Starring

Kimberly Downes, Ron Keaton*, Debbie Laumand-Blanc*, Mary Mulligan*, Paul Perroni, Dan Rodden*, Steve Ruppel, Ana Sferruzza*, Brian Simmons
* AEA member

Julie Aubry

Julie Aubry (costume designer) is happy to be making her debut with Nightingale Group designing Marrying Terry. She graduated from Dominican University with a degree in Fashion Design in 2006 and has been pursuing fashion, art, and theatre ever since. Past works include Spare Change (Jeff Recommended production, Stage Left Theatre); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre); The Foreigner, Getting Out (Dominican University); and Design Assistant for Rescued Clothing Artist Dolan Geiman. Currently, she is costume designer for Little Women (Wheaton College); Skin in Flames and Omniscience (Stage Left Theatre); and Sylvia (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre). Julie thanks her friends and family for their love and support, the cast and crew for their hard work, and Gregg and Suzanne for this great opportunity.

Kevin C. Doler

Kevin C. Doler (Set Designer). After studying technical theater and business at Indiana University, Kevin has been active in all aspects of theater. He is a founder, past-president and board member of the North Coast Cultural Association, which hosts the 4th Street Theater in Chesterton, Indiana, where he is resident set designer and builder. For his work at 4th Street, he has received 7 nominations and 2 awards from the Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation for Best Set Designs in both musicals and plays. His work at 4th Street includes Enter the Guardsman, Godspell (which he also directed), Over the River and Through the Woods, “The Good War,” Soup du Jour, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (which he also appeared in), Of Mice and Men, Agnes of God, Amadeus, Fiddler on the Roof, Ee Gads!, Queen Lucia and the Indiana premiere of Marrying Terry (4th Street, May 2006). Elsewhere in the area, he has played the lead role in God’s Favorite and appeared in several productions of A Christmas Carol. He has staged managed and designed lighting. Set designs for many other theaters throughout the Northwest Indiana region include L’il Abner, Little Mermaid, Flowers for Algernon, Curious Savage and assistant design for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Kevin lives in Chesterton and owns a business in Michigan City, Indiana. He thanks Gregg for the opportunity to recreate the Terry set at Victory Gardens.

Kimberly Downes

Kimberly Downes is a theatre graduate from the University of Pittsburgh. Recent Chicago credits include "Death Masque" (Gorilla Tango), "Land Where My Fathers Died" (Chicago Dramatists) and "Endangered" (Act One Studios and Stage Left Theatre). Other credits include Stella in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Queen's University Belfast) and "Ubu" and "Everything in the Garden" (University of Pittsburgh) and "School For Scandal" (PICT). She would like to thank Gregg for this wonderful opportunity as well as his caffeine addiction and of course, Mr.B

Ronald Keaton

Ronald last appeared as Clarence in Porchlight Music Theatre’s A WONDERFUL LIFE. He has worked in several Chicago houses – Goodman Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, the Drury Lanes, to name a few – in all kinds of endeavor: musical (FINIAN’S RAINBOW, 1776, GUYS AND DOLLS, WINDY CITY, BIG RIVER) to Shakespeare (TWELFTH NIGHT, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, AS YOU LIKE IT) to drama/comedy (ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, THE HOMECOMING, FAITH HEALER). A writer and playwright, Mr. Keaton has just adapted to the musical stage (with composer Bill Underwood) the Edwin O’Connor novel THE LAST HURRAH. Ronald is a stage manager and director; he also sings in jazz and cabaret venues around metropolitan Chicago. He is a member of the Central Regional Board of Actors Equity Association….and he plays golf, too.

Debbie Laumand-Blanc

Debbie Laumand-Blanc (Janet) is glad to be back in Chicago after several years in Los Angeles. Debbie has performed roles in several area theatres including Chava in Fiddler on the Roof at the Theatre at the Center, Minnie Fay in Hello Dolly at Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, and Ado Annie in Drury Lane's production of Oklahoma for which she earned a Jeff Nomination. She has appeared at the Repertory Theatre of St Louis, the Ford's Theatre, and the Kennedy Center. She has also done shows in England, Singapore, and The International Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has done several tours throughout Europe, her fondest tour memory being a performance at the Berlin Philharmonic on the day the Berlin Wall came down.

