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Arena Dinner Theatre presents
"George Washington Slept Here" Directed by Gregory Dostal ARENA PROFILES Anthony Arata (Steve Eldridge) got his first taste of theatre under the direction of his current co-star, Ed Koczergo, while a student at Homestead High School. There, he participated in productions of Welome to the Monkey House, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? (Father O'Reilly), and Blood Brothers (Mr. Lyons). Now a student at IPFW, Tony is pleased to join the Arena family with George Washington Slept Here. Ryan Darvish (Raymond) is also making his community theatre debut. The Snider High School freshman has, however, appeared in a variety of shows over the past couple of years at his alma mater, Blackhawk Middle School (under the direction of his current co-star, Christopher Murphy). Among his favorite roles: Abel Frake in State Fair, Roy Hubley in Plaza Suite, Franz in The Sound of Music, and the scene-stealing F.D.R. in Annie. Ric Geist (Clayton Evans) is the vocal music teacher at Bellmont High School where he also devotes a great deal of his time and energy to directing the show choir. A talented musical performer in his own right, Ric has appeared in Civic summer productions of Fiddler on the Roof and Camelot. While George Washington Slept Here is his 140th play/musical/opera, it marks his Arena debut and we are couldn't be more pleased to have him aboard. Cassandra Holst (Madge Fuller) is a Canterbury High School student active in not only drama, but dance, speech, and debate. At Canterbury, she has played in 1940's Radio Hour, Smile, and Twelfth Night. PIT audiences will recognize her from Funny Girl and How to Succeed..., while Civic patrons remember her as Rowena in Biloxi Blues. Not one to loaf around, Cassandra has been simultaneously rehearsing George Washington Slept Here, assistant stage-managing The Children 's Hour at Civic, and preparing to play Miss Adelaide in Canterbury's Guys & Dolls. Nicole N. Kniskern (Katie) returns to the Arena stage after spending a busy summer in the magical land of Camelot at the Civic. Last season, she not only assistant directed Moon over Buffalo (Director's Award recipient) and It Runs in the Family but also found time to appear as the comically troubled Leslie Tate in the latter. A young lady with vast experience both on and back-stage, Nicole's other theatrical credits include Twelve Angry Jurors (#4), Annie (Miss Hanizigan), How to Succeed... (Smitty), and Mame (Vera) for Snider and Blackhawk, where she was named 1997's "Best, Actress". "Shout out to Lac & Phy- I love ya!" Ed Koczergo (Newton Fuller) hasn't appeared on-stage since taking on the title role in the Civic's 1993 mounting of The Music Man. During this "downtime," he's enjoyed being able to fish and play chess with his son Jacob, and travel with his wife Jan (especially to Michigan City). The drama director/fine arts chair for Homestead High School, this award-winning performer has appeared with practically every theatre group in town at one time or another. On the other side of the footlights, Ed directed Arena productions of Dear World and A Little Night Music, and in 1995 was honored to be chosen guest director for the Civic's Man of La Mancha. Fred Krauskopf (Uncle Stanley) was last seen at Arena as Wilson in Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning Harvey. He won 1997's "Best Actor in a Play" award for his portrayal of the sloppy Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple. In addition, he has appeared in The Nerd (Waldgrave), Arsenic and Old Lace (Brophy), and Death by Chocolate (Ralph Deadwood). An active Arena board member, Fred is always ready with hammer and saw to lend a helping hand with the more technical aspects of producing a show. Beverly McCavitt (Rena Leslie) is one of the summit city's busier theatrical personalities. Audiences have caught her as Morgan Le Fey in Camelot, the Mother Superior in Nunsense, and Julia in A Month of Sundays. A lady with a voice as big as her heart, Bev's graced such musical revues as Some Enchanted Evening and Mama's Turn (Best Supporting Actress) at the Civic, Broadway Babies for Bower North, and Gershwin Gala in conjunction with PIT and the Philharmonic. Christopher J. Murphy (Mr. Kimber) was recently named Arena's "Best Actor in a Minor Role of a Play" for his performance in Moon over Buffalo (which he also directed) and "Best Actor in a Supporting Role of a Musical" for his portrayal of Mr. Sipos in She Loves Me. He also directed last season's British farce, It Runs in the Family. Murphy spent a joyous but hectic summer directing the local premiere of Rodgers & Hammerstein's State Fair at Blackhawk Middle School by day, and appearing as the bumbling King Pellinore in the Civic's Camelot by night. Christopher will next occupy the Arena director's chair when he tackles the classic Jerry Herman musical La Cage aux Folles. Jennifer Poiry (Mrs. Douglas) is another refugee from the Civic's Camelot, in which she played Nimue/Lady Anne. In addition, she was Ling in Anything Goes at the Pulse Opera House, Sister Mary-Amnesia in Nunsense at Grey Lite, and Cinderella's Stepmother in Into the Woods at PIT. Jen is currently editor of "The Green Room," a hot new magazine for local theatre enthusiasts to which we are sure she hopes you'll all subscribe! Jan Venderly (Annabelle Fuller) is delighted to be sharing the stage with her husband, Ed Koczergo. Her last Arena role, alongside her sister Leslie Hormann, was one of the coo-coo Pigeon sisters in The Odd Couple. She recently appeared in the premiere of Thom Hofrichter's The Diaries of Adam and Eve at First Pres. Jan has also enjoyed various roles at the Civic, including Liza Moriarty in Sherlock's Last Case, Maggie in Lend Me a Tenor, and Mary Jane Wilkes in Big River. A journalism teacher at New Haven High School, Jan spends her leisure time singing, reading, and travelling (Which, excluding a certain trip to Michigan City, she enjoys immensely). Gregory Dostal (Director) would like to thank Harvey Cocks and the rest of the Arena family for the opportunity to tackle this classic piece of American theatre; and his marvelous cast for all their hard work and dedication. Currently a freshman at IPFW, Greg began his theatrical career at Homestead High School; appearing as Edward in Blood Brothers and Mike in Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?. Elsewhere around town, he was Mordred in Camelot, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof (both at Civic), and Haimor in Antigone (PIT). When not rehearsing or performing a show, this multifaceted young man can be found playing guitar or saxophone, reading, and writing plays, poetry, and music. Becca Atherton (Stage Manager) has an extensive list of back-stage credits with the theatre department at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, where she is currently in her second year studying Elementary Education. There, this Homestead graduate has worked on Funny Girl, Damn Yankees, Gypsy, and Into the Woods. This summer, she was coaxed into a "cameo" role as a scrubwoman in PIT's How to Succeed... A relative newcomer to the local theatre scene, Becca claims, "Everybody always tells me how cool I am, but nobody has put it in award form yet!" Sally Garman (Costumer) has long put her talents with a needle and thread to use costuming church and school productions. Community theatre audiences first got a glance at her work last season with Moon over Buffalo and It Runs in the Family at Arena. At Blackhawk Middle School, she has costumed, among others, Plain and Fancy, Mame, How to Succeed..., The Sound of Music, and State Fair. Later this year, Sally hopes to "drag" out the sequins and feather boas for La Cage aux Folles!
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