ELF The Musical 

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From The Producing Artistic Director

Welcome to the 23-24 Season, featuring a spectacular mix of shows for our 2nd full season on the campus of KSU at Stark! We are thrilled to continue to bring you the titles you love and the high-caliber performances you have come to expect.  

I want to take just a moment to draw your attention to our Superheroes Campaign.  We are looking for heroes like you, who will step up and save the day!  We are an independent organization and our tickets sales only cover a fraction of the cost of producing live theatre.  We hope to continue the tradition of keeping the Players Guild strong while extending our reach throughout the community.  We can only do that with your support.  Please take a moment to consider the lasting impact your gift will provide!

Finally, thank you to our advertisers and supporters, and continued thanks to everyone here on campus for their hospitality.  And our thanks to you for seeing the value live theatre brings to our community!

Enjoy the show!

Josh

Song List

• Overture
• Happy All The Time
• World's Greatest Dad
• In The Way
• Sparklejollytwinklejingley
• I'll Believe In You
• In The Way- Reprise
• Just Like Him
• A Christmas Song
• World's Greatest Dad - Reprise
• Entr'acte
• Nobody Cares About Santa
• Never Fall In Love (With An Elf)
• There Is a Santa Claus
• The Story of Buddy
• Nobody Cares ... (Santa's Reprise)
• A Christmas Song - Reprise
• Finale

Cast

Creative Team

Production Team & Front of House

COSTUME TEAM

Kate Joseph

George McCarty II (Designer)

SET CONSTRUCTION

Ross Carmichael

Megan Herbert

Michaela Muckelrath

Natalie Steen

BACKSTAGE

Adam Davis

Bill Joseph

Max Lord-Fry

Bethany Riggs

Melanie Scott

FRONT OF HOUSE

The Amiot Family

Kelly Aneshanel

Barbara Berasi

Diana Collum

Marilyn Davies

Michelle Davis

Sandy Dodd

Pat Donald

Samuel Dorto

Sandy Feielin

Krista Gibson

Ingrid Green

Barb Hostetter

Steve Hostetter

Hannah Jolly

Linda Keith

Tim Keith

Joseph Lamancusa

Tina Louise

Kathleen McClure

Anne Martin

Susan Mullikin

Esther Oustampasidis

Mary Jane Philips

Andrea Raffle

Laura Rich

Kathy Rogers

Sandy Rosetta

Jo Roten

Jennifer and Tim Rowles

Joyce Ryan

Nancy Shanklin

Barb Stephens

Carol Warner

Mary Ann White

Judy Whitman

Jill Williams

Karen Wilson

Cindy Wingerter

Laurie Zupp

HOUSE MANAGERS

Molly Moriarty

Missy Hays

Meet the Company

JAYSON REPPART

Buddy

is so excited to be returning to The Player’s Guild after last appearing in Joseph and the Amazing…Dreamcoat (Baker/Issachar). Other credits include Matilda:The Musical at Rubber City Theatre (Rudolpho/Doctor), R&H Cinderella (Ensemble) with the Ohio Shakespeare Company, Into the Woods (Baker), and How to Succeed (Bud Frump). Jayson is a graduate of Kent State University BFA Musical Theatre program. He would like to thank his parents and loved ones for their love and support.

BRITTANY ECKSTROM

Jovie

is from Wooster and is a graduate of the BFA Musical Theatre program at Kent State and holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from The University of Texas. She has been working in arts education and ed. leadership for over 10 years and is currently teaching, choreographing, and directing the School of Dance at The Wayne Center for the Arts. Some of her favorite performance credits include Cabaret (Fritzie/Fraulein Kost), Shrek (Fiona), Urinetown (Hope Cladwell), and Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad). She hopes you have a sparklejollytwinklejingley good time!

TODD COOPER

Walter Hobbs

is thrilled to be a part of this wonderfully heartwarming holiday show. Todd’s credits include: Weathervane Theatre: Pulitzer (Newsies); Sixth Street Theatre: Alan (God of Carnage); Lakeland Theatre: Steven (If/Then); Players Guild: Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Pharaoh/Mr.Potiphar), Rock of Ages (Dennis Dupree), Titanic (J. Bruce Ismay), and many others. Todd is a longtime supporter of the theatre, and a firm believer in its transformative power. He would like to thanks his family and friends whose support and love have made it all worthwhile!

BRIANA HAGER

Emily

is thrilled to be back on The Players Guild stage after last being seen in A Christmas Carol many moons ago! Some of her favorite previous roles include: 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (Logainne), Hairspray (Penny), and Beauty and the Beast (Belle). She would like to thank her husband for all his love and support, and mama Chey for giving her a love of the theatre. Enjoy the show!

ANDREW HORNING

Michael

is a fifth grader at Alliance Intermediate School who last appeared at the Players Guild in 2021 as Tiny Tim. His home theater is Carnation City Players in Alliance where he recently played a duckling in Honk Jr and Les in Newsies Jr. He also appears in ensemble roles at Alliance High School including their current production of Elf! Andrew enjoys math, soccer/futsal, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Pokémon. Andrew conquered his big sisters’ school record for math facts and he is close to challenging his big sisters in ping pong.

GREG EMANUELSON

Santa/Mr. Greenway

Last seen menacing Fleet Street as Beadle Bamford in The Players Guild production of Sweeney Todd, Greg has credits throughout NE Ohio including Father Flynn (Doubt), Nostradamus (Something Rotten), and award winning performances as Archibald Craven (Secret Garden), Tateh (Ragtime), and Andrew Makepeace (Love Letters). Dedicated to Phil Robb…Miss you more and more each show I do!

MIKE BURKE

Matthews/Ensemble

is excited to be back on the PG stage! He has recently appeared in SpongeBob: the Musical, Toxic Avenger, Million Dollar Quartet, and Ghost at the Players Guild. As well as previous credits as Farquaad in Shrek, Mr. Brook in Little Women, and Dr. Madden/Fein in Next to Normal.

ASHLEY LULI

Chadwick/Ensemble

is thrilled to return to the Players Guild stage! She is thankful to be playing Chadwick and others to “spread Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear!” Some of Ashley’s recent credits include The SpongeBob Musical (Karen), A Christmas Carol (Christmas Past/Mrs. Crachit), Into the Woods (Rapunzel), Spring Awakening (Thea), and Where’s My Tony (Ariel-The Little Mermaid). She would like to thank God, her family, friends, and “youthies” for their love and support! Happy holidays!

OLIVIA MOREY

Deb/Ensemble

is an actress, choreographer, Director, and teaching artist. She is delighted to be appearing on stage at The Players Guild for the first time. Some of Olivia’s other credits include: Midsummer Night's Dream (Helena) Songs for a New World ( Mrs. Claus), John Proctor is the Villain (Ivy Watkins), Anything Goes (Chastity), Chicago (Liz), Annie (Lilly Saint Regis), Fame (Carmen Diaz). She is so grateful for all the love and support from her family and friends!

EMMA EBERHARDT

Ensemble

Emma is back on the PGTs stage! She is so excited to bring this iconic movie to life on the stage. Emma was also recently in the Spongebob the musical here at PGT! She would like to thank all the people that helped her get to where she is now.

BROOKE JENKINS

Ensemble

is excited to be performing at the Players Guild for the first time after a long hiatus from the stage. Music and theatre have always been a passion of hers. Some of her favorite past credits include Oliver! (Nancy) and Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Brooke graduated from Kent State Stark in 2019 and has spent the last 4 years teaching fourth grade. She would like to thank her family and friends for their encouragement, but especially her cousin Anna, who is an absolute shining star.

BRAD MOTYER

Ensemble

has played many roles in his life (college athlete, teacher, recovering fruit snack addict) but his favourite as of late is actor. Recent credits include Troy Bolton in High School Musical, Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins, and Dennis in The Play That Goes Wrong, and he is very excited to perform on the Players Guild stage for the first time. He would also like to thank his wife Emily for all her love and support and for writing this bio for him.

