Clear Space Announces Casting for Summer Repertory Season

Rehoboth Beach, DE (May 13, 2024) – Clear Space Theatre Company’s 20th anniversary continues with its beloved annual summer repertory season, featuring three CSTC premieres: Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, and The Prom. After holding both local auditions in Rehoboth Beach and national auditions in New York City from nearly 1,200 audition submissions, CSTC is pleased to announce casts for these three summer mainstage shows, performing in rotating repertory from June 25 through August 31, 2024. Members of the ensemble will also perform in a series of late night cabaret events and in morning performances of two short plays for young audiences. Tickets for all productions are available at www.clearspacetheatre.org.

CSTC’s summer casts include a combination of returning national artists, national artists new to the Clear Space stage, favorite local performers, and a special teen ensemble who will supplement the cast of The Prom. Most artists perform in all three mainstage shows. Once all three productions are open, all three are offered every week of the summer, making it possible for summer visitors to the area to enjoy all three over the course of a weeklong vacation to the Delaware beaches.

Returning national artists in the upcoming season include Tiffany Beckford (last seen at CSTC as Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun), Liz Culver (returning from CSTC’s current production of The Bodyguard: The Musical), Eva Gary (Lauren in 2023’s sold out summer production of Kinky Boots), Thomas Higgins (title role in 2023’s SpongeBob SquarePants), Scott Taylor-Cole (last playing Pip in CSTC’s 2023 holiday production Estella Scrooge), and Ashley Williams (returning after her leading role as Rachel Marron in CSTC’s current production of The Bodyguard: The Musical).

Local favorites returning for the 2024 summer season include Billy Burke (ensembles of Victor/Victoria and Damn Yankees), Carissa Meiklejohn (Alison in Fun Home and Rosie in Mamma Mia), Rick Nazzaro (Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady and Trotter in The Mousetrap), Elli Oechsler (Inga in Young Frankenstein and Mollie in The Mousetrap), Autumn Schneider (Donna in Mamma Mia! and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls), Julia Sturla (Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors and the title role in Carrie), and Matt Whalen (the title role in Young Frankenstein and Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar).

National newcomers to Clear Space include William Coffey (seen in The Tank Theater in NYC in Like Father, Like Son), Caetano de Sá (credits include Boston Conservatory, Prairie Repertory Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts), Briana Hernandez (roles at Cumberland County Playhouse, Red Mountain Theatre, and Woodstock Playhouse), Emma Schilling (roles with Sharon Playhouse and Butler Ballet), Harry Sperduto (professional debut at Pioneer Theater), and Jason Tobias (performances at Papermill Playhouse and The Madison Theatre).

Youth performers will supplement the ensemble of The Prom, the recent Broadway hit making its professional regional debut at Clear Space Theatre Company as part of the summer season. Reaching from as far as Berlin, MD and Dover, DE, these young people are among the top teen performers in the region. The young artists include Alex DeEmedio, Julia DiSabatino, Marley Fyock, Trista Harner, Chase Reynolds, Brooke Rhue, Kate Slaysman, Abby Whitcomb, Brianna Wittman, and Cassidy Yiengst, with Zoe Cullen, Liv Nehrbas, Gio Porfido, and Ruby Quinn serving as covers. All of the young artists have performed previously on the CSTC stage in Arts Institute productions such as Disney Descendants, Godspell, and Matilda and in such recent mainstage productions as My Fair Lady, Estella Scrooge, and Young Frankenstein.

Dubbed CSTC’s “Young Company” each summer, these young performers will also produce two Saturday morning productions for young audiences, an annual tradition in CSTC’s summer repertory season. This summer’s productions for young audiences are Three Bearos, or the Truth about Goldilocks and Rescue from the Snow Queen. Productions will be offered on alternate Saturday mornings at 11am throughout the summer.

Members of the summer professional company will also perform in CSTC’s new Signature Cabaret Series, which will be offered as late night performances at 10:30pm on select Friday and Saturday evenings. Summer cabaret titles include Divas Live (July 12), Broadway Backwards (July 26), Let’s Hear it for the Boy (August 9), Summer Lovin’ (August 16), and Final Bow (August 31). In addition, select season artists are scheduled both to participate in a summer workshop of a new musical being developed in partnership between CSTC and a New York City-based creative team and to perform in a Luker Fellows Showcase (August 17) as part of CSTC’s Rebecca Luker Partnership.

Additional late night and dark night programming featuring presented artists will be announced at a later date to round out the full summer repertory festival. In total, CSTC will offer 84 performances between June 25 and August 31, 2024, the largest volume of summer performances in company history. Summer flex passes including all 3 mainstage productions and choice of 2 special events from the Signature Cabaret Series or presented series, are available for $129, plus service fees. For individual tickets or summer flex passes, visit www.clearspacetheatre.org, call 302-227-2270, or visit the box office in person at 20 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach DE 19971. Clear Space Theatre Company, is Delaware’s second-largest professional non-profit theater and the state’s most prolific producer of professional theater. A 501(c)3 cultural organization, CSTC was founded in 2004 and is currently located at 20 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Each year, the company produces a 10-13 production season of plays and musicals, including a summer repertory festival and a series featuring young artists. Through the Rebecca Luker Theatrical Partnership, CSTC is paving a path forward to create a more inclusive space for future arts leaders of color while honoring the company’s mission and Ms. Luker’s commitment to racial justice. The company’s Performing Arts Institute reaches students of all ages, building self-confidence, inspiring collaborative problem solving, and awakening creativity. Under the current leadership of Artistic Director David Button and Managing Director Joe Gfaller, Clear Space Theatre Company is comprised of a remarkable team of full-time, part-time, and volunteer administrators, artists, and educators.