CAST LIST FOR My Fair Lady, Spring 2012
Hailed by critics and audiences for its heart and its wit, My Fair Lady is a beautiful musical about transformation, patronage, gender politics and class, based on George Bernard Shaw's play, Pygmalion. Acclaimed Professor and confirmed bachelor Henry Higgins makes a wager with his linguistic colleague Colonel Pickering that in six months he can pass off "gutter snipe" Eliza Doolittle as a duchess at an embassy ball. Through arduous training, day and night, Eliza learns how to speak English "properly," and transforms into a lady respected and adored by all classes. Along the way she bewitches young Freddy Einsford-Hill into falling in love with her, and convinces a supposed linguistics expert that she is royalty. Through her transformation process, Eliza forges a deep connection with Colonel Pickering and most especially with Professor Higgins. However, she finds herself in a difficult position, now too refined to go back to her old life and not with any means or desire to live life as a lady of leisure – especially by herself. When Higgins completely fails to acknowledge Eliza's role in her own transformation, she leaves his home. It is only then that Higgins realizes that he cares deeply for Eliza. The musical ends with Eliza's return to Higgins' home, and the ending is left ambiguous, yet it is beloved for being both one of the cleverest and one of the most romantic shows of all time.

Directors
- Stage Director - Sally Foster-Chang
- Music Director - Carol Freed
- Vocal Director - Ryan Goulden
- Producer - Bruce Conley
- Co-Stage Manager - Barb Matheson
Actors
- Eliza Doolittle - Rachel Hendrickson
- Henry Higgins - Jonathan Sills
- Alfred Doolittle - Colin Dahms
- Colonel Pickering - Bruce Bogdanoff
- Freddy Ensford-Hill - Chris Rubino
- Mrs. Higgins - Robin Greene
- Mrs. Pearce - Ginny Swann
- Zoltan Karpathy - Al Alvarez
- Mrs. Ensford-Hill - Helen Beldecos
- Mrs. Hopkins - Ellie Knickman
- Harry - Robert Moore
- Jamie - Dave Zaffarano
- Bartender - Bruce Conley
- Lady Boxington - Cathy Wakefield
- Lord Boxington - Jack McEwen
- Queen of Transylvania - Sally Sapega
- Cockneys/Chorus
Alan M. Alvarez (Zoltan Karpathy) performed most recently with RVCO as Ali Hakim in Oklahoma. Other favorite RVCO roles include Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Gangster Number 2 in Kiss Me Kate, Vernon Hines in Pajama Game, and Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man. Favorite roles with other groups include Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha and Jigger Craigin in Carousel. Alan appeared as a non-union featured background artist (extra) in the movie Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg. He also played the role of Lenny, a bartender, in the independent film Jack of Clubs. Back to top
Jennifer Andrews (Maid) is excited to be finishing her 3rd season with Rose Valley Chorus & Orchestra and very happy to be playing one of the maids in My Fair Lady, one of her favorite musicals!! Outside of RVCO, Jen sings with a worship team at Calvary Chapel. When she isn’t singing, she is an Autistic Support teacher for the DCIU. She thanks her voice instructor, Kathryn Armour of Wilmington, DE for her wonderful teaching. She looks forward to future shows with Rose Valley. Back to top
Helen J. Beldecos (Mrs.Eynsford-Hill) joined RVCO in 1985 and has performed regularly ever since. Her roles include Mrs. Doris Upson in Mame, Lady Battersby in Me and My Girl, Shaindel in Fiddler on the Roof, Mae in The Pajama Game, Mrs. Rose in Hello, Dolly!, Fatima in The Desert Song, and Maud Dunlop in The Music Man. Behind the scenes, Helen has been treasurer and in charge of tickets. “RVCO is a wonderful group of talented performers--a pleasure to be with them.” Back to top
Bruce Bogdanoff (Colonel Pickering) joined the RVCO in 1989 as pianist for the The Mikado. His stage debut with RVCO was as the Pearly King in Me and My Girl, and his last featured role was as Beauregard in the 2007 production of Mame. Other community theater roles include Bobby in Company, Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, General Bullmoose in Li’l Abner, Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, and Chico Marx in A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine. He teaches music appreciation courses at various adult community classes and retirement communities, where he also performs regularly on the piano. His response to being chosen to play Pickering: “Well, I’m dashed!” Back to top
