2026 AdventHealth Broadway Series ®
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Sept. 8–13
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Welcome to Starlight and to the inspiring world of Newsies.
Tonight, you’ll experience a story shaped by courage, determination, and the belief that ordinary people can create extraordinary change when they stand together. Inspired by the true story of the 1899 Newsboys’ Strike, Newsies brings us unforgettable music, remarkable choreography, and a timeless reminder that every voice matters. This production is especially meaningful to us because it reflects something we believe deeply at Starlight: extraordinary talent exists right here in Kansas City. Alongside exceptional artists from across the country, you’ll see the work of local actors, musicians, dancers, technicians, artisans, and creative professionals whose talent and dedication have helped bring this production to life. One of the greatest privileges of producing our own musicals is the opportunity to invest in that local artistic community. When Kansas City artists work alongside nationally recognized creative teams and performers, the result is something uniquely ours—a production that celebrates a beloved musical while also showcasing the depth, strength, and collaborative spirit of our region’s performing arts community. That is part of what makes live theatre at Starlight so special. It brings artists and audiences together, creates opportunities for people at every stage of their careers, and reminds us what is possible when a community comes together around a shared experience. Thank you for supporting live theatre and for being part of this uniquely Kansas City tradition. Your enthusiasm and generosity help artists shine, allow audiences of all generations to gather beneath the stars, and make experiences like tonight possible. Now, seize the day—and enjoy the show! Warmly,
Lindsey Rood-Clifford President + C.E.O.
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The Independent Magazine 5201 Johnson Drive, Suite 300, Mission KS 66205 The Starlight Theatre program guides are a publication of the Performing Arts Division of the Independent Magazine. Information in this publication was carefully compiled to ensure accuracy. However, the publisher does not assume responsibility for accuracy. Editorial program content was provided by Starlight Theatre. Copyright by the Independent Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.
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2026-27 Starlight Board of Directors Officers
Sabrina Wiewel, Chair Nikki Emison, Vice Chair Aviva Ajmera Wendy Burgess
Directors
Jeff Anthony Denise Bade Cathy Baier Susan Bernstein Lusha Bodie Michelle Davidson Bratcher Bill Briggs Monica Curls
Robert Hingula Heather Jones Kevin Kelly Tondee Lutterman
Ramsey Mohsen Lindsey Rood-Clifford Carey Wilkins Mandi Wright
Jill Farrell Leah Fitzgerald Janelle Forsythe Darold Frenzen Christina Hager Richard Heise Brian Johnston Ellen Junger Michael T. Lanning
Chuck Maggiorotto Jolene Mead Mike Meyer Diane O’Byrne Doug Spear Emily Tilgner Gene Willis Robert K. Wolf
Ex-Officio Past Chairs Robert A. Bernstein Dianne Cleaver Howard Cohen James D. Dawson Peggy J. Dunn
Lifetime Members Steve Doyal 10
2026
Mark Fortino Greg M. Graves Shirley Bush Helzberg Michael F. Morrissey John Murphy
Ora Reynolds Carolyn Watley W. Russell Welsh
Anita B. Gorman
Adele Hall – in memoriam
JOIN US FOR OUR 2026-27 SEASON! PURCHASE TICKETS NOW!
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RELIVE ALL EIGHT SEASONS IN ONE UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT OF MUSIC
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Connect our community through live arts experiences that entertain, inspire, and engage.
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Be the home for accessible live arts experiences for all generations.
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Dining options are plentiful at Starlight - whether you’d like an up-scale meal in the Applause Club or something quick from the concessions stands, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Purchase Applause Club dining in advance and see full menus at kcstarlight.com/dining.
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DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT ALL NEW GIFTS TO UNIQUELY KC MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR
Help make Starlight more vibrant, accessible, and welcoming for every Kansas Citian. To learn more and make a gift, visit kcstarlight.com/match. Missouri taxpayers: MDFB tax credits remain for those with Missouri tax liability! Learn more by visiting our website!
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1 entry = $25, or 3 entries = $50 All raffle proceeds will be matched. Scan to give now!
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We are pleased to announce the opening of our newly designed studio!
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STARLIGHT AND DISNEY ARE BRINGING THE MAGIC OF THE DISNEY MUSICALS IN SCHOOLS PROGRAM TO KANSAS CITY.
The goals of this program are to: Create sustainable musical theatre programs in under-resourced public elementary schools Provide school faculty with training and tools Develop awareness and appreciation of the arts in the school Develop a strong community of students, parents, faculty, staff, and neighbors Expose students and faculty to the wide spectrum of skills that develop when producing musical theatre
Starlight will select up to five KC metro elementary schools to participate during the ‘26-’27 school year. Selected schools receive free performance materials and in-school support from Starlight teaching artists.
Scan the QR code to learn more about the program! Thank you, Disney, we are so excited to share this program with our KC community!
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We engage, equip, and empower volunteer leaders with the tools they need to address the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities in their neighborhoods and community. Center For Neighborhoods utilizes an asset-based community development (ABCD) methodology, which works to build communities from the inside out. The Center for Neighborhoods at UMKC provides leadership training, organizational development, applied urban planning research, and technical assistance to neighborhood organizations and their leaders.
Scan the QR code to learn more about the Center for Neighborhoods at UMKC
THEATRE FOR FAMILIES Experience award-winning international theatre productions indoors at Starlight—perfect for families and audiences of all ages.
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TICKETS AT KCSTARLIGHT.COM
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FOR $73.70 GET UNLIMITED
Beer + Quirks Smoked Wings Pretzel Bites w/queso Nacho Bar Now available for Blues Traveler, Charley Crockett, and TLC + Salt N Pepa! Get tickets at kcstarlight.com
A Record-Breaking Night Under the Stars!
$151,128 RAISED
FOR STARLIGHT’S BOB ROHLF INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
OUR TOP ALL-STARS:
1st Place: Nicole Fisher - $19,009 2nd Place: Mollie Stephens & Tyler Schyvinck - $16,512 3rd Place: Pamela Todd - $14,705
Thank you for making Starry Night at Starlight a record-breaking success! Every dollar raised supports the Bob Rohlf Internship Program, providing paid, hands-on professional experiences for the next generation of arts and nonprofit leaders.
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Special thanks to our presenting sponsors!
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Interested in becoming a Starlight Sponsor? Please contact us at (816) 997-1124
STARLIGHT THEATRE ASSOCIATION OF KANSAS CITY presents the 2026 AdventHealth Broadway Series
IGH STARL
Music by
T ’S P R
ODUC
TION
Lyrics by
ALAN MENKEN
JACK FELDMAN
OF
Book by
HARVEY FIERSTEIN
Based on the Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions Orchestrations by Danny Troob Incidental Music & Vocal Arrangments by Michael Kosarin Dance Arrangments by Mark Hummel Starring
LUCAS PASTRANA BRYONHA MARIE AUBREY MATALON SAM YOUSUF LUCAS GUTIERREZ-SULLENGER CARSON CORNWELL
GRAHAM ROWAT RYAN JACOBS MADDOX BANE JORDAN TREMAINE DELEON JACKSON GROVE CHRIS MCCOY LIGHTING DESIGN
SEAN GLASS
JAKE BARTLEY TESSA BRETHOWR SAMUEL COLINA STEVEN ECKLOFF ZACHARY FORD BRYAN FORTUNATO ALEX HAQUIA MATTHEW HENRICKSON EVAN LATTA NICK NAZZARO ZAC PRITTS KEN REMMERT SOUND DESIGN
ZACH MOORE
COSTUMES DESIGNED BY
KENNETH BURRELL VINCENT SCASSELLATI PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
MARY R. HONOUR
SET DESIGNED BY
BRUCE BROCKMAN COSTUMES PROVIDED BY
SET PROVIDED BY
MUSIC THEATRE WICHITA
KANSAS CITY COSTUME COMPANY CASTING
GEOFF JOSSELSON CASTING GEOFF JOSSELSON, CSA FELICIA RUDOLPH, CSA
BROOKE COX COURTNEY GERMANY AMARI LEWIS MICHAEL RIOS
HAIR & WIG DESIGN
GENE FLAHERTY
ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER
CHRISTINA BURTON
ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER
ERICA PERÉZ-GOTAY
MUSIC DIRECTOR/ CONDUCTOR
ANTHONY T. EDWARDS DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER
DAVID GRINDROD
DISNEY’S NEWSIES is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS ON ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW.
