IN PIECES

Book, Lyrics, and Music by Joey Contreras

Guest Producer

Andrew Patino

Guest Director

Emily Maltby^

Guest Stage Manager

Jennifer Lowe

Guest Dramaturg

Samuel Yates

Musical Director

Dave Wendelberger

^The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

Michigan State University Land Acknowledgement

We collectively acknowledge that Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. In particular, the University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. We recognize, support, and advocate for the sovereignty of Michigan’s twelve federally-recognized Indian nations, for historic Indigenous communities in Michigan, for Indigenous individuals and communities who live here now, and for those who were forcibly removed from their Homelands. By offering this Land Acknowledgement, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty and will work to hold Michigan State University more accountable to the needs of American Indian and Indigenous peoples.

Assistant Stage Manager
Renee Kinsler

Assistant State Manager
Kate Shaffer

Assistant Stage Manager
Angelina Franzese

Assistant to the Dramaturg
Nathaniel Myers

CAST

Alex – Audrey Allen
Cindy / Jael and others– Anna Anderson          
Mike– Oliver Angel
Tinder Jacob / Dash/ Austyn – Matt Antalek
Ohio Boy and others  – Michael Bolaños
River– Anastasia Breen
Peter – Julian Diaz-Granados*
Morgan / Kit and others – Gracie Duffy
Ensemble – Jordan Ivezaj
Grey – Mohamad Mohammad 
Charlie – Tyler Pintea
Sam – Stephanie Torns*


UNDERSTUDIES
Understudies never substitute for listed performers unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the performance
For Charlie: Michael Bolaños, For Grey: Oliver Angel, For Peter: Matt Antalek, For Alex, River, Sam: Jordan Ivezaj

*Appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

MUSICAL NUMBERS

PROLOGUE

Fork in the Road (Intro) – Company

CHAPTER ONE: The Not-So-Distant Past

You Never Know – Company

Me and Mr. Popularity – Charlie

BloomSam & Peter

Unsaid – Grey

CaffeinatedAlex & River

A Classroom DuetGrey & Charlie

Love Wildly – River, Grey, Charlie & Company

Small Talk – Sam

Me and Mr. Popularity (Reprise) – Charlie

You Never Know (B)River, Alex & Company

CHAPTER TWO: Somewhere in the Middle

Get Up and Go – Peter

OhioCharlie

This is Not Me – Grey

Caffeinated (Reprise)Alex

Why Does Anyone…? – Sam

Another New York Love Story – Alex

Singin’ the Same Line – River & Company

You Never Know (C) Sam & Company

CHAPTER THREE: Closer to Now

Great, Cool – Grey & Charlie

Outgrowing – Peter, Alex, Sam

In PiecesGrey & Company

EPILOGUE

Fork in the RoadCompany

WHEN ENTERING THE THEATRE
Please turn off cell phones, mobile devices, alarm watches, and anything that makes noise. The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means are strictly prohibited.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Post-Show Discussion with Writer, Dramaturg, Director, and Actors following EACH performance.

The performance runs approximately 105 minutes with no intermission.

SPECIAL THANKS

MSU Department of Theatre Faculty, MFA Graduate Design Class, Friends of Theatre, Abbie Tykocki, Rebecca Aparicio,
and
you, the audience for helping to make this program possible!

PRODUCTION TEAM

Department of Theatre Chairperson
Dr. Stephen Di Benedetto
Executive Director of Wharton Center
Eric Olmscheid
Director of New Musical Laboratory
Adam Yankowy
Wharton Center Director of Operations and Administration
Jarrod D. Bradford
Wharton Center Senior Production Manager
Sandy Thomley+
Wharton Center Production Manager
Dave Barnum+
Department of Theatre Interim Production Manager
Robert Reid Goodson
Wharton Center Senior Education Program Manager
Kelly Stuible-Clark
Wharton Center Community Engagement and Special Projects Coordinator
Ben English
Wharton Center Director of Marketing & Communications
Lisa Rentz
Wharton Center Ticket Office Manager
Jennifer R. Richard
Wharton Center Public Relations Manager
Bob Hoffman
Wharton Center Senior Marketing Manager
Ryonn Clute
Wharton Center Digital Marketing Manager
Kelsey Southwick
Wharton Center House Manager
Matt Kribs
Wharton Center Associate House Manager
Ana Whitman
Faculty, Sound Engineer
Lucas Nunn
Head Electrician
Joey Lancour+
Head Audio
Troy Boyd+
Photography
Raymond Black Photography
Department of Theatre Office Operations
Kath Clark
Stage Crew
I.A.T.S.E. 274
Additional Promotional Support
Oliver Angel, Shelby Ginsburg, Cayla Hadaway, Andrew Patino

*Member of Actors’ Equity Union, the Professional Union of Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

+Member of Local 274 of the International Alliance of the Theatrical Stage Employees

Director’s Note

Thank you so much for joining us for the 11th installment of the New Musical Laboratory formerly known as (ĭmáGen.) a partnership between the Department of Theatre and Wharton Center for Performing Arts. We are so excited to have Joey Contreras’ IN PIECES as our project this year.

