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Book by COLIN ESCOTT and FLOYD MUTRUX Original Concept and Direction by FLOYD MUTRUX Inspired by ELVIS PRESLEY, JOHNNY CASH, JERRY LEE LEWIS and CARL PERKINS Originally developed and produced by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions and Northern Lights, Inc. at the Goodman Theatre, Robert Falls, Artistic Director – Roche Shulfer, Executive Director and transferred to The Apollo Theatre, Chicago, IL, 2008 Produced by the Village Theatre, Issaquah, Washington, Robb Hunt, Producer – Steve Tompkins, Artistic Director, 2007 and Seaside Music Theater, Daytona Beach, FL, Tippin Davidson, Producer – Lester Malizia, Artistic Director, 2006
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JOSHUA ERICHSEN |
BETH KNOX BREANNA MORTON |
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Presented by
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. www.theatricalrights.com
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From the Producing Artistic Director
Cast
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Band
Creative Team
Production Team & Front of House
Meet the Company
Ben Arrington (Johnny Cash)- was last seen on the Players Guild stage in Titanic the Musical (Lightoller) and is thrilled to be returning as the iconic Johnny Cash. Some other previous stage credits include Once (Eamon/Emcee) at KSUS, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Man #2) and Dogfight (Fector) at Western Reserve Playhouse, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Leaf/Carl Dad) and All Shook Up (Dennis) at North Canton Playhouse. Ben would like to dedicate this performance to Kayla. “Because you’re mine, I walk the line”.
Kayla Arrington (Dyanne)- is very excited to be back at the Players Guild Theatre after last being seen as Molly in Ghost. Kayla graduated from the University of Mount Union with degrees in Public Relations and Theatre and is the Development Manager at the Canton Symphony Orchestra. Past favorite credits include- Cassidy Theatre: Addams Family (Wednesday) & Sister Act (Sister Mary Robert), UMU: Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), and Western Reserve Playhouse: Little Women (Meg). More info at kaylalehman.com.
Michael Burke (Sam Phillips)- is ecstatic to be back at the guild for their season open after last appearing as Carl Brunner in Ghost. Previous credits include Farquaad in Shrek: the musical, Harold Hill in The Music Man, Mr.Brook in Little Women, and Dr. Fein/Madden in Next to Normal. Michael graduated from Ohio Northern University with a degree in Theatre.
Olan Domer (Jerry Lee Lewis) - is thrilled to be joining the Players Guild Theatre for the first time! He was last seen on stage in Shakespeare at the Castle’s production of Hamlet as Rosencrantz, and in the Gallaher Black Box at the University of Mount Union as Pippin. He is in his fourth year at UMU studying Musical Theatre and Media. He would like to thank his incredible family, best friend Clay, and partner Amy for all of their incredible love and support, and John Weyand for sending him “Great Balls of Fire” during the COVID quarantine.
Jonathan Gruich (Elvis Presley)- returns to the stage after last being seen as Joseph in the Players Guild production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He is thrilled to be joining this incredible company and bring the King of Rock to life. Past favorite credits include - Sideshow (Buddy), , Oklahoma (Curly), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy), Pippin (Pippin - WATCH Award Winner for Best Leading Actor in A Musical). Galatians 2:20
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Jordan Potter (Carl Perkins)- could not be more excited to help kick off the Players Guild’s first season in this new space after just being seen as Sam Wheat in Ghost to close out last season. He still can’t believe he gets to bring a legend like Carl Perkins to life and rock out on electric guitar on stage for the first time with this incredible group of actors and musicians. Other past credits include Once (Guy) at KSUS, Joseph…Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph) at Weathervane Playhouse, Evil Dead the Musical (Scott) at Blank Canvas Theatre, and Godspell (Jesus) at Avenue Arts..
