Allerleirauh
Book and Lyrics by Angela Masi
Music and Orchestrations by Dillon Feldman
Directed by Catriona Rubenis-Stevens
Music Direction by Natasha Gonzalez
Choreography by Michael Scanelli
Produced by Angela Masi
A note from
the director
When I sit down to think about the magical and beautiful world that Angela and Dillon have so carefully and intricately created in Allerleirauh, I am always brought back to the one central theme - of protection. What we do to protect those around us, those we love and the spaces we trust to be safe. So I ask you now, to take a moment to think about the lengths you would go to, and what you would give up to protect someone you love.
For me, as a mother to a small human, I think about the things I have already given up to protect him. Whether that’s as simple as a night out with friends or a job turned down so I could be with him. Yet protection is more than just these materialistic things. It’s about protecting the bond with that person, the love that you share and the life that you’re building for them.
This leads me back to the Builder and the journey she has undergone to protect her daughter, herself, her creativity and her kingdom. Her fierce, headstrong tenacity drives her to extreme lengths, and I become overwhelmed thinking about how I may not possess the same strengths she has, but then this all comes back to that need to protect ourselves and our hearts and the magic we all have inside of us that drives us to do the things we need to do. Believe in yourself. Protect yourself. Your strength. Your worth. Your heart.
Coming onto this project was a wild adventure - workshopping and rehearsing a new musical with only a few days to execute everything forced me as a director to take a step back and allow my actors to shine and guide the piece, again, while all the time protecting the intentions and message Angela crafted. I’m grateful for this ride we are all on, and look forward to sharing it with you all.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Haus Remodeling
Howard J Fischer MD
Rosemary Benson
Lauren Butterfield
Amanda and Michael Cox
Marc G Dalio
Christopher Gould
Tomo Lovric
Oscar Mendez
Jeff Sessleberg
John Sheppard
Lora Wilson
Kathryn Wright
Writer/The Builder
Producer/Props/Costumes
Angela Masi
Angela Masi is a writer, actor, director and producer whose work has been seen up and down the East Coast. Writing credits include My Mother’s Song, Jack, and Allerleirauh. Selected directing credits:
A Man of No Importance (Off-B’way), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged Revised (tour), and Camelot
(Springville Center for the Arts Director Residency). Selected acting credits: Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Eve in Children of Eden, and Maria in The Sound of Music. Audiobook credits include The Amy
Kimmes Binnegar Lyle Book of Failures, Dandelion Iron and Girl on the Brink. She founded Bookworm Theatrics Inc, a charitable professional theater company aimed at raising funds for underfunded classrooms through theater.
Composer/Orchestrations
Dillon Feldman
Dillon's original musical, Siren, held a 29-hour AEA reading in NYC in April 2022, produced by Con Limón Productions in association with The Shubert Organization, starring Brittney Mack (Six), Marcy Harriell (In the Heights), Troy Iwata (Be More Chill), and iris menas (West Side Story), among others. His music has been performed in concert at Green Room 42 and 54 Below. Siren is currently a semi-finalist under consideration for development in the 2023 Eugene O’Neill NMTC.
Film: Halflight Productions—e.ro.sion(noun), Deus Meus Adiuva Me. Theatre (Underscoring): Out Front Theatre Company—Jerker; Ty Autry—Southern Fairytale. Video Game (In Development): Monstra Lacum. Podcast: RYCO Theatricals–Podcast Series.
The Kitchen Girl
Sofia Ales
Sofia Ales is beyond excited and grateful to perform in this musical. She started taking piano lessons when she was four, but singing and performing are her real loves. She has performed in several plays and recitals. Sofia was born blind, but that has not stopped her from following her dreams and ambitions She would like to send a big THANK YOU to Angela Masi for creating a platform that allows all individuals to shine.
