The Company Theatre
presents
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
based on the novel by charles dickens
in a new version devised by the company
march 28–april 6, 2025
the temple building theatre
this production is made possible by our sponsors:
with generous support from our media sponsor
THE CAST OF GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Pip/Pip – Philip Detrick
Kit/Estella – Kit Prelewitz
Jeff/Magwitch – Jeff Siuda
Judy/Miss Havisham – Judy McCaffery
Ron/Joe Gargery/Drummle – Ron Dufort
Caitlin/Mrs. Joe/Biddy/Startop – Caitlin Kenyon
Chris/Jaggers/Compeyson – Christopher C. Conway
Adam/Herbert Pocket – Adam Bresette
CREATIVE TEAM
Director – Carl Del Buono
Co-Director/Stage Manager – Bev Bauman
Assistant Stage Manager – Sam Nelson
Production Manager/Technical Supervisor – Adam Urbanic
Lighting Designer/Technical Assistant – Noah Morris
Properties Master – Shelby Dunning
Costume Designer – Kendall Del Buono
Fight Coordinator – Rich Steele
Dramaturg – Amy Canfield
Publicity – Susan Murad
Promotional Photos – Sammi Cohen
Production Photos – Ron Heerkens, Jr./Goat Factory Media
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ASL INTERPRETERS
Lillianna Fowler, Kaley Otterson
ASL Consultant: Joseph Fox
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THE COMPANY THEATRE STAFF & BOARD
Artist Director: Carl Del Buono
Technical Director: Brodie McPherson
Board President: Susan Murad
Vice President: Philip Detrick
Treasurer: Doris Ludek
Secretary: Jael Lopez Gifford
Board Members: Sammi Cohen, Christopher C. Conway, Ron Dufort, Meaghan Finlay, Lydia Palmer, Jill Rittinger, Jessica Ruby​​
PLEASE NOTE:
Great Expectations runs 75 minutes with no intermission.
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We dedicate this production to the memory of our beloved friend and volunteer, Connie Kittle Neer.
Necessity is the Mother of Invention
A note from the Artistic Director of The Company Theatre
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To me, great theatre—like great food—is always made from scratch. Arriving to a production with too many preconceived notions of what a play should look, sound, or feel like immediately takes away a lot of room for exploration and imagination.
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So when we as a company found ourselves with nothing but an empty theater space, a devastatingly good book to adapt, and each other, we figuratively (and literally) clasped our hands together and decided to look at the situation as a rare and exciting opportunity for true collaboration—and a chance to live our mission of honoring tradition through innovation.
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Through index cards, cast surveys, and asking LOTS of questions, we chose to express Dickens's story through the process of rehearsal. We determined that the actors would play heightened versions of themselves embodying characters found in GREAT EXPECTATIONS. The line between reality and fiction would be blurred and distorted by the actors themselves, as well as through the props, lighting, music, and staging. As they endeavor to fight for their objectives, the actors lose themselves in their characters, experiencing their epic highs and lows, their loves and jealousies—and hopefully, by the end, they find what we all found in that empty theater space: connection among the ruins.
Carl Del Buono, Founding Artistic Director, The Company Theatre
Photo Credit: Sammi Cohen
Our featured artist: Chris Grooms, glass works
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The Company Theatre is happy to welcome back Chris Grooms as our featured artist. Chris's amazing glass pieces are available for sale in the lobby, with a portion of each sale going to The Company Theatre Fund.
