Grantors

No items found.

Sponsors

Donors

Mill Mountain Theatre would like to thank the generous gifts from our Donors. We would not be here without you!

Donors

Standing Ovations 2021

Gifts of $5,000 or more

The Honorable and Mrs. G. Steven Agee*

Anonymous gifts to Mill Mountain Theatre

Avis Construction Company, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Jason E. Bingham*

Boxley Materials Company

Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia

Davis H. Elliot Company, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Garbee*

Gentry Locke Attorneys

The Sam & Marion Golden Helping Hand Foundation, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Shields Jarrett*

The Louise R. Lester Foundation

Pinnacle Financial Partners

City of Roanoke Arts Commission

Roanoke CARES Act Grant

The Honorable and Mrs. Frank W. Rogers, III*

U.S. Small Business Administration

Virginia Commission for the Arts

Producers 2021

Gifts of $2,500 to $4,999

BB&T Wealth

Blue Ridge Beverage Company

Brandon Oaks Retirement Community

Center in the Square

Ms. Anne Gordon Downing

The Dunkenberger-Waskey-Nash Group at Morgan Stanley

Ms. Lauren Ellerman*

Ms. Sarah Copenhaver and Mr. G. Franklin Flippin, Esq.

Horace G. Fralin Charitable Trust

Mr. & Mrs. J. Spencer Frantz

The Glebe

Dr. Robyn Hakanson and Mr. Erik Moledor*

The Huntly Foundation

Jewell Machinery

Dr. Anthony-Samuel LaMantia Ph.D.*

Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Lawrence*

MaryJean and John Levin

Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds G. Lynch lll*

W. E. McGuire Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Member One Federal Credit Union

The Roanoke Star.com

Rutherfoord, a Marsh & McLennan Agency

Skyline National Bank

Mr. and Mrs. Joel Tenzer*

Stars 2021

Gifts of $1,000 to $2,449

Anstey Hodge Advertising Group

Mr. and Mrs. John T. Avis*

Mr. John D. Batzel

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Berenbaum

Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop*

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Brock, Jr.

Business Solutions, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. George B. Cartledge, Jr.

Claytor / Wirt Associates

The Convergence Group at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Mr. and Mrs. Warner Dalhouse

Dixon, Hubard, Feinour, & Brown Inc.

Entre Computer Center

First Citizens Bank & Trust Co.

5 Points Creative

Freedom First Federal Credit Union

Friendship Foundation

Frith, Anderson + Peake, P.C.

GE Foundation

Ms. Nancy O. Gray and Mr. David N. Maxson*

Mr. and Mrs. John Higginbotham

Howell's Motor Freight, Inc.

Innovative Insurance Group

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Janoschka*

Jewell Machinery

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Jones, Jr.

Mr. George A. Kegley

Kiwanis Club of Roanoke

CP & MG Lunsford Charitable Trust

Lunsford, A Trustpoint Company

Mr. and Mrs. Phillip McKeage*

Miller, Long & Associates, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry G. Norris*

Oakey's Funeral Service & Crematory

Ms. Yvonne Olson

Mr. & Mrs. J. Lee Osborne*

Ms. Nancy R. Patterson*

Roanoke Gas Company - RGC Resources, Inc.

City of Salem

Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Smith*

Southeastern Theatre Conference

Mr. and Mrs. Steven S. Strauss

Ms. Lesleigh B. Strauss

Sun Tan City

Dr. and Mrs. John T. Tielking

Wabtec Graham-White

Mr. Charles J. Wehrmeister*

Maxwell and Patricia Wiegard*

Mr. and Mrs. Barton J. Wilner

Mrs. Mary Meade G. Winn

Woods Rogers PLC

Leading Roles 2021

Gifts of $500 to $999

Mr. and Mrs. David K. Allen*

Reverend and Mrs. George C. Anderson*

Ms. Karen Beldegreen

Mr. and Mrs. W. Chan Bolling*

Mr. and Mrs. J. Keith Bown

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry W. Cheadle

Elizabeth Chilton & Bryan Collier

Dr. and Mrs. Robert T. Copenhaver

Mr. & Mrs. Grimes W. Creasy

Dr. and Mrs. Antonio T. Donato

Mr. and Mr. Scott Fauber

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Friedlander

Mr. William Gale

Dr. and Mrs. Charles D. Gilliland

Ms. Mary Grekila

Ms. Jennifer Jamison

Mr. Mitchell Kaneff

Dr. and Mrs. David A. Kinsler

Mr. Laurence Kufel*

Dr. and Mrs. Lee Learman

Mr. and Mrs. William L. Lee*

Dr. and Mrs. Neil A. MacDonald

Ms. Martha L. Martin

Ms. Nancy Mastry

Dr. Suzan R. and Dr. John R. Merten

The Newbern Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Nordt, III*

Dr. Sue and Dr. Michael S. Nussbaum

P1 Technologies, Inc.

Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey A. Perry

Capt. and Mrs. Gary S. Powers*

Dr. Randall R. Rhea

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Riegodedios

Roanoke Valley Orthodontics

Mr. and Dr. John G. Rocovich, Jr.*

Rutherfoord, a Marsh & McLennan Agency

Dr. and Mrs. Donald G. Smith, Jr.

Ms. Leigh Strelka

Ms. Brittany Turman

Mr. and Mrs. Damon W. White

Scene Stealers 2021

Gifts of $1 to $249

Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Addison

Ms. Katherine Allamong

Mr. Ernest Allred

AmazonSmile Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Briggs W. Andrews

ARD Properties LLC

Ms. Rhonda Arsenault

Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Ashwell

Mr. and Ms. Mike Austin

Mr. & Mrs. J. Duke Baldridge, III

E R Bane Trust

Ms. Nancy Barbour

Mr. Ronald Barrett

Dr. and Mrs. Vincent T. Basile

Kelly Bayer Derrick

Ms. Kathy Bibb

Mr. William Biddy

Ms. Shirley J. Biggs

Ms. Mary H. Bivens

Ms. Jacqueline Bledsoe

Ms. Cynthia Blevins

Mr. and Mrs. Alan Bloch

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Bocock

Dr. and Mrs. John Bouldin

Mr. Alexander Bowman, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald H. Bristol, II

Mr. and Mrs. Carter Brothers*

Ms. Blanche Brower

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel S. Brown

Ms. Mary K. Brown

Mr. Nicholas Burakow

Ms. HelenRuth Burch

Ms. Helen A. Burnett

Ms. Kristen Bush

Ms. Catherine Bush

Teri Byers

Mr. and Mrs. Louis K Campbell

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Carlin

Mr. Randi Carpenter

Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Carroll

Mr. and Mrs. R. Daniel Carson, Jr.

