Directed by Joanna Cullinan
Music Direction by Matthew Dolan
Choreography by Liz Baumgartner
Stage Managed by Jenna Rhoades
Costume Design by Luke Scattergood
Set, Projection, and Light Design by Patrick Ciamacco
CAST/STAFF
Carson Betts (Gus) is very excited to be working with Blank Canvas Theatre. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where he received an M.F.A. in Acting. While at UCF, his credits included Of Mice and Men (Candy) and The Street of Crocodiles (Father).
Tasha Brandt (Rita) is delighted to return to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage. Her favorite recent credits include Velveteen, A new musical (Ty, Fluff) at Playhouse Square, Fun Home (Alison) at Cain Park, and The Rocky Horror Show (Columbia) with BCT. Tasha’s new single, “Take Me Home,” comes out this summer on Spotify; follow @Tasha_Brandt_ on Instagram for updates. Tasha has a background working in mental health and believes in the power of theater to start important conversations. Tasha wouldn’t be where she is today without theater, the help and support of Danny, Krystal, her own therapist, and her incredible community. “Never give up hope!”
Patrick Carroll (Buster) is very happy to finally be in a production at Blank Canvas Theater. He has appeared at Beck Center for the Arts, Carousel Dinner Theater, Great Lakes Theater, Playhouse Square, and in many theaters throughout Northeast Ohio over the past 50 years. He is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Patrick sends love to his incredible wife, wound nurse, and full-time life stage manager, Diana D’Alessandro. Thank you to Joanna and Patrick for this opportunity.
Claudia Cromley (Joelle/Naturopath), as an artistic professional, is always looking for the next opportunity to translate herself into her art in many media. Some of her experiences include Marie Curie Horror Story at BorderLight Fringe Festival and Rhinofest as Catherine, The Mermaid Within at Cleveland Public Theatre as Mermaid/Show Woman, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin at Karamu House as Chitty Chatty and Tallulah, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at CSU Department of Theatre and Dance as Mrs. Lovett, and She Loves Me at CSU Department of Theatre and Dance as Amalia Balash.
Allie Darragh (Nancy Taylor) is thrilled to be participating in her first show here at Blank Canvas Theatre. She is especially excited to work the director Joanna May Cullinen again. Some of her previous shows include, Urinetown: The Musical (Penelope Pennywise), The Drowning Girls (Margaret Lofty), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (The Narrator). Thank you for coming and enjoy Groundhog Day!
Maryann Elder (Mrs. Lancaster) began her theatre career in Philadelphia, and since returning to her native Cleveland has performed throughout the area with Ensemble Theatre, Dobama Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts, Cain Park, and others. In her past lives, Maryann has been a pianist, swing dancer, drama coach, and home chef. She continues to be Mom to a successful daughter and a thankful cat, and travels whenever (and wherever) possible. She happily joins a talented cast and crew here at Blank Canvas Theatre.
Jon Fancher (Sheriff/Healer) sends love first to wife Mary for her constant encouragement and support. Jon is excited to return to Blank Canvas Theatre after The Last Starfighter (Centauri) and comma (Dr. Q). Other stage credits include School of Rock The Musical (Gabe) at Cassidy Theatre; The Beautiful and The Damned (Adam Patch) at Akron Civic’s Millennial Theatre Project; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Jacob/Potiphar) and Urinetown: the Musical (McQueen) at Beck Center; Miracle on 34th Street (Mr. Sawyer) at TrueNorth Cultural Arts; Me and My Girl (Sir John) and Mame (Mother Burnside/Mr. Babcock) at Mercury Theatre; An Empty Plate in the Café du Grande Boeuf (Claude) and Failure: A Love Story (Suit/Dog) at Clague Playhouse; and The Music Man (Harold Hill, Charlie Cowell, Constable) in various productions over the last 50 years. Jon is Pastor Emeritus of Rocky River Presbyterian Church.
Trey Gilpin (Ralph) realizes that if he had a nickel for every time he played “Ralph” at Blank Canvas Theatre, he'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice, right? You may recognize him from BCT productions such as Avenue Q (Nicky), Urinetown: The Musical (Harry), Silence! The Musical (Dr. Chilton), Reefer Madness (Ralph), HAIR (Woof), and 12 Angry Men (#4). Recipient of the 2021 Cleveland Critics Circle Award for Best Actor, Trey has also appeared at Dobama Theatre, Cain Park, Beck Center for the Arts, Cleveland Public Theatre, Ohio Shakespeare Festival, and more. Favorite shows include Cabaret (Emcee), Merrily We Roll Along (Charley), Matilda The Musical (Trunchbull), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho). Many thanks to Joanna, Matt Dolan, Pat, and the rest of this amazing production team!
