Our summer show brought out fierce competition for the leading characters with strong singer-dancers who showcased their voices and their tapping!  Imagine is proud to announce the cast of our summer show - Thoroughly Modern Millie - bringing in almost all new members to the Imagine family.  

Congratulations to Director Rose Babington for finding a top-tapping cast!  Rose has years of experience as a performer and director having worked on the production staff for Dreamgirls, Chicago, and Hairspray with Imagine.  She has experience at Short North Stage, Little Theatre Off Broadway, and Curtain Players and has been a strong member of the Columbus theatre community for many years.  Imagine is happy to have her leading this production.

Millie Dillmount - Meredith Zahn
Miss Dorothy Brown - Ann Johnson
Muzzy Van Hossmere - Hannah Berry
Mrs. Meers - Kathy Taylor
Miss Peg Flannery - Joyce Patrone
Mr. Trevor Graydon - Chad Anderson
Jimmy Smith - Jared Joseph
Ruth - Odette Gutierrez del Arroyo Perez
Gloria - Megan Louia
Alice - Deborah Chow
Cora - Carolyn Cutri
Rita - Cassie Gress
Lucille - Dani Moyer
Ethel Peas - Emily Boggs
Kenneth - Brian Gray
George - Josh Fouasnon
Rodney - Dante Dinucci
Ching Ho - Dasacion Huot
Bun Foo - Sharon Kibe 


Director/Choreographer - Rose Babington
Assistant Director - Molly Dees Finney
Music Director - Jared Joseph
Assistant Music Director - Phil Dupont
Assistant Choreographer - Ann Johnson
Stage Manager - Andrew Norris
Assistant Stage Manager - Emily Alice Dunn

Set in New York City in 1922, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of young Millie Dillmount from Kansas who comes to New York in search of a new life for herself. Her grand plan is to find a job as a secretary for a wealthy man and then marry him. However, her plan goes completely awry. The owner of her dingy hotel kidnaps young girls to sell to the Far East; her wealthy boss is slow in proposing marriage; and the man she actually falls in love with does not have a dime to his name –or so he tells her.

Millie takes the stage for 3 weekends this summer:
July 17, 18, 19
July 24, 25
July 31, August 1, 2
Doors at 6:30pm
Show at 7:30pm

Make your reservation today at www.imaginecolumbus.org/reservations. 

Auditions at Imagine Productions always bring out the strongest talent in Columbus so the competition was fierce for a spot to perform in our new season’s opener Little Shop of Horrors in October.  Director Ryan Scarlata (Albin in La Cage Aux Folles, Director of 9 to 5: The Musical) took on the challenge to bring you the perfect mix of talent, comedy, and terror.

New to the Wall Street stage but a veteran of Columbus theatre, we are proud to welcome Patrick Walters as Seymour, the down-and-out skid row floral assistant. You may have last seen him in The Producers at Gallery Players or The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with SRO.  Joining him will be an Imagine favorite Elena Reinert as Audrey.  After adding such strength to the ensembles of Chicago, La Cage Aux Folles, and Rent, you will not want to miss Elena’s leading debut.  Patrick and Elena will wow audiences with their rendition of the famous Suddenly Seymour.

While often seen in our cabaret shows, we welcome Corey Notman (Director of Avenue Q) to his first main stage production as Audrey II, the voice of the ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore poised for global domination!

Two new but seasoned professionals join the company as well.  Randy Benge will play the failing shop owner Mr. Mushnik.  The motorcycle-riding leather-jacket-wearing sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello will be played by George Bailey.

Two different trios of street urchins Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronette will be covered by the amazing Imagine veterans Samara Baptist (Chicago, Hair), Ashley Woodard (Urinetown), Andrea Klinker (Spring Awakening, Hairspray, Urinetown, 9 to 5, La Cage Aux Folles), Jessica Parker (Rocky Horror, Hair), and we welcome the fresh faces of Sharon Kibe and Rachael Scott.

A trio of men who will serve in the ensemble with some puppeteering include veterans Garrett Zollars (La Cage Aux Folles) and Adam Poe (Rocky Horror) and the talented new feature Mikey Sowers.

The strong production team is rounded out with Music Director Zac DelMonte (Hairspray, Rent), Stage Manger Allison Walker, and Costumer Donnie Lockwood. 

Little Shop of Horrors will run October 8 through 19 at Wall Street Nightclub.  Click here to purchase seats or tables!

Our 2014 season is proving to be abounding with talent as we held auditions for our third production of the season, HAIR!  Director Michael Newsome was inspired by the ability and passion of the Columbus performers who sang and danced on Saturday and Sunday at Stonewall Columbus vying for a spot in this summer's tribe.  After some tough call backs and decisions, the production team has assembled the best hippie cast in Columbus.
HAIR is about a group of young people in New York City's East Village who band together as a tribe. They are a New York contingent of flower children who question authority and the society they are living in. They seek to find a new way. They yearn to change the world. They begin by recreating themselves. They hang out in self-made clouds of incense and grass. Unkempt, wild, free, and deep, they are unique, colorful, something genuinely original and beautiful...and so hip. They are on a trip of liberation. This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius!

