Million Dollar Quartet

Eric Scott Anthony

Eric is thrilled to be making his Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park debut! On Broadway, Eric was in the original cast of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. He has also performed in the national tours of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (as Music Director/Norm Petty) and Pump Boys & Dinettes (as Jackson). Regionally, Eric has played in Million Dollar Quartet (as Brother Jay) at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Kansas City New Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse and the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre (as Music Director/Brother Jay). Additional credits include Ring of Fire (as Music Director) at Flat Rock Playhouse, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre (as Music Director); Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Westchester Broadway Theatre (as Joe Mauldin), Flat Rock Playhouse (as Music Director/Joe Mauldin) and Ogunquit Playhouse (as Music Director); Hank Williams: Lost Highway at the Riverside Theatre (as Jimmy) and at the Flat Rock Playhouse and Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (as Music Director). A native of St. Louis, Eric was a section leader and soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Chorus.

Zach Cossman

Zach is excited to return to his home town to make his debut at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park! Previous off-Broadway credits include the world premiere of Revolution in the Elbow… (as Mr. Elbow) and Blue Man Group (as Blue Man). His regional credits include Striking 12 (as Drums and Everyone Else) at TUTS Underground; Million Dollar Quartet (as Fluke Holland) at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Casa Mañana Theatre; Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (as Jerry Allison) at Bucks County Playhouse, Kimmel Center, North Carolina Theatre and Casa Mañana Theatre; the regional and west coast premieres of Band Geeks (as Jake) at The Human Race Theatre Company; Guys and Dolls (as Harry the Horse) at Great Lakes Theater Festival; Anything Goes (as Evelyn Oakleigh) and 9 to 5 (as Dwayne) at West Virginia Public Theatre. Thanks to MC, RC, CS and AG. Visit www.ZachCossman.com. @ZachCossman 

James Ludwig

James is delighted to be making his debut at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park! His Broadway credits include Spamalot (original cast) and Little Shop of Horrors. Off-Broadway, he’s been seen in Two Point Oh, Blue Man Group, Bubbly Black Girl... (Playwrights Horizons); De La Guarda and the original cast of john & jen (Lamb’s Players Theatre). James has played leading roles at storied regional theatres around the US including Baltimore Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, Cleveland Play House, George Street Playhouse, Arena Stage and McCarter Theatre, to name just a few. His film and television credits include Daylight Raiders (as Jimmy Stewart, Son of a Gunner Productions), News to Me (CBS), Lipstick Jungle (NBC), Chappelle’s Show (Comedy Central) and Ghost Town (Paramount Pictures). James owns Back40 Films, which produces the wildly popular show The Happy Hour Guys (www.thehappyhourguys.com). He holds a BA from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), an MFA from the University of Washington Professional Actor Training Program and is a proud Actors' Equity Member. Best gigs ever: Husband to KB and Dad to 4-month old Jake. Visit www.JamesLudwig.org. @JimmyLudwigNYC

Sean McGibbon

Sean is an Austin, Texas, native with a huge case of ADHD that resulted in a background in musical theatre, jazz piano, juggling, card magic and athletics. Aside from musical theatre, Sean was a varsity tennis player and competed at the national level for two sports: Collegiate Table Tennis (NCTTA 2010) and on the U21 National Kayak Polo Team (based in Austin, Texas). Sean is also an accomplished club juggler and card magician, and loves all things tap dance and Golden Age Variety Theatre. His many influences include Sammy Davis Jr., Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and of course...The Killer! Credits include Singin’ in the Rain (as Cosmo Brown), the first national tour of Million Dollar Quartet (as Jerry Lee Lewis understudy), the 25th Anniversary National Tour of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, the City Center Encores! production of On Your Toes (directed by Warren Carlyle) and The Great American Mousical (directed by Julie Andrews). Sean received his BFA in 2012 in Musical Theatre with Psychology and Jazz minors from Texas State University. Thanks to Hunter Foster and everyone at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. 

