Creative Team

Book by Jack Kyrieleison
Story by Jack Kyrieleison & Ron Holgate
Traditional Music Arranged by Michael O'Flaherty

Jack Kyrieleison

(Concept, Book, Story) Reunion was Jack's first script, receiving its world premiere as Battle Cry of Freedom at the Goodspeed Opera House's Norma Terris Theatre in 1996. He began research for Reunion in 1992, drawing from collections at the Library or Congress, university and public libraries throughout the U.S., antique booksellers, military book dealers and the Internet. The book for Reunion is drawn from, adapted from, or suggested by these original sources, and the music he chose is all traditional American from the Civil War or before. As an actor, Jack toured the U.S., Canada and Japan in Can-Can, starring Chita Rivera and played Cameron in Arena Stage's 25th anniversary revival of The Great White Hope. He has performed in New York at Perry Street Theatre, Theatre Off Park, York Theatre, Equity Library Theatre and Music Theatre Works, among others. Regional credits include The Goodman Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Kennedy Center, Milwaukee Rep, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, Birmingham Theatre and Olney Theatre. Television appearances include Homicide--Life on the Street. He has completed the book and lyrics for A Cowboy's Carol, a John Ford western treatment of A Christmas Carol. He lives outside Washington, DC with his wife, Michele, and their son, Michael.

Ron Holgate

(Story, Director) has starred in National Tours of Annie, 42nd Street, Can Can and Lend Me A Tenor. He originally directed Battle Cry of Freedom, renamed Reunion, at the Goodspeed Opera House's Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT. He has also directed Kaufman and Hart's Once in A Lifetime at the Helen Hayes PAC, Trevor Griffiths' Comedians for the Phoenix Theatre at SUNY Purchase, and two production for the Birmingham Theatre in Birmingham, MI: Ray Cooney's Two Into One, which he also adapted, and Lend Me A Tenor. As an actor, he toured in Funny You Don't Look Like A Grandmother, and played Big Jule in Guys and Dolls on Broadway. He received rave reviews for his first Broadway show Milk and Honey. He originated the role of Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and he starred in Lend Me A Tenor on Broadway and in London. He won a Tony nomination for The Grand Tour and the Tony Award for his performance as Richard Henry Lee in 1776. He recreated this role in the film version. Ron has appeared in over 30 operas, including the Don in Don Giovanni, Mephisto in Faust, and Scarpia in Tosca. Ron portrayed Daddy Warbucks in the Goodspeed Opera's 20th anniversary production of Annie and has starred in the World Premiere productions of The Singing Weatherman; Topper; in the touring production of Big; and as Buffalo Bill in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun. Ron has a daughter, Melissa, is married to Anny DeGange and they have two daughters, Chloe Hartley and Lily LeClair.

Michael O'Flaherty

(Musical Supervisor and Arranger) was the musical supervisor and cabaret director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival for 11 years. On Broadway he composed the score for Nikos Psacharapoulos' production of A Streetcar Named Desire and conducted Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which originated at Goodspeed. Off-Broadway he supervised the music and vocal arrangements for Carol Hall's To Whom It May Concern. He has also worked at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Playwrights Horizons, the Smithsonian Institute, and Columbia Pictures. He has served as conductor for the National Tour of George M! Now entering his 8th season as Goodspeed's resident musical director, Michael has conducted 17 musicals at the Opera House and Good Sports; Starcrossed; By Jeeves; and Just So at the Goodspeed at Chester.

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