
Director’s Note
Grand Night is one of Elon Music Theatre’s most treasured traditions. It creates an energy so palpable that many of our current students have cited this memorable performance as the reason they selected Elon as prospective students. Part of the magic of Grand Night is the student-driven nature of this endeavor – students spend the winter and spring conceptualizing, directing, choreographing, arranging, and music directing classic and re-imagined works from the music theatre cannon.
In 2023, still just a few years out of lockdown, we continue to hold many dualities at once. We ground ourselves in tradition while moving towards change. We celebrate community while acknowledging the challenge and promise of the convergence of diverse viewpoints. We question and grow in our own practices of service, artistry, and leadership.
Grand Night is an evolving tradition to uphold, a learning experience for all involved, and a celebration of community and the creative talents of Elon Music Theatre. Thank you so much for joining us this evening and we hope you enjoy Grand Night!
Courtney Liu & Chris Rayis
Special Thanks
Brian Kremer, Jack Morrill, Kimberly Rippy, Michael Smith, Bill Webb
Song Credits
“Biggest Blame Fool” from Seussical
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Flaherty/Lynn Ahrens
Direction/Music Direction: Sujaya Sunkara
Choreography: Renell Taylor
“Gee Officer Krupke” from West Side Story
Music and Lyrics: Leonard Berstein/Stephen Sondheim
Direction/Choreography: Faythe Kelly
Music Direction: Kaylee Hayden
“Up the Ladder to the Roof” from Everyday Rapture
Music and Lyrics: Frank Wilson/Vincent DiMirco
Direction: Bryant Howard
Music Direction: Sitare Sadeghi
Choreography: Jaron Cole
“Wild Wild Party” from The Wild Party
Music and Lyrics: Andrew Lippa
Direction: Sammy Azua
Music Direction: Gabe Tobierre & Hashini Amarasinghe
Choreography: Gabriella Scarpace & Anya Jones
“I Got You” from Bring It On! The Musical
Music and Lyrics: Tom Kitt & Lin-Manuel Miranda/Amanda Green & Lin-Manuel Miranda
Direction/Chroeography: Renell Taylor
Music Direction: Zion Middleton
“School Song” from Matilda the Musical
Music and Lyrics: Tim Minchin
Direction: Sara LiBrandi and Elsa Keefe
Music Direction: Tristan Altobelli & Kyra Britt
Choreography: Zeth Dixon & Jaid Green
“Soft Place to Land” from Waitress
Music and Lyrics: Sara Bareilles
Direction: Kelly Belarmino
Music Direction: Sujaya Sunkara
“Closer Than Ever Medley” from Closer Than Ever
Music and Lyrics: David Shire/Richard Maltby Jr.
Direction: Mia McManamy
Music Direction: Charlie Castro, Summer Severin, & Collin Flanagan
Choreography: Gabriel Logan & Erik Houck
“Dreaming of You/I Could Fall in Love”
Originally Recorded By: Selena
Music and Lyrics: Franne Golde, Tom Snow, & Keith Thomas
Direction: Campy Rodriguez
Arrangement/Music Direction: Charlie Castro
Choreography/Staging: Derick Donato
“Anything Goes” from Anything Goes
Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter
Direction/Choreography: Renell Taylor
Music Direction: Gabe Tobierre
“Tango de Roxanne” from Moulin Rouge
Music and Lyrics: Ewan McGregor & Jose Feliciano & Jacek Koman
Direction: Sara LiBrandi
Arrangement/Music Direction: Mallorie Sievert
Choreography: Jaid Green & Collin Flanagan
“C’mon Everybody” from All Shook Up
Originally Recorded By: Elvis Presley
Music and Lyrics: Joy Byers
Direction/Choreography: Ella Huestis
Music Direction: Charlie Castro
“I Gotcha” from Fosse
Originally written for the television special Liza with a Z
Music and Lyrics: Joseph Arrington, Jr.
Direction/Choreography: Summer Severin
“Still Hurting” from The Last Five Years
Music and Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown
Direction: Giselle Watts
Arrangement/Music Direction: Kaylee Hayden
“Color Purple Reprise” from The Color Purple
Music and Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray
Direction: Zion Middleton & Giselle Amarisa Watts
Music Direction: Candace Rhodes
“I Will Turn to You”
Music by Dan Gibson Lyrics by Christopher Staskel
Grand Night Team
Faculty Co-Directors: Courtney Liu and Chris Rayis
Student Assistant Director: Zion Middleton
Piano: Tyson Hankins
Drums: Christina Lowder
Sound Board Operator: Chris Rayis
Light Board Operator: Courtney Liu
Seniors
Brooks Andrew |
Kelly Belarmino |
Jaron Cole |
Abby Harnum |
Kaylee Hayden |
Bryant Howard |
Faythe Kelly |
Hannah Kevitt |
Jacqueline Mate |
Nathan Meyer |
Zion Middleton |
Taylor Mitchell |
Candace Rhodes |
Jakov Schwartzberg |
Sujaya Sunkara |
Renell Taylor |
Giselle Watts |
Juniors
Tristan Altobelli |
Jacob Atkins |
Caroline Borio |
Kyra Britt |
Micah Day |
Zeth Dixon |
Camille Fundingsland |
Jaid Green |
Anne Sophie Hill |
Elsa Keefe |
Sara LiBrandi |
Charlie Pelletier |
Mallorie Sievert |
Sophomores
Aubee Billie |
Charlie Castro |
Derick Donato |
Collin Flanagan |
Erik Houck |
Ella Huestis |
Marina Jansen |
Gabriel Logan |
Mia McManamy |
Sitare Sadeghi |
Ellie Schwartz |
Summer Severin |
Emily Stober |
Tara Venkataraman |
First Years
Hashini Amarasinghe |
Sammy Azua |
Andrew France |
Maddie Hewgley |
Malia Horst |
Anya Jones |
Nate Krohmer |
Angelina Mancuso |
Helena Padial |
Campy Rodriguez |
Gabriella Scarpace |
Gabe Tobierre |
Company

