THE COMPANY
Summer 2017 - "Lucky Stiff"
David Friday
Company Member | Managing Director
Massachusetts
Louigi | Set Construction
Full time company member and Managing Director, David has had a blast as Mr. Sipos in Parfumerie, Vince Fontaine in Grease, Porthos in The Three Musketeers and It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. A graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, David has been rather nomadic, living and performing on stage, television, radio and film, in NYC, Indiana, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, but is happy to settle down in Carver with his wonderful wife, Erin and 2 beautiful girls, Karly and Lexi. Most recently he served as Technical Director for The Company Of Pittsburgh and appeared in productions of Oklahoma!, and Man Of LaMancha, and can be seen in the film Love The Coopers. “Autism awareness rocks!”
Erin Friday
Company Member | Director of Education
Massachusetts
Ensemble / Prop Master - Set Dresser
Erin Friday is thrilled to serve on Americana Theatre Company’s production team as the Director of Education. In 2002, Erin acquired a degree in Elementary Education with a focus on Fine and Theatre Arts from Stonehill College. She has performed with companies such as The Round Barn Theatre, The Comtra Theatre, McKeesport Little Theatre, Gemini Children’s Theater and others. Erin has been a board member of ATC since 2011. Erin has directed multiple productions including Carver High School’s production of Peter Pan in 1997, Stonehill College’s cabaret of Rent in 2001, and many performances for the children’s musical theatre ministry at Church of the Vine in Carver, including the production of Bethlehem in 2010. Erin’s roles include Miss Iilona Pierce (Parfumerie), Miss Lynch (Grease), Mary (It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play), Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Urleen (Footloose), Gertrude/Bird Girl (Seussical), The Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland), and can’t wait to add more roles to list!
Jesse M. Sullivan
Company Member | Artistic Director
Massachusetts
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Harry Witherspoon / Marketing
Americana: Parfumerie (Geroge Horvath), It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (George Bailey), The Three Musketeers (Athos), Moonlight and Magnolias (Selznick), The Cottage (Richard/William), Redeeming Love (Michael Hosea), An Inspector Calls (Inspector). National Tours: Miss Saigon and The Scarlet Pimpernel (Coupeau/Fight Captain). NY credits include Scandalous People, NY Fridge (Clarence), Battleship Potemkin with the York Theatre Co. (Gregory), Moonlight and Magnolias (Ben Hecht), and Map to Buddha with Remote Theatre Co. ( Jeff ). Regional credits: The Spitfire Grill (Sheriff Joe Sutter/Cadet), The Game (World Premier, Fight Captain), Annie Get Your Gun(u/s). Jesus Christ Superstar (Apostle), Damn Yankees (Joe Hardy), Carnival!(Marco), Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince), Little Shop of Horrors (Orin). Training: BFA in Musical Theatre from University of Hartford, The Hartt School.
Company Member | Associate Artistic Director
California
Ensemble / Costumer
Jennifer Martin
Jennifer has enjoyed working from east to west with theatres such as Virginia Repertory Theatre, Virginia Musical Theatre, Richmond Shakespeare, The Round Barn Theatre, and Sacramento Theatre Company. This is her seventh season as an Americana company member, and she is proud to call Plymouth her summer home. Americana: Amanda Prynne (Private Lives), Woman (The 39 Steps), Sylvia (The Cottage), Angel (Redeeming Love), Milady (The Three Musketeers), Marty (Grease), Amalia Balash (Parfumerie). NY: Jo (Independence), Film/VO: Grace Tessla (The Last Client), Mistress (Order), Tablereads for 26 episodes as Joy for the animated series Superbook!, Regional: Brooke Wyndham (Legally Blonde), Cinderella (Into the Woods), Corrie Bratter (Barefoot in the Park), Jill Tanner (Butterflies Are Free), Julie Jordan (Carousel), Poppy (Noises Off), Raina (Arms and the Man) and Treasure the Pirate Queen (Pirate Adventure). Training: MFA Acting (Regent University).
