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| THE CAST: top row, Martin Kildare, Patti Cohenour, Christopher Newell; bottom row, Joseph Almohaya, Erin Mackey, Madison Mitchell, Julie Garnyé, Mary Gutzi, Melina Kalmoas, Perry Ojeda, Louis Pardo, John-David Keller and David Burnham. |
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The cast for South Coast Repertory’s production of
The Light in the Piazza is as dazzling as the musical itself. David Burnham and Pattie Cohenour, from Piazza’s Broadway, national tour are part of SCR’s cast, along several SCR veterans, and some new faces and voices. The actors bring a range of experience from stage, television film and more. Meet the cast for
The Light in the Piazza.
Joseph Almohaya (Ensemble) makes his SCR debut in
The Light in the Piazza. Recently he was seen at Welk Resorts Theatre in San Diego alongside Ava Barber, Arthur Duncan and Mary Lou Metzger of “The Lawrence Welk Show” in
A Welk Family Christmas directed by Cheryl Baxter. His other notable credits include
In the Heights (San Diego Repertory),
South Pacific (Moonlight Amphitheatre),
Man of La Mancha (Welk Resorts Theatre),
The Who’s Tommy (San Diego Repertory),
Kiss Me, Kate, (Reprise!),
The Producers (Cabrillo Music Theatre),
Rent in New York (Westchester Broadway Theatre) and
Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley (North American tour). In addition to performing in Los Angeles, New York and around the country.
David Burnham (Fabrizio Naccarelli) was last seen at SCR as Jason in
Ordinary Days, and most recently received an Ovation Award nomination for his portrayal of Joe Gillis in Musical Theater West’s
Sunset Boulevard. He was last seen on Broadway in
Wicked, playing Fiyero, a role that he originated in the workshops of the show. He was in the original Broadway cast of
The Light In the Piazza, performing both on the Tony Awards and the PBS telecast “Live From Lincoln Center.” Burnham is the recipient of the Helen Hayes Award as well as the Garland Award for his portrayal of Fabrizio in the national tour of
Piazza. He replaced Donny Osmond as Joseph in the national tour of
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (
Drama-Logue Award), and also toured as Peter in
Jesus Christ Superstar. In New York City, he starred in the off-Broadway musical
The Best Is Yet to Come—The Music of Cy Coleman.
Patti Cohenour (Margaret Johnson) is reprising the role she portrayed as the alternate in the Lincoln Center production of
The Light in the Piazza. She has originated numerous roles on Broadway including Signora Naccarelli in
Piazza, Mother Abbess in
The Sound of Music revival, Christine in
Phantom of the Opera (also Canada), Rosabud in
Drood (also London), and Mary Jane in
Big River. Additional credits include Adeline in
Sweet Adeline for NYC Encores!, Magnolia in Hal Prince’s
Showboat, Mimi in
La Boheme and Isabel/Mabel in
Pirates of Penzance for the New York Shakespeare Festival, and Florence Foster Jenkins in
Souvenir for Seattle’s A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) and San Jose Repertory Theatre. She recently won a Gregory Award for her portrayals of Edith and Little Edie in Seattle’s 5th Avenue/ACT Theatre co-production of
Grey Gardens, and will be portraying Charlotte in the upcoming 5th Avenue production of
A Room with a View. Cohenour is a recipient of a Tony nomination, two Drama Desk nominations, a Jeff Award nomination, the Clarence Derwent Award, and a Theatre World Award.
Julie Garnye (Ensemble) makes her SCR debut in
The Light in the Piazza. Her recent credits include the 2013 Academy Awards telecast (in the
Les Misérables segment), both
Les Misérables and
Chicago at the Hollywood Bowl,
Lorna Luft’s Pink Party (with Liza Minnelli) and
Open All Night: The Music of Lance Horne. She is the only person who performed in
Chess in Concert and
An Evening with Stephen Schwartz on both coasts. Her Broadway credits include
Hair (Actor’s Fund),
Chess (Actor’s Fund),
Children of Eden and
Broadway by the Year 1978. She toured nationally in
Cats (Jennyanydots, Grizabella) and appeared in the London West End production of
First Things Last (Garrick Theatre). On regional stages, she has performed in
Bat Boy, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and
Bye Bye Birdie. Her film and television credits include Disney’s
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (Lyria), “The Closer” and
The Little Richard Story.
