Bucket List Productions
ASSASSINS
Stephen Sondheim (Music and Lyrics) wrote the music and lyrics for Saturday Night (1954), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), Anyone Can Whistle (1964), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), The Frogs (1974), Pacific Overtures (1976), Sweeney Todd (1979), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), Into the Woods (1987), Assassins (1991), Passion (1994) and Road Show (2008) as well as lyrics for West Side Story (1957), Gypsy (1959) and Do I Hear a Waltz? (1965) and additional lyrics for Candied (1973). Anthologies of his work include Side by Side by Sondheim (1976), Marry me a Little (1981), You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow (1983), Putting it Together (1993/99) and Sondheim on Sondheim (2010). He composed the scores of the films “Stavisky” (1974) and “Reds” (1981) and songs for “Dick Tracy” (1990) and the television production “Evening Primrose” (1966). His collected lyrics with attendant essays have been published in two volumes: “Finishing the Hat” (2010) and “Look, I Made a Hat” (2011). In 2010 Broadway’s Henry Miller’s Theatre was renamed The Stephen Sondheim Theatre in his honor; in 2019, London’s Queens Theatre was also renamed the Sondheim.21`
John Weidman (Book Writer): has written the books for a wide variety of musicals, among them Pacific Overtures (Tony nomination, Best Book), Assassins (Tony Award, Best Musical Revival), and Road Show (Lucille Lortel nomination, Best Musical), all with scores by Stephen Sondheim; Contact (Tony nomination, Best Book; Tony Award, Best Musical), co-created with director/choreographer Susan Stroman; Happiness, score by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman; Take Flight and Big (Tony nomination, Best Book), scores by Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire; and the new book, co-authored with Timothy Crouse, for the Lincoln Center Theater/Roundabout Theatre revivals of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes (Tony Awards, Best Musical Revival; Olivier Award, Best Musical Production). Since his children were preschoolers, Weidman has written for Sesame Street, receiving more than a dozen Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Children’s Program. From 1999 to 2009 he served as President of the Dramatists Guild of America.
Dave I. Davis (Producer) Dave is Founder of Bucket List Productions and taking the leap of faith with this, the inaugural production of Assassins. He has a lifelong history in theatrical arts both onstage and off. From Houston, Texas he has performed with the casts of 10 repertory theaters in Inherit the Wind, The Little Shop of Horrors, A Pack of Lies, Mame, The Fantastics, The Tempest, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 and in the world premiere of Larry Durbin’s The Whole Damn Enchilada. Working with Murder Mystery Players at Dave and Buster’s in Houston he performed in over 25 different shows over 13 seasons. He has an extensive stage management and lighting design history most notably for Marat/Sade and Rough Crossing. He is thrilled to work with this incredible team of performers, technicians and designers who have taken this important musical to new heights.
Jennifer Kleine (Costume Designer) has costumed dozens of shows for theater companies around the region, from local high schools to Dollywood. She also has extensive experience as a puppeteer and has built and dressed puppets for Wishing Chair Productions at the Nashville Public Library, USN, JTM Middle School, and Hillsboro High School. She once built a set of Audrey II puppets for Hillsboro that went on to enjoy an extended lifespan in various regional productions of Little Shop of Horrors. In her spare time, she embroiders flowers and political statements onto thrifted clothing, creates quilts and fabric collages, and haunts the local birding hotspots.
Jim Manning (Set Designer) It took Jim about 3 seconds to come up with the idea for this set and he’s so glad Cat took a chance on this daring production. He designs for many theater companies around the area, teaches technical theater, and has served on the board of several local groups. He has directed Newsies, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Angels in America as well as original works like the immersive piece The World’s a Stage and the dance performance Violent Delights. He’s delighted to join this production.
