2025 REGIONAL THEATRE TONY AWARD RECIPIENT
Tickets are on sale now. slso.org 314-534-1700 The sights. The sounds. The “Oh wow.”
WELCOME TO THE MUNY 3This Is a Theatre for EveryoneThe Muny has provided a world-class theatrical experience for hundreds of thousands of patrons each summer for over a century, and we’re proud to be rooted in St. Louis. Our mission:Exceptional Musical Theatre • Every summer, we build seven spectacular musicals from the ground up. The experience brings stars from St. Louis, Broadway and beyond, and our acclaimed education programs are always inspiring the next generation.Accessible to All • The Muny was established on the civic idea that shared experiences build a stronger community. Nearly 100,000 patrons attend at no charge each year, and our accessibility services eliminate barriers to allow all patrons to experience every production. In Forest Park • What began as a grassy spot between two mighty oaks has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre. We’re located at the heart of beautiful Forest Park, and Mother Nature takes the spotlight as often as our artists onstage.Do not use cellphones or other electronic devices during the performance. The use of any cameras or recording equipment during the show is strictly prohibited. Performances begin promptly at 8:15 p.m. Please wait for a pause in the action before finding or returning to your seat.We know it’s tempting, but please avoid singing along with the performance. Each guest must have a ticket.If your child moves to your lap, please be mindful of those around you.The show isn’t over until the curtain call. Our performers cherish the Muny audience — please remain seated and show your appreciation during their bows.Please Be a Courteous Audience MemberWhether it’s your first Muny production or your 101st, we’re so glad you joined us! To ensure a magical evening for all patrons, please follow these simple theatre etiquette guidelines. If you need assistance, just contact an usher.There’s a lot to do while you’re here! Scan this QR code to find your way around our 11½-acre campus.
4 HEADER Moneta is honored tosupport The Muny.As dedicated financial advisors, ourgoal is not just growing wealth butenriching our community. Yoursuccess is our purpose, and togetherwe can build a better future.Finerty Teammonetagroup.com/finerty314.726.2300
5 HEADERWelcome to The Muny’s 108th season, launching with one of the most popular Broadway musicals of the past generation: Hairspray. So loosen up: We’re about to soar into an epic season with big hair, loud laughter, great music and dance, dance, dance!This musical, you probably already know, is based on John Waters’ 1988 film Hairspray, which was woven from true events in his childhood. From 1957 to 1964, thousands of Baltimore teens were glued to The Buddy Deane Show on WJZ-TV, which blasted the latest pop tunes and demonstrated the hottest dance moves while hawking pimple creams. The show was so popular, it aired live for 2½ hours, six days a week — can you imagine? Black students were restricted to appearing on the show every other Friday, a segregation policy that was eventually fought. Rather than allow everyone to dance together, The Buddy Deane Show was canceled.John Waters glossed this painful chapter of pop culture history with his subversive blend of gleeful wit, a consuming love of ’60s-America style (its thrilling highs, its tacky lows) and a joyous zeal for the music of his youth. For a man whose previous films were politely referred to as “underground” (one included a scratch-and-sniff card; we’ll say no more), Hairspray was a surprise: a big, family-friendly Hollywood hit.It was the late Broadway producer Margo Lion who saw Hairspray on television and realized its potential as a Broadway musical. Her next inspired choice was to ask Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman to write what became the soulful, jubilant music and lyrics you’ll be seat dancing to tonight. (If you don’t know of Marc Shaiman, go down the rabbit hole. You’ll find that he created many of the songs, singers and pop culture moments that have been part of your life. And his recent autobiography is a great read.) These two joined with book writers Thomas Meehan and Mark O’Donnell and a sharp creative team, and together they made Hairspray into a Broadway smash that eventually became another movie in 2007, then a live television event. Hairspray is a font of joy, still bubbling worldwide four decades later. Waters dug beneath the hate and told a captivating story of unity and love.For our production, we constructed a beehive of Muny creators who individually and collectively radiate joy. Seth Sklar-Heyn (director), Jesse Robb (choreographer) and Evan Roider (music) enchanted us last season with their amazing Come From Away. They are joined by Tristan Raines (many brilliant Muny costumes, and an astonishing array here), the returns of Nathan Scheuer (video) and Rob Denton (lights), and the Muny debut of set designer Christine Peters, a veteran of many Broadway shows who has moved back to her hometown of St. Louis.What a cast we have for you! When an agent called asking, “Do you know who Richard Kind is, and would you consider him for the part of Edna?” I felt the ghost of John Waters looking down on me — even though he’s very much alive. Then our treasure Katy Geraghty (Bring It On, Sister Act) wrote us the loveliest email asking if it weren’t too much trouble, could we maybe, possibly, put her on the list for consideration for the part of Tracy, not knowing that she had the part before she hit “send.” With them you’ll see some outrageously talented Muny debuts, along with the welcome returns of a few Muny alums, and an ensemble that will amaze you. Tonight (and for six more shows), let’s take Tracy up on it. Let’s dance!Mike IsaacsonMuny Artistic Director & Executive ProducerMIKE’S NOTES 5
6 HEADEREmerson is proud to support The Munyin its mission to enrich lives throughexceptional musical theatre accessible to all.The Emerson logo is a trademark and a service mark of Emerson Electric Co. © 2023 Emerson Electric Co.
Kwofe A. Coleman President & Chief Executive OfficerMike Isaacson Artistic Director & Executive ProducerandHairspray is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. mtishows.com.Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.Music Direction byEvan RoiderChoreography by Jesse RobbDirection by Seth Sklar-HeynArtistic Director & Executive ProducerMike Isaacson Orchestrations by Harold WheelerArrangements by Marc ShaimanHannah Solow Kevin Zak Joy Elizabeth Rhodes— also starring —Based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John WatersThe Broadway MusicalBook byMark O’DonnellThomas MeehanMusic byMarc ShaimanLyrics byScott WittmanMarc Shaiman— in —Katy GeraghtyRichard Kind John Bolton Sara Gettelfinger Charity Angél Dawson Paul SchwensenMadison Thompson Ben Jackson Walker Ashlyn Maddox Nicholas A. Wilkinson— present —108TH SEASON • FIRST PRODUCTION • 8:15 P.M. JUNE 15–21, 2026 7Scenic Design Christine PetersCostume DesignTristan RainesLighting DesignRob DentonSound DesignJoshua HummelVideo DesignNathan ScheuerWig DesignAshley Rae CallahanCastingThe Telsey OfficeRashad Naylor, CSAProduction Stage ManagerBonnie Panson
Ameren.com/CommunitiesBright tomorrows start with doing good today.For more than 100 years, Ameren and The Muny have partnered to power the lives and livelihoods of creatives and our communities. This year, we are proud to sponsor a storyline that highlights the meaning of true love, friendship and the power our differences have to make us stronger in Shrek The Musical. Ameren is investing in our community to light the path for future generations. We proudly support The Muny.
SCENES & MUSICAL NUMBERS 9BALTIMORE, 1962ACT ONEPROLOGUE THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE — A MONDAY MORNING IN EARLY JUNEGood Morning Baltimore............................................................................Tracy, CompanySCENE 1 WZZT TV STATION & THE TURNBLAD HOUSEThe Nicest Kids in Town....................................................Corny Collins, Council MembersSCENE 2 VARIOUS LOCATIONSMama, I’m a Big Girl Now ....................................Edna, Tracy, Velma, Amber, Penny, PrudySCENE 3 WZZT TV STATIONI Can Hear the Bells....................................................................................Tracy, CompanyMiss Baltimore Crabs...................................................................Velma, Council MembersSCENE 4 DETENTIONSCENE 5 PATTERSON PARK HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUMThe Madison .............................................................................................. Corny, CompanySCENE 6 WZZT TV STATION & THE TURNBLAD HOUSEThe Nicest Kids in Town (Reprise) .................................................Corny Collins, CompanyIt Takes Two....................................................................................... Link, Tracy, CompanyVelma’s Revenge........................................................................................................VelmaSCENE 7 THE TURNBLAD HOUSE & THE HEFTY HIDEAWAYWelcome to the ’60s.................................................Tracy, Edna, The Dynamites, CompanySCENE 8 PATTERSON PARK HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUMRun and Tell That.................................................................Seaweed, Little Inez, CompanySCENE 9 MOTORMOUTH MAYBELLE’S RECORD SHOPBig, Blonde and Beautiful ..............................Motormouth, Little Inez, Tracy, Edna, WilburACT TWOSCENE 1 WOMEN’S HOUSE OF DETENTIONThe Big Doll House...............................................................................................CompanyGood Morning Baltimore (Reprise) ............................................................................TracySCENE 2 THE TURNBLAD HOUSEYou’re Timeless to Me.....................................................................................Edna, WilburSCENE 3 TRACY’S JAIL CELL & PENNY’S BEDROOMWithout Love............................................................Tracy, Link, Penny, Seaweed, CompanySCENE 4 MOTORMOUTH MAYBELLE’S RECORD SHOPI Know Where I’ve Been...................................................................Motormouth, CompanySCENE 5 BALTIMORE EVENTORIUM(It’s) Hairspray...................................................................Corny Collins, Council MembersCooties..........................................................................................Amber, Council MembersYou Can’t Stop the Beat........................................................................................Company
