Direction by Bonnie Cutsforth-Huber, Harold Hayford, and KT Huckabee
Performance Order
- Speak to me
- Breathe
- On the Run
- Time
- The Great Gig In the Sky
Featuring:- Danielle West-Habjanetz on vocals
- Dance solo:
- Emma Peterson: Wednesday
- Adamari Cortez: Thursday
- Sarah Christofer: Friday
- Phillip Hanold on percussion
- Money
- Us and Them
- Any Color You Like
- Brain Damage
- Eclipse
Vocal Transcriptions by Scott Pappal
Be advised: There will be sudden lighting changes, atmospherics including haze, and higher than normal levels of audio.
The video and/or audio recording of this production in any format is strictly prohibited.
The use of flash photography is prohibited.
Please silence all electronic and mobile devices.
Cast List
Band
- BASS GUITAR—Randy Rutherford
- DRUMS AND PERCUSSION—Eric Wertz
- ELECTRIC GUITAR—Ben Eberhart
- ELECTRIC GUITAR—Rick Wertz
- KEYBOARDS—Harold Hayford
- SAXOPHONE—Eli Christopher Byrne
- VOCALS—Steve Oswalt
Dancers
- ALLIED MOTION DANCE COMPANY—Haylei Libran
- ALLIED MOTION DANCE COMPANY—Olivia Ruble
- ALLIED MOTION DANCE COMPANY—Ruth Packard
- ALLIED MOTION DANCE COMPANY—Samantha Bacza
- IVYSIDE DANCE ENSEMBLE—Katherine Cava
- IVYSIDE DANCE ENSEMBLE—Adamari Cortez
- IVYSIDE DANCE ENSEMBLE—Charlie Popson
- IVYSIDE DANCE ENSEMBLE—Emma Peterman
- IVYSIDE DANCE ENSEMBLE—Kylie Hammond
- IVYSIDE DANCE ENSEMBLE—Morgan Ratcliffe
- IVYSIDE DANCE ENSEMBLE—Sarah Christofer
Vocalists
- SINGER—Adria Schmidt
- SINGER—Danielle West-Habjanetz
- SINGER—Emmett Hibbs
- SINGER—Megan Cooper
- SINGER—Nailea Vega
- SINGER—Xingzao Zhuang
Student Performer
- DRUMS AND PERCUSSION—Phillip Hanold
Director's Note
Without question, Pink Floyd’s 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon is one of the most influential and significant rock albums of all time. In the words of guitarist/lyricist/vocalist Roger Waters, “It was an expression of political, philosophical, humanitarian empathy that was desperate to get out.” The format alone was revolutionary. Band members Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Rick Wright, and Nick Mason created a concept album that was a continuous whole within which issues such as mental health, consumerism, isolation, and finding one’s place in the world are addressed. Like the mind of a human being, the music constantly shifts between different moods. At times, the music is almost hypnotic and other-worldly, while during others, there is a driving rhythm that pulls the listener forward. The instrumental riffs and vocal harmonies, along with non-traditional sounds like screaming, laughing, and those of alarm clocks and heartbeats, create an enveloping soundscape from which it is impossible to turn away.
The 1973 tour of the album established Pink Floyd as a revolutionary concert experience and what Roger Waters deemed as “Electric Theatre.” The audience was completely drawn in by the surround sound, circular laser light design, and the use of a screen behind the band that played animations based on each song. The tour even utilized a ballet company, which added another layer of expression through movement. Audiences frequently sat quietly during the concerts and absorbed the experience—a very different environment from what was typical of rock audiences both then and now.
The Dark Side of the Moon has sold over 45 million copies worldwide and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The concept and songwriting of the album have influenced bands from Queen to Rush, while the immersive live shows laid the groundwork for modern artists such as Pink and Beyoncé. In short, it was, and continues to be, a force to be reckoned with.
Enjoy the experience that is The Dark Side of the Moon!
—Harold Hayford, Bonnie Cutsforth-Huber, and KT Huckabee
Cast Bios
Samantha Bacza (dancer) has danced with Allied Motion since 2019. In college, she danced with Ivyside Dance Ensemble. She spends her free time on her farm with her family.
Katherine Cava (dancer) is from the Bay Area in California. She is a first-year student studying criminology and aspires to work in the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Cava graduated from Moreau Catholic High School in 2023. She has written and published a book.
Sarah Christofer (dancer) is a second-year student from Tyrone, Pennsylvania. She currently studies communications. She danced at Andrea’s School of Dance and was a member of the MainStreet Dance Company. She intends to perform with the Ivyside Dance Ensemble throughout her time at Penn State Altoona.
Megan Cooper (singer) is a first-year student from Newport News, Virginia. Her appreciation for performing began in high school. She is majoring in sociology with plans to attend law school.
Adamari Cortez (dancer) is a third-year student pursuing a degree in criminal justice. She’s from southern California and is looking forward to a future of crime scene investigation.
Ben Eberhart (guitar) graduated from Penn State Altoona with a degree in integrative arts and a minor in communications. He began his career in music in 2009. Since then, Eberhart has played in multiple local bands, orchestras, and the Penn State Altoona Jazz Ensemble. He studied with Grammy award-winner Mike Reid and was the winner of Altoona’s Got Talent and the Penn State Altoona Talent Show. He has taught STEAM classes for the Claysburg-Kimmel School District, facilitated music programs and clubs, and provided private lessons.
Danni West-Habjanetz (singer) graduated in 2023 from Penn State Altoona with a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in vocal studies. She plans to continue her education in an M.F.A. program for poetry.
Kylie Hammond (dancer) is a first-year student from Tokyo majoring in visual arts studies. She intends to sing and dance while studying at Penn State Altoona.
Phillip Hanold (drums and percussion) is a health policy and administration major at Penn State, University Park. Hanold's focus is long-term care, and he is passionate about working with seniors. He is also an avid percussionist who has been playing the drums since elementary school.
Emmett Hibbs (singer) is a second-year student majoring in nursing with a minor in vocal performance. Music is a passion for him. Hibbs intends to join a renowned music group someday and hone his skills to share with others. He performs as a violinist for the Altoona Symphony Orchestra.
Haylei Libran (dancer) graduated from Sweet Briar College in 2020 with a B.F.A. in dance and theatre. She recently moved to Pennsylvania from southern California. While new to Pennsylvania, they are no stranger to the stage. From a young age, Libran has studied jazz, hip hop, and modern technique. Libran also participates in Scottish Highland dance competitions under the guidance of fellow dancer Ruth Packard. This is Libran's first year with Allied Motion.
Steve Oswalt (vocals) has performed since elementary and junior high school and began singing in various local Altoona rock groups in 1985. Among these ensembles are Rapid Fire, Bottoms Up, Agent Smith, and more. He has made several guest appearances with both Felix and the Hurricanes and Half Tempted. He has played with bands that have opened for national acts, including Foreigner, Eddie Money, and .38 Special. Throughout the past decade, Oswalt performed in several tribute shows, including for The Beatles, Alice in Chains, INXS, and The Marshall Tucker Band.
Ruth Packard (dancer) graduated from Sweet Briar College in 2017 with a B.F.A. in dance and writing. She lives in State College, Pennsylvania, where she teaches jazz, lyrical, and hip hop at the Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop. She is a competitive Scottish Highland dancer and a member of the British Association of Teachers of Dance, which allows her to teach other competitive Highland dancers.
Emma Peterman (dancer) is a first-year student from Altoona, Pennsylvania. After earning her B.S.N. she wants to pursue a career as a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner and teach dance.
Charlotte "Charlie" Popson (dancer) is a first-year student from Rockville, Maryland. They plan to pursue a degree in human development and family studies at Penn State Altoona. They aren't familiar with contemporary dance but look forward to learning more with the Ivyside Dance Ensemble.
Morgan Ratcliffe (dancer) is a first-year student from Perkasie, Pennsylvania. She is majoring in forensic science and minoring in dance studies. She intends to pursue a career as a performer, a choreographer, or a forensic scientist.
Olivia Ruble (dancer) is a member of Allied Motion. Ruble has studied tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and lyrical. Most recently, she took classes at Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop in State College and delved into Scottish Highland dance.
Randall Rutherford (bass guitar) is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who started with trombone as a child. He participated in his first paid performance playing with Jon Yon Orchestra as a teenager. His first performance on bass guitar was at the 1975 Miss Pennsylvania Pageant held at the Jaffa Mosque.
Adria Schmidt (singer) is a first-year student pursuing a degree in English literature. She participates in several branches of the arts, including visual arts, live performances, and filmmaking as an actor, voice actor, cameraman, and director. Among her accolades, Schmidt has had poems published in several prestigious collections, won awards for her short films, and received a thespian award from her high school for her contributions to the arts.
Eric Wertz (drums and percussion) has played drums since he was a child. His parents were instrumental in his decision to pursue drumming. He continued to study music throughout his elementary and secondary school years and beyond. Eric began doing extensive touring with various regional and national acts after graduating high school. He cites doing more than 200 performances as his most significant musical experience. His most recent projects are with Zac Grace and assorted stand-in performances.
Rick Wertz (guitar) began playing guitar as a child after seeing the Beatles perform in 1964 on the Ed Sullivan Show. In the 70s, he seriously pursued studying the instrument. Wertz has played hundreds of performances, concerts, and theatre shows. He has traveled with various musical acts. He has played with Wild Cherry, best known for their single, "Play that Funky Music."
Xingzao Zhuang (singer) also known as Peter, is a second-year undergraduate student. He is pursuing a degree in marketing with a vocal studies minor.
Production Team Bios
Kyle Artone (costume designer) is a New York-based designer for theatre and film. Select credits include The Dastardly Thornes vs. The Town of Goldhaven (The Brick), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Yale Repertory Theatre), the father, the son, and the holy spirit (Yale Summer Cabaret), Gidion’s Knot (Ripple Effects Artists, Theatre Row), Four Meddling Kids and One Dumb Dog (Yale Cabaret), The Winter’s Tale (Iseman Theater, Yale School of Drama), Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (Virginia Repertory Theatre), Venus in Fur, The Nightman Commeth (Shafer Alliance Laboratory Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Raymond Hodges Theater), The Seagull (Short Film, NY) and Luther (Life Without Limbs Production). He holds an M.F.A. in design from the Yale School of Drama and a B.F.A. in costume design and technology from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the fall 2023 artist in residence for design at Penn State Altoona and an adjunct instructor.
Bonnie Cutsforth-Huber (musical/vocal direction) came to Penn State Altoona in 2008. She developed the vocal performance track within the integrative arts major and created the vocal studies minor. She has received many awards for her teaching, including the Athleen Steer Award, The Grace Long Award, and the Penn State Alumni Association Teaching Fellow Award. In addition to teaching, Dr. Cutsforth-Huber is a professional classical contralto and is active in opera, oratorio, and concert circuits. She has performed in some of the most prestigious concert spaces in the world, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Cemal Resit Rey Hall in Instanbul, Turkey, Strasbourg Cathedral, and Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral. She holds a bachelor of music in vocal performance from The University of Saskatchewan, a masters of music in vocal performance from Southern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Kentucky. She also received her YogaSing certification in 2016.
Maxwell Doherty (technical director) has worked on Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and The Wonderful World of Animation. In addition to his recent experience at Disney World, he is also a recent graduate of the Penn State School of Theatre, where he worked on the productions Brigadoon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Seawall, Angels in America, To Kill a Mockingbird, Legally Blonde, and many more.
Harold Hayford (band direction, keyboard) is an associate teaching professor of mathematics at Penn State Altoona. While his disciplinary direction is in mathematics, he also holds a B.S. in music education and studied under Annette Zalanaowsky at Penn State Altoona. He credits the mentorship of Zalanowsky for his teaching style. Hayford began teaching for Penn State Altoona as an adjunct mathematics instructor in 1992. Musically, he has a background in Western music. Hayford draws influence from numerous progressive rock bands of the 1970s. He has performed with international artist Alan White (drummer of Yes and Plastic Ono Band) and Joe Bass (bassist for the national artists The Posies) for a benefit performance titled An Evening of Yessongs.
KT Huckabee (director, choreographer) received her B.F.A. in dance from East Carolina University, her M.F.A. in dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her certification in Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York, which she utilizes for all her teaching, choreography, and body work in consultation situations with individuals and groups. Huckabee came to Penn State Altoona in 1998 to start the dance program and assist in the development of the integrative arts major. She is currently a teaching professor of dance and is spearheading the new vision of performing arts at the college which includes an increase in community involvement, collaboration on- and off-campus, and exciting new opportunities and productions. Huckabee utilizes her love of collaboration to find new inspirations for creativity, movement, and program development.
