DOUGLAS MCGRATH (Book) was a filmmaker and playwright. Most recently, he directed the HBO documentary “Becoming Mike Nichols.” He collaborated with Woody Allen on the screenplay for Bullets Over Broadway, for which they were nominated for an Academy Award. He wrote and directed the Oscar-winning Emma from the Jane Austen novel; Company Man; Charles Dickens’s Nicholas Nickleby, which won the Best Ensemble Cast from the National Board of Review; Infamous; and the HBO documentary, “His Way,” nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction Special. His play Checkers opened the 30th anniversary season of New York’s acclaimed Vineyard Theatre. His book for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards. He began his creer as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” in what was incontestably the worst year in the show’s history. He has written essays on the arts and politics for the New Republic, the New Yorker, The Nation, The New York Times and Vanity Fair. Douglas McGrath passed away on November 4, 2022.

GERRY GOFFIN (Words and Music) Born in Brooklyn in 1939, Gerry Goffin met Carole King at Queens College, and their musical collaboration began almost immediately. They married in 1959, and that same year wrote their first hit song “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” (The Shirelles). The duo penned more than 50 Top-40 hits including “The Locomotion,” “Natural Woman” and “Up on the Roof.” In 1987, Goffin and King were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Goffin has left an indelible mark on American music.

CAROLE KING (Words and Music) Pop music would be very different without the contributions of Carole King, who at age 17 wrote her first #1 hit with Gerry Goffin, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” for the Shirelles. The dozens of chart hits Goffin and King wrote during this period became legendary, but it was 1971’s Tapestry that took King to the pinnacle, speaking personally to her contemporaries and providing a spiritual musical backdrop to the decade. More than 400 of her compositions have been recorded by over 1,000 artists, resulting in 100 hit singles and six Grammys.

BARRY MANN (Words and Music) has written the melodies of some of the most influential pop songs in musical history. In addition to “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” the most-played song of the last century, and the songs heard in Beautiful, he composed later standards like “Somewhere Out There” (winner of two Grammys), “Here You Come Again,” “Sometimes When We Touch,” “Just Once” and “Don’t Know Much.” Together he and Cynthia Weil have amassed an incredible 112 pop, country, and R&B awards from Broadcast Music Inc. for significant radio air play. He has been inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

CYNTHIA WEIL (Words and Music) was the acclaimed lyricist of classic songs such as “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” the most-played song of the 20th century. In addition to the songs heard in Beautiful, she set the words to later standards including “Somewhere Out There,” “Here You Come Again,” “He’s So Shy,” “Just Once” and “Don’t Know Much,” to name just a few. Weil was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, honored with multiple Grammy nominations and two Grammy awards for “Somewhere Out There” as the Motion Pictures Song of the Year and Song of the Year. Weil passed away on June 1, 2023.

SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING, established in 1995 as a joint venture between Sony and Michael Jackson, is the world’s leading music publisher. Sony owns or administers more than two million copyrights, including those from such iconic music catalogs as EMI Music Publishing, Leiber & Stoller, Mijac Music, Motown and Famous Music. Sony controls many of the best-known songs ever written, including “New York, New York,” “All You Need Is Love,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Over the Rainbow” and “Stand By Me.” In addition, Sony represents the copyrights of such legendary artists as The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Sting, The Supremes, Hank Williams and Stevie Wonder, among others. Its ever-growing list of chart-topping artists and songwriters includes Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, P!nk, Shakira, and Taylor Swift.

KAREN AZENBERG (Director) This marks Karen Azenberg’s 13th season as Artistic Director at PTC. Favorite projects include last season’s Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 and The Lehman Trilogy, as well as the world premiere of Alabama Story, the regional premiere of Sting’s The Last Ship, and Newsies, The Play That Goes Wrong, and The Rocky Horror Show. Originally from New York, her work there includes Lyrics and Lyricists (92nd St. Y), Blocks (a collaboration with Jonathan Larson) Prom Queens Unchained, and choreography for Richard Greenberg’s The Dazzle (Roundabout Theatre Company). Among her other credits are over 15 productions of West Side Story and she has worked with Indiana Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Goodspeed, Theatre Aspen, and Utah Shakespeare Festival. Karen is a past president of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and is a proud Mom to Alexander and Emelia.

