|
|
Center Valley, PA: July 15, 2024—Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF) is thrilled to present a heartwarming reimagination of A.A. Milne’s timeless tales, Winnie-the-Pooh & Friends. Adapted by Artistic Director Jason King Jones, the show runs now through August 3 in the Schubert Theatre at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts at DeSales University.
Join Christopher Robin and his beloved pals Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet and others as they set out on a whimsical journey filled with joy, camaraderie, and, of course, honey! Whether you’re a youngster or young at heart, Winnie-the-Pooh & Friends will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the wonder of imagination and the bonds of friendship.
Helping bring the story to life in the Hundred Acre Wood are PSF’s Young Company: Lee Baud (Kanga), Maya Marino Cappello (Musician), Abby Jeane (Owl), Iyanu Joshuasville (Eeyore), CaSandra Kay (Pooh), Relena Kiser (Swing), Giovanni Marini (Tigger), Tommy Stacherski (Piglet), Christian Tuffy (Christopher Robin), Jabari C. Williams (Roo), and Fiona Wilson (Rabbit).
“When I began writing this adaptation it was clear to me that puppets were an essential part of the storytelling,” said Jones, director and writer of the adaptation. “Through the process, the actors have developed some excellent skills in puppeteering. They’re channeling their energy into the puppets and giving them life and specificity. It’s a wonderful challenge as these actors learn to navigate not only the puppeteering, but also the acting moments and the singing that these characters get to do.”
In addition to the puppets created by designer Dre Moore, Jones touched on the original musical score by Music Director and Composer Cedric Lamar: “Cedric has been able to capture the innocence in the spirit of Winnie-the-Pooh and the sense of childhood playfulness through this new music. The songs are a celebration of that kind of playful and free creativity we experience so easily in childhood that we somehow struggle to have when we develop into adults.”
Joining Jones, Lamar, and Moore on the creative team are Jenna Place (Co-Director), Charlie Calvert (Scenic Designer), Pei Lee (Costume Designer), Cassidy Stanley (Lighting Designer), and Karly Amato (Stage Manager).
Other highlights for the show include on-stage carpet seating, where kids can get a front row seat to watch the magic unfold; a meet and greet with the cast for autographs and photos following every performance; and an Audio Described and American Sign Language interpreted performance on July 27.
The Production Sponsor for the Winnie-the-Pooh & Friends is the Auvil Family.
The Festival’s 2024 Season Sponsors are Lee and Dolly Butz. The Associate Season Sponsors are Linda Lapos and Paul Wirth, Kathleen Kund Nolan and Timothy E. Nolan, the Szarko Family, and Harry C. Trexler Trust.
Tickets can be purchased online at pashakespeare.org, or by calling the box office at 610.282.WILL [9455], ext. 1, or in person at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of DeSales University, in Center Valley.
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, features acclaimed actors from Broadway, television, and film, and is the summer home to over 200 artists from around the country, including winners and nominees of the Tony, Obie, Emmy, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Jefferson, and Barrymore Awards.
The 2024 Summer Season—Now to August 4, 2024- Learn More Here
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Artistic Leadership
JASON KING JONES (Artistic Director) Prior to moving to the Lehigh Valley with his family, Jason spent ten years at Maryland’s Olney Theatre Center, where he served as Senior Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of National Players, America’s longest-running touring theatre company. In the past twenty-five years Jason directed over seventy-five productions, mentored hundreds of early-career theatre makers, and established various in school and summer educational programs. He is an Acting Company alumnus, a proud member of the PSF Board, and a member of the Shakespeare Theatre Association’s IDEAA Committee, and Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit & Business Partners Council. Jason holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Missouri State and an MFA in Directing from Boston University.
CASEY WILLIAM GALLAGHER (Managing Director) has worked at PSF for 26 seasons. Over the years he was a box office intern, a stage management intern, the assistant house manager, box office manager, company manager, assistant producer, director of development and worked directly with PSF Founder Jerry Schubert in the early years of the organization. Since 2004, in his role as general manager and later managing director, he served as the administrative leader of the festival, working very closely with former Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy and the box office, business, development, marketing and production departments. Casey now serves as co-leader of the Festival with Artistic Director Jason King Jones. Beyond PSF, Casey was treasurer for the Shakespeare Theatre Association, director of audience services for The People’s Light & Theatre Company, a board member for Civic Theatre of Allentown, a peer panelist for the New Jersey Council on the Arts and a judge for the Greater Philadelphia Barrymore Awards for excellence in theatre. Casey thanks the PSF year-round staff, the summer staff, the WillPower Tour staff, the Festival board of directors, the volunteer Guild and all the other stakeholders who contribute and play a part in bringing theatre to life onstage and in our community.
