Amy Underwood (A) - Playing the character of “A” in Three Tall Women has been quite a journey. The experience has been joyous, depressing, humorous and ugly by turns. Albee’s writing has never been more pointed and, as an actor, I am so honored to be able to participate in this production. Many thanks to a tight and cohesive cast, a visionary director, and an adventurous theatre for making this production a reality.
Jillian B. Von Gunten (B) - Jillian has participated in local theater all her life and currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Zanesville Community Theatre. Jillian also serves as the Coach for Powerhouse’s SPARKS!! Improv Troupe and sits on the Board of Directors for the McIntire Terrace Association, the Southeast Ohio Symphony Orchestra, and the Zanesville Memorial Concert Band, in addition to ZCT. 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, Henrietta in The Hollow, and the Witch in Into the Woods, all at ZCT, and Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, Suzy in Wait Until Dark, and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, at The Renner. Some of her favourite 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, and 13, the Musical. A graduate of Rosecrans High School, Muskingum University, and Capital University Law School, she works in Zanesville as an attorney at Allen & Baughman, Attorneys at Law.
Leah Hoover (C) - Throughout my life, I have had many different opportunities to perform. In Elementary school I was involved in multiple church and school productions. In fifth grade, I started a Drama Club at my school and directed/acted in those productions. In high school, I did two dinner theater productions and a children's play that was performed for the Elementary schools. In college I was in two English department productions. Most recently this season, I was Cinderella in Forgiven at ZCT. I love theater and am excited to work with these other talented ladies as C.
Phil Sakal (The Boy) - 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. He is honored to serve on the board of directors of the Southeast Ohio Symphony Orchestra and the Zanesville Memorial Concert Band.
Prior to being in Three Tall Women, Phil has performed on stage at Zanesville Community Theatre in Murder on the Nile, Chicago, Quilters; where he also played guitar and banjo, Annie Get Your Gun and more recently he was in Forgiven: A Fairy Tale. He was also in The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Renner Theatre. He was also very active in his High School Drama Club, where his love of theatre began.
Phil is very excited to be playing The Boy in Three Tall Women. He has enjoyed all of the rehearsals, the set building/painting and of course all of the shenanigans with his fellow cast mates. Thank you for supporting the local arts, and enjoy the show!
Director's Notes
Welcome to Zanesville Community Theatre! I am so excited that you have chosen to join us for our production of Three Tall Women! Earning a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1994, Edward Albee has, in Three Tall Women, created a masterwork of modern theater. Albee's frank dialogue about everything from incontinence to infidelity portrays aging without sentimentality. His scenes are charged with wit, pain, and laughter, and his observations tell us about forgiveness, reconciliation, and our own fates. These women lay bare the truths of our lives—how we live, how we love, what we settle for, and how we die.
Perhaps my friend Jillian said it best, “This show is heartbreakingly beautiful and ugly at the same time. It is funny. It is poignant. It is powerful. It is unflinchingly honest and moving. This show is a portrait of life, sometimes very uncomfortable and difficult, sometimes beautiful.” I guarantee that you will be moved by this show. It will make you feel and think. Perhaps that is what theatre is supposed to do.
It is not often that a show this well written comes along. I feel it is one of the most brilliantly written scripts of this century. It is with a sincere heart that I say “Thank You” to the cast and crew of this show along with the Board of Directors of Zanesville Community Theatre for their support in bringing this amazing show to life at ZCT. I dedicate this show to all of those who made this possible.
I hope you enjoy the show and thank you for supporting Zanesville Community Theatre as we continue “Striving for Excellence Against a Backdrop of Tradition”!
Eric Blake, Director
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: Chicago, 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 for Zanesville Community Theatre’s production of Three Tall Women!
Eric wishes to take this opportunity to thank his wife Janice for her almost 35 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”.
Janice Blake (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 Three Tall Women and hopes that you enjoy the show and are able to reflect on some of the many poignant messages in this show.
