Fiddler on the Roof

DAVIDSON KANE (Tevye) played multiple roles in last season’s Spamalot, The Werewolf’s Curse.  He has also played Thenardier is Les Miserables, Jimmy/Phil/Dave in Almost, Maine, and Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,  Porthos in The Three Musketeers, Rasputin in A Night at the Nutcracker, Larrabee in Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, and the Candy Man in Willy Wonka. And he’s had several Children’s Theatre roles. In the 1990s, he acted with the Penobscot Theatre Co. and Maine Shakespeare Festival in Bangor. Dave is the owner of mediaspirits and Director of Video Production Services for Kane Communications Group.

KATHY BERG (Golde) played Yente at a high school theatre camp when she was a teen.  It’s been 30 years since she first volunteered, as an usher, and she’s gotten into props, wardrobe, sound, lighting and all sorts of things. She coordinates box office volunteers, serves on our board, and chairs membership. On stage, she has sung in five musicals. She sang badly (on purpose) as Florence Foster Jenkins in Glorious! She was our volunteer of the year in 2007. In real life she teaches music at Schulte Elementary School. Kathy wishes to dedicate her performance to the memory of Kaye Jensen, a dear family friend and wonderful performer.

OLIVIA JARDAS (Tzeitel) recently made her RTG debut as Kathy in Design for Murder.  Olivia began her theater career playing the lead role in CCYM’s Cinderella and was recently seen in The Tempest, Midsummer Night’s Dream, 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Murder by Poe, and Middletown.  A sophomore at UW-Parkside, Olivia plays intermural basketball, works as a scribe a disability services, and is a campus ambassador who is often seen giving tours to perspective UWP students.

TAYLOR STEFANSKI (Hodel) is very excited to be in this production of Fiddler. A Senior at Horlick High, Taylor is graduating in June and will be pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at the University of Alabama at Birmingham this fall. Taylor is in her second season of being a Principal Singer/Dancer in the Kids From Wisconsin. Some of her favorite roles include Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Horlick Theatre Arts), Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and a Lovely Lady in Les Miserables (RTG).  Taylor would like to thank her friends and family for there undying support and for always encouraging her to follow her dreams.

ISABELLA SMETANA (Chava) a junior at Horlick High, Isabella made her RTG in Miracle on 34^th Street (2010), had roles in Willy Wonka (2011/2012) and Beauty and the Beast (2013), was Young Eponine in Les Mis (2014) played P.B. in One Slight Hitch, was in Spamalot (2015) and played Pinocchio for RCT’s and Horlick’s production of Pinocchio (2016). At Horlick, she was in The Music Man , Guys and Dolls, Godspell and she played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream.  She has also take 10 years of dance at Racine Studio of Performing Arts.  “This ones for you, Ty.”

EVELYN ALUMBREROS (Sprintze) was recently seen as Brigitta in The Sound of Music, Young Cosette in Les Mis and Chip in Beauty and the Beast at RTG. She most recently played Jovie at Children’s Theatre Academy in Elf, Jr. Last fall, her Chicago PBS show, Moochie Kalala Detectives Club, where she starred as the lead detective, Mandy, earned a Midwest Emmy nomination for Best Children’s Programming. She would like to thank her teachers at AB Voice Studio, Avenue A Arts and Actors Craft. Besides working on her theatre skills, she enjoys fencing. And she is so happy to be back at RTG where it “always feels like home.”

JACQUELINE MARTIN (Bielke) is home schooled and in 7^th grade, she is the youngest of 8 children and the 5^th to be in a show at RTG. She’s been taking piano lessons for 2 years, and has been taking horseback riding lessons.  Her hobbies include baking, and babysitting her nieces and nephews.

KIM STARR (Yente) grew up in the Kenosha Little Theatre where she performed in The Mikado, was the understudy for Amahl in Amahl and The Night Visitors and was chosen to be in the inaugural high school group which eventually became Kids of Wisconsin. Moving out of town she performed as an ensemble member in George M, Hello Dolly, had bit roles in My Fair Lady,Guys and Dolls, then Golde in Fiddler on the Roof while also working in properties for various plays.  She sang as a chorus member in Verdi’s Aida with Florentine Opera, Milwaukee. Her grown daughters performed in children’s theater, high school show choir and theater.

