Who's Who...

The cast of our 2008 Production of ALICE
 
Rodney M. Bean (Sherman) is no stranger to GRCT having been seen in Dreamgirls, Cinderella, Romeo & Juliet, and The Wizard of Oz (’00) to name a few. Rodney received a Grand Award Nomination for his portrayal in Circle Theatre’s The Full Monty. He has performed with numerous theatres and dance companies throughout west Michigan, and has appeared in several industrial films and commercials. Rodney is a 2nd degree black belt and teaches Tae Kwon Do for the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation. He teaches Ballroom Dancing for GRCT’s School of the Arts and the C.A.R.E. Conservatory Ballet.
 
Kandace Cannon (Betty, Jaz) This is Kandace’s first show with GRCT. She attends Kelloggsville High School where she is an Honor Roll student. Kandace has been in numerous choirs ranging from Gospel to Classical, and currently sings soprano in the Kelloggsville Ladies Chorus. She has just finished a session at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp to work on her vocal training!
 
Michael Johnson (Robin) attends Grand Rapids Community College as a Choral Music Education major. Though this is his first show with GRCT, he’s no stranger to the stage! He just performed with Opera Grand Rapids as part of the Ghost Chorus in The Flying Dutchman. Michael played Joe Scales in the Master Arts Theatre production of Cheaper By The Dozen. He’s also appeared in several Homeschool Performing Arts productions: as Hunk in The Wizard of Oz, a Who in Seussical the Musical, and Richard Mason in Jane Eyre.
 
Leslie Kasten (Streetperson) comes to GRCT from West Ottawa High School, where she has finished 10th grade. This is her first show with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts, but she’s appeared onstage with the Young Americans, performing a solo with them. Leslie has also visited New York City as a member of West Ottawa Choral Program’s advanced choir and performed at Carnegie Hall there! She has recently made the top choir -- VOCS.
 
Noah King-Bates (Kooli Kool Bob) This is Noah’s first show with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts. He attends East Kentwood High School, where he is active in the theatre department, and played the Bishop in Anne of a Thousand Days. Noah plays the violin and drums and also enjoys break dancing, basketball, track and karate.
 
Anthony Murphy (Sal De Rabbit) first appeared onstage at GRCT in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Anthony is also a member of GRCT’s School of Theatre Arts – finishing an Acting Theatre Wheel and appearing in two Phase II shows – most recently as Pan in Pandora’s Box. In addition, he’s been a member of the last three Traveling Troupes, just finishing with a performance at Festival as Claude in The Adventures of Nate the Great. Other credits include Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Peter in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Northview Highlands where he’s going to be a 9th grader in the Fall.
 
Grace Perkins (Ima Rump) just finished performing with GRCT’s Traveling troupe as Rosamond in The Adventures of Nate the Great. She’s also a member of GRCT’s School of Theatre Arts and has finished the High School acting Theatre Wheel. Grace has appeared in several Master Arts Theatre productions -- The Homecoming and as Raja in I Never Saw Another Butterfly. Grace has participated in numerous productions in the drama class for home-schoolers, including the Baby Doll in The Velveteen Rabbit. Other credits include Toinnete in Too Many Doctors and Beauty in Beauty and the Beast.
 
Kailey Specht (Big City Folk) has been a member of GRCT’s School of Theatre Arts since 2001. She has completed three acting Theatre Wheels, appeared in 9 performance class productions on GRCT’s stage and lots of summer camp plays, including The Moppet Show, and Lord of the Strings. Kailey has also performed in four Phase II productions, including the title character of Indiana Jane, and toured with GRCT’s Traveling Troupe 2007. She attends Grandville High School where she appeared in the chorus of Annie.
 
Reyna Taboada-Arzate (Alice) is appearing for the first time on GRCT’s stage. She attends East Kentwood High School where she is a member of the National Honor Society and has been awarded an academic varsity letter for 2 years. Reyna has taken theatre classes at East Kentwood and played the title character in Cinderella while she was in the eighth grade at Crestwood Middle School. She is also a member of a positive female organization – the Ivylettes.
 
Lauren Tweddale (Fortune Teller) will be a senior at Rogers HS where she is the president of the drama club. This is her third year with SRT; last year, she played Little Red in Into the Woods, Jr. She also performed in Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey) and John Lennon & Me (Star) at RHS. She is a member of the GRCT School of Theatre Arts and has completed the HS acting Theatre Wheel. Lauren would like to study musical theatre after high school.
 
Brian VanVels (Men in Uniform) just graduated from Forest Hills Eastern and will attend Aquinas College this fall. His first show with GRCT was in a summer camp production of The Moppet Show. Last summer he played Cinderella’s Father in the SRT production of Into the Wood, Jr. This summer, he was a TA for GRCT’s Theatre Arts Day Camp and Phase II. Recent on-stage appearances include Oklahoma!, The Sting, My Favorite Year, Harvey, and Fright Night. Brian also works at West Michigan Whitecaps and Van Andel Arena.
 
Theresa Valente (Tutu Lowdown) attends Catholic Central where she plays saxophone in the marching band. She’s sung soprano in various choirs for 4 years. Teresa has appeared in two productions at Aquinas College – The Merchant of Venice and The Little Braids Girl. This is her first production with Grand Rapid Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts.