Ellis Island (June 2024)
Winner of the prestigious Moss Hart Award at the New England Theatre Conference in 1996, Cheryl Kemeny’s “Ellis Island” is a perennial favorite at Crystal Theatre…recently expanded and revised to include mainly adults! The heart-rending & inspiring journey of immigrants from across the planet - Italy, Russia, Hungary, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, and the West Indies - are brought to life with a rousing & tuneful score. Once arrived in the “promised land”, the immigrants must run the gauntlet of immigration officers who determine their fitness for entry into the United States. Gender roles, immigration reform, and political asylum are poignantly explored as hope, hardship, and humanity unfold on the hallowed “Island of Hope”. Experience the joys and sorrows of our ancestors in this emotional saga (part one of a series - the third installment, “Whistleville”, was presented last August).
PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER Laszlo Balazs
MUSICAL DIRECTOR/WRITER Cheryl Kemeny
CHOREOGRAPHER Char Fromentin
COSTUMER Alexandrea Kemeny
ASSOCIATE COSTUMER Emory Ciocci
COSTUME INTERN Rebecca Beebe
SOUND DESIGN Jack Singewald
LIGHTING DESIGN Pierce Gremse
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Isabella Bartilucci
DANCE CAPTAIN Alice Jackins
STAGEHAND Dom Lettera
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BAND
KEYBOARDS Cheryl Kemeny, Laszlo Balazs
DRUMS Johnny Montagnese
TROMBONE Adam Myers
CLARINET Pat Lombardo
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CAST
AMERICANS
COMMISSIONER WATCHORN James Ring-Howell
BRIGITTE ANDERSSEN Rhianna Ring-Howell
DR. GREGORY SCHMIDT Evan Stelly
SAMMY TATE James Cahn
MR. HERBERT WINSTON Lenny Carlucci
MR. GEORGE WASHINGTON Andrew Pearce
NURSE CLARA MARTIN Caitlin Brown
MRS. WILHEMINA MACARTHUR Alexandrea Kemeny
NURSE CYNTHIA JACKSON Betsy Grover
MISS BUCKLEY Samantha Strack
MRS. MARY ELSWORTH Melissa Nichols
MRS. MIRANDA SUTTON Nadine Hokayem
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ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS
SIGNORA FONTANA Rosemary Holomakoff
CAROLINA FONTANA Gabby Villaroel
CONSTANZA DIMEGLIO Brooke McHugh
PAOLO FONTANA Carter Pugliese
ANNA CHRISTINA del AMANTE di BORGHESE Ariana Tsirakidis
GIUSEPPE DISCALA Matthew Surapine
VIOLETTA DISCALA Samantha Frattallone
SUSANNAH DISCALA Vivian Balazs
MARIA DISCALA Tassneem Boulekhyam
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MAGYAR (Hungarian) IMMIGRANTS
JUTKA HARASZTI Emily Katz
ILONA HARASZTI Madeline Parra
ZSUZSI HARASZTI Lindsay Sherman
ILDIKO HARASZTI Maren Ackerson
EVA SZABO Alana Ackerson
IRENKA SZABO Iliana Branda
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IRISH IMMIGRANTS
KATE SULLIVAN Alice Jackins
COLLEEN SULLIVAN Keira Primps
TIMOTHY O'REILLY Bill King
DANIEL MURPHY Joseph Derr
ELEANOR O’DONNELL Christine Brandon
TOMMY O'DONNELL James Schumacher
AIDAN O’DONNELL Jeff Waggaman
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ENGLISH IMMIGRANTS
WINIFRED GODFREY Lynn Sadlon
RENÉE BAPTISTE Rose Pierre
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RUSSIAN & POLISH IMMIGRANTS
NICOLAI GOLDOVSKY William Scott
LUDMILLA ANTONOVICH Chandler Hall
LEONID CHEKOV Nathan Graham
ANUSHKA ABELSON Bobbie Dropick
RACHEL ABELSON Grace Mora
ESTER ABELSON Julia Oracz
ADEL ABELSON Ellie Griffin
PER SVENSSON David Jackins
HELGA SVENSSON Sophie Katz
DANA SVENSSON Charlotte Cahn
KIRSTEN SVENSSON Eleanor Freeman
BRUNHILDE SVENSSON Mabel McNulty
RONA SVENSSON Anya Ackerson
KELSEY SVENSSON Ava Ackerson
ULRIKA JACOBSEN Sarah Greenberg
HANS JACOBSEN Gabe Botazzi
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CARIBBEAN & WEST INDIAN IMMIGRANTS
MRS. SYLVIA BONET April Brown
ANTOINETTE BONET Hayden Boatwright
DOMINIQUE BONET Harper Boatwright
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OTHER PARTS
Dr. Bonet
MR. GORKY Dan Hague
MR. BORGHESE Paul Bartilucci
MRS. BORGHESE Helene Bartilucci
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