Song List
Be Our Guest, Disney's Beauty and the Beast
- Sal Vernali, Tyler Lauretti, Company
Matchmaker, Fiddler on the Roof
- Genna Griffith Giammatteo, Alexandra van der Hulst, and Steven Michael Mooney
Meadowlark, The Baker's Wife
- Sara Demos Avery
This is the Moment, Jekyll & Hyde
- Rorie Fitzsimons
We're All in This Together, Disney's High School Musical
- Company
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Les Miserables
- Michael Graham Morales
Somewhere That's Green, Little Shop of Horrors
- Hillary Ekwall
Seize the Day, Disney's Newsies
- Thomas Doelger, Joseph Fierberg, Jacob Lill and Company
Children Will Listen, Into the Woods
- SAF Production Staff
Take a Chance on Me, Mamma Mia!
- Kate Morran & Thomas Doelger
Wouldn't It Be Loverly, My Fair Lady
- Sarah Asmar
Sit Down, You're Rocking' the Boat, Guys and Dolls
- Michael Graham Morales, Thomas Doelger, and Company
Beautiful City, Godspell
- Thomas Doelger and Declan Smith
Why We Tell the Story, Once on This Island
- Company
Donate Now
Over the course of many years, the cost of doing productions of this caliber has only risen. This has resulted in increased registration fees for students creating a significant financial burden for many families.
The Summer Arts Festival Endowment Fund looks to raise funds to both offset the cost of registration for all participants and provide additional assistance to students with economic hardship. This fund will ensure we can continue our mission to offer the very best educational theatre experience to every student for years to come.
While we know the pandemic has created economic hardships for some, if you are in a position to help, please consider making a donation today. Whether it’s $5, $20, $100, or more, every little bit you give now can help welcome more students into the WHSAF Family.
Plus, the Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Memorial Charitable Trust has pledged to match all donations made, up to $10,000, so your gift goes even further to support our mission.
The Summer Arts Festival Endowment Fund looks to raise funds to both offset the cost of registration for all participants and provide additional assistance to students with economic hardship. This fund will ensure we can continue our mission to offer the very best educational theatre experience to every student for years to come.
While we know the pandemic has created economic hardships for some, if you are in a position to help, please consider making a donation today. Whether it’s $5, $20, $100, or more, every little bit you give now can help welcome more students into the WHSAF Family.
Plus, the Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Memorial Charitable Trust has pledged to match all donations made, up to $10,000, so your gift goes even further to support our mission.
Meet The Cast
Sarah Asmar
has served as the vocal coach for SAF productions since 2019. Like most musicians, Sarah wears many hats and is an eternal student! Her career as an opera singer has led her to other exciting ventures. She acts as Managing Director of the The Music Series at South Church in New Britain, and maintains a private voice studio in Tariffville. In addition she is the Development Associate for OperaDelaware. Music has always been central to her life and she continues to perform while also advocating for the arts in everything that she does.
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Sara Demos Averymade her first appearance with SAF during Haig Shahverdian’s last year as Artistic Director in The Best of Broadway ‘96. She went on to appear in Anything Goes ‘99 (Bonnie), 42nd Street (Dorothy), My Favorite Year ‘01 (KC), served as the stage manager for Wonderful Town ‘05, sang in the last SAF Fundraiser, Overjoyed ‘05, and was co-Artistic Director alongside Marc Kaplan for the 2010 production of Gypsy. Sara finally took the helm as Artistic Director in 2011, and is honored and humbled to have overseen the program for the past decade. She lives in West Hartford with her husband Dan and her four amazing kiddos. Charles (13), Penny (8) Beatrice & Ruby (4), who have all grown up in the SAF rehearsal room. One of Sara’s favorite roles was proud stage mom as Penny made her SAF debut in this summer’s Mamma Mia!
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Sean Banducciis a recent graduate of South Windsor High School. Some of his previous credits include Gaston in Beauty and the Beast with Performing Arts Program and Shrek in Shrek.
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Natalie Cencewas in her first show with SAF this past summer where she was a featured dancer in Mamma Mia! She is a junior at Farmington High School who would like to thank Hank Cence and Declan Smith.
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Annelie Delgadois a rising senior at Northwest Catholic. Some of her previous credits include Queen Aggravaine in Once Upon a Mattress and Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables with Connecticut Performing Arts Center, Cook in Clue with the Northwest Catholic Dramateurs, Rapunzel in Into the Woods with Steven DeRosa. Annelie also participates in Jazz Choir and Connecticut Children’s Choir.
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Thomas Doelgerappeared in the SAF productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie ‘11 (Muzzy’s Boy), Hairspray ‘12 (Link Larkin), On the Town ‘14 (Gabey), and West Side Story ‘15 (Tony). He is proud to be an SAF alum turned grown up! Thomas is living in NYC, working as an actor and licensed real estate salesperson (thanks, COVID!)
