Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Music Direction by Bradley Wyner
Choreography by Katie Gibson
Stage Managed by Mandalyn Stevens
Assistant Stage Managed by Venchise Phillips
Costume Design by Jenniver Sparano
Special Effects Design by Patrick Ciamacco, PJ Toomey, and Noah Hrbek
Video Design by Patrick Ciamacco and Noah Hrbek
Set & Lighting Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Production Assistance by Luke Scattergood
CAST
Brian Altman (Mr.Jason/Ezekiel/Ensemble, 10/8 - 10/24) is elated to join this ridiculous cast and to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre! He made his BCT debut in Bat Boy: The Musical (Dr.Parker) and has performed in several shows and concerts since then. Brian has been loving community theater for many years all over PA and OH; his favorite theatrical credits include Into the Woods (The Baker), Ragtime (Tateh), Cabaret (Emcee), Shrek the Musical (Lord Farquaad), and Forever Plaid (Smudge). He's thrilled that we can all be together supporting the arts again. He's tremendously grateful for his partner Brendan's love and support and hopes that you'll all stay healthy!
Curt Arnold (Understudy Mr.Jason/Ezekiel/Ensemble, 10/28 - 10/30) returns to live theatre and to Blank Canvas Theatre, where he appeared onstage in the first two productions of The Texas Chainsaw Musical!, as well as in Next Fall, 12, The Wild Party, and Chess in Concert, on video in Night of the Living Dead, and as assistant stage manager for Hellcab. He is also occasionally found behind the bar or in the box office. As a freelance actor, director, and stage manager for over 40 years, he has worked with most northern Ohio theatre companies. Since 2003, he has been proud to co-produce (with Jenniver Sparano) and often direct an annual musical production to benefit AIDS service agencies in Cuyahoga and Summit counties, raising over $135,000 for these charities.
Tasha Brandt (Ensemble/Nun Understudy) is eternally grateful to be sharing space with all of you, especially at Blank Canvas Theatre! Before singing in the first of BCT's drive-in shows (in real pants, which was huge accomplishment at the time), Tasha received Cleveland Scene Magazine's Best Actress in Cleveland award for her performance in Into the Woods (The Witch) at Cleveland State University (in 2020... and she's still running with it). Tasha has been seen in Gypsy (Electra) at Beck Center, Godspell (“Learn Your Lessons Well”) at Strongsville Community Theatre, Urinetown: The Musical (Hope) at Mighty Goliath Players, Hair (Ensemble) at Near West Theatre, and numerous shows at BCT including The Rocky Horror Show (Columbia), Cabaret (Lulu), Night of the Living Dead (Judy), High Fidelity (Marie), Working (Woman 1) and Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical (Lisa). When not on stage, Tasha teaches Embody, an intuitive movement class for women, femme-identifying, and nonbinary folks, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in social work to become a Holistic Psychotherapist. Tasha would like to thank YOU for supporting the arts and laughing with us. Thanks to Danny for not being Eddy IRL.
DeLee Cooper (Melissa/Joey/Ensemble) is thrilled to get back on a bloody Blank Canvas Theatre stage! She was last seen at BCT in Evil Dead - The Musical (Annie). DeLee is a Zanesville, Ohio native, who made her initial move to Northeast Ohio after college graduation to be an actor-teacher with Great Lakes Theater's Education Department, which she did for three years. You may have seen her performing at several other theatres around the area, including Beck Center for the Arts, Cain Park, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, Dobama Theatre, French Creek Theatre, Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Pointillism Jazz Consort, and Talespinner Children's Theatre. When not onstage or at her day job for a local CBD/hemp company, DeLee can usually be found in a dance studio, in a coffee shop, on a D&D adventure, reading a book, or hanging out with her cat, Cerridwen.
Antonio de Jesus (Ensemble) is an actor and film photographer whose appearances at Blank Canvas Theatre include Equus (Alan), Cannibal! The Musical (George Noon), and Little Miss Sunshine (Dwayne). Beck Center credits include Bent (Rudy), Shrek the Musical (Pinocchio), Matilda The Musical (Ensemble); he also appeared in Hair (Tribe) at Kent State University. In September, Antonio participated in New York Fashion Week, as a model for William Frederick Clothing. As a film photographer, he is inspired by his friends. For Mum, and the loving memories of Emily Suzanne Plank and Uncle Buck. Antonio currently works at Goodkind Coffee and Cent’s Pizza + Goods. @BoyInGenes Bio.Site/BoyInGenes
Eric Fancher (Steven) is making his third trip to Plainfield, having been in Blank Canvas Theatre’s inaugural production of The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Steven) as well as its revival. Other BCT credits include Still Standing (Performer), Evil Dead - The Musical (Ash), The Rocky Horror Show (Brad), Godspell (“Light of the World”), and Merrily We Roll Along in concert (Franklin). Recent productions elsewhere include A Year with Frog and Toad (Frog) and She Loves Me (Kodaly) at French Creek Theatre, A Little Night Music (Henrik) and Merrily We Roll Along (Frank) at Lakeland Civic Theatre, and The Music Man in concert (Harold Hill) at Cain Park. He has done over 70 shows, all of which are listed at www.efancher.com, and he is the Founder and Webmaster of www.ClevelandStageAlliance.com, an organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, up-to-date information regarding any and all locally-produced theatre. Thank you to mom and dad. Much love to Sarah and the fur babies.
