MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

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From the Producing Artistic Director

Welcome to the our 2022-23 season and our new home!

I have never been someone who welcomes big change.  If you know me, or ask anyone who does, you’ll know that to be true.  And having spent the better part of my career with the Players Guild Theatre, the idea of moving out of our former home was daunting to say the least.  That said, I was one of the biggest proponents of the idea of forming a partnership with Kent State University at Stark.  Ultimately, we (Beth our Managing Director and I) worked diligently towards the goal of moving our organization to this beautiful campus.  And it was a massive undertaking!  I want to assure those who may not be as enthusiastic about this change, that the continued goal of the Players Guild Theatre, is to provide not only world-class entertainment, but to continue to build a future for live theatre in Stark County.  The University and the Guild, share in the belief that an appreciation and love of the fine arts is not just given, but is fostered and strengthened through engaging with the community.  And with this new partnership, I see new and exciting opportunities to come.  The ability to extend our reach within the community with the resolve of an organization that has existed in Stark County for 90 years.  One of my favorite quotes reads, “I like the dreams of the future, better than the history of the past.”

Our profound thanks to Dean Seachrist, the administration, faculty, staff and student body, for the warm welcome!  To the PGT staff and production team, thank you for the countless hours of hard work and for doing it with a smile, even on the toughest day.  And finally, our continued thanks to you, our audience, for your humbling support, enthusiasm, and love of live theatre!

Enjoy the show!

Josh

Cast

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Band

Jay Perkins (upright bass player) - JEREMY POPARAD/JEREMY JOHNSTON

W.S. “Fluke” Holland (drummer) - SCOTT THOMAS

Creative Team

Production Team & Front of House

COSTUMER

Kate Joseph

SET CONSTRUCTION

Craig Betz

Marcus Class

BACKSTAGE

Anthony Antoniades

Mark Conneely

Susan Mullikin

FRONT OF HOUSE

Ushers:

Diana Collum

Julie Connair

Sandy Dodd

Pat Donald

Sam Dorto

Sandy Feilen

Missy Hays

Barbara & Steve Hostetter

Hannah Jolly

Mary Jane Phillips

Kathy Rogers

Sandy Rosetta

Jo Roten

Toby Roth

Jennifer & Tim Rowles

Joyce Ryan

Nancy Shanklin

Tsenekos Family

Carol Warner

Mary Ann White

Judy Whitman

Jill Williams

Karen Wilson

Laurie Zupp

Meet the Company

BEN ARRINGTON

Johnny Cash

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

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.

MIKE BURKE

Sam Phillips

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

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

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

JORDAN POTTER

Carl Perkins

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..

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 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!

BETH KNOX

Managing Director

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 GRISAK

Guest Services Manager

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 PARSONS

Resident Musical Director/Director

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

Production Manager/Stage Manager

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 CASTROVILLARI

Lighting Designer

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 NONNO

Sound Designer/Board Engineer

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.

Song Credits

Blue Suede Shoes

(music by Carl L. Perkins; lyrics by Carl L. Perkins) © MPL Music Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Wren Music Co., o/b/o Carl Perkins Music Inc.

Real Wild Child

(music by John O'Keefe, John Greenan and Dave Owens; lyrics by John O'Keefe, John Greenan and Dave Owens) (MPL Music Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Wren Music Co.

Matchbox

(music by Carl L. Perkins; lyrics by Carl L. Perkins) © MPL Music Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Wren Music Co. o/b/o Carl Perkins Music Inc.

Who Do You Love?

(music by Ellas McDaniel; lyrics by Ellas McDaniel) © ARC Music Corp. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Folsom Prison Blues

(music by John R. Cash; lyrics by John R. Cash) Published by House of Cash, Inc. Administered by Bug Music Inc All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Fever

(music by Eddie Cooley and Johnny Davenport; lyrics by Eddie Cooley and Johnny Davenport) © Carlin America Music/Windswept Pacific Music Publishing. Published by Fort Knox Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Memories Are Made of This

(music by Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr and Frank Miller; lyrics by Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr and Frank Miller) © EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

That's All Right

(music by Arthur Crudup; lyrics by Arthur Crudup) © 1947 (renewed). Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI) and Crudup Music (BMI). All rights administered by Unichappell Music Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Brown Eyed Handsome Man

(music by Chuck Berry; lyrics by Chuck Berry) © Arc Music Corp. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Down by the Riverside

(Traditional; arranged by Chuck Mead), © Zoilink Music. All rights administered by Coburn Music. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Sixteen Tons

(music by Merle Travis; lyrics by Merle Travis) © Merle’s Girls Music. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

My Babe

(music by Willie Dixon; lyrics by Willie Dixon) © Bug Music, Inc. o/b/o Hoochie Coochie Music (BMI). All right reserved. Used by permission.

Long Tall Sally

(music by Robert Blackwell, Enotris Johnson and Richard Penniman; lyrics by Robert Blackwell, Enotris Johnson and Richard Penniman) © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Peace in the Valley

(music by Thomas A. Dorsey; lyrics by Thomas A. Dorsey) © (renewed) 1939 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

I Walk the Line

(music by John R. Cash; lyrics by John R. Cash) Published by House of Cash, Inc. Administered by Bug Music Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

I Hear You Knocking

(music by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King; lyrics by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King) © EMI Unart Catalog Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Party

(music by Jessie Mae Robinson; lyrics by Jessie Mae Robinson) © MPL Music Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Great Balls of Fire

(music by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer; lyrics by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer) © 1957 (renewed), Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI), Mijac Music (BMI), Chappell & Co., Inc. (ASCAP) and Mystical Light Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved on behalf of itself and Mijac Music, administered by Unichappell Music Inc. All rights reserved on behalf of itself and Mystical Light Music, administered by Chappell & Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

Used by permission.

Down by the Riverside (Reprise)

Hound Dog

(music by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller; lyrics by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller) Published by Sony/ATV Songs LLC. Copyright 1953 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. All rights administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 8 Music Square West, Nashville TN 37203. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Ghost Riders

(music by Stan Jones; lyrics by Stan Jones) © MPL Music Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission Edwin H. Morris & Company.

See You Later Alligator

(music by Robert Guidry; lyrics by Robert Guidry) © Arc Music Corp. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

(music by Curly Williams; lyrics by Curly Williams) © 1997 N’Mani Entertainment Co. (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission.