To REACH the Unreachable Star: An Open Circle Theatre

Retrospective

SEPTEMBER 15, 16, & 17Friday and Saturday at 8 pm | Sunday at 2 pm

at the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD

OpenCircleTheatre.org

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[inside cover]

Open Circle Theatre advances the idea that disability can enhance the artistic experience, inspire aesthetic innovation, and influence a community to become accessible for all. Through the arts, a community can be brought together to celebrate all abilities and embrace similarities rather than focus on differences.

MISSION

Open Circle Theatre, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, produces high-quality, inventive theatre productions that provide opportunities for professional theatre artists with and without disabilities. Consequently, a space is established in the DC metro theatre community that:

Exposes the work of artists and arts administrators with disabilities in an integrated setting and celebrates the innovative artistic aesthetic that can be generated by embracing these theatre professionals

Creates an environment that is accessible to all — from the most mainstream theatre

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goer to those with auditory, visual or intellectual disabilities — and strives to provide an equivalent experience for every member of a diverse audience

Uses the performing arts to make education and learning inclusive for all students and all types of learners

Mentors the development of professional artists with disabilities

HISTORY

Founded in 1996, Open Circle Theatre Ensemble was a small company of friends that produced three original theatre pieces in Germantown, Maryland, then mounted a fourth original show at the Fringe Festival in Scotland. Although inclusion of artists with disabilities was not the original mission of Open Circle Theatre Ensemble, two company members happened to have disabilities. While considering mounting another production, Artistic Director Suzanne Richard realized that the original concept behind Open Circle Theatre Ensemble--leaving the circle around the campfire open to include the voices of all people--could be taken to another level while retaining the original spirit of the company. Open Circle would now focus on the

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work of one of the most underrepresented groups of storytellers--people with disabilities. A professional theatre artist with a disability herself, Suzanne Richard and co-founder Arianna Ross, a professional director and storyteller, were invited to create a show in the back room theater of a local bar and discovered that there was a community of theatre artists with disabilities in the Washington, D.C. area. This led them to create an integrated company where these artists could share their talents.

To learn more about Open Circle Theatre and support the valuable mission and works, visit OpenCircleTheatre.org

Open Circle Theatre presentsTo Reach the Unreachable Star:

A Retrospectiveby Suzanne Richard, T. Chase Meacham, and

Rob McQuay

Open Circle Theatre would like to dedicate thisproduction to Jamie Kendall.

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Director’s NoteWith last year’s production of The Who’s Tommy, we came back after a hiatus caused by my need for some personal leave.   Our major strategic goal being pursued with this benefit and other fundraising efforts is to stabilize the company’s infrastructure and make it independent of one person's influence.  The work we do is important and needs to continue.

Charlie Chaplin’s character of the little tramp is our guide through the context and history of disability. I have always admired how Chaplin used that device to show the triumph of the little man against the larger backdrop of oppression and inequality around him. So we meet the little tramp  at the beginning when people with disabilities were left to beg on the street. Then we celebrate as society began to recognize their rights and personhood.

Simultaneously, we are happy to entertain you with some of the unique ways that we have found to make a story accessible to all onstage as well as in the audience. We believe that disability can lead to artistic innovation and enhance a story rather than be a barrier to its

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telling. OCT’s function has always been to show professional artists with disabilities in productions and roles not traditionally thought of as being accessible to them. (‘Scuse the pun!)  

Ultimately, the little tramp unlocks that last barrier to understanding: we are all disabled and non-disabled. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.  This struggle is the last great civil rights movement can ultimately unify humanity. After all, if you insist on the labeling, we are the largest minority group in the world and the only one you can join at any time and you will if you live long enough.  This is a movement meant to champion all of us, so welcome to our room. Let’s play!

