Directed & Choreographed by Sarah Clare
Music Direction by Matthew Dolan
Stage Managed by Kate Leigh Michalski
Costume Design by Jill Kenderes
Set, Projection, and Light Design by Patrick Ciamacco
CAST/STAFF/BAND
Benson Anderson (Abraham) is blessed to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage. Previous BCT creditz include Jonny in Zombie Prom and Tim Price in American Psycho. Offstage, he teaches fifth and sixth grade Reading and Language Artz at Birchwood School of Hawken. He would like to thank The Boyz and his familiez (both biological and Birchwood). Love alwayz to Rachel and our pet parrot, Pippin.
Troian Butler (Luke) is so excited to be returning to Mass after serving as an actual altar boy throughout middle school (he earned $10 a year!). Troian graduated from Baldwin Wallace University last May, with credits including Breakout Session (or Frogorse) and Ten Minutes to Midnight at Cleveland Public Theatre, Fat Pig at Western Reserve Playhouse, and The Tempest with KidShakes, as well as The Laramie Project, The Secret in the Wings, In The Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), Twelfth Night, Men on Boats, and Devised Blues, all at BW. Troian is also very excited to be playing Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet at The Ohio Shakespeare Festival, opening in February, 2025! Troian would like to thank his mom, dad, Lolo, Kelpy, Braid, and everyone involved with bringing this awesome show to life. As always, a very special shout-out goes to Mavis the Cat. Peace be with you! @troianbutler
Adam James Cooper (Mark) is stoked to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre in this super fly boy band, after performing in The Spongebob Musical (Old Man Jenkins/Electric Skate) and Spring Awakening (Ernst). Some of his other previous credits include Titanic (Hartley), Violet (Monty), American Idiot (Ensemble), Cabaret (Victor), Shrek the Musical (Big Bad Wolf), and Les Miserables (Marius). Adam has also worked as the wigmaster for The Spongebob Musical and as a wig technician for the Cleveland Play House productions of Clue and Antigone. When not performing, Adam enjoys hiking, bouncing around local coffee spots, petting his cat, and spreading the gospel of Britney Spears. Special thanks to the cast/crew and friends/fam! Practice kindness.
Gabriel J. Hill (Mark Understudy) is a sophomore music theatre major at Baldwin Wallace University, hailing from Ann Arbor, MI, and is excited to debut at Blank Canvas Theatre! Recent regional credits include Rock of Ages (Drew) and We Will Rock You (Featured Ensemble), both at Clinton Area Showboat Theatre (Iowa), and The 25th Annual...Spelling Bee (Chip) at Cain Park. Other credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Priest 2/Ensemble, u/s Peter) at BW, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Quasimodo), Urinetown: The Musical (Bobby Strong), Les Misérables (Enjolras, Marius), and Anne of Green Gables (Gilbert Blythe). Outside of theatre, Gabriel is a photographer and is a part of the competitive a cappella scene. He was most recently nominated for a CARA (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award) for one of his arrangements. He would like to thank the creative team and the entire cast for all their hard work to bring Altar Boyz together! @thegabrielj.hill
Connor Mast (Matthew and Luke Understudy) is ecstatic to return to Blank Canvas Theatre, having previously appeared here in Groundhog Day (Ensemble). His recent credits include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Beadle Bamford), All Shook Up (Chad), and Hair (Claude Hooper Bukowski). Connor is originally from Holmes County, Ohio and has been doing theatre for almost ten years. Some of his favorite projects include The Little Mermaid (King Triton), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Brick Pollitt), Shrek the Musical (Shrek), and Beauty and the Beast (Beast). Connor is now a resident of Akron where some of his credits include Kinky Boots (Angel), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble), Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Hill), and Ragtime (Ensemble). Connor would like to thank his girlfriend, Emily, for all her love and support.
Shane Patrick O'Neill (Matthew) is so happy to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre after previously being seen in Avenue Q (Princeton), High Fidelity (Rob), Leap of Faith (Jonas), and Godspell! Local credits include Beck Center's The Little Mermaid (Eric), The Spitfire Grill (Joe), and Forever Plaid (Frankie), Lakeland Civic Theatre's The Bridges of Madison County (Robert) and The Light in the Piazza (Fabrizio), and numerous performances with The Musical Theater Project. His regional theatre credits include Legally Blonde (Emmett), the orchestral premiere of Songs for a New World (Man 2), The 25th Annual …Spelling Bee (Chip), and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Man 2). He also appeared in the film My Friend Dahmer. Shane is a proud graduate of the musical theatre programs of New York University (M.M.) and Ashland University (B.A.). Shane sends love and thanks to his wife, Alicia, and their two children, Riley and Emmett! www.shanepatrickoneill.com
River Onwudinjo (Juan) is overjoyed to be appearing at Blank Canvas Theatre for the first time as Juan! Recently, River graced the stage in Akron as part of the Millennial Theatre Project, taking on the fabulous role of Lola in Kinky Boots and battling the undead as Ash in Evil Dead - The Musical. Besides these adventures, River has spent much time collaborating with BCT's wonderful neighbor, Near West Theatre, as well. Residing in Lakewood, OH, River is thrilled for the chance to live out boy band dreams on stage, sharing this journey with family and friends who’ve been supportive on every step of the way. River can't wait for audiences to experience this story and hope it brings joy, laughter, and maybe a little nostalgia to all.
