SueAnne Lucius to Star in MCC's PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Beginning Feb 28

After a 28 year hiatus, SueAnne Lucius returns to the stage in MCC's presentation of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance playing February 28 - March 9, 2013 in MCC's newly renovated Theatre Outback.

The Pirates of Penzance with book by W.S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan premiered in 1879 and confirmed the comic genius of the duo following on the heels of their wildly successful H.M.S. Pinafore. Pirates invade the rocky coast of Cornwall in this topsy-turvy tale of love and duty, highlighted by the famous strains of "Poor Wandering One," "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General," "Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast" and "With Cat-Like Tread, Upon Our Prey We Steal."

Katherine Stewart, Artistic Director of Desert Rose Theatre plays "Mabel," music faculty member Andrew Briggs plays the "Pirate King," and Ryan Glover who has performed with the Utah Festival Opera, Phoenix Opera, and the Harrower Opera Workshop plays the role of "Frederic" in the mentor/guest-artist cast which features SueAnne in the role of "Ruth." These guest-artists have four of the eight scheduled performances: Friday, March 1st; Saturday, March 2nd; Monday, March 4th at 7:30pm and Saturday, March 9th at 2:00pm.

SueAnne has taught singing and musical theatre classes at Mesa Community College since 1978 and has performed and guest directed for Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra, Arizona State University's Lyric Opera Theatre and several other musical organizations throughout the valley. She is the recipient of several AriZoni Awards for Excellence in Theatre as a producer, director and for her hair and makeup designs as well.

The production staff has received numerous AriZoni Awards for Excellence in Theatre in their respective fields and includes: SueAnne Lucius (Producer), Jere Van Patten (Director), Marisa Peck (Assistant Director), Dr. Cathy Hauan (Music Director), Kyle C. Greene (Choreography), Dori A. Brown (Scenic Design), Troy Buckey (Lighting Design), Rebecca Willcox (Costume Design), Gary Towne (Sound Design) and Brian Daily (Master Carpenter/Scene Shop Foreman).

Call the box office at (480) 461 - 7172 and reserve your "Date Night Special" and receive
2-for-1 tickets for the performance on Friday, March 1st at 7:30pm!! We offered this deal during our fall production of My Favorite Year and it proved to be so successful we thought we'd bring it back for all MCC Faculty and Staff members as an incentive to not only support the MCC Music Department, but also allow them the opportunity to see SueAnne on stage!

For all other scheduled performances, ticket prices are: General Public: $15; Staff/Faculty/Alumni: $12; Seniors and Students: $10. Call the Box Office at
(480) 461 - 7172, or pick your seats online at www.ezticketlive.com/mcc.

CAST BIOS

Richard Barcelo (Pirate) is happy you're here tonight. Enjoy the show!

Ellen Bouck (Isabel) is happy to be back at MCC for another show. She feels so fortunate to have this opportunity to work with such fun, talented and professional people-too many of you to name- Thank you! She would also like to thank her supportive husband and kids for their willingness to humor her while she tries to act like an actor. You all are the best!!

Andrew Briggs (Pirate King) is an ABD Doctoral student in voice at ASU, where he and his wife Kristin got their Masters in 2010. He has been seen as "Harold Hill" in The Music Man; "Figaro" in Le Nozze di Figaro; "Sweeney Todd/Anthony" in Sweeney Todd (all at ASU), "Lun Tha" in The King and I (Copperstar), and currently sings with the Arizona Opera Chorus, the Scottsdale Choral Artists, and is the Director of Vocal Fix Jazz Entertainment. Andrew teaches voice, choir, and Rock History at MCC, is the father of three: Nathan (5), Carson (2), and Michael (7 mo) and lives and teaches voice in Mesa. Thanks to his wife and family for EVERYTHING. And Jere, too.

Harrison Budge (Pirate/Policeman) is happy to be on stage at MCC for his first time and performing in a musical for the first time in four years. He is currently pursuing a degree in Musical Theatre and is grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from Jere, Cathy, Marisa, Kyle and, of course, Jenn. BIG thanks to my family (Mom, Dad, Allie, Kennedy, Garrett, and Maddie) for supporting me these past few months.