HELEN GREGORY (Musical Director/Conductor) is returning for her 15th production at PTC and is glad to be amongst talented actors, directors, designers, staff, crew and the glorious musicians that frequent this theatre’s space. It’s an honor to be a part of Beautiful… Credits include: NY Theatre Workshop, WPA, The Vineyard, Public Theatre, LaMama E.T.C., Maltz Jupiter Theatre (received 11 Carbonell nominations, winner for Crazy for You), Asolo Repertory Theatre (winner, Sarasota Magazine Theatre Awards Best Musical Direction for Barnum), Arkansas Repertory, Utah Shakespeare Festival, The Goodman Theatre, Indiana Repertory, Riverside Theatre, Human Race Theatre, Papermill Playhouse, Lean Ensemble Theatre and The Hangar Theatre. National tours: Grease, Oklahoma!, and Joseph… Industrials: American Movie Classics and Star Odyssey for the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. Many thanks to all that support live theatre: we can’t do this without you.

GERRY MCINTYRE (Choreographer) recently directed and choreographed Young Frankenstein for Berkshire Theatre Group, Bay Street Theater, and Geva Theatre. He won widespread acclaim for choreographing the Berkshire Theatre Group’s production of Godspell. Off Broadway; Hallelujah Baby, Anything Can Happen in the Theatre, Forbidden Broadway, The Goodbye Girl, Lucky Stiff,  and the international hit Spamilton. Regional Theatre: Nina Simone: Four Women, Songs for a New World, A Chorus Line, White Christmas, Side by Side by Sondheim, The Who’s Tommy, My Fair Lady (Berkshire Theatre Group), Laura Comstocks’ Bag Punching Dog (LA Weekly nomination for Best Choreography), The Color Purple, Cinderella, Ragtime, The Wiz, Sunset Boulevard, and Jersey Boys (Broadway Music Circus). Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, 9 to 5, and The Cher Show (Ogunqit Playhouse). Once On This Island, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Putting It Together and Bonnie & Clyde (Pioneer Theatre Company). He is featured in the documentary After the Storm. GerryMcIntyre.net

JASON SIMMS (Scenic Design) is a designer for plays, musical theatre and opera. Simms is honored to return to PTC after designing Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Sweat, The Lion in Winter, The Glass Menagerie, and An Inspector Calls. Work in other regional theaters includes: Berkshire Theatre Group, Weston Playhouse, George St. Playhouse, Philadelphia Theatre Co., People’s Light and Theatre (Philadelphia), Bristol Riverside Theatre (Bristol, PA), Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Chautauqua Theatre Co. (Chautauqua, NY), The Old Globe (San Diego), TheatreWorks (Silicon Valley), Two River Theatre Co. (Red Bank, NJ) and many others. NYC venues include The Public Theater, The Cherry Lane, 2nd Stage Uptown, Ensemble Studio Theatre, SoHo Playhouse, The Juilliard School, The Wild Project, The Ohio Theatre, New Ohio Theatre, The Bushwick Starr and more. Jason is an assistant professor of Scenic Design at The University of Iowa.

KARA HARMON (Costume Design) Off-Broadway: Watch Night, Perelman PAC, Cullud Wattah, Public Theater; Lockdown, Rattlestick Playwrights, The Niceties, Manhattan Theatre Club; Dot, Vineyard Theatre. Select Regional credits include: The Other Americans, Arena Stage; The Penelopiad, Goodman Theater; The Three Musketeers, OSF; 42nd Street, Goodspeed Musicals (CT Critics Circle Outstanding Costume Design Award); Choir Boy, Steppenwolf; Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Children’s Theatre Company; Cosi Fan Tutte, Arizona Opera; Hometown to the World, Santa Fe Opera; Shutter Sisters, Old Globe;  Darlin’ Cory, The Alliance Theater, Guys & Dolls, Guthrie Theater; Toni Stone, Milwaukee Rep; The Color Purple, Portland Center Stage; The Wiz!, Ford’s Theatre (Helen Hayes Award); Nina Simone: Four Women, Arena Stage;  The Purists, Huntington Theatre; Barbecue, Geffen Playhouse (NAACP Award).  KaraHarmonDesign.com

DAWN CHIANG (Lighting Design) Broadway: Zoot Suit; co-designer, Tango Pasión. Off Broadway: Little Girl Blue, Robin and Me; Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre: Encores! Concert Musicals, co-designer. Opera: Resident lighting designer, New York City Opera. Regional: Guthrie Theater, Mark Taper Forum, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South CoastRepertory, Syracuse Stage, Denver Center Theatre Company, Trinity Repertory Company, and many more. Awards: USITT Distinguished Achievement Award in Lighting Design and Technology, two Syracuse Area Live Theatre Awards, two Drama-Logue Awards; Nominations: Maharam Design Award (from American Theatre Wing), Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. Affiliations: Board of Directors for Behind the Scenes Foundation, providing care to entertainment industry professionals. Mentor for Theater Development Fund’s “Wendy Wasserstein Project” outreach program for New York City high school students.