ERIC WELCH (Motel) appeared as Eustace Bassington-Bassington  in Jeeves Intervenes, Neleus and Von Hussler in Mary Poppins, Prince Herbert and Not Yet Dead Fred in Spamalot and was Frank ‘N’ Furter in The Rocky Horror Show.  He was also in Les Miserables, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, Scrooge, HONK!, and A Christmas Story.  On other stages, he recently played George in The Wedding Singer at GCT and Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods for the Lakeside Players.  Eric often styles hair and makeup for our shows and served as a makeup chair for The Marvelous Wonderettes, Almost, Maine and Spelling Bee.  Now that he’s made a giant career move to shipping lead at Great Lakes Skipper, styling hair is a hobby and no longer his profession.

NATE DAVIS (Perchik) is making his RTG debut in Fiddler on the Roof but he is no stranger to the stage.  He has performed in Snowdance at the 6th Street Theatre and he was in My Fair Lady and Chicago at the Dahlonega, GA Theatre.  When not on stage, Nate works at Uline, is a self-taught singer/songwriter who plays the guitar, bass, drums, piano, mandolin and harmonica.  He would like to thank Barb and Dharma for their love and support.

NOAH CHARTRAND (Fyedka & Solo Russian) is a junior at Park High School in Racine.  Noah has been in Les Mis and Spamalot at RTG and is very excited for the opportunity to be in Fiddler on the Roof.  Noah has also been in Chess the musical at Burlington Haylofters, Rudolph and Shrek at First Stage in Milwaukee , Curly in Oklahoma and  Jesus in Godspell  and just recently was Agwe in Once on this Island at Park. Noah would like to thank his family and friends and Mr. Rattle.

PAUL WEIR (Lazar Wolf) portrayed Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, the Historian/Guard/Monk in Spamalot, Raynerd Chisum in Southern Hospitality, Chandler Tate in Comic Potential, Sen. Titus Savage in The Curious Savage, Selsdon Mowbray in Noises Off, and Bernard Dunlap in Suite Surrender at RTG. Other recent stage roles include Sweeney Todd, Spamalot, Diary of Anne Frank and Assassins at Lake Country Playhouse.  In the real world, Paul is a 41 year employee at PPG, and he and his wife, Terry, are first-time Grandparents to little Mikaela Weir.

BOB BENSON (Mordcha – Inn Keeper) played Capt. von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast (2013) and Lumiere in 2008, Wonka in Willy Wonka, Amos in Chicago, Michael in I Do! I Do!, Cratchit in Scrooge, and Franz in The Producers. Bob is a past VP of our board and has worked in sound, costumes, hair/makeup and stage management.

JAY RATTLE (Rabbi) recently played the Park Keeper in Mary Poppins and Liam in Calendar Girls but has been in RTG shows since the ’80s (An Italian Straw Hat, The Fantasticks, etc.). In the 2000s, he appeared in Les Miserables, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Producers and Guys and Dolls. On other stages, Jay played in The Underpants for Lakeside Players, The Fantasticks for Haylofters, Oliver! and The Apple Tree for Circle Stage Milwaukee. He recently retired after teaching theatre for 35+ years, 18 of them at Park High School, where he produced eight shows annually. Now that he has retired, Jay is finding more time to pursue more commercial acting projects.  Keep an eye out, you may just find him on TV or in a newspaper.  Jay would like to thank the Chartrand family: Karen, Laura, and especially Noah for their support

PETER JONES (Mendel) is probably best known for his performance as Mortimer Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace but he has recently played a Nazi (Sound of Music), a techie (Bridge to Terabithia, Mary Poppins, One Slight Hitch and Spamalot) and a dwarf (Snow White) at the RTG.  He is also on the play reading committee, and volunteers in the box office and lobby.  Next to being on stage, his favorite RTG job is selling 50-50 raffle tickets and calendars – so go buy some at intermission!  Other recent roles include Angus in Macbeth, Ariel in The Tempest, John Arable – Fern’s father in Charlotte’s Web, and Brom Bones in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with the Lakeside Players.  Peter is re-discovering his love of cooking real food (instead of boxed stuffing mix) and enjoys spending time with his Jones and Rucks family.  Melissa, Lindsay, Brianne, Chris, and Alex: I am blessed to have you in my life.  Mazeltov!

