Beck Center for the Arts
Scott Spence, artistic director
presents
the '07 encore production of

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book by Linda Woolverton


view the '05, '06 & '07 company lists and biographies, pictures,
reviews and features at these links ...
the Beck Center '05 original production
the Beck Center '06 encore production
the Beck Center '07 encore production

Who’s Who in the Company

Bob Abelman (Maurice) Bob is honored to be returning as Belle’s dad and Gaston’s body double but finds the whole concept of dancing cutlery a bit disturbing. He performed on Broadway for two weeks and was seen by 23,188 people but they never call or write. Bob was last seen in Cain Park’s Oliver (Mr. Sowerberry) and recently won an OCTA best actor award for his portrayal of a verbally abusive father in Chagrin Valley Little Theatre’s Over the Tavern. Off stage, he teaches and writes about television, film and theater, and is a consultant to the children’s TV industry. Love to Judy, his rehearsal schedule widow, as well as Rys and Zaydee. Love to A.J., forever a flower vase.

Jose Ayala III (Fish Man/Villager/Doormat/Wolf/Dance Captain) Ecstatic to be back for a second time around, Jose is extremely happy to be performing in Beck’s third and final production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He is reprising his role as the Doormat and also taking on the task of Dance Captain. This is his fifth production on the Beck Main Stage. His credits include last year’s production of Beauty and the Beast, one of the six horses in Equus, Ensemble and Dance Captain in Jekyll and Hyde, and the dance version of the Dave Barbour character in Reflections: Peggy Sings Leiber and Stoller. Many thanks to his family and close friends for their support. Break a leg to the cast and crew.

Catherine Betts (Villager/Napkin) Catherine is so excited to be in Beauty and the Beast for her first Beck Center appearance! She is a senior at Magnificat High School and cannot wait for college. Catherine has been dancing at the Dance Centre by Heidi Glynias for six years. She is also in her fourth year of voice lessons with Lynnette Guttman. Catherine has been featured as a townsperson, nightmare dancer and bottle dancer in Fiddler on the Roof. She recently appeared in Middle of May’s Godspell (Dance Captain) and her high school’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie (Gloria). Catherine would like to thank her family and friends for their support, and Lynnette and Heidi for their inspiration, talent and guidance!

Justin Brenis (Villager) Justin is excited to be appearing in his first show here at the Beck Center. He is currently a junior at Tri-C East, and is preparing to go to Walt Disney World to participate in their College Internship program. When he's not on a major Disney overload, you may have seen him at Chagrin Valley Little Theater, where he played Peter Hunter in No Sex Please, We're British, or as Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Some of his other stage productions include Rudy Pazinski in King O' the Moon (CVLT '06), Bo Decker in Bus Stop (Hudson Players '07) and many other credits. Justin would like to take this opportunity to thank his family, Kate Tonti and Charlene Crimaldi (his theater moms), his amazing friends for their endless, boundless, and sometimes unbelievable support, the entire cast and crew of Beauty and the Beast '07, and of course Fred for giving him this amazing and memorable opportunity. Enjoy the show!

Kate Buddenhagen (Villager/Plate) Kate is thrilled to return to Beauty and the Beast. She has studied voice and played piano since childhood and has played leads in many shows, including Into the Woods, Godspell, Nunsense, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Kate is the sales and marketing director for Contemporary Design Group and managing editor of CBC™ Magazine. She also teaches with Kindermusik of Cleveland and works as Slider’s assistant at Cleveland Indians games. Kate enjoys spending time with family, friends and her boyfriend, Sam, as well as being at home with her cat, Molly.

Joseph Carmola (Technical Director) Joe enters his second season as Technical Director at the Beck Center. Hailing from Canton, in the past he has served as Technical Director/Lighting Designer at the Canton Players Guild, The Magical Theatre Company, as well as Paul Green’s Trumpet in the Land, and numerous freelance credits as well as a design for Les Miserables Jr. which has been seen in many student programs throughout Northeast Ohio. He is also the proud father of Clayton who has always brought light to his life.

