Ride The Cyclone

Ride The Cyclone

Show Dates & Times

Ticket Prices

Director's Note

There’s a particular kind of electricity that comes with discovering a piece of theatre that feels like it belongs to you—and for many of our students, this production has become exactly that. Our students have been so excited to bring life to a show that has all the makings of a true cult classic. That energy—bold, quirky, heart-felt—has fueled every rehearsal and found its way into every corner of this production.

Just as inspiring has been the collaboration beyond the stage. Theatre at its best is a collective effort, and I’ve had the great privilege of working alongside a group of extraordinarily talented designers and craftspeople who have given their time and artistry to this project. From imaginative set design and detailed painting, to striking photography, dynamic video work, and thoughtful costume and sound design, their contributions have elevated this production in ways our audiences will immediately feel. It’s a reminder that what we do here is never done alone.

On a personal level, this experience carries deeper meaning. Returning to SUNY Corning Community College is, for me, a full-circle moment. In the 1990s, I spent countless hours here as a guest artist, learning and growing under the guidance of Clare Reidy. To now stand in this space again—this time entrusted with guiding students of my own—is both humbling and deeply gratifying. I am equally mindful of the legacy left by her successor, the wonderfully creative Mary Guzzy, whose passion for this program continues to inspire the work we do today.

It is an honor to be a part of this community once again, and to help carry forward a tradition of creativity, collaboration, and bold storytelling. Thank you for being here and for supporting these remarkable students. I hope you enjoy our show.

-Michael Hurd

Setting

The abandoned remains of the Wonderville Traveling Fairground in Uranium City, Saskatchewan in the present day.

MUSICAL NUMBERS

A BRIEF HISTORY OF RIDE THE CYCLONE

The history of Ride the Cyclone spans its origins as a small Canadian cabaret to its current status as a global cult phenomenon fueled by social media.

Origins and Early Productions (2008–2013)

Creation: The musical was written by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell as part of the "Uranium Teen Scream Trilogy".

Premiere: It debuted as a cabaret show at Atomic Vaudeville in Victoria, British Columbia, in 2008.

Early Tour: Following its 2008 debut, it premiered as a full-length production at the Metro Studio Theatre in Vancouver on March 11, 2009, and later embarked on a Canadian tour in 2013.

U.S. Expansion and Off-Broadway (2015–2016)

Chicago Premiere: The show had its U.S. premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2015.

Off-Broadway Debut: It opened Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on November 20, 2016. This production featured many cast members from the Chicago run and is the version most famously circulated in archival recordings.

Cast Recording and Global Success (2021–Present)

Cast Recording: A world premiere digital cast recording was released on May 7, 2021, featuring the 2019 Alliance Theatre cast.

TikTok Virality: In 2022, the musical became a viral sensation on TikTok, particularly a clip of Emily Rohm performing "The Ballad of Jane Doe." This exposure introduced the show to a massive Gen Z audience.

International Reach: The show has since been produced in Australia, Argentina, and London's West End (2025).

Licensing and Adaptations: A "Teen Edition" was recently released to make the mature content more accessible for high school performances.

Sources: Google AI Gemini 3, Wikipedia: Ride the Cyclone, & Stage Agent.com: Ride the Cyclone.

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES

Abigail Bennett (Stage Manager) is technically a senior and is participating in her last show here at CCC. She began theater by working backstage at the shows during her time at Horseheads High School and that is where she fell in love with the craft. Here at CCC she has stage-managed the productions of Urinetown (Spring 2025), She Kills Monsters (Fall 2025) and now the show you are going to see today, Ride the Cyclone (Spring 2026). With her time here at CCC coming to a close, she is taking her skills learnt here with her to SUNY Fredonia to continue her studies in Technical Theater. She would like to thank her family for their support and encouragement to follow her dreams, and would also love to thank the friends that she's made here. They became a kind of second family and she will cherish the memories made with them.

