Sir James M. Barrie (Author, Original Play): Born in Scotland in 1860, James M. Barrie first wrote of Peter Pan in a novel titled Little White Bird published in 1902. There were six chapters about Peter which he later extracted and published as Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. As a play Peter Pan; or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up captured the public’s imagination and has earned Peter a permanent place in mythology. The first production opened in London in 1904, and the same year Maude Adams gave a performance that was to become legendary in the American theatre. The 1950 Broadway revival starring Jean Arthur and Boris Karloff ran 321 performances. The current musical was created in 1954.
Carolyn Leigh (Lyrics) was born in New York City on August 21, 1926. After attending Queens College in New York she worked as a copyrighter for radio stations and advertising agencies. Collaborating with composers such as Cy Coleman and Moose Charlap, Leigh also wrote the Broadway stage scores for Peter Pan, Wildcat and Little Me. Her catalog boasts some of the biggest standards to emerge from Broadway stage scores. Leigh also contributed to the film scores of The Cardinal and Father Goose. Late in her career she also contributed to the scores for TV specials such as “Heidi” as well as the bicentennial show for “Something to Do.” Carolyn Leigh died in New York on November 19, 1983. Morris “Moose” Charlap (Music) was a Jewish-American Broadway composer. Born Morris Isaac Charlip in Philadelphia, he was best known for the musical Peter Pan (1954). Moose Charlap is also listed as the composer for the movie musical Hans Brinker. Jule Styne (Additional Music) has made Broadway sing for over 50 years as composer of High Button Shoes, Gentleman Prefer Blondes Two on the Aisle, Hazel Flagg, Gypsy, Bells Are Ringing, Say Darling, Do Re Mi, Subways are for Sleeping, Funny Girl, Fade Out- Fade In, Hallelujah, Baby!, Sugar, and Lorelei. His many film scores include: Anchors Away and My Sister Eileen as well as the title song for Three Coins in the Fountain and others. As a member of the Songwriter’s and Theatre Halls of Fame, during long distinguished career, he received two Grammys, an Oscar, an Emmy, the Donaldson Award, and the Drama Critics Award as a producer. Mr. Styne has been a member of ASCAP for more than 50 years. He also served on the Dramatists Guild Council. He passed away in 1995. Betty Comden & Adolph Green (Additional Lyrics) began as a group called the Revuers, which included Judy Holliday. Their first musical was On The Town a collaboration with Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins. With Bernstein, they also collaborated on Wonderful Town. With Jule Styne, they wrote book and/or lyrics to Bells Are Ringing, Do Re Mi, Say Darling, Subways are for Sleeping, and Hallelujah, Baby! They also created the book and/or lyrics to Applause, and On The Twentieth Century, and The Will Roger Follies. They received six Tony Awards. Their many movie musicals include The Band Wagon, On the Town, Bells Are Ringing, It’s Always Fair Weather, and Singin’ in the Rain, which was voted one of the best films of all time by the American Film Institute. Their non-musical films are Auntie Mame and What Way To Go. Members of the Dramatist Guild Council, they have also enjoyed performing their own works under the title A Party with Comden and Green. Bob Richard (Director) Broadway: He has provided the choreography for How the Grinch Stole Christmas! At the St James Theatre in 2007 and it is still on the road this Holiday Season!!!! Off- Broadway: Co-Director & Choreographer of Inventing Mary Martin, The Revue Of A Lifetime. This work was recognized and nominated for the prestigious Callaway Award; The Road to Qatar at the York. Director: West Side Story 60th Anniversary, North Shore Music Theatre, The Ordway Performing Arts Center, TBTS and Sacramento Music Circus: (National Tours); The 50th Anniversary National Tour of Hello, Dolly! starring, Sally Struthers; Cabaret which won several awards around the country, including an Ivey Award. Also the National Tour of Guys and Dolls. On the other side of the planet he and his Wife Diane Laurenson worked together to help create an original Chinese musical "Shanghai Bund”; (TV and Film); Choreographer of “LazyTown” Season 3; by Turner Network Television. “The Tonight Show;” “The Today Show;” and “The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.” Bob WAS honored to be the Resident Choreographer for Sacramento Music Circus, in 19 years, he staged over 40 stellar productions, many original works for the first time in the Round! Twice he has been a guest master instructor at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Other notable Theatres include; The 5th Ave Theatre (Seattle, WA) where he won a Footlight Award and a Gypsy Rose Lee Award; Madison Square Garden (twice) (NYC), North Shore Music Theatre, (Beverly, MA), Theatre by The Sea (Wakefield, RI), Theatre Under the Stars (Houston, TX), and The Pioneer Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT). Bob and his wife Diane Laurenson are the Co-Founding Artistic Directors of The American Musical Theatre Dance Company! Which performed their company’s Debut concert in Beijing China in January of this