April/May 2010
Performances:
April 30, May 1, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book and Lyrics by Brian Crawley
Based on Doris Betts’ “The Ugliest Pilgrim”
Directed by Caroline Jane Angell
Music Direction by Valerie A. Higgs
Choreography by Jennie Lutz
Produced by Eric S. Scerbo
Synopsis
Set in 1964 in the Deep South during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, Violet follows the growth and enlightenment of a bitter young woman accidentally scarred by her father. In hopes that a TV evangelist can cure her, she embarks on a journey by bus from her sleepy North Carolina town to Oklahoma. Along the way, she meets a young black soldier who teaches her about beauty, love, courage and what it means to be an outsider.
Cast
 | Felicia Akunwafor (Ensemble) KAT: RENT (Ensemble). THERESA LANG THEATER: The Wild Party (Ensemble, U/S Madeline True). NYC AREA: Miscast (Miss Adelaide); Queen of Soul (Soloist);One Night Only (Featured Soloist); The Shadow Box (Felicity). TELEVISION: Tim and Tessa's Fun Club Pilot/Webisodes (Chef Loretta). EDUCATION: Marymount Manhattan College, 2008, BA Theatre Performance, Musical Theatre. MWAH!! |
 | Allie Bannigan (Young Violet) is a fifteen year old sophomore at Elizabeth Seton HS. She started dancing at age three for C&C Dance Company in Bowie, Maryland and was in their competitive dance program for six years. She took interest in theater at age twelve with Star Performance Studios' production of Annie in which she played an ensemble role. CREDITS – SIGNATURE THEATRE: Kathy Lee Gifford's Saving Aimee (Roberta u/s). SPS: The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy),Seussical the Musical (Sour Kangaroo / Assistant Director / Choreographer). CTA: Annie Jr. (Ms. Hannigan), Peter Pan (Slightly Soiled), Music Man (Ethel Toffelmire). SPX YOUTH PLAYERS:Children of Eden (Snake). DEMATHA PLAYERS: Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Suzanne/Countess). She looks forward to continue growth and success in the field of theater. |
 | Darius T. Epps (Flick) DIRECTING: AART: The Black Snowman. Barksdale Theatre: 365 Days/365 Plays. ACTING: Theatre IV: The Jungle Book (Mowgli), Disney’s Beauty & the Beast. Richmond Shakespeare Co.: Romeo & Juliet (Romeo). AART: A Soldier’s Play (Pvt. Smalls), A Lesson Before Dying (Jefferson), Langston is My Man (Stix), God’s Trombones. Swift Creek Mill Theatre: Run To The River (John Parker). Richmond Triangle Players: Altar Boyz (Abraham), Say You Love Satan (Jerrod). Barksdale Theatre: Parade: The Benefit Concert (Newt Lee). Sycamore Rouge: Read*y for Right (Rev. Wyatt T. Walker). KAT: RENT (Benny). |
 | Chad W. Fornwalt (Ensemble) is very excited to be making his DC area debut in Violet with KAT. Chad was most recently seen in the New York City reading of the new Frank Wildhorn musical Tears of Heaven. He also enjoyed a very successful run in the new musical Battlecry, composed by Paul Bogaev and directed by Gabriel Barre. Favorite roles include Glen Guglia (Wedding Singer), Charles Guiteau (Assassins), Brad (The Rocky Horror Show), Pilate (Jesus Christ Superstar), and Jack (Into the Woods). Chad would like to thank his family and friends for all of their love and support through the good times and bad. www.chadwfornwalt.com |
 | Eric Jones (Monty) is delighted to be making his third appearance at KAT in Violet! He last appeared with KAT as Steve et. al in RENT, for which he also designed hair and makeup. Other favorite roles include: GAC: The Rocky Horror Show (Frank, Hair/Makeup Design - 2008 WATCH Award for Outstanding Makeup Design), Children of Eden (Cain/Japheth); TJStage: Beauty & The Beast (Gaston), Noises Off! (Garry/Roger); MTF: Les Miserables (Valjean), Dark of the Moon(John);. He would like to thank all his family and friends for their love, YOU for supporting live theater, the cast and crew of Violet for all the laughs, and KAT for one of the greatest years of his life. VORHANG AUF! |
 | Patrick McMahan (Father/Preacher) SIGNATURE: Anyone Can Whistle in Concert (John/Ensemble), Revenge of the Understudies Cabaret I & II, Understudy/Swing for Les Misérables, The Visit, The Happy Time, Merrily We Roll Along, The Witches of Eastwick. KAT: The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Norbert), 110 in the Shade (Starbuck). ESP: Passion(Giorgio), Side Show (Terry). TAP: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Mr. Trevor Graydon/WATCH Award Recipient). RMT: The Full Monty (Jerry Lukowski). MCP: Evita (Perón). DS: The Wild Party (Burrs). FP: A New Brain (Mr. Bungee/WATCH nomination). Special thanks to Caroline, Eric, Val, Autumn, Allie and everyone on the bus! Much love to son Brendan. |
 | Autumn Seavey (Violet) KAT: RENT (Maureen). SIGNATURE: The Hollow. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: Life Begins at 8:40. CSC: Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel),James and the Giant Peach (Miss Spider), tick, tick...BOOM!, A Year with Frog and Toad. LRST:Kiss Me, Kate (Kate), West Side Story (Maria), The Pajama Game. ART: The Rocky Horror Show(Magenta), Nunsense II (Leo). PRTG: Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene). MARSHALL UNIVERSITY: Hair (Sheila), The Diary of Anne Frank (Anne), Steel Magnolias (Annelle). Proud Marshall University graduate, 2007, (WE ARE!) BFA Acting. Thanks to KAT, her beautiful mother and Matt, the neatest husband this side of the Mississippi. |
 | Liz Weber (Ensemble) was last seen on stage playing Stella in TAP’s production of Follies and before that as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!. Liz received WATCH Awards for the roles of Jeanette inThe Full Monty and Berthe in Pippin, and she received a Helen Hayes nomination for her portrayal of Sally in Me and My Girl. She and her husband, Bob (percussionist in the show) met while performing in local theater and traveled for five years across country performing in national theatrical tours. Liz has worked in radio for many years and co-hosted a radio show called Sunday Showtunes. |
| ABBREVIATIONS | AT - Adventure Theatre, ATMTC - Adventure Theatre Musical Theatre Center, BP - British Players, CC - Creative Cauldron, ESP - Elden Street Players, FMT - Foothill Music Theater, HBP - Hard Bargain Players, IS - Imagination Stage, LTC - Landless Theatre Company, QVT - Quest Visual Theatre, RCP - Reston Community Players, RMT - Rockville Musical Theatre, SBMT - South Bay Music Theatre, SP - Sunnyvale Players, TFT - Taking Flight Theatre, VTC - Vienna Theatre Company, WS - Washington Savoyards, WT - Workhouse Theatre |
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