Heidelberg University
School of Music and Theater Productions
Fiorello!
Cast List
Principle Characters
Fiorello, Zach Abraham
Neil, Jacob Frankart
Morris, Jadon Muniz
Dora, Sarah Jewell
Marie, Natalie Joritz
Ben, Garrett Hummel
Floyd, Aaron Wilson
Thea, Lexi Lang
Ensemble
Amelia Hammond
Bri Clark
Dermot Healy
Jackson Helmholtz
Mina Opferman
Vaidon Mallonn
Emma Raber
Zaria Keys
Isaac Wonderly
Jack Mills
Jer Marshall
CJ Davis
Opossum Kreuscher
Syd Mendez
Lauren Price
Meg Amburgey
Grace Thomas
Mackenzie Ludwig
Katherine Albright
Olivia Akins
Becca Young
Belle Lawrence
Lara McNeil-Yeckel
Ashtyn Wolph
Hannah Lewis
Kerry Copenhaver
Amy Berger
Production/Creative Team
Director, Scott Hunt
Choreographer/Dialect Coach, Karla Kash
Music Director, Ryan Neal
Technical Director, Ben Bodart
Production Stage Manager, Autumn Perry
Production Manager/Lighting, Set, Costume Designer, Sue Hlavinka
Assistant Director, Amy Berger
Assistant Stage Managers, Millie Robins & Melaina Brostenianc
Assistant Choreographer, Grace Thomas
Dance Captain, Jer Marshall
Dramaturg, Hannah Lewis
Sound Mixer, Serria Allen
Sound Designer, Zaria Keys
Light Board Operator, Chris Evans
Sound Board Operator, Krista Hagans
Hair & Makeup, Amelia Hammond & Lexi Lang
Assistant Scenic Designers, Riley Ameel & Zaria Keys
Scenic Charge, Bri Clark
Props Designer, Riley Ameel, Sarah Jewell, & Aaron Wilson
Run Crew, Evelina Podvoiskis and Cecilia Groth
Marketing, Melaina Brostenianc
Meet the Cast
Zach Abraham is a senior at Heidelberg University this fall. He is currently pursuing a degree in both Musical Theatre as well as Accounting. Zach is beyond excited to play Fiorello in this production. Zach would like to thank his family in Marion, as well as his musical theatre family here in Tiffin. Zach wishes everyone to break a leg with Fiorello!
Olivia Akins she/her (Ensemble Member) is excited to make her Gundlach debut! She is a freshman who has been seen in her community theatres productions of Music Man (Pick-A-Little Lady) and Kinky Boots (Factory Worker). Olivia is thrilled to be working with such brilliant actors, production teams, and directors. While continuing her studies at Heideberg, she hopes to grace the stage again!
Katherine Albright she/her (Ensemble/Newsie) is excited to be on the Gundlach stage for her freshman year. This is her first show as a Heidelberg student, but she has been in many shows with the Community Music School as a child and teen. She also performs with the Concert choir and the band as a color guard member. Katherine is excited to be back onstage, and cannot wait for future productions and more amazing shows with this terrific cast.
Meg Amburgey she/her (Daughter in prologue/Cutie/Sophie/ensemble) is very proud to be on the Gundlach stage for the first time. She has previously performed in Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Legally Blonde (Brooke Wyndham/Delta Nu), Christmas Carol (Belle), as well as other productions. Also, being dance captain in community theater shows. She would like to thank her family and vocal teacher for always supporting her!
Bri Clark graduated with a BA and is now pursuing her MBA here at Heidelberg. She has loved theater her whole life. Bri has been in multiple shows here at Heidelberg including Pride and Prejudice, She Kills Monsters, Addams Family, Dangerous Liaisons and many more. She also participates as the Scenic Charge and Graphic designer for the theater department. Bri is excited for her future once she leaves the Heidelberg stage!
CJ Davis (Ensemble) is a sophomore Musical Theater and Psychology double major here at Heidelberg University. CJ performed on his high school stage at Detroit Country Day School in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Sir Lancelot) before moving on to the Heidelberg stage in Dangerous Liaisons (Azolan), We Have Apples (Ensemble), and Porch (Jeff). This is also CJ’s first show as Master Electrician of Gundlach Theatre. He is extremely excited to be part of the Fiorello! cast and would like to thank all his friends and family for their constant support.
