AFA

MUSICAL

THEATRE

SHOWCASEA VIRTUAL PRODUCTION PERFORMED &DESIGNED BY AFA THEATRE STUDENTS

MAY 14 , 6 :00  PM @ WWW .NORMANDALE .EDU

THEATRE AT NORMANDALE

theatre at normandale presents

AFA MUSICAL THEATRESHOWCASE

DIRECTED BY AMANDA WHITE

ASSISTANT DIRECTORSean Byrd

MUSICAL DIRECTOR & ACCOMPANISTBradley Beahen

TECHNICAL DIRECTORTom Burgess

STAGE MANAGER Shelby Lengyel

SCENIC DESIGNVicky Erickson†

COSTUME DESIGN Michael Chabot†, Miles Davis, Taelyn Gore*, Shelby Lengyel

LIGHTING DESIGNSofía Campbell Gandía†, Erika Ellis†, Vicky Erickson†, Brennan Flynn Higby,

Taelyn Gore*, Bennett Klingman*, Melissa Knapik†, Shelby Lengyel, Lane Oberg,

Drew Ryan‡, Allison Skinner*, Bill Stevens‡, Emma Stringer‡, Vonny Wilborn‡

* AFA in Theatre Performance Candidate / † AFA in Theatre Production & Design Candidate

‡ Normandale-SMSU BA in Theatre Arts Partnership Student

SCENIC & LIGHTING MENTORTom Burgess

COSTUME MENTORAnnie Cady

ADDITIONAL LIGHTING DESIGNJim Eischen

CAST

ELIZABETH BELFIORI*BENNETT KLINGMAN*ANDREW SCHEIBER*ALLISON SKINNER*

* AFA in Theatre Performance Candidate / † AFA in Theatre Production & Design Candidate

‡ Normandale-SMSU BA in Theatre Arts Partnership Student

PROGRAM

“MISTER CELLOPHANE" JOHN KANDER & FRED EBBfrom Chicago

Performed by: Andrew Scheiber

Lighting Design: Lane Oberg

Costume Design: Michael Chabot

“OUT THERE” ALAN MENKEN & STEPHEN SCHWARTZfrom The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Performed by: Elizabeth Belfiori

Lighting Design: Emma Stringer

Costume Design: Michael Chabot

“OUT OF THE DARKNESS” ZINA GOLDRICH & MARCY HEISLERfrom Ever After

Performed by: Bennett Klingman and Allison Skinner

Lighting Design: Bennett Klingman

Costume Design: Taelyn Gore

PROGRAM

“BEING ALIVE” STEPHEN SONDHEIMfrom Company

Performed by: Allison Skinner

Lighting Design: Bill Stevens

Costume Design: Shelby Lengyel

“WORDS FAIL” BENJ PASEK & JUSTIN PAULfrom Dear Evan Hansen

Performed by: Bennett Klingman

Lighting Design: Taelyn Gore

Costume Design: Shelby Lengyel

“WHO I’D BE” JEANINE TESORI & DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIREfrom Shrek the MusicalPerformed by: Elizabeth Belfiori, Bennett Klingman, and Andrew Scheiber

Lighting Design: Sofía Campbell Gandía

Costume Design: Miles Davis

“DANCE WITH YOU” MATTHEW SKLA & CHAD BEGUELINfrom The Prom

Performed by: Elizabeth Belfiori and Allison Skinner

Lighting Design: Melissa Knapik

Costume Design: Miles Davis

“IT ALL FADES AWAY” JASON ROBERT BROWNfrom The Bridges of Madison County

Performed by: Andrew Scheiber

Lighting Design: Drew Ryan

Costume Design: Michael Chabot

PROGRAM

“AGONY” STEPHEN SONDHEIMfrom Into the Woods

Performed by: Bennett Klingman and Andrew Scheiber

Lighting Design: Erika Ellis

Costume Design: Taelyn Gore

“MORNING PERSON” JEANINE TESORI & DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIREfrom Shrek the Musical

Performed by: Elizabeth Belfiori

Lighting Design: Allison Skinner

Costume Design: Michael Chabot

“I CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT” JASON ROBERT BROWNfrom The Last 5 Years

Performed by: Allison Skinner

Lighting Design: Vonny Wilborn

Costume Design: Shelby Lengyel

“SONNET 29” GEORGIA STITTfrom "Sonnet 29" by William Shakespeare

Performed by: Bennett Klingman

Lighting Design: Brennan Flynn Higby

Costume Design: Shelby Lengyel

UNLIKELY LOVERS” WILLIAM FINNfrom Falsettos

Performed by: Elizabeth Belfiori, Bennett Klingman,

Andrew Scheiber, and Allison Skinner

Lighting Design: Vicky Erickson and Shelby Lengyel

Costume Design: Michael Chabot

PRODUCTION CREW

VIDEO PRODUCTION Pavel Ignatenkov

SCENE SHOP FOREMAN Ray Heath

SCENIC BUILD CREW Sofía Campbell Gandía†, Michael

Chabot†, Vicky Erickson†

COSTUME CONSTRUCTION CREW Michael Chabot†, Miles Davis,

Taelyn Gore*, Melissa Knapik†,

Shelby Lengyel, Emma Stringer ‡

PUBLICITY Terri Barr, Steven Geller, Mary

Solverson

PROGRAM Terri Barr

COVID SAFETY DEPUTY Shelby Lengyel

Dr. Jeff Judge, Dean of Humanities

Tom Burgess, Chair, Department of TheatreTheatre Faculty: Tom Burgess, Anne Byrd, Sean Byrd, Annie Cady,

