Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Assistant Direction by Jonathan Kronenberger
Music Direction by Bradley Wyner
Stage Managed by Whitney Miller
Costume Design by Luke Scattergood & Jenniver Sparano
Lighting Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Sound Operation by Anthony Newman
CAST/STAFF
Brian Altman (Uncle Ernie) made his Blank Canvas Theatre debut with his pal, Pat Miller, in Bat Boy: The Musical (Dr. Thomas Parker) in 2015. Since then, he has gone on to play a couple of other weirdos in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Judge Turpin) and Silence! The Musical (Dr. Hannibal Lecter). Brian has sung roles in three BCT benefits, including Jekyll & Hyde (Gabriel John Utterson) and Chess (Anatoly Sergievsky). He was last seen here playing a much nicer uncle in Little Miss Sunshine (Frank Hoover) – a role he adored. In addition to performing, Brian lent a hand with scenic painting for Bat Boy: The Musical and Reefer Madness. He hopes to be back in another BCT production very soon, but first he will reprise a much “smaller” role at Beck Center in Shrek the Musical (Lord Farquaad). Thanks for supporting Cleveland's BEST live theaters!
Josh Baum-Shmigel (Ensemble) is honored to be part of this year's benefit. He has always wanted to be in a production of The Who’s Tommy, so here we are! Past performances at Blank Canvas Theatre have been in this season's opener Kiss of the Spider Woman (Ensemble) and 2017's The Rocky Horror Show (Phantom). We are so fortunate to have such an incredibly unique and innovative space in which to bring characters to life for a couple of hours each night. Thank you to Patrick, Bradley, and all other creative staff for letting me be a part of some amazing things with the BCT family!
Tasha Brandt (Sally Simpson/Ensemble) is ecstatic to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage! She has performed at BCT in numerous productions including The Rocky Horror Show (Columbia), Cabaret (Lulu), Night of the Living Dead (Judy Rose), High Fidelity (Marie), Working (Woman 1), and Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical (Lisa). Tasha finds solace on the BCT stage, and feels that working with the BCT team is always such a joy. BCT brings so much to the Cleveland theatre community. So much gratitude to YOU for supporting BCT!
Tonya Broach (Acid Queen/Ensemble) was introduced to Blank Canvas Theatre in 2014 when she was cast in a production of Hair (Dionne). She had such a groovy time that she returned to perform in additional productions, including last year's concert presentation of Jekyll & Hyde (Ensemble). She also creates and designs jewelry (Designs by Tonyarie) and has donated some of her hand-made pieces to BCT for previous fundraisers. Tonya is looking forward to having lots of fun with the cast of The Who’s Tommy and its talented staff. Thank you all for supporting BCT! Enjoy!
Becca Ciamacco (Ensemble) is excited to be rocking out in the Blank Canvas Theatre benefit! Previous BCT credits include Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical (Roberta), Hair (Jeanie), Our Town (Emily), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Suzanne), Reefer Madness (Ensemble), Urinetown: The Musical (Soupy Sue), Avenue Q (Bad Idea Bear), and Side Show (Daisy Hilton). When not on stage at BCT, Becca can be found behind the bar and at the box office window. So much thanks to all of you who support BCT. It is an artistic home for so many Cleveland artists and audience members.
Neely Gevaart (Ensemble) is very excited to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage. This is one of her favorite places in the world. She had been seen in many productions here, including the first-ever BCT show, The Texas Chainsaw Musical! She would like to thank everyone attending tonight and anyone that has ever attended a BCT show,+ because that keeps this theater going. Thank you to Patrick for making this theater an inviting and collaborative environment! Enjoy the show!!
Adam Graber (Lover/Ensemble) is ecstatic to join this cast of Blank Canvas Theatre alumni in The Who’s Tommy. After seeing many shows as a patron, he began working at BCT earlier this year as Joshua/Kirby/Funeral Worker in Little Miss Sunshine. He hopes to come back soon!
Stephanie Harden (Ensemble) is excited to be a part of the Blank Canvas Theatre benefit, having appeared in Side Show (Violet), Urinetown: The Musical (Hope Cladwell), and Bat Boy: The Musical (Shelley Parker). Stephanie loves Blank Canvas Theatre because their productions take risks and are fearless. Shows are always of a high quality with fun and talented people involved on-stage, off-stage, and in the pit. Thanks for supporting BCT!
Owen Hill (Young Tommy) is excited to make his debut at Blank Canvas Theatre. He is 12 years old and lives in Lakewood. At age seven, Owen was cast in his first role in Oliver! as orphan/pickpocket, under the direction of Patrick Ciamacco and Jonathan Kronenberger. Through that opportunity, Owen discovered that theatre is a place where he can be himself. His aspirations are to pursue a career in the arts. Owen is forever grateful to Patrick and Jonathan for believing in him. Thank you for supporting BCT and enjoy the show!
Frank Ivancic (Ensemble) is proud to have been seen on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage in both Urinetown: The Musical (Tiny Tom/Dr.Billeaux) and We Will Rock You (Jackson 5/Ensemble). He is excited to be back on this stage with an incredible group of people both in the cast and on the creative team. He would like to thank everyone, especially Patrick, for allowing him to be a part of this production and this theatre family.
Meg Martinez (Ensemble) is always excited to be at Blank Canvas Theatre. She’s been seen here onstage as Janet Weiss in The Rocky Horror Show, Johanna in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Polly Pry in Cannibal! The Musical, and you can catch her later this season as Linda in Evil Dead - The Musical and as Klaus/Tony in Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody. When she’s not onstage, she can often be found working the box office, especially for shows that her favorite guy, Matt Dolan, is music directing. Thank you for supporting BCT and live theatre in Cleveland!
