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RSVP Community Theatre’s Production of MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, July-‐August 2015, Asheboro, NC; www.rsvptheatre.org

Meet the Company of RSVP’s Production of

Monty Python’s Spamalot!

The Cast : Sammie Joe Baltes (Laker Girl/Frenchie) is excited to spend another summer with RSVP! She has been seen in numerous RSVP productions including Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, and The Sound of Music. Sammie Joe was most recently seen tapping for scholarships in Dancing with the Randolph Stars. “Many thanks and lots of love to my Squad!”

Karissa Carpenter (Laker Girl/Frenchie) is an upcoming freshman and cheerleader at Catawba College with a major in theatre and psychology. She has been in various RSVP productions including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Annie Get Your Gun, The Sound of Music, and The Wizard of Oz. She is honored to be involved with such a wonderful cast. “It has truly been an amazing experience.”

Casey Daniel (Sir Robin) is so happy to be a part of Spamalot as his first production here at RSVP. He wants to thank his family, friends, and professors for pushing him to work hard. He would also like to add "Chipotle is love, Chipotle is life." Lydia Davis (Lady of the Lake) is a graduate of UNCG where she was involved in Women's Glee and the acapella group, the UNCG Sapphires. This is her first show with RSVP and she is excited about the opportunity! She thanks the cast, crew, and production staff for a wonderful and fun-‐filled experience!


Reagan England (Laker Girl/Frenchie), 18 years old, plans to attend UNC-‐Charlotte this fall. This is Reagan’s 5th RSVP performance; she’s also participated in multiple RYTC and PGHS productions. She thanks her parents for always supporting her in all her activities, especially her mom and her castmates and crew for making this production such a wonderful experience. “Break a leg, everyone!”

Erich Hartman (Not Dead Fred): Spamalot is Erich’s sixth show, and second with RSVP. “I thank my mom and dad for supporting me during this production, and also thank Jim and Daniel for the opportunity.” Erich will be attending RCC for two years, then transfer to either UNC Charlotte or UNC Pembroke.

Bethany Kidd (Laker Girl/Frenchie) is 19 years old, currently attending Randolph Community College. This is her fifth production with RSVP. She is a member of the local improvisational comedy troupe Operation Improv! as well as a veteran of the local youth theatre, RYTC. “Spamalot has been a wild ride full of new experiences, including tap-‐dancing, shlip-‐shlapping, and French-‐taunting. Thanks to the cast and crew for making this show fantastic!”

Mark Lane (King Arthur): This is Mark’s debut with RSVP Community Theatre. He was most recently seen as Caiaphas in Gallery Players’ production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Other favorite roles include Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q, Utterson in Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical, and Stone in City of Angels. Originally from Pittsburgh, Mark is President of Camelot Construction in Greensboro.

Shannon Lowe (Laker Girl/Frenchie) is overjoyed to be a part of this production. The cast may be small but Spamalot is one the biggest and most unusual shows she’s ever been a part of. She thanks everyone involved for helping bring it to life. Special thanks to her family and friends for their constant support and patience. “Please enjoy and Avante!!”


Jason Mandara (Historian, French Guard, Concorde, Sir Bors) is appearing in his first RSVP production after a lengthy hiatus from theater. He holds a minor in Theater Arts and is thrilled to finally be back on stage. He is especially excited to get the chance to showcase his love of Monty Python!

Brad McBride (Sir Lancelot, French Taunter, Black Knight, Tim the Enchanter) is a musical theatre major and dance minor at Greensboro College, where he was last seen on stage as Tristano in A Company of Wayward Saints. This is his 4th show with RSVP. He is thrilled to be spending his summer with the cast and crew and his #squad. He would like to thank his family and friends for the never-‐ending love and support. Bridgett McPherson (Laker Girl/Frenchie) is a recent graphic design graduate from Randolph Community College. She has performed in musicals such as Annie and Seussical with High Point Community Theatre, but this will be her first time performing with the wonderful people of RSVP. She wishes to dedicate her performances to her family and the #squad. Jahmina Ollison (Laker Girl/Frenchie) is a 16-‐year-‐old rising junior at Randolph Early College High School. Spamalot is her first production with RSVP; when she was in 7th grade she read The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by Sir James Knowles. When she graduates she wants to go to UNCSA to study film directing.

Adam Plant (Dennis, Sir Galahad, Herbert): Last seen in W-‐S Theatre Alliance’s production of Tarzan, Adam is happy to be performing again in his hometown! Other favorite roles include The Lion in Winter (John), The Fantasticks (The Mute), and Twelfth Night (Sebastian). When not onstage, Adam is a full-‐time grad student in divinity school. He would like to thank the cast and crew for a fantastic experience!


Philip Shore (Sir Bedevere, Mother, Father, Sundry and Otherwise): “From Pinafore to Spamalot, from Eugene to W.O., my life is a list of titles and characters and infinite jest. Poor Yorick might be, alas, finite, but old Philip is a lad ongoing. Thank YOU!!!”

Paul Smith (Patsy) is 18 years old and a second year dramatic arts major at UNC Chapel Hill. He was last seen onstage as C in Company Carolina's production of Mark O'Rowe's Terminus. Big thanks to his family and Emily Hagstrom for their tremendous love and support. “Enjoy, all!”

Rachel Thomas (Laker Girl/Frenchie) is 19 years old and a sophomore in college. This is her fifth RSVP musical. She would like to thank her mother for putting up with her crazy schedule and her family for putting up with her! J Paul Way (Kevin, Knight of Ni) is an 18-‐year-‐old, recent high school and community college graduate, and plans on attending High Point University in the fall. He has had the joy of participating in RSVP productions as both an actor and working tech, and is a charter member of the local improvisational comedy troupe Operation Improv! He would also like to tell Mitch that he is off the hook, "enjoy the show!"

