THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND
Music by JOHN KANDER
Lyrics by FRED EBB
Conceived
by
SCOTT ELLIS, SUSAN STROMAN, DAVID THOMPSON
CAST
Alessandra Courson
Jonathan Lehew
Katie McMurtrey
Cash Million
Lynn Thompson
BrooklynN Strunk
Ijahi Jackson
Olivia Olson
Dr. Tracey Gregg-Boothby
SONGS
The World Goes 'Round....................................................Alessandra Courson
Yes...............................................................................................Jonathon Lehew
Coffee in a Cardboard Cup.................................................................Ensemble Colored Lights.................................................................................Olivia Olson
Sara Lee............................................................................................Ijahi Jackson
Arthur in the Afternoon.........................................................Katie McMurtrey
My Coloring Book....................................................................Lynn Thompson
I Don't Remember You...................................................................Ijahi Jackson
Sometimes A Day Goes By............................................................Cash Million
And All that Jazz...................................................................................Ensemble
Ten-minute intermission
Class........................................................................................Brooklynn Strunk
Mr. Cellophane..........................................................................Jonathan Lehew
There Goes the Ball Game................Dr. Tracey Gregg-Boothby, Alessandra Courson and Katie McMurtrey
How Lucky Can You Get..........................Jonathan Lehew and Cash Million
Ring Them Bells..............................................Lynn Thompson and Ensemble
Kiss of the Spiderwoman.......................................................Brooklynn Strunk
Only Love..................................................................................Lynn Thompson
Marry Me.........................................................................................Cash Million
A Quiet Thing ................................................................................Olivia Olson
We Can Make it...............................................................................Ijahi Jackson
Maybe this Time......................................................................Katie McMurtrey Isn't This Better...................................................................Alessandra Courson
Money, Money ..........Cash Million, Alessandra Courson, Katie McMurtrey
Cabaret..................................................................................................Ensemble
Please silence all cell phones.
Please refrain from texting during the performance. No photographs or recording equipment allowed due to copyright law.
Thank you and enjoy the performance!
Who’s Who in the Cast
ALESSANDRA COURSON is a first-year Theater major at Rose State College. Aléssandra has been in many theater productions, beginning with an Italian version of Nativity Play (Baby Jesus), Midsummer Night Dreams (Philip), Mama Mia (ensemble), One Act Country Gothic (Ensemble), Puffs (Moaning Myrtle, Hermione 1, Dementor, Frenchy, Draco Malfoy Son, Colin Creevey, and Ginny), Something Rotten (Bard Beauty), One Act This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing ( Village Girl and Ensemble) earning a medal for spotlight actress, Alice In Wonderland (Duchess), and Matilda (Acrobat and Revolting Child ensemble). She’s performed nine shows from the list at her previous High School Carl Albert. Now at Rose State she’s done Alice In Wonderland (Duchess, Lily Flower, and Alice Older Sister). She would love to thank her family and friends for believing in her and pushing her to a limit they know she can pass. Along with my past teacher Mrs. Orr-Addams, for introducing her to theater, and thanks to our Director professor Nelson for the opportunity.
STEVEN ELKINS KENNEDY (Pianist) is excited to join the RSC community in this presentation. Originally from Moore, Oklahoma, Steven has a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. He has served as coach/accompanist for the music theater and opera departments at the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University and Texas Woman’s University. He is currently coaching and accompanying students at the University of Oklahoma. He was previously seen at Rose State Theatre’s production of The Addams Family. Thanks to Tracey Gregg-Boothby and Rick Nelson for this opportunity.
IJAHI JACKSON is a second-year Music
Education Major at Rose State College, Ijahi is a part of the RSC Chorus and The RSC Chamber Chorus. Ijahi graduated from Moore High School, where he was a part of the MHS Apollyras Chorus and The MHS Show Chorus. Also at MHS, Ijahi played the character Benny Southstreet in the musical Guy & Dolls. Ijahi has been seen in Rose State Theatre’s productions of The Addams Family Musical, Goosebumps The Musical and A Christmas Carol. He is thankful and blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful cast.
JONATHAN LEHEW This is Jon’s first show at Rose State. He has graduated from Lyric Academy and has experience in many roles such Hades in Hades Town, Christopher Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Mr. Duvall in Mean Girls, Captain Hook in Peter Pan a Devised Play, Ben Weatherstaff in the Secret Garden, and many more!
KATIE MCMURTREY This is Katie’s first year and first show at Rose. Previously, during her senior year at ArtWorks Academy, she performed the role of Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown and Fantine in Les Misérables. She’s excited to be in her first show at Rose with such a kind cast and crew. She would like to thank her mom, dad, grandma, and sister for always being there, and a special thanks to Severin and his family for being so supportive!
CASH MILLION This is Cash’s first show at Rose State College, and he is thrilled to be a part of The World Goes ’Round! He fell in love with performing in high school and has appeared as J. Finch in Puffs, Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Kevin G in Mean Girls: The Musical. Cash is grateful for the amazing cast and crew and would like to thank his friends,
Who’s Who in the Cast
family, and mentors for their constant support.
OLIVIA OLSON This is Olivia’s seventh show at Rose State College. Previous roles include: Carrie in Goosebumps, Frieda in You’re a Goodman Charlie Brown, Smee in Peter and The Starcatcher, Shelby in Steel Magnolias, The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, and Glory in Almost, Maine. She is so excited to get to be a part of this wonderful show with all these extremely talented performers! Olivia would like to thank her friends and family for always being so supportive!