Deanna R. Caudill (Stage Manager/Properties) Deanna is excited to be working here at the Beck Center for the Arts. She holds her BFA in theatre from Lake Erie College and specializes in stage management, properties and image projection design. Deanna has worked for many area theatres including RRCAA, Fine Arts Association, GLTG, JCC, University School, and Southern Ohio Light Opera Company. She is currently the office manager for Master Consulting Group, an insurance brokerage specializing in employee benefits. She wishes to thank her mentor, John Huston, for all his wisdom and her husband, Ron, for understanding her obsession with theater.

**Martín Céspedes (Musical Staging & Choreography) Most recently, Martín staged Nine The Musical directed by Victoria Bussert and Beck Center’s world premiere production of Reflections (Peggy Sings Leiber and Stoller) and last season’s critically acclaimed production of Equus for which he has received a 2007 Northern Ohio Live nomination for Choreography. Some favorites include Smokey Joe's Café, Five Guys Named Moe at Beck Center, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and My Way (the Music of Frank Sinatra) at Weathervane Playhouse. He has appeared in several Broadway national tours including Man of La Mancha with Jack Jones and Ron Holgate, The King and I with Hayley Mills, Marie Osmond, Maureen McGovern and Faith Prince; South Pacific with Robert Goulet; and West Side Story with Bebe Neuwirth. In New York, Martín staged choreography for the off-off-Broadway production of Scrooge and Marley. He danced in opening acts for Earth, Wind and Fire and the Bee Gees and has appeared on TV's Dance Fever and NBC's Weekday Fever, as well as performing in and dance captain for John Kenley’s last theater season. His most recent opera credit was the lavish PBS production of Le Cid with Placido Domingo and the Washington Opera live from Kennedy Center where he served as associate choreographer and fight captain. Martín has taught theater dance for the School of Cleveland Ballet. He is an alumnus of Jacque d'Amboise’s National Dance Institute at New York City’s PS 161 and has studied with Chet Walker and the late Christopher Chadman. Martín was featured in Bravo magazine for his work in the theater and was nominated for Northern Ohio Live’s Theater Award in both 2005 and 2006. He has won numerous Times Tribute Awards and was named in Scene Magazine as Cleveland’s Best Choreographer of 2006.

Douglas Collier (Cogsworth) Douglas is happy to once again spend the holidays playing his favorite dysfunctional timepiece. He was last seen on this stage as Simon Stride in Jekyll and Hyde where he was killed by Dan Folino (Mr. Hyde). Douglas will next appear in Sweeney Todd at Lakeland Theatre where he will play Judge Turpin and once again be killed by Dan Folino. Past roles include Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice and Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird, both at Lakeland, Captain Hook in Peter Pan at Tri-C West, Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music and Archibald in The Secret Garden, both at Beachwood Theatre. Douglas teaches in the Theater Education Department at Beck Center and will direct the Youth Theater production of The Wizard of Oz in spring 2008. He attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and is the Minister of Music at Zion Unity Church in Tremont. Douglas would like to dedicate this show to Natasha for reminding him of why we do this.

Jacqueline Cummins (Villager/Egg Timer) Jacqueline is delighted to be making her Cleveland debut in this outstanding production! Newly transplanted from Corpus Christi, Texas, Jacqueline is a Coast Guard spouse hailing from Amityville, New York. Favorite shows include Carousel (Carrie Pipperidge), A Grand Night for Singing (Lynn), Opal (Laura), Merrily We Roll Along (Gussie), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator), and Lips Together, Teeth Apart (Sally). Jacqueline's work on The Hidden Sky (Beloved), with composer Peter Foley and playwright Kate Chisholm, holds a special place in her heart. She is the proud mama of four children – Riley, Maddie, Max, and Dan. Much love to her spouse Tim, and all friends and family who encourage her on this journey.

Ron Cuirle (Bookseller/Corkscrew) Ron is thrilled to be appearing on the Beck Center stage for the first time. He spends most of his time on stages in Akron where he recently appeared as Michael in I Do! I Do! at Weathervane Community Playhouse. Other area shows include Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Einstein) and Custer (Custer) both at Coach House Theatre, The Long Christmas Ride Home (Man/Narrator) at The Bang and the Clatter and most recently A Shayna Maidel (Duvid) for the Cleveland JCC. Look for Ron starring as Sherlock Holmes in an audio recording of A Study in Scarlet.

