Magnificent Hubba Hubba

Directed by Annie Pesch

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT AND THE PLAY

Olga Humphrey has written for theater, film, and television. Her plays have been performed internationally and are published by Dramatic Publishing Company. Her comedy play MAGNIFICENT HUBBA HUBBA was named the winner and audience favorite of the 2017 Dayton FutureFest, the 27th year of the competition. MAGNIFICENT HUBBA HUBBA was also a semi-finalist for the O’Neill Conference, and was presented at Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York, the Actors Studio with John Patrick Shanley moderating the reading, and in a table read at the Cherry Lane with Annette O’Toole doing one of the roles. Olga is a staff writer for the new television animated series THE DOG & PONY SHOW, an international co-production, which is currently airing in Canada, before coming to the U.S. via the Discovery+ Channel. Olga’s play F-STOP was produced by New Directions Theater in New York, and the B-Street Theater in Sacramento. The “Chop Susie” monologue from the play has become a favorite for students applying to acting programs. Her one-act plays SVETLANA’S NEW FLAME and HYPERACTIVE won the Perishable Theater’s Women’s Playwriting Festival two consecutive years in a row and were published in a collection of her comedic one-acts called “Fire Works.” Twentieth Century Fox optioned her comedy series proposal THE THREE R’s.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Having brought three iterations of Magnificent Hubba Hubba to life, it might be an understatement to say I like this play.  MHH is so fun and full of great, colorful characters – characters that you love and characters you love to hate!  There is something intriguing and endearing about the relationship between a wide-eyed kid and his foulmouthed wrestler idol.  I really enjoy plays like MHH, ones so unique that you have never seen anything like them before.  When I first took on MHH four years ago for FutureFest, some thought it might be a challenge to produce and to cast.  I have been lucky enough to find great people to bring this play to life each time.  One benefit of Zoom theatre is to have actors participate from all over the country.  In this production alone, we have actors from Illinois, California, Kentucky, and (of course) Ohio.  I am thankful to everyone who spent countless hours working on this production; it might not have been easy, but your hard work is appreciated.  Thank you, Olga, for entrusting me with your play once again.  You have such a way with words; I still find myself laughing in the same places I did when I first read the play.  Thank you to the audience for your support during these challenging times.  Whether this is your first, second, or third time watching MHH – I hope you enjoy the show!

Please note: This play contains adult language and uses strobe lighting.

The Cast

Lucille:  Becky Milligan
Roy:  Samuel Hamilton
Alice:  Fran Pesch
Lulu:  Hannah Stickel
Zane:  Saul Caplan
Nadya, Young Lucille, Referee:  Melissa Kerr Ertsgaard
Teddy, Nurse, Young Alice:  Shanna Camacho
Wanda, Hostess:  Kelli Locker
Announcer:  J. Gary Thompson

PRODUCTION STAFF

Director – Annie Pesch
Stage Manager – Brian Buttrey
Production Assistant – Michael Shannon
Scenic Design – Logan Dabney (live), Annie Pesch (virtual)
Staged Fights Light Design/Board Operator – Terry Ronald
Sound Design – Annie Pesch
Sound Engineers – Bob Kovach (live), Annie Pesch (virtual)
Sound Board Operator – Bob Kovach
Specialty Costume Design/Construction – Barbara Jorgensen
Costumes – Cast
Properties – Fran Pesch
Alice & Nadya Themes – Brennan Paulin
Filming & Video Editing – Annie Pesch
Master Carpenter – Logan Dabney
Set Construction – Annie Pesch, Fran Pesch, Becky Milligan, Abby Williams
Spotlight Operators – Brian Huggins, Michael Plaugher

SPECIAL THANKS

Joe Pesch

Jeff Sams

Laura Steenveld-Hamilton

WHO’S WHO

Shanna Camacho is thrilled to once again be involved in the hilarious play the Magnificent Hubba Hubba! She has been active in many productions on the Dayton Playhouse stage and is looking forward to once again returning. Enjoy the show!!!

Saul Caplan has appeared with or directed at almost every theatre venue in the Greater Miami Valley. He has also done voice-over work for dozens of radio commercials and PSAs.  Saul is a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild and the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame.

