presented virtually march 25–26

A NEW MUSICALBOOK, MUSIC,AND LYRICS BYNICK NAVARI

PRESENTED VIRTUALLYMARCH25–26

For a good time, call Local Singles, the last surviving

support group in Pittsburgh for lonely people. When

Penny’s boyfriend makes a rushed exit after learning

about her pregnancy, she turns to the group for answers and

walks away with something unexpected. Nick Navari’s new

pop-musical will make you laugh and break your heart. You’ll

leave with a song in your head, and the feeling that there is

still good in the world. This performance will be the first time

the musical is presented with a full cast and band.

ABOUT LOCAL SINGLES

I had never written anything as lengthy

as a musical before: the idea of Local

Singles became the ever-present

daydream which I would always talk

myself out of writing. Eventually,

I realized that was useless. So in

June of 2019, I got to work.”

— NICK NAVARI

ARTIST BIO Nick Navari is a Pittsburgh-based playwright, musician,

filmmaker (and investment research analyst) who is thrilled

to share his first musical with the world. After graduating from

Kenyon College in 2018 with a degree in Economics and Law,

he returned to Pittsburgh to work in finance while continuing

to pursue the arts. His work has been featured in the Pitts-

burgh Fringe Festival, the upcoming New Works Festival, and

on YouTube.

ARTIST STATEMENTI had no other choice but to write Local Singles.

The idea for the show came

to me in the fall of 2016,

and over the course of the

next 3 years, I would keep

coming back to the story

and its characters. I had

never written anything as

lengthy as a musical

before, so the idea of Local Singles became the ever-

present daydream - which I

would inevitably table when I would talk myself out of writing it

all down. Eventually, I realized that was useless. What was the

point of keeping these songs and this story to myself? I had

exhausted all of my excuses, so in June of 2019, I got to work.

Finding the time to write

this show while working a

full-time job brought its

challenges, so I had to

get creative. I started

recording the audio on

my commutes to and from

work each day, wherein I

would improvise

melodies, lyrics, and

dialogue while driving

down I-79 into town.

Then, I’d write the script at

the Einstein Bros. bagel

shop on Grant Street on

my lunch breaks. At night,

I would skim through the

roughly two hours of audio

I had recorded from inside

my car that day to see if

anything was good

enough to make it into the

script or the score.

Throughout this process, I was trying to write something that

surprised me. I was intrigued by the idea of characters

seeking romantic love, only instead, to realize their happiness

in finding familial love outside of the typical family unit. I was

excited by the prospect of drawing the audience closer to the

Local Singles Support Group by emphasizing each character’s

inherent empathy and allowing all of the conflict to come from

outside of the group. But perhaps most importantly, I wanted

everyone who saw the show to walk away with a song stuck in

their head, knowing that there is still some good left in the

world.

MARCH 25–26newhazletttheater.org/csa/

Jeremy DeLuca & Mount Lebanon High School, Jean Drennan & Musical Theatre Artists of Pittsburgh, Tony Ferrari and City Theatre, Loraine Mszanski, Amanda Rosco, East Allegheny High School, and Saturday Light Brigade.

SPECIAL THANKS

CAST & CREWSARAH CHELLI

PENNYSYDNEE ELDER

NANCYEMMANUEL ELLIOT KEY

JACKSETH LAIDLAW

RICHARDADAM MARINO

WESGABRIELLE FAETINI

VIOLINRJ HEID

DRUMSNICK NAVARI

KEYBOARD & GUITARMARISA WEXLER

BASSJOHNMICHAEL BOHACH

SCENIC DESIGNERHARBOUR EDNEY

LIGHTING DESIGNERMICHAEL BOONE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

SARAH CHELLI (Penny) is excited for her first New Hazlett CSA experience in Local Singles. She holds a B.F.A. in musical Theater from Seton Hill University. Sarah currently resides in New York City, but is thrilled to return to Pittsburgh where she was born and raised. Some of her favorite credits include Beauty and the Beast at Saint Vincent Summer Theatre and Stupid F***ing Bird at 12 Peers Theatre. sarahchelli.com

EMMANUEL ELLIOT KEY (Jack) is over the moon to be in Local Singles. A 2020 Howard University graduate, Emmanuel has worked with companies such as Signature Theater (Washington D.C.) and Roundabout Theater Company (New York). There is nothing like coming home to Pittsburgh and the New Hazlett Theater. He’d like to thank Nick and all those who’ve supported him and given him solace, a home during this time, and wonderful memories

SYDNEE ELDER (Nancy) is thrilled to be joining this wonderful cast and crew! Her credits include Owen Wingrave at The Little Opera House of New York as well as The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Leo: A Ghost Story with Riverside Theatre. Sydnee is a Pittsburgh native and is excited to be performing back in her hometown. Much love and thanks to her family. sydneeelder.com


CAST BIOS

ADAM MARINO (Wes) is a Rochester native who resides in NYC. Adam is the current tenor for the 1950’s doo wop group “The Diamonds.” Favorite credits include: Grease (Doody), Tarzan (Terk), I Do! I Do! (Michael) and The Buddy Holly Story (Ritchie Valens). Outside of theatre, Adam is a passionate fisherman, video game nerd, and songwriter. Special thanks to his family for their support, and an even bigger thanks to his bean, Alex Shephard. Instagram: @adammarino

SETH LAIDLAW (Richard) is a Pittsburgh-based artist, arts administrator, educator, director, and producer. He currently serves as Interim Education Director at Pittsburgh Public Theater and President of Stage 62, a community theater in Carnegie, PA. Past favorite shows include 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (William Barfee) and Annie (Rooster). Seth is thrilled for this opportunity to work on a world premiere and tell new stories that celebrate love.

CAST BIOS / CONT.

GABRIELLE FAETINI (Violin) is a native of Pittsburgh and recent graduate of Duquesne University with a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance. She is very active in the Pittsburgh community and performs in many ensembles including the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and Butler County Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her orchestral career, Gabrielle is a private violin and piano instructor and founding member of the Ferrum String Quartet.

RONALD J. (RJ) HEID (Drums) holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy and a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Duquesne University. He is well known for being a pit drummer/percussionist for the Pittsburgh theater scene.

Partial credits include Pittsburgh CLO and CLO Cabaret, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, and Carnegie Mellon University. RJ recently accompanied John Lloyd Young from Broadway’s Jersey Boys and worked with Stewart Copeland and the Mendelssohn Choir in February 2020.

MARISA WEXLER (Bass) is a writer, composer, and musician. She’s written a bunch of stuff you’ve never heard of because writing is easy and free, but producing is neither. Aside from music, Marisa writes about medical science for BioNews Services. She also coaches fencing. She had a blast playing in the band for Local Singles.

MUSICIAN BIOS


NEW HAZLETT THEATER SAFETY PROTOCOLSThe New Hazlett Theater staff has been committed to every person’s safety during the filming of Local Singles and has established safety protocols in consultation with other local theater organizations, health professionals, and with information provided by the CDC and local government.

Here are some of the ways that our artists and crew were protected during the making of this production:

• Artists and crew were given lifestyle surveys prior to rehearsal and filming to evaluate risk and prepare mitigation plans.

• Artists and crew were asked to self-isolate during the weeks leading up to and during the filming process.

• Artists and crew were tested for COVID-19 at regular intervals during the rehearsal and filming process.

• Artists and crew were questioned about activities and symptoms each time they entered the building.

• All rehearsals were conducted with actors and crew in appropriate PPE provided by New Hazlett Theater in consultation with health professionals.

• All production crew was socially distanced throughout the production.

• No other individuals were permitted on set during filming.

• All singing in the production was pre-recorded with each singer in isolation. No singing was done during the filming of the performance.