Mary Gutzi (Signora Naccarelli) makes her SCR debut in a role that she also performed at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. She has a career as an actor/singer/director and educator that spans more than 40 years and has taken her to 49 of the 50 states, as well as Canada and Europe. She has been seen on Broadway and regional theatres in such productions as
Les Misérables, Ragtime, Sunset Boulevard and
Cats. Gutzi had a recurring role as Dodds in the ABC television series “Last Resort” and was recently seen in a pivotal role in “Hawaii 5-O.” She has taught musical theatre for three years at American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles and continues to provide performance coaching to her many students all over the U.S. including the Hawaiian Islands.
Melina Kalomas (Franca Naccarelli) is thrilled to make her SCR debut. Her theatre credits include the first national tour of Mel Brooks’
Young Frankenstein; national tours of
Les Misérables (as Madeleine) and
Camelot (as Nimue); Mary Zimmerman’s
Arabian Nights (Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Kansas City Repertory);
A Man of No Importance (Lillian Theater, with Good People Theatre Company);
The Light in the Piazza (South Bay Civic Light Opera);
Zhivago (La Jolla Playhouse, directed by Des McAnuff);
The Melody Lingers On, opposite Kathryn Crosby (El Portal Theatre);
La Boheme (Opera Pacific);
Shenandoah (West Virginia Public Theatre);
Gypsy and
Oklahoma (Moonlight Amphitheatre); and
Desert Song (Fullerton Civic Light Opera, where she won a
Drama-Logue Award for Best Supporting Actress). Her television credits include “As the World Turns” and NBC’s “Grimm.”
John-David Keller (Priest) is a member of SCR’s resident acting company. He has been with the company since 1973 as both an actor and director. He has directed
A Christmas Carol for its entire 34-year history. Among his other SCR directing credits are
Godspell, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, In Fashion, The Real Inspector Hound (SCR’s first Equity show),
Peg O’ My Heart and
Tomfoolery. He has also acted in more than 100 productions at SCR. He recently appeared in the production of Anton Chekov’s
Ivanov at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles and in
Mrs. Warren’s Profession at the The Antaeus Company. Keller is the concert host for the Orange County Philharmonic Society’s fifth grade concerts. He is a member of Actors’ Equity, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and The Antaeus Company.
Martin Kildare (Roy Johnson) previously appeared at SCR as Max in
The Real Thing. He has appeared on Broadway in
The Lion King, A Raisin in the Sun, Timon of Athens, The Government Inspector and
The Herbal Bed; off-Broadway in
Pride’s Crossing (Lincoln Center Theater),
Honor and the River (Theatre Row),
Candida (Pearl Theatre Company) and
Labor Day (Manhattan Theatre Club); and as Bill Austin in the national tour of
Mamma Mia!. Regionally he acted with more than 20 companies including the Mark Taper Forum, Dallas Theater Center, Portland Center Stage, Folger Theatre, Indiana Repertory, Nevada Conservatory Theatre, Studio Arena, and the California, Alabama and Utah Shakespeare festivals. His television credits include “Desperate Housewives,” “Enlightened,” “Big Love,” “Without a Trace,” “Law & Order,” “Las Vegas,” “Numb3rs,” “CSI: New York,” “Hit the Floor,” “Ed,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Journeyman,” “Law and Order: SVU,” “Deadline” and others.
