The Kingf isher Theater Presents...

The Devil, The Witch, and The Blacksmithby Amy Canf ield and Kevin Dedes,based on Nikolai Gogol ’s ‘The Night Before Christmas’

Gallery Seventy-Four215 Tremont Street3rd Building, 3rd FloorCorn Hill Arts Neighborhood(free parking)

www.rufcu.org

Bronze Sponsor

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The Kingfisher Theater is Rochester’s only professional acting company with the mission to provide a sanctuary for growth through the collaboration of both established and emerging theatre artists. Our aim is to stage classic texts that have stood the test of time, to provide a fertile training ground for new artists, and to bring the theatre arts in Rochester to new heights.

We hope you enjoyed the start of our 2016-2017 Season with August Strindberg’s thrilling masterwork, Creditors.

This spring, we celebrate the upcoming Centennial of the passing of the 19th Amendment with Elizabeth Robin’s Votes for Women! Directed by guest director Connor Graham of Buffalo.

We thank you for being a part of our second theatrical season, and hope you’ll stick around for years to come as we continue to dive into ‘Classic Plays in New Ways’.

- Kevin DedesArtistic Director

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S WELCOME

Join us this Spring for our upcoming production of 'Votes for Women!'

Celebrate the Centennial of Women's right to vote in New York State!

May 11 - May 27 (in collaboration with the Susan B. Anthony House)

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CAST (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

VINCE DALBA - THE DEVIL HIMSELFJOEY CHACON - VAKULA, A BLACKSMITH

ADRIANA RIANO - TCHUB, A WEALTHY COSSACKJESSICA THURSTON CROSBY - OKSANA, HIS DAUGHTER AND ALSO ANFISA

AMY CANFIELD - SOLOKHA, VAKULA’S MOTHER, AND A WITCHKRISTY BARR - OLGA, PAVLO, POLINA

CRAIG BOOKER - THE SEXTON, GRIGORY POTEMKIN, PAUNCHY PATSYUK, BISHOPLEAH CAMILLERI - IRINA, PEPPERCHICKAAMELIA PFISTER - THE WEAVER, MASHA

ANDREW MORGAN LANGTON - PANAS, THE MAYOR

CREW

LIGHTING DESIGN AND STAGE MANAGER - BEN MEYERLEAD COSTUME DESIGN - LEAH CAMILLERI

SOUND DESIGN - JESSICA THURSTONPROGRAM & GRAPHIC DESIGN - AMBER GARTUNG

PROPMAKER - AMELIA PFISTERFIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER - KEVIN DEDES

SET DESIGN CONSULTANT - TATYANA WILDSSEAMSTRESS - ROSE VERCOLEN

MOVEMENT / ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE - KATIE FITTIPALDI, M.AMSAT

The Kingfisher Theater is proud to present

The Devil, The Witch, and The Blacksmith

DIRECTED BY KEVIN DEDES

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Christmas! The most wonderful time of year!

Twelve years before Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, Nikolai Gogol published “Christmas Eve,” a magical short story about ‘the most pious man in Dikanka’ searching for true love in his little Ukrainian village. The story was part of a collection that would launch Gogol to fame as one of Ukraine’s most beloved writers.

Upon founding The Kingfisher Theater, we knew that we wanted a holiday show--something we could do every year as a tradition--but also something we could call our own.

I had been a huge fan of Gogol since reading “The Nose” back in college. And, as a Ukrainian myself (1 quarter from my mother’s side) I was drawn to this Christmas story that reminded me so much of celebrating “Little Christmas” in January as a child.

So, let’s continue the holiday cheer for a few more weeks, forget the stresses of the new year for a while, and enjoy The Devil, the Witch, and the Blacksmith, our adaptation of Gogol’s story. I hope you enjoy our silly comedy, and will feel free to partake in a bit of complimentary horilka (that’s Ukrainian moonshine).

Merry Christmas and Na zdorov'ya!

- Kevin Dedes

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

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VINCE DALBA (The Devil Himself ) is excited to be back with The Kingfisher Theater, having portrayed Wittmore in Aphra Behn’s Sir Patient Fancy last season. Favorite roles include The Old Man in Fool for Love (SUNY Brockport), Hal in Proof (Broadway Theatricals, Los Angeles), Dromio of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors (Mysterium Theater, Orange County, California), and Pfc. Louden Downey in A Few Good Men (Blackfriars Theatre). Vince is also a proud member of Impact Interactive, which uses interactive theatre to promote dialogue about social issues and promote understanding. He is also a standardized patient at the University of Rochester, where he aids medical students by portraying medical patients in a clinical setting. He has his BFA in Theater from SUNY Brockport.

