Richard Auvil
(Bass – Mid-Life2)
Richard Auvil, a multi-instrumentalist taught high school music for 33 years and now performs regularly throughout the area. He is a section bassist with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, and has played for many professional and amateur musical theater productions. His past experience includes professional productions by the Clarion Sawmill Summer Theater, Saint Vincent College, Mount Aloysius College, the Band Of Brothers, the Keystone Repertory Theatre, and numerous school musical productions. As a bassist, Rick has previously accompanied the professionals here at the Mountain Playhouse during productions of Sister Amnesia’s Country Western Nunsense Jamboree and Mid-Life The Crisis Musical! and is happy to play for this hilarious follow-up!
MIMI BESSETTE
(The Irish and How They Got That Way)
Mimi is thrilled to be back at Mountain Playhouse. Her Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include: Bonnie & Clyde (Emma), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Dawn), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey) and Smoke on the Mountain (Denise). Frist national tour credits include Soul Doctor (Mother), Parade (Ensemble), Keep On The Sunny Side (Maybelle Carter), Big River (Ensemble) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Angel). She has performed lead roles at almost all the major regional theaters across the U.S. in shows such as A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Woody Sez, Duck Commander, Church Basement Ladies, Cowgirls, Always…Patsy Cline, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, The Buddy Holly Story, Blood Brothers, Nunsense, Pump Boys and Dinettes, WMKS I & II and Woody Guthrie’s American Song. Her film/TV credits include Annie (opposite Jamie Foxx) and Difficult People (opposite Andrea Martin). Mimi sang with Bruce Springsteen as part of a Woody Guthrie celebration with The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is featured on the cast albums of Bonnie & Clyde, Keep on The Sunny Side and Woody Guthrie’s American Song. Her album Lullabies of Broadway was nominated for Best Children’s Album (New York Music Awards). Her latest recording is Lullabies of Broadway Act II. Both lullaby albums were recently picked up by the Grammy Award winning record label: Broadway Records. They are available on iTunes and at broadwayrecords.com.
Michael Blagys
(Lighting Designer – fall)
Michael Busija
(Synthesizer – Mid-Life2)
Michael is beginning his ninth year as the Minister of Music at Saint David’s Lutheran Church in Davidsville, Pennsylvania. While studying music with a concentration in organ and theater at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he was a piano student of Nicolo Sartori and an organ student of the late Dr. Carol Teti. As a professional musician, he enjoys playing for numerous musical theater productions as well as many chorus concerts throughout the year. Mr. Busija maintains a very busy voice and piano studio located in Leechburg, Pennsylvania at Murphy’s Music Center. He is thrilled to back for his tenth show and more musical escapades and random shenanigans with Terry and the gang.
It’s always a joy to make theater come alive at the Mountain Playhouse in the beautiful Laurel Highlands.
PATTY CARNEVALI
(Executive Director)
Patty holds a bachelors in drama lit from Wheaton College in Norton, MA and a masters in arts administration from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. She arrived in Johnstown, PA in 1990 to serve as the first executive director of the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. She worked for the Johnstown Area Heritage Association for three years and spent 7 years working as festival co-ordinator for the Flood City Music Festival.
JOE CASEY
(Johnny Cash in Million Dollar Quartet)
Joe is excited and honored to make his Mountain Playhouse debut and thrilled to return to the role of Johnny Cash in Million Dollar Quartet after record breaking runs at Florida Studio Theatre and The Majestic Theater. Other regional roles include The Bridges of Madison County (Robert Kincaid), The Crucible (John Proctor), Nite Club Confidential (Buck Holden), Assassins (Czolgosz), Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis). Joe played The Pharaoh in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His New York credits include the premiere of Allen Wilder 2.0 (Michael) and The Great American Backstage Musical (Johnny Brash) TV: The Knick, A Crime To Remember and The Hunt with John Walsh.
REBEL CLODI
(Scenic charge artist/shop)
Rebel is a recent graduate of Iowa State University. While there, she studied technical theatre with an emphasis in props design and management. During the school year, she worked as Properties Master for Iowa State University. In addition to school shows, she also worked as a scenic artist for Cedar Rapids Opera Company, and as a Props Manager for Iowa Stage Theatre Company. Her most recent shows include The Lion in Winter and Disgraced. She is excited to be in Pennsylvania for the summer working with the Mountain Playhouse.
JASON COHEN
(The Irish and How They Got That Way)
Jason is a New York City-based actor, writer, and music director. National Tours include: Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet. Regional credits include: Williamstown, Ogunquit, Gateway, Mason Street, Argyle, Westchester Broadway, Penobscot, Surflight. His TV credits include: “Rise”. Jason leads a Jerry Lee Lewis tribute show called Great Balls of Fire. He has written songs and other material for theatre, web, and movies, yet he struggles with writing his own bio. Better to visit his website JasonCohenOnline.com for more info. Thanks to Larry, Teresa, and the whole Mountain Playhouse production team. Love to friends, new and old, that are part of this project. For Lori Gilbert-Kaye.
