Playwright / Cast / Artistic Team

ROBERT LOPEZ (Music and Lyrics, Original Concept) 2004 Tony Award for Best Score for Avenue Q, which has been produced in New York, Vegas, London, Stockholm and Helsinki and on tour! His musical version of Finding Nemo, co-written with wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez, is currently playing in Walt Disneyworld. In 2007, he co-wrote songs for a musical episode of NBC’s Scrubs. He and his brother Billy Lopez have written music for Nick Jr’s The Wonder Pets! and Disney’s Johnny and the Sprites. Robert is an 2011 Tony Award nominee for Best Original Score for The Book of Mormon - currently playing on Broadway! Yale graduate, 1997 (BA in English!).

JEFF MARX (Music and Lyrics, Original Concept) wants to thank the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, which completely changed his life. He joined the free class as a young lawyer, looking for clients, and ended up leaving law and becoming a songwriter. He met Bobby there, and they brought almost every song they ever wrote together into the workshop for feedback and critique. He’s forever in debt to the BMI teachers and classmates and everyone involved with Avenue Q who has helped turn this fun, dirty little musical romp into such an amazing group achievement. Thank you!

JEFF WHITTY (Book) won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for Avenue Q. Plays include The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler, The Hiding Place, The Plank Project, Suicide Weather, and Balls. Theaters presenting his work include the Atlantic Theater Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Repertory, and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Upcoming: Tales of the City: The Musical with music by Jake Shears and John Garden of the pop group Scissor Sisters, as well as Bring It On: The Musical with music by Tom Kitt, Amanda Green, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. As an actor, Jeff has appeared Off-Broadway, regionally, and in films and TV. www.Whitless.com

