Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems; Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma; Based on the book Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
Apr. 10 – May 4, 2025
The November Theatre, 114 W. Broad St.
This show is even more fun than staying up late! It’s not easy being the Pigeon — you never get to do anything! But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers late, maybe that wily bird can do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, this musical is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping.
Our Jessie Bogese Family Season is named in honor of Jessica (Jessie) Michael Bogese.
Cast
Ian Page
Actor 1: Pigeon
Ian Page (Actor 1) is thrilled to be a part of another Mo Willems story. Previous Virginia Rep Children’s credits are Elephant and Piggie, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, and The Emperor’s New Clothes. Other credits include 1776, and Beautiful (VA Rep); bare: a pop opera (RTCC Nomination Best Lead in a Musical), It Shoulda Been You (Richmond Triangle Players); Little Shop of Horrors (RTCC Nomination Best Lead in a Musical), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (RTCC Nomination Best Supporting in a Musical) (Swift Creek Mill); She Stoops to Conquer (Richmond Shakespeare).
Imani Blair Crosby
Actor 2: The Bus Driver
Imani Blair Crosby (Actor 2) is a dynamic rapper, singer, and songwriter from Richmond, Virginia with music placements on HBO, MTV and Hulu. She’s a 3x Webby Award Winning Podcast Producer and the co-producer of Hypocrite The Musical. Imani has starred in Legally Blonde The Musical, Hairspray, and Wizard of Oz. She dedicates this show to her phenomenal parents and thanks them both for always believing in her.
Patrick Rooney
Actor 3
Patrick Rooney, he/him (Actor 3) is an actor, musician, singer, director, and writer based in Richmond. Selected credits include: Moriarty, (VA Rep); Buried Child, Roman á Clef (Firehouse Theatre); Straight White Men (TheatreLab); The Lyons (Curtain Call Theatre); Big Maggie (Albany Civic Theatre). Film credits include: Deb and Seth Save the World, Earworm (DSP). Patrick also performs with a traditional Irish music ensemble throughout the region. He’d like to thank his wife, Claire, and those who advocate and support art in any form.
Caroline Lynch
Actor 4, U/S Actor 2: The Bus Driver
Caroline Lynch, she/her, (Actor 4) is delighted to return to the November after most recently appearing as Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! A JMU graduate, she studied Voice and performed in operas and plays during her time there. Some of her other professional credits include Naked Mole Rat… (Swing) and Grace for President (Rose). Offstage, Caroline works as a personal trainer at the YMCA and creates magical moments with Magic & Merriment, Richmond’s premier princess company. Love and gratitude to her parents, friends, and mentors — plus a special thanks to her mom for introducing her to Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! as a child!
Anthony Hernandez
Actor 5, U/S Actor 1: Pigeon
Anthony Hernandez, he/him, is a Senior attending Appomattox Regional Governor’s School. He is ecstatic to have his Virginia Rep debut in Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus. Recently, you may have seen Anthony as Simon in Richmond Shakespeare’s Lord of the Flies. Some of his favorite past roles include: City Weed (BKLYN, Swift Creek Mill Theater) (RTCC – Best Musical 2024), IQ/Link US (Hairspray, Homefront Players), Ensemble (Mamma Mia!, Homefront Players), Officer Barrel (Urinetown, ARGS), Aladdin (Aladdin Jr, Broken Leg Theater) and Mr. Wormwood (Matilda, Prince George SFAA) He is grateful for his folks and everyone who has supported him through his theatrical journey! IG: @anthony.hernandez.theater
Lily Marcheschi
Actor 6
Lily Marcheschi, she/her, (Actor 6) is excited to make her Virginia acting debut as Old Lady. A role which, according to her aching back, she was born to play. A graduate of the Atlantic Acting Conservatory, Lily has worked with theatres and companies across the country. Most recently she produced and directed 2 productions of Horse Girls, by Jenny Rachel Weiner with her theatre company Homemade Jean shorts. Lily is desperately looking for a good pizza place in Richmond, so if you have any recommendations, please find her after the show.
Ari Silva
Swing (Actor 4, Actor 6)
Ari Silva, they/them (Swing) is so excited to be a part of this production! You may have seen them this past fall as Grace in Grace For President at or as a swing in their Virginia Rep Debut in Chasing George Washington. Some of their favorite past roles include Tiblyn (Firebringer) at the Dogwood Dell, Raymonde (A Flea in Her Ear), Papa Ge (Once On This Island), Missy (Jump Baby) at the Lynn Theatre. They’d like to thank their family, Neal, and Gonzo for all their support.
Gordon Graham
Swing (Actor 3, Actor 5)
Gordon Graham (Swing) is so happy to be working with Virginia Rep again. Last time was in Grace for President (Sam). Before that Gordon was in Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience (Grand-pah Mole Rat). You may also have seen Gordon last summer in Richmond Shakespeare’s production of Much Ado About Nothing (Don John). Gordon would like to thank Paul, Jason, and Nicole for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful show, his friends and family for always supporting him, Naomi and of course his mama.
