Headshots & Bios for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! By Mo Willems, Tom Warburton, and Deborah Wicks La Puma
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CAST:
Joseph Paul Branca - Pigeon
Wendy Joseph - Bus Driver
Marc Nielson - Businessman, Hot Dog Vendor, Duckling 1, Airplane Engine
Laurel Morgan - Teenager, City Worker, Duckling 2
Bryce Romleski - Bus Engine, 2nd Pigeon, The Duckling, The Bus, Bus Drivers' Mom, Puppy
Alexa Shaheen - Little Old Lady, Duckling 3
CREATIVE TEAM:
Mo Willems - Script & Lyrics
Deborah Wicks La Puma - Music
Penelope Caywood - Director/Choreographer/Music Director
Dennis Hassan - Set Designer
Jesse Portillo** - Lighting Designer
Sofia Paredes-Kenrick - Costume Designer
Erika Ahlin - Co-Props Designer
Anna Blaes - Co-Props Designer
Bridgette Lehman - Production Stage Manager
Tahra Veasley - Assistant Stage Manager
Matthew Tripp - PTP Assistant Director
J.S. Peterson - PTP Assistant Set Designer
Cynthia Fleming - Executive Artistic Director
CAST BIOS:
JOSEPH PAUL BRANCA (He/Him) is pleased as punch to return to his Salt Lake Acting Company roots with this year’s kids show! Off the stage, he also works as SLAC’s Director of Communications, and in any other position Cynthia will let him get his hands on. His first children’s production at SLAC was Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly as Ant in 2016, then in Pete the Cat as Jimmy Biddle in 2019, and NOW he’s overjoyed to be playing Pigeon in this year’s show. Other SLAC productions include last season’s SLAC’s Summer Show: Close Encounters in the Beehive as Zeb the Alien, Yoga Play, SLACabaret: Down the Rabbit Hole, Just for Laughs, and the final production of Saturday’s Voyeur. He has worked with many revered companies across the Wasatch Front and internationally, including most recently: Utah Opera, Good Company Theatre, Plan-B Theatre Company, West Valley Arts, Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy, Hale Center Theater Orem, and Universal Studios Japan among others. In addition to television and voice acting work, he also appears regularly in film, including starring roles in the feature films Dog Valley, the upcoming One Big Happy Family, and the Emmy Award winning Resistance Movement. He is the recipient of several awards for his work, which he will not brag about further here. Thanks to his partner, family, Penny, Cynthia, ADHD medication, and every pigeon he’s ever met. Follow along at JosephBranca.com and @JosephBranca
WENDY JOSEPH (She/They) is an actor based out of Salt Lake City. At SLAC Wendy has performed in SLAC’s Summer Show (‘21, ’22, ‘23); Four Women Talking about the Man Under the Sheet; Hairy and Sherri; and Elephant and Piggie’s: “We Are in a Play!” (‘21, ‘23). She also performed in Plan B-Theatre’s kids show, Squeak. Her most recent work was in Good Company Theatre’s God Kinda Looks like Tupac. Aside from theater, she’s also done several films and short films as well as instructed playwriting for young adults. Wendy enjoys being with her family, traveling, and re-watching the Twilight series for the 100th time.
MARC NIELSON (He/Him) I am thrilled to be joining the wonderful and talented cast of, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!” Although I do have a teeny-tiny itsy-bitsy little secret. You see I’m not excited because I’m in the show, I’m excited because when no one is looking I’m gonna let that pigeon drive the bus, I’ll even ride in the back.
Afterwards I’m planning on letting a cat operate a crane, a dog steer a space ship, and an alligator guide a submarine. Some of you might be wondering why I would allow animals anywhere near heavy machinery and unfortunately the answer is that I am a wildly irresponsible human being. You think I would have learned my lesson after my gecko crashed my car but if anything I’ve doubled down harder.
I just think the world would be better place with dog astronauts and pigeon chauffeurs, no matter what others say. I will not apologize for trying to bring a little more magic and whimsy into this world regardless of how many millions of dollars in property damage it might cause. I am a visionary!
Anyway…what were we talking about? Oh yes, I’m super excited to be doing the show.
