Who's Who...

The cast of our 2008/2009 production of 1776
 
 
Paul Arnold (James Wilson) is welcomed back to the GRCT, where he was a member of the School of Theater Arts and first appeared in Annie Get Your Gun. Paul has appeared in many other Civic shows including Guys and Dolls, Annie, Camelot, Fiddler on the Roof, Ragtime, Singing in the Rain, and most recently One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in which he played Scanlon. He has also appeared in Beauty and the Beast at Circle Theater, The Diary of Anne Frank at Jewish Theater, and The Fantasticks at Heritage Theater. Paul is also an alumni of Michigan State University and Aquinas.

 
 
Jesse Aukeman (Edward Rutledge) is appearing for the first time on the Civic Theater stage for 1776. Other theater credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Mousetrap, Brigadoon, La Bête, and Crazy for You. Jesse recently graduated from Grove City College in Grove City, PA where he appeared in numerous other shows.
 
Alyssa Garcia Bauer (Martha Jefferson) returns to GRCT after appearing as Maria in the Sound of Music (’07). Alyssa also played the title role in Snow White for Magic Circle Theater. She attended Hope College as a theater major where she performed in Carousel, and in King Lear as Cordelia She worked with Telsey & Co. in New York City as their musical theater apprentice where she assisted in casting numerous Broadway shows.
 
Michael T. Culp (Colonel Thomas McKean) is making his Civic Theater debut with this year’s production of 1776. Michael has appeared in numerous other shows, including Anything Goes, A Funny Thing…Forum, Brigadoon, Camelot, Cinderella, Pippin and another production of 1776, in which he played John Adams. He has also directed such shows as Sound of Music, Pippin, and Take a Number, Darling. He is a partner in the Holland, MI dinner theater company, A.P. Theatrical Productions.
 
Michael Dodge (Roger Sherman) is joining us for his second Civic show, after appearing in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing in 2006. He has performed with West Michigan Savoyards in the Mikado and the Gondoliers, in which he played Don Alhambra. In Dallas, Michael was a part of the Fig Theater Company, where he played Zus in J.B., Ray Bud in Dearly Departed, and Aslan in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
 
Doug Everse (Charles Thomson) is returning to the world of theater after a thirty year stint away. During that time, he has been active as a Science and a U.S. History teacher at Forest Hills Eastern High School (where he says he’s always acting) and as a member in his church choir. Doug would like to thank Georgia for her encouragement, Dasha for her inspiration and his entire family for their support.
 
 
William Handy (John Hancock) is proud to be back to the GRCT for this production of 1776. His first show with the Civic was Fiddler on the Roof, and he continued to return for productions of City of Angels, 1940’s Radio Hour, The King and I, No One Will Marry a Princess With a Tree Growing Out of Her Head, and Junie B. Jones – A Little Monkey Business. William has also appeared in numerous Heritage Theater shows such as Merchant of Venice as Shylock, A Man for All Seasons as Cromwell, and Richard II as John of Gaunt. He also has played for Jewish Theater as Oscar Birnbaum in Chaim’s Love Song and as Patrick Joseph Murphy in Abie’s Irish Rose.
 
Dennis Hess (Caesar Rodney) is excited to be returning to the Civic stage after appearing as The Doctor in The Miracle Worker and The Doctor in Waiting in the Wings. Other stage credits include Annie, All My Sons, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Fantasticks, Fiddler on the Roof, Once Upon a Mattress, and Meet Me in St. Louis with Flat River Community Players, and Cheaper By the Dozen with Cedar Springs Community Theater, to name just a few. For Montcalm Country, Dennis acts for “We Care For Kids.”
 
Mike Joynt (Joseph Hewes) has never appeared in a GRCT show before joining us for this production of 1776. He was last seen in Smokey Joe’s Café and HONK! at Circle Theater, as well as various operas for Opera Grand Rapids. Mike is currently a Special Education teacher with the Grand Rapids Public Schools.
 