Derek Martin
Company Member | Founder
California
Vinnie
Derek Martin originally hails from Carver, Massachusetts and has been making a living acting, choreographing and directing professionally around the country for the last 15 years. He has performed with notable companies such as Connecticut Repertory Theatre, The York Theatre Company, Musical Theatre of Connecticut, Virginia Musical Theatre, Virginia Stage, The Palace Theatre in Manchester NH, The Broward Stage Door Theatre, The Round Barn Theatre and many others. ATC Credits include Victor Fleming (Moonlight and Magnolias), Clown 2 (The 39 Steps), Elyot Chase (Private Lives), and Director for ATC’s inaugural production of And Sarah Laughed and choreographer for last season’s Grease. Derek is the department head for William Jessup University’s B.A. Theatre program in Rocklin, CA and is passionate about telling transformative stories and empowering the next generation of artists. He would like to thank his mother and father for everything and especially his wife Jennifer for all her love, support, and talent.
Brance Cornelius
Guest Artist
Florida
Director
A recent transplant to central Florida, Brance is grateful to be back in the Director’s chair. He spent several seasons working for Maples Repertory Theatre in Macon, Missouri, where he directed and choreographed Pump Boys & Dinettes, The Winter Wonderettes, The Andrews Brothers & Ernest Thompson’s The West Side Waltz. In California, Brance worked with some of the Americana team, directing Steel Magnolias for William Jessup University. He also served as an assistant director/choreographer for the Camp Broadway program in New York City. As an actor, he toured Asia with Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga, in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA; and toured North America in Dr Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS: THE MUSICAL! He spent the Spring playing “The Baker” in Into the Woods for the Garden Theatre. Orlando audiences can see him performing in Disney’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Pioneer Hall (“Six Bits”), and at SeaWorld & Universal Studios. Brance is a graduate of Murray State University (BA/Theatre) and a member of Actor’s Equity Association. www.brancecornelius.com
Hannah Jo Weisberg
Guest Artist
Pennslyvania
Rita
A Pittsburgh native, and is a proud graduate of Baldwin Wallace University. Previous roles include, Kristine (A Chorus Line), Annette (Saturday Night Fever), Brooke/Vicki (Noises Off!), and a lead vocalist with Viking Ocean Cruises. Most recently, Hannah-Jo was in Rent at Gateway Playhouse in Long Island. Thanks to mom, dad, and Hudson Artists Agency. For KJB."
Katie Johantgen
Guest Artist
Pennslyvania / New York
Annabel
A recent transplant to NYC from Philadelphia, where she performed at The Walnut Street Theatre, People's Light & Theatre, Mauckingbird, and more. Favorite roles include Wendla in Spring Awakening, Little Sally in Urinetown, and Adriana in The Boys from Syracuse. When she's not doing musical theatre, Katie does stand up comedy and improv around the city, co-hosts a podcast called ‘Twenty Twenty’ and interviews dogs in Central Park. katiejohantgen.com.
Brian Kennerson
Guest Artist
Massachusetts
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Ensemble
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A south shore local, past performances include: Into the Woods (Witch), Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), The Wizard of Oz (Lion), Young Frankenstein (Igor) and Nunsense (Sister Mary Amnesia). Costume design credits include Little Women, The Miracle Worker, Oklahoma and Spamalot. A classically trained vocalist, , Brian studies voice under the direction of Kristy Errera-Solomon..
Brigdon York
Guest Artist
California
Dead Body
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A Theatre major at William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA. Past credits include Its A Wonderful Life and Guys and Dolls. In addition to the stage, Brigdon is committed to enjoying the food and sites of the South Shore.
Guest Artist
California
Dead Body
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Guest Artist
California
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Ensemble
Nick Hancock
Nick Hancock is a double-major in Theatre and Creative Writing at William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA, about to enter his sophomore year. Past roles include WILL PARKER (Oklahoma!), NATHAN DETROIT (Guys and Dolls), and SAM WAINRIGHT (It's a Wonderful Life). He is beyond grateful for the opportunity to perform and work production with Americana, and looks forward to more chances to challenge and grow his acting experience.
Courtney Rasor
Production Stage Manager
Michigan
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(Production Stage Manager) is excited for her first summer with Americana! She holds an M.A. in Theatre Studies from Regent University in Virginia Beach, as well as an MFA in Stage Management from Wayne State University in Detroit. After working in theatre and opera companies around the country, Courtney ventured out into the seven seas as a Stage and Production Manager with Celebrity Cruises. She managed shows and theatre operations on several ships in the Celebrity fleet and worked with musical artists, dancers, aerialists, and technicians from over 65 different nationalities. Most recently, she has been given the opportunity to teach within the Theatre Department of Rochester College in Rochester Hills, MI. Courtney's favorite stage management credits include Urinetown, Boeing Boeing, Macbeth, Moon Over Buffalo, Oklahoma!, West Side Story, and Driving Miss Daisy.
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