Richard Rodgers (Composer) Rodgers (1902-79) began his professional career in 1920 with a series of musicals for Broadway, London and Hollywood written with lyricist Lorenz Hart. Among their greatest: On Your Toes (1936), Babes in Arms (1937), The Boys From Syracuse (1938), and Pal Joey (1940). The Rodgers & Hart partnership came to an end with the death of Lorenz Hart in 1943, at the age of 48. Earlier that year Rodgers had joined forces with lyricist and author Oscar Hammerstein II, whose work in the field of operetta throughout the '20s and '30s had been as innovative as Rodgers' own accomplishments in the field of musical comedy. Oklahoma! (1943), the first Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, was also the first of a new genre, the musical play, representing a unique fusion of Rodgers' musical comedy and Hammerstein's operetta. It also marked the beginning of the most successful partnership in Broadway musical history, and was followed by Carousel (1945), Allegro (1947), South Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951), Me and Juliet (1953), Pipe Dream (1955), Flower Drum Song (1958) and The Sound of Music (1959). The team wrote one movie musical, State Fair (1945; adapted to the stage, 1995), and one for television, Cinderella (1957; remade in 1965 and 1997). Collectively, the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals earned 34 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes and two Grammy Awards. In 1998 Rodgers & Hammerstein were cited by Time Magazine and CBS News as among the 20 most influential artists of the 20th century, and in 1999 they were jointly commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp. Despite Hammerstein's death in 1960, Rodgers continued to write for the Broadway stage. His first solo entry, No Strings in 1962, earned him two Tony Awards for music and lyrics, and was followed by Do I Hear A Waltz? (1965, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim), Two by Two (1970, lyrics by Martin Charnin), Rex (1976, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick) and I Remember Mamma (1979, lyrics by Martin Charnin and Raymond Jessel). Richard Rodgers died at home in New York City on December 30, 1979, at the age of 77. On March 27, 1990, he was honored posthumously with Broadway's highest accolade when the 46th Street Theatre, owned and operated by the Nederlander Organization, was renamed The Richard Rodgers Theatre, home to The Richard Rodgers Gallery, a permanent exhibit in the lobby areas presented by ASCAP, which honors the composer's life and works.

Oscar Hammerstein (Lyricist) In the 100 year history of the American musical, two works stand above all others in their development of the artform: Show Boat and Oklahoma! The author of both was Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960). Born into a theatrical dynasty headed by his grandfather and namesake, Hammerstein was determined to work in the theatre, a course he pursued despite earning a law degree from Columbia University. He began his stage career as a playwright, soon turning to librettos and lyrics written for some of the greatest composers of his day. His innovations breathed new life into the moribund artform of operetta with such classics as Rose-Marie (music by Rudolf Friml), The Desert Song (Sigmund Romberg), The New Moon (Romberg) and Song of the Flame (George Gershwin.) Hammerstein and Jerome Kern wrote eight musicals together, including Sweet Adeline, Music in the Air and their masterpiece, Show Boat. His last musical before embarking on an exclusive partnership with Richard Rodgers was Carmen Jones, an all-black revision of Bizet's tragic opera. In 1943, Hammerstein, pioneer in the field of operetta, joined forces with Richard Rodgers who had, for the previous twenty-five years, taken great strides in the field of musical comedy with his longtime partner, Lorenz Hart. The first Rodgers & Hammerstein collaboration, Oklahoma!, merged the two styles into a completely new genre-the musical play-and simultaneously launched the most successful partnership in the American musical theatre. Over the next seventeen years Rodgers & Hammerstein wrote nine Broadway musicals: Carousel, Allegro, South Pacific, The King and I, Me and Juliet, Pipe Dream, Flower Drum Song and The Sound of Music. They also wrote a movie musical (State Fair) and one for television (Cinderella). Collectively their works earned 34 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes and two Grammy Awards. On August 23, 1960, Oscar Hammerstein II died at his farm in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The Sound of Music had been his last work for the theatre; "Edelweiss" was the last lyric he wrote.

Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse (Librettist) The Lindsay & Crouse partnership stands today as the longest collaboration of any writers in theatrical history, lasting for more than 28 years. Their hits include The Sound of Music (with a score by Rodgers & Hammerstein); Anything Goes and Red, Hot and Blue (with scores by Cole Porter); Call Me Madam (score by Irving Berlin); the long-running play Life with Father (which originally starred co-author Lindsay); the Pulitzer Prize winning The State of the Union; and Happy Hunting. Their producing credits included The Hasty Heart, Detective Story and Arsenic and Old Lace.

