Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Additional Direction by Donna Mittler
Stage Managed by Venchise Phillips
Costume Design by Luke Scattergood
Set and Light Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Projection Design by Patrick Ciamacco & Noah Hrbek
CAST/STAFF
Patrick Ciamacco (Lennie/Director) is very excited to be returning to the stage in one of his favorite roles, from one of his favorite books, and with such an amazing cast. Past Blank Canvas Theatre shows include the title roles in The Toxic Avenger, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Jekyll & Hyde, plus The Wild Party (Burrs), Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show (Eddie), High Fidelity (Barry), and the 2012 production of Of Mice and Men (Lennie). Other professional credits include Beck Center’s Shrek The Musical (Shrek), Jerry Springer: The Opera (Dwight/ God) , … Spelling Bee (William Barfee), and Evil Dead - The Musical (Jake). His experience also includes Playhouse Square's We Gotta Bingo (Bucky Fuller), a musical version of The Nutcracker at The Cleveland Play House, and Playhouse Square's two-and-a half-year run of Tony & Tina's Wedding. Patrick sends thanks to Joe, and dedicates his performance to the person sitting in the third row, fifth seat from the left.
Jeff Glover (Carlson Undertsudy on 5/20) is happy to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre! Previous BCT shows include Next Fall, Bathroom Humor, Glengarry Glen Ross, Floyd Collins, and Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show. Jeff is also a playwright whose work has been seen as part of BCT’s Factory Series. Later this season, his new play COMMA will make its world premiere on the BCT stage. Love to Nicki.
Noah Hrbek (Curley) is overjoyed to have the opportunity to perform this role once more, after having portrayed Curley back in 2012 during Blank Canvas Theatre’s inaugural season. He is excited and grateful to be working with this incredibly talented cast and crew! Noah was last seen on stage as Olin Britt in The Music Man at Near West Theatre. He continues to work both on and off the BCT stage, creating projections and doing scenic painting from time to time. In addition to working with BCT, he does production art for Near West Theatre, makes children’s book illustrations, plays guitar for a rock musical project (Future Perfect), moves vinyl at Blue Arrow Records, and hangs out with his amazing daughter, Lydia. Huge thanks to everyone coming out to support live theater! Enjoy the show!
Joe Kenderes (George) is stoked to be reprising the role of George alongside his brother from another mother. In addition to the 2012 production of Of Mice and Men in which he played George, he has been seen on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage in Cannibal! The Musical (Frank Miller) and The 39 Steps (Hannay). Elsewhere, he was recently seen in Sherwood (Prince John) and Titanic (Ismay). Joe resides in Mentor and works in Human Resources at KeyBank. He's extremely grateful to his biggest supporters: Jill, Little Bear and Princess, Mom and Dad, Katie, TOEotL, and to YOU for supporting local theatre!
Dave Moody (Crooks) is very excited to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage one more time! Thanks, Patrick, for the opportunity! His past BCT credits include One Man, Two Guvnors (Lloyd), Glengarry Glen Ross (Detective Baylen), and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Turkle). Dr. Moody is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Lake Erie College in Painesville and is recognized nationally for his academic work in Black popular culture. He would like to dedicate this show to his 95-year-old mother, Mary Louise Moody (love you, Mom, and thanks for all your encouragement!), and to the late Marvin L. Mallory. Please continue to support live theatre! Enjoy the show!
Andrew Narten (Candy) is thrilled to return to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage where he previously appeared in Equus (Frank Strang). He couldn’t be happier to reunite with Pat and Joe, with whom he has performed countless times at Near West Theatre. His favorite productions include The Lonesome West (Valene), A Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Jamie), and Urinetown: The Musical (Officer Lockstock).
