WEEKENDS SEPTEMBER 6–29 · 2019-12-18 · banjo/guitar player, a director, and a choreographer....
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CREATIVE TEAM: Director, Choreographer, and Co-Music Director: Banu Gibson Co-Music Director/Accompanist: Harry Mayronne Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Banu Gibson Costume Designer: Julie Winn Lighting Engineer: Chris Hornung Sound/Projections Engineer: Trey Tycer Managing Director of Entertainment: Erica Jensen Assistant Entertainment Manager: Jared Mentz Director of Theater and A/V Systems: Bret Bohnet Assistant Director of Theater and A/V Systems: Theo Fogleman Entertainment Volunteer: Carol Palmisano PRESENTS WEEKENDS | SEPTEMBER 6–29 Join us for our first production of a brand new series, the Stage Door Songbook Series. Travel through Cole Porter’s life and career while hearing 17 of his biggest and best hits including “Let’s Misbehave,” “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” “From This Moment On,” and “Anything Goes.” Mandi Mueller: Margie/Ethel Mandi Mueller is originally from Sorrento, Louisiana, but now calls New Orleans home. Aſter 10 years of performing and traveling the world with the Victory Belles she is now “retired” and serves as the group’s choreographer. Mueller recently made her directorial debut with Songs That Won the War , the Belle’s new Wednesday matinee show. Some of her favorite past credits include Judy Haynes (White Christmas), Amber Von Tussle ( Hairspray), Louise ( Gypsy), Frances Langford (Thanks for the Memories: Bob Hope and His All-Star Pacific Tour), and she was last seen in Jefferson Performing Arts Center’s South Pacific as Nellie Forbush. Mueller is thrilled to be back on BB’s stage to bring the music of Cole Porter to life with this talented cast. She would like to thank her friends, family, and husband for their constant support and love. Jake McCoy: Jimmy/Stage Manager Jake McCoy is an actor, singer, musician, and performer from Griffith, Indiana. Some of his most notable roles include Nathan Detroit ( Guys and Dolls), Danny Zuko ( Grease), and Billy Crocker (Anything Goes). McCoy recently moved to New Orleans and was involved in THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride before being cast in this show. This is his first time performing in a show at BB’s Stage Door Canteen and is very excited for the city of New Orleans to learn more about his fellow Hoosier, the very talented Cole Porter, and all of his wonderful tunes! * Brittany N. Williams: Susan/Louella Parsons Brittany N. Williams is a New Orleanian by way of Baltimore, Washington, DC, Hong Kong, London, and New York, as well as a classically-trained actress and 2019 Stage Door Idol winner. Her favorite credits include Universal Robots (Helena), Margaret I (Joan of Arc), Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds (Nansi—Helen Hayes Award Nomination), Antony and Cleopatra (Soothsayer/Clown), and Lear (Cordelia/Fight Captain). Williams received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Howard University and a master of arts from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Bailey Gabrish: Gloria/Grace Bailey Gabrish is excited for her first role here at BB’s Stage Door Canteen! Back in May, Gabrish graduated from Tulane University with degrees in musical theatre and communication. In her time at Tulane, Gabrish performed in both musicals and operas. Her roles included Johanna (Sweeney Todd), Mother/Witch ( Hansel and Gretel), Miss Pinkerton (The Old Maid and the Thief ). Gabrish has also performed with Tulane University’s Summer Lyric Theatre, most recently appearing in 42nd Street and She Loves Me. In October, she will be making her debut at Jefferson Performing Arts Center as the role of Liesl in The Sound of Music. Gabrish hopes to continue performing around New Orleans before moving to New York City to pursue her dream of being on Broadway. Special thanks to her biggest supporters and to all those who made this show possible! Here’s to “another op’nin” of another show! Josiah Rogers: Sam/Johnny Mathis Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Josiah Rogers is the youngest of eight children. His love for performing first came with his acceptance into the world-renowned music group Up With People, which he traveled the world with for two years. He went on to study music and travel across the United States, Japan, and Europe with The Young Americans®. Aſter graduating from The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts, Rogers followed the love of his life, Chloe Vallot, to Ponchatoula, Louisiana, where they now reside. Together they are on staff at Swamplight Theatre. His recent stage credits include Seaweed ( Hairspray), Chorus (White Christmas), C.C. (Dreamgirls), Sky ( Mamma Mia! ), and Kenickie ( Grease). He