About+Cast

About the Show

Still reeling from her divorce, Linda is rescued by her three friends who have come to turn her despair into a weekend of hilarity. Linda has to pack up her house and memories while finding the courage to start over again when all she wants to do is bury herself in Ben and Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream. With the help of a delivery pizza boy, a groping massage therapist, a fabulous make-over guru, among others, they sing and dance their way through the wildest divorce party ever. Nothing is sacred as the girls cut loose on the realities of divorce, long term relationships and moving on, coupled with a good dose of comic mayhem, and a touch of “naughty.”

Using popular songs with clever new lyrics, the ladies deliver an evening of laughs as they drag their newly divorced friend up by her self-esteem and force her to face the world again, whether she likes it or not. By the end of the show, women are dancing in the aisles and leaving with a smile on their face knowing they are not alone and there can be life-after-divorce. It’s the “Ultimate Girls’ Night Out” for any person dealing with the before, during, or after phase of a broken relationship. It’s the “should I stay or should I go” married prisoners, or the best excuse to get those newly divorced friends out of the house!

The Back Story

About the Cast

Janna Cardia ★ Linda

Tours: Cinderella – Queen (Broadway Asia); Wizard of Oz – Wicked Witch u/s (CLO Tour).  Regional: Victor Victoria –Title Role (Stages); Spelling Bee – Rona (Riverside); Sweeney Todd – Beggar Woman,  Oliver – Nancy, Into the Woods – Witch,Joseph… – Narrator,  Grease – Rizzo (Fulton Opera); Falsettos – Trina (Porchlight/After Dark Award); Full Monty – Georgia (Arkansas Rep.); I Love You, You’re Perfect… – Woman 1 (Mt. Gretna); Closer Than Ever – Woman 1 (Phoencia Voice Festival); Sound of Music – Elsa u/s (John W. Engeman); Pump Boys and Dinettes – Prudie (Fireside); Sacramento Music Circus, 01’, 06’, 07’.www.jannacardia.com

Samara Dunn ★ Courtney

Touring credits include, The Leader, Zorba, National Tour and Best of Broadway, European Tour. NYC credits – Elsa, Dissolving Elsa, Lark Theatre; Morgan le Fey in a rock version of A Connecticut Yankee, The Judith Anderson Theatre. Some favorite regional credits include Winnifred, Once Upon a Mattress and Patsy, Bingo, the Musical. Samara would like to thank her parents and her son Michael for their constant love and support.

Mary Jayne Waddell ★ Carolyn/Dance Captain

Mamma Mia! National Tour (Donna), Les Misérables Broadway & National Tour (Fantine understudy), 2002 Sondheim Celebration, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Kiss Me Kate (Kate), Man of La Mancha (Aldonza), A New Brain (Rhoda), The Andrews Brothers (Peggy Jones), You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up (Annabelle), Route 66 Actors Theatre of Indiana (director and choreographer). All shows are for Mom with love www.maryjaynewaddell.com

Soara-Joye Ross ★ Sheila

Ms. Ross has been with DPTM since the world premiere in West Palm Beach and is ecstatic to still be with her DP family! Her favorite credits include: Les Misérables & Dance of the Vampires on Broadway, Jerry Springer: The Opera (Carnegie Hall), Dessa Rose (Lincoln Center), Single Black Female (The Duke/Playwrights Horizons), Tin Pan Alley Rag (Roundabout Theatre Co), Cross That River (NYMF’s "Best of Fest" Award: Outstanding Individual Performance), Aida (Colorado Theatre Guild: Outstanding Leading Actress Nominee), Ragtime – Sarah (Weston & Gateway), Summer of Love – Saige (Ogunquit-East Coast Premiere), From the Mississippi Delta – Woman 1 & Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Armelia  (Triad Stage) Tick, Tick…Boom – Susan (Alliance), Once on this Island – Asaka (Bay Street). Film: Garden State. Extremely grateful to my sweet Elaine, mom, friends, family & The Most High! Please visit: soara-joyeross.com/ and facebook.com/soara.joye.ross

Scott Ahearn ★ Male Characters

Divorce Party (Stage West, Toronto), Grease (Kenickie, International Tour), Chicago (Ogunquit Playhouse, Broadway World Best Actor Nomination), Best Little Whorehouse (Phoenix), The Full Monty, Forever Plaid and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Arvada Center, Denver), and Shakespeare in Texas. Film: Zoolander, Live Till You Die.  Thanks to Jen and an amazingly tolerant family!www.scottahearn.net

Jacob Thompson ★ Understudy

Jacob Thompson is an Iowa native and a graduate of Wagner College, NYC.  Favorite roles include every dang Prince of Disney, including the furry ones, and every incarnation of Elvis from Pharaoh to Conrad.  Gratitude is owed to David Carpenter, Ray and Deborah Thompson, Jessica Bradish and the Andreadis Agency.  Check out jacobthompson.net for video blogs and more info

Michele Pereira ★ Understudy

National / International Tour: Tommy, Fame, Nunsense World Premieres: Isabella Rico with Betty Buckley; Just So (Cameron Mackintosh); Fascinating Gershwin (Florida Repertory); Some Kind of Wonderful (Florida Stage), Eternally Bad (Candye Kane); The Ten Commandments opposite Val Kilmer(Kodak Theater).Television credits: "Law & Order" and the Last episode of "Friends". Michelle recorded her first album, In My Life/Na Minha Vida (Album of the Year) which received National and International recognition.  Graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music myspace/lusoamericana
 

About the Creatives

MARK SCHWARTZ

Conceiver/Author/Producer

Mark Schwartz has a 22-year career in Broadway and professional theater. He began his Broadway career with Nine, directed by Tommy Tune and starring Raul Julia (five Tony Awards). He co- produced Zorba starring Anthony Quinn, My One and Only (three Tony Awards), starring Tommy Tune and Twiggy and La Cage Aux Folles (six Tony Awards including Best Musical). Recent projects include the Tony nominated Broadway production of Dream; Jackie: An American Life (Broadway and London’s West End productions); the Broadway production of Epic Proportions directed by Jerry Zaks and starring Kristin Chenoweth; the London West End production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the long-running Off-Broadway production of Menopause the Musical and the Off-Broadway and US & UK touring productions of SHOUT! The Mod Musical, and now Divorce Party the Musical: The hilarious journey to hell… and back!, playing to record breaking capacity audiences.

DR. AMY BOTWINICK

Conceiver/Author/Producer

Dr. Amy Botwinick has a B.S. from Rutgers University and a D.C. degree from Life University. She is the author of Congratulations on Your Divorce -The Road to Finding Your Happily Ever After(published worldwide by Health Communications, well known for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series) and Divorce Party and Moving On Handbook – Plan a Great Party for Yourself or a Friend!In addition to her books Dr. Botwinick, a chiropractor, found a new way to help others through her website and group of experts at www.womenmovingon.com.

Through Dr. Botwinick’s consulting, events, products and seminars, thousands of women have learned to powerfully manage the transition of divorce for themselves and their families. Dr. Botwinick has appeared on national television for her expert advice – The Tyra Banks Show and CBS News for Women’s Entertainment Television. Her most recent guest appearances included Toronto’s most popular morning show, Breakfast TV, and Jewish Life TV. A frequent guest on popular radio shows around the country, her expert advice can also be found on msn.com, match.com, aol.com, Sun Sentinel’s Queen B in South Florida and divorce360.com.

After coaching women for 7 years, Botwinick wanted to do more to help others powerfully manage life transitions. After thinking about her own personal history of surviving cancer, a nasty 3-year divorce, major spinal surgery — which required her to leave a career she loved as a chiropractor — she successfully reinvented her life professionally and personally. Amy took her negative “Why me attitude ?” and turned it into “Why not me?” With a desire to share her journey, she co-authored and produced the hilarious and raucous show Divorce Party The Musical – The Hilarioius Journey to Hell …and Back! Her goal was to help others take a break from their “drama trauma” and realize they are not alone. One of her favorite writing approaches is to talk about taboos and uncomfortable situations to let others know they are not alone – especially when the subject matter is a bit naughty…

Today Amy is happily remarried in a blended family that includes six children. She is enjoying a new career as a divorce coach, author, playwright and producer. She learned to manage her life transitions with grit, grace and humor. She tossed aside the idea of the fairy tale and is now living “Happily Ever After” in her own “Reality Tale.” Her gift is laughter and empowerment. She is on a mission to help others move on in their life to create relationships that last and a life that matters.

JAY FALZONE

Book/Lyrics/Director/Choreographer

Jay is proud to be “changing the world one rabbit at a time” with Divorce Party the Musical. Other writing credits: Cooking with the Calamari Sisters (Book/Additional Lyrics – now running in Philadelphia), Christmas with the Calamari Sisters, and The Calamari Sisters’ Big Fat Italian Wedding; www.TheCalamariSisters.com. Also Parenting 101 (Co-Writer), and You Don’t Know Jack (Book/Lyrics), an adult retelling of the Jack & Jill nursery rhyme.  Directing/Choreographing credits: Bush Wars (Off-Broadway), SHOUT! The Mod Musical (Chicago; National Tour), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (National Tour), Snoopy! (50th Anniversary National Tour), 42nd Street (Naples, FL), and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Rochester, NY – 9-year run). Next up, Dear Mom, a play based on real letters written by daughters to their mothers and The Calamari Sisters’ fourth installment, Bun In The Oven: Contractions With The Calamari Sisters.  Mark, Amy, Kat, and the whole DPTM cast, thanks for making this whole adventure so much fun.  Much love to Stephen for making life a party… and not the divorce kind.

VICTORIA LANG

Consulting Producer

Victoria Lang (Producer) has enjoyed a wide-ranging producing career in theatre, film, television and concerts. Theatre: The current Off Broadway & LA hit Silence! The Musical! (Best Musical: Off Broadway Alliance Award, Top 5 Musicals: Time Magazine), Matt & Ben in NY & LA (Top 5 Plays: Time Magazine), Johnny Guitar (Best Off-Broadway Musical: Outer Critics Circle Award), Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman (Drama Desk nomination), Bat Boy (London), SHOUT! The Mod Musical (Off-Broadway, West End, Chicago, 1st National Tour, UK Tour) and Girls Night! The Musical (LA). She has been associated with the Broadway productions of Private Lives starring Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton, Peg starring Peggy Lee, A View From The Bridge, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Little Foxes starring Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Pan starring Sandy Duncan, Oklahoma!, West Side Story and Brigadoon. Upcoming: Found – The Musical. TV: "Live With Regis & Kathie Lee" (3 Emmy nominations), "Joy Philbin’s Haven" and Specials for A&E and PBS.  Film: Macbeth in Manhattan (Best Feature, South Beach & L.I. Film Festivals), Dark Tides (Showtime), The Last Lie and Chaos Theory.  She was a Founder and Co-President of PLUS Entertainment and PLUS Media and is currently the President of Lang Entertainment Group.

JONATHAN COLLINS

Scenic DesignJonathan designed the premiere production of Divorce Party at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, in addition to the Canada Tour. He has recently designed A Christmas Carol, directed by Mark Adam Rampmeyer and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, The Sunshine Boys, and the upcoming Boeing/Boeing, directed by BT McNicholl at the Engeman Theater. Recently, he also designed Wait Until Dark, directed by Alan Souza and Unhealthy directed by Brandon Ivie. MFA NYU. jonwcollins.com

KATE ASHTON

Lighting DesignDivorce Party: The Musical (original production and U.S. tour). Recent work includes Chaos (Abu Dhabi), Medea, DR.C, Death of a Salesman, The Apostle Project, Moonchild (all with Theater Mitu, Resident Artist), A Play on War and Blind Mouth Singing (NAATCO), Tape (dir. Sam Helfrich), Summer and Smoke (Theatre Row), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Henry Hewes Award nomination, Peccadillo), The Winter’s Tale (Columbia University), and Girl Talk. Opera: Armide, L’Incoronazione di Poppea, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Juilliard), Nina O Sia La Pazza Per Amore (U.S. Premiere, Manhattan School of Music). Dance: Skybetter and Associates, Syren Modern Dance. BA, College of William & Mary. MFA, NYU TSOA. www.kateashtonlighting.com

ADAM RIGBY

Sound DesignAdam is a Sound Engineer and Designer in NYC.  He has been with Divorce Party since the beginning.  Previous work includes: Assistant Designer Wicked (First National and Chicago), Assistant Designer The Ritz (Studio 54), Co-Designer SHOUT! The Mod Musical (Chicago), Resident Designer at Ogunquit Playhouse 5 Seasons

Bradley Vieth

Arranger & Orchestratoris thrilled to work on Divorce Party with Jay Falzone and Mark Schwartz.  Off-Broadway credits: Wings, A Child’s Garden & SHOUT! The Mod Musical.  European tours: 42nd Street, Chicago, On the Town, West Side Story, Carmen, & Little Shop of Horrors (German premiere). Regional: Hello, Dolly! Camelot, Cabaret, My Fair Lady, I Do! I Do!, Forbidden Broadway, A Little Night Music (Jeff Award for Best Musical Direction), Pacific Overtures, First Lady Suite, Annie Get Your Gun, A Wonderful Life (premiere), Jerry’s Girls & Fiddler on the Roof.  Recordings: Wings, First Lady Suite, Far from the Madding Crowd/The Awakening, SHOUT! The Mod Musical.

Michael Lewis Smith

Music Director

music directed the World Premier of Divorce Party the Musical  at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach.  Following the premier, completed remounts of the show in West Palm Beach as well as Fort Lauderdale. Prior to his work with DPTM, he played the inaugural production of Follies for Short North Stage. In addition, he has worked for many regional theaters including Lyric Stage, Circle Theatre, and Greenbrier Valley Theatre.  Having toured internationally with Andrea McArdle in the NETworks Asian revival tour of Cabaret, he also has served as a staff accompanist for the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (NYC)

Carol Hanzel Casting

CastingBroadway: Swing!, Sally Marr and Her Escorts.  National tours: Swing!, Defending the Caveman, Girls Night.  Off-Broadway: Ionescopade, The Screwtape Letters, My Vaudeville Man, Wanda’s World, Signs of Life, Dr. Sex, Theda Bara and the Frontier Rabbi, Dorian Gray,  Trophies, Identical Twins from Baltimore.  Regional Productions: Divorce Party the Musical, Legally Blonde, Tarzan, Cagney, Backwards in High Heels, Hats!, Flight of the Lawnchair Man, Hannah, Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods, The Good Counselor, Dracula, The Tin Pan Alley Rag, Lizzie Borden.  TV: “The Wonder Pets,” “Hi-5,” “Where in Time is Carmen Sandiago?,” Feature Film: A Very Serious Person, The Guru (dance sequence casting) and over 2500 commercials.

Kat West

Stage ManagerSelected credits; Off- Broadway; Altar Boyz, My Big Gay Italian Wedding - Davenport Theatricals, Little Flower of East Orange – The Public/LABrynith Theater, Iron Curtain, Illyria, Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge – Prospect Theater Company, Boozy, Heddatron – Les Frères Corbusier. Thanks to DPTM’s original and current crews. Love to Jaime.

Production Core

Production SupervisorProduction Core lends support and guidance to theatre companies that produce high quality theatrical performances and need direction/support on the collaboration, planning and execution of the production process. The Production Core team is James E. Cleveland, Jared Goldstein, Adrian White, Dave Upton, Chasmin Hallyburton, Julie Shelton, Taylor Michael, Josh Morgan and Ron Grimshaw.www.productioncore.net

Davidson & Choy Publicity

Press RepresentativesDavidson & Choy is a Los Angeles based performing arts publicity firm, with a resume that includes the original Los Angeles productions of Evita at the Shubert Theatre through Book of Mormon at the Pantages Theatre.  The firm works with Cirque du Soleil, the El Capitan Theatre, Disney Parks, Walt Disney Imagineering, Hollywood Bowl and Dance at the Music Center.  The firm oversaw North American tour publicity for Ghetto Klown starring John Leguizamo, Walking With Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular, Star Wars: In Concert and MythBusters: Behind the Myths Tour.

Allied Live

Marketingis a full-service marketing and advertising agency representing entertainment, retail and hospitality properties throughout North America. Current clients include: (Los Angeles/West Coast) Center Theatre Group, LA Phil at Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood & Highland Center, Westfield, Brookfield, sbe, (Las Vegas) Terry Fator at the Mirage; (Washington, DC) Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington Ballet, Strathmore PAC; (Philadelphia) The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia Opera; (Chicago) The Lyric Opera, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago,  Lookingglass Theatre, Million Dollar Quartet, Mario Tricocci Salons & Spas, FFC health Clubs.  (National Tours) The Book of Mormon, Once, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia!,  West Side Story, STOMP, Blue Man Group among others.alliedlive.com

Snug Harbor Productions

General ManagementSteven Chaikelson and Kendra Bator provide general management services for productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway and across the United States. Credits include, Broadway: Ring of Fire; Elaine Stritch at Liberty (Tony Award); George Gershwin Alone; A Moon for the Misbegotten; Death of a Salesman (Tony Award, starring Brian Dennehy); The Price and Fool Moon (Tony Award); Off-Broadway: Marty Moran’s All the Rage; Eve Ensler’s Emotional Creature; 3C; Elective Affinities (starring Zoe Caldwell); Slipping; Too Much Memory; Make Me A Song: The Music of William Finn; Evil Dead The Musical; Almost, Maine; The Normal Heart; They Wrote That: The Songs of Mann & Weil; The Tricky Part (Obie Award); Private Jokes, Public Places; Peter Brook’s Tierno Bokar and Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children (RSC);  National Tour/Regional: Trumbo (starring Brian Dennehy); Fool Moon; The Vagina Monologues (Los Angeles) and Art (Chicago); International: Where Elephants Weep (Cambodia).  Steven teaches in the Theatre Program of the Columbia University School of the Arts where he directs the MFA concentration in Theatre Management & Producing.