Tag Archives: Jim Honeycutt

Staples Players Rewind: “Into The Woods”

In the spring of 2012, Staples Players directors David Roth and Kerry Long produced “Into the Woods.” Both are longtime fans of Stephen Sondheim, and first staged the show 10 years earlier.

Click here or below for highlights. As always, they’re courtesy of former media teacher Jim Honeycutt, who videotaped all of Roth and Long’s shows.

Many Players have gone on to interesting careers, in and out the arts. Among them:

Will Haskell (Narrator) went on to serve 2 terms as Connecticut state senator — one of the youngest state legislators in the country.

Elle Deran (Rapunzel’s Prince) is a trans and non-binary actor, singer and content creator.

Sofia Ribolla (Cinderella) shifted her focus from theater to to medicine while in college, and is now an optometrist with Greenwich Ophthalmology Associates.

Clay Singer (Jack) has extensive theater credits, including “Masquerade” in New York, “Fiddler On the Roof.””The Band’s Visit” North American tour,
“Next to Normal,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Ragtime,” “The Full Monty — and “Into the Woods” in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Jamie Yarmoff (Cinderella’s Stepmother) is a renewable energy professional amd chapter leader for Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy. She founded the WRISE Utah chapter in Salt Lake City.

Cara McNiff (Drusilla) graduated from Elon University with a degree in musical theater. She is still involved in theater. as a regional booking manager.

Sami Schwaeber (Jack’s Mother) is a Brooklyn-based musical comedian, actor and writer recognized for her queer, Jewish and mental health-focused stand-up and sketch work.

Madeline Seidman (Jack’s Mother) is a Brooklyn-based actor, with an MFA from Yalel School of Drama. She can be seen on screen in the TV shows “Elsbeth” and “A League of Their Own.”

Michelle Pauker (The Witch)  is a singer and actor. She has appeared in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Idaho Shakespeare Festival), “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (Great Lakes Theatre Company), and “Into The Woods (Forestburgh Playhouse). On Sunday, her band Back to the Garden 1969 performed at the Levitt Pavilion.

August Laska (Wolf) transitioned from acting to behind-the-scenes work in producing and marketing, eventually serving as a marketing coordinator for Disney Theatrical Group. He co-produced “Broadway Gets GLAAD” at Joe’s Pub, and worked as a co-producer on the Off-Broadway and summer Broadway runs of “Broadway Bounty Hunter.” He currently owns The Old Yew plant shop.

Charlie Greenwald (Cinderella’s Prince) is a Connecticut local and the author of the acclaimed new Halloween children’s book “Jeff O’Lantern,” as well as the popular “The Rescues” series, which he co-wrote with his father.

Everett Sussman (Cinderella’s Father) is an applied mathematics/computer science graduate of Harvard University. He is now a digital creator. He has acted in regional theater productions, including “Sweeney Todd.”

Charlotte Weber (Repunzel) attended the International Culinary Center. She works professionally as a pastry chef).

Ryder Chasin is a television writer, creative and comedian in Brooklyn.

Nicholas Massoud (Mysterious Man) attended Yale, and performed all over the world with the a cappella groups the Wiffenpoofs and Sprizzwinks.

Joe Badion (Sprites) is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He teaches upper school music at the Town School in New York.

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Staples Players Rewind: “Avenue Q”

Every Staples Players show has a special touch.

In the fall of 2014, directors David Roth and Kerry Roth brought in professional puppeteers, to teach the high school actors how to use hand-held puppets.

Pam Arciero (who played Oscar the Grouch’s girlfriend Grundgetta on “Sesame Street” and Rick Lyon (from the original Broadway production of “Avenue Q”) provided inside knowledge, tips, inspiration and confidence.

You can see the results in the highlights here and below, filmed and edited by former media teacher Jim Honeycutt.

Here’s what some of the actors in that show are doing today:

Jack Baylis (Princeton) graduated from Point Park University’s musical theater program. He has performed in “Legally Blonde,” “Jersey Boys,” “Children of Eden,” “Peter and the Starcatcher,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “South Pacific” and more.

Will Haskell (Princeton) went on to serve 2 terms as Connecticut state senator — one of the youngest state legislators in the country.

Julia Mandelbaum (Christmas Eve) graduated from Rider University. She performed professionally in “Evita,” “Singing in the Rain,” and more.

Bryan Gannon (Brian) is an actor and producer best known for his roles as Inspector Lestrade in the film “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Furtive Festivity,” and on “The Deuce” and “Paramount’s Fences.”

