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Show Information
Hale Centre Theatre's production of
Music and Lyrics by
Meredith Willson
Book and Additional Lyrics by
Dick Scanlan
Based on the Original Book by
Richard Morris
Meredith Willson’s music adapted by
Michel Rafter
Orchestrations by
Larry Hochman
•••••
Directed & Choreographed by
Dave Tinney
Originally developed in the Colorado New Play Summit
•••••
And produced at the Denver Center Theatre Company
Kent Thompson, Producing Artistic Director
•••••
Subsequent developmental production at The Muny, St. Louis
Mike Isaacson, Artistic Director
•••••
The New York City Premiere was produced by Transport Group Theatre Company
Jack Cummings III, Artistic Director; Lori Fineman, Executive Director
In Association with Elizabeth Armstrong and Mike Isaacson
Production Team
Producer: Sally Dietlein
Director/Choreographer: Dave Tinney
Associate Choreographer: Lindsey D. Smith
Music Director: Alex Marshall
Production Stage Manager: Susan Kupferer
Scenic Design: Jenn Taylor
Costume Design: Joy Zhu
Lighting Design: Marianne Ohran
Sound Design: Michelle Ohumukini
Properties Design: Michelle Jensen
Hair & Make-up Design: Trisha Ison
Video/Projection Design: Madeline Ashton
Automation Design: Nick Herring
•••••
Stage Manager: Ashna Horman, Riya Sahasrabudhe
Assistant Stage Manager: Skip Mulcock, Davy Grace McGuirt
Automation: Alena Rodriguez, Karsten Brow, Nate Gallegos, Jonah Garlick
Lightboard: Lee Wright, Ryan Hopkins
Sound Engineer: Griffin McMullin, Kristin Tenney
A2: Richelle Ohumukini
Stage Technician: Anton Moss, Kyle Trivett, Josh Sheen, Ben Ward, Lucas Jessup, Noah Sheen
Followspot: Devon Barney, Jeff Parkes, Kimberly Brown, Blake Hammer, Mickey Beyer, Kirk Wilson, Michael Shipley, Madison Treadways
Followspot Swings: Jeff Young, Rebecca Perkins, Jill Heiner, Steven Nordfors, Olly Brough, JoAnne Phillips
Wardrobe Dresser: Courteney Shipley-Dobbins, Annick Tolman-Wasden, Michaela Gladwell, Akemi Nakashima, Brianna Packard, Nick Marsella, Cypress Stevens, SWING-Camie Jones
Hair & Make-up Crew: Marnee’ Porter, Jayada Hodges, Daniel Perez, Sarah Bult, Brooklyn Maxwell, Tim Ferorah
Director’s Notes
Unsinkable
In 1989 I was invited by a friend in Seattle to see the touring stage production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown starring Debbie Reynolds. I’ll admit, I was skeptical. Of course, I knew her from the old MGM movies, especially Singin’ In The Rain. I also knew she was nominated for an Oscar for playing the title role in the film version of …Molly Brown 25 years earlier. Still, I was not all that thrilled to see what I thought would be the shadow of a fading star attempting to recapture some former glory. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
From the moment the then 57-year-old 5’ 2” spitfire exploded onto the stage she was a force that was impossible to deny. For over two hours she was indomitable, inhabiting Molly Brown from her early teen years to mid-life with complete credibility. She out sang, out danced, and out shined every other performer on that stage…most of whom were half her age. At the end of her act two dance number “He’s My Friend”, the crowd stopped the show with a spectacularly earned standing ovation. In fact, I had to chuckle at her younger castmates gasping for air while she graciously accepted and shared the applause with them, ready for an encore…or two if we asked her.
It wasn’t until much later that I learned Ms. Reynolds’ performance wasn’t about a Hollywood star going out on some vanity come back tour. She was singing and dancing for her life. After years of decimating financial decisions made by her then husband, she was broke. But just like her stage alter ego, rather than “hollerin’ uncle”, she declared to the world “I ain’t down yet”, and then took to the road to prove it. And prove it she did, brilliantly! The performance I saw was a genuinely tough lady pulling herself up by the bootstraps and doing what it took with what she had to meet her obligations and to fix the problem. Turns out, she was the very definition of unsinkable.
I’ve thought a lot about her as I’ve worked on this project. I’m so grateful to have had the privilege to revisit this great old musical gloriously renewed by Broadway librettist Dick Scanlan. Margaret “Molly” Brown’s extraordinary life story reminds me of so many strong, determined women I’ve known who have faced insurmountable oppositions and defied them by declaring “I ain’t down yet!”. This show is a tribute to their tenacity, their strength, their charity, and their unsinkable spirit.
-Dave Tinney
Synopsis of Scenes
Prologue – U.S Capitol, May 29, 1912
Molly, Senators
Scene 1 – Horace Tabor Mining Company, Leadville, Colorado
I Ain’t Down Yet
Molly, JJ, Miners
Scene 2 – Julia’s Cabin
The Wonderful Plan
Molly, Julia
Scene 3 – Outside Julia’s Cabin, Annunciation Church
Just Becuz
Company
Scene 4 – Julia’s Cabin
I’ve Already Started In
Molly, JJ, Julia, Vincenzo, Erich, Arthur
Scene 5 – Saddle Rock Saloon
Belly Up to the Bar, Boys
I’ve Already Started In (Reprise)
Company
Scene 6 – JJ’s Shack House
I’ll Never Say No/My Own Brass Bed
Molly, JJ
Scene 7 – Outside JJ’s Shack House, Leadville Town
He’s My Friend
Company
Scene 8 – Leadville Soup Kitchen, Horace Tabor Mining Company
Are You Sure?
