Written by Bridget Carpenter
Music and Lyrics by
Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey
Directed by Ron Giddings
Performance Dates:
April 22 - May 15, 2022
Run time: 2h20m (including intermission)

Time to liven things up! When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again. By spending a day in each other's shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another’s struggles, learn self-acceptance, and realize the immeasurable love and mutual respect that bond a mother and daughter. This joyous Disney musical version of Mary Rodgers’ beloved book is heartfelt, comedic, and unexpectedly emotional.

To download the production postcard for Freaky Friday to share with your friends, visit the Downloads page of our website and look under the Production Postcard heading. A PDF of the playbill is also available in the same location under the Production Playbills heading! 

 

About the Director, Music Director, Choreographer

Ron Giddings is an award-winning actor, director, and choreographer who has worked in the Annapolis area since 2004. As the founding Artistic Director of Standing O Productions and a former Artistic and Education Director of The Colonial Players, he has directed Nine (10 WATCH nominations including Best Director and Best Musical), Gypsy, Wonder of the World, Moonlight and Magnolias, Mr. Marmalade, and two 24-Hour Projects. He was awarded the Ruby Griffith Award for Overall Production Excellence in 2007 for his production of Urinetown: The Musical at ASGT as well as for Best Achievement of a Play in 2013 for Shipwrecked! at CP. He has acted in the area with Dundalk Community Theatre, Cockpit in Court, Dignity Players, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, Moonlight Troupers, 2nd Star, Phoenix Festival Theatre, the Maryland Arts Festival, and Standing O. He most recently appeared as Edgar/Bat Boy (WATCH award for Best Actor in a Musical) in Bat Boy: The Musical; Frank Abagnale, Jr. in Catch Me If You Can; Nick in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (WATCH award for Best Featured Actor in a Play); Aaron Port in The Babylon Line; Gordon Schwinn in A New Brain; and Austin in I Love You, Because.

 

About the Freaky Friday Creative Team

Freaky Friday is Disney’s stage version of the beloved Mary Rodgers book about a girl and her mother who change bodies for a day. The book for the musical was written by Bridget Carpenter and the music and lyrics by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. Carpenter is a writer and producer for television best known for the popular television series Friday Night Lights, which earned her numerous awards and nominations for her work as a producer and writer for the series. Kitt and Yorkey met at Columbia and have written several musicals as a team and individually. Their biggest success was Next to Normal, which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, only the eighth musical to achieve that honor. It opened on Broadway in 2009 and was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning for Best Original Score, Best Orchestration, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley.

 

Director's Notes

I first encountered the musical version of Freaky Friday when I saw the premiere at Signature Theatre in Virginia in 2016. I’m a Heidi Blickenstaff fan, so I was there to watch her in the leading role but had low expectations about the show overall. As the performance went on though, I was continually surprised by how much I was enjoying each moment more and more, until I was moved to tears by the end of the show. They had taken a fluffy, thin storyline and beefed it up with real darkness and emotion in the best way. Every song was a new favorite, and the dialogue was snappy and quick but ultimately effective. When the rights became available in 2018, the show sort of swept through Play Selection, having the same effect on the committee members, causing real excitement that we would get to be the first place to do the show locally. In 2019, I was lucky enough to be involved on the original production team. Just three weeks before opening, the day we were scheduled to move into the theater, Covid hit. We held out hope that this would only be a minor delay, but it turned into two full years! When we finally entered the theater a few weeks ago, it was hard to hold back the emotions of getting to see the cast onstage. To me, Freaky Friday is all about understanding how hard life can be for other people. We’re all going through something, and the show has become even more potent post-pandemic, as we return to our lives significantly changed and increasingly aware of the plight of others. The uphill journey of having to replace 11 of the original cast members essentially had us starting from scratch. Half-remembered choreography or harmonies were the best we had. This has truly been the strangest rehearsal process I’ve ever experienced, but we persevered and brought to life a truly magical piece of theater. Thank you to everyone who has worked on this show over the years and to you, the audience, for returning to The Colonial Players to finally provide the missing piece.

– RON GIDDINGS

 

The Cast

Isabella Van Bergen (Laurel) - Bella is 17 and a junior at Archbishop Spalding High School. This is her first experience with The Colonial Players and she is grateful for this amazing opportunity. Bella began doing theater in the fourth grade and since then has been a part of 19 shows with the Talent Machine Company. She has also participated in many school productions and cabarets. Her favorite roles include Morticia in The Addams Family and Jenny Hill in Big Fish. Bella has also been dancing for seven years at Stageworkz in many different dance styles. She would like to thank Ron and everyone involved for all of their hard work. Enjoy the show.