Amani Green (Doris/Scientologist) is happy to return to Blank Canvas Theatre for her second production! Some recent credits include in Footloose (Vi Moore) at the Willoughby Fine Arts Association, The Marvelous Wonderettes (Cindy Lou) at Clague Playhouse, Rocky The Musical (Jergens, Joanne) at BCT, and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (Madame) and The Little Mermaid (Jetsam) at Near West Theatre. She graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. and M.A. in Psychology and grew up in Cairo, Egypt. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Nicholas Taylor Hassan (Jeff) is so excited to be playing Jeff in this production of Groundhog Day. His recent credits include The Aliens (Jasper), Avenue Q (Trekkie Monster), and By The Way, Meet Vera Stark (Slasvick/Peter). This is Nick’s first show at Blank Canvas Theatre and he is thrilled to share that experience with you. Enjoy the show.
Jaren Hodgson (Deputy/AA Sponsor/Mr. Cleveland) is thrilled to return to perform at Blank Canvas Theatre after appearing in The Spongebob Musical (Patchy The Pirate)! Jaren is a graduate of Cleveland State University with a B.A. in Theatre. Some of his recent credits include Clyde’s (Jason), Little Shop of Horrors (Orin Scrivello), The Skin of our Teeth (Mr. Antrobus), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Adolfo Pirelli), She Loves Me (Georg Nowack), and Blithe Spirit (Charles Condomine). Jaren also serves as the Technical Director and Designer for the Stark County Catholic School theatre program. Jaren would like to thank his friends and family for their consistent love and support of his theatrical endeavors!
Reed Randall Kruger (Ned Ryerson) is very grateful to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage! He is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University with a B.A. in Theatre: Acting and Directing and a minor in Creative Writing, with some of his favorite credits at BW being Marginalia: An Interplay with Edgar Allan Poe (Raven), The Crucible (Thomas Putnam), and Troilus and Cressida (Pandarus/Menelaus). More recently on the BCT stage, you may have seen him in Zombie Prom (Jake), Leap of Faith (Ensemble), or American Psycho (Craig McDermott)! Some of his other favorite credits include Beck Center's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Issachar/Butler), Cleveland Shakespeare Festival's The Learned Ladies (Ariste), and Chagrin Arts' Romeo and Juliet (Lord Capulet). Many thanks to Patrick and Joanna for believing in him with this incredibly fun role, and to his friends and family for always gassing him up even when he wouldn't do it himself. But either way, "you gotta love life!"
Connor Mast (Man/Priest) is ecstatic to be making his Blank Canvas Theatre Debut. Originally from Holmes County, Ohio, Connor has been working in theatre for almost ten years. His recent credits include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Beadle Bamford), All Shook Up (Chad), and HAIR (Claude Hooper Bukowski); his favorite projects include The Little Mermaid (King Triton), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Brick Pollitt), Shrek The Musical (Shrek), Beauty and the Beast (Beast), Kinky Boots (Angel), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble), Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Hill), and Ragtime (Ensemble). Connor would like to thank Joanna and Patrick for including him in this production, and his girlfriend for supporting his craft.
Christine May (Piano Teacher/Mrs. Cleveland) is an actress and vocalist who has been performing across the Cleveland area for nearly twenty years. Some favorite past credits include Beehive: The 60’s Musical (Laura), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Simeon), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy), Mamma Mia! (Lisa), and Elf The Musical (Charlotte Dennon/Ensemble). When she’s not on stage, you can hear Christine on the award-winning Dread and Breakfast podcast, or find her hunched over a laptop writing her debut novel.
Jacqueline S Morrison (Debbie) is over the moon to be involved in her first production with Blank Canvas Theatre. A big thank you to castmates and the production team for their hard work. She would also like to thank her fiance, family, & friends for their consistent encouragement, love, and support. Recent credits include Spring Awakening (Adult Woman) with the Company Theatre, Antony & Cleopatra (Pompey), Almost, Maine (Villian/Rhonda) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Siobhan).
Matthew Perez-Stable (Larry) is making his return to the stage after a long time away, and is thrilled that it’s at Blank Canvas Theatre with this company.
Sullivan Ratcliff (Freddie/ Pharmacologist) is psyched to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre for their production of Groundhog Day. Sullivan was most recently seen on stage as Benjamin in The Graduate at Western Reserve Playhouse and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing at French Creek Theatre. Other recent roles include Peter in BCT’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher, Luke Sanderson in The Haunting of Hill House, Jetsam in The Little Mermaid, and Actor 1 in Baskerville: a Sherlock Holmes Mystery.
