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BROADWAY BEARS
CAST BIOS
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ANDY MANGELS (founder)
Andy Mangels has performed in Oregon with Stumptown Stages in THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS MUSICAL, JANE Theatre in HULLABALOO: THE LITTLE FRANKENSTEIN, Coho Theatre in MRS CALIFORNIA and STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and on the Lakewood Theatre stage in THE SECRET GARDEN, has performed in fundraising events for the past two-and-a-half decades in Portland, and has previous credits in Montana theatres including BRIGADOON, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS and Ira Levine's pscyho-thriller VERONICA'S ROOM. He has appeared in numerous Hollywood documentaries for PBS, E!, Warner Bros. and others, hosted DVD commentaries, and worked as an extra and featured actor on TV shows and films, including LEVERAGE and GRIMM. He is a USA Today best-selling author and co-author of over twenty fiction and nonfiction books -- including STAR TREK and STAR WARS tomes -- and he scripted, directed, and produced award-winning work for over forty DVD documentaries. His most recent stage appearances were in Portland Musical Theatre Company's THE SENSATION SIXTIES: A MUSICAL REVUE and their world premiere musical JEAN AND THE WONDERFUL IDEA MACHINE, and in BattleGround Productions' THE CHRISTMAS CASE: A LADY BRASS MYSTERY!
Favorite Musical: THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Favorite Musical Composer: Frank Wildhorn
www.AndyMangels.com and Andy's Music on SoundCloud
DONNIE VECCHIONE
Born in Los Angeles, Donnie comes to the Broadway Bears after living in the Portland area for just a year. He has received numerous accolades from several California theater groups and is an accomplished actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, and director. Previous credits include regional/professional productions of INTO THE WOODS, PHANTOM, THE MAN OF LA MANCHA, THE WIZARD OF OZ, and the world premiere of the White Rose production of JANE EYRE, THE MUSICAL. He loves bowling, is an avid Disney fan, and is not ashamed to admit that he is a middle-aged GLEEk. , Donnie was also in the 2016 Stumptown Stages production of JEKYLL & HYDE, the 2017 Stumptown Stages production of Ken Hill's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and the 2017 & 2018 & 2019 Stumptown Stages productions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
Favorite Musical: WICKED - Favorite Musical Composer: Jule Stein
LANDON SHIMEK
Landon’s musical inspiration is tied to a deep desire to give back to the world. He is known for his easy-going personality, his love for people, and his love for the Queer community. Landon began playing piano and guitar at age eight. In 2012, Landon joined the Seattle Men’s Chorus, followed by singing with the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus from 2014 to 2019. In 2016, Landon helped start Transpose PDX, a local mixed-voice chorus, and in 2018, founded The Northwest Queer Chorus. Landon is currently the Executive Director of the mixed-voice all-accessible chorus, Pacific Northwest Rainbowbility Chorus. As a trans man, Landon’s vision is to use musical excellence as a bridge for positive interactions between Queer and non-Queer identified communities.
Favorite Musical: RENT - Favorite Musical Composer: Stephen Schwartz
JERMAINE "JERONIMO" THOMAS
CEO and founder of Artiste Entertainment, Jeronimo is an Indie-R&B recording artist, songwriter, producer/engineer and entrepreneur based out of Phoenix, Arizona. A recent graduate from Northern Arizona University, Jermaine has been a musician since childhood where he began singing in church choirs at the age of eight and began his theatre journey as a teen where he became a State Student Officer of the Arizona Thespian Society. While extending his education in classical training, Jeronimo has since been apart of over 20 vocal ensembles, won state-wide vocal competitions and self-produced ‘Jermaine EP’, a mini album that is composed of a unique sound influenced by R&B, Hip-Hop, Electronica, Jazz, Pop, Folk, and Classical genres. An artist with a flare for catchy hooks and melodic lines, this soulful crooner has moved to Portland where he has rejoined the theatre after an 11 year hiatus where he has been casted for multiple roles, has curated his own artist showcase (Artiste Entertainment Presents: Indie As They Come), starred in music videos, is self-producing a full length album “11:11” (along with an album release party/show) which is being released 11/11/2022 and is actively booking shows as an independent artist, all within 2 years!
Favorite Musical: YOUR'E A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN - Favorite Musical Composer: Qunicy Jones
www.JermaineEnt.com and Jermaine's Music on SoundCloud and Jermaine's Linktree
JUAN POLANCO
Juan Polanco Is a vocal performance graduate from Sam Houston State University. He has stared in several different Opera roles such as Belmonte in Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio”, Paolino in Cimarosa’s “The Secret Marriage” Eisenstein in “Die Flerdermaus”, and Tamino in “Die Zauberflöte”, as well as playing ensemble aprts in Houston Grand Opera.he was the world premiere Prince Cacajuate in a bilingual version of RAPUNZEL made for the childrens opera. He was a singer with Houston Grand Opera’s Opera to GO! Outreach program, as well as Houston Grand Opera’s Main stage Otello, and The Ring cycle to name a few. He has also played part in musicals, JEKYLL & HYDE as Simon Stride and John the Baptist/Judas in GODSPELL to name a few. Juan plans on going to graduate school in fall of 2023 at PSU in Speech Pathology and Pedagogy.
Favorite Musical: SWEENEY TODD - Favorite Musical Composer: Stephen Sondheim
BROADWAY BEARS are:
Andy Mangels - Donnie Vecchione - Jermaine "Jeronimo" Thomas - Juan Polanco - Landon Shimek
with Special Guest Performers from Portland's Performance Elite:
Howard Neal - Laurie Kash - Rebecca Raccinelli - Gabi Marcus
WELCOME TO THE SIXTIES
A Concert Of Groovy Hits!
Logo by Steven Barker. Photography by Andres Alcala and Andy Mangels. Event and Website produced by Andy Mangels.
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