Tyson Hankins

Courtney Liu

Chris Rayis

Faythe Kelly

Tristan Altobelli

Brooks Andrew

Jacob Atkins

Caroline Borio

Kelly Belarmino

Charlie Castro

Jaron Cole

Kyra Britt

Micah Day

Zeth Dixon

Derick Donato

Collin Flanagan

Camille Fundingsland

Abigayle Harnum

Jaid Green

Kaylee Hayden

Erik Houck

Anne-Sophie Hill

Bryant Howard

Marina Jansen

Hannah Kevitt

Elsa Oates Keefe

Ella Huestis

Sara LiBrandi

Jacqueline Mate

MK McDonald

Mia McManamy

Sayo Oni

Zion Middleton

Candace Rhodes

Sitare Sadeghi

Ellie Schwartz

Charlie Pelletier

Summer Severin

Mallorie Sievert

Sujaya Sunkara

Emily Stober

Renell Taylor

Tara Venkataraman

Aubee Billie

Giselle Watts

Maddie Hewgley

Helena Padial

Hashini Amarasinghe

Campy Rodriguez

Angelina Mancusco

Anya Jones

Malia Horst

Gabriella Scarpace

Nate Krohmer

Sammy Azua

Gabriel Logan

Gabe Tobierre

Andrew France

Jakov Schwartzberg

Tyson Hankins

Courtney Liu

Chris Rayis

Faythe Kelly

Tristan Altobelli

Brooks Andrew

Jacob Atkins

Caroline Borio

Kelly Belarmino

Charlie Castro

Jaron Cole

Kyra Britt

Micah Day

Zeth Dixon

Derick Donato

Collin Flanagan

Camille Fundingsland

Abigayle Harnum

Jaid Green

Kaylee Hayden

Erik Houck

Anne-Sophie Hill

Bryant Howard

Marina Jansen

Hannah Kevitt

Elsa Oates Keefe

Ella Huestis
Ella Huestis (they/she) is a sophomore Music Theatre major from Dallas, TX. Elon credits include Collage, Elon Cares, Grand Night, Movin' On (Ensemble Swing), Head Over Heels (Ensemble, Dance Captain, Associate Choreographer). This summer, Ella will be performing in the ensemble of Mary Poppins at North Carolina Theatre and they will be studying at the Theatre Academy of London in the Fall. Special thank you to Chris Rayis for trusting us with your work and breathing life into this place! @ellagracehuestis

Sara LiBrandi

Jacqueline Mate

MK McDonald

Mia McManamy

Sayo Oni

Zion Middleton

Candace Rhodes

Sitare Sadeghi

Ellie Schwartz

Charlie Pelletier

Summer Severin

Mallorie Sievert

Sujaya Sunkara

Emily Stober

Renell Taylor

Tara Venkataraman

Aubee Billie

Giselle Watts

Maddie Hewgley

Helena Padial

Hashini Amarasinghe

Campy Rodriguez

Angelina Mancusco

Anya Jones

Malia Horst

Gabriella Scarpace

Nate Krohmer

Sammy Azua

Gabriel Logan

Gabe Tobierre

Andrew France