FRANK RUSS (Avram) pulled double duty during The Sound of Music, playing Max and serving as PSM. He’s also been in Spamalot,  Les Mis, A Night at the Nutcracker, Willy Wonka, Chicago, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and numerous Packy Plays. He has experience in props and on play reading committee.  Frank has a MBA and is an Instructional Designer for Johnson Controls.  He has just sent this third child off to college, one more to go.

JASON AARON (Constable) was last seen on the RTG stage in Spamalot and was  Javert in Les Miserables. He recently played Anatoly in Chess at the Haylofters (2015) and George Berger in Hair at Lakeside Players (2016).   Throughout high school and Carthage College he had roles in Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Man of La Mancha, The Secret Garden, Guys and Dolls, Pippin, Cosi Fan Tutti, etc.  Jason lives in Kenosha and works as an install technician for ADT.

ELLIE HAMMOND (Shaindel, Motel’s Mother) played Miss Smyth in Mary Poppins and Mrs. Potts in both of our productions of Beauty and the Beast. Fiddler marks the second time that Ellie has played Eric Welch’s mother.  The first time was 10 years ago in Scrooge, and Eric was shorter than her back then.  She’s also been in Miracle on 34^th Street, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, HONK! and a number of Packy Plays.  Backstage, she’s on our Board of Director and had worked numerous crew and lobby positions.  Her dad, Dick Cycenas, is a longtime RTG volunteer who brought his family into it.

BETTY PETERSEN (Grandma Tzeitel) was last seen as the Bird Woman in Mary Poppins and has been in the cast of The Music Man, The Producers and Laughing Stock, and in James and the Giant Peach. She’s had two stage roles at the Sixth Street Theatre, as well. She’s also worked in behind the scenes in multiple productions at RTG. Betty teaches music at Stocker Elementary in Kenosha. She is thrilled to be appearing on stage with her husband, Craig, in his first role on stage anywhere.

REBECCA WEAVER (Fruman-Sarah) is in her sixth musical, following Mary Poppins, Spamalot, The Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast and The Rocky Horror Show. Before RTG she was cast as Jenny in Company and an ensemble player in Hello, Dolly! Rebecca lives in Winthrop Harbor and is employed by the Wauconda (IL) School District.

MARCUS SORENSON (Fiddler/Ensemble) was last seen on the RTG stage in Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast.  At J. I. Case High School he had roles in Les Miserables (Grantaire) and West Side Story (Pepe).   Marcus is upbeat, he likes to try new things and “make people happy when days are gray.”

RANDY REHBERG (Nachum the Beggar) has appeared in several RTG productions including Hotbed Hotel and A Christmas Story. He has directed several musicals but this is his first appearance on stage in one in 15 years. He is a book editor and writer and has written more than 50 plays, which have been produced from Alaska to Wisconsin. He is father to Josh, Amanda, and Matt.

BRANDON DEXTER (Ensemble/Russian) is making his RTG debut in Fiddler on the Roof and he is a sophomore at Racine Lutheran High School. He is heavily involved with their theatre and music programs. He has done many plays at Racine Lutheran High School including Great Caesar’s Ghost, Finders Creepers, and Is There a Doctor in the House.  Brandon would like to thank his parents and his Aunt Jill and Uncle Art who are RTG veterans. Without them he never would have tried out for Fiddler on the Roof.

ETHAN WILKINS (Ensemble/Russian) has played Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins, Jonas in The Giver,  Kurt in The Sound of Music.  Prior to that, he had roles in Beauty and the Beast and Mulan with Children’s Theatre Academy in Kenosha.  Affiliated with Troop 126 in Racine, Ethan recently advanced to rank of Life Scout in troop 126. He hopes to start working on an Eagle project this summer and looks forward to camping this summer. He appreciates the support his family has given him and would also like to thank his chauffeur Garrett, his older brother.

CRAIG PETERSEN (Ensemble) is making his RTG stage debut in Fiddler but is no stranger to RTG.  He has worked behind the scenes in the props crews for The Producers and Design for Murder.  Craig volunteers for the Choral Arts Society and is a network engineer for Bodycote.

