Westfield Community Players (A Man for All Seasons bios)

Cast and Production Members

The Cast	The Production/Crew
Rachelle Mandik as The Common Man	Jeanne Johnston Director
John Correll as Sir Thomas More	Kay Macrae Producer
Danielle Levitt as Master Richard Rich	Peter Curley Stage Manager
Carlos Valdes-Dapena as The Duke of Norfolk	Jeanne Lioy Properties
Mary O'Connor-Kelley as Lady Alice More	Linda Correll Set Design
Rachel Brennan as Lady Margaret More	Jean Lioy Set Decor
Eric Wosley as Cardinal Wosley	Kathy Viccari Props Ass't.
Marc LeBlance as Thomas Cromwell	Don Schlachter Lighting Design
David Ciampichini as Signor Chapuys	Don Schlachter Lighting Operator
Chuck Worthington as William Roper	Don Schlachter Sound Design
Brian Madden as King Henry VIII	Don Schlachter Sound Operator
Jean Kuras as A Woman	Steve Lemenille Publicity
David Baker as Thomas Cranmer	Karen DiFabio / Grace Sweeney Playbill/Marketing
James McArthur as Attendant	Steve Lemenille Webmaster
	Alexandra Byrne Box Office Director
	Ed Bontempo Costumer/Hair/Make-Up
	TBA House Managers
	TBA Ushers
	Steve Lemenille Photographer
	Stu Schnitzer Videography
	Linda Correll Set Construction
	TBA Set Construction
	TBA Set Construction
	TBA Set Construction

BIOGRAPHIES
The Cast
RACHELLE MANDIK	*(The Common Man)* spent most of her bicoastal childhood performing, then studied acting and voice at Northwestern University and Oberlin College. She took a nearly twenty-year hiatus but has been steadily making her way back “home” to the stage. Recent credits include As You Like It; Spoon River; Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play; and Romeo & Juliet. This is her first production with Westfield Community Players.

JOHN CORRELL	*(Sir Thomas More)* is very happy to finally be back on stage here at WCP with all these wonderful people. Previous credits at various theaters include: Proof (Robert), Jake’s Women (Jake), Moon Over Buffalo (George), and The Late Christopher Bean (Dr. Haggett). Thank you to Jeanne for the opportunity and for her guidance. Thank you to everyone here for their support and to my wonderful wife, Linda, for her love, and God for everything.

DANIELLE LEVITT	*(Master Richard Rich)* is thrilled to be part of this production! She has worked in many local theaters including CDC, Stonyhill Players, The Strollers, Edison Valley Playhouse, Trilogy Repertory, Studio Players, LSTC, and Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center. Favorite roles include Dromio of Ephesus (Comedy of Errors), Emilia (Othello), Trinculo (The Tempest), Dr. Einstein (Arsenic and Old Lace), Eleanor (2nd Time Around), Caitlin (Marcus is Walking), and various parts in a Christopher Durang One-Act Medley. Many thanks to Jeanne for this amazing opportunity!

CARLOS VALDES-DAPENA	*(The Duke of Norfolk)* is a management consultant, father and grandfather, but his first career was as an actor. He earned his MFA in acting and his Actor’s Equity Card from the Asolo Theater Conservatory in Sarasota, FL. He has played leading and supporting roles in musical, classical, and newer, experimental works. Carlos has appeared on stage in Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, NY and NJ and has appeared with The UCC Players and St. James Players in Montclair.

MARY O'CONNOR-KELLEY	*(Lady Alice More)* has performed at WCP in Follies (Emily Whitman) and The Man Who Came to Dinner (Nurse Preen). Other favorite community theater roles include Mattie Fae in August: Osage County, the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Helen Potts in Picnic, and Vi Moore in Footloose. Many thanks to Jeanne, the rest of the production team, and fellow cast members for this wonderful experience, and to David and Erin for their support and encouragement.

RACHEL BRENNAN	*(Lady Margaret More)* is very excited to be making her acting debut in A Man for All Seasons! She sends so much love and thanks to her family - Tomas, Kieran, and Oliver - for always encouraging her to pursue new goals and being her biggest supporters!

ERIC WILLIAMS	*(Cardinal Wosley)* is grateful to be making his first appearance at WCP and thanks the cast, crew and especially the director for this opportunity and their support. His recent personal accomplishments are 3 offspring of whom he is incredibly proud.

MARC LeBLANC	*(Thomas Cromwell)* is thrilled to be making his Westfield Players debut after a 16-year absence from theater. He was last seen as Tito Mirelli in Lend Me a Tenor in 2007. Other favorites include Elyot in Private Lives, Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, Felix in The Odd Couple, Beauregard in Auntie Mame, Jonathan in Arsenic and Old Lace, Bill Sykes in Oliver!, and 40 years ago, Marc played Richard Rich in A Man For All Seasons!

