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Children’s Theatre Company Announces Complete Cast and Creative Team for World Premiere
Children’s Theatre Company Announces Complete Cast and Creative
Team for
World Premiere
Drawing Lessons
By Michi Barall
October 8-November 10, 2024
Minneapolis — August 15, 2024 — Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is thrilled to
announce the complete cast and creative team for the highly-anticipated world
premiere play Drawing
Lessons by
Michi Barall. Co-commissioned by Ma-Yi Theater Company and Children’s Theatre
Company, Drawing Lessons
will be directed by Jack Tamburri, and is based on an original conception by
Barall and Tamburri.
Experience the energy of a graphic novelist’s imagination at work! Dynamic, jump-off-the-page drawings show Kate’s manhwa graphic novel coming together, even as she deals with school, friends, and how her Korean heritage fits into her American lifestyle. Will her contentious friendship with Paul help or hinder her progress? Will either of them ever find their true artistic voices? Get drawn into this innovative story that magically takes place both on stage and on screen!
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above: Blue Delliquanti
Drawing Lessons will run from October 8-November 10, 2024, on CTC’s Cargill
Stage (2400 Third Avenue South Minneapolis MN 55404). Opening Night is
Saturday, October 12 at 7pm. Tickets may be purchased online at childrenstheatre.org/drawing
or by calling the ticket office at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $15.
Drawing Lessons is proudly supported by the John W. Kurtich Foundation for
Study and Research.
“Drawing
Lessons shows CTC at its best,” said CTC Artistic Director Rick
Dildine. “This world premiere play is a co-commission with NYC’s Ma-Yi Theater
Company and a collaboration with Minneapolis’s very talented comic artist Blue
Delliquanti. CTC has a history of creating new work, and this original piece
incorporates the craft of the comic artist into the theatrical process in a
dynamic way.”
“It's absolutely thrilling to see my
initial rendering of Drawing
Lessons become a multi-dimensional production,” said
playwright Michi Barall. “I am so immensely grateful to have such innovative
and wildly imaginative creative partners on the design team. Led by my longtime
collaborator and dear friend, director Jack Tamburri, we have been busy
exploring and integrating the compositional landscape of this play through the
design process. Comic artist Blue Delliquanti's drawings are full of movement,
warmth and humor, beautifully illustrating Kate's inner and external worlds. I
know that experiencing Blue's visual storytelling on a theatrical scale will be
magical! So many of the actors (and CTC administrators!) on our team
helped me find both the direction and depth of this play during the
developmental process! I'm excited to deepen these connections and to be in
rehearsals with the actors we've added to the cast. The assembled group is
so intuitive, playful and joyful, and I look forward to handing over the play
to them and to local audiences. This play is a celebration of the diversity and
distinctiveness of Minneapolis, both past and present, and every audience
member is an essential part of its story!”
“I have been a fan of
comic books and cartooning since before I could read. In fact, comics taught me
how to read,” said director Jack Tamburri. “And one of the reasons I got into
making theatre was because I wanted to create visual art but had no confidence
in my drawing. So now, as a director, I make drawings out of people. I am
thrilled to be premiering Drawing
Lessons at CTC because I want to share this beautiful story
about how and why a sensitive young person might start to identify as an artist
with the incredible audience community that CTC has cultivated in the Twin
Cities. I hope that this love letter to Minneapolis, to the 1990s, and to
cartooning resonates with you.”
Drawing Lessons was developed as part of Generation Now.
Generation Now is a landmark partnership between five theatres, with the goal
of expanding the canon of work produced
for multigenerational audiences and creating a model of transformative
partnership for the theatre field. With funding received from the Mellon
Foundation in 2021, the consortium is committed to co-commission and co-develop
16 new plays and musicals by both established and emerging BIPOC artists for
multigenerational audiences over five years. The partners strongly believe that
if we are to have an extraordinary theatre culture in this country, we must
start young, and it must be intergenerational, inclusive, inspiring,
transformative, and lifelong. All commissions will receive at least two
developmental workshops at the co-commissioning theatres.