Erin Mackey (Clara Johnson) is originally from Fullerton and makes her SCR debut in
The Light in the Piazza. She was last seen on Broadway as Oona O’Neill in
Chaplin: The Musical. Her other Broadway credits include
Anything Goes (Hope),
Sondheim on Sondheim and
Wicked (Glinda). She also performed as Glinda in the Chicago and Los Angeles companies of
Wicked. She recently appeared as Christine in Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s production of
Phantom. Her film and television credits include “Blue Bloods,” “Gossip Girl,” “Family Affair,” “Do Over” and
The Parent Trap. She has had the pleasure of performing with the Long Beach Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Pops and Florida Orchestra and can be heard on the original cast albums of
Chaplin and
Sondheim on Sondheim.
Madison Mitchell (Ensemble) makes her SCR debut in this production. Her theatre credits include the national tours of
Cats (30th anniversary, Demeter) and regional productions of
Oklahoma!, Monty Python’s Spamalot! (Musical Theatre West),
Legally Blonde (3-D Theatricals), Jo March in
Little Women and Luisa in
The Fantasticks. Mitchell recently originated the role of Celeste in the world premiere of
Higher Education, created by Tony Award-winning producers Tim and Pamela Kashani. She also had the pleasure of performing alongside Patrick Cassidy in the 29th annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E. LA) and with The Vixens at the 64th Annual Emmy’s Creative/Governor’s Ball.
Christopher Newell (Giuseppe Naccarelli) is honored to make his debut at SCR and explore his Italian heritage. His Los Angeles theatre credits include
Part of the Plan (aka T
he Dan Fogelberg Musical),
Oklahoma (Musical Theatre West) and
1940s Radio Hour (Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities). His New York credits include
Moonlight and Magnolias (42nd Street, Studio),
For Christ’s Sake (Dodger Stages),
Henry V and
The Tempest (American Globe) and
Matthew Passion (St. John Theatre). Regional credits include
Les Misérables (Arkansas Repertory),
Biloxi Blues and
The Pirates of Penzance (St. Michaels Playhouse) and
Meet Me In St Louis (Westchester Broadway Theatre). He was in the Broadway production of
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Minskoff Theatre) and the first national tour of
Oklahoma! His television and film credits include “All My Children,” “Guiding Light,” “A Girls Guide to Depravity,”
Kill on Sight, War Bride and
Vena Amoris.
Perry Ojeda (Signor Naccarelli) made his SCR debut last season in
The Fantasticks. He has appeared on Broadway in
On the Town, Blood Brothers and
Imaginary Friends; in London’s West End in
Dolly West’s Kitchen; and off-Broadway in
Die, Mommie, Die! and
Babes in Arms (New York City Center ENCORES!). He has performed at hundreds of regional theatres across the country including The Old Globe, Goodspeed Opera House, San Jose Repertory, Cleveland Play House, CenterTheatre Group, Arena Stage, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, St. Louis’ The Muny, GeVa Theatre Center and The Blank Theatre as well as in several national tours. On television and in film, Ojeda has been featured on“Imagination Movers,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Eli Stone,” “Days of our Lives,” “One Life to Live,” “All My Children,” “Guiding Light,”
The Day Lincoln Was Shot and the award-winning short,
Pride.
Louis Pardo (Ensemble) most recently was seen portraying animation icon Ub Iwerks in
When You Wish: The Story of Walt Disney. His other stage credits include
West Side Story with the San Francisco Symphony (A-Rab) and the national tour of
Jesus Christ Superstar (understudy for Simon and Judas). His other regional work includes the Southern California regional premiere of
Avenue Q (Princeton, Rod);
Pippin (Pippin),
The Full Monty (Jerry);
The Who’s Tommy (Cousin Kevin) and
Evita (Che). He has also been in readings for
Chess (Freddie),
Bells are Ringing (Dr. Kitchell) and
City of Angels (Munoz). Pardo also performs with the educational touring company of The Imagination Machine and in the spring will portray Iago in
Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at Disney’s California Adventure.
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