Laughter on the 23rd Floor Program Detail

COCKPIT IN COURT SUMMER THEATRE
presents

By Neil Simon

Director | John D’Amato

Set & Lighting Designer | Hayden Muller

Costume Designer | Eva Grove

Sound Designer | Terry Edwards

Properties Master | Lisa L. Boeren

Stage Manager | Emily Regan

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” is presented by special arrangement with
SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

“Swanee”, by George Gershwin and Irving Caesar used by permission of WB Music Corp. and by permission of Irving Caesar Music Cop. The worldwide copyrights in the music of George Gershwin for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin family.
“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” by Mel Torme and Robert Wells used by permission of Edwin H. Morris & Company – A Division of MPL Communications, Inc.

CAST

Setting: An office on the 23rd floor of a building on 57th Street, New York City

Act 1
March 1953

Act 2
Scene 1: Seven months later
Scene 2: Christmas Eve

There will be one fifteen-minute intermission

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Laughter on the 23^rd Floor is Neil Simon’s homage to his experiences as a staff writer on Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows”. It is a hilarious peek into the shenanigans involved in putting on a weekly variety show. It is also an insightful look into disparate characters that have a love and respect of words, laughter and each other, no matter how crazy they are towards each other. It is also a touching and nostalgic look at early television and times that still ring true today.

John D’Amato
Director

Who’s Who

JA’MIN WILLIAMS (Lucas Brickman) is a newcomer to the Cockpit in Court stage, and is excited for his first ever community theatre experience. He’s a declared theatre major, as well as a singer/songwriter, composer, and poet. Most of his acting career has been spent at CCBC Catonsville, where he has been in 5 out of the 6 shows in his time at the college. His most notable shows during his time at CCBC were A Raisin in the Sun (Joseph Asagai), Romeo and Juliet (Romeo) and Choir Boy (Bobby). Ja’min would like to thank all of his friends and family who have supported him over the years, and wishes a great show to his fellow cast mates and crew. Break legs everyone!

JOHN DIGNAM (Milt Fields) is making his second appearance at Cockpit in Court (he played Lieutenant Rooney in last year’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace directed by F. Scott Black). Other Baltimore/DC area groups he has worked with recently include Dundalk Community Theatre (Mr. Robinson in The Graduate), the Salem Players (Father Daniel Berrigan in The Trial of the Catonsville Nine; Captain Hook in Peter Pan; Willy Wonka in Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka; Tony Cavendish in The Royal Family), Memorial Players (Otto Rupf in Romulus), Laurel Mill Playhouse (Tom Houghton/Roger in Loves and Hours; Milt Fields in Laughter on the 23rd Floor; Officer O’Hara in Arsenic and Old Lace; various roles in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play), Woodbrook Players (Major Metcalf in The Mousetrap), and How Do You Like Me Now Productions (Dr. Scott in The Rocky Horror Show). John would like to thank John, Emily, and the entire cast and crew for their support.

CHRIS CAHILL (Val Slotsky) This is Chris’ third appearance at Cockpit in Court. Two seasons ago he played the role of Thomas Royde in Toward Zero, and the dual roles of Charlie Thorpe and The Dook in The Gazebo. He has performed on stages in and around Baltimore over the last 16 years. Some of his favorite roles have been Freddie in Noises Off, Merlin & Pelinore in Camelot, Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde, Sir Bedevere in Spamalot and Fagin in Oliver. Chris is honored to be working with such a fun and talented cast. His thanks to John and Emily for their guidance and professionalism. Most of all, much love to his daughter Melissa for her support over the years.

ZACK HARTLEY (Brian Doyle) This is Zach’s first production with Cockpit, and he is excited to be working with such a great team. Zach teaches Theatre as an adjunct professor here at CCBC. He has worked with theatre companies worldwide, including The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Porthouse Theatre, The Contemporary American Theatre Company, and The Virginia Arts Festival. He holds an MFA in Acting from Kent State University and a BA in Theatre from THE Ohio State University. He can be found playing video games on twitch.tv and YouTube in his spare time under the handle of Schmerkadabur. He’d like to give special thanks to his mom, Victoria, for her unwavering support, and to Sara, for all the crazy love.