MATT HOYE (Ensemble) played Sir Bedevere in Spamalot (2015), Bamatabois in Les Miserables (2014) and had multiple roles in Beauty and the Beast (2013). He grew up on Long Island, NY, and went to Suffolk County Community College, where he performed in a half-dozen plays, including The Secret Garden, School for Scandal and Guys and Dolls.

MATT DWYER (Ensemble) is a 7th grader at Jerstad-Agerholm.  He was the voice of Packy the Elephant this season (before Pinocchio) and has taken two years of classes at the Racine Theatre Guild.  At Jerstad-Agerholm, Matt is active in choir, musical theatre and drama, and is an honor roll student.

SOPHIA MATTEUCCI (Ensemble) is a sophomore at St. Joseph Catholic Academy who has played Mrs. MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie, Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors, Mrs. Buckets in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Shulie in School House Rock, Jenny in Ditch Day and the Wicked Witch of the West in The Magical Land of Oz.  She was accepted into New York City’s Broadway Artists Alliance and placed 2^nd in the 2015 Wisconsin State Chapter Student Auditions for musical theatre.

PEYTON SMITH (Ensemble) is more than grateful to be a part of her first official Theater Guild show! She has appeared in a number of Horlick Theater Arts productions. From The Nurse in Romeo & Juliet to Lucy Van Pelt in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Her most recent role was Celisse (or Peyton) in Godspell at Horlick. Peyton is a florist at Floral Creations by Eileen and hates the smell of dead flowers! She would also like to thank Katherine Kowbel for all she has taught her, and her family and fellow theater nerds for being so supportive as she takes a leap of faith.

EMELIA PETERSEN (Ensemble) is a 2014 Horlick graduate who is making her RTG debut in Fiddler.  At Horlick, she performed in Music Man (2014), Once Upon a Mattress (2013), Oklahoma (2011) and Hairspray (2011).  Emelia is a teacher at Serendipity Preschool & Child Care Center.

MARY KVETON (Ensemble) has been on our stage in nearly a dozen RTG shows, from Living Together to Spamalot, and at least three RCT Packy Plays. Lately her involvement here has been backstage, as a wardrobe runner for Les Mis, an ASM for The Curious Savage, and a makeup artist for Willy Wonka. Mary served on play reading committee in 2012-13. She appeared on the Sixth St. Theatre stage in five recent productions. She often sings with the Choral Arts Society and her church choir. Mary is mom to three teenagers and works for RUSD as a special education assistant. She would like to dedicate her  performance to her parents: “I am so very blessed that they have never missed any of my performances since I was 11 years old.  Thank you mom and dad!”

LAUREN HAUMERSEN (Ensemble) first appeared on the Racine Theatre Guild stage last May in Spamalot.  A dangerous job as it turned out, since she sprained her ankle during the run.  She does not plan on having a repeat incident! She has since then worked as stage crew and ASM for Calendar Girls and Mary Poppins.  Lauren has enjoyed learning new aspects of the theatre which you will never know how hard a job that is until you experience the work first hand.  Lauren studied musical theatre at Viterbo University and sings at church services, weddings and funerals.  During the day, she is a project coordinator for ClearCom Inc.  She would like to thank her family, friends, and co-workers for their constant support and encouragement!

SAMANTHA SUSTACHECK (Ensemble) was Maria in The Sound of Music and in the Les Mis ensemble and has been on RTG’s stage since The Wizard of Oz in 1995. She played Hope in Anything Goes, Electra in Gypsy, Shelby in Steel Magnolias, etc. She’s grateful to husband Kevin and others for watching the kids—Everett, age 6, and Avery, age 3 – so she can play at RTG!

DOMINIQUE MARTIN (Ensemble) is in 11^th grade and has hopes of going to cosmetology school in a couple years. She worked backstage at RTG for both Les Mis and Spamalot, and has performed in four shows including Beauty and the Beast where she played a Silly girl. Her passions are playing piano and ukulele, and taking horseback riding lessons.