DAVID CIAMPICHINI	*(Signor Chapuys)* is a university level instructor and professional artist. Among other productions, he has appeared in The Mousetrap and The Miracle Worker.

CHUCK WORTHINGTON	*(William Roper)* is delighted to be back onstage for the first time in 16 years. Off-Off-Broadway credits include Fool in King Lear (with Arthur French), Valentine in Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Ottavio in Scapino. Chuck also starred in the award-winning movie Film School Confidential. He would like to thank his gorgeous wife, Rebecca, and his three wacky kids, Charlie, Elvis, and Sylvie, for their encouragement and support. I love you all more than the whole world.

BRIAN MADDEN	*(King Henry VIII)* was introduced to the acting experience in the role of Sonny Lantieri in his high school spring musical of Grease in 2003. A decade later, he enrolled at New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts and graduated through the acting program in 2016. Most recently, Brian performed in Alex Bernstein's The Hamlet Experience in New York City and William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet with the St. James Players in Upper Montclair.

JEAN KURAS	*(A Woman)* is delighted to return to this lovely theater. She is so pleased to be with such a talented community of actors and crew. Special thanks to Jeanne for creating “a play for all seasons.”

DAVID BAKER	*(Thomas Cranmer)* is a founding member of the improv troupe "Whatever, Dad," which has put on shows in New Jersey and New York. In February, he will be performing in a one-act play festival at the Tank theater in New York. By day, he teaches Shakespeare and Renaissance literature at Rutgers University and has written about More.

JAMES McARTHUR	*(Attendant)* is so thrilled to be back onstage once again after a very long pandemic hiatus. He was last seen in WCP's 2019 production of Follies as Kevin the waiter. He is usually seen with Community Access Unlimited during their annual show, which will hopefully start again very soon. His favorite CAU shows are Hairspray and Aladdin, for which he was the title character. He volunteers in NYC with TDF for sensory friendly Broadway performances. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Production Staff
JEANNE JOHNSTON	*(Director)* directed The Late Christopher Bean for WCP in 2019 and earned a 2022 Perry Award nomination for Outstanding Production of a Play for directing Talley’s Folly at Summit Playhouse. In April, she’ll be directing The Outsider for Somerset Valley Players. She’s also an internationally produced playwright and a third- tier reviewer for AACT’s NewPlayFest.

KAY MACRAE	*(Producer)* received a second Perry Award nomination for Outstanding Production of a Play for WCP's production of Angel Street. She has been a member of WCP....singing, acting, board, and enjoying it all. Her production credits include Olympus on my Mind, Little Mary Sunshine, Mister Roberts, Play On!...to mention just a few. Kay is currently the facilities chairperson, she is also on the board of The Musical Club of Westfield."

PETER CURLEY	*(Stage Manager)is delighted to be back at WCP. He previously staged managed Play On!* in 2021 and The Dining Room in 2020 here. Other SM credits from other theaters include Bright Star, Death by Design, Grease, Talley’s Folly, A Doll's House, Part 2, The Humans, The Glass Menagerie, The Comedy of Errors, She Loves Me, Parallel Lives, and Gurl What a Drag.

JEAN LIOY	*(Director of Performances / Properties Set Decor)* Jean is a retired professor of microbiology at Union County College and also Rutgers/UMDNJ. She also has been a consultant with the NJ Office Of Homeland Security in the area of bioterrorism and emergency preparedness. Being new to WCP, she is very thankful for the opportunity to learn about the backstage world of the theater. Jean currently serves on the Board of Directors as Director of Performance. Most recently Jean has been nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Properties in a Play for On Borrowed Time.

DON SCHLACHTER	*(Lighting Designer/Operator/FX)* has, for the past 50+ years, helped create the sets and designed and operated lighting, sound, and special effects for more than 200 shows for community theaters, high schools, and middle schools. His credits include the sets and lighting for the A.C.T. award-winning Gill St. Bernard’s Community Players and five Perry Award nominations for lighting design, as well as two nominations for sound design for his work with various NJ community theater.

KAREN DiFABIO	*(Playbill/Marketing)* Karen made her acting debut as Nurse Flinn in WCP's production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and then appeared in The Man Who Came to Dinner. She also assisted her time to assist Ed Bontempo with costumes. Karen currently serves on the Board of Directors as Director of Playbill and Marketing. .

