WaterTower Theatre Announces Casting, Creative Team for PARADE IN CONCERT Benefit

WaterTower Theatre Managing Director Greg Patterson and Associate Artistic Director Kelsey Leigh Ervi today announced casting and creative team details for Parade in Concert, Directed by Kelsey Leigh Ervi, with Musical Direction by Scott Eckert. With Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and a Book by Alfred Uhry, Parade will play a special one-night only performance on Saturday, March 25, 2017 in the Canterbury Family Main Stage at the Addison Theatre Centre.

Inspired by the true events surrounding the 1913 murder trial of Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-raised Jew living in Georgia who is wrongly convicted of the murder of 13-year old Mary Phagan, Parade is filled with soaring music and a heart-wrenching story, offering a moral lesson about the dangers of prejudice and ignorance that should not be forgotten. Amid religious intolerance, political injustice and racial tension, the stirring Tony Award-winning Parade explores the endurance of love and hope.

WaterTower Theatre Board member Deborah Staggs will Chair the Benefit Concert event with all proceeds going to support the Company's Artistic and Education programs. The Benefit Committee will include: Co-Chair Andrea Redmon, Maureen T. Anderson, Rosalind Benjet, Sharla DeFrancisco, Elizabeth Fratantuono, Phil Longacre, and Michelle Mew.

Having spent over 16 years as a successful Senior Management Support Liaison and a Marketing Professional in the Aviation Industry, Deborah Staggs is a dedicated team leader with strong analytical and interpersonal skills. A Native Texan, she has lived in other States in the U.S. pursuing a career as a computer broker, and sales and marketing in the media regime when returning to Texas. She has been a resident in Carrollton for the past 30 years. Diligent, with a keen sense of humor and the gift of making people laugh, she is driven to help those in need and supporting many charitable organizations, including WaterTower Theatre. Networking is her passion, and she has had the opportunity to work with some of the top entertainers and event planners in the DFW area. She has been part of many educational teams and values new ideas, with the philosophy "In life and business, always be thankful and achieve your best at all times."

Individual tickets to Parade will go on sale October 20, 2016 at 12 noon and will be available by calling the WaterTower Theatre Box Office at 972-450-6232 or online at www.watertowertheatre.org/tickets.aspx. Tickets are $200, $150 and $50. The Diamond Seating at $200 includes a pre-show VIP cocktail reception at WTT and a post-show Champagne Dessert reception at WTT; The Gold $150 seating includes the post-show Champagne Dessert reception only. The Silver $50 is the performance only. A portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible.

In keeping with the celebration of WaterTower's 20th Anniversary, this one-night only performance marks 10 years since WaterTower's original production of Parade in the 2006-2007 Season. The cast includes Seth Womack as Leo Frank, Sarah Elizabeth Price as Lucille Frank, Greg Hullett as Hugh Dorsey, Alex Ross as Governor Slaton, Brian Mathis as Old Confederate Soldier/Judge Roan, Calvin Scott Roberts as Jim Conley, Mary McElree as Mary Phagan, Kyle Montgomery as Frankie Epps, Kyle Igneczi as Britt Craig, Luke Longacre as Tom Watson/Others, Sara Shelby-Martin as Mrs. Phagan/Others, Jeremy Davis as Newt Lee/Others, Victoria Teague as Mrs. Slaton/Others, Molly Welch as Iola Stover/Others, Jad Saxton as Monteen/Others, Alex Heika as Young Soldier/Others, and Whitney Coulter as Minnie/Others. The Ensemble includes Justin Duncan, Aubrey Ferguson and Ian Mead Moore.

Making their WaterTower Theatre debuts in Parade will be Whitney Coulter, Jeremy Davis, Justin Duncan, Mary McElree, Ian Mead Moore, Alex Ross, Jad Saxton, and Victoria Teague.

The creative team, in addition to Director Kelsey Leigh Ervi and Musical Director Scott Eckert, includes Bradley Gray (Set Designer), Dan Schoedel (Lighting Designer), and Kellen Voss (Sound Designer).

IF YOU GO:

PARADE IN CONCERT

In the Canterbury Family Main Stage at
The Addison Theatre Centre
15650 Addison Rd
Addison, TX 75001

One Night Only: Saturday, March 25th, 2017 8:00pm

Ticket Prices:
Diamond: $200
Gold: $150
Silver: $50

How/Where to Buy Tickets:
Online: www.watertowertheatre.org/tickets.aspx
By Phone: 972.450.6232
In-person: WaterTower Theatre at the Addison Theatre Centre
Email: boxoffice@watertowertheatre.org

Box Office Hours:

Day of Performance:
Saturday Noon-6 p.m.

