Pride and Prejudice | gundlachtheatre

Pride and Prejucdice

A Note From the Director

Pride and Prejudice follows the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner. They must overcome the titular sins of pride and prejudice in order to fall in love and marry. More than 200 years after the novel first appeared in print, Janet Munsil’s witty, romantic, and ingenious adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved tale of the independent-minded Elizabeth Bennet and enigmatic Mr. Darcy is remarkable for capturing the tone and compressing the complexity of the story into a fast-paced, funny and fiercely romantic two hours on stage. We are delighted to be producing such a hilarious recreation of this classic story!

Stephen Svoboda & Gavin Buurma

Cast List

Principle Characters

Lizzie Bennet, Caira Goldstein

Jane Bennet, Lizzie Bowman

Mary Bennet, Lexi Lang

Kitty Bennet/Georgiana, Natalie Joritz

Lydia Bennet, Riley Gibson

Mrs. Bennet, Jasmine Ridler

Mr. Bennet, Noah Rawson

Mrs. Gardiner, Taylor Richardson

Mr. Gardiner, Isaac Hulbert

Charles Bingley, Zach Abraham

Caroline Bingley, Gretta Griesbach

Charlotte Lucas, Bri Clark

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Nick Talion

Mr. Collins, Ben Pollizi

George Wickham, Alex Bell

Lady Catherine De Bourgh, Zaria Keys

Lady Anne, Kamryn Mohney

Mrs. Reynolds, Martina Dimiduk

Ensemble, Jackson Helmholtz,

Jack Mills, & Hannah Schoen

Production Team

Director, Stephen Svoboda

Assistant Director, Gavin Buurma

Stage Manager, Anna Gerber

Assistant Stage Manager, Kamryn Mohney & Chantress DeWitt

Dialect Coach, Amy Jo Jackson

Choreographer, Donna Gross

Dance Captain, Zach Abraham & Elise Hill

Lighting Designer, Daisy Long

Master Electrician, Ben Pollizi

Light Board Operator, Jadon Muniz

Technical Director, Ben Bodart

Sound Board Operator, Chris Sgalla

Costume Designer, David Cotter

Costume Assistant, Hannah Schoen & Isaac Hulbert

Costume Shop Manager/Stitcher, Elaine Gittinger

Hair & Makeup, Taylor Richardson,

Lexi Lang, & Solana Petrone

Wardrobe Hand, Julia Schaefer & Bailee Coss

Scenic Designer, Brendan Gonzales Boston

Projection Designer, Ryan Douglass

Scenic Charge, Bri Clark

Deck Hands, Jackson Helmholtz & Jordan Kline

Props Master, Martina Dimiduk

Meet the Cast

Zach Abraham is a sophomore at Heidelberg University this fall. He is currently pursuing a degree in both Musical Theatre as well as Business Administration. Zach is beyond excited to play the character of Charles Bingley in this production. Zach is also a member of Hei-Notes, the Honor’s Activity Board, and the “Make-a-Scene” Improv group on campus. 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 Pride and Prejudice!

Alex Bell is a freshman at Heidelberg University. He is from Miami, Fl. He is majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Acting. He plays football for Heidelberg as well.

Lizzie Bowman is a fourth year student at Heidelberg University, majoring in Musical Theatre with a minor in History and Business. In the past while attending Heidelberg, Lizzie has appeared in, The Music Man (Mrs. Squires), Cabaret (Rosie), She Kills Monsters (Agnes) and Freaky Friday (Gretchen), Elf (Emily), and Dance Nation (Sofia). Previously she has been a production member in My First Time (Stage Manager), The Addams Family (Assistant Stage Manager), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Wardrobe) and The Penguin Tango (Assistant Props Master), as well as dance captain for Freaky Friday and 9 to 5.

Bri Clark is a junior Musical Theater major and is on track to get her MBA. She has participated in theatrical shows pretty much her whole life. Bri has been in multiple shows here at Heidelberg including Cabaret, Oedipus, She Kills Monsters , Freaky Friday, Elf, Heathers, 9 to 5, and The Addams Family. She also participates as the scenic charge and graphic designer for the theater department. Bri is excited for her future here at Heidelberg as well as what will follow once she graduates.

