A Note From The Director
This show is one of the most charming pieces of theater I have ever had the privilege to direct. When you combine a show often described as a “love letter” with an outstanding cast, a crew that has gone above and beyond in so many ways, a music director who has painstakingly made the score so beautiful it touches your soul and a first-rate choreographer; the result is not just a night out at the theater, but hopefully becomes a night that is full of warmth and love you can almost physically feel. We were also fortunate enough to have volunteers jump on board to help us when needed and the Civic staff who creatively helped the production come to life. I, personally, have not seen a cast and production team who gave more time, heart and caring to “their show” in a long time – it is the quintessential example of community theater and only confirms to me why it is so important to keep the arts forefront in our lives.
This amazing cast and crew wish you a wonderful Holiday Season. We hope tonight you can forget the outside world and join us in an atmosphere of love and goodwill. This is our gift to you.
Thank you to all involved from the bottom of my heart.
Kathie Doyle-Lipe, Director
Taylor Clanagan (Ensemble) is excited to be performing in the Studio Theater! Recent credits include Ensemble for Sweeney Todd (Stage Left), Funny Girl and Elf The Musical (both with Civic). “I’d love to thank my friends and family for supporting all my creative endeavors and always being there to cheer me on.”
Taleah Graves (Ensemble) comes from a background of classical singing, currently training at the Tom Todoroff Studio for actors. Recently she’s performed onstage as Cherry in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Civic), Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance (The Haugh PAC) and Elizabeth in Frankenstein The Musical (Don Lugo PAC). In her spare time Taleah enjoys hanging out with her golden retriever and tamaskan wolf-dog.
Jonah Hill (Busboy) has over ten years of dance training in ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary and for two years he served as the artistic director of Jubilation Dance Ministry at Whitworth University. Recent credits include Ensemble in Escape to Margaritaville (Spokane Valley Summer Theater), various roles in Woyzeck, Francis Flute/Ensemble in Something Rotten! (both with Whitworth University) and Pete in Almost, Maine (Musical Theatre Performance Academy). Dabbling in a wide variety of theatrical responsibilities beyond acting, Jonah has directed and choreographed First Date: The Musical at Whitworth, composed music, and served as a sound designer for various productions at the university. When not spending time in a theater, Jonah works as an activities coordinator at Fairwood Assisted Living and enjoys riding his bike.
Nathan Hoyt (Ladislav Sipos) is glad to be back onstage at Civic after performing in last season’s Jersey Boys as Nick Massi. He received a degree in Music Education from Eastern Washington University where he also received a Meritorious Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for Music Direction for Heathers The Musical. Other favorite credits include music director for Wanda’s World (Civic Academy), assistant music director and aux. keys for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and ensemble in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (both with Civic). In his free time he enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons and hosting fighting game tournaments.
Michael Hynes (Mr. Maraczek) has been fortunate enough to have been involved with almost every theater group around the Spokane/CDA area both acting and directing over the last 33 years. He’s excited to be back at Civic having last been seen as Mr. Wormwood in Matilda. Since then, you may have seen him as Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob the Musical, Nostradamus in Something Rotten!, or recently as Uncle Ernie in Tommy all at Aspire Community Theatre. Or you may have seen his directorial work in March when he directed Seussical the Musical for Spokane Children’s Theater. Favorite roles include The Cowardly Lion in Wizard of Oz; Jekyll/Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde; Nostradaus in Something Rotten! and Hanratty in Catch Me If You Can. When not on stage, he’s singing with THE KEVIN SHAY BAND. He especially wants to thank his BFF Kelly for watching Teebo so he can do this show!
Joe Henson (Mr. Keller) is excited to be making his Civic Theatre debut! Joe hails from Whitworth University with a BA in Theater (Acting) and Speech Communications, where he received an Enhanced Drama Talent Scholarship. His recent credits include director for Gruesome Playground Injuries, Nick Bottom in Something Rotten!, Woyzeck in Woyzeck (all with Whitworth) and M in Lungs (independent production). During the day Joe works as an Activity Assistant at Rockwood Retirement Community and enjoys movies, improv, board games, long walks, and his pet dog Buckets and tortoise Glen.
