Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents
A Christmas Story: The Play
Billing Credits
Artistic Director: Marya Sea Kaminski
Managing Director: Shaunda McDill
Play by Philip Grecian
Based upon A Christmas Story
©1983 Turner Entertainment Co.,
Distributed by Warner Bros.,
Written by Jean Sheperd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark,
and In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash
by Jean Sheperd
Starring
Jamie Agnello*, Hope Anthony*, Colin Bozick, Cameron Edwards, Sebastian Madoni, Eamonn McElfresh, Tim McGeever*, Natalie McGovern, Adjoa Opoku-Dakwa, Kaaveri Patil, Zora Rose, John Shepard*, Neal Raj Wadhwa, Jr.
Set Designer: Tim Mackabee
Costume Designer: Venise St. Pierre
Lighting Designer: Robert Aguilar
Sound Designer: Sartje Pickett
Projection Designer: Bryce Cutler
Associate Projection Designer: Natalie Rose Mabry
Fight & Intimacy Director: José Pérez IV
Hair & Wig Designer: Sherry Deberson
Stage Manager: Tina Shackleford*
Assistant Stage Manager: Kelly Haywood*
Director: Michael Berresse*
Assistant Director: Moira Quigley*
*Denotes AEA membership
Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois
Letter from the Artistic Director
Hello friends,
Happy holidays! I am delighted to welcome you and so many of our original cast members back to retell Ralphie’s story of wild adventures, triple dog dares, and time-honored family traditions. This year our Christmas Story family continues to grow as new actors and staff join our production as well. What a gift to witness so many young performers featured alongside seasoned pros as we gather to celebrate the magic, imagination, and thrill of the season.
We want to invite you back on Dec. 23 for our family holiday party, Ralphie’s Roundup, where we will play games, eat cookies, and toast the season alongside cast members from this season and last.
On behalf of all of us at your Pittsburgh Public Theater, we wish you a bright, happy, and safe holiday season. Please be careful not to shoot your eye out.
Truly,
Letter from Presenting Sponsor
Meet the Cast
Jamie Agnello* MOTHER
Jamie Agnello “is a human, not a puppet” (The New York Times) who is delighted to be back! Local credits include The Tempest (Pittsburgh Public Theater), Plano (Quantum Theatre), and Midnight Radio: Frankenstein (Bricolage Production Company). She also puppeteers in the YouTube series Cai & Kate as part of “The Chill Project” with Allegheny Health Network. www.jamieagnello.com
Hope Anthony* MISS SHIELDS
Hope Anthony was last seen in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Harlem. Tour: ¡Arriba, Arriba! (Pittsburgh CLO). Film: House of Stones (2023) & Grinding Doubt (NY International Film Awards Winner 2021). TV: GetGo Holiday, UPMC, & Finger Lakes Casino, NY, commercials. She is the Artistic Education Associate & Lead Teaching Artist of Attack Theatre.
Colin Bozick FLICK
Colin is delighted to return to The Public this year to reprise his role as Flick. In addition to Pittsburgh Public Theater, Colin, a 7th-grader at Mellon Middle School in Mt. Lebanon, has also been seen onstage at Little Lake Theatre, Prime Stage Theatre, and South Park Children’s Theatre. Many thanks to his family for all of their support and to the Pittsburgh Public Theater for bringing back this holiday favorite!
Cameron Edwards YOUTH CHORUS, PRODUCTION UNDERSTUDY
Cameron Edwards is a 12-year-old vocal major at Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) 6-12. He enjoys singing, playing chess, creating art, acting, and traveling. He played Cogsworth in Pittsburgh Musical Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast JR. He has also been in several plays with Accent Music Academy. Recently, he played Rueben in August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.
Sebastian Madoni RALPHIE PARKER
Sebastian is thrilled to be returning as Ralphie in A Christmas Story: The Play. He is a 7th-grade theater major at Pittsburgh CAPA. He recently performed in CLO Academy’s Legally Blonde: The Musical JR. as Hunter Worthington III. When he is not on stage, Sebastian can be found on the hockey dek or baseball field.
Eamonn McElfresh SCUT FARKAS
Eamonn is a musical theater major at CAPA and a student at The CLO Academy, Daina Griffith Acting Studios, and Higher Voice Studio. He is thrilled to be reunited with the Pittsburgh Public Theater family as Scut Farkas. He was recently seen on stage in Prime Stage’s The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and CAPA’s The Prom. He interned this summer with Front Porch Theatricals’ Merrily We Roll Along as an assistant director. He thanks his family, teachers, and coaches for their continued support and guidance.
