martha, Dickon, and Ben, on the other hand, seems to come from the earth itself, from the original Celtic inhabitants of Yorkshire, the rhythms echoing the pulse of the earth. They sing of planting, of spring, of emptying chamber pots and killing mice, with a robust joy and humor. And the birds sing with them. As Dickon and Ben and the robin introduce Mary to nature’s ways, her own nature grows stronger and her brattiness turns to bravery. Mary’s curiosity leads her to the secret garden on the moor and to the secret room of her cousin Colin in the mansion. Like the secret green shoots of life beneath the dead bark in Lily’s garden, he grows healthy and strong when he is seen and encouraged. As Archie sees his son walk for the first time, he finds the strength to move forward into life. Through helping Colin heal, the children heal Archie as well. In nature, all things are one.

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dodger productionsoriginally

marsha normanmusic

virginia stage company

lucy simonbased

charles towers

heidi landesmanrick

artistic directorfirst

samuel french