Book by Joseph Fields and Anita Loos Music by Jule Styne Lyrics by Leo Robin @ Gateway Playhouse in Bellport

"A kiss on the hand may be quite Continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend."

...sparkles Lorelei Lee, the effervescent blonde in the show where gentlemen prefer them, based on the novel by Anita Loos. This insightful and satirical work, prompted a Broadway play in 1926, a Paramount film in 1928, a Broadway musical starring Carol Channing in 1950, and in 1953 the movie that certified Marilyn Monroe's stardom. With a memorable score by Jules Styne, the hilarious story unfolds as Lorelei, queen of the gold-diggers, barely surviving the depression and World War I, lets loose with her pal Dorothy Shaw, spending the Roaring Twenties with fancy gentlemen loaded with cash and diamonds. To quote Miss Shaw: “In bed by nine? That's when life just begins!”

	Video Preview of GENTLEMAN PREFER BLONDES
Click here to view PRODUCTION PHOTOS!

 

Gateway Playhouse Presents ELIZABETH STANLEY in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Book by JOSEPH FIELDS and ANITA LOOS
Music by JULE STYNE			Lyrics by LEO ROBIN
Adopted from the novel by Anita Loos Dances and Musical Ensembles Choreographed by Agnes DeMille Vocal direction and arrangements by Hugh Martin   Entire production staged by John C. Wilson
Starring PAUL CLAUSEN      ERIN CROUCH ANN HURST    MICHAEL HAYWARD-JONES     DUKE LAFOON KURT ROBBINS    SUSAN SCUDDER
Producer PAUL ALLAN
Associate Producer JEFF BELLANTE			General Manager GALE EDWARDS
Artistic Director ROBIN JOY ALLAN
Production Manager BRIAN LOESCH			Company Manager ERIN KRAUS
Associate Choreographer MARY GIATTINO		Costume Design JOSE M. RIVERA		Wardrobe Supervisor MARIANNE DOMNIY
Lighting Design KIM HANSON		Scenic Design MICHAEL H. WARD		Sound Design CODY SPENCER
Production Stage Manager SHANNON O'CONNOR*
Musical Direction JEFFREY BUCHSBAUM
Directed and Choreographed by KEN PRESCOTT
Costumes provided and executed by Glendale Costumes, Glendale, California
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is presented by special arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. 560 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022

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CAST (in order of appearance)

Lorelei Lee		ELIZABETH STANLEY*
Dorothy Shaw		ERIN CROUCH*
Gus Esmond (Jr.)		PAUL CLAUSEN*
Henry Spoffard		DUKE LAFOON*
Sir Frances Beekman		MICHAEL HAYWARD-JONES*
Lady Phyllis Beekman		SUSAN SCUDDER*
Mrs. Ella Spoffard		ANN HURST*
Josephus Gage		KURT ROBBINS*
Gus Esmond (Sr.)		BARRY JOHNSON
Gloria Stark		LINDSEY CLAYTON
Robert (Robbear) Lemanteur		DAVID ROSSETTI
Louis Lemanteur		ERIC S. ROBERTSON*
Coles and Atkins		GRAHAM KURTZ and LEAJATO ROBINSON*
ENSEMBLE LINDSEY CLAYTON, AIMEE COOK, NICOLE DIMATTEI, MARY GIATTINO*, RYAN HUDAK, KAREN HYLAND*, GRAHAM KURTZ, ERIC S. ROBERTSON*, LEAJATO ROBINSON*, NICKY ROMANIELLO, DAVID ROSSETTI, STEVEN DOUGLAS STEWART, KATY WOOD
UNDERSTUDIES
Lorelei Lee   KAREN HYLAND* Dorothy Shaw   LINDSEY CLAYTON Henry Spoffard   MICHAEL BAKER* Sir Frances Beekman   BARRY JOHNSON Mrs. Ella Spoffard   AIMEE COOK Josephus Gage   MICHAEL BAKER* *member of Actors' Equity Association
MUSICIANS Conductor/Piano   JEFFREY BUCHSBAUM Reed 1   JASON METCALF Reed 2   BRENDAN WHITING Trumpet 1   JOE BOARDMAN Trumpet 2   TOM MANUEL Trombone   JOE FERRANTE Bass   CATHERINE O'MALLEY Drums   PETE DESALVO Guitar/Banjo   JOE LOSCHIAVO

