Phyllis Montague

Dakota is ecstatic to be joining the ACT stage! She has participated in theatre for over 15 years, and her favorite roles include Lion in Oz, Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Hope in Almost, Maine. She has a BS in psychology and is currently studying for her MA in counseling. She wishes to thank all her friends and family for always being very supportive of her!

Violet Imbry

Leah is excited to be joining ACT for the first time as Violet in PlayOn! She is a veterinarian who discovered her love for theatre during undergrad. Some of her favorite past roles include Eurydice in Eurydice, Librarian in Middletown, and Arsinoe in TheMisanthrope. She would like to thank her husband for all his support as well as her family and friends.

Polly Benish

Barbara Howitt is honored to be playing the role of Polly. Her previous performances include Clairee, Steel Magnolias Cassidy Theatre, Princess Dragomiroff, Murder on the Orient Express Weathervane Playhouse, Mrs. Boyle, The Mousetrap Weathervane Playhouse, Lily Mortar, The Children’s Hour Stow Players, Julia, Lend Me a Tenor Cassidy Theatre. Much love to husband Scott and Basset hounds, Ms. Carson and Mr. Rollo, who missed her during rehearsals.

Henry Benish

Gary is CIO at Middlefield Bank and a 4-year Aurora resident. His acting involvement was influenced by his actor/choreographer mother and his first significant role was Little Jake in Annie Get Your Gun in 1971. Gary & wife Kelli have 2 grown children (Jana / Indianapolis, Wally / Chicago). Recent roles have been: Mr. Gibbs/Mr. Witherspoon / Arsenic & Old Lace {ACT}, Candy / Of Mice and Men, Colonel Pickering / My Fair Lady, & Clown #2 / The 39 Steps.

Saul Watson

Jeff is pleased to be part of the ACT community.  He has appeared on stage throughout the years at area theaters including Strongsville Community Theater, Beck Center, Berea Summer Theater, Greenbrier (Cassidy) Theater and Clague Playhouse.  Primarily a Lighting Designer, Jeff earned his MFA from Ohio University in Production Design & Technology and has designed the lighting for more than 100 shows.  He also serves on the Board of Directors at Clague Playhouse in Westlake as Production Manager.  During the day, Jeff is an Account Executive selling and producing trade shows and events.

Geraldine "Gerry" Dunbar

Arunie Lopez is a British actress from London where she attended the Oxford School of Drama and performed in Wales, Oxford, Thailand, America and France. Her recent shows include Bianca in Othello (Ohio Shakespeare Festival), Annie, in the Girl on the Train (Stow Players), Miss Scarlet in Clue (Weathervane Playhouse), Fancy in Kringle’s Emporium in Cleveland, Mary Poppins, and multiple roles in Ohio’s number one murder mystery dinner theatre (Get Away with Murder). She has also directed multiple shows, has international credits, and been in multiple TV ads. This is her first show at ACT and she is thrilled to be performing as Gerry In Play On!

Louise Peary

Mia Radabaugh (Louise) is excited to be back on the ACT stage where she was last seen as Annie in The Play That Goes Wrong. She holds a BFA in Acting from Ohio University. Some recent credits include Ann Putnam in The Crucible at Blank Canvas Theatre and Suzette in Don’t Dress for Dinner at CVLT. Some of her favorite roles include Misery (Annie Wilkes), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Martha), As You Like It (Jaques), and Tartuffe (Elmire). She’s performed all over northeast Ohio, including Ensemble Theatre, Western Reserve Playhouse, Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, French Creek Theatre, Cassidy Theatre, and Rubber City Theatre. She is also a proud member of The Greenhouse, an ensemble of Ohio artists who work, play, and nurture creativity together.

Billy Carewe

Jacob is very excited to be in Play On!. He feels honored to be taking on the role of Billy, making his first appearance on the ACT stage! Some of his favorite past roles include Jimmy in Almost, Maine and Papa Bear in The Trial of Goldilocks. He would like to thank his roommates, family, and girlfriend for always being a source of support and happiness.

Aggie Manville

Melanie Scott (Aggie) is excited to be in her first ACT show. She hails from Connecticut where some of her favorite roles include Seussical (Gertrude McFuzz); Grease (Jan); Alan Menken’s A Christmas Carol (Emily); Snow White and the Several Dwarves (Snow White); and volunteering for Make-A-Wish (Princess Anna). Her favorite Ohio credits include Bridgette in The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon at Stow Players, and Ensemble in Kinky Boots at Weathervane Playhouse. She would like to thank Bryan for the opportunity to share the stage with this incredible cast, and most especially her girlfriend Cassie for her never ending support and encouragement.

Marla "Smitty" Smith

Emily is excited to return to the ACT stage as Smitty in Play On! She is currently a graduate student pursuing pharmacy. Some of her favorite roles include Electra in Gypsy! at ACT, Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at FPFATA, and Whitney in Legally Blonde at Kent-Trumbull theater. She would like to thank her family and her partner, Gwen, for their unconditional love and support. Enjoy!

