RIDE THE CYCLONE |
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| The Barnstormers Theater | ||
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Book, Music, & Lyrics by Jacob Richmond & Brooke Maxwell
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| Originally produced by Kevin McCollum and Morris Berchard |
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Zach King |
Samuel White Tauron Thompson |
[REDACTED] |
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"Virgil The Rat" performed by Jaylynne Peppel "Cyclone" Run Crew: Justin O'Connell, Natalie Rose Produced for the Barnstormers Theater by J. "Buzz" DiSabatino |
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Music Direction by Madeline Ley Choreography by Jett Meisel Lighting Design by J. "Buzz" DiSabatino & Matt English Audio Engineering by Ray Yeoman & Martin English Scenic Design by J. "Buzz" DiSabatino Set Design by Sharon Daws Costume and Property Design by Ashley O'Connor-Michell Directed by A.J.M. |
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Director’s Note
Ride The Cyclone begins with tragedy — a roller coaster accident that claims the lives of six members of the St. Cassian Chamber Choir. In a strange twist of fate, these teenagers find themselves in a mysterious limbo, given one last chance to tell their stories and plead their case for a return to life. What follows is part talent show, part confessional, and part celebration — a kaleidoscopic exploration of identity, regret, humor, and hope.
At first glance, this is a story about death. But beneath the dark comedy and surreal carnival atmosphere lies something profoundly life-affirming. Ride The Cyclone asks us to look closely at what it means to live fully — to embrace imperfection, to cherish the fleeting, and to recognize that every life, no matter how ordinary it may seem, holds immeasurable value. It’s a show that reminds us how fragile, unpredictable, and beautiful our time on the ride really is.
Though it deals in stories from the afterlife and mystical mechanical fortune tellers, Ride The Cyclone is ultimately about gratitude — for the people we love, the memories we make, and the moments we might otherwise overlook. It’s not a story about loss, but about how meaning persists even when the ride stops.
To the cast (Eliza, Zach, Sam, Dorian, Tauron, Cristina and... someone to remain nameless for now) and crew who poured their creativity, heart, and courage into this production — thank you. Your work has been a joy to witness and a privilege to help guide. To the entire Barnstormers Theater organization and in particular J. "Buzz" DiSabatino. And to everyone joining us on this journey — thank you for coming along for the ride. May you leave the Barn reminded to live boldly, love deeply, and never take the life for granted, because it's not a game, it's a ride.
🎡
— AJM
Director, Ride The Cyclone
Song List
- Dream of Life – Jane Doe
- Uranium / Minor Turn (The Uranium Suite) – Ensemble
- What the World Needs – Ocean and Ensemble
- Noel's Lament – Noel and Ensemble
- Every Story's Got a Lesson – Ocean and Ensemble
- This Song is Awesome/Talia – Mischa and Ensemble
- Space Age Bachelor Man – Ricky and Ensemble
- The Ballad of Jane Doe – Jane Doe and Ensemble
- The New Birthday Song – Ensemble
- Jawbreaker/Sugar Cloud – Constance and Ensemble
- It's Not a Game / It's Just a Ride – Ensemble
Please note: Ride The Cyclone is a 90 minute production with no intermission. Concession items can be purchased up to an hour into the show's run time by visiting the back of the theater.
Cast
Creative Team
J. “Buzz” DiSabatino
A.J.M.
Madeline Ley
Jett Meisel
Sharon Daws
Ashley O'Connor-Mitchell
Jaylynne Peppel
Matt English
Meet the Company
Eliza Davulcu
Eliza is thrilled to be making her debut at the Barnstormers in one of her absolute dream shows, Ride the Cyclone! Some of her favorite past roles include Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Molly in 13, and Wendla in Spring Awakening.
She is endlessly grateful to this amazing creative team for their hard work and vision, and to her family, friends, and her boyfriend Nick for their constant love and support. Eliza hopes you enjoy this wonderfully wacky, heartfelt, and beautiful show as much as she has loved being part of it!