Matthew Earl (Wells) - Matthew is 16 years old and in the 10th grade at Archbishop Spalding High School. He has appeared in many Indian Creek School and Talent Machine Company productions, including his favorite roles of the title character in Willy Wonka (2020) and Will Bloom in Big Fish (2019). Matthew would like to thank director Ron Giddings for giving him this opportunity. He also thanks his family and friends for their support.

Jane Elkin (Grandma Helene / Mrs. Luckenbill / Mrs. Time) - Jane is grateful to The Colonial Players for the opportunity to sing again after two years of pandemic withdrawal. A founding member of the Renaissance Singers of Annapolis, her previous musical theater credits include such roles as Magnolia in Showboat, Dora in Fiorello, the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and the Stepmother in Cinderella. When not performing, she writes, teaches English as a second language at AACC, and volunteers backstage -– her stunning wind chime solo in Maytag Virgin earned rave reviews.

Rosalie Hess (Gretchen) - Rosalie is a 16-year-old junior at Archbishop Spalding High School and is beyond excited to make her Colonial Players debut in Freaky Friday! She has recently been seen in the Children's Theatre of Annapolis productions of The Addams Family as Wednesday Addams, and Into The Woods as Little Red. Outside of theater, she is also a member of the All Children's Chorus of Annapolis. At school, she also actively participates in the theater and music departments. She would like to thank everyone involved with the success of the show as well as all her supportive family and friends. She hopes everyone enjoys the show.

George King (Grandpa Gordon / Dr. Ehrin / Mr. Blumen) - This is George’s first show with The Colonial Players. He most recently performed with Pasadena Theatre Company in Scrooged for Christmas (Assistant Director/Brice Cummings) and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Linus). Some favorite past musical roles (all in California) include The Mikado (Koko), Anything Goes (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), and Something’s Afoot (Geoffrey). George would like to thank his wife, Ameeta, and their two sons, George IV & Rudy, for all the love and support.

Alexandra Kuebler (Savannah) - This is Alexandra's second production with The Colonial Players and she is thrilled to be back in this theater! Recently. Alex has had the pleasure to perform as Belinda Cratchit/Fred's Wife in A Christmas Carol, Luisa in The Fantasticks, and Jo in Little Women. Outside the theater, Alex enjoys reading, baking, and searching the internet for concert tickets to anything and everything. She is very grateful to her mom and dad for constantly supporting her in her acting endeavors and her sisters for loving her despite the non-stop singing coming from Alex's room. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Andrew Limansky (Adam) - Andrew is a 17-year-old junior at Arundel High School and is ecstatic to make his Colonial Players debut in Freaky Friday! Some of Andrew’s favorite past roles were Caldwell B. Cladwell in Urinetown and George in Metropolis. Andrew most recently performed in Arundel High School’s presentation of Shrek the Musical as Lord Farquaad. He would like to thank his amazing parents, brothers, his voice teacher Suzanne Chadwick, and all of the amazing people who helped make Freaky Friday happen! Andrew hopes that you “Go” enjoy the show!

Brian Mellen (Mike Riley) - This is Brian’s debut performance on the CP stage. Also at The Colonial Players, he directed Quiche Isn’t Sexy for the One Act Festival. He has performed and directed with Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, 2nd Star Productions, Children’s Theatre of Annapolis, Silhouette Stages, Dundalk Community Theatre, and Heritage Players. His most recent stage performances pre-pandemic were Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Marcellus in The Music Man, Ancestor in The Addams Family, and Jesus in Godspell. When he is not acting or directing, you can find him on a 737 working for Southwest Airlines. Thanks to Ron and Jennifer for adding me to this great cast and production. This performance is dedicated to all my family and friends who help keep this creative monster alive in me!

Jamie Erin Miller (Katherine Blake) - Jamie is so grateful to be back “home” at The Colonial Players doing what she loves in this role she only ever dreamed of playing, while working with people who make her dreams come true every day! Jamie majored in theater at The University of Central Florida and received her masters degree in elementary education. She is currently working as an elementary school principal for AACPS. Over the last 15 years, Jamie has performed in the Maryland and DC area with theaters such as Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, The Colonial Players, The Greenbelt Arts Center, Dignity Players, 2nd Star Productions, Standing O Productions, Vagabond Players and Winters Lane Productions. Some of her favorite roles include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (WATCH nominee); Maureen in Rent; Woman 1 in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (WATCH nominee); Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie; Christine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Carla in Nine; Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical the Musical; and Izzy in Rabbit Hole (WATCH nominee). Jamie would like to thank everyone who put their heart and soul into this show (starting back in 2019 until now), especially Ron, for never giving up and seeing it through! And a special thank you goes out to her family and friends for their endless love and support, especially her husband, Andrew, and their ten-year-old daughter, Sophie! 