Claude - Jonathan Collura
Berger - Luke Stewart
Hud - Michael Quinichett
Woof - Jordan Shear
Steve - Johnny Robison
Walter - Nick Navaratnam
Paul - Tom Miller
Hiram - Joshua Fouasnon
Sheila - Candice Kight
Jeanie - Dakota Thorn
Dionne - Akillah Clark
Chrissy - Shelby Butz
Ronny - Samara Baptist
Leata - Jordan Shafer
Marjorie - Jessica Parker
Suzannah - Kelsey Tschanen
Mary - Rachel Gaunce
Emmaretta - Kirsten Rosenthal

Director - Michael Newsome
Assistant Director/Choreographer - Sage Moreno
Music Director - Josh Boggs
Accompanist - Phil Dupont
Stage Manager - Ed Eblin
Assistant Stage Manager - Keith Wollenberg
Costumer - Doug Joseph

Performances are August 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 at 7:30pm at Wall Street Night Club.  Members can purchase seats immediately using their early access code!  Seats go on sale to non-members on June 8 at www.imaginecolumbus.org/reservations. 

As La Cage Aux Folles ended their spectacular run this weekend, a new production team was gearing up for Imagine’s second show of the 2014 season.  The demand to audition for a role in RENT was so high that many deemed it fortunate to even receive an audition slot. The usual audition location was simply not large enough for the crowd. Instead, the lobby of the Garden Theater filled with the lucky hopefuls this past Saturday, awaiting 16-bars of musical display that takes weeks to prepare.  Director Jonathan Collura and his production team were overwhelmed with the talent that showed up, offering heavy competition for every single role. 

The tough decisions have been made, and Imagine is proud to announce the cast for RENT, running May 7 – 18 at Wall Street Nightclub.  Seats go on sale Saturday, March 8 allowing our beloved Imagine Members to secure their favorite spot first.  You can do the same by becoming a member now at www.ImagineColumbus.org/Membership.

Thank you to the Short North Stage and Stonewall Columbus for use of their space for auditions and a huge thank you to the wonderfully talented and entirely likable group that came to audition.  We hope to see you again!

 

CAST

Mark Cohen – Chip Danver
Roger Davis – Brent Rayburn
Mimi Marquez – Cassie Kahr
Tom Collins – Brian Gray
Angel Dumott Schunard – Zhané Dawlingz
Maureen Johnson – Zoe Lathan
Joanne Jefferson – Alex Lanier
Benjamin Coffin III – Ricardo Locci
Ensemble
Jeremy Brown
Steven Carnahan
Michael Carozza
Akillah Clark
Cassie Gress
Lena Haleem
Meredith Post
Andrew Protopapas
Elena Reinert
Abby Zeszotek

PRODUCTION TEAM
Director – Jonathan Collura
Music Director – Zac DelMonte
Instrumental Music Director – Sam Falcone
Stage Manager – Jessica Schollenberger
Assistant Director – Carl Stolzenburg
Costumer – Sarah Frady
Accompanist – Jim Kucera

Winter weather could only delay the magic!  This Saturday, some of Imagine's favorites; singers who have performed in so many of their dream roles already, are getting their chance to sing some songs they would likely never have the opportunity to otherwise.
So for all the ladies out there who secretly wanted to upstage Russell Crow in Les Miserables and all the guys who wished they could paint themselves green and defy gravity in Wicked , we offer MISSCast. 

Featuring: Todd Holland, Doug Joseph, Corey Notman, Kyle Rutkowski, Ryan Scarlata, Mary Sink, Ryan Stem & Tim Valentine

It's a night to benefit Imagine where the casting choices may be a little mixed up, but fun will be had by all and maybe a few dreams come true!  Order your seats online at www.imaginecolumbus.org/reservations and take advantage of BUY ONE GET ONE seats!  No code necessary, simply purchase two seats and at check out, you'll only have to pay for one!  Bring your sweetheart and pretend you just couldn't wait till Valentine's Day for the perfect date night!

Imagine will transform Wall Street Night Club into La Cage Aux Folles in February for our first full production of 2014. You may know the story from the 1996 movie The Birdcage with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. So that means, we have the perfect venue to showcase a cast of hot high-kicking drag queens.  We are excited to announce Audrey Rush as director after her recent appearance as Maria in 9 to 5. Audrey has worked with Actors’ Theatre and Mad Lab locally after completing her degree in Theatre from The Ohio State University. The production team includes Tim Valentine, musical director; Dana Anderson, stage manager; Zoe Lathan, choreographer; Jackie Farbeann, costumer; and Rob Philpott, set/lighting designer.

The cast will include:
13-15 men: Albin, Georges, Jean-Michel, Anne, Edouard Dindon/Mr. Renaud, Jacob, Francis, Les Cagelles (6-8)
3 women: Anne, Jacqueline, Marie Dindon/Mme. Renaud

Actors should prepare a brief vocal selection and be ready to learn a dance combination. An accompanist will be provided. Auditions will be on Saturday, December 14 starting at 1:00pm at Stonewall Columbus in the Short North. Call-backs will take place on Sunday, December 15.

Sign-up today for your audition time at www.imaginecolumbus.com/auditions.

Send any questions to auditions@imaginecolumbus.com