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Beast Mode Champion

Special Thanks

Lauren Kearns, Julio Matos, Kimberly Rippy, Ginette Archinal, Jeff Clark, Jeff Stein, Rick Earl, Bryan Baker, Dr. Francesca Chubb-Confer and August Higgin-Houser, Danny Melara, Peggy and Paul Gibson, Brittany Simmons, Carver Duncan, Maddie Franke, Laura Wahl, Kelly and Trevor McGinnis, Rachel Scheinkin, Eugene O’Neill, William Finn, all those who sang for labs/demos, NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, Deborah Brevoort, Mindi Dickstein, Randall Eng, The Dramatists Guild, Deidre Goodwin, Dean Gabie Smith, Provost Aswani Volety, and President Connie Book.

Cast

JulianBraden Phillips
EddieSayo Oni
MelMcKenna Meeks
GeorgeOliver Davids
AnnouncerJaelyn Alexander
Sister Mary Manslaughter/FanKatie Brnjac
Cardinal Sin/FanBrendan Coulter
Mr. Bergman/FanJack Morrill
Director/FanKali Clougherty
Assistant/FanStephanie Zaharis
Eddie’s Mom VODeidre Goodwin
Julian U/SGianni Palmarini
Mel U/SDariana Mullen
George U/STyler Okunski
Announcer U/SKatie Brnjac
Sister Mary Manslaughter/Fan U/STaylor Mitchell
Mr. Bergman/Fan U/S and Male SwingJaron Cole
Cardinal/Fan U/SBrooks Andrew
Director/Fan U/SGiselle Watts
Assistant/Fan U/SHannah Hubbard

Creative Team

DirectorKirby Wahl
Music DirectorDan Gibson
ChoreographerDeb Leamy
Asst. DirectorLake Sims-Winfrey
Asst. Music DirectorGianni Palmarini
Asst. ChoreographerKatie Brnjac
DramaturgShelby Levine
Scenic DesignerNatalie Hart
Asst. Scenic DesignerElizabeth Brady
Paint ChargeEmily George
CostumeCoordinatorJack Smith
Sound Designer/AdvisorMike Smith
Asst. Sound DesignerCarli Shapiro
Asst. Lighting DesignerAlex Nemfakos
Props MasterNatalie Taylor Hart
OrchestratorMatt Castle
OrchestratorFrank Galgano
OrchestratorAndy Zinsmeister
IllustratorAlex Dunn
Music Editing & MixingDan Gibson
Poster DesignSydney Dye

Production Team

Stage ManagerSydney Bell
Technical DirectorJP Mullican
Asst. Stage ManagerJessica Valente
Asst. Stage ManagerHannah Elise Brown
Asst. Technical DirectorEric Kanzinger
Production ManagerBill Webb
CarpenterJordan Smith
Deck ChiefEric Kanzinger
Deck CrewHaley Robles
Costume Shop ManagerHeidi Jo Schiemer
First HandCaitlin Duncan
Lead StitcherMatthew Conkling
Videographer and EditorJ. McMerty
Asst. EditorJordan Young
Asst. EditorJD Grant
Air FootageConnor Thomas
Front-of-House SupervisorDavid J. McGraw

Musical Numbers

Monday Night……….Full Company

The Hamburger Chalet……….Mr. Bergman, Ensemble

Spandex and Styrofoam……….Julian, Ensemble

Getting What’s Mine……….Eddie, Julian, Mr. Bergman, Ensemble

Monday Murder Update I……….Announcer, Wrestlers, Mel

Golden Opportunity……….Mel, George, Mr. Bergman

Monday Murder Update II……….Announcer, Eddie, Julian, Mel

Not a Wrestler……….Julian, Wrestlers

Forty-Three Belts……….George

Monday Murder Update II……….Announcer, Julian, Eddie

Mid-Season Massacre……….Mel, Julian, Eddie, George, Announcer, Roidbucket, Ensemble