Zach King
Dorain Bean
Christina Duffey
Cristina Duffey is beyond excited to perform in her first show with Barnstormers Theater! Previously she’d performed in shows such as Cabaret (Frau. Kost), Fefu and her Friends (Cindy), My Fair Lady (A.P. Doolittle), Legally Blonde (Paulette), and more! She is so beyond proud to be a part of this amazing cast! She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her endeavors, no matter how silly! Extra thank you to her Mom, who stayed on FaceTime with her for the long drives to and from rehearsal!
Samuel White
Samuel White is thrilled to be back on the Barnstormers stage after 16 years where he was last seen as Matt in The Fantasticks. Other favorite past roles include Frank N. Furter (The Rocky Horror Show), John Hale (The Crucible) and Ali Hakim (Oklahoma). He would like to thank his partner Amanda for her love and support, his amazing cast and crew and his director Andrew for thinking he still looks young enough to play a teenager.
Tauron Thompson
NAME REDACTED
"Jane Doe" is what the coroner said, they found my body, not my head, no parents came, and so they never learned my name, or who I used to be. My life, and unsolved mystery.
From ashes I was made, from ashes I return. And so I walk alone and wonder why?
J. “Buzz” DiSabatino
A.J.M.
A.J.M. is the Artistic Director for the Milburn Stone Theater at Cecil College. This is the first show he has directed for the Barnstormers Theater. https://www.andrewjohnmitchell.com
Madeline Ley
Madeline is a classically trained soprano and voice teacher. Her studio is located in the tristate area, with students of all ages from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Passionate about teaching, Madeline's primary goals are to foster healthy voices, sharpen musical skills, and develop a love for music in a nurturing environment. Madeline offers both in-person and online lessons. https://www.madelineley.com
Jett Meisel
Sharon Daws
Ashley O'Connor-Mitchell
Jaylynne Peppel
Matt English
Photos
The cast of "Ride The Cyclone" - Photo Credit: A.J.M.
Multimedia
Articles
The Barnstormers Theater Reveals Cast For RIDE THE CYCLONE
The Barnstormers Theater has announced the cast of the highly anticipated cult-favorite musical Ride The Cyclone, with book, music, and lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell. The production will run October 24, 25, 31, and November 1, with performances on Fridays at 7:30pm and Saturdays at 2:00pm and 7:30pm.
The talented cast features Eliza Davulcu as Ocean O'Connell Rosenberg, Zach King as Noel Gruber, Dorain Bean as Mischa Bachinski, Christina Duffey as Constance Blackwood, Samuel White as Ricky Potts, and Tauron Thompson as the Amazing Karnack. The role of Jane Doe will be announced at a later date.
Produced by J. "Buzz" DiSabatino, this production will be directed by A.J.M., with Artistic Consultation by A.O.M., Music Direction by Madeline Ley, and Choreography by Jett Meisel.
Step right up for Ride the Cyclone, a darkly funny, heartfelt, and unforgettable musical! After a tragic roller coaster accident, six Canadian teenagers find themselves in limbo, given one last chance to tell their stories and compete for a second shot at life. With an eclectic score ranging from hip-hop and pop ballads to haunting cabaret tunes, this musical balances laughter, heartbreak, and hope in equal measure. Remember: Life isn't a game, it's a ride.
In 2022, a viral TikTok clip of "The Ballad of Jane Doe" propelled Ride the Cyclone into Gen Z fame, sparking a new wave of enthusiasm with memes, cosplays, and fan theories that made it a cultural phenomenon.
Tickets are just $20 and advance sales are strongly recommended. Due to adult content and language, the show is recommended for ages 13+.
Photos: RIDE THE CYCLONE at The Barnstormers Theater
The Barnstormers Theater invites audiences to take a hauntingly hilarious ride with their October/November production, Ride the Cyclone, now playing for just six performances! Performances run October 24th, 25th, 31st, and November 1st. Check out photos below!
