Rebecca Blouin
(Barbara)
Rebecca grew up as the daughter of a southern Baptist minister of music singing classically in church for as long as she can remember. By the time she was 16, she had conducted her first choir and had been an accomplished ballet dancer. Shortly thereafter she owned and operated her own ballet studio. Blouin studied vocal performance at Ole Miss and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She was also crowned Queen of Mississippi and went on to the Miss America Pageant where she placed in the top ten. Currently, Rebecca resides in Atlanta where she is a private vocal instructor for teenagers mostly from Paideia School and teaches yoga at Bikram Yoga Atlanta. Representative roles Include: Jeckyl and Hyde (Lucy): Christmas Carol (Belle); Company (April/Marta); Hansel & Gretel (Company/Hansel); Odd Couple (Gwendolyn); Gypsy (Louise/Gypsy); The Fantastiks (Louisa).
Lawrence Clayton
(Roscoe)
Lawrence’s most recent appearances include the role of the Tenor in Too Hot to Handel with the Baltimore Symphony under the direction of Marin Alsop. He starred as Montel/Jesus in the NYC premiere of Jerry Springer the Opera with Harvey Kietel at Carnegie Hall. He reprised the role this spring at the Sydney Opera House. His Broadway appearances include Bells Are Ringing, It Ain’t Nothin but the Blues, The Civil War, Once upon a Mattress, High Rollers Social Pleasure Club and Dreamgirls. Off-Broadway he originated the role of the Man in Crowns at Second Stage. Other credits include: Saturn Returns and Romance in Hard Times at The Public Theater and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden. Regional audiences have seen him in productions of Big River, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Boys from Syracuse, Betsy Brown and Sophisticated Ladies.
Jeremy Cohen
(Chuck)
A native of New York, Jeremy is thrilled to make his Alliance Theatre debut in Avenue X. Other credits include West Bank, UK (La Mama, E.T.C. & Malibu Stage Company); Maccabeat (NY Music Theatre Festival); The Good War (Northlight Theatre); Fire on the Bayou (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre & Delaware Theatre Company); Grafton City Blues (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre); Grease (Marriott Theatre); Sisters of Swing (Pennsylvania Centre Stage); and The Last Five Years (Syndicate Productions). Film: 3 Words About New York and Hell’s Gate. Composer of The Bowery Boys (Marriott Theatre), a 2009 Chicago Jeff Award nominee for “Best New Work.” Proud Northwestern graduate. This coming spring, Jeremy will be seen in the Kennedy Center’s production of Master Class. Love and thanks to Antonette and family. jeremy-cohen.com
Steve French
(Ubazz)
Steve French is honored to make his Alliance debut with Avenue X. New York: Still the River Runs (NYIT Award nomination, Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role), Professional Skepticism, Zootopia Theatre Co.; A First Class Man, Alter Ego Productions; The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, The Alternate Theatre; Second Stage; TACT. Regional: Camelot and Big River, Goodspeed Musicals; Othello, A Christmas Carol, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Hartford Stage Company; A Moon For the Misbegotten, Long Wharf Theatre; Amadeus, Henry V, Tartuffe, No Man’s Land, Monomoy Theatre. Television: "All My Children." For Allison.
J.D. Goldblatt
(Milton)
I am so stoked to be back at the Alliance. I love this theater and this city! Past productions include: Monstrosity (world premiere by Lucy Thurber) at The Connelly Theater in NYC, dir- Lear DeBessonnet; Venice (Workshop co-written by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen) at The Kirk Douglas Theater in L.A., Eric Rosen director; A Civil War Christmas (world premiere by Paula Vogel) at The Long Wharf Theater in Conn., Tina Landau director; Iphigenia 2.0 (NYC premiere by Charles Mee) at the Signature Theater in NYC, Tina Landau director; Les Miserables (Broadway Revival Original Cast), John Caird director; Jelly’s Last Jam (Suzi Bass Award Best Lead Actor) at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta, Kent Gash director; The Turnover by Adam Kraar and Bleach by Michael Bassett at the Alliance Repertory Company in L.A. TV/Film: "Hawthorne," "NUMB3RS," The Last Spin, The Wood, BAQ-132. B.F.A. in drama from Carnegie Mellon.
