The Amazingly True Adventures of Nellie Bly
“The Pittsburgh CLO's performance of The Incredibly Innovative Innovators of Pittsburgh was very enjoyable and educational all at the same time. I was surprised by how much I was learning while I was being entertained. All of our students, ranging from grades 4 to 12, were so fascinated to learn such interesting facts about a city that is so nearby.”Erica Smith, Coordinator of Field Trips, PA Cyber School
Extremely limited space is still available for booking in-school performances of The Amazingly True Adventures of Nellie Bly for the Spring 2012 semester. All schools booking a performance will receive a valuable Teacher’s Guide to help integrate the show’s important history and science lessons into their classroom activities, as well as a handout for each student. To schedule a Gallery of Heroes presentation, or for more information, call 412-325-6459 or email Galleryof Heroes@pittsburghCLO.org
Let Pittsburgh CLO’s Gallery of Heroes help fulfill your PA State Educational Standard requirements!
About the Show
The Amazingly True Adventures of Nellie Bly is one of six Gallery of Heroes musicals written by Jason Coll. Mr. Coll also is the Director for the production. His other original works for Pittsburgh CLO include Steel, Pioneers of Flight, Young Washington, The Incredibly Innovative Innovators of Pittsburgh and ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba! The Roberto Clemente Story. Mr. Coll served as the Associate Artistic Director of Pittsburgh CLO from 2004-2008. He has just finished writing and producing a new television pilot, Munhall, starring George Wendt.
The Choreographer for The Amazingly True Adventures of Nellie Bly is
About The Cast
(In Alphabetical order)
Billy Hepfinger (Benjamin) is a graduate of Princeton University, where he studied literature and theater, acted in his spare time, and sang with the Princeton Nassoons, one of the country's oldest a cappella groups. He was recently seen in Pittsburgh CLO’s A Musical Christmas Carol, and in PMT’s Hairspray as Corny Collins. Other Pittsburgh credits include Young Washington (Pittsburgh CLO Gallery of Heroes), Dora the Explorer Live! (Children’s Museum), and the 2011 Young Playwrights Festival (City Theatre). He is also a graduate of North Allegheny High School, a Gene Kelly Award winner, and a former Pittsburgh CLO intern. Billy is a resident of Allison Park, PA.
Mary Lamb (Nellie Bly) A Pittsburgh native, was recently seen in Pittsburgh CLO’s A Musical Christmas Carol. Credits include Hairspray (Amber VonTussle), Annie Get Your Gun (Winnie Tate), Cabaret (Kit Kat Girl), Fame (Serena), and Footloose (Ariel). Look for Mary this spring in the feature film "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." Mary is a graduate of North Catholic High School.
Rachel McKeon (Marion) is a recent transplant to Pittsburgh (but an Erie native!) and is so thrilled to be involved in her first production with the Pittsburgh CLO! In the past, she has toured on behalf of P.S. 122 (Welcome to Nowhere) and The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Love’s Labours Lost and Tartuffe). Most recently, she has worked with City Theatre in their annual Young Playwrights Festival. Up next: she can be seen in the role of Anna in Pittsburgh Musical Theatre’s production of Spring Awakening at the Byham this winter. BFA: NYU/Tisch.
Jim Scriven (Cornelius) Nellie Bly marks Jim's eighth tour with the CLO. He has performed with other local companies including City Theater, Empty Jug Productions, Front Door Theatrics, Apple Hill Playhouse and Frog Prince Theatricals. He also teaches acting and musical theater at Pittsburgh CLO Academy. Jim is a resident of Monroeville, PA.
Jason A. Shavers (Victor) returns to Gallery of Heroes for a seventh time. He has also been seen in many shows around Pittsburgh, such as Porgy & Bess (Robbins) and Lost In The Stars (Matthew Kumalo) with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Miss Saigon and The Wizard of Oz with Pittsburgh Musical Theater and Aida with Pittsburgh Opera. Jason also works as an instructor at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theater and as Props Master at the CLO Cabaret (I Love You, You're Perfect... and Nunsense). He is a graduate of Point Park University, where he earned a B.A. in Musical Theater. Jason resides in Wilkinsburg, PA.
Jocelyn Snyder (Female Swing/Stage Manager) is an actor, singer, and improviser in the Pittsburgh area. She has appeared in Groucho, A Life in Revue at the New Hazlett Theater, and the staged reading of the new musical, Dear Boy, at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater. Some of her favorite roles include Sara Jane Moore in Assassins and Hermia in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Jocelyn is an alumna of both Point Park University and the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School, where she studied the art of musical theater. Jocelyn resides in Squirrel Hill, PA.