Tim McGeever* THE OLD MAN
Tim is happy to be back with this lovely show. Tim has appeared on Broadway and all over the country in a wide array of roles. He was named the 2022 Performer of the Year by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Tim is married to actress/teacher/dialect guru/director Nancy McNulty McGeever. Proud member of Actors Equity and SAG/AFTRA.
Joseph McGranaghan PRODUCTION UNDERSTUDY
Joseph McGranaghan is grateful for the opportunity to be a fly on the wall of this joyous production. Joseph was last seen here at the Public in this year's world premier of Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For. Before that, he helped unveil another world premiere musical about a Pittsburgh legend: Shantytown: The Ballad of Fr. James Cox at Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Co. Next up: The Importance of Being Earnest, back here at the Public. Love and thanks to Lily, always. Happy Christmas, my love. www.josephmcgranaghan.com
Natalie McGovern ESTHER JANE ALBERRY
Natalie is thrilled to be part of A Christmas Story: The Play. She studies theater and voice and is a student in the CLO Academy’s Pre-Professional Program for Jazz, Tap, and Ballet. She would like to thank her teachers, her mom, her dad, and awesome sister Julia for their guidance and support.
Adjoa Opoku-Dakwa YOUTH CHORUS, PRODUCTION UNDERSTUDY
Adjoa is a theater major at Pittsburgh CAPA. Outside CAPA, her roles include Hill Dance Academy Theatre’s Black Nativity, Pittsburgh Public Theater’s A Christmas Story: The Play, Pittsburgh Playwright’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and Prime Stage’s Miracle Worker. Adjoa won 1st place in the monologue and scene divisions of Pittsburgh Public Theater’s annual Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest. Adjoa thanks her family, friends and teachers.
Kaaveri Patil SCHWARTZ
Kaaveri is a 7th-grader with a passion for theater. She played Marty the Zebra in her school’s Madagascar musical, won the Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest, and enjoys reading, movies, and shows. She is thrilled to be part of A Christmas Story: The Play!
Zora Rose HELEN WEATHERS
Zora Rose is a theater student at Pittsburgh CAPA and is excited to be a part of The Public’s A Christmas Story: The Play again. She has performed Black Ballerina (The Public’s PlayTime) and Our Song (Demaskus Theater Collective/August Wilson Center). She would like to thank everyone who has shown her love and support.
John Shepard* ADULT RALPH
John Shepard has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theaters across the country. He is happy to be reprising Ralph at The Public where he had worked many times. Besides The Public, he has appeared at Quantum Theatre, City Theatre Company, PICT and the REP in Pittsburgh. He has appeared in many TV shows and films, including the upcoming “The Deliverance” directed by Lee Daniels. His book “Auditioning and Acting for the Camera” is used across the country. He taught at Point Park for 20 years and is Professor Emeritus there.
Neal Raj Wadhwa Jr RANDY
Neal is a 4th grade student at the Falk School. Recent roles include Flounder in The Little Mermaid and Jasper in 101 Dalmatians at the CLO Summer Academy. He studies dance with Bodiography and the Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance, and music with Shane McLaughlin. Neal enjoys playing flag football, tennis, chess, and watching Pittsburgh sports. He would like to thank his sister Siobhán for all of her kindness and support.
*Denotes members of the Actors' Equity Association
The Creative Team
Michael Berresse* DIRECTOR
Michael Berresse is a Tony® and Olivier Award nominated actor and OBIE Award®winning director. He has appeared in nearly 7,000 performances of 11 Broadway shows and his numerous directorial credits include five world premieres, notably the critically-acclaimed, Tony nominated Broadway musical [title of show]. Fun facts: Michael made his professional debut right here at Pittsburgh CLO. He is also a "Star Search” dance grand champion!
Moira Quigley* ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION UNDERSTUDY
Moira Quigley is a Pittsburgh based performer and educator and thrilled to be in the midst of this magic. Stage credits include: Quantum Theatre (Plano, The Cherry Orchard, 10 for 21), City Theatre (The Wanderers, The Revolutionists, Momentum, Young Playwrights Festival), Hatch Arts Collective (Gloria), off the WALL (The Carols), and more. As an educator she has worked with extraordinary students across the city, exploring storytelling and collaboration with Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Creative Dramatics and Bricolage’s Midnight Radio Education Program. It’s later. I love you.
Tina Shackleford* STAGE MANAGER
Tina Shackleford was the substitute stage manager for A Christmas Story last season, and is overjoyed to return this year for the whole process! Her stage management credits include productions at theatres across the country, most recently Saint Michael's Playhouse, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, and Resonance Works Pittsburgh. For USITT she is a founding member of the EDI Initiative and former Management Commissioner. Tina teaches Stage Management at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and is a proud member of Actors Equity.
