Who's Who...

The cast of our 2008 Production of WAITING IN THE WINGS
 
Gloria Gustafson Anderson (Maud Melrose) first appeared on the Civic stage in 1980 in The Sound of Music. Other shows with Civic include Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Cyrano D’Bergerac, You Can’t Take It With You, Moon Over Buffalo, and Arsenic and Old Lace. With Circle Theatre, Gloria appeared in I Remember Mama, Cemetery Club, and Arsenic and Old Lace; and with Master Arts Theatre, Mountain Top, Job, and Things We Couldn’t Say with Reader’s Theatre. “ONE LAST TIME!” Thank You GRCT!
 
Marti Childs (Cora Clarke) has been working in theatre in West Michigan for over fifty years – acting, directing, teaching, and “teching”. Credits at GRCT include, John Brown’s Body, All The Way Home, Plaza Suite, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and Enchanted April. She appeared at Circle Theatre in Picnic, Torch Song Trilogy, Morning’s At Seven; at Actors’ Theatre in Road to Mecca, Keeley And Du, and Tongue of a Bird; and at Center Stage in Gin Game. Marti has also done I’m Herbert everywhere! “It’s been fun!”

 
 
Toby Weiner Dolinka (Topsy Baskerville) is an instructor of English and public speaking at Davenport University. Having acted in productions for Magic Circle and Jewish Theatre, as well as singing with Shir Shalom Chorus, she is happy to be participating in Civic Theatre’s Waiting in the Wings. “Here’s to all the women of a certain age who stay involved with LIFE!”
 
Bob Gray (Osgood Meever) is no stranger to GRCT. He was tech-director for two years, starting with the show Bus Stop in 1956. He went on to act in numerous shows with Civic, such as Anastasia, The Boyfriend, Joan of Lorraine, The Firebrand, and The Fantasticks. Bob also performed in The Fantasticks Off-Broadway (1969-1972). Bob worked as the Resident Director at the Youngstown Playhouse in Ohio for 14 years! He has also worked with Pittsburgh Children’s Theatre, Petoskey Playhouse, and the Flint & Detroit Musical Tents.
 
Sharon Hayes (Deirdre O’Malley) is once again appearing on the Civic stage, having appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird, The Boxcar Children, Fiddler on the Roof, and Inherit the Wind. Sharon does commercial work on television and radio, and is the Director of Ticket Operations and Member Services here at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts. She would like to thank her loyal fans – her family.
 
Dennis Hess (Dr. Jevons) recently appeared this season in The Miracle Worker. He has performed in numerous productions with Flat River Community Players, including: Annie, Once Upon A Mattress, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Fiddler on the Roof, The Fantasticks, and others. Dennis also appeared in Cheaper By the Dozen with Cedar Springs Community Theatre. In college, Dennis worked on The Three Penny Opera, and Three Men on a Horse.
 
Bernice Anne Houseward (May Davenport) is thrilled to be working again with her “sisters” from Mornings at Seven (Circle Theatre), The Cemetary Club (Jewish Theatre), as well as the rest of this fine cast and crew. Her former appearances at GRCT have included, Enchanted April as Costanza, Dearly Departed, Little Women, and The Sisters Rosensweig. She has also performed with Actors’ Theatre, Muskegon Civic Theatre, Calvin Alumni Players, and the Second Drama Quartet. She wishes to thank her severest critic and greatest fan, husband Steve Pastoor, for his help, and the staff of Rosewood Elementary School for their patience and support.
 
Patricia Kennedy (Estelle Craven) made her GRCT debut in last season’s Leading Ladies. She appeared in Driving Miss Daisy, Charlie’s Aunt, and Arsenic and Old Lace at Master Arts Theatre, as well as Squabbles and Nunsense with Cedar Springs Players. Patricia has been acting for thirty years and has “enjoyed every play, every cast member, and every director. Thank you also to my family and friends for supporting me all along the way.” Patricia is a retired with four lovely children and four lovely grandchildren.
 
Charles Lloyd (Perry Lascoe) recently engaged audiences with his portrayal of Uncle Max in this season’s The Sound of Music – during which his baby, Carys Marie Lloyd, was born). Charles recently moved here from the United Kingdom, where he attended the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London. He performed in The Aspern Papers, and in the musical, Jolson, on the West End in London. Charles has performed in many pantomimes for Qdos, and in Noel Cowards’ President Laughter with Peter Bowles in his first professional UK Tour. Charles was a Town Crier, and in 1990 was named the Sixth Loudest Person in the World. He is bringing his theatre company over to Grand Rapids to introduce some British Melodramas.
 