DIRECTOR

Brian Westerley has lived and worked in Ohio, Los Angeles and New York.  While in L.A., Brian directed and starred in the world premieres of The Day I Said Goodbye and Shark Tank and wrote and directed Denial is Not a River in Egypt. He directed Spring Awakening at ACT; 1970, Art of Murder and The Country House at CVLT; La Cage aux Folles at the Akron Civic; Walking to Buchenwald at convergence-continuum; Big Fish at HELP; Flames at Clague; No Exit at Twin Masks; Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike at Avenue Arts; Mauritius, The Spitfire Grill, Over the River & through the Woods at Stow Players; Tuck Everlasting at Carnation City Players; Then One Foggy Christmas Eve, On the Farce Day of Christmas and Steel Magnolias at Wolf Creek Players; A Few Good Men at Hudson Players; and Bare and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at Western Reserve Playhouse. Brain won 12 awards at the Regional and State OCTA competitions for Wolf Creek’s Other Desert Cities, Confessions from the Ladies Room and Thumbs. Brian also won an award for directing (Aladdin); Outstanding Supporting Actor (Twilight of the Golds); and Outstanding Lead Actor (Butterflies are Free, A Christmas Story and Peanutman).

STAGE MANAGER

Brittany Bizub is so excited for her stage manager debut at ACT. When not backstage keeping the show together with duct tape and her last nerve, she can be found in the audience laughing a bit too loud! Brittany has worked backstage at various shows including The River at Ensemble Theatre, Don’t Dress for Dinner at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre and Romeo and Juliet at Geauga Center for the Arts. Brittany would like to give a shout out to her best friend and biggest cheerleader, her husband, Chris - Love you C!

PRODUCER

Christina Easter started at ACT as a volunteer, assisting Maggie Hamilton with sound. She is grateful for having the opportunity to learn about the theater and meet so many talented people. She is also thrilled to be producing Play On! Check the sound booth during performances because she will be there with her ride or die, Maggie. Brian Westerley (Director) has lived and worked in Ohio, Los Angeles and New York. While in L.A., he directed and starred in the world premieres of The Day I Said Goodbye

SOUND

Maggie Hamilton is a former ACT Board of Trustee member and retired cochlear implant audiologist. She has been the resident sound person at ACT since 2012 and appreciates all the tools at her disposal to help audiences hear the dialog of our great actors. Actors are individually miked to improve clarity and we have a loop system for compatible hearing aids/cochlear implants and several receiver sets are available to borrow.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Ann Nyenhuis is thrilled to be continuing her work at ACT. She is beginning her eleventh season and loves working with all the incredibly talented volunteers, actors, and staff. Ann has a BM, cum laude, in vocal performances from Kent State and has 30+ years’ experience in the technical aspects of theater. Ann spends what free time she has watching Cleveland sports with her husband, Dave and sharing cuddle time with her beloved Australian Cattle dog, Lady.

COSTUMER DESIGNER

Mia Jones - This is Mia’s first production with ACT and she is delighted to be costume designer for Play On. Mia’s diverse talents includes performing, stage management, costume design, prop design, and directing in prestigious venues like Karamu House, Dobama Theatre, Cain Park, The Cleveland Playhouse, Cleveland Public Theatre, and New West Theatre. She received an arts and entertainment award from the City of Cleveland who noted, “Mia is a multifaceted artist, extending her creative reach into mixed-media painting. Grateful and eager for the future, she embodies our excitement for what lies ahead.”

PROP MASTER

Amanda Ruby studied theatre at Edinboro University (BA) and Kent State (MA). She has done just about everything - from directing to dramaturgy and has published two Ancient Greek plays adapted for kids (and another coming soon). She created and runs an after-school theatre program called Acting Up at ACT and produces ACT’s Children’s Summer Workshop. Amanda hopes everyone has fun and doesn’t get too confused performing this show!

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Tom West received his BFA in 2006 from Ohio University and MFA in 2016 from Kent State University. Since working professionally, his designs have been seen at many theatres in Greater Cleveland including CVLT, Beck Center, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Karamu House, Blank Canvas Theatre, Porthouse Theatre, Near West Theatre, Lake Erie College, Cleveland Public Theatre, OYES, BTOTS, and HBTI. Tom has also served as technical director/designer at Western Reserve Academy, CVLT and Valley Forge High School.

SET DESIGNER

Bob Schaefer is thrilled to be returning to ACT to design this show. He has worked with ACT on several shows including Matilda and A Nice Family Gathering. He has also worked with several other theaters in the area most recently with Hudson Players designing Pump Boys and Dinettes. He likes to spend any free time he can with his girlfriend, Tracy and his favorite puppy Harlo!

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Allie Stark is a recent graduate of Kent State University with a degree in environmental studies. She is currently pursuing her masters in public administration. Allie has worked on several shows at ACT and is so thankful for the wonderful community of people here. She would like to thank her friends and family for their unwavering support in all her endeavors.