Kelly Haywood* ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Past productions with PPT include: A Tell-Tale Heart, A Raisin in the Sun, Barefoot in The Park, Steel Magnolias, Little Shop of Horrors, Born Yesterday, Noises Off, An Iliad, Servant to Two Masters and True West. Kelly has also done several productions with the Pittsburgh Opera, CLO and Pittsburgh Ballet.
Tim Mackabee SET DESIGNER
Pittsburgh Public Theater: Little Shop of Horrors. Broadway: The Elephant Man, Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth. West End: The Elephant Man. Off-Broadway: Heathers: The Musical. MCC: Seared. Atlantic: Guards at the Taj, Describe The Night. Roundabout: Darling Grenadine, The Last Match. MTC: Vietgone. LCT: Luce. TV: "Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo" (HBO), "Gotham," "Smash," "The Today Show." Education: North Carolina School of the Arts, Yale School of Drama. @timmackabeedesign, timothymackabeedesign.com
Venise St. Pierre COSTUME DESIGNER
I’m thrilled to be part of a production that has delighted our friends enough to bring it back for a reprise engagement. I have been on the production staff at Pittsburgh Public Theater since 1977 in a variety of capacities as well as working on film and television on projects. I’ll wear the costume designer hat for now and look forward to interesting challenging projects in the 2024
Robert Aguilar LIGHTING DESIGNER
Previous designs for Pittsburgh Public Theater: Little Shop of Horrors and Marjorie Prime. Regional credits include work at Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, ACT, The 5th Avenue Theater, The Old Globe, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Intiman Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Milwaukee Rep, and Village Theatre, among others. Film: The Jinkx and De-la Holiday Special, Potato Dreams of America. www.robertjaguilar.com IG: @fake_robert
Sartje Pickett SOUND DESIGNER
Sartje Pickett works as a freelance composer and sound designer in theaters across the United States. Highlights include: American Players Theater: Love’s Labours Lost, Mary’s Wedding, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. At YRT: Hamlet, Death of a Salesman; OSF: Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, The Count of Monte Cristo; Bricolage Production Company: DODO, The Ascendants, Welcome to Here.
Bryce Cutler PROJECTION DESIGNER
Previous designs include Grand Horizons on Broadway, 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist Soft Power at the Public Theater along with world premieres by John Patrick Shanley, Dael Orlandersmith, Matt Aucoin, Grammy Award winner Steve Mackey, production design of Samsung’s virtual reality television series "Interpretation of Dreams," an AI powered light and sound experience with St. Vincent and a virtual reality arcade for Muse’s 2019 World Tour. Education: CMU www.brycecutler.com
Natalie Rose Mabry ASSOCIATE PROJECTION DESIGNER
They moved from Dallas to be the Chosky Resident Designer and Teaching Artist at the Pitt. Most Recently designed the Scenery and Projections for The Rocky Horror Show at the Dallas Theatre Center. You can find them via: IG: @nrmabryartistry Website: natalierosemabry.art
Sherry Deberson HAIR & WIG DESIGNER
Sherry is happy to be back designing for The Public. Past credits include Two Trains Running and Steel Magnolias. Other design credits include Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh CLO, Elsen Associates for various opera productions, Pittsburgh Opera, and City Theatre Company. Sherry has also worked on various film and commercial projects.
Catherine Kolos* LEAD YOUTH SUPERVISOR
Catherine Kolos is a multi-disciplinary theater artist from Pittsburgh, PA. She most recently starred as Mary Flynn in Front Porch Theatricals' critically acclaimed production of Merrily We Roll Along. Regional credits: Fusion New Mexico, Interlochen Shakespeare Festival, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh CLO, City Theatre, Quantum, Shakespeare in Litchfield Hills. She is a voice-over & commercial artist with Docherty Models & Talent and an award-winning producer, having helped navigate 27 different productions from concept to performance across the US. Ms. Kolos is a proud member of Actors’ Equity. Her cabaret, Mood For Love, premieres at the Greer Cabaret Lounge in January 2024.
Shammen McCune* CO-YOUTH SUPERVISOR
Shammen is enjoying another role in the gamut at Pittsburgh Public Theater and is excited to have the chance to work alongside Catherine Kolos.
José Pérez IV FIGHT & INTIMACY DIRECTOR
José Pérez IV is the Resident Fight & Intimacy Director of the Public. Recent Public credits: Billy Strayhorn: Something To Live For, A Midsummer Night’s Dream In Harlem, Robin Hood. Recent national credits: Fights/intimacy for Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville), fights for Frankenstein (Cleveland Play House). MFA Performance Pedagogy Pitt, BFA Drama NYU.
