Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre Opens The Secret Garden 6/17-July 3

Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre opens its 39th season with "The Secret Garden" from June 17 - July 3. Individual tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $12 for Children 12 and under.

The Secret Garden took Broadway by storm in 1991 winning 3 Tony Awards. This enchanting classic children's story by Frances Hodgson, was turned into a musical by composer Lucy Simon and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Marsha Norman. The story centers on Mary Lennox, who has recently become an orphan. She returns to Yorkshire to live with her reclusive uncle Archibald. The ghosts in her life lead her to find a new life in this run-down estate, where she meets her invalid cousin Colin. While trying to bring back to life the garden she finds on the estate, she also learns to bring life back to the broken family she has now become part of. This is a story of forgiveness and renewal, told with a musical score almost similar to an opera. And as USA Today quoted: "A splendid, intelligent musical...It's all you can hope for in children's theatre. But the best surprise is that this show is the most adult new musical of the season."

Memorable songs from the show include: A Fine White Horse, Show Me the Key, A Bit of Earth, Lily's Eyes, Wick, Come to My Garden, Hold On, How Could I Ever Know, and Come Spirit, Come Charm..

Director/Choreographer Tom Wyatt and Musical Director Beth Fink bring this classic children's story alive featuring local actors: Caitlin Deerin (as Mary Lennox), Sherry Benedek (as Lily), Steve Antonsen (as Archibald), Joey Hellman (as Dr Neville), Judith Milgram (as Mrs. Medlock), Robyn Bloom (as Martha), Kevin Connell Muth (as Dickon), Matthew Demetrides (as Colin), Carol Anne Drescher (as Rose), Kevin James Logan (as Albert) and Sara Simpkins, Will Poxon, James Ruth, Hillary Deweese, Alex Meyer Strokes, Paula Montrie, Kristen Cooley, Madeline Meister, Lauren Everd and Elizabeth Higbee in the ensemble. The staff includes Maurice "Moe" Conn (Tech Director/Set Design), Kacey Coffin (Lighting), James J Fasching (Costume Design), John Suchy (Sound Design) and Mallory Pente (Stage Manger)

Show times are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday - June 17 - July 3 in the Mainstage Theatre, B Building. For tickets and information, call 443-840-2787. Patrons requiring special accommodations are urged to notify the Box Office at least two weeks in advance. The CCBC Box Office between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, or visit www.ccbcmd.edu/cockpit

Cockpit In Court Summer Theatre is a program of the college, providing high-quality live theatre experiences for the entire family at affordable prices. Cockpit In Court is in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex Campus, 7201 Rossville Blvd.

Steve Antonsen (Archibald Craven) His last role at Cockpit was Jerry in The Full Monty. Other favorite roles include Billy Flynn (Chicago), John Jasper (Drood), and Terry Connor (Side Show).
Sherry Benedek (Lily Craven) is from Pikesville, Maryland, graduated from the University of Maryland in May of 2010 with a BM in vocal performance. Her favorite performances include The Pirates of Penzance (Washington Savoyards- daughter), Fiddler on the Roof (Bethesda Summer Music Festival- Hodel), and The Secret Garden (Children's Playhouse of Maryland- Lily Craven).

Robyn Bloom (Martha) Some of her favorite roles include Nancy in Oliver, Rizzo in Grease, and a principal in Working. She just completed the role of the Narrator in Blood Brothers with Silhouette Stages.

Kevin Connell Muth (Dickon) He graduated from The Conservatory of the Performing Arts at Point Park University in May 2010 with a degree in musical theatre. Up in Pittsburgh he had the privilege of working with Tony award winner Michael Rupert on a production of Parade and Gabriel Barre in the workshop for the new musical Time After Time.

Kristen Cooley (Mrs. Winthrop) recent performances have been Gurtie Cummins in Oklahoma, Ensemble in Curtains, the Murder Musical Mystery and Singing in the Rain as Phoebe Dinsmore, a wonderful trip to OZ and traveling the west as Patricia Fodor in Crazy for You. Sophie the Kettle in Annie. Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress Joanie in The Full Monty, ensemble of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Urinetown, The Musical, Little Nell in Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge, Ethel McCormick in Footloose, The Wardrobe in Beauty & The Beast, Jan in Grease, The Lion in Wizard of Oz, Kate Murphey in Titanic, the Musical, Wilbur in Charlotte's Web, Star to be in Annie, Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooge, Gladys Dasher in Rudolph the red-hosed Reindeer, . Olive in The Odd Couple (female version), Rose Hoffman in Working and many, many more.

