Prop Master
Anthony BevilacquaAnthony Bevilacqua has been with OLT for 11 years now as a Musical Director, musician, volunteer,
patron and friend. A lifelong resident of Bergen County, Anthony has worked as a professional violinist,
violin teacher, orchestrator and studio musician for 23 years having worked in symphony orchestras,
opera companies, theater, TV and film. Anthony is also on staff as Musical Director, musician and
sound engineer for Rhino Theater in Pompton Lakes. Outside of his professional and union gigs, he
enjoys performing with various local community orchestras and theater companies. In his years with
OLT, Anthony has music directed and conducted the pits for shows such as Gypsy, Jekyll & Hyde, A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, along with launching two of OLT’s major programs - the first
of our annual summer benefit concerts in 2012 and our theater youth program in 2014. Aside from
violin, Anthony also plays piano, viola, clarinet and bassoon. He is an alumnus of William Paterson
University and alumni brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. If Anthony isn’t music directing, playing in the
pit, or keeping the books, you can find him at the park with his black lab Jackie.
Producer
Dawn CardonaDawn Cardona is now in her 10th year with Old Library Theatre. She has been seen on stage, has served on OLT’s Executive Board, and has been on the production team for many shows. Some of her favorites include Jekyll & Hyde, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Bridges of Madison County, and My Big Gay Italian Wedding, just to name a few. She is so blessed to work with such a talented cast and production team on ISBY and cannot wait to share this wonderful performance with all of you!
Director
Armanda CerqueiraArmanda is excited to be making her directorial debut at OLT. She has been an OLT Executive Board member for the last two years. She's co-produced OLT's Shakespeare in the Park: 12th Night in 2021 and will produce this year's Shakespeare in the Park: Much Ado About Nothing. Armanda is honored to have had the opportunity to work with the incredible cast and production team of Shoulda. It's such a joy-filled experience to see her vision come alive on stage with such a remarkable group of folks. Mazel tov!
Music Director
Joseph ChristensonJoseph Christianson is excited to be working on another production with Old Library Theatre! Recent music directing credits include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Comedy Tonight OLT Under the Stars, ASA Cabaret Revue 2022, Lion King Jr., Addams Family, and The Wizard of Oz. Recent acting credits include: Beauty & The Beast (Bookseller/Knife), The Most Incredible Thing (King’s Council/Judge), Baby (Dean Webber), Hair (Male Tribe), Tommy (Hawker), and Starmites (Ack Ack Ackerman). Much love to Danielle, the pit orchestra, and friends!
Choreographer
Eliah FurlongEliah James Furlong (Choreography) is thrilled to return to Old Library Theater after winning
Best Choreography for his work on Urinetown last season. Eliah’s passion for story telling
through movement has always shown through in his work. He has trained at many prestigious
schools such as The Ailey School, Joffrey Ballet School, Milwaukee Ballet, The Kentucky
Governor's School for the Arts, and The Institute for American Musical Theatre. In which time
he had the opportunity to tour with Bella Moxi Dance Convention working closely with Mia
Michaels, Alex Little, Carlos Dos Santos, Chase Benz, and more. Eliah is so grateful for the
opportunity to create and would like to thank the wonderful cast, crew and production team of
It Shoulda Been You for being a great group of people to work with!
@eliahjamesfurlong
Costumer
Amy Kurfistmy is excited to be back on the stage at Old Library Theater with It Shoulda Been You! She was previously seen on stage in OLT's productions of Urinetown, Legally Blonde, and A Night At The Movies Fundraising Concert. She also serves on the executive board as Communications and Membership Manager. Huge thanks to the amazingly talented cast and crew for making this such a fun and rewarding experience. Mazel tov!
