DIGITAL SHOW CARD
LOVE / Sick .... Scenes and settings
Setting/Time: Present Day
ACT 1
INTERMISSION (15 minutes)
ACT 2
Run Time: 2 hrs, 15 mins, including intermission
Setting/Time: Present Day
ACT 1
- Obsessive Impulsive --- Will Beckstrom and Niki-Jay Johnson
- The Singing Telegram --- Will Beckstrom and Dominique Solomon
- The Two of Them --- Charles Dickinson and Gracie Sciannella
- What?! --- Charles Dickinson and Andy Belt
- The Answer --- Niki-Jay Johnson and Andy Belt
- Uh-Oh --- Carlo Olivi and Dominique Solomon
INTERMISSION (15 minutes)
ACT 2
- Lunch and Dinner --- Laura Weeldreyer and Andy Belt
- Chicken --- Gracie Sciannella and Will Beckstrom
- Forgot --- Glen Charlow and Laura Weeldreyer
- Where Was I? --- Niki-Jay Johnson and Dominique Solomon
- Destiney --- Laura Weeldreyer and Carlo Olivi
Run Time: 2 hrs, 15 mins, including intermission
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Cast/Ensemble
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Creative/Design Team
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Cast & Crew Bios
Will Beckstrom (Man, Singing Telegram Man, Jason) is pleased to return to the Spotlighters stage. Will previously appeared in the Spotlighters productions of Laughing Stock (Jack), and Outward Bound (Henry). Will holds a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Maryland College Park. He would like to thank his family for the endless encouragement, as always. Enjoy the show!
Andy Belt (Andy, Keith, Mark) is excited to be returning to the Spotlighters stage for his fourth production. Previously, he was in Laughing Stock, The Mousetrap, and Much Ado About Nothing. Elsewhere in Baltimore, he has appeared at Vagabond Players in numerous productions, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Broadway Bound, and Brighton Beach Memoirs, and at Fells Point Corner Theatre (The Mineola Twins, Miss Holmes). Andy earned an undergraduate degree in theater from Wake Forest University.
Glen Charlow (Kevin) is appearing in his ninth show here at Spotlighters. He was seen as several characters in Twelfth Night, Mr. Paravicini in Mousetrap, Verges in Much Ado About Nothing and before that, Vince and Martin in Scarf’s Schorts. Glen lived in New York for 30 years performing in many productions. He was in the cast of the long-running Off-Broadway hit, Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral and The Bogus Bride. His favorite roles include Cosmo Brown, the Donald O’Connor part in Singin’ in the Rain, and Eddie Ryan in Funny Girl. Glen has the largest Lucille Ball memorabilia collection on the East Coast (check Lucy website for things for sale). During the day, he is a Graphic Designer with his own business. www.GCDTP.com www.LucilleBall.net
Charles Dickinson (Casey, Ben) is thrilled to be making his Spotlighters debut. Charles attended Towson University in their BFA program. Some credits: Reed Casey in The Electric Baby, Ernst in Cabaret, Melchior in Spring Awakening, and CB in Dog Sees God. Charles is also a member of SAG-AFTRA.
Kai DonDero (Sound Designer) (They/Them) grew up in the Southern Tier of New York. They have an Associates from SUNY Corning Community College, and a Bachelors in Theatre and Performance from SUNY Purchase. As a white non-binary individual, Kai DonDero understands that there are flaws in all systems caused by a discriminatory bias benefiting its creator; and that artists are instigators of change for these systems. Indeed, ART is the Magic System of Earth.
Gray Hemphill (Stage Manager) is excited to be back for her third show at Spotlighters Theatre. After the hit success of both Puffs and Do Not Go Gentle (also directed by Alanna Kiewe), Gray is excited to share with you yet another brilliant production. She has enjoyed working with such a talented group and hopes you leave here feeling inspired by their stories on stage. Gray would like to share the stage-managing credit with Em, our ASM, who was brought on as a stage management mentee. They are much more talented than words can describe. Thank you all for joining us tonight, and to my marvelous cast, break a leg!
Niki Jay (Woman, Celia, Liz) is absolutely thrilled to make her debut performance on the Spotlighters stage this year. A voice actor/audiobook narrator by trade (most recently featured in Shades of Purple by Niki Dominique), Niki has spent the last year broadening her acting horizons by stepping out of the recording booth and onto the stage. She dreams of someday working with performance capture for digital media, especially video games. When she’s not auditioning for cartoons or studying in acting classes, she’s tending to her many succulent plants. She would like us to add that none of the plants have ironic theatrical names, just in case you were wondering about that.
Alanna Kiewe (Director) is excited to be back at Spotlighters Theatre after directing Puffs and Do Not Go Gentle. Alanna holds a Masters in Theatre Education and is a recent graduate of Towson University’s MFA program. She just debuted her original piece Becoming Wendy this March as part of her final project. As a recent graduate, she cannot wait to see where her career in theater takes her next! Her most memorable directing experiences include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Something Rotten, and A Child Shall Lead. Alanna would like to thank her friends and family for their unending support of her theatrical career and her fiancé for basically doing everything she needed whenever she needed it. Shout out to Gray and Em for being the best stage managers. To the actors, I’m so excited for the audience to see all the work you’ve put into this production!
Erin Klarner (Set Carpenter) is a Baltimore-based artist who moonlights as an educator and historian. She is glad to help bring Love/Sick to audiences! Her most recent project at Spotlighters was directing Laughing Stock. Her last set design/build project was Agatha Christie's The Hollow with Kentlands Community Players. She can be found in various capacities at theaters across the Maryland/NoVa area.
Em McGrath (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore student at Loyola University Maryland, and is super excited to be a part of their first Spotlighters production as ASM! Em has been doing theater as an actor, tech member, and crew member for many years and is so excited to see where theater continues to take them. They would like to thank Alanna for being an incredible director and mentor, and Gray for being the best stage manager/mentor they could ask for. They’ve learned so much from them. They would also like to thank their friends for being so supportive of them pursuing this position. To the actors and crew members, you are all so wonderful and talented, and seeing this show go on will be legendary!
Carlo Olivi (Bill, Jake) is excited to make his third appearance on the very special Spotlighters stage. Previously, Carlo has appeared here as Freddy Eynsford-Hill in Pygmalion and as Henry Mills in Laughing Stock. Elsewhere, Carlo’s theater credits include a turn as Detective Sgt. Trotter in The Mousetrap (Prince George’s Little Theatre), the role of Jud Templeton in Tribute (Greenbelt Arts Center), and Jack in The Tin Woman (PGLT). Carlo is grateful for all the support and encouragement given to him by his friends and family during his return to theater, especially from his wonderful wife Kayla.
Gracie Sciannella (Sam, Maddie) is a local Baltimore actor as well as an acting student at Towson University. She is so excited to be working with Alanna and Gray on another project, and for her first show at Spotlighters Theatre. She’d like to thank her family and partner for their unwavering support. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Dominique Solomon (Louise Overbee, Sarah, Abbie) is a long time actor, happy to be returning to Spots for her second show. Spotlighters has a special place in her heart as the theater where she made her Baltimore debut in 2022, in Puffs (Sally). Some of her other favorite credits have been Urinetown (Ensemble) at Glasgow University and her most recent role as Gretel in her first ever immersive show, Alight, Sweet-hearted at Strand Theater. Dominique loves being a part of the Baltimore theater scene as an actor and is working to become more involved in the production side of shows as well.
Kay-Megan Washington (Intimacy Director) (she/her/hers) is a seasoned stage, television and film actor, and now intimacy director. Having worked in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion and mental health treatment for both survivors and perpetrators of sexual violence in her non-acting life, moving into advocating for artist safety, bodily autonomy, and universal use of consent practices in the theatre community seemed an obvious next step. Kay-Megan is currently completing certification through Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC).
Laura Weeldreyer (Kelly, Jill, Emily) is excited to return to the Spotlighters stage. Laura has acted all over the East Coast. Locally she has performed at Memorial Players, Cockpit in Court, Phoenix Festival Theater, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, and A Work in Progress Company. Laura runs a statewide nonprofit organization when she is not acting and is very grateful for the support of her husband, her family, and her friends.
Jackie Whittington (Costumes/Props): After 12 years of living around the corner, I am so excited to join Spotlighters!
Alan Zemla (Set Designer/Set Construction/Scenic Artist). Alan was the Resident Set Designer from 2012 – May 2023 and has designed, built, and painted 60 productions at Spotlighters since designing his first show, Hello, Dolly! in 2012. He has come out of retirement to finish out this season as a favor to Spotlighters. Alan’s sore back, knees, and shoulders are looking forward to going back into retirement permanently.
Will Beckstrom (Man, Singing Telegram Man, Jason) is pleased to return to the Spotlighters stage. Will previously appeared in the Spotlighters productions of Laughing Stock (Jack), and Outward Bound (Henry). Will holds a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Maryland College Park. He would like to thank his family for the endless encouragement, as always. Enjoy the show!
Andy Belt (Andy, Keith, Mark) is excited to be returning to the Spotlighters stage for his fourth production. Previously, he was in Laughing Stock, The Mousetrap, and Much Ado About Nothing. Elsewhere in Baltimore, he has appeared at Vagabond Players in numerous productions, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Broadway Bound, and Brighton Beach Memoirs, and at Fells Point Corner Theatre (The Mineola Twins, Miss Holmes). Andy earned an undergraduate degree in theater from Wake Forest University.
Glen Charlow (Kevin) is appearing in his ninth show here at Spotlighters. He was seen as several characters in Twelfth Night, Mr. Paravicini in Mousetrap, Verges in Much Ado About Nothing and before that, Vince and Martin in Scarf’s Schorts. Glen lived in New York for 30 years performing in many productions. He was in the cast of the long-running Off-Broadway hit, Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral and The Bogus Bride. His favorite roles include Cosmo Brown, the Donald O’Connor part in Singin’ in the Rain, and Eddie Ryan in Funny Girl. Glen has the largest Lucille Ball memorabilia collection on the East Coast (check Lucy website for things for sale). During the day, he is a Graphic Designer with his own business. www.GCDTP.com www.LucilleBall.net
Charles Dickinson (Casey, Ben) is thrilled to be making his Spotlighters debut. Charles attended Towson University in their BFA program. Some credits: Reed Casey in The Electric Baby, Ernst in Cabaret, Melchior in Spring Awakening, and CB in Dog Sees God. Charles is also a member of SAG-AFTRA.
Kai DonDero (Sound Designer) (They/Them) grew up in the Southern Tier of New York. They have an Associates from SUNY Corning Community College, and a Bachelors in Theatre and Performance from SUNY Purchase. As a white non-binary individual, Kai DonDero understands that there are flaws in all systems caused by a discriminatory bias benefiting its creator; and that artists are instigators of change for these systems. Indeed, ART is the Magic System of Earth.
Gray Hemphill (Stage Manager) is excited to be back for her third show at Spotlighters Theatre. After the hit success of both Puffs and Do Not Go Gentle (also directed by Alanna Kiewe), Gray is excited to share with you yet another brilliant production. She has enjoyed working with such a talented group and hopes you leave here feeling inspired by their stories on stage. Gray would like to share the stage-managing credit with Em, our ASM, who was brought on as a stage management mentee. They are much more talented than words can describe. Thank you all for joining us tonight, and to my marvelous cast, break a leg!
Niki Jay (Woman, Celia, Liz) is absolutely thrilled to make her debut performance on the Spotlighters stage this year. A voice actor/audiobook narrator by trade (most recently featured in Shades of Purple by Niki Dominique), Niki has spent the last year broadening her acting horizons by stepping out of the recording booth and onto the stage. She dreams of someday working with performance capture for digital media, especially video games. When she’s not auditioning for cartoons or studying in acting classes, she’s tending to her many succulent plants. She would like us to add that none of the plants have ironic theatrical names, just in case you were wondering about that.
Alanna Kiewe (Director) is excited to be back at Spotlighters Theatre after directing Puffs and Do Not Go Gentle. Alanna holds a Masters in Theatre Education and is a recent graduate of Towson University’s MFA program. She just debuted her original piece Becoming Wendy this March as part of her final project. As a recent graduate, she cannot wait to see where her career in theater takes her next! Her most memorable directing experiences include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Something Rotten, and A Child Shall Lead. Alanna would like to thank her friends and family for their unending support of her theatrical career and her fiancé for basically doing everything she needed whenever she needed it. Shout out to Gray and Em for being the best stage managers. To the actors, I’m so excited for the audience to see all the work you’ve put into this production!
Erin Klarner (Set Carpenter) is a Baltimore-based artist who moonlights as an educator and historian. She is glad to help bring Love/Sick to audiences! Her most recent project at Spotlighters was directing Laughing Stock. Her last set design/build project was Agatha Christie's The Hollow with Kentlands Community Players. She can be found in various capacities at theaters across the Maryland/NoVa area.
Em McGrath (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore student at Loyola University Maryland, and is super excited to be a part of their first Spotlighters production as ASM! Em has been doing theater as an actor, tech member, and crew member for many years and is so excited to see where theater continues to take them. They would like to thank Alanna for being an incredible director and mentor, and Gray for being the best stage manager/mentor they could ask for. They’ve learned so much from them. They would also like to thank their friends for being so supportive of them pursuing this position. To the actors and crew members, you are all so wonderful and talented, and seeing this show go on will be legendary!