Caitlin Deerin (Mary Lennox) is pleased to debut at Cockpit in Court's Secret Garden! Caitlin has performed locally as "Annie" in Annie (Olney Theatre Center and Toby's Dinner Theatre) as well as Oliver! (Toby's), Beauty and the Beast and Honk! (MTC). A sixth grader at Loiederman Middle School for Creative & Performing Arts, Caitlin also enjoys studying voice with Rosie Dyer, choir with Loiederman Singers, dance at Olney Studio, and piano. Thanks to Hart & Henry Talent Management for all their guidance and support

Hillary Deweese (Ensemble) is extremely excited to be a part of The Secret Garden. She just finished her freshman year at McDaniel College, and this is her first show with Cockpit in Court. She has been acting since she was in the second grade, but recently she has been in shows such as A Doll's House (Bob), Into the Woods (Little Red Riding Hood), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), and Les Miserables (Madame Thenardier), to name a few. She has had a lot of fun being a part of this great cast and hopes to continue performing in Cockpit in Court shows in the future. She'd like to thank Tom and Beth for giving her this opportunity, and thank her wonderful friends and family for their support. Enjoy the show!

Carol Anne Drescher (Rose Lennox) is excited to be making her Cockpit in Court debut in The Secret Garden! Carol Anne will be entering college in the fall as a Musical Theatre/Pre-law double major. Favorite roles include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors and Miss Sandra in All Shook Up, Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical! and Yonah in Children of Edene, and Gianetta in The Gondoliers. She has also appeared in The Crucible (Mary Warren), Noises Off! (Dotty), Hamlet (Ophelia), Romeo & Juliet (Juliet), Kiss Me, Kate! (Ensemble), Godspell (Soloist), Once on this Island (Ensemble), and other shows around the Annapolis area.

Lauren Everd (Ensemble) is thrilled to be apart of the Cockpit Family again after appearing in Curtains last season. Some of her favorite roles include Rizzo in Grease, Bon Foo in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. When Lauren is not on the stage, she works at Logan Elementary as a Special Education Teacher.

Joey Hellman (Dr. Craven) Cockpit audiences may remember seeing him in: Curtains (Daryl Grady),High Society (Dexter), Lucky Stiff (Harry Witherspoon), The Foreigner, Big, Mame, How to Succeed... and Red, Hot & Cole. CCBC directing credits include: Steel Magnolias, Butterflies are Free, Driving Miss Daisy, Plaza Suite, The Little Foxes and Daddy's Dyin', Who's Got the Will? He looks forward to directing Go Back for Murder at DCT this coming winter.

Elizabeth Higbee (Ensemble) has a B.A. in Music from Syracuse University, and is a graduate of Carver Center for Arts and Technology's Vocal Music program. Credits: Curtains, Cinderella; The Emperor's Nightingale(Nightingale), Sleeping Beauty (Queen Eleanor); Red Branch Theatre, Hansel und Gretel (Hansel); Annie (Grace); Les Miserables (Eponine), Into The Woods (The Baker's Wife).

Kevin James Logan (Albert Lennox) Most recently you could have seen him as Mary Sunshine in Silhouette Stages' production of Chicago and up next he will be playing Prince Christopher in Liberty Showcase Theatre's production of Rogers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. Favorite roles include: John Truitt, Meet Me in St. Louis, Mother's Younger Brother, Ragtime: the Musical, and the Courier, 1776 . Kevin holds an Associates Degree in Arts & Sciences from Carroll Community College and studies voice under Jillian Finnamore of Baltimore, Maryland.

Matthew Liam Demetrides (Colin). Past roles include: Captain Louie (Louie), Guys and Dolls (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Les Miserables (Gavroch); Jungle Book (Mogli); Seussical (Jojo); Lost in Yonkers (Arty Kurnitz); Assassins (Billy Moore); Winter's Lane: Tommy (Young Tommy); Center Stage: Caroline, or Change (Noah Gellman).