 

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Who's Who

PAUL CLAUSEN (Gus Esmond Jr.) is thrilled to be back at the Gateway Playhouse. Last season he played Oscar in Sweet Charity and in previous seasons was seen as Bill in Me and My Girl and Cosmo in Singin' in the Rain. Theatre credits for Broadway National Tours/Regional/International include: Stone in City of Angels, Father Alexandrios in Mamma Mia!, the Governor in The Best Little Whorehouse... starring Ann-Margret (Original Cast Album), Munkustrap in Cats, Sunset Blvd. starring Diahann Carroll (Original Cast Album), Sergeant of Police in Pirates of Penzance, Teddy in The Fully Monty, Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, Sen. Brockbank in Call Me Madam, Stanley in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Rev. David in The Foreigner and Forbidden Broadway. Film: AmericanEast with Tony Shalhoub. Television: N.C.I.S., USA High, City Guys, All My Children, General Hospital and numerous voice-overs. Actor's Equity Member since 1984 when he did George M! with Joel Grey.

LINDSEY CLAYTON (Gloria Stark, Ensemble, Understudy Dorothy Shaw) is happy to be back on stage at Gateway after performing as one of the Sweethearts in this seasons production of Dreamgirls as well as playing Gloria, u/s Muzzy in last years fantastic production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Lindsey spent last year playing the role of Dorothy Shaw on the National Tour of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She has also been on the National Tours of Grease, starring Frankie Avalon and Chubby Checker (performed Marty, Patty and Cha Cha!) and My One and Only. Regional work includes: Miss Flannery, u/s Muzzy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Carousel Dinner Theatre), Woman #3 in And The World Goes Round and Hedy LaRue in How to Succeed...Business (ABT), Babette in Beauty and the Beast (La Comedia) and Liz, u/s Velma in Chicago (Seacoast Rep). Lindsey would like to thank Robin, Ken, Jeff and Mary G for creating such a wonderful show. Love to family and friends, and her original Steward/Olympian/us Henry (perf), Tim who she misses very much. Love you!

AIMEE COOK (Ensemble, Understudy Mrs. Ella Spoffard) is thrilled to be returning to Gateway for a third season, which past shows include Sugar and A Century of Christmas. She is originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where she was a member of the Le Jazz Hot Dance Company for three years and with them, has performed in many NCC sponsored events. Aimee is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and is currently finishing her BFA in Musical Theatre at The New School University. She played the supporting role of Jamie in a short film, The Shallow End of the Ocean, which will be shown in a film festival this summer, in Ocean Beach, Fire Island. Tons of love goes out to Mum, Dad, Rebecca, Aaron and friends; I thank you all for your love and support, and many thanks to the Gateway Family.

ERIN CROUCH (Dorothy Shaw) Gateway Playhouse debut! Broadway/NYC: Diane in 42nd Street (Revival), Stairway to Paradise (Encores!). National Tour: The Producers. Regional: Velma in Chicago (Pioneer Theatre Company), Marty in Grease (Stages St. Louis), Cassie and Judy in A Chorus Line (Geva Theatre), Ziegfeld's Favorite in The Will Rogers Follies (Sacramento Music Circus), Polly in Crazy For You (Yorba Linda CLO), Laurie in Oklahoma (Irvine Barclay Theater), Rita in White Christmas (Pantages Theater, Hollywood). Film: The Producers (with Nathan Lane), The Singing Detective (with Robert Downey Jr.). Concert: Dance the Night Away: A Tribute to Fred Astaire and His Partners (with the New Haven Symphony, co-starring Jeffry Denman), Standard Time With Michael Feinstein (Carnegie Hall). Erin was born and raised in San Diego County, California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Irvine, with degrees in both Music and Drama. She is proud to be a member of Actor's Equity. Visit www.erincrouch.com.