Sami Peterson (Hannah) - Sami is so excited to finally be able to put on this show after being cast over two years ago! This is her first production with The Colonial Players, but she has been involved with other community theaters in the area, notably The Crucible at Vagabond Players in Fells Point (Mary Warren). As this new show opens, she thinks back fondly on the original cast of Freaky Friday.

Matthew Rigby (Parker / Louis) - Matt is very excited about his third production with The Colonial Players! He has been working on productions here since October and he can’t get enough. Matt played Fred in A Christmas Carol in December, and for the first time worked as a board operator with the crew for The Lost Boys in February. Working on Freaky Friday has been lots of fun for him, and he hopes the audience enjoys this zany and heartwarming story. Matt wants to thank all the members of the theater community for being supportive and welcoming. Working as a part of both cast and crew has been very memorable for him and he’s eager to get involved with future productions. He’s just getting started!

Mia Rinehart (Yanny) - Mia is a 16 year old 10th grader in the IB Program at Annapolis High School. She is thrilled to return to The Colonial Players stage after performing last winter in A Christmas Carol as Martha Cratchit. Mia is no stranger to community theater, having performed last spring as Elsa in Children’s Theatre of Annapolis’s production of Frozen - her sixth show with that theater! When not performing, Mia can be found participating in many clubs at school, traveling to see live music, or listening to Phoebe Bridgers. Mia is honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this iconic show and thanks this incredible cast and creative staff for the amazing experience. Mia thanks her family, specifically her mother, for keeping theater a priority in her life. She also sends her thanks to her vocal coach, Alyssa Cox, for her amazing support and encouragement. Enjoy the show!

Miles Shulman (Fletcher Blake) - Miles is thrilled to be making his debut with The Colonial Players. Although he is new to CP, he has been acting since he was six years old. Most recently, Miles worked with the Classic Theatre of Maryland, appearing in A Christmas Carol (2019, 2020, 2021), Oliver!, and Macbeth, the Classic Theatre of Maryland's feature film. Miles has additionally performed in A Christmas Story with the Pasadena Theatre Company as well as The Little Mermaid and The One and Only Shrek with Catonsville Youth Theatre. Miles has performed at various local events with NapTown Sings, is a blue belt in Isshinryu Karate, and rides a unicycle. He is a sixth grader at Northeast Middle School in Pasadena and is 12 years old.

Kylie Sjolie (Danielle / Ms. Myers / Officer Sitz) - Kylie is so excited to finally be performing in Freaky Friday the Musical! Some of her past credits include: Soloist/Ensemble (Rent), Sister Mary Patrick (Sister Act), and Kathy (9 to 5), at The Annapolis Summer Garden Theater, Velma Von Tussle (Hairspray) at AACC Theater, Mazeppa (Gypsy) at 2nd Star Productions (nominated for a WATCH Award); Narrator (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) at Woods Church. She also directs children's theater with Theater in the Park, Benfield Drama Club, and Central Middle Drama Club. Some of her directing credits include Seussical Jr., Aladdin Jr., Once on this Island Jr., Little Mermaid Jr., Legally Blonde Jr., and Shrek Jr. Kylie would like to thank Ron for everything he has done to make this show finally happen and her mom for being such a big supporter and influence in her life.

Abbie Smith (Ellie Blake) - Abbie has been performing on stage and screen since age six. She has been seen in many different productions with Children’s Theatre of Annapolis and Talent Machine Company, as well as various school performances since elementary school. In addition, she choreographed shows at Theater in the Park, Jones Elementary, and Stage and Screens. She is thrilled to be reunited, after two very hard pandemic years, with her amazing Freaky Friday cast. She is finishing up the exciting process of college auditions, while hoping to eventually obtain a BFA in Musical Theater in order to work in and around the industry. She is eternally grateful to Ron Giddings for this opportunity to play Ellie Blake, a super fun and challenging role. Thanks to Jamie Miller, her incredible stage mom, and Abbie’s family for their constant love and support. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Reva Thompson (Torrey) - Reva was classically trained in opera and is currently a music educator and recording artist, under the artist name Tonty on all major music platforms. Her solo performance repertoire ranges from jazz to pop to soul, and everything in between. Her previous roles were Mabel (Pirates of Penzance), Kate (Kiss Me, Kate), and Buttercup (HMS Pinafore); she has sung various opera roles as well. In addition to music, Reva is an activist for social justice, a self-published author, an avid amatuer makeup artist, and a tea enthusiast. She currently resides in Bowie with her father Robert and a naughty Sphynx cat named Romeo after her late mother Romelita. She's very excited to make her debut with The Colonial Players as Torrey, and wishes her fellow cast, crew, and tech an amazing run!

