Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
JOSH BURLINGHAM (Sweeney Todd, Executive Co-Producer, President), a junior Theatre Arts major, is in his sixth season with the Melodramatics Theatre Company. Company credits include Assassins (John Hinckley) and Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince). Josh has been featured in over thirty productions in the past six years as well as having directed a public service announcement through Boston University and Starmites! at the Mary Weld Center for the Performing Arts in his hometown of South Hamilton, MA. Most recently, he has directed in-house productions of Bat Boy: The Musical and A New Brain. He would like to thank his friends and family for their continual love and support.
CORRINE PROCTOR (Ms. Lovett), a junior B.F.A. Acting Major, is thrilled to be making her Melodramatics Theatre Company debut. She attended NYU Tisch Summer in Paris (2003) and completed the Voice Certificate Program at the Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore, Maryland. Favorite roles include The Witch  in Into the Woods, and Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress. Thanks to Justin for this opportunity, the cast and crew for being wonderful, 'Mr. T,' for loving me 'just a little,' and my parents for their constant support. Cori dedicates her performance to her Grammy, who would have loved to see her play Mrs. Lovett.
JASON MARTINEZ (Tobias) is in his second season with The Melodramatics Theatre Company. In-house credits include A New Brain (Mr. Bungee). Other recent credits include Once Upon a Mattress (Dauntless), A Chorus Line (Richie), and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Linus) for Triple Threat Theatre, Far Away (Prisoner) at Ithaca No Bucks Theatre, as well as numerous regional and community credits for the North Jersey Theatre Alliance. He is currently a senior, graduating in May with a BA in Drama.
NICOLE INTRAVIA (The Beggar Woman, Choreographer) is thrilled to be making her Melodramatics Theatre Company debut in Sweeney Todd!  Nicole, hailing from Long Island, New York, is a sophomore Drama major, English minor and has been featured in No Bucks performances Changes in Temperature and Far Away and the world premiere musical 16 Days (Matey). Favorite performances include: Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes and the ensemble of Les Misérables. Special thanks to her twin sister, Laura, and her very good friend Clint Hromsco for such phenomenal lessons and support. To the cast and crew: "Break a leg, guys!  I know we'll do a fantastic job!"
ERIC CARSIA (Anthony, Choreographer) is a sophmore B.A Drama major, having performed the role of Roger in the Melodramatics Theatre Company’s production of A New Brain. Eric has previously studied dance under, and performed professionally with, American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School. Credits at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey include Ottavio in Scapino, Jonathan in Arsenic and Old Lace, Danny Grease, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and his personal favorite Edgar in Bat Boy. Eric is very excited to be a part of this production and would like to thank his family, friends, and the Melodramatics for the opportunity to perform.
VANESSA STERLING (Johanna) is ecstatic to be a part of MTC’S production of Sweeney Todd! Originally from Saratoga Springs, New York, Vanessa is a sophomore, currently majoring in Drama with a minor in Voice. She has performed in numerous productions, including Songs for a New World (Woman 1), Aida (Aida), Once Upon a Mattress (Queen Aggravain), and Jekyll and Hyde (Emma). She would like to thank her wonderful teachers, family, and friends for all their love and support, and the amazing cast and production team for their hard work. Congratulations everyone!
MATT ZEITLER (Judge Turpin) is currently a freshman Biology major. High school roles include: Danny Zuko’s understudy and Greaser in Grease, Hitler Youth in And Then They Came for Me, Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Dennis in My Fatal Valentine, and Todd in Check Please. Matt also performed in the symphonic band, chamber choir and show choir. “I would like to say thank you to God, my wonderful family, my incredible friends, and my amazing girlfriend for all their support. I would also like to extend a thank you to all those who made this show possible.”
ADAM BERLEY (The Beadle), a Television-Radio major, was last seen as Hysterium in Ithaca’s Triple Threat Theatre production of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.  Other favorite roles include Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Miss Bible Belt in Pageant. Adam is proud to be making his Melodramatics Theatre Company debut and would like to thank the dedicated cast and crew for making this experience possible.