Martina Dimiduk is a fourth year theatre and video game production double major from Dayton, OH. This will be their 8th show at Heidelberg. You may have seen them on stage hiding in the ensemble of various shows such as The Music Man, or maybe you've seen the weapons they made used to fight evil in She Kills Monsters? Whatever the case may be, Martina hopes you enjoy the show and go on to tell your friends about the great things that happen here at Heidelberg University.

Riley Gibson is a senior musical theatre major. At Heidelberg, she has been in The Music Man and Macbeth, Mamma Mia, Cabaret, She Kills Monsters, Freaky Friday, Elf, Dance Nation, Heathers and 9 to 5. She has also been in Titanic at The Ritz Theatre. She has worked production on the shows Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Penguin Tango, and Dog Sees God. She also has assistant directed the shows Lysistrata, Oedipus, Elf and The Addams Family. She has also directed My First Time, which was performed in the blackbox theatre.

Caira Goldstein is in the MBA program at Heidelberg University. She has an undergraduate degree in Musical Theatre. She was previously in Heathers, Elf, Fun Home, Lysistrata, Oedipus Rex, Macbeth, Cabaret, acted/assistant directed/choreographed Dance Nation, and was a part of many more shows here at Heidelberg. She performed in the masterclasses of Tom Cippulo and Jeff Blumenkrantz and directed a Drew Gasparini album review. She would also like to thank Stephen and David for giving her these wonderful opportunities. Caira thanks you for your endless support throughout her time at Heidelberg and hopes you enjoy the show!

Gretta Griesbach is a Junior Theatre Major here at Heidelberg University. She has been performing in productions all throughout middle school and high school. She has performed on the Heidelberg stage in She Kills Monsters, Freaky Friday, Elf, Dog Sees God, Heathers, 9 to 5, and The Addam’s Family. Gretta is super excited to be back acting on the stage and would like to thank everyone for their support for this production! She wants to especially thank the cast and crew for their hard work and dedication towards this amazing show!

Jackson Helmholtz is a freshman musical theatre major here at Heidelberg. In the past he has been in Addams Family, Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, Tarzan, and The Wizard of Oz. He is in Hei-Notes as well as Make-A-Scene. He would like to thank the cast and crew for their hard work on the show!

Isaac Hulbert has always been fascinated with productions of all kinds on and off stage. Now that he is here at Heidelberg University, he is able to live out my dreams on the stage. I am honored for the opportunity to participate in this show.

Natalie Joritz is thrilled to bring Austen to life! She is a sophomore musical theatre major at Heidelberg University. Other stage credits include: Angelo (Comedy of Errors), Manson Trio Dancer (Pippin), and The Narrator (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). Outside of theatre, Natalie is involved in Hei-Notes, Make-A-Scene Improv Troupe, Heimonics, as well as the honors program. Love goes out to her friends and family for all their support, the creative/production team for making this wonderful show happen, and Ms. Austen herself for creating such wonderful stories for both today and yesterday. Enjoy the show!

Zaria Keys is a freshman and is currently double majoring in Psychology and Theatre with a concentration in Acting. This is her second performance with the Heidelberg Theatre Program. She enjoys all things art, music, and theatre. She is very excited to continue in Heidelberg’s theatre program and plans to pursue a career in theatre. Zaria wants to thank her parents and sister for all their support!

Jack Mills is a sophomore musical theatre major. He is a part of Heidelberg’s Heinotes, and Heidelberg’s improv group, Make-a-Scene. He has performed in Heidelberg’s production’s of Freaky Friday, Elf, Heathers The Musical, he was Luke in Dance Nation, Josh in 9 to 5. His most recent role being Lucas in The Addams Family. He is very excited to be a part of Heidelberg’s production of Pride and Prejudice. He wants to thank his friends and family for their continuous support. He would also like to thank the cast and crew of Pride and Prejudice for their hard work, dedication, and being such great role models, and great people to work with. Hope you enjoy the show!

