About the Writers

Robert Lopez (Music & 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!).

Robert Lopez (Music & 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. Recent: 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, which premiered at the Alliance Theatre in 2011 and is now on a National Tour. As an actor, Jeff has appeared Off-Broadway, regionally, and in films and TV. www.Whitless.com

About the Cast

	*Nick Arapoglou (Princeton)** is proud to be returning to Horizon Theatre! Previously he was seen at Horizon playing Nelson in End Days and Princeton in last year's production of Avenue Q (winner of the Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical). Most recent credits include Spring Awakening at Actor's Express, Academy The Musical, and Storytelling Ability of a Boy (nominated for Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play), both at Aurora Theatre. Nick has appeared in over 10 regional and national commercials, and recently had a role on VH1's Single Ladies. To keep up with Nick's career news and developments, find and "like" his page on Facebook!
	Mary Nye Bennett (Kate Monster) is thrilled to be back with Horizon Theatre, her blue furry baby, and the entire Avenue Q family. Most recently you may have seen Mary as Miss Flannery in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Ellie in Glimpses of the Moon at Georgia Ensemble Theatre, and Ann Collier in The 1940's Radio Hour at Theatre in the Square. Coming up next you can catch Mary in Xanadu at Actors Express. Please come see it and continue to support Atlanta professional theatre!
	Shane Desmond Williams (Nicky/Bad Idea Bear/Trekkie) is making his Horizon Theatre debut. He is an alumnus of Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where he studied Improv under Amy Poehler. New York: The Graham Norton Effect (Comedy Central), The Goonies Musical: Save the Goondocks! (Sloth), Election Day: The Musical. Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas), Little Shop of Horrors (Voice of the Plant), Songs for a New World. Atlanta: Georgia Ensemble Theatre's Spelling Bee, Stage Door's Company. He is currently studying Artistic Direction and the Business of Nonprofit Theatre at Oglethorpe University, where he walks through the quad and thinks "Oh my God, these kids are so much younger than me."
	*Jill Hames (Lucy the Slut/Bad Idea Bear/ Nicky)** couldn't be happier to be back at Horizon Theatre to do this re-MOUNT. In addition to the first run of Avenue Q, Horizon shows are I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, the sidekick in The Santaland Diaries, and Two Queens, One Castle. 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. Other Atlanta credits include Becky Shaw and Grey Gardens at Actor's Express and Seussical, the Musical at the Alliance Children's Theatre. Thanks to Heidi, Lisa, and Jeff for making this feel like home!
	Brian Kimmel (Brian/Ms. Thistletwat) currently serves as Producing Artistic Director for Company J, The Marcus Jewish Community Center's newest theater program. He has been a freelance director, teacher, and actor in Atlanta for over fifteen years performing at Theater in the Square, Theatrical Outfit, Theater Emory, and Out of Hand Theater. He sends his love to his wife, Rebekah and daughter, Amelia.
	*Rose Le Tran (Christmas Eve)** Twin Cities credits include Crashing the Party, Avenue Q, Somebody/Nobody at Mixed Blood Theatre. Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at Bloomington Civic Theatre. Disney's Mulan Jr. (Children's Theatre Company); Breaking Ice, Chicago Avenue Project (Pillsbury House Theatre); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Bloomington Civic Theatre); Yellow Face, Flower Drum Song, FOB, Asiamnesia, Bahala Na, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mu Performing Arts); American Sexy, Killer Smile (The New Theatre Group); Mail Order Bride (nimbus theatre); and 100 Men's Wife, Snapshots: Life in the City (History Theatre). Regional theater credits include Miss Saigon and King and I. Currently, she can be seen on "M@dabout," a TV sketch comedy show for tweens. Last seen in Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them at Actor's Express.
	Dustin Lewis (Rod/Trekkie) is originally from Central Illinois and received a BA in Musical Theatre from Butler University. He has been nominated for three Suzi Bass Awards and recently won a Suzi for Best Ensemble for See What I Wanna See at Actor's Express. He works in many Atlanta area theatres and his featured credits include: Ordinary Days (Jason), 42nd Street (Bert Barry), and Company (Bobby). This performance is dedicated to Matt who is "someone who makes me feel special and safe!"
	*Jeff McKerley (Nicky/Bad Idea Bear/Trekkie/Assistant Choreographer)** has been active in the Atlanta theatre community for 25 years as an award-winning actor, director, and choreographer. Most recently, he could be seen as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music with Atlanta Lyric Theatre and as The Steward in Into The Woods at the Alliance Theatre. Upcoming projects include Friar Lawrence in Romeo & Juliet and Malvolio in Twelfth Night with The Shakepeare Tavern. Previous Horizon Theatre productions include The Thing About Men (Suzi Award Nomination - Actor); Water Coolers: The Musical (Suzi Award Nomination— Choreography); I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Easy – The Play, and choreographer for Madeline's Christmas. Love to my award-winning director wife, Heidi…you make me better.
	Spencer G. Stephens (Gary Coleman) is a local actor/singer/puppeteer and is thrilled to be a resident on Avenue Q. Previously for Horizon Theater 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).
	Jeremy Wood (Alternate Princeton) is an Atlanta-based actor who has toured nationally and internationally with the Broadway tour of Grease as well as the first national tour of Ring of Fire. Jeremy was recognized by the Kennedy Center in 2003 for his work as a fight choreographer with the American College Theatre Festival’s award-winning production of Jekyll and Hyde and is also the recipient of 2 New Hampshire Theatre Awards. In 2010 he was included in Creative Loafing’s top 10 performances in Atlanta for the year and was awarded a 2011 Suzi Bass Award for his role as Cosmo Brown in Aurora Theatre’s Singin’ in the Rain. Jeremy most recently played the role of “Jack” in the Alliance Theatre’s production of Into the Woods.
	Joshua Younger (Ensemble) is an Actor/Playwright/Composer. He holds Degrees in both Classical Voice and Theatre (Radford University), and is excited to be a part of the remount of Avenue Q. Some of his past credits include Demetrius (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Samuel Martin (Upon the Altar of Freedom), Ensemble (Avenue Q), and Dan (Things That Complicate…). He is an alumnus of the 2011 Horizon Theatre Apprentice Company. Vivere et in Aeternum Vivere!

About the Creative Team

HEIDI CLINE McKERLEY (Director & Choreographer) 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 Horizon Theatre, and her 22nd project. She recently won the 2011 Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical for Horizon's production of Avenue Q. 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 (Friday, February 3) 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) Horizon Theatre (Avenue Q—2011 Suzi Award for Outstanding Music Director, Madeline's Christmas, Three Sistahs, The Thing About Men, Cafe Puttanesca); Theatrical Outfit (Big River—2009 Suzi Award for Outstanding Music Director, Gee's Bend, Waiting To Be Invited, Ain't Misbehavin'); Alliance Theatre (Jesus Christ Super Star Gospel, Jaques Brel); 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, Ruth and the Green Book); 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). She was the co-writer and composer of Travelin' Black which premiered last year.

BRADLEY BERGERON (Video Designer) is an Ovation award-winning Technical Director and the owner of Ensign Studios, LLC. Ensign Studios allows Bradley to support non-profit performing arts organizations through equipment/resource sharing programs in addition to providing consultation, design, and production support. Bradley has received Suzi Bass Award nominations for his lighting designs of RENT as well as Hairspray. His most recent lighting design projects include Christmas Canteen, Pippin, Thoroughly Modern Millie, On Golden Pond, Rent, Academy, and Leader of the Pack.

KEITH ALAN BERGERON (Sound Designer) Keith is delighted to be back at Horizon Theatre. Past shows include: The Spitfire Grill, RENT, 1940's Radio Hour, Wizard of Oz, and Three Sistahs. He would like to thank his beautiful wife and amazing daughters for their support.

ISABEL CURLEY-CLAY & MORIAH 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. Some favorite recent Atlanta credits include Freud's Last Session at Theatrical Outfit as well as their Suzi-nominated scenic design for Superior Donuts here at Horizon Theatre, and their 2011 Suzi award-winning scenic design for Avenue Q. Moriah and Isabel are glad to be working with such a wonderful cast and group of artists. Enjoy the show!

ADAM FRY (Assistant Music Director/Accompanist) is a Choral Conductor at the Westminster Schools. He sang the role of Buford in the Atlanta Opera's Cold Sassy Tree, was an u/s in the Alliance's Jaques Brel, accompanied Master Class and Hot and Cole at Stage Door Players. Regional credits include: J.P. Morgan in Ragtime at Music Theatre Wichita, Stewpot in South Pacific at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Benny in Guys and Dolls at the Geva Theatre. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan's Musical Theatre Department. Thanks to Allison for her continued support!

JUDE FUTRAL* (Stage Manager) wants to thank Heidi and Horizon Theatre for the opportunity to experience this incredible, not-so-much-for-kids, puppet musical. The first musical she stage managed was the remount of Annie for The Augusta Players. After moving back to Atlanta, Jude has worked with Actor's Express, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Brooks & Company Dance, Essential Theatre, Fly-By Theatre, Horizon Theatre, Moving in the Spirit, Theater Emory, and True Colors Theatre Company. Thank you for supporting live performance in Atlanta and enjoy the show.

ANNA JENNY (Costume Designer) graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in Production Design with a focus in Costume Design. Anna is a 2010 alum of Horizon Theatre's Apprentice Company. She was nominated for a Suzi award this year for Costume Design for Avenue Q, and is now working as a Wardrobe and Prop Coordinator at the Georgia Aquarium. She is happy to be back working on the show. Thanks to family and friends.

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: Freud's Last Session (Theatrical Outfit), In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play (Synchronicity Theatre Co), Gut Bucket Blues (True Colors Theater), Glimpses of the Moon (Georgia Ensemble), Green Book (Theatrical Outfit), Tokens of Affection (Georgia Ensemble) and Tree (Horizon Theatre).

MARY PARKER (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to return to Horizon Theatre as a resident designer. Over the seven 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: Tree at Horizon; How I Became A Pirate at South Carolina's Children's Theatre; Spelling Bee and Inherit The Wind at Georgia Ensemble Theatre; Little Foxes and Ghost-Writer at Theater in the Square; Assistant design Bring It On at the Tony Award Winning Alliance Theatre. Mary is super grateful to be the recipient of the Suzie Bass award and Theatre Fan award for her work here at Horizon on Avenue Q.

ANDREUS PHELPS (Drums) attends Tri Cities High School. He plans to pursue a career as a music producer. He plays in the marching band, concert band, and he also plays drums for choral and choir concerts. Adreus also plays piano for Breakthrough Ministries Church. He is very proud of his opportunity to play for Avenue Q.

REAY KAPLAN SCHLOSS (Puppetry Coach) has been a professional actor and puppeteer in the Atlanta area since 1999. She is a resident puppeteer at the Center for Puppetry Arts where she has performed in over 20 productions for families and adults alike. Reay has also worked with Synchronicity Theatre, The Haverty Marionettes, Dad's Garage, Seven Stages, and will be heading up the puppetry in The Alliance Theatre's production of "The Wizard of Oz" this winter. Reay has loved training the Avenue Q performers and is thrilled that they have the opportunity to bring their beloved characters back to the Horizon Theatre Stage.

SPENCER G. STEPHENS (Puppetry Coach) is a Resident Puppeteer at the Center for Puppetry Arts and has been performing there since December 2002. He has appeared in many Center productions including Weather Rocks!, Beauty and the Beast, Duke Ellington's Cat and the long-running adult Halloween show The Ghastly Dreadfuls as Darkly Dreadful. Spencer was also the puppetry coach and Gary Coleman for the Suzi-winning first run of Avenue Q. In February he will be appearing in a new puppet show for Black History month called Ruth and the Green Book at the Center.

THOMAS WEIGLE (Bass & Keyboard) is happy to be back with Avenue Q. He is a senior at Decatur High School. He plays percussion in the marching band and symphonic band. He also plays bass in the school's jazz band. Last summer he was honored with the Georgia Governor's Honor's Award in the field of Jazz.

*Actor’s Equity Association - Founded in 1913 is a 39,000 member association of professional actors and stage managers nationwide on and off Broadway, in regional, stock, and dinner theatre. These actors and stage managers are committed to working in the theatre as a profession, not avocation, and bring you the finest professional training and experience. By presenting Equity productions, this theatre offers you, our audience, the finest quality actors and stage managers that your admission dollars can buy.