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Miller-Coffman Production LLC
Proudly Present
a new musical with a book by C. Stephen Foster & Rod Damer
with music and lyrics by Chuck Pelletier
THE GREEN ROOM
Directed by Jessica Jennings with musical direction by David Fletcher.
Stephen Foster, Chuck Pelletier, and Rod Damer bring a paradigm shift in American musical theatre to New York.
**Previews begin September 25 with opening set for September 27.** Running Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm, with Saturday matinees at 2pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm.
Harkening to Sondheim’s cult classic and oft-analyzed, “Merrily We Roll Along,” THE GREEN ROOM takes us backstage of … NOT a Broadway show … but an Off-Broadway show. We hitch a ride onto the journey of a group of four best friends in college who dream of “making it” in New York. John, Cliff, Anna, and Divonne live out complicated lives in the greenroom of their college theatre department. This concept musical gives an account of the struggles these four encounter in finding their place in this 21st Century world. The rock-pop-infused score includes the stirring “It’s All About Me.” This piece won the Songwriter’s Guild of America Award. The paradigm shift in musical theatre began at the TONYs with HADESTOWN winning Best Musical. Now, the change continues off-Broadway with THE GREEN ROOM
The cast includes high-energy emerging artists making their impact on National Tours and will – in many cases – be making their Off-Broadway debuts with THE GREEN ROOM. Fresh off the First National Tour of Beautiful is Ryan Farnsworth as John. Joining him is Eli Douglas La Croix as Cliff; Sami Staitman playing Anna; and rounding out the cast is Ariana Valdes in the role of Divonne. Corbin Williams and Kate McManus (Cinderella national tour) will serve as understudy.
Learn about the creative team at:
https://artsindependent.wordpress.com/2019/05/23/stephen-miller-on-the-green-room/
https://outerstage.wordpress.com/2019/05/23/foster-fosters-a-powerful-musical/
Who’s who in THE GREEN ROOM
Ryan Farnsworth is a graduate of UC Irvine with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Ryan’s favorite roles include the first national tour of Beautiful. Newsies as ‘Jack Kelley,’ Godspell as ‘Jesus,’ Memphis as ‘Perry Como’/’Huey U/S’, Candide as ‘Candide’, Ragtime as the ‘Younger Brother’, and Music Man as ‘Playya’. Ryan prides himself on being a “Jack of all trades” – strong in almost all fields of performance: acting, writing, comedy, drama, Shakespeare, stage and film, and all forms of music composition and performance. Ryan is a proud former voice student of Dr. Daniel Gary Busby and is excited to be working with the Broadway great Kurt Peterson. To learn more about Ryan please visit www.Ryanfarnsworth.net
Sami Staitman is a soon to be graduate of Pace University with a BFA in Musical Theater. Sami’s favorite roles include starring as ‘Elle Woods’ in Legally Blonde, ‘Donna’ in The Brain from Planet X, ‘Wednesday Addams’ in The Addams Family, ‘Penelope Pennywise’ in Urinetown The Musical, ‘Zsa Zsa’ in Lil’Abner, ‘Maggie Winslow’ in A Chorus Line, ‘Annie’ in Annie and her Best Actress Nominated performance as ‘Molly’ in the World Premiere production of Welcome to My World – A One Girl Musical. To learn more about Sami, Please visit www.samistaitman.com
Eli LaCroix is a recent Graduate of NYU Tisch Drama New Studio on Broadway with a BFA. Eli’s favorite roles include ‘Simon/Epikhodov’ in The Cherry Orchard (Off-Broadway), ‘Jerome’ in The Great Cat Massacre (Off-Broadway), ‘Roy’ in A Chorus Line, ‘Melchior’ in Abstract portrait of a Young Girl from a Noose, ‘Brad’ in Hairspray, ‘Bobby Strong’ in Urinetown, ‘Bradley’ in Mr. Marmalade, ‘Carney’ in Tuck Everlasting and ‘Scott’ in Swing! To learn more about Eli, Please visit www.elidouglaslacroix.com
