Blood Brothers BIOGRAPHIES

Production Team

CAST

	Francesca Arostegui (Female Ensemble 3) is a sophomore B.F.A. student in Musical Theatre. Previously for the Norvelle Center, she appeared in Oklahoma! (Aggie) and The Wild Party (Nadine). She was an Elly Award winner for Best Actress in a musical and has performed with the California Music Circus, Sacramento Opera, and the Sacramento Ballet. Francesca comes from Sacramento, California.
	Matt Birdsong (Eddie) is a sophomore B.F.A. student in Musical Theatre.  Previously for the Norvelle Center, he appeared in Oklahoma! (Cord Elam). He has been seen in the IU Union Board’s production of Cabaret (Herr Schultz) and has appeared for the University Players as Melchior in Spring Awakening. Matt is a member of Broadway Cabaret and hails from Brentwood, Tennessee.
	Martin Brent (Mickey) is a junior seeking a B.F.A degree in Musical Theatre from the Department of Theatre and Drama. Previously at the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center he appeared as Ike Skidmore in Oklahoma!, Eddie in The Wild Party, and Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. At Cape Cod Rep. he has appeared as Harry in My Fair Lady Martin is from Oregon, Wisconsin.
	Ethan Michael Carpenter (Male Ensemble 2) is a sophomore B.F.A. student in Musical Theatre.  Previously at the Norvelle Center, he was Chalmers in Oklahoma! He appeared in the Union Board production of Cabaret (Emcee) and in Spring’s Awakening (Moritz Stiefel) for the University Players. He has also appeared in a number of roles for Little Theatre on the Square. Ethan Michael is a member of the IU Broadway Cabaret. He is from Effingham, Illinois.
	David Coleman (Male Ensemble 4) is a junior majoring in Theatre and Drama and Spanish. He made his Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center debut in Hamlet. He has also appeared as Mark Boyd in the Independent Production VOTE! and in the ensemble of Reefer Madness at the John Waldron Arts Center. Previously David was seen in the University Players’ 10 Minute PlayFest as a Narrator. He is from South Bend, Indiana.
	Taylor Crousore (Sammy) is a freshman seeking his B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Blood Brothers is Taylor’s premiere appearance at the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center. He is from Bloomington, IN.
	Natalie DePuy (Female Ensemble 4) is a senior majoring in Theatre and Drama. At the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center she appeared in Oklahoma! (Hilda), The Wild Party (Neighbor), and An American Ma(u)l (Voice/Ensemble). She has also been seen at the John Waldron Arts Center in Songs for a New World (Woman 2) and at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Cabaret (Kit Kat Girl). Natalie is from Irvine, California.
	Ryan Dooley (Mr. Lyons/Conductor) is sophomore B.F.A. student in Musical Theatre. For the Norvelle Center, he appeared in Oklahoma! (Andrew Carnes) and Hamlet (Rosencrantz). He is a member if the IU Broadway Cabaret. Ryan is from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
	Lawrence Evans (Male Ensemble 3) is a junior pursuing a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Previously, he appeared in The Wild Party (Phil), An American Ma(u)l (Advisor) and Seussical The Musical (Yertle the Turtle) at the Norvelle Center. Other credits include Anything Goes (Ling) and A Little Night Music (Ensemble) at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, Indiana. Lawrence also played Jesus/Stephen in Godspell at the Oakwood Inn Playhouse. Lawrence is from Austin, Texas.
	Erica Johnson (Female Ensemble 1) is a freshman seeking her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Blood Brothers is Erica’s debut at the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center. She is from Northville, MI.
	Matthew Martin (Narrator) is a junior B.F.A. student in Musical Theatre. He appeared at the Norvelle Center in Oklahoma! (Ali Hakim), Hamlet (Lucianus), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Hysterium), The Seagull (Workman), and Seussical the Musical (Seussemble). He appeared in the ensemble of the independent project Reefer Madness, and also served as Production Assistant for The Day Boy and the Night Girl. Matthew is a member of IU Broadway Cabaret. His hometown is Wading River, New York.
	Brianna McClellan(Linda) is a freshman majoring in Theatre and Drama. Blood Brothers is Brianna’s debut appearance at the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center. She has previously appeared as Tessie on the Discovery Channel’s Wicked Attractions. She is from Chesapeake, VA.
	Julia Mosby (Mrs. Lyons) is a junior B.F.A. student in Musical Theatre.  For the Norvelle Center, she was in Oklahoma! (Kate). She is a member of the I.U. Broadway Cabaret and appeared in the musical Cabaret (Sally Bowles) at the Buskirk-Chumley.  Julia, a recipient of the NSAL scholarship in 2008, is from Sacramento, California.
	CJ Pawlikowski (Male Ensemble 1) is a junior B.F.A. student majoring in Musical Theatre. For the Norvelle Center, he appeared in Oklahoma! (C.J.).  CJ has appeared at the Burskirk-Chumley Theater in Godspell (Judas). He is a former member of Straight No Chaser, IU’s men’s a capella group, and is currently in the Singing Hoosiers. CJ’s hometown is Crown Point, Indiana.
	Mandy Striph (Mrs. Johnstone) is a senior B.F.A. student in Musical Theatre. Norvelle Center credits: Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), The Wild Party (Dolores), A Funny Thing…Forum (Philia), Seussical the Musical (Bird Girl 1). Other credits: There Goes the Bride (Polly), The All Night Strut! (Ensemble) at the Brown County Playhouse; Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), Honk! (Maureen), and Brigadoon (Maggie) at Huron Playhouse; and Oklahoma! (Laurey) and Grease (Patty) at Croswell Opera House. She also hosts A Moment of Science for WFIU in conjunction with NPR.
	Brook Wood (Female Ensemble 2) is a freshman seeking her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Blood Brothers is Brook’s debut appearance at the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center. Previous credits include: Rent (JoAnn) at the Artist’s Studio; AIDA (Egyptian Woman) at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre; and Songs for a New World (Woman 2) for the Carmel Community Players. Brook is from Indianapolis, IN.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Murray McGibbon (Director) is Associate Professor of Acting and Directing and one of South Africa's leading theatre directors. He is the seven-time recipient of South Africa's highest theatrical award, the NALEDI (formerly VITA), a Fulbright Scholarship (1983), SA Airways Young Artist’s Award (1989), and American Biographical Association Distinguished Young Leadership Award (1990). Internationally recognized as a dynamic and innovative director equally at home with the classics, modern drama, theatre for young audiences, and musicals, Murray served six years as Artistic Director of Drama for the Playhouse Company in Durban, South Africa. His work has been commissioned by three reigning monarchs: King Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu, King Mswati III and Queen Elizabeth II. Blood Brothers is his 25th IU production since joining the faculty in 1996. He continues to direct and lecture internationally, most recently Black Mamba at the New Wimbledon Theatre in London, England and the 2008 ISPA World Congress in Durban, South Africa.

