Moon Over Buffalo cast and crew

Greg Adams (George Hay) is happy to be returning on stage with his wife Eileen(Charlotte Hay) as her husband. He also recently retired from Resource Systems and from the Mayor of the Village of New Concord. He graduated from Muskingum University with a degree in Mathematics.
Greg has been on stage on and off since his college days. One of his early parts was playing Felix in “The Odd Couple” when he shared the stage with his girlfriend (later to be wife) Eileen who played a Pigeon sister. As has his character George Hay, some of Greg’s favorite roles include: Falstaff in the Merry Wives of Windsor and Elyot Chase in “Private Lives”.
Greg is returning at the encouragement of his wife Eileen and is excited to join such a talented team on this production. Greg feels a special kinship with his character as he occasionally in real life has been on the receiving end of his wife’s frustrations and, as a matter of fact, suffered only minor injuries during occasional ‘errant pokes’ during sword rehearsals. As always, with the ZCT group, he feels a kindred spirit, as his grandparents Bob and Mabel Adams were early dedicated members of the ZCT board.

Eileen Adams (Charlotte Hay) – Eileen is excited to take on the part designed for Carol Burnett on Broadway. She is also enjoying playing opposite her husband, Greg – they have performed in many shows together over the years, including several at Muskingum University, where they met. Some of Eileen’s favorite roles have included Blanche in The Renner’s “Streetcar Named Desire,” Chris in ZCT’s “Rumors,” Florence in ZCT’s “Female Odd Couple,” and Annie Glenn in Muskingum U.’s “The Annie Glenn Story.” There are some scenes from Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” in this play, and Greg and Eileen once played Elyot and Amanda at the Cambridge Performing Arts Centre. Eileen has directed plays at East Muskingum Middle School for many years. Greg and Eileen have two grown daughters, Chelsea, from Maryland, and Clare, from Colorado. She hopes everyone enjoys this hilarious show, and she has appreciated working with the talented cast and crew and director Wise.

Monica Van Nort (Ethel) – My family and I moved to Zanesville from Kentucky in 2006. I have been fortunate enough to participate in many fun and wonderful plays and musicals since joining the ZCT group. My first role and the one dearest to my heart was Truvy in Steele Magnolias. Most recently I played Mrs. Gilbreth/Mother in Cheaper by the dozen and had was afforded the opportunity to be backstage crew for Chicago. I love comedies, especially the physical activity and making people laugh. Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett are among my favorite comedic actresses and role models. I have indeed caught the acting bug and encourage anyone to try it. Break-a-leg my dearest cast mates…even you George! Enjoy the show!

Jillian B. Von Gunten (Rosalind Hay) – Jillian has participated in local theater all her life and currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Zanesville Community Theatre. Some of her favorite roles include: Maggie in “A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” Alais in “The Lion in Winter,” Nancy in “OLIVER,” Barbara Fordham in “August: Osage County,” and The Witch in “Into the Woods” all at Zanesville Community Theatre, and Stella Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Suzy Hendrix in “Wait Until Dark,” and Karen Andre in “The Night of January 16th” at The Renner. Some of her favorite shows to direct were: “The Mystery of Irma Vep,” “HONK,” “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Rumors,” “The Little Mermaid, Jr.,” and “13, the Musical.” Jillian currently serves as the Coach for Powerhouse’s SPARKS!! Improv Troupe and sits on both the McIntire Terrace Association and the Southeast Ohio Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors. She works in Zanesville as an attorney at Allen & Baughman, Attorneys at Law.

Kevin McCarthy (Howard) – I have missed a lot of classics over the years. People are astonished that I have never seen Music Man or Elf (or Saturday Night Fever or Dirty Dancing). This show is one of “those” plays that I had heard about in passing, but had never seen. Nor was I too interested to find out more about it – until I dared to come to auditions. In the snippets that I heard, then later as we had the first read through, I laughed so hard that I cried!!! It is hard to stifle the giggles during rehearsals even now. YOU, dear Audience, need not hold back: laugh yourself silly & enjoy the zany cast and farce of Moon Over Buffalo – and thanks for supporting local community theater!

Sarah Gantzer (Eileen) – Sarah currently serves as a board member at Zanesville Community Theatre, and as the Drama Advisor for Zanesville High School. She has had great fun directing “Oklahoma” and “Puzzle Pieces” at ZHS, “Alice in Wonderland Jr”. at The Renner, and “The Little Mermaid Jr” and “13” alongside her best friend, Jillian, here at ZCT. Sarah also loves being onstage, and has had the immense pleasure to enjoy many fabulously fun roles onstage, including: Nancy Lee in “The Night of January 16th”, Kay Mostyn in “Murder on the Nile”, Rapunzel in “Into the Woods”, Cookie Cusack in “Rumors”, Marian the Librarian in “The Music Man”, Gerda Christow in “The Hollow”, and Elizabeth Proctor in “The Crucible”. Upcoming theatrical endeavors for Sarah include: directing “Mulan Jr.” at Secrest, and playing Rosa Bud in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” at The Renner. She thanks you so much for supporting the arts in our community!

Jared Gantzer (Paul) – Jared is happy to be on stage for his 5th show at ZCT. Most recently, he enjoyed playing the part of Billy Flynn in Chicago. Previous roles include Guts Regan in Night of January 16th, Ernie Cusack in Rumors, Detective Sergeant Penny in The Hollow, and Sam Hendrix in Wait Until Dark. When Jared is not on stage, he is a juggler for the fire and light group, Pyrotechnika. He lives in Zanesville with his wife Sarah, and their three children: Julia, Madeline and Grayson.

Scott Robison (Richard Maynard) – Scott is happy to be a part of “Moon Over Buffalo ” He’s enjoyed the laughter and hilarity of rehearsing this farce and hopes that our audience laughs as much as he has. Break a leg to our cast and crew and enjoy the show.

Production Staff

Sheryl Wise (Director) – Sheryl is thrilled to be directing this group of theater veterans through the doors, noses, bottles, and sabers that is “Moon Over Buffalo”. She is semi-retired although busier than ever. Sheryl teaches theater for Franklin Local Schools and serves as organist for Market Street Baptist Church. She has participated in community and high school theater for over 35 years in central and southeastern Ohio area. Some of her favorite shows to direct have been “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”, “Oliver”, “Seussical”, and “You Can’t Take it With You”. Some of her favorite roles include Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd”, M’Lynn in “Steel Magnolias”, the Reverend Mother in many versions of the “Nunsense” series, and both Drood and Puffer in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”. Later this summer she will serving as musical director for “Drood” at Zane Trace Players. Sheryl shares her home with her mother and lots of furry felines.

Director’s Notes:
I grew up watching the Carol Burnett Show. The ensemble comedy in her show was the best. I still watch it any time I can catch a rerun and even though I know most of the lines, it just makes me giggle. If you are not aware of the history of “Moon Over Buffalo”, it was originally written with Carol Burnett in mind for the female lead. She was subsequently nominated for a Tony award for best actress for her performance. I have always wanted to direct this show with a great ensemble and this is a dream team in cast and crew. They have worked so hard as a team…and we have giggled…a LOT! I hope that you will be able to take the next couple of hours and get away from the insanity of this world and just have a good giggle. Audrey Hepburn said, “ l love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.” And when we need to return to reality we must arm ourselves with laughter. “The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” – Mark Twain

Michelle Robison (Assistant Director) – Michelle was thrilled when she was asked to be a part of this production by the “Wise One”
Mad cap antics and shenanigans have run amok while rehearsing which brings Michelle to warn; “This show is a riot. Your abs will get a work out and you’ll likely want to see it again and again.” To our cast and crew, “Let us not drown any books or break our staff but by all means, break a leg”.

Jan Kiikka (Producer) – has been involved in one aspect of production or another at ZCT for over 20 years. Jan just retired in May 2012 from Franklin Local Schools, though she will still be the drama producer at Philo High School. Jan and her husband, Niel, live in the McIntire Terrace with their four dogs and one cat (and turtles and fish).

Cary Underwood (Stage Manager> – Cary grew up with the theater. She got her first major role when she was seven and played Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Since then, Cary has performed in several other productions including Annie, Oliver, Singing in the Rain, Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, A Little Princess, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Hollow, Into the Woods, Murder on the Nile, and Chicago. Cary graduated from Bishop Rosecrans High School in 2015. There she was involved in choir and drama club. She attends Ohio University-Zanesville. In addition to the performing arts, Cary is a black belt in Kenpo. We hope you enjoy the show!