Who's Who

Tom Isbell (Playwright) is a professor of theatre at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he is a Horace T. Morse Distinguished Teacher. He is the author of Lessons: The Craft of Acting (Meriwether Publishing) and numerous plays, including Me & JFK, which has been produced in New York, Los Angeles, and Egypt. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Tom's film credits include: 84 Charing Cross Road, Jacknife, True Lies, Clear and Present Danger. TV credits include: Sisters, Designing Women, Coach, The Commish, Murder She Wrote, Columbo, Golden Girls, and many others. He is happily married to Pat Isbell.

Mark Russell (Composer/Lyricist) is delighted to have collaborated with Tom Isbell on Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major. This is his first foray into the world of musical theater. And quite naturally, it's about the White House. His newfound theatrical flair was further recognized in 2004 when the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site presented Mark with the annual Teddy Roosevelt Leadership Award. Mark Russell is normally found on stage, by himself, playing off the day's headlines, performing stand up comedy while accompanying himself on the piano. With impeccable timing, twinkling eyes and shock-of-recognition insights into American politics, he draws merriment from the pomposity of public life. He spent most of the last 30 years on public television as host of the "Mark Russell Comedy Specials", which was consistently among the top-rated shows on that network. A native of Buffalo, NY, Mark Russell's first heroes were entertainers. Radio comedians like Fred Allen and Jack Benny had audiences screaming for satire. It seems that everyone was making fun of self-important people. Kenny Delmar was Senator Claghorn. Groucho Marx was Dr. Quackenbush. Bugs Bunny was Toscanini. Charlie Chaplin was Hitler. Comic anarchy. Making fun of authority figures. Mark was inspired. He went out and earned the reputation of class clown, beginning in the fourth grade and maintained it right through high school. What the faculty thought can only be imagined. But years later, when a scholarship at Canisius High School was endowed in his name, it was to forever be awarded to a student who showed “great wisdom and wit, but not necessarily in that order.” Like a lot of guys in the 50s and 60s, Mark Russell readily admits that he dodged the draft. He did it by joining the Marine Corps. The Few. The Proud. The Funny. After serving his full hitch, he found himself in the smoke-filled bars of Washington, DC, singing his funny. He began knowing little about politics, but was an immediate hit because he could find humor in anything. Around the time the New Frontier was invading Washington, Mark Russell invaded the Shoreham Hotel for a risky two-week gig. It lasted for twenty years. The Marquee Lounge became “the place” where politicians would come to hear Mark's jokes about what they had done that day. Today his syndicated column is enjoyed all over America, as are his CDs, tapes and videos. Mark Russell is on the road most of the year performing at colleges, conventions and in theaters. He still lives

Gregg Henry (Director) Productions for Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences: Barbara Field's adaptation of Dreams in the Golden Country and Norman Allen's The Light of Excalibur. Recent productions include the U.S. Premiere of Girl in the Goldfish Bowl by Morris Panych for MetroStage, Julie Jensen's Two-Headed for Washington Shakespeare Company, Shelagh Stephenson's An Experiment with an Air Pump for Journeymen Theater Ensemble, the U.S. premiere of Daniel MacIvor's You Are Here for Theatre Alliance, and Barbara Field's adaptation of Scaramouche for Washington Shakespeare Company. Upcoming projects include Norman Allen's The Christmas Foundling for Journeymen Theater Ensemble. He has directed, acted or staged the fights for the Colorado, Iowa, Oklahoma, Michigan and Wisconsin Shakespeare Festivals. He is artistic director of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and artistic associate for Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences.

Production Staff

Debra Kim Sivigny (Costume Designer) has been working in DC for several years as a freelance designer. Last season, she was the assistant costume designer for Citizen 13559: The Journal of Ben Uchida, and the associate costume designer for Walking the Winds: Arabian Tales. Other recent designs include: Girl in the Goldfish Bowl at MetroStage, Two Headed at Washington Shakespeare Company, The Monument and Two Rooms at Theater Alliance, The Gigli Concert at Woolly Mammoth, Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem Cards at Rorschach Theatre, An Experiment with an Air Pump at Journeymen Theater Ensemble, and The Winter's Tale at Colorado Shakespeare Festival. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland's MFA program in costume design and a resident company member of Rorschach Theatre.