Danny Simpson (Phil Connors) is very happy to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage after participating in the benefit production of Guys and Dolls and a Laughter League Show last April. Recent stage credits include Cain Park’s productions of School of Rock The Musical (Ned Schneebly), RENT (Ensemble), and Fun Home (Roy, Pete, Mark, Bobby Jeremy); BCT’s The Last Starfighter (Blake, Zur), and Cesear's Forum's Wenceslas Square (Professor Vince Corey). Danny would like to thank Joanna and Patrick for this awesome opportunity, and his fellow castmates for their hard work, time, and friendship. Special thanks to Tasha and his extended family for their love and support.
Chris Webb (Old Jenson) is excited to make his BCT debut and return to the Cleveland stage where he performed for many years at most area theatres. Some favorite shows include Falsettos (Mendel) at the JCC Halle, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Pirelli) and Pacific Overtures (Reciter) at Cain Park, and Animal Farm (Napoleon) for The Cleveland Play House. Chris spent multiple seasons with Ohio Light Opera and Opera Cleveland, and toured all over Ohio and Florida with Kenley Players. Other freelance gigs have included everything from announcing shows at SeaWorld to appearing in downtown Cleveland holiday events alongside Mr. Jingeling as Pete the Penguin! He hopes you enjoy the show! Tell your friends!
Liz Baumgartner (Choreographer) is a current, full-time graduate student at Case Western Reserve University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Music Education, and a graduate of Otterbein University with a B.A. in Music with a Dance minor. She spent ten years traveling both nationally and internationally with musical theater productions. Favorite credits include two seasons with How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Big League national tour and Grand Ole Opry), 42nd Street (Nederlander Broadway Asia international tour), and four years with In The Mood: A 1940's Musical Revue international/national Tour). After a decade on the road and living in New York, she has returned to Cleveland and started choreographing all over the area. Her work has been seen at Playhouse Square, five seasons with Cleveland Dance Project, Stagecrafters, Laurel School for Girls, and at Fairview Park, Euclid, Bay Village, and Rocky River High Schools. She is thrilled and honored to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre after last summer’s SpongeBob the Musical! Thank you to Patrick and Joanna for the opportunity!
Patrick Ciamacco (Lighting and Set Design) 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.
Joanna May Cullinan (Director) is thrilled to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre directing debut, having previously appeared onstage at BCT in Working and HAIR. She is the artistic director of theater at Cain Park, where some of her favorite directing credits include Big Fish, Fun Home, Ragtime, Memphis, and Rock of Ages. As a freelance director, Joanna has worked with Playhouse Square, Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland Play House, Mercury Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre, Baldwin Wallace University, and Mount Union College. Thanks to Patrick for the opportunity and support!
Matthew Dolan (Music Director) is an active pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, and music director with over 65 stage productions to his credit. Matthew was most recently seen at Near West Theatre as the music director for The Wizard of Oz. Additional recent credits include American Psycho (Blank Canvas Theatre), In Pieces (Pianist/Pit Director, Cleveland State University School of Music), The Fantasticks (Depot Theatre, Westport, NY), and the world premiere productions of Light It Up! (Music Assistant/Keyboard 2, Cleveland Play House) and The Land of Oz (Music Director, Dobama Theatre). Matthew’s original work as a composer has been heard on the podcasts “Generative Spirits” and “Beyond the Habit,” as well as on Cleveland's NBC affiliate, Channel 3 News. As an arranger, Matthew works across a wide variety of genres, and his arrangements have 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. He also serves as accompanist for the Vocal Music Departments of St. Ignatius High School and Cleveland Heights High School. Matthew also is a proud member of the Greenhouse Ensemble. Matthew holds a B.M. degree in Music Theory and Composition, and a M.M. degree in Choral Conducting, each from the University of Akron.
Jenna Rhoades (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be a part of her first performance at Blank Canvas Theatre! She's happy to finally call herself a member of the BCT family and has enjoyed working with this incredibly talented group of individuals. This is her first production in over ten years and she is stoked to be back in action! Some of her favorite past shows include HAIR (Assistant Stage Manager), Shrek The Musical (Assistant Stage Manager), A Christmas Story, The Musical (Stage Manager), and Dead Man's Cell Phone (Assistant Director). Jenna attended Heidelberg University as a Communications major and was heavily involved in theatre there as an executive member of Heidelberg’s chapter of the national theatre honor society, Alpha Psi Omega. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support! Enjoy the show!!
Luke Scattergood (Costume Design) has been active at BCT since its inception, both on and off stage. His favorite past roles at BCT include Brian in Avenue Q, Arthur in Bathroom Humor, and Jonas Fogg in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His costume designs here include Hair, Sweeney Todd, American Psycho, We Will Rock You, and MANY more. He also works throughout the Cleveland area as an actor, costume designer, and director, and is the theater director at Bay Village High School. Thanks to his wife, Laura, and three terrific kiddos for all their love and support. Thank you for supporting live theater, and enjoy the show!!