糖心原创

Program:

• 糖心原创 the Play
• Cast (listed in order of appearance)
• Production Staff
• Creative Team
• Run Crew
• Cast Bios
• Creative Team Bios

糖心原创 the Play

Life can flip upside down in a New York minute - and at some point, everyone comes to realize it. Kenya, a struggling screenwriter-turned-bartender, is navigating the demands of motherhood, marriage, and an unforgiving city that seems determined to break her spirit. After a career setback, she takes a job at The Renaissance Bar, an upscale cocktail lounge. As she juggles late nights at the bar and early mornings with her infant son, the weight of her stalled writing career and crumbling marriage to her husband begins to mount. But amid the chaos, Kenya discovers an unexpected passion for mixology鈥攐ne that teaches her what it truly means to find balance in life as you would in a delicious cocktail.

With an infectious score blending R&B, hip-hop, Afro-beats, and contemporary musical theatre, Only in New York is a heartfelt, soulful musical toast to parenthood, identity, and finding joy while chasing your dream in the city that never sleeps.

Book, Lyrics and Music by Ronve O'Daniel, Book by Cris Eli Blak, Vocal Arrangements and Co-Orchestrations by Will Stone

Written by award-winning songwriter and playwright Ronv茅 O'Daniel, Only in New York is a heartfelt, soulful ode to the Big Apple, posing the question: How old is too old to chase your dreams and pursue happiness?听

Intermission Duration:听15 minutes

Special Circumstances:听Gunshot blanks firing and sound effects, haze (i.e. smoking, strobe lights, etc.)

Please silence all cell phones, pagers, and any other electronic devices. Texting during productions will result in removal from the theater.

The use of any recording device (photo, sound, or video) by audience members is not permitted. 听

Cast (listed in order of appearance)

Character Name听	Principal Actor听	Understudy听
Kenya听	Elisa Pacheco听	Nia Buchannon听
Monique听	Joclyn Menendez-Blake听	Amirah Musa听
Donna听	Evette Williamson听	Payton Lutz听
Street听	Anthony Luisi听	Darius Ragland听
Kris听	Nia Buchannon听听	Baylee Simone Mallin听
Andre听	Noah Funderburk听	Edward听Boackle听
Ensemble听	Edward听Boackle听	听
Ensemble听	Eoin Collins听	听
Ensemble听	Emma Kopec听	听
Ensemble听	Payton Lutz听听	听
Ensemble听	Baylee Simone Mallin听听	听
Ensemble听	Amirah Musa听	听
Ensemble听	Darius Ragland听听	听
Ensemble	Evelyn听Vordtriede

Production Staff

Technical Productions Manager: Kevin Nedberg

Assistant Production Manager: Dylan Serrano

Stage Manager: Mary Carlson

Assistant Stage Managers: Kayla Theiss, Ana Sofia Gomez

Carpenters: James Hendricks, Elias Baader, Maggie Slauenwhite, Megan Todd, Vex Sargent,听Kaydence Mullins, Kenna Seng, Keaton Messmer, Devon Perlow, Elena Kallenberg, Kat Walkup, Tasos Smith, Ana Sofia Gomez

Production Electrician: Connor Veal

Assistant Production Electrician: Raya Smith

Electricians: Jennifer Dillard, Levi Fravel, Kayla Theiss, Mary Beverley, Keb Stevens, Bao Uyen Pham, Hunter Davis

Audio Coordinator: James Dunlap

Audio Technicians: Hunter Davis

Scenic Supervisor: Brian Seckfort

Scenic Charge: Cassie Dranschak

Scenic Artists: Callie Lippincott, Lilly Buck, Mary Carlson, Isa Castillon, Esther Moshood, Juliette Trumbull, Kaydence Mullins, Kenna Seng

