"Right this way, Ladies and Gentlemen!" shouted Ringmaster Schlegel, and suddenly the Wean Performing Arts Studio was transformed into The Big Top, complete with jugglers, clowns, dancing girls, stilt walkers, and even a dancing bear.  It truly was a carnival atmosphere.

Once again Mary Bracken Phillips, Andrea: Andrea Barrett, and Len Leib have worked their magic, elevating the Wooster thespians to another marvel to amaze and delight. Familiar Wooster stage stars Katie Silverstein (as Lili), Ben Ross (as Paul), Dylan Geyselaers (as Mr. Schlegel), and Cole Tucker-Walton (as Jacquot) were as good as ever, but the real discoveries of the evening (besides Mr. McKean in his cameo role of juggler) were the despicable Marco played brilliantly by David Taylor and the disarmingly worldly Rosalie, played with extraordinary depth by Beth Svenningsen.

With the help of Carrot Top and his puppet friends, Paul is able to finally tell Lili how he feels about her, and love conquers all in the end.  But Rosalie, too, is left to make the best way that she can with the rakish Marco, leaving the audience to wonder just how much good will can accomplish without a healthy dash of talent.

What is clear is that the talents of the Wooster actors, stage crew, and directors continue to grow.  Special praise to senior Caiti Sommers who was the lighting designer and who has developed the talent of keeping Mr. Leib calm at curtain time. She, and all of the seniors involved in their last Wooster performance (Anne Woodward, Alex Nemeth, Chelsea Gilchrist, Samantha Pious, Will Rosenstein, Ben Jameson, Katie Silverstein, and Dillon Geyselaers) will be greatly missed, but are certainly on the road to even greater accomplishments.

Director: Mary Bracken Phillips

Musical Director: Arnie Gross

Choreographer/Costume Designer: Andrea Barrett

Tech/Set Construction: Len Leib

Lighting Designer: Caiti Sommers ’07

CREW

Seamstresses:Nina Allred, Eudora Sommers, Nancy Woodward, Mollie Barrett, Cassidy Liebman, Karen Liebman, Alex Nemeth

Set Painting:Gretta Reed, Nina Allred, Tessa Rosenstein, Beth Svenningsen, Cassidy Liebman, Ben Ross, Nick Allred, Dylan Geyselaers

Backdrop Posters:Dennis Moran, Allison Pottach, Mollie Barrett, Lizzie Eckman, Cole Tucker-Walton, Marla Cromwell

Act Signs:Cynthia Silverstein

CAST

Lili: Katie Silverstein ’07  (Understudy: Caiti Sommers ‘07)

Paul: Ben Ross ’09

Marco: David Taylor ‘09 (Understudy: Nick Allred ’09)

Rosalie: Beth Svenningsen ‘09 (Understudy: Molly Barrett ‘08)

Jacquot: Cole Tucker-Walton’09 (Understudy: Johnny Svenningsen ’08)

Mr. Schlegel: Dillon Geyselaers ’07 (Understudy: Ryan Eick ‘09)

Gloria Zuwicki/Acrobat: Caiti Sommers ‘07

Gladys Zuwicki/Carnival Person: Alex Nemeth’07

Roustabout/Juggler: Johnny Svenningsen’08-Chris Wickham ’08, Jack Barrett ‘10

Roustabout/Clown: Ryan Eick ’09

Roustabout/ Carnival Person: Alec Isaacs ’10

Plate Spinner: Gretta Reed ’09

Bluebird/Plate Spinner: Nina Kogekar ’09

Bluebird/Acrobat: Molly Barrett’08

Bluebird/Stilt Walker: Tori Haynes’11

Bluebird/ Aerialist: Caiti Sommers ‘07

Bluebird/Harem Girl: Tessa Rosenstein ’10

Bluebird/Dancing Bear: Cassidy Liebman ‘09

Dr. Glass/ Bear Handler: Nick Allred ’09

Strongman: Josh Rosenthal ’08

Gustav Schlegel: Corey Allred ‘12

Princess Olga: Anna Woodward ’07

Grobert: Mike Murray ’08

The Children

            Emma Brown ‘12

            Iris Mustich ‘12

            Nell Kessler ’12

            Martha Biddle ‘12

            Amanda Kloth ’11

            Erica Moran ‘12

            Lisa Moran ’12

Crew

Stage Manager: Nick Allred ‘09

Prop Manager: Nina Kogekar ‘09

Sound Engineer: Ben Leib ‘08

Tech Crew:

            Chelsea Gilchrist ‘07

            Greg Sommers ’10

            Samantha Pious ‘07

            Will Rosenstein ‘07

Playbill: Ben Jameson ’07 & Lauren Bullock