IN PIECES is about six people who face a turning point in their lives and before they can take the next step, they must retrace the journey, stories and relationships that got them there.

When I first heard this score, I immediately became obsessed with it. The music will draw you in and make your eyes well up and then will make you dance in your seat. Joey writes a good ear worm! Because the music was solid, we wanted to provide him the opportunity to develop the story. We as a team felt strongly that the work has the potential to go to Broadway if the story can match the excellence of the score. We paired Joey with Samuel Yates, dramaturg, to help Joey flush out the structure of the story and help the characters find their voices even more.

With that said, you are about to witness a collection of fully staged scenes and songs, brand new pieces read with scripts in hand and potentially some material at music stands. You get to truly experience a new musical workshop environment.  We might even have to stop and start!  Who knows what will happen?!  But you get the first glimpse of a musical that we confidently feel will be gracing commercial stages in the near future.  The cast has had the privilege of working on this new material, and in doing so, THEY have impacted the future of this piece as it continues to evolve. In fact, all of us here this evening will play a role in the evolution of this show, as we watch a brand new musical unfold before us. Please enjoy IN PIECES! Thanks for being a part of our “Fork in the Road.”

Adam Yankowy, New Musical Laboratory Program Director

CAST & CREW BIOS

AUDREY ALLEN (Alex) Highland, MI; Senior, Interdisciplinary Humanities, Musical Theatre Minor. She was most recently seen in last year’s New Musical Laboratory, Rocky Mountain High (Izzy), and MSU’s mainstage musical, Bright Star (Understudy). Outside of theater, she is PR manager and proud member of MSU Capital Green A Cappella. She thanks her parents and her dog, Hank, for always loving her and supporting her dreams.

ANNA ANDERSON (Cindy / Jael / Paparazzi 1/ New Girl) Lansing, MI; Second Year, Clinical Master of Social Work. Her favorite credits include the Lebowsky Center’s production of Next to Normal (Natalie), A2iC’s presentation of Spring Awakening (Thea/Dance Soloist/Wendla Cover), and Interlochen Center for the Art’s regional premiere of Tuck Everlasting (Winnie Foster). She is so grateful to have this incredible musical opportunity during her final year at MSU!

OLIVER ANGEL (Mike / Understudy Grey) Dearborn, MI; Junior, BS Advertising Management, Minor in Musical Theatre. Oliver is honored to be in his third musical at Michigan State! Outside of theatre Oliver is a member of the MSU Accafellas (IG @msuaccafellas) and sings Baritone. Additionally, Oliver is the Social Media Marketing intern here at Wharton Center.  He would like to thank Adam Yankowy and Dave Wendelberger for the opportunity to be in such a new and exciting show!

MATT ANTALEK (Tinder Jacob / Dash / Austyn / Understudy Peter) Adrian, MI; Senior, BFA Acting. Matt is so excited to be a part of the NML for a second year! You may have seen him in Spring Awakening (Melchior Gabor) or the NML last year Rocky Mountain High (Ensemble). He would like to thank his friends and family who have supported him unconditionally. Enjoy the show!

MICHAEL BOLAÑOS (Ohio Boy / Fan / Understudy Charlie) Holland, MI; Senior, BFA Acting, Musical Theatre minor. This is Michael’s fifth consecutive musical at MSU after past credits like [title of show] (Jeff) and Spring Awakening (Otto). He is elated to be working on an up and coming musical with equally phenomenal cast and music. He would like to thank his friends, mother, sister, and anyone else who has helped him reach where he is today in life.

ANASTASIA BREEN (River) Bay City, MI; Sophomore, BFA Acting, BA JMC International Relations, Musical Theatre Minor. Anastasia is ecstatic to be working on this incredible project, with an amazing cast, crew, and creative team! Anastasia’s MSU credits include What If Wilhelmina (Mouse) and MSU UnScripted, and she most recently appeared in Midland Center for the Arts’ summer production of Rock of Ages (Regina) while doing a public policy internship. Anastasia is grateful for this opportunity and for her friends and family who have always supported her ambitions!

