KATZEN RECITAL HALL - MAY 7TH AT 7:00 PM ABOUT JANA JANA BERNARD Jana Bernard is so excited to be starring as “Jana” in The Show Must Go Blonde!!! (It was totally type-cast.) Broadway credits include: “A Tribute to James Nederlander” and “The Jimmy Awards”. Jana is a two-time recipient of the Paper Mill Rising Star Award for Best Leading Actress for her role as Marmee in “Little Women”, and for Best Supporting Actress as Princess Puffer in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”. Jana has starred as iconic blonde roles like Elle Woods in the musical “Legally Blonde” at Disney World, and starred as Doralee in the first off-Broadway production of the musical “9 to 5”. American University credits include: Jennie Brinker in “Allegro”, Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Jenny in “Threepenny Opera”, Mandy in “Time Stands Still”, and The Herald in “Marat/ Sade”. Some of her other credits include: “Man of La Mancha” (Aldonza), “A Little Night Music” (Petra), “Noises Off” (Dotty), “Blood Brothers” (Linda), “The Wizard of Oz” (Glinda), and “Tartuffe” (Dorine), to name a few. Jana wrote an original sketch comedy show, which was the first ever student-produced sketch comedy show at American University entitled, “It’s All in the Delivery”. Jana has trained at Paper Mill Conservatory, French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, and with Second City. Jana is a Sylvia Greenberg Scholarship recipient and was Miss Congeniality in the Miss District of Columbia Pageant. After graduation, (Jana will hopefully remember to return her cap and gown…) and then perform as Blanche in Monumental Theatre Company’s production of “Bonnie and Clyde” this summer in Washington, DC. Jana would like to thank Madj, Dad, Brian, Ethan, Mary, Mark, Hannah Ruth, Drew, Kat, Carly, her roommates, Aunt Harriet, and everyone who helped her make this performance possible, and all her friends and family who are here to see the show! Now whether you are a blonde, brunette, redhead, or are going grey in style, sit back and enjoy the show! The Show Must Go BLONDE Jana Bernard’s Recital Jury Program Recital Time: May 7, 2017 at 7pm Pianist: Mary Gottlieb

Taylor the Latte Boy Music and Lyrics: Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich Blue Horizon Music: Kooman Lyrics: Dimond Getting Married Today Company Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim * Trio with Mark Sullivan and Hannah Ruth Wellons The Sound of Music The Sound of Music Music: Richard Rogers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Still Hurting The Last Five Years Music and Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown Suddenly Seymour Little Shop of Horrors Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Howard Ashman * Drew Bondy, Mark Sullivan and Hannah Ruth Wellons She Used to Be Mine Waitress Music and Lyrics: Sarah Bareilles History of Wrong Guys Kinky Boots Music and Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper As Long As He Needs Me Oliver! Music and Lyrics: Lionel Bart For Good Wicked Music and Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz * Duet with Kat O’Connor Say Goodbye Keys Music and Lyrics: Scott Alan A NOTE FROM JANA Hi Friends! First off, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for coming to see the show! It means so much to me to have your support. To me, theater has always been home. The theater is a place where I can be with a cast, who soon becomes a family. Growing up in theater, it has always been a safe haven to escape to, and a imaginative playground for me to explore different time periods, new occupations, various statuses, differing viewpoints, and a place to learn about people’s lives whom are far different from my own.

One of my favorite blondes, Meryl Streep, once said, “Acting is not about being someone different. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, and then finding myself there.” What a gift we have, as actors, and that we all have as people, to give the gift of empathy. In today’s show, my goal, both on stage and in real life, is to be as empathetic as possible. My aim is to passionately present these characters and to authentically tell their story. My goal in my performing and writing career is to bring forth female characters to the stage, who are, as women are in real life, complicated and dynamic, and not only entertaining, but relatable. We are so quick to put people and characters into a box, such as “The Blonde,” but there is so much more complexity to human beings that we can creatively and artistically present. Today I share with you some of my favorite women whom I have played already, and women I hope to play, with the intent to share as much of them with you as they have already shared with me.

PS - Please join me at the reception after the show! WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST

DREW BONDY (Seymour) Drew is currently a freshman Musical Theatre major at American University. Recent performance credits include performing with Jana in Allegro (Joseph Taylor Jr.), HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical (Claude), and Spring Awakening (Ernst). Drew would like to thank Jana for including him in her Senior Recital. Enjoy!

HANNAH RUTH WELLONS (Nun) is a Junior Musical Theatre and Music: Vocal Performance double major from Roanoke, Virginia (no, NOT the one from AHS: Roanoke--her Roanoke is mountainous and landlocked, thank you very much). She and Jana last worked together in a little ditty called Threepenny Opera, where they would mouth the words to Jana's first song backstage because why not? HR's favorite AU role to date is the murderous, angry feminist in Big Love, followed by a courtesan in her following show. She would like to thank Jana for being a constant support these past three years, and for being a wonderful person to share the stage with. See you on Broadway!

KAT O’CONNOR (Elphaba) has performed with Jana in The Threepenny Opera and Marat/Sade at American University. Her other DC credits include: American University: No, No Nanette (Sue); Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Ana). Kensington Arts Theatre: Cabaret (Texas). Weston Drama Workshop: Into the Woods (The Baker’s Wife); Two Gentlemen of Verona: the Musical (Julia); Almost, Maine (Marvalyn). After graduation, Kat is looking forward to an acting apprenticeship with the Williamstown Theatre Festival this summer!

MARK SULIVAN (Mark): is a Junior Musical Theatre major. He and Jana met and were in The Threepenny Opera together two years ago. Since then Mark has been in No, No, Nannette (ensemble), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Hysterium), and Argonautika (Meleager/Amycus) as well as being involved in the AU players productions of Broadway My Way: Musical Theatre Cabaret and Nostalgia Night. Mark enjoys piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain as well as long romantic walks to his fridge.