Digital programs for events at Wharton Center for Performing Arts. 

Digital Programs

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Since 2000, Jeff has played such venues as The Birchmere, Club Passim, Cafe Lena, New York City’s 54 Below and Birdland, the City Winery in New York and Nashville, The Barns at Wolf Trap, Austin’s Cactus Cafe, Rams Head in Annapolis, Huston’s Mucky Duck’s, the Dakota Room in Minneapolis, the Ark in Ann Arbor, Chicago’s Old School of Folk Music, Seattle’s Third Door, Alaska’s Latitude 62 in Talkeetna, as well as numerous other opera houses and performing art centers throughout the country. With his son’s band, The Ben Daniels Band, he has toured both coasts. He has shared the stage with Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, Cheryl Wheeler, Guy Clark, Christine Lavin, Keb Mo,’ and Bruce Hornsby. He performed at David Bromberg’s 70th Birthday Bash at NYC’s Town Hall. In 2012, the Martin Guitar Company began selling the OM Jeff Daniels Custom Artist Edition Guitar. He also narrated their award-winning documentary, “The Ballad of the Dreadnought.”

“In 1976, I moved to New York to become an actor. What I didn’t plan on was being so influenced by so many Off-Broadway playwrights. In particular, Lanford Wilson, who would later go on to win a Pulitzer Prize for his play, *Talley’s Folly*. Lanford taught me so much about the process, imagery, the love/hate relationship one has with such solitary pursuit and the endless rewriting as you search for a better way to say it. In Hollywood, the joke is if you ask any actor what he really wants to do, he’ll say, “Direct.” Not me. I wanted to write. So I did. With a guitar in my hands.”

About

An Evening with Jeff Daniels

# **Take It From The Top**

**2025 Five-Day Intensive Showcase in Detroit**

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“Where I Wanna Be” from Boop!\
**ALL**

Welcome and Introductions\
**Paul Canaan, Take It From The Top Co-Founder and Executive Director**

“The Whole Being Dead Thing” from Beetlejuice\
**Blue Group**

“Wicked Medley”\
**Red Group**

Solos\
**Announced from Stage**

“20th Century Fox Mambo” from Smash\
**Green Group**

“I Wanna Friend Like You” from Aladdin and The Jungle Book\
**Red Group**

Solos\
**Announced from Stage**

“Mamma Mia Medley”\
**Blue Group**

“Money” from Cabaret and The Great Gatsby\
**Green Group**

Solos\
**Announced from Stage**

“What I did For Love” from A Chorus Line\
**ALL**

Thank You’s\
**Paul Canann**

“Where I Wanna Be” Reprise from Boop!\
**ALL**

program

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### **Co-Founder and Executive Director**

Paul Canaan

### **Faculty**

Kate Bailey\
Greg Kamp\
Lauren Chapman\
Jacob Yandura

Faculty

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**Paul Canaan**

Broadway: *Kinky Boots* (dance captain / original Angel), *Miss Saigon, Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage Aux Folles, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang*, and *Legally Blonde*. Co-Producer: *How to Dance in Ohio*. 

He partnered with Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell to launch Choreography Guides with MTI and Broadway Media, which enables schools and theaters to learn and perform original Broadway choreography.  

Paul also founded the non-profit arts education organization Take It From The Top, which provides professional mentoring and training opportunities for aspiring young artists. He also served as a judge for The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The JIMMY AWARDS).   

