Wed Aug 8, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

Free Summer Event: Broadway Unbound

Breaking Barriers Belt by Belt

Location: 70 SOUTH GALLERY

This show has passed

Casting is changing. From the groundbreaking Hamilton to the inclusive and innovative reimagining of Deaf West Theater's Spring Awakening, theatre artists are pushing the boundaries of traditional casting. Come celebrate an evening of cabaret with local performers belting their hearts out to the songs they would love to perform if only given the chance. Hosted by Laura DeSantis.

Background

Annalyce D’Agostino, more fondly known as “Annie”, caught the theatre bug in elementary school and hasn’t shaken it since. From musical theatre to straight plays, favorite roles she’s performed include Mary Warren in The Crucible, Berthe in Pippin, u/s Lt. Cmmdr Joanne Galloway in A Few Good Men, Queen Elizabeth in Richard III, Lucy in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Though she hasn’t been involved in musical theatre for quite a while, she’s translated her passion for acting and singing into roles in student films, a commercial, PSA, and performing music in venues throughout New Jersey and New York. Keep up with her adventures here:annalycecreates.com. Thanks a bunch to Laura DeSantis, Chick Barnes, and MPAC for the fabulous opportunity to embrace her theatrical roots!

Courtney Charatsaris is excited to be performing two of her favorite Broadway songs.  She has appeared in numerous productions including The Wedding Singer (Julia Sullivan), The Producers (Ulla), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona), Beauty and the Beast (Babette), All Shook Up (Miss Sandra), and her favorite princess, Cinderella, in addition to many musical revues.  Courtney has dual masters degrees and is a 4th grade inclusion teacher. She is the Founder and President of her own non-profit, which hosts fundraisers like the annual Cabaret 4 A Cure to benefit children with cancer, and serves as the Treasurer for The Charles Seller Foundation. Thanks Laura, for this fun opportunity!

Kim Mesti is very excited to have this opportunity to perform.  After all, it is what she loves to do most! Kim has spent most of her professional singing life in church. For over 20 years she’s enjoyed lifting the spiritual community with meaningful music at Mass as cantor, classical soloist, and choral section leader. With a degree in Music from William Paterson University, she vowed to make as much of her living doing what she loves, singing. In addition to some cabaret work and classical/choral endeavors, some of her favorite roles include Mrs. Potts in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and the Narrator in ‘Joseph…Dreamcoat’ at the New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire; Violet Hilton in ‘Side Show’ and The Baker’s Wife in ‘Into the Woods’ with Bob Cline; Generation Soloist in ‘Children of Eden’ with Gary John LaRosa, Mary Magdalene in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, The Witch in ‘Into the Woods’, Mrs. Walker in ‘The Who’s Tommy’, Martha in ‘The Secret Garden’ and Nurse in ‘Sunday…George’. Some film credits include: Amidst the Wolves, and Laughs in Limbo (Hoboken Int’l Film Festival). She would like to thank Laura for this opportunity to have fun and just SING!

Suzanne Goldensohn is thrilled to be part of the very first Broadway Unbound at MPAC. Previously, she has appeared in many productions at the Rhino Theatre in Pompton Lakes and at the Rosen PAC in Wayne, including Cabaret, Annie, Shrek, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Always a Bridesmaid. When not singing and dancing her heart out, Suzanne can be found baking desserts, reading People magazine, playing mah jongg, doing never-ending loads of laundry, or coordinating the schedules of a very busy household. She often shares those activities with her husband, Scott, and her almost-14-year-old daughter, Maya.

Laura DeSantis is thrilled to be hosting Broadway Unbound and performing with so many wonderful local theatre artists and friends.  A special thank you to Chick Barnes and Kadie Dempsey!! Credits include The Little Mermaid (Ursula), Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Oliver! (Mrs. Sowerberry), Sweeney Todd (Lucy) [Perry Award Nominee], Our Town (Stage Manager); Bye Bye Birdie – 1995 Version (Mrs. Peterson).   Laura has studied with Elena Teresa Bird in Morristown, NJ and Kathy Cavell at the Cavell Music Studios in Bala Cynwyd, PA.

Chick Barnes, accompanist, is a Graduate of Connecticut College, BA major in piano performance has been Music Director for many northern NJ community theatres…Rhino Theatre, Brundage, West Milford Players, Iron Mountain, among others. Classically trained she is a member of Montclair Music Club and Suburban Music Club in Madison, ensemble accompanist as well as soloist. She is a retired financial advisor from Wells Fargo Advisors.

Cassandra Barckett is thrilled to be part of Broadway Unbound and making her debut at MPAC! She was recently seen as Levi’s Wife/An Adoring Girl/Feature Dancer in A Work Of Heart’s Production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other credits include Jesus Christ Superstar(Simon Zealotes), Hair(Jeanie/Dance Captain), Urinetown(Little Becky Two Shoes/Dance Captain), Fame(Iris Kelly), and 9 to 5(Candy Striper/New Employee)  with Amas Musical Theatre in NYC. Ghost(June/Passerby/Nun/Poltergeist Dancer), The Little Mermaid(Sea Creature/Maid/Chef/Courtier), Pippin(A Player), Footloose(ViMoore/Assistant Choreographer), Beauty and the Beast(Ensemble/Wolf/Utensil), Bye Bye Birdie(Mrs. Merkle), All Shook Up(Ensemble) with Rhino Theatre. Elf(Ensemble), Christmas in the Land of Oz (Dancer/Ensemble), The Wedding Singer(Ensemble) at Passaic Valley High School. Footloose(Ensemble/Dance Captain) with Theatre Next Door, and The Wizard of Oz(Dorothy Gale) at Memorial Middle School. She has been dancing 14 years at 5-6-7-8 Dance Studio since she was 4 and singing since she was 6. She is a Junior at William PatersonUniversity majoring in Communications with an emphasis on Theatre and she is a dance teacher at Theatre Next Door & Dance Life Academy. She also just made her debut performance at 54 Below in February in a cabaret performance Bringing Broadway Home run by her amazing friend Nicole Lippey! She would like to thank her family and friends for all of their love and support, her teachers for guiding her in the right direction, and a special thank you to Laura DeSantis for giving her this opportunity. “Break a leg Everyone!”

Our Mission

Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey.

MPAC is grateful to the following donors whose major support helps to sustain the general operating needs of our organization:

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