About
CAST
Gary Sandy* ................................................................ Decker
Diane Dorsey* ................................................................ Rose
Thomas Gebbia* ............................................................ Greg
Michael Andrew Gorman* ........................................ Marvin
Carrie Hegdahl* ......................................................... Melody
Kate Krantz ................................................................ The Kid
Rhys Leahy ................................................................. The Kid
John Librizzi* .................................................................... Zig
Mark Morettini* ..................................... Guard, Announcer
Stephen J. Rose* ......................................................... Richie
Kevin Stark* ...................................................... Cheerleader
UNDERSTUDIES
Rick Sandoval* (Decker), Joe Canale (Greg, Richie, Decker, Cheerleader), Sarah Dolan (Rose, Melody), Thomas Edson McElroy (Guard, Announcer; Zig, Marvin)
The Place: Wrigley Field - Right Field Bleachers
Time: The Present
There will be a 7th Inning Stretch.
*Member of Actor's Equity Association, the union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
JOE CANALE
(Understudy - Greg, Richie, Decker, Cheerleader)
Joe has been acting and improvising in Chicago for the past 10 years. Most of that time has been spent at Improv Olympic right next door to Wrigley Field. Joe was also a member of the Second City National Touring Company. One of Joe's favorite years was spent in Amerdam, working for Boom! Chicago Theater. Film / TV credits include Host for Biography pilot (Towers Productions), Idiot Correspondent on Full Access (recurring, Fox Sports Net), Soldier Joe in Betaville (Popcorn Cinema), and ABC Talent Showcase (ABC Productions). Theater / Improv credits include Evan Buddy in Ode To Judy Blume (Annoyance), A. Wright Rushoff in 7 Dates with 7 Authors (Bathsheba), Host for Turtle Races (Déjà vu), and Street Cleaner for Camino Real (SUNY Albany Theater).
SARAH DOLAN
(Understudy – Rose, Melody)
Sarah began her training as a Theatre major at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Upon graduation, she moved to New York City where she trained with The Second Studio and performed with the Riant Theater and in the Spotlight On Festival. After concluding a national tour of Le Petit Prince (The National Theatre of the Performing Arts), Sarah moved to Chicago in 2002. She has since graduated from the Improvisation for Actors program at Second City. Sarah's television and film credits include Law & Order on NBC, The Lot on AMC, Miramax's Kate & Leopold and a short film directed by David Nields of The Nields. Most recently she played Indulgence in Suffering City (Collaboration Theatre / Chicago.)
DIANE DORSEY
(Rose)
From the wicked stepmother in Hansel and Gretel to Kate in Taming of the Shrew, Diane has played many different women: a clairvoyant (Blithe Spirit, Peninsula Players), academician (Spinning into Butter, Madison Rep), and vamp (Mata Hari, Edinburgh Fringe). Her Chicago career began in the hay-day of Wisdom Bridge (Wings & Mother Courage) and Stuart Gordon's Organic Theatre (Dr. Rat) where she unhappily died as "Shocked Mouse" and "Pickled Ancestor." Other Midwest productions include Three Penny Opera (Court), The Suicide (Goodman), Dark Rapture (Strawdog), Judevine (Equity Library), Faulkner¹s Bicycle (Rivendell), Easter and Over the River... (Illinois Theatre Center), Noises Off and The Real Thing (Peninsula Players). Last fall Diane appeared in the world premier of Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice at Madison Repertory. Like many Chicago actors, Diane works the LA market booking national spots as well as TV roles with The Practice, Roseanne, Bold and the Beautiful and Designing Women. Among her film credits are The Dollmaker, Toughest Man in the World, Normal Life, The Opera Lover, and most recently the role of Aunt Sarah in Road to Perdition. Through The Field / Chicago and ELT's Actor's Voice, Diane created Kaleidoscope, a full-length solo show, performing it for The Relatives Program at American Theater Company. She dedicates Bleacher Bums to her dad Jim whose passion for playing and watching baseball became part of the Dorsey legacy. Short stop is their favored position.