Nicholas Vaughan (Scenic Designer) is a New York based scenic and costume designer. D.C. designs include The Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, The Monument and Two Rooms. In New York: Particularly in the Heartland (winner of the Edinburgh Fringe First Award), Uncle Vanya, The Eccentricities of the Nightingale, The Seagull, Endgame, Elizabeth Bam, Never as Happy in a World of Blue, Nerve, The Silent Concerto, The Orphan Singer, and Tape. He received the 2005 NYC Fringe award for outstanding set design, the 2005 USITT Oren Parker award for set design, the Lloyd Weninger award for stage design, and was selected for the US exhibit in the 2007 Prague Quadrennial. Contact: nick@nrvscenography.com.

Nancy Schertler (Lighting Designer) Broadway: Fool Moon, Largely/New York (Tony Award nomination). Off-Broadway: Productions include The Regard Evening, Texts for Nothing, a Flea in Her Ear, Scapin, Falsettoland. Regional: Extensive work on new plays includes designs for Hilda, The Gamester, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field, The Colussus of Rhodes and Levee James for ACT, in San Francisco, The Sisters Matsumotto for Seattle Rep, Moby Dick at the Milwaukee Rep, Korczak's Children for The Children's Theatre Company, and Tom Walker, Lovers and Executioners, and Shakespeare in Hollywood among others at Washington's Arena Stage where she is an artistic associate. Opera credits include II Viaggio a Reims for Portland Opera Don Giovanni and The Barber of Seville for Boston Lyric Opera II Trovatore for Baltimore Opera, Falstaff and numerous other productions for Wolf Trap Opera Company, and Clara commissioned by the University of Maryland about the life of Clara Schumann.

William Burns (Sound Designer) WASHINGTON, DC: The Girl in the Goldfish Bowl (Metro Stage); The Tempest (The Shakespeare Theatre Company - Education Dept.); Sound Design Internship (The Shakespeare Theatre Company, with Martin Desjardins); KCACTF-Nationals '06, Guest Artist (The Kennedy Center); ASSISTANT SOUND DESIGN: Pericles (The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Carter Baron); Picasso's Closet (Theater J); Monument (Theatre Alliance); Frozen (Studio Theatre); ACADEMIA: The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center: Playwrights Conference '05 (Waterford, CT with Ryan Rumery); The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center: Cabaret Festival '05 (Waterford, CT with Ryan Rumery); Smokey Joe's Café (National Sound Design Award, KCACTF), Angels in America: Part I, Angels in America: Part II, Guy's and Dolls (Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX).

George Fulginiti-Shakar (Music Director) is a music director for major theatrical and cabaret performances in the Washington, D.C. area. He was awarded the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Music Direction of Arena Stage’s acclaimed production of Cabaret, and has an additional 7 nominations for other productions. His credits include the Shakespeare Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theatre, Studio Theatre, Theatre J, Discovery Theatre, The Public Theatre (NYC), The Ohio Theatre (NYC), Perseverance Theatre (Juneau), and the Athens Theatre Festival (Greece). Mr. Fulginiti-Shakar was also a guest Music Director at the Eugene O'Neill Music Theatre Conference, and has served as Choral Master for the last six international Army Soldier Show tours.

Deborah Wicks La Puma (Arranger) is delighted to be working again with the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences. Past productions include Willy Wonka; Tom Sawyer; Alexander Who's Not Going to Move; The Emperor's New Clothes, Walking the Winds: Arabian Tales, and most recently Nobody's Perfect. Her other works for young audiences include Einstein is a Dummy (Commissioned and Premiered at the Alliance Theatre, GA), Ferdinand the Bull and Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans (Commissioned and Premiered at Imagination Stage, MD). Her adult works include the lyric opera Dakota Sky (Premiered at Olney Theatre), the musical comedy One Bad Apple (Premiered at Stanford University), and a pet-centric cabaret show PETPOURRI (NYC's John Houseman Theater). Her awards include the Jane Chamber Playwriting Award, the Robert M. Golden Award, a National Endowment for the Arts' New American Works Grant, a Helen Hayes nomination for Outstanding Musical Direction, two Parent's Choice Audio Awards, and two-time Actor's Playhouse National Children’s Theatre Festival Winner. Ms. La Puma, a Mexican-American, received her MFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and her BA from Stanford University. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband Chris and her three sweet daughters, Rosie, Julia and Cecilia. Check out her website: www.Crunchynotes.com!

