CONNECTICUT: The Pizza Capital of the United States!
To us native nutmeggers - (look it up) - we have many things to be proud of. Among our many accomplishments/recognitions, and certainly most recent, was our being named the Pizza Capital of the US.
The CT "Pizza Wars" are well-known and Stamford boasts more pizza places that nail salons (I think), so what better show to highlight as the first musical of 2025 than the rags to riches story of a previously little-known pizza joint in Mystic CT.
Many of us our familiar with the film version of Mystic Pizza which propelled Julia Roberts to stardom. Among her fellow supporting cast mates where many CT residents - some UConn friends of mine included. A fan of the film, I was very excited when I learned of this stage adaptation being launched a few years back and was even more excited to hear that the show included hit tunes of the period rather than having a whole new score written for it.
In these dark (but getting lighter) days of winter, a fun and tune-filled musical like Mystic Pizza seemed like the perfect choice for now. I hope you enjoy it!
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US!
Sincerely,
Lou Ursone
Executive Director
Curtain Call, Inc.
MYSTIC PIZZA
Book written by Sandy Rustin
Based on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Motion Picture
With Story and Characters by Amy Holden Jones
Musical Arrangements and Orchestrations by Carmel Dean
Set Design | Lighting Design Peter Petrino | |
Costume Design Robin Mazzola | Production Stage Manager Stacy Lupo | |
Choreographer | Music Director Ben Doyle |
Producer
Lou Ursone
Director
Meredith Walker
Developed by Lively McCabe Entertainment and Concord Theatricals.
2021 World Premiere Production Produced by Ogunquit Playhouse, Ogunquit, ME. Bradford T. Kenney, Executive Artistic Director, Kent Bridges, Managing Director.
Subsequently Developed by:
The Adirondack Theater Festival Producing Artistic Director: Miriam Weisfeld
JoJo Barboza
Nancy Leville
Daisy Arujo
Sydney Kishimoto
Kat Arujo
Karina Brea
Leona Silvia
Cheryl D'Onofrio
Bill Montijo
Jimmy Meisterich
Charles Gordon Windsor Jr
Robert Halliwell
Tim Travers
Matt Spina
Ensemble
Tommy DeSalvo, Elijah Donahue,
Faith Fernandez, Lauren Garafano,
Dainelle Testori-Gartner, Jay Reyes
Producer
Lou Ursone
Director
Meredith Walker
Music Director
Ben Doyle
Choreographer
Lauren Nicole Sherwood
Set Design
Martin Scott Marchitto
Lighting Design
Peter Petrino
Costume Design
Robin Mazzola
Production Stage Manager
Stacy Lupo
Technical Director
Wayne Yeager
Assistant Stage Managers
Brent McKinley, Olivia Lapine
Production Assistant
Meghan Connolly
Sound Engineer
Neil Flores
Bruce MacNair
Running Crew
Hunter Brady, Rainy Broomfield,
Neil Flores, Donna Fox Bianco,
Elayne Gordon, Karen Heck,
Cara Kramer, Kelly Nayden,
Amy Plent, Misha Polonsky
Keyboard 1 / Conductor
Ben Doyle
Keyboard 1 / Conductor (Fridays)
Clay Zambo
Percussion
Brian Coralian
Guitar
Gary Kristoph
Bass
Nick Macri
Keyboard 2 / Saxophone
Kate Testani
Guitar
Nick Zavaglia
ACT I
Small Town
Full Company
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Daisy, Jo & Kat
Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Playoff)
Leona, Daisy, Jo & Kat
Lost In Your Eyes
Kat & Ensemble
Addicted To Love
Bill, Joe, Daisy, Kat, Charlie, The Lobster Roles, Ensemble
Take My Breath Away
Bill, Jo & Ensemble
Into The Mystic
Tim & Kat
Small Town (Reprise 1)
Mrs. Arujo, Frank, Bonnie eJ Mariana
Small Town (Reprise 2)
Mrs.Arujo eJ Ensemble
The Power of Love
Charlie, Bill, Tim, Daisy, Jo, Kat & Ensemble
I Think We’re Alone Now
Daisy, Charlie, Jo, Bill & Female Ensemble
Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Reprise)
Daisy, Jo, Kat & Female Ensemble
I'm The Only One
Daisy
Hold On
Full Company
There will be a 15-minute intermission.