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Directed by Suzanne Richard*Produced by Paula SweeneyMusical Direction Jake NullChoreography (courtesy of Dance Exchange) Kelly KingAssistant Musical Direction Stuart WeichStage Manager Kate Kilbane*Set Design Scot McKenzieLighting Design Marianne Meadows+Projection Design Arnulfo MorenoAssistant Stage Manager Elliot Lanes

SHOW WILL RUN 90 MINUTES WITH NO INTERMISSION.* Member Actors’ Equity Association+ Member United Scenic Artists Local #829Video/audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.ASL and captioning will be used in the course of this performance.

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The Cast

Elver Ariza-SilvaTina GhandchilarShereth GilsonWill HayesAutumn Seavey HicksJP IllarramendiAshley IveyMolly JanigaHarv LesterAarron LogginsRob McQuayD’Arcee NealAndres Alejandro PonceSuzanne Richard*Maggie Leigh Walker

*Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association

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The Pit

Jake Null....................Music Director / Conductor / PianoStuart Weich...............Assistant Music Director / Keyboard 2Jason Wilson...............BassAlec Green..................GuitarBrad Emmett...............GuitarHilary Jones................Drums

Open Circle Theatre Artistic Staff

Suzanne Richard..........Artistic DirectorMonica Lijewski...........Financial ManagerDoretha “Doe” Dixon....Publicity and Administrative SupportElver Ariza-Silva..........Outreach Coordinator

Open Circle Theatre Board of Directors

Rob McQuay................PresidentElena Widder...............Vice PresidentJean-Paul Richard........TreasurerHarv Lester, AriannaRoss, Jay Shapiro........Members At LargeJoel Snyder.................Board Member Emeritus

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Song List

Hear My Song....................Autumn Seavey Hicks, Aarron Loggins, Ashley Ivey, EnsembleOver..................................D’Arcee Neal, Aarron Loggins, EnsembleCousin Kevin.....................Andres Alejandro Ponce, Aarron Loggins, EnsembleChristmas Lullabye............Tina GhandchilarThe Temple.......................Rob McQuay, Aarron Loggins, Ashley Ivey, EnsemblePinball Wizard...................Molly Janiga, Harv Lester, Andres Alejandro Ponce, EnsembleSmash the Mirror..............Autumn Seavey HicksI’m Free............................Will Hayes, Aarron LogginsDon’t Cry for MeArgentina..........................Molly JanigaA New Argentina...............Molly Janiga, Rob McQuay, Harv Lester, Aarron Loggins, EnsembleGethsemane......................Rob McQuayImpossible Dream.............Maggie Leigh Walker, Ensemble

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SPECIAL THANKS: Adventure Theatre MTC, David Berkenbilt and Joel Snyder / Audio Description Associates, LLC, Artstream, Gary DuBreuil and Valerie Rigsbee / Chisel and Brand LLC, Rita Corey, Joel Markowitz / DC Metro Theater Arts, Nehemiah Dixon III, Gallaudet University, Elliot Lanes, Bob Lyness, Rob Elliot, Jake Kendall, Elsayed Mansour, Erick Morgan, Jonathan Rubin and Jess Short / Silver Spring Theatre Consortium, David Murray, Team Richard, The Keegan Theatre, Rob McQuay / RM Productions, Paula Sweeney, Stuart Weich, Betsy Weich, Sam Weich / Wildwood Summer Theatre

Cast Bios

Elver Ariza-Silva Colombia: Manantial Productions, La Verdad, Assistant Manager; DFL TV, Documentary “Revelations”, Script Continuity; ALFASAN TV, “Influences”, Narrator. U.S.A.: The National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped (NTWH), Mass Appeal/ Our Town/Chorale Session, Priest/George/Singer; Lord Fairfax Community College, The Glass Menagerie, Michael; KRAUSS & COMPANY, Inc. - Seize the Day, Celebration, Dancer; Open Circle Theater (OCT), Caucasian Chalk Circle,