Kate Leigh Michalski (Ensemble) is so happy to be a part of this year’s benefit! Past Blank Canvas Theatre shows include The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Lucretia), Godspell, High Fidelity (Liz), Reefer Madness (Mae), Triassic Parq: The Musical (Kaitlyn/T-Rex 2), We Will Rock You (Oz), Avenue Q (Mrs. T), and last year’s benefit, Jekyll & Hyde (Lucy); coming up she’ll be in Evil Dead - The Musical (Cheryl) and Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody (Dwayne). Thank you to Patrick for creating this wonderful space and letting me be a part of it! Love you, Mom! Love you, Dad.
Pat Miller (Cousin Kevin/Ensemble) is an original cast member of The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Groovy Teen), the very first production at Blank Canvas Theatre. He appeared in Bat Boy: The Musical (Bat Boy) for which he was awarded “Best Actor in a Musical” from the Cleveland Critics Circle and SCENE Magazine. His other BCT credits include The Toxic Avenger (Melvin), Floyd Collins (Skeets Miller), High Fidelity (Dick), Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical (Mr. Hardwick), and designing the season logos since 2015. trickmiller.com
Venchise Phillips (Ensemble) has been seen onstage at Blank Canvas Theatre most recently in Cannibal! The Musical and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well in the 2014, 2015, and 2017 benefit shows. She will also be a part of the cast for the upcoming production of Yippie Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: a Die Hard Musical Parody. Venchise has also been “seen” behind the scenes stage managing or running sound for countless shows, as well as painting sets, working the box office, and selling popcorn. BCT reignited her love for performing, and she is so thankful to be on this stage once again!
Luke Scattergood (Ensemble and Costume Designer) has done a little bit of everything here at Blank Canvas Theatre and is thrilled to back on stage, having most recently appeared as Brian in the sold-out run of Avenue Q. Other onstage credits include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Bathroom Humor, Of Mice and Men, and others. His costume designs have been seen in countless shows, some favorites being Hair, We Will Rock You, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He is excited to be collaborating with Jenniver again as co-costumers for this production. Thanks to Patrick for allowing him to be a part of BCT since day one! There’s nowhere else I’d rather call home!!
Michael Silas (Ensemble) is proud to be back here at Blank Canvas Theatre, after appearing in his first show last summer as the villainous Khashoggi in We Will Rock You!
Danny Simpson (Tommy) considers Blank Canvas Theatre a home away from home. BCT has been responsible for some of Danny’s favorite theatrical experiences to date (The Rocky Horror Show, We Will Rock You) and he will cherish the memories made and the friendships forged here for the rest of his life. Danny has also been involved behind the scenes as Assistant TD for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Avenue Q and is very thankful for the opportunities Patrick has provided for not only him, but also for so many awesome performers.
Michael Snider (Captain Walker) is honored to be a part of his first benefit at Blank Canvas Theatre. His past performances at BCT include the title role in the 2017 production of Floyd Collins, and Valentin in this year’s production of Kiss of the Spiderwoman. He also made a cameo appearance as The Singer for one performance of the 2018 production of Picasso at the Lapine Agile. This is one of his favorite places to perform and he hopes to be back again! Special thanks to Trinidad, Kirstin, Colin, Dylan, and Michaela for all their love and support!
Trinidad Snider (Mrs. Walker) is thrilled and honored to be on the Blank Canvas stage! Previous BCT credits include The Wild Party (Queenie), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Mrs. Lovett), and the 2017 benefit performance of Chess (Florence). You can sometimes catch her playing the role of box office attendant or bartender at various BCT performances! She is proud to be a part of the BCT family and to support her fellow Near West Theatre alumnus, Patrick Ciamacco!
Neda Spears (Acid Queen/Ensemble) wanted to be in a show that she loved. And that would be fun. And one in a theater that only took 20 minutes to drive to. She got to fulfill that dream twice at Blank Canvas Theatre - once in the dream role of the Killer Queen (We Will Rock You) and once again playing with puppets (Avenue Q). Third Fridays suck when you're trying to park.
Whitney Miller (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working on her second Blank Canvas Theatre benefit. She has hit double digits in counting the shows she's worked on here, over the course of three seasons, and has no intention of stopping. Whitney considers BCT a home away from home and wants to thank Patrick for the opportunity to be a part of the fantastic art that's created here. She will be closing out the season by stage managing Evil Dead – The Musical and Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody... make sure to come back and join her in the fun!
Bradley Wyner (Music Director) is proud to have publicly played the key-tar for the first time in last summer’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Things that Bradley previously thought wouldn’t be possible that have successfully happened on the BCT stage: Projecting the entire set; fitting the band on that platform; the whole band using their phones to set their own monitor mix; Rocky’s memorable wardrobe malfunction; an actress learning aerial silks; an actress singing from aerial silks; an actress singing while spinning upside-down from aerial silks; Pat learning how to weld a trick barber chair. Strangers enter a room, lights go down, music goes up, and we have a thrilling experience together, so close we can see each other’s faces. That’s theater. It’s neat.
Jenniver Sparano (Costume Designer) jumped at the chance, in 2011, to design costumes for an unknown, ridiculous, effects-heavy musical with a new theatre company in a space that had neither seats, dressing rooms, wing space, nor lobby…and has never regretted it! Since that fateful production of The Texas Chainsaw Musical! she has designed costumes in every Blank Canvas Theatre season, for productions including 12 Angry Men, Silence! The Musical, and Chess in concert. Previous costume collaborations with Luke Scattergood include Side Show, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and last year’s benefit production of Jekyll & Hyde. She looks forward to continuing theatrical adventures with Pat and all of the BCT family.