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**Kate Bailey**  

Kate Bailey (She/Her) Theater: *Frozen* (Broadway/National Tour); *Beetlejuice* (Broadway); *A Chorus Line, Love Life* (NYCC Encores!); *Something Rotten!* (National Tour); *Oliver!, Grease* (PaperMill Playhouse); *Camelot* (Barrington Stage Company). Film and television: Fosse/Verdon (FX). @katerosebailey 

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**Greg Kamp**   

Greg Kamp is a performer and producer whose career has spanned stage, screen, and concert venues across the country and internationally. Management and producing credits include *How to Dance in Ohio* and *The Last Five Years* on Broadway and work with National Alliance for Musical Theatre, Theatre Communications Group, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, Mariah Carey’s Christmas Spectacular, Maestra, Ogunquit Playhouse, Wharton Center, 54 Below, Green Room 42, Broadway Dreams Foundation, Atlanta Workshop Players, Dallas Summer Musicals and more. He is the lead Agent for LML Music Presents, a boutique concert booking agency, representing a roster of leading Broadway and Cabaret artists and the Co-Founder and Producer of MT Shorts, an award-winning production company dedicated to producing original musical films (mtshorts.com). Greg is a graduate of University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). gregkamp.com 

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**Lauren Chapman**  

Lauren Nicole Chapman is New York based actor, singer and dancer who is most recently known for her 7 year journey with Frozen on Broadway and the North American tour. Lauren is a powerhouse vocalist working in NYC for the past 12 years on and off Broadway. Fresh off the road from playing Princess Anna, she is so thrilled to be able to pass on all that she's learned to all the students she's fortunate enough to work with and is so excited to return to Take It From the Top! Her favorite past credits include *Kinky Boots* on Broadway and the first National tour, Audrey in Little *Shop of Horrors,* Serena in *Legally Blonde* and Corrie Bratter in *Barefoot in the Park*. @laurennicolechapman 

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**Jacob Yandura**  

Jacob Yandura is a New York City based composer. Most recently, Jacob and his lyricist-collaborator Rebekah Greer Melocik are at work on a musical adaptation of the 2015 Peabody Award-winning documentary *How to Dance in Ohio* (directed by Sammi Cannold; supported by the Prince Fellowship and the Shubert Organization’s Artistic Circle; world premiere at Syracuse Stage, Fall 2022). His other projects include *The Last Queen of Canaan* (book by Harrison David Rivers), *The Coup*, and *Wringer*, a commission by New York City Children's Theater based on the novel by Jerry Spinelli (Off-Broadway; New York City Center Stage II; directed by Stephen Brackett). 

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### **Participants**

**Red Group**

- Addison Riddell 
- Allie Grant 
- Allison Herrmann 
- Aria Vazzano 
- Brady Pippin 
- Caiden Lange 
- Cece Brown 
- Charlotte Boon 
- Charlotte Klark 
- Eleanor Malosh 
- Ellie Knapp 
- Elliott Cox 
- James Johnson 
- Julianna French 
- Laura Stoll 
- Lillian Carroll 
- Lucy Dodd 
- Megha Shahani 
- Mira Vantaram 
- Nora List 
- Riley Birsul 
- Stacey Pennar 
- Victoria Panzenhagen 
- Vivian El-jawad 

**Blue Group** 

- Addi Huff 
- Anna Steiger 
- Annalise Urek 
- Anthony Queen 
- Asher Buss 
- Auggie Huffman 
- Ben West 
- Breanna Ombongi 
- Eliot Reavis 
- Hadley Roth 
- Jonah Santos 
- Julia Peck 
- Karisa Green 
- Kennedy Schultz 
- Lara Polk 
- Macklan Kohler 
- Nina Hajek 
- Noah Gillespie 
- Nora Perez 
- Randie Acton 
- Ronin Bruster 
- Sarah McLellan 
- Selah Kolasa 
- Sienna Mann 
- Vaida Obenour 

**Green Group** 

- Addi Chapman 
- Amelia List 
- Anika Hajek 
- Charlotte Gowell 
- Ellie Treat 
- Emma Kuhlman 
- Emma Rosenzweig 
- Flynn Gregory 
- Izzie Harris 
- Jake Mayer 
- Jake Schultz 
- Jessica Wendel 
- John Howland-Streng 
- Kenny Bassett 
- Kenzie Davis 
- Kian Rabourn 
- Lauren Sandborn 
- Lily Renaud 
- Melanie Conway 
- Sophie Gorbatoff 
- Tori Brown

Participants

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### **Staff**

**Assisting Artists**\
David Howland, Accompanist/Music Director\
Elyse Gray, Bass\
Dan Ingman, Drums

**Group Leaders**\
Emma Garrett\
DeNetria Gibson\
Maddie McKeown

**Wharton Center Institute for Arts & Creativity**\
Kelly Stuible-Clark, Senior Education Program Manager\
Laurie Briseño, Education Operations Manager\
Ben English, Community Engagement & Special Projects Coordinator 

**Fisher Theatre Staff**\
James Kuhl, General Manager\
Jim Manduzzi, Theatre Manager\
Christopher Nuñez, Deputy General Manager

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### **Special thanks**

MSU Detroit Center\
MSU Community Music School—Detroit\
MSU Federal Credit Union

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staff

Take It From The Top Detroit

# **Crazy For You**

## **Take It From The Top**

**2025  Advanced Showcase**




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## **Musical Numbers**

- K-ra-zy For You
- **Bobby** 
- I Can’t Be Bothered Now 
- **Bobby & Follies Girls** 
- Bidin’ My Time 
- **People of Deadrock** 
- Girls Enter Nevada 
- **Follies Girls** 
- Someone To Watch Over Me 
- **Polly** 
- Slap That Bass 
- **Bobby, Tess, Billie, Wyatt, Mitzi, Margie & Company** 
- Embraceable You 
- **Polly, Bobby** 
- Tonight’s Night 
- **Ensemble** 
- I Got Rhythm 
- **Polly, Tess, Patsy, Susie, Vera, Betsy, Billie, Wyatt, Pete, Bobby & Ensemble**
- What Causes That 
- **Bobby & Zangler** 
- Naughty Baby 
- **Irene, Lank & Male Quartet** 
- Stiff Upper Lipp 
- **Patricia, Eugene, Bobby, Polly, Ensemble** 
- They Can’t Take That Away From Me 
- **Bobby, Polly** 
- But Not For Me 
- **Polly** 
-  Nice Work If You Can Get It 
- **Bobby, Follies Girls** 
- Finale 
- **All** 
- Bows/I Got Rhythm 
- **All** 

Musical Numbers

## **Cast**

- **Jeffrey Stimson**
- Bobby Child (1) 
- **Owen DeLong**
- Bobby Child (2) 
- **Kelsie Koves**
- Polly Baker (1) 
- **Sylvia Bunn**
- Polly Baker (2) 
- **Andrew Hardy**
- Bela Zangler 
- **Lindsey Tibbs**
- Irene Roth 
- **Robby Carrigan**
- Lank Hawkins 
- **Madelyn King**
- Patsy 
- **Hannah Roman**
- Eugene Fodor 
- **Brenna Cloutier**
- Patricia Fodor 
- **Natalya Flores**
- Tess 
- **Miles Brewer**
- Moose 
- **Izzy Harris**
- Mrs. Lottie Child 
- **Riley Leinbach**
- Mina 
- **Kian Rabourn**
- Sam 
- **Spencer Duguay**
- Pete 
- **Anthony Salerno**
- Wyatt 
- **Emberlynn Dilley**
- Mitzi 
- **Kara King**
- Vera 
- **Jadyn Ross**
- Billie 
- **Myla Guerra**
- Margie 
- **Josephine Polasek**
- Betsy 
- **Ashley Blaszczynski**
- Susie 
- **Luca Cerillo-Encinias**
- Cowboy 
- **Arden Carrasco**
- Follies Girl 
- **Ash Vivio**
- Follies Girl  
- **Ella DeWester**
- Follies Girl 
- **Evelyn Johnston**
- Follies Girl 
- **Isabella Edmonds Hogan**
- Follies Girl 
- **Isabelle Sabrelle**
- Follies Girl 
- **Jessica Wendel**
- Follies Girl 
- **Lily Rozmys**
- Follies Girl 
- **Lorena Moore**
- Follies Girl 
- **Maggie Fanning**
- Follies Girl 
- **Olivia Smith**
- Follies Girl 
- **Rory Oginsky**
- Follies Girl 
- **Sara Peltier**
- Follies Girl 

