Sisyphus the Musical

April Alsup PresentsSisyphus the MusicalMusic & Lyrics Director OrchestrationApril Alsup Brandon Bill Adam White Book Mary Scott StarringAlison Vance, Blake Nawa’a, Carolyn Jordan,Cooper Kaminsky, Owen Niland, Zach Vaughn Choreography Music DirectorHeather Westenskow Drew Bradley Set Design Costumes & Makeup Ben Schoenberger Elijah Meader EnsembleBrendan Gant, Calvin Reid, Christine Wanzeck, David Kocina, David Hamdan, Leslie A. Newton, Said Gonzalez, Victoria Pace, Zoe Alexis Suydam

APRIL’S NOTE:There’s so much to be found in ancient Greek mythology. Many of life’s bigquestions have gone unanswered for thousands of years. Sisyphus is all of us.The pain (and the joy) of his success is his commitment to the cause. Thehuman struggle requires the never-ending hope of realizing our dreams,whatever they may be, and is only bearable in light of love.BRANDON BILL - DirectorBrandon considers himself fortunate to make theperforming arts his career. As a director, music director,designer, and performer, Mr. Bill’s work can be seen allover the Denver area including the Arvada Center, AuroraFox, and PACE Center to name a few. Brandon holds aperforming arts degree from the University of NorthernColorado, and as a former professional educator, Brandonadores bringing the arts to people. Including working for the Walt DisneyCompany, other productions include: “Shrek the Musical” (Shrek),“Nevermore” (Music Director, regional premiere), “The Producers” (Max), “AChristmas Carol” (Director), “Steel Magnolias” (Director), “The Fantasticks”(Music Director), “Spamalot” (Sir Lancelot), “Marry Poppins” (George Banks),“A Year with Frog and Toad” (Frog), “The Wizard of Oz” (Lion), and others.Brandon would like to thank his wife, Sara, and their two amazing little boys,Jackson and Barrett. “Without you, I would be nothing.”

CAST:Aphrodite.................................................................... Alison VanceAres...................................................................... Cooper KaminskyDawn....................................................................... Carolyn JordanSisyphus ................................................................... Blake Nawa’aThantos....................................................................... Zach VaughnZeus ............................................................................ Owen NilandEnsemble ........................................................... Christine WanzeckEnsemble ...................................................................Brendan GantEnsemble ........................................................................Calvin ReidEnsemble .................................................................... David KocinaEnsemble .............................................................. Leslie A. NewtonEnsemble ................................................................... Said GonzalezEnsemble ........................................................... Zoe Alexis SuydamEnsemble .................................................................... Victoria PaceEnsemble ..................................................................David HamdanBAND:Piano #1 ..........................................................................April AlsupPiano #2 .................................................................. Vanessa HerselGuitar............................................................................ Alec WinzelBass .......................................................................... Drew BradleyDrums ...................................................................... Tony Johnston

THE WORKAPRIL ALSUP - Composer - People sometimes associate theword \"composer\" with writing music. I find that narrow andlimiting…it’s more like storytelling, the music just shows theway. Writing music in coalescence with telling a story iswhere it's at. I particularly enjoy writing works for musictheater because you can get out of the box at every twistand turn.MARY SCOTT - Book - Everything in life has the comic/tragicappeal to me and I often write with tears in my eyes andlaughter in my heart. The free spirit in me compels me toexplore beyond our mundane reality, our culture for themasses and our media made fools gold. People are real. Thecharacters always lead, I follow with as much honesty, loveand humor as possible at that moment.ADAM WHITE - Orchestration – Adam completed his MusicEducation degree from Colorado State University. He nowteaches private music lessons to students at Avanti MusicAcademy in Highlands Ranch. His compositions have wonseveral awards and honors, most notably his orchestral work\"New Ice Age\" (winner of the Youth Orchestra of the RockiesComposition Competition).