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Cast in order of appearance Jack Kelly ..............................................................................................................................Lucas Pastrana Crutchie ................................................................................................................................... Ryan Jacobs Race ........................................................................................................................................ Steven Eckloff Albert ................................................................................................................. Jordan Tremaine DeLeon Specs .......................................................................................................................................... Jake Bartley Henry ................................................................................................................................................Zac Pritts Finch ....................................................................................................................................... Samuel Colina Elmer ...............................................................................................................................................Evan Latta Romeo .........................................................................................................................................Alex Haquia Mush ......................................................................................................................................... Nick Nazzaro Katherine ............................................................................................................................ Aubrey Matalon Darcy ................................................................................................................................................Zac Pritts Nuns.............................................................................Brooke Cox, Amari Lewis, Lainey McManamy+ Morris Delancey................................................................................................................Bryan Fortunato Oscar Delancey .................................................................................................................... Maddox Bane Wiesel .......................................................................................................................................Ken Remmert Davey........................................................................................................................................... Sam Yousuf Les ...................................................Carson Cornwell+ (performs Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday) ...................................... Lucas Gutierrez-Sullenger+ (performs Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) Joseph Pulitzer ....................................................................................................................Graham Rowat Seitz ............................................................................................................................ Matthew Henrickson Bunsen ...................................................................................................................................... Chris McCoy Hannah .......................................................................................................................................Amari Lewis Snyder ...................................................................................................................................... Zachary Ford Medda Larkin .......................................................................................................................Bryonha Marie Stage Manager........................................................................................................................ Chris McCoy Mr. Jacobi ................................................................................................................................. Chris McCoy Scabs ...............................................................................................Evan Latta, Nick Nazzaro, Zac Pritts Mayor ........................................................................................................................................Ken Remmert Spot Conlon ..................................................................................................................Courtney Germany Bill .............................................................................................................................................. Nick Nazzaro Governor Roosevelt ................................................................................................ Matthew Henrickson Ensemble .................. Maddox Bane, Jake Bartley, Tessa Brethowr, Samuel Colina, Brooke Cox Jordan Tremaine DeLeon, Steven Eckloff, Zachary Ford, Bryan Fortunato Courtney Germany, Jackson Grove, Alex Haquia, Matthew Henrickson, Evan Latta Amari Lewis, Chris McCoy, Nick Nazzaro, Zac Pritts, Ken Remmert, Michael Rios SWINGS Tessa Brethowr, Jackson Grove, Michael Rios UNDERSTUDIES For Davey: Maddox Bane; For Crutchie: Samuel Colina; For Race: Jordan T. DeLeon; For Pulitzer: Zachary Ford; For Jack: Bryan Fortunato; For Medda: Amari Lewis; For Katherine: Brooke Cox DANCE CAPTAIN: Michael Rios FIGHT CAPTAIN: Nick Nazzaro This production is fully performed by members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers, with the exception of those performers indicated with a (+), who are student performers appearing through an approved arrangement.
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Musical Numbers ACT I PROLOGUE: Rooftop, Dawn “Santa Fe” (Prologue) ........................................................................................................ Jack, Crutchie Scene 1: Newsie Square “Carrying the Banner” ....................................................................................................Jack, Newsies Scene 2: Pulitzer’s Office, Afternoon “The Bottom Line” ..................................................................................Pulitzer, Seitz, Bunsen, Hannah Scene 3: A Street Corner Scene 4: Medda’s Theater “That’s Rich” ................................................................................................................................... Medda “I Never Planned on You/Don’t Come a-Knocking” ............................................Jack, Bowery Beauties Scene 5: Newsie Square, Next Morning “The World Will Know” .................................................................................... Jack, Davey, Les, Newsies Scene 6: Jacobi’s Deli and Street, Afternoon “The World Will Know” (Reprise) ................................................................................................. Newsies Scene 7: Katherine’s Office “Watch What Happens” ............................................................................................................ Katherine Scene 8: Newsie Square, Next Morning “Seize the Day” ....................................................................................................... Davey, Jack, Newsies Scene 9: Rooftop “Santa Fe”........................................................................................................................................... Jack INTERMISSION There will be one twenty-minute intermission.
ACT II Scene 1: Jacobi’s Deli, Next Morning “King of New York” .............................................................................. Davey, Katherine, Les, Newsies Scene 2: The Refuge “Letter from The Refuge” ............................................................................................................Crutchie Scene 3: Medda’s Theater “Watch What Happens” (Reprise) ............................................................... Davey, Jack, Katherine, Les Scene 4: Pulitzer’s Office and Cellar, Afternoon “The Bottom Line” (Reprise) .............................................................................Pulitzer, Seitz and Mayor Scene 5: Brooklyn Bridge and Medda’s Theater “Brooklyn’s Here” ............................................................................................ Spot Conlon and Newsies Scene 6: Rooftop “Something to Believe In” ................................................................................................Katherine, Jack Scene 7: Pulitzer’s Cellar “Seize the Day” (Reprise) ............................................................................................................. Newsies “Once and for All” ................................................................................. Jack, Davey, Katherine, Newsies Scene 8: Pulitzer’s Office, Next Morning “Seize the Day” (Reprise) ............................................................................................................. Newsies Scene 9: Newsie Square “Finale” ............................................................................................................................... Jack, Newsies Place: Lower Manhattan Time: Summer, 1899 2026 35
Orchestra Anthony T. Edwards, Music Director & Conductor AE Music Services, Contractor Stephen Molloy, Union Steward Assistant Music Director/Keyboard 1 ............................................................................Jacob Thomas Keyboard 2 ..........................................................................................................................Daniel Doss Reeds ............................................................................................................................ Zak Pischnotte Trumpet/Flugelhorn.................................................................................................... Stephen Molloy Trombones...................................................................................................................Stephen Dekker Percussion ........................................................................................................................... Steve Riley Drums.................................................................................................................................Tod Barnard Guitars.................................................................................................................................Cindy Egger Violin ..........................................................................................................................Matthew Bennett Cello ................................................................................................................................Dana Woolard Bass Guitar ..................................................................................................................Jeff Harshbarger Rehearsal Accompanists .................................................................................. Barbara Jurgensmeier Jacob Thomas
Starlight is proud to feature an entirely local Kansas City orchestra for Disney’s Newsies.
