Presents

May 24 - June 9, 2019Westwego Performing Arts Theatre

PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORDING OF ANY KIND IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED

PLEASE KEEP AISLES CLEAR THROUGHOUT THE PERFORMANCE.

Music & Lyrics by Glyn Bailey

Book by Wesley Payne, Glyn Bailey, & Ricki Holmes

Directed by Steve Scott

Music Direction by Dr. Donna Clavijo

Stage Management by Kendall Yonko

Scenic Design byKristin Blatchford

Costume Design by Ashley Smith

Wig & Makeup Design byLaurin Hart

Props Design byStephanie Ouimet

Lighting Design by Zachary Brommer

Sound Design by Trenton Thomas

HOW TO KILL A DIVA is a musical presented in two acts. Approximate run time is 2.5 hours with one 15 minute intermission.

Featuring

Claire Shackleton

Rachel Looney

Tom Vaughn

Maria Hefte

Robert Wagner

Elizabeth Lowry

Chris Wecklein

Matthew Shurley

Jennifer DeLatte

Enrico Cannella

Jake Wynne-Wilson

Larry Larkin

With:

Dr. Donna ClavijoKeyboard

Paul FrechouClarinet

Kent JensenCello

Who’s WhoGLYN BAILEY (Composer, Lyricist, Book-writer) is proud to be Composer-in-Residence for Jefferson Performing Arts Society. His musical Scandalous! - based on the life of the notorious English novelist, D.H. Lawrence - received its US premiere at JPAS in 2009, receiving the Marquee Theater Award for Best New Musical. The show subsequently went on to the West End of London for a limited engagement at the Bridewell Theatre. In 2017, a concert version was presented at the International D.H. Lawrence Conference in London and plans are in the works for a future production. Glyn was born and raised in Nottingham,

England and educated at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and at Bath Spa University. He holds several graduate and post-graduate degrees in performance and composition. Glyn has enjoyed a successful career on the London stage, in such shows as the original production of Evita. He then changed direction and pursued a successful 17-year career as a headline act, piano vocalist and cruise director with many of the world’s top cruise lines. Along with his wife Anne, he now runs Cruise Artistes International, a cruise ship talent and production company. Glyn is proud of his association with Jefferson Performing Arts Society and thanks Maestro Assaf for his continual support and friendship – as well as being a good sport in allowing us to use a version of his name for the male lead in How To Kill A Diva!

WESLEY PAYNE (Book-writer) is an accomplished stage director, designer, actor and producer. He is formerly a partner in the Payne-Leavitt Group (with Broadway producer Michael Leavitt), managing the Apollo Theatre Center and the Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago. Wesley spent 10 years as the vice president of entertainment for the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. While there, his musical revues earned recognition as the top-rated cruise line entertainment product on Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s annual “Gold List.” He has also written, directed and produced entertainment for other cruise lines throughout the United States. A resident of the New

Orleans area, Wesley is currently a freelance theatre professional and is a co-book writer (with Glyn Bailey) of the musical Lorenzo and Lady C, based on the life of the infamous English novelist, D.H. Lawrence.

RICKI HOLMES (Book-writer, Arranger) is originally from Nottingham, England. He studied classical piano before turning to Jazz Studies at Leeds College of Music, where he excelled as an arranger, composer and pianist. He is a Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In the mid-1980s, Ricki moved to the United States, where he established himself as a highly successful freelance music arranger and conductor for some of the biggest names in show business. Ricki is also actively involved in creating and arranging shows for many of the world’s most prestigious cruise lines. As a screenwriter, Ricki is an alumni of

ScreenwritingU. His scripts have earned various awards and in 2011 he made his directorial debut with Broken Faith (starring Michael Joiner from Sony Pictures The Grace Card). He recently optioned a comedy, Score One For Love and is currently working on assignment. He continues to write and rewrite new projects on a daily basis.