Properties Master: John Lavarnway

Properties Artisans: Keaton Messmer, Hayden Stewart

Costume Shop Manager: Carly Kimmins

Costume Shop Assistant: Ori Rancor

Creative Team

Director:听Marya Spring Cordes听

Music Director:听Matt Ebright

Book/Lyrics/Music:听Ronv茅 O鈥橠aniel

Book:听Cris Eli Blak

Orchestrator, Co-Vocal Arranger:听Will Stone

Choreographer:听Emma Kopec听

Choreographer:听Darius Ragland

Choreographer:听Ally Jo Buck

Assistant to the Director:听Brooke Bushong

Scenic Designer:听Maggie Slauenwhite

Costume Designer:听Lauren Crane

Lighting Designer:听Robbie Crissman

Stage Manager:听Mary Carlson

Assistant Stage Manager:听Ana Sofia Gomez

Assistant Stage Manager:听Kayla Theiss

Run Crew

Light Board Operator: Raya Smith

Sound Board Operator: Hunter Davis

Audio Technician: James Hendricks

Properties Lead: Kaydence Mullins

Properties Crew: Elias Baader

Deck Carpenters:听 Keaton Mesmer, Tasos Smith

Wardrobe Head: Kate Hahn

Wardrobe Crew: Claire Spychalski

Stitchers: Charlie Cute, Ona Ford, Kate Hahn, Claire Spychalski, Arthur Billups, Gillian Jenkins, Katie Schwabe.

Costume Crafts: Scout Smith

Cast Bios

Elisa Pacheco听(Kenya) (She/Her) is a senior acting major who is extremely honored to be a part of the world premiere of Only in New York! She thanks her family who has motivated her through this process, her son who continually pushes her to be the best version of herself, and Ronv茅 O'Daniel for giving her such an amazing opportunity!听

Joclyn Menendez-Blake听(Monique) is a senior musical theater major, and so excited to be a part of this incredible original show! You might've recently seen her in the Festival Theater as the stage manager in Our Town or as The Friar in Much Ado 糖心原创 Nothing.听

Evette Williamson听(Donna) is a senior musical theatre major, which basically means she鈥檚 spent the last four years living in rehearsal rooms, surviving on iced coffee, and belting showtunes at questionable hours. She鈥檚 appeared in听Alice by Heart,听Carrie, and听The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee鈥攁nd yes, she swears she actually did her homework somewhere in between.

Now, as she prepares to graduate this spring with her bachelors of fine arts in musical theatre, Evette is excited to see what God has planned for her next (hopefully something with good lighting and a well-stocked snack table). She wants to thank God, her family, and her friends for all the love, support, and gentle reminders to please get some sleep.

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be here without your love and support. Seriously. Y鈥檃ll kept me alive. Thank you!鈥�

Anthony Luisi听(Street) is a sophomore acting major and business minor at 糖心原创. He is excited to appear in听Only in New York听as Street. Previous shows at 糖心原创 include听Much Ado 糖心原创 Nothing听and听The Game鈥檚 Afoot听in the festival playhouse. As well as听DNA听and听Proof听in the D-Lab.听

Instagram: @anthonyluisi_127

Nia Buchannon听(Kris, U/S Kenya) (she, her, hers) Recent acting credits: The Game鈥檚 Afoot in The Festival playhouse, The Color Purple at The Carnegie in Covington, KY, and Columbinus at Casa Studios. Special thank you to her family, friends and mentors who have lifted her up along the way. Thank you!

Noah Funderburk听(Andre) (he/him) is a junior acting major at WSU and is eager to showcase this incredible new work to audiences! Recent 糖心原创 credits include Claudio (Much Ado 糖心原创 Nothing), Just Joey (Concord Floral),听and Billy Nolan (Carrie).听You may have seen Noah in various Kings Island shows or in BCT's听Parade听as Britt Craig. He would like to thank his hero, Lori. Omnis Gloria Christi.听

Edward听Boackle听(Ensemble, U/S Andre) is a sophomore musical theatre major, and he is so excited to be a part of this brand-new musical in his first Herbst Theatre show. Edward has been in other productions, such as Newsies as Jack Kelly, Into the Woods as The Baker, and Ordinary Days as Jason. Edward is so glad to be a part of this 糖心原创 family and he hopes you will love watching this show just as much as he has loved helping create it. "Art is Life, Life is Art"听

Eoin Collins听(Ensemble) is a senior musical theater major. You may have seen him in The Wedding Singer (Glen), Alice by Heart (Nigel), The Apple Tree (Flip), or our annual Arts Gala. Special thanks to his family and friends!听

Payton Lutz听(Ensemble, U/S Donna, Dance Captain) is so excited to be in her first 糖心原创 Herbst musical! This fall, she understudied Madge in The Game鈥檚 Afoot, and this summer she was in the Gretna Theater Apprentice Program. She would like to thank her loved ones for their unwavering support. @payton.lutz

Baylee Simone Mallin听(Ensemble, U/S Kris) (junior musical theatre major) is so excited to be a part of this brand-new musical! Previous Credits: Holly in The Wedding Singer (糖心原创), Ensemble in The Apple Tree (糖心原创), Mother in The Trail to Oregon! (Jubilee Directing Lab), and Dee Dee Allen in The Prom (Toledo Rep). Big love and hugs and kisses to her friends and family! @whatn0wbaylee on Instagram.