Nick Spangler
(Pasquale)
Nick comes directly to Atlanta from the Off-Broadway cast of The Fantasticks! where his performance as Matt was recognized by the Theater Hall of Fame with the Eileen and Jerry Orbach Musical Theater Fellowship Award. Recent Regional: Michael John LaChiusa’s GIANT (Signature Theater, world premiere); Fantasy Football: the musical? (NYMF); La Cage (Arvada Center); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Gateway Playhouse). Reality TV buffs might recognize Nick from the 13th season of the CBS reality series “The Amazing Race,” on which he and his sister won the million dollar prize. B.F.A. from NYU. nickspangler.com
Neda Spears
(Julia)
Neda is so proud to be making her debut at the Alliance Theatre with Avenue X. For the past 15 years, she has been in Chicago performing in productions of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Tintypes, Nunsensations! and Schoolhouse Rock Live! (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Big River and Honk! (Mariott-Lincolnshire); Raisin (Court Theatre); Side Show (Northlight Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); The Who’s Tommy (Village Players Theatre); the Chicago premiere of Bingo! The Winning New Musical (Apollo Theater); and Could It Be Magic?, conceived and directed by Barry Manilow (Mercury Theater). Neda also originated the role of Momma in The American Girl’s Revue. She was also a featured performer in the Navy Pier Players, an a capella singing group at Chicago’s most well-known tourist attraction, for over 3 years. Much thanks to Jody and Susan. Love to my amazing family.
J.D. Webster
(Winston)
J.D. Webster returns to the Alliance, having been last seen as Annas in the premiere of Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL. Broadway: Wonderful Town, Ragtime, and Showboat. Regional: Sid in The Desert Song (Sacramento Music Circus), Nicely-Nicely in Guys and Dolls (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Howard in Finian’s Rainbow (Coconut Grove), Flick in Violet (Connecticut Rep), J.D. in Jam and Spice (Westport Playhouse), and Raymond in the world-premiere of An American in Paris (Houston Alley Theatre). Last season, he was a featured soloist with the Baltimore Symphony in Bernstein’s Mass at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center (Naxos recording). His other concert work includes appearances with the New York Philharmonic, the Virginia Symphony Pops, the New York Ragtime Orchestra (Japan tour), Spring is Here (Rodgers Centennial @ Carnegie Hall), and the PBS broadcasts of South Pacific and Ira Gershwin at 100.
Susan V. Booth
(Director)
(Jennings Hertz, Jr. Artistic Director) joined the Alliance Theatre in 2001. In the past nine seasons, she has initiated the Collision Project for teens, the Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition, and created local producing partnerships with Georgia Shakespeare, True Colors and the nine theatre companies that participated in the Alliance’s City Series. She has also overseen regional collaborative productions with Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Arena Stage, Goodman Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Pasadena Playhouse, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, as well as commercial partnerships on projects including
Come Fly Away; The Color Purple;
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee;
SISTER ACT the Musical;
Bring in Da’ Noise, Bring in Da’ Funk;
Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL; and this season’s productions of
Twist and
Bring It On: The Musical. As a director, Alliance projects have included
Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL, Proof,
Doubt,
Day of the Kings,
Intimate Apparel,
Jacques Brel,
Bluish and
Frame 312, and she has directed nationally at theatres including Goodman, La Jolla Playhouse, New York Stage and Film, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Northlight Theatre, Victory Gardens, Court Theatre and many others. She holds degrees from Denison and Northwestern universities and was a fellow of the National Critics Institute and the Kemper Foundation. She has held teaching positions at Northwestern and DePaul University and Emory University. She is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2003, has been cited as a Lexus Leader of the Arts by WABEFM, and has been named “Best New Visionary” by
Atlanta Magazine and Best Local Director in the
The Sunday Paper’s Readers Choice Awards and by
Creative Loafing. She is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors for Theatre Communications Group (the national service organization for the field) and serves on the board of the Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition. Susan is married to Max Leventhal and is the proud mother of Moira Rose Leventhal.