Madeline Meister (Ensemble) She worked as vocal director for 42nd Street at Cockpit and most recently vocal director of Cinderella at DCT as well as DCT's productions of Jane Eyre and Jekyll and Hyde. Madeline was last seen as Mrs. Potts in DCT's production of Beauty and the Beast and directed You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Mornington Players.

Alex Meyer-Stokes (Ensemble) previous roles include chorus member in The Music Man, crapshooter and Hotbox master of ceremonies in Guys n Dolls, John in The Man who came to Dinner, Stewpot in South Pacific, various roles in Memories and Dreams, various roles in Broadway Bound, Henekh and other supporting roles in The Dybbuk, himself in Godspell.

Judi Milgram (Ms. Medlock) She was last seen as the Stepmother in DCT's Cinderella. Her favorite stage credits include: Dot in Sunday in the Park...; Gooch in Mame; Petra in A Little Night Music, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls; and Mitzi, the role she originated, in Ziegfield: A Night at the Follies. TV credits include HBO's True Blood, Stong Medicine, Unsolved Mysteries, and commercial endorsements for Blockbuster, KFC, and other regional businesses. Judi has performed in 48 US States, Europe, Central America, and Canada.

Paula Montrie (Ensemble) has performed locally with Cockpit in Court (Crazy for You), Dundalk Theatre (Jane Eyre), Opera Camerata (The Merry Widow), The Washington Revels, and also as a member of Centuries Historical Dance and Step Aside Tap Company.

Will Poxon (Fakir, Young Archie) Will is a junior at UMBC, where he is studying Vocal Music Education. He has appeared in many shows, including Oklahoma! as Curly McLain and Fiddler on the Roof as Motel, and recently appeared in his first opera, Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, at UMBC. He has also directed several musicals and musical revues, and just finished vocal directing a college production of RENT.

James Ruth (Lt Wright, Ensemble) Previous roles include: Max Detweiler (The Sound of Music), Joseph in (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) & The Boss ("Sideshow"), Lon ("Meet me in St. Louis"), Perchik ("Fiddler on the Roof"), & Lefou ("Beauty and the Beast"). He's in the 11th grade and a theatre major at Carver Center for Arts and Technology.

Sara Simpkins (Ayah) was recently seen on the DCT stage in Cinderella and as Marcy in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Other local credits include Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Mayzie in Suessical the Musical at Red Branch Theatre, and Ulla in The Producers at DLC Summer Stage. Sara graduated from Goucher College.

Technical Staff

Tom Wyatt (Director) is pleased to get another chance to play in The Secret Garden, having staged a production at Theatre on the Hill in the 1990's. Other Cockpit Shows include last season's Curtains, Into the Woods, Big - The Musical, Oklahoma, and 42nd Street. At DCT, Tom has staged Twelve Angry Men, Annie, Crazy for You, Little Shop of Horrors and Dames At Sea. Special Thanks to Beth Fink for revisiting this show, and making the score come to life.

Elizabeth Fink (Musical Director) is delighted to return to Cockpit to do one of her favorite shows with her favorite director. A veteran of over 100 productions of college, high school, community and dinner theater, her work was last seen at Cockpit for Into the Woods. By day, she teaches at The Carver Center for Arts and Technology and at the Gilman School. Beth lives in Towson with her son, daughter-in-law, and too many cats. She wishes to especially thank Tom, James, and Tim for making Secret Garden possible for her.
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Mallory Pente (Stage Manager) is excited to be working with Cockpit in Court for her first time. She recently stage managed Bald Soprano/No Exit and received a Certificate of Merit from the Kennedy Center for stage managing the production of M. Butterfly at the CCBC Essex Academic Theater. After just receiving her A. A. degree at CCBC Essex, Mallory is currently attending Towson University as an Electronic Media and Film Major.

Todd Harrison Twining attended CCBC Essex from 1987-1989, studying piano with Dr. Arno Drucker and voice with Braxton Peters. He went on to graduate from Liberty University with honors in 1991, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music, and garnering awards for the Most Outstanding Music Student of the Year. He is a member of the music faculty at Baltimore's Bryn Mawr School and serves as Director of Music at the Long Green Baptist Church in Glen Arm, Maryland.

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