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Who’s Who
LUCAS PASTRANA
GRAHAM ROWAT
AUBREY MATALON
BRYONHA MARIE
SAM YOUSUF
RYAN JACOBS
CARSON CORNWELL
LUCAS GUTIERREZ- SULLENGER
MADDOX BANE
JAKE BARTLEY
TESSA BRETHOWR
SAMUEL COLINA
BROOKE COX
JORDAN TREMAINE DELEON
STEVEN ECKLOFF
ZACHARY FORD
BRYAN FORTUNATO
COURTNEY GERMANY
JACKSON GROVE
ALEX HAQUIA
MATTHEW HENRICKSON
EVAN LATTA
AMARI LEWIS
CHRIS MCCOY
NICK NAZZARO
ZAC PRITTS
KEN REMMERT
MICHAEL RIOS
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Who’s Who LUCAS PASTRANA (Jack Kelly) NY credits Children of Eden at Lincoln Center; directed by Tony Yazbeck and Kinky Boots at Stage 42; directed by Jerry Mitchell. Some of his favorite regional work includes Elvis: A Musical Revolution, Pippin, Oklahoma!, Urinetown. Lucas is very excited to be making his KCStarlight debut with this incredible production. Instagram @pastranaalucas GRAHAM ROWAT (Joseph Pulitzer) has appeared on Broadway in Dear Evan Hansen; Steve Martin’s Meteor Shower (with Amy Schumer); Sunset Boulevard (with Glenn Close); Mamma Mia!; Guys and Dolls; LoveMusik; Dracula; and Beauty and the Beast. Off-Broadway credits include The Blue Flower (Second Stage); The Boys in the Band (Transport Group); and The Minister’s Wife (Lincoln Center Theater). He has appeared nationally and internationally in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (San Francisco, Detroit, Toronto) and Les Misérables (U.S. and China). Television credits include “Evil,” “Madam Secretary,” “Elementary,” “The Good Wife,” and “Law & Order: SVU.” Audio work includes the cast recordings of LoveMusik, Life Begins at 8:40, and Sweet Bye and Bye (PS Classics); “The NoSleep Podcast;” and more than 150 audiobooks. linktr.ee/grahamrowat AUBREY MATALON (Katherine Plummer) KC Starlight Debut! Broadway: Six. Off Broadway: Giulia (PAC) Between the Lines (Second Stage) Regional: Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Paper Mill Playhouse) Disney’s Frozen (Music Theatre Wichita) Ride (Old Globe) Hair (Asolo Rep). Film: “The Next Play”. Television: “Elsbeth” (CBS), “Monsters at Work” (Disney+). “Claynosaurz” (Youtube; Prime Video) @aubreymatalon on Instagram. BRYONHA MARIE (Medda Larkin) is thrilled to be returning to her hometown and playing the iconic Starlight Theatre where she had her junior prom! Her Broadway credits include the 2024 Tony-nominated revival of Our Town, Prince of Broadway, Book of Mormon, After Midnight, The Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess, and Ragtime. This spring 2027, she will be seen in the upcoming revival of Damn Yankees! Other NYC credits include Lincoln Center Live’s Showboat and Sweeney Todd (Emmy), and Encores’ Promenade. Favorite recent regional credits include Noises Off (Old Globe), Life After (Goodman; Jeff Award nom), Something Rotten/Sister Act/Sound of Music (Muny); Sweeney Todd (Signature; Helen Hayes nom), 38
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DAVE/Damn Yankees! (Arena Stage; Helen Hayes noms) Bryonha has been seen with symphonies across the country, including Kansas City and St. Louis Symphonies. On television, she can be seen in “How to Die Alone” (Hulu), “Long Bright River “(Peacock), “Madame Secretary,” “SpongeBob Musical Live,” and the 66th/68th Tony Awards. Visit bryonhamarie.com for more info or follow @ bryonhamarie on Instagram. SAM YOUSUF (Davey) KC Starlight Debut! Recent: Claude in Hair (CCM) & Seaweed in Hairspray (TBTS). Originally from Georgia, Sam gives his love to his family, friends, and his team at Nicolosi & Co. CCM MT. @samyousuf_. RYAN JACOBS (Crutchie) is so thrilled to be back at Starlight! Ryan is a musical theatre writer and performer from Kansas City, based in New York. He is a composer in the BMI Advanced MT Writing Workshop and a Berklee alum. Selected credits: The Opening (Off-Bway, Players Theatre) and Wakeman (NAMT ‘26). @ryandavidjacobs CARSON CORNWELL (Les - Wed, Friday, Sunday) is excited to make his Starlight debut in Newsies! A 6th grader, he studies acting and voice at The Culture House. Favorite roles include Gavroche (Les Misérables) and Jack (Newsies Jr.). Outside of theater, he enjoys soccer and Scouting. He wants to thank his parents and teachers for their support. LUCAS GUTIERREZ- SULLENGER (Les - Tues, Thurs, Sat) is excited to be revising his role as Les here at Starlight. He is a 7th grader at Liberty MS. He is an active participant in Stage Right Performing Arts and Miller Marley. Lucas would love to thank his family, teachers, & friends. He dedicates his performances to his Grandma Mary. @theatreboylucas MADDOX BANE (Oscar Delancey, Ensemble, u/s Davey,) is thrilled to return home to Kansas City and Starlight, where he previously appeared as Baby John in West Side Story. Regional credits: Link Larkin (Hairspray; New London Barn) and Jack Kelly (Newsies; Grand Street Theatre). Proud Boston Conservatory graduate. Endless love and thanks to his family! @maddoxbane
Who’s Who JAKE BARTLEY (Specs, Ensemble) is so excited to return to KC Starlight after West Side Story in 2024! Other recent credits include the John W Engeman Theatre, the REV Theatre Co, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Graduate of Pace University, BFA Commercial Dance. He would like to thank the entire Newsies team, his family, and MSA NY for their support! @jakebartley_ TESSA BRETHOWR (Onstage Swing) is a senior BFA musical theatre student at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and is absolutely thrilled to return to Starlight! Previous credits include West Side Story (KC Starlight), Legally Blonde (Boston Conservatory), Cats (Music Theatre Heritage). Much love to her family and friends. All glory to God! @tessabrethowr SAMUEL COLINA (Finch, Ensemble, u/s Crutchie) Selected credits: Broadway Backwards (Gershwin Theatre/ BCEFA), Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC), Tales of Moana (World Premiere). Tours: American In Paris (2nd National), A Chorus Line (Tokyo), & South Pacific. Regional: Goodspeed’s Crazy for you (Custus/Cowboy trio) Slowburn’s Mary Poppins (Neleus), & Wick’s Mamma Mia! (Pepper). Other: Singing backup vocals for Kristen Chenoweth & Barry Manilow. www.samuelcolina.com @sammicolina BROOKE COX (Nun, Buttons, Bowery Beauty, Ensemble, u/s Katherine) Select regional credits: Hairspray (The Muny), A Chorus Line (Val), and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Marilyn, Cynthia u/s). TXST: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ella), Sweeney Todd (Choreographer). Texas State University BFA Musical Theatre ‘26. Gratitude to her family, God, and all who have supported her journey. @brookiecox JORDAN TREMAINE DELEON (Albert, Ensemble) is happy to be back in his hometown! National tour: Peter Pan. Regional: Starlight Theatre (Disney’s Frozen, Grease), PCLO, Fulton Theatre, Theatre Aspen, Music Theatre Wichita, Lexington Theatre Company, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Lied Center. Thank you to David, Caroline, family, and the KC theatre community for raising this artist! @jordantdeleon
STEVEN ECKLOFF (Race, Ensemble) is thrilled to finally seize the day with KC Starlight! He recently closed the National Tour of Back To The Future as a Swing U/S Marty Mcfly. BoCo Alum (BFA Dance Emphasis). Big thanks to Henderson Hogan, Mom, Dad, Amelia, Aaron, and Delta Skymiles points. @Steven.Eckloff ZACHARY FORD (Nunzio, Snyder, Ensemble, u/s Pulitzer) makes his Starlight debut! Local: Clue (New Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Musical Theatre Heritage). Other: Pasadena Playhouse, Wynn Vegas, McCoy/Rigby, Music Theatre West, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Marriott Lincolnshire, Arizona Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, LA Phil, SFSO (Grammy nom). Some TV. Love to his parents, his 3 scamps, and Bobbie. BRYAN FORTUNATO (Morris Delancey, Ensemble, U/S Jack) Starlight Debut! He is an incoming senior musical theatre major at Texas State University. West Side Story (Fulton Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma), West Side Story, Footloose, Anastasia (Maine State Music Theatre). He thanks his family and friends for all of their support! COURTNEY GERMANY (Jojo, Spot Conlon, Ensemble) has deep roots at Starlight Theatre as the inaugural recipient of the Vincent Legacy Scholarship. A Kansas City performer and choreographer, her credits include Hairspray, Grease: Starlight; The Wiz, La Cage aux Folles, Cabaret, and Stevie: Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Music Theater Heritage; and Alice’s Wonderland: The Coterie. JACKSON GROVE (Onstage Swing) is thrilled to be back at KC Starlight after making his debut in Sister Act! Regional credits: Broadway Sacramento, Ordway, Pittsburgh CLO and Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Other performance highlights: Funny Girl (1st National), NYFW, and most recently the Madonna pop-up concert in Times Square. Shoutout to Ms. Liz! ALEX HAQUIA (Romeo, Ensemble) Regional: Gatsby: An American Myth (ART), Cats (Fulton Theatre), West Side Story (Papermill Playhouse). Tour: Rock the Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispánico. Fordham/Ailey BFA Graduate. Haquia is excited to be making his Kansas City Starlight debut in Newsies! Special thanks to his friends, family, and agents at MSA. 2026 39
