Flashback Theater Co. (FbTC), along with Title Sponsor Midland Farms Fuel and Convenience, is proud to present a live production of The American Parade by Steve Cleberg this July at Joe Ford Amphitheater at Rocky Hollow Park. Featuring a cast of local actors, audiences will recognize several faces as they enjoy an evening of live outdoor theater in downtown Somerset. 

In a twist on a world pandemic, a war, and social justice protests, The American Parade holds a mirror to reality with a cast of characters that appear in daily life. A painter, an actress, a manager, a critic, an activist, and a young man in love make up many of the characters played by Brian Herrmann, Tyler Fish, Bailey Patterson, Tiffany Warren, Steven Wilhelm, Keifer Adkins, Alexia Van Noy, Martha Pratt and Stephanie Phillipi. Directed by Sommer Schoch, The American Parade runs July 21-31, 2022 with a Junior cast performance on July 31 at Joe Ford Amphitheater in Rocky Hollow Park.

Set in 1918 New York City, The American Parade opens in a beautiful drawing room on two men waiting for their host’s arrival. Allen (played by Brian Herrmann) and Phillip (played by Tyler Fish) discuss Allen’s latest work: a painting of a soldier crying in the trenches. Allen, a war veteran, defends his art as a showcase of the truth, while Phillip sees the torment that the world doesn’t want to think about during the wartime. The arrival of Lillian, a Broadway theater manager played by Tiffany Warren, brings on more trouble for Allen as his brash attitude offends her. Phillip follows after Lillian’s exit to save face and hopefully bring her back to the party. Enter host Celine Waverly (played by Bailey Patterson), a young actress with a knack for stirring the pot, who holds the party to invite her many suitors in an attempt to receive as much praise as possible.

Brian Herrmann discovered his nascent love of theater with character sheets and dice. Unfortunately, after a couple college plays and a would-be indie film, life got in the way and he wasn’t able to grow that love further. Flashback has given him the opportunity to return to that love, and he’s excited to make his Flashback Debut with The American Parade.

Tyler Fish is excited to return to the stage after a 10 year hiatus. Previous stage and film roles at SCC include Spirits (Gabriel), 2012 Readers Theatre (Prince Charming), The Choices We Make (Joshua Thompson), and The Go-Betweens (Policeman/Gypsy).

Tiffany Warren is a recent Theatre BA graduate from Northern Kentucky University. At NKU, she was in the Yes! Festival show, Falstaff and the Endless Machine (Quick). At Flashback, she has been in shows such as The Dollmaker (Max) and The Lady’s Not For Burning (Tappercoom). She hopes to find her lasting career in theater.

Bailey Patterson could not be happier to return to her theater home for The American Parade! She is a rising junior at the University of Kentucky, majoring in both Theatre and Disability Studies. Bailey has been involved with Flashback since 2016, and recalls fondly such roles as Sheri in American Hero, Lydia in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, and Alizon in The Lady’s not for Burning. 

Barbara, played by Stephanie Phillipi, announces that other guests arrive, including: Tony Acosta (played by Keifer Adkins), an older Broadway theater manager with a certain gravity about him; Sammy Hall (played by Steven Wilhelm), a young actor with an affinity for Celine; Effie Shannon (played by Alexia Van Noy), Celine’s cousin and fellow actor; and Dottie Porter (played by Martha Pratt), a cynical theater reviewer. Just as tension between several strong personalities comes to a peak, the arrival of the police to confiscate Allen’s paintings brings the party to a dramatic and abrupt end. All but Sammy and Tony leave to quell the situation.

Steffanie Phillippi is excited to be returning for her second show at Flashback. Her previous role was as Marie in Boats Against the Current in 2019. She is in love with the arts in all forms. Steffanie is a newborn hearing tech at LCRH , homeschools her 3 children, and in her spare time she paints and takes dance lessons. 

Keifer Adkins currently serves as Flashback’s Community Development Coordinator and is a recent graduate of the 2022 Leadership KY Elevate program. He received two Bachelor’s degrees in history and theater at Western Kentucky University. His acting credits span many years, noted credits include Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (Rosencrantz), The Elephant Man (John Merrick), True West (Lee), and Wait Until Dark (Harry Roat).

Steven Wilhelm is a local musician in love with all forms of art. Though this is his second time acting, he is hopeful that it will lead to many new and exciting opportunities. This is Steven’s second show at Flashback Theater Co., he recently played Jesus in Mary: Her Story.

Alexia Van Noy is an incoming freshman at Somerset Community College and ready to take on the world. She loves everything about music and was involved with the Chamber Choir at Southwestern High School. She studies with Amanda Balltrip at Balltrip Voice Studio. She was recently seen as the understudy for Young Mary in Mary: Her Story.

