Bye Bye Birdie Cast and Creative Team

CAST

	TRISTEN BUETTEL (Kim) is thrilled to be making her Goodspeed debut! Past credits include Inga in Young Frankenstein (Forestburgh Playhouse); Amber in Hairspray (Syracuse Stage); Ermengarde in Hello, Dolly! (Interlakes Summer Theatre); Maureen in Rent (The Connelly Theatre); and Cosette in Les Misérables (Hudson Guild Theatre). A rising senior at Syracuse University, Tristen is from Queens, NY and is proud to have sung the National Anthem for the New York Mets. Love to family and friends!

	JANET DACAL* (Rosie) is excited to be spending the summer at Goodspeed! On Broadway, she created the role of Alice in Frank Wildhorn’s production of Wonderland. She played the lead, Nina Rosario, in the Tony Award-Winning Musical In the Heights, after having originated the role of Carla in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. Broadway: Good Vibrations. Regional: Senor Discretion Himself (Arena Stage); The Last Five Years, Five Course Love (Carbonell nominations), Four Guys Named Jose, Annie, and others (Actors Playhouse). Recordings and tours for various Grammy-winning artists, including Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Gloria Estefan. Thanks Mami, Papi, T, My Dacalitos, and my incredibly supportive network of friends (family).

	DONNA ENGLISH* (Mrs. MacAfee) most recently appeared as Maman in My Paris at Long Wharf Theatre, a role she created at The Terris Theatre last summer. Goodspeed: On the Twentieth Century, They All Laughed, Princesses, and many others. Broadway: Living on Love, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lend Me a Tenor, and Broadway. Off Broadway: Madame X (NYMF Outstanding Individual Performance Award), Forbidden Broadway 20th Anniversary, Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back!, Taking a Chance on Love, Ruthless! (Drama Desk Award nomination). Regional: The King and I, A Little Night Music, Victor/Victoria, Hairspray. Graduate: Northwestern University. Mom to one amazing teenager: Lila.

	RHETT GUTER* (Conrad Birdie) Goodspeed debut! Originally from southern Utah, Rhett joins the cast of Bye Bye Birdie from Chicago. Credits include Tulsa in Gypsy at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; The Boy in Peter in the Starcatcher at the Utah Shakespeare Theatre; Action in the International Tour of West Side Story; Al in A Chorus Line and Munkustrap in Cats at the Paramount Theatre; Harry Beaton in Brigadoon at the Goodman Theatre; Riff in West Side Story, Older Billy in Billy Elliot, Slank in Peter and the Starcatcher, and Rocco in Hazel at Drury Lane Oakbrook. Proud Alumni of Southern Utah University. Rhettguter.com

	WARREN KELLEY (Mr. MacAfee) works in film, television, and is a veteran of more than 200 productions in regional theatres around the country: Actors Theatre of Louisville, Walnut Street, Orlando Shakespeare, The Fulton, and many more. His extremely diverse credits include: To Kill a Mockingbird (Atticus), Spamalot (King Arthur), Inherit The Wind (Brady), Oliver! (Fagin), Art (Yvan), A Little Night Music (Fredrik), and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Vanya). At Goodspeed, Warren appeared in Houdini and Dear World. Connecticut audiences may recognize Warren from his 19 summers in Ivoryton; along with Jenn Thompson, he was one of the original creators and company members of The River Rep. His film and television appearances include Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire, The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, and Birdman with Michael Keaton.

	DORCAS LEUNG* (Ursula) is ecstatic to be making her Goodspeed debut as a screaming teen! NYC: The Theory of Relativity (54 Below). Regional: Les Misérables as Cosette, A Christmas Carol as the Ghost of Christmas Present (Dallas Theater Center); Miss Saigon as Gigi (Casa Manana Theatre); Les Misérables (The MUNY); Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Theatre Three); Avenue Q (Theatre Too); My Fair Lady (CityRep). BFA from the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre at the University of Oklahoma. Thanks to Nicolosi and love always to Mom and Olive.