susan.booth@woodruffcenter.org
Danny Pelzig
(Choreographer)
Broadway: 33 Variations, starring Jane Fonda; A Year with Frog and Toad. Off-Broadway: Regrets Only, Newyorkers (MTC); Valhalla (NYTW); The New Moon (Encores!); Privates on Parade (Roundabout). Opera: La Sonnambula, Lucia di Lammermoor, Iphigenie en Tauride (Metropolitan Opera); Lyric Opera of Chicago, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Houston Grand Opera, L.A. Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre. Regional: Into the Woods (Kansas City Rep); As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet (Helen Hayes nomination), Dog in the Manger, Twelfth Night, Edward II (Shakespeare Theatre); Pericles (Goodman); Sweeney Todd (Kennedy Center, Sondheim Celebration); Don Juan (McCarter/Old Globe); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Seattle Repertory); The Mikado, Company, Iolanthe, A Christmas Carol (Huntington); My Fair Lady (Alliance); Guys and Dolls (Long Wharf); Ragtime (Pioneer). Selected directing credits: The Bartered Bride for Opera Boston, Iphigenie en Tauride in Valencia, Spain, Mary Zimmerman’s production of Philip Glass’ Akhnaten in Strasbourg, France, and Turandot for Ft. Worth Opera. Pelzig earned his degree in cellular biology at Columbia University.
Todd Rosenthal
(Set Designer)
Recent Alliance designs include: Avenue X (Suzi Bass Award), False Creeds, and Doubt. Received 2008 Tony Award for August: Osage County, and a 2011 Tony Award nomination for The Motherf**ker With the Hat. Designs at theaters in the U.S. and abroad including Steppenwolf, Goodman, Arena Stage, Guthrie Theater, Alley Theatre, Berkeley Rep, Manhattan Theater Club, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Yale Repertory, Paper Mill Playhouse, CenterStage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Atlantic Theatre, Chicago Opera, National Theatre, London, Sydney Theatre, Australia and others. Recent/current designs: August: Osage County for the Sydney Theatre; A Streetcar Named Desire for the Guthrie; Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf for Broadway (fall 2012); The Seagull for the Goodman; Ghost Light for Oregon Shakespeare and Berkeley Rep; Close Up Space for Manhattan Theater Club; The Motherf**ker With the Hat on Broadway; and The Beauty Queen of Leenane for Theatre Royal, Ireland. Set designer: New York’s Big Apple Circus. Lead designer for “The Mythbusters” touring museum exhibition. 2009 Olivier Award for best set design. 2010 LA Garland Award. Michael Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration. Todd teaches design at Northwestern University. Graduate, Yale School of Drama. toddar.com
Mariann Verheyen
(Costume Designer)
Mariann has been designing for the Alliance since 1985, most recently for August in Osage County and Avenue X (Suzi Nomination in Costume Design). Other shows at the Alliance include August Wilson Full Circle: Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf, Intimate Apparel (Suzi Bass Award winner for Best Costume Design, 2005-06), Day of the Kings, A Christmas Carol and Light Up the Sky. New York credits include Cathy Rigby’s Peter Pan, Everybody’s Ruby (AudelcoAward Nomination), numerous off-Broadway productions and 10 years of commercial styling. Regionally, her work has been seen at the Ford’s, Huntington and Studio Arena theatres; Missouri Rep; and the Chicago, Alabama, Oregon and Colorado Shakespeare theatres. She has designed costumes for Disney Cruise Lines, Disney World’s Animal Kingdom and Sea World San Antonio. Awards include three I.R.N.E.s in Boston, Villager Downtown Theater Award of NYC, two Best of Atlanta’s, Chicago’s 2002 Jeff Award and 2005 and 2007 Jeff Award nominations. She is a recipient of a Distinguished Achievement Awards from her undergrad and high school alma maters. She is head of the Costume Design program at Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theater.
