Notes From The Green Room

Notes From The Green Room
Kent State:A Requiem (2000)
The Youngstown Playhouse is the oldest continuously operating community theatre in the nation and is celebrating its 75th Diamond Jubilee this year. The Playhouse produces an annual Mainstage Season of 6 productions, A Summer Sun musical comedy series, 2 Holiday shows, a season arena theatre, as well as a slate of Youth Theatre productions and classes.
The Youngstown Playhouse can be emailed at yplayhouse@aol.com
Their phone is (330) 788-8739

To find out about the cast and crew just click on any head in the photo below.

Click on the head of anyone and their role and credits will be displayed at the top of the screen.

STARR E. McCLURE (director) Starr is both excited and nervous to
be directing her first "real" show. She has staged the Playhouse Youth
Board's library tour last summer (THE TRIAL OF THE BIG BAD
WOLF), as well as several one-acts at YSU. Starr has been involved
onstage or backstage in nearly 70 productions at The Playhouse, The
Oakland, YSU, Salem Community Theatre and TNT and has
numerous Playhouse Arthur and Youth Theatre awards to her credit.
Some of her recent Playhouse credits include Stage Manager for
OKLAHOMA, roles in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, PETER RABBIT and
RUMPELSTILTSKIN, and crew for numerous shows. A graduate of
YSU with a BA in Speech Communication/Theatre, Starr is the Office
Manager at The Playhouse. Starr has always felt a connection to the
events at Kent State, as she was born on May 3, 1970, the day before
the shootings.
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KENDRA LEE HICKS PACIFICO (costumer) Kendra first costumed
KENT STATE: A REQUIEM in the 1982 production at the University
of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she also played the role of
Allison Krause. Kendra's efforts on behalf of the Youngstown
Playhouse marks the fifth production of REQUIEM she has costumed.
Kendra received her BFA in Theatre Arts from the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro. She has worked for the Children's Theatre
of Charlotte and the Parkway Playhouse of Burnsville, NC, The North
Carolina Shakespeare Festival and the Goodyear Community Theatre
in Akron. Kendra is currently employed as a buyer for Mr. Fun's
Costumes and Magic Emporium in Cuyahoga Falls.
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JAMIE BENETTO (Stage Manager) Jamie made her Playhouse debut in A
CHRISTMAS CAROL and stage managed THE LAST NIGHT OF
BALLYHOO. Some her theatre credits include LITTLE SHOP OF
HORRORS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, WEST SIDE STORY at Kent State
Trumbull Branch; stage manager for MY FAIR LADY at TNT; and the title
role in ANNIE at All-Community Theatre (her favorite role). Jamie
graduated from KSU in 1994 with a degree in English and enjoys collecting
dolls and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
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JOSEPH BUKOVINSKY (Bill Schroeder) Joe made Playhouse debut as
Cord Elam in OKLAHOMA. A student at Boardman High School, Joe
played Angie the Ox in GUYS & DOLLS, Tulsa in GYPSY and Moonface
Martin in ANYTHING GOES (his favorite role) in the BHS productions.
Joe would like to dedicate his performance in KENT STATE: A REQUIEM
to Tonto, the Lone Rangees Indian Buddy.
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MELANIE CHRISTY(Housewife/Narrator) Melanie is a seasoned per-
former, having performed in shows at Mount Union, YSU, Kent State
Trumbull and Main Campus, the Oakland and the Playhouse (most
recently as Widow Winetraub in last fall's Youth Theatre production of
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW). Melanie has also appeared in
several commercials and industrial films.
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MARY ELLEN CLEARY (Mr.s Schroeder) Mary Ellen won three Arthur
Awards last season for her roles in AFTER PLAY, NUNSENSE JAMBOREE
and for technical achievement. She's been a staple at the Playhouse for
the past three seasons, acting and working backstage for nearly every
show. Mary Ellen is probably best remembered as Miss Tweed in
SOMETHING'S AFOOT. Her most memorable theatrical experience?
"Digging down deep for the emotions to play Emily Paine in AFTER PLAY
and trying to keep the demons I summoned at bay."
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NICHOLAS CORDOVA (Narrator) Nick has appeared in several produc-
tions at the Playhouse as well as throughout the community with the
Oakland, Easy Street Productions, YSU, Toughnut Players and Earshot
Productions. He is an actor with the Magic Carpet Touring Theatre, which
travels to schools all over Ohio and Pennsyvania. He listens to music
constantly and represents the real Hip-Hop. Free Tibet.
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MIKE GAITANIS (Stage Manager) Mike says, "I became interested in
performing when I was two years old and saw 80's pop star Tiffany on her
mall tour. Ever since then, I haven't been able to stop singing." He's
certainly proved that on the Playhouse stage, performing in such musicals
