[NEohioPAL]Weathervane Playhouse/Firestone High School present "The Wiz"
WcpAkron at aol.com
WcpAkron at aol.com
Tue Oct 1 22:39:26 PDT 2002
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WEATHERVANE PLAYHOUSE
Announces Cast for THE WIZ
(October 2, 2002 - Akron, Ohio) Come "ease on down the road" to Weathervane=20
Playhouse for THE WIZ, October 16 - November 3, 2002. With a book by William=
=20
F. Brown and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, this rock, gospel and=20
soulful retelling of Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz will set your=20
toes a-tappin. All the essentials of the beloved story of Dorothy and her=20
friends have been retained but every familiar character and situation has=20
been given a sly, hip and very funny contemporary twist. The wicked witch i=
s=20
a big mean mama, and the Cowardly Lion gets himself distracted by some very=20
unusual poppies. Baddest of all is the Wiz "hisself," a dude who's really=20
got his act and his wardrobe together! So "slide some oil to ya" and "ease=
=20
on down to the Valley" 'cause there's "no bad news" at Weathervane Playhouse=
=20
and "everybody will rejoice" with THE WIZ.=20
The popular rock musical, The Wiz, is the product of a first-of-its-kind=20
collaboration between Weathervane Playhouse and Firestone Theatre. The=20
extended run of THE WIZ includes performances at Firestone High School and=20
Weathervane Playhouse (as part of Weathervane's mainstage season) that start=
=20
Thursday, October 3, 2002 and conclude on Sunday, November 3, 2002.=20
Weathervane performances run October 16 through November 3, with preview=20
performances on Wednesday and Thursday, October 16 and 17 at 8:00 p.m. The=20
remaining performances will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and=
=20
Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $17 with student and senior discounts on=20
Thursdays and Sundays. Call 330-836-2626 for tickets.
Cast:
Karlise Brown Aunt Em Akron
Karlise is a sophomore at The University of Akron where she is studying fine=
=20
arts. She is a cosmetologist, winning a second-place medal for make-up=20
artistry at the Akron Beauty School. She has a husband and two children and=
=20
is a disc jockey for station 88.1 FM WZIP.
Kristina N. Miller Dorothy Akron
Kristina is a Firestone junior and is appearing in her fourth production at=20
Weathervane. She has appeared in both productions (2000 & 2001) of Joseph=20
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as well ***more***
add 1=E2=80=A6Weathervane/Firestone Cast for The Wiz
as Little Shop of Horrors. She is a member of Firestone's Symphonic Choir=20
and has for two years studied at the West Side Vocal Academy.
Anastasia Baxter Tornado Massillon
Anastasia has a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Mount=20
Union College and a Masters degree in Education from The University of Akron=
.=20
She is a writer, actor, and director who recently directed The Fences=20
Between for the Rainbow Repertory Company in Canton.
Stephanie Childers Addaperle Akron
Stephanie is a junior at Firestone High School where she had a four point=20
average last year and won the Outstanding Music Award from the Firestone=20
Gospel Choir. In 1999 she was a member of the chorus for the Palace Theater=
=20
(Cleveland) production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Merissa Coleman Yellow Brick Road Akron
Merissa is a Firestone High School junior who was also a member of the choru=
s=20
for the Palace Theater (Cleveland) production of Joseph and the Amazing=20
Technicolor Dreamcoat. She was a two-year winner of the Ohio Music Education=
=20
Association award for outstanding vocal soloist and is currently a member of=
=20
the Firestone Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Gospel and Symphonic choirs and=
=20
Madrigals.
Eric Jaeger Yellow Brick Road Akron
Eric first appeared at Weathervane in this summer's Fiddler on the Roof. He=
=20
is a junior at Firestone where he appeared in Babes in Arms and The Pajama=20
Game.
Jaclyn Schler Yellow Brick Road Akron
Jaclyn was a member of the chorus in Weathervane's 2000 production of Joseph=
=20
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She is a sophomore at Walsh Jesuit=20
High School where she appeared in Oklahoma!
James Smith III Yellow Brick Road Akron
James appeared in three productions in 2002: Canker Sores and Other=20
Distractions at Firestone High School; Asylum for N.E. Ohio Thespians; and=20
Our Town, in which he played Sam Craig for Weathervane. A junior at=20
Firestone, James is interested in photography, writing, illustrating,=20
sculpting and acting.
