| LYDIA WIRTH (Choreographer) After training and performing with The San Francisco Ballet for 10 years, Lydia moved to New York City to pursue a professional career in dance and theater. When she was not touring across theUnited States in such musicals as The King And I, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, or West Side Story, Lydia focused her attention on teaching various styles of dance, such as jazz, ballet and hip-hop. She also performed in and choreographed music videos for a variety of New York music institutions, including Def Jam and Columbia Records. After returning to the West Coast, Lydia has focused her energy on teaching, choreography and production. |
AWAT Productions presents
Meet the Cast and Crew
KIM LARSEN - Kim is excited to be
working on a new Morrie Bobrow show
having already appeared in his
productions of Are We Almost There?,
With Relish, and Gridlock. Since
moving to the Bay Area in the early
'90s, he has been on many stages,
including Theatre Rhinoceros, 42nd
Street Moon, the San Francisco
Shakespeare Festival, Thrillpeddlers,
Exit Theatre, and Center Repertory.
Favorite roles include Malvolio in
Twelfth Night and Mortimer in Arsenic
and Old Lace. He is the publisher of
the GayPocket San Francisco guide
and is currently serving on the Board
of Theatre Rhinoceros.
working on a new Morrie Bobrow show
having already appeared in his
productions of Are We Almost There?,
With Relish, and Gridlock. Since
moving to the Bay Area in the early
'90s, he has been on many stages,
including Theatre Rhinoceros, 42nd
Street Moon, the San Francisco
Shakespeare Festival, Thrillpeddlers,
Exit Theatre, and Center Repertory.
Favorite roles include Malvolio in
Twelfth Night and Mortimer in Arsenic
and Old Lace. He is the publisher of
the GayPocket San Francisco guide
and is currently serving on the Board
of Theatre Rhinoceros.
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DEBORAH RUSSO - A native San
Franciscan, Deborah was one of the
original cast members in the critically
acclaimed musical revue, New
Wrinkles, running for 5 months at The
Palm Room. She has performed in
numerous shows, including her
one-woman show at San Francisco's
Plush Room.She has also worked as
choreographer for Stapleton's
production of The Music Man, assistant
director for 3 years for the YES
Foundation's Children Theater and
co-director and choreographer for St.
Patrick's production of The Sound of
Music. She teaches musical theater,
Drama Fun, Jazzercise and Jr.
Jazzercise. Her website is
www.gottasingthatsong.com.
Franciscan, Deborah was one of the
original cast members in the critically
acclaimed musical revue, New
Wrinkles, running for 5 months at The
Palm Room. She has performed in
numerous shows, including her
one-woman show at San Francisco's
Plush Room.She has also worked as
choreographer for Stapleton's
production of The Music Man, assistant
director for 3 years for the YES
Foundation's Children Theater and
co-director and choreographer for St.
Patrick's production of The Sound of
Music. She teaches musical theater,
Drama Fun, Jazzercise and Jr.
Jazzercise. Her website is
www.gottasingthatsong.com.
DAVID GOODWIN - David is grateful
to make his San Francisco debut in
Shopping! The Musical. His credits
include performing, directing and
producing throughout the Iowa,
Missouri and Illinois area. Some of
his most memorable roles were in
productions of The Music Man
(Harold Hill), Pippin (Leading Player),
You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
(Snoopy) and The Odd Couple
(Felix). David is currently studying in
the studio program at the American
Conservatory Theater.
to make his San Francisco debut in
Shopping! The Musical. His credits
include performing, directing and
producing throughout the Iowa,
Missouri and Illinois area. Some of
his most memorable roles were in
productions of The Music Man
(Harold Hill), Pippin (Leading Player),
You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
(Snoopy) and The Odd Couple
(Felix). David is currently studying in
the studio program at the American
Conservatory Theater.
SARA HAUTER - Sara has appeared
in five of Bobrow's award-winning
musical revues: New Wrinkles, Are
We Almost There?, With Relish,
Quirks, and Party of One. At the New
Conservatory Theatre, Sara was
featured in The End (a world
premiere by George Furth and Doug
Katsouras) and Closer Than Ever.
She appeared in Pacific Alliance's
Fiddler On The Roof (Grandma
Tzeitel) and the Willows Theatre
production of Big River. Sara studies
at Studio ACT and has appeared in
revues by Cole Porter and Jerry
Herman, the musicals Baby (Arlene)
and Working (Waitress), and in
Carey Perloff's World Premiere
production of No For An Answer.
in five of Bobrow's award-winning
musical revues: New Wrinkles, Are
We Almost There?, With Relish,
Quirks, and Party of One. At the New
Conservatory Theatre, Sara was
featured in The End (a world
premiere by George Furth and Doug
Katsouras) and Closer Than Ever.
She appeared in Pacific Alliance's
Fiddler On The Roof (Grandma
Tzeitel) and the Willows Theatre
production of Big River. Sara studies
at Studio ACT and has appeared in
revues by Cole Porter and Jerry
Herman, the musicals Baby (Arlene)
and Working (Waitress), and in
Carey Perloff's World Premiere
production of No For An Answer.
David Goodwin Sara Hauter Kim Larsen Deborah Russo
| JON-MARK HURLEY (Swing) - Jon-Mark is thrilled to join the cast of Shopping! He is a regional performer whose work has been well received by the critics, one writing, "He's reminiscent of Matthew Broderick or Nathan Lane on Broadway, epitomizing the definition of 'musical actor.'" He has performed with Cabrillo Stage, Bus Barn Theatre Company and Bay Area Singer's Opera Theatre and studies with Bobby Weinapple at Seydways Studios. As an active voice teacher and educator, he serves as musical director for many children's productions at Ariel Theatrical, Inc. of Salinas and All About Theatre of Santa Cruz. His roles include Gromio (Kiss Me Kate), Nicely-Nicely (Guys and Dolls), Tom (School House Rock Live), Don Curzio (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Horton the Elephant (Seussical the Musical). He holds a Masters of Music from Belmont University (Nashville, Tennessee) and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, California). |
| LEN SHAFFER (Swing) - Len has had a tremendously varied career as an actor, singer, piano/keyboard player and songwriter. He is thrilled to have a chance to work with Morrie Bobrow again, having previously appeared in two Bobrow shows, Gridlock! and Are We Almost There? Other favorite theatrical roles have included Vernon in They're Playing Our Song, George in Same Time, Next Year, Curly in Oklahoma!, Tony in West Side Story, and Brady in Inherit The Wind. He has been a member of several Bay Area rock bands, has sung with the acapella doo-wop group, The Starry Knights, is in his tenth year with the Contra Costa County children's theater group, The Mr. Funnelhead Show, and is in his eighth season with the Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers, America's largest professional caroling organization. More on Len at www.lenshaffer.com. |
| BIDALIA ALBANESE (Swing) - Bidalia is excited to be joining Shopping! and its great cast and crew. She was last seen performing in Moby Dick The Musical at Theatre Rhinoceros and choreographing Marin Youth performers. She trained at The School of American Ballet and The High School of Performing Arts in New York and graduated from The Guildford School of Acting in England. She has performed in London's West End, New York (Off-Off Broadway) and all around the country. She and her husband run 23 Elephants Theater Company. They have produced many original pieces, indluding The Unspeakable Act, which has been seen in New York and in many festivals. For more, go to www.myspace.com/23elepha nts.She is also a joyful mother of Monterey, age 4, who keeps her on her toes. |
| BEN KEIM (Accompanist) Ben is a pianist/accompanist in San Francisco. He was the accompanist for two other Bobrow productions, Are We Almost There? and New Wrinkles, and he also accompanied Subject To Fits, produced by Kaligula Arts. A Midwestern transplant from Cincinnati, Ben received a bachelor's degree in piano performance from San Francisco State University in 2003 and has been accompanying church services, theater shows, ballet classes, vocal ensembles and singers for 15 years. |
| MICHELLE PLINER (Swing) Michelle is excited to be joining the cast of Shopping! The Musical. She is a graduate of San Francisco High School of the Arts with an emphasis on voice. In 2008, The National Foundation For The Advancement Of The Arts awarded her the Silver Award for Pop Voice. This experience allowed her to travel to New York and Miami to perform and receive mentoring from Bruce Kolb, voice coach for Liza Minelli and Bette Midler. She recently joined the band, Fromagigue, and sings monthly at 16 Mile in Millbrae. She would like to thank Morris for devoting so much time and energy to her preparation. |