ALAN BERLETT (Kenny Franks) is excited to return to Cockpit in Court for his first season in 5 years; having last appeared in Cockpit’s 2013 production of Gypsy. He has also previously been seen in Cockpit’s productions of Angel Street, Murder on The Nile, and Charlie’s Aunt as well as Spotlighters production of The Prevalence of Mrs. Seal and DCT’s production of The Little Foxes. He’d like to thank his wife Amy for always being there to support him.

JENNIFER SKARZINSKI (Carol Wyman) is thrilled to be a part of this hilarious cast and many thanks to John for this opportunity. Some favorite roles include Felicia in I Hate Hamlet at Dundalk Community Theater, Mrs. Soames in Our Town and Kristine in A Doll’s House both at Vagabond Theater, Barbara in Social Security and Evalita in Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will? at Cockpit in Court, Sandrine/Marci in Almost, Maine at Ruxton Players, Tina/Erica in Game Show at Spotlighters, Queen Marie-Therese in Las Meninas and Evelyn in The Shape of Things both at CCBC Academic Theater. Away from the stage Jennifer is the Coordinator of Academic Support at CCBC Essex. Much love to her family and friends for their support, and especially to Eve and Nick.

THOMAS “TOBY” HESSENAUER (Max Prince) is happy to return to the Cockpit stage for a show in which nobody dies, particularly him. He has previously been seen here in An Evening of Murder ( in which he was killed twice) and Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero (when he got to portray the Scotland Yard detective and survive). This is also his 88th production in the Baltimore/Annapolis area. A graduate of the University of Rochester, he has studied under members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Recently, he has been seen at Dundalk Community Theater in The Graduate, as John Barrymore in I Hate Hamlet and multiple characters in The 39 Steps. Previous roles also include, Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet, Uncle Max in The Sound of Music, Tony Wendice in Dial M for Murder, and Max Bialystock in The Producers. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) he can be seen in the award winning HBO film Something the Lord Made, HBO’s series The Wire, and the Renee Zellweger film My One and Only. He may also be seen briefly in the most recent season of House of Cards.

JESSI ZAWADOWICZ (Helen) is delighted to be part of her first production since moving back to Maryland after graduating from Baldwin Wallace University in Cleveland, Ohio, where she earned her degree in Theater and Film. Past roles include Dark of the Moon (Greeny Gorman, Fair Witch u/s), Shrek: The Musical (Princess Fiona), Henry IV: Part One (Bardolph), Texting…in an Airport (Doris), Chekovâ’s The Bear (Papova).

TIRRELL BETHEL (Ira Stone) returns to CCBC after last season’s production of The Mojo and the Sayso playing as Pastor. This is his 4^th year at CCBC and his first time doing Cockpit! Tirrell is currently a double major in both Theatre and Digital Media. Playing as Ira, Tirrell is ecstatic about being in an energized hypochondriac for the first time. He plans on transferring to Towson or UMBC and has high hopes of being in movies (we can pray on that) as well as making his own movies and just anything theatre based. Tirrell would like to give a special thanks to his family who all have supported him and his girlfriend. As well as, to the cast and crew and anyone else who helped for being awesome and hardworking individuals. “I’m honestly super grateful to work with such talented beautiful people inside and out.”

JOHN D’AMATO (Director) is directing his first show at Cockpit at the Cockpit in Court Summer Theater and he thanks the Board of Directors for this wonderful opportunity. This has been an outstanding experience for John working with this outstanding cast who are not only talented but a joy to be with throughout the production timeframe. Special thanks to a wonderful stage manager, Emily, and for all of the production staff who make Cockpit in the Court the class act it is. John has been in almost 30 productions for Maryland theaters as director or actor in the last 13 years and this production will stand out as one of the most enjoyable experiences in his theatrical career.