Mary McDonald Badger

Mary McDonald Badger (Lighting) recently designed ESCAPE an original Play by Sharon Evans directed by Peter Amster. Also at Live Bait she has created lights for Blind Tasting and Nelson and Simone. Most recently Ms. Badger designed the premier of Jose Rivera’s new work Massacre (Sing to Your Children) for Teatro Vista and the Goodman Theatre and Having Our Say at Madison Repertory Theatre. Ms. Badger has lighted Chicago theater and dance for more than twenty-five years, creating her early designs for numerous productions at Body Politic, Center Theatre, National Jewish Theatre and Wisdom Bridge. Her additional credits include multiple productions for each of the following: American Theatre Company, Bailiwick, Irish Repertory Theatre, Live Bait Theater, Northlight, Pegasus Players, Touchstone Organic and Victory Gardens as well as designs for Apple Tree Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook and the Chicago Dance Festival. For several seasons Ms. Badger designed for the Joel Hall Dancers and has been the resident designer for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre since its inception. Over the years she has created extensively for both Loyola University and Columbia College Chicago. Ms. Badger is the chair of the executive board of United Scenic Artists LU 829 Central Region and also chairs the Michael Merritt Endowment for Excellence in Design and Collaboration. In addition to design and administrative consulting for theaters, Ms. Badger is the Producing Director of the Theater Department at Columbia College Chicago.

Mary Mulligan

Mary Mulligan (Penny) is thrilled to be working with Gregg Opelka and Suzanne Thompson again. She first worked with Gregg and Suzanne in the long-running musical Charlie’s Oasis as Diane for New Tuners at The Theatre Building. She also did many readings of Marrying Terry and is delighted to be able to put this play on its feet. Chicago credits include: Mrs Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol, Mrs. Stanley in the Man Who Came to Dinner at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook, Margrethe in Copenhagen and the title role in Stevie for 1900 Productions; Karen in Almighty Bob at Theatre at the Center; Grace in Bus Stop and mezzo-soprano in Berlin to Broadway at Illinois Theatre Center; Mrs. Schubert in Shear Madness at the Mayfair Theatre; Still Waters at Victory Gardens. Regional credits include Margot Wendice in Dial M for Murder at the Barn Theatre in Augusta Michigan, Peninsula Players in Door County and Northern Stage Company in Milwaukee. Film credits include Road to Perdition. Made-for-television films are Two Fathers: Justice II as Agent Ellen Larkin and The Kid Loved Christmas. Other television work includes Missing Persons and numerous commercials. Mary received her M.F.A at DePaul Theatre School.

Paul Perroni

Paul Perroni (Jonathon) is a graduate from the University of Arkansas where he studied Political Science/International Relations. Paul recently joined the Broadway National touring one-man show, "Defending the Caveman," and appeared at the 45th Street Theatre in NYC; Chicago credits include Edmund in "Long Days Journey into Night," Cassius in "Julius Caesar," as well as work with The Awesome 80s Prom, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, The Journeyman Theatre, Apollo Theatre, Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, and Emerald City Theatre; Paul is also a proud member of SAG. More importantly, enjoy the show and thank you for reading this. Thank you Gregg. Love you Constance.

Dan Rodden

Dan has seen M.T. through numerous readings practically from its inception, and is excited about playing Dr. Adams on his feet. Most recently, he was scene as Felix in the highly acclaimed production of The Odd Couple at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre. He has also done numerous classical staged readings with The Shakespeare Project of Chicago, including Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. Elsewhere on Chicago area stages, Dan was seen as Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors (Oak Park Festival Theatre); Charles in Blithe Spirit, Mortimer in Arsenic and Old Lace, Doctor Watson in Sherlock Holmes and the Curse of the Sign of Four, and Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (New American Theater); Perfect Wedding and Funny Money (Drury Lane Evergreen Park); Dad in the Chicago premiere of Steve Martin's WASP and Excerpts from Cruel Shoes (The Aardvark); Assassins (Jeff Award Best Musical – Apple Tree Theatre); Passion (Pegasus Players); and the IO Chicago. Regional credits include: Texas Shakespeare Festival, Nebraska Theatre Caravan, Cidermill Playhouse, and Beechwood Theatre Company. He spent seven years using his degree in Broadcast Communications working at various radio stations until he turned his energies full-time to the even more lucrative career of theatre. Dan lives in Chicago with his lovely wife, actress Gail Rastorfer. Check out www.DanRodden.com.

