Directed by Jonathan Kronenberger
Music Direction by Patrick Wickliffe
Choreography by Katie Gibson
Stage Managed by Whitney Miller
Assistant Stage Managed by Jamie Benetto
Costume Design by Jenniver Sparano
Set Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Lighting Design by Brad Hughes
Sound Design & Operation by Anthony Newman
CAST/STAFF
Brian Altman (Frank) is so happy to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre in this Cleveland premiere! He made his BCT debut in Bat Boy: the Musical (Dr. Parker) and is excited to return with this talented cast! He's been involved in community theater for many years all over PA and OH. His favorite theatrical credits include Into the Woods (The Baker), Ragtime (Tateh), Cabaret (Emcee), Silence! The Musical (Dr. Hannibal Lecter), and Shrek the Musical (Lord Farquaad), which returns to Beck Center for another run this December! Brian loves his day job as a Senior Designer of Kids Product at American Greetings. He thanks his real nieces and nephews for kickin' ass in their own ways and his partner for the constant love and support. For Mama Rita, who cherished family above all else.
Leslie Andrews (Linda/Miss California) is expeshully honored to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre with such a talented cast and crew! Favorite credits include roles in City of Angels (Gabby/Bobbi), Young Frankenstein (Inga), Lend Me a Tenor (Diana), and Jerry Springer: The Opera (Zandra/Irene/Mary) at Beck Center, and Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical (Debbie), and High Fidelity (Laura) at BCT. Leslie would like to thank Steven for insulting her f***ing intelligence so many years ago, as well as Jonathan and Patrick for bringing her along for this awesome ride. She is forever grateful for the love and support of her family, especially the guy with the messed-up face.
Cora Barcelona (Chelsea/Mean Girl/ u/s Olive) is ecstatic to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut in Little Miss Sunshine! She has recently been seen in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Woodstock), Law & Order: Nursery Rhyme Unit (Cheryl), and Cinder-Ella (Ballgoer). Cora is a fifth grader at Grant Elementary in Lakewood. She plays the saxophone, clarinet, and guitar, and has taken classes in jazz, tap, ballet, and theater. She also swims competitively for Lakewood Rangers Swim Team. Thank you to my friends, family, and the cast and crew of Little Miss Sunshine for your support!
Antonio DeJesus (Dwayne) is once again grateful to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre, having previously been a part of productions such as Equus (Alan), for which he was nominated "Best Actor" and "Young Rising Star" by the Cleveland Critics Circle, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Bird Seller), Bloody Little Pieces, and the Cleveland premiere of Cannibal! The Musical (George Noon). He has also appeared on the Beck Center stage in My First Time (u/s Man 1 and 2), Bent (Rudy), and Shrek the Musical (Pinocchio), and will return to Beck Center in the regional premiere of Matilda The Musical this summer, as well as for year two of Shrek the Musical in December. This spring, he celebrated his first Polaroid gallery show, "Cuyahoga, Ulra," in partnership with Gordon Square Arts Space, and offstage, he devotes his time to the love and nostalgia that is analog photography. For Lindy, the original Olive. Love from Kent. For Mom, Uncle Todd, Will and Tiff, and Emily Suzanne Plank. AntonioDeJesus.org @TonneDesGarcons
Adam Graber (Joshua/Kirby/Funeral Worker) is excited to make his Blank Canvas Theatre debut. He is a recent graduate of Western Michigan University and currently works as an Actor/ Teacher with Great Lakes Theater. His recent credits include The Boy Who Stole the Sun (Felix) at Talespinner Children’s Theatre and Anything Goes (John) at Porthouse Theater.
Avery Jankowski (Bridget/Mean Girl) is beyond excited for the opportunity to perform in Little Miss Sunshine with Blank Canvas Theatre! Her previous credits include The Little Mermaid Jr. (Ensemble) and The Jungle Book Jr. (Ensemble), as well as vocal solos in a recital setting. She has been dancing ballet since the age of two, has recently started jazz dance as well, and is looking forward to her upcoming recital. Avery is so grateful to the theater staff for recognizing her talent, to the cast for being so welcoming, and to her friends and family for all of their support.