Who’s Who MATTHEW HENRICKSON (Seitz, Roosevelt, Ensemble) is fortunate to be returning to Starlight Theatre and getting to reprise the role of Roosevelt for the third time! Matt’s favorite credits include: Rutledge in 1776 at the Barn Players; Shark Tooth in How I Became a Pirate at Theatre For Young America. A special thanks to his wife Laura; their three sons Lyric, Ryder and Rhythm and his parents for all their love and support. EVAN LATTA (Elmer, Scab, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his KCS debut in Newsies. Originally from Minnesota, Evan studied Ballet at the University of Utah and has performed with Disney Cruise Line, many regional theaters, and ballet companies across the country. Evan wants to thank his family, by blood and by love, for always being his rock. Instagram: @evanklatta AMARI LEWIS (Nun, Hannah, Bowery Beauty, Ensemble, u/s Medda) The Wizard of Oz, The Color Purple, Little Shop of Horrors. Local: Porgy and Bess (Lyric Opera Kansas City); Fat Ham (The Unicorn); Hairspray (Starlight); Dreamgirls (New Theatre); Spongebob SquarePants The Musical: TYA, Pete The Cat, Alice’s Wonderland (Coterie) Regional: Little Shop of Horrors (Farmington Civic Center) Education: Associate of Arts, Kansas City Kansas Community College. IG: @lewiii17 CHRIS MCCOY (Bunsen, Stage Manager, Mr. Jacobi, Ensemble) has worked at Seattle Children’s Theatre, Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company, St. Louis Opera Theatre, San Diego Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, KC’s Theater League, and Lyric Stage Boston. Chris was Asst. Director for Soul Doctor (Broadway) and has a PhD from the University of California, Davis. NICK NAZZARO (Mush, Scab, Bill, Fight Captain, Ensemble) is excited to return to Starlight, where he previously performed in West Side Story. Other select credits include Paper Mill, The Muny, Goodspeed, Carnegie Hall, A Chorus Line Tour, “SNL,” Jimmy Fallon, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and more. Thank you to his amazing parents and friends, CESD, David Grindrod, and this incredible company. Dream big, little dancers :) @nick.nazzaro ZAC PRITTS (Henry, Darcy, Scab, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his debut at KC Starlight! Theatre Credits include: Ensemble in Newsies (Tuacahn), Ensemble in The Little Mermaid (Tuacahn), Ensemble in The Wizard of Oz 40
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(Tuacahn), Ensemble/Marwan in Mean Girls (CSTC), and much more! He graduated from KSU with a BA in Dance. IG @zachary.pritts KEN REMMERT (Wiesel, Mayor, Ensemble) is excited to be back at Starlight. He’s been an Equity Actor and Union Musician for over 40 years, he has been fortunate to stay busy in the Kansas City area. Ken also portrays President Harry S Truman, with “A Tribute to Truman” www.atributetotruman.com Love to his family. Enjoy the show everyone! MICHAEL RIOS (Dance Captain, Onstage Swing) is thrilled to be performing at KC Starlight! Film: Disney’s Newsies!: “A Broadway Musical” (Disney Plus) as Henry, Hyped For Halftime Dancer (Superbowl). National Tours: Disney’s Newsies, Hello, Dolly! (Revival & 50th Anniversary tour), The Wizard of Oz, Cats. Regional Theater: West Side Story (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Hello, Dolly! (Ogunquit Playhouse), Joseph...Dreamcoat & The Wizard of Oz (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Gypsy (Theater Aspen), Hello, Dolly! (Pioneer Theater), Peter Pan (Northern Stage), Hairspray (Maltz Jupiter Theater), Fiddler On the Roof (Syracuse Stage). Thank you to the creative team, Geoff Josselson, and all staff at KC Starlight! ALAN MENKEN (Composer). Theater: God Bless You Mr Rosewater, Little Shop Of Horrors, Real Life Funnies, Atina: Evil Queen Of The Galaxy, Kicks, The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz, Beauty And The Beast, A Christmas Carol, Weird Romance, King David, Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, Leap Of Faith, Aladdin and Newsies. Film: Little Shop Of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast, Newsies, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Hercules, Life With Mikey, Lincoln, Home On The Range, Noel, Enchanted, Shaggy Dog, Tangled and Mirror Mirror. Songs: Rocky V, Home Alone 2 and Captain America. Awards: 8 Oscars (19 nominations), 11 Grammys (including Song of the Year), 7 Golden Globes, Tony® (plus 4 nominations), Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, New York Drama Critics, Olivier and London’s Evening Standard Award, Drama League. Honors: Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, Doctorates from New York University and University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Who’s Who JACK FELDMAN (Lyrics) He has written music and lyrics for theater, film, television and pop records. His vast number of works include: Broadway and Off-Broadway: The Madwoman of Central Park West; Isn’t It Romantic, by Wendy Wasserstein; Beyond Therapy, by Christopher Durang; Coming Attractions, by Ted Tally; Miami (book by Ms. Wasserstein). Regional: Music for Mr. Durang and Albert Innaurato’s Idiots Karamazov at the Yale Repertory Theatre. Film: Oliver & Company; Tribute; Thumbelina; Newsies; Home Alone 2: Lost in New York; Used People; Life with Mikey; A Goofy Movie; The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride; and 102 Dalmatians. TV: Music and lyrics for the PBS Theatre in America production of Eve Merriam’s Out of Our Father’s House; The Magic Hat; The Little Mermaid (TV special); Polly; “Sesame Street;” “Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss;” and “Out of the Box.” Also many pop songs, including the Grammy Award-winning “Copacabana,” the top-10 hit “I Made It Through the Rain,” and songs and special material for Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae, Liza Minnelli, Lily Tomlin, Dionne Warwick, and the Muppets. HARVEY FIERSTEIN (Book) is the Tony Award winning author of Torch Song Trilogy and La Cage Aux Folles. His other theater writing includes Kinky Boots (Tony nominated), Newsies (Tony nominated), Casa Valentina (Tony nominated), A Catered Affair (12 Drama Desk nominations), Safe Sex, Spookhouse, and Legs Diamond among others. His rewrite of the classic musical Funny Girl was produced in London’s West End, on Broadway and is currently on tour in North America. He wrote the teleplays of Hairspray Live and The Wiz Live, both for NBC. For HBO he’s written On Tidy Endings (Ace Award), The Sissy Duckling (Humanitas Award) and Common Ground. DAVID GRINDROD (Director/Choreographer) is a New York City based director & choreographer. His professional career began when he played Mark on the National Tour of A Chorus Line under the direction of Tony Award recipient Baayork Lee. Lee appointed David as her associate for the show’s China premiere, where he helped re-stage Michael Bennett’s original choreography and direction. Most recently, David served again as Lee’s associate, to bring A Chorus Line back to Broadway for its 50th Anniversary Celebration at The Shubert Theatre. As a director, David’s work has been seen at regional theaters nationwide including Arts Center of Coastal