LAUREL MORGAN (She/Her) is excited to be returning to Salt Lake Acting Company after appearing in SLAC's Summer Show: Close Encounters in the Beehive and SLAC's Summer Show: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. She is in her senior year pursuing a BFA in the Actors Training Program at the University of Utah and will play Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire for her capstone project. She has recently been seen as Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ariel in The Tempest, and Bartley in Old Man and the Old Moon at the University. Laurel also performs in theatrical productions all around the Salt Lake Valley, most recently as Caroline Bingley in Pride and Prejudice (The Grand Theatre), Connie in fate? (The Grand Theatre), Tigger and Owl in Winnie the Pooh (Parker Theatre), and Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing (Parker Theatre).
BRYCE ROMLESKI (He/Him/His) is so excited to be spending another winter at Salt Lake Acting Company in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! Some of his recent credits include: SLAC's Summer Show: Close Encounters in the Beehive, Elephant and Piggie's: "We Are in a Play!", and SLAC's Summer Show: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood all at Salt Lake Acting Company; and Into the Woods, and Cabaret at the University of Utah. Bryce recently graduated from the University of Utah with his BFA in Musical Theatre and currently works with Youth Theatre at the U. He would like to thank his family and friends for their unwavering love and support! | @BryceRomleski | BryceRomleski.com
ALEXA SHAHEEN (She/They) is thrilled to be making her return to the SLAC stage for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! Alexa’s most recent credits include: Nightmare Cabaret (Lagoon), Celestleigh in Close Encounters in the Beehive (Salt Lake Acting Company), and Sandy Cheeks in SpongeBob The Musical (Kingsbury Hall, Youth Theatre at the U). Alexa is a native Oregonian and currently pursuing her BFA in the Musical Theatre Program at the University of Utah. Alexa is incredibly grateful for their family, friends, and professors’ unwavering love and support through all of her artistic endeavors!
CREATIVE TEAM BIOS:
MO WILLEMS – Script & Lyrics is an author, illustrator, animator, and playwright. He was the inaugural Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence (2019-2022), and he continues to collaborate in creating fun new stuff involving classical music, opera, comedy concerts, dance, painting and digital works with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Ben Folds, Yo-Yo Ma, and others. Willems is best known for his #1 New York Times bestselling picture books, which have been awarded three Caldecott Honors (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!; Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale; Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity), and his celebrated Elephant and Piggie early reader series, which has been awarded two Theodor Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors. Mo’s art has been exhibited around the world, including major solo retrospectives at the High Museum (Atlanta) and the New-York Historical Society (NYC). Over the last decade, Willems has become the most produced playwright of Theater for Young Audiences in America, having written or co-written four musicals based on his books. He began his career as a writer and animator on PBS’ Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards (writing). Other television work includes two series on Cartoon Network: Sheep in the Big City (creator + head writer) and Codename: Kids Next Door (head writer). Mo’s recent TV projects include the live action comedy special Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! and an animated rock opera special based on Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, which originally premiered on HBO Max. In April 2023, Mo will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! with the publication of Be the Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of The Pigeon (Union Square Kids, April 4, 2023), a humor book for adults, and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! 20th Anniversary Edition (Hyperion Books for Children, April 4, 2023) including an exclusive board game. His papers reside at Yale University’s Beinecke Library.
DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA – Music is a composer, music director, and orchestrator, and one of the most produced Theatre for Young Audiences artists working today. Some of her most popular musicals include Ella Enchanted (based on the book by Gail Carson Levine), Oliverio: A Brazilian Twist, and Einstein Is a Dummy with playwright Karen Zacarías, and the off-Broadway hit She Persisted (based on the book by Chelsea Clinton) with playwright Adam Tobin. Deborah has created three musicals with bestselling children’s author Mo Willems: Elephant and Piggie’s: “We Are in A Play!”; Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience, and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!. On the small screen, she has worked with Willems on the adaptation of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience (released in 2022 on HBO Max), and the upcoming animated series Unlimited Squirrels. As a music director and orchestrator, she has worked with major regional theatre companies across the country, including the Guthrie, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She received her MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University. Her honors include an Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Family Musical, the Jane Chambers Playwriting Award, an NEA New American Works Grant, two Parents’ Choice Awards, and a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Musical Adaptation. A proud Mexican-American and “Navy brat” who grew up in Brazil, Portugal and California, La Puma is a member of TYA/USA, ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild. Mother to three daughters and Mimi the Cat, La Puma lives in Southern California with her PR agent and loving husband, Chris.
