Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Music Direction by Oliver Deak
Choreography by Katie Gibson
Stage Managed by Cass Penegor
Costume Design by Luke Scattergood
Set Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Lighting and Projection Design by Patrick Ciamacco
CAST
Amira Al Amin (Joey) – is excited to be breaking into the Cleveland theater scene! Her recent roles include Rent (Joanne Jefferson).
Benson Anderson (Jonny) is back at Blank Canvas from beyond the grave! Previous credits at BCT include, and are limited to, Tim Price in American Psycho and Rufus, the fourth-wall-breaking, bad-joke-telling, guitar-playing guitarist of The Fishmongers in One Man, Two Guvnors. Other notable appearances: RENT at Cain Park (Mark) and Amélie at Mercury Theatre Company (Nino). Love to his friends, family, Rachel, our Pet Parrot Pippin, and YOU for supporting human-made art in the Northeast Ohio area.
Douglas F. Bailey II (Eddie Flagrante) is grateful to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre, and floored to work with this phenomenal cast and crew! Local credits include School of Rock the Musical (Dewey Finn), Memphis the Musical (Huey Calhoun, Cleveland Critics Circle's Best Actor in a Musical 2018), Rock of Ages (Lonny Barnett) and Godspell (Light of the World) at Cain Park; Shrek The Musical (Shrek) at MAD* Factory and Near West Theatre (Shrek Fill-In), Big Fish the Musical (Will Bloom) and Ordinary Days (Jason) at French Creek Theatre, and Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd) at MAD* Factory. Douglas serves as the General Manager of Theatre Agápe founded by his amazing wife, Sarah Lynne. In the event that you see Douglas as Eddie, please come back and bask in the glow of all that is Aaron Phillips. He's an adonis, and talented to boot! He dedicates his work in this production, as all others, to the memory of his late father, The Silver Fox. Love to Sarah, Matilda, Desmond,Taso, and Georgie.
Cassey Fye (Ensemble/ US Delilah, Coco) is thrilled to be making her Blank Canvas debut in Zombie Prom. Cassey is a Licensed Independent Social Worker, and is currently completing requirements to become a Registered Drama Therapist. Some of her recent credits include; Ordinary Days (US Claire) at The Cassidy Theatre, Legally Blonde the Musical (Enid Hoopes) at The Brecksville Theatre, A Moon for the Misbegotten (Assistant Director/US Josie), and You Can't Take it With You (Essie) at The Cassidy Theatre. Cassey would like to thank her husband Josh for his endless support and encouragement.
Katie Koballa (Ginger) is ecstatic to join the cast of Zombie Prom in her first show at Blank Canvas. She is back from a 5 year hiatus since Near West Theater's production of Spring Awakening (Ensemble) and it feels SO GOOD. Katie hopes to bring a little sunshine to those who have supported her on and off the stage.
Reed Randall Kruger (Jake) is just so thrilled to be back on the Blank Canvas stage! Most recently he was seen in Leap of Faith (Ensemble), and last year he was a part of American Psycho (Craig McDermott). Reed is a recent graduate of Baldwin Wallace University with a BA in Theatre: Acting and Directing and a minor in Creative Writing, with some of his favorite performances there being Troilus and Cressida (Pandarus/Menelaus), Marginalia: An Interplay With Edgar Allan Poe (Raven), The Modern Prometheus (Storyteller A) and The Crucible (Thomas Putnam). He's acted in several shows in the Cleveland area as well, including Chagrin Arts' Romeo and Juliet (Lord Capulet), Beck Center's Elf the Musical (Ensemble), and Cleveland Shakespeare Festival's The Learned Ladies (Ariste). He also loves to write, and got to direct one of his own plays, Judge and Jury, at Baldwin Wallace several years ago! And finally, as a huge Walking Dead fan, he's just happy to be in his first show with zombies in it!
Chrissy Margevicius (Candy) is thrilled to be back at Blank Canvas this spooky season! She was last seen at BCT last December in The Last Starfighter (Jenny/Sgt. Taura.) She is a graduate of the Molloy University/CAP21 Conservatory BFA program in NYC. Recent credits include Once (The Girl) at Kent State Stark, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, Cinderella and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Heartbreakers in Hell at Rubber City Theatre, and The Kid from Kittlerumpit at Talespinner Children’s Theatre. She’s also been seen in various projects at The Madison Theatre in New York, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Missoula Children’s Theatre. When not performing, Chrissy can be found working as a performing arts teacher, composing for the kids’ YouTube show Kiki’s Music Time, or jamming as a member of the band The Rude Sea. All the gratitude to her fellow artists, friends, family, and hubby Mitch!
Kate Leigh Michalski (Delilah Strict) Credits include: She Loves Me (Amalia Balish), Parade (Lucille Frank), Evil Dead: The Musical (Cheryl), The Spitfire Grill (Shelby), The Toxic Avenger (Mayor/Ma), Ragtime (Emma Goldman), ...Spelling Bee (Olive), We Will Rock You (Oz), Reefer Madness (Mae), The Texas Chainsaw Musical (Lucretia), Jekyll and Hyde in Concert (Lucy Harris), Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), The SpongeBob Musical (Pearl Krabs), Leap of Faith (Marla McGowan). BFA Musical Theatre, Point Park University, EMC. Love you Mom! Love you Dad.
Zach Palumbo (Josh) is thrilled to be back (from the DEAD) for another Halloween here at Blank Canvas Theatre! Previous credits here include Evil Dead: The Musical (Ed), Yippee Ki-Yay: A Die Hard Christmas Musical (Willis), and the Cleveland premiere of The SpongeBob SquarePants Musical (Spongebob SquarePants). Favorite credits elsewhere include Broadway Bound (Eugene) at Beck Center for the Arts and Twelfth Night (Feste) at the Ohio Shakespeare Festival. He has also performed with Cleveland Public Theatre, Karamu House, Lakeland Civic Theatre, Playwrights Local, Rubber City Theatre, French Creek Theatre, none too fragile, and convergence-continuum, among others. Love always to his family, friends, and Nicole. zachpalumbo.com
Aaron T. Phillips (Eddie Flagrante/Ensemble) After five shows and a benefit concert playing from the BCT pit orchestra, both on stage and off, Aaron is completely stoked to perform without his trombone. His recent credits include The Music Man (Harold Hill), The Drowsy Chaperone (Ensemble), and Oliver! (Bill Sykes). He also dares to mention his grave thrill at having the opportunity to take the stage alongside such talented humans, and most especially with his lovely wife Venchise. Oh, and if I'm Eddie for you tonight, definitely come back for Doug Bailey. What a hunk! Thank you so much for coming to support Blank Canvas Theatre, and Happy Spooky Season everyone!
Venchise Phillips is overjoyed to be back on the Blank Canvas stage! Recent on-stage credits include Comma (Nurse) at Blank Canvas, The Music Man (Mrs. Squires) at Near West Theatre, Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic (Megan Jones) at Broadview Heights Spotlights Theater, and Yippee Ki-Yay, Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody (Fabrique/Theo/Dancing Twinkie) and Cannibal! The Musical (Liane) at Blank Canvas. Venchise has also been involved behind the scenes at Blank Canvas as Stage Manager for Of Mice and Men and Prop Designer for One Man Two Guvnors, as well as serving as the Prop Designer for Near West Theater’s recent productions of The Wizard of Oz, Head of Heels, and All Shook Up. Endless thanks to Patrick for always providing a stage to call home. Love to Aaron, now and for always. Enjoy the show!
Brianna Rae Quinn (Coco) is delighted to be making her Blank Canvas debut! She has recently been seen in Heathers (Heather McNamara), Avenue Q (Lucy),The Spongebob Musical (Karen thr Computer), and Grease (Patty Simcox). Some of her favorite credits also include Hairspray (Amber Von Tussle), High School Musical 2 (Sharpay Evans), and Chicago ("Six"). Brianna currently lives in Cleveland, OH, and works as a teacher educator and author with four published books.
Mikaela Ray (Toffee) - It’s “easy to say” that Mikaela Ray has been dying to get back to Blank Canvas and is ecstatic that her return is in this production of Zombie Prom! She’s a “blast from the all too recent past” at BCT, appearing in Of Mice and Men (Curley’s Wife) and The Last Starfighter (Maggie). Her other recent credits include Matilda (Miss Honey) and Anything Goes (Erma Latour) at Rubber City Theatre, as well as School of Rock (Rosalie Mullins) and Fun Home (U/S Med. Alison/Joan) at Cain Park. This cast and creative team is truly “as good as it gets” and she couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of it. And if you’re asking “Where do we go from here?” Mikaela suggests you check out her Instagram @heymikaelaray and her website mikaelaray.com
STAFF
Patrick Ciamacco (Director, Projection, Lighting and Set Design) is so excited to be back and directing on the BCT stage and working with people he loves and respects! Patrick is the Artistic Director and founder of Blank Canvas Theatre. He dedicates this show to the person sitting in the third row, fifth seat from the left.
Oliver Deak (Music Director) is thrilled to return to Blank Canvas Theatre as an MD since his last production as MD last year for Spring Awakening. Going into his 8th year of music direction/ keyboard work and 7th of vocal coaching, his past credits include performances at Karamu House, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Ohio Theatre, The Ohio State University, Weathervane Playhouse, and other local Cleveland and Columbus venues. Recent music direction credits include Spring Awakening at Blank Canvas Theatre, Rocky Horror Picture Show at LCC, The Addams Family at Near West Theatre, and The Last Five Years at Ohio
State University.
Katie Gibson (Choreographer) first got involved on stage at Blank Canvas when she played Terry in Extremities. She began choreographing at BCT with the next show, Triassic Parq The Musical. Since then, she has choreographed most of the musicals you have seen here at Blank Canvas!
Cass Penegor (Stage Manager) is excited to be back at Blank Canvas and working with this wonderful team. Cass has been involved in stage management for 10 years, during the day they teach at the Great Lakes Science Center, and somewhere between all of that they are a studio artist. They would like to thank Pat and BCT for this opportunity, as well as their mom, their partner, and friends for all of the love and support! Enjoy the show!
Luke Scattergood (Costume Design) 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. 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!!