The Captain
Adam Barr
Adam Barr, narrator of more than 125 audiobooks and renegade baritone, is appearing in his third Bookworm production. He was Earnest Lally/Mr. Carson (A Man of No Importance) and one of the three hapless, high-energy Elizabethans (The Complete Works of Willima Shakespeare Abridged, Revised). Never content with just a microphone and eager to get the boards back under his feet, Adam has played Emilie DeBecque (South Pacific), Lord Mounterarat (Iolanthe) and the Jester (Twelfth Night) among others. He lives in Philadelphia, where he rows on the Schuylkill River and creates havoc in the kitchen that somehow ends up as elegance on the table.
The Narrator
Camber Carpenter
Camber moved to New York over 10 years ago, after three years of performing children's theater in Hong Kong and Italy. Camber is a graduate of South Dakota State University and the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater. She has performed musical improv with her team, Wonderland, for over 8 years. If you see Camber walking around the city followed by 75 teenagers, it's ok. She's a tour guide on the side. Camber lives in Brooklyn with her of one-year-old baby and 39-year-old husband.
The Daughter
Veronica DePauli
Veronica DePauli is extremely honored and excited to be a part of Allerleirauh. She is the youngest member of Sing for Serenity Choir, an international choir for visually impaired/blind youth and adults. She also takes dance. Veronica wants to thank her family, friends and Mrs. Karen Smith for their support and encouragement. A special thanks you to Angela Masi, for helping one of her biggest dreams of performing in New York come true.
The Young King
Paul Gary
Paul Gary is an Atlanta, GA based actor, honored to return to NYC to work on such a grounded and human new piece. Notable credits include Bob Cratchit (A Merry Little Christmas Carol) Alfie Byrne (A Man of No Importance), The Baker (Into The Woods), Sparky (Forever Plaid), and Ted (Peter and the Starcatcher). In 2021 he made his feature film debut in The Road to Galena. Endless thanks, as always, to the Gary family, The Jackass Brigade, Dan and Laurissa (And Chuck), and Angela, for the trust, the gumption and for championing the fine city of New York. Listen well!
The Cook
Shari Gill
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Shari Gill has been singing and performing for as long as she can remember. She has done two gospel tours in France for the "Mostly Gospel" festival, one as a solo artist, the other in a group, as well as being a regular soloist at Riverside Church, and singing in their choirs as backup for Tituss Burgess, Macy Gray, and the Dough Boys. All this while being a full time student at New Jersey City University, where she graduated with a bachelors in Musical Theatre. Some credits include Officer Barrel/Pennywise (Urinetown), Ronette (Little Shop of Horrors), Gary Coleman (Avenue Q), BJ (Smokey Joe's Cafe), Mama Noah (Children of Eden), Motormouth Meybelle (Harispray), and Maria (Porgy & Bess). She is currently working on upcoming performance projects, costuming shows and AV work between performing.
The Tyrant/The Specter
Jeffrey Grover
Jeffrey Grover has appeared in numerous NY and regional theater productions. Jeff is a Cleveland, Ohio native. Select productions there include The Life of Galileo, 8and All The Way at the Cleveland Playhouse. Julius Caesar at Great Lakes Festival. Angels In America and Normal Heart at Ensemble Theater. Mrs. Warren's Profession, Art, and The Seagull at Beck Center. Cherry Docs, Annapurna, God of Carnage, How I Learned to Drive and Lasy at None Too Fragile, among many others. NY theater includes productions with Metropolitan Playhouse, The Tank, Wild Banshee, NY Theater Festival (Untitled) among others. Musicals include The Man of La Mancha, Putting It Together, Oliver, The Scarlett Pimpernel, and Kiss Me Kate. Jeff has appeared in over 40 films including roles opposite Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon in Take Shelter. Ann Dowd in ComplianceI.Don Cheadle in Miles Ahead. Amy Schumer in I feel Pretty. Ben Foster in Galveston. Mark Ruffalo and Bill Pullman in Dark Waters. He will be playing Judge Liebowitz in the 023 film Wise Guys, starring Robert DeNiro and Debra Messing, and Kurt Davidson in the recently completed thriller Post Truth. Television includes Succession, New Amsterdam and Partner Track.
The Laundress/The Lady
Zoila Pinto
Zoila N Pinto is super excited to be taking part in this new theatrical endeavor. Her previous theater credits include Lancelot in Camelot, Alaura Kingsley/Carla Haywood in City of Angels, The Baker's Wife in Into The Woods, and Hopr Harcourt in Anything Goes. When Ms. Pinto is not onstage, you can catch her pestering the stage crew on ways she can offer help, kicking people out of their own kitchens to impose her culinary skills, and growing her financial business from home. Look out world, here she comes!
The Husband/The Hunter
Sean Quigley
Sean is originally from London England. Training includes The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Royal Academy of Music.
Select UK theater credits include Lady Jane in Sasha Regan's All-Male Patience (Off-West End best supporting actor award 2012), Johnny Carson (Rat Pack Live at The Arts Theater and Jake Blues in The Official Blues Brother's Live.
UK television credits include Backing Vocalist for Elton John (Elton John, Live at the Palladium)
Select theater credits include: New Weeks (Normal Heart), Simon Eyre (The Shoemaker's Holiday), Michael (Of The Sea), Richard Mayhew (Niel Gaimen's Neverwhere), and Trunchbull (Matilda).
In his spare time, Sean enjoys playing live music in the New Jersey area and spending time with his wonderful wife and two gorgeous children, Nina and Ellis.
The Chambermaid/The Princess/Fight Captain
Yasmin Ranz-Lind
Yasmin Ranz-Lind is thrilled to be working on this new piece with such phenomenal collaborators! She is an NYC-based actor and recent graduate of Syracuse Univeristy's BFA Acting Program. Favorite credits include Amelia Earhart (Airborn: A New Musical), Balthasar (Romeo and Juliet), and Wendla (Spring Awakening). Huge thanks to all of her amazing family, friends, TLJ and all of the mentors who have supported her throughout her theatrical journey thus far.
The Courier/The Emissary/Dance Captain
Chase Wolfe
Chase Wolfe - is a graduate of Wofford College with a B.A. in Chinese and a B.S. in Chemistry. He has spent much of the past 4 years performing on ships all over the world and was a part of NCL's Original cast of Footloose the Musical (Cowboy Bob and Ren/Chuck u/s). Since returning to land he has starred as the Villain Kāko in the Off-Broadway Xena Warrior Musical and as the Ensemble/Swing of Time Stops the Musical. Chase is excited to once again bring a new piece of art to life in the greatest city in the world.
Ensemble
Grace Lustig
GRACE LUSTIG ( ensemble) is thrilled to be part of Allerleirauh’s talented and creative team. This is Grace’s first off Broadway production. Regional Theatre: Tuck Everlasting (Winnie Foster), Grease (Sandy), Chicago (Liz, Velma swing), Mary Poppins (Jane Banks), Ragtime (The Little Girl). Film: Salome V (Featured Dancer), Wink (Featured Dancer) Grace also enjoys participating in local school theatre productions. She thanks her parents for their ongoing support of her love for theatre and dance. Most of all, Grazie di tutto, Nanni. I love you.
Ensemble
Paige Hahn
Paige Hahn (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her Off-Broadway debut! Past credits include The Dinner Detective NYC (Host), Ameriacan Idiot (Whatsername), Electr(onic)a (Electra), In a Difficult Hour (Hag), Oedipus (Jocasta), Causation (Sylvia), and Carrie The Musical (Carrie)
Ensemble
Emily Enden
Emily Enden (she/her) is an actor, singer, director, makeup artist and musician, born-and-raised in New York. She is making her Off-Broadway debut in Allerleirauh and would like to thank the cast and crew for welcoming her with open arms.
Emily has a B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in Acting and Directing from Binghamton University. She has been privileged to further hone her craft by working with Broadway and West End professionals on both sides of the Atlantic. Emily has an affinity for musical and political theatre, and hopes to continue a career of encouraging social change through performance and education. Favorite credits include "The Duchess of Berwick" in Lady Windermere's Fan, Kander and Ebb's The World Goes 'Round, and "Nadia" in Bare: A Pop Opera.
Ensemble/ASM
Matthew Sheaffer
Matthew Sheaffer is a recent graduate from NYU Tisch and is so excited to be a part of this production! Recent shows include Six Degrees of Separation (Flan), Spring Awakening (Adult Man) and Measure for Measure (Overdone/Mariana). Many thanks to my family and friends for all their amazing support!
Ensemble
Gianna Vetrano
Gianna Vetrano is ecstatic to have been given this opportunity to perform. Her most recent role was that of Annabeth Chase in her high school's production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Other roles include Jan in Grease, Ursula in Bye Bye, Birdie, Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical, and Dance Ensemble in Rock of Ages: High School Edition. She has also workshopped two shows with iTheatrics: School of Rock as Mrs. Williams and Dot and the Kangaroo Jr. as Koala. She would like to thank her friends and family for their never ending love and support.
Director
Catriona Rubenis-Stevens
Catriona Rubenis-Stevens is a multi-award-winning director and producer and was part of the team that went to the 93rd Academy Awards with the best live action short film nominee; Feeling Through.
Born and raised in a small town in the UK, she moved to NYC in her early 20s to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and soon learned her passions lay behind the camera, and so turned her attention to directing and producing and in 2020 founded her production company, Half-Light Productions.
She has directed several award-winning short films for the Easterseals’ Disability Film Challenge that have screened across America including at top tier festivals Slamdance, Hollyshorts Film Festival and Heartland. Her film e.ro.sion, noun screened at over 20 festivals worldwide, including The Sci-Fi London Film Festival, SoHo International Film Festival and the Fargo Fantastic Film Festival and went on to receive numerous wins including Best Director and Best Film. Her foreign language short, The Path Of Avarice was a finalist for Best Director at the BBC Alba awards in Glasgow, Scotland. She is currently now on the festival circuit again with her short veteran suicide awareness film, The One They Wanted and her disability magic realism short, Andy & Kaliope.
Over the years, Catriona has managed to build a reputation for authentic storytelling, carefully blending together her exploration of the human condition and her passion for social awareness. Her style leans toward magic realism and her journey into motherhood has further influenced her empathetic nature and her approach to her work.
Other directing credits include over a dozen short films, multiple music videos for Mila Jam, Broadway Cares, LUX and On The Quays, the digital series Speak American, The Scoop and Maestro’s Magical Music Box, in-house commercial and industrial training videos for Cartier’s High Jewelry, Money Map Press and the famous kids’ animated series, Brainpop. Catriona was recently commissioned by Speak.a Technology in Hangzhou China to write, direct and produce over 50 videos for an English language learning app specifically aimed at preschoolers in China to aid them in their study of English.
Notable producing credits include the BBC’s Houdini’s Diaries for the History Channel, Daymond John’s Money Map, the MSNBC docu-series, Model America and A&E network’s Greatest of all Time with Ancestry.com. Feature films include Lost Cos, Indigo and the upcoming Regarding Veronica starring Alexandra Grey.
Every Halloween Catriona also directs and produces the Zombie Opera experiential concert in her hometown bringing in international and MET opera singers together with an orchestra for one night, attracting audiences of 4000 people. In the past, the event has raised thousands of dollars for scholarship funds enabling disadvantaged youth to receive an after-school arts education at LUX Performing Arts in Jersey City, and this year Catriona was awarded a $15,000 artist grant to enable her to continue growing the event.
Catriona is also an established theater director in New York and New Jersey, directing shows including Allerleirauh, The Wizard of Oz, Cats, Oklahoma!, Anything Goes, Hairspray, The Lion King, Oliver, Into The Woods and most recently, Spring Awakening.
Outside of her own filmmaking career, Catriona serves as a mentor for jHRTS members and Reel Works as well teens and kids as they begin their journey into the world of film. Later this year she hopes to open her own mentorship program in New Jersey offering professional shadowing opportunities to pre-college youth.
Catriona serves as a programmer and juror for the Slamdance film festival’s Unstoppable and narrative shorts categories.
Stage ManagerSwing
Claire Dempsey
Claire Dempsey is a recent graduate of Wagner College Theater and is thrilled to be joining the team of Allerleirauh. She recently completed a fellowship at the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey and is also a recent alumni of the Disney College Program. Claire is excited to be extending her career post graduation in both backstage and onstage work.
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Music Director
Natasha Gonzalez
Natasha Gonzalez is a versatile pianist, accompanist, vocalist and music director, working within the liturgical, classical, and musical theater worlds. She currently serves as Music Director at Queen of Peace Church in North Arlington where she runs a vibrant music ministry of volunteer and professional musicians. She is so excited for her first off Broadway experience. Many thanks to Angela and Dillon for their support and guidance! Previous credits: Mamma Mia (keys 3) West Orange HS, In The Heights (keys 2) Kearny HS, Cats (keys 2) Kearny HS, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (MD) W.H.A.T. Company, School House Rock Jr (Director and MD) W.H.A.T. Company, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr. (Director and MD) W.H.A.T. Company, Portraits of a Woman (one woman show ft. Charles LaLima), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Music Director) Academy of the Holy Angels, Into the Woods (MD) Harrison HS, Thinking in Full Color: Black Voices Unhinged (Best Musical Direction from Broadway World)
Fight Director
Matt Gordon
Matt Gordon (Fight Direction) is delighted to be working once more with Bookworm Theatrics and is profoundly grateful for the opportunity to be involved with such an amazing cast! Recent acting roles: Judge Brack (Hedda Gabler), Macduff (Macbeth), Jean (Rhinoceros), Mr. Vandemar (Neverwhere), Mark Antony (Julius Caesar), Max Prince (Laughter on the 23rd Floor), Edmund (King Lear). Training: Certified Advanced Actor Combatant, Fights4, RADA.
Choreographer
Michael Scannelli
Michael Scannelli's career spans over four decades in the entertainment industry as a performer, director and award winning choreographer, having worked with Dick Clark, Tommy Tune, Paul Newman, among others, throughout the US and Canada as well as assisting Emmy winning choreographer, Kenny Ortega, on the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games’ Opening Ceremony.
Being a theatre educator, he has taught/mentored such notables as Tony winners Nikki M. James and Laura Benanti as well as Oscar winner, Anne Hathaway.
Michael has been nominated for two NJACT Perry Awards and is a five time nominee and recipient of the Papermill Playhouse Rising Star Outstanding ChoreographerAward.
He holds a degree from Event Management International and has produced events and fashion shows throughout NJ and NYC.
Michael was born and raised in NJ, where he currently resides.
Video Projection Artist
Laia Cabrera
Laia Cabrera is an award-winning filmmaker and video artist working in the fields of art Installations-new cinema, creating a wide range of artworks, from traditional and experimental filmmaking, virtual theater, interactive art and immersive projection mapping installations. She is exploring new ways of using space and the visual imaginary as a tool for narrative storytelling and audience connection, driven by both scenographic and dramaturgical aspects and creating immersive content experiences. Her innovative interdisciplinary work merges cinematic arts, dance, music, theater, digital and interactive arts. She is the artistic director and co-founder of LAIA CABRERA & CO. based in New York, a team of artists creating a wide range of interdisciplinary projects. laiacabrera.com / laiacabreraco.com
Video Projection Artist
Isabelle Duverger
Isabelle Duverger is a French visual artist. Her work includes paintings, immersive interactive video and sound installations, projection art for theater and dance, video-art and animation. She is a 2021 Motion Award Nominee, 2022 Hybrid Vision Nominee for Interactive Digital Art and three-time New York Innovative Theater Awards nominee for Outstanding Innovative Design. Her work has been presented in renowned venues such as St John the Divine Cathedral, La Mama, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York, NJPAC, Flutter Experience Art Gallery, Los Angeles, Nuit Blanche and Georgetown Glow, Washington DC, Teatros del Canal, Madrid and Fabra i Coats Contemporary Art Center, Barcelona, Spain, Tempietto Di Bramante, Roma, Italy, Hong Kong City Hall among others.
