A Thoroughly Modern Tale of Two Mrs. Meers:

Beatrice Lillie and Sally Struthers

Thoroughly Modern Millie began as an American musical film in 1967 starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore and Ogunquit Playhouse friend Carol Channing. The film also starred Ogunquit Playhouse alum Beatrice Lillie as Mrs. Meers – the role Sally Struthers is playing in this production. These two comediennes, it turns out, have a lot more in common than this role.

For over half a century Beatrice Lillie was known to audiences throughout the U.S and England as “the funniest woman in the world.” She made her Broadway debut in 1924 and continued to perform in revues, plays, film, on radio and television for the next 50 years. Noel Coward, Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Charlie Chaplin and frequent Ogunquit performer Tallulah Bankhead were among her circle of friends.

Beatrice Lillie became best known for starring in This Year of Grace (1928), written for her by Noel Coward, and received equal recognition for her version of Coward’s song, “Mad Dogs and Englishmen.” Her most notable Broadway performances included The Seven Lively Arts in 1947, Inside USA in 1948, Ziegfeld Follies of 1957 and High Spirits in 1964 for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She toured the world with her one-woman show An Evening With Beatrice Lillie from 1952-1956, winning a special Tony Award in 1953 for her performance. That same year she appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse in the award winning show. Beatrice Lillie returned to the Ogunquit Playhouse in 1956 in the revue Beasop’s Fables. During her career she also made motion pictures which started with a silent film called Exit Smiling in 1926. Her final film was Thoroughly Modern Millie as the diabolical Mrs. Meers in 1967.

Thoroughly Modern Millie became the most successful film Universal Studios had released to date. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, five Golden Globes and was the highest grossing film of the year. In 2002, the film was adapted into a Broadway musical with Sutton Foster in the lead. The stage musical Thoroughly Modern Millie opened at the Marquis Theater on April 18, 2002, ran for 903 performances and won six Tony Awards including one for Best Musical and one for Best Costume Design. These award winning costumes are featured in the Ogunquit production you are about to see.

Today, the Ogunquit Playhouse has created the Tony Award winning show with one of the funniest women of our time, Sally Struthers. Sally became known to American audiences in the groundbreaking television series “All in the Family,” for which she won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for her acting and comedic skills. Since that time, Sally has gone on to star in her own television series, “Gloria,” in the Fox television series“9 to 5” and recurring roles in the CW’s highly acclaimed “Gilmore Girls” and the CBS comedy “Still Standing.” She has also starred in several major motion pictures including Five Easy Pieces with Jack Nicholson and The Getaway with Steve McQueen (also an Ogunquit Playhouse alum) and Ali McGraw. Sally has entertained audiences on Broadway in such hit shows as Wally’s Café and Neil Simon’s female version of The Odd Couple. Sally continues to tour the United States annually, performing in regional theaters from coast to coast bringing her special brand of comedy to such popular shows as Always, Patsy Cline, Mame and Hello, Dolly!, to name just a few. Of course, for eleven years here at the Ogunquit Playhouse she has returned annually to the delight of Playhouse audiences, making some of Broadway’s most incredible roles her own.

The Ogunquit Playhouse has been truly blessed to have two of the most brilliant comediennes of our times brighten our stage and delight thousands of audience members with their special brand of merriment and mirth. We hope you enjoy Sally once again as she comes on the great Ogunquit stage to portray one of the stage and film’s great roles.

SALLY STRUTHERS (Mrs. Meers) 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.

BECKY GULSVIG (Millie Dillmount) is thrilled to be back in Ogunquit where she previously starred as Doralee Rhodes in 9 To 5 The Musical and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical. Becky most recently played Eponine in Les Miserables at Riverside Theatre. She starred as Elle Woods on the 1st National Tour of Legally Blonde, was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for her work, and performed as Elle Woods at the 63rd Annual Tony Awards. Broadway: Hairspray (Amber Von Tussle), Original Cast of Legally Blonde The Musical (Leilani, understudy Elle Woods). Other theater credits include: Funny Thing Happened…(Philia), Grease at Paper Mill (Patty Simcox), world premiere of Baby Case (Ginger Rogers/Studio Sister), Lawyers, Lovers and Lunatics (Eve Bursteter), National Tour of Peter Pan (Wendy). TV: All My Children (Jeannie Campion). Thanks to my family, friends, DBA and RKS. Lots of love to Tyler andHazel!

JESSICA AZENBERG (Gloria, Ensemble) Jessica is delighted to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Jessica was born and raised in New York City and has a BFA in dance from The Boston Conservatory. Previous credits include Hello! My Baby (Goodspeed Musicals), A Christmas Carol (Pioneer Theatre Company) The Music Man (Geva Theatre), and How To Succeed... (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina). Jessica would like to thank Dad, Mom, Beck, Josh, and Maggie!