JOEY CONTRERAS (Book, Music, and Lyrics) is a Mexican American musical theatre and pop songwriter whose various studio releases have amassed over 10 million streams. He is a Fred Ebb Award finalist, Jonathan Larson Grant finalist, NAMT finalist, O’Neill NMTC finalist and an alum of the Johnny Mercer Project. His musicals have been produced all around the world. Additionally, he has written and developed work for Disney, Prospect Theatre Company, 5th Avenue Theatre as well as music for various short films. Follow on all socials: @joeycontreras.

JULIAN DIAZ-GRANADOS (Peter) is thrilled to join this incredible team of artists here at MSU. Broadway: Jared/Connor in “Dear Evan Hansen”, Himself in “The Ruben and Clay Christmas Show”. Off-Broadway: Timmy in “I Love My Family, But…”. Regional: Jack Kelly in Newsies, Nick Bottom in “Something Rotten”, Jason in “Ordinary Days”. @juliandiazgranados // JulianDiazGranados.com

GRACIE DUFFY (Morgan / Kit / Paparazzi 2 / Blah Barista) Lake Zurich, IL; Junior, BFA Acting, Musical Theatre & Educational Studies Minor. Gracie is thrilled to be a part of her first New Musical Laboratory! Her most recent work at MSU includes What If Wilhelmina (Perimeter Person 1/Dump Truck). Additionally, she is a member of MSU’s premier A Cappella group, Capital Green. She is incredibly grateful for this opportunity and owes it all to her family and friends who support her through everything!

ANGELINA FRANZESE (Assistant Stage Manager) Ann Arbor, MI; Junior, BFA Stage Management, BA Arts & Humanities, Spanish Minor. Angelina cannot wait to work on the New Musical Laboratory alongside this phenomenal team! Previous MSU work includes What If Wilhemina (ASM). Other works include SSP’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (ASM), ROIAL’s Romeo & Juliet (SM) & Trail to Oregon (SM).

JORDAN IVEZAJ (U/S All Female Identifying Roles) Rochester Hills, MI; Senior, Mediated Communication, Musical Theatre Minor. Jordan is so incredibly grateful to be in her second and final New Musical Laboratory at MSU. Previous credits include Spring Awakening (Martha), Rocky Mountain High (Ensemble) and Bright Star (Ensemble). She would love to thank Adam Yankowy and Dave Wendelberger for this amazing opportunity and guidance. Jordan would not be able to do this without the constant support from her friends and family who she is so thankful for! @JordanIvezaj

RENEE KINSLER (Assistant Stage Manager) Holland, MI; Senior, BFA Stage Management & BS Mechanical Engineering. Renee is excited to be part of the New Musical Laboratory team for another year! Previous work at MSU includes What If Wilhelmina (PSM), Clue (Deck Crew Head), and Rocky Mountain High (ASM). She would like to thank her family and friends for all of their support.

JENNIFER LOWE (Production Stage Manager) (She/her) DeWitt, MI: Graduated from Michigan State University with a BFA in Stage Management. Professional stage management experience includes, Three Little Birds and Natural Shocks at Hope Repertory Theatre, The Little Match Girl, and several shows with The Possibility Project, a non-profit organization located in New York City. Upcoming stage manager at Purple Rose Theatre for Office Christmas Party Grinch in Fight with Rudolph Police Called.

Additionally, she is a proud member of SSMT and After School Special. To all those who have loved and supported me throughout this wild journey, thanks for all you do! Finally, she loves football and nothing but football.

EMILY MALTBY (Director) is a NYC-based theater director, choreographer, and writer.  Recent credits include Evita (A.R.T and S.T.C), The King and I (TOHO – Tokyo), The Music Man (TOHO – Tokyo), Sunset Boulevard (The Kennedy Center), A Christmas Carol  (McCarter Theatre Center), For Your Paige (TikTok), Evita (New York City Center), Penelope (York Theatre Company), Allegory (La Jolla Playhouse WOW Festival), Lolita, My Love (York Theatre Company), and Fiddler on the Roof (Singapore). Upcoming projects include a commission to adapt and direct a new play. Associate credits include First Daughter Suite (The Public Theater), The Lion (Manhattan Theater Club). She has also served as a dramaturg for NYMF, as well as the script supervisor for Anastasia. In addition to her creative work, Emily has guest taught at Princeton University, Emerson College, New Rochelle High School, Musical Creators Institute, and the Institute for American Musical Theater. Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.  www.emilymaltby.com.   @emilymaltby