Terry LaBolt (Musical Director joined the faculty of IU in 2008. His career as a Broadway conductor flourished in the 1980’s with shows such as 42nd Street, Hello, Dolly! (Carol Channing), George M. (Joel Grey), and Sugar Babies (Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney). He is co-author of The Wonder Years – the Musical which enjoyed success Off-Broadway and in Los Angeles in the 1980’s. Endeavors at the keyboard include The Fantasticks (original Off-Broadway production) and tough touring shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Aida and most currently Mamma Mia. He performed the area premiere of Keith Emerson’s Piano Concerto #1 with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra in 2001. In addition he was the music director of musical theatre for the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music for more than ten years, conducting and supervising over 30 productions there. At IU. he conducted last season's productions of The Wild Party and Oklahoma.

Nick Passafiume (Scenic Designer) is a second-year M.F.A. student in Scenic Design with a bachelors from the University of Louisville. At the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center he was Scenic Designer for The America Play, Co-Designer of The Rockae, and Props Master for both Hamlet and Stop Kiss. At U.C.L.A. he was the Assistant Scene Designer for The Threepenny Opera.  He served two seasons as a scenic carpenter for Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. Nick is from Louisville, Kentucky.

Lydia Dawson (Costume Designer) is a second-year M.F.A. student in Costume Design.  For the Norvelle Center, Lydia designed costumes for The America Play and was wardrobe crew head for Stop Kiss. She received her B.A. in Theatre from the University of Nebraska-Omaha where she designed costumes for The Madwoman of Chaillot, Our Country’s Good, and others.  She was also First Hand atthe Nebraska Shakespeare Festival on King Lear and Much Ado About Nothing. Lydia is from Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.

