How I Became A Pirate

Connor Shea – Connor is excited to be making his Cape Rep debut this summer! He wants to thank his biggest fan, his pet fish Snart, for her constant support and love. Oh- and he thanks his parents, they rock! He hopes that everyone enjoys the show!

Anthony Teixeira – was Frog in Frog & Toad and Mr. Grumps (feat. Loretta) in Lyle the Crocodile. He has a beagle named Enzo and his favorite food is tacos.

Jessica Georges – Jess is pumped to be playing a pirate this summer! She lives in Brewster and is the the mother of two pirates in training Cora and Kai. When she’s not singing shanties you can find her driving a green bus around town!

Ari Lew – This is Ari’s 7th kids show at Cape Rep! He has played a (different) pirate, a dinosaur pirate, a child, a dad, a farmer, a squirrel, a pig, and an elderly gentleman. He enjoys food, eating, and buffets.!

Holly Hansen – Holly is as pleased as a parrot on a pirate to be performing this pithy play! She loves Disney, board games, ice cream, and the Oxford comma. Hooray!

Hannah Carrita – Hannah is excited for the revival of Lulu’s Lemonade Stand. (Her first Cape Rep Show) She has a passion for the movie Trolls and 90s rap.

Janet Yates Vogt has been a writer, composer and lyricist all of her life.  She credits her career today to her family’s support, the guidance of many wonderful directors and producers, and to her many outstanding teachers – from her first grade teacher who notated Janet’s first songs and taught them to the class to sing – to her inspiring piano teachers to her professors at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where her studies were centered upon piano performance and music theory. A pivotal moment happened when her writing partner, Mark Friedman, called the CCM placement service looking for a keyboard player for his band — Janet auditioned, was hired by Mark, and a fruitful partnership began. Both inspired each other to compose, and together they are known nationally and internationally not only for their musical theatre works, but also for their numerous publications in many different musical genres, including vocal music for children and choral works for adults.  Janet’s educational keyboard books and methods have been translated into French, Japanese and German. A teacher at heart, Janet still coaches piano and voice students, and is a featured speaker and presenter at many national music conventions and events. In 2005, both she and her partner, Mark, were named National Music Educators of the Year. Janet and Mark’s collaboration took a career-changing turn one night after they had just completed a large recording project for one of their publishers when Mark turned to Janet and said “I think we should write that musical now.”  The time was right to finally compose a work in their favorite genre – since between them they had directed, produced, music-directed, acted and played in the pits of numerous shows. A few days later they settled upon ANNE OF GREEN GABLES and they began what continues to be a very fulfilling creative journey.  “Anne” has played at many theatres across the country — most notably as the 2010-2011 holiday show at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, Washington (Robb Hunt, producer), The Barter Theatre in Abingdon VA (Richard Rose, director) and the Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Ohio (Kevin Moore, director).  Their Junior Version has entertained audiences at notable children’s theatres as well. Janet and Mark’s extremely popular musical adaptation of Melinda Long’s best-selling children’s book HOW I BECAME A PIRATE, was commissioned by First Stage Theatre (Milwaukee) in 2008 and has been rollicking its way across many stages, including Cape Rep, the Des Moines Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, and many more. Their powerful and moving musical, HARRIET AND SAM, captures the times and events of pre and post Civil War America as seen through the eyes of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain, and has met with critical acclaim for its timely themes of freedom and human rights. A new work in development, TENDERLY, is based upon the life and career of Rosemary Clooney featuring a two-person cast and was recently work-shopped at the Human Race Theatre (Equity) in Dayton, Ohio as part of the Race’s three-show summer musical theatre festival which also featured a new work by prize-winning playwright Brian Yorkey. The debut of TENDERLY was met with critical acclaim and great enthusiasm with audience members moved by Clooney’s inner strength and her triumph over the many challenges she faced during her life. Janet and Mark have also penned a humorous, irreverent and satirical look at married relationships with their musical cabaret, WAR GAMES: MARRIAGE ON THE FRONT LINES – lovingly dubbed by critics as the “musical in need of an intervention!” Their holiday show EBENEZER (a musical version of A Christmas Carol) has been delighting audiences for the past five years. SLEEPY HOLLOW: A MUSICAL TALE, commissioned by Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, premiered on Halloween 2010 and has just been added to Columbus Children’s Theatre upcoming season. Janet and Mark are represented by Bill Craver, Paradigm Agency, New York and are proud to be part of the TRW family.  For more information, log onto www.vogtfriedmancomposers.com.

Composer, lyricist, and playwright, Mark Friedman, fell in love with musicals at an early age when he and his brothers built their own theatre in the basement of their home, complete with lighting grid and sound system, performing for family and friends. He co-founded Cincinnati’s first Shakespeare Festival, Peanut Butter Theatre for Children in Covington, KY, the nationally acclaimed Artreach Touring Theatre based in Ohio, and the Good News Company – a regional inner-city experimental theatre group – producing, directing, and performing with each group. A composer and studio producer, distinguished in 2005 as National Music Educator of the Year, Mark has songs and recordings published worldwide in books, folios, and industry catalogs. He has scripted, written music, and hosted events for national conventions, and is a sought after speaker at music, theatre, and educational seminars around the country. Mark has been successfully writing and composing book, music and lyrics with long-time collaborator Janet Yates Vogt – their musicals playing across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Their works include Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical, How I Became a Pirate, Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Crown Jewel, Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale, The Magical Adventures of Merlin, Sleepy Hollow: A Musical Tale, Anne of Green Gables, Mister Scrooge, Jingle ARRGH the Way: A How I Became a Pirate Christmas Adventure, Snow White and the Prince, The Tale of the Glass Slipper: A Cinderella Story, River of Freedom, and War Games: Marriage on the Front Lines. Their newest musical, Alice in Wonderland, commissioned by the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati will debut at the beautiful Taft Theatre in downtown Cincinnati later this year. Mark and Janet are also working in collaboration with acclaimed playwright Joseph McDonough on a musical look at the famous prohibition bootlegger George Remus. A proud member of the Dramatist Guild, he is represented by the Paradigm Talent Agency in New York City. Although grateful for his theatre successes, Mark considers his best creations to be his children – both students at New York University – Emily, a film and television major, producer and screenplay writer – and Chris, a music technology major, jazz composer and musician. Connect with Mark on Facebook at Mark Friedman, and on Twitter @markfcomposer.

Holly Erin McCarthy wrote and directed last year’s hit, Lulu’s Lemonade Stand, as well as directed 2014’s Lyle the Crocodile. Holly has also performed in over 20 Cape Rep productions.  She loves cats and pirates.

Ben Colgan is a music director and pit musician working in and around Boston and Cape Cod. He is excited to be working with the great people at Cape Rep! Favorite music directing credits include Legally Blonde, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, and La Cage Aux Folles. Ben would like to thank Janine and Holly for having him on board!

Robin McLaughlin (Costume Design) was resident costume designer at Cape Rep Theatre for many years. After several years in California she is very happy to be back East to work at Cape Rep once again. She continues to be a nationally known designer of hand made journey bags and has added custom wedding accessories to her collection.

Jennifer Dupre (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to make her Cape Rep debut as Stage Manager for How I Became a Pirate and Mamma Mia!, and ASM on The Tuna Goddess. Previously, Jennifer has toured with Arts Power National Touring Theater as a stage manager (Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great), staged managed at Encore at the Point (Beauty and the Beast; The Jungle Book; Footloose; James and the Giant Peach and more) and worked with Break-A-Leg Productions (The Madwoman of Chaillot). Jennifer has her BA in Theater Studies from Quinnipiac University (2017) and will be attending California Institute of the Arts in the fall to receive her MFA in stage management (2021).