Bill DePetro (Baker/Cake Server/Wolf) Bill is thrilled to be performing in the third and final production of Beauty and the Beast at the Beck Center. He has previously been seen at the Beck Center as Poole in Jekyll and Hyde and as a Horse in Equus. He would like to thank his family and friends for being so supportive. Thanks for coming and enjoy the show!

Megan DePetro (Villager/Napkin) Megan is delighted to return to the Beck Center for her second production of Beauty and the Beast! Recently she has been seen in The Rocky Horror Show (phantom) and Copacabana (Samantha/Lola) at Cassidy, Jekyll and Hyde (dancer/assistant special effects) at the Beck Center and in Pride and Prejudice (Miss Anne de Bourgh) at Lakeland Civic Theatre. Upcoming projects include Sweeney Todd at Lakeland Civic Theatre and a student showcase with Mitchell Fields at Baldwin Wallace. Special thanks to her family and friends for their support and to Dan for everything. I love you! Natasha, this one’s for you!

Kayla Dueland (Villager/Napkin) Kayla is thrilled to be involved in this year's production of Beauty and the Beast. She is a recent graduate from the University of Akron where she earned a B.A. in Dance. While attending college, she was a member of the University of Akron Dance Company as well as involved in various theater productions such as Cabaret. Kayla would like to thank her family and friends for their continuing support.

Erin R. diLauro (Milkmaid/Plate/Silly Girl US) Erin graduated from Ashland University with a B.A. in Musical Theatre. Favorites include Suds (Dee Dee), Violet (Young Violet), Into the Woods (Cinderella), and the title role in Gigi. In addition to performing, she teaches Triple Threat Training classes and recently directed Children of Eden at Cassidy. Up next is Sweeney Todd at Lakeland Theatre.

W. Lee Domenick (Egg Man/Monsieur D’Arque) This is the third production that Lee has participated in at the Beck Center, having performed in Beauty and the Beast in December 2006 and most recently as the Bishop of Basingstoke in Jekyll and Hyde. Prior to moving to Ohio, Lee performed in many theatrical productions, amateur and professional productions including Oklahoma, The Secret Garden, Evita, Fantastiks, Meet Me in St. Louis, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Little Shop of Horrors. Lee is an Episcopal Priest and Rector of Church of the Ascension in Lakewood. What a wonderfully talented and gifted cast and crew. It is Lee’s honor and privilege to work alongside each and every one in this cast. Thank you so much!

Lesley Dohrn (Lady with Baby/Broom & Dustpan) Lesley is thrilled to be part of such a talented cast and crew in her third stage experience with Fred. She appeared in On The Town at the Beck Center in March 2005 and in South Pacific at Cuyahoga Community College in November 2005. Lesley wishes to thank Fred for the opportunity to work with him again, and her friends, family and co-workers for their encouragement and support.

Rachel Fichter (Silly Girl/Plate) Rachel is a recent graduate of the College of Wooster, having earned a B.A. in Theater and English Literature. She spent this past summer with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival appearing in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Comedy of Errors and Othello. Favorite college credits include Asaka in Once On This Island, Cordelia in King Lear and Constance in Good Night Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). Rachel would like to thank her parents for their constant love and support, as well as for not charging her rent.

Aubrey-Kristen Fisher (Babette) Aubrey is glad to be back at the Beck Center and joining the cast for this final run of Disney's Beauty and the Beast . She was last seen on the Main Stage in Jekyll and Hyde (Female Ensemble/Lucy US). Other credits include Pride and Prejudice (Charlotte Lucas), Cinderella (Cinderella), and Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey). Her next appearance will be at Lakeland Theatre in the sure-to-be-spectacular Sweeney Todd. She sends thanks to Mitchell for helping her find her inner voice, boundless gratitude to Fred and Larry for the AMAZING opportunity to play this sassy role, and love to Craig for every single moment.

