The Bright Days of Our Youth
The Bright Days of Our Youth
The exact train that Ruby and Mike rode on their cross-country trip.
In pre-World War II America, twenty-five-year-old Ruby takes her much younger, recently orphaned half-brother Mike on a cross-country train journey to the 1940 World’s Fair, to fulfill a promise that Mike’s father once made — to introduce him to the famous actor who plays Superman. Ruby intends to fly back to her exciting life in Panama after their short trip to the Fair, but soon discovers that it’s not always that easy to say goodbye.
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The Bainbridge Pod Accomplice is a free podcast featuring a series of plays starring your favorite local performers and directors.
The Bainbridge Pod Accomplice team
Audio Engineer - Matt Hadlock, Creative Coordinator - Miranda Feldtman, Production Manager - Deirdre Hadlock, Producer - Liz Ellis, Director of Operations - Siobhan Maguire, Talk-Back Producer & Host - Matt Longmire, BPA Executive Director - Dominique Cantwell, BPA Public Relations Director - Sally Jo Martine
Podcast Theme Music
Our theme music “Swing for Mike” is written and performed by Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers.” Find out more about the band at www.RangerSwings.com.
BAINBRIDGE POD ACCOMPLICE MEDIA SPONSOR:
KCTS-9 PUBLIC TELEVISION
CREDITS
Written by Paul Lewis
Directed by Brian Danzig
PAUL LEWIS - PLAYWRIGHT
Paul is an Island-based playwright and composer whose favorite projects include the musicals The Runaway Bunny and Caps for Sale, both of which premiered at Boston Children’s Theatre; Jill Trent Science Sleuth (Cayuga College); The Crossing, A Musical (Theater Schmeater and Jewel Box) Oblivion (Driftwood); The Hours of Life, A Musical (Theatre22); Last Poem on Earth: A Jazz Requiem (BPA); and The Recollection of Flight (BPA). His musical adaptation of Wish, Barbara O’Connor’s best-selling novel for young readers, is being developed for the stage by a regional children’s theatre in the South. Photo courtesy of Steve Stolee.
CAST
Michelle Lorenz Odell – Ruby
Michelle is thrilled to be returning to the BPA community. She last appeared on the BPA stage as Dionne in Hair. She was most recently seen on the BCT stage as Rona Peretti in Spelling Bee. Favorite roles include Eva Peron/Evita, Fantine/Les Miserables, and Hope Cladwell/Urinetown. Michelle is mom to identical twin girls, a Disney travel advisor and she teaches exercise classes from her home studio in Poulsbo.
“It’s so encouraging seeing theatre communities like BPA provide a creative outlet for artists during this challenging time. I hope we can celebrate the magic and beauty of live theatre together again soon.”
EVELYN CANTWELL - MIKE
You may have seen Evelyn in BPA's production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as Lavender in Matilda the Musical, or heard that she would have been in Fun Home just before our quarantine started.
“I miss the joy of live theatre these days. Bainbridge Pod Accomplice has given me a way to connect with others and continue my passion.”
RYAN PATRICK O'DONNELL – UNCLE MARTY / TRAIN CONDUCTOR / COP
Ryan has most recently been seen on the BPA stage in Matilda, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Big Fish.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to help folks stay connected to the arts community in a time when in-person events aren’t possible.”
LINDA OWENS – WAITRESS AT A SODA FOUNTAIN / FLO
Linda has performed with BPA and Ovation! Performing Arts NW. One of her favorite and most challenging performances was The Lives of Saints for Dinah Mortell and working without sight lines with Foley artists backstage for sound effects.
“In this time of pandemic without live theater, we find ourselves once again listening to the story tellers....the human imagination, always inquisitive, is thrilled and captivated by the spoken word.”
TINA KIRKPATRICK - VIVIAN / VERONICA
Tina is honored to be invited back to BPA and to share the The Bright Days of Our Youth via the Bainbridge Pod Accomplice with you! Favorite past roles (in no particular order) include Norma Desmond in The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber: MASQUERADE, Maria in West Side Story, and Atina the Mersister in Disney’s Little Mermaid.
“Creating, inspiring and connecting - these are the powers of the arts, and perhaps the path to cope and heal our community amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.”
MATT ELDRIDGE - TRAIN ENGINEER / MR. DRUMMOND / TAXI DRIVER / FOREMAN
Matt's delighted to be a part of The Bright Days of Our Youth with this lovely director, cast, and team. Favorite BPA roles include Harry (Mamma Mia), Malvolio (Twelfe Night), The Old Man (A Christmas Story) and George Banks (Mary Poppins). Recent voice acting work includes roles in The Heist at the Bank of the Black Ox (forthcoming by Nels Challinor) and The Wind in the Willows (BPA).
JAMES SGAMBATI - MR. MASON, A PULLMAN PORTER / OPTOMETRIST / COP
James is excited to be returning to BPA where he was last seen as The Escapologist in Matilda, The Musical. No stranger to the stages of Kitsap county, his favorite roles include Lord Farquaad (Shrek, The Musical – BPA), Johnny Cash (Ring of Fire – Jewel Box), Charlie Brown (You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown – BCT), Billy Porter (Anything Goes – Paradise Theater), and Oscar (Wild Party – Sound Theater). He is so grateful to have an opportunity to make art in these trying times.
“As a performing artist during a global pandemic we have not only lost the ability to create with our friends and fellow artists but the connection that you can only get from an audience during a live performance. Working with BPA is always a gift, but now more than ever as they constantly stretch themselves and adapt to the world around them to not just sustain themselves but to sustain the artists and community around them.”
GEOFF SCHMIDT – THE MAN ON A TRAIN
Geoff first started acting as the reprehensible Steve Heidebrecht in BPA’s August: Osage County. Among his subsequent roles were the psychotic Dale Pittman in The North Plan and the ridiculous Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“When I look at the roles I’ve played, I find I’m frequently either the most vile character on stage, or the absolute goofiest. I’m excited that, in this role, I’m neither!”
SANDI SPELLMAN - SAM THE COWBOY / RUBY 1966
Sandi has enjoyed being part of Kitsap’s theater community in shows such as Dixie Swim Club and Island Theatre’s “Ten-Minute Play Festival,” as well as “The Portable Reality Show” improv troupe.
“2020 has been a wild ride! It has confirmed for me the need for all the arts to tell stories that offer escape or help make sense of the madness.”
Episode Premieres
November 20, 2020
NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT
MISSION: Train Responders. Prepare Communities. Respond to Disasters.
ABOUT: Empact Northwest is holding their annual gala on November 21st, and this year’s event will be entirely virtual! A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2010, Empact Northwest fields an international Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, a medical team, canine and technical search elements, and a free-standing logistical support unit. Empact Northwest is active in the local community training local firefighters in technical rescue, helping communities prepare for disasters, and responding to the COVID crisis in unique ways. In addition, Empact Northwest provides disaster preparedness support to underserved communities, and affordable, professional technical rescue training to emergency responders.
ONLINE: www.empactnorthwest.org