Cast

**Stage Mangers**\
Elena Forman\
Tatum Noud 

**Costumes**\
Tracy Harris & Walled Lake Northern High School  

**Special Thanks**\
Marshall Music 

Special Thanks

Take It From The Top Advanced

# **Take It From The Top**

**2025 Creative Kids Showcase**

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Carrying the Banner\
Creative Kids 

Welcome and Introductions\
Paul Canaan 

Good Things Grow\
Orange Group 

Ease on Down the Road\
Black Group 

Solos\
Announced from Stage 

Bikini Bottom Day\
Purple Group 

Stick It To The Man\
Black Group 

IMPROV 

Solos\
Announced from Stage 

First Time In Forever\
Lauren Chapman 

Fixer Upper\
Purple Group 

Solos\
Announced from Stage 

Introduction to Advanced Workshop\
Paul Canaan 

Slap That Bass\
Advanced Workshop 

Oh the Thinks You Can Think\
Orange Group 

Program

Kait Wilson, Music Director 

Brooke Broughton, Music Director 

Anastasia Breen, Teaching Artist 

Kaitlyn Riel, Teaching Artist 

Ben English, Teaching Artist

Andres Perez 

Mace Betts 

Maddie McKeown



**Black Group**

Alyssa Pratt 

Brenner Mitchell 

Brynne Winter 

Charlotte Snell 

Chloe Orr 

Claire Kacsor 

Elena Hiramanek 

Ella Compton 

Emily DeBano 

Isabella Potterpin 

Lilliana Vosburgh 

Madelyn Hendrickson 

Maria Arens 

Miriam McLean 

Neil Saini 

Quinn Schafka 

Silvia Bucci 

Sophia Dolan 

Ted Johnson 

 

**Orange Group** 

Alexandra DeYoung 

Angie Wang 

Aviva Axelrod 

Breckin Mitchell 

Ceci English 

Eleanor DeYoung 

Elisa O'Connell 

Frankie Johnson 

Grace Zimmerman 

Isobel Gallagher 

Jane Kim 

Kayla Cartwright 

Leni Lothamer 

Liberty-Grace Hebert 

Lillian Richard 

Margot Oliveri 

Margot Stone 

Nora Thalls 

Oliver Shafer 

Zoe Mattarella-Micke 

 

**Purple Group** 

Addison Smith 

Adelynn Baumgart 

Amelia Decker 

Aria Manning 

Cecily Going 

Claire Stuible 

Cooper Snell 

Elena Juntunen 

Elsie Lum 

Elyse Parker 

Genevieve Jones 

Iris Gulker 

Isabella Salter 

Jamie Wardlaw 

Khalila Morsi 

Leland Izydorek 

Lucy Stuible 

Mila Haller 

Nora Clark 

Ronnie Wardlaw 

Take It From The Top Creative Kids

# **Take It From The Top**

**2025 Five-Day Intensive Showcase**

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“Where I Wanna Be”\
ALL 

Introduction  

“The Whole Being Dead Thing”\
Green Group 

“Wicked Medley”\
Blue Group 

Solos\
announced from stage 

“I Wanna Friend Like You”\
Red Group 

“Mamma Mia Medley”\
Blue Group 

Solos\
announced from stage 

“Welcome to Wonderland”\
Red Group 

“Money Medley”\
Yellow Group 

Improv with Paul 

Solos\
announced from stage 

“Livin it Up”\
Green Group  

“20th Century Fox Mambo”\
Yellow Group

Thank You’s 

 “Where I Wanna Be” Reprise\
ALL 

Seth Burke, accompanist  

Janus Hoang, accompanist 

Elyse Gray, Bass  

Dan Ingman, Drums 

Darcy Kramer 

Mace Betts 

Tatum Noud 

Zachary Barker 

### **Red Group**

Abigail Skyring 

Ali Perkins 

Aria Russian 

Audrey Roberts 

Claire Saini 

Clara Adams 

Elliana Bucci 

Elliott Dial 

Evelyn Polasek 

Everli Collison 

Evie Martin 

Harper Grolle-Rudolph 

Henrik Hunter 

Henry Kimmerly 

Lennox McKenzie 

Marcella Wardlaw 

Nat Bernard 

Norah Laskos 

Quinn Rosales 

Rainha Hasselback-Frank 

Riley Haughey 

Rohan Felton-Hingwe 

Rosemary Burrack 

Ruby Stuible 

Winter Gierhart 

Zach Patton 

 