Mr. Robert Cassell

Mrs. Anne-Marie Castanho

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Cates

Ms. Lori Cauley*

Mrs. Marian Chappelle

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Chisom

Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Chudina

Ms. Vickie Clarke

Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Clemmer, Jr.

Carl E. Coleman Family Trust

Mr. Randy Conklin

Mr. and Mrs. Chip Conway, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. James G. Cosby

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Cribbs

Ms. Melanie Crovo

Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Currin

Ms. Judith S. Curtis

Ms. Ruth Sommer Dailey

Mr. Edward D'Alessandro

Ms. Alice Davis

Seth Davis

Ms. Michelle Davis

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel D. Dean

Ms. Myrona DeLaney

Mr. and Mrs. James Devens

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence B. Dickenson

Dr. & Mrs. F. Randolph Dickey

Dr. and Mrs. F. Joseph Duckwall

Dr. Elizabeth H. Duckworth and Mr. John M. Duckworth

Ms. Jeanne M. Duddy

Mr. and Mrs. Wade J. Dunford

Ms. Dorothy Earner

Ms. Patricia Ebbett

Ms. Carlyn Ebert

Mr. Charles L. Echols Jr.

Mr. Paul A. Economy

Ms. Barbara T. Epperly

J.D. and G.W. Eure

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory W. Feldmann

Mr. and Mrs. Raphael E. Ferris

Ms. Victoria Ferris

Mr. Robert H. Fetzer

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Fifer

Mr. and Mrs. Broaddus C. Fitzpatrick

Mr. Thomas F. Fitzpatrick

Ms. Cyndi Fletcher

Ms. Lisa Fort

Ms. Jennifer Fraley

Ms. Carol L. Fralin

Mr. and Mrs. John T. Frary

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory L. Freeman

Frontstream

Mrs. Sherry Fuller

FR. Samuel J. Gantt, III

Ms. Amy Geddes

Mr. & Mrs. W. Fred Genheimer, III

Ms. Martha Gierchak

Ms. Carol F. Goad

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence A. Goldstein

Mr. Francisco Gonzalez

Ms. Katrina Goode and Mr. Robert Skelton

Ms. Megan Goodwin

Mr. and Mrs. Albert C. Gordon

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Greear

Ms. Meg Griffith

Mr. Scott Guebert

Dr. and Mrs. Frank Guilfoyle

Ms. Katherine Hailey

Ms. Hannah P. Hale

Ms. Carrol Hall

Mr. Jack Halpin

Ms. Rebecca L. Harriett

Ms. Thelma T. Haynesworth*

Mr. & Mrs. Eddie F. Hearp

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hengerer

Ms. Donna Henretty

Ms. Celeste H. Hicks

Mr. and Mrs. Frank F. Hill, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. JB Hodgson

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph M. Hoff

Mr. Richard Hoffman

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel E. Holdgreve

Ms Lisa Kazmierczak

Ms. Donna B Horak

Ms. Mary Hubbard

Mr. and Mrs. Dean D. Humbert

Ms. Carin Hunt

Dr. David Hunt and Mrs. Ellen Aiken

Ms. Phyllis K. Irvine

Ms. Deborah Isemann

Marcia and Lewis Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Pegram Johnson, III

Drs. James and Janet Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Fulton C. Johnson

Ms. Erma L. Jones

Ms. Doris Jordan

Christine Jordan

Mrs. Ann M. Journell

Mr. Lars Keeley

Bobi Keenan

Mr. and Mrs. William K. Keesee

Mr. Matthew Kelley

Mr. and Mrs. Herman D. Kemp, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Kendrick

Ms. Dianne Kepley

Ms. Victoria Kessler

Mary Kidd and Kelli Cooper

Sara King

Ms. Annette S. Kirby

Mr. and Mrs. Alton L. Knighton, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey H. Krasnow

Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Kreger

The Kroger Company

Mr. Frank Kuhn

Dr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Kunkle

Mr. Richard Kurshan

Mr. Jeffrey Lamirand

Mrs. Susan P. Lancaster

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth C. Laughon

Mr. Terry Lauver

Ms. Jenny Lee

Ms. Christine Lee

Todd and Whitney Leeson

Stephanie Schmitz and Brian Lewis

Ms. Sue Lindsey

Ms. Julie Lord

Mr. and Mrs. Melvin V. Ludovici

Mr. and Mrs. Kirk A. Ludwig

Ms. Tara A. Marciniak

Mr. Gene H. Marrano

Ms. Margaret Marrtin

Dr. Elizabeth Rice Martin and Mr. Eddie Martin

Mrs. Marjorie Mastin

Dr. James D. Matthews and Mr. Joe Cobb

Mr. Lee B. McBride and Ms. Katherine M. Rakes

Mr. Gary McClellanDr. and Mrs. Maston R. McCorkle, Jr.

Ms. Lynda McGarry

Ms. Brittny McGraw

Ms. Patricia McMican

Mr. and Mrs. John D. McMillen

Ms. June L. McNiel

Ms. Constance MetzPaul and Robert Metz

Mrs. Lynn Meyer

Mr. Edward Miskie

Mr David P Mitchell Jr

Ms. Cara E. Modisett

Mr. and Mrs. David Moledor

Ms. Payton Moledor

RaeKwon Moore

Ms. Sharon Moran

Dr. and Mrs. John E. Morgan

Rebecca and Leslie Morrissett

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Mortara

Mr. and Mrs. David Mortlock

Mr. and Mrs. Allan Mower

Mr. & Mrs. G. Marshall Mundy

Ms. Leisa Mundy

Ms. Bethany Murphy

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Myers

Kenneth Nagele

Ms. Rhonda Neely

Ms. Amanda Nelson

Network For Good

Mr. and Mrs. John Nicklo

Dr. and Mrs. James R. Niederlehner

Mr. and Mrs. William B. Nunnally, Jr.