Carlo Olivi (Bill, Jake) is excited to make his third appearance on the very special Spotlighters stage. Previously, Carlo has appeared here as Freddy Eynsford-Hill in Pygmalion and as Henry Mills in Laughing Stock. Elsewhere, Carlo’s theater credits include a turn as Detective Sgt. Trotter in The Mousetrap (Prince George’s Little Theatre), the role of Jud Templeton in Tribute (Greenbelt Arts Center), and Jack in The Tin Woman (PGLT). Carlo is grateful for all the support and encouragement given to him by his friends and family during his return to theater, especially from his wonderful wife Kayla.
Gracie Sciannella (Sam, Maddie) is a local Baltimore actor as well as an acting student at Towson University. She is so excited to be working with Alanna and Gray on another project, and for her first show at Spotlighters Theatre. She’d like to thank her family and partner for their unwavering support. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Dominique Solomon (Louise Overbee, Sarah, Abbie) is a long time actor, happy to be returning to Spots for her second show. Spotlighters has a special place in her heart as the theater where she made her Baltimore debut in 2022, in Puffs (Sally). Some of her other favorite credits have been Urinetown (Ensemble) at Glasgow University and her most recent role as Gretel in her first ever immersive show, Alight, Sweet-hearted at Strand Theater. Dominique loves being a part of the Baltimore theater scene as an actor and is working to become more involved in the production side of shows as well.
Kay-Megan Washington (Intimacy Director) (she/her/hers) is a seasoned stage, television and film actor, and now intimacy director. Having worked in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion and mental health treatment for both survivors and perpetrators of sexual violence in her non-acting life, moving into advocating for artist safety, bodily autonomy, and universal use of consent practices in the theatre community seemed an obvious next step. Kay-Megan is currently completing certification through Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC).
Laura Weeldreyer (Kelly, Jill, Emily) is excited to return to the Spotlighters stage. Laura has acted all over the East Coast. Locally she has performed at Memorial Players, Cockpit in Court, Phoenix Festival Theater, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, and A Work in Progress Company. Laura runs a statewide nonprofit organization when she is not acting and is very grateful for the support of her husband, her family, and her friends.
Jackie Whittington (Costumes/Props): After 12 years of living around the corner, I am so excited to join Spotlighters!
Alan Zemla (Set Designer/Set Construction/Scenic Artist). Alan was the Resident Set Designer from 2012 – May 2023 and has designed, built, and painted 60 productions at Spotlighters since designing his first show, Hello, Dolly! in 2012. He has come out of retirement to finish out this season as a favor to Spotlighters. Alan’s sore back, knees, and shoulders are looking forward to going back into retirement permanently.
Director’s Comments . . .
Love is a funny thing. The complexity of emotions that love invokes in people is one of the reasons why I think the dark humor in the play works so well. I especially appreciate the script’s unabashed look at the pain that love can cause. I remember a certain singer saying “love hurts,” but I think the most important part of that pain is the growth that comes from it, and that growth is worth the struggle in the moment. Most of the characters you’ll see tonight are still at those beginning moments, but after the lights go down on the scene the potential for growth is limitless. So as you watch this play, laugh at their mistakes, and celebrate the progress they do make!
They say that acting is a burden of love, and the growth I’ve seen during the run of this show has been monumental. The actors have grown as an ensemble and developed unique and complex relationships with each of the characters they portrayed. I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone in the cast and crew who has given their support to this play. Thanks as well to the audience for all their support! I hope you love this show as much as I’ve enjoyed working on it!
Alanna Kiewe, Director
Love is a funny thing. The complexity of emotions that love invokes in people is one of the reasons why I think the dark humor in the play works so well. I especially appreciate the script’s unabashed look at the pain that love can cause. I remember a certain singer saying “love hurts,” but I think the most important part of that pain is the growth that comes from it, and that growth is worth the struggle in the moment. Most of the characters you’ll see tonight are still at those beginning moments, but after the lights go down on the scene the potential for growth is limitless. So as you watch this play, laugh at their mistakes, and celebrate the progress they do make!
They say that acting is a burden of love, and the growth I’ve seen during the run of this show has been monumental. The actors have grown as an ensemble and developed unique and complex relationships with each of the characters they portrayed. I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone in the cast and crew who has given their support to this play. Thanks as well to the audience for all their support! I hope you love this show as much as I’ve enjoyed working on it!
Alanna Kiewe, Director