Carolina, City Springs Theatre Company, Argyle Theatre, & Kansas City Music Theatre. As a choreographer, David earned back-toback Outstanding Choreography honors from the New Hampshire Theatre Alliance Awards for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Guys and Dolls at Weathervane Theatre. He also choreographed The Light in the Piazza, directed by Tony Award winner Victoria Clark at The Sheen Center. He is thrilled to return to Starlight after working on West Side Story in 2024. David would like to thank this incredible cast, crew, and his brilliant collaborators Caroline, Anthony, & Erica for all their hard work on this production. @david.grin ANTHONY T. EDWARDS (Music Director, Conductor, Orchestra Contractor) Starlight Theatre: West Side Story, Legally Blonde, Godspell, The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Anything Goes, Cinderella, Xanadu, The Producers, Aida, Footloose, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Grease, Hairspray. Local: Resident Musical Director for Starlight Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, Eventology and All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church. Additional Local: Coterie Theatre, University of Missouri Conservatory of Music, New Theatre, Quality Hill Playhouse, Theatre in the Park, Late Night Theatre, Musical Theatre Heritage. Regional: Civic Light Opera (Pittsburgh), Denver Center for the Performing Arts (Denver, CO) Red Barn Theatre (Key West, FL), The American Theatre (Rockford, IL) Waterfront Playhouse (Key West, FL). New York: New Victory Theatre. Anthony is an Endorsed Kurzweil Artist. SEAN GLASS (Lighting Designer) is excited to return, once again, to Starlight Theatre! Recent Starlight credits include: Lighting Designer for School of Rock, Legally Blonde and Godspell, as well as ALD and Programmer for several others. Sean also designs for other local theatres and organizations as well as live events across the country. ZACH MOORE (Sound Designer) is happy to design his first show at beautiful Starlight, after previously mixing Frozen and Sister Act. His 100+ sound designs at Pittsburgh Public Theater include the world premieres of Billy Strayhorn; Something to Live For, L’Hotel, The Chief, Harry’s Friendly Service, The Glorious Ones, and Paper Doll; original music for Marjorie Prime, A Doll’s House Part 2, Hamlet, Equus, and Circle Mirror Transformation; as well as designs for Sweat, The Diary of Anne Frank, Red, and Little Shop of Horrors. Other 2026 41
Who’s Who collaborations include Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Reduced Shakespeare Co., Asolo Rep, City Theatre, Pittsburgh Playhouse, NBA Ballet in Tokyo, TheaterWorks Hartford, The Huntington, Long Wharf Theatre, and Dallas Theater Center. Up Next; the world premiere of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun at Pittsburgh Playhouse. ERICA PERÉZ- GOTAY (Associate Choreographer) is thrilled to make her Starlight Theatre debut with Newsies, working alongside Director/ Choreographer David Grindrod. Erica most recently served as Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain for A Bronx Tale at The REV Theatre Co. Other choreography credits include Saturday Night Fever at Timber Lake Playhouse and The Wedding Singer at Surflight Theatre. As a Dance Captain, Erica has worked on productions including the 50th Anniversary production of A Chorus Line at Goodspeed Opera House and Dance, Dance, Dance, America at Hersheypark. A graduate of Oklahoma City University with a BFA in Dance Performance, Erica is also an active dance educator throughout the tri-state area. Select performance credits include the National Tour of Elf the Musical, A Chorus Line (Diana Morales), 42nd Street (Anytime Annie), Saturday Night Fever (Stephanie), and Young Frankenstein (Ogunquit). Thank you to David for the trust and opportunity, Dave Secor (Daniel Hoff Agency), and The Barton Bunch. To my husband, Daniel – I love you! Philippians 4:13. @ericapgotay CHRISTINA BURTON (Assistant Choreographer) began her Starlight journey in the 2011 production of Cinderella and has since gone on to serve as Production Choreographer, Assistant and/or Associate Choreographer and perform in multiple Starlight productions. Starlight Credits include: School of Rock (Choreographer), Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Hairspray, The Wizard Of Oz, Godspell, On Your Feet, Legally Blonde, West Side Story. GEOFF JOSSELSON (Casting Director) is a New York-based casting directors, handling productions for theatre, film and television. Recent work includes productions for Arena Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Baltimore Center Stage, Cape Playhouse, Denver Center, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Irish Repertory Theatre, Merrimack Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Round House Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Theaterworks Hartford, Weston Playhouse. 42
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MARY R. HONOUR (Production Stage Manager) is pleased to return to Starlight, having previously stage managed School of Rock, West Side Story, Legally Blonde, Godspell, Hairspray, Mary Poppins, and The Sound of Music, and served as ASM on Xanadu, The Producers, Music Man, Grease, Hello Dolly, Jesus Christ Superstar and Footloose. Mary is a KC local who has worked many seasons at KC Rep, and regionally at La Jolla Playhouse, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and Arizona Theatre Company. Mary is happy to be making theatre magic again under the stars at Starlight! MICHELLE GUTIERREZ MARTINA (First Assistant Stage Manager) is a proud KC Native. This is her 11th Starlight SM credit! Favorites include School of Rock, Wizard of Oz, West Side Story, Footloose, Aida, Legally Blonde and Miss Saigon (MSUA Tour). Thanks to Caroline and the team for having me back! All my love to Dave, my 3 kiddos and family for carrying the banner towards opening. Greetings to St. Aidans, the Lambert crew, and anyone else singing along! MEGAN KATHLEEN SMITH (Second Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be making her Starlight debut! Up next: John Proctor is the Villain (Kansas City Repertory Theatre), White Christmas (The Lexington Theatre Company), A Christmas Story: The Musical (Little Theatre on the Square). Megan is a proud member of AEA. Mad love her family and friends. JACOB MOONEY (Production Assistant) is thrilled to be making his Starlight debut and working on the very stage where he grew up seeing Broadway! Select credits: Brigadoon (MTH), Carousel (Springfield Symphony Orchestra), thorns (KC Fringe) Educational: A Killer Party, The Moors (Missouri State). Proud graduate of Missouri State University. Bear up! HALLEY SYLVESTER (Associate Sound Designer) is a sound designer who believes that sound is more than what you hear. They have a passion for finding new ways sound can interact with the human body. She comes into the sound design world with a unique technical theatre and aerospace engineering background. Sylvester enjoys taking two worlds that may seem so different and using them in harmony. Credits - Design: DOT (Kansas City Actors Theatre, MO, 2023), Julius Caesar (Heart of America Shakespeare, MO, 2024), Mary Poppins (Beverly Hills High School, CA, 2025). Associate Design: Little Shop of
Who’s Who Horrors (Kansas City Repertory Theater, MO, 2024), West Side Story (Starlight, MO, 2024), School of Rock (Starlight, MO, 2025). Assistant Design: Legally Blonde: The Musical (Starlight, MO, 2023). Education: MFA, University of Missouri - Kansas City; BA, University at Buffalo. Instagram: @sylvester.sound JACOB THOMAS (Associate Music Director) is a pianist and composer, having earned his Masters in Composition from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. In addition to composing he works as a collaborative pianist, serving as a full-time Academy and R.O.A.D. musician at Kansas City Ballet. He frequently plays piano and/or music directs for several community and professional theatre companies in the Kansas City area. Jacob loves working with other artists and growing as a musician through each project! MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (Licensing) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide. MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior™ shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle schoolaged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.