SCENE/SONGSACT 1:Prologue: OLYMPUS PARKScene 2: CORINTH Heave-ho ..............................................................Citizens Let’s make a deal .......................................................ZeusScene 3: TEMPLE The first day of the rest of your life ........................ DawnScene 4: OLYMPUS You got to do what you got to do ...........Aphrodite, AresScene 5: TOWN HALL Let’s party today ................................... Sisyphus, Citizens We do what we want cause we can ......................... GodsScene 6: TEMPLE Eleusinian mysteries ............................................... Dawn Kiss me before I go..................................................... AresScene 7: OLYMPUS: Aphrodite cast spell on DawnScene 8: TOWN HALL You make your own future .................. Sisyphus, Citizens Only the strong will survive. ................. Sisyphus, Citizens Bada-bing bada-boom. ...............................Zeus, ThantosScene 9: HIDEOUT I want to touch you.................................. Dawn, Sisyphus Nothing lasts forever. ............................. Dawn, Sisyphus Only in the hearts of fools. ...... Dawn, Sisyphus, Thantos

SCENE/SONGSACT 2:Scene 1: FESTIVAL Quid pro quo ............................................... Zeus, Citizens My Clairvoyance..............................................Dawn, Zeus Reap the seeds that you sew ................ Sisyphus, Citizens Confidant..................................................... Zeus, CitizensScene 2: OLYMPUS No death do us part .................................Ares, AphroditeScene 3: HIDEOUT As happy as happy can be................................... Sisyphus Stowaway................................................. Dawn, Sisyphus I will make you scream ............................. Thantos, DawnScene 4: CORINTH The truth must be told.......................... Sisyphus, CitizensScene 5: HIDEOUT I’m only Human........................................................ DawnScene 6: OLYMPUS I’ll never give in .........................................................ZeusEpilogue: OLYMPUS PARK Share your love ........................................ Dawn, Sisyphus

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES ALISON VANCE - Aphrodite - Alison Vance made her Colorado debut at the Parker Arts Center in Mary Poppins (Winifred Banks) followed by Monty Python's Spamalot (French Taunter/Laker Girl). Nationwide adventures include studying Opera at the University of Utah and a musical theater intensive at Circle in the Square (New York). BLAKE NAWA'A - Sisyphus - Off, under, behind, and occasionally above the stage, he is an active Denver-area music director, conductor, classical tenor, and private voice teacher. Some favorite roles include Chip Tolentino (The 25th Annual… Spelling Bee), Motel Kamzoil (Fiddler on the Roof), and Bobby Strong (Urinetown). He’s a graduate of the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, where he studied vocal performance. BRENDAN GANT - Ensemble - Brendan is excited to be part of his first professional show outside of high school. He wants to thank his fellow cast mates and the production team for making this show one that he will never forget. CALVIN REID - Ensemble - Calvin is very excited to be a part of his first professional production. Calvin is a recent graduate of Grandview High School and will attend the University of Northern Colorado in the fall as a Theatre Education major. CAROLYN JORDAN - Dawn – Carolyn is thrilled to be part of this premier! Carolyn grew up in Ohio and earned her BFA in Theatre – Acting from West Virginia University. She then travelled the country with Missoula Children’s Theatre as a Tour Actor/Director. Favorite roles include Ado Annie (Oklahoma), Dorothy (Wizard of Oz), and Kate (Old Times). When not onstage, Carolyn choreographs for Ao1 Youth Theater in Littleton.

CHRISTINE WANZECK - Ensemble - Christine is thrilled to jointhis talented cast of performers after a two-year break frommusical theatre. She is currently pursuing a nursing degree in theevenings, which occupies most of her time. Favorite roles includeWicked Witch of the West (Oz) and Snoopy (You're A Good ManCharlie Brown).COOPER KAMINSKY - Ares – Cooper is excited to make hispremiere on the Aurora Fox stage! Recent credits include SirGalahad in Inspire Creative's \"Spamalot\" and Pseudolus inStageDoor Theatre’s production of “A Funny Thing Happened onthe Way to the Forum.” NYC credits include “Elvira: TheImmigration Play” at the NYC Fringe Festival and “Gaston: TheSwordsman's Lady”.DAVID HAMDAN - Ensemble - David is excited to be part of theSisyphus cast as his first show in Denver. He thanks his partnerMike and his dog Elliott for their support.DAVID KOCINA - Ensemble - David is proud to be working onSisyphus as his first professional production. David has playedEddie in Rocky Horror as well as been in Oklahoma and Fiddler onthe Roof. He is currently a student in the Bachelor of Fine Arts atthe University of Colorado and hopes you find this performance aselectrifying as the time he got struck by lightning.LESLIE A. NEWTON - Ensemble - Leslie is excited to make herdebut in Denver. She was previously in a Greek mythology inspiredmusical called Gospel at Colonus while a member of the AfricanAmerican Choral Ensemble at Indiana University. She has been leadsinger of multiple blues/funk/soul bands. She is an RN who recentlyran her first 5K and loves her dog Athena!

