Into The Woods
JARED HAKIMI (The Narrator) Now a Cornell junior majoring in Applied Economics & Management, Jared is very excited to perform in Into the Woods. He was last seen portraying President Gerald Ford and David Herold as a chorus member in the Melodramatics production of Assassins. This was in fact Jared’s first production ever! He also played Mama Turd in a kabuki performance of Ubu Roi of SLTC at the Schwartz. Jared’s previous vocal experience includes performing the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem, at his high school graduation, and singing in a choir while volunteering and studying this past year in Israel. Jared hopes to remain involved in musical theatre throughout his college career.
LANI TOYMAMA (Cinderella) Lani is a junior Vocal Performance major at Ithaca College. She has participated in many shows ever since her younger days. Recently, she performed in the opera Dido and Aeneas in opera workshop at Ithaca. While studying classical voice, she has also made room for musical theater. last semester she traveled back and forth to Rochester to portray the role of Cinderella in Cinderella with a community theater group. After college, she plans to move to New York City, live in a box (hopefully decently sized) and try to make her mark on the stage. She would like to recognize her 30-02 housemates and let them know that she loves them all!
STEVEN MILES (Jack) Steve is a 2004 graduate of Curwensville Area High School in central Pennsylvania, and is now a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University. At home, Steve has appeared in six musicals, several straight plays, and has directed a short film. He has a passion for creative writing and is also a percussionist who participates in the Big Red Marching Band. His favorite stage role to date is Thenardier from Les Miserables, but Steve has sworn that someday he will do Les Miserables again and play the character of Javert.
JUSTIN LEADER (The Baker) Justin, after producing Random Acts of Music 6 for the AG Theater Troupe, went on to produce and direct last semester’s smash hit, Assassins, the Melodramatic’s premiere production. Justin has been trained in performance and direction at NYU’s Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting and the Russian Art Theater at Columbia University. He has appeared in over forty separate productions, performed at Lincoln Center, starred off-off-Broadway, and can be seen in Kevin Klein’s 2001 film The Emperor’s Club. He believes it is very important to work with and give back to the Ithaca Community.
BECKY LORD (The Baker's Wife) Becky is proud to be making her Melodramatics debut in this production of Into The Woods. She is a sophomore history major and music minor at Ithaca College and is a native of Norwich, CT. A graduate of the Norwich Free Academy, Becky has an extensive background in performing, primarily in instrumental music. She studied dance (tap, jazz, ballet) under Luis Pabon for ten years in Taftville, CT, and has performed in multitudinous choral ensembles. Past productions include You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Sally), Anything Goes (Virtue), The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), Sweeney Todd, and Joseph… Becky would like to thank her parents and sisters for their unending support in her musical endeavors, her wonderful friends, the terrific cast, and God.
LAUREN ROMEO (Cinderella’s Stepmother) Having last starred as the adorably psychotic slave/girlfriend of Charles Manson, Fromme, in the Melodramatics premiere production of Assassins, Lauren is glad to be back on stage with her friends in Into the Woods. A New York native, Lauren is graduating from Ithaca College as a history and politics major this year and will be attending law school in the fall. She would like to give a shout out to everyone in “the circle” and thank her family, friends and, of course, all of her gorgeous housemates for their love and support.
KRISTIN GAWERA (Florinda) Kristin graduated from Cornell University in 2004 with a degree in Microbiology. She is currently working at Cornell as a laboratory technician in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior. Although this is her first appearance in a musical production at Cornell, Kristin has always been a fan of the theatre and has participated in musical performances throughout her Junior High and High School years. She is particularly fond of singing, having had several years of vocal training and experience with several choral groups. In the coming years, she intends to pursue a PhD within the field of Biology, while continuing to nourish her love of music and the theatre. Kristin would like to thank her family, friends and coworkers for their continuous support and encouragement in accomplishing her goals.
JENN ROBINSON (Lucinda) Jenn is currently a senior at Cornell University, majoring in Physics, and spending most of her spare time performing wherever she can. She recently played la Marquise de Merteuil in Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Lysandra in A Midsummer Night's Dream during Gateway Theatre's 2003-2004 season. She is also Artistic Director for Gateway. Next year, she plans to continue on to graduate school in Physics, likely making Into the Woods her farewell performance.
JENNIFER GIROUX (Jack's Mother) Jennifer is excited to be making her second appearance with the Melodramatics! She’s been acting since she was knee-high to a grasshopper! Her height hasn’t changed much over the years, nor her deep passion for acting and singing. Jennifer has been seen in over 30 productions. You may have seen her most recently as “Moore” in Assassins. Some of her favorites roles include: Mom, to 2 Amazing Children, Adelelaide in Guys and Dolls, and Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors. She has also been seen swing dancing in the Ithaca Fest and Grass Roots. Last year Jennifer adventured out on screen in several films. She also teaches and works as an Independent Sign Language Interpreter. "Thanks to my beautiful family and friends for all your love and support!"