Act 1 Finale
Company
Synopsis of Scenes
Scene 1 – Denver, Colorado, Garden, Opera House, Dinner Party
Beautiful People of Denver/The Sacred 36
Company
Scene 2 – Streets of Denver
Share the Luck
He’s My Friend (Reprise)
Company
Scene 3 – The Brown Mansion
I’d Like to Change Everything About You
Molly, JJ, Mary Nevin
Scene 3a – The Brown Mansion
Cuppa Tea
Molly, JJ, Vincenzo, Erich, Arthur, Julia, Louise Sneed-Hill, Mary Nevin, Sacred 36 Women
Scene 3b – The Brown Mansion
Molly, JJ, Vincenzo, Erich, Arthur, Julia
Scene 4 – Men’s Club, Denver, Colorado
If We Cancan
Molly, JJ, Ensemble
Scene 5 – JJ’s Shack House
I’d Like to Change Everything About You (Reprise)
Molly, JJ
Scene 6 – Rome, 1904; Paris, 1907; London, 1910
The Dolce Trio: Dolce Far Niete
The Same Little Chapel
I May Never Fall in Love with You
Molly, JJ, Dulce Trio, Larry, Judge Ben Lindsey, Kit, Mary Nevin
Scene 7 – A Lifeboat, North Atlantic
To the Boat
Wait for Me
Molly, Hitchens, Titanic Survivors
Scene 8 – Pier 54, New York City
Share the Luck (Reprise)
Company
Cast in Order of Appearance
Who was the Unsinkable Molly Brown?
Margaret Brown
Mrs. Margaret Brown (nee Tobin) aka Molly Brown was born on 18 July 1867, in Hannibal, Missouri, the daughter of John Tobin and Johanna Collins, both Irish immigrants.
Her father, John Tobin, was widowed with one daughter, Catherine Bridget. When he met Johanna Collins, Johanna was also widowed with one daughter, whose name was Mary Ann. John and Johanna married and had four additional children: Daniel (1863), Margaret (1867), William (1869), and Helen (1871).
Margaret grew up in a cottage just blocks from the Mississippi River, and attended the grammar school run by her aunt, Mary O'Leary. As a teenager she worked stripping tobacco leaves at Garth's Tobacco Company in Hannibal.
At the age of eighteen, she followed her sister, Mary Ann Tobin Landrigan, and Mary's new husband Jack Landrigan, to Leadville, Colorado, where they established a blacksmith shop. Margaret shared a cabin with her brother, Daniel Tobin, who worked in the mines and eventually became a successful mine promoter. Margaret, known as Maggie until she married, went to work for Daniels and Fisher Mercantile in Leadville, where she worked in the Carpets and Draperies department.
During the early summer of 1886, she met James Joseph ("J.J.") Brown, a miner whose parents had also immigrated from Ireland. They married on 1 September 1886, at the Annunciation Church in Leadville, and lived in J.J.'s cabin in Stumpftown, a small, primarily Irish community up the hill from Leadville. The Browns had two children: Lawrence Palmer, born in 1887, and Catherine Ellen ("Helen"), born in 1889. After the birth of Lawrence, the Browns bought a house in Leadville and were eventually joined by members of both their families.
While her children were young, Margaret was involved in the early feminist movement in Leadville and the establishment of the Colorado Chapter of the National American Women's Suffrage Association. She also worked in soup kitchens to assist families of Leadville miners. When the Sherman Silver Act was repealed in 1893, Leadville was thrust into a deep depression and the unemployment rate was 90%. J.J. Brown, who had become superintendent of all the Ibex mining properties, had an idea. Convinced that the Little Jonny Mine might become a producer of gold rather than silver, he devised a timber-and-hay bale method to hold back the dolomite sand that had prevented them from reaching the gold at the lower depths of the mine. By October 29, 1893, the Little Jonny was shipping 135 tons of ore per day, and Brown was awarded 12,500 shares of stock and a seat on the board. Over the years he became one of the most successful mining men in the country.
On April 6, 1894, the Browns purchased a home on Pennsylvania Street in Denver and built a summer home, Avoca Lodge, in the foothills. Margaret became a founding member of the Denver Woman's Club, part of a network of clubs which advocated literacy, education, suffrage, and human rights in Colorado and throughout the United States. She raised funds to build the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception as well as St. Joseph's Hospital and worked with Judge Ben Lindsey to help destitute children and establish the first Juvenile Court in the country, which eventually became the basis for today's U.S. juvenile court system. She also attended the Carnegie Institute in New York, where she studied literature, language, and drama. In addition to raising two children of her own, she raised the three daughters of her brother Daniel: Grace, Florence, and Helen Tobin, whose mother had died when they were young in White Pine, Colorado.
Margaret Tobin Brown was one of the first women in the United States to run for political office and ran for the Senate eight years before women even had the right to vote. On July 25, 1914, with Alva Vanderbilt (Mrs O.H.P.) Belmont, she organized an international women's rights conference at Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island, which was attended by human rights activists from around the world. A lifelong advocate of human rights, Margaret was also a prominent figure following the Ludlow Massacre in Trinidad, Colorado, in April 1914, a significant landmark in the history of labor rights in the United States.
