A NEW MUSICAL BOOK, MUSIC, AND LYRICS BY NICK NAVARI

PRESENTED VIRTUALLY MARCH 25–26 ABOUT LOCAL SINGLES or a good time, call Local Singles, the last surviving support group in for lonely people. When FPenny’s boyfriend makes a rushed exit after learning about her pregnancy, she turns to the group for answers and walks away with something unexpected. Nick Navari’s new pop-musical will make you laugh and break your heart. You’ll leave with a song in your head, and the feeling that there is still good in the world. This performance will be the first time the musical is presented with a full cast and band.

I had never written anything as lengthy as a musical before: the idea of Local Singles became the ever-present daydream which I would always talk myself out of writing. Eventually, I realized that was useless. So in June of 2019, I got to work.” — NICK NAVARI ARTIST BIO Nick Navari is a Pittsburgh-based playwright, musician, filmmaker (and investment research analyst) who is thrilled to share his first musical with the world. After graduating from Kenyon College in 2018 with a degree in Economics and Law, he returned to Pittsburgh to work in finance while continuing to pursue the arts. His work has been featured in the Pitts- burgh Fringe Festival, the upcoming New Works Festival, and on YouTube. ARTIST STATEMENT

I had no other choice but to write Local Singles. The idea for the show came to me in the fall of 2016, and over the course of the next 3 years, I would keep coming back to the story and its characters. I had never written anything as lengthy as a musical before, so the idea of Local Singles became the ever- present daydream - which I would inevitably table when I would talk myself out of writing it all down. Eventually, I realized that was useless. What was the point of keeping these songs and this story to myself? I had exhausted all of my excuses, so in June of 2019, I got to work. Finding the time to write this show while working a full-time job brought its challenges, so I had to get creative. I started recording the audio on my commutes to and from work each day, wherein I would improvise melodies, lyrics, and dialogue while driving down I-79 into town. Then, I’d write the script at the Einstein Bros. bagel shop on Grant Street on my lunch breaks. At night, I would skim through the roughly two hours of audio I had recorded from inside my car that day to see if anything was good enough to make it into the script or the score.

Throughout this process, I was trying to write something that surprised me. I was intrigued by the idea of characters seeking romantic love, only instead, to realize their happiness in finding familial love outside of the typical family unit. I was excited by the prospect of drawing the audience closer to the Local Singles Support Group by emphasizing each character’s inherent empathy and allowing all of the conflict to come from outside of the group. But perhaps most importantly, I wanted everyone who saw the show to walk away with a song stuck in their head, knowing that there is still some good left in the world.

SPECIAL THANKS Jeremy DeLuca & Mount Lebanon High School, Jean Drennan & Musical Theatre Artists of Pittsburgh, Tony Ferrari and City Theatre, Loraine Mszanski, Amanda Rosco, East Allegheny High School, and Saturday Light Brigade. MARCH 25–26 newhazletttheater.org/csa/

CAST & CREW SARAH CHELLI PENNY SYDNEE ELDER NANCY EMMANUEL ELLIOT KEY JACK SETH LAIDLAW RICHARD ADAM MARINO WES GABRIELLE FAETINI VIOLIN RJ HEID DRUMS NICK NAVARI KEYBOARD & GUITAR MARISA WEXLER BASS JOHNMICHAEL BOHACH SCENIC DESIGNER HARBOUR EDNEY LIGHTING DESIGNER MICHAEL BOONE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR CAST BIOS

SARAH CHELLI (Penny) is EMMANUEL ELLIOT KEY excited for her first New Hazlett (Jack) is over the moon to be CSA experience in Local Singles. in Local Singles. A 2020 Howard She holds a B.F.A. in musical University graduate, Emmanuel Theater from Seton Hill University. has worked with companies such Sarah currently resides in New as Signature Theater (Washington York City, but is thrilled to return to D.C.) and Roundabout Theater Pittsburgh where she was born and Company (New York). There is raised. Some of her favorite credits nothing like coming home to include Beauty and the Beast at Pittsburgh and the New Hazlett Saint Vincent Summer Theatre Theater. He’d like to thank Nick and and Stupid F***ing Bird at 12 Peers all those who’ve supported him and Theatre. sarahchelli.com given him solace, a home during this time, and wonderful memories

SYDNEE ELDER (Nancy) is thrilled to be joining this wonderful cast and crew! Her credits include Owen Wingrave at The Little Opera House of New York as well as The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Leo: A Ghost Story with Riverside Theatre. Sydnee is a Pittsburgh native and is excited to be performing back in her hometown. Much love and thanks to her family. sydneeelder.com MARCH 25–26 newhazletttheater.org/csa/ CAST BIOS / CONT.

ADAM MARINO (Wes) is a SETH LAIDLAW (Richard) Rochester native who resides in is a Pittsburgh-based artist, arts NYC. Adam is the current tenor administrator, educator, director, for the 1950’s doo wop group and producer. He currently serves “The Diamonds.” Favorite credits as Interim Education Director include: Grease (Doody), Tarzan at Pittsburgh Public Theater (Terk), I Do! I Do! (Michael) and and President of Stage 62, a The Buddy Holly Story (Ritchie community theater in Carnegie, PA. Valens). Outside of theatre, Past favorite shows include 25th Adam is a passionate fisherman, Annual Putnam County Spelling video game nerd, and songwriter. Bee (William Barfee) and Annie Special thanks to his family for (Rooster). Seth is thrilled for this their support, and an even bigger opportunity to work on a world thanks to his bean, Alex Shephard. premiere and tell new stories that Instagram: @adammarino celebrate love. MUSICIAN BIOS

