COM Theatre presents CRY-BABY - A Rock & Roll Musical!

​ CRY-BABY: A Rock & Roll Musical! 
July 12 - July 29, 2018
Book by Thomas Meehan & Mark O’Donnell
Music and Lyrics by Adam Schlesinger & David JaverbaumHilariously, Quirky, and Tune-Filled Musical Fun!
It's 1954. Everyone likes Ike, nobody likes communism and Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker is the coolest boy in Baltimore. He's a bad boy with a good cause – truth, justice and the pursuit of rock and roll. Cry-Baby and the rich girl, Allison, are star-crossed lovers at the center of this world. Fueled by hormones and the new rhythms of rock and roll, she turns her back on her squeaky-clean boyfriend, Baldwin, to be with Cry-Baby. Baldwin is the king of the squares and leads his close-harmony pals against the juvenile delinquents. It's Romeo and Juliet meets High School Hellcats. Filled with unforgettable songs and a fresh story, “Cry-Baby” will dance its way into the audience's heart!
www.com.edu/theatre
~~~The Cast~~~

• LORIE ALCAZAR (Wanda Woodward) is more than delighted to be back on stage at COM. Lorie has always loved to perform on the stage and teach Theatre and Dance. Lorie’s last role was Frau Bergmann in Spring Awakening.  Lorie’s favorite roles Include: Dural in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Anya/ Village Woman in Fiddler on the Roof, Secretary Woman in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Lorie is blessed to have such an amazing supportive group of family, friends for loving a such unique, eccentric woman and would like to say THANKS!!!! Lorie would also like to thank all of the cast, crew and directors for their hard work and dedication. She would like to dedicate her performance to her parents. Lorie hopes all of the patrons enjoy the show. YEAH!!!
• MAX BAILEY (Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker) is really excited to be doing his 7th show and 4th musical as a COM Theatre major! Last seen on the stage as Spike Spauldeen in Song of Singapore and Little Stone in Eurydice. Max would like to thank his family for their support of his dreams and would like to thank
  his cast and crew and directors for their hard work and dedication and his girlfriend, Auben, for all of the love and joy she’s given him. He looks forward to growing his skill set in the COM Associate of Arts Theatre program. When not on stage, Max is mastering the art of making music and building Lego megazords.
• MAGGIE BLEDSOE (Skippy Wagstaff) is thrilled to be a part of her first show at COM! Before she graduated high school, she had the honor of playing various roles such as Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird, Nancy in the musical Oliver!, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and other exciting parts, both big and small. Maggie would like to thank her high school directors Laurel Powell and Marisa Hataway for pushing her to be the actor she is today. She also wants to send her love and gratitude to her parents for always supporting her through this whole incredible and challenging journey
• AUBEN BROWN (Lenora) is super stoked to be a part of Cry-Baby! A Theatre major here at College of the Mainland, you may also seen her as Kitty (Drowsy Chaperone), Annabel Glick (Lucky Stiff), and her personal favorite, Rose (Song of Singapore). She is currently working at the Spongebob Subpants exhibit at Moody Gardens. In her spare time she loves playing ukulele, making art, and writing. She wants to thank her crazy friends at Clear Brook HS for always coming out to see and support her. She also wants to thank her family for teaching her everything she knows. Finally, she wants to give a huge thanks to her amazingly awesome hunka burnin’ love boyfriend, Max Bailey! She loves him dearly and is so thankful to have him in her life to support and love her. Love you, Max!
• JARED CADORE (Dupree) is thrilled to return to the COM Theatre stage. He previously appeared in The Drowsy Chaperonein 2016 here at COM. Some of Jared’s other credits include Tim in Get Yourself Together, Leaf Coneybear in the 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Marcus in Video Clones. Jared would like to thank the amazing cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication in creating this wonderful show.
• JOHN CARRARO (Judge Stone) is very excited to be doing his first show at College of the Mainland. Last seen onstage as Swaino in Small Engine Repair and Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If You Can at Island ETC. John is proud to share the stage with his daughter Sophia Carraro who plays Pepper Walker. Sophia is a theatre major at COM. John wants to thank his beautiful wife for supporting the constant show tune song list being sung in the Carraro household. When John isn’t acting he is also spending time with his younger kids Gwenyth and Tanner.
• SOPHIA CARRARO (Pepper Walker) is excited to be performing in her first musical here at COM as a Theatre major! Sophia’s previous roles include Morticia in The Addams Family and Ensemble in Disaster! The Musical. She would like to thank the director, H. Russ Brown for allowing her this amazing opportunity and her cast and crew for making this an unforgettable experience! Last, but not least, she’d like to thank her super cool and awesome parents for always supporting her in the arts.
• EMERY GLOVER (Nancy) has performed in several musicals, including Hairspray (Penny Pingleton), Suessical (Mayzie LaBird), and Footloose (Ariel Moore). This is her first production with COM and she thanks everyone in the cast for welcoming her into the COM Theatre family! She is especially excited for this performance because it is her first show with her mom, Lee Glover. She thanks her family for their continued love and support, which allows her to pursue her dreams!
• LEE GLOVER (Mrs. Vernon Williams) is thrilled to be living her acting dream by performing in her first COM Theatre production. She is so thankful that the directors gave her this opportunity! Thanks, also, to all of the students who have watched her as she performed stories as a school librarian over the years. And finally, the biggest thanks of all goes to her family who endured countless hours of listening to her practice lines for this show.
• ISSAC LOPEZ (Flaco) is thrilled to be in his first COM Theatre production, marking a beginning to his studies as a Theatre major this fall. His favorite roles to date include Joe (Love of a Pig), Midas (Metamorphoses), and Cogsworth (Beauty and the Beast). Many thanks to his family, high school directors, God for supporting him through those experiences. To H, the cast,and crew for welcoming him. To his parents for helping him acquire his citizenship last summer and Kelly Lawrence who landed him an audition where H. Russ Brown would soon discover him.
• JEAN LUCHSINGER (Allison Vernon Williams) is proud to be back on the COM stage after Assistant Directing (God’s Man of Texas). Born and raised here, at age six she started with tech, moving her way to the stage and even to assistant directing. Her roles include, an Oompa Loompa (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Suzette (Don’t Dress for Dinner), Tood (The Cover of Life), and her most recent role, Domonique Du Monaco (Lucky Stiff). She’s so excited to be in a musical yet again to work with her closest peers. She would like to thank Daniel and Jevin for being the bestest friend’s a girl could ask for. She loves them dearly
• NICHOLAS BRANDON MORA (Leonard / Whiffle) is a COM Theatre major and has appeared as Noonan/Hindu/Etc in Song of Singapore and Whit in Of Mice & Men. He plans on fulfilling his dreams after he gets his associates in theatre. His dreams are working in the film industry acting and writing. His family believes in him 110% and push him towards his dreams. He wants to thank his parents, family theatre family, his girlfriend, and The Big 3, for believing in him.
• STEPHANIE RIVERA (Mona “Hatchet-face“) is ecstatic to be performing at College of the Mainland for the second time, and will also be joining the department as a Theatre major in Fall of 2018. She would like to thank her wonderful and talented directors for having patience, practicing kindness, and genuinely welcoming her back onto the stage after a brief theatrical hiatus. She would also like to thank her best friends William and Harrison, for always supporting her.
• JAKE WADKINS (Baldwin) In his second production at COM, he could not be happier to be portraying the role of Baldwin Blandish. You may have seen him at Dickinson High School were he played roles such as Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird), Satan (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot), and Beast (Beauty and the Beast) to name a few. He also portrayed various roles in the past Spring musical, Lucky Stiff. He would like to thank his friends, previous directors, and family for all the love and support throughout the years. After COM, he will be transferring to a 4-Year University. He would like to give a big shoutout to his current directors, H, Amanda, and Curt, for their constant teachings and dedication to all things Theatre, his amazing Music Director, Alex Navarro, and the beautiful Sarah Busby for the fantastic
  Choreography! 
• HUNTER WAYNE (Melvin / Whiffle) Is very excited to be doing his 5th show and 1st musical here at College of the Mainland. His previous roles include Willie Tooter Terrell in COM Wasn’t Built in a Day, Arthur Kurnitz in Lost in Yonkers, Big Stone in Eurydice, and Phillip in Shape of Things. Hunter would like to thank his family for their constant and continued support as well as his friends and fellow actors for making the theatre a welcoming and homely environment. Hunter aims to continue on to University to both further his acting ability and to minor in Music Production. Hunter likes to play video games and works on writing music and stories, and honing his video editing skills.
• T.J. WEBB (Clarence / Whiffle) is happy to make return for his 4th COM Theatre production. He previously served as the assistant director/assistant stage manager for Of Mice and Men and he was last seen onstage as The Bellhop in Lucky Stiff. He was also a part of Grease, These Shining Lives, Little Shop of Horrors, Alice in Wonderland, etc. He would like to thank his directors, his family and friends for supporting him, Threat Level: Midnight for being some of the best friends ever, and he cannot wait to be a Texas State Bobcat. Go Bobcats!!!
• ​DIAMOND WILLIAMS (Mercedes) was born and raised in La Marque Tx, and is so grateful to be performing in her very first show here at COM as a Theatre major. She loves the support that everyone has for each other!  Diamond dreams of becoming an amazing theatre teacher one day. She hopes to have an impact on kids’ lives just like her 12th grade theatre director did for her. Mrs. Joseph made her want to make herself a better person! Diamond would also like to thank her grandma that for all that she has done for her and last, but not least, she would like to thank H. Russ Brown for not giving up on her when she wanted to the most.
• ~~~​The Directors Chair~~~
  
• Howdy COM Theatre Family!!
     Welcome to our rockin’ summer musical: Cry-Baby!   Since my arrival 3 years ago, there’ve been many changes at The Biggest Li’l Theatre In Texas and I wanted to assure all our loyal fans regarding our current rebranding as “COM Theatre”. Make no mistake about it…. though we will no longer be advertised / promoted / referred to, in terms of name, as “College of the Mainland Community Theatre”… The change is COSMETIC ONLY.