Ken Yunker
(Lighting Designer)
Alliance Theatre: August: Osage County, Avenue X, The Underpants, Go Dog, Go!, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Aladdin, Bluish, Einstein is a Dummy, Day of Kings, The Miracle Worker, Leap, Ferdinand the Bull. Based in Atlanta since 1989. He is the resident designer for Atlanta Opera, the Sarasota Opera Association and Opera New Jersey/Princeton. Local designs include Theatre in the Square, True Colors, Theatrical Outfit, Georgia Ensemble, Atlanta Lyric, Ballethnic Dance Company, Six Flags Over Georgia, Brenau University, Clayton State University and Emory University. National credits include Utah Shakespeare Festival, Bermuda Arts Festival, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Utah Symphony and Opera, Tulsa Opera, Fort Worth Opera, San Antonio Opera, Augusta Opera, Florida State Opera and Arizona Opera. Awards: Suzi Bass Award for Avenue X. Previous nominations include Rejoice and The Persians; Abbey Artist of the Year nomination; Creative Loafing lighting award in Best of Atlanta; Theatre in the Square Jenny Award (seven total for best lighting).
Darryl Jovan Williams
(Music Director)
Darryl began his career as a singer in the local churches of Jasper County, S.C., and Savannah, Ga., and later joined the Rev. James Cleveland Workshop. He has sung behind such artists as Shirley Caesar, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Dorothy Norwood, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Vicky Winans, Leslie Gore and Ann Nesby. Williams earned a $10,000 purse winning the Savannah Onstage International Soloist Competition, which earned him an offer to sing at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He later performed as choir director in the European Tour of The Harlem Gospel Singers and for Pope John Paul II in Bologna, Italy. Williams has performed in the National and European tours of Smokey Joe’s Café, which began a ten-year stint. There he met Mr. Louis St. Louis who encouraged him to perform with Gladys Knight and the original cast of Smokey Joe’s Café and to create background vocals for artists like Gladys Knight and Leslie Gore. Williams’ other credits include the off-Broadway spoof of the 70s, Streakin, Mama I Want to Sing, Big Mama Stringbean (which won Williams a nomination for an AUDELCO Award), Dreamgirls, The Meeting and Once on This Island. Last season he played Judas and was vocal arranger for Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL here at the Alliance.
Clay Benning
(Sound Designer)
Clay has been the resident sound designer at the Alliance Theatre for 12 years and has designed more than 70 productions. He is also an associate artist at Georgia Shakespeare with designs for more than 18 productions. Other work includes the Atlanta Ballet:
The Great Gatsby,
big (featuring Big Boi); Cincinnati Playhouse; Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Theatrical Outfit; Synchronicity Theatre. Awards: 2006, 2007 and 2009 Suzi Bass awards for best sound design. He is a graduate of Presbyterian College (BA), North Carolina School of the Arts (MFA) and a member of IATSE/USA829.
lark hackshaw
(Production Stage Manager/Assistant Stage Manager)
Favorites include: Off-Broadway: Langston in Harlem; Hoopz (Disney); Mama, I Want to Sing. Alliance Theatre: August Wilson Full Circle: Gem of the Ocean & Radio Golf; Eurydice; Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies; Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris; Jelly’s Last Jam; Five Guys Named Moe; Topdog/Underdog; King Hedley II; Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk; Wit; How I Learned to Drive. National Tours: Ain’t Misbehavin’; Noise/Funk national tour starring Savion Glover; Dreamgirls tour starring Jennifer Holiday. Regional: Rejoice!, True Colors Theatre Company; Soldier’s Play, Black Spectrum Theatre, NY; Blues in the Night, Arena Stage, Washington, DC; My Castle’s Rockin’, N.Carolina Black Repertory; Grease, Muny Theatre, St. Louis; DANCE: Urban Nutcracker; The Leopard Tale, Ballethnic Dance Company. Other credits: An Evening with Carol Burnett, Atlanta Symphony Hall; Line Producer/ Executive Assistant to Producing Artistic Director, North Carolina National Black Theatre Festival 1997– present; Owner/Operator of Lark’s Production People, a labor agency for technicians.
Pat A. Flora
(Production Stage Manager)
Pat Flora has been affiliated with the Alliance Theatre for 25 of the last 29 years. A few favorite projects include: Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living In Paris, A Life in the Theatre, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Was Enuf, Julius Caesar, Driving Miss Daisy, Peter Pan, A Man for All Seasons, Angels in America, Falsettos, Romeo and Juliet, Woody Guthrie’s American Song, Pacific Overtures, Sleuth, In the Red and Brown Water and Doubt. International: Die Schöne und das Biest in Germany and three original musicals in England with David H. Bell. National: Camelot with Robert Goulet. Regional: King John at N.C. Shakespeare Festival; Othello and The Cherry Orchard at Shakespeare Theatre at the Folger Library; The Tempest at La Jolla Playhouse; Anthems:Culture Clash in the District and Book of Days at Arena Stage; Little Me at Northshore Music Theatre; and Crowns at the Goodman. Atlanta: Madame Butterfly with Atlanta Opera, In Stitches with Candler Creative, Fiddler on the Roof with Theodore Bikel at the Fox Theatre, The Foreigner at Theatrical Outfit and Theatre du Reve. Ms. Flora is proud to be a member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1980.
RL Campbell
(Assistant Stage Manager)
A jackof-all-trades, Ronnie primarily works behind the scenes. Alliance Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL, Eurydice, Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, Sleuth, Cuttin’ Up, SISTER ACT the Musical, A Christmas Carol, Mrs. Warren’s Profession. Horizon Theatre: A Cool Drink a Water, And her hair went with her..., Hallelujah Street Blues, The Clean House, Three Sistahs, The Perfect Prayer, Permanent Collection, Bad Dates, The Syringa Tree, The Big Bang. Utah Festival Opera: Showboat, Musica Magnifica. FHYEA: Soweto, Soweto… (Tour), Jekonni’s Song, Times, Colors of Love. Former Production Manager for Act-N-Up! Theatre, Inc. in Lithonia, Ga., where he is also the Co-founder. CEO/Founder of The Campbell Entertainment Organization, online at campbell-entertainment.com. Ronnie dedicates this and all performances in loving memory of his mother DGBC. Member of Actors’ Equity Association.
blog comments powered by
Gene Barrette
posted on
2/13/2010 12:03:00 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. I thought the AJC review was regrettable and may have sadly prevented some people from attending. Having recently seen and been inspired by Invictus and the power of sports to accomplish the extremely difficult task of creating unity in the midst of extreme racial tension, this musical reminded me of the equal power and role of music.
Although it may have had some simplistic theatrical moments and echoes of West Side Story, there was a timely relevance to the power of music to bond people.
Cindi
posted on
2/12/2010 9:27:00 AM
This was our first time at the Alliance Theatre - The Music, Stage Sets and actors were all very good. The theme of the play was good. My only complaint was I thought they over did it with the swearing. I am not a prude and I did grow up during that era but just thought it was a little over the top. I was surprised to see a young child handing out booklets.
Lacy
posted on
2/12/2010 9:22:00 AM
I would love to see the performance again. I enjoyed every minute of the play, the voices and the content. Sets were wonderful and I appreciated them even more when the technical director spoke with the audience after the performance. It was also a treat to get to speak with the actors and learn about the changes from the original production and the ways they play off each other to stay on pitch. I took my grandson because of his love of music and it was a treat for both of us.
