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DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER DAWN LEBRECHT FORNARA
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR GRACE CONDIT
LIGHTING DESIGNER
DALLAS J. COOK
‘OLD
PRESENTS
LLOYD WEBBER
ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY GILLIAN LYNNE
STAGE MANAGER MARIA HERNANDEZ
SOUND DESIGNER KOHEN VERRETTE
SCENIC/PROPS DESIGNER AMY HUGHES
(Utilizing elements from the Little Women set designed by Starlet Jacobs)
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION JEN PRICE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PHILLIP FAZIO
MUSIC DIRECTOR CHARLES FORNARA
COSTUME DESIGNER MOLLIE BERMAN
TEEN ORCHESTRAL CONTRACTOR DYLAN TURNER
EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR BRYCE ALEXANDER
DRAMATURGISTS RICKI BAKER & PATRICIA PUIA
The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distributing recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author(s)’s rights and actionable under united states copyright law. For more information, please visit: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
CAST
ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
CREW
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS ............................................................... KATE CONDIT, BRADY PATTERSON
AUDIO ASSISTANTS ................................................... ESMERELDA ALEO, THOMAS HARTLAND, MEGAN PHELPS
COSTUME CONSTRUCTION & CARE ............................. GWEN BETTINI, GIANNA DEL DEBBIO, CYNTHIA HAAS, BARB LAUB, JOAN LAUGHLIN, SANDY L o PRESTI, BETH RATHEY, JEAN SNYDER, KATELYN TRAN, MIA ZEWALK
SCENIC PAINTING & CONSTRUCTION ......................................... KEVIN CLARK, SYLVIA CONGER, JOE FEMIA, JOHN FELICIANO, LINDA FRIIS, TAMMY HARRIS, SANDY KEELER, KARLI KNEPFLER, STEVE LEE, RUSS LOYET, JODI OBERLE, RAY MARASCO, JAMIE MCGINN, BOB RATH, TRACY ROSEN, TODD SCOVILLE, JEFF SMITH SYDNIE SWIFT, ANDREA TANNER, MARY TAYLOR, MICHAEL TROOP, MARK VOUTYRAS, MJ WANN, FRED WILLIG
PROPERTIES ..................................................... JOSEPH LOIACONO, DEBRON MCCARTNEY, ROSEANN RUGGIERO
SPECIAL THANKS:
SCOTT CRAWFORD | GARY STROH | JULIE CARVER | LOREN STRICKLAND | JACKIE MORELISSE
* Baker Day School Student
ACTS, SCENES & MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT 1
“OVERTURE”........................................................................................ ORCHESTRA, THE COMPANY
“PROLOGUE: JELLICLE SONGS FOR JELLICLE CATS” .............................................. THE COMPANY*
“THE NAMING OF CATS” .......................................................................................... THE COMPANY
“THE INVITATION TO THE JELLICLE BALL” ................ VICTORIA, QUAXO, MISTOFELEES, MUNKUSTRAP
“THE OLD GUMBIE CAT” ........................................... JENNYANYDOTS, MUNKUSTRAP, BOMBALURINA, DEMETER, JELLYLORUM, COMPANY
“THE RUM TUM TUGGER” ................................................................... RUM TUM TUGGER, COMPANY
“GRIZABELLA: THE GLAMOUR CAT” ..................................... GRIZABELLA, DEMETER, BOMBALURINA
“BUSTOPHER JONES: THE CAT ABOUT TOWN” ........................ BUSTOPHER JONES, JENNYANYDOTS, BOMBALURINA, JELLYLORUM, COMPANY
“MUNGOJERRIE
“SKIMBLESHANKS: THE RAILWAY CAT” ............................................... SKIMBLESHANKS, COMPANY
“MACAVITY: THE MYSTERY CAT” ............................................
“THE JOURNEY TO THE HEAVISIDE LAYER” ............................................................. THE COMPANY
“THE AD-DRESSING OF CATS” .......................................................... OLD DEUTERONOMY, COMPANY
“FINALE - BOWS AND PLAY-OUT” .......................................................................... THE COMPANY
*“Prologue – Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats” – additional material written by Trevor Nunn and Richard Stilgoe.
