Pygmalion at Upstart Arts

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George Bernard Shaw has crafted a tale of class, wit and accents as linguist Henry Higgins takes on his most difficult challenge in cockney flower girl Liza Doolittle. Come for a night full of the new small talk, with taxis and chocolates always at the ready and a lively cast to lead you through the mores and manners of British society. We're willing to tell you, we're wanting to tell you, we're waiting to tell you the story of the girl who changed her speech and changed her world.

Livestreamed performance at 7 p.m. EST, Saturday, February 24, 2024. Director Michelle Denise Norton will be in the chat discussing the Shaw and why Eliza's story still resonates today. Upstart Arts is a 501 (c)(3) all volunteer theatrical collective. Our mission is bringing performing art into public spaces. All shows are free; donations are welcome.

Authors

• George Bernard Shaw
• William Brough

Cast and Creative team for Pygmalion at Upstart Arts

Cast

Anna Blaine

Clara Eynsford Hill

Anna Y. Blaine is a writer and actress based in Monmouth County, New Jersey. She always had a passion for writing and storytelling which is why she decided to become a creative artist. While getting her Bachelor’s of Arts in English at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ, she was cast in a musical production of Sweeney Todd. After college, she was a part of an Algonquin Theater production of Guys and Dolls in Manasquan, NJ. Since then she has studied at the prestigious Uta Hagen studio and Roger Hendricks Simon studio in New York City. In 2021, Anna was cast in an Upstart Arts live streamed play production of Squirrel Girl Goes to College. She is thrilled to be featured in another Upstart Arts live streamed play production. Anna is also a novelist, playwright and screenwriter.

Jenson Tavares

Mrs. Eynsford Hill

Jenson Tavares recently won the Best Actress award at the Screaming Ostrich Film Festival for her performance as Callie in the short film Miles of Summer. She just completed her first supporting role in a feature film and has 5 upcoming film projects. After Pygmalion she will perform in Crossing A Musical Journey touring production! She has had so much fun working with the talented cast and crew of Pygmalion!

Carolyn Stewart

Bystander, Mrs. Pearce

Hailing from both Mexico and Scotland. This is Carolyn's 5th production with Upstart Arts. She is thrilled to be taking part in this year production of Pygmalion. and hopes you'll enjoy the show.

Jonathan Davis

Freddy Eynsford Hill

I myself have been acting since elementary school. I have done several local theater projects, done several independent films and do horror acting in the Haunted forests every year. I am delighted to be in this production of Pygmalion as Freddy Eynsford Hill and look forward to many more projects in the future.

Aliona Garcia

Eliza Dollittle

Aliona Garcia is a Spanish/British actress splitting time between New York City and Spain. She has appeared in countless virtual productions on film and theatre and has recently appeared in A Sketch of New York at the Producers' Club and The Ballad of Lulu and Dad both in the Secret Theatre and in film. She is also the Executive Director of Tiger's Heart Players and co-founder of EliWay Films.

Joshua R. Pearce

Colonel Pickering

Joshua R. Read is an American-born actor and singer based in Calgary, Canada. He has experience in theatre, opera, jazz, as well as film. Recently Joshua has been seen in such musicals as "Follies" and "Fiddler on the Roof", and he made his film debut in the OWN film "Christmas of Yes." Joshua has a very active digital artistic output. To see more of him, you can follow his Instagram (@joshua.r.read) and his YouTube (@joshua.r.read.bass.baritone).

Priscilla McFerren

Henry Higgins

Priscilla McFerren (Henry Higgins) became a regular participant in Upstart Arts' Stay-at-Home-Shakespeare in the early days of the pandemic. As such she has had the pleasure of playing countless Shakespeare characters including Marc Antony, King Lear, Bottom, Friar Francis and Prospero. She has also appeared in Twilight Thriller Radio productions from Upstart Arts, presenting a few Conan Doyle villains. She lives in State College, PA, is the retired director of Guthrie Library, Hanover and is currently in rehearsal for the role of Antonio in Class Act Productions' Much Ado About Nothing which will run the first weekend of April 2024 at the Boal Barn Playhouse.

Hilary Appelman

Sarcastic Bystander, Mrs. Higgins

Hilary is delighted to be performing in her second Upstart production, after playing Sherlock Holmes in The Case Of Charles Augustus Milverton. Hilary lives in State College, Pennsylvania, where she recently played Polonius in a local production of Hamlet. Thanks to Michelle for welcoming her into the Upstart family and to Priscilla for being her theater guru, and to the wideflung cast and crew for your talents and camaraderie. "Now sit down and be quiet!"

Stephanie Schwartz

Alfred Doolittle

Stephanie Schwartz (Alfred Doolittle) is a NY based actor who has performed throughout the NYC metropolitan area in both established and new plays, live and zoom. As a retired professor of speech and theater education (Iona University) PYGMALION is near and dear to her heart. SAG-AFTRA, http://resumes.actorsaccess.com; http://www.about.me/stephaniefls; Contact: actorstephanieschwartz@gmail.com.

Gayle Eubank

Parlormaid

Gayle is a founder and the president of the board for Upstart and mostly does the techie things involved with the online shows. She is also the managing editor for digital at The York Dispatch. Gayle has been in many, many plays, mostly Shakespeare, and has spent a large portion of the pandemic online with this wonderful collective.

Creative Team

Michelle Denise Norton

Director

Michelle Denise Norton is the creative engine for Upstart Arts. And also a writer, cartoonist, photographer, editor, and theatre maverick.

Ashar

Stage Manager

I’m a 23 year old who has the humor of Deadpool and is a lot like Blade in the sense that I can be out in the daylight even though I don’t prefer it

Gayle Eubank

Video Editor

Gayle really enjoys making the little videos to run between acts!

Kitty Geoghan

Graphic Designer, Logo

Kitty Geoghan is the graphic designer and visual artist for Upstart Arts. They have created designs for Upstart since its inception, as well as portraying Claudio in *Much Ado About Nothing* during 2020's Stay-At-Home Shakespeare. In the TUTT days, she also appeared as Hortensio in *Taming of the Shrew* and Celia in *As You Like It*. Born and raised in York, Kitty has traveled far and wide from Upstart's home base, and is currently in Michigan studying for a PhD in English and Education.