75th Anniversary: An Evening of Song |
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Produced by Connie Murphy & Christina Murphy |
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| Directed by Becky Norris Kuhn & Tara Waters | ||
| Choreographed by Kaitlin Branham | ||
| Music Directed by Brian Kuhn | ||
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The Port Tobacco Players are supported by grants from the Charles County Alliance, the Maryland State Arts Council, and agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural Community where the arts thrive, and by the Charles County Charitable |
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ABOUT THE PORT TOBACCO PLAYERS
“The Port Tobacco Players is an all-volunteer organization that puts the performing arts within reach of our community by offering quality productions that are entertaining, educational and though provoking. We train, invest in and support the next generation of theatre artists.”
It was in the days following the Second World War, when a weary America turned its eyes toward rebuilding, that the residents of the small but history-laden town of Port Tobacco looked across their town square at the burned rubble of their once-proud courthouse and decided to rebuild. During the winter of 1947, in the drawing room of Stagg Hall, a plan was conceived to raise money to aid the Port Tobacco Restoration Society in returning their town to its former glory. This group of artists, from Port Tobacco and nearby La Plata, set out to bring to the stage entertainment that would earn enough profit to continue their endeavor and provide for their cause. They spent the next twenty years performing in high school auditoriums, court rooms, village green... where anyone who wanted to see a play could do so. Their efforts paid off and the courthouse was restored.
In 1974 they found a new home—an old 1940’s movie theater owned by a local pharmacist was the ideal spot for a new beginning. They evolved into what they are known as today, a cultural staple in Charles County’s historic landscape. In 2002 another page turned in history when they raised the money to purchase and renovate their home. Returning to their roots, they performed on the road for two years before returning to 508 Charles Street in 2005. And in 2010, their home expanded to include a much needed rehearsal hall and space to store and construct costumes in-house.
Today the Port Tobacco Players perform six shows on their main stage and countless road productions with various ENCORE touring companies. The Port Tobacco Players are dedicated to continuing the tradition of providing quality theater to the citizens of Southern Maryland.
Board of Directors
President/Properties - Tara Waters
Vice President/Public Affairs - Carol Russell Treasurer - Craig Hower Secretary/Membership - Carol Charnock Facilities - Michael Beryle, Jr.
Education - Heather Bauer
Costumes - Janice Sagers
Production - Becky Norris Kuhn History/Library - Kaitelyn Bauer Dieguez
Port Tobacco Players is proud to be a charter member of the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors. www.washingtontheater.org
Director's Note
75 years is an amazing accomplishment. For live theatre to exist in a small community for such a long amount of time is truly remarkable. We owe this success to the talent that continues to grace our stage, to the technicians who build and create, and of course to you, our loyal patrons.
As we embarked on the journey of planning this anniversary celebration, our goal was to honor our traditions, showcase our talents, and above all, express a heartfelt thank you to our audiences. This show is a love letter to the community that has supported us throughout the years.
Unlike a typical production with a script, a score, and clear expectations, this was a blank slate. The only guideline was to include songs from musicals that the Port Tobacco Players had produced in the last 75 years. Each song was carefully selected specifically to suit the people who auditioned for this special occasion.
For the three of us this experience has been a great joy and a labor of love. Countless hours were spent together, cultivating this production and we hope you enjoy each and every moment. Thank you for being here to celebrate our 75 years. Here's to another 75!
Becky Norris Kuhn Tara Waters
Directors
Brian Kuhn
Music Director
SPECIAL THANKS
Jason Klonkowski for photography, Kathy Mead for props help, Joey Schrum as the drum substitute, Will Derr as the keyboard substitute and for acquiring music, Steve and the Waters boys for support, the Kuhn girls for their support, Sarah Gravelle for the plant, Josh Cockerham for the rehearsal tracks, the volunteer box office staff and ushers, and all who helped us after the program went to print. A special thank you to Becky Kuhn, the Productions Chair, and the entire Board of Directors; and many people who helped along the way.
