Chestnuts roasting. Sleigh bells ringing. Snowflakes falling. The sights and sounds of the season we all know and love. Join us for an evening of song, dance and music guaranteed to give you that holiday feeling.

Directed by Darlene Zoller
Musical direction by Colin Britt

December 9 - 19; preview on December 8

REVIEW: CT Wit blog

See photos from this production
in our Photo Gallery.

Featuring: Kevin Barlowski, Carolyn Bell, Carolyn Cumming, Hillary Ekwall, Rick Fountain, Danté Jeanfelix, Becky LaBombard, Jenna Levitt, Victoria Thornsbury SPECIAL BONUS: Open mic with a holiday sing-along lead by music director Colin Britt, following both Saturday performances. The open mic/sing-along is free!  (just remember to tip your pianist)    BYOB

SUN	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT
DECEMBER 2010			8 7:30pm (Preview)	9 7:30pm (Opening Nite with Wine and Cheese)	10 8:00pm .	11 8:00pm Open mic following the show .
12 2:00pm	13	14	15	16 7:30pm	17 8:00pm	18 8:00pm Open mic following the show
19 2:00pm

 

KEVIN BARLOWSKI was last seen at the Playhouse as The Boy who gave that mischievous MOUSE a COOKIE. A native of West Hartford, Kevin returns home after the international tour of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) where he played the role of Daniel throughout Thailand. Kevin holds (in his left hand) a B.A. in Theatre Education from Emerson College and carefully balanced in his right hand, a certificate in Musical Theatre Performance from Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City. Past regional credits include URINETOWN (Caldwell B. Cladwell), A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM (Lysander, Francis Flute, First Fairy), INTO THE WOODS (Baker), 42ND STREET (Billy Lawlor) and FOOTLOOSE (Ren McCormack). He has also had the privilege of performing in BROADWAY FOR A NEW AMERICA. An active accompanist and instructor at the Greater Hartford Arts Academy, Kevin is blessed to share this holiday season with his family and friends.

CAROLYN BELL says that watching "The Wizard of Oz" at age 3 sparked her lifelong dream of *being* Dorothy and singing and dancing down the yellow brick road in ruby red slippers directly to B'way and the MGM stage set. Meanwhile, she took great delight singing her favorite showtunes in summer camp productions in the Catskills. Although "retired" from the stage for several decades, she found her way back to her dream 6 years ago, performing at jazz clubs and cabaret venues in Western MA. Since moving to West Hartford she regularly entertains at independent and assisted living communities. She was a featured soloist in LET'S FALL IN LOVE: A COLE PORTER REVUE at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA, and appeared in Little Theater of Manchester's production DANCING THROUGH TIME: A HISTORY OF BALLROOM DANCE IN AMERICA. Carolyn is thrilled to be making her Playhouse debut and would like to express her immense gratitude to her inspiring voice and dance instructors: Nancy Anderson, Starlett Cookman, and Darlene Zoller (if you've never tried the shim sham in ruby red slippers, come to Darlene's tap class and give it a whirl!)

CAROLYN CUMMING is thrilled to back at the Playhouse on Park for the 7th time! Past POP shows include DREAM HOUSE (Young Woman), BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS (Nora), stop/time dance theater's.VARIETY SHOW, MAMA TOMCAT, SOMETHING COOL...ICY HOT CABARET and MY SHOW: A CHOREOGRAPHER'S STORY. A recent UConn graduate, Carolyn performed in HAIR (Chrissy), THREEPENNY OPERA, and CABARET with the Connecticut Repertory Theater. She began her theater career with the West Hartford Summer Arts Festival where she originally had the pleasure to work with Sean Harris and Darlene Zoller. Past SAF favorites include GYPSY (Louise), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Tzeitel), 42nd STREET (Maggie Jones) and GUYS AND DOLLS.

HILLARY EKWALL is thrilled to be back performing at Playhouse on Park. She is a West Hartford native and a recent graduate of Skidmore College where she studied elementary education and music. She was most recently seen performing in the first national tour of CURIOUS GEORGE LIVE! and originating the role of Young Alice in the American Premier of ONCE UPON A TIME IN ATLANTIC CITY. Other favorite roles include Chava (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF), Anytime Annie (42ND STREET), and Kathy Seldon (SINGIN' IN THE RAIN) with the West Hartford Summer Arts Festival and Gilmer (GODSPELL) at the Ivoryton Playhouse. Hillary loves holiday music and is thankful to Darlene and Colin for for the opportunity to perform in this production! She extends eternal gratitude and thanks to her family, friends, POP, and mentors for all of their constant love and support, and for helping her get back on her dancing feet!

RICK FOUNTAIN returns to the Playhouse stage after his turn as The Mouse in IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE, along with Kevin Barlowski, in October. Last season, Rick appeared in SOMETHING COOL...ICY HOT CABARET and stop/time dance theater's VARIETY SHOW. Rick is a West Hartford resident and has performed several times on this stage and in local community theaters including Little Theater of Manchester and Manchester Musical Players. Favorite roles include: A CHORUS LINE (Bobby), SEUSSICAL (Cat in the Hat), DAMES AT SEA (Lucky), SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (Cosmo), HELLO, DOLLY! (Cornelius) and 42ND STREET (Billy Lawlor). Rick is an original member of stop/time dance theater and sings with the St. Peter Claver choir in West Hartford. By day, Rick works for The Hartford in the HR Learning organization. He would like to thank the wonderful cast, crew, Colin and Darlene for making this show possible and dedicates his performance to his wife Gretchen for her unending support.

