Greater Tuna Program

Written by Ed Howard, Joe Sears,
and Jaston Williams

Director: Sean Lough

Stage Manager: Sam Silver

Production Team

Construction Crew

Steve Moger, Steve Sandler, Amy Fox, Sam Silver, Sean Lough, Laura Byrn, Kevin Ohlweiler, Jeff Parsons, E. Dale Smith-Gallo, Lonzell Wilson, Al’yeah, John Fraisinet, Leticia Diaz, Alicia Hayes

Cast

Thurston Wheelis/Rev.Spikes…….A’layeah Joisanne

Arles/Charlene/Vera/R.R……E.Dale Smith-Gallo

Bertha/Didi/Hank……Jeff Parsons

Harold Dean/Chad/Leonard/Aunt Pearl…..Greg Northam

Elmer/Jody/Stanley/Phinas/Coach…………Leticia Diaz

Petey Fisk/Sheriff Givens………Alicia Hayes

Leticia Diaz (she/her)( Elmer/Jody/Stanley/Phinas/Coach) is a Paterson native with over 20 years of community theatre credits. “…Tuna” is her first show with The Studio Players. Top 5 favorite roles include: Emily in Our Town, Taddy Jo in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Myrrah in Metamorphoses, Columbia in Rocky Horror Picture Show and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. Massive hugs to this ridiculously talented cast: what a fun adventure! Unending gratitude to Sean: thanks for welcoming me! Smooches to Nico: for your love & patience. Everything, always, for Nino. HEY, MA, THEATRE IS BACK!

Alicia Hayes (she/her) (Petey Fisk/Sheriff Givens) is a Jane of All (Creative) Trades. She was last seen on Studio’s stage in the Welcome Home Cabaret. Favorite onstage credits: A Doll’s House Part Two (Emmy), Jake’s Women (Molly), Twelfth Night (Fabian) and Our Town (Emily). Favorite stage management credits: How it Really Happens, The Boys in the Band, and Moon Over Buffalo. Previously directed Over My Dead Body, Stuart Little, and a variety of online productions with TSquared Productions. Love and thanks to those who support her in all her endeavors! Off we go! www.aliciachayes.com // IG: @alicia.c.hayes

A’layeah Joisanne (she/her) ( Thurston Wheelis/Rev. Spikes) is a filmmaker who enjoys acting from Montclair, NJ. She graduated from Bloomfield College in 2018, Magna Cum Laude, with a BA in Expanded Media. She has been performing at Studio Playhouse since the age of 13. A’layeah interned at NJ Motion Film & TV Commission and completed a two-day intense Production Assistant Training Program. The training opened up doors to work on many TV shows and films for Netflix, NBC and Lifetime.She’s a part time counselor at the YMCA of Montclair teaching the art of film. A’layeah knows that nothing can be done without putting God first. www.alayeahjoisanne.com // IG&Twitter: @alayeahjoisanne // Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerAlayeahJoisanne //Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/alayeahjoisanne

Sean E. Lough (he/him) (Director) appeared as Jake in Studio Players’ Jake’s Women. As a director: CDC’s socially distanced A Doll’s House, Part 2, Mamma Mia!, Carrie and The Wild Party (6 NJACT awards). FROSTED, his co-written family musical debuts this season (at a different theatre). Many many thanks to this crazy-talented cast, the Studio Board and Members, and to audiences for making live theatre possible again.

Greg Northam (he/him)(Harold Dean/Chad/Leonard/Aunt Pearl) is making his Studio Playhouse debut but is no stranger to Greater Tuna having performed it in Virginia as well. Other credits include: Candy (Of Mice & Men), Big Daddy (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), VanDaan (Diary of Anne Frank), Man in the Chair (The Drowsy Chaperone), Frank Strang (Equus), Joe Keller (All My Sons), & Ben Hubbard (The Little Foxes). As Ernie Cusack, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award for Rumors at Footlighters in SNJ. Film/video credits: And Just Like That, Extrapolations & Empowered Survivor. Much love & thanks to Peter as always.

Jeff Parsons (he/him)(Bertha/Didi/Hank) most recently appeared in Urinetown and My Big Gay Italian Wedding at Old Library Theatre. Earlier this year, he was in the Rhino Theatre One Act Jamboree (Best Actor Winner) and performed virtually throughout New Jersey during the pandemic, including shows with Studio Players, The Strollers, Riverstage, and Virtual Studio Players. Jeff spent many years backstage, producing and stage managing, including the first middle school production of Wicked Jr at Teaneck Community Charter School. Prior on stage credits include A Year With Frog and Toad, Three Sisters, Bye Bye Birdie, and To Kill A Mockingbird. IG, Facebook&Twitter: @Drjeffparsons

Julia Sharp (she/her) (Costume Designer) is a retired professor of fashion. She has costumed over 50 plays for professional (Equity) regional theaters, including Blithe Spirit, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Deathtrap, She Stoops to Conquer, Prisoner of Second Avenue, the musicals Peter Pan, Oliver, and A Christmas Carol, and several shows for The Studio Players, including Complete Game, Born Yesterday, and Madeline’s Christmas. She is also the author of several text books including ones on textiles, and the use of design elements in creating apparel.

Sam Silver (she/her)(stage manager) is thrilled to be working on her first show back since the pandemic! She has been stage managing for the past 15 years with Studio. Sam last stage managed It’s Only A Play. Previous credits include: Some Girls, Almost Maine, The Foreigner, Run For Your Wife, Dracula and The Laramie Project among others. She has stage managed at the Ridgefield Theater Barn(CT), Sherman Playhouse(CT) in Connecticut, Entertainment Events (Girls Night: The Musical and Late Night Catechism)(NYC),Marvell Repertory Theatre (Professor Bernhardi, NYC), and PPTOPA (FL). A huge thank you to the talented cast and crew for making this experience fun and rewarding! A special thanks to my entire Studio family and Jaclyn, thank you for sharing me with my passion for theatre. Break legs!

E. Dale Smith-Gallo (he/him) A native Texan, Dale is exciated to share a bit of his culture with y’all! He has previously appeared on the Studio stage in several shows including “Stage Kiss” (Adrian), “Moon Over Buffalo” (Howard), and “Into the Woods” (The Witch). He also directed productions of “Jake’s Women” (2017) and “The Boys in the Band” (2019). His original play, “Fruma-Sarah (Waiting in the Wings)” enjoyed a sold-out run at the The Cell in NYC this past July starring Jackie Hoffman. He is the head of the Theatre Department at Urban Assembly High School of the Performing Arts in Harlem. Love to Mike. IG: @e.dale.smith // Twitter: @e_dale_smith