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Home , Once on This Island, On Broadway (Vol. 1), The Mayor of Zalamea, Tony Awards, Violet (musical)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Becca Ackner 412-281-3973 x224 [email protected]

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Director J. Michael Zygo and Tony-nominated Choreographer Camille A. Brown Bring the Premiere of to Pittsburgh CLO

July 30 – August 4 at the Benedum Center

Pittsburgh, PA ∙ July 26, 2019 – Pittsburgh CLO audiences are in for a unique and unparalleled musical theater experience with eight-time Tony Award-winning ONCE. For time, Pittsburgh CLO brings this beautiful love story - where the actors are also the musicians - to the Benedum Center July 30 – August 4. This Pittsburgh CLO premiere is only running for one week. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Some Adult Content.

ABOUT THE SHOW TONY AWARD® WINNER FOR BEST MUSICAL! On the streets of Dublin, a woeful Irish musician and a captivating young Czech woman are drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, an unexpected friendship and collaboration quickly evolve into a powerful but complicated romance, underscored by emotionally-charged music, played by the very actors themselves! Winner of eight 2012 ® including Best Musical, ONCE is a truly original theatrical experience. The music of ONCE has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Olivier Award and a Tony Award®. Featuring all of the breathtaking music from the critically-acclaimed film, including the Oscar-winning “,” this achingly- beautiful, joyously-uplifting show strikes an unforgettable chord in audiences and speaks to the power of music to connect us all. A show like that only comes around ONCE.

ABOUT THE TEAM At the helm of this production are Director J. Michael Zygo and Choreographer Camille A. Brown, both of whom come to us from Broadway. Ms. Brown recently choreographed Choir Boy and and Mr. Zygo has led numerous tours of ONCE and is himself an original cast member/musician of Tony Award-winning ONCE on Broadway. Leading this unique production are the talented actor/musicians, Stuart Ward and Esther Stillwell. Mr. Ward is no stranger to ONCE, having performed in the show on its National Tour and West End production. Starring as his captivating love interest is Ms. Stillwell whose Broadway and National Tour credits include Pricilla Queen of the Desert, and the 25th Anniversary tour of . Also appearing in this production is Pittsburgh CLO Academy student Lauren Ivory Vail. Miss Vail was recently featured in our 2018 Summer Season productions of and .

STUART WARD (Guy) is from Liverpool, England but now lives in California. Stuart is a successful singer songwriter and will be signing copies of his in the theatre lobby after the show. He's also the lead singer and guitarist for Foot Stomping Bluegrass Band and The Typsy Spyres. Theatre includes: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Time and the Conways (Broadway) Once (US Tour) The Go Between, Once, The Recruiting Officer, Dreamboats and Petticoats (West End), The Hired Man (Off-Broadway), The Mayor of Zalamea (Liverpool Everyman). Television includes: Downton Abbey (ITV), Our Girl, Holby City and Anthem for Doomed Youth (BBC).

ESTHER STILWELL (Girl) last performed here with the 1st National Tour of Spamalot, in which she played Lady. On Broadway she covered six female roles in the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, with whom she performed on the 65th Tony Awards®.

ANDY CHRISTOPHER (Anrej) National Tour: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Buddy Holly). Regional: The Muny, Pittsburgh CLO, Ogunquit Playhouse, Bucks County Playhouse, Fulton Theatre, MSMT, Casa Mañana, Theater Works Hartford, Flat Rock Playhouse, Ivoryton Playhouse and more. Concert: Muny Magic at the Sheldon. TV: Bands.

MAGGIE HOLLINBECK (Baruška) has recently performed in National Tours of Once (Baruška standby) and (Connie Boylan). Off-Broadway debut in Roses, Green Gold (Miss Glendine) and NYMF debut in ‘68 (Sandy). Favorite Regional credits include: The People vs. Mona, Little Fish, See What I Wanna See and Finian’s Rainbow at Goodspeed Opera House. Maggie is also a recording artist and just released her third album, Jane Kenyon Sessions Volume One.

CRAIG MACDONALD (Da) is very excited to be a part of this production of ONCE at Pittsburgh CLO. Recent roles: Regional theater: King Henry VIII (Cardinal Wolsey) at Valley Shakespeare, (Senator Richard Russel) at Theatre Squared, The Game’s Afoot (William Gillette) at Ivoryton Playhouse, Once (Da) Olney Theatre Center; (Van Helsing) at Syracuse Stage, Peter and the Starcatcher (Lord Aster) at The Kitchen Theater, The Nether (Sims) at Centenary Stage Co, (Mr. Lawrence) at New London Playhouse and The Crucible (Giles Corey) at Olney Theatre Center. As a lifelong musician, he and his band Old Scots have released four of original music.