ACT II
Manic Monday
Full Company
Manic Monday (Playoff)
Full Company
When I See You Smile
Tim & Kat
True Colors
Daisy & Kat
All I Need Is a Miracle/You Keep Me Hangin’ On
Daisy, Kat, Jo, Leona & Endemble
Small Town (Reprise 3)
Leona, Kat & Jo
Hit Me with Your Best Shot
Charlie & Daisy
Mad About You
Jo & Bill
Hold On (Reprise)
Kat
All I Need Is a Miracle/You Keep Me Hangin’ On (Reprise)
Jo, Kat, Daisy & Leona
Never Gonna Give You Up
Frank, Jo, Kat, Leona, Bill & Ensemble
Please Forgive Me
Charlie, Daisy & Ensemble
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
Full Company
Bows
Full Company
KARINA BREA (Kat Arujo) is beyond excited for her first show at Curtain Call. Recent roles include Carla (Nina u/s) in In the Heights (Downtown Cabaret Theater), Crissy in Hair (Fairfield Center Stage), Sandy Dumbrowski in Grease (Wilton Playshop), Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Wilton Playshop), and Little Red in Into the Woods (Marist College). She’d like to thank all of the hands who came together to build this “Small Town”, her family for supporting her busy life, and all of her cast mates for the giggles! She hopes you enjoy this classic come to life!
TOMMY DESALVO (Ensemble) is happy to be back on the Curtain Call stage performing with such a great cast and production team. Tommy was last seen as Sonny in Grease at the Wilton Playshop and a cast member in 1776 at Curtain Call. Tommy is on the Board at Curtain Call and has been involved in many shows here both on stage as well as being on the production team including directing their recent production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Tommy is Controller at Childcare Learning Centers of Fairfield County, Inc. as well as the Advisor/Director of Stamford High School's Strawberry Hill Players where he is currently directing 42nd Street! He would like to thank his friends and family for their constant love and support.
ELI DONAHUE (Ensemble) This is Eli’s first appearance in a non-SYT Curtain Call production. Eli, a Junior at Westhill High School, has previously appeared in productions of Anything Goes (Eli Whitney); Legally Blonde (Callahan); Chicago (Amos); and Mean Girls (Damian); among others. Eli studies voice at Concordia Conservatory.
Cheryl D'Onofrio (Leona Silvia) Cheryl is thrilled to be back at Curtain Call for the fourth time! In the past she has performed with the Harrison Players, Amarante’s Dinner Theater in New Haven, and at Polka Dot Playhouse in Bridgeport. Besides Wizard of Oz in 2023 and last year’s Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof at Curtain Call, favorite shows include The Music Man, Godspell, Oliver!, and How the Other Half Loves. Thanks to the entire cast and crew, and her husband Tony for his love and support.
Faith Fernandes (Ensemble) is excited and grateful to be back on stage at Curtain Call after a decade away. She was last here in Sweet Charity. Her favorite shows are Evil Dead, Grease, Spring Awakening, and Legally Blonde. Thank you to her friends and family for all their support and love!
Lauren Garafano (Lorna/Serena Windsor) is thrilled to be making her Curtain Call debut. Past performances: Rent (Ensemble), Grease (Cha-Cha), Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene), Grease (Sandy), Hairspray (Penny), and West Side Story (Rosalia). She’s thankful for the support of her friends and family, because without them none of this would be possible.
Dainelle Testori-Gartner (Bonnie/Polly/Ensemble) was last seen onstage here as Mitzi in A Murder is Announced. Training: American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Lee Strasberg Theater Institute (NYC). Favorite Roles: Miss Hannigan (Annie), Missy Miller (The Marvelous Wonderettes), Ursula (Disney’s The Little Mermaid), Sr Mary Downey (Disaster!), Rena (George Washington Slept Here). Thanks to the entire team in front of and behind the lights who make this possible!
Robert Thomas Halliwell (Charles Gordon Windsor, Jr.) Robert is returning to the Curtain Call stage after premiering in his Curtain Call debut in 2018's Mama Mia. He has performed on both the East and West Coasts. Past credits include RENT (Roger), Mama Mia (Sky), One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Billy Bibbit), The Glass Menagerie (Tom), Next to Normal (Gabe), Gypsy (Tulsa), and August: Osage County (Little Charles) and in Curtain Call’s Shakespeare on the Green production of Hamlet (Laertes).
SYDNEY KISHIMOTO (Daisy Arujo) Sydney is excited to join her 4th Curtain Call production for a show that will even have her Dad toe tapping. Past productions here include Cabaret and The Sound of Music. Get ready as she hits you with her best shot!
