Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story

June 28 - July 16 | at The Playhouse

A crowd pleaser that really rocks!

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at Weston Theater Company

Written by

Alan Janes

Directed by

Meredith McDonough

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June 28 - 7:30pm (Preview)
June 29 - 7:30pm (Preview)
June 30 - 7:30pm
July 1 - 2:00pm & 7:30pm
July 2 - 3:00pm
July 5 - 2:00pm and 7:30pm
July 6 - 2:00pm and 7:30pm
July 7 - 7:30pm
July 8 - 2:00pm and 7:30pm
July 9 - 3:00pm
July 11 - 7:30pm
July 12 - 2:00pm and 7:30pm
July 13 - 7:30pm
July 14 - 7:30pm
July 15 - 2:00pm and 7:30pm
July 16 - 3:00 pm

Rock out with the one and only Buddy Holly! Transport yourself back to the 1950s with this show telling the story of Holly’s rise to fame, his struggles with the music industry, and his enduring legacy as one of the pioneers of rock and roll. This high-energy must-see show features all of Holly’s hits, including “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be the Day, and “Everyday.” It’s a heartwarming and inspiring tale that will have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

ARTISTIC & CREATIVE TEAM

Meredith McDonough - Director
Matt Cusack - Music Director
Felicity Stiverson - Choreographer
Jeremy Yaddaw - Music Coordinator
Lex Liang - Set Designer
Kathleen Geldard - Costume Designer
Marika Kent - Lighting Designer
Joanna Lynne Staub - Sound Designer
* Jakob W. Plummer - Production Stage Manager
Sergio Manriquez - Assistant Stage Manager
Michael Cassara, CSA - Casting

CAST

* Billy Finn - Buddy Holly
Ben Johnson - Jerry Allison
Lena Richard - Marlena Madison
* Isaiah Reynolds - Tyrone Jones
* Ariana Papaleo - Maria Elena
* Jason Cohen - Tommy
* Maggie Hollinbeck - Vi Petty
* Adrian Lopez - Ritchie Valens
* David Bonanno - HiPockets
* Matt Cusack - Joe B. Mauldin

*Member Actors’ Equity Association

Program: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story

Billy Finn is thrilled to be making his Weston debut! He previously played Buddy Holly in “The Wanderer,” a new musical that made its world premiere last spring at Paper Mill Playhouse. A New York City-based actor, musician and writer, Finn’s New York credits include appearances at Irish Rep, Ars Nova, The Public, New Dramatists, Playwrights Horizons, and more. Regional credits include Northern Stage, McCarter Theatre Center, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Folger Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, American Repertory Theatre, Trinity Rep, Pittsburg CLO, Theatre Under the Stars, and many others. He is a graduate of the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA program. You can follow him on Instagram @billythefinn.

Ben is so beyond excited to be in Vermont playing alongside Buddy Holly in his first show here at Weston Theater Company! Raised in Rockford, Illinois, Ben graduated from Rockford University where he earned his BFA in Musical Theatre. Ben most recently performed as Andrej in Once (Pittsburgh MT). Credits also include: Buddy, Elf (the Studio); Mitch, Dear Soldier Boy (Blue Gate Musicals); Cheech, Bullets Over Broadway (Rockford University); Benny, Hands on a Hardbody (Rockford University); and Mark Rothko Red (Rockford University). Theme park goers may have seen him perform at Cedar Point and Kings Dominion. When not on stage, Ben loves to songwrite and release his music online. Ben would like to thank his friends and family for all their support! He also thanks the cast and the rest of the WTC team for the memories to come. Thanks for reading! Enjoy the show!

Lena Richard was born and raised in one of the most talent-filled places in the world: New Orleans, LA. She received a B.A. in Music from the University of New Orleans. Following graduation she performed at the U. S. White House, several jazz festivals, and numerous theatrical productions throughout New Orleans. She is credited several Costar roles on national networks such as WGN, Black Entertainment Television, Disney Channel, Peacock Channel, and most recently The Oprah Winfrey Network. Lena is an example of the resiliency and commitment of New Orleans homegrown artists.

