Cast of Shakespeare in Love

Cast

Jacob J. Roman​ - Will

Alissa Hanish - Viola

Christopher Scott​ - Henslowe

Kevin Barratt - Burbage

Ron Boschult - Fennyman

Sydney Readman​ - Wessex

Alex Nilius​ - Ensemble

Bradley Alexander - Wabash

Caitlin Mabon - Sir Robert

Catherine Ann Vazquez - Ensemble

Chloe Irwin - Webster

Craig Bond - Ralph

Danielle Smith - Tilney

Dennis Stessman​ - Ensemble

Janet Macklin - Queen

Jenna Hager - Ensemble

Jeremy Earl - Marlowe

Julie Fitzgerald Ryan​ - Nurse

Michael Leamen - Ned

Olivia Howard - Ensemble

Pamela Scott - Ensemble

Samantha Johnston - Ensemble

Sean Johnson​ - Ensemble

Will Rodgers - Sam
Apollo - Spot the dog

Production

Jeff Horder - Director

Suzanne Withem - Assistant Director

Wes Houston - Stage Manager

Courtney Stein - Choreographer

Erik Diaz - Scenic Designer

Lindsay Pape - Costume Designer
John Gibilisco - Resident Sound Designer/Production Electrician
Aja M. Jackson - Light Designer
Darin Kuehler - Properties
Greg Scheer - Production Coordinator

Cast of James and the Giant Peach

Cast

James - Maddie Smith
Spiker - Jodi Vaccaro
Sponge - Sara Mattix
Spider - Samantha Zarders
Grasshopper - Kyle Avery
Ladybug - Sarah Ebke
Earthworm - Zhomontee Watson
Centipede - Steve Krambeck
Ladahlord - Aaron Mann
Ensemble: Tyson Bentley, Carmen Butler, Lillian Cohen, Justin Eller, Brandon Fisher, Aubrey Fleming, Cody Girouex, Jamie Gould, Eliot Gray, Mark Haufle, Ryan Laughlin, April Neidig, Tayler Lempke Plank, Isabelle Rangel, Aidan Schmidtke, Joshua Shapiro, Isabella Smith, Cleo Washington

Production

Kimberly Faith Hickman - Director
Steve Priesman - Stage Manager
Chris Ebke - Music Director
Jennifer Novak Haar - Music Rehearsal Assistant
Nicole Mason Lazenby - Choreographer
Darin Kuehler - Properties
Greg Scheer - Production Coordinator
Tim Burkhart - Resident Sound Designer
Chris Wood - Lighting Designer
Amanda Fehlner - Costume Designer
Anha Packard - Scene Designer

Cast of Parade

Cast

Mary Phagan - Chloe Irwin
Lucille Frank - Megan Kelly
Mrs. Phagan - Melissa King
Hugh Dorsey - Michael Markey
John Slaton - Mike Palmreuter
Jim Conley - Jonathan Smith
Leo Frank - James Verderamo
Newt Lee - L James Wright
Riley - Brendan Brown
Minnie - Breanna Carodine
Essie - Brooke Fencl
Brit Craig - Adam Hogston
Judge Roan - Nelson Lampe
Frankie Epps - Grant Mannschreck
Sally Slaton - Rebecca Noble
Ivey - Joshua Lloyd Parker
Tom Watson - Brian Priesman
Mr. Turner - Tony Schneider
Luther Rosser - Christopher Scott
Lizzie Phagan - Jill Solano
Iola - Grace Titus
Starnes - Scott Vandentop
Monteen - Catherine Vazquez
Mr. Peavey - Randy Wallace

Production

Jeff Horger - Director
Suzanne Withem - Assistant Director
Stephanie Shattuck - Stage Manager
Jim Othuse - Scenic and Lighting Designer
Jim Boggess - Music Director
Lindsay Pape - Costume Designer

Volunteer Spotlight: Sarah Ebke

What OCP Means to Me

"As an actor, I enjoy being on stage for all sorts of reasons: telling stories, wearing the beautiful costumes, singing the powerful music, becoming a family with the people I share the stage with, and just getting to become another person for a few hours. All meaningful reasons, but ones that culminate to the most significant of all - affecting the audience in some way. Making them laugh, making them cry, making them think...just making them feel...something. My experience with Mamma Mia! and the audience reactions after the show have been quite a unique one. As much as I want to touch their hearts and give them a positive experience, they have been giving me just as much love back. And it has been positively overwhelming.

Our cast has been getting all sorts of incredible feedback in the receiving line after the show, and I wanted to share some of my favorite moments with you. Some people want to shake my hand, look me in the eye, and tell me just how much they enjoyed the show. Some people come up as excited groupies/fans and want their picture taken with the Dynamos (with disco points included, of course). They have huge smiles on their faces and sometimes even jump up and down and scream! Some people come up to me with tears in their eyes and share how much a particular song or scene moved them. And then they want a hug - it always brings me to tears as well. Every. Time.