*Denotes members of the Actors' Equity Association
Special Thanks
Chris Laitta
Alex Manalo
Callee Miles
Daniel St. Pierre
Pittsburgh CLO Academy
Jim Scriven
Special thanks to our Christmas Story family, especially the artists and friends who have helped shape this story and bring the magic of this production to life:
Zoe Abuyuan
Will Chambers
Suraya Love Collins
Jude Ziggy Glover
Daina Griffith
Jason McCune
Dr. Richard Moriarty
Claire Sabatine
Charlie Julian Stull
Mark Stys
Nikolai Zevchak
Staff List
Artistic Director
Marya Sea Kaminski
Managing Director
Shaunda McDill
Artistic
Casting & Literary Director: Brian Pope
Resident Director: Justin Emeka
Artist in Residence: Demeatria Boccella
Resident Fight & Intimacy Director: José Pérez IV
Resident Playwrights: Mora V. Harris, Brian Pope, Kelly Trumbull, Alec Silberblatt, TJ Young
Administrative & Finance
Director of Finance & Administration: Stewart Urist
Finance Manager: Jim Overton
Accounts Payable Coordinator: Anna Skeels
Systems Coordinator: Fred Noel
Executive & Equity Coordinator: Meleana Felton
Executive Assistant & Board Liaison: Lindsay Barr
Workforce Director: Morgan Overton
Development
Director of Development: Laura King
Senior Manager of Development: Devan Mercurio
Development Associate: Milton Melendez
Education & Engagement
Director of Education & Engagement: Parag S. Gohel
Engagement Manager: Jalina McClarin
Education Manager: Jenny Malarkey
House Management
Operations Manager: Jamie Dawson
Assistant House Manager: Shawn Israel
Accessibility Concierge: Jay Chapman, Alana Moye
Marketing & Communications
Director of Marketing & Communications: Aja Jones
Graphic Designer: Lucy Chen
Digital Content Manager: Ben Geibel
Marketing & Communications Manager: Christie Snyder
Patron Services
Associate Director of Patron Services: Fred Frances
Patron Services Data Associate: Ali Mohammed Srour
Production
Director of Production & Operations: Monica Bowin
Associate Director of Operations: Trent Wolfred
Company Manager: Savannah Merrill
Technical Director: Rob McLeod
Scene Shop Manager: Lisa Harshbarger
Head Shop Carpenter: Drew Palajsa
Scene Shop Carpenters: Sean DeKonty, Joseph Paski, Shannon Seibel
Charge Scenic Artist: Celeste Parrendo
Assistant Charge Artist: Adalgisa Bosonetto-Schwerin
Properties Head: Gay Kahkonen
Properties Coordinator: Kelly Yann
Costume Shop Head, Costume Designer: Venise St. Pierre
Costume Shop Coordinator: Christyann Trbovich
Costume Shop Associate: Kyle Huber
Stitcher: Derek St. Pierre
First Hand: Erin Prokopchak
Head Electrician: Joshua Beumer
Assistant Electrician/Follow Spot: Robert Ruffner
Head Sound Engineer: Zach Moore
Interim Wardrobe Head: Virginia Nicoll-Hernandez
Dresser: Alexis Trbovich
Wig Stylist: Angel Thomas
Head Stage Carpenter: Mikey Abate
Deck Carpenters: Mark Howard, Zanae Johnson
The Supporting Cast
Land Acknowledgement
The ground on which we stand, at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, is home to the Seneca People. They called this area Jaödeogë’ (Jaonh day ō gent’), Between Two Rivers, the crossroads of the Seneca, Lenni Lenape, Shawnee, and numerous nations who lived before, with and after them.
These Peoples, along with other nations in the Haudenosaunee (Hoe-dee-no-SHOW-nee) Confederacy, stewarded the land of this greater region; and like other First Nations across North America, their spiritual roots are buried deep within Mother Earth. We acknowledge this land and their continued spiritual connection to it as sacred.
We must also recognize the painful destruction of this connection and the injustices perpetrated on Native Communities through broken treaties and colonial occupation, resulting in enslavement, cultural genocide, forced assimilation, and dissolution of their right to independent self-governance.
Through awareness and action, we can write a new history that honors First Peoples’ spiritual connection to the land and combats Indigenous erasure, systemic racism and continued marginalization. We invite you to join us in action. Insightful information can be found at https://americanindian.si.edu and our website: https://ppt.org
This statement was crafted in collaboration with Dr. Joe Stahlman (Ska:ru:re), Ja:no’s Bowen (Onöndowa’ga:’), and Jamie Jacobs (Onöndowa’ga:’).
Commitment to Racial Justice
Health and Safety
Union Information
The Actors and Stage Manager employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE.
This Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and The National Theatrical Labor Union.