2015--2016 SEASON
CHESTNUT BLUFF by Steven Miller
The first show of BBP's 2015--2016 Season was the comedy, thriller Chestnut Bluff by Steven Miller. In Chestnut Bluff, Arsenic and Old Lace meets One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest at a retirement home. Elizabeth and Dolley have opened Chestnut Bluff Assisted Care Home after a move from up north. They begin to build up a work staff and acquire residents, but not without difficulties. And Elizabeth's response to stress often results in one fewer resident in the home...
Besides Elizabeth and Dolley, the cast consists of identical twin nurses (Maria and Mariah), an aged resident (Sally), and the Festovic family (Armin, Louise, and Irena), who are seen at the start of the show considering housing Armin's mother Irena at the home. Will she be a new resident? Will she be the only Festovic in residence?
CAST: Karen Ruetz (Elizabeth Madison); Chris Grass (Dolley Dukes); Jil Pasiecnik (Maria/Mariah Newsome); Paul Kamm (Armin Festovic); Gloria Szokoly (Irena Festovic); Kara Duke (Louise Festovic); and Annette Nellums (Sally Shorter).
CREW: Ralph Zaffino (Director); Cheryl Lambert (Producer/Costumes); Mary Madden (Stage Manager) and Casey Hofmann (Tech).
Chestnut Bluff was performed September 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27 at the Canton Theatre in Canton, GA.
Chestnut Bluff won the 2016 MAT Award for Best Original Work and Gloria Szokoly was nominated for Best Actress in a Featured Role!
The first show of BBP's 2015--2016 Season was the comedy, thriller Chestnut Bluff by Steven Miller. In Chestnut Bluff, Arsenic and Old Lace meets One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest at a retirement home. Elizabeth and Dolley have opened Chestnut Bluff Assisted Care Home after a move from up north. They begin to build up a work staff and acquire residents, but not without difficulties. And Elizabeth's response to stress often results in one fewer resident in the home...
Besides Elizabeth and Dolley, the cast consists of identical twin nurses (Maria and Mariah), an aged resident (Sally), and the Festovic family (Armin, Louise, and Irena), who are seen at the start of the show considering housing Armin's mother Irena at the home. Will she be a new resident? Will she be the only Festovic in residence?
CAST: Karen Ruetz (Elizabeth Madison); Chris Grass (Dolley Dukes); Jil Pasiecnik (Maria/Mariah Newsome); Paul Kamm (Armin Festovic); Gloria Szokoly (Irena Festovic); Kara Duke (Louise Festovic); and Annette Nellums (Sally Shorter).
CREW: Ralph Zaffino (Director); Cheryl Lambert (Producer/Costumes); Mary Madden (Stage Manager) and Casey Hofmann (Tech).
Chestnut Bluff was performed September 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27 at the Canton Theatre in Canton, GA.
Chestnut Bluff won the 2016 MAT Award for Best Original Work and Gloria Szokoly was nominated for Best Actress in a Featured Role!
Mamma's Wake by Steve Holbert
BBP's 2nd show of the season was Mamma's Wake by Steve Holbert. Mamma's Wake is the story of the Walker women who learned that the way to forgiveness is through love. It takes Naomi's death, and subsequent reincarnation as a ghost, for daughter Ruth to to come to terms with her resentment of her mother for raising Sarah, Ruth's daughter. And it took an unplanned pregnancy for Sarah to come to terms with her abandonment by Ruth. Eventually, Ruth and Sarah reconcile and Naomi finally "goes into the light."
CAST: Gloria Szokoly (Naomi Walker); Barbara Rudy (Ruth Walker); and Stephanie Telaro (Sarah Walker).
CREW: Cheryl Lambert (Director); Mary Madden (Stage Manager); Ralph Zaffino (Tech)
Mamma's Wake was performed at the Canton Theatre on March 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 and 20 2016.
CAST: Gloria Szokoly (Naomi Walker); Barbara Rudy (Ruth Walker); and Stephanie Telaro (Sarah Walker).
CREW: Cheryl Lambert (Director); Mary Madden (Stage Manager); Ralph Zaffino (Tech)
Mamma's Wake was performed at the Canton Theatre on March 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 and 20 2016.
MANopause: Book by Duane Willoughby; Music by James Walker and Julie Senger; Lyrics by Brent Lambert-Zaffino; and Story by Cheryl Lambert & Ralph Zaffino
MANopause was BBP's third show of the season. Since BBP founders, Ralph Zaffino and Cheryl Lambert, have their roots in musical theatre, the idea of writing a musical was their dream. They had collaborated on several musical revues, but never attempted a full-length musical. When they finally had the time to give it shot, they decided to write about they knew--aging! One day Cheryl picked up a Time Magazine and there on the cover was the inspiration--"Manopause." Time had written an article about male menopause and unwittingly gave Ralph and Cheryl the title for their dream project!
