Breast In Show had performances on October 8 & 10, 2013 at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, in Rock Island, Illinois. An amazing cast performing this groundbreaking show in an awesome venue with a professional producer, director, musical director and choreographer whom have all made a special personal commitment to bring this life changing show to life. These performances were given as a fundraiser for Gilda's Club, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Directed by Marc Ciemiewicz
Music Direction by Ron May
Choreography by Andrea Moore
Produced by Dennis Hitchcock, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse
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STARRING:
Lora Adams (Marsha/Doctor 2/Therapist)
Lora Adams is grateful to be a part of Breast In Show. Favorite roles include "Lexie" in Dixie Swim Club, "Haley" in Bad Dates and "Sally" in Talley's Folly. Adams has also directed "The Boys Next Door," "Wit," and " 'Night Mother." When not acting she is an award-winning producer for WQPT, a PBS affiliate serving eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Ms. Adams and her husband are both cancer 'warriors'.
Erin Churchill (Chelsea/Donna/Hannah)
Erin Churchill earned her B.F.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University, majoring in Music Theatre, and has performed in over 50 professional productions at regional theaters across the country. Favorite credits include, I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at Artists' Ensemble in Rockford, IL, CHICAGO at the Renaissance Center near Nashville, TN, GREASE, CATS, FULL MONTY, WHITE CHRISTMAS, MIRACLE ON 34th STREET at Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, and AVENUE Q at the District Theatre in Rock Island, IL. Erin is a Curtainbox Company Member, having performed in WIT with Broadway director Philip Wm McKinley, HEDDA GABLER, & SPEED-THE-PLOW and is also a member of Quad City Theatre Workshop's Artistic Advisory Council.
Jody Alan Lee (Pete, Doctor 1., Dr. Honeywell)
Jody Alan Lee is originally from Arlington TX. He holds a BA in Music and Theatre from Ouachita Baptist Univeristy in Arkansas. Since graduating Jody has been working professionally in Arkansas, Virginia, and most recently Illinois. Some of his favorite roles include Kipps in "The Woman in Black", Stanley in "Smoke on the Mountain" and Carlino in "Wait Until Dark".
Ron May (Tim/Tom/Freddy)
Ron May is a versatile musician known throughout the Midwest as a music director/choral conductor/and performer. As a performer, his favorite roles include Che (Evita), Joe Hardy (Damn Yankees), Thomas Jefferson (1776) and Jesus (Godspell) among others. He has served as musical director for Circa 21 productions of Hairspray, Legally Blonde, And The World Goes Round, and Whodunit-the musical (world premiere). As a music educator and choral conductor, his choirs have performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and his choirs recently completed their fourth Evensong tour of the Cathedrals of England. He was awarded the “Outstanding Music Educator of the Year” award by the National Federation of High Schools Association. He also serves as the founding president and musical director for Opera Quad Cities. He is married to Cindy, a freelance choreographer, and they have two grown children Tyson and Briony
Darla Blocker-Niksich (Nurse Desiree/Celina) is a former Miss Iowa from 1981. She currently lives and works in Davenport. She is an employee of Clear Channel Radio. Mother of a blended family of six. With six grandchildren as well.
Darla has worked professionally in television, radio, and theatre. Singing in jazz clubs from the Quad Cities to Los Angeles. Performing on the Bob Hope show in the 80's, doing voice over work on the Gary Owens Supertrax show. Playing the role of Blanche Gooberman, Gary's dumb blonde assistant. She also worked behind the scenes producing Gary's radio show.
Darla is currently performing at the historical Hotel Blackhawk with long time friend and mentor, Ron May.
When Darla lost her mother in the 80's to Breast and Lung Cancer she became a longtime supporter of National Breast Cancer Awareness.
"I am so blessed to be a part of something as important as this production. Breast Cancer has touched us all....in one way or another. Either by someone we love, someone we know of related to or even perhaps ourselves. I only hope that we are able to really move people with this show, and send a message of hope in the midst of one of the most challenging times in a person's life....facing Cancer. With that in mind let's get on with the show and saving those tatas!!"
