Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre & Children's Theatre

JORDAN B. STOCKSDALE (Utterson; Music Director): has appeared on the WOB stage in Damn Yankees (Applegate), Chicago (Billy Flynn), Hairspray (Edna), South Pacific (Billis), The Drowsy Chaperone (Feldzieg), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy), All Shook Up (Chad), The Full Monty (Jerry), Another Radio Christmas (Jordie Jordan), The Producers (Max), Cats (Rum Tum Tugger), The Wedding Singer (Robbie Hart), Evita (Che), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy Smith), Forever Plaid (Sparky), and Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik), as well as numerous Children’s Theatre productions and the theatre’s original murder mysteries. Since becoming WOB’s Creative Director and Resident Music Director, he has music directed every production since 2010; directed Nunsense A-Men!; and wrote 2010’s Christmas Follies. He has performed in theatres throughout the Maryland-Virginia region in productions of A New Brain (Gordon Schwinn), Rocky Horror (Frank N Furter), Robber Bridegroom (Jamie Lockheart), Seussical (The Cat in the Hat), and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Beast).

JOSEPH WAEYAERT (Ensemble): is appearing for the first time on the WOB stage. Favorite performances include Happy Days (The Fonz), Zombie Prom (Jonny Warner), and Marat/Sade (Jean-Paul Marat). Joseph has his AA in Theater from Hagerstown Community College and hopes to attend a 4-year college in fall 2012.

SHANNON WELLS (Emma Carew): is very excited to play one of her dream roles on the WOB stage. Favorite appearances include Hairspray (Tracey), The Sound of Music (Maria), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), and Grease (Jan). Shannon also performs in WOB’s interactive murder mysteries, both at the theatre and on the Walkersville Southern Railroad, as well as in the Children’s Theatre productions. Thanks to the WOB family for this opportunity and a special thanks to her family and friends who helped to make this possible, especially Erik and Reed.

GENEVIEVE WILLIAMS (Spider): is delighted to return to WOB once again! Last seen as Mama Morton in Chicago, Genevieve is a multi-faceted artist whose work includes stints as a performer, director, writer, and producer. An all around “theatre geek,” her favorite roles include Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, Mama Morton in Chicago, Trix in The Drowsy Chaperone, Joanne in RENT, Sylvia in All Shook Up, Sister Margaretta in The Sound of Music, the voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, Aretha Franklin soloist in Beehive, Mabel in The Pajama Game, and Tryshia in The Last Session.

LESLIE BRICUSSE (Book & Lyrics): is a double Oscar and Grammy winning writer-composer-lyricist who has written more than forty musical shows and films throughout his career. Over the years, he has had the good fortune to enjoy fruitful collaborations with a wonderful array of musical talents, including Anthony Newley, Henry Mancini, John Williams, John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith, Jule Styne, Quincy Jones, Andre Previn, Frank Wildhorn, and Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky (whose Nutcracker Suite he adapted into a song score). Hundreds of Bricusse’s songs have been recorded by major artists, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis, Jr. (who recorded 60 Bricusse songs), Tony Bennett, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli, Andy Williams, Rex Harrison, Kate Smith, Elaine Paige, Anthony Newley, Michael Feinstein, Bette Midler, The Moody Blues, Nancy Sinatra, Lena Horne, Sergio Mendes, Nina Simone, Dionne Warwick, Robert Goulet, Matt Monro, Ray Charles, Ethel Merman, Placido Domingo, Jennifer Holliday, Danny Kaye, Robbie Williams, Mariah Carey, Linda Eder, Maroon 5, Michael Bublé and The Black-Eyes Peas.

FRANK WILDHORN (Music): became the first American composer in twenty-two years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway in 1999: Jekyll & Hyde (written with Leslie Bricusse), which received two Tony nominations; The Scarlet Pimpernel (written with Nan Knighton), which received four Tony nominations; and The Civil War (written with Jack Murphy & Gregory Boyd), which received two Tony nominations. He also wrote additional songs for Broadway's Victor/Victoria (written with Leslie Bricusse). Last season, he was represented on Broadway by the new musical Bonnie & Clyde.