as SOUTH PACIFIC, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, PETER PAN, and Youth
Theatre's JACK-& THE BEANSTALK. Most recently, he played Peter Rabbit
in our Small Fry Theatre and the Big Bad Wolf in the Youth Board's summer
library tour. He attends school at Campbell Memorial. "Mikey, FOCUS!!!!!"
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DENISE GLINATSIS (Sandy Scheuer) Denise has been involved in theatre
at the Playhouse, YSU and the Oakland, where she was recently seen in
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION. At YSU She directed Christopher Durangs
MEDEA and YSU's FESTIVAL OF ONE ACTS and appeared onstage in THE
MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO and THE LESSON. In addition, Denise
has served as Asst.. Stage Manager for OLEANNA and costume designer for
THE ILLUSION at YSU.
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CHER L. HALAS (Mrs. Schroeder in Youngstown showings) Cher usually does comedic roles, so Mrs..Schroeder is quite a change of pace for her! An English teacher is MCJVS,she loves the theatre and has much experience at Salem CommunityTheatre, the Oakland, TNT, etc.. She was last seen on the Playhouse stage in RUMORS. She enjoys spending time with her son, Steve, who is her
biggest supporter. You may recognize Cher from local television commercials she's done for area businesses.
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LYNN KIRKWOOD (Citizen 2/Narrator) Lynn last appeared on the
Playhouse stage in A CHRISTMAS CAROL as the Ghost of Christmas Past.
She won Arthur Awards for her performance in SOUTH PACIFIC and
WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY? and has appeared in such shows as HELLO
DOLLY,. MY FAIR LADY and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. Lynn works part
time at the Business Journal. A member of the Playhouse Board of
Directors, her father, Jack, also served on our Board.
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KELLEY LEPSIK (Mary Ann Vecchio) Kelley is a senior at Canfield High
School and plans on attending Youngstown State University. She has
appeared in the Playhouse productions of GUYS & DOLLS THE
MIKADO and OKLAHOMA. Kelley performed this past summer with
The Sound of America Honor Chorus European Concert Tour.
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KATIE LIBECCO (Radical/Narrator) No stranger to the Playhouse Arena,
this is Katie's third Playhouse production. She appeared in last season's
RUMPELSTILTSKIN and PETER RABBIT. Katie also starred in
KSU-Trumbull Summer Stock's touring company production . Her
favorite theatrical experience was MY FAIR LADY at TNT. Katie is an 8th
grade student at East Jr.. Middle School in Warren and looks forward to
future shows!
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FRANK G. MARTIN (Businessman/Guard 1) Frank is making his first stage
appearance since 1994, when he played Reb Mordcha in FIDDLER ON
THE ROOF at YSU. He has been featured in several shows at the
Playhouse and YSU, including BIG RIVER, THE KING & I and THE
TEMPEST. In his spare time, this aspiring future teacher like to root for
the Indians and Browns, travel, watch movies, surf the internet and listens
to all kinds of music., especially music of the 80's.
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ED McATEE (Teacher/Arthur Krause) Ed last appeared in the Playhouse
production of FINIAN'S RAINBOW as the Sheriff. He's also played roles
in CHARLEYS AUNT, GUYS & DOLLS, SEE HOW THEY RUN, SOUTH
PACIFIC and SYLVIA. Ed works as an engineering technician at the U.S.
Air Force Reserve Base. His hobbies include golf, computers, theatre and
more golf!
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MIKE MRAZ (Jeff Miller) Mike is making his Playhouse premier in tonights
show. Prior to this his only theatre credit is a role in Boardman High
School's presentation of GODSPELL. He looks forward to future Playhouse
roles. Mike is a sophomore at BHS and performs with their choir and
Spartan Singers. The cast thanks Mike for stepping in at the last minute to
make the show a success!
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TRACY SCHULER (Poet/Allison Krause) A Playhouse favorite onstage, Tracy
has been seen in GUYS & DOLLS, PETER PAN, HELLO, DOLLY, I OUGHT
TO BE IN PICTURES and THE TAFFETAS. A two-time Arthur Award winner,
Tracy has enjoyed numerous roles throughout the area including Sally in
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN with Easy Street Productions,
A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Powers Auditorium, and PIPPIN at New Castle
Playhouse.
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LAURA J. WAGNER (Kent Student/Narrator) Though this is Laura's
Playhouse debut, she is no stranger to the world of theatre. She serves as
the advisor of the drama/speech program at Jackson-Milton Elementary.
Laura recently founded and serves as Artistic Director of the the Patchwork
Players Youth Theatre Workshop, a North Jackson-based organization with
the aim or raising money for charities through its productions.
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