10 HEADER WE ARE A PROUD SUPPORTER OFThe MunyWE CAREabout enriching lives and communities.
11 HEADERThe Muny is a professional theatre, and the Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are proudly represented by Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the USA.IN ORDER OF APPEARANCETracy Turnblad KATY GERAGHTYCorny Collins PAUL SCHWENSENPenny Pingleton ASHLYN MADDOXAmber Von Tussle MADISON THOMPSONBrad MATT DEANTammy OLIVIA WINDLEYFender TJ McCARTHYBrenda BROOKE COXSketch MATTHEW VARVARShelley CHLOE CHAMBERLINIQ McKINLEY KNUCKLELou Ann AUDREY CURDOLink Larkin BEN JACKSON WALKERPrudy Pingleton HANNAH SOLOWEdna Turnblad RICHARD KINDVelma Von Tussle SARA GETTELFINGERHarriman F. Spritzer KEVIN ZAKWilbur Turnblad JOHN BOLTONLittle Inez JOY ELIZABETH RHODESPrincipal KEVIN ZAKSeaweed J. Stubbs NICHOLAS A. WILKINSONDuane JONAH TAYLORGilbert TREVOR “TJAY” GROCELorraine INDYA LINCICOMEThad J’KHALILStella LEAH JOY IFILLShayna TAYLOR COLLETONThe Dynamites Judine INDYA LINCICOMEKamilah TATIANA LOFTONMr. Pinky KEVIN ZAKGym Teacher HANNAH SOLOWMotormouth Maybelle CHARITY ANGÉL DAWSONCindy Watkins CAIRA CARMELLEMatron HANNAH SOLOWGuard KEVIN ZAKSwings JENNIFER FLORENTINO, JACK SIPPELDance Captain JENNIFER FLORENTINOEnsembleCAIRA CARMELLE, CHLOE CHAMBERLIN, TAYLOR COLLETON, BROOKE COX, AUDREY CURDO, MATT DEAN, TREVOR “TJAY” GROCE, LEAH JOY IFILL, McKINLEY KNUCKLE, INDYA LINCICOME, TATIANA LOFTON, TJ McCARTHY, JONAH TAYLOR, MATTHEW VARVAR, J’KHALIL, OLIVIA WINDLEYYouth EnsembleJOYLIN BASS, AJ BENTLEY, JARON BENTLEY, ELWYN DIGNAM, DEACON EDWARDS, LAILA FANTROY, NATALIE FOX, KAMERON HENRY, DANITY JONES, MAYA LEVINSON, ADAEZE LOYND, PENNY McPHERSON, AMI MILLER, KAYLA MONTGOMERY, MADISON MOUNTFORD, GAVIN NOBBE, LANDON PAGE, JANNAH RHODES, HENRY RIGGAN, ELI ROBERTS, SOLOMON ROSENTHAL, GIA SMITHOffstage SingersSAFIYA AUSTIN-EL, JOHANNA BISHOP, SOFIA CHIRCO, QUENTIN FARQUHARSON, ALEXANDER GOW, MARK HILL, MEGAN LAWSON, NORAH WARD, ASHER WOODWARD, JERRYT YOUNGCAST 11
12 HEADER At Commerce Bank and Commerce Trust, a division of Commerce Bank, our commitment to St. Louis goes beyond banking. We’re committed to investing in things that make our communities stronger. That’s why we’re proud to support The Muny and the arts: bringing people together, sparking creativity, and helping St. Louis thrive.Supporting what matters, right here at home.Commerce Trust is a division of Commerce BankInvestment Products: Not FDIC Insured | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee
13 HEADERKATY GERAGHTY(Tracy Turnblad) is thrilled to return to The Muny after appearing in Bring It On (Bridget) last summer and Sister Act(Sister Mary Patrick) in 2023. Broadway: Into the Woods (Little Red, Broadway replacement and national tour), Groundhog Day (original Broadway cast). Favorite theatre credits: Oklahoma! (Gertie Cummings, Carnegie Hall), & Juliet (pre-Broadway Toronto run), Bliss (world premiere at 5th Avenue Theatre), Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad, Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and Shrek The Musical (Gingy, North Shore Music Theatre). Love and thanks to Innovative Artists and Viking Entertainment.RICHARD KIND(Edna Turnblad) Broadway: The Big Knife (Drama Desk Award, supporting actor; Tony nomination, featured actor in a play); The Producers (Broadway, Hollywood Bowl, West End); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Sly Fox; The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife; Kiss Me, Kate; All In. Regional: Sondheim’s Bounce (Goodman Theatre, Kennedy Center); Candide (New York City Opera at Lincoln Center); Once in a Lifetime (Guthrie Theatre); Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, The Front Page(Williamstown Theatre Festival); Power Failure(Actors Studio Free Theatre Co.); The Seagull(Matrix Theatre); The Second City in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles; 12 Angry Men; Enemy of the People. Film: Argo, Inside Out, Hereafter, Beau Is Afraid, Bombshell, A Serious Man, The Visitor, Cars, The Station Agent, A Bug’s Life, Mr. Saturday Night, Clifford, Stargate. TV (series regular): East New York, The Watcher, Red Oaks, Luck, Spin City, Mad About You, Big Mouth, Young Sheldon, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Goldbergs, Brockmire, The Other Two, Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney, Only Murders in the Building.JOHN BOLTON(Wilbur Turnblad) happily returns to The Muny after playing Nick last season in Come From Away. He starred on Broadway in Anastasia, Dames at Sea, A Christmas Story, Curtains and How to Succeed and was in the original Broadway companies of Spamalot, Contactand Titanic, all of which won the Tony Award for best musical. He made his Broadway debut alongside Jerry Lewis in Damn Yankees. Mr. Bolton toured the US as The Wizard in Wicked and as Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! Nominated for Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Astaire, Chita Rivera and Lortel awards, Mr. Bolton headlined several NY Pops concerts at Carnegie Hall and was a soloist with the NY Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. TV: The Equalizer, FBI, Girls5Eva, The Blacklist, Madam Secretary, Evil, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Elementary, Gossip Girl, Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, Boardwalk Empire and more. He was recently honored by his hometown of LeRoy, NY, birthplace of Jell-O! @itsjohnboltonSARA GETTELFINGER(Velma Von Tussle) most recently starred as Robyn in The Roommate at ATC (directed by Marsha Mason) and as Mother! in the critically acclaimed world premiere of The Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse at The New Group NYC. Other Broadway/national tours: Water for Elephants(Barbara), The Addams Family (Morticia), A Free Man of Color (Dona Athene), The 101 Dalmatians Musical (Cruella de Vil), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels(Jolene Oakes), Nine (Carla), The Boys From Syracuse, Seussical, Fosse. Other NYC/regional: High Society, The Cher Show, Carnival!, Tenderloin, Chicago, Grey Gardens, Anything Goes, Pippin. TV/film: Guiding Light, Ed, Without a Trace, Georgetown, The Big C, Forbidden Love, Sex and the City: The Movie and The Man With the Bag(coming to theatres and streaming later this year).WHO’S WHO 13
14 HEADERCAU-12038D-A © 2026 EDWARD D. JONES & CO., L.P. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Member SIPCSupporting The Muny’s mission to make theater accessible to allEdward Jones believes the arts are vital to the health of our St. Louis community. Organizations like The Muny bring diverse perspectives to life, enriching our hearts and minds.edwardjones.com/findingfulfillment
WHO’S WHO 15CHARITY ANGÉL DAWSON (Motormouth Maybelle) is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful production! Favorite Broadway credits include & Juliet (Nurse/Angelique), Chicago (Mama Morton), Mrs. Doubtfire (Wanda Sellner), Waitress (Nurse Norma/Becky, including the filmed production streaming on HBO), Side Show(Fortune Teller). Off-Broadway: Disaster (Lavora). Tours: Dreamgirls (Effie White), The Color Purple(Darlene). Regional: Hercules at Paper Mill Playhouse (Muse/Clio); Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Portland Center Stage; Kiss Me, Kate at Hartford Stage Company (Hattie); The Wiz (Evillene). 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.PAUL SCHWENSEN(Corny Collins) is thrilled to return to The Muny after performing here as Dean in All Shook Up in 2017! Originally from Vermilion, Ohio, Paul began his acting career at age 6, performing in Bye Bye Birdie with his parents. Most recently, Paul was seen on Broadway as Elder Price in The Book of Mormon. He performed in the national tours of Wicked (u/s Fiyero), Miss Saigon (u/s Chris) and the Atlanta tryout of Becoming Nancy. Paul appeared as Luke in the Starz series Three Women. Favorite regional credits include Houston Broadway Theatre, ACT of Connecticut, The Arvada Center and Quisisana. Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Billy and his dog Hudson. Also to Seth, Jesse, Evan, The Telsey Office and CGF. Paul also enjoys creating content on social media, sharing his life and his humor across Instagram and TikTok. @paulschwensenMADISON THOMPSON(Amber Von Tussle) is a SAG Award-nominated actress best known for her role as Erin Pierce in Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning series Ozark and was recently seen in the third season of HBO’s hit drama Euphoria. Her previous credits include the Emmy-nominated musical series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, a prequel to the beloved classic Grease; Lasse Hallström’s The Map That Leads to You for Prime Video, which immediately hit No. 1 on the streamer upon release; and Prime Video’s Emergency, an official selection at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, among others. Outside of acting, Thompson is a producer on the hit Tubi Sidelined franchise, the off-Broadway play Pretty Perfect Lives and the upcoming musical Like Father, premiering at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. She sends all her thanks and love to Mom, Dad, Cate, T, and her CESD and LRE family! @madisonthompsonBEN JACKSON WALKER (Link Larkin) originated the role of Romeo in the Toronto and Broadway productions of & Julietand reprised the role on the UK tour. On screen, he made his film debut as Gary in the Paramount+ comedy Honor Societyand can next be seen in the Netflix feature Just Picture It starring Millie Bobby Brown. Television credits include guest starring roles in the series finale of Orange Is the New Black and Evil. A native of Wilmington, Del., he is a graduate of the prestigious musical theatre program at the University of Michigan. His original music is streaming on all major platforms. @benjwalkerASHLYN MADDOX(Penny Pingleton) is making her Muny debut! Select theatre credits: Parade (Broadway/NYCC), A Christmas Carol (PAC NYC), Bull Durham (Paper Mill), Bye Bye Birdie (Kennedy Center), Ride the Cyclone (Arena/McCarter). TV: Rabbit, Rabbit (Netflix); The Four Seasons (Netflix); Law & Order (NBC). All her thanks to family and friends; her amazing team, Rochel, Rachel and Ellen; and her love, Charlie. This one is for you, Mom, for encouraging and nurturing this theatre kid. All glory to God. @shlynmaddox