David Mannino (Ensemble) is happy to be back at Civic after performing in the ensemble of The Wizard of Oz last season. Other recent roles are Jayce Squires in The Music Man, Friedrich in The Sound of Music (both with Spokane Children’s Theater) and Phil Janes in Juvie (TAC at the Lake). Offstage, David enjoys photography and biking.
Nicholas Roy Morgan III (Ensemble) is returning to Civic after performing as Dr. Seward in the studio theatre’s Dracula. Other favorite credits include Ensemble in Cabaret (Civic), The Baker in Into The Woods (TAC at the Lake) and director of Important Hats of the Twentieth Century (Upstart Players).
David Olson (Georg Nowack) is excited to be back onstage at Civic after portraying the role of Mal Beineke in the season opener The Addams Family! Other favorite roles include Ensemble in Sweeney Todd (Stage Left) and Lester in Duck Hunter Shoots Angel (Civic). David is thankful for his loving and supportive family!
Mary Ormsby (Ilona Ritter) is happy to be on the Civic stage. Her favorite roles include Baby Duckling in Honk! (Spokane Children’s Theater), Fred’s Daughter/Street Urchin in Scrooge, Ensemble in The Wizard of Oz and Ensemble in Jersey Boys (all with Civic). “Thank you to my family for always being there for me! Mom, dad, and Katie, I couldn’t do this without you!”
Carmyn A. Parks (Ensemble) is a classical and jazz singer with a BM in Music Education and Vocal Performance. Her recent credits include Ancestor in The Addams Family (Civic), Ensemble in Hänsel und Gretel (Berlin Opera Academy) and Soupy Sue in Urinetown (Eastern Washington University). In addition to singing, she enjoys playing video games and spending time with her three cats. This fall Carmyn also starts her role as the Shadle Park High School Choir Director.
Wren Rhodes (Ensemble) spends their days as a toddler teacher and party princess! In addition to her 10 years of dance training, Wren received Overall 1st Place for Tap Dance at Spotlight Dance Cup and for Voice at Onstage New York Competition. Their favorite roles include Ancestor in The Addams Family (Civic), Winifred Sanderson in Halloween Spooktacular and director for Encanto: Live on Stage (both with Dreams Are Forever Events).
Katelyn Rush (Ensemble) returns to Civic after performing in the ensemble in The Wizard of Oz and The Cloaked Figure in Looking for Business from Civic’s 32nd Playwrights’ Forum Festival. Recently she also performed in the ensemble of The Music Man at Spokane Children’s Theater. Offstage, she works as a lending specialist at Washington Trust Bank, a massage therapist and is a mom to a wonderful and crazy four year old daughter.
Heather Stephens (Ensemble) received her BA in Theater from Eastern Washington University and was awarded the Rose of Sharon and Legacy Robe from CYT. Recent credits include Ancestor in The Addams Family (Civic), Ophelia in Drowning Ophelia, Illyrian/Ensemble in Twelfth Night The Musical (both with EWU Theater) and Marie in Cinderella (Spokane Children’s Theater). Offstage she enjoys sewing, reading, photography, and spending time we her dog and three cats.
