Thomas 'Fats' Waller
'Music'

Fats Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an African-American jazz pianist, organist, composer and comedic entertainer. He was born Thomas Wright Waller in New York City.

Waller studied classical piano and organ before apprenticing himself to legendary Harlem stride pianist James P. Johnson. Johnson introduced Waller to the world of rent parties (a party with a piano player, designed to help pay the rent by charging the guests), and soon he developed a performing career.

He was an excellent pianist–now usually considered one of the very best who ever played in the stride style–but his songwriting and his lovable, roguish stage personality (“One never knows, do one?”) overshadowed his playing. Before his solo career, he played with many performers, from Erskine Tate to Bessie Smith, but his greatest success came with his own five- or six-piece combo, FATS WALLER AND HIS RHYTHM. Among his songs are “Squeeze Me” 1919, “Ain’t Misbehavin'” 1929, “Blue Turning Grey Over You” 1930, “Honeysuckle Rose” 1929, “I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling” 1929, and “Jitterbug Waltz” 1942.

He collaborated with the Tin Pan Alley lyricist Andy Razaf and had a commercially successful career, which according to some music critics eclipsed his great musical talent. His nickname came about because he weighed nearly 300 pounds (136 kg). His weight and drinking are believed to have contributed to his death.

Waller also made a successful tour of the British Isles in the late 1930’s, and appeared in one of the earliest BBC Television broadcasts. He also appeared in several feature films and short subject films, most notably STORMY WEATHER in 1943.

With Razaf he wrote “What Did I Do (To Be So Black and Blue)?” 1929 which became a hit for Louis Armstrong. This song, a searing treatment of racism, black and white, calls into question the accusations of “shallow entertainment” leveled at both Armstrong and Waller.

On December 15, 1943, at age 39, Waller died aboard an eastbound train in the vicinity of Kansas City, Missouri, following a west coast engagement.

Richard Maltby, Jr.
'Concept'

BROADWAY: Conceived and directed two Tony Award winning musicals: AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ (1978: Tony, N.Y. Drama Critics, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards — also Tony Award for Best Director); FOSSE (1999: Tony, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards); as well as RING OF FIRE, (2006). With composer David Shire: director/lyricist: BABY (1983, seven Tony nominations); lyricist: BIG (1996, Tony nomination: Best Score; also Dominium Theatre London 2019). With Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, co-lyricist: MISS SAIGON (Evening Standard Award, London 1990; Tony nomination: Best Score, 1991); co-lyricist: THE PIRATE QUEEN (2007). Director: THE STORY OF MY LIFE (2009). Director/co-lyricist: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SONG & DANCE (1986 Tony Award for star, Bernadette Peters.) OFF-BROADWAY: with David Shire: director/lyricist STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW (1977, Grammy nomination) and CLOSER THAN EVER, (1989, two Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Score; also Off-Broadway Alliance Award, Best Musical Revival 2013; and London Jermyn Street Theatre 2014,). Director: JUST JIM DALE, (Roundabout Theatre 2014, Vaudeville Theatre, London 2015). REGIONAL: Lyricist/conceiver, TAKE FLIGHT (Menier Chocolate Factory, London 2010; McCarter Theatre 2012); book and lyrics, WATERFALL(2015, Pasadena Playhouse and Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre); Lyricist, new musical SOUSATZKA (2017, Toronto).FILM: Screenplay, MISS POTTER, (2007: Christopher Award, best screenplay.). Contributes cryptic crossword puzzles to Harpers Magazine. Son of well-known orchestra leader; Five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily and Charlotte.

Murray Horwitz
'Concept'

Murray Horwitz – Writer, Lyricist, Director

Productions:

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN
Associate Director, Based his original idea & featuring songs with additional lyrics [Revival, Musical, Revue] (Aug 15, 1988 – Jan 15, 1989)

ANDRÉ De SHEILD’S HAARLEM NOCTURNE
Book & Direction [Original, Musical, Revue] (Nov 18, 1984 – Dec 30, 1984)

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN
Associate Director, Based on his original idea & featuring songs with additional lyrics [Original, Musical, Revue] (May 9, 1978 – Feb 21, 1982)

LACY DARRYL PHILLIPS
'Director'

Lacy Darryl Phillips aka The Uncle Earl is an accomplished Triple Threat Performer, Multi-Award Winning Recording Artist/Songwriter/Producer, Creative Director, Choreographer, Teacher, Host & DJ. Most recently, Director/Choreographer “Iconic” starring Stephanie Pope (Norwegian Jewel), Choreographer “Ain’t Misbehavin’ for California Center for The Arts, Assistant Director “Forever Plaid” for Theatre Raleigh Arts Center, Creative Director/Choreographer “Cherry House ~ The Play” for Broadway Bound Theater Festival on Theater Row NYC, Choreographer/Featured Performer “For All My Girls”, Carnegie Hall’s“100 Years Of Black Men On Broadway”, Starred as “Andre” ICT/Long Beach“Ain’t Misbehavin’, and performed in his first show “Miss Moffat” with Bette Davis, at the age of 9. Lacy toured and appeared on Broadway in “Raisin” starring as Travis Younger, “Sophisticated Ladies” starring Gregory Hines, Bob Fosse’s ‘Dancin’, “Anything Goes” starring Patti Lupone, “Sweet Charity” starring Debbie Allen, “Me And Mrs. Jones” starring Lou Rawls & Darlene Love, “Play On”,“Fosse” and “Broadway: The American Musical” for PBS. Mr. Phillips Choreographed and Staged the Nat’l Tour of “The Wiz” starring Grace Jones and Peabo Bryson, was Associate Director/Choreographer for the Mariah Carey ‘Around The World’ Tour and Assistant Director/Choreographer for “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” (A Celebration Of Stevie Wonder ) at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas starring Chaka Khan, Peabo Bryson and Melissa Manchester. Under Mentor Debbie Allen, Lacy assisted and also performed on such projects as: “A Different World”, “The Academy Awards”, “Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Tribute”, “Polly I & II” for Disney and the CBS T.V. Movie ‘Stompin’ At The Savoy’ featured as Teddy The M.C. and “Cool Women.” Lacy participated in the inception of The Hinton Battle Theatre Laboratory in New York. He is currently Creative Director for The New Asian Girl Group “Colour Girls” and Director/Choreographer/Co-Producer of the upcoming “New School ~ The Musical”. yCreator/Producer of ‘Ultimate Underground’, a global music, arts and education project and Host/DJ of his weekly award winning radio program ‘The Underground Experience with The Uncle Earl’, now in its 13th successful season. www.UltimateUnderground.com

GARY MITCHELL, JR.
'Music Director'

Gary Mitchell, Jr., regularly collaborates with renowned singers, instrumentalists, artists, and ensembles, throughout the world. Gary debuted as Noah “Horse” T. Simmons in The Full Monty at The Clink Theatre, Port Douglas, Queensland,Australia;portrayedJasboBrowninPorgyandBessatThe RoyalDanishOperaHouse-Copenhagen;andhasbeenfeaturedinmyriad performances in Japan, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Mitchell has been featured at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Harlem Opera Festival, Teatro alla Scala, Dance Theater of Harlem, 54 Below, NAACP ACT-SO, Harlem Stage Theatre(AntigoneinFerguson),asJimmyPowersinLadyDayatEmerson’sBarand Grill,atPortlandStageTheatre,TheCapePlayhouse,andhefrequentsBarrington Stage Theatre. He has also collaborated and performed with PBS, MTV, VH1, Steinway International, and Netflix, and he was associate music director for the reading of Tituss Burgess’s The Preacher’s Wife. Gary is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America,Inc.,PHAAuroraLodge,aLifeMemberofTheJacksonStateUniversity National Alumni Association, The National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), and Actor’s Equity Association (AEA).

RYAN HOWELL
'Scenic Designer'

Off Broadway: Pretty Hunger, Teenage Dick (The Public Theatre), Adoration of the Old Woman (INTAR), Atalanta (The Juilliard School). Regional: Grease, Altar Boyz (The Cape Playhouse); A Few Good Men, School Girls: Or The African Mean Girls Play (Pittsburgh Public Theater), Lights Out: Nat King Cole (The Geffen Playhouse), The Magic Flute (Opera Theatre St. Louis), Ariodante (Curtis Opera Institute), Ariadne Aux Naxos (Cincinnati Opera), Thérèse (Sarasota Opera), Idomeneo (WolfTrap Opera), Loving vs. Virginia (Williamstown), Evita, Newsies, The Little Mermaid (Westport Country Playhouse), Little Shop of Horrors, The Last Five Years (ACT of CT), Dreamgirls, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Rock of Ages (Playhouse on the Square); Associate Design: Fire Shut Up in My Bones (The Metropolitan Opera) Latin History for Morons, Eclipsed (Broadway); Assistant Design: Hadestown, Paradise Square (Broadway); Film/TV: (Asst. Art Director): HBO/ Succession – Season 3/4, Showtime/ Three Women – Season 1. Website: www.ryanmhowell.com/ Instagram: @ryanmhowell.

NICOLE V. MOODY
'Costume Designer'

Select design credits: A Syracuse Christmas Carol, Rent- Redhouse Theatre, The Other Josh Cohen- Off Bdway, Guys and Dolls, Our Town- Aspen Theatre, Clue- Cape Playhouse, A Connecticut Christmas Carol- Goodspeed Musicals, 42 nd Street, Clue, Guys and Dolls, The Buddy Holly Story, Steel Magnolias, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Summer of ’42, Mame, It’s a Wonderful Life; a Radio Play, A Grand Night for Singing, Barefoot in the Park- BCP, Arsenic and Old Lace, The 39 Steps, Avenue Q- CFRT, Cracked (World Premiere)- American Theatre Dance Workshop, Love, Loss and What I Wore- NYC, Chicago Tour, Asolo Rep, Films: Dead Light Glory (Short Indie), Hungry for Gold- IOC.

KIRK BOOKMAN
'Lighting Design'

Kirk has designed the lighting for countless New York City and regional productions over the past four decades. His favorite lighting design credits include: Lincoln Center’s 2011 production of Company directed by Lonny Price and starring Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert and Patti LuPone. For the incomparable Charles Busch: Shanghai Moon, The Divine Sister, The Tribute Artist, Die Mommy Die, The Green Heart and the 2020 hit production of The Confession of Lily Dare directed by Carl Andress. Broadway credits include The Gin Game with Julie Harris and Charles Durning, and The Sunshine Boys with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. Internationally he has designed the lighting for the Hungarian National, English National Ballet and the Santiago Ballet Company all with Ivan Nagy.

JACOB LEVITIN
'Sound Design'

Jacob has been living and breathing sound and music for as long as he can remember. Selected credits include “Islander”, “Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish”, and “Dog Man, the Musical” (off Broadway), “Buddy Holly Story” (National tour), and multiple Broadway and touring shows as a music technology specialist with Midiomatic LLC and KeyboardTEK. Jake’s very excited to be back at Cape Playhouse! Some of his original music and visual work can be found on Instagram @electricdaisy_studio

BOBBIE ZLOTNIK
'Wig Design'

Off-Broadway; Emojiland (Drama Desk Nom.), Fairycakes, Mornings At Seven, The Book of Merman, Drop Dead Perfect, Disenchanted, Forbidden Broadway, Bed Bugs!!!, and many more. National Tours; On Your Feet, Emojiland, Cocomelon LIVE. PCPA; Pride and Prejudice, Hairspray, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, My Fairytale, Caroline or Change. The Lex; The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Music Man. Gulfshore Playhouse: Barefoot In The Park, Steel Magnolias, The 39 Steps. Park Playhouse; Matilda, Ain’t Misbehavin’. Penguin Rep: The Virtuous Life of Joseph Andrews, Souvenir. Syracuse Stage: Tender Rain, Our Town. Tuacahn: Wonderland. Bucks County Playhouse; Evita. PCLO; Godspell. Hangar Theatre; Kinky Boots. Theatre By The Sea; Love And Other Fables. Film/TV; The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Gilded Age, A Holiday Spectacular, Halston, Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness.

ARTHUR ATKINSON
'Production Stage Manager'

Arthur Atkinson (Production Stage Manager: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Jersey Boys, Camelot) is thrilled to return to the Cape Playhouse for a second season! Recent Off-Broadway: God of Carnage (Theatre Breaking Through Barriers), Becomes a Woman (Mint Theater), The Year of Magical Thinking (Keen Company), Liz Swados’s Nightclub Cantata (Cell Theatre), Cagney – The Musical; many shows at the Irish Repertory Theatre, York Theatre, The Directors Company, Fellowship for Performing Arts, et al. Toured internationally in Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol, then Harvey Fierstein and Theodore Bikel. A proud member of Actors Equity Association. Love to Lisa!

MURNANE CASTING
'Casting Director'

Murnane Casting is a boutique casting office in New York City, led by founder Chad Eric Murnane. We specialize in casting theatre, film, and television projects nationwide, with a focus on developing new works with emerging creators. Our mission is to curate exceptional ensembles of artists, champion underrepresented and untapped talent, and facilitate a collaborative and relaxed casting experience. At Murnane Casting, our clients enjoy ongoing support from a team invested in the success of their projects. We believe that every project deserves the best, and we are here to make sure you get it. Learn more at www.murnanecasting.com.

GARY MITCHELL, JR.
Conductor/Keyboard

DAVID MOORE
Drums

RON MAHDI
Bass

ARTHUR BAKOPOLUS
Alto Sax and Clarinet

JARED HOLADAY
Clarinet and Tenor Sax

SEELAN MANICKAM
Trumpet

JEFF HOYER
Trombone

Music Theatre International

The perfect musical for every audience!

At MTI, it’s about enabling as many theatres to perform as many shows as possible – to have the shared experience that is musical theatre.
– Drew Cohen, President and CEO

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.

MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior™ shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.

MTI maintains its global headquarters in New York City with additional offices in London (MTI Europe) and Melbourne (MTI Australasia).