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	Nick Arapoglou (Princeton) is proud to be returning to Horizon Theatre! Previously he was seen at Horizon playing Nelson in End Days. Recently Nick has worked with the Alliance Theatre, Theatre in the Square, Theatrical Outfit, Georgia Ensemble, Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Atlanta Lyric, Synchronicity, Legacy Theatre, and Aurora Theatre (where he was nominated for a Suzi for Best Lead Actor in a Play for his role in The Storytelling Ability of a Boy).
	Leslie W. Bellar (Christmas Eve) is proud to make her debut with Horizon Theatre. Other favorite Atlanta credits: Maureen/Penny in HONK! (Alliance), Mulan in Disney’s Mulan (Alliance), Marcy in The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee (Georgia Ensemble, Legacy), Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain (Aurora), Jackie in Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party (OnStage Atlanta). Voice acting: iPhone app Diss Crazy!, online game Back to the Cubeture 2, various audiobooks, animated Christmas film premiering on DVD this winter. Leslie is also a speech therapist.
	Mary Nye Bennett (Kate Monster) is thrilled to be making her Horizon Theatre debut! Most recently you may have seen her at Atlanta Lyric Theatre as Pitti Sing in The Mikado, Maggie Jones in 42nd Street and Prudy/Gym Teacher in Hairspray. Favorite roles include Patsy Cline in Always, Patsy Cline and Martha in The Secret Garden both with Rocky Mountain Rep. in Grand Lake, CO. Mary is also a youth acting teacher at Aurora Theatre and Theatre in the Square.
	Jill Hames* (Lucy the Slut/Bad Idea Bear/Nicky) couldn’t be happier to be back at Horizon Theatre. Horizon shows include: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, the sidekick in The Santaland Diaries, and Two Queens, Once Castle. Other Atlanta credits include, Becky Shaw and Grey Gardens at Actor’s Express and Seussical, the Musical at the Alliance Children’s Theatre. Since 1995, Jill has made Atlanta her theatre home, with the exception of a brief stint in Chicago (2005-2008), then she came to her senses and moved back home. While in Chicago, she worked with The Neofuturists, Lifeline Theatre, The Griffin Theatre, and the Stockyards Theatre Project. Thanks to Heidi, Lisa, and Jeff for making this feel like home!
	J.C. Long* (Rod/Trekkie) is thrilled to be making his Horizon Theatre debut with such an amazing cast and crew. Recent credits include the title roles in: Hamlet! The Musical!, and Coriolanus, as well as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Tavern), Frank Walker in the world premiere of David H. Bell’s Gut Bucket Blues (True Colors), and Pish Tush in The Mikado (Lyric). Locally, J.C. has been seen at the Alliance, Georgia Shakespeare, Aurora Theatre, Dad’s Garage, Actor’s Express, Synchronicity Performance Group, and Theatre du Reve. Abroad, he spent 3 years touring a total of 14 productions internationally with the American Shakespeare Center. “Te quiero, mi unica!"
	Jeff McKerley* (Nicky/Bad Idea Bear/Trekkie) has been active in the Atlanta theatre community for 24 years as an award-winning actor, director, and choreographer. Most recently, he could be seen as Ko-Ko in The Mikado with Atlanta Lyric and Friar Lawrence in Romeo & Juliet with The Shakepeare Tavern. Previous Horizon Theatre credits include: The Thing About Men (Suzi Award Nomination - Actor); Water Coolers: An Office Musical (Suzi Award Nomination – Choreography); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Easy – The Play, and choreographer for Madeline’s Christmas.
	Matt Nitchie (Brian/Ms Thistletwat) is very pleased to be making his second appearance at Horizon Theatre, his first being Madeline’s Christmas, where he shared the role of Harsha. A proud member of the Atlanta Shakespeare Company, he has also appeared at Push Push, Georgia Ensemble Theater, Stage Door Players, Georgia Shakespeare, and Theater in the Square. He is also co-creator of the web series Bob and Carl: Sci-Fi Janitors.
	Spencer G. Stephens (Gary Coleman/Puppetry Coach) is a local actor/singer/puppeteer and is thrilled to make his Horizon Theatre “on stage” debut in this hilarious show. Previously for Horizon he has done Sound Design and Music Direction (Blue, Madeline’s Christmas). He is a resident puppeteer at the Center for Puppetry Arts and has performed around Atlanta with Dad’s Garage Theatre, Essential Theatre, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, and the Aurora Theatre. Regional credits include: California Shakespeare Theatre (Berkeley, CA), Burning Coal Theatre (Raleigh, NC), and Manbites Dog Theatre (Durham, NC).

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Heidi Cline McKerley (Director) has been a part of the Atlanta theatre scene for 22 years working as an actress, director, teacher, costume designer, and producer. During her time in Atlanta, Heidi has had the pleasure of working with the Alliance Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Georgia Shakespeare, Shakespeare Tavern, Atlanta Lyric, Actor’s Express, 7 Stages, Aurora, Theatre Gael, Jewish Theatre of the South, and Dad’s Garage…to name a few wonderful theatres! This is Heidi’s 15th year working with the Horizon Theatre, and her 21st project. She was founding Producing Artistic Director of Soul-stice Repertory for nine years, presenting over 30 theatrical classics in the Backstage Theatre of 7 Stages. Outside of Atlanta, Heidi has worked for the Hippodrome State Theatre and the Oasis Theatre Project in Florida, the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, the Gainesville Theatre Alliance, and the LaGrange Lyric Theatre. Heidi is also involved in performance storytelling and is the artistic director of St. Martin’s World Storytelling Celebration as well as being a member of the National Storytelling Network, the Southern Order of Storytellers, the Educational Theatre Association of America, and the American Alliance for Theatre in Education. Love and thanks to my terrific daughters, Hannah Rose and Arden as well as my fabulous partner and husband, Jeffrey. xoxox

S. Renée Clark (Music Director) Theatrical Outfit (Big River, Gee’s Bend, Waiting To Be Invited, Ain’t Misbehavin’); Alliance Theatre (Jesus Christ Super Star Gospel, Jaques Brel); Horizon Theatre (Madeline’s Christmas, The Thing About Men, Cafe Puttanesca); Theatre In The Square (His Eye Is On The Sparrow, Mahalia); Shakespeare Tavern (Hamlet: the Musical, Irma Vep, Cabaret); Center for Puppetry Arts (Brer Rabbit); The New Jomandi (Ain’t Misbehavin’); Youth Ensemble of Atlanta (Endangered Species, Colors of Love, Urban Holiday Soup); Jomandi Productions (Josphine Live, El Hajj Malik, Queen of the Blues, Dunbar’s Fantasy). Renée’s most recent work is Travelin’ Black where she was the co-writer and composer.

Bradley Bergeron (Video Designer) is the Technical Director of the Murray Arts Center at Mount Paran Christian School. He has been an Atlanta based designer and performer since 2005. Bradley has received Suzi Bass Award nominations for his recent lighting design of Hairspray and for his portrayal of Gaston in Beauty & The Beast. His most recent design projects include: Academy, Leader of the Pack, Christmas Canteen, Music Man, Hairspray, Guys & Dolls, Little Shop of Horrors, The All Night Strut, and Smokey Joe’s Café. Other recent design projects include: 13th of Paris (sound design), Corpse! (scenic design), and Altar Boyz (video & sound design).

Keith Alan Bergeron (Sound Designer) Keith is delighted to work on his first show with Horizon Theatre. Past shows include: Spitfire Grill, RENT, 1940’s Radio Hour, Wizard of Oz. He would like to thank his beautiful wife and amazing daughters for their support.

Moriah Curley-Clay & Isabel Curley-Clay (Scenic Designers) are pleased to be back at Horizon Theatre for Avenue Q. They always love working on Horizon’s plays and productions. Past Horizon scenic designs include: Legacy of Light, Superior Donuts, The Santaland Diaries, True Love Lies, Black Pearl Sings, and the Suzi Award nominated design for Shooting Star. Isabel and Moriah have received multiple nominations and awards for their scenic designs. They earned their BA’s from New York University and MFA’s from Brandeis University.

Jude Futral (Stage Manager) is very happy to be back at Horizon Theatre! Stage management credits include Actor’s Express, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Brooks & Company Dance, Essential Theatre, Fly-By Theatre, Louise Runyon Dance Company, Moving in the Spirit, Room To Move Dance, Theater Emory, and True Colors Theatre Company. Before moving back to Atlanta, she was resident stage manager for The Augusta Players. Thank you for supporting Atlanta theater!

Anna Jenny (Costume Designer) graduated from Savannah College Art and Design with a degree in Production Design with a focus in Costume Design. She has worked with theaters around Atlanta, with her most recent costume designing Superior Donuts. Anna is an 2010 Alum of Horizon’s Apprentice Company. She is very excited to be a part of this production.

Maclare “MC” Park (Prop Designer) is a freelance prop artisan who is also the resident Prop Master at Georgia Ensemble Theatre of Roswell. This year’s prop work includes: Gut Bucket Blues (True Colors Theater), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Georgia Ensemble), I Dream: a Rhythm and Blues Opera (Musical-Dramatic Arts Inc.), Tokens of Affection (Georgia Ensemble) Travelin’ Black (Theatrical Outfit) and Fool for Love (True Colors Theater).

Mary Parker (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to return to Horizon Theatre as a resident designer. Over the 7 years that Mary has called Atlanta home, she has had the pleasure of designing for almost every professional theatre company in town, as well as several regional theatres throughout the Southeast. Recent favorites include: Night Blooms and Black Pearl Sings at Horizon Theatre; Who Wants to Become A Pirate at South Carolina’s Children’s Theatre; Sty of the Blind Pig at True Colors Theatre Company; Spelling Bee, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and What I Did Last Summer at Georgia Ensemble Theatre; Little Foxes and Eye Of The Sparrow at Theatre in the Square; Assistant Designer Bring It On at the Tony Award Winning Alliance Theatre. Enjoy the Show!

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