Gary W. Blackman and Mark A. Blackman
Executive Producers
Greg Gunning
Artistic Director
present
FOURSCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO
with
Micala Behrens Drew Cyburt
Andrew McCluskey Ryan Washington
Cheyanne Christopher
Stage Manager
Directed by Andrew Dawson
Book by Kathleen Huber and Greg Gunning
Music and Lyrics by John Forster
Orchestrations by Richard DeRosa
Costumes by Fred Sorrentino
Set Construction by Red Dot Studios
ArtsPower National Touring Theatre
presents
FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO
CAST
(in order of appearance)
LemuelRyan Washington
Mrs. McIlhenyMicala Behrens
Sergeant Hitchborne/ General PickettDrew Cyburt
JacobAndrew McCluskey
Stage ManagerRachel Jarnagin
MUSICAL NUMBERS
Overture
A Normal Day in GettysburgCast
Full-Fledged American Lemuel & Mrs.McIlheny
God On Your SideLemuel & Jacob
The BattleCast
Hymn: Keep Him Safe With YouMrs. McIlheny
Make A Little Money On The SideCast
The PeopleCast
FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO Who’s Who
MICALA BEHRENS (Mrs. McIlheny) is thrilled to be joining ArtsPower for a second time, after playing Ma in Laura Ingalls Wilder last spring! A Bowling Green State University B.A.C. graduate, some of her favorite collegiate credits include Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, Serena in Legally Blonde, and Belinda/Flavia in Noises Off. She has also worked regionally at the Huron Playhouse where she played Judy inA Chorus Line, and at the Barn Theatre where she was seen in the ensemble of Mary Poppins, Rock of Ages, and Ghost. She is thankful for all the support she receives from loved ones and hopes you enjoy the show!
DREW CYBURT (Sergeant Hitchborne/General Pickett)is a professional actor/singer hailing from New Jersey with a career spanning nearly two decades.Most recently, he performed in Busch Garden's award-winning show Celtic Fyre as the Innkeeper.A four-time NJACT nominated actor, some of hisregional credits include Floyd Collins in Floyd Collins, John Utterson inJekyll & Hyde, Burrs in The Wild Party, Marvin in Falsettos, Noah in Children of Eden, Pontius PilateinJesus Christ Superstar, and Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.
ANDREW MCCLUSKEY (Jacob)is very excited to be performing in his first production with ArtsPower as Jacob in Four Score and Seven Years Ago. He has previously worked as an actor in numerous productions at the John W Engeman Theater, Merry Maker for RWS and Associates, as well as various children’s productions with Plaza Theatrical Productions.
RYAN WASHINGTON (Lemuel)is beyond thrilled to be making his debut as Lemuel in ArtsPower’s Four Score and Seven Years Ago. He has performed in Shakespeare in the Park’s As You Like It and Twelfth Night. He enjoys traveling and experiencing new things that push him out of his comfort zone. One of his favorite quotes is, “You never know what’s on the other side of your fear.” He would like to thank God and his family and friends for encouraging him to finally step out and live one of his many dreams!
RACHEL JARNAGIN (Stage Manager) is from Knoxville, Tennessee. She has been working professionally in the arts and entertainment industry for 3-plus years and found her callingfor stage management in her undergraduate studies at Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee. Most recently, Rachel stage managed ArtsPower’s Biscuit this past fall and completed a contract with Busch Gardens Williamsburg and their production of More... Pet Shenanigans! She is excited to go back out on the road with ArtsPower this winter/spring.
GARY BLACKMAN(Executive Producer) co-founded ArtsPower in 1985 with his identical twin brother, Mark, and serves as ArtsPower's managing director. Gary received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Columbia College, Columbia University and earned a Master's degree in Music Education from the College of Music at Florida State University. In 2013, he was appointed as a council member to the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. He is also a graduate of the Commercial Theatre Institute. Gary, his wife Amy, and their daughter Emma live in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.