TERRY BURRELL (Muzzy Van Hossmere) debuted her one woman show “ETHEL” at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery AL. BROADWAY: Three Penny Opera; Thoroughly Modern Millie (sb for Muzzy and Mrs. Meers); Swinging On A Star; Into The Woods; Dreamgirls; Honky Tonk Nights; Eubie; Show Boat (London 1998 Original Cast). Off-BROADWAY: Almost Heaven; Taking A Chance On Love; And The World Goes Round; Lyrics And Lyricist; Just So. NATIONAL TOURS: Copacabana (Conchita); Showboat (Julie); Grand Night For Singing; Bubbling Brown Sugar (Ella); The Wiz (Aunt Em/Glenda). REGIONAL: ETHEL (Ethel Waters/ playwright); Brownie Points; Smokey Joe’s Café; Crowns; Mahalia; Man Of La Mancha (Aldonza); Up From Paradise (Eve); Time And Again; Crowns; Bongi’s Journey; Sophisticated Ladies; Sheila’s Day; Ain’t Misbehavin’; A Christmas Carol; Jar The Floor. Oklahoma (Aunt Eller); The Women Of Brewster Place (Mrs. Brown/Mavis); Thunder Knocking On The Door (Good Sister); Of Thee I Sing (Diana Devereaux), Cinderella (Queen,Fairy Godmother) Queenie Pie (Helen Hayes nomination for lead actress in a musical). Concerts: Jazz In July-92nd St. Y; Duke Ellington Orchestra- Venice Italy; Oslo Norway Jazz Festival; Portland Oregon JazzFestival.

ELISH CONLON (Ethel Peas, Ensemble) is excited to be making her Ogunquit debut. Off Broadway: Requiem for a Lost Girl part of the NYMF festival (choir). Regional: White Christmas (ensemble, Betty u/s) at Gateway playhouse, 42nd Street (Lorraine) and Anything Goes (ensemble) at Merry Go Round Playhouse, West Side Story (Rosalia) at New Candlelight Dinner Theatre and Crazy for You (ensemble) at Mt. Washington Valley Theatre Company. Other favorite roles include: A Chorus Line (Cassie), Sweet Charity (Nickie) and Sideshow (Harem girl). Elish would like to thank everyone who is part of Ogunquit for thisopportunity.

JOSEPH FIERBERG (George Gershwin, Ensemble) Ogunquit Debut! Joseph recently made his regional debut in Syracuse Stage’s production of White Christmas. Past Credits: Cosmo, Singin' in the Rain; Dennis, All Shook Up; Mark, A Chorus Line (Interlakes Summer Theatre). Snoopy, Charlie Brown (Playhouse on Park). BFA: Syracuse University. Thanks to Brad, Jayme, and Kirby for this wonderful opportunity. For my family.

TIM GRADY (Ensemble) is thrilled to be back at the Ogunquit Playhouse where he was last seen in The Music Man! Originally from Marlborough, Massachusetts, his recent credits include CTFD's Silver Jubilee (NY City Center), Hello, Dolly! (Maltz-Jupiter Theatre), 42nd Street (Riverside Theatre), A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre), and Happy Days (Gateway Playhouse). Other regional credits include Carousel (w/ Shirley Jones) and Will Rogers Follies. Tim is a graduate of Wagner College Theater. As always, he would like to thank his mom, dad, and sister, Colleen, for all their support.

BRYAN THOMAS HUNT (Kenneth, Speed Tapper, Ensemble, Dance Captain) Bryan is excited to be making his Ogunquit debut with Thoroughly Modern Millie. Tours: Billy Elliot, Irving Berlin's White Christmas (TOTS and Kennedy Center). Regional: IB's White Christmas (Paper Mill Playhouse), The Big Bank (NYMF) and A Chorus Line (Berkshire Theatre Festival). BFA Boston Conservatory. Thanks to the Cast, Crew, everyone at Ogunquit, Schmackarys, Kelly and my lovingfamily!

CARL HSU (Bun Foo) - Carl Hsu is thrilled to make his debut at Ogunquit Playhouse. Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, Carl is fluent in Mandarin. He was in one of the initial readings of David Henry Hwang's Chinglish and the voice of the Chinese version of Staples Easy Button. His credits include Bikeman: The 9/11 Theatrical Experience, A Mermaids' Tale, Rent a White Guy, Aladdin, the King and I, Miss Saigon and many more. This fall, Carl will enroll Boston Conservatory to pursue his masters degree in Musical Theatre. Many thanks to Mom, Dad, and his brother Bill who never stop praying for him.

