The Rink
LESLIE UGGAMS (Anna) Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress/singer Leslie Uggams most recently thrilled Broadway audiences performing as Ethel Thayer opposite James Earl Jones in the revival of Ernest Thompson’s On Golden Pond. That performance came on the heels of her stunning portrayal of the off-beat society heiress Muzzy Van Hossmere in the Tony Award-winning musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. That’s just the latest accomplishment for a woman who has been captivating stage, screen and television audiences since her national television debut at age six on the TV series “Beulah”, portraying the niece of Ethel Waters. Appearances on “Your Show of Shows”, “The Milton Berle Show” and “The Arthur Godfrey Show” led to center stage at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem where 7-year old Leslie opened for such legends as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dinah Washington. Leslie attended the New York Professional Children’ School, and, at 15, she appeared on the CBS-TV series “Name That Tune”. Her appearance proved to be fortuitous. Mitch Miller, head of recordings for Columbia Records, was so impressed by her vocal talents that he signed her to a recording contract and then made her a regular on “Sing Along With Mitch”, TV’s first pre-recorded music show. As such, Leslie Uggams became one of the first African-American performers to be regularly featured on a prime-time television show. Concurrent with her musical composition and theory studies at the Juilliard School, Leslie released her first of 10 albums she was to record for Columbia Records, including her first hit single, “Morgan”. Alternating major nightclub appearances with her stage work, Leslie appeared in the musical The Boyfriend in Berkeley, California. Soon she won the Broadway lead in Hallelujah, Baby!, which had originally been written for Lena Horne, and earned the 1968 Tony Award for Best Actress In A Broadway Musical Comedy. Two years later, she had her own musical variety television series on CBS-TV, “The Leslie Uggams Show”, and a new recording contract with Atlantic Records. In 1970, Leslie made her dramatic film debut in the MGM thriller, “Skyjacked”. However, it was Leslie’s portrayal of Kizzy in the most watched dramatic show in TV history, “Alex Haley’s Roots”, that won her world-wide recognition as a dramatic actress including the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1978, her Emmy nomination for Best Leading Actress, and a coveted Golden Globe Nomination from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. She also starred in the mini-series, “Backstairs in the White House”; “Sizzle”, an ABC-TV movie of the week, and the HBO special, “Christmas at Radio City Music Hall”. Leslie went on to win an Emmy as co-host of the NBC series, “Fantasy”. In addition to ongoing concert dates, Leslie returned to Broadway to star in the musical Blues in the Night and enjoyed a two-year run in the hit musical Jerry’s Girls. In 1987 she toured with Peter Nero and Mel Torme in “The Great Gershwin Concert”, for which she received rave reviews. In 1988, she starred as Reno Sweeney in the National Company of the Lincoln Center Production of Anything Goes and later reprised the role at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater on Broadway. In 1991, Leslie toured in Stringbean, a new play with music based on Ethel Waters’ rise to fame in the twenties and thirties. Leslie was featured in the all-star tribute to the legendary Jerry Herman in the production, “Jerry Herman’s Broadway” at the Hollywood Bowl. She also starred in the revival of Play On at New Jersey’s Tony Award-winning Crossroads Theater in New Brunswick and tackled the demanding dramatic portrayal of opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally’s Master Class at TheatreFest, also in New Jersey. When not performing in the theater, Leslie Uggams can be found touring the country playing her acclaimed concerts. She has appeared with the Cincinnati Pops and The Washington Symphony Orchestra to name just two and at The Memorial Day Concert on Washington Mall, which took place before more than 300,000 people, and was televised live to millions more by PBS.