NICOLE DIMATTEI (Ensemble) is back at Gateway for the third time, last seen in Dreamgirls and A Christmas Carol. She has performed in the shows and parades at Walt Disney World, including the roles of Brooke in Noises Off, and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. Other credits include Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Sleeping Beauty, Man of La Mancha, and Godspell. Nicole graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, with a focus in musical theatre. She wishes to thank her friends and family for all their love and support, and the good Lord above for all the answered prayers. Romans 8:31

MARY GIATTINO (Ensemble / Dance Captain / Assistant to the Director and Choreographer) is so happy to be back on her favorite stage. Mary has performed in Gateway's productions of Sweet Charity (Dance Captain), 42nd Street (Lorraine), Cabaret (Dance Captain), Jesus Christ Superstar, Annie Get Your Gun, A Chorus Line, Meet Me In St. Louis, and The King and I. Mary has performed in the Broadway national tour of 42nd Street, kicked up her heels as a Radio City Rockette, and served as Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain for the Detroit and Los Angeles companies of White Christmas, choreographed by Tony Award nominee Randy Skinner. She also assisted Mr. Skinner on the highly acclaimed City Center Encores production of, Of Thee I Sing. She just recently performed at the Duke Theater on 42nd Street in Tap City, performing a tap duet, with choreographer, Ray Hesselink. Mary's most recent choreography credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie and 42nd Street at the Gateway Playhouse. She is happy to have recently joined the faculty at Steps On Broadway, teaching Theater Tap. This year she had the pleasure of working as Associate Director and Choreographer at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Upcoming projects include White Christmas 2007. Mary is a member of Actors' Equity Association. She is also very proud to call herself an Alumnus of the Gateway Acting School and Stage Door School of Dance. Many thanks to Ruth, Paul and Robin Allan for continuing to welcome me back year after year. All my love to Rick and my amazing family!

RYAN HUDAK (Ensemble) is thrilled to be part of such an outstanding cast and to be in his first main stage show at Gateway. Ryan has been a student of the Gateway Acting School for nine years now and looks forward to pursuing acting in college and beyond. Previous credits include: Godspell (performer), Working (Rex/Joe), All My Sons (Jim), Peter Pan (Pirate), Cinderella (Herald) and Dracula (Renfield). He would like to thank Robin and Michael for giving him this incredible opportunity and his parents for their constant support.

ANN HURST (Ella Spoffard) returns to the Gateway Playhouse where she was last seen as Yenta in Fiddler on the Roof. Her most recent performance was at the Showpalace in Florida playing Mme. Dindon in La Cage Aux Folles. She makes her home in Florida where she can be seen on stages from Jacksonville to Miami. She is the recipient of the coveted South Florida Critics Carbonell Award for her role in Milk and Honey; a role originated by Molly Picon. Ann is no stranger to the Gateway, having performed in numerous productions for the Allans. They include: Me and My Girl, Secret Garden, Funny Girl, My Fair Lady, and Anything Goes, which also included a tour to Singapore. Ann is a veteran performer, starting out as a child in London, England where she was born.carrying on to the Catskill Resorts.and beyond. Besides being thrilled to be included in the cast of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, she is thrilled to be back in New York seeing old friends and hopefully making new ones. Thank you Allan family.

KAREN HYLAND (Ensemble/Understudy Lorelei Lee) is thrilled to be welcomed back to Gateway for the fifth time! Especially to work with the wonderful Ken Prescott after being directed by him 6 years ago in the All Night Strut! Previous Gateway productions include: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Ruth/Millie us), Sweet Charity (Carmen/Charity us), The Holiday Spectacular; and Cinderella (Stepmother). Karen has toured nationally with The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Mrs Claus us), Joseph... (wife) and internationally with Grease (Patty). Regional credits include Crazy For You (North Shore Music Theatre), A Funny Thing... (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park/ St Louis Repertory Theatre), The Jazz Singer (Queens Theatre in the Park), 42nd Street (Atlantic City company), and Anything Goes (Carousel Dinner Theatre). Many, many, many thanks to Mary G, Robin, and Paul for letting me spend the summer in Bellport, and to Erin Kraus for always looking out for me!!!

