NORTON I

The (mostly) true tale of Joshua Norton, a bankrupt venture capitalist turned self-appointed emperor, Norton’s reign over San Francisco saw the city through the Civil War and the ensuing racial violence in the city. As Norton tries to retain control over his city, he’s forced to confront, in the words of our narrator, Tommy Wiseau, how to make the world a better place. 

PRODUCTION TEAM

Giacomo Fizzano | Book, Music and Lyrics

Justin Jain | Director

Dan Espie | Music Director/Pianist

Olivia Berkson | Assistant Music Director/Guitarist

Teayra Bowden | Stage Manager

Gio Coppola | Assistant Stage Manager/Stage Directions

Shaun McGhee | Drummer

CAST

Peter Kirby | Tommy Wiseau

Kara Rantovich | Ann Carswell

Jack Hopewell | Joshua Norton

Riley Schor | Herman Kearny

Amy Chen | Ah How

Zachary Bright | Recruiter, Armand Barbier

Lizz Hughes | Margot St. James, Backup Girl

Piper Loebach | Margaret Williams, Julius Caesar, Backup Girl

Peter Hoefler | Neville Chamberlain, Barbershop Tenor

Collin McHugh | George Fitch

Tommy Walkowiak | Sam Brannan, Barbershop Baritone

Caroline O'Connell | Frederick Coombs

Adam Furgal | Adolf Hitler, Charles Exposition, Driver, Fitz Smythe

Roberto Delgado | William Tecumseh Sherman, Sumner, Union Miner, Barbershop Bass

Vanesa Gomez | Cato, Florist, Union Miner

Chloe Rochefort | Crittenden, Another Miner, Confederate Miner, Backup Girl

Lauren Kelly | Brooks, Nathan Peiser, Confederate Miner

Shannon Sullivan| Samuel Clemens, Cicero, Backup Girl

 
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Giacomo Fizzano (Book, Music and Lyrics) (he/him) is a Philadelphia-based writer, composer, actor, musician and Oxford comma defender. He is thrilled to premiere his first full-length musical at this year’s Polyphone Festival! His writing credits include the 15-minute musical Larry Walters (on his YouTube channel), “Cook’s Song” in Mother Courage and Her Children (with Daniel Jones) and the currently-in-development Leonardo DiCaprio is Welcome to be in My Broadway Musical: The Musical (title pending). His acting credits include the Arden Theatre Company; the Walnut Street Theater; Delaware Shakespeare; and many, many performances here at UArts. Learn more about Fizzano on his website, giacomofizzano.com, or his Instagram feed, @giacomofizzano.

Justin Jain (director) (he/him) is an actor, director, teacher and Wilma HotHouse Company member. He previously appeared in The Cherry Orchard, Dance Nation, and Romeo & Juliet, among many others at Wilma Theater. His recent directing credits include The Chinese Lady (InterAct), This is The Week That Is (1812 Productions) and No Child … (Arden Theatre). Additionally, Jain has performed off Broadway and with many regional theaters including Arden Theatre Company, Lantern Theatre, Azuka, People’s Light, FringeArts, Shakespeare in Clark Park, McCarter Theatre, Theatre Horizon, Passage Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Assembly (Edinburgh), ASU Gammage and Ars Nova NYC, among others. Jain is also a proud UArts alum and a union member of AEA and UAP. 

Dan Espie (music director/pianist) (he/him)

Olivia Berkson (assistant music director/guitarist) (she/her) is a junior Musical Theater major. Her past UArts credits include Buried (co-composer and assistant music director), Kill the Whale (Flask), Myths and Hymns (writer and ensemble) and A Little Death (composer). Thank you to Maggie-Kate for thinking of her for the position and to Gio, Teayra and Hayden for being so great to work with!

Teayra Bowden (stage manager)(she/her) Teayra is a Sophmore Directing, Playwriting, Production major. Some past production credits include “I Want A Country”, “Look Up Canyon”, “Men On Boats”, “Norton I” and “Find Myself Here”. She would like to thank the rest of the amazing team that made this show come together! 

Gio Coppola (assistant stage manager/stage directions) (he/him) is assistant stage manager for Norton I and Ghost Town. This is his first UArts credit, as well as his first time being an assistant stage manager. Coppola has a lot of theater experience as an actor and a lighting designer. He would like to thank his family, friends and the entire Polyphone team for their endless support.

