Witches Come Home

Much of ''The Witches of Eastwick'' is satire, some of it literary playfulness and some plain bitchery... What a culture has to say about witchcraft, whether in jest or in earnest, has a lot to do with its views of sexuality and power, and especially with the apportioning of powers between the sexes. The witches were burned not because they were pitied but because they were feared, stated Margaret Atwood in her New York Times review of American author John Updike’s novel.

John Updike wrote his highly regarded 1984 novel that takes place in the fictional town of Eastwick, Rhode Island during the late 1960s at the height of the American sexual revolution when women were experiencing new freedoms in regards to social mores, allowing them to take more control over their own sexual behavior. He was living in Ipswich, Massachusetts at the time, near the site of the infamous witch trials. During the 17th century over 150 people throughout New England, most of them women, many of whom were midwives, were accused of witchcraft, arrested and imprisoned at Salem, Ipswich and Andover in the Puritanical Massachusetts Bay Colony. Ultimately, fourteen women and five men were hanged, and five more of the accused died while in prison. As written in his novel, according to one critic, the idea of sexuality as a kind of witchcraft is pitched as an ironic exaggeration of a small town's fear of liberated women.

After writing “Rabbit Is Rich,” (one of the several sequels to “Rabbit, Run”) which won the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Updike published “The Witches of Eastwick.” He described it as an attempt to "make things right” with his feminist literary critics, who observed he often portrayed women as “wives, sex objects and purely domestic creatures.” The three main female characters, jaded by their mundane responsibilities and hobbies after being divorced, abandoned, and in one case, conveniently widowed by their husbands, wish for more in life than single motherhood and being homemakers. Casting off their traditional societal roles, the three women pursue financial independence and “masculine” careers. As the women experiment with their newfound powers throughout the storyline, they come to the conclusion that men are not essential for happiness and success.

In 1987, Warner Brothers made a film version of the novel on location in Ipswich and the surrounding area, starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeifer. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success and received two Academy Award nominations.

Riding the coattails of the film’s success, several attempts have been made to recreate the magic of the original movie, including the ABC television series Eastwick (2009-10) and the Witches of East End, which is currently in its second season. Black magic and mysticism continue to be popular subjects in today’s literature and entertainment as seen with the overwhelmingly popularity of The Twilight Sagas, The Harry Potter Series, and countless other TV shows, movies, and novels involving the supernatural. In 2008, Updike revisited the tale of Alex, Jane, and Sukie and published The Widows of Eastwick, a return to the witches in their old age. It was his last published novel before his death at the age of 76 in January of 2009.

A stage version of The Witches of Eastwick was produced as a musical comedy by Cameron Mackintosh with book and lyrics by John Dempsy and music by Dana P. Rowe and directed by Eric Schaeffer in 2000. It premiered in London’s West End, where it ran for over one year. The show went on to be performed throughout England and around the world to great success. In 2007 Eric Schaeffer, then the Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre in Arlington Virginia, opened the only other production in the United States until the Ogunquit Playhouse undertook this new American production, bringing the story full circle back to its roots in New England.

The Ogunquit Playhouse, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, has brought on a creative team led by director Shaun Kerrison, choreographer Lisa Stevens and world renowned conductor and musical director Julian Bigg, along with the authors, John Dempsy (book and lyrics) and Dana P. Rowe (music), al, creating an exclusive production for the Ogunquit Playhouse.

SALLY STRUTHERS (Felicia Gabriel) is a two- time Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner for her performance in the groundbreaking series “All in the Family.” She starred in the Fox television series “9 to 5” and her own CBS series, “Gloria.” Her recurring roles include four years on the CBS comedy “Still Standing" and seven years on the CW’s highly acclaimed “Gilmore Girls.” Sally was “heard” as the voice of the teenage dinosaur, Charlene Sinclair, in the ABC primetime series, “Dinosaurs.” She’s the voice of Pebbles Flintstone for “Pebbles and Bam-Bam” cartoon series and the lead female character on the popular Disney cartoon, “Tailspin.” Sally co-starred in two legendary motion pictures in the 70s: Five Easy Pieces with Jack Nicholson and The Getaway with Steve McQueen. She was featured in two independent films: Out of the Black and A Month of Sundays with Rod Steiger. Sally made a cameo appearance for actor/writer/producer Mario Van Peebles in the Sony feature “Baadassss!” Her first two Broadway forays were in Wally’s Café with Rita Moreno and Jimmy Coco and in Neil Simon’s female version of The Odd Couple with Brenda Vaccaro. She starred as Miss Mamie Lynch on Broadway and on tour in the Tommy Tune production of Grease. In the 20th Anniversary National Tour of Annie, Sally played Miss Hannigan. She was named Best Actress by the Los Angeles Artistic Director Theatre Awards for her role as Louise Seger in the musical, Always…Patsy Cline. She won the 2003 and 2010 Ovation Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Agnes Gooch in Mame, and Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. She has starred in regional productions of Hello, Dolly!, Anything Goes, The Fifth of July, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, All Shook Up, The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof, Drowsy Chaperone, and Curtains. For thirty years, Struthers has worked to help and has visited hungry and uneducated children in the United States and many third world countries, filming numerous public service announcements and documentaries on their behalf.

