Nice Work If You Can Get It Program Detail

COCKPIT IN COURT SUMMER THEATRE
presents

Music and Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin
Book by Joe DiPietro
Inspired by Material by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse

The worldwide copyright in the music of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin Family.

Originally produced on Broadway by Scott Landis, Roger Berlind, Sonia Friedman Productions,
Roy Furman, Standing CO Vation, Candy Spelling, Freddy DeMann, Ronald Frankel, Harold Newman, Jon B. Platt, Raise the Roof 8, Takonkiet Viravan, William Berlind/Ed Burke, Carole L.Haber/Susan Carusi, Buddy and Barbara Freitag/Sanford Robertson, Jim Herbert/Under the Wire, Emanuel Azenberg and The Shubert Organization”

Director | Eric J. Potter

Choreographer | Ilona Kessell

Music Director | Gerald Smith

Orchestra Manager/Conductor | Tim Viets

Technical Director | Jason Randolph

Set Desginer | Michael Rasinski

Lighting Designer | Helen Garcia-Alton

Costume Designer | Tracy Bird, Stage Garb, Inc.

Sound Designers | Dominic Notaro, Joseph Warner

Properties Master | Cindy Ruth

Stage Manager | Margie Lake

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
is presented by arrangement with Tams-Witmark, A Concord Theatricals Company
www.tamswitmark.com

CAST

*Dance Captains

SETTING: Long Island, New York

TIME: July, 1927

SCENE BREAKDOWN
MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE

Act I, Scene 1 – A Speakeasy in New York City
Sweet and Lowdown | Jimmy, Jeannie, Chorus Girls & Guys

Act I, Scene 2 – The Docks Outside the Speakeasy
Nice Work If You Can Get It | Jimmy
Nice Work If You Can Get It (Reprise) | Billie
Demon Rum | Duchess, Chief Berry, Senator Evergreen & Vice Squad

Act I, Scene 3 – The Ritzy Front Lawn of Jimmy’s Beach House
Someone To Watch Over Me | Billie

Act I, Scene 4 – A Ritzy Bathroom
Delishious | Eileen & The Dancers

Act I, Scene 5 – The Ritzy Living Room
I’ve Got To Be There | Jimmy, Jeannie & The Chorus Girls
I’ve Got To Be There (Reprise) | Jeannie & The Chorus Girls

Act I, Scene 6 – Jimmy’s Ritzy Bedroom
Treat Me Rough | Billie
Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off | Jimmy, Billie, Chief Berry

Act I, Scene 7 – The Ritzy Front Lawn of Jimmy’s Beach House
Do It Again | Jeannie & Duke

Act I, Scene 8 – The Ritzy Living Room
‘S Wonderful | Jimmy & Billie
Fascinating Rhythm | Jimmy, Cookie, Vice Squad & Chorus Girls

ACT TWO

Act II, Scene 1 – The Ritzy Veranda
Lady Be Good | Vice Squad & Chorus Girls
But Not For Me | Billie
By Strauss | Duchess
Sweet And Low Down (Reprise) | Duchess & Cookie

Act II, Scene 3 – Jimmy’s Ritzy Bedroom
Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off (Reprise) | Billie & Jimmy
Will You Remember Me? | Billie & Jimmy

Act II, Scene 4 -The Ritzy Living Room
We’ve Got To Be There (Reprise) | Chorus Girls & Vice Squad
I’ve Got A Crush On You | Eileen & Ensemble
Blah, Blah, Blah (Reprise) | Jeannie & Duke
Looking For A Boy (Reprise) | Cookie & Duchess
Delishious (Reprise) | Chief Berry & Eileen

Act II, Scene 5 – The Boathouse
Someone To Watch Over Me (Reprise) | Jimmy & Billie

Act II, Scene 6 – The Ritzy Veranda that Evening
Bows | The Company

There will be one fifteen-minute intermission

“* “Do It Again,” music by George Gershwin,
lyrics by Buddy DeSylva

GERSHWIN INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITIONS
Excerpts from Rialto Ripples (1916), Novelette in Fourths (ca. 1919), Rhapsody in Blue (1924), Impromptu in Two Keys (ca. 1924), Prelude I (1926), Prelude II: Blue Lullaby (1926) Prelude III: Spanish Prelude (1926), The Three Note Waltz (ca. 1926), Prelude: Sleepless Night (ca. 1926), Concerto in F (1927), Second Rhapsody (1932), Cuban Overture (1933), Promenade (Walking the Dog) (1937)”

ORCHESTRA

WHO’S WHO

J. BRADLEY BOWERS (Jimmy Winter) is thrilled to be making his return to the Cockpit in Court mainstage after last appearing as Theo in Pippin during the 2004 summer season. In the meantime he’s appeared in both regional and local productions including: Melchior in Spring Awakening (JHU Barnstormers), Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Children’s Playhouse of Maryland), and Sångtenoren in Singin’ in the Rain (Underhållningspatrullen) among many others. He would like to thank the cast, crew and production team for making his transition back to Baltimore theater so lovely after an extended hiatus, and his friends and family for their endless support and encouragement.