Joe Badion (Nicky) is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He teaches upper school music at the Town School in New York.

Everett Sussman (Nicky) is an applied mathematics/computer science graduate of Harvard University. He is now a digital creator. He has acted in regional theater productions, including “Sweeney Todd.”

Jacob Leaf (Trekkie Monster) is a professional actor. He has appeared in “Mamma Mia!,” “Gypsy,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Eurydice” and more.

Daniel Pauker (Trekkie Monster) is a technical animator. He has a passion for 3D software and systems.

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Staples Players Rewind: “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory”

Jim Honeycutt — who faithfully recorded nearly all of directors David Roth and Kerry Long’s Staples Players shows — missed the summer 2012 “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (family vacation).

Nick Pisarro — Jim’s longtime helper — took over.

Click here or below to enjoy.

Many actors have gone on to successful careers — often in entertainment. They include:

Matthew Van Gessel (Willy Wonda) is an actor, director and writer. He played Isaac Goodenow in the “The Sudbury Devil,” appeared in the film “Bookworm,” was featured as an actor in the project RedDrop, and was cast as Father Rand in “The Vampires of New Orleans.”

Will Haskell (Charlie Bucket) went on to serve 2 terms as Connecticut state senator — one of the youngest state legislators in the country.

Johnny Shea (Granpa Joe) is a New York based actor. He has appeared in “Spring Awakening” and “Peter Pan” and more, at Goodspeed, Shakespeare Theater Chicago, Portland Stage Company and others.

Sylvie Lexow (Grandma Josephine) is a senior marketing operations and program manager.

Ryder Chasin (Phineouse Trout) is a television writer, creative and comedian in Brooklyn.

Cara McNiff (Violet Beauregarde) graduated from Elon University with a degree in musical theater. She is still involved in theater. as a regional booking manager.

Joe Badion (Mike Teavee) is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He teaches upper school music at the Town School in New York.

Zoe Samuels (Matilda) is an associate strategy director at Edelman. She graduated with a degree in theater and Chinese from Middlebury College.

Daniel Pauker is a technical animator. He has a passion for 3D software and systems.

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Staples Players Rewind: “A Chorus Line”

Staples Players’ fall 2013 production of “A Chorus Line” was a singular sensation.

David Roth and Kerry Long directed 2 casts. Jim Honeycutt — the former video teacher who filmed and created this highlight reel — notes where each begins. Click here or below to see this remarkable, superbly choreographed production.

Here’s a 2026 update on several cast members:

Michelle Pauker (Diana)  is a singer and actor. She has appeared in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Idaho Shakespeare Festival), “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (Great Lakes Theatre Company), and “Into The Woods (Forestburgh Playhouse). On Sunday, her band Back to the Garden 1969 performed at the Levitt Pavilion.

Clay Singer (Al) has extensive theater credits including “Masquerade” (New York), “Fiddler On the Roof” (St. Louis), “Perchik” (Westport), “The Band’s Visit” (North American tour), “Into the Woods” (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), “Next to Normal” (Vero Beach, Florida), “Man of La Mancha” (Westport), “Romeo and Juliet” and “Ragtime” and “The Full Monty” (both Pittsburgh).

Cara McNiff (Sheila) graduated from Elon University with a degree in musical theater. She is still involved in theater. as a regional booking manager.

Sylvie Lexow (Lizzie – Zach’s Assistant) is a senior marketing operations and program manager.

Will Haskell (Mark) served in the Connecticut State Senate from 2019 to 2023. He then attended law school.

Joe Badion (Paul) is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He teaches upper school music at the Town School in New York.

Caroline Didelot (Judy) appeared in “Kinky Boots” at Baldwin Wallace University, “42nd Street” at New London Barn Playhouse, and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” for Prime Video.

Julia Mandelbaum (Lois) has performed in a number of shows since leaving Staples.

Caroline Rossi (now McCluskey) (Judy Turner) is working in public relations and marketing. She lives in New York City with her husband.

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Staples Players Rewind: “Curtains”

In the fall of 2010, curtains rose on Staples Players’ production of “Curtains.”

As always, media teacher Jim Honeycutt was there, to record the comedy, filled with great songs and talented dancers.

And as always, he shared this “nutshell” with our “06880” audience. Click here or below to relive the magic.