Annette Corbalan (Assistant Director) was invited to join the East High Drama Club by Mike Hurd as an assistant director-trainee for “Sweeney Todd” in its 2011 season. She has had the tremendous pleasure and privilege of serving as assistant director on many productions with him since then, and as director, with Marianna Baker, of “Is He Dead?” in 2019. Since retiring from Spanish teaching in 2022, Annette has also enjoyed working with Wendy Griffin and the CPPHS Drama Club, and with Mike on recent productions at Corning Community College. She sends love to all of the student-actors with whom she has worked, wherever they are today. Each of them is a bright star in her memory and they are now joined by the talented cast of this touching and poignant show.

Ethan Dustin Davidson (Video Projections) - Is a CCC alum and is thrilled to be a part of one of his favorite musicals; Ride the Cyclone. Ethan is co-owner of a local theatre and film company Eighth House Studio, and they are currently about to start filming their next film that Ethan both wrote and is directing. For his more professional work look up his IMDB page. He would like to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in helping him create the videos for this musical, and to the cast, crew and directors of Ride the Cyclone who trusted him in making the videos.

 Alexandria DeLuca (Ocean O'Connell Rosenberg) is a sophomore at CCC. She played Agnes Evans in She Kills Monsters (CCC, Fall 2025), Ms. Pennywise in Urinetown (CCC, Spring 2025), ensemble in Spongebob the Musical (Horseheads High School, Spring 2024), and ensemble in The Little Mermaid (Horseheads High School, Spring 2023). She is currently vice president of CCC's Muse of Fire theatre club. She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her.

Kai DonDero (They/Them; Box Office Manager/Set Painter/Sound Effects) grew up in the Southern Tier of New York. They have a MFA in Theatre Arts from Towson University, a Bachelors in Theatre and Performance from SUNY Purchase, and Associates from SUNY CCC. As a playwright and storyteller, they strive to be multi-disciplinary; working with directing, devising, and any theatre art form they can to create new work; all in an effort to challenge biased systems while finding connection with the self and body. Theatre is an art-form, and ART is the Magic System of Earth. They are currently teaching theatre at SUNY CCC - consider enrolling in acting classes if you want to be as classy as these students putting on this fantastic show! Their favorite ride is “The Zipper.”

Kirsten Ferguson (Jane Doe) is a first-year music teacher at Riverside Elementary in her first role at CCC! She is currently an active member of Keuka Lake Players, performing in various roles that include Rapunzel in Into the Woods (Summer 2024) and music director of Snoopy: The Musical (Summer 2025), While at Ithaca College and Avoca Central School, she was active as a music director, pit member, crew member, and actor for various shows such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (choir member, soprano), Shrek: The Musical (Reed 1 and makeup director), The Addams Family (Reed 1), Rocky Horror Picture Show (Ensemble Member), as well as participating in various choral ensembles. She is active in the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers, VEST, and NY-ACDA, as well as singing, playing clarinet, and doing makeup in her spare time. She would like to thank her cast and amazing friends and family for being amazing supporters with a special shoutout to her friends, Jasmine Helles and Taylor Hurd, for convincing her to audition for the show.

Lillian Gentry (Understudy/Swing/Properties Manager) is a sophomore in her second role on the Schuyler 106 stage. She was an active member of the Elmira High School Drama Club for three years, performing in various roles that include Linda from Evil Dead and Ensemble in Mean Girls, among others, and her first role at CCC was as Hope Cladwell in the musical Urinetown. She is currently a waitress at Pizza Hut, and she writes poetry and sews in her spare time. She would like to thank her Grandma Brown and Mom for their love and support throughout this semester. 

Dominic Griffin (Mischa Bachinski) is a freshman in his first role on the Schuyler 106 stage. He began theatre during his senior year of high school performing in Evil Dead as Ash Williams. He is active in the Muse of Fire Club at CCC, goes to the gym, and runs in his free time. He would like to thank his family and friends for their love and support through every up and down, as well as Amy Ginalski, David Smith Jr, and the CPPHS Drama Club for helping him discover his love for acting and singing.

