This week will usher in the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre's 2016 "Season of American Classics". The five popular productions were chosen based in part on a patron survey, and include: The Odd Couple, The Music Man, South Pacific, Grease! and The Glass Menagerie.
A number of familiar faces will return to Clinton to perform major roles this summer. Not only is Matthew Teague Miller returning to Clinton in his second season as Producing Artistic Director, but he will perform the role of Oscar in The Odd Couple. Matthew is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Musical Theatre at California State University, Chico. Matthew received his BFA in Musical Theatre from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and MFA in Directing from University of North Carolina Greensboro. As an actor Matthew spent three years touring with the original Broadway Production of Les Miserables .. Last season Matthew directed Cats, Seussical and Next to Normal at the Clinton Showboat. This season he will be directing South Pacific and The Glass Menagerie.
Fifteen years ago, then Artistic Director Jay Berkow starred as Harold Hill in Music Man. Of the more than 50 shows Jay directed or acted in at the Showboat, Music Man has held a special place in his heart. Jay is returning to Clinton this summer to reprise his role as Professor Harold Hill. Jay has served as the Director of Music Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University since 2004. A professional director and playwright, he is the co-author and director/choreographer of the Off-Broadway hit Jolson & Co. which has also been seen in regional theatres across the U.S., as well as a United Kingdom national tour. His biographical musical based on the life of Gene Kelly, What a Glorious Feeling, premiered at the Mason Street Warehouse Theatre and has been produced at the Theatre at the Center (Chicago), Adirondack Theatre Festival, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, the Depot Theatre, the Bristol Riverside Theatre and enjoyed a commercial production in Cape Town, South Africa. In collaboration with composer David Ogrin, Jay is currently developing a new musical based on the life of Mata Hari.
Gregory Lee Harrell will play the role of Emile in South Pacific. Clinton audiences have enjoyed Harrell’s performances as the Phantom, Fred in Kiss Me Kate and many others. He is an Associate Professor of Voice at Baldwin Wallace University. Before that he taught voice at Western Michigan University and his private studio in NYC. Harrell is an accomplished performer, teacher, and music/vocal director and his private New York City voice studio includes numerous Broadway artists. As an operatic baritone, Harrell has sung at the New York City Opera, Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Kennedy Center, and many other distinguished houses. As a musical theatre artist, he has performed Off–Broadway and across the country. Harrell has performed onstage with such inspirational artists as Placido Domingo, Marcello Giordani, Catherine Malfitano, and Jonas Kaufmann.
Last summer, David Coolidge served as Director of My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra aboard the Showboat. This summer, David will play the role of Felix in The Odd Couple. David was a member of the Broadway National Tour of Parade, directed by Hal Prince, and Jeff Calhoun’s highly acclaimed production of Big River at Deaf West Theatre. David is the former Assistant Artistic Director of TheatreworksUSA in New York City. While at TheatreworksUSA, he directed six national tours, oversaw an additional thirty touring productions, and directed the annual gala at the Rainbow Room in NYC featuring performances by cast members from the Broadway shows: Spring Awakening, Curtains, and The Ritz. . David is Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Anderson University and serves as Director of the Musical Theatre Program. He received his BFA in Musical Theatre from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM) and his MFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Showboat patrons will immediately recognize two favorite local actors this summer. Returning to reprise her role as Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man is Jalayne Riewerts. She holds an MA in Theatre in Directing from Roosevelt University, Chicago. Jalayne has appeared on the Showboat stage as Mame, Dolly, Mama Rose, The Princess Puffer and many other roles. Showboat directing credits include Biloxi Blues, Big River and Little Shop of Horrors. Another very familiar face, Rob Engelson is a Showboat veteran since 2003, having appeared in 14 previous stage productions and played in the band for another. Rob has served for the past 21 years as the chair of the music department and head of the honors program at Ashford University here in Clinton, and he co-founded and serves as the conductor of RiverChor, Clinton’s own community choir. Rob will be seen in both Music Man and South Pacific.
For tickets or more information on the 2016 Season of American Classics, visit the Showboat box office (11am-4pm Tues-Sat and noon-4 Sun), www.clintonshowboat.org, or call 563-242-6760.
Matthew Teague Miller* is thrilled to be returning to Clinton in his second season as Producing Artistic Director. In addition to his work here, Matthew is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Musical Theatre at California State University, Chico. Matthew received his BFA in Musical Theatre from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and MFA in Directing from University of North Carolina Greensboro. As an actor Matthew spent three years touring with the original Broadway Production of Les Miserables where he performed for Tony Nominated Directors Trevor Nunn and Jason Moore. Matthew was also a member of the 2002 original China Cast of Les Miz where he performed opposite Colm Wilkinson (Tony Nomination for the role of Jean Valjean), Ma-Anne Dioniso and Carmen Cusack (Tony Nomination for Bright Star). Matthew’s directing credits include work at Timber Lake Playhouse, Triad Stage Upstage Cabaret, Sprekels Theatre, Benicia Old Town Theatre, Napa Valley Broadway Playhouse, Lincoln Theatre Napa Valley, Justin-Siena Theatre and others. Favorite credits are Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Damn Yankees and Moliere’s The Bungler. Last season Matthew directed Cats, Seussical and Next to Normal at the Clinton Showboat. This season he will be directing South Pacific and The Glass Menagerie and appearing onstage as Oscar in The Odd Couple. He would like to express his sincere gratitude to his incredible wife, Jami, and his incredible support system especially his younger brother Graig who always seems to get left out of the programs.
