PIRATES OF PENZANCE, JR.

Cast Bios

Derek Anthes (Male Ensemble) is very excited to be making his Civic Theatre debut this summer! When not gracing the stage, Derek is very active in sports and in his community. He is a junior at Northpointe Chrisitan High School.

Emily Bennett (Mabel) is making her third appearance after reprising her role of Kelsi that she originated in 2008’s highly anticipated production of High School Musical, with High School Musical 2 in 2009. Emily was last seen in Union High School’s production of Hello Dolly where she performed as Minnie Fay. Emily is an award-winning vocalist, having earned a 1 Rating at State Solo and Ensemble competition as well as top rankings in her age group at the Michigan Music Association Competitions for the past three years. Emily has also worked with St. Cecilia’s Youth Choir and is a part of her school choir at City High School.

Kathy Boyle (Female Ensemble) is appearing on Civic Stage not as a student but as a fully fledged performer. Kathy is a student of the Grand Rapids Civic School of Theatre Arts where she has participated in TADC and Phase II since 2004. Kathy is a sophomore at Jenison High School through which she performed as the ensemble for Thoroughly Modern Millie, and was on the costume crew for both Antigone and Beauty and the Beast.

Kathy is also a member of the International Thespian Society.

Caleb Brooks (Fredrick) is no stranger to the Civic Theatre. Not only has he appeared in numerous shows here including: Wizard of Oz (2001), Peter Pan (2002), Scrooge (2004), Music Man (2006), High School Musical (2008), and High School Musical 2 (2009), Caleb is also a student of the Grand Rapids Civic School of Theatre Arts and has performed with teh Civic Theatre Travelling Troupe. At Holland Civic Caleb appeared as an Oompa Loompa in Willy Wonka, and at Master Arts Theatre he performed as Lil’ John in Tom Sawyer. Caleb is a senior at East Kentwood High School where he appeared in Willy Wonka as Mike Teavee, PInnochio as Pinnochio, and Guys and Dolls as Joey Biltmore. Caleb was a member of the 2010 State Honors Choir. In addition to performing on stage, Caleb oftens run sound for shows at the Civic Theatre.

Caleb received the 500 Hours of Volunteer Service Award in 2009.

MacKenzie Coe (Female Ensemble) is making her SRT debut this year in Pirates of Penzance. She previously was in Civic Theatre Travling Troupe back in 2007 and has performed in numerous school productions. McKenzie is a sophmore at East Kentwood High School is an avid waterpolo player.

Nick Coulson (Male Ensemble) last appeared on the Civic Stage as part of the Children’s Choir for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. But Nick’s very first performance was Civic’s last season’s production of Captain Louie. Nick is a freshman at West Catholic High School. He has been taking piano lessons for six years under the instruction of Dr. Helen Marlais. Nick would like to thank all his family and friends for their encouragement and support.

Ben DeWinkle (Samuel) was last seen in the 2006 production of Holes. He is currently a Math and Music double major at Pomoun College where he appeared in Trifles and Ascension Day. While attending Calvin Christian High School, Ben performed in A Christmas Carol (Scrooge), Seussical (Horton). Ben was also a student at the Grand Rapids Civic School of Theatre Arts!

Taylor Ferguson (Female Ensemble) is making her debut on the Civic stage as part of the Ensemble. Taylor is a student at City High where she has taken drama classes.

Eric Hill (Male Ensemble) is finally on the Civic stage after working behind the scenes for SRT 2009’s production of Sleeping Beauty, where he worked as the light operator. Eric is graduating from City High School and will be attending Michigan State University for Psychology and Communications. At Union High School Eric appeared in Annie (Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks) in 2009 and Hello Dolly! as Horace Vandergelde in 2010. Just this spring Eric and some fellow students organized a benefit concert which raised over two thousand dollars for polio.

Ellie Knoll (Edith) is returning for her second round on the Civic Stage. Ellie last appeared in SRT’s High School Musical 2. With Rogue River Community Theatre, Ellie performed in Scrooge’s Awakening. Ellie is a sophomore at Rockford High School where she has performed in numerous shows: Les Miserable’s, Dead Man Walking, The Boys Next Door, and Oliver. She also appeared in various shows at her middle school. Ellie received a perfect score at ISSMA Solo and Ensemble, and she has sung at various weddings.

