or Ruddygore Revisited
CAST
JESSICA WAGNER (Rose Maybud)
Jessica Wagner is delighted to join the cast of THE HOUSE OF MURGATROYD! Off-B'Way/NYC: Daisy Mae in Li'l Abner, Virginia Clemm in The Raven, Montana in Cole Porter's Mexican Hayride, Susan Piedmont in All American, Cleo in Theodore & Co. (US Premiere), and Julia Soemia in the opera-infused play Rise. Regional work in the States includes Maria Rainer in The Sound Of Music, Lady Of the Lake in Spamalot, Kate/Lucy in Avenue Q (Regional Premiere), Sister James in Doubt with Loretta Swit and Woman #1 in I Love You, You’re Perfect…. Jessica has been seen in concert in NYC at 54 Below, the Met Museum with Steve Ross, Town Hall, and Joe’s Pub. Jessica is originally from Plano, TX and teaches private voice in addition to performing. BFA: NYU (CAP21). Proud member of AEA. www.jessicawagner.net
CÁITLÍN BURKE (Mad Margaret)
Cáitlín Burke has been hailed by The New York Times as having “virtuoso flair” (N.Y. City Center, Mad Margaret), being “genuinely uproarious” of “ample voice” and having the ability to create “three-dimensional characters” out of G&S roles. She most recently toured the U.S. and Canada on the North American tour of The Sound of Music, (directed by Jack O'Brien) garnering critical acclaim at prestigious theatres across the U.S. and Canada including appearances at The Ahmanson Theatre in L.A., and The Kennedy Center. She was also the first American to be invited to tour with the U.K.'s prestigious National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company appearing with the London-based company in Iolanthe, The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore, and The Pirates of Penzance. As a principal with The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, she frequently appears as Katisha (The Mikado), Lady Jane (Patience), Mad Margaret (Ruddigore), Ruth, Edith (The Pirates of Penzance), and Lady Sangazure (The Sorcerer) on New York stages, and across the U.S. and Canada. She has appeared at The Filene Center at Wolf Trap (U.S. National Performing Arts Park), New York City Center, New York Symphony Space, Columbus Opera, Dayton Opera, The Boston Early Music Festival, North Shore Music Theater, Meadow Brook Theater, as a soloist with The Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Pontiac Oakland Symphony and in European recital. Other credits include By Jeeves (Honoria Glossop) - Wilde Award Nomination, the regional premier of Avenue Q – (Christmas Eve), South Pacific (Bloody Mary), The Miracle Worker (Annie Sullivan), Bitter Sweet (Manon), The King and I (Lady Thiang), Into the Woods (Witch), Cosí Fan Tutte (Fiordiligi, Dorabella), Hansel and Gretel (Witch), Dido and Aeneas (Sorceress). She is the first double recipient of Oakland University's Matilda Award for alumni achievement award in both music and theatre, and was the 1st place winner in the David Daniels, Elizabeth Gardner, and Charlotte Ruppel competitions. www.caitlinburke.org
David Macaluso (Robin)
David Macaluso was an original cast member of the Drama Desk-nominated production of the seven-person "Pinafore!" where he simultaneously played the roles of Sir. Joseph and Buttercup (Vortex Theater). Variety stated, “… it’s Macaluso that makes this saucy ship a beauty!” With NYGASP he was honoured to receive the 2014 Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic Excellence and was managing producer, performer and co-director for last season’s sold out Cox & Box. As Ko-Ko in The Mikado (NYGASP), BroadwayWorld raved of his “exuberant showmanship and handling Gilbert's verbal wit with crackling dexterity,” and was deemed “the evening's energetic comic engine.” He has appeared on the New York stage to critical acclaim at New York City Center, Symphony Space, The Signature Theater, The Liederkranz Opera, and Wolf Trap in Washington, D.C. David has also performed in many musicals and operettas, some standouts being Molina in "Kiss of the Spiderwoman", Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors", Motel in "Fiddler" and Dr. Falke "Die Fledermaus". He has also recorded and performed in workshops of new musicals throughout N.Y.C. David is a graduate of the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. https://www.dmacaluso.com/
BRIDGET HARVEY (Dame Hannah)
Bridget Harvey is thrilled to return to the glorious world of Gilbert & Sullivan with this production. Most recently, Bridget has enjoyed performing new works with the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop for emerging musical theater voices. Career highlights include Corine in Triumph of Love at the Lincoln Center and Whina in Cinderella’s Mice at the Vital Theater where her performance was hailed as “infantile and obsessed with ponies” by the New York Times.
