2023 SEASON SPONSORS

THE CAST
(In Order Of Appearance)

Lydia
DANI KAY

Mitch
 CHRISTOPHER GUERTIN

Sara
SARA LAFRANCE

Fanny
TERESA ALEXANDRU

Helen
HELEN ADAMS

Curly
CHRIS EVANS

Tinker
MICHAEL P.M. CALABRESE

SPECIAL THANKS

Sierra Ridge Media Arts
Black Hog Brewing

BEHIND THE SCENES

Director
DEB CRYAN 

Stage Manager
AGNES M. DANN

Dramaturg
TORI RICHNAVSKY

Deck Captain
MATTHEW DIEDRICH 

Crew
TIM PHILLIPS

Costumes    
ED BASSETT, AGNES M. DANN

Set Design
ED BASSETT, DEB CRYAN

Set Crew
ED BASSETT, TIM PHILLIPS,
DEB CRYAN, LOU GUERTIN, CHRISTOPHER GUERTIN

Lighting Design
ED BASSETT

Booth Pirates    
DEB CRYAN &
​CHEYENNE WALENT
Executive Producer - Ed Bassett
Production Manager - Lori Poulin
Facilities Manager - Tim Phillips
Marketing Coordinator -
Agnes M. Dann
Social Media Coordinator - 
Shanelle Dupree
Volunteer Coordinator - 
​Laurie Phillips
Playbill/Website -
​Sharon W. Houk
Photographer -
Paula Meehan Photography

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 ANNUAL FUND DONORS!

Lesli Anderson
Frances Barth
Mrs. Susan C. Beatty
Regina & Joseph Cillizza
Daisy Decker
Mary L. Dooley
Sheila & Mike Elser
Eileen Russo & Michael Frenis
Christopher & Theresa Guertin
Karl & Jeanine Gallmeyer
Melanie Hilpert
James & Barbara Juhas
Betty Lamay
Paul Leduc
John Magnesi
Bonita A. Mazzaferro

And to all of those who chose to remain anonymous!

ABOUT THE SHOW

On the day of her mother Franny’s funeral, Lydia returns to Franny’s house to settle her affairs. When she opens Franny’s memory box, Lydia is transported from the realities of her own marriage and motherhood to Franny’s life during World War II. As Lydia journeys through the past, she searches for the strength to face the future.

WHO'S WHO

HELEN ADAMS (Helen) is back on the Phoenix stage after performing in FIREFLIES, CLIFFHANGER, COVER OF LIFE, CEMETERY CLUB, THE RED VELVET CAKE WARS, BAD YEAR FOR TOMATOES, and STEEL MAGNOLIAS.  Other recent stage credits include GLASS MENAGERIE at both Phoenix Stage and Curtain Call, PHILADELPHIA STORY at Curtain Call, SYLVIA and ENDGAME at Thomaston Opera House.  Also, a costume designer, Helen most recently designed DIEARY OF ANN FRANK, SISTER ACT, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE for Curtain Call in Stamford.  I love working with this talented cast. Break legs all!
MICHAEL P.M. CALABRESE (Tinker) is excited to return to the stage with Phoenix Stage Company! Some of his prior shows included in FEMALE TRANSPORT, THREE MURDERS AND IT’S ONLY MONDAY, JACOB MARLEY’S XMAS CAROL, COVER OF LIFE, and DEATH BY FATAL MURDER and several One Act Plays throughout PSC festivals. Michael is the technical producer for TAKE FLIGHT LIVE, the Phoenix Stage Company podcast. Directing credits include KINKY BOOTS, THE ADDAMS FAMILY and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST with Landmark Community Theater. Thank you to Aric and to all the folks who continue to support local community theater.
DANI KAY (Lydia) is making her Phoenix Stage Company debut! She has been present in the Connecticut theatre scene from an early age. She attended school for theatre and music,and went on to work with The Phoenix Theatre Company for ten seasons. She made her New York debut in 2017 at The Duke on 42nd, as Mary, in the world premiere of HYSTORICAL: A COMEDY OF ERAS. Credits include LET IT BE (Mother Mary, Bohemian Guide), THE FANTASTICKS (The Mute), THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Elsa Schraeder), ROCK OF AGES (Sherrie Christian), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Columbia, Janet), HAIR (Chrissy), and THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL (Old Man Jenkins). She is also the costumer for Landmark Community Theater’s current production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. She resides in Northwest CT with her partner and their two fur kids.
TERESA ALEXANDRU (Fanny) is a familiar face at Phoenix Stage Company. Credits include stage manager for THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF THEATER (abridged), POCKET SHAKESPEARE, THE REVOLUTIONISTS and DEAD RINGER. Acting credits include THE CAYUGA CANAL GIRLS (Eliza), STEEL MAGNOLIAS (Anelle), THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE (Rachel), OCTETTE BRIDGE CLUB (Nora), MRS. BOB CRATCHITS WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE (Ghost of Christmas Past, Present & Future), DEATH BY FATAL MURDER (Ginny), FEMALE TRANSPORT (Pitty), COVER OF LIFE (Weetsie), THE BUTLER DID IT (Charity Haze) and ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (Elaine), all with Phoenix Stage Company! Thank you to Laura for another fabulous opportunity to premiere your work, and to Deb, Agnes and the cast – it’s been a blast!
CHRIS EVANS (Curly) returns to the Phoenix stage after directing our production of THE REVOLUTIONISTS. Chris has appeared in several stage productions including: DEAD RINGER, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUKOO’S NEST, CLIFFHANGER, REBEL YELLS, LADY PARTS, SECONDARY CAUSE OF DEATH, FUDDY MEERS, DEATH BY FATAL MURDER, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, WRITER’S CRAMP and more. He also appeared at the Warner Theater as Brian in their production of AVOW. Thank you to this amazing, talented, hard-working cast. Thanks to my wife for taking on mom duty so that I can pursue this. Thank you to Deb for including me in this production.
SARA LAFRANCE (Sara) is really excited to be making her debut at Phoenix Stage. Some of her past credits are Maria in LOVE LABOUR’S LOST at Hole in the Wall Theater, Ensemble in DAY OF ABSENCE at Hole in the Wall Theater and Julie in PORTRAIT OF A DEMOLITIONIST at Nelson Hall Theater.  
​
CHRISTOPHER GUERTIN (Mitch) is honored to be making his debut at Phoenix Stage Company alongside such talented colleagues. Chris appeared most recently at Landmark Community Theatre in BEAUTY IN THE BEAST (Lumiere), as well as in IT’S ONLY A PLAY (Frank Finger), PRAYZ (Jesus), LOVE, SEX AND THE IRS (Jon), and KINKY BOOTS (Ensemble). Chris also contributes to set design and building for LCT productions, and by day works in IT and is an aspiring voice-actor.

BEHIND THE SCENES

DEB CRYAN (Director) is honored to have been given the opportunity to bring this new work to life. This is my 11th anniversary with Phoenix Stage Company, and when not managing the stages (and those who grace said stages), you’ll find me spending time at home with Geoff, Nova and tending to a gaggle of chickens. Thank you to this wonderful cast and to everyone who supported this endeavor. It has been an outstanding experience.
AGNES DANN (Stage Manager) is a founding member of Phoenix Stage Company and has stage managed, costumed and directed a number of plays including FIREFLIES, OCTETTE BRIDGE CLUB, and COVER OF LIFE. Big Thank you to this cast. They are amazing and we couldn’t be prouder. Thank you to Deb on an amazing directorial debut. And last but not least – Thank you to our audience. Without you we couldn’t do this.