Put on by the Advanced Drama Studies course.
In this class, junior and senior students have an onstage and offstage role in a full-length production of a dramatic work of their choosing.
MATCHMAKER SCENES
Location: New York, early 1880’s
Act 1- Vandergelder’s house in Yonkers, N.Y. (Morning)
Act 2- Mrs. Molloy’s hat shop, New York (Mid-day)
Act 3- The Harmonia Gardens Restaurant on the Battery (Afternoon)
Act 4- Ms. Van Huysen’s house (Night)
Cast
Will Black – Ambrose Kemper the Fiancé
Madison Cavin – Ms. Flora Van Huysen the Spinster
Kaleb Cruz – Cornelius Hackl the Chief Clerk
Vander England – Horace “Wolf-trap” Vandergelder the Miserly Businessman
Hanna Fritz – Bitsy the Van Huysen Cook
Joe Froslid – Barnaby Tucker the Junior Clerk
Josh Handy – Rudolph the Head Waiter
Karis Jarvis – Minnie the Hat Shop Employee
Anna Jones – Gertrude the Vandergelder Housekeeper
Madelyn Jones – Mrs. Irene Molloy the Hat Shop Owner
Jeremy Kang – Luigi the Musician
Isaac LoCascio – Joe Scanlon the Barber and Mario the Musician
Kennedi McClure – Ermengarde the Crying Niece
Alainna Norris – August the Waiter
Laynie Rienow – Mrs. Dolly Levi the Matchmaker
Christian Ruch – Malachi Stack the Sketchy Apprentice
Parker Storm – Josie the Cabwoman
Production Staff
Director – Mr. Steven Mantel
Producer – Mrs. Corbett Burick
Technical Director/Merchandising Coordinator – Ms. Rachael Burick
Set Design & Construction – Mr. Joshua Burick
Set Design Assistants – Mrs. Susie Cassel, Mrs. Sharon Holtrop
Costume Director – Mrs. Nancy Burick
Hair & Makeup Coordinator – Mrs. Leah Rinker
Props & Furnishing Advisor – Mrs. Angela Broman
Ticket Coordinator – Mrs. Julie Jones
Logo Design – Madison Storm
crews
Costumes – Hanna Fritz, Karis Jarvis, Jeremy Kang, Alainna Norris
Props – Kaleb Cruz, Josh Handy, Madlyn Jones
Publicity & Merchandising – Anna Jones, Kennedi McClure, Parker Storm
Tech – Madison Cavin, Vander England, Laynie Rienow
Set – Will Black, Joe Froslid, Isaac LoCascio, Christian Ruch
Hair & Make-Up – Olivia Barlow, Lily Brummel, Caroline Nogle, Michaela Ziman
Cast bios
WILL BLACK (Ambrose Kemper the Fiancé) – Senior
Will Black has been part of the Academy Theatre throughout his entire high school career. Most recently he was seen as John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Theodore Laurence the Third in Little Women, and many others.
MADISON CAVIN (Ms. Flora Van Huysen the Spinster) – Senior
Madison has enjoyed performing at the Academy Theatre for four years and most recently performed as Durdles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She would love to thank her mom, dad, and brother, Tyson, for their constant love and encouragement! She also thanks her close friends and fellow cast for their support, as well as her directors for their wisdom and guidance.
KALEB CRUZ (Cornelius Hackl the Chief Clerk) – Senior
Kaleb Cruz would like to thank his friends and family for stopping him from pursuing a career in clowning and instead giving theatre a try. This will be Kaleb’s final show at the Academy Theatre, and he is excited to make his closing performance alongside his best friends. Thank you to all for coming, and to all good morning, good afternoon, and good night!
VANDER ENGLAND (Horace “Wolf-trap” Vandergelder the Miserly Businessman) – Junior You may remember Vander from the Furnace Company promo video, where he played “Dancer #4.” Or that other WATV segment. He would like to thank his dog, Milly, for always listening to him when no one else would. He would also like to thank Sid from the Ice Age series of movies for being his comedic inspiration. Furthermore, he would like to thank the lamp in his kitchen.
HANNA FRITZ (Bitsy the Van Huysen Cook) – Senior
Hanna Fritz is very excited to be performing in her eighth Academy Theatre production, The Matchmaker. She has been in theatre productions since fourth grade, but audiences may remember her best as a nun in both the Advanced Drama’s Much Ado About Nothing last year, and in this year’s spring musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, or as the fiery Clarissa in the fall production of Little Women. Hanna would like to thank her parents for their love and support, Mrs. Burick and Mrs. Woelfel for taking a chance on her, and God for being with her every step of the way.
