Soul Mates: A Journey To Hitsville
Developed and written by Bill Castellino with Human Nature and David Rudder. The greatest memories and music of the sound that changed America forever. Motown had an irresistible force of social change through generations by groups such as the Temptations, The Jackson 5, The Commodores and more. Featuring songs such as: “My Girl,” “ABC,” “I’ll Be There,” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Soul Mates: A Journey to Hitsville is HELD OVER through February 14 in the John C. Court Cabaret. Subscriptions and Single Tickets are available online by clicking the links or by calling the FST Box Office at 941-366-9000. SUBSCRIBE NOW to the Cabaret Season and see three shows for as little as $39!
Dine with us prior to your show in the cabaret. Reservations are not required, you will dine at the table you reserved for the performance. To view our menu, click here. To view the Court Cabaret seating chart, click here.
For a large print version of our playbill, click here.
To read more history about Motown music and to view our Soul Mates forum booklet, click here.
CREATIVE
Director & Choreographer | Bill Castellino
Music Director | Ryan Touhey
Costume Designer | Susan Angermann
Lighting Designer | Tom Hansen
CAST
Ryan Connolly
Andrew Mauney
Luke Minx
Michael Wessells
RYAN CONNOLLY Florida Studio Theatre debut! Tours Japan: Gordon (Roger u/s) RENT; National: Jim Zwerg/Bull Connor If This Hat Could Talk. Regional Playhouse On Park: Berger, HAIR; Walt Disney World: Crush, Finding Nemo - The Musical; Bickford Theater: Man 2, Songs For A New World; Theater Winter Haven: Chris, Miss Saigon; The Forum Theater: Miss Bible Belt, Pageant.
ANDREW MAUNEY is excited to make his FST debut, finally getting to perform this rockin’ show! He was a part of the two Vegas workshops prior to this production. Tour: South Pacific (u/s Billis). Regional: Buddy Holly (Petty), ‘S Wonderful (Straz - Gene), Hairspray (Link & Corny), South Pacific (Ogunquit), My Fair Lady (ArtsHHI). Film: Trouble With Women (twwmovie.com). A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Miami University (Ohio) and AMDA (NY). More at www.andrewmauney.com
LUKE MINX is so excited to be making his Florida Studio Theatre Debut! Luke was in a workshop of Soul Mates at the Venetian in Las Vegas last year and is thrilled to finally see the show open! Some select credits include: Film: American Idol (Contestant Finalist). National Tour: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson). Regional: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Bandleader/Andrew Jackson u/s); Chess (Freddie), and Tick Tick Boom (Jon).
MICHAEL WESSELLS is thrilled to be joining Soul Mates in his FST debut! Regional theatres include the Walnut Street Theatre, Barrington Stage Company, Delaware Theatre Company, Media Music Theatre Company, The Montgomery Theatre, and Park Playhouse. Favorite credits include the northeast regional premiere of Hands on a Hardbody (Jesus Pena), Forever Plaid (Sparky), A Year with Frog and Toad (Frog), and several contracts onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Ithaca College alum. www.michaelwessells.com
JIM PROSSER (Pianist) Over his many years at FST, Jim has most often performed in the Cabaret, where he has arranged and co-developed many shows including Dancing In The Street, By Gershwin, Laughing Matters, European Cabaret, That’s Life, British Invasion, Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits, Harry Who?, Too Darn Hot, and last season’s production of Never Marry A Girl With Cold Feet. He has also served as resident composer/music director for FST’s Education department, writing numerous songs and scores for children’s shows such as Androcles and the Lion, RAP-Punzel, and the WRITE A PLAY elementary tours.
BILL CASTELLINO (Writer, Director & Choreographer) directed these world premieres: Cagney, Great Divorce, Grumpy Old Men, Jolson, Jolson At The Winter Garden, Dr. Radio, Dorian Gray, Lizzie Borden, Heartbeats, Miklat, Fishwrap, Jinge Jam, House Divided, Singing Weatherman, Happy Holidays, Presidents (PBS), Bell’aria (PBS), Crash Club, Before You Go, Beautiful Dreamer, Another Summer, and Breathe. Also: Storyville, Ionescopade, Tarzan, Rent, Nightclub Cantata, Fame, Chess, Gypsy, Rap Master Ronnie, Esther, Rocky Horror, Spelling Bee, Carousel, Drood, Godspell, La Cage, Music Man, West Side, Joseph, Tommy, Little Shop, Beehive, Evita, Oliver, Cabaret, Abyssinia, Last Five Years, Spitfire Grill, Smokey Joe’s, HAIR, Miklat, Slab Boys, etc. Castellino has written eight musicals and created many Special Events including shows with Mary Wilson, Four Tops, Faith Prince, Christiane Noll, Dick Cavett, Human Nature, Amanda McBroom, Ann Hampton Callaway, and others. Member: SDC, AEA, DG. Awards: Jeff, Carbonell, Telly, 4 LA Weekly, 11 Drama-Logue Awards. Nominations: Lortel, Off-Broadway Alliance, Outer Critics Circle.
RYAN TOUHEY (Music Director) FST: By Gershwin. Recently worked on Darlene Love’s new album Introducing Darlene Love produced by Steven Van Zandt & Columbia Records. BROADWAY: The Book of Mormon (Rehearsal Pianist). OFF-BROADWAY: Atomic, Dreamgirls. REGIONAL: Mother Courage & Her Children (Arena Stage – starring Kathleen Turner) Parade, Sondheim’s Passion (Arden Theatre Company), All the King’s Men directed by Trinity Repertory founder Adrian Hall, The UnCivil War (Adirondack Theatre Festival). NEXT UP: Sheryl Crow’s new musical Diner directed by Kathleen Marshall.
MARIAH YOUNG (Sound & Light Operator) is delighted to be working for the first time at Florida Studio Theatre. She was recently an assistant stage manager for New London Barn Playhouse’s 2015 summer season, working on Forever Plaid, Steel Magnolias, and The Sound of Music. Mariah has a BA in Theatre: Production Design and Technology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her stage management credits include Hamlet and Will Eno’s Middletown.
SUSAN ANGERMANN (Costume Designer) started her career in costuming in New York where she designed and constructed costumes for various productions in theatre, opera, film, and television. In 1993 she moved with her husband, Chris, and son, Erik, to Sarasota, and designed several productions at FST. She returned to FST in January 2009 as Costume Shop Manager and recently designed American Pie; Chapatti; Becoming Dr. Ruth; Pump Boys and Dinettes; Too Darn Hot; Freud’s Last Session; Poems, Prayers and Promises; The Prima Donnettes; By Gershwin; That’s Life Again; Night Train to Memphis; Shake, Rattle and Roll; Urban Cowboys, and Let’s Twist Again: with the Wanderers.
TOM HANSEN (Lighting Designer) Award credits; Singing In the Rain, Oklahoma!, Harvey, Philadelphia Story, The Sound of Music, Beauty & the Beast, The Great Sebastians, Mornings At Seven, Big River, and Crazy For You (nominated 2010 Colorado Springs Fine Arts Council). Favorites: The Foriegner (American Stage), Grey Gardens (freeFall Theatre), Chicago (Eight O’clock Theatre), 42nd Street (Sarasota Players), Hairspray (Peach State Summer Theatre), Man of LaMancha (Show Palace), and Joseph...Dreamcoat (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center). www.tomhansensets.com.
MARSHALL SIMMONS (Sound Designer) is proud to be back at Florida Studio Theatre. Marshall has previously designed and mixed for The La Jolla Playhouse, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Starlight Theatre, The Orlando Repertory Theatre, and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. He is grateful for this opportunity to work on Soul Mates: A Journey to Hitsville.
HUMAN NATURE (Writer) have been singing and dancing their way around the world for more than 25 years. Their exuberant showmanship, impeccable four-part harmonies and love of classic soul and R&B have thrilled audiences for the last six years in Las Vegas and the world over. They sing timeless hits with power and grace, with moves like The Four Tops, and a style that harkens back to the Golden Age of music.
DAVID RUDDER (Writer) is the Technical and Creative Director of Human Nature – The Motown Show – currently headlining a 3 year run at The Venetian Casino, Las Vegas, presented by Motown legend Smokey Robinson. David has also worked with some of the world’s most accomplished artists including INXS, Savage Garden, Tina Arena, and Russell Crowe. With Human Nature he has toured the world with the likes of Michael Jackson and Celine Dion.
SPECIAL THANKS to Carol Hanzel Casting and Human Nature Vegas, LLC.