Bruce Conley (Bartender, President, Producer) has participated in the chorus since 1988. He has played minor roles including Ike Skidmore in Oklahoma!, Samuel Zapp in Plain and Fancy, Bogdanowitsch in The Merry Widow and David Basombe in Carousel. In addition to serving as President of RVCO for the past six years, Bruce also wears many hats off stage including producing this show. He especially thanks his wife, Rae, for her help and support and his Aunt, Thelma Loving, for inspiring his musical interests. Back to top
Peggy Cully (Cockney, Chorus) has been a member of RVCO since 1988 and participated in more than twenty-five shows. She played the roles of Mrs. Hopkins, Eruestiva Moneypenny, Mrs. Brown, and Ethel Toffelmeier. I have truly enjoyed the antics and crazy costumes. Back to top
Colin Dahms (Alfred Doolittle) is delighted to be on stage with Rose Valley Chorus & Orchestra again. Colin's wife is ambivalent, but at least it keeps him out of the pubs. His last stage appearance was with the Ardensingers as Giuseppe Palmieri in The Gondoliers, and his last role with Rose Valley was Lieutenant Cholmondeley in The Yeomen of the Guard. Colin mostly enjoys performing Gilbert and Sullivan, but when he heard that RVCO was doing My Fair Lady, he couldn’t resist, especially as his sister Kat had the role of Eliza Doolittle back in high school. Gosh, was it THAT long ago? Colin feels old now. Back to top
William Dahms (Cockney Chorus) is delighted to be performing again with RVCO. He has been a Gilbert and Sullivan fan for many years and has been performing their works since 2002, but My Fair Lady is his first non-G&S performance. He is proud to once again perform with his offspring. He thanks his understanding wife for letting him out at night to dance with other women. Back to top
Mary Beth Dostillio (Cockney, Chorus, Painter) I used to sing at my desk all day long till it was recommended that I find another outlet. That’s when I joined RVCO. Twenty years later I’m still singing my heart out. But stay tuned…. I just started a new job Back to top
Sally Foster-Chang (Stage Director) Having directed her first show at the age of 8, Sally has since directed in multiple local adult and youth theater programs. Recent “on stage” roles include Nellie in South Pacific. Mother Hicks in Mother Hicks, Vi Shaw in Footloose, Rose in The Red Mill and Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet. During the day she works to support her theater habit as a nurse practitioner running an Occupational Health Service. Thanks to all the terrific people at RCVO for another fabulous theater experience! Back to top
Carol Freed (Music Director/Orchestra Conductor) started piano at the age of six and was music director first as a senior at Lower Merion High School. Since then she has been music director/conductor for many local theater groups. She joined RVCO in 1977 as accompanist and became music director and conductor with The New Moon production in 1985. Her longevity with RVCO has now earned her the distinction of Life Member. "What a privilege to lead such a wonderful and talented group of people, both actors and orchestra." Off the podium, she sells real estate with Weichert Realtors and does vocal coaching. "Thanks to my husband, Marvin, for supporting me, always." Back to top
Robin Greene (Mrs. Higgins, Hotline, Historian & Archives) played Eliza in our 1972 production of My Fair Lady, and is delighted to be Mrs. Higgins a mere 40 years later! She has done soprano leads in all the G & S operettas as well as favorite roles Guinevere, Marian in The Music Man, Desiree in A Little Night Music with PCS and many others. She's directed several RVCO shows, most recently 2007's The Mikado, and is director/manager of our Music in the Schools community project. Love to Zoe, light of my life! Back to top
Stefanie Groff (Cockney, Chorus) found RVCO by Googling "Delaware County auditions". She is grateful for the opportunity to work in the chorus with such wonderful people and hopes this is her first of many performances with Rose Valley. Stefanie would like to thank her best friend, Ivy for her love and support and her husband Ed for the song in her heart and Oh, so loverly first year of marriage. } { Back to top
