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The Pirates of Penzance

Other Programming at the Arts Center...

Past GP Seasons....

2006-2007
How the Other Half Loves
The Fantasticks
To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
Into the Woods
The Road to Mecca

2005-2006
Cemetery Club
Little Shop of Horrors
No Sooner Won Than Wed
Laura
Quilters

2004-2005
1776
A Voice of My Own
The Pirates of Penzance
Run For Your Wife
Pippin

See a list of all previous shows!

2005

The Cast....

John Safina (Major General Stanley) was recently seen in GP's production of 1776 in the role of Judge James Wilson. Originally from MA, John acted and directed in many theater productions in his home state. He received a M.A. from Emerson College where he studied performing arts and theater education. John has called York, ME, home for the past 12 years. In ME, John has been involved with many local theaters, including Seacoast Rep, Sanford ME Stage, and Biddeford City Theater. John is reprising his role as Major General Stanley, having played the role 21 years ago. During the day John is an Assistant Principal at Rochester Middle School.

Steve Dascoulias (The Pirate King) made his first appearance with the Garrison Players in their production of Show Boat in 1982. Since that time he has worked at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston playing Steven Kodaly in She Loves Me and The Boss in Side Show. At the Stoneham Theatre in Stoneham, Massachusetts, he played the role of "Murray the policeman" in The Odd Couple, with television star Sherman Hemsley of TV's"The Jeffersons" and "All in the Family." Other past performances include Butterflies are Free, Don Baker, I Do, I Do, Michael and Carousel, Billy Bigelow (all with the Garrison Players) The King in The King and I, Max in The Sound of Music, Emile de Beque in South Pacific, Matthew Harrison Brady in Inherit the Wind, Fortunato in The Cask of Amontillado and Charlie Martin in the world premier production of Another Summer, the "On Golden Pond" musical, directed by the Oscar winning author, Ernest Thompson. Steven is pleased to join the Garrison Players in their production of Pirates. He thanks his wife Alexis for her support and extends a heart felt "thank you" to you, the audience. Without your participation there would be no show!

Gerald Finley (Samuel) has been a member of Garrison Players for many years, beginning with his moving portrayal of Arthur in 1974’s production of Camelot and continuing up to his most recent appearance as Caesar Rodney in last fall’s 1776. He has performed many times, sung, danced, directed, and hammered nails. He has also performed at UNH, Hackmatack Playhouse, and the former Dover Repertory Theatre. Favorite roles include Don Quixote in Man of LaMancha, Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road and the King in Once Upon a Mattress. When not on stage, Jerry is a professional florist and an avid gardener.

Marc Rodriguez (Frederic) grew up with dreams of pitching in the major leagues. In high school, he traded in his cleats and glove for a Fender Telecaster and started a rock band. In 1997 someone dared him to get back into theater by auditioning for a local musical. Since then he has been in or directed more than 30 major productions. A native of Bath, ME, Marc now lives in Portsmouth and claims to still have a pretty mean fastball.

Greg Bell (Sergeant of Police) is happy to once again be in a Garrison Players production. Other GP roles include Stephen Hopkins in 1776 and Charlie Davenport in Annie Get Your Gun and he'd like to think we're going to forget that he fell offstage during a performance of GP’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Thanks to his family and his left knee for their support.

Julia Badala (Mabel) in her GP debut. A native of Lynnfield, MA, she earned a Bachelor's of Music degree from U-Mass, Lowell, where she studied music business and voice with Boston-area singer Jean Danton. Her many roles include Amahl's mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Papagena in The Magic Flute, and Aenncche in Der Freischutz. She also has performed "Think of Me" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera, and appeared as a singer/dancer in Mame, and as Zorah in the Savoyard Light Opera Company's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore. Julia currently sings soprano in the Rockingham Choral Society, with whom she will play the role of Belinda in Purcell's Dido & Aenas. She lives in Stratham, where she has taught Kindermusik and offers beginner voice lessons. She and her husband Derek own JDSound, a music audio and video equipment specialist (www.jdsound.com) The Badalas have three young children, and Julia thanks her very special husband for all his support!

Jennie Backstrom (Edith) is making her GP debut. She studied voice under Steve Murray and Peggy Konkol of Worcester, MA before attending university where she studied music and sang with an all female a capella group. Jennifer is currently discovering different cultural rhythms with both accoustic guitar and her voice. She has performed as Daisy Mae in Li'l Abner and in the Mikado with Worcester's Foothills Theatre. Jennifer is a recent graduate of UNH with a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in Italian studies. She hopes to use her language skills and love of different cultures to travel and pursue more singing endeavors.

Jennifer Lake (Kate) is currently a proud member of New Hampshire's #1 improv comedy company "Stranger Than Fiction". She is more than ecstatic to fulfill her lifelong dream of participating in a production of one of the most genius operetta's ever to exist on this planet. For more info, visit strangerthanfiction.us (shameless plug).

Heather Blackadar (Isabel) is excited to be in this her third production with Garrison Players. Consistently cast in the role of the ditsy female, Heather tries not to take it too personally. When not performing on stage, she entertains her patients and coworkers with song and dance in the physical therapy department at Wentworth Douglass Hospital. Heather wants to thank all of her friends and family for encouraging her and her quirky artistic alter-ego.

Leah Lovejoy (Ruth) has appeared in many GP productions during the past 15 years and is a long-standing member of the board of directors as the Recording Secretary. Her fondest memories include singing the duet “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” with her husband Brian in By George and Ira, playing Old Green Grasshopper in James and the Giant Peach while her son Taylor (then 2 years old) giggled and yelled “that’s Mommy” from the audience, and letting her daughter Delaney (then 3 years old) steal the show in a duet of “She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain” in The Good Old Days-Vaudeville Revisited. Her last role as M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias was by far the most challenging. And with this role of Ruth, she fully embraces the “female forty-something” role with enthusiasm. “It is truly glorious to be performing on the GPAC stage! Love, love, love and kisses to Brian, Taylor and Delaney Rose…you are my everything.”

John Bailey (Pirate/Constable) has lived in Rochester for 5+ years, moving up here from Portsmouth in the Fall of 1999 with his wife and 3 kids. This past summer, he performed with the Lakeside Players in Once Upon a Mattress, where he played the distinguished knight Sir Harry. Last fall, he played Col. Thomas McKean, delegate from Delaware, in GP’s production of 1776. This was an incredible experience and a thoroughly enjoyable time. John would like to thank his wife Laura for all of her love and support, “I wouldn't be here without her”.

Rick Gremlitz (Pirate/Constable) was the drama director at Portsmouth High School for 25+ years producing and/or directing over 75 plays and musicals. Later in his school career, he was Director of Fine Arts for the Portsmouth Schools. From 1996 to his retirement in June 2003, Rick was the Principal of Portsmouth High School. In the 1980's, Rick was the producer of the Prescott Park Arts Festival on the Portsmouth waterfront for four seasons. For the past 37 years he has also served the First Parish Church of Dover as Director of Music and Organist, directing the bi-annual performance of Handel's Messiah. Rick lives in Durham with his wife Debbie and their daughter Hallie, a student at Oyster River High School.

Bill Irish (Pirate/Constable) has performed in only one production before Pirates - that being Gynt in the early 1980’s. He has played Rock/pop music for 20 years on and off, and has performed and sung on four CD’s, as well as in over 1000 shows in that time. Bill also portrays an 18th Century British soldier/officer in “living history” all over North America. Bill is 41 years old and lives in Auburn ME, where he is a Che

Jim Jalbert (Pirate/Constable) in his second performance with GP, after over 25 years since gracing a stage, making his comeback as Andrew McNair in 1776. The owner of C&J Trailways, Jim lives in Rollinsford with his wife Sandra and children Brooks and Cameron.

