Stagecompany.org Facebook.com/stageco

Directed By: Derek M. Hamblin APRIL 16-18 & 22-25, 2021

SEASON 39

A VIRTUALLY STREAMED MUSICAL PRODUCTION

The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein

Music By Lyrics By

Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II

Concept By: Jeffrey B. Moss

Derek M. Hamblin: Director & Music Director

CAST Nellie: Melody Ossi

Anna: Lauren Arnett

Billy: Travis Westbrook

Julie: Victoria Shore

Will: Mitchell Brandon

PRODUCTION STAFF

Jeff Keasler-Bird: Stage Manager

Brandyn McGhee: Technical Director, Lighting & Sound Design

Derek M. Hamblin: Musical Orchestrations

Brandyn McGhee: Set Design

Jeff Keasler-Bird Light Board Operator

Brandyn McGhee: Video Filmography & Editor

River Costin: On-stage “Pianist”

The Stage Company Presents

Some Enchanted Evening—The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein is presented

by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE

Opening

The Surrey With The Fringe On

Top

It Might As Well Be Spring

There is Nothing Like A Dame

The Gentlemen Is A Dope

I Have Dreamed

“Grand Night” Agitato

A Wonderful Guy

Hello, Young Lovers

If I Loved You

Something Wonderful

A Fellow Needs A Girl

I Cain’t Say No

I Enjoy Being A Girl

Maria

Lonely Room

In My Own Little Corner

A Bell Is No Bell

Shall We Dance?/Act One Finale

ACT TWO

Entr'acte

Act II Opening Medley

Twin Soliloquies

This Nearly Was Mine

Out of My Dreams

Don’t Marry Me

Love, Look Away

A Puzzlement

A Cockeyed Optimist

Soliloquy

Sixteen Going on Seventeen

Younger Than Springtime

I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out-A My Hair

Closing Medley

Some Enchanted Evening

Derek M. Hamblin (Director/Music Director) Derek received his B.A. in Vocal Perfor-mance from Berea College in Berea, KY, and completed his Masters in Music (Music Theatre/Opera Performance) at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Derek resides in the Southern Illinois area working freelance and professionally in the performing arts. He also teaches voice, piano, audition prep, and instrumental lessons in his private studio. www.d4gtheatricals.weebly.com. He is

currently the Director of Music at First Christian Church of Carbon-dale and is the Administrative Assistant for the Marion Cultural & Civic Center, where he manages all office and box office functions. Hamblin has worked professionally in regional theatre as an actor, music director, musician, conductor, and casting director. (Lincoln Amphitheatre/Jenny Wiley Theatre/McLeod Summer Playhouse).

Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II Composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist-dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II were an influential and innovative American musical theatre writing team. They created a string of award-winning Broadway musicals

throughout the 1940s and 1950s, initiating what is considered the "golden age" of musical theatre. Among the many accolades their shows (and film versions) garnered were thirty-four Tony Awards, fifteen Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes (for Oklahoma!, 1944, and South Pacific, 1950) and two Grammy Awards. Their musical theatre writing partnership has been called the great-est of the 20th century.

Jeff Keasler-Bird (Stage Manager) After almost a year off with no theatre Jeff is ecstatic to be back helping to bring art to Southern Illinois in a safe way. Since moving to the area in 2008 he has been heavily involved in the theatre community, working with a number of different groups over the years. Some previous stage managing credits include Matilda, A Chorus Line, Aida, RENT, Cinderella, Les Miserables, and Chicago. He currently sits on the Stage Company’s

executive council as secretary.

Brandyn McGhee (Technical Director) Brandyn is thrilled to be back and working on a theatrical production after nearly a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to working with The Stage Company, where he serves as the Vice President for Productions, Brandyn also works at John A. Logan College where he has been employed as the full-time Technical Director of the O’Neil Auditorium for over 12 years. Brandyn has enjoyed working with the entire production staff and

cast of Some Enchanted Evening and hopes you enjoy the show!

Melody Ossi Melody is a native of Harrisburg, Illinois. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree from Webster Universi-ty in St. Louis and continued her studies in a graduate degree program at the St. Louis Conservatory of Mu-sic, where she was awarded the prestigious Helen Traubel Scholarship. She was a New England Finalist in the National Metropolitan Opera auditions and the recipient of a coveted Tanglewood Fellowship. She has enjoyed a long career in music, singing roles with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Opera Company of Boston,

Opera Tampa, New Century Opera and South Florida Lyric Opera, where she took on the role of Music Director as well. She has appeared as soloist with several orchestras, including the Bach Society of St. Louis, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the New Jersey Pops Orchestra. She is currently the Music Di-rector at the First United Methodist Church. She enjoys volunteering her time to help students prepare for middle school, high school and summer musical productions in the area and maintains a full studio of private voice and piano students.

Travis Westbrook Travis is a native of Southern Illinois and graduate from SIUC in theater and music studies. He has performed on both coasts in different venues. Favorite roles include Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Tarzan in Disney's Tarzan, and Sparky in The Stage Company's pro-duction of Forever Plaid.

