Courtney Balan
(Baker's Wife)
Broadway: Created the role of Hatchet-Face in Cry-Baby, stood-by for the ladies of [title of show] and understudied and performed the lead role of Jenny in In My Life. Off-Broadway: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Woman 1); The Marvelous Wonderettes (Missy Miller); How to Save the World (standby); The Extraordinary Ordinary (Karen); I Love You Because (NYC Woman) and [title of show]. Regional credits include Oklahoma! (Ado Annie) at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; Funny Girl (Fanny u/s) and
The Pajama Game (Poopsie) at MT of Wichita; Jekyll & Hyde (Emma) at MGR; and most recently, the new musical Rated P (Woman 1) with Midtown Direct Rep Theatre Company. Graduate: University of Michigan musical theatre. Origins: NYC. Member: AEA. Thank you to Susan and Co. for this dream role. Love and thanks to Mom and Dad and to Jason always.
Courtenay Collins
(Jack's Mother/US Witch)
After taking a year off to “play house,” Courtenay is delighted to be back at the Alliance, thrilled to be reunited with her favorite director, and positively ecstatic about singing Sondheim. Alliance credits include Smart Cookie, Managing Maxine, The Fourth Wall and two productions of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well… New York: Eating Raoul, Loves’ Labors Lost, The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Brigadoon. Atlanta: Evita, Love Jerry, Jerry’s Girls. CDs: Nightingale, One For My Baby, A Merry Little Christmas, Live at the Club. Cabaret: A Spring Affair, Live at the Club, Love or Something Like It, Dixie Divas, Miss Otis Regrets, 2 for Broadway, Let the Good Times Roll. Proud mom of Collins and Spencer and happy wife to Michael. Private vocal coach. The 1986 production of Into the Woods was one of her favorite Broadways shows EVER!!! www.courtenaycollins.com
Chandra Currelley
(Cinderella's Stepmother)
Chandra is the former lead singer for the recording group, the S.O.S. Band, replacing the original lead singer. She continued the band’s string of Top 20 Billboard hits with the CDs Diamonds in the Raw and One of Many Nights. Chandra also starred in the world premiere of Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel and as Mother Shaw in Regina Taylor’s Crowns. The 2009 Gospel Choice Award nominee has toured Europe and Asia. She has also starred in Dinah Was; Blues in the Night; The Hot Mikado; Amen Corner; Two Queens, One Castle; Slam!; and Kenny Leon’s Rejoice. Chandra is a Helen Hayes and NAACP Phoenix award nominee. She has released two solo CDs The Real Me and Love Songs, which contains the song “Love Again” from the movie, Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Available at cdbaby.com, iTunes and Rhapsody. chandracurrelley.com. AEA/AFTRA/SAG. To my family, thank you!
Jill Ginsberg
(Cinderella)
Jill is thrilled to be back with the Alliance Theater after recently playing Cinderella in Into the Woods! Other regional favorites include Marion Paroo in The Music Man, Laurey in Oklahoma! and Joy in Cinderella. She is grateful to her wonderful family and friends for their constant love and support, and wishes to blow a big ol’ kiss to Corey! Thank you to everyone at the Alliance and Happy Holidays! “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney. jillcelinaginsberg.com
Walter Hudson
(Narrator/Mysterious Man)
Walter happily celebrates 40 years as a member of Actors’ Equity this year. He has appeared on Broadway and national tours, most notably as the Pirate King in Joseph Papp’s production of The Pirates of Penzance, as well as in Blood Brothers and Noises Off. His off-Broadway credits include the dentist in the original Orpheum Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors. He has appeared at more than 70 regional theatres and premiered plays by such notable playwrights as David Edgar, Jeffrey Hatcher, Marsha Norman, Ken Ludwig and Derek Walcott. He comes here from the Berkshire Theatre Festival, where, for his 12th season, he appeared in A.R. Gurney’s Sylvia. He was featured in this season’s finale episode of “Nurse Jackie.” And as a P.A.D.I. Divermaster, Walter looks forward to diving in the Georgia Aquarium while here!