Ben Pollizi is a junior musical theatre major and he is so excited to be back on stage! He recently has performed in My First Time and The Addams Family this semester! Some of his favorite past roles include Beethoven in Dog Sees God and Oliver in Puffs! He also serves as the Master Electrician for all shows within the department! He is involved in hei-notes, is the president of the Make-a-Scene improv group, and helped produce I Have A Voice, a reading sharing the stories of children in the Seneca County Youth Center. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Noah Rawson is very excited to be playing Mr. Bennet in Heidelberg’s production of Pride & Prejudice. Noah is in his third year of college majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Acting. He’d like to thank his parents, siblings, Lizzie, and all of his wonderful friends at Kroger for coming and supporting him!

Taylor Richardson is a Senior Acting and English Writing Major and Theatre Education Minor from Dayton, OH. Pride and Prejudice is her 11th onstage production and 3rd as hair and makeup designer with Heidelberg University. Previously she has been seen as Megan Jones in Puffs, Myrrhine in Lysistrata, and Grandma/Others in Freaky Friday as well as hair and makeup designer for Puffs and Lysistrata and ASM for Elf and Heathers. She is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to work on this show and would like to thank her friends and family for their constant support.

Jasmine Ridler is a senior Theatre and History double major with a business minor. She is thrilled to be playing Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Previously, she had an exciting directorial debut with the Charlie Brown rework play Dog Sees God. She has also recently performed as Roz in Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. She is also currently working with Berg Allies and Alpha Psi Omega to put on an LGBTQ+ Genderbent Musical Showcase. Outside of theatre, Jasmine is the President of Berg Allies, the Founder of the Berg Body Positivity Club, Game Master of Make-A-Scene Improv Comedy Troupe, a Euglossian Society Corollary member, member of the theatre honorary Alpha Psi Omega, and a proud member of her sorority Kappa Psi Omega. She would like to thank Stephen Svoboda and David Cotter for their belief in her and passion for helping her grow. And she would like to thank her partner Leo Swain for his love and support.

Nick Talion is a junior at Heidelberg and is so excited to return to Gundach for yet another production! He has been in previous productions here at Gundlach such as Cabaret (Ernst), She Kills Monsters (Miles), Dog Sees God (CB), and most recently My First Time. He would like to thank his friends and family for all the support and for helping him make it this far, as well as the entire cast and the directors for making this show a memorable one!

Meet the Production Team

Gavin Buurma is a Senior Musical Theatre major, with a minor in Business Administration and Theatre Education from Willard, Ohio. He is typically found on-stage, but is very excited for the opportunity to be assistant directing Pride and Prejudice. Gavin is a member of the Hei-Notes and a Student Ambassador. He would like to thank his friends and family, especially his mom, for all of their support. The cast and crew have worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic and he is very excited for everyone to be back LIVE!

David Cotter previously served as the Managing Artistic Director of Town Hall Theatre, the only theatre in Dayton, Ohio, exclusively presenting work for young audiences. While at Town Hall Theatre, David oversaw the redevelopment of the education programs, developed programming for adults with special needs, and created and implemented a facilities upgrade plan for the theatre which included new lighting, sound and audience seating upgrades. David was the Director of Education at The Redhouse Arts Center in Syracuse, N.Y. where he oversaw a $3.2 million education collaboration program that focused arts integration and collaboration with students in the Syracuse City School District. In addition, he oversaw programming that included the Rock Camp experience, programming for adults with special needs and communications training for graduate and doctoral students in the medical fields. David is a certified music educator in Ohio and New York and spent time in the middle school classroom. David is a frequent presenter at conferences, which include the Southeastern Theatre Conference, American Alliance for Theatre Education, Florida Theatre Conference and Tedx. He is an avid musical theatre performer, director, and music director.

Chantress DeWitt is a sophomore musical theatre major from Cardington, Ohio. During her time here at Heidelberg, they have been involved both on and off stage. She has done on stage performances for Elf, Heathers, 9 to 5, and most recently The Addams Family. She helped off stage with Puffs and is glad to be back for Pride and Prejudice. Chantress would like to thank the cast and crew of this production for being amazing and putting in so much hard work. She would also thank her friends and family for their support.