CAROLINE GIBEL (Executive Producer) leads Starlight’s Broadway programming by presenting Broadway national tours and producing Starlight-produced shows for the AdventHealth Broadway Series. A proud Kansas City native, Caroline is now in her fourteenth season as a full-time member of the Starlight team — having first joined the organization as an intern more than twenty years ago. She is a member of The Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry, and represents Starlight as part of the Independent Presenters Network (IPN), a consortium of forty leading Broadway presenters and theatres across the country. Recent Starlight producing credits include West Side Story, School of Rock, and Disney’s Frozen. Heartfelt thanks to her family, David and Anthony, and the entire Newsies team for their talent and commitment, “One for all, and all for one!” STARLIGHT (Producer) Opened as a theatre in 1950 and a nonprofit organization in 1951, Starlight is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City, Missouri, and connects our community through live arts experiences that entertain, inspire, and engage audiences of all ages. Offering diverse programming year-round, Starlight presents Broadway musicals, concert events, and extensive community engagement programming, including classes, scholarships, and one of the largest high school musical theatre award programs in the nation. Located on 16 acres in Swope Park, the historic, cityowned venue is the second-largest outdoor producing theatre in the country with almost 8,000 seats. Follow Starlight on social media @kcstarlight and visit kcstarlight.com for more information.
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Who’s Who Teen Ensemble
LOUISA BARTLETT
DAVID BUNNELL
DEUCE CHANOS
BENNETT DAMETZ
CHARLEA EMISON
CORBIN GARDNER
JOAQUÍN GONZÁLEZ LAYTON
LYLA HORWITZ
SAVION JACKSON
DYLAN JOHNSON
TATUM MCGINNISS-WOOD
LAINEY MCMANAMY
MAE MURRAY
GEORGE NESSINGER
RYAN PETERSON
GAGE PFANNENSTIEL
JACK POLAK
LUKE PYRON
JONATHAN RAYMOND
RAYNA REED
WYATT RICKER
SANTANA ROMERO
JARED ROMNEY
DANE SCHWARTZ
LIAM SMITH
QUINCY STRIBLING
ETHAN SUEN
IZZY TAGHIZADEH
CHARLIE TIETJEN
PAOLO VITUG
HARPER WARD
KESTON WIMBERLY
Disney’s Newsies Teen Ensemble is comprised of local students from Starlight’s Community Engagement programs including the Blue Star Awards. For more information on Starlight’s Community Engagement programs, please visit www.kcstarlight.com/engage.
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Who’s Who Head Deck Carpenter ............................Fulton Wilhelm Associate Sound Designer................. Halley Sylvester Assistant Lighting Designer ...................Bridget Brown Technical Theatre Intern ........................Spencer Burch
Starlight Production Staff DISNEY’S NEWSIES Executive Producer CAROLINE GIBEL
Thanks to Hospitality partners - Genesis Gym, F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic
Technical Director AARON M. CLARK
Thanks to our travel partners - Southwest Airlines, Marriott Residence Inn-Downtown, Enterprise
Assistant Technical Director RYAN BRITTON
Thanks to our Rental partners - Vista Productions, Theatrical Media Service, Harvest Productions, Bluefox
Master Electrician KERSTIN MESSMER Company Manager ABIGAIL KNABE
Thanks to Martin City Telegraph for the newspaper donation.
Production Stage Manager ................. Mary R. Honour First Assistant Stage Manager ........................................ ............................................... Michelle Gutierrez Martina Second Assistant Stage Manager .................................. ...................................................... Megan Kathleen Smith Production Assistant ..............................Jacob Mooney Student Advocate ..................Franci Talamantez-Witte Intimacy Coodinator ................................... Jenise Cook Wardrobe Services ............................................................ ...................................... Kansas City Costume Company Wardrobe Supervisor ....................................Gayla Voss Wig & Make-up Supervisor .................... Gene Flaharty Dressers .......................Maeghan Beatty, Scott Cordes Elsa Dickerson, Jenny Green, David Krom Venus Leung, Kyle Mowry Chelli Tillman, Chandler Vaughn Video Production ...........................Bryce Walker Jones Head Carpenter ...........................................Eric Webster Head Properties .................................Jessica Bednarek Head Audio...................................... Andrew Gangestad Head Electrician ....................................Joshua Topping Head Flyman ............................................. Richard Smith
Video Production Artwork by Blakely Little The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are members of Actor’s Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. Backstage and Front of the House Employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E). The Director-Choreographer is a member of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union. United Scenic Artists represents the designers and scenic painters for the American Theatre
Based on a True Story
Newsies is based on the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899. The New York newsies – boys and girls who sold newspapers on the street – went up against two newspaper publishers, Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal, to fight for the chance to earn a livable wage. (For more information on the strike and other relevant history, refer to the Dramaturgy chapter of this handbook.)
Photo and text from Disney’s Newsies Production Handbook
The Spanish-American War made New Yorkers hungry for headlines, and circulation boomed as a result. Once the war ended, people were less inclined to buy newspapers – war was bad for the world, but great for the newspaper business. The strike was the result of the newspaper publishers refusing to lower the newsies’ cost-per-paper back down to the pre-war prices. The newsies were not willing to pay more for their papers to make up for a lack of headlines, so they decided to strike – their goal was to make the newspaper tycoons treat them as legitimate members of the business.