Amelia Hammond she/her (Mrs. Zapatella/Ensemble) is so pleased to kick off her sophomore year with a bang in this production of Fiorello! She is a second-year Theatre major with a musical theater concentration. Amelia has previously performed in The SpongeBob Musical (Plankton), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Cecile Volanges), and We Have Apples (Jane). She would like to thank Scott Hunt for the fabulous experience it was to work with him, it’s always a pleasure, and hopes he returns to Heidelberg Theatre again!
Dermot Healy he/him (Ensamble) is excited to be a part of this production of Fiorello. His other shows include SpongeBob (Gary), The Other Place (Man), Wendy and Peter Pan(Tom), and Chicago (Ensemble).
Jackson Helmholtz (Ensemble) is a Senior acting major. He has been in multiple productions at Heidelberg University including Wendy and Peter Pan (Peter Pan), Spooky Dog (Ted), My First Time, Pride and Prejudice (Ensemble), The Cake (The Voice), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Flute/Thisbe), Cinderella (Ensemble/Dance Captain), Chicago (AD/Ensemble), Les Liaison Dangereuses (Major Domo/US Valmont & Danceny), and now Fiorello! He is so ecstatic to work with such an amazing group of artists. He'd like to thank his family and friends for their constant support that they provide. He hopes you enjoy the show!
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Garrett Hummel is a Senior Acting Major at Heidelberg University and plays the role of Ben Marino in Fiorello: the Musical. Other Heidelberg performances include SpongeBob: the Musical, The Cake, The Addams Family, Heathers, Freaky Friday and Elf. He has also been involved in Black Swamp productions of Clue: The Musical and Psych. Garrett also had roles in the movies, The Legend of Holcomb Road and Amorette Hotel.
Sarah Jewell she/her (Dora/Props Master) is excited to be back on the Gundlach stage for her first show of Sophomore year! She is a Musical Theatre and Vocal performance double-major and has Spanish and Theatre education minors. Sarah has previously performed in Spongebob (Sandy Cheeks), Top Girls (Dull Gret/Angie), Chicago (Hunyak), among other shows. She would like to dedicate this show to her cat, Wayne, as he has been keeping her strong through this process.
Natalie Joritz (Marie) (she/her) is absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this wonderful production. She can hardly believe it, but she’s a senior musical theatre major at Heidelberg from Garfield Heights, Ohio. Previous credits include: Karen the Computer (Spongebob), Martin the Cabin Boy (Wendy and Peter Pan), and Mama Morton (Chicago). Outside of theatre, Natalie is a member of Zeta Theta Psi, Studio 2 Stage, Alpha Psi Omega, and the honors program. Love goes out to her friends and family for all their support, the production team for making this show possible, and the incredible Scott Hunt for taking a chance on her for her first college lead. Enjoy the show!
Zaria Keys she/her (Seedy Man / Fedora / Ensemble) is a Junior and is currently double majoring in Psychology and Theatre with a concentration in Acting. Fiorello! is one of the many performances that Zaria has been involved in at Heidelberg. Some other the productions you might have seen her in include Spongebob the Musical (Patrick), Wendy and Peter (John), and Chicago ("Six"). Zaria is also the Vice President of the theatre honorary, Alpha Psi Omega and Heidelberg’s improv group, Make-A-Scene on campus! Not only was she in this show, she worked as the Assistant Set Designer, Assistant Scenic Charge, and Sound Designer for this production! She wants to thank her family and friends for being her main source of inspiration and love. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Opossum Kreuscher they/he (Hack/Ensemble Member) is excited to be on stage for the first time in his Freshman year. They have previously performed in shows such as Heathers (Heather Duke), 12 Angry Jurors (Juror 3), and others. He has also worked in the costume shop and other production roles. Opossum would like to thank his parents for supporting his love of theater and pushing him to come to Heidelberg.
