"South Pacific" cast

KERRY O’MALLEY (Ensign Nellie Forbush) is thrilled to return to Sacramento, where she played Molly in The Unsinkable Molly Brown in 1996 and Mother in Ragtime in 2003. Broadway credits include the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (2002 revival, cast album, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominee), Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun (also Reba McEntire’s understudy), Translations and Cyrano – the Musical. Other New York credits include Fran Kubelik in the acclaimed Encores! presentation of Promises, Promises (opposite Martin Short), the original cast of the Pulitzer Prize-winning How I Learned to Drive, Flight (Anne Morrow Lindbergh), Over the River and Through the Woods (Caitlin), Bright Lights, Big City (Megan), Finian’s Rainbow (Sharon) and Dublin Carol (Mary). Outside of New York, she has appeared as Betty Haynes in White Christmas (Boston company), Sister Sharon in Elmer Gantry and Electra in The Oresteia. Her film and television credits include “Rounders,” series regular roles on “Costello” and “The Mike O’Malley Show” and guest spots on “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Without a Trace,” “My Name Is Earl,” “NYPD Blue,” “Charmed” and “The King of Queens.” She plays Mary-Kate (the sister) in the new Showtime series “Brotherhood” premiering this month. She is a graduate of Duke University and the American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University, a native of Nashua, New Hampshire, and a devoted Boston Red Sox fan.

SAMUEL SMITH (Emile de Becque) has performed opera extensively throughout the country with prestigious companies that include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Palm Beach Opera, Lake George Opera and Wolf Trap. Some of Sam’s recent credits include singing the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro and Leporello in Don Giovanni , both under the baton of Maestro Anton Coppola with Metro Lyric Opera. Last season he was at Palm Beach Opera and performed the roles of the King in Aida, the Speaker in The Magic Flute and Angelotti in Tosca. Last fall, Sam was a winner in the Center for Contemporary Opera’s International Voice Competition. Upcoming engagements include his second appearance at Carnegie Hall and various roles that include Palémon in Thais for Palm Beach Opera.

ARMELIA McQUEEN (Bloody Mary), a veteran of the Broadway stage, made her debut in the original cast of Ain’t Misbehavin’, for which she received a Theatre World Award. Armelia’s other credits include Harrigan and Hart and 5-6-7-8 Dance at Radio City Music Hall. She is a 2005 Ovation Award nominee and an Artistic Director Achievement Award nominee for best actress in a musical for the pre-Broadway production of Dorian. Her film credits include “Jerry Maguire,” “Ghost,” “Sparkle,” “Bulworth,” “Action Jackson,” “Quartet” and “Cotton Club.” Armelia starred as the Red Queen in the series “Adventures in Wonderland” on the Disney Channel. She went on to prime-time TV in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Martin,” “Face of a Stranger,” “JAG,” “Inconceivable” and the Emmy Award-winning “Ain’t Misbehavin’” special for NBC. It is safe to say that Armelia is one busy entertainer.

ROBERT CREIGHTON (Luther Billis) is very happily making his return to Sacramento since performing here 10 years ago as Yonkers in Gypsy.  Most recently, he was seen on Broadway in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His Broadway debut was co-starring in Jackie Mason’s Laughing Room Only. In LA and Toronto, he was Timon in The Lion King. For Paper Mill Playhouse he was Nicely-Nicely in Guys and Dolls and Eddie Ryan in its critically acclaimed production of Funny Girl. At Goodspeed Opera House, he played Og in Finian’s Rainbow, and he was Tobias in Sweeney Todd for St. Louis Repertory and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. At Lincoln Center, he performed two seasons with the New York City Opera as Ko-Ko in The Mikado and Njegus in The Merry Widow broadcast “Live From Lincoln Center” on PBS. He toured the U.S. and his native Canada in Fame and played Amos in Chicago in the first-ever musical presented in Macau, China. He is currently developing a musical about the life of James Cagney and is married to the luminous performer Angie C. Creighton.

WILL RAY (Lieutenant Joseph Cable) is making his Music Circus debut in South Pacific. He recently returned from Japan, where he was performing with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in concert halls throughout the country. Notable credits from across the U.S. include The Full Monty as Malcolm MacGregor, Smokey Joe’s Cafe at North Shore Music Theatre, Tom Sawyer in Big River and The Boys From Syracuse as Antipholus of Ephesus. Will is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.