Not Yet……….George, Full Company

The ECMCC&G……….Mary, Cardinal

Tuesday Night I……….Mary, Cardinal, Eddie, Mel

Top of the Bill……….Eddie, Mary, Cardinal, Julian

Tuesday Night II……….Mel, Mary, Cardinal, Julian

Make ’em Believe……….Cardinal, Mary, Julian, Eddie, Mel

Make ’em Believe (reprise)……….Eddie, Julian

Tuesday’s Lookin’ Up……….Full Company

So Wrong……….Julian, Eddie, Mel

So Wrong (reprise)……….Julian, Mel

Monday Murder Update IV……….Announcer

The Hamburger Chalet (reprise)……….Mr. Bergman, Ensemble

Weakness……….Eddie, George

Monday Night (reprise)……….Announcer

The Last Monday……….Announcer, Mel, Julian

Last Man Standing……….Full Company

Finale……….Full Company

The Monday Night Murderfest Band:

Rehearsal Accompanist: Spankin’ Tyson Hankins 

Keys: The Ultimate-Tag-Team-Duo Matt Castle and Frank Galgano

Guitars, Mandolin, Bass: The One-Stop-Drop Andy Zinsmeister

Drums and Percussion: He’ll bang you to the floor, it’s Michael Blancaflor

Bios

Frank Galgano and Matt Castle

Dan Gibson

Alex Higgin-Houser

Deborah Leamy

J. McMerty

JP Mullican

Jaelyn Alexander

Natalie Taylor Hart

Kirby Wahl

Sydney Bell

Brooks Andrew

Brianna Boucher

Katie Brnjac

Kali Clougherty

Hannah Elise Brown

Oliver Davids

Jaron Cole

Emily George

JD Grant

Hannah Hubbard

McKenna Meeks

Dariana Mullen

Alex Nemfakos

Tyler Okunski

Braden Phillips

Sayo Oni

Haley Robles

Jack Morrill

Lake Sims-Winfrey

Carli Shapiro

Jessica Valente

Jordan Young

Giselle Watts

Frank Galgano and Matt Castle

Frank Galgano & Matt Castle are multi-faceted theater artists who now work primarily as musical arrangers and orchestrators. Recent projects include Scotland, PA (Roundabout), Found (Atlantic, Philadelphia, IAMA), Into the Woods (Roundabout/Fiasco), String (Village Theatre), Chick Flick, the Musical (off-Broadway), Once Upon a Mattress (Transport Group), A DOG STORY (off-Broadway), Disney Beauty and the Beast (Disney Cruise Line), The Elf on the Shelf and American Girl Live! (Mills Entertainment), Up and Away (Pittsburgh CLO), Kris Kringle (Town Hall, Proctors), The Donner Party and A Little Princess (Sacramento); and many new works for TheaterworksUSA, Kennedy Center, and George Street Playhouse.

Dan Gibson

Dan Gibson is a New York City-based composer and music/vocal director. Currently Assistant Professor of Performing Arts and Music Director for Elon Music Theatre. Dan is thrilled to be home at Elon for a year, where his first full-length musical, I.D., premiered in 2010. Recently a composer in Columbia University's MFA Lyric Writing Lab. In the works: Behind the Front Door with Sam Rosenblatt, Return to Flight with Alex Higgin-Houser. Music/Vocal Director: Royal Caribbean Productions, Enlightened Theatrics, and The Flat Rock Playhouse where Dan has been an actor, vocal coach, music director, or youth educator for almost 20 productions. MFA NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, BFA Elon Music Theatre, BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, AEA, BroadwayWorld-Portland Award Winner for Best Music Direction. Love and thanks to Bub!

Alex Higgin-Houser

Alex Higgin-Houser is a playwright, librettist, and theatre-maker. He is thrilled for the opportunity to develop Beast Mode Champion at Elon University. This spring, Alex's one-act opera Shadow on the Wall will receive its digital premiere with Tisch's Advanced Opera Lab, produced in association with the American Opera Project. Haymarket, his most recent world premiere musical, received the 2019 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Musical following an extended commercial run in Chicago. Adventurers!, an immersive D&D musical, recently had its first workshop production at the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. His TYA musical, 57th National Mathlete Sum-It (2016 NYMF invited production), is published by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, and has been performed across the country. Alex is a recent graduate of Tisch School of the Arts, where he completed his MFA in musical theatre writing. Alex lives in Chicago with his wife, Dr. Francesca Chubb-Confer, and their newborn son, August.

