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Michael Sazonov  (Max) is glad to be back with Firebelly Productions and eager to partake in another Ken Ludwig play.  He recently understudied at The Round House Theater as Petya Trofimov in The Cherry Orchard and was last seen on stage as Che Guevara in American University's Evita.  He was proud to play the role of Alex Anderson in Michael Rupert's and Matthew Riopelle's new musical Streets of America, which previewed on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage earlier this fall.  Michael looks forward to this summer when he will study at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

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Kaitlin Kelly (Maggie Saunders) has recently appeared in Singin' in the Rain as Lena Lamont and in West Side Story, as well as with the O'Connell High School Singers. She attended the Virginia's Governor's School for the Arts this past summer. She appeared in Firebelly Production's Sentimental Journey this past winter. In addition to her work with Firebelly, Kaitlin has completed college auditions for musical theatre conservatory programs at Carnegie Mellon University, Boston Conservatory, Syracuse University, and Emerson College.  She will be a freshman at Syracuse University this coming fall.

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Michael J. Fulvio (Henry Saunders) is a sophomore theatre major at American University in Washington, DC. He was most recently seen in Songs for a New World at AU. Michael was also a member of the Washington Savoyard's production of The Gondoliers. Last September, Michael was featured in Streets of America on the Millennium Stage during the Kennedy Center's Page-To-Stage Festival and was a member of the cast of American University's Evita.  Last year he was seen on American University's stage as Flute/Thisbe in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and as Henry in The Fantasticks. Michael is also serving as Technical Director for AU Players.

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David Cahill (Tito Merelli), a recent graduate of the American University (B.A. Communications: Visual Media / Theatre Minor), is thrilled to be reunited with Kathi Gollwitzer for his first appearance with Firebelly Productions.  Most recently, David appeared in Omaemoda's production of Oscar and Adonis (Oscar Wilde) and Dead Poets (Christopher Marlowe) at the DCAC.  Previous productions at AU include The Glass Menagerie (Tom Wingfield), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (RP McMurphy), for which he was nominated for an ACTF Irene Ryan Award.  Film experience includes A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court as Clarence, opposite Michael York.  David would like to thank the entire cast and crew for their hard work and tremendous talent, his family for their undying love and support, and Kathi and Barbara for giving him this wonderful opportunity.

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Janet Patton (Maria Merelli) Janet Patton is thrilled to be a part of Lend Me a Tenor. A senior at American University, Janet was last seen as Eva Peron in Evita!  Other favorite roles include Maggie in A Chorus Line, Fastrada in Pippin, Dorothy in The Wiz, and Chava in Fiddler on the Roof. Since the age of seven, she has performed in over 50 different community and professional productions throughout the Detroit area. Janet has also created many roles for a professional interactive/improv theatre company near her hometown.  Last spring, Janet studied at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, as well as the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York City. A double major in Music Theatre and Public Communications, Janet hopes to perform and pursue her dreams while paying back her student loans. She looks forward to every and any performance opportunity to come, God willing, and thanks everyone that has encouraged her to grow on the way.

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Jessica Deaton-Crossland (Diana) is a sophomore at O'Connell High School. She performed in the production of Singin' in the Rain at O'Connell last spring. She helped backstage and with makeup during Firebelly Production's Sylvia in November.  Her last performance was as "Roxie" (a show girl) at the Knights of Columbus in Sentimental Journey. She has been dancing and performing for ten years with the Christina Heimlich Dancers, and has been hunting for the last four years with her father. She enjoys everything from hunting, acting, dancing, playing sports, hanging with friends and taking on new ideas.  Jessica is very excited about this show; in addition to her stage role she serves as an assistant director. She sends a special thanks to her parents for putting up with her and all her rehearsals, "I love you mommy and daddy" and she thanks Kathi Gollwitzer for everything she has done for her and for bringing out a new and better side of her.

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Luigi Canlas (Bellhop) has appeared in West Side Story and Singin' in the Rain, and played the role of Cheswick in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  This fall he played the triple roles of Tom, Phyllis, and Leslie in Firebelly's production of Sylvia at Theatre on the Run.  During a scene night in August, he played the role of Crooks from the play Of Mice and Men. He also took part in a benefit performance where he played a role in the children's theatre, Magic Theatre.  Luigi helped create a spooky optical illusion for the Knights of Columbus' haunted house. This past winter he performed at the Knights of Columbus in Firebelly's The Sentimental Journey, where he played a dancing/singing gangster, "Chauncey Chan."

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Marissa Molnar (Julia) graduated in May 2002 from American University with a B.A. in Music.  AU credits include Camelot (Guenevere), Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well, directed by Thomas Mills, Candide (Cunegonde), Company (Amy), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Starveling/Cobweb), for which she was nominated for an ACTF Irene Ryan Award. Other credits include The Secret Garden (Rose) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Superstar Girl) with CalRep in California, Pennsylvania.  Marissa hails originally from Columbus, "Better Than Cleveland" Ohio, where she was not, in fact, raised on a farm, or indeed anywhere near cows.

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the crew

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