Erin Sheplavy (Juan and Abraham Understudy/Dance Captain) is thrilled to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre, and is so excited that the time spent learning and creating choreography in younger years is finally paying off, as Erin gets to live the boy band dream! Previous credits include Big Fish (Sandra Bloom), Side Show (Violet Hilton), Head Over Heels (Ensemble/Mopsa U/S), Cabaret (Herman/Max), The Last Starfighter (Darlene/Zur’s Assistant), Crazy For You (Polly Baker), The 25th Annual … Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky) and Oklahoma (Laurie). When not on stage, Erin is a Clinical Psychologist and Drama Therapist providing therapy, consultation, and supervision.
Sarah Clare (Director/Choreographer) is returning to Blank Canvas Theatre after choreographing Leap of Faith in the 2023 season. She has worked as an actor, director, choreographer, and teacher all over Northeastern Ohio, and currently serves as the Associate Director of Theater Education at Beck Center for the Arts. Some favorite past directing and choreography credits include Mean Girls High School Version, Kiss Me Kate, Children of Eden, Urinetown: The Musical, and Seussical. She is thankful to Patrick, Matthew, Kate, “The Boyz,” and all involved in making this show happen. She sends love to Eric, Charlie, the indoor, and outdoor cats, and dedicates this show to Carla and our love of *NSync and colored Saran Wrap.
Patrick Ciamacco (Lighting, Projection, and Set Design) is so excited to be working with people he loves and respects! Patrick is the Artistic Director and founder of Blank Canvas Theatre. He dedicates this show to the person sitting in the third row, fifth seat from the left.
Matthew Dolan (Music Director) is a Cleveland-based music director, composer, pianist, and conductor, with over 65 stage productions to his credit. Favorite productions include American Psycho (Blank Canvas Theatre), Floyd Collins (BCT), Avenue Q (BCT), Assassins (Near West Theatre), and Urinetown: The Musical (Oberlin College). He has worked on the world premieres of 33 1/3 (Sportelli/Turvey, Dobama Theatre) and Land of Oz (Brant/Motta, Dobama Theater), where he served as Music Director; and Light It Up!, (Jason Michael Webb/Lelund Thompson) where he served as Music Assistant/Keyboard 2. Matthew served as Orchestrator for Velveteen, A New Musical by Molly Andrews-Hinders, which recently premiered at the Mimi Ohio Theater at Playhouse Square. As a composer, Matthew’s work has been heard on the podcasts “Generative Spirits” and “Beyond the Habit.” As an arranger, Matthew’s work spans a wide variety of genres, and has been performed by high school, collegiate, and community ensembles across the northeast Ohio region. Matthew is the current Director of Music at The Community of St. Peter, an independent and inclusive Catholic community. He also serves as accompanist for the Vocal Music Department of St. Ignatius High School and Cleveland Heights High School. Matthew holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and Composition, and a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting, both from the University of Akron. He is a proud member of the Greenhouse Ensemble. www.DolanStudio.com
Jill Kenderes (Costume Designer) is happy to return to Blank Canvas Theatre after previously designing The Crucible, Lobby Hero, Art, Cannibal! The Musical, and several factory series shows. Her costume designs have also been seen at theatres around the area including Ensemble Theatre, Cain Park, Clague Playhouse, and Broadview Heights Spotlights. In addition to costume design, she can be found onstage and has performed throughout the area for the past twenty years. When she is not at the theatre, she is at home surrounded by her husband, Joe, her children, and two Newfoundland dogs.
Kate Leigh Michalski (Stage Manager) is thrilled to get to rock out with the Boyz. Past production credits include Dracula: The Comedy (Director), Annie (Director/Choreographer), Godspell (Choreographer), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Choreographer), Peter and the Starcatcher (Stage Manager) and Cabaret (Stage Manager). Onstage, she has appeared in Zombie Prom (Delilah Strict), Leap of Faith (Marla McGowan), The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Lucretia), Evil Dead - The Musical (Cheryl), Reefer Madness (Mae), She Loves Me (Amalia Balish), Parade (Lucille Frank), Ragtime (Emma Goldman), and Chess (Florence Vassy). Love you, Mom! Love you, Dad.