Anthony Chavez (Frederic) is so excited to be playing Frederic! He was recently seen in Guys & Dolls (MET), My Favorite Year (MCC), and The Secret Garden (Hale Centre Theatre). Thanks to the cast, Kyle, Marisa, Cathy, Jenn & of course Jere for your amazing support and talents! Last but not least he would like to thank his amazing family for being his biggest fans at all times! "Woof Woof."

Kyle Chavira (Sergeant of Police) has been in four musical productions and seven dance showcases at CGCC. This is his first show at MCC.

Kacie Claudel (Sister) is pretty. She's also happy you're here tonight. Enjoy the show!

Cody Duke (Pirate/Policeman) is happy to be doing another show at MCC after My Favorite Year. Recent credits include Sunset Boulevard at Desert Stages and Guys & Dolls at Mesa Encore Theatre. He is a current student at MCC and would like to thank Jere, Cathy, SueAnne and the cast and crew of the show.

Alicia Fairbanks (Sister) grew up helping her sculptor father with various monuments. Particularly the Snowflake Monument, and plaques on the Memorial Bell Tower at EAC. She, her 16 siblings, and cousins performed as a youth group across the valley, the country, and at the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C. She also enjoyed playing with the MCC orchestra. After an LDS mission in Moscow, she studied art history in Europe, and currently studies voice at MCC.

Ryan Glover (Frederic) is excited to make his stage debut at MCC. A recent graduate of ASU, he has worked professionally with Phoenix Opera since 2010. He has also worked with Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, ProMusica Arizona, The Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and Harrower Opera Workshop. He has been accepted to study at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and will begin in September. Thank you family, friends, and MOM and DAD!

Brian Hanna (Pirate) is excited to be in a real show after an extended run as Jean Valjean in his shower. Brian is a not so recent graduate of Santa Clara University with a BA in Communications emphasizing television production, and he's even taken a few acting classes. Sorry, he doesn't have a Facebook page. "Hi Kids!"

Korbin Heronema (Pirate) is a music major here at MCC. Musical theatre has been his hobby for the past 3 years. He has recently co-stage managed Zorro The Curse of Capistrano and stage managed Forever Plaid with Mesa Encore Theatre. He has worked 8 shows in Mesa and this is his first time being in the show. He'd like to thank his family for supporting him through these crazy last several months.

Lies'l Hill (Mabel) is very excited to be returning to MCC's stage after five years. She was last seen here as "Annabel Glick" in Luck Stiff (2008 AriZoni winner). Other favorite credits include "Baker's Wife" in Into the Woods;"Rosie" in Bye Bye Birdie; and Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte. She is a recent graduate of NAU with a BA in Choral Education. Lies'l would love to say happy birthday to Taylor, thank her super supportive friends and family, Pat and the bat (how did you even get up here??), and of course Jere for MM. Love to all of the things.

Jonathan Holdsworth (Samuel) is proud to be making his first appearance on the Mesa Community College stage. Jonathan is a Theatre major at MCC and is an IFP:Phoenix award winning film writer and actor. He is most noted for his work in OVERKILL; a Top 5 Comedy in the Campus MovieFest international college film competition. He wants to thank his family, friends, production staff, cast, and crew for the support they've given him. "Love ya, Ash."

Cecily Jorgensen (Sister) recently graduated from NAU with a BA in Vocal Performance. She has appeared in Suor Angelica, The Magic Flute, The Elixir of Love, Three Penny Opera, and Beauty and the Beast. Since graduating she has been music director for Gilbert Fine Arts Association, begun substitute teaching, and established her own voice studio. Cecily is very grateful for all the people in her life that support her and teach her throughout her musical endeavors!

Carly Castner (Edith) is thrilled to be performing in her second production at MCC! She was last seen as "Rona" in MCC's production of ...Spelling Bee. Carly is a former Walt Disney World entertainment cast member and has performed in many local improv and sketch comedy troupes, including ASU's Barren Mind and Farce Side. She graduated from ASU with a Theatre for Youth and Communication degree, and is currently pursuing her Master's in Education. Thanks to her supportive family and friends and all those who she has worked with in this show!