**“Memory” – additional material written by Trevor Nunn.
Orchestra
CONDUCTOR/KEYBOARD I: CHARLES FORNARA
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR: GRACE CONDIT*
CELLO: JULIET SANCHEZ*; FLUTE: MAX BOGERT*; TENOR & SOPRANO SAX: JONATHAN EYSAMAN*; FLUTE, CLARINET, & BARITONE SAX: ADAM COSTELLO; OBOE & ENGLISH HORN: EMILY EXLINE; HORN I: MAXIMILIANO IZQUIERDO*; HORN II: ASHLYN ARANDA*; TRUMPET I: JAMES DUBOIS*/MICHAEL PISERCHIA*; TRUMPET II: DYLAN TURNER*; TROMBONE: ISAIAH PASTERNACK*; KEYBOARD I (12/7 & 12/15): GARY STROH/JULIE CARVER; KEYBOARD II: ALFREDO PÉREZ-LÓPEZ*; GUITARS: TIM TORRES/PAUL DESMARAIS; ELECTRIC BASS: ADDIE EASTERLY*; DRUMS & PERCUSSION: NATHAN GARCIA*
* denotes TNPA student/Teen Player
CAST BIOS
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
KYLIE BALLINGER (Rumpleteazer) is a junior at Palmetto Ridge High. Recent roles include Heather Duke/Heathers Teen, Mimi/Guys and Dolls, Catherine of Aragon/ SIX: Teen Edition, Bird Girl/Seussical, and more. Outside of theatre, Kylie enjoys cheerleading and dance. She would like to thank her entire cast and everyone who made this amazing experience possible for their encouragement and support. Have a purrfect show!
ELLIANNA “ELLIE” BARBIER
(Wiscus) is a 13-year-old competitive dancer excited to jump into the world of theatre. She has even produced her own junior plays with friends, including her favorite, Sweeney Todd. Outside of performing, Ellie enjoys creating art, baking, spending time outdoors, and being with her family. She is thrilled to be starting her journey with TNP.
ZOLA BARBIER (Victoria) is a 13-year-old competitive dancer who loves performing on stage. She studies piano and hopes to expand her musical skills with harp, electric guitar, and voice. Beyond performing, Zola enjoys sketching fashion, exploring art, and has a special love for Italian cuisine and architecture. She is thrilled to perform in CATS at TNPA.
LEO BENANDER-McKAY (Mungojerrie) is thrilled to join this TNPA production of CATS! Some of his recent roles include Howie/Rabbit Hole, Beetlejuice/Beetlejuice JR, Warner Huntington III/Legally Blonde JR, Robin/Something Rotten! JR, and Spot Conlon/Newsies. He enjoys many activities including theater, fashion, sports, and music, all while balancing his schoolwork at Seacrest Country Day School. He loves TNP and its community that feels like his second home. He wants to thank all of the people who help him including his directors, choreographers, voice coach, and everyone who helped to put this show together. Enjoy the show!!
MADDY BENNER* (Grizabella) is thrilled to be in her 3rd Academy production with TNPA. With 9 years of experience, she has also performed with Gulfshore Playhouse, NPAC and TVS. Her favorite past credits include Miss Argentina/Beetlejuice JR, Heather McNamara/Heathers, Hope Harcourt/Anything Goes, Willy Wonka/Willy Wonka, Mother Superior/Sister Act, Cinderella/Into the Woods, and Cruella de Vil/101 Dalmatians. You can also catch Maddy in January as a Glamazon in Catch Me If You Can at NPAC. Maddy is also a soloist singing the National Anthem for the Boston Red Sox and others. She attended the Berklee College of Music summer program last year and now is attending TNP Academy of Dramatic Arts. Thank you Dawn & Charlie for this incredible opportunity.
MADDIE BRENDEL* (Mistoffelees) is a senior at The Naples Players Academy of Dramatic Arts and is currently serving as VP of Outreach on SLC. She is so thrilled to be performing in one of her favorite shows since she was little. You may have seen her on stage as Persephone/Dance Captain/Hadestown Teen, Ensemble/Dance Captain/Young Frankenstein and Ensemble/42nd Street. This past summer, she also cochoreographed the first student-led production at TNP, SIX: Teen Edition. She would like to thank Dawn and Charlie for their constant support and everyone who made this production amazing. Enjoy the show!
