SIERRA BOGGESS (Lily) has been seen on Broadway in the Tony-nominated musical School of Rock, It Shoulda Been You directed by David Hyde Pierce, two separate engagements of the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera (the first for the show’s 25th Anniversary and the second opposite Norm Lewis), the revival of Master Class (opposite Tyne Daly) and The Little Mermaid (Drama Desk and Drama League nominations, Broadway.com Audience Choice Award). London theatre credits include Les Misérables, the 25th-anniversary concerts of The Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall and Love Never Dies (Olivier Award nomination). Other New York theatre credits include the recent Off-Broadway production of Barry Manilow’s Harmony; Manhattan Concert Productions’ The Secret Garden at Lincoln Center; the one-night-only concert of Guys and Dolls at Carnegie Hall opposite Nathan Lane, Patrick Wilson, and Megan Mullally; and the final Off-Broadway cast of Love, Loss, and What I Wore; and Music in the Air for City Center’s Encores! series. She also starred as Christine Daaé in the Las Vegas production of The Phantom of the Opera. Regionally, she has been seen in A Little Night Music (Barrington Stage Company), Into the Woods (Hollywood Bowl), Ever After (Alliance Theatre), Age of Innocence (world premiere, Hartford Stage, and McCarter Theatre Center), Princesses (world premiere, Goodspeed Opera House, and Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre), and the national tour of Les Misérables. Film and television credits include Vulture Club with Susan Sarandon and the web series What’s Your Emergency, directed by Michael Urie. Her recordings include School of Rock, It Shoulda Been You, the 25th-anniversary concert of The Phantom of the Opera (also on DVD), the symphonic recording of Love Never Dies, The Little Mermaid, and Andrew Lippa’s A Little Princess. Concert appearances include the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall, Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series The Lyrics of David Zippel, The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, and Broadway by the Year at Town Hall. Sierra has toured all over the world, across Australia, Japan, Paris, and London with her concert show, which has been preserved live and released on CD, Awakening: Live at 54 Below. She recently released an album of duets with Julian Ovenden made during the pandemic entitled Together At A Distance. For Lucy.
TERRON BROOKS (Major Shelley, Understudy for Archibald Craven, he/him). Broadway: The Lion King (Simba), Hairspray (Seaweed). National Tours: The Lion King, Hairspray, Grease! Regional: Kinky Boots (Hollywood Bowl), Ragtime, Sweet Charity (Ovation Award Nominee), The First Wives Club, Sleepless in Seattle. Television: Eddie Kendricks in the NBC Emmy Award-winning miniseries The Temptations, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Voice, American Idol. Two-time NAACP Award Nominee for Supporting Actor. Star and co-creator of The Soul of Broadway. Ahmanson Theatre debut! @terronbrooks
MARK CAPRI (Ben Weatherstaff, he/him). Center Theatre Group: Terra Nova, Arcadia (Mark Taper Forum); End of the Rainbow, Blithe Spirit (Ahmanson Theatre); A Perfect Wedding (Kirk Douglas Theatre). West End: Man and Superman (RSC). Broadway: Private Lives, Blithe Spirit. Off-Broadway:
On Approval (Roundabout, Theatre World Award). Metropolitan Opera: Oedipus Rex, Iphigénie en Tauride. Los Angeles Opera: The Merry Widow. Pasadena Playhouse: Equus, Light Up The Sky, Sherlock Holmes, King Charles III. South Coast Rep: School for Scandal, An Ideal Husband, Amadeus. Old Globe: Henry V. Film: Titanic, The Empire Strikes Back. Trained at RADA.
PEYTON CRIM (Major Holmes, Understudy for Dr. Neville Craven and Ben Weatherstaff, he/him). Peyton Crim was recently seen in Knot Free’s L.A. production of A Little Night Music (Frederick). His other credits include the US first national tour of The Play That Goes Wrong (Robert) and Off-Broadway productions of On A Clear Day..., Finian’s Rainbow, and Brigadoon (City Center Encores!). Selected regional credits include Beauty and The Beast (Beast), Sweeney Todd, Sunset Boulevard, The Music Man, Mary Poppins, and Peter Pan.
DERRICK DAVIS (Archibald Craven, he/him). Theatre: The Phantom of the Opera (The Phantom), The Lion King (Mufasa), Ragtime (Coalhouse Walker Jr.), Carousel (Billy Bigelow u/s), The Tap Dance Kid (William u/s), The Little Mermaid (King Triton), I Dream (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.). TV: Hallmark Channel’s One Royal Holiday, ABC’s Dangerous Liaisons, A Christmas Tale, The Good Fight. Concert: An Evening of Broadway/Lincoln, NE, A Journey Through Love/New York, NY, An Evening with Rodgers & Hammerstein/Las Vegas, NV. @dreamclimber
RANDI DE MARCO (Swing, Understudy for Ayah, she/her). Randi is ecstatic to make her Center Theatre Group debut! Theatre credits include Ayah in The Secret Garden (3-D Theatricals), Ensemble in Evita in Concert, and Martha in Spring Awakening. Voiceover: Twist Queen in LOL Surprise! Winter Fashion Show streaming on Netflix. Proud member of the Story Pirates! Special thanks to the wonderful team at FSE Talent: Kara, Tiera, and Nicole. Love to Mom and Dad.