Michael Sean LeSueur (Policeman) is not only excited to be performing at MCC for the first time, but he is also excited about doing his first Gilbert and Sullivan operetta! When not performing, Michael can usually be found watching films, writing short fiction, and taking long walks through unknown locations at four o'clock in the morning. He dreams of working with David Lynch, playing the role of Sweeney Todd on stage, and eating authentic Kobe beef.

Ariana Mai Lucius (Sister) is excited to be a part of yet another production at MCC. Past credits include "K.C. Downing" in My Favorite Year (Irene Ryan nominee), "Mimi Marquez" in RENT, "Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere" in ...Spelling Bee, among others here at MCC. She would like to thank her friends, family and Jere for all their love and support, she wouldn't be here without them. Most importantly... BOOOP!!

SueAnne Lucius (Ruth) is the Music Department Chair here at MCC and is returning to the stage after a 28 year hiatus in the role of "Ruth." SueAnne has taught singing and musical theatre classes at Mesa Community College since 1978 and has performed and guest directed for Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra, Arizona State University's Lyric Opera Theatre and several other musical organizations throughout the valley. She is the recipient of several AriZoni Awards for Excellence in Theatre as a producer, director and for her hair and makeup designs as well. Love to John, Sean, Ari, and thanks to Jere, Cathy and the team for allowing me this incredible opportunity.

Katie McCarthy (Sister) is so excited to be a part of this production of Pirates of Penzance. She graduated from Coronado High School in 2012, and while in High school performed in several shows including "Sandy" in Grease, and as "Mabel" in Pirates of Penzance. She is in her second semester of college at MCC and plans to continue on the path of performing in the Disney College Program. She wants to thank her big Italian family for always believing in her.

Angelica McGrew (Sister) is extremely excited to be in her first MCC production. She has been in four high school productions, directed six shows, and placed 1st for the English Speaking Union Shakespeare competition and went on to nationals in New York. She would like to thank everyone for their hard work, her parents for pushing and supporting her, and Becky and Nichole for helping her find her passion in life.

Thor Mikesell (Major-General Stanley) is happy you're here tonight. Enjoy the show!

Audra Nelson (Ruth) is thrilled to performing with Act One Musical Productions once again. She is an Audio Production Major, and is planning on a duel BA in Theatre Direction and English. Her favorite roles include "Rose" in Bye Bye Birdie, "Lady Angela" in Patience, "Egyptus" in The Ark and many more. Thanks to my family, friends and this amazing staff and cast! You guys are such blessings. A special thanks to her beautiful son Caleb for support and understanding and to God for supplying all my talents and opportunities. Thanks Jesus, you are my rock. Peace and Love.

Brandon Nelson (Pirate) is excited to be performing again with Act One Musical Productions. He was seen last semester in My Favorite Year. He is a vocal performance major and is working hard toward his goals. He would like to thank his family for all the support and love. Most importantly he would like to thank God for life, love, opportunities and talent. Enjoy the show!

Ammon Opie (Major-General Stanley) is happy you're here tonight. Enjoy the show!

Kinsey Peotter (Kate) is performing with MCC for her second time. She has been involved with theater for a long time and has been seen around the valley in such shows as My Favorite Year with MCC, Red Hot and Cole with CGCC, Little Women with AYT and many more. She received a National Youth Arts Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her role in Little Women. She's very excited to be a part of another MCC production and would like to thank everyone involved with the making of this show for their hard work and dedication.

Jeremi Preston (Pirate) is performing in his first show here at MCC. He is very happy and extremely excited to be in Pirates of Penzance because it was the first musical he ever saw that kept him from dropping out of college, what soon got him into the theater program, and got him his job at CGCC as the Theatre Technician and Stage Manager. He looks forward to being a part of and working with all of the wonderful MCC staff in the future.

Josh Rogers (Pirate) is thrilled to make his debut performance on the MCC stage. He has appeared in several productions at Mesa Encore Theatre - including "Hugo" in Bye Bye Birdie, and The Music Man. He graduated from Arizona Conservatory of Arts and Academics (ACAA), some of his favorite roles there include, "Hanschen" in Spring Awakening and "Herbie" in Gypsy. Josh is also a member of the Arizona Renaissance Festival street cast, where he is currently enjoying his seventh season.