THOMAS GEBBIA
(Greg)
After successful runs of Lobby Hero (Madison Rep / Madison, Wisconsin) and Wait Until Dark (Meadow Brook Theater) last year, Thomas is thrilled to be back in Chicago and involved with BLEACHER BUMS. Originally from New York, Thomas was seen in many plays such as The Bride of Olenville Square, To Look At Flowers, Brick Layers, A Particular Class of Women, The Mandrake and Boy’s Life In Mud. Thomas has lived in Chicago for the past ten years. His Chicago credits include Picasso at The Lapin Agile, The Stewart of Christendom, Recovery, Hitting for the Cycle, Racing Demon, Cigarettes and Moby Dick, Pocket Change, Birdsend, Astounding Science Fiction, A Few Good Men, and Romeo and Juliet. He can also be seen in the upcoming film Vinyasa.
MICHAEL ANDREW GORMAN
(Marvin)
A native of the Chicagoland area, Mr. Gorman has performed in New York, Los Angeles and most places in between. On Broadway he appeared with Jean Stapleton and William Hickey in Arsenic and Old Lace; Off-Off Broadway in roles at the Ensemble Studio, AMAS Repertory and Equity Library Theatres; on television with Goran Visnjic in ER, Jimmy Smits in LA Law and Luke Perry in Beverly Hills 90210; played one of the Laemmle Nephews in George Lucas' “Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (movie of the week, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, General Hospital and Early Edition Additional stage credits include Cyrano De Bergerac and Native Son (Goodman Theatre / Chicago), Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and Michael in I Do, I Do (Continental Repertory Theatre) and roles at The Hudson, Burbage and Blueline Theatres in Los Angeles. Chicago audiences may remember him as Vernon Gersch in They’re Playing Our Song (Marriott Lincolnshire and Drury Lane Water Tower). Other Chicago area credits include roles at Court Theatre, Body Politic, St. Nicholas, Pheasant Run, Athenaeum, Old Town Players, Academy Festival and Woodstock Music Theatres. He appeared in the Short Subject film Sailorman by D.P. Carlson, shown at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2000 and recently in Bright Star, Big City by Keith Estrada. When not performing, Mr. Gorman works behind the camera producing, shooting, directing, and editing television programs for a local cable channel.
CARRIE HEGDAHL
(Melody)
Carrie is pleased to return to Chicago after spending the previous ten years working regionally and abroad. Most recent credits include The Life and Times of Tulsa Love Child, A Road Trip (The Mad Scene Theatre / Los Angeles), Kimberly Akimbo (Hothouse Theatre), Bronte Sisters and Virginia Wolf, All a Woman Needs, Histrionic, The Homecoming (City Theater), Lebensrau in Loving Leah (New Jewish Theater / St. Louis), The Erpengham Camp, Titanic and Little White Pill (Ursa Major Theater / Seattle.) In Europe she appeared in Big Love and The Tempest (Ardeo Theatre / St. Julien l’Ars, France) December of All Things (MLC / Prague) and Quills (Divadlo Celenta / Prague and FOIO / Berlin). Some of Carrie's favorite shows while living in Chicago were Etta Jenks, Search and Destroy and Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the National Obsession.
KATE KRANTZ
(The Kid)
Kate recently moved to Chicago from her hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. She is 13 years old and an 8th grader at FW Parker School. For the past three years, Kate has been a part of Lookingglass Youth & Teen Ensemble and recently began honing her improve skills at Second City. She is thrilled to be in BLEACHER BUMS and honored to be in the company of such amazing actors.
RHYS LEAHY
(The Kid)
Rhys is very happy to be performing in her first production. Rhys would like to be the future Commander of the International Space Station, and is saving her money to attend NASA space camp. She would like to thank Anna Bell, Ryan D., Robin and Ushasi, and most of all, her brother Max, for their support of her in this project.