JULIE KAVANAGH (Miss Dorothy Brown) is thrilled to be making her Ogunquit debut in Thoroughly Modern Millie! Julie was last seen playing Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, in Concert! with the Indianapolis and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras. National Tour: La Cage Aux Folles. Regional: Kate Monster/Lucy in Avenue Q (Theatre Aspen), Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse), Chicago (Northern Stage), Joseph…Dreamcoat (The Maltz Jupiter Theatre), A Chorus Line, Joseph…Dreamcoat (Stages St. Louis), The Music Man, Footloose, High School Musical, Les Miserables and Grease (The MUNY). Later this summer Julie will be playing Peggy in 42nd Street at the Weston Playhouse. Proud CCM alum, and AEA member! Special thanks to Brad, Jayme, and Kirby for this amazing opportunity and to DGRW, Mom, Dad, Honey, and Stephen for all your love and support!

DREW KING (Rodney, Ensemble) is a New England native and thrilled to be returning to Ogunquit for the summer after last season’s production of 9 to 5. Drew was most recently seen in the City Center Encores! production of On Your Toes at New York City Center. Tour: 1st National Elf the Musical. Regional: Paper Mill, Goodspeed, Westchester, Gateway, Reagle, MacHaydn. Much love to my teachers, friends, and family who have carried me along the way

CHRISTOPHER LENGERICH (Policeman, Speed Tapper, Ensemble) is delighted to join the Ogunquit family. New York: Make Mine Manhattan, Song of Solomon. National Tour/International: The Will Rogers Follies starring Larry Gatlin, Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano, Big Band Beat at Tokyo DisneySea, Norwegian Cruise Line. Regional: Crazy for You (Bobby Child), 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor), Kennedy Center (Kennedy Center Honors, Bernstein’s MASS), Carnegie Hall, North Shore, Arundel Barn, Riverside Theatre, Forever Plaid, Ragtime, Damn Yankees. TV: “Royal Pains”. B.M. Catholic University. Proud member of Actor’s Equity Association. Thanks to Eddie and Jayme. For Greg and Jan, and the thoroughly modern Meg.

MATT LUTZ (Jimmy Smith) Broadway: Bonnie and Clyde, orig. cast & recording. Film: A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, End of the Spear, and Sudden Death! TV: "Dawson's Creek", "7th Heaven", "Las Vegas", "Boston Public", and two years opposite John Larroquette on Hallmark Channel's MCBRIDE murder mystery movie series, among others. Recent regional credits include The Spitfire Grill, Theresa Rebeck's The Understudy and Tick, Tick...Boom!. Matt's debut album, High Road, is for sale and can be purchased TODAY here at Ogunquit, or online at iTunes, Amazon or at his website: www.mattlutz.com. Matt is a proud member of Actor's Equity Association.

BRENT MCBETH (Ira Gershwin, Dexter, Ensemble) is thrilled to make his Ogunquit debut in Millie! He is a resident company member/choreographer for Parallel Exit, a Drama Desk-nominated physical theater company that performs in theaters around the world. After graduating from Sam Houston State University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theater, Brent dance captained the international tour of Fosse, starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshall. New York credits: No, No, Nanette, Face the Music (City Center Encores); Time Step (New Victory); Room 17B (59E59); Exit Stage Left (Symphony Space); Broadway by the Year (1937, 1972).

BURKE MOSES (Mr. Trevor Graydon) made his Broadway debut as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, and then went on to create the role of Gaston in the original Broadway, Los Angeles, and London productions of Disney’s mega-hit Beauty and the Beast. Also on Broadway, Mr. Moses headlined as Fred Graham in the smash revival of Kiss Me Kate, and played Heracles in Stephen Sondheim’s The Frogs at Lincoln Center. Other N.Y. appearances: New York City Opera as Joey in The Most Happy Fella, El Gallo in first revival of The Fantasticks. At City Center’s Encores series, DuBarry was a Lady and Lil’ Abner. He recently portrayed Babe Ruth in Johnny Baseball at A.R.T, Captain Von Trapp in Sound of Music in sumptuous Andrew Lloyd Webber production in Toronto, Stone in City of Angels at the Goodspeed Opera House, and Harold Hill in The Music Man at Arena Stage. This is Mr. Moses’ Ogunquit Playhouse debut.

