Press Releases

(Manasquan, NJ) Algonquin Arts Theatre (Pamela Ward-Executive Director) is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its August musical, Spring Awakening. The show will run at Algonquin Arts Theatre from August 10 through August 18. Tickets start at just $27 and may be purchased at www.algonquinarts.org, by calling 732-528-9211 or by visiting the Algonquin Arts Theatre box office Monday through Saturday, 10AM-4PM located at 60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, New Jersey. Spring Awakening is recommended for mature audiences.

Spring Awakening
August 10 - August 18, 2024
Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater
Music by Duncan Sheik

Step into a world where the vibrancy of youth clashes with the oppressive constraints of society - Spring Awakening, the groundbreaking musical with a soul-stirring score by Duncan Sheik and a Tony Award-winning book by Steven Sater. The musical's fusion of rock and folk music perfectly complement the poignant narrative of love, rebellion, and self-discovery. Spring Awakening is the winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score.

The cast for Spring Awakening includes:

SAM CUSSON (MELCHIOR) is majoring in Drama at the Experimental Theatre Wing at NYU Tisch: Credits include: Tisch New Theatre's Off-Broadway production of Alice by Heart (Alfred), Broke People Play Festival: Workshop (John Bird), NYU's TV Bootcamp: The Stump (Ethan), and a young adult's lifetime full of theatrical performances in his home state, New Jersey.

AMELIA GALLAGHER (WENDLA) is ecstatic to be a part of her first production with Algonquin Arts Theatre. Some past credits include: The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet), Into the Woods (Cinderella), and most recently, she performed in a staged reading of Lighthouse, a new pop-country musical, written by Veronica Mansour and abs Wilson. Current Syracuse BFA student.

CARMEN MATARAZZO (MORITZ) is making his AAT debut! Credits include: Sweeney Todd (Tobias Ragg), Mary Poppins (Robertson Ay), Almost, Maine (Male Actor), Clue (Professor Plum), Spring Awakening (Ernst). He portrayed the role of Moritz this past February and is grateful to have a new experience with this incredible cast & crew. He loves his cats.

JULIET HOUNSELL (ILSE) is excited to be making her Algonquin debut in Spring Awakening! She is going into her senior year at Montclair State University, where she studies theatre. Previous credits include The Addams Family (Wednesday), 13: The Musical (Lucy), and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Rosa).

AIDAN HULSE (HANSCHEN) is thrilled to be making his AAT debut! He is a rising junior mathematics secondary education major at TCNJ and recently performed there in Something Rotten! (Nigel Bottom). Some of his favorite credits include Mamma Mia! (Harry Bright), Into the Woods (The Baker), Hairspray (Link Larkin), and Chicago (Billy Flynn).

HANNAH TEZA (MARTHA) is so excited to be back on the Algonquin stage after two years away, and especially excited to be part of such an important and relevant production. Favorite roles include The Who's Tommy (Sally Simpson), Godspell (Uzo; By My Side), The Wedding Singer (Julia), and Scrooge (Isabel).

ARRON LITTLE (ERNST) is so excited to be in his first production with Algonquin. Previous theatre credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble), 9 to 5 (Bob/Ensemble), and The Addams Family (Ensemble).

DEREK HULSE (ADULT MALE) received his B.A. in Theatre from DeSales and his M.A. in Education from Georgian Court and serves as an Asst. Principal in Pt. Pleasant Borough. Credits include: Will Rogers Follies (Will), Anything Goes (Billy), 1776 (Jefferson), Drowsy Chaperone (Man in the Chair), Chorus Line (Zach) & Mamma Mia! (Sam). Recently, Derek celebrated his 250th performance as Ebeneezer in Spring Lake's annual Scrooge!

COLLEEN HULSE (ADULT FEMALE) received her B.A in Theatre from DeSales University and taught high school and after-school theatre programs for twenty years. Favorite credits include: Mamma Mia! (Donna), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive), Into the Woods (The Baker's Wife), and The Pajama Game (Babe).

NICOLÁS R. HEWGLEY (GEORG) is excited to return to the Algonquin stage after appearing in The Who's Tommy. Other credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar (John), Les Misérables (Enjorlas), Disney's The Little Mermaid (Jetsam) and Legally Blonde (Kyle).