Rachel Christine Hendrickson (Eliza Doolittle) is pleased to be performing for the first time with Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra. She is a native of Overland Park, Kansas and currently resides in Center City, Philadelphia. Her musical background includes a Bachelor of Music from Chapman University and a Master of Music from Florida State University, both in voice performance. Rachel has studied abroad at the AIMS Festival in Graz, Austria and also completed a three month audition tour in Germany during the fall of 2009. Ms. Hendrickson has participated on the stage in various capacities in opera, operetta, and musical theatre. Lately, she has been focusing on her passion for operetta, singing the role of Phyllis (Iolanthe) with The Savoy Company and the role of Liane (Sweethearts) with Concert Operetta Theatre. She will be returning to the Savoy Company this summer to sing Peep-Bo in The Mikado. Additional stage roles include: Annio (La clemenza di Tito), Yum-Yum (The Mikado), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Rosina (The Barber of Seville, opera outreach version), Tessie Tura (Gypsy), and Petra (A Little Night Music). Film credits include: "The Visitation" (Frank Horror Productions). Rachel continues to grow and develop as a singer through private study with area soprano, Rebecca Carr. The role of Eliza has been a whirlwind role to develop, at times a challenge and at times a joy. Rachel hopes you are drawn to Eliza's endearing qualities of sassy sweetness as much as she has been. The RVCO group has opened their arms graciously to Rachel and she appreciates all their support. Thank you for the opportunity to be a newbie in this community. Rachel would like to dedicate this performance to a special newbie in her own family, her nephew, Ian Nikolaas Gonzalez. May you always have, "Lots of chocolates to eat!" Enjoy the show! Back to top
Wayne Jones (Cockney, Chorus) Wayne is very exited to be performing again with RVCO. His past performances with RVCO include Oklahoma! and Patience where he was also in the chorus. Wayne is a member of the Adult Choir and Contemporary Group Choir at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Aston. He also sings with the St. James Alumni Choir the Blue and Grey Voices. Back to top
Amy Karash (Maid, Cockney, Chorus) has sung many of the standard G&S mezzo roles with Philadelphia area performing organizations. This is her first time around with RVCO since an ill-fated production of The Most Happy Fella, and she's enjoying being a Cockney, an aristocrat, and a London housemaid because it's such a nice change from being a lovesick old bat. Back to top
Ellie Knickman (Mrs. Hopkins) is delighted to be back with RVCO after a stint with MN Players as Sally in The Fifth of July and Ardensingers as Giulia in The Gondoliers. Her first show with RVCO was as Mother Burnside in Mame, and she stayed for the G&S: Ruddigore and The Yeomen of the Guard. Ellie daylights as a librarian at DCCC, and thanks her family for tolerating her theatrical indulgences. She will next appear with the Renegade Morris Dancers on May 1 on Belmont Plateau at sunrise, BYO coffee. Back to top
Sharon Kope (Piano Accompanist) A native from the farm country of Maryland, Sharon has been a musician all her life. She received a Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Sharon started with RVCO in 2001 playing violin in the pit for Hello Dolly. She returned as accompanist in 2003 for Die Fledermaus and has been a member ever since. She was the accompanist for the Thespis production of H.M.S. Pinafore this past February. She is the Director of Music for Mount Hope United Methodist Church in Aston, and the director and accompanist for the Sunshine Singers of Delaware County. She is married to her wonderful husband, Bob and between the two of them has a blended family of 5 and 3 grandchildren. When not involved with music, Sharon likes to spend time with her family, playing Pickleball, traveling and doing crafts. Back to top
Peggy Long (Maid, Cockney, Chorus) Proud to be a lifetime member and grateful to RVCO for a world of dancing opportunities -- from Covent Garden and Oklahoma to a carnival midway, Pontevedrian embassy, the Hot Box or Brigadoon. Thanks to all the talented and wonderful people who are in RVCO. Back to top
