Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Music Direction by Brad Wyner
Assistant Music Direction by Lawrence Wallace
Stage Managed by CJ Pierce
Choreography by Jessie Cope Miller
Costume Design by Luke Scattergood
Lighting Design by Cory Molner
Projection Design by Perren Hedderson
Set Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Sound Operated by Alex DiMichelle
CAST
* Denotes member of Actors' Equity Association.
Wesley Allen (Tribe) is super-duper-excited to be a part of the cast of Hair! This is a wonderful way to return to the theater. His last credits include Bitten by a Boomslang (Captain Cut Hands) and The Threepenny Opera (Constable), both at Ohio University. Thank you, Mom and Ben for all your support!
Nicky Belardo (George Berger) is proud to be making his debut performance at Blank Canvas Theatre and in Cleveland, Ohio. He has lived in Los Angeles, CA for the past five years where he modeled, wrote/performed music, and hosted events. Currently, Nicky is working as a model in Cleveland, while performing his music in a variety of venues. He has recently released original music that can be heard on iTunes. Nicky sends his gratitude to his family, friends, and followers who have supported his career from the West Coast to the Midwest.
Andrea Belser (Tribe) is a native of Cleveland with a B.A. in Theater Studies and Vocal Music from Wright State University. Currently, she teaches drama, musical theater, and dance, primarily to elementary school students in Cleveland, Akron, Barberton, and Wooster. You may have seen her perform most recently in A Christmas Story: the Musical (Dancer/Chorus), The Tinderbox (Princess/Ensemble), Singin' on the Ohio (Bit), or her Best Actress in Cleveland-nominated performanc in The Bluest Eye (Pecola). This is her first production at Blank Canvas Theatre.
Tonya Broach (Dionne) is looking forward to making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut as Dionne. Her recent credits include Knock Me a Kiss (Lenora), Cut Flowers (Rhonda), Dreamgirls (Michelle), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Nell), Little Shop of Horrors (Ronette), Intimate Apparel (Esther), Purlie Victorious (Lutiebelle), Two Trains Running (Risa), and Smokey Joe’s Café (BJ). When she is not doing theatre, she likes to travel to the wonderful world of film. Most recently, she appeared in the movie Made in Cleveland, which starred local personalities Leon Bibb and Robin Swaboda, as well as TV personalities Gillian Jacobs and Busy Philipps. Tonya also enjoys working behind the scenes and has served as a Stage Manager for Karamu Theatre. In addition, she also serves as interim Vice President for the Karamu Alumni Association and as a Board Member at Waterloo Arts in Collinwood Village. "Thank you all for supporting live theatre! Hope you enjoy the show!"
Roderick Cardwell II (Tribe) makes his debut at Blank Canvas Theatre. His most recent musical was Sideshow at Near West Theatre, where he took on the role of Jake, the Cannibal King. He works in Inventory Control at MotorCars, while hoping to start working on his engineering degree. He enjoys vanilla almond milk, tacos, burgers, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, holding hands with strangers, having philosophical talks with toddlers, arguing aloud with his cat (who responds), long walks to clear his mind, and aspiring to be like RANDY WATSON!!! [drops mic, and walks off]
Jessie Cope Miller * (Sheila and Choreographer) is super-excited to make her debut at Blank Canvas Theater in Hair! She recently concluded her work for The Musical Theater Project as one of its teaching artists for Kid Love Musicals! and looks forward to getting back into performing as much as she can, even with a toddler in tow. She also just opened her one-woman cabaret, Under the Influence at Nighttown and at PlayhouseSquare, and hopes to perform it again and again, locally and beyond. Jessie received her B.M. in Music Theatre from the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music and, upon graduating, moved to New York City performing in Walmartopia Off-Broadway, Memphis: In Concert and other workshops. Her local credits include Spamalot (Lady of the Lake), Hello Dolly! (Irene Molloy), A Christmas Carol (Mrs. Cratchit), Into The Woods(Witch), Pippin (Leading Player), and I Love You Because (Marcy). Born and raised in Cleveland, she’s proud to be a part and product of its incredible arts community and an Actor’s Equity member since 2005. Love to Mom, Dad, DF and lil’ MA.
Scott Esposito (Claude) - is excited to return to Blank Canvas Theatre where he appeared as Juror #8 in last season’s Twelve Angry Men. Recent credits include Arcadia (Valentine) with Mamai Theatre Company, The Normal Heart (Felix Turner) with Ensemble Theatre, and Assassins (John Wilkes Booth) with Lakeland Civic Theatre. Other favorite roles include The Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), and Twelfth Night (Sebastian) with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (Billy) with Dobama Theatre, and Jeffrey (Jeffrey), Lord of the Flies (Jack), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander) with the Beck Center. Scott would like to thank Patrick for this opportunity, and his husband, Vince, for his continuous love and support.
Becca Frick (Jeanie) is so happy to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage after performing in Debbie Does Dallas (Roberta) and the 2013 benefit performance of Merrily We Roll Along (Gussie). Some of her other favorite credits include, Miss Julie (Julie) at Cleveland State, Chicago (Velma Kelly) at Lorain Music Theatre, Hairspray (Velma Von Tussle) at Near West Theatre, Destroying the Light (Kora) at Ensemble Theatre, and This is Not the Play (Indigo) at Cleveland Public Theatre. Becca enjoys working for Radio Disney Cleveland and directing at Bay High School. Thanks to this amazing cast and staff; let the sunshine in!