ASHLEY ADAMS (Little Red Riding Hood) Ashley is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University hailing from Georgetown, Delaware. She attended Sussex Central Senior High School where she was the president of the award winning Take II Drama Club and performed in many school and community productions. Her favorite roles to date have been those of Eponine in Les Miserables and Jan in Grease. Last semester, she was involved in the Melodramatics first show, Assassins, and she is excited to be working with them again on this endeavor. She would like to thank her friends and family for all their support onstage and off.
MICHELLE STRUCKE (The Witch) Michelle is ecstatic to be returning to her favorite role. After making her Broadway debut in the finale of Les Miserables as the Understudy for Eponine, she attended NYU's musical theatre program in CAP21 Studios before transferring to Ithaca College. Past professional work includes The Sound of Music with Debby Boone in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the world premiere of Lorraine Hansbury’s What Use Are Flowers? in Atlanta, Georgia. Other roles include the Narrator in Joseph..., Cosette in Les Miserables and Anne Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank. A sophomore Politics major and Voice minor at IC, she hopes to study abroad in Egypt next year. She’d like to thank her friends, family and Jack, for their constant support.
DANIEL KERR (Cinderella’s Father) Daniel is an amateur of all things ostentatious, rather excited to break into college-level theatrics; indeed, past performances include: Pierre in Rosie and Company in 3rd grade and Herr Zeller in The Sound of Music in 12th. Daniel is fascinated by the mind and its wondrous machinations, and so a psychology major is a natural choice for him. However, this does not make him a stranger to sax-playing, writing small pseudoscientific texts for fun, chorale-singing, nor to inordinate amounts of computer gaming.
LISA GROSSMAN (Cinderella’s Mother) Lisa is a freshman Physics major in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences and an avid fan of Steven Sondheim. This past February she performed in The Vagina Monologues. This is her first production with the Melodramatics, and she is delighted and honored to be a part of Into the Woods.
ALEXANDER GILBERT (The Mysterious Man) Alex is a junior at Cornell studying Applied Economics & Management. He hails from sunny Syracuse, N.Y. His most recent performance was the part of The Lion in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. He has also appeared in several musicals, including Damn Yankees and South Pacific. His favorite role was the part of Rudolph, the headwaiter, in Hello Dolly.
ELIZABETH DELLARIO (Rapunzel) Elizabeth is a senior Textiles and Apparel Design major at Cornell. As a member of the Advanced Undergraduate Theatre Program, she has recently worked at the Schwartz Center as Assistant Costume Designer for Grapes of Wrath and as Costume Designer for Jacques Brel is Alive and Well… She has also been the Director of the Risley Denton Drama Troupe for the past three years and has performed in their annual production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Having studied classical voice since age eleven, she plans to move to New York City after graduation to pursue vocal performance. She would like to dedicate her performance to her angel of music, Hugh Panaro, for giving her the courage to sing once more.
EVAN GRAHAM (Rapunzel’s Prince & Wolf) A Cornell University freshman majoring in Biological Engineering, Evan is also a member of the Cornell University Glee Club, The National Society of Black Engineers, and TBA Gospel A Capella. Evan has performed in Fredericksburg, VA’s Riverside Dinner Theater in children’s theatre productions holding roles such as the Cowardly Lion in The Magical Land of Oz, the minstrel in Cinderella’s Glass Slipper, and the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. He has also appeared in the ensembles of some of the Riverside’s most prominent main stage productions: Annie Get Your Gun and Showboat! Evan wishes to thank his friends and family for always supporting him, and the Melodramatics for including him in their family.
CASEY BERSON (Grandmother/Giant) Originally from Forestburgh, New York, Casey is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, majoring in Biological and Environmental Engineering with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. At Cornell, she is also a member of CornellBIGS, a VP of Finance for the organization CUTonight, and an oboe in the symphonic band. Though she has participated in Area-All State and All-State choirs, this is Casey's first theatrical production since high school. She's thrilled to be here and would like to thank her friends, the BEE team and coordinators, and her family, without which she wouldn't be here today.
JOSH BURLINGHAM (Cinderella’s Prince) Having graduated from the Pingree School in his home state of Massachusetts, Joshua is now a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University. Since 2000, Joshua has performed in twenty-seven productions and has most recently played John Hinckley in the Melodramatics’ run of Assassins. Joshua has performed in Into the Woods twice before, once as the Baker and once as Cinderella’s Prince. Though he plans on continuing his theatrical career post-Cornell, Joshua plans on majoring in government with a minor in theatre or film, if he cannot accomplish a double major. Lastly, he would like to thank his family and friends for their continual love and support.
JOHN ALLEN (Prince’s Steward) John is from a small town called Seaford Delaware. He is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science. He performed in several plays and musicals throughout High School such as The Sound of Music, West Side Story, and The Music Man. His favorite roles include John Proctor in The Crucible and Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore. He received the choir and drama prizes upon graduation from Saint Andrew’s School in Middletown Delaware. He would like to thank Ann McTaggart and Marc Cheban for their years of fine direction and their friendship.
GENEVIEVE CIVETTA (Sleeping Beauty) Genevieve is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, double majoring in art history and archaeology. A native of Scarsdale New York, she has sung with a number of choirs including the Westchester Girls Choir, and most recently the Cornell Chorale. Her stage credits include Anything Goes (Charity), Godspell, Into the Woods (Florinda), and Joseph (Levi). She took ballet lessons for ten years, and danced in the Moscow State Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. This is her first play with the Melodramatics, and she is thrilled to be part of the cast. She would like to thank her roommates for putting up with her nonstop singing, as well as the cast and crew for being so amazing to work with. Break a leg!
JANNI BUONANNO (Snow White) Janni is a sophmore in the college of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Being an international agriculture major, she hopes to one day be a key player in the saving of the world. When she’s not princessing, she enjoys looking at rainbow-colored things and scooping ice cream.
CARLOS DOMINGUEZ (Executive Pit Director) After directing the pit orchestra for the Melodramatics’ 2004 production of Assassins, Carlos resumes his role as Pit Director for Into the Woods. He can play a variety of different instruments, from woodwinds to brass and has participated in pit orchestras for many shows including, Fiddler on the Roof, Crazy for You, Carousel, and Guys and Dolls, in which he was an assistant conductor. Carlos is also involved with the Big Red Bands at Cornell University. As one of the founders of the Melodramatics, Carlos has worked closely with Justin Leader to bring quality and successful musical productions to the Ithaca community. He wishes everyone in the pit, crew and cast the best of luck and hopes everyone who comes to see the show will enjoy going Into the Woods!
RACHEL BARRY (Artistic Director) This is Rachel’s first time working with the Melodramatics. A freshman in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell, Rachel has ventured from Interior Design in her Design and Environmental Analysis major to create a set for Into The Woods. She has had experience with theatre throughout her career at West Islip High School, shifting back and forth from behind the scenes, to the pit orchestra, to center stage. Hailing from Long Island, she is an avid admirer of the theatre and credits her parents for always taking her and her two brothers to Broadway shows. She wishes the best of luck to the very talented cast and crew, and looks forward to other projects with the Melodramatics.
JUSTIN NISLY (Director) Justin served as Musical Director for the Melodramatic's production of Assassins last semester. He has appeared in many productions, including The Laramie Project at Hutchinson Community College, for which he received a nomination to compete at the American College Theater Festival. He is currently active as a pianist, singer, actor, composer, writer, and director. He is a double major in English and music at Cornell University, and hopes to write and compose for the theater.
NIKKI DAVIES (Director of Marketing) Nikki was born and raised in Rockland County, New York. She attended high school at The Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey. Nikki is now a freshman at Cornell University in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. As an animal science major, she plans on attending veterinary school and eventually opening her own practice. Last semester she worked with the stage crew for the Melodramatics premier production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. She is very glad to be working with the Melodramatics again and looks forward to future productions. Finally, she would like to thank her family and friends, without whom none of this would be possible.
CHRISTINA PHELPS (Costume Designer) Christina is a senior Textile and Apparel Design major at Cornell, graduating after only three years of study. Her design work has earned her several awards, including being named an Outstanding Sophomore in 2004. Her interests include costuming for musical theater, opera, and ballet, having conducted research on classical ballet tutus. Christina has recently worked with the West Virginia Public Theatre and in the Schwartz Center costume shop, as well as taking on various roles in the Denton Drama Troupe’s annual production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in theatre, preparing to earn an MFA in costume design. She is very excited to work with the Melodramatics and would like to thank all of those who have inspired her along the way.
STEPHANIE WYNNE (Graphic Designer) Stephanie is a junior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell. She is an Animal Science major specializing in pre-veterinary medicine. Last semester, she was Assistant Director for Assassins and worked on some of the graphic art design. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and looking at her fish.
BILL ZINSSER (Assistant Graphic Designer) Bill was the Lead Graphic Designer and cast member for the fall production of Assassins. He is a junior at the College of Engineering studying Information Science, Systems and Technology as well as Computer Science. His extracurricular activities include Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, the Game Design Initiative at Cornell, and his ska band, the Portside Pirates. His schedule has left him limited time to focus on theatre, so this semester he was not able to audition and turned over the position of Lead Graphic Designer to Stephanie Wynne.
