Artisan Center Theater »

All Hands On Deck

January 2 - January 28

SPECIAL EVENT

New Year's Gala, December 31, 2011 from 7pm-Midnight. Hors D'ouvres, Socializing, Music, Dancing, and a Special Performance of ALL HANDS ON DECK! $40 per person. Reservations strongly suggested. Purchase tickets to this Special Event!

SYNOPSIS - Musical

ALL SINGING! ALL DANCING! ALL BIG BAND! Based on Bob Hope’s 1942 USO tour to the troops in the field, ALL HANDS ON DECK! is a new, two-act revue performed by four charismatic singer/dancer/comics and a 9-piece orchestra featuring the songs, dances and laughs that America has loved since the ’40s.

Songs include: Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Atchison Topeka And The Santa Fe, I’m In The Mood For Love, Pennsylvania Polka, I’ll Never Smile Again, Any Bonds Today?, Don’t Fence Me In, America The Beautiful, Deep In The Heart Of Texas, Thanks For The Memory and a powerful Military Medley. ALL HANDS ON DECK! boasts over 40 classic Big Band hits in original arrangements all packaged in a fun-filled, true-to-life reproduction of the kind of USO show Bob Hope and Jack Benny would have taken to the troops: classic humor and great music from those special days of road shows, war-bond drives, and radio broadcasts.

Step back into 1942 with ALL HANDS ON DECK!

WHO’S IN THE PERFORMANCE

DIRECTED by:

Jody Madaras

Musical by:

Jody Madaras

ORIGINAL CONCEPT by:

Jody Madaras & Quincy Marr

MUSIC ADAPTED & ARRANGED AND ADDITIONAL MUSIC & LYRICS by:

Jody Madaras

PRESENTED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH:

Miracle or 2 Productions, Inc.

Amy Atkins

Role: Daisy Maxwell

Amy is thrilled to be returning to the Artisan stage! Audiences may remember her as Christine Daae in PHANTOM, and as Nellie Forbush in SOUTH PACIFIC. Other favorite roles include Lily in THE SECRET GARDEN and Kathy Selden in SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN at Plaza Theatre Company. Miss Atkins has served as choreographer for several shows at Stolen Shakespeare Guild and for the Vocal Edition at Birdville High School. Amy holds a BA in Music from Dallas Baptist University and teaches private voice lessons in Birdville ISD and at Covenant Christian Academy.

Kristina Bain

Role: Betty Blake

Kristina is pleased to once again appear on the Artisan stage. She previously was a part of HELLO DOLLY and JOSEPH AND THE … DREAMCOAT. Some of her favorite roles outside of Artisan include Nellie Forbush (SOUTH PACIFIC). Eulalie Shinn (THE MUSIC MAN), Corie (BAREFOOT IN THE PARK), and The Queen of Hearts (ALICE IN WONDERLAND). She would like to thank all her friends and family for their undying support. She is very grateful to be given the opportunity to work with all these fine people.

Natalie Berry

Role: Betty Blake

Natalie is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this production of ALL HANDS ON DECK. Her other acting credits include CITY OF ANGELS and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at FMPAT, THE TEMPAST at Dallas Shakespeare Festival and Teatro Dallas’ THE PRETENTIOUS MAIDENS. She has also appeared in NUNSENSE, WEST SIDE STORY, SWING and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD here at Artisan, and currently works as Artisan’s Artie’s Playhouse Producer and Director.

Alison Borish

Role: Andrews Sisters Guest Star

Alison is excited to be part of ALL HANDS ON DECK! Other favorite acting credits include: SCROOGE (Kathy Cratchit), MULAN JR (Mulan), PHANTOM (young girl), ANNIE (Homeless child), DOROTHY & THE WIZARD OF OZ (Dorothy), LES MISERABLES (Young Cosette), MARY POPPINS (Mary Poppins), BRIGADOON (chorus) and several other ARTIE’S SHOWS. Her dream is to someday be on Broadway. She would like to thank her family for their support and God for the gift of song.

Brian Boyce

Role: John Handley

Brian is thrilled to be in his first production at Artisan Theater. Some credits include INTO THE WOODS (Narrator and Mysterious Man) at Coppell High School, GYPSY (Angie) at Lyric, and JUNGLE BOOK (King Louie) at Lees’s Summit North high school, and Harry in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE at Theatre Arlington. He is looking forward to continuing musical theater in college after graduating this spring. Brian would like to thank Jody for this great opportunity to work with him on this production of ALL HANDS ON DECK.

Emma Colwell

Role: Andrews Sisters Guest Star

Emma thanks God for her talent and opportunities given, and hopes to glorify Jesus Christ with all of her performances. She also thanks Mr. Madaras and Mrs. Blair for including her in this wonderful show! Emma’s favorite roles include Annie in ANNIE, Lucy in PRINCE CASPIAN, and Mary Lennox in THE SECRET GARDEN. She is home schooled and enjoys pet sitting and gardening.

Hannah Cooper

Role: Maxwell House Guest Star/Daisy Understudy

Hannah is 18 years old, and thrilled to be in her fourth Artisan production. Recent roles include Florence (PHANTOM) and Ensign MacGregor (SOUTH PACIFIC) here at Artisan. She owns her own harp business, and plays in the DFW metroplex for weddings, corporate events, brunches, etc. She enjoys friends, acting, and getting crazy with her voice teacher! She plans to attend DBU in Fall 2012 and pursue an English major. Gloire à Dieu seul! www.simplyharptx.com

Tim Dewhirst

Role: Announcer

Tim is delighted to appear again on the ACT stage with the ALL HANDS ON DECK cast, crew, and Director Jody Madaras. Tim’s favorite roles include Jacob Marley in SCROOGE, Frank in OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, Elwood p. Dowd in HARVEY, Maurice in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Ralph Parker in A CHRISTMAS STORY, Matthew Cuthbert in ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, Richard Maynard in MOON OVER BUFFALO, and Theo Van Gogh in the one-man play VINCENT. His day job is Director of Training at SimCOM where they train corporate pilots to fly their airplanes. His full-time job is his family - wife Robin, children and grandchildren – in whom he finds great delight and whom he thanks for allowing theatrical indulgences!

Bonnie Gentry

Role: Andrews Sisters Guest Star

Bonnie is very excited to be a part of her fourth show at Artisan! She was last seen on the Artisan stage as Louisa in THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Other favorites include Chip in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and Violet in BOXCAR CHILDREN, both performed at Creative Arts Theatre and School (CATS) in Arlington. Previously, Bonnie danced with her school, Art Ballet Academy, in their annual show, THE NUTCRACKER, as Clara. Bonnie adores singing, acting, reading, playing with her dogs, and ballet dancing. She would love to thank her Mom, Dad, and all her brothers for setting a great example on and off the stage. Psalm 149:3

Kyle Holt

Role: Announcer

Kyle recently played Pharoah in Artisan’s production of JOSEPH AND THE … DREAMCOAT. At Artisan he has also been seen as Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES, Phantom in PHANTOM, and Lancelot in CAMELOT. Other places he played Frederic in PIRATES OF PENZANCE at GPAC and Javert in LES MISERABLES in Grapevine.

Jordan Marrett

Role: Maxwell House Guest Star

Jordan is thrilled to be in ALL HANDS ON DECK! Favorite shows include THE MUSIC MAN at Buzz Productions, BYE BYE BIRDIE, and INTO THE WOODS at The Little Theater Company where she played her favorite role The Witch. Her hobbies include traveling and learning other languages. Jordan would like to thank her family for their support in all of her craziness.

Michael Pandolfo

Role: John Handley

Michael is seventeen years old and has been singing, dancing and acting since the age of eight. He was recently seen in SANTA CLAUSE THE MUSICAL and THE SECRET GARDEN at Casa Mañana Theatre, and JOSEPH AND THE … DREAMCOAT here at Artisan. Classically trained since the age of eight, Michael intends to pursue a career in opera and classical music and will be performing in the Fort Worth Opera chorus this year. Apart from theatre, Michael enjoys playing guitar and ukulele, writing songs and spending time with his family and friends. He would like to thank his mom and dad, for their continued support (and for the rides), his brother for being his pal, and of course Jody for this fantastic opportunity. Enjoy the Show!

Claire Stewart

Role: Daisy Maxwell

Claire is making her Artisan Center Theatre debut in this production. Claire is a proud graduate of the TCU School of Music. She is a children's minister by day and musical theatre enthusiast by night. Some of her past roles include Narrator in JOSEPH AND THE … DREAMCOAST, M’Lynn in STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and the title role in SNOW WHITE. Claire would like to thank Dee Ann and Jody for this incredible opportunity. "To God be the glory!"

Jody Madaras

Role: Author/Director/Choreographer/Ted Crosley

Broadway: Finian's Rainbow (with Lauren Bacall). First National Tour: The Drowsy Chaperone (u/s Man In Chair, Dance Captain), Irving Berlin's I Love A Piano - Japan tour. Off-Broadway: Peg O' My Heart (Irish Repertory), An Evening of Frank Loesser (92nd St Y). Television: As The World Turns. Regional: White Christmas (Actors' Playhouse, VMT), Crazy For You (First Euro-Tour, S.S. Norway, Phoenix Theatre - Zoni Award Best Actor 2008), Godspell (with Rex Smith), Annie (Paper Mill), Red, Hot & Blue! (Goodspeed Opera House), You Can't Take It With You (Two River Theatre), 42nd Street (State Theatre of North Carolina). Director/Choreographer: The Drowsy Chaperone (Gateway Playhouse), Crazy For You (Norwegian Cruise Lines), Little Women, The Musical (Toledo premiere, Orphan Productions), Heroes (premiere, P.S. 176 NYC), eight original musical revues - Pemberville Opera House. Artistic Director: Pemberville Opera House (2001-2007), Perrysburg Musical Theatre Company (2010-2011). Graduate of University of Michigan. www.jodymadaras.com

H. Richard Gwozdz

Role: Music Director

Richard is the son of the late Medical Examiner, Dr. Feliks Gwozdz and Eugenia Gwozdz. His Polish parents were in separate concentration camps during WWII. While in those concentration camps, his father entertained the German soldiers while his mother just gave the German soldiers a hard time at Auschwitz. His father met fellow American soldiers that were in those camps and was sponsored by them to come to this Great Country of America. His parents were very patriotic. “It is an honor to be in All Hands on Deck for its American Spirit and Tribute to the Military that set my parents free from Hitler, and protected America and made us proud! As my mother would always say from her heart and soul, ‘God Bless America’.”