LAURA CHARTRAND (Ensemble) has appeared on RTG’s main stage in The Werewolf’s Curse or Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow (2014) and Stand and Deliver (2007). She was wardrobe supervisor for Design for Murder (2016) and costume designer and wardrobe supervisor for The Miracle Worker (2014). She’s a 2013 graduate of UW-Parkside (BA, Theatre Arts). Laura’s acting earned her an Irene Ryan nomination for her role of Agnes in Dancing at Lughnasa.  She also has played Hamlet and Lady MacBeth for the Lakeside Players (2014 and 2015).

KATELYN CHRISTENSEN (Ensemble) has a special interest in the Outreach shows and was last seen in both years of Miracle on 34^th as well as The Three Musketeers. She has also performed as Packy in Packy Plays. She has also helped behind the scenes with shows such as, Taking Leave, Beauty and the Beast, and Dixie Swim Club. Kate is currently a Veterinary Tech at the Animal Wellness Center of Oak Creek. A recent graduate, she is currently creating a rehabilitation program that combine inmates having a chance for redemption, and homeless dogs to have a second chance and even an opportunity to become therapy animals. Kate is a proud Foster parent for North Central Maltese Rescue and also and volunteers as a coach for SCHS Varsity cheer and fundraises for VEST-A DOG, RASO K9 unit, Racine K9 unit, and Bark for Life. Kate would like to dedicate this performance to her Grandfather.

CREW

DOUGLAS INSTENES (Director and Managing/Artistic Director) had been associate director at RTG for eight years before moving up to the top staff position in 2001. He has an MA in Drama (directing emphasis) from UW-Superior and an MFA in Theatre from Ohio University. Before landing at RTG, he worked at Arena Stage in DC, Monomoy Theatre in Ohio, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, St. Croix Valley Theatre, The Great American Children’s Theatre, and DanceCircus. Doug is married to Kim, an associate professor at Carthage College. They have just become empty-nesters, as son Dalen, a high school volleyball standout, heads to Lewis University in the fall and daughter Lauren begins her third year at Wittenberg University in Ohio.

GREG BERG (Music Director) has been directing music at RTG since 2002. He has an MM in Vocal Performance and is a teacher, minister of music, radio host, emcee, vocalist, pianist, writer, arranger and composer.

KARA ERNST-SCHALK (Choreographer) -“Fiddler” marks Kara’s 50th production with Racine Theatre Guild.  She has directed/choreographed our summer shows: The Marvelous Wonderettes, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Rocky Horror Show, and she will be directing Little Shop of Horrors this summer. She also directed/choreographed I Do! I Do!, My Way, A Grand Night for Singing and Lucky Stiff on our main stage, plus a heap of Children’s Theatre productions. Kara holds her BFA in Musical Theatre (from UW-Stevens Point),  is the coordinator and instructor of theatre classes at RTG and is a Resource Teacher at St. Catherine’s School.

CHRIS REINHARDT (Technical Director), completing his third season at RTG, is from Wisconsin, but his previous theatre jobs were in New England at the Dorset Theater Festival, Portland Stage Company and Winnipesaukee Playhouse. Along with his technical responsibilities, Chris has designed two RTG productions, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and the Marvelous Wonderettes.

SARAH HUNT-FRANK (Set Design) loves working with the people of RTG.  She lives in Wauwatosa with her husband, two teenage daughters, and a golden collie, named Joji.  Sarah has designed such shows as The Producers, Sound of Music, Spamalot, Doubt, Chicago, 37 Postcards, Dixie Swim Club, Arsenic and Old Lace, Jeeves Intervenes, and the award-winning design of Don’t Cry For Me Margaret Mitchell.

KAREN HAMILTON (PSM) An RTG volunteer since 1988 and Volunteer of the Year 2012-13, Karen has experience in most areas of production, as well as front of house positions ushering, house managing and box office. She is also the secretary on the Board of Directors. Karen was most recently ASM for Design for Murder, did props crew for Mary Poppins, worked sound tech for Werewolf’s Curse and The Sound of Music, and light tech for Arsenic and Old Lace and The Giver and also was ASM for The Dixie Swim Club. After retiring from CNH, she began working part-time at Gateway Tech, where she’s been for 15 years now. Karen will be enjoying a 2nd retirement come July 1st. At RTG, says Karen, she’s met great people, some becoming close forever friends.

ERIC GUTTENBERG (Stage Manager), a board member and 20-year volunteer, Eric got his start doing props in 1994 in The Wizard of Oz and now specializes in stage managing big musicals. Eric is a retired lawyer who turned in his law license after 36 years so no one at the DA’s office could convince him to come back.  His wife, Patricia, is a retired teacher.  His son is with Homeland Security and his daughter works for the Air Force Reserves.

KAREN MAGEE (ASM) has been a volunteer at RTG for 18 years, has held 31 crew positions (in every single area) and has had 15 acting roles, including Louisa Cortland in Design for Murder, Lady Cravenshire in Calendar Girls, Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music, Grandma Josephine in Willy Wonka and Ma Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life.  She also ushers, staffs the box office, and has been seen as Packy for Racine Children’s Theatre.  As a retired teacher, Karen enjoys traveling (she went to London with RTG last February, Greece in July, and has just returned from France) and volunteering at her church and the local food pantry.  She is the mother of four grown children (and three cats) and is the grandma of four delightful grandchildren, who are a never-ending source of pride and joy.

SISTER LINDA McCLENAHAN, OP (ASM), a.k.a. Sister Sarge, is a Racine Dominican nun. She’s in the Siena Center Choir and Bell Choir. She’s also a US Army Vietnam veteran, a veterans’ advocate, and the 2014 Racine County Veteran Volunteer of the Year. At RTG since 1995, Sr. Linda has been on stage in six plays and backstage for eight.

BRIAN HRPCEK (Light Design) designed lights for Jeeves Intervenes, Design for Murder, Sound of Music, Miracle Worker, Spelling Bee, Les Miserables, A Night at the Nutcracker, Suite Surrender and Almost, Maine and helped to light The Rocky Horror Show. Brian is technical director for theatre departments at Park and Horlick High Schools. He’s a theatre major at UW-Parkside and on changeover crew for Fireside Dinner Theatre. Though he’s no longer employed by the Boy Scouts, he remains a Scout leader.

MICHAEL L KURHAJEC (Light Design) has designed lights, sound and video for many productions here at RTG over  the last 20+ years. While he has loved so many of the show here, his favorite light design was Les Miserables. In 2004-05 he received our John Maccanelli Award. Michael works as technical director at Union Grove High School and for Pat Hazel’s A Kodachrome Christmas, and the Magic of Bill Blagg Live. He is a former stagehand at Walt Disney World working on Indiana Jones Stunt Show, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, as well as special events.  Recently he was awarded an outstanding directing award at the 2016 National Performing Arts Festival, for his work with Union Grove High School. He is also a member of Scout Leaders Rescue Squad in Kenosha, working on the ambulance, as well as being their scheduling officer. His great joy in life is sharing his love and passion for live theater with his students at UGHS.

JR TRIMARK (Light Tech) was recently seen on stage as Mr. Aarons in Bridge to Terabithia and worked behind the scenes for Jeeves Intervenes (ASM) and Design for Murder.  J.R. has been a part of numerous productions at the Rhode, RG Audio Productions, Spotlight Youth Theatre and Christ the King Community Church. When he is not at a theater, J.R enjoys reading, science fiction and spending time with his family. J.R. works at SC Johnson, is husband to Betty and father to Hannah and Makayla.

ERIC GOODWIN (Sound Design) is the RTG’s season chair of sound, and can often be found mixing sound at performances of musicals, such as Mary Poppins, Calendar Girls, Spamalot and Les Mis. Besides working sound, Eric did have one line in the musical Godspell.  When not dressed in black and sitting in the back of the house, he helps RTG patrons find their seats as a regular usher.  Eric sings baritone with the Dairy Statesmen and works for Nelson Electric Supply.

JOHN WHYTE (Sound Tech) was a sound tech for Mary Poppins, Spamalot, Sound of Music, and Les Miserables. He plays trumpet with the Racine Concert Band, Kenosha Pops, and UW-P Community Band, and leads several ministries at Kenosha’s Lord of Life Church.  John thanks Dorothy, and their children and grandchildren, for their love and support.