BRAXTON CABRERA (Munkustrap) is a junior at Gulf Coast High. He is elated to be part of this production. Since he was little, he has dreamed of dancing in the Jellicle chorus, jamming out to the ten-minute long Jellicle Ball several times in his bedroom. Previous Credits: Sweeney Todd/Sweeney Todd Teen, Ensemble/Sweeney Todd, Noel/ Ride the Cyclone, Hades/Hadestown Teen, Frederick Frankenstein/Young Frankenstein. “Life to the everlasting cat!”
JILLIAN CINNAMON* (Bombalurina) is over the moon to be in CATS! Her favorite past roles include Ariel/The Little Mermaid, Gertrude McFuzz/Sour Kangaroo/ Seussical, Prudy Pingleton/Hairspray, Rona Lisa Peretti/The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Mrs. Peacock/Clue, Mary Sunshine/Ensemble/Chicago, Emily Hobbs/Elf, Ensemble/Fairy Godmother/Shrek, Silena/The Lightning Thief, and Cruella De Vil/Disney’s Descendants. She would like to thank Dawn, Charlie, and all of the cast and crew for their hard work in this production. Enjoy!
WILLIAM CONDIT (Skimbleshanks) is a home-schooled student who is thrilled to be back in the spotlight for this production of CATS! Favorite TNP credits include Ensemble/Hadestown Teen, Andy Lee/42nd Street Teen, Victor Von Frankenstein/ Young Frankenstein, and most recently appeared in Sweeney Todd Teen in the ensemble. When not performing he can be found song writing, reading, or bike riding. He is a 2-time Odyssey of the Mind World Champion, plays piano, and has taken improv lessons for years to sharpen his acting skills. He is endlessly thankful for the production staff. Their support and time has made this a fantastic show both in front of and behind the curtains. Enjoy the show!
SAMANTHA CRAPARO (Sillabub) started dancing at the age of 3 and ever since, performing has been her passion. She has performed as Becky/Dear Edwina JR, Simba/ The Lion King, Bird Girl/Sour Kangaroo/Seussical, Patty Simcox/Grease, Star-to-Be/ Cecile/Annie, and in Newsies and more. She is excited to perform with TNPA after a three-year hiatus!
* Baker Day School Student
CAST BIOS
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
THOMAS CURRIE*
(Bustopher Jones/Gus) was last seen on stage as Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd Teen. With a growing list of theatrical credits—including Orpheus/ Hadestown: Teen Edition, Inspector Kemp/Young Frankenstein, Pat Denning/42nd Street Teen, Frederic/The Hunchback of Notre Dame Teen, and Ensemble/Godspell he brings both passion and experience to the stage. Grateful for the opportunity to perform at TNP, he would like to extend sincere thanks to Dawn and Charles Fornara for their constant support and encouragement. He truly hopes you enjoy the show.
RICHIE DAVIES (Plato) is so happy he had the chance to be “voluntold” for CATS. This is his 8th show at The Naples Players and his first teen show. He wants to thank everyone for this opportunity and hopes you enjoy the show.
VIVIANA ESCOBAR
(Tumblebrutus) is so excited to be in TNPA’s production of CATS! This is her 3rd show with TNPA and she is constantly doing shows. Past roles include: Tweedledum/Alice in Wonderland, Gabriella Montez/High School Musical JR, Elsa/Frozen JR, Jasmine/Aladdin JR, Ensemble/Beetlejuice JR, Meg/Little Women, and Ensemble/Beauty and the Beast JR. She is so happy you came to see the show and hopes you enjoy!
EDISON FILNER
(Quaxo/Macavity) is a sophomore at Barron Collier High and is PAWSitively thrilled to be in the Academy’s production of CATS! Previous roles at TNP include: Tobias/Sweeney Todd Teen, Ensemble/Sweeney Todd, Virgil/Ride the Cyclone, Worker/Hadestown Teen, and Ziggy/Young Frankenstein. While not performing in the theater, Edison loves playing violin and viola and is a member of the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Special thanks to Dawn, Charlie, Maria, all of the amazing crew members and designers who helped to make this production so special, and R.B. (the cutest cat in the world). He hopes you enjoy the show! Meow!