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WHO’S WHO 17NICHOLAS A. WILKINSON(Seaweed J. Stubbs) makes his Muny debut! Regional: 42nd Street (Ensemble, Broadway At Music Circus), Disney’s Frozen (Kristoff, Encore Musical Theatre Company), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Mike Nulty, Weston Theater Company), Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: The Musical (Teenager/City Worker, Weston Theater Company). Born and raised in Atlanta, Nicholas is a recent University of Michigan grad with a BFA in musical theatre. @n.a.w2ndHANNAH SOLOW(Female Authority Figure) is currently understudy to Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!, written by Cole Escola and directed by Sam Pinkleton, at The Lyceum Theatre on Broadway. Off-Broadway: Oh, Mary! National tour: Oklahoma!, directed by Daniel Fish. As a comedian, her original characters and songs have been performed in every basement in New York City. Former house performer at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. BFA: NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Check out her viral videos (and wig collection) at @babymcgoo.KEVIN ZAK(Male Authority Figure) is very happy to return to The Muny after performing in The Little Mermaid (Flotsam) and Mamma Mia! back in the early to mid-late 1800s. Many thanks to Seth and Jesse for the summer fun and to Baxter and Mike Isaacson as well for always welcoming him back.JOY ELIZABETH RHODES(Little Inez) is 11 years old and returning for her second season as a member of the Muny Kids troupe. She made her Muny debut last summer in the Youth Ensemble for Disney’s Frozen. Joy trains in voice, acting and dance at the Center of Creative Arts. She is a member of the Allegro Vocal Company. She has danced since age 3 and is a company dancer at Expressions Academy of Dance and a convention assistant with Activate Your Artistry. She is thrilled and grateful to be part of Hairspray! Gratitude to Tali, Michael, Gunnar and the entire Muny team for their support! Special thanks and love to her family — especially to big brother Jarod for being her inspiration. Forever in our hearts #LLJ.CAIRA CARMELLE (Cindy Watkins, Ensemble) Muny debut! Regional: The Color Purple (The Carnegie), Ragtime (CCT), Bright Star (SPP), The Lightning Thief(CCM). Upcoming: Bridges of Madison County, Dear Evan Hansen, The Wizard of Oz, Hairspray (Forestburgh Playhouse). Rising junior musical theatre major at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Thanks to her friends, family and classmates for being the best support system. @_cairacarmelleCHLOE CHAMBERLIN (Shelley, Ensemble) is beyond grateful to return home for her professional debut. Her favorite Muny moment was performing alongside legendary Broadway stars in the Centennial Gala Show. Other Muny: Buddy, Beauty and the Beast, Young Frankenstein, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Newsies, Jersey Boys. All her love and thanks to family, friends, Point Park University and everyone at The Muny! @chloe.chamberlinTAYLOR COLLETON (Dynamite, Ensemble) Muny debut! Selected credits: Hadestown (Broadway), Water for Elephants (Broadway, Alliance Theatre), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Arizona Theatre Company), Jesus Christ Superstar (Asolo Rep), Beauty and the Beast (national tour, Ordway Center), Oklahoma!(Denver Center), Rock of Ages (Norwegian Cruise Line). Carnegie Hall: Harmonic Convergence. Proud UArts alum! Endless thanks and love to God, family, friends and DGRW. @taylorcolleton
18 HEADERExperience AmazingThe more you look, themore there is to see. The Fully Redesigned ESAvailable in hybrid* and all-electric. The greatest measure of a vehicle is howit makes you feel. That’sthe Standard of Amazing.*ES Hybrid coming Summer 2026. ©2026 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.SPIRIT LEXUS10176 Corporate Square Drive, St. Louis(314) 582-3688MUNGENAST LEXUS OF ST. LOUIS13700 Manchester Road, Manchester(314) 822-7681
WHO’S WHO 19BROOKE COX (Brenda, Ensemble) Muny debut! Regional: A Chorus Line (Val), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Marilyn, u/s Cynthia). Texas State University: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ella), Sweeney Todd (Choreographer). BFA musical theatre, Texas State ’26. Deepest gratitude to this incredible creative team and cast. She also thanks her family for their unwavering support. @brookiecox brooke-cox.comAUDREY CURDO (Lou Ann, Ensemble) Muny debut! Regional: Hairspray, Heartbreak Hotel, Waitress (Theatre by the Sea). Educational: Legally Blonde, Alice by Heart, City of Angels (Boston Conservatory). Audrey recently graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a BFA in musical theatre, dance emphasis. Much love and gratitude to her family and friends. @audreycurdoMATT DEAN (Brad, Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to The Muny! Previous credits: Snowboy in West Side Story (LA Opera), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (The Muny) and Mush in Disney’s Newsies (Phoenix Theatre Company). He previously performed as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical on stages across the country. BFA, University of Southern California. @mattedeanJENNIFER FLORENTINO (Assistant Choreographer, Dance Captain, Swing) Theatre: Buena Vista Social Club (Broadway), Jesus Christ Superstar (Hollywood Bowl), Life and Trust, Illinoise, Once Upon a One More Time, Moulin Rouge!, Evita, On Your Feet!TV/film: Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, Smile 2, SNL. Dance companies: Kidd Pivot, Aszure Barton & Artists. Grateful to be a part of The Muny. Represented by Lakey Wolff & Co. @jenniferflorentinoTREVOR “TJAY” GROCE (Gilbert, Ensemble) is thrilled to make his Muny debut! Credits include Bat Out of Hell The Musical (Tink, North American tour), A Chorus Line: Encore Gala (Mark), The Music Man (Tommy Djilas), Beauty and the Beast (Young Prince/Ensemble), Cats and The Wizard of Oz (City Springs Theatre Company). TJay is a student at the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts. @newtjayfine9LEAH JOY IFILL (Stella, Ensemble) is a secondyear BM student at Florida State University and is thrilled to make her Muny debut! Professional credits include Sister Act, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease and South Pacific(Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts). Endless gratitude to family, friends and mentors. @leahjoyifillMcKINLEY KNUCKLE (IQ, Ensemble) is excited to make his Muny debut in Hairspray. Credits: Death Becomes Her (Broadway), Miss Saigon (national tour), Monty Python’s Spamalot, Frankenstein Revived(Stratford Festival), Art on Ice (European tour), The Next Step (recurring, Family Channel), The Tale of Moana (Dance Captain, Disney Cruise Line).INDYA LINCICOME (Dynamite, Ensemble) Muny debut! Regional: Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney), Grease (Rizzo) at The Carnegie; Elf (Jovie) at Cincinnati Children’s Theatre; Crazy For You, Waitress, Beautiful, Matilda, Frozen, 9 to 5 at MTWichita. Other: Stephen Flaherty Tribute (Carnegie Hall), Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Swing (CCM). A recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. @indya.lincicomeTATIANA LOFTON (Dynamite, Ensemble) Broadway: Pirates! The Penzance Musical, A Beautiful Noise (u/s Doctor). Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors (Ronnette). National tours: Once on This Island (u/s Asaka), Waitress (u/s Becky). Regional: Huzzah! (The Old Globe); The Wiz, Merry Wives of Windsor, Beauty and the Beast (Oregon Shakespeare Festival). Pace alum. @TatianaloftonTJ McCARTHY (Fender, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his Muny debut! Credits include Romeo in Newsies (The Rev), NBC’s Today (Halloween special), CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live and Fosse Forward. He is a musical theatre major at Pace University and a proud Interlochen alum. Many thanks to his family and CTG! @thetjmccarthyJACK SIPPEL (Swing) Broadway: The Prom. National tours: Memphis, Disney’s Newsies. Film: The Prom (Assistant Choreographer/performer), Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical. Regional: The Muny (Resident Choreographer/performer), Old Globe, Goodspeed, Paper Mill Playhouse, Maine State Music Theatre, The Met Gala, the Tony Awards, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. @jackjsippel jack-sippel.com
20 HEADERDon’t give to get,GIVE to GIVE.– Michael StaenbergCelebrating THE MUNYfor more than a centuryof capturing hearts andsparking imaginationsthrough the magic oflive theatre.
