past shows

Book and Lyrics by Joal Paley

Music by Marvin Laird

Directed and Choreographed by Nicholas Sugar

Musical Direction by Donna Kolpan Debreceni

starring
Melissa Deni • Cassie Glenn • Sue Leiser • Melissa McCarl • Steven W. Miles • Todd Peckham • Steven Tangedal

assistant director / stage manager: Steven Neale
scenic design and construction: Tina Anderson
scenic and lighting design: Richard H. Pegg
costume design: Lamecia Landrum
sound design and follow spot operator: George Pulver
production assistant: Jim Miller
photographer: Robert Hubbard
office and house manager: Shelly Bordas

tina anderson (Scenic Design and Construction) Being adopted herself, Tina – as the character Judy/Ginger, has often wondered who she really is and who her real parents are. Then one day she ran head first into Ruthless! The Musical (it hurt). The similarities of the show and Tina’s real life are frightening! Who am I? Why do I look the way I do? Am I talented? Does it run in my veins? Well, I can imagine pretty pictures in my head and put them on paper. I can run power tools, cut wood, use paint in a creative manner and somehow put them all together to make a set for actors to play upon. Gee, maybe Nick is my parent…. OK, maybe brother. Tina had fun, learned lots, appreciated working with Richard, but unlike the end of the show, she still doesn‚t know who her real parents are.

shelly bordas (Office and House Manager) has enjoyed eight wonderful years with Theatre Group. When not serving patrons at the box office, she can be seen on stage. Theatre Group credits include Psycho Beach Party, SubUrbia, Tony and Tina‚s Wedding, Beautiful Thing, Parallel Lives, and Cell Block Sirens of 1953 just to name a few. She is currently appearing in Stuart Little at The Arvada Center. She is also a proud playwright and director of TEE VEE OR NOT TEE VEE, which will appear at the Phoenix Theatre the last weekend in May.

donna kolpan debreceni (Musical Director and Pianist) is now calling Theatre On Broadway her home away from home. After two smash seasons of Cabaret, she‚s having a ball trying to keep a straight face while playing along with Ruthless! The Musical. When not at Theatre On Broadway, she‚ll be music directing and playing for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Mizel, and The Pajama Game for PHAMALy at the Space Theatre. Thanks to a wonderful cast and crew, her husband Todd for his love and support, and “thanks, Mom, for making me practice.”

melissa deni (Tina Denmark) is thrilled to be in her first production at Theatre On Broadway! You may have seen her as the title role in Annie this past summer at the Country Dinner Playhouse, and more recently at Jesters Dinner Theatre. Melissa also appeared as Agnes Smith in Meet Me in St. Louis at the Littleton Town Hall Arts Center. She is from Los Angeles and has been involved in musical theater since the age of five.

cassie glen (Tina Denmark) is happy to be making her debut at Theatre On Broadway. Her favorite roles include Kate in Annie, Leslie in Children’s Hour, an orphan in Oliver and Baby June in Gypsy. Cassie would like to thank her family for their support, and has enjoyed working with this talented cast.

lamecia landrum (Costume Design) The first time Lamecia did the costumes for Ruthless! The Musical she won the Drama Critics Award for “Best Costumes.” Two years ago she was named one of Westword’s “Best of Denver” for her costumes for Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly, and then again in this year’s “Best of Denver.” She feels she’s a very fortunate person – working with all the talented people at Theatre Group and receiving awards for it!! “Have they given out the Tony Awards yet? I’m on a roll!!!,” she says.

sue leiser (Lita Encore) is having a ball reprising her role as Lita Encore with Steven T. and her new “Ruthless” family. Thank you, Nick — Finally! In her 30-plus years on stages in Denver – Shwayder, Arvada, Town Hall, Fox, Country Dinner Playhouse, Theatre On Broadway, Rivertree/Phoenix, Civic, Morrison – some of her personal favorite shows include: Fiddler, 42nd Street, Strega Nona, Titanic, Violet, Bye Bye Birdie, Love Letters, Beau Jest, Singing in the Rain, Musical Comedy Murders, and of course Ruthless! The Musical. She has many radio, television and film credits, and is an independent casting director. Love to Mort and their nine grandchildren.

melissa mcCarl (Judy Denmark/Ginger DelMarco) Recent appearances include “Carlotta” in Phantom of the Opera (Littleton), Crazy For You (Arvada Center), Swingtime Canteen (Denver Center Attractions) and many shows at Heritage Square. Melissa enjoyed being part of Theatre Group’s smash–hit Cabaret, and is thrilled that Theatre Group will be producing Painted Bread this fall, her original play about the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

steven w. miles (Myrna Thorn/Emily Block) is pleased to be with Theatre Group for this production of Ruthless! He was last seen at Theatre On Broadway in Cell Block Sirens of 1953 and Never the Sinner. His credits include: Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Rumors, Shadowlands, Thirty Second Spot and most recently in the premiere production of Rock Odyssey at the Walden Family Playhouse. Steve has performed professionally in Hawaii, Illinois and throughout Colorado. He enjoys stand up comedy, musicals and meaty dramas. A special thanks to all his family and friends for their support and love.

jim miller (Production Assistant) is delighted to be lending his nimble fingers and party-planning skills to the Ruthless! The Musical team. When he’s not busy stitching up beautiful costumes from thin air, he can be seen on stage throughout the Denver area. He was last seen as Clifford Bradshaw in Theatre Group’s award–winning Cabaret. He also dazzled audiences as Howard Crabtree in Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly. He wishes to thank his very supportive family and dear friends.

steven neale (Assistant Director and Stage Manager) has served as stage manager for the Theatre On Broadway for over four years for such shows as The Laramie Project, Cabaret, Never the Sinner, Whyde Awake, Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly, Corpus Christi, and Poor Super Man. Steven also is the designer of the Theatre Group’s programs and newsletters, as well as serving as Webmaster for the Theatre Group Web site. Thanks to Steve and Nick for the creative freedom, and all my great friends who have wandered into my life.

todd peckham (Louise Lerman/Eve) As a classically trained and educated actor, reviewed as a “towering hulk of a man,” Todd is excited with the challenges Ruthless! The Musical has presented him. As a single, brown-eyed, 6Õ2ÕÕ man with a shaved head, he bravely takes on the roles of Louise and Eve for this production. At 195 pounds, Todd found no problem with delving into these characters. Mr. Peckham was last seen at Theatre On Broadway in Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly (I, II, and soon to be III). He looks forward to the day he will be cast as “a boy” again. Love to his incredible family and friends.

richard h. pegg (Scenic and Lighting Design) has worked in the Metro Denver area and on the east coast as a scenic and lighting designer since his arrival in the U.S. from his native England in 1992. He is delighted to be back at Theatre On Broadway where his previous scenic design credits include: The Boys in the Band, Raft of the Medusa, Death and the Maiden and Love Letters. His lighting designs include the four above, along with Spoils of War, A…My Name is Still Alice, Belle of Amherst, Rosencrantz and Guilderstern Are Dead, Marvin’s Room, Six Degrees of Separation, Ruthless, and Jeffrey. Thanks to Tina for making Ruthless! such a special and fun project to collaborate on. Finally to my wife, Meg – not just for the inspiration, but also for – everything!!

nicholas sugar (Director and Choreographer) is the Artistic Director for the Theatre Group. He recently directed Never the Sinner, Stupid Kids, Whyde Awake and A Question of Mercy as well as the award–winning Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly, The Blue Room, and Shakespeare’s R&J. Other directing projects include Love! Valour! Compassion!, subUrbia, Psycho Beach Party, Whoop Dee Doo!, and Poor Super Man (Best of Westword, 1998–1999). Nicholas has been seen on stage in the critically acclaimed productions of Cabaret, Corpus Christi, The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged), Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, and A Perfect Ganesh. He has worked as a teacher, director, and choreographer with numerous schools and theatres. Prior to his move to Denver, Nicholas was working in Hong Kong, Los Angeles and New York. Nicholas serves on the board of directors for The Colorado Theatre Guild.

steven tangedal (Sylvia St. Croix) is overjoyed to be able to explore those extra chromosomes and bring Sylvia back to the Theatre On Broadway stage. Since his last Ruthless! The Musical experience he has appeared in our productions of Love! Valour! Compassion!, Two Boys in a Bed on a Cold Winters Night, Howard Crabtree’s Whoop Dee Doo! and The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me. Favorite musical roles over the years include ensemble in Harold Hill in Music Man, Snoopy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Tom Trainer in No, No Nanette, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress and Jesus is Godspell. You may also recognize Steve from his directing duties of last season’s Cabaret, and will next direct One Flea Spare at our sister theatre, Phoenix Theatre.

david williams has stage–managed several productions at the Phoenix, including The EIGHT: Reindeer Monologues, Twelfth Night, Snakebit, Parallel Lives, Gertrude Stein and a Companion, Blue Room, and Food Chain. David has also been involved with productions at Theatre On Broadway, including Cabaret, A Question Of Mercy, and Porcelain. David’s worked with other local theatres, such as with The Avenue on Sylvia, and his most ambitious project to date was producing The Last Session at The Shop for Act Out Theatre Company.

posted by theatre group at 12:36 AM