Cast of Black Comedy

Dennis DaPrile (Brinsley Miller) is appearing at the Summit Playhouse for the first time. Some of his previous shows include the title role in Pippin, Haimon in Antigone, Billy in Anything Goes, Montano/Gratiano in Othello, Johnny in The King of Hearts, and Barnette in Crimes of the Heart. Last fall, Dennis was the assistant Stager Manager for the World Premier production of The Book of Candy, which was co-produced by Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey and Passage Theatre Company.

Diana Hawthorne (Clea) is thrilled to be joining the Summit Playhouse in her first production. Previous theatre credits include See How They Run! and Agamemnon, both produced in Oxford, England. In addition, Diana has worked as a background actor in several major studio films, including The Royal Tenenbaums, the upcoming Two Weeks Notice starring Hugh Grant, and Steven Spielberg's Catch Me if You Can, which is currently in production. She would like to thank her husband Rob "with all of my heart" for his love and support. Diana would also like to say hello to her parents and her friends in Hoboken. "I promise I'll see you all again soon!"

Lora Iannarelli (Carol Melkett) is happy to be performing in her first production with the Summit Playhouse. She is a recent graduate of Monmouth University and presently works as the company manager at Two River Theatre Company. Other production credits include: The Heidi Chronicles, Pippin, The Time Of Your Life, Anything Goes, Antigone, and Crimes Of The Heart.

Jerry Lazar (Colonel Melkett) has been hanging around theatres in the Tri-state area for almost 20 years. During that time, he's played everything from Hamlet's Ghost to a Troll Princess. He's a founding member and assistant director of Lunatic Fringe, Luna Stage Company's improvisational comedy group in Montclair.

Stow Lovejoy (Georg Bamberger) has recently finished his eleventh and final one night stand as a cast member of the Brayton Dessert show. He has also appeared as Pontius Pilate in Living Passion and as Captain Kidd in Mad Dog Blues. If you listen carefully, you may hear Stow's voice in several radio and television commercials.

Paul Sacks (Schuppanzigh) has been acting either on stage or immaturely for most of his entire life. Choice roles include Sidney Black in the Summit Playhouse's production of Moss Hart's Light Up The Sky, Davies in Pinter's The Caretaker, and Jerry in Albee's The Zoo Story. Paul's favorite role is as husband to the town-famous choreographer Kelly Mott-Sacks and Father to Ally, Cooper and Isabelle.

Rosalind Seneca (Miss Furnival) has previously appeared in Uncommon Women And Others and The Vagina Monologues. She studies acting with Elyse Knight. She thanks her husband and their son for their enthusiastic support and encouragement.

Timo Sutton (Harold Gorringe) has been involved in theatre since his high school years. His past performances include West Side Story (Tony), Crimes of the Heart (Doc), Anything Goes (Moonface), Zombie Prom (Eddie Flagrante), Othello (Iago) and a previous performance of Black Comedy (Harold). Although his main focus has been performing on stage, he has also worked behind stage as a set builder, sound board operator, light board operator and pit musician. Having been away from most aspects of theatre for the past year, he hopes to again become involved with the stage as much as he once was. Thanks to "punkass" for giving Timo the boost needed to get back into the arts.

Cast of The Importance of Being Earnest

Tim Bernstein (Rev. Chasuble) is a high school senior. Fans of high school drama may recognize him from roles in Summit High School's productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Grease, or Guys and Dolls. Fans of middle school drama surely remember his work in Bye Bye Birdie and The Mouse that Roared. He would like to thank the director for casting him, the cast for being so wonderful, and Jenna Campagna for no particular reason.

Trevor Clive (Lane) has performed in four high school plays to date. Outside of drama, Trevor can be found playing piano or guitar, but not hide-and-seek. Next year he plans to go on to greater things as a freshman at Brigham Young University. Trevor would like to thank his mom, dad, and the cast if he ever gets the chance, and apologize to anyone who saw The Madwoman of Chaillot.

Megumi Haggerty (Miss Prism) is a sophomore at Summit High School and is thrilled to be making her debut at the Summit Playhouse. She was most recently seen in SHS's production of State Fair as Vivane. She has appeared in other shows such as Guys and Dolls, New Voices of 2001 Concert, and You Can't Take It With You. She would like to thank her Earnest cast, her family and friends, and Mrs. Poyner for being such an amazing director. Enjoy the show!

Rebecca Hawrusik (Lady Bracknell) has appeared in Gypsy and Bus Stop here at the Summit Playhouse, in addition to many productions with Kaleidoscope in the summer. She has been in numerous high school plays over the past four years, her favorites being Grease, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and most recently, State Fair. She is planning on continuing theater in college next fall. She would like to thank Mrs. Poyner, Sonia and the cast for all of their support and dedication.

Lauren Lindner (Gwendolen Fairfax), currently a junior at Summit High School, is thrilled to be part of a production that involves Mrs. Poyner and many talented friends. She was last seen as Margy Frake in SHS's production of State Fair and spent last summer participating in NJPAC's Once On This Island as Andrea Beauxhomme. With one more year left in school after this one Lauren is sure to miss all the wonderful seniors, and would like to dedicate this performance to them.

Caitlin Mehner (Cecily Cardew) is a senior at Summit High School, where she recently played Emily Arden in State Fair. At the Playhouse she has been involved in the Kaleidoscope productions of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy), Narnia (The White Stag), and Charolette's Web (Sheep). Last summer she studied musical theater at Collaborative Arts Project (CAP21) in NYC. She has also participated in Jazz for Teens and SYPW at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Many thanks to Ms. Poyner and Vince for making this happen!