LAUREN PALEY (Rita, New Modern, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut this summer. She has performed regionally in Oklahoma! (Ado Annie) at Hackmatack Playhouse and Hairspray (Tammy, Ensemble) at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre. Previous credits include Hair (Sheila Franklin), Rent (Mimi Marquez), Company (Kathy), Urinetown (Little Becky Two Shoes), Parade (Iola Stover) and Curtains (Bambi). She is a graduate of the Theatre and Dance program at the University of New Hampshire. She is so grateful for the opportunity to perform at such a fine theater, alongside this talented cast. Thank you to my crazy-beautiful, supportive, and inspiring family, friends and teachers.

LIZZY PALMER (Alice, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her debut at Ogunquit in Millie! Recently she appeared as Alice in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Paper Mill Playhouse. Other favorite credits include Guys and Dolls at North Shore Music Theatre, and Amber in Hairspray at New Bedford Festival Theater. Thanks to her loving parents, sister, Justin, and teachers.

PHOEBE PEARL (Lucille, The Pearl Lady, Ensemble) is over the moon to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut in Thoroughly Modern Millie! A Los Angeles native, Phoebe moved to the East coast to attend The Boston Conservatory and since then has relocated to New York City to do what she loves for a living. She has performed at Radio City Music Hall as a Rockette for the past 4 years and feels so blessed. Many thanks to Kirby Ward, Jayme McDaniel, Bradford Kenney, and all the cast and crew at Ogunquit Playhouse. Unconditional love to Mama, Dada and God!

JESSICA SHERIDAN (Miss Flannery, Dorothy Parker, Daphne) Jessica is pleased to be performing at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Her professional credits include: Broadway—Sr. Mary Stephen in Sister Act; the Principle Standby in Follies, where she performed the roles of Stella and Heidi; Bird Woman & Miss Lark in Mary Poppins; and Mme. Thenardier in Les Miserables. National tours—Shirley Markowitz & Kiss-Me-Feel-Me in The Producers, Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, Betty Blast & Eleanor Dunbar in Footloose, Smitty in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Les Miserables in both the US and Singapore. She was a Demon Diva in Liza Minnelli’s Radio City concert that also toured the United States and Europe. Film roles include: The Producers and Liza Live. Jessica is proud to be both an Ovation Award and LA Weekly Award nominee for originating the lead role of Mary in the world premiere of Play It Cool.

CHRISTOPHER SHIN (Ching Ho) is thrilled to be back in Ogunquit after appearing in Miss Saigon two summers ago! Broadway: Mary Poppins (Closing Cast). Regional: Arpad, She Loves Me (Westport Country Playhouse); Mark, A Chorus Line (North Shore); Bun Foo, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Merry Go Round Playhouse); Walnut Street Theatre, Arkansas Rep, Seven Angels Theatre, Fireside Dinner Theatre. BFA- NYU: Tisch (CAP21). AEA. For my cool nephew Micah!

AMY VAN NORSTRAND (Ruth, Mathilde, Ensemble) is so thrilled to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse stage in Thoroughly Modern Millie! Amy is a 2012 graduate of Point Park University with a BA in Musical Theater and Dance. Regional credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Paper Mill Playhouse and Maltz Jupiter Theater) White Christmas (Gateway Playhouse), 9 to 5 (Gateway Playhouse and Ogunquit Playhouse), and 42nd Street (John W. Engeman Theater). Much love to my amazing family for their unending support and love.

KIRBY WARD (Director/Choreographer) is an actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer and writer. He’s performed for The Queen of England, two presidents and three first ladies. He received the Olivier Award nomination for his star turn in the London premier of Crazy For You, and been seen on Broadway in Woman of the Year, Show Boat and Never Gonna Dance. He’s directed and choreographed for the American stage and film industries and appeared in concert with nearly every symphony in the country from the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra to the Philly Pops with Peter Nero. Mr. Ward has written for television and film, most recently winning Best Short Film at the Kent Film Festival for his original film, Down in the Mouth. His original new musical, The Gypsy King, was presented at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, WA.

KEN CLIFTON (Musical Director) returns to his eighth season here in Ogunquit as music director/conductor. He has such successes here as Sunset Blvd with Stefanie Powers, Damn Yankees with Carson Kressley, like seven shows with Sally including Chicago, Hello Dolly, Fiddler, Monty and 9 to 5. He spends winters at the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, FL. Some of his other favorite shows he's done are Les Miz, Ms Saigon, Music Man, South Pacific, The Producers and La Cage. He has vocal coached Jennifer Hudson, Molly Ringwold and dozens of other brilliant people you don't know. He has taught at NYU, written two musicals and four children's musicals, stuff for the Disney Cruise Line and Tokyo Disney...but would rather have his hands in the dirt in his garden.

MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT (Set Design) Recent PPT credits include Red, Superior Donuts and Talley’s Folly. Mr. Schweikardt has created sets for the world premier of Duncan Sheik’s Whisper House for The Old Globe and for several musicals by Joe Iconis, including Bloodsong Of Love at Ars Nova, ReWrite at Urban Stages, The Black Suits at The Public Theater and Things To Ruin at both The Zipper Factory and Second Stage Theatre. Other recent credits include the critically acclaimed productions of Showboat, Annie Get Your Gun, 1776, Big River and Camelot for Goodspeed Musicals; Ella, appearing in cities all across the country; Barnum for Asolo Repertory Theatre’s 50th anniversary season; Oklahoma! starring Kelli O’Hara and Will Chase (Oklahoma State Centennial); the American premieres of Frank McGuinness’ Gates of Gold and The Bird Sanctuary as well as national and international tours of James Taylor’s One Man Band.

MARTIN PAKLEDINAZ (Costume Design) received the 2002 Tony Award for Thoroughly Modern Millie. NYC: Two Gentlemen of Verona; Wonderful Town; Kiss Me, Kate; A Year with Frog and Toad; The Look of Love; Kimberly Akimbo; The Life; Diary of Anne Frank; Gold Child; A Thousand Clowns; Anna Christie and more. Dance and opera throughout U.S., Europe, and Asia, Tony, Drama Desk, Lortel, Obie awards; Olivier nomination.

RICHARD LATTA (Lighting Designer) has called Ogunquit his summer home for many years and is just as excited about the upcoming season as the ones' before. Favorite designs include: 9 to 5, Miss Saigon, Legally Blonde, Summer of Love, Evita (twice) Les Miserables, Songs For a New World, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Aida, Chicago, Annie, and Spamalot. In addition, Richard has designed Off-Broadway, Dance, Opera, and other events since the 1980s. His visual research can be seen in the projections for the Broadway productions of Thurgood (starring James Earl Jones/Lawrence Fishburne), The People In The Picture, The Mark Taper Forum production of Distracted, the operas Moby Dick (Sydney, Dallas, SF Operas) and Mazeppa (Met Opera). Richard is a teaching artist with American Ballet Theater, and is a Technical and Design consultant for Arts High School in Newark, NJ. He is based in NY/NJ during the times he is not at the Playhouse.

DUSTIN CROSS (Costume Shop Supervisor/ Additional Costumes) is a New York based designer who has been designing on and off Broadway and regionally for the last 10 years. His designs have received accolades such as “...Spot on Perfect” by Artes Magazine and “Excellent!” by The New York Times as well as other nods from many different publications.Credits include: Broadway: The 24 Hour Plays Off Broadway: HIM (Cherry Lane Theater), Cougar the Musical (St Lukes), The Other Josh Cohen (SOHO Playhouse, Lortel Nom. Best Musical), Zelda at the Oasis ( St Lukes) SILENCE! The Musical (Associate Designer), The Last Smoker in America (Westside Theater) Regional Theater: The Christmas Rose (starring Jane Seymour/ Brad Kenney dir/ Carnegie Hall), as well as others. Dustin continues to focus on maintaining the expectation his work commands while always trying to raise the bar by using different techniques and approaches to create a durable yet distinct design. Enjoy!

JEREMY OLEKSA (Sound Designer) is extremely excited to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse for his 5th season. His show credits include: 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.

LEAH MUNSEY-KONOPS (Wig Designer/Wig Master) is a Chicago based freelance artist. Prior credits include Measure for Measure, A Christmas Carol, and By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Goodman Theater, stitcher/wigs), The Madness of King George III (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, wigs), and White Noise (Royal George Theater, wardrobe). Additionally, she worked as Wig Supervisor on the national tour of South Pacific, for which she styled the Nellie wig at least 235 times. This Ms. Munsey's second season with the Ogunquit Playhouse, where previously she designed South Pacific, Damn Yankees, 9 to 5, and Buddy. She sends love to the Third Coast, and to her mentors and family, chosen and real.

TRACEY WOOLLEY (Production Stage Manager) is very happy to be returning to Ogunquit after stage managing last season’s highly successful South Pacific and Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story. Some of her favorite credits include Cirque Du Soleil’s Mystere, Blue Man Group, Franco Dragone’s Le Reve (Las Vegas, NV), Lincoln Center’s South Pacific (1st National Tour), and Actors Repertory Theatre Ensemble. Tracey would like to express her gratitude to her Heavenly Father and her family for their support and love throughout all of her adventures...And she thanks you for making this experience possible! Happy Show!

