ONCE

EMMA BERMAN
Ivonka

Bio

Emma is thrilled to join 42nd Street Moon and make her debut at Gateway Theatre! Emma’s most recent theatre credits include Little Fan in A.C.T.’s A Christmas Carol; Young Red in the West Coast Broadway premiere of The People in The Picture; and JoJo in Seussical at the Norte Dame de Namur University. Emma studies theatre at ACT, NCTC, and MTW in San Francisco. She is also a member of Broadway Artists Alliance in New York, where she has trained with Tony Award-winning actors and dancers. As a voiceover artist, Emma has proudly given her voice to many educational toys by Leapfrog and VTech, as well as Spin Master and Playmates Toys. In addition to theatre, Emma loves to play guitar and piano, draw, dance and play basketball with her school team. To follow her journey, you can visit her IG @emmajberman

MYRA CHACHKIN
Emcee

Bio

Myra plays frequently in local pit orchestras around the Bay Area, and in other musical events. Some of her favorite shows include James and the Giant Peach, It Shoulda Been You, Next to Normal, Tinderella, Les Misérables, and West Side Story (she likes sad musicals, since cello always gets the angsty songs). She played in Dan Plonsey’s “Daniel Popsicle” avant-big-band, the Alegre string quartet, and the Awesome Orchestra for Undercover Presents’ productions of “Dookie” and “Sgt. Pepper”. Myra has accompanied the Rockridge and Brentwood choirs and the At Last Theatre. Some of her more unusual gigs include performance-art improvisation at a Dadaist salon, standup cello in an Indonesian country band, and a five-cello version of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. She is beyond excited to be part of this amazing production of such a beautiful, heart-tugging show.

MATT DAVIS
Bank Manager

Bio

Matt is happy to be making his 42nd Street Moon debut! Though a carpenter by day, Matt enjoys treading the boards of the stage, hanging out with his pups, and as a fourth generation magician in his family, performing close up and stage magic in the evenings and on weekends. Favorite roles include Officer Lockstock in Urinetown and King Triton in The Little Mermaid for Berkeley Playhouse; Max in The Andrews Brothers for Lucky Penny Productions; and Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar for Tri Valley Repertory Theater. Matt currently sits as the artistic director for Plotline Theater Company.

BEN EUPHRAT*
Švec

Bio

Ben is an actor, musician, and musical director. Recent credits include The Siegel at City Lights, Shakespeare in Love (actor, musician, band leader) at Marin Theatre Company, the San Francisco and off-Broadway productions of Ideation with SF Playhouse, Project Ahab at Central Works (acting/music direction) [nominated: Outstanding Music Direction, Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Production of Musical from Theatre Bay Area], Mirandolina at Center Rep, Twelfth Night at Shotgun Players (acting/music direction), HIR at the Magic Theatre, and Good People at Marin Theatre Company. He’s worked as a musician/actor at A.C.T., TheatreWorks and various other regional theaters throughout the West Coast as well. Ben has worked extensively in film and commercial, and has studied improv in Los Angeles with the Groundlings and IO West. His newest solo album “Portrait of a Girl” will be coming out later this summer. More at beneuphrat.com.

DEVIN RENÉE KELLY
Réza

Bio

Devin is thrilled to be making her Moon debut in Once. Devin is a professional singer and violinist, and teaches music all over Silicon Valley. She is an alumnus of Berklee College of Music and a Northern California native. Having performed solo, in rock bands, and pit orchestras, she has been seen on the stages of the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Pasadena Playhouse, and many other notable venues. Favorite past theatre roles include Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, and Ruth in Blithe Spirit. She is currently co-writing an original musical with her husband.