Brandon Michael Fleming (Shepherd/Wolf/Knife) Brandon is currently a sophomore at Wright State University majoring in Acting/Musical Theatre. He is very excited to be joining this amazing cast again, making this his second debut on the Mackey Main Stage. He was previously seen here in the 2006 encore production of Beauty and the Beast. Past shows include Urinetown The Musical, Aida, A Little Night Music, Ragtime, Anything Goes, Fame, Footloose, Guys and Dolls, and West Side Story. Brandon would like to thank God, his family and friends, and the cast and crew for all of their help and support.

Dan Folino (Beast/Associate Magic Consultant) For Natasha.

Joe Fornadel (Candle Man/Fork) Joe is happy to be back working with such a talented group at the Beck Center; He was last seen on the Beck Center stage as Ozzie in On The Town; His other Beck center credits include Eating Raoul, Dames At Sea and Joseph. Some of his favorite roles were: Josh Baskin in Big, the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, Kenikie in Grease, Hines in Pajama Game and Bud Frump in How to Succeed. Adding to his career of over 36 theatre productions, Joe has worked on some productions lending his skill as a Lighting, Sound, and Video Technician. When and if he has free time; Joe enjoys Roller Blading, Jetskiing and is an accomplished swing and salsa dancer. Joe thanks the cast and crew for a beast of a time. Much Love to Family and Friends- "Salsero's Rule!!!!"

Scott Gamble (Beast Make-up Designer & Creator) Scott attended the studio art and sculpture programs at Kent State University and completed extracurricular studies under Academy award-winning makeup artist, Dick Smith. Gamble has done numerous makeup jobs for print, television and live theater performances. He has worked on numerous motion pictures applying makeup to stars ranging from Rob Lowe to James Coburn and has traveled the United States and Europe with the world renowned Cirque du Soleil for their feature motion picture, Journey of Man. Scott operates his own fully functional special effects make-up studio where for the past twelve years he has provided specialty costuming for Warner Bros. licensed amusement park Batman stunt shows internationally.

Rachel Gerard (Villager/Salt) Rachel is very excited about her second performance in Beck Center’s Beauty and the Beast. She is a student at Kent State University majoring in educational interpreting. Prior performances include a Plate in last year’s production, Urinetown The Musical (Ensemble), Seussical! The Musical (Bird Girl) and many, many more. lmi mom and dad.

Natalie Green (Belle) Natalie is delighted to be returning as Belle, the strongest and smartest Disney princess. Natalie holds a degree in Musical Theatre from Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts in Pittsburgh. Since returning to Cleveland, she has been seen in Necessary Targets (Seada) at Fine Arts Association, Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennett) at Lakeland Theatre, Boogie Woogie Baby (Laverne Andrews) at the Cleveland Play House Club, and in A Shayna Maidel (Hanna) with the Jewish Community Center of Cleveland. Natalie appears regularly as a “Stylette” at Pickwick and Frolic Cabaret. Special thanks to Mary Jo Davies for making her the Belle of the ball, to the Tremont B&B and its proprietors John and Laura for three years of friendship and accommodations and also to family and friends for endless love and support. For Natasha, the first real princess I ever knew.

Larry Goodpaster (Musical Director/Conductor) Larry is happy to return to the production team for this final offering of Beauty and the Beast at the Beck Center. Larry became actively involved in musical theater in Cleveland ten years ago and has since participated in over 70 productions throughout Northeast Ohio. His musical direction and orchestras have received consistent recognition and kudos from the media. Beauty and the Beast, his 41st production at the Beck Center, is the biggest box office success in recent years and brings many newcomers to the magic of live theater. Young and old alike can appreciate this classic story of a coming of age. He would like to challenge the Cleveland community to attend theater throughout the year so that we don’t lose this vital contribution to our culture.

Amy Christina Hall (Madame de la Grande Bouche) Amy is excited to be back on the Beck Center stage. Last season she appeared as Lady Beaconsfield in Jekyll and Hyde. Amy attended the Cleveland Institute of Music where she completed a Professional Studies degree in Voice in 2004. Since 2003, she has been engaged with Opera Cleveland on Tour performing as Adele in Die Fledermaus, Adina in Elixir of love, and Rosina in The Barber of Seville, as well as Papagena in Opera Cleveland’s mainstage production of Die Zauberflöte. She recently appeared as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance for Opera Cleveland On Tour’s mini-residency program.