Chris Wood (Lighting Designer) is a second-year M.F.A. student in Lighting Design, with a B.A. in theatre from the University of Nebraska – Omaha.  At the Norvelle Center, he was Lighting Designer for Stop Kiss, Assistant Lighting Designer for Marisol, Projection Coordinator for Hamlet, and Assistant Master Electrician for Dead Man Walking. Christopher won the 2008 KC/ACTF Region 5 Barbizon Light Design Award for Our Country’s Good (UNO) and served as Assistant Lighting Designer for the Des Moines Metro Opera. He comes from Omaha, Nebraska. 

Andrew Hopson (Sound Designer) is Assistant Professor of Sound Design in the Department of Theatre and Drama. Andrew received his B.A. from Grinnell College, his M.M. from Butler University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.He has designed shows at such theatres as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Repertory Theatre, American Players Theatre, Metro Theatre of St. Louis, Milwaukee Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Victory Gardens, Harvard University, and the Indiana Repertory Theatre, where he was resident Sound Designer for five years. In 2004 he had his New York debut with Trying, which was rated one of the best Off-Broadway shows of the year. As a musician, recording engineer, and producer he has released over 30 CDs ranging from Baroque works to audio books. His film work includes Utah's Olympic Legacy, Hockey’s Greatest Era 1942-1967, The Birth of Legends, and The Battle of Comm Avenue, which will be aired nationally this November.

Claire LaNicca (Stage Manager) is a senior majoring in Theatre and Drama.  For the Norvelle Center she served as stage manager for An Ideal Husband and assistant stage manager for Measure for Measure.  Other stage management credits include Present Laughter (BCP), There Goes the Bride (BCP), The All Night Strut (BCP), Doubt (Cardinal Stage), Go-Go Beach (Showboat Majestic) and ASM for Nozze di Figaro and Merry Wives of Windsor at the IU's Musical Arts Center.  Claire is from Mason, Ohio.

Dominque Poulter(Assistant Director) graduated with a Masters in Drama and Theatre Studies from the University of Kent in the UK in 2008. She studied at Indiana University (2006-2007) as part of a year abroad programme, during which time she studied directing with Murray McGibbon. As part of her final year of study in the UK, specializing in directing, Dominique directed Compromised Immunity by Andy Kirby and Reel by Paul Shoulberg,  a playwright she had worked with at IU. She has just completed an internship at The Finborough Theatre in London where she worked on Rodgers and Hammerstein's State Fair. She has directed several pieces with her youth theatre including The Wizard of Oz. Dominique directed Way of The Pear for the Windsor Drama Fringe Festival in England earlier this year as well as completing a short tour throughout the London area with this production.

Jeffrey Corso (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior majoring in Theatre and Drama. He has previously appeared in An Ideal Husband (Sir Barford) for the Norvelle Center.  Recently he directed Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead for the Collins LLC. He was the Production Assistant for The Tempest, which was performed in the Wells-Metz theatre last spring. Jeffrey is from Chesterton, Indiana.

Kevin Love (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior majoring in Stage Management in the Department of Theatre and Drama. He previously was Assistant Stage Manager for Oklahoma!, Dead Man Walking and An American Ma(u)l. He has also performed with Actors Theatre of Louisville, Music Theatre of Louisville, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Kentucky Opera, and Stage One. Kevin is from New Albany, Indiana., Indiana.

Adam Noble (Movement Consultant/Fight Choreographer) is Assistant Professor of Movement/Combat for the Department of Theatre and Drama. He is also a professional actor, with credits including Shakespeare in the Park (NYSF), Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, Julliard, P.S. 122, Seattle Rep, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and On the Boards.  In addition to his role as a professor, Adam is a dancer, martial artist, traceur, and stuntman, with movement and combat credits in the worlds of film, theatre, and opera.  Adam is a member of the Actors Equity Association, the Association of Theatre Movement Educators, and the Society of American Fight Directors.  He has taught movement and stage combat in New York, California, Nebraska, Ohio, and Washington, and choreographed the violence for over 80 stage and film productions.     

Join our E-mail List