WHO’S WHO 21JONAH TAYLOR (Duane, Ensemble) is over the moon to be a part of the Muny season opener! Past credits: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Farmer’s Alley Theater); Once on This Island (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma); Frozen, Matilda, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (MTWichita). Rising senior at the University of Oklahoma. Thanks to the Muny team and to his family for being his biggest supporters.MATTHEW VARVAR (Sketch, Ensemble) Muny debut! Broadway: The Outsiders, Water for ElephantsTours: Joseph, Elf, MM2 Modern Dance Company. Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse, Hollywood Bowl, Alliance Theatre, Tuacahn, Fulton Theatre. TV: Dispatches From Elsewhere (AMC). Love and thanks to all the humans who have his heart. Big thanks to Jesse, Paige and the creatives, the Muny team and his agents at CESD! @matthewvarvarJ’KHALIL (Thad, Ensemble) is excited to make their adult Muny debut, fresh off the second national tour of Ain’t Too Proud (swing, assistant dance captain). Other credits: Hairspray (Royal Caribbean); Beauty and the Beast (The Argyle); Rock of Ages (Arts Center Coastal Carolina); Kinky Boots, Dreamgirls (Titusville Playhouse). AMDA alum and former Muny Teen. Grateful to family and Brian at Hell’s Kitchen Agency! @iamj.khalilOLIVIA WINDLEY (Tammy, Ensemble) is grateful to be making her Muny debut! Regional: A Chorus Line (Judy), Cats (Sillabub), White Christmas at City Springs Theatre Company. Educational: Young Frankenstein (Inga, FSU). Olivia is pursuing a BFA in music theatre at Florida State University. Big thanks to the cast, crew, creative team, and her family and friends! @oliviasagewindleyACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION “Equity,” founded in 1913, is the US labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorksTHOMAS MEEHAN (Book) received the Tony Award for co-writing the book for The Producers in 2001 and in 2003 for co-writing the book for Hairspray. He received his first Tony Award in 1977 for writing the book of Annie, which was his first Broadway show, and has written the books for the musicals Rocky, Elf the Musical, Cry-Baby, Young Frankenstein, Chaplin, Bombay Dreams, I Remember Mama, Ain’t Broadway Grand and Annie Warbucks. In addition, he was a longtime contributor of humor to The New Yorker, an Emmy Award-winning writer of television comedy and a collaborator on a number of screenplays, including Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs and To Be Or Not To Be. Mr. Meehan was also a member of the Council of the Dramatists Guild. He and his wife, Carolyn, divided their time between a home in Nantucket and an apartment in Greenwich Village, near which, on Hudson Street, she owned and presided over the long-running and near-legendary children’s store Peanut Butter & Jane. MARK O’DONNELL (Book) Mark O’Donnell’s plays include That’s It, Folks!, Fables for Friends, and The Nice and the Nasty (all produced at Playwrights Horizons), and Strangers on Earth and Vertigo Park (both produced by Zena Group Theatre). He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Tots in Tinseltown. Mr. O’Donnell collaborated with Bill Irwin on an adaptation of Moliere’s Scapin, and he co-authored a translation of Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear, both for the Roundabout. For Manhattan Theatre Club he translated Jean Claude Carriere’s La Terrasse. He has published two collections of comic stories, Elementary Education and Vertigo Park and Other Tall Tales (both Knopf), as well as two recent novels, Getting Over Homer and Let Nothing You Dismay (both now in Vintage paperback). His humor, cartoons and poetry have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Spy, The New Republic and Esquire, among many others. He has received a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Lecomte du Nuoy Prize and the George S. Kaufman Award.MARC SHAIMAN (Music/Lyrics) is a composer/lyricist/arranger/performer and New York Times bestselling author (Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories From a Sore Winner) who has earned seven Oscar nominations (Mary Poppins Returns, Sleepless in Seattle, Patch Adams, The First Wives Club, The American President, South Park), a Tony Award (Hairspray), two Grammy Awards (Hairspray, Some Like It Hot) and two Emmy Awards (The Oscars, Only
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WHO’S WHO 23Murders In The Building). He has earned additional nominations and huzzahs for the films Beaches, When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers, The Addams Family, Sister Act, A Few Good Men and The Bucket List; the Broadway shows Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Catch Me If You Can and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; the television shows Saturday Night Live, the Academy Awards and Prop 8: The Musical; and recordings with Bette Midler, Harry Connick Jr. and Mariah Carey. Born and raised in New Jersey, he lives in New York with his husband, Lou Mirabal.SCOTT WITTMAN (Lyrics) is a Tony, two-time Grammy, Emmy and Olivier award-winning lyricist and director. Broadway: Hairspray, Smash, Catch Me If You Can, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me(which he also directed), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Some Like It Hot. Television: Smash (Golden Globe, Grammy and Emmy nominated). Film: Oscar nominee for “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from Mary Poppins Returns. Concerts: Christine Ebersole, Nathan Lane, Bridget Everett and Bette Midler. He directed Patti LuPone on Broadway and at Lincoln Center in Matters of the Heart. His 1980s Downtown shows are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (Licensing) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide. mtishows.comSETH SKLAR-HEYN (Director) Muny: Come From Away, Les Misérables. Seth is executive producer for Cameron Mackintosh Inc. across all Broadway and North American CMI productions, including The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Miss Saigonand Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends. Seth directed the current North American touring and London productions of Phantom (both based on Harold Prince’s original staging), the Australian premiere of Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Phantom at the Sydney Opera House and at the Raimund Theatre in Vienna (both based on Laurence Connor’s original staging), and US tours of Frost/Nixon and Evita(both based on Michael Grandage’s original staging). Additional Broadway: Phantom, Evita, A Little Night Music, Finian’s Rainbow, Mary Stuart, Rock ’n’ Roll, Frost/Nixon, The Coast of Utopia, Good Vibrations. Tour: Billy Elliot. Graduate of Vassar College.JESSE ROBB (Choreographer) Muny: Come From Away, Les Misérables. Broadway: Co-choreographer of Water for Elephants (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC nominations and the Chita Rivera Award), Miss Saigon (associate choreographer). Off-Broadway: Choreographer of Ginger Twinsies. Jesse is the movement director/associate choreographer of Les Misérables globally. Regional: Alliance Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Stratford Festival of Canada, Ogunquit Playhouse, The Ordway and others. @jesserobbchoreographyEVAN ROIDER (Music Director/Conductor) is honored to be the Charles W. and Janet T. Mueller Conductor. Muny: Come From Away, associate music supervisor (2025-2026). New York: The Great Gatsby, Old Friends, Wicked, Candide at Carnegie Hall, Encores! National tours: Wicked (music director), Les Misérables, Cats. Regional: Barrington Stage, The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Tulane Summer Lyric. Evan is principal pops conductor of the Tucson Symphony and an active guest conductor across the US. He has collaborated with artists such as Michael Feinstein, The Manhattan Transfer, Pink Martini, Storm Large, The von Trapps, Big Freedia and more. Recent engagements include the National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Oregon Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra and Philly Pops. MM in orchestral conducting from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. @evanroiderPAIGE PARKHILL (Associate Choreographer) The Muny: Les Misérables (2024), Come From Away(2025). Broadway: Water for Elephants (Associate Choreographer). Tour: Water for Elephants. Regional: Alliance Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Stratford Festival of Canada, Theatre Aspen, Arena Stage, Ogunquit Playhouse. TV/film: 96th MARC SHAIMAN, CONTINUED