Ruth Stapley (Servant/Policeman) is very happy to be in her first college musical. This is her second semester at MCC and she is working on getting her degree in choral music education. She has been in music her whole life and always wanted to help and teach others about music.

Bryan Stewart (Pirate King) is excited to be returning to the MCC stage. He began his music theatre career at MCC over 20 years ago. Bryan moved on to receive his Bachelor degree in Music Theatre Performance from Arizona State University. You may recently remember seeing him as "Archibald Craven" in The Secret Garden at The Hale Centre Theatre. He also had the privilege of performing in Les Miserables with Phoenix Theatre and Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

Katherine Stewart (Mabel) is not related to Bryan Stewart, but is happy to be singing again; as the artistic director of Desert Rose Theatre in Mesa, she spends most of her time directing. Favorite performances include: "Maria" in West Side Story (ariZoni), "Meg" in Leading Ladies (ariZoni), "Beatrice" in Much Ado About Nothing (ariZoni), "Marilyn" in MMxx (world premiere), "Chorus/Katharine" in Henry V, and "Kitty" in Joyful Noise. Katie will be starring in the film noir feature Blackout, coming this summer. www.desertrosetheatre.com.

Jordan Woollen (Pirate) is anewcomer to not only the MCC cast, but also to theatre in general. He has experience as a paid voice actor, but is looking to expand his horizons on stage and what a show to do it with. He is immensely excited to be in the Pirates of Penzance and has loved every minute of it. He would like to thank everyone involved in the production for making his foray into theatre so amazing.

CREATIVE TEAM BIOS

Dori Brown (Scenic Design) is happy to be designing again for MCC's Music Theatre Department after My Favorite Year and last season's production of RENT. She has designed in the valley for Theater Works, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Childsplay, East Valley Children's Theatre, Valley Youth Theatre, Class 6 Theater, Arizona Jewish Theatre and Greasepaint. Her recent designs include A Christmas Carol, Romeo & Juliet and Hairspray with Theater Works, Les Miserables with Greasepaint, All Shook Up with Arizona Broadway Theatre, and Ferdinand the Bull with Childsplay, 13: the Musical & Grease with Valley Youth Theatre, Fools with Arizona Jewish Theatre, and The Goats Gruff, Twelve Dancing Princesses & The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with East Valley Children's Theatre. Special thanks to her husband and children for their continued love and support.

Troy Buckey (Lighting Design) has been employed at Mesa CC for seven years, and received a Masters of Fine Arts from Arizona State University's Graduate Performance Design program last June. While at ASU, he designed the lighting for In the Penal Colony, The Skriker, Big Love, And What She Found There, These Shining Lives, Bone Portraits, and Dream Project. Some of his past designs for Mesa CC are My Favorite Year, The Secret Garden, Twelve Princesses, Into the Woods, Buried Child, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Death in a Landslide.

Brian Daily (Shop Forman/Lead Carpenter) is originally from Wayne, New Jersey. He holds a B.F.A. from West Virginia University in Design/ Technical Theatre and has worked for several a carpenter and artisan. In addition, he has worked as a scene designer and technical director for such theatres as the John Cocteau Repertory Theatre, The American Theatre of Actors, and The New Victory Theatre in New York. More recently, his sets could be seen at MCC in such shows as The Drowsy Chaperone, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Sweeney Todd. Brian has also been nominated and has received several AriZoni Theatre Awards for his design work around the valley.

Kyle C. Greene (Choreographer) is an award winning director, choreographer and performer from Cape Cod, MA. Locally productions include MET's Guys and Dolls, Hairspray (ariZoni nominations for direction and choreography; MET award for choreography) and The Music Man (ariZoni award for choreography; MET Awards for choreography and best production), Cabaret at ASU and My Favorite Year at MCC. Across the country, Kyle has produced, directed, and/or choreographed productions of A Chorus Line, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, La Cage Aux Folles, Into the Woods, RENT, Smokey Joe's Café, The Rink, Gypsy, and Joseph...Dreamcoat. He was nominated for an ariZoni award for best costume design with DST's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. As a performer, Kyle's favorite performances include Beauty and the Beast (Lefou), Footloose (Ren), West Side Story (Action) and Godspell (Judas). He has appeared in commercials for American Eagle and Sony Connect and on TV on One Life To Live. Love to Jared, Alek and Mom. www.kylecgreene.com.