STEVE SCOTT (Director) is an Artistic Associate at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and was the Goodman’s producer for more than 30 years until his retirement in 2017. His Goodman directing credits include The Santaland Diaries; Ah, Wilderness; Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike; Horton Foote’s Blind Date; the world premiere of Tom Mula’s Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol; Wit; Dinner with Friends; and six productions of A Christmas Carol. He has directed productions at most of Chicago’s professional theaters including Northlight, A Red Orchid, American Blues, Shattered Globe, Redtwist Theatre (where he is an ensemble member), and

the Eclipse Theatre, where he is a 20-year company member and serves currently as Interim Artistic Director. Mr. Scott has been a member of the faculty of the Theatre Conservatory of the College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University for more than twenty years; he has also taught at Columbia College Chicago, Loyola University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Northern Illinois University, and the Theatre School at DePaul University. Prior to moving to Chicago, he was the head of the theater program at Baker University (Baldwin, KS) and the Artistic Director of the Creede (CO) Repertory Theatre. He received his B.S.E. at the University of Kansas (Phi Beta Kappa) and his M.A. at the University of Denver. Mr. Scott has also served on panels or advisory committees for Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the Illinois Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, United States Arts, and the PEW Charitable Trust/Philadelphia Theatre Initiative. For his work as a director, he has received six Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, an After Dark Award, and numerous Broadway World nominations; for his work in the Chicago theater community he has received the 2017 Special Jeff Award and the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the League of Chicago Theatres.

DR. DONNA CLAVIJO (Music Director) is a freelance pianist/vocal coach, active in both classical and musical theatre performances in the city, including New Orleans Opera, Le Petit Theatre, Jefferson Performing Arts Society and Loyola University. She earned a masters from Loyola University in Piano Performance in May of 2002 and a Doctorate in Collaborative Piano from Arizona State University in May of 2007. She toured with Arizona Opera in 2006 as Music Director of the Arts Educational program. She presently teaches part-time at Loyola University and the New Orleans Baptist Seminary and maintains a private studio in her home for both piano and vocal students. Her students have received awards in local, state and regional competitions. She is a past president of the New Orleans Music Teacher’s Association and is affiliated with the Louisiana Music Teacher’s Association, Music Teacher’s National Association, Music Educators National Conference, NATS and the American Guild of Organists. Dr. Clavijo is also the Music Director/Organist at St Georges Episcopal Church in New Orleans.

KENDALL YONKO (Stage Manager) is a recent graduate from The University of Southern Mississippi. Her previous work includes stage managing Peer Gynt, The Crucible, Boeing Boeing and assistant stage-managing As You Like It, Moby Dick-Rehearsed, and And Then There Were None. At JPAS Kendall stage managed the hit comedy Shear Madness, the christmas comedy The Santaland Diaries, Dreamgirls, and South Pacific.

KRISTIN BLATCHFORD (Scenic Designer/Technical Director) is a proud 2012 alumna of Arizona State University with a bachelors in theatrical design and production. After graduating, she went on to do independent scenic design throughout the greater Phoenix area as well as work with the Arizona Ballet before relocating to the wonderful city of New Orleans. Her most recent design work was seen in the JPAS production of Tuck Everlasting, Annie Jr, Wizard of Oz Jr, Mary Poppins Jr., Shear Madness, Dreamgirls, and South Pacific. Kristin would like to thank her mother, aunt, and friends for their unending support and guidance as she continues to grow and perfect her craft.

LAURIN HART (Wig and Makeup Designer), a successful graphic artist since 1985, began applying her illustrative skills to makeup and body painting under the direction of Don and Linda Guillot, New Orleans’s most respected theatrical makeup artists. In addition, she studied in New York at the Media Makeup Academy as well as Makeup Forever, Temptu and Chic Studios. Laurin now works in opera, theater, ballet and film, and is an award winning body painter. Her most recent JPAS credits include Tarzan, Chicago the Musical, Tuck Everlasting, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Catch Me If You Can, Peter Pan, White Christmas, Dreamgirls, & South Pacific.

ASHLEY SMITH (Costume Designer), is pleased to design another show at Jefferson Performing Arts Society. She has recently graduated with a BA in Theater Arts and Costume Design form the University of Northern Colorado. Some of Ms. Smith’s past works include costume designer for The Crucible, The Little Prince and assistant costume designer for The Happy Prince and West Side Story. Ms. Smith has also worked as the wardrobe master for Pride and Prejudice and Clybourne Park. For JPAS she recently designed the youth production Home for the Holidays. She would like to thank Rod and Sonya Smith for their continuing support. Enjoy the show!