PENELOPE CAYWOOD - Director/Choreographer/Music Director (She/Her) is excited to return to Salt Lake Acting Company for another children’s show! Recent directing credits include the Utah premiere of Yoga Play (SLAC), the world premiere of Fremont Junior High is NOT Doing Oklahoma! (Good Company Theatre), and The Book Club Play (University of Utah). Her past SLAC Theatre for Young Audiences projects include Elephant and Piggie's: "We Are in a Play!", A Year with Frog and Toad, Pete the Cat, Pinkalicious, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly, Art Dog, Cat in the Hat, Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type, How I Became a Pirate, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Penelope also serves as the Artistic Director of Youth Theatre at the U and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theatre Teaching, where she loves creating opportunities for young talent to shine. Special thanks to SLAC, Cynthia, Jennie, and the entire design team for their creativity, support, and dedication to bringing this production to life.
JESSE PORTILLO** - Lighting Designer (He/Him) Jesse Portillo is lighting designer based in Los Angeles, and an Associate Professor of Theatre at Cal Poly Pomona. Previous SLAC credits include Passing Strange, Pete The Cat, Saturday’s Voyeur, Climbing with Tigers, and Harbur Gate among many others. Additional credits include productions for South Coast Rep, Pioneer Theatre Company, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Ancram Opera House, LOOK Musicals, New Century Dance, Repertory Dance Theater, Samba Fogo, PURE Theatre, Mobile Opera and Plan-B Theatre Company. He holds an MFA from Indiana University, and has previously served on the faculty of the University of Utah and the College of Charleston. He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, and an active member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, where he is the Co- Commissioner for Lighting Design and Technology. He is a founding member of La Gente: The Latinx Design Network, and works to make all aspects of live entertainment more diverse, equitable and inclusive by deploying anti-racist approaches in all aspects of his work.
BRIDGETTE LEHMAN - Stage Manager (She/Her) is happy to be back at SLAC for another holiday season! Favorite Stage Management credits include Hairy & Sherri, A Year with Frog and Toad, You Will Get Sick, SLAC's Summer Show: Close Encounters in the Beehive (SLAC), Sherlock Holmes and The Final Problem (Plan-B Theatre and KUER), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Good Co. Theatre). Favorite Assistant Stage Management credits include SLAC’s Summer Show: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and Whitelisted. She is a Weber State alumnus with her BA in Theatre Arts/Sound Production and Recording.
TAHRA VEASLEY - Assistant Stage Manager (She/Her) is excited to be back at SLAC for the kids show for a third year in a row! Favorite select Stage Management credits include Whitelisted (SLAC), The Bleeding Class (59E59), Bald Sisters (SLAC), Can I Say Yes to That Dress? (SLAC), and Sankofa, This Journey: Go Back, and Get It (SLAC), Senior Stages Play Tour Series (Plan-B Theatre Company), In the Heights and Noises Off (The Grand Theatre), and Eclipsed (Studio 115/KCACTF). Favorite Assistant Stage Management credits include Elephant & Piggie's: "We Are in a Play!", Hairy & Sherri, A Year With Frog & Toad (SLAC), Once on This Island, Mamma Mia, Cagney, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Pioneer Theatre Company).
DENNIS HASSAN - Set Designer (He/Him) is a Professor of Scenic Design at Utah State University, Dennis has designed over 180 productions for theatres from Hawaii to Maine. He also designs costumes, properties, corporate events, immersive experiences and puppetry. Favorites include costumes for Macbeth, My Fair Lady, Winter’s Tale, Dido and Aeneas; sets for Fun Home, August Osage County, Light in the Piazza, Sweeney Todd, Tales of Hoffmann; and puppets for Shockheaded Peter, Little Shop of Horrors, Issun Boshi and Beauty and the Beast. He has an MFA in theatre design from The Ohio State University. Dennis is delighted to return to SLAC where he has previously designed costumes for Whitelisted, A Year With Frog & Toad, Egress, Pete the Cat, and sets for Streetlight Woodpecker, Winter, Fun Home, and Silent Dancer.
ANNA BLAES - Co-Props Designer (She/Her) is pleased to be working with SLAC again after having Co-Designed Props for SLAC's Summer Show: Close Encounters in the Beehive, Bald Sisters, SLAC's Summer Show: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and A Year with Frog and Toad. She has previously done Props for A Night to Dismember and Sympathizer at Great Salt Lake Fringe. Film: Set Dressing for Enactment by Bridger Roberts. BFA Theatre Design from the University of Utah, ABlaesDesign.com.
ERIKA AHLIN - Co-Props Designer (She/Her) is so excited to be on the creative team for this production. She has designed previously at SLAC for SLAC’s Summer Show: Close Encounters in the Beehive, Bald Sisters, You Will Get Sick, SLAC's Summer Show: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and Assistant Props Design for Yoga Play. She has been working administratively with the SLAC since 2012, and is currently Director of Development. In her free time, Erika plays bass in NADEZHDA.
SOFIA PAREDES-KENRICK - Costume Designer (She/They) is delighted to be costuming Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! at Salt Lake Acting Company! Sofia was recently seen on the SLAC stage in last year’s TYA show Elephant and Piggie’s: “We Are in A Play!” as Squirelle 1, which sparked her joy for children’s theater. She was recently nominated for a Regional Broadway World Award for her costume work on Tooele Valley Theatre’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace and is the Costume Coordinator for the Youth Theatre at The U program. Sofia is so excited to be putting two of their biggest passions together for this production, and give young audiences a colorful and fashionable show!
MATTHEW TRIPP - PTP Asst. Director (He/They/She) - is PUMPED to be back at SLAC, this time as Assistant Director! Matthew has previously appeared at SLAC as an actor in their last two children’s shows, Elephant and Piggie's: "We Are in a Play!" and A Year with Frog and Toad. For the last three years, they’ve taught drama under Penelope Caywood (the director of this show!) at the University of Utah and Wasatch Elementary through the University's Youth Theatre and Drama Residency programs. They’re also a part of the Story Weavers at Hale Centre Theatre, bringing theater to schools and communities that don’t readily have access to it. They consider themselves very lucky to have found their niche as a teaching artist, serving the community through education and children’s theater.
J.S. PETERSON – PTP Asst. Set Designer (He/Him) is excited to work with the Salt Lake Acting Company for the first time. He is a scenic designer from Idaho, with a passion for creating immersive environments for audiences. His recent credits include The Tempest at Utah State University and Disney's Descendants at Dare to Dream Children's Theatre. One of his favorite aspects of scenic design is model making. Whether it's building intricate scale models or designing full sets, he loves the process of bringing ideas to life.
CYNTHIA FLEMING - Executive Artistic Director (She/Her) has been on the administrative staff at Salt Lake Acting Company since 1998. During this time, she has overseen multiple departments including Marketing, Communications, Development, Production, and Audience Services. In 2015, Cynthia was named to her current role as Executive Artistic Director. Prior to arriving at Salt Lake Acting Company, Cynthia performed in the Broadway, National, and International companies of the original run of A Chorus Line, directed by Michael Bennett. Cynthia remains a working artist in the theatre and continues to direct and choreograph works both at SLAC and elsewhere. Those credits include SLAC’s Summer Show: Close Encounters in the Beehive, SLAC’s Summer Show: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, SLACabaret: Down the Rabbit Hole, #SLACabaret, Silent Dancer, Saturday’s Voyeur (16 years as Choreographer, 7 as Director/Choreographer), Bat Boy, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, as well as guest directing the MFA Playwrights’ Workshop—a partnership with the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival, Stanford University, and the National New Play Network. She has also served as a visiting professor for the University of Utah’s Musical Theatre program. Outside of her theatre-related pursuits, Cynthia is a member of the Women’s Democratic Club of Utah, as well as 100 Women Who Care SLC. Cynthia is proud to serve SLAC and its mission to engage and enrich the community through brave, contemporary theatre.
SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY – Salt Lake Acting Company is celebrating its 53rd Season and continuing its mission to engage and enrich community through brave contemporary theatre. Founded in 1970, SLAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 professional theatre dedicated to producing, commissioning, and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists. SLAC has been nationally recognized by the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Edgerton Foundation, among others. SLAC operates under an SPT Actors Equity Association contract and is a Constituent Member of Theatre Communications Group (a national organization for non-profit professional regional theatres), and the National New Play Network (a national alliance of non-profit professional theatres that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays).
**The Lighting Designer for this production is represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 of the IATSE.