JOHN LIBRIZZI
(Zig)
John is pleased to return to the Royal George Theater after many years, as he was involved in the theatre’s first production -- Little Shop of Horrors. He has appeared in and around the Chicago for area for over 25 years. His highlights include Nick Rosetti in Shear Madness, Mr. Fezzwig in A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane), Getting Away with Murder (Theater at the Center / Munster, Indiana), The Sunshine Boys, My Fair Lady and Plaza Suite John had his first national commercial spot last year. He would like to thank everyone at BLEACHER BUMS, his friends and family and especially his loving and understanding wife, Char.
THOMAS EDSON MCELROY
(Understudy – Guard, Announcer, Zig, Marvin)
Thomas is delighted to be working with the fine cast and crew on the 25th anniversary show. He was most recently seen at Timeline Theatre as Peter Stockman in the Chicago premiere of Steven Dietz’s Paragon Springs. Thomas also has appeared in Timeline in Hauptmann and Death and the Maiden and has performed in the Chicago area with Stage Left, Eclipse, Steppenwolf, Baliwick, National Jewish, Court, Pegasus Players, Terrapin and Stage Two. Some favorite roles have been Henry II in The Lion in Winter, fire chief Beatty in Fahrenheit 451 and Marcus Hubbard in Another Part of the Forrest (a Joseph Jefferson Citation-winning production including “Best Production” and “Best Ensemble”). Thomas has many commercial, industrial and independent film credits as well. Indy film credits include, most recently, No Sleep Till Madison, Northwoods, The 5:22, and Breakfast with Joe. He also is the voice of Rayford Steele in Left Behind: The Dramatic Audio Series. His favorite role of all is husband to his lovely wife Sally and father to his two sons Richard and Scott.
MARK MORETTINI
(Guard, Announcer)
Mark is very happy to be returning to the stage after a nine-year absence. He was last seen in Neil Simon’s London Suite (Briar Street Theatre / Chicago). Prior to that he appeared in Mr. Simon's Laughter On The 23rd Floor (Briar Street Theatre), Lost In Yonkers (Royal George Theatre / Chicago) and Lend Me A Tenor by Ken Ludwig (The Royal George Theatre and The Apollo Theater / Chicago). Mark also has appeared in the movies Road to Perdition, Chain Reaction, U.S. Marshals, Home Alone II, and on TV in ER, Early Edition (recurring role), The Untouchables and various made-for-TV movies. He also has done numerous voice-overs for both radio and TV. Mark considers himself fortunate to have worked with such actors as Tom Hanks, Mickey Rooney, John Astin, Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman, Phil Bosco, M. Emmitt Walsh, Ewan MacGregor, Ken Berry and others. But he’s most fortunate to be husband to Maggie and Dad to Mike, Matt and Mia.
STEPHEN J. ROSE
(Richie)
Steve last appeared as Trotter in the award-winning production of Journey’s End (Seanachai Theater / Chicago). He has worked with many Chicago theatre companies including Famous Door, Rivendell, Powertap, Steppenwolf, Seanachai and several seasons at Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Steve is still honored to have been selected for the first Steppenwolf/ISU Fellowship. A few of his favorite roles include Marty Collins in Early and Often and Gaily Gay (Famous Door), Mann ist Mann (Thalia Theatre Company / Hamburg, Germany), Mr. Waldo, Mr. Pugh and Ocky Milkman in Under Milkwood directed by Michael Barto, Luhzki in Chekhov in Yalta (Seanachai), and Scrub in The Beaux Stratagen (Powertap). His directing credits include A Night in November (Seanachai), which won After-Dark awards for acting and lights. Steve has won a Screen Actor's Guild award as part of the ensemble in the movie “Traffic” directed by Steven Soderbergh. He thanks his friends and family for their years of support.
RICK SANDOVAL
(Decker)
Rick is a Chicago native and life-long Cub Fan. He has been active in the theater for the last twenty years, working with Steppenwolfe, Goodman, A Red Orchid Theater, Oak Park Festival Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse; as well as other local theater companies. During his career Rick has had the opportunity to either work or study with Rondi Reed, Austin Pendleton, Steve Scott and Richard Hesler. In addition to his theatrical credits Rick has appeared in numerous commercials and is currently the television voice of the Fruit Farmers of Chile.
