The Cast

D’Jamin Bartlett (the Witch) won a Theater World Award and a Drama Desk Award for originating the role of Petra in the Broadway production of A Little Night Music. She can be heard singing “The Miller’s Son” on the original cast album. Other Broadway, off--Broadway and National Tours include: Lend Me a Tenor directed by Jerry Zaks, Godspell, Pippin, Pal Joey, Bocaccio, Lulu (Show Business Award), Show Boat, The Yearling with John Cullum, Guys in the Truck with Elliot Gould, to name a few. Regional productions include: House of Blue Leaves (Bunny Flingus), Peter Pan (Peter), Piece of My Heart by Shirley Lauro, Little Egypt by Lynn Siefert, and many more. She was the voice of The Witch for The Cabbage Patch recordings written by Tom Chapin, a featured performer and panelist on the Tonight Show, and played Evil Eva on “One Life to Live.” For the last 14 years, she has run a very successful music business out of Florida and Las Vegas with talented long time companion Mark Bornfield. They co-wrote a musical about witcthcraft in Miami, called Misspelled, which opened in Florida to wonderful notices. They are re-working it for a future production. D’Jamin is the proud mother of Alison Bartlett, a popular television actress on "Sesame Street" (Gina), and Holley Bartlett, co-author of several songs in Rapunzel. She is very happy to be part of this wonderful show.

Katy Apostolico (Lee) is excited to be a part of Rapunzel with this talented cast. Katy has performed on tour in Asia with The Sound of Music last year. She has also been seen in numerous regional and community theaters performing some of her favorite roles which include Gretl in The Sound of Music, Molly in Annie, and a youth production of Grease in which she played Jan. She has also been seen performing in Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof, The King & I, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Katerina is currently 10 years old and has been performing on stage since the age of 3. She is already determined that she will be a “star” on Broadway. Thanks to Karen for this great opportunity and to my Mom and Dad for their love, support and car service.

Raum-Aron (Jamie), 10 years old, is pleased to be back on stage in his first comedic role, (and his 2nd FringeNYC production). He most recently appeared as Eyolf in Ibsen’s Little Eyolf at CRS. Prior credits include: T.J. in the Samuel French Festival’s Going Too Far, roles of Mamillius, Time, Bear, Autolycus in Mamillius at La MaMa E.T.C., young Savanarolla/Boy in the NYC International Fringe Festival’s Burning Botticelli, Ricky in Mayonnaise Sandwiches (OOBR award recipient) at the Looking Glass Theatre, and Itys in The Three Birds, Gale Gates Et Al. He has recently finished working on his role as Abraham in the feature film Feliz Navidad, to be released this holiday season, and is proud to have been accepted to The School of American Ballet for the Winter 06/07 season. Raum-Aron is a skilled Chinese Kung Fu martial artist, studies Cantonese, and has received several awards for speech and academic achievement in his class.

Betsy Marra (Mother) is thrilled to be participating in the Tenth Anniversary of The New York Fringe Festival and performing Rapunzel for FringeJr. Betsy has performed extensively in community theatre spanning Park Slope to Manhattan where she has performed the roles of Amalia (She Loves Me), Nanette (No, No Nanette) and Luciana (The Boys From Syracuse). Most of her work, however, has been for The Heights Players of Brooklyn. She has performed such roles there as Maria (The Sound of Music), Sally Durant Plummer (Follies), and most recently Marian Paroo (The Music Man), just to name a few. She studies voice privately with Shirley Callaway. Thank you Karen and Holley for allowing me (once again) to be part of this amazing production.

Michael Padgett (the Prince) is making his Fringe Festival debut with this show. Favorite parts include Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, Giusseppe in The Gondoliers, and the Claudios in The Merchant of Venice and Measure for Measure. He is soloist at St. Monica’s church on East 79th Street. His voice teacher is David Schaefer. Michael holds a B.A. in Theater from FSU. Love to wife Lisa for her unyielding support.

Kristina Teschner (Rapunzel) is a graduate of New York University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance-Music Theatre. New York credits include concert versions of The Secret Garden (with Laura Benanti and Michael Arden), Pippin (with Ben Vereen and Rosie O’Donnell), Children of Eden (with Julia Murney and Norm Lewis), featured in On the Verge (directed by Judy Blazer), featured in New Stages at the York (York Theatre), Celia in Like You Like It (workshop), Hair and Fiorello! Other credits include Jenny in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Kristina would like to thank the creative team and cast for all of their hard work. www.kristinateschner.com

Tom Urciuoli (Father) once upon a time was a boy of ten years, and there was a theater program for kids sponsored by the P.A.L. (Police Athletic League). It was then he discovered the art of pretending. Since then, Tom has been performing with various theater companies, including Kingsborough Community College, The Players Circle, The Diocesan Theater Guild, The Village Light Opera Group, The Carroll Gardens Repertory Company, The Brooklyn Limelighters, and the Brooklyn Heights Players. What a thrill to be working with a fun and talented ensemble of actors, creative team and staff on this production of Rapunzel, which is Tom’s debut performance with the New York International Fringe Festival.

Jenn Wehrung (Storyteller) is an actor/comic/singer whose credits are as varied as her title. She recently appeared as the lead off-Broadway in the premiere of On Dry Land and in AMERICANBLACKOUT at Access Theatre (also in this year's Fringe Fest), has performed at countless comedy clubs including Caroline's on Broadway, as well as headlining on Fire Island every summer and sold out her first one-woman, "cabaret v. stand-up" show at Dillon's. She performs and teaches with the children's improv based Attic Salt Theatre company and gets laughs around town with the sketch comedy trio, The Skirts. She can be seen as her burlesque alter-ego, Bella DaBalls at venues such as the Slipper Room, HERE, and Vital Theatre. Oh, and she's a nanny in her spare time.

