A Night of One-Acts
Thursday and Friday, November 7–8
7:30 p.m.
Wolf Kuhn Theatre
Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts
Performances are free, thanks to the Kjell Meling Arts for All Initiative.
Fun
By Howard Korder
Directed by Leila McCrumb
Assistant Directed by Aaron James
- CASPER—Byron Adoyo
- DENNY—Mahdi Bdairi
- SECURITY/WORKMAN—Aaron James
- WAITRESS—Sydney Barnett
- MATTHEW—Sean Miller
- LARRY—Lachlan Makendric Lewis
Characters
- DENNY, a fifteen-year-old boy
- CASPER, his friend, also fifteen
- LARRY, a salesman, late twenties
- MATTHEW, a movie usher, nineteen
- WAITRESS, fourteen
- WORKMAN, forties
- SECURITY GUARD
Time: The present. An evening in spring.
Place: The outskirts of Robinson City, an industrial town in the northeastern United States.
The professional premiere of FUN was in the 1987 Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival of New American Plays
FUN and NOBODY were produced in New York City by the Manhattan Punch Line Theatre, Inc., Steve Kaplan, Artistic Director; Craig Bowley, Executive Director
Lives Of the Great Waitresses
By Nina Shengold
Directed by Leila McCrumb
Assistant Directed by Aaron James
Cast List
- YETTA—Lenora Levonick
- KAY—Amelia Tineo
- TAMMIE SUE—Sydney Kint
- MELISSA—Vivian Armijo
Characters
- YETTA, 50s, Bronx-Jewish, a pit bull with lipstick
- KAY, 40s, Black, born again
- TAMMIE SUE, 30s, southern and dithery
- MELISSA, 20, smarter than she looks
Place: A greasy spoon.
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc., www.playscripts.com
Hootie and the Good Pot
By Aaron James
Directed by Aaron James
Assistant Directed by Jay Schmidt
Cast List
- MEL—Leila McCrumb
- STEVIE—Maddie Letsche
- ED—Patrick Brennan
Director's Note
We chose these three pieces because of their commentary on navigating life in this society, more specifically the power of choice, perseverance, and optimism, and how those concepts often remain constant throughout the many different ages and chapters of our lives.
While it is true that we're all, to some extent, a product of our environment and circumstance, we still remain in control of our own lives and our perspective, despite the hand that we're dealt. We maintain the power of choice, and what we decide to put our time and energy into influences the rest of our lives. It's important that we're in touch with ourselves—that we take the time to slow down and ask ourselves why we want the things we do and whether those things are truly good for us.
We are often the most glaring factor standing in the way of our greatest potential, but it doesn't have to be that way. We invite you to slow down, look inward, and live intentionally. Thank you for being here.
—Leila McCrumb, Director
Cast Bios
Byron Adoyo (Casper) is a second-year student pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering. His previous theatre experience consists of high school productions of Clue (cop) and Bye Bye Birdie (ensemble). Byron hopes to be involved in more productions at Penn State Altoona.
Vivian Armijo (Melissa) is a second-year student pursuing a communications degree. She was involved in theatre at her high school and in the community in her home country of Panama. She has participated in shows like The Addams Family, Legally Blonde, The Wedding Singer, and Sister Act. Vivian hopes to be involved in more productions at Penn State in the future.
Sydney Barnett (Waitress) is a third-year student at Penn State Altoona. This is her first production, but she hopes to participate in more in the future. She plays basketball for the college.
Mahdi Bdairi (Denny) is a first-year student pursuing a degree in forensic science. He has been involved in theatre for four years working behind the scenes and onstage in many productions. His recent credits include costuming and performing in Alice by Heart with Storm Performing Arts. Mahdi hopes to be involved in more productions at Penn State Altoona.
Lachlan Lewis (Larry) is a first-year student pursuing a biology degree. He was involved in multiple plays at Penn Cambria High School. Lachlan loves hanging out with his closest friends, Joey, Austin, and Colin, to whom he dedicates this performance.
