Tickets

Once

Dates: July 10 – July 20
Style: Musical | Drama
Run Time: 2:15 with one intermission
Ages: Eight and up
(There is no official rating system for live theatre. We invite you to use your own judgment.)

Show Summary

Book by Enda Walsh
Music and Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

This emotionally captivating musical is the only show to have music that won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Olivier Award and a Tony Award. On the streets of Dublin, an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant are drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, an unexpected friendship and collaboration quickly evolves into a powerful but complicated love story, underscored by emotionally charged music.

Featuring all of the magical songs from the critically acclaimed film, including the Oscar-winning “Falling Slowly,” this achingly beautiful, joyously uplifting show strikes an unforgettable chord in audiences and speaks to the power of music to connect us all. A show like that only comes around Once.

“The sweetest and most romantic
show on Broadway.” 

NYPost

Play the Grammy Winning Song
“Falling Slowly”

“Better than anything you’re likely to hear in the theater all season.” 

TIME Magazine
Meet the Actors & Crew

Barry Debois
'Guy'

Barry is thrilled to make his Cape Playhouse debut!

He is a mechanical engineering designer turned actor/singer who has performed all around the world. Barry was a swing and the music captain on the national tour of Once. He’s since performed the role of Guy at multiple regional theaters across the country including the Jeff Award winning Paramount Theatre, and he was nominated for Henry Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and Outstanding Musical Direction for his work on Once at Midtown Arts Center. Barry is also a writer, director, and editor. His 2015 short film Train Approaching was selected for the Coney Island Film Festival. He lives in New York City where he directs for REELARC and performs with his band The Understudies.
See more: www.barrydebois.com

Elizabeth Nestlerode
'Girl'

Elizabeth is thrilled to be returning to the role of Girl in Once. Off-Broadway/New York: The Other Josh Cohen (Diane Cohen, u/s Woman 1), Gypsy (Louise), The Meanest Birthday Girl (Meanest Birthday Girl), Regional: Once (Girl) at Actors’ Playhouse, Florida Studio Theatre, and St. Michael’s Playhouse, Violet (Violet) …Spelling Bee (Olive), Buddy Holly (Vi Petty-director Hunter Foster) 54 Forever (director Tommy Tune), Aida and The Who’s Tommy (director Brian Yorkey). Readings: Clue, One Hit Wonder, Battlefield. TV: “The Late Show with David Letterman”.
See more: www.elizabethnestlerode.com

Kendra Jo Brook
'Ex-Girlfriend'

Kendra is a Montana native and NYC-based actor-musician. Credits include October Sky (Universal Stages), The Goree All-Girl String Band (NYMF), Big River (Alpine Theatre Project), Bright Star (Barter Theatre), This Land Is Your Land (Theaterworks Hartford), and Ring of Fire. Kendra Jo plays in a few bands, including the all-female bluegrass band The Snowy Mountain Sisters, and a folk duo with her sister, Brittany, The Brook Sisters.

She just released her debut bluegrass album in June! Thank you to Cape Playhouse, Hunter and the gang for this special opportunity and so much love to my family, the Sanders and Austin.

Lisa Helmi Johanson
'Reza'

Lisa is grateful to be making her Cape Playhouse debut with this beautiful story of love and connection. NYC: Avenue Q, Three Sisters, Women Beware Women, Rescue Rue. Workshops: August Rush (dir. John Doyle), Beetlejuice (dir. Alex Timbers). Tours: Fiasco's Into the Woods, Avenue Q. Select Regional: Anything Goes (Arena Stage), Vietgone (Denver Center), The Chinese Lady (Milwaukee Rep), Waterfall (5th Avenue Theatre & Pasadena Playhouse), Priscilla... (Ogunquit & Gateway Playhouses), 4,000 Miles (St. Louis Rep.), Taming of the Shrew (VA Stage). Film/TV: “Law & Order: SVU”, “Z-Rock” (IFC), “The Onion News Network”. Deep gratitude to Hannah at HCKR, Geoff Josselson, and Jake. Micah 6:8 www.lisahelmijohanson.com
She is the proud Founder/Executive Director of a prestigious Performing Arts School for children called On Broadway Performing Arts Training Program.

Kent M Lewis
'Eamon'

Kent enjoys singing harmony, dancing, playing musical instruments with friends, and telling stories. He's been doing so since the age of five when, with his family, on the way to a barbershop quartet campout, his father handed him a Ukulele on his birthday. Since that time, Kent has found friendship in singing associations, live music clubs and theaters all across the country.