	GEORGE MERRICK* (Albert) most recently starred with Marlo Thomas in the Off-Broadway play Clever Little Lies. He’s performed on Broadway in Honeymoon in Vegas, South Pacific, and High Fidelity. Regionally, George has played roles varying from Billy Bigelow in Carousel to John Adams in 1776, in venues that include Sacramento Music Circus, North Shore Music Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse, and the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. On film, he appeared with Sienna Miller in So Good to See You (Sundance Film Festival selection 2016) and with Robert De Niro in The Intern. TV credits include Blue Bloods and the 2008 Tony Awards. @GeorgeMerrick1

	BEN STONE-ZELMAN (Randolph) is thrilled to be back at The Goodspeed! Ben’s regional credits include A Wonderful Life (Tommy Bailey) at The Goodspeed and A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas (Boy Scrooge/Fred’s Son) at Hartford Stage. Other favorite roles: Mary Poppins (Michael Banks) with Landmark Community Theatre at the Thomaston Opera House, The Little Mermaid (Flounder) at the Thomaston Opera House, The Christmas Schooner (Karl Stossel) with Connecticut Theatre Company, How I Became A Pirate (Jeremy Jacobs) with Hartford Children’s Theatre, and Sigourney Square Park (Jackie, J.J.) with Pearwater Productions.

	ALEX WALTON* (Hugo) is so freaking excited to be making his Goodspeed debut! His Dad got his Equity card working at Goodspeed 33 years ago and that's pretty cool! Alex is a proud PPU Alum. Recent NY credits include Noah in The Cobalteans (NYMF), Son in Trash Story (John Jay Black Box), and Trevor on CBS' As The World Turns. Alex would like to thank Jenn a million times over for this opportunity, and everyone who made this show possible. Thanks to WTG, Schiowitz, and a special thanks to his ridiculously amazing family for all of their endless love and support.

	KRISTINE ZBORNIK* (Mae Peterson) Goodspeed: Damn Yankees (Sister), Man of La Mancha (Housekeeper). Broadway: A Catered Affair. National Tours: Wicked (Madame Morrible), 9 to 5 (Roz), Mamma Mia (Rosie) in Las Vegas, Into the Woods (Jack’s Mother) and Road Show at the Public Theater. Off-Broadway and Regional: many renditions of Forbidden Broadway, Schlemiel the First (Yenta Pesha), Old Jews Telling Jokes, Oklahoma! (Aunt Eller) at Berkshire Theater Festival. Most significant: creating her own work in cabaret/one-woman shows and piano bars for over 20 years in all major and minor venues throughout the universe.

	PAUL AGUIRRE* (Mayor, Ensemble) Goodspeed: Guys and Dolls, Singin' In The Rain, Li'l Abner. National Tours: Billy Elliot (Big Davey), How the Grinch... (Papa Who, Cast Recording) at MSG. Regional: In The Heights (Kevin & Piragua Guy), Elf (Macy's Manager), Miss Saigon (The Engineer), Young Frankenstein (Victor), Billy Elliot (Mr. Braithwaite), Twist (Potlatch). PaulAguirre.com. Love to DAT and NAT. Paul forever dedicates his work to Ma for her never-ending love and support.

	EMILY APPLEBAUM (Nancy, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her Goodspeed debut! Recent theater credits include A Little Night Music, All Shook Up, and A Chorus Line (Rider University). Love and thanks to my family and teachers.

	HANNAH BRADLEY (Margy, Ensemble) is overjoyed to be making her Goodspeed debut! A native of Kansas, Hannah graduated from Montclair State University in May with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Thanks to the creative team and all at Goodspeed. Love to my teachers, friends, and family. hannah-bradley.com

	LAUREN FIJOL* (Gloria, Ensemble) This is Lauren's first Goodspeed production! A Chicago native, Lauren has been living in NYC for over a decade, working in both the theatre and fitness industries. Favorite credits include The Magdalene (Off-Broadway), Spamalot (Drury Lane Oakbrook), Les Misérables (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse), and Shout! (National Tour). Thanks to family, Kenny, and her puppy for all the support!

