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March 6 thru March 8, 2026

Songs of Innocence &

Experience

One weekend only!   Please join us for an evening of storytelling through song that traces the journey from childhood wonder to hard‑won wisdom.  This program highlights some of our finest American contemporary musical composers, reflecting the voices that shape our shared story.  

Three performances only, Friday, March 6 thru Sunday, March 8.  Please join us for a reception following each show!

Program Notes: 

Performance is approximately 1.5 hours with a 10 minute intermission.

Director’s Note

A song is as profound a metaphor for life as anything I can think of. From the Intro to the Coda, music mirrors the singular tempos, rhythms and harmonies of each life and is the essence who we are as individuals.

‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ is a collection of songs that celebrates the everyday mundane to the monumental earthshattering and everything in between in of all its messy, unpredictable glory.   The mistakes we make, the opportunities we miss and the fallout of our sometimes misguided choices, are all part of the daily ebb and flow.  But then there are those singular, brilliant moments when all the cylinders lock into place and the planets align and there is life and love and a deeper understanding of who we are together and separately. 

Hans Christian Andersen is attributed with having said,” When words fail, music speaks.” So sad he never heard the lyrics of Jason Robert Brown, William Finn or Stephen Sondheim. If he had, I think the quote might have read, “When words fail, Musical Theater speaks.”

We hope you enjoy ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience.’

Meet the Cast & Production Team

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Jenn Bedell

Jenn Bedell is thrilled to make her Bissell End debut! She is a New York-based actor/singer and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Favorite roles include Maria Rainer (The Sound of Music), Dyanne (Million Dollar Quartet), Female Swing (The Office Parody, Off-Bway), Amalia Balash (She Loves Me), and Brooke (Hang On). Jenn is also a voiceover artist and audiobook narrator - but the role she holds most dear is being Mom to Nola and Sophie. She is grateful to share music in rooms like this, surrounded by friends and an extraordinary community. 

JennBedellOnStage.com | @JennBedellNY

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Chad Hudson

Chad is excited to collaborate on this ABE production with some of his favorite storytellers.  Originally from Indianapolis, IN, Chad has spent much of his adult life performing in theatres across the country. Additionally, he has been a soloist with many symphonies and orchestras from New Haven, CT to Seoul, Korea. Favorite theater credits include: Chauncey (The Nance), Bruce (Fun Home); Candide (Candide); Sweeney Todd (Tobias); Godspell (Jesus); Batboy (Batboy); many characters in Ragtime, and most recently  Barry in the Elmwood Theatres production of The Prom. During the day, he serves as the School Business Manager for both Stephen T. Mather Building Arts and Craftsmanship High School and the Business of Sports School in Manhattan. Special thanks to his amazing friends, family and especially Michael for all the support. 

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Michael McGuirk

Michael is a resident of Ridgefield, Connecticut and happy to join this production at Bissell’s End! After a 10+ year hiatus from the stage he returned three years ago as Pilate in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (ACT of CT) and was nominated for a CT Broadway World Award. He was also seen there in GUYS AND DOLLS as Benny Southstreet and Sky Masterson u/s. Last year he was in LITTLE WOMEN (Prof. Bhaer) with The Connecticut Stage Company (New Canaan). With numerous regional credits, Michael is also a writer. His play THE LAST SUPPER premiered in NYC at The Players Theatre last year winning the audience award. His short film TINY PENCILS which he wrote, starred in, and produced is currently making the festival rounds. Thank you to his makeup artist wife, Amanda, for constantly reminding him to exfoliate and his two rescues - Hattie and Lucy. Michael’s other passion is real estate, currently he works out of the William Pitt/Sotheby’s office in New Canaan.

@mcguirk.realestate 

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Miran Robarts

A former scientist-turned-performer, Miran has appeared in operas, concerts, plays, oratorios, and musicals throughout NJ/NY/CT.  She has performed in some of NYC's most prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall to Lincoln Center and Symphony Space, as well as local theater favorites Elmwood Playhouse (Nyack, NY) and Curtain Call, Inc (Stamford, CT).  Favorite roles include Diana (Next to Normal), Mabel (Pirates of Penzance), and Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos). Miran resides in Westchester, where she shares her love of musical theatre with children as an instructor at the Westchester Sandbox Theatre. 

www.miranrobarts.com 

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Tony Bellomy, Musical Director

Tony Bellomy holds degrees in piano performance, vocal accompaniment, and opera coaching. He has coached and played for the Florentine Opera Company, the Skylight Opera Theatre, the Milwaukee Ballet Company, American Ballet Theatre, New York Lyric Opera, and Encompass New Opera Theatre. Tony is also in his 20th season as Associate Music Director for the Grace Choral Society at Grace Church in NYC, a 150-voice ensemble of experienced professional and avocational singers dedicated to the choral art form. A full-time resident of Norwalk, Connecticut, Tony also fulfills his second love of musical theater by music directing many productions each year throughout Fairfield, Westchester, and Rockland Counties. By day, he is the Director of Operations for Gurr Johns, Inc., a global appraisal and advisory firm headquartered in New York. 

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Claudia Stefany, Director

Claudia is a freelance Costume Designer and Stage Director based in the NY/NJ/CT area, having recently completed a year as the Associate Artistic Director at the SHAPE Performing Arts Center on a NATO base outside Brussels, Belgium. She studied musical theatre at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music and graduated from Baldwin-Wallace University in Cleveland, Ohio. Currently, she is the resident costume designer at Stage Left Children’s Theater in Tappan, New York, and is returning for her eighth season as Wardrobe Supervisor at Hudson Valley Shakespeare in Garrison, New York.

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