J.D. DAW
(George in Don’t Dress for Dinner and Gabe in Things My Mother Taught Me)
J.D. is returning for his fifth summer. Previous Mountain Playhouse shows include Moon Over the Brewery, I Love You, You’re Perfect…, Comedy of Tenors, The Affections of May, One Slight Hitch and Who’s Under Where? J.D. had the chance to return to his alma mater, Penn State, this past winter to play the role of George in Sunday in the Park with George for FUSE Productions. Other regional credits include Spamalot (Sir Dennis Galahad), Forever Plaid (Jinx), The Music Man (Jacey Squires), and Funny Girl (Ziegfeld Tenor) for North Shore Music Theatre; Next to Normal (Dr. Madden) for TheaterWorks Hartford. The Music Man (Jacey Squires) for the MUNY St. Louis and for Sacramento Music Circus; and Rags (Irish Tenor/Sal understudy) for Goodspeed Opera House. J.D. played Jinx in Forever Plaid for the inaugural productions of both the Cosmopolitan Cabaret in Sacramento and the Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret. J.D. has also performed twice for Flat Rock Playhouse in their Music on the Rock Series singing a tribute to Frankie Valli and just recently sang a gala event for UNICEF in Houston, TX.
LUKE DARNELL
(The Irish and How They Got That Way and Carl Perkins in Million Dollar Quartet)
A fourth-generation performer and 3rd-generation Actors Equity member, Luke is pleased to make his Mountain Playhouse debut. His family legacy includes vaudeville, Broadway and film/TV and he has enjoyed the privilege of performing with his mother, father, step-father, brother and aunt. He dedicates this performance to his singing, songwriting Irish great-grandmother, Grace McDermott. Most recently, Luke was seen Off-Broadway playing 8 characters and 5 instruments (6 if you count one note on the triangle) in The Other Josh Cohen. Other NYC credits include Cyrano de Bergerac (Christian) and The Goree AllGirl String Band (Nelson Olmsted). Las Vegas: Million Dollar Quartet (Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash). Favorite regional roles include The Understudy (Jake), End Of The Rainbow (Mickey Deans), Buddy (Norm Petty), MDQ (Perkins, Cash, Phillips), Oliver! (Bill Sykes), Ring Of Fire and many others. TV/film: Gotham, Ghost Whisperer, General Hospital, Momsters and many low-budget movies (that you probably haven’t seen) as actor and stunt performer. www.lukedarnell.com
RHONDA EASH
(System Administrator)
Rhonda has been working behind the scenes of the Mountain Playhouse for 16 years. She’s a native of Billings, Montana and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Montana, Missoula, Montana. Rhonda has always loved music and theater. She played percussion professionally for the Billings Symphony Orchestra, played with the Forest Hills Community Band, and enjoyed playing in the Pit Orchestra for her high school musical production of Guys & Dolls. When she’s not working hard at keeping the Mountain Playhouse office technology humming, she’s busy at home with her two young boys, singing in the church choir, quilting with friends, and leading her group of Cub Scouts.
MARY EHLINGER
(5/31/1889: The Flood)
Mary treasures every performing opportunity at Mountain Playhouse since 2001. She has many regional theatre & NY credits. Mary is resident music director for Fireside Theatre (WI) and Artistic Director of Play-by-Play Theatre in Green Bay (2017 & 2018 Broadway World Regional Award) co-founded with her late husband. PbP partnered with the city to create “Theatre In The Park” and this past June presented its inaugural performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (directed by daughter Carolyn!) www.Playbyplaytheatre.org
MICHAEL J. FARINA
(Bernard in Don’t Dress for Dinner, Max in Things My Mother Taught Me and Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeIn Here For?)
Michael is pleased to be making his Mountain Playhouse debut! He had a blast working earlier this year at the Riverside Theater in Vero Beach, FL, where he played Jamie, sidekick to Doolittle in My Fair Lady, directed by James Brennan. Broadway credits include: In My Life – Al (God), Music Box; Seussical the Musical – Grandpa Who (u/s – Horton), Richard Rogers; A Christmas Carol – Mr. Fezziwig, Madison Square Garden; My Fair Lady – Jamie (u/s – Karparthy), Virginia Theatre; and Fiddler On The Roof – Nachum (u/s – Mordcha), Gershwin Theatre. Off-B’way: Come Light My Cigarette – Kevin, with Theater at St. Clement’s, Fanny Hill – Mr. Sneed/Barville, at the York Theatre, and Philemon – Cockian, with Music in a Box/28th St. Theater. Regional Favorites: Man of La Mancha – Sancho, and Guys and Dolls – Nicely Nicely Johnson, both with Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Pirates of Penzance – Samuel, Guthrie Theatre; Kiss Me, Kate – Gangster #1, Houston’s TUTS; Sweet Charity – Herman, North Shore Music Theatre; Urinetown – Officer Barrel, Geva Theater Center; and Oliver – Mr. Bumble, Gateway Playhouse. Film/TV: Melinda and Melinda (Woody Allen, dir) and All My Children (ABC TV). Michael thanks his agents at TKO and his family for their continued support. www.michaeljfarina.com.