LUCAS PAPAELIAS (Švec) was an original cast member of the Tony Award®-winning musical Once on Broadway and a regular on the Cinemax medical drama The Knick. He also appeared onscreen in School of Rock, Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and a slew of Law & Orders. Off-Broadway credits include: Playwrights Horizons, Atlantic, 2econd Stage, the Public, P73, and New York Theater Workshop. Regional: ATL, , Geffen, Geva and Huntington LP. He also composed original music for Cyrano on Broadway (w/ ) and Adam Rapp's Essential Self-Defense (Drama Desk nomination).

SCOTT STANGLAND (Eamon) is a New York-based actor and musician. Broadway: Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (standby for Pierre) and Once (Eamon). Regional: SOUL the Stax Musical (Baltimore Center Stage), Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (A.R.T.) and The Wheel (Steppenwolf Theatre). Select TV: The Deuce, Vinyl (HBO), New Amsterdam, Crisis, Fire (NBC) and Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (TNT). Film: Contagion and End of the Tour. Scott received his MFA from The Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University. Scott also plays in the band Youth in a Roman Field.

CASSIDY STIRTZ (Réza) has performed in Once worldwide. She was on the first National Tour and subsequently played Réza at South Coast Repertory, Paramount Theatre and Theatre Squared. She is thrilled to join some of her favorite collaborators here at Pittsburgh CLO. Cassidy performs with the Typsy Spyres, Youth in a Roman Field and in a folk music revue featuring Peter Yarrow. BFA: Millikin University.

ANDY TAYLOR (Bank Manager) Broadway and National tours: Once, Sunset Boulevard, Titanic, On the 20th Century, Moon Over Buffalo, , , Mamma Mia! and One Touch of Venus. Television and film: The Americans, The Good Cop, Elementary, CSI, Law and Order, As the World Turns, High Maintenance, Collateral Beauty, The Week of… and Dream. Regional Theaters: The Goodman, Guthrie, Globe, Geffen, Mark Taper Forum, ACT and South Coast Repertory. Carnegie Hall: Gershwin’s Tiptoes and a cello recital with Jamie Keating. Double degree graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

DAVID TOOLE (Emcee) recent professional credits include: Theatre Raleigh: Once (Guy) and (Drew). PMT: Disney’s (Jack Kelly), (Tarzan), (Judas) and We Will Rock You (Galileo Figaro). Pittsburgh CLO: Pump- Boys (Jim) and First Date (Reggie & Gabe). Carnival Theatrics: Bridges of Madison County (Robert). Front Porch Theatricals: The Last 5 Years (Jamie). David is an anthem singer for the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) and recent featured vocalist performing with in concert.

ERIKKA WALSH (Ex-Girlfriend) Broadway: Once (Original Broadway Cast). Select Off- Broadway: Once (NYTW) and Red Roses Green Gold (featuring the music of Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter). Select Regional Theatre: (Pittsburgh Public Theater), Ring of Fire (Capital Repertory Theatre), Striking 12 (SpeakEasy Stage ), and and Pericles (Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre). Film/TV: “The Deuce”, Rosie Rose and “Miss Teri ” (co-creator). Founding member of the indie rock band Bonfire Falls. MFA: ART/MXAT Institute at Harvard University.

PAUL WHITTY (Billy) originated the role of Billy in Once with over 1,000 performances on Broadway, New York Theatre Workshop, ART and Japan. Broadway: Gettin’ the Band Back Together, Amelie and Full Monty. NYC: (Encores) and (Sonnet). Regional: (MUNY) Doll, Streetcar (Le Petit), Robin Hood (Old Globe), Starcatcher (Actors Theatre), Judge Jackie (Sharon Playhouse) and Be More Chill (Two River). Film/TV: Song One, Law & Order SVU and Guiding Light. BFA Acting, UNCSA.

LAUREN IVORY VAIL (Ivanka) is a 6th grader this fall at Eden Christian Academy and is an active Pittsburgh CLO Academy student. LIV also trains with Miss Amy Stabanau, Wexford Acting Studio and Wexford Dance Academy. Credits: Pittsburgh CLO’s Titanic, Brigadoon, (JoJo), Annie (Molly), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Chip), Les Misérables (Young Cosette) and Willie Wonka (Charlie).