Kevin Kelly (Mamma/Mother/Ensemble) has performed and directed at many of the Cleveland area professional and community theatres, including Cleveland Play House, Beck Center for the Arts, Cleveland Public Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, Clague Playhouse, Near West Theatre, Western Reserve Playhouse and Rocky River Community Theatre (Artistic Director). He is thrilled to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre and to be weaned once again by Artistic Director Patrick Ciamacco. He has won so many awards that there is not space enough to list them here, but a list is available by request. He is blessed and honored to have the love and support from his TPOG family.
Madeline Krucek (Kristy) is doing what she loves, and her heart is at its fullest to be working again with friends, returning to Blank Canvas Theatre to create and play once again. Her most memorable performances include Heathers: The Musical (Veronica Sawyer) at Beck Center for the Arts, Bonnie & Clyde (Bonnie Parker) at Cassidy Theatre, and RENT (Mimi Marquez) at Tri-C West Theatre. Having graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a B. A. in theatre, she finds the balancing act of life to be pretty hectic. But, she has endless adoration and gratitude for all of her loving family and friends as they support her to their fullest in her pursuits.
Kate Leigh Michalski (Lucretia) is SO HAPPY to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre, and once again at home around blood and chainsaws. Past credits include Evil Dead - The Musical (Cheryl), We Will Rock You (Oz), Reefer Madness (Mae), Jekyll & Hyde in concert (Lucy Harris), Ragtime (Emma Goldman), The Toxic Avenger (Mayor/Ma), She Loves Me (Amalia Balash), Parade (Lucille Frank), The 23rd...Spelling Bee (Olive), and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy). She holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Love you, Mom! Love you, Dad.
Zach Palumbo (Ensemble) is so glad to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre, where his past credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Jacek), Evil Dead – The Musical (Ed), Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: a Die Hard Musical Parody (Willis), and Night of the Living Theatre (Chucky). He has also appeared around Northeast Ohio with Beck Center for the Arts, Cleveland Public Theatre, Dobama Theatre, Karamu House, Rubber City Theatre, none too fragile, convergence-continuum, Near West Theatre, French Creek Theatre, Cassidy Theatre, Western Reserve Playhouse, and the BorderLight International Theatre Festival, among others. He is a 2017 graduate of Case Western Reserve University, where he played piano for IMPROVment as well as performing with the Department of Theatre, the CWRU Footlighters, and Players' Theatre Group. https://zach.palumbo.io
Danny Simpson (Eddy) is honored and excited to be performing this ridiculous show with such talented friends. Blank Canvas Theatre has always felt like a home away from home, and he couldn’t be happier to see it come back to life. Danny would like to thank Patrick and Bradley for allowing him this awesome opportunity. Danny graduated from John Carroll University with a B.A. in Communications and Theatre Arts and currently works in manufacturing. Favorite stage credits include BCT’s productions of We Will Rock You (Galileo Figaro) and The Rocky Horror Show (Riff Raff), Cain Park’s Ragtime (Father), Beck Center for the Arts’ production of American Idiot (Ensemble) and French Creek Theatre’s productions of The Last Five Years (Jamie Wellerstein) and She Loves Me (Georg Nowack). Danny would like to thank his friends, extended family, Cathy, Tasha, Bennie, and Molly for their unconditional love and support.
Neda Spears (Nun/Parishioner/Ensemble) is so freakin’ excited to be asked to remount this iconic show with these iconic Blank Canvas Theatre performers! Her last project involved a live, virtual performance of The Girl Who Would Be King with Forge Theater (that’s in Philadelphia!). She was last seen at BCT in two of the Drive-In Theater concerts, Still Standing and Make Them Hear You, was one of the Acid Queens in The Who’s TOMMY fundraising concert, and made her BCT debut as another Queen (Killer) with We Will Rock You. After that, she played with puppets as Gary in Avenue Q. She has performed in shows at Beck Center for the Arts, (Matilda The Musical), Dobama Theatre (Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars), Theater in the Circle (The All Night Strut!), and Ensemble Theater (Huck and Holden). Thanks, Patrick and thank you, Richard, for putting up with all this. SPLATTER ZONE!!!
STAFF
Patrick Ciamacco (Director/ Lighting, Video, & Special FX deisgn) is so excited to revisit the show that started it all! Patrick is the Artistic Director and founder of Blank Canvas Theatre. This has been a rough year and a half… but is so very excited to be back at BCT and to be working with the people he loves.
