CURTAIN CALL 1 2 CURTAIN CALL BEST LIVE THEATRE – Stamford Advocate 2018 ACE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS – 2016 GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS – 2011 Voted Fairfield County’s BEST LOCAL THEATRE GROUP – Ten Years Running! In Fairfield County Weekly Voted BEST PERFORMING ARTS GROUP – 2008 Through 2018 In StamfordPlus CURTAIN CALL, INC. 1349 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06905 203-329-8207 BOARD OF DIRECTORS TED YUDAIN, ESQ. CHAIR GORDON CASAGRANDE VICE CHAIR WILLIAM SQUIER SECRETARY JOHN ATKIN TREASURER DIANE ARDITTI TERRY BLANK GEORGE BRADT DOMINICK BRIA TOM DESALVO JOANN LATORRACA THOMAS M. ORMOND JAMI SHERWOOD KEVIN THOMPSON SEYMOUR WEINSTEIN, ESQ. LOU URSONE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PETER BARBIERI, JR. ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR BRIAN BIANCO EDUCATION DIRECTOR MEGAN LATTE ORMOND RESIDENT WARDROBE MANAGER GAIL YUDAIN OFFICE MANAGER LISA DIDONATO, JEFF KARWOSKY BOX OFFICE MANAGERS MEREDITH WALKER BOX OFFICE STAFF JAMIE LAJOIE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR MARC URSONE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT CURTAIN CALL 3 WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR “A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.” – Origin unknown While the above quote is often attributed to one of America’s most-read authors, (and long-time Connecticut resident), Mark Twain, its true origins are unknown. I’m pretty sure that the nuns who taught me in grade school used it as a means to inspire what has been, for me, a life-long love of reading. Twain’s 12 novels, nearly three dozen short stories and much more, marked him as one of the most prolific American authors of his time. Twain, often noted as the father of American literature, was credited thus by Ernest Hemingway: “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called ‘Huckleberry Finn’.” That book is why we’re here today. This Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of “Huckleberry Finn” took Broadway by storm taking home, among its seven awards, Best Book, Best Original Score and Best Musical. It appropriately concentrates on the relationship between Huck and Jim, but also includes much of this devilishly complex story, all wrapped up with Roger Miller’s wonderful score. A raft ride down the Mississippi seemed like the perfect summertime ending to our season, and I hope you enjoy it. Speaking of summer... Our 16th annual free, outdoor Shakespeare on the Green presentation — Much Ado About Nothing—will be held July 11 through 21 on the great lawn when you first enter the Sterling Farms property. Our 29th annual Summer Youth Theatre production—Matilda—will play August 1 through 10 in The Kweskin Theatre. As always, our full-day, theatre arts workshops for ages 6 through 16, will be running through mid-August (limited spaces still available). I look forward to seeing you here over the next few months, but truly hope that, if you have never been a Flex Pass Subscriber, that you’ll consider taking advantage of our discounted ticket programs. We have a great line-up we have scheduled beginning in September. It includes three recent Broadway musicals that you won’t be able to see anywhere else. (The entire listing is on page 2.) Thanks you for being here and enjoy, Big River! CURTAIN CALL 5 JUNE 7–29, 2019 | KWESKIN THEATRE Britta & Denis J. Nayden Charitable Foundation, Ltd. Presents Curtain Call’s production of BIG RIVER THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN Music and Lyrics by Book by Adapted from the novel by ROGER MILLER WILLIAM HAUPTMAN MARK TWAIN Costume Design Production Stage Managers MEGAN LATTE ORMOND STACY LUPO, JAN URSONE Lighting Design Music Direction PETER PETRINO TONY BELLOMY Set Design Choreography PETER BARBIERI, JR. JASON SUMMERS Director LARRY D. GABBARD BIG RIVER is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals, a Concord Theatricals Company: www.rnh.com. The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. CURTAIN CALL 7 8 CURTAIN CALL CAST MARK TWAIN ..................................................................................................................Bob Praid HUCKLEBERRY FINN ............................................................................. Kevin Sell*, Sam Ruck** WIDOW DOUGLAS .................................................................................................. Karen Everett MISS WATSON .......................................................................................................... Grace Heiser JIM .........................................................................................David Michael Tate*, Levy Brunette** TOM SAWYER ........................................................................................... Sam Ruck*, Kevin Sell** BEN ROGERS ................................................................................................................Jake Enman JO HARPER ........................................................................................................Victoria Razhanskiy SIMON ......................................................................................................................... Robert Failla DICK .......................................................................................................................... Henry Kanlian PAP FINN ......................................................................................................................... Jim Chiles JUDGE THATCHER .................................................................................................James Hisey II STRANGE WOMAN .................................................................................................. Sara DeFelice THE KING .................................................................................................................... Dan Travers THE DUKE .................................................................................................................. Philip Glazer HANK ........................................................................................................................... Robert Failla ANDY......................................................................................................................... Henry Kanlian LAFE ...................................................................................................................Matthew McArthur A YOUNG FOOL .................................................................................................Matthew Feinberg A SERVANT ..........................................................................................................Tracey McAllister SHERIFF BELL ...................................................................................................Matthew McArthur MARY JANE WILKES .................................................................................................... Anna Hicks COUNSELOR ROBINSON ..................................................................................... Henry Kanlian HARVEY WILKES............................................................................................................ Jim Chiles SUSAN WILKES ........................................................................................... Katherine Atkin-Dahm JOANNA WILKES ......................................................................................... Ava Spinelli Mastrone ALICE ....................................................................................................................Tracey McAllister ALICE’S DAUGHTER ..............................................................................................Simone Palmer AUNT SALLY PHELPS ..................................................................................Libby Whitely Scherer UNCLE SILAS PHELPS ............................................................................................. Steven Kaplan ENSEMBLE .............................................................. Monica Castillo, Sara DeFelice, Karen Everett, Matthew Feinberg, Eli Foodman, Brendan Garnett, Grace Heiser, James Hisey II, Steven Kaplan, Empress Makeda, Matthew McArthur, Bob Praid, Zully Ramos, Markiss Robert, Emma Sawch, Libby Whitely Scherer and Tilden Todd * 6/7, 6/13, 6/15, 6/22, 6/23, 6/27, 6/28 ** 6/8, 6/9, 6/14, 6/16, 6/20, 6/21, 6/29 PRODUCTION STAFF Executive Producer Lou Ursone Director Larry D. Gabbard Production Design Peter Barbieri, Jr. Costume Design Megan Latte Ormond Production Stage Managers Stacy Lupo, Jan Ursone Assistant Stage Managers Cara Kramer, Michael Kraus Sound Design Jamie LaJoie Poster Design Bob Callahan Prop Master Michael Kraus CURTAIN CALL 9 SYNOPSIS OF SCENES/MUSICAL NUMBERS The action takes place along the Mississippi River Valley, sometime in the 1840s. ACT 1 Scene 1: The Widow Douglas’ home in St. Petersburg, Missouri Do You Wanna Go To Heaven....................................................................The Company Scene 2: A Cave by the River The Boys ............................................................................................... Tom and the Boys Waitin’ For The Light To Shine ................................................................................Huck Scene 3: The Widow Douglas’ home Scene 4: A Cabin on the Illinois shore Guv’ment ......................................................................................................................Pap Scene 5: The Cabin; Jackson’s Island Hand For The Hog .....................................................................................................Tom I, Huckleberry, Me .....................................................................................................Huck