Matthew Smith (Algernon Moncrieff) is a community theater actor and has performed in numerous productions on the Summit High School stage. He most recently appeared as Hank Munson in State Fair, but most enjoyed himself this past summer playing multiple roles in the Summit Cast of Characters production of The Tick. He wishes to thank Mrs. Poyner, Mr. Balzano, Mrs. Balzano, and Mrs. Winter for making this, his first Summit Playhouse production, possible, and his friends for making him audition.

Chris Tolles (Merriman) has been absent from the stage for a few years, but he has always loved acting (up). He was most recently seen in Bye Bye Birdie and as a member of the Boys Band in the Summit Public Library Benefit performance of The Music Man. He is an aspiring photographer and would like to thank his family, pets, and all the friends he harassed into seeing Earnest.

Dan Wood (John Worthing) is a senior at Summit High School. He is planning to attend Belmont University this fall as a music major. Dan made his acting debut as Vince Fontaine in Grease his sophomore year. Other roles include Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and the Russian ballet instructor Kolenhov in the fall play, You Can't Take It With You. Most recently Dan was seen as Pat Gilbert in the SHS spring musical, State Fair opposite his current costar, Lauren Lindner. He would like to thank his family, Mrs. Poyner, and the Playhouse for this opportunity.

Staff

Lori Balzano (Producer) has been a Playhouse member since her appearance as Martha Arable in Kaleidoscope's Charlotte's Web. She followed that by becoming Kaleidoscope's managing producer for three seasons and happily produced Narnia, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Free To Be...You And Me. On stage she was most recently seen as Lady Caroline in Enchanted April. However, her favorite role to date has been that of "Mom" in the two biggest productions of her life, her children, Vincent and Emily.

Vincent J. Balzano (Director, Black Comedy) performed the title role in George M! for the Summit Centennial Celebration in 1999. He last appeared at the Summit Playhouse as Ham in Two by Twoand directed and staged You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown for the Playhouse's Kaleidoscope Theatre for Youth in 2000. In a previous life, Vince has directed and/or acted in scores of shows in regional and summer stock and NYC showcase productions in a variety of roles such as Finch in How To Succeed..., Jigger in Carousel, Marco in A View From The Bridge, Nathan in Guys And Dolls, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing..., Kenickie in Grease, Juror Eight in Twelve Angry Men and a host of Neil Simon and Shakespeare comedies and other classics. Vince has been fortunate to work with hundreds of talented performers over the years, many who currently make their living at it, some who wished they made their living at it, and many who do it just for fun. But whether for love or money or both, he would like to acknowledge them, friends all, as much of what he does on stage as an actor or director (good, bad, or otherwise, but mostly otherwise) is a result of having known them.

Anne Poyner (Director, Earnest) has worked as an actor in many productions but her main focus since graduating with a degree in theatre has been on directing. A member of the Playhouse, this is Anne's first time directing here. The people of Summit know her skills through her direction of George M! and The Music Man. In between productions, Anne works with the Summit Performing Arts Resource Committee (SPARC) to improve theatre arts in the public schools, the Junior League of Summit, and the Summit Education Foundation. She is most proud of her three stars at home, Noel, Nick and Mary Allison, and her loving husband, Jim.

Sonia Gambino (Student Director, Earnest) is currently a junior at Summit High School. She was last seen acting on stage as Felicity in The Real Inspector Hound and also student directed the Summit High School production of You Can't Take it With You. She has an interest in acting and theatre as well as music and hopes to fulfill a career in either of these fields. Sonia would like to thank Mrs. Poyner and the cast of The Importance of Being Earnest for sharing such an amazing experience with her.

Kathleen Creegan (Stage Manager/Assistant Director) has worked in the theatre in almost every capacity. Stage management credits include Picasso at the Lapin Agile, directed by Kent Paul, How I Learned to Drive, Othello, and Baby With The Bathwater. Her directing credits include The Heidi Chronicles, Suddenly Last Summer and the world premier reading of Clara's Diary. Ms. Creegan was the founding President and Artistic Director of Starshine Theatre Company based in Madison. Recently she was also fortunate enough to be a founding member of Stage East Ensemble (SEE), a new professional theatre company based in Freehold, where this summer she will direct their production of Butterflies Are Free. Last fall, Kathleen performed in Summit Playhouse's benefit production of An Actor's Nightmare for an audience including Playwright Christopher Durang. Currently she is the production manager and stage manager at Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey for Hot Air, an anti-tobacco production, which has toured to over 150 schools in New Jersey this year.

Michael Forrest Kurtz (Scenic Design) is a graduate of New York University, Tisch School of the Arts where he received his BFA for Scenic and Lighting Design. Some of his Lighting Designs include Damn Yankees (Heritage Theater), West Side Story (Theater Under the Stars), Bluff (12 Miles West), Three Days of Rain (The Villagers), Driving Miss Daisy (Stage East Ensemble), and Erica's Last Mission, The Emperor's New Clothes, On the Verge, and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Tri-State Actors Theater). His Scenic Design credits include: Angels in America II: Perestroika (The Elmwood Playhouse), Camille Claudel (The Shop Theater, NYU), the Tour and Premiere of Once Upon A Time In Chinese America with Big Red Media (John Harms Center for the Arts), Erica's Last Mission, The Emperor's New Clothes, On the Verge, Talley's Folly, and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Tri-State Actors Theater), Painting Churches, and The Mystery of Irma Vep (Dreamcatcher Repertory). Michael is currently working on Dreamcatcher Repertory Theater's, and Tri-State Actors Theater's seasons, as well as other projects in NYC and throughout the area.