JOSEPH BRYANT (OTTO) is grateful to return to the AAT stage where he was previously seen in Grease (Eugene). Credits include: Addams Family (Gomez), Something Rotten (Nick Bottom), Guys and Dolls (Benny), YAGMCB (Charlie Brown), Grease (Sonny), Fiddler (Mendel), Joseph... Dreamcoat (Pharaoh/Naphali), Biloxi Blues (Donald Carney).

CLAIRE MCGOWAN (ANNA) is very excited to be back on the Algonquin Stage! Previous credits include Grease (Jan) and You Can't Take It With You (Essie).

AMY SCRAGGS (THEA) is thrilled to be a part of her first Algonquin production! She is currently a theatre major at DeSales University. Past credits include: Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad) and Into The Woods (Witch), but she has more recently been a part of the backstage production at DeSales!

ANGELINA AMATO (ENSEMBLE) is a current student at Berklee College of Music where she is studying music business, while minoring in teaching voice and musical theatre. Some of her past credits include: Alice by Heart (Alice Spencer), The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson), Be More Chill (Chloe Valentine) and Carrie (Chris Hargansen).

ZACK BLISS (ENSEMBLE) is making his Algonquin debut with Spring Awakening. Previous credits: The Addams Family (Lucas Beineke), Be More Chill (Jeremy Heere), The Rocky Horror Show (Rocky Horror), Puffs (J. Finch Fletchley/others), and many more.

GENEVIEVE DUSKA (ENSEMBLE) is so excited to be making her Algonquin debut! Some recent credits include: Anastasia (Anya), Urinetown (Hope), Assassins (Squeaky Fromme), and Something Rotten (Portia).

JOHNNY FRIEDMAN (ENSEMBLE) is thrilled to be amongst such a wonderful cast and crew for his first ever community theater experience! His past credits include: Puffs (Wayne), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Lysander), Bring it On: The Musical (Twig) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Panch).

JILL MORAN (ENSEMBLE) is so excited to be returning to the Algonquin stage for the first time since 2018! Previous credits include: Chicago (Velma Kelly), Bring It On: The Musical (Campbell), The Addams Family (Morticia), and The Producers (Showgirl).

The Spring Awakening creative team includes; Ian Moore, Director; Bridget Hughes, Choreographer; Mark Megill, Musical Director; Caroline Laberdee, Production Stage Manager; Jason Greenhouse, Scenic Designer, Roman Klima & Rachel Krupnick, Lighting Design; Emily Davis, Costume Design; Gina Lupi, Prop Design, Jan Topoleski, Sound Design and Joseph Ficarra, Producer.

Algonquin's season sponsor is Diane Levitz in loving memory of Jerry Levitz. Show and series producers include: Janice Blanton, Deborah Dec, James & Arlene Donegan, JL Grandinetti, Vincent Gifford, Boris Jelic, and "Broadway" Ray Soehngen.

For more information about Algonquin Arts Theatre, please visit www.AlgonquinArts.org.

ALGONQUIN ARTS THEATRE (AAT) is a 501c(3) non-profit center for performing arts, providing cultural enrichment and arts education for residents and visitors of Central New Jersey and the Jersey Shore through high quality performances and programs in theatre, music, dance and film.

Located in Manasquan, N.J., AAT is an integral part of the Shore region, offering broad access to arts experiences across multiple disciplines. Deeply committed to education, AAT serves students of all ages not only through art and music instruction, but also through the unique communal conversation that exists between audience member and performer. A journeyman house, AAT features the work of young and emerging artists, designers and directors working alongside seasoned professionals.

AAT provides a platform for local and regional performers to showcase their work and offers audiences the opportunity to engage very directly and personally in the arts, fostering greater participation and providing an engaging means for exploring personal and societal issues through the world of the stage.

Algonquin Arts Theatre's programs are made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts / Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding is also provided by the PNC Foundation, Manasquan Bank, Sunnyside Manor, the Dodge Foundation, the Provident Bank Foundation and the generosity of other businesses and our patrons.