Belle Lawrence she/her (Newsie/Ensemble). Belle is an incoming freshman at Heidelberg University. She is majoring in Music Education with minors in sociology and psychology and plans to become certified as an intervention specialist. Belle is excited to be involved in her first show at Heidelberg and to have had the opportunity to work with such experienced individuals. She would like to extend a thank you to Karla Kash for encouraging her to participate in theatre and to her high school director Catherine Scharfe who first got her involved on stage. Belle would also like to thank her friends and family who have encouraged her every step of the way. Lastly, she would like to give a big thank you to her roommate Emma and boyfriend Jordan who have made her transition into college so much easier.
Hannah Lewis (Florence, Cutie, Ensemble, Marie U/S) is ecstatic to be making her Gundlach debut. She is incredibly proud of the work the cast and crew has put in within the short rehearsal time. When not on stage, Hannah also served as Dramaturg for this production. She wants to thank Scott Hunt, Karla Kash for their support and the rest of the cast and crew for creating a welcoming space to make art together.
Mackenzie Ludwig she/her (Cutie #2/ensemble) is a first-year, and she is so excited to debut in her first Heidelberg production. She has previously performed in Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet) and Annie (Lily St. Regis) at Eisenhower High School. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Vaiden Mallonn she/her (Ensemble/Cutie 3) Vaiden is a senior Middle Childhood and Special Education Major. Vaiden first appeared on the Gundlach stage in Chicago (ensemble) and has since been involved in Wendy and Peter Pan (assistant stage manager), Top Girls (stage manager), and The SpongeBob Musical (stage manager). She has absolutely loved every minute of working on this production, and would like to thank her family, friends, and everyone involved in this production for everything that they have done throughout the course of this production and through her career! Enjoy the show!!
Jerahmy Marshall they/them (Dance Captain/Hack/Second Heckler/First Soldier/First Man/Neil’s U/S/Ensemble) is so excited to be doing their 1st show in the Gundlach Theatre as a freshman. They are so grateful to Karla and Scott for giving them the opportunity to perform and be dance captain. They hope you enjoy the show and hope you find who L-A-G-U-A-R-D-I-A really is!!
Sydney Mendez (Hack/Reporter/Newsie) is very excited to kick off the year with this amazing production for they’re first year at Heidelberg! Before this, they were back home in Florida, performing, Stage Managing, and Music Directing in shows for their high school and local theatre, like Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Once Upon A Mattress (Minstrel), Descendants: the Musical (Music Director), and many more! They would like to give a big thanks to their mom and dad, and especially their twin sister, who they miss very much and hope they can see each other again soon!
Jack Mills is a senior musical theatre major. He has performed in Heidelberg’s production’s Dance Nation as Luke, Lucas in The Addams Family Musical, Puck in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Slightly in Wendy and Peter, and Patchy The Pirate in SpongeBob the Musical. He assistant directed a student directed play in the Blackbox theater called My First Time, and recently co-directed Misery. He is very excited to play the role of Lopez for Heidelberg’s production of Fiorello!. He wants to thank his friends and family for their continuous support. He would also like to thank the cast and crew of Fiorello! for their hard work, dedication, and being such great role models, and great people to work with. Hope you enjoy the show!
Wilhelmina Opferman she/her (Ensemble/Cutie) is excited to be back on the Gundlach stage for her sophomore year! She is a musical theatre and English writing double major, with minors in history, German, and theatre production. Some of her credits here at Heidelberg include The SpongeBob Musical (SpongeBob Squarepants) and Top Girls (Waitress/Kit/Shona). On the production side of things, Wilhelmina designed the hair and makeup for Les Liaisons Dangereuses, assistant costume designed SpongeBob, and is the costume shop manager. Outside of theatre, she is a member of the Euglossian Society, Concert Choir, and Marching Band. Wilhelmina thinks it would be fun to teach a bear how to waltz.
Lauren Price she/her (Nina, Cutie, Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her Gundlach debut. Lauren has previously done theater at Carnation City Players. Some of her past roles include Newsies (Warden Snyder), Honk! Jr (Grace), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Croupier), and many other shows. She is also a member of the Heidelberg University Marching Band. Lauren wants to thank Karla Kash and Dr.Dusdieker for giving her this opportunity to be a member of the School of Music and Theater!