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Hillary Ekwallwas part of 10 SAF productions from 2001-2010; 9 as a cast member, and 1 as a cellist when she had a broken leg! SAF was her first time performing on stage and ignited in her a fire for musical theatre. She started out as the ensemble member who Marc Kaplan found out could tumble and then put a tumbling pass into every song, and ended as Kathy Seldon in Singin’ in the Rain. Her other favorite roles were Anytime Annie in 42nd Street ‘08, and Chava in Fiddler on the Roof ‘06. Now she is a professional performer, cellist, theatre teacher, and gymnastics coach who has recently transferred back to CT from NYC. She has performed around the country with various shows including touring Broadway revival Cabaret and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. She loves sharing stories and teaching others to do the same through theatre and music. She is also an avid card player, loves going on walks with friends, and hanging out with her nieces.
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Joseph Fierbergperformed in nine SAF productions. Favorite roles include Young Patrick in Mame ‘02 (which started it all for him!), Cosmo in Singin’ in the Rain ‘09, and his final role of Tulsa in Gypsy ‘10. He’s loved returning to SAF as a visiting artist for productions of Beauty and the Beast ‘16 and Pippin ‘17, and as the associate choreographer of Legally Blonde ‘19 and Mamma Mia! ‘21. Joseph was born and raised in West Hartford and attended Hall High School, where he was featured in the annual production of Pops ‘n Jazz as a member of the Jazz Dancers and Choraliers. He is now a professional actor living in New York City. He’s performed around the country and the world in various tours and regional theatre productions.
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Rorie M. Fitzsimonshas acted as Scenic Designer and sometime Technical Director for SAF for the last decade. Some of his favorite productions were Gypsy ‘10, Guys and Dolls ‘13, Pippin ‘17, and Legally Blonde ‘19, though he has enjoyed them all! Rorie has always loved singing and performance, but has made his living as a Scenic Designer/Technical Director/Theater Safety Consultant working in CT for the past 40+ years. He retired from Yale University in 2018 as Senior Technical Director in undergraduate theater production.
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Genna Griffithappeared in the SAF productions of Guys and Dolls ‘93, 42nd Street ‘94, Anything Goes ‘95 (Charity), and Best of Broadway ‘96. Due to the pandemic, Genna and her family abruptly left NYC after 20 years in March of 2020 to start a new life in West Hartford. A native of Newington, Genna’s performance credits include Lucy in the 2002 National Tour of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. She then traveled nationally and internationally with the USA Troupe, entertaining our nation’s military and veterans from 2003-2007. Currently she is the Director of Special Events at Achilles International, an adaptive sports charity for people with disabilities. Special thanks to Sara, Kate, and Haig, and a special shoutout to her hubby, Marc and her daughter, Isla.
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Cameron Hoskinsappeared in his first SAF this summer as a member of the ensemble of Mamma Mia! He is a senior at Conard High School, and an avid lover of all types of theatre and music. At Conard, Cameron has appeared in Drowsy Chaperone (Underling) and Little Women (John Brooke). He hopes to go on to major in both theatre and education in college.
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Elliot Kalsner Kershenis a junior at Watkinson. Some of his previous credits include Daniel’s Father in Once On This Island and Marcellus in Music Man with King Philip Middle School. Outside of theater, Elliot is also involved in the upper school chorus, Friendship Circle, and was a member of the All State Chorus 2021. Elliot would like to thank his Mom and Dad, as well as his voice teacher, Daniel Brevik.
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Brady Anne Ladouceurwas a member of the ensemble in the 2021 production of Mamma Mia! She is 16 years old and is a student at Northwest Catholic High School, where she manages the volleyball team, and is a member of the Dramateurs and the Jazz Choir.
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Tyler Laurettihas been a member of the WHSAF staff since 2016 and has been with the WHSAF family since 2012. He is originally from West Hartford and is a proud graduate of Conard High School. Tyler’s favorite SAF credits include Hairspray ‘12 (Mr. Pinky), Guys & Dolls ‘13 (Nathan Detroit), West Side Story ‘15 (Detective Schrank) and The Addams Family '18 (Gomez).
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Jacob Lillis a proud SAF alum, having appeared in West Side Story ‘15 (A-Rab), Beauty and the Beast ‘16, and Pippin ‘17. Jacob originally hails from Simsbury CT. He attended Pace University where he received a BFA in commercial dance under the direction of Rhonda Miller, Lauren Gaul, and Scott Jovovich. Past credits include Holiday Inn, Matilda, Flashdance, Mamma Mia!, as well as numerous children’s theater productions.
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Shannon McNallymade her SAF debut as a member of the ensemble in this summer’s Mamma Mia! She is a student at Northwest Catholic High School.
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Colin Molloywas a member of this summer’s ensemble of Mamma Mia! He is currently a sophomore at Northwest Catholic High School, where he participates in Jazz Choir and the Dramateurs, and runs with the cross-country team.
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Steven Mooneyis an SAF alum whose credits with the program include Guys and Dolls ‘03, Fiddler on the Roof ‘06, Kiss Me Kate ‘07, and 42nd Street ‘08 (Julian Marsh). He’s a West Hartford native turned New Yorker who has been lucky enough to make money, friends, and memories working as an actor around the country!
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Kate Morranhas been with the WHSAF family for 17 summers. SAF credits: Anything Goes '99 (Chastity), 42nd Street '00 (Anytime Annie), My Favorite Year '01 (Alice). Favorite SAF Choreography/ Direction credits include: Hairspray ‘12, Pippin ‘17, and Legally Blonde ‘19. From 2004 until spring 2021, Miss Kate was co-director and choreographer of the Northwest Catholic High School Dramateurs where she served on the performing arts faculty and developed mindfulness centered leadership programming. She has worked on productions with the Hartt School Community Division, Bay Path University and Simsbury High School. A 2012 graduate of the West Hartford Yoga teacher training program, Miss Kate offers private in-home instruction and custom mindfulness workshops for young artists. Follow her on Instagram @twogalstheatricals.
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Michael Graham Moraleshas been a member of the SAF staff since 2012, after previously appearing as Herbie in SAF’s Gypsy (2010). He received his BFA in Acting from the University of Connecticut and past credits include Corin in As You Like It (Connecticut Repertory Theatre), Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hope Summer Repertory Theatre), Georg in She Loves Me (Broadbrook Opera House), and The Dancing Kid in Johnny Guitar (The Majestic Theater).
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Jonathan Reuning-Schererserves as Director of Music at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hartford. A piano performance graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory with a minor in horn, he also holds a degree in choral conducting from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, where he studied conducting with Marguerite Brooks and organ with Martin Jean. Jonathan also holds degrees in mathematics from Oberlin and a PhD in statistics from Yale where he currently serves as senior lecturer in statistics. From 2000 to 2015, he led GodSong, a Greater Hartford ecumenical choir dedicated to the performance of great choral music in a worship context. From 2010 and 2015, Jonathan produced and directed yearly musicals for the Montessori School of Greater Hartford, and was assistant music director for SAF in summer of 2018. Jonathan frequently accompanies area choirs and recently collaborated on joint recorded production of the Kodaly ‘Missa Brevis’. Jonathan mostly identifies as ‘dad’ and is delighted to have two kids who are participants in SAF. Jonathan and family reside in West Hartford.
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Bethany Rocktaschelis a junior at Conard High School and GHAA. Some of her previous credits include Jane Banks in Mary Poppins with the Warner Theater, Ruthie Joad in Grapes of Wrath with Connecticut Repertory Theater, Bielke in Fiddler on The Roof Jr., Elle Woods in Legally Blonde Jr., and Erzulie in Once on This Island Jr. with Bristow Middle School, Anna in Frozen Jr., James in James And The Giant Peach, Linus in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Michael in Peter Pan with Connecticut Family Theater. Bethany takes jazz, tap, and ballet at Lisa Matias Dance Center. Bethany would like to thank her family for always supporting her.
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Molly Singeris a rising senior at Conard High School. Some of her previous credits include Enid Hoopes in Legally Blonde with WHSAF, as well as The Drowsy Chaperone and Singin’ in the Rain with Conard High School. Molly is heavily involved in Conard Choir and Theatre productions and is also active in her synagogue's choir. Molly is currently attending The Eastman School of Music's Summer Classical Studies program as a Voice Student. Molly would like to give a very special thank you to her parents, sisters and grandmother.
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Declan Smithis a rising senior at Conard High School. Some of his previous credits include Robert in The Drowsy Chaperone with Conard High School, Warner in Legally Blonde with WHSAF, and Jamie in The Last Five Years with Stephanie Reuning-Scherer. Declan would like to thank the amazing cast and crew of Mamma Mia! and his voice teacher Benjamin Rauch.
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Alexandra van der Hulstparticipated in SAF from 2013-2018, but her favorite shows were West Side Story ‘15, Beauty and the Beast ‘16, and Pippin ‘17! Alexandra is a recent graduated of the Hartt School, with a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance!
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Sal Vernaliwas a member of the SAF casts of Anything Goes ‘95 (Moonface Martin) and The Best of Broadway ‘96, where he portrayed Daddy Warbucks and Charlie Brown among others! He is married with 3 kids, and he has worked at ESPN for 22 years. He currently serves as the videographer for SAF productions!
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Brendan Wlochowskiis a senior at the University of Saint Joseph and a graduate of Northwest Catholic High School. Some of his previous credits include Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods and Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid with Northwest Catholic High School, and Lurch in The Addams Family with WHSAF.
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