Home > Children's Company > 2007/08 Season > Aladdin (2008)

April 12 - May 18, 2008
Saturdays and Sundays at Noon and 2:30pm
Special Saturday Night performance April 26th at 5:30pm

Single Tickets Now On Sale
Box Office: 203-576-1636

Hugh Hallinan presents
Downtown Cabaret Theatre Children's Company
Bert Bernardi, Artistic Director



Sponsored by General Electric

Book and Lyrics by
Bert Bernardi
Additional Songs by Scott Simonelli
Sets by Del Mar
Lighting by Hugh Hallinan
Costumes by Jimmy Johansmeyer
Technical Direction by Steve Swatt
Production Stage Manager Phill Hill
Staged and Directed by Bert Bernardi

Season Sponsors People's United Bank & R. D. Scinto
Media Sponsor AT&T Yellow Pages

Featuring
Eric Pesale as Aladdin
Jim Nassef as Wishy Washy
Bert Bernardi as Widow Twanky
Jimmy Johansmeyer as Abanaza
Maria Vee as La Choy
Ashley DePascale as Princess Hotsi Totsi
Jori Janeway as Dim Sum
Lance Anthony as the Genie of the Ring
also featuring
Elissa Demaria, Jackson Gallati,
Victoria Peri, Cameron Phillips
and Brendan Quinn


Musical Highlights
Hong Kong Song........Company
The Most Powerful Man in the World..............Abanaza
I'm Your Girl..........Widow Twanky and Company
The Kind of Guy.........Aladdin and Wishy
Genie of the Ring...........Genie
A Lamp for You........Abanaza and La Choy
What Am I Gonna Do?.......Aladdin and Company
Where is the Boy?...........Princess and Women
The Most Powerful Man Reprise.........Abanaza
A Hundred Million Wishes.........Company

 

Photos


The Princess and her Hand Maidens in ALADDIN now on stage at the Downtown Cabaret Children's Company through May 18. Pictured l. to r. are Elissa DeMaria of Fairfield, Jorie Janeway of Wilton, Ashley DePascale of West Haven and Victoria Pedi of Fairfield.


More fun than a Chinese laundry! Aladdin (left, Eric Pesale) and his brother Wishy Washy (right, Jim Nassef) learn colorful lessons from Widow Twanky (center, Bert Bernardi) in ALADDIN now on stage at the Downtown Cabaret Children's Company through May 18.



The Widow Twanky (Bert Bernardi) and her dancing laundry detergant (Jorie Janeway) appear in ALADDIN now on stage at the Downtown Cabaret Children's Company through May 18.


Aladdin (center, Eric Pesale) is tempted by the evil Abanaza (left, Jimmy Johansmeyer) and his assistant, La Choy (right, Maria Vee) in ALADDIN at the Downtown Cabaret Children's Company now through May 18.


The Most Powerful Man in the World! The Evil Abanaza (Jimmy Johansmeyer) and his assistant La Choy (Maria Vee) scheme in ALADDIN now playing at the Downtown Cabaret Children's Company through May 18.


Aladdin (left, Eric Pesale) presents the magic lamp to the Princess (Ashley DePascale) and the Emperor (right, Jeffrey Fulton) in ALADDIN now playing at the Downtown Cabaret Children's Company through May 18.


Aladdin (Eric Pesale) meets a magical genie (Lance Anthony) in ALADDIN, now playing at the Downtown Cabaret Children's Company through May 18.


Life is like an egg roll in Hong Kong! The new musical ALADDIN is now playing at the Downtown Cabaret Children's Company through May 18. Featured in the cast, (l. to r.) are Elissa DeMaria, Cameron Phillips, Eric Pesale, Jackson Gallati, Brendan Quinn and Victoria Peri.

 

Who's Who

Bert Bernardi is the recipient of the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre. Some of his favorite Children's Company roles include the Stepmother in Cinderella Skeleton, Rumplestiltskin, The Grandfather in Heidi and Glinda the Good Witch in Wizard of Oz. This is Bert's twenty-sixth season as artistic director of the Children's Company!

Jimmy Johansmeyer continues his thirteen season with DCT. Roles here include Bill Sykes in Oliver Twist, Tall Bony Jane in Cinderella Skeleton, the Troll in 3 Billy Goats Gruff, Dracula and everyone's favorite, Lord Licorice in Christmas in Candyland. Most recently, he was El Capitano in Pinocchio.

Jim Nassef This is Jim's fourth show with DCT. He was last seen here as Pinocchio. Also: Milton in Christmas in Candylandthe Town Crier in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Other credits: Johnny Guitar, Violet, Ragtime, Anything Goes and Danny Zuko in Grease. Shout out to friends & family..