JUSTIN M. KISKA (Director): is the President & Managing Director of Way Off Broadway and the Chairman and Executive Producer of the theatre’s outside production division, WOB LIVE! Entertainment. Directing credits include productions of Wait Until Dark, Steel Magnolias, Lullabies of Broadway - A Musical Revue (which he also wrote), Grease, Mel Brooks' The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Drowsy Chaperone. He is also the "mastermind" behind a growing series of interactive murder mysteries, having written A Rock-n-Roll Golden Oldies Murder, The Case of the Oldest Living Showgirl, Murder by Marriage - A Wedding to Remember, A Fantasy Fairytale Murder Mystery, The Class Reunion Caper, American Icon: This Competition is Murder!, DEATH: It's a Drag!, and A Taste of Murder! Curiosity Killed the Cook. In addition to his mysteries, he is the author of a collection of Christmas shows including An Old Fashioned (Radio) Christmas, Holiday Cheer, 'Tis the Season, A Christmas Time of Year, Another Radio Christmas, and Christmas Tidings.

AMANDA PATTEN (Musical Staging): is a choreographer and performer who has enjoyed working at theatres throughout Maryland. She has choreographed countless productions, including the area premieres of The Goodbye Girl - The Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Full Monty, All Shook Up, Dirty Rotten Scoundrel, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Chicago. She has performed here at WOB, both in the Mainstage and Children's Theatre, and Toby's Dinner Theatre (Columbia and Baltimore). Favorite onstage credits include Hello, Dolly! (Dolly), Guys & Dolls (Adelaide), Grease (Patty), and Disney's AIDA. In addition to her stage work, she is an instructor at Dance Unlimited.

WAY OFF BROADWAY (Producer): The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre has been a leader in the region’s performing arts community since it first opened in 1995. Under the direction of the Kiska Family since 2002, Way Off Broadway has produced such productions as A Funny Thing . . . Forum, Guys & Dolls, Steel Magnolias, Oklahoma!, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, The Odd Couple, A Chorus Line, Lend Me a Tenor, The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Evita, Cats, The Full Monty, South Pacific, Hairspray, and Chicago, as well as the regional and/or area premieres of Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl - The Musical, Jerry Herman’s La Cage aux Folles, the musical comedy The Wedding Singer, Mel Brooks’ The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Way Off Broadway also produces a one-of-a-kind children’s lunch theatre, as well as a number of special events throughout the year.

WHO'S WHO IN THE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

JORDAN C. ALLEN (Ensemble): returns to WOB after have last played Mrs. K’s sassy shop assistant, Rusty, in 2011’s Christmas Tidings. At WOB, he has also been seen in Chicago and Hairspray (Seaweed). A fairly recent transplant from the West Coast, past roles include Leading Player in Pippin, Ryan Evans in High School Musical, along with numerous other stage productions, print ads, commercials, and short films. He thanks his beautiful and loving family for their never-ending support and all of his friends at WOB for such a great time.

JESSICA BILLONES (Lucy): is appearing in her sixth show at WOB, having been seen in the ensembles of Damn Yankees, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, All Shook Up, and The Drowsy Chaperone, and as Muzzie in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other recent credits include Musical of Musicals: the Musical (June), City of Angels (Donna/Oolie), Curtains (Georgia), Into the Woods (Rapunzel), and the current productions of Pinkalicious and Flat Stanley (WOB Children’s Theatre). Thanks to her family for their support and God for His many blessings.

MATTHEW CRAWFORD (Lord Savage): is making his WOB debut in Jekyll & Hyde and will be appearing as Flat Stanley in the Children’s Theatre production of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. Matthew has come from New York where he received his BA in Theatre. He last played Horatio in Hamlet, ensemble in Candide, spent a summer as a cowboy in Colorado as well as numerous other shows.

SHEILA CUNNINGHAM (Lady Beaconsfield): is thrilled to be back on the WOB stage! Her first appearance here was as Erronia in Forum, followed by Guys & Dolls (General Cartwright) and Fiddler on the Roof (Grandma Tzeitel). Some of her favorite roles include Sister Aloysius in Doubt and Golde in Fiddler. When she’s not on stage, Sheila loves to write, craft, and sing karaoke.

