WHO'S WHO IN THE CAST & CREW

The Fantasticks

a musical by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt

BOB CARUSO (Director/Lighting Designer) was Drama Director and/or Technical Director at West Essex High School for 30 years where he directed and/or designed the lighting for over 60 plays and musicals. For the past two years he has been lighting designer for the Passaic Valley Summer Theater, designing both Jesus Christ Superstar and Chess. For Studio he was assistant director and lighting designer for Hello Dolly, and lighting designer for James and the Giant Peach, and Saturday Night, among others. He has appeared at Studio as the Ambassador in Don't Drink the Water, Dr. Scott in The Rocky Horror Show, and Philip in Play On!. It's been a blast working on The Fantasticks again, especially with such a fabulous cast and staff.

FRANCES DUFFY (Harpist) is Principal Harp of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and also serves as principal harp in the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and Altoona (PA) Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony, and the Hartford Symphony. She is an active free-lancer in the NY Metropolitan area, playing Broadway shows such as Mel Brooks' The Producers, Beauty and the Beast, and The Fantasticks (original Sullivan St. Theater Production). Ms. Duffy maintains a teaching studio in NYC and has been on the faculty of the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina and currently heads the harp program at the JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly, NJ. She is a native of Manhattan who received BFA and MM degrees in music performance from Carnegie Mellon University before returning to NY to earn a Master of Music in Orchestral Performance degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

JAY GITTER (Bellomy) The Fantasticks marks a return to the stage for Jay after an auspicious 30 year absence. Last seen as Little Jake in Annie Get Your Gun, Jay has spent his time directing over 20 plays in and around West Orange, where he teaches instrumental music at Thomas Edison Middle School. Directing highlights include the West Orange HS production of Pirates of Penzance which garnered eleven Rising Star Nominations from the Paper Mill Playhouse. On the choral scene, Jay performs regularly at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Love to Pu, Durga, E, Leenee, and Bethly.

BRIAN HALL (Matt) is very excited to be making his Studio Playhouse debut in The Fantasticks. He is currently studying theatre at Montclair State University and has been active in theatre all his life. Some of his favorite roles include Kenickie (Grease), Joseph (Joseph…), Rocky (Rocky Horror), and Lamar (Godspell). He would like to thank the talented cast and crew for making it such a memorable experience.

TERRY HOLUSHA (Assistant Stage Manager) has performed in over a dozen shows here at the Studio Playhouse. Favorite rolls include Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap, Stanley in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biondello in The Taming of the Shrew, and the Chef in Don't Drink the Water. This is Terry's first time ever stage managing a musical, so many thanks to Judi and Bob for being such patient teachers and to the wonderful cast for bearing with me at all the late rehearsals. Terry will also be directing the Magic Trunk production of Goldilocks on Trial next season.

SARAH KACZMAREK (Mute) is thrilled to be performing with this amazing cast. She most recently appeared in her high school's spring musical Guys & Dolls as Agatha. Last summer she participated in Action Theatre Conservatory's Summer Workshop performing in New York. She sends a huge hug to her mom in Oregon and love to all her friends she's leaving behind in NJ.

JAMES LESKO (Henry) has a BFA in Theatre from VCU. Recent roles and shows with The Bergen County Players include Falstaff in Merry Wives of Windsor, Kolenkhov in You Can't Take it with You, Mr. Stewart in Pack of Lies, How I Learned to Drive, Epic Proportions, and Communicating Doors. James recently debuted in the title role in Tartuffe with The Players Guild of Leonia. Some other regional theatres include Trigorin in The Seagull, Queen Ubu in King Ubu, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes, and Ali Hakim and Dream Jud in Oklahoma. James comes from a show biz family; his father was a Broadway musical director and his mother a professional singer who was in the original Broadway production of Guys and Dolls.

JUDI LIEBERT (Stage Manager) is happy to be working with a "new" director. Judi thanks Bob for his wonderful support. She also is pleased to be working again with Judy with a "y", Terry, and a great cast of "characters". Adding The Fantasticks to her list of productions has been a terrific experience even if she did go broke contributing to the cha-ching bucket. Thanks to her boys who always give their support even though they may be out of the immediate area. And to her ever present Mark-for 25 years-no matter what.

MARK LIEBERT (Mortimer/Set Designer) has been involved with Studio Players for ten years where he has written, directed, designed, built and acted in more than several shows (including: Quillow, Around the Horn, Don't Drink the Water, and Hello Dolly). Most recently he was seen on stage as Bernard in Don't Dress for Dinner and Jerry in Play On!. Other favorite roles include Lenny in Rumors and Mervyn Kant in The Sisters Rosensweig. Mark currently serves as Studio Players Production Manager. He is grateful for the camaraderie, talent and dedication of his playmates at the playhouse. Most of all, Mark is blessed with the love & support of his empty nest mate and stage manager Judi and the inspiration he receives from his sons Josh and Ben who have flown the coop to take on a bigger world of the theatre.

SALVADOR NAVARRO (El Gallo) is proud to be making his Studio Player's debut as El Gallo in The Fantasticks. He recently won the 2003 New Jersey Perry Award for Outstanding Ensemble Actor in a Musical for HAIR. Favorite roles include Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, Burrs in LaChuisa's The Wild Party, and Esteban in Lynette at 3 am. Thanks to all of my family and TRUE friends for supporting me these past few months, I love you!

KATE SAMBERG (Mute) is a junior at Verona High School and was recently seen there as Baker's Wife in Into the Woods. She appeared as Sally in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown at her high school as well. Kate has been studying ballet, jazz, and tap for many years and has performed various roles for the Papermill Playhouse's including the annual production of The Nutcracker.

DAVE SPARANO (Hucklebee) is pleased to be making his Studio Debut. No stranger to Northern NJ Theaters, Dave presently resides in Fair Lawn with The Radburn Players, where he also serves on their Board of Directors. Among his many roles some of his favorites are Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Pseudolus in …Forum, and Jud in Oklahoma. He is pleased to join such a talented cast and to be reunited with Mr. Caruso after a 26 year separation, although he does miss the Pole Dancing Mute.

JUDY STANTON (Musical Director) is excited to be returning to Studio Players to be a part of this very talented cast. Thank you all for saying "Yes"! Over the last three years Judy has been seen musical directing and playing keyboards at local high schools in North Jersey as well as here at Studio Players, The Arts Trust, and Nutley Little Theatre. But The Fantasticks holds a special place in her heart, so a special thank you to everyone here at the Playhouse who made this production possible. (Thanks for inviting me to play!) In her other life, Judy works as a consultant and resides in Montclair with her children, Clare and Alex.

PIA VANDERSTREET (Luisa) is pleased to be making her debut on the Studio Playhouse stage in The Fantasticks. Previous credits include: Joseph…, and New Voices of 2000 at Papermill Playhouse; A Christmas Carol (Christmas Past) and FAME (Lydia/FAME singer) at Chatham Community Players; numerous performances at Theatre Under the Stars, including some favorites, Broadway's Best Benefit 2002, Annie get your Gun (Minnie), Ruthless (Eve), and Pirates of Penzance (Edith). She would like to thank the amazing cast and crew who kept her laughing all the time and made this show a memorable experience.

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