DECLARATION PROGRAM

The Cast of Declaration

and

 The Hermitage

Present

Declaration

August 1, 2026, at 3pm & 7pm

At the Hermitage

A musical based on the Declaration of Independence

adapted by Frank Farrell

and Lynn Manuell & Ben Masterton

Directed by Lynn Manuell

Original Music by Ben Masterton

Musical Director – Lisa Plasse

Sound Operator – Lisa Dahlburg

Costume Dresser - Joyleen Quesada

ACTING ENSEMBLE

Ben Archer MacMillan

Jordyn Grier-Parham

Amanda Nummy

Shayla Quesada

Micaela Ramirez

Rosario Rodrigues

WHO’S WHO IN  DECLARATION

BEN ARCHER MACMILLAN (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his debut at the Hermitage in Declaration. A cum laude graduate from Northern Valley Old Tappan and of Montclair State University with a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in Film and Television, Ben has been making his return to acting since the end of 2025. This is his second consecutive role in community theater following The One Act-Summer Solstice as Sherlock Holmes in Montville, NJ. Ben's past shows prior to this include A Chorus Line (NVOT 2021), The COVID Project (NVOT 2020), and Into the Woods (NVOT 2020) just to name a few. Ben gives kind regards to his fellow castmates, directors, and ever supportive family who has guided him no matter what.

LISA DAHLBORG (Sound Operator) was in First Flight's first performance in May 2018, a staged reading of Maxwell Anderson's play Valley Forge at the Hermitage. She runs sound for Players Guild of Leonia and the Bergen County Players. She is a talented playwright. She and Frank Farrell were in plays with the New Players Company at Ridgewood High School back in the late 1970s. Please welcome Lisa Dahlborg!

FRANK FARRELL (Adaptor & Artistic Director of the First Flight Theatre Company) in August 2025 he directed Little Jewel at the Theatre for the New City in NYC.  In 2024 he co-produced and directed Walt Kelly’s Songs of the Pogo as part of the New York City Fringe Festival, produced Hamlet on the Run at the Tank Theater and co-produced and directed Tongs and Bones Shakespeare at the Theater for the New City, he directed Little Women, Poe: An Evening of Mystery and the Macabre and Dickens Presents A Christmas Carol for the Hermitage in New Jersey.  In 2023 Frank produced and directed Shakespeare’s Ladies at Tea and Shakespeare’s Deaths as part of the Little Shakespeare Festival in NYC. He was an actor in Chicago for 40 years receiving four Joseph Jefferson acting nominations and returned to NYC and New Jersey in 2016. While in Chicago he directed and produced plays for the Free Shakespeare Theatre Company, Temporary Theatre, Shakespeare’s Herd, Steppenwolf Theater, Raven Theatre, Equity Library Theater Chicago, the North Lakeside Players, Citadel Theater, and Theatre-Hikes. Frank has formed eight theater companies including the Free Shakespeare Theatre Company (Chicago’s first year-round Shakespeare theatre company), Theatre-Hikes, the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company in Grand Haven, Michigan and in 2019 the First Flight Theatre Company. For FFTC he directed and produced 2022’s production of Maxwell Anderson’s play Valley Forge.  Frank has re-published six plays by Anderson from the 1920s: What Price Glory, First Flight, The Buccaneer, Outside Looking In, Gods of the Lightning and Sea-Wife all available at Amazon.com.

JORDYN GRIER-PARHAM (Ensemble) is a proud Bergen Community College alumni and is currently a senior Music Industry major at Rowan University. Declaration marks her 11th theatrical production, continuing a journey that reflects both her passion for the performing arts and her dedication to storytelling. Her previous stage credits include Doubt: A Parable (her tenth production), And the World Goes ’Round, With Faith/Coming to Jones Road, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Laramie Project, and Man of La Mancha. Beyond the stage, Jordyn is a gifted singer-songwriter who has been captivating audiences throughout the Tri-State area since the age of five. Her love for music and theater continues to inspire her as she embraces every opportunity to grow as an artist while pursuing a career in the music industry. Jordyn is incredibly honored and grateful to be part of this production and extends her heartfelt appreciation to the cast, crew, and the entire First Flight Theatre Company for creating an unforgettable experience. She is especially thankful to her family and friends for their unwavering love, encouragement, and support, and for faithfully cheering her on at every performance throughout the years. Words to live by: “Follow your dreams and know your worth.”