STEPHANIE OUIMET (Props Designer) graduated from Henderson State University in 2011 with a BA in Theatre and a Minor in Dance. Though her main focus was acting, she was determined to learn all aspects involved in creating a production. Whether it be box office, scenic construction and paint, or stage managing/directing; Stephanie was all in! During her undergrad she received many awards for her dedication to the department as well as the University community. Stephanie would like to thank her family, friends, and professors for their love and support.

ZACHARY BROMMER (Lighting Designer/Asst. Technical Director) is proud to consider himself a jack of all trades technician. After starting and growing his skills in washington state he has since worked his way across the country before landing in the greater New Orleans area with JPAS. He recently has been the lighting designer for Annie Jr., Wizard of Oz The Young Performers Edition, Mary Poppins Jr., White Christmas, The Santaland Diaries, Home for the Holidays, and South Pacific.

TRENTON THOMAS (Sound Designer) was born in Michigan, and after touring extensively, landed in the New Orleans arts community. He is no stranger to both the performance and production sides of the stage. In theatre, he has done most aspects including acting, directing, music directing, tech & sound design, and stage crew. Currently Trenton works in film and as an audio engineer, and fills the rest of his time performing in the area’s thriving music and performing arts scene. He is thrilled to be part of this original production, and to work with the tremendously talented JPAS family.

Cast BiosCLAIRE SHACKLETON (Lucia Fartoli) mezzo-soprano, has been praised for her “ripe mezzo of polished sheen and warmth”. She has sung around the country with a variety opera companies and orchestras and is currently on faculty at Loyola University New Orleans. Roles performed by Claire include Hermia-A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Maddalena-Rigoletto, Composer-Ariadne auf Naxos, Prince Charming-Cendrillon, Cherubino and Marcellina-Le Nozze di Figaro, Dorabella-Così fan tutte, Annio-La Clemenza di Tito, Siébel-Faust, Angelina-La Cenerentola, Dinah-Trouble in Tahiti, Countess Charlotte Malcom-A Little Night Music, and Jenny-

Threepenny Opera. These roles and others were sung with Central City Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, New Orleans Opera, Hawaii Opera Theater, Austin Lyric Opera, Kentucky Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Opera Louisiane, Amarillo Opera, Pine Mountain Music Festival, JPAS and Ohio Light Opera. Claire received her Masters of Music from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. She received her Bachelor of Music from Loyola University New Orleans.

ROBERT WAGNER (Denarto Assafino), a native of New Orleans, began his Musical training at the early age of 5 years playing guitar and shortly after began singing as a boy soprano in St. Dominic’s Concert Choir. He attended Loyola University, where he studied Jazz Studies on the Contra Bass, and Classical Voice, playing and singing in virtually every ensemble and orchestra available. Mr. Wagner made his professional debut with The New Orleans Opera Company during his studies at Loyola, singing supporting roles as a baritone for the next three seasons with such artists as Renato Capecchi, June Anderson, Diana Soviero, Teresa

Zylis-Gara, Carlo Bergonzi, Christina Deutekom, Johanna Meier, Victor Braun and Siegfred Jerusalem. He was then awarded full scholarships to The Curtis Institute of Music and to the Juilliard School in New York. He chose Curtis in Philadelphia and continued his opera studies under the direction of Boris Goldovsky and his proteges, making other important debuts with The Opera Company of Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Opera Theater and The Harrisburg Opera Company. Mr. Wagner lived in Vienna, Austria where he appeared with the Vienna State Opera, the Volksoper, the Neuer Oper Wien and other venues in Europe. In Novemeber, 2003, he made his Paris debut at the Opera Bastille in Die Meistersinger. He is to be seen regularly on tour with Europes most successful and longest running Broadway Musical Highlights show entitled, “The Night of the Musicals” (Die Nacht der Musicals), which tours throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Since living in Vienna, Mr. Wagner has regularly appeared with the Seefestspiele in Moerbisch. Johanna Doderer chose him for her opera Strom in which he sang the title role of Bote. He is on the recording of the new opera Hamlet on the Vienna Modern Masters/Naxos label and his solo CD entitled “Love Beyond Death” for the same label has come out on the market in November, 2012. In August, 2013 he also sang the title role of Edgar Aubry in Marschner’s opera Der Vampyr with the Donau Philharmonie. Mr. Wagner currently resides in New Orleans, Louisiana.

