- Assistant Directors | Sean Polk II, J Perry
- Tour Guide | Sean Polk II
- Mr. Appopolous | Joey Baciocco
- Helen | Arden Allmon
- Wreck | Nick Gundrum
- Violet | Annika Jonker
- Officer Lonigan | Josh Devine
- Speedy Valenti | Coty Perno
- Eileen Sherwood | Makayla Shipe
- Ruth Sherwood | Annalese Fusaro
- Robert Baker | Declan Smith
- First Associate Editor | Anargha Pal
- Second Associate Editor | Brian Cheung
- Mrs. Wade | Amelia Lamb
- Frank Lippencott | Andy Bakun
- Chick Clark | Spencer Stanley
- Ensemble | Grace Baker, Andy Bakun, Dominic Carroll, Brian Cheung, Annie Dauk, Ellie Eisele, Jack Haroutunian, Annika Jonker, Edin Kebede, JT Langlas, Indya Lincicome, Morgan Lindell, Anargha Pal, Sean Polk II, Gabe Raskind, Maya Sharma, Sydney Short, Griffin Simmons, Sam Yousuf
- Swings | Gabby Beredo, Abigayle Stokes, Matthew Williamson, Jameson Zoller
- Dance Captain | Nick Gundrum
CCM MUSICAL THEATRE SERIES PRESENTS
WONDERFUL TOWN
Book by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov
(Based upon the play “My Sister Eileen” by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov and the stories by Ruth McKenney)
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Sketches of “What A Waste” by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Nov. 21-23, 2024, Corbett Auditorium
Special thanks to Wonderful Town supporters Mr. James Miller and Mrs. Linda Miller, Dr. Henry Spitz and Mrs. Sandra Spitz, and Dr. Thomas Forte and Ms. Janice Forte, MS
- Director and Choreographer| Diane Lala
- Music Director | Ian Axness
- Scenic Designer | Mark Halpin
- Lighting Designer | Lucas Inman*
- Costume Designer | Erin Donnelly
- Sound Designer | Bryan Pivaral*
- Wig & Make-Up Designer | Emily Kemmerer*
- Production Stage Manager | Ella Gover*
- Dialect Coach | Kat Littrell
- Fight and Intimacy Director | k. Jenny Jones
*CCM Student
WONDERFUL TOWN is presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concerdtheatricals.com
WONDERFUL TOWN will run approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
Director’s Note
Wonderful Town is a vivid depiction of Greenwich Village, NYC in the mid-1930s — a place of tolerance, eccentricity and color where artists and bohemians would settle. This was particularly attractive to the creators of the musical while writing it during the midst of the repressed 1950s (and McCarthyism, or the “Red Scare”). It is a snapshot of life in 1930s New York, so today’s audiences might find some things dated while others are surprisingly relevant almost 100 years later.
Glossary of terms:
- Cornball - a person with trite or sentimental ideas
- Walt Whitman - an American poet known as the father of free verse
- Felix Frankfurter - an associate justice of the US Supreme Court who served from 1939-1962, considered the most controversial justice of his time
- Bernarr McFadden - an American proponent of physical culture who founded the long running magazine MacFadden Publications
- Childs’ - the first national chain dining restaurant-peaked in the 1920s and 30s
- Andre Gide - a French author who won the 1947 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Fingerbowl - a bowl of water used by dinner guests to rinse their fingers at a formal dinner
- Liggett’s - a drug store
- Mecca - Islam’s holiest city, in western Saudi Arabia
- African Veldt - expansive grasslands in Africa
- Rasputin - infamous Russian mystic and advisor to the last Tzar and royal family
- Annapolis - the capital of Maryland, home to the US Naval Academy
- NRA - National Recovery Administration, part of FDR’s New Deal
- TVA - Tennessee Valley Authority, part of FDR’s New Deal and the Works Progress Administration
- Charles G. Dawes - 30th Vice President of the United States and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1925 for his work on the Dawes Plan for World War I reparations
- Warden Lawes - Lewis Edward Lawes, long-time prison warden at Sing Sing and a proponent of prison reform
- “Good Neighbors” - the foreign policy of the administration of United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt towards Latin America
- Harold Teen - long running American comic strip
- Mitzi Green - American actress and singer in the early “talkies” era
- Dizzy Dean – Jay Hanna “Dizzy” Dean, professional baseball pitcher
- Stokowski - British-born American conductor, one of the leading conductors of the 20th century (he’s the one in Disney’s Fantasia)
- Major Bowes - Edward Bowes, American radio personality
- Steinbeck – John Steinbeck, American writer who won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Helen Wills - American tennis player
- Helen Hayes - American actress whose career spanned 82 years
- Barbizon Plaza - hotel in New York City
- Van Gogh’s herring – “Smoked Herrings,” one of his most famous paintings
- Bulova Watch Time - a radio advertisement in 1926 that announced the time
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Roger Grodsky and to musical theatre voice teachers: Keyona Willis, DMA; Sarah Folsom, Quinn Patrick Ankrum, DMA; Amy S. Johnson, Karen Lykes, Kenneth B. Shaw, Daniel Weeks