Jalayne Reiwerts (Shirley/Bonnie).
2013 marks Jalayne’s 50th year of being involved in theatre! She has performed and directed in various professional and community theatres surrounding the Quad City area of Iowa and Illinois. Her pinnacle performance was a 6 month run in HATS at Harrah’s Casino in Las Vegas. At Circa ’21, in Rock Island, IL she appeared in Some Like It Hot and Sing Hallelujah! and several children’s productions. Aboard the Clinton, Iowa Showboat she starred as Mame, Dolly, Mama Rose and has directed several notable productions. She holds an MA in Theatre and Directing from Roosevelt University, Chicago.
Jenny Winn (Wendy/Celina US) has performed in plays and musicals since she was 10 years old. In the Iowa/Illinois Quad City area, she has appeared on stage at the District Theater, the Green Room, New Ground Theater, and Quad City Music Guild. Favorite roles include Amy in Company, Eliza in My Fair Lady, Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Judy in 9 to 5. When not performing, Jenny works as a Speech-Language Pathologist and devotes her time to her husband, Kirby, and daughters, Anna and Emily.
DIRECTOR:
Marc Ciemiewicz has worked extensively from coast to coast as an actor and production stage manager including national tours of Kopit and Yeston’s Phantom (Phoenix), My Fair Lady (PEG), the 10th Anniversary tour of Footloose (PEG), and The Wedding Singer (PEG). Previous directing credits include The Legend of Jenny Wiley, West Side Story, Mid-life! The Crisis Musical (Jenny Wiley Theatre), My Fair Lady (Little Theatre on the Square), Avenue Q (District Theatre), How I Became a Pirate, and Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type (Circa ’21), The Rainmaker, Impromptu, Smile, and The Apple Tree. Marc holds his BFA and MFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and San Diego State University respectively. Marc is dedicating this directing opportunity to his mother, Anabelle, a Breast Cancer Survivor for over 10 years!
PRODUCER:
Dennis Hitchcock
Immediately upon hearing about Breast In Show, Denny secured the rights to produce it at Circa ’21 as the second production as a benefit for Gilda’s Club, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. He is thrilled that the first production of the show outside of the Washington, DC area is at Circa ’21. “We have all been touched by cancer and most of us by breast cancer, in our families or friends. This new musical is a tremendous look at the process that will make us all laugh and cry. I am so proud of our cast, crew and artistic staff for the amazing work they have all done as volunteers. Finally, I would like to dedicate this production to my beautiful, ever patient wife, Carolyn, a recent breast cancer survivor.”
In the 40 plus years since he received his M.A. in directing, Denny has produced, and/or directed and cast over 400 theatrical productions, industrial shows and concerts. Since beginning Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse in 1977, he has been fortunate to work with hundreds of wonderful, talented people in all aspects of the business, many of whom have gone on to Broadway. Those include director Phillip Wm. McKinley and Tony Award winning directors Susan Stroman and Casey Nicholaw, in addition to many actors, designers and technicians.
He has presented many concerts since 1977 with such stars as Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Dennis Miller,
The Smothers Brothers, Harry Chapin, Roseanne Barr and Doc Severinson.
In addition to running Circa ‘21, Denny has produced and cast several international theatre tours including BIG RIVER, A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, OIL CITY SYMPHONY, COWGIRLS, SWINGTIME CANTEEN, NUNCRACKERS and ANYTHING GOES, starring Gloria Loring from DAYS OF OUR LIVES. These tours have traveled to 49 states (all but Hawaii) and four Canadian provinces.
In his role as U.S. casting director for Pupi and Antonio Avati’s Duea Film of Rome, Italy, he has served as Casting Director or U.S. Casting Director for 7 feature films and two TV movies, featuring such international stars as Brooke Shields, Laura Morante, Bert Young, Treat Williams and Franco Nero. Some of these films have been entries in the prestigious Cannes, Berlin, Montreal and Venice Film Festivals.
Denny was also fortunate to serve as Iowa Casting Director for Journeyman Productions’ highly acclaimed film, SUGAR, directed and written by Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden. SUGAR was a Sundance Film Festival favorite and has been shown many times on HBO.