Victoria Sylvania Shore Victoria, the daughter of Jeff and Elizabeth Shore, is an 18 year-old senior at Marion High School. She is a Co Captain of the IDTA State Champion in Kick, MHS Varsi-ty Dance Team; Editor for The Student newspaper, Vice President of MHS FBLA, Model UN Varsity Delegate, and is a Senior member of Girl Scout Troop #8869. She is currently Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Teen 2020. She was selected for ILMEA District 6 Jazz and Senior Cho-rus. She was also selected for the ALL State Chorus. Past credits include Ramona in Henry and Ramona (Paradise Alley, 2011); Royal Princess in G2K The King

and I (MJHS 2013), Lily St. Regis in Annie, Jr (MJHS 2015), Cinderella in Into the Woods, Jr. (MJHS 2016), Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Jr. (MJHS 2017), Flapper Girl in The Addams Family (MHS 2018), Tanya Cresham-Leigh in Mamma Mia (MHS 2019),and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (MHS 2020.

Mitchell Brandon Mitchell, a senior at Herrin High School, is very excit-ed to be joining the Stage Company for the first time. He would like to thank his family and friends for support and the Stage Company of Carbondale for the opportunity. Mitchell’s favorite roles include Archie in 13 The Musical, Sitting Bull in Annie Get Your Gun and The Big Bad Wolf in Into The Woods Jr. Other show credits include The Little Mermaid, Once Upon A Mattress, The Clumsy Custard Horror Show, and The Suessodyssey.

Lauren Arnett Lauren Arnett, is so excited to have the opportunity to return to the stage in “Some Enchanted Evening.” During the day Lauren is the director of Carterville’s Jr. High and High School Choral Programs, High School Theatre, and Dual Credit Music Appreciation Course in conjunction with John A. Logan College. Arnett received her Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Per-formance from Murray State University. She holds a Master of Music in Opera and Music Theater from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. While at SIU she starred in many McLeod Theater productions

including Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore; Lady Larken in Once Upon A Mattress; Featured Solo Lead in Starting Here, Starting Now, and Magda in Menotti’s The Consul. Locally, Lauren has been the music director for Kre8ive Fine Arts Academy as well as Artstarts children’s musical theatre camps. One of her favorite things of all time is training up young performers and helping them find their voices. Lauren would like to thank Derek for the opportunity to per-form and the cast and tech team for making this such a fulfilling experience. Lauren’s most prized role is alongside her leading man, Nathan, as mom to Grace, Lily, and Rose. “Thank you for encouraging me to step out. I love you most!”

Thanks to all of you for your support! The Stage Company receives financial support from membership dues, ticket

sales, program ads, private donations, and state and regional grants. This is a

list of our 2019-2020 private donors.

Go to stagecompany.org for more information.

ANGELS ($1,000+)

Greg Kupiec

PATRONS ($500-$999)

Mary Mantovani

Linda North

Glenn & Jo Poshard

Robin Russell & Howard Saver

BENEFACTORS ($250-$499)

Carol Burns & Steven Kraft

Lawrence & Maureen Dennis

Herb & Carolyn Donow

Andrew & Janet Earnest

Marvin & Marion Kleinau

Christian & Carolyn Moe

Jean Amble

Jacquie Betz

Ken Collins

Lilly Crane

Pat Cuendet

Peg & Steve Falcone

Linda Benz & Sam Foskey

Ann, Joe & Katie Garrett

Donald Monty & Anne Gaylord

Frances Gilman

Orville & Lena Hake

Mike Hanes

Christine Heins

Jo Ann Hensley

Terry & Mary Beth Hileman

Craig & Jan Hinde

John & Carolyn Hooker

Darlene Hornbostel

Lane & Joe Hudgins

Pamela Jacobini

Perry Knop & Sheila Simon

Gilbert & Jean Kroening

Jim & Sandy Lambert

Grover Leech & Tracy Prosser

Larry & Sharon Meyer

Brenda Myers

Perry & Susan Patterson

Connie Payne

Betty & Roland Person

Jodie & Tony Salazar

Thomas & Elizabeth Schill

Barbara Schwartz

Sharon Smaga & Steve Mueller

Woodmen Life Chapter 50

SPONSORS ($100-$249)

CONTRIBUTORS (UP TO $99)

Sarah Alley

Sydney Ambos

Jeff Keasler-Bird

Tricia Beth Burns

Terry Clark

Henry & Judy Dillinger

Kristin Doty

Ruth Dougherty

Peg Falcone

Douglas & Teresa Fix

Jason Hedrick

Cynthia Massie

Kristy McClurken

Brandyn McGhee

Susan McLernon

Elizabeth Ann Osinga

Pagliai’s Pizza

Ryan Patrick

Elyse Pineau

Jen Salamone

Andy Talmadge

Elise Wheaton

Gail & Linda White

Gordon & Carol White

Sponsors continued...

Auditions: May 24 & 25, 2021

Contact Director M.K. Hughes at

mkhughesdesign@gmail.com for more info.

Directed By: M.K. Hughes

July 9-11; 15-18, 2021

COMING THIS SUMMER!