Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre

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SSMT NEWS

Our Three Young Stars!

Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre begins celebrating its 30^th anniversary on June 12 with the summer 2013 opening musical, Les Misérables.  The three youngest members of the cast playing

the roles of young Cosette, young Eponine and Gavroche are residents of the Winchester-Frederick County area.

Young Cosette will be portrayed by Vivian Sansoni, the daughter of Amy Christy-Davila of Winchester.  Aside from being a member of the Virginia All State Chorus in 2012 and 2013,

Vivian was seen in Wayside Theatre’s productions of Wait Until Dark and A Christmas Carol

and as Annie in the Winchester System Wide Musical production of Annie.

Jordan Thompson, 11 year-old daughter of Amanda and Chris Thompson of Stephens City, VA

will be seen in the role of young Eponine.  Jordan is a fifth grader at Armel Elementary School

and has performed in various church musicals.

Jordan Armel, who was seen as Michael in the 2012 SSMT production of Peter Pan,

will play the role of Gavroche.  Jordan is the ten-year-old son of Mr. & Mrs. Scott Armel of Cross Junction.  Jordan also appeared in Wayside Theatre’s productions of Glory Bea.

Les Misérables will be performed on the Stage of Shenandoah University’s Ohrstrom Bryant Theatre June 12 through 23.

Two more young Winchester performers will be in the SSMT season’s closing musical, Shrek.

Tiernan O’Neil, the 10-year-old son of Karen O’Neil will be seen in the role of young Shrek.  Tiernan,

a fourth grader at Apple Pie Ridge, was seen in the 2011 SSMT production of Oliver!.

Young Fiona will be played by Rena Kornreich, the daughter of Bryan and Lenore Kornreich of Winchester.  Eight-year-old Rena was seen in Winchester System Wide Musicals, as Molly in Annie and Fluff in Honk!.

Shrek will be performed July 24 through August 4 with an added matinee on Thursday, August 1.

SSMT’s anniversary season will also include audience favorites, Chicago and Crazy for You, The Gershwin Musical.  These productions will run June 26 through July 7 and July 10 through 21 respectively.

Tickets are available through the Shenandoah Box Office at 540-665-4569 or on line

at shenandoahsummermusictheatre.com.

Shenandoah Summer

Music Theatre

The musical theatre company

will launch its 30^th season

on Wed., June 12, 2013

with our long awaited

production

of



We are very happy to announce that Christopsher Sanders, whom our audiences will remember for his performance in the role of Emilie in South Pacific will return to play the role of Javert in Les Miserables.

Playing the role of Jean Valjean will be Stephen Cramer, who was seen as the Father in SSMT’s production of Footloose.

Steve Cramer



Stephen is thrilled to be returning to Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre!  Local audiences may remember his portrayal of Rev. Shaw Moore in SSMT’s last two productions of Footloose.  He has entertained audiences, both in the U.S. and Canada.  Mr. Cramer made his Broadway debut in 2000 in the New York production of Les Miserables, performing the role of Jean Valjean. Before coming to Broadway, Stephen spent 3 years in the U.S. and Canadian national tours of Les Miserables.  During a six month stay in Toronto, he had the opportunity to work with Colm Wilkinson.  In 2007, Stephen sang the role of Tony in the 50^th Anniversary salute to West Side Story produced by Signature Theatre, performed at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Favorite regional theatre credits also include My Fair Lady at California Music Theatre,   Down at the Old Bull and Bush at Arena Stage, Ralph in H.M.S. Pinafore, Tony in West Side Story, and Billy Bigelow in Carousel.

Mr. Cramer is a 6 time Helen Hayes Award nominee.  In 1994, he was honored with the Helen Hayes Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance with Interact Theatre in Washington D.C.  Stephen is no stranger to oratorio and opera as well as musical theatre.  His classical roles include Alfredo in La Traviata and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly.  Stephen was also the guest soloist in Bruckner’s Te Deum and Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein with the Choral Arts Society of Washington, as well as their Christmas concert in 2010.  Mr. Cramer is also a frequent soloist with The Columbia Orchestra, and The Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra.

Stephen entertained national audiences portraying Santa at the National Christmas Tree Lighting in December 2008, and on the stage of the Kennedy Center in 2010 as The Dragon in John Rutter’s operetta, The Reluctant Dragon.

Christopher Sanders



Christopher Sanders is thrilled to return to SSMT under the direction of Harold Herman.  Audiences may remember his performance as Emile in South Pacific in 2011.  Christopher is an award winning actor/singer and has performed in venues around the world. Throughout his career, he has had the pleasure of working with George Hearn, Roddy McDowell, Carol Lawrence, John Raitt, Debbie Boone, and Rosemary Clooney. Theatrical credits include Fred/Petruchio(Kiss Me Kate), Javert (Les Miserables) in the Cameron Mackintosh produced Hey Mr. Producer, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde (Jekyll and Hyde), The Beast (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Don Quixote (Man of La Mancha), Chauvelin (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Juan Peron (Evita), title role Kopit and Yeston’s (Phantom), Henry Higgins (My Fair Lady), and Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf (Into The Woods).  His concert work includes engagements with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Knoxville Symphony, Pasadena Pops, and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the National Theatre and Concert Hall Taiwan.   Christopher tours the country as the baritone for the legendary 1940’s singing group – The Pied Pipers.  In 2001, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame along with the Bee Gees and The Lettermen.  Last year Christopher released his first solo CD – Curtain Call which is available on iTunes and CDBaby.com.  www.christophersanders.net

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