SURI
FINCH
(Pettipaws) is a freshman at Barron Collier High. Previous credits at TNP include: Jane Seymour/SIX: Teen Edition, Marta-Vienna Cast/The Sound of Music, Whitney/Ensemble/ Legally Blonde JR, and Florinda/Granny/Into the Woods JR. While off stage, Suri is a BCHS cheerleader, participates in mock trial, and enjoys rollerblading, traveling, and going to the beach. Suri would like to thank her family and friends for their wonderful support, and Bobo and Mishu as an inspiration throughout this show! She is grateful to Dawn and Charlie for their guidance and encouragement, and is excited to share the stage with such talented performers!
ALBELY
GENAO (Exotica) is a 9th grader at Naples High who is very excited to do a show here at TNP. She has loved theater since she was a little kid. Previous TNP shows include Ensemble/Beetlejuice JR, Adrianna/La Comedia of Errors, and showcase classes. Albely has a passion for acting and wants to be an actress. She loves to sing and dance and usually spends her time studying for school, reading books, acting, and singing. She is so excited to do another show again with TNP and all her friends, and is very grateful for the opportunities she has been given.
ALEXANDRIA GOENNER* (Bailey) is so excited to be performing in CATS! She’s always loved singing, dancing, and being on stage, and this show is one of the coolest she’s ever been part of. She loves the music, the costumes, and getting to become a whole new character! This isn’t her first time on stage—CATS will actually be her 9th show! Her past shows include Matilda JR, Dear Edwina JR, Seussical, Newsies JR, Beauty and the Beast JR, Legally Blonde JR, Something Rotten! JR, and SIX: Teen Edition. Each one has taught her something new and made her love performing even more. She can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on. Thanks for seeing this performance!
CARYS GUERRERO (Demeter) is a senior at Gulf Coast High and is thrilled to be playing the role of Demeter in TNPA’s production of CATS. She has previously been in Hadestown Teen, Young Frankenstein, and 42nd Street Teen with The Naples Players as well as doing shows with Naples Performing Arts Center. She would like to thank Dawn and Charlie for pushing her hard in every aspect of performance. Enjoy the show!
ELLA
HAMBLEN* (Etcetera/Rumpus) is an 11th grader at The Naples Players Academy of Dramatic Arts and is thrilled to be performing in CATS! She was most recently seen in TNPA’s productions as Ensemble/Sweeney Todd Teen, Constance/Ride the Cyclone, and Ensemble/Hadestown Teen. She would like to thank Dawn and Charlie for always believing in her and all their hard work, and her Mom and Dad for always being so supportive. Enjoy the show!
KRISTINA
KAVALOV (Pouncival) is super thrilled to be back on stage! A student at Gulf Coast High, you may have recently seen her name appear in SIX: Teen Edition’s playbill as the costume designer. Her TNPA performances include Sweeney Todd Teen, Hadestown: Teen Edition and School of Rock. She was also assistant props designer for Ride the Cyclone. She would like to thank her parents and friends for always supporting her, and hopes you enjoy the show!
* Baker Day School Student
CAST BIOS
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
LEILAH LANSIQUOT (Carbucketty) is a student at First Baptist Academy and is thrilled to be in her second TNPA production. She was last seen onstage as an ensemble member in Hadestown: Teen Edition. In her free time, she enjoys reading, leading worship, dancing, singing, and spending time with family. She looks forward to many more theatre opportunities in the future. Enjoy the show!
MADISON MANCE* (Tantomile) is originally from Oshawa, Ontario Canada and has called Florida home since February 2022. She is an 8th grade student fulfilling her dreams at the brand new Baker Day School here at The Naples Players Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is over the moon to be part of this purrrfect cast of extremely talented performers! Madison was most recently seen in TNPA’s production of SIX: Teen Edition as Katherine Parr. Other recent shows: Shakespeare/Tobias/Something Rotten! JR, Mary Beth/A Christmas Story, Elle Woods/Legally Blonde JR, and Patty/ School Of Rock at TNP; as well as Young Bonnie/Bonnie and Clyde at Theatre Zone. A HUGE thank you to Jen, Dawn, and Charlie for this amazing opportunity!
