Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Book by Jeffrey Lane, Music and Lyrics by David Yazbeck, Based on the film by Pedro Almodovar
November 18-22 @ 8:00PM
November 23 @ 2:00PM
A musical adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar's beloved film of the same name, WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN is the brainchild of the talented team behind Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Both touching and hilarious, WOMEN ON THE VERGE is a story about women and the men who pursue them... finding them, losing them, needing them, and rejecting them. At the center is Pepa whose friends and lovers are blazing a trail through 1980s Madrid. Along with Pepa, there's her missing (possibly philandering) lover, Ivan; his ex-wife of questionable sanity, Lucia; their son Carlos; Pepa's friend, Candela, and her terrorist boyfriend; a power-suited lawyer, and a taxi driver who dispenses tissues, mints and advice in equal proportion. Mayhem and comic madness abound, balanced by the empathy and heart that are trademarks of Almodóvar's work.
Cast
Brittany Ambler
asPepa
Brittany is a senior BFA Musical Theatre major from Bloomington, IL. She was last seen in the E.Melba Johnson Kirkpatrick Laboratory Theatre production of Red Devils (Alice). Previous McPhersonshows include 9 to 5 (ensemble), and The Children's Hour (wardrobe crew), Hello Again (light hangelectrician), Tartuffe (wardrobe crew), and Promenade (usher). Brittany is also involved in the StudentChoreographed Dance Concert, Cohesion Dane Company, Shringara Theatre Company, and SoTAShoppe.
Contact:
bambler@iwu.edu
Halimah Nurullah
asLucia
Halimah is a senior BFA Music Theatre major from Grosse Point Park, MI.
Contact:
hnurulla@iwu.edu
Kelsey Bearman
asMarisa
Kelsey is a junior BFA Music Theatre major from St. Louis, MO. She has been on several crews inMcPherson Theatre, including A Shayna Maidel (light hang electrician) and 9 to 5 (run crew), and RedDevils (usher) in the E. Melba Johnson Kirkpatrick Laboratory Theatre. She appeared in the Phoenix Theatre in Do-Overs. Professionally, Kelsey performed in 101 Dalmatians (Trixie, ensemble) at StagesSt. Louis. "I'd like to thank my family and friends for always supporting me; and I'd especially like tothank the IWU faculty, as well as this amazing cast and crew, for making my experience in my firs collegeproduction so positive and fun!"
Contact:
kbearman@iwu.edu
Heather Priedhorsky
asCandela
Heather is a senior BFA Music Theatre major from Portland, Oregon. In McPherson, she has appeared in A Class Act (Sophie Callan), 9 to 5 (Margaret), and Faculty Choreographed Dance Concert 2013: Sins(dancer). Heather participated in the Music Theatre Society's production of Bloomer Girl (Evalina), andhas been a dancer and choreographer in the Student Choreographed Dance Concert 2012 and 2013 hereat IWU. "Special thanks to my friends and family for their love and support, especially my mom, AuntCheri, and Uncle Steve."
Contact:
hpriedho@iwu.edu
Haley Miller
asPaulina
Halley is a sophomore BFA Music Theatre major from Racine, WI.
Contact:
hmiller@iwu.edu
Sarah Menke
asPepa's Concierge
Sarah is a senior BA Theatre Arts major and English minor from Evergreen Park, IL. Previous McPhersonTheatre positions include A Shayna Maidel (Hanna), The Children's Hour (run crew), Tartuffe (run crew),Promenade (run crew), 9 to 5 (usher), and the Faculty Choreographed Dance Concert 2013: Sins (asst. stage manager). Sarah also worked in the E. Melba Johnson Kirkpatrick Laboratory Theatre productionof Red Devils (dramaturg). She acted in the Directing 1 class scenes and the Ethnodrama Project I JustKnew. This summer, thanks to an Eckley Summer Research grant, Sarah worked with the TangleknotTheatre's production of Nickel and Dimed (dramaturg, asst. stage manager, audience development, andoutreach associate). "Special thanks to my truly incredible family and friends. I love you. Thank you foreverything."
Contact:
smenke@iwu.edu
Maggie Patchett
as Ana
Maggie is a junior BA Theatre Arts major from Elmhurst, IL. She has held several positions inMcPherson, including on Hay Fever (assistant costume designer), 9 to 5 (follow spot operator), As YouLike It (wardrobe crew), Faculty Choreographed Dance Concert 2013: Sins (assistant costume designer), and A Class Act (wardrobe crew). She has performed in the Phoenix Theatre in Steel Magnolias(Annelle).
Contact:
mpatchet@iwu.edu
Jordan Lipes
asIvan
Jordan is a senior BFA Music Theatre major from Geneseo, Illinois. We have seen him perform inMcPherson stage in 9 to 5 (ensemble) and Faculty Choreographed Dance Concert 2013: Sins (dancer)and as wardrobe crew member for As you Like It and Promenae. He has operated the light board for TheChildren's Hour and Election Day. Jordan was in the E. Melba Johnson Kirkpatrick Laboratory Theatre'sproduction of Adaptation (Phil Benson). He has also worked in the Phoenix Theatre in Dog Sees God (Beethoven) and with the Music Theatre Society in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Melvin P. Thorpe)and Bloomer Girl (Beethoven). Jordan has also performed in the Student Choreographed Dance Concerthere at IWU.
Contact:
jlipes@iwu.edu
Chris Long
asConor Finnerty-Esmonde
Chris is a junior BFA Music Theatre major from Castle Rock, CO. He has been involved withseveral McPherson Theatre productions including Hay Fever (assistant master electrician), A Shayna Maidel (light hang electrician), 9 to 5 (run crew), As You Like It (light hang electrician), and FacultyChoreographed Dance Concert 2013: Sins (follow spot operator). In the E. Melba Johnson KirkpatrickLaboratory Theatre, Chris was involved with The Memory of Water (wardrobe crew), and acted in theDirecting I class scenes.
Contact:
clong2@iwu.edu
Production Team
Priscilla Moy
Assistant Choreographer:
Priscilla is a senior BFA Acting major with a minor in Theatre Dance from Chicago, IL. She recently appeared in McPherson in Hay Fever (Jackie Coryton, Myra Arundel u/s), and has served on many crewsin McPherson for The Children's Hour (usher), Hello Again (run crew), 9 to 5 (wardrobe crew), As You Like It (light hang electrician), and Faculty Choreographed Dance Concert: Sins (usher). Priscilla served on the run crew for Election Day in the E. Melba Johnson Kirkpatrick Laboratory Theatre. Priscilla was a part of the Research Honors project Skin Deeper and performed in the Shringara Theatre production of Trying to find Chinatown. "I would like to thank my friends and family for the support through my decisions to succeed in my dreams, and for going on this journey of life with me, believing in me every step of the way."
Contact:
pmoy@iwu.edu
Entire Cast & Crew - Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
View photo gallery from this season
Jean Kerr - Associate Professor, Director of the School of Theatre Arts
Department - School Of Theatre Arts