	JEREMIAH GINN* (Ensemble) is thrilled to return to the Goodspeed stage after being seen in the world premiere of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn! National Tour: Murder for Two (“The Suspects”), A Chorus Line. Off-Broadway: Murder for Two. Regional: The Muny, North Shore Music Theater, Hale Center Theater. Film: Hello Again, How You Look at It. BFA Brigham Young University. Thanks to Donna Lynn, Paul, Bloc. Love to my nieces, who are way cuter than yours. www.jeremiahginn.com

	KRISTEN HOAGLAND* (Helen, Ensemble) is so excited to return to the Goodspeed stage! Credits: The Circus In Winter (Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre), West Side Story (National Tour), Propaganda! The Musical (Assistant Choreographer), America’s Got Talent, Wonka Pop Star. A huge thank you to the entire creative team and her MSA ladies. Sending hugs and kisses to her family, friends, and students for all their love and constant support. www.kristenhoagland.com

	MICHAEL JAMES * (Roger, Ensemble) is a Los Angeles native who is super-stoked to make his debut at Goodspeed! Michael is a recent graduate of Point Park University where he received his BFA in Musical Theatre and a Dance minor. Favorite credits include PCLO Cabaret’s Altar Boyz (Matthew/ u/s Luke) and Conservatory Theatre Company’s The Boy Friend (Tony Brockhurst). Special thanks to the entire creative team, cast, and crew! Oh, Mom and Dad, too. Michael is currently looking for representation in New York City.

	LOGAN SCOTT MITCHELL* (Karl, Ensemble) is overjoyed to be making his Goodspeed debut! Regional theatre: All Shook Up (Dean, Ivoryton Playhouse), White Christmas (u/s Phil Davis, Arvada Center), West Side Story (Action, Palace Theatre), La Cage aux Folles (Lake Dillon Theatre Co.), My Fair Lady (The Phoenix Symphony), Chicago (*Mary Sunshine, Phoenix Theatre). Training: Virginia School of the Arts and Arizona School for the Arts. For mom, who will always be my favorite Gloria Rasputin. Proud member of AEA.

	BRITTANY NICHOLAS* (Alice, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her Goodspeed debut! Broadway: Billy Elliot (Swing). Original First National Tour and Toronto Companies of Billy Elliot (Swing/Dance Captain). Favorites: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Mamma Mia (Lisa) and Blue Planet (Principal Aerialist); Hairspray (Lil Inez); Here’s Love (Fireside); No, No, Nanette and High School Musical at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse; NBC's America's Got Talent (Dancer). Thanks to God, my family, MSA, and the entire creative team. In loving memory of Maggie Nicholas.

	EDDIE OLMO II (Freddie, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his debut with Goodspeed! Regional: Mary Poppins (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina); West Side Story, The Addams Family (Interlakes Theatre). Other favorites: Rent (Mark), Into the Woods (Jack). A proud graduate of AMDA’s Musical Theatre Conservatory ’15. Huge thanks to Jenn, Patti, Paul, and the entire creative team. Lots of love to Mom, Dad, Cierra, and Alyssa. Find me online @eddie_olmo and www.eddieolmo.com!

	MARCI REID* (Edna, Ensemble) Goodspeed: Call Me Madam, Me & My Girl. First National Tour: Kiss Me, Kate. Regional includes St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Great Lakes, North Shore Music Theatre, Cape Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, Merry-Go-Round. Favorite roles: Penelope Pennywise, Urinetown; Drowsy, The Drowsy Chaperone; Dorothy Brock and Maggie Jones, 42nd Street; Violet Newstead, 9 to 5; Sally Adams, Call Me Madam; Vicki Nichols, The Full Monty. Such gratitude for my parents, without whose support this career would never have been possible. My undying loyalty to Michael Rodriguez at The Roster Agency.

	JAKE SWAIN* (Harvey, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his Goodspeed debut! Other credits: Elf the Musical (National Tour), The Development Wing’s Broadway Under the Stars. KCACTF 2014 Irene Ryan National Finalist. BFA in Acting from BYU. Thanks to God, family, the creative team, bloc, and you! www.jake-swain.com IG: jacobmonte

	BRANCH WOODMAN* (Maude, Ensemble) returns to Goodspeed (George M!, Call Me Madam) and Bye Bye Birdie (Broadway Revival). Other Broadway/National Tour credits: Cinderella; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; Billy Elliot; Big; and Crazy for You. Other NYC credits include Disappear Act (Off-Broadway), Carnegie and Avery Fischer Halls, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. Regional: Actors Theatre Louisville, The Old Globe, Paper Mill Playhouse, Skylight Musical Theatre, Barrington Stage, and Milwaukee Rep, as well as many other theatres in his native Southern California.