STEVE LEMENILLE	(Webmaster / Publicity) Steve has directed WCP's productions of Dial 'M' for Murder, A View from the Bridge, the comedy Squabbles, {p r o o f}, Barefoot in the Park, A Thousand Clowns, And Then There Were None, Mister Roberts. And last season, The Runner Stumbles. In 2013 Steve was nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for OUSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY for {proof}. He also has appeared in six consecutive productions here at WCP. Steve has been involved in theatre since his college days at Jersey City State. He is a retired Social Studies teacher and Drama Director of 29 years with the Hackensack Public Schools. Steve was also a MFA candidate at Montclair State. He has acted with Tower Players and the Opera Workshop of Jersey City, StageCrafters (Fairlawn), and Bergen County Players. He has also acted in dinner theatre for Regal Productions. Some of the roles he portrayed were: Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank (Tower Players), the Grandfather in The Long Christmas Dinner (Tower Players), Ulysses in Tiger At The Gates (Tower Players), Paul Verrall in Born Yesterday (Bergen County Players), Paul in Barefoot in the Park (Fairlawn), and Michael in Second Time Around and the Inspector Paul Sevigne in A Shot In The Dark (Regal Productions) and the Grandfather in Kurt Wiell's Down in the Valley (Opera Workshop). Steve portrayed Theseus in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stanley in Death of a Salesman, The Magistrate in Fools, and Gen. Oscar Fairfax in Little Mary Sunshine and Kilroy in Don't Drink the Water, and most recently as Daniel in Almost, Maine…all for WCP. Steve was nominated for a 2009 NJACT Perry Award for OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER for his role as the Magistrate in Fools. His directorial credits include: You Can't Take It with You, Harvey, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Gramercy Ghost, George Washington Slept Here, L'il Abner, The King & I, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, The Diary of Anne Frank, Our Town, South Pacific, The Music Man, Rehearsal for Death (all for HMS), Dial 'M' for Murder (Stagecrafters/WCP). Steve was nominated for two (2) 2012 NJACT Perry Awards for OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (As Producer for Rehearsal for Murder) and as OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY (Rehearsal for Murder). Steve was also nominated for two (2) NJACT 2011 Perry Awards: OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR in a Play for his role as Justice Lawrence Wargrave in Main Street Theatre's production of And Then There Were None, and OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR in a Play for his role as Isaac Cohen in Westfield Community Players production of Abie's Irish Rose. Steve is the immediate Past-President of WCP, as well as, the webmaster here at WCP. Steve wishes to thank his wife, JoAnne, for getting him back involved with theatre. "Without her support and love, I can accomplish little. Thank you dear!!" Steve also thanks Sherrie Ahlin and Drude Roessler for making his WCP experiences very special. A special note of thanks to Katie, Mike, JoAnne, Glenn, Bill, Ed Whitman and Ed Bontempo for their contributions at WCP. And of course special thanks to this Cast/Crew for their hard work and love of theatre. Steve has also performed at the Grove Street Theater in Montclair performing in Apricot Productions' 1-act series. Also, he has appeared in a series of monologues entitled Sex, Relationships and Sometimes… Love at The Old Library Theater, Main Street Theater Company; and at the Producer's Club and the Jerry Orbach Theater, both off-Broadway, NYC. Steve also directed Harper Lee's classic To Kill A Mockingbird and Sharr White's The Other Place at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) on the Hamilton Stage, in Rahway, NJ for Fearless Productions. Steve was inducted into NJACT's Hall of Fame for Directing. Steve was recently awarded with the David P. McMenemie Award from NJACT at the 2022 Perry Awards.

ALAEXANDRA BYRNE	*(Box Office)* Alexandra is a member of the Board of Directors. She is serving as our Box Office Director.

ED BONTEMPO	*(Costumes)* Aside from portraying the role of Beverly Carlton in the production of The Man Who Came to Dinner, Ed has taken on the responsibility of being the costumer, including hair and make-up for this production. Ed Bontempo in 2018 received two NJACT Perry Award Nominations: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Mister Roberts and Outstanding Costume Design of a Play Mister Roberts. He was the recipient of Outstanding Costume Design. As of our 2018-2019 season, Mr. Bontempo was nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Costuming of a Musical for Follies

KATHY VICCARI	*(Stage Crew)* worked props for WCT's The Dining Room and acted in The Late Christopher Bean and last season's Play On! She has also appeared with the Maplewood Strollers, Seton Hall's Theater-in-the-Round and the Light Opera of Manhattan. A shout-out to all those providing the creative and friendly atmosphere of WCT!

LINDA CORRELL	*(Set Construction Chairperson)* has been involved in theater for many years in and around New Jersey and New York. It is a pleasure working with this talented group. Thank you to Jeanne, our wonderful director, and WCP for staging A Man for All Seasons. Linda built the sets for Black Coffee, The Dining Room, Play it Again, Sam, and Play On!, and is proficient in stage pyrotechnics. A performer since she was 13, she has played Abby in Musical of Musicals, the Musical (Nutley Little Theater), Lillian Le Fleur in Nine! (UCPAC), Carla in Phantom of the Opera (UCPAC), Marta in Thumbs! (Bergen County Players/world premiere). Her absolute favorite role is John’s “other half”. AML, AML