Amanda O'dell

Mrs. Phyllis A. Olin

Ms. Sarah Orrick

Ms. Mary W. Osgood

Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Oshida

Mr. Jeffrey Pasciak

Ms. Christal Pearson

Ms. Janna Perry

Mr. Timothy Pickering

Mr. William A Pilat

Ms. Karen Pillis

Dr. and Mrs. Jackson L. Pittman*

Ms. Sue Porterfield

Mr. and Mrs. William Powell Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pratt

Ms. Lila Reddan

Dr. and Mrs. Wayne G. Reilly

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Richardson

Mr. Daniel Robb

Mr. and Mrs. Alan E. Ronk

Ms. Kaitlyn Rosin

Mr. and Mrs. Truman J. Ross, Jr.

Ms. Janet Ross

Mr. Carl Milton Rowan

Mr. James Royalty

Mr. and Mrs. William B. Russell Sr.

Ms. Darla Salin

Dr. and Mrs. Robert H. Sandel

Ms. Jenny Saxton

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schaffer

Mr. Michael Schmitt and Mr. George Getz*

Mr. and Mrs. Harry N. Schwarz

Ms. Penny Schwarz

Ms. Judith Scott

Mr. Paul R. Scott

Mr. James Sehen

Mr. and Mrs. James W. Selvey

Mr. James W. Settle

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick N. Shaffner

Mr. and Mrs. James D. Sheahan

Mr. and Mrs. Barry L. Shelor

Ms. Susan Shullman

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Slawson

Mrs. Gene H. Smallwood

Ms. Kylene Smith

Ms. Janna E. Snyder

Ms. Harriet W. Stanley

Ms. Patricia L. Stanley

Dr. John W. Steffe and Dr. Lee Anne Steffe

Ms. Gari D. Stephenson

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce C. Stockburger, Esq.

Mr. Steven Sutphen and Ms. Yvonne Clark

Mr. Mark G. Swope

Mr. and Mrs. William B. Symonds

Mr. and Mrs. Julian Taylor

Alexandra F. Thacker

Ms. Betsy Thomas

Ms. Martha Thompson

Ms. Paula P. Thompson

Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Thorell, Jr.

Ms. Barbara Thurman

Ms. Anne T. Tiffany

Mrs. Veronica Tingle

Will Trinkle and Juan Granados*

Ms. Patricia Tryal

Ms. Vicki L. Tuke

Ms. Ann Penny Tully

Ms. Sheila Umberger

Ms. Yvette Van Hise

Ms. Julia VanderVeen

Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Vernon

Ms. Karen Vietmeier

Ms. Susan Wade

Ms. Donna Walker

Ms. Jennifer Waller

Mr. & Mrs. J. Robert Walton

Mr. and Mrs. Lilburn E. Ward, III

Ms. Betty Gill Ware

Mr. Robert Warren

Hugh and Jaye Harvey Wellons

Ms. Virginia West

Ms. Lois West

Mr. and Mrs. James Whitney

Mrs. Pamela H. Wiegandt

Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Wiegard

Mr. Jeffrey N. Williams

Mr. Adam Williams

Mr. and Mrs. James Williamson, III

Robin Williamson

Mr. and Mrs. J. David Wine

Mr. and Mrs. Barry E. Wirt, Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Witt

Ms. Gidget Woodward

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright

Ms. Lynn Yates

VIPs 2021

Gifts of $250 to $499

Mrs. Lynn D. Avis

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Barber

Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Brailsford

Ms. Janet Byrne

Ms. Dorothy S. Clifton

Mr. and Mrs. W. Patton Coles, IV*

Mr. & Mrs. H. Lawrence Davidson

Ms. Elizabeth G. Deisher

The Rev. Dr. and Mrs. David Dixon, III

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Eckert

Kelly T. Farber

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Fitzpatrick

Mrs. Marianne E. Gandee

Mr. and Mrs. Harford W. Gardner

Mr. & Mrs. J. Randolph Garrett, III

GE Foundation

The Honorable and Mrs. Robert W. Goodlatte

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Haley

Donna Hancock

Dr. and Mrs. Daniel P. Harrington

Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Harvey

Mr. H. Brent Stevens & Ms. Jill Hufnagel

Mr. and Mrs. John Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Jernigan Jr.

Robyn and David Johnsen

Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies

Mr. and Mrs. James F. Johnson

Mr. Talfourd H. Kemper

Souha Khawam

Anna and Tom Lawson

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Lionberger, III

Dr. and Mrs. George Luedke

Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Machado

Mr. Russell Macmullan

Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Meidlinger

John T. Morgan Roofing Sheet Metal Co., Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Mullen, Jr.

Ms. Leisa Mundy

The Muse Family Foundation

Ms. Amanda Nelson

Mr. and Mrs. Robert O. Nordt, Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. Mike O'Brochta

Dr. and Mrs. Ronald B. Overstreet

Mr. amd Mrs. Cyrus Pace

Mr. and Mrs. John Powell

Mrs. B. J. Preas*

Mr. William Rakes and Mrs. Carolyn Warner Rakes

Mr. and Mrs. Theodore H. Ritter

Ms. Ellen Servidea

Ms. Katherine Shaver

Dr. and Mrs. Bertram Spetzler

Ms. Harriet W. Stanley

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Swanson

Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Timmermann

Mr. and Mrs. Raphael M. Traen

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Whittle

Mr. & Mrs. W. Lee Wilhelm, III

Mr. and Mrs. Scott W. Winter

Tributes

Mill Mountain Theatre is honored to acknowledge gifts made in tribute or memory of special friends. To make such a gift please contact John Levin at (540) 342-5761 or development@millmountain.org.