The aim of Generation
Now is that each play or musical will be produced by each of the commissioning
theatres. These may be co-productions or completely independent productions.
The co-productions may involve sharing actors, creative teams, and
designs, or simply sharing the physical production or some other way of
collaborating. The co-commissioning theatres will determine how each of
their projects will be produced.
The adult cast of Drawing Lessons features Katie Bradley* as Gomo, Jim Lichtscheidl* as Paul, Darrick Mosley* as Jon, Matt Park as Matt, and Sophina Saggau as Miss Evans.
The student cast of Drawing Lessons features Malia Berg as Lia, De’Anthony Jackson as Omar, Olivia Lampert and Mars Niemi alternating as Kate,
Anders Thielen
as Jason, and Cullen Van Ranst
as Justin/Anderson.
The adult understudies
include Dominique Jones
as Jon, Jeannie Lander
as Gomo, Ryan Nelson
as Paul, Nikko Soukup-Raymo
as Matt, and Colleen Somerville
as Miss Evans.
The student understudies
include Charlie Gold
as Jason/Justin/Anderson, and Addica
Sharbono as Lia.
In addition to Michi
Barall and Jack Tamburri, the creative team and production staff for Drawing Lessons includes Junghyun
Georgia Lee† (scenic
designer), Trevor Bowen† (costume designer),
Paul Whitaker† (lighting designer), Victor
Zupanc (composer/sound designer), Elizabeth Barrett (projection designer), Blue
Delliquanti (illustrator), Amanda Espinoza (student actor coach), Hannah
Steblay (assistant director), Kenji Shoemaker* (stage manager), Janae Lorick
(assistant stage manager), Taylor Engel (production assistant), and Elijah
Virgil Hughes (stage management fellow/production assistant).
*Member
of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage
managers.
†Member
of the United Scenic Artists, Local 829.
Ticket Information
Tickets to Drawing Lessons may be purchase
online at childrenstheatre.org/drawing
or by calling the Ticket Office at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $15.
School groups interested
in attending Drawing Lessons
can contact schools@childrenstheatre.org for more information.
Drawing Lessons has a run time of 90 minutes with one 20-minute
intermission.
Drawing Lessons
Best for upper elementary, middle school, and high school
students and their families!
- Drawing
Lessons is a full-length show of 90
minutes with one 20-minute intermission. Younger audiences may have
difficulty staying connected for the full run of the show.
- Drawing
Lessons deals with nuanced subject
matter such as alienation, loss, friendship, family dynamics, and
self-expression that may not connect with or resonate with very young
audiences.
- Drawing
Lessons will feature projections of
live drawings of cartoons and graphic novels which many will find
captivating and fun to watch, regardless of age.
A Children’s Theatre World Premiere
Production
Drawing Lessons
By Michi Barall
Original conception by Michi Barall
and Jack Tamburri
Directed by Jack Tamburri
Co-commissioned by Ma-Yi Theater
Company (New York, New York) and Children’s Theatre Company (Minneapolis,
Minnesota)
October 8-November 10, 2024
Cargill Stage
Best for independent readers of all
ages!
Proudly supported by the John W.
Kurtich Foundation for Study and Research.
Creative Team & Production Staff
Playwright |
Michi Barall
Director | Jack Tamburri
Scenic Designer | Junghyun Georgia Lee†
Costume Designer | Trevor Bowen†
Lighting Designer
| Paul Whitaker†
Composer/Sound Designer | Victor Zupanc
Projection Designer | Elizabeth Barrett
Illustrator |
Blue Delliquanti
Student Actor Coach
| Amanda Espinoza
Assistant Director
| Hannah Steblay
Stage Manager |
Kenji Shoemaker*
Assistant Stage Manager
| Janae Lorick
Production Assistant
| Taylor Engel
Stage Management
Fellow/PA | Elijah Virgil Hughes
Adult Cast (in alphabetical order):
Katie
Bradley*| Gomo
Jim Lichtscheidl* | Paul
Darrick Mosley* | Jon
Matt Park | Matt
Sophina Saggau | Miss Evans
Student Cast (in alphabetical order):
Malia Berg | Lia
De’Anthony Jackson | Omar
Olivia Lampert and Mars Niemi | Kate
Anders Thielen | Jason
Cullen Van Ranst | Justin/Anderson
Adult Understudies (in alphabetical order):
Dominique Jones | Jon
Jeannie Lander | Gomo
Ryan Nelson | Paul
Nikko Soukup-Raymo | Matt
Colleen Somerville | Miss Evans
Student Understudies (in alphabetical order):
Charlie Gold | Jason/Justin/Anderson
Addica Sharbono | Lia
*Member
of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage
managers.
