Gypsy

Cast Photos and Bios

		Baileigh Aldrich (Balloon Girl) has performed with Civic in conjunction with Civic's School of Theatre Arts. Baileigh is a gymnast, has taken ballet and tap dance classes and vocal instruction with Sherri Lee Allen. She is currently enrolled in the first grade.
		Joseph Becherer (Clarence, Newsboy) performed with Jewish/Heritage Theater's production of Fiddler On The Roof and has done commercials for Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Gypsy marks Joseph's Civic stage debut. He is currently a 6th grader at St. Thomas the Apostle School and would like to take God, his family, and his friends.
		Alexia Marie Belrose (Balloon Girl) is making her Civic debut as a Balloon Girl. Alexia has appeared in a commercial for PBS and is a member of the Western Michigan Academy of Girls choir. She enjoys dance class and is very excited to be one of the balloon girls.
		Lucas Brooks (Detroit, Photographer)has appeared on the Civic stage in many productions including Voices From The Shore, The Somewhat True Tale Of Robin Hood, The Glass Slipper, The Yellow Boat, Velveteen Rabbit, and has appeared in The Laramie Project with Aquinas and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with City High. Last summer Lucas attended the prestigious National High School Institute at Northwestern University.
		Chris Carnevale (Uncle Jocko, Weber, Mr.Kringelein, Pastey) has appeared in many performances for Civic Theatre, most recently in Scrooge: The Musical. Last season, Chris appeared as the ketchup loving Lennie in Of Mice and Men, for which he won the 2004 Grand Award for Best Lead Actor in a play. Some of his highlights are Anne of Green Gables, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Winnie the Pooh, Sweeney Todd, and Annie. He has also worked behind the scenes as stage manager (Little Shop of Horrors), assistant director (Moon Over Buffalo and Annie), and choreographer (The Velveteen Rabbit and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown). Chris has also appeared onstage at Circle Theatre, Actors Theatre, Jewish Theatre and Heritage Theatre. He served as Assistant Choreographer for Fiddler on the Roof for Heritage and Jewish Theatres this past summer. Chris also choreographs for Forest Hills Central High School.
		Julia Freyer (Thelma, Renee, a Mother and the rear end of the Cow) most recently performed in Ragtime here at GRCT. Her long list of credits includes Annie, The Boxcar Children, Anne of Green Gables, Peter Pan '01, The Children's Hour, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, The Magic Mrs. PiggleWiggle, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Schoolhouse Rock, Live! Julia has received the 500+ hour and 700+ hour Civic Volunteer Award for the past two seasons and she is a member of the GRCT School of Theatre Arts as well as performing at Circle and Actors' Theatre. This past summer Julia attended Ann Reinking's Broadway Theatre Project and performed with Ms. Reinking and Ben Vereen. She will be on Bravo TV's "On With The Show" in April.
		Joe Gramer (Cowboy/Newsboy) is exited to join to GR Civic Theatre for the first time. His theatre experience includes roles in two productions by the Hope College Summer Repertory Theatre, The Wizard of Oz and Bye-Bye Birdie. In addition, Joe has been performing for the past three years as dancer and singer with the Holland Chorale. Most recently Joe was seen in La Bohemme with Opera Grand Rapids. Besides performing and studying, Joe relishes select Lake Michigan beaches, conquering Nintendo villains and race courses, and cavorting with his 15 month old niece, Lola.
		Lindsay Guelzo (Edna, a Mother, Hotel Onlooker) has appeared on the Civic stage in Wizard Of Oz, Peter Pan, and Cinderella. Lindsay has also worked with C.A.R.E. and was in Rock Vespers at Welsch. She has also choreographed Grease at Comstock Park and Union High Schools.
		Amy Henry (Mazeppa, Miss Cratchitt) was last seen in Civic Theatre's production of Scrooge as Mrs. Cratchit. Amy has appeared in many CT shows including Really Rosie, Annie Get Your Gun, How to Eat Like a Child, and Sleeping Beauty. She has also worked at Circle Theatre and was a musical theatre major at Western Michigan University. Amy is currently employed with Spectrum Health. She thanks her family for all they have done.