Kathleen Bagby Coate, and Amanda White

* AFA in Theatre Performance Candidate / † AFA in Theatre Production & Design Candidate

‡ Normandale-SMSU BA in Theatre Arts Partnership Student

CLOSED CAPTIONING Geri Wilson

The Normandale COVID Planning Team

SPECIAL THANKS

DEPARTMENTPERSONNEL

DIRECTORS' NOTE

What a lovely end to what has been a challenging year for all of us-- for Theatre at

Normandale and for our beloved audience alike. We will confess to sorting through

some strong emotions while watching these students at work, a. There’s nothing

like a musical theatre number, done with feeling, to make the world outside the

theatre fall away.

What you’re about to see was brought into being by Theatre at Normandale

students: this is a cabaret of songs chosen by these students, out of love, or

curiosity, or the blend they make when they sing with someone else. The set was

designed by an AFA candidate in Production & Design, and every musical number

is lit by students in this semester’s Lighting Design class. The costumes (some of

them handcrafted, painted, and constructed), are designed and built by Costume

Design students.

These 4 actors were a true quartet from the first moment--some of them met each

other in person for the first time at our first rehearsal in the space, and they already

seemed like old pals. You will see that dynamic at play in tonight’s Showcase.

These artists love each other, and they look out for each other in the work. No

Theatre faculty could ask for more than that.

We are proud of all of these students, and of who they are as artists facing the

world. We hope that you will allow their work to transport you for an hour to a

space outside your life, and into a darkened theatre surrounded by music and color

and joy. We hope, too, that you feel the power of live theatre as you watch--we are

counting the days until we can greet you in the Theatre for that experience again.

Wishing you a wonderful summer, and we’ll see you next season!

Warmly,

Amanda and Sean

CAST & CREW BIOGRAPHIES

BRADLEY BEAHEN (Musical Director), a native to Minnesota, ventured out east to

study musical theater at Carnegie Mellon University. Bradley returned to the Twin

Cities after college and found a home on the Mcknight Stage at the Ordway Center

for the Performing Arts, Chanhassen Dinner Theater, and St. Paul's History Theatre.

After a wonderful run in MN, Bradley ventured out to NYC and has worked

regionally for the last 15 years. Favorite theaters include American Heartland

Theatre (Kansas City) Gem Theatre (Detroit) Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Maltz

Jupiter (FLA) Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Mountain

Playhouse (PA), and Theatre Aspen (CO). Bradley made his return to Minneapolis

four years ago and has been working primarily as a Musical Director throughout

the Twin Cities as well as Resident Music Director at Normandale Community

College. Recent credits include Plaid Tidings and Winter Wonderettes at Lyric Arts,

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at Old Log Theatre, Mamma Mia at the

Channhassen Dinner Theatre, Title of Show at Normandale Community College

and the world premiere workshop of Pansy Craze (written by Max Wojtanowicz

and Michael Gruber) for the NEXT Festival at Theatre Latte Da.

ELIZABETH BELFIORI (Cast) is new to Normandale. She has previously enjoyed

playing the roles of Anna Maria in GODSPELL and Mary Poppins in Mary Poppinsat Eagan High School, as well as playing Cathy Seldon in Eagan Summer

Community Theatre’s production of Singin’ in the Rain. She is currently working

towards her AFA. Major thanks to the cast and crew of this fast-paced production.

You rock. Hi to my family!

TOM BURGESS (Technical Director/Scenic & Lighting Mentor) has worked as a set

designer and technical director for the Guthrie Theater’s Guthrie/BFA program and

the Guthrie Experience programs. While at the Guthrie, he worked as a properties

artisan on productions such as His Girl Friday, The Great Gatsby, and The RealThing. Additionally, Tom has worked as a properties master and assistant scenic

designer for a number of Penumbra Theatre's productions. He has stage managed

for A Prairie Home Companion’s cruises traveling to the Baltic States, the

Caribbean, and Scotland. Most recently, Tom has designed scenery for the

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s production of Nat Turner in Jerusalem as well as

designing and building the set for the conceptual dance film, Kitchen DanceProject.

CAST & CREW BIOGRAPHIES

SEAN BYRD (Assistant Director) has been a member of the Theatre faculty since

2002. In addition to his work at NCC, he is an active actor/director in the Twin

Cities. He has appeared on stage with such companies as 15 Head: A Theatre Lab,

The Minnesota Shakespeare Project, Fifty Foot Penguin Theatre, Pig’s Eye Theatre,

Sandbox Theatre, Hardcover Theatre, Yellow Tree Theatre, DalekoArts, and Walking

Shadow Theatre Company. Sean recently directed String (Yellow Tree Theatre),

Sam’s Son (Bucket Brigade Theatre), Plaid Tidings (Lyric Arts), and Our Town(Duluth Playhouse).