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Ensemble; OCT, Evita (The Musical), Ensemble; Liz Lerman Dance Exchange (LLDE), The Farthest Earth from Thee: A Suite of Sonnets, The Young Handsome Man/Romeo/Dancer; OCT, Songs for a New World, Ensemble; The Kennedy Center - Family Theater, IZZY ICARUS fell off the world, Poetry Reader; LLDE, Gumdrops and The Funny Uncle, “The Meat”/Dancer; Gallaudet University, Film shooting – MFA Thesis Project Are Your Ears Blind?, Young man; Weber Dance Company, Of Bones and Marrow, Dancer; Federal Judiciary Court, Educational video, The Panel People, Defendant/Grand Jury; American University-Film, The Boomers, Clerk; Warehouse Theater, The Mall, The Merrier (A Holiday Cabaret), Young Man; Spooky Action Theater, The Einstein’s Dreams, Ensemble. Public Display of Motion (PDM), Dos Hombres, Dancer; OCT, The Who’s Tommy, Ensemble.

Tina Ghandchilar is pleased and honored to be a part of OCT’s Retrospective. She was last seen in The Who’s Tommy with OCT. A few favorite past performances include singing as a choir member with the Joyce Garrett Gospel Choir at the Kennedy Center Honors, honoring Led Zeppelin with Heart, honoring Al Green with

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Mavis Staples, and honoring Paul McCartney and Billy Joel. Tina is a full time Speech-Language Pathologist working for Loudoun County Public Schools and enjoys her practice in yoga, attending graduate school at George Mason University in Arts Management, and traveling to new locales and foreign lands abroad.

Shereth Gilson is thrilled to be part of Open Circle again, where she was previously in Evita. She has a B.S. in music & theatre from Indiana University. Her theater credits include the National Touring Company of Fiddler on the Roof (Fruma Sarah, Tzeitel u/s). Off-Broadway: Gypsy (Louise); Summer Stock: Man of La Mancha (Fermina), The Fantasticks (The Indian), Fiddler (Tzeitel), See How They Run (Penelope); Chicago: Candide in Concert, conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Additional local credits include Opera Theatre of Northern VA, Prince George’s Opera Theatre, Washington Savoyards (Iolanthe, The Yeoman of the Guard, Trial by Jury/La Perichole), and Washington Revels. She currently sings with City Choir of Washington and has taught and directed music and drama at local elementary schools. When not performing, she is Children’s

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Program Coordinator for the National Theater. Her other passion is animals, especially her cat, Jocelyn, and horses. Love to Steve and Emily.

Will Hayes sang the role of Tommy in The Who’s Tommy. Other credits include Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show at Studio Theatre; Charles the Wrestler in As You Like It at Folger Theatre; Synetic Theatre; Signature Theatre; Olney Theatre; and Arena Stage. He most recently played the Free Safety in Longacre Lea’s Whipping, Or the Football Hamlet.

Autumn Seavey Hicks is thrilled to be back with Open Circle after last appearing as Mrs. Walker in The Who’s Tommy. DC credits: Keegan Theatre: Mack, Beth (Donna), Hair, The Full Monty (Pam), Working, National Pastime (Betty Lou); Washington Savoyards: The Rocky Horror Show (Magenta); Flying V: You, or Whatever I Can Get (Lisa); Capital Fringe: Disco Jesus and the Apostles of Funk (Jo), Lysistrata the Musical (Myrrhina); Kensington Arts Theatre: Violet (Violet), RENT (Maureen); Olney Theatre Center: Annie (Star to Be). Autumn is a proud mama of two hilarious little boys, wife of an incredibly talented actor, and a forever student, currently studying at the University of MD

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JP Illarramendi OCT: The Who’s Tommy (Ensemble), Story Theatre (Ensemble), Songs for a New World (Ensemble), Evita (Ensemble), Jesus Christ Superstar (Apostle); Imagination Stage: Looking for Roberto Clemente (Tommy-Bat Boy); Liz Lerman Dance Exchange: Farthest Earth from Thee (Shakespeare).

Ashley Ivey is thrilled to be joining OCT again, previously appearing in Songs For A New World. Ashley has been seen on stage at Constellation Theatre Company, Folger Theatre, Theater J, Forum, Catalyst Theater, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Capital Fringe Festival, In Series, Shakespeare Theater, Woolly Mammoth, and the Kennedy Center. You can see him this upcoming spring in The Caucasian Chalk Circle with Constellation Theater Company.