MICHAEL HAYWARD-JONES (Frances Beekman) happily returns to Gateway Playhouse on the heels of his portrayal of R.F. Simpson in Goodspeed Opera House's smash-hit revival of the American classic Singin' in the Rain. After last season's appearance in Gateway's Oliver!, he created the title character in the short independent film Eliot Rocket, a leading role in another film, Didn't This Used To Be Fun?, and a guest spot on the ill-fated NBC drama Conviction. He has toured as Thenardier with the National Tour of Les Miserables, and Broadway and national touring audiences have seen him in Evita, The King and I, Me and My Girl, A Little Night Music, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol, The Sound of Music, Brigadoon, She Loves Me, Mame, and Call Me Madam. Other television credits include: Law and Order, The Cosby Show, and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. After thirty-five years of continual theatrical experience his career remains one of the best kept secrets in show business.

BARRY JOHNSON (Gus Esmond Sr., Understudy Sir Frances Beekman) spent ten years with the Geraldine Fitzgerald's Everyman Company performing in N.Y.C. This included a year as a resident company member at La Mama Experimental Theatre Company developing and performing original music. He also appeared at The Brooklyn Academy of Music as Dr. Pinch in A Comedy of Errors. Other Shakespeare performances include Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, in Prospect Park. Barry has done solo numbers in Academy Award nominee Ronee Blakley's "Nashville" nightclub act. He also has played Manhattan clubs with his own musical trio. Featured roles in Long Island theatre include shows such as, The Who's Tommy, Titanic, Jane Eyre, Aida, Ragtime, and Gypsy.

GRAHAM KURTZ (Coles, Ensemble) is deliriously happy to make his Gateway Playhouse debut! After growing up in Northern Michigan, he received his BFA in Music Theatre from Western Michigan University. He has most recently been seen cavorting about stages all over Europe and Asia in the international tour of West Side Story. His favorite roles include "Rum Tum Tugger" in Cats, "Tulsa" in Gypsy, and "Darius" in Jeffrey. Enjoy!

DUKE LAFOON (Henry Spoffard) Gateway Playhouse: Debut. New York: Are We There Yet?, A Wonderful Life (Westchester Broadway), Monica: The Musical (Manhattan Theatre Club), The Audience (Transport Group), I Love My Wife (Queens Theatre in the Park). Regional: Ace (The Old Globe, Rep. Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Theatre in the Park), Sideman (Company of Fools), A Wonderful Life, Macbeth (Theatre Virginia), The Cocktail Hour (The Barksdale Theatre), The Woman in Black (Blue Ridge Theatre Festival) and Red Badge: The Musical (World Premiere). TV/Film: Iron Clads, Wicked Spring, and the CBS Mini-Series Sally Hemings starring Sam Neill.

KURT ROBBINS (Josephus Gage) is thrilled to be making his Gateway Playhouse debut. Kurt recently starred in the world premiere production of A Dog's Life. He was also in the original company of two Off-Broadway hit shows, Infertility: The Musical That's Hard to Conceive and The Water Coolers. Other credits include the First National Tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie as Trevor Graydon. A native of Santa Barbara and a graduate of UC Irvine, film credits include the Oscar-winning A Beautiful Mind. Kurt thanks all the awesome family and friends who encouraged him to never give up. With God, ALL things are possible!

ERIC S. ROBERTSON (Louis Lemanteur, Ensemble) is excited to make his Gateway debut in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. He spent the last three years with Twyla Tharp and Billy Joel's Movin' Out both on the 1st National Tour and on Broadway. Growing up near Toronto, Ontario, Eric started his career at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival of Canada in their productions of West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, The Three Musketeers, Moliere's Tartuffe, My Fair Lady, The Threepenny Opera, and as King Simon of Legree in The King and I. He appeared in Drayton Entertainment's The Music Man as Tommy Djilas and in The Boyfriend as Marcel. He played in Garvin in the Canadian premiere of Footloose at Stage West and appeared in Joseph. and Peter Pan at Theatre Aquarius. Recently, he was seen in Song and Dance in Toronto's Danforth Music Hall. Eric would like to send his love and thanks to the lady he prefers, his Arr, Lynda Sing.