Artistic Team
Paul Takács
Director
Paul Takács, he/him, (Director) Recent credits for Virginia Rep include: Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. Paul is the former Artistic Director of The Shop in New York City, where he directed NYC premieres of David Harrower’s Knives in Hens at 59E59 Theaters and Philip Ridley’s Dark Vanilla Jungle at HERE Arts Center. Other credits for The Shop include the American premieres of Nobel laureate Jon Fosse’s I Am The Wind and Philip Ridley’s Tender Napalm, both at 59E59 Theaters. Education: BA in Drama, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, MFA in Directing, The New School for Drama. Paul is currently Head of Upper School Theatre at St. Christopher’s and Saint Catherine’s Schools in Richmond, VA as well as Artistic Director of Ampersand, the joint theatre company of St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s Schools. www.paultakacsdirector.com
Jason Marks
Music Director
Jason Marks (Music Director) is so happy to be working on his third Mo Willems musical! Mr. Marks has been music director for many shows in the metro Richmond area, and had the privilege of serving as the resident music director for Virginia Rep’s touring department for almost a decade. His latest musical, Queen Bea, is hoping for a world premiere production very soon. Queen Bea was recently chosen to have a song featured in Washington, DC this May for the TYA/USA festival annual Song Slam Concert, featuring ten songs from new TYA musicals all over the United States. The concert will be directed by Deborah Wicks La Puma, who is also the composer of THIS musical, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive on the Bus. Enjoy the show!
Nicole Morris-Anastasi
Choreographer
Nicole Morris-Anastasi, she/her, (Choreographer) is so excited to be back at Virginia Rep after helping to rock the tunnel in Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Musical (Spring 2024)! Earlier choreography work includes Richmond Triangle Players’ Head Over Heels (Summer 2023) and Firehouse Theatre’s Ghost Quartet (Winter 2023). Nicole is also an actor, most recently performing with Homefront Players in Legally Blonde: The Musical as Serena and in Richmond Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing as Margaret. Sincere thanks to Paul, Jason, the production team, and the cast. The most thanks goes to best husband, Phil. www.nicolem-a.com
Mercedes Schaum
Scenic Designer
Mercedes Schaum, she/her, (Scenic Designer) is delighted to be working with Paul Takács and Virginia Rep to bring some of her family’s favorite characters to the stage. Mo Willems’ books have been a constant in her house & the characters are like old friends. Mercedes has been designing and painting in Richmond for over 20 years. Recent family favorites include Grace for President, Dragons Love Tacos, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and She Persisted for Virginia Rep. Past favorite designs include Satchmo at the Waldorf, Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley, Annie, Honk!, A Christmas Story, Mame, The BFG, Song of Mulan, Into the Woods, and The Magic Flute for Virginia Rep. Peter and The Starcatcher, Little Shop of Horrors and many more for SPARC. She has a B.F.A. from JMU in theatre and an M.F.A. in set design from the University of Illinois. When she’s not working in the theatre, Mercedes is raising four kids with her husband, Jason Alley, and helping with special projects now that their coaches & teachers know she’s always ready to help make art to support young folks.
Marcia Miller Hailey
Costume Designer
Marcia Miller Hailey (Costume Designer) has been working in Richmond theatres for over 30 years, and now currently works in the costume shop at Virginia Rep as a Cutter/Draper. Some of her favorite shows she designed for Virginia Rep include Beehive, Forever Plaid, Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End, Miracle on South Division Street, Charitable Sisterhood, Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Boeing Boeing. She has also worked for the Richmond Ballet, Virginia and Utah Shakespeare Festivals, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Matthew Landwehr
Lighting Designer
Matthew Landwehr (Lighting Designer) is a graduate of Minnesota State University – Mankato with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Technology. After serving as the Associate Lighting Designer for Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN and the Lighting Director for the Historic Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, MI, he moved to Richmond to serve at Theatre IV/Barksdale Theatre as Production Electrician and Lighting Designer. After a multi year run as Technical Director for SPARC’s Live Art concert series he now freelances in multiple venues in the Richmond area in addition to taking care of the production management needs of Henrico County’s large events like Juneteenth and Red, White, and Lights.
Jonathan Pratt
Sound Designer/Sound Engineer
Jonathan Pratt, he/him, (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be designing again at Virginia Rep where some of his recent designs include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Satchmo at the Waldorf, On Air, and 9 to 5: The Musical, the latter two winning the RTCC Award for Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical. At the Rep Family Theatre, Jonathan’s favorite shows designed include The Santa Clues and Grace for President. Jonathan also produces, writes, and directs his own audio dramas adaptations of classic literature including Dracula; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; War of the Worlds; Jane Eyre; and Alice in Wonderland. Previously, he was the resident sound and projection designer for Camelot Theatre in Talent Oregon where he designed over 40 shows. In addition to design, Jonathan directed Catch Me If You Can and wrote and directed tribute shows to Stephen Sondheim and Motown.
Donna Warfield
Stage Manager
Donna Warfield, she/her, (Stage Manager) joined Virginia Rep on staff in 2022 and currently serves as Production Associate. Past VA Rep stage management credits include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Misery, 9 to 5, Satchmo at the Waldorf, POTUS, and Gold. Other notable past stage management credits include Jersey Boys (Norwegian Creative Studios), The Nutcracker (Atlanta Ballet – Fox Theatre/Kennedy Center), and Hair (Serenbe Playhouse). Donna would like to thank her partner Ben, her Mom and brothers, and her friends near and far for their endless support.
Raquel Christiansen
Assistant Stage Manager
Daryus Gazder
Deck Crew
Wil Martin
Light Board Operator