Howard Lindsay was born in Waterford, New York in 1889 and died in 1968. He became an actor at nineteen and in 1913 began a five-year stay with the Margaret Anglin Co. After Infantry Service in World War I, his first big break was to act and direct in the George S. Kaufman hit Dulcy in 1921. Lindsay wrote many plays before teaming up with Russel Crouse on Anything Goes in 1934. (R&H trivia buffs will note that among his acting credits is the role of The King in the original television production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella in 1957.)

Russel Crouse was born in Findlay, Ohio, in 1893 and died in 1966. At seventeen he became a reporter for the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. After serving in the Navy in World War I, he worked on New York newspapers, gaining his first renown through a signed column in the Post. In 1932 he became head of the publicity department for the Theatre Guild and in 1933 wrote his first Broadway show, collaborating with Corey Ford on the musical comedy Hold Your Horses. From 1934 on, he wrote only with Lindsay.

Marc Robin (Director/Choreographer) Fulton Director/ Choreographer credits: Monty Python's Spamalot, Phantom, Driving Miss Daisy; Annie; Les Misérables; Hello, Dolly!; 42nd Street; Brigadoon; Evita; Rags; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; My Fair Lady; The Music Man; Crazy for You; The Irish and How They Got That Way; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Carousel and Treasure Island. As a freelance director/choreographer he has staged over 250 productions at theatres across the country. Marc is the recipient of 16 Joseph Jefferson Awards (52 nominations); 13 After Dark Awards; 3 Ari "Zoni" Awards, Light Opera Works Lifetime Achievement Award and 3 Barrymore Award nominations for his work at Walnut Street Theatre. He is a resident of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Aaron McAllister (Musical Director) Aaron lists among his recent musical director credits: The Sound of Music, The Will Rogers Follies, The Spitfire Grill, Peter Pan, Company, Evita, George M, Sweet Charity, Crazy for You, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Forever Plaid, Urinetown, The Thing About Men, The Boyfriend, The Cradle Will Rock, The Boys From Syracuse, A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, Pippin, and CATS, among others. Aaron is a highly sought after vocal coach/performance clinician and has composed, arranged, and orchestrated numerous cabaret, solo, and showcase performances. Together with collaborator/playwright, Daryl Lisa Fazio, he has composed the score to original musicals lift and POPart: the musical and the newly finished, Blackout. Both lift and POPart: the musical have been recipients of several grant awards and were both selected and read at the off-Broadway York Theatre for their competitive Development Series. POPart received its premiere workshop at Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, SC and most recently was seen off-Broadway this Fall at the American Theatre of Actors in the New York Musical Theatre Festival. He is a graduate of SUNY Geneseo (B.A. in music, vocal performance and conducting) and the University of Maryland (M.M. in conducting). Love to his families in NY, KC and his future wife Cary.

Michael Schweikardt (Scenic Designer) World premiere of Duncan Sheik's Whisper House at The Old Globe in San Diego. Recent credits include Ella a musical about jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald which is appearing in cities all across the country, critically acclaimed productions of Annie Get Your Gun, 1776, Big River and Camelot for Goodspeed Musicals, Bloodsong of Love at Ars Nova, Barnum for The Asolo Rep's 50th anniversary season, American premieres of Frank McGuinness' Gates of Gold and The Bird Sactuary, Oklahoma! starring Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase celebrating the Oklahoma State centennial and National and International Tours of James Taylor's One Man Band. Online portfolio: www.msportfolio.com

Beth Dunkelberger (Costume Designer) Ms. Dunkelberger is a Lancaster native who has been designing for Actors Company/Fulton Theatre since 1975. She has also designed for area theatres such as Ephrata Performing Arts Center, The Independent Eye, Lancaster Opera Company, Theatre of the Seventh Sister and Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre. Regional credits include designs for Christy, The Musical (based on the book by Catherine Marshall) at The Grand Ole Opry. Film credits include Witness and The Silence at Bethany. Her artistry has been seen in industrial shows for Armstrong World Industries and mascots for Weaver Chicken, Servomation, Gibble Potato Chips and most recently, the Milanof-Schock Library Bookworm.