GABRIELLE FAETINI (Violin) Partial credits include Pittsburgh is a native of Pittsburgh and recent CLO and CLO Cabaret, Pittsburgh graduate of Duquesne University Public Theater, Lincoln Park with a Master’s Degree in Violin Performing Arts Charter School, Performance. She is very active Pittsburgh Musical Theater, and in the Pittsburgh community and Carnegie Mellon University. RJ performs in many ensembles recently accompanied John Lloyd including the Pittsburgh Opera Young from Broadway’s Jersey Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet Boys and worked with Stewart Theatre, Wheeling Symphony Copeland and the Mendelssohn Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony Choir in February 2020. Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and Butler County Symphony Orchestra. In MARISA WEXLER (Bass) addition to her orchestral career, is a writer, composer, and musician. Gabrielle is a private violin and She’s written a bunch of stuff piano instructor and founding you’ve never heard of because member of the Ferrum String writing is easy and free, but Quartet. producing is neither. Aside from music, Marisa writes about medical science for BioNews Services. RONALD J. (RJ) HEID She also coaches fencing. She had (Drums) holds a Bachelor’s a blast playing in the band for Degree in Music Therapy and a Local Singles. Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Duquesne University. He is well known for being a pit drummer/percussionist for the Pittsburgh theater scene.

MARCH 25–26 newhazletttheater.org/csa/ NEW HAZLETT THEATER SAFETY PROTOCOLS

The New Hazlett Theater staff has been committed to every person’s safety during the filming of Local Singles and has established safety protocols in consultation with other local theater organizations, health professionals, and with information provided by the CDC and local government.

Here are some of the ways that our artists and crew were protected during the making of this production:

• Artists and crew were given lifestyle surveys prior to rehearsal and filming to evaluate risk and prepare mitigation plans. • Artists and crew were asked to self-isolate during the weeks leading up to and during the filming process. • Artists and crew were tested for COVID-19 at regular intervals during the rehearsal and filming process. • Artists and crew were questioned about activities and symptoms each time they entered the building. • All rehearsals were conducted with actors and crew in appropriate PPE provided by New Hazlett Theater in consultation with health professionals. • All production crew was socially distanced throughout the production. • No other individuals were permitted on set during filming. • All singing in the production was pre-recorded with each singer in isolation. No singing was done during the filming of the performance.

For questions and concerns about COVID-19 safety procedures please contact Executive Director, René Conrad at [email protected] NEW HAZLETT THEATER FUNDERS

AVERY C. ADAMS FUND OF JOHN E. AND SUE M. JACKSON THE PITTSBURGH CHARITABLE TRUST FOUNDATION JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLEGHENY REGIONAL ASSET FOUNDATION OF GREATER DISTRICT PITTSBURGH ALLEGHENY HEALTH LAUREL FOUNDATION NETWORK A. SANFORD LEVY AND ANONYMOUS HASELE DEUTSCH LEVY THE BENTER FOUNDATION FUND OF THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION THE BUHL FOUNDATION MCKINNEY CHARITABLE JACK BUNCHER FOUNDATION FOUNDATION THROUGH THE BLOOMBERG PNC CHARITABLE TRUST PHILANTHROPIES GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE CITY OF PITTSBURGH RICHARD KING MELLON FOUNDATION ANNE L. AND GEORGE H. CLAPP CHARITABLE AND S&T BANK EDUCATIONAL TRUST NATIONAL ENDOWMENT EDEN HALL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS THE FINE FOUNDATION OPPORTUNITY FUND THE SHELIA REICHER COUNCIL FINE FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS, A STATE AGENCY FISHER FUND OF THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION W.I. PATTERSON CHARITABLE FUND THE FORBES FUND PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL FORT PITT CAPITAL GROUP AND MUSEUM COMMISSION HENRY C. FRICK THE PITTSBURGH EDUCATIONAL FUND OF THE FOUNDATION BUHL FOUNDATION QUEEQUEG FOUNDATION GIANT EAGLE FOUNDATION SNEE-REINHARDT THE GRABLE FOUNDATION CHARITABLE FOUNDATION THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS HILLMAN FOUNDATION

MARCH 25–26 newhazletttheater.org/csa/ NEW HAZLETT STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RENÉ CONRAD TECHNICAL DIRECTOR SCOTT CONKLIN DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING KRISTIN HELFRICH BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL MANAGER KIMBERLEE LOVE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER PATTI PHILLIPS-BEST ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DYLAN BAKER STAGE MANAGER RACHAEL ELLIS VENUE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGER COURTNEY BOLD PROGRAM AND EVENTS MANAGER AMBER HOLDER DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST PHOEBE ORR MASTER ELECTRICIAN PIPER CLEMENT LEAD AUDIO ENGINEER CHRIS FRITSKY AUDIO ENGINEER LAURA MOELLER CAMERA OPERATOR JEREMY FLEISHMAN CAMERA OPERATOR ZACH WHITE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BRIAN P. MALONEY, PE, ESQ., PRESIDENT BRITTANY BEASLEY REBECCA CULYBA MARK FATLA, ESQ. SUSAN GILLIS KRUMAN LAURA GREENAWALT BRIEN MARSH DOUGLAS J. MORALLY, CPA RICHARD E. RAUH SANJA SAVIC JOHNNA SIMITOSKI EVAN H. STEIN ROB ZELLERS NEW HAZLETT THEATER

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We seek out collaboration in order We create an energetic arena to allow arts organizations and for arts events and community individual artists to pursue their dialogue in our Northside own missions, present their own neighborhood and beyond. programs and connect with their own – and new – audiences. WE SUPPORT DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING WE ARE MORE THAN A BUILDING We embrace the programming of a broad range of artists and arts We excel at listening, helping artists organizations, hosting diverse think about the big picture without audiences and encouraging the worrying about how all the pieces success of Pittsburgh’s performing of the puzzle will come together. arts community.

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