Amirah Musa听(Ensemble, U/S Monique) is a senior musical theater major based in Dayton, Ohio. This is her final show at 糖心原创 and she is so happy to help bring this new work to life! Most recent credits include听A Raisin in the Sun (Beneatha), Saving Cinderella (U/S Cinderella/Ensemble), POTUS听(Margaret), Sister Act (Deloris Van Cartier), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park).听 Amirah would like to thank her family, friends, and community for all of the love and support.

Evelyn听Vordtriede听(Ensemble) (she/her/hers) is a junior musical theatre major here at 糖心原创. She is honored to be a part of her first Herbst production at 糖心原创! Other 糖心原创 productions Evelyn has been a part of include Carrie (swing), Much Ado 糖心原创 Nothing (Oatcake), and this past fall Evelyn was in Dracula, a 糖心原创 Collaboration with the Human Race Theatre Company. Originally from Saint Louis, Missouri, Evelyn has been in productions around the Saint Louis area including MUNY, Variety Children's Theatre, and COCA. She would like to thank her family and the Creative team, cast, and crew who have made this production possible!

Creative Team Bios

Marya Spring Cordes (Director)听is Marya Spring Cordes (Director) has been on 糖心原创鈥檚 Faculty in the BFA Acting & Musical Theatre programs for 15 years and has formerly served as of Head of Acting and is currently serving as Associate Chair of the School of Fine and Performing Arts and as 糖心原创 Theatre and Dance鈥檚 Artistic Director. Marya holds her Master of Fine Arts in Directing from Carnegie Mellon University and helmed NYC鈥檚 THE PUZZLE Festival of New Works for six years, bringing her new works development experience to 糖心原创. GUARDING GOLD STREET is her musical co-written by Sean Michael Flowers was awarded 2 staged readings at THE PUZZLE, NYC and Human Race Theatre Company, Dayton OH. Last summer at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Marya directed a staged reading of Maggie Lou Radar鈥檚 THEY PLAYED IN PEORIA. As a Resident Artist of The Human Race Theatre Company, directing credits include: PEERLESS, NOW AND THEN, GLORIA: A LIFE, SYLVIA, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, BECKY鈥橲 NEW CAR, MANAGING MAXINE, and staged readings of DANI GIRL and TENDERLY. At 糖心原创, most recent productions include OUR TOWN, ARCADIA, SWEET CHARITY, ORSON WELLS鈥� WAR OF THE WORLDS, Radio drama, in partnership with WYSO in Yellow Springs, THE WOLVES and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME. Marya is an active member of Actors鈥� Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and formerly served as Co-chair of the Executive Board of Alexander Technique International (ATI) for which she remains an active teaching member.

Matt Ebright (Music Director) is a vocal coach, music director, and accompanist for 糖心原创. He has served as music director for numerous 糖心原创 productions including Carrie, Kelly the Destroyer, Bright Star, and The Gondoliers. Additional productions (keyboards and orchestral arrangements) include Mamma Mia!, The Addams Family, A Little Night Music, and Crazy for You. Prior to coming to 糖心原创, he worked as an accompanist and assistant conductor of The Ohio State Men鈥檚 Glee Club. Other credits include work with The Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards, The Human Race Theatre Company, Short North Stage, The Ohio Thespian State Conference and Princess Cruises.

Ronv茅 O鈥橠aniel (Writer/Collaborator) is a proud alumnus and Assistant Professor at 糖心原创. He is thrilled to be making his Herbst Theatre debut as librettist, composer and lyricist of Only in New York!

Ronv茅 is an award-winning songwriter, educator, playwright, actor, director, and hip-hop recording artist whose work has been produced Off-Broadway, as well as TheatreWorks Silicon Valley New Works Festival, Eugene O鈥橬eill National Music Theater Conference, Johnny Mercer Writers Colony Residency at Goodspeed Theater, NYU-Tisch School for the Arts, and many other theaters around the country.

Ronv茅 is the recipient of Eugene O鈥橬eill National Music Theater Conference鈥檚 Georgia Bogardus Holof Lyricist Award 鈥� given to only one lyricist every summer who exemplifies a promising career in musical theater writing. He has collaborated with Tony nominated and Drama Desk winner director Tina Landau on The Big Mix: a three-week celebration of Juneteenth and LGBTQXIA+ Pride. He has also had the honor of working with Tony Nominated Actor/Poet/Lyricist Daniel J. Watts on his acclaimed one man show: Only Child.