Mandy Hakes (Constance Eleanor Blackwood) is in her fourth semester here at CCC. This is her third semester as the Muse of Fire club president, and also the last. She is stepping down at the end of this semester since she is starting the CCC Nursing Program in the fall. This is her fourth production and second-ever musical. The roles she has performed include Love in Everybody (Fall 2024), Josephine in Urinetown (Spring 2025), and Tillius the Paladin in She Kills Monsters (Fall 2025); all of which have been on the M.O.F. stage. Ride the Cyclone has been Mandy’s dream musical for a long time, so she is very grateful for this opportunity to be a part of this production as Constance. As much as she will miss her family and time with M.O.F., she knows it is time to move on to a new adventure. Mandy is very thankful for her family, friends, and professors, who have supported her work towards her dreams and passions.

Michael Hurd (Director/Theatre Coordinator) is a History/Government/Theatre Studies adjunct professor and Muse of Fire Theatre advisor at SUNY CCC. Ride the Cyclone is the second musical that he has directed at the college, having staged Pippin here in the Spring of 2024. This is his fifty-fifth directing gig in the Corning area, having served as director and advisor to the Corning-Painted Post Drama Club from 2000-2024. Michael was a Social Studies teacher and later Dean of Students at CPPHS for a total of thirty-four years before retiring and starting anew at SUNY CCC. He is an active performer with FLX Improv and FLX Dinner Theatre. In his spare time, he loves hiking, kayaking, playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with family. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Brooke Maxwell (Book, Lyrics, Music) is a composer, musician, and sound designer who created the eclectic score for Ride the Cyclone. He worked with Richmond to create the musical, which focuses on telling profound stories through a mix of musical genres. Maxwell is also known for his work in theatre, including GRUFF: A Musical for three Goats and a Troll. 

Jacob Richmond (Book, Lyrics, Music) is a playwright and director known for his sharp, darkly comedic writing. Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he studied history and performance at Concordia University in Montreal. He is a co-founder of Atomic Vaudeville. His other works include The Qualities of Zero (Dora Award nomination, Montreal MECCA Award winner for Best Text) and Legoland (SummerWorks Award for Best Text). 

Laurel Shaut (Assistant Choreographer) is from Corning, NY. She has practiced ballet and dance for 20 years and won two first place awards for her dancing and choreography. While she has choreographed fight and dance scenes for a play, this is Laurel’s first time choreographing for a musical and is thrilled to be involved. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible!

Nathan Shedd (Bass/Virgil)  Although this is Nathan's first time playing in a musical pit orchestra, he is no stranger to music or musicals - with a BM in Music Education and an MS in Literacy, he has been teaching music for about the past 10 years, participated in over 30 productions both on-stage and back-stage  over the past 15 years, and has been playing music for over 20 years. His most recent musical jobs include: Music Professor at both Elmira College and Corning Community College, the choir and bell choir director at the Park Church, the Lighting Designer for Titanic the Musical at Elmira High School, and the Music Director for Campbell-Savona's production of Seussical the Musical. He is thrilled to be able to assist his SUNY CCC students for their production in various capacities, and wishes the cast and crew all the best for the productions.

Nestrelda Sims (Poster & Set Artistry) is a 2nd grade Teaching Assistant at Hugh Gregg Elementary School who only recently discovered her love for the behind-the-scenes of theater. A sign maker in a past life, this is her second poster created for the SUNY CCC stage and second venture into scenic painting.

Zoe Slater (Keyboard 2) is very excited to be working on RIDE THE CYCLONE at SUNY CCC on the keyboard 2 part in the pit. She is currently a nursing major and theatre minor at Elmira College. She has worked on many shows before (most recently as an actor in EC's TWELFTH NIGHT), but never in the pit, and is really looking forward to the new experience. She would like to thank Nathan Shedd for getting her involved in the show in the first place.