LEAJATO ROBINSON (Atkins, Ensemble) A.E.A. member, a native of Wisconsin, is a four year graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy (IAA) where he received the "Young Artist Award", and a graduate of the Juilliard School with a B.F.A. in Dance. He has worked with distinguished dance choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Elisa Monte, and Susan Marshall and has performed in Europe and the United States as a professional dancer. Mr. Robinson joined the cast of the hit show Tap Dogs in New York City and performed the principal role of "The Foreman" and "The Enforcer" in the United States, Europe, Bali, Indonesia, and the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas. Other credits: Off-off Broadway: MusicalsTonight (Shinbone Alley) Regional: Pete in Crazy For You (North Shore Music Theater), Lucky in Dames at Sea, Snoopy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Satchel Paige in Play to Win (TheaterworksUSA). Love you Dad, Mom, and thanks to Michael J. Kalinyen. Psalm18: 1-3

NICKY ROMANIELLO (Ensemble) has just recently come off the first National Tour of Urban Cowboy: The Musical with Windwood Productions. He is part of The Group Theatre Too, a theatre collective in NYC, Generation Tap, which has performed at Tap Extravaganza and The New York City Tap Festival, and The Menhattans, an all male dance group that premiered in Carnegie Hall in 2006. Other credits include work at Queens Theatre in the Park, Circle in the Square Theatre and The New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

DAVID ROSSETTI (Robert Lemanteur, Ensemble) is making his Gateway debut and is excited to join the family! He recently moved to New York City (South Harlem to be exact) after performing the role of Brad on the National Tour of Hairspray. Before that he worked professionally in the Atlanta area performing in many theatres, one being the recent Regional Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre. Other touring credits: Music Man with Theatre of the Stars (Ensemble) and FAME!:The Musical (Goody). Other favorites: Diva Diaries (World Premiere; Young Cleareen), Cabaret (Emcee), Our Town (George), Fiddler on the Roof (Fyedka) and Guys & Dolls (Benny). He thanks his ol' Jekyll Island pal Michael Baker for making this possible. SUSAN SCUDDER (Lady Beekman) was last seen at Gateway playing Aunt Eller in Oklahoma. She also has been seen in the Gateway productions of Showboat (Parthy), The Wizard of Oz (Auntie Em), and Funny Girl (Poker Lady). Her latest role was in Manhattan Theatre Source's production of Edge of the Forest in which she played a woman with Alzheimer's disease who was sent into the forest to die of malnutrition and exposure in fifteen minutes. It was an acting challenge.

ELIZABETH STANLEY (Lorelei Lee) Broadway: April in the Tony-Award-Winning Revival of Company (dir. John Doyle). NY: Cry-Baby Workshop (dir. Mark Brokaw), Pal Joey reading (dir. Joe Mantello), Let Yourself Go! reading (dir. Robert Longbottom), Red Eye of Love reading (dir. Ted Sperling). Other favorite regional and touring credits include: Company (April), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Aida (Amneris), Sugar (Sugar), Side Show (Daisy), The Sound of Music (Maria), Cabaret (Fraulein Kost/Fritze), John and Jen (Jen), The Telephone (Lucy), and Noises Off (Brooke). TV: PBS Great Performances - Company, Chappelle's Show, and commercials. Elizabeth is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Music. This fall Ms. Stanley is thrilled to be creating the role of Allison at the LaJolla Playhouse in the Broadway-bound John Waters musical Cry-Baby.