Jeanette Illidge
(Florinda/Snow White/US Little Red Ridinghood)
Jeanette is thrilled to return to the Alliance. She was last seen here as Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin. Favorite regional credits include Peep-Bo in The Mikado, Ti Moune in Once on This Island and Aida in Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. Jeanette has toured as a member of The Atlanta Opera Chorus and most recently performed in its highly praised Porgy & Bess under the baton of Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart. Last fall Jeanette made her film debut in Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls as one of three main opera divas. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Jeanette holds a BFA in media and performing arts and an MFA in media design. Much love and thanks to Susan, Jody, my castmates and my ever-supportive family and friends. Proud member: Actors’ Equity Association. jeanetteillidge.com.
Amber Iman
(Lucinda/Sleeping Beauty/US Stepmother)
Amber is elated to be back at the Alliance where she was last seen in Goodnight Moon. Recent credits include Three Sistahs and Shakin’ the Mess Outta’ Misery (Horizon); Colored Museum and Gut Bucket Blues (True Colors); Once on This Island (Aurora); Stick Fly (Arena Stage/Huntington). Amber is a graduate of Howard University (BFA, musical theatre) and is a member of D.I.V.A. Inc. and Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity for Women. She is grateful to Susan and Jody for this wonderful opportunity; God for the gift, and His grace and guidance; her parents for their love and support; and C&E, D&R and Ezra for the love and the laughs! HC3 -143 ! “This was just a moment in the woods.”
Jamie Wood Katz
(Rapunzel/US Cinderella)
Jamie is thrilled to return to the Alliance Theatre, where she was last seen in Twist, An American Musical (Ensemble, Angela US-perf) and Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel (Choir). Other regional credits include Ariel in The Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Walt Disney World Studios; and Children of Eden, Camelot, La Boheme and Fiddler on the Roof at Seaside Music Theatre. Jamie is a graduate of the musical theatre program at Florida State University and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Love to Jon, Aubrey, Eliana, Mom, Dad, family and friends ... without you this would not be possible!
Barbara Marineau
(Cinderella's Mother/Granny/Giant)
Broadway: The Women, Beauty and the Beast, King David, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, A Christmas Carol, Shenandoah. National tours: National Theatre of Great Britain’s My Fair Lady, Pippin, Falsettos, Into the Woods, Grand Hotel, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Robber Bridegroom (Florida’s Carbonell Award/best actress). She created the role of Miss Crowe in the Lincoln Center production of A Man of No Importance, Bright Eyes Murphy in Noel Coward’s Long Island Sound (world premiere), Queen Victoria in I and Albert (American premiere), won the Connecticut Critics’ Award for best actress playing Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and has been nominated for Michigan’s 2011 Wilde Award for Aggie Hurley in A Catered Affair. Film/TV: Man on a Ledge (2012 release), Book of Daniel, Law and Order: SVU & CI. A Western Michigan University Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, she shares a musical theatre scholarship in her name with Marin Mazzie.
Jeff McKerley
(Steward/US Mysterious Man/US Cinderella's Father)
Jeff has called Atlanta his artistic home for 24 years and was last seen on the Alliance stage as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, Jr. National tours: Cole Porter in Red, Hot, & Cole and Chuck in Promises, Promises. Regional theatre: Nicky in Avenue Q (Horizon Theatre), Ko-Ko in The Mikado (Atlanta Lyric), Julian Marsh in 42nd Street (Atlanta Lyric), the Emcee in Cabaret (Shakespeare Tavern), the Duke in Big River (Theatrical Outfit), Timothy in Rescue & Recovery (Actor’s Express), Ivanov in Ivanov (Soulstice Repertory) and Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Theatre in the Square). Jeff won two 2007 Suzi Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (Emcee/Cabaret) and Outstanding Choreography (Cabaret/Shakespeare Tavern). Jeff sends thanks to his amazing family and friends, and especially to his gorgeous and talented wife, Heidi. “I want to spend happily ever after with you.”