DANIEL EVERETT (Assistant Stage Manager) saw his first production at the Ogunquit Playhouse at the age of eleven, and he is happy to return this summer after last season's Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Off-Broadway: The Exonerated, Golda’s Balcony, Savage Acts. Regional: The King and I, 42nd Street (both at West Virginia Public Theatre), The Sound of Music (Paper Mill Playhouse). Workshops and readings include: Striking 12, Harold & Maude: The Musical, See What I Wanna See. Special thanks to his family for all their support.

GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) is in his 7th season as the Playhouse's Technical Director and his 2nd 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 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. With his wife Cheryl, (Scenic Charge artist for the Playhouse) he has designed award winning parade floats. His "born-in-a trunk" 12 yr. old daughter Ashlynn is an aspiring actress, musician and artist who hopes to make her Main Stage debut in the near future!

RYAN NEELY (Production Manager) is thrilled to join the team at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Previously Ryan was the Producing Director at THEATREWORKS in Colorado Springs, Adjunct Professor of Stage Management at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and the Assistant Production Manager at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Ryan has also worked as Stage Manager for many theaters across the country including the Disneyland Resort. Ryan received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California Irvine. Ryan would like to thank his wife for all her love and support.

JAYME MCDANIEL (Associate Producer) Jayme is excited about his 3rd season as Associate Producer with Ogunquit Playhouse. His history with the Playhouse commenced in 2001 when he appeared in 42nd Street, then in 2009 he directed and choreographed Singin' in the Rain and received an IRNE nomination for his efforts. 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. As a Stage Director he directed/choreographed Joseph… at North Shore Music Theatre, Singin’ in the Rain, Grey Gardens, Yankee Doodle and The Rocky Horror Show 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; 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 (5th Ave Theatre), Yankee Doodle Dandy (5th Ave), Dallas Summer Musicals (Theatre of the Stars) Camelot and Rags (Paper Mill), Nefertiti (Parker Playhouse), Crazy for You (Musical Theatre West) and The Music Man (CLOSBC). He most recently made his international choreography debut with Rebecca: the Musical in Seoul, Korea. He’s also enjoyed a career on the stage as well, most notably in the final national tour of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing. In 2007 the Minneapolis Star Tribune lauded him as the Outstanding Director of a Musical.

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 Beth Ellis Gallery, Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, Maine.

RICHARD HENRY MORRIS (Book) was nominated for the 2002 Tony Award (Best Book) and the 2002 Drama Desk Award (Best Book) for his work on THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE the Tony and Drama Desk award winning Best Musical of 2002. THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE played on Broadway for over two years followed by a U.S. national tour which ran for almost three years. MILLIE played in London’s West End at the historic Shaftsebury Theatre and was nominated in England for the 2004 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best New Musical of 2003. THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE is the stage adaptation of the original Universal film solely created and written by Richard Morris. Mr. Morris won the prestigious Writers Guild of America Award for the motion picture as Best American Musical and the film received seven Academy Award nominations and five Golden Globe nominations. Earlier Broadway acclaim came to Richard Morris with his original book - THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN - music by Meredith Wilson. Presently a new book for The Unsinkable Molly Brown - based on the original by Richard Morris - but utilizing historical details of the real Mollly Brown’s life, rather than the myth of Molly, with a score by Meredith WIllson, is being developed by Dick Scanlan, Richard’s co-author of the theatrical version of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. As a motion picture film writer, Richard Morris had a number of films to his credit including IF A MAN ANSWERS and CHANGE OF HABIT. Beyond his theatrical and feature film writing career, Richard Morris made vast contributions to the television world, creating almost a hundred teleplays, directing and producing many of his own scripts. His writing for television garnered him an Emmy nomination. He further received the Christopher Award in honor of his television directing. Richard Morris was an avid art and history buff and a world traveler. A native of Burlingame, California, Mr. Morris attended the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles. He enlisted in the Army and wrote shows while in the Special Services Division. Thereafter he moved to New York and studied acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. His work at the Playhouse also included writing, which as fate would have it, landed him a screen writing position at Universal Studios, returning him to Los Angeles. And as the saying goes, the rest is history. Richard Henry Morris enjoyed an enormously successful career in three different entertainment arenas - the theater, motion pictures, and television. Though he has passed on, his life was full and his talents have left a legacy for audiences to be charmed by and to forever appreciate.

DICK SCANLAN (Book, New Lyrics) most recently served as Script Consultant to the legendary Berry Gordy in connection with Motown The Musical. He co-authored Everyday Rapture, a critically acclaimed musical written with and for Sherie Rene Scott, and produced on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre by The Roundabout Theatre Company, and Off-Broadway at Second Stage. Mr. Scanlan received 2010 Tony, Drama Desk and Lortel nominations for his work on Rapture, and served as co-producer of the critically acclaimed original cast recording released by Ghostlight Records. He also wrote the book and lyrics for 2002’s Tony and Drama Desk Award Winning Best Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie (music by Jeanine Tesori). Millie ran for over two years, and almost three years on tour, as well as in London’s West End, and has since received hundreds of productions at regional, community, college and high school theatres all over the world. Along with Ms. Tesori, Mr. Scanlan was commissioned by Sony to compose the song “The Girl in 14G” for Kristin Chenoweth’s debut album, Let Yourself Go, and to write the theme song for Ms. Chenoweth’s first series, “Kristin” on NBC. Mr. Scanlan began his writing career as a fiction writer. His novel, Does Freddy Dance, was published in 1995 to glowing reviews and was reissued in paperback in 1997, both by Alyson Publications. His short fiction has been seen in numerous literary journals and commercial magazines, and is included in the inaugural edition of Best American Gay Fiction (Little, Brown) along with such luminaries as Edmund White and Michael Cunningham. He has published numerous articles and essays in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, The Village Voice, Playboy and many other publications, and served as editor-in-chief of POZ, a national magazine for people living with HIV/AIDS. In 2011, he formed artsINSIDEOUT, a not-for-profit organization that sends teams of American theatre artists to South Africa to work with children infected with or orphaned because of HIV/AIDS. Also a performer, Mr. Scanlan has performed his solo show, 75 Inches, at Ars Nova and Birdland, directed by Michael Mayer, and is proud of having originated the role of Miss Great Plains in the hit Off-Broadway musical, Pageant. In addition, he is a former stage manager, theatre critic and usher, as well as a highly successful agent for Broadway designers; the only thing he hasn’t done is sell concessions.

JEANINE TESORI (New Music) has written four Tony-nominated scores for Broadway: Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center, Thoroughly Modern Millie (lyrics, Dick Scanlan), Caroline, or Change (lyrics, Tony Kushner), and Shrek the Musical (lyrics, David Lindsay-Abaire). The production of Caroline, or Change at the National Theater in London received the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Her first off-Broadway musical, Violet, written with Brian Crawley, received the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1997. Last fall, Ms. Tesori’s FUN HOME was presented at The Public Theater as part of the 2012-2013 Public Lab Season. A Blizzard On Marblehead Neck, her commission for the MET/LCT Opera/Theater, was featured at the Glimmerglass Festival in 2011. She has been the recipient of many other honors including Drama Desk and Obie awards, and was cited by ASCAP as being the first woman composer to have "two new musicals running concurrently on Broadway." She composed the music for The New York Shakespeare Festival's production of Brecht's Mother Courage, as translated by Tony Kushner, starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline. She has written songs for the movie Shrek The Third. Her film scores include Nights in Rodanthe, Winds of Change, Show Business, Wrestling With Angels, and Every Day with Liev Schreiber. She has produced sixty CD's for Silver-Burdett Ginn's Making Music and the original cast albums for Twelfth Night, Violet and Caroline, or Change. Ms. Tesori is currently working on a new opera for WNO.

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 theatrical organizations in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org

The Tony Award-Winning, Tap-Dancing, Musical-Comedy Thoroughly Modern Millie to Open at Ogunquit Playhouse!

For Immediate Release:

June 5, 2013

The Ogunquit Playhouse, America’s Foremost Summer Theatre, is thrilled to announce the opening of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Thoroughly Modern Millie on stage June 12 to July 6. Becky Gulsvig plays small-town girl Millie Dillmount, who heads to New York City in 1922 to start a new life in a city filled with intrigue, jazz and a whole new set of rules for love! Her new flapper lifestyle leads to a series of madcap adventures when she checks into a hotel owned by a dragon-lady villainess audiences are sure to love to hate - played by none other than Ogunquit’s favorite, Sally Struthers. This musical-comedy, based on the Mary Tyler Moore, Julie Andrews, Carol Channing film, opened on Broadway in 2002 and garnered six Tony Awards including Best Musical. A new glittering set design, along with the Tony Award-winning costumes and show-stopping dance numbers will be featured in the Ogunquit production. Musical theatre has found a new heroine for the ages – Thoroughly Modern Millie!

Starring as Millie is Broadway’s Becky Gulsvig. Ms. Gulsvig is known to Ogunquit audiences for her reprisal of the role Dora Lee in last season’s Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 the Musical, as well as the Ogunquit production of Legally Blonde the Musical. Ms. Gulsvig played Elle in the First National Tour of Legally Blonde, for which she received a Helen Hayes Award nomination. She has appeared on Broadway as part of the original Legally Blonde cast and in Hairspray as Amber Von Tussle.

Sally Struthers returns to the Playhouse to play perhaps her most hilarious and diabolical role ever as villainess Mrs. Meers. Ms. Struthers 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 CBS comedy Still Standing and the CW’s highly acclaimed Gilmore Girls. Sally has performed many roles at Ogunquit Playhouse including Louise Seger in Always Patsy Cline, Mama Morton in Chicago, and Paulette the hairdresser in Legally Blonde.

Broadway veteran Terry Burrell joins the cast as Muzzy Van Hossmere. Ms. Burrell has performed on Broadway in many shows including Into The Woods, Dreamgirls, Eubie and in Thoroughly Modern Millie as Muzzy and Mrs. Meers. She was part of the original London production of Show Boat in 1998 and recently opened her one woman show Ethel at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery. Burke Moses plays Mr. Trevor Graydon. He made his Broadway debut as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, and then went on to create the role of Gaston in the original Broadway, Los Angeles and London productions of Disney’s mega-hit Beauty and the Beast. He headlined as Fred Graham in the smash revival of Kiss Me Kate and played Heracles in Stephen Sondheim’s The Frogs at Lincoln Center. Playing Jimmy Smith is Matt Lutz who recently appeared on Broadway in Bonnie and Clyde. He has been in the films A Walk to Remember and Bringing Down the House and on television has appeared on Dawson's Creek, 7th Heaven, Las Vegas, Boston Public, and two years opposite John Larroquette on Hallmark Channel's McBride murder mystery movie series. Jessica Sheridan plays Miss Flannery and several other characters in the show. Ms. Sheridan recently appeared in the Broadway production of Sister Act as Sister Mary Stephen, in Follies, Mary Poppins and Les Miserables. Her national tours include The Producers, Beauty and the Beast, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Helming the Ogunquit production as Director and Choreographer is Kirby Ward. He has been in the entertainment industry for over 35 years and is a veteran of over 60 theatrical productions including the London West End premier of Crazy For You as the original Bobby Child, where he received an Olivier Award nomination. In 2007 Mr. Ward was the Director and Choreographer for the Ogunquit smash hit production of Crazy For You starring Jeffry Denman. As director and choreographer, Mr. Ward has created material for Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor, worked with Bette Midler and James Caan on the film For The Boys, and has directed and choreographed both off-Broadway and throughout the US.

The Music Director for the Ogunquit production is Ken Clifton. Mr. Clifton has been the Music Director for many Ogunquit Playhouse productions including last season’s Always Patsy Cline and South Pacific, 2011’s critically acclaimed production of Miss Saigon and The Music Man, and in 2010’s Sunset Blvd. and Chicago. Ken is the resident music director for the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida and in addition works as a vocal coach and composer/lyricist.

Mark your calendars now and be sure to see every electrifying show this year. Season ticket packages are still available and are the best way to guarantee the best seats for the lowest price. Single ticket prices range from $39 to $78 per show. To learn more about becoming a member, or to purchase tickets and gift certificates, visit www.ogunquitplayhouse.org or call the box office at 207-646-5511.

The season continues when the hilarious Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein hits the stage July 10 to July 27. This musical comedy is a wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend based on Mel Brooks' film masterpiece. The Playhouse is going Technicolor® with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s irresistible family musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from July 31 to August 25. Ballroom with a Twist is back by popular demand for one week only,August 27 to August 31. West Side Story, on stage from September 4 to September 28, soars as the greatest love story of all time and remains as powerful and timely as ever. Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story, the most popular musical in Ogunquit Playhouse history, returns by popular demand to close the season from October 2 to October 13!

PHOTO CAPTION: Becky Gulsvig stars as Millie Dillmount in the Ogunquit Playhouse production of the Tony Award Winning, tap-dancing, musical-comedy. Also starring Sally Struthers as Mrs. Meers.

Escaping the doldrums of her country life, Millie Dillmount heads off to New York City to pursue a thoroughly modern new life! Tearing up her return ticket and cutting her hair, she soon realizes that life on busy city streets is not all that she envisioned. Seeking an eligible bachelor to sweep her off her feet, Millie’s search for fortune lands her at the Hotel Priscilla for single women. Without money to afford her room, Millie encounters the sinister proprietress, Mrs. Meers. Soon after, girls in surrounding rooms mysteriously begin to disappear. Millie’s temporary misfortunes begin to fall away as she gets a job as a stenographer and finds herself in glitzy speakeasies. Still pursuing her dream of a wealthy husband, she soon comes to understand that love is something far too important to throw away for money.