MATT CURTIS (Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde): knew what he wanted to be from that fateful moment when little Matt, dressed up as a bumble bee, stepped out into the bright lights of a stage. He wanted to be an astronaut. But when that dream flew off into the night sky he began to follow his passion for theater and music. After graduating Matt went on to perform in many venues from DC to Richmond and singing his way through many roles including Tony in Westside Story, Younger Brother in Ragtime, Danny Zuko in Grease, Dickon in The Secret Garden, and Munkustrap in CATS. Matt has also appeared in a few independent films, including the psycho comedy thriller Little Red in the Hood. Matt extends his thanks to his family, his English Muffin, and Way Off Broadway for taking a chance on a failed astronaut.

CAROLINE GRISWOLD (Nellie/Ensemble): is thrilled to be making her WOB debut! Previously, she danced for a season with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland, as well as having performed in the Shawnee Playhouse Christmas season, Chicago (Hunyak) at St. Mark's Players, Reefer Madness (Placard Girl) at Greenbelt Arts Center, and will be seen in 2012 as Josie Mansfield in the History Channel mini-series The Men Who Built America. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Duke University and has also trained at Signature Theatre. Love to Mom, Dad, Lisa, and Geoff. “Thanks for your endless support!”

MICHAEL IACONE (General Lord Glossop): is returning for his second show at WOB. Previously, he appeared in such shows as Kiss Me, Kate, A Christmas Carol, Wise Guys, and a Halloween Murder Mystery set in the historic Calvert Family Mansion in Riverdale, Maryland. Michael will also be seen in Stock♦ing Productions’ RENT this Memorial Day weekend right here at WOB. “I’m very excited to be a part of this show and to be a part of Way Off Broadway.”

BRIAN D. JAMES (Sir Archibald Proops): is making his WOB debut with Jekyll & Hyde and already loves working here. Brian attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City before returning home to pursue a Music degree. He is a junior at Shepherd University pursuing a Bachelor's in Music Education and Performance. Some of Brian's favorite appearances include Sweeney Todd (Tobias), Little Women the Musical (Laurie), West Side Story (Riff), and Children of Eden (Adam/Noah). He hopes to graduate from Shepherd next spring and return to NYC where he would like to attend graduate school and continue his career.

BILL KISKA (Sir Danvers Carew): has, over the years, played roles from Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music to Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. His proudest theatrical moment though was appearing as Georges in the area premiere of Jerry Herman's smash-hit La Cage aux Folles. Behind the scenes, he has directed productions of Oliver!, The King & I, Hello, Dolly!, . . . Forum, The Wizard of Oz, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Evita, Cats, South Pacific, Hairspray, Chicago, and the regional premieres of The Wedding Singer and All Shook Up. Since becoming one of WOB’s owners and Executive Producer, he has overseen every production at the theatre since 2002.

DAVID MARCUS (The Bishop of Basingstoke/Bisset): is delighted to return to WOB, last appearing as Underling in The Drowsy Chaperone. He toured nationally in the ensembles of Oliver!, City of Angels, and Grand Hotel. Favorite regional roles include Sir Dinadin in Camelot, The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, and Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden. David is eternally grateful for the endless and excruciating love and support from Chloe, Alex, and especially his wife, Lisa (who deftly and daily keeps them all from lovingly murdering each other).

JUSTIN MOHAY (Simon Stride/Poole/Ensemble): has been performing for audiences in the D.C. metropolitan area for the last five years and was most recently seen in WOB’s production of Damn Yankees as Joe Hardy. A graduate of the Catholic University of America, some favorite past appearances include You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Charlie Brown), Godspell (John the Baptist/Judas), Sunday in the Park with George (Louis), Little Shope of Horrors (Audrey II puppeteer), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Bun Foo), Crazy for You (Everett Baker), and Senior Operations Officer in the International Spy Museum’s Operation Spy. He would like to thank everyone involved with the production for the experience and hopes you enjoy the show!

NATALIE STEPHENSON (Ensemble): started performing in theatre productions during freshman year of high school and has continued at Hagerstown Community College. Her favorite roles include Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Maria in West Side Story, and Charlotte in A Little Nights Music. She is currently studying Pre-Pharmacy at HCC but really enjoys theatre. This is her first production at WOB and hopes it is not her last.