Who's Who...

The cast of our 2008/2009 production of Bunnicula
 
Sherryl Després (Mrs. Monroe) is no stranger to theater in Grand Rapids, especially at the Civic Theater. She has appeared with us in Amadeus, The Real Thing, Jack & the Giant Beanstalk, Dearly Departed, The Women, You Can’t Take It With You, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and The Miracle Worker. Sherryl has worked with Jewish Theatre, Actors’ Theatre, Heritage Theatre, and most recently Circle Theatre for which she played The Queen in Snow White. She is a Grand Award winner for her performance in Jewish Theatre’s Lost in Yonkers and has appeared in numerous TV commercials

 
 
Bryce Hutson (Pete) returns to the GRCT stage after playing Peter Hatcher in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. He has also been a part of the Traveling Troupe here at the Civic Theater. Other theater credits include Scrooge at Rouge River where he played Young Scrooge and Plain Shawl as Jeremiah Jacobs. He has also appeared in shows at BHB Church as Hot Rod in Race to Win and as A Regular Boy in Worship Arts Camp. Bryce also is in a Hospice commercial airing on television.
 
Casey Jones (Harold) is welcomed back to the Civic after last appearing in Oklahoma! in 2007 as Will Parker. He is currently attending Grand Valley State University, where he’s majoring in Broadcast Journalism. Previous theater experiences include roles at West Catholic as Curly in Oklahoma!, Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress, and Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls.
 
Edward Jay Nelson (Mr. Monroe) made his GRCT debut in 1992 with A Flea in Her Ear. Since then he has appeared in twelve other shows with the Civic Theatre, most recently Miss Nelson is Missing as Pop Hanson, Mr. Blandsord, and Detective McSmogg. Ed has also worked with the GRCT Traveling Troupe, Spectrum Theatre, Actors’ Theatre, Madame Babe’s Dinner Theater, Circle Theatre, Ladies Literary Club, and Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids. He is also an instructor for the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre School of Theatre Arts. “It’s going to be fun being Bryce’s Dad again!” (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.)
 
Lauren Root (Chester) is taking to the GRCT stage for the first time in this production of Bunnicula. She also has had roles as Glinda and Aunt Em in The Wizard of Oz in Birmingham. Lauren is currently a sophomore at Cornerstone University, majoring in Music Education and Musical Theater. She has appeared in Little Women at Cornerstone as Amy, for which she earned the Cornerstone KTG award for “Best Supporting Actress.” At Walled Lake Central Highschool, where she earned the “Outstanding Vocalist” Award, Lauren played various roles including Mme. Thenarder in Les Miserables, Dolly in Hello Dolly, Babette in Beauty and the Beast, Daisy Stanley in The Man Who Came to Dinner, and also in Joseph…Technicolor Dreamcoat. She would like to thank her family and friends for their constant support and her Heavenly Father for His countless blessings!
 
Madeline Ryan (Bunnicula) is returning to the GRCT stage after appearing in last season's Sound of Music. Madeline has also appeared in The Sound of Music at Forest Hills Central, will be appearing in Tosca with Opera Grand Rapids and is a student of the GRCT School of Theater Arts. A 6th grader at Goodwillie Environmental School, Madeline loves to Irish Dance, plays oboe and sings with the North American Choral Company. "Thank you to my family for all of their love and support."
 
Amanda Wright (Toby) is a veteran of the Civic stage, first appearing in Cinderella (’03) and continuing on to appear in The Music Man, Oklahoma!, and most recently Junie B. Jones: The Musical, where she played the title role. She is also enrolled in the Grand Rapids Civic Theater’s School of Theatre Arts. Not only is Amanda a familiar face at the Civic, but also at many other theaters in Grand Rapids including Circle Theatre where she was a part of both Snow White and Oliver!, and Heritage Theatre Group in Metamorphoses. This ensemble earned a Grand Award in 2006 for Outstanding Ensemble. She has also made appearances in numerous shows at Cornerstone University including Wait Until Dark, Jane Eyre: The Musical, The Traveling Lady, and Meet Me in St. Louis. Amanda is a freelance voice talent and recorded songs for School Zone Publishing (05-06) and for Roger B Chaffee Planetarium’s show: “Crickets and Constellations.” “Thanks to Ms. Sherrey for all her help!”