Music By William Linster
Book & Lyrics
by Lawrence Alexander
Directed by Carol Ziske
The story of Quentin, pilot and son of President Teddy Roosevelt, who romances a socialite some think is out of his league plays out against the backdrop of WWI in this new musical. Invited audience members get to be in on the ground floor and view a staged reading of the musical followed by a chance to ask questions and offer input to the creative teams.
Quentin kicks of the fourth season of Gracewell's Table Reading Series at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT. The series is part of the Spotlight Series of special programming in the PoliClub Room, curated by Sheree Marcucci. Also on tap this season:
4 a.m. Friends, a play about three women who span a lifetime of friendship, by Charlene Donaghy, directed by Sharon W. Houk, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
Eleanor, a one-woman tour de force about the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, by Mark St. Germain. More information TBA. March 22, 2025 as part of the celebration of Women's History Month.
If you would like to be added to the invitation list for this series, contact us at GracewellProductions@gmail.com.
Here is the talented group of creatives and cast that will bring Quentin: A Roosevelt Musical to life Saturday, Nov. 9.
William Linster (Music) is a Connecticut native and New York-based composer, pianist,
music director, and arranger. A graduate of the world-renowned New School For Jazz
And Contemporary Music, William has studied and worked with some of the greatest
musicians in the world, including Grammy® nominees Bobby Sanabria, Dave Douglas,
Charles Tolliver, Cecil Bridgewater, and Andy Mckee, as well as Grammy® winners Bill
Kirchner, Robert Sadin, and Hank Schocklee (Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee,
Public Enemy). While at The New School, William became the songwriting protege of
music industry mainstay Billy Seidman, whose former students include Bebe Rehxa and
Rachel Platten. As an accompanist and session musician, he has worked with artists
such as Katie Stevens (American Idol, The Bold Type), Coyle Girelli (Your Vegas, The
Chevin), Ron McClure (Blood, Sweat & Tears), R&B hitmaker James "D-Train" Williams,
and numerous other Broadway stars and opera singers. Upon first working with William,
the late acclaimed librettist Roger O. Hirson (Tony Award®-nominee, Pippin) simply
said, "He's a genius." He made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 16 and was featured on
NBC Nightly News at 17 while at the Havana International Jazz Festival in Cuba.
William is also a trained vocalist, having received training on violin, trumpet, clarinet,
mallet percussion, concert percussion, drums, and handbells. He served as the Music
Director for the Off-Broadway production of Fringe Deaths (2019). William is currently
developing four full-length musicals he wrote with late Hollywood screenwriter,
Lawrence Alexander (Charlie’s Angels, CHiPs, Barnaby Jones, The Six Million Dollar
Man). Most recently, William recently served as Music Director for Broadway actress
and acclaimed Quentin director Carol Ziske’s one-woman show. He was named a 2022
Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist by the American Theatre Wing.
Carol Ziske (Director) embodies the spirit of reinvention and lifelong passion, with a
career that has seamlessly transitioned across various facets of the theatre world. An
accomplished theatre director, choreographer, actor, and educator, Carol has over five
decades of professional experience, making significant contributions both on stage and
behind the scenes. Carol's acting credits are impressive, with performances in the
original run of Fiddler On The Roof (Broadway) and You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown
(1st National Tour). She has shared the stage with luminaries such as John Lithgow,
Robert Morse, Rudy Vallee, Rita Rudner, Chip Zien, Craig Lucas, Ron Holgate, James
Woods, Jerry Zaks, and F. Murray Abraham, and worked under renowned directors
including Hal Prince and Patricia Birch. Her acting repertoire also includes memorable
roles in A Little Night Music, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Jesus Christ Superstar, and
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.
With an extensive portfolio of Off-Broadway and regional directing credits, Carol has
brought to life a diverse array of productions including Valadon, Mad Dog on the Loose,
The Great American Backstage Musical, The Snow Queen, Harvey, Anne of Green
Gables, Mame, The 1940’s Radio Hour, Evita, Our Town, and Love Letters. Recently,
she directed One Touch of Ava as part of Ivoryton’s StAGEd Intent: New Play Readings
for Boomers by Boomers. Current projects include developing and directing staged
readings for two new musicals, Hurricane Jimmy and Quentin: A Roosevelt Musical,
both by composer William Linster and late Hollywood scriptwriter Lawrence Alexander
with both of these musicals having anticipated runs in New York. She recently debuted
her one-woman show at Waterbury’s Palace Theater as part of their “2nd Act” series.