Non-Performance Weeks:
Tuesday-Friday Noon-6 p.m.
Closed Saturday-Monday

Please note: The Box Office opens one hour before show time on performance days and remains open through intermission.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

KELSEY LEIGH ERVI, Director

Kelsey is thrilled to be directing Parade, a musical she's wanted to work on for years. Other directing credits include Silent Sky, Lord of the Flies, The Spark, The Santaland Diaries, The Tom Sawyer Project, Honky (WaterTower Theatre); Precious Little (Echo Theatre); Love Me, Tinder (FIT Festival, world premiere); Ask Questions Later (Rite of Passage Theatre, world premiere); and Dani Girl (Greyman Theatre Company). Kelsey is also an accomplished actor, having worked with many area theatre companies including WaterTower Theatre, Stage West, Shakespeare Dallas, Uptown Players, Echo Theatre, and Shakespeare in the Bar. When she's not directing or performing onstage, Kelsey can be heard on the Little Big Scene Podcast, a monthly podcast which serves to promote the past, present, and future of the DFW theatre community. Currently, Kelsey serves as Associate Artistic Director for WaterTower Theatre.

SCOTT A. ECKERT, Musical Director/Conductor

Prior WaterTower credits include: Company, Rockin' Christmas Party, and Smoke Joe's Café. Other music direction credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Boy from Oz, The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Next to Normal (Uptown Players); Titanic, Jane Eyre, The Human Comedy (Lyric Stage); NINE, Big River, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Main Stage); Goblin Market, Her Song (Echo Theatre); The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Little Women (Contemporary Theatre of Dallas); West Side Story, Nine to Five, Brigadoon (Garland Summer Musicals); The Hot Mikado (Theatre Three); and Fiddler on the Roof (Associate Conductor, National Tour). He has been recognized by the Dallas Theater League and The DFW Theater Critics Forum for his work as both music director and playwright.

GREGORY HULLETT, Hugh Dorsey

Greg is excited to be back at WaterTower Theatre! He debuted at WTT as Jackie Boudreaux in The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical. Greg was trained at KD Studio Actors Conservatory in Dallas and earned his degree in Acting Performance. Recent stage credits include: Chicago (Main Stage); Dancing at Lughnasa (Contemporary Theatre of Dallas); Catch Me If You Can (Uptown Players); Fellowship: The Musical Parody of Fellowship of the Ring (Theatre Too); and Oil (Theatre Three).

Kyle Igneczi, Britt Craig

Kyle is beyond proud to return to the WaterTower Theatre stage! Previous WTT credits include Dogfight, Bonnie & Clyde, and The Spark (Out of the Loop Fringe Festival). Other credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Angels in America, Aida, Catch Me If You Can (Uptown Players); Memphis (Theatre Three); Seussical (Dallas Children's Theater); Rent, Spamalot (Casa Mañana); and The Explorers Club (Stage West / WaterTower Theatre). Kyle is also a puppeteer and puppet builder and will be teaching a course in puppetry as part of WaterTower Theatre's education program.

Luke Longacre, Tom Watson/Others

Luke has worked locally at Casa Mañana, Amphibian Stage, WaterTower Theatre, and Dallas Theater Center. Some of his other favorite non-local credits include Lincoln Center, The MUNY, Portland Center Stage, Papermill Playhouse, and 5th Avenue Theatre. He is currently attending Southern Methodist University pursuing his M.F.A. in Acting.

SARA SHELBY-MARTIN, Mrs. Phagan/Others
Sara Shelby-Martin regularly performs at theaters throughout the DFW area, appearing regularly at WaterTower Theatre, Uptown Players, Lyric Stage, Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, and Theatre Three. Recent credits include The Toxic Avenger, Godspell, The Great American Trailer Park Musical and The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical. When she's not on stage, Sara can be seen performing her cabaret show "The Alto Line: My Life in Harmony" at venues across DFW.