Noah Rice (Music Director) is a native Nashvillian vocalist/pianist, music director and voice instructor. He spent 2018-2020 touring 35+ countries and singing 1000+ shows aboard Holland America’s luxury cruise ships in its acclaimed duo piano show Billboard Onboard. Other performing contracts include Gaylord Opryland, Hersheypark and other national resorts, local BGVs for Hans Zimmer, The Rolling Stones and others, studio recordings for Walt Disney Entertainment, LifeWay, others. Local freelance MD for Nashville Improv Company, Circle Players, Playhouse 615, Keeton Theatre, Bell Witch Fall Festival. BM Commercial Music (Voice), Belmont University. As a certified instructor in Somatic Voicework the LoVetri Method™, Noah works with pre-professional, working pro and avocational singers of all ages to demystify vocal function and develop the freedom to sing in any style with flexibility and endurance. noahrice.com
Jessica (Emma Goldman / American) is ecstatic to make her Darkhorse debut by way of such a thought-provoking and eye-opening musical.
She is a Middle TN native turned live performance artist and world adventurer. After living and performing in New York City, abroad and on cruise ships for over 14 years, Jessica’s delighted to entertain again on Nashville’s stages where it all began. Some of her favorite credits include Sesame Street Live! International Tour: Elmo’s Super Heroes (Kay (Human) & Ernie (Muppet)), Hairspray (Velma), NINE (Carla) and most recently, as Swing, portraying several characters from the flying fairy, Ghost of Christmas Past to Bella, the literal Belle of the Ball to the Hostess with the Mostest, Mrs. Fezziwig in Busch Gardens’ production of Scrooge No More. She sends special thanks to Cat for her passion and commitment to bringing this work to life and is excited to create art together again after how many years?! 😉
As always, she also sends much love and appreciation to her mother, father, aunt and uncle… the Fam Team and her dear friends for all of their continuous love and support. (Emma Goldman / American) is ecstatic to make her Darkhorse debut by way of such a thought-provoking and eye-opening musical.
Will Lasley (Ensemble / American) After years of obsessing over the Broadway soundtrack, Will Lasley is thrilled to finally be a part of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins. He began doing theatre in his early teens with Act Too Players in Franklin, where he played the title roles in both Sweeney Todd and Shrek the Musical. More recently, he has been performing regularly with New Star Nashville Productions, with whom he played the Beast in Disney’s Beauty & the Beast and Dr. Van Helsing in Stoker’s Dracula. He can also be seen on the stage as a standup comedian and choral singer. Thanks to Cat and Noah, the entire cast and crew, his parents (Tom and Michelle), his sister (Anna), and his girlfriend (Cat, a different one). Dedicated to Stephen Sondheim.
Shea Gordon (The Balladeer) is a rising senior at Vanderbilt University pursuing a BA in theatre. His previous shows at Vanderbilt include Dogfight (Eddie Birdlace), Spring Awakening (Moritz Stiefel) The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip Tolentino), and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Judas). He would like to thank his mom, dad, the Henke family, and the entire Assassins cast and crew for all of their love and support.
Anna Carrol (Sara Jane Moore) is over the moon to be performing again! Anna received her BFA in musical theatre at Belmont University, in addition to certificates in acting and original work at the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York City. Some of her favorite roles have been Sister Mary Martin of Tours (Sister Act), Ellie Blake (Freaky Friday), Naomi (Stolen, orig cast), a washer wench in the Sterling Renassaince Festival, along with touring with Madcap Puppets and cruising with the American Queen Steamboat Company! When she’s not performing, she is a private audition coach, vocal teacher, or creating new works! Anna has been able to perform many of her original works on tour at a national level, in addition to local events in Nashville and NYC. “Glory be to God!”
Harold Hill (Sound Designer) has been a part of the entertainment community in Nashville since he arrived “to stay” for the third time in 1985. He’ll be the first to tell you that music is the reason he lives in Music City. His musical theater experience goes all the way back to age 8 starring 10 years in the local production in his hometown of Big Stone Gap, VA called Trail of the Lonesome Pine, which continues production every summer to today, six decades later. The community and its identity with a musical theater production since 1962 was immortalized in the movie Big Stone Gap in 2014 by Adrianna Trigiani who wrote the best-selling book and also directed the movie. On the road, Harold has performed as the bandleader of his own show since his early 20’s and understands that sound design is an integral part of any performance. His enthusiasm for Assassins shows in how you hear the presentation.