Recently, Ronv茅 served as composer for the Off-Broadway production of Charles Randolph-Wright鈥檚 Duke & Roya, starring Jay Ellis and directed by Warren Adams. He is also collaborating with concert composer Gilad Cohen on Here We Stand, a classical/hip-hop fusion piece featuring two rappers/singers and a large ensemble that is inspired by singer/activist Paul Robeson. In addition, he is working with longtime collaborators Jevares Myrick and J Kyle Manzay on Greenwood: The Black Wallstreet Musical, an original piece based on the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, which is being developed in partnership with Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bristol, PA.

Ronv茅鈥檚 albums include: Motivation Music (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal) and He Speaks So Well (available on Bandcamp). He is also a co-writer for the children鈥檚 hip hop song series Uncle Apple (21.1K monthly listeners on Spotify).

His composer/lyricist works include: Superhero (Off-Broadway Composer/Sound Designer), BAPS (National Tour/Jecaryous Johnson Productions), The Earth Remembers (Virginia Stage Company), What鈥檚 Going On - Songs of Change (92NY Lyrics & Lyricists Series), Once Upon a Rhyme (NYU Tisch, Uproar Theatrics), The Hippest Wizard of OZ, Beautiful Hair (City Springs Theatre Company, Uproar Theatrics), Letters to the President, The Earth Remembers (Virginia Public Works), The New Girl (Concord Theatricals).

As an educator and teaching artist, Ronv茅 has held residencies and taught masterclasses on songwriting, musical theatre performance and hip-hop performance for various organizations and institutions including Ramapo College of New Jersey and Auburn University.

Cris Eli Blak (Book) Cris Eli Blak鈥檚 work has been produced and performed around the world. He is a staff writer on the hit series Power Book III: Raising Kanan. He is the inaugural winner of the Black Broadway Men Playwriting Initiative, the 2024 Charles M. Getchell New Play Award, and the Atlanta Shakespeare Company鈥檚 inaugural winner of the Muse of Fire BIPOC Playwriting Festival. He is currently the recipient of the 2025-26 Signpost Fellowship, an artist-in-residence with Abingdon Theatre Company, a 24-2027 Core Writer with The Playwrights Center and a member of the Evolving Playwrights Group with Circle X Theatre Company. He was previously an artist-in-residence with Ojai Playwrights Conference, The State University of New York - Oswego, Liberation Theatre Company, La Lengua Teatro en Espa帽ol/AlterTheater Ensemble, Fosters Theatrical Artists Residency, Paterson Performing Arts Development Council, and Quick Silver Theatre. He was the recipient of the Emerging Playwrights Fellowship with The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre Company and an inaugural fellow with the Black Theatre Coalition. His work has been published by Smith & Kraus, Inc., Ghost Light Publications, 1319 Press, Flowersong Press, YOUTHPlays, Applause Books, The PlayGround Experiment, New World Theatre, Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble, and in the Black Theatre Review.

Will Stone (Orchestrator, Co-Vocal Arranger) is the President and CEO of Will Stone Music LLC, a company bridging performance, technology, and social change through impactful musical experiences. With a Master of Music Production, Technology, and Innovation from Berklee College of Music, a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Howard University, and drama training from Julliard (Group 35), he combines expertise in composing, arranging, sound engineering, music production, and performance.

Will has headed the Sound and Audio Department for the Tony Award recipients Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) since 2020, where he has also performed and served as tenor vocal captain. His compositional and arranging credits include Shoe Story (2024 Eugene O鈥橬eill semifinalist, currently in residency at The Westside Theatre in NYC), Jason鈥檚 Lyric Live (National Tour), New Jack City Live (National Tour), BAPS Live (National Tour, Fall 2025), Once Upon a Rhyme (2017 Eugene O鈥橬eill finalist), The Great MacDaddy, and Vixens. His music has been featured in campaigns and events for Lexus, Out Magazine and NYC Tisch.

As a performer, Will has appeared at the 78th and 74th Annual Tony Awards, the 2024 Met Gala, The White House, and numerous theatre, TV and film productions. He has also worked with notable clients like The Actors鈥� Fund, ACLU, and Broadway Inspirational Voices, and produced a single titled, 鈥淚鈥檒l Imagine You A Song鈥�, honoring Tony Award legends Steven Lutvak and Carol Hall at New York City鈥檚 Power Station studio.