Brian Mathis, Old Confederate Soldier/Judge Roan

Brian is very happy to be to returning to WaterTower Theatre where he last appeared in Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. Other WTT credits include the original concert reading of Creep. He has appeared nationally with the Equity tours of Seussical and Jesus Christ Superstar. Locally, Brian has appeared with Casa Mañana, Stage West, Circle Theatre, Amphibian Stage, Lyric Stage, and Dallas Theater Center. Other theatre credits include Theatre Under the Stars, Tennessee (Nashville) Rep, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, River City Rep, Downtown Cabaret -Bridgeport, CT, the Bushnell Center, and Kansas City Starlight. He appeared on CBS' Walker TX Ranger and with Dolly Parton in the movie Blue Valley Songbird. Brian can be heard on dozens of various voice over's for FUNimation, Medieval Times and many more!

Mary McElree, Mary Phagan

Mary McElree is thrilled to be making her WaterTower Theatre debut, having previously performed with such theatrical companies as Casa Mañana, Lyric Stage, Dallas Children's Theater, Wishing Star Productions, and Dallas Theater Center. Though theatre dominates most of her resumé, Mary grew up as a voiceover talent for Radio Disney, and continues to pursue work in various forms of entertainment including film and commercial. Mary is represented by Core Talent and a proud member of Actors' Equity.

Kyle Montgomery, Frankie Epps

Kyle's theatre credits include (Actor) National Tour: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (National Tour); Lord of the Flies, Creep (WaterTower Theatre); Into the Woods, South Pacific (Lyric Stage); Catch Me If You Can, The Boy From Oz, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Uptown Players); A Midsummer's Night Dream, The Winter's Tale, The Comedy of Errors, The Tempest (Trinity Shakespeare Festival); Memphis (Theatre Three); and Day Light (Stage West); (Properties Designer) Ring of Fire, The Realistic Joneses (WaterTower Theatre); Venus in Fur (Co-Production with WaterTower Theatre and Circle Theatre); Lovers and Executioners, Other Desert Cities, Clever Little Lies, Under the Skin, Don't Talk to the Actors, The Taming (Circle Theatre).

SARAH Elizabeth Price, Lucille Frank

Sarah is grateful to be returning to the WaterTower Theatre stage! Previous WTT credits include Creep, Bonnie & Clyde, Putting it Together. Other Regional credits include Ordinary Days (Our Productions); The Boy from Oz (Uptown Players); Camelot (Lyric Stage); and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Wishing Star Productions, National Tour).

CALVIN Scott Roberts, Jim Conley

Calvin is thrilled to return to the WaterTower Theatre stage! Previous WTT credits include Creep, Spunk, and Smokey Joe's Café. Some of Calvin's Regional credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent (Casa Mañana); Memphis, Crazy for You, Drowsy Chaperone, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Theatre Three); Miracle on 34th Street (Dallas Children's Theater); The Color Purple (Jubilee Theatre); Dreamgirls (Portland Center Stage); The Producers (Uptown Players); Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (DCT National Tour); Flora, the Red Menace (Lyric Stage); and A Christmas Carol (Dallas Theater Center). Other theatrical credits include Merchant of Venice and Julius Caesar (Shakespeare Dallas).

Alex Ross, Governor Slaton

Alex is happy to make his WaterTower Theatre debut in Parade. Regional credits include; Dallas Theater Center, Uptown Players, Theatre Three, Lyric Stage, Light Opera Oklahoma. TV credits include Queen of the South (USA) Murder Made Me Famous (REELZ), Revolution (NBC), and Salvation (NBC Pilot).

SETH WOMACK, Leo Frank

Seth is thrilled to be returning to the WaterTower Theatre stage, having previously been seen in The Spark, Creep, Lord of the Flies, and One Man, Two Guvnors. Other regional credits include LES MISERABLES (Dallas Theater Center & Casa Mañana); Fiddler on the Roof, The Golden Apple, Lady in the Dark, Into the Woods (Lyric Stage); and The Light in the Piazza (Brick Road Theatre). Seth is proud to reprise the role of Leo Frank, having previously performed it in the historic Paramount Theatre's production of Parade in Abilene, TX in 2012. Seth is a 2013 graduate of Abilene Christian University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre.

WaterTower Theatre, celebrating its 20th Anniversary Season, is one of the leading regional theatres in North Dallas and Texas. It is consistently recognized for its artistic excellence by the Dallas Theatre League, DFW Theatre Critics Forum, The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Observer, D Magazine, and The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, among others. WaterTower Theatre has a subscription base of more than 2,000 subscribers and serves an audience of over 28,000 patrons annually.

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