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Chris Grooms, a native of Portland, Oregon, is a professional ASL interpreter. In the mid-1990s, while living in Seattle, he enrolled in a beginner’s stained-glass workshop on a whim. After moving to Rochester, Chris met Valerie O’Hara, a third-generation stained-glass artist, helming the family’s downtown Pike Stained Glass Studios. Brought onboard as an assistant/apprentice, Chris has had the pleasure of working on the restoration of ecclesiastical, stained-glass windows from historic churches throughout the Finger Lakes region. Often, this restoration includes the replacement and recreation of damaged/broken pieces. Chris’ own stained-glass practice, dubbed Silicat Studios, has in recent years evolved to include not only recreations and contemporary interpretations of historic designs he’s encountered, but also the utilization (recycling/upcycling) of damaged and discarded glass fragments in his own contemporary designs. Chris refers to these works, in his own practice, as “Resurrection Glass.” Resurrection #9, among the works for sale currently at the Temple Theatre, was featured in the Small Works juried exhibition recently closed at Main Street Arts in Clifton Springs. Chris appreciates The Company Theatre’s support of local arts and artists, and the chance to display his work in alignment with The Company's mission of "Honoring Tradition Through Innovation." ​​​​​​​​
ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
Adam Bresette (Adam/Herbert Pocket): Adam is happy to be back on stage with The Company Theatre again. His previous productions with them include Oedipus Rex (Priest/Shepard) and The Man Who Came to Dinner (Baker). A few of his favorite roles include Bullets Over Broadway (Mitch/Hot Dog Man) with the Phelps-Clifton Springs Community Theatre, Foreigners: Another Sunday (Louis) at the Rochester Fringe Festival, and Spring Awakening (Georg) at MCC, where he got his degree in theatre arts. Adam directed his first show last year for the Rochester Fringe Festival with Mise-en-Scène: A Cinematic Showcase. Outside of acting, Adam loves to hang out with friends, travel, write, play video games, and watch movies. He is also an avid open mic performer in the Rochester area. He would like to thank the cast and crew for making this show a possibility. He would also like to thank his family and friends for all of their love and support, and would like to especially thank his wonderful girlfriend, Enya. IG: @adambresette
Christopher C. Conway (Chris/Jaggers/Compeyson): Chris hails from rural, deep East Texas. In addition to Rochester, he has appeared on stages in Houston, TX and Seattle, WA. Locally, he has had the great good fortune to have worked with Blackfriars Theatre, Out of Pocket, Inc., JCC’s CenterStage Theatre, Rochester Community Players, and The Company Theatre. Most recently, he appeared as Isaac Post in The Company Theatre’s world premiere production of Kate Royal’s The Summer Land. A few favorite past roles: Roy Cohn in Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, Fagin in Oliver!, Moricet in the Feydeau farce 13 Rue de L'Amour, and Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Christopher is grateful for time spent in the theatre, on a stage, with folks as lovely, talented and supportive as all those who have made this production possible. He appreciates an audience, as well. Christopher is a proud member of The Company Theatre Board of Directors.
Philip Detrick (Pip/Pip): Philip is thrilled to share this truly singular experience. Rochester credits include: Elisha Kent Kane in The Summer Land, Konstantin in The Seagull, and Harvey Marshall in TheWisdom of Eve with The Company Theatre, Cliff in Cabaret, John in John and Jen, Arthur de Bourgh in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Princeton/Rod in Avenue Q, and Ensemble in The Rocky Horror Show at Blackfriars Theatre, Antony in Antony and Cleopatra with RCP at The Highland Bowl, Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing and Shawn Keogh in Playboy of the Western World with RCP at MuCCC, and Ensemble in Geva's A Christmas Carol. Philip would like to thank his cats Lucky and Ned for supporting him in his nightly theatrical endeavors.
Ron Dufort (Ron/Joe/Drummle): Ron is delighted to return to The Company Theatre in this fascinating telling of a Dickens classic, following wonderful experiences during TCT’s first two seasons in Oedipus Rex (Oedipus), The Man Who Came to Dinner (Ernest W. Stanley), and Spring Awakening (Adult Man). Some of his other favorite Rochester shows include Nice Girl (Donny) with Out of Pocket, Inc., A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Nick Bottom) and The Three Musketeers (Porthos) with The Open Road Theatre, and Spamalot (Sir Bedevere, et al.) and the shocking and stirring staged reading of 1984 (Winston Smith) with Blackfriars Theatre. Ron can also be seen on screen in many independent feature films and shorts, including a couple recent favorites: Connor McGlynn’s science-fiction buddy-drama, Aliens on Acid (as crazy as it sounds) and Andrew Regan’s dramatic musical, Cadenza (awarded “Best Student Film” at the 2024 Los Angeles Film Awards—incidentally, not his first time in a bank-robbery musical). Look for Ron (and some other familiar theater faces!) in the soon-to-be cult classic The Chickening, releasing in the spring of 2025.