The Artistic Staff: Jim Langer (Director) has been RSVP's 3-‐Knight Dog: Don Quixote, and Kings Henry II and Arthur (all requiring some bucks shot to make him look regal; the Knights of Ni have them now). He has been in comedies and dramas in his home states of CT and NC, worked a professional clown, and has recently directed for RSVP a Neil Simon play, two Shakespeare plays, and the annual Christmas Carol staged reading of his adaptation (portraying Scrooge, as well). He is beholden to his wife and children, and to Daniel, Jim, and especially Anna for helping flesh out the Pythons' nutty ideas. This cast is bravely game, and some even a little gamey!


Daniel Kosel (Music Director), a recent UNC-‐Greensboro graduate and chorus teacher at SWRHS, is happy to be a part of his first RSVP production! Growing up in Charlotte, he first fell in love with Tech theatre. As a lover of puns and bad jokes, Daniel has been looking for a show to fit the bill (and seems to have found his Grail). He was last seen in the SWRHS production of The Music Man, where he was Vocal Coach and also played the role of Jacey Squires. He would like to thank the production staff for all of their work, especially his accompanist Lisa Johnson.

Jim Shover (Choreographer) has directed and choreographed extensively across the Triad and the East Coast; he owned and operated a dance studio over for 20 years. Currently the Middle School Theater Arts instructor at Penn Griffin School for the Arts, he recently directed and choreographed Jesus Christ Superstar in Mt. Airy and The Nifty Fifties in Asheboro. Other direction/ choreography credits include Children of Eden, The Sound of Music, Anything Goes, Annie, The King and I, My Fair Lady, Carousel, Li’l Abner, and Gypsy. An annual highlight is working with the Summer Arts Institute of Guilford County Schools. About Spamalot, Jim says: “It is exciting to work

with this talented group of people and to share the stage with them. BREAK A LEG!”

Lisa Johnson (Rehearsal Accompanist) has been playing for RSVP since 1987. She is a music teacher with Chatham County Schools and is the organist for the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Asheboro.

Anna Way (Stage Manager) recently graduated from RCC with an Associate in Science, and is looking forward to a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering. After two years of stage-‐managing for RSVP, she has made some great memories with some wonderful people. She would like to thank all of her RSVP pals for their friendship, support, and love. "Take an umbrella, it's raining." Alyssa Murkin (Costume Director) has appeared on stage in 3 RSVP productions; she loves being with this community of people no matter how she can help. This is her first time heading up the costuming of a show, and there couldn't have been a more fun or challenging show to keep everyone clothed than during Spamalot! #squadlife


The Crew: Shane Hicks (Sound Technician) is a local poet, activist, and student at UNC-‐Greensboro who spends his summers working behind the scenes for RSVP. This will be his second time working on Spamalot, but he is excited to see the differences and fall in love with the soundtrack and musical all over again.

Elaina Hunter (Stage Crew): "Spamalot is one of many plays I’ve done backstage work for. I love the theatre; if I can't be on the stage then I'm backstage helping wherever needed. Looking forward to working with such an amazing group of people. Thank you for this opportunity."

Scott Hunter (Stage Crew): “Once again happy to be spending my summer building sets for RSVP. I suspect 4 years running almost qualifies me as a professional. Keep an eye out for me in RSVP's upcoming production of Macbeth.” Scott Murkin (Props Master) is a member of RSVP’s Advisory Committee and has previously appeared in The Curious Savage, Twelfth Night, Midsummer Night's Dream, and A Christmas Carol, along with frequently helping behind the scenes. He is the medical director at Hospice of Randolph County as well as a textile artist.

Brandon Rancourt (Stage Crew) is an Early College student at RCC. New to community theatre, Brandon got the idea to join from his experience in his past English class where he played Romeo in a project – and at the end of the day was nominated as one of the best performers in the class. He was recently cast in RSVP's upcoming Macbeth.


Karie Russell (Spotlight Operator): “I’m thrilled to be working with my 8th RSVP production. I love the theater and the many ways to get involved, but I love to perform so I hope to get back on stage in future productions. I encourage people interested in trying something new, to come out and audition or help in some way. I promise, it will be time well spent.” Jaden Skelly (Assistant to the Stage Manager) has had a blast shadowing Anna Way and learning how to be a stage manager. She is so excited to be working behind the scenes for the first time on such a fun show as Spamalot. She hopes you all enjoy the show.

Kaitlin Smith (Light Technician): Kaitlin was last seen on RSVP’s stage as Olivia in last summer’s production of Twelfth Night. A huge fan of Monty Python and Spamalot, she is excited to be working on this show with her brother Paul. (“We're doing Spamalot, bro! WHOO!”) Fun fact: The airspeed velocity of an unladen European swallow is about 10 m/s.

L-‐R, back row: Bridgett McPherson, Rachel Thomas, Jahmina Ollison, SammieJoe Baltes.

Middle row: Brad McBride, Paul Smith, Erich Hartman, Lydia Davis, Mark Lane, Casey Daniel, Jason Mandara, Paul Way, Adam Plant. Front row, sitting: Reagan England, Shannon Lowe.


Spamalot ’s Exceptional Orchestra :

L-‐R: Daniel Kosel, Director; Steve Ware, Bass; Michael Monroe, Guitar; Justin Gerringer, Trombone; Lisa Johnson, Piano; Suzanne Benhart, Flute and Saxophone; Kenny Butler, Trumpet; Drew Leib, Drums.

[not shown: Bernie Hall, trombone]

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