Pheonix Lofquist (Female Ensemble) was most recently seen on the Civic stage in last years SRT production of Sleeping Beauty. She has been seen on stage with Grandville Middle School, where she previously was in Willy Wonka, playing a dual roles as both Violet and Ms. Teavee in separate performances. Outside of the stage, Pheonix has performed in the Michigan State Honors Choir as well as in her Middle School Choir, for whom she sang various solos. She just recently finished her freshman year of High school and is so happy to participate in SRT again this year!

Cash Miciel (Male Ensemble) is no stranger to the Civic Stage or any part of Civic for that matter. Cash was last seen working backstage for the Civic Theatre as deck crew for Cinderella; he was also seen front and center for Captain Louie and Willy Wonka. Cash is also a student at the Grand Rapids Civic School of Theatre Arts. Cash has also participated at the Rouge River Community Theatre where he played Charlie in Oliver Twist and Newsboys in Vaudeville in my Heart. Cash is an 8th grader at East Rockford Middle School.

Keelin McDermott (Female Ensemble) was last seen on the Civic stage as a Tylwyth Teg in last year’s SRT production of Sleeping Beauty. At church she has appeared in the Christmas Pageant as a Soldier, Jonah as an Angel and Three Trees as the Third Tree. Keelin is a junior at Forest Hills Central High School where she performed in Class Dismissed, The Wizard of Oz, and she has also participated in theatre classes. She also earned a leadership award and a varsity letter for Cheerleading from her school.

Adiene Noboa (Ruth) is appearing on the Civic Stage for the very first time. Adiene attends Grand River Prep where she is a freshman. She has appeared in her High School’s production of, Wash your Troubles Away, Olympia, and Ophelia. Adiene received the Omars Award for Odyssey of the Mind.

Patrick Nowak (Sergeant) is an 8th grader at East Grand Rapids Middle School. He is excited to be back on stage at Civic after performing as part of the Children’s Ensemble for 2009’s production of Cinderella. Patrick’s first show at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre was The Wizard of Oz in 2005. He has also performed in Junie B. Jones, Miss Nelson is Missing, Willy Wonka and the Traveling Troupe production of Nate the Great. Patrick has also been in shows at Circle Theatre including Pippin (Theo), The Who’s Tommy (Young Tommy), and Snow White (Dwarf). He was in the production of Carmen with Opera Grand Rapids in 2007 and was also in Honk! at Cornerstone University. Patrick was in three web advertisements for Meijer. He also performed in the planetarium show Crickets and Constellations with the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
 

Jake Olson (Male Ensemble) is back after a short break from the Civic stage. Jake was last seen working back stage for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. You may have spotted him in Phase II’s Wild Wild West or in Captain Louie in 2009.

Alex Petkus (Female Ensemble) is a sophomore at East Grand Rapids High School. Alex last appeared with the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre in High School Musical 2 (Chorus) and The Adventures of Nate The Great as Rosamund. She has a lot backstage with Civic including, A Wonderful Life (Dresser), The Producers (Deck Crew), Willy Wonka (Deck Crew), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Volunteer Speller Retriever) and Cinderella as the Assistant Stage Manager. At Circle Theatre she helped as deck crew for Guys and Dolls. At the Caledonia Players, Alex was the Snake for Children of Eden. At East Grand Rapids High School Alex appeared in the chorus for State Fair and also helped with costumes for The Wiz. Alex has received the 500 Hour Volunteer Award from the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and was part of the MSVMA All-State Honors Choir.
 

Sabina Petkus (Isabel) makes her second appearance onstage at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre after performing in last year’s SRT production of Sleeping Beauty. She has been seen backstage during Willy Wonka, The Producers, and High School Musical 2 here at the Civic and at Circle Theatre during Guys and Dolls. At Caledonia Theatre, Sabrina participated in Children of Eden. As a junior at East Grand Rapids, Sabrina has appeared in numerous shows including: Pride and Prejudice as Miss Anne DeBourgh, From Every Mountainside as Sarah, and Noises Off! as “Crew.” Sabrina received the 250+ Hours from the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts, and also received five honor bars from her thespian society.
 