†Member of the United Scenic Artists, Local 829.
ADULT CAST
Gomo
Katie Bradley*
Katie Bradley (she/her) was
previously seen as Mulan in Mulan
Jr. at Children's Theatre Company. She is based in Minneapolis and
has appeared onstage at the Guthrie Theater, Ten Thousand Things, Oregon
Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Indiana Repertory
Theatre, and Pacific Conservatory Theatre. She is also a long-time artist with
Theater Mu.
Paul
Jim Lichtscheidl*
Jim Lichtscheidl (he/him) has recently acted in productions at Yellow Tree
Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, and Jungle Theater. His other acting credits
include Guthrie Theater, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Berkeley Rep, Portland
Centerstage, and Alley Theatre. He has served as choreographer, director, and
creator at many regional theatres as well.
Jon
Darrick Mosley*
Darrick Mosley (he/him) is excited to be back after his role in Locomotion at CTC. Other credits
include Wine in the Wilderness (Penumbra
Theatre) and A Raisin in the Sun (Guthrie
Theater). He has performed with Pillsbury House Theatre, History Theatre, and
Yellow Tree Theatre. He holds a B.F.A. from Grambling State University.
Matt
Matt Park
Matt Park co-wrote music for Ma-Yi's
production of Peer Gynt and the
Norwegian HAPA Band at ART/NY. He is the guitarist in Diana Oh's My Lingerie
Band and performed in My
Lingerie Play at The Rattlestick Theater. He orchestrated the music
for Rebecca Lee Lerman's musical Her
Hotel. He has performed live at Joe's Pub, OBERON at American Rep
Theater, The National Underground, and Parkside Lounge.
Miss Evans
Sophina Saggau
Sophina Saggau (she/her) has
performed in The History Plays
(Guthrie Theater), Emilia
(Ten Thousand Things), and Sherwood
(Yellow Tree Theater). She has also worked as an understudy, director, and
stage combat assistant with various local companies. She holds a B.F.A from the
UMN/Guthrie Acting program.
STUDENT CAST
Lia
Malia Berg
Malia is 16 years old from Woodbury and has enjoyed performing in productions
such as Spamtown, USA; Bina’s Six
Apples (Children’s Theatre Company); Disney’s Freaky Friday; Little Women (Merrill Arts Center); Disney’s Descendants (Phipps
Performing Arts Center); School
of Rock (Open Door Theatre); School
of Rock (Zephyr Theatre); and many others. Malia loves to sing,
play guitar, and write her own original songs.
Omar
De’Anthony Jackson
De’Anthony
is 15 years old and has had notable mentions on PBS National News. De’Anthony’s journey as a young
actor is marked by passion, dedication, and a deep understanding of the power
of storytelling. Through his roles in Something
Happened in Our Town, A
Raisin in the Sun, and Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress,
he has proven himself as a rising star with immense potential and a bright
future ahead in the world of theatre.
Kate
Olivia Lampert
Olivia Lampert (she/her) is a 12th grader at Wayzata High School.
Previous CTC credits include: Alice in
Wonderland, Dr.
Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Bina’s Six Apples, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical.