David Spangenberg (The Amazing Karnak) is a college freshman making an appearance in this show. He has been involved in theater throughout high school, both onstage and behind the scenes. His past roles include The Narrator in Beauty and the Beast (Sophomore Year), Jack Scott in High School Musical (Junior Year), and the Knight in Little Women (Senior Year). He also worked on the crew for Mary Poppins during his freshman year, gaining valuable experience in technical theater. Outside of theater, David is involved in a variety of activities, often helping out in his community wherever he can. He is a supporting member of the Educational Opportunity Program and also explores creative pursuits beyond the stage, including voice acting, audio design, and photography.

Thomas Telford (Noel Gruber) is technically a senior at Corning-Painted Post High School, but functionally a junior at SUNY CCC as part of the STEM Program. This is his first (and unfortunately most likely last) show with the college and is thrilled to bring his favorite musical to life. He was a part of the CPPHS Drama Club for four years, bringing memorable roles such as Phil Davis in White Christmas, Mr. Pippet in Suite Surrender, and Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods. He’s part of the Mechanical Technology program and loves to play the piano in his free time. He would like to thank his friends, directors, and especially parents. He once traveled several hours with his mom to see a production of Ride the Cyclone. He hopes you enjoy the show.

Andrew Timofeeff (Drums/Percussion/Theatre Intern) has been involved with theater for most of his life. He has recently worked on She Kills Monsters, Kimberly Akimbo, The Wild Tribe and Other Stories, Urinetown, Everybody, and Pippin. Andrew is excited to be playing drums in the pit for Ride the Cyclone. Andrew thanks Mike Hurd and SUNY CCC for this opportunity, and you for enjoying our show!

Derek Van Etten (Ricky Potts) is a freshman in their second performance for Muse of Fire. Previously, they have acted in other shows, such as She Kills Monsters (Chuck), and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown! (Charlie Brown), among others. They are very active in the music department at SUNY CCC, and writes and performs music in their free time. They would like to thank their friends and family, as well as Scott Faust and Seth Hampton for helping them discover their love of music and theatre. 

Will Wickham (Music Director/Keyboard 1) was practically destined to join this “mechanical fortune-teller’s” tale. Having spent much of his youth with family friends who owned a traveling carnival, Will’s teenage years were a blur of free rides, cotton candy, and hours playing the upright bass in bluegrass sessions backstage from the midway lights. That early roller coaster obsession has never faded; it has simply evolved.

A staple of the SUNY CCC stage since 2011, co-founder of a youth theater organization, and many-times stage and music director of local and professional works, Will brings an unapologetic intensity to this eclectic score. Beyond the pit, he is an accomplished composer, having recently completed a two-year, fully-funded choral music residency with the Cantata Singers.

Whether navigating the haunting “Jane Doe Video” or the cosmic energy of “Space Age Bachelor Man,” he is guided by his catchphrase: “Where score meets soul!” When not orchestrating the afterlife, he is usually losing a Sudoku race to his dog.

SPECIAL THANKS

Debbie Beall for her exceptional support for the Theatre Arts at SUNY CCC

Joelle Van Skiver for her gracious assistance with all things official and financial 

Don Sherman for his advice and support on all media relations 

Daisia Farley who strongly supports our club through Student Life 

Ally Moore for taking wonderful photographs of our Wednesday preview on 4/15/26

Michael Morse at Pro Audio Consulting for providing high-quality sound equipment and  training for our students

John van Otterloo for creating our 24" X 36" posters in the MakerSpace

The Custodial Staff at SUNY CCC for helping us keep Schuyler Theatre clean

Performers featured in our videos: Ethan Dustin Davidson, Jasmine Elizabeth as Talia, 

Sarah McUmber, Jeremy Iller, Lennon Davidson, Gavin L. Rothmund, and the Horseheads Taco Bell.

Our Patrons whose continued support help us provide live entertainment at SUNY CCC