JOE FROSLID (Barnaby Tucker the Junior Clerk) – Junior
Joe Froslid has been in many Academy Theatre shows in the past such as The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Little Women, The Addams Family, and Beauty and the Beast. He is very excited to be a part of The Matchmaker and has had a great time working on the show with such a great cast. Joe enjoys the child like innocence of Barnaby and his willingness to go out of his comfort zone and try something new.
JOSH HANDY (Rudolph the Head Waiter) – Senior
Inside sources say that Josh is handsome, funny, and humble. He was also in The Mystery of Edwin Drood as Durdles, where he painted his teeth black. So brave!
KARIS JARVIS (Minnie the Hat Shop Employee) – Junior
Karis has been in the Academy Theatre productions for three years and is extremely excited to perform in the Advanced Drama Class production of The Matchmaker! Audiences may have seen Karis as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, or Princess ‘Pothecary in this past spring’s production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Karis would like to thank her family who has always encouraged her passion for theatre, and also, the Academy Theatre directors who have continually supported her both on and off the stage.
ANNA JONES (Gertrude the Vandergelder Housekeeper) – Senior
Audiences may recognize Anna from her roles as Aunt March in the Academy Theatre’s fall musical Little Women, or more recently as Rosa in the spring musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Anna has always enjoyed the Fine Arts and plans to pursue vocal performance at Taylor University in the fall. Shoutout to her CYT and WBC community, as well as her supportive family and friends for encouraging her through the journey!
MADELYN JONES (Mrs. Irene Molloy the Hat Shop Owner) – Senior
Academy Theatre audiences may remember seeing Madelyn as Les in Newsies, Chip in Beauty and the Beast, Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family, and more recently, as Jo March in Little Women. She would like to thank her parents for their constant support and encouragement, her cast mates for a hilarious and memorable last Academy Theatre show, and Mr. Mantel for making it all possible.
JEREMY KANG (Luigi the Musician) – Senior
Jeremy is excited to bring the musician to life in this production. This role harkens back to when silent films ruled the roost, and non-verbal performance was the primary focus. He hopes you enjoy his melodious comedy. He thanks his family and friends for all the support!
ISAAC LOCASIO (Joe Scanlon the Barber and Mario the Musician) – Junior
Isaac LoCascio is a young British/Italian boy, and he would like to thank his Italian father for his charisma and his British mother for her wisdom. Audiences may remember Isaac in The Mystery of Edwin Drood as Neville Landless the Eyebrow Man.
KENNEDI MCCLURE (Ermengarde the Crying Niece) – Senior
This is Kennedi’s eighth and final show during her four years at the Academy Theatre. She is hoping to minor in theatre next year at Howard University! She wants to thank all her directors at the Academy Theatre for how they’ve shaped her into the person and actress she is today.
ALAINNA NORRIS (August the Waiter) – Senior
Alainna has been a part of nine Academy Theatre shows spanning across her four years at the school, most recently appearing as the Witch in Little Women and Wendy in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, along with many featured dancer roles. Alainna is so incredibly thankful for the opportunities she’s had across the years through Academy Theatre and for the community and family the program has blessed her with, along with the unfathomable amount of support from her parents and sisters.
LAYNIE RIENOW (Mrs. Dolly Levi the Matchmaker) – Senior
Laynie has been a part of Academy Theatre productions since her freshman year. She loves acting, singing, and dancing and is excited to continue to use these gifts at Olivet Nazarene University for the glory of God. She is excited (and sad) to finish out her shows at the Academy Theatre with this exciting play.
CHRISTIAN RUCH (Malachi Stack the Sketchy Apprentice) – Senior
Christian has been a part of the Academy Theatre for three years. Audiences may have seen him most recently in The Mystery of Edwin Drood playing the role of John Jasper. Christian is attending Liberty University in the fall to study Commercial Music. He would like to give a big thank you to Isaac LoCascio for the tireless work and selfless sacrifice that Isaac has poured out to make The Matchmaker happen.
PARKER STORM (Josie the Cabwoman) – Senior
It is bitter-sweet to bring Parker’s year with Academy Theatre to an end. Audiences may have seen her as Meg in the fall production of Little Women or as Helena Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood as well. She is very excited to do one last show with the Academy Theatre! Parker would like to thank her friends and family for the best year; God has been so faithful!