MOHAMAD MOHAMMAD (Grey) Dearborn Heights, MI; Senior, BA English. Mohamad (Momo) is so excited to be in his first musical laboratory at MSU! Previous credits at MSU include Leaf Coneybear in Second Stage’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Ernst Röbel in the Main Stage’s Spring Awakening. He wants to thank his friends and family for their endless support, and his loving and supportive cast mates that have made theatre a magical and unforgettable experience! @mohamadmohamma.d

NATHANIEL MYERS (Assistant to the Dramaturg) Traverse City, MI; Junior, BA Theatre, Arts and Humanities, Musical Theatre Minor. Although Nathaniel partook in last year’s New Musical Laboratory of Rocky Mountain High as an actor but now is serving as an assistant dramaturg for the first time alongside doing so for Inherit the Wind. He is stoked to be working with a wonderful team that has come together this year and would like to thank his family for their endless support on his ever changing theatre journey.

ANDREW PATINO (Producer) is a New York-based Theatre Producer and founder of Ursa Creatives. He has worked extensively in commercial theatre as a producer and marketer: The Secret Garden [The Ahmanson], I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire [Southwark Playhouse], Reefer Madness The Musical [The Whitley], The Creeps [Playhouse 46],  In Pieces The Musical [In Development] and King of Pangea [In Development]. For more information: www.ursacreatives.com

TYLER PINTEA (Charlie) Pittsburgh, PA; Senior, BS Advertising Management, Business Minor. Tyler is super excited to finally be back on the musical stage for his first musical in nearly four years. Tyler has been doing theater since he was 7 years old at a Pittsburgh local theater school, The Center For Theater Arts. Tyler would go on to attend Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School where he would spend grades 7-12 studying Musical Theater. Previous roles include: The Lion King Jr.(Pumbaa), Lucky Guy! (Big Al), in James and the Giant Peach(Earthworm), and more. Additionally, Tyler is a member of MSU’s premier a capella group Capital Green. Tyler would like to thank all his friends and family for coming to see this wonderful production, and he hopes you enjoy every second.

KATE SHAFFER (Assistant Stage Manager) Bloomfield Hills, MI; Junior, BFA Stage Management & BA Marketing. Kate is super excited to be working on the New Musical Laboratory with this team! She has previously worked on Young Playwright Festival (SM), Arsenic and Old Lace (PSM), Stevie and The Real World (ASM), and Much Ado About Nothing (ASM). She wants to thank her family and friends for their continued support!

STEPHANIE TORNS (Sam): Broadway: OBC Waitress the Musical (ensemble/Jenna Hunterson replacement), Wicked (Elphaba standby). Regional: Les Misérables (Eponine), and 9 to 5 (Judy Bernly). Stephanie has also performed her very own solo cabaret show at 54 Below and Chelsea Table and Stage in New York City. She is a proud board member of Epic Players which gives performance opportunities to the neuro-diverse community.

SAMUEL YATES (Guest Dramaturg): Selected artistic/access dramaturgy: La Casa de la Laguna (Gala Hispanic Theatre), Care: The Musical (3Arts/Art Institute of Chicago), Teenage Dick (Woolly Mammoth), Titus Andronicus (The Public). They’ve worked in the literary offices of The Abbey Theatre (Ireland) and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Sam is currently the dramaturg for Great Plains Theatre Commons and Assistant Professor of Theatre at Pennsylvania State University.

friends of theatre logo

Friends of Theatre is a membership organization promoting, encouraging and enhancing activities of the MSU Department of Theatre. We organize events and programs that expand the community experience of theatre. We also create fund-raising opportunities and promote improvements in the programs and facilities of the MSU Department of Theatre. How can you join?  Make a donation to the Michigan State University Department of Theatre and you will become a most welcome member. Click here to learn more.

We would like to express our gratitude to the following friends who have generously supported the MSU Department of Theatre during the past year. If we have inadvertently left your name off this list, please accept our apologies and contact us so that we may make the correction. This list is current as of 3/21/24.

Named Summer Circle Courtyard Donors
Sam and Mary Austin
Selma Hollander
Linda Nelson
Gretel Geist Rutledge
Jane K. Vieth and Alan P. Suits

Diamond ($2,500+, Season Sponsors)
Ms. Free
Mr. Gunn
Dr. Harris
Ms. Kern
Mr. Kief and Ms. Rutledge
Mr. Matson
Dr. and Mr. Paulsell
Mrs. Peters
Ms. Somerton
Dr. Stone
Robert Swaney
Prof. Williams
Richard and Karen Williams