GARY SANDY
(Decker)
Gary was born in Dayton, Ohio and attended Wilmington College of Ohio and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. His first professional role was a part created for him in the daytime drama As The World Turns. Over a seven year period, he continued playing villains in the afternoon on Another World, Somerset, and his favorite The Secret Storm. He appeared in many off-Broadway productions, most notably, The Children's Mass, produced by Sal Mineo, and made his Broadway debut in Saturday, Sunday, Monday, directed by Franco Zeffirelli. He has starred in several interesting attempts to turn plays into musicals for Broadway: Sheba, the musical version of Come Back Little Sheba, Luv, from the play by the same name, and Windy City, the adaptation of The Front Page.
Feature films include: Hail to the Chief, Some of My Best Friends Are, Troll, and The Last of the Cowboys, playing opposite Henry Fonda. For television, Gary received critical acclaim for his role in Norman Lear's All That Glitters. He has made countless TV guest appearances, most recently Murder She Wrote, F.B.I. The Untold Story, The Young Riders, L.A. Law and Diagnosis Murder. Television films are: Melvin Purvis: The Kansas City Massacre, Shell Game, For Lovers Only, and Nashville Grab. His most recognizable role was playing Andy Travis in the classic series WKRP in Cincinnati.
He has performed in over 70 theatrical productions, but is proudest of the Pirate King in the Broadway production of The Pirates of Penzance, the title role in Barnum, Chance Wayne in Sweet Bird of Youth, Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, Billy in Billy Bishop Goes to War, Buck Holden in Niteclub Confidential, Charlie Baker in The Foreigner, Starbuck in The Rainmaker, Milo Tindle in Sleuth, Mortimer in the Broadway revival of Arsenic and Old Lace, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Albert Paterson in Bye Bye Birdie, Terence O'Keefe in the national tour of Breaking Legs, Elliot Garfield in The Goodbye Girl, Will in The Will Rodgers Follies, Him in I Do I Do, Erie Smith in Eugene O'Neills' Hughie, Gene Glimmer in SideMan and the seven productions he has done as Harold Hill in The Music Man. Gary Sandy stared in a spectacular new multi-million dollar production of the Broadway musical-comedy smash The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The show launched a coast to coast tour February 13, 2001.
KEVIN STARK
(Cheerleader)
Kevin’s recent Chicago credits include The Violet Hour (Steppenwolf), The Cider House Rules (Famous Door), Time of the Cuckoo (Shattered Globe), Julius Caesar (Strawdog) and The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Mercury). In Chicago, Kevin has worked with Collaboration, E.L.T., Gilend, Hungermark, Lunar Cabaret, Step Right Up and Ullysses. He has also worked with local playwright initiative programs at Chicago Dramatists, Pegasus Players and Victory Gardens. Favorite regional credits are subUrbia (Actors Theater / San Francisco) and Talk Radio (Theater Memphis / Memphis, Tenn.). Kevin also has appeared in the films Tales of the Rabbit, Teenage Tupelo and the upcoming Repetition. Kevin has studied under Jean Shelton at the Actor’s Lab in San Francisco. Currently he studies with Mary Ann Thebus at the Artistic Home.
AUTHORS
BLEACHER BUMS was conceived by Joe Mantegna and written by Roberta Custer, Richard Fire, Dennis Franz, Stuart Gordon, Joe Mantegna, Josephine Paoletti, Dennis Paoli, Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Michael Saad, Keith Szarabajka and Ian Williams.
Additional Dialogue for the 25th Anniversary Production by Dennis Paoli.
DENNIS PAOLI
(Author)
Dennis Paoli has been going to the bleachers at Wrigley since it cost 50 cents. And he has worked on BLEACHER BUMS with the original cast of actor / authors since the first Organic Theater production in '78, on the '98 radio version, and on the recent film version for Showtime. With Stuart Gordon he has written the screenplays for Re-Animator, From Beyond, Bodysnatchers, Dagon, and more. He also co-wrote along with Greg Martinelli the script for USA Network's Mortal Sins. He runs several writing programs at Hunter College in New York City and is the donor-director of The Heidi Paoli Fund for cancer patients.