Kristin Netzband (Sheryl) is making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut, and will also choreograph The Toxic Avenger for BCT this summer. Her performing experience includes the second national tour of The Drowsy Chaperone as well New York productions of Kingdom Come (Downtown Urban Theatre Festival), Parker & Dizzy (NYC Fringe), Girls Night (Off- Broadway closing cast), and Girl Talk (Off-Broadway). In addition to regional performances at The Fulton Theatre, Arizona Broadway, and Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, she has appeared locally in Next to Normal (Diana, Scene’s Standout Performance of 2017), Kris Kringle The Musical (world premiere), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Me, Jane Eyre, Ragtime, and Reefer Madness, among others. As a director and choreographer, her credits include productions of Newsies, A Chorus Line, Chicago, A Funny Thing…Forum, Titanic, The Wedding Singer, Bonnie & Clyde, Anything Goes, The Producers, Guys and Dolls, and The Addams Family. Kristin is a proud member of Actors’ Equity. Thank you to Patrick and Jonathan for this awesome opportunity. Thank you to friends and family for their support, and all my love to my husband, Taylor!
Taya Offutt Decker (D’Borah) is thrilled to make her Blank Canvas Theatre debut as D’Borah in this production! Her recent credits include Seussical (Bird Girl), Fences (Raynell), Caucasian Chalk Circle (Michael), The Wizard of Oz (Crow/Tree) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Fairy). Taya thanks the cast, crew, and YOU for supporting the show!
Robert Pierce (Larry/Buddy/Doctor) returns to Blank Canvas Theatre after previous appearances in Chess: In Concert (Molokov) and Floyd Collins (Cliff Roney/Reporter Trio). With training in opera and a lifelong love of musical theatre, Robert continues to perform in both genres. Musical theatre credits include The Little Mermaid (Chef Louis), Billy Elliot the Musical (Mr. Braithwaite), and Jerry Springer: The Opera (Chucky/Adam) at Beck Center for the Arts, A Little Night Music (Mr. Lindquist) and Violet (Preacher) at Lakeland Civic Theatre, Company (Peter) with Chagrin Falls Studio Orchestra, and Sunday in the Park with George (Boatman) at TrueNorth Cultural Arts. Opera credits include Tosca (Angelotti) with Cleveland Opera Theatre and Valley Lyric Opera, La Bohème (Benoit/Alcindoro) with Opera Western Reserve, and Street Scene (Harry Easter) with Nightingale Opera Theatre. Robert also directs and performs operatic programming for young audiences in his role as Educational Outreach Director for Opera Western Reserve, and regularly works behind the scenes as Production Stage Manager for Cleveland Opera Theater and the opera program at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music.
Tim Tavcar (Grandpa)) Tim began his professional theatrical/musical career at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado. Since then, his work as an actor, director, musician, and lecturer has been seen on stages in Cleveland, Akron, Chicago, Houston, Williamsburg, VA, Newport, RI, Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center, NYC’s Carnegie Recital Hall, and in many theaters and concert halls throughout Vermont. He currently serves as an Artistic Associate for Montpelier’s professional company, Lost Nation Theater. Also in Vermont, he founded his Literary concert series, WordStage, in 2007. In addition to creating, producing, and directing WordStage performances in Vermont and locally, he has acted and/or directed at Beck Center, Blank Canvas Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland State University, Dobama Theatre, and Ensemble Theatre. He is honored to be returning to BCT for his fifth show and to work with Director Jonathan Kronenberger, Founding Artistic Director Patrick Ciamacco, and all involved in Little Miss Sunshine’s talented cast and crew.