They next assembled a creative team to collaborate on bringing their dream to reality. Ralph had written a story outline about three couples, each with their own "aging issues," who meet at a mall. The men have appointments with their urologists and meet each other there, while their "significant others" meet at a salon. Ralph and Cheryl brought in friend and writer, Duane Willoughby to write the book of the musical. Since Duane was admittedly not a "musical theater person," Ralph told him to write out all of his ideas and he would organize it into musical form. Ralph and Cheryl became the dramaturgs in the process. Next Ralph and Cheryl brought in their son, Brent Lambert-Zaffino to take Duanes words that Ralph had organized into "songs" and write lyrics. Then they brought in James Walker, an aspiring film score composer, to write the music for the songs. Finally, they brought in friend and musician, Julie Senger to help James find melodies for his songs. And the MANopause creative team was born. The team met regularly, collaborating on all elements of the show, until they felt it was ready to workshop, which it did in May 2016.
During the process, Cheryl suggested that the show would benefit musically and storywise with the addition of an Ensemble. The team agreed and Coffee Girl, Janitor Bob, Hermes and the Receptionist characters were born. They became the "Greek Chorus" that observed and commented on the issues of the three couples as those issues were explored during the show. MANopause premiered at the Canton Theatre on Thursday, May 12, 2016. Opening night was fraught with technical glitches and cast jitters and, mercifully, a small audience! However, the cast and crew then pulled together for seven great performances with full or nearly full houses!
CAST: Kip Henderson (Jake Martin); Bryce Pitts (Tiffany Fagaro); Brian Brooks (Scooter Burdette); Cheryl Lambert (Betty Jo Burdette); Mike Wasson (Morris Tucker); Lori Lambert (Dorry Tucker); Julie Senger (Coffee Girl, Ensemble); DeAjai Gates (Janitor Bob, Ensemble); Mark Kilgallin (Hermes, Ensemble); and Leydi Morales (Amber, Ensemble).
CREW: Ralph Zaffino (Director); Cheryl Lambert (Choreographer); James Walker (Music Director) Mary Madden (Stage Manager); Barbara Rudy (Assistant Stage Manager); Stephanie Telaro (Light Tech); Taylor White (Spotlight).
MANopause was performed at the Canton Theatre on May 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22 2016
They next assembled a creative team to collaborate on bringing their dream to reality. Ralph had written a story outline about three couples, each with their own "aging issues," who meet at a mall. The men have appointments with their urologists and meet each other there, while their "significant others" meet at a salon. Ralph and Cheryl brought in friend and writer, Duane Willoughby to write the book of the musical. Since Duane was admittedly not a "musical theater person," Ralph told him to write out all of his ideas and he would organize it into musical form. Ralph and Cheryl became the dramaturgs in the process. Next Ralph and Cheryl brought in their son, Brent Lambert-Zaffino to take Duanes words that Ralph had organized into "songs" and write lyrics. Then they brought in James Walker, an aspiring film score composer, to write the music for the songs. Finally, they brought in friend and musician, Julie Senger to help James find melodies for his songs. And the MANopause creative team was born. The team met regularly, collaborating on all elements of the show, until they felt it was ready to workshop, which it did in May 2016.
During the process, Cheryl suggested that the show would benefit musically and storywise with the addition of an Ensemble. The team agreed and Coffee Girl, Janitor Bob, Hermes and the Receptionist characters were born. They became the "Greek Chorus" that observed and commented on the issues of the three couples as those issues were explored during the show. MANopause premiered at the Canton Theatre on Thursday, May 12, 2016. Opening night was fraught with technical glitches and cast jitters and, mercifully, a small audience! However, the cast and crew then pulled together for seven great performances with full or nearly full houses!
CAST: Kip Henderson (Jake Martin); Bryce Pitts (Tiffany Fagaro); Brian Brooks (Scooter Burdette); Cheryl Lambert (Betty Jo Burdette); Mike Wasson (Morris Tucker); Lori Lambert (Dorry Tucker); Julie Senger (Coffee Girl, Ensemble); DeAjai Gates (Janitor Bob, Ensemble); Mark Kilgallin (Hermes, Ensemble); and Leydi Morales (Amber, Ensemble).
CREW: Ralph Zaffino (Director); Cheryl Lambert (Choreographer); James Walker (Music Director) Mary Madden (Stage Manager); Barbara Rudy (Assistant Stage Manager); Stephanie Telaro (Light Tech); Taylor White (Spotlight).
MANopause was performed at the Canton Theatre on May 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22 2016