has upcoming roles in the hilarious original comedy The Wedding Party and will portray Cliff in Cabaret at See ‘Em On Stage Productions. He would like to thank everyone who has helped him get to where he is now and he is forever grateful for this opportunity. Featuring Gary Rucker as the voice of Walter *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, appearing under a Special Appearance Contract. Banu Gibson: Director/Choreographer/Music Director Banu Gibson is a bandleader, a vocalist, a dancer, a banjo/guitar player, a director, and a choreographer. She has toured the world with her band and performed with over 80 symphony orchestras from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon. This includes such renowned orchestras as the Boston Pops, the St. Louis Symphony, and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra in Oslo, Norway. The highlights of Banu’s career include appearing on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, bringing in the millennium as the only guest artist of the Boston Pops, singing at the 2001 Playboy Jazz Festival, and singing with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. You can find her every year performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and French Quarter Festival. In New Orleans she was honored in 2009 by the New Orleans Preservation Resource Center for her contributions to music. In 2007, she was a New Orleans Magazine’s Jazz All-Star, and in 2010, she was featured in the New Orleans Magazine as “Top Female Achiever.” She was also nominated for a Big Easy Award as “Best Director” for Dames at Sea at The National WWII Museum. Harry Mayronne: Music Director/Accompanist Five-time Big Easy Award winner Harry Mayronne has been a pianist, vocal coach, musical director, and/or conductor at BB’s Stage Door Canteen for shows including Ain’t Misbehavin’ , Dames at Sea, The Best of Sinatra, and Stage Door Idol. Harry can be heard some weekends playing at The American Sector Restaurant & Bar. Other recent appearances include the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Museum. He is part of the New Orleans Dance Hall Quartet, who recently recorded their first album. He has also been an Off-Broadway producer as well as a featured puppeteer at Berliner Ensemble. His marionettes can be seen at Creason’s Fine Art Galler in the French Quarter.
Transcript of WEEKENDS SEPTEMBER 6–29 · 2019-12-18 · banjo/guitar player, a director, and a choreographer....
CREATIVE TEAM:Director, Choreographer, and Co-Music Director: Banu Gibson Co-Music Director/Accompanist: Harry Mayronne Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Banu Gibson Costume Designer: Julie Winn
Lighting Engineer: Chris Hornung Sound/Projections Engineer: Trey Tycer Managing Director of Entertainment: Erica Jensen Assistant Entertainment Manager: Jared Mentz
Director of Theater and A/V Systems: Bret Bohnet Assistant Director of Theater and A/V Systems: Theo Fogleman Entertainment Volunteer: Carol Palmisano
P RE S E N T S
WEEKENDS | SEPTEMBER 6–29Join us for our first production of a brand new series, the Stage Door Songbook Series.
Travel through Cole Porter’s life and career while hearing 17 of his biggest andbest hits including “Let’s Misbehave,” “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,”
“From This Moment On,” and “Anything Goes.”
Mandi Mueller: Margie/EthelMandi Mueller is originally from Sorrento, Louisiana,but now calls New Orleans home. After 10 years ofperforming and traveling the world with the VictoryBelles she is now “retired” and serves as the group’schoreographer. Mueller recently made her directorialdebut with Songs That Won the War, the Belle’s newWednesday matinee show. Some of her favorite pastcredits include Judy Haynes (White Christmas), AmberVon Tussle (Hairspray), Louise (Gypsy), FrancesLangford (Thanks for the Memories: Bob Hope and HisAll-Star Pacific Tour), and she was last seen in JeffersonPerforming Arts Center’s South Pacific as Nellie Forbush.Mueller is thrilled to be back on BB’s stage to bring themusic of Cole Porter to life with this talented cast. Shewould like to thank her friends, family, and husband for
their constant support and love.
Jake McCoy: Jimmy/Stage ManagerJake McCoy is an actor, singer, musician, and performerfrom Griffith, Indiana. Some of his most notable rolesinclude Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls), Danny Zuko(Grease), and Billy Crocker (Anything Goes). McCoyrecently moved to New Orleans and was involved inTHE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride before being castin this show. This is his first time performing in a showat BB’s Stage Door Canteen and is very excited for thecity of New Orleans to learn more about his fellowHoosier, the very talented Cole Porter, and all of his
wonderful tunes!