Molly Janiga is so happy to be back at Open Circle Theatre! Last fall, she joined OCT as Sally Simpson in The Who’s Tommy. Other regional credits include: The Keegan Theatre: Parade (Iola Stover), American Idiot (Heather); Monumental Theatre Company: Wendy: A Reading of a New Musical (Wendy); Signature

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Theatre: La Cage (u/s Anne Dindon), The Fix (u/s Danielle/The Mistress); Red Branch Theatre Company: Heathers (Young Republicanette, u/s Heather Chandler); Capital Fringe Festival 2015: 315 (Colby). Education: The London Dramatic Academy; The Catholic University of America, B.M.

Harv Lester was previously directed by Suzanne Richard in Vanilla Latte at the Hope Operas, for which she received a show t-shirt and he did not. He has also performed at Signature Theatre (Company, Revenge of the Understudies, The Fix (U/S)); Creative Cauldron (The Wizard of Oz, Caroline or Change, The World Goes ‘Round); Keegan Theatre (A Man Of No Importance, Man Of La Mancha); WSC Avant Bard (Visible Language); the Capital Fringe Festival (Songs From An Unmade Bed, Fictitious the Musical, Release: A Rock Opera); the New York Int’l Fringe Festival (Gleeam); and the Theatre Lab (Ragtime).

Aarron Loggins, an Illinois native, didn’t take being hard of hearing as a limitation, as he managed to learn American Sign Language by the age of 3. Aarron joined and performed with several companies such as Wild Zappers, the

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National Theatre for the Deaf, and the Gallaudet Dance Company, and he was a former founder of the deaf step team Da Jump Back. Aarron became the premier entertainer and advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing and was the first to ever win the title of Mister Deaf International (USA), at London in 2014 during Miss & Mister Deaf International. He played the lead role of Tyler in “In Good Hands”, a short film, and appeared on TV One’s “For My Woman” series. Also, Aarron previously performed in the play Visual Language, D-PAN Music Video “You Brought Me The Sunshine”, Source DC Sign Language as Benny, Sheldon of DC as theater political campaign, Dog/Pony DC Production Sense-ABLE, The Who’s Tommy as Cousin Kevin, several plays and American Sign Language Music Video. Upcoming web series“C-Word” as Tahj this fall and strong deaf activist: Believe In YOURSELF.

Rob McQuay (Ensemble and Co-writer) is delighted to return to Open Circle Theatre. OCT audiences will remember Rob as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Che in Evita, and The Rebel in Songs for a New World. Rob has performed at The Shakespeare Theatre, Annapolis Shakespeare Company, Signature Theatre, The

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Olney Theatre Center, Rep Stage, Everyman Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, The Round House Theatre, Imagination Stage, Toby’s Dinner Theatre and the VSA Young Playwrights Program at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Rob has also performed at Center Stage in Baltimore and Drury Lane in Chicago. On the small screen, he has performed with Danny Aiello in his TV drama, “Dellaventura”. Rob has five Helen Hayes nominations.

D’Arcee Neal is a new Silver Spring transplant, happy to be returning to the Open Circle Theatre family after being seen recently in their production of The Who’s Tommy. He is a 5 year baritone member and soloist with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC, and immensely enjoyed devouring the cast of Little Shop of Horrors as the villainous plant Audrey II for TheArlington Players.

Andres Alejandro Ponce is a proud and new member of Open Circle Theatre. He is very excited to be participating in a production with such an amazing and talented group of people. His previous roles include Usnavi in the WATCH Award-winning production of In The Heights at

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Little Theatre of Alexandria. He is currently working at Discovery Theatre in Washington, D.C. He would like to thank his loving friends and family. Special shout outs go to the In The Heights fam, the beautiful Ileana Nunez, and his two angels watching from above, Paola and Briana.