EMILY REGAN (Stage Manager) has just joined the CCBC theatre scene and is loving every second! Emily graduated a year ago from Salisbury University with her BA in technical theatre with a focus on stage management and a minor in art. Emily has been apart of many shows at Salisbury including (but not limited to) The Laramie project, The Brothers Menaechmus, Ling Lear and Tally’s Folly but this is her first show outside of school. Emily would like to thank CCBC, James Hunnicutt and Lisa Boeren for giving her this incredible opportunity as well as John D’Amato and the entire cast of Laughter in the 23rd Floor for being the best group of people she’s ever worked with. Emily also thanks her entire family for being the best support group in the world.

HAYDEN MULLER (Set/Lighting Designer/Technical Director) is over the moon to be working at Cockpit in Court for the 3rd year as Technical Director of the Carbret. Hayden also is the Technical Director for Art scentric and Green globe theatre. His design work includes set and light designer for Green Globe theatre’s “2 Rooms” and ” She Kills Monsters”. He also designed Cockpits Carbret performance of “Forever Plaid”. Hayden hopes to continue stunning the theatre world with his “unique” stlye of Art.

EVA GROVE (Costume Designer) began her theatrical career at the age of six: singing and dancing her way across America in local shows, regional productions, and national tours such as Hello Dolly!, Shenandoah, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Singin’ In The Rain, and A Chorus Line. Locally, you may have seen her in Anything Goes, Don’t Drink The Water, Bridges of Madison County, and The Graduate. She has always had a love of design and sewing, and broke into the “role” of Costumer several years ago. Since then, Eva has costumed Don’t Drink The Water, The Gazebo, and Towards Zero for Cockpit-in-Court, and I Hate Hamlet, Bridges of Madison County, The Graduate, and Catch Me If You Can at Dundalk Community Theater. Eva is an Activity Assistant for BrightView Assisted Living, and works part-time in the CCBC Box Office.

TERRY EDWARDS (Sound Designer) is happy to be back this summer at Cockpit in Court to run sound for Avenue Q. In the past, Terry has had the pleasure of working shows like, Wedding Singer, Curtains, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hairspray, Me and my Girl, and Legally Blonde to name a few. When not behind an audio board, Terry works at MGM National Harbor as a Conservatory Tech working on lights and sound for the Atrium. Terry plans on working audio in The Theatre at MGM in the future.

PRODUCTION STAFF

Director | John D’ Amato
Scenic/Lighting Designer/Technical Director | Hayden Muller
Sound Designer | Terry Edwards
Light/Sound Board Operator | Everett Simkins
Costume Designer | Eva Grove
Stage Manager | Emily Regan
Stage Crew | Everett Simkins
Shop Foreman | Michael Rasinski
Paint Charge | Jess Rassp
Set Construction | Emmanuelle Saintic, Jim Egan
Tate Erickson, Hayden Muller, Everett Simkins
Becky St. Lawrence, David Sunderland, Delvonta Wilson
Master Electrician | Thomas Gardner
Properties Master | Lisa L. Boeren
Production Photographer | Tom Lauer
Production Liaisons | Patty DeLisle, Ray Lawson

COCKPIT IN COURT 2018 STAFF

COCKPIT IN COURT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kacey Conn | President
James Shirk | Vice-President
William Pheil | Recording Secretary
Louise Higgins | Corresponding Secretary

Special Thanks

Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis, President, CCBC
Dr. Mark McColloch, Vice President of Instruction
Dr. William Watson, Dean of Liberal Arts
Patti Crossman, Chair, Performing Arts and Humanities
Dr. Anne Lefter, Director, Performing Arts
Terri Charles, Media Relations Coordinator
Michael Elspas, Assistant Director, Creative Services
Jackie McTear, Graphic Designer
The CCBC Essex Foundation for the donation of Wine

Cockpit In Court would like to acknowledge the support of Towson University.
On the web at Towson.edu

This production is supported in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
On the web at msac.org

THEATRE PATRONS ASSOCIATION

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CATEGORIES

Kings and Queens | $200 and above
Lula May & John Gray
Dave Guy

Royal Family | $100 – $199
Patricia Brace | David & Chris Coarts
A Friend of Cockpit in Court | Tom & Sophia Montgomery
Sallie Wolfe & Adam Stenger