JANET METZ (Angel) Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof; Marie Christine (cast recording); On The Town; Once Upon A Mattress (cast recording). Off-Broadway: Bingo-The Musical (Drama League nomination for outstanding performance, cast recording); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Falsettoland (cast recording); Hurrah At Last; Lucky Stiff (cast recording); I Love New York (Rainbow & Stars – cast recording). Tours: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (over 1,000 performances as The Narrator opposite Donny Osmond, Canadian cast recording); The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (with Michael Crawford); Stop the World… (with Anthony Newley); Music of the Night (co-starring with Colm Wilkinson). Regional: Premieres include: The Spitfire Grill; Barry Manilow’s Harmony (Drama-Logue Award, Best Actress); Fame – The Musical; Casino Paradise (cast recording). Other regional: Noises Off; Funny Girl; Mack and Mabel; Sunday In The Park With George; A Christmas Carol. TV: “Live with Regis…,” “Trinity,” and “Out of the Box.” Janet is a Kennedy Center N.I.M.T. grand prize recipient and the proud mom of twins Phoebe and Nathaniel.
BILL KOCIS (Lenny et. al) Credits include Uncle Ernie in the European premiere of The Who’s Tommy (Des McAnuff, Director, Goethestrasse Theatre, Offenbach, Germany); the Broadway workshop productions of The Wild Party (Manhattan Theatre Club); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Roundabout Theatre); and White Lies (Triad Theatre). His national tours include Jonesy in Sunset Boulevard starring Petula Clark; Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show opposite rock star Meat Loaf; and Zinger in Yiddle With A Fiddle. Bill’s regional credits include Harold in The Full Monty (Gateway); O.B. Abbott in Radio Gals (Actor’s Theatre of Louisville); Daniel in The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged) (Cincinnati Playhouse); Buzz in Finian’s Rainbow (Goodspeed Opera House); Tony in Shear Madness (The Kennedy Center); Carew in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Paper Mill Playhouse); and Schmendiman in Picasso at the Lapin Agile (GeVa Theatre). Bill’s most recent credits have all been on TV and include “The Sopranos” (Father Nicolai); “Conviction” (Judge Stanley Ossinsji); all three “Law and Order” series (the original, SVU and Criminal Intent); and “Ed”. Bill has an M.F.A. in acting from Brandeis University. His best production to date: 19-month old daughter Madeleine. All my love to JHK.
JESSE SWIMM (Bobby, et. al) a proud member of Actor’s Equity is thrilled to be making his Cape Playhouse debut in The Rink. Recently, Jesse was seen keeping the streets of New York safe from those pesky Sharks, as Action, in West Side Story at the Lyric Opera of Baltimore, directed and choreographed by Tony award-winning choreographer George Faison. Before that he was having an identity crisis covering nine parts in the National Tour of My Fair Lady, starring Marla Schaffel and John Vickery. Tours: Grease (Eugene, u/s Danny, Dance Captain); A Chorus Line (Don, u/s Zach); Hair ’96 Revival (Woof, u/s Claude); and Joey McKneely’s hit international tour of West Side Story (Action). Regional: Mike in A Chorus Line (SCLO); Bobby Child in Crazy For You (La Habra Depot); The Diction Coach in Singin’ in the Rain (Westchester Broadway Theatre); Swing! (Maine State Music Theatre); Beauty & the Beast (Pioneer Theatre). All my thanks to Evans, Michael, and Jennifer for giving me this opportunity to skate around “The Rink” and much love to Mom and Dad for all their love and support.
ERIC MORRIS (Danny et. al) A recent graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School, this is Eric’s Cape Playhouse debut. Recent roles include: Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (Warwick, NY); Emcee in Cabaret (Evergreen Players, Baltimore); Detective Trotter in The Mousetrap (Circle); and Hank in Saturday Night (Circle). He would like to thank his friends and family for all their love and support.
MAURICE EMMANUEL PARENT (Buddy, et. al) is thrilled to make his Cape Playhouse debut with The Rink. Most recently Maurice was seen as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in Ragtime at The New Repertory Theater. New York City: The Good War (Music Director, Craig Carnelia) at the York Theater, Ragtime (Coalhouse) at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Outside New York City: Guys and Dolls (Northern Stage); Hair (Barrington Stage); Ragtime (Fulton Opera House, Music Theater of Wichita); Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). Maurice is a graduate of NYU Master’s Program in Vocal Performance.