Maria Vee This is Maria's eighth season. Some favorite roles include Queen Frostine in the Candylands, Heidi, Lucy in Dracula and Souflee/Mrs. Pots & Pans in Beauty and the Beast, as well as half a dozen different wacky fairies. Most recently she was Columbina in Pinocchio. She has performed around the country, teaches drama, and is on a quest to sample every type of cheese known to man.

Brendan Quinn was previously seen here in Auntie Claus, Treasure Island (Jim) and
Oliver Twist. He was seen at Playhouse on the Green, The Palace in Stamford and the New Canaan Town Players . Fairfield Teen Theatre: Into the Woods, Suessical, Beauty and the Beast. Fairfield Warde High School: Camelot, Hello Dolly,Our Town, The Miracle Worker and Pride and Prejudice.

Lance Anthony is tickled to be back at DCT. You've seen him as the Midnight Special in The Little Engine That Could, Lion in The Wizard of Oz, Brom Bones in Sleepy Hollow and recently the Baron in Auntie Claus.

Vanessa David is proud to continue her tradition of Kamikaze acting with DCT. She has understudied roles in Auntie Claus, The Wizard of Oz, Heidi, Oliver Twist, Beauty and the Beast and Jack and the Beanstalk. Other roles include Mama Rabbit, Gretel, Goldilocks, Eeyore and The Godmother!

Elissa Demaria is thrilled to be back for her fifth DCT show. She is a senior at Fairfield Warde and Regional Center for the Arts. She will next be seen in Urinetown. Elissa thanks her family, friends and her Aladdin for all their support.

Ashley DePascale is thrilled to be making her debut performance at DCT. She is a graduate of UConn with a BA in Drama. An active performer for Connecticut Repertory Theatre, her favorite CRT roles include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Annie in The Gut Girls and Kit Kat Girl in Cabaret. She performed in the Hershey Park 2006 summer show Gonna Shake It Up. Ashley is so grateful to her family and friends for their continuous love, support and guidance. This one's for gram!

Jeff Fulton is thrilled to be returning to DCT after three years away! Some audiences may
remember him from appearances in Rumpelstiltskin, Rudolph!, Treasure Island and his first
show in 2003, Aladdin. It's great to be back among friends. Love to his wife, Laura.

Jackson Gallati is thrilled to make his debut at DCT! Previously Jackson played Salvatore in DCT's version of Cinderella at his school and the Big Big King in Snow White at Fairfield Teen Theatre. When you don't see him on stage, his is probably in the wings drawing his favorite cartoon characters. Jackson is in third grade and claims there is no bowl of spaghetti too big for him!

Jorie Janeway is thrilled to make her DCT debut! She was last seen as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at Curtain Call Theatre. Other favorite roles: Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical, Robert Anne in Nunsense and Betty in The Foreigner. She has a degree in Theatre from Azusa Pacific University. Jorie would like to thank Bert and hte rest of the Cabaret family!

Eric Pesale is thrilled to be back at DCT, where he was last seen playing various roles in
Christmas in Candyland 2. He has been active in regional theatre for over five years, and has recently appeared in Love's Labour's Lost with Connecticut Free Shakespeare and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow here at DCT. Eric enjoys writing and is pursuing degrees in English and Business at his college.

Victoria Peri is thrilled to be in her first show at DCT. She has appeared with Fairfield Teen
Theatre in Return of the Glass Slipper (Godmother), Suessical (Cindy Lou Who) and Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl). She's also been seen in Follies 2007. She'd like to thank Bert for this wonderful opportunity as well as her family for being so accomodating and supportive.

Cameron Phillips is delighted to again take part in a DCT show this season where he was last seen in the new Christmas musical, Auntie Claus. Roles he's played include Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Tony in You Can't Take It With You, and the Artful Dodger in Oliver! Tip of the hat to his parrot, Skeeter, for all his encouragement and support.

Scott Simonelli is thrilled to have written and performed the music for Witchypoo. His past collaborations with Bert Bernardi include last season's Beauty and the Beast, Oliver Twist and Cinderella Skeleton. Over the years, Scott has played in several bands, taught music and worked for Sony Music. Scott would like to thank Mary, Sean and Seamus for listening through the floor.

Phill Hill graduated from Elon University in 2005 with a degree in Theatrical Production/Design. For two years he was the production stage manager for the Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, SC, stage managing such productions as A Doll's House, The Subject Was Roses, Plaza Suite and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He also worked for the Lakes Region Summer Theatre in 2004 and 2005 where he stage managed Chicago, My Fair Lady and Phantom.




Single Tickets Now On Sale

Box Office: 203-576-1636