	AUSTEN DANIELLE BOHMER (Swing) is thrilled to be making her Goodspeed debut! Approaching her final year in the BFA Acting Program at The Webster Conservatory in St. Louis, her regional credits include Ariel in The Little Mermaid (Variety Children's Theatre); Christine Patterson in One Man, Two Guvnors (The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); Laurey in Oklahoma! (Grandstreet Theatre); and Echo in Eleemosynary (Mustard Seed Theatre). Austen has also trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, where she played Emilia in The Two Noble Kinsmen.

	MICHAL KOLACZKOWSKI (Swing) is thrilled to make his Goodspeed debut with Bye Bye Birdie! Tours: Beauty and the Beast (National & 1^st International). Regional favorites: Memphis (John W. Engeman Theatre); Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Wedding Singer, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pal Joey (Barn Theatre, MI). Dance: ALMA NYC, iLuminate’s The Tourist. Training: Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester and Michigan State University. Unending love to educators, friends, and family. www.michalkolaczkowski.com @michalkolaczko

	TYLER MANEMEIT (Randolph Understudy) discovered his passion for musical theater in the 4th grade when his teacher discovered he could sing and cast him in The Music Man as Winthrop. Since then, Tyler has been in eight other musicals, sang at two benefits, and performed in three cabarets. For the last three years, Tyler has had a vocal coach at The New Haven Academy of Performing Arts, where he also studies acting and musical theater. Tyler currently resides in Clinton, Connecticut with his parents and his little brother, Brody.

CREATIVE TEAM

	JENN THOMPSON (Director) is thrilled to be making her Goodspeed debut. Her recent production of Women Without Men for Off-Broadway's Mint Theatre Company has garnered 2016 Lortel and Off-Broadway Alliance Award nominations for Outstanding Revival, as well as 5 Drama Desk Award nominations, including Outstanding Director and Revival. Jenn served as Co-Artistic Director of Off-Broadway's TACT from 2011 to 2015, directing the critically acclaimed productions of Abundance (2015 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Revival), Natural Affection, Lost in Yonkers (2012 Drama Desk Nomination), The Memorandum, The Late Christopher Bean, Bedroom Farce, and The Eccentricities of a Nightingale. Other NY theatre: NYC premiere of Pratfalls (The Abingdon), the world-premiere musical Seeing Stars (NYMF), Badge (Rattlestick), The Brilliance of Bernstein (AMP), and Big Doolie (FringeNYC). Regional credits include Angel Street (St. Louis Rep); Lost in Yonkers (Barrington Stage Company); Peter and the Starcatcher and The Philadelphia Story (Pioneer Theatre Company); Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Denver Center Theatre); Grounded (City Theatre Pittsburgh); Abundance (Hartford Stage, Connecticut Critics Circle nomination: Outstanding Director); The Syringa Tree (Portland Stage Company); All in the Timing, Noises Off, Barefoot in the Park, and Boeing Boeing (Dorset Theatre Festival, where she is a Resident Director); as well as 19 seasons with Connecticut’s award-winning River Rep at the Ivoryton Playhouse (just down the river from East Haddam), where she directed Damn Yankees, The Heiress, and Dinner with Friends, among others. A 2012 finalist for the SDC’s Joe A. Callaway Award for Excellence in Directing, Jenn is married to actor Stephen Kunken and mom to Naomi. This one's for Fred Kunken.

	PATRICIA WILCOX (Choreographer) Broadway: Motown The Musical (Astaire Award for Best Choreography on Broadway) and A Night with Janis Joplin. Off Broadway/National Tours: Little Shop of Horrors (Encores!/City Center starring Jake Gyllenhaal), Children’s Letters to God, Bowfire (and PBS Television Special), Blues in the Night (NAACP Image Award nomination), and Seussical. Selected Regional: The Kennedy Center, Seattle Rep, The Old Globe, Arizona Theatre Company, Missouri Rep, Pasadena Playhouse. Symphonies: Houston, Minnesota, Phoenix. Artist in Residence: Jacob’s Pillow. Choreography for ice skating gold medalists Petrenko, Kulik, Gordeeva, Ando, and ice dancing teams for the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Winter Olympics. West End: Motown The Musical.

	MICHAEL O'FLAHERTY (Music Director) is in his 25^th season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director. Broadway: By Jeeves, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, A Streetcar Named Desire. Also: Paper Mill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Ford's Theatre, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Kennedy Center, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, and the Smithsonian Institution. Musical Supervisor and Cabaret Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival for 11 years. His original musical, Genesius, for which he wrote music and lyrics, was recently showcased in NYC.