LIZZY PEASE (Billie Bendix) is excited to be in her first show with Cockpit in Court! She is honored to be among such a fantastic cast and group of artists working hard behind the scenes. She is a rising junior Musical Theatre BFA major at Emerson College, and is glad she got to put her training to work here this summer. This show is dedicated to her grandfather; always missed and always remembered.

PATRICK MARTYN (Cookie McGee) is happy to be appearing in his third Cockpit production having previously been seen in Vanya, Sonya, Masha and Spike and Me and My Girl. He has been actively involved in the Baltimore theater scene as an actor and director for over 30 years (gulp). Among the prior productions in which he has appeared are The Drowsy Chaperone, Titanic and The 39 Steps (DCT); The House of Blue Leaves, Art and Gross Indecency (FPCT), Rumors, Light Up the Sky and Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Vagabond Players); Assassins (Stillpointe); Chicago and The Heidi Chronicles (Theater Hopkins); Angels in America, Love! Valour! Compassion! and The Food Chain (Axis Theater).

GARY DIETER (Duke Mahoney) is happy to be returning to the stage he grew up on. His first show on the Cockpit stage was BARNUM in which he portrayed General Tom Thumb. Other Cockpit roles through the years include Bobby in Crazy for You, Patsy in Spamalot, Dick in Dames at Sea, Barnaby in Hello Dolly and Wilber in Hairspray. Other favorite roles include the Old Man in A Christmas Story, Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Donkey in SHREK, Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Leo in The Producers, George in George M!, Leaf in Spelling Bee, Huck in Big River. Gary has received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Towson University for his contributions to Dance Education in the community and has received a Helen Hayes Nomination for his portrayal of Sparky in Toby’s production of Forever Plaid. Gary has served on the faculty at Peabody, Carver Center for Arts and Technology, and his own studio, GD Studio for the Performing Arts. “Baltimore’s Tap Dance Kid” is currently teaching advanced tap classes at Upper Falls Dance Academy and conducts advanced master classes throughout the states. When he’s not tapping here on the ground, Gary is light as air on a Southwest 737! Gary is so glad to be working with Ilona Kessell – his longtime dance partner and friend.

LYNN TALLMAN (Eileen Evergreen) is happy to be returning to Cockpit in Court after ten years away. Local credits include Side Show at DCT, Cabaret at Spotlighters, and Murder on the Nile at Cockpit in Court. Professionally Mrs. Tallman has performed with Doc Scantlin and the Imperial Palms Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Michigan Opera Theatre. Mrs. Tallman has a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Bachelor of Music from West Virginia University. Away from the stage Mrs. Tallman is a Registered Nurse at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

JOHN AMATO (Max Evergreen) is known to Cockpit audiences for his roles as Max in Sunset Boulevard, Oscar in Curtains, Dickinson in 1776, the Narrator in Into the Woods, Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, Peron in Evita, and Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof, among others. For DCT he has directed Chess, Cinderella, Other People’s Money, Rumors, Sleuth, A Christmas Carol, Chapter Two and The King & I. John is a litigation partner at Goodman, Meagher & Enoch, LLP.

JANE E. BROWN (Estonia Dulworth) is delighted to return to Cockpit in Court. Cockpit audiences may remember her as Milly in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, and Marietta in Naughty Marietta. Jane also had the extreme pleasure of representing Cockpit in a production of The Fantasticks as Luisa at The International Theatre Conferences in China and Japan. Locally favorite roles include Amalia in She Loves Me, Cunegunde in Candide, Rosabud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Lily in Secret Garden, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Eliza in My Fair Lady. Jane is thankful to her family and friends for their support as she returns to the stage.

CASEY LANE (Jeannie Dulworth) was last seen performing onstage as Woman II in A Year With Frog and Toad and Venus De Milo in Side Show with Dundalk Community Theatre. Casey attended Towson University for her Bachelors of Science in Music and Masters in Teaching: Elementary Education. Away from the stage, Casey is enjoying her fifth year as an elementary school teacher for Baltimore County Public Schools.