Brandon O’Dell
(Cinderella's Father)
Brandon has journeyed with the Alliance Theatre before, but this is his first trip to Oz. His other adventures include
Into the Woods,
Honk,
Mulan,
Seussical the Musical (Alliance Theatre);
Big River (Theatrical Outfit);
A Year With Frog and Toad (Aurora Theatre);
The Caretaker (Theatre in the Square);
The Watercoolers, (Horizon Theatre);
The Fantasticks (Shakespeare Tavern). TV: “Army Wives,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “One Tree Hill.” Film: Stephen King’s
The Mist,
The Bay,
Dangerous Calling. Love to his two children and especially his wife, Rachel, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things she does.
Mark Price
(Baker)
Broadway: Mary Poppins (Robertson Aye), All Shook Up (Dennis), Beauty and the Beast (LeFou), Dance of the Vampires (Boris), Mamma Mia (Pepper), The Rocky Horror Show (Riff Raff), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (US Snoopy), Wonderful Town, Chicago, Paul Simon’s The Capeman. Other: Sweeney Todd (Tobias, Helen Hayes Award Nomination), Sondheim Celebration (Kennedy Center), Unidentified Human Remains (Kane), The Green Violin (Zuskin), Buddy Movie (NY Fringe), Our David (Clyde, NY premiere). TV/Film: Law & Order, The Tony Awards, Broadway’s Finest. aboutmarkprice.com.
Angela Robinson
(Witch)
Angela was last seen at the Alliance as Luce in Boys From Syracuse and she is thrilled to be returning. Broadway: The Color Purple (Shug Avery), Wonderful Town (Receptionist), Bells Are Ringing (Gwen) and Play On! (US Lady Liv). Off-Broadway: Radiant Baby (Diva Woman), Public Theatre (Audelco nomination), Call the Children Home (Pia). National tours: The Color Purple (IRNE award winner), The Wizard of Oz with Eartha Kitt and Mickey Rooney, Dreamgirls (Deena). Regional: Baltimore Center Stage, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Alley Theatre, George Street Playhouse, TheatreWorks CA, Crossroads Theatre, Prince Music Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, and Montclair TheatreFest with friend and mentor Ruth Brown, and more. Concerts: Golden Boy, Pajama Game, Bye Bye Birdie at Encores, A Little Night Music (Petra), Philadelphia Orchestra. Film/TV: Another Bed, Law & Order: SVU. Love to family, Scotty and El Shaddai. arobinson.biz.
Diany Rodriguez
(Little Red Ridinghood)
Alliance: Into the Woods (Little Red); August: Osage County (Johnna); and Middle School: The Musical (Sari). Tours: Dora the Explorer Live! (Dora/Map) and Rent in Asia (Ensemble/ US Mimi). Notable credits: Fame (Carmen), The Cherry Orchard (Anya), Junie B. Jones (Lucille), Pippin (Catherine), Coyote Ugly(Scarlet), Soul Kitchen – off-Bway (Sangita), and Shlomo – off-Bway (Anjia/Ruth). She would like to thank the Alliance for taking a chance on her, and for hopefully continuing to ... please. Look for her this Mother's Day in ABC Family's “Crew 9.” Also, thank you people I love.
Hayden Tee
(Cinderella's Prince/Wolf)
New Zealand-born, trained at Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA). West End: Marius in Les Miserables (including 20th anniversary). U.S.: Arthur in Camelot, Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady, Captain Hook and Mr. Darling in Peter Pan. Original Australian cast: Thomas Andrews in Titanic (A.T. Award nomination), Professor Bhaer in Little Women (Glugg Award), Father Grenville in Dead Man Walking. Tour: Joe Cable in South Pacific (A.T.G Award nomination); Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady; Simon Stride, alternate Jekyll and Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde; Bustopher Jones, Gus, Growltiger in Cats; Grumio in Kiss Me, Kate; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Songs for a New World; and The Wizard of Oz. Solo albums: Hayden Tee Self-Titled and Generation whY? LIVE, available on iTunes. Children’s albums: Sounds Like Fun and Wild Aussies. Cast albums: The Wizard of Oz. Hayden has performed in concert and cabaret throughout Australia, New Zealand, the U.K and the U.S., including hosting Australia’s largest cabaret awards (seven years) and Australia’s theatre talk show The Muftee Show. haydentee.com.