JENNIFER DeLATTE (Ursula Uppington) has performed all over the world, including alongside Broadway veterans Bart Shatto and Brad Little and West End star Jason McCann. She is an original “JPAS Baby”, having begun her theatrical/vocal studies in the JPAS Children’s Chorus and in numerous JPAS productions. Her favorite career roles include: A Little Night Music (Anne), Jekyll & Hyde (Emma), The Music Man (Marian), Mrs. Potts (Beauty & the Beast), The Producers (Ulla), Singing in the Rain (Lina Lamont), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Christine Colgate), The Sound of Music (Maria), and she portrayed the lead female role of Frieda Lawrence

in concert performances of Glyn Bailey’s D.H. Lawrence musical, Lorenzo and Lady C in London in 2017. Jennifer is also a film/TV actress. She is the producer, writer, and director of the original episodic series, The Cybernaturals, in which she portrays a cyber crime expert trying to save New Orleans from a menacing villain. www.jenniferdelatte.com

RACHEL LOONEY (Abelinda Steifmacher) is excited to be making her JPAS debut as Abelinda Steifmacher in the world premiere of How to Kill a Diva. In 2018, she starred as Marian Paroo in The Music Man to sold out audiences at Rivertown Theaters, and she received a Big Easy Awards nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She then made her operatic debut with the New Orleans Opera as La statue animée in Rameau’s Pygmalion. This year, Rachel has appeared as Phoebe D’Ysquith in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at Le Petit Theatre and Rapunzel in Into the Woods at Rivertown Theaters. Rachel has also performed with

New Orleans Opera’s “Opera on Tap,” the Victory Belles at the National WWII Museum, and Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre. Rachel received her Bachelor of Music degree from LSU where she performed the role of Héro in Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict. She holds a Master of Music degree from Loyola where she portrayed Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette.

ELIZABETH ULLOA LOWRY (Veronica Borgia), a New Orleans native of Cuban heritage, is a lifelong soprano and pianist. Recent roles include Carol in Catch Me If You Can at JPAS; Ariel in The Little Mermaid and Roxie Hart in Chicago at Cutting Edge Theater; and Cinderella in Into the Woods at Slidell Little Theater. She has been singing with the New Orleans Opera Association since 2014. Elizabeth has also enjoyed working both sides of the stage, as Vocal Director for Hairspray, The Producers, 13, and Rent in productions throughout the Northshore. She studied at the University of New Orleans and has placed first in various vocal competitions, including NATS.

ENRICO CANNELLA (Henri Labouche) is an actor and singer from Alexandria, Louisiana. Enrico holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Louisiana State University. He has performed several roles with LSU Opera including Učitel in Veselohra na mostě, Alexander in Romberg’s The New Moon, and Baron Mirko Zeta in The Merry Widow. He was recently seen on this stage as Quasimodo in JPAS’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, for which he received a Big Easy Entertainment Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and as Luther Billis in South Pacific. Enrico has also performed many roles with Theatre Baton Rouge including Berger in

Hair, Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid, and Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods. His most recent off-stage credits include Assistant Music Director for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with Theatre Baton Rouge and Stage Manager for The Magic Flute for Opéra Louisiane.

TOM VAUGHN (Siegfreid Throttleheimer) is proud to be a part of the How to Kill a Diva cast making his first appearance in a JPAS production and his first performance in the state of Louisiana. Favorite credits include a national tour of Kiss Me Kate portraying the role of Hortensio for Opera Northeast, NY; Miles Gloriosus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Brandon Fradd Theater, NY; Max Jacobs, On the 20th Century; Seaside Music Theater, FL; Sister Hubert, Nunsense Amen, Brandon Fradd Theater, NY; Older Patrick, Mame, Seaside Theater, FL; a Suiter in The Merry Widow, Opera Northeast, NY and Jacob Rothschild,

The Rothchilds, Seaside Music Theater, FL. During the day, Tom works for an all-inclusive health care organization and is a strong advocate for senior services.

CHRIS WECKLEIN (GUSTAV DREYER) was an original cast member and, along with composer Harry Mayronne, co-producer of Waiting Around --the Restaurant Musical (Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC, Bayou Playhouse, and JPAS). For the past eleven years he has been singer/co-emcee for Caroling in Jackson Square. Musical theatre appearances include Max Bialistock in The Producers at JPAS, Mr. Peachum in The Threepenny Opera, The Governor in Happy End, and leading roles in Suck It! and Rainbolt Cypher.