By the time Margaret Tobin Brown boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, France, she had already made a significant impact in the world. She and her daughter Helen, who was a student at the Sorbonne, had been travelling throughout Europe and were staying with the John Jacob Astor party in Cairo, Egypt when Margaret received word that her first grandchild, Lawrence Palmer Brown, Jr., was ill. She decided to leave for New York immediately and booked passage on the earliest ship: Titanic. At the last minute, Helen decided to stay behind in London. Due to her quick decision, very few people, including family, knew that Margaret was on board the Titanic.
After the ship struck the iceberg, Margaret helped load others into lifeboats and eventually was forced to board lifeboat six. She and the other women in lifeboat six worked together to row, keep spirits up, and dispel the gloom that was broadcast by the emotional and unstable Robert Hichens. However, Margaret's most significant work occurred on Carpathia, where she assisted Titanic survivors, and afterwards in New York. By the time the Carpathia reached New York harbor, Margaret had helped establish the Survivor's Committee, been elected as chair, and raised almost $10,000 for destitute survivors. Margaret's language skills in French, German, and Russian were an asset, and she remained on Carpathia until all the Titanic survivors had met with friends, family, or medical/emergency assistance. In a letter to her daughter shortly after the Titanic sinking, she wrote:
"After being brined, salted, and pickled in mid ocean I am now high and dry... I have had flowers, letters, telegrams-people until I am befuddled. They are petitioning Congress to give me a medal... If I must call a specialist to examine my head, it is due to the title of Heroine of the Titanic."
Her sense of humor prevailed; to her attorney in Denver, she wired:
"Thanks for the kind thoughts. Water was fine and swimming good. Neptune was exceedingly kind to me, and I am now high and dry."
On May 29, 1912, as chair of the Survivor's Committee Margaret presented a silver loving cup to Captain Rostron of the Carpathia and a medal to each Carpathia crew member. In later years Margaret helped erect the Titanic memorial that stands in Washington, D.C.; visited the cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to place wreaths on the graves of victims; and continued to serve on the Survivor's Committee. She was particularly upset that, as a woman, she was not allowed to testify at the Titanic hearings. In response, she wrote her own version of the event, which was published in newspapers in Denver, New York, and Paris.
••••••
Molly Brown with Captain Rostron of the Carpathia
Margaret used her new fame as a platform to talk about issues that deeply concerned her: labor rights, women's rights, education and literacy for children, and historic preservation. During World War I, she worked with the American Committee for Devastated France to help rebuild devastated areas behind the front line and worked with wounded French and American soldiers (the Chateau of Blerancourt, a French American museum outside of Paris, has a commemorative plaque that bears her name). In 1932 she was awarded the French Legion of Honor for her "overall good citizenship," which included helping organize the Alliance Francais, her ongoing work in raising funds for Titanic victims and crew, her work with Judge Ben Lindsey on the Juvenile Court of Denver, and her relief efforts during World War I.
In her later years, Margaret returned to her earlier fascination with drama, particularly Sarah Bernhardt, and studied in Paris in the Bernhardt tradition. She performed to appreciative audiences in Paris and New York.
J.J. Brown died 5 September 1922 in New York.
Margaret Tobin Brown died of a brain tumor on 26 October 1932, at the Barbizon Hotel in New York where she had been working with young actresses. After a simple funeral service, Maggie was buried, next to J.J., in Long Island's Holy Rood Cemetery. Their daughter Helen Benziger (née Brown) died in Old Greenwich, Connecticut on 17 October 1993 at the age of 97.
Despite the legend, she was not ostracized by society nor rejected by her family. The myth of "Molly" Brown has very little to do with the real-life of Margaret Tobin Brown, although it speaks to her spirit. Margaret was never known as "Molly Brown" during her lifetime: the name was a Hollywood invention.
The story began in the 1930s with the colorful pen of Denver Post reporter Gene Fowler, who created a folk tale, and sensationalist writer Carolyn Bancroft, who wrote a highly fictional account for a romance magazine that was turned into a booklet. This story enjoyed various radio broadcasts during the 1940s and was the basis for the Broadway musical, "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", which eventually became the MGM movie of the same name, starring Debbie Reynolds. Even James Cameron's 1997 film "Titanic" has very little to do with the real story of Margaret Tobin Brown. After attempting to mitigate or correct the legend of "Molly," the Brown family eventually withdrew from the public and refused to speak with writers, reporters, or historians for many years.
••••••
A brief history of
The Unsinkable Molly Brown: The Musical
- 1960: The new musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown opens on Broadway. With music and lyrics by Merideth Wilson (The Music Man) and book by Richard Morris, the plot of The Unsinkable Molly Brown is a fictionalized account of the life of Margaret Tobin Brown, who survived the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, and her wealthy miner-husband.
- 1960: Tammy Grimes wins the Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance of the title role Molly Brown.
- 1962: The original Broadway production closes on February 10, after 532 performances.
- 1964, Though Shirley McLain is originally considered for the film version, Debbie Reynolds eventually wins the title role. Her performance earns her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Harve Presnell, who originated the role of J.J. Brown on Broadway reprises the role of J.J. in the film.
- 1980-1990: Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell reprise their film roles in the national touring production.
- 2009: Dick Scanlan introduces a revised version of the musical which includes more elements from the real-life story of Molly Brown. This new version cuts out all others from the original script, keeping only Molly and J.J. However, it adds more characters from Molly’s real-life history.