The Company
Music
Musical Numbers
Act 1
- Overture | Orchestra
- Christopher Street | Tour Guide, Tourists and (Greenwich) Villagers
- Ohio | Ruth and Eileen
- Conquering New York | Orchestra and New Yorkers
- One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man | Ruth
- What A Waste | Robert and Associate Editors
- Ruth's Stories | Ruth, Robert and Company
- A Little Bit in Love | Eileen
- Pass The Football | Wreck
- Conversation Piece | Eileen, Ruth, Frank, Chick and Robert
- A Quiet Girl | Robert
- Conga | Ruth and Brazilian Cadets
- Act 1 Finale | Company
Act 2
- Entr'acte | Orchestra
- My Darlin' Eileen | Officer Lonigan, Eileen and Policemen
- Swing | Ruth and Village Hepcats
- Ohio (Reprise) | Ruth and Eileen
- It's Love | Eileen, Robert and Villagers
- Ballet at the Village Vortex | Orchestra
- The Wrong Note Rag | Ruth, Eileen and Vortex Patrons
- Act 2 Finale | Eileen, Robert, Ruth and Company
Orchestra Roster
Ian Axness, music director
Jacob Priddy, associate music director (graduate student conductor on Saturday, Nov. 23 matinee performance)
Rosamund Hencinski, assistant music director/ rehearsal pianist
Violin 1
- Emma Joyce, Concertmaster
- Po-Ling Huang, Assistant Concertmaster
- Olivia Simons
- Lillian Kostraba
- Yihan He
Violin 2
- Rachel Elfman, Principal
- Kana Luzmoor, Assistant Principal
- Shannon Meng
- Kerrigan Mandrell
Viola
- Kody Dunford, Principal
- Aidan Knox, Assistant Principal
- Mariia Demash
Cello
- Aidan Bolding, Principal
- Myles Yeazell
Bass
- Jason Meusel
Flute/Piccolo (Reed 4)
- Maddie Choi
Oboe/English Horn (Reed 3)
- Anna Lower
Bb Clarinet/Eb Clarinet/Flute/Alto Saxophone (Reed 1)
- Geovanny Morales
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet (Reed 2)
Ion Lianu-Popa
Bassoon (Reed 5)
- Ella Sweeney
Alto/Baritone Saxophone (Reed 2)
- Seok Jun Yang
Clarinet/Tenor Saxophone (Reed 3)
- Bree Herman
Clarinet/Tenor Saxophone (Reed 4)
- Joshua Vance
Alto/Baritone Saxophone (Reed 5)
- Joshua Duebber
Trumpet 1
- Brendan Mathieson
Trumpet 2
- Alexa Dziatkowski
Trumpet 3
- Emily Rahn
Trumpet 4
- Olivia Passerini
Trombone 1
- Madison Smith
Trombone 2
- Sean Laroy
Trombone 3
- Cody Coleman
Drums
- Aaron Coffenberry
Percussion
- Maddie Adams
Piano
- Isabel Mearini
Production Staff
- Technical Director | Iz Dillon
- Props Manager | Melanie Reitman
- Assistant Scenic Designer/ Props Designer | Joseph Schmitt
- Assistant Stage Managers | Maggie Harris, Chloe Hessling
- Production Assistant | Laila Gose
- Assistant Production Managers | Annalee Crosser, Bethany Untener
- Assistant Scenic Designer | Joseph Schmitt
- Assistant Costume Designer | Alanna Gorrigan
- Assistant Lighting Designers | Ella Rosoff, Kassidy Schley
- Assistant Wig and Make-Up Designer | Claire Bonnette
- Wardrobe Supervisor | Meredith Randall
- Wardrobe Crew Head | Lexi Revis
- Wardrobe Crew | Sequoia Goggin, Andrew Hille, Jonathon Hobbs, Owen Keeler, Miranda Myers, Ava Previzi, Wayden Wagoner, Lilly West
- Production Electrician | Nate Miller
- Assistant Production Electrician | Will Everson
- Lighting Programmer | Maddi Myer
- Lighting Board Operator | Lia Lubinsky
- Deck Electricians | Jamie Boeskool, Kyrie Paez, Lacey Vailikit
- Follow Spot Operators | Gavin Barrett, Ella Hamlin, Jaye Bloemeke
- Assistant Technical Director | Morgan Terry
- Head Carpenter | Ryan Buckley
- Scenic Charge Artist | Jessica Secrest, CCM Staff Scenic Artist
- Assistant Scenic Charge Artist | Ben Wright
- Set/Props Running Crew | Emilia Buckley, Zayda DeJong, Ethan Fessler, Jacob Gers, Paul Hartmann, Emma Hirschten, Norah Jeziorowski, Elizabeth Maxfield, Skyler Rivera, Red Stotler, Makena Tingle, Dyann Williams-Sanford, Reagan Ziegler
- Assistant Sound Designer | Ben Stacy
- Production Sound Engineer | Lucia Thill
- A1 | Nick Feldmann
- A2 | Brady Smith
- Mic Technicians | John Dougherty, Daniel Massey
- Sound Crew | Lily Landoch
- Wig and Make-Up Running Crew | Matilda Dalton, Jayy Jones, Isabella Landingham, Jill Schlax
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Supporters
- Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust
- Scholarship and Resident Artist Supporter
- The Corbett Endowment at CCM
- Dance Department Supporter
- All-Steinway School Supporter
- William L. Gasch Endowment Fund for Dance Excellence
- CCM Dance Department Supporter
-
J. Brett Offenberger, MD and Mr. Douglas E. Duckett
Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer
Greg Mathein
Jim & Linda Miller
George & Caroll Roden - Ken and Toni Kanter
- Musical Theatre Department Supporters
-
GLP German Light Products
Upstaging, Inc. - Theater Design & Production Supporter
- The Estate of Genevieve Smith
- Opera Production Supporter
- Rafael and Kimberly de Acha
- Opera D’Arte Supporter
- The Friedlander Family
- Dr. Randolph L. Wadsworth
- Judith Schonbach Landgren and Peter Landgren
- Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen
- Elizabeth C.B. Sittenfeld
- Elizabeth Stone
- Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman
- Mrs. Theodore W. Striker
- Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer
- Ariel Quartet Supporters
-
The Friedlander Family
Karl Zipser - Chamber Music at CCM
- Jan Rogers
- Willard and Jean Mulford Charitable Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation
- Choral Studies Supporters
- Anonymous
- Classical Guitar Supporter
- Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Hirschhorn
- Philharmonia Supporters
- Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation
- Starling Pre-Collegiate Supporter
- Starling Strings Supporter
- Dr. Timothy E. and Janet L. Johnson
- Thom Miles and Roberta Gary
- Strader Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
- Organ Department Supporters
-
Keyboard Club of Cincinnati
L. Ried Schott - Piano Department Supporters
- Kevin and Nancy Rhein
- Wind Studies Supporters
- Willis Music/ Buddy Rogers Music
- LINKS Instrument Donation Supporter
Sponsors listed as of August 15, 2025
General Information
Land Acknowledgment
The Cincinnati area and the land that the University of Cincinnati has been built on is the native homeland of the Indigenous Algonquian speaking tribes, including the Delaware, Miami, and Shawnee tribes.
Box Office
Located in the CCM Atrium, the Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday, 1-5 p.m.; and one hour prior to curtain for all ticketed performances. MasterCard, Visa and Discover cards are accepted.
- Location: CCM Atrium Lobby next to Corbett Auditorium
- Telephone: 513-556-4183
- Email: boxoff@uc.edu
- Mail: CCM Box Office, P.O. Box 210003, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0003
Parking
Convenient parking is available in the CCM Garage at the base of Corry Boulevard off of Jefferson Avenue. Additional parking is available in garages throughout the UC campus. Any questions concerning on-campus parking should be directed to UC Parking Services at 513-556-2283.
Tax Credit
If you find that you cannot attend your performance, your tickets may be donated for tax credit as a charitable contribution. Simply notify the Box Office prior to the performance to release your seats, and give your name and address. A tax donation receipt will be mailed to you.
Lost and Found
If you have lost an item, contact lost and found at 513-556-9413.
House Policies
The House Manager has been instructed to minimize the disturbance to patrons already seated when accommodating latecomers. The director and producer of each production select times that are least likely to interrupt the performance, and latecomers will be seated only during these times. Latecomers who miss these opportunities will not be admitted until intermission. Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted.
Cameras, Phones and Recording Devices
The video or audio recording of performances is prohibited.
The use of cameras, with or without flashes, recording devices, cellular phones and other electronic devices inside the theater is prohibited. Please leave them with the House Manager.
Smoking and Refreshments
Smoking and refreshments are not permitted in the theater. Effective May 1, 2017, smoking and tobacco use (including chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes) shall be prohibited by students, staff, faculty, visitors, vendors and contractors at all times in or on University of Cincinnati properties, including events on university property during non-school hours. This includes all shelters, indoor and outdoor theaters and athletic facilities, bridges, walkways, sidewalks, residence halls, parking lots, and street parking and garages owned by the university.
Hearing Enhancement
Telex listening devices are available for checkout during performances in both Patricia Corbett Theater and Corbett Auditorium. Please inquire at the Box Office.
Wheelchair Seating
Wheelchair seating is available in both Corbett Auditorium and Patricia Corbett Theater. Seating is limited, so reservations should be made with the Box Office when ordering tickets. These seats are subject to availability.
Group Sales
The Box Office can accommodate groups for major productions and concerts. Preview and benefit performances are also available for some productions. For more information, call the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183.
CCM Faculty and Staff
CCM's faculty and staff and its state-of-the-art facilities make possible the professional training and exceptional education on which CCM believes the future of the arts relies. The school's roster of eminent faculty regularly receives distinguished honors for creative and scholarly work, and its alumni have achieved notable success in the performing and media arts. More than 150 internationally recognized faculty members work with students from around the world, specializing in eight areas of study.
Know Your Exit
Performance dates and repertoire are subject to change. View CCM's current calendar of events.
The purpose of these performances is educational, and they are part of a University of Cincinnati academic program.