Other credits include: Anne of
Green Gables (SOAR Arts), The Kung
Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior and Cannibals (Theater Mu), Bina’s Six Apples (Alliance
Theatre), We Will Rock You,
Sound of Music (BWTC), Descendants (Lundstrum Performing
Arts). She is also a part of Stages Theatre Company’s Teen Mentorship Program
2024-2025.
Kate
Mars Niemi
Mars Niemi (he/they) is ecstatic to make his CTC debut! They have previously
performed in Circus Juventas’ production of Jangala,
YPC’s Youth Artist Council’s production of Puffs,
YPC’s production of Little
Women, and SPCPA’s productions of Alice by Heart and The Prom.
He has performed with numerous organizations including Mixed Precipitation, and
Stages Theatre Company.
Jason
Anders Thielen
Anders Thielen has enjoyed roles in La Bohème (MN Opera) and A Christmas Carol (Guthrie Theater).
In his free time, he enjoys tinkering and sketching designs for engines. He
also enjoys singing and acting in school plays and professional plays.
Justin/Anderson
Cullen Van Ranst
Cullen Van Ranst (he/him) has enjoyed roles in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s Finding Nemo, School of Rock, and A Christmas Carol. He has performed
with the Guthrie Theater as well as several community theatres on the east side
of the Twin Cities.
ADULT UNDERSTUDIES
Jon
Dominique Jones
Dominique Jones (they/them) is a multi-versed performance artist
and mentor who has participated in many reputable performances through theatre,
music, poetry, and dance. A slight Minnesota nomad originally from the Twin
Cities, they’ve been grateful to be a part of various productions as a
videographer, actor, producer/composer, and poet.
Gomo
Jeannie Lander
Jeannie Lander is thrilled to be making her debut with Children's
Theatre Company. Previous
theatre performances include: The Name
Jar (Stages Theater/Theater Mu), Fast
Company, Purple Cloud, Kung Fu Zombies vs Cannibals, Yellow Fever, Into the
Woods (Theater Mu), 36
Views (Walking Shadow), Barefoot in the Park (5th Season
Entertainment), American Noise (nimbus theatre).
Paul
Ryan Nelson
Ryan Nelson (he/him) has previously appeared in Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical at Children's Theatre
Company. He's performed
with several other theatres, including Yellow Tree, The Jungle, Zeitgeist Arts,
Brave New Workshop, and Science
Live at the Science Museum of Minnesota. He holds a B.A. from
Southwest Minnesota State University.
Matt
Nikko Soukup-Raymo
Nikko Soukup-Raymo (he/him) has enjoyed roles in The Flower Drum Song (Theater Mu/Park Square Theatre), Princess’s Nightingale (Theater
Mu), and Hairspray (Artistry). He
holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from Minnesota State University Moorhead, and
is an early childhood Montessori teacher at Hopkins Montessori School.
Miss Evans
Colleen Somerville
Colleen Somerville (she/her) makes her CTC debut with Drawing Lessons! Other roles:
Stepsister Grace in Cinderella
(Ordway), Maureen in RENT (Cardinal
Theatricals), and The Baker’s Wife in Into the
Woods (Artistry). She is also a director, educator and activist,
creating feminist art through her company, Somerville Productions. For Joss.
STUDENT UNDERSTUDIES
Jason/Justin/Anderson
Charlie Gold
Previous shows include Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,
and the Theatre Arts Training (TAT) Triple
Threat productions The Garden and Be More Chill. Other credits
include Matilda (Stages),
Elf (Bunce), The Lightning Thief (Interlochen),
and Fugitive Songs
(SPCPA). He is currently a 10th grader at SPCPA. He dedicates his performance
in memory of his sister Lizzie.
Lia
Addica Sharbono
Addica Sharbono (she/her) is making her Children’s
Theatre Company debut! She has previously enjoyed roles in Finding Nemo Jr., Dragons Love Tacos: The
Musical, and Spookley
the Square Pumpkin at Stages Theatre Company. Addica is a FAIR
School for Arts student and a PSEO student through Minneapolis College and the
University of Minnesota.
