You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Revised) Creative
Director
Amanda Castro-ConroyAmanda first studied acting at the Regional Center of the Performing Arts in Bridgeport CT. She later graduated from Ramapo College with a BA in Theatre with a concentration in Acting, Directing, & Stage Management. While studying at Ramapo she was President of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Theater Honor Society. Since graduating she has worked on productions for Rockland Community College & Rockland Shakespeare Company. She also is one of the company directors for Secret Notebook Productions. Her most recent Directing credits include The Witness (Ramapo College) Bare Confessions: The Body Image Monologues (Ramapo College Women’s Center) I am...: The Identity Monologues (Alpha Psi Omega: Ramapo Chapter) MONSTERS! (Secret Notebook Productions) Dorothy Meets Alice (Secret Notebook Productions) Hamlet co-directed alongside Matt Masiello (Secret Notebook Productions) & Early Stages (The Barn Theaters One Act Festival). She also Assistant Directed to Director, Actor, & Playwright Greg Steinbruner on Ramapo's production of Birds! Her most recent acting credits are as Helena in Always Well That Ends Well (Rockland Shakespeare Company) Charrette in Dracula (Smiling Rhino Theatre) Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense (Performing HeARTS Company) Racheal in Freedom Summer (Shades Repertory Theater) Sai in Trojan Women 2.0 (Ramapo College) Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew (Ramapo College) for which she received an Irene Ryan nomination for the KCACTF. Amanda first worked with WHATCo as assistant director on Rumors, working again with Matt. She has appeared in the offstage roles of Martha (Rumors) and the Scream (Virtual Last Supper) and on-stage as Rhonda (Almost, Maine). Amanda is proud to direct her first musical production with the company. Thank you to the cast and crew for all your hard work and dedication. Happiness was working with all you talented peanuts! Special thanks to her husband Matt for his love, support, and always having dinner waiting when she came home from a late-night rehearsal. Break legs li’l folks!
Choreographer
Bong DizonA transplant from the Bay Area, Bong Dizon is ecstatic to be returning to the world of theatre by joining the wonderful WHATCO creative team. As a Jersey City resident of 16 years, Bong is elated to have been able to perform (and sometimes choreograph) in the Tri-State area in countless projects and various dance companies. Choreography Credits include: Seussical-The Musical, Peter Pan, and Hairspray all at Woodminster Amphitheatre in Oakland, CA and Starting Here, Starting Now, The Taming of the Shrew, Sondheim VS Webber and Alice In Love? at Cal State Hayward. #GoPioneers!
Stage Manager
Jillian FitzpatrickJillian (Stage Manager) has appeared in local productions of Disney’s Hercules as Pain, Teen Drama and WHATCo’s production of The Addams Family Musical, Hairspray as the Matron, and in the play “Promedy” as Professor Mustashay. She returned to WHATCo this season as a stage crew member and is immensely excited and proud that “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is her first show as a stage manager. A graduate of Seton Hall University, Jillian worked several years as on-air talent at 89.5 fm WSOU. She’s recently worked as a background actor in New York and New Jersey, and will be appearing in the 5th season of the Amazon series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” with her dog Brady.
Vocal Coach
Marivelle Clavel-DavisHappiness is being given the amazing opportunity to work with this
incredible and super fun cast! Other shows she has music directed include The Hunchback of Notre
Dame and Carrie the Musical; she’s also played keyboards in the pit (Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Into the
Woods). Some of her favorite roles onstage include Leading Player (Pippin), Mary Magdalene (Jesus
Christ Superstar), Delores/ Sister Mary Clarence (Sister Act) and many other shows. In her “downtime”
she sings/cantors and choir directs in church and sings lead vocals in rock bands. Her proudest
achievements and total world are her 4 beautiful grownup children, she loves her day job, gym time,
and most of all spending time with family! Marivelle would like thank Brandi, Mandy and the entire cast
for the opportunity to be part of this show and theater family!
Costumer
Roman KosterHello everyone! My name is Roman and I am a professional cosplayer excited to see my costume work take the stage in WhatCo's production of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown. I've worked with WhatCo previously, playing Chip in Trivia Night Murder and will be the Foley Artist in the upcoming production of The Great Gatsby: A Live Radio Play.
Producer/Set Design
Brandi-Leigh MillerBrandi-Leigh has produced and directed multiple WHATCo productions, appeared on stage (Almost, Maine) and is proud to be serving in her second year as board president. A native of Alabama and Florida, Brandi-Leigh studied Vocal Performance at the Lois Cowles Harrison Performing Arts Center and Florida Southern College, focusing on both opera performance and business management. Beginning in her youth, she performed with local music and theater groups, and later as both a performer and producer at several Central Florida theme parks. After a career in politics and public policy, she relocated to Kearny to join her husband Jim and enjoys volunteering with many non-profit community organizations on issues related to women and youth, the arts, and education. In her professional life, Brandi-Leigh is the global director of attorney compliance for an international law firm. To the sound man, oodles and bunches!