  COM THEATRE: The Biggest Li’l Theatre In Texas is…
  - STILL a Community Theatre providing professional-level stage productions for the community at large!
  - STILL holds Open Community Auditions for ALL shows. We cast the roles based on Talent and Age Appropriateness with actors from across the community!
  - STILL Your Theatre Home! Work with us, sing with us, dance with us, train with us, enjoy great stage plays with us!
  And, have you heard?!  We are also announcing Huge Savings as we rollback the price of a COM Theatre season ticket with prices of only $50, $70 and $90!!  Amazing Entertainment and Incredible Value!!
  Exciting things are in the works at COM Theatre for the 2018-2019 Season!  I want you ALL – our COM Theatre Family - to be a part of it, whether it’s onstage or in the seats!!  
     THANK YOU for playing your vital role as an audience member tonight and for your generous support of The Biggest Li’l Theatre in Texas! EXCELSIOR! 
  H. Russ Brown
  COM Theatre Artistic Director
  
• ~~~Behind the Scenes~~~
  
• H. Russ Brown (Director) is a nationally recognized Theatre Artist / Educator who has worked at theatres across the country for the past 30 years. He holds an M.F.A. degree in Acting from Western Illinois University and is a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. As COM’s Head of Theatre / Artistic Director, H. Russ is proud to help guide the growth of COM’s Academic Theatre Program and continuing the tradition of excellence on the COM Theatre stage. His greatest achievement, though, is his marriage to his beautiful wife, Elizabeth, and his two amazingly talented kids, Grant and Auben.
  
  Alex Navarro (Music Director) has recently returned to his native city of Houston after
  20 years in Los Angeles and New York City. He currently serves as pianist for the Houston Ballet and vocal coach for HITS Theatre. Notable recording and performance credits include artists Rod Stewart, Queen Latifah, Carly Simon, Art Garfunkel, Natasha Bedingfield, Rita Wilson, Doc Powell, Taylor Dayne, the Prague Philharmonic, the BBC Radio Orchestra, the Newark Symphony, the Omaha Symphony, Waitress the Musical - Broadway, 42nd Street The Musical – National Tour, and producers Phil Ramone, Clive Davis and Richard Perry. Navarro has appeared on The Today Show, The Tonight Show, The Late, Late Show, Regis and Kelly, The Ellen Show, The American Music Awards, The Martha Stewart Show and A&E Private Sessions. Navarro received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas and a Master of Music in Film Scoring from New York University.
  
  Sarah Busby (Choreographer) is so happy and honored to be choreographing her fourth musical with COM Theatre. Sarah’s love for dancing began when she was five years old and continued to grow throughout the two and a half decades she has dedicated her life to it. Some of her work includes choreography for: Drowsy Chaperone, Lucky Stiff and Song of Singapore. She wants to thank H and her husband, Matthew, for these wonderful opportunities as well as this community for supporting the arts. Enjoy the show!
  
  Daniel “Stix” Atkin (Stage Manager) is excited to work on this production! Daniel has five years of technical theatre under his belt. This will be his seventh show as a COM Theatre Major and has also been stage hand for Lost In Yonkers, as well being the assistant stage manager for Moon Over Buffalo, and stage managed Red and Of Mice & Men. He has won KCACTF awards previously for the show Eurydice for Scenic Painting and Make-Up Design. He would like to thank Jean for supporting his dreams, and that he loves her dearly. Thank you Curt, Amanda, and H. Russ Brown.
  
  Curt Meyer (Technical Director) received his B.S. in Technical Theatre from Lamar University in 1996, and his M.A. in scenic design and theatre technology from Southwest Texas State Univ. in 1999 before he began teaching at San Jacinto College Central from 2002-2014.  His work has been seen in Houston, San Marcos, Baltimore and Atlanta, including designs for “Jesus Christ Superstar” (Beaumont Civic Opera), “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Southwest Texas) and most recently “Young Frankenstein” (San Jacinto College).  Curt served on the Texas Educational Theatre Association board of directors in 2006-2007 / 2008-2009.  Curt is also a UIL contest Manager and adjudicator.
  
  Amanda Bezemek (Costume Designer) is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Houston School of Theatre.  In addition to her work at the university, she has also worked for the Alley Theatre, Stages and the Houston Shakespeare Festival and Children's Festival.  Amanda joined the theatre staff at COM in February 2004.
  
  Susan Gilbert (Box Office Manager) enjoys her busy job with the COM Theatre and has been with us since 1992.  She believes the success of the COM Theatre can be attributed to the many volunteers who dedicated their time and energies to make this theatre one of the leading community theatres in the southwest.  She also thanks Joyce Palmer for her endless energy in supporting COM Community Theatre and the box office.  Susan resides in Texas City with her son Andrew.
  
  
  COM Theatre Staff
  Artistic Director..........H. Russ Brown
  Technical Director......Curt Meyer
  Costume Designer.....Amanda Bezemek
  Box Office Manager...Susan Gilbert