JOEY CHACON (Vakula) is thrilled to participate in his third performance with The Kingfisher Theater after playing the titular blacksmith in The Devil, the Witch, and the Blacksmith last season. His first theatrical role was as Lucky in Waiting for Godot, after which he pursued studies in acting in MCC's Fine Arts department. Also at MCC, he has appeared in Much Ado About Nothing, Pirates of Penzance, Once on This Island, and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Last year, he was delighted to be hired as a zombie at Nightmare Manor.

ADRIANA RIANO (Tchub) is excited to perform once again in The Devil, The Witch and The Blacksmith. Last year her performance was comprised of several different characters (Masha, Paunchy, Ivan, & Priest). Previous Kingfisher productions include (Lucretia) Sir Patient Fancy, and (Shepard) Oedipus Rex. She is new to the theatre community and started working with The Kingfisher Theater since Fall 2015. She is currently an Art Instructor for Wine & Design, and has just launched her own art business, Drawn From Love, selling original artwork. Adriana received her B.A in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from Keuka College. She also received her M.A in Psychology from SUNY Brockport.

JESSICA THURSTON CROSBY(Oksana / Sound Designer) has written, directed, and performed in theatre of all genres since first appearing onstage as the mayor of Munchkinland at age 8. Notable past productions include Messiah College Theatre’s The Bald Soprano, Pizzazz, and the experimental new play Fertile Ground. In 2011, she worked as the supervisor of background talent on the set of the motion picture King's Faith where she appeared on screen as a nurse. At Roberts Wesleyan College she founded Muse Creative Arts Ministry and directed the student-written play, The Chains.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

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She's thrilled to be with The Kingfisher Theater again after appearing as Sophia in their inaugural production of Oedipus Rex and as Oksana in The Devil, the Witch, and the Blacksmith. Jessica has a B.A. in Communication Theory from Roberts Wesleyan College.

AMY CANFIELD (Solokha, Catherine the Great) is happy to be a company member of The Kingfisher Theater. At Kingfisher, she has performed as Tekla in Creditors, Lady Knowell in Sir Patient Fancy, and Jocasta in Oedipus Rex. She also co-wrote The Devil, the Witch, and the Blacksmith and directed its premiere production. She has also performed in Rochester in such productions as Henry IV, Parts I and II, The Libation Bearers, King Lear,The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet. Prior to moving to Rochester, she acted, stage managed, and directed at a number of venues in Chicago and elsewhere. Amy holds a Ph.D. in Theatre History from The Ohio State University and is a member of the Dramatists Guild.

KRISTY BARR (Olga, Pavlo, Polina) is proud to be a part of The Kingfisher Theater’s second season after a successful and exciting first year. Her favorite roles in Rochester include Oedipus (Oedipus Rex), Lula (Dutchman), Clytemnestra (The Libation Bearers), Fiona (Shrek: The Musical), and Rona (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee). She works as Payroll Manager at Lake Beverage Corp., sings with the Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, and is studying to obtain her Master's in Liberal Studies from SUNY Empire State.

CRAIG BOOKER (Sexton, Andrei, Sexton, Bishop) is an actor and martial artist from Rochester, NY and is happily making his debut at The Kingfisher Theater. He is thrilled to tackle four roles in The Devil, The Witch and The Blacksmith! Craig earned his black sash in “7 Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu” from The Rochester Shaolin Training Academy in 2016 and currently is a practitioner of Muay Thai boxing and kickboxing. Craig plans to use these disciplines and roles to further his education and experience, to continue to perform, and to entertain the public and eventually the world. He has studied acting at The Kodak Performing Arts Center (RAPA), and Monroe Community College.

LEAH CAMILLERI (Irina/Pepperchika/Natasha & Yurii) is delighted to be a part of Kingfisher Theater's DWB '17! It's one helluva ride! Some favorite roles include Sybil in The Cover of Life, Dorine in Tartuffe, and Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest (all at Nazareth College). More recent roles include The Actress in La Ronde, and Persephone in Polaroid Stories (both at Bread and Water Theatre). When not acting, Leah can be found helping with costumes at Eastman Opera Theater, or running wardrobe at Geva Theatre Center. A seasoned dancer, Leah performs with Bombshell Belly Dance Company and Pretty Kitties Burlesque. She and the troupe’s director, Bethany Swank, offer weekly classes in both art forms at Callan Harris Physical Therapy Center. Leah has her BA in Theatre Arts from Nazareth College.