SAVANNAH MESSINA (Cassandra) This will be Savannah’s first theater production. She has been a competitive dancer for the last 8 years. She is excited for the opportunity to start acting to expand her experiences and to meet new friends.
STELLA PESCE (Growltiger) is so excited to be in CATS! This is her first time performing with The Naples Players! She loves to dance and spend time with her friends and family! Enjoy the show!!
RANDY PILOTO (Old Deuteronomy) is a senior at Naples High and is excited to grow in his second show with The Naples Players Academy. He is heavily involved with the arts as a member of the Naples High bands and as an oboist for the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Randy is extremely grateful for the opportunity to perform once again and for the amazing family that exists here at TNP. He wishes to thank God, his friends and family, and Dawn + Charlie for their everlasting support. Please enjoy CATS!
VICTORIA RINALDI (Jennyanydots) is a senior and cannot wait to be a part of this amazing production! Some of her past TNP credits include: Mrs. Lovett/Sweeney Todd Teen, Talia/Ensemble/Ride the Cyclone, Ensemble/Hadestown Teen, Ensemble/A Christmas Story, Frau Blücher/Young Frankenstein, Ensemble/42nd Street, and TNP’s Grand Reopening Extravaganza. She gives much love to her TNP family for always giving her love and support whenever she needs it the most, and to the cast and creative team for all their hard work! Enjoy the show!
EMERSON ROSCHEK* (Coricopat) is so excited to be in her first ever Teen show!!! She is so thankful for this wonderful experience and she has truly grown as an actor and person. Her most recent shows include: Delia/Beetlejuice JR, Anne Boleyn/SIX: Teen Edition, Ensemble/ Dance Captain/Something Rotten! JR, Margot/Legally Blonde JR Emerson is so unbelievably grateful to have the privilege to perform in the Kizzie! She would like to thank her friends and family, especially her big sister Avery. P.S. I love you Avery! She hopes you enjoy the show!!!
GIA SANCHEZ (Octavia) is currently an 8th grader at Oakridge Middle. She is so excited to join this cast for her first teen show! Gia has enjoyed many productions at TNP since she was 5 years old. Some of her most recent roles were Catherine of Aragon/SIX: Teen Edition, Vivienne/Legally Blonde, and Sophie/School of Rock. When Gia is not in her happy place on stage she enjoys being with her friends, doing art, dancing & singing. She would like to thank her family & friends for all their support. Enjoy the show!
NINA SANDHU* (Griddlebone) is a brilliant, kind, and talented freshman at The Naples Players Academy of Dramatic Arts. With a background in competitive cheer, she began her theatrical career at Florida Repertory Theater in the Summer of 2024. In just one seemingly short year she has been cast in 5 productions including Something Rotten! JR & Beetlejuice JR with TNP. After falling in love with the culture and community here at TNP and learning of the exciting news of the Academy of Dramatic Arts she knew she wanted to attend and has loved every moment. She is excited and looking forward to being a part of many more productions to come!
OLIVIA SILVERIO* (Electra) is so excited to be a part of the cast for CATS. Olivia’s prior roles include Silly Girl/Beauty and the Beast, Ripley/Haunted High, Nigel/ Finding Nemo, Ensemble/Newsies, Katie/School of Rock, Paulette/Legally Blonde JR, Nick Bottom/Something Rotten! JR and Barbara Maitland/Beetlejuice JR. Each show has brought her so many new learning experiences and some of the best friendships! Olivia is so thankful for all the love and support she receives from her family and friends that never miss a performance. That unwavering support is priceless and she is so thankful for each of you! Thank you for being a part of her journey!
* Baker Day School Student
CAST BIOS
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
AIDEN THAYER*
(The Rum Tum Tugger) is 17 years old and is a junior attending The Baker Day School at TNPA. The Naples Players: Hermes/Hadestown Teen, Billy Lawler/42nd Street Teen, Crutchie/Newsies Teen, Michael Banks/Mary Poppins, etc. Gulfshore Playhouse: Young Tom/Dap/Camelot, Matus/Hrdza , Billy Crocker/ Anything Goes Youth, etc. Naples Performing Arts Center: JD/Heathers, Danny/ Grease, Davey/Newsies, etc. TheatreZone: Young Clyde/Bonnie and Clyde. When not on stage, Aiden enjoys playing acoustic and electric guitar, skimboarding, playing the drums, and going to the gym. Aiden also owns and operates his own local mobile car detailing business (DrivewayDetail239). Enjoy the show, all glory to God.