AARON HUBBARD (Sound Design) is enjoying his 17th season with Pioneer Theatre Company in sound mix and design. His favorite productions have been Sting’s The Last Ship, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Next to Normal, and One Man, Two Guvnors. Aaron teaches sound production and recording at Weber State University, and in his spare time he records and produces music. His favorite star is his wife, Melissa, who puts up with all the late theatre nights.

KATE CASALINO (Hair & Makeup Supervisor) is a New York-based hair and makeup artist with credits including Back to the Future on Broadway, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Utah Opera, AVA in Philadelphia, and Florida Repertory Theatre. She is thrilled to be returning to PTC after getting her BFA at the U of U. “This show is dedicated to Amanda French because she is the reason I am where I am today.” 

​​GEOFF JOSSELSON, CSA (Casting Director) Broadway: Into the Woods (Artios Award), Sweeney Todd, Spamalot, The Velocity of Autumn. Off-Broadway includes: Cellino v. Barnes, Kinky Boots, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, Altar Boyz, Southern Comfort, Yank!  Select Regional and Off-Broadway Theatre companies: Alley Theatre, Arena Stage, Asolo Rep, Baltimore Center Stage, The Civilians, Irish Repertory Theatre, Kennedy Center, Long Wharf Theatre, Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Signature Theatre, South Coast Rep, Studio Theatre, Village Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. www.josscasting.com

JAMES O. HANSEN* (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be in his second season here at Pioneer Theatre Company! Other credits include: Joseph…Dreamcoat (starring David Archuleta), Mary Poppins, and Wonderland at Tuacahn Amphitheatre. Clue (starring Sally Struthers), The Wedding Singer, A Christmas Carol, and Flashdance (starring Julia Macchio) at The Gateway Playhouse. James earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Management from Dean College. Special thanks to his Mom, Family, and Ostie for their love and support! DHH.

EMILY ROTH* (Stage Manager) is very excited to be joining Pioneer Theatre Company this season! Recent credits include: The Woman in Black US Tour (Pemberley Productions), Miss Saigon (White Plains Performing Arts Center), Dial M for Murder and Sea Monsters of the Deep (White Heron Theatre Company), Lesley Nicol’s How The Hell Did I Get Here? (Pemberley Productions), and Ajijaak on Turtle Island (IBEX Puppetry). She is the co-author of Stage Management Basics: A Primer for Performing Arts Stage Managers (Focal Press © 2017, 2nd ed © 2022).

CHLOE GROTHEER* (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be working with Pioneer Theatre Company on this wonderful show. Chloe attended Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory for Performing Arts for Stage Management, working on some of her favorite shows in the St. Louis area including Fahrenheit 451, The Wolves, and Lifespan of a Fact. She has been with Tuacahn Center for Performing Arts stage management team since 2021 and is excited to continue working within the performing arts of Utah!

GEVA THEATRE  Founded in 1972, Geva Theatre is a not-for-profit theatre company dedicated to creating and producing professional theatre productions and programs that serve the Rochester region and beyond, by illuminating the fullness of our many human experiences. Now led by Artistic Director Elizabeth Williamson and Executive Director James Haskins, Geva offers a wide variety of educational, engagement, and literary programs, nurturing audiences and artists alike. As one of the country’s leading theatre companies and a member of the national League of Resident Theatres, Geva produces a varied contemporary repertoire from musicals to world premieres celebrating the rich tapestry of our diverse community. For more information visit, GevaTheatre.org.

PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY (PTC)  Now celebrating its 63rd season, the award-winning PTC is Utah’s premiere professional theatre company and a leading arts organization of the West. Led by Artistic Director Karen Azenberg and Managing Director Adrian Budhu, PTC presents world-class productions that celebrate diversity in culture and society, and serve as the connecting bridge between art and scholarship as an affiliate of the University of Utah. Notable productions include the regional premieres of Les Misérables, Sting’s The Last Ship, and Frank Wildhorn’s The Count of Monte Cristo, as well as the world premieres of Shucked (the first-ever Broadway tryout in Utah), A Distinct Society by Kareem Fahmy, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones, The Messenger by Jeff Talbott, and Ass by Ellen Simon. For more information, visit PioneerTheatre.org. 

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA) Founded in 1933, AEA represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers nationwide. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actor’s Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #equityworks

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