Platinum ($1,000-$2500)
Dr. and Mrs. Austin
Mr. and Mrs. Babcock
Dr. Bryson and Mrs. Coffman Bryson
Mr. and Mrs. Buck
Dr. and Mrs. Constan
Mrs. Davis
Drs. Dennis
Mr. Fahey
Dr. and Mrs. Forsyth
Mr. and Mrs. Gift
Robert Hamilton Schirmer
Mrs. Kangas-Preston
Mr. Kiersey
Ms. Knapp
Mr. Nichols
Dr. O’Halloran and Dr. Woodruff
Mr. and Mrs. Pearson
Prof. Roznowski
Dr. and Mrs. Severance
Unknown-Anonymous Donors
Dr. and Mrs. White

Gold ($500-$1,000)
Mrs. Bird
Bruce Brown and Derrick Carter
Mr. Checketts
Mr. Conger
Prof. Domer
Mrs. and Dr. Fitzgerald
Kami Frankel
Prof. Kotula
Ms. Lepard
Mark Skibbe
Robert Stephenson
Dr. Taggart
Mr. Van Faussien and
Mrs. Storen Van Faussien

Silver ($250 – $500)
Mr. Andrews
Mrs. Baird
Charlotte Barvinok
Mr. Baumgart
Dr. Birdwell
Mrs. Brazil
Mrs. and Dr. Bursian
Mr. Henry
Dr. Horner
Dr. and Ms. Jennings
Mrs. and Mr. Moellenberg
Ms. Munshaw
Mr. and Ms. Sobieski
Ms. Wepman
Mr. and Dr. Wolski

Bronze ($100-$250)
Dr. Abrahams and Dr. Greenberg
Dr. Berding and Dr. Henriquez
Dr. and Ms. Bonsall
Mr. Chau
Ms. Corbin
Mrs. Couf-Cohen and Mr. Cohen
Mr. DeWaal and Ms. Aiello
Manisha Dostert
Mr. and Mrs. Gainer
Mrs. Gilluly
Steven Godfrey
Prof. and Mr. Gould
Kimberly Greene
Mrs. Helder
Mrs. and Mr. Howard
Mrs. and Dr. King
Mr. and Mrs. King
Mr. Lynch
Ms. Lynch-Blosser
Ms. Matway
Mr. and Mrs. McKenney
Ms. McMurtry
Mrs. Mernitz
Dr. and Mrs. Mittig
Jennifer Ortwein
Dr. and Mrs. Oxer
Mrs. Potter
Kimberly Price
Ms. Roth
Prof. Salchow MacArthur
Karen Sheridan
Ms. Singer and Mr. Mencher
Mrs. and Mr. Smith
Mrs. and Mr. Stevens
Ms. Terrien
Mrs. and Mr. Thomakos
Mrs. Thomas
Mr. Thomas
Dr. and Mrs. Todd
Mr. Topliff
Mrs. Truax
Mr. and Mrs. Tuchinsky
Ms. Van Looy
Prof. and Mr. White

Pewter ($50-$100)
Mr. and Mrs. Allen
Ms. Atkinson
Mrs. Baker Newell and Mr. Newell
Dr. and Ms. Beauchamp
Mrs. and Mr. DeGuire
Mr. and Mrs. Ferris
Mr. and Mrs. Foster
Ms. Funk
Mr. and Mrs. Haney
Brian Harper
Mrs. and Mr. Ingram
Dr. and Mrs. Kaplowitz
Mrs. and Mr. Kilbridge
Debbie Kupinsky
Mr. Lambert
Mrs. and Mr. Lambert
Mrs. Lepak
Ms. and Dr. Meierfrankenfeld
Ms. Pierson
Prof. and Mrs. Singh
Mr. Talsma
Ms. Wolfe
Mr. Zirm and Mrs. Lewis

In Honor and Memorial Giving Program

Contributions made to the Honor/Memorial Giving Program offers you a way to honor any important occasion, including birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries. It is also a special way to remember those who are no longer with us.

The honoree will receive a beautiful card notifying them of your thoughtful gift. Any contribution of $50 or more will be listed in our program all season long (July 1 through June 30).

In Honor of Ms. Teriah N. Fleming
Prof. Kirk A. Domer

Distinguished Department of Theatre Scholarship Donors

Dixie Durr
The Dixie Durr Scholarship Fund

Virginia E. Albright
The Virginia Albright Acting Scholarship Fund

Gretel Greist Rutledge
The Frank C. Rutledge Scholarship in Theatre
The Gretel Geist Rutledge Annual Student Awards for Design Excellence in Theatre Production

Selma Hollander
The Stanley and Selma Hollander Endowed Graduate Fellowship In Theatre

Mary Culpepper
The Barbara Hacker Baldwin Theatre Scholarship