New Faces Sing Broadway 1976
New Faces Sing Broadway 1976
Tuesday, September 15 at 7:30PM and Wednesday, September 16 at 7:30PM
Richard Christiansen Theater at Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.
Directed by Lorenzo Rush Jr.
Music Directed by Otto Vogel
Hosted by Erica Stephan
Porchlight’s signature series showcases Chicago music theatre’s top up-and-coming artists celebrating an entire Broadway season in 90 minutes with songs of that era, games and even sing-a-longs. In honor of the country’s semiquincentennial birthday celebrations, Porchlight shares the 1976 Broadway season that included Chicago, A Chorus Line, Pacific Overtures, Bubbling Brown Sugar and others.
Our exciting cast for New Faces Sing Broadway 1976 includes Kait Auburn, Samantha Buckley, Andres DeLeon, Ella May Gatlin, Claire Guthrie, Gavin Harper, Miciah Lathan, Darrow Richmond, Taelon Stonecipher and Ben Woods. Learn more about our entire cast in the tab to the left!
LORENZO RUSH JR.
Director
Rush is excited to be back working with PMT! An award-winning actor and director, Rush has worked with some of Chicago’s top theaters, including Goodman Theatre, Marriott Theatre, and right here at PMT. As a Chicago native, Rush is honored to play a small role in helping foster these incredible emerging artists into the rich legacy of Chicago theater. Phoebe and Phoenix are my motivation. Proverbs 18:16
OTTO VOGEL
Music Director
Chicago: Falsettos (MD; Court/Timeline), Titanic (Assoc. Conductor; Marriott), 25th Annual Spelling Bee (Assoc. Conductor; Paramount), Fizz and Ginger (Asst. Conductor; Chicago Fringe Opera). Regional: Next to Normal (Assoc. MD; Trinity Rep), Rocky Horror (Assoc. Conductor; The Hipp). Conductor, Music Director, Pianist, Orchestrator, and fierce Opera advocate.
ERICA STEPHAN
Host
Porchlight Music Theatre credits include Cabaret (Sally Bowles, Jeff Award) Other Chicago credits: Amadeus (Katherina Cavalieri) at the Steppenwolf Theatre. Beautiful (Cynthia Weil, Jeff Award Nomination), Titanic, Damn Yankees at the Marriott Theatre. Clue at Mercury Theater Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Holiday Inn, Beauty and the Beast, South Pacific, Saturday Night Fever, Crazy for You and White Christmas at Drury Lane Theatre. Emma, Madagascar, The Little Mermaid at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. The Penelopiad, Wonderful Town at the Goodman Theatre. Nice Work If You Can Get It, White Christmas at Theatre at the Center. Les Miserables, Tommy at Paramount Theatre. Regional: Waitress and Rent at The Muny; I Do, I Do at Totem Pole Playhouse; The Drowsy Chaperone, Living on Love at Peninsula Players Theatre; Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid with Variety Children’s Theatre. Proud graduate of The Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.
KAIT AUBURN
Performer
Kait is thrilled to be making her Porchlight debut in this concert series! Kait recently premiered her own concert, Hey There: the Music of Rosemary Clooney. Chicago credits: Addams Family, Ragtime, Cabaret, Legally Blonde and Anything Goes. Other credits include: Shrek, Joseph, Bright Star, Elf and the world premier of 2076 at Columbia University. Offstage, Kait is either dancing, gardening or playing with her dog, Sesame. Many thanks to Ethan, family, and friends for their love and support. Kait earned her BFA from the University of Michigan – Go Blue!
SAMANTHA BUCKLEY
Performer
Samantha is so excited to be joining Porchlight Music Theatre for New Faces Sing Broadway 1976! Credits include A Christmas Carol (Metropolis Performing Arts), the world premiere of An American Tail the Musical (Children’s Theatre Company), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Lyric Arts) and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Highland Summer Theater). Sam holds a BFA in Musical Theater from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Sam thanks her family, friends, and Felipe for all their love and support.
ANDRES J. DELEON
Performer
Andres is thrilled to be making his debut with Porchlight Music Theatre as a New Face! Some of his favorite credits have included The Wedding Singer (Metropolis); Finding Nemo, In The Heights (Marriott Theatre); and Fun Home, Rock of Ages (Paramount Theatre). He has also been seen in productions with the American Music Theatre Project, Music Theater Works, Theo, Beautiful City Project and others. Later this year you can find Andres under the sea in Marriott Theatre’s The Spongebob Musical as Patrick Star. Andres is represented by Big Mouth Talent inc. and is endlessly grateful to his family and friends for their constant love and support! andresjdeleon.com IG:ajiodeleon.
