Cast
KRISTEN HAHN*
(The Woman) Broadway: A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder; Our Town starring Paul Newman. 1st National Tour: Hello, Dolly! (Minnie Fay); A Gentleman's Guide... (Phoebe). Regional: Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown) at Maine State; Death Takes a Holiday (Grazia) at Arvada Center; Our Town (Rebecca) at Westport Country Playhouse. Film: 5 Flights Up starring Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman; Our Town (PBS Masterpiece Theatre). BFA Carnegie Mellon University. Thanks to our brilliant director Mark, Virginia Stage, my teachers, and loved ones!
MICHAEL DI LIBERTO*
(Clown #1, Mr. Memory, and others) Virginia Stage Company debut. Michael is thrilled to clown around again after previously working with Mark on this show over twelve years ago. This cast is a dream! Broadway: Wicked. Off-Broadway: Cuts (York Theatre). National/International Tours: Wicked, Annie, Cinderella, Strike Up The Band, Disney on Classic w/ the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Select Regional: The Producers (Helen Hayes Nomination, Best Actor), Beauty and the Beast (PCLO), Elf and Oliver! (Paper Mill Playhouse), Around the World in 80 Days (Hangar Theatre), Sweeney Todd, Monty Python’s Spamalot, LMNOP (Goodspeed Opera House), Titanic, The Story of My Life. Television: “The Good Fight” (Paramount+), “Evil” (Paramount+), “wecrashed” (AppleTV+), “Hit & Run” (Netflix), “The Gilded Age” (HBOMax, Season 2), and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (Amazon, upcoming release). A big thank you to Mark, Virginia Stage Company and the fabulous team at CGF Talent. For mom, forever and always. @MichaelDi_Li
JAMES TAYLOR ODOM*
(Hannay) is excited to make his Virginia Stage debut! National Tours: The D’Ysquith Family in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder and Captain Von Trapp U/S in The Sound of Music. His recent regional credits include: Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (TheatreSquared); D’Ysquith Family in GGLAM (Gateway Playhouse & Tuacahn); Rev. Tim in the US premiere of Grumpy Old Men: the musical (Ogunquit Playhouse); Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps (Cortland Repertory Theatre); The Suspects in Murder For Two (Theatresquared); Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (Prather Entertainment Group); Alan in God of Carnage (Shadowland Stages); George Banks in Mary Poppins (Tuacahn/Broadway Palm); and George Bailey In It’s a Wonderful Life: a radio play (Gainesville Theatre Alliance). He is the creator of two one-person shows: Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon and The Mystery Bookshop Musical. He holds an MFA in acting from the University of Arkansas and a BA in Theatre from Brenau University. Avalon Artists Group.
STEVE PACEK*
(Clown #2, Compere, and others) is thrilled to return to Virginia Stage Company! He last tread the board of the Wells Theater as Miss Tracy Mills in the The Legend of Georgia McBride, before the pandemic closed the show prematurely. Before that, he played Sir Henry in The Hound of the Baskervilles. And during the quarantines, he directed The Comedy of Errors in parks across Norfolk for the education department. Other credits include: Titanic (Bride/Hartley) at Milwaukee Rep; Hand to God (Jason/Tyrone) at the Alley Theatre; the World Premiere of See Monsters of the Deep (Morton Plank) at White Heron Theatre Co; The Secret Garden (Dickon) and Metamorphosis (Phaeton) at the Arden Theatre Co; Peter and the Starcatcher (Peter) at TheatreSquared & Arkansas Rep; Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour) at the Hangar Theater; The Glass Menagerie (Tom) at Cardinal Stage Co; Mary Poppins (Bert) at Quintessence; Les Miserables (Jean Prouvier) and Man of La Mancha (ensemble) at Walnut Street Theater; A New Brain (Gordo) at Theatre Horizon; The Bombitty of Errors (Dromio of Syracuse) at 11th Hour; and a show he created for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019, [Untitled Project] #213. Steve is also a director, choreographer, teacher and visual artist. Check out www.stevepacek.com for more info! Ithaca College Alum. Many thanks to Mark, Tom, Jeni, Meg and everyone here at VSC. It’s so good to be back!
Creative Team
MARK SHANAHAN
(Director) returns to Virginia Stage having directed The Hound Of The Baskervilles at Wells and his adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd online. Additionally, he is the proud author of Virginia Stage’s annual production of A Merry Little Christmas Carol. Mark is the writer and director of the hit play A Sherlock Carol, produced Off-Broadway and in London and nominated as Best New Play 2022 by the Off-Broadway Alliance. His directorial work has been seen at Alley Theatre, The Westport Playhouse, The Irish Repertory Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Theatre Squared, Arkansas Rep, White Heron, Fulton Opera House, Weston Playhouse, Florida Rep, Penguin Rep, Merrimack Rep, The Cape Playhouse, and many more. As a playwright, Mark is the author of See Monsters Of The Deep, the Off Broadway and regional hit The Dingdong, and was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writer's Association of America for his stage adaptation of The Chronology Protection Case. Mark is the creator and writer of NPR's Radio "Ghost Light Series" for the White Heron Theatre and Westport Playhouse- featuring original audio plays starring Christopher Plummer, Judith Ivy and other notables of stage and screen. As an actor, Mark performed on the New York stage in The 39 Steps on Broadway and in the Off Broadway hits As Bees In Honey Drown, Tryst, The Shaugraun, Small World, Checkers and many others. He has appeared on numerous regional stages across the country including the Alley, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Hartford Theatreworks. Mark is the resident director at The White Heron Theatre and curator of the Script-In-Hand Series at The Westport Country Playhouse, and a graduate of Brown University (BA) and Fordham University (MA) where he happily taught classes on Hitchcock for 20 years.
D. CRAIG M. NAPOLIELLO
(Scenic Deisgner) is a New York City based designer. Credits include Regional Scenic Design: River Ditty, Peter and the Starcather, VA Rep, I Am My Own Wife (Robert Fulton Award – Best Scenic Design), Witness For The Prosecution, Fulton Theatre, The Music Man-In Concert, Two River Theater. Off-Bway Scenic: I Forgive You, Ronald Regan, Beckett Theatre, The Bardy Bunch, St. Clement’s Theatre, Touch, 59E59, Sexual Healing, Rattapallax, The Germans In Paris, Arclight Theatre. Off Broadway Scenic & Costume: The Exes, Midnight Street, Theatre Row Come Light My Cigarette, St. Clement’s Theater Death of the Moon, Jerry Orbach Midnight Street, Lion Theatre Productions. Associate Scenic Designer (Selected) Broadway: In Transit Off Broadway: Scotland PA, Roundabout Theatre West Side Story, International Tour. www.napoliellodesign.com
JENI SCHAEFER
(Costume Designer) is the Director of Design and Resident Costume Designer at the Virginia Stage Company in her 21st season. Regional credits include: A Christmas Story at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Hound of the Baskervilles at The Hangar and White Heron Theatre, Always...Patsy Cline PCPA Theatrefest, World premiere of Tom Jones for Florida Studio Theatre, Wit for Playmakers Repertory Theatre. VSC productions including; The Hobbit, Every Brilliant Thing, Dreamgirls, Merry Little Christmas Carol, Dear Jack Dear Louise, Hold These Truths, Sense and Sensibility, Guys and Dolls, Matilda, Secret Garden, Fun Home, Always Patsy Cline, Crowns,The Hound of the Baskervilles, Pride and Prejudice, The Wiz, A Streetcar named Desire, Oliver, Peter and the Starcatcher, All my Sons,The Great Gatsby,The Fantasticks, Death of a Salesman, Red, Around the World in 80 days, Crowns, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Hank Williams Lost Highway and A Christmas Carol. Jeni Schaefer holds a MAC in Theatre/Costume Design from Wichita State University. Thank you to my family Tony, Sara and Ethan for being my inspiration and for always believing in me.
ALYSSANDRA DOCHERTY
(Lighting Designer) (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based lighting designer originally from Vernon, NJ. After graduating with honors and a BA in Theatre from DeSales University, she continued her training as an apprentice at Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut. She then spent five seasons as the Lighting Supervisor at Philadelphia Theatre Company. She has toured internationally with Koresh Dance Company and BalletX to stages in Belarus, Mexico, Bermuda, Serbia, and all across the USA. Recently, Aly’s work has been seen in Here You Come Again (Delaware Theatre Company & Pittsburgh CLO), The Garbologists (Philadelphia Theatre Company), and RENT (New Light Theatre). She has also designed for Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Brian Sanders’ JUNK, Theatre Horizon, and Wolf Trap Opera, among others. Her designs have been recognized with Barrymore and Ostrander Award nominations in Philadelphia and Memphis respectively. www.alyssandradocherty.com
RYAN RUMERY
(Sound Design) is a 2017 alum of the Sundance Institute Music and Sound Design Lab: Documentary. His music is regularly heard on “This American Life.” His film credits include Food and Country (2023 Sundance), Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles (2020 Tribeca), District 15 (2020 for Patagonia), America’s Pandemic (2020 The Washington Post), Epic Extras (2019 Major League Baseball), The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Paul Manafort (2018 The Washington Post). And, Apart (2016 Golden Door International Film Festival), Those People (UCLAxFilmFest 2022.) He has also contributed additional music to City of Gold (2015 Sundance), Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock (2017 Tribeca), How to Let Go of the World (And Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change) (2016 Sundance), and When We Walk (2019 Hot Docs).