ANDREW BOYER’s (Captain George Brackett) last season on the Music Circus stage was in 1983, but he’s been busy since then! He had a very successful run as Cogsworth in the national tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast after playing Charlie Cowell in the Broadway production of The Music Man. Other credits include the Duke of Cornwall in King Lear with Hal Holbrook at the Roundabout Theatre, national tours as Speed in The Odd Couple with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, My Fair Lady and Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! Andrew has also appeared on stage as Dale Harding in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Fagin in Oliver!, Captain Andy in Show Boat, Gloucester in King Lear, Clem Rogers in The Will Rogers Follies, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol and the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz. Film and television credits include “Law & Order,” “Sisters,” “Family Matters,” “Third Watch” and “The Liz Taylor Story,” plus soap operas and nearly 100 commercials.

DARIN ADAMS (Commander William Harbison) is thankful to return to Music Circus, where he can do what he loves and still get home for dinner with Sheri, Sam and Sydney. Last summer he played Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel in Grease. Darin is currently the director of arts and worship at Christ Community Church in Carmichael, where he writes and directs three original musicals each year, most recently Nick’s Lighthouse and The Champion. Theatre credits include Johnny Brown in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Lt. Cable in South Pacific, Curly in Oklahoma! and Tony in West Side Story. Opera credits include Danillo in The Merry Widow, Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro and Don José in Carmen.

LEANNE CABRERA (Liat) is making her Music Circus debut in South Pacific. She has adored this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic ever since she performed off-off-Broadway as Ngana. Other
R & H musicals she had the pleasure of appearing in include The King and I at Millbrook Playhouse and Cinderella at the A.T. White Center. Just a few months ago, Leanne lived one of her dreams when she got to play Luisa in The Fantasticks at Bristol Riverside Theatre. Her other recent stage credits have been in New York as Tehura in Gauguin/Savage Light, Bianca in Dear Maudie and Yuko in Itadakimasu – A Happy Meal. Her recent film and television work includes “Strangers With Candy,” “East Broadway” and “Peculiar Tales.” She would like to send much love and thanks to her family and friends.

JACOB ben WIDMAR (Ensemble) is honored to be joining the Sacramento Music Circus family. Most recently he was seen in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the historic Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. He has also performed in On the Town at Reprise! Broadway’s Best, 42nd Street as Billy Lawlor, My Fair Lady (under Fiddler on the Roof director Glenn Casale) and A Chorus Line as Mark (directed by Kay Cole). Jacob has a BFA in theatre from Brigham Young University.

JANNA CARDIA (Ensemble/Ensign Janet MacGregor) is returning to the Music Circus stage after appearing in The Music Man, Mame, My Fair Lady and Show Boat in 2001. Janna has played the Witch in Into the Woods and the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She also earned an After Dark Award for her performance as Trina in Falsettos in Chicago. Other favorite roles include Children of Eden, Pump Boys and Dinettes and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Janna takes great pride in being a member of Actors’ Equity Association, and she would like to thank God from which she draws all her strength. www.omymedia.com/cardiatwins

MICHAEL DOTSON (Professor) is honored to be back for his 21st production with Music Circus. Over seven seasons he has been in various productions such as The Secret Garden, The Music Man, Damn Yankees, Paint Your Wagon, Ragtime, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Beauty and the Beast and Cabaret. This year he worked with Broadway legend Jerry Herman on his reconceived version of The Grand Tour at The Colony Theatre and reprised the role of Frankie in Forever Plaid for Actors Theatre of Indiana. Other favorite roles include Jesus (Godspell), Bobby (A Chorus Line), Tom Trainor (No, No, Nanette) and Hero (A Funny Thing … Forum). Michael received a BFA in theatre from USC. He is a certified massage therapist and has worked for over 10 years with the company that produces the AIDS Walk in L.A., New York and San Francisco. Michael is proud to be a member of Actors’ Equity Association and a councillor on its national governing board.