CORBIN MAYER*
Guy

Bio

BRADY MORALES-WOOLERY*
Andrej

Bio

Brady is excited to be making his 42nd Street Moon debut. A Bay Area-based film and theatre actor, he has appeared on stage in theatres around the Bay Area. Favorite roles include: Josh Watson in The Watson Intelligence (Shotgun Players), Paul in Bright Shining Sea (SF Playground), and Paul in Barefoot in the Park (Willows Theatre Company). He also originated the role of Mario Savio in FSM, a musical about the free speech movement at UC Berkeley, which was produced by Stagebridge and workshopped at Berkeley Rep’s Groundfloor. On screen he has appeared in “Quitters,” “Pushing Dead” and “The Internship.” He holds a B.A. in Theatre from U.C. Berkeley. www.Bradymwoolery.com

ARIELA MORGENSTERN*
Baruška

Bio

Ariela is thrilled to be making her Moon debut in this very special show! A native San Franciscan, Ariela returned home after a decade acting in New York and across the country and is currently performing her craziest role yet — as mother to a beautiful toddler! Favorite performances include Adding Machine (Off-Broadway); Symphony of Psalms (Soloist, Carnegie Hall); A Walk On The Moon (A.C.T.); Flashdance the Musical (National Tour); Next To Normal (Baltimore Center Stage); The Light In The Piazza (Arena Stage, DC & Theatreworks); 2nd place winner in the Kurt Weill Foundation’s International Lotte Lenya Competition, and the title role in Carmen (San Francisco & Bay Shore Lyric Opera). In addition to performing, she teaches Acting and Leadership Communications at Berkeley Rep and the Haas School of Business, and coaches clients privately at her studio in San Francisco. Coming up: Mama Rose in Gypsy with Bay Area Musicals this fall! www.arielamorgenstern.com

BRYAN MUNAR
Eamon

Bio

Bryan is “over the moon” to make his Moon debut in this touching and beautiful Bay Area premiere! An alumnus of U.C. Berkeley (B.A. Computer Science) and ex-musical theater hater, he just recently threw himself into the world of theater because he wanted to sing more. Then he wanted to act more. Basically, he understands why people do this now. His current favorite thing is the Iced Coffee Rosé drink at Philz and it’s draining his wallet slowly. He also still very much remembers how to code so if you need coding interview help, hit him up. Favorite credits include: Paul in A Chorus Line (Novato Theater Company), Harvard in Flower Drum Song (Palo Alto Players), Georg in Spring Awakening (Left-Hand Theatre Co.), Greg Madison in It Shoulda Been You (Pinole Players), and Actor 1 (u/s) & Actor 3 (u/s) in King of the Yees (SF Playhouse). [@bkmunar | bryanmunar.com]

OLIVIA NICE*
Girl

Bio

Olivia is thrilled to return to Northern California to make her 42nd Street Moon debut! A Sacramento native, she’s spent the past few years studying Religion at Princeton University, working in France, dancing in Indonesia, and traveling the country as a performer. She’s played the role of Girl at the ZACH Theatre in Austin, TX, The Public Theater of San Antonio, and the Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland, OR, receiving a BroadwayWorld nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Musical and a win for Best Performance Off-Bardway (Ashland). Some of her other favorite roles have been May in Fool for Love, Marianne Dashwood in Sense & Sensibility, as well as the countless new works she’s helped develop in New York City. She has appeared in commercials for MTV, ABC, Disney, Chase Bank, Campbell’s Soup and Sephora. Follow her adventures @liv_nice or www.olivianice.com

CHRISTINA OWENS
Ex-Girlfriend

Bio

Christina is excited to be making her Moon debut with Once! Her favorite stage experiences combine playing and acting, such as the Blind Violinist in The Producers (Broadway By The Bay) and the Fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof (Youth Musical Theater Company). Christina recently appeared with the Oakland Civic Orchestra, performing a violin concerto by 18th century black composer Chevalier de Saint-Georges. She also played in the pit for Berkeley Repertory Theater’s world premiere productions of Paradise Square and Ain’t Too Proud: the Life and Times of the Temptations. Christina holds a BFA in musical theater from Brenau University and an MFA in acting from the American Conservatory Theater. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, she lives in Oakland and enjoys rock climbing, biking and coding.

ROB READY
Billy

Bio

Rob is the Artistic Director and co-founder of PianoFight, an indy performance venue with two theaters and a restaurant/bar with a music stage; the front man for indy-surf-funk band Californicorns; on the Board of Directors of Code Tenderloin, a non-profit that prepares homeless and formerly incarcerated communities to enter into the workforce; and a Canadian who surfs. Rob hasn’t done a musical since high school, or done a play that wasn’t being written during the rehearsal process since college, when he received a BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Rob recently learned how to play suspended chords on guitar, and vaguely follow along to sheet music. Rob lived in Dublin in 2005, and is excited to use his Irish accent for a purpose other than annoying his lovely and talented girlfriend, Brianna. Hope the craic is ninety in this show!

COLIN THOMSON*
Da

Bio

Colin last performed with 42nd Street Moon in the title role of Fiorello, and previously in Me & My Girl as Heathersett/Constable. He also enjoyed performing fake constabulary duties as Constable Joe in Tuck Everlasting with TheatreWorks, where he previously appeared in The Light in the Piazza, The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue, and All My Sons. American Conservatory Theater performances include A Christmas Carol, 1776, and Happy End. Career favorites include Dirty Blonde with Portland Center Stage, Company with Marin Theatre Company, and Center REP’s Sisters Matsumoto. Television and film work includes “Blue Jasmine,” NBC’s “Trauma,” and he expects more efforts to air in the coming year. Mr. Thomson was coached in keyboard playing by the brilliant pianist and piano instructor Hadley McCarroll. If you don’t like his playing, don’t blame her; she did her best. He has been a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association for more than 22 years.

Photos by Ben Krantz Studio • Click on thumbnails for full-size image

The Ensemble of ONCE

The Ensemble of ONCE

Olivia Clari Nice

Corbin Mayer

Rob Ready and Matt Davis

Colin Thomson and Olivia Clari Nice

(From L) Devin Renée Kelly, Ben Euphrat, Emma Berman, Brady Morales-Woolery, Ariela Morgenstern

(From L) Rob Ready, Matt Davis, Brady Morales-Woolery

Bryan Munar and Ariela Morgenstern

(From L) Ariela Morgenstern, Christina Owens, Devin Renée Kelly, Ben Euphrat, Bryan Munar

Olivia Clari Nice and Corbin Mayer

(From L) Ariela Morgenstern, Christina Owens, Devin Renée Kelly, Ben Euphrat, Bryan Munar

Corbin Mayer and Colin Thomson

EXPERIENCE A FULLER MOON

Opening Night Receptions

Join the cast and crew as we celebrate the opening of each new production. Savor champagne, wine, and delectable delights from our Opening Night sponsor. The best part? It’s on us!

Opening Night date for ONCE: Saturday, June 15, 6:00 PM

Discussion Sundays

Get all your burning questions answered about the show you’ve just seen during our fun and informative post-performance discussions with the audience, cast, and crew. Hosted by Executive Directors Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, who will share the history of the original production as well as our current incarnation! Learn more about the composers, lyricists, and book writers, as well as your favorite Moonie cast members. Discussion Sundays happen on the first and second Sunday of each show in our regular season offerings.

Discussion Sunday dates for ONCE: June 16 & June 23, 3:00 PM

Family & Student Matinees

The best deal in town for kids, parents, and students of all ages. Young people under 18 and college students with a valid student ID can see the show for just $10! Younger students receive a family activity guide, get to participate in an intermission contest (with prizes!), and can join in on a post-show discussion and visit with the actors that includes autographs and pictures. This is a great way to introduce the next generation to the heritage of American musical theatre. This is also a great idea for a kid’s birthday party. Please contact Education Director Dyan McBride for further details or if you have a large group wishing to attend.

42nd Street Moon created the Family Matinee to make musical theatre affordable and accessible for young people along with their parents and to provide families the opportunity to experience classic Broadway. Relevant, fun activities and fascinating discussion guides enable families to rediscover how theatre has served an important function in our nation’s cultural landscape and been a way for families to come together. We have expanded the matinee to be a Family and Student Matinee, so that college-aged students can also take advantage of the generous discount.

Family and Student Matinee date for ONCE: June 22, 1:00 PM

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

The Gateway Theatre is also BARTable! Just a five-minute walk from the Embarcadero Station.