Tag Archive for: Brian Sanford

You are here: / Brian Sanford

Posts

ADKTaste: Ring of Fire Brings Johnny Cash’s American Songbook to an Adirondack Train Station

Matt Woodward, Hannah Taylor, Joey Nuhfer, Brian Sanford, and Tommy Bergeron in RING OF FIRE. (Official Show Photography by Betsy Bacot)

“Across the Adirondacks, historic buildings increasingly do double duty as cultural destinations, while travelers are looking beyond marquee attractions for experiences that feel connected to the places they visit.

Depot Theatre manages both without trying particularly hard: it is a professional theater inside a working Amtrak station in a small Lake Champlain town.

And then there is Johnny Cash, whose appeal seems remarkably immune to generational expiration dates. […]

Johnny Cash famously sang about hearing a train coming. At Depot Theatre, audiences might actually hear one. The theater occupies Westport’s working Amtrak station, making Ring of Fire one of those rare productions where passing railroad noise could reasonably be considered atmosphere rather than interruption.

The scale matters, too. This is not a distant arena version of Johnny Cash. Depot Theatre’s intimacy puts audiences close to the performers and the live music, an advantage for a show built around songs whose power tends to increase as the distance between singer and listener decreases.”

Thank you to ADK Taste for doing a feature on the RING OF FIRE at the Depot Theatre, closing out our summer season this year. Read the full article here.

Meet the Depot Theatre’s Cast of RING OF FIRE

The final production of our 2026 Main Stage season brings the extraordinary music of Johnny Cash to the Depot Theatre with five actor-musicians and more than two dozen songs that helped define an American musical legend.

Returning to direct and choreograph is Michael Santora, who helmed last summer’s Million Dollar Quartet.

The company features Hannah Taylor as Trenna, Tommy Bergeron as Jason, Joey Nuhfer as Mark, Matt Woodward as David, and Brian Sanford as both Eddie and as the music director. Evan Raines steps into the role of David for the final weekend.

Audiences may remember Brian from last summer’s Million Dollar Quartet, where he played Johnny Cash. Together, this company brings credits from national tours, Off-Broadway and regional theatres across the country, along with the musicianship at the heart of Ring of Fire.

From “I Walk the Line” and “Folsom Prison Blues” to “A Boy Named Sue,” “Jackson,” and, of course, “Ring of Fire,” the show travels through love, faith, family, struggle, and redemption through the music Johnny Cash made unforgettable.

Twelve performances run August 20–September 6.

With several performances already sold out, Ring of Fire is shaping up to be a remarkable finale to our 2026 Main Stage season. If you’re hoping to join us, we recommend reserving your seats soon!

🎟 depottheatre.org/tickets

RING OF FIRE
The Music of Johnny Cash
Created by RICHARD MALTBY, JR.
Conceived by WILLIAM MEADE
Adapted from the Broadway Production by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Jason Edwards
Orchestrations by Steven Bishop and Jeff Lisenby
Additional arrangements by David Abbinanti

RING OF FIRE is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

Depot Theatre Announces Cast for Broadway Mega-Hit MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

Electrifying Musical Inspired by the Greatest Jam Session in Rock ’n’ Roll History Hits the Depot Theatre Stage August 2025

Westport, NY — The Depot Theatre, a professional Equity theatre located in the Adirondacks, is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the exhilarating jukebox musical inspired by the legendary 1956 recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.

The production, directed and choreographed by Michael Santora, features more than 20 rock ’n’ roll hits performed live on stage—including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Hound Dog.”

The cast features a powerhouse lineup of actor-musicians:

  • Jonathan Acorn (Jerry Lee Lewis / Music Director) comes in hot  — taking on the dual role of front man and Music Director. He spent three years rocking Million Dollar Quartet across the globe with Norwegian Cruise Line and helped ignite the world premiere of Million Dollar Quartet Christmas.
  • Sage Spiker (Elvis Presley) reprises the King for the sixth time, with credits including Kinky Boots and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
  • Cason Day (Carl Perkins) returns to the role with rockabilly flair, having played it five times prior alongside notable turns in Ring of Fire and Little Shop of Horrors.
  • Brian Sanford (Johnny Cash) brings the Man in Black to life following acclaimed performances in Branson and New England.
  • Jonathan Hadley (Sam Phillips) returns to the Depot stage, where he previously starred in The 39 Steps and served as Interim Producing Director. Broadway audiences know him from Jersey Boys.
  • Addison Schuh (Dyanne) rejoins the Depot following her turn in Pump Boys and Dinettes, with recent credits including Into the Woods and Phantom.
  • Jane Boxall (Fluke – drums) is a globally touring percussionist with a doctorate in performance and a reputation for inspired musicality.
  • Chris Shacklett (Jay Perkins – bass) is a North Country favorite, musician, and theatre veteran known for his dynamic stage presence and musical versatility.

Director Michael Santora has performed MDQ over 300 times in various productions around the country as Sam Phillips and brings deep insight and passion to the story. His directing credits span Shakespeare to jukebox hits, from Hamlet to Forever Plaid.

The production is stage-managed by Lydya Felix, who returns to the Depot Theatre after working on Spamalot, End Days, and What the Constitution Means to Me.  

“Musical Fireworks!” – Associated Press

“Wildly Entertaining” – Hollywood Reporter

“Soul-stirring, good-time classic with a surprising amount of grit and soul!” – Chicago Tribune

TICKETS & INFO:

🎸 Preview Performances – $25 Tickets

Be part of the excitement of experiencing the show before the critics and the crowds:

  • Thursday, August 7— The very first public performance of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET. This is your chance to witness the moment the show hits the stage for the first time. Even though it’s not opening night, expect that unmistakable opening-night electricity, plus the thrill of knowing you’re seeing it before anyone else.
  • Friday, August 8 — Our official Preview Night, fully staged and performed at a lower ticket price to make professional theatre more accessible for all.

Regular performances run August 9 –August 24

Audiences looking for a deeper dive into the creative process are invited to attend the Depot Dialogue, a post-show discussion with cast and crew following the Thursday, August 14 performance.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET  runs August 7 – 24 at the Depot Theatre, located in a restored 1876 train station in the heart of Westport, NY. Tickets are available at depottheatre.org/tickets or by calling the box office at 518.962.4449.

SPONSORS:

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is sponsored by The Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation. The Depot Theatre’s 47th season is sponsored by the Rogers-Carroll Family Foundation.

See this announcement in the news: BroadwayWorld. 

Our Mission & Vision

Mission: The Depot Theatre is to entertain, enrich, and educate through professional theatrical arts and related programs based in a historic train station.

Vision: The Depot Theatre will have a robust, regional, and year-round presence by creating the highest of quality programs, building strong partnerships, and enhancing community engagement while promoting diversity in all that we do.

Email Sign-up

Get the latest Depot Theatre News!

Sign-up

Recent News

  • Press Republican: Depot Theatre Academy develops actors, directorsSeptember 2, 2026 - 4:50 pm

    Our thanks to the Press Republican and writer Robin Caudell for this wonderful article on our 2026 season and on the expansion of the Depot Theatre Academy and its continued development of youth performers and those in behind-the-scenes roles. Read the full article here.

Read all News

The Depot Theatre receives funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

With special thanks to the following for their support of the Depot’s ongoing strategic objectives: Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust, Cloudsplitter Foundation, J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc., Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, Charles R. Wood Foundation, Adirondack Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Rogers Carroll Family Foundation, Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation.

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.