SUSAN DENAKER (Mrs. Medlock, she/her). Theatre includes—London West End: Accidental Death of an Anarchist; Holiday (London Old Vic); Budgie; Country Life; Blockheads. British Regional: Frankie, Frankie and Johnny In The Clair de Lune; Anne, A Little Night Music; Marta, Company (National Tour); Side By Side By Sondheim. US Theatre Includes: November; Tribes; Vanya, Sonya, Masha and Spike, (u/s all at The Mark Taper); Madame Arcati, Blithe Spirit; Mrs. Higgins, My Fair Lady; Abuela Claudia, In The Heights; Her Ladyship, The Dresser; Miss Lucy, Sweet Bird of Youth; Lola, Come Back Little Sheba; Claire, Uncanny Valley; Paulina, A Winter’s Tale; Aunt Alicia, Gigi. Film/TV Includes: American Friends, Me and My Girl, As Time Goes By with Judi Dench, The Woman He Loved. Over 120 audiobooks.
KELLEY DORNEY (Mrs. Winthrop/Cholera, Understudy for Mrs. Medlock and Rose Lennox, she/her). Kelley Dorney has lived and worked in New York, Los Angeles, and London. Local Credits: You’re a Good Man… (Lucy) at SCR, Nice Work… (Billie) at MTW, A Gentleman’s Guide… (Phoebe) at 3DT, Lend Me a Tenor (Maggie) at La Mirada, The World Goes Round at Reprise 2.0, and Annie at the Hollywood Bowl. London: workshop of Love Never Dies and the PBS Special: A Tale of Two Cities. Thank you to Michael, Richie, and Craig!
ALI EWOLDT (Rose Lennox, Understudy for Lily Craven, she/her). Ali Ewoldt has appeared as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, Cosette in Les Misérables (Broadway, National Tour), in The King and I (Lincoln Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago), and as Luisa in The Fantasticks (Off-Broadway). Regionally, she has played Amalia in She Loves Me (Signature Theatre), Yook Mei in Gold Mountain (Utah Shakespeare Festival), Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (The Muny), Fan/Mrs. Bonds in A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre Center), Martha Jefferson in 1776 (The Muny), and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (Sacramento Music Circus). Ali’s concert/symphony work includes Feinstein’s/54 Below, Alice Tully Hall, The Town Hall, Canyon Ranch, NY Pops at Carnegie Hall, American Pops Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Kaohsiung Symphony, and The Boston Pops. Her TV/Film credits include The Michael J. Fox Show, Yield, and the short films Mia and The Cactus. Ali has a BA in psychology from Yale University and is a proud Filipina American. For Ed. @aliewoldt
WILLIAM FOON (Colin Craven at certain performances, he/him). William is thrilled to debut at the Ahmanson Theatre! He loves the stage and has performed since age six with the Peter Pan Foundation, SFCMT, Berkeley Playhouse, The Ballet School, Joy in Motion, Performing Academy and ACT Young Conservatory. Regional credits include A Christmas Carol (Center Rep), Little Women, andThe Sound of Music (PPF), and the Broadway Dreams NYC showcase. Many thanks to Center Theatre Group, Michael Donovan Casting, DDO, and his family & friends. @william.foon
AVA MADISON GRAY (Mary Lennox at certain performances, she/her) is thrilled to be making her debut with Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre! Ava is 12 and has been performing in musical theatre and live venues since age 5. Ava is a voice-over artist, most recognizable as JJ, Bella, and the iconic logo of CoComelon. Her voice is also featured in CoComelon Live: JJ’s Journey world tour, the CoComelon Play with JJ Nintendo Switch game, and as JJ on Cameo Kids. Ava is a National Anthem singer for the Los Angeles Angels baseball team, and a member of Voices of Hope Children’s Choir (feat. America’s Got Talent). Special thanks to Warren Carlyle, Rob Berman, Michael Donovan Casting, Center Theatre Group, Kim Pedell (ZOOM Talent), and CESD for this amazing opportunity, and to her family, friends, and teachers for their unwavering support! @avamadisongray
Emily Jewel Hoder (Mary Lennox) is so excited to be at the Ahmanson Theatre in The Secret Garden! She is coming straight from Broadway’s The Music Man as Amaryllis and Super Swing (OBC). National Tour: Les Misérables (Little Cosette) Regional: Annie (Molly), The Jungle Book (Mowgli). Voiceover: Schmigadoon! Apple TV+, Panda Corner learning app. Thank you to my family for everything, I love you. Thank you Nancy Carson and Kim Pedell for all of your help and support. Huge thanks to Warren Carlyle for always believing in me! @emilyjewel7
JOHN KRAUSE (Captain Albert Lennox, Understudy for Archibald Craven, he/him). John is THRILLED to be making his Center Theatre Group debut! Broadway: OBC Hadestown (Ensemble/Understudy Orpheus), Fun Home (Understudy/Roy and Others). National Tours: Hadestown, Wicked, and American Idiot: The Musical. Regional: Newsies (Music Circus), Rock of Ages (Venetian, Las Vegas), and Cruel Intentions (Various L.A. Theatres). BFA: Boston Conservatory. John is also a private guitar and voice coach based in Sherman Oaks. Follow along @johnakrause