Ilona Kessell (Choreographer) Ilona's choreography and musical staging have been featured on the stages of Imagination Stage, Olney Theatre Center, Montgomery College, Toby's Dinner Theatre and Towson University. She has received multiple nominations for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Choreography for her work at Toby's – winning the award for Ragtime (2004) and Damn Yankees (2002). Currently, Ilona directs the Dance Programs at the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, MD, and is an adjunct instructor for the Department of Performing Arts at American University. In the past, she has been a member of the dance faculties of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Goucher College, the Chautauqua Institute, as well as a plethora of commercial studios. Ilona is a member of the Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers.

Dreama J. Greaves (Properties Artisan) has served as properties artisan for many Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences shows. Her credits include such diverse productions as Dreams in the Golden Country; The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; The Nightingale; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and others; many of which have toured nationally. She has a Master of Fine Arts from Northwestern University and free-lances throughout the metro area.

Andrew Cissna (Assistant Lighting Designer) has been lighting theatre and dance for the past 6 years. Design credits include The Laramie Project, Gross Indecency, Waiting For Godot, Don Quixote Ballet (NCSA), Gross Indecency (Theater Alliance, Washington DC), The Gingham Dog (African Continuum Theatre), To Kill a Mockingbird (Jeffers Theater), and The Great Gatsby (Assoc. Designer, Charleston Ballet Theatre). Andrew also worked as Head Followspot for the Dora the Explorer National Tour and as a head electrician for the Spoleto Festival USA. He has a BFA in Lighting Design from the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Gregory May (Lasso and Stilts Coach) began performing in 1981 with Onstage Productions in Ellicott City, MD. He sang and danced with them until 1990 when he was accepted to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Clown College. His Bachelor of Fun Arts completed, he then joined the circus itself and toured North America for the next three years (pausing momentarily to wed his circus sweetheart) before returning home to Maryland. He has performed on the Late Show with David Letterman, in seven national commercials, on the White House lawn with Shari Lewis, locally at theaters in Columbia and Baltimore, MD and for hundreds of children at the Children’s National Medical Center and John’s Hopkins Hospital as a member of Big Apple Circus Clown Care team.

Chris Baine (Associate Sound Designer) has designed for The Carer (Essential Theater), Petri Dish Circus (Active Cultures), Two Rooms (Theater Alliance), Pump Boys and Dinettes and Proof (Groundup Productions), and for two seasons at Actors Theater of Charlotte. He has been an assistant sound designer for Edward II and Tambourlane (Shakespeare Theater Company), and Cabaret (Arena Stage). He interned for the national tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He was the Lead A/V installer for the Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte. He is a graduate from North Carolina School of the Arts with a degree in Sound Design and Engineering.

Brahim Pettis (Assistant to the Lighting Designer) is an aspiring lighting designer based out of Atlanta, Georgia. Starting out as a classical pianist, he began his career while still in high school. He recently interned for the playwrights and cabaret conferences at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, and is currently receiving his B.F.A in Lighting Design from the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Cast

Cecil Baldwin (Count Cassini) Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences On Tour: Sal the Rabbit in Alice by Whoopi Goldberg, adapted for the stage by Kim Hines; Studio Theatre: Robinson Crusoe in The Russian National Postal Service, Anton Chekhov in The Death of Meyerhold, Man in Autobahn; The Shakespeare Theatre Company: Cyrano, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, A Midsummer Night's Dream; Journeymen Theater: Arnold in The Boys Next Door, Ty Wain in The Colorado Catechism; Catalyst Theatre: Michael in Someone Who'll Watch Over Me; Rorschach Theatre: "The Bishop" in BEHOLD!; Didactic Theatre: Isaac in Beautiful Child; The National Players (Tour 54): Orgon in Tartuffe, Jaques in As You Like It; Capitol Fringe Festival and Journeymen Theatre: Bartleby in Bartleby; Cherry Red Theatre: Recta Lee in Day Old Plays '05; Tantalus Theatre: Agamemnon02; Hyperworld Theatre: Melia in Execution of Justice; FILM: Felix in Open Cam.