Jonah Taylor (Steven Kodaly) is excited to return to performing after choreographing the season opener The Addams Family at Civic. He has 18 years of experience in children’s, community, and professional theatre, including a special collaboration performance of West Side Story with the Spokane Symphony and Civic. Recently he’s been on stage as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (Coeur d’Alene Summer Theater), Alfred/White Rabbit in Alice by Heart and Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys (both with Civic). He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant support. Love one another. @jonahrtaylor
Ryan Wasson (Waiter) welcomes you to Season 76! He’s made a home at Spokane Civic Theatre over the past 5 years. His recent credits include Vice Principal Douglas Panch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Civic Academy), an Ancestor in The Addams Family, James Watson in Photograph 51, and Ensemble in The Wizard of Oz (all with Civic). Ryan also works in the area as an actor, director, and photographer in addition to working as the Communications Assistant at Civic. He thanks Kathie, the creative team, the cast and crew for such a positive and loving environment. He also gives an extra thank you to his sister for introducing him to this jewel box of a show. And he thanks his friends and family for their continued support and endless love. @rgwassonofficial
Taylor Wenglikowski (Amalia Balash) is delighted to be back with Civic for this beloved story. Last seen in Alice by Heart this summer, she can’t wait to make her Studio Theater debut. Some of her favorite recent credits include Alice Spencer in Alice By Heart (Civic), Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (Stage Left), and Natalie in All Shook Up (Aspire). A big thanks to the Civic cast and crew and her family for the constant love and financial support. Enjoy the show! @taylor.wenglikowski
Eli Wissing (Arpad Laszlo) is fourteen years old and thrilled to be returning to the Civic stage. Favorite past roles include Tobias in Sweeny Todd at Stage Left, Les in Disney’s Newsies at Spokane Valley Summer Theatre, Flounder in The Little Mermaid at Spokane Children’s Theatre, and Michael Banks in Mary Poppins at Spokane Civic Theatre. Eli thanks Kathie for this opportunity and is happy to do his third show with her!
Kathie Doyle-Lipe (Director, Choreographer) has been involved with Spokane Civic Theatre for nearly 40 years! In addition to being a Resident Director, she also was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award and First Place for Choreography at ACCTFest National. She also earned other local awards including Best Of Spokane for both acting and directing. Most recently Kathie directed and choreographed The Wizard of Oz, Matilda The Musical, Elf The Musical, and A Christmas Story: The Musical at Civic. Onstage she performed as the Stage Manager in The Play That Goes Wrong, the show that opened Civic’s “Welcome Back” Season in January 2022 after its extended closure. Kathie would like to thank her incredible crew, amazing cast and dedicated parents for all their help, time and hard work.
Henry McNulty (Music Director and Conductor) has served as Music Director of Spokane Civic Theatre since 2017. A vocalist and self-taught pianist, he earned his degree in Music Composition from Eastern Washington University. As an actor, he spent five seasons performing with Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, including Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet and Smudge in Forever Plaid. His most recent appearance on the Civic stage was playing Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein. Henry is proud to call Civic his “home theatre,” having started here at a young age, performing in various summer camps, Main Stage shows, and as a member of the Box ‘n’ Hat Players.
Angela Rose Pierson (Choreographer) is thrilled to be back at Civic working with Kathie since last dancing with her here back in 2012. Since then, Angela resided in NYC where she instructed at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center and the Eastern School of Music & Arts. Since moving back she has been a professor at Whitworth University, teaching Intro to Theatre, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop. Most recent local choreography credits include Escape to Margaritaville and Newsies at SVST, Twelfth Night the Musical and RENT at Eastern Washington University, Big Fish at Lewis & Clark HS and Sound of Music at Whitworth. Selected performance credits include Francisca in West Side Story at Utah Festival Opera Theatre and Dora/Vocal Coach/Dancer in Singin’ in the Rain at Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre. Angela just completed her M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts with a Performance Creation Concentration from Goddard College. Next up she will be directing and choreographing The Prom at Eastern Washington University.
Trudy Rogers (Stage Manager, Sound Board Operator, Props) has been involved with theatre for 45 years and still loves learning all the many aspects that bring shows to life. Her favorite credits are Mother in Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Director for Mary Poppins (both with Spokane Children’s Theatre), Stage Manager for A Christmas Story: The Musical and Grandma Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof (both with Civic). When not at the theatre, Trudy fosters kittens and dogs with Partners for Pets
Marty Kittelson (Assistant Stage Manager, Props) has been involved with theatre in every capacity including over 30 years with Woodland Theatre in Kettle Falls, 1983-2013. Her props and scenic painting work can be found in many Civic shows over the last few seasons. In addition to all things theatre, she loves playing the ukulele with several groups of wonderful musicians.
Janice Abramson (Producer) has been involved with Spokane Civic Theatre family since the summer of 1975. Since then she has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at Civic and the Individual Arts Contribution Award from the Spokane Arts Commission. Janice also works full-time for Spokane Public Schools and part-time for Spokane Chiefs Hockey Club. She is very excited to be back at the theatre. “I want to thank my family and friends for being there for me.”
Laura Valenti (Scenic Design) is thrilled to make her West Coast debut with Spokane Civic Theatre! She is a NYC-based set designer, model maker, and scenic artist. Recent design credits include Monumental Theatre Co. (DC)’s Spring Awakening; Stella Adler Studio of Acting NYC’s Hedda Gabler and The Violet Hour; Katonah Classic Stage’s Later Life, Betrayal, The Dumb Waiter and Columbia University’s Fabulation by Lynn Nottage. Laura is an associate and model maker to several other set designers including Emmy Award-winning set designer, Jason Ardizzone-West, Tony Award-winning set designer, Alexander Dodge, and award-winning international designer, Scott Davis. Laura’s passion lies within working in educational theatre; She was an adjunct teaching instructor at Point Park University in 2020/2021 as the Stagecraft instructor and interim Scenic Charge. She also works annually with her high school alma mater in Pittsburgh (Frozen, Addams Family, Legally Blonde). www.
Jamie L. Suter (Costume Design) holds a BA in Theater Design and Technical Production with concentrations in Costume Design and Directing from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC, studying under Broadway professionals Gail Brassard, Liz Covey, and Bob Anton. Her favorite credits include Costume Design for The Wonder!: A Woman Keeps a Secret (T. Schreiber Studio), Assistant to the Costume Designer for Sweeney Todd (Avery Fisher Hall), Assistant Costume Designer for The Lucky Chance (Theresa Lang Theater), Director/Costume Designer for Seven Femmes (Rathskeller Studios), and Costume Designer for The Lost Cabaret (NYC Fringe Festival). Jamie loves being part of the fun and frivolity of live theater, and is incredibly happy to do that at her home away from home, Spokane Civic Theatre.
Bryan D. Durbin (Master Electrician) has a BA in theatre and is very excited to be back as Civic’s master electrician and lighting designer following the long hiatus. “I want to thank my family Heather, Evie, and Abby for all of their support.”
Kelly Brauhn (Props) has worked behind the scenes at Civic as props/backstage crew for The Wizard of Oz, backstage for Matilda and props assistant/backstage for Elf The Musical. “I enjoy working with my wife creating props and working with Kathie bringing her amazing musicals to life!”
Kim Brauhn (Props) enjoys working backstage with her family, creating props, making new friends with the cast and crew, and being part of Kathie’s magical shows! Her favorite backstage work at Civic includes props assistant/backstage for The Wizard of Oz and Matilda, props mistress for Elf The Musical, and quick changer for A Christmas Story. “Thank you to the team for another fantastical adventure!”
Denny Pham (Tech Director) is a local actor and the Technical Director for Spokane Civic Theatre. He holds a BA in Theatre from Eastern Washington University in Acting (Stanislavsky, Michael Chekhov and Shakespeare), and Technical Theatre with focus in Scenic Design and Lighting. He was awarded a Merit of Acting from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for his role as Doctor Nemur in Flowers for Algernon. He is a technical theatre veteran with 10 years of experience working professionally and locally in over 115 productions both on and off stage. Favorite credits Acting: Dennis Ziegler in This Is Our Youth, Caliban in The Tempest, Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q; Scenic Design: Cabaret, The Play That Goes Wrong, Murder on the Orient Express; Lighting Design: Chicago. He is thrilled and proud to be part of a company of artists that pushes for all degrees of creativity. @Dennydpham
Joshua Baig (Master Carpenter) is a graduate of the Eastern Washington University Theatre department and Spokane Falls Community College Theatre. Recent favorite credits include Paul Roms in Important Hats of the Twentieth Century (Upstart Players) and Sebastian in The Tempest (EWU Theatre).
Joseph Brauhn (Backstage Crew) recently graduated high school and has enlisted in the US Army as Motor Transport, shipping out for basic training January 2024. Excited to get in one last show, his other favorites have been backstage for Matilda, Elf The Musical, (both with Civic) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Civic Academy), and Paperboy in Henry and Ramona (Spokane Children’s Theater). “I always have fun working with Kathie’s team and hope everyone enjoys the show!”