Bernadette Hisey (Aristocratic Lady/Measuring Spoons/Mrs. Potts US) Bernadette is proud to make her debut performance at the Beck Center in Beauty and the Beast. Most recently, she has been seen in Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney), The King and I (Mrs. Anna), Kiss Me, Kate (Kate), and The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess). She has performed at Cain Park, CAMEO, Cassidy Theatre, JCC/Tri-C East, Lorain Community Musical Theatre, and Mighty Goliath Productions where she will be directing The Pirates of Penzance. Bernadette has Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education and teaches elementary music and tap dancing at Harrison Elementary School in Lakewood. Thank you, Fred. Break a leg, everyone!

Zac Hudak (Lefou) For Calista, Nadya and Natasha.

Richard B. Ingraham (Sound Designer) Richard is happy to be returning for his fifth season of work with the Beck Center. Previous Sound Designs at the Beck Center include Reflections (Peggy Sings Leiber and Stoller), Equus, Beauty and the Beast, Hamlet, Diary of Anne Frank, T.I.D.Y., Agnes of God, and Of Mice and Men. Richard is a former Resident Sound Designer at The Cleveland Play House and the current Resident Sound Designer for Hope Summer Repertory Theatre in Holland, Michigan. He has designed sound for numerous theatres in the area and around the country, including Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland State University, The Cleveland Theatre Company, Dobama Theatre, The University of Evansville, Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, Playhouse Square Center, Rabbit Run Theatre, Shakespeare and Company, and Willoughby Fine Arts Association.

Assad Khaishgi (Villager/Dinner Bell) Assad is back for the third (!) time for Beauty and the Beast, and has found each time equally enjoyable. An import to Lakewood from Karachi, Pakistan, he has worked with Fred in On the Town at Beck Center and South Pacific at the JCC. Physician by day and wannabe thespian by night, he looks forward to keeping up with the theater and other performance arts, which he has always loved and participated in at the slightest opportunity. He does wish his parents had been in the country to see at least one of his shows!

Aimee Kluiber (Costume Designer) Aimee is a costume designer from Lakewood. She studied theatre and music at Wittenberg University and The Cleveland Institute of Music and fashion and millinery design at The Virginia Marti College of Art and Design. Her theatrical associations include: Lyric Opera Cleveland, The Cleveland Playhouse, The Cleveland Institute of Music, Cain Park, Case Western Reserve University, Cesear’s Forum, Red Hen Productions, Dobama Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts, Willoughby Fine Arts Association, and the Cleveland Jewish Community Center.

Ben Needham (Scenic Designer) Ben returns again this year to design the set for the third and final production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Beck Center. He is the founder of Digital Squirrel Studio, a full-service theater design, 3-D animation and architectural illustration studio. Ben has designed over 90 productions for a number of theaters in the Cleveland and Atlanta areas. He has worked with organizations such as Geauga Lake, Signstage on Tour, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Stage Crafters, the Jewish Community Center/Tri-C East, The Fine Arts Association, Porthouse Theatre, LaGrange Opera, and Lyric Opera of Cleveland. He would like to thank Christie, Aaron and Helen for all their support.

*Larry Nehring (Lumiére) Larry is happy to be returning to Beauty and the Beast for year #3! He was last seen onstage in Arsenic and Old Lace and Measure for Measure at Great Lakes Theatre Festival. Since coming to Cleveland in '93, he has been an active part of the theater community, acting and directing for nearly every theater in town. Larry was in the cast of Playhouse Square’s Love...Perfect...Change and starred in the PBS miniseries The War That Made America as George Washington. His baby, though, is the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, where he has been Artistic Director for eight of its ten years, offering free, outdoor theater to Northeast Ohio. His favorite directorial credits include: the Midwest premiere of Sweet Love Adieu, Taming of the Shrew, Cymbeline, Henry IV: Parts 1 & 2, (CSF), The Alchemist (Bad Epitaph), Much Ado (Weathervane), Servant of Two Masters (Cleveland Play House Children’s Series) and numerous shows for Cleveland Play House’s summer camps. Larry received his MSEd from University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the National Theater Institute (Eugene O’Neill Theater Center). He is a theatrical sign language interpreter, stage combat choreographer, and proud member of Actor's Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. French might be a dead language, but I have candle hands.

