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Philip Sakal (Court Clerk) – Phil was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. What brought him to Zanesville you might ask? Well you can see him each weekday morning on Sunrise or each weekday afternoon during Live at Noon on WHIZ-TV.This will be Phil’s second production at Zanesville Community Theatre. He was previously in Murder on the Nile. He was also very involved in his high school’s drama club. While in high school he performed in Les Miserables, Ragtime, Miracle on 34th Street, and played guitar in Godspell. Phil was also involved back stage and helped build sets for It’s a Wonderful Life, M*A*S*H, and Little Shop of Horrors. He was the Audio Manager for M*A*S*H.
Phil is very excited to be performing and returning to the ZCT stage in Chicago. He has enjoyed all of the rehearsals, set construction and of course all of the shenanigans with his fellow cast members. Thank you for supporting the local arts and enjoy the show!
William Harris (Judge) – William Harris, an Ohio native, received his B.A. in Liberal Arts from Wright St. University in Dayton, Ohio. From there, he obtained his Master of Divinity from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN. Upon graduation, he and the family moved to Michigan where his wife embarked upon a teaching career, and he later enrolled at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI in pursuit of his Master of Theology degree. He subsequently enrolled into a summer unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE – chaplaincy ministries) at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Center, also in Grand Rapids and the following year, he completed a yearlong chaplaincy residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo Michigan.
At the completion of his residency, William enrolled in the Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy at Calvin with the intent of pursuing ordination within the Christian Reformed Church and at the conclusion of his program, had received a call to serve as pastor at New Hope Community Church in Kincheloe, MI, located in the Upper Peninsula, where he served just shy of three years. Currently, William is employed with Genesis Healthcare, serving as a Hospice Chaplain.
William has appeared in two ZCT productions: Young Frankenstein (2013) and 9-5 (2014).
Jordan Coots (Sergeant Fogarty) – I’m James Jordan Coots, I am new to the ZCT family and I’m so excited to join such an amazing group of people that have welcomed me with open arms! I haven’t been in the theater for a while my last experiences were in high school musicals where I enjoyed the principal part of George in “School House Rock Live!”
Professionally I am an Occupational Therapy Assistant and the Rehabilitation Director at Zanesville Health and Rehabilitation owned and operated by Greystone Health!
Philip Palmer (Aaron) – I am blessed to be part of the Zanesville Community Theatre. I am excited to be a part of a great cast for Chicago. Most recently, I appeared as ‘Bill’ in The Ransom of Red Chief, and at the end of last season had the opportunity to co- direct my first show A Bad Year for Tomatoes. I truly love the “family” feeling I get just being around everyone involved in this production and with everyone involved with ZCT.
In my other life, I am a Program Supervisor at Mount Aloysius, Inc. in New Lexington, Ohio. I have been on the Board of Directors of ZCT for the last 4 and 1/2 years and recently served as Vice-President. I am married to my lovely wife, Angel, who is the Producer and Stage Manager for this show and am blessed to have a great family. I want to thank you for supporting the arts and for coming to see Chicago
Production Staff
Eric Blake (Director) – Eric is currently employed as the Director of Operations for Shrivers Oxygen and Home Medical. He has had a love of the theatre for many years and he enjoys directing as well as being on stage. It was instilled in him at an early age the importance of working behind the scenes as well as acting. Eric currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors at Zanesville Community Theatre. Eric’s directing credits include: Proof, Spring Awakening, August, Osage County, Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, RENT, Doubt, J.B., Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and The Lion In Winter. On stage, Eric has recently appeared in Murder On The Nile, Into the Woods, The Hollow, The Diary of Anne Frank, Sweeney Todd, Death of A Salesman and The Crucible; just to name a few. Eric is excited and honored that you have decided to join this amazing cast, crew and orchestra for Zanesville Community Theatre’s production of Chicago!
Eric wishes to take this opportunity to thank his wife Janice for her 33 (almost 34!) years of love and support and for helping him to make the time to be involved with theatre and the many other community activities they are involved with.
Eric hopes that you enjoy the show and thanks you for supporting Zanesville Community Theatre as they continue “striving for excellence against a backdrop of tradition”.
Director’s Notes:
I am so honored that you have chosen to join us for Zanesville Community Theatre’s production of the Tony Award winning musical “Chicago” This musical has been on my “bucket list” of shows to direct for many years. We were very fortunate that we were one recipient of only two licenses granted this year from Samuel French Publishers to perform this show in our area.
In roaring twenties Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband Amos to take the rap…until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune and acquittal. This sharp edged satire features a dazzling score that sparked immortal staging by Bob Fosse. The American dream and Bob Fosse, how can you go wrong!! The roaring twenties is probably my most favorite era in American history and this show combines all of the excitement of that time period in one amazing show.
I am so thankful for the many talented persons involved in this show and I am grateful that my partners in crime share my vision for this show. Thank you Tom, Laurel and Janice, I couldn’t do this without you! (nor would I want to!) I am so blessed!
I owe a huge “Thank You” to the cast, crew, and musicians of this show! It is with a sincere heart that I say this. Not often do you find a group of talented individuals both on the stage and behind the scenes that share one common passion for becoming a true ensemble to tell a story as passionately as this one.
Enjoy the show and always “give em the old razzle dazzle”!
Janice Blake (Co-Producer) – Janice has been involved with many shows over the years at ZCT. Janice is often working behind the scenes in the roles of Producer, Assistant Stage Manager, Properties, Set Construction and Set Artistry. On a rare occasion you may see her on stage. Her biggest job is trying to keep her Director husband Eric in line! Sometime it is very interesting when there is a disagreement on a character perspective and how the character should be portrayed. All in all, Janice feels that they are a good team and produce great shows!
Janice wishes to thank you for attending the ZCT production of Chicago and hopes that you enjoy the show and continue to enjoy shows at Zanesville Community Theatre in the future.
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D and Re Photography dandrephotography@gmail.com
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