TESS PHILLIPS

Ensemble

Tess Phillips (Ensemble): Tess is delighted to be returning to the stage again to bring to life the story of Buddy the Elf! She was most recently seen here at the Players Guild in, The Addams Family Musical Comedy (Ancestor/Ensemble). Tess would like to thank the incredibly talented cast and production team for putting together this amazing show as well as her friends and family for their endless support and motivation!

JOSHUA ERICHSEN

Producing Artistic Director

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 of twenty-one years - they met at the PGT! Blessed beyond measure to have this amazing job and to be able to call the Players Guild Theatre his home for twenty-four 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, a Christopher Nolan film-fanatic, and has a true passion for all-things-Charles Dickens. 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!

BETH KNOX

Managing Director

Beth is in her eleventh 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 GRISAK

Guest Services Manager

Tyra is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this exciting season!  This is Tyra's eighth 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.

ROSS CARMICHAEL

Technical Director

graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Theatre. Since then, he has worked professionally as an actor, a director, and in technical theatre. Technical credits: Technical Director (Gamut Theatre Group) Scenic Designer (Gamut Theatre: Hamlet; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Every Christmas Story Ever Told; Pericles; A Streetcar Named Desire; TYA) Production Manager (Gamut Theatre, Powerhouse Apprentice Company); Carpenter (Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Gamut Theatre, York College of PA) Lighting Designer (Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Gamut Theatre) Directing credits: FoodPlay Productions.

STEVE PARSONS

Director/Musical Director/Conductor

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 ANTONIADES

Production Manager

Breanna 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 CASTROVILLARI

Lighting Designer

Frankie joined the Players Guild family in the summer of 2019 with Rock of Ages and has been around ever since. 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 and Magical Theatre Company, to name a few.

MATTHEW HEPPE

Director

Graduated in 2011 from Capital University with a B.A. in Theatre Studies. Since that time, he has travelled across northeast Ohio working as an actor and director, but considers his "theatre home" to be the Players Guild Theatre (PGT) where he has previously directed, co-directed, and assistant directed since 2018. Favorite previous directorial credits with PGT include Ghost the Musical (Director), A Christmas Carol (Co-Director), and Jesus Christ Superstar (Assistant Director). Outside of theatre, Matthew works as an Admissions Visit Coordinator on the Kent campus of Kent State University, is working on a Masters degree in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs, volunteers as an advisor for the Portage County Junior Fair Board, and is constantly working on some type of project for his home in Randolph.

KRISTIAN KORSGAARD

Choreographer

Kristian Korsgaard (Choreographer) received his training at Marymount Manhattan College where he earned a BFA in Dance, Magna cum Laude. Kristian spent the next 12 years teaching dance in both Brooklyn and Queens while performing extensively in regional theater. Some favorite shows include A Chorus Line, Nunsense…Amen, Carousel, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sweet Charity, The Will Rogers Follies, 42nd Street, Crazy for You and Annie as well as traveling to Alaska, Hawaii and through the Panama Canal performing for Holland America Cruise Lines. He also had one glorious year working as a dresser for Beauty & the Beast on Broadway. Having retired his dancing shoes, Kristian stayed in NYC for another 6 years working for a hedge fund group before moving closer to home in 2010 to open a gift shop in Hudson with his husband, Eric. Happy to be back for another show at the Guild and good luck to this cast of Fabulous Fishes (and one Squirrel)!

BOBBY SEVERNS

Sound Designer/Engineer

is grateful to be working with such a fine cast and crew while running sound. This is his third venture on the production-side at the Player's Guild, having just recently completed sound design for Stephen King's Misery and Spongebob The Musical. When not at the theater, Bobby is a Senior Corporate Trainer at DRB Tunnel Solutions in Green and runs a wedding and event entertainment company, Pro Party DJ.

CASSIE AKINS

Stage Manager

Having worked as a crew member for the PGT since 2017, Cassie is super excited to be stage managing this show. Huge thank you's to the cast, crew & production team for all your help along the way. We hope you enjoy the show!