NANCY ANDERSON (Sukie Rougemont) a native of Needham, MA is THRILLED to return to New England making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut. Nancy appeared on Broadway in A Class Act (Mona) and Wonderful Town (Helen and Eileen). Nancy received Olivier and Helen Hayes nominations for her portrayal of Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me Kate in the West End and the National Tour. PBS/Great Performances audiences recognize her from the broadcast of Kiss Me Kate and the Carnegie Hall Concert of South Pacific starring Reba McIntyre. Off-Broadway: Far From Heaven, Yank!, Fanny Hill (Drama Desk Nomination), Jolson & Co. (Drama Desk Nomination), Ionescopade. Regional: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare Theater), City of Angels (Goodspeed), Side By Side By Sondheim (Signature-Helen Hayes Nomination), Peter Pan and Damn Yankees (Papermill), She Loves Me (Papermill/Westport), Ordinary Days (South Coast Rep), The Women (The Old Globe), Sylvia (Cape Playhouse), The Cottage (Theatre Aspen), CD: "Ten Cents a Dance." www.nancyanderson.name

JAMES BARBOUR (Darryl Van Horne) Broadway: A Tale Of Two Cities (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League Award Nominations), Jane Eyre (Drama League Award Nomination), Assassins, Beauty And The Beast, Urinetown, Carousel, Cyrano The Musical, Camelot w/Jeremy Irons, Secret Garden. TV/Film: Alchemy, Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights, Ed, Sex In The City, Just Shoot Me, The District, That’s Life, The Game, The American Experience.

SARA GETTELFINGER (Alexandra Spofford) Broadway: Seussical, The Boys from Syracuse, Nine, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Free Man of Color. National Tours: Fosse, 101 Dalmatians, The Addams Family. Television: "The Big C," "Georgetown," "Ed," "Guiding Light," "Without a Trace." Film: Sex and the City, Forbidden Love.

MAMIE PARRIS (Jane Smart) is thrilled to be a part of this bewitching cast. Broadway and National Tour credits include: Wicked (Elphaba), 9 To 5 The Musical (Judy), Ragtime, The Drowsy Chaperone, Legally Blonde, 110 In the Shade. Off-Broadway: Pump Boys and Dinettes (Prudie) at New York City Center; See Rock City and Other Destinations (Dodi/Lily, cast album). TV: "State of Affairs" (NBC). Favorite Regional: Goodspeed (Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella), Pittsburgh CLO (Legally Blonde, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), The Muny (Irene Molloy in Hello Dolly, Narrator in Joseph... Dreamcoat). This year Mamie gleefully debuted her solo concert, “Home Again,” at 54 Below, Broadway's supper club. Other notables: Chicago at the Macau International Music Festival in Macau, China; two national tours with country music icon Kenny Rogers. Many thanks to everyone at The Ogunquit Playhouse, Anthony D., Jed & Sasha at KMR, and my wonderful husband of five years, Johnathan. Find me on FB, Twitter, Instagram, and at mamieparris.com. Proud member of AEA, the actor's union!

JIM WALTON (Clyde Gabriel) Previously at the Ogunquit Playhouse: Broadway’s Best Sing Gershwin (1999). Broadway: Merrily We Roll Along, 42nd Street, Sweeney Todd, The Music Man, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Off-Broadway: And the World Goes ‘Round, Scrambled Feet and Closer Than Ever. On PBS: Crazy For You, Sondheim! The 80th Birthday Concert and Company. With his brother, Bob Walton, he wrote the book, music and lyrics for Mid-life! (The Crisis Musical), Mid-life 2! (The Crisis Continues) and Double Trouble (A Musical Tour de Farce). Jim was raised in Marion, Indiana and attended the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. midlifethecrisismusical.com

JOEY BARREIRO (Michael) is charmed by the irony of working in “Vacationland,” but absolutely thrilled about making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Some favorite credits include: Saturday Night Fever (Tony), A Chorus Line (Paul), Into the Woods (Jack), Night Train to Bolina (dir. Nilo Cruz). This one’s for family, friends, and Dave!

JONATHAN BRODY (Raymond) Appeared on Broadway in Spamalot, Titanic, Me and My Girl, Sally Marr...and her escorts, and Off-Broadway in Gimpl Tam, Theda Bara & the Frontier Rabbi, Eating Raoul and Pirates! He’s toured with Mary Poppins, Spamalot, Funny Girl, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, and appeared regionally in Animal Crackers, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, Hamlet, I Hate Hamlet, Lost in Yonkers, Hound of the Baskervilles, 39 Steps and Forever Plaid. TV credits include "Boardwalk Empire," "Guiding Light," "Sondheim; A Celebration at Carnegie Hall," "An Evening with Alan Jay Lerner," and as George Gershwin in "Porgy and Bess: An American Voice."

STEPHEN CERF (Joe) Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Other credits include: Jersey Boys (National Tour, South Korea). Spamalot (National Tour) Les Mis (Weston Playhouse), A Christmas Carol (Arvada Center), Fiddler on The Roof (John W. Engeman Theater), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Reagle Music Theater), Gypsy (New Bedford Festival Theater), and concerts with the Boston Pops. Training: The Boston Conservatory. Thanks to Shaun, Lisa, Jayme, Bradford, Dave Secor, Mom, Dad, Indy the dog, and Alexandra. But most importantly, thanks be to God for taking this untrained high school jock and leading him through a career in musical theater. Romans 3:23 www.stephencerf.com