JACOB FARKUS
(Production Stage Manager The Irish and How They Got That Way and Things My Mother Taught Me)
Jacob is returning for his second season at the Mountain Playhouse and is thrilled for the chance to stage manage as a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
NANCY GINDLESPERGER
(Box Office)
Nancy lives in Hollsopple, PA. She has four adult children, a daughter that lives in the state of Indiana and three boys that live in Davidsville and Tire Hill. She has 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. After 35 years working at the US Postal Service, she retired as postmaster of the Davidsville Post Office in 2012. Since then she has been enjoying the retired lifestyle of doing what she likes to do … traveling and volunteering. Nancy volunteers at the St. Francis Caring and Sharing Thrift Shoppe in Davidsville. She belongs to the Classic Clown Club of Johnstown and has been known as “Fancy Pants” the clown since 1998. Her travels take her to the state of Indiana, Pittsburgh, Calabash, NC and anywhere that looks interesting.
LYSSIA ROUSSEL GIROUX
Lyssia is delighted to be back with the Mountain Playhouse Theatre team for her second season. Previous productions include Million Dollar Quartet, Life Could Be a Dream, Who’s Under Where? and The Affections of May with Mountain Playhouse. She recently worked at ONSTAGE N.Y as a production manager while also balancing seasonal work as a rigger for the Orange County Convention Center and ENCORE, and quartermaster for Disco Donnie Presents festivals like Ubbi Dubbi, Freaky Deaky, and Sunset Music Festival. She would like to thank her family for always supporting her and the Haverdean’s for helping her find her way to greater opportunities. She is a native of Quebec City, Canada, now residing year round in Orlando, Florida.
CHAN HARRIS
(Director of Don’t Dress for Dinner and Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?)
CHRISTOPHER HARROD
(Carter in Things My Mother Taught Me and Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?)
Christopher is thrilled to be back at Mountain Playhouse! Christopher has had the great pleasure of being a professional actor for more than 35 years, working in almost every genre in theatre across the country. Credits include The Last Adam (Off-Broadway), The New Yorkers (Town Hall-NYC), Some Sweet Day (Goodspeed @ Chester), The Bridges of Madison County (Farmers Alley Theatre), Driving Miss Daisy (Mountain Playhouse, Lyric Theatre of OK.), Midlife-The Crisis Musical (Mountain Playhouse); Chicago, Chess, Big River, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma); ART (OKC Theatre Co.), Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Mockingbird Theatre), Othello, Twelfth Night, Lost In Yonkers, Some Sweet Day (Tennessee Rep company member), and The Duck Commander Musical (The Rio-Las Vegas). Christopher is also an acting teacher who has helped his students get into theatrical training programs such as Carnegie Mellon, California Institute of the Arts, Baldwin Wallace, Point Park, NYU Tisch, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, University of Minnesota-Guthrie, and The University of Michigan to name a few. Television credits include: Bull (CBS), Younger (TVLand), and Elvis: The Rockin’ Years (ABC) to name a few. He would like to thank Teresa, Guy and Jacob for having him back and including him in both of these amazing productions. Love and thanks to his family – Cyndi, Ronn, Dalton and Kellan, for always saying “Go For It!” and to his agents at The Price Group for always having his back. Enjoy!
CONNIE HAY
(House Manager)
FREDERIC HERINGES
(Bernard in Don’t Dress for Dinner, Max in Things My Mother Taught Me, Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?, Storyteller in 5/31/1889: The Flood and Sam Phillips in Million Dollar Quartet)
Frederic made his Broadway debut in 1993 as a principal actor in The Phantom of the Opera, also performing with its Toronto, San Francisco, and National Touring companies for many years. He studied acting and stage directing at The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in California. This summer will be his seventh season at the Mountain Playhouse. His performance experience pretty much covers all the performing disciplines, except classical ballet (you don’t want to see that…): grand opera, operetta, music theater, theater, film, and television. As an educator, in 2019-2020 he will be guest artist/director for his third year at North Dakota State University (Fargo) Challey School of Music Opera Program, third year with Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) Opera Workshop, and in his fifth year as stage director for the Fargo/Moorhead Opera Company and its Young Artist Program. www.Frederic-Heringes.com
CLARK HOSTETTER
(Business Manager)
Clark loves working with numbers and people as the Mountain Playhouse’s contracted business manager. Creating and analyzing budgets, checking on payroll, or reviewing monthly financial reports are what make him tick. He runs Action Accounting (a local CPA firm) and can often be found at his children’s sporting events or school musicals. Although income taxes are his specialty, he also enjoys riding his bicycle, taking a walk with his wife, or driving the church van on the weekends. A graduate of Messiah College, he moved to the Laurel Highlands 20 years ago and married his college sweetheart. His favorite Mountain Playhouse musical so far is “Smoke on the Mountain” because of its quaint humor and out-of-this-world musicians.
