Producer
Jessica S BlackJessica is an Ellensburg native, and she brings a wealth of experience in the arts and in running non-profit organizations. Jessica got started in theater and dance about the time she could walk and those early influences encouraged her to pursue this passion into adulthood. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Western Washington University with a degree in Theater Arts: Directing & Acting. After one year focused on community theater in Ellensburg, she moved into the world of ballroom dancing – first as a student, then teacher and professional competitor, then as the Artistic Director and Studio Manager of a ballroom dance studio in Kirkland. Looking for a change of pace, Jessica then spent 12+ years working for non-profit organizations and associations, where she had her hands in everything from event planning, marketing, fundraising, and organizational support. All this varied experience led her full circle, back to Ellensburg, and to the Executive Director role at Valley Theatre Company.
Director
Riley NewmanRiley is a new member of VTC’s Board of Directors and is thrilled to be helming this production! He has a BFA in Performance from CWU and was last seen with VTC in The Odd Couple and The One Act Play That Goes Wrong. Select shows include Mary Poppins, Sweeney Todd, The Little Mermaid, Assassins, Fiddler on the Roof, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and his own work Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (KCACTF award for meritorious achievement in Directing). Many thanks to his family and friends for their support, and to the Ellensburg arts community for making productions like this possible!
Assistant Director / Movement Specialist
Jessica HorrocksJessica's a fine arts jack-of-all-trades and is happy to be using her choreography and directorial skills for Peter and the Starcatcher. Jessica started out with VTC over 20 years ago in Music Man as Zanita but was dancing long before that. She has been the assistant director and choreographer for several VTC shows in the last couple of years including “9 to 5”, “The Odd Couple” and she Co-Directed “Anastasia”. Her awards include “Promising Arts Leader” from the Laughing Horse Arts Foundation (2019) and “Teacher of Distinction” for the Ellensburg School District (2023). Jessica is also the current VTC Board President. She thanks her husband and son for supporting her in this ever changing, crazy endeavor. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Music Director
Hildi YoungbloodHildi is thrilled to be back in the business of making music and community theater. After a long break from music, she re-emerged onstage as Donna in VTC’s production of Mamma Mia! She graduated from CWU with a Vocal Performance Degree and Music Ed Certificate. After a short time teaching, she returned to the Valley as a small business owner, and runs what is now Evolve Clothing & Jewelry in downtown Ellensburg. When Hildi’s not in her shop, she can be found with her husband and two incredible kids, traveling, and hopefully hiking! Hildi is absolutely thrilled to continue to be a part of the community that is VTC, and all the beautiful friendships and adventures that are sure to follow!
Set Design and Construction
Adrienne LeyvasAdrienne Leyvas is thrilled to flex her creative muscles and embrace the opportunity to design and build the set for VTC’s production of ”Peter and the Starcatcher”. Having a natural talent for creativity, she pursued a degree in fine arts and honed her skills through a decade-long tour with Cirque du Soleil, where she gained a diverse skill set and hands-on experience in areas such as props, backstage management, carpentry, and stage building. Driven by her love for the arts and commitment to creating magic and wonder for audiences, Adrienne infuses her unique creativity and perspective into every project she works on. She continues to learn and grow as an artist and is grateful for the opportunities in the field.
Costume Designer
Cami ReinkeCami combines her knowledge and love of musical theater with over thirty years of professional interior design and project management experience, including serving as the program creator and instructor for CWU’s Interior Design program. Over the last twenty years she’s been the set designer and/or costumer for a variety of local performing arts groups including schools, dance companies and, of course, VTC. The unique artistic visions she develops for each production help audiences suspend reality so they’re more easily transported into the magical world of live theatre. If you know her, you can expect a hint of sparkle in every show, which isn’t surprising for someone with a bit of glitter in her veins!
Stage Manager
Sue ConnollySue first joined the VMT family in 2000, auditioning for the Music Man with son David. After 5 very fun years with on-stage roles, she moved to stage management and/or producing, working with both VMT and EHS in multiple productions. She ran the high school program for many years, eventually stepping aside in 2014. Upon retirement at the end of 2023 from her professional work as a teacher educator (CWU) and education consultant/program supervisor (OSPI) she decided to jump back into theater, revive some wonderful friendships, and is thoroughly enjoying making new ones in the ever-growing community theater world in Ellensburg! The Peter cast is undeniably among the best she’s worked with over the past 20 plus years!
Assistant Stage Manager
Megan BilyeuWhile this is Megan’s first VTC show, she is not unfamiliar with the stage! While earning their BA in film and theatre studies, Megan stage managed for “Carry On (90 minutes till Midnight)” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and shared the stage with the “Hot New Jam" her senior year of college. When not backstage, she can be either found tirelessly combing over her most recent short films, obsessing over Lost reruns, or begging her partner for another cat. She would love to thank her partner, family, and friends for their continued love and support on her journey!
Props Master
Christine BowersThis is Chris’s 8th VTC show having procured props for Oliver!, The Music Man, Mamma Mia, The Play that Goes Wrong, and The Odd Couple and assisting with quick-changes for Greater Tuna and Anastasia. She is a Drama Mamma to a theatre performance son who keeps her on her toes as she learns about show business - it’s like no business she knows! Chris is especially excited to be working with this talented group of artists, renegades and rascals. It may be her job to gather the sparkle, but it’s the cast and crew that are the real Star Stuff! While Chris is doing her best to keep the shiny things under control, she does hope some of the magic rubs off on you. Thanks for coming to see our show!