*Brittany N. Williams: Susan/Louella ParsonsBrittany N. Williams is a New Orleanian by way ofBaltimore, Washington, DC, Hong Kong, London, andNew York, as well as a classically-trained actress and2019 Stage Door Idol winner. Her favorite credits includeUniversal Robots (Helena), Margaret I (Joan of Arc), BobMarley’s Three Little Birds (Nansi—Helen Hayes AwardNomination), Antony and Cleopatra (Soothsayer/Clown),and Lear (Cordelia/Fight Captain). Williams received abachelor of fine arts degree from Howard Universityand a master of arts from The Royal Central School ofSpeech and Drama.
Bailey Gabrish: Gloria/GraceBailey Gabrish is excited for her first role here at BB’s Stage Door Canteen! Back in May, Gabrish graduated from Tulane University with degrees in musical theatre and communication. In her time at Tulane, Gabrish performed in both musicals and operas. Her roles included Johanna (Sweeney Todd), Mother/Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Miss Pinkerton (The Old Maid and the Thief). Gabrish has also performed with Tulane University’s Summer Lyric Theatre, most recently appearing in 42nd Street and She Loves Me. In October, she will be making her debut at Jefferson Performing Arts Center as the role of Liesl in The Sound of Music. Gabrish hopes to continue performing around New Orleans before moving to New York City to pursue her dream of being on Broadway. Special thanks to her biggest supporters and to all those who made this show possible! Here’s to “another op’nin” of another
show!
Josiah Rogers: Sam/Johnny MathisOriginally from Cleveland, Ohio, Josiah Rogers is the youngest of eight children. His love for performing first came with his acceptance into the world-renowned music group Up With People, which he traveled the world with for two years. He went on to study music and travel across the United States, Japan, and Europe with The Young Americans®. After graduating from The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts, Rogers followed the love of his life, Chloe Vallot, to Ponchatoula, Louisiana, where they now reside. Together they are on staff at Swamplight Theatre. His recent stage credits include Seaweed (Hairspray), Chorus (White Christmas), C.C. (Dreamgirls), Sky (Mamma Mia!), and Kenickie (Grease). He has upcoming roles in the hilarious original comedy The Wedding Party and will portray Cliff in Cabaret at See ‘Em On Stage Productions. He would like to thank everyone who has helped him get to where he is now and he is forever grateful for this opportunity.
Featuring Gary Ruckeras the voice of Walter
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, appearing under a Special Appearance Contract.
Banu Gibson:
Director/Choreographer/Music DirectorBanu Gibson is a bandleader, a vocalist, a dancer, abanjo/guitar player, a director, and a choreographer.She has toured the world with her band and performedwith over 80 symphony orchestras from Portland,Maine, to Portland, Oregon. This includes such renownedorchestras as the Boston Pops, the St. Louis Symphony,and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra in Oslo, Norway.The highlights of Banu’s career include appearing onGarrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, bringingin the millennium as the only guest artist of the BostonPops, singing at the 2001 Playboy Jazz Festival, andsinging with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at theHollywood Bowl. You can find her every year performingat the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and FrenchQuarter Festival. In New Orleans she was honored in2009 by the New Orleans Preservation Resource Centerfor her contributions to music. In 2007, she was a NewOrleans Magazine’s Jazz All-Star, and in 2010, she wasfeatured in the New Orleans Magazine as “Top FemaleAchiever.” She was also nominated for a Big Easy Awardas “Best Director” for Dames at Sea at The National
WWII Museum.
Harry Mayronne: Music Director/AccompanistFive-time Big Easy Award winner Harry Mayronne hasbeen a pianist, vocal coach, musical director, and/orconductor at BB’s Stage Door Canteen for showsincluding Ain’t Misbehavin’, Dames at Sea, The Best ofSinatra, and Stage Door Idol. Harry can be heard someweekends playing at The American Sector Restaurant& Bar. Other recent appearances include the NewOrleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the New OrleansJazz Museum. He is part of the New Orleans DanceHall Quartet, who recently recorded their first album.He has also been an Off-Broadway producer as well asa featured puppeteer at Berliner Ensemble. Hismarionettes can be seen at Creason’s Fine Art Gallerin the French Quarter.