Jeremy Wood
(Jack)
Jeremy is proud to join the Alliance for this production of Into the Woods. Jeremy is an Atlanta-based actor/singer holding a BFA in music and theatre from Shorter College. Jeremy played Doody in the national tour of Grease, featuring Frankie Avalon as well as the international tours (South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey). He also played John 3 in the first national tour of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. Jeremy received a special achievement award from the Kennedy Center for his work as a fight choreographer in the 2003 American College Theatre Festival and is also the winner of two New Hampshire Theatre Awards. Favorite regional credits include Dennis in Smoke on the Mountain (Theatre in the Square) and Cosmo Brown in Singin’ in the Rain (Aurora Theatre). Many thanks to his amazing family and his unofficial agent, Laura.
Corey James Wright
(Rapunzel's Prince)
Corey is honored to be making his debut with the Alliance Theatre. Wright can be seen in the new musical Dolphin Tales at the Georgia Aquarium. His film and TV credits include Drop Dead Diva, Necessary Roughness and the feature Month to Month. National theatrical credits include The Full Monty, with Elaine Stritch; the world premiere of Yeast Nation (Kotis and Hollman); and Oklahoma! with Jill Ginsberg. Other favorites include Hair, Chicago, Assassins, Company, Tommy and a European tour of I. Jacobs’ Phantom of the Opera. Corey is grateful for the opportunity to work with such an amazing company, the constant support of his family and friends, and the love of his own, sometimessleeping beauty and always-charming princess, Jill Ginsberg. Corey is a proud member of AEA. “Once Upon a Time...” CoreyJamesWright.com.
Clay Benning
(Sound Designer)
Clay has been the resident sound designer at the Alliance Theatre for 12 years. He has designed more than 70 productions, including Pacific Overtures, Class of 3000, Jelly’s Last Jam, August: Osage County, Five Guys Named Moe, Eurydice and Topdog/Underdog. He is also an associate artist at Georgia Shakespeare with designs for more than 18 productions including King Lear, Metamorphoses, Julius Caesar, Titus Andronicus, Antigone and Pericles. Other work includes the Atlanta Ballet: The Great Gatsby, big (featuring Big Boi). Regional work: Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Theatrical
Outfit, Synchronicity Theatre. Awards: 2006, 2007 and 2009 Suzi Bass awards for best sound design (Metamorphoses, False Creeds and Titus Andronicus). Production sound engineer for the world premieres of The Color Purple, Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL and Bring It On: The Musical. He is a graduate of Presbyterian College (BA), North Carolina School of the Arts (MFA) and a member of IATSE/ USA829.
Lowrey Brown
(US Jack/US Cinderella's Prince/US Wolf/US Rapunzel's Prince/US Steward)
Lowrey is excited to be back at the Alliance with the cast of Oz! A recent graduate of Kennesaw State University, Lowrey has been acting in and around Atlanta for two years. He has performed at the Aurora Theatre (
Sirens and Academy), the Legacy Theatre (
A Little House Christmas) and Georgia Ensemble Theatre (
James and the Giant Peach). He is proud to be represented by the People Store for film/TV and voice-over work. Lowrey would like to thank his family for their love and support, his friends for their wonderful sense of humor, and his King, Jesus Christ.
Sarah Lancaster Cave
(US Jack's Mother/US Cinderella's Mother/US Granny/US Giant)
Sarah has been living and acting in Atlanta for the past 20 years. She has performed with Horizon Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, Essential Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Savage Tree, Actor’s Express, Theatrical Outfit, 7 Stages and Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern. Favorite roles include The Snow Queen, Evita and The Baker’s Wife. Her performance as Lucy in The Thing About Men received a Suzi nomination for leading actress in a musical. Sarah works as a development consultant for Ford & Associates, a teacher for The Music Class and as a Wolf Trap teaching profiles artist through the Alliance Theatre’s educational outreach program. She is a proud single mom to Maggie and Max, the world’s most amazing, smart and beautiful children.