### **Blue Group** 

Allie Ferrigan 

Amelia Weingartz 

Annabelle Johnson 

Annalise Berenter 

Annalise Johnston 

Bailey Cartwright 

Beckett Fulk 

Callie Muncaster 

Carmen Roberts 

Dessa Gallagher 

Ella Redman 

Elliot Ward 

Emerson DeYarmond 

Gia Tramontana 

Henry Tykocki 

Jack Rushton 

Josephine Emerich 

Kensington Hanson 

Kyla Feldvary 

Logan Geisel 

Loretta Stuible 

Lucia Thompson 

Madison Frazier 

Michelle Phelan 

Nelly Aste 

Sebastian Buda 

Theran Lloyd 

Willow Wurtzel 

 

### **Green Group** 

Ali AlJallad 

Amelia Szymusiak 

Andie Leengraven 

Daphne Elder 

David Flores 

Delilah Voci 

Dylan Evjen 

Eleanor Mann-Gregory 

Evelyn Going 

Fiona Baldwin 

Fiona Berman 

Hannah Tobe 

Harlow Alverson 

Harper Brown 

Isla Bernard 

Ivey Banner 

Kya Gielarowski 

Laura Sayers 

Marco Cerillo Encinias 

Megan Hardenbergh 

Mia Lyons 

Mila Fulk 

Mimi Voci 

Stella Pohl 

 

### **Yellow Group** 

Adelei Collison 

Anna Pearson 

Anora Lloyd 

Ashlyn Brewer 

Audrey Hillman 

Autumn Craig 

Chris Maytas 

Clara Fajardo 

David Escojido 

Emma Welsch 

Etta Poer 

Gibson Dombroski 

Hayden Jeffrey 

Kaia McFadden 

Lauren Sandborn 

Lou Pallone 

Luca Cerillo-Encinias  

Marie DeYarmond 

Natalya Flores 

Pearl Biber 

Priscilla Cressman 

Quincy Guthaus 

Sanvi Patel 

Take It From The Top Showcase 

# **Sutton Foster Awards**

- **Host**\
Lauren Nicole Chapman
- **Co-Director/Choreographers**\
Morgan Rose &\
LaQuet Sharnell Pringle
- **Music Directors &**\
**Music Arrangers**\
Steven Cuevas\
& Jonathan K. Parks
- **Lighting Designer**\
Michael Beyer 
- **Stage Manager**\
Lauren Lenz
- **Assistant Stage**\
**Manager**\
Tia Spicer
- **Judges**\
Penelope Ragotzy\
Brian Taylor\
Tiffany Sims

1. Donell Snyder\
Reeds
2. Chuck Newsome\
Guitar
3. Jeff Trudell\
Percussion
4. Hank Horton\
Bass

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Places Please—A Tribute to the Broadway opening number\
Welcome: Host Lauren Nicole Chapman\
Character Medley Performances\
2025 Technical Theatre Honors\
Backstage Spotlight\
Guest Performance\
Character Medley Performances\
House of Mouse Tribute

**Intermission**

Character Medley Performance\
Finalists Announced\
Executive Director: Eric Olmscheid\
Weekend One Production Number\
2025 Excellence in Musical Theatre Education Award\
Weekend Two Production Number\
2025 SFA Winners /Jimmy Award Nominees\
Closing Number

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This performance will run approximately two hours & 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

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Sponsored by Nancy Passanante and Michigan Student Aid.