Suzanne Richard* (Director, Co-writer and Little Tramp) is a winner of the Montgomery County Executive’s Excellence in the Arts and Humanities Community Award and has a BA in Theatre from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Susie is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Open Circle Theatre Washington, where she directed The Who’s Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Low Level Panic, Songs for a New World, Story Theatre, and Assistant Directed Evita. She was seen for four winters as the Ghost of Christmas Past in Ford’s Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol, toured with Dance Exchange as an Adjunct Teaching Artist, and most recently Co-Directed with Assistant Professor Susan Lynskey in a production created by students at Georgetown University and Gallaudet University focused on the experience of disability. She has also worked as a performer with Folger Theatre, Washington

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Shakespeare Company, Studio Secondstage, Project Y, Imagination Stage, 1st Stage, Seize the Day, Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre Program, and Baltimore Shakespeare Festival. She authored the chapter “Dealing With Being Different” in Growing Up With OI published by the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation.

Maggie Leigh Walker is thrilled to be working with Open Circle Theatre again after performing as the Acid Queen in The Who’s Tommy last year! LOCAL CREDITS: Adventure Theatre-MTC: Pinkalicious (Allison/Dr. Wink & Mrs. Pinkerton (u/s)); 1st Stage: Bat Boy (Maggie/ Ron); Compass Rose Theatre: The Sound of Music (Sister Berthe); OUT OF TOWN: Round Barn Theater at Amish Acres: Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping (Vivian Snustad); Midtown Arts Center: Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad), The Sound of Music (Sister Margaretta) The Dinner Detective; Catholic University: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Miss. Flannery/Mrs. Meers (u/s)), Man of La Mancha (Housekeeper), Nine, and The Age of Dreams: Musicals from 1961. EDUCATION: BM in Musical Theatre Performance, Catholic University, and London Dramatic Academy.

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Creative Team Bios

T. Chase Meacham (Co-writer) works at The Washington Post, where he is a member of the consumer marketing team. Previously he was the Director of Marketing & Communications at Mosaic Theater Company of DC. Chase earned a B.A. from Georgetown University, where he focused on government and theater. In 2014 he was recognized by the University for outstanding service to the LGBTQ community for his work on Polk Street, a new play he wrote and directed.

Jake Null (Music Director) is proud to direct his second production at Open Circle Theatre after last year’s The Who’s Tommy. In his downtime (what’s that?), he likes to pretend like he’s a computer guy and works in IT and studio production to make sure he keeps his sleep to a minimum! He also is a sound designer and composer/arranger just to make sure he stays well-rounded and doesn’t sleep. He is a proud alumnus of Virginia Tech and Berklee School of Music. Previous regional music direction credits include: Constellation Theatre Company: Urinetown, Avenue Q (Helen Hayes Award); Keegan Theatre: Parade, Big Fish, Next to

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Normal, American Idiot, Dogfight, Hair (Helen Hayes Nomination), The Full Monty, Spring Awakening (Helen Hayes Nomination), Working, National Pastime; Capital Fringe: The 27 Club.

Kelly King (Choreographer) is a creator. She generates movement, dialogue and joy. Kelly makes dances for theater, film, stage, and street... and all the places people go in-between. Theater choreography: Taffety Punk Theatre Company: Trojan Women, Phaeton (Helen Hayes Award Nominee); Round House Theatre: Stage Kiss, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Lord of the Flies; Adventure Theatre: The Little Engine That Could; Forum Theatre: Bobrauschenbergamerica; Constellation Theatre: The Love of the Nightingale, Scapin, The Fire and the Rain; St. Mary’s College: Polaroid Stories, Dancing on the Earth, Objects of Hope. Kelly is the Artistic Director of Contradiction Dance and Co-Founder of The Movement Movement. www.contradictiondance.com and www.themovement-movement.com

Stuart Weich (Assistant Music Director) is pleased to be returning to OCT. His work has previously been heard in OCT productions of

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Evita, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Songs for a New World, Fringe Cabaret, and several Arts Access Conventions/Meetings. He was also pleased to work on the collaboration between OCT and Active Cultures Theatre for the development of the original musical Visible Language, which had a preliminary developmental concert at the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. He is proud of his 3 amazing children, one of which was a performer at OCT for many years (and has OI). In his real life, Stuart is a Pediatrician at Children First Pediatrics.