- 2010: A reading of Mr. Scanlan’s new version is held in May. The show is directed/choreographed by Kathleen Marshall and starred Sutton Foster as Molly.
- 2011: Another reading of the musical by Scanlan is staged. The creative team is the same as in 2010. About half the score in this new version is from the original musical and the rest of the ‘new’ score is made up of songs from the late Wilson's catalog.
- 2014: A full production of the Dick Scanlan revisioning is produced at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Opening on September 12, the production features Beth Malone as Molly, and Burke Moses as JJ Brown.
- 2020: The revised Scanlan version opens on February 8 (previews) Off-Broadway at the Abrons Arts Center, presented by the Transport Group and directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. One month later, the Covid pandemic hits and NYC theatres go dark.
- 2022: Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy Utah opens the newest version of Dick Scanlan’s revised The Unsinkable Molly Brown
~From Encyclopedia Titanica~
Cast Biographies
Molly Brown
Thrilled to be back on the Centre Stage! Maryn was previously seen in this season’s production of School of Rock! Other favorite credits include: The Playmill Theatre-Jane (Disney’s Tarzan), Marian (The Music Man), Newsies (Katherine), and Kathy Selden (Singin’ In The Rain), as well as studying in the Musical Theatre Program at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Maryn graduated from BYU Idaho, Majoring in Music and Minoring in Theatre Studies.
Kelly was last seen on our stage as Jerusha Abbott in our production of Daddy Long Legs and The Baroness in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Other favorite credits include: Jerusha Abbott (Daddy Long Legs) and Katherine (Newsies) at Hale Center Theatre, Orem and Gabrielle (Cinderella) and Gertrude McFuzz (Seussical), and Lucy Grant in Bright Star here at HCT. She graduated from UVU in performing arts and loves working in the education department at HCTO.
J.J. Brown
HCT is glad to welcome Kaden back to our stage after last being seen in this season’s production of Treasure Island. Other notable credits include Les Misérables, Phantom, A Christmas Carol with HCT; Musical of Musicals with The Grand; Les Misérables with HCTO along with the 2014 season with Playmill Theatre. He currently works for Usana in their French Customer Service dept. “Memento Mori”
Derek Smith
TUES · THURS · SAT
Derek is celebrating his 20th anniversary with HCT - he first appeared on our stage in The Music Man in 2002, where he met his wife, Keolani. The Unsinkable Molly Brown is Derek’s 35th production with Hale Centre Theatre.
Some favorite credits include: Disney’s Tarzan (2020 and 2013), She Loves Me, The Wedding Singer, Les Miserables (2021 and 2014), Zorro: The Musical, The Heart of Robin Hood, and Oklahoma!. Other recent credits include: Guys & Dolls and Cinderella. “Behind every Father of 4 who performs is an amazing wife running things at home flawlessly. My wife, Keolani, deserves her own spot in this bio! I couldn't do this without her kindness, patience, strength, grace, and unflinching support. Every love song I sing on stage is sung to her! Keolani, Kenzie, Annie, Ty, and Maggie are a little slice of heaven on earth, and my entire world revolves around them! I love them all more than pink frosted sugar cookies!”
Vincenzo/Man 1
Will Ingram
MON · WED · FRI
Will is honored to be a part of the cast of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Other credits include: School of Rock with Hale Centre Theatre; Man with the Pointed Toes, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, The 39 Steps, and Over the River and Through the Woods with Hale Center Theater Orem, as well as Peter Pan’s Great Adventure with Scera.
Will graduated from UVU with his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts & Associate in Applied Science in Digital Audio. He is represented by TMG.
Mike Romney
TUES · THURS · SAT
Recently seen in our production of The Light in the Piazza; other favorite performing credits include: HCT - The Secret Garden, Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical, The Addams Family, An American in Paris, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Music Man; HCTO - A Chritsmas Carol 2021 (Bob Cratchit);
Murray Arts Council- Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy), Carousel (Enoch Snow) and West Side Story (Louis); and BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble Touring Company; Director/Choreography credits include: Murray Arts Council - Joseph...Dreamcoat, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Newsies, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Michael has a BS in Family Studies from BYU, and an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Hawaii, Mãnoa. He works as a Theatre teacher at American Preparatory Academy and serves as Director/Choreographer with American Fork Youth Theater.
Erich/Man 2
Dale is beyond thrilled to be back on the HCT stage for The Unsinkable Molly Brown. His credits include: HCT - Singin’ in the Rain (Cosmo Brown), Guys & Dolls (Harry the Horse) and Disney’s Mary Poppins;
Brigham’s Playhouse in Southern Utah - Crazy for You (Bobby Child), Daddy Long Legs (Jervis Pendleton), She Loves Me (Georg Nowack), and Murder for Two (The Suspects). Dale holds an AFA in Musical Theatre and is proud to announce his recent graduation from the University of Utah with a BA in History. When not on stage, Dale enjoys working on the technical crew backstage, as well as the box office here at Hale Centre Theatre
Alex DeBirk
TUES · THURS · SAT
Alex is excited to be back on the HCT stage; he was recently seen in our production of The Secret Garden as Dr. Neville Craven. Other notable credits include: HCT - A Tale of Two Cities (Gaspard) and The Pirate Queen;
Pleasant Grove Players - She Loves Me (Georg); Midvale Main Street Theater - Daddy Long Legs; HCTO - Jane Eyre; Tuacahn - Les Misérables. Alex holds MS and BS degrees in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley and BYU, respectively. He teaches physics and engineering at American Heritage School and maintains a private structural engineering practice. “Thank you, Melinda, you are the best!”