Performers

Michael Havens

*

Electric Guitar

Devin Altizer

*

Vocalist

Taylor Cobb

*

Percussion

Seth Davis

*

Music Director/Arranger/Piano/Vocals

Leonela Hernandez

*

Vocalist

Nick Walker Jones

*

Vocalist

Larry Kufel

*

Featured Vocalist

Maddie Mae

*

Vocalist

Setting

Songs & Scenes

Act I

"L-O-V-E"

Company

Act I

"New York New York"

Nick Walker Jones

"Put Your Head on My Shoulder"

Devin Altizer

"You Made Me Love You"

Leonela Hernandez

"He's a Tramp"

Maddie Mae

"Sentimental Journey"

Company

"That's Amore"

Devin Altizer

"Blue Moon"

Nick Walker Jones

"Moon River"

Maddie Mae

"Fly Me to the Moon" (Duet)

Nick Walker Jones and Leonela Hernandez

"Unforgettable"

Company

"It's Not Unusual"

Devin Altizer

"It's Magic"

Leonela Hernandez

"The Lady Is a Tramp"

Devin Altizer and Maddie Mae

"You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You"

Larry Kufel

"At Last"

Maddie Mae

Act II

"The Way You Look Tonight"

Company

"All the Way"

Nick Walker Jones and Maddie Mae

"Mack the Knife"

Devin Altizer

"Bewitched"

Leonela Hernandez

"Promise Me You'll Remember"

Nick Walker Jones

"Misty"

Company

"Georgia on My Mind"

Maddie Mae

"Chances Are"

Devin Altizer

"Just Haven't Met You Yet"

Nick Walker Jones

"My Way"

Company

ENCORE: "Home"

Company

Production Staff

Music Director

‍Seth Davis

Lights & Sound Designer

Savannah Woodruff

Technical Director/Production Manager

Matt Shields

Wardrobe Head

Jason Viers

Run Crew

Kailey Absher

Spot Operator

Drew Callahan

Spot Operator

Trenten Woods

Production Photographer/Digital Advertising

Ian Ridgway

Production Videographer

Richard Maddox

House Managers

Tom Fitzpatrick Richard Maddox Ginger Poole

Digital Program

Marquee Digital

Venue Staff

School Administration Staff

No items found.

Musicians

Piano

Seth Davis

Electric Bass/Guitar

Michael Havens

Percussion

Taylor Cobb

Board of Directors

President

Macel H. Janoschka

Vice President

J. Lee E. Osborne

Treasurer

Lori D. Cauley

Secretary

Nathaniel L. Bishop

Board Members

David K. Allen Lauren Ellerman Linda Garbee Nancy O. Gray Dr. Robyn Hakanson Laurence E. Kufel Dr. Anthony-Samuel LaMantia Cynthia Lawrence William L. Lee Reynolds Lynch III Dr. Elizabeth Rice Martin Laura McKeage Nancy Ruth Patterson Gary S. Powers Doris Rogers Edward M. Smith Judy Tenzer Will Trinkle Maxwell Huddleston Wiegard

Student Advisory Board

Credits

Lighting equipment from PRG Lighting, sound equipment from Sound Associates, rehearsed at The Public Theater’s Rehearsal Studios. Developed as part of Irons in the Fire at Fault Line Theatre in New York City.

Special Thanks

*Appearing through an Agreement between this theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

“Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers, Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an International organization of performing arts unions. www.actorsequity.org

United Scenic Artists ● Local USA 829 of the I.A.T.S.E represents the Designers & Scenic Artists for the American Theatre

ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), represents the Press Agents, Company Managers, and Theatre Managers employed on this production.

Message from the Theatre

Welcome back to Mill Mountain Theatre, we are so grateful to have you back in the Trinkle MainStage! Experience the glitz and glamour as we celebrate these music legends throughout time! MUSIC OF THE CROONERS was put together with you in mind and we encourage you to celebrate these artists with us! We thank you for your willingness to return to Mill Mountain Theatre and for allowing us to showcase theatre to you once again, in its best form, with a live audience.

Please help us spread the word that MMT and live theatre are back! Let’s Celebrate!

We have built this season with you in mind and cannot wait for you to see our final show of our 2021 season, A CHRISTMAS STORY.

#MeetMeAtMillMountain

Welcome Back!

Ginger Poole
Producing Artistic Director
Mill Mountain Theatre

Message from the Musical Director

Welcome to The Music of The Crooners!

‍Throughout the process of selecting and rehearsing these songs, we've discussed just how special so much of this music is to all of us. Many of these song are part of "The Great American Songbook" because, in addition to being beautiful and extremely well-written songs, they've become ingrained in our lives and identities. Just the first few bars of some of these songs will bring back wonderful memories of a first dance, a wedding, a special tune sung with a parent or grandparent, a favorite performer from years gone by, and so many warm, nostalgic memories. These are songs made famous by iconic performers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Neil Diamond, Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong and more. Of course, we must also remember some of the great great songstresses that sung their way into our hearts as well - performers like Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Doris Day, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, and Rosemary Clooney. These songs belong to everyone and have been performed and recorded by countless artists over the years - their significance becoming further cemented in our hearts and musical vocabulary. This special music remains very much a part of the musical fabric of our culture today with new recordings and covers by artists like Harry Connick Jr., Michael Buble, Celine Dion, and even Beyonce and Lady Gaga. It's music that has stood the test of time and will continue to be a huge part of the American musical celebration for generations to come. So sit back, hum along, and enjoy our "sentimental journey" as we present, The Music of The Crooners!

‍

Seth Davis
Music Director

[https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6063e42412e7059b47348b83/610198300d1e7f0ba26bd581_Copy%20of%20MMT_LobbyPosters.jpg]

Meet the Cast

Michael Havens

*

Electric Guitar

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Pronouns:

he/him

Mike Havens was born and raised in Roanoke, VA and has been involved in music and playing guitar since the age of 12. He received his Bachelors’ degree in classical guitar performance from Radford University and was awarded a full scholarship for study towards a Masters’ degree at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. In 2001, he taught guitar studies at local colleges and universities including, Radford University, Emory and Henry College, Sweet Briar College, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, and Lynchburg College. In 2008, he was offered, and continues, a full-time position teaching guitar and electronic music at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, VA. Mike performs regularly as an acoustic and classical guitar soloist, is a member of the classical guitar and flute duo Con Eleganza, as a guest guitarist for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and is the guitar and bassist for Roanoke’s Mill Mountain Theater.

Devin Altizer

*

Vocalist

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Pronouns:

Devin Altizer is no stranger to the MMT Concert Series, and is over the moon to be back with these wonderful people after a long, long, long hiatus. Previous Mill Mountain credits include Moritz in Spring Awakening, Franz in the Sound of Music, and several concert shows, including One Hit Wonders and Let’s Go to the Movies. He grew up right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from Emory & Henry College.

Taylor Cobb

*

Percussion

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Pronouns:

Taylor is happy to be returning to the stage with MMT this season as a percussionist. He has been playing the drums for the last sixteen years in various jazz, concert, marching, and rock bands. Taylor would like to dedicate this performance to his late grandfather, Clarence Taylor, who got him started on his musical journey. Enjoy the show!

