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John R. Armstrong (Bill) is a third-year M.F.A. acting student who received his B.A. from Indiana University. At IU, he has appeared as Marvin in Falsettos, Ludlow Lowell in Pal Joey, Harold Ryan in Happy Birthday, Wanda June, Seward in Dracula, Leo Frank in Parade, the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, the Narrator/Mysterious Man in Into the Woods, and Robert Sideway/Captain Collins in Our Country's Good. Recently, he received the 2006 NSAL Chapter Award for Musical Theatre and the 2005 Rosemary R. Schwartzel Scholarship. He has appeared on the Brown County Playhouse stage as Sparky in Forever Plaid and Dennis in Smoke on the Mountain. Elsewhere John has played Wickersham Brother and Understudy for the Cat in the Hat in the national tour of Seussical the Musical; David in Company for Stagedoor Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, FL; and Cinderella's Prince/Wolf in Into the Woods with Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre. For his thesis, he will perform the role of John Proctor in IU's upcoming production of The Crucible. He is from Brownsburg , Indiana.
Carmen Rae Meyers (Marie) received her Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from Indiana University-Bloomington in 2004 and her Bachelor's Degree in Theatre from Arizona State University in 2001. Previously, she attended both The Shakespeare Theatre Conservatory and the Southwest Shakespeare Company Conservatory. Carmen is a Brown County Playhouse regular, having performed as Catherine in Arms and the Man, Gwendolyn in The Odd Couple, M'Lynn in Steel Magnolias, and Germaine in Picasso at the Lapin Agile. She has graced the stages of the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center as Claire in Proof, Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, and Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman. She has also performed with theatrical organizations throughout the state of Indiana and regionally, including the Bloomington Playwrights Project, the Indiana Repertory Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre, and the Summer Music Theatre Festival. Recently, she was seen at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, Tennessee where she played Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate. Carmen is from Tempe, Arizona .
Rebecca Faulkenberry (Angelina) graduated from IU in the Individualized Major Program in Musical Theatre with a second major in English. Previous performances at IU include Cassie in A Chorus Line, Gladys Bumps in Pal Joey, Nickie in Sweet Charity, and Maggie in Bat Boy. She was most recently seen on the Brown County Playhouse stage as Denise in Smoke on the Mountain. Favorite roles elsewhere include Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Marta in Company, Hope in Anything Goes (City Hall, Bermuda), and Gwen in The Royal Family (Seaside Music Theater). Rebecca is from Bermuda .
Robyn Payne ( Sheba ) is delighted to return to Indiana University to perform. Currently living in New York City, she has performed on Broadway as Sarabi in The Lion King and alongside Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie in the Encores! production of Kismet. She has also performed in the 1st National Tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie as Miss Flannery while understudying Muzzy VanHossmere and Mrs. Meers, which came through Indianapolis last spring.
Robyn lived and worked regionally in Chicago, performing at The Goodman Theatre in Zoot Suit and at Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier in A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by Joe Dowling. She worked with George Hearn in Chicago's Ovations! Series production of Promises! Promises! She has also performed in numerous shows in her hometown of Indianapolis at Beef & Boards' Dinner Theatre.
She arrived on the Bloomington campus in the summer of 1992 as a Groups student. She performed in Purlie under the direction of Dr. James Mumford. She then went on to become a Music Major in Vocal Performance and studied with Carlos Montane . She performed in many operas at the Musical Arts Center including Manon, Orpheus & Euridice, Candide, and West Side Story.
Robyn made the transition from the School of Music to Musical Theatre in the Department of Theatre and Drama by singing and dancing in George Pinney's Broadway Cabaret. She was the lead in Anything Goes (Reno Sweeny) and Cabaret (Sally Bowles) on the Department of Theatre's mainstage, performed in the Union Board musical productions of Sweeney Todd (Beggar Woman) and Big River (Sara), and graced the stage of the Brown County Playhouse in Nashville, Indiana . She was the recipient of the Nota Scholl McGreevey Scholarship in 1996. She would like to thank her family, Oran, and God for their constant support and love. Isaiah 42:6.
