Cast & Crew
Book & Lyrics:
Julia Robertson
Music:
Sarah Ellis
Production Team:
Director:
Matthew Patrick
Assitant Director:
Melanie Wright
Stage Manager:
Allison Thawley
Choreographer:
Gretchen Wright
Costume Designer:
Brittany Duck
Webmaster/Graphic Designer:
Rachel Rodriguez
Accompanist: Glenn Mehrbach
Cast (in order of appearance):
Lainie:
Katie Lee
Bruce:
Tom Rourke
Anthony:
Shaun Dozier
Jan:
Katie Swails
Nan:
Meredith Mechanik
Olga:
Julia Robertson
Creepy Joe:
Mark Thysell
Iris:
Cass Goh
Andre:
Robert Wainblat
Chuck:
Michael Bergen
Ruth:
Claire Florian
Charlotte Moore:
Heather Wiese
Aimee Miles:
Brittany Duck
Special Thanks:
Theater Studies Department & Theater Operations
John Clum & Anthony Kelley
Manny Azenberg
Jeff Storer, Marianna Torgovnick, and the Duke in New York Arts program
Caryn & Carl Wright
Anthony Lyn
Glenn Mehrbach
Cast & Crew Bios:
MICHAEL BERGEN (Chuck) is a sophomore theater studies major from Clarksville, TN. Intern marks his seventh appearance on a Duke stage, most recently appearing in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged, and Pericles. His infinite thanks go out to the cast and crew for their dedication, to his parents for supporting his pursuit of making people laugh for a living, and especially to Sarah and Julia for allowing him a place in their art.
SHAUN DOZIER (Anthony) is a theater studies and English major who plans to pursue a career in film directing. He is currently working on two distinction projects: a short film and a full-length screenplay. Last year, Shaun co-directed Pericles with John Clum and directed the Hoof'n'Horn production of Guys and Dolls. He has also starred in many musicals while at Duke: Tick, Tick, Boom! (Michael), Urinetown (Bobby Strong), Man of la Mancha (Sancho), Once Upon A Mattress (Prince Dauntless), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Charlie Brown). Later this semester Shaun will appear in Spring Awakening. Well done, Sarah and Julia!
BRITTANY DUCK (Costume Designer/Aimee Miles) is elated to be a part of Duke University's theater community. She has trained at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts, the Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC, and has studied Shakespeare at Oxford University in England. Brittany's thespian pursuits began when she landed the role of Raynell Maxson in August Wilson's Fences (Newark Symphony Hall). Since then, she has continued to perform in dramatic plays and musicals: Macbeth, Jesus Christ Superstar, Black Nativity, House of Desires, and Guys and Dolls. She also recently costumed Pajama Game this past fall! She is excited to have costumed and to be a part of the wonderful cast of INTERN. "Many thanks to my family, friends, and to the wonderful cast and crew of INTERN for your love and support!"
SARAH ELLIS (Composer) is a senior majoring interdepartmentally in Theater Studies/Music with a secondary major in English. She plans to attend graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in theater. Previous theater experience includes: Asst. Director and Dramaturg for Hoof 'n' Horn's The Pajama Game (Fall 2007); Company Management Intern for Spring Awakening (Summer 2007); Dramaturgy and Stage Management Intern for The Great Game (Spring 2006); Intern for the NY Musical Theatre Festival (Fall 2006). Thanks to God, my family and friends, my co-writer Julia, our distinction project advisors John Clum and Anthony Kelley, and our amazingly dedicated cast and crew.
CLAIRE FLORIAN (Ruth) is a junior Theater Studies and Psychology major. Intern marks her eleventh production at Duke. Favorite past roles include Pericles (Thaisa), Life Under Water (Amy-Joy), Seventy Scenes of Halloween (Joan), Urinetown (Little Sally), A Funny Thing...Forum (Protean), Once Upon a Mattress (Princess No.12), and Speed-the-Play (Teach/Danny/Moss). Claire spent last summer interning with the York Theatre Company in New York and is the current secretary of Hoof N Horn and Duke Players. She is looking forward to appearing as Ilse in Spring Awakening this spring. Thanks to Julia and Sarah, the PC, and the cast for this one-of-a-kind experience!
CASS GOH (Iris) is a Trinity sophomore and this is her first theater production. She is thankful for this opportunity to be a part of Intern and it has been a great experience.
KATIE LEE (Lainie) is a senior graduating this May with a degree in Political Science and Theater Studies. She is also a proud member of Deja Blue and Kappa Alpha Theta. Previous acting credits include Hoof'n'Horn: Secretary in How to Succeed..., Shelley in Batboy, Josephine in Urinetown, Babe in Pajama Game; Duke Players: Cathy in The Last Five Years; TS Department: Chorus in Trojan Women. Katie has thoroughly enjoyed working on such an amazing project: kudos to Julia and Sarah for their brilliance! Katie would like to thank the entire cast and crew of Intern, her friends and family, especially Mom, Dad, Scott, and Todd.
MEREDITH MECHANIK (Nan) is a Trinity freshman from Tampa, FL. She most recently appeared as Virginia in Hoof 'n' Horn's fall show, The Pajama Game. Meredith was involved with theater throughout high school. Her favorite shows in which she appeared include Les Miserables, West Side Story, Bat Boy: The Musical, Amadeus, Two Gentleman of Verona, and Guys and Dolls. Meredith also sings with Deja Blue and writes for The Chronicle. She is so happy to have had the opportunity to get involved with theater at Duke so quickly, and she would like to thank her family and friends for their constant support.