Cathy Hauan (Musical Director/Conductor) is professor of voice and music theatre at MCC. She has served as conductor/pianist for over 40 musicals since 2001. Past credits include Blackbeard, Parade, The Secret Garden, Songs for a New World, I Love You You're Perfect Now Change, ...Forum, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and many others. Dr. Hauan holds a DMA in Vocal Performance from Arizona State University. Her private voice students have been finalists in the Arizona Metropolitan Opera competition, and several of her students have placed first in a competition sponsored by the Maricopa Community College District. She is active in the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and has had winners in both classical and music theatre auditions. She would like to thank the cast and crew for their hard work, and her family for their support and for putting up with fast food.

SueAnne Lucius (Producer) is a native Arizonan with her Bachelor's Degree in Choral Education and her Master's Degree in Vocal Performance Pedagogy from Arizona State University. She fell in love with inging and acting during Vacation Bible School in grammar school. Musicals, opera, singing and piano became her passion. She has performed and guest directed for Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra, Arizona State University's Lyric Opera Theatre and several other musical organizations throughout the valley. She has taught singing and musical theatre classes at Mesa Community College since 1978 and plans to continue her love for music and teaching for many years to come. Love to John, Sean, Ari, Jere, Alma and Gavin.

Marisa Peck (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be back after assistant directing My Favorite Year in the Fall. Marisa splits her time performing, directing, and teaching 4th grade in the Kyrene School District. Most recently she was seen in Guys and Dolls as "Adelaide" and assistant directing/choreographing Hairspray. She would like to thank the entire amazing production team especially Kyle, Cathy, SueAnne, and her partner in crime, Jere. Also she would like to thank her friends and family for their never-ending support.

JennAfer Sankar (Stage Manager) would love to thank her wonderful husband for all of his patience and support, and she would specifically NOT like to thank her friend Anthony Jannuzzi. He knows why. Jenn is an award winning Props and Make-up designer, and an aspiring Stage Manager. Her work includes: Twelfth Night and Dracula with MCC's Theatre Outback, and began her stage management career with RENT, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, My Favorite Year, and The Last 5 Years with MCC's Act I Musical Productions. She would also like to thank Boydd, without whom, she would never have come so far.

Gary Towne (Sound Design) is happy you're here tonight. Enjoy the show!

Christopher L Tubilewicz (Coordinator of Fine Arts) is new to MCC having previously worked as the Technical Director for Arizona State University's School of Theatre and Film, Southwest Shakespeare Company, and even Scottsdale Community College. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with his BA in Theatre with a concentration in Design and Production from ASU in May, 2006. He considers his areas of expertise to be Technical Direction, Scenic Design and Production Management. For more about Chris visit his website at: www.cltcreatives.com. He would like to thank his beautiful wife Marie for all of her support and his two kids: Rory and Zander.

Jere Van Patten (Director) was just awarded two 2011 - 2012 AriZoni Awards for Excellence in Theatre for actor in a leading role in The Drowsy Chaperone, and for Best Overall Production for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (which he directed) - both for MCC's Act I Musical Productions! He was last seen as "Jinx" in Forever Plaid. Some other past favorites include Lucky Stiff (AriZoni Award), Little Shop of Horrors (Goldy Award), The Nerd (Goldy Award), Twelve Princesses (Amazon Studios Award), and Blackbeard. He will next be directing High School Musical for Counterpoint Studios this summer, and appearing as "Bottom" in A Midsummer Night's Dream with Desert Rose Theatre. He considers himself blessed to truly be living his dream and surrounded by theatre every day of his life. For more, visit www.jerevanpatten.com.

Rebecca Willcox (Costume Design) is an award winning freelance costume designer working throughout the Phoenix area. Hobbies include sewing and playing dress up with real people - which works out perfectly with her career! She juggles a hectic show schedule costuming over 12 shows each year and she enjoys every minute of it. Much thanks go to her fantastic husband, Austin, their 9 beautiful children and, of course JERE!