Josh Rhett Noble (Gaston) Josh is thrilled to be back at the Beck Center for the third and final production of Beauty! A New York based performer, he has had the privilege of performing the role of Gaston in Disney's Beauty & the Beast across the country. A veteran of over 40 professional shows, Josh recently performed in the concert, One Night Only opposite Broadway stars Shoshana Bean, Matt Bogart, and the voice of Disney's Little Mermaid, Jodi Benson. Other favorite credits include: The Pajama Game (Sid), Forever Plaid (Sparky/Smudge), Camelot (Lancelot), Godspell (Judas), You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Linus), The Fantasticks (Matt), Jekyll & Hyde (Stride), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II Voice), Guys & Dolls (Sky), The Music Man (Harold), Grease (Kenickie), and Lend Me A Tenor (Max). Josh studied musical theatre at the University Of Miami Frost School Of Music and is a member of the Actors' Equity Membership Candidate program. Many thanks to all of the cast, crew, production team and to his incredible friends and family for their endless love and support.

AJ Novak (Senior Assistant Stage Manager) AJ is happy to be a part of this production of Beauty and Beast. He is also glad to be working at the Beck Center for the first time. AJ would like to thank his parents, friends, Usual Suspect Network, and D.J.

*Tracee Patterson (Mrs. Potts) Tracee is delighted to again be playing Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. She has also appeared as Stevie in The Goat (Dobama); Woman 2 in Songs for a New World and Louisa in Nine (Cain Park); Tracey in Unbeatable (WVIZ/Playhouse Sqaure), Zlata in Necessary Targets (Willoughby Fine Arts); Yentl in Yentl and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha (Halle Theatre); various roles in Nickeled and Dimed (Great Lakes Theatre Festival/Cleveland Public Theatre); and in Cally’s Tally, Tuesdays with Morrie, and the Staged Reading Festival at the Cleveland Play House. Her most recent appearance at Beck Center was in the role of Emma in Song and Dance (Beck Center’s joint production with Verb Ballets last spring); other Beck credits include Violet Chandler in The Fix, Arkadina in The Seagull, and Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical The Musical. She will next appear in Beck’s premiere production of Break-up Notebook. Tracee is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and chairs the Cleveland Equity Liaison Committee.

Frances Prusha (Lady with Cane/Whisk) Frances has performed in productions of Pippin (Fastrada), The Good Doctor, Music Man (Alma Hix), and You Never Can Tell (Mrs. Clandon) at Tri-C West. She has also been seen in Evita and Carousel at Baldwin Wallace College. Frances last performed at Beck Center in Chicago (Annie) and is very happy to be performing here again. She worked as a singing server for two years at Castaldi’s Restaurant in Tower City singing musical theater numbers.

Anna Register (Silly Girl/Plate) Anna is making her first appearance at the Beck Center. She is a 2006 graduate of Cleveland Heights High School and is presently a sophomore at Baldwin-Wallace College majoring in Arts Management and Spanish. This is her second musical having performed in East Cleveland Theater’s 2006 production of The Wiz. Anna is currently serving as the Education Intern at the Cleveland Play House. She loves her “support team” and thanks her mother for her sass, her father for her patience, her brothers and sister for her agility, and her friends for their clairvoyance.

John Riddle (Young Prince/Hat Seller/Wolf/Fork/Pepper) This is John’s debut performance at the Beck Center. He has performed with The Huron Playhouse, LCMT, BGSU Firelands Theater, Oberlin Choristers (Hawaii Tour), Choral Spectrum, AMDA Men’s Choir (Chicago) and Cleveland’s Red: The Orchestra (Don Quixote). Favorite roles include Max in Lend Me A Tenor and Cornelius Hackl in Hello Dolly! He studies voice, acting, dance, and piano. John is a senior at Vermilion High School and will pursue a career in Musical Theater upon graduation. Love to family and friends.