	TOBIN OST (Scenic Design)

	DAVID TOSER (Costume Design) is pleased to return to Goodspeed working with a terrific team headed by Jenn Thompson. David’s work is seen annually on the PBS Memorial Day and July 4 Concerts broadcast from the Capitol lawn in DC. He has also been the costume designer/co-ordinator on the Tony Awards for over twenty years. In New York, his work is seen regularly at The Irish Repertory Theatre. His work has been seen on and off-Broadway, on TV, and in many regional theatres, including Pittsburgh Public Theatre, ACT, Pioneer Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, The Alley Theatre, Dorset Theatre Festival, St. Louis Rep, and many more.

	PHILIP S. ROSENBERG (Lighting Design) Broadway credits include The Elephant Man, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and It’s Only a Play. Off-Broadway credits include The Explorer’s Club and Cactus Flower. Regional credits include productions with The Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Ford's Theatre, Guthrie Theater, The Old Globe, TheatreWorks, Huntington Theatre, Portland Stage Company, TACT, Barrington Stage Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, McCarter Theatre, Bay Street Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Dallas Theater Center, Hartford Stage, George Street Playhouse, and Westport Country Playhouse.

	DANIEL BRODIE (Projection Design) was born in Las Vegas and graduated with a degree in theatre and media design from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. He designed the projections for Wheeldon’s Cinderella (Dutch National Ballet and San Francisco Ballet) and has worked regularly with puppeteer Basil Twist, both on The Winter’s Tale and Cinderella and on Twist’s Behind the Lid, Arias with a Twist, and The Rite of Spring. Brodie’s other Broadway credits include Jekyll & Hyde and Disney’s Aladdin. He has also created large-scale video designs for Kanye West and for the Bonnaroo Music Festival.

	JAY HILTON (Sound Design) is pleased to continue his long association with Goodspeed Musicals. Jay has designed countless productions at both The Terris Theatre and The Goodspeed in East Haddam. His work has also been heard on Broadway, National Tours, and at Regional Theatres from coast to coast. In addition to being Goodspeed’s Resident Sound Designer, Jay also serves as their Audio Supervisor. He and his wife, Goodspeed Line Producer Donna Lynn Hilton, make their home (and garden) in Hadlyme, Connecticut.

	MARK ADAM RAMPMEYER (Hair, Wig, & Makeup Design) is very happy to return to Goodspeed for this production. His work has been seen here in Anything Goes, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, and Fiddler on the Roof, to name a few. Broadway: West Side Story, Lysistrata Jones, The Farnsworth Invention. Off-Broadway: The Toxic Avenger, Horton Foote’s Orphans’ Home Cycle, The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore with Olympia Dukakis, and, most recently, Talley’s Folly at Roundabout Theatre Company. Regional: Christmas on the Rocks ’14 and ‘15 for TheatreWorks and Romeo and Juliet at Hartford Stage Company. He is the recipient of a 2010 Drama Desk Award for his contributions to the creative team for Horton Foote’s Orphans’ Home Cycle at Signature Theatre Company. Mark is the Costume Rental Manager for Goodspeed Musicals and makes his home here in East Haddam. Thanks to all for their continued support on this journey. peep

	DAN DeLANGE (Orchestrator) has orchestrated for The Jim Henson Company, Julie Andrews, Rosie O'Donnell, Live Theatricals at Universal Studios, and composers Paul Williams, Jerry Herman, Harvey Schmitt, Charles Strouse, Peter Link, and Mark Hollman. His scores have been heard on Broadway, National and European tours, film, television, and at regional theaters around the world, including over 40 productions at Goodspeed Musicals. His orchestrations can also be heard in the current West End production of Show Boat at the New London Theatre. He’s a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and Oberlin Conservatory of Music. DanDeLangeOrchestrations.com

	DAVID KRANE (Dance Arrangements) is delighted to return to Goodspeed for the fourth time! He created the musical score adaptation for the film of Into the Woods, the film of Nine, and the Oscar-winning Chicago; produced and arranged Michelle Williams’ vocals for My Week With Marilyn; and composed Aspire with Stephen Cole, the first American musical produced in the Middle East. Their musical comedy about that incredible experience, The Road To Qatar!, was produced in Dallas, NYC, and the Edinburgh Festival. The current Tony-nominated hit revival of She Loves Me marks his 31st Broadway production. davidkrane.com

*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.