Nancy Leville (Jojo Barboza) Nancy is thrilled to be returning to the Curtain Call stage as Jojo in Mystic Pizza! Favorite credits include Maria in The Sound of Music (Curtain Call), Claire in Frankenstien (Off-Broadway) and The Who’s Quadrophenia Tour (Metropolitan Opera). When Nancy isn’t performing, she is teaching private voice and piano lessons, and music directing both theatre and choir throughout Fairfield County. Nancy would like to thank her family and friends (and students!) for always being so incredibly supportive!
Jimmy Meisterich (Bill Montijo) Jimmy is incredibly excited for his second show at Curtain Call! You may remember him from the ensemble of Tootsie at Curtain Call, or as Roger in Grease at the Wilton Playshop earlier this year. He has had an absolute blast bringing Bill Montijo to life, just for you!
Jay Reyes (Ensemble) Jay is super excited to be returning to curtain call, his last show with us was Beautiful, The Carole King Musical where he played one of the Drifters. Jay is a Curtain Call regular so this won’t be his last time on this stage. Jay is always performing! He played Fester in our SUMMER YOUTH THEATRE (SYT) production of Addams Family, Piragua Guy- In the Heights (Downtown Cabaret), The Doctor in Matilda the Musical (Yorktown Stage), and many more. Jay loves music and continues showing that even off the stage as he is also a recording solo artist! just recently one of his songs reached over 1million streams across all platforms (LOVESICK- Jay Reyes). Jay would like to thank all of the production tean and cast for all their help and is so excited for you guys to see the show. He also wants to thank his family for their support during the rehearsal process.
Matt Spina (Tim Travers) Matt is thrilled to be back at Curtain Call! He was last seen as Rapunzel's Prince (Into The Woods). Originally from NY, he has performed in various children's theater productions at the Long Island Children's Museum. Special thanks to Meredith, Ben, Lauren, Stacy and the entire cast and crew for their support. "When life keeps handing you anchovies, just cover them up with some extra cheese and make a pizza!" Education: BA Musical Theatre SUNY Cortland. Instagram: @matt_spina.
“Addicted To Love” Written by Robert Allan Palmer Published by WC Music Corp (ASCAP) o/b/o Bungalow Music. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“All I Need Is A Miracle” Written by Mike Rutherford and Christopher Neil Used by special arrangement with Concord Music Group, Inc., on behalf of Michael Rutherford Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
“Bridal Chorus” Written by Richard Wagner
“Girls Just Want To Have Fun” Written by Robert Hazard Published by Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP) as administered by Sony Music Publishing. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Hit Me With Your Best Shot" Written by Edward Sydney Schwartz Published by Round Hill Songs (ASCAP) Used by permission. All rights reserved.
”Hold On” Written by Carnie Wilson, Chynna Phillips, and Glen Ballard Published by EMI Blackwood Music Inc., Get Out Songs, and Smooshie Music (ASCAP), as administered by Sony Music Publishing, and by Universal Music Corp. on behalf of itself and Arlovol Music (GMR). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“I Think We're Alone Now” Written by Ritchie Cordell Published by EMI Longitude Music (ASCAP) as administered by Sony Music Publishing. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“I’m The Only One” Written by Melissa Etheridge Published by BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Into The Mystic” Written by Van Morrison Published by Caledonia Soul Music (BMI) and WC Music Corp. (ASCAP). All rights administered by WC Music Corp. (ASCAP). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Lost In Your Eyes” Written by Debbie Gibson Published by Music Sales Corporation (ASCAP). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Mad About You” Written by Paula Jean Brown, James Francis Whelan and Mitchel Young Evans Used by permission of Universal Music-MGB Songs (ASCAP) and Len Freedman Music, Inc. on behalf of Lilac Drive Music (ASCAP). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Manic Monday” Written by Prince Rogers Nelson Published by Universal Music Works o/b/o NPG Publishing (GMR). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Never Gonna Give You Up” Written by Michael Stock, Matthew Aitken, and Peter Alan Waterman Published by Pub. by Michael Stock Publishing Limited [BMI] and administered by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI), and Universal Songs Of PolyGram Int., Inc. on behalf of Sids Songs Ltd., and Universal Music-Careers on behalf of All Boys Music Ltd. (ASCAP). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now” Written by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren Used by permission of Realsongs (ASCAP), Albert Hammond Music [ASCAP] administered by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing (ASCAP), and Universal Music- MGB Songs (ASCAP) . All riqhts reserved.