DEVLIN SHAND (Adolfo Pirelli), a sophomore in his second season with the Melodramatics Theatre Company, most recently performed the role of Gordon Schwinn in the Melodramatics Theatre Company’s production of A New Brain. He would like to congratulate everyone on their work on this show.
STEPHEN PYSNIK (Ensemble) is currently a junior Music major with an outside field in Biology. This is his first production with the Melodramatics Theatre Company. Past productions with the Tri-Town Theater in Sidney, NY include: Oliver! (Ensemble, Noah Claypole), The Sound of Music (Friederich), Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Father), and The Wizard of Oz (Ensemble). Stephen also played the roles of Ensemble, Barrister of Munchkinland, and Winkie General in Orpheus Theater’s production of the Wizard of Oz in Oneonta, NY. “I would especially like to thank my wonderful girlfriend Deirdre!”
MICHAEL TEDESCO (Ensemble) is in his second season with the Melodramatics Theatre Company.  In-house credits include A New Brain (Minister) and Bat Boy: The Musical (Pan, Ned). Other credits include Grease (Danny Zuko) and The Long Voyage Home (Nick).  Michael dedicates this performance to his brother and to his family back in New York City, and to his friend Justin Leader.
TIM MAYNES (Ensemble) is a junior Theater major and is excited to be performing in his first Melodramatics Theatre Company production. He has been seen performing all over Vermont, his home state, with companies such as the Lyric Theater (Dickon in The Secret Garden), the Stowe Theater Guild (Armand in The Scarlet Pimpernel) and the Lamoille County Players (The Beast in Beauty and the Beast). He hopes to become a director and theater educator. As always, Tim would like to thank his family and friends for their constant support!
ALANA MURPHY (Ensemble) is a first year Occupational Therapy major. She is thrilled to be performing in Sweeney Todd with the Melodramatics Theatre Company! Some of her favorite past performing credits include, Anything Goes, Les Misérables, Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Play It Again, Sam. Alana has also performed with Regional, All State, All Eastern, and National Choirs. She would especially like to thank God, her parents, and her best friend Jill for all their unconditional love and support. She would also like to thank the cast and production staff for making this incredible show possible.
SHANNON GRACE (Ensemble), of East Greenwich, RI, is thrilled to be making her debut with the Melodramatics Theatre Company! She is currently a freshman with a BM in Voice. Favorite credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), Fantasy Works Theater Company’s You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Music Man, and Guys and Dolls, Camp Broadway’s Fiddler on the Roof (soloist) at PPAC, Bay View Academy’s A Comedy of Errors (Antipholus of Syracuse/Antipholus of Ephesus), and with Bishop Hendricken Summer Stage in The Music Man (Alma Hix). She would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support!
JUSTIN LEADER (Executive Producer, Executive Director) In the the Summer of 2004, Mr. Leader founded Cornell’s largest independent theater group, The Melodramatics Theatre Company. He produced, directed, and appeared in Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins, The Melodramatic’s premiere production. He then produced and appeared in The Melodramatics productions of Into the Woods and Bat Boy: The Musical. Mr. Leader has been trained in performance and direction at NYU’s Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting and the Russian Art Theater at Columbia University. Justin has appeared in over fifty productions, performed at the Lincoln Center, starred off-off-Broadway, and can be seen in Kevin Klein’s 2001 film The Emperor’s Club. Justin holds a B.A in English from Cornell University and will be attending Carnegie Mellon University later this year.
MICHAEL GARRETT (Executive Technical Director, Set Designer) is a sophomore in his forth season with the Melodramatics Theater Company. In-house credits include Bat Boy (Technical Director), A New Brain (Technical Director).  Other credits include Festival of One Acts (Director) Robber Bridegroom (Technical Director) Cradle Will Rock (Sound Crew), Inherit the Wind (Carpenter), Skin of our Teeth (Carpenter), and Beat Box Bard (Assistant Lighting Designer). Michael has been trained in Technical Theater at The Hill School.
CARLOS DOMINGUEZ (Executive Creative Consultant)
JUSTIN NISLY (Executive Creative Consultant)
CHARLOTTE EVANS (Executive Creative Consultant, Piano) is in her fourth season with the Melodramatics. Company credits include A New Brain (Music Director, Conductor) and Bat Boy: The Musical (Music Director, Mrs. Taylor). Charlotte most recently performed in both The Tempest (Trinculo) and Aida (Ensemble) and her past credits include Company (Marta), Wonderful Town (Ruth Sherwood), and Into the Woods (Cinderella). Classically trained in piano for 15 years, Charlotte graduated from the Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore, MD. She is currently a sophomore Music major, studying in the studio of Dr. Jennifer Hayghe.
ROBERT BERG (Associate Producer, Dramaturg) is in his sixth and final season with The Melodramatics Theatre Company. In-house credits include Assassins (Creative Consultant), Into the Woods (Assistant to the Executive Producer, Stage Crew), Bat Boy, An Evening with Jeff Marx, and A New Brain (Associate Producer, Copy Editor). He graduated from SUNY Purchase as a Liberal Arts major in 2005, with a concentration in Film Studies, and plans to study either dramaturgy or film at graduate school this fall. He has been with The Melodramatics Theatre Company since it was founded; it has been a fantastic experience for him, and he will miss it a great deal.
GENEVIEVE CIVETTA (Assistant Director) is in her third season with the Melodramatics Theatre Company. Company credits include Bat Boy (Assistant Director) and Into the Woods (Sleeping Beauty). Other credits include Anything Goes (Charity), Godspell (Company), Joseph… (Levi) and Into the Woods (Florinda). Genevieve has been trained in classical ballet at the Scarsdale Ballet Studio. Dance credits include two seasons of the Moscow State Ballet's production of The Nutcracker (Party guest, Arabian dancer). She is currently a senior, double majoring in Art History and Archaeology.
BECKY LORD (Co-Music Director) is a senior History major and Music minor and is in her fourth season with the Melodramatics Theatre Company. Past in-house credits include Meredith in Bat Boy: The Musical and Baker's Wife in Into the Woods. Other credits: Sally in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Virtue in Anything Goes, Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and ensemble in Sweeney Todd at the Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich, CT. She is excited to be working on Sweeney Todd once again! Thanks to the family and her best buddies Mo, Jason, and Timmy. Good luck to the cast!
CHRISTINA COLLURA (Choreographer), born and raised in northeastern Pennsylvania, received her B.A. in Theatre and T.V./Radio Broadcasting with a Dance minor from Marywood University in Scranton, PA. She has been teaching acting and dance classes to children and adults for three years. Having recently moved to Ithaca this past summer, Christina has been getting involved with the local theater scene here. She appeared in several productions at the Kitchen Theatre, most recently as the Mother and Wintery Rabbit in Rebecca Returns. Working on Sweeney Todd with the rest of the cast and crew has been a great and enjoyable experience!
DANIEL VESEY (Orchestra Director) is in his first season with The Melodramatics Theatre Company. He has been studying clarinet performance for 11 years under the guidance of his mentors Lawrence Sobol and Michael Galvan. He is a member of the Ithaca College Symphonic Band as well as The Forte Five wind quintet. Past credits include principle clarinet of the Nassau-Suffolk Wind Symphony. Daniel is currently a sophomore Music major with a minor in Communication and Design.
KATHERINA KARAUS (Publicity Manager) is a freshman Theatre Arts major.  When not postering for the Schwartz Center, Risley Theatre, or the Melodramatics Theatre Company, she is acting in shows, making clothes, or crocheting an afghan.
ELANA EDELSTEIN (Costume Designer) is happy to join the Melodramatics Theatre Company for her second season. She is currently a third year student studying textile and apparel design, with a concentration in costume design and nutritional sciences. Her past theater costume design experiences include: Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie and William Finn’s A New Brain; she has also been involved with making costumes for several performing dance groups. Elana would like to thank all nine of her fingers for helping her make the costumes in this production; “Sorry you couldn’t make it thumb-kin…”
VLADA KAGANOVSKAYA (Costume Designer) is a sophomore Art History major from Brooklyn, NY. She has served as Costume Designer for the past two Melodramatics productions of A New Brain and Bat Boy: The Musical. Other costume credits include The Man Who Came to Dinner, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Importance of Being Ernest, and Guys and Dolls. Vlada would like to thank her two amazing roommates, Suzy and Abha, for all their love and encouragement and Elana, her costume counterpart, for being such a wonderful person to work with.
ARIEL ARBISSER (Makeup Designer) is in her first season with the Melodramatics Theatre Company and a freshman in ILR hoping to eventually start her own cosmetics company. She served as makeup designer for such shows as The Mikado, Bye Bye Birdie, Cinderella, The Music Man, Jitters, several one-act plays. As well as dabbling in some special effects designing, Arbisser acted in and directed shows throughout high school and now spends her time singing with the co-ed a cappella group, the Chordials. She would like to say thank you so much for coming and enjoy the show!
ERIC MARTIN (Lighting Designer) is a sophomore Theatre Arts Major and served as lighting designer for The Melodramatics Theatre Company’s production of A New Brain. He is also co-General Manager of Risley Theatre. He has previously worked as a light board operator, automated light programmer, actor, and stage manager at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.
IAN COOK (Sound Designer) is a freshman in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University. Ian has been cast or crew in musicals such as Cabaret, The Pajama Game, Guys and Dolls, and Fiddler on the Roof. Ian is a member of the Cornell Concert Commission and has worked on plays and concerts including Engineering Real World and the Newport Jazz Festivals. Ian has also been a choir member for nine years and has three years of experience playing the baritone horn. In recent years, however, he has focused his interests into sound and lighting.
DORA FRAEMAN (Graphic Designer, Webmaster) is excited to be a part of the Melodramatics Theatre Company in her first season. She has participated in various productions produced by Risley Theatre and is a senior, finishing up an independent major in Computers and Visual Design.
KATIE VAN CLEAVE (Stage Manager) is a freshman Atmospheric Science major. She stage managed The Music Man and The Laramie Project, assistant stage managed Pippin, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Our Town, and produced a student written production during her senior year at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL. This is her first show with the Melodramatics Theatre Company, and hopes to work on many more.
JULIE REFKIN (Assistant Stage Manager) is in her second season with the Melodramatics Theatre Company, having served last semester’s production of A New Brain as a member of the stage crew. Julie will be graduating in May and will then pursue a Master's Degree in Public Health.
BECKY WADDLE (Assistant Stage Manager)
DEBORAH COULTER (Business Manager), a native of Portland, Oregon, is a freshman majoring in Hotel Management and hopes to work on in hotel operations management on cruise ships. She has been featured in community theater in Portland as a young child and more recently appeared in Fiddler on the Roof, The Boyfriend, The Madwoman of Chaillot, Six Words for Snow, and Antigone.
TAMAR WEINSTOCK (House Manager)
JEFFREY LIPTON (Master Carpenter) is in his second season with the Melodramatics Theatre Company having previously worked as Master Carpenter on last season’s production of A New Brain. From 2003-2006 he has worked with the Hamden Main-Stage Ensemble as Carpenter, Shop Manager, Assistant Master Carpenter and finally Master Carpenter. He currently works as a carpenter for Cornell’s Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.
TOM REINSTEIN (Property Master)
ARIEL REID (Scenic Artist)
OLIVIA TAI (Scenic Artist) is a pre-med junior, majoring in Biological Sciences with a Visual Studies concentration. Olivia is proud to be part of the Melodramatics Theatre Company for the very first time. At the Schwartz Center, she has previously worked as dresser for Othello, running crew for The Nero Project, stitcher in the costume shop, and painter in the scene shop. She also designed/painted sets for multiple high school productions including Bye Bye Birdie, which appeared in the film The Squid and the Whale. She thanks her parents and Kevin for supporting her throughout all her hard work.
CHRIS TOLBERT (Conductor, Trumpet)
MILES JAQUES (Clarinet)
MEGHAN KININGER (Bassoon)
MAEVE O'HARA (Violin)
THOMAS PETERS (French Horn)
CASEY GEORGI (Bass)
ANDREA KOLBACH (Percussion)