Creative Team Bios

Stephen Sondheim (Composer and Lyricist) Stephen Sondheim, one of the most influential and accomplished composer/lyricists in Broadway history, was born in New York City and raised in New York and Pennsylvania. As a teenager he met Oscar Hammerstein II, who became Sondheim's mentor. Sondheim graduated from Williams College, where he received the Hutchinson Prize for Music Composition. After graduation he studied music theory and composition with Milton Babbitt. He worked for a short time in the 1950s as a writer for the television show Topper; his first professional musical theatre job was as the songwriter for the unproduced musical Saturday Night. He wrote the lyrics for West Side Story (1957), Gypsy (1959) and Do I Hear A Waltz? (1965), as well as additional lyrics for Candide (1973). Musicals for which he has written both music and lyrics include A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1962), Anyone Can Whistle (1964), Company (1970-received the 1971 Tony Award Music and Best Lyrics), Follies (1971-received the 1972 Tony Award Score and New York Drama Critics Circle Award; revised in London, 1987), A Little Night Music (1973-Tony Award Score), The Frogs (1974), Pacific Overtures (1976-New York Drama Critics' Circle Award), Sweeney Todd (1979-Tony Award Score), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), Sunday in the Park With George (1984-New York Drama Critics Circle Award; 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama), Into The Woods (1987-Tony Award Score), Assassins (1991) and Passion (1994-Tony Award Score). He composed the songs for the television production Evening Primrose (1966), co-authored the film The Last of Sheila (1973) and provided incidental music for The Girls of Summer (1956), Invitation to a March (1961) and Twigs (1971). Side By Side By Sondheim (1976), Marry Me A Little (1981), You're Gonna Love Tomorrow (1983; originally presented as A Stephen Sondheim Evening) and Putting It Together (1993) are anthologies of his work. He has written scores for the films Stavisky (1974) and Reds (1981), and composed songs for the film Dick Tracy (1990-Academy Award for Best Song). He is on the Council of the Dramatist Guild, the national association of playwrights, composers and lyricists, having served as its president from 1973 until 1981, and in 1983 was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1990 he was appointed the first Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Oxford University. He was also recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 1993.

Hugh Wheeler (Librettist) Hugh Wheeler was a novelist, playwright and screen writer. He wrote more than thirty mystery novels under the pseudonyms Q. Patrick and Patrick Quentin, and four of his novels were transformed into films: Black Widow, Man in the Net, The Green-Eyed Monster and The Man with Two Wives. For films he wrote the screenplays for Travels with My Aunt, Something for Everyone, A Little Night Music and Nijinsky. His plays include Big Fish, Little Fish (1961), Look: We've Come Through (1961) and We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1966, adapted from the Shirley Jackson novel), he co-authored with Joseph Stein the book for a new production of the 1919 musical Irene (1973), wrote the books for A Little Night Music (1973), a new production of Candide (1973), Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979, based on a version of the play by Christopher Bond), and Meet Me in St. Louis (adapted from the 1949 M-G-M musical), contributed additional material for the musical Pacific Overtures (1976), and wrote a new adaptation of the Kurt Weill opera Silverlake, which was directed by Harold Prince at the New York Opera. He received Tony and Drama Desk Awards for A Little Night Music, Candide and Sweeney Todd. Prior to his death in 1987 Mr. Wheeler was working on two new musicals, Bodo and Fu Manchu, and a new adaptation of The Merry Widow.

Christopher Bond (Adaptor) an actor, director, and writer, wrote the play Sweeney Todd for the Stoke-on-Trent Experimental Theatre. He took Bertolt Brecht's Man Is Man, renamed it Man Eats Man, and applied it to the public domain one-act folk play Sweeney Todd, by George Dibdin Pitt, which itself was taken from the story "The String of Pearls: A Romance," published in Penny Dreadful, the Victorian gossip magazine. In this new approach to the classics, Bond also created the role of Tobias for himself. Later, Bond worked with Everyman Theatre (Liverpool), where he wrote/directed Downright Hooligan, Judge Jeffreys, and Under New Management, and was the artistic director of Half Moon Theatre (London), where he directed Sweeney Todd and Trafford Tanzy. His recent production of Alice in the Underground for Chicken Shed, a company of disabled actors, toured the major UK theaters.

Marc Robin (Artistic Director) Fulton Director/ Choreographer credits: The Sound of Music, 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 300 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.

