Who’s Who in the Company
Scott Spence (Artistic
Director)
can hardly
believe that he is entering
into his 22nd season
at the Beck Center.
Since 1990, Scott has
produced well over 200
productions,
directing
over 70 himself. The list
of favorites grows every season, and includes
Parade, A Man of No Importance, Sweeney Todd,
Hair, The Secret Garden, Picasso at the Lapin Agile,
The Farnsworth Invention, Reefer Madness, The
Fix, Zombie Prom, Tommy, Urinetown The Musical,
Evil Dead The Musical, The 25th Annual Putnam
County Spelling Bee, and the box office smashes
The Producers and Hairspray. Last season Scott
was also thrilled to direct a remounting of Beck’s
hit production of Altar Boyz at PlayhouseSquare’s
beautiful Hanna Theatre. He is very proud of
the awards and acclamations Beck has received
over the past decade, and is especially grateful
for having won the Northern Ohio Live Award
for Achievement in Theatre in 2006. Outside of
Beck’s walls, Scott’s directorial assignments have
included Das Barbecü at Opera Cleveland, The
Last Night of Ballyhoo at Case Western Reserve
University’s Eldred Theatre, Oh Dad Poor Dad....
at CSU Summer Stages and Noises Off at both
Weathervane in Akron and Berea Summer
Theatre. Occasionally on the other side of the
footlights, Scott has appeared in Dick Deadeye
(Berea Summer Theatre), Man of La Mancha
(Jewish Community Center), The Secret Rapture
(Dobama) and closer to home at Beck in Big
River, The Boys Next Door and Laughter on the
23rd Floor. He also had the privilege of joining
the cast of Passion, directed by Victoria Bussert,
in his only onstage stint in the Studio Theater.
Scott holds an MFA in Directing from Western
Illinois University and is a trained stage fight
choreographer, having studied extensively with
the SAFD. He is also a proud member of the
faculty at Cleveland State University where he
will direct Sartre’s No Exit this season. As always,
he dedicates his work to the two leading ladies in
his life – Rachel and Carleigh.
**William Roudebush
(Director) (SDC) Most
recently at the Beck
Center, Bill directed Little
Shop of Horrors as well as
the critically acclaimed
Equus in February 2007.
He has been directing
for over thirty years at
theaters such as Actors Theatre of Louisville,
The Cleveland Play House, Syracuse Stage
Company, Theatre Virginia, The GeVa Theatre,
Walnut Street Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre,
The Boar’s Head Theatre, The Miami and Palm
Beach Opera Guilds, and many others. In New
York, he was Artistic Director for the Ten More
By Noonan series at the John Houseman Theatre
as well as directing for Ensemble Studio Theatre,
The American Folk Theatre, The Mint Theatre
Company, The Actors Outlet, Pulse Ensemble
Theatre, The Samuel Beckett Theatre, and
the Village Gate where he researched his new
musical, Village Gate Follies. Bill has been based
in Philadelphia for the past thirteen years where
he works as a freelance director/writer. His 2002
revival there of Equus was nominated for eight
Barrymore awards and won five including Best
Overall Production of a Play, Best Ensemble
and Best Director. Recently, he adapted and
directed a new musical based on the works of
singer/songwriter Harry Chapin called Remember
When The Music which played the Barter
Theatre. Bill is also an educator having taught
at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts
in New York, The University of Memphis, The
University of the Arts, Virginia Commonwealth
University, along with being Theatre School
Director for the Walnut Street Theatre for four
years. He is currently director of Musical Theatre
for the Performing Arts Institute in Kingston, PA.
His book entitled Acting By Mistake is available
online and at select bookstores.
** Member of the Society of Stage Directors and
Choreographers.
Larry J. Goodpaster
(Musical Director) The
Marvelous Wonderettes
marks Larry’s 57th
production at the Beck
Center since 1998.
An award-winning
pianist while in high
school, Larry followed
quite a different path
and obtained degrees in biology, chemistry,
veterinary medicine, and business over the next
20 years. Upon receiving his MBA in 1997,
Larry decided to pursue musical theater in his
recreational time. Larry’s love and passion for
the arts soon became an obsession. Beginning
in January 2008, Larry spent his days at the
Beck Center as a volunteer business consultant
in the administrative offices. In the fall of
2009, he was hired as the Director of Business
Operations at the Beck. This past summer, he
began a broader position as Director of Finance
and Administration. He now spends his days,
evenings and weekends pursuing his life’s
passion.
*Caitlin Elizabeth Reilly
(Choreographer/Suzy)
is thrilled to make her
Beck Center debut as a
Wonderette! Caitlin has
recently worked with
The Pittsburgh CLO
and North Shore Music
Theatre along with
various regional theaters along the East Coast.
Favorite credits include: Lydia (Ceci), Oklahoma!
