For performances August 18 – 21, the role of Pseudolus will be played by Alan Anderson. 
Dan Murphy is currently receiving medical treatment for acute pancreatitis and will not be performing. Thank you for your well wishes and healing thoughts for his recovery.

CAST

Dan Murphy (Pseudolus) is the founding General Manager of the Broadway Rose Theatre Company and has appeared in many of the company’s shows over the past 24 seasons, most recently as Melvin P. Thorpe in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Man in Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone, and Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (Drammy, PAMTA). He has performed locally with Lakewood Theatre Company, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Magdelyn Theater, and Pixie Dust Productions.

Ethan Crystal (Hero) was most recently seen as Will in American Idiot with triangle productions! Other recent roles include J.D. in Heathers: The Musical (triangle productions!/Staged!) and Jamie in The Last Five Years (Oregon Contemporary Theatre). Additional credits: Scooter Thomas, Dog Sees God, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Scotch’n’Soda Theatre); The Beggar’s Opera (Carnegie Mellon University School of Music), The Wiz (CMU School of Drama). Ethan is an a cappella enthusiast; he appeared as the lead singer of Wilsonville High School’s “Soul’d Out” on Season 3 of NBC’s The Sing Off, and spent two years as the arranger/beatboxer of the Hersheypark “Chocafellas.” A Wilsonville native, Ethan studied classical voice and acting at Carnegie Mellon University (B.F.A.). He is honored to make his Broadway Rose debut!

Kaitlyn Sage (Philia) This is Kaitlyn’s first production with Broadway Rose and she could not be more thrilled! Kaitlyn is a graduate from Wright State University with a B.F.A. in musical theatre. As a native from Eugene, OR, she is happy to be back performing on the West Coast. Regional credits include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Anything Goes (The Shedd Institute), Seussical (West Virginia Public Theatre), Peter Pan (La Comedia Dinner Theatre), Sweeney Todd (The Carnegie), Heathers (Staged!/triangle productions!). Off-Broadway credits: Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas (Vital Theatre Company). “Thank you Mom and Dad for all your love and support! I wouldn’t be here without you!”

Joe Theissen (Hysterium) is excited to return to the Broadway Rose stage! He most recently appeared as Pedro in Lakewood Theatre’s production of Man of La Mancha. In addition to performing, Joe is a highly regarded director, musician, and educator. Some recent credits include Heathers: The Musical (triangle productions!/Staged!), Junie B. Jones (Oregon Children’s Theatre), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Broadway Rose), La Cage Aux Folles (Lakewood Theatre Company and Pixie Dust Productions), The Music Man (Broadway Rose), [title of show] (triangle productions!), Beauty & The Beast (Pixie Dust Productions), and It’s a Wonderful Life (Stumptown Stages). Joe has been honored with multiple OTAS, PAMTA and Drammy awards for his work as a performer and director. As an educator, Joe has been a fixture in the Lake Oswego community over the past decade, developing curricula and programs within the L.O. schools.

Mike Dederian (Senex) has appeared at Broadway Rose as Inspector Jarvis in Whodunit…The Musical and as Doolittle’s pal Jamie in My Fair Lady. He has also performed locally in South Pacific (Emile) and Curtains (Oscar) with Lakewood Theatre Company, H.M.S. Pinafore (Dick Deadeye) with Mock’s Crest, and The Tempest (Prospero) and Henry IV Part 1 (Douglas) with Portland Actors Ensemble. In the San Francisco area, his roles have included The Actor (Enter the Guardsman), Robin Oakapple (Ruddigore), Dexter (High Society), Zach (A Chorus Line), Arthur (Camelot), and Tateh (Ragtime), for which he won the regional Shellie Award. Mike is a graduate of Harvey Mudd College and an internationally produced playwright (one play, two countries, it counts); is married to the spectacular Margo Schembre; and once won a contest by reciting pi to 91 digits (well, second place, anyway).

Emily Sahler (Domina) is pleased to return to the Broadway Rose boards, having previously appeared as Mrs. Meers (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Doatsie Mae (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Barbara (The Bikinis – PAMTA, Best Ensemble), and Mrs. Tottendale (The Drowsy Chaperone – Drammy Award, Best Production.) Other favorite roles include Liza #3 (Liza! Liza! Liza!) at triangle productions!, Connie (Jack Goes Boating), Sister Lidwina (Gracie and the Atom), and Bette (The Marriage of Bette and Boo) at Artists Repertory Theatre; Rose (Gypsy), Jack’s Mother (Into the Woods – Drammy Award, Best Production), and Doreen (Tartuffe) at Lakewood Theatre Company; and the Caterpillar (Alice & Wonderland, a Rock Opera) and Ms. Frizzle (The Magic School Bus Live!) at Oregon Children’s Theatre. Television credits: Grimm, Portlandia and Leverage.