Barb Matheson (Co-Stage Manager) has appeared backstage as Bobette in numerous RVCO shows, including favorites Hansel and Gretel, Carousel, The Red Mill and Mame. After playing "roles" in business management, she discovered that she was happiest dressed in black, and (mostly) out of sight! Between shows, she likes to travel with her husband, Don, a long-time RVCO member who plays trombone in the orchestra. Back to top
Jack McEwen (Lord Boxington, Chorus, RVCO Treasurer, Publications) was Ike Pilersham in Plain and Fancy, Piet in The Red Mill, Liver-Lips Louie in Guys and Dolls, and Bob Barking in Me and My Girl. This is his 12th season with RVCO. Back to top
Eileen McIntyre (Cockney, Chorus, Playbill) I am excited to be on stage with the very talented cast, crew and orchestra of RVCO. As a recent retired music teacher in both public and private schools for 34 years it is so “loverly” singing and dancing in my favorite all time musical My Fair Lady as a flower girl. “Thiank que kinely!”. I also thank my wonderful husband, Wayne, for his love and support always. Back to top
Caity Moon (Cockney, Chorus, Assistant Choreographer) is a chorus member of the Cockney Community, and the Ascot. She has enjoyed performing for RVCO as a dancer and chorus member in The Merry Widow, Plain and Fancy, The Yeoman of the Guard and helped choreograph the production of Oklahoma!. She has also preformed for Thespis' H.M.S Pinafore as a chorus member. Caity has been performing since high school and loves being on stage. She works at the Building Blocks Learning Center in the infant room, and teaches Theater Camp in the summer. She is currently a student at West Chester University earning her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. Back to top
Robert Moore (Harry/, Make-Up Design) directed RVCO's production of OKLAHOMA! last spring and has directed many other productions as well as playing principal roles for RVCO in the past. Bob holds an MA in Theatre from Villanova University and has worked professionally in theatre and film for many years performing everything from "Shakespeare to Sondheim"! He is co-founder of the Young People's Theatre Workshop in Swarthmore and is still actively involved as a director and instructor. A retired teacher, Bob now works as a designer for Celebrations Design Group and does free-lance acting and directing! He is thrilled to reprise the role of Harry which he's played many times before in dinner theatre productions of this show. Hats off to a great production with a super staff, cast, orchestra, and crew!! Back to top
Joel Realberg (Butler, Footman, Chorus) is pleased to return to Rose Valley Chorus & Orchestra after a three-year hiatus. “Performing for the crown heads of Europe as an expat left me with an empty feeling inside” he said. “The wine was terrific, the women were friendly and the money [before the Euro tanked] was great but it all fell short of performing for RVCO. I had to come home.” Joel jumped at the opportunity to play a footman in My Fair Lady. When asked about the difference between performing in Europe versus the United States Joel said that he likes the fact that house help here is much more upwardly mobile. Since joining the cast of MFL he has moved up to the role of Butler. Back to top
Chris Rubino (Freddy Eynsford-Hill) is thrilled to be making his first lead role performance with RVCO. Before making his group debut in the chorus of Patience last fall, Chris appeared in other Gilbert & Sullivan choruses, including the Philadelphia Gilbert & Sullivan Union’s The Sorcerer and Penn Singers’ Utopia Limited. Chris also enjoys many fond memories of singing and dancing with the Penn Glee Club, his college fraternity. “Much love to my wife Meagan and our little son Marc for continuing to inspire me always, on stage and off. I extol my fellow cast members in Freddy’s own words… There’s nowhere else on earth that I would rather be.” Back to top
Diane Runkel (Maid, Chorus) is thrilled to be back on the stage for this production, finishing her sixth year with Rose Valley. She treasures the friendships, the team work and the satisfaction in putting a show together. Thanks to her husband Bill for his support! Back to top