TOBY HESSENAUER (Chief Berry) returns to Cockpit for his fourth show having previously appeared here in Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Towards Zero and An Evening of Murder. 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 I Hate Hamlet, The Graduate, and The 39 Steps. Previous roles include: Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet, Uncle Max in The Sound of Music, 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 Zellwegger film My One and Only. He may also be seen briefly episodes of Veep and House of Cards.

JOAN CROOKS (Millicent Winter) is always happy to return to Cockpit in the summer!!! She wants to thank Eric and Margie and all cast and crew for a wonderful experience. Some of her previous roles here have been in Arsenic and Old Lace, Steel Magnolias, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Laura, Daddy’s Dyin, Whose Got the Will and Over the River and Through the Woods. Some other favorite roles include Mrs. Fezziwig and Laundress in Totem Pole’s A Christmas Carol, Vernadette in Dixie Swim Club, Ethel in On Golden Pond and Eleanor in The Lion in Winter. As always, she thanks you for supporting live theater!

MARY MARGARET MCCLURG (Bartender/Wedding Guest/Ensemble) is excited to be appearing in her first Cockpit production! MM has been involved in church music throughout her life, but has enjoyed her share of dinner and community theatre as well. Her favorite roles include Mrs. Potts Beauty and the Beast, the Widow Paroo Music Man, Robin Godspell and Mother Bernside Mame. MM has particularly enjoyed her ensemble parts in Camelot, Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, Little Mermaid, Shrek and Les Miserables. She’s happy to be sharing the stage with such a great cast of old and new friends!

OLIVIA AUBELE (Olive/Ensemble/Dancer) is thrilled to be a part of this production of Nice Work if You Can Get It! No stranger to local audiences, she has also performed locally for CPM, DCT, The Vagabonds and her high school, Notre Dame Prep. She would like to thank everyone who helped put this wonderful production together!

ANGELA BOEREN (Dottie/Ensemble/Dancer/Dance Captain) is thrilled to be stepping back on to the mainstage with Cockpit in Court. In her “younger years” she was seen as a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, a princess of Siam in The King and I, and a newsboy in Gypsy. No stranger to the stage, Angela has been performing since she was 3! Her favorite performances include Tarzan, Shrek, Mary Poppins and Pippin with her high school, as well as The Addams Family, West Side Story and Thoroughly Modern Millie with The Children’s Playhouse of MD. She was last seen dancing in the ensemble of Mamma Mia! with Dundalk Community Theatre. Angela is a recent graduate of The John Carroll School and in the fall will be attending Shippensburg University majoring Social Work, while also twirling baton with the Red Raiders Marching Band.

SARAH JONES (Alice/Ensemble/Dancer) is elated to be returning to the Cockpit stage for her third summer! She recently completed her first year of undergrad in New York City and is excited to be dancing in this Gershwin treasure. Some of her past favorite credits include Bobbie Aanstad (Eastland: the Musical), Mona Then (Come Back… Jimmy Dean), Holly (The Wedding Singer), and Tilly Evans (She Kills Monsters). Many thanks to the entire Nice Work… team and all of her favorite people who support her day after day in all that she does!

EMILY MACHOVEC (Midge/Ensemble/Dancer) is excited to return to Cockpit in Court after performing in Thoroughly Modern Millie as Rita/Ensemble. Recently, Emily performed in PhoenixFestival Theatre’s Urinetown as Cladwell’s Secretary/Dance Ensemble, Addams Family as the Indian Ancestor, and Anything Goes as Hope Harcourt. She also recently performed in Tidewater Players’ Winter Wonderettes as Betty Jean and Silhouette Stages’ Big Fish as Girl in the Water. Away from the stage, Emily is a family law and estate planning attorney. She would like to thank her family, friends, and especially John, for all their love and support.

RACHEL VERHAAREN (Flo/Ensemble/Dancer) returns to Cockpit in Court for the second time this season after performing in Disaster! earlier in the summer. You may have also seen her at Cockpit in Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2015. In 2018 Rachel played Frenchie in Cabaret at Vagabond Players and was part of the Female Ensemble in Catch Me If You Can at Dundalk Community Theatre. Rachel looks forward to spending the rest of the summer with her husband, Alex, after a wild few months of wedding plans, work trips, and rehearsals.