Ana Sferruzza

Ana Sferruzza (Terry) is delighted to be working with Suzanne and Gregg again on Marrying Terry, having workshopped the role previously. Chicago credits include: Hecuba, King Lear (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); The Time of Your Life, Maria Arndt (Steppenwolf Theatre); The Immigrant, SkyGirls (Northlight Theatre); An Experiment with an Air Pump (Jeff Nomination, Best Supporting Actress, The Jack Springer Award, Northlight Theatre); James Joyce’s The Dead (Court Theatre); The Laramie Project (Jeff and After Dark Award, Best Ensemble, Next Theatre); Proof (Apollo Fine Arts); Siegfried (The Lyric Opera of Chicago). Regional credits include: Little Women (Kansas City Repertory Theatre); The Immigrant (Arizona Theatre Company); The Food Chain (Manbites Dog Theatre, NC); Eulogy for a Warrior (Archipelago Theatre, NC); and Einstein’s Dreams (Burning Coal Theatre, NC). Ana can be heard on many of the Twilight Zone Radio Dramas, Shoofly Audio, Sam Piperato’s CD, Snow, and the original recording for Eulogy for a Warrior. She graduated with honors from Oberlin College and has studied at The School at Steppenwolf, Circle in the Square, and The Warsaw Theatre Academy. Read more about Ana at her website: www.anasferruzza.com.

Steve Ruppel

Steve recently moved to Chicago to pursue his theater career and is delighted to be a part of Marrying Terry. Steve recently appeared with the Revolution Theatre Company at the annual Abbie Hoffman theatre festival here in Chicago. His past credits include The River City Players productions of Harvey (Elwood P. Dowd) A Few Good Men (Sam) Star-Spangled Girl (Andrew), Dearly Departed (Junior) and Dial M for Murder (Tony Wendice.) Steve studied theatre at South East Missouri State University where he appeared in their productions of As You Like It (Orlando), A Piece of My Heart (The Man) , Henry IV Part I (Prince Hal), Tartuffe (Cleante), The Royal Family (Tony Cavendish) and The Music Man (Charlie Cowell).

Laura Skolnik

This marks Laura’s first show with American Playwrights. For the past eight years she has worked in the Production Department at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, currently serving as the Production Manager for the Festival. Credits include ASM for Ravinia Festival’s productions of A Little Night Music, Passion, and Sunday in the Park with George, Production Stage Manager for Long Wharf Theatre’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, and ASM for the Emmy award-winning production of Sondheim’s Passion as part of the Live from Lincoln Center Songbook Series in New York. In addition to her work as a Stage Manager, Laura also enjoys fight choreography. Her recent work includes Bailiwick’s Jerry Springer, the Opera, Porchlight’s Ragtime, and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble’s, The Life. Thanks to her family as always for their support, to Gregg and Suzanne for this opportunity, and to the entire cast and crew for all of their hard work.

Brian Simmons

Brian has been living and working in the Chicago area for the last six years. He made his Chicago debut playing the role of Spade in a staged reading of Gregg Opelka, Todd Mueller and Hank Boland’s musical The Singin’ Cowboy at Theatre Building Chicago in 2004. Brian was most recently seen as Jerry Springer in the American premiere of Jerry Springer the Opera with The Bailiwick Theater Company. His other Chicago credits include: My Favorite Year (King Kaiser) also at the Bailiwick, Leaving Iowa (Don) American Theater Company, St. Peter's Umbrella (Mad Pietro) Theatre Buiding Chicago, Oleanna (John) Triton Players. Other stage credits include: Company (Bobby), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Thisbe/Flute), Working (Frank), Dealer's Choice (Stephen), Die Fledermaus (Frank), Sleepy Hollow (Braum Bones), Pride and Prejudice (Lady Catherine/Mr. Collins), A Christmas Carol (Scrooge).

Suzanne Avery-Thompson

Marrying Terry Director Suzanne Avery-Thompson is delighted to be working with Gregg Opelka again and with this incredibly talented cast and crew. Suzanne has directed and/or choreographed over 100 theatre productions in Chicago and the Midwest area. For Victory Gardens, she choreographed the annual Casting Auction musical for 18 years with director Dennis Zacek. She currently teaches Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement in the Theatre/Music Department at Columbia College and at the School at Steppenwolf. Suzanne first worked with Gregg and Mary Mulligan (Penny) in the 1990 production of Charlie’s Oasis, the long-running Jane Boyd-Gregg Opelka musical at the Theatre Building in Chicago. Prior to Terry, she last worked with Gregg in 2002 when she directed and choreographed his French cabaret musical La Vie Ennui.

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