JANET PETRIK (Digital Orchestration) started in sound design with The Gamester in 2008 after she retired as IT Manager at Walker Mfg./Tenneco Automotive. Her sound credits are more than 20 shows including Jeeves Intervenes, Design for Murder, Mary Poppins, Doubt, Glorious! and Deathtrap. She was a member of the play reading committee in 2009 and chaired it in 2010. Janet is a violinist in UW-Parkside’s community orchestra. She likes to read, golf, bike ride and garden.

KIMBERLY INSTENES (Costume Design) works as a freelance costume and make-up designer in the Milwaukee/Chicago area. Professional design credits include The Giver, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Magic Bicycle, Big the Musical and A Year with Frog and Toad at First Stage Milwaukee, Jeeves Intervenes, Art and Heroes at Milwaukee Chamber, Romeo and Juliet at Milwaukee Shakespeare, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Renaissance Theatre Works, Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Racine Theatre Guild.  She is also the faculty Costume Designer at Carthage College.  Design work at Carthage includes the new play, Up The Hill by Keith Huff, Spring Awakening, Stage Kiss and new play, by Laura Jacqmin, Ghost Bike, to name a few.  Kim holds an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from Ohio University, and a BA in Theatre from UW-Whitewater.

KIRSTEN CARTER (Wardrobe Crew) began her RTG career as Julie in Pack of Lies in 1992.  After a brief hiatus to travel, Kirsten is happy  to be back at the Racine Theatre Guild.  She usually ushers when she’s in town but was inspired to get involved in costumes after visiting the Downton Abbey exibit at the Driehaus Museum in Chicago.  She has been a computer programmer for the last 20 years and enjoys building servers, coding games, writing short stories and living in her 27 foot RV with her husband.

JEANNE CHRISTENSEN (Makeup/Hair) was last season’s chair of makeup and has been a Mary Kay Beauty consultant for 27 years. Jeanne has been with us through multiple shows every year since Taking Leave in 2004.  Each show presents a different challenge that leads her to discovering a new technique. Away from the glamour of makeup and hair styling, Jeanne’s idea of a good time is using power tools to build things with scrap lumber. She’s also fond of fishing and wants to relocate to her place “up north,” but we can’t part with her.

KELLI SMETANA (Props) headed props design for several shows including Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, Willy Wonka and Calendar Girls.   She’s usually found in props, but has also been known to do hair, makeup, sound and wardrobe. Kellie works for Assurant Health. All three of her daughters—Isabella, Olivia and Sophia—are performers. Isabella plays Chava in this show and Olivia and Sophia dance!

SUSAN SANDVICK (Marketing/Development) is ending her first season as the Director of Marketing and Development at RTG with Fiddler.  She recently played the witch in Racine Children’s Theatre’s Pale Pink Dragon, but years ago she graced our stage as a dwarf, a flower, the mock turtle, a beetle, a dog and a princess who cried a lot with the RCT’s Junior Production Company (pre-SPArK).  Susan hopes that you all make RTG a “tradition” by subscribing for the 2016/17 season.

TERI KARPINSKI (Business Manager) spent 10 years as the RTG’s Box Office Manager before taking over her new duties last season.  Teri and her husband Will are also on an ushering crew, and have a theatrical dog, Wanda, who has been in numerous RTG productions.  When not at the RTG, Teri plays the role of grandma to Anthony.

TINA PAUKSTELIS (Season Ticket Coordinator) graduated from UW-Parkside with a degree in theatre and has spent two years working in the RTG box office.  RTG audiences have seen her in The Glass Menagerie and Dancing at Lughnasa.  She recently performed in 6th Street’s productions of Good People and God of Carnage.

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5/10/16 – WGTD Morning Show –  the interview begins at the 32 minute mark.

5/6/16- Kenosha News – Coming soon: ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ set to open at Racine Theatre Guild

5/5/16 – The Journal Times – Racine Theatre Guild stages ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

5/2/16 – The Journal Times – Community Newsletter: Racine Theatre Guild to stage 2 beloved musicals

WPR – Racine Theatre Guild Presents “Fiddler on the Roof”

9/10/15 – Kenosha News – Theater 2016-16: RTG’s season at a glance

9/7/15 – The Journal Times – The 2016-16 Racine Theatre Guild season

9/2/15 – The Journal Times -Saucy, award-winning musicals mix for RTG’s new season