MALENA
TUCKER (Jellylorum) is a senior attending First Baptist Academy and is thrilled to be playing Jellylorum in this production of CATS. Malena is currently playing Meg in Little Women and was most recently seen as Beggar Woman/Sweeney Todd Teen at TNP. Previous credits include Elizabeth/Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock/42nd Street Teen, Hodel/Fiddler on the Roof, Maria/The Sound of Music, and Dorothy/The Wizard of Oz. Malena is grateful to her family and friends for their love and support. A special thank you to TNP staff and crew for this opportunity. Being on stage expressing herself through musical theatre is a reminder that God is good. She gives all glory and honor to Him. Enjoy the show!
AVA WILLIAMS (Alonzo) is excited to return to The Naples Players where she last performed in TNPA’s production of Sweeney Todd Teen. Some of her favorite credits include Romeo/Romeo and Juliet, Cruella/Disney’s Descendants and ensemble in Hadestown Teen. Ava has also performed on the professional stage with Opera Naples in The Magic Flute, La Boheme, and Carmen. With over 10 years of ballet she performed extensively with the Moscow Ballet and Naples Ballet. Ava is delighted to have the tremendous opportunity to work with TNP again. Enjoy the show!
* Baker Day School Student
CREATIVE TEAM BIOS
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
MOLLIE BERMAN (Costume Designer) After graduating with her MFA from FSU, Mollie joined the creative team for Disney Parks Live Entertainment as well as freelanced as a designer in the Orlando area. Previous TNP design credits include Man of La Mancha; A Christmas Story; Rumors; Laugh, Cry, Pee, Repeat!; The Fantasticks; The Marvelous Wonderettes; The Sound of Music; Mary Poppins; Blithe Spirit; The Wedding Singer; Footloose; Yours, Truly; Bye Bye Birdie; and She Loves Me. She has designed for TheatreWorks Florida, Mad Cow Theatre and Florida State University. Mollie has previously worked at Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. She would like to thank her friends, family, and husband Reece for their unending support and encouragement.
KATE CONDIT (Assistant Stage Manager) is a 14-year-old who has previously assistant stage managed two shows: Beauty and the Beast JR and The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (TNP). She has also performed in a few shows, her roles of Mrs. Mayor/ Seussical The Musical! and Darcy/Newsies as some of her favorites. Outside of theater, she loves programming, engineering, and cooking. She also is a two-time World Champion in Odyssey of the Mind. She hopes you enjoy every meowment of CATS.
GRACE CONDIT (Associate Conductor/Assistant Music Director) is an aspiring musician, storyteller, and engineer excited to have CATS as her 25th theatrical production. Prior TNP credits include Hadestown as Assistant Music Director and Conductor and The Hunchback of Notre Dame as a member of the Ensemble. Grace is an Odyssey of the Mind competitor and is earning her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
DALLAS J. COOK (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to return to The Naples Players as this season’s lighting intern. He recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts. As TNP’s summer 2024 intern, DJ designed School of Rock and co-designed 42nd Street. In Charlotte, he has designed Peter and the Starcatcher, Measure for Measure, and Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully, as well as countless dance pieces. This season, he designed High School Musical JR and was the ALD for And Then There Were None and Little Women. He hopes you enjoy the show!
CREATIVE TEAM BIOS
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
CHARLES FORNARA (Music Director, Conductor) TNP’s Artistic Director of Music has music directed nearly 200 productions, including, at TNP: Sweeney Todd, 42nd Street, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show, Catch Me If You Can, Les Misérables, and many others, as well as over 30 teen productions for the TNP Academy. Also in Naples for TheatreZone, he has music directed almost 50 shows. Originally from Providence, RI, Chas conducted Jim Steinman and Roman Polanski’s Dance of the Vampires in Stuttgart, and has taught and coached singers all over the US and Germany, currently teaching voice at the TNP Academy. He spent two and a half years doing CATS in Hamburg and Stuttgart as Old Deuteronomy, rehearsal pianist and booth singer. A proud member of Actors’ Equity, he has appeared in almost 100 musicals, operas and concerts, including several appearances here in Naples with TheatreZone, most notably as the title role in Sweeney Todd . Much love to his beautiful wife, Dawn, and a big thank you to this terrific, TEEN orchestra!