Emma Raber she/her (Mrs. Pomerantz/Ensemble) is ecstatic to perform in her first Heidelberg musical! Previously, she has performed in Into the Woods (The Witch) and Les Miserables (Madame Thenardier), and has also worked backstage for several shows. She would like to thank her parents, Christie Weininger, Russell Exlos-Raber, and Mark Exlos-Raber, and her brother, Noah, for always supporting her!
Grace Thomas is so excited for her debut at Heidelberg university!! This process has really been a great learning experience for her, and it’s definitely been different than the shows she done in the past. She’s also so honored to have been chosen as the assistant choreographer for the show !! Working alongside Karla was an amazing experience and she definitely had an amazing time !! so much hard work went into this show, and she truly hopes you enjoy it!!!
Ashtyn Wolph she/her (Cutie/Ensemble) is a senior music education major and acting minor. At Heidelberg, she has previously performed in Spongebob the Musical (Ensemble), Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic (Hannah) and Elf the Musical (Ensemble). Along with theater, Ashtyn is also a member of the Heidelberg University Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Composition Studio, and Saxophone Studio. She has also worked with the Ritz Theater as a member of the composition studio to create incidental music for the play Harvey which was performed last spring. Ashtyn is excited to have the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful production and hopes everyone enjoys the show! :)
Rebecca Young she/her (Newsie/ Ensemble) is a freshman majoring in Theatre with a Concentration in Acting and double minoring in Business and Psychology. She is ecstatic to make her Gundlach debut, and previously performed in Chicago! (Roxie Hart), and Clue (Wadsworth) in high school. Rebecca would like to thank her family and friends for their constant support, as well as the entire theatre department for welcoming her with open arms!
Meet the Crew
Amy Berger she/her (Assistant Director) is delighted to assist this talented cast and crew after directing The Other Place last spring. Outside Gundlach, Amy participates with the Ritz Players and Fort Findlay Playhouse. Favorite productions: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Siobhan), Mousetrap (Mollie), and Moon over Buffalo (Charlotte). Amy has an advanced degree in geology and appears daily at Heidelberg; current productions: Environmental Science and Watershed Hydrology. Special thanks to her cat Rincewind for tolerating weeks of delayed dinners.
Melaina Brostenianc she/her (Assistant Stage Manager/Marketing) is thrilled to be getting back to theatre for her Freshman year! She has done productions for The Warren Consolidated School of Performing Arts including; Freaky Friday (Marketing/Grandma Helene), 12 Angry Jurors (Marketing/Foreman), She Kills Monsters (Marketing/Sound Board Operator), Mamma Mia (Marketing/Sound Board Operator/Assistant Stage Manager). Melaina would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers. She hopes you have a great time watching the show!
Krista Hagans She/Her is a Senior at Heidelberg University. She currently working on her Theater degree with a concentration in acting and a minor in business. Krista was last seen as Tink in Wendy and Peter Pan and she is currently the manager of the front house and box office. She would like to thank her Mom and Dad, roommate, and friends back home in Dayton for their continued support. Enjoy the show!!!
SCOTT HUNT (Director) is thrilled to be working with these amazing students again, after previously directing last season's LES LIAISONS DANGERUSES A native Ohioan, member of Actor's Equity Association, and proud Resident Artist with The Human Race Theater Company, Scott dedicates each and every performance to Charles F. Hardin (1927-99)
As an Actor, he has appeared on Broadway, and in the National Touring Productions of LES MISERABLES (Marius) and RENT (Mark Cohen), and enjoyed a robust career in Regional Theatre spanning nearly three decades. Favorite roles include Huck Finn in BIG RIVER, Tobias in SWEENEY TODD, and Tom in THE GLASS MENAGERIE.
As a Director, he has staged productions of CABARET, SUNSET BLVD, and the World Premiere of the musical THE GREAT ONE (for which he also wrote the book, and provided additional lyrics) for Short North Stage in Columbus, OH, and for Wright State University in Dayton, OH, among others.