OWEN NILAND - Zeus - Some favorite Denver roles include: SkyMasterson, Guys & Dolls (Evergreen Chorale); Proprietor, Assassins(Equinox), Beadle Bamford, Sweeney Todd (Ignite); John Barrymore, IHate Hamlet (Creative Revolution); Thomas Jefferson, 1776(Performance Now); Feste, Twelfth Night (Front Range). Many thanksto Brandon and to the cast and crew for their hard work!SAID GONZALEZ - Ensemble - Said returns to the stage in his mile-high home after a year in California, where he performed in showssuch as A Chorus Line and Guys and Dolls. When not onstage, he findshimself playing his uke, Perla, goalkeeping intensively, and dancingthe night away. A big thanks to April and the creative team for theopportunity to join this production.VICTORIA PACE - Ensemble - Victoria hails from NY and studiedMusical Theatre in Manhattan. She starred as Mimi in the Off-Broadway musical \"Mimi & Gustav in Love and Pirates!\" Beforemoving to Denver, she spent 15 months touring the states withMissoula Children's Theatre, teaching and performing with thousandsof children from over 20 states!ZACH VAUGHN - Thantos - Zach is making his return to the stagethis year after six years directing the 6-12 Theater Program at thePinnacle Charter School. He serves as director of the now combinedTimbergriffen Theater Company, but his first love has always beenacting. Most recently, Zach performed in the ensemble of \"Mr.Popper's Penguins\" and starred as Puck in \"A Midsummer NightsDream.\"ZOE ALEXIS SUYDAM - Ensemble - Zoe is often seen backstage asa stagehand or makeup artist at the Pace center. She last appeared inDavid and Lisa as David Clements Mother. She is a recent graduatefrom Douglas County High School and would like to thank her familyand closest friend Veronica for all of the support.

DIRECTORS & DESIGNERSHEATHER WESTENSKOW - Choreography – Heather has beenin the Denver area for 8 years. Credits include Spamalot (PaceCenter), Putnam County Spelling Bee (Mainstreet Theater), LesMiserables (Bobby G nominee), and Shrek (Bobby G Award Winnerfor Best Choreography). She'd like to thank her husband, herboyfriend, and her inspiration...who happen to be the same man.DREW BRADLEY - Music Director - Drew Bradley graduatedfrom the Lamont School of Music. He has performedinternationally, as well as locally around Colorado in many musicalsand operas. As co-owner of the growing Avanti Music Academy heenjoys teaching both children and adults to appreciate and lovemusic as much as he does.ELIJAH MEADER – Costume Design - Elijah has designedcostumes for Heathers, American Idiot, La Cage aux Folles, Frozen,Nevermore, The Little Mermaid, Guys & Dolls and is the wardrobeassistant manager at Colorado Ballet. He is also an originalcompany member with Colorado’s only tap dance company, RockyMountain Rhythm.ANNE JENNESS - Stage Manager - Anne is a graduate ofStephens College with a BFA in Theater with a minor in music andrecently returned from living in NYC. Previous roles include Jane inTarzan, Lily in The Secret Garden, Eliza in My Fair Lady, Tuptim inThe King and I, which earned her the Denver Post Ovation Awardfor Best Young Actress.BEN SCHOENBERGER - Set Design – Ben is a graduate ofShenandoah University with a BFA in Theater for Youth.After college, he started a theater program at WakefieldSchool in The Plains, VA. He moved to CO last January andhas been teaching and directing throughout the Denverarea. Last summer, he was the scenic and technical directorfor Inspire Creative’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.

A special thank you!A special thank you to the historic First Baptist Church of Denver, whofully supported our project and allowed us to use their facility forauditions and rehearsals for the better part of 2017. They are locatedacross from the State Capitol at the intersection of 14th & Grant Streetin Denver, Colorado. They are a welcoming and affirming, inclusiveChristian community that embraces diversity, engages personal faith,and serves with compassion…THANK YOU! Created and Produced By April Alsup