Many of the actors have gone on to careers in entertainment. Others have shifted careers. Among them:

Max Samuels (Lieutenant Frank Choffi) is a stage and screen actor known for his roles in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” He also appeared in “George Kaplan,” “Angry Young Man,” “The Winter’s Tale” and “The Brothers Karamazov.”

Eva Hendricks (Carmen Bernstein) is a lead singer in Charley Bliss, a successful New York band. Their current release is “Back There Now.”

Matthew Van Gessel (Christopher Belling, The Director) is an actor, director and writer. He played Isaac Goodenow in the “The Sudbury Devil,” appeared in the film “Bookworm,” was featured as an actor in the project RedDrop, and was cast as Father Rand in “The Vampires of New Orleans.”

Michelle Pauker (Georgia Hendricks) is a singer and actor. She has appeared in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Idaho Shakespeare Festival), “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (Great Lakes Theatre Company), and “Into The Woods (Forestburgh Playhouse).

Charlotte Weber (Niki Harris, The Ingenue) performed in many productions at Connecticut College. She then attended the International Culinary Center, and now works professionally as a pastry chef.

Sofia Ribolla (Niki Harris, The Ingenue) transitioned her focus from theater to to medicine while in college  and is an optometrist at Greenwich Ophthalmology Associates in Stamford.

Whitney Andrews (The Stage Manager) is an actress, writer and educator with credits on TV, streaming services and Off-Broadway theater.

Matt Greenberg (Bobby Pepper, The Choreographer) is a tenure track assistant professor of theatre and dance at the University of Wyoming.

Jamie Yarmoff (Babi Berne, The Featured Dancer) is a renewable energy professional and chapter leader for Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy. She founded and established the WRISE Utah Chapter in Salt Lake City.

Madeline Seidman (Jessica Cranshaw, The Leading Lady) is an actor. Her off-Broadway credits include “Garside’s Career,” “Partnership” and “Becomes a Woman.” Regional credits include “Love, Love, Love” (Washington) and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” (Chautauqua, New York). She can be seen in the TV shows “Elsbeth” and “A League of Their Own.”g networks and television channels.

Charlie Greenwald (Harv Fremont) is an actor, voiceover artist, comedian, copywriter and children’s book author. He has appeared in the film “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and the TV special “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.”

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Staples Players Rewind: “Les Miserables” (Summer)

Staples Players’ production of “Les Misérables” last fall was magnifique.

Audiences thrilled to the acting, music, staging, sets, costumes … it was all nearly Broadway-worthy.

Yet it was not the first time directors David Roth and Kerry Long produced the iconic show.

In 2008, they debuted “Les Mis” — in the summer.

Retired media instructor Jim Honeycutt — who spent 2 decades videotaping Roth and Long’s shows — marvels, “To this day, I cannot figure out how they could do a show of this extensive musical complexity in a summer!

“Even the sets with rotating barricades were extraordinary for a summer show. How Tyler Paul learned all of this music in a month or two is beyond me.”

Honeycutt has done something quite impressive himself. He has distilled the epic production into just under 30 minutes. Click here or below, to hear — and see — the people sing.

Very, very, very well.

Many cast members have made careers in entertainment. Honeycutt also offers these updates, on some of the performers from the 2008 “Les Mis”:

Tyler Paul (Jean Valjean) retired from acting and moved to the other side of the stage lights. He is now head of human resources at ANC.

David Ressler (Javert) is an actor and singer. He is currently performing in a Bay Area Opera Collaborative production of “Pirates of Penzance.”

Audrey Twitchell (Eponine) has appeared in numerous commercials, print ads and on television. In 2006, she originated the role of Lee Bouvier in the Broadway musical “Grey Gardens.”

Megan Watt (Eponine) is a voice actor and commercial artist based in West Hollywood. She specializes in commercial, animation and audiobook narration.

Brooke Benedetto (Fantine) has acted in many shows, including “Merrily We Roll Along” and “Godspell,” at Muhlenberg College and the Music Theater of Connecticut.

Britt Hennemuth (Thénardier) is a Los Angeles-based actor. He recently joined Universal Pictures as senior vice president of production development and special projects.

Nick Boak (Enjolras) is an entertainment executive, involved with “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Warcraft” and “American Hustle.”

Max Stampa-Brown (Grantaire) appeared in “The Third Man,” “FREUD” and “The Garret East,” after the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Chris McNiff (Feuilly) is an actor, singer, dancer and choreographer based in New York City. He has appeared in “White Christmas,” “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Hair.”