Colin Wood (Miles Gloriosus) holds an M.F.A. in Acting from Minnesota State University, Mankato and has worked as an actor with professional theatre companies in Montana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Oregon. In addition to Broadway Rose Theatre, he has performed locally with the Beaverton Civic Theatre, Live On Stage, Tapestry Theatre, the Classic Greek Theatre of Oregon, Lakewood Theatre Company, Staged!, Bag&Baggage Productions, Stumptown Stages, and triangle productions! He has also performed at the Theatre Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland and is an Equity Membership Candidate. Favorite show credits include 110 In The Shade (File), Of Mice and Men (Lennie), Oklahoma! (Jud Fry), The Fantasticks (El Gallo), The Wild Party (Eddie), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), The Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), and The Rainmaker (Starbuck).

Norman Wilson (Lycus) is elated to return to Broadway Rose after a sad, sorrowful two-year absence whilst whittling away all his savings in New York City. Norman scored a Drammy Award for his portrayal of Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone here at Broadway Rose and has also trod these boards in Hairspray, Cats, The Music Man, The Andrews Brothers, and Christmas on Broadway. Other Portland-area roles include Lucentio in Bag&Baggage Production’s Taming of the Shrew, Rod in triangle productions!’ Avenue Q, Madame George in Many Hats Collaborations’ Find Me Beside You, and various roles at Lakewood Theatre Company. Norman dedicates this performance to Rick Lewis and Darcy White, two of his favorite people who inspire him musically and spiritually; and to Tommy, who entertains his every whim and supports any endeavor that allows Norman to work out his schticky tendencies.

Kevin-Michael Moore (Erronius) has been acting, writing, and directing regional theatre for 30-plus years. Some highlights include Inky in The Ghosts of Celilo (PAMTA, Best Supporting Actor) for Pixie Dust Productions/Artists Repertory Theatre, Smee in Peter Pan and Mirror in Snow White for Northwest Children’s Theatre, Sam Byck in Assassins for Artists Repertory Theatre, and Riff Raff in Rocky Horror Show for triangle productions! Kevin has toured nationally with the Third Floor Sketch Comedy troupe, has performed in numerous television programs (including Grimm, Portlandia), and was recently seen in Wild for Fox/Spotlight Films. Kevin is happy to be back at Broadway Rose where he was last seen (ages ago), as Vince Fontaine in Grease.

Deanna Olsen White (Tintinabula) is thrilled to be returning to Broadway Rose a third time; she previously appeared in Chicago and Singin’ in the Rain. She is also delighted to be performing in Forum once again; her musical theatre credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Geminae), The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Cabaret, and Camelot with Pioneer Theater Company in Salt Lake City, UT, where Deanna earned her B.F.A. from the University of Utah. Originally from Covina, California, Deanna began her performing career as a dancer with International Ballet Theater in Philadelphia, Mid Ohio Valley Ballet in West Virginia, and Tatarstan Theater of Opera and Ballet in Russia. She moved to Oregon in 2004 and currently works at The Portland Ballet as an Administrative Assistant, where she continues to take ballet classes several days a week.

Kelsey Bentz (Panacea) is delighted to be making her debut with Broadway Rose this season! Favorite past credits include Heather Chandler in Heathers: The Musical, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, and Kitty in The Drowsy Chaperone. Kelsey will be attending NYU Tisch School of the Arts in the fall. A very special thanks to her parents for their constant support, to her sister, and to her personal sanity-specialist and best friend Pearson.

Krista Monaghan (Geminae) is a graduate of the B.F.A. Musical Theatre program at Central Washington University. Krista was most recently seen in Oklahoma! with Broadway Rose Theatre Company. She has also previously performed with Lakewood Theatre Company, Leavenworth Summer Theatre, Stumptown Stages, and Central Theatre Ensemble. Krista would like to thank her loving husband and family for all of their support and encouragement.