Poppy Wadenpfuhl (Olive) is pinching herself and so excited to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut in this special production! Some of her recent stage credits include Newsies (Les), Annie (Tessie), Titanic (Thayer Child), Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble), and Charlotte’s Web (Greta the Goose). Poppy is in the fourth grade and loves to read, draw, go camping, and sing on stage. She hopes to be a veterinarian when she grows up. Poppy would like to thank her mom and dad for their love, her family for their support, and her dog, Hazel, for waking her up for school on time after late night rehearsals. Lots of love to everyone who has believed in me!
Derrick Winger (Richard) – is super stoked to be tackling this show with such talented cast. Derrick’s previous Blank Canvas Theatre credits include Working (Mike Dillard, et al.), Reefer Madness (Lecturer), and two of the annual benefit concerts. Other favorite musical theatre credits include Guys and Dolls (Sky), The Wiz (Lion), Children of Eden (Father), Monty Python’s Spamalot (Galahad), Songs for a New World (Man 2), and The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King). He is a proud nine-year member of the Ohio Shakespeare Festival acting company where he has performed Twelfth Night (Sir Toby Belch), Lone Star (Ray), Scapin (Leandre), Charles III (James Reiss), The Three Musketeers: An Adventure with Music (Planchet), and The Lion In Winter (Prince Richard), among many others. He’d like to thank the directors for inviting him to have fun, his wife Justine for all her support, and you – the audience – for supporting live, local theatre.
Lyric Zeager (Tracee) is thrilled to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut. Recent credits include Annie (Molly), Peter Pan (Nibs), Seussical (Cindy Lou Who), and Snoopy, Jr. (Woodstock). Lyric would like to extend her thanks to Mr. Patrick and Mr. Jonathan for this wonderful opportunity and to the entire cast and crew of Little Miss Sunshine.
Brad Hughes (Lighting Design) is ecstatic to be involved with Blank Canvas Theatre and the Cleveland theater community. His lighting design credits include assistant lighting design for Kiss of the Spider Woman (BCT), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Chicago (both at the CWRU Footlighters). Thanks to Patrick and Whitney for bringing me back into the theater scene and for helping me find the long-missing puzzle piece of my heart, live theater.
Jonathan Kronenberger (Director) is overjoyed to return for another show at Blank Canvas Theatre, having directed previous productions of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Silence! The Musical, and Extremities, as well as assisting on Hedwig and the Angry Inch and the benefit productions of Chess: In Concert and Jekyll & Hyde. He has also been seen onstage at BCT as The Narrator in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, Harry in Night of the Living Dead, and Juror #2 in 12 Angry Men. Jonathan would like to thank Patrick for his incredible faith, trust, and endless opportunities. He also extends a special thanks to Becca for her friendship and sharing Patrick so generously.
Whitney Miller (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be a part of Blank Canvas Theatre. Some of her favorite past shows include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Stage Manager), Dogfight (Stage Manager), Songs for a New World (Stage Manager), The Last Five Years (Lighting Designer), Avenue Q (Stage Manager) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (Stage Manager). Whitney attended Case Western Reserve University for chemical engineering, but spent most of her time with the CWRU Footlighters. She would like to thank her cat for being patient and understanding with her busy schedule. Here's to many more!
Jenniver Sparano (Costume Design) has worked at Blank Canvas Theatre numerous times, beginning with the inaugural production of The Texas Chainsaw Musical! and continuing through this season’s opening show, The Kiss of the Spider Woman. Elsewhere, her designs have been seen at Beck Center, Clague Playhouse, Cleveland Public Theatre, Dobama Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, Quicken Loans Arena, and the cabaret stage at Pickwick & Frolic. She is proud to co-produce an annual musical production to benefit AIDS/HIV service organizations in Cuyahoga and Summit Counties and hopes to see you at Bingo! The Winning Musical in August. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, she also studied in Paris and is employed by KeyBank.