Noah Hrbek (Video & Special FX Design) is beyond excited to be a part of this production again and work with all these wonderful and talented people! The last time he was seen at Blank Canvas Theatre was for the Drive-In Series show, A New Hope. He has continued working with BCT behind the scenes, creating graphic art for Near West Theatre, making children’s book illustrations, and playing guitar for a rock musical project called Future Perfect. Huge thanks to everyone coming out to support live theater! Enjoy the show!
Venchise Phillips (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to help bring another Blank Canvas show to life! Over the past seven years, Venchise has been involved in 16 different Blank Canvas productions, both on-stage and off. Her recent on-stage credits include A New Hope (Self), Yippie Ki-Yay, Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody (Fabrique/Twinkie), and Cannibal! The Musical (Liane). Off-stage, Venchise has stage managed and been a sound operator for shows such as The Wild Party, Cabaret, and The 39 Steps. Thank you to Patrick always and to Aaron for always letting her adopt just one more stray cat. Enjoy the show!
Luke Scattergood (Production Assistant) is excited to be revisiting the show that started it all here at Blank Canvas. His work has been seen on the Blank Canvas stage over these past ten years. As an actor, costumer, stage manager, assistant director, and more. He would like to thank Patrick for the opportunity to create and grow in such an inspiring atmosphere. Thanks to his wife, Laura, and kids Lucy, Levi, and Lincoln for their love and support. Enjoy the show!
Jenniver Sparano (Costume Design) started designing blood-drenched costumes in 1989 for a production of The Passion of Dracula; in the intervening years she has created bloody good costumes for Beck Center for the Arts (Evil Dead – The Musical), Cleveland Public Theatre (Titus: A Grand and Gory Rock Musical), the Bang and the Clatter Theatre (Blasted), and here at Blank Canvas Theatre (Night of the Living Dead, The Toxic Avenger). Her non-bloody work has also been seen at BCT and many other local venues, most recently in the A New Hope, Winter Wonderland, and Night of the Living Theatre drive-in concerts. In addition to her design work, she is proud to co-produce annual musical productions (resuming in 2022) to benefit AIDS/HIV service organizations in Cuyahoga and Summit counties. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, she is employed by KeyBank.
Mandalyn Stevens (Stage Manager) recent credits include Leading Ladies and Musical Memories at Cain Park, Legally Blonde, Newsies, Little Shop of Horrors, and Summerland. She looks forward to her first official show with Blank Canvas after working on all the drive-in performances. She wants to thank her family and friends for their support! She’d also like to say “meow and bark” to her fur babies.
P.J. Toomey (Special FX Design) is very excited to help welcome audiences back to Blank Canvas Theatre, after a brief intermission, with the show that started it all! Since that inaugural production of The Texas Chainsaw Musical!, he has also worked at BCT on Night of the Living Dead, Bat Boy: The Musical, The Toxic Avenger, Evil Dead – The Musical, and Cannibal! The Musical. His creations have been also been seen at Beck Center for the Arts (Evil Dead – The Musical, Young Frankenstein, Shrek The Musical, Beauty & The Beast), Near West Theatre (Into The Woods) and in films such as My Blind Brother, Madtown, and Underdogs. He thanks his family and friends for putting up with him and his ridiculous ideas (you know who you are).
Bradley Wyner (Music Director/Keyboards) has worked as music director and assistant on the Blank Canvas productions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: a Die Hard Musical Parody, The Rocky Horror Show, We Will Rock You, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Toxic Avenger, and Hair, plus the concert production of The Who’s TOMMY and the first and last of the pandemic drive-in concerts. Bradley has worked as Music director at Cleveland Public Theater, Cleveland Play House, Kalliope Stage, many others. Teaching music and arts for diverse groups led him to a second career as a dual-diagnosis specialist for people with autism, mental health issues, and developmental disabilities. Bradley now has two websites: TraumaInformedBehaviorSupport.com for training & consulting, and RockAndRollPianoShow.com for music.
BAND
Pat Boland (Drums/Percussion) is happy to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre after playing kit in multiple BCT shows such as Avenue Q, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Evil Dead - The Musical.
Jesse Hodgson (Guitar) has previously performed for the Live, Multimedia Drive-In Experiences at Blank Canvas Theatre, as well as The Who’s TOMMY, and he is very excited to participate in his first fully-staged BCT musical. Recent credits also include The Last Five Years (French Creek Theatre) and The Lightning Thief (Hathaway Brown School).
Jason Stebelton (Bass) is very excited to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre! His recent BCT credits include Yippie Ki Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody (Bass), Evil Dead – The Musical (Bass), and Kiss of the Spider Woman (Bass). Thanks to Patrick providing a space to perform, to Brad for the chance to collaborate, and to all of the musicians for the inspiration. Enjoy the show!