MARJORIE FAILONI (Dance Captain/Marge) is thrilled to make her Ogunquit debut with this wonderful company! National Tours: 9 to 5 (Assoc Choreographer/Dance Capt.), High School Musical (Dance Capt.), High School Musical 2 (US and UK). She has also performed at the Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, TUTS, Dallas Summer Musicals, the MUNY, PCLO, TOTS, Maine State Music Theatre, the Cape Playhouse, and Casa Manana. B.F.A University of Michigan. Thanks to the wonderful creative team of Witches, family, and friends! marjoriefailoni.com

TOM GAMBLIN (Frank) Titanic the Musical (Jim Farrell u/s Barrett) 1st National Tour; Starlight Express (Dustin, Poppa and Greaseball) in Germany and Las Vegas; The Radio Christmas Spectacular (Santa) in Los Angeles, Denver and Detroit; Rock Of Ages (Hertz Klineman u/s Dennis Dupree) Norwegian Cruise Line; Golf: the Musical (Man 1) Off Broadway; Rags (Ben’s Boss, Ensemble) Nokia Theater NYC; Ragtime (JP Morgan, Admiral Peary, u/s Father and Dance Captain) Paper Mill Playhouse, NJ; A Funny Thing…Forum (Pseudolus) Fire Island Arts Project. He is also the host of The MetroStar Talent Challenge at The Metropolitan Room in NYC.

JENNY HICKMAN (Gina) is ecstatic to be a part of this fun show! Regional credits include: Lucille in Parade (Carnegie Theater), Kathy in The Last Five Years (Places Please Theater Co) and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (Cocoa Village Playhouse). This past year Jenny completed her BFA in Musical Theater at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she was seen inproductions of Chess, Spring Awakening, The Civil War, and Carrie (League of Cincinnati Theaters award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical). Big love to my family and my Harmonics!

RANDALL MCNEAL (Reverend) is thrilled to be making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut. Earlier this summer he completed shooting on the feature film Good Ol’ BOY starring Jason Lee; on television he has recently played principal roles in "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO), "Blue Bloods" (CBS), "Deception" (NBC), and "The Carrier" (FX). New York stage appearances include Bill Russell’s Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (original cast) and Jack Heifner’s Heartbreak. He was associate producer on the 2011 feature film The Green starring Julia Ormond. Prior to resuming his acting/producing career in 2009, he was a Vice President at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in

New York.

JULIA MOSBY (Brenda) joins the cast of Witches of Eastwick after starring earlier this season as Marian Paroo in The Music Man and as Woman II in Putting It Together at Mac-Haydn Theatre. She spent two years sailing the world as Principal Singer with Jean Ann Ryan Productions, visiting over 40 countries. Other favorite roles include Sally Bowles (Cabaret), Mary Magdalene (Jesus Christ Superstar), Cosette (Les Misérables) and Hope Cladwell (Urinetown). Julia has also performed with Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, and as a regular soloist with Valley Choral Society in her hometown of Sacramento, California. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Indiana University.

JASON PEREZ (Fidel) is thrilled to be performing the role of Fidel in The Ogunquit Playhouse Production of The Witches of Eastwick. He last performed at the Young Voices Showcase at “Don’t Tell Mama” NYC. Jason’s passion for entertaining audiences has brought him from a singing server to performing at the First Annual Coney Island Talent Show, Dr. Oz’s Music for a Better America Talent Competition, and the Un-Signed Artist (USA) World Showcase at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This season will also mark Jason’s fifth year in Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular in New York City.

LILY RAMRAS (Little Girl) is a 10 year old actress, singer and dancer from Needham, MA. She is thrilled to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut. Lily's favorite past role was playing Annie in Annie; she's performed in the show in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. Other credits include: The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, Mike Teavee in Willy Wonka Jr., and a Fagin's gang kid in Oliver. Lily also travels on the Dream Tour with the Friends of Broadway. In addition to singing and dancing, Lily enjoys gymnastics, sewing and horseback riding. She'd like to thank the entire Ogunquit Playhouse cast & crew, her teachers, family and friends for cheering her on. An extra special thank you to Lily's grandparents for making this incredible experience possible.

HEATHER JANE ROLFF (Greta) is thrilled to be a part of this phenomenal company. Broadway: Shrek The Musical (Original Cast). National Tour: The 25th Anniversary production of Les Miserables (Original Cast). Her favorite Off-Broadway credits include Silence! The Musical, Wanda’s World, Sophie, Totie & Belle, and Pirates of Penzance. Her favorite regional credits include: Paper Mill Playhouse, The Muny, Sacramento Music Circus, Queens Theatre In The Park, Actor’s Playhouse (Carbonell Award nomination for Footloose), and Stages St. Louis (Broadway World Award nomination for Legally Blonde). Her voice can be heard on two different cartoons, "Peppa Pig" and "Gordon the Garden Gnome," both airing on Cartoon Network. Love to her family. HeatherJaneRolff.com

BRITTNEY SANTORO (Jennifer) Brittney is thrilled to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Originally from Cranston, RI, Brittney has just returned from a contract with Disney Cruise Lines aboard the Disney Wonder. Favorite roles include: Urinetown (Hope), Catholic School Girls (Elizabeth), 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (Olive). Brittney graduated from Wagner College with a B.A. in Musical Theatre Performance. She would like to thank her family and friends for their wonderful love and support! www.BrittneySantoro.com

