A Miracle on 34th Street - The Musical Creative
Director
Melissa Broy FortsonMelissa is very excited to a part of this live version of a favorite holiday memory. “I believe. I believe. It’s silly, but I believe,” is a favorite phrase in her family. Other favorite shows have included: Joseph…Dreamcoat, Odd Couple: FV, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Hairspray, Avenue Q (Gary Coleman), Nunsense, and Charlie Brown. She wishes cast and crew an AMAZING run and thanks you for all you’ve done to make this a great show! Love, hugs, and thanks to my family!!
Music Director & Keyboard
LeVar BettsAssistant Director
Bill BisbeeBill is thrilled to be returning to perform at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore. His past
appearances here include roles in Godspell, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat, and Much Ado About Nothing. Bill can often be seen running the sound board
for ASoB productions. Most recently, he debuted as Director for "Once Upon a Mattress." Outside of theater, he is an IT leader for a national non-profit
organization and a member of Mosaic, a Christian praise band here at Prince of Peace
Lutheran Church. Bill would like to thank his family for making room in an otherwise
busy home life for him to pursue his theatrical endeavors.
Junior Director
Brittany RunkBrittany is a senior at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts and this is her first time directing a show. She has been in many productions at Patapsco and this is her third production here at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore. You may have seen her as Charlie Brown in "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown", The Bum in "The Wedding Singer", Cliton in "The Liar", and many more. She is currently playing Berrymore in "The Hounds of the Baskerville."
Choreographer
Kristin MillerStage Manager
Donna ZubrowskiDonna is proud to be Stage Manager for her second time at ASoB, as she had a fantastic time as Stage Manager for "Charlie Brown" this summer. In addition to her behind-the-scenes work, Donna has had a great time onstage as well, appearing in "Scrooge" (Char-Woman and Knitter), "Oklahoma!" (Aunt Eller), and "Much Ado About Nothing" (Ursula). Now where did I leave that gaffer tape again? Why is my drill never charged?
Junior Stage Manager
Tiffany BellTiffany is very excited about her a stage assistant role for "Miracle on 34th Street" and has been looking forward to it every since she heard about the show. She has performed in ASoB’s past productions of "You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown", "Little Shop of Horrors", and "Scrooge the Musical". Tiffany is very thankful for the theatrical knowledge she has gaining from ASoB. She would like to thank the crew & cast for all of their hard work to make this show possible. Plus a special thanks to her family and friends for cheering her on as she accomplishes her goals. “Enjoy the show!”
Lighting Design
John RunkJohn is proud to be helping out his daughter and the community. He is happy to be allowed to participate and is excited for the opening of "Miracle on 34th Street, the Musical."
Sound Tech
Dawn RunkDawn is proud to be helping out her daughter and the community. She is happy to be allowed to participate and is excited for the opening of "Miracle on 34th Street, the Musical."
Orchestra - Reeds
David E. Booth, Jr.David is pleased to once again join ASoB as a pit musician. Shows in which he has participated include, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (ASoB) and "Fiddler on the Roof" (TWP). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays all woodwinds and reed instruments. When not pursuing musical endeavors, David can be found practicing in his "day job" as a Maryland Licensed Professional Engineer, or restoring old clocks.
Orchestra - Reeds
Matt ElkyOrchestra - Violin
Jonathan GorenJonathan is excited to play with ASoB for the second time. He previously played in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in 2016. He has also played in musicals with TWP and GAP, directed by Michael Zellhofer, and in musicals with BATC, an actor's theater where the director and assistant director often write and arrange their own script and music. Jonathan has also done other gigs in Baltimore, D.C., and VA, which sometimes involve a small orchestra setting. He is concertmaster of the 'BPO,' a community orchestra, and also enjoys giving lessons. He taught violin at Baltimore Talent Education Center until its closing in 2015 and is teaching students at his home and through music companies.
Orchestra - Trumpet
Lori GuessLori plays trumpet in three swing bands, as she's been transitioning from her principal instrument, oboe, for the past few years. She's played oboe in umpteen pit orchestras, including "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at ASoB. "Miracle on 34th Street" is her first pit gig on the trumpet and she is thrilled to move into the brass section!
Orchestra - Reeds
Darwin RayAlthough this is only his second production with ASoB, Darwin has been Assistant Music Director with the Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Players for 14 years and Music Director for OLMC’s 2018 performance of "Seussical". He most recently performed in Just Off Broadway’s 2018 production of "Jesus Christ Superstar". When not playing clarinet and baritone sax for the Howard Burns Jazz Ensemble in Frederick, MD, Darwin works as an Instructor Trainer for the Red Cross.
Orchestra - Drummer
Chris RaymanChris is happy to be playing drums for Artistic Synergy of Baltimore's holiday production. Previous shows include "A Chorus Line", "The Rocky Horror Show", "Jaques Brel Is Alive And Well...", "Little Shop of Horrors", "Bare: the Musical", "Sweeney Todd", "Godspell", "The Great American Trailer Park Musical", "Les Miserables", and "Legally Blonde". He also wrote the play "Sex Sells", produced in 2006 and 2008 at Spotlighters Theatre and Laurel Mill Playhouse, respectively.
Orchestra - Keyboard
Savannah SmithSavannah is an avid multi-instrumentalist. Currently, she plays clarinet and piano in her high school band and last year participated in All-County Band and in the State Music Festival, where she earned an "I" as a soloist. She loves movies and music and spends her free time drawing, writing, and listening to her vinyl record collection. Her favorite bands are The Beatles, Toto, Foreigner and Survivor. This is her first time with ASoB and thanks them for the opportunity to play!
Orchestra - Guitar
Peter WeitzmannMEREDITH WILLSON’S MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, THE MUSICAL
Book, Music and Lyrics by MEREDITH WILLSON
Based on the 20th Century Fox Picture
Story by Valentine Davies Screen Play by George Seaton
Meredith Willson's Miracle on 34th Street The Musical
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.MTIShows.com