Martha Pratt’s FbTC credits include: Mary: Her Story (Magdalene/Ensemble), The Mousetrap (Wren), Every Christmas Story Ever Told…. And Then Some! (Martha), All Together Now! (Soloist), The Dollmaker (Gertie), The Lady’s Not for Burning (Margaret), and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Claudius). She has also appeared at Somerset Community College and Good Neighbors Theatre in Byrdstown, Tennessee.

As “everyone else is off getting arrested,” Sammy and Tony engage in a friendly game of checkers. With each of them confessing their affections for Celine, they decide to make a bet on who will woo her first. Their negotiations end at the arrival of Alice Waverly (also played by Martha Pratt), Celine’s older, suffragette sister. Letters and miscommunications and art and war round out this tale in unimaginable ways.

The American Parade is directed by the Producing Artistic Director, Sommer Schoch, assisted by Thomas Alvey. Renate Dopp, Heather Graves, Trey Bray and Gabe Nicholson make up the stage management team.

Sommer Schoch is the founder and Producing Artistic Director at FbTC. She studied Theatre & Entrepreneurship at Northern Kentucky University before pursuing a dual Master’s degree in Arts Administration and Business Administration at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. Her directing credits include many FbTC shows, such as The Dollmaker, Rosies: The Women Who Riveted the Nation, and Pirates of Penzance.

Thomas Alvey currently serves as Flashback’s Marketing Coordinator. Typically an actor, Thomas is excited to be making their directing debut as Assistant Director. BA Theatre Arts, MFA Writing for the Screen and Stage. Check out Acting Up! With Thomas Alvey at @actingup_withalvey. @thethomasalvey

Renate Dopp’s FBTC stage management: The Mousetrap, Every Christmas Story Ever Told….And Then Some (2016 and 2021),  All Together Now!, The Lady’s Not For Burning, The Dollmaker, audio drama Camp Anomaly, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.  Previous FBTC performances include Mary: Her Story, All Together Now! and season announcement cabarets, among many others!

Heather Graves is a local Radiologic Technologist and art school dropout who clings to her lost hopes and dreams by stage-managing progressively more professional productions.  Beginning at the elementary school level, Heather now works on productions at the college and local theater level.  Heather has a family that tolerates her well. She was recently the stage manager for Mary: Her Story at FbTC.

Trey Bray is a masterful addition to Flashback sound design, but has found himself taking the reins backstage. FbTC Assistant Stage Management: Mary: Her Story; Sound Design: The Mousetrap, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some), The Lady’s Not For Burning, and The Dollmaker. You might’ve also seen him as an actor last season in The Lady’s Not for Burning or at Somerset Community College!

Gabe Nicholson was the Stage Manager in the Somerset High School production of The Addams Family and is currently Junior Stage Manager of Flashback’s The American Parade. He interns at Flashback during the week.

Junior Cast includes Maddie Baxley, Taylor Blevins, Shelby Holmes, Rylee Moore, Ian Muse, Gunner Richardson, Kendall Roberts, Alexia Van Noy and Emma Wilson.

Dates and Times

Thursday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 31 at 6:00 p.m.*

*Denotes junior cast performance

Ticket Prices

Pay what you can, or choose a suggested ticket price:
$20 – Our tickets typically cost $20 to cover our regular production costs.
$15 – This is the typical price of a student ticket for a Flashback production.
$5 – A $5 donation is often suggested for Flashback improv events.

Tickets may be purchased online (www.flashbacktheater.co/events), in person at 400 East Mt. Vernon St, Somerset, KY 42501, Tuesday through Friday 11-5, or be reserved in advance by calling the box office at (888) 394-FbTC. Advance ticket sales end online 2 hours prior to showtime. We accept all major credit cards. Exchanges may be made at no cost up to 24 hours prior to the ticketed performance by calling the box office.

This event is an outdoor event and will be subject to weather. If a cancellation occurs due to weather, you can present your ticket for any following performance and it will be honored. Alternatively, you can request your ticket to be converted to a donation or refunded by calling the box office during regular box office hours.

FbTC is thankful for all sponsors and would like to recognize 2021-22 Season Spotlight  

Sponsors: ABA, LLC, The City of Somerset, M&W Printing, and Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet and Footlight Sponsors: David Daring Rentals and SPEDA for their continued support of FbTC’s production of theater that speaks to the soul.  This production is brought to you in partnership with Title Sponsor: Midland Farms Fuel and Convenience Artist Sponsors: Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital Residency Programs, Somerset Community College, EHA CPAs, Joy & Mark Brenzel.