Anna Gerber is a senior theatre major at Heidelberg University. She is thrilled to be back as stage manager for Pride & Prejudice. This summer, Anna worked at Porthouse Theatre as a microphone and sound technician. At Heidelberg, she has been stage manager for Elf, Fun Home, and Cabaret. Anna was recently assistant director for 9 to 5. She has also worked sound on Addam’s Family, 9 to 5, and Heathers, and was props master for Puffs. She would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support.

Donna Gross is thrilled to be back at Heidelberg and choreographing 9 to 5. She graduated from Heidelberg in 1992 with dual majors: Business Administration and Public Relations. She currently teaches dance and movement at Heidelberg and owns Relevé Barre Studio in Downtown Tiffin. Her past highlighted roles include Elsa in Sound of Music, Mrs. Gilbreth in Cheaper by the Dozen, and a supernumerary for the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet.

Elise Hill is excited to be working as dance captain for the first time at Heidelberg. However, this isn't her first rodeo! Elise has worked many production roles at Fremont Community Theatre for various things including dance captain, choreographer, stage manager, assistant director and more! Elise has also done plenty of onstage work in more than thirty different shows! Elise can't wait to continue growing her production skills with future shows. You can follow her on most any social media platform @eamh_drama

Amy Jo Jackson (Dialect Coach): Broadway, First National Tour, and Toronto productions of the Tony Award winning Kinky Boots. Off-Bway: A Sherlock Carol; Clinton the Musical; Henry IV Part 1 (The Pearl); Unlock’d, Nymph Errant (Prospect); These Seven Sicknesses, The Mysteries, Looking at Christmas (The Flea). Regional: Once (Buck’s County Playhouse); Waterfall (Pasadena Playhouse); Billy Elliot, Always...Patsy Cline, Cabaret (Seacoast Rep). TV: FOX’s 2016 Rocky Horror. Amy Jo is also an accomplished actor, singer, nightlife artist, and writer. Their original musical Hatchetation was an official selection of the National Musical Theater Conference at the O’Neill Theater Center in 2021. @amyjojackson.

Jordan Kline is a senior here at Heidelberg. She is a psychology major with a theater minor. She is a deckhand for this production of Pride and Prejudice. This is Jordan’s ninth show here at Heidelberg, but the sixteenth show overall. Previous shows at Heidelberg include The Music Man, Mamma Mia!, Oedipus, Lysistrata, Puffs, Dance Nation, Heathers, and The Addams Family. She would like to thank those who have helped her along the way and continue to support her going forward.

Kamryn Mohney is an accounting and musical theater double major at Heidelberg University. Kamryn is a third year student and debuted on the Gundlach Theatre stage as Fraulein Kost in Cabaret as a freshman. A few other roles Kamryn has enjoyed while being at Heidelberg, is Medium Allison in Fun Home, Ellie Blake in Freaky Friday, and Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family. Her favorite role was Heather McNamara in Heathers. She is apart of the Hei-Notes here on campus. Kamryn would love to thank her friends and family for all of their support. Kamryn has been involved with theater since the seventh grade and is delighted to finally assistant stage manage a show at Heidelberg.

Stephen Svoboda is currently an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Heidelberg University, where he teaches coursework in acting, script analysis, musical theatre direction, play direction, theatre history and criticism. He is responsible for curriculum and course development in The School of Music & Theatre as well as being responsible for the artistic and programmatic development of Gundlach Theatre. He served as the Executive Artistic Director of the Redhouse Arts Center from 2011-2016. Previously, he served as the Executive Artistic Director of the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y. While at the Redhouse Arts Center, Stephen developed unique partnerships with a variety of organizations throughout the state, including a multi-million-dollar contract with the Syracuse City Schools that made The Redhouse the regional leader in arts education and integration. In addition, while at the Redhouse he created a repertory company of artists, designers and community members that enabled him to produce, in a typical year, over 16 productions, 300 classes and cultivate relationships with communities typically underserved by arts including urban youth and families and adults with disabilities. Prior to working in regional arts centers, Stephen taught at the University of Miami, where his students and colleagues ranked him as one of the best teachers in the College of Arts and Sciences. He created a BFA in Playwriting and Directing track that focused on developing young dramatists through devising, growing, and staging new works, while celebrating the great diversity of student voices.