DAWN TRAUTMAN (Eudora) has appeared in three separate productions of Happy Days: The Musical as Marion Cunningham, most recently opposite Eddie Mekka from TV's "Laverne and Shirley." In New York City she portrayed Mrs. Tottendale in a production of The Drowsy Chaperone that won four New York Innovative Theater Awards including Best Musical. Other regional favorites include The Full Monty (Vicki Nichols), Meet Me in St. Louis (Mrs. Anna Smith), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Doatsy Mae), and Mary Poppins (Mrs. Brill/Bird Woman). She is also a national board certified life coach and published author of "Urban Nomad USA." www.DawnTrautman.com

JEFFREY ZICKER (Homer) is incredibly excited to be working with the Ogunquit Playhouse for the first time! Previous Credits: National Tour - Shrek: The Musical (Straw Pig, Papa Ogre, Shrek (alternate), Lord Farquaad U/S). Regional: Assassins (Balladeer), Hairspray (Link Larkin), The Music Man (Ensemble, Asst. Dance Captain). B.A. in Musical Theatre from the Univ. of Northern Colorado. Huge thanks to my amazing Mother, Step-Father, Family, agents at the Krasny Office, and the Ogunquit Playhouse for this opportunity! www.jeffreyzicker.com @jeffreybzicker

CAMERON MACKINTOSH (Original Producer), for nearly 50 years, has been producing more musicals than anyone else in history, including the three longest-running musicals of all time: Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and Cats. In May, his international hit production of Miss Saigon will open in London, where advance ticket sales are breaking records. Later this year, Cameron’s successful new production of Barnum (co-produced with Chichester and Michael Harrison) will begin a UK tour, and in the autumn he will also produce a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together. Other worldwide successes include Mary Poppins (co-produced with Disney), Little Shop of Horrors, Side by Side by Sondheim, Five Guys Named Moe, Witches of Eastwick, and his re-inventions of Oliver!, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma!, and Carousel. Cameron, with Working Title and Universal, produced the hugely successful award-winning film version of Les Misérables. He owns seven West End theatres: Prince of Wales, Gielgud, Queen’s, Wyndham’s Noël Coward, Novello, and Prince Edward, all of which have been spectacularly refurbished. He’s also the co-owner of Music Theatre International, the world’s largest library of second rights of the great musicals. Cameron was knighted in the 1996 New Year’s Honours for his services to the British theatre and has recently been the first British producer elected to the Theater Hall of Fame.

JOHN DEMPSEY (Book and Lyrics) wrote both book and lyrics for Zombie Prom, The Fix (Olivier Award Nomination, Helen Hayes Award Nomination), and The Witches of Eastwick (Olivier Award Nomination) and lyrics for The Reluctant Dragon, A Country Christmas Carol, and the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. Plays include: One Miracle in a Lifetime (Ohio Arts Council Award), The World Today and The Geater Goode.

DANA P. ROWE (Music) is an American composer whose musical theater works have been performed in New York City, London’s West End and around the world. Rowe’s scores for The Fix and The Witches Of Eastwick, both of which were produced in London by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, earned critical acclaim and Olivier Award nominations for best new musical. His most recent work, Brother Russia, was a recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and premiered at the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, under the direction of Eric Schaeffer. Next up: Frida - a musical about the life and love of Frida Kahlo. For more information visit his website at www.danaprowe.com

WILLIAM DAVID BROHN (Orchestrations) Credits include: Miss Saigon, Oliver!, The Secret Garden, Carousel, Oklahoma!, Crazy for You, Ragtime (Tony Award), My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Curtains and Wicked.

SHAUN KERRISON (Director) This summer, Shaun directed Kiss Me Kate for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Kiss Me Kate which was broadcast live on BBC Radio and will be televised this coming Christmas on BBC2. He also directed Mary Poppins at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Shaun has recently directed the European Premiere of Bonnie and Clyde at Arts Ed. with Olivier award winning choreographer, Bill Deamer and the Scandinavian Premiere of Shrek the Musical in Sweden. In Dublin he directed a major concert staging of South Pacific, starring Jenna Russell and Maria Ewing which was broadcast on RTE. Other recent work includes My Fair Lady for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London, South Pacific for the Ogunquit Playhouse in the USA (BroadwayWorld and IRNE Award Nominations Best Director) and the The Magic of Disney in Concert for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, an open air concert in Hyde Park. Shaun directed the Swedish Premiere of Crazy For You for Varmland Opera and two separate productions of Sunset Boulevard, for both Goteborg Opera and the shows US Regional Premiere starring Stephanie Powers (BroadwayWorld and IRNE Award Nominations for Best Director). Other regional work in the USA include new productions of Les Miserables and My Fair Lady (IRNE Award Nomination Best Director). On Broadway, Shaun was the Resident Director of Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Associate Director for the Broadway revival of Les Miserables at the Broadhurst Theatre and he redirected the National Theatres Production of My Fair Lady for its 50th Anniversary US National Tour. In the UK, Shaun directed Super Alice Smith- a new musical for Perfect Pitch at the Trafalgar Studios in London. He was the Associate Director of Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre London and its UK National Tour, My Fair Lady at the National Theatre, Theatre Royal Drury Lane and UK Tour, Martin Guerre at the Prince Edward Theatre, Peter Pan and The Pirates of Penzance both at the Savoy Theatre, Resident Director of The Lion King at the Lyceum and Assisted Trevor Nunn on Acorn Antiques The Musical at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Shaun has directed Baby at Mountview, The Life at Guildford School of Acting and both Merrily We Roll Along and The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the RWCMD. His Concert Staging includes Les Miserables in concert in Tokyo and Japanese Tour and for a Gala to celebrate 100 years of the Entente Cordiale at Windsor Castle for Queen Elizabeth and President Chirac also in Chelmsford Festival, Cardiff Castle and the Royal Albert Hall. Hey Mr Producer! at the Lyceum Theatre. The Hired Man, Cavalcade of Coward and many cabaret and concert performances in London, New York and Nationally as both director and performer. He has toured internationally with the musical group “The WestEnders." As an actor Shaun played the title role in Candide -Riverside Studios, Pirates of Penzance -London Palladium, Marry Me a Little -Water Rats, Chicago -Leicester Haymarket, Sweeney Todd -Oldham, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella -Tokyo, and Les Miserables -Palace Theatre London.