A veteran of the First National Tours of Billy Elliot and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as well as a member of the Las Vegas company of Mamma Mia, Kent savors every chance he gets to bring a new character to life on stage. Most recently Kent appeared as Johnny Cash in Ring of Fire with Milwaukee Rep, and Off-Broadway as Harry Scott in the Lerner and Lowe classic The Day Before Spring. For more about Kent, find him at the beach or visit www.kentmlewis.com. Thanks Hunter!

Megan Loomis
'Emcee'

Megan Loomis just finished a successful run Off-Broadway of The Other Josh Cohen.  She has toured North America and Asia with War Horse, Cabaret, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Sweeney Todd.  Other Off-Broadway credits include The Dead, 1904 and Woody Sez at Irish Repertory Theater, and John Doyle’s Allegro at Classic Stage Company.  Regional: Goodspeed, GeVa, Ogunquit, Flat Rock, Merry-Go-Round, Ivoryton, Stages Houston and Maltz-Jupiter Theatres. International: Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Vienna’s English Theatre.  Many thanks to Michael Imbimbo, Lee and Marci and Uncle Johnny for introducing me to Irish fiddle. Proud graduate of Eastman School of Music. www.megloomis.com

Morgan Morse
'Andrej'

Morgan is excited to be doing his first show at the Cape Playhouse! He is also excited to be returning to this incredible show and the role of Andrej, which he played this past fall at the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut. Other credits include: Ring of Fire at Stages Repertory Theatre in Texas and Vienna’s English Theatre in Vienna, Austria (Jack Cash), Southern Comfort at the Public Theater in NYC (Storyteller). He would like to thank his father, to whom he owes not only this job but pretty much his whole career, both his parents, to whom he owes his existence and survival so far, and his roommates’ dog, Trudy, to whom he owes nothing but she’s just very cute. He’s also a singer-songwriter and you can check out his original music online at https://soundcloud.com/morgan-morse! If you want. No pressure.

Ben Magnuson
Bank Manager

Thrilled to be making his debut at The Cape Playhouse! Most recently, Ben played Lemml in the Chicago premiere of Paula Vogel’s Indecent at Victory Gardens, directed by Gary Griffin.

Other regional credits include work with American Conservatory Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Human Race Theater Company, La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, Marriott Lincolnshire and Paper Mill Playhouse. Favorite New York credits are Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival, 2007 Tour), Guys And Dolls (2009 Broadway Revival), Les Misérables (25th Anniversary Tour), and Once (1st National Tour and Broadway). TV and Film credits include “30 Rock”, “Chicago Justice” and “The Other Guys”.

 

 

Zach Spound
'Svec'

Zach is a New York-based. writer, actor, and composer. He is the music supervisor, arranger, and orchestrator of Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical, currently on tour. He was a featured songwriter at the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project in Chicago, a winner of the 2016 NMI/Disney New Voices contest, and received Best Musical and Best Lyrics at the 2018 Soundbites Festival for 10-minute musicals.

As an actor, credits include “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon), The Other Josh Cohen (Off-Broadway), Once (South Coast Repertory), Murder For Two (Geffen Playhouse), and Floyd Collins (La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts). 

 

Tina Stafford
'Baruska'

Tina has been a musician all of her life. Playing multiple instruments and singing has found her jobs on the stage touring and performing all over the world. She spent 2&1/2 years on the road with the First National Tour of Once, and resides in New York City.

Leading roles with New York Classical Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Buck’s County Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed Musicals, Cleveland Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse, Westport Country Playhouse, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Arena Stage, Geva Theatre Center, Kansas City Rep, Virginia Stage, PCPA Theatrefest, and the Utah, Texas and Maine Shakespeare Festivals, among many others. Proud Equity member.

 

Matt Wolpe
'Billy'

Broadway: Finding Neverland. National Tours: Once, Finding Neverland. Off-Broadway: Hell’s Belles. Regional: Laguna Playhouse, Kirk Douglas, Pasadena Playhouse, Weston Playhouse, The Blank, The Engeman, Ensemble Theatre Santa Barbara, La Mirada, NoHo Arts Center, Boston Theatre Works, and Sacramento Music Circus. He is the former Bumble Bee Tuna Spokesman and has graced your small screens in various other commercials and formats.
An LA native currently residing in NYC, Matt is also an award winning songwriter with five records out. Love and  thanks Mom, Pops, and BRS-GAGE. More info and music: MattWolpe.com. 