JOY JACOBS
(Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?)
JAY AUBREY JONES
(Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?)
Jay previously appeared at Mountain Playhouse in To Kill a Mockingbird. Broadway audiences have seen him as Mr. Twimble and Wally Womper in How to Succeed… (’95) and Old Deuteronomy in Cats. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Crab Man in Porgy and Bess and was seen in the Australian company of the Harold Prince/Susan Stroman production of Show Boat. He was recently seen Off-Broadway in Lolita, My Love. His numerous regional theatre credits include The Drowsy Chaperone, Anything Goes and Gotham! (Goodspeed Musicals), Assassins (Yale Repertory Theatre), How to Succeed… (La Jolla Playhouse), Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill (Luna Stage Company), Boesman and Lena (New Jersey Theatre Forum) and seven seasons with Seaside Music Theater. His film and television credits include Shortcut to Happiness, “To Tell the Truth,” “Gotham,” “The Michael J. Fox Show,” “One Life to Live,” “Another World,” “All My Children,” “Guiding Light” and “The Edge of Night.” A graduate of Syracuse University, Jay Aubrey Jones gained some notoriety as the voice behind the “laurel/yanni” internet debate.
KYLE JURASSIC
(Elvis Presley in Million Dollar Quartet)
Kyle Jurassic (Elvis Presley) is thrilled to be making his Mountain Playhouse Debut! He is a graduate of Cornerstone University and holds a Bachelor’s of Music Performance. Most recently, Kyle has been running around the country playing Buddy in various productions of The Buddy Holly Story, as well as hosting “The Aspiring Actor’s Guide to New York” on YouTube. Kyle has performed at various regional theatres including The Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, The Palace Theatre in Wisconsin, Hamilton Stage, Hershey Park, Farmers Alley Theatre, and various theaters throughout Michigan. Previous credits include Million Dollar Quartet, Rock of Ages, Catch Me If You Can, Spamalot, Forever Plaid, The Wedding Singer, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson!, Little Shop of Horrors, Altar Boyz, Avenue Q, Grease, and Hit Her With The Skates. www.kylejurassic.com
BRANDON LAMBERT
(Fluke, drummer, in Million Dollar Quartet)
Brandon is returning for his second show with the Mountain Playhouse. A graduate of West Virginia University, he has been teaching and performing in the local area for the past 11 years. He currently directs the praise band for First Christian Church in Somerset.
LAURENCE LAU
(Robert in Don’t Dress for Dinner and Wyatt in Things My Mother Taught Me)
Larry is happy to be back at the Mountain Playhouse for his fifth summer having performed in Chapter Two, Deathtrap, Too Many Cooks, Social Security, Caught in the Net, Who’s Under Where?, The Affections of May and One Slight Hitch. Last season Larry performed the lead role in The Keen Company’s critically acclaimed Later Life Off-Broadway. Other New York credits include Lincoln Center Dada Woof Papa Hot, Cherry Lane Psycho Therapy, Bleecker Street Theatre and National Tour of The Exonerated. He was in the first national Broadway tour of August: Osage County, starring Estelle Parson as well as the European premiere of The Goat or Who is Sylvia? directed by Pam MacKinnon at the Vienna English Theatre. He has played numerous roles at regional theaters throughout the U.S. Larry began his long television career with appearances on such classics as Happy Days, Eight is Enough, and The Waltons. More recent credits include Blue Bloods, Elementary, Law & Order, HBO’s Too Big to Fail, JAG, Frasier, Upstate (pilot, lead). He first became known as Greg Nelson on All My Children, and was also a contract player on Another World, and One Life to Live.
ROSEMARY LOAR
(Jacqueline in Don’t Dress for Dinner, Lydia in Things My Mother Taught Me and Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?)