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## **SUTTON FOSTER AWARDS**

The Sutton Foster Awards program is a state-wide educational initiative celebrating Michigan high school musical theatre. The program is open to all Michigan high schools, regardless of location, school size, or musical budget. The year-long program culminates in the Sutton Foster Awards Showcase that you will see today. The Sutton Foster Awards program has grown significantly over the past three years with 72 high schools represented today. Today’s program features 150 high school students performing selections from their school musicals and a variety of Broadway medleys.


**THE NOMINEES’ JOURNEY**\
All of today’s performers are hoping to become Michigan nominees for The National High School Musical Theatres Awards (The Jimmy Awards®) to be held in New York City later this summer. Performers were selected based on their participation in their respective high school musicals; each musical was reviewed by a panel of three expert adjudicators, who selected students to appear in today’s showcase. Once nominated, students were also invited to participate in one of two Workshop and Audition Weekends held earlier in May. During these weekends, the students experienced one-on-one vocal coaching with voice professionals, learned music and choreography for a musical theatre arrangement, custom-designed for each weekend, and auditioned for a panel of judges. All 150 students came together yesterday to rehearse and stage today’s 2025 Sutton Foster Awards Showcase.

about

**Morgan Rose**\
Morgan is so grateful and overjoyed to be a back at this year's Sutton Foster Awards. Broadway: *School of Rock* (Dance Capt/Swing); Off-Broadway: *Dear Edwina* (Dance Capt/Swing)*;* National Tours: *Evita* Revival 1st Nat'l Tour (Swing), *Shrek The Musical* 1st Nat'l Tour, *Elf The Musical.* In addition to performing, Morgan is a passionate arts educator. You can find her teaching all around New York City and on faculty at Broadway Dance Center, Joffrey Ballet School's Musical Theatre Intensive, MTCA and AMDA. She has been incredibly fortunate to work alongside some of New York's most inspiring choreographers including  Al Blackstone, Natalie Malotke, Ricky Hinds and Josh Bergasse. BFA Music Theatre Florida State University. Michigander at heart. Proud AEA Member. Love to her incredible husband, Trey, and their sweet not-so baby boy, Theo. @nycmoro

**LaQuet Sharnell Pringle**\
 LaQuet Sharnell Pringle (they/them) is a seasoned and celebrated Professional dancer/singer/actor with 20 years of experience working on and off Broadway. For 11 years, They've been a celebrated dance/musical theater acting and voice educator serving on the faculty of Texas State University, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and the NY Film Academy. LaQuet trained at William Esper Studios with William Esper and is a proud SUNY Empire State College graduate with a BA in Theater & Dance. Their performing credits include Broadway/National Tour: *Mrs. Doubtfire The Musical, Beautiful The Carole King Musical, Lysistrata Jones, Memphis, The Lion King, Sweet Charity*, Off-Broadway: *The Life, Make Mine Manhattan, Ave Q*, Regional Theater: *Aida* (Workshop), *Flashdance, Candide, The Wiz, Ain't Misbehavin', Princess-A New Musical, Chicago, Footloose, AIDA, Nights on Broadway III, Shrek—The Musical* (NY Workshop), *Jawbreaker The Musical, Caty Bridgewater A Musical, The Submission, Closer, The Dead Guy*, Television/Film: *Blacklist* (NBC), *Girls on the Bus* (HBO), *I.F.* (Paramount Pictures), *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Daily Show, As the World Turns, Step Up 3D, Devoted, Sylvia Plath Project*.