Master Electrician/Technical Advisor/Lighting Operator
Keith RaulersonKeith has worked with the talent of Nutley Little Theater, Studio Players Theater, Apricot Sky Productions, and was nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for his work with Teaneck New Theater. He is proud to be joining WHATCo this season to help create a memorable atmosphere with such a talented team.
Lighting Designer
Brooke GorsicaHailing from Yorktown Virginia, Brooke Gorsica is a digital content designer local to metropolitan New Jersey. Brooke Gorsica achieved her Bachelor of Arts at George Mason University (Fairfax VA) in 2019 with a double minor in Film and Media Studies & Event Technology. She most recently directed ‘Almost Maine’ with WHATco and is currently serving on the board of directors for West Hudson Arts & Theater Company. Some of her previous lighting design credits include, ‘The Last Pastrami Sandwich’ (Apricot Sky), ‘Rumors’ (WHATco), ‘Nobody Dies on Friday’ (Conscience Drama Directive), ‘The Seagull’ (The Wheel Theatre Co), ‘Really Really’ (The Mason Players). To view her creative portfolio and learn more, please visit brookegorsica.com.
Sound Designer/Set Construction
Jim MillerJim has done sound design for multiple WHATCo shows including Drop Dead!, Bridesmaid Murder, Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play, and Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus. He also provides sound reinforcement for WHATCo's live events and singalongs. Jim studied audio engineering and recording at the Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Jim is thrilled to be a part of the Peanuts gang with this outstanding cast and crew and to have helped assemble the technical needs for WHATCo's new space in Harrison.
Set Construction/Snoopy's House
John and Paula ReyesPaula and John have been involved with WHATCO since it's inception 12 years ago. Whether it has been on stage, back stage or building and creating sets. 10 productions in all. :The Cat In the Hat, Nunsense, Stewart Little, Godspell and Cinderella to mention only a few. They are so excited and honored to be involved with the first productions at the company's new location and are looking forward to a bright future.
"Break a leg" to the cast and crew of You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.
Props Designer/Schroeder's Piano
Rich BellinA designer of props, puzzles, and adventures, Rich likes to create things. He is excited to join WHATCo in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. He recently built and ran an escape room with Perilous Puzzles at the Kearny Library. Rich has also been known to teach ESL, High School Equivalency, and raise many plant children in his spare time.
Set Construction/Prop Maker/Crew
Brian SullivanBrian is excited to join the WhatCo family after a long hiatus from theatre! His prior building credits include set design and construction for Little Shop of Horrors, Rhinoceros, and Bat Boy the Musical with 20 Cent Fiction Theatre Company. Outside of theatre, Brian enjoys weekly donut trips with his wife, Samantha, and exploring with their dog Winston. Brian would like to thank his parents for instilling an early love of theatre and his wife for bringing him into this WhatCo production!
Tommy Vinacco
Assistant Set ConstructionTommy is a resident of Harrison and a junior at Harrison High School. He is active in Boy Scouts in Kearny as a Star Scout and Senior Patrol Leader and recently attended National Youth Leadership Training. Tommy is a member of The Kingdom Builders Youth Group in Holy Cross Church where he also is an altar server. He is also on Harrison Highschool’s varsity bowling team and member of the Drama Club. In his time with the drama club, Tommy operated the sound board for their production of The Apple Tree in April 2022 and will be working the sound board for the upcoming production of School House Rock Live. As a part of his Junior class curriculum, Tommy is enrolled in theatre and set design class. Tommy has previously worked with WHATCo as an on-stage foley artist for Vintage Hitchcock, stage crew for Yes, Virginia! There is a Santa Claus, and on the construction of the Drop Dead! set.
Accompanist
Kim Rich NortonKim Rich Norton is a graduate of the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey with a Bachelor of Music Education. She is the Administrative liaison for the Hand in Hand Music School, in Bayonne, New Jersey, and teaches piano and voice.
As music director, Kim has worked with the Jewish Community Center Players in Bayonne on three musicals: Rocky Horror, Rent and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Working as music director, arranger and accompanist, Kim Rich helped produce the off-off-off-Broadway premiere of Albanian Holiday, a musical comedy by composer/playwright Carl Sievert, which has since been produced in regional theater. She also collaborated with him on two one-act cabaret musicals, Conference Calls and Full Frontal Radio, both of which were performed at The Duplex cabaret theater in Manhattan.
Besides singing, teaching and helping others to create music, she also composes songs and theater pieces, including two one-act musicals—Daniel and Prodigal Child—which were premiered in NYC. As a lyricist/librettist, she has also worked with composer/conductor Gregg Smith (founder of the Gregg Smith Singers) to write three one-act operas for children: Rip Van Winkle, The Story Teller, and The Dream Eater.