AARON LAZAR (Dr. Neville Craven). Mr. Lazar has starred in 11 Broadway productions. He debuted in The Phantom of the Opera; originated roles in the world premieres of A Tale of Two Cities, Impressionism, and The Last Ship; starred in the revivals of A Little Night Music and Les Misérables (Drama Desk Award nomination); and romanced audiences in The Light in the Piazza at Lincoln Center and Live from Lincoln Center on PBS. Most recently, he starred as Larry Murphy in the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning smash-hit Dear Evan Hansen. On film and television, Aaron can currently be seen in The Daniels’ critically acclaimed film Everything, Everywhere All At Once and Season five of Yellowstone. He has worked with legendary directors Clint Eastwood (J.Edgar), Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street), Shawn Levy (This is Where I Leave You), Mary Harron (The Notorious Bettie Page) and The Russo Brothers (Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame). And on television, Aaron was recently one of the stars of Filthy Rich on FOX. Arcs on: Quantico, The Strain, Girl Meets World, and The Onion News Network. As a singer, Aaron has been a guest artist with some of the world’s top symphonies, including The New York Philharmonic, The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, The National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center, The Boston Pops, The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra at Masada, The English National Opera Orchestra, and The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. His acclaimed solo concert from Broadway to Hollywood has played cabaret clubs and PACs around the US. As a producer, Mr. Lazar created the album Broadway Lullabies—a collection of Broadway’s biggest stars singing Broadway hits reimagined as lullabies, streaming everywhere. He is currently developing a limited series with Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas, Casino) and Tom Fontana (Oz, Monsieur Spade) based on the book, City For Sale: Ed Koch and the Betrayal of New York. BA-Duke University. MFA-CCM. Aaron is an honorary board member of the Tennessee Arts Academy serving arts teachers K-12.
aaronlazar.com. @aaronscottlazar
JULIA LESTER (Martha, she/her). Julia currently stars as Ashlyn Moon Caswell in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+. This past summer, she made her Broadway debut as Little Red Ridinghood in the critically acclaimed revival of Into the Woods. TV: Mom, Prince of Peoria, Mr. Student Body President, Spirit: Riding Free, Spirit: Riding Academy, Spirit: Pony Tales, Game Shakers, The Thundermans, Bella and the Bulldogs. Select Theatre Credits: Into the Woods with Encores! at New York City Center (Little Red Ridinghood), Carrie: The Musical (Carrie), Next to Normal (Natalie), Calvin Berger (Bret). Season four of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is set to air later this year.
Reese Levine (Colin Craven, he/him). Reese is super excited to be part of this amazing cast and to work with this incredible creative team! Favorite Regional Credits: Billy-School of Rock, Young Charlie-Kinky Boots, Chip-Beauty and the Beast, James- James and the Giant Peach, Linus-Snoopy! The Musical. TV: Side Hustle, Barry. Thank you to Craig and Ted (Avalon Artists), Sherry (Moxie Artists), Doug, Philip, Susie, CMTSJ, Uncles G and David, and especially Mom and Dad!
@reesemlevine
SAM LINKOWSKI (Swing, he/him). Actor, singer, songwriter, and teacher. UCLA TFT: Bent (Horst), Spring Awakening, The Mineola Twins, Lainie Kazan’s Cabaret. Regional: Into the Woods (Jack), Showsearch L.A. (Lead), Full Monty, Urinetown, Sound of Music. Music Director: Bye Bye Birdie, Matilda. Over COVID, he began a performing arts school for young people in L.A. & O.C. Thank you to Mom, Dad, Logan, and Mopsy, a rescue bichon who is full of inspiration. For contacting or coaching: @samlinkowski; sammylinkowski.com
JOHN-MICHAEL LYLES (Dickon, he/him). Broadway: A Strange Loop (The Lyceum). Off-Broadway: Sweeney Todd (Barrow), This Ain’t No Disco (Atlantic), The Flick (Barrow), Brooklynite (Vineyard), Love Life, Big River & 1776 (Encores!). Regional: Bliss (5th Ave), The Art of Falling (Second City), Choir Boy (Guthrie). TV: The Other Two, Chicago PD, NCIS: New Orleans. Film: Blind. Writing: Shoot for the Moon, additional music for We’re Gonna Die (Second Stage), Vivace Award Winner. For Ashley Daché Lyles. @jmlyles1
YAMUNA MELETH (Ayah, she/her). Yamuna is thrilled to be joining The Secret Garden! She received her master’s in vocal performance from the University of Northern Colorado. She was most recently seen in Maya and Off-Broadway in The Office! A Musical Parody. She’d like to thank her family, friends, and the Avalon Artists Group. Yamuna is from Birmingham, AL and currently resides in Los Angeles.
@iamyams @hinduitive
CASSANDRA MARIE MURPHY (Alice, Understudy for Lily Craven and Martha, she/her). International Tour: Miss Saigon (Macau, China). Resident Artist at A Noise Within Theatre. Select Regional: Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses, Bridges of Madison County, Evita, Man of La Mancha, Les Misérables, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Shakespeare’s Henry V, Frozen: Live at the Hyperion. Soundtracks: Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One (Alan Silvestri), Disney’s Mickey and the Magical Map. Thanks to Natalie and MD Casting! For Nora, John, and my village. Glory to God!
IG: @cassandramariemurphy
ARIEL NEYDAVOUD (Lieutenant Shaw, Understudy for Fakir, Dickon, and Captain Albert Lennox, Dance Captain, he/him). Ariel was recently in The Visitor at The Public Theatre and sang on the original cast album. Prior to that, he starred as The Caliph in Kismet under the direction of Emmy Award winner Lonny Price. Selected Credits: Prospect Theatre Company, NYMF, Two River Theatre, Perelman PAC, Marriott Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, ACT of CT, Reprise! 2.0, Tuacahn Center for the Arts, Musical Theatre West, 3-D Theatricals. Love to Mom and Dad. Instagram/TikTok @arielneydavoud
JAMES OLIVAS (Lieutenant Wright, Understudy for Dr. Neville Craven and Captain Albert Lennox, he/him). James is honored to make his Ahmanson Theatre debut with this wonderful cast and team. Recent credits include Richard Bailey in Kinky Boots at the Hollywood Bowl, Dwayne in the NYC Workshop of Betty Boop!, and Joe Hardy in Musical Theatre West’s Damn Yankees. Film/TV credits include Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Stories, Kristen Bell’s Encore!, and The Brink Of. James would like to thank his team at KMR and his manager Kim at Brave.
IG: @jamesdolivas
SADIE BRICKMAN REYNOLDS (Mary Lennox at certain performances, she/her). Sadie is a joyous 11-year-old and an old soul at heart. A Los Angeles native, some local theatre performances include Annie and Aladdin. Sadie enjoys voiceovers and dubbing; recent roles include Tess the Crane in Thomas & Friends and Dalimi in Doremi Dalimi. She hails from a family of performing artists and wishes to thank her mom and dad for their love, support, and guidance. Thanks also to Warren Carlyle, Rob Berman, Michael Donovan Casting and Center Theatre Group for the truly amazing opportunity to play Mary Lennox. sadiereynolds.com
KYLA JORDAN STONE (Mrs. Shelley/Nurse, Understudy for Martha, she/her). Kyla Stone is ecstatic to be making her CTG debut in the theatre she saw her first show at the age of 5. You may have seen her on tour as the first Black Anya in Anastasia, or at The Muny as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Other credits include Johanna (Sweeney Todd), Judy Bernly (9 to 5), and the Leading Player (Pippin). BFA Theatre Performance, Chapman U. Love and thanks to her mom, Conner, HCKR, and Sweet180. IG: @kylastone
VISHAL VAIDYA (Fakir, he/him). Ahmanson Theatre debut! Broadway: Groundhog Day. Off-Broadway: Merrily We Roll Along (New York Theatre Workshop); Road Show, 1776 (City Center); Einstein’s Dreams (Prospect). Regional: Come Fall in Love (Old Globe), Swept Away (Berkeley Rep), How to Succeed… (Kennedy Center), DAVE (Arena Stage), Music Man (Olney Theatre), Frog and Toad (Adventure Theatre-Helen Hayes Nomination). IG: @vishgram
DAVID S. FRANKLIN (Production Stage Manager he/him). Center Theatre Group Highlights: An Enemy of the People, Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème, Art, Romance, The Cherry Orchard, Curtains, Nightingale, The History Boys, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Parade, The Subject Was Roses, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Randy Newman’s Harps and Angels, God of Carnage, Vigil, Waiting for Godot, Los Otros, Red, Seminar, Tribes, Humor Abuse, The Steward of Christendom, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Bent, The Christians, Disgraced, A View From The Bridge, Zoot Suit, Archduke, King of the Yees, Head of Passes, Valley of the Heart, Linda Vista, Lackawanna Blues, A Play Is a Poem, A Christmas Carol (Western Tour), King James, The Old Man & The Pool, 2:22 – A Ghost Story, and had the pleasure of assisting on Soft Power. Other Los Angeles: Los Angeles Theatre Center in its heyday from 1985–1990, Pasadena Playhouse, and the Geffen Playhouse. Regional: Seattle Rep, Intiman Theatre. New York: Public Theater. Tours: Europe—Quotations from a Ruined City, Law of Remains (with Reza Abdoh’s Dar a Luz company).
MICHELLE BLAIR (Stage Manager, she/her) has enjoyed a long history of stage managing in Los Angeles and has worked extensively with Center Theatre Group on over 40 productions at their three theaters. Other favorites include A Christmas Carol First National Tour, The Pee-wee Herman Show at Club Nokia, A Long Bridge Over Deep Waters with Cornerstone Theater Company, Henry IV with Shakespeare Center Los Angeles, Jersey Boys in Las Vegas, and Eurydice and La Traviata with the Los Angeles Opera. Graduate of the University of Southern California and the University of Amsterdam. Mom to 14-year-old Liam and 11-year-old Imogen. For Susie Walsh.
MIRIAM E. MENDOZA (Stage Manager, she/her) is an El Paso, Texas native who moved to Southern California where she received her MFA in Stage Management from UC Irvine. Since graduating, she has worked with fabulous companies such as New Swan Shakespeare Festival, Lake Dillon Theatre Company, and the Walt Disney Company. Miriam is thrilled to be back with Center Theatre Group and recently got married!
MARSHA NORMAN (Book & Lyrics). Marsha Norman is the winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize, Blackburn Prize, Hull-Warriner, and Drama Desk Awards for her play, ‘night Mother. In 1992, she won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for her book for the Broadway musical, The Secret Garden. She also wrote the book for the Broadway musical, The Color Purple; she received a Tony nomination for the original production, and a Tony Award for the 2016 revival. Her play, The Master Butchers Singing Club, premiered at the Guthrie Theatre in the fall of 2010. She won a Peabody Award for her writing on the HBO television series, In Treatment, starring Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Wiest. Her most recent work is the adaptation of The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony for Actors and Orchestra, with music conducted and written by Jason Robert Brown. The CD has been released by TRW and PS Classics.
Her other plays include Getting Out, for which she won the John Gassner Medallion and the American Theatre Critics Association Citation, Third And Oak: The Laundromat, The Pool Hall, The Holdup, Traveler In The Dark, Sarah and Abraham, Loving Daniel Boone, Trudy Blue, and Last Dance.
Her television and film credits include ‘night Mother, starring Sissy Spacek and Anne Bancroft, The Laundromat, starring Carol Burnett and Amy Madigan; The Pool Hall, starring James Earl Jones; Face of a Stranger, starring Gena Rowlands and Tyne Daly; Cooler Climate, starring Sally Field and Judy Davis; Audrey Hepburn, Custody of the Heart, and most recently, Samantha, An American Girl. She spent one year as Co-Executive Producer of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and wrote the Gina episodes of season two of HBO’s In Treatment. The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony for Actors and Orchestra, written by Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman, was released by TRW and PS Classics on June 22, 2011.
Her other published work includes Four Plays, Collected Works Of Marsha Norman, Vol. 1, and a novel, The Fortune Teller. She has Grammy and Emmy nominations, as well as grants and awards from, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, among others. She has won the Margo Jones Award, the Sidney Kingsley Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Guild Hall Academy of Arts and Letters. Ms. Norman is Co-Chair, with Christopher Durang, of the Playwriting Department of The Juilliard School. She writes and lectures frequently on the theatre and has 18 honorary degrees from American colleges and universities. She was elected to membership in the Fellowship of Southern Writers and serves on the Governing Board of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. She sat on the Board Trustees of Agnes Scott College from 2001–2011 and was the Chair of the Academic Affairs committee from 2008–2011. She is a former Vice-President of the Dramatists Guild of America. She is a native of Kentucky and currently lives in New York.
Most recently, she received the William Inge Distinguished Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Award, and the Career Achievement Award from the Dramatists Guild of America. In 2016, Marsha Norman was inducted into The Theatre Hall of Fame.
LUCY SIMON (Music). When Lucy Simon was in grade school, a class assignment was to memorize a poem and recite it in class. The only way she could do it was to put it to a melody. The poem she chose was Wynken Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field. It is the first song she ever wrote. Several years later, when she and her sister Carly were folk singers, they recorded the song and it became a chart hit. Her continuing joy is to be able to reach under the word, poem, lyric or text and find an emotional musical translation.
When The Secret Garden opened at the St. James Theatre in 1991, Ms. Simon was the third woman in history to compose
for the Broadway stage. Ms. Simon has garnered multiple honors for her work, including Grammy and Drama Desk Awards and a Tony nomination for Best Score. She recently received the 2018 Samuel French Award for Sustained Excellence in American Theater.
The Secret Garden has enjoyed numerous productions internationally and throughout the United States. In 2020, Alexis Soloski chose The Secret Garden cast album as one of the top cast albums she would bring to a desert island.
Ms. Simon composed the music for the stage musical of Boris Pasternak’s Nobel Prize-winning novel Doctor Zhivago. It was produced on Broadway in 2015 after a successful, award-winning production in Australia in 2011, starring Anthony Warlow. It is currently enjoying sold-out performances in Germany and Austria, with cast recordings, and was awarded 2018 Best New Musical in Poland.
Ms. Simon wrote and produced the songs and soundtrack for the multi-award-winning HBO movie The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom and received two Grammy Awards for her In Harmony albums, which she co-wrote and produced.
WARREN CARLYLE (Director/Choreographer, he/him) is an Emmy Award nominated choreographer as well as a Tony Award, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award winner and four-time Tony award nominee for both directing and choreography. Broadway: The Music Man; Kiss Me Kate; After Midnight (Tony Award winner); Hello Dolly!; Chaplin; Finians Rainbow; She Loves Me; On The Twentieth Century; The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway; A Tale of Two Cities; A Christmas Story; Follies. Upcoming: Harmony (directing and choreography). Other: Hugh Jackman’s 2019 World Tour; New York City Ballet, Live at Lincoln Center (Emmy nomination), The Rockettes, Carnegie Hall, six seasons on SYTYCD on FOX.
@warrencarlyle
ROB BERMAN (Music Supervisor, he/him). In 15 years as music director of Encores! at New York City Center, Rob conducted over 35 shows culminating with last year’s production of Into the Woods. Other Broadway music supervision and conducting includes Bright Star; Dames at Sea; Finian’s Rainbow; White Christmas; The Pajama Game; The Apple Tree; Wonderful Town and Promises, Promises. Winner of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction and six-time nominee for The Kennedy Center Honors on CBS.
JASON SHERWOOD (Set Designer, he/him) designed the 2020 Oscars and RENT Live, for which he received consecutive Emmy Awards. Other work: Tours for Sam Smith, Spice Girls, Sara Bareilles, performances for Janelle Monae, Eminem, Camila Cabello, and world premiere productions at New York Theatre Workshop, Atlantic Theatre Company, the ART, and many regional theatres. Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, and Henry Hewes nominations.
@JasonSherwoodDesign
ANN HOULD-WARD (Costume Designer, she/her). A Tony Award winner for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Tony nominee for the original Broadway productions of Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George, Ms. Hould-Ward’s stage credits include the West End production of The Prince of Egypt, as well as countless other Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Ms. Hould-Ward’s work has been seen in over 35 international companies of Beauty and the Beast, and her other designs are featured in shows all over the world. She has more than 150 regional theatre credits. Ms. Hould-Ward is the recipient
of the inaugural Patricia Zipprodt Award for Innovative Costume Design.
KEN BILLINGTON (Co-Lighting Designer). Over 100 Broadway shows, including the original Sweeney Todd, Waitress, Sunday in the Park with George (2008 & 2017), The Drowsy Chaperone, and Footloose. His Tony-Award lighting for Chicago has been seen in 36 countries. This season: The new Broadway musical New York, New York and the West End Production of Crazy for You. Other Projects: The Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes, Fantasmic! at Disneyland. Ken is a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame.
BRIAN MONAHAN (Co-Lighting Designer, he/him). Brian and Ken co-designed the Broadway hit The Drowsy Chaperone (Tony Nomination) and The Woman In Black (Old Globe, Off-Broadway). Other designs: The Disney Symphonic Legacy Concert at Disney Concert Hall; Sweet Charity at Reprise, and South Street; A New Musical at the Pasadena Playhouse. Brian designed concerts for Charles Aznavour (Carnegie Hall & US Tour); Frank Sinatra (12 World Tours); Frank Sinatra’s 75th Birthday Celebration for CBS; and The Ultimate Event: Frank, Liza, and Sammy for Showtime (ACE Award).
DAN MOSES SCHREIER (Sound Designer, all pronouns). Broadway: Flying Over Sunset, A Soldier’s Play, Gary—A Sequel to Titus Andronicus, The Iceman Cometh, Falsettos, American Psycho, world premieres of August Wilson’s Radio Golf and Gem of the Ocean, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, the fiftieth anniversary production of West Side Story, Gypsy (Patti LuPone), Sondheim on Sondheim, A Little Night Music, John Doyle’s production of Sweeney Todd, Assassins, Pacific Overtures, Topdog/Underdog, Into the Woods, Noise/Funk, others. Compositions for Broadway include: The Merchant of Venice (Al Pacino), Julius Caesar (Denzel Washington), The Glass Menagerie (Jessica Lange), The Tempest (Patrick Stewart). Recent Projects: Soundscape for a new work for the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Duncan Sheik’s The Secret Life of Bees, Barry Manilow’s Harmony. Awards: five Tony Award nominations, five Drama Desk Awards, Obie Award for Sustained Excellence.
VICTORIA TINSMAN (Hair & Makeup Designer, she/her) is a recent transplant from NYC and is thrilled to be a part of this beautiful production. Broadway Credits: Mrs. Doubtfire, Pretty Woman, Cats (Broadway and Tour), She Loves Me, Fish in the Dark, Amazing Grace, Fun Home, A Delicate Balance, Rocky, Phantom of the Opera. TV Credits: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (s3&5), The Other Two, The Wiz LIVE!, Marvel Universe LIVE! Bachelor’s of Fine Arts—University of North Carolina School of the Arts. @victoria_tinsman
JOEL GOLDES (Dialect Coach, he/him). CTG: 2:22 – A Ghost Story, Soft Power, Sweat, Immediate Family, Tribes. Theatre: Come From Away (All English-speaking companies worldwide and Apple TV+), Memphis (La Jolla Playhouse). Representative Film/TV: Washington Black, The Woman King, The First Lady, The Shrink Next Door, 24, Escape at Dannemora, Jingle Jangle, The Company Men, The Crazy Ones (coaching Robin Williams), Hatfields & McCoys (for which client Kevin Costner won Best Actor Emmy).
TheDialectCoach.com
SARA EDWARDS (Associate Director, she/her). Broadway Associate: The Music Man; Hello, Dolly!; After Midnight (Tony award winner, Best Choreography); Follies. Other Associate Work: The Sting starring Harry Connick Jr; New York Spring Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes; NYC Ballet Jerome Robbins; Something to Dance About; Cagney; Sinatra: A Voice for the Century; Hugh Jackman’s World Tour; On Your Toes; Me and My Girl. As Director/Choreographer: Anything Goes; Tick, Tick, Boom!; Grease!. Performed on Broadway: She Loves Me, Follies, Chaplin, White Christmas. @sara_cathleen
SASHA KOZIAK (Associate Director, she/her). Sasha is thrilled to be returning to Center Theatre Group as Warren Carlyle’s associate. She first assisted Warren on the Randy Newman musical Harps and Angels alongside Director Jerry Zaks at the Mark Taper Forum. Sasha recently assisted on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 30th Anniversary Live (Understudy—Shania Twain/ Swing). She also has a Pilates and Wellness business in Los Angeles. She would like to thank her two wonderful sons for their love and support.
MICHAEL DONOVAN CASTING (Casting Director). Michael Donovan is the recipient of nine Artios awards, presented by the Casting Society of America for Outstanding Achievement in casting. Richie Ferris has received three Artios awards. In addition to previous productions cast here at the Ahmanson, the company’s credits include shows produced at the Mark Taper Forum, the Hollywood Bowl, the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts, Pasadena Playhouse, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Geffen Playhouse, the Getty Villa, the Colony Theatre, the Soraya, International City Theatre, the Garry Marshall Theatre, Ebony Repertory Theatre, Boston Court Pasadena, the 24th St. Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, San Francisco Symphony, both the Paris and the Palazzo in Las Vegas, Arizona Theatre Company, Arkansas Rep, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Rep, the Totem Pole Playhouse, and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, as well as multiple national tours. Other credits include numerous films, TV shows, and commercials. Michael is President of the Board for the Foundation for New American Musicals and serves on the Board for Camp Bravo.
Richie Ferris, CSA (Casting Director, he/him). Richie has been casting with Michael Donovan Casting for 11 years. In that time, he has won 3 Artios Awards for Outstanding Casting and been nominated 11 times for a wide array of Los Angeles and Touring theatre projects. He could not be more proud of this incredible cast in this beautiful and special show. Huge shoutout to the creative team for making this such a memorable and collaborative process. @michaeldonovancasting @richie_ferris
DANNY TROOB (Orchestrator, he/him). Danny’s career as a musician includes composing, orchestrating and conducting. Some early credits: Pacific Overtures, The Baker’s Wife (both shows dance music arrangements), Big River (Drama Desk Award winner). He orchestrated the animated features Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and Hercules. On Broadway, he orchestrated the award-winning revival of The Pajama Game. Currently his orchestrations for Hercules are in previews at the Paper Mill Playhouse.
DAN REDFELD (Music Director). Dan is thrilled to be back at Center Theatre Group! Music Director: Beauty and The Beast (Susan Egan), The Who’s Tommy (Alice Ripley), Chess (Susan Egan/Matt Morrison), My Fair Lady (Jonathan Pryce, associate MD), Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Peter Pan, Evita, Bright Star, etc. Conductor for LA Opera’s Connects since 2003. Composer: Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women (workshop stage), A Hopeful Place (featuring soprano Kristi Holden- Navona Records), Arioso for Oboe, Percussion & Strings (Santa Barbara Symphony premiere). Orchestrations: Beaches, A Christmas Story (nat. tour), concert hall (LA Opera Orchestra, Santa Barbara, New West and Pasadena Symphonies). Albums: Across the Stars: The Film Music of John Williams, Braveheart: The Film Music of James Horner, and Titanic: An Epic Musical Voyage. Info at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
danredfeld.com. Discography is available at iTunes & Amazon.
JOSH CLAYTON (Additional Orchestrations). Orchestration credits include: My Fair Lady (LCT – US Tour), The King and I (LCT – US Tour and London); Follies (Additional Orchestrations, National Theatre of London); Titanic (Signature Theatre & Milwaukee Repertory Theatre); Brigadoon (Goodman Theatre); The New Yorkers and The Cradle Will Rock (New York City Center); On a Clear Day…, Finian’s Rainbow, and Donnybrook (Irish Repertory Theatre); and several Lyrics & Lyricists (92nd Street Y). He serves as the Director of Music Administration and Score Restoration for the New York City Center Encores! Series.
PEMBERLEY PRODUCTIONS (General Management). Pemberley Productions is proud to return to Center Theatre Group to general manage The Secret Garden. At CTG, Pemberley has previously general managed Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and The Last Ship (both at the Ahmanson) and The Beauty Queen of Leenane (at the Mark Taper Forum). We are a New York-based tour booking, producing, and general management company specializing in touring international work around the USA. In the 22/23 season, we are also touring Emma Rice’s Wuthering Heights and bringing Good Chance Theatre’s celebrated production of The Jungle to Washington, D.C. after its return to St. Ann’s Warehouse. pemberleyproductions.com
DHYANA COLONY (Company Manager, she/her). Thrilled to be back at Center Theatre Group! Company management credits: Broadway: Thou Shalt Not (ACM), Chicago (CMA). National tours: Oklahoma!, What the Constitution…, Jersey Boys, Chicago, Spelling Bee, 12 Angry Men, Hairspray, Les Misérables. Other credits: Charlie Brown Christmas tour (General Manager), Million Dollar Quartet 2017–2018 Tour (Executive Producer). Three seasons at Dallas Theater Center (Associate General Manager). Studied at USC – fight on! Love to Justin, Lura and Beckley. Proud ATPAM member.
ILLUMINATION FACTORY (Production Management) provides production management and technical supervision to theatre and special events worldwide. Founded in 2022, Luke Ricca brings a decade of experience working on touring, Broadway, and international productions, including The Lehman Trilogy, The Ferryman, Network, and Disney’s Frozen.
CENTER THEATRE GROUP
MEGHAN PRESSMAN (Managing Director/CEO, she/her) joined Center Theatre Group in 2019. Previously, she served as Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (D.C.), Director of Development for Signature Theatre (N.Y.), and Associate Managing Director of Berkeley Rep. She is a graduate of Yale School of Drama/Yale School of Management, and serves as a mentor in the Theater Management program. Meghan has served as the Vice-Chair for the Theatre Communications Group Board of Directors, and is a member of the Broadway League.
DOUGLAS C. BAKER (Producing Director, he/him) joined Center Theatre Group in 1990. Doug is an active member of the Broadway League, the Independent Presenters Network (IPN), and is a proud member of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers (ATPAM). In 2013, Doug received the Broadway League’s prestigious Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management Award.
KELLEY KIRKPATRICK (Associate Artistic Director, he/him). Since his arrival at Center Theatre Group in 2005, Kelley has produced over 100 productions, readings and workshops, many of which have gone on to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and beyond. He has collaborated with celebrated artists including David Henry Hwang, Phylicia Rashad, Ruben Santiago Hudson, Michael Friedman, Culture Clash, Lucas Hnath, Roger Guenveur Smith, Les Waters, Leigh Silverman, Lauren Yee, and Danai Gurira.
GORDON DAVIDSON (Founding Artistic Director) led the Taper throughout its first 38 seasons, guiding over 300 productions to its stage and winning countless awards for himself and the theatre—including the Tony Award for theatrical excellence, Margo Jones Award, The Governor’s Award for the Arts, and a Guggenheim fellowship. The Kentucky Cycle and Angels in America (Part One) won the Pulitzer in consecutive years and, in 1994, three of the four plays nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play were from the Taper (Angels in America won). In 1989, Gordon took over the Ahmanson and, in 2004, he produced the inaugural season in the Kirk Douglas Theatre.