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AMELIA J PFISTER (Masha, The Weaver, Sverbyguz, Petro) studied theatre at Ohio Northern University with a focus in directing. Rochester credits include Richard III (Rochester Shakespeare Company), Remote Rochester (Rochester Fringe Festival) and A Holiday Trilogy (Black Sheep Theatre) where she was recently awarded a meritorious achievement in acting. After The Devil, The Witch and The Blacksmith, Amelia will be stage managing Sketching The Soul at MuCCC in March.

ANDREW MORGAN LANGTON (Panas, Mayor) is proud to make his debut with The Kingfisher Theater. In 2004, he won the Rochester Broadway Theater League's “Stars Of Tomorrow Award” for best featured actor in a musical for his portrayal of Benny Southstreet in Guys & Dolls. Some of Andrew's favorite roles include Karl in La Ronde (Bread & Water Theatre), Jerry in The Zoo Story (MCC), Grandpa Joe in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (MCC), William Cartwright in The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (Clarkson Theatre Co.), Saint Matthew in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and Edward in A Slight Ache (SUNY Potsdam). He holds his Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) from SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Theatre & Dance.

KEVIN DEDES (Director) began his acting career in Rochester with The Shipping Dock Theatre’s productions of Last Train to Nibroc and Beautiful Thing. Regional credits include Kate Crackernuts at The Flea (NYC), Splitting Infinity at San Jose Rep (San Jose), A Christmas Carol at The American Conservatory Theater and Richard III at Cal Shakes (both San Francisco). He can frequently be seen in Geva’s Writers’ Showcases, and original writing includes The Dangerous Difference, The Kookaburra, Two-Step, Turtleback High and Kingfisher’s own The Devil, the Witch, and the Blacksmith (co-written with company member Amy Canfield). Mr. Dedes is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and is Screen Actors Guild eligible. He holds his Master of Fine Arts from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. More of his work can be seen at kevindedes.wordpress.com.

BEN MEYER (Stage Manager / Tech Director) is originally from Portland, Oregon, where he began stage managing for his middle school production of Annie. Since then he has SM’d Grease and Oklahoma. In high school he was the stage manager and technical director for Twelve Angry Men, Comedy of Errors, and Much Ado About Nothing. Blue Monkey Theatre Company of Portland, OR hired him as the Technical Director and Stage Manager for their show of Speech and Debate. The last show he worked on before coming to Rochester was Dying City for The Portland Playhouse where he was the Assistant Stage Manager. Most recently, he exhibited his lighting, sound design, and stage managing skills on Bread and Water Theatre’s production of The Libation Bearers. This is his fifth show with The Kingfisher Theater.

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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - KEVIN DEDESPRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER - BEN MEYERTECHNICAL DIRECTOR / IT CONSULTANT - BEN MEYEREXECUTIVE ASSISTANT - KRISTY BARRLITERARY MANAGER/DRAMATURG - AMY CANFIELDMARKETING DIRECTOR - JESSICA THURSTON

THE KINGFISHER THEATER STAFF

FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE DEVIL, THE WITCH, AND THE BLACKSMITH

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR - BEN MEYERSOUND DESIGNER - JESSICA THURSTON

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

KEVIN DEDES - PRESIDENT

We are currently seeking a new board member. If you are interested in becoming an integral part of Rochester’s newest arts institution, please email us at kdedes@thekingfishertheater.org for more information.

PROGRAM & POSTER DESIGN - AMBER GARTUNG (AG-CREATIVE)

SPECIAL THANKS

RALPH THOMPSON

LILY PAVLOVYCH

JUSTIN RIELLY

SHELLEY HODGE

STEVE DEDES

BEKAH

CAREY

EASTMAN OPERA THEATRE

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This production is dedicated to the memory ofCarl Girard

1979 - 2016

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www.rufcu.org

THIS PRODUCTION WAS SPONSORED, IN PART, BY THE

UKRAINIAN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

THANK YOU! ДЯКУЮ!

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