Hair and Makeup Designer
Lisa BroweleitLisa is thrilled to be back with VTC’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher. Lisa has been involved with VTC for years and is often seen on stage, but lately has taken it backstage with her hair and makeup talents. Past shows she’s been involved with include Anastasia, 9 to 5, Mamma Mia, Guys and Dolls and lots of others. Lisa studied a couple years of theatre performance in college at Central Washington university and did theatre all through high school. Lisa is thrilled to be back working with this cast and crew!
Lighting Designer & Operator
Luca Fox
Sound Designer
Whitney SwainWhitney started in theater in his hometown of Bloomington, Indiana as part of his high school's theater program, Theatre South. Although he dabbled in acting, his main passion was to be in the tech booth. In college, he became the student sound tech for his arts-centered dormitory, Collins Living Learning Center at Indiana University. After more school, moving to Ellensburg, one real job, an amazing wife, and two wonderful kids all came into his life, his love of running sound was rekindled. He started running sound regularly at Mercer Creek Church and in 2022, he founded his sound production company, Windy City Sound.
Sound Operator
Turner EnglehartTurner Englehart has B.M in Music Composition from Central Washington University . He has been on the sound teams of VTC's Robin Hood, Anastasia ,Cabernet Cabaret, and EHS' Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. In his spare time, He loves to play and write music, play video games, and hang out with friends and family.
Costume Assistant
Becky CarterBecky joins VTC as the Assistant Costumer. She has been active in theater for many years, as well as being a proud theatre momma. She is an excellent sewer and enjoys creating costumes for different shows. Becky has been working on and off with Valley Theater Company and Ellensburg Dance Ensemble with costuming, and was the head costume designer for EDE’s most recent production of Nutcracker.
Props Assistant / Stage Crew
Kay NolanFollowing Kay’s tragic, life changing event of Mt. Stewart’s “Wizard of Oz” in 2017. The humiliation of her accent changing mid-line to a strange mix of British and Australian will follow her forever. She vowed to never be on stage again; but the determination of being involved in theater pushed her to work backstage ever since, starting officially at age 12. She has stage managed VTC’s tech heavy The Play That Goes Wrong, crewed for Anastasia, and excited to help backstage for Peter and the Starcatcher.
Stage Crew
Joey JohnsonSound Effects
Becky RobinsonOriginal Creative Team
Valley Theatre Company's
Production of
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER
A Play By
RICK ELICE
Based on the Novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Music By
WAYNE BARKER
Originally produced on Broadway by Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Greg Schaffert, Eva Price, Tom Smedes, and Disney Theatrical Productions.
Peter and the Starcatcher
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.mtishows.com
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Rick Elice was born in New York City in 1956, where he subsequently graduated from the Francis Lewis High School in Queens. He gained a BA from Cornell University, an MFA from the Yale Drama School, and was a Teaching Fellow at Harvard from 1980-1981. He then became a copywriter and creative director, subsequently serving as creative consultant to Walt Disney Studios from 1999 to 2009.
In collaboration with Marshall Brickman, Elice wrote the book for the musical Jersey Boys, which received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book For a Musical in 2006. They then wrote the screenplay for the movie adaptation of the show. In 2008, he reunited with Brickman to write Turn of the Century , which premiered at The Goodman Theatre in Chicago under the direction of Tommy Tune. Elice collaborated with Brickman one more time on the popular musical The Addams Family. Elice then went on to adapt the 2006 novel Peter and the Starcatcher for the stage. The Broadway production received nine Tony Award nominations, more than any new American play in the history of the Tony Awards. Most recently, he wrote the book for the jukebox musical The Cher Show.
Wayne Barker is the composer of the award-winning musical Peter and the Starcatcher, which earned him a Drama Desk Award, as well as a Tony nomination for “Best Original Score.” Wayne performed with Dame Edna Everage from 2000-06, composing music and appearing as Master of the Dame's Music for her Broadway shows Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance and All About Me (co-star. Michael Feinstein). He also co-wrote lyrics with Barry Humprishes for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 75th Royal Command Variety Performance of Dame Edna. Wayne is the Artistic Associate for New Musicals and Composer-in-Residence at New York Theatre Workshop. He has been music director for Mark Lamos' stagings of Into the Woods and She Loves Me at the Westport Country Playhouse, and A Little Night Music at Baltimore's Center Stage and American Conservatory Theater. While at Center Stage, Wayne also conducted Caroline or Change and The Boys from Syracuse (dir. David Schweitzer).
Among his other regional work, Wayne has written music for The Three Musketeers, Twelfth Night (Seattle Rep), The Great Gatsby, The Primrose Path (dir. Roger Rees) (Guthrie Theater), Beth Henley’s Laugh (Studio Theatre DC - World Premiere), and was orchestrator of Mark Bennett's A Midsummer Night's Dream (La Jolla Playhouse). He has contributed dozens of original arrangements to symphony programs, including those presented by the New York Pops, LA Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, as well as the Baltimore, Chicago, San Francisco and St. Louis symphonies. Wayne’s current project is the world premiere of the new play A Confederacy of Dunces (dir. David Esbjorson) at Huntington Theatre Company, for which he is the music director, onstage pianist, and composer.
