Our 542nd Production
Directed by Carla Childs
September 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 27th, 28th 29th, 2024
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
As the Civil Rights movement is brewing, a controversial children’s book about a black rabbit marrying a white rabbit stirs the passions of a segregationist State Senator and a no-nonsense State Librarian in 1959 Montgomery, Alabama. A contrasting story of childhood friends—an African American man and a woman of white privilege, reunited in adulthood—provides private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, star-crossed lovers, and one feisty children’s author inhabit the same page in a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak, and hope. Inspired by true events!
Reviews: Hugh Hunter | Ellen Wilson Dilks’ | Stanley Kate
Meet the Cast
Clint Cleaver as Bobby Crone
Clint Cleaver was accepted at Ohio State University Medical School at 17 but switched to theater after discovering his passion during an accelerated undergrad program. Known for his role as Dr. Zubritski in Neil Simon’s “Fools” at Village Players of Hatboro in 2013, he famously bandaged a 95-year-old audience member and diagnosed a broken hip. Over the years, Clint has performed with Playcrafters of Skippack, Stagecrafters in Chestnut Hill, and Old Academy Players, where he took on various roles in several productions including in their Summer One-Act Bonanza. He holds a B.A. in Theater from Ohio State and an M.F.A. in directing from Tulane University.
Connor Patrick as Thomas Franklin
Connor is thrilled to be back onstage at Old Academy! He was last seen as George Gibbs in Our Town here at OAP. Other favorite roles include Professor Plum in Clue (The Candlelight Theatre) and Martin in Fool for Love (Princeton Summer Theater). He is a graduate of Penn State University and Temple Law School. He wants to thank Morgan and his family for all their love and support.
Douglas Tague as Garth Williams
Doug began acting in middle age, performing improv with Full Circle Theatre and Playback for Change. This led to acting in plays. Some favorite roles include: Cunningham in To Kill a Mockingbird; Henry in Sex Please, We’re 60; Lou in 4 Weddings and an Elvis; Meeker in Inherit the Wind; and OAP’s Summer One-Acts. Thanks to Carla, our faithful volunteers behind the scenes, and family and friends for their support.
Lorraine Barrett as Emily Wheelock Reed
Lorraine has appeared at OAP in And Then There Were None and Buried Child. Other stages include the Walnut Street Theatre (understudy for Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), The Arden, Act II Playhouse, Wilmington Drama League, South Camden Theatre Company, Players Club of Swarthmore, and Town and Country Players, in roles ranging from the pill-addicted Violet in August: Osage County to a toothless Peasant Woman in Incorruptible. She holds an MFA in acting, and recently directed The Outsider at Spotlight Theatre. Former life: member of the original Broadway cast of Joseph and the Amazing Colored Dreamcoat.
Marc Johnson as Joshua Moore
Marc Johnson has appeared three times in the Old Academy Players’ Summer One-Act Bonanza. He also played two characters in Sweat last season. Marc has acted in and directed plays around the Philadelphia area for many years, including with the Drama Group and Allens Lane Art Center.
Mike Zaleski as Hershel Webb
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Mike has appeared intermittently on stage and screen since 2005 and is honored to return to the Old Academy Players in Alabama Story, his 2nd production with the company. Mike works as an attorney in Philly to support his interests, which include the arts (particularly cinema), food, and road-trips. Mike would like to thank his amazing partner, Ren, and his wonderful parents for their unwavering support, love, and encouragement, without which this would not be possible. Love to Bobby Hill.
Mort Paterson as Senator E. W. Higgins
Mort has been acting in and around Philadelphia since the 1960’s. His most recent role was a year ago, the Caliph in Delaware Valley Opera’s comic Abu Hassan. In 2021 he appeared as Beethoven’s assistant, Anton Schindler, in 33 Variations at Kelsey Theater. He has a particular fondness for Shakespeare, having played among other roles Leonato, Orsino, Polonius, Prospero, Claudius, Leontes and King Lear. Professional appearances include Montague in Romeo and Juliet at Bristol Riverside and several with Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival: the Duke in Othello, Vincentio in Taming of the Shrew, and the Friar in Much Ado. He is currently preparing a video, intended for YouTube, on the value of rhythm in speaking Shake-speare’s verse. Check out his article on the subject in Shakespeare Bulletin, Fall 2015. Great to be back at Old Academy! Kisses to supportive Sue!
Nicole Gerenyi as Lily Whitfield
Nicole Gerenyi is pleased to be back with Old Academy Players for Alabama Story after appearing in the One-Act Bonanza this past summer. During the school year, she teaches and runs a high-school Theatre Department with an incredible group of young artists and awesome production staff. Many thanks to her supportive friends and family for the encouragement to make time to perform for herself again.
Robert Toczek as Henry Branch/Passersby
No stranger to Community Theatre, Robert has been acting in and around the Philadelphia area since he was a teenager. A long time member of Old Academy who first met Carla Childs when he was doing a small role in Thornton Wilder’s The Long Christmas Dinner over twenty years ago. Since then he has been averaging one to two shows a year. He was last seen on our stage in Judy van Buskirk’s ShakespearaPalooza where he got to do acting and rap music. When not onstage he can often be seen tooling around Northwest Philadelphia doing odd jobs and repairs. He is also “on the boards” every Saturday at Kilian Hardware in Chestnut Hill in case you’re looking for competent home repair advice. Many thanks to Carla for allowing him to get back onstage after a two year absence. Much love to Jane, his wife, and to Roxy, his new slightly neurotic dog.
