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Nine, the Musical
Book by Arthur Kopit
Music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston
Adapted from the Italian by Mario Fratti
Be a singer. Be a lover. Be Italian.
June 21 – July 14, 2024
(No show Thursday, July 4)
Thursday-Saturday @ 8pm
Saturday-Sunday @ 2pm
Directed by Blake McCarty
Music Direction by Richard Dueñez Morrison
Choreography by Chelsea Zeffiro
Celebrated but impetuous film director Guido Contini, succumbing to the pressures of filming his latest film epic, suffers a midlife crisis which blocks his creative impulses and entangles him in a web of romantic difficulties in early-1960s Venice. One by one, women from his past and present – including his mother, his wife, his mistress, and his leading lady – haunt, instruct, scold, seduce and encourage him until this Casanova finally learns to grow up.
Nine is based on the 1963 autobiographical film 8½ by Federico Fellini. It is a musical with extraordinarily powerful music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and an inventive book by Arthur Kopit.
The original Broadway production opened in 1982 and ran for 729 performances, starring Raul Julia and directed by Tommy Tune. The musical won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has enjoyed a number of revivals. A film adaptation was released in 2009.
Cast Bios:
RIA CAREY (Saraghina) is happy to be part of this delightful cast after rockin’ it in Two Gentlemen Rock Verona at CPH in 2022. Ria’s diverse talents have enabled her to perform locally, nationally, and abroad, and has a fun, bawdy nightclub act (thank you Rayme & Aaron!). Dark chocolate, flowers, and hugs are NEVER refused so buckle up, ‘Be Italian,’ and enjoy the ride that is Nine!
RACHEL DILLON (Anabella / Claudia U/S) is thrilled to return to the stage after an 8-year hiatus! A theater school dropout, she took a break to become a registered dietitian. Favorite roles include Rose (Bye Bye Birdie), Miss Sandra (All Shook Up), Vivienne (Legally Blonde), and John Wilkes Booth (Assassins). A special thanks to her parents for their unconditional support, and her partner Philip for being her biggest fan on and off the stage. Thank you for supporting local theater!
LUCÍA DOMÍNGUEZ SÁNCHEZ (Our Lady of the Spa) is a 3rd-year exchange student at SDSU majoring in theater performance and television/film media. She was born and raised in Spain, where she discovered her passion for musical theater thanks to her mom who is an actress, director, and producer of Spanish musical theatre. Some of her favorite roles include Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical!, Gabriella in High School Musical, and Maria in La Fuerza del Destino. (@lucia.y.punto)
MAYA EFRAT (Maria / Carla U/S) is delighted to make her debut at Coronado Playhouse! She recently moved to San Diego from New York City to get her MA in Theatre at SDSU. She also holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from UC Irvine. Past roles include Abigail Williams (The Crucible), Queenie (The Wild Party), and Rosalia (West Side Story). She thanks Aba Ema Neev and Danielle for their love and support and hopes you all enjoy the show!
KATHLEEN FOGARTY (Guido’s Mother) is thrilled to make her Coronado Playhouse debut. Originally from Boston, she began her formal musical training as a violinist but eventually followed her father’s footsteps into opera. She has sung with opera companies and orchestras in the United States and Europe including Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Aspen Music Festival, and made her European debut in Bolzano, Italy as Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto.
SARA FRONDONI (Claudia) is excited to be making her debut with Coronado Playhouse. She has a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance from USC’s Thornton School of Music and sang with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus for 5 years. She’s performed in musicals, operas, and choral groups across California. Favorite Roles: Maria Rainer, Sound of Music (Temecula Performing Arts Company); Rosie Alverez, Bye Bye Birdie (Star Theater Company); and Hope Cladwell, Urinetown (La Costa Canyon High School).
LU GARCIA (Guido U/S) is back for his tenth production at Coronado Playhouse after appearing in Underground, Company, The SpongeBob Musical, Murder on the Orient Express, and Two Gentlemen Rock Verona. Other credits include Lit with Blindspot Collective, The Sound of Music, and Into the Woods. Lu is a Musical Theatre major at City College and shares his love for theatre with his three children Alex, Gracie, and Emma.
DYLAN LANDAU (Sofia / Stephanie U/S) is thrilled to be included in this production of Nine! San Diego Credits: I Love You Because (Marcy), Company (Kathy), Ensemble: The Musical (Student). Professional credits: Almost Heaven (Actor/Musician), Junie B. Jones (Lucille), Flight School (Owl). Her album of original music, “Bring in the Tide” is available everywhere music is streamed. Follow along: www.dylanlandau.com @dylanlandau
GWYNETH LUTOVSKY (Stephanie Necrophorus) is thrilled to be making her debut at the Coronado Playhouse. She recently graduated with a B.A. in Theatre Performance from SDSU and is excited to be on stage again. Some of her credits include The Altruists (Sydney), Sister Act (Nun #1), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona Lisa), and Merrily We Roll Along (Mary Flynn).
