DIRECTOR, HELEN HART: The Blue Light Players is happy to welcome Helen Hart to the Newsies production team as director. Helen was bitten by the “theater bug” in the second grade, while performing in an elementary school production of “Henny Penny.” Since that fateful day, she has immersed herself in dance, acting, and vocal training. She studied ballet, tap, and jazz dance from childhood through adulthood, at both a studio and collegiate level. She has studied classical and contemporary voice and has also delved into instrumental music, studying classical piano, violin, and saxophone, and building a working knowledge of most brass and woodwind instruments. Helen’s acting training includes stage, film, and television performance. She has a lengthy résumé in musical theatre performance and has worked professionally in both commercial and film acting. Helen has strived to receive as much training as possible in all disciplines related to musical theatre performance. Her continued studies have taken her to New York for master classes in acting, voice, and dance. Her directing credits with the Blue Light Players include: Chicago, All Shook Up, The Music Man, Rock of Ages, Oliver, and Annie. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to direct one of the first community theater productions of Newsies, and looks forward to working alongside the very talented production team and cast.
CHOREOGRAPHER, KATHRYN MULCAHY: The Blue Light Players is proud to welcome Kathryn Mulcahy to the Newsies production team as choreographer. Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Northern Kentucky University, as well as tap and ballet certifications from The Southern Association of Dance Masters. Having fallen in love with ballet when she began dancing at age 3, Kathryn has amassed a lifetime of dance experience in a variety of styles, including tap, jazz, lyrical, and pointe. She added musical theatre to her list of activities in high school, and became heavily involved in the theatre community in her native Nashville, Tennessee. She has performed as a featured dancer and ensemble member in many great “dance-heavy” productions, including Footloose, Fame, Guys and Dolls, High School Musical, The Producers, Cinderella, and A Chorus Line.
While her college major allowed her to hone her talents in dancing, singing, and acting (as well as several other “theatre trades”), choreography has always been the guiding passion along Kathryn’s dance journey. From childhood ballet classes to college dance class projects and Greek life performance competitions, she has always loved setting dance to music. Since moving to Lansing at the end of 2014, she has been blessed to connect with the fun-loving Lansing theatre community—first with The Blue Light Players in Annie (Grace Farrell) and most recently with Riverwalk Theatre in Spamalot (The Lady of the Lake). She is beyond excited to take on the endeavor of choreographing for Blue Light Players’ upcoming production of Newsies.
While her college major allowed her to hone her talents in dancing, singing, and acting (as well as several other “theatre trades”), choreography has always been the guiding passion along Kathryn’s dance journey. From childhood ballet classes to college dance class projects and Greek life performance competitions, she has always loved setting dance to music. Since moving to Lansing at the end of 2014, she has been blessed to connect with the fun-loving Lansing theatre community—first with The Blue Light Players in Annie (Grace Farrell) and most recently with Riverwalk Theatre in Spamalot (The Lady of the Lake). She is beyond excited to take on the endeavor of choreographing for Blue Light Players’ upcoming production of Newsies.
MUSIC DIRECTOR, KAIT WILSON: The Blue Light Players is pleased to welcome Kait Wilson to the Newsies production team as music director. Kait hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin. She began her college studies in music and theatre at the University of Wisconsin, then transferred to the University of Hawaii at Hilo, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Music. While in Hawaii, Kait was heavily involved in music and theatre, both on stage and off. She was the music director for shows at the university and in the community, including Miss Saigon and The King and I, while also playing in the pit orchestras. She accompanied various music groups on piano and performed on stage as much as possible. After leaving Hawaii, Kait, an EMC, spent some time on the East Coast where she worked for professional theaters. She now resides in Lansing, where she plays in a Phish tribute band. She is delighted to be part of the Blue Light Players’ team bringing Newsies to the greater Lansing community.
LIGHTING DESIGNER: MIKE STEWART: Blue Light Players is thrilled to include Mike Stewart in the Newsies production team as lighting designer. Mike studied the craft of technical theater and acting at both Lansing Community College and Lake Superior State University. Over the course of his career, Mike obtained memberships in both the Actors Equity Union (AEA) and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). His career in lighting design took him from Boarshead Theater in Lansing to repertory companies in New Hampshire, Indiana, and Kentucky. He also worked in lighting and sound design at the MGM Grand Hotel, and The Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas. Mike is currently the theater manager at the Albert White Auditorium at East Lansing’s Hannah Community Center. He is also the founder of The East Lansing Community Theatre, which focuses on Shakespearean productions. On occasion, Mike still graces the stage as an actor, having appeared in several Blue Light Players’ productions: Rock of Ages (Hertz), Oliver (Fagin), and Annie (Daddy Warbucks). He has been working as the lighting designer for the Blue Light Players for the past eight years, and is thrilled to take on the role of lighting designer for the Blue Light Players’ upcoming production of Newsies.
PUBLICIST, ELIZABETH JOHNSON: The Blue Light Players is happy to announce that Elizabeth Johnson has joined the Newsies production team as publicist. Elizabeth Johnson’s first published article when she was in middle school was a preview of a high school production of Fiddler on the Roof. Since then, she has gone on to build a writing career that has encompassed newspapers, magazines, websites, books, and every type of marketing material. She holds a bachelor of arts in communications from Notre Dame of Maryland University and a master’s degree in journalism from Indiana University. For the past 21 years, she has been the public relations, marketing and communications manager for a nonprofit organization serving the hospitality industry. Elizabeth also served as the publicity coordinator the Water Wonderland Chorus of Sweet Adelines for many years, as well as for Waverly Community Schools’ high school and middle school theatre productions in which her children performed. In 2014, Elizabeth decided that there was no reason her children should have all the fun acting, and entered the world of community theatre, first with Starlight Dinner Theatre and then with Blue Light Players. In addition to performing, Elizabeth has assisted with writing and editing tasks for Blue Light Players whenever needed, and is excited to be part of the production team for the company’s upcoming production of Newsies.
DIGITAL MARKETING ADVISOR: PHILIP FRANKE: The Blue Light Players is pleased to welcome Philip Franke to the Newsies production team as its digital marketing advisor. Philip holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Professional Communications from Siena Heights University, and also has an extensive background in musical theatre performance. His interest in the performing arts dates back to his first stage appearance at the age of 4. Since that time, Philip has studied acting, singing, and dancing. He has also worked as a dance and acting instructor, both in a classroom and private setting. Philip works for a local communications company and runs his own creative consulting business. He has provided digital marketing services to many local clients, including the Playmakers Foundation. Philip has been involved with the Blue Light Players since its inception in 2005, and he looks forward to taking on the role of digital marketing advisor for the Blue Light Players’ upcoming production of Newsies.