Rosemary is a veteran of six Broadway and four Off- Broadway shows. Her favorite regional roles are Mama Rose, Mame, Vivian Bearing (Wit), and Aoife (Outside Mullingar), Ivy (Fair and Tender Ladies: Phoebe award best actress), Carlotta (Phantom of the Opera), and Miss Shields (A Christmas Story play version). Rosemary had a co-star appearance on Netflix: Friends From College. She is a concert and cabaret artist and has sung at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, and with the Raleigh North Carolina Symphony. In 2012, Ms. Loar received the Hansen Award for continued excellence in cabaret. Ms. Loar is a composer/lyricist/librettist and three of her shows have been produced Off-Broadway: Sting*chronicity (at Joe’s Pub), Water From The Moon (Urban Stages) and Spoolie Girl (The Actors Temple). All three books were co-written with Robert W. Atwood. She has recorded with Sting and is on the cast albums of Once Upon A Mattress, Chess and Sunset Boulevard. Ms Loar has six CD’s of jazz standards, original music and jazz available on iTunes or www.rosemaryloar.com
DENICE CAFEO LOHR
(Box Office Manager) Denice has worked for the Mountain Playhouse for over 2 decades. Some of her other careers include being as geological draftsman for L. Robert Kimball, an orthodontic assistant for Doctors Blough, Little, and Dudas. She owned and operated Denice’s Hobby Haven in Johnstown, Somerset and Berlin Pa. She has served as a school administrator and teacher, including at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. She has worked as a ski instructor for 32 years at Hidden Valley and three years at Seven Springs. She was also a consultant and a director for Pampered Chef. For 36 years, she has been an ordained minister and pastor of Spirit Life Ministries in Johnstown. Her greatest blessings are her 5 children and their spouses, and 13 grandchildren.
JUSTINE MAGNUSSON
(The Irish and How They Got That Way, Suzette in Don’t Dress for Dinner and Olivia in Things My Mother Taught Me)
Justine is thrilled to be back at the Mountain Playhouse! Previous MP credits include Smoke on the Mountain, One Slight Hitch, and Too Many Cooks. New York credits include Peter, Who?, Searching for Romeo (New York Musical Festival). National Tour: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Whistle Down the Wind. World Premieres/workshops: Home Street Home (Z Space, San Francisco), At First Site (Mountain Playhouse), ZM (O’Neill Theatre Centre). TV/FILM: “The Fantastic Adventures of Foolish Gentlemen”, “Aberrant”, “Harvey’s Last Night on the Avenue” (upcoming). Justine is a member of Actor’s Equity Association and a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She is also a singer/songwriter. @Justine.Magnusson. Thank you to Teresa, Guy, Larry, Chan and the entire cast & crew.
MATT MARAFINO
(Production Stage Manager Don’t Dress for Dinner and Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?)
TERESA MARAFINO
TERESA STOUGHTON MARAFINO (Producer) grew up at the Mountain Playhouse, founded by her father, Jimmie, and her Aunt Louise in 1939. She became a producer along with her sister, Mary Louise, and mother, Terry, in 1987. In 1997, she oversaw the conversion of the theater company to a non-profit corporation. Teresa serves as the president of the 1901 Church which launched The Steeple Project in 2012 and she serves on the Johnstown Symphony Board of Trustees. She is also active with the Arts Coalition of the Alleghenies, Laurel Arts Book Club, the Somerset Chamber of Commerce as well as the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra Auxiliaries. In addition, Teresa, along with her husband Matt, produced three children: Elizabeth, James and Michael who have all caught the theater bug. David Fiola from Long Island, New York joined the family when he married Elizabeth in 2014.
PAULA NIHOFF
(Box Office)
Paula has been a season ticket holder at The Mountain Playhouse for about 35 years. She has always loved theater and feels so blessed to have this professional theater in the area. After a 33 year career as President/CEO of HealthCare First Credit Union she wanted to keep her brain active. So when she read the season brochure from The Mountain Playhouse three years ago and we were asking for help in different areas she thought it was God sending a message. So she called, went for an interview and here she is. She loves talking with our patrons and assisting them with tickets and working with wonderful impressive people, who have a dedication to this theater. “I hope “our” theater is around for another 80 years and I will be in “my” seat.”
TERRY OSMAN
(Piano, Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?)
Terry returns to the Mountain Playhouse for his 42nd season as pianist and conductor. “Mid-Life 2” is his 87th musical production in Jennerstown. In those same 42 years, Terry has played more than 150 musicals at local high schools and universities and has played many concerts with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.
Osman has served on the music staff at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bedford since 1993 and is presently director of the Anthem Choir and Bell Choir. He is a private instructor of piano and voice, as well as a published composer of sacred choral, piano, organ and handbell works.
KIMBERLY PUKAY
(Lighting Designer – summer)
Kimberly is currently finishing her Undergraduate degree in Theatre Design/ Production with a minor in Business Administration at Niagara University. Outside of her school work she has been a designer for four of O’Connell and Company’s productions in Buffalo NY including, Little Shop of Horrors and Act of God. She also has worked as a Production Assistant and Stagehand at the University at Buffalo Center for Performing Arts and Buffalo State College. As an NU student she has designed both Recent Tragic Events and Some Girl(s) and assistant designed, House of Bernarda Alba, Is He Dead? and Legally Blonde. She is incredibly excited to work on her first season with Mountain Playhouse and is looking forward to a wonderful season with the entire cast and staff!