Sponsors
Cast
Production Crew
Producer. . . . . . .Connie Murphy
Directors. . . . . . . Becky Norris Kuhn, Tara Waters
MusicDirector. . . . . . . BrianKuhn
Choreographer. . . . . . . Kaitlin Branham
Stage Manager/Asst. Producer. . . . . . . Christina Murphy
Assistant Stage Manager. . . . . . . Caitlyn Murphy
Set Design. . . . . . . Chip Murphy, Mike O’Shields, Becky Norris Kuhn
Set Construction. . . . . . . Chip Murphy, Mike O’Shields
Set Artistic Coordinator/Set Painting. . . . . . . Mike O’Shields
Paint Crew. . . . . . . Chip Murphy
Properties/Set Decoration. . . . . . . Becky Norris Kuhn Chip Murphy, Christina Murphy, Connie Murphy
Lighting Design/Operator. . . . . . . Tommy Scott
Sound Design/Operator. . . . . . . Rory Daetwyler
Sound Technicians. . . . . . . Jason Klonkowski, Nathan Daetwyler
Costumes Design. . . . . . . Janice Nash Sagers, Carol Russell
Costume Construction Crew. . . . . . . Diana Hancock, Quentin Nash Sagers, Bill Smolter
Makeup & Hair Design. . . . . . . Becky Norris Kuhn, Tara Waters
Makeup & Hair Crew. . . . . . . Caitlyn Murphy
Special Effects. . . . . . . Craig Hower, Tessa N. Silvestro
Program Design. . . . . . . Connie Murphy
Logo Design. . . . . . . Gabrielle Benton
Song List
Act One
Good Morning . . . . . . . . . .Ben, Isaiah, Liza, Ensemble
Singing in the Rain
You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun . . . . . . . . Amanda
Annie Get Your Gun
Fugue for Tinhorns . . . . . . Bradley, Josh, Justin
Guys and Dolls
Someday . . . . . . . . . . .Female Ensemble
The Wedding Singer
If I Can’t Love Her . . . . . . . . . . . Kyle
Beauty and the Beast
My Favorite Things . . . . . . . . Dari
The Sound of Music
Happiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ensemble
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Put on a Happy Face . . . . . . . . . . . Jing Xi
Bye Bye Birdie
Lily’s Eyes . . . . . . . . . . Isaiah, Justin
The Secret Garden
Giants in the Sky . . . . . . . . . . Josh
Into the Woods
Never Fall in Love with an Elf . . . . . . . . . . .Katie
Elf the Musical
Stepsister’s Lament . . . . . . . . . . .Courtney, Jillian
Cinderella
Oh Bless the Lord . . . . . . . . . Kristina, Ensemble
Godspell
On the Street Where You Live . . . . . . . . . . . Bradley
My Fair Lady
Hard Candy Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liza
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life . . . . . . . . Ensemble
Spamalot
There will be one fifteen minute intermission between acts.
Song List (cont)
Act Two
Need a Little Christmas . . . . . . . . . . Ensemble
Mame
I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy . . . . . . . . . Jillian
South Pacific
Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Male Ensemble
Damn Yankees
It’s De-lovely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bradley, Kristina
Anything Goes
Being Alive . . . . . . . . . . . . Isaiah
Company
Together Wherever We Go . . . . . . . Dari, Jing Xi, Katie
Gypsy
Grow For Me . . . . . . . . . . . . Ben
Little Shop of Horrors
Easy Street . . . . . . . . . Amanda, Melina
Annie
I Can Hear the Bells . . . . . . . . . . Courtney, Dari, Jillian, Katie
Hairspray
All Er Nothing . . . . . . . . . . Kyle, Liza
Oklahoma
Gethsemane . . . . . . . . . . . . Justin
Jesus Christ Superstar
Life I Never Led . . . . . . . . . . Melina
Sister Act
Lida Rose . . . . . . .Brian, Isaiah, Jing Xi, Kristina, Kyle
Music Man
White Christmas . . . . . . . . Ensemble
White Christmas
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm . . . . . Ensemble
White Christmas
Meet the Company
Liza Arnold
Liza is a 2005 recording artist and Charles County educator. She sings at church and has lived in Charles County for 18 years. She is happy to be re-joining PTP for her second production. She previously sang in the 2021 show All Together Now. With the encouragement and support of her loving husband, Eric and her three children, Annie, Landon
and Autumn, she is taking the stage once again. Liza thanks God for her talent, her family for believing in her and the PTP production team for their friendship and support.