Marney MacAdam (Bonita Belgrave) first appeared with GRCT in 1961 as Anna in The King and I (with Paul Dreher as Director). A Grand Award recipient, Marney has performed for over forty-five years in musicals, comedies and dramas with Civic, Actors’, Circle, Jewish, Centre Stage and Heritage Theatres. During Marney’s twelve-year Chicago hiatus as an Equity actor she performed at The Goodman, Court and Candlelight Theatres, among others. Other performance activities have included opera, oratorio, recital, cabaret, and her one-woman show, Stitches in Time. Marney is thrilled to be returning to what she refers to as her “Theatre Home,” after flirting with other stages for far too long.
 
Jessica Montgomery (Doreen) is making her GRCT debut! She has been active in theatre throughout her life and her most recent credits include the role of Beth Willow in And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson at Macomb Community College, and Chris Gorman in Neil Simon’s Rumors at Utica High School. Jessica is majoring in Art Education at Kendall College of Art and Design. She would like to thank all of her friends and family for their never-ending love and encouragement – especially Brandon. “I love you all!”
 
Sandy Navis (Sylvia Archibald) was last seen on the GRCT stage as Penny in You Can’t Take it With You. Other Civic credits include, Rumors, Amadeus and The Magic of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. Other favorite shows in local theatres include, She Stoops to Conquer, The Herbal Bed, Arcadia, The Face of the Earth, and The Exonerated (Grand Award Nomination). She has also performed in several film projects. During the day she works in the music department at Calvin College, where she is also completing her B.A. Degree in English/Theatre, which she began a mere 37 years ago.
 
Lisa Nowak (Dora) is delighted to return to Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. Her first Civic role was as Edith in Blithe Spirit. She returned again as Billie Down in Born Yesterday, and as Melissa in Love Letters. Other credits include Theresa in Boy Gets Girl, for which she received a Grand Award for Best Actress, Evie in Tongue of the Bird and Carol in Oleanna for Actors’ Theatre; Lisa in Rosentrasse, and Kelly in Chaim’s Love Song for Jewish Theatre. Currently, Lisa is directing Jewish Theatre’s Shmulnik’s Waltz after directing last year’s Abie’s Irish Rose. She would like to send her love to her husband Brad and her two children Silas and Avery.
 
Amy Osborn (Lotta Bainbridge) is thrilled to be back working with Director Paul Dreher again and to be back at GRCT after a ten year absence! Past credits at GRCT include Noises Off, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Dancing at Lughnasa, Blithe Spirit, and The Heiress. At Actors’ Theatre, Amy has appeared in Rabbit Hole, Kimberly Akimbo, Sideman, How I Learned to Drive, and The Herbal Bed. She received Grand Awards for her performances in The Heiress and Kimberly Akimbo. Amy and her husband Tom Kaechele are the parents of four charming children – Celia, Owen, Addy and Linus. She is a casting associate for Fahey Dreher Casting.
 
Jamie Ray (Zelda Fenwick) is performing for the first time with GRCT! Other credits include The Odd Couple as Cecily Pigeon with Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. Originally from Orange County, California, she moved to Michigan four years ago! Jamie is married and a proud mother of three.
 
Judy Subar (Almina Clare) is no stranger to the stage, having first appeared with GRCT in the 1952 production of Heaven Can Wait. Other shows with GRCT include Crossing Delancey, The Red Shoes, and The Magic Horn. Judy was most recently seen last summer as the Witch in Hansel and Gretel at Circle Theatre, where shehas appeared in several plays. Judy has appeared in numerous productions with Jewish Theatre and also serves on the Board. Judy and her husband, Jerry, are proud parents of 3 sons, and they have 20 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and 2 on the way!
 
Rodney Teslaa (Alan Bennet) is a multi-talented actor, writer, singer, comedian in the Grand Rapids area. His GRCT credits include, Of Mice and Men, The Sound of Music, Night of the Iguana, Much Ado About Nothing, and Rebecca. Rodney has also been seen around town performing with Actors’, Heritage, Circle Theatres, Caledonia Players and a guest appearance with Grand Rapids Community College.
 

Audrey Willis (Sarita Myrtle) is returning to the GRCT stage having appeared in Hello Dolly!, Annie Get Your Gun, The Music Man, Anything Goes, Inspecting Carol, On Borrowed Time, Born Yesterday, Cinderella, and The Children’s Hour. She has also performed with Circle Theatre, Ladies Literary Club, Master Arts Theatre, and Jewish Theatre in numerous productions.