 

Kurt Zischke
'Da'

Broadway, Off-Broadway & National Tours include Signs Of Life, Whistle Down The Wind, The Buddy Holly Story, The Three Sisters, Antigone, King Lear, A Doll’s House, The Beaux’ Stratagem, George Abbott’s Broadway,

Barbara’s Blue Kitchen, and Ulysses In Nighttown, among others. Regionally he has appeared across the country in over 130 productions ranging from Julius Caesar (Brutus) to My Fair Lady (Henry Higgins) at  such theatres as The Repertory Theatre Of St. Louis, The Old Globe, Northern Stage, The Alliance,The Huntington, The Pioneer, Cincinnati Playhouse, Westport Country  Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public, La Jolla Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Arkansas Rep, and the Utah, New Jersey, and Alabama Shakespeare Festivals. He is a graduate of Stanford University and The Neighborhood Playhouse, where he studied under Sanford Meisner. Kurt is married to Actress Victoria Adams-Zischke, and they are most proud of their  14 year old daughter, Scout, who is attending the Storm King School in Cornwall, NY.

 

Florence Carlson
'Ivanka'

Born in England, Florence moved across the pond to Harwich Port when she was two years old.  Passionate about music and the arts from a young age, she began ballet at three years old and Suzuki violin aged four, and continues to excel at both.  She is also a keen writer, illustrator and inventor who loves to imagine, design and create! Last summer she played the role of Emmy Helmer in Ibsen’s A Dollhouse at Monomoy Theatre in Chatham with the Hart School University. 

Other stage productions include Mary Poppins and The Wizard Of Oz with Cotuit Center For The Arts, and The Music Man and Seussical at Cape Cod Academy where she has just completed 3rd Grade. Florence is thrilled to be making her debut with The Cape Playhouse in Once. The chance to combine her love of theatre with music is a dream come true!

ENDA WALSH (Book) is an acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and director. His recent work includes the play Arlington and the opera The Second Violinist which both premiered at the Galway International Arts Festival in 2016 and 2017 respectively. He also worked on the new musical, Lazarus, with David Bowie, which opened at New York Theatre Workshop in December 2015. His work has been translated into many languages and has been performed internationally since 1996. In 2014 he received an Honorary Doctorate from Galway University. Enda is currently adapting and directing Max Porter’s Grief is the Thing with Feathers for Complicite.

GLEN HANSARD (Music) is an award-winning musician with a host of real-life songs and lilting vocals that reflect a passion for his diverse influences. Film: The Commitments and Once. Albums: Didn't He Ramble,Rhythm and Repose, Strict Joy, the soundtrack of Once (Academy Award for Best Original Song, 'Falling Slowly'; Olivier award for Outstanding Musical Contribution), The Swell Season, The Cost, Burn the Maps, Set List, For the Birds, Dance the Devil, Fitzcarraldo and Another Love Song. Glen is currently touring the world supporting his latest solo album release Between Two Shores.

MARKETA IRGLOVÁ (Music) is an Academy Award winning musician and actor born in the Czech Republic. Film: Once and Milluji tě Modře. Albums: Muna, Anar, The Swell Season, the soundtrack of Once (Academy Award for Best Original Song, 'Falling Slowly', Olivier award for Outstanding Musical Contribution), Strict Joy. Markéta is currently writing songs for her third solo album alongside various other musical projects for stage and screen. She is due to have her third baby in Iceland this year.

HUNTER FOSTER (Director) is the Artistic Director for the Redhouse Arts Center in Syracuse, and was named the 2018 “Director of the Year” by the Wall Street Journal. He most recently directed the off-Broadway musical, The Other Josh Cohen in NYC, and the critically acclaimed production of The Drowsy Chaperone at the Goodspeed Opera House. He is an Artistic Associate at the Bucks County Playhouse where he has directed: 42nd Street, Clue, Guys & Dolls, Company, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Buddy Holly Story, National Pastime, The Rocky Horror Show, Summer of ’42, Million Dollar Quartet and It’s a Wonderful Life. Other directing credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Western Carolina), A Connecticut Christmas Carol (Goodspeed), Our Town (Theatre Aspen), The Other Josh Cohen (Geva Theatre), One Hit Wonder (Univ. of Michigan), Cabaret, My Fair Lady, The Foreigner, Clue (Cape Playhouse) Grease (North Carolina Theatre), Spamalot (Casa Manana) and Million Dollar Quartet (Papermill).