There was one woman in her 50's (I'm guessing) that said this was the first musical she had ever seen and that she was so glad it was this production. There have been many younger children coming through the line saying it was their first show as well...talk about feeling honored being part of their first experiences that may inspire them to see (or even be in) more!

Mamma Mia! certainly brings the die-hard fans, whether of the stage show, the movie, or ABBA in general, and I have been trying to remember some of the specific kind words we have heard through their hugs, giddy screams, and even tears. Here are just a few that I can remember:

"I have seen this show on three continents, and this is just as good as any I have seen."

"I have seen this show ten times, and this one is my favorite!"

"I never need to see another version again. Nothing could be better than this."

"You broke my heart."

"I didn't expect to feel so many emotions..."

"The storytelling in this production was just so much more than past ones I have seen."

"I'm going to go home and dig out my ABBA soundtrack. It has been too long!"

"This was a better production than the Broadway one."

"I'm hoping all three of you are best friends in real life, because you look like it on stage!"

Talk about bursting with pride to be part of a live experience that can create this many heartfelt, pure, and sincere reactions. I personally have never had this kind of feedback from an interaction with an audience. They have touched my heart, made me smile, just filled my soul, and yes, even made me cry, too. That's what is so special about live theater - the giving and receiving between the performers and the audience. It can be touching, it can be loving, and even electric and wild. I will remember so much about my first experience on the mainstage here at the Omaha Community Playhouse, but what will remain in my heart forever is the impact our cast made on all the human souls that came expecting to have a good time with a jukebox ABBA musical, and left with so much more. As the show says:

"Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing. Thanks for all the joy they're bringing. Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty. What would life be? Without a song or dance what are we?

So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me." 

Thank you, Sarah.  Thank you.

____________________________

Would you like to continue to support the productions and programs of the Omaha Community Playhouse? Donate Now! Make your donation go further with your employer’s matching program!

What’s YOUR story? Do you have a story to share about how OCP has impacted you? If so, we’d love to hear it! E-mail Emily Andres, Development Director

Cast of Stupid F@#%ing Bird

Cast

Beau Fisher - Conrad
Raydell Cordell III - Dev
Aanya Sagheer - Mash
Alissa Hanish - Nina
Sonia Keffer - Emma Arkadina
Kevin Anderson - Doyle Trigorin
Michael Markey - Dr. Eugene Sorn

Production

Suzanne Withem - Director
Gina Leonardo - Stage Manager
Jim Othuse - Scenic Designer
Darrin Golden - Lighting Designer
John Gibilisco - Sound Designer
Lindsay Pape - Costume Designer
Darin Kuehler - Properties
Greg Scheer - Production Coordinator

Cast of Eminent Domain

Cast

Bill Hutson - Rob MacLeod
Erika Hall Sieff - Adair MacLeod
Jeremy Estill - Bart MacLeod
Christina Rohling - Theresa MacLeod
Cork Ramer - Cam MacLeod
Judy Radcliff - Jane MacLeod
Eric Salonis - Evan MacLeod
Chris Shonka - Trent Nichols
Thomas Becker - Mat Salinas

Production

Amy Lane - Director
Steve Priesman - Stage Manager
Jim Othuse - Scenic and Lighting Designer
Megan Kuehler - Costume Designer
John Gibilisco - Sound Designer
Darin Kuehler - Properties
Greg Scheer - Production Coordinator

Cast and Crew of Rock of Ages

Cast

Sherrie - Mallory Vallier
Drew - David Ebke
Lonny - Adam Hogston
Stacee Jaxx/Father - Nick LeMay
Franz Klinemann - Paul Hanson
Regina - Samantha Quintana
Dennis Dupree - Bob Gilmore
Justice/Mother - Sara Mattix
Hertz Klinemann - Joey Galda
Ensemble - Marcus Benzel, Carmen Butler, Jana Coburn, Erin Florea, Melissa King, Donte Plunkett, Nora Shelton and Scott Van Den Top

Production

Kimberly Faith Hickman – Director
Jeanne Shelton – Stage Manager
Jim Othuse – Scenic Designer
Chris Wood – Lighting Designer
Georgiann Regan – Costume Designer
Tim Burkhart – Sound Designer
Jim Boggess – Music Director
Kimberly Faith Hickman – Choreographer
Jens Rasmussen – Fight Director
Darin Kuehler - Properties
Greg Scheer – Production Coordinator

Cast of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Cast                          

Dennis Stessman - Ransome Foster

Sydney Readman - Hallie Jackson

Isaac Reilly - Bert Barricune

Chad Cunningham - Jim Mosten

Christopher Scott - Marshal Johnson

Brennan Thomas - Liberty Valance

Chris Berger - Narrator

Aubrey Fleming - Ensemble

Gary Williams - Ensemble 

Production

Jeff Horger – Director

Gabi Rima – Stage Manager

Jim Othuse  – Scenic and Lighting Designer

Amanda Fehlner – Costume Designer

John Gibilisco – Sound Designer

Christina Rohling – Fight Director

Vince Krysl – Music Composer/Arranger

Darin Kuehler - Properties

Greg Scheer – Production Coordinator