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WHO’S WHO 25Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (Showtime). Walt Disney Co.: 20 years. Upcoming: A Beat of Our Own at the McCarter. Thank you to Mike, Baxter, Seth, Jesse, WME, Zach, Mum, Dad and her beloved family.DEREK SHORTER (Assistant Music Director) is excited to join the team and orchestra of Hairsprayat The Muny! He comes directly from the national tour of Wicked. Education: Berklee College of Music, film scoring. He is grateful for his family, friends and his two cats, Sushi and Chopin.CHRISTINE PETERS (Scenic Designer) Credits: Pretty Woman tour, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tour, Tootsie tour, Elf tour, First Date, Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic. Broadway (Associate Designer): Bad Cinderella, King Kong Alive on Broadway, Miss Saigon, 1984, Paramour, Les Misérables, Testament of Mary, Jekyll & Hyde, The Book of Mormon, Newsies The Musical, The Addams Family, Elf, Bonnie & Clyde, The House of Blue Leaves, Elling, Enron, Mary Stuart, Cyrano de Bergerac, Chita RiveraTRISTAN RAINES (Costume Designer) This is Tristan’s ninth Muny show! He has designed off-Broadway, regionally, internationally and for film for 18 years. Select venues/companies: The Menier Chocolate Factory (London), Virgin Voyages, Barrow Street Theatre, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Kaleidoscope Immersive, The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, The Denver Center, Bucks County Playhouse, CTGLA, Signature Theatre (DC), New World Stages, New York Theatre Ballet, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Syfy channel, TheaterWorksUSA, Cirque Musica, Big League Tours and Troika Tours, and the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. National tour: Forever K-Pop. Tenure track faculty and associate chair of performing arts department, Emerson College. Member of United Scenic Artists. @tsbs17 tristanraines.com ROB DENTON (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to be returning for his 14th season. Select past Muny designs include Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansenand Chess. Off-Broadway: Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors. National tour: Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live. Regional: Circus Fire (TheaterWorks), A Complicated Woman (Goodspeed Musicals), Ebeneezer Scrooge (George Street Playhouse). @rdentexdesign JOSHUA HUMMEL (Sound Designer) returns for his eighth season at The Muny. Recent associate design credits on Broadway include The Lost Boys, Sunset Blvd., The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon. National tours: The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, School of Rock. @joshhummelsound NATHAN SCHEUER (Video Designer) Originally from STL, Nathan is thrilled to be back at The Muny, where he’s designed over 30 productions, including video for Guys and Dolls, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Gypsy, The Wizard of Oz, Holiday Inn, Seussical and Spamalot. His designs have been seen across the country at venues like The Kennedy Center, Broadway in Chicago, Goodspeed, Center Theatre Group, TUTS, Tuacahn, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Pittsburgh CLO, Bucks County Playhouse, Capital Rep, Syracuse Stage, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Richmond Ballet and LA Ballet, as well as in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia. He’s had the pleasure of designing for artists like Mandy Patinkin, Patti LuPone, Selena Gomez and Alice Cooper. Nathan is an adjunct professor at the USC and a proud member of USA829. ASHLEY RAE CALLAHAN (Wig Designer) is an Emmy-nominated hairstylist. Her design work includes Ain’t Too Proud and Annie (national tours); Jersey Boys and 1776 (Paper Mill Playhouse); Frozen, Bring It On, Les Misérables, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story and Sweeney Todd (Muny); Evita (ART, STC, NY City Center); and Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (NWS, Maltz Jupiter). Broadway Associate Design work includes Boop!; New York, New York; Beetlejuice; Ain’t Too Proud; Summer; Beautiful; Holiday Inn; Allegiance; Sideshow; and Honeymoon in Vegas. TV/film: A Complete Unknown, Marty Supreme, The Crowded Room, The Gilded Age, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Stranger Things, Jesus Christ Superstar Live.THE TELSEY OFFICE (Casting) With offices in both New York and Los Angeles, The Telsey Office casts for theatre, film, television and commercials. The Telsey Office is dedicated to creating safe, equitable and anti-racist spaces through collaboration, artistry, heart, accountability and advocacy.PAIGE PARKHILL, CONTINUED
A summer reading and exploration program powered by St. Louis Public Library and St. Louis County Library.Visit stlsummeradventure.org for details.Support provided by St. Louis Public Library FoundationCall 314-338-7792 or visit slpl.org for details.17819_14044 MUNY COMBO AD_2026.indd 1 2/18/26 10:50 AM
WHO’S WHO 27BONNIE PANSON (Production Stage Manager) Muny: Dear Evan Hansen, Paint Your Wagon, Young Frankenstein, The Addams Family and more. Broadway: Floyd Collins, A Beautiful Noise, Six, Anastasia, Seussical, Bring It On, Chicago, Gigi, Bring in ‘da Noise/Funk, Starlight Express, The Pirates of Penzance and over 20 more! Off-Broadway credits include Lincoln Center Theater (Amahl and The Night Visitors, A New Brain) and Second Stage (The Last Five Years). Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse, Berkeley Rep, Hartford Stage. Headed next to The Old Globe for the premiere of Begin Again (music/lyrics by Train). Favorite production: Daughter, Jenny Spicola, who lives in Milwaukee.JOSHUA VINIK (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be returning to The Muny for his sixth season! Muny: Bring It On, Les Misérables, The Little Mermaid, Anything Goes, Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story, Rent, Mary Poppins, Legally Blonde, Chicago, The Sound of Music. Broadway: Smash. Off-Broadway: Anthony Rapp’s Without You. The Hollywood Bowl: Jesus Christ Superstar. Joshua is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he earned his BFA in graphic design and where he is currently pursuing his MA in design management. Much love and pixie dust to his family, boyfriend and friends for their never-ending support.JENNA COFFEY (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back at The Muny this summer! Past Muny credits include In the Heights and Disney’s The Little Mermaid. National tours: Shucked, The Sound of Music. Off-Broadway: The Office! A Musical Parody. MFA Columbia University. Love to her friends, Mom, Dad and Lindsey. Thank you for supporting live theatre!CHARLOTTE HOSKING (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Londoner who now lives in NYC. She is thrilled to be back at The Muny for the summer. Muny: Dreamgirls, Fiddler on the Roof, Come From Away, Evita and La Cage Aux Folles. Broadway: Operation Mincemeat, Disney’s Aladdin, Left on Tenth. West End: Wicked, Hamilton, The Great Gatsby, Disney’s Frozen and The Book of Mormon. Charlotte was the rehearsal ASM for the UK and international tours of Hamilton. She holds a BA Hons in technical theatre from Bath University, UK. Charlotte dedicates this performance to anyone experiencing Muny magic for the first time. With thanks and love to Jeremy and Tia.MIKE ISAACSON (Artistic Director & Executive Producer) is happy you are here. In his 15 seasons, Isaacson has produced 96 Muny shows, 39 new to the Muny stage. In 2025, The Muny received the Regional Theatre Tony Award recognizing The Muny as a theatre “that has displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theatre nationally.” With his partner Kristin Caskey, Isaacson has produced more than 45 Broadway musicals, plays, national tours, and off-Broadway and London productions. Together they have received eight Tony Awards, including all four major producing categories: Best Musical, Best Play, Best Revival of a Musical and Best Revival of a Play. This fall, they are producing the first Broadway revival of Jon Robin Baitz’s Other Desert Cities, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Lily Rabe and Joe Keery. In London this summer, they are producing Midnight at the Never Get, starring Ben Platt. Career highlights include Appropriate (Tony); the first Broadway revival of The Wiz; Gutenberg! The Musical (Tony nomination); David Byrne’s American Utopia (Tony and Emmy nomination); Fun Home (Tony; Olivier Award nomination); The Humans (Tony); Legally Blonde: The Musical (Olivier Award, Best Musical); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tony); Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite, starring Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker (Broadway and London); Bring It On: The Musical (Tony nomination); Red (Tony); You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Tony nomination); Caroline, or Change (Tony nomination); and Death of a Salesman (Tony). For the IPN, he produced the Broadway productions of Spamalot (Tony), Ragtime(2009 revival, Tony nomination) and The Color Purple (Tony nomination). His productions have received more than 139 Tony Award nominations and 41 Tony Awards. Isaacson has received the St. Louis Arts and Education Council’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and The Commercial Theater Institute’s Robert Whitehead Award for Excellence in Producing. He has served on the board of governors and executive committee of The Broadway League and received the Star of Touring Broadway Award. He received the Equality Award from the St. Louis Chapter of the Human Rights Campaign. St. Louis University recently honored him with an Alumni Merit Award from the College of Arts and Sciences. He’s grateful to work with everyone on and offstage and offers all gratitude to his husband, Joe.