David O. Barnes Scarecrow Akron
David is a junior at Firestone High School where he has worked on four=20
productions as a member of the sound crew. He is also a member of the=20
Symphonic Choir, Madrigals, Men's Chorus, Gospel Choir, Spanish Club and Pee=
r=20
Mediators.
Tim Bennett Tinman Akron
Tim makes his Weathervane debut with this production. He studied musical=20
theater and dance at Point Park College Conservatory of the Performing Arts=20
in Pittsburgh.
Darryl D. Truitt, Jr. Lion Akron
Darryl is a junior at Firestone High School and has appeared in The Amen=20
Corner, A Midsummer Night's Dream and On Strivers Row.
Dionne D. Atchison Gatekeeper/Ensemble Akron
Dionne is a junior at Firestone High School where she has appeared in On=20
Strivers Row, Yelling Fire in a Burning Theater, and The Pajama Game.
***more***
add 2=E2=80=A6Weathervane/Firestone Cast for The Wiz
Elec Simon The Wiz Akron
Elec had the opportunity to take part as an extra in the upcoming movie, The=
=20
Antwone Fisher Story,=20
directed by Denzel Washington. He has also appeared in the Gospel play,=20
Wolves in Sheeps' Clothing, written by Marcus Bentley and Faded by Charles=20
Paythe III. He was the percussionist in the musical Black Nativity at Karam=
u=20
House in Cleveland.
Jocelyn E. Grant Evilene Akron
Jocelyn is a Firestone senior listed in Who's Who Among American High School=
=20
Students. She received superior ratings from Ohio Music Education=20
Association, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. sorority and was an Akro=
n=20
Debutante. She has been on stage in productions at Miller South School for=20
the Performing Arts and at Firestone, most recently in The Pajama Game. In=20
1999 she played Chiffon and a street urchin in Weathervane's Little Shop of=20
Horrors.
Sahara Prade Lord High Underling Akron
Sahara made her first appearance on the Weathervane stage as an orphan in th=
e=20
1995 production of Annie. She was in the cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream=20
at Stan Hywet Hall. She is a freshman at Firestone High School and has=20
studied dance at Brad French Studios and gymnastics at Gymnastics of Ohio.
Patricia L. H. Jackson Glinda Akron
Patricia received a Best Supporting Actor award for her performance in=20
Weathervane's 1998 production of The Colored Museum. She was also soloist i=
n=20
1990 in Sty of the Blind Pig at Kent State University.
Amy Ayers Ensemble Akron
Amy is a junior at Firestone High School and was stage manager for the 2000=20
Weathervane production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She=
=20
was seen in The Pajama Game and A Midsummer Night's Dream at Firestone High=20
School and was the apothecary in Weathervane's Romeo and Juliet. She won th=
e=20
Youth Recognition Award at the Chanticleer Banquet in 2000 and was honored a=
t=20
the Chanticleer Banquet in 2001 for volunteering over 300 hours to the=20
playhouse.
=20
Amanda Davis Ensemble Akron
Amanda is vice president of the Thespian Troupe at Firestone High School=20
where she is also in the colorguard for the band. She has appeared on stage=
=20
at Firestone in The Pajama Game and School House Rock Jr. At Weathervane sh=
e=20
did props for The Emperor's New Clothes and was on stage in Joseph and the=20
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Stuart Little.
Stephanie Ferreira Ensemble Akron
Stephanie is a junior at Firestone High School. She played in Weathervane's=
=20
Our Town and Anne of Green Gables. She has performed for Stow Players,=20
Magical Theatre and at St. Vincent/St. Mary's High School. She also dances=20
at Martell School of Dance.
Natasha Jeffries Ensemble Akron
Natasha is a junior at Firestone High School and attended Miller South Schoo=
l=20
for the Performing Arts where she was dancer and ensemble member for numerou=
s=20
plays. She played a fairy in Firestone's A Midsummer Night's Dream .
Lauren Payden Ensemble Akron
Lauren is a sophomore at Firestone High School in the performing arts progra=
m=20
for dance. She has been dancing for nine years.
***more***
add 3=E2=80=A6Weathervane/Firestone Cast for The Wiz
Erica Porter Ensemble Akron
Erica is a senior at Firestone High School. The Wiz marks her first stage=20
appearance. She is a member of the Firestone Gospel Choir, Praise Dancers,=20
Marching Band and Women's Chorus.
Natasha Rene=C3=A9 Williams Ensemble Akron
Natasha was the first-place winner of the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King=20
oratorical contest of 2001 and got to meet the Governor of Ohio, Robert Taft=
.=20
She attended Miller South School for the Performing Arts, appearing in A=20
Midsummer Night's Dream and Les Trois Petit Cochon.
Haley Young Ensemble Akron
Haley is a sophomore at Firestone High School, is a dancer and wants to=20
become a teacher.
THE WIZ is under the direction of Eric van Baars who also serves as the=20
production's choreographer. Van Baars recently served as the choreographer=20
for the popular Weathervane production of Fiddler on the Roof. His other=20
recent credits include choreographing Once on the Island, The Fantasticks an=
d=20
Big River for Porthouse Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoa=
t=20
and Children of Eden for Cleveland's Halle Theatre and Cain Park's The Sound=
=20
of Music. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Kent State University=20
School of Theater and Dance where he currently teaches.
Bernadette Adrienne Blount Salley serves as musical director. Salley was=20
instrumental in preparing for Akron's Gospel Meets Symphony Project for seve=
n=20
years working closely with the late Maestro Alan Balter, Maestro Eric=20
Benjamin and the Akron Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Akron Symphony=
=20
Gospel Chorus. She has also been a music educator for grades K-12 with Akron=
=20
Public Schools.
David Spondike serves as the pit director and conductor for THE WIZ. =20
Spondike teaches music theory and music history at Firestone High School. He=
=20
holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Ohio State University, a Masters in=20
Music Education from The University of Akron, and a Ph.D. in Music Theory an=
d=20
Composition from Kent State University. Spondike is active locally as a=20
bassist and a composer.
Ease on down the road to Weathervane Playhouse for THE WIZ. General audience=
s=20
(10+). Charge by phone at Weathervane's Ticket Office at 330-836-2626. Cal=
l=20
between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
--part1_d4.1e10acbe.2acb703d_boundary
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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3D2>WEATHERVANE PLAYHOUSE
<BR>Announces Cast for THE WIZ
<BR>
<BR>(October 2, 2002 - Akron, Ohio) Come "ease on down the road" to Weatherv=
ane Playhouse for THE WIZ, October 16 - November 3, 2002. With a book by Wil=
liam F. Brown and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, this rock, gospel and=20=
soulful retelling of Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz will set your to=
es a-tappin. All the essentials of the beloved story of Dorothy and he=
r friends have been retained but every familiar character and situation has=20=
been given a sly, hip and very funny contemporary twist. The wicked wi=
tch is a big mean mama, and the Cowardly Lion gets himself distracted by som=
e very unusual poppies. Baddest of all is the Wiz "hisself," a dude wh=
o's really got his act and his wardrobe together! So "slide some oil t=
o ya" and "ease on down to the Valley" 'cause there's "no bad news" at=
Weathervane Playhouse and "everybody will rejoice" with THE WIZ.=20
<BR>The popular rock musical, The Wiz, is the product of a first-of-its-kind=
collaboration between Weathervane Playhouse and Firestone Theatre. The exte=
nded run of THE WIZ includes performances at Firestone High School and Weath=
ervane Playhouse (as part of Weathervane's mainstage season) that start Thur=
sday, October 3, 2002 and conclude on Sunday, November 3, 2002. Weathervane=20=
performances run October 16 through November 3, with preview performances on=
Wednesday and Thursday, October 16 and 17 at 8:00 p.m. The remaining=20=
performances will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays a=
t 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $17 with student and senior discounts on Thurs=
days and Sundays. Call 330-836-2626 for tickets.
<BR>Cast:
<BR>Karlise Brown Aunt Em Akron
<BR>Karlise is a sophomore at The University of Akron where she is studying=20=
fine arts. She is a cosmetologist, winning a second-place medal for ma=
ke-up artistry at the Akron Beauty School. She has a husband and two c=
hildren and is a disc jockey for station 88.1 FM WZIP.
<BR>
<BR>Kristina N. Miller Dorothy Akron
<BR>Kristina is a Firestone junior and is appearing in her fourth production=
at Weathervane. She has appeared in both productions (2000 & 2001=
) of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as well ***more***<BR><BR>=
<BR>add 1=E2=80=A6Weathervane/Firestone Cast for The Wiz<BR><BR>as Little Sh=
op of Horrors. She is a member of Firestone's Symphonic Choir and has=20=
for two years studied at the West Side Vocal Academy.
<BR>
<BR>Anastasia Baxter Tornado Massillon
<BR>Anastasia has a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Mou=
nt Union College and a Masters degree in Education from The University of Ak=
ron. She is a writer, actor, and director who recently directed The Fe=
nces Between for the Rainbow Repertory Company in Canton.
<BR>
<BR>Stephanie Childers Addaperle Akron
<BR>Stephanie is a junior at Firestone High School where she had a four poin=
t average last year and won the Outstanding Music Award from the Firestone G=
ospel Choir. In 1999 she was a member of the chorus for the Palace The=
ater (Cleveland) production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
<BR>
<BR>Merissa Coleman Yellow Brick Road Akron
<BR>Merissa is a Firestone High School junior who was also a member of the c=
horus for the Palace Theater (Cleveland) production of Joseph and the Amazin=
g Technicolor Dreamcoat. She was a two-year winner of the Ohio Music Educati=
on Association award for outstanding vocal soloist and is currently a member=
of the Firestone Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Gospel and Symphonic choirs=
and Madrigals.
<BR>
<BR>Eric Jaeger Yellow Brick Road Akron
<BR>Eric first appeared at Weathervane in this summer's Fiddler on the Roof.=
He is a junior at Firestone where he appeared in Babes in Arms and Th=
e Pajama Game.
<BR>
<BR>Jaclyn Schler Yellow Brick Road Akron
<BR>Jaclyn was a member of the chorus in Weathervane's 2000 production of Jo=
seph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She is a sophomore at Wals=
h Jesuit High School where she appeared in Oklahoma!
<BR>
<BR>James Smith III Yellow Brick Road Akron
<BR>James appeared in three productions in 2002: Canker Sores and Other Dist=
ractions at Firestone High School; Asylum for N.E. Ohio Thespians; and Our T=
own, in which he played Sam Craig for Weathervane. A junior at Firesto=
ne, James is interested in photography, writing, illustrating, sculpting and=
acting.
<BR>
<BR>David O. Barnes Scarecrow Akron
<BR>David is a junior at Firestone High School where he has worked on four p=
roductions as a member of the sound crew. He is also a member of the S=
ymphonic Choir, Madrigals, Men's Chorus, Gospel Choir, Spanish Club and Peer=
Mediators.
<BR>
<BR>Tim Bennett Tinman Akron
<BR>Tim makes his Weathervane debut with this production. He studied m=
usical theater and dance at Point Park College Conservatory of the Performin=
g Arts in Pittsburgh.<BR><BR>Darryl D. Truitt, Jr. Lion Akron<BR>Darryl=
is a junior at Firestone High School and has appeared in The Amen Corner, A=
Midsummer Night's Dream and On Strivers Row.<BR><BR>Dionne D. Atchison Gat=
ekeeper/Ensemble Akron<BR>Dionne is a junior at Firestone High School where=20=
she has appeared in On Strivers Row, Yelling Fire in a Burning Theater, and=20=
The Pajama Game.<BR><BR><BR>***more***<BR><BR><BR>add 2=E2=80=A6Weathervane/=
Firestone Cast for The Wiz<BR><BR>Elec Simon The Wiz Akron<BR>Elec had the=20=
opportunity to take part as an extra in the upcoming movie, The Antwone Fish=
er Story, <BR>directed by Denzel Washington. He has also appeared in t=
he Gospel play, Wolves in Sheeps' Clothing, written by Marcus Bentley and Fa=
ded by Charles Paythe III. He was the percussionist in the musical Bla=
ck Nativity at Karamu House in Cleveland.
<BR>
<BR>Jocelyn E. Grant Evilene Akron
<BR>Jocelyn is a Firestone senior listed in Who's Who Among American High Sc=
hool Students. She received superior ratings from Ohio Music Education=
Association, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. sorority and was an Akr=
on Debutante. She has been on stage in productions at Miller South Sch=
ool for the Performing Arts and at Firestone, most recently in The Pajama Ga=
me. In 1999 she played Chiffon and a street urchin in Weathervane's Li=
ttle Shop of Horrors.
<BR>
<BR>Sahara Prade Lord High Underling Akron
<BR>Sahara made her first appearance on the Weathervane stage as an orphan i=
n the 1995 production of Annie. She was in the cast of A Midsummer Nig=
ht's Dream at Stan Hywet Hall. She is a freshman at Firestone High Sch=
ool and has studied dance at Brad French Studios and gymnastics at Gymnastic=
s of Ohio.