Arthur/Man 3
Kenichi Nakashima
MON · WED · FRI
Kenichi’s favorite credits include: HCT - Treasure Island, Guys and Dolls, Disney’s Tarzan, An American in Paris, Newsies (Finch), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Kenichi works as a dance teacher at Miss Margene’s Creative Classroom and as Team Lead for new hires with Mountain America Credit Union.
“Thank you to my friends and family for your love and support, Miss Margene and Tracee Walker for teaching and mentoring me in the art of dance, and my gorgeous wife, Courtney, for her constant love, support, jokes, and care for our family!”
Alex Marshall
TUES · THURS · SAT
Returning to the Centre Stage, Alex is ecstatic to be back on the boards after appearing in Million Dollar Quartet as the Jerry Lee Lewis Understudy. Musical Director credits include: HCT - Guys and Dolls; Salt Lake City Acting Company - Passing Strange; Babcock Theatre - Floyd Collins; and Hayes Christensen Theatre - Chess.
Alex holds a Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting, a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, all from the University of Utah.
William/Man 4
Justin is glad to be back on the Centre Stage! Most recently, he was seen in last season’s production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Other favorite credits include: HCT - The Secret Garden, A Tale of Two Cities, Phantom, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Music Man; the musical director with HCTO - Thoroughly Modern Millie, Tuck Everlasting, Newsies, Anything Goes, Les Misérables, and Hello, Dolly!.
He proudly holds a Masters of Music from BYU and has served as Director of Choirs at Salem Hills High School for 14 years. “Thank you to Mark and Sally, Dave, Lindsey, Alex, and this tremendous cast! So much love to my wonderful family for supporting me!”
Tabor/Man 5
Jason Baldwin
MON · WED · FRI
Recent credits include: A Tale of Two Cities (Ernest Defarge), Bright Star (Stanford Adams), Freaky Friday (Mike) at Hale Centre Theatre; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) at West Valley Arts; Footloose (Reverend Moore) with Sundance Summer Theatre; and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (William Barfee) at Weber State University.
Jason holds a BA in Musical Theatre from Weber State University and works as a Project Manager at Trove Brands. “All the love to my sweet wife Sarah and my two “P’s” for indulging me and always cheering me on! Love you so much!”
Mark Knowles
TUES · THURS · SAT
A familiar face to Hale Centre audiences, Mark is excited to be playing on our stage again. Credits include: Treasure Island (Captain Smollett/Black Dog), Guys and Dolls (Arvide Abernathy), A Tale of Two Cities (Mr. Jarvis Lorry), Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot), My Fair Lady (Henry Higgins), 1776 (John Adams),
The Sound of Music (Captain Von Trapp), Hello, Dolly! (Horace Vandergelder) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Lawrence Jameson) with HCT and Camelot (King Arthur), The King and I (The King of Siam) with CenterPoint Legacy Theatre. “Thanks to my Savior and Wendy, my guiding star.”
Larry/Man 6
Alan Babcock
MON · WED · FRI
Alan is no stranger to the Centre Stage having previously been seen in our productions of Newsies, Sister Act, The Pirate Queen, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Disney’s Tarzan, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 9 to 5: The Musical, Zorro: The Musical, The Wedding Singer, and Hello, Dolly!.
Other favorite credits include: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray, All Shook Up, AIDA with Hale Center Theater Orem as well as The International Folk Dance Team at BYU and proudly represented the United States at the international dance festival with Clog America. Alan graduated from BYU with a BS in Neuroscience and teaches the 4th grade. “A very big thank you to my very big family.”
Thrilled to be back at Hale Centre; Spencer was previously a part of our production of A Tale of Two Cities and Freaky Friday. He was also recently seen in HCTO’s production of Anything Goes.
He has a B.S. degree in Communication from the University of Utah and does PR and marketing for organizations and companies--including DigitalOcean, the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA), American Cinema Editors (ACE), and RED Digital Cinema (RED). “I’m an acquired taste. If you don’t like me, acquire some taste”
Hitchens/Man 7
Ben Roeling
MON · TUES · WED · THURS · FRI · SAT
Ben returns to the HCT stage after previously playing in our production of Zorro: The Musical! Performing credits include: Sister Act, Mamma Mia, Elf the Musical, Bright Star, a Christmas Carol, and Kinky Boots with the Arvada Center; Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Joseph…Dreamcoat, and The Wizard of Oz (Tuacahn Amphitheatre), Swing! The Musical and Legends in Concert (Norwegian Cruise Lines);
West Side Story with Music Theatre West; The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Annie Get Your Gun (Jackson Hole Playhouse); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Sundance Summer Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Plan B Theatre Company). Choreography credits include: Footloose, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Ballad of Cat Ballou, and Paint Your Wagon with Jackson Hole Playhouse, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with West Valley Arts.
Judge Lindsey/Man 8
Rob is honored to be playing on the Centre Stage boards once again. He was previously seen in our production of Treasure Island earlier this season.
Additional stage credits include: In the Heights (Piragua Guy) and The Odd Couple: Female Version (Manolo Costazuela) with West Valley Performing Arts and Twelfth Night with the Parker Theatre. “Believe in yourself. Not in the me who believes in you. Believe in yourself!”