DIRECTOR
Director ............................................................................ Jeff Lee
JEFF LEE
(Director)
Currently, Jeff Lee serves as Staff Associate Director for Disney Theatrical Productions in New York where he is in development on several new projects. Originally, Jeff mounted Disney's Broadway production of THE LION KING with director, Julie Taymor. Since that production, he has directed companies of the show in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Nagoya, Japan; London; Toronto; Los Angeles; Chicago; a U.S. Touring Company; and Hamburg, Germany; having cast and artistically supervised the most recent production in Sydney, Australia.
Jeff recently directed the first production of a new play by Thomas P. Carr, GETTING TO KNOW YOU, at the Human Race Theatre in Dayton, Ohio. Following great critical acclaim, GTKY is now in further development, prepping for a Broadway debut in Spring 2006.
In August 2004, Jeff’s 25th Anniversary production of BLEACHER BUMS completed a critically-acclaimed run at The Royal George Theatre in Chicago, IL. As Co-Producer & Director of THE SONG OF SINGAPORE, Jeff helped to introduce a new 350-seat bar, restaurant, and theatre to the off-loop theatre market of Chicago during the early 90’s.
For several years, Jeff maintained a regular directorial schedule at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Washington, D.C. With their repertory company he mounted such productions as John Steinbeck's THE GRAPES OF WRATH, Harold Pinter's MOUNTAIN LANGUAGE, and several British and French farces. He now serves on the Artistic Advisory Board for NCDA.
While serving as Artistic Director of The North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh, NC, Jeff artistically supervised productions of CHICAGO, GEORGE M, and GREASE, while also directing many of their early musical productions: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, THE KING & I, MAN OF LA MANCHA, and A CHORUS LINE.
His freelance productions of SHIRLEY VALENTINE, CATS, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, EVITA, OLIVER, A CHORUS LINE, SWEET CHARITY, OKLAHOMA, LOVE JULIE, and the arena spectacular of MORTAL KOMBAT have played the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
Outside the legitimate theatre market, Jeff co-produced and directed the first Broadway music videos for CATS and THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. He worked in daytime television on NBC's ANOTHER WORLD and CBS's GUIDING LIGHT, and as a writer has collaborated on screenplays, music videos, and television pilots.
Over the course of his career, Jeff has had the honour of working with and learning from such directors as Michael Bennett, Bob Avian, Trevor Nunn, Julie Taymor, Simon Callow, Jack O'Brien, Graciella Danielle, and Steven Pimlott.
He has directed such stars as Kaye Ballard, James Belushi, Betty Buckley, Ellen Burstyn, Stockard Channing, Michael Damian, Pam Dawber, Mary Hart, Doug Henning, Davy Jones, Cleo Laine, Nathan Lane, Ted Lange, Rich Little, Dorothy Loudon, Millicent Martin, Maureen McGovern, Helen Reddy, Chita Rivera, Freddy Roman, Gary Sandy, Rex Smith, Loretta Swit, Vanessa Williams, and the late George Rose.
While Jeff's education began at the University of Wyoming's Theatre Department, it has extended from professional summer stock to the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City. For four years he served as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Department of the Yale School of Drama and now teaches as an Adjunct Professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Theatre Arts. When time allows, Jeff likes to continue with lectures and seminars in professional theatre at select universities and arts schools around the U.S.
~Member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
DESIGNERS
Scenic Designer ........................................................ Brian Traynor
Costume Designer ...................................... Caryn Weglarz Klein
Lighting Designer .................................................. Rita Pietraszek
Sound Design ......................................................... ..... Brian Ronan
BRIAN TRAYNOR
(Scenic Designer)
Even though I grew up in the northern suburbs, Wrigley Field was never far away. We had a Chevrolet. Apple pie and hot dogs could be on the table at any time. In summer there was baseball-and baseball was the Cubs. My dad and brothers and I always knew when the Cubs would be on. The TV would be brought out on to the screened in porch so it was easy access to all (we were always in the back yard or on the porch). Summertime brought all the neighbors out. One summer, either the Bennes or the Kozicas took a lawn mower over the half-fallen wire fence into the old farm fields at the end of our street and cut out a baseball field in the overgrown weeds (that by the end of the summer would again be taller than I was). We all played. The sun, the crack of the bat, and the yelling; it was great. And all the other sounds of summer: the birds, the crickets, and the wind through the trees. And sometimes, in the afternoons the wafting strains of "Hey, hey, holey mackerel! No doubt about it…" Memories really don't leave, and dreams die hard. Hope springs eternal. Oh, and one more thing: this'll be the year!