year! What an experience! what an adventure! Dancing, teaching master classes worldwide, and choreographing encompassing over 35 plus years in show business. Never stop Movin!! #stepssuck! #AMTDC #KH #ROBERT!!! Diane Laurenson (Choreographer) is thrilled to return to NSMT after working alongside Director/Husband Bob Richard on the The Music Man (2017) and West Side Story (2016), for which they earned IRNE Nominations for Best Choreography in a Musical, as well as Beauty and the Beast at TBTS (2017). She has also choreographed highly-acclaimed productions of West Side Story for The Ordway/St. Paul, Theatre By The Sea, North Carolina Theatre, Westbury Music Fair NY, and Sacramento Music Circus. A veteran Bob Fosse performer and teacher (Dancin', Sweet Charity, Big Deal), Diane assisted on reconstructing the 2nd National of Bob Fosse's Dancin'; after which, under the tutelage of Gwen Verdon, Diane recreated Sweet Charity starring Donna McKechnie for CMT, followed by Assistant Choreographer on the TV Movie “Gypsy,” starring Bette Midler. Diane and Bob are co-founders of the American Musical Theatre Dance Company, have premiered an original Chinese musical in Shanghai, China: Shanghai Bund; and are proud partners in their most extraordinary production: Robert Henry! Ms. Laurenson is on Faculty at Broadway Dance Center-NYC, shares her love of Musical Theatre Dance and History around the globe through guest workshops, classes and lectures, and is a proud member of SDC, AEA, SAG/AFTRA & (retired) IATSE (Electrics). Peter Leigh-Nilsen (Music Director) is a NYC-based conductor, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist. Most recent National/Int’l Tours: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, My Fair Lady, The Producers, Guys and Dolls, Bring It On: The Musical, and Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. He recorded keyboards for Sony Masterworks’ Original Broadway Cast Recording How the Grinch…, and works regularly with arts organizations Broadway Barkada, B-Side Productions, Paper Mill Playhouse, RWS Entertainment, and The American Musical Theatre Dance Company. Studied at Moscow Conservatory and Montclair State University. Huge thanks to NSMT and Diane and Bob! Love always to Richard and Maggie. peternilsen.com Kyle Dixon (Scenic Design) Kyle’s scenic artwork may be seen across the United States, from NYC to Las Vegas. Recent scenic designs include: Mame, 42nd Street, Young Frankenstein, The Music Man, West Side Story (North Shore Music Theatre), Camelot (Westchester Broadway Theatre), The Broadway Classic Music Dance Review (Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, Beijing, China) Mamma Mia!, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Producers, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man, Beehive, Buddy, West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, Sister Act, and Young Frankenstein (Theatre By The Sea, BroadwayWorld Regional Award), Growing up 70’s starring Barry Williams (Off Broadway), Angelina Ballerina, The Musical (NYC, Toronto, National Tour), Fancy Nancy, the Musical (NYC, National Tour), StinkyKids (Off Broadway Alliance Award), It Shoulda Been You (starring Kim Zimmer) and The Wizard of Oz (Gretna Theatre, BroadwayWorld Regional Award), Xanadu, Doubt, The Secret Garden and The Merchant of Venice (Williams Center for the Arts), and many more. Kyle has designed concert events for Faith Prince, Tommy Tune, Pam Tillis, and the NC Gubernatorial Inauguration Gala (Telly Award). In addition to theatre, he is the designer of NC’s historic Elizabethan Gardens’ Winter Lights, a ten-acre holiday display. www.KyleDixonDesigns.com Kelly Baker (Costume Coordination) is thrilled to be coordinating her first season at NSMT! A graduate of Bridgewater State College, Kelly has been involved with the costume and wardrobe department at NSMT for the past 8 seasons. She has previously been the Wardrobe Manager at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee (2015-2018), as well as working with New England Conservatory, Stoneham Theatre, Odyssey Opera, and OIV’s Ouroboros Trilogy. Special Thanks to Kevin for this opportunity, my family and Mark for their unwavering support, and to Kat, Sandra and the wardrobe dream team for all of their amazing hard work! Hi Mama! Jose Santiago (Lighting Design) is happy to return after lighting 42nd Street, Evita and Spamalot Past designs include: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Mamma Mia!, and the entire 2016 & 2017 seasons at Theatre By The Sea, Rent, Anything Goes, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Sister Act The Musical, Young Frankenstein, White Christmas (Gateway), Of Mice and Men (Bay Street Theatre); Man of La Mancha, La Cage aux Folles, Mame (The Wick Theatre), Smokey Joe's Cafe (Merry- Go-Round Playhouse). He received his Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from Florida State University. jsantiagodesign.com Don Hanna (Sound Design) is happy to be returning to North Shore Music Theatre for Peter Pan, where past credits include the recent production of Mame,42nd Street, Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, West Side Story, and Billy Elliot. Other notable credits include:Wizard of Oz 2017-2019 International Tour (Sound Design, Apex Touring), Once