DAWN LEBRECHT FORNARA (Director/Choreographer) TNP’s Artistic Director of Dance is a native New Yorker and has served as director and choreographer for TNP’s Sweeney Todd, 42nd Street, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Something Rotten, Mamma Mia, Chicago, Sister Act, The Rocky Horror Show, Catch Me If You Can, and Legally Blonde, among others, and with the TNP Academy for many productions, including Hadestown Teen, Joseph, Hairspray, and Disney’s Camp Rock. As a performer, she has been seen in the National Tours of 42nd Street, Seussical the Musical, Anything Goes and Grease. A proud member of Actors’ Equity, she has been seen here in Naples in TheatreZone’s Sweeney Todd, Jekyll & Hyde, Stepping Out starring Donna McKechnie, Legs Diamond and Hair, among others. Other recent roles include Bombalurina/CATS, Sheila/A Chorus Line, Sally Bowles, Velma Kelly and Ulla/The Producers. Dawn is currently teaching dance at the TNP Academy. Love to husband Charlie and her family.
MARIA HERNANDEZ (Stage Manager) is excited to continue her journey behind the scenes at The Naples Players. Her previous crew experience at TNP includes A Christmas Story: The Musical, Man of La Mancha, and now CATS. She is grateful to be part of such a talented production team and looks forward to more opportunities to support the magic on stage.
AMY HUGHES (Scenic/Props Designer) is excited to be propping such an amazing production. Amy is mostly known for her credits on stage in shows such as Marian/The Music Man and Mona/Chicago. She is excited to step into the role of a lifetime as the properties director for The Naples Players and looks forward to an amazingly creative future.
BRADY PATTERSON (Assistant Stage Manager) is stoked to work on CATS. He started theater back in the 5th grade and is now going into his senior year of high school. While never being an actor on stage he has worked various technical jobs, recently including: ASM for Sweeney Todd Teen and Ride The Cyclone, crew for A Christmas Story and Man of La Mancha, and working on audio for productions including The Play That Goes Wrong, Hadestown: Teen Edition, Something Rotten! JR, The Hallelujah Girls, Sweeney Todd, and High School Musical JR. Brady is also the new Jr Sound Intern here at TNP.
BRIDGET POULTER (Assistant Props Designer) is the full season props intern and she is thrilled to be working with TNP for this season. She is a recent graduate from Colorado State University where she obtained a degree in both Theatre Design and Technology in Scenic Design and Film. She has previously worked as a Scenic and Props designer for her college theatre program where her most recent credits include scenic designer for Into the Woods and the props designer for Peter and the Starcatcher She is very excited to be working on this production and hopes that you enjoy the show!
KOHEN VERRETTE (Sound Designer) After being hired as TNP’s Director of Sound in July 2025, Kohen is extremely excited to be a part of his first design project with The Naples Players. In the midst of relocation from New Orleans, Louisiana, Kohen is thrilled to be a part of this lively community. From working with legendary musical acts such as Ivan Neville and George Porter Jr. to mixing in some of the nation’s historical theaters, Kohen is ready to share his knowledge and have some fun with The Naples Players this season!
THOMAS STEARNS (T.S.) ELIOT
(Author) (1888-1965) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 26, 1888. He was educated at Harvard, at the Sorbonne in Paris and at Merton College, Oxford. He settled in England in 1915 and taught briefly at two schools before joining Lloyds Bank in the City of London in their foreign and colonial department.
His first volume of poems, Prufrock and Other Observations, was published in 1917. The Waste Land, his most famous work, came out in 1922. In 1925 he left the bank to become a director of the publishing house of Faber. There have been several collected editions of his poetry and volumes of his literary and social criticism. Eliot also wrote a number of verse plays, the best-known of which, Murder in the Cathedral, was commissioned for the Canterbury Festival of 1935. Four Quartets, now generally regarded as his masterpiece, was first published in 1943.
Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats appeared in October 1939. (Eliot had a great affection for cats, and “Possum” was his alias among friends.) Forty-two years later, this work would be combined with the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber to become CATS.