Carla Childs (Director)
Carla, a Distinguished Member, has been active at the Old Academy since 1993, when she brought children to audition for a play and got a part of her own. Directing highlights include Our Town (in 1996), The Winslow Boy, Driving Miss Daisy, Smash, Charley’s Aunt, To Kill a Mockingbird, Enchanted April, The Miracle Worker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Little Women, The Taming of the Shrew, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Lion in Winter, Twelfth Night, A House with No Walls, A Raisin in the Sun, Wedding Band, and ShakespearaPalooza! Her most recent onstage appearance was in As It is in Heaven. She works at Germantown Friends School with students who are interested in costumes and technical theater.
Alyssia Sims (Producer)
Alyssia Sims is excited to be working again with Old Academy Players. She has previously worked on Next to Normal as their stage manager and played Lily in last season’s The Book Club Play. Other credits include Sister Chantelle (Bare: APop Opera) and Katisha (The Mikado). She holds a B.A. in Music Performance from Lincoln University and an M.A. in Musical Theater Studies from Temple University. She also trained across the pond at the American College in Dublin, Ireland. She is grateful to the Bare production team for the opportunity. She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her passions.
Helga Krauss (Producer/Costumes)
A Distinguished Member, has been active at OAP for 20 years. Some of the plays she has directed are: Two Dozen Red Roses, Return Engagements, Relative Values, The Constant Wife, Murdering Marlowe, The Countess, Doubt, Wedding Belles, and The Pearl. Production credits include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Member of the Wedding, An Ideal Husband, The Miracle Worker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Little Women, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Taming of the Shrew, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Lion in Winter, Twelfth Night, A House with No Walls, A Raisin in the Sun, and Wedding Band. Her memorable performances as an actor include roles in The Price and For Goodness Sake. Helga a member of the production committee and is the theater’s treasurer.
Karen Taylor-Young (Producer)
Karen Taylor-Young (Producer) is a Philly-based dance teacher and choreographer, a founding member and former principal dancer with Philadanco, (Philadelphia Dance Company), former Musical Theater choreographer at Germantown Friends School, and a former private instructor at Chestnut Hill College. As a choreographer and movement director, she has worked on five other Old Academy productions, including A Raisin in the Sun and Wedding Band.
Judy Van Buskirk (Dramaturg)
A 22-year career in teaching and researching American History has prepared Judy for dramaturgy work. She previously filled this role in a production of “Wedding Band” in 2021. Judy also has a history of her own with this theater, performing her first role here over fifty years ago.
Mary Jane Fullam (Prompter)
Mary Jane is happy to be part of the crew behind the scenes, as in past productions at the Old Academy including The Curious Savage, Waiting, The Pearl, Skin Deep, Calendar Girls, Shakespearapalooza!, and last season’s Our Town. Her ongoing role at the theater is keeping an eye on safety issues. Mary Jane is a member of the East Falls Town Watch and is involved in many environmental programs.
Phoenix Levine (Tech Operator)
Phoenix Levine, a budding talent with an infectious enthusiasm and natural flair for performance, recently joined the Old Academy Players. At only 12 years old, he has already captivated audiences in OAP’s production of Our Town and in his middle school’s rendition of “Singing in the Rain” at Germantown Friends School. Now, he is spreading his wings further, exploring stage crew in Alabama Story. With each step, he brings a fresh energy and dedication that promise a bright future in the world of theater.
Sarah Labov (Tech Design)
Has been an OAP member for nine years and enjoys directing, acting, producing, designing and building sets, lights, sound, and running tech in the booth. Sarah co-produces the Summer One Act Bonanza, has appeared on stage as Myrtle Webb (Our Town), Queen Margaret & Beatrice (Shakespeara Palooza), Marty (Circle Mirror Transformation), Sonya (Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike) and directed “Fast Girls” and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead”. Sarah studied with the Philadelphia Repertory Co with Mike Nichols, Paul Sills, David Mamet and NYU/Stella Adler. Sarah enjoys collaborating with Old Academy directors and is delighted to help in bringing the Alabama Story to life.
Sarah Swearer (Set Design)
A retired architect now living in Austin Texas, is a huge fan of Old Academy. During her five years residing in East Falls, Sarah worked on sets and costumes for a number of OA plays. She has created costumes for Hawgfly Productions and has been involved with City Theater in Austin.
Vanessa D. Ballard (Assistant to the Director)
VANESSA D. BALLARD is an accomplished actress, writer and vocalist. She is no stranger to the Old Academy stage where she has appeared in Purlie Victorious, (Idella), A Raisin in the Sun, (Lena) and The Miracle Worker (Viney). She recently co-directed Wedding Band by Alice Childress and directed Finding Help, one of the one act productions in previous years.