As an educator, Carol has left an indelible mark on aspiring performers through her
teaching at Chase Collegiate School, Westover School, and The Warner Theater. She is
actively involved in the theatre community, serving on the steering committee of the
League of Professional Theatre Women - CT Chapter and on the board of directors for
the Glebe House Museum and Gertrude Jekyll Garden in Woodbury, CT. Carol's
dedication to theatre has been recognized with accolades such as the Colgate
Palmolive Achievement Award for Kids On the Block and the New Jersey Drama Critics
Award for A Little Night Music.
Kathleen Brown-Carrano (Casting Director/Production Assistant) wishes to thank
Willliam Linster and Carol Ziske for the opportunity to assist with the many behind the
scenes details that have gone into Quentin. Kathleen is an enthusiastic theatre lover
and music lover. She is an associate Dramatist Guild member, a composer, and a
published cartoonist. Kathleen has experience in special events, project management,
digital artwork as well as research and development. Additionally she is William
Linster’s and Carol Ziske’s Casting Director/Production Assistant for Hurricane Jimmy.
She wishes to thank Gracewell Productions, the League of Professional Theatre
Women - CT Chapter and the Palace Theater for the opportunity to present Quentin.
Cast
Zach Geiger (Quentin Roosevelt) is thrilled to be returning to the Palace Theater. With
roles like Melchior in Spring Awakening at Brookfield Theatre, Actor 1 in All is Calm: The
Christmas Truce of 1914 at Goshen Players, and Tunny in American Idiot at Landmark
Community Theatre, Zach's versatility shines. He is grateful for the chance to work with
such talent and he extends heartfelt thanks to family and friends for their unwavering
support. Zach aims to dive into more film acting. He is currently starring in a feature film
titled Misfits, set to be released in 2025, and recently wrapped up filming for a horror
feature titled Gravity Hill. You can find his previous films and other videos at
zachgeiger_8 on Instagram.
Kathleen Green (Flora Payne Whitney) is honored to return for the third staged reading
of Quentin. Kathleen was recently seen in Romeo and Juliet, her sixth season with
Shakesperience Productions. Favorite roles include Kathryn (Radium Girls), Ariel (The
Tempest), and Louise (Gypsy). The acting bug first bit Kathleen at Seven Angels
Theatre (Miracle on 34th Street and 13 The Musical) and when she played Jane Banks
in Mary Poppins at Thomaston Opera House (Landmark Community Theatre). She also
enjoyed working with Community Theatre at Woodbury as Babysitter (New York by
David Rimmer). Kathleen holds a B.A. in Theatre from Smith College. A classically
trained soprano, Kathleen also enjoys singing folk music and musical theatre.
Joyce Follo Jeffrey (Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney) From her humble first role as one of
the King's children in THE KING AND I, to her return to professional theater this past
year in GRUMPY OLD MEN, THE MUSICAL at SEVEN ANGELS, Joyce has over 60
years of acclaimed performances on her resume. Favorite roles include Dolly in HELLO
DOLLY, Mame in MAME, Rose in GYPSY, Reverend Mother in many productions of
NUNSENSE to name a few. She continues her passion for supporting and encouraging
theater kids all over the state through the SEVEN ANGEL’S HALO program where she
is starting her 21st year as an esteemed judge. Joyce is also a proud member of the CT
Chapter of the League of Professional Theater Women. Couldn't do any of this without
the love and support of my beautiful family!!! Thank you to Carol, William, Kathleen and
this amazing cast for bringing QUENTIN to life!!
Jeffrey Alan Solomon (Harry Whitney) is a NYC metro area based SAG actor. In
addition to acting, Jeff is also a lifelong singer, songwriter, music producer, and
musician. In 2011, he began appearing in plays and staged readings regionally. From
2012 to present, Jeff has been regularly appearing in commercials, music videos,
independent movies and television episodes including: Penny Dreadful: City of Angels,
Celebrity Ghost Stories, Redrum, Who Killed Jane Doe, and A Haunting. Other
significant roles include the recurring role of Christoph Reiner in HULU’s Wu-Tang: An
American Saga, and (older) Meyer Lansky in the AMC TV miniseries Making Of The
Mob. Jeff has worked alongside William Sadler in the Independent film Stage of Twilight,
and Skeet Ulrich, Thomas Jane, and Claire Forlani in the upcoming film Salvation. For
a full list of credits go to: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5716190/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Eric Lindblom (Teddy Roosevelt) is a high school English teacher and the host of
Backstage on WZBG. He has been performing in the area for the last nine years. Some
favorite roles include Thomas Nostradamus in Something Rotten (Warner Theatre),
Wadsworth in Clue (Warner Theatre), Marty in It Shoulda Been You (Goshen Players),
and Thernardier in Les Miserables (Southington Steeple Players).
Maddy Flagg (Lisette) is thrilled to be reprising her role as Lisette in Quentin: A
Roosevelt Musical. Maddy is a second year student at the American Musical and
Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in NYC pursuing a BFA in Musical Theater. Maddy received
vocal training at Hartt School of Music and 14 years of dance instruction at FVDM. In
recent years, Maddy enjoyed her time as Elle in the 2022 Hartford Stage Summer
production of “Legally Blonde”, an opportunity she fondly considers her first real musical
theater experience. Maddy was last seen as Johanna in Bridgeport CT’s Downtown
Cabaret production of “Sweeney Todd”. Maddy wants to thank her friends, family
members and colleagues who have supported her in her musical theatre journey.
Ofer Gordon (Teddy Jr.) is an Israeli-born actor and a graduate from The
Hartt School’s BFA Music Theatre training program. Previous credits include: Sasha,
u/s Fyedka in Fiddler on the Roof (North Shore Music Theater) William Bates in Double
Helix (Goodspeed Opera House), Rolf in Sound of Music & Ensemble in 42nd Street
(The Mac-Haydn Theatre) Vince Fontaine in Grease (New Paradigm Theatre), Victor in
Cabaret, Garvin in Footloose & Lumiere U.S in Beauty and the Beast. (Woodstock
Playhouse). Ofer is very excited for to join the cast of “Quentin: A Roosevelt Musical”
and make his Palace Theater debut. Special thanks to my family, and Asaf.
Shaughn Maleryn (Hamilton Coolidge) received his BA from Eastern Connecticut State
University. While in school, he performed in Acting is Believing(Will), Sweet Flag (Jost
Gatz), Kriss (Stan),Manmade (Yak), Blood at The Root (Colin), Hotel Universe (Tom),
and Our Town (Sam Craig). Out of school, he was in productions of The Matchmaker
(Ambrose Kemper) with the Saybrook Stage Company, All The Comforts Of Home
(Alfred Hastings) with East Haddam Stage Company, and a variety performer along with
JLA for Six Flags New England as well as Mayor Slayer for their Fright Fest event.
Keli Solomon (Edith Roosevelt) is an actor/director/producer, and member of the
League of Professional Theatre Women - CT Chapter. She received her Bachelor’s
degree from WCSU in Theatre Arts, and a Master’s degree and 6th year in History.
Some favorite acting credits include: Ruth - Calendar Girls (Ridgefield Theater Barn),
Bananas - House of Blue Leaves (Sherman Playhouse), and Frankie - Frankie &
Johnny in the Claire de Lune (Community Theater at Woodbury). Keli has directed
productions at the Sherman Playhouse, and most recently the production of Wait Until
Dark at Theatreworks in New Milford where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Keli can also be seen in film & television, and is currently in two nationally running
commercials: www.imdb.com/name/nm8027663 - Follow her Instagram:
@KeliSolomonActor
Michael Carrano (Narrator) is thrilled to participate in another Carol Ziske/William
Linster production, marking his fifth collaboration with the duo. He originated the role of
Benny Monterissi in the first table read of Hurricane Jimmy and was one of the narrators
in its first staged reading at Phoenix Stage Company. Additionally, he was the narrator
in the April 2024 staged reading of Quentin, Act 1 (Palace Theater) and the 2 Act
version at the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens. As a classically trained upright
bassist who has performed in trios, jazz bands and orchestras including the CT Pops,
he is happy to participate in the arts in a different capacity. He is grateful to director
Carol Ziske for the opportunity to be part of Quentin, acknowledging her wealth of
experience in theatre as inspiring. Michael also wishes to acknowledge composer
William Linster, whose unique musical contributions add depth and vibrancy to the play.
Excited to be among the talented cast and crew, he eagerly anticipates sharing this
experience with the audience.
Special Thanks to:
Sponsors Mary Ellen & Tim Rourke
-Prime Publishers, Inc. for providing rehearsal space
-The Carrano Family for providing prop fabrication and costumes
-Noah Moulton for fight scene choreography
-Douglas Schlicher for graciously lending his authentic WW1 military uniform
-The Warner Theater for their assistance in supplying period costumes
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