		Tappy Nectarine Henry (Chowsie) is an eight-year-old Chihuahua mix who is making her stage debut. Tappy's hobbies include eating carrots, spending as much time under blankets as possible, and following her mom, Amy, around the house.
		Silas Kachman (Hamlet and Newsboy) comes back to the Civic Theater after appearing in The Velveteen Rabbit. Silas has appeared in many short films and plays at GVSU, including The Merchant Of Venice and Big River. He has also taken many classes with the Civic Theatre's School of Theatre Arts. He is a 6th grader at Blandford.
		Justine A. Klein (Agnes, Waitress) is making her Civic stage debut with Gypsy but has appeared in La Cage Aux Folles and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Circle Theatre. Justine was also in her high school productions of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Crimes Of The Heart and is currently directing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat there.
		Amy E. McDaniel (Tesse Tura) has performed on the Civic Stage most recently as "Ghost of Christmas Past" in Scrooge. Amy was also seen as "Jane" in The Women. Other Civic shows include Camelot, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella (98), The Sound of Music and Rebecca. Amy has also appeared with Circle Theatre, Actor's Theatre, Opera Grand Rapids, Caledonia Community Players and LLC. She is a REALTOR with Five Star Real Estate.
		Wyndham Mead (Georgie, Kansas, Burgeron-Cochon) is making his Civic debut with Gypsy. Wyndham has appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Hamilton Community Theatre and A Christmas Carol with Saugatuck Players. He also has performed at Saugatuck High School in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He takes voice lesions with Linda Dykstra at Hope College and majored in acting and film at the Savannah College of Art and Design Summer Seminar.
		Noddea Moore (Electra) is performing in her first show ever with Gypsy. Noddea sang the National Anthem as Michigan's delegate to the Miss America chorus for the 2003 Miss America Pageant. She is the Executive Director of the Miss Spirit of the State scholarship program and has performed at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
		Jenna Pope (Baby Louise) last appeared at Civic in Scrooge and as "The Little Girl" in Ragtime. Other Civic shows include The Wizard of Oz, The Velveteen Rabbit and Cinderella (03). Jenna is a member of the Opera Grand Rapids Children's Chorus and a current member of Civic's School of Theatre Arts. She has also worked with Flat River Community Players and Ionia Community Theatre. Jenna is in the 7th Grade at Forest Hills Central Middle School.
		Katie Rancourt (Baby June) is a 5th grader at Explorer Elementary school in Kentwood. She loves to dance and previously danced with the School of Grand Rapids ballet and Dance Dimensions and now attends Lakeshore Ballet Arts and GVSU ballet. She has attended the Civics theater workshops in the summers and this is her second performance with the Civic She was in the children's production" The Adventures of Madeline" and loved it. She will attend Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp on scholarship this summer. Katie would like to especially thank her family for being so supportive, Laurie V. Kathy W for their encouragement, Toni D. for being a great dance teacher, and Penny for giving her this awesome opportunity.
		Ashli Roberts (Delores) was recently seen as "Isabel" in Scrooge and was a member of the ensemble in last season's Cinderella here at Civic. Ashli is a junior at Grand Valley State University where she has appeared in The Vagina Monologues, Idiots Delight and The Merchant of Venice. She also appeared in Much Ado about Nothing at the Elk Grove Center for the Performing Arts in Chicago. She has recently done commercials for Brann's Steakhouse and Family Christian Book Stores.
		Johnny Stellard (Tulsa) first appeared at Civic in the 1999 Production of Scrooge and was most recently seen in this year's production Scrooge. Johnny has also appeared in Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan and Anne of Green Gables. He is a member of the School of Theatre Arts and Creative Arts Repertory Ensemble. He attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp last summer where he received the department's Outstanding Camper Award. Johnny is currently a junior at East Grand Rapids High School where he has appeared in Les Miserables and 42nd Street.
		Marianna Szczepkowski (a Mother, Hotel Onlooker, Geraldine) is performing for the first time on the Civic stage. Marianna has appeared in Kenowa Hills High School's productions of Pirates of Penzance, M*A*S*H, The Music Man, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Anything Goes. She was also on her school's dance team and has performed in numerous talent shows and concerts.