Jay Berkow* (Harold Hill- The Music Man) It is Jay’s dream come true to return to the Showboat after 10 years to revive Harold Hill! Of the over 50 shows that he directed or performed in as the Artistic Director of CAST, The Music Man has a very special place in his heart. Jay has served as the Director of Music Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University since 2004. Recent productions he has directed at WMU include Drood, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Man of La Mancha, Hair, Ragtime, 9 to 5, Hairspray, and Caroline or Change. A much sought after professional director and playwright, he is the co-author and director/choreographer of the Off-Broadway hit Jolson & Co. which has also been seen in regional theatres across the U.S., as well as a United Kingdom national tour. His biographical musical based on the life of Gene Kelly, What a Glorious Feeling, premiered at the Mason Street Warehouse Theatre and has been produced at the Theatre at the Center (Chicago), Adirondack Theatre Festival, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, the Depot Theatre, the Bristol Riverside Theatre and enjoyed a commercial production in Cape Town, South Africa. In collaboration with composer David Ogrin, Jay is currently developing a new musical based on the life of Mata Hari. Jay’s comedy The Cure for Love was featured at the Barter Theatre as part of their 75th Anniversary season. Jay has worked with Terrence McNally, John Kander and Fred Ebb as the director of the Off-Broadway revival of The Rink, and directed the Off-Broadway productions of Red Hot Mama and The Lady in Penthouse B. His regional credits include Florida Studio Theatre, Indiana Repertory, Theatre South Carolina, Playhouse on the Square, Adirondack Theatre Festival, Depot Theatre, Gateway Playhouse, Virginia Repertory, Connecticut Repertory, Coconut Grove Playhouse, American Stage, Florida Repertory Theatre, Theatre Works, the Burt Reynolds Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Circa ’21 Playhouse, and many others.
David Coolidge* (Felix- The Odd Couple) is thrilled to be making his Clinton Showboat Theatre debut – as an actor – playing opposite his best friend Matthew Teague Miller. Last summer, David served as Director of My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra aboard the Showboat. A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, David was a member of the Broadway National Tour of Parade, directed by Hal Prince, and Jeff Calhoun’s highly acclaimed production of Big River at Deaf West Theatre. Regionally, David has been seen at the St. Louis MUNY, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Stamford Theatreworks, Huntington Theatre, The Abingdon Theatre Company, Triad Stage and Musical Theatre West. David is the former Assistant Artistic Director of TheatreworksUSA in New York City. While at TheatreworksUSA, he directed six national tours, oversaw an additional thirty touring productions, and directed the annual gala at the Rainbow Room in NYC featuring performances by cast members from the Broadway shows: Spring Awakening, Curtains, and The Ritz. David served as Director of the Anderson Symphony Orchestra’s Broadway concert, featuring world-renowned MET tenor Lawrence Brownlee. David is Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Anderson University and serves as Director of the Musical Theatre Program. David received his BFA in Musical Theatre from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM) and his MFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Gregory Lee Harrell* (Emile- South Pacific) is an Associate Professor of Voice at Baldwin Wallace University before that, he taught voice at Western Michigan University and his private studio in NYC. Harrell is an accomplished performer, teacher, and music/vocal director and his private New York City voice studio includes numerous Broadway artists. As an operatic baritone, Harrell has sung at the New York City Opera, Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Kennedy Center, and many other distinguished houses. As a musical theatre artist, he has performed Off–Broadway and across the country. Favorite theatre roles include the Billy Bigelow (Carousel), Lancelot (Camelot), Jesus (Jesus Christ Superstar), and Marquis d'Evremonde (Two Cities—NY Premiere). Harrell has performed onstage with such inspirational artists as Placido Domingo, Marcello Giordani, Catherine Malfitano, and Jonas Kaufmann. His students have performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, national and international tours, London′s West End, and significant regional theatres and opera houses across the country. Clinton audiences have enjoyed Harrell’s performances as the Phantom, Fred in Kiss Me Kate and many others. He is ecstatic to return to the Showboat.
Jalayne Riewerts is elated to return for her 16th season on the Showboat. She has appeared on the Showboat stage as Mame, Dolly, Mama Rose, The Princess Puffer and many other roles. Directing credits include Biloxi Blues, Big River and Little Shop of Horrors. For 51 years she has performed and directed in various community and professional area theatres. She holds an MA in Theatre in Directing from Roosevelt University, Chicago. Rural Morrison is her home with hubby R.Kent where they operate RKR & Associates Landscape Nursery. Jalayne thanks the loyal C.A.S.T. patrons who make theatre by the Mighty Miss possible!
Rob Engelson has been involved in theater since playing an elf in a first-grade Christmas play. Since then, after playing the leads in his high school productions, he has acted in several community and college productions in Minnesota, North Carolina and Iowa. Rob is a Showboat veteran since 2003, having appeared in 14 previous stage productions and played in the band for another. Rob has served for the past 21 years as the chair of the music department and head of the honors program at Ashford University here in Clinton, and he co-founded and serves as the conductor of RiverChor, Clinton’s own community choir. He and his wife, Thea (also a Showboat veteran), are residents of Clinton; their son, Matt, is a music teacher in the Twin Cities.