MICHAEL MINARIK (Dino) is taking a leave of absence from the 1st National Tour of Little Women, where he is playing the role of John Brooke, to come here to the Cape Playhouse. Other National Tours: Urinetown (Bobby Strong standby); Phantom of the Opera (Phantom); The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (Phantom). Regional: Urinetown (Bobby Strong) A.C.T. San Francisco; Dangerous Beauty (Ludovico Tamberti) New York Stage and Film; Jekyll & Hyde (Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde) West Virginia Public Theater; Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) Marriott Lincolnshire. www.michaelminarik.com
STEVEN BERGER (Dino’s Dad) is happy to return to the Cape Playhouse for the fourth time. Previously, Steven appeared here in Rumors; Wait Until Dark; and On Your Toes. Broadway: The Pajama Game; Into The Woods; The Dinner Party; True West; Laughter on the 23rd Floor; and Little Me. Off-Broadway: Niteclub Confidential; Beau Jest; That’s Life; Isn’t It Romantic?; and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh. National Tours: Annie; Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera; and Rumors. Television: “Damn Right”, “All My Children”, and “Law and Order”. Steven is married to the beautiful and talented actress Jan Leigh Herndon. He is also an AVID golfer and welcomes invitations to play the local courses.
MIRIAH BURNS (Young Girl) is a ten-year old Yarmouth resident who has dreams of Hollywood. Her heart and soul are dedicated to acting, singing and dancing. From the time she was the lead in her kindergarten school play, “The Little Red Hen”, Miriah has known her calling. She’s performed at the Harwich Junior Theater and the Academy of Performing Arts in productions including The Hobbit; Hans Brinker; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever; and Annie. Miriah’s training includes acting at HJT, dance, voice, and figure skating, which should be of help to her in The Rink. She is excited about her debut at the Cape Playhouse!
MICHAEL UNGER (Director) Michael’s directing credits include: A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre – annual production); the world premieres of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barrington Stage Company); Behind the Limelight (New York Stage & Film); Retribution (Off-Broadway – Lambs Theatre); La Gioconda (Clurman Theatre); and Caligula (New York Musical Theatre Festival – Audience Favorite Award). Other directing credits include Die Fledermaus (Sarasota Opera); Noises Off (New Harmony); Love’s Fire (Asolo Conservatory – Critics Pick); Meet Me In St. Louis (The MUNY); Triumph of Love and School for Wives (The Weston Playhouse); The Mikado and Kiss Me Kate (The Depot Theatre); Changes of Heart (Barrington Stage – BRAVO Award for Outstanding Production); On The Razzle (Babcock Theatre); In Perpetuity Throughout the Universe (Juilliard); Crimes of the Heart (Blowing Rock Stage); Still (World Premiere); Les Liaisons Dangereuses and The Game of Love and Chance (French language productions); Cries from the Mammal House (American Premiere); Cleavage and Smokes (Mark Taper Forum – NWF); and Taming of the Shrew (Complex Theatre, LA). Proudest production: twins Phoebe and Nathaniel.
ANDREW GERLE (Music Director) won a 2006 Jonathan Larson Award with Eddie Sugarman for their show, Meet John Doe, which will be produced next season at Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theater and at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., directed by Eric Schaeffer. Andrew is also a three-time recipient of the Richard Rodgers Award for The Tutor (book and lyrics by Maryrose Wood), which as received workshop productions by the York Theatre and the Prospect Theatre Company. An accomplished classical pianist, he has appeared as soloist on programs for National Public Radio and Television, and with major symphony orchestras. His Broadway arrangements and orchestrations have been performed by over a dozen orchestras nationwide, including the Baltimore Symphony and the Boston Pops. This winter, he will be a fellow at the MacDowell Artists’ Colony. Please visit www.andrewgerle.com.
