LETTER FROM GHPRD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR After a year of uncertainty, we are so excited to see the return of outdoor community theater to the Ritter Park Amphitheater. The HART volunteers from directors, producers, set designers and set builders have been working for over a year to bring the 2021 Season to fruition. It has been a long journey but they are thrilled to be returning to the stage. It is wonderful to see the hard work of all these exceptional individuals. As you watch the performances you only see a small portion of all those who had their hands in the making of this wonderful entertainment. It takes a small village to put together all the pieces for these performances. Our community is blessed to have such dedicated volunteers who work so hard to provide a wonderful performance for our community. A huge thank you to all who participated in making this 2021 season possible. GHPRD is so thankful for Mary & Tommy Smirl for their IN REMEMBRANCE OF leadership, vision and dedication in providing our community LESLIE GAIL MCELROY with an amazing arts experience. Enjoy the show! AS ALWAYS, Kathy McKenna CHOOSE JOY ♥ HUNTINGTON AREA REGIONAL THEATER Presents LETTERS FROM “WIZARELLA” CO-DIRECTORS: ACT ONE The Wizard of Oz has been my favorite movie, and therefore my favorite thing for basically my entire life. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life and career to be entrusted with co-directing this special one-hour edition and bringing it to the city of Huntington in a time when we all need to feel warm and fuzzy after the trying times the human race has all been through. There are so many people to thank - this incredible cast for working so incredibly hard these several months. Our fabulous crew who literally helps make the magic happen. The folks at GHPRD for all of their support. Family and friends for understanding why we all feel the need to come to the amphitheater in these summer months to help bring joy to the city of Huntington. But perhaps most importantly - I need to thank Mary and Tommy Smirl. They trusted me to step up from directing pre-shows and make my main stage debut. It has not been easy whatsoever. But if there’s one thing I know - it’s that through the greatest obstacles, the very best magic is made. And I’m forever thankful, and grateful, and humbled to them for believing that I could do this. They both work harder than anybody else behind the scenes to make sure HART puts on quality shows for you, the people of Huntington. Thank you all so ACT TWO much for coming this evening. Please enjoy the show, and always remember three very important things: It’s possible. There’s no place like home. And Choose Joy. Levi Kelley I am writing this for Tommy Smirl because he literally hasn’t a spare minute to give. He has worked tirelessly on this show and his passion for it shows. Doing these two shows this way has been a real challenge but he has stepped up and lead with incredible patience and strength. He has directed from the trenches and he always makes it about the cast/audience. He has enjoyed getting to work with the entire cast and brings a wealth of experience when it comes to Oz. He first played the Scarecrow back in 2002 when HOT presented on this very stage. He then directed Oz a few years back when HART presented it on this very stage. He now directs and paints and builds and sweeps and cleans, as well as playing The Wizard….and he leaves it all on this very stage. To watch him work wears a soul out but to observe him laughing with the cast, dancing and singing with the Munchkins he loves so dearly, truly inspires that worn out soul. He Thanks this cast, Levi, Kevin and Vicky Bannon, GHPRD, Lauren, Kathy, and Anna! He most Co-Directors definitely appreciates his trench mates, Karen Fry, Dave Owens, Jim Adkins, Kevin LEVI KELLEY & TOMMY SMIRL Morris, Andrew Davis, Gabe and Sterling Carroll, all for whom this show would not happen without. He also wants to thank his reason for living, his family, Mary, Choreographer Rileigh, Teylor, Sydnee, Justin, and his own personal Munchkin Duo, Charlie and Cooper, for the support and love they give and the problem solving they offer! He AINSLEY MEADOWS would now like you to sit back, relax, suspend the notion of disbelief, and let this cast take you to a land of castles and princesses, and witches and Munchkins. You Vocal Director won’t be disappointed! JENNIFER LONDEREE Mary Smirl CREATIVE TEAM Co-Directors ……...………...… LEVI KELLEY, TOMMY SMIRL Producer …………………….…….…….………….……. KATIE COUNTS Music Director ……………….…….……… JENNIFER LONDEREE Choreographer ………….………….…….…... AINSLEY MEADOWS Guest Choreographer ........................... MASHAWN MORTON House Managers …….……......…. CHRIS & CRISTY JOHNSON Stage Manager ………………..............……… NICHOLAS CYFERS Lighting & Sound Technician …….......………... KEVIN BANNON Lighting Technician ........................................ VICKY BANNON Spot Light ..................................................... REAGAN SNIDER Spot Light 2 ............................................................ JIM ADKINS Prop Master ...….......................................… PHILLIP WRIGHT Prop Mistress ................................................... MEGAN SMITH Puppet Master ....................................... STERLING CARROLL Costumes ……….....................… LEVI KELLEY, MARY SMIRL Set Painting ................... KAREN FRY, CASSIDY SULLIVAN SET DESIGN TOMMY SMIRL, LEVI KELLEY, DAVE OWENS, KAREN FRY SET CONSTRUCTION DAVE OWENS, JOHN MCCORMICK, TOMMY SMIRL July 2021 H.A.R.T. in the Park brings you TWO great shows with PRODUCTION CREW ONE amazing Cast and Crew! GABE CARROLL, STERLING CARROLL, KEVIN MORRIS, DAVE OWENS, TOMMY SMIRL, MARY SMIRL, RILEIGH SMIRL, ANDREW DAVIS Here is “Who’s Who!” CREATIVE TEAM BIOS “WIZARELLA” PRODUCER’S NOTE Jennifer Londeree: Music Director, is a music teacher at Village of It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the Summer 2021 Barboursville Elementary School. She "Wizarella" Producer. As my second foray into this position with has taught music in Cabell County for 5 HART, and my fourth summer as a HART parent, I learn more each years. Jennifer has been the music year that I'm blessed to be involved. My meager contributions pale in director for several HART shows comparison to the immeasurable talent that goes into these shows from including, Seussical: The Musical, the directors, performers, set designers and everyone involved in Beauty and the Beast, and Mama Mia! creating the magic we call theatre. Good luck to all of our performers She and her husband live in and we hope you enjoy these amazing shows. And as always, Choose Barboursville with her two daughters. Joy! She loves outdoor theater and is so very excited to play a small part in the - Katie Counts production of our July shows! Ainsley Meadows: Choreographer, is 18-years-old and just recently graduated high school. She has performed in a few H.A.R.T. shows in the past, including Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, and Beauty and The Beast; however, Ainsley is working behind the scenes this year as a choreographer. She began taking dance classes at the age of three and has been dancing ever since. She is currently a member of Bridget’s Dance Academy’s Competition Company. Ainsley has also attended a variety of dance events across the county, such as: Youth America Grand Prix, Disney Performing Arts, Project Dance Orlando, Playground LA, etc. She is very excited to be a part of the Creative Team for 101 Dalmatians Kids, Cinderella, and The Wizard of Oz this summer! CAST BIOS (in alphabetical order) Emelia Adkins: Mouse (Cinderella), Charlee Adkins: Ensemble: Child Munchkin City Father 1/Flying Monkey Townsperson (Cinderella), Munchkin (Wizard of Oz) will be a fifth grader at Barrister/Flying Monkey (Wizard of Meadows Elementary in the Fall. She Oz) will be a sixth grader at Huntington enjoys playing soccer, plays the piano, Middle School in the Fall. She plays the and is active with her church youth piano and is active in her church youth choir at First United Methodist Church. choir at First United Methodist Church. Emelia previously performed with Charlee has previously performed with H.A.R.T. in June’s pre-show 101 H.A.R.T. in Frozen Jr. and 101 Dalmatians, KIDS and is excited to be Dalmatians, KIDS. She has also back on stage performing again this performed with First Stage Theater month. She hopes you enjoy the show! Company in Stuart Little. Charlee is excited to be back performing this summer with H.A.R.T. and hopes you enjoy the show! Brennan Adkins - Coleman: Townsperson/Palace Staff/Ball Guest Drew Adkins: Ensemble: Child (Cinderella), Townsperson (Cinderella), Lollipop Tornado/Jitterbug/Ozian (Wizard of Guild (Wizard of Oz) will be a third Oz) loves to sing, spend time with her grader at Meadows Elementary in the friends, and Harry Styles. She will be a Fall. He plays soccer and is active in his freshman at Huntington High in the church youth choir at First United fall. Brennan spent the last year in WV Methodist Church. Drew is also a Virtual School and is thrilled to be back yellow belt in karate with Champion on stage and surrounded by her theater Martial Arts. Drew previously people. Brennan thanks all those who performed with H.A.R.T. in June’s pre- have contributed to the production and show, 101 Dalmatians, KIDS. He is keep children’s theater in Huntington excited to be performing again with the alive. Cinderella and Wizard of Oz cast and hopes you enjoy the show! Cailyn Counts: Ensemble: Child Anna Beaty: Cinderella (Cinderella), Townsperson (Cinderella); Lullaby Glinda (Wizard of Oz) has been League (Wizard of Oz) is enjoying her involved in theatre for most of her life.