Caitlin Kenyon (Caitlin/Mrs. Joe/Biddy/Startop): Caitlin is so excited to join The Company Theatre on this amazing production. This will be Caitlin’s second production with The Company Theatre, having recently played Banquo in Macbeth. Some of her favorite past stage credits include Beth in Temptations at Sweetwater Creek (Improv Boston), Macduff in Macbeth (Walbyrd Theatre Co.), Claryssa in Moth (Gloucester Stage Company), Isobel in Bull (SUNY Purchase College), and Emma in Betrayal (SUNY Purchase College). Caitlin has thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with this cast and creating something truly magical and all their own. She would like to thank her wonderful husband Ian, supportive family, and sweet cat children, Toyotathon and Spark Plug. Bigger thanks go to the cast, production team, and especially Bev & Carl. "There would be no show without this perfect formula of humans we’ve brought together and I am so proud of all of us. Enjoy the show!"
Judy McCaffrey (Judy/Miss Havisham): Judy received her MFA in Theatre from Trinity Rep Conservatory in Providence, Rhode Island. In Rochester, her most favorite roles Judy has had the good fortune to live inside include Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet (The Company Theatre), Mariah in Twelfth Night (Blackfriars Theatre), Portia in Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare Players), Hannah Pitt/Ethel Rosenberg in Angels in America (Method Machine), Mary Tyrone in A Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Irish Players), Ella in Curse of the Starving Class (Arden Conservatory Theatre), Stella in Stella and Lou (Out of Pocket, Inc.) and Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Greater Rochester Repertory Theatre). Judy returned to Rochester in 2017 after several years of working in NYC with Bedlam Theatre’s Outreach program, doing Shakespeare with military veterans. Judy is thrilled to be a part of The Company Theatre’s production of Great Expectations, and to be surrounded by this amazing group of theatre artists. Ever grateful for all the support she has received by so many, Judy especially wants to thank her supremely talented and magnificent life partner, Doug.
Kit Prelewitz (Kit/Estella Havisham): Kit is elated to be a part of this truly unique and collaborative production. Recent past shows have included The Summer Land as Leah Fox at The Company Theatre, Cabaret as Rosie at Blackfriars Theatre, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses as Madame de Tourvel at Blackfriars Theatre. Kit is so impressed by the cast and creative team for taking on this project to adapt Great Expectations into this play version and to throw it on its feet! She would also like to thank her fiancé Philip for being an extra boost of confidence and incredible scene partner, and her loving family. Enjoy the show!
Jeff Siuda (Jeff/Magwitch): As someone with a life-long obsession with Charles Dickens and Great Expectations in particular, Jeff is thrilled to be part of this new adaptation of his favorite novel and to be making his Company Theatre premiere. Jeff has been a part of the Rochester theatre community for over 20 years as an actor and director, appearing in nearly 40 productions. Some favorite acting credits include: Clue, Peter and the Starcatcher, Glengarry Glen Ross, and The Pillowman with Blackfriars; Jewtopia, Welcome to the Neighborhood, and Our Suburb at JCC Centerstage; Incorruptible, The Palace of the Moorish Kings, and The Christians with Out of Pocket, Inc.; Endgame with the hummingbird theatre co.; The Hobbit with Rochester Children’s Theatre; Othello and The Hostage with Rochester Community Theatre; Play It Again, Sam and Lend Me a Tenor with The Penfield Players. Directing credits: Coney Island Christmas (JCC Centerstage); Stella and Lou, Placebo, The Language Archive, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Grace (Out of Pocket, Inc.); All Quiet on the Western Front, Epic Proportions, The Mousetrap, Shakespeare in Hollywood, Art, Our Town (McQuaid Jesuit). Jeff is also a proud member of Unleashed! Improv and has performed in/directed various productions for the Rochester Fringe Festival. He would like to thank Carl, Bev, and this extraordinary cast for an unexpectedly-adventurous experience. This one's for Dr. Sroka.
Carl Del Buono (Director, he/they): Regional credits include THE SUMMER LAND (Director) at The Company Theatre, SWEENEY TODD (Sweeney Todd) at Blackfriars Theatre, MACBETH (Macbeth) at The Company Theatre, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Director) at The Company Theatre, ROMEO & JULIET (Director) at The Company Theatre, RICHARD II (Director) at The Company Theatre, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Director) with Rochester Community Players, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (Director) with Rochester Community Players, THE SEAGULL (Director) at The Company Theatre, LITTLE WOMEN (Prof. Bhaer) at Bristol Valley Theater, SISTER ACT (T.J.) at Redhouse Arts Center, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (George) at Blackfriars Theatre, CARL AT BLACKFRIARS: A Benefit Concert, MY FAIR LADY (Quartet/First Cockney) at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (now The REV), THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Jamie) at JCC CenterStage, DIE FLEDERMAUS (Frosch) with Finger Lakes Opera, ROMEO & JULIET (Friar Laurence) with WallByrdTheatre Co., and ANGELS IN AMERICA (Prior) with Method Machine. In addition to acting and singing, Carl is an experienced voice actor, acting coach, and director as well as the founding artistic director of The Company Theatre in Rochester, NY. He’s also cohost of the popular podcast BROADCAST REVISITED! For more information, follow Carl on socials @carldelbuono and @broadcastrevisited
Bev Bauman (Co-Director, Stage Manager): Bev has served as the stage manager for a multitude of productions around Rochester and is grateful to be working on her second show with The Company Theater, having previously served as the stage manager and sound designer for Macbeth. Other recent notable credits include: JCC Centerstage—stage manager of School of Rock; Blackfriars Theater—assistant director of The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley and stage manager of Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, Once On This Island, and Imagination Station with Mrs. Kasha Davis; stage manager of Finger Lake Opera’s Gianni Schicchi and assistant stage manager of Aida. She would like to say a HUGE thank you to this amazing production team for all of their trust, dedication, and for helping to create such a beautiful and collaborative space.
Sam Nelson (Assistant Stage Manager): Sam is happy to be back at The Company Theatre! Sam has appeared as an actor at The Company Theatre in The Wisdom Of Eve, Romeo and Juliet, and The Man Who Came To Dinner! They also assistant directed last season's production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and this season’s production of Macbeth. Sam is a director, stage manager, and actor in the Rochester area and has worked at many theater companies including Neighborhood Acting Company, Monroe Community College, the Rochester Fringe Festival, A Magical Journey Thru Stages, and many more! Special thanks to Bev and Carl for this opportunity! Enjoy the show! Instagram: @26Sams
This season, a portion of our ticket proceeds for all ASL-interpreted performances will be donated to Rochester Deaf Kitchen to help fight food insecurity within our city's Deaf community. Please join us in supporting this worthy cause!
THANKS TO OUR DONORS:
PREMIERE ($1000+):
Lisa Lipski
Peter and Elaine Royal
Lydia Palmer**
Rochester Area Community Foundation Arts Vitality Fund
Trillium Health Foundation
Under The Arbor Bridal~
LEADING ($500+):
Anonymous
Ron Dufort**
Peter Elliott
Sally Milick
David Munnell*
Susan Murad**
Blake and Dr. Sara Blick Nitko~
Katherine Royal
MAJOR ($250+):
Denise Bartalo
Margaret and David Burns
Jacquelyn Murad and Joyce Tencza
Jill Rittinger** and Andy Lytwynec
SUPPORTING ($100+):
Frank Barone and Joseph Weber
Robert G. Barone
Donald Brenner
John Burrows
Roberta Gorman
Patrick Kinney
Christopher McCormack
Barbara Murphy
ENTHUSIAST ($50+):
Louis Cinelli
Sally Cohen
Sara Penner
Richard and Cynthia Rittinger
David Runzo
Richard Staropoli
MEMBER ($25+):
Christine Keenan
Lauren MacDonough
Michelle McElduff
Eric McKinley
Francois Piche
FRIENDS OF THE COMPANY THEATRE
Ellen Allen, Jill Brewer, Lucas Brown, Matthew Dean, Joel Elliot, Sean King, Logan Longbine, Judith Molner, Connie Neer, David Ruffo, George Steele, Michael Steeves, Jim Striegel, Seema Theruvi, Julia Thomas, Brynn Tyszka
**Current Board Member
* Past Board Member
~ In Kind Donor
Any errors or omissions are purely accidental. Please email info@thecompanytheatreroc.org with corrections.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:​
Bettina DeBell - Geneseo Community Players
Blackfriars Theatre
Eastridge High School
Finger Lakes Opera
Erin Kate Howard
Kiefer Santiago Schenk
Tom Ward
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And a special thanks to our donors and patrons who have joined us thus far and for the many seasons to come.