JENNIFER PAULSON LEE (Choreographer) Thrilled to be joining the Cape Playhouse, regional credits include Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella for The Paper Mill Playhouse and West Side Story for the Pioneer Theater in Salt Lake City. Currently in development, a new musical, All About Us, by John Kander and Fred Ebb with the book by Joe Stein (based on The Skin of Our Teeth). Other credits include the New York City and North Carolina Pre-Broadway workshops of Little Women: the Musical; andAnnie Get Your Gun at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre starring Patti LuPone, Peter Gallagher and Eli Wallach. Off-Broadway: Stars in Your Eyes; The Storm Theatre’s production of The Last Starfighter; Fables in Slang and Tintypes for the award-winning Melting Pot Theatre; Lola (a new musical by Kirby Tepper and Craig Safan). Regional: The Book of Candy; Dear World; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Goodspeed Opera House); Finian’s Rainbow (nominated – Best Choreography – Connecticut Critic’s Circle), Just So; A Child’ Christmas in Wales (NJSF); Houdini; Zorro; Guys and Dolls; Jerry’s Girls; Pericles; Jacques Brel is Alive and Well; Sweeney Todd; and for the NYMF, Tim and Scrooge; and Houdini. Directing credits include Flyer, the Musical; A Time to Be Born; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Amanda Green at the WestBank; 2Life; with BT McNicholl, I Hear Music. She has danced for and/or assisted many director/choreographers including Jerome Robbins, Susan Stroman (PBS Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall and 110 in the Shade NYC Opera – Principal Dancer). Ms. Lee is a US Patented inventor, the mother of 2 girls and currently on the faculty of NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
DANIEL MEEKER (Set Designer) Dan’s scenic designs include: The World Goes Round and Wait Until Dark at the Cape Playhouse; The Blue Room and I Am My Own Wife at the Hangar Theatre; and The Consul and Owl Creek at Ithaca College. Scenery and lighting credits include: Noodle Doodle Box at the Geva Theatre; Tony & The Soprano and The Drawer Boy at The Kitchen Theatre; and The Soup Comes Last at the 59E59 Theatre. Lighting design credits include: Bill W. & Dr. Bob at the New Rep; Auntie & Me at the Merrimack Rep; The Magic of Christmas 2005 for the Portland Symphony Orchestra; The Blowin of Baile Gall at the Irish Arts Center; the Lepers of Baile Baiste at the Phil Bosakowski Theatre, The Korean Contemporary Dance Showcase 2006 at the Kaye Playhouse of Hunter College; Cool Wave Dance Festival 2006, The Dumbo Dance Festival 2005 and The Dumbo International Dance Festival 2005 at the White Wave Performance Space in Brooklyn; and American Landscape for the Nai Ni Chen Dance Company at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Dan was the resident lighting designer for the Cape Playhouse from 1995-1999. Upcoming productions include scenery for Hello Dolly! at the Hangar Theatre and lighting for the Off-Broadway production of Bill W. & Dr. Bob. Projects outside of theatre include designs for Barbara Israel Garden Antiques and designing custom residential light fixtures. Dan is a graduate of The Yale School of Drama and Ithaca College and is a member of United Scenic Artists.
JANINE MARIE McCABE (Costume Designer) most recently worked as Assistant Designer to Gregory Gale on The Wedding Singer on Broadway. Previous designs include Frank Wildhorn’s Waiting for the Moon at Lenape Regional PAC, which will be remounted in NC in 2007. Other designs include The Stage Door at Fairleigh Dickinson University; Caligula the Musical for NYMTF; In The Realm of Chelm at The Juilliard School; Pierced! for New York City and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals; and Romeo and Juliet for Nevada Theatre Company. She has also assisted Martin Pakledinaz on numerous Broadway shows, ballets and operas, including Wonderful Town; Thoroughly Modern Millie; San Francisco Ballet’s The Nutcracker; and City Opera’s Alcina.
CHRISTOPHER S. CHAMBERS (Lighting Designer) Chris comes to the Cape Playhouse having completed his sixth season as resident lighting designer for American Repertory Ballet. Other recent credits include: Oliver! (Curtain Call Inc.); Beauty and the Beast, Dialogues and Exorcising Man (American Repertory Ballet); Candide (Boston College). Other credits: Dramatics NYC, Gallery Players, Choate Rosemary Hall, Manchester Ballet, Ram Island Dance, Dance Connecticut, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company and Boehm Opera. Chris holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut.
Actors' Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence.