Cast of Characters
Bob Beavins (stage manager) portrayed Sergeant Meryll in our last Yeomen production, and Wilfred in the one before that. He is a past president of Thespis, Etc. and has completed the "G and S Canon," having performed in all fourteen operas over an undivulged period of time. Bob has been active with local theater groups as chorus member, principal, director, stage manager, stage crew, set builder, painter, and gofer. He studies voice with Deborah Stimson Snow.
Mike Berman (Lighting/Sound Technician) has done tech work with several community theatre companies since the early 1980s, and was an audio recordist for the Rose Tree Concert Series here at UUCDC. He has been associated with Thespis, Etc. since its inception, and has long served on its board of directors. Since retirement in 2002, Mike has been making his life-long interest in photography into his third career. He has exhibited and won prizes in many local and regional art fairs, and has shown his works in several area galleries. After his acclaimed five-word part in Thespis's recent holiday production, he has decided to creep (or crawl) back behind the scenes for another year.
Richard Brenner (Second Yeoman) is now appearing in his twelfth Thespis, Etc. production. He recently appeared for Thespis, Etc. as the Balladeer in A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol and as Lord Mountararat in last year's production, Iolanthe. Also for Ardensingers as both King Hildebrand in Princess Ida and Foreman of the Jury in Trial by Jury. He lives in Broomall with his wife Libby and his talented vocalist daughter, Jami, with whom he performs in the Philadelphia area. On Sunday evenings they may be heard at Mrs. Marty's Deli in Broomall. Richard is a practicing optometrist in Broomall.
Susan Taylor Bullock (Accompanist) is a 26-year-old vocalist/pianist/accompanist/organist/choral director. This is her first production with Thespis. Other productions include Bye Bye Birdie (Kim), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Carousel (Aunt Nettie & Louise), Into the Woods (Lucinda), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Brigadoon and Mame, as pianist for Godspell and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, music director for Trial by Jury and The Merry Widow (in production) and orchestra director for Wizard of Oz (in production). She was classically trained in vocal performance and piano at West Chester University, has performed at Carnegie Hall with the MENC All-Eastern Honors Chorus, and is the music director of her church.
Colin Dahms (Sergeant Meryll) is appearing in his second Thespis, Etc. production; the first was in The Pirates of Penzance in 2003. He has been a fan of Gilbert and Sullivan since he was a small boy, and has been singing for as long as he can remember. Colin has appeared in Ruddigore, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance (twice!) and Trial by Jury (twice!), and is also the bassist in a rock band.
William Dahms (Yeoman) is delighted to be performing in his sixth show with Thespis, Etc. This past summer he performed at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England, and hopes to return there this summer. He is a voice student of Tracy Griffie of Douglassville.
Petra DeLuca (Kate) is thrilled to be taking to the stage as "Kate" in her first production with Thespis, etc. A professional makeup artist, she is currently studying voice with Dr. Kathryn Chilcote, after a twelve year hiatus from serious music. Past vocal experience includes singing with Andrea Bocelli in L'Associazione Corale Pisana in Pisa, Italy, studying under the tutelage of Sign. Vera Magrini at the Conservatorio di Musica Clara Schumann in Collesalvetti, Italy, and touring the United States, both with Metropolis Record's Cesium127 and as "Yitzhak" in the Barrymore-nominated Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Petra can next be seen this May as a "Rapturous Maiden" in Ardensingers production of Patience.
Michael Dutka
(Wilfred) is delighted to rejoin Thespis, Etc., for the fifth season. Previous Thespis roles include Dick Deadeye in H.M.S. Pinafore, The Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance, Jupiter in Thespis, and Private Willis in Iolanthe. Other recent G&S performances include Sergeant Merril in The Yeomen of the Guard and Roderick in Ruddigore with the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Chester Country, The Mikado with the Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra, Arac in Princess Ida with the Ardensingers, and both Dick Deadeye in H.M.S. Pinafore and The Usher in Trial By Jury and with the Savoy Company. An open-minded chap, Michael has even played non-G&S parts, including The Commendatore in Don Giovanni, two Menotti roles - Mr. Gobineau in The Medium and Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Huckabee in The Fantasticks, and Emile in South Pacific. Michael lives, sings, rides horses and writes operas and dark fiction and fantasy in Doylestown, PA. He wishes to thank his singing teacher, Richard Johnson, as well as his father in memoriam, for his constant encouragement and moral support.
Paul Himmelberg (Leonard Meryll) is excited to be making his debut with Thespis, etc. He has been singing with Media Chamber Chorale for some ten years, and has performed in local productions of The Marriage of Figaro (in English), Sweeney Todd, and an abridged version of Die Fledermaus. He also sang the tenor solos for the Audubon Symphony's production of G. F. Handel's Messiah. He is the tenor soloist and section leader for St. Luke United Methodist Church in Bryn Mawr. Paul studies voice under the tutelage of Deborah Stimson-Snow.
Gabor Kari (Colonel Fairfax)
Sylvan Kesilman (Yeoman) has been a Gilbert and Sullivan fan for most of his life and has appeared in productions for many years with groups including Thespis, etc., the Rose Valley Chorus, Gilbert and Sullivan Players, and Norfolk (Va.) Savoyards. He has written articles, reviews, and program notes, and participated in symposia and singouts of the operas, as well as appearing in productions of other musical shows. A history teacher and alumni board member at Central High School in Philadelphia, he directs the drama society there in its annual play. They begin work this month on a production of Pride and Prejudice, based on the Jane Austen novel, to be staged in April.
Lois Kunkel (Chorus/Choreographer) is pleased to be singing in the chorus again of the first show she performed for Thespis, Etc. She has either been on stage, choreographed, or was musical director of many of Thespis, Etc.'s productions and has always enjoyed working with everyone involved with the shows.
Julie Lacontora (Chorus) is making her G&S debut with us and has found it to be quite challenging. Julie previously appeared various shows at the Barnstormer's Theater in Ridley Park including Twelfth Night (Fabian) and The Merchant of Venice (Nerissa). Julie is also active at the Barnstormers Theater by helping with food props, costumes, lights, box office and children's shows. When not working in Philadelphia as an Actuary, Julie sings alto in the choir at the Ridley Park Presbyterian Church.
Marie V. Maguire (Chorus) is making her debut with Thespis, Etc. She is a member of The Savoy Company, appearing in HMS Pinafore and their upcoming production of Patience later this year. Marie is also a member of the G&S Society of Chester County, having performed in Trial by Jury and Utopia, Limited. Marie started putting on shows at a young age where her mother designed costumes. She started singing Irish songs with her father at home as a child. She began singing in her church choir as a teenager and has sung solo in church over the years.
Royal McGeorge (First Yeoman)
retired in 2002 as a high school math teacher in the School District of Philadelphia. He's been an instructor in operation and maintenance of nuclear weapons and missile systems, cab driver, mailman, Lieutenant Commander US Naval Reserve, timing gear inspector, surveyor's rod man, sales person for Radio Shack, and a couple of other jobs. Royal has been in the chorus of all but one (Grand Duke) of the G & S operettas with the Savoy Company of Philadelphia, several G & S productions with both the G & S Society of Chester County and Thespis, Etc. One place or another he's done all of the G & S operettas except Thespis. With Thespis Etc.'s Yeoman of the Guard, Royal finally gets his first solo, all 8 bars of it, as First Yeoman, and his first named role in an operetta. Several years ago he appeared as General MacKenzie in "Ten Little Indians," the Agatha Christie mystery, with the North Light Players. In college he appeared in bit parts such as Verges in "Much Ado About Nothing," and was heavily involved in lighting, stagecraft, and pit orchestra for college musicals. Royal plays and own a clarinet, ba
clarinet, and alto saxophone, and plays tuba in marching bands, although not for quite a while now.
Eric Mitchell (Chorus) is enjoying his fourth appearance with Thespis, Etc, having just played the role of Jackie Cheapside in A Gibert and Sullivan Christmas Carol. Eric is a member of UUCDC and is in 5th grade at ETR Middle School. Along with acting, he enjoys playing the saxophone, running and studying history. Eric's dream vacation is to tour England and have high tea at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
Cathy Gibbons Mostek (Phoebe Meryll) is thrilled to be taking on her first lead role in 25 years and her first singing lead... well... ever! She broke out of her full-time role of housewife back in 2004 to appear in the chorus of Thespis' production of "The Pirates of Penzance" and had so much fun she returned for "Patience" in 2005 and 2007's "Iolanthe." She has always wanted to be an actress and hopes tackling the challenging role of Phoebe will boost her confidence enough to help her push forward and audition for other parts in the future. She thanks the entire cast for their hard work and enthusiasm and gives special thanks to Bruce and Emilie for entrusting Phoebe to her care.
Tom Mostek (1st Citizen) is glad to be participant of his second Thespis production (which must means that something went well with his first production - The Christmas Carol). He is excited to be surrounded by all the women of the Citizen chorus, but aspires to be a halberd wielding Yeoman in his 16th century fantasies. Tom wants to thank his children for being so amiable to being locked away in church side rooms for so many hours of practice. Break a leg Cathy.
Emilie Moyer (Music Director) has participated in Thespis productions from 1995's "Ruddigore" to 2007's "Iolanthe" in chorus and roles including "The Fairy Queen" "Pitti-Sing," and "Edith." She has also served a stint as board president and music-directed for two G&S Christmas Carol productions and for the 2004 production of "The Pirates of Penzance." Thanks to the entire company for all their hard work in putting together this terrific show. This is for you, Shirley!!
Edwin Nealley (Jack Point) returns from playing Strephon in last year's Iolanthe; then he was "half a fairy," this year he's 100% fool. He also played Capt. Corcoran in Thespis, Etc.'s 2003 production of H.M.S. Pinafore. Other recent roles include Phantis (Utopia Ltd.), Ernest Dummkopf (Grand Duke), and the Defendant (Trial by Jury) with the G&S Soc. of Chester Cty.; Capt. Corcoran (H.M.S. Pinafore), and King Paramount (Utopia Ltd.) with The Ardensingers; and Maj. General Stanley (Pirates of Penzance) and Grosvenor (Patience) with Rose Valley Chorus & Orch. He will be playing Raoul de St. Brioche in Rose Valley's upcoming production of Lehar's The Merry Widow. Ed works in the Tech. Dept. of supplyFORCE, a web-based company facilitating industrial distribution. In his private life he spends his time offstage in choir, reading, and folk-dancing (therein is song and dance, too!) He would like to dedicate this production to his wife, Kate, and his daughter Sara whose love, dedication (and whose help in memorizing lines) make it all possible.
Sally Newport (Chorus) is participating in her first staged musical production since college, which was, well, a long time ago. She played the clarinet in band from fifth grade all through school for twelve years. Sally has always loved singing--at camp, with children, in church--and have sung in her current church choir for three years. Last year, she sang alto with a hundred other singers in a Norristown pre-Christmas performance of the hymns of John Wesley. Sally lived with her husband and children in Japan for eighteen years before moving to this area. She often taught her Japanese students English songs to help them learn the language. Her two children are grown, and grandchild #1 is on the way.