(Ado Annie), The House of Yes (Lesly), Picnic
(Millie), and Montgomery Theater’s production
of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
(Olive Ostrovsky) which was nominated for the
Barrymore Award for Best Ensemble. Caitlin’s
choreography has been seen on the stages of 11th
Hour Theater Company, Montgomery Theater,
The University of the Arts, and Girard College.
Proud Member AEA! Love to Derick.
Libby Burchmore (Stage
Manager) is delighted
to be opening another
exciting season here at
the Beck Center. She got
her start with the Beck
Center 12 years ago and
her passion for theater
has turned a hobby into
a way of life. Libby spends her day playing with
preschoolers as a Speech-Language Pathologist
with North Ridgeville City Schools. As always,
a great big thank you to the best cast, crew
and production staff around for a marvelous
experience. Enjoy the show!
Amiee Collier (Betty
Jean) feels honored to be
a part of such a wonderful
cast. She likes to theater
hop, so you may have
seen her at Cain Park,
Cleveland
Public
Theatre, Lakeland Civic
Theater, Cassidy, Tri-C
West, Tri-C East/JCC, or Stuart Street Playhouse
in Boston, MA. Favorite roles include: Evil Dead
The Musical (Cheryl), Sweeney Todd (The Beggar
Woman), Sunday in the Park with George (Dot/
Marie), Jekyll and Hyde (Lucy), Into the Woods
(The Baker’s Wife), Assassins (Sara Jane Moore),
Children of Eden (Eve/Mama Noah), and Grand
Hotel (Raffaela). Previously at the Beck: Evil
Dead The Musical (Cheryl), Fiddler on the Roof
(Fruma Sarah), Urinetown The Musical (Soupy
Sue), Jekyll & Hyde (Lucy), Beauty and the Beast
(Mrs. Potts), On the Town (Hildy), Moby Dick
The Musical! (Starbuck), Seussical The Musical!
(Bird Girl), Reefer Madness (Mae), and La Cage
aux Folles (Paulette). Amiee would like to thank
Bill, Scott and Larry for this opportunity and
send infinite love to Caitlin, Nikki, Theresa, and
Libby for making this such a great experience.
“Let’s catch a dream!”
*Nikki Curmaci (Cindy
Lou) Just like Cindy
Lou, Nikki loves singing,
dancing,
drive-ins,
and boys (not in that
order). She is happy to
return to Ohio, having
performed The King and
I at the Carousel Dinner
Theatre in Akron. Other favorite credits include
Hairspray at Walnut Street Theatre, Hair at The
Prince Music Theatre and Brunch the Musical at
The American Theatre for Actors Chernuchin
Theatre. Nikki lives in New York City, has a BFA
from The University of the Arts, and recently
became a certified yoga instructor. While in
Ohio she’ll be teaching at Evolution Yoga in
Woodmere. Thank you to Bill and Scott for this
wonderful opportunity. Love to Mom, Dad, Aly,
and Corey for their unconditional support and to
Greg who also believes dreams can come true.
Theresa Kloos (Missy)
is on “cloud nine” to
be performing again
in her hometown! She
earned a BM in Music
Theatre from BaldwinWallace College and
has since been living
and working in New
York City. Previous shows at the Beck Center
include: Passion (Mistress), Break-Up Notebook
The Lesbian Musical (Helen/Francis U/S), and
My Favorite Year (K.C.). NYC credits: Once Upon
a Time in New Jersey (Gorgonzola girl/Princess).
Some favorite past credits: Seussical The
Musical! (Mayzie) at The Weston Playhouse,
Chess (Florence) at PlayhouseSquare, and The
Odd Couple (Florence). Love to my Marvelous
family and dear friends. Special thanks to Scott,
Bill, Jack Lee, and Vicky Bussert. Enjoy this
sugar-filled blast from the past and remember –
no backseat bingo during the show!
Leslie Andrews (Understudy for Suzy & Missy)
is thrilled to be returning
to Beck in a wholesome,
uncontroversial,
practically Puritan role!
She has most recently
been seen in Girls Night:
The Musical (Liza) as
a vulgar housewife at PlayhouseSquare and in
Jerry Springer The Opera (Zandra/Irene/Mary)
as a scantily clad substance abuser at the Beck
Center. Ms. Andrews earned a BM in Voice from
Cleveland State University where she was actively
involved in leading roles with Opera Theater. She
has studied voice and pedagogy under Elizabeth
Unis Chesko and Beverly Rinaldi. Leslie received
the Artistic Expression in Talent award from the
Miss America Organization placing first runnerup to Miss Ohio. She is beyond humbled to be
working with such a talented cast and crew.
Special thanks to friends and family for all of
the love and support, especially the guy with
the messed-up face for the “notes” on how to
obeebum ebee bababoo.
Jennifer Myor (Understudy for Betty Jean &
Cindy Lou) has been
seen in many theaters
around the Cleveland
area most notably with
Mercury Summer Stock.