Neely Gevaart (Crissy) is very excited to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage! She was last seen here in The Texas Chainsaw Musical! as Kristy. Some recent credit include The Light in the Piazza (Franca), Funny Girl (Fanny Brice), and The Frogs (Ariadne/ensemble).
Trey Gilpin (Woof) is totally freaked to return to Blank Canvas Theatre and to switch gears from last summer’s Twelve Angry Men. Trey is a Kentucky native who moved here after receiving his B.A. at Grove City College in Pennsylvania and working with the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City. As an adopted Clevelander, Trey has appeared at Beck Center for the Arts, Cain Park, Actors’ Summit, Mercury Summer Stock, Lakeland Civic Theatre, and more. Favorite shows include The Importance of Being Earnest (Algernon), Anything Goes (Lord Evelyn), Assassins (Zangara), The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho), Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson (Van Buren), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy), and The Last Five Years (Jamie). He’d like to thank this amazing cast and crew for an incredible experience.
Venchise Glenn (Tribe) - is very excited to make her Blank Canvas Theatre debut in Hair. Her recent show credits include Move On! (Ensemble), Children of Eden (Storyteller), Hairspray (Record Shop Kid), and Almost, Maine (Sandrine).
Shannon Hubman (Tribe) is a creature of the sun and loves all things that are good. She is grateful for her beautiful family and loved ones who foster her art in this senseless universe. Being a Taurus, Shannon devotes her stubbornness and persistent nature to pursuing her love of performing. This show is her Blank Canvas Theatre debut, and she couldn’t be more thrilled. Some of Shannon’s most recent credits include Godspell (Judas), Reefer Madness (Mae Coleman), and [title of show] (Heidi). Shannon is eager to see what the future holds but until then, she’s resolved to just BE and to let the sun shine in.
Joanna May Hunkins (Tribe) - loves being back at Blank Canvas Theatre, where she last appeared in Working. Other credits include Cain Park's critically acclaimed Avenue Q (Lucy), Jerry Springer: The Opera (Shawntel), Holy Ghosts (Muriel), and Urinetown (Soupy Sue) at Beck Center, The Last Five Years (Kathy) and Smokey Joe's Cafe (Patti) at Weathervane Playhouse, and countless productions at Mercury Summer Stock where she served as company manager for several years. When not performing, Joanna is fortunate enough to work full-time in the arts both at Cain Park and as the new associate director of The Musical Theater Project. Joanna would like to thank Erin at Cain Park and Bill and Heather at TMTP for granting her the time to still play onstage. She’s also grateful to Patrick for his continued friendship and for allowing her to be part of this beautiful and still very relevant show.
Jillian Mesaros (Tribe) – is thrilled to be part of this production and to be working with Blank Canvas Theatre for the first time. Recent credits include Rent (Alexi Darling/Ensemble) and Les Miserables (Eponine). After attending school and playing soccer for two years in West Virginia, she is returning home to attend Cleveland State University in the fall. She would like to thank her family and friends for all the love and good wishes. Pisces through and through. Believe in what you do! Go, Tribe!
Kate Leigh Michalski (Tribe) is ecstatic to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre and a part of this show! Recent credits include Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), Sunday in the Park With George (Frieda), The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Lucretia), Godspell, and Young Frankenstein. Up next, she will be seen in The Boy Friend (Hortense) at The Cassidy Theatre. All the thanks to Pat for the opportunity to be a part of this production. Love you, Mom! Love you, Dad.
DeVon Settles Jr. (Hud) Blank Canvas Theatre Debut! DeVon's credits include the Rent National Tour (Mr Jefferson Collins/Benny Understudy), Porgy and Bess (Sportin Life), Romeo and Juliet (Prince), Once On This Island (Daniel), Ain't Misbehavin (Andre), Pippin (Player/Leading Player Understudy), Side Show (Roustabout/Jake Understudy) and CBS' "Elementary." LET THE SUNSHINE IN, EV'RYBODY!!!
David Turner (Tribe) is excited to be a part of this great cast! He was last seen on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage in Bathroom Humor (Sandy). Favorite credits include Guys and Dolls (Rusty Charlie), Anything Goes (Quartet), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Hero), Jesus Christ Superstar (Apostle) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Superintendent/Ensemble). When not on stage, David works in development at PlayhouseSquare and is also a Licensed Massage Therapist at The Studio Cleveland. He would like to thank Pat for this opportunity, and Jason for his love and support.
Joe Virgo (Tribe) is thrilled to be in Hair: The Tribal Rock Musical at Blank Canvas Theatre. This is his second Blank Canvas production, having recently performed in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest last month as Aide Williams. Joe is a theatre major at Cleveland State University and was in its production of Lysistrata. Other credits include Leaf Coneybear in..The 23rd Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Matt Galloway in The Laramie Project, and Cookson in Mercury Summer Stock's production of Peter Pan. When not acting, Joe enjoys Netflix bingeing, playing guitar dramatically on the beach, and participating in deep history debates with his roomate and grandfather, Karl. Joe would like to thank Patrick and the cast for an enriching theatrical experience, his parents, sister Kathryn, and Ian for their incredible love and support. Enjoy the show, man!