William Kenyon (lighting designer) serves as head of the lighting design program in the School of Theatre at Penn State. An active professional designer, Kenyon has designed over 200 plays, operas, and dances, along with over a dozen national and international tour seasons with several theatre and dance companies. Kenyon has been involved in Native American theatre and dance for over 25 years, serving as resident lighting designer for the American Indian Dance Theatre, and was involved in the complete reimagining of Unto These Hills, a massive outdoor spectacle celebrating the history of the Cherokee Tribe. While primarily a lighting designer, Kenyon also works as a scenic and projections designer, sound designer, technical director, and stage manager, especially in the world of dance. Kenyon is the author of Theatre and Stage Photography, a new book addressing the challenges of photography for live performance.
Elijah King (light board operator) is a third-year multidisciplinary studies student with a focus on theatre, arts, and production. This is their second time participating in a performance at Penn State Altoona. Overall, they have participated in sixteen productions: three as the lighting designer and eleven as the assistant lighting designer. They hope to pursue a career in technical theatre as a technical designer or a technical director.
Logan Sava (stage manager) is a third-year student. Sava holds a background primarily in technical theatre, having been involved with numerous productions as both a stage manager and assistant stage manager.
Audrey Wawrynovic (makeup designer, assistant costume designer, wardrobe supervisor) is from Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. They intend to study integrative arts at Penn State Abington. To pursue their passions, they wish to find a career in teaching sewing, design, costume production, tailoring, or designing with their own company.
Benjamin Weaver (theatre technical assistant, scenic artist) is a graduate of Centenary University. His past theatrical credits include the set designs of 1984, Avenue Q, Merry Wives of Windsor, and Sweat (NEXTStage Rep), scenic artist for A Christmas Carol (Centenary Stage Co.), and assistant scenic artist for Evolution of Mann (American Theater Group).
Production Team
- Band Direction—Harold Hayford
- Choreographer—KT Huckabee
- Costume Designer—Kyle Artone
- Light Board Operator—Elijah King
- Lighting Designer—William Kenyon
- Makeup Designer—Audrey Wawrynovic
- Musical/Vocal Direction—Bonnie Cutsforth-Huber
- Scenic Artist—Benjamin Weaver
- Sound Engineering and Design—Todd Harshbarger
- Sound Engineering and Design—Scott Zillinger
- Stage Manager—Logan Sava
- Technical Director—Maxwell Doherty
- Theatre Technical Assistant—Benjamin Weaver
- Wardrobe Supervisor—Audrey Wawrynovic
Upcoming Performances
- October 12—December 9, 2023
Ivyside Juried Exhibitions - November 9-10, 2023
Ivyside Dance Performance - December 1-2, 2023
Ivyside Pride Performance - December 9, 2023
University Jazz Band Performance
Special Dedication
Harold Hayford would like to offer a special dedication to Ms. Annette Zalanowsky in recognition of everything she has done for the arts in Altoona. "You are so loved and appreciated by many former students, 'Mrs. Z.'"
Acknowledgments
- Dr. Ron Darbeau, chancellor and dean
- Peter M. Hopsicker, vice chancellor, Academic Affairs
- Corey Gracie-Griffin, associate dean for research, Academic Affairs
- Dr. Leigh Ann Haefner, interim division head, Arts and Humanities
- Dr. Brian Black, consultant, Arts and Humanities
- Jonathan O’Harrow, director, Strategic Communications
- Marissa Carney, media and public relations coordinator, Strategic Communications
- Melissa Wilt, graphic designer, Strategic Communications
- Brenda Berry, faculty and program assistant, Misciagna Family Center
- Kylea Myers, theatre and gallery coordinator, Misciagna Family Center
- Christian Howard, theatre and gallery assistant, Misciagna Family Center
- Maxwell Doherty, technical director, Misciagna Family Center
- Benjamin Weaver, technical theatre assistant, Misciagna Family Center
- Kathy Bumberger, janitorial worker, Facilities and Operations
Performances are free, thanks to the Kjell Meling Arts for All Initiative.
Penn State encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the box office at the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts by calling 814-949-5452 in advance of your participation or visit.