MATTHEW PATRICK (Director) is used to being the one on stage, appearing in over fifty shows throughout his lifetime, but with musical theater as his passion. His acting credits include Urinetown (UNC's Pauper Players), A Funny Thing...Forum, Man of La Mancha, Once Upon a Mattress (Hoof 'n' Horn), 70 Scenes of Halloween (Wendell), and most recently Pericles (Theater Department). This is only his second time directing and so special thanks go to Professors McAuliffe and Storer for teaching him the skills necessary for this job. He encourages you to read the director's note, which contains his usual inspirational message and special thanks.
JULIA ROBERTSON (Book & Lyrics/Olga), a senior Theater Studies major, has been an intern several times. Intern, a project she began during Duke in New York 2006, is her musical-writing debut. Duke credits (onstage): Pericles, Guys and Dolls, Urinetown, Man of La Mancha, Once Upon a Mattress, Into the Woods, Bat Boy the Musical, and the upcoming Spring Awakening. She sincerely thanks Matthew, Allison, Melanie, our patient and inspiring cast, Professors Clum and Kelley, Jeff Storer, Marianna Torgovnick, the wonderfully supportive DINY '06, her parents, and countless others who have helped with this process. Above all, she thanks Sarah for her big heart and incredible music.
RACHEL RODRIGUEZ (Webmaster/Graphic Designer) is thrilled to be helping out with her friend Sarah's project. Although her musical theater experience is limited to playing in pit orchestras, she'll gladly sit in the audience of any show she can get tickets to. She is a Trinity senior and also runs The Chronicle's website, among others. Congratulations to Sarah and Julia!
TOM ROURKE (Bruce) is a Trinity senior majoring in Theater and Classical Studies, and has been involved in several Duke shows in the past four years, both on the stage and behind it, the most recent of which has been Executive Producer of The Rocky Horror Show this past January. Tom would first of all like to thank Julia and Sarah for creating this amazing show. Having seen its origins during Duke in New York last year, he knows just how hard Sarah and Julia have worked on this show and how far it's come because of their efforts. He'd also like to thank Matt, Alison and Melanie for all their hard work. Enjoy the show!
KATIE SWAILS (Jan), a freshman from Atlanta, is thrilled to be performing in this debut performance of Intern. Most recently, she performed as Mae in last fall's Hoof'n'Horn production of The Pajama Game. Other favorite roles include Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Tess in Crazy for You. Outside of performing, she participates in Campus Crusade for Christ and ADPi. She would like to thank Julia, Sarah, Matt and Allison for all of their hard work, and Nan for being an amazing twin. Enjoy the show!
ALLISON THAWLEY (Stage Manager) is a sophomore majoring in Theater Studies with a Medieval & Renaissance Studies minor. Previous credits as stage manager include Cinderella, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Guys & Dolls. Most recently, she stage managed the Duke Theater Department's production of William Shakespeare's Pericles. After Intern, she will continue her work in the theater as the stage manager of Hoof'n'Horn's production of Grease. She would like to thank Matthew Patrick, Melanie Wright, Julia Robertson and Sarah Ellis, as well as the Intern cast and crew for their work in making this an incredible production.
MARK THYSELL (Creepy Joe) is a freshman here at Duke. He performed in the plays and musicals throughout his four years of high school and is happy to continue acting in college. "Intern The Musical" is his second production this year; he performed in Hoof 'n' Horn's "The Pajama Game" in the fall. He feels blessed that he has had the opportunity to really get to know the members of the cast and crew, all of whom are amazing people.
ROBERT WAINBLAT (Andre) comes from faraway Transylvania (Romania) and is extremely happy and proud of being part of this amazing original production that is "Intern - the Musical" as his first role in a musical. He has been singing in choirs and had a part in a local production of Fiddler on the Roof back home, but Europe is not that big on musicals. He wishes to thank everyone in the cast for being just great and wishes everyone will love the show.
HEATHER WIESE (Natalie/Charlotte Moore/Brianna) is a freshman from Titusville, NJ and is honored to be involved with Sarah and Julia's distinction project. She recently played Gladys in Hoof'n'Horn's fall show, The Pajama Game, and has performed in many community theatre and high school productions. Favorite roles include Cosette in Les Miserables, Maria in West Side Story, Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me, Kate, and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Heather wishes the best of luck to everyone in the cast, and would also like to extend special thanks to her family for all their love and support, and to God for his many blessings.
GRETCHEN WRIGHT (Choreographer) is a junior majoring in Theatre Studies and English. She has been heavily involved in Duke's Dance Program for the past three years, and was thrilled when MatPat asked her to choreograph for the show. She will be directing Sam Shepard's Fool for Love in February, and performing in the Jeff Storer's production of Spring Awakening this April. She would like to thank the cast and creators of Intern for sharing their talents and including her in this wonderful process.
MELANIE WRIGHT (Assistant Director) is a junior double majoring in Public Policy and Theater Studies. She has stage managed for both Theater Studies and Wendell Theater Group and is excited to pursue her interest in directing through this show. She is honored to be a part of Sarah and Julia's creation and would like to express both her appreciation and her awe of the cast and crew as they have developed this work. In addition, Melanie would like to thank her friends and especially Joe for their constant support. Her parents have also aided the show throughout and deserve special credit.