LINDA PUGH
(Bookkeeper)
Linda has worked in the business office for the last 6 years. She began her new career after graduating from Allegheny College of Maryland (Somerset campus) with an associate degree in business management. She was previously employed for 26 years in the office of a local manufacturing company which closed when manufacturing was sent to China. Working at the Mountain Playhouse has been a learning and new experience – quite different from the manufacturing world. Off-season, she enjoys volunteering hours weekly doing tax returns thru the VITA tax program.
KATHLEEN QUINN
(Box Office)
Kathy is a retired registered nurse who has experienced 40 years in various roles in her career. Through the years, her roles included staff nurse on a medical-surgical unit, PACU, Intensive Care, nursing supervisor, nurse manager, and unit director. While working, she is proud that she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Nursing, Her hobbies include travel, theatre, reading, gardening, and listening to various music genres. She is thoroughly enjoying retirement, including this new opportunity as part of the Mountain Playhouse box office team which has afforded her the opportunity to meet many new, interesting people, and to run into many old friends and acquaintances. Last but not least, she has the opportunity to enjoy all of the amazing talent of the Mountain Playhouse performers on stage!
MYRA G REAVIS
(Scene Designer)
Myra is honored to be working with such a dedicated team of artists on this production of 5/31/1889: The Flood. Currently, she is an MFA candidate in Northwestern University’s Stage Design program. Her university design credits include Machinal, Peter and the Star Catcher and A Chorus Line (Northwestern). Other design credits include Sunday in the Park with George (SUNY Cortland, Dowd Theatre), The Threepenny Opera ( Playwrights Horizons Theatre School NYU), Look of Love: A Burt Bacharach Musical Review (Tibbits Opera House) and The Children’s Hours (Webster University, Studio Theatre). In 2015, Myra was awarded the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Richard L. Hay design fellowship. At OSF she worked as a design fellow and scenic assistant for the 2015 season. Myra has her BFA in Scenic Design from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.
KAREN RIDILLA
(Group Sales Manager)
Karen started working at the Mountain Playhouse in 1993 as the snack bar manager. Then began working as an assistant to the group sales manager and in 1999 became the group sales manager. “I love working with and meeting people from all over the world. I have 3 children and 5 beautiful granddaughters ranging in age from one year old to eighteen years old.”
LISA RIEGEL
(Suzanne in Don’t Dress for Dinner, Karen in Things My Mother Taught Me and Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?)
Lisa is delighted to return to Mountain Playhouse, where she has performed in shows across seven seasons. Most recently, she appeared in The Affections of May, Who’s Under Where?, Church Basement Ladies: The Last Potluck Supper, and Caught in the Net. Her favorite credits include Mallorca (Abingdon Theatre, NYC), Dodsworth (Metropolitan Playhouse, NYC), Believe (York Theatre Company, NYC), The Miracle Worker (Judson Theatre Co., NC), The Medium (Sorg Opera, OH) and Meet Me in St. Louis (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, NY). Lisa’s film credits include Halloween Was Already Taken and Big Day Coming.
SARA SAWYER
(Storyteller in 5/31/1889: The Flood and Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet)
This is Sara’s 9th season with Mountain Playhouse. Favorite roles here include Dyanne in “Million Dollar Quartet”, Signe in “Church Basement Ladies”, and Suzy in “The Marvelous Wonderettes”. When Sara is not performing she teaches performing arts all over the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota where she currently resides. Favorite roles performed in New York city are Marilynn Morgan in “The Cabaret Girl” with Musicals Tonight! And originating the role of Kissin’ Kate Barlow in “Holes with the BMI workshop. She also be debuted the role of Yoya in the opera “Nooma” with Minnesota Opera this year. This theater is her home away from home and she’s extremely excited to be back again!
TOM J SCHALLER
Tom is thrilled to be returning to the Mountain Playhouse, having worked as an actor, stage manager, and director from the 1995 to 2009 seasons. Tom is an alumnus of Point Park University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Tom has performed in Lincoln Park’s productions of Big Fish (Amos), A Christmas Carol (Scrooge), The Sound of Music (Captain Von Trapp), White Christmas (Bob Wallace), Oklahoma! (Jud Fry), The Odd Couple (Oscar Madison) and Joseph…Dreamcoat (Pharaoh, Ishmaelite). He has also directed all four productions of A Christmas Story at Lincoln Park, and served as the dialect coach for several more. Tom has been acting in and around Pittsburgh for the past 25 years with such companies as The Pittsburgh Playhouse, City Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh CLO, CLO Cabaret, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Saint Vincent’s Theatre, Quantum Theatre, West Virginia Public Theatre, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre and The Theatre Factory. He is currently the Director of Theatre for the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, and has directed 16 plays for the students at LPPACS, including the recent production of Miracle on 34th Street.
RICHARD STILLMAN
(The Irish and How They Got That Way)
On Broadway, Richard played the Clerk of Oxford in Canterbury Tales and understudied Mummenschanz. His show, The Spirit of Vaudeville, won the Best Concert Award at the United Solo Theater Festival in NYC. Richard was featured on the premier episode of the PBS Television Series Shining Time Station. He received critical acclaim for his performance in Lady Be Good at the Kennedy Center and the Goodspeed Opera House. Regional productions include Take it From the Top with Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Hamlet with Rip Torn and Geraldine Page, Twelfth Night, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mother Courage, Peter and the Starcatcher and Man of La Mancha. Richard tours his own shows that combine music, acting, storytelling and percussive dance. He also plays with his Irish, country, bluegrass and Dixieland bands. He majored in theater at Dartmouth College and studied further at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and with Michael Howard. Find him on the web at richardstillman.com.
GUY STROMAN
(Director Things My Mother Taught Me and 5/31/1889:The Flood) Guy has directed acclaimed productions of The Glass Menagerie, Driving Miss Daisy and Love Letters, all starring Sandy Duncan; The King and I, starring Lou Diamond Phillips (Best Production – Ft. Worth Star Telegram); Twelfth Night (Cleveland Playhouse); Man of La Mancha (Audience Favorite – California Musical Theatre); special performances for the Theatre Guild starring Lynn Redgrave, Jean Stapleton, Joy Behar; Steel Magnolias, with June Squibb; Always, Patsy Cline, starring Sally Struthers; and 1776 (Best Director – Dallas-Ft. Worth Theatre Critics Forum). He has also directed a wide range of plays, including many here at the Mountain Playhouse: ART, The Lion in Winter, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Joe Orton’s Loot (Top Ten Production – Pittsburgh Post Gazette), Boeing, Boeing, The 39 Steps (here and at the Pittsburgh CLO), The Gin Game, Ray Cooney farces Caught in the Net and Funny Money, and most recently, Lewis Black’s One Slight Hitch. Guy’s musical productions include Mame, Oliver, Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire, Murder for Two, Smoke on the Mountain, and directing/choreographing numerous long-running productions of Forever Plaid and it’s Christmas version, Plaid Tidings, including the opening productions of new theatres in Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Charlotte and Schenectady. He has directed the world premieres of Free Fall, written by and again starring Sandy Duncan for the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Sugar Down, Billie Hoak off-Broadway in New York, the musical At First Sight, You Might As Well Live, a play with music at the NY Musical Theatre Festival, and one-act play festivals for the Cherry Lane Theatre and Naked Angels/Playwrights Horizon. Guy originated the role of Frankie in the original production of Forever Plaid in New York, London’s West End, and Los Angeles, where he won best acting awards from the L.A. Drama Critics and Drama-Logue. He can be heard on that original cast album, as well as on the recordings Unsung Sondheim, Girl Crazy, The Busby Berkley Album, the London recording of The Most Happy Fella, and the Disney DVD of Aladdin and The King of Thieves.
Kevin L. Thomas
(Percussion – Mid-Life2)
Kevin is a Private Instructor of Percussion and beginning bagpipes.
As a former Drum Sergeant with High Desert Pipes and Drums of Albuquerque, he helped lead the band to several award winning venues including the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, 1997, 99, 01, 07. The Band was named grade 4B Champions in 1999. Kevin has authored a book for marching percussion. He has performed in the musicals; “Pippin”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Oklahoma”, “Working”, “South Pacific”, “Brigadoon”, and “The Sound of Music.
As a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Kevin performed in the King George’s marimba ensemble at PASIC in 1991. He designed and built his own set of xylophone and marimba for both student and professional use. Kevin has taught Elementary music for 11 years, has worked as an Assistant H.S. Band Director, Elementary Band Director, and has attended numerous National Music Teachers Conferences including MENC in Pheonix, as well as AOSA in Denver and Las Vegas.
LARRY TOBIAS
(Director The Irish and How They Got That Way and Million Dollar Quartet)
Larry is delighted to be returning to the Playhouse to help celebrate the 80th season!! Highlights from previous seasons include Smoke on the Mountain, Keep on the Sunny Side, The Foreigner, Ring Of Fire, Stand By Your Man, and many more. Larry met his wonderful wife, Kaitlin, here in 2006 and last year they welcomed their baby girl, Tashi, to their family and to the larger Mountain Playhouse family!!! Thanks to Teresa, Guy, and everyone at the Playhouse for making our time here so special. It is the highlight of our year!!
JACOB TOTH
(Choreographer Mid-Life2!#WhatDidIComeInHereFor?)