CARYN WEGLARZ KLEIN
(Costume Designer)
Ms. Klein has had the pleasure of designing costumes for many theater companies in the Chicago area, among them Apple Tree Theater, Pegusus, Northlight, Drurylane Oakbrook and Martinque, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, and Victory Gardens. Her designs for Rothchilds at Apple Tree and La Cage at Drury Lane Martinque were recognized with Jeff Nominations. Caryn manages Steppenwolf's costume shop and is the founder and manger of Costume Exchange Inc., a center for the creation and construction of high quality theater and dance costumes. Costume Exchange's valued costumers include Steppenwolf, Court Threatre, Hubbard Street Dance Co., Joffery Ballet, Chicago Opera Theater, Writers Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, and The Goodman Theatre.
RITA PIETRASZEK
(Lighting Designer)
Ms. Pietraszek is based in Chicago and has designed for most of this city's leading theatres. Her credits here include Dinner with Friends, Wit, and Dancing at Lughnasa (Jeff Nomination) at the Goodman Theatre, King Lear (Jeff Award) for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, My Own Stranger, Our Town, Misalliance and Rocket to the Moon for Writers' Theatre, Talley's Folley, The Gamester, Quilters (Jeff Nomination) and Lonely Planet (After Dark Award) for Northlight Theatre, Battle of the Bands, Bluff and Winter for Victory Gardens Theatre and numerous productions for Court Theatre, American Theatre Company, Apple Tree Theatre and Chicago Opera Theatre. Other favorites include True West (Portland Center Stage), Aristrocrats and Bang the Drum Slowly (The Huntington Theatre Company in Boston), A Month in the Country (Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.), To Kill a Mockingbird (Alliance Theatre in Atlanta), Betty's Summer Vacation (Pittsburgh Public) and The Winter's Tale (Missouri Repertory Theatre in Kansas City). Ms. Pietraszek served as Festival Lighting Coordinator for the 1st Annual Latino Theatre Festival at the Goodman Theatre, which included four local and two international companies. Her work has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine and Theatre Crafts International.
BRIAN RONAN
(Sound Design)
Brian's Broadway designs include: State Fair, 1776, Triumph of Love, Cabaret, Charlie Brown, Little Me, The Rainmaker, The Allergist's Wife, Fortune's Fool, The Boys from Syracuse, Master Harold and the Boys, The Look of Love. Off Broadway: Let's Play Two, Stars in Your Eyes, Bug. Regional: Fiddler on the Roof, Peter Pan; North Carolina Theatre, Into the Woods; Ordway, St. Paul. Manhattan Theatre Club's Time and Again, Newyorkers and The Wild Party. Road: Busker Alley, Beauty and the Beast, 1st Nat'l Tour (Associate), Spirit, Seussical, Oklahoma.
PRODUCTION STAFF
General Management ................................................. Karen Leahy
Company Manager .............................................. Daniel DiLuciano
Production Stage Manager .................................. Lucia Lombardi
Press Representative ................................ Cheryl J. Lewin Assoc.
Advertising .................................................. Cheryl J. Lewin Assoc.
Advertising ............................................................. John Iltis Assoc.
Producing Associate ................................................. Rob Keleghan
Producing Associate / Accounting ......................... John Houren
Bleacher Bums Logo design ....................................... Ray Baldoni
Casting by .............................................. Mungioli Theatricals, Inc.
Production Manager ............................................. Chris Fitzgerald
Master Electrician ............................................... Charlotte Rathke
Sound Operator ............................................................ Timothy Hill
Wardrobe Mistress .............................................. Mary Luchsinger
Production Assistant .............................................. Johanna Doyle
Props .............................................................................. Jenny Fague
Scenic Construction .............................................. Becker Studios
Production Photographer .................................... Mitchell Canoff
Legal Counsel for Bleacher Bums
Chicago Production ....................................... Hal "Corky" Kessler
.............................. Funkhouser, Vegosen, Liberman & Dunn, Ltd.
General Partner ........................................................ Stuart Gordon
General Partner .......................................................... Rick Obadiah
Asst. Producer / BBC .......................................... Kenneth F. Levin
Bleacher Bums Company represented by... Nan C. Bases, Esq.
LUCIA LOMBARDI
(Production Stage Manager)
Member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers, since 1984. Select commercial credits include: The Lion King (Cheetah and Gazelle National Tours), Comfortable Shoes, the Clint Holmes story (premiere), Uncle Broadway, the new American musical (premiere), Could it be Magic? The Barry Manilow Songbook (premiere), The Last night of Ballyhoo, Lend Me a Tenor, Once Upon a Midnight, Jackie "Mason's Politically Incorrect and Much Ado About Everything, The Cocktail Hour (Chicago premiere and tour), Prelude to a Kiss, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, London Suite, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and Oleanna. Regional Theatre Credits include: The Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Skylight Opera, The Providence Opera Theatre, The Body Politic and Victory Gardens Theatre.
MUNGIOLI THEATRICALS, INC.
(Casting Director)
(www.mungiolitheatrlcals.com) has been awarded this year's Media Access Award from the Governor's Committee on Equal Opportunity Employment for casting "based on ability rather than disability"; Recent projects: The Lion King (Disney / StageHolding), Disney's Aladdin, Disney's When You Wish Duet (Off-Broadway), Richard Maltby's Sixties Project, TRINITY REP, ACTORS THEATRE OF LOUISVILLE Humana Festival, MCCARTER THEATRE, SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL and CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATRE. Arnold J. Mungioli, former Executive Director of Casting for DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, has cast the Broadway and international premieres of Ragtime, Fosse, the Hal Prince / Susan Stroman production of Showboat, Candide, Music of the Night, Sunset Boulevard, the Hal Prince & Rob Marshall production of Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and many other productions. Arnold has received two Artios Awards from the CASTING SOCIETY OF AMERICA, and is thrilled to be working with Jeff Lee!
PRODUCERS
Producer ............................................................. Ken Goldberg
Executive Producer ........................................... Rick Obadiah
Associate Producer ............................................ Karen Leahy
KEN GOLDBERG
(Producer, Managing Partner, KGP Partners, LLC)
This production of Bleacher Bums marks Ken Goldberg’s producing debut, but he’s no rookie to the world of theater having served on the Board of Directors of the Organic Theater from 1981 to 1983. Mr. Goldberg was instrumental in the acquisition, funding, zoning, and opening of Organic Theater Company’s building at Clark Street.
Prior to playing the role of ‘Max Bialystock,’ Mr. Goldberg has successfully devoted over 30 years to Chicago’s real estate and brokerage industry: at American Invsco he served as Vice President of their Real Estate Acquisitions Department; at Inland Real Estate he served as Senior Broker and was “Sales Associate of the Year” (2000, 2001); and, he was one of the original founders of Goldberg & Perl Real Estate, one of the leading firms focusing on all aspects of Lincoln Park’s real estate and property management. Through his career, Mr. Goldberg is responsible for over a quarter of a billion dollars in real estate transactions within the City of Chicago.
Most recently, Mr. Goldberg heads Sheldon Good & Company’s new Brokerage Division as Executive Managing Director. In less than two years this Division has grown to 20 brokers and has built, under Mr. Goldberg’s supervision, a portfolio of listings and sales valued at over $124 million dollars.
A graduate of Indiana University, Mr. Goldberg serves on the Board of Trustees of Niles Township Synagogue and is heavily involved in UPCORP serving the North side of Chicago. Mr. Goldberg is married to Harlene (his one and only) and thanks her for their two children, two grandchildren, and his wonderful life.
