Spring Awakening
STARR JASMINE LEAVITT (Wendla Bergmann) was born and raised in Miami, FL, graduated from New World School of the Arts, and is currently pursuing a BFA in musical theater at Ithaca College. Before migrating to Ithaca, she worked as an intern with Shakespeare in the Park, performing Macbeth in three local Miami parks, as well as participating in The New World Connection, her high school's traveling musical theatre group. Other previous credits include The Crucible (Betty), Curtains (Nikki), and Gypsy (June). This is her first production with the MTC, and she is beyond thrilled to share this timeless story, exploring a new awareness of both the "bitch" and beauty of living. Starr dedicates this performance to all her family, friends, teachers, and pets who have helped her grow to become a teenage mutant ninja actress. Love to the core.
JOANNA DRIVALAS (Martha) is thankful and excited for her first Ithacan performance. She is an intern at Kitchen Theatre Company and holds a degree in Creative Writing and Theatre from The Florida State University. Recent favorite roles include a tap-dancing chorus girl in The Producers, a "Shh, don't tell Mama", German, cabaret dancer named Lulu in Cabaret, a might-be-pregnant teen named Rizzo in Grease, and a murderously jealous wife named Go-to-Hell Kitty in Chicago. Much love and many thanks to cast and crew.
CATHERINE RIEFLIN (Thea) is thrilled to be a part of the MTC production of Spring Awakening. She is a freshman at Cornell, studying Industrial and Labor Relations, and hails from beautiful San Francisco, California. Catherine participated in musical theatre all throughout high school and was most recently seen in Seussical (Gertrude), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), Lucky Duck (Serena), and The Wedding Singer (Angie). When not rehearsing with the cast of Spring Awakening, Catherine can be found harmonizing with her a cappella group, The Class Notes, or enjoying the company of her lovely Pi Beta Phi sisters! Lots of love and thanks to her family and friends for their never-ending support.
CARLY BROWNING (Anna) is a Freshman Theatre Studies and Speech Pathology major at Ithaca College. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, she is thrilled to be making her debut with the MTC in Spring Awakening, and would like to thank them for this wonderful opportunity. Some of her favorite roles include Love of a Pig (Jenny), Little Shop Of Horrors (Ronnette), and Chicago (Velma). She has also choreographed a number of shows, including Jesus Christ Superstar and The Admirable Criton. When not in rehearsal, she can be found spitting a rhyme as her rapper alter ego or nerding out to Lord of the Rings. So many thanks to Tessica, Rebs, Nikki, Coleman, Sarah, and memoryLaine. To Mum, Dad, Granna, and Premium Blend: all my love.
LAINE LEVITT (Ilse) is a Sophomore Drama Major at Ithaca College. This is her first production with the MTC, and she is very excited for the opportunity. Some of her favorite roles include Mama Euralie in Once On This Island and Ruth in Pirates of Penzance. She sends love to her family, friends, and the cast and crew for making this experience so amazing! AND ERIC.
COLEMAN HEMSATH (Melchior Gabor) is a freshman Musical Theatre Major at Ithaca College where he played Eddie in Fool For Love. He never leaves Dillingham. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Coleman has played Finch in How To Succeed..., Javert in Les Misérables, and Cain in Children Of Eden. He wants to thank his amazingly supportive and eccentric family as well as his 2015 Dilly family for all the love. Let your bodies be the guilty ones!
ERIC HAGREEN (Moritz Stiefel) is an IC Senior Drama major from Seattle, Washington. Some of his previous credits include The Old Man in Fool For Love (Ithaca College Main Stage), Al in A Chorus Line, Mark Cohen Rent, Rapunzel's Prince in Into the Woods (The Ridge Theatre), Tom Collins in Rent (MTC), Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (MTC). "Special thanks to the fabulous cast and crew for this incredible experience as well as friends and family for their endless support. And Laine."
EVAN ARBOUR (Hanschen Rilow / Rupert) is a freshman Acting major at Ithaca College from Winthrop, Maine. This is his first production with the MTC. He is really excited to be a part of Spring Awakening, and couldn't be more proud of all the work everyone has done to make this show the best it could possibly be. He would like to thank the MTC for giving him this opportunity. He would also like to thank all of his friends and family for their never-ending support.
MATTHEW GOTTESMAN (Ernst Robel / Reinhold) is a junior Apparel Design and Fiber Science major in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. At Cornell, he is a member of the Chordials, a co-ed, collegiate a cappella group. He is thrilled to be working on his first MTC production with such an amazing cast and crew!
JAY GROLLMAN (Georg / Dieter), a freshman, all the way from Scottsdale, Arizona, studies electrical and computer engineering at Cornell University. When he's not spending his time adjusting to the weather, Jay enjoys a good book and a warm cup of tea. Jay has performed as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, and continues to sing in the co-ed a capella group: The Chordials. He is beyond thrilled to participate in his first MTC production, and would like to give a big thanks to his younger brother, who has provided endless encouragement, and will never cease to make him smile.
ALLEN NAVASERO (Otto / Ulbrecht) was born in San Francisco, California and has lived half of his life between the renowned 'City of Love', Singapore and Manila, Philippines. His parents are of British, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese and Filipino descent. Currently a Freshman studying Natural Resources and Mandarin at Cornell University, Allen has been performing on stage since he was 7 years old and also does some modeling back in Singapore on the side. He enjoys singing, dancing, working out and spending time with friends and family (including his German Shepherd dog). He one day aspires to become a professional artist.
KRISTIN SAD (Adult Women) is so excited to be a part of this amazing cast, especially having worked with the inimitable Amina Omari and Masa Gibson in the past. She has been involved in theater since moving to Ithaca 4.5 years ago, the Actor's Workshop training she received jumpstarting that interest. Wolfs Mouth and Theatre Incognita have allowed her to play along, and she has appeared most recently in the AWITC production of Mitzi's Abortion.
BRYAN VANCAMPEN (Adult Men) is pleased to be acting again after too long of a break. Some of his favorite roles have included different characters in productions of Larry Shue's The Foreigner, Sir Chiffley Lockheart in Gasping, Moon in The Real Inspector Hound, Col. Pickering in My Fair Lady, Charley in Death of a Salesman and Harry in The Time of Your Life. Directing credits include Woody Allen's God and Death; Trial By Jury; and Tartuffe and Much Ado About Nothing. He also directed and co-produced a series of award-winning digital short films with screenwriter Aaron Weiss and Paul Smith. He has been the film critic and arts writer for the Ithaca Times since 1991. He is a big fan of music, guitar and painting. His spiritual guru is late-night icon Geoff Peterson.