Kate Kilbane* (Production Stage Manager) is happy to return to Open Circle Theatre. Previous credits include Story Theatre, Songs for a New World, Evita. DC area credits at Theater J include Broken Glass, The How and the Why, Falling Out of Time, Stars of David, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Assistant Stage Manager for The Intelligent Homosexual’ s Guide and Production Stage Manager for the workshop presentation of The Admission, Mikveh, The Seagull on 16th Street, The Price, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, and the premiere of Either Or. She has also stage managed at Mosaic Theater, for Unexplored Interior, and at Woolly

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Mammoth Theatre Company for American Utopias, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, and Arias with a Twist.

Scot McKenzie (Set Designer) is an AEA actor, director, and sculptor with a strong interest in hand-forming steel and bronze. His performance work and visual art have been featured in theaters, galleries, private collections, and film through the DC Metropolitan area and beyond.Currently, Scot is an Artist-in-Residence at Red Dirt Studio in Mt. Rainier, Maryland. To learn more about his artwork, visit https://scotmckenzie.carbonmade.com.

Marianne Meadows+ (Lighting Designer): Member, United Scenic Artists Local #829; BA Sarah Lawrence College, MFA University of Washington, training at Lester Polakov’s Studio and Forum of Stage Design NYC. Local designs in the Wash. D.C. area include productions at The Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theatre, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, RepStage, Solas Nua, Theatre J, Washington Shakespeare Company, Scena Theatre, Washington Stage Guild, Histrio, Step Afrika, and more. Four nominations for the Helen Hayes Award, Theatre Lobby’s Mary Goldwater Award, 2004.

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Ms. Meadows also works as a designerwith Atmosphere Lighting, providing corporate, concert, and special event lighting.

Arnulfo Moreno (Projection Designer) is a writer, director, producer and any other hat that’s needed at Cadejo Films. Having always looked up to the great storytellers in his family, he was blessed to have such varied influences from his roots in Spain, El Salvador, and Paraguay. There is no better creature that more embodies the sharp contrasts found in his films, from dark comedies, to experimental and religious films. His relatives ingrained in him to make sure he told his stories, shaped his own history. With Cadejo Films, he hopes to do just that.

Elliot Lanes (Assistant Stage Manager) Many productions at Theater J, plus Studio Theatre, Round House Theatre, Constellation Theatre Company and other area theatres. This is his first Open Circle production. He is happy to be back working with PSM Kate Kilbane and to be finally doing a show with the killer and crazily talented Tina Ghandchilar. For Jen P. My rock and still the girl of my dreams. Coming up on seven years married and it just gets better and better.

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OCT Moonbeams! Lend Us Your Light!

Tranquility Bases Doretha Dixon Dr. Kathryn T. Farley Monica Lijewski Paula Sweeney Timothy Zimmerman

Harvest Moons Liam Conlon Harv Lester Bob Lyness Nicholas Olcott Jean-Paul Richard Elena Widder

Half Moons Ron Dominicis Amy Harbison Paul Douglas Michnewicz Elizabeth and Francois Mollard Joe and Sue Palka Sarah Rizor Ed & Shaunna Robey Keith Rubin Brian Scott Stefan Sittig

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Joel Snyder Frank Ullman Lee Voegler

Quarter Moons David Berkenbilt Tracy Brennan Herb Golden Anna May Lijewski Chris Phelps Deborah Rogers Judy & Jay Shapiro Helen Shaw Lyle Smythers Herbert Snyder

New Moons Ian Armstrong Jody Barasch David Core Kristina Marie Doyle Thomas Holzman Lana Lambert Diane Martin Lisa Morenoff • Kristin Nelson • Myra Paul

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