“Please Forgive Me” Written by Bryan Adams and Robert Lange Published by Universal PolyGram Int. Publishing, Inc. on behalf of Out of Pocket Prod. Ltd.; Universal Music Works on behalf of Badams Music Ltd. (ASCAP). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Sapateia” Traditional Portuguese tune “Smalltown” Written by John Mellencamp Published by EMI Full Keel Music (ASCAP) as administered by Sony Music Publishing. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Take My Breath Away” Written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock Published by Sony ATV Harmony (ASCAP) as administered by Sony Music Publishing, and by WC Music Corp (ASCAP). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“The Power Of Love” Written by Huey Lewis, Chris Hayes, and Johnny Colla Published by Cause And Effect Music; Huey Lewis Music; Kinda Blue Music (BMI). All rights administered by WC Music Corp. (ASCAP). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“True Colors” Written by Thomas Kelly and William Steinberg Published by Sony/ATV Tunes LLC and Sony/ATV Pop Music Publishing (ASCAP) as administered by Sony Music Publishing. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Unbelievable” Written by James Saul Atkin, Derran Gene Brownson, Mark Simon Decloedt, Zac Foley, and Ian Alec Harvey Dench Published by BMG Platinum Songs US (BMI), and Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
”When I See You Smile” Written by Diane Warren Used by permission of Realsongs (ASCAP). Use by permission. All riqhts reserved.
”You Keep Me Hangin' On” Written by Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Brian Holland Published by Stone Agate Music (BMI) as administered by Sony Music Publishing
Stacy Lupo (Production Stage Manager) Stacy is thrilled to be back at Curtain Call and to collaborate with Meredith for the first time. She's had a blast with shows like Tommy, Cry It Out, Secret Garden, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Newsies. A big thank you to Lou for thinking of her and to her family and friends for not ratting her out to the feds.
Martin Scott Marchitto (Set Design) Martin is excited to be returning to Curtain Call after designing Into The Woods in the 21-22 season. A sample of his credits include; Off Broadway: Mack the Knife, The Life and Times of Bobby Darrin; The Theatre at Saint Peters, Regional Theatre Godspell, The Fantastics, Memphis; the Ivoryton Playhouse, Sweeney Todd for Opera Omaha, The Goat or Who is Sylvia, Rabbit Hole, God of Carnage; The Bluebarn Theatre. Martin serves as Players Director and teaches at Manhattan University.
Robin Mazzola (Costume Design) Professional Creative. Amateur Fairy Godmother. Robin is excited to return to The Kweskin Theatre. Robin has been the designer for the past several Curtain Call Shakespeare on the Green presentations. She is a Professor/Costume Shop Manager for Wesleyan University. She designs costumes and clothing for theaters and individual clients by commission. Visit @RobinMazzolaCostumes on Instagram or robinmazzola.com for her latest creations.
Peter Petrino (Lighting Design) Peter is pleased to be designing Mystic Pizza. Some previous productions Peter designed for Curtain Call include: A Grand Night for Singing,1776, A Christmas Story, Big River; Shakespeare in Love; Elf the Musical, Mamma Mia, Bonnie and Clyde and Guys and Dolls. Peter has been the resident LD for Caramoor Center for Music and Art since 1996. Peter also designs for such; theaters as: TheatreWorks New Milford; Sherman Playhouse, Penguin Rep. and Seven Angels Theater; Designs for dance companies: Westchester Ballet Co. and Nutmeg Ballet Co.; for television companies such as: Versus, Court TV and ESPN.
Lauren Nicole Sherwood (Choreographer) Lauren has been involved at Curtain Call as an actor, director, choreographer and more for nearly 30 years. She was last seen on stage here as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. She has performed throughout CT at Wilton Playshop, The Warner Theatre and many more. Lauren has been directing musicals at St Catherine Players for several years and is thrilled to team up with Meredith Walker again since working on Sister Act in 2017. Much love to her husband Matt and their two children.
Meredith Walker is thrilled to return to Curtain Call! Previous directing credits include Cinderella, Grease, Sister Act, The Foreigner, The Music Man (SYT), and Peter Pan (SYT). Meredith holds a BA in Theater Studies from the University of Connecticut and an MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College. Currently, she serves as the Director of Admissions for the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, a new 2-year college conservatory program dedicated to nurturing the next generation of theater artists. Many thanks to Lou, Stacy, Lauren, Ben and the entire cast and crew!