(continued)
CREATIVE TEAM BIOS
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
THOMAS STEARNS (T.S.) ELIOT (continued)
Eliot became a British citizen in 1927. He received many honors and distinctions, among them the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was posthumously awarded two 1983 Tony Awards for the book and lyrics of CATS. He was also an Officer de la Legion d’Honneur. He died in London in January, 1965, and there is a memorial to him in Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey.
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER (Composer) has composed the scores of some of the world’s most famous musicals. His shows have run continuously in London’s West End for 50 years and ran for 43 uninterrupted years on Broadway.
When the original Sunset Boulevard joined School of Rock, CATS and The Phantom of the Opera, he equalled Rodgers & Hammerstein’s record of four shows running simultaneously on Broadway. He is one of the select group of artists with EGOT status, having received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards.
Lloyd Webber owns six London theatres, including the iconic London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Reopened in July 2021, the latter was completely restored and renovated at a cost of over £60 million. This was one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by a private theatre owner in recent times. His mantra is that every penny of profit made from his theatres is ploughed back into the buildings for their conservation and development.
Lloyd Webber is passionate about the importance of musical education and diversity in the arts. Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation provides 30 performing arts scholarships every year for talented students with financial need, and supports a range of projects such as the Music In Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST).
In academic year September 2025-26, 14,885 children are being given free musical tuition and instruments as part of MiSST’s Andrew Lloyd Webber Programme. The Foundation also commissions research into diversity in theatre.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed music for globally significant moments. Most recently, he was asked to compose “Make a Joyful Noise,” the anthem for the Coronation of King Charles III.
Andrew Lloyd Webber was knighted in 1992, created an honorary life peer in 1997, and made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by King Charles III in 2024. He is the only person in the arts ever granted this personal honor by a monarch.
TNP acknowledges that we are on the traditional territory of the Calusa and Seminole peoples; and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of all the native people in this region.
STAFF & LEADERSHIP 2025-2026 SEASON
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DENNY GLASS President
OTTO IMMEL Secretary
BOB UEK Treasurer
ALAN JAFFE Immediate Past President
TED BILL
BOB BRADY
GEORGE D’ANGELO
JOAN DiLILLO
BRUCE GRAEV
ROBIN BACHE GRAY
TNP STAFF (ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
BRYCE ALEXANDER
Executive Artistic Director/CEO
MOLLIE BERMAN Director of Costumes
EMILY BETTINI House Manager
JULES BRANCHE Volunteer Manager
COLE BUTCHER
Artistic Director of Production/ Internship Director
PAMELA LARKIN CARUSO Director of Volunteer Advancement
STEVEN CARUSO Chief Education Officer
CHRISTIAN CONN Front of House Associate
JOHN COOPER Assistant Box Office Manager
CAITLYNN CRAWFORD Food & Beverage Manager
KENZIE CURRIE Chief of Staff
DOREN DANIS Chief Financial Officer
JAMES DUGGAN Artistic Associate
PHILLIP FAZIO Artistic Director
CINDY FINEGAN
TERRY LIBBY
PEGGY MONSON
PAT POLLOK
KELLEY GERAGHTY PRICE
NANCY RIBORDY
DEBORAH SMITH
Assistant House Manager
CHARLES FORNARA Artistic Director of Music
DAWN LEBRECHT FORNARA Artistic Director of Dance
AMY HUGHES Props Director
LUKE JACONIS Director of Patron Services
LANDON LIBBEY Front of House Associate
JENNIFER MANCE TNPA Faculty
TAYLOR MATTHEWS Company Stage Manager
MARY ANNE McKERROW Resident Costume Designer
JULIE MEDRANO Assistant Director of Education
DAN MILLER Assistant House Manager
DANA PETEROY TNPA Faculty
SUMMER PLISKOW Director of Arts Access
CRAIG PRICE Director of Community Enrichment
JEN PRICE Director of Education
All emails are first initial, last name at naplesplayers.org
GLENN VANGOLEN
GINNY VERAS
KAT ZAGEL
BETH PETRUNOFF City Liaison
DAN RAMIREZ Front of House Associate
CHRIS RILEY Director of Lighting
ELIZABETH W. ROUNTREE, CFRE Director of Advancement