Previously at the Mountain Playhouse: Director/Choreographer: Mid-Life, The Crisis Musical. Choreographer: Joseph…, Church Basement Ladies 1, 2, 4 and 5, The Marvelous Wonderettes, The King and I, among others. Elsewhere: Broadway: Assistant Choreographer: Grease. Regional: Director/Choreographer: The Bikinis, Grease (Drammy nomination for Best Direction and Best Choreography), Sweet Charity. Choreographer: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, My Fair Lady, Hairspray (Drammy Award for Best Production), In The Heights, Guys and Dolls, Dreamgirls, Beauty and The Beast, among others. Director/Choreographer: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
REBECCA WALKER
(Assistant Stage Manager – summer)
Rebecca is excited for the opportunity to work on her first show at Mountain Playhouse. She is currently a sophomore at Loyola University of Chicago, and is studying to get a BA in theater and a BS in psychology. Previously, she has assistant stage managed Much Ado About Nothing at her university. She would like to thank all of the people at Mountain Playhouse who made this show happen. Also, she is sending much love to her caring family and friends.
LAUREN WRIGHT
(Assistant Stage Manager – summer)
(The Irish and How They Got That Way)
Lauren is thrilled to be making her Mountain Playhouse debut alongside this incredible company of actor-musicians. Most recently, Lauren played “Reza” in Once at The Fulton Theatre and Virginia Repertory Theatre after playing “Ex-Girlfriend” at The Engeman Theatre, Saint Michael’s Playhouse, and Mason Street Warehouse last year. Credits include the Mamma Mia! National Tour (Ensemble, Ali/Lisa Cover), Baby (Lizzie), Sister Act (Sister Mary Robert), She Loves Me (Amalia) and Hairspray (Penny). Lauren has also toured the country playing her violin with Cirque Musica and The Rockin’ Road to Dublin. Proud graduate of Belmont University. Huge thanks to Larry, the Mountain Playhouse team, and endless love to my family! www.lauren-wright.net
BRADLEE YOCK
(sound engineer)
Bradlee is a 24 year-old audio engineer native to the nearby town of Central City and graduate of Shade High School where he was heavily involved in the music programs that existed there. Bradlee then went on to graduate from California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commercial music technology. During his time there, he focused on live audio engineering, recording studio engineering and guitar performance. He currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he works has a freelance audio engineer. During the Autumn and Winter seasons, Bradlee also works for Windber Area School District’s competitive marching band and musical theatre department as their sound designer and audio engineer respectively. Although he moved to Pittsburgh, he is happy to have this opportunity to help bring the arts and culture of theatre to the area he is from.
Board of Directors of the Mountain Playhouse
LAURA ARGENBRIGHT
MICHELE R. BEENER
Michele is the President of Aspire Grant & Development, LLC, a full service Federal, State and private grant research/management company. Aspire is a nationally certified diverse vendor, accredited by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Additionally, the firm is a certified Women Owned Small Business, consistent with guidelines from the United States Business Administration. Michele specializes in business plan writing and development for nonprofit firms and public/private partnerships. Aspire uses IMPLAN modeling to develop a compelling economic impact model for each proposal. Michele earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Waynesburg University and a Master of Science in Business Ethics from Duquesne University. She is also happy to serve the United States Health Resources and Services Administration as a registered Federal Grant Reviewer. Over the past ten years, Michele has served various nonprofit boards, including Past President of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, Children’s Aid Home of Somerset County, and the Rotary Club of Somerset.
REV DR. JOE BEER
W. JEFFREY CAREY
Jeff is a life-long resident of Somerset and Cambria counties and believes that the Mountain Playhouse is a treasure to this area! He founded W. Jeffrey Carey & Associates in 1998 and specializes in assisting clients with a safe, secure and comfortable retirement. He enjoys boating, water and snow skiing in his spare time. He has tried to see every show with Million Dollar Quartet as his favorite so far. Looking forward to the 80th year!
JUDY CROOKSTON
Judy graduated Westmont Hilltop High School in 1969. She attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, graduating from the School of Visual Communications in 1971. Her first job was in the advertising department at Glosser Bros. where she remained for almost 25 years. While there, she began to photograph weddings, which she did until 2014. Her current photography work includes portrait and event photography, with particular emphasis on high school seniors and pets. In 2011, she became a professional Photographers of America (PPA) certified and, in 2015, earned the PPA designation of Master of Photography.
JOSEPH DOMENCIC
Joseph is a theatre artist and composer raised in Pittsburgh and now teaching at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. Over the last 25 years, he has appeared on stages across the country and regionally as an actor and music director, including numerous productions with Pittsburgh CLO and Pittsburgh Public Theater. Mountain Playhouses patrons have seen him in Glorious!, The 39 Steps, Tuesdays with Morrie, and The Glass Menagerie, for which he also wrote the incidental music. Joseph wrote the children’s musicals The Next Galileo and Beyond the Moon (co-authored with wife, Christina McCann), which have toured hundreds of schools in Western PA. Some of his favorite theatre memories have been with the Mountain Playhouse, where he is proud to serve as a board member and chair of the programming committee.