Our Management Staff
Franklin Trapp,
Producing Artistic Director
Franklin is thrilled to present the Forestburgh Playhouse’s 77th Season! Franklin began his theatrical career at the Forestburgh Playhouse, as a Resident Company member, appeared in a national tour of Annie! and also performed at various regional theatres, including the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. In 2004, Franklin took a hiatus from the theatre, during which time he earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University and subsequently practiced in Atlanta, Georgia for the world’s largest law firm. When he learned that current producer Norman Duttweiler was looking to retire, Franklin could not resist the opportunity to return to Forestburgh and maintain and grow the rich cultural legacy that the Playhouse provides for Sullivan County. Franklin has a long association with the Forestburgh Playhouse beginning in 2001 as a Resident Company Member. He remained at the Playhouse every summer through 2004, earning his equity card, writing and directing children’s shows, directing cabarets and directing mainstage productions such as the Playhouse’s first production of The Sound of Music. While at the Forestburgh Playhouse, Franklin appeared in numerous productions, including, 1776, Titanic, Ragtime, My Fair Lady, Witness for the Prosecution, Catch Me If You Can, Miss Saigon, Evita, La Cage Aux Folles, and Hello Dolly!, to name a few. Franklin’s husband, John Bubb, also a Playhouse alum and a CRNA at Catskill Regional Medical Center, will share his talents as an artistic advisor. Franklin and John, and their Playhouse Pets—Lucy and Sally are excited to not only live full-time in the Sullivan County Catskills, but also to have the opportunity to be a part of a New York cultural landmark—The Forestburgh Playhouse!
Matt Lenz,
Creative Development Director/ Artistic Director-In the Works-In the Woods Festival.
MATT LENZ - (Director) At FBP; Buyer and Cellar, Venus in Fur, Idaho! BROADWAY: Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Velocity of Autumn (Associate Director on original productions), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Resident Director). OFF-BROADWAY: Pageant: The Musical (Drama Desk nomination), The Irish Curse, Idaho! The Comedy Musical, The Great Daisy Theory, Fingers and Toes, and Alan Ball’s Tense Guy. US NATIONAL TOURS include: Hairspray (current), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Cheers: Live Onstage, Catch Me If You Can and The Who’s Tommy. INTERNATIONAL: Productions in Australia, Singapore, India, UK, Germany, Canada and South Africa. REGIONAL: many plays and musicals at Paper Mill Playhouse, the MUNY, Ogunquit Playhouse, George Street Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theater, Zach Theatre, Gulfshore Playhouse, Casa Manana, Gateway Playhouse, Short North Stage, La Mirada. Matt is the Founding Artistic Director of the annual In The Works ~ In The Woods Festival at FBP. www.mattlenzdirector.com
John Bubb,
Associate Producer/Casting
John is thrilled to be on this life adventure with Franklin Trapp. John studied classical music and theater at Carnegie Mellon University and Indiana University. After college, he moved to NYC to begin his theater career, first working on Cruise Ships, then moving to regional theaters, off-Broadway, and National/International Tours working with Tony, Emmy and Grammy winners. Some credits: Jerry Zaks’ South Pacific starring Robert Goulet, Frank Wildhorns’ The Civil War starring John Schneider, Larry Gatlin and Bebe Winans. Jesus Christ Superstar directed by Baayork Lee, and Phantom of the Opera (Switzerland and Denmark). In NYC, John was seen in Into The Woods, Irene!, and Naked Revolution. Regional: Phantom (Yeston/Kopit), and Annie Get Your Gun at the Forestburgh Playhouse. In 2005, John made the leap to go back to school and get his BS in Nursing at Belmont University in Nashville. Post degree he worked at Grady Memorial in their Level 1 Trauma Unit, Saint Joseph’s in the Coronary ICU, and Emory University CVICU taking care of heart and lung transplant patients. In 2012, John moved to Philadelphia to attend Drexel University where he received his Masters in Nursing and in Anesthesia. He is currently a Board Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with Ramapo Anesthesia and can currently be seen putting people to sleep at Catskill Regional Medical Center. In November 2016, after 13 years together, John and Franklin legally married. They are thrilled to be living in the Catskills and absolutely love having “The Miracle of the Forest” back in their lives.
Artistic, Production and Support Staff
FBP Academy Directors: Kate Wilson & Roque Berlanga
Kate is delighted to be back at the Miracle of the Forest this Summer! Kate is the Executive Director of Theatre [Untitled] and its education program Actor's Professional Theatre Conservatory (APTC) in New York City. Having spent 15 years working as a stage manager across the country, she is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and has been involved in a wide variety of productions including Nice Work If You Can Get It (First National Tour), School of Rock (First National Tour), Octet (Signature Theatre), Sleep No More, and Theatre For One. She also has served as the Production Stage Manager for Forestburgh Playhouse and Allenberry Playhouse, the Assistant Stage Manager for Barrington Stage Company and Cortland Repertory Theatre, and the Associate Artistic Director for Actors Professional Theatre Conservatory. Kate dedicates all of her work to her Mom, Tracy, and Dad, Dave.
Roque is so grateful to be back home at the "miracle" for another fantastic season! A California native, Roque is a proud Latinx director, actor, teaching artist and proud Associate Member of SDC. Roque is currently the Associate Director for the First International Tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roque is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Theatre [Untitled] and Actor’s Professional Theatre Conservatory (APTC) based in New York City. Theatre [Untitled] focuses on new and reinvented works and provides a platform for undiscovered artists with a focus on LGBTQ+, women, and BIPOC playwrights and artists. Roque currently serves as an Artistic Advisor for the Forestburgh Playhouse and is Co-Director of the Forestburgh Academy with Kate Wilson. Roque served as Artistic Director of the Allenberry Playhouse for three years in Pennsylvania and was the first Latinx to do so in the theater's over sixty year history. While in California, Roque trained with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Second City, and received his BA in Theatre from CSU Stanislaus.
Favorite credits include: Matilda (Forestburgh Playhouse) The Prom (Forestburgh Playhouse), The Whale Play (The Drama Book Shop), Bye Bye Birdie (Forestburgh Playhouse), The Lighting Theif: The Percy Jackson Musical (Forestburgh Playhouse), The SpongeBob Musical (Forestburgh Playhouse), The Theory of Relativity (Stagedoor Manor), Rent (Stagedoor Manor), Chicago (Allenberry), Footloose (Allenberry), The 39 Steps (Allenberry), Wait Until Dark (Allenberry), The Wedding Singer (APTC) and 13! (APTC).
Company Manager: Kimi Fields
Kimi Fields comes from Fort Worth, TX but claims Chicago, IL as her true heritage. Kimi graduated from Northwestern State University with a Bachelor’s in Music with a focus in Vocal Performance. Some of her favorite roles included Gertrude McFuzz (“Suessical the Musical Jr.”) and the Witch (“Hansel and Gretel”). Kimi has recently found her new passion for theatre administration when she worked as the Company Manager Associate for the New London Barn Playhouse for their 92nd season. She would like to thank her spouse, Finley, and her fur babies, Onyx, Freya, and Theodore, for always supporting her goals and dreams. Kimi is looking forward to working with the Forestburgh Playhouse and making art with all its company members!
MUSICAL STAFF
DESIGN & TECHNICAL STAFF
BOX OFFICE/FRONT OF HOUSE ASSOCIATES
TAVERN STAFF
Proprietor: Franklin Trapp