Production Team

JAMES VALCQ
MUSIC AND BOOK
James Valcq is the composer of the off-Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill (Playwrights Horizons, 2001) which has been produced over 700 times across the United States, in Europe, Asia, and Australia, as well as a highly lauded London premiere in 2015. Also off-Broadway, Valcq was the composer/author of Zombies from The Beyond, which opened to critical acclaim in 1995. Regional credits include an adaptation of the classic children’s book The Pancake King (commissioned by Milwaukee’s Next Act Theatre), Anatole (commissioned by First Stage), and The Passage (a collaboration with Fred Alley), Victory Farm, and Boxcar for Northern Sky Theatre. In 2019 he reconstructed, restored, and produced George Gershwin’s first musical La La Lucille for its centennial. As a conductor, orchestrator, actor and stage director, his career has spanned Broadway, National Tours, and regional theatre. Valcq is the co-Artistic Director of Third Avenue Playhouse in Wisconsin.

FRED ALLEY
LYRICS AND BOOK
Fred Alley (1962–2001) was an American musical theatre lyricist and librettist who died unexpectedly just as his work gained national recognition. His collaboration on the musical The Spitfire Grill with composer James Valcq won the American Academy of Arts and Letters' prestigious Richard Rodgers Production Award for 2001. Premiered at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey and produced Off-Broadway by Playwrights Horizons, it received Best Musical nominations from the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League, as well as two Drama Desk nominations. The cast album was released on Triangle Road Records. The Spitfire Grill has become one of the most frequently performed recent musicals with more than 300 productions to date, not only in every major American city but in Canada, Germany, South Korea, and Japan as well.

BEN RAANAN
DIRECTOR
Ben (he/him) is the Artistic Director at Phamaly Theatre Company. Ben is a disabled director whose work focuses on producing artistically rigorous theatre with, for, and about the disabled community. His favorite directing credits include: Mockingbird (Falcon Theatre), Antigone: born against, The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love Suicide, Crumble: Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake, Love & Information (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati), Falling (DePaul). A special thank you to Sasha, Annie, Erin, and Darion for their continual guidance and hard work as we navigate this post-pandemic world.

BASHIR PAGE-SANDERS
CHOREOGRAPHER
Bashir Page-Sanders, from Baltimore, MD, began his classical dance training at the Community College of Baltimore County-Essex Campus and went on to pursue his degree from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. He has also studied at Morton Street Dance Center, The Ailey School, and PHILADANCO. Bashir has danced professionally with PHILADANCO 2nd Company, Genesis Dance Company, Keen Dance Theatre, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. He now is a full-time dance teacher and choreographer and has his own company called NU-World Contemporary Danse Theatre.

HEATHER HOLT HALL
MUSIC DIRECTOR
The Spitfire Grill is Heather’s first show with Phamaly Theatre Company, but she is no stranger to Denver Regional Theatre. Over the last decade, Heather has music directed and performed in theatre pits for Town Hall Arts Center, Forgelight Theatreworks, Breckenridge Backstage, BDT Stage, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Ignite Theatre, Performance Now, Vintage Theatre, Inspire Creative, StageDoor Theatre, The Aurora Fox, and Coal Creek Theatre. Some of her favorite projects include Next to Normal, 35 MM, The Secret Garden, Newsies, The Toxic Avenger, Plaid Tidings, Mama Mia, and of course Heathers. Heather has had an amazing experience with her new Phamaly, and hopes that you will all come join her at the Spitfire – Let’s have a cup of Joe!

DOROTHY JOLLY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/DRAMATURG
Dorothy is originally from Memphis and is very happy that her first Colorado show is with Phamaly! She has a bachelors in acting and dramaturgy from Cornell College and completed a Professional Acting Apprenticeship with Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, where she also served as dramaturg for two seasons. She has performed with Working Group Theatre (Iowa), Insight Theatre (St. Louis), and Know Theatre (Cincinnati). She is finishing up a sustainable horticulture degree from Cincinnati State.

NICHOLAS RENAUD
SET DESIGNER
Nicholas is proud to be working again with Phamaly. Previous credits include Alice in Wonderland, Chicago, Honk! The Musical (Phamaly); This is Modern Art, SantaLand Diaries, Lived/Re-Lived (Off Center, DCPA), MilkMilkLemonade (Shrewd Production, Austin Texas, B. Iden Payne Nom.) Nicholas is currently a resident scenic design assistant with the DCPA Theatre Company where he has assisted over 50 productions. He received his BFA from Emerson College, Boston, MA. NicholasRenaudDesign.com

JAIME MCNEAR
COSTUME DESIGNER
Jaime McNear is a Denver-raised costume, paint and props enthusiast who got into live theatre for the life-sized dolls and stayed for the camraderie and teamwork. A smattering of her recent design works include The Arsonists with Benchmark, The Vibrator Play with Fearless Theatre and Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World with Central City Opera. The Spitfire Grill is her third show with Phamaly, but her first show designing costumes with them; she has loved the experience.