LISA STEVENS (Choreographer) Regional- Spamalot (Arts Club Theater Vancouver & Drayton Ent); Xanadu (Arts Club); Mary Poppins (Citadel/Theater Calgary), Anne of Green Gables, Cats, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (Theater Calgary), First Wives Club (Old Globe San Diego). Off Broadway- Bingo! The Musical. Tours: US Tour of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5; UK Tour of 9 to 5; US Tour of Bombay Dreams; World Premier of Disney’s High School Musical US and UK Tours, West End, Australia, Japan, and Spain. Film - Diary of A Wimpy Kid 2. Other- 2010 Winter Olympics (Victory Ceremonies); NYMF’s Common Grounds; Broadway Bombay Dreams Associate Choreographer; West End Bombay Dreams Associate Choreographer. Awards & media:

www.lisastevens.biz

JULIAN BIGG (Music Director) Julian Bigg’s recordings have won Sunday Times and Guardian Record of the Month Award, and Classical Music Magazine’s Record of the Year. Recent orchestral concert debuts include: Hamburg Symphony, Stockholm Sinfonietta, Czech Symphony, Malaysian Philharmonic, West Australian Symphony and Gothenburg Opera, as well as work with all the great British orchestras. He shortly debuts at Malmö Opera. In London, and around the world, he has conducted many different productions of, among others, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Cats, The Witches of Eastwick, My Fair Lady, Candide, Shrek, Merrily We Roll Along and Crazy For You. Julian is Musical Supervisor for many Royal spectaculars, including both HM The Queen’s 40th and Golden Jubilee celebrations, in front of 800,000 people. Julian is a regular professor at both The Royal Academy of Music in London, and The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

ANTHONY C. DANIEL (Associate Director) is thrilled to be back at the Ogunquit Playhouse, where he most recently worked alongside Mr. Kerrison as the Associate Director for Mary Poppins. His stage credits at the Playhouse include Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins and Professor in South Pacific. He has been seen on national and international tours of Disney's Mary Poppins, High School Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, and Grease! Other regional favorites include: How To Succeed... (Finch), SHREK (Pinocchio), I Love a Piano (Jim), Mary Poppins (Robertson Ay), and many more. Special thanks Brad, Jayme, Lisa and Shaun for this unbelievable experience. www.anthonycdaniel.com

MATTHEW SMEDAL (Associate Music Director) Previously at Ogunquit: Music Director for Singin’ in the Rain. Elsewhere, Music Directing/Conducting: Ghost: The Musical (National Tour), Catch Me If You Can (National Tour), Man of La Mancha and 1776 (Musical Theatre West), Little Shop of Horrors (Cabrillo Music Theater), The Last Five Years (Third Street Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (North Shore Music Theatre), Bat Boy and Hello Again (Musical Theatre Guild). Assoc. Music Direction/Conducting: Man of La Mancha (w/ Brent Spiner & Julia Migenes) and How To Succeed... (Reprise Theatre Company), The King and I (w/ Debbie Gibson) (Cabrillo Music Theatre). Music Director for the LA Alzheimer's benefit An Evening At Sardi’s (w/ David Hyde Pierce, Kristen Bell and John Lovtiz). All social media and web @matthewsmedal

DUSTIN CROSS (Costume Designer) is pleased to be back designing for Ogunquit Playhouse after last year's successful season which earned him a Broadway World Award for Best Costume Design (Joseph...Dreamcoat) as well as a Broadway World nomination for West Side Story. Credits include: Broadway: The 24 Hour Plays (American Airlines); Off-Broadway: Forbidden Broadway Comes out Swinging (Davenport Theater),The Other Josh Cohen (SoHo Playhouse), Cougar The Musical, Zelda at the Oasis (both St Luke’s Theater); Regional (select): In the Blood (Baruch) and The Christmas Rose (Carnegie Hall), The 24 Hour Musicals (Irving Plaza), The Countess of Storyville (Signature Theater). Enjoy!

PAUL MILLER (Lighting Designer) Broadway: Legally Blonde (also West End and Vienna), Freshly Squeezed, Laughing Room Only. For Encores!: Irma La Douce, Of Thee I Sing, Music in the Air, Where’s Charley. Off-Broadway: Pageant, Vanities - the Musical, Waiting for Godot, Addicted, Balancing Act, and Nunsense. Regional: Stratford Shakespeare, Chicago Shakespeare, Idaho Shakespeare, Asolo Rep, A.C.T., Baystreet, Lookingglass, Goodspeed, Paper Mill Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, Westport Playhouse, Maltz Jupiter, Pioneer Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse and others. International: London, South Africa, China, Manila, Milan (La Scala). Tours: Elf, Shrek, Wizard of Oz, Legally Blonde, Sweeney Todd, Hairspray, The Producers, Nunsense, The Sound of Music and others. Television: Lighting Director for New Year’s Eve Celebration in Time’s Square since 2001.

MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT (Set Designer)maintains a successful career as a set designer for opera and theater companies across the country. Off-Broadway productions include: Bloodsong of Love (Ars Nova); ReWrite (Urban Stages); The Black Suits (The Public Theater); The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks (Theatreworks USA); Things to Ruin (Second Stage, The Zipper Factory). Regional Credits include productions at The Old Globe; Cleveland Playhouse; Pittsburgh Public Theatre; Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Asolo Repertory Theatre; Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Syracuse Stage and Multiple productions at Goodspeed Musicals including Carousel, Showboat, Annie Get Your Gun, 1776, Big River, Camelot. Tours: ELLA a musical about jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald; Motherhood the Musical and James Taylor’s One Man Band. Other productions: Oklahoma! starring Kelli O’Hara and Will Chase celebrating The Oklahoma State centennial and the American Premieres of Frank Guinness’ Gates of Gold and The Bird Sanctuary. www.msportfolio.com

JEREMY OLEKSA (Sound Designer) is extremely excited to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse. His show credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Man of La Mancha, Damn Yankees, Spamalot, Sunset Bou­levard, Chicago, Sound of Music, Music Man, Miss Saigon, Buddy, South Pacific, and 9 to 5. On his most recent produc­tion, he was the Engineer on the Na­tional Tour of Spamalot. Jeremy would like to thank all his friends and family for their continued support, especially his wife Becky Oleksa.

BRITT GRIFFITH (Hair Designer) is proud to be joining the Ogunquit team. She has been working professionally in theater/film for the last 12 years. She arrived in Maine fresh from her contract with the international tour of The Addams Family. Previous tour credits include the national tours of 39 Steps, Cabaret, and Oz: The Musical. Regional design credits include Forbidden Broadway, Beauty and the Beast, Show Boat, and The Drowsy Chaperone. She would like to thank her nearest and dearest for always supporting her, with a special thanks to Mommy Dearest for being her biggest fan.

GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) is returning for his 8th season as the Playhouse's Technical Director and his 3rd as the overall Scenic Coordinator. Immediately prior to Ogunquit he served as Technical Director for Worcester Foothills Theatre. He has done supplemental design work for several shows and received 2014 BroadwayWorld.com’s Best Scenic Design in Maine for his work on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Robert Kovach original design.) He is also the technical supervisor for the Children's Theatre program. Geof began his technical career working backstage for both of his parents who are theatre directors and began his professional career at Sierra Repertory Theatre in California. For 5 years he split his seasons between Maine and Florida, working the same technical areas for the Orlando Shakespeare, but now he fills his off-season drafting, engineering and developing tour trollies for Molly Corp. His wife Cheryl, (Scenic Charge artist for the Playhouse) has designed award winning parade floats and designs many of the Children’s Theater Shows. His "born-in-a trunk" 13 year old daughter Ashlynn is an aspiring actress, musician and artist who hopes to make her Main Stage debut in the near future!

MATTHEW HOLTZCLAW (Illusions Magic Consultant) is a magician and theatre/film consultant based in New York City. Broadway credits include: Finian's Rainbow and Wonderland. Off-Broadway: Play Dead, Break of Noon, Carrie, The Killer. Regional: Macbeth, Haunted Poe, Dracula, Pippin, Julius Caesar. TV/Film: "Law and Order: SVU," "Scrapbooking." Matthew has also been a collaborator with magicians Marco Tempest, David Blaine, and Penn & Teller.

TIMOTHEY SULLIVAN (Production Manager)is thrilled to join the OPH team for their 2014 season! Most recently he worked for several years as a producer for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; producing Broadway staples such as Broadway Backwards and Broadway Bares. Previous to his time at BC/EFA, Tim was the Production Director for the Tony Award winning Intiman Theatre in Seattle. He has also served as Production Manager for the Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA Program as well as the Drama Desk award winning Mint Theater. He has worked on production teams for several Broadway shows & national tours, as well as the American Repertory Theatre, Trinity Rep, The Public, Lucille Lortel and New World Stages. He is also the Associate Director & Production Stage Manager for Charles Busch’s annual off – Broadway production of Times Square Angel.

TRACEY WOOLLEY (Production Stage Manager) A recent transplant from Las Vegas to the East Coast, Tracey is enjoying the benefits of humidity. Off-Broadway: Phoenix (Cherry Lane Theatre); 1st National Tour of The Lincoln Center Production of South Pacific; Regional: South Pacific, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Grease (The Ogunquit Playhouse); Blue Man Group, Cirque Du Soleil's Mystere and Franco Dragone's Le Reve (Las Vegas). Proud member of AEA; even more proud to be a member of my family. Love you guys!

CORY BOULIERIS (Assistant Stage Manager) from Flower Mound, TX. thrilled to be returning to Ogunquit Playhouse for the second time this season. Tours: Green Day's American Idiot - UK, Asia, USA (PSM); South Pacific (ASM/ACM). International: The Telephone/Il Signor Bruschino at CCM Spoleto Opera Festival. Regional: Billy Elliot, South Pacific at Ogunquit Playhouse; Altar Boyz, Zanna Don't!, Bent at Uptown Players. BFA from University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music. Proud member of Actors Equity. www.coryboulieris.com

MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theatres from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 60,000 theatricalorganizations in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.