		Steve Taber (Herbie) first appeared on Civic's stage thirty years ago in Journey's End. Since then, he appeared in many shows including The Foreigner, Black Comedy, Amadeus, Annie Get Your Gun, and South Pacific. Steve was the former President of the Board for Actor's Theatre, serving 14 years. At Actor's he appeared in many shows including Pacific Overtures, Assassins, All in the Timing, and Fifth of July. He has also appeared at Circle Theatre in Follies, See How They Run, Charley's Aunt, Applause and directed Over the River and Through the Woods, Arsenic and Old Lace and The Foreigner.
		Aubry Talbott (Louise) has appeared at Civic in Ragtime. Aubry has also been seen in Bat Boy and Rocky Horror Picture Show at Actors' Theatre, La Cage Aux Folles and Baby at Circle Theatre and The Crucible at Heritage. She is a part of the Cabaret group "Heart & Music" with her great friends. She has also take voice lessons with Kathy Wagner. She would like to thank her parents, sister, and new brother for their constant love and support.
		Martha Tinker (Balloon Girl) is in kindergarten at Wealthy Elementary. Martha is a member of the School of Theatre Arts, taking Kids Combo and Kids Play Kamp. This is Martha's debut on the Civic stage. Her favorite hobbies are playing with Barbies and Polly Pockets and going to the theatre.
		Jana Veldheer (Dainty June) first appeared at Civic in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and since then appeared in The Sound Of Music, Cinderella, and was hair and make-up assistant for The Women. Jana was nominated for a Grand Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for Frontinbras at GRCC and won a Grand Award as part of the Outstanding Ensemble for Dining Room at GRCC. She has appeared in commercials for Baker College and the Amway Grand Plaza. Jana is the older sister of well-known Civic actress Laurie Veldheer.
		Luke Virkstis ( L.A.) has performed in Scrooge and with the Civic's Traveling Troupe in the original adaptation of The Tomato Collection. He has also worked on several backstage crews at Civic. Luke has been a member of the GRCT School of Theatre Arts for many years. His past performance credits include The Music Man, A Christmas Carol and Annie. He is a freshman at Kenowa Hills High School.
		Michael Visser (Yonkers) made his debut in The Velveteen Rabbit and also appeared in The Hardy Boys. Michael has also done work with the Holland Civic Theatre and Hope's Summer Repertory Theatre, performing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Wizard of Oz.
		Kathy Wagner (Rose) is well known for her mastery of a variety of styles and musical genres. She has performed jazz, standards, pop, opera, and musical theatre in every type of venue from pig races to the classroom to the concert stage. A recipient of numerous awards, she was notable the silver medalist at the American Traditions Singing Competition in Savannah, Georgia. Recordings include The Pink Album, Not Since Prom, Taking a Chance on Love, and I Love a Piano. She has won Grand Awards for Sweeney Todd here at Civic and Beehive and Passion at Circle. Her most recent concert was opening for Bob Newhart in Chicago to a sold-out house. She has a terrific husband of 27 years and two wonderful daughters who love when she sings, but even more when she cooks.
		Gary Walker (Papa, Mr. Goldstone, Cigar) last performed in Madeline and has also performed with Civic in Kiss Me Kate and The Velveteen Rabbit. He serves as President on the GRCT Board, He also is a board member for Festival. This summer Gary will join the board of the American Association of Community Theatre as Treasurer. He is employed by Lacks enterprises as Director of MIS. "Thanks to Jan, as always, and Penny for trying to make me an actor."
		Mikey Winslow (Angie) is making his debut on Civic's stage. At East Grand Rapids High School, Michael performed in 42nd Street and Les Miz. He danced with the Creative Arts Repertory Ensemble for 10 years and was principle dancer in Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Michael also toured Europe with the Blue Lake International Ensemble. He has studied voice with Kathy Wagner and Margi Dirks Peterson. Currently a Freshman at Hope College, Michael would like to thank his parents for their support.
		Elise Witt (Hotel Onlooker, Marjorie May) debuted in Civic's production of Scrooge: The Musical. She has also performed with GACC, FRCP, Rockford High School, and Circle Theatre. She was named Outstanding Freshman and Sophomore soloist and Rockford High School. She would like to thank her voice instructors Sherry Lee Allen, Joyce Kash, and Dave Duiven.