Matthew Van Gessel (Lesgles) is an actor, director and writer. He played Isaac Goodenow in the “The Sudbury Devil,” appeared in the film “Bookworm,” was featured as an actor in the project RedDrop, and was cast as Father Rand in “The Vampires of New Orleans.”

Charlie Greenwald is actor, voiceover artist, comedian, copywriter and children’s book author. He has appeared in the film “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and the TV special “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.”

Vinny Amaru (Joly) continued his interest in stage at Tufts, singing in the a cappella group Beelzebubs. He is now a global investment strategist at JP Morgan Asset and Wealth Management.

Matt Greenberg (Prouvair) is a tenure track assistant professor of theatre and dance at the University of Wyoming.

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Staples Players Rewind: “Little Shop Of Horrors”

In the spring of 2010, Staples Players staged a very challenging show: the dark yet comic musical “Little Shop of Horrors.”

It had a little bit of everything — from rock, doo wop and Motown to an enormous talking plant that feeds on human blood and flesh

Media instructor Jim Honeycutt filmed that classic production. Click here or below to see.

A number of cast members went on to careers in creative fields. Among them:

Peter Molesworth (Seymour) is a successful writer, actor and filmmaker. Recent acting credits include “Pear,” “How to Catfish Your Ex” and “Fix.”

Eva Hendricks (Audrey) is a lead singer, and Dan Shure (Mr. Mushnick) plays bass, in Charley Bliss, a successful New York band. Their current release is “Back There Now.”

Michelle Pauker (Audrey) is a singer and actor. She has appeared in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Idaho Shakespeare Festival), “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (Great Lakes Theatre Company), and “Into The Woods (Forestburgh Playhouse).

Max Samuels (Orin Scrivello, D.D.S.) is a is a stage and screen actor known for his roles in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” He also appeared in “George Kaplan,” “Angry Young Man,” “The Winter’s Tale” and “The Brothers Karamazov.”

Matthew Van Gessel (Orin Scrivello, D.D.S.) is an actor, director and writer. He played Isaac Goodenow in the “The Sudbury Devil,” appeared in the film “Bookworm,” was featured as an actor in the project RedDrop, and was cast as Father Rand in “The Vampires of New Orleans.”

Tori Schachne (Shirelle) is a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the vocalist for the indie-electronic/synth-pop duo Soft Streak. They played at SXSW as official artists in 2019 and toured the West Coast, opening for Brother Tiger. Their music has been featured in Netflix and cable tv shows.

Clay Singer (Radio Quintet) has extensive theater credits including “Masquerade” (New York), “Fiddler On the Roof” (St. Louis), “Perchik” (Westport), “The Band’s Visit” (North American tour), “Into the Woods” (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), “Next to Normal” (Vero Beach, Florida), “Man of La Mancha” (Westport), “Romeo and Juliet” and “Ragtime” and “The Full Monty” (both Pittsburgh).

Madeline Seidman (Mrs. Luce) is an actor. Her off-Broadway credits include “Garside’s Career,” “Partnership” and “Becomes a Woman.” Regional credits include “Love, Love, Love” (Washington) and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” (Chautauqua, New York). She can be seen in the TV shows “Elsbeth” and “A League of Their Own.”

(If you like these nutshells — or any other “06880” feature — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

Staples Players Rewind: “Guys & Dolls” (2000, 2009)

“Guys and Dolls” was the first show David Roth directed, after taking over as Staples Players director in 2000.

He staged it again, 9 years later. And once more, in 2023.

Players’ second director, Al Pia, also did “Guys & Dolls” in the 1980s. The award-winning troupe has done it at least 6 times in total, making it perhaps the most-produced show in their 68-year history.

Today, retired media teacher Jim Honeycutt offers the 2000 and ’09 “nutshell” versions. He edited both in almost exactly the same way.

Click here or below for the 2000 show.

Click here or below for the 2009 show.

The cast of both shows were very impressive.

Guys And Dolls 2000

Shira Hofmekler (also known as Shira Gregory) (Adelaide) is best known for her role in the original Broadway cast of the Tony-Award-winning play “Frost/Nixon.” She also appeared in independent films like “Breaking.” She wrote the player “Helen Unbecoming,” a 2025 semifinalist in the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference.

Peter Duchan (Nicely-Nicely) wrote the book of the musical “Dogfight” (based on the 1991 film). He was a 2011-2012 Dramatists Guild Fellow and a 2014 recipient of the Robert Chesley Playwriting Award. Peter co-wrote the screenplay for “Breaking Upwards” (with Staples graduates Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones), and co-wrote the short “Unlocked” with Wein, an official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival, Gijon International Film Festival, and many others.