James Flanagan (Kermit) Off Broadway: Columbinus (New York Theatre Workshop). Regional: Hamlet, Kimberly Akimbo, Arcadia (Rep Stage); The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow (Studio Theatre); Columbinus (Round House Theatre, Perseverance Theatre); The Cripple of Inishmaan (Everyman Theatre); Man With Bags (Longacre Lea Productions); Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It (Baltimore Shakespeare Festival); Troilus and Cressida (Chesapeake Shakespeare Company); Comedy of Errors (Maryland Shakespeare Festival). Education: Towson University. Special thanks to Gregg Henry, the cast and crew.

Michael Glenn (Teddy Roosevelt) is a Washington, DC based actor originally from Minnesota. Grateful to be working on his first production with the Kennedy Center, Michael's previous DC productions include: The Hothouse, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Man with Bags, The Power of the Dog, Real Inspector Hound, Dumb Waiter, Dogg's Hamlet/Cahoot's Macbeth (Longacre Lea); Man of Destiny, O'Flaherty VC, You Never Can Tell, Major Barbara, An Empty Plate at the Cafe du Grand Boeuf, The Underpants, A Skull in Connemara (Washington Stage Guild); Fallen From Proust, Absence of Spring (Signature Theatre); Twelfth Night, Elizabeth the Queen (Folger Shakespeare Library); Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Theatre); [sic] (Theatre Alliance).

Elyce Henkin (Ethel Roosevelt) is a recent graduate from Georgetown University where she studied marketing and theater. Georgetown credits include: Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, Loud Stone in Eurydice, Anne Frank in the workshop production of Right As Rain, among others. Elyce recently understudied the roles of Pheobe, La Belle and Hymen in the Folger Shakespeare Theatre's production of As You Like It. Many thanks to her teachers, Derek Goldman, Susan Lynskey and Leslie Varnick, Gregg Henry for his faith and this wonderful opportunity and her family for their constant love and support. Special thanks to the cast and crew for making this process so enjoyable.

Mathew McGloin (Archie) originated the role of Archie Roosevelt in the world premiere of Teddy Roosevelt at the Kennedy Center. Other credits include As You Like It (Folger Theatre); Cinderella (Olney Theatre); Faust (Synetic Theatre – Helen Hayes nomination, Outstanding Ensemble); Huck Finn's Story (Imagination Stage); The Tempest and The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged (Virginia Shakespeare Festival); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Maryland Stage Company); and Master Harold…and the boys (Unmentionable Theatre Company). This summer he will appear in The Taming of the Shrew and The Complete History of America Abridged at the Virginia Shakespeare Festival in Williamsburg.

Amy Prothro (Mrs. Duffit) has performed in theaters from coast to coast including the Kennedy Center, Jupiter Theatre, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Fullerton CLO, Lawrence Welk Theatre, Arena Stage and Hermosa Beach Playhouse. She has played such diverse roles as Phebe (As You Like It), Kathy Selden (Singin' in the Rain), Agnes Gooch (Mame), Estelle (No Exit) and Anybodys (West Side Story). Ms. Prothro's training includes Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Northwestern University, The Boston Conservatory, where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre and an MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at George Washington University.

Keenan Ramos (James) This is Keenan's first production with the Kennedy Center and he is still thanking his lucky stars for this incredible opportunity. Currently, he is finishing his Bachelor's Degree in Theatre at Kansas State University. A few memorable roles include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet; Cladwell in Urinetown; Isaiah in Nathan L. Jackson's The Last Black Play; Martinez in Take Me Out; and Dogberry in Much Ado about Nothing. Keenan would like to extend an overwhelming amount of thanks to Gregg Henry, his family, and lastly Shannon.