<BR>
<BR>Patricia L. H. Jackson Glinda Akron
<BR>Patricia received a Best Supporting Actor award for her performance in W=
eathervane's 1998 production of The Colored Museum. She was also soloi=
st in 1990 in Sty of the Blind Pig at Kent State University.
<BR>
<BR>Amy Ayers Ensemble Akron
<BR>Amy is a junior at Firestone High School and was stage manager for the 2=
000 Weathervane production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.=20=
She was seen in The Pajama Game and A Midsummer Night's Dream at Fires=
tone High School and was the apothecary in Weathervane's Romeo and Juliet. &=
nbsp;She won the Youth Recognition Award at the Chanticleer Banquet in 2000=20=
and was honored at the Chanticleer Banquet in 2001 for volunteering over 300=
hours to the playhouse.
<BR> =20
<BR>Amanda Davis Ensemble Akron
<BR>Amanda is vice president of the Thespian Troupe at Firestone High School=
where she is also in the colorguard for the band. She has appeared on=
stage at Firestone in The Pajama Game and School House Rock Jr. At We=
athervane she did props for The Emperor's New Clothes and was on stage in Jo=
seph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Stuart Little.
<BR>
<BR>Stephanie Ferreira Ensemble Akron
<BR>Stephanie is a junior at Firestone High School. She played in Weat=
hervane's Our Town and Anne of Green Gables. She has performed for Sto=
w Players, Magical Theatre and at St. Vincent/St. Mary's High School. =
She also dances at Martell School of Dance.
<BR>
<BR>Natasha Jeffries Ensemble Akron
<BR>Natasha is a junior at Firestone High School and attended Miller South S=
chool for the Performing Arts where she was dancer and ensemble member for n=
umerous plays. She played a fairy in Firestone's A Midsummer Night's D=
ream .
<BR>
<BR>Lauren Payden Ensemble Akron
<BR>Lauren is a sophomore at Firestone High School in the performing arts pr=
ogram for dance. She has been dancing for nine years.<BR><BR><BR>***mo=
re***<BR><BR><BR>add 3=E2=80=A6Weathervane/Firestone Cast for The Wiz<BR><BR=
>Erica Porter Ensemble Akron<BR>Erica is a senior at Firestone High Sc=
hool. The Wiz marks her first stage appearance. She is a member=20=
of the Firestone Gospel Choir, Praise Dancers, Marching Band and Women's Cho=
rus.
<BR>
<BR>Natasha Rene=C3=A9 Williams Ensemble Akron
<BR>Natasha was the first-place winner of the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King or=
atorical contest of 2001 and got to meet the Governor of Ohio, Robert Taft.=20=
She attended Miller South School for the Performing Arts, appearing in=
A Midsummer Night's Dream and Les Trois Petit Cochon.
<BR>
<BR>Haley Young Ensemble Akron
<BR>Haley is a sophomore at Firestone High School, is a dancer and wants to=20=
become a teacher.
<BR>
<BR>THE WIZ is under the direction of Eric van Baars who also serves as the=20=
production's choreographer. Van Baars recently served as the choreogra=
pher for the popular Weathervane production of Fiddler on the Roof. His othe=
r recent credits include choreographing Once on the Island, The Fantasticks=20=
and Big River for Porthouse Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Drea=
mcoat and Children of Eden for Cleveland's Halle Theatre and Cain Park's The=
Sound of Music. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Kent State=
University School of Theater and Dance where he currently teaches.
<BR>Bernadette Adrienne Blount Salley serves as musical director. Salley was=
instrumental in preparing for Akron's Gospel Meets Symphony Project for sev=
en years working closely with the late Maestro Alan Balter, Maestro Eric Ben=
jamin and the Akron Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Akron Symphony Go=
spel Chorus. She has also been a music educator for grades K-12 with Akron P=
ublic Schools.
<BR>David Spondike serves as the pit director and conductor for THE WIZ. &nb=
sp;Spondike teaches music theory and music history at Firestone High School.=
He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Ohio State University, a Masters=20=
in Music Education from The University of Akron, and a Ph.D. in Music Theory=
and Composition from Kent State University. Spondike is active locally as a=
bassist and a composer.
<BR>Ease on down the road to Weathervane Playhouse for THE WIZ. General audi=
ences (10+). Charge by phone at Weathervane's Ticket Office at 330-836=
-2626. Call between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
<BR></FONT></HTML>
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