ERIN PETERSEN (Renata / Luisa U/S) is currently the Program Manager at JCompany Youth Theatre and the former Resident Artist and Education Program Manager for the critically acclaimed Intrepid Theatre. Acting credits include Honey (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf), Perdita (A Winter’s Tale), Hero (Much Ado About Nothing), Juliet (Romeo & Juliet), and Lady Macbeth (Macbeth). When not on stage, Erin enjoys working as a director, choreographer, and teaching artist.
REIN RIUS (Juliette / Lady U/S) is incredibly excited and grateful to be performing at Coronado Playhouse for the first time in this beautiful show. Rein is currently studying musical theatre at San Diego City College. Previous performances include Dancing at the End of the World (Blindspot Collective), Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (San Diego City College), and Cabaret (San Diego City College). Enjoy the show!
VIVIAN SCHMITZ (Diana / Mother U/S) has a passion for music – everything from classic rock to classical – and she received her B.A. in Music from The University of Central Florida. She has most recently portrayed Norma in Hands On A Hardbody (Coronado Playhouse), Beatriz in Miss You Like Hell (Patio Playhouse), and Camila in In the Heights (Patio Playhouse). You can also find Vivian singing with the Encore Vocal Ensemble of San Diego.
WILLIAM HENRY SCHNEIDER (Guido Contini) is excited to be returning to Coronado Playhouse after a long hiatus. His CPH credits include Robert Martin in the critically lauded production of The Drowsy Chaperone, Godspell, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and A Diamond Cabaret. Other roles include Danny in Grease, Antonio in The Gondoliers, Dick in Dames At Sea, and Anselmo in Man of La Mancha. He has performed with companies throughout San Diego, including San Diego Opera, Lyric Opera, and Starlight Musical Theatre.
SHELIA SENKO (Olga / Liliane U/S) is new to Coronado, new to Coronado Playhouse, and thrilled to be here. Some favorite previous theater experiences include 42nd Street (Peggy); Kiss Me, Kate! (Lois Lane/Bianca); The Music Man (Zaneeta), Seussical! (choreographer), Oklahoma! (choreographer), and Beauty & the Beast (assistant director/choreographer), but her best production to date was in collaboration with her husband Robert on their very own Robertino. Eternal thanks to you both. Ti Voglio Bene!
DACARA SEWARD (Carla) is excited to return to the Coronado Playhouse stage after appearing as Judy in the world premiere of Underground and Marta in Company last season where she won an Aubrey Award for Major Support in a Musical. Dacara also performs as a lead vocalist and cohost for the San Diego Cabaret Project and performs as a vocalist at local events in San Diego.
DANIEL SMYRES (Little Guido) is thrilled to be making his debut at Coronado Playhouse. Previous credits include Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Grace for President (SDJT); Finding Nemo, Jr. (JCompany;) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Roustabouts Theatre). He would like to thank the Coronado Playhouse for this amazing opportunity and is thrilled to be working alongside his twin brother, Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER SMYRES (Little Guido) is so excited to be in his first Coronado Playhouse production. Other appearances have been in Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Grace for President (SDJT); Finding Nemo, Jr. (JCompany;) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Roustabouts Theatre). He is so grateful for this opportunity and thrilled to be sharing this role with his twin brother, Daniel.
KAITLYN SUMMERS (Lina Darling / Saraghina U/S) is excited to be working with Coronado Playhouse again! Past credits include Xanadu (Erato), Big Fish (Jenny), and A Chorus Line (Bebe) with CPH; Rocky Horror (Magenta/Usherette), American Idiot (Lesli), and Urinetown (Little Becky) at OB Playhouse; Malt Shop Memories (Stacy) at Vista’s Broadway Theatre; Assassins (Sarah); Spring Awakening (Marta) at OnStage; and The Deadly Singer Mystery (Alice) at Playroom NYC. Lots of love to her family and friends for their support!
BRITTNEY TIGER (Luisa) is thrilled to make her debut at Coronado Playhouse. A graduate of AMDA: College and Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theatre, she has previously performed in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Dorothy), Sunday in the Park with George (Dot Understudy), Anything Goes (Ensemble) and Nine (Diana). She has spent four seasons with the Canyon Lake Choraleers and is excited to bring her passion for performance to the CPH stage.
WENDY WADDELL (Liliane La Fleur) was last seen in The Savoyard Murders with The Roustabouts. She has a BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Select San Diego theatre credits: Fiddler on the Roof (Welk, San Diego Critics Circle nominee); 9 to 5, Anything Goes, Xanadu (SDMT); Sunday in the Park with George (ion); American Hero, The Full Monty, Three Sisters (New Village Arts); The Miser, The Car Plays (La Jolla Playhouse); and Company (Cygnet). www.WendyWaddellActor.com
Production Bios:
BLAKE MCCARTY (Director) is a multidisciplinary artist whose original work includes large-scale immersive projects, new musicals, devised theatre, and documentary plays. He is the founder and Executive Artistic Director of Blindspot Collective, a local theater company that cultivates and celebrates new work, emerging artists, and diverse audiences. As a director, designer, and creative producer, Blake’s award-winning work has been developed or commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, California Center for the Arts, Cygnet Theatre, New Village Arts, New York University, and New York Theatre Barn. www.blakemccarty.com
RICHARD DUEÑEZ MORRISON (Musical Director) is a San Diego-based music director and voice coach. He is resident music director at San Diego Musical Theatre, and an adjunct professor of musical theater at both San Diego City College and University of San Diego. Richard holds a master’s degree in musical theater from SDSU and a bachelor’s degree in stage management from Webster University. Nine is a dream show. He would like to thank his husband, Kurt, and parents, Renee and Dennis.
CHELSEA ZEFFIRO (Choreographer) is a choreographer, dancer, and educator based in Southern California. Her work is rooted in collaborative practices across film, theater, and visual art. She is the 2018 recipient of San Diego’s Young Choreographer’s Prize and has been produced by San Diego Dance Theater, DISCO RIOT, and Los Angeles Performance Practice. Chelsea received an MFA as a Dance Fellow from the University of the Arts and holds a BA from the University of Southern California.
SHELLINA HEFNER (Stage Manager) is a theatremaker and teaching artist from San Diego, where graduated from UCSD with a bachelor’s in Theatre & Dance. She has worked on a wide range of productions, including Put Your Records On (MOXIE), iykyk (La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW Festival), Kagitingan (Blindspot Collective), and Love, Loss and What I Wore (Breakthrough Workshop) for which she was awarded 2020 Debut Artist of the Year. As a producer, she has led projects such as salty water (La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW Festival) and Dancing at the End of the World (Blindspot Collective).
CLARA WILKS (Stage Manager) is a senior at Point Loma Nazarene University studying Media Communication. While she is normally behind the camera, she is excited to be back at Coronado Playhouse to stage manage another show! She was an ASM for Underground (2023) and Two Gentlemen Rock Verona (2022). Clara would like to thank the cast and crew for a great show. And she also wants to thank her family for their constant love and support!
GINA BARBA (Assistant Director) is a San Diego-based theater artist and educator. She is happy to return to Coronado Playhouse as an Assistant Director after appearing as Thalia in Xanadu earlier this year. Her work as a teaching artist, director, choreographer, stage manager, and actor has taken her throughout California, New York, and North Carolina. She currently serves as the Education Coordinator at San Diego Junior Theatre.
TAMMY MOLENAAR (Costume Designer) has worked at San Diego Junior Theatre and San Diego Civic Youth Ballet for the last fifteen years, in addition to designing costumes for other venues around San Diego. Sewing and creating are her passions. This is her second show at Coronado Playhouse.
JACOB SAMPSON (Set Designer) is a San Diego-based theater maker and former CPH board member. Previous productions at CPH include Underground, Company, The 39 Steps, King Charles III, Macbeth, and The Old Man and The Old Moon to name a few. Jacob would like to thank the incredible set team that builds and paints and makes the magic happen here. Hi mom!
COLE ATENCIO (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be designing his fourth show at Coronado Playhouse! Previous designs include Tuck Everlasting, Nunsense, and Underground. He has also appeared onstage at Coronado in Big Fish (Will Bloom) and The Spongebob Musical (Squidward). When Cole isn’t behind a soundboard, he can be found playing bass with his friends in @touchfaded. He would like to dedicate his work to his mom for always supporting him any chance she had. He hopes you enjoy the show, and that it resonates with you as much as it did for him.
Press images by Ken Jacques
Ticket Pricing:
SINGLE TICKETS: $27 all performances.
$3 Active Military, Student & Senior Discounts. Group rates available for parties of 8 or more (pricing will automatically adjust when 8 or more adult tickets are purchased together. Group rates only apply to adult ticket pricing).
For more information contact the box office at (619) 435-4856 or email boxoffice@coronadoplayhouse.com.
Special Events:
There are no special events currently scheduled for this production.
Community Spotlight:
Community Theatre is made by, with and for the community in which it is performed. Coronado Playhouse is committed to pursuing community theatre in the truest sense of the words by giving back to the people of San Diego County and Coronado and using our public platform to help those in need.
Community partnership information will be posted here if available.
Nine in the news
“In this case, Nine is a perfect score.” – Milo Shapiro, Stage and Cinema
“Coronado Playhouse’s ‘Nine’ musical is lavish and well-sung.” – Pam Kragen, The San Diego Union-Tribune
“A galloping fantasy [with a] ravishingly inventive and tuneful score.” – The New York Times
“A rich and thrilling night of theatre.” – The New York Post
“Has been impressively reborn… Yeston’s score comes across with extraordinary power.” – New York Daily News
“An abundant musical, one which gleefully expands the limits of the theatre. A startling act of the imagination, independence and daring; and, hence, a show to treasure.” – WCBS-TV
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