ANNIE CADY (Costume Mentor) has designed costumes for several area theatre

and dance companies including Ananya Dance Theatre, Artistry, The Children's

Theatre Company, Commonweal Theatre, History Theatre, Minnesota Jewish

Theatre Company, Mixed Blood, Park Square Theatre, Ten Thousand Things,

Threads Dance Project, Workhaus Collective and Zenon Dance.

MICHAEL CHABOT (Costume Designer) is very grateful to be a part of another

production at Normandale as he pursues his AFA in Theatre Production & Design.

Being part of the Scenic Crew in productions of In This Together to John HugesWrote My Diary has taught him a newfound knowledge of design and the

unconditional warmth of taking care of the theatre. He would love to thank his

family, mentors, and theatre family for their endless encouragement and support

as he pursues his degree.

MILES DAVIS (Costume Designer) This is Miles’ first time designing costumes for a

production here at Normandale. He has had experience designing and making

costumes for fun with his friends. In addition to costume design, he has also

participated as an actor in The Normandale Play Project and Hamlet (RIP

Ramplet) here at Normandale. Miles will be continuing on to Hamline University in

the Fall. He would like to thank his dear friends for supporting him and his dreams.

JIM EISCHEN (Lighting Designer) earned his BFA in Theater Design/Technical from

the University of Minnesota Duluth. Based out of Minneapolis, he has designed

lights for Seventh House Theater Collective, Troupe America, Plymouth Playhouse,

Savage Umbrella, Soar Arts, Lyric Arts, Old Log, Duluth Playhouse, Lyric Opera of the

North, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Mayples Rep, and national tours of Jekylland Hyde and Ring of Fire. Jim has been the Master Electrician at the Medora

Musical in Medora, ND since the 2016 season.

CAST & CREW BIOGRAPHIES

VICKY ERICKSON (Scenic Designer) is really excited to show off one of her designs

here at Normandale for her final show. She wanted to create a set that can be

changed within each moment of this piece. She has built a variety of Normandale’s

shows these past years, and has been making appearances through the Twins

Cities by working with the Ballet Company, Fairbault Theatre, and the Hudson

Ballet Company. With props and designs, she is very excited to bring forward the

creativity she has gained through High School and Middle School. She would like

to thank her teachers, friends, and classmates on helping make her dream come

true.

BENNETT KLINGMAN (Cast) is excited to be a part of the showcase. He has

previously been a part of the show In This Together as a singer and as a singer in

The Normandale Play Project. He is studying for his AFA in Theatre Performance at

Normandale and is looking to continue on through the Normandale/SMSU Theatre

Partnership Program. Bennett would like to thank his family and friends for always

supporting him throughout this show and he hopes everybody enjoys everyone's

hard work!

SHELBY LENGYEL (Costume Designer/Stage Manager) graduated from

Normandale's theatre program last spring and is thrilled to be assisting behind the

scenes. Shelby is soaking up all she can from the brilliant team around her before

graduating with her second Associate's this spring and heading to Hamline

University in the fall. She'd like to thank this amazing cast and crew for their

wonderful insights and collaboration, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

ANDREW SCHEIBER (Cast) is ecstatic to be making his return to the Normandale

stage. He previously appeared as a football player in Normandale's production of

Colossal. He has also appeared as the Beast in his hometown's community theatre

company production of Beauty and the Beast. He would like to thank his friends

and family for supporting him in his theatrical endeavors.

ALLISON SKINNER (Cast) is very pleased to be a one of the performers in

Normandale’s AFA Showcase. This will be Allison’s last show at Normandale before

she graduates with her AFA in Theatre Performance this May. She has been

previously involved in Normandale’s productions of The Wolves as #46 and Hamletas Ophelia. She would like to thank her family for all their support in her pursuit of

what she loves and the Normandale Theatre Department for the skills they have

taught her and the new friends they have provided her. Students all across the

department put a lot of hard work into this show and she hopes you enjoy!

CAST & CREW BIOGRAPHIES

AMANDA WHITE (Director) is honored to be the newest member of the team at

Normandale, where she is teaching in the Performance track and directing in the

2020-21 Season. In addition to teaching at NCC, Amanda is an actor, director, and

Founding Artistic Director at DalekoArts in New Prague, MN. Amanda also has a

background in theatre management; she has worked in Strategy and

Development for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, as Associate Artistic

Director at the William Inge Center for the Arts, and most recently, as the

Managing Director at Mixed Blood Theatre Company in Minneapolis. She is a new

seminarian, having started work toward a Doctorate of Ministry in Theology & the

Arts at United Theological Seminary in St Paul.

DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE

NORMANDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

9700 France Ave. South, Bloomington, MN 55431www.normandale.edu/theatre

The Department of Theatre at Normandale Community College is an accredited

member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre.