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Event Calendar
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Cast and Crew
Rosemary Kingsley - Annie
ROSEMARY KINGSLEY is a 6th grade student at Imagine Charter School West Gilbert. She is extremely excited to perform as Annie for Copperstar! She is taking dance lessons at Studio 3, voice lessons from Jenn Toon and acting, singing and dancing with Copperstar productions and their awesome children summer programs. Rose would like to thank Mary-Jo, Sam and Laura for this opportunity and for their kindness, guidance and support.
Jack Heald - Oliver Warbucks
JACK HEALD is pleased and honored to be appearing in his second Copperstar production after finishing a triumphant tour of the Inner and Lower Hebrides in his one man show, I May Be Insane But That Doesn’t Prove I’m Wrong. Jack previously appeared as Professor Harold Hill in Copperstar’s production of The Music Man. Jack would like to give a shout out to all his homies, but that’s just not his style.
Alyssa Monahan - Grace Farrell
ALYSSA MONAHAN favorite thing to do has always been performing and she’s excited to join Copperstar for the first time in Annie! Some of her previous roles include Eponine in Les Miserables and Bonnie in Anything Goes. Alyssa has also performed in many events across the country from Branson, MO to NYC. She is 25 and happily married to her prince charming Keith.
Jenn Toon - Miss Hannigan
JENN TOON is happy to be part of this production with Copperstar. She has been seen on the stage throughout the southwest, some favorite roles include The Secret Garden (Lily), Brigadoon (Meg - ariZoni award), The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess). She is a private voice instructor and teacher at Liberty Arts Academy. Jenn sends thanks to everyone, especially her sweetie & 4 amazing kids for their support of her ultimately crazy schedule!
Richard Jones - Rooster Hannigan
RICHARD JONES is a family physician, and works for a national health plan. He played Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music, Jacey Squires in The Music Man, and the Narrator/Mysterious Man in Into the Woods. He enjoys participating in Copperstar productions with his daughter Corinne, and is very grateful to his wife Emily and his sons Ben, Steven, and Andrew for their love and support.
Gina Russo - Lilly St. Regis
GINA RUSSO is excited to be participating in her first show with Copperstar. She has appeared in numerous other productions in WA and OR state. Her favorite roles include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Maria in West Side Story, and Yum Yum in The Mikado. Gina obtained her Bachelors degree in Dental Hygiene. Gina works full time as a dental hygienist, part time as a fitness instructor, and vocal coach.
Mary-Jo Okawa - Director
Mary-Jo is Copperstar’s founder and Artistic Producing Director, Mary-Jo Okawa is an award winning educator who has been a professional director, choreographer and performer for over 25 years. A talented educator in theatre, dance and vocal music, Mary-Jo is also an accomplished professional singer who has traveled throughout the United States, Asia and Southeast Asia sharing her talents. She is proud to have entertained our troops in the USO. Over the past three years, Mary-Jo has built Copperstar into a reputable theatre company which offers enrichment, education and entertainment to community members of all ages through high quality theatrical productions, camps, workshops and classes. In 2010, Copperstar was honored with six Gilbert Mayor’s Arts Awards nominations and was awarded the Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery Award for providing Gilbert with services enabling an expansion in the scope and quality of the arts. She is the proud mom of two amazing children, Shanti will be a junior at Mesquite High School and Chris will be entering University of Arizona as a Musical Theatre major. Mary-Jo teaches voice and acting privately and is grateful for her loving supportive husband David. Mary-Jo finds great joy in the journey of creating in the theatre, enriching the lives of community members of all ages.
Sam Henderson - Music Director
Sam is a recent graduate of the Lyric Opera Theatre’s Masters of Music in Music Directing program at Arizona State University where he now serves as a Faculty Associate and Music Director. In addition, Sam is the resident music director for Copperstar Repertory Company in Gilbert, AZ. Prior to coming to Arizona, he taught high school band in the Dallas/Ft. Worth (Texas!) area for 7 years after earning a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University.
Sam has music directed/conducted productions of SEUSSICAL, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, LES MISERABLES, FOOTLOOSE, and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. With Lyric Opera Theatre, he was the music director/conductor for THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (for which he received an ariZoni Award for outstanding musical direction), and THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS.
Most recently, Sam co-created the original cabaret, THE LAZY “B” CABARET with colleague Lauren Margison. This specially commissioned work was presented in honor of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at the annual benefit for The O’Connor House in Phoenix.
Upcoming productions include BYE, BYE, BIRDIE, and ANNIE with Copperstar, and YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN and CABARET at with Lyric Opera Theatre.
Laura Christian - Choreographer
Laura is excited to be involved with Copperstar Repertory Company once again! She recently choreographed The Music Man and Into the Woods as well as several camps and workshops for the company. She teaches dance and musical theatre classes for theatres around the valley including the Academy of Young Performers at Arizona Broadway Theatre, Greasepaint Youth Theatre, and Chandler Center for the Arts. Laura is also a performer, having appeared in numerous shows at Arizona Broadway Theatre and Phoenix Theatre. She graduated summa cum laude with a BA degree in Theatre, and is currently working on a Masters degree in secondary education to teach both theatre and math. Broadway Buddies will mark Laura's 10th production with Copperstar, and she looks forward to working with Copperstar in the upcoming season. Thanks to Matt, Mary-Jo, Sam and everyone at Copperstar!
Want to Audition for Copperstar's 2011-2012 Season?
Attend our Audition Workshop on August 13. Youth (9am to 1pm) and Adults (2pm-6pm) at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts. CLICK HERE to to register.
To audition for Copperstar's 2011-2012 Season visit our CURRENT AUDITIONS page.
Auditions will be August 24-27 at the Higley Center.
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