Father of two amazing daughters, the oldest studying architecture, the youngest on her way to taking over his job. Husband to his dream girl wife for twenty years - they met at the PGT! Sibling to a brother and a sister, and son to parents, who, lucky for him, chose to take their children to live theatre and expose them to this amazing world of storytelling. Blessed beyond measure to have this amazing job and to be able to call the Players Guild Theatre his home for twenty-three years! During that time he has had the privilege of producing, directing and designing countless productions. Favorite credits include, Players Guild: Titanic, Next To Normal, Jesus Christ Superstar, Memphis, Ragtime, Hunchback…, Assassins, Cabaret, Les Miserables, A Christmas Carol (’04-present), The Full Monty, A Few Good Men, 1776 and Jekyll & Hyde. Ohio Shakespeare Festival: Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, and The Tempest. Other credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Magical Theatre Co), Joseph… Dreamcoat (Natl. Tour), and served as producer for An Evening with George Takei, starring Mr. Takei. Additionally, Josh is a magician/illusionist who created his own show. Josh is a graduate of Kent State University, and is a recipient of the Spotlight Award for Outstanding Contributions to Theatre. Love to my family and my beautiful wife and daughters for their unconditional love and never-ending support!
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Beth is in her tenth season at the Players Guild Theatre. She earned her degree in Business Management and Marketing from the Ohio State University. Beth spent the majority of her career in management in the cosmetic and fashion industry in the Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and NYC markets for brands including Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Yves St. Laurent, Paloma Picasso, and Giorgio Armani. Her background also includes grant writing, event planning, and fundraising. Beth is a co-founder, Executive Producer, and playwright for Red Fig Productions.
Tyra is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this exciting season! This is Tyra's seventh season with the Players Guild Theatre. With a career in the Cosmetics Industry as a special event manager, make-up artist, and account coordinator, Tyra couldn't be prouder to be a part of the Players Guild Theatre staff as Guest Services Manager. The arts and dance have always been a passion of hers, and it is her sincere pleasure getting to know the numerous talented performers in our community, and the incredible Volunteers that give a hand towards the theatre's success.
Steve is the Resident Musical Director at the Players Guild of Canton, having served in the same capacity at Carousel Dinner Theatre from 2004-2009, where his work received the 2006 Cleveland area Times Newspapers “Outstanding Musical Direction” award. Other credits include The Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida, The Ohio Shakespeare Company, Carnation City Players, and the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Additionally, he provided new arrangements for Dean Pitchford’s official revised version of FOOTLOOSE, created new versions of the NUNSENSE scores for creator Dan Goggin, wrote original music and fight song arrangements for the hit video game COLLEGE SLAM, and performed in the “Tickestra” for the FOX animated television series THE TICK. Steve was also the arranger for the Grateful Dead musical CUMBERLAND BLUES, which was presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and orchestrated the regional musical IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. An active composer, Steve has a Master’s degree in composition and numerous published symphonic pieces and choral works. His original musical version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is published by Steele Spring Stage Rights, and has received an NYC Off-Off Broadway production, a fully staged production in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, numerous regional theatre performances across the United States, and is presented annually at The Players Guild. Steve arranged and orchestrated the hit LA musical LIFE COULD BE A DREAM and is a consultant and contributor to Defying Gravity, the biography of legendary songwriter Stephen Schwartz. He presently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Kent State University – Stark Campus in the areas of Musicology, Piano, Ensemble Direction and Conducting, and is a proud member of ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild of America.
Breanna Morton is starting her fourth season at the Players Guild and is excited to take on her new role as Production Stage Manager for the theatre! Prior to her work here, Breanna earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Studies with a concentration of Theatre Production and a minor in Theatre Performance from Kent State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She also worked as a theatre technician, stage manager, assistant director, and even performed in a few of the shows during her time at Kent State. While she has worked at a few other theaters in the area, the Guild has become her second home and she could not be happier that she gets to work in a career she is so passionate about.
Frankie joined the Players Guild family in the summer of 2019 with Rock of Ages and has been around ever since. By day Frankie works at Vincent Lighting Systems as a Project Manager and by night he is a lighting and set designer in the Cleveland/Akron area. In addition to his role as lighting designer here at Players Guild Frankie also serves on the Board of Directors for the Brecksville Theatre. Frankie’s work can also be seen at Cassidy Theatre, Magical Theatre Company, and Western Reserve Playhouse, to name a few.
Nick is a musician and visual artist from Canton Ohio. He is a graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Audio Recording. He plays bass for multiple local theatres as well as original bands. He is the owner & artist at Comet Wanderer Studios, a collaborative multimedia outlet that specializes in projection mapping, installation art, and sound design.
The cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