Louise Chambers (Geminae) is excited to be back at Broadway Rose! Most recently she appeared in The 7 Wonders of Ballyknock at Lakewood Theatre Company, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at Broadway Rose, Learn to be Latina at Milagro Teatro, and the 4×4=Musicals as part of Fertile Ground 2014. Past credits include In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play (triangle productions!), The Velveteen Rabbit (Bag&Baggage Productions/Tears of Joy), The Andrews Brothers, Bingo!, and Evita (Broadway Rose); Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (2011, 2013), Curtains, and Oklahoma! (Lakewood Theatre Company).

Laura Hiszczynskyj (Vibrata/Dance Captain) is thrilled to be making her Broadway Rose debut in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum! Laura holds a B.F.A. in ballet from Texas Christian University and an M.F.A. in dance from the University of Oregon. Recent credits include Purity in Anything Goes and Mabel in Three Men on A Horse (Lakewood Theatre Company). Laura has performed at the Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), the Joyce SoHo (New York), and on the National Tours of Sesame Street Live and SwingDance America. She has choreographed over 40 full-length musicals and received Best Choreography OTAS awards for her work on Show Boat and Mame at Lakewood Theatre Company, where she just recently choreographed the musical Nine. Huge thanks to Broadway Rose Theatre Company and much love and gratitude to Dennis, her family, and friends!

Vanessa Elsner (Gymnasia) returns to the Broadway Rose stage after appearing last summer in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other credits include La Cage Aux Folles (Pixie Dust Productions), White Christmas, and Curtains (Lakewood Theater Company).

Collin Carver (Protean) is a cosmetologist at Studio V in Felida, WA, teacher, violinist, as well as a performer. Also playing Prince Nicholas in Little Mermaid (Broadway Rose) this summer, Collin is excited to continue his time at Broadway Rose in this production. Previous roles include Eugene/Teen Angel in Grease (Broadway Rose) (PAMTA Best Supporting Actor Nominee); Elder Shumway in The Book of Merman (triangle productions!); The Fire in Ablaze! (Staged!), an original a cappella musical thriller (four Drammy awards including Outstanding Ensemble and Best Original Musical); Rolf in The Sound of Music (Broadway Rose); Alfred Bell in the original and revival cast of WWII Radio Christmas (Oregon Children’s Theatre); and Barnaby in Sail Away (Lakewood Theatre Company). He hopes his talent, work ethic, character, faith, and love for the arts and entertainment, will make him, a household name. facebook.com/HairGravitation

Joey Klei (Protean) is excited to be returning to Broadway Rose Theatre Company with this magnificent and hilarious cast! Joey was last seen working the Broadway Rose boards in last summer’s Thoroughly Modern Millie. Previous Broadway Rose credits include C.J. Scruggs in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Brother Dan in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Joey has worked with the following Portland area theatre companies: Lakewood Theatre Company (a sailor in Anything Goes, Drop Dead Fred/Prince Herbert in Spamalot, Carmen Ghia in The Producers, Deputy in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie), Clackamas Repertory Theatre (Gremio in Kiss Me, Kate and Bobby in Cabaret), and Northwest Children’s Theatre and School (LaFou in Beauty and the Beast and Phineous Trout in Willy Wonka). Performing with Broadway Rose has been such a joy for him and he hopes you will enjoy the show!

Raphael Likes (Protean) This is Raphael’s first season with Broadway Rose, and he is very grateful to be here. He was born and raised in the Portland area, a true Oregonian! He thanks his mom and dad for giving him such wonderful support. He started getting into theatre while attending Hillsboro High School and never looked back! He’s performed with local community theatres and in productions of Shrek, In The Heights, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Soul Harmony, and many more. Raphael is hoping to further his performing career at Disney and in New York in the near future.

Thursday, August 4, 7:30 PM PREVIEW
Friday, August 5, 7:30 PM OPENING NIGHT
Saturday, August 6, 7:30 PM
Sunday, August 7, 2:00 PM–Limited Availability

Thursday, August 11, 7:30 PM
Friday, August 12, 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 13, 2:00 PM—Post show talk-back*
Saturday, August 13, 7:30 PM
Sunday, August 14, 2:00 PM

Thursday, August 18, 7:30 PM
Friday, August 19, 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 20, 2:00 PM – Audio description available
Saturday, August 20, 7:30 PM
Sunday, August 21, 2:00 PM

*Talk-backs are free and open to the public. They begin immediately following the first Saturday matinee performance of the mainstage production, and are held in the theater. You do not have to attend the Broadway Rose production in order to attend the talk-back.