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ENSEMBLE & SWINGS 29Caira Carmelle Audrey CurdoLeah Joy IfillTJ McCarthyChloe ChamberlinMatt Dean McKinley KnuckleJack SippelJ’KhalilTaylor ColletonJennifer FlorentinoIndya Lincicome Jonah TaylorOlivia WindleyBrooke CoxTrevor “TJay” GroceTatiana LoftonMatthew VarvarIN ALPHABETICAL ORDERStudents and Educators Can Save 20%Registration is open for our student/teacher online discount. Just use your valid .edu email address or school ID to sign up, and you’ll receive instructions for reserving discounted tickets in Terrace C before each show opens. This offer is also open to participants in The Muny’s T3 program. Scan this code, or visit muny.org/tickets/ticket-savings.
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Tova Braitberg is the William R. Orthwein Jr. and Laura Rand Orthwein Concertmaster.All musicians of the Muny Orchestra are members of Local 2-197 of the American Federation of Musicians.Violins Tova Braitberg CONCERTMASTERBeth HoffmanNathan BanksViolas/Violins Carolina Neves PRINCIPALWendy Lea ORCHESTRA MANAGERCellos Nathan Hsu PRINCIPALShannon MercielBass Tim Weddle PRINCIPALWoodwinds Robert HughesTrumpet Andy Tichenor PRINCIPALFrench Horns Corbin Castro PRINCIPAL Stephen HanrahanTrombones Tom Vincent PRINCIPALTyler VahldickHarp Megan StoutPercussion Erin Elstner PRINCIPALDrums Matthew HenryAdditionalMusicians Derek Shorter KEYBOARDCarter Haney KEYBOARDRyan Carpenter KEYBOARD Ben Reece REED Garrett Schmidt TRUMPET Phil Ring GUITARAaron Brown GUITARMUNY ORCHESTRA 31Meet Our Summer InternsEach summer, The Muny proudly welcomes dozens of interns from colleges and universities from across America. These students are an integral part of our team, supporting and learning from our production and administrative departments.AutomationPanayiota PreovolosCostume DesignMaya ReddyCostume Shop Material CoordinatorAshley LoebDevelopmentTheron Abel*DirectingTucker DeGregorySarah KaplanMax Rodriguez*Carrena SpannKaycee SwiercEducationMyah SheltonCameron WilliamsElectricsCharlotte Corcoran**EventsThomas WoodrowLighting DesignEthan HoffmanMusical DirectionCarter HaneyLiam MoraczewskiAJ YiPreshow Sound AssistantsSylvie GriffinJazmine JohnsonJoão RibeiroPreshow Sound LeadAlan PhillipsProducing AdministrationAdrien ArmstrongProduction ManagementKaitlyn DorseyProps CarpentryJamaal MuhammadScenic DesignJordan PincusScenic PaintJulia EnglishScenic Shop Material CoordinatorSara EllenSound DesignIan SonnabendStage Management AssistantsJack CastelloAnna CollinsMargaret FeckoGinny PisoniStage Management Production AssistantsMichael HamburgIsai Leal**Ginny PisoniLara StoneMatthew ValunasVideo DesignMeixin YuWig & MakeupChristine Chupailo*Congratulations to Theron Abel and Max Rodriguez, our 2026 Carol B. Loeb Production Fellows. **Congratulations to Isai Leal and Charolotte Corcoran, our 2026 Technical Intern Fellows, supported by Dan and Jodi Blake.
32 HEADERYOUR STORY STARTS HEREFlourish in a tight-knit community. Prosper where passion meets purpose.AT WEBSTER
STAFF & CREDITS 33Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.The painters and designers at The Muny are members of Local Union 829 of United Scenic Artists.All scenery, audio, lighting and props are constructed by members of IATSE Local 6.All costumes, hair and makeup at The Muny are created and maintained by members of IATSE Local 805.Associate Choreographer PAIGE PARKHILLAssistant Choreographer JENNIFER FLORENTINOAssistant Music Director DEREK SHORTERAssistant Scenic Designer BLAINE FUSONAssistant Costume Designer Q LELighting Department Lead ROB DENTONAssociate Lighting Designer SHELBY LOERAAssociate Sound Designer DAN MIELESound Script Manager NAOMI SCHWARTZBURTVideo Department Lead BENJI ARRIGOAssociate Video Designer TAYLOR GORDONVideo Content Creators JACK EISENMAN, DAVID SAJEWICH, CLAIRE TALBOT, ZAVIER TAYLORAssistant Wig Designer SAMANTHA FIGUEROAStage Management Department Lead EVANGELINE WHITLOCKAssistant Stage Managers JOSHUA VINIK, JENNA COFFEY, CHARLOTTE HOSKINGRehearsal Pianists DEREK SHORTER, CARTER HANEYYouth Ensemble Choreographer JEANA SMITHYouth Ensemble Music Director TALI ALLENYouth Coordinators GUNNAR BOUCHER, CAMERON WILLIAMSPrincipal Youth Coordinator ALIYAH JACOBSSound Equipment Provided by MASQUE SOUNDSpecial Thanks toBLACKHEATH COSTUMESLET’S STAY CONNECTED.Join us on social media to stay in the loop with all the latest news from The Muny!
Museum admission is free every day, but Fridays at SLAM aretaken up a notch! Enjoy free live music, gallery activations,performances, ticketed exhibitions, and more.Scan the QR code for a list of upcoming events.slam.org/Fridays | @stlartmuseumGenerous support provided byArt BridgesFoundation’sAccessforAllprogramStart your weekends at SLAM!ACCESS FOR ALL
An Ogre-Sized Adventure!UP NEXT ATJUNE 25–JULY 28 NIGHTS!WHEN WE BUILD A SEASON, IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU.HELP US SELECT OUR 2027 SEASON!Vote now in our show survey! Scan this QR code, or visit muny.org/showsurvey.