With California-based composer Dale Jergenson, Kim wrote libretto and lyrics for A Spell of Discord (a dramatic treatment for choir, solo voices) and several operas: Bartleby, The Trial of Aaron Burr, The Empty Suit and the Do-It-Yourself 10-Minute Opera.
Other composers she has worked with include: New Jersey-based composer Dick Thompson (specializing in jazz-influenced art songs and choral pieces for amateur and school choirs) and noted Finnish jazz composer, Heikki Sarmanto. Their most recent work is a drama with music based on the story of John the Baptist which was premiered in Helsinki. Ms. Norton is a member of ASCAP.
Music Consultant
Scott BurzynskiScott teaches General Music to some pretty awesome kids at two of the coolest elementary schools in the known universe, namely Washington and Garfield schools in Kearny. He also has over a decade of experience working as a church organist, a field from which he is now officially retired. Scott has worked in community and educational theatre as music director, conductor, accompanist, pit musician, and on a few rare occasions when his arm was twisted, as an actor. Scott is thrilled to be returning to WHATCo to lend a hand with this production, especially because this is such a delightful and wonderful cast!
Violin/Viola
Raea Jean LeinsterMs. Leinster began piano studies at the age of 3 and viola/violin studies at the age of 8. Before graduating high school, Ms. Leinster trained and performed with the Boston, Cleveland, and National Symphony Orchestras. She studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and has a B.A. degree in Russian and Czech Language Studies from George Mason University. Ms. Leinster has performed with the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava, Slovakia (1990), the American Opera Festival in Graz, Austria (1993, 1997, 2003), with the Pest Symphony in Budapest, Hungary (2006), and in Lima, Peru (2009). In May 2011 at the request of President Garcia, she returned to Lima to perform in a nationally televised broadcast concert for the State Dinner, and was conferred an honorary Artist Diploma from the Universidad de Ricardo Palma de Lima. She performed to sold-out audiences in Beirut, Lebanon (March 2012); with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra in Hamburg, Germany (Oct 2016); the Lithuania Opera & Ballet Orchestra in Vilnius, Lithuania (Oct 2016); and the Napoli Opera Orchestra at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy (June 2022). Ms. Leinster has performed at the Library of Congress (2005, 2007, 2008), and with several Grammy and Country Hall of Fame musicians including, Leonard Bernstein, Yo-Yo Ma, Ray Price, Jon Anderson lead singer of the band "Yes", Stevie Wonder and others.
Original Creative Team
Charles M. Schulz was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 26, 1922. His Peanuts comic strip debuted in 1950 in just seven newspapers and launched a cultural legacy. When Schulz announced his retirement in December 1999, Peanuts was syndicated in over 2,600 newspapers worldwide, with book collections translated in over 25 languages.
The recipient of two Reuben Awards from the National Cartoonists Society and inductee into the Cartoonist Hall of Fame, Schulz also scripted and storyboarded numerous television specials, earning five Emmy and two Peabody Awards. He was awarded many different honors, including the Ordre des Artes et des Lettres from the French Ministry of Culture; the Lester Patrick Award (the only recipient who was not a professional hockey player); a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a Carnegie Hall-commissioned concerto by Ellen Zwilich entitled "Peanuts Gallery." Charles M. Schulz died on February 13, 2000, but his Peanuts gang continues to entertain and inspire the young and the young at heart.
Clark Gesner (1938-2002) was an American composer, songwriter, author, and actor. In addition to You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Mr. Gesner wrote the book, music and lyrics for Animal Fair, which premiered at the Denver Center Theatre, and with Nagle Jackson, Broadway's The Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall. For television, he wrote for Captain Kangaroo, Sesame Street and That Was The Week That Was, and on stage for the revues of Leonard Sillman and Julius Monk. He appeared regularly in B. T. McNicholl's Musicals in Concert series and performed regionally in 1776, Lend Me a Tenor, Carnival! and other musicals, as well as eight years of productions at the Weston (Vermont) Playhouse. The Jello Is Always Red, a revue of Mr. Gesner's cabaret and theatre songs, was produced by the York Theatre Company.
Andrew Lippa wrote the music and lyrics for Big Fish, book by John August, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, which recently played at the Neil Simon Theater on Broadway. His concept opera I Am Harvey Milk (words and music), was premiered by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. That recording, released in October 2013, reached number 2 on the iTunes Classical Chart, and the piece has had over 20 productions worldwide. He wrote the Tony-nominated music and lyrics for the Broadway musical The Addams Family, which starred Nathan Lane. His musical The Wild Party (book/music/lyrics) won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Best Music. His new songs for the 1999 revival of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, along with his production of the cast recording, earned him a 2000 Grammy nomination. He serves as president of the Dramatists Guild Fund and is a graduate of the University of Michigan.