Zach Palumbo (Whit) is delighted to be Stein-BACK (sorry) for his eighth show at Blank Canvas Theatre! He appeared here most recently in The SpongeBob Musical (SpongeBob SquarePants), One Man, Two Guvnors (music with The Fishmongers), and American Psycho (Luis Carruthers). He has also performed at Beck Center for the Arts, Cleveland Public Theatre, Karamu House, Lakeland Civic Theatre, Rubber City Theatre, Playwrights Local, none too fragile, and convergence-continuum, among others. Up next: Twelfth Night (Feste) at Ohio Shakespeare Festival! Love to his family, friends, and Nicole. zachpalumbo.com
John J. Polk (The Boss) has had the pleasure of appearing in over a dozen Blank Canvas Theatre productions over the years. Audiences have seen him in shows such as One Man, Two Guvnors (Harry Dangle), Cabaret (Herr Schultz), Kiss Of The Spider Woman (The Warden), Side Show (Sir), Urinetown: The Musical (Caldwell B. Cladwell), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Dale Harding), and 12 Angry Men (Juror 12). He has also appeared in productions with other regional theatres, including Beck Center for the Arts, Cleveland Public Theatre, Oberlin Summer Theatre, and Clague Playhouse. Thanks to Patrick for planning yet another “class reunion” with this production, and to his Charming Wife, Laura, for her tolerance, her understanding, her nifty pins, and her excellent cheesy potatoes. John’s thoughts are with a couple of departed BCT colleagues, Kevin Joseph Kelly and Adam Harry, as well as his friend and occasional playmate, Lenne Snively. “And in the end/ The love you take/ Is Equal to/ The love you make.” Rest easy.
Mikaela Ray (Curley’s Wife) made her Blank Canvas Theatre debut last season in The Last Starfighter (Maggie) and is so grateful to be back for this special production of Of Mice and Men. Other recent credits include What’s Wrong With Me?? (Alto 2) at Rubber City Theatre and School of Rock (Rosalie Mullins) at Cain Park. And while Curley can’t seem to find his wife, you can find Mikaela on Instagram: @heymikaelaray and at mikaelaray.com.
Luke Scattergood (Carlson/Costume Design) is ecstatic to be returning to the stage after an almost four year hiatus, and to be reprising the role of Carlson. He 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. He would like to thank Patrick, Mittler, and the rest of the cast and production team for the opportunity. 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!!
Daniel Telford (Slim) is a proud graduate of the B.F.A. classical acting program at Baldwin Wallace University. His previous credits include Noises Off (Tim), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Policeman, Voice Three, Man with Socks), Broadway Bound (Stanley), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Nick), King Lear (Edmund), and Elf The Musical (Ensemble) at Beck Center for the Arts; the title role in Richard III at Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s Shakespearience; MacBeth (Young Siward/ Ensemble) at Great Lakes Theater; and By the Bog of Cats (Carthage) at Ensemble Theatre.
Hannah Woodside (Curley’s Wife Understudy) is so grateful to be working on another production with Blank Canvas Theatre. Previously at BCT, she played Frenchie in the 2021 production of Cabaret. Her recent credits include the NEO MFA Playwright’s Festival, Macbeth (Witch), and People, Places, & Things (Charlotte). She’s a graduate of Ohio University’s B.F.A. Acting program. For more, check out her website www.hannahwoodside.com
Loopy (Candy’s Dog) is so very excited to be making her stage debut at Blank Canvas Theatre! She is a 16-year-old rescue dog from Lorain, Ohio, as well as a former champion Frisbee catcher and squirrel chaser. Loopy now spends most of her time relaxing and eating treats (and the cat’s food) every chance she gets. She would like to thank Patrick, Orbit, her mom, and dad, as well as the good people at Dentastix!
Donna Mittler (Additional Direction) taught acting, theater, and speech, among other subjects, at Brunswick High School for 30 years, directing productions throughout those years and serving as Theatre Department Chair for the final 13 years. During that time, Donna was honored to work with some of the best high school actors in the area, including Pat, Joe, and Luke. Donna has been married to the most wonderful man in the world for 45 years.
Venchise Phillips (Stage Manager) is delighted to be back for another incredible production at Blank Canvas Theatre! Venchise has been most recently involved behind the scenes at BCT for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre! as the Assistant Stage Manager, for One Man, Two Guvnors as Prop Designer, for The Last Starfighter as the alien Costume Designer, and with The Laughter League as their Stage Manager. Venchise has also appeared onstage in numerous BCT productions, with the most recent being Yippee Ki-Yay, Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody (Fabrique/Theo/Dancing Twinkie) and Cannibal! The Musical (Liane). Venchise has also served as the Prop Designer for Near West Theatre's recent productions of All Shook Up and Head Over Heels. Thank you, Patrick, for always providing a stage to call home, and to Aaron for the endless support and love. Enjoy the show!