Steve Shack (Assistant Stage Manager) Steve is exuberant to participate in the third production of Beauty and the Beast at Beck Center. Recent work includes assistant stage managing Jolson and Company at JCC / Tri-C East and Song and Dance and Beauty and the Beast at Beck Center. Recent light designs include Nite Club Confidential at Kalliope Stage, Seussical The Musical at Geauga Lyric Theater Guild and Urinetown The Musical at Rabbit Run Theater. Steve is currently a college freshman studying Lighting Design at Kent State University. At the end of the year he hopes to transfer to College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati to pursue the same degree. Special thanks go out to his family, friends and to anyone who has gotten him to where he is today – thank you.

Devon Shriver (Villager/Napkin) This is Devon’s 2nd year performing in this magical production. She earned a B.A. in Musical Theater and Child Development from The University of Akron in 2005. Devon has been choreographing all over Ohio for the past six years including The Ashtabula Art Center, The University of Akron and the Canton Player's Guild. She will choreograph the Beck Center's youth production of The Wizard of Oz this April. For over 15 years, Devon has performed as a dancer, singer and actress in Northeast Ohio. She has studied dance in New York City and Chicago with Gus Giordano, Germaine Salsberg and David Howard. Devon is thrilled to be a part of Beck Center’s final production of Beauty and the Beast.

Kelly Smith (Silly Girl/Vase of Flowers) Kelly is very excited to be a part of the third and final production of Beauty and the Beast at Beck Center. She has performed at Willoughby Fine Arts, Rabbit Run Theater and Geauga Lyric Theater Guild. Favorite roles include Wendy in Peter Pan and Amy March in Little Women The Musical. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support.

Kelsey Smith (Villager/Napkin) Kelsey is so excited to be making her Beck Center debut in Beauty and the Beast! She has danced at The Dance Centre in Rocky River for over seven years and has taught ballet and jazz there for two. Kelsey has studied voice with Lynnette Guttmann for five years and also choreographs for St. Raphael’s Drama Club. She would like to thank the outstanding cast and crew members for making this experience so enjoyable, and also her family and friends who have helped her keep her sanity with such a full schedule. Enjoy the show!

Persis A. Sosiak (Villager/Spoon) Persis is pleased to be making her debut at the Beck Center. A native of Lorain, she has performed extensively with the Lorain Community Music Theater and was active in community theater in the Washington, DC area, where she lived for 15 years. Recent local roles include Irene Molloy (Hello Dolly!), Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady) and Lady Thiang (The King and I). DC area roles include Abigail Adams (1776); Maria (The Sound of Music) for which she received the WATCH Award for Lead Actress in a Musical; Louise (Gypsy); and Maggie (A Chorus Line). Enjoy the show!

Scott Spence (Artistic Director) Scott is excited to enter into this, his 18th season, at the Beck Center. He hopes that as always you are enjoying the great diversity our theater offers. With four Cleveland premieres (including a World Premiere---Reflections, and a regional premiere---The Break-Up Notebook), Beck Center continues to be the Northeast Ohio Theatre that offers you the greatest mix of plays and musicals around! In his 18 years, Scott has produced well over 200 productions, directing over 50 himself. The list of favorites grow every season, and include Urinetown--The Musical, Parade, A Man of No Importance, Sweeney Todd, Hair, The Secret Garden, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Greater Tuna, Reefer Madness, The Fix, Zombie Prom, Tommy, and so many more. Outside of Beck's walls, Scott's directorial assignments have included Das Barbecü at Opera Cleveland, and Noises off at both Weathervane in Akron and Berea Summer Theatre. Occasionally on the other side of the footlights, Scott has appeared in Dick Deadeye (BST), Man of La Mancha (JCC), The Secret Rapture (Dobama) and closer to home at Beck in Big River, The Boys Next Door, and Laughter on the 23rd Floor. He also recently had the privilege of joining the cast of Passion last spring in his first onstage stint in the Studio Theatre, directed by Victoria Bussert. Scott holds an MFA degree in Directing from Western Illinois University and is a trained stage fight choreographer, having studied extensively with the SAFD. He misses every minute he's not with his two favorite people---wife, Rachel and daughter, Carleigh-- who continue to rock his world on a daily basis.