**Steven Cuevas**\
Steven Cuevas (he/him) is a NYC-based music director, musician, orchestrator, and arranger. Broadway: *The Notebook*; *The Who's Tommy*; *Days of Wine and Roses*; *New York, New York*; *Dancin'*; *& Juliet*; *Moulin Rouge!*; *Tina: The Tina Turner Musical*; *Once On This Island*; *Anastasia*; *Kinky Boots*. Select Off-Broadway: *The Connector*, *Hell's Kitchen,* *Kinky Boots*, *Little Shop of Horrors*, *We Are The Tigers*, *Closer Than Ever*. Tours: *Tina*, *Moulin Rouge!*, *Once On This Island*, *Kinky Boots*, *How the Grinch Stole Christmas!*, *Spring Awakening*. Regional: *Eighty-Sixed* (Diversionary Theatre), *Macbeth in Stride* (A.R.T., Shakespeare Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company). Recordings: *Once On This Island*, *How the Grinch*..., *Monstersongs*. Orchestrations: *Macbeth in Stride*, *Gold Mountain*. Proud member: Local 802 AFM, AEA, Recording Academy, Filipino American community. @StevenMCuevas

**Jonathan K. Parks**\
Jonathan K. Parks is a Manhattan-based music director, educator, and pianist. Broadway: *Chicago.* National Tours: *Chicago, Young Frankenstein, The Four Phantoms in Concert*. NYC: Metropolitan Opera, Big Apple Circus. Regional: Barrington Stage Company, Ogunquit Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, Northern Stage, New London Barn Playhouse, Lake Dillon Theatre Company, Short North Stage, Amarillo Opera. He is a proud graduate of Florida State University and has served on the faculties of New York University and Marymount Manhattan College. [jonathankparks.com](https://www.jonathankparks.com/)

**Lauren Nicole Chapman**\
Lauren Nicole Chapman is an Actor, Singer and Dancer working out of New York City. A proud Michigan native, she attended Interlochen Arts Academy for boarding school with a concentration in Theatre. She then went on to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre at Emerson College in Boston, MA. With diploma in hand Lauren moved to NYC and shortly after joined the Broadway and touring companies of the Tony award winning musical, *Kinky Boots*. In 2017 Lauren joined the Original Broadway Cast of *Frozen* and has the past 7 years touring as Princess Anna. 

**PROGRAM STAFF**\
Laurie Briseño\
Steve Heinrich\
Ben English\
Kelly Stuible-Clark

**Additional Support**\
Jess Randall\
Connor Reilly\
Hope Still\
Jenna Hemmes\
Andrew Muylle\
Anastasia Breen\
Elena Forman


Sutton Foster Awards

## The 29th Annual

# **Young Playwrights Festival**

&nbsp;

Finalists:

- Malayna Brink
- Cozmo Neubauer
- Malia Reitz
- Richard Shelton
- Madison Snawder 
- Charlie Valas

&nbsp;

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

- MSU Federal Credit Union
- Wharton Center Inner Circle

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Presentation of the 2025 Finalist Plays\
Department of Theatre Speech: *Sarah Hendrickson*

Welcome from Sarah Hendrickson and Eric Olmscheid. 

There will be a reception in the lobby after the final performance.


### **The Chicanerous Murder of A Sunscreen Saleswoman**

Written by Malia Reitz, Holt High School\
Sponsoring Teacher: Lauren Hallett • Playwright Mentor: Emilio Rodriguez\
Directed by Matt Durland

- **Colette**
- Savannah Jordan
- **Lucian**
- Shelby Parker
- **Julian**
- Jhon Govaere
- **Tanner**
- Stephanie Kochel

### **Count to 10**

Written by Richard Shelton, Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy\
Sponsoring Teacher: Karen Horwath • Playwright Mentor: Eric Marlin\
Directed by Ava Ballagh

- **Earn**
- Ben Perry
- **Levitt**
- Jhon Govaere
- **Customer**
- Alec Althoen
- **Hendrix**
- Alexis Mendez

### **Defiance in Name Only**

Written by Malayna Brink, Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy\
Sponsoring Teacher: Karen Horwath • Playwright Mentor: Shawntai Brown\
Directed by Ava Ballagh

- **Teru**
- Jhon Govaere
- **Father**
- Ben Perry
- **Emerald**
- Lexa Busch

### **Double Life**

Written by Madison Snawder, Dewitt High School\
Sponsoring Teacher: Katie Nolen • Playwright Mentor: Joe Giardina\
Directed by Cayla Joy