Dan Karel (George Read) When Dan’s son Rob Karel heard about Grand Rapids Civic Theater performing 1776, Rob encouraged his father to audition for the show. When he finally did audition, Dan was offered a part and now he’s in his first theater production ever! The GRCT is very happy to have Dan with us for this show and hope to see him in many more to come.

 
 
Travis Knoll (Leather Apron) is excited to make his GRCT debut with 1776. He has appeared in numerous performances elsewhere, including Neil Tilden in 1940’s Radio Hour, the title role in Joseph, The Herald in Cinderella, Lun Tha in The King & I, Sasha in Fiddler on the Roof, and Simon in Cotton Patch Gospel. He also appeared as The Boss in Side Show and as Lefou in Beauty and the Beast at Holland High School.
 
Daniel Krause (Courier) is happy to be back at the Civic Theater after performing in Disney’s High School Musical as Troy Bolton for its Summer Repertory Theater. Dan is a member of the School of Theater Arts here at GRCT, where he was a part of the Pirate Ship Players. He recently graduated from East Kentwood High School, where he was a part of the theater program.

 
 
 
Brian Lauer (Richard Henry Lee) makes his Civic debut with 1776. He has recently appeared in Circle Theater’s 2007 production of The Apple Tree. Brian has also helped put on Forever Plaid as Smudge with The Theater Project at the B.O.B.
 
Patrick MacLangs (Samuel Chase) is joining us for the first time ever in this production of 1776. He is not a stranger to the Grand Rapids theater district though, as he appeared in Circle Theater’s production of The Full Monty as Tony. Big thanks to my family. (Especially to Hanny and Manny, my grandchildren.)
 

Scott Mellema (John Dickinson) has appeared as Harold Hill in Music Man (’06) and as Tyler Moss in Crossing Delancy with GRCT. He was Michael in Tick, Tick… BOOM! at Actors’ and Nick in Baby, Che in Evita, Harry in Lucky Stiff, and Sparky in Forever Plaid at Circle Theater. Scott has also appeared in the film Offspring, which filmed in ’08. He has also directed many productions, including Smokey Joe’s Café, The Nerd, and Camping with Henry and Tom at Circle Theater, as well as Asst. Director for Grease at GRCT. His production of Smokey Joe’s Café won a Grand Award for Best Musical, and was nominated for Best Director. Scott is currently a teacher at East Kentwood High School, where he helped to establish the theater program. He would like to thank his Cinnamon, Reilly, and Johnnie for making life amazing.
 
Gary E. Mitchell (Stephen Hopkins) is no stranger to the Civic Theater. He is an instructor for the School of Theater Arts, and also has appeared in numerous shows here. His first was Lost in Yonkers, which was followed by Born Yesterday, The Rainmaker, The Sisters Rosensweig, Singin’ in the Rain, Communicating Doors and Art. He also appeared in Conversations with my Father with Jewish Theater, appearing as Eddie, which earned him a Grand Award for Lead Actor. Gary was nominated for another Grand Award for his part as Les in Actors’ Theater’s production of Boy Gets Girl. Gary dedicates this performance to his wife, Mary Beth, “who saved my life and brings me sunshine.”


Chris Nye (Thomas Jefferson) is welcomed back to the GRCT for this production of 1776. He joined us for the first time in 2005 for The Wizard of Oz, in which he played an Ozian/Winkie. Chris also appeared on the Civic stage for a production of Peter Pan (’06), where he appeared as Ed the Pirate. Many thanks to my wife and Daughters for their encouragement and patience.
 
 
Todd Osbeck (Dr. Josiah Barlett) is returning to the Civic Theater after an extended absence. His last show with GRCT was Equus as the Horse. He is no stranger to the stage, though, as he’s appeared in numerous shows all around Grand Rapids. He was recently spotted at Jewish Theater as Ray in Steamship Quanza, and at Heritage Theater as the Preacher in The Drunkard. Love to Paula and Clara.
 
Steven C. Place (Lewis Morris) is a most familiar face to our stage. Performing in his 7th GRCT production, Steve was last seen as Charlie Cowell in Music Man ('06) and Ebenezer Scrooge in the musical Scrooge (’04). Steve has also been in GRCT’s productions of Ragtime, Peter Pan (’01), Annie (’02) and Cinderella (’03). Steve is a Worship and Creative Arts Director at Cornerstone Church in Caledonia.
 
David Senecal (Dr. Lyman Hall) is new to the GRCT stage, but certainly not new to theater. He has appeared in Circle Theater’s productions of Sunday in the Park with George (’88), Merrily We Roll Along, A Little Night Music, and Follies; in Urinetown at Actors’ Theater, and at numerous other shows in Kalamazoo. David has also been a part of Opera Grand Rapids, where he appeared as the Emperor in Turandot, and was in Guys and Dolls at Cherry County Playhouse where he played Arvide Abernathy.
 
Kenneth H. Smith (Rev. Witherspoon) makes his Civic debut with 1776, and made his Grand Rapids debut in last year’s production of Sunday in the Park with George at Circle Theatre. Among his favorite prior roles elsewhere were the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Archibald in The Secret Garden, and Joe/Josephine in Sugar. As a teacher at Lakewood High School, Kenneth manages the theatre program there and has directed many plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Diviners.
 

Wayne Swezey (Robert Livingston) is making his GRCT debut with 1776. Wayne has performed as Curly (‘88) and Jud (’89) in Oklahoma and as Tulsa in Gypsy. He would like to thank his wife Karyn, and his two children for all their love and support.

 

 
Mackenzie Tatulli (Abigal Adams) returns to the Civic Theater after a fifteen year hiatus when in 1992 she appeared in Anything Goes as Hope Harcourt. She then attended and graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where she appeared as Rosa Bud in Mystery of Edwin Drood. She appeared in professional theaters in New York City, regional theaters, and as a lead vocalist for Silver Seas Cruise Lines where she literally married the captain of the ship! Mackenzie has returned to Grand Rapids with her one-year-old daughter Stella while Daddy is at sea. Penny Notter says: “Welcome Back, Mackenzie!”
 
Rodney Teslaa (John Adams) makes a stunning comeback to GRCT with this production of 1776. His first show was The Sound of Music (’98) in which he played the Captain. He’s also appeared in Much A-do About Nothing, Of Mice and Men, Rebecca, and Waiting in the Wings. Rodney’s performances as King Arthur in Camelot and Reverend Shannon in Night of the Iguana with the GRCT both earned him nominations for Grand Awards. His other local work includes shows at Actors’, Circle, Wealthy Street, and Caledonia Theater. Rodney’s performance as Thomas Moor in Man for All Seasons at Heritage Theater also earned him another Grand Award nomination.
 
G.M. (Bud) Thompson (Benjamin Franklin) is no stranger to the Civic Theater, having first appeared as Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol (’90). He has also appeared in numerous other shows including Cuckoo’s Nest, Sweeney Todd, Ragtime, Little Shop of Horrors, and he wrote the original folk music for Of Mice and Men. Bud was nominated for a Grand Award (twice!) for his roles as Capt. Hook / Mr. Darling in GRCT’s Peter Pan (’96 and ’01), and also won the Grand Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for GRCT’s Forbidden Planet. His local stage work has also been seen at Actors’, Circle, Heritage, and at Mason Street Warehouse in Saugatuck. Bud is a published playwright through Dramatic Publishing, and has written several scripts, including A Time to Go Home, One Day at the Zoo, Blunt the Lion’s Paws, and The Seven Deadly Sins Play Cards which have been produced in the Grand Rapids area. Bud loves his family and friends like crazy, but this performance is dedicated to God, who gave him a sign that he was supposed to audition (for that whole story, visit Bud’s blog lazshoebox.wordpress.com).
 
Joel Westmaas (Andrew McNair) is appearing for the first time on the GRCT stage in 1776. He has also appeared in “Artspeaks”, a musical revue that opened the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center. Joel has also sung with the Calvin Alumni Choir and with the Grand Rapids Symphony Choir.