CARTER LYNCH (Richard Dauntless)
Carter Lynch is honored to perform for his first time in the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. He made his G&S debut in 2013 with NYGASP in H.M.S. Pinafore at the New York City Center. Most recently, he performed as Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance at Symphony Space in NYC and at the historic Southern Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. Last fall, Carter toured the U.S. with All Hands On Deck! playing the lead tenor, John Handley. Other favorite credits include the National Tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (u/s Beast, Gaston), Jekyll& Hyde (Jekyll/Hyde) and Leave it to Jane (Billy) with Musicals Tonight!. This Spring, Carter was named a Finalist in the 2014 Lotte Lenya International Theatre Singing Competition. Thank you, as always, to his wonderful parents, John and Peggy, for their constant love and support. BA Dramatic Art 2010 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. www.carterplynch.com
DANIEL J. O'BRIEN (Sir Despard Murgatroyd)
Daniel made his UK debut with The House of Murgatroyd. A New York City based actor, Daniel's credits include performances at Signature Theatre (Stuyvesant Town: This is Our Home), St Ann's Warehouse (Before and After) and Brave New World Repertory Theatre (Moby Dick: Rehearsed). Regional credits include The Foreigner (The Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Lewisburg West Virginia), January Thaw (Totem Pole Playhouse, Fayetteville Pennsylvania) and Two Gentlemen of Verona (The Odyssey Playhouse, Los Angeles California). Daniel holds an MFA from The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in New York City. He would like to thank Caitlin, David and everyone who made this production possible. www.danielobrienactor.com
MATTHEW WAGES (Sir Roderic Murgatroyd)
Matthew Wages is a New York City-based bass-baritone originally from Athens, GA. G&S shows/roles performed include: HMS Pinafore (Bob Beckett), The Pirates of Penzance (Samuel/Seargeant of Police), The Mikado, Patience (Major Murgatroyd), Iolanthe, The Grand Duke, Utopia Limited, The Sorcerer, Trial By Jury, Yeomen of the Guard (2nd Yeoman), and Sullivan’s Cox and Box (Bouncer). Other: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Schroeder), Forever Plaid (Smudge), Nunsense Amen (Sr. Robert Anne), Annie (Warbucks & Rosster), Music Man (Ewart Dunlop), Big River (Duke). Additionally, for the past 12 years, Matthew has starred in numberous independent short and feature films, webisodes and educational video series, as well as regularly performing his one man cabaret. Mr. Wages primarily performs in New York, touring the U.S. and Canada with The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, of which he has been a proud member since 2003. He has traveled around the world performing light opera and musical theatre selections aboard the SS Voyager & SS Mariner. Mr. Wages is thrilled to be premiering his first Sir Roderic in the United Kingdom! www.matthewwages.com
PRODUCTION TEAM
KEN URSO (Director)
Ken Urso has served as director, actor, producer, guest artist, and dramaturg throughout the U.S. New York directing credits include Bent, Never the Sinner, Red Light Winter, Fallen Angels, Amicable Parting and the original productions of Kidnaping Laura Linney, Worth House, Riverside and Gay Camp, which now tours the U.S. and performs at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre in Manhattan’s West Village. Other directing credits include Always...Patsy Cline, The Complete Works of Williams Shakespeare (abridged), The Producers, Chicago, and Cabaret. He earned his BFA in Acting from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and his MFA in Directing from the Actors Studio Drama School, home of Bravo’s Inside the Actors Studio. He is an artistic associate of Interplayers Theatre in Washington, and is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. www.kenurso.com
VINCENT CARR (Musical Director)
Vincent Carr is an American keyboardist, musician and educator working in the New York City metropolitan area. He holds music degrees from Indiana University and Yale University. A multi-faceted organist, he currently serves as the Associate Organist & Choirmaster at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, NY. As a composer, he has studied with David Conte at La Schola Cantorum de Paris (EAMA) and with Philadelphia composer Harold Boatrite. Mr. Carr serves on the keyboard faculty of the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. In musical theatre, he has directed productions of Two Gentleman of Verona, Godspell, Damn Yankees, Pippin and How to Succeed. Mr. Carr has accompanied cabaret shows and revues in some of the most renowned cabaret clubs in New York City. Known for his versatility as a musician, he is in high demand as a clinician, lecturer and performer. He has performed and studied throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America (including the Republic of Cuba). For more information about Vincent Carr as well as multimedia items, please visit www.vincecarrmusic.com
JIM BECKER (Choreographer)
Jim Becker is a choreographer and dance teacher in New York City and Cleveland. Recently Jim served as director and choreographer of Disney’s The Lion King Kids, choreographer and associate director of Tom Jones the Musical (off-off Broadway). Other choreographic credits include Once Upon a Matress, Best of Broadway, Baldwin Wallace College, The Cleveland Force Pro Soccer Dance Team, dance captain for Disney Cruise Line, Bally Total Fitness Dance Team, Cassidy Theatre in Cleveland, as well as choreography for competitive showchoirs and dance schools throughout North America. Jim is an ABT certified ballet teacher on staff at The Harlem School of the Arts. www.thejjimbecker.com
JEN PRICE FICK (Scenic Designer)
Jen Price Fick is so happy to be joining the House of Murgatroyd team. Jen most recently designed Falling for Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, MI, and will also be designing their next production, The Andrews Brothers. In addition to Meadow Brook Theatre, Jen designs frequently for The Peddie School in Princeton, NJ, Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken, NJ, and The Little Theater on the Square in Sullivan, Illinois. In fall 2013, Jen spent 5 weeks in Mexico City and 9 weeks in Seoul, South Korea, serving as the associate designer for two new companies of Wicked. Jen has worked as an assistant and associate designer on Broadway, the West End, internationally, and once for the Pope. Jen is also the drummer for a band called Four Eyes in New York City. www. jenpricefickdesign.com
LARRY SMIGLEWSKI (Production Stage Manager)
Larry Smiglewski is a professional stage manager, director and educator. He has stage managed all over the country, and recently toured with the Compagnia de' Colombari's production of Everything That Rises Must Converge. As Production Stage Manager for five seasons at the Forestburgh Playhouse, Larry worked with Loretta Swit on Shirley Valentine, Ed Asner on FDR, and on the Regional Premiere of Avenue Q, among countless others. Through the SDCF Observership Program, Larry worked alongside director John Doyle on the Tony Award winning revival of Company. For three years, Larry held the title of Artistic Director of Jersey Productions, Inc. a professional theatre company he co-founded in the Greater Cincinnati area. Some productions Larry directed for Jersey include Dreamgirls, West Side Story, The Fantasticks and Ragtime, which was honored with a Cincinnati Acclaim Award. Larry spent four years as an Assistant Professor of Theatre and currently teaches with Broadway Classroom. MFA, University of Houston; MS, Mercy College; BA, Marymount Manhattan College. Proud Member of Actor’s Equity Association. www.LarrySmigs.com @LarrySmigs
