Downtown Cabaret Childrens' Company
Hugh Hallinan, Executive Producer
Bert Bernardi, Artistic Director
presents
Hansel & Gretel
by Bert Bernardi
Sets by Delmar
Lights by Hugh Hallinan
Costumes by Jimmy Johansmeyer
Technical Direction by Steve Swatt
Production Stage Manager Phill Hill
Staged and Directed by Bert Bernardi
Sponsored by Stratton Faxon Season Sponsors: People's United Bank & R. D. Scinto Media Sponsor: AT&T Yellow Pages
January 16 - February 21, 2010
Saturdays and Sundays at Noon and 2:30pm
Special Saturday Night Performance:
January 16 at 5:30pm
"It's like Pop Rocks...but it's a musical!"
A WORD ABOUT THE SHOW...
Back in 1988, we debuted our first version of Hansel and Gretel. It was a crazy quilt of pop music, sight gags, fairy tales, TV celebrities and maybe even a kitchen sink! It was as traditional as any British "Panto" and a little bit ahead of its time! The reckless abandon of style helped to define the kind of children's theatre we do here at the Cabaret.
Fifteen years later, we revisited this story. While starting from scratch with the script, I wanted to capture that same unpredictable quality of the original. Set in a 1980's-inspired fairy tale world, there are so many surprises in this musical! Audiences of all ages cheered, gaffawed, rocked and rolled. And here it is again...Hansel & Gretel!
Our audiences always know to expect the unexpected...but this one has some great curveballs! Please know that there is not one moment of 'scary' in this show. Here, the "Witch" is played by Downtown Cabaret Children's Company favorite Pam Garrett--and that means one thing! Big laughs!
This is the perfect entertainment for a wintry afternoon for your entire family. Come and see Hansel and Gretel as you have never seen it before! Fresh, fast, frivolous and fun!
- Bert Bernardi Director
The Cast
Hansel ....... Connor Frawley
Gretel ........ Vanessa David
Daddenfatha ......... Sean Maher
Steppenmotha ......... Pamela Nastu Garrett
Fairy ......... Maria Vee
Woman ........ Shelley Marsh Poggio
Jason Parry & Sophia Gall, Ensemble
Photos from the Production
Jimmy Johansmeyer, Maria Vee and Vanessa David.
Jimmy Johansmeyer, Vanessa David and Maria Vee.
Who's Who
Vanessa David has played Rita in Educating Rita, Viola in Twelfth Night and a nine-year-old Japanese girl in Hiroshima but Gretel is easily her favorite role of all time. Other DCCTC favorites include Mamma Rabbit, Goldilocks and The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg. She is also a published playwright. Her plays have been produced in New York, Boston, Connecticut and Portland, Oregon.
Connor Frawley is a freshman at Fairfield Warde High School. He most recently appeared in the New York Musical Theatre Festival as Madoc Dean in COUNT TO TEN, a new tap musical written by Michael Blevins. Other past performances include roles with Fairfield Teen Theatre, FOLLIES, Fairfield Warde High School and DCT Children’s Company. He has trained with Jill Jayson at Center Stage in Westport and D’Valda & Sirico Dance in Fairfield.
Sophia Gall is thrilled to be making her DCT stage debut in “Hansel and Gretel!” She recently played “Ghost of Christmas Past” and “Mrs. Crachit” in the United Productions Theater Company production of “Scrooge!” Her TV credits are a nationally-televised “Monday Night Football” commercial on ESPN and a “YoYo Lip Gloss” commercial airing on Nickelodeon and MTV. Sophia is a proud member of the Broadway League’s Kids Advisory Board in NYC
Pamela Nastu Garrett is excited to return to the Cabaret Stage! She has performed in various Children’s shows over the last twenty years…or so! She would like to dedicate this performance to her children, Hunter, Heather and Harrison who are so special, and to Paul, Gloria, Lisa and Rosemary for always being there for her! A special thanks to her sisters (and brothers) at Entrees of Monroe/Café who make me laugh…every day!
Sean Maher has appeared in over 20 shows with the Cabaret Children’s Company over the past 25 years, as well as many evening productions, Sean is no stranger to the Cabaret stage. As actor, singer, director, choreographer and producer, Sean’s work has been seen all over the US. Currently Sean works at Yale University as tour and business manager for the Yale Glee Club and he also serves as choreographer and set designer for the West Haven High School Theatre Workshop. Sean also is a member of the West Haven Board of Education. Sean’s favorite roles include Papa Gepetto in Pinocchio and Chicklet in Psycho Beach Party. Sean lives in West Haven with his wife Margi.
Jason Parry is finally making his DCT debut and couldn't be happier! Graduating from SCSU with a BA in Theatre, Jason went from being shy to loving the stage! Recent Credits include The Rocky Horror Show and The Wiz at Playhouse on the Green as well as other community theatre productions. "I'd like to acknowledge everyone who has encouraged me to continue doing what I love! Thanks so much!
Shelley Marsh Poggio returns to the DCT for the second time this season having just had the opportunity to play Professor Pentacle in Halloween High School 2. She also appeared in Hansel & Gretel in the ‘03 production in the same role and has had the pleasure of performing in many other roles onstage at DCT since her first as Vixen in ‘Rudolph’ in ‘92. Love to her biggest fans, Don, Kylie & Evan XO.
Maria Vee has spent the past ten seasons with the DCTCC. She first appeared as Lucy in Dracula in 1998 and some favorite roles have been Heidi, The Dish, Mrs. Pots & Pans, and several Queens—including most recently Queen Anne in The Knight Before Christmas—and her favorite, Queen Frostine in Candyland. She also teaches and directs drama in local schools.
Phill Hill returns for his second season as production
stage manager. He graduated from Elon University in 2005 with
a degree in Theatrical Production/Design. For two years he was
the production stage manager for the Warehouse Theatre in Greenville,
SC, stage managing such productions as A Doll's House, The Subject
Was Roses, Plaza Suite and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He also worked
for the Lakes Region Summer Theatre in 2004 and 2005 where he
stage managed Chicago, My Fair Lady and Phantom.