Deborah Leamy

Deb has performed on Broadway in Never Gonna Dance, Sweet Sell of Success, and was an original cast member of the Tony winning Broadway musical Fosse. Regional/National tours include: Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph...Dreamcoat, Bye, Bye Birdie, Kiss Me Kate, and A Chorus Line. Choreographer/Director for productions of Legally Blonde, Fugitive Songs, Damn Yankees, Pippin, My Way, Shrek, Roar of the Greasepaint..., and Grease as well as various cabarets, benefits/revues. In 2016 she created the west coast version of the NYC AIDS benefit BROADWAY BARES, in San Francisco, in conjunction with BC/EFA.

J. McMerty

J. McMerty Director of Elon in Los Angeles, Assistant Professor Cinema & TV Arts.

JP Mullican

JP has served as the Performing Arts Technical Director since Fall 2017. Prior to Elon, he worked as a lead craftsperson and project manager on productions such as Paw Patrol Live. Outside of Elon, he continues work as a freelance technical designer on productions such as the Frozen Australian Tour, The Beauty and the Beast in Shanghai, and The Phantom of the Opera World Tour. In his free time, JP builds custom furniture and runs an ever-increasing number of virtual Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. He couldn’t do any of this without the constant support of his amazing partner.

Jaelyn Alexander

Jaelyn is a proud member of the Elon Music Theatre Class of 2022. Some of her recent credits include: Heathers: The Musical, Beast Mode Champion, and The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin. Jaelyn thanks LINK Class 4, the Elon Music Theatre Faculty, and her family for supporting her throughout the years.

Natalie Taylor Hart

Natalie Taylor Hart is a Scenic Designer and the Associate Chair of Performing Arts at Elon University. Selected Scenic Designs: New York: Tech Support (59E59TH, Off-Broadway); Tartuffe (Queens Theatre, Off-Off-Broadway); Slave Shack (Algonquin Theatre); Associate Designer for The Wiz (The Netherlands). Regional: Life in the Fat Lane (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park); Having Our Say, Our Town {Scenic Consultant}, Fences {Finalist in World Stage Design 2017 Taipei}, White Lightning (Triad Stage). Exhibitions: USITT Design Expo, Prague Quadrennial, World Stage Design Finalist 2017, Lincoln Center Portfolio Review. MFA, Ohio University. Proud member of IATSE USA Local 829. natalietaylorhart.com

Kirby Wahl

Kirby’s directed many Elon productions, including Macbeth, Clybourne Park, and Once On This Island. Local performances include: The Mystery of Irma Vep and The Illusion, at Greensboro’s Triad Stage, and The Prisoner’s Dilemma and Jude the Obscure, at the Burning Coal Theatre in Raleigh (where he’s also served as dialect coach for numerous productions, including the 2014 London performances of The Iron Curtain Trilogy). Other acting credits include: New York City's Riverside Shakespeare Company, Arizona Theatre Company, and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. A Certified Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and Knight-Thompson Speechwork, professional memberships include Actors’ Equity Association, VASTA, and BMCA.

Sydney Bell

Sydney Bell is a senior Theatrical Design and Technology and Arts Administration major from Atlanta, Georgia. She is honored to work with so many talented artists and is overjoyed to close out her Elon career with this beautiful show. Sydney’s notable Elon credits include Beast Mode Champion (Stage Manager), We Will Rock You (Asst. Stage Manager), and Clown Bar(Asst. Stage Manager). Sydney has enjoyed working with this wonderful team and is excited to share this production with everyone! Sydney would like to thank her parents and friends for their love and support.

Brooks Andrew

Brooks is currently a Senior Music Theatre major at Elon and is looking forward to graduation and moving to NYC. His past favorite roles include Prince Topher (Cinderella, Wagon Wheel Center For The Arts), Robert Kincaid (The Bridges of Madison County, Elon University). Brooks looks forward to returning to Wagon Wheel Center For The Arts this summer to play the role of Prince Eric in Disney's The Little Mermaid. Brooks would like to extend a special thanks to his family, his Music Theatre Class of '23, and his Vizsla puppy "Rugby". Find him on Instagram @brooks_andrew

Brianna Boucher

Brianna Boucher (She/Her) is a junior pursuing a double major in Arts Administration and Theatrical Design and Technology with focuses in stage management and costumes. Recent Credits Include: Concord Floral (Stage Manager), Bye Bye Birdie (Asst. Costume Designer), Buried Deep (Asst. Costume Designer), Movin' On (Asst. Costume Designer), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Stage Manager), Bridging: The Spring Dance Concert (Stage Manager).

