Featuring Katie Gilchrist with Chioma Anyanwu, Christina Burton and Bryan LaFave
From the Wheat Fields, to the Great White Way
A semi-autobiographical stage memoir by Sherie Rene Scott, this is the story of a woman’s psycho-sexual-spiritual journey that separates her mostly Mennonite past from her mostly Manhattan future. She travels from Topeka, Kansas to New York City; with a disturbing detour through YouTube. Filled with familiar tunes, this musical follows Sherie’s road to Broadway semi-stardom. This is the first production in the nation since Sherie premiered the show on Broadway.
This production is made possible by grants from Courtney S. Turner Charitable Trust, Hall Family Foundation,
Estelle S. & Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation and Theater League.
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About the Writers
Dick Scanlan most recently co-authored Everyday Rapture, a critically acclaimed musical written with and for Sherie Rene Scott, and produced on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre by The Roundabout Theatre Company, and Off-Broadway at Second Stage. Mr. Scanlan received 2010 Tony, Drama Desk and Lortel nominations for his work on Rapture. He also wrote the book and lyrics for 2002’s Tony and Drama Desk Award Winning Best Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie (music by Jeanine Tesori). Millie ran for over two years, and almost three years on tour, as well as in London’s West End, and has since received hundreds of productions at regional, community, college and high school theatres all over the world. Along with Ms. Tesori, Mr. Scanlan was commissioned by Sony to compose the song “The Girl in 14G” for Kristin Chenoweth’s debut album, Let Yourself Go. Mr. Scanlan began his writing career as a fiction writer. His novel, Does Freddy Dance, was published in 1995 to glowing reviews and was reissued in paperback in 1997, both by Alyson Publications. His short fiction has been seen in numerous literary journals and commercial magazines, and is included in the inaugural edition of Best American Gay Fiction (Little, Brown) along with such luminaries as Edmund White and Michael Cunningham. A former actor, he originated the role of Miss Great Plains in the hit Off-Broadway musical, Pageant. In addition, he is a former stage manager, theatre critic and usher, as well as a highly successful agent for Broadway designers; the only thing he hasn’t done is sell concessions.
Sherie Rene Scott is an actor, singer and writer who has appeared in numerous theatrical productions. Some of her most acclaimed performances include her work on Everyday Rapture, written by Dick Scanlan and Ms. Scott, and directed by Michael Mayer. Everyday Rapture received Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical, Best Book and Best Musical, several Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations, as well as Lortel Award nominations. Other performances include “Pepe” in Lincoln Center’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Drama Desk Nomination), “Ursula” in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Outer Critics Circle nomination), John Guare’s Landscape of the Body (Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations), Elton John and Tim Rice’s AIDA (Derwent Award), Tommy (OBC), RENT, The Last Five Years (Drama Desk nomination), Debbie Does Dallas, Randy Newman’s Faust, and Kander & Ebb’s Over and Over (Helen Hayes nomination).
Ms. Scott’s recording work includes appearing on several Grammy award winning cast albums, a single with jazz great Bill Charlap, a Billboard hit single with Elton John, and her own self-produced critically acclaimed CD titled “Sherie Rene…Men I’ve Had.”
With husband Kurt Deutsch, she co-founded Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records, producing more than 100 albums, and garnering several Grammy awards and nominations, most recently the Grammy award for The Book of Mormon. Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records also received a 2006 Drama Desk Award for dedication to the preservation of musical theatre through cast recordings.
About the Directors
Jerry Jay Cranford (DIRECTOR) performed Prouvaire and Enjolras in Les Miserables on Broadway and the national tour. Most recently, he directed and played the Genie in Aladdin for Starlight Theatre’s inaugural children’s series at the Kauffman. He was Dr. Parker in the San Diego Premiere of Batboy: The Musical, starred in tours of Singing in the Rain as Don, Anything Goes as Billy and was the featured dancer on the European tour of Evita. Kansas City audiences have seen Jerry Jay at the New Theatre (Phantom, Joseph), the American Heartland (The 39 Steps, I Love You Because), the Kansas City Lyric Opera (The Merry Widow, Turandot, The Barber of Seville), The Kansas City Repertory Theatre (Cabaret, A Christmas Carol), the Unicorn (La Cage aux Folles, Rightnextto Me), Musical Theater Heritage (Bernstein’s Broadway, Big River) and Starlight (The Producers, Anything Goes). At the American Heartland Theatre, he has directed The Marvelous Wonderettes, Plaid Tidings, Honky Tonk Angels, choreographed I Love You Because, Are We There Yet?, Glorious and No Way to Treat a Lady. Upcoming projects include Pseudolus/choreographer A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum opening May 31st just down the street at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre and playing Wilbur in Hairspray for The New Theatre beginning in June. Jay directed the Vancouver premiere of The Marvelous Wonderettes and will return to upstate New York’s Merry Go Round Theatre where he co-directed their award winning production of Les Miserables to direct and choreograph The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Jay has an MFA in Directing and has been a member of AEA for nearly 30 years.
Jeremy Watson (Musical Director/Piano/Conductor) is excited about his first performance with the great people of the Unicorn. Jeremy has accompanied and music directed for several theaters in town. His work includes Anything Goes and The Producers at Starlight; No Way to Treat a Lady and Honky Tonk Angels at American Heartland Theatre, The Taffetas, Big River, Kiss Me Kate, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, and A Spectacular Christmas at Musical Theater Heritage; Once Upon This Island, Bridge to Terabithia, and Seussical for The Coterie Theatre; Noel and Gertie for Quality Hill Playhouse; RENT and Piano Man for The Jewish Community Center; and No Way to Treat a Lady and Light in the Piazza for the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. Outside of musical theater, Jeremy is the pianist for St. Pauls UMC of Lenexa and St. Pauls School of Theology.
About the Cast
Katie Gilchrist (SHERIE RENE SCOTT) is ecstatic to return to her first professional home here at the Unicorn, after just appearing in the world premiere of Hungry and last season's Distracted. Other recent credits include: Karen Heritage/Bucket of Blood, Yitzhak/Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Director/Oleanna, Emma/Betrayal. She can be seen singing for her supper around town at Czar Bar and Knuckleheads. Katie wishes to say, “Wow. *giggleflaildancejoy* This happened. I have a pretty decent vocab, but there aren't enough words for the gratitude I feel for all of the wonderfulness involved with this production. Chioma, Christina, Jerry Jay, Jeremy, Cynthia, Sam, Jonathan, Joseph, Blake, Bryan, Linnaia, Tanya, Renee, Justin, and the entire staff of the Unicorn...I absolutely could NOT have done this without you. I am proud to call this city home, and humbled to be part of this amazing theatrical and creative community. All of my love and thanks to the people that love me, who put up with my doubt and fairly incessant singing and talking to myself while preparing for this show...to my family, who, even when they miss me at gatherings, continue to support this dream. I'm horrible at writing bios...so...thank you...each of you...for supporting the arts in this incredible city, and for putting up with reading this bio. Enjoy the show! If you wanna find out about the other things I'm about to do...check in with www.kategilchrist.com. LOVELOVELOVE to you all!!”
Chioma Anyanwu (MENNONETTE) couldn't be happier to return to the Unicorn (and so soon!) after appearing as Bianca in Hungry. Past credits: Ruined, The Women of Brewster Place (Unicorn), Eating Raoul, Evil Dead the Musical (Egads Productions), 1776, Evita (Musical Theater Heritage). Thanks to my family for being the best love I know, and thanks to the Unicorn for releasing me from my day job. Again.
Christina Burton(MENNONETTE) is a graduate of the University of Missouri in Kansas City with a BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Musical Theatre. She is member of Actors Equity Association. Some of her musical theatre credits include: Cinderella - Ensemble, 1776 – Hewes/Dickinson, Kiss Me Kate – Hattie, The Man of La Mancha – Aldonza, The Most Happy Fella- Ensemble, Pippin – Player, Footloose – Urleen/Dance Captain, Working – Ensemble, Grease – Cha Cha, Cats – Exotica, Jekyll and Hyde – Lady of the Night. Christina has been a Guest Artist for Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company. She has choreographed and performed in numerous industrials with EPIC Entertainment Inc. and is the choreographer for Starlight Theatre’s Starlight STARS of Tomorrow. Her choreography credits include: A Christmas Cabaret, Jekyll and Hyde, Blood Brothers, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Working, The Most Happy Fella, Grease, and Starlight Theatre’s Blue Star Awards and most recently Starlight’s Children’s Theatre production of Disney’s Aladdin at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts. Christina choreographs and teaches for local dance studios and the Kansas City Ballet and is also a certified ZUMBA® fitness instructor.
Bryan LaFave’s (BROADWAYISLOVE09) credits include: Unicorn Theatre--La Cage aux Folles, National Tour-- Beauty & the Beast, locally--Cabaret (Kansas City Repertory Theatre); Sweeney Todd… (MTH); Six Degrees of Separation (MET); Dog Sees God... (Eubank Productions); Thrill Me... (Fishtank). Regional: Calvin the Ugly Duckling (Original Cast Recording), Man of La Mancha, The Buddy Holly Story (Great Plains Theatre). Other Favorites: Urinetown, RENT, The Last 5 Years, 110 in the Shade, & Disney’s High School Musical. For Molly.
The Band
| Conductor/Keyboards | Jeremy Watson |
| Guitar | Joseph Levens |
| Bass | Blake Hughes |
| Drums | Sam Wisman |
| Violin | Jonathan Schriock |
Creative Team
| Stage Manager | Tanya Brown* | *Denotes member of Actors Equity Association |
| Musical Supervisor | Anthony T. Edwards | +Denotes Resident Unicorn Designer |
| Scenic Designer | Gary Mosby+ | |
| Lighting Designer | Alex Perry+ | |
| Sound Designer | Blake Hughes | |
| Projections Designer | Richard L. Sprecker | |
| Costume Designer | Georgianna Londre Buchanan | |
| Properties Designer | Gary Campbell+ | |
| Dramaturg | Tracy Terstriep |