STEVEN DOUGLAS STEWART (Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to the Gateway Playhouse after performing in this season's Cold As Ice and Dreamgirls. Hailing from a small town in Texas, Steven has now become a proud New Yorker. His other regional credits include: A Chorus Line (Mike); Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere); Cats (Skimbleshanks); Forever Plaid (Sparky); You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Snoopy); and Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA. Steven holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from West Texas A&M University. He would like to thank God, as well as, his family and friends, without whom he would be nothing.

KATY WOOD (Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to Gateway after being seen here in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Sweet Charity, and 42nd Street. She recently toured nationally with 42nd Street and in the Mediterranean with Armed Forces Entertainment. The past year has been spent performing with the Prather Family of Theatres in A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, and Peter Pan, as well as with the Peggy Spina Tap Company. Special thanks to her family, friends, and the Gateway family for welcoming her back!

PAUL ALLAN (Producer) has been involved in theatre since before he can remember. In the early days of Gateway, he spent his summers following around his grandfather who had his hands full trying to make ends meet - running a theatre in the 60’s. Paul grew up here, looking forward to each summer and being able to do more each year. By the time he was a teenager he was beginning to take charge of maintaining this 7 acre complex as well as becoming an integral part of the back stage crew. In the 80’s as a young Gateway producer, Paul spent part of the winter months working in NY on many off-Broadway shows - serving as technical supervisor, production manager, and/or show carpenter. At the same time he co-founded a touring company whose shows traveled throughout the US and other countries worldwide. The set rental company was also founded at this time and Gateway scenery is constantly being trucked to various theatres across the country. The main focus, though, is still the productions he produces here for our patrons.

KEN PRESCOTT (Director/Choreographer) has directed and choreographed Musical Theatre from Broadway to Branson and Brazil! His many productions include Crazy For You, George M!, Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, West Side Story, Pal Joey, Grease, La Cage Aux Folles, Geroge M!, The Boyfriend, Fiddler on The Roof, A Christmas Carol (4 versions), a big band show called Big Band At The Savoy with the NEW Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, On Your Toes (nominated for a Carbonnell Award), Annie Get Your Gun, All Night Strut, The New Lawrence Welk Show (4 years in Branson Missouri), and The Andy Williams Show to mention a few. He has taught all across the United States, Canada, and has been assistant professor of dance at California State University and represented the US in TAP at the World Dance Congress in Brazil! He was a master tap teacher at the TAP Festival in Amsterdam! He had the pleasure of staging Old Faces of 2002 at the McCallum with Peter Marshall, Tom Poston, the Modernaires and Kaye Ballard. He garnered 3 Desert Theatre League awards in 2004 for a spectacular show he Directed, Choreographed and starred in called A Salute to the Troops which will again be mounted this year. As a performer he has starred in 42nd Street on Broadway, Singin' In The Rain in Los Angeles (Winning a Los Angeles Drama Logue Award), and sang with The Modernaires doing concerts with Jane Russell and Patti Paige among his many many credits. Ken is truly pleased to be making his directorial and choreographic debut here at The Gateway Playhouse.

JEFFREY BUCHSBAUM (Musical Director) Off- Broadway: On Second Avenue (2 Drama Desk nominations), Tallulah's Party with Tovah Feldshuh, A Dash of Rosemary (also arranger), Michael Valenti's Song By Song, Broadway Rhythm in Macao, China (also conceived), The Magic Of Musicals in Athens, Greece (also conceived), The Skinflint (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis). Tours: Mame, Titanic, My One and Only, George M, Damn Yankees starring Jerry Lewis, Phantom of the Opera (European/South America), A Chorus Line (European/National). He has also toured as musical director for Red Buttons, Bruce Adler and Franc D'Ambrosio. Jeffrey is also a director; his production of Camelot recently completed a very successful nine month national tour. He also continues a long association with LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in NYC, the "Fame" school, where he is teaching classes in musical theater and musical directing City of Angels this fall. Jeffrey is so pleased to be returning for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, his 15th production here at The Gateway Playhouse.