Katie Brnjac

Katie Brnjac is a proud member of Elon MT 21’ and is thrilled to be back on campus after working as the choreography intern on Mrs. Doubtfire last spring. Her favorite professional credits include: Sandy – Grease, Glinda U/S – The Wizard of Oz, and Hello, Dolly! at Maine State Music Theater: Violet – Alice in Wonderland at Stages St. Louis: and Annie at Variety Theater. Elon University credits include: Swing – Cabaret, Asst. Choreographer / Swing – Baby, and Sweeney Todd. Thank you to my family who continues to support this crazy dream of mine! @katie.brnjac

Kali Clougherty

Kali is a senior Music Theatre major and is excited to perform in her final Grand Night. She was previously seen in Elon's productions Into the Woods and Beast Mode Champion. She wants to thank her professors, family, and friends for their support during her 4 years at Elon.

Hannah Elise Brown

Hannah Elise Brown is a senior with majors in Arts Administration and Theatrical Design and Technology, with concentrations in stage management and lighting design and a minor in Business Administration. She is so excited to be able to be the lighting designer for both Concord Floral and Inferior Sex along with the stage manager for Clue! Some of her past credits at Elon include Movin' On (Lighting Designer) and Fall Dance Concert 2021 (Stage Manager/Lighting Designer). She would like to thank her family and friends, as she would not be able to do this without them!

Oliver Davids

Oliver Davids is a Senior BFA Music Theatre major from Orlando, Florida. Recent credits include: The Prizery; Bert in Mary Poppins, Father Alexandrios / Ensemble in Mamma Mia. Shawnee Theatre; Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. Elon University; Joe Boyd in Damn Yankees, Johnny Cantone in The 1940s Radio Hour, Nick Sakarian in Baby, Ensemble in Sweeney Todd. He would like to thank his family, friends, MT '21, the cast/crew, and the entire program for their love and support. oliverdavids.com

Jaron Cole

A senior in the Music Theatre and Arts Administration programs. Elon highlights: Spelling Bee (Director/Choreographer), Into the Woods (Mysterious Man), the President of Renegade Productions, and the Artistic Director of Elon Cares for the last two years. Jaron has worked administratively with The Muny and The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. Thank you friends and family!

Emily George

Emily is a senior Theatrical Design and Technology major and is thrilled to be working as the Scenic Charge on the mainstage Spring productions this year! All my love to the TDT department (past & present). You make this worth it. <3

JD Grant

JD is a sophomore student from Harding, NJ double majoring in Cinema & TV Arts and Economics. He loves telling stories and working with others, and so he was extremely honored and happy to edit "On the Deck of a Spanish Ship".

Hannah Hubbard

Hannah is a current senior in the Music Theatre and Arts Administration program here at Elon and she cannot wait to get back on stage, especially in a tap dance show. Hannah's been tapping since she was four years old and has been in various tap shows like Anything Goes and Crazy For You. When not tapping on stage you can find her tapping in the garage with her dad or trying to convince her mom to join in. I hope you enjoy the show!

McKenna Meeks

McKenna is a proud member of Elon MT ‘22 from Las Vegas, NV. Some of her favorite credits include We Will Rock You - Elon University (ensemble), Trojan Barbie - Elon University (chorus, assistant choreographer, dance captain), She Loves Me- Super Summer Theatre (dance captain, ensemble), Anything Goes - B.B. Production Co. (Reno), All Shook Up- B.B. Production Co. (Ms. Sandra), The King and I - B.B. Production Co. (Anna), & Into the Woods - B.B. Production Co. (Witch). She would like to thank her family and of course her wonderful cast and crew for this opportunity. @mckenna_meeks

Dariana Mullen

Dariana Mullen is a senior in the BFA Music Theatre program from Hoboken N.J. This is her final show at Elon University; favorite roles include Scaramouche in We Will Rock You at Elon last winter, and Heather Chandler in Heathers at Gatehouse Theatre Company. She owes everything to her family (mom specifically), her class, Haidee Dollak, and all of the stage managers ever. Go Sayo!

Alex Nemfakos

Alex is a Senior TDT major with a concentration in lighting and stage management. This year she is the lighting designer on Heart of Shrapnel, Sense and Sensibilities, and The Cherry Orchard. Additionally, she is one of several lighting designers on the Fall Dance Concert and an assistant lighting designer on 42nd Street.