TOM REINSTEIN (Stage Manager) Tom is a native of Philadelphia, PA and is currently a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. He plans to study history while at Cornell. He has performed in several plays in the past few years, for example, Rev. Brown in Inherit the Wind, Lord Caversham in An Ideal Husband, and most recently, Samuel Byck in the Melodramatics’ performance of Assassins. He was also the Assistant Director for Gypsy and Stage Manager for West Side Story. He would like to thank his family for their support.
BECKY WADDLE (Assistant Stage Manager) Becky is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. After a semester as Artistic Director, she is taking a smaller role in this production to focus on other activities. Spending over half her life moving around the eastern United States and competing nationally in track and field, Becky settled down on a small farm in western New York. At that time, she picked up ice hockey and is currently playing for Cornell's Women's Club Ice Hockey Team, in addition to trying out rugby. She is an active member of Cornell's chapter of Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority. Becky has two older brothers attending college in North Dakota and NY, and a younger brother finishing up his sophomore year of high school.
RIVKAH DARABANER (Business Manager) Rivkah is a sophomore premed student in the college of Human Ecology, majoring in Human Biology, Health and Society. She served as the secretary and treasurer for the Senior Chorus at her HS, which involved organizing a 2-week tour of Spain for 5 musical performance groups. However, she is thrilled to be breaking into the wonderful world of musical theater, by working with the Melodramatics on their premier production.
SAREN SEELEY (Property Master) Saren is in the 12th grade at the Alternative Community School and plans to major in musical theatre in college. She is happy to be working with the Melodramatics again; last semester she did props for and played Emma Goldman/Chorus in Assassins. Previously she has worked with the Cornell Savoyards, the Orange Tree Theatre Company, the Kitchen Theatre and the Hangar Theatre, as well as multiple school productions. She is currently playing the lead role of Cassie in her highschool's production of A Chorus Line.
BRANDIE CARDONE (Community Outreach Coordinator) This is Brandie's first time working with the Melodramatics. She works in the Housing and Dining office at Cornell and is looking forward to getting back into theatre. She has performed both on stage and off in high school and at SUNY Cortland where she graduated with a communications degree and theatre minor. She also attended college in Toronto, Ontario where she received a certificate in Corporate Communication. Brandie is looking forward to getting back into performing but, for now, is happy to help solicit others in the community to enjoy our performance.
DAVID MACK (Events Coordinator) David is a senior theatre major and an applicant for the Actor's Studio Drama School. One of eight directors for the Student Laboratory Theatre Company at the Schwartz, David has directed scene selections from Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Last summer, David served as a Theatre Instructor for teens at the Youth Program in Cornell's Adult University, and last fall he had the pleasure of playing George Murchison in the production of A Raisin in the Sun featuring director Regge Life and icon Yolanda King.
ROBERT BERG (Lead Creative Consultant, Assistant to the Executive Producer) Robert is a senior Liberal Arts major at SUNY Purchase and is thrilled to be participating in The Melodramatics' second production, after having held this position last semester for their first musical, Assassins. He is particularly excited to be involved in Into the Woods, because it is his favorite musical. Seeing this play with its original cast on Broadway when he was six years old began his lifelong love of musical theatre. Over the years, he has seen seven separate productions of it, including the recent Broadway revival. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, performed in such shows as Grease, Barnum, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, as well as performing in choir. He wishes the entire cast and production team the best of luck.
NICOLE BOOSEMBARK (Flute, Piccolo) A Cornell alum as of January 2002, having graduated from the School of Hotel Administration, Nicole is now the Event Planning Manager at the Statler Hotel. She has played the flute and piccolo since elementary school and was active in her school’s bands. At Cornell, Nicole was involved in the Big Red Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and the pit orchestra for West Side Story.
REBECCA GUION (Horn) Rebecca is a sophomore music education major at Ithaca College. She discovered her passion for music when she switched from flute to horn in high school. When she goes home to Fitzwilliam, NH during breaks, she plays and performs regularly with the local town band. She has participated in area and state festivals and has also been in many smaller ensembles, performing in and at various shows and events. She is in several ensembles here, including the Cornell Big Red Marching Band. When she's not playing, she enjoys reading, swimming, cooking, and being outside.
MATTHEW WHALEY (Percussion) Matthew is a freshman at Cornell University and plans to major in computer science in the future. He has been playing music for as long as he can remember. While he has been playing percussion for only about a year, in high school he played almost all of the woodwinds with a focus on the oboe. Past musicals include Funny Girl, A Funny Thing... Forum, and Peter Pan.