The strike lasted two weeks, from July 20 to August 2, 1899. The newsies eventually came to a compromise with the publishers: The price would stay the same, but the publishers would buy back any papers that the newsies couldn’t sell. The newsies’ strike is a significant moment in history: It is one of the first strikes that was carried out by children and it ended in compromise. The kids succeeded!
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WHAT CAN’T WE DO FOR YOU TODAY? ALMOST NOTHING!
WE VALUE
YOUR OPINION From purchasing tickets to curtain call and everything in between, guest experience is top priority at Starlight. Please take a moment to answer a brief survey by scanning the QR code below.
NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE? Visit a Guest Information Kiosk.
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SPOTLIGHT
BREAKING BOUNDARIES BEYOND CAMPUS CAMPUS
An internship at Starlight Theatre was the opening number for Roslinde Rivera’s career in arts marketing.
WORLD CLASS. RIGHT NOW.
Read her story
STARLIGHT DONORS $25,000+
ROB & AMY WOLF
Christine & Don Alexander Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Arvin Gottlieb Charitable Foundation Ash Grove Charitable Foundation Bill & Denise Bade Cathy Baier Rick Baier and Family Foundation Rich & Peggy Baker June Beaver Matt & Kate Beem Daniel & Janelle Benninghoff Robert & Dr. Phyliss Bernstein Bill and Terry Biggins Marion & Henry Bloch Family Foundation William & Ann Briggs E. Kemper Carter & Anna Curry Carter Community Memorial Al & Sharon Cinelli Eric Ryan + Janet Cinelli City of Kansas City, Missouri Howard & Debbi Cohen Pat & Don Dagenais The Ronald D. Deffenbaugh Foundation The Deramus Foundation Ann & Gary Dickinson Steve & Sue Dietze Roshann Parris & Jeff Dobbs Steve & Cathy Doyal Peggy & Terry Dunn The Elsberry Family Foundation Brett & Nikki Emison Edward L. Enyeart Sarah & Ray Evans Jill Farrell
Sherry & Gary Forsee Mark & Sarah Fortino David Frantze The Fried Family Gregg & Cheryl Givens The Goppert Foundation Haas & Wilkerson Insurance Co. Hager Family Fund Hall Family Foundation David & Laura Hall Michael & Marlys Haverty Shirley & Barnett Helzberg Jr. Donor Advisory Fund of the Jewish Commnity Foundation of Greater Kansas City Mike O’Connell & Sara Hicks Family Foundation Laura & August L. Huber III Howard & Ro Jacobson Jeannette & Jerome Cohen Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City Joan Horan Kaufman Family Kevin & Dianne Kelly William T. Kemper Foundation Tony & Teresa Kempf Mary Lockton & Michael Murphy Harry Wilson Loose Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee Todd & Liz Lucas Tondee & Shawn Lutterman Pat & Beth McCown McCown Family Foundation The McDonnell Foundation McLaughlin Family Charitable Fund The Morgan Charitable Foundation, in loving memory of Sandi Morgan
Morgan Family Legacy Foundation Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation John & Bridget Murphy William & Jeri Murphy George & Wendy Powell Regnier Family Foundation Greg & Rebecca Reid Jim & Sharon Reinert Vicki & Bill Reisler J.B. Reynolds Foundation Ora Reynolds & Curt Roberts Elaine & Arlen Rubin Charles & Elizabeth Schellhorn Schreiber Charitable Trust Daniel & Mary Schulte Charitable Fund Victor E. & Caroline E. Schutte Foundation The Sharma Family The Sherman Family Foundation The Sosland Foundation State of Missouri Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank, Trustee The Patrick & Janna Stueve Family Foundation Sunderland Foundation Trent & Katelyn Thurmon UMB Financial Services Don & Jean Wagner Charitable Foundation Debbie & Russell Welsh Ted & Molly Wiedeman Matt & Sabrina Wiewel Carey & Tom Wilkins Rob & Amy Wolf Kearney Wornall Foundation Cynthia Wymore
$10,000+
Anonymous Jeff & Susan Anthony Nancy Whitworth & Doug Ballou Barnes-Bisset Family Foundation Bart & Joanie Bergman Becky Blades Lusha Bodie Ruth J Brackney Robert and Michelle
Davidson Bratcher Wendy & Troy Burgess Jeff Carson Family & Enterprise Bank Lindsey Rood-Clifford & Chris Clifford Michael & Carrie Condon David R. Morris Eddy Whitley & Tracie Dittemore Bruce & Linda Enright Everhance
Leah & Matt FitzGerald Estelle S. & Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation Fowler Family Foundation Frank & Sondra Friedman Dennis Todd Gochenour Gordon Family Foundation Amy Guerich/Stepp and Rothwell Tom & Katrina Henke
STARLIGHT DONORS $10,000+ (cont.)
Robert & Melissa Hingula Allan & Margot Huber Charitable Fund Stacey Janssen/Janssen Estate Probate and Elder Law Castetter Johnson Family Foundation Mark & Mary Cook Jorgenson Kemper Family Foundation Tom and Nancy Lauerman Bruce & Priscilla Long
Heather Jones & Bryan Long Chuck & Wendy Maggiorotto Cara McLaughlin Susan Mills Ramsey & Alison Mohsen Lee & Jan Morevitska Keith & Gloria Mueller Diane & Rob O’Byrne Terry & Barbie O’Toole Drs. Susan & Charles Porter Jeanette Prenger Lisa Rohlf
Anna C MacAskill Schwab & Dwight L Schwab Sr Foundation Angelo & Elisa Trozzolo Kasey & Kyle Vena Joel & Marsha Voran Carolyn Watley Sarah & Jim Weitzel Sandra & Byron Whitaker In memory of Megan E. Taylor, by Bill & Marilyn Taylor Weishar Family Foundation Connie Wright
$5,000+ Vestana & Michael Ahlen Aviva Ajmera & Wayne Strickland Janine & Bill Akers Cathy Allin Nancy Buchmann Carpenter Family Giving Fund Dan & Leann Carr Carl & Jean Chinnery Deb Churchill Joni Cobb Commerce Bank Creative Planning Foundation Carla & Don Duryee Elaine Feld Stern Charitable Trust Brian & Lesley Elwell FCS Family Office
Donald Hall Lisa & Eric Hays Rick & Chris Heise Henderson Companies Jenny Housley Ingram Family Foundation Doug Anning & Kirk Isenhour Catherine & Jerry Jones JSD Foundation Alison & Donovan Kidd Marty & Beth Krebs Andrew & Katherine Lang David & Lisa Lang Michael & Kristin Lanning Matthew Linnabary Steven & Anna McKee
Jolene Mead Edward Milbank Patricia & Michael Morrissey Brian & Lisa Osgood Chuck & Karen Peters Julie Quirin Gary & Liz Simons Bill & Sandra Snyder David Steinhauser Sharon Stiner R. Gordon Tompkins Mark & LeeAnn Van Dyne Tom & Eileen Weir Tom & Loren Whittaker Teddi Wolff Mandi & Kevin Wright
$2,000+ Amanda Adkins American Century Investments Peggy Beal Duane Becker Brian & Lori Belden Beth and John Borders Peggy & Michael Borkon Jeff & Deanna Burns JJ Burns & Andrea Boswell-Burns CBIZ William Ottens & Nate Chamberlain Melanie & Russ Cline Community America Credit Union Kevin & Anne Connor Ellen & Jamie Copaken Robert Croskell DeBruce Foundation Diane’s School of Dance Jeremy Didier Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe Charitable Fund Dennis & Sandra Donnelly Mark & Lisa Ebbitts Fred & Beatrice Eckertson Marc Enyart & Joe Comer Buddy & Charlene Foutts Gartner, Inc. GastingerWalker& Glenn & Joyce Goldstein Anita Gorman Travis & Maqual Graham