CREATIVE TEAM & PRODUCTION STAFF
Playwright
Michi Barall
Michi Barall is a New York City-based actor, playwright, and academic. As an
actor Michi has worked extensively in theatres in New York and across the
country. Michi's dance-theatre piece, Rescue
Me, was produced at the Ohio Theatre by Ma-Yi in 2010. Her
music-theatre adaptation of Peer
Gynt, Peer Gynt and The Norwegian
Hapa Band, premiered in 2107 at the ART/NY Theatre. Michi holds
degrees from Stanford University, NYU (M.F.A., Grad Acting) and Columbia (PhD,
Theatre/English & Comparative Literature). She has taught at Columbia, NYU,
and MIT and is currently on the faculty at Purchase College.
Director
Jack Tamburri
Jack Tamburri has directed performance art, plays, and musicals including: Stress Exorcist (Mary McCool), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare in Clark
Park), PEER GYNT and the Norwegian
Hapa Band (Ma-Yi Theater Co.), Not For
Profit (Ferdinand), School
Play (Tribe of Fools), and short films Sophocles in Staten Island and Clifford Odets in Staten Island
(Ma-Yi Studios). He is a lecturer at SUNY Purchase, where he spent five years
as the director of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts. He holds an M.F.A. from
the Yale School of Drama.
Scenic Designer
Junghyun Georgia
Lee†
Junghyun Georgia Lee has designed for New York Theatre Workshop, Audible
Theatre, Atlantic Theatre, Public Theatre, Soho Rep, Ma-Yi, NAATCO, Guthrie
Theater, Alley Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Indiana Rep,
Playmakers Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, and Huntington Theatre Company. Nominations
include: Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Set Design (Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord), Henry Hewes
Design Award (Romeo and Juliet),
CT Critics Circle Award (The
Chinese Lady). MFA: Yale School of Drama, Faculty at Amherst
College, MA.
Costume
Designer
Trevor Bowen†
Trevor Bowen is glad to be back at
CTC. He has designed costumes for An
American Tail the Musical; Last
Stop on Market Street; Corduroy;
Spamtown, USA; Three Little Birds; and I Come From Arizona at CTC. Trevor
is a 2020 McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship recipient. www.trevorbowendesign.com
Lighting Designer
Paul Whitaker†
Paul Whitaker (he/him): CTC Credits: Alice in
Wonderland, Morris
Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, Carmela Full of Whishes, I Come From
Arizona, The Snowy Day, Cinderella,
Seedfolks, Annie, and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, among
others. Paul is a partner at Schuler Shook, a theatre planning and
architectural lighting firm.
Composer/Sound
Designer
Victor Zupanc
Victor Zupanc has been the resident
music director/composer at Children’s Theatre Company since 1989, composing
music and conducting orchestras for many of your favorite productions. He has
worked on over 300 plays at countless theaters across the country. He also
composes for orchestras, choirs, and films, and his music has been performed in
over a dozen countries. Victorzupanc.com
Projection Designer
Elizabeth Barrett
Elizabeth Barrett (they/them) is a projection and media designer based in New
York. Recent design credits include How to
Break (Village Theatre), Bulgaria!
Revolt! (Quinnipiac University), and Undocuments (Latino Theater Company). Recent associate
credits include Lehman Trilogy
(Guthrie Theater) and Here
There are Blueberries (NYTW).
Illustrator
Blue Delliquanti
Blue Delliquanti (they/them) is contributing
illustrations to Drawing Lessons
at Children’s Theatre Company. They are a comic artist and the author of
graphic novels including Across a
Field of Starlight. They teach comics classes at the Minneapolis
College of Art and Design.
Student Actor Coach
Amanda Espinoza
Amanda Espinoza (she/her) served as Acting Coach on Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, Carmela Full of Wishes, and Locomotion at CTC. She has
performed with Jackdonkey Productions, Gray Mallard Theatre Co, Pulley and
Buttonhole Theatre Company, Rachel Lynett Theatre Company, and Two River Theater.
She holds an M.F.A from Texas Tech University School of Theatre and Dance.