Seth Davis

*

Music Director/Arranger/Piano/Vocals

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Pronouns:

he/him

Seth Davis is a Georgia native who is very excited to be back onstage with this lovely group of performers. Seth is a music director and musician in both the musical theater and classical music realms, in addition to being a teacher, clinician, and coach for performers and musicians of all ages. Regional credits include Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Spring Awakening, See What I Wanna See (Actor’s Express), Illyria: A Twelfth Night Musical(Georgia Shakespeare), Time Between Us, A Diva’s Christmas, Hair(Serenbe Playhouse) and The Andrews Brothers (Stage Door Players). Seth has also served as musical director for Georgia Tech and Oglethorpe University in addition to teaching at The Alliance Theatre, Aurora Theatre and judging many regional music and theater festival competitions. Much love to the entire MMT family, and always, Travis.

Leonela Hernandez

*

Vocalist

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Pronouns:

Leonela Hernandez graduated from Belhaven University with a BFA in Musical Theatre in May of 2020. Leonela became a part of the MMT family during the Summer of 2019 performing as Mama/Thomasina in their production of Peter Rabbit: The Musical and acted as the Assistant Director for Next to Normal and Assistant Choreographer for The Little Mermaid. She has trained with ZACH Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School, Broadway Dance Center, Mill Mountain Theatre, and more. Leonela has been a part of productions such as: Into the Woods (Witch), In the Heights (Nina Rosario), White Christmas (Betty Haynes) Evita, The Fantasticks, and more. She is also very excited to have joined MMT as the Education Associate this year.

Nick Walker Jones

*

Vocalist

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Pronouns:

Nick is beyond thrilled to return to live theatre after 2 long years in the "dark". Mill Mountain has always been a special place and Nick is honored to get the opportunity to share the music he was brought up on. Previous MMT Credits: Smokey Joe's Cafe (Michael), White Christmas (Sheldrake), Little Shop of Horrors (Orin the Dentist). Other Credits: Anything Goes (Off Bway), Nice Work If You Can Get It (1st Ntl. Tour), Mamma Mia (NSMT, TBTS), Legally Blonde (Arts Center), Man of La Mancha (Stages STL). Glory to God and thanks to family, friends, Ginger, Seth, the MMT staff, Nigel his 10 month old golden retriever, and to YOU for your theatrical support. Keep theatre alive and enjoy the show!

Larry Kufel

*

Featured Vocalist

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)

Pronouns:

As a graduate of the University of Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting, Larry spent most of his career in the financial field within the wholesale and retail industry in his native area of western New York. He relocated to Roanoke in 2000 to assume the position of director of financial planning and analysis with Advance Auto Parts. He later held a similar role with the Sheraton Roanoke Hotel and Conference Center until his retirement in 2015. Larry began his career with Mill Mountain Theatre by volunteering his services as the theatre house manager before he was employed as the business manager. Larry has made singing appearances in the Mill Mountain Theatre Crooner’s Concert in
October 2021 and in the Best of Broadway concert in April 2023.

Maddie Mae

*

Vocalist

(

)

(

)

Pronouns:

she/her

Maddie considers Mill Mountain Theatre her home away from home. She was a member of MMT’s 2018 Apprentice Company and performed in Spring Awakening (Ilse), A Year with Frog & Toad (Woman 1) and Shrek (Dragon). Last summer Maddie returned to Roanoke to film Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (Ms. Square), which streamed on Broadway on Demand. This is her third MMT concert after the 2019 Let’s Go to the Movies Concert and last summer’s Virtual Homecoming Concert. Maddie holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Dance from the University of Central Florida. She has enjoyed performing at SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort, as well as several regional theaters. She is currently Director of Outreach at The Winter Park Playhouse. Thank you Ginger, Seth, and Matt! MsMaddieMae.com

Meet the Team

Ginger Poole

*

Director/Producing Artistic Director

(

)

Pronouns:

She/Her

Ginger Poole is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and an Associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union. She has studied, taught, choreographed, and performed throughout the U.S. She has worked in GA, HI, FL, MS, SC and VA with, Theatre in the Square, The Alliance City Series, Theatre Gael, Synchronicity Performance Group-GA, Mill Mountain Theatre-VA and SC Children’s Theatre. Originally from Atlanta, she has worked with the N.F.L. and The Atlanta Falcons as their director and choreographer and The Atlanta Opera. Prior to coming to Mill Mountain Theatre, she was based out of North Carolina where she has worked with Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, in over 25 productions. She was a part of the Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse for 5 years where she taught for their Apprentice Companies and their Conservatory Program in Acting, Dance, and Musical Theatre. Ginger has taught at The University of Southern Mississippi, Western Carolina University, William Carey College, Mississippi University for Women, and currently teaches at Hollins University. With Ginger’s strong background in dance she finds herself not only acting and dancing on stage but also directing the choreography and classroom skills for her students. Ginger holds her M.F.A. in Acting Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and continues to teach acting and dance. She has worked with students that range in age from kindergarten through professionals.

Ginger has worked in commercials, voice-overs, film, stage, and the classroom, and was profiled in the book FIRESTARTERS as “the actor”.

Ginger serves on the following Board of Directors: South Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC Secretary, Second Term), Junior League of the Roanoke Valley (Past President and Current Nominating Committee, Second Term), Burton Performing Arts Advisory Board, The Roanoke City Public Schools Education Foundation, and she has served on the Review Panel for theVirginia Commission for the Arts. She was the recipient of the DePaul’s Women of Achievement Award in the Arts in 2013 and was named the 2016 Kendig Award recipient for Individual Artist. Ginger is also a guest host with WSLS, the NBC affiliate, Daytime Blue Ridge television show, and is the host of the new Mill Mountain Theatre Podcast, Meet Me at Mill Mountain. She is very proud to be a member of the Mill Mountain Theatre team and looks forward to its continued growth, success, and artistic influence in the region.

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2021 National Touring Cast

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Fortunato

Italian

|

104 Kirk Ave SW

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia, Fortunato is the region's only traditional Italian kitchen & Neapolitan style pizzeria.

Fortunato

Italian

|

104 Kirk Ave SW

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia, Fortunato is the region's only traditional Italian kitchen & Neapolitan style pizzeria.