BINDER CASTING
(NY Casting) Binder Casting, now part of RWS Entertainment Group, was founded by Jay Binder, CSA in 1984. Binder Casting has cast over 80 Broadway productions, dozens of National Tours, off-Broadway shows, full seasons for over 25 regional theatres, as well as feature films, episodic television and commercials. Binder has cast for Encores! at New York City Center since its inception in 1994. The office was also featured in the documentary, Every Little Step. Binder Casting is a twelve–time recipient of the Artios Award. www.bindercasting.com
Daniel LeMien*
(Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back and joining the team at VSC for A Merry Little Christmas Carol. Tour Credits: Tour Manager for recording artist Jim Brickman, PSM for Forever Plaid 25th Anniversary Tour (Barter Theatre Company), Menopause the Musical (TOC Productions), Say Goodnight Gracie (Alan Safier) Strega Nona The Musical (Maximum Entertainment). Regional Credits: The Hobbit, Dreamgirls (Virginia Stage Theatre Company), West Side Story (City Springs Theatre Company), Cabaret, Spring Awakening, Mame, Into the Woods, Bright Lights Big City, The Burnt Part Boys, Fiddler On The Roof, Grey Gardens, Becky Shaw, Harvey (FreeFall Theatre Company), Dirty Blonde, The Importance of Being Earnest, Romeo and Juliet, Camping With Henry and Tom (American Stage Theatre Company) Daniel is a graduate of St. Petersburg College and a proud member of Actors Equity Association. @managethestage
EMMA D. EMDE*
(Assistant Stage Manager) is elated to be spending her first season with Virginia Stage Company. Her recent credits here include A Merry Little Christmas Carol and The Hobbit. Prior to coming to Virginia Stage Company Emma spent the summer in Ithaca, NY as the Assistant Production Manager at Hangar Theatre Company. As a recent graduate from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, her collegiate stage management credits include Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe, She Kills Monsters, and Eurydice. Following The 39 Steps, she will continue her time here for the last two season productions. Emma is a proud member of the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honors Society and National Honors Society for Dance Association.
TOM QUAINTANCE
(Producing Artistic Director) is in his sixth year with Virginia Stage Company. At the Wells, Tom has directed A Merry Little Christmas Carol, Pride and Prejudice, The Santaland Diaries, and Matilda The Musical. Pre-pandemic, Tom traveled to Minneapolis where he directed Twelfth Night at the Guthrie Theater. As Artistic Director of Cape Fear Regional Theatre (CFRT), Tom produced over 35 plays and directed the World Premiere of Downrange: Voices from the Homefront, a play based on interviews with military spouses from Fort Bragg. Tom is an Associate Artist at PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill where he directed An Enemy of the People, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and The Little Prince. He also directed The Little Prince at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. As the founder of FreightTrain Shakespeare in Los Angeles, he earned a Drama-Logue Award for his direction of Pericles. Other Los Angeles credits range from King Lear to The Devil With Boobs. A member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Tom is a graduate of Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) with a B.A. in Theatre and Economics, and the University of California, San Diego MFA directing program, where he was the assistant director on the original production of The Who’s Tommy.
JEFF RYDER
(Managing Director) has been Managing Director of Virginia Stage Company since March 2022. Prior to coming to VSC, Jeff served in several roles at Cleveland Play House from 2013 to 2022. Jeff holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the Levin College at Cleveland State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Tufts University. At Levin, Jeff was inducted into Nu Lambda Mu, the international honor society for the study of nonprofit management and philanthropy. Jeff also holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals from Cornell University. He has served on the boards of the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, Theatre Forward, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club. In Cleveland, Jeff was honored to be a part of the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Advanced Leadership Institute and the Cleveland Foundation’s Foundations for Philanthropy Program. Jeff has also been a stage manager at several theatres including Talespinner Children’s Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Berkshire Theatre Festival.