John Michael Presney

John is a singer/songwriter, musician and actor from Illinois who now lives in Brooklyn. He is thrilled to be back in Cincinnati after having last performed here with the first national tour of Million Dollar Quartet at the Aronoff Center. His current record, “The Nighttime and The Dawn”, is available on all platforms. You can catch him playing his music all over New York City. Credits include Million Dollar Quartet (first national and international tours, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Casa Mañana Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Westchester Broadway Theatre and Center REPertory Company) and The Snow Queen (New York Musical Festival). Television credits include Betrayal (ABC). John holds a BFA from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. This is his fourth production of Million Dollar Quartet as Music Director. Love to Florencia. Thanks to Robert Stein Management. See and hear more at JohnMichaelPresney.com and Facebook.com/JMPresney. 

Sky Seals

Sky has been everywhere, man! He has performed the role of Johnny Cash at Center REPertory Company in Walnut Creek; Geva Theater in Rochester; Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal; the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; Westchester Broadway Theatre and Seven Angels Theatre in Connecticut. He was previously seen as George Berger in the Chicago re-imagining of Hair (American Theater Company, directed by P.J. Papparelli and J.R. Sullivan) and as Dylan in the off-Broadway musical Sessions (Algonquin Theatre). Sky played Sky Red Bow in The Powwow Highway (with Handmade Films and executive producer George Harrison). Sky is the co-founder of Wide Eyed Productions, a New York-based non-profit theatre collective, where he has performed in Medea; Much Ado About Nothing; Henry VI, Part 3 and others. Other favorite musical roles include Pippin in Pippin, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Fagin in Oliver! Removed “Ensemble” Sky is the composer of the youth musicals Jack and the Soy Beanstalk (published by Samuel French) and Goldilocks and the Three Polar Bears. Dedicated to David Seals and Liz White.

Bligh Voth

With Million Dollar Quartet, Bligh makes her Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park debut! She was most recently seen off-Broadway in the new musical Loveless, Texas (The Sheen Center) and in the New York Musical Theatre Festival's musical adaptation of The Time Machine. Other New York theatre credits include the Atlantic Theater Company, Primary Stages and Boomerang Theatre Company. Regionally, Bligh has performed at Paper Mill Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse (Million Dollar Quartet), Ford's Theatre in Washington DC (A Christmas Carol, Parade and Civil War), The Studio Theater (Jerry Springer: The Opera and Reefer Madness), Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma (Big River), Totem Pole Playhouse (Steel Magnolias), Signature Theatre, Washington Stage Guild and more. Visit www.blighvoth.com. @blighadeline 

Ari McKay Wilford

Ari is super excited to be making his Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park debut in Million Dollar Quartet! Broadway credits include Once. Regional credits include productions at Signature Theatre, Gateway Playhouse and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Television and film credits include Gotham (Fox), Vinyl (HBO) and Solitary. Love to mom and dad. Thanks to Hunter, the cast and crew. Rock and roll! @arimckay

Colin Escott

Born in England, Colin lives near Nashville, Tennessee. He is the author of Good Rockin’ Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the first in-depth account of the Sun Records story. His book Hank Williams – The Biography has been adapted into the movie I Saw the Light, starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen. His multi-CD box set, The Complete Hank Williams, won a Grammy, and another of his productions, B.B. King – King of the Blues, was nominated for a Grammy. Million Dollar Quartet received three Tony nominations, including Best Book and Best Musical. Colin was part of the writing/producing team adapting the show for CMT/Viacom. The first season aired in 2016.

Floyd Mutrux

Floyd apprenticed at the Alley Theatre in Houston and worked at Second City in Chicago; he attended Columbia University. Floyd has conceived, written, directed, or produced 50 films, including Dusty and Sweets McGee; Freebie and the Bean; Aloha, Bobby and Rose; The Hollywood Knights; American Hot Wax; Dick Tracy; American Me; Blood In, Blood Out; There Goes My Baby; and Mulholland Falls. With his wife Birgitte, he is preparing a new film, Moon Over Memphis (a rock-and-roll Field of Dreams). He also cowrote the musical Baby It’s You! with Colin Escott and helped adapt Sun Records, the new television series based on Million Dollar Quartet. Million Dollar Quartet received three Tony Award nominations in 2010, including best book and best musical.

Hunter Foster

As an Artistic Associate at the Bucks County Playhouse, he has directed Clue, Guys and Dolls, Company, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (2016 and 2017), National Pastime, The Rocky Horror Show (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), Summer of ’42 and It’s a Wonderful Life. He most recently directed the world premiere of two new musicals: One Hit Wonder for the University of Michigan and A Connecticut Christmas Carol for the Goodspeed Opera House. Other directing credits include The Foreigner, Cabaret and My Fair Lady (The Cape Playhouse); Grease (North Carolina Theatre), Spamalot (Casa Manaña Theatre), and has directed productions of Million Dollar Quartet for Paper Mill Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Center REPertory Company and Westchester Broadway Theatre. As a book writer, he has written the books to the off-Broadway musicals Jasper in Deadland and Summer of ’42 (Outer Critic Award nomination for best new off-Broadway musical). Other recent book writing credits include The Circus in Winter (Goodspeed Musicals), Clyde and Bonnie: A Folktale (New York Musical Theatre Festival and Aurora Theatre), The Hollow (Signature Theatre) and Blue Ridge Sky. Hunter is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Jen Cody

Jen is making her debut at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. She has performed on Broadway in many different shows including Shrek, Urinetown, Taboo, Seussical, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, A Christmas Story, Pajama Game and Grease. Off-Broadway credits include The Wild Party, Henry and Mudge, and Charles Bush's Cleopatra and Judith of Bethulia. She has worked around the country doing plays and musicals. Most recently, she choreographed the world premiere of Clue at the Bucks County Playhouse. And, while she makes her living as an actress, she has directed and choreographed around the country and always enjoys being able to bring this show to new theatres and to work with her husband.

Adam Koch

Adam is a Dayton native, and he fulfills a childhood dream by making his Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park debut. Internationally, Adam designed the 2017 production of Dreamgirls in Seoul, South Korea. In Washington D.C., Adam was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award (Outstanding Scenic Design) for both Kiss of the Spider Woman (Signature Theatre, starring Hunter Foster) and Bat Boy: The Musical (1st Stage Theater). Credits across the United States include the original Chicago production of Million Dollar Quartet (Apollo Theater Chicago); as well as productions at Ford’s Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre Center, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Ogunquit Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, Serenbe Playhouse, Portland Stage Company, and New World Stages and Theatre Row in New York City. He has designed more than 60 productions with Associate Scenic Designer Steven Royal. Adam is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. See more at adamkochassociates.com and on Instagram @instadamkoch. Dedicated to William and Mary Koch.

Lauren T. Roark

Lauren is thrilled to return to the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park after designing Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing (2016). Her regional credits include the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. Her favorite past productions include As You Like It, Hamlet, School for Scandal, James and the Giant Peach and the world premiere of Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing. Her work has been featured in the United States Institute for Theatre Technology’s Young Designers’ Forum Exhibition and she was awarded the Barbizon Award for Theatrical Design Excellence. Lauren has worked in costume shops spanning three continents, including Brazil and Hong Kong. She holds an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. To learn more, visit www.laurentroark.com. 

Kirk Bookman

Kirk’s Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park credits include more than 70 productions, including Summerland (2017), A Delicate Ship (2014), Speaking in Tongues (2012), The Fantasticks (2010), A Christmas Carol (1991-2017), Sing Hallelujah! (2004), Proof (2003) and The Mystery of Irma Vep (2001). His Broadway credits include The Sunshine Boys (with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall), The Gin Game (with Julie Harris and Charles Durning) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Additional New York off-Broadway productions include Closer Than Ever (off-Broadway), Right You Are and What Then (Ohio Theatre), The Cook (Intar 53 Theatre), Recent Tragic Events (with Heather Graham, Playwrights Horizons), Shanghai Moon (with Charles Busch, Drama Department), The Green Heart (Manhattan Theatre Club) and productions of Mondo Drama, Havana Is Waiting, Force Continuum, My One Good Nerve (starring Ruby Dee), The Shawl, Rude Entertainment, The Book of Liz (with David and Amy Sedaris), Les MIZrahi, Hope is the Thing with Feathers, As Thousands Cheer, June Moon, Bedbound, Playboy of the Western World, Eclipsed, The Importance of Being Earnest and Major Barbara.

Steve O'Shea

Steve is pleased to be returning to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where he made his debut with God of Carnage (2011). He is currently the resident lighting and scenic designer for TADA! Youth Musical Theater Company New York City (since 2006). He is a design associate for various international, Broadway, off-Broadway and regional productions. He received his MFA in Lighting Design from the University of Washington in Seattle in 2001.

Bart Fasbender

Bart is very happy to be making his debut at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Credits include the world premieres of Matthew Lombardo’s Who’s Holiday at Westside Theatre; Dan Rothenberg and Colleen Crabtree’s Hot Mess at Jerry Orbach Theater; David Cale’s Harry Clarke at Vineyard Theatre; Bernardo Cubria’s Neighbors at INTAR Theatre; Erica Schmidt’s All The Fine Boys at The New Group; Alex Timbers’ Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson on Broadway; Neil LaBute’s The Way We Get By at Second Stage and All The Ways To Say I Love You at MCC Theater; John Patrick Shanley’s Storefront Church at Atlantic Theater Company and The Danish Widow for New York Stage and Film; Martin Zimmerman’s On The Exhale for Women’s Project Theater; and Hunter Foster’s production of Clue: On Stage at Bucks County Playhouse. In New York City, he’s designed and/or composed for The Public Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, The 24 Hour Plays, Cherry Lane Theatre, Primary Stages, The Play Company, Naked Angels, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and many others. Regionally, his work has been heard at Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, American Conservatory Theater, Center Theatre Group, The Old Globe, Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Stage and Film and many others. Member USA829 and TSDCA.

Brooke Redler

Brooke is pleased to return for her third season with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Her off-Broadway credits include Breathing Time, The Faire and From White Plains (production stage manager, Fault Line Theatre). Regional theatre credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Shakespeare in Love and five seasons of A Christmas Carol (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), Hair: Retrospection, Stillwater, The Whipping Man, August: Osage County and Cabaret (production stage manager, Kansas City Repertory Theatre); Peter and the Starcatcher and Richard II (Utah Shakespeare Festival); Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Center Stage in Baltimore); and The Drowsy Chaperone, Is He Dead? and Harry the Great (Creede Repertory Theatre). Assistant stage management credits include Our Town, A Flea in Her Ear, Clay, Jitney and Love, Janis (Kansas City Repertory Theatre); and work at Starlight Theatre, Stages St. Louis and Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. Brooke also has worked in opera, with credits including Moscow, Cherry Town and Medea (PSM, Opera Long Beach) and Frida, Die Fledermaus and Tosca (ASM, Cincinnati Opera). She also spent two seasons at The Santa Fe Opera.

Andrea L. Shell

Andrea is excited to be celebrating her 18th season with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, having worked on more than 85 productions. A highlight of every season for her is A Christmas Carol. Favorite Playhouse credits include Mr. Joy; Erma Bombeck; Jane Eyre; Disgraced; Bad Dates; The Revolutionists; Peter and the Starcatcher; I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti; The North Pool; Pride and Prejudice; The Trip to Bountiful; Merrily We Roll Along; As You Like It; Behind the Eye; The Understudy; Blackbird; Durango; Around the World in 80 Days; Altar Boyz; Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming; Reckless; Ace; The Clean House; A Picasso; One; Abracadabra (2002-2007); The Bible … (abridged); and Dark Paradise. Regionally, she stage managed The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead (Dallas Theater Center), Ace (The Old Globe), Lost Prospect (Ingenuity Festival of Cleveland), A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Nutcracker (Cincinnati Ballet) and Snow White and Beauty and the Beast (Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy). She also served as the production stage manager for the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre. Andrea received her BA from East Tennessee State University. She would like to thank her family, friends, Dylan and Scott for their unending support.