**Fred Sternfeld (Director) recently directed Beck Center’s award-winning productions of Stephen Sondheim’s Saturday Night and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He is producer of the Mandel Jewish Community Center’s theatre productions, most recently directing A Shayna Maidel, Jolson and Company, Modern Orthodox, From Door to Door, South Pacific and Ragtime, the musical (Cleveland Theatre Collective ‘Critic’s Choice Awards’ – Best Local Musical & Best Director; Cleveland Scene ‘Best of Cleveland 2005’ – Best Musical). He previously served as Artistic Director at Lakewood Little Theatre - Beck Center for the Arts and the Seattle & Dallas Jewish Community Centers and is a free lance director in the Cleveland area, garnering numerous honors and awards. Selected credits: Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof & The Sound of Music at Cain Park; The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife & The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek at Dobama Theatre; Man of La Mancha, Rags, The Twilight of the Golds, The Immigrant, Crossing Delancey, Beau Jest & Conversations With My Father at the JCC Halle Theatre; Bad Seed at Ensemble Theatre; Amadeus at Willoughby Fine Arts; Table Settings, Isn’t It Romantic, The Diary of Anne Frank & Broadway Bound at Center Stage in Seattle; Of Mice and Men, On the Town, La Cage aux Folles, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Foxfire, Noises Off, Peter Pan, Children of a Lesser God & The Importance of Being Earnest at Beck Center, Proof at GLTG and All My Sons & Enter Laughing at the Dallas JCC. His next project will be This Is How It Goes for The Bang and The Clatter Theatre Company in March of 2008.

Miles Sternfeld (Chip) Miles is thrilled to play Chip again in this third and final production of Beauty and the Beast at the Beck Center. Miles is in seventh grade at Ballard Brady Middle School and has performed in several school plays. Recently, Miles played Jojo in Mercury Summer Stock’s production of Seussical The Musical. He also appeared in Mercury Summer Stock’s production of Mame as Young Patrick and in Oliver! at Cain Park. Miles also portrayed Duke in Tall Tale, an educational video by the Cleveland Clinic Theatre Company. For the past four summers Miles has gone to the Fairmount Performing Arts Camp, performing under the tutelage of his uncle, Fred Sternfeld, acclaimed director of Beauty and the Beast.

Dane Michael Urban (Villager/Wolf/Wooden Spoon) Dane is a freshman theatre major at Baldwin-Wallace College. Although this marks his first performance at the Beck Center, he is no stranger to the stage. Recent credits include Annie Get Your Gun (Charlie Davenport), The King and I (Interpreter), Beauty and the Beast (Lumiére), and Barefoot in the Park (Paul Bratter). Dane plans to pursue a career in professional stage management after college. He would like to thank Frank Bianchi, Lindsay Kostelnik and his family for all of their support and guidance throughout the years. Stay classy Lakewood and enjoy the show!

Shaina Vencel (Old Woman/Enchantress/Sausage Curl Girl/Plate/Belle US) Shaina is elated to be performing in Beauty and the Beast after first seeing it with Broadway's original cast at age 9, and thus deciding she wanted to be an actress when she grew up. Now "grown up", Shaina is a recent graduate of Kent State University with a degree in vocal music and is a voice teacher at the Celebrity School of Music. She has spent the last two summers working professionally with the Huron Playhouse in such productions as Kiss Me Kate (Lilli/Kate), Damn Yankees (Gloria Thorpe), and 1776 (Martha Jefferson). Other favorite credits include A Funny Thing...Forum (Philia), Fiddler on the Roof, (Tzeitel), Godspell (Joanne), and Children of Eden (Eve). Egg-shaped amounts of love to her family for their unending support!

Natalie Welch (Villager) Natalie is thrilled to join the company of Beauty and the Beast at the Beck Center. She was most recently seen in Oliver! at Cain Park. Other performances include: Bye Bye Birdie and Grease at Stagecrafters. Natalie has been active in the Chagrin Valley Youth Theater program, performing in Ghosts, Goblins, and Gobblygook, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Beauty and the Beast, and The Gingerbread Tea. She has studied dance at Studio J in Shaker Heights since the age of three and plays the piano. Natalie is a fourth-grader at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School.

* Actor appears courtesy of the Actors Equity Association (AEA), the union of actors and stage managers.

** Member of SSDC – Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers