Issue #3
Coming to a Close
🎶 Curtains Close, Spotlight Shifts: Buddy Holly Takes the Stage!
The curtains have officially closed on 42nd Street and West Side Story, and now we’re gearing up for the grand finale of the summer season: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story!
With every new show comes a bittersweet shift—some cast members from earlier in the season have moved on to school or their next contracts. While it’s never easy to say goodbye to friends I’ve grown so close to, I’m grateful for the new faces joining us for Buddy Holly. This season has felt especially meaningful, and though parting is never easy, I know our paths will cross again. 💛
What excites me most about Buddy Holly is how different it feels from the rest of our summer lineup. Unlike our previous shows, which used recorded tracks, this one thrives on live music played by the actors on stage—it brings such a unique energy to the storytelling.
Without giving too much away, the show follows Buddy Holly’s meteoric rise to fame, his whirlwind career, and the unforgettable moments that defined his legacy. It’s music, energy, and storytelling rolled into one powerful production—and I can’t wait to share it with you. 🎸✨
💃 Reflections on My Danciest Season at Surflight
This has easily been my “danciest” season at Surflight, and I’ve loved every second of it. From tap to jazz to stylized movement through different eras, each show gave me something fresh to sink into. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be 42nd Street. Tap is my absolute favorite style of dance, and getting to work with director/choreographer Paula Sloan made the experience even more special. I tapped more this summer than in any other season—and honestly, I couldn’t be happier about that.
Of course, the hardest part has been saying goodbye to my castmates. Just last night and this morning I found myself hugging friends with tears shed after our final matinee. But what makes this season stand out is the sense of community we built. Many of us had never worked together before, and yet the bond came so naturally. No egos, no drama—just hard work, laughter, and the kind of “good chaos” that makes theater magic happen.
To my fellow performers: thank you for your dedication, your artistry, and your joy. This summer wouldn’t have been the same without you. Below, I’ve listed everyone I had the privilege of working with this season—you each deserve recognition for your hard work.
🎭 Summer 2024 Castmates
Top Hat:
Deanna Doyle
John Little
Isaiah Mayhew (also Buddy Holly)
Taylor Mitchell (also 42nd Street)
Tyler Fish (also 42nd Street)
Erin Fish (also 42nd Street)
Luke Anderson (also West Side Story)
Lexi Baldachino (also West Side Story)
Riley Bannister (also West Side Story)
Brenna Conway (also West Side Story)
Kalista Curbelo (also West Side Story)
Ryan Edge (also West Side Story)
Sean Gin (also West Side Story)
Matthew Goodrich (also West Side Story)
Kate Grattan (also West Side Story)
Alyssa Hakan (also West Side Story)
Kevin Hincapie (also Buddy Holly)
Makayla Labode (also West Side Story)
Caden Lohr (also West Side Story)
Kevin Luck (also West Side Story)
Noah Macam (also West Side Story)
9 to 5:
Emma Luxemburg
Kasie Buono (also Buddy Holly)
Nathan Roberts (also Buddy Holly)
Alison Nusbaum (also Buddy Holly)
John D. Smitherman (also 42nd Street)
Mikey Paciello (also West Side Story)
42nd Street:
Jordan Polefka (also Buddy Holly)
Juliet Stith (also West Side Story)
Joseph Connolly
Tim Steiner (also Buddy Holly)
West Side Story:
Lizzy Perone (also Buddy Holly)
Matheus Barbee
Mike Brennan (also Bud
🎭 Mainstage Season
- Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story
August 19 – September 7 - Calendar Girls
September 10 – 21 - On Golden Pond
September 25 – October 5 - Tru
October 9 – 12 - Elf
November 29 – December 21
👧 Children’s Theatre
- The Little Mermaid
August 20 – 24 - Cinderella
August 27 – 31
✨ Buddy Holly Production Credits
Director: Steve Steiner
Choreographer: Paula Hammons Sloan
Music Director: Matty Mitchell
Assistant Music Director: August Walker
Scenic Designer: Jeff Weigel
Lighting Designer: Anthony Marinaro
Sound Designer: Ian Wehrle
Props Designer: Jenna Raef
Costume Designer: Keith Schneider
Production Stage Manager: Kathryn Ronan
Assistant Stage Managers: Liv Sheridan, Grace Ellett
Producing Artistic Director: Steve Steiner
Casting Director: Gail Anderson
Peter Pan (June 25th-29th & July 30th-August 3rd)
Snow White (July 2nd-6th, no show July 4th)
The Wizard of Oz (July 9th-13th & August 6th-10th)
The Little Mermaid (July 16th-20th & August 20th-24th)
The Spongebob Musical: Youth Edition (July 23rd-27th & August 13th-17th)
Cinderella (August 27th-31st)
Our last interviewee of the summer is Lizzy Perone! Lizzy is a rising senior from the University of Oklahoma with a BM in music theatre. She was our lead, Maria in West Side Story and is also playing Maria Elena in Buddy Holly.
What is your favorite role(s) you’ve ever played?
Maria in West Side Story, Jo in Little Women and Katherine in Newsies. They were my favorites because I was able to build great relationships with the cast. Looking back, they were such positive experiences and I would love to play these roles again.
What’s your dream role/show?
Eponine in Les Miserables!
What do you like to do on your day off?
Go to the beach and get ice cream at Barry’s!
Favorite food on the island?
Bacon, egg and cheese on a poppy seed bagel from Pearl Street (with an iced coconut latte with almond milk)
What are you most excited about in Surflight’s season this year?
I was really excited to see 42nd Street even though I wasn’t in it. I love huge dance shows and I was looking forward to seeing a professional production of it. It exceeded my expectations and I had so much fun and I got to see a lot of my West Side cast mates in it as well.
Below, you can find the link to the Surflight Theatre website to purchase tickets for the season. Whether you’re a returning supporter or visiting for the first time, I hope you’ll join us for a summer filled with music, movement, and a whole lot of heart. Also, follow my upcoming blogs throughout the summer for updates!
Thank you for following along and supporting Surflight Theatre throughout this incredible season. 🎭
On behalf of the entire cast, crew, volunteers, and leadership team — we are deeply grateful for your encouragement and presence. Your support makes the magic of live theatre possible.
–Lexie