Stage Manager
Jeff ParsonsJeff Parsons is excited to return to backstage life where he can once again say his favorite line - “Is that your prop?”. He is grateful for the opportunity to work with this phenomenal cast and creative team. Most recently, he appeared on stage in Falsettos (Antrim Playhouse), Greater Tuna (Studio Players), Urinetown (OLT), My Big Gay Italian Wedding (OLT), and the Rhino Theatre One Act Jamboree (Best Actor Winner). Jeff has spent many years producing and stage managing, for film and stage, including the first middle school pilot production of Wicked Jr at Teaneck Community Charter School. Thanks to his incredibly supportive family.
Assistant Stage Manager
Veronica PapianniVeronica is thrilled to be returning to OLT and this time behind the scenes! Veronica is currently a Program and Production Assistant for ArtsED at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and is a rising senior majoring in Theater Arts with a minor in creative writing at Rutgers University Newark/NJIT. Veronica is
very enthusiastic and grateful to be a part of this production and would like to thank her family, friends, and boyfriend Lukas for all their support as she continues to pursue her love for theater and education.
Set Design
Patt TannerPatt Tanner (Set Design) is very happy to be back at it with OLT. Previously she designed and built sets for OLT’s productions of Avenue Q, Meet Me in St. Louis, Little Mermaid Jr, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Shrek the Musical Jr, Aida, Amadeus, Noises Off, Thirteen the Musical, Children of Eden, Bridges of Madison County, The Robber Bridegroom, Side Show the Musical, Singing in the Rain, Casa Valentina, Bat Boy, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Wild Party, and Wait Until Dark.
Director's Note
It Shoulda Been You is anyone's story and it was my goal to allow anyone to tell it. It's a story of expectations and control. Often times we hold tight to control in order to meet expectations. These expectations are often set on us by others or ourselves and when we cannot control the outcome- well, that's when anxiety, anger, flight, fight, drinking, and obsession over a panini station sets in.
Shoulda is a female lead story. We follow our female characters as they navigate this crazy uncontrollable day and try to control as much of it as possible even when all their expectations start to unravel. It is a wedding day; often times defined as the happiest day in a woman's life and yet- Jenny tries to make this day perfect for her sister as a means to cope with her own missed marker of being married by now and the ever-present possibility of the role her physical appearance has played in that. Rebecca is a ball of anxiety as she tries to make sure this day goes exactly as she (Annie, Greg, and Brain) has planned it to go. Judy copes with trying to make sure no one has anything negative to say about her daughter's GOY wedding (so no one will talk!). Georgette copes with the reality that despite her best efforts, her baby boy is going to marry and will have another woman be number 1 in his life.
As for casting: the goal was to avoid as many of the recommended Shouldas as possible. This story belongs to everyone and anyone and it is my hard-fast belief that anyone should be allowed to tell it. This cast is body diverse, age diverse, and a powerhouse of talent. Even in the last decade, as theatre has moved to tell more visibly relatable human experience stories, there are some trends that never die. There is an acceptable fat standard and an unacceptable fat standard. “Heavy” characters can be "chubby but not obese" as the libretto line read (before I promptly crossed it out!) . Romantic leads are still expected to be in their 20s and MAYBE early 30s. This is not the story I wanted to tell. Women (and all actors) in their 30s, 40s, 50s, AND 60s still have a lot of stories left to share! Women who are bigger than a size 16 are attractive, desirable, find love, and get married in their 30s and 40s! They are not doomed to always play mom roles, or comedic relief best friend roles. Their existence in storytelling is not simply to be an ornament in a male character's story. This is the story I set out to tell and because we expanded our scope and allowed otherwise overlooked (hella talented) performers a chance to tell this story- they showed up in a BIG way. The talent in Old Library Theatre's production of It Shoulda Been You is everything, EVERYTHING quality theatre SHOULD be. I couldn't be more humble and proud that these amazing humans decided to work with this rookie director. It would be a gross oversight on my part to not take a line or two to thank not only these actors but this production team for their commitment to telling this story with me. Working with you all has been the greatest joy and gift I could have ever asked for.