SANDY HAWKER (Ensemble/Ensign Dinah Murphy) is returning for her fourth season at Music Circus. She earned her bachelor’s in music theatre at Florida State and now resides in Los Angeles. Her Music Circus credits include Paint Your Wagon (Cherry), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Mrs. Worthington), Camelot, Cats, Brigadoon, Ragtime, Damn Yankees, Oklahoma!, Footloose and Jesus Christ Superstar. Other credits include the Narrator on the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Secret Garden in Charlotte and Grease in Orlando. Sandy recently completed five months aboard the Regent Seven Seas Navigator, making stops in Tahiti, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean.

MELISSA LONE (Ensemble) is excited to be back at Music Circus. Audiences may remember her from last summer’s performances of Beauty and the Beast, Crazy for You, Cabaret and The King and I. Some other favorite credits include Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Wang Center in Boston, 42nd Street at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, Anything Goes starring Chita Rivera at the Paper Mill Playhouse and three years on the road with the national tours of Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia! and 42nd Street. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

IVORY McKAY (Ensemble/Yeoman Herbert Quale) is returning to Sacramento Music Circus for a great summer. Ivory has been seen on the Music Circus stage with a catcher’s mitt in Damn Yankees, a sword in Brigadoon and in the Harlem gang in Ragtime. Other favorite credits include Dreamgirls starring Jennifer Holliday and as Judah in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Jon Secada (both at Atlanta Theatre of the Stars), Anxious in West Side Story at the MUNY in St. Louis and being a part of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Ivory says, “God bless and enjoy life!”

AMBER OWENS (Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to the tent for her seventh season. She is a Radio City Rockette, performed on the first national tour of 42nd Street and has appeared as a featured dancer on VH1’s “Fashion Rocks.” Favorite Music Circus credits include Crazy for You, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and West Side Story. Amber has a BS from Northwestern University and was raised in the Sacramento area. She sends love and thanks to teachers, friends, family and God.

MAHRI RELIN (Ensemble/Dance Captain) is delighted to be returning to Sacramento Music Circus, where, in previous seasons, she performed in Oklahoma!, Footloose and Jesus Christ Superstar. Mahri was most recently seen as Anita in Joey McKneeley’s Asian tour of West Side Story. Other performances around the country include Dorcas in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, Rumpleteaser in Cats at the St. Louis MUNY, Swing! at North Shore Musical Theatre and Aida at Westchester Broadway Theatre. Mahri sends love to her folks, friends and Jeff!

GERMAN SANTIAGO (Ensemble/Henry), a Houston native, is returning to Music Circus after playing Pepe in last summer’s production of West Side Story. German just joined the cast of the cable TV show “Dante’s Cove” as a series regular. He has performed at Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and he danced in the international tour of Barney’s Colorful World. German currently resides in Los Angeles, where he plays the title role in Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular at Disney’s California Adventure Park. He thanks his family, friends, Carol and Blossom at Stage 9 and especially Kay.

JOSEPH SARK (Ensemble/Shore Patrolman) is excited to make his summer debut with Sacramento Music Circus. His recent credits include Follies and The Will Rogers Follies at Paper Mill Playhouse, Bobby Child in Crazy for You, Tony in West Side Story, Phil in The Wild Party, Paul in A Chorus Line, Larry Christ in Jesus’ Kid Brother and singing opposite Deborah Gibson in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Joseph sends his thanks to KSA, Kristen and family.

CHRISTOPHER SAUNDERS (Ensemble) was most recently seen in the North Shore Music Theatre’s Damn Yankees. Previous credits include appearances in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cape Cod and Indiana in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Carousel, West Side Story, Peter Pan, Evita, Cats, The Pajama Game, A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Singin’ in the Rain, Brigadoon, Bells Are Ringing, George M! and No, No, Nanette. Chris holds a BA in musical theatre from Point Park University, and he dedicates his performance to his Grandma and Grandpa.

JUSTIN SCHUYLER (Jerome) is 9 and will be in the fifth grade in the fall. He discovered he liked acting at an improv class when he was 7.  His credits include education videos, minor roles in movies and school and community theatres.  He has also modeled for both print advertising and runways.

HEIDI SCHUYLER (Ngana) is 12 years and will be beginning the seventh grade this fall.  She started as a print and runway model and has been acting since she was 6.  Her school and community theatre credits include playing Slim in Snow White Goes West for City of Rocklin Theatre and Arts, when she discovered how much she loved theatre.