Actor Bios
LEE BAUD (Young Company; Kanga, Winnie) is a junior Acting for Stage/Screen major with a minor in TV/Film at DeSales. DeSales: Elizabeth Keckley (A Civil War Christmas), Lily (Crumbs from the Table of Joy), Act 2 Roles, Pelonius (Shakespeare Abridged). Lee is a native of Baltimore, with a background in screenwriting and lighting design as well.
MAYA MARINO CAPPELLO (Young Company; Musician, Winnie) is a rising junior Musical Theatre major at DeSales. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to return for a second summer with PSF as a part of Young Company. PSF: Shakespeare For Kids. DeSales: Intimate Apparel (Esther), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Congregation), Side by Side by Sondheim (u/s), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble/Featured Dancer/Ensemble Swing), The Drowsy Chaperone (Ensemble).
ABBY JEANNE (Young Company; Owl, Winnie) is a recent graduate of DeSales, and she is thrilled and full of gratitude to be back as a part of the PSF community this summer. DeSales: Mrs. Van Buren in Intimate Apparel, Feste in Twelfth Night, Fox in Pinocchio! PSF: Puck in the community tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, James in James and the Giant Peach, Mrs. Palmer in Sense and Sensibility, and Spirit in The Tempest.
CASANDRA KAY (Pooh) (she/her) is a recent graduate of DeSales. PSF: Henry IV, Part 2 (Page), James and the Giant Peach (Ladybug), The Tempest (Islander & u/s Miranda), Sense and Sensibility (Miss Grey). DeSales: Intimate Apparel (Mayme, Mrs. Dickson u/s), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Charlotte), The Drowsy Chaperone (Mrs.Tottendale), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Congregation, u/s Esmeralda), Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Erminia, Dance Captain), The Trojan Women (Cassandra).
IYANU JOSHUASVILLE (Young Company; Eeyore, Winnie) is a recent Acting for Stage and Screen graduate at DeSales. He is blessed to be returning to PSF this summer. PSF: community tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon), The Tempest (Adrian/Boatswain & u/s Trinculo), Sense and Sensibility (Robert Ferrars & u/s Edward Ferrars), James and the Giant Peach (Father/Narrator). DeSales: Twelfth Night (Malvolio), Silent Sky (Peter Shaw), Civil War Christmas (Walker Lewis, etc.), Our Town (Simon Stimson), Crumbs From The Table of Joy (u/s Godfrey Crump), and Chainz (Tre).
RELENA KISER (Young Company; Swing, Winnie) is thrilled to participate in PSF’s season this year! They are a rising senior at DeSales as an Acting for the Stage and Screen major. This is her first time being part of the Young Company and she couldn’t be more excited! This past fall, they were in the Ensemble in Sweeney Todd at Pennsylvania Playhouse. And recently she was the understudy for Feste in DeSales’ Twelfth Night.
GIOVANNI MARINI (Young Company; Tigger, Winnie) a recent graduate of DeSales, is thrilled to join PSF as a member of the Young Company. Favorite Act 1 moments include The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Importance of Being Earnest, R&H’s Cinderella, The Sound of Music, A Christmas Carol, & The Trojan Women. This past spring, Giovanni also directed DeSales’ Act 3’s production of Pinocchio!
TOMMY STACHERSKI (Young Company; Piglet, Winnie) (he/him) is a musical theater major going into his senior year at DeSales. He is very excited to be part of PSF’s 2024 season. He previously appeared in PSF’s production of A Chorus Line as the Mark cover and Cut Dancer swing.
CHRISTIAN TUFFY (Christopher Robin) (he/him) PSF: The Tempest, Sense and Sensibility, James and the Giant Peach, community tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Little Red, The Taming of the Shrew (YC Project). DeSales: The Drowsy Chaperone, Twelfth Night, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Intimate Apparel.
JABARI C. WILLIAMS (Young Company; Roo, Winnie) (he/him) is ecstatic to make his debut with PSF as part of the Young Company. At DeSales, he has brought to life diverse characters in productions such as Intimate Apparel (George Armstrong), As You Like It (Charles), Pride and Prejudice (u/s Wickam), A Civil War Christmas (Moses Levy, Fredrick Wormley), and Twelfth Night (Captain, u/s Duke Orsino). Jabari has also showcased his talent with the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, taking on roles in Much Ado About Nothing (Borachio), and Macbeth (Macduff’s son, and Fleance).
FIONA WILSON (Young Company; Rabbit, Winnie) (she/they) is a recent graduate with a B.A in Theatre from DeSales. Their previous roles at DeSales include Harlequin and u/s Pinocchio from DeSales Act 3’s Pinocchio! She has also been Woman 1 in Big Meal and Annie Cannon in Silent Sky. Fiona has been heavily involved in the electrics crew while at DeSales and has had many leadership roles on different shows through that opportunity. They will be continuing their education at Villanova University in the fall.
