PARALLEL LIVES
Written by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy
Directed by Amanda Dorman
PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTOR
Amanda Dorman
STAGE MANAGER / ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Nate Beynon
SET DESIGN
Amanda Dorman and Adam Coons
SET CONSTRUCTION
Adam Coons and Michael McDermott
LIGHTING DESIGN
Oona Newman
SOUND DESIGN
Barry Streifert
COSTUME DESIGN
Sheena Johnson
CAST
Amanda Conlon
Debra Burger
Josephine Tracey
Katie Weinberg
Rita Machin
SPECIAL THANKS
RADIO HOST
Mary Darcy
GRANDMA VOICE
Anne-Marie Baker
The Marra Family
VOLUNTEER USHERS
Jan Waltz
Beth Swallow
Josie Woods
Barbara Ritschel
Sandi Dollinger
Sue d’Oelsnitz
Olga Tenney
Marquis Heath
John Quinan
Debra Kelsey
Amy Jessup
John Hewitt
Phyllis D’Antonio
Meg Carroll
Kathy Spiak
IN MEMORIAM
JUSTINE CALDES
September 26, 1935 - August 25, 2025
Board Member (1964 - 1965)
CHRISS MACAIONE
October 27, 1946 - July 30, 2025
Board Member (1980s, 2006 - 2007)
KASSIDI JARVIS
May 10, 1983 - June 29, 2025
NANCY COLANGIONE
October 18, 1937 - November 27, 2025
PETER BELLENCHIA
February 19, 1961 - August 30, 2026
MEET THE CAST
AMANDA CONLON
Amanda was seen this past spring as Truvy in Steel Magnolias at SCP, last winter as Claire in Fuddy Meers here at ACT, and many moons ago as Nellie Cohan in George M! at Park Playhouse. Other recent stage favorites include the Witch in Into the Woods, Clarice in SILENCE! The Musical, Susan in [title of show], and Pinky in Pageant Play. Missmatch, a musical parody Amanda wrote based on her experiences with online dating, debuted at the Hollywood Fringe, was named a Better Lemons Must-See Musical and won the Encore Producers' Award. Amanda has also appeared in film, TV, and national commercials. A graduate of SUNY Geneseo, she’s trained with the Groundlings, Berg Studios and BGB Studio.
DEBRA BURGER
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Debra studied acting at HB Studio and performed with the Redwood Players and the Brooklyn Heights Players. After a long intermission, she returned to the stage in Albany Civic Theater’s Big Maggie and has been making up for lost time since then. She has performed at Albany Civic in Night of the Iguana, Man from Nebraska, Wonderful World, Looking for Normal, and The Choice. In addition, Debra has worked with Sand Lake Center for the Arts’ Circle Players, Noodle Pudding Players, Theater Voices, and Northeast Theater ensemble. She was a regular with JAM Productions' yearly presentation of Vagina Monologues and was part of Siena College’s production of Votes For Women. Debra also performs as a folk singer and singer-songwriter. She is a past board member of Albany Civic Theater and currently serves on the board of directors of Old Songs.
JOSEPHINE TRACEY
Josephine is pleased to be appearing in her first ACT stage production since 2019. She has appeared at R’Ville Stage (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Harbinger (Into the Breeches!), Schenectady Civic Players (The Cake, Murder on the Orient Express), Albany Civic Theater (The Gingerbread Lady, Appropriate, The Trestle on Pope Lick Creek), SLOC (It Shoulda Been You), and Theater Voices (Marjorie Prime), among others. She would like to thank her family and friends, most notably her two best productions, Thomas and Theodore, and David, who has been watching her onstage antics since 5th Grade.
KATIE WEINBERG
Katie is a graduate of Ithaca College and the Eugene O’Neill National Theater Institute. She is an actor, director and stage manager and has worked on over 50 shows in the Capital Region over the past 20 years, at theaters including ACT, SLOC, Not So Common Players, Theater Voices, and SCP. She is very excited to be a part of this production and thanks her mom for introducing her to The Kathy and Mo Show when she was 10 years old. Katie sends love to Adam and Ethan and sends thanks to everyone who supports the arts.
RITA MACHIN
Rita is excited to be back at ACT with old friends and new. She last appeared on the ACT Stage in Perfect Arrangement. Rita has worked on stage and off with various companies throughout the Capital District. Favorite productions include Unnecessary Farce, The Woman at Dead Oaks, and Enter Laughing. Amanda is the best director Rita has ever worked with, and Nate is amazing. Rita would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support; she would be lost without them. A huge thank you to you for coming to the show and supporting the arts, especially in these times, because without you, we wouldn't be able to come out and play! Enjoy the show!
MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Amanda Dorman (Director / Set Design) - Amanda has been a performer, director, & producer for over 47 years, she has been seen onstage as “Yitzak” in Albany Civic Theater's Hedwig and The Angry Inch. Other roles include, “Annie Wilkes” in Misery (Curtain Call Theatre), “Jessie” in ‘Night Mother (Albany Civic Theater), “Diane” in Hurricane Diane (Harbinger Theatre) and as a regular cast member of Dinner Detective Albany. She produced and directed The Vagina Monologues for 14 years, benefiting the Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. She would like to thank Andy for his love and support.
Nate Beynon (Stage Manager / Assistant Director) - Nate has stage managed, sung in the chorus, moved set pieces, run sound cues, built sets and torn them down again. He likes being helpful.
Barry Streifert (Sound Design) - Barry is overjoyed to be back at ACT again. A favorite haunt, he is often found in the booth. Wave as you walk by. Most recently at ACT, he was the sound designer and live mixer for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. A few other favorites include Alter Boyz, The Minutes, Fuddy Meers, The Complete History of Shakespeare Abridged, and, of course, Peter and the Starcatcher. Barry has teched, acted, or directed over 100 productions around the Capital Region over the past 28 years.
Oona Newman (Lighting Design) - Oona received her BA in Theatre Production and Design from Susquehanna University. She has worked both on and off Broadway as a stage manager in shows such as Dance Nation, Choir Boy, and Ink. Since in Albany, she has worked as the lighting designer on Ride the Cyclone (Steamer 10), Driving Miss Daisy (ACT), The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (Steamer 10), A Wrinkle in Time (Steamer 10), On Golden Pond (ACT), Carrie (Steamer 10), Fuddy Meers (ACT), The Roommate (ACT), Next to Normal (Steamer 10), and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (ACT).
Sheena Johnson (Costume Design) - This self-proclaimed Elder Emo Nerd Mom sewed her first costume 30+ years ago for her junior high school’s production of Pygmalion and never looked back. This semi-retired theater kid is a software engineer and 23-year military vet. She enjoys historical costume dramas, eating all the carbs, and living her best life with her hubs, kids, and goats on their 10-acre farm. She is thrilled to be back at Albany Civic Theater, working with this amazing cast and crew. Sheena thanks you for supporting live theater and hopes you enjoy the show!
ALBANY CIVIC THEATER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Peter Kantor
2026 - 2027
TREASURER
Oona Newman
VP - COMPANY OPERATIONS
Amanda Dorman
VP - PUBLIC RELATIONS
Baruch Rainey
VP - MEMBER SERVICES
Kevin McNamara
VP - PRODUCTION
John Quinan
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Barbara Davis
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Robert Healey
SECRETARY
Brian McBride Land
Nate Beynon, Nellson Moore, Tyler Rexhouse, Michael Silvia
TRUSTEES-AT-LARGE
OTHER ROLES PEOPLE
PLAY AT A.C.T
PLAYBILL
Peter Kantor
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Kevin McNamara
HOUSE AND GROUNDS
Amanda Dorman
BOX OFFICE
Katie Weinberg
GIFT BASKET
Peter Kantor
HELP SUPPORT
ALBANY CIVIC THEATER
Benefactors, Angels, Patrons, Friends, and Membership support Albany Civic Theater. Membership entitles you to attend our annual meeting in June. If you wish to become a donor at any level, please check in at the Box Office.
Thank you to those who have donated this season:
BENEFACTORS
Jacqueline Smith
Melanie Trimble
Rebecca Belenchia
ANGELS
Richard and Denice Cross
Ian and Judith Duckor
Amy Durant
PATRONS
Adam Coons and Katie Weinberg
FRIENDS
Diane Bartholdi
MEMBERS
David Sutor
JOIN US FOR OUR
2026 - 2027 SEASON
September 2026
PARALLEL LIVES
Written by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy
Directed by Amanda Dorman
December 2026
TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL
Written by Horton Foote
Directed by Sydnie Grosberg
February 2027
THE COLORED MUSEUM
Written by George C. Wolfe
Directed by Aaron Moore
May 2027
WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA
WOOLF?
Written by Edward Albee
Directed by Linda Shirey
SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS!
