Highlands Little Theatre - Casey Richardson

P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525

Casey Richardson - at HLT
By: Roy Riedy

Casey's first credit in a Little Theatre program dates back to January, 1992, when her name appeared as part of the set construction team in the program of They're Playing Our Song, directed by Peter Pollard. It was the first of what would become 33 plays with which the young lady has been associated . In January, 1993 her named appeared again with the set construction team of Walt Zelenenki's production staff for his Comedy-Drama Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. In August, 1993, Jet Hansen directed Show Boat at the Lakeside Playhouse with Casey playing the part of Kim . In January, 1994, in Peter Pollard's program for The Odd Couple (Female Version) Casey was part of the production staff and once again helped with the construction of the set. Meet Me In St. Louis, directed by Marian Dunham, was the last play of the Twentieth Season and Casey's name was listed with the Cast of Characters as one of the Chorus and Dancers.

The Twenty-first Season opened with Jim Lanier's Gypsy in which Casey played the Balloon Girl; a year later she played the role of Melanie in Peter Pollard's production of The Goodbye Girl. In the January, 1997, production of Melanie Boulay's To Kill a Mockingbird Casey again appeared with the Production Staff as one of the Set Construction crew. In June of that year, in Mac Byron's George Washington Slept Here, Casey played the part of Rachel, the delinquent, with devilish conviction. The Twenty-third Season ended with Tammie Pollard's reprise of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Casey, once again, was credited with helping with the Set Construction.

My Favorite Year, the January, 1998, offering, directed by Peter Pollard, gave Casey her first opportunity to work with costumes and she was listed as part of the Wardrobe team. Frank Oberhausen's reprise of Annie was the next show of the season and Casey appeared in it as a Hooverite and also as one of the many Warbucks servants. Beverly Brando Gillilan directed the musical Paint Your Wagon in June, 1998 and Casey played a Western gal named Jane. The final show of the Twenty-fourth Season was Tammie Pollard's production of Rumors with Casey as part of the Costuming team. The season culminated with the Thirteenth Annual Zenon Awards Ceremony at which Casey received her first Board Service Zenon for her work with the Gourmet Division, another ongoing occupation she had been involved with at HLT for many years.

The first play of the Twenty-fifth Season was Melanie Boulay's still remembered The Wizard of Oz; Casey's name appeared on the Production Staff page as part of the Set Construction team and also in the Salad Bar/Desserts section of the Gourmet Staff. In January, Peter Pollard directed the drama The Miracle Worker and again Casey's name appeared both on the Production and Gourmet Staff pages. Frank Oberhausen revived the Sound of Music in April and Casey's name appeared as associated with the Gourmet Staff. The same month The Children's Academy of Theatre, Inc. (CAT) presented The Available Left-Footed Princess, with Casey playing the part of Princess Prudence in Krista Flores' first CAT production at HLT. The June program of Beverly Brando Gillilan's revival of Arsenic and Old Lace again showed Casey working on Set Construction and in Gourmet.

The dark comedy One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, directed by John Lovelette, opened the Twenty-sixth Season at HLT. The programs for this season show that Casey was busy in Gourmet during all five main stage shows and also found time to help on the Set Construction of Melanie Boulay's Oliver!.

Casey participated in two shows during the Twenty-seventh Season: Jim McCollum's Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in April for which she worked on Set Construction; and Tammie Pollard's West Side Story in August which involved her in both Set Construction and Gourmet activities.

During the Twenty-eighth Season Casey participated in all five shows, all of which involved Gourmet duties. During the Twenty-ninth Season Casey worked in Gourmet during the Frank Oberhausen and Kathy MacNeill production of Man of LaMancha, and as a House Manager during Peter Pollard's revival of Steel Magnolias.

In all, this senior girl in high school has managed to be associated with 33 plays at HLT and receive a Zenon for her work in Gourmet. She has participated in one Christmas show, her name has also appeared in 17 local news articles and in 14 HLT Newsletters. I know I speak for all the members of Highlands Little Theatre when I thank you Casey for your loyalty and devotion to theater in Highlands County.

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