Gregory is thrilled to be back with Hale Centre Theatre. Previous credits include: A Christmas Carol 2021 and Phantom (Oberon) with HCT; Dead Certain with The Grand Theatre; Sweeney Todd with West Valley Arts; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) with Riverton Arts Council;
Tuck Everlasting (Man in the Yellow Suit) and West Side Story (Diesel) with Kensington Theatre as well as HMS Pinafore (Ralph Rackshaw) and The Elixir of Love (Nemorino). Gregory has also provided music direction for Next to Normal and Godspell. He also was a member of the Utah Opera Chorus for Carmen, La Boheme, and Moby Dick. Gregory studied vocal performance at the U of U, teaches singing lessons, and enjoys the study of chess. “You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love” - Jim Carrey.
Julia/Woman 1
MaKenna Tinney
MON · WED · FRI
MaKenna is thrilled to return to the Centre Stage. She was previously seen on the HCT stage in The Light in the Piazza, A Tale of Two Cities, Bright Star (Florence), The Addams Family (Wednesday Addams), Matilda, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. By day, Makenna works as a Nail Tech/Artist. “Enjoy the show! Or don’t.”
Thrilled to be back on the Centre Stage; Teaira was last seen as Truly Scrumptious in our production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Stage credits include: The Light in the Piazza and Cosi fan Tutte with Transgressive Theatre Opera;
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and The Hunchback of Notre Dame with The Palace Theatre; Iolanthe with Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company of Chicago; Candide, The Pirates of Penzance, Into The Woods, and Anything Goes with Music Theatre Works; Nine with Blank Theatre Company; The Flower of Hawaii and Johnny Johnson at Chicago Folks Operetta. Teaira earned her Bachelor of Music from Idaho State University and Masters of Music from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. “I am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this production to life at Hale Centre Theatre!”
Louise Sneed-Hill/Woman 2
Julie Silvestro
MON · WED · FRI
A familiar face on the HCT stage, Julie’s favorite credits include: HCT - Singin’ in the Rain, A Christmas Carol (2021), The Secret Garden, Bright Star, Tuck Everlasting, The Heart of Robin Hood, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Big The Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Pirate Queen;
SLAC - Saturday’s Voyeur 2019; Grand Theatre - Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods and The Full Monty; CPT - Anything Goes, The Secret Garden, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Julie holds a BA in Musical Theatre from Weber State University and is currently a pianist for the Theatre Department at the U of U.
Excited to be back with the Hale Centre Family; other favorite stage credits include: School of Rock (Rosalie Mullins) with HCT; The Sound of Music (Elsa Schrader) with HCTO; Comedy of Errors (Adriana) with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park; the opera The Telephone (Lucy) with Idaho-Falls Opera Theatre;
White Christmas (Judy Haynes) with The Playmill Theatre; and Singin’ In The Rain (Kathy Seldon) with Carriage House Theatre. Rachel holds a degree in Opera from BYU-I and a Masters in Musical Theatre from OCU. She teaches voice lessons at UVU and HCTO. “So excited and grateful to be performing at HCT again!”
Birdie/Maude/Woman 3
Heather is delighted to be back on the HCT boards. Some favorite stage credits include: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Addams Family and The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Hale Centre Theatre; Catch Me If You Can and Betty Blue Eyes at HCTO,
as well as Reno Sweeney (Anything Goes), Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors), and Natalie (All Shook Up). Heather earned a BA in Archaeology and MA in Art History. “ Thank you for the opportunity, Dave and Alex. Enjoy the show!”
Pleased to be playing with HCT again; other favorite stage credits include: School of Rock (Patty De Marco), Freaky Friday, Big River, The Pirate Queen, and Ghost: The Musical with Hale Centre Theatre; The Hunchback of Notre Dame at HCT and HCTO; Wonderland at BYU; and Disney Cruise Line.
Pearl/Kit/Woman 4
Emma Bergman
MON · WED · FRI
Honored to return to the Centre Stage; Emma was last seen in our production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Other favorite stage credits include: Phantom, Mary Poppins (2014) and An American in Paris with Hale Centre Theatre and Guys and Dolls with HCTO. Emma earned her BS in Cognitive Science and Dance Minor from UC San Diego and works as a Kindergarten Teacher.
Making her HCT debut! Yunnie is honored to join the company of The Unsinkable Molly Brown! Past performing credits include: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with West Valley Art;
The Sound of Music, Matilda The Musical, and Thoroughly Modern Millie with HCTO; Disney’s Beauty and Beast, Bye Bye Birdie, and Hairspray with SCERA. Yunnie graduated with a Bachelor's in English Linguistics and works as a Web Developer at Pluralsight. “Thank you for coming! Please support the arts!”
Nelva/Maureen/Woman 5
Brandalee Bluth Streeter
MON · WED · FRI
Brandalee is thrilled to return to the Hale Centre Theatre Family! Some of her favorite credits include: Matilda The Musical (Miss Honey), Ragtime (Mother), Jekyll & Hyde (Lucy), Annie (Grace), Oliver! (Nancy), Bright Star, Les Miserables, The Addams Family, Guys & Dolls, She Loves Me as well as performing with the BYU Young Ambassadors.
Musical Direction credits include: Disney’s Tarzan, Nunsense, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Peter Pan, Shrek The Musical, and many youth productions. She graduated from BYU with a BS in Sociology and works as the Company and Tour Manager for Utah COPA as well as a Voice Teacher at the Hale Academy. “My favorite role is that of wife to Brad and mother to Jacob, Emma, Tobey, Madalee, and Mabel! I love you MORE!”