BROOKLYNN STRUNK This is Brooklynn’s second year at Rose State and her third time being in a show. You’ve seen her previously as Achlys in Achlys’ Reign and as Clara in the Lorax. She’s incredibly excited to be performing again with her friends! She’d like to thank her Dad, Grandma, Aunt and brothers for their continued support and a special shout out to her cousins Kayden and Alexandria, you two rock! And as always, Brooklynn would like to thank her high school drama teacher Mrs. Reise for introducing her to theatre. She’d also like to thank Dr. Tracey Gregg-Boothby for her continued patience, kindness and encouragement.
BRANDON TELLEZ (Stage Manager) is a first-year Theatre major, and this is the third show he has been a part of. This is his first time as Stage Manager. Brandon is a disabled combat veteran with nearly a decade of time stationed at nearby Tinker Air Force Base. After a diverse career in the United States Air Force, Brandon is excited to be pursuing education and creative ventures. Brandon also runs a local quarterly publication in Oklahoma City, Shoot the Breeze Magazine. Brandon would like to thank his cast and crew members, and the rest of his acting classmates. He would also like to thank his younger sister for always being an inspiration.
LYNN THOMPSON retired to take music and theatre classes at Rose State. She has been in several shows at Rose. Her favorite role was Ouiser in Steel Magnolias. She also loved doing Granny Addams in The Addams Family Musical, as she loves to make the audience laugh. She would like to thank Professor Rick Nelson, Professor Amy Nevius, and Dr. Tracey Gregg-Boothby for all of their patient instruction; and her husband, Professor Jeffrey Thompson for his support. She is proud to be part of this fun cast!
PRODUCTION CREW
Music Director................................................Dr. Tracey Gregg-Boothby
Choreographer........................................................................Amy Nevius
Pianist....................................................................Steven Elkins Kennedy
Sound Engineer...................................................................Madison Kelly
Stage Manager/Light Opeerator.......................................Brandon Tellez
Projection Operator...............................................................Aaron Rivas
Deck Crew.....................................................Bethanie Rivas, Chris Jones
Theatre Work-Study................................Rico Murrell, Kaylie Treadway
SPECIAL THANKS
Rose State College President Travis Hurst
Vice President of Administrative Services Dr. Kent Lashley
Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Melissa Hayt
Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Jeff Conkin
Administrative Support Specialist Katy Sorenson
Photographer Kenneth Beachler
Mass Communication Professor Darcy Delaney-Nelson
Introduction to Theatre and Stagecraft
CREATIVE TEAM
DR. TRACEY GREGG-BOOTHBY (Musical Director) iis Professor of Music at Rose State College where she conducts the Rose State Chorus and Rose State Chamber Singers, teaches voice, and other undergraduate courses in music. Dr. Gregg-Boothby is an active guest choral and vocal clinician with area middle schools and high schools. She has served as stage director and music director for numerous musical theater productions, her favorites include Chicago, Little Women, Honk!, Addams Family, and Into the Woods. Dr. Gregg-Boothby is a member of NAfME/OMEA, ACDA/ OCDA, NATS, and the Wichita tribe. TGB received her undergraduate degree in vocal performance at Oklahoma State University, Master’s degree in vocal performance from Oklahoma City University, and her DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Oklahoma. She currently resides as an emptynester in Oklahoma City with her husband, Seth, and their doggies Mellie, Cowboy, Charlie, Cisco and Crunchy.
MADISON KELLY (Technical Director) is the new Technical Director at Rose State College, where she oversees all aspects of production design and technical operations. With a background in set design and properties management/design, Madison brings 13 years of experience in theatre production, and has worked in Educational Theatre for most of her career. Before joining Rose State College, she worked with the University of Central Oklahoma, Inspired Theatre, Reclaiming Arts, and Red Carpet Community Theatre, supporting a wide range of performances from musicals, plays, and dance recitals. Passionate about collaboration and student development, Madison is grateful for the opportunity to foster an environment where creativity and technical excellence meet.
RICHARD NELSON (Professor of Theatre, RSC Theatre) received his MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver and earned his BFA in Theatre from the University of Oklahoma. Classical Studies were undertaken at the British-American Drama Academy at Oxford University. He is
a founding member and Past Artistic Director of Oklahoma City Theatre Company. Recently, he has been seen in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theseus/Oberon), Julius Caesar (Brutus), Antony and Cleopatra (Antony), and King John (King John) with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park. He has directed more than 50 productions. His professional productions as an actor include Angels in America, Parts I and II, Dancing at Lughnasa, Picnic and Burn This on stages from Denver to Seattle to NYC. Mr. Nelson is a 30-year member of Actors Equity Association. He would like to thank his lovely wife and his children for supporting him and tolerating his rehearsal time.
AMY NEVIUS (Choreographer) is an adjunct faculty member teaching dance technique and theory classes at Rose State College and the University of Central Oklahoma. She is also listed among the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster and has brought arts education in the form of dance and creative movement to a wide range of participants throughout the state of Oklahoma for over 20 years. Amy holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Central Oklahoma and enjoys working as a professional dancer, aerialist, and choreographer as a founding member of Perpetual Motion Dance. Her professional performances and choreography have been a part of numerous concerts, festivals, theatre productions and artscentered events throughout Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, New Mexico, and California. “The Big Voices Project (2023)” marks Amy’s first production to serve as Artistic Director of Perpetual Motion Dance.
DEBBIE RUEDA (Costume Coordinator) joined the Rose State College Theatre Department in February 2025 as the Costume Coordinator after retiring from a rewarding 42-year career in public education in Oklahoma and Colorado. During her years as an educator, she directed numerous musicals and theatrical productions, inspiring generations of students through the performing arts. Debbie is thrilled to be part of the Rose State College Theatre team and enjoys collaborating with the talented staff and students who bring each production to life.