Paul Black (Lighting Designer) Paul is excited to be back at the Fulton which he has come to call his second home. Some of his previous lighting designs include the most recent Phantom, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Driving Miss Daisy, Annie, Les Misérables, The Spitfire Grill, Oklahoma!, Brigadoon, Treasure Island, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Oliver!, Dracula: Lord of the Undead, Crazy for You, The Irish...and How They Got That Way, Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, Seussical, Hot Mikado, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Regionally he just designed White Christmas at the Walnut Theater in Philadelphia. When not in Pennsylvania, Paul works as a freelance designer living in Phoenix, Arizona. There, he has designed for the Arizona Theatre Co., Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Phoenix Theatre and Childsplay Inc. Other theatres Paul has designed for are the Music Theatre of Santa Barbara, American Stage in Florida, Carousel Dinner Theatre and the national tour of Tea at Five with Kate Mulgrew. As a guest artist Paul has lectured at Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Cornell College, Viterbo University, and Wichita State University. When not designing lights, Paul is co-executive of P2Design, a production company. Much thanks to Ellen and Bob for all of their hospitality and support over the years.

Joseph Simon (Sound Designer) is back after designing the Fulton productions of Deathtrap, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Noises Off, Driving Miss Daisy, Dial "M" for Murder, The Unexpected Guest, The Spitfire Grill, and The Foreigner. This is Joseph's fourth full season at the Fulton, where he has worked as a member of the run crew, a carpenter, and currently works as the audio engineer. Joseph, an alumnus of Franklin & Marshall, has worked at numerous local theaters and thoroughly enjoys Lancaster City life. He would like to thank Marc Robin for continuing to give him incredible opportunities, his family and friends for their constant love and support, and Anne Jude for everything else.

Gerard Kelly (Wig Designer) Broadway: Hair. Nat'l Tour: Hair, Ain't Misbehavin'. Off-Broadway: The Public Theater/Shakespeare in the Park, Vineyard Theater, York Theatre, Mint Theatre. Regional: North Shore Music Theatre, Walnut Street Theater, Dallas Theater Center, Playwrights Horizons, Maltz Jupiter Theater, The Ahmanson Theater, Carousel Dinner Theater, Westchester Broadway Theater. Film & TV: Transamerica, The Savages, Notorious, Girls Will Be Girls, The Ten, Bolden, Law & Order, Project Runway. Gerard's work can be seen on the cover of the B-52's 2008 album Funplex.

Anthony Lascoskie, Jr. (Makeup and Hair Designer) Before joining the Fulton, Anthony managed the Millersville Costume Shop. Anthony has designed costumes and wigs for local theatres as well as private clients. His favorites include La Cage aux Folles, The Rocky Horror Show and working on the hair for Taffetas, Joyful Noise, Seussical and Enchanted April. Besides being the resident makeup and wig designer, Anthony also manages the costume shop for the Fulton. He is excited to have the Fulton's extensive costume collection open to the public.

Anne M. Jude (Stage Manager) Anne is excited to be back in Lancaster after spending the summer with Maine State Music Theatre as the ASM on My Fair Lady, Chicago, and Spamalot. She returns for her third season at the Fulton as the Production Stage Manager. Favorite productions include Spamalot, Driving Miss Daisy and Les Misérables. She has spent the last few years exploring the country working at Phoenix Metropolitan Opera, Goodspeed Opera House, Walnut Street Theatre and the Theater at Monmouth. Originally from Minnesota, she received her BFA in Arts Administration from Viterbo University. Proud Member of Actors Equity. Many thanks to Marc, Tim, Bekah and Bryan. Love to her wonderful fiance Joe and the Fam! For Mom, always.

Timothy Markus (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to return to the Fulton after Spamalot, Beauty and the Beast and last season's Phantom and Sleeping Beauty. Other Credits include the international tour of Porgy and Bess. Walnut Street Theatre: Les Misérables, The Odd Couple, The Price, Peter Pan. The Guthrie Theater: Shadowlands. Surflight Theatre: Ragtime, Little Shop of Horrors, Aida, 1940's Radio Hour, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Kimmel Center: The Irish and How They Got That Way. Love to Swany. Thanks Anne and Marc!