Always...Patsy Cline - Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

	Mary Hess (Patsy Cline) - is making her first appearance with Civic Theatre in this role. Mary is a graduate of Alma College with a BA in Communications. While at Alma she had roles in such productions as Cabaret and Pirates of Penzance. She has also worked with Flat River Community Theatre in their productions of West Side Story and Meet Me in St. Louis. Mary also portrayed the role of Laurey in Ionia Community Theatre’s Oklahoma. During the day, Mary is the development director at Grand Rapids Ballet Company.
	Molly Kelly (Louise Seger) - is also making her first appearance at Civic. She however is no stranger to the theatre community in Grand Rapids. Molly has sung with the Opera Grand Rapids Chorus for the past 10 years, appearing in numerous productions. At Circle Theatre, Molly was featured as "Electra" in Gypsy and was also in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. This past winter, she appeared in Tony and Tina’s Wedding at the B.O.B. and was in the Vagina Monologues for Grand Valley State University and Wealthy Theatre. When not onstage performing, Molly is the News Brand Manager at Wood TV 8.
	Justin Boone (Jordanaire) - was recently featured in Follies at Circle Theatre this past July. At Civic, Justin has been in Romeo and Juliet, Winnie-The-Pooh and Summer Stock’s Production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. A senior at Sparta High School, he has appeared in their productions of Little Shop of Horrors, Working and Rumors.
	Justin Nardecchia (Jordanaire) - appeared last season in Kiss Me Kate here at Civic. He has performed with local theatre in Detroit, his hometown. Justin has also done various commercials in the Metro Detroit area. He is a sophomore at Aquinas College majoring in Vocal Music Education.
	Charles Hutchins (Band Leader/Jordanaire) - was music director for Kiss Me Kate, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Trixie True: Teen Detective and Schoolhouse Rock Live! Charles was assistant musical director for Scrooge and Cinderella. This past summer, he was the Musical Director for Circle Theatres’ production of Follies which was the last show to be performed at John Ball Zoo. He received the 1997 Grand Award for Music Direction for Circle’s Production of Passion and the 1999 Grand Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Civics’ Fiddler on the Roof. He has worked with Actor’s Theatre, LLC Classical Theatre and Opera Grand Rapids. He is adjunct professor for Grand Valley State University.
	Cameron Warner (Fiddle) - is currently a junior music performance student at Grand Valley State University. He studies violin with Dylana Jenson and is also a composer. Cameron serves as the Concertmaster for all of the orchestras at Grand Valley and has won the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony and the Grand Valley Symphony Concerta competitions. Civic Audiences will remember him as the onstage fiddler in the 1999 Holiday Production of Scrooge.
	Andrew Uhe (Fiddle) - is just beginning his journey in the real work of music. This past spring marked the end of his undergraduate studies with a degree in Violin from Grand Valley State University. Currently, he studies with the great violinist and teacher, Ariana Bronne, in New York. Andrew’s performing experience includes several concerts with the West Shore Symphony Orchestra and recitals with Ictus the string quartet of which is he is a founding member.
	Dave Bowen (Bass) - has been playing in Civic Theatre Orchestras since the production of The Music Man over on Leonard Street. Since then, Dave has played in several productions including 1940’s Radio Hour, Peter Pan, Annie and last season’s Kiss Me Kate. At Circle Theatre he lent his skills to their productions’ of Cabaret and Steel Pier. This past summer he played in Cherry County Playhouses’ production of Barnum. Dave spent two seasons with Grand Rapids Symphony playing Bass Trombone.
	Mike Truitt (Pedal Steel Guitar) - a.k.a. "Dustbin Troloey." Has played pedal steel guitar for Flashpoint, Smokey Mountain Boys, Hickory River Band and Patsy Collins. Mike has also played with Helen Cornelius and Little Jimmy Dickens. He also plays Blues Guitar and released a single in 2000 titled "Little Bluffs Riff" by Dustbin Troloey.
	Alex Hamel (Drummer) - recently played in the pit at Circle Theatre for their production of Joseph and the Amazing… Alex is a sixth year senior at Grand Valley State University majoring in Jazz Studies and Percussion. He has played several shows and concerts at GVSU including composing/performing a percussion score in A Single Numberless Death, which was recognized by the Kennedy Center. He also plays several Jazz gigs around the area including at the B.O.B. Alex is a member of the GVSU Steel band, Pangea.
	Jim Dow (Guitar) - has worked as a professional guitar instructor at R.I.T. Music in Grand Rapids for the past eight years, as well as regularly performing with local churches including the Fairhaven Church, Rivertree Community, Calvary and Common Ground. Jim has played in the band of productions such as Grease, Footloose, Woody Guthrie’s American Song and Hark Up. He also works as a solo classical guitarist for weddings, private parties, gallery receptions and recording session work.
	Kathy Wagner (Vocal Director) ~ has performed in a variety of venues from classroom to the concert stage. She has opened for pig races (starring Tammy Faye Bacon), dog acts, The Drifters, The Platters, The Reflections and The Shirrels as well as being a featured artist with many regional symphonies. Kathy recently completed 2 sell-out regional concert tours with Rich Ridenour and was silver medalist at the American Traditions Singing Competition in Savannah, Georgia. Her regional stage roles include the old lady in Candide for the Saginaw Symphony, the title role in Evita and So You Wanna Be On Broadway in New York and Love Handles (Original Cast) in Los Angeles. Locally, she received the 1997 Grand Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her role as Fosca in Passion and last year won the same award for her performance of Mrs. Lovett in Civics’ Sweeney Todd. Recently, Kathy directed and choreographed Beehive for Circle Theatre. Along with performing, she is the vice-president of B.T.V. Produc-tions, a member of the West Michigan Cabaret Association, teaches private voice and is looking forward to the completion of her kitchen renovation.
	Matt Iacopelli (Stage Manager) - is happy to be stage managing his 1st musical at Civic Theatre. Matt has also stage managed for Communicating Doors and Art for Civic. He has worked backstage for many shows here including Kiss Me Kate, Annie, Sweeney Todd and Peter Pan. Matt spent this past summer working as Production Stage Manager for Mason Street Warehouse, the new professional theatre in Saugatuck, MI. He received the 2002 Grand Award Scholarship. Matt has also worked with Heritage Theatre Group on Tartuffe, Twelfth Night and The Importance Being Ernest. He would like to thank his parents for all their love and support.
	Andrew Schneider (Assistant Director/Jordanaire) - is happy to once again be working on a "penny" show. Last season at Civic he Assistant Directed and Stage Managed Kiss Me Kate. A Grand Rapids Theatre staple, Andy has appeared in such Civic productions as Annie, Sweeney Todd, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain, Scrooge, Cinderella, and Much Ado about Nothing. For the Holiday Season here at Civic, Andy will step behind the curtain to AD/SM Cinderella. Around town, he has appeared onstage with Circle Theatre and Heritage. He has also worked with Jewish Theatre and Opera Grand Rapids and Mason Street Warehouse. Andy would like to thank his parents Bob and Kath, Penny and Jim and Molly for all of their love and support.
	Penelope Notter (Director) - is in her eleventh year as Associate Director here at Civic. Her recent directing projects include The Ugly Duckling (Summer Stock), Kiss Me Kate and The Velveteen Rabbit. Penelope was the recipient of the 1998 Grand Award for Outstanding Direction of Little Shop Of Horrors. She has directed over 100 productions in professional, community and university theatres. As a member of the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT), she chairs the National Workshop Committee. Recently, Penelope was a featured in the "Resource Roster" of AACT’S monthly publication, Spotlight. She is on teaching faculty here at Civic offering an advanced acting class for high school students called the Acting Academy. Now that she is "Patsiefied" you can ask her anything you would like to know about Patsy Cline.