ELLA MAY GATLIN
Performer
Ella May is thrilled to be making her Porchlight debut! Recent credits include Anya in Anastasia (Festival 56), Adriana in The Comedy of Errors (Festival 56), Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel (Music Theatre Works), Mistress in Passion (Blank Theatre Company) and The Singer in The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide (Bump in the Night Theatre Co.) Ella recently graduated from Northwestern University with a double major in Theatre and Psychology. She would like to thank her family, friends, and partner for all their love and support!
CLAIRE GUTHRIE
Performer
Claire is a singer, actor and Chicago-based Texan. Recent Chicago credits: TL;DR (Theo Ubique), Bold Stroke (Foaming @ the Mouth Fest). Claire is a recent (and proud!) Northwestern grad, where she performed in several new musical workshops (Cowboy Bob, Wonder Boy) and shows (As You Like It, Violet, Everybody). Outside of work, Claire is a passionate bike commuter and a regular at her local falafel shop.
GAVIN HARPER
Performer
Gavin is thrilled to be making his Porchlight Music Theatre debut in New Faces Sing Broadway 1976! Gavin is a performer, conductor, director and arts enthusiast. Gavin grew up in the Virginia Beach area, but has spent the last four years making Chicago his home. Favorite credits include: Cinderella (Virginia Musical Theater), Sister Act, Beauty and the Beast (Oak Lawn Theater); The Last Five Years (Generic Theater); and Grotesquerie Lake (Zeiders Dream Theatre). He is also a choir conductor for Uniting Voices Chicago, and Music Director at Street of Dreams Theatre. He holds a BA in Music and MME in Choral Conducting. Sending much love to his incredible friends, his partner Jonathan, and his furchildren: Charlie and Leo.
MICIAH LATHAN
Performer
Miciah is a Chicago Native excited to make her Porchlight New Faces debut. She was recently seen in Little Shop of Horrors at Marriott Theatre and Time Machine a Tribute to the 80’s at Black Ensemble Theatre. Her choreography credits include Urban Love Story (TYA Black Ensemble Theatre) and Ragtime Beverly Arts Center. Lathan wants to bring emotional depth and passion to every role she’s given. She would like to thank her supportive family “TGBTG”.
DARROW RICHMOND
Performer
Darrow is excited to make his Porchlight Music Theatre debut. From the South Suburbs, Richmond has performed in Homewood- Flossmoor, IHSTF All State, Chicago Heights’ Drama Group, Uptown Music Theater, Towle Theater and Dominican Performing Arts productions: Big (Big Josh), Aida (Mereb), Bright Star (Billy Cane), Dreamgirls (C.C. White), Hairspray (Gilbert, Seaweed u/s), Little Shop of Horrors (Ronnette), White Christmas (Mike Nulty), Company and The Little Mermaid (Jetsam). While studying Theatre, Richmond earned international championship titles on the University of Illinois Chicago Speech Team. Now, Richmond would like to thank his loved ones for always encouraging him, and the Porchlight family for welcoming Richmond with open arms. Following New Faces Sing Broadway 1976, Darrow is performing in the Black Ensemble Theater Production, You Can’t Fake the Funk, check out Richmond’s Instagram: @darrow.rv for more!
TAELON STONECIPHER
Performer
Taelon is a singer and actor based in Chicago. He was most recently seen as Jinx in Forever Plaid with Madkap Productions. Originally from Houston, some of his favorite credits include Urinetown (Bobby Strong) and Next to Normal (Gabe) with Island ETC; Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens (Sammy Sax) and Silence! The Musical (Miggs/Ensemble) with Obsidian Theater; Plaid Tidings (Jinx) with Unity Theatre; Goosebumps the Musical (Zeke); and Flat Stanley The Musical (Arthur/Ensemble) with Main Street Theater; Carousel (Chorus) and the world premiere of Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers (Monkey) with Houston Grand Opera.
BEN WOODS
Performer
Ben is an actor/director based in the Chicago area. He holds an M.M. from Carthage College, where he also works as an assistant professor, and a BFA from Southern Methodist University. Ben is thrilled to be making his Porchlight debut in this production. His past credits include Men of Soul & The Jackie Wilson Story (Black Ensemble Theater), Godspell (Music Theater Works), Sister Act (Northern Lakes Arts Association) and Next to Normal (Northern Lakes Arts Association), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (KAPA REP). Lastly, he’d like to thank God, his family, friends, and mentors for their support. Instagram: @thebenwoods.