A passionate Teaching Artist, he has dedicated this phase of his career to "Paying Forward" lessons learned to the next generation of Performers.
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Lia is a first year full time student at Heidelberg, pursuing Bachelor degrees in Accounting and Data Analytics. She is from Garrettsville, Ohio, and in addition to being on the production team plays flute in the Heidelberg Marching Band. In her free time, she can be found reading a book with her cats or taking photos of insects, flowers, and interesting architecture.
Karla Kash, She/Her (Choreographer) is in her second year as an Associate Professor and Director of the Theatre at Heidelberg University and her eighteenth year as a full-time instructor in higher education. Professor Kash is delighted to be working with this group of talented and tenacious actors, designers, and the production team, especially her long-time friend Scott Hunt as director.
Ms. Kash is a professional Director and Choreographer (member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers), Actor (member of the Actors Equity Association), Fight Director who is certified in six weapons (The Society of American Fight Directors), and is trained in Intimacy Direction.
Some of Ms. Kash’s favorite roles are Barbara in August: Osage County at Repertory Theatre of Iowa; Susan in the musical [title of show] and Becca in Rabbit Hole at StageWest; Diana in Next to Normal at Des Moines Onstage; Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet at American Theatre for Actors in NYC (and was the production's fight director); and Martha in A Piece of My Heart at the Metropolitan Playhouse, NYC. Karla’s most incredible experience as an actor is playing Josie in A Moon for the Misbegotten opposite her mentor, the late Jonathan McMurtry, at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach, CA, under the direction of David Ellenstein.
Ms. Kash’s favorite productions as a professional director, choreographer, and/or fight director are Parade, Jerry Springer the Opera, Spring Awakening, and Avenue Q for StageWest; West Side Story, Rock of Ages, and The Wedding Singer for The Des Moines Playhouse; As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Glass Menagerie, and The Taming of the Shrew for The Repertory Theatre of Iowa; The World Goes ‘Round for The International Lyric Academy in Italy; and Shipwrecked at The Black Hills Playhouse. A career highlight for Karla was doing the fight direction for the Broadway National Tour of La Cage Aux Folles.
Some of Professor Kash’s favorite productions as a producer, director, choreographer, and/or fight director at the University level are Wendy and Peter Pan, and SpongeBob at HU, Godspell, A Dolls House, and Hair at The University at Albany; Heathers, Sweeney Todd, Twelfth Night, A Man of No Importance, and bare: a pop opera at Drake University; and The Pavillion, The Music Man, and My Fair Lady at Iowa State University.
Ms. Kash earned her BFA in Acting with an emphasis in Dance, Directing, and Musical Theatre from Wright State University and her MFA in Acting with a focus on Classical Theatre and Movement Studies from Brandeis University. Professor Kash’s highlight of her educational career is receiving the distinguished Madlyn Levitt Mentor of the Year award at Drake University.
Autumn Perry She/Her (Production Stage Manager) is a Junior Theatre Production and English Literature double major at Heidelberg University and is incredibly thrilled to be the Production Stage Manager for the main stage production of Fiorello! this Fall. Autumn has previously been involved in Heidelberg's productions of Eurydice, (Stage Manager) Chicago, (Stage Manager) Misery, (Sound Designer) Top Girls, (Sound Designer) Les Liaisons Dangereuses, (Stage Manager) Porch, (Light Designer) and most recently Sprongebob. (Asst. Technical Director) Autumn is extremely grateful for her production roles this semester and is looking forward to another wonderful year in the theater. Autumn would also like to thank her loved ones for all the support they offer her!
Milana (Millie) Robbins she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is ecstatic to be returning to theater in her Freshman year! She had partaken in the International Academy of Macomb’s productions of Edgar Allen Poe’s: Afterlife Radio Show (Lead Set Designer), Alice in Wonderland (Lead Set Designer/Backstage Crew), Romeo and Juliet (Lead Set Designer/Backstage Crew), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Lead Set Designer/Lead Stage Manager). Millie would like to thank her parents for their unconditional support through each production.