Aaron Vonderharr (Señor O’Brien / Officer Kowalski / Pastor Bruno) Aaron is just happy to be here. He has worked in overseas military theater as Trekkie Monster/Nicky in Avenue Q, Gomez in The Addams Family, ensemble in Legally Blonde, Mrs. Bumbrake in Peter and the Starcatcher, Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, and Sir Henry Baskerville in Baskervilles: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. More recently he's worked with The Colonial Players as Bauer in The White Rose and Thomas Royde in Towards Zero. Now it's time to sing again! "Many thanks to my wife, Leah, for her support and encouragement and pushing me outside, and to my son, Randal, for his boundless energy and love." 

 

The Production Staff

Lois Banscher (Properties Designer) Lois thinks it’s great to be back as part of The Colonial Players world of community entertainment after being isolated for way too many months. She hopes her contribution as properties designer lives up to the standards of this wonderful, fun, and poignant play. Lois has participated in more than 20 productions since joining The Colonial Players in 2009. Her designs have earned her two WATCH nominations plus a 2016 WATCH Award for best properties design for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Designing props is a team effort, and she has enjoyed collaborating with Constance Robinson and her mentor, the late JoAnn Gidos. “We miss you, Jo!

Kaelynn Bedsworth (Sound Designer) Kaelynn has volunteered both on the stage and off in a variety of roles for more than a decade, from actress to go-button pusher to steampunk wig maker to Looney Tunes sound effect specialist to smushed banana cleaner. You may have seen her grace the stage in A Christmas Carol (multiple productions), The Secret Garden, 1776, Annie, Moonlight and Magnolias, and Little Women. Behind the scenes, she has produced, costume designed, sound designed, and scene painted for many shows over the past 12...or is it 13 now?...years. Kaelynn sends her love to her husband, Wes, who shares this crazy theater world with her on a daily basis.

Wes Bedsworth (Lighting Designer) Wes has been volunteering with The Players since early 2007 when he was a sound technician for Moon Over Buffalo. He's gone on to sound design many other shows, light design one, program lights for a bunch, create an Arduino-controlled illuminated grand piano for another, and provide technical consultation on more shows than he can count. Wes currently serves as Operations Director on the board, where his responsibilities vary from plumber to electrician to network administrator to HVAC technician to locksmith to general handyman, depending on what broke this time. He also serves as technical director on the Production Team, and is excited to be part of the "Stream Team" -- the trio of volunteers who have worked closely (while bickering like brothers) to develop live stream capability for The Players. By day, Wes works for Cardinal Engineering, proudly supporting the United States Navy's COLUMBIA Class submarine program, where he was recently recognized as employee of the year. Wes sends his love to his wife, Kaelynn; his parents; sister, Susan; and brother-in-law, Jon. “Abby - always in our hearts.”

Jennifer Cooper (Producer) Jennifer is producing for the second time with The Colonial Players after previously managing the production of Silent Sky. She also has directing credits for The Revolutionists and The Babylon Line, which was recognized with a 2018-2019 Ruby Griffith Award as First Runner-Up for Outstanding Achievement in a Play. Her work was again acknowledged with a 2019-2020 Ruby Griffith award as First Runner-Up in a Musical for directing Mamma Mia! at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre.

Kathy Parrott (Stage Manager) This is Kathy's first time as stage manager on her own and she thanks the very talented Ron for inviting her. She is no stranger to the theater, having done costumes, props and makeup for the many productions her daughter was in. She is tickled to be working with such a talented and professional group.

Kyle Sullivan (Properties Fabricator) Kyle's love of theater started on the vaudeville stage where his family's comedy review, "The Sensational Sullivans," became the talk of the town. After a few seasons abroad entertaining the troops, he turned his focus from on the stage to backstage, fabricating illusions for lesser known magicians. When Kyle isn't working he is usually tinkering in his shop, creating props for his local theater or volunteering for NAR (National Aardvark Rescue).

Lindsay Zetter (Set Designer/Decorator) Lindsay returns to The Colonial Players after having previously worked on Ernest in Love, Lucky Stiff, and three years of A Christmas Carol. She has staged, produced, choreographed, and set designed ballet productions of Cinderella, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty. Other productions include Once Upon a Mattress, Cats, Grease, Chicago, The Addams Family, Mamma Mia, Charlie Brown, and Bright Star.