Denise Devlin as Cindy Lou, Sara Mackie as Betty Jean, Leslie Goddard as Missy & Brooke Rucidlo Steele as Suzy.
JOURNEY THROUGH THE AGES:
ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI PRESENTS THE REGIONAL PREMIERE OF THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES: CAPS AND GOWNS, MAY 1–19, 2013
(Cincinnati, OH) Crisp colors, hefty hairspray, and puffy petticoats galore! The Wonderettes return in the regional premiere of The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns, the highly anticipated sequel to Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s best selling show of all time. Written by Roger Bean, the play continues the story of these four girls, first introduced to Cincinnati during ETC’s 2009-2010 season and again with Winter Wonderettes. Caps and Gowns plays May 1-19, 2013 and is directed by D. Lynn Meyers.
John Goering is the Premiere Sponsor, and Judith Postler is the Design Sponsor.
Spanning the decade between 1958 and 1968, Cindy Lou, Betty Jean, Missy, and Suzy are high school seniors who begin the play on their graduation day. The girls recap their years spent at Springfield High by leading the school in some favorite tunes such as “Rockin’ Robin” and “Dedicated to the One I Love.” Act two finds the group reunited ten years later, more mature but still the best of friends. The singing continues as the girls share in the joys and difficulties they have faced since high school. Featuring over thirty classic ‘50s and ‘60s songs, this upbeat comedy follows the Wonderettes’ captivating journey into adulthood.
“The idea of The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps & Gowns is about a celebration of a time and a celebration of the music,” says ETC Producing Artistic Director D. Lynn Meyers. “The Wonderettes are four very different American girls embracing a dream that brings them together. When you see an old picture, you never get to know what the subjects are thinking,” she continues. “The show is like living a photograph out loud.”
About the Cast
Denise Devlin (Cindy Lou) returns to Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati to reprise her role as Cindy Lou. Ms. Devlin recently finished a two-year contract with Disney Cruise Line sailing the Caribbean, Bahamas, Panama Canal, and the Mexican Riviera. Her favorite roles include Susie in the premiere of Snapshots at Human Race Theatre, Gertrude in the National Tour of Seussical, Aldonza in Man of la Mancha which toured to the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, Maria in the concert version of West Side Story with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, and Diana Morales (CEA nominee) in A Chorus Line.
Leslie Goddard (Missy) makes her Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati debut with Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns. She has been seen on Broadway in Hairspray as Brenda/ Penny Pingleton (u/s), in Las Vegas in Jersey Boys, at The Kennedy Center in Broadway: Three Generations, and across the country in touring and regional theatre shows. Most recently, she performed the role of Deb in Ordinary Days at the Short North Stage Company in Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Goddard earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Drama from New York University.
Sara Mackie (Betty Jean) is a graduate of Wright State University and a member of Actor’s Equity Association. She has performed with the Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati in The Marvelous Wonderettes and Winter Wonderettes, Rabbit Hole (Izzy), Mauritius (Jackie), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Linoleum) and Alice in Wonderland (Cheshire Cat) among other holiday favorites. Human Race Theatre Company credits include The Trimble Wars, Twelfth Night and Red Blooded All-American Man. She also was seen onstage at the Carnegie Theatre recently in Camelot in Concert, Pump Boys and Dinettes, and the premiere staged reading of The Sandman. In addition to small roles in commercials, short films and web skits, she has toured children’s theatre across the country and performed in New Jersey, Chicago, Pennsylvania and Northern Ohio.
Brooke Rucidlo Steele reprises the role of Suzy at ETC, where in addition to being a Marvelous Wonderette she has also been seen in 25 The Musical and in the title role of Cinderella. Other roles include Leni Riefenstahl in Monstrous Beauty at Northern Kentucky University, June the Ingenue in Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) at the Showboat Majestic, and the title role in Peter Pan at the Covedale Center. Ms. Steele studied theatre at Northern Kentucky University and was honored to receive an Acclaim Rising Star award in 2011.
About the Playwright
Roger Bean is the creator of the long-running off-Broadway smash hit The Marvelous Wonderettes, which has played in hundreds of theaters around the world. Mr. Bean also created two popular sequels for these four delightful song leaders from Springield High: The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns and the holiday celebration Winter Wonderettes. Original cast albums for all three Wonderettes shows are available online at Amazon and iTunes. Additional audience-pleasing jukebox hits from Mr. Bean include Summer of Love, The Andrews Brothers, Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, Route 66 (over 100 productions throughout the coutnry), and the long-running Los Angeles hit Life Could Be A Dream, the ’60s doo-wop musical that received the LA drama Critics Circle Award, the LA Weekly Theatre Award and the Backstage Garland Award for Outsanding Musical of 2010.
Production team includes Brian c. Mehring (Resident Scenic & Lighting Designer), Aaron Clements (Technical Operations Director), Matthew Hollstegge (Production Coordinator & Master Electrician), Shannon Rae Lutz (Properties Master & Design Assistant), Matt Callahan (Sound Designer), Reba Senske (Costume Designer), Patti James (Choreographer), and Scot Woolley (Music Director). Production Stage Manager is Constance Dubinski.
Ticket Prices
Tickets are $38 for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday performances.
Tickets are $42 for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances.
Half-price rush tickets and $15 student rush tickets are available starting two hours prior to show time. Tickets and seating subject to availability.
Other Single Ticket Discount
Military/Educator, Public Radio Perks Card, ArtsWave FunCard, AAA, Senior and Enjoy the Arts discounts available; tickets and seating are subject to availability. ETC accepts all major credit cards and Downtown Cincinnati gift cards. A full list of available discounts and performance calendar is available at http://www.ensemblecincinnati.org.
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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is supported, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
2012-2013 Season Presenting Sponsor is the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Season Sponsor: PNC Bank. Season Fairy Godmother Sponsor: William and Susan Friedlander. Additional support provided by Garfield Suites Hotel, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is a professional theatre dedicated to producing world and regional premieres of works that often explore compelling social issues. We fulfill our mission through our stage productions and educational outreach programs that enlighten, enliven, enrich and inspire our audiences.
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