Shaun McGhee (drummer)

ABOUT THE CAST 

Peter Kirby (Tommy Wiseau) (he/him) is a junior Musical Theater major. His past UArts credits include Ballyturk (3), Shapeshifters (Sike) and Promenade (Mr. S). Many thanks to Giacomo, Justin, Dan, Olivia, Teayra, Gio, MK and the whole Norton I cast. 

Kara Rantovich (Ann Carswell) (she/her) is a senior Musical Theater major. Her past UArts credits include Myths & Hymns, and her summer credits include Young Frankenstein (SSTI), Anything Goes (SSTI) and Pajama Game (OCU). Much thanks to the entire creative team, cast and crew who made this all possible. Gratitude is the attitude! 

Jack Hopewell (Joshua Norton) (he/they) is a senior Musical Theater major and a Music Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology minor. His past UArts credits include Buried, Fuente Ovejuna, Overgrown, Myths and Hymns, Pop!, Summer of '69, Machinal and Psycho Beach Party. Hopewell’s regional credits include You’re ... Charlie Brown (Tibbits), On Golden Pond (Tibbits) and The Boys in the Band (Centre Theater). Endless thanks to Mom and Dad; to Erin, my rock; and to Calvin for ... Calvin. Al and Renée, this one’s for you. 

Riley Schor (Herman Kearny)(he/him) Past UArts credits include Ride the Cyclone (Mischa) | Thanks to the whole team for all the hard work in the week that we had to work on this lovely show. 

Amy Chen (Ah How)(she/her) is a junior Musical Theater major. Her previous UArts credits include We’re Gonna Die, Lilith and Her Demons, etc. Endless thanks to Giacomo for asking me to help develop Ah How in 2020 and letting me grow with her over the past two years. Thanks to Maggie-Kate Coleman, Justin Jain, and the rest of the cast and crew of Norton I!

Zachary Bright (Recruiter, Armand Barbier) (any pronouns) is a first-year student. Norton I marks their first production with UArts. Thanks to the entire cast, production team and university for endless support. 

Lizz Hughes (Margot St. James, Backup Girl)

Piper Loebach (Margaret Williams, Julius Caesar, Backup Girl) (she/her) is a junior at UArts who is double-majoring in Musical Theater and Directing, Playwriting and Production. Thank you to Giacomo for creating this fun/clever/huge world and for letting me be a part of it. All my love and appreciation to Justin Jain, the Norton cast and the entire Polyphone creative team! 

Peter Hoefler (Neville Chamberlain, Barbershop Tenor) (he/him) is a senior Musical Theater major. HIs past UArts credits include Myths & Hymns (Ensemble) and The Blazing World (Ensemble). Hoefler is beyond grateful to have had his first live performance at UArts and would like to thank Giacomo Fizzano and the cast and creatives of Norton I!

Collin McHugh (George Fitch) (he/him) is a senior Musical Theater major. His past UArts credits include Jamie and Cathy in The Last Five Years. 

Tommy Walkowiak (Sam Brannan, Barbershop Baritone) (he/him) His past UArts credits include Buried (Pompeiian), POP! (Gerard) and I Want A Country (Crew).

Caroline O'Connell (Frederick Coombs)

Adam Furgal (Adolf Hitler, Charles Exposition, Driver, Fitz Smythe) (he/him) is a first-year Musical Theater major. This is his first UArts production, and he is grateful for the wonderful team he worked with to help make Polyphone a success.

Roberto Delgado (William Tecumseh Sherman, Sumner, Union Miner, Barbershop Bass)

Vanesa Gomez (Cato, Florist, Union Miner)

Chloe Rochefort (Crittenden, Another Miner, Confederate Miner, Backup Girl) (she/her) Thank you to the cast, crew and Giacomo for this wonderful experience! 

Lauren Kelly (Brooks, Nathan Peiser, Confederate Miner) (she/her) is senior Musical Theater major. Her past UArts credits include Katie in Summer of ’69 (and the Children of the Bad Revolution), Hart Island Requiem and was cellist for Mother Courage. Much thanks to the team of Norton I for their incredible hard work. 

Shannon Sullivan (Samuel Clemens, Cicero, Backup Girl) (she/her) has performed in La Vida Luka (Vida) and The Blazing World at UArts. Her non-UArts shows include Bright Star (ASGT), WIFE and Perceive Me Until We Disconnect. Thank you to Giacomo, Justin, Dan, MK and the amazing cast.