Tyler Okunski

Tyler is a senior music theatre major from California. During March 2020, Tyler was set to play Monty in Elon’s production of Violet so he’s thrilled to have one more opportunity to perform in Roberts Studio Theater in Movin' On. Other theatrical credits include Danny Zuko in Grease and Wadsworth in Clue: On Stage. Much love to family, as always.

Braden Phillips

Braden Phillips is so elated for this opportunity! A proud member of Elon MT '21, he has appeared in Spring Awakening as Mortiz, We Will Rock You, 1940's Radio Hour, and Baby during his time at Elon. Regional houses include: The Muny, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Stages St. Louis, and more! All the love to his family, friends, and the cast and creative team for making this experience one to remember. This is for Grandpa!

Sayo Oni

Sayo Oni is a Junior at Elon University in the Musical Theatre BFA program. Some of his most recent credits are The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, Beast Mode Champion, and Songs for a New World. Sayo would like to thank his mom, dad, sisters, niece, and extended family and friends for their unlimited support. Sayo would also like to thank the creative team and cast for all of their hard work on this production. He's incredibly grateful for the opportunity to perform and be surrounded by this talented ensemble.

Haley Robles

Haley Robles is a Junior Theatrical Design/Tech and Psychology major. Haley is excited for The Inferior Sex to be her Stage Management debut at Elon University. Over the summer she gained professional experience by working as an Assistant Stage for The Lexington Theatre Company in Chicago and The Little Mermaid. At Elon, she has served as the Assistant Stage Manager for 42nd Street, Into the Woods, and The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin. Haley is incredibly grateful for her experience with this talented cast and team.

Jack Morrill

Jack is a senior BFA Acting and BA Arts Administration double major from San Diego, California. Past Elon credits include: Sense and Sensibility (Mrs. Dashwood/Anne Steele), Beast Mode Champion (Mr. Bergman/Others), and Spelling Bee (William Barfée). Jack is a Lumen Scholar exploring Queer Theory and Arts Administrative Practices. IG: @jack.morr | @queering.the.stage

Lake Sims-Winfrey

Lake is a senior Drama & Theatre Studies double major w/ Music in the Liberal Arts! She has been a part of numerous productions in the Performing Arts, such as a student director for senior thesis, Triptych, a performer in The Vagina Monologues, Once on this Island, & The Moment, and a Wardrobe Supervisor for Damn Yankees! This school year she worked as the Assistant Director for Beast Mode Champion as well as the Dramaturg for The Moment and the Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin! Lake is so grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Dramaturg for this production. It was such a collaborative and beautiful process with so many talented people!

Carli Shapiro

Carli Shapiro (they/she) is a Senior Theatrical Design and Technology Major who loves being involved in theatrical productions at every capacity. They had a blast working as a props artisan for Clue. Huge thanks to the entire cast and crew for their trust and support!

Jessica Valente

Jessica Valente is a Senior Theatrical Design and Technology major from Wyckoff, New Jersey. She is very proud that The Bridges of Madison County will be her final stage managing experience at Elon. Jessica’s past Elon credits include Fall Dance Concert '22 (Lighting Designer), Movin On (Stage Manager), Fall Dance Concert '21 (Lighting Designer), Heart of Shrapnel (Asst. Lighting Designer), Fugitive Songs (Asst. Stage Manager), Beast Mode Champion (Asst. Stage Manager) and The Wolves(Asst. Stage Manager). Jessica has enjoyed working on this production and would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support.

Jordan Young

Jordan Young is a junior Cinema and Television Arts major at Elon University. She is currently a show producer for sketch comedy show Elon Tonight and was a member of the Juliet cohort of Elondocs. Some previous projects she worked on have been the short film The Right Black, produced by an iMedia alum, her documentary on representation of HBCUs in media, and Dancing in the Landscape. Jordan is passionate about inclusion and representation in media and is incredibly grateful to be a part of this project, The Moment.

Giselle Watts

Giselle is a senior Music Theatre major and Creative Writing minor from Richmond, VA who couldn’t have been more grateful to perform, learn, and grow alongside such amazing people! As she embarks on her last Grand Night at Elon, she can’t help but thank God for bringing her here and for giving her this gift to share with you all. Giselle is also thankful for her family and friends for their constant support. Sit back and enjoy the show!