EMILY SHOOLIN (Ensemble) is making her debut in Sacramento. Currently living in New York City, she has been in Anyone Can Whistle at the Chicago Ravinia Music Festival (directed by Lonny Price and Paul Gemignani), There Goes the Ballgame: The Music of Kander and Ebb (The Duplex), In the Name of Bob (Arthur Seelen Theatre), Suicide/Joke (New York Fringe Festival) and Calthropia (Bank Street Theatre). In New York City this fall, she will play Juliet in the Shakespearean musical comedy Fools and Lovers.

JOSEPH TORELLO (Stewpot), a Connecticut native turned New Yorker, is making his Music Circus debut. He spent a year in the national tour of The Music Man as Olin Britt and can be seen on the Music Circus stage in that role later this summer. In New York, he was Smudge in his fourth production of Forever Plaid, played various roles in Jesus Christ Superstar and took part in a reading of the new musical The Man in the Iron Mask. Some favorite credits across the nation include Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Knife Grinder in Oliver!, Cats, The Buddy Holly Story and Songs for a New World.

KEVIN VORTMANN (Ensemble/Lt. Buzz Adams) returns for his second season at Music Circus. Last year, Kevin was seen as Moose in Crazy for You and in Beauty and the Beast. He has performed on Broadway in Children and Art and in the national tour of Camelot. Kevin has worked across the country in productions including Forever Plaid (Smudge), A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, Cats, Miss Saigon, 1776 and Sweet and Hot: the Songs of Harold Arlen. Kevin is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and a graduate of Northwestern University. He would like to thank his family and friends for their unwavering love and support.

LELAND BALL (Director) was brought to Sacramento from New York in 1976 by Music Circus producers Russell Lewis and Howard Young to direct three shows. Last week, he was shocked to learn that South Pacific will be his 80th production here.  Needless to say, he fell in love with life in California and Music Circus in particular. Over the past 30 years, he has taken on many different responsibilities with the organization. During the 1980’s he staged as many as seven productions in seven weeks. During the 1990’s, he frequently concentrated exclusively on his producing duties, employing guest directors for all the shows. Today, he has come full circle. He’s back on the East Coast, and the producers of Music Circus, Richard Lewis and Scott Eckern, are once again bringing him from New York to direct. And he couldn’t be happier. Coming to Sacramento with him this summer are friends and family from all over the country: Amber, Adina, Angela, Barbara, Griffin, Jefferson, Jesse, Lester, Russell, Susan and Sydney. He is confident that they will enjoy the thrill of Music Circus as much as he does. When asked about his plans for the future, he says he’s looking forward to the next 30 years with the company. Particularly, he looks forward to his production of South Pacific in 2036.

MARCIA MILGROM DODGE (Choreographer) happily returns to Music Circus where she directed Grease, Once on This Island (also choreographer), Damn Yankees, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Kismet. Her work as a director and choreographer has been seen throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain and South Korea. Favorite projects include off-Broadway’s Cookin’, Closer Than Ever and Radio Gals; Ain’t Misbehavin’ (nine productions across the country, including at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Huntington Theatre and Philadelphia Drama Guild, garnering two Barrymore Award nominations for outstanding musical and choreography); and On the Town and Of Thee I Sing (Helen Hayes Award nomination for outstanding choreography), both for the Arena Stage. Her first play, the Edgar Award-nominated Sherlock Holmes and the West End Horror, co-written with her husband Anthony Dodge, had its world premiere at Bay Street Theatre in 2002 and is enjoying productions from coast to coast. Their next project is HATS! The Red Hat Society Musical. As always, Marcia dedicates her work to Tony and Natasha. For more, go to www.marciamilgromdodge.com.

JAMES MAY (Musical Director) most recently conducted Mamma Mia! in Madrid, Spain. On Broadway, Jim conducted Teddy and Alice, Les Misérables and Sunset Boulevard. On national tours, he was music director for Beauty and the Beast, La Cage aux Folles, A Chorus Line and Kiss Me, Kate. In Mexico, Jim was music director for La Bella y La Bestia (Beauty and the Beast) and El Hombre de la Mancha (Man of La Mancha). Jim lives in Los Angeles, where he has conducted numerous shows in the area, including Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, The Lion King, West Side Story and recently, White Christmas. James is very happy to be returning to Music Circus for his fifth show.