An advocate for the arts, Will served on the advisory board of Arts On Site (2021-2024), curating the Diaspora Solo Fest to celebrate talent from the African diaspora. He has held leadership roles with The Broadway Inspirational Voices, The Continuum Project, and The Sacred Center Gospel Choir, blending his passion for creativity, community, and empowerment.

Emma Kopec (Choreographer, Ensemble)听is a senior musical theatre major from South Bend, Indiana. Previous 糖心原创 credits include听The Wedding Singer听(Ensemble, u/s Julia),听The Apple Tree听(Eve), and听A听Doll鈥檚 House Part 2听(Emmy). Special thanks to Ronv茅 and Marya for all their guidance, and Darius and Ally Jo for being great friends and collaborators!

Darius Ragland听(Choreographer, Ensemble, U/S Street) (he/they) is a sophomore musical theatre major and this is his second show with 糖心原创!听 Past productions he has been part of include the recent WSU production of The Wedding Singer (Ensemble, U.S. George), Grease at Weathervane Playhouse (Kenickie), and Les Mis茅rables at Chillicothe High School (Enjolaras).听 They hope that you have a grand ole time in The City! Enjoy the show ;)

Ally Jo Buck (Choreographer) is a junior dance major at 糖心原创. She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio where she studied many styles of dance at Broadway Bound Dance Academy. Ally Jo has performed in the Emerging Choreographers Concerts, Spring Dance Concerts, Arts Gala events, and Fall Dance Concerts at 糖心原创. She is so excited for the opportunity to work with the 糖心原创 theatre department on this production.

Brooke Bushong (Assistant to the Director) (she/her) is a freshman acting major from Houston, Texas. Only in New York is the first production she has ever worked on at 糖心原创! She would like to thank her mom and her step-mom for all of their love and support, as well as Marya and Ronv茅 for letting her have an opportunity to work on a new show!

Maggie Slauenwhite (Scenic Designer) is excited and grateful to make her design debut on the听world-premiere of Only In New York! She is a junior in the Design Technology program with a concentration in Technical Direction and Scenic Design. Her other 糖心原创 l work includes Assistant Technical Direction for Concord Floral and Head Carpentry for Everybody, Much Ado 糖心原创 Nothing, and Alice by Heart. She has professionally built four productions for The Lexington Theatre Company and eight productions with The Forestburgh Playhouse. Some of her favorite professional works include A Christmas Story (with The Lexington Theatre Company), Next To Normal and Head Over Heels (both with The Forestburgh Playhouse)! She hopes you enjoy the show!

Lauren Crane (Costume Designer) is so happy to be a part of the creative team for Only in New York. Some of her recent work includes creating Venetian masquerade masks and costume crafts for Much Ado 糖心原创 Nothing, building the Queen of Hearts' wig in Alice by Heart, and serving as Props Master for Concord Floral. Outside of 糖心原创, Crane also enjoys working on special effects puppetry and costumes, as well as volunteering and performing as fantasy characters and superheroes.

Robbie Crissman (Lighting Designer) is a sophomore lighting design student and is very excited to get the opportunity to be a part of Only in New York. His previous credits include most recently Assistant Lighting Designer for Dayton Ballet鈥檚 Nutcracker at the Schuster Center, Assistant Lighting Designer for 糖心原创鈥檚 The Wedding Singer, as well as designing pieces in the Fall Dance Concert this previous fall. He would like to thank his family and family for their constant support.

Mary Carlson (Stage Manager) has stage managed Dayton-area Free Shakespeare in the Park productions since 2022, most recently听Much Ado 糖心原创 Nothing听and听The Merry Wives of Windsor.听 She has also been a member of stage management teams at 糖心原创 and at the Dayton Theater Guild. She is grateful to the 糖心原创 Theater Department faculty and staff for this opportunity and to a sparkling cast.听Enjoy the show!

Ana Sofia Gomez (Assistant Stage Manager) (She/Her) is a freshman stage management major from Centerville, OH. She is delighted to take part in the process of a new work! Sofia would like to extend her gratitude to her friends and family for their endless support and encouragement.

Kayla Theiss (Assistant Stage Manager) is a stage management major from Cincinnati. Previous credits include working as an ASM for Concord Floral and a PA for Much Ado 糖心原创 Nothing and The Apple Tree. She also worked as a Float Technician at Peanuts 75th:听Happiness Is鈥� at Cedar Point.听