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM J. MICHAEL ZYGO (Director) recent credits include Music Director / Associate Choreographer of Once at The Fulton Theatre and Virginia Repertory Theatre. Director / Music Director national tour of Once 2019-2020. Original cast member/musician of Tony Award®-winning Once on Broadway and featured on the Grammy® Award winning Cast Album. Broadway: School Of Rock. Off-Broadway: Once (NYTW) and Man of Rock (NYMF). Tours: Rock Of Ages – 1st Nat., The Wedding Singer, Bridges of Madison County – 1st Nat., Annie and Oklahoma! – 1st Nat. Film/TV: Rock Of Ages, Unforgettable and the Tony Awards® 2012, 2013.

CAMILLE A. BROWN (Choreographer) Broadway: Choir Boy, Once on This Island (Nominee: Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, & Awards) and . Off-Broadway: Toni Stone, This Ain’t Not Disco, Bella and ( Nominee) Fortress of Solitude (Lucille Lortel Nominee; Audelco Award). Regional: (MUNY), at The Kennedy Center (World Premiere), Bella: An American Tall Tale and Stagger Lee (Dallas Theatre Center), Cabin in the Sky (Encores! City Center) and tick, tick...BOOM! (Encores! City Center) starring Lin-Manuel Miranda. TV: Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC). Upcoming: Magic Mike (Broadway), Porgy & Bess (Metropolitan Opera) and For Colored Girls (Public Theater/NY). JAMES CUNNINGHAM ( Musical Director) returns for his third season as music director for the Pittsburgh CLO Summer Season. New York credits include (conductor), music director for Bunnicula (TheaterworksUSA and original cast recording), Hot Mess In Manhattan (Araca Project), and Happy Birthday (TACT) for which he also provided original music. National Tour credits as pianist and/or conductor include: ’s White Christmas, Spamalot, and Cats. Other regional credits include productions for , Casa Mañana, North Carolina Theatre, Sharon Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Engeman Theater, , The Muny and Cape Fear Regional Theatre. He holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music and .

GEOFF JOSSELSON, CSA (Casting Director ) is a New York-based casting director whose work includes productions for Broadway, Off-Broadway and major New York and regional theatre companies, including the Arena Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Bay Street Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Bucks County Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, Cleveland Play House, Denver Center, , The Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Public Theatre, Round House Theatre, San Francisco Symphony and the York Theatre Company. He is responsible for casting the Broadway production of The Velocity of Autumn, starring and many other acclaimed New York productions, including Southern Comfort, Yank!, Enter Laughing, Pretty Filthy, John and Jen, Himself and Nora, Altar Boyz and Septimus and Clarissa.

HISTORY OF THE SHOW ONCE is a musical based on the 2007 film of the same name by John Carney. Like the film, music and lyrics were by and Markéta Irglová, including the Academy Award- winning "Falling Slowly." The book for the musical was written by . The musical, in which the cast also serves as the orchestra, premiered at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2011, before transferring to Broadway in 2012. The production received eleven 2012 Tony Award nominations, and won eight including Best Musical, and Best Book. The musical also won the 2012 for Outstanding Musical and the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

Performance Schedule for ONCE

Tuesday July 30 7:30pm Wednesday July 31 7:30pm Thursday August 1 7:30pm Friday August 2 8pm Saturday August 3 2pm & 8pm Sunday August 4 2pm & 7pm

TICKETS Individual tickets start at $27, and groups of 10 or more enjoy exclusive discounts and specialty packages. Call our Group Sales Hotline at 412-325-1582 for more information. Student tickets are also available. Visit pitt sburghCLO.org for further information. Pittsburgh CLO gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the Pittsburgh CLO Guild for sponsoring ONCE, and our Season Sponsors: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and WTAE-TV.

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Since 1946, Pittsburgh CLO has been the driving force behind live musical theater in Pittsburgh and the entire Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Under the direction of Van Kaplan since 1997, this not-for-profit arts organization appreciates the support of nearly 200,000 patrons yearly who attend its performances at three venues in the Cultural District: a seasonal subscription series at the Benedum Center, A Musical Christmas Carol at the Byham Theater and year-round shows at the CLO Cabaret. Its dedication to the musical theater art form includes educational programs such as the CLO Academy for Performance and Art, the CLO Mini Stars, the Gene Kelly Awards, the Award and The National High School Theatre Awards. As part of its new works development, the organization has been involved with 22 Broadway shows (30 Tony Awards®), and in 2014 produced the world premiere of An American in Paris, on Broadway (4 Tony Awards®) and in London’s West End. In addition, Pittsburgh CLO launched the SPARK festival for new small-cast musicals in 2018. For more information please visit pittsburghCLO.org.