Lenora Levonick (Yetta) is a first-year student pursuing a degree in elementary education. She has been involved in theatre for ten years and worked behind the scenes in a few productions. Lenora hopes to be involved in more productions at Penn State Altoona.
Sean Miller (Matthew) is a third-year student pursuing a degree in accounting. They were involved in high school theatre, but this is their first time appearing in a production at Penn State Altoona. They hope to be involved in more in the future.
Sydney Kent (Tammie-Sue) is a second-year student. This is her second performance at Penn State Altoona, and she hopes to take part in many more alongside her amazing cast members. She plans to continue her education as a business management major with a minor in theatre while also serving in the United States Army Reserves.
Amelia Tineo (Kay) is pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering. This is their first year participating in a Penn State Altoona production. Recent credits include musical performances in the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Arts & Justice project as well as producing their own original works. Amelia aspires to pursue a career in music alongside her engineering career.
Production Team Bios
Maxwell Doherty is the technical director for the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. He is a recent graduate of the Penn State School of Theatre, where he worked on several productions, including Brigadoon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Seawall, Angels in America, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Legally Blonde. He has also worked on The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and The Wonderful World of Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Cara Groome (Stage Manager) is a second-year student majoring in visual art studies and minoring in theatre. She has been involved in theatre and art since a young age. Her recent credits include set designing, stage managing, and performing in Cinderella and The Sound of Music, as well as stage managing for Circle Mirror Transformation and The Wake of Jamey Foster here at Penn State Altoona. Cara hopes to be involved in more productions at the college and to continue to combine her passions for art and theatre.
Bethany Helsel (Violence Coordinator) has been a member of the Altoona theatre community since 2019. She has choreographed violence for shows at Altoona Community Theatre and Things Unseen Theatre Company. Her recent credits include Angel Street, Clue, and Oliver! This is Bethany's first show at Penn State Altoona, and she hopes to be involved in more in the future.
Christian Howard (Production Stage Manager) is a graduate of the Integrative Arts program at Penn State Altoona. He was an active performer on the college’s stage during his time as a student and was the recipient of both the Liszka Award and the Kenneth M. Kuhn Memorial Award. He was a two-time winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singers vocal competition in the musical theatre category and participated in a Masterwork Chorus Festival where he performed in Carnegie Hall along with Penn State Altoona's Ivyside Pride choral group. Currently, he is the theatre and gallery assistant at the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts and is an active member of the local performing arts community.
Aaron James (Director/Assistant Director) graduated from Penn State Altoona in 2018 where he studied theatre. His play Big Noodles made its premiere at the college in 2023. He was last on stage at the Mishler Theatre in The Mousetrap as Detective Sergeant Trotter. He would like to thank Leila for this opportunity as well as for her constant encouragement and his family and friends for all of their love and support.
Maddie Letsche (Costumer) has spent most of the last twenty-nine years in and around the theatre community in Altoona. She has dipped a toe into just about every job but directing and is delighted to be taking on two of her favorites with these one-acts. She’d like to thank Audrey for their patience and collaboration, Leila and Aaron for their belief in her, and her partner Mark for running lines in the middle of the night. She’d like to dedicate her work to the memory of Keagahn, who deserved more “Fun” nights.
Leila McCrumb (Director/Assistant Director) is a graduate of the Integrative Arts program at Penn State Altoona. She performed in several productions during her time at the college where she received a KCACTF nomination, a placing in the Undergraduate Research Fair, and a Liszka Award. She went on to obtain her M.A. in actor/performer training at Rose Bruford College of London, where she performed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She has directed many productions throughout her career, ranging from film to stage to promenade. Locally, she works closely with Things Unseen Theatre Company at The Church in The Middle of the Block as an actor and director and has also appeared in the Haunted Rails & Tales event at the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum as both performer and director. She returned to Penn State Altoona in 2021 as the assistant director of the film/theatre-hybrid production of Two Rooms and has since become an instructor in theatre on campus. Recent credits include Circle Mirror Transformation, Big Noodles, and The Wake of Jamey Foster. She has also recently directed The Wool Gatherer with Aaron James at Thing Unseen Theatre and The Mousetrap at Altoona Community Theatre.
Kylea Myers (Props Master) is the theatre and gallery coordinator for the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts at Penn State Altoona. She received her B.A. in visual art studies in 2017 from the college. She has painted scenery for Altoona Community Theatre’s productions of She Loves Me, Our Town, Places: A Theatrical Celebration of ACT's 75th Anniversary, and Angel Street (Gaslight).
Preston Pinos (Assistant Stage Manager) is a second-year student planning to major in plant science horticulture and minor in theatre. He has been involved with theatre since high school. His most recent productions include stage managing for The Woolgather, playing the role of Wayne in The Wake of Jamey Foster, and playing the role of James in Circle Mirror Transformation. He hopes to continue involvement with productions at Penn State Altoona, in the community, and at University Park where he will finish his degree.
Jay Schmidt (Assistant Director) is a second-year English literature major from St. Marys, Pennsylvania. She participates in several branches of the arts including visual art, live performance, and filmmaking. Jay has had several written works published and won awards for her work with visual arts in both secondary school and at the collegiate level. She has worked with Penn State Altoona's theatre department on Dark Side Of The Moon: A Tribute to Pink Floyd, The Wake of Jamey Foster, and Flights of Fancy.
Audrey Wawrynovic (Hair and Makeup/Wardrobe Supervisor) is a third-year student and sewist with five separate awards for their costume making. Recently they took on the role of lead makeup designer for Penn State Altoona's productions of Dark Side of the Mood: A Tribute to Pink Floyd, Circle Mirror Transformation, The Wake of Jamey Foster, and Flights of Fancy.
Angelina Waterson-Lopez (Sound Designer) is a first-year student at Penn State Altoona, currently serving as the A1 for these one-acts and assistant stage manager for Flights of Fancy. She recently worked as the stage manager for S.P.A.R. by Stephen Gregg, earning a superior ranking at both the state and international levels, placing her among the top thirty high school stage managers in the country in 2024. In addition, she has an extensive background in high school theatre having served as assistant stage manager and sound board operator on productions such as Little Shop of Horrors, Addict, and Boobytrap.
Benjamin Weaver (Lighting Designer/Theatre Technical Assistant) graduated from Centenary University with a degree in technical theatre. Past credits include set design for 1984, Avenue Q, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Sweat at NEXTStage Rep, scenic artist for A Christmas Carol at Centenary Stage Co., and assistant scenic design for The Evolution of Mann at the American Theatre Group. His Instagram is @yellowbensets.
Mark Williams (Projections/Scenic Design) is a media designer and creative technologist based in Philadelphia. He is the current emerging artist in residence at Penn State Altoona. His work and research are focused on integrative performance-design practices and live cinema for stage. MarkWdesign.com
Production Team
- Directors—Leila McCrumb, Aaron James
- Assistant Director—Leila McCrumb, Aaron James, Jay Schmidt
- Technical Director—Maxwell Doherty
- Theatre Technical Assistant—Benjamin Weaver
- Lighting Designer—Benjamin Weaver
- Sound Designer—Angie Waterson-Lopez
- Projections—Mark Williams
- Props Master—Kylea Myers
- Production Stage Managers—Christian Howard
- Stage Manager—Cara Groome
- Assistant Stage Managers—Elijah King, Prestin Pinos, Charlie Popson
- Costumer—Maddie Letsche
- Hair and Make-up/Wardrobe Supervisor—Audrey Wawrynovic
- Violence Coordinator—Bethany Helsel
Upcoming Performances
- November 14-15, 2024
Ivyside Dance Performance - December 5-6, 2024
Ivyside Pride Performance - December 14, 2024
University Jazz Band Performance
Acknowledgments
- Dr. Ron Darbeau, chancellor and dean
- Peter M. Hopsicker, vice chancellor, Academic Affairs
- Dr. Leigh Ann Haefner, division head, Arts and Humanities
- Jonathan O’Harrow, director, Strategic Communications
- Marissa Carney, media and public relations coordinator, Strategic Communications
- Melissa Wilt, graphic designer, Strategic Communications
- 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