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Martin's

Tavern

|

413 1st St SW

Casual dining on burgers, BBQ & other bar food in an open tavern setting with live music & a patio. ‍

Martin's

Tavern

|

413 1st St SW

Casual dining on burgers, BBQ & other bar food in an open tavern setting with live music & a patio. ‍

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The Pine Room

American

|

110 Shenandoah Ave NE

From the snack n' share options and hearth flatbreads to the farmland offerings and signature items, The Pine Room features American Rustic cuisine that presents simplistic, sustainable, and high-quality ingredients in an inviting presentation.

The Pine Room

American

|

110 Shenandoah Ave NE

From the snack n' share options and hearth flatbreads to the farmland offerings and signature items, The Pine Room features American Rustic cuisine that presents simplistic, sustainable, and high-quality ingredients in an inviting presentation.

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

The Regency Room

American

|

110 Shenandoah Ave NE

Enjoy dining al fresco! Spring is here and it's patio season! The Regency Room and The Pine Room Pub are the perfect place to enjoy dinner or drinks on the patio with spring in the air!

The Regency Room

American

|

110 Shenandoah Ave NE

Enjoy dining al fresco! Spring is here and it's patio season! The Regency Room and The Pine Room Pub are the perfect place to enjoy dinner or drinks on the patio with spring in the air!

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Awful Arthur's‍

Seafood

|

108 Campbell Ave SE

Modern tavern offering varied seafood, bar bites & a raw bar plus sports on TV & live music.

Awful Arthur's‍

Seafood

|

108 Campbell Ave SE

Modern tavern offering varied seafood, bar bites & a raw bar plus sports on TV & live music.

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Corned Beef & Co‍

Gastropub

|

107 S Jefferson St

Sports bar serves sandwiches & pub grub in expansive digs equipped with pool tables & countless TVs.

Corned Beef & Co‍

Gastropub

|

107 S Jefferson St

Sports bar serves sandwiches & pub grub in expansive digs equipped with pool tables & countless TVs.

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Crescent City Bourbon and Barbecue

Barbecue

|

19 Salem Ave SE

The smoked meat is made with care and passion in a stick burner smoker and indoor wood burning smoker.

Crescent City Bourbon and Barbecue

Barbecue

|

19 Salem Ave SE

The smoked meat is made with care and passion in a stick burner smoker and indoor wood burning smoker.

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Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint

Hamburger

|

210B Market St SE

Bar chain serving creative burgers & a lengthy list of beers in a casual, funky space.

Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint

Hamburger

|

210B Market St SE

Bar chain serving creative burgers & a lengthy list of beers in a casual, funky space.

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Nawab Indian Cuisine

Indian

|

118A Campbell Ave SE

Indian classics & all-you-can-eat buffet lunches, served in a low-key traditional dining room.

Nawab Indian Cuisine

Indian

|

118A Campbell Ave SE

Indian classics & all-you-can-eat buffet lunches, served in a low-key traditional dining room.

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Wasabi's

Japanese

|

214 Market St SE

Casual Japanese restaurant offering a large sushi menu, plus maki, traditional entrees & bento.

Wasabi's

Japanese

|

214 Market St SE

Casual Japanese restaurant offering a large sushi menu, plus maki, traditional entrees & bento.

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Raise a Glass

Sidecar

Tavern

|

413 1st St SW

Casual dining on burgers, BBQ & other bar food in an open tavern setting with live music & a patio.

Sidecar

Tavern

|

413 1st St SW

Casual dining on burgers, BBQ & other bar food in an open tavern setting with live music & a patio.

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Three Notch'd Brewing Co.

European

|

411 1st St SW

The food menu features traditional European foods like handmade sausages in traditional German, Polish, and English styles, as well as Belgian hand-cut fries, mussels, steak frites, and Polish pierogies.

Three Notch'd Brewing Co.

European

|

411 1st St SW

The food menu features traditional European foods like handmade sausages in traditional German, Polish, and English styles, as well as Belgian hand-cut fries, mussels, steak frites, and Polish pierogies.

Marquee Deal!

‍Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Twisted Track Brewpub

Pub

|

523 Shenandoah Ave NW

In addition to hand crafted beer, we offer pub fare with yet another twist and a selection of wines, ciders and soft drinks – something for everyone.‍

Twisted Track Brewpub

Pub

|

523 Shenandoah Ave NW

In addition to hand crafted beer, we offer pub fare with yet another twist and a selection of wines, ciders and soft drinks – something for everyone.‍

Marquee Deal!

Have a group ticket? Show your MMT Ticket stub to receive 10% off your meal! Valid for one-time use only at participating restaurants.

Benny Marconi's

Pizza

|

120 Campbell Ave SE

Serving huge slices of pizza in downtown Roanoke, VA. Established in 2012.

Benny Marconi's

Pizza

|

120 Campbell Ave SE

Serving huge slices of pizza in downtown Roanoke, VA. Established in 2012.

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Billy's

American

|

102 Market St SE

Buzzy dining room with a full wooden bar plating refined American cuisine such as lobster Alfredo.

Billy's

American

|

102 Market St SE

Buzzy dining room with a full wooden bar plating refined American cuisine such as lobster Alfredo.

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Fork in the Market

American

|

32 Market Square SE

Quirky, independent eatery offering updated comfort food, a full bar, a patio & live music nightly.

Fork in the Market

American

|

32 Market Square SE

Quirky, independent eatery offering updated comfort food, a full bar, a patio & live music nightly.

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Texas Tavern

American

|

114 Church Ave SW

Family-owned since 1930, this 24/7 diner offers breakfast, burgers, sandwiches & its popular chili.

Texas Tavern

American

|

114 Church Ave SW

Family-owned since 1930, this 24/7 diner offers breakfast, burgers, sandwiches & its popular chili.

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While You Wait

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Julia Lester Is A Force In ALL NIGHTER

Kobi Kassal

May 6, 2025

Julia Lester just doesn’t stop. Since making her Broadway debut as Little Red in the recent Into The Woods revival (a role that landed her a Tony Nomination, btw) Lester then went on to impress us as Miss Marmelstein in CSC’s I Can Get It For You Wholesale.

Today, putting aside her run on the new Netflix hit The Four Seasons, Lester can be seen eight times a week stealing the show over at All Nighter. Her character Wilma, an artist, brings the laughs and brought Lester a nomination for both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award.