Credits include: Showboat
(Magnolia), The Scarlet
Pimpernel (Marguerite), Me and My Girl (Sally),
and Blood Brothers (Mrs. Johnstone) all at
Mercury. Jennifer is a graduate of the American
Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and
resides in New York City where she works with
her coach, composer Zina Goldrich.
*Actor appears courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Association
(AEA), the union of actors and stage managers.
Ben Needham (Scenic Designer) is excited to
be working with Beck Center again. Previous
designs at Beck include: Hairspray, The Producers,
Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast. Ben is the
founder of Digital Squirrel Studio. He has
designed over 300 productions for a number of
organizations including projects for Dreamworks
Studios, The Horatio Alger Association, WVIZ/
Ideastream, Geauga Lake, Virginia Musical
Theatre, Signstage on Tour, Atlanta Lyric
Theatre, Porthouse Theatre, LaGrange Opera,
Augusta Players, Knoxville Opera, Lyric Opera
of Cleveland, the Fine Arts Association, and
Circle Theatre Orlando. Ben would like to thank
Christie, Aaron, Helen, and Rosemary for all
their love and support.
David Glowe (Costume Designer) is honored
and excited to a part of this production at the
Beck Center. He has costumed hundreds of
shows in Northeast Ohio from Lake to Lorain
Counties. David left the Cleveland area for about
eight years to work on a variety of national tours
from Clifford the Big Red Dog to Smokey Joes Café
to Grease, just to name a few. He returned to the
Cleveland area after marrying his beautiful wife,
Jennifer, whom he found on Sesame Street. They
have since welcomed two very high-energy boys
to their happy family. David hopes you enjoy
the show and wants to thank his family for all of
their support while he explores his many creative
endeavors.
Trad A Burns (Lighting Designer) is a lighting
and scenic designer based in Boston. His career
has spanned theater, dance, amusement parks,
as well as architectural and retail lighting.
Designing over 450 productions over the last two
decades, his varied work has been seen around
the world. Mr. Burns’ designs include the revival
of Altar Boyz at the Hanna Theatre; Hairspray,
Jerry Springer: The Opera, Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wings, My Fair Lady,
The Producers, The 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee, Fiddler on the Roof, Altar Boyz, The
Farnsworth Invention, Urinetown the Musical, Song
& Dance, The History Boys at the Beck Center;
Inherit the Wind and Doubt at The Cleveland
Play House; Assassins, Death of a Salesman and
Sweeney Todd at Lakeland Civic Theatre; Fever/
Dream, The Book of Grace, Open Mind Firmament,
The Alice Seed, Goldstar Ohio, Our Town, Sleep
Deprivation Chamber, Fefu and Her Friends, The
Secretaries, Venus, Stone Cold Dead Serious, A
Bright Room Called Day, Nickel and Dimed, Dojoji,
The Confessions of Punch & Judy, Uncle Tom’s
Cabin, Discordia, Blue Sky Transmission: A Tibetan
Book of the Dead, Summer and Smoke, The Fugitive
Pieces, and Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of
Oscar Wilde at Cleveland Public Theatre.
Richard B. Ingraham (Sound Designer)
Richard is happy to return for his ninth season
of work with the Beck Center. Favorite previous
sound designs at Beck Center include: Wings,
The Producers, Evil Dead The Musical, The
Farnsworth Invention, History Boys, Equus, Beauty
and the Beast, The Diary of Anne Frank, Agnes
of God, and Of Mice and Men. Richard is a
freelance sound designer based in the Cleveland
area. He has worked at numerous theaters,
schools and attractions in Northeast Ohio
and throughout the US including: Ashland
University, Cain Park, Chagrin Falls Performing
Arts Academy, The Cleveland Play House,
Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland State
University, The Cleveland Theatre Company,
Dobama Theatre, The University of Evansville,
Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, The Jewish
Community Center of Cleveland, The Lincoln
Amphitheatre, The Lincoln Library and Museum,
Oberlin College, PlayhouseSquare Center,
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Shakespeare
and Company, Stone Mountain Park, and
Willoughby Fine Arts Association. Richard is an
adjunct faculty member at the Carnegie Mellon
School of Drama in Pittsburgh where he teaches
Sound Design and other related course work.
He has also worked as a consultant to awardwinning software companies that create products
specifically for the needs of live performance
including Stage Research and Richmond Sound
Design.
Joseph Carmola (Technical Director) is in
his sixth year as Technical Director at the Beck
Center. In the past Joe has served as Technical
Director for Paul Green’s Trumpet in the Land, the
Magical Theatre Company and Canton Players
Guild. His freelance credits include lighting
design and scenic artist, as well as a set design for
Les Miserables Jr. which has been seen in many
student programs throughout Northeast Ohio.
He is the proud father of Clayton, and would like
to thank Devon for all her support.