Brian Parker (Pirate/Constable) is a lifelong seacoast resident, now living in Nottingham. Brian sings with the Rockingham Choral Society and has attended choral festivals around New England, including the Berkshire Choral Festival. His last stage experience...........eighth grade.

Francois Lamothe (Pirate/Constable) has been active in theater arts for over 20 years. He attended the Mime School Unlimited in Toronto studying with Ron East. In Canada, he was in community theatre productions and designed sets for the Saskatchewan Provincial Festival of Theatre. He and his wife were children's entertainers in Canada and performed at the Vancouver Children's Festival and the Toronto Children's Festival as Henry and Summer, clowns of the old world. Francois' clown did ventriloquism, juggling, and mime skills. This is his first foray into local theatre and he is pleased to be a part of such a talented cast. When not on stage, Francois keeps busy with his dental practice, the Portsmouth Dental Studios.

Ruth Tyler (Pirate/Constable) wife, mother and grandmother, happily resides in Lebanon, ME. Most of her musical training was from a church choir, but a friend insisted she fill in for the part of Aunt Edith in Studio 109's presentation of Maggie and the Magic Hat, she continued with them in roles such as Mama Rosa in The Castaways; Mrs. Mann in Oliver; Mrs. Porter in Keeping Christmas; Mrs. Cratchit in Scrooge; and Mrs. Claus in Holiday Ho Down. Her favorite performance was singing “After All These Years” to husband Don, who was working the spotlight, for their 25th wedding anniversary. Ruth is thrilled to be a Cornishman with GP and considers it a privilege to be among such a talented cast. She would like to thank Don, son Jeff, her family, and friends at Studio 109 for their encouragement and support, with a special thanks to Jennifer Johnson for being so insistent: "I would not have done it without you."

Regan Hartley (Major General's Daughter) is an 8th grader at Dover Middle School and is performing for the first time with GP. Regan has performed for 4 years in Dover Middle School’s muscial productions as Edwina in Dear Edwina, Grace in Annie, Marian the Librarian in The Music Man, and as Shulie in School House Rocks. Regan is also involved with SYMS (Summer Youth Music School) at UNH, the solo jazz ensemble, concert choir, and All-State Choir. She has recorded radio commercials for Red’s Shoe Barn, and has been in concert with Julie and Brownie, appearing at numerous children’s festivals around New England. Regan has worked in the creation of CDs (Better Buddy Up and Recycle) for Scholastic books in schools. Regan is extremely thrilled to be involved with GP and can’t wait to get started.

Dale Irving (Major General's Daughter) has been with Garrison Players for “a long time”. She has appeared in such plays as The Best Little Whore House in Texas, The Seven Year Itch, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Dale has also worked on costumes and sets. She is glad to be in Pirates and doing it in our new home.

Carolyn Harriman (Major General's Daughter) is a native of Dover where she "got her start at Westwood." She is an alumnus of the Spaulding High School Music Department as well as the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band and Delta-Delta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma; a band service sorority. While not working for Hannaford Bros. she is an active participant of the music and youth programs at First Parish Church and enjoys spending time with her husband, Dan. This is Carolyn's first performance with Garrison Players.

Kristin Rainey (Major General's Daughter) began singing in a church choir when she was 5 years old, and music has been an integral part of her life since. Kristin has sung in choirs throughout the country including The Oratorio Society of Washington in Washington, DC, Schola Cantorum in the San Francisco Bay area, and the Eastman Rochester Chorus in Rochester, NY. During college, she sang in a co-ed a cappella group called Swingshot!?, and is currently a member of the Rockingham Choral Society in Exeter. Kristin is the Director of the Madbury Public Library and has recently moved to Northwood with her husband Paul, her dog Yazoo, and her kitty Sarah Jane Smith. This is Kristin's first performance with the Garrison Players.

Jeff Tyler (Pirate) a senior at Noble, has on and off stage theatre experience through Studio 109. Jeff is a member of Noble's Chamber Singers and has been selected to participate in Maine’s All State Music Festival. Jeff is also the drummer for the band, "Starving for Hunger."