Melissa Kerr Ertsgaard – The only thing that Melissa loves as much as acting is WRESTLING. Really. The chance to reprise the role of “Nadya/Referee” is an unexpected gift and she gives much thanks to Annie for the opportunity. Last season, Melissa performed as “Bernice” in Musical Comedy Murders, and previously in The Shadow Box as “Felicity” and in multiple roles in The Man Who Killed The Cure all at DTG. When not onstage, enjoying wrestling, or teaching, Melissa can be found outside playing in nature.

Samuel Hamilton currently holds a job at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where he is thrilled to be performing in this production from his home state!  Samuel is a proud graduate of Notre Dame College Preparatory in Niles, Illinois, where his determination for service and character was instilled. A most special thanks to his mother Laura, and to his Chelsea, for all the help they have both given him towards this show. 

Barbara Jorgensen is a Dayton actor who also enjoys creating costumes. She makes her theatre home at the Dayton Theatre Guild, but likes to work with Fran when asked. Some of the outfits for Fran’s shows have been particularly fun and challenging. And definitely odd.

Kelli Locker is thrilled to again work on a Dayton Playhouse production after previously appearing in Playhouse gems like The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Grease, and FutureFest productions. She is proud of the flexibility the Playhouse has shown during the COVID19 pandemic and hopes that all patrons continue to lend their support through virtual viewings and any financial support possible. We will make it through this as a theatre family!

Becky Milligan has appeared onstage around town in The Women, Ragtime, Batboy, Little Women, Plaza Suite, Calendar Girls, Blessings from the Pandemic, and One Christmas Eve at the Evergreen Mall. Her backstage work includes My Fair Lady, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Ain’t Misbehavin’, FutureFest 2019, Still Alice, Man of La Mancha, and The Face of Emmitt Till. Her Favorite thing ever is FutureFest where she originated the role of “Lucille” in Magnificent Hubba Hubba in 2017, Late in the Game, and last year’s Zoomed production of A Ghost of a Chance. She is on the Associate Board of the Dayton Playhouse and the FutureFest Play Reading Committee.

Annie Pesch is happy to be directing MHH again.  She recently virtually directed Blessings from the Pandemic and A Ghost of a Chance.  Directing credits include Young at Heart Players’ Still Alice, Calendar Girls, 20th Century Blues, and Ripcord; and FF’s On the Horizon and Fettered.  Acting credits include Wings Theatre, American Blues Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cleveland Play House, JET, and Dayton’s HRTC and MTC.  Love and thanks to her family.  Proud member of AEA.  www.anniepesch.com

Fran Pesch is grateful to be reprising her role in MHH.  Armed with an understanding director, a trusty pacemaker, and a supportive cast, she met the challenge of the rematch of the century relatively intact. When not in the ring, Fran has worked in professional, educational, and community theatre.  She is the Founder of Young at Heart Players, Acting Coach for UD’s School of Law, and member of the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame.

Hannah Stickel is thrilled to reprise her original role as “Lulu” in Magnificent Hubba Hubba. She is a recent graduate of Kent State University, where she earned a BA in Theatre Studies with a Concentration in Performance as well as a double minor in Sound Design and Digital Media Production. She has been involved in various productions both on and off the stage, her most recent Dayton work includes Blessings from the Pandemic with Young at Heart Players, Little Foxes at the Dayton Theatre Guild, as well as being the Sound Designer for the 2018 FutureFest. Her other work includes She Picks up a Pen, Parade, Manual for a Desperate Crossing, and the short film “He’s Always with Me”. She would like to thank everyone involved in the production for the experience and opportunity to revisit one of her favorite roles.

J. Gary Thompson has performed in & directed many plays, musicals & films, most recently directing The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Stella and Lou, and acting in The Man Who Killed the Cure at DTG. He wrote and directed the touring show The Little Matchgirl for Muse Machine, and directed The Hobbit for Zoot Theatre Company, winning a Broadway World award. Gary creates sound design, writes original compositions, and mixes and produces bands at his company, 4321 Sound Studios. Gary was also Sound Designer on a Sundance award winning film.  He is excited to be working again with Annie Pesch and a sublimely talented cast on this endeavour.