ROBIN JOY ALLAN (Casting and Artistic Director) has been the Casting Director at Gateway for the last twelve years. Four years ago, she became the Artistic Director at Gateway which includes not only several Manhattan excursions to cast all productions, but involves planning advertising strategies for all productions, hiring creative staff, designing season ads, posters and booklets, overseeing artistic aspects of each production, costumes, sets and wigs, overseeing Children’s Theatre, beautifying the Gateway property from choosing paint colors for actor housing, to adding new perennial floral additions to the Gateway landscape. Prior to moving back home into the wonderland setting of her childhood, she did thrive in Corporate America, spending five years in Los Angeles, casting several TV pilots, MOW’s and feature films. You’ll find her name on the feature films; Parenthood, When Harry Met Sally, Lord of the Flies, Side Out and Ghost. Along with her Artistic and Casting Director duties, she is the force behind Gateway’s Acting School Division, where she teaches the advanced classes. This is her most impassioned work. Her daughter Hayley, inspires her every day. She hopes her effort is good enough to honor her family, and their amazing effort all these years to bring theatre with integrity to Long Island.

KIM HANSON (Lighting Designer) A veteran of many Gateway Productions (Sweet Charity, Ain't Misbehavin, Anything Goes, Singin' in the Rain, Camelot, Gypsy, Groucho, Peter Pan, Smoky Joe's Café, Annie Get Your Gun, and his first show at Gateway the unforgettable Baby), Kim is glad to be back for this production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Some National and International Tours he has designed include, A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Sophisticated Ladies, Song and Dance, and Evita. Kim has been resident designer for Chen and Dancers, and The New American Ballet Ensemble and has provided lighting and production management for various artists such as Ray Charles, Barbara Cook, Gregory Hines, Bobby Short, Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Robert LaFosse, and Darci Kistler.

CODY SPENCER (Sound Designer) Most recently, Cody has been a freelance Audio Engineer in New York City, working in many venues including The Rainbow Room, The Box, and The Museum of Natural History. He was the Sound Board Operator for the Off-Broadway productions of La Magnani and Adrift in Macao, the new Christopher Durang musical that was performed at Primary Stages. This was after he returned from the National Tour of Rent, where he was the Monitor Engineer. Cody spent last summer as the Audio Engineer here at the Gateway Playhouse. He got his start and spent four years at Stages St. Louis. Some of his favorite credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie, 1776, and The Fantasticks. Cody would like to thank his friends and family, as well as Paul Allan, for all their support and also his girlfriend, Erin, even though she never thanks him in her bios.

JOSE M. RIVERA (Costume Designer) is thrilled to once again be working at The Gateway. Originally from New York, he currently resides in Los Angeles. He has designed, assisted, consulted and coordinated on over 200 productions for theatre, film and television. Recent credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie for The Cape Playhouse; Hello Dolly! for The Glendale Centre Theatre; the National Tour of Urban Cowboy for Windwood Theatricals and National Lampoon's TV: The Movie. You can see his work on The Lifetime Network with the TV movies: The Perfect Nanny (starring Bruce Boxleitner, Tracy Nelson and Katherine Helmond); The Perfect Wife (starring William Moses, Perry King and Leslie Anne Downe); Blind Obsessions (starring Megan Gallagher and Brad Johnson): Facing the Enemy (starring Maxwell Caufield, Linden Ashby and Alexandra Paul) and She's No Angel (starring Dee Wallace Stone, Tracy Gold and Kevin Dobson). Other television credits include: 3 seasons of One Minute Soap for Soap Net! and the reality TV Show, Strip Search for VH-1. Film credits: The Storyteller (starring Dina Meyer, Sean Patrick Flannery, Michael Berryman, Kim Darby and Fred Kohler) and Evil Alien Conquerors (starring Deidrich Bader, Chris Parnell and Tori Spelling).

SHANNON O'CONNOR (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back for her third season at Gateway Playhouse! Past favorites include: Evita, 42nd Street, The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage Aux Folles and My Way. Shannon would like to thank Jovon, Erin, and her family for all their support. Shannon would like to give special thanks to the Allan's for giving her this amazing opportunity. Shannon is a proud member of Actor's Equity Association.