LYNN MANUELL (Director, Adaptor) began her career in Park Forest Illinois at The Illinois Theatre Center. She was featured as Mama in High Button Shoes, Hedy La Rue in How to Succeed and Celia in As You Like It as well as many other productions. She trained at Steppenwolf Theatre, The Illinois Theatre Center, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and in London with Cleo Laine's Wavendon Allmusic Program. Lynn has appeared in theatre and cabaret in Chicago, London and New York and in over a hundred shows. She was in Andrew Lloyd Webber Unplugged, Remember Me from Holy Redeemer High. Don't Cry Out Loud, She was on the board and a director and actress for FACT Theatre where she was featured in If The Pink Pump Fits (Martha) UFF'DA (Pink Hat Lady, A Red Umbrella in the Snow (Miss Lovely) Hansel and Gretel Christmas (Betty) and Treasure among others. She appeared in Ron Pallilo's The Lost Boy, and was featured in My DADDY IS THE BIGGEST STAGE MOTHER IN TEXAS as Aunt Faye. She has worked with Julia Genoveva Productions as Mother in The Twelve Chairs, Elaine in Elaine, Kitty in The Lost Virginity Tour, Lorraine in Cafeticto or Dreams and numerous short play readings. She has worked with Quarentine Players as Ruth in Blythe Spirit, Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, Hannah in Arcadia and others. She has worked with First Flight Productions in several plays by Maxwell Anderson and as The Witch in The Scarecrow and Marme in Little Women at The Hermitage. She runs a theatre arts program at PS 811@149 and is on the board of TOUCHING HUMANITY, an organization that provides theatre classes for special needs students

BENJAMIN MASTERTON (Composer, Adaptor) has composed and arranged music for dozens of productions in Chicago, Florida, New York, and of course, Idaho.  With Frank Farrell Productions, Ben has composed music and designed sound in New Jersey for A Christmas Carol: The Musical, Night of the Living Dead, and musicalized an evening of the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. Frank and Ben also produced the Songs of the Pogo franchise, including the Songs of the Pogo Podcast, the film, and the theatrical stage show in New York City.  Ben is currently composing music for the short film “Callahan’s Hour”. Ben has written over a hundred and ninety songs and currently resides in Gainesville, Florida.

AMANDA NUMMY (Ensemble)

LISA PLASSE (Musical Director) is the owner and director of From The Top Music Studio in Midland Park, NJ which offers instrumental and vocal lessons and teaches flute and voice lessons as well. Lisa received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from William Paterson University, with a concentration in flute and voice. She also holds a Masters degree in Education Administration and Supervision from Montclair State University. She has over 30 years of teaching experience working with students of all ages and levels including special education. Her credits include applied vocal lessons instructor at Columbia University, performances with Onstage Inc., several local community bands and church organizations, numerous local pit orchestras and the Ridgewood Concert Band. Lisa served as both Vice-President and President of the Board of Trustees of the Ridgewood Concert Band and during her presidency the band was awarded The Sudler Silver Scroll Award. She has produced and directed many musicals, theater workshops, summer workshops and concert performances. Lisa has served as President of The Ridgewood Friends of Music and continues to serve on the board. She is a member of the Da Capo Trio and continues to perform in the tri-state area. She is also a member of the International Association of Women and has appeared as a speaker in their Fireside Chat Series. Most recently, Lisa was inducted as an Honorary Member of the Eta Delta Chapter, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Incorporated through Howard University. She is currently President of the Ridgewood Guild and is the music director for the Ridgewood High School Jamboree! She has always had a passion for writing and has written many articles for local newspapers and magazines including Downtown Ridgewood. Now as an empty nester, she has begun her second act as a published author. She is thrilled to have published a parenting book and her first children’s book, Marisela Discovers Music the first of a 5- part series and is currently working on book 2 due to be released this fall. Lisa resides in Ridgewood, NJ with her husband Michel and they have four adult children Nick, Ashley, Amanda and Brian.

SHAYLA QUESADA (Ensemble) is 14 years old and is thrilled to be part of this production. She previously performed in the ensemble of her high school’s production of In the Heights, where she discovered an even greater love for the stage. When she’s not singing or acting, Shayla enjoys watching anime, playing hockey, and spending quality time with her family. Although she dreams of one day becoming a doctor, she also hopes to continue pursuing her passion for the performing arts. Shayla would like to thank her family and friends for their endless love, encouragement, and support.

