by Lynne Halliday, James Hindman, Arlene Hutton & Craig Pospisil
Streaming Presentation of The Dayton Playhouse, Inc.
Directed by Brian Sharp
Available Online December 9 through 23, 2020. Click here to purchase tickets.
Program
Scenes
1. Christmas Eve Is Here
2. What Child Is This
3. Making Spirits Bright
4. Home For The Holidays
5. Good Will To Men
6. We Need A Little Christmas
7. Deck The Halls
8. Bearing Gifts, We Traverse Afar
9. Hark How The Bells
10. Away In A Manger
Setting – The Evergreen Mall – corridor, break room and two stores – current day – Mystery city in Michigan
Production Team
Director – Brian Sharp
Assistant Director – Videographer – Dawn Roth Smith
Set Design and Decoration – Logan Dabney and Sean Mayo
Lighting Design – Richard Lee Waldeck
Sound Design – Robert Kovach
Special Costumes by – Theresa Kahle
Audition Assistance from Tim Rezash and Tina McPhearson
The Cast (in order of appearance)
Bell Ringer – Cathy Long
Darla – Becky Howard
Robert – Adonis Lemke
Lacey – Annie Sayers
Todd – Samuel Hamilton
Jenny – Jenna Gomes
Stephen – Ron Maurer
Erin – Lynn Vanderpool
Andy – Mark Sharp
Taylor – Sarah Gomes
RJ – Michael Fisher
Terry – Matt Poliachik
Abbie – Jenny Westfall
JoEllen – Amy Askins
Robin – Lynn Jensen
Molly – Kelli Meyers
Matthew – Dakota Spicer
Felicia – Cynthia Schindler
Linda – Janet Wasson
Sharon – Mandy Bridgeford
Gerald – Sean Mayo
Ellie – Chloe Chicarelli
Cast and Production Bios
Amy Askins (JoEllen) is thrilled to be involved in this project! At the Playhouse, Amy has appeared as Tanya in Mamma Mia!, Melpomene in Xanadu and Sister Robert-Anne in Nunsense. Favorite past roles include Ginger in 1940’s Radio Hour, April in Company and Jeannie in Fat Pig. Credits include many theatres in the Dayton and Dallas-Ft Worth area. Break a leg everyone! Art is something that makes you breath with a different kind of happiness – Anni Albers
Mandy Bridgeford (Sharon) is thrilled to be making her Dayton Playhouse debut with such a talented cast and crew. Mandy most recently played Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace at the Actor’s Theatre in Fairborn. Prior to this, she has not acted since college. College and High School productions include: The Importance of Being Earnest, The Wizard of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun, The Music Man and another production of Arsenic and Old Lace, where she played Martha.
Chloe’ Chicarelli (Ellie) – has been involved in theatre and dance for what feels like forever. She joined The Young Performers at age 12 back in England, and has a GCSE in Expressive Arts, followed by an A-Level in
Drama and Theatre studies at New College Nottingham. She has performed in many musicals, pantomimes, variety and skit shows, some of her highlights include Prince Charming in Cinderella and professional
shows alongside the Grand Order of the Water Rats. A Realtor and commissioned Artist by day, in addition to working at a nonprofit, she is excited for the chance to dip her toes back into theatre!
Jenna De Gruy (Jenny) is thrilled to be making theatre again. Her favorite roles past roles include Mimi Schwinn in A New Brain (UD), Joan in Fun Home (Beavercreek Community Theatre) and Becky in Slowgirl (Dayton Theatre Guild). She is also a writer and teaches English Composition at UD and Sinclair. You can typically find her at Gem City Cafe, where she can both make you a coffee and help you cuddle cats.
Sarah Gomes (Taylor) is happy to be part of this unique production and making art during these times when it is both scarce and needed. Sarah has acted on local, professional, and touring stages for most of her life. She currently works as a professional Props and Puppet Artisan in and around Dayton. Please everyone stay safe so we can see you someday again in the theatre with us!
Samuel Hamilton (Todd) is thrilled to share his talent in Dayton once again! Originally from Chicago, Sam loves the performing arts and is so excited for in person shows again some day!
Adonis Lemke (Robert) is returning to Dayton Playhouse after last seen in “Before Lesbians.” He is a member of the Associate Board and has performed in To Kill a Mockingbird and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. He has a Bachelor’s from Wright State University and works in the drama department at Valley View High School. While this has been an “Interesting year” his hope is that One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall can give us all a little piece of the joy that we have missed so much from time at theatre.
Cathy Long (Bell Ringer and Props Mistress) is thrilled to be part of another Dayton Playhouse production. While missing her theater family desperately, she was thrilled to have the opportunity to do some safe, socially distanced theater for the holidays. She is grateful to Brian, Dawn, and the entire cast for including her in the fun!
Ron Maurer (Stephen) has performed at the Playhouse and other Dayton theatres many times, with favorite recent roles including Tateh in Ragtime and Harry Bright in Mamma Mia!. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he received a BA in theatre at Otterbein College. Thanks for the support of my wife Stacy and son Evan.
Sean Mayo (Gerald) is channeling his inner Ho! Ho! Ho!
Becky Milligan (Darla) has appeared onstage around town in The Women, Ragtime Batboy, Little Women, Plaza Suite, and Calendar Girls. Her backstage work includes My Fair Lady, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Still Alice, Man of La Mancha, and The Face of Emmitt Till. Her Favorite thing ever is FutureFest where she has appeared in The Magnificent Hubba, Late in the Game, and this 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.