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Behind the Scenes

Holley Bartlett (Composer/Flute) has worked as Music Director/Composer for the past 10 years for the Imagine Project, a not-for-profit performing arts program that participates at various schools throughout the city. Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College B.A., M.A. from Hunter College, and very fortunate to be studying with pianist German Diez in New York. So happy to be a part of this production of Rapunzel, with the hope that future work of this kind can be of benefit to children and families in need. Many thanks to Karen for allowing me to collaborate, and much gratitude and love to all my family, my "Witch" mother, beautiful daughter, and Anthony. holley@imagineproject.org

Beverly Closs (Music Director/Piano) has composed, performed or musically directed many past Heights Players productions, including The Secret Garden, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Carnival, many Galas and her favorite: Rock Horror Picture Show, as well as accompanist for the Tell Me Another One library performance series. A piano/guitar teacher for over 30 years, she is happy to be working with Karen.

Karen Rousso (Director, etc.) grew up doing children’s theater in Brooklyn. She studied children’s literature with Patricia McLachlan (author, “Sarah, Plain and Tall”) at Smith College. She served as program director and a teaching artist for the non-profit educational company Inside Broadway, and worked for the NYC Dept. of Ed.’s Office of Arts and Cultural Education. She studied with the late Bobby Lewis and at Circle Rep, and trained with The Groundlings in Los Angeles. As a member of the Los Angeles improv troupe Addle Essence, she performed regularly at the Comedy Underground. As a writer, her plays have been produced in NYC and Los Angeles, and she worked on the independent feature film, East Broadway. She is currently beginning work on a new children’s musical with lyricist Arianna Rose and composer Rob Stamper. She directed the original production of Rapunzel. She would like to thank her very special cast and behind-the-scenes team for their hard work, creative gifts and encouragement, especially Robert, Ariella and Holley, who are her (as John Lennon might put it) Sir Thomas Doubtlesswithoutwhoms.

Brian Swasey (Choreographer) is a graduate of University of New Hampshire with a degree in Musical Theatre and Dance. Theatrical Performing credits include Harry Houdini in Ragtime at Maine State Music Theatre, the Off-Broadway production of Naked Boys Singing (yes, I was really naked), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Crazy for You, Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, A Chorus Line, She Loves Me, 42nd Street, Tommy, The Wizard of Oz, and an international tour of West Side Story. Directing and Choreography credits include Forever Plaid, Lucky Stiff, The Man in The Iron Mask, Godspell, Seussical, Starmites, Nunsense, Is There Life After High School?, How to Succeed..., Once on this Island, A Chorus Line, Once Upon a Mattress, Kiss Me, Kate and Peter Pan.

Ariella Toder (Stage Manager) has been involved in theater onstage and off since she was 14 years old. Some recent acting credits are The Women, Save Me a Place At Forest Lawn, and an origional play Choices (where she met Karen and became fast friends). She has operated the light board for The Crucible and Witness For The Prosecution. This is her first gig as a stage manager and she looks forward to directing on her own someday. Thank you, Karen, for the experience and knowledge! You are a great mentor.

Jan Vanderputten (Lighting Technician) has worked almost exclusively with the Brooklyn-based community theater, the Heights Players, for the past thirty years. She has run lights on countless productions, designed close to 70 posters and is on stage from time to time. A musician and song writer, she is grateful for this happy Rapunzel experience.

Albert Walsh (Costume Designer) is an accomplished costumer designer and performer as well. His numerous shows at the Heights Players include The Music Man, My Fair Lady, The Women, Anatomy of Murder to mention a few. He has also costumed such off Broadway shows as Run of Demille, Goddesses, and All About Christmas Eve. He is well known in the cabaret circuit, having performed at Don't Tell Mamas, Rose's Turn, The Duplex, in New York and the Cinegrill in West Hollywood, CA. He is also accomplished in church and classical music, and opera.

Robert G. Waring (Technical Director/Light Design) began his professional theatrical affiliation with the Heights Players (Brooklyn, NY) in 1978 as Sound, Set, Light Designer, Stage Manager, Choreographer and progressed to Directing in 1979. Mainstage productions have included Equus, A Chorus Line, Dracula, The Normal Heart, The Shadow Box and Company. He has directed Off-Broadway (War Babies, Caligula) and for New England Lyric Operetta (resident director - 3 seasons), Connecticut Grand Opera, Tulsa Opera, Mississippi Opera and numerous cabarets in Manhattan. His one-act play, CHOICES, was workshopped this past June to high critical acclaim. Over the past 30 years he has had the pleasure of working with Shirley Jones, Jose Feliciano, Mark Jacoby, Claudia Catania, Daisy Egan, Rado & Ragne, Joe Brancato, Galt MacDermott, Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Herman and Karen Rousso. Thanks HP!!!

Bill Wood (Set Design and Publicity Artwork) is a lifetime member of Brooklyn’s Heights Players where he directs, acts, writes, designs sets and posters. For over 25 years, he has worked in all of these capacities in venues far too numerous to mention. Here are just a few: Whoop-Dee-Do, Actors’ Playhouse; Frankie and Johnny, Sanford Meisner Theater; Balm in Gilead, Miranda Theater; Merrily We Roll Along, 45th Street Playhouse; Big Apple Betty, Judith Anderson Theater; Box 27, Wings Theater; and The Rink, Gallery Players. Mr. Wood will be producing a series of storybook theater plays for children this fall at the Heights Players, so let down your hair and check out our website: www.heightsplayers.org.

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