Welcome to
Good Character Productions, LLC
President, Executive Producer, and Playwright
Staci J. Schwartz, MD
What's happening with the show?
We are excited to share that during the pandemic, the script for our wonderful show has been revised and expanded! With a new runtime of 55 minutes (increased from 25), and 3 more original songs (bringing the total to 8), the show (originally designed for kids 2 - 8) now appeals to an even broader audience!
Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat: The Musical is written and produced by Staci J. Schwartz, MD, directed by Ben Smallen, and features original music by Liz Filios! We are applying for grants and looking for corporate sponsors be able to bring Goat Magic to schools, religious institutions, community centers, and libraries! If you are interested in booking or supporting our show, please contact Staci at StaciSchwartz7@yahoo.com
Thank you for helping us to teach kids to be kind, empathetic, and inclusive in the City of Brotherly Love (& Sisterly Affection)! Please donate today by clicking on the button below!
About the Play
Billy's parents and teachers are at their wits' end! No matter what they do, they just can't stop this young Bully Goat from picking on the other kids in his class. Luckily, the Wise Old Goat–a certified Goat Therapist– has a brilliant plan to change Billy's bad behavior. With a little bit of magic dust, some common sense, and his family's support, Billy will learn how his words and actions can affect another goat's insides. Is Billy capable of changing? And what will happen when the magic dust wears off?
Kids will laugh at Billy's antics, sing along with engaging original music, and interact with our silly and talented cast--all while learning about friendship, empathy, and how to stand up for themselves and each other!
Chosen as one of the top picks for the 2019 Philadelphia Fringe Festival by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Phindie, and WHYY, as well as featured in the Chestnut Hill Local and the Jewish Exponent.
Who's Who in the Cast and Crew
STACI SCHWARTZ, MD (Playwright/Executive Producer) is a physician, author, and educational consultant for children’s bullying prevention. For the past 20 years, she has performed interactive readings and bullying prevention workshops for children in grades K–4 in elementary schools. She has also facilitated workshops for educators about teaching empathy and resilience in the classroom and has conducted workshops for parents about guiding kids to form positive friendships and avoid bullying.
BEN SMALLEN (Director) (MA, Villanova; BFA, Syracuse) has been working as a theatre artist in Philadelphia since 2002. Recent productions include: Lockhardt (Premiere, 2018 PhillyFringe), and the World premiere musical United at the historic Betsy Ross House (2017 Philly Fringe). Ben is the founding artistic director of REAL Immersive, dedicated to incubating original immersive and experiential works in Philadelphia. Other companies include: Philadelphia Theatre Company, The Arden Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, 1812 Productions, Act 2 Playhouse, Montgomery Theatre, University of the Arts, University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University and LaSalle University. Ben is the current Board Chair and founding member of Directors Gathering.
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MICHAEL BORTON (Music Director) is a local performer, composer, music director, and educator. He has performed on stage with the Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre, Theatre Horizon, 11th Hour Theatre, Opera Delaware, Central City Opera and other local and national companies. As a pianist, he has performed with Video Games Live - Lost Worlds and Evanescence - Synthesis Tour. He co-wrote and composed Berenstain Bears LIVE - Family Matters, which ran off-Broadway and is currently on national tour. Michael is thrilled to continue working with The Revivalists and their work with immersive theatre.
LIZ FILIOS (Composer) is a Philly-based actor, musician, teaching artist and sound designer. Her musical compositions include soundtracks for The Winter's Tale (Folger Theatre, DC), The Ice Princess (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival), “The Sunny Side Up Show” (PBSKids' Sprout) and An Iliad (Lantern Theatre). Liz teaches at local elementary schools with Arden For All and at the Pennsylvania Theatre Institute at West Chester University. Favorite credits include The Tempest (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Candide (Arden Theatre), Red Velvet (Lantern Theatre), MidSummer (Inis Nua), The Merchant Of Venice (DelShakes), Into The Woods (Theatre Horizon) and “Kit 'N Kate” (the animated series). A BIG thank you to Staci, Ben and Mike for dusting off these old demos and bringing her very first compositions for the theatre to life!
BILLY SANDER (Billy) is a Philadelphia native and recent graduate of the University of the Arts with a major in Acting and a minor in Musical Theater. Billy has worked at Nest Center City for almost three years, teaching classes, leading birthday parties, and running events. UArts credits include Domestic Rubotosis, Spring Equinox 2016, Elementary Spacetime Show and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Regional Credits: Lockhardt (HSC Productions). Infinite thanks go to his colleagues, friends, and family for their constant love and support!