Laura Peterson (Chorus) is excited to be back on the Thespis, Etc. stage again after a few years' hiatus. She last appeared here as Vittoria in Gondoliers. She also performed the role of Leila in the concert performance of Iolanthe. Roles with other groups include: Pitti-Sing in Mikado at the Dramateurs; Sr. Berthe in The Sound of Music at King of Prussia Players; and Bonnie Boylan in Annie with Methacton Community Theatre. She's also appeared in several productions with Saint Thomas Players; STAR Players; and Footlighers. "Thanks to Bruce, Emilie and the cast and crew for making my return such a pleasant one!"
Olivia Phillips (Chorus) Olivia Phillips attends first grade at East Goshen Elementary. She enjoys horse back riding, tennis, gymnastics and soccer. Olivia is the youngest of five children. She has taken dance for several years and enjoys singing. This is her debut performance of what she hopes will be a long and successful career on stage.
Mary Punshon (Elsie Maynard) is pleased to perform again with Thespic, Etc., having previously appeared in the title role of Iolanthe. This is her third production of Yeomen of the Guard; she appeared as Phoebe with both Chester County Gilbert & Sullivan Society and Rose Valley Chorus & Orchestra and hopes the third time will be a charm. Other favorite G&S roles include Angelina (Trial by Jury), Tessa (The Gondoliers), and Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore). Mary is a frequent performer with the Concert Operetta Theater of Philadelphia, at the Academy of Vocal Arts, having appeared as Manja (Countess Maritza), Masha (The Chocolate Soldier) and Princess Margaret in The Student Prince. A founding member of the Main Line Opera Guild, she portrayed Saffi in the Guild's production of The Gypsy Baron. Other favorite opera roles include Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana) and Ceneretola in the opera of the same name. Mary is a voice performance graduate of Kansas University, currently studies with Kathryna Barone of the Bryn Mawr Conservatory, and is soloist at the Lower Merion Baptist Church.
Martha Smylie (Dame Carruthers) was born appropriately on Arthur Sullivan's birthday - of course, 100-something years later! She made her G&S debut at age 10 as Little Buttercup, and as an adult she sang with the Savoy Company for 10 party years before joining the suburban G&S societies where she began to land roles, not only in G&S but in plays and musicals around the region as well. Thirty-five years on stage, twenty-five years performing principal roles. And not content just treading the boards, Martha felt the call to serve behind the scenes. In addition to chairing a million committees, she was president of Thespis Etc., the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Chester County, and the Rose Valley Chorus & Orchestra, and is currently serving as Corresponding Secretary for the Ardensingers. Later this spring please come hear her sing Lady Angela in the Ardensingers' upcoming production of Patience.
R. Bruce Warren ( Director ) has been active in community & professional theater for over 33 years and 150 productions. A couple of years ago he produced and directed several professional one act historical musicals that performed at the Media Theater and at several area schools as well a week in a theater in Connecticut. Bruce is a Board member here for Thespis, Etc. and also for The Footlighters Theater in Berwyn as well as The Barnstormers Theater in Ridley Park. Bruce has designed all 3 set for Celebration Theater in Landsdowne this season. His next production will be ROSE'S DILEMMA a new play by Neil Simon that he is directing and designing at Footlighters Theater this June.
Pete Weglarski (Lt. Cholmondeley) is appearing in his 14th G&S show with Thespis. He has also performed with the G&S Society of Chester County, St. Thomas Players, the Dramateurs and Rose Valley. In past years he has performed a number of the G&S patter roles plus his only G&S tenor role as Appollo in Thespis' "Thespis". Over the last year he performed as the Lord Chancellor in Thespis'"Iolanthe" and the explosive role of Tarara in Chester County's "Utopia, Limited". His favorite non G&S role was Geuseppi in "The Most Happy Fella". Pete studies voice with Joseph Erdeljac.
Bruce T. Wyman (Yeoman) enjoys all the G & S operettas, has been in them all and does not have a favorite--except whatever one is current. Thanks to the directors for putting together a fine show, thanks to the cast for making it so much fun, thanks to his voice teacher, Debbie Snow and thanks to his wife for her support. He says, "I'm having a ball!!"
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