Ray Fellman (Musical Director) is excited to be returning to the Fulton after last summer's Phantom, the prior season's Les Misérables and several performances with the Cabaret Series. Ray divides his time between NYC and Bloomington, Indiana where he is a Professor at Indiana University. In New York, M.D. credits include: Stephen Schwartz's Captain Louie (Little Schubert Theater); The Tutor by Gerle/Wood (59 E 59); Blood Drive by Shenkin/Derfner, Iron Curtain by Weiner/Mills (O'Neill Center Musical Theater Conference); A Room with a View (workshop, York Theater); John and Jen (Laurie Beechman Theatre); .22 Caliber Mouth dir. Diane Paulis (Ohio Theater). Pianist/arranger-Les Misérables contribution to the B'way Cares Equity Fights Aids 2007 Easter Bonnet Competition (Minskoff Theater) w/Tess Adams and Anne Runolfsson; M.D. 2007 Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs Awards at B. B. King's. 2007 Backstage Magazine Bistro Award for musical direction of The After Party, hosted by Brandon Cutrell, featuring Broadway's finest every Friday night at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on 42nd Street. Thanks to Marc, Aaron, Cast and Crew. Love to my family and Scott.

JR McAlexander (Conductor) has served as Musical Director for over 375 productions nationwide, including international tours of Sunday in the Park with George, The Wedding Singer, All Shook Up, Footloose, Anything Goes and Beehive the '60s Musical and the world premiere of Monky Business. JR has music directed for such prestigious theatre companies as The Guthrie in Minneapolis, Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, Cumberland County Playhouse in Tennessee, Galveston Island Musicals in Texas, Fireside Playhouse in Wisconsin, Little Theatre on the Square and Circa '21 in Illinois. He has worked with Donald O'Connor, Gloria Loring, Van Johnson, Gloria DeHaven and Ken Page, to name a few and had the honor of performing for President George and Barbara Bush's private Christmas party. JR has music directed over 200 productions for Prather Entertainment Group in the past seventeen years where he served as National Music Supervisor. Check out his new enterprise at www.showtuneproductions.com. He feels privileged to collaborate with Marc Robin on their 8th production together. Thanks Marc for making my dream of Sweeney Todd a reality!

Thomas M. Ryan (Scenic Designer) As resident scenery designer at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Il Tom has designed scenery for more than 120 productions "in the round" there since 1985. Some favorite Marriott Theatre designs include Les Mis, Oliver!, Sweeney Todd, Fiddler on the Roof, Chess, 1776, Brigadoon, Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon, and Cats. Other Chicago theatrical designs have been seen at Chicago Opera Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Northlight Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, Northwestern University, and Pegasus Players He has taught at Moorhead State University, the Latin School of Chicago and Northwestern University. Other examples of his design work can be seen in the Chicago area at Navy Pier (Winter Wonderfest and Halloween), the Notebaert Nature Museum (interactive tree house), large scale hats, caps and sports jerseys on the Picasso in Daley Plaza and Field Museum dinosaurs, various retail store designs, and in broadcast design for The Big Ten Network, Loyola University and NBC 5 Chicago. Tom is thrilled to design his first show here.

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 The 39 Steps, The Sound of Music, 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.

David C. Temby (Sound Designer) has created sound systems and designs for many productions, a talent he developed after discovering that there wasn't much demand for a color-blind lighting designer. David has designed productions and systems for Phoenix Theatre, Childsplay Theater, Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Arizona State University, the City of Phoenix, the White House Communications Agency, Coca-Cola, IBM, CNN, and the United States Air Force. He is also the General Manager for Clearwing Productions Arizona, a company that provides sound & lighting systems, designs, and production management for concerts, corporate shows, theatrical shows, and special events. David makes his home in Phoenix, Arizona with his loving wife, Jenifer.

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 in her fourth season at the Fulton and is excited to be serving as the production stage manager for many of this season's productions. She spent her summer at the Maine State Music Theatre as the ASM on My Fair Lady, Chicago and Spamalot. Favorite productions at the Fulton include The Sound of Music, Spamalot, Driving Miss Daisy and Les Misérables. Anne has spent the last few years exploring the country working at Phoenix Metropolitan Opera, Goodspeed Opera House, Walnut Street Theatre and the Theatre at Monmouth. Originally from Minnesota, she received her BFA in Arts Administration from Viterbo University. Proud Member of Actors Equity. Many thanks to Marc, Becca, Bekah and Bryan. Love to her wonderful fiancé Joe, Charlie and Dad. For Mom, always.

Rebecca Louise Fischer (Assistant Stage Manager) Rebecca works as a freelance stage manager and is delighted to be here at the Fulton for the first time. Recent credits include work at The Utah Shakespeare Festival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Pacific Resident Theatre and The Heritage Theatre. Some of her favorite productions have been Measure for Measure, Fiddler on the Roof, Moonlight and Magnolias, Cannibal the Musical, and Into the Woods. She received a BS degree in technical theatre from Southern Utah University and is a proud member of Actors' Equity. Dad, Mom and Jim, thanks for all your love and support. Katie, thank you for always believing in me.