Ariana Valdes is a Graduate of the Boston Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music. Ariana’s favorite roles include the National Tours of The Sound of Music as ‘Sister Berthe’ / ‘Baroness Elberfeld’ and My Fair Lady as ‘Mrs. Hopkins.’ Ariana’s other favorite roles include, ‘Madame de la Grande Bouche’ in Beauty & The Beast, ‘Peaches’/’Baby Jane’ in Jerry Springer: The Opera, three different roles in In The Heights as ‘Abuela Claudia’ – and ‘Daniela’ twice, ‘Sister Mary Patrick’ in Sister Act, ‘Crystal’ in Little Shop of Horrors. To learn more about Ariana please visit www.ArianaValdes.com
Corbin Williams is a Graduate from Rhodes College with a B.A. in Theater with a music Minor. Corbin’s favorite roles include the National Tours of Cinderella as ‘Jean-Michael’ and How the Grinch Stole Christmas as the ‘Palm Springs Who’. Corbin’s other favorite roles include, ‘JC’ in The Warriors, ‘Logan’/Ensemble in Siren’s Den, ‘Frank Abagnale Jr.’ in Catch Me If You Can, ‘Link Larkin’ in Hairspray, and ‘J. Pierpont Finch’ in How to Succeed…Trying. To learn more about Corbin, please visit www.corbinwilliams.net
Kate McManus is a Graduate with an MFA in acting from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. Kate’s favorite roles include, The Tempest as Ariel (Off-Broadway), Doubt, a Parable (Off-Broadway). Kate’s other roles include, Schwartzy in The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee (Regional Tour), The Witch in Into The Woods, and Asaka in Once on this Island. To learn more about Kate, please visit www.KateMcManus.com
Miller-Coffman Productions, LLC exists to produce professional theatre works in NYC, and to share the joy of theatre with everyone, including a specific reach to atypical students who may be excluded from mainstream outings and theatre opportunities. The vision is to deeply impact our audiences in a way that cultivates empathy and fellowship for all humans. To make the world a kinder place, and more welcoming for anyone who feels they are unwelcome or relegated to the outskirts of society. To produce accessible theatre works at the highest level of artistry, with incredible detail to set, costume, props and historical accuracy. MCP produces both known and new work, both plays and musicals, surreal and naturalistic and creates artistic opportunities and collaborations throughout Off- and Off-Off-Broadway. The through-line is always compelling stories about a character in crisis who surmounts their circumstances; produced with highly detailed sets, props, and costumes. MCP productions serve the general public and reach teen groups through the High 5 ticketing program. MCP wants to do so much more, and the next step is providing autism-friendly performances.
Stephen Foster (Book) C. Stephen Foster is an award-winning actor/writer originally from Ft. Worth, Texas. He won 4 best supporting actor awards for the comedy short “That’s Opportunity Knocking.” He wrote the acting book “Awakening the Actor Within.’ He’s featured in the indie movies “Off Hollywood,” “David Whiting Story,” “Hidden Hills,” and “Expect Delays.” He is featured in the webseries “Studio Lot,” “Eternity Hills,” “C.P.R.,” “Finding Olivia,” “What’s My Intention,” and “Ground Floor.” He directed the music video “Dream Vacation.” He co-produced the music videos: “That Ain’t Love,” “Christmas Came Rushing,” and “Arlington.” “Legends and Bridge” (Joan Crawford, Bette Davis & Judy Garland) won critical praise and award nominations. Stephen co-wrote the book to the hit musical “The Green Room” which has been performed world-wide. He starred as Icarus in the Hollywood Fringe hit show “Seven Dreams of Falling.” Foster co-wrote the screenplay “Clubbed!” which was a finalist in several major contests.
Rod Damer (Book) Rod Damer is an actor as well as a writer, originally from Chicago. He has had small roles in “House,” “Vegas,” “Common Law,” “Zodiac” and “Alien Resurrection.” He’s also worked extensively with the Laguna Playhouse’s Theatereach program for young audiences. Years ago, he enjoyed the humble confines of a green room in the bowels of the theater building at St. Olaf College. It was a space claimed, for a brief time, by its denizens – an ever-changing cast of characters coming and going throughout the day, the weeks, the shows, the years. Within it, all strove for connection – be it in the real world or in the world of theater – that confirmed our humanness.