The Musical and In The Heights, Regional Premiers (Engeman Theatre), The World Premier of Heartbreak Hotel (Sound Design, Ogunquit Playhouse, Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Sound Design, Ogunquit Playhouse), The Million Dollar Quartet (Sound Designer, Gateway Playhouse), Saturday Night Fever Regional Premiere (Sound Designer, Gateway Playhouse), Billy Elliot (Sound Designer, Gateway Playhouse), Rock of Ages Regional Premier (Sound Designer,Gateway Playhouse), Young Frankenstein Regional Premier (Sound Designer, Gateway Playhouse/Ogunquit Playhouse). Touring Credits include: Pippin (Associate Sound Designer/Head audio, Apex Touring), Fame The Musical (Sound Design), The Million Dollar Quartet National Tour (Head Audio), Smokey Joes Cafe 20th Anniversary Tour (Head Audio). Don is currently the Head Audio and Shop Manager for Frontier Show Productions and a freelance Sound Designer and Engineer in the NY Tristate area. A special thank you to my friends, family and Bethany for their continual love and support. Gerard Kelly (Wig and Hair Design) Broadway: Disney’s The Lion King (Tony© Award - Best Musical), Hair (Tony© Award - Best Revival of a Musical). Gerard's hair and wig design has been seen at North Shore Music Theatre since 1999 as well as many other Regional Theatre's and Shakespeare Festivals across the country. Gerard has also created many wigs for performers such as Harvey Fierstein, Felicity Huffman, Laura Linney, Marlo Thomas, The B-52's (including the cover of their album Funplex), Varla Jean Merman, Charles Busch, S.Epatha Merkerson, Jennifer Holiday, RuPaul, Woopie Goldberg, and The Lady Bunny. Gerard's work can be seen in films such as Transamerica, Girls Will Be Girls, The Ten, The Savages, King Bolden, Notorious, The Conjuring and The Other Woman. Natalie A. Lynch (Production Stage Manager). With NSMT: Mame, The 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 Musical Seasons. Other Credits Include: Capital Repertory Theatre, Reagle Music Theatre, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, New Repertory Theatre, Pioneer Theatre Company, STAGES St. Louis, Stoneham Theatre and Maples Repertory Theatre. National Tours: The Magic Tree House: The Musical and A Christmas Carol. Natalie began at NSMT as the SM Intern in 2005 and is thrilled to return once again to her theatrical home. She is a graduate of University of New Hampshire and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Special thanks to her parents, her family and friends, and to Rachel for all of the endless love and support. Dakotah Wiley Horan (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back for the 2018 Season having worked as the Assistant Stage Manager on Mame, A Christmas Carol ’17 & ‘16, 42nd Street, Evita, Young Frankenstein, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man, West Side Story, Spamalot and Singin' In The Rain, and as the Production Assistant for Mary Poppins and Funny Girl. Some of her previous Stage Management credits include: Capital Repertory Theatre: Marvelous Wonderettes, Cactus Flower, 33 Variations, Leslie Uggams in Uptown Downtown, Man of La Mancha, and Single Girls Guide. Pendragon Theatre: Clean House, Twelve Angry Men, A Christmas Story. CPS: The King and I. She is a graduate of SUNY Postdam and Universidad de Sevilla. She would like to thank her parents for instilling and encouraging her love of theatre, her very supportive friends and Natalie, Tom, and Kevin for this amazing opportunity. Robert L. Rucinski (Assistant Music Direction). Past NSMT credits include: A Christmas Carol '04-'07 & '10-'17, 42nd Street, School House Rock Live Jr., West Side Story, Singin’ in the Rain '06 & '16, Les Misérables, The Little Mermaid, The King and I, Forever Plaid, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Crazy for You, Cinderella '05-'06, Ain't Misbehavin', Damn Yankees, Camelot, Fame. Robert is thrilled to be returning to NSMT this season. In the past year, he was music director for shows such as Young Frankenstein, Spring Awakening, and an award-winning production of Urinetown at the various high school and university theater programs at which he works. A native of Jersey City, NJ, he now lives in Arlington, MA. ZFX, Inc. (Flying Effects). Broadway: Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby; The Green Bird; Kiss Me, Kate; Dance of the Vampires; Wicked, Saturday Night Fever; Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me; Fiddler on the Roof and Frozen. National tours: Seussical the Musical, Blues Clues Live, Spiderman Live and Dora the Explorer. Television: A&E's "Peter Pan," CNN, the Tony Awards and "The Rosie O'Donnell Show." www.zfxflying.com. Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer) is honored and proud to have been responsible for the re-opening of the nationally renowned North Shore Music Theatre in 2010. He began his career in show business at age 19, leasing and developing movie theaters, including his first multiplex in Quincy, Massachusetts. Before long, he was booking rock shows (Jefferson Starship, Rush) and other types of live entertainment, which eventually led to the presenting and producing of Broadway productions. One such show was an appearance by the legendary mime artist, Marcel Marceau. As president of Broadway Productions, Bill presented national tours such as Annie, Amadeus, Dancin', Peter Pan, Rocky Horror Show and Mark Twain starring Hal Holbrook, throughout New England including Worcester, Springfield, Portland, Maine and Boston. Aside from his work operating North Shore Music Theatre, one of Bill's crowning achievements was the 2007 purchase and re-opening of Theatre By The Sea, a landmark 500 seat professional summer theatre and restaurant, which is in its twelfth year of operation in Matunuck, RI (theatrebythesea.com). Throughout his career, Bill has stayed focused on his movie theatre chain having bought, built, owned, operated and sold more than 30 cinemas. His company, Entertainment Cinemas, currently operates seven movie complexes in four states. In 2009, Bill was elected President of the Theatre Owners of New England. Bill's ongoing work with NSMT inspires him to consider acquiring additional performance venues at which he plans to someday share his productions between his theatres. Bill has been named to the North Shore Top 100 by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, he was recognized by both the Beverly Chamber of Commerce and Salem Chamber of Commerce as Business Person of the Year. He is the recipient of the 2015 Leslie S. Ray Hall of Fame Award, presented by the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce. Bill is a member of the League of Broadway Producers and was involved with the recent revival of Pippin, as well as developing several new musicals. Kevin P. Hill (Producing Artistic Director). Born and raised in Waltham, Massachusetts, Kevin began his theatrical career as dancer and actor. He appeared in National Touring companies of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing, Leslie Uggams and Michele Lee, Anything Goes and the International Touring Company of A Chorus Line. New York audiences have seen him in the Off-Broadway production of Party. Regional credits as a performer include: West Side Story, Good News! A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady and Marvin in Falsettoland. Kevin has directed and choreographed over 100 productions across America. He has had the privilege of working with such stars as Marin Mazzie, Joanne Worley, Kathleen Turner, Josh Groban, Jonathan Groff and Tony Award winner, Cady Huffman. In New York, he was the assistant to the director of On the Twentieth Century at the New Amsterdam Theatre and assistant to the choreographer on the revival of Guys and Dolls. He directed and choreographed A Christmas Carol, Young Frankenstein, Mary Poppins, and Sister Act here at NSMT, and Mamma Mia!, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Sister Act, Young Frankenstein, Mary Poppins, and Grease at Bill Hanney's Theatre By The Sea in Rhode Island, where he is also Producing Artistic Director. Kevin has been nominated as Best Director/Choreographer for his work on Smokey Joe's Café, Rent, The Full Monty, Chicago, and Edwin Drood, and was awarded the NH Theatre Award for Best Choreography for West Side Story at the Papermill Theatre. Future projects include an original danced play called Standing Still. As a Professor of Dance, Kevin has been on faculty at Pennsylvania State University, Kansas State University and most recently The Boston Conservatory of Music. He currently owns Hill Studios Dance and Fitness Center located in Newton, Massachusetts, and is a proud member of SDC, AEA and Dance Masters of New England, Chapter 5. Matthew Chappell (Casting) is honored to join this remarkable creative team as resident Casting Director for Bill Hanney’s North Shore Music Theatre and Theatre By The Sea. An accomplished performer, he is fortunate to have worked all over the world in more than 30 productions, including several shows at NSMT, as lead vocalist in Stephen Schwartz’s Magic To Do for Princess Cruise Lines, and appearances at Feinstein’s/54 Below, The Duplex, Carnegie Hall, and The Metropolitan Room. For many years, Matthew worked as a talent agent, casting associate, and photographer for Heyman Talent Agency, specializing in TV/film, commercials, runway, print and voiceovers. He is a former Associate Producer for Encore International, casting and producing shows for theme parks, cruise ships, and corporate events. Music Theatre International (MTIShows.com) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theatres from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 60,000 theatrical organizations in the U.S. and in over 60 countries worldwide. Actors' Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) Since 1955, NSMT has become one of the most attended theatres in New England, with approximately 250,000 patrons annually. With a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, NSMT has received numerous industry awards including Elliot Norton Awards, IRNE Awards, the Rosetta Le Noire Award from Actors' Equity, and the Moss Hart Award. NSMT produced the World Premiere of Memphis in 2003, the show went on to win four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Under the new ownership of Bill Hanney in 2010, NSMT continues to annually produce a musical subscription series and an annual production of A Christmas Carol along with celebrity concerts, children's programming, and year-round education programs for all ages. |