Micheal Walley (John Hinkley) is honored to be a part of the incredible cast of Assassins. Some of his Tennessee credits include Esther: A New Musical (Chaffin’s Barn), Minnie Pearl: All the News from Grinder’s Switch (Chaffin’s Barn), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Nashville FBC Dinner Theatre), and Smoke on the Mountain (Three Rivers Theatre Company.) Micheal lives in Nashville with his wife, Anne Marie, and their dachshund, Edley. He’s a writer, a producer, a voiceover artist, and grateful to be a member of the incredible Nashville theatre community!
Janice Denson (Stage Manager) and Cat Arnold have collaborated on several shows and she is so excited to be part of this amazing cast and crew. Most recently, she played her bucket list role as Nurse Ratched in Bravo Boro’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. She would like to thank her husband, Mike for supporting her. Je t’aime!
Melissa Silengo (Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme) – Melissa grew up in Colorado, moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University, and has called music city home ever since. Some of her favorite roles from around town include Katherine (Newsies), Callie Hartley (Smoke: A Ballad of the Night Riders), June Sanders (Smoke on the Mountain), Gertrude McFuzz (Suessical), and Natalie (All Shook Up!). Most recently, she played Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense at the Keeton Theatre and Marge in Breaking Up Is Hard To Do at Chaffin’s Barn, just before it closed. Melissa is honored and excited to be a part of this stellar cast and production. Thanks, Dave and Cat!
Zach Williams (Leon Czolgosz) is excited to back on stage at The Dark Horse with such an incredible cast of characters! Zach has worked with a few companies around the city including The Larry Keeton playing Mr. Hart (9 to 5), Dave Bukatinsky in Circle Players’ The Full Monty, Biscuit in The Darkhorse’s production of Holding the Man, and is currently a cast member of Inebriated Shakespeare where he played Juliet’s Nurse (Linda) in Romeo and Juiet and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He is originally from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where he was active in theater as well. Some favorite roles include Bruce Niles (The Normal Heart), Michael (Smokey Joe’s Cafe), Benny (Rent), and many more! Zach is a 3rd grade teacher in Metro Nashville Public Schools. He wants to thank his family and friends for their support and hopes that you enjoy the show!
Willem Bragg (Billy / Ensemble) is a nine-year old Nashville native who is thrilled to be an onstage performer in this show, his first musical-! He’s especially thrilled to be acting alongside his former teacher, Mr. Zach Williams. Willem’s performance experience includes some on-camera acting for a short film & a TV commercial; he’s also had stage roles in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and more recently, as C.S. Lewis’ stepson Douglas in Shadowlands. Willem will be starting his fourth grade year at Dupont Elementary in August, and he enjoys reading, playing video games and sports!
Ben Teal Davis (Giuseppe Zangara) Studied classical voice at Trevecca Nazarene University and has been performing around Nashville for around 5 years. He Is super thankful and excited to be a part of this wonderful cast. He would like to thank his friends and family for their support.
Daniel Vincent (Ensemble / American) is excited to be back in his second show after a five-year hiatus. He has been contributing to Nashville theatre on and off stage for the last 24 years. Favorite roles include Timmy in The Subject Was Roses (ACT1), Bobby in Urinetown (Boiler Room Theatre), Pirelli in Sweeney Todd (Boiler Room Theatre), Mark in Southern Baptist Sissies (Kirk-Burgess Productions), and Bruce Niles in The Normal Heart (Music City Theatre). He would like to thank Cat Eberwine for giving him the opportunity to be a part of this production, his husband, Mike, for always being supportive even when he has no idea what Daniel is talking about, and the kitties, Felix and Oscar, for not completely destroying the house while he’s been away at rehearsals. Life tip: Don’t let work, depression or pandemics keep you from doing
what you love.