Own a piece of Muny History!We're replacing our theatre seating afterthis season, and a limited number of retired seats are up for grabs!Reserve your pair now at muny.org/seats
Preshow Dining Your WayWhether you treat yourself to an elevated dinner at our Culver Pavilion Restaurant or unpack your own picnic on our lawn, we invite you to arrive early and savor every moment of your evening at The Muny! And just a reminder: All transactions on our campus are cashless — we accept payment by credit, debit or Muny gift card.Buffet Dining at Culver Pavilion Restaurant • Enjoy covered seating with views of the East Lawn Stage. A rotating selection includes heavy appetizers, vegetarian options, charcuterie, salads and desserts — plus our famous strawberry soup. A curated à la carte menu and signature cocktails are available at the bar. Walk-ups are limited, or guarantee a table at muny.org/dining. Culver opens at 6:30 p.m. on performance nights, rain or shine. Muny Guarantors can save 10% at our Culver Pavilion Restaurant. Join now at muny.org/munyguarantors.Casual Dining at Café One • Grab-and-go meals including pizzas, sandwiches, tacos and shareable snacks are available starting at 6 p.m. at our fast-casual kitchen, located on Steward Family Plaza. Fan Faves at Five Stands • Find your go-to Muny treats at four concession stands inside the theatre. Or enhance your expierence with pizza from our window on Kooyumjian Family Plaza or with air-fried toasted ravioli, chicken strips and fries — new this summer! — at our two upper stands across from Terrace B.Free Music & EntertainmentEach night at The Muny kicks off with activities, performances by the Muny Kids + Teens and other artists, and more! Arrive early, grab a bite and find a grassy spot to take in the free Preshow Festival — 6:45 to 8 p.m. at Steward Family Plaza, Broadhurst Pavilion, Kooyumjian Family Plaza and the Staenberg Stage in Purina Plaza!Find our Preshow Festival calendar at muny.org/visit.BEFORE SHOWTIME 37NEW ITEM • NEW ITEM • NEW METI•NEW ITEM • NEW ITEM • NE I W MET •
38 HEADER A spotlight-worthy honor!Congratulations to The Muny onyour 2025 Tony Award.- Your Friends at Tarlton
39 1919 • MUNICIPAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION HEADER • 2026 39OFFICERSBOARD CHAIR Tracy E. HartVICE CHAIR Edwin B. Broadhurst IIISECRETARY Sherry SissacTREASURER Anna Reby BertmanASSISTANT SECRETARY Ashley B. KemperASSISTANT TREASURER Opal M. JonesB O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S Benjamin Ola. AkandeMary V. AtkinAndrew S. BaurLee F. BearmanCheree BerryAnna Reby BertmanAkberet Boykin FarrSuzanne S. BrauerEdwin B. Broadhurst IIILouis A. CellaParker B. Condie Jr.Ed DeVaultJune McAllister FowlerChristopher GaglianoTracy E. HartNancy M. HawesDavid A. HoganRick Holton Jr.Celia L. HoslerGregory A. IkenHope Welles JernaganSteven T. JohnstonGrace JonesOpal M. JonesAshley B. KemperTimothy J. KertzChristopher A. KosterJohn W. LemkemeierStephen D. LillyKathryn E. LoveMichael LoyndArt J. McCoyKitty McDonnellMichael P. McMillanRichard L. Nix Jr.Henry B. Pflager IIIElizabeth J. SchlesingerNicole SchnuckStephanie A. SchnuckShawn E. SchukarTamara SheffieldKaren SherSherry SissacMichele R. SowersLucie N. SpringmeyerMary Ann SrencoCori Cunnane StebelmanMichael J. TorneyJames S. TurleyJasmina H. WalkerAlice C. BehanThomas H. Brouster Sr.Carole L. BuckAugust A. Busch IIIParker B. Condie Sr.S. Bryan CookClark S. DavisDonald G. FassoldSteven L. FinertyRaymond R. FournieRonald A. FrommLouis J. Fusz Jr.E. Douglas HarbisonEarle H. Harbison Jr.Robert R. Hermann Jr.Douglas E. HillWilliam F. HolekampDavid M. HolloJoseph F. Imbs IIIStephen G. JansenBettie S. JohnsonStephen C. JonesPeter B. KrombachF. Mark KuhlmannJ. Mark LashlyMichael D. LattaRichard H. McClureJames S. McDonnell IIIRichard G. MillmanSteven C. Roberts Sr.William N. ScheffelTerry E. SchnuckHugh Scott IIIE.C. Simmons IIIDavid L. StewardDonald M. SuggsThomas R. VossJohn K. Wallace Jr.Douglas H. YaegerD I R E C T O R S E M E R I T U S PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kwofe A. Coleman
Take a trip along this recently completed greenway, complete with separate places to walk, bike, run or roll, beautiful landscaping, and Damon Davis’ Pillars of the Valley — a mile-long art installation stretching between Harris-Stowe State University at Compton Ave. and Energizer Park at 20th St. EXPLORE THEBRICKLINE GREENWAYBricklineGreenway.org/MarketThe Market Street segment is now open for all to enjoy!THIS SEASON’S MUST-SEE SHOW.Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Forest Park with this all-time Muny favorite — running for eight nights!COMING SOON • AUG. 6–13
THE MUNY STAFF 41President & Chief Executive Officer: KWOFE COLEMANADMINISTRATIVE STAFFADMINISTRATIONExecutive Assistant & Board Liaison: BARB ECHELEReceptionist: JOY BOLANDDEVELOPMENTDirector of Development: CORY SMALLWOODSenior Director of Capital & Major Gifts: COURTNEY SIMMSAssociate Director of Development: JORDAN BOUCHARDDonor Relations & Stewardship Coordinator: DELYN STEPHENSONDevelopment Database Manager: RACHEL BUTCHKOEDUCATIONDirector of Education: TALI ALLENEducation Programs Manager: CHARLIE MUELLEREducation Production Manager: GUNNAR BOUCHEREducation Administrator: LIBBY SALVIAFINANCE / ACCOUNTINGChief Financial Officer: TAMMY MCKIMAccountants: LINDSEY R. GALANTI, JOEY KLEBAAccounting Assistant: COLE JOYCEHUMAN RESOURCESDirector of Human Resources: SHARON M. STONEHuman Resources Associate: TONYA RENÉE YOUNGMARKETINGDirector of Marketing: AMY MAIERDirector of Business Insights: COLBY DEZELICKCommunications & Public Relations Manager: GABE HARTWIGGroup Services & Community Engagement Manager: JANE SCHELLGraphic Designer: ALEX WIESELMANMulti-Media Marketing Associate: MARYKATHERINE PATTESONOPERATIONSDirector of Operations: SEAN M. SMITHSecurity Specialist & Safety Manager: PATRICK J. CROWLEYFacilities Supervisor: JAMES T. SPIESOperations Associate — Facilities: LUNDYN TAYLOR Operations Associate — Grounds: ELLEN KIELYEVENTS & RENTALSEvent Experience Manager: EMILY SANTELBOX OFFICEDirector of Ticketing: LAWRENCE P. WALSHFOOD & BEVERAGE / CONCESSIONSDirector of Food & Beverage: LAURIE WATERHOUSEAssistant Manager of Food & Beverage: ELIZABETH ROBBERSONHOUSE MANAGEMENTDirector of Audience Experience: LINDSEY R. GALANTIHouse Managers: PHILLIP CAMPBELL, LUNDYN TAYLORPRODUCTION STAFFArtistic Director & Executive Producer: MIKE ISAACSONPRODUCTIONDirector of Production: TRACY UTZMYERSAssociate Artistic Director: MICHAEL BAXTERTechnical Director: THEO PRIFTICompany Manager: RYAN HARRISProduction Manager & Casting Assistant: ISABELLE SCHEIBECostume Production Manager: STACY MYERSAccounting Production Manager: KIMBERLY PETERSENWARDROBECostume Shop Director: SIMON BRETTWardrobe Director: BRENDAN WOODSWardrobe Supervisors: ZACH BRUNKHORST, VALERIE CUEVASCostume Shop Assistant: KATY REKOWardrobe Assistant: MICHAELA DUINGCostume Inventory Manager: KRISTIE METZGERWIGSHair & Makeup Supervisors: ALISON HORA, KAITLYN PASSMUSICMusic Supervisor & Orchestra Librarian: MICHAEL HORSLEYMusic Supervisor: EVAN ROIDEROrchestra Manager: WENDY LEAKeyboard Designer: ETHAN DEPPESCENICAssistant Technical Director: EMILIE WEILBACHER-McMULLANHead Carpenter: DAVID McCARTHYScenic Build Foreman: SCOTT J. DeBROUXScenic Charge Artist: JAMES VAN WELLScenic Lead: SCOTT LOEBLProperties Head: JIM ROBERTScenic Stitcher: KIM STONELIGHTING / SOUND / VIDEOHead Stage Electrician: ERIC ELZSound Head: SEAN WILHITESound Engineers: JOSHUA HUMMEL, ADAM SMOLENSKIVideo Head: JOHN ROGLIANOPhotographers: PHILLIP HAMER, ERIC WOOLSEY
24/7Crisis Helpline314.531.2003call or text anytimeFree TraumaCounselingfor all genderssafeconnections.org1976-2026Workplace &school workshopscustomized topics foradults & teensYou are not aloneTogether we facedomestic & sexualabuse
ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES 4 3Live Closed Captioning • Borrow a tablet from either Muny Merch stand, or download the free GalaPro smartphone app. Available Monday and SaturdaySPONSORED BYAmerican Sign Language Interpretation • To purchase a seat in view of ASL interpreters, located on the left side of the stage, call the box office at (314) 595-5750. Available Monday and SaturdayLive Audio Description • Narration of the action onstage is provided for patrons who are blind or partially sighted. Listening devices may be borrowed at both Muny Merch stands. Available Monday and SaturdayIN PARTNERSHIP WITHAssistive Listening Devices • Patrons with hearing loss may enjoy amplified audio using ALDs, available at Muny Merch stands and Stand 6. Available nightlyLarge-Print Programs • We can provide an enlarged program upon request. Available nightlyWheelchair Assistance • Patrons may receive assistance between the parking lots and the auditorium. Assistance is available with both personal and provided chairs. Available nightlyAccessible Seating • Available in all terraces and at every price level, including our free seats. Fold-away and companion seats are also available. For help with purchasing a wheelchair accessible seat, call the box office at (314) 595-5750. Available nightlyAccessible Parking • Accessible spaces in our surface lots are first-come, first-served with a valid state-issued hangtag or license plate. Guests without a permit may use the Lower Muny Lot for drop-off and pickup. Available nightlySSM Health Cardinal Glennon Infant Care Suite • Our air-conditioned space includes gliders for nursing, a changing station, a vanity sink and a minifridge. The suite is located on the lower west pergola, across from Purina Plaza. Available nightlySPONSORED BYLearn more about accessibility services at muny.org/accessibility.How We’re Eliminating BarriersThe Muny is committed to making exceptional musical theatre accessible to all, and we are proud to provide these free services that allow everyone to experience each production from the comfort of their own seat. SPONSORED BY
LIONEL RICHIESATURDAY, AUGUST 29GET YOUR TICKETS AT METROTIX.COM
The Muny Kids + The Muny Teens • Our troupes serve as goodwill ambassadors across the St. Louis region. This acclaimed intermediate to advanced-level performance and training program spotlights children and teenagers who have exceptional voice and dance talent, stage presence, dedication and discipline. Technical Theatre Training • T3 expands the local and national network of craftsmen, artisans and theatre professionals. The program provides unmatched training and mentorship to high school students, creating a path to career success.Education Classes • Students are given unique opportunities to further their training through areaspecific offerings and one-on-one engagement with musical theatre professionals. Classes include Audition Workshops, BFA Bootcamp and Musical Theatre Dance.Internships • Muny interns participate in the creation of seven full-scale productions, working closely with administrative staff and union professionals from IATSE, USA, SDC, AFM and Actors’ Equity Association. The Muny Summer Intensive • This three-week program at Webster University invites high school juniors and seniors from across the country to experience the training and performance opportunities of the Muny Teens. Students perform in a Muny production, attend masterclasses led by Muny stars, and challenge themselves in college-level courses.Muny in Schools • We partner with St. Louis-area elementary schools to offer Muny Magic Workshops that introduce students to the Muny stage through musical theatre-themed activities. Middle and high school teachers can request a Mini Muny Audition Workshop to prepare students to audition for productions at school — or even at The Muny.Ken Page Awards • This program celebrates achievement in high school theatre with a yearlong adjudication process culminating in an awards ceremony. The winners of the outstanding lead actress and actor awards advance to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Awards) in New York City — all expenses paid.To learn more about Muny education programs and how to get involved, visit muny.org/education.GENERAL SPONSORSAnita ColumboRandy Mitchell Endowment FundPROGRAM SPONSORSJohnston Family Fund: Muny Youth EnsembleAlbers/Kuhn Family Foundation:The Muny Kids + The Muny TeensHarry & Genie Mueller: Education ClassesCarol B. Loeb: The Carol B. Loeb Production Fellows Program, which covers housing for two Muny internsDan & Jodi Blake: The Technical Intern Fellows Program, which covers housing and provides a stipend for two Muny internsPreparing the Next Generation of Theatre ArtistsOur Crawford Taylor Education Initiative develops new arts education opportunities at The Muny while supporting an evolving lineup of programs. We strive to provide unprecedented, hands-on instruction and mentoring to young St. Louisans who want to pursue a career in musical theatre, onstage or behind the scenes. Current programming:CRAWFORD TAYLOR EDUCATION INITIATIVE 4 5
Hogan TransportationPPrroouudd PPaarrttnneerr ooff TThhee MMuunnyyDedicated Services | Full-Service Leasing | Truckload TransportsFleet Maintenance | Commercial Truck Rental | Logistics | Used Fleet Saleshogan1.comCelebrate a Life.Honor a Memory.Leave a Legacy.Secure your place in the Muny story, and join others who share your commitment to preserving and enhancing this beloved institution.Give in Tribute or Memory.Honor someone special by supporting The Muny’s enduring mission to inspire through live musical theatre.Leave a Lasting Mark.Dedicate a brick on our plaza or engrave a seat plate in our theatre to celebrate your Muny milestones, friendships or traditions.Your contribution keeps the magic alive by funding performances, education initiatives and programs that reach across our region. Learn more or make your gift today at muny.org/support.
To view and bid on items, visit MUNY2026.givesmart.com or scan QR code. BIDDING OPEN JUNE 15 - AUGUST 24
Join Our Next Generation of Supporters.YOUNG FRIENDS KEEP THE MUNY MOVING FORWARD. Membership is open to Muny fans between the ages of 21 and 40. Your $50 annual gift unlocks:• Networking opportunities• Discounted Muny tickets• Exclusive events and behind-the-scenes experiencesBecome a member now at muny.org/youngfriends.SPONSORED BY ANHEUSER-BUSCH
SUPPORT 4 9Keep the Magic Alive for Generations.Support the Muny EndowmentBy giving to the Muny Endowment, you become part of something enduring, allowing our theatre to inspire, entertain and connect for generations. Your gift is carefully invested, and as it grows over time, a portion of the earnings supports the projects, programs and productions that make The Muny extraordinary. We are profoundly grateful to the donors listed here, who have given $50,000 or more to the Muny Endowment. Their belief in our mission ensures that the joy, music and memories will continue to inspire for years to come.A list of all Muny Endowment donors is at muny.org/honor-roll. Contact Courtney Simms at (314) 595-5727 to learn how to make your gift today.The Alberici FoundationLiz ArmstrongBardol Chervitz FamiliesMarion & Van-Lear* Black IIIThe Centene Charitable FoundationAnn & Doc CornwellRuth Davis & Wylie Todd Charitable FoundationEmersonCharles P. & June GallagherPatricia Wolf Gould Memorial EndowmentRonald E.* and Anne S. Henges FamilyDoug & Vicki HillCarl House Memorial Endowed FundThe Enterprise Holdings Foundation and The Taylor & Kindle FamiliesInterco Charitable TrustThe Johnston Family FundJSM Charitable Trust and Mr. & Mrs. James S. McDonnell IIICatherine Frances Juergens Memorial FundThe Tim & Elizabeth Kertz FamilySteven S. Kimmel*Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family FoundationNancy & Kenneth Kranzberg Endowment FundPeter & Susan* KrombachOliver* & Mary* LangenbergMichael & Margaret Ann LattaNed* & Sally LemkemeierJoy & Jay Liss Endowment FundCarol B. LoebLux Family FoundationMaritz Education & Community Outreach FundRandy Mitchell Endowment FundCharles W.* & Janet T. MuellerWilliam R. Orthwein Jr. & Laura Rand Orthwein FoundationFrances H. Shafer Plagemann*Greg, Terese & Virginia PortellSander FoundationMr. & Mrs. William ScheffelSimmons Charitable FoundationSpoehrer Family Charitable TrustSteward Family FoundationMary & Joseph StievenJack C. Taylor*Ruth Davis & Wylie Todd Charitable FoundationJames S. & Lynne P. TurleyMary* & Rudolph L.* Wise Endowment FundAnd several anonymous donors*Indicates deceased
The Muny partners with community service organizations across St. Louis to provide their clients with free tickets. As part of our Community Access program, nearly 100,000 guests each year are able to experience a Muny production free of charge.PROVIDING OVATIONS FOR EVERYONEThe application deadline for the 2026 Community Access program has passed. To learn how to participate in 2027, reach out to Jane Schell at [email protected] or (314) 595-5708.We thank our partners for helping to make this possible: the Crawford Taylor Foundation and U.S. Bank.COMMUNITY ACCESSTAKE HOME A PIECE OF THE MAGICNEW ITEMS AVAILABLE NOWMerch stand is located next to Café One (outside gate 1) and at Kooyumjian Family PlazaFEATUREDITEMOFHS E HTOW