Directed and Choreographed by Abe Reybold
Music Direction by Eric Nordin
Assistant Music Director Steven Cantor
Set Design by Sean O’Skea
Costume Design by Elizabeth Poindexter, provided by Music Theatre Wichita
Costume Supervision by Brynne Oster-Bainnson
Lighting Design by Gene Dent
Prop Design by Jim Crino
Sound Design by Brian Moen
Wig Design by Danna Rosedahl
Stage Manager Valory J. Lawrence

Music Director, Conductor Eric Nordin
Piano Caroline D’Ambrosi
Reed I Miette LaPierre
Reed II Eryn Vercammen
Reed III Ward Baxter
Trumpet Levis Dragulin
Trombone Al Torres
Bass Amy Roesler
Percussion I Dianna Hnatiw
Percussion II Christy Kuiken

Get Your Laugh On at A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, at Broadway Rose
by Krista Garver
BroadwayWorld.com, August 10, 2016
…a  practically flawless execution of a show whose success depends on precise comedic timing and a big bear-hug embrace of the melodramatic… Read more.

‘Forum’: We love to laugh
by Christa Morletti McIntyre
ArtsWatch, August 9, 2016
Broadway Rose’s cast is drawn from a deep voice and dance talent pool of actors who’ve appeared in many of this year’s hits around town….Read more.

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum @ Broadway Rose
by Kristopher Haines
The Crippled Critic, August 9, 2016
Go see Broadway Rose flex their muscles once again, but in an entirely different way… Read more.

A VERY Funny Thing Happening at Deb Fennell Auditorium
by Tina Arth
Westside Theatre Reviews, August 8, 2016
Do yourself a big favor and allow Broadway Rose to temporarily transport you to a singing, dancing world of harmless horseplay with something for everyone, where everything is both funny and fun… Read more.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum—Broadway Rose
by Dennis Sparks
Theatre Reviews by Dennis Sparks, August 8, 2016
Picture the Three Stooges or the Marx Bros. running rampant in old Rome and you have a pretty good idea of what’s in store for you… Read more.

Expect Dan Murphy to be pretty darn funny in Broadway Rose’s ‘Forum’
By Barbara Sherman
The Times, July 28, 2016
Yes, Tigard’s favorite character actor — he has played such memorable roles as Melvin P. Thorpe in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” Alfred P. Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” and Edna Turnblad in “Hairspray” — will be entertaining audiences again in August...Read more.

Stephen Sondheim’s ancient Roman farce has “something for everyone” at Broadway Rose
by Lee Williams
The Oregonian, July 25, 2016
Mostly, Sondheim is serious business…Broadway Rose’s production of “A Funny Thing” gives a rare glimpse into the Broadway bard’s big, broad sense of humor… Read more.

Like the fusion that became musical theatre, Forum is a marvelous blend of history and performance. It’s a riff on the ancient Roman comedies of Plautus (a lot of master and slave shenanigans). It has the extravagant absurdity of French farce and the physical humor of commedia dell’arte as seen through the bawdy, shameless, and very American lenses of Vaudeville and Burlesque. Even its title derives from a line often used by vaudeville comedians to begin a joke: “A funny thing happened on the way to the theater.”

But don’t let the silliness fool you. The craft applied and care taken to create this nugget of escapism was provided by many of our country’s greatest theatre artists. Hal Prince, Jerome Robbins, George Abbott, Jack Cole, Zero Mostel, Burt Shevelove, and Larry Gelbart were all connected to the show. And it has the distinction of being the first musical on Broadway in which Stephen Sondheim wrote both the music and lyrics. You may have heard his lyrics in West Side Story earlier this summer and I am thrilled for you to experience Sondheim’s first full score loaded with dexterity, buoyancy, and life.

And what an exciting, celebratory season this is at Broadway Rose! I cut my director/ choreographer “teeth” at this theatre and thanks to Dan Murphy and Sharon Maroney I’ve had many opportunities to truly stretch and grow. It’s wonderful to be back again, making theatre and working with so many old and new friends. Love is what kicks Forum’s plot into action and causes the protagonist to take continuous stabs toward freedom. I have experienced an abundance of love and artistic freedom here and am very grateful. Happy 25th Anniversary Broadway Rose! Comedy tonight!!

– Abe Reybold