JOYLEEN QUESADA (Costume Dresser) proudly works for the Newark Public Schools and is the devoted mother of Shayla and Rosario. A hardworking, determined, and resilient woman, Joyleen has faced life’s challenges with unwavering strength and grace. Her greatest accomplishment, however, is being a loving mother to the two incredible girls she proudly calls her greatest creations. She enjoys singing, dancing, and making memories with her daughters, who continue to inspire her every day. Joyleen is honored to support this production behind the scenes and hopes you enjoy the show.  

MICAELA RAMIREZ (Ensemble)

ROSARIO RODRIGUES (Ensemble) is an energetic and spirited 8-year-old who lights up every room she enters. Full of personality, confidence, and heart, Rosario loves making people smile and is often the center of attention. She enjoys singing, dancing, playing Roblox, and staying active through basketball and hockey, just like her big sister. Above all, Rosario loves deeply and brings that same joy, kindness, and enthusiasm to the stage. She is excited to be part of this production and hopes you enjoy the show! 

The Friends of the Hermitage, Inc., in Ho-Ho-Kus, Bergen County, New Jersey, was organized in 1972 as a 501(c)(3) corporation to preserve and restore The Hermitage and provide programming at the site. The Friends manages the property as an historic house museum under a lease agreement with the State of New Jersey. Over the course of its forty-five-year history, the Friends has grown from a small, fledgling group working to save The Hermitage to a broad-based educational organization working to become a center for history education. The Hermitage is a National Historic Monument.

Little Women at the Hermitage

Jennifer Kim, Stella Berrettini, Lynn Manuell, Alexa Elmy, and Reilly Hacker as they appeared in First Flight Theatre Company’s outdoor 2023 production of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women at the Hermitage

Valley Forge at the Hermitage

Richard Width, Zander Kirby and Karen Eterovich as they appeared in the First Flight Theatre Company’s outdoor production of Maxwell Anderson’s play Valley Forge in 2022

FIRST FLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY is a not-for-profit founded by Frank Farrell in 2018 devoted to presenting the plays of 20th century American playwright Maxwell Anderson as well as other playwrights who instill poetry in their writing. The company has performed live staged readings of Anderson’s plays in New Jersey, New York City and Chicago including Valley Forge, Elizabeth the Queen, Mary of Scotland, Sea-Wife, The Masque of Queens, White Desert, The Eve of St. Mark, Saturday’s Children and What Price Glory. During the pandemic First Flight presented play readings on Zoom for the public. Post pandemic the company presented at The Hermitage in New Jersey outdoor productions of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Maxwell Anderson’s Valley Forge. For Earth Day in 2023 the First Flight Theatre Company presented streaming performances of In the Garden of Live Flowers, a play about Rachel Carson, which went on to be a winner at the Green Academy Award Film Festival. That same year it presented the double bill Shakespeare’s Ladies at Tea and Shakespeare’s Deaths as part of FRIGID’s Little Shakespeare Festival in New York City. In October of that year, it presented the one-woman show Mina based on Dracula at the Hermitage and at the UNDER St. Mark’s Theater in New Tork City. In 2025 & 2024 at the Hermitage FFTC presented Little Women, Poe: An Evening of Mystery and the Macabre, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Night of the Living Dead, and Dickens Presents A Christmas Carol (both years). In addition, the company and the Instant Shakespeare Company joined forces presenting play readings at New York City’s various public libraries of Anderson’s White Desert, Sea-Wife and his 1924 play What Price Glory. First Flight recently re-published Maxwell Anderson’s plays What Price Glory, First Flight, The Buccaneer, Outside Looking In, Gods of the Lightning and Sea-Wife all available at Amazon.com.

is devoted to presenting the plays of 20th century American playwright Maxwell Anderson as well as other playwrights who instill poetry in their writing.

For more about First Flight visit www.firstflighttheatreco.com

Email: firstflight2018@gmail.com

SPECIAL THANKS: The Hermitage, Christine Blaylock and Julie Zier, the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood

FIRST FLIGHT’S 2025 DONORS: Pamela Coombe, Frank Farrell, Marilyn Green, Ben Masterton, Circus-Szalewski, Marla Weeg, Jack Zerbe

First Flight Theatre Company © 2026