DANTÉ JEANFELIX is making his Playhoue debut. He is a senior at Northwest Catholic high school in West Hartford. There, he has been seen in productions such as PEBBLE IN YOUR SHOE (Dante), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Orin), and RUMORS by Neil Simon (Officier Welch). He has also been a part of the Summer Vocal Instititute for Musical theatre at the University of Hartford. Danté takes tap and ballet at the University of Hartford. He is honored to be in this production with such talented people and he would like to thank God, his friends and family for all of their support. He would also like to give a special thanks to Janelle, his vocal instructor, and Colin and Darlene for such amazing direction and support.

BECKY LABOMBARD returns to the Playhouse after performing in stop/time dance theater's VARIETY SHOW and SOMETHING COOL...ICY HOT CABARET. Recent performances include Mayzie LaBird (SEUSSICAL) and Muzzie in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE with Manchester Musical Players and The Witch in INTO THE WOODS with LTM. Other favorite roles include Cheryl in TAFFETAS and Jo Sterling in SWINGTIME CANTEEN, both with the Producing Guild, and Gabby in CITY OF ANGELS, Joanne in COMPANY, Dolly in HELLO, DOLLY!, Reno Sweeney in ANYTHING GOES and Sister Robert Anne in NUNSENSE. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the Hartt School of Music. Her professional experience varies from jazz gigs to a cappella ensemble work to church soloist. Becky would like to thank Darlene and Colin for giving her this opportunity to return to her favorite new theater!

JENNA LEVITT is thrilled to return to Playhouse on Park after performing here in last season's SOMETHING COOL...ICY HOT CABARET. She most recently appeared at the Little Theatre of Manchester this past summer in their 25th Anniversary Revue. Favorite roles include JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT, (Narrator), THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Mrs. Meers), MAME (Agnes Gooch) and SEUSSICAL, THE MUSICAL (Gertrude McFuzz). When Jenna is not on stage, she works as a preschool teacher for the city of New Britain. She would like to extend a huge thank you to the talented directors, cast, and crew for this wonderful experience! Love to you all!

VICTORIA THORNSBURY is excited to return to Playhouse on Park for its second season! She was last seen at Playhouse's SOMETHING COOL...ICY HOT CABARET. Victoria just returned from a tour with Disney Cruise Lines, where she played the lead role Anne Marie in the award-winning musical, DISNEY DREAMS. Also with DCL, she was Andy in TOY STORY THE MUSICAL and in THE GOLDEN MICKEYS. Victoria will be reprising her role as Anne Marie on Disney's European ship January through November, 2011. Other favorite past shows include SWEENEY TODD (Johanna), THE FANTASTICKS (Louisa), I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY (NYC - Irca), 42nd STREET (Gladys), L'ENFANT ET LES SORTILEGES (Nightingale), and MISS SAIGON. Thanks to Playhouse on Park, and, of course, Colin. Happy Holidays!

COLIN BRITT (Musical Director) is excited to return for his third Playhouse on Park production. Previous music direction credits include THE LAST FIVE YEARS and co-music-directing SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM at Playhouse, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN with West Hartford Summer Arts Festival, PETER PAN with Summer Place Players, and SWEENEY TODD, JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL at various theaters in his home state of Maine. Colin holds a Bachelor's degree in music composition from the Hartt School and a Master's in choral conducting from Yale University. A versatile pianist, he has worked as a staff accompanist at the Hartt School, the Connecticut Children's Chorus, and for several public school choirs in the Hartford area. His compositions have been performed by ensembles at Westminster Choir College, Hartt, Yale, and throughout the state, including the Hartt Chorale, the Hartt Symphony Orchestra, the Yale Schola Cantorum, and the Greater Middletown Chorale. In the 2008-2009 season, he was the composer-in-residence for the New Haven Chorale. He currently serves on the adjunct conducting faculty at Hartt, as acting director of music at Marquand Chapel at Yale, and as the assistant music director at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.

DARLENE ZOLLER (Director) Since taking over management of Playhouse on Park with business partners, Sean Harris and Tracy Flater, the trio his produced 18 full productions and numerous events at the theatre. Darlene has choreographed ICY HOT CABARET, MAMA TOMCAT: THE MUSICAL, MRS. BOB CRATCHIT’S WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE and costumed BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS.  She is the Founder and Director of stop/time dance theater, now in its eighth season as well as Teacher/Choreographer for the Hall High Jazz Dancers. Darlene teaches dance at The Hartt School Community Division, Glastonbury Dance Center and Court House Fitness and Wellness in Vernon. She has also choreographed for local theaters including Mark Twain Masquers, Little Theatre of Manchester and Manchester Musical Players. Darlene would like to dedicate this show to Fred Blish who gave her a chance when she first moved to Connecticut. Thank you, Fred.

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