RICK OBADIAH
(Executive Producer)
Mr. Obadiah has an extensive background in the entertainment, theater, publishing, advertising and management fields. This 25th Anniversary Production of Bleacher Bums brings him back to the world of theater for the first time in several years: Bleacher Bums was the first show he produced. He is the Co-General Partner (with Stuart Gordon) of The Bleacher Bums Company, which owns the rights to the property. Rick has either produced or co-produced productions of Bleacher Bums in Chicago, New York, and other cities; and was Co-Associate Producer of Showtime’s made for TV movie of Bums, as well as WTTW’s award winning production. He served as the Managing Director of The Organic Theater Company, introducing it’s first subscription season in 1978 and was responsible for the fund-raising activities that led to the purchasing and remodeling of the Organic’s theater building. He has produced WARP!, and is the General Partner of Dramatic License, the company that owns subsidiary rights to the property.
Mr. Obadiah was Associate Producer of Jon Sable, a television series on the ABC television network in 1986.
In 1981, he founded First Publishing, Inc. and served as it’s CEO and Publisher through 1992,and its President beginning in 1985 -- and was part of the team that took the company public as Classics Entertainment, Inc. He was responsible for all the company’s publishing, acquisitions and licensing activities, including Classics illustrated, American Flagg, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles graphic novels WARP!, Lone Wolf and Cub, and Jon Sable Freelance, among others. Additionally, he has served as Creative Director for several advertising agencies (JSA Advertising, Muller Jordan Herrick, Knudson-Moore) where he handled creative product for Maseratti Motor Company, Marx Toys, El Al Israel Airlines, Ballantine Scotch for their assignments at the above agencies.
Presently, he is the President / CEO of Sportscope, Inc., a helmet manufacturing and technology development company. During his career he has consulted for Ameritech, Harley Women, Graphitti Designs, and a host of other companies.
He is especially honored to be working with Ken Goldberg on this production -- for Ken’s support, trust, friendship and passion to bring this production of Bleacher Bums to fruition.
KAREN LEAHY
(Associate Producer, General Manager)
Karen brings 22 years of management and production experience to BLEACHER BUMS. She most recently was associate producer and general manager for “Comfortable Shoes” at the Royal George. She was general manager for the Chicago productions of “R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe,” Alfred Uhry’s “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” and “The Irish...And How They Got That Way” by Frank McCourt. Karen also served as general manager for Chicago productions of “Jackie Mason: Much Ado About Everything” and “Edgar Allan Poe...Once Upon a Midnight” (starring John Astin). She was general manager for Cullen, Henaghan and Platt Productions, where she managed the highly successful Chicago productions of “Driving Miss Daisy” (starring Sada Thompson), “Frankie and Johnnie in the Claire De Lune” (starring Kathy Bates), “I'm Not Rappaport” (starring Shelly Berman and Garrett Morris) and “Shirley Valentine” (starring Ellen Burstyn). Before moving to Chicago, she worked on Broadway as associate general manager for the Royal Shakespeare Company production of “Carrie,” the Tony-nominated “Quilters” and South Africa's Market Theatre production of “Asinamali.” She was production associate for Peter Ustinov's “Beethoven's 10th,” “Show Boat” (with Donald O'Connor), Anthony Schaffer's “Whodunnit” and “A Woman of Independent Means.”
Special Thanks to:
Chicago Spotlight, TC Furlong Inc., Rand Ringgenberg, The Costume Exchange, The Chicago Public Library Special Collections and Preservation Division, Paul Friedman (Wrigley Field Public Address Announcer), Gary Pressy (Wrigley Field Organist), Colin Clark, Taste Chicago (Burbank, California), Jerry "The Bleacher Preacher" Pritikin, Reza Toulabi, Jason Caref (Cubsports), Berenice Montisenos, Stuart Glicken, Cookie Goldberg-Sater, Harline Goldberg, and Joe Mantegna.
This production is dedicatd to all the Bums who ever sat in the bleachers or on the stage.