Bradley Poleski (Major General) last appeared at the Civic Theatre in 2008 with SRT for High School Musical where he was part of the chorus. At school Bradley appeared as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls. Bradley won second place at East Kentwood High Schools talent show and received Varsity Lettered in Theater. Bradley also was the winner of the East Kentwood High School’s Battle of the Bands.

Megan Prangley (Female Ensemble) comes back after last appearing in the 2009 SRT production of Sleeping Beauty in which she had the pleasure of playing a Tylwyth Teg. Just before that Megan appeared in Hogsworst with TADC in 2007. Megan was also the Fly Captain for Cinderella. While attending Grandville High School, Megan appeared in Kiss Me Kate, Annie as an Orphan as well as a Chorus member in Once Upon a Mattress.

Katie Sanders (Female Ensemble) will be performing on the Civic stage for the very first time. Katie is going to be a senior at Forest Hills Central High School where she has taken several acting classes. Katie was last seen at Children’s Creation Theatre as Mrs. Armstrong in The best Christmas Pageant Ever. Katie is also a student with the Grand Rapids School of Theatre Arts.

Caleb Smith (Male Ensemble) is performing for the Civic for the very first time. Caleb is a junior at Tri-Unity Christian High School where he was last seen in Alice in Wonderland and Oklahoma.

Brianne Stephens (Female Ensemble) is glad to be back at Civic after appearing in Traveling Troupes The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck where she played the title role of Jemima. Just before that Brianne was last seen at Civic in High School Musical 2 as Peaches. Brianne attends Kenowa Hills High School and is a 9th grader there. At Kenowa Brianne has appeared in several shows including, The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Brianne). At Walker Charter Academy Brianne performed in Aladdin (Jasmine), Cinderella (Fairy Godmother), and Annie (Grace). Brianne would like to thank God, her parents, brothers and her friends for all their support.

Hannah MG Tripp (Female Ensemble) is no stranger to the Civic theatre but this will be her first time to perform in a show. Not only is she a student of the Grand Rapids Civic School of Theatre Arts, but she has also worked back stage for the Civic for numerous shows, including: A Wonderful Life, The Producers, Willy Wonka, Captain Louie, Cinderella, and Sarah Plain and Tall. Hannah has also volunteered with other community theatres such as Circle Theatre where she worked back stage for Steel Magnolias, and the Dog Story Theatre where she participated in Love Letters. Hannah is going to be a junior at City High School, through which she performed in Hello Dolly as Mrs. Rose.

Hannah received the 250 Hours of Volunteer Service Award in 2009.

Michelle Valente (Female Ensemble) makes her first appearance onstage at the Civic. Michelle is a sophomore at Catholic Central High School where she just appeared in Much Ado About Nothing. Michelle received Division 1 at Regional/State Solo and Ensemble for Percussion.

Theresa Valente (Kate) returns to the Civic Theatre’s stage after last appearing in the 2008 SRT production of Alice. Theresa attends Catholic Central High School and is a junior. Theresa has appeared in numerous shows through her high school such as: M*A*S*H (2008), As You Like It (2009), Children of Eden (2009), Treasure Island (2009), Much Ado About Nothing (2010), and West Side Story (2010). Theresa received a Division 1 in Choral Ensemble (Capella Choir), and Division 2 in Solo and Ensemble (Solo).

Kohl Weisman (Pirate King) was welcomed to the Civic Theatre and to Grand Rapids with the production of Willy Wonka. At Cherry Hill Theatre in Orem, Utah, Kohl played Rooster in Annie Jr., Curly in Oklahoma Jr., and Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls Jr. Then, with SCERA, also in Utah, he played the First Son in The King and I. Kohl is a 4.0 student who plays guitar, drums and clarinet, and enjoys composing music, creative writing and playing computer games.

Chelsea Zabel (Female Ensemble) is a student of the Grand Rapids Civic School of Theatre Arts where she performed in Lord of the Strings. Chelsea is a junior at East Grand Rapids High School where she has participated in many shows, some of which include: On the Town (Chorus), The Wiz (Chorus), Our Town (Stage Manager) and State Fair (Fair Tone).