MARK BLACKMAN(Executive Producer)is ArtsPower’s founding co-director and currently serves as director of development. He is a graduate of Columbia College, Columbia University and received a Master’s of Music Education degree from Florida State University's College of Music. He is also a graduate of the Commercial Theatre Institute. Mark is responsible for ArtsPower’s fundraising and marketing efforts. In a former life, Mark was a jazz saxophone player who was a recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to study for a year with jazz recording artist Eddie Daniels. Mark and his wife, Leslie Sutton-Smith, each have a daughter, Alyssa Blackman and Kelly Sutton-Skinner.
GREG GUNNING(Artistic Director/Playwright) hails from Chicago, Illinois and is the man behind ArtsPower’s on-stage magic. He has written every ArtsPower production since 1989. Greg auditions and rehearses ArtsPower’s theatre companies each semester in addition to creating at least one new production each year. A graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and a former actor, Greg has performed in 38 states across the country.
KATHLEEN HUBER (Co-Author) Kathleen graduated from the University of California, and came to New York City as Assistant to director Brian Murray on A Scent of Flowers, doubling as standby to Katharine Houghton. New York credits include Luisa Baccara and Aelis Mazoyer in Tamara, Volumnia in Coriolanus, Countess Aurelia in The Madwoman of Chaillot, Queen Margaret in Richard III, and Claudius in the Jose Quintero Theatre's all-female Hamlet. Regionally, she has been seen at the Paper Mill Playhouse (NJ) (An Ideal Husband), Caldwell Theatre (FL) (Les Liaisons Dangereuses), Stages St. Louis (Music Man and High Society), Dorset Theatre Festival (VT) (Hay Fever), American Heartland Theatre (Lettice and Lovage), Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (The Secret Garden), Stamford Theatre Works (CT), (Collected Stories) and the Alabama, Orlando and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festivals, among others. Kathleen has directed shows for New Jersey Rep, Boston Light Opera, Forestburgh Summer Theatre, Wayside Theatre, and aboard luxury cruise ships.
JOHN FORSTER(Composer, Lyricist, and Orchestrator)is an award-winning songwriter, humorist, and record producer whose work encompasses the worlds of singer-songwriting, musical theater, and children’s entertainment.John’s debut album, “Entering Marion,” received an Indie Award HM for Best Comedy Album in 1994. Many of his songs have been featured on NPR’s “Morning Edition.” His songs have been recorded by Christine Lavin, Judy Collins, Rosanne Cash, and the late Dave Van Ronk, among many others. As a writer and producer of music for children, John has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, most recently for the Tom Chapin album, “Some Assembly Required.” Other children’s albums written with Tom include, “Family Tree,” “This Pretty Planet,” “Billy the Squid,” and a dozen more. His stage musicals include, Four Score and Seven Years Ago for ArtsPower, the regional theater favoriteEleanor-An American Love Story, How to Eat Like a Child, and Into The Light on Broadway. He also wrote the lyrics for Freaky Friday with composer Mary Rodgers.
FRED SORRENTINO(Costumer)has designed and built the costumes for ArtsPower’s Beyond the Miracle, Laura Ingalls Wilder: Growing Up on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, Hans Brinker & the Silver Skates, A Little Princess, Terrifically Tilly, Salem Justice, Caddie Woodlawn, Are You My Mother?, Anastasia Krupnik, Highlights for Children, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Lily’s Crossing, The Little Engine That Could; Earns Her Whistle, From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel, The Rainbow Fish, Amber Brown is Not a Crayon, My Heart in a Suitcase, and Harry the Dirty Dog. Fred is a gifted musician having earned a Bachelor’s degree in voice from Jersey City (NJ) State College. A veteran performer in both operatic and musical theatre productions, Fred now maintains a busy schedule designing and building costumes.
ARTSPOWER NATIONAL TOURING THEATRE Celebrating our 32nd anniversary season in 2017-2018, ArtsPower is one of America's largest and most respected producers of professional theatre for young and family audiences. Founded by twin brothers Gary and Mark Blackman in 1985, ArtsPower has created 32 original musicals and plays that have been presented for more than 13.5 million people throughout 49 states and the District of Columbia. Based in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, ArtsPower hopes you enjoy today’s performance and invites you to share your comments with us at .
ArtsPower National Touring Theatre
9 Sand Park Road, Suite 6
Cedar Grove, NJ07009
O: 973.239.0100
F: 973.239.0165
# # #