STEVEN HOWARD and BOB MILLER (Costume Designers) began their collaboration as students in the theatre department at California State University, Northridge, where they have been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Since they began collaborating, the team of Howard and Miller has become a staple of costume design in cinema, television and stage. The two are Emmy Award-winning record holders, virtually owning the outstanding costume design for a daytime drama category with nine awards. Howard and Miller have designed for Eva Gabor, David Bowie and Toni Braxton. This is their sixth season at Music Circus.

MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT (Scenic Designer) returns for his seventh season at Music Circus. He collaborated with director Kent Paul on the American premiere of The Bird Sanctuary in Pittsburgh as well as the acclaimed production of Donald Margulies’ Collected Stories starring Lynn Redgrave and Joe Sutton’s Restoring the Sun. He has designed sets for three plays staged by Joanne Woodward: Golden Boy, Waiting for Lefty (starring Marisa Tomei) and The Big Knife. Other credits include The Seagull and Michael Cristofer’s Amazing Grace (starring Marsha Mason) at Blue Light Theatre, All Under Heaven (starring Valerie Harper) and Tallulah Hallelujah (staring Tovah Feldshuh). Upcoming projects include Ella, a new musical about Ella Fitzgerald, which will tour through 2007. Michael designed the set for James Taylor’s current U.S. tour. Visit his online portfolio at www.msportfolio.com.

PAMILA GRAY (Lighting Designer) returns for her 17th season with Music Circus, having designed 116 shows in the tent and new pavilion. At the Community Center Theater, Pam has been the lighting designer for nine Broadway Series productions. Elsewhere, she has designed for the Alley Theatre, Houston Grand Opera and Theatre Under The Stars, as well as American Musical Theatre of San Jose, San Jose Repertory and Marin Theatre Company in the Bay Area. Her recent work includes the world premiere of My Antonia and Kept for TheatreWorks and the American premiere of The 3hree Musketeers for American Musical Theatre of San Jose.

ROBERT SERENO (Sound Designer) has implemented sound design for Music Circus and The Broadway Series since 1986. His work at the Community Center Theater includes Camelot, The Desert Song, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Singin’ in the Rain, Into the Woods, Hot Mikado and 1776. Recently, Robert toured with Dreamgirls, starring Frenchie Davis, in Sacramento, Seattle and San Jose. He has engineered and designed sound for a wide variety of entertainers, including Lou Rawls, Dean Martin and Peggy Lee. Robert also plays woodwinds and studied composition and arrangement at the Eastman School of Music; he toured the U.S. with several groups before settling in California.

SPENCER ANDERSON (Production Stage Manager) returns for his eighth summer with Music Circus. Since 1988, Spencer has worked as a stage manager, a production manager, a lighting designer or a lighting director in a variety of theatrical disciplines and venues. His work in musical theatre, drama, ballet, opera, modern dance and even ice skating has taken him to five countries. Spencer spends his autumn, winter and spring as the production stage manager for Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley.

RON SWANSON (Hair and Wig Designer) is happy to return for his 11th season with Music Circus. Ron’s work has been featured in such Broadway Series productions as Gypsy, Into the Woods, West Side Story and 1776. Ron has also worked on the national tours of The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, Show Boat, Crazy for You, Annie Get Your Gun, The Full Monty and Thoroughly Modern Millie. When not working in the theatre, Ron and his partner Kent enjoy living here in Sacramento, where Ron owns and operates his own private salon.

ANDREW HAVER (Assistant Stage Manager) marks his first season with Music Circus. Previous stage management experience includes national tours of Ragtime and The Will Rogers Follies and productions at Dallas Theater Center, South Coast Repertory and La Jolla Playhouse (including the world premiere of Thoroughly Modern Millie). He has also worked at the San Francisco Symphony, About Face Theatre in Chicago and the National Playwrights’ Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Andrew has an MFA in stage management from the University of California, San Diego.

STANLEY LUNETTA (Musical Coordinator) returns for his 51st season at Music Circus. He has played drums for every Music Circus production but two since 1955. Since 1973 (with invaluable help from his wife Sharon), he has been responsible for choosing the musicians and coordinating all musical affairs for Music Circus and The Broadway Series orchestras. In addition to his musical activities, he is webmaster and Sysop for MacNexus, the Sacramento Macintosh user group. For more on Stan, visit his Web site at stang.donnerparty.net.