Jon & Barb Haden Mark & Tandi Hechler Katrina & Tom Henke Charles Herbster Hickok Family Foundation Ross & Jo Ann Hildebrand Cheryl Hill Holladay Distillery William Hudson Steve & Gayle Jagoda Jagoda Family Foundation Richard & Sandy Jones Margaret Kalal Joanna & Tim Keeble Kiewit Jahala Kinser Herb & Nancy Kohn Scott & Lisa Kolbeck Kristin Fraser Marilyn Kulmus & John Shoenhair Lippert Family Donor Advised Fund Thomas & Sandy Long Patricia Martin William McDaniel Annette McLaughlin Dennis & Carol Meierotto Trey & Laurie Meyer Mitzi Ryburn Agency - State Farm Insurance Brian Mixon Jeremiah Moye Jerry Negus & Rebecca Hierholzer
Daniel & Susan Nenonen Charles & Kay Newell Northland Sonic Drive-Ins Patrick O’Malley John & Kathy O’Toole Kevin & Maureen O’Toole Larry & Ellen Polsky Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City Lynn & Joe Poskin Bob & Sylvia Pullman Kathleen & Mike Rainen ReeceNichols Real Estate William Reed Johnny & Angela Rowlands Daniel & Nan Schaper Sheldon & Megan Sebastian Craig & Dondee Stearns Jacob Stolz Matthew & Kristen Stuppy Ann Swarts Emily & Rian Tilgner Bob & Kathy Waller James & Amy West Adam & Hayley Wisnieski Brian & Ellen Woltkamp JW & Bonnie Youngblood
This list reflects donors who made a cumulative gift of $2,000+ to any Starlight campaign between July 8, 2026, and April 30, 2026, or a gift to Starlight’s Uniquely KC Campaign. We apologize for any errors or omissions. To review the list of all Starlight donors, visit kcstarlight.com/starlight-donors and kcstarlight.com/uniquelykc.
ACCESSIBILITY Parking Accessible parking is available in the Yellow, Red, and Orange Lots located east and southeast of the theatre. Guests displaying state-issued disabled license plates or placards will be directed to the accessible parking area as space allows. Mobile Assistance Shuttles Complimentary curb-to-curb shuttle service is provided to guests with mobility challenges. Starlight operates multi-passenger shuttles that have designated stops in Yellow, Red, Orange and Purple parking lots. Shuttles provide needed transport to and from Gate 8. Wheelchair Assistance Starlight personnel are available to provide wheelchair assistance to a seat location prior to the show and back to the gate’s drop off point after the show. Please contact a member of our Guest Assist staff if you need assistance. Restrooms There are wheelchair-accessible restrooms throughout the venue. A companion restroom as well as universal changing tables are located in the northeast restrooms closest to Gate 6. Assistive Listening Services Assistive listening devices are free at every performance. To obtain a device, visit the South Guest Information Kiosk located across from Ovation. Sunday night Broadway performances are interpreted for deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons. To use your personal device, connect to the Listen Everywhere app with headset or earbuds and connect to the Starlight Listen Everywhere Wi-Fi. Sight-Impaired Services Audio Description (AD) is provided by the Audio-Reader Network during the Saturday night Broadway performances. Guests may obtain an audiodescription device at the Audio-Reader Network table behind Terrace 2. Sensory Kits In partnership with Variety KC, Starlight offers sensory kits for guests in need of noise-canceling headsets, weighted blankets, and fidget toys. Sensory kits may be checked out a Guest Information Kiosk.
GUEST INFORMATION Weather Policy All Starlight events are held rain or shine, with the exception of severe/ dangerous weather. Updates are posted on kcstarlight.com/alerts and in the KC Starlight app. Security Screening Policy To ensure the safety of all guests, Starlight reserves the right to inspect persons, parcels or clothing capable of concealing or carrying prohibited items into the venue in situations where health, safety or well-being may be compromised. All guests are subject to an inspection of bags and parcels, including pat-downs and use of magnetic wands. Review the full list of prohibited items on the Plan Your Visit page at kcstarlight.com Photography Use of professional photography equipment or recording devices (video, audio, or other medium) is prohibited to use during a performance without prior written consent. By attending a Starlight performance, guests give their consent to be photographed or recorded by talent, venue, or their contractors. Smoking Areas Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the venue except the North Lawn and east of the Encore Deck. This policy applies to cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipes and any other smoking device. Marijuana and all cannabis products are prohibited.
If you need assistance at any time while at Starlight Theatre, please: Contact a member of our team: Guest Assist staff (in royal blue shirts), Ushers and Volunteer Ambassadors (in navy blue shirts), or Security personnel (in black shirts). Need immediate assistance? Visit a Guest Information Kiosk. Other Questions? Visit kcstarlight.com/faqs or call (816) 363-7827. 2026 61
STAFF Leadership
Guest Experience
Programming
Lindsey Rood-Clifford President + C.E.O. Alex Jones Chief Programming Officer Danny Knaub Chief Engagement + Growth Officer Becky Martin Chief Guest Experience Officer Mandi Wright Chief Finance Officer
Madisen Pool Director of Venue Operations Haley Johnson Guest Experience Supervisor Phoenix Wood Seasonal House Manager
Casey Osburn Director of Music + Comedy Caroline Gibel Director of Theatre Genie Haggard Programming Manager Trinidy Thompson Special Events Manager
Information Systems
Owain Howell Production Information Technology Manager Aaron M. Clark Technical Director Marketing + Sales Administration Ryan Britton Jeff Miller Taylor Carter Assistant Technical Director Director of Corporate Executive Administrator Kerstin Messmer Partnerships Baylee McMillin Production Technician Rachel Bliss Accounting Manager Director of Marketing Maren Peterson Ticket Services Colin Bennett Accountant Digital Marketing Manager Cindy Fasl Ginger Harris Bryce Jones Director of Ticket Finance Coordinator Multimedia Manager Sales + Services Emily Leritz Tanis Ramey Community Engagement Data Analyst Ticket Services Manager Dr. Andy Pierce Grace Linn Samantha Wolowicz Learning + Training Manager Design + Creative Projects Event Night Ticket Katherine Tolbert Manager Services Supervisor Access + Partnership Manager Jodi Olson Kidney Michaela Glover Katie Higareda Content Marketing Manager Sales Manager Learning + Training Coordinator Roland Meisler Brice Turner Premium Experience Access + Partnership Sales Manager Coordinator Philanthropy Facilities Ava Delsemme Christian Schoolcraft Director of Philanthropy + Grounds Supervisor Public Affairs Clayton Williams Andrew Lang Grounds Supervisor Senior Philanthropy Jace Murphy Strategist Maintenance Technician Andrew Cudzilo Chris Bayliff Donor Relations Manager Custodian Cody Walls Grants + Donor Communications Manager Kara Setari Philanthropic Events Coordinator
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