Megan Murff
TUES · THURS · SAT
Making her HCT debut! Megan comes to Hale Centre Theatre with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm! She graduated from BYU with a BA in American Studies and a Minor in Music from BYU as well as an MBA degree from the same alma mater.
“Performing at HCT is fulfilling one of my dreams. I am deeply grateful to my dreamboat, Scott, for his unfailing support in chasing my dream. I hope this will inspire our 3 littles to chase theirs."
Mary Nevin/Emma/Woman 6
McKelle is excited to be back on the HCT stage; some of her Hale credits include, The Secret Garden (Martha), Les Miserables (Ensemble), Seussical The Musical (Mrs. Mayor), and My Son Pinocchio (Rosa). Her favorite stage credits include: Little Women (Jo),
Into the Woods (The Witch), Anything Goes( Erma), She Loves Me (Ilona), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty). McKelle has her BFA in Musical Theatre (UVU) and works as an actor and makeup artist. “Thank you to my wonderful support system, Sarah and Ardon; I love you guys.”
Jackie Marshall
TUES · THURS · SAT
Making her HCT debut! Jackie is honored to join this Hale Centre family with this production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown! Favorite performing credits include: Disney’s Tarzan (Jane) with Murray Amphitheatre; Into the Woods (Rapunzel) with Sandy Amphtitheratre;
and Spring Awakening (Wendla) with the University of Utah. Jackie earned her BFA in the Musical Theatre Program from the University of Utah.
Production Team Biographies
Director/Choreographer
Dave Tinney
For Hale Centre Theatre, Dave has previously directed Singin’ in the Rain, The Light in the Piazza, Treasure Island, Chitty Chitty Bang, The Secret Garden, Guys and Dolls, Les Misérables, A Tale of Two Cities, Disney’s Tarzan, Disney’s Mary Poppins, Bright Star, Seussical, The Addams Family, Cinderella, Matilda, An American in Paris, The Wizard of Oz, Wait Until Dark, Newsies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, AIDA, The Heart of Robin Hood, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sister Act, The Pirate Queen, Peter and the Starcatcher, She Loves Me, Hello, Dolly!, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Zorro the Musical, and Oliver!,.
He has also directed for BYU, UVU, Tuacahn Center for the Performing Arts, ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop in NY, Sundance Summer Theatre, and, one of his favorites, 110 in the Shade for HCT Orem starring Audra McDonald and Will Swenson. He received the national Outstanding Director of a Musical award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. He works for HCT full-time as the Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director after being Artist in Residence in the Theatre Arts Department at Utah Valley University for nine years. “Thanks to Sally, Mark, Alex, Lindsey, Susan, Kacey, Jenn, Joy, Marianne, Michelle O., Maddy, Michelle J., Trisha, Nick, and an awesome cast and crew...all brilliant! Also a special thanks to my family.”
Associate Choreographer
Lindsey D. Smith
Originally from Utah, Lindsey relocated to the East Coast after graduating from the University of Utah with her BFA in Modern Dance. At Walt Disney World, she was a choreographer for Disney Event Group, a teaching artist for Disney Performing Arts, and a performer.
She spent 5 years as a Radio City Rockette where she toured to over 50 cities and kicked at Radio City Music Hall. Lindsey likes to keep busy between choreographing, teaching, and performing. She has joined the team at HCT as the Resident Dance and Movement Specialist and most recently was the associate choreographer and a performer in Singin' in the Rain on the Center Stage. Other creative HCT credits include Guys and Dolls and The Secret Garden. Choreography credits in Orlando include: Matilda The Musical and Hello, Dolly! (The Garden Theatre); Tuck Everlasting and A Year With Frog and Toad (The Orlando Repertory Theatre), and the Orlando Fringe Festival. Last year she choreographed a brand new Christmas show entitled Home For Christmas at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Lindsey has choreographed for many corporate clients including: Disney, Walmart, Sherwin Williams, Farmer’s Insurance, and IAAPA to name a few. "Thank you to the entire team at HCT for welcoming me with open arms!"
Music Director
Alex Marshall
Alex is a versatile scholar having completed several degrees from the University of Utah – a B.M. in Piano Performance and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering as well as a M.M. in Instrumental Conducting.
Alex can be found throughout Salt Lake as an active member of the professional musical community performing in classical, rock, jazz, and musical theatre styles, playing with the premier musical groups and institutions of Salt Lake City including the University of Utah and the Utah Symphony. Stage credits include Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical and Million Dollar Quartet at Hale Centre Theatre; Hello, Dolly! At Kingsbury Hall; American Idiot at Hayes Christensen Theatre; and The Last Five Years at The Grand Theatre. “Thanks and love to Jackie, Kimi, Henry, and Penny!”
Production Stage Manager
Susan Kupferer
@susan_kupfererSusan was born and raised in Irvine, California, and holds a BA in Stage Management from Brigham Young University. Her recent credits include: Production Stage Manager of The Light in the Piazza, One for the Pot, The Secret Garden, Les Miserables, Bright Star and Disney’s Tarzan at Hale Centre Theatre;
Production Assistant of Into the Woods at the Hollywood Bowl; Utah Vocal Arts Academy’s Don Giovanni; and Assistant Stage Manager of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Noorda Center for the Arts, Sundance Summer Theatre’s Oklahoma!. Susan received the National Stage Management Fellow award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in 2019.