Kelli Myers (Molly) is thrilled to have joined this cast as a late addition, and has had so much fun taking the stage in this creative and unconventionall way! Last seen as “Shy” in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Kelli considers DPH her theater family and is looking forward to the season ahead when we can enjoy the arts safely together.
Matt Poliachik (Terry) is delighted to be returning to the Dayton Playhouse stage, and to be participating in this new way of bringing theatre to the world. A graduate of Sinclair Community College’s theatre performance program, Matt has recently appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, SLUT: The Play, Treasure Island, and Bang Bang, You’re Dead at Sinclair, along with several productions around Dayton over the years. He hopes you will enjoy the show, and wishes everyone a safe, healthy, and happy holiday. Wear a mask, and God bless us, everyone!
Annie Sayers (Lacey) is happy to be back at the playhouse for her fourth show. Annie’s previous credits include being assistant director for the 2019 FutureFest’s production of Which Way The Wind Blows, the Steward for Murder on the Nile, ascot maid/ ensemble for My Fair Lady, Mrs.Eynsford-Hill for Brookville Theatre’s production of Pygmalion, Sinclair’s productions of Macbeth and Stop Kiss. She crewed for Children of Eden, Seussical the Musical, and Big the Musical for Northmont High School’s Drama club. She is excited to be on stage enjoying the adventure that comes with each show.
Cynthia Schindler (Felicia) has been involved in the creative arts since she was a child, training in piano, voice, dance, and painting. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Wright State University School of Music. Cynthia has studied with Metropolitan Opera singer Kay Griffel and has appeared in performances ranging from the operatic lead in Menotti’s The Telephone to a recent drag vignette of Hello Dolly. Her proudest moment was sharing a stage with Allison Janney. Cynthia also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Engineering. She is a professional spoiled cat enabler.
Brian Sharp (Director) is thrilled to be bringing over 20 actors back to the stage after a shut down – 7 are new to the Playhouse family. During the day Brian works as Realtor/Manager for Irongate Realtors. Brian serves on the Board of Directors at the Dayton Playhouse; the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus and The Miami Valley Presbytery. He also sings in the choir at Westminister Presbyterian in downtown Dayton.
Mark Sharp (Andy) Mark is excited to return to the stage at (Dayton Playhouse) as Andy in One Christmas Eve at The Evergreen Mall. Mark was most recently seen in Our Mother’s Brief Affair at (Dayton Theatre Guild) and My Fair Lady at the (Dayton Playhouse.) Prior to that he was in The Other Place at (The Dayton Theatre Guild). Mark also Stage Managed at the (Dayton Playhouse) for Sister Act. Mark was Asst. Stage Manager for Ragtime at the (Dayton Playhouse.) Mark would like to thank his friends and family for encouraging him to pursue his dream.
Dakota Spicer (Matthew) is a first-year thespian. Raised in Tipp City, he now resides in Kettering with his wife Paige, dog Willow, and cat Charles. He works full-time at Dave Arbogast Ford, managing their Business Development Center while selling houses as a part-time Realtor at Irongate Inc., Realtors of Englewood. His favorite food is Skyline Chili and outside of the theater enjoys to travel with his wife or hang out with his family.
Lynn Vanderpool (Erin) is thrilled to be part of this wonderful team and to be back on the Dayton Playhouse stage. She was last seen here in 2019 in Drone, a
FutureFest production. Some of her favorite roles include Joanne in Company, Georgeanne in Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, Little Sally Two Shoes in Urinetown:The Musical, Sara Jane Moore in Assassins, and Mary in Merrily We Roll Along. Thank you, Dayton Playhouse for the
opportunity to create art again! Merry Christmas!
Jenny Westfall (Abbie) has missed theatre more than anything this entire year. She is so excited to work in her first show at Dayton Playhouse! Jenny was last onstage as Ann in Brian Sharp’s production of Faye Sholiton’s The Interview at Fairborn Community Theatre (in March, right before all of this madness began). She previously stage managed several shows at Beavercreek Community Theatre. She is very grateful to the director, cast, and crew for this opportunity! Jenny wants to thank her supportive family and friends, and especially her daughter, Abby.
Janet Wasson (Linda) is thrilled to be making her return to the Dayton Playhouse stage at all in this time of COVID. And working with friends old and new makes it even better! Thanks, Brian!
Lynn Jensen (Robin) This will be Lynn’s first production with Dayton Playhouse having just relocated to Ohio from Northern California where she had been active in community theater there for years. Favorite roles include: Lily St. Regis (Annie), Bianca/Lois (Kiss Me Kate), Nurse Tate (It Runs in the Family), and Annabella/Pamela/Margaret (39 Steps). Lynn is a children’s dentist and is a happy newlywed to Rob. She has three wonderful children and a very spoiled Yorkie!
Richard Lee Waldeck (Lighting Designer) Richard is thrilled to be working with Brian and Dawn again as the Lighting Designer for DPH’s virtual Christmas show. He has done lighting design for over 20 years has been a freelance Director and Technical Director for theatre companies throughout the Tri-State. He is currently the Children’s Theatre Director for the Jewish Federation of Dayton. Past lighting credits include; Decision Height, Next to Normal, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Wedding Singer, A Few Good Men, Tuesdays with Morrie, Tick, Tick… Boom, The Who’s Tommy, and Batboy to name a few.
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