JAYME MCDANIEL (Associate Producer) 2014 marks Jayme’s 4th season as Associate Producer for the legendary Ogunquit Playhouse. Last season he directed and choreographed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Clay Aiken and was awarded 2 Broadway World awards for his efforts. He also directed and choreographed the audience favorite Singin’ in the Rain here in 2009 and received an IRNE nomination for his choreography. Previously he acted as the Associate Artistic Director at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN, where he had the fortunate opportunity to produce and direct several highly acclaimed and commercially successful productions. While in residence at the Ordway the Minneapolis Star Tribune lauded him as the Outstanding Director of a Musical for The Rocky Horror Show. As a Stage Director he has directed and/or choreographed Rebecca, the Musical at the LG Arts Center in Seoul, South Korea; Joseph… at North Shore Music Theatre, Singin’ in the Rain, Grey Gardens, The Sound of Music and Yankee Doodle at the Ordway; The Student Prince at Paper Mill Playhouse; Zorba & H.M.S. Pinafore for the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Violet, Candide & Drood with Connecticut Repertory; Always Patsy Cline, Evita, It’s a Fabulous Life, Chicago, Zombie Prom, The Merry Widow, People Like Us, They’re Playing Our Song and many others. As an Associate Director and/or Choreographer: Laughing Room Only (Broadway), White Christmas, Wonderful Town, Sound of Music, Yankee Doodle Dandy (5th Ave Theatre), Singin’ in the Rain (Theatre of the Stars) Camelot and Rags (Paper Mill), Nefertiti (Parker Playhouse), Crazy for You (Musical Theatre West) and The Music Man (CLOSBC). He’s enjoyed a career on the stage as well, most notably in the final national tour of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing.

BRADFORD T. KENNEY (Executive Artistic Director) is a New England based artistic director, producer, stage director and artist. Since joining the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2005, the Playhouse has doubled its audience growing from a single season summer stock theatre into one of the Northeast’s pre-eminent regional theatres with a three season performance schedule. During his stewardship, the Playhouse has garnered a number of awards and honors including the Moss Hart Award, Regional Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement in the American Theatre from the New England Theatre Conference, multiple IRNE award nominations and a number of BroadwayWorld awards including Best Musical and others. Mr. Kenney is also noted for his work at Carnegie Hall including directing the holiday special, The Christmas Rose starring Jane Seymour and producing An American Christmas Carol with Tim Janis also at Carnegie Hall. In New England, Mr. Kenney has been proud to be associated with a number of different theatre companies. Ogunquit highlights include Damn Yankees starring Carson Kressley, Sunset Blvd starring Stefanie Powers, Charles Shaughnessy and Rachel York in Monty Python’s Spamalot, Jefferson Mays in My Fair Lady, Lorenzo Lamas in The King and I, Rue McClanahan in Crazy for You, Sally Struthers in Hello, Dolly! and Andrea McArdle in Cabaret. He was also formerly the Artistic Director of the Foothills Theatre and Wachusett Theatre Companies in Massachusetts. He is a fourth generation plein air landscape artist, having studied with Beth Ellis, Rhode Island School of Design, Heartwood College of Art, and Maine College of Art. His artwork is represented by the Sea Bell Gallery, Shore Road, Ogunquit, Maine.

The Witches of Eastwick casts a Spell at the Ogunquit Playhouse

Sexy, Saucy New Musical Makes its American Northeast Premiere

For Immediate Release:

August 19, 2014

Get ready for a wickedly good time when the bewitching musical comedy, The Witches of Eastwick, hits the Ogunquit Playhouse stage September 3 through 27. Based on the Warner Brothers hit motion picture, this hysterical and devilish show with its beautiful original score was declared “musical comedy heaven” by London’s Daily Mail. The Ogunquit Playhouse is proud to have been selected by world-renowned theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh as the American Northeast premiere of his hit stage adaptation of The Witches of Eastwick.

Broadway leading-man James Barbour stars as the devilish Darryl Van Horne and Broadway veterans Nancy Anderson, Sara Gettelfinger and Mamie Parris are cast as the three bored New England women brewing and stewing about their dull lives, and wishing for the man of their dreams. They get far more than they bargain for when all hell breaks loose and the devil incarnate arrives to liven things up! To make matters more outrageous, Ogunquit’s favorite funny lady, Sally Struthers, joins the cast as Felicia Gabriel, the town’s resident busybody and know-it-all combined.

Starring as Darryl Van Horne is Broadway’s James Barbour. He was nominated for the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Awards for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Sydney Carton in the Broadway musical version of A Tale of Two Cities. He has starred on Broadway in many Tony Award winning shows including Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast as The Beast, Carousel as Billy Bigelow, Urinetown as Officer Lockstock and as Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre, for which he also received a Drama League Award nomination. He also appeared in the Broadway production of Cyrano and the national tour of The Secret Garden. His many television appearances include Sex and the City, Ed, That’s Life, the PBS mini-series American Experience: John and Abigail Adams playing Thomas Jefferson, and the film version of A Tale of Two Cities in Concert for public television.

