The Great Plan of Happiness

The Great Plan of Happiness
by Mindy Curtis

Playbill

CAST (in alphabetical order)
Megan Bishop - Haylee
Olivia Kirby - Makayee
Jordan Palmer - Heber
Sydney Shoell - Brandilynn
Cezanne Smith - Cassie
Aaron Sparks - Daniel
Emily Spikes - Anna
Lori Smith - Marilee

CREW
Director - Zac Curtis
Playwright- Mindy Curtis
Stage Manager - Emma Hallett
Lighting Designer - Michael Fewkes
Sound Designer - McKenzie Maag
Recording (for streaming) - Michael Fewkes
Producer - Jim Martin

The running time is with a 10-minute intermission.

Director's Note:
The Great Plan of Happiness cast and crew comes from a variety of family and religious backgrounds and beliefs. Our experience through this rehearsal process led to some wonderful, thoughtful, open-minded conversations about what happiness meant for these characters and for ourselves. I hope this play does the same for the audience.

BIOS

Aaron Sparks (Daniel) is thrilled to be making his WTC debut with the role of Daniel. He has a BA in Theatre from the University of Utah and has been on stage and behind-the-scenes since the age of 3 at various venues across the Salt Lake valley. He would like to thank Mindy, Zac, and the entire team who brought this production together during these interesting times. Hooray! He would also like to thank his family for true unconditional love. And, last, but not least, thanks to Kyle for pushing me to get back into the swing of things. Enjoy!

Cezanne Smith (Cassie) is thrilled to be in THE GREAT PLAN OF HAPPINESS. Her debut of this show actually began a few years ago. During the development process of GREAT PLAN, Cezanne played the role of Mckayee in a staged reading at WTC! She is overjoyed to be back in this play and get to see the show as a fully realized creation. Her classically educated roots have brought her all over the country, having trained with American Players Theater, New School of Drama, and Interlochen Arts Camp. As an alumni of First Stage’s Young Company, she was given the opportunity to be co-captain on the Utah Shakespeare High School competition team. Some of her recent credits include THE WOLVES (SLAC), THE SEAGULL (SLCC), and ANTIGONE (First Stage). For more, follow @Cezanne_S on Instagram.

Olivia Kirby(Mckayee) is thrilled to be doing a show at Wasatch Theatre with such an amazing group of people! She is a student at Salt Lake Community College and the last show she did was CURIOUS INCIDENT, the same show Zac Curtis directed. Some of the parts she has loved to play in the past are the Queen of Hearts from ALICE IN WONDERLAND and Glinda from WIZARD OF OZ. She has loved being a part of the cast and has been grateful to be a part of such a unique show!

Emma Hallett (Stage Manager) is so excited to be a part of THE GREAT PLAN OF HAPPINESS, a show that she has fallen in love with so deeply. Emma is currently an education major and is graduating this Spring with her associates in Education and hopes to continue her education specifically focusing in Theatrical Education. She would like to thank Zac and Mindy for creating this beautiful story and letting her be a part of it being told. She would also like to thank her incredibly patient husband who married a theatre kid and basically never saw her again. Emma is very grateful for the opportunity to jump back into stage management after a four year hiatus and has many opportunities lined up for future productions.

Emily Spikes (Anna Jolley) is overjoyed to be making her return to the stage in THE GREAT PLAN OF HAPPINESS at Wasatch Theatre Company. Prior to taking a break from the stage to raise their daughter, Emily both acted and directed in Utah and NYC. Some of Em’s favorite roles include: Ensemble member in INNOVATION, Mary in THE BALD SOPRANO, Maria in NOT ALL THIEVES COME TO HARM YOU, Masha in THE SEAGULL, and Cassandra in THE ORESTEIA. Emily studied Theatre Performance at Fordham University, where she received a BA in 2015. When she isn’t rehearsing or working for American Cancer Society, Em can be found adventuring with their family, relaxing to a favorite TV show or movie, or making music. She wants to thank her partner Jess, their 3 dogs, and daughter always supporting her passions.

Megan Bishop (Haylee) is a graduate from Southern Utah University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Classical Acting. Her favorite roles include the Duchess of York in RICHARD III and, more recently, Middle Susanna in SUSANNA with the Online Theatre Festival last year. Megan loves to act (obviously), but her true passion lies in teaching and directing. She is currently teaching theatre and dance at South Hills Middle School. This is Megan’s first show with Wasatch, and her second written by Mindy Curtis (always an honor). She is so excited to be a part of this beautiful show and work with such talented actors.

Sydney Shoell (Brandilynn) is excited to be working with Wasatch Theatre Company. Some of their previous credits include P.G. ANON with Plan-B Theatre Company; WAIT, RED BIKE, and ELEEMOSYNARY with Pygmalion Theatre Company; THE LOWER DEPTHS and TITUS ANDRONICUS with Pinnacle Acting Company; and SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, CLYBOURNE PARK, and TWO GENTLEMAN OF VERONA with Westminster Theatre. Syd received their BFA in performance from Westminster College and spends their summers white water raft guiding at Holiday River Expeditions

Jordan Palmer (Heber) has recently gotten back into acting amidst our new Covid-19 centric world. He is just coming off of Salt Lake Community College's production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME. Jordan is currently studying acting at the University of Utah and plans to eventually get his masters degree. Jordan is passionate about the arts and particularly enjoys acting and writing. When he's not acting or studying, Jordan loves all things outdoors. He's an avid skier and enjoys being in the mountains whenever he can. Camping and backpacking with his friends are some of his favorite activities.

Mindy Curtis (Playwright) is a playwright, deviser, director, educator, teaching artist, mother, wife, traveler, adventurer, and knitter. Mindy’s plays have been produced and performed by various theatres and venues across the U.S. including: Stage One, Inc. and University of Wisconsin-Rock County in Janesville, WI; University of Idaho and Left of Civilization Theatre in Moscow, ID; Theatre Undefined, Wasatch Theatre, and Salt Lake Community College, in Salt Lake City, UT. Mindy has also been a teacher, director, and arts administrator across the country for twenty years. Currently Mindy serves her local arts community by holding the position of Past President on the Utah Advisory Council of Theatre Teachers. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah with her talented husband, two spunky kids, siamese cat, and labradoodle puppy. She would like to thank the actors, production team, Jim Martin, and Zac Curtis for their dedication and creativity in bringing this local story to the Wasatch Stage and beyond.

Zac Curtis (Director) is loving being back with Wasatch Theatre Company, after previously directing for their Page to Stage Festival and The Salt Lake Fringe Festival, and acting in BUILDING THE WALL. He is a Professor of Theatre at Salt Lake Community College and has his MFA in directing from The University of Idaho. Most recently, Zac has directed with SLCC, University of Wisconsin, and Madison Children's Theatre, and fight directed with Utah Opera, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, University of Utah, Westminster College, and Pinnacle Acting Company. Zac spends his free time with his fantastic children and phenomenal playwright wife.

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Kiki Cabaret: Every month on the last Sunday, local performing artists come to Alliance Theater in Trolley Square to perform for Salt Lake City -- and the world! Doors open at 6:30, for a talented show of music, comedy, acrobatics, burlesque, drag and more!

Dress up and join us in the theater or watch the high-quality livestream simulcast from home!

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