Hop On Board
Description
Hop On Board: A Musical Journey Haunted by the Voices of America's Past
Debuting at The Bornemann Theatre on October 31, Hop On Board is a powerful new live musical that follows one Dust Bowl family’s journey through prosperity, hardship, and hope. With a full live band and an electrifying blend of folk, rock, theatrical music, and storytelling, this special Halloween-season performance takes audiences on an unforgettable ride through the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and beyond.
Come dressed for the era! Guests are encouraged to wear their best 1920s/1930s period-inspired attire for a special costume contest during the evening. Step into the spirit of the era, and you could be the night’s best-dressed!
Meet the Cast
Mark Torpey - Joe Ryan
Mark Torpey is a San Diego–based folk musician and recording artist known for his narrative songwriting and warm, acoustic style. As Joe Ryan, he brings a grounded storyteller’s voice to the steady center of the migrating Ryan family.
Cathryn Beeks - Mary Rafferty aka Moonshine Mary
San Diego–based singer, performer, and arts advocate, Cathryn Beeks appears as Moonshine Mary, a colorful Hooverville-era character whose songs and stories reflect resilience, survival, and wit on the margins. Beyond the stage, she is widely recognized for her long-standing support of San Diego’s independent music and arts community.
Grant Bentley - The Banker & The Preacher
Grant Bentley is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter active in the San Diego music scene. In Hop On Board, he portrays both the ruthless Banker and the conflicted Preacher, embodying the moral tension and spiritual reckoning at the heart of the story.
Cara Cormier - Louise aka Sonora Babb
Cara Cormier is a singer-songwriter whose work blends folk and Americana influences with expressive vocals and lyrical clarity. She brings warmth and spirit to "Louise" a character who offers humanity and connection along the family’s journey west.
Dana Duplan - Riff Rafferty the General store owner
Dana Duplan is a veteran roots musician and collaborator with decades of live performance experience. He portrays Riff Rafferty, Mary’s father, a small-town general store owner whose perspective reflects the changing fortunes of rural America.
Michael DeLuca - Jimmy Ryan
Playwright, composer, and band leader, Michael DeLuca is the creator of Hop On Board. Onstage, he portrays Jimmy Ryan, Joe’s brother, whose hustling spirit and moral gray areas bring grit, humor, and momentum to the story.
Scotty Ensign - Hobo Scotty
Scotty Ensign is a singer-songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist drawing from folk, Americana, and roots traditions. In Hop On Board, he appears as Hobo Scotty—a rail-riding storyteller who “lives his life on the rails, hopping trains and telling tales,” offering musical commentary on migration, hardship, and hope during the Dust Bowl era.
Richie Strell - Leo Fadden
Richie Strell is a harmonica player and performer whose work adds texture and emotional depth to the world of Hop On Board. He appears as Leo Fadden, a man who has lost his family farm and home, representing the countless voices displaced by the Dust Bowl.
Live Performances
Additional Venue Info
ADMISSION INFO
All ages are welcome. Please note that children who do not sit on a lap will require their own ticket.
Limited ADA Seating! Please email boxoffice@thebornemann.com to request the code for ADA seating.
DINING
Enjoy pre-show dining at TERI Common Grounds Café from 4pm - 8pm. View menus here. Concessions are also available at the theatre before and during the show.
LEARN WHY YOUR TICKET MATTERS
The Bornemann Theatre & TERI Campus of Life - Supporting the Special Needs Community and Greater San Diego
When you purchase a ticket to a show at The Bornemann Theatre, you’re supporting individuals with special needs – and the families who walk alongside them. For over 45 years, TERI Campus of Life has transformed lives through specialized programs and services. Mission-driven businesses – like The Bornemann and TERI Common Grounds Café – welcome the community, creating a place where inclusion is a way of life and all abilities are celebrated. Learn more at tericampusoflife.org.
Come for the performance. Leave knowing you made a difference.
Our Sponsors
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
Get Tickets
Get Tickets
More events from this host