We took Lester to Shot of Art here in Manhattan to help her bring out her Wilma in full force. See below for photos and check out Theatrely’s Instagram for more. All photos: Carianne Older/Theatrely.

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Julia Lester Is A Force In ALL NIGHTER

Kobi Kassal

May 6, 2025

Julia Lester just doesn’t stop. Since making her Broadway debut as Little Red in the recent Into The Woods revival (a role that landed her a Tony Nomination, btw) Lester then went on to impress us as Miss Marmelstein in CSC’s I Can Get It For You Wholesale.

Today, putting aside her run on the new Netflix hit The Four Seasons, Lester can be seen eight times a week stealing the show over at All Nighter. Her character Wilma, an artist, brings the laughs and brought Lester a nomination for both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award.

We took Lester to Shot of Art here in Manhattan to help her bring out her Wilma in full force. See below for photos and check out Theatrely’s Instagram for more. All photos: Carianne Older/Theatrely.

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Julia Lester Is A Force In ALL NIGHTER

Kobi Kassal

May 6, 2025

Julia Lester just doesn’t stop. Since making her Broadway debut as Little Red in the recent Into The Woods revival (a role that landed her a Tony Nomination, btw) Lester then went on to impress us as Miss Marmelstein in CSC’s I Can Get It For You Wholesale.

Today, putting aside her run on the new Netflix hit The Four Seasons, Lester can be seen eight times a week stealing the show over at All Nighter. Her character Wilma, an artist, brings the laughs and brought Lester a nomination for both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award.

We took Lester to Shot of Art here in Manhattan to help her bring out her Wilma in full force. See below for photos and check out Theatrely’s Instagram for more. All photos: Carianne Older/Theatrely.

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Theatrely News

EXCLUSIVE: Watch A Clip From THEATER CAMP Starring Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, and Molly Gordon

Theatrely News

READ: An Excerpt From Sean Hayes Debut YA Novel TIME OUT

Theatrely News

"Reframing the COVID-19 Pandemic Through a Stage Manager’s Eyes"

EXCLUSIVE: Watch A Clip From THEATER CAMP Starring Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, and Molly Gordon

By: Maia Penzer

14 July 2023

Finally, summer has arrived, which can only mean one thing: it's time for camp! Theater Camp, that is. Theatrely has a sneak peak at the new film which hits select theaters today.

The new original comedy starring Tony Award winner Ben Platt and Molly Gordon we guarantee will have you laughing non-stop. The AdirondACTS, a run-down theater camp in upstate New York, is attended by theater-loving children who must work hard to keep their beloved theater camp afloat after the founder, Joan, falls into a coma.

The film stars Ben Platt and Molly Gordon as Amos Klobuchar and Rebecca-Diane, respectively, as well as Noah Galvin as Glenn Wintrop, Jimmy Tatro as Troy Rubinsky, Patti Harrison as Caroline Krauss, Nathan Lee Graham as Clive DeWitt, Ayo Edebiri as Janet Walch, Owen Thiele as Gigi Charbonier, Caroline Aaron as Rita Cohen, Amy Sedaris as Joan Rubinsky, and Alan Kim as Alan Park.

Theater Camp was directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman and written by Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman & Ben Platt. Music is by James McAlister and Mark Sonnenblick. On January 21, 2023, Theater Camp had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

You can purchase tickets to the new film from our friends at Hollywood.com here.

‍

READ: An Excerpt From Sean Hayes Debut YA Novel TIME OUT

By: Kobi Kassal

29 May 2023

Actor Sean Hayes is what we in the biz call booked and blessed. On top of his Tony-nominated performance as Oscar Levant in Good Night, Oscar, Hayes has partnered with Todd Milliner and Carlyn Greenwald for the release of their new YA novel Time Out.

Heralded by many as Heartstopper meets Friday Night Lights, Time Out follows hometown basketball hero Barclay Elliot who decides to use a pep rally to come out to his school. When the response is not what he had hoped and the hostility continually growing, he turns to his best friend Amy who brings him to her voting rights group at school. There he finds Christopher and… you will just have to grab a copy and find out what happens next. Luckily for you, Time Out hits shelves on May 30 and to hold you over until then we have a special except from the book just for Theatrely:

The good thing about not being on the team the past two weeks has been that I’ve had time to start picking up shifts again at Beau’s diner and save up a little for college now that my scholarship dreams are over.

The bad part is it’s the perfect place to see how my actions at the pep rally have rotted the townspeople’s brains too.

During Amy’s very intense musical theater phase in middle school, her parents took her to New York City. And of course she came back home buzzing about Broadway and how beautiful the piss smell was and everything artsy people say about New York. But she also vividly described some diner she waited three hours to get into where the waitstaff would all perform songs for the customers as a way to practice for auditions. The regulars would have favorite staff members and stan them the way Amy stans all her emo musicians.

Working at Beau’s used to feel kind of like that, like I was part of a performance team I didn’t know I signed up for. The job started off pretty basic over the summer—I wanted to save up for basketball supplies, and Amy worked there and said it was boring ever since her e-girl coworker friend graduated. But I couldn’t get through a single lunch rush table without someone calling me over and wanting the inside scoop on the Wildcats and how we were preparing for the home opener, wanting me to sign an article in the paper or take a photo. Every friendly face just made the resolve grow inside me. People love and support the Wildcats; they would do the same for me.

Yeah, right.

Now just like school, customers have been glaring at me, making comments about letting everyone down, about being selfish, about my actions being “unfortunate,” and the tips have been essentially nonexistent. The Wildcats have been obliterated in half their games since I quit, carrying a 2–3 record when last year we were 5–0, and the comments make my feet feel like lead weights I have to drag through every shift.

Today is no different. It’s Thursday, the usual dinner rush at Beau’s, and I try to stay focused on the stress of balancing seven milkshakes on one platter. A group of regulars, some construction workers, keep loudly wondering why I won’t come back to the team while I refuse proper eye contact.

One of the guys looks up at me as I drop the bill off. “So, what’s the deal? Does being queer keep ya from physically being able to play?”

They all snicker as they pull out crumpled bills. I stuff my hands into my pockets, holding my tongue.

When they leave, I hold my breath as I take their bill.

Sure enough, no tip.

“What the fuck?” I mutter under my breath.