J. PURNELL HARGROVE (Elliott/Ensemble/Dancer/Dance Captain) returns to Cockpit in Court after playing Seaweed in their production of Hairspray many moons ago. In that time J has honed his craft by traveling to various locales to perform. He was last seen as Roger De Bris in Third Wall Productions’ The Producers and as a Tribe Member in Guerilla Theatre Front’s production of Hair. Recently, he joined Third Wall Productions as their new Communications Manager. Past credits include, but are not limited to; Donkey in Shrek The Musical, Ren McCormack in Footloose, Lumière in Beauty and the Beast, Bobby Child in Crazy for You, Eddie Ryan in Funny Girl. Carpe Noctem…

RYAN HOLMES (Fletcher/Ensemble/Dancer) is delighted to return to Cockpit in Court this summer. This is Ryan’s third performance in his theatrical career. The last two productions Ryan was a part of were A Year with Frog & Toad at Dundalk Community Theatre and Disaster! which just ended here at Cockpit in Court.

CONNOR KISS (Edgar/Ensemble/Dancer) is delighted to be in his second production at Cockpit! Other theater productions include Tarzan at The John Carroll School, Hairspray at CPM, Chess at Tidewater Players, The Addams Family at PFT, Mamma Mia at DCT, and most recently Disaster at Cockpit! Connor would like to thank the cast and production team for such a fun experience!

JOSH SCHOFF (Vic/Ensemble/Dancer) ) is excited to be back at Cockpit in Court! Recent credits: The Full Monty (Malcolm), Frog and Toad (Snail/Ensemble), Company (Peter), Heathers (Kurt Kelly), Side Show (Buddy Foster), Avenue Q (Princeton). BA Theatre, York College of PA. Huge thanks to the cast and production team for another fun show. Facebook/IG: @officialjoshschoff

SHANE LOWRY (Flotd/Ensemble/Dancer) is thrilled to be back on the Cockpit stage! You might have seen him earlier this summer season as Chad in Disaster! or as Sky in DCT’s Mamma Mia. Other stage credits include: Tulsa (Gypsy), Link Larkin (Hairspray) Moritz (Spring Awakening), Danny (Grease), Prince/Wolf (Into the Woods), Sonny (Xanadu), and Matt (The Fantasticks). Shane would like to thank Mom, Dad, Emily, Megan, Lizzie, and Connor for your love, support and friendship! Enjoy the show!!!

ERIC J. POTTER (Director) Is excited to return to Cockpit in Court this summer after a long break. He directed Sunset Boulevard back in 2012. No stranger to the Baltimore theater community, some of his directorial credits include Always Patsy Cline and Winter Wonderland at Dundalk Community Theater, Somethings Afoot, Company, Next to Normal, Sweeney Todd, Man of La Mancha and Godspell at Vagabond Players, Will Rogers Follies, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Blood Brothers for Cockpit in Court to name a few. He is thrilled to be working with such a talented cast, crew, production staff and orchestra. It’s Nice Work and I got It!!!

ILONA KESSELL (Choreographer) is delighted to return to Cockpit’s Summer Theatre where she had some of her first opportunities to work as a choreographer (Thank you, Eric Potter). Since then, her choreography and musical staging have been featured on the stages of: Constellation Theatre, Imagination Stage, the Kennedy Center, Olney Theatre Center, Rep Stage, Round House, Toby’s and Totem Pole Playhouse, as well as in national tours produced by the Kennedy Center and Troika Productions. She has received multiple nominations for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Choreography, winning the award for Ragtime–the Musical and Damn Yankees. She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

GERALD SMITH (Musical Director) is currently a member of the music faculty at Notre Dame Preparatory School and has taught Music in the public and private school systems for the past 59 years. As a musical director he has worked on well over 200 productions in the Baltimore area with musical theatre as well as opera. His choirs have won many national and international competitions including in 2001 being chosen as the top choir in North America at The North American Music Festival. Jerry is a bicycling enthusiast and while you are reading this, he is biking 50 miles a day in the Netherlands as part of an Amsterdam Bicycling Tour.

TIM VIETS (Orchestra Manager/Conductor) is excited to be making his return to Cockpit in Court. He has conducted many shows in the area including Gypsy, La Cage aux Folles, Chess, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Full Monty, and Jekyll & Hyde. Tim earned his Bachelors and Master’s degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and has been a band director in the Howard County Public School System for 28 years.

JASON RANDOLPH (Technical Director)

MICHAEL RASINSKI (Set Designer)

HELEN GARCIA-ALTON (Lightin Designer) is happy to be back in Maryland working with Cockpit once more! Previous productions with Cockpit include Godspell, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. When not in Maryland, Helen is a second year graduate candidate in lighting design at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. ( helengarcia-alton.com)

TRACY BIRD, STAGE GARB, INC. (Costume Designer) is delighted to be back at Cockpit! Some of her other costumes have recently appeared at Dundalk Community Theatre ( Mamma Mia!), McDonogh School ( Shrek the Musical), Bryn Mawr School ( Mamma Mia!), Hereford High School ( Mamma Mia!). Nice Work If You Can Get It is one of her favorite musicals, and she thanks Eric for inviting her to be a part of his creative team. She also thanks Hannah for joining her on this project. Hope you enjoy her 1926 creations and are entertained by a super-talented cast performing a wonderful show.