DAVID L. ARSENAULT (Scenic Designer) Cape Playhouse: Some Enchanted Evening, Cabaret, The Foreigner, Gypsy, South Pacific, Once. Recent NYC designs: Mies Julie and The Dance of Death (CSC), A Letter to Harvey Milk (Theatre Row), Education (59E59), Julius Caesar (CSC), Peer Gynt (CSC, directed by John Doyle), and A Better Place (The Duke) International: English Theatre Berlin. Regional: Bay Street Theatre, Geva Theatre, Hangar Theatre, Kitchen Theatre Company, Hudson Stage, Gulfshore Playhouse, Northern Stage, Dorset Theatre Festival, and Weston Playhouse among others. Broadway Associate Design: Hillary and Clinton, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Color Purple, King Charles III, Constellations, and Disaster!. Member: USA 829. Education: Ithaca College. www.DavidArsenaultDesign.com


JOSEPH PALERMO (Sound Design) Joseph Palermo is a Chicago based Sound Designer and Digital Technologist who is quite pleased to be here for your listening pleasure. He’s been recognized at the Cannes Film Festival, the Chicago Merit Awards, and University of Glasgow for excellence in Design and Design Concepts. His next projects include the rest of The Cape Playhouses’ season, Cambodian Rock Band at The City Theatre and The Merrimack Theatre, and The Polar Express with Warner Brothers and Amtrak. His most recent creative obsessions include recording things in an underwater environment,  and applying the concepts of Quantum Physics to composition.  Joseph is a proud member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association.

JAMES O. HANSEN (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be making his Cape Playhouse debut! Recent credits include: On Your Feet! (Gateway Playhouse), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Resident Theatre Company), Beauty and the Beast (Gateway); Flashdance: The Musical (Gateway). Other credits include: Joseph...Dreamcoat, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Beauty and the Beast and Beehive all at Theatre by the Sea. James earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Management from Dean College in Franklin, MA. Many thanks to the Creative Team, Cast and Crew! Special thanks to his family and Gabby for their love and support! JOHansenPSM.com

KIRK BOOKMAN (Lighting Design) For Cape Playhouse: Million Dollar Quartet. Broadway: The Sunshine Boys (with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall), The Gin Game (Julie Harris & Charles Durning), and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.  Off-Broadway:  Charles Busch’s The Confessions of Lily Dare and Shanghai Moon, 9 Circles, God Of Vengeance, Closer Than Ever, Right You Are, Recent Tragic Events , The Green Heart (Manhattan Theatre Club), Havana Is Waiting, Force Continuum, My One Good Nerve (starring Ruby Dee), The Shawl, Rude Entertainment, The Book of Liz (David & Amy Sedaris), Les MIZrahi (Isaac Mizrahi’s), As Thousands Cheer, June Moon, The Playboy of the Western World, Eclipsed, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Major Barbara. Aunt Jack at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. Ballet: English National Ballet, Santiago Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and Budapest Ballet. Stage production to large screen video: The Thomasheskys and Company with the New York Philharmonic.

GAIL BALDONI (Costume Designer) NYC credits include My Fair Lady at The New York Philharmonic, Wonderful Town at New York City Opera and an Emmy nomination for NBC’s “Another World”. Film work: Mermaids, starring Cher and The Boy in the Bathtub. Numerous shows for Papermill Playhouse, The Goodspeed Opera, The Ahmanson Theater, North Shore Music Theatre, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, The Boston Ballet and The Cleveland Playhouse. 13 Off-Broadway shows to date. Other favorite projects include the Rockette’s Christmas Show, Disney on Ice and The Ringling Bros. Circus. Gail is currently teaching at SUNY Purchase in the Conservatory of Dance Department. 21 Cape Playhouse productions including: South Pacific, Spelling Bee and Gypsy.

CASSIE MCKAY (Assistant Stage Manager) Cassie grew up on the Cape, and is a current sophomore pursuing a BFA in Stage Management from Point Park University. Past credits include: Student Choreography Project, Raymond Laine Memorial One Acts (Pittsburgh Playhouse); Evita, Showboat, La Cage aux Folles, Newsies (Interlakes Summer Theatre); Oklahoma (Cotuit Center for the Arts); and Detective Sketches, Big Fish, Once on This Island, A Wrinkle in Time, The Love of Three Oranges (Sturgis Charter Public School). Thank you to her friends and family for their support, and to the Cape Playhouse for the opportunity to work on incredible theatre. Enjoy the show!

CAROLINE PASTORE (Assistant Stage Manager) is incredibly excited to be joining The Cape Playhouse team this summer! Caroline lives in Shelburne, VT and was a Stage Manager for FlynnArts for five years. Some of the productions she worked on there include: Cry- Baby, Cabaret and Once on This Island. She currently attends SUNY Purchase as a Theatre Design/Technology student and worked on We’re Gonna Be Okay this year as the Assistant Stage Manager. Caroline would like to thank the Cape Playhouse team for being so welcoming and her family and teachers for all their support.

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