LAURYN MORGAN THOMAS (Gardenia) is thrilled to return to Philadelphia Fringe! Previous credits: United and Lockhardt (Philadelphia Fringe), Pinkalicious (Off Broadway, Vital Theater), Flight School (National Tour, Vital Theater), Can Can (Broadway Theatre of Pitman), Spelling Bee, Nine, Avenue Q, and Lightyears Away From You (Pitt Stages), which she devised and performed as a solo show. Lauryn appeared at the Arden Theatre with the Next Generation Cabaret and will tour this fall with National Theater for Children. Also catch Lauryn at the McCarter Theater in A Christmas Carol. BPhil Theatre Arts, University of Pittsburgh. Love to Thomas Fam and Davis.
SAMANTHA RICCHIUTI (Mrs. Goat) is a Philadelphia-based actor, director and teaching artist. Sam is also the Company Manager for the Bistro Romano Murder Mystery Theatre and the Manager of Marketing and Community Engagement for the Revivalists Experiential Arts Lab (REAL), an emerging immersive theatre company. Recent work includes The Rehoboth Summer Children's Theatre, National Theatre for Children, and The Broadway Theatre of Pitman. Sam would like to thank Ben and Staci for bringing her on to this team. Twitter and Instagram @SamRicchiuti www.samantharicchiuti.com
MADISON CLAUS (Gwen) is so excited to be back at Philly Fringe! Favorite performances include: Skin of Our Teeth and Marie Christine (both UArts, dir. by Taibi Magar), and The Summer in Gossensass (dir. Rick Stoppleworth). Production credits include: Lockhardt (World Premiere, Philly Fringe, Dramaturg and Assistant Director); 2016 and 2017 Equinox Festivals at UArts (Dramaturg). In 2017, she was able to travel to Fringe Fests across Europe with new work Edison by Joshua Logan Walker. www.madisonclaus.com
MITCHELL HANSEN (Godfrey & Mr. Goat) (BFA, Theatre Arts-UArts) is a Philadelphia-based actor, director, podcaster, and producer. Mitchell is a strong-willed and vivacious collaborator with an urge to tell stories that help us uncover what it means to truly be human. With a background in Shakespeare and an affinity for game design, Mitchell brings a heightened sense of play to everything he does. Previous productions include Lockhardt (2018 Fringe at the Arden), Honk! Jr. (Walnut Street Theatre), Twelfth Night (UArts in collaboration with Matt Pfeiffer) and more. He gives special thanks to his family, his partner, and friends; for, without them, none of this would be possible.
PAUL HARROLD (Wise Old Goat) is delighted to be unleashing his inner billy goat! Recent credits include the title role in Bob: A Life in Five Acts (Azuka Theatre), The Witch of Edmonton (Rev Theatre Co.) Once (u/s, Arden Theatre), The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Valentine), Measure for Measure (Angelo), and Love and Information at Temple University. Paul is a recent graduate of Temple's Theatre/Acting program and a proud native of Lancaster County. At times, you can catch him pickin' strings in his folk band, Paul Harrold and the Winston Churchills. Much love.
LYNNE SMILOW (Producer) is an Educational Consultant & Media Producer who has facilitated child assault prevention workshops in schools for children in Pre-K - 8th grade. Lynne spent her earlier years producing award winning educational films and curricula in New York City. Film topics included Aids prevention for teenagers, child sexual assault, teen pregnancy truancy and domestic violence. After working in media, Lynne transitioned to early childhood education and was a lead, teacher and drama specialist. She has experience teaching deaf and hearing-impaired children, as well as students on the autism spectrum. Lynne is also a proud winner of The New Yorker caption contest.
JAMIE SCHWARTZ (Associate Producer/Digital Designer/ Sound Engineer) is a Philadelphia-based digital designer, animator, and illustrator. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, where she majored in Digital Media Design and minored in Fine Arts. She is so excited to be working on the marketing materials and the sound design for this production to help bring one of her favorite children’s books to life!
GRIFFIN (Stunt Goat) is a talented and easygoing performer. A graduate of the FETA Stunt School of North America, Griffin has experience in physical comedy and dangerous action sequences. Recent performances include Of Goats & Men, Goatklhoma!, and Breaking Baaaaad. He lives with his wife and kids on a farm near Philadelphia, PA.
We are looking for individual and company sponsors to help support production costs for Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat: The Musical!
Give back to your community by standing up for bullying prevention and supporting children's theater–while helping hundreds of kids in the City of Brotherly Love learn about the importance of treating one another with kindness and respect!
(You will be redirected to the Fractured Atlas website to make your tax deductible* contribution)
We Need Your Support!
*"Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat: The Musical” is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of “Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat: The Musical” must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law."