KYLE CUNNINGHAM
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Kyle got his BFA in Lighting Design from DePaul University in 2020. Since then he has moved to Denver with his fiancée. Most recently working with Lightswitch on live event productions as overhire. Kyle is excited to design with Phamaly for the first time.

SAM MORIN
SOUND DESIGNER
Sam Morin is a Sound & Projections Designer, who puts both sides of his brain to use in all his work. He is most proud of his work from The Laramie Project (University of Colorado Boulder), Discount Ghost Stories (Local Theatre), and Lizzie (Forgelight Theatre). Sam takes creative and technical approaches to the work that he does and pushes the boundaries of what can be done with the given tools, techniques, and technology. samamorin.com

ELICIA JAMES
PROPS DESIGNER
Elicia has worked in Costume Design, Props Design, film, and animation in Portland, Oregon for the last 10 years. She moved to Denver in 2019. She now works as the in-house Props Designer, Videographer and Multimedia Content Creator at the Aurora Fox Arts Center. This is her first Phamaly show!

ANNIE JACOBS
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Annie moved to Denver to join Phamaly in December of 2019. Prior to Phamaly, she had production managed at ACT of Connecticut, Astoria Performing Arts Center, Queens Theatre, and Prospect Theatre Company. Her time in New York also included working at Showman Fabricators. While there, her projects included Broadway's Sweeney Todd, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Disney World's American Idol Experience and NBC's The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon. Annie is an alumnus from the Theatre School at DePaul University and the School of Drama at Yale University.

JENNIFER MEDINA-GRAY
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Jen Medina-Gray is very grateful to be working on their first production with Phamaly Theatre! Jen recently moved here from the east coast where they primarily worked as a freelance technical director and carpenter in NYC. Select NYC production credits include [Porto] (Women's Project Theater), Miles for Mary (The Bushwick Starr), The Bad Years (The Bad Years), Sleep No More (Punchdrunk NYC), The Public Theatre, and Theatre for a New Audience. Jen received their BFA in Theatre Design and Technology from Syracuse University.

REBEKAH ATWELL
STAGE MANAGER
Rebekah is thrilled to be making her Phamaly debut. She has been stage managing for nearly eight years; with her last four years with the Northglenn Youth Theatre. When she isn’t stage managing you can find her selling merchandise for traveling Broadway shows at DCPA. She is extremely excited to be a part of this show and she is learning so much from this experience. Rebekah would like to dedicate this show to a young girl named Tatum; she is navigating Mosaic Trisomy 8 and we are all hoping she will come out on top. Rebekah can’t forget about you loving parents who put up with the late evenings and early mornings; so thank you mom and dad. Hope you all enjoy the show.

MADISON STOUT
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Madison has been an actor with Phamaly for a few years performing in the 2021 production of Alice in Wonderland and is excited to join the SM team for the first time as Assistant Stage Manager. Madison lives with VACTRL syndrome presenting with an above-the-knee prosthesis on her right leg and underdeveloped right arm.

DARION RAMOS
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER (ACCESS)
Darion is Phamaly’s Company Production Manager and has been with Phamaly for five years in various capacities. Her previous stage management credits at Phamaly include: James and the Giant Peach, Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol, Pygmalion, Romeo & Juliet, Harvey, Morph Masters, Phamaly’s 30th Anniversary Concert, Chicago, and HONK! The Musical. She has also worked at Colorado Shakespeare Festival and The Lake Dillon Theatre Company as an assistant stage manager. She lives with Borderline Personality Disorder.

RICHARD SAUER
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
This will mark Richard's 8th season with Phamaly. He has his BFA in theatre and film from CU. He is very happy to be apart of Phamaly, whether it's working behind the scenes or helping with auditions. Phamaly is his home. He is very proud of everyone on stage and all the crew that help make it happen. He wishes everyone to break a wheel, cane, leg (what have you), and for you all to enjoy the show.

KATE WARNER
AUDIO ENGINEER
Hailing from Denver's northside, Kate has been playing music and working in the local a/v field for...a while now. As the Girls Rock Denver gear coordinator, TITWRENCH fest sound engineer, and former Rocketspace studio manager, Kate has focused on supporting women and gender expansive led organizations. Her first Phamaly Theatre production was Alice in Wonderland last year, and she was completely hooked by the experience! They're thrilled to be back for The Spitfire Grill.