Creative Bios
JENNA PLACE (Director, Winnie) is thrilled to be back at PSF. DC directing credits include: Dance Nation (Olney Theatre Center); Tuesdays With Morrie (Theater J), The Velveteen Rabbit (Adventure Theatre), A Delicate Ship (4615), The Heidi Chronicles (Rep Stage), Flood City (Theatre Alliance), What Every Girl Should Know (Forum Theatre), Walk Two Moons; The Giver (National Players), The Winter’s Tale; The Wolves (Catholic University), Urinetown (Monumental Theatre Company), Lucky Stiff (Imagination Stage), JQA (American University), and others. Regional credits include Tuesdays With Morrie (25th Anniversary Tour of Michigan), James and the Giant Peach (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival), Giant Slalom (Andy’s Summer Playhouse). Upcoming directing projects: Candlelight (Olney Theatre Center Vanguard Workshop), Cabaret (Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre).
CEDRIC LAMAR (Composer/Music Director, Winnie) is a NYC artist who spends most of his time on stage as an actor and has been seen on stages of Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Arena Stage, Folger Theatre, Guthrie, Alliance, and most recently was a part of the company of the world premiere Jason Robert Brown musical, The Connector, at MCC. As a composer and singer/songwriter, Cedric’s tunes have been heard at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, in an upcoming dance/poetry film, Ash’s Peace, and his album Kingdoms and Tall Grass can be streamed on Spotify, iTunes, etc. cedriclamar.com IG @cedricandthe7ages
CHARLIE CALVERT (Scenic Designer, Five Years & Winnie) is excited to be back at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival for another season. Company credits include Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill and James and the Giant Peach. Other recent credits: Julius Caesar (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company); Comedy of Tenors, Dial M for Murder and Fickle: A Fancy French Farce (Olney Theatre Center); A Man for All Seasons, Blithe Spirit, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Henry VIII, and Comedy of Errors (The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey); The Crucible and Moonlight for the Misbegotten (The Warehouse Theatre). Charlie received his MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and serves on the faculty at University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.
PEI LEE (Costume Designer, Merry Wives & Winnie) was born in Taiwan but also grew up in Spain, Chile, Brazil, and USA where she has worked professionally for many years. Some design credits include: Artscape Theatre (Cape Town, South Africa): Calling US Home; Olney Theatre Center: Fiddler on the Roof, The Amateurs, Matilda [Helen Hayes Nomination—Best Costume Design for a Musical], My Fair Lady, The Little Mermaid, The Tempest, The 39 Steps, Triumph of Love, Peter Pan, Miracle Worker, and Monster; National Players: Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors, Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, Animal Farm; Forum Theatre: The Skriker, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot [Helen Hayes Nomination—Outstanding Ensemble]; Rorschach Theatre: References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot; Catalyst Theater: 1984; Adventure Theatre: The Jungle Book.
ANDREA “DRE” MOORE (Puppet Designer, Winnie) is a freelance properties and puppet designer in the MD/DC/VA area, whose passion and artistry has been on various stages over the past 21 years. Current productions: Cinderella, A Salsa Fairy Tale at Imagination Stage, Junie B Jones at Adventure Theatre – Musical Theatre Center, and Magic Mirror at the Puppet Co. She is a puppet and properties fabricator and assistant technical director at the Puppet Co in Glen Echo, MD, where credits include Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, Witch Wartsmith’s Halloween Spooktacular, and many more. Her work as an artistic contributor and fabricator is also on display at DoodleHATCH, an interactive immersive art museum in Columbia, MD doodlehatch.com.
KARLY AMATO (Stage Manager, Winnie) is delighted and grateful to be joining PSF for a second season! She is a recent graduate of Montclair State University’s Theatre Design, Technology, and Management program with a concentration in Stage Management. Recent production credits include Tick, Tick… Boom! (Theatre Horizon), Jelly’s Last Jam (New York City Center Encores!), and Spring Awakening (MSU). She thanks her friends and family for their love and support. @karly.amato
CASSIDY STANLEY (Lighting Designer, Winnie) is a fourth year BFA Production Major, at The University of Houston. Her works there include, She Dead Now (Lighting Designer), Twelfth Night (Assistant Lighting Designer), Urinetown (Programming), Big Love (Lead Electrician), and many more. A few Professional Credits include, summer stock summer 2023 at Porthouse Theatre (Assistant Lead Electrician / Programmer), The Lightning Thief-Evelyn Rubenstein JCC (Lighting Designer), Red Speedo– On the Verge (Lighting Designer), Something Rotten -Evelyn Rubenstein JCC (Lighting Designer).
Information provided to TVL by:
Tina Louise Slak
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
The Professional Theatre at DeSales University
2755 Station Avenue
Center Valley, PA 18034
p: 610-282-WILL [9455]
www.pashakespeare.org