Lighting Designer
Matt Steinberg
Matt Steinberg (he/him) is a lighting designer, lighting programmer, and software engineer from New York. Recent designs include The Seagull, Napoli Brooklyn (AADA), A History of American Modern Dance (Venetian Arts Society), Next to Normal, In the Heights (Brown University). Associate: Cécile McLorin Salvant’s Ogresse (Kennedy Center, Paris Philharmonic, SFJazz, Jazz at Lincoln Center, NJPAC), In Our Daughter’s Eyes (PROTOTYPE, LA Opera), Black Lodge (Opera Philadelphia), Angel’s Bone (Beijing Music Festival), Infinite Hotel (PROTOTYPE). Lighting programmer: Letters From Max (Signature), Evanston Salt Costs Climbing, one in two (The New Group), Catch as Catch Can, Corsicana, Selling Kabul (Playwrights Horizons), Blood Moon (PROTOTYPE). Completed an assistant design residency at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. 2018 recipient of ETC’s student sponsorship for Live Design International. Holds a B.A. in computer science from Brown University. mattlsteinberg.com
Tech Intern
Cy Westbrook
Cy is excited to be helping with lights and sound for his first production outside of New Jersey. He has been involved in 12+ school and community theater productions since 2019, typically operating audio or constructing digitally controlled illuminated set pieces. Cy can’t thank Bookworm Theatrics enough for this opportunity to expand his skills and experiences as he concludes his K-12 education! Website: cy2.me
Tech Intern
Matthew Leopold
Matthew Leopold is a senior at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, NJ. He has worked as tech crew at his high school and for Trilogy Repertory for 8 shows, running the light board for Newsies and the sound board for Matilda, which earned “Outstanding Overall Production” at the Papermill Playhouse Rising Star Awards. Matthew is enthusiastic about working in New York for the first time, despite the commute. He would like to thank Bookworm Theatrics for giving him such a wonderful opportunity to learn more about theater production and design. He is looking forward to attending Boston College next fall where he hopes to continue pursuing tech theater outside of his studies. Matthew is thrilled to be working alongside the rest of the tech crew and wishes the cast and crew all the best in future productions!
The Band
Vince Novellino - Violin
Katya Barmotina - Viola
Alice Sutain - Cello
Emma Reinhart - Woodwinds
Blair Hamrick - Horn
Dave D'aranjo - Bass
Andy Buslovich - Guitar
Steve Plesnarski - Percussion
Writer's Note
This is draft four of the writer's note. First, I wrote about the show, which seemed redundant, since you're about to see it. Then I wrote about the trauma of early parenthood, which seemed a little heavy-handed. Take three was a bunch of gobbledygook letters jumbled together as I tried to decide what to put here: The Great Big Scary Obligatory Blank Page.
So for draft four, I've decided that the best thing to do is allow the work to speak for itself. It's out in the world now, a living breathing thing completely separate from myself, and that is for the best. You are the next chapter in the story of this show, not me. I look forward to where this adventure will take us.
Thank-you's aren't hugely fun to read, but these are the reason we can all be here tonight. This has taken a village and everyone deserves to be acknowledged for the part they've played.
To Dillon, Cat, Claire, Natasha and Michael. If you ever need anything done, literally anything, ask them. It will be fantastic.
To Sofia and Veronica for their courage, and the many many many people who sacrificed to enable them to share their gifts with us today.
To my cast and crew, those whom I have known for years, and for those coming in brand new with open hearts and minds. Note to self and others: Whatever your casting next, these are the people you want. Hire all of them. For everything.
To my family and friends who have covered for me, put up with me, missed me and wanted to kill me on and off for the last nine months.
To Amanda, who made me do this.
To Kathleen and Beth, who are very quiet, but very, very mighty.
Soli Deo Gloria