Isaiah is so excited to be making his debut here at Weston Playhouse. From the Midwest Isaiah has had the privilege of working a cross the country and in New York performing in shows. Some favorite credits include Choir Boy at Portland Center Stage, Five Guys Named Moe at The Fulton Theater and Hairspray at Theater Aspen. Graduate of The Boston Conservatory he would like to thank his family, friends and DGRW for their love and support. Enjoy the show!

Ariana Papaleo is thrilled to be making her Weston Playhouse debut this summer. Previous credits include: Nina in In The Heights (Playhouse Stage Co.), Portia in The Merchant of Venice (NYU, The Classical Studio), The Prophet (NYU Physical Acting) and Christmas Story (Capital Repertory Theater). Ariana would like to thank her family for their loving support. Shout out to Ariana’s Yaya for being Buddy Holly’s number one fan! Ariana holds a BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch. Instagram: @arpap512. Website: arianapapaleo.com

Jason Cohen (Tommy) has previously acted in and/or musically directed six other productions of Buddy, including at North Shore, Ogunquit, and Gateway. With his production company Emmett Productions (EmmettProductionsLLC.com) he created, produces, and performs the theatrical concerts Great Balls of Fire and Less Honkin', More Tonkin'. National tour: Million Dollar Quartet (Jerry Lee Lewis). Regional theatre: yes. Writing: music and lyrics for The Doormen (New York Theater Festival Best Production, Best Score, TheDoormenMusical.com). BFA: NYU Tisch. Jason lives in Manhattan and hotel rooms across the country. JasonCohenOnline.com or @ohyesjayco for more.

Maggie Hollinbeck is happy to be making her Weston debut with these gorgeous humans! Some of Maggie’s recent roles include Once (1st national tour); Woody Sez (Ivoryton Playhouse); Ring of Fire (Florida Rep). She’s an original member of the band Ramblin’ Rose, which celebrates the women of country music. With her music partner Graham Sobelman, Maggie is also co-developing Songs from Eagle Pond, a love story centered on New Hampshire-based poets Jane Kenyon and Donald Hall. Website: www.maggiehollinbeck.com

Adrian is thrilled to make his Weston Playhouse debut! Upon graduating with a BFA in Musical Theatre from SHSU, Adrian went on to lead the 1st National Tour of Spamilton: An American Parody starring as Lin Manuel Miranda. Most recently, Adrian took on the role of Roger Davis in RENT at Theatre Under The Stars in Houston, Texas. Adrian has also taken the stage in New York regional productions of Once and Ring of Fire, both at Geva Theatre Company.
IG: adrian_lopezz
Special thanks to my agents at CTG, my brother Andrew, and my American house hippo- Dio Brando. (he’s a Pitbull, not an actual hippo!)

Buddy marks David’s 50th show at Weston. Memorable Weston productions over the past 36 years include An Iliad, Fun Home, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Music Man, Stones in His Pockets, The Full Monty, Of Mice And Men, Death Of A Salesman and Floyd Collins, as well as writing and directing countless Cabarets. David was in the original Broadway company of The Light In The Piazza, the Chicago companies of Ragtime and Lend Me A Tenor and the National Tour of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. He has been seen regionally at The Goodman, Indiana Rep, Milwaukee Rep, Delaware Theatre Company, Shaker Bridge and Northern Stage. www.davidbonanno.com

Matt Cusack is excited to be making his Weston Theatre debut. He is an actor, musician, composer, arranger, music director/supervisor, and music/audio producer. Broadway: One Man Two Guvnors (AMD), Bandstand. Off Broadway: The Robber Bridegroom. National Tour/Regional: John Doyle’s Sweeney Todd, Million Dollar Quartet, The Buddy Holly Story(MD). TV: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Reading League’s: Reading Buddies (composer/audio producer). mattcusackmusic.com.