Justin Miller (Benny Southstreet) is a former Staples director of choral activities. He is a choral conductor, composer and arranger, known for his work in the Barbershop Harmony Society and his academic choral teaching. He led the Westminster Chorus and Masters of Harmony to international championships.

Justin Paul (Rusty Charlie) is a composer, lyricist, and half of the acclaimed songwriting duo Pasek and Paul. They wrote the music for “Dear Evan Hansen,” “La La Land” and “The Greatest Showman.” In 2024, Pasek and Paul achieved EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) status after winning an Emmy for their song in “Only Murders in the Building.”

Joanna Gang is a voiceover artist based in New York. She is also a non-profit administrator and fundraiser.

Guys And Dolls 2009

Peter Molesworth (Rusty Chalie) is a writer, actor and filmmaker. Acting credits include “Pear,” “How to Catfish Your Ex” and “Fix.”

Max Stampa-Brown (Nathan Detroit) appeared in “The Third Man,” “FREUD” and “The Garret East,” after the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Eva Hendricks (Miss Adelaide) is a lead singer, and Dan Shure (Nicely-Nicely) plays bass, in Charley Bliss, a successful New York band. Their current release is “Back There Now.”

Jake Yarmoff (Sky Masterson) is a Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter. His song “City of Love” can be heard on YouTube.

Max Samuels (Sky Masterson) is a New York-based stage and screen actor known for his roles in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” He also appeared in “George Kaplan,” “Angry Young Man,” “The Winter’s Tale” and “The Brothers Karamazov.”

Nora Kennedy is a New York-based stage and screen actor and writer, recognized for her film work (“Prom King” and “Taken”), and her one-woman cabaret shows.

Matthew Van Gessel (Harry the Horse) is an actor, director and writer based in New York.  He played Isaac Goodenow in the “The Sudbury Devil,” appeared in the film “Bookworm,” was featured as an actor in the project RedDrop, and was cast as Father Rand in “The Vampires of New Orleans.”

Staples Players Rewind: “Cabaret”

“Cabaret” is a remarkable play.

But the 1967 Tony Award-winning musical — set in Berlin as the Nazis rise to power, and which portrays hedonistic nightlife, an interreligious romance, and other adult themes — is a tremendous challenge for high school students.

Which is why Staples Players has produced it, several times.

Two shows were 20 years apart. But they’re tied together by a common thread.

In 1984, under director Al Pia, 12th grader David Roth played the sinister Kit Kat Club emcee. The role — made famous by Joel Grey and Alan Cumming — shifts frequently between playful, vulgar and menacing. It’s difficult for anyone to pull off — let alone a teenager. But Roth is superb.

Twenty years later, he was in his first years as Players co-director, at his alma mater. This time, Brandon Floch embraced the emcee role.

Former media teacher Jim Honeycutt filmed that 2004 production. He also unearthed a videotape of the previous one.

He went to work, editing both. He cut them exactly the same — same highlights, same length, everything.

The only thing different is 2 decades’ worth of technological advances. The ’84 show was shot with one camera, at the back of the auditorium. Audio was captured — not always well — by the microphone on top of the camera.

By ’04, technology had advanced considerably.

Now click here and click here — or below — to enjoy this double feature.

PS: Honeycutt even hunted down the casts of both shows. They included:

Fall, 1984

  • Emcee – David Roth
  • Sally Bowles – Marjorie Levine
  • Fräulein Schneider – Traci Davis
  • Herr Schultz – John Donovan
  • Clifford Bradshaw – Micu Oprea
  • Ernst Ludwig – Mark Donovan

Fall, 2004

  • Emcee – Brandon Floch
  • Sally Bowles – Mia Gentile
  • Fräulein Schneider – Sally Eidman
  • Herr Schultz – Zach Shornick
  • Clifford Bradshaw – Steven Fuentes and Peter Stonbely
  • Ernst Ludwig – Noah Schnoll and Clayton Morrell

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Staples Players Rewind: “Beauty & The Beast”

In the fall of 2007, Staples Players produced “Beauty & the Beast.”

Directors David Roth and Kerry Long’s adaptation of the beloved fairy tale musical is this week’s “nutshell” — a 17-minute highlight reel filmed and edited by former media teacher Jim Honeycutt.

Click here or below to enjoy:

(If you like these nutshells — or any other “06880” feature — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)