JAKE WYNN-WILSON (Wilhelm Geldmann) is thrilled to be doing a show with JPAS! You might have seen him onstage over the past few years with local theatre companies Southern Rep or Le Petit, though his favorite part was one he originated in Terminater: The Musical, a role for which he was nominated for a Big Easy Award. Jake is an active member of the local comedy scene, performing on the last Friday of every month with his improv troupe Manifesto at the Zeitgeist Multidisciplinary Center. You can even find his likeness roaming the streets in the recent video game Red Dead Redemption 2. Stage: Sweeney Todd, Suddenly Last

Summer, Vanya Sonia Masha & Spike, Incarnate. Film/TV: Nashville, People (Amazon Prime).

MARIA HEFTE (Helga Rottweiler/Lucia Fartoli u/s) has been involved in the performing arts since she was very young, embarking on voice and piano studies as early as the age of eight. After two years of opera and music theatre studies at NSULA in northern Louisiana, María has returned to her roots in the New Orleans area to pursue private studies with local professionals. Other shows in which you may have seen her include Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), White Christmas (Martha Watson), Mary Poppins (Winnifred Banks), Macbeth (Lady MacDuff), and Doubt (Sister James). She sends a huge thank you out to friends and family and, especially, the Big Man Upstairs. MATTHEW SHURLEY (Paulo) was born and raised in New Orleans. He has been an actor for over 15 years. Theatre credits include Mother-in-Law, Batboy the Musical, Race Through Darkwood Forest, Born Yesterday, and Endgame. He was recently seen with JPAS in Peter Pan as Smee.Matthew can be seen on film in SuperCon and on television in The Detour Season 1 and American Horror Story: Freakshow.

LARRY LARKIN (Massimo) is a seasoned performer who has appeared with a host of entertainment icons, including Lainie Kazan, Al Martino, Charo and The Osmonds. His one-of-a-kind comedy made him an instant celebrity on British TV, and he has since delighted audiences in comedy clubs, in theaters and on major cruise lines all over the world.British “Pantomime”, summer variety shows, entertaining the British troops in the Falkland Islands, and appearing in the award-winning musical, Scandalous! - are just a few of the many theatrical endeavors he has enjoyed over the years. Larry currently resides in Orlando, Florida

where he can often be seen spreading his unique and warm-hearted brand of mirth and merriment in clubs and on the condo circuit.

Special Thanks to the Sponsors ofHow to Kill a Diva

Erik Johnsen/ Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Jones Walker

Mr. and Mrs. Glyn Bailey

Mr and Mrs. R. Christian Johnsen

Mr. and Mrs. Jeno Kalozdi

Mr. Jim Miles

Ms. Jennifer Rice

H. M. Etheredge

DENNIS G. ASSAF............................................................Executive/Artistic DirectorNICHOLAS FREDERICK..............................................................Managing DirectorGLYN BAILEY...........................................................Composer/Lyricist/Book-WriterWESLEY PAYNE.....................................................................................Book-WriterRICKI HOLMES.......................................................................Book-Writer, ArrangerSTEVE SCOTT...............................................................................................DirectorDR. DONNA CLAVIJO.........................................................................Music DirectorKENDALL YONKO.............................................................................Stage ManagerKRISTIN BLATCHFORD....................................Scenic Designer/Technical DirectorASHLEY SMITH............................................................................Costume DesignerZACHARY BROMMER............................Lighting Designer/Asst. Technical DirectorTRENTON THOMAS.........................................................Sound Designer/EngineerSHELBY CLEMENS............................................................Costume Shop ManagerJONATHAN PERRY-MARX............................................................Master CarpenterTRICIA ANDERSON...................................................................................CarpenterGEORGE JOHNSON..................................................................................CarpenterSAMI MIHALIK.......................................................................................Scenic ArtistTRENAE WALLER...............................................................Scenic Artist/Deck CrewLAUREN GUILLOT...................................................................................Deck ChiefALEXIS CANNELLA......................................................................Spotlight OperatorJOHN B. BARROIS............................................................Production PhotographerBILL BLANKE.....................................................................Production Videographer

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