This darkly comic musical follows six members of a Canadian high school choir whose lives are cut short in a freak roller coaster accident — only to find themselves in a limbo-like carnival where they’re given one last chance to sing their stories and prove why they deserve a second shot at life. Cyclone balances the show’s offbeat humor with its deep emotional core — exploring themes of identity, mortality, and what it truly means to live a life worth remembering.
Featuring seven standout performers, electrifying choreography by Jett Meisel, and a stunning design by J. "Buzz" DiSabatino and Sharon Daws that transforms The historic Barnstormers Theater into a surreal carnival dreamscape, Ride the Cyclone promises an unforgettable theatrical experience that’s equal parts eerie, heartfelt, and joyful.
Starring Eliza Davulcu, Zach King, Dorian Bean, Samuel White, Cristina Duffey, and Tauron Thompson as The Amazing Karnak with Jaylynne Peppel as “Virgil” The Rat.
Run Crew - Natalie Rose
Spotlight Operator - Justin O’Connor
Choreography by Jett Meisel
Music Direction by Madeline Ley
Costume and Property Design by Ashley O’Connor-Mitchell
Lighting Design by Matt English & J. “Buzz” DiSabatino
Audio Engineering by Martin English & Ray Yeomans
Scenic Design by Sharon Daws
Produced and Set Design by J. “Buzz” DiSabatino
Directed by A.J.M.
Photo Credit: Miranda Holland / FocalOddity
Don't miss out on the rest of the Barnstormers Theater's 117th season!
This February:
DEATH BY CHOCOLATE
By Paul Freed
Directed by J. "Buzz" DiSabatino and Martin English
February 6, 7, 8, 13, 14
Our annual Murder Mystery Extravaganza!
Members of the newly renovated Meadowbrook Health Resort are dropping like flies, including famed chef Edith Chiles! On the eve of the grand re-opening, this is not the best advertisement. It’s up to John Stone, the manager, to find the cause and the murderer.
Death by Chocolate is presented through special permission by Concord Theatricals.
Auditions: November 11th & 12th, visit the website for more information.
The Barnstormers Youth Theater Presents: LEGALLY BLONDE JR.
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Nell Benjamin
Book by Heather Hach
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture.
March 13, 14, 20, 21
Based on the award-winning Broadway musical and the smash hit motion picture, Legally BlondeThe Musical JR. is a fabulously fun journey of self-empowerment and expanding horizons. The show's instantly recognizable songs are filled with humor, wit and sass — leaving cast members and audiences alike seeing pink!
Legally Blonde JR. follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. When Elle's boyfriend, Warner, dumps her and heads to Harvard, claiming she's not "serious" enough, Elle takes matters into her own hands, crafting a showy song-and-dance personal essay and charming her way into law school. Befriending classmate, Emmett, and spunky hairdresser, Paulette, along the way, Elle finds that books and looks aren't mutually exclusive. As Elle begins outsmarting her peers, she realizes that law may be her natural calling after all.
Legally Blonde Jr. is presented through special permission by Musical Theatre International.
And we close out the season with...
Meshuggah-Nuns!
Book, Lyrics and Music by Dan Goggin
May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9
The Kunkels (the poor family living behind Mount St. Helen’s School) have won the lottery and gifted the Sisters an all-expense-paid trip on the “Faiths of All Nations” Cruise. After a week at sea, the ship runs into a storm. Several people become ill, including all of the actors in the ship’s production of Fiddler on the Roof. (All except the actor playing Tevye, that is.) The captain of the ship, knowing of the Sisters’ show-biz savvy, requests that the Sisters and Tevye put on a revue. The result: Meshuggah-Nuns! The Ecumenical Nunsense.
Meshuggah-Nuns! is presented through special permission by Concord Theatricals.
Plus, more to be announced in the coming months! for more information please visit at Barnstormerstheater.com
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