Kim Bessler
Kim has been blessed to be a part of the Washington Area Theater Community, and especially Port Tobacco Players, for over 25 years. She has learned much from the wonderful casts/crews with whom she’s collaborated and is living proof of the adage that...”It’s not where you go... it’s who you meet along the way.”
Courtney Camden
Courtney is a DC based writer / actress. Recent credits include Godspell, Catch Me If You Can, Sister Act, Clue: The Musical, & Cabaret Takes a Holiday.
Jillian Daniel
Jillian is currently a junior at Thomas Stone High School. She is excited to be in her first show at PTP and endlessly grateful for this opportunity. Her most recent musical production was with Charles County All County Theater where she portrayed Maggie in A Chorus Line. She would like to thank her parents for driving her to all the rehearsals.
Bradley Evans
Bradley is very excited for his third performance on PTP’s stage! You may have seen him in his previous performance as Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast or Male Ensemble in Hello Dolly. He currently works as an engineer for PAX River while performing where he can. Bradley would love to thank his friends and family for supporting this amazing opportunity!
Enjoy the show!
Kristina Faison
This is Kristina’s first time working with the Port Tobacco Players. She’s very excited to have been given this opportunity to perform with all of her wonderful cast members. You may have last seen her further south on the Newtowne Players stage as Pearl in These Shining Lives, or her costume work with Into the Woods. She would like to thank her family and friends
for all their continued support. Enjoy the show!
Mike Gahan
Mike became involved with The Port Tobacco Players in 1996 when he thought he was merely going to be the chauffeur for his daughter, Erin. Since then, he has become involved in dozens of productions both on stage and behind the scenes. He is the current Business Manager. Much love and thanks to Debbie.
M. Justin Hancock
Justin is thrilled to be a part of another PTP production surrounded by such talent. Previous PTP appearances include The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors and Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd. Other credits include Canada’s Opera on the Avalon, Sweeney Todd. New York Loft Opera - Rossini’s Otello and Verdi’s Macbeth. Thank you to everyone who continues to support local theatre and the arts. Love to all and Happy Holidays!!
Amanda Hastings
Amanda is excited to be participating in her fourth show at Port Tobacco Players! She has recently been seen in Ragtime (PTP - Emma Goldman), as well as in the ensembles of Hello Dolly (PTP), Once Upon a Mattress (PTP) and RENT (CSM). When not participating on stage, she teaches Chemistry at Henry E. Lackey High School, where she also directs
the a cappella group and music directs the school musicals. She sends her love to her girlfriend, roommate, friends, and family and wants to thank them all for putting up with her crazy schedule.
Jing Xi Qin
Jing Xi is honored to be apart of this show to celebrate PTP's 75th anniversary of musical theater. This is Jing Xi's 8th musical production at PTP! His first show was in 2018, Jesus Christ Superstar. He was recently in Ragtime as Henry Ford and several other characters. He is ecstatic to share the stage with this talented cast and hopes you enjoy the show. Jing Xi thanks all of his friends and family that come to see and support the show.
Kyle Rappe
Kyle is a lifetime member of PTP. He has been in, directed and teched for several productions since his first which was Oklahoma in 2015. But he has never been happier or more fulfilled than he has been in this production directed by two of the most fantastic directors he has ever worked with, and who wrote his amazing bio.