Raye
posted on
2/12/2010 12:04:00 PM
Incredible talent wasted on a pitiful script with one-dimensional characters, lyrics you'll never remember, and tunes you can't hum. And yet I'm glad I saw it...because of the remarkable singing talent and set. The voices and timing are exceptional, the energy impressive.
Scott
posted on
2/12/2010 11:38:00 AM
The three of us came with little anticipation of enjoying X much. Boy, were we surprised! The set was great--very impressive and evocative--and the plot was good enough to hang the music on. There were twists and surprises and the music was plain out FUN. A surprising and enjoyable evening. (Also fun to see a local as the only female in the production.)
Jillian Foster
posted on
2/12/2010 1:04:00 PM
I have seen many wonderful productions at the Alliance over the last 25 years; this one was no exception. The voices were incredible. The set design was clever. I moved to NY in the summer of 1963 and this production brought back fond memories of very talented street performers.
MaryKay
posted on
1/30/2010 11:16:00 AM
We were there one week ago and we are still talking about it. it was terrific. Bringing people together with music has changed greatly. Instruments take over now. This easily showed how greatly these young men wanted to get together through their music-- through their vocal communication. On stage showing ages old cultural conflict. Thank you. It recalled to mind the August Wilson plays.
Gwen
posted on
1/30/2010 10:40:00 AM
I am from North Carolina and I was in Atlanta to join my two best friends for a visit. One of them lives in Smyrna and she got us tickets for the play.
I have to tell you that I loved the play so much. It brought back so many happy memories for me. I grew up with the songs of that time period and I had to keep myself from dancing in the isles.
Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience.
Steffany
posted on
1/29/2010 8:52:25 AM
This was a wonderful production, one you certainly don't want to miss. The level of talent on that stage was amazing. I have recommended it to friends, family, coworkers and total strangers in line at the grocery store!
Kay
posted on
1/29/2010 8:50:59 AM
Wonderful set, beautiful voices, a delightful experience up to the end. The ending ruined it for me. It seemed so contrived and away from the flow of the play.
Paul Schenk
posted on
1/29/2010 8:34:00 PM
Start with a set design that presented as a piece of art. (I'm a model railroader, so I love studying how others effectively create realism in compressed spaces.) Then add broadway quality acting and soul stirring vocals. (I sang in acapella choirs for 16 years up through my college years, so this format resonates particularly well with me.) The combination made this a wonderful evening for my wife and me and good friends who came with us. I predict you, too, will leave the theatre lighter on your feet and "shoo-wop-doo-wop"-ing all the way back to your car.
Nee
posted on
1/29/2010 7:42:19 AM
Saw the show and highly recommend it. This show truly is fantastic! Coming from Brooklyn I found the entire production to be so true to the aspects of this city including the subway! I loved this show!!!!!!!
Michael
posted on
1/29/2010 7:15:00 PM
My wife and I watched this show in awe. I could not believe the quality of the voices and without the assistance of an orchestra. The acting and the set was excellent and I have recommended this show to many of my friends.
We loved and and would consider seeing it again some time again in the future.
Lisa Batt
posted on
1/29/2010 7:06:00 AM
The talent was absolutely outstanding. Their voices were flawless and the acting impeccable. This was a great show and I have recommended not missing it to many of my friends.
Dee
posted on
1/29/2010 7:04:00 AM
We thoroughly enjoyed this show--spectacular voices, outstanding sets, engaging story line--everything we expect from the Alliance at its best.
Willie Gaither
posted on
1/29/2010 1:35:56 PM
Broom in first scene should be a "used" broom, not new. A generally enteraining production.
Amy
posted on
1/28/2010 10:41:00 AM
Can't wait to see this show. Video looks great.