For questions and concerns about COVID-19 safety procedures please contact Executive Director, René Conrad at [email protected]

AVERY C. ADAMS FUND OF THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION

ALLEGHENY REGIONAL ASSET DISTRICT

ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK

ANONYMOUS

THE BENTER FOUNDATION

THE BUHL FOUNDATION

JACK BUNCHER FOUNDATION

BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES

CITY OF PITTSBURGH

ANNE L. AND GEORGE H. CLAPP CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL TRUST

EDEN HALL FOUNDATION

THE FINE FOUNDATION

THE SHELIA REICHER FINE FOUNDATION

FISHER FUND OF THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION

THE FORBES FUND

FORT PITT CAPITAL GROUP

HENRY C. FRICK EDUCATIONAL FUND OF THE BUHL FOUNDATION

GIANT EAGLE FOUNDATION

THE GRABLE FOUNDATION

THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS

HILLMAN FOUNDATION

JOHN E. AND SUE M. JACKSON CHARITABLE TRUST

JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH

LAUREL FOUNDATION

A. SANFORD LEVY AND HASELE DEUTSCH LEVY FUND OF THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION

MCKINNEY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION THROUGH THE PNC CHARITABLE TRUST GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE

RICHARD KING MELLON FOUNDATION

S&T BANK

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

OPPORTUNITY FUND

PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL ON THE ARTS, A STATE AGENCY

W.I. PATTERSON CHARITABLE FUND

PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION

THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION

QUEEQUEG FOUNDATION

SNEE-REINHARDT CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

NEW HAZLETT THEATER FUNDERS


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RENÉ CONRADTECHNICAL DIRECTOR SCOTT CONKLINDIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING KRISTIN HELFRICHBUSINESS AND FINANCIAL MANAGER KIMBERLEE LOVEDEVELOPMENT MANAGER PATTI PHILLIPS-BESTASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DYLAN BAKERSTAGE MANAGER RACHAEL ELLISVENUE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGER COURTNEY BOLDPROGRAM AND EVENTS MANAGER AMBER HOLDERDIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST PHOEBE ORRMASTER ELECTRICIAN PIPER CLEMENTLEAD AUDIO ENGINEER CHRIS FRITSKYAUDIO ENGINEER LAURA MOELLERCAMERA OPERATOR JEREMY FLEISHMANCAMERA OPERATOR ZACH WHITE

NEW HAZLETT STAFF

BRIAN P. MALONEY, PE, ESQ., PRESIDENTBRITTANY BEASLEYREBECCA CULYBAMARK FATLA, ESQ.SUSAN GILLIS KRUMANLAURA GREENAWALTBRIEN MARSHDOUGLAS J. MORALLY, CPARICHARD E. RAUHSANJA SAVICJOHNNA SIMITOSKIEVAN H. STEINROB ZELLERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NEWHAZLETTTHEATER.ORG

New Hazlett Theater provides a nurturing, collaborative environment for artists leveraging people, space, and technology to create and present challenging and dynamic art.

NEW HAZLETT THEATER

WE ARE FLEXIBLE AND DYNAMIC

We seek out collaboration in order to allow arts organizations and individual artists to pursue their own missions, present their own programs and connect with their own – and new – audiences.

WE ARE MORE THAN A BUILDING

We excel at listening, helping artists think about the big picture without worrying about how all the pieces of the puzzle will come together.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY RESOURCE

We create an energetic arena for arts events and community dialogue in our Northside neighborhood and beyond.

WE SUPPORT DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING

We embrace the programming of a broad range of artists and arts organizations, hosting diverse audiences and encouraging the success of Pittsburgh’s performing arts community.

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A BIOGRAPHYIN MOVEMENTCREATED BYKAYLINHORGAN

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AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION OF WEST AFRICAN MYTHOLOGY, TRADITION, AND MIGRATION BYSAMUELBOATENG

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A PLAY BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SONIA MANZANO WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY TLALOCRIVAS

JUNE10–11

presented virtually march 25–26

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