Scenic Design
Jenn Taylor
Jenn’s work was most recently seen as the Scenic Designer for The Light in the Piazza, One for the Pot, The Mousetrap, Bright Star, The Addams Family, Freaky Friday, and Steel Magnolias. Recent costume design credits for HCT: Singin’ in the Rain, Guys and Dolls, The Wizard of Oz, and Aida.
Other Scenic Designs for HCT include The Nerd, A Bundle of Trouble, Big River, Beau Jest, Over the River and Through the Woods, Is He Dead?, The Foreigner, The 39 Steps, and The Game’s Afoot. Jenn has also done scenic design for Utah State Theater’s Lincoln Center’s KCACT award-winning design for Sweeney Todd, Mad Woman of Chailott, and lighting designer for Love's Labour's Lost, Utah Lyric’s The Foreigner, Sandy City’s Hairspray, and Park City’s Jesus Christ Superstar, My Fair Lady, Trailer Park, and many more. Jenn has a BFA from the U of U in Theatre Design and an MFA from Utah State in Scenic Design. Jenn has been with HCT in some capacity for 'nigh on 26 years'. “A special thanks to my family, who help me every day to continue my passion in theatre design. A special thanks to Isaac, who thinks I’m the best designer in the world.”
Costume Design
Joy Zhu
Previous HCT Costume Design credits include The Light in the Piazza, One for the Pot, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Secret Garden, Les Misérables, A Tale of Two Cities, Murder on the Orient Express, The Addams Family, An American In Paris, Tuck Everlasting, and My Son Pinocchio, along with Joseph...Dreamcoat in 2017.
She holds a BA from Hainan University in Fashion and Leather Products Design, and an MFA from Utah State University in Costume Design. Joy also designed for UST’s Candida, and was OLR’s Costume Designer for Game of Love and Chance.
Lighting Design
Marianne Ohran
Recent Hale Centre Theatre credits for Marianne include the Lighting Design for Silent Sky, The Light in the Piazza, Daddy Long Legs, Murder On The Orient Express, Bright Star, and The Addams Family. She works as a Lighting Designer and Lighting Manager for BYU's Theatre and Media Arts Department.
Marianne holds her Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University and her Master’s from the University of Idaho. Recent designs for BYU include BYU Spectacular, Fiddler on the Roof, and Pride and Prejudice. She also enjoys designing for Utah Metropolitan Ballet.
Sound Design
Michelle Ohumukini
Michelle has always loved telling stories. Being Hawaiian has helped her gain experience in events from a young age. She decided to dive into finding out more about sound and how it functions. This path led her to her MFA in Sound for the Performing Arts from Purdue University.
She has designed shows from Utah to Indiana, toured the United States and Central America, worked with touring groups from Olivia Newton-John to Pentatonix, and has worked many local performances in three different states. Michelle loves theater and being able to use sound to help tell the story. She currently serves on the Sound Commission of the United States Institute of Theater Technology (USITT) and is a member of Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA). She'd like to say: “Thank you to my outstanding sound team and all of your hard work!”
Properties Design
Michelle Jensen
Michelle is extremely passionate about details, research, beautiful and interesting “things,” anything to do with flowers, and opening packages. She recently designed her 97th show with our production of Silent Sky; some of her other favorite designs have included The Drowsy Chaperone, Over The River..., Les Misérables,
Tuck Everlasting, My Fair Lady, AIDA, A Tale of Two Cities, Cinderella, Silent Sky, and She Loves Me. She recently retired from teaching first grade after 32 years. Michelle is thrilled to be part of the HCT production team and is grateful for the encouragement and support of her three beautiful daughters, two charming sons-in-law, and her amazing husband, Steve.
Hair & Make Up Design
Trisha Ison
Some of Trisha’s favorite designs for HCT include: School of Rock, Guys and Dolls, Murder on the Orient Express, Million Dollar Quartet, Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical, Matilda, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Sister Act, The Pirate Queen, Big Fish, Is He Dead?, Les Miserables, Brigadoon, The 39 Steps, Zorro the Musical, A Tale of Two Cities and Hello, Dolly!.
Trisha holds a BA in Theatre Studies from the U of U and has worked at Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Utah Opera, Ballet West, Utah Festival Opera, as well as touring productions of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands, and Rat Pack Live at the Sands. “Thank you to the best wig crew in the business; you guys make it all happen! Special thanks to Krissa, Candice, and Marnee' you are a million! All my love to Mr. & Mrs. People."
Video/Projection Design
Madeline Ashton
@madelinemakesartMadeline works at Hale Centre Theatre as Lead Content Creator, making artwork for projections, scenery, and props, and as a Projections and Scenic Designer. Madeline’s work was recently seen in our productions of Silent Sky, The Light in the Piazza, A Christmas Carol, Daddy Long Legs,
Murder on the Orient Express, School of Rock, Singin' in the Rain, A Tale of Two Cities, Bright Star, Seussical, Matilda The Musical, and Cinderella. Madeline earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from Utah Valley University.
Automation Design
Nick Herring
Nick is thrilled to be working with HCT on the design and programming of automation for this production! Select HCT credits include: Guys & Dolls, The Secret Garden, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, A Christmas Carol, Treasure Island, and
Outside of HCT, Nick works as a Senior Show Control Designer for Disney Live Entertainment designing & programming complex show control & automation systems for major productions and attractions such as: Frozen, Live at the Hyperion, Fantasmic!, Firework Spectaculars, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, & Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