DOMINIC NOTARO & JOSEPH WARNER (Sound Designers/Operators) began Six Eight Sound Design after meeting in the audio production program here at CCBC. They are very excited to be working on the musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, providing a clear and immersive sound for the audience to enjoy.

HANNAH BRILL (Costume/Wig Assistant) is a Design and Production and Metalsmithing major at Towson University. Recent work includes Cockpit in Court’s Little Mermaid as wig stylist, and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s Alice in Wonderland as wardrobe supervisor.

CINDY RUTH (Properties Manager) usually found in the audience taking pictures and enjoying shows from a distance, is thrilled to be taking her first shot at working behind the scenes here at Cockpit. Her previous local theatre credits include Assistant Stage Manager, Spot Operator, Tech Crew, Photographer, and Videographer. She currently works on campus as a member of the CCBC IT team and with Children’s Playhouse of MD as Resident Photographer, Webmaster and Board Member. She would like to thank Eric and Margie for this opportunity, her family for all their love and support and James J. Ruth, as it was his love of performing that got her involved with community theatre.

MARGIE LAKE (Stage Manager) is delighted to return to Cockpit in Court with this incredibly talented cast and creative team. Prior stage management credits include Man of La Mancha, Sweeney Todd, Godspell Company and Something’s Afoot at The Vagabond Players and The Wizard of Oz, Curtains, Sunset Boulevard and Peter Pan at Cockpit in Court. During the day Margie serves as Treasurer and Business Manager for the award winning Children’s Playhouse of Maryland,Inc. (CPM) in residence here at CCBC, Essex. She hopes you enjoy the show!

PRODUCTION STAFF

Director | Eric J. Potter
Choreographer | Ilona Kessell
Dance Captains | Angela Boeren, J. Purnell Hargrove
Music Director | Gerald Smith
Orchestra Manager/Conductor | Tim Viets
Stage Manager | Margie Lake
Technical Director | Jason Randolph
Costume Designer | Tracy Bird, Stage Garb, Inc.
Costume/Wig Assistant | Hannah Brill
Set Designer | Michael Rasinski
Lighting Designer | Helen Garcia-Alton
Sound Designer/Operator | Dominic Notaro, Joseph Warner
Shop Foreman | Michael Rasinski
Paint Charge | Jess Rassp
Master Carpenter | Allison Bloechl
Carpenters | Jim Egan, Becky St. Lawrence, Delvonta Wilson
Master Electrician | Thomas Gardner
Deck Manager | Amy Bell
Stage Run Crew | Erica Bobo, Gordon Lord, Becky St. Lawrence
Jaime Morgereth, Vanessa Vincent, Delvonta Wilson
Light Board Operator | Megan Millane
Follow Spot Operators | Andrew Boeren, Adrienne Edwards
Properties Master | Cindy Ruth
Production Photographer | Trent Haines-Hopper, thsquaredphotos.com
Production Liaisons | John Chrzanowski, H. Ray Lawson

COCKPIT IN COURT 2019 STAFF

COCKPIT IN COURT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James Shirk | President
John Chrzanowski | Vice-President
William Pheil | Recording Secretary
Louise Higgins | Corresponding Secretary

Special Thanks

Dr. Sandra L. Kurtinitis, President, CCBC
Mr. Jack McLaughlin, Interim Vice President of Instruction
Dr. William Watson, Dean of Liberal Arts
Patti Crossman, Chair, Performing Arts and Humanities
Dr. Anne Lefter, Director, Performing Arts
Michael Elspas, Assistant Director, Creative Services
Doug Heinle, Graphic Designer
The CCBC Essex Foundation for the donation of Wine
Eva Grove, Fan Maker Extraordinaire
Tom Colonna, Artistic Managing Director, Dundalk Community Theatre
James Fasching, CCBC Costumer

THEATRE PATRONS ASSOCIATION

Be an Angel! – Your gift to Cockpit in Court helps us keep quality theatre alive in our community. Ticket Sales cover only a portion of the cost of the season, so even a small gift can make a big difference. Become a TPA member, and help keep the magic alive!

CATEGORIES

Kings and Queens | $200 and above
Tim & Carol Evans
Lula May & John Gray
David C. Guy

Royal Family | $100 – $199
David & Chris Coarts
David & Susan Ladenheim
Tom & Sophia Montgomery
Herbert Stiff

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