Assistant Director
Hannah Steblay
Hannah Steblay (she/her) is delighted to return to Children's Theatre Company
having served as assistant director on Alice in
Wonderland (2013, 2024) as well as Pippi Longstocking (2012). She is a freelance director,
educator, and enthusiastic momma. She holds a B.A. in Theater from Hamline
University.
Stage Manager
Kenji Shoemaker*
Kenji Shoemaker (he/they) is a Minneapolis-based stage manager and props
designer last seen at CTC for A Year
With Frog and Toad. Other recent credits include: Theater Mu, The
Guthrie Theater, American Players Theatre, and Stages Theatre Company, among
others. When not at CTC, Kenji also works in various prop shops around town,
and teaches at Macalester College.
Assistant
Stage Manager
Janae Lorick
Janae Lorick (they/them)’s favorite
CTC Credits: Morris Micklewhite and the
Tangerine Dress, Dr. Suess's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Alice in
Wonderland, and A Year
With Frog and Toad. Recent Credits: Gremlin Theatre, Stages Theatre
Company (2025), TigerLion Arts. They hold a B.A. from St. Olaf College in
Theater, Race & Ethnic Studies.
Production Assistant
Taylor Engel
Having graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University with his B.A. in
Theatre Arts, Taylor has worked as a stage manager for St. Croix Off Broadway
Dinner Theater, Classical Actors Ensemble, Freshwater Theatre, and Lyric Arts.
Taylor has been run crew for many CTC productions and was assistant stage
manager for Babble Lab.
Stage Management Fellow/Production Assistant
Elijah Virgil
Hughes
Elijah Hughes (they/them) has worked as a stage manager in A Christmas Carol, YOU MUST WEAR A HAT,
and the dreamer examines his
pillow at Brevard College, and performed in Kinky Boots (Weathervane Playhouse)
and Next to Normal
(Brevard College). They hold a B.A. from Brevard College.
*Member
of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.
†Member
of the United Scenic Artists, Local 829.
Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is the nation’s largest and most acclaimed theatre for
young people and serves a multigenerational audience. It creates theatre
experiences that educate, challenge, and inspire more than 200,000 people
annually. CTC is the only theatre focused on young audiences to win the Special
Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre and is the only theatre in
Minnesota to receive three Tony nominations (for its production of A Year With Frog and Toad). CTC is
committed to creating world-class productions at the highest level and to
developing new works, more than 200 to date, dramatically changing the canon of
work for young audiences.
CTC is the most significant provider
of theatre education opportunities in the region. Every year, thousands of
children experience theatre for the first time at CTC. Our student matinees and
education programs demonstrably benefit the community, from the
intergenerational conversations sparked by our world premieres, to the
sequential skill-building that happens in our Theatre Arts Training, to the
pre-K focus of our Early Childhood Initiative. ACT One is CTC’s comprehensive
platform for access, diversity, and inclusion in our audiences, programs,
staff, and board that strives to ensure the theatre is a home for all people,
all families, reflective of our community. childrenstheatre.org
FOR CALENDAR EDITORS:
WHAT: A Children’s Theatre World Premiere Production
Drawing
Lessons
By
Michi Barall
Original
conception by Michi Barall and Jack Tamburri
Directed
by Jack Tamburri
Co-commissioned by Ma-Yi Theater
Company (New York, New York) and Children’s Theatre Company (Minneapolis,
Minnesota)
October
8-November 10, 2024
Cargill
Stage
Best
for upper elementary, middle school, and high school students and their
families!
WHEN: from October 8-November 10, 2024 (Opening Night is Saturday,
October 12, 2024, at 7pm)
WHERE: CTC’s Cargill Stage (2400 Third Avenue
South Minneapolis MN 55404)
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Best for
independent readers of all ages. Due to the capacity of the Cargill Stage, a
limited number of lap passes are available for those 18 months and
younger.
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes
with one 20-minute intermission.
TICKETS: Starting at $15 and available at childrenstheatre.org/drawing
or by calling the Ticket Office at 612.874.0400.