Thomas (Web Developer / Assistant Producer) is a 26 year old from Houston, Texas. He is grateful to have the opportunity to work with Bucket List Productions. Curiously enough, angelm97.sg-host.com is the first website that he has worked on and has learned so much in his endeavours in creating a website and has found a new passion with this project. His favorite programming language is Python, but also has familiarity with CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and Java. He has also gotten his feet wet with other programming languages such as C#, PHP, and Go and whishes to continue creating websites for others.
Andy (Charles Guiteau) is thrilled to be back on stage. He has performed regionally over the years with the nashville repertory theatre, nashville Shakespeare festival, nashville childrens theatre, and several other companies around Tennessee. Andy feels extremely fortunate to have the chance to collaborate with such an amazing group of people. He wishes all the best and gives thanks to everyone involved in the show!
Dan (Samuel Byck) is so thankful to be back on the stage with this incredible cast, after a hiatus to raise children and stuff. Ironically his last role was also in a Sondheim piece, Into the Woods playing the role of Rapunzel’s prince.
Special thanks to my beautiful wife for holding down the fort during prep for this show, and to my daughters Hanneh and Elena for the inspiration to get back on the stage. Additional huge thanks to my special friends Dave and Cat, two of the most incredible people I know for challenging me to take on this really great role.
Anthony (American Ensemble) is excited to be working with Assassins killer cast and crew! Coming off a long hiatus, he was last seen in KB Production’s Equus, Boiler Room Theatre’s in The Producers and Les Miserables, as The Baker in Keeton Theatre’s production of Into the Woods, the First Night Awards productions of The Men from the Boys and All About Eve, and Groundworks Theatre’s Eat the Runt. He has also worked on ABC’s Nashville, the CMA Country Christmas show, and several independent movies. Prior to moving to Nashville, Anthony co-founded and ran Wayward Actors’ Company and worked closely with Louisville Rep, producing, directing or acting in such shows as The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Witness for the Prosecution, and A Hatful of Rain.
Dustin Davis (John Wilkes booth) Nomadic Actor/Singer. Nashville credits include Nash Rep’s Ragtime and Studio Tenn’s Camelot. Dustin cut his teeth working regionally in the Midwest, where he played leading roles in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Sweeney Todd, Assassins, The Full Monty, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chess, Heathers, Annie Get Your Gun, 1776, and Into the Woods. Loads of love to BEMJA2100. For Mom. @_dustin_davis dustindavisactor.com
Will Henke (The Proprietor) is thrilled to be a part of his first Nashville production! When he’s not performing, he’s studying to earn his degree in Theatre at Vanderbilt University. His favorite roles in college include Leaf Coneybear (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Boland (Dogfight), and Judge Littlefield (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot). He also made his playwriting debut with Vanderbilt University Theatre’s 2021 mainstage production Wingman Telegram. He would like to thank his family for all their love and support, this incredible cast & crew for driving him to be better everyday, and his high school director, Ms. T, for casting him as Horse #3 in his debut production of Cinderella.
Cat Glidwell (Ensemble / American) is so honored to be a part of this insanely talented cast. With over 20 years of experience, Cat is no stranger to the stage. You may have seen her throughout the years as Shelly in Evil Dead the Musical!, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Petruchia, in Taming of the Shrew, and Hermia and Peter Quince in Midsummer Nights Dream with Inebriated Shakespeare, Donkey in Shrek the Musical, and Candy in Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, just to name a few. She is classically trained in Shakespeare from Stella Adler Studio of Acting and has a Theatre Management Certification from NYU. This and all other performances forever are dedicated to her daughter, Arabella 
Dareath (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be part of crew for Assassins! She has worked in several productions over the years. Some of her favorite productions include American Idiot and Titanic. Dareath is excited to be back after having to take a 4 year or so break. She loves to be working in the back drop and help make the magic come alive on the stage including working with the Director and Cast to bring you best possible production. She hopes you enjoy the show!
