Side By Side by Sondheim presents a celebration of the sophistication, wit, insight, heart and genius of Broadway's most innovative and influential composer. This intimate musical review highlights the early works of Stephen Sondheim featuring songs from Company, Anyone Can Whistle, Follies, Gypsy and more!

“This is Sondheim at his most simple and subtle. Yet, in their way, all the tunes are showstoppers” – Theatremania.com

Directed by Melissa Rain Anderson
Musical Direction by Colin Britt and Emmett Drake

Video Preview - Hear director Melissa Rain Anderson describe the production and see clips from the show.
REVIEWS: CT Wit blog | Hartford Advocate | Examiner


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OPEN MIKE (SAT. PERFORMANCES) Join Side by Side by Sondheim music directors Colin Britt and Emmett Drake for a Broadway Open Mic following the Saturday night performances on September 11th and 18th  at 10pm.  Tickets are $5 each if you have a Side by Side by Sondheim ticket; $10 if you don’t.   BYOB  Come ready to choose some sheet music and sing a song; join in on a sing along; or just sit back and enjoy.  Colin and Emmett, each on their own baby grand piano will serve as the evenings’ MCs and rumor has it, they have a few surprises up their sleeves!  To purchase tickets, call 860-523-5900 ext 10

SUN	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT
SEPTEMBER 2010			8 7:30pm (Preview)	9 7:30pm (Opening Nite)	10 8:00pm .	11 8:00pm Open Mic after the show .
12 2:00pm Talk Back with the cast	13	14	15	16 7:30pm	17 8:00pm	18 8:00pm Open Mic after the show
19 2:00pm

BRYNN LUCAS* is thrilled to be performing for the first time with the wonderful people at Playhouse On Park in this production of Side by Side by Sondheim. Some of her favorite experiences include roles in CABARET (Sally Bowles), FALSETTOS(Trina), INTO THE WOODS (Witch), and NUNSENSE (Rev. Mother). Brynn has also been lucky enough to have performed in national tours with NETworks Productions' cast of JEKYLL & HYDE and Artspower's production of FROM THE MIXED UP FILES.... Brynn would like to thank her family and friends for being a constant source of support and love (and for always making the trip to see her perform!!).
*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

DANA MIERLAK is a native New Yorker and a graduate of The Hartt School. Dana just finished writing, producing and performing a two person show, AS WE STUMBLE ALONG, with her best bud, Jeremey Chase, and the fabulous Steven Katz and Warren Kelley. Other credits include: Crissy understudy/ featured soloist in the Connecticut Critics Circle award winning production of HAIR, Heather in PHANTASMAGORIA, Dorothy in THE WIZARD OF OZ, Miranda in THE TEMPEST, Katie in SWINGTIME CANTEEN. Dana can be heard on the SONDHEIM SOLOS, CATS, LEGALLY BLONDE and several other Stage Stars recordings. She is grateful to her Family and Friends for their never ending support of all her adventures and extends a special thanks to her Manager, Susan Campochiaro Confrey and her Agent, Eileen Haves.

MEG RICHARDSON is a recent graduate of Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Performance experience there included Kindertransport (Evelyn), SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (Woman), SWEET CHARITY (Elaine), L'ENFANT ET LES SORTILEGES (L’Enfant), HAMLET (Osric), and WHERE'S CHARLEY? (understudy/swing). Meg also appeared as Julie Jordan in CAROUSEL with The Belfast Maskers of Maine. In addition to performing, Meg loves working behind the scenes as a dramaturg. Thanks to Melissa and everyone in West Hartford for a great experience!



CATHERINE ROGALA is thrilled to be making her Playhouse on Park debut in SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM. Previous credits include: Jackie in the East Coast Premiere of THE WILDEST, Babe in CRIMES OF THE HEART, Sister Amnesia in NUNSENSE, and Eve in THE APPLE TREE. Thank you to my family and friends for your constant love and support, the Side by Side cast and crew for a wonderful experience, Melissa, Darlene, and Sean for this amazing opportunity, and God for making everything possible.

SCOTT SCAFFIDI is so excited to be working at Playhouse on Park with such a passionate crew of theatre artists. Some of his favorite roles have been the Baker in INTO THE WOODS, Brick in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, Wickersham #1 in SUESSICAL, and Puck in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Regionally, Scott has enjoyed doing A CHORUS LINE and A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY. Most recently Scott had the pleasure of performing the role of John in JOHN & JEN in New York. Scott would like to thank the community of West Hartford for the warm welcome, his family and friends for all their support, and especially Melissa for collaborating on theatre that is fun, touching, and memorable. Always a pleasure!

MELISSA RAIN ANDERSON (Director) is happy to be back at Playhouse on Park where she directed STUART LITTLE last winter. Most recently, Melissa directed THE MARVELOUS WONDRETTES at Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston, TX running though Oct 17. In June, Melissa assisted Hal Prince on the world premiere of the new musical PARADISE FOUND at The Menier Chocolate Factory in London starring Mandy Patinkin. In New York, she has directed JOHN & JEN for Yellow Line Theatricals and ROADS TRAVELLED at the Duplex as well as several new play readings. Regionally Melissa directed the West Coast premiere of Gregg Coffin's new musical RIGHT NEXT TO ME at the B St. Theatre in California, and his FIVE COURSE LOVE at Stages Rep., FALSETTOS, NUNSENSE, WHERE'S CHARLEY? and SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM for The Nazareth Arts Center, SEUSSICAL for Rochester Children’s Theatre and Melissa served as Associate Director for A CHRISTMAS STORY at Geva Theatre Center '08 and '09. Upcoming: The WINTER WONDRETTES at Stages Rep., BABES IN ARMS at Nazareth Arts Center and RIGHT NEXT TO ME at The Human Race Theatre Co. Melissa's acting credits include Network TV, National Tours, Off Broadway, Regional and voice over work. Watch for her guest starring performance as Amber Samonsky in the upcoming episode of Law and Order: SVU "Bullseye" airing Sept 22 on NBC. She holds a BFA in Theater from USIU in San Diego and is married to Actor Jim Poulos. Melissa coaches acting privately in midtown Manhattan. melissarainanderson.com

COLIN BRITT (Co-Music Director) is excited return for his second Playhouse on Park production. Previous music direction credits include THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Playhouse, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and KISS ME KATE with West Hartford Summer Arts Festival, PETER PAN with Summer Place Players, and SWEENEY TODD, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING..., FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL at various theatres 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.j

EMMETT DRAKE (Co-Music Director) Hailing from Long Island, New York, Emmett Drake completed his Bachelor of Music degree in composition at The Hartt School, University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut. Since 2006, he has served as music director for over 30 musical theatre productions in CT and NY.  Recent credits include:  PETER PAN at St. Paul Catholic HS, ANYTHING GOES at Granby High School, OKLAHOMA at West Hartford Community Theatre, and MRS. BOB CRATCHIT’S WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE at Playhouse on Park.  Emmett currently serves as the Director of Suzuki Orchestras for the Hartt School, and holds teaching positions in West Hartford Public Schools and at St. Paul Catholic HS in Bristol. 

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