THE BAND
"Auntie Em and The Kansas Quartet"
 

Emily Awkerman - Band Leader and Keyboard

Registered Nurse by day, musician by night. Emily started playing piano in the 2nd grade and has been involved in musical theater and choral accompaniment ever since. She has played for such shows as The Sound of Music, Dido and Anaeus, West Side Story, Side by Side by Sondheim, and most recently, the PPCT productions of Working and Man of La Mancha. Emily also plays oboe in Women of Note, a San Diego community concert band dedicated to promoting women's involvement in music.

Emily would like to give special thanks to Mary Bright of Bright Voices for use of her fabulous studio for rehearsals, and also to Glen Burford for again generously donating his keyboard for the show. And thanks to JAM for "tolerating" 6 weeks of my MIA status!
   
   

David Farlow - Guitar

David is happy to return for another "Tony" production. He performed in the band, playing guitar, two years ago in the original "Tony" show, Kiss Me, Tony...his first performance in a loooong time. He's been hooked ever since and is grateful to Patio for giving him the opportunity to get involved with other aspects of theatre including singing, acting, sound design (for which he won an Aubrey Award for Patio's production of Working), production and web design. He was last seen in Patio's production of Showdown. David thanks his wife, Chris, for letting him play at the theatre without complaining (too much), his daughter, Melissa who got him started in theatre by setting a good example and Deborah Zimmer for continually challenging him with outrageous requests.
   
   

Tim Knorr - Bass Guitar

After graduating from the Julliard School of Music, Tim received special tutoring from Charles Mingus and Billy Sheehan. He's played with such prestigious bands as the Dave Brubeck Quartet, The Beatles, Alabama, Metallica and Lawrence Welk. After one too many "mornings after" with no recollection of what happened the night before, Tim took a sabbatical in Tibet, became an adept at spiritual bass playing and joined a commune upon returning to the US. He wishes to thank his three wives and 17 children for supporting him in his theatrical endeavors. Tim is 19 years old.
   
   

Ray Sacco - Trumpet

Ray learned to play trumpet in the Escondido Public School System. He played 3rd grade through Escondido High School and has participated in Palomar College Concert Band, Big Band Jazz band, Orchestra and several Brass Ensembles. Ray was a member of San Diego State College Marching Band and Concert Band. He's played in local Jazz and Dixieland Bands and played trumpet in the Patio Playhouse production of Funny Girl. He currently does solo work and plays in several local brass groups.

 
   
   

Dan Townsend - Percussion

This is Dan's fifth musical at Patio. His only onstage appearance to date has been as the back end of a camel in Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You, also at Patio. In real life, Dan is a software consultant and enjoys scouting estate sales for jazz records to add to his collection. He loves to spend time with his family, including his beautiful three-year-old daughter, Paige.