- **Lindsay**
- Maddie Affer
- **Lindsay Double**
- Lexa Busch
- **Sam**
- Ben Perry
- **Sam Double**
- Alexis Mendez

### **Wired in Parallel**

Written by Cozmo Neubauer, J.W. Sexton High School\
Sponsoring Teacher: Candace Potts • Playwright Mentor: Bella Poynton\
Directed by Cayla Joy

- **Jaron**
- Alexis Mendez
- **Evelynn**
- Maddie Affer
- **Thyria**
- Savannah Jordan
- **Overseer**
- Shelby Parker

### **SUPER FUN SPACE ADVENTURES!!!**

Written by Charlie Valas, East Lansing High School\
Sponsoring Teacher: Diana Sanchez • Playwright Mentor: Jill Holden\
Directed by Matt Durland

- **Captain**
- Stephanie Kochel
- **Private**
- Maddie Affer
- **Cow**
- Lexa Busch
- **Barry**
- Alec Althoen

&nbsp;

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## **Institute for Arts & Creativity**

Kelly Stuible-Clark, Senior Education Program Manager\
Laurie Briseño, Education Operations Manager\
Ben English, Community Engagement & Special Projects Coordinator\
Hope X. Still, Intern\
Connor Reilly, Intern

![Institute_wordmark_gray.jpg](https://res.cloudinary.com/wharton-center/image/upload/v1746648634/Institute_wordmark_gray_c63b05914a.jpg)


---

Wharton Center wishes to express thanks to the following organizations & individuals:

**MSU Department of Theatre**\
Stephen Di Benedetto, Chair

**Faculty Mentor/Advisor for Playwrights**\
Rob Roznowski, Head of Acting & Directing, Professor

**Faculty Mentor/Advisor to Student Directors**\
Sarah Hendrickson, Academic Specialist of Acting and Improvisation, Teaching Artist in Residence, Wharton Center Institute for Arts & Creativity

**Play Selection Committee**\
Brooke Cousins\
Anthony Monteleone\
Nathaniel Myers\
Rob Roznowski\
Alexandra Spevetz

**Intimacy Director**\
Connor J. Reilly

**Stage Managers**\
Connor J. Reilly\
Ally Doederlein\
Kyle Angiolino

**Special thanks to our playwright mentors:**\
Shawntai Brown\
*Detroit-based Theatre Artist*\
Joe Giardina\
*New York City Theatre Artist*\
Julie Daniels\
*L.A.-based Playwright*\
Eric Marlin\
*New York-based Theatre Artist*\
Bella Poynton\
*SUNY AI Teaching Fellow*\
Emilio Rodriguez\
*Michigan-based Theatre Artist*

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thanks

The Young Playwrights Festival (YPF) is celebrating its 29th anniversary
this year. What began as a new educational opportunity in 1996 has
grown into one of the most influential and respected theatre programs
in the state, allowing high school students to see their original work
come to life on stage. Presented collaboratively by Wharton Center and
the Michigan State University Department of Theatre, YPF is an annual
event showcasing original works written by high school students and
produced by university graduate and undergraduate students, creating
a collaborative and immersive program.

More than 30 scripts were submitted by Michigan high school students,
which were read by the initial screening committee. From the 12
semifinalists selected, six finalist scripts were chosen to be produced.
In March, student directors for the finalist plays held auditions with
rehearsals starting in May. Playwrights were assigned professional
theatre mentors who, over five weeks, advised the playwrights on
rewriting their plays.

MSU Department of Theatre students are stage-managing and
providing the technical crews for today’s performance, allowing college
students to engage in the learning experience and work with young
directors and writers to create their production.

Throughout its existence, YPF has fostered up-and-coming talent
by providing writers with the opportunity to work with creative
professionals. At its core, YPF has always been a celebration of the
original work submitted to the program every year. The participants
are dedicated to producing the student’s work and teaching lifelong
skills like creative thinking, professional writing, working with a team,
and leadership.