The Maiden's Prayer

By Nicky Silver

In Nicky Silver’s dramatic comedy, unrequited love threatens the marriage of golden couple Taylor and Cynthia. As his best friend and sister-in-law secretly pine after Taylor, each of their lives endures major changes, resulting from the choices they make. A tragedy tests the family loyalty of Cynthia’s sister, while Taylor’s best friend takes advantage of the opportunity as a means to fulfill his long-hidden desires.

For mature audiences only, due to sexual content and strong language.

SHOW PHOTOS

2013 Performance Dates

November 1, 2, 8 & 9 at 8 p.m.
November 3 & 10 (ASL interpreted) at 2:30 p.m.

Ticket Information

Adults - $10
Seniors (55 and over) - $7
Non-KSU Students (17 and under) - $7
KSU Students - Free with current ID

• Tickets go on sale October 21. 
• Purchase tickets online, by phone or in person at the Box Office.
• Visa, MasterCard and Discover accepted. Checks and cash accepted in person at the Box Office.
• Tickets purchased online or by phone will be available at Will Call.
• Will Call opens one hour prior to curtain time and closes when the performance begins.
• Kent State Students: Free admission with current Kent State ID. Seats must be reserved in person at the Box Office.
• No refunds for purchased tickets. Exchanges for the same production can be made by contacting the Box Office prior to the reserved performance date.
• Tickets held at Will Call will be forfeited if not picked up by curtain time.

Ticket sales begin October 21 at 8 a.m.

Cast

C.J. Pinter: Paul C.J. is a sophomore at Kent State Stark, and is majoring in marketing as well as theatre. While this is his first college production, it is far from his first. Cj has done theatre in high school, snagging multiple leads in Rehearsal for Murder, and being plant operator for Little Shop of Horrors. He also started the One Act Festival at his high school and was also president of the Improv club. Aside from theatre, he enjoys a nice healthy lunch from Chipotle, head banging to music, and quoting Will Ferrell as much as humanly possible. He would like to thank the director for challenging him and giving him this great opportunity.

Maya Nicholson: Libby
Maya is majoring in musical theatre with a minor in marketing. She graduated from Copley High School in Copley, Ohio as the President of her Thespian Club, where she performed in Smokey Joe’s Café, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Little Shop of Horrors; she has also directed George Washington Slept Here and Copley’s Got Talent (the annual talent show). She acted in Kent State Stark's Voices from Hurt Street, was costume design assistant for I Love You Because, and is currently enrolled in theatre courses and aspires to be a Broadway director.

Tess Roholt: Cynthia
Though she recently graduated from Eastern University with a bachelor's degree in psychology, theatre has been a long time fascination of Tess. While at Eastern, Tess participated in the actor’s lab, which consisted of a small group of students, dedicated to the exploration of greater openness and risk taking through acting. Tess’s earlier theatre experience includes productions from GlenOak high school, The North Canton Playhouse and the Player’s Guild Theatre in North Canton. These include The Shape of Things (Jenny), A Christmas Carol (Martha Cratchit), To Kill a Mocking Bird (Stephanie Crawford), and Playing For Time (Greta). Tess's recent role of Jenny in The Shape of Things was a benchmark that symbolized the resurfacing and development, of an old dream and passion. Tess also acted in Voices from Hurt Street at Kent State Stark.

Jesse Fulks: Taylor
Jesse Fulks is a sophomore here at Kent State Stark. While The Maiden's Prayer will be his Kent State Theatre debut, Jesse is no stranger to the stage. He has played a wide variety of roles ever since he was in the 3rd grade. Also, he has contributed to shows by doing some playwriting, and by providing some technical assistance behind the scenes. With his theatre rich past, as well as having some stand up comedy experience, Jesse strives to bring to life memorable performances and experiences to Kent State Stark Theatre.

James Reichart: Andrew

Production Team

Brian Newberg: Director
Brian Newberg is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Theatre Director at Kent State University at Stark. Brian’s directing experience (over eighty production credits) includes Broadway, Regional, Equity Waiver, industry showcases, new work development, and many college productions. He has extensive experience as an actor (over seventy production credits) in the New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Oregon areas. He has also served as an Associate Artistic Director for a regional theatre company, run his own private acting studios, and taught at a number of colleges on the west coast before coming to Kent State. Brian is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and received his M.F.A. in Directing from the University of California, Irvine.

Louis Williams: Scenic & Lighting Designer
Louis Williams is the resident technical director, and scenic and lighting designer, at Kent State Stark and has designed over 200 productions in 30 years in theatre, opera, ballet and rock-n-roll. This includes work with such theatre companies as: The American Ballet Theatre II, The Joffrey Ballet II, The Arizona Theatre Company, The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, The Kenley Players, The Ohio Light Opera, The Cleveland Opera, The Cinncinnati Opera, Southern Arizona Light Opera Company, Carousel Dinner Theatre, The Agora, Cleveland Ohio, The Temple Of Music And Art, Tucson, Arizona, ChildsPlay Inc, of Phoenix, Arizona, and The Scottsdale Civic Center, Scottsdale, Arizona. Read more.