Sindhu Giedd
(US Florinda/US Snow White/US Lucinda/US Sleeping Beauty)
Sindhu, a lyric soprano, received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Georgia State University where she studied with W. Dwight Coleman. She is familiar to both the world of opera and musical theater. Her stage credits include the roles of Cendrillon in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Mi in the Atlanta Lyric Theater production of The Land of Smiles and Voice of the Fountain in the Lincoln Center Opera production of Ainadamar. Sindhu is also at home in orchestral singing, having sung as a featured soloist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, including performances of West Side Story as well as the concert setting production and Deutsche Grammophon recording of Osvaldo Golijov’s Grammy Award winning Ainadamar, which she also sang at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
Erin Lorette
(US Baker's Wife/US Rapunzel)
A native Atlantan, Erin is thrilled to make her Alliance Theatre debut! Favorite credits include: Chester the Cat in Bunnicula (Synchronicity Theatre); Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense (Atlanta Lyric Theatre); Lois Lane and Bianca in Kiss Me, Kate (Aurora Theatre); Roberta and Zanna in Don’t (Actor’s Express); and Peggy the Pin-Up Girl in The Andrews Brothers (Highlands Playhouse). Erin is a proud graduate of Woodward Academy and the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.
Todd Rosenthal
(Scenic Designer)
Received 2008 Tony Award for his design for
August: Osage County, and a 2011 Tony Award nomination for
The Motherf**ker With the Hat. Current/upcoming designs:
Ghost Light, Oregon Shakespeare/Berkeley Rep; God of Carnage, A Streetcar Named Desire, the Guthrie;
The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Theatre Royal Waterford, Ireland;
Close Up Space, Manhattan Theater Club;
August: Osage County, Sydney Theatre Company;
Who’s Afraid of Virginia, Broadway;
A Parallelogram, Clybourne Park, Steppenwolf Theatre Company;
The Seagull, Goodman Theater;
As You Like It, Oregon Shakespeare. Set designer: New York’s Big Apple Circus; exhibitor, 2007 Prague Quadrennial. Lead designer for “The Mythbusters” TM, the Explosive exhibition. 2009 Lawrence Olivier Award for best set design. 2010 LA Back Stage Garland Award, 2010 Suzi Bass Award and Michael Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration. Todd teaches design at Northwestern University. Graduate, Yale School of Drama. toddar.com.
Lex Liang
(Costume Designer)
Liang’s work includes scenic and costume design for theatre, film, and dance. Alliance Theatre: Carapace (Dir. Judith Ivey). NYC/off-Broadway: The Yellow Wood (Dir. B.D. Wong), Heading East (Dir. Darren Lee), Secrets of a Soccer Mom (Dir. Judith Ivey), After Luke/When I Was God (Irish Rep, Flaherty Award nomination). Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse (High School Musical, associate designer), Penobscot Theatre (four years as resident scenic and costume designer, 30+ productions). Dance: “The Internationale Tanzmesse” (Dusseldorf, Germany), Gibney Dance (NYC, Montreal, and WI). Film: Love Is Hell, The Louisiana Conversation, Meet My Boyfriend. Lex Liang Design Corp. (LDC Design & Management) provides architectural design and project management for residential, retail and restaurant spaces as well as large-scale art installations. The company recently took on Sing for Hope’s NYC-wide outdoor installation of 88 pianos. Liang and his team’s work is represented by projects across the country from Bridgehampton, NY, to Malibu, Calif. Lex is a 2010 Princess Grace Award nominee for theatrical design, and is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829. Thanks to Susan for this opportunity, Carol and team for the incredible work and David and Fumi for everything else. lexliang.com
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).