Mary C. Davis (Understudy) grew up on the stage in her tiny hometown of Lewisburg, West Virginia. Since she left home, she received a B.A. in Theatre from George Washington University and traveled the country with National Players, a classical touring company, for two years. Mary studies, teaches, builds and performs in many theaters around the DC area. Acting credits include: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Monica) at Studio Theatre; The Story (Jessica) and BOBCo (Company Member) at African Continuum Theatre; Bartleby (Ginger), Breadhouse (Teresa) and Life’s a Dream (Ensemble) at Journeymen Theater, where she is also an Artistic Associate.

Michael Russotto (Understudy) is thrilled to join the Teddy Roosevelt tour. He has appeared in shows at many Washington, DC theatres, including The Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Theatre Alliance, Theatre J, The Folger Theatre, Arena Stage, MetroStage, Olney Theatre and Studio Theatre. Recent roles include Alexandra in She Stoops to Comedy at Woolly Mammoth, Mr. Lawrence in Girl in the Goldfish Bowl at MetroStage and The Soul in Vigils at Woolly Mammoth. Michael is a member of the Woolly Mammoth Acting Company and is also a narrator of recorded books for the Library of Congress.

Michael Vitaly Sazonov (Understudy) has appeared at the Kennedy Center (Mister Roberts with Hunter Foster and A Streetcar Named Desire with Patricia Clarkson, as well as understudying their production of The Phantom Tollbooth); Roundhouse Theatre (Summer of '42); Quotidian Theatre Company (Valentine's Day); Olney Theatre Center (Cinderella); Firebelly Productions (Lend Me a Tenor); and The Modlin Center for the Arts (Autobahn). Michael has his own cabaret-style, one-man show: My Well Schooled Heart, the education of a young modern day romantic. Michael is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association.

Tour Technical Staff

Lindsay Miller (Stage Manager) has stage managed Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company's Current Nobody, the Kennedy Center's Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major (2006), Imagination Stage's New Kid, The Hundred Dresses, and James and the Giant Peach, Theater J's Accident, Sleeping Arrangements, and The Dybbuk (with Synetic Theatre), Theater Alliance's ¾ of a Mass for St. Vivian, Journeymen Theatre Ensemble's An Experiment with an Airpump , and Opera Unlimited Festival's The Garden Party, and The Cask of Amontillado. She has assisted on Round House Theatre's The Chairs, Commonwealth Shakespeare Co.'s Much Ado About Nothing, and Macbeth. She sends her thanks, as always, to Justin.

Michael Buchman (Technical Director) Joining the Kennedy Center for the fourth time, Michael is happy to be back. Past tours include Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka and Alexander Who's Not Not Not Not Not Not Going To Move. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Michael is happy to face the new challenges ahead. Other current projects include being a Technical Director for Long Lake Camp for the Arts in upstate New York.

Ryan Mathew Hood (Lighting Supervisor) is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton and a local California lighting designer. This is his first tour and is so far having a great time and has met some wonderful people around the country. He would like to thank Anna, Erin, Mer, Brett, Brandon, Lindsey, and Maddox.

Brian Rudell (Sound Supervisor) has worked in the DC and Baltimore areas local concert circuit for the past six years, and is excited to be on tour with the Kennedy Center. A graduate from University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2006, Brian has a degree in Theatre Design and Production. Brian has been working for many DC area theaters including the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth, and Theater J, as a carpenter, electrician, and sound technician. In addition to production work, Brian has been handling Sound Designs for many regional theaters in the Baltimore area.

Joshua Allard (Prop and Wardrobe Supervisor) has designed over 50 shows with over 20 companies in his hometown of Chicago for four years. He has served as a movement practitioner and choreographer, and assistant director for Roosevelt University, Millennium Chamber Players, and Piccolo Theatre Ensemble. He has worked with Victory Gardens Theatre, Northlight Theatre, and Lookingglass Theatre as a costume/scenic technician. Joshua is the 2007/ 2008 designer for Chicago Tap Theatre, and serves as the General Manager of the storefront opera and artsong company VOX 3 Collective, Inc. He studied at Valparaiso University and the Aveda Institute of Science & Beauty.

* Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka is a professional production employing members of Actors' Equity Association