Sally Sapega (Queen of Transylvania, RVCO Board member) loves being part of this ‘chah-ming’ group of talented performers. The fantastic costumes, the fun of being onstage, and the wonderful friendships keep her coming back year after year. Sally has also appeared in shows with Footlighters Theater, Thespis, Etc. and Barnstormers Theater, and is a member of the choral group Schola Cantorum. When not in performance mode, Sally is director of internal publications for Penn Medicine. Back to top
Rande Saxe (Cockney, Chorus) - Retired public school music teacher for 36 years. I am loving every minute working with such a tremendously talented cast. This is my 7th production, each is more fun than the last. I dedicate these performances to the 3 special ,men in my life: George, Jason and David. Back to top
Mike Stadnicki (Cockney/Chorus) just had to be a part of RVCO as soon as he heard they were putting on My Fair Lady. After 11 years of being away from the stage, he's ready to get back on! He is a public school instrumental music teacher and a private studio brass teacher. Back to top
Jonathan Sills (Henry Higgins) is delighted to be making his debut with RVCO as Henry Higgins. He holds a BM in voice and a BA in theater from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music. An active performer in the Philadelphia area, Jonathan has appeared as Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre, the Musical and Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd with the Narberth Community Theatre. The baritone has been heard in opera and concert appearances around the US, in Europe, and in Russia. Jonathan is also a professional massage therapist, and will happily schedule a session with you in his Wyndmoor, PA office. He even promises not to criticize your diction. Back to top
Ginny Swann (Mrs. Pearce) - This is Ginny's first show with Rose Valley Chorus. She is certainly not new to the theater. Ginny has over 30 years of experience both on and off stage. She has performed roles from chorus to leading lady and has worked on publicity, costumes, make-up and programs for a number of community theaters in the Northern Virginia and Philadelphia area. Some of her favorite roles have been Miss Tweed in Something’s Afoot, Alice in My Name is Alice and most recently Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods. Ginny is pleased to call Narberth her home and hopes to be actively involved with area theaters for many years to come. She wants to thank her husband John for his love and support. Back to top
Cathy Wakefield (Lady Boxington, Chorus, Sponsors, Music Librarian) is proud to be a Lifetime Member of RVCO and always enjoys singing and dancing with the Chorus. She has performed with the group since the 1981 production of Die Fledermaus. Favorite shows include Guys and Dolls (1984 and 2004), Plain and Fancy (1986 -onstage with her daughter, Kerri), Mame (2007 as Cousin Fan), Oklahoma! (Specialty Woman), and The Pirates of Penzance, her favorite G&S. "Thanks to my wonderful family and friends for their love and support of my exciting hobby! Back to top
Dave Zaffarano (Jamie, Rehearsal Hospitality) RVCO: The Major in Patience; Andrew Carns in Oklahoma!, Ezra in Plain and Fancy, Gregor in Mame, 2nd Yeomen in The Yeomen of the Guard, Pritschitsch in The Merry Widow. Chorus: The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Ruddigore, H.M.S. Pinafore. Also with Ardensingers: The Gondoliers and The Pirettes of Penzance; with Thespis etc.: H.M.S. Pinafore. He sings in church as a choir member and a soloist. He also sings with Schola Cantorum and The St. James Alumni Choir. “Thank you Sally for all your hard work. And to Julie, who is my inspiration." Back to top
Julie Zaffarano (Maid, RVCO Board Secretary, Murder Mystery Coordinator, Rehearsal Hospitality) and her husband, Dave, are blessed to be performing in their sixth season with RVCO. Most recently seen as Lady Ella in RVCO's Patience, she especially enjoys being a part of RVCO’s Murder Mystery Troupe. Julie has also performed with GSSCC, Ardensingers, Thespis Etc., Philadelphia Gilbert and Sullivan Union, Schola Cantorum, and St. Anastasia music program. Her advice to women who want to be accepted in musical groups, "Marry a tenor." Back to top