Charles Pelletier (Music and Lyrics) Chuck has written three produced musicals, hundreds of songs, and has various published choral arrangements. Chuck won 23 awards for his comedy short “That’s Opportunity Knocking.” Besides The Green Room, Chuck wrote the music and lyrics to a children’s musical called The Boy Who Stood Still which premiered at the University of New Hampshire, and the music to the musical Sour Grapes, which premiered at the Copake Theatre. His original songs have been placed in several independent movies including Valentine Man, Eyes of Innocence, Piling Up Vera, Chasing Indigo and Zyzzyx Road. Chuck taught music for five years at the high school and college levels, and served as music director for the Western Illinois Summer Music Theatre Professional Repertory Company. He is currently the vocal music director for Princess Cruise Lines. Chuck has a bachelor of arts in music from the University of Illinois, and has done additional study with Alice Parker (choral arranging) and Roque Cordero (music composition), as well as at Oxford University in England.
Jessica Jennings (Director) holds a BFA in Dance from University of the Arts, and the 2 yr. Training Certificate from the Martha Graham School of Dance. Accolades include the Jean Dalrymple Award for Best Shakespearean Actress 2005 for ‘Ophelia’ in Hamlet, a Van Lier grant scholarship at Martha Graham, Dominique DiPaolo Choreography Award at UArts, and Faculty Recognition Award at UArts. She has performed and choreographed internationally and was an off-camera dance coach for Bryce Dallas Howard, Sigourney Weaver, Cherry Jones, and William Hurt in M. Night Shymalan’s film The Village, 2003. She was directed by Tony winner Mario Fratti in his own work, Blindness (Italian Consulate), and directed by Tony nominee/Drama Desk winner Jana Robbins as ‘Ali’ in She Has A Name (The Sargent Theatre). She began directing in 2010, after retiring from dance – although she is known for her unique ability to move actors on stage. For Directing, Jessica won two audience vote awards for All About Lorrie (one-act version, Chatterton’s Midtown Festival), and for The Dance McCabe (Manhattan TheatreSource); she received the Jean Dalrymple Award for Best Director with her production of A Midsumer Night’s Dream and was nominated for a Princess Grace Award (2011) for her direction of Romeo & Juliet. Most recently she directed Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard and The Boor as part of ATA’s Female Voices in Theatre initiative.
David Fletcher (Music Director) David holds a Masters of Arts in African History from Ohio University and a bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Connecticut. David has a vast history of music direction, including performances at the Kennedy Center with their Child Help Gala and Dream Child. Other credits include, 42nd Street, Pacific Overtures, Into The Woods, The Wiz, South Pacific, Crazy For You, Cabaret, Candide, Mystery of Edwin Drood, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago, Good Man Charlie Brown and Godspell, along with many more. To learn more about David, please visit – www.davidfletchercompany.com
Scott Miller (Production Stage Manager) S. Scott holds a bachelors of Science in Psychology from Grand Canyon University. Stephen has been part of the theater industry for 31 years as an actor, singer, director, producer and stage manager. Stephen’s stage managing credits include – The Cherry Orchard (Off-Broadway), The Boor, The proposal, King John, The Bare Truth, Streetwalker: A New Masical, 2071: The World We’ll Leave Our Grand Children and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Stephen’s Directing credits include – The Belle of Amherst, Love is a Bad Neighborhood, The Cover of Life, Macbeth, Annie, Pirates – A Musical, Murders in the Heir, Totally Red and Into The Woods. To learn more about S. Scott, please visit www.MillerCoffmanProductions.com
Ken Coughlin (Technical Director) has been called a Renaissance Man. Ken is an award-winning actor/director, accomplished singer/songwriter/guitarist and involved in the technical aspects of theater for year. Ken has worked with sound since the late 60s. Ken’s path veered toward theater in the late 80s, where he began creating sound effects for the stage. Ken was thrown into lighting design while working on THE LAST SONGBIRD. Since his 2006 foray into lighting design, he has designed over 50 shows. His lighting and sound credits Leaving Love is a Bad Neighborhood, The Cover of Life, The Belle of Amherst, Siren’s Den, Lannahassee, Buzz, Emmett, A Lesson in Blood, The Killing of the Snow Fox, The Dead Old Lady, P.O.W. Sandman, Shelter, In Some Room, Above The Street, Polly Come Home Again, Diary of a Madman and Touch Not My Heart.
Jessica Newman will serve as Assistant Stage Manager
Jay Michaels Arts & Entertainments is press representative. www.jaymichaelsarts.com
Jessica Jennings 