Melina-Rose Raynes
Melina-Rose aspires to become an actress in either film or theater. Melina-Rose has starred as Dragon in Shrek the Musical, Thomas O’Malley in Aristocats, Ursula in The Little Mermaid, a Dancer in Footloose the Musical, Junie B. Jones in Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, Martha Cox in High School Musical and most recently in the Hello Dolly ensemble.
She has loved singing and dancing since she was a small child and has always felt comfortable in a theatrical setting. She has been truly blessed by Jesus Christ to be able to perform and share her talents with everyone. She hopes that a career in theater will give her an avenue to not only share her testimony but also show the Lord’s love to others and ultimately give Him all the glory. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
Katie Sheldon
Katie has performed at PTP since she was 6 years old. Her favorite shows have been Seussical the Musical, West Side Story, and Beauty and the Beast. You may have seen her most recently in Elf the Musical as Deb, Once Upon A Mattress as a Lady in Waiting and the Nightingale, Ragtime as an ensemble member or Jenny in Death of a Salesman. Katie gets to share her love of music in her career as an Educational Representative with Music & Arts for Southern Maryland. Katie thanks her family and friends for their support, especially her mom Susan, and to everyone for coming to see the show!
Benjamin Simpson
The first live show I ever saw was at PTP in the late 80s. That experience ignited a fire and passion in me that would become a lifelong obsession and career. I was in my first production at PTP in the early 90s (WEE PALS) and was in the early years of Encore Kids. I continued to perform at PTP until attending college and majoring in Musical Theatre and
Dance. Upon moving back to Southern Maryland I returned to PTP. In the past 10 years I have performed in, directed, and/or choreographed over 40 productions here. This theatre has become a second home and I have met my closest and dearest friends under these stage lights. I thank all the mentors I have worked with throughout the years and I am blessed to be able to impart the knowledge they taught me to the next generation of artists. Thank you for supporting live theatre. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish in the future.
Josh Smith
Joshua is thrilled to be back this holiday season to celebrate Port Tobacco’s 75th anniversary. Joshua is native to the SOMD area and is a sophomore at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Joshua is no stranger to the stage. You may have seen him in PTP’s productions of Ragtime, The Christmas Schooner, James and the Giant Peach, and Elf The Musical. He was also a part of the St. Mary’s Summerstock program participating in their productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat (Kids Choir), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Ensemble), Mary Poppins (Teddy Bear) and Newsies (Tommy Boy). Apart from participating in theater, Joshua enjoys reading and writing as well as going to concerts. He would like to thank his family and friends for their continuous support. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show!
Isaiah Wilson
Isaiah is thrilled to celebrate PTP’s 75 years of Community Theater! His first production here was back in 2018 as John Carter in A Christmas Carol in Washington. Several years and production seasons later, Isaiah has been in 7 productions here including Hello Dolly! (WATCH Nominated Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Ensemble), Disney’s Beauty and The Beast (WATCH Nominated Outstanding Ensemble), and Elf, The Musical. He was last seen as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the timeless classic Ragtime where he received a multitude of accolades from his peers, colleagues and PTP members. Isaiah finds joy in storytelling, and hopes you enjoy the story of 75 years of Port Tobacco Players.
Dari Wortham
Dari is excited to perform in a PTP production for the very first time! As a newcomer, she is grateful to have been so welcomed and supported by the amazing cast and crew. Dari would like to thank her family and her friends for their continued love and encouragement. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Kaitlin Branham
Rory Daetwyler
Nathan Daetwyler
Jason Klonkowski
Brian Kuhn
Caitlyn Murphy
Chip Murphy
Christina Murphy
Connie Murphy
Michael O’Shields
Carol Russell
Janice Nash Sagers
Tommy Scott
ORCHESTRA
Josh Cockerham
Tim DeLoache
Nicholas Marco
Joe Scrittore
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