James E. Mumford (Ralph) A successful performer, composer, educator, and musical and vocal director, James has been a member of the Indiana University African American Arts Institute staff since 1976 and Director of the Choral Ensemble and its contemporary gospel groups since 1983. The ensemble has premiered several of his original compositions while others, including Black Nativity and Ebon-One, have gained recognition through television presentations. In 1993, Mumford was inducted into the Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching program, a prestigious honor at Indiana University in recognition of outstanding teaching. Some of James's favorite theatrical roles have been Audrey II in an Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, Othello in Othello with the Harlem Theatre Company in New York , and Crown in Porgy and Bess here in Bloomington with the IU Opera Theatre Program. Just this past spring, James retired from the Arts Institute and his Choral Ensemble to pursue his passion for opera scoring and devote more time to his church The Anointed Harvest Fellowship.
Michael J. Farina (Shine) A native New Yorker trained in the School of Hard Knocks, Michael comes to us directly from a production of Oliver! with the Gateway Playhouse on Long Island , where he played the unpopular Mr. Bumble. He was last seen on Broadway playing Al/God in the critically acclaimed In My Life at the Music Box Theatre. Other Broadway credits: Grandpa Who (u/s and performed Horton) in Seussical The Musical – Richard Rodgers Theatre, Mr. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol – Madison Square Garden, Jamie in My Fair Lady – Virginia Theatre, and Nachum The Beggar in Fiddler on the Roof – Gershwin Theatre. Off-Broadway credits: Mr. Sneed/Barville in Ed Dixon's Fanny Hill – York Theatre, Cockian in Philemon – 28 th Street Theatre, and City Him in Gifts of the Magi – Lamb's Theatre. Regional favorites: Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance – Guthrie Theatre, Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha – Paper Mill Playhouse, Gangster #1 in Kiss Me Kate – Houston T.U.T.S., Herman in Sweet Charity – North Shore Music Theatre, and Mr. Snow in Carousel and Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls – Westchester Broadway Theatre. Film/TV: Melinda and Melinda (Woody Allen, director), All My Children . Michael was most recently seen on the Brown County Playhouse stage in a production of Arms and the Man where he played Major Paul Petkoff. Love to my wife Heidi and family for their continued support. Proud member of the Actor's Equity Association.
Stephanie Bast (Maysie) was last seen at Carnegie Hall in the concert version of South Pacific starring Reba McIntyre, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Alec Baldwin. Broadway credits include Nine with Antonio Banderas, The Scarlet Pimpernel , Miss Saigon, and King David. She covered the role of Belle in the National Tour of Beauty & The Beast and played Sally in A Christmas Carol with Ben Vereen (Madison Square Garden). Other NY: Mother in Gorilla Man and the title role in Sylvia. Stephanie can be seen kissing Ryan Gosling in the feature film Half Nelson and as the female lead in the short film The Apologist. She gives her love to Johnny Cash and Bhudda.
Eric McCluskey (Henry) has appeared throughout the United States singing with New York City Opera's National Company, San Francisco Opera's Western Opera Theater, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Spoletto Festival, Sarasota Opera, Connecticut Grand Opera, Connecticut Opera, Opera Omaha, Kentucky Opera, Banff Festival, Saint Louis Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony, and Paris Opera Ballet. He is a recipient of the William Matheus Sullivan Award, the Richard Gaddes Award from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Eric has also been heard on board the M.S. Vistafjord and the M.S. Sagafjord as part of their Opera At Sea program. He is a native of Southern Illinois and a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music. After a number of years away from school, Eric returned this past August to begin work on a Doctoral degree at Indiana University where he studies with Timothy Noble.
Zachary Spicer (Announcer) hails from Greencastle, Indiana and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Anthropology. Zachary recently appeared in an independent production as Cam in Privilege and Vince in Tape as well as in the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center as Jack Slang/House Servant in She Stoops to Conquer, Herb Shuttle in Happy Birthday, Wanda June! , and Captain Brice in Arcadia. He also appeared in Bicentennial Babies at the Bloomington Playwrights Project. He was most recently seen on the Brown County Playhouse stage where he played Major Sergius Saranoff in Arms and the Man. Zachary was the 2006 NSAL 4th Place Winner for Drama and Acting and was recently accepted into the Circle in the Square Theatre Conservatory in New York, NY.
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