Nancy Anderson joins the cast as Sukie Rougemont. She made her Broadway debut as Mona in A Class Act and played the roles of Helen and Eileen in the Broadway revival of Wonderful Town. Ms. Anderson received Drama Desk Award Nominations for her portrayal of all the women in the Off Broadway production of Jolson & Co, as well as for the title role in Fanny Hill. Sara Gettelfinger will play Alexandra Spofford. She performed in many regional theaters across the country before landing her first Broadway role as Bird Girl in the musical Seussical. She went on to star on Broadway as Carla in the musical Nine with Antonio Banderas and to originate the role of Jolene Oakes in the Broadway production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with John Lithgow. Her other Broadway shows include Anything Goes, The Boys from Syracuse, and 101 Dalmations as Cruella de Vil. Ms. Gettelfinger recently portrayed Morticia in the national tour of The Addams Family Broadway Musical. Mamie Parris will portray Jane Smart. Ms. Parris has performed in many Broadway and national tours including Wicked as Elphaba, 9 to 5 the Musical as Judy, the Tony-nominated revival of Ragtime, the multiple Tony-winning The Drowsy Chaperone, Legally Blonde the Musical and Roundabout Theatre’s acclaimed revival of 110 in the Shade.

Emmy Award winning Sally Struthers returns to Ogunquit to portray Felicia Gabriel after performing the lead role in the 2013/14 National Tour of Hello Dolly. Ms. Struthers is best known for her comedic roles and is a highly acclaimed actress of stage, television and screen, winning two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for her performances in television’s groundbreaking series All in the Family. She starred in the Fox television series 9 to 5, her own CBS series Gloria and had recurring roles in the CBScomedy Still Standing and the CW’s highly acclaimed Gilmore Girls. Sally has performed many roles at Ogunquit Playhouse including Louise Seger in AlwayPatsy Cline, Mama Morton in Chicago, Paulette the hairdresser in Legally Blonde and last season’s Thoroughly Modern Millie as Mrs. Meers.

Shaun Kerrison returns from England to direct The Witches of Eastwick. Mr. Kerrison has worked with Cameron Mackintosh on many shows. He was last in Ogunquit in to direct Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical and in 2012 to direct the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic South Pacific, for which he received both a BroadwayWorld and IRNE Award Nomination for Best Director. He also directed the U.S. regional premiere of Sunset Boulevard at the Ogunquit Playhouse starring Stephanie Powers (BroadwayWorld and IRNE Award Nominations for Best Director) as well as the all new productions of Les Miserables and My Fair Lady (IRNE Award Nomination Best Director) for the Ogunquit stage. He recently reunited with conductor John Wilson to direct Kiss Me Kate for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. On Broadway, Mr. Kerrison was the Resident Director of Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam Theatre. He was the Associate Director for the Broadway revival of Les Miserables at the Broadhurst Theatre and he redirected the National Theatres Production of My Fair Lady for its 50th Anniversary U.S. National Tour.

Lisa Stevens returns to Ogunquit to collaborate with Shaun Kerrison once again, after working together on Mary Poppins, to choreograph The Witches of Eastwick. She has choreographed shows for regional theatres throughout North America including Spamalot and Xanadu at the Arts Club Theater in Vancouver, Canada; Mary Poppins, Anne of Green Gables, Cats, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 25th Annual…Spelling Bee for Theater Calgary, and First Wives Club for the Old Globe in San Diego. Her Off-Broadway productions include Bingo! The Musical. Ms. Stevens has choreographed many U.S. and U. K. National Tours including Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 the Musical, Bombay Dreams, and the world premiere of Disney’s High School Musical at London’s West End, as well as in Australia, Japan and Spain.

Musical Director for The Witches of Eastwick is Julian Bigg who has conducted many productions in London and around the world including, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Cats, The Witches of Eastwick, My Fair Lady, Candide, Shrek, Merrily We Roll Along and Crazy For You. He has also been the Musical Supervisor for many royal spectaculars, including both HM The Queen’s 40th and Golden Jubilee celebrations. Mr. Bigg is a professor at The Royal Academy of Music in London, and The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

Original costumes are designed by Dustin Cross who joined the creative staff in 2013. Mr. Cross earned a BroadwayWorld Award for Best Costume Design for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as a Broadway World nomination for West Side Story. On Broadway he has designed costumes for The 24 Hour Plays and Off Broadway for the 2013 production of Forbidden Broadway Comes Out Swinging at the Davenport Theater, The Other Josh Cohen at the SoHo Playhouse, Cougar The Musical and Zelda at the Oasis at St Luke’s Theater. In addition, he has designed for productions at Carnegie Hall, Irving Plaza and the Signature Theater.

Tickets for The Witches of Eastwick are on sale now. Single ticket prices start at $39 per show. To learn more about becoming an Ogunquit Playhouse member or season subscriber, or to purchase tickets and gift certificates, visit www.ogunquitplayhouse.org or call the Box Office at 207-646-5511.

Next on stage is the “creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky!” The Addams Family closes the Ogunquit season October 1 through 26.

In Eastwick, Rhode Island, a town where everyone looks through their curtains at everyone else and where gossip is more powerful than the truth, Alex, Jane, and Sukie are tired of the everyday people and routine of the town. As the women gossip about their sex lives and muse over the happiness of being in love, they dream up the perfect man. Arriving at Lenox Mansion, Darryl Van Horne emerges from a puff of smoke and begins to charm all the residents, including the three leading ladies. As Darryl seduces Alex, Jane, and Sukie, the women discover his true identity and much more. As the witches of Eastwick becomeensnared in Darryl’s game, the town of Eastwick implodes with ridiculous, raunchy, and out of control antics, all orchestrated by the devilish Darryl. It’s up to the witches to put a stop to the madness in this wickedly fun musical comedy.