“Language,” Amy says as she glides past me, imitating the way Richard says it to her every shift, and adds, “even though they are dicks.” At least Amy’s been ranting about it every free chance she gets. It was one thing when the student body was being shitty about me leaving the team, but the town being like this is even more infuriating. She doesn’t understand how these fully grown adults can really care that much about high school basketball and thinks they need a new fucking hobby. I finally agree with her.

[She’s wearing red lipstick to go with her raccoon-adjacent eyeliner as she rushes off to prepare milkshakes for a pack of middle schoolers. I catch her mid–death glare as all three of the kids rotate in their chairs, making the old things squeal. My anger fades a bit as I can’t help but chuckle; Amy’s pissed-off reaction to Richard telling her to smile more was said raccoon makeup, and her tolerance for buffoonery has been at a negative five to start and declining fast.

I rest my arms on the counter and try not to look as exhausted as I feel.

“Excuse me!” an old lady screeches, making me jump.

Amy covers up a laugh as I head to the old lady and her husband’s table. They’ve got finished plates, full waters. Not sure what the problem is. Or I do, which is worse.

“Yes?” I say trying to suppress my annoyance.

“Could you be bothered to serve us?”

Only five more hours on shift. I have a break in three minutes. I’ll be with Devin at Georgia Tech tomorrow. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” I say, so careful to keep my words even, but I can feel my hands balling into fists. “What would you—?”

And suddenly Amy swoops in, dropping two mugs of coffee down. “Sorry about that, you two,” she says, her voice extra high. “The machine was conking out on us, but it’s fine now.”

Once the coffee is down, she hooks onto a chunk of my shirt, steering us back to the bar.

“Thanks,” I mutter, embarrassed to have forgotten something so basic. Again.

“Just keep it together, man,” she says. “Maybe you’d be better off with that creepy night shift where all the truckers and serial killers come in.”

Honestly, at least the serial killers wouldn’t care about my jump shot.

It’s a few minutes before my break, but clearly I need it. “I’ll be in the back room.”

Right before I can head that way though, someone straight-up bursts into the diner and rushes over to me at the bar. It’s a middle-aged dad type, sunburned skin, beer belly, and stained T-shirt.

“Pickup order?” I ask.

“You should be ashamed,” he sneers at me. He has a really strong Southern accent, but it’s not Georgian. “Think you’re so high and mighty, that nothing’ll ever affect you? My kid’ll never go to college because of you and your lifestyle. Fuck you, Barclay Ell—”

And before this man can finish cursing my name, Pat of all people runs in, wide-eyed in humiliation. “Jesus, Dad, please don’t—”

I pin my gaze on him, remembering how he cowered on the bench as Ostrowski went off, how he didn’t even try to approach me. “Don’t even bother,” I snap.

I shove a to-go bag into his dad’s arms, relieved it’s prepaid, and storm off to the break room.]

Amy finds me head in my arms a minute or two later. I look up, rubbing my eyes. “Please spare me the pity.”

She snorts and hands me a milkshake. Mint chocolate chip. “Wouldn’t dare.” She takes a seat and rolls her shoulders and neck, cracks sounding through the tiny room. “Do you want a distraction or a shoulder to cry on?”

For more information, and to purchase your copy of Time Out, click here.

‍

Reframing the COVID-19 Pandemic Through a Stage Manager’s Eyes

By: Kaitlyn Riggio

5 July 2022

When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency in the United States in March 2020, Broadway veteran stage manager Richard Hester watched the nation’s anxiety unfold on social media.

“No one knew what the virus was going to do,” Hester said. Some people were “losing their minds in abject terror, and then there were some people who were completely denying the whole thing.”

For Hester, the reaction at times felt like something out of a movie. “It was like the Black Plague,” he said. “Some people thought it was going to be like that Monty Python sketch: ‘bring out your dead, bring out your dead.’”

While Hester was also unsure about how the virus would unfold, he felt that his “job as a stage manager is to naturally defuse drama.” Hester brought this approach off the stage and onto social media in the wake of the pandemic.

“I just sort of synthesized everything that was happening into what I thought was a manageable bite, so people could get it,” Hester said. This became a daily exercise for a year. Over two years after the beginning of the pandemic, Hester’s accounts are compiled in the book, Hold Please: Stage Managing A Pandemic. Released earlier this year, the book documents the events of the past two years, filtering national events and day-to-day occurrences through a stage manager’s eyes and storytelling.

When Hester started this project, he had no intention of writing a book. He was originally writing every day because there was nothing else to do. “I am somebody who needs a job or needs a structure,” Hester said.

Surprised to find that people began expecting his daily posts, he began publishing his daily writing to his followers through a Substack newsletter. As his following grew, Hester had to get used to writing for an audience. “I started second guessing myself a lot of the time,” Hester said. “It just sort of put a weird pressure on it.”

Hester said he got especially nervous before publishing posts in which he wrote about more personal topics. For example, some of his posts focused on his experiences growing up in South Africa while others centered on potentially divisive topics, such as the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Despite some of this discomfort, Hester’s more personal posts were often the ones that got the most response. The experience offered him a writing lesson. “I stopped worrying about the audience and just wrote what I wanted to write about,” Hester said. “All of that pressure that I think as artists we put on ourselves, I got used to it.”

One of Hester’s favorite anecdotes featured in the book centers on a woman who dances in Washington Square Park on a canvas, rain or shine. He said he was “mesmerized by her,” which inspired him to write about her. “It was literally snowing and she was barefoot on her canvas dancing, and that seems to me just a spectacularly beautiful metaphor for everything that we all try and do, and she was living that to the fullest.”

During the creation of Hold Please, Hester got the unique opportunity to reflect in-depth on the first year of the pandemic by looking back at his accounts. He realized that post people would not remember the details of the lockdown; people would “remember it as a gap in their lives, but they weren’t going to remember it beat by beat.”

“Reliving each of those moments made me realize just how full a year it was, even though none of us were doing anything outside,” he adds. “We were all on our couches.” Readers will use the book as a way to relive moments of the pandemic’s first year “without having to wallow in the misery of it,” he hopes.

“I talk about the misery of it, but that’s not the focus of what I wrote... it was about hope and moving forward,” Hester said. “In these times when everything is so difficult, we will figure out a way to get through and we will move forward.”

‍

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