Biographies

Dieter Bierbrauer (Bob) hails from Platteville, WI. He has a B.A. focused in vocal performance from Luther College where he performed roles ranging from the Priest in Mozart's The Magic Flute to Daniel Webster in The Devil and Daniel Webster. This is Dieter's first Twin Cities-based production.

Blake Brown (Elliot), a native of Rochester, started acting with Rochester's Gilbert & Sullivan Society. He has appeared at Rochester Civic Theatre in Brigadoon, Personal's, and most recently, as Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar.

 
Sally Childs (Director) is a founder and serves as Artistic/Managing Director of the Lyric Theatre. After adapting and staging Bill Holm's Box Elder Bug Variations as a dance/poetry piece int 1987, the Lyric continued staging the work of Minnesota writers, including Carol Connolly, Paul Mohrbacher, Leo Dangel, and Jon Hassler -- over and over. Childs directed the Lyric's first staging of Simon's Night in 1991, produced Grand Opening in 1996 and adapted, directed and produced Dear James in 1997 and Jemmy in 1998. The Lyric is delighted to be producing in Plainview -- home at last.
Clark A Cruikshank (The Priest) has a fairly strong connection to the literary giant whose name adorns this playhouse, having originated the role of Stan Kimball in the first Lyric production of Mr. Hassler's Grand Opening. Clark has been a member of the Twin Cities acting community for nearly ten years. Most recently, he appeared in the premiere musical Two Weeks With the Queen at Illusion theater, portraying eight characters, not much of a stretch for the fellow who once constituted the entire male chorus in Annie Get Your Gun. Two years ago he toured thirty-three states and three Canadian provinces with Jamie Farr and Bill Christopher (M*A*S*H) in The Odd Couple and sang and danced with Gary Sandy (WKRP in Cincinnati) in The Fantasticks. He is pleased to dedicate his performance to his son Benton and his wife Maria: you guys rule.
Elizabeth M. Desotelle (Celia) has made the stage her primary home since sixth grade. After studying music and theatre at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, she immediately went on to perform professionally throughout the U.S. Credits include Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, The Ordway, Minnesota Opera, The Anita Mann Singers and Dancers based in LA performing musical revues for Holland America Cruises, and Troupe America's national tour of Moon Over Buffalo. Her favorite productions include 42nd Street as the lead, Peggy Sawyer, Same Time Next Year opposite her partner Terry Lynn Carlson, and Once Upon a Mattress playing Winnifred. She resides in Minneapolis with Terry, son Kenneth and stepdaughters, Jessica and Krista.
Frances Ford (Caroline) has toured nationally with Broadway productions of Big River and Into the Woods. In Europe she toured with the premiere production of Oklahoma! Since moving to the Twin Cities, she has appeared with Illusion Theatre, Mystery Cafe and Epoch theatre in roles ranging from Elizabeth II to Susan B. Anthony.
Dimitri D. Gerasimenko (The Stranger) comes to Minnesota after a 16-year professional career on the stages in St. Petersberg, Russia. A graduate of the prestigious St. Petersburg Theater Academy, he has performed major roles in a number of Russian productions. Credits include Stanley in Streetcar Named Desire, Heria in Camus' Caligula, Treplev in Chekhov's The Seagull, Jack in the Grimm Brothers' Puss and Boots and Raskilnikov in Doestoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Since his immigration to Minnesota a year ago, Mr. Gerasimenko has worked with Interact Theater in Minneapolis and has performed Russian music/poetry concerts at various venues, including the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute, Minneapolis. He lives with his wife in Shakopee, MN.
Kathleen Hardy (Deloris) has performed at many theaters in the Twin Cities, including the Lyric Theatre and Theatre in the Round and has toured nationally with Troupe America. Kathy does commercial videos, and voice work and is a professional singer. Tonight she reprises her role of Deloris for the third time.
Duane O. Koivisto (Grandad) recently played Rufus/Father O'Day in Grand Opening. Duane has doen everything from Shakespeare to musicals to clowning. He has also toured Greece and Turkey with a choir. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Betsy.
Me'Lea Mackbee (The Child) is a Class of 2000 graduate of Benilde-St. Margaret's. After warming up on her high school theater stage, she appears here professionally for the first time. Throughout high school, she has been involved in dance, various choirs, school media and theater. (Note: Caffeine has been a big part of the development of Me'Lea's character.)
Michael Mahler (Mike) has appeared on stages all over the U.S. as an actor, singer and composer. Most recently, he created the lead role of Colin in the Illusion Theatre's new musical, Two Weeks With the Queen. Mike graduated from Benilde-St. Margaret's High School at the top of his class and will be attending Northwestern University in Evanston IL in the fall.
Aurora Mann (Music Director) has earned degrees in piano performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is currently in the Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree program at the University of MN. She has acted as Music Director for many community musicals and most recently performed as "Musical Meg" in the Lyric's production of The Road to Rouen and as the accompanist for Illusion Theatre's production of Two Weeks With the Queen.
Zoe Pappas (Sister) will be a high school senior, attending the University of MN in the fall. Zoe has previously worked with Stages Theatre, Mixed Blood and Children's Theatre Company. A favorite role was Anita in West Side Story this spring at Benilde-St. Margaret's. Zoe plans to pursue theater in college. Thanks to Mom and Dad, D.W., Tony and many others.
Sandra Struthers (Frederika) has worked with several Minneapolis theaters including The Great American History Theater, Frank Theater, Illusion Theater, The Children's Theater Company and others. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Connecticut.
Teresa Tyler (Fay) is returning to the stage after a seven year hiatus. During that time, she completed a Masters Degree in Theater Arts at the U of MN and became a Theater Arts and Speech teacher at North High School in North St. Paul. Her last stage appearance was as Celia in To Whom It May Concern with Lyric, and she is delighted (as well as surprised) to find herself back on stage.
Alva Crom (Stage Manager) began working with the Lyric Theatre in 1991 with the first Hassler production, Simon's Night. Al has a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota, Morris
Ryan DeRoos (Production Assistant and Props Mistress) is a resident of Lake City, Minnesota and will be a sophomore at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa this fall. She is majoring in Technical and Design Theatre also TV/Radio Journalism. She has been involved in theatre since Jr. high school, and was involved in over eight shows her first year of college. She served as crew member for Into the Woods, The Way of the World, A Streetcar Named Desire, and played an FBI agent in The Mineola Twins. This summer Ryan is working for the Rural America Arts Center in the Box Office, and the Jon Hassler Theater.
Paul Epton (Lighting Designer) is a freelance lighting designer. He began his theatre career as an undergraduate at Carleton College. He then spent 11 years as an award-winning lighting designer and master electrician for Detroit's Attic Theatre where he arranged Ten November, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and Awake and Sing. Since returning to Minnesota in 1992, he has designed regularly for Mixed Blood Theatre and the Minnesota Jewish Theatre. He also programs intelligent lighting at The Children's Theatre Company, and has run lights at the Guthrie. Summer stock includes Bemidji's Paul Bunyan Playhouse and Albert Lea's Minnesota Festival Theatre. Last fall he lit and ran sound for Larry Roupe in Chief in Plainview. Paul is also a year-round bicycle commuter and is pleased that one of his first professional designs was for Spokesong.
Jeannie Millett (Costume Designer) earned a degree in costume design and has been costuming shows for the past eight years. Credits include productions for Stepping Stone Theatre, The Illusion Theatre, Shakespeare in the Park, Mixed Blood Theatre Co., Ballet Arts at the Orpheum and the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Besides freelance costume design, Jeannie also does millinery and custom sewing, and assisting the photo stylist.
Kirby Moore (Scenic Artist) recently designed Sight Unseen at the Minnesota Jewish Theater Co. and Jake's Women and Work of Water at Theater in the Round. Formerly, he was the Designer/Technical Director for the Cricket Theater where he designed 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress, True West, Tally's Folly and 3 Post Cards. Kirby worked as scenic artist on the Lyric's production of Road to Rouen.
Kellie Stoltz (Light Board Operator) will be a senior at Plainview High School this Fall. She is a member of the High School Drama Club and has volunteered at the Jon Hassler Theater since its opening.
Erica Zaffarano (Set Designer) has been designing for the Lyric Theatre since 1993, and is pleased to participate in the opening of the Jon Hassler Theatre. She has designed for theatres in Vermont, the Virgin Islands, Washington, California, Nevada, Utah, Iowa, Minnesota and recently returned from Artist-in-Residence work at Purdue University. "There is a unique excitement and energy surrounding the opening of a new theatre which is unparalleled. The support from members of the Plainview community has made this a delightful and energizing experience."