Susan Blurton: Costume Designer
Susan Blurton has designed costumes for various productions over the past 16 years including the Canton Palace Theater, Canton Civic Center, Players Guild, Porthouse Theatre, John F. Knight Center, Akron Civic Theater and The Christmas Spectacular, which was recorded and aired on PBS. She began her venture into theatre while living in New York and freelancing for Off-Broadway shows, mainly as a stitcher and pattern maker. She designed sportswear for the 7th Ave. design house Ellen Tracy/Liz Claiborne. Her duties included designs for sportswear and the dress division, purchases of all fabric and trims, and dressing models at runway shows and photo shoots. While living in L.A., she served as a dresser to Franki Valli, The Pointer Sisters, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and she was a personal shopper for Aaron Spelling. Along with designing costumes, she is an active artist and art teacher. She received her B.S. in Fashion Design from the University of Cincinnati, Teaching Certification from Mount Union University and M.A. from Marygrove College.

Ron Jarvis: Sound Designer
You might recognize Ron Jarvis as a performer, producer, music director, and/or composer for such stalwart North East Ohio acts as The Buckeye Biscuit Band, Ital, First Light, Alex Bevan, Pat Dailey and, most recently, Macaw; the American Worldbeat Band.  He is also an adjunct faculty member at Kent State where he has taught Art of the Theatre and Theatre Criticism classes as well as the three part series of Sound Design and Technology classes for the Entertainment Arts and Technologies certificates program. Ron has worked with world renowned directors Vincent Dowling (composition for The Winter’s Tale at Kent State) as well as Ping Chong (Blindness: The Irresistible Light Of Encounter at La Mama Theatre in NYC) and has served as a live mix consultant at Geauga Lake and Cedar Point Amusement Parks. Although his first sound design for Kent State Stark was for the 2002 production of Dancing at Lughnasa, since 2007 he has designed many of the Kent State Stark theatrical productions including Oklahoma!, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Into the Woods, The Revenger’s Tragedy, The Mikado, Crazy for You, Dating is Tough to Do...and Funny, Too!, Songs for a New World, Plumfield, Iraq, Evil Dead: The Musical and Anton in Show Business.

Jered Rossow: Stage Manager
Jered is a design/technology theatre major who is going half and half between the Kent and Stark campuses. His previous credits include crew on Evil Dead: The Musical and The Crucible; costume design assistant on Anton in Show Business; sound design assistant on Buried Child; assistant stage manager for I Love You Because; and sound/multimedia assistant for Voices from Hurt Street at Kent State Stark. In middle school he was sound manager for Robin Hood: A New Generation, and has been active in productions at various churches where his parents (both pastors) have served throughout his childhood. He is thrilled to help helm The Maiden's Prayer, and excited that he has been gifted with the opportunity.

Jonathan Diehl: Stage Manager
Jonathan Diehl is pursuing a music technology degree here at Kent State Stark. He has a been a part of a few concerts and plays here, such as I Love You Because (crew), Voices from Hurt Street (assistant stage manager & composer/musician).

Molly Patterson: Scenic/Lighting Design Assistant
Molly is a sophomore theatre technical and design major, and was stage manager for I Love You Because and assistant stage manager for Buried Child and The Crucible at Kent State Stark. She recently returned to Kent State after spending a year making magic at Walt Disney World! Her previous technical credits include Nunsense, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Cedar Point's Rock Band Live!

Brynn Albert: Scenic/Lighting Design Assistant
Brynn is currently a freshman at Kent State Stark, pursuing a major in English. She is a graduate of Minerva High School, where she performed in the shows Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Dracula, The Music Man, and Annie. This will be her first show working with Kent Stark Theatre.

David Sponhour: Sound Design Assistant
David has been active in theater for over 30 years. He has performed on many local stages, and acted at Kent State Stark in Buried Child, where he is a full time theatre student. David served as assistant director for Voices from Hurt Street. He is also a founding member of “Scared Scriptless," Canton’s premiere professional Improv troupe. Some of his favorite past performances include Crumpet in Santaland Diaries, Comet in The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, Jerry in Zoo Story, and Hal in Proof starring All My Children’s David Canary. He spends what little free time he has with his wonderful, spectacular, and supportive wife, Christine.

Jeffrey White: Sound Design Assistant
This is Jeff's first engagement with the Kent State Stark Theatre, and his first as a sound design assistant. Previously, Jeff has performed as an actor with the North Canton Playhouse, Stardust Dinner Theatre and the Canton Players Guild. Most recently, Jeff has performed in NCP's production of A Streetcar Named Desire. This followed his turn as Ed Norton in Stardust Dinner Theatre's The Honeymooners. Jeff also appeared as Billy Flynn in NCP's production of Chicago at The Palace Theatre in Canton, and played Bill Fordham in August: Osage County, and Ben in Night of the Living Dead. Jeff is Chairman and Chief Giving Officer of Incept Corporation. Jeff is VERY proud of his daughter (Lexi) and son (Griffin) and is MADLY in love with his beautiful wife Eun.

Jessica Swank: Costume Design Assistant
Jessica is a theatre major at Kent State Stark, with a love for both acting and technical theatre. She was a fashion design major for a few semesters, and is infusing that love of fashion into theatre by getting involved in the costume design aspects of productions here. Her acting credits range from high school musicals to professional roles in Cleveland. She is excited to be working with so many talented people, and is looking forward to all this year has to offer.

Shannon Howard: Costume Design Assistant
Shannon is a junior studying molecular biology, hoping to pursue a career in disease control and research. She fell in love with theater and the elaborate costumes after viewing Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Since then, she has taught herself to sew and create based on her favorite characters.

Megan Deierling: Makeup Assistant
Megan is a freshman at Kent State Stark and this is her first time being involved in theatre at this school. She has been involved in theatre since she was in second grade when she was in her first play The Emperor’s New Clothes and shortly after, The Red Shoes. In High School she was one of the lead roles in her junior play Aladdin and her senior play Our Town. Megan is a member of the International Thespian Society and she was inducted her senior year of high school. She now continues this love for theatre through the college and community theatres. She is studying Broadcast Journalism and hopes to take her talents with her throughout her life.

Leah Reese: Crew
Leah is a freshman a Kent State Stark and majoring in early childhood education. She has been in numerous musicals and plays at her alma mater Tuslaw High School: The Pajama Game, The Sound of Music, High School Musical, Seussical, The Boyfriend Project, and John Lennon and Me. She served on crew for I Love You Because, Buried Child and Voices from Hurt Street at Kent State Stark.

Jillian Dailey: Crew
Jillian began her theatrical training at Lake Center Christian High School where she was involved in all the musicals and plays during her four years there. This included leading roles in Seussical and Little Women. She is a sophomore at Kent State Stark, where she has performed in Anton in Show Business and Plumfield, Iraq, and was the costume design assistant for I Love You Because, Evil Dead: The Musical and Voices from Hurt Street.

James McKeon: Crew
James McKeon is a music technology major at Kent State Stark. He has an extensive background in music performance and writing, as well as painting. James has performed in various bands since 5th grade, and has created original artwork all his life. He learned about scenic design through his first full theatre experience at Kent State Stark with Evil Dead: The Musical.

Sarah Peters: Crew
Sarah is majoring in electronic media while minoring in theatre. After attending a year at Kent, she transferred to NYCDA: School for Film and Television located in New York City, which she graduated from. In addition to NYCDA, she also received voice over training from Howard Ross, her voice over coach, voice over character training from Paul Liberti, and improv training from the Red Tie Mafia improvisational group. She has now returned to Kent to finish where she left off. Before college, she appeared in numerous community plays at the Canal Fulton Players Guild, and was active in her high school theatre and choir productions. Some of her past performances include Buried Child and Anton in Show Business at Kent State Stark, where she was also a scenic/lighting design assistant for I Love You Because and Voices from Hurt Street. She also performed in The Music Man, The Odd Couple, Bus Stop, Fiddler on the Roof, The Wizard of Oz, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Blithe Spirit.

Caitlin Roberts: Crew
Caitlin is a sophomore at Kent State Stark and is pursuing degrees in music education and theatre. Previous theatre experience includes acting in Lil Abner, Anything Goes and Oklahoma. Cait is a graduate of Northwest High School, and is involved in worship at her church and working on youth drama there. At Kent State Stark, Caitlin was a crew member for I Love You Because, scenic/lighting design assistant for Buried Child, assistant stage manager for Plumfield, Iraq, and the makeup/special effects design assistant for Evil Dead: The Musical and Voices from Hurt Street, and acted multiple roles in Anton in Show Business.

John-Michael Roberts: Crew
John-Michael is a junior at Kent State University at Stark majoring in psychology and minoring in theatre sound design. His work in the theater has ranged from acting (Buried Child, Huck Finn’s Story, Crazy for You), sound design assistant (I Love You Because, Dating is Tough to Do,and Funny Too!, The Glass Menagerie) and stage management (Anton in Show Business, The Crucible). He was part of the writing ensemble for Voices from Hurt Street. In the future he hopes to continue his work in theatre while working on his degree in counseling.