CAST

ROB KROES (Seymour Krelborn) previously played Bert in Mary Poppins, Patsy in Spamalot, Enjolras in Les Mis and Eddie in A Night at the Nutcracker on our main stage and was in several Packy Plays. He had singing roles at UW-Stevens Point in Die Fledermaus, The Tenderland, The Zoo and The Marriage of Figaro.  Rob is an Encore Award winning teacher (2016) for Racine Unified, and he will serve as the new Union Grove High School choral director starting this fall.

MEGAN SEAGER (Audrey) was last seen as Winifred Banks in Mary Poppins and has played in Three Musketeers, Scrooge – the Musical, Annie (two times) and Oliver! She got her BA from Calvin College and her MS in Speech/Language Pathology from UW-Stevens Point. She currently leads a Preschool Phonological Classroom in Racine at Red Apple EC.  Megan is thankful to her family, and husband Joe for all their support and love.

ANTHONY LAZALDE (Mr. Mushnik) prefers to be called Tony. Otherwise, he thinks he is in trouble. He was last seen as Bob Ewell in To Kill A Mockingbird with the Lakeside Players at the Rhode Center for the Arts. He has his BA in Acting/Directing from Northern Illinois University. He has recently returned to the Midwest after a long adventure in Southern California. Favorite roles include Hank in the Gourmet Detective (improv dinner theatre), Oscar in the Odd Couple, and Marcellus in The Music Man.  He is excited to make his debut at RTG and is very grateful to God for his gifts and his beautiful wife, Ruth.

ROBBIE SHAW (Voice of Audrey II) was last seen on stage at RTG in the 2008 production of Beauty and the Beast.  He has also been in Snowdance and Theatre/Schmeatre at Sixth Street Theatre.  Robbie is a J.I. Case graduate and a bartender at Wharf 209.  He loves to “eat, sleep, love, and laugh.”  Special thanks to my friends and family.

MIKE KISHLINE (Orin Scrivello)  in less than ten years has compiled an extensive resume that includes 17 stage appearances, lastly as Bertie Wooster in Jeeves Intervenes. On top of numerous crew positions, Mike just completed chairing our play reading committee and heading up the Comedy Tonight ushering crew with his lovely wife, Rebecca. Along with several other RTG volunteers, he took up running three years ago. He has since covered over 1,500 miles, completed two half-marathons, and is now pursuing his latest challenge of running 1,000 miles in 2016. Mike is employed by Carthage College, his alma mater, as a web developer.

ERICKA WADE (Ronnette) is a new transplant to the Racine-area and this is her first show at RTG.  Previous roles include Evillene in The Wiz at First Stage Children’s Theater, Camilla Rosario in In the Heights and ensemble in Rent at Skylight Music Theater, and Gary Coleman in Avenue Q at Greendale Community Theater.  Other roles include: Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago, Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, Nehebka in Aida.  She has also appeared in plays with the Boulevard Ensemble, Renaissance Theaterworks, Windfall Theater and Acacia Theater.  Her 7 year old French bulldog, Brutus, just played Rufus in Nicolet High School’s production of Legally Blonde.

KATE FISCHER (Crystal) is appearing in her fourth production at the Racine Theatre Guild. She debuted in the chorus of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2011) and went on to play Fairy in The Curious Savage (2012) and in Betty Jean in The Marvelous Wonderettes (2015). She had multiple roles in War of the Worlds with Kenosha’s Lakeside Players. In high school (Park), she played in Babes in Arms,  Godspell and Oklahoma! Kate has a degree in psychology from UW-Milwaukee and works as a Customer Service Manager at Rehrig Pacific Company in Pleasant Prairie (they probably made your city’s recycling carts). Kate enjoys reading anything and everything, discovering new music, and going for a run usually no longer than three miles in length.

CHYNNA CHUNG (Chiffon) is a newlywed who was last seen at RTG in the ensembles of Rocky Horror Picture Show and Willy Wonka. She helped with hair/makeup and wardrobe during A Night at the Nutcracker and was asst. stage manager for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.   Most recently, she played Jeanie in Hair and Lucinda in Into the Woods with the Lakeside Players. Chynna is the Sales Manager at Great Lakes Skipper and she appreciates the support and encouragement given by family, friends and co-workers.

KEVIN SUSTACHECK (Man I) had stage roles at the Racine Theatre Guild in Design for Murder (2016), Guys and Dolls (2008), The Uneasy Chair (2007), Scrooge (2005 and 2006) and Anything Goes (2003). He was in the 2015 ensemble of Snowdance and played Van in Dog Sees God at the Sixth Street Theatre. Kevin was on props crews for Marvelous Wonderettes (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2008), Steel Magnolias (2008), Gypsy (2007), and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (2007). Kevin works at Rasmussen Diamonds, a RTG sponsor.  He’s married to Samantha (Maria from The Sound of Music) and is dad to Everett, age 6, and Avery, age 3.

RYAN SIMONSEN (Man II) was last seen as Officer Klein in Arsenic and Old Lace, Phil the half-man/half-alligator character in Duck Hunter Shoots Angel (2014), Protean in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (2013) and as the Candy Man in Willy Wonka (2012). He’s married to Sheila and the proud father of Kyle, Jared and Loghan. The Simonsens have all done some theatre, here and there, especially the two boys.  It was their interest and his wife’s encouragement that gave Ryan the push he needed to make the jump from karaoke to the stage.

REBECCA WEAVER (Woman I) is in her seventh musical, following Fiddler on the Roof, 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.

IAN ANDERSON (Audrey II puppeteer) was in Mary Poppins and Les Miserables and played Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show. He has been in numerous RCT productions and has worked backstage in Spamalot, Spelling Bee and Almost, Maine. Ian graduated from the University of Illinois (BS, Molecular and Cellular Biology) and has a new job with Quintiles, where he monitors clinical trials.  When Ian is not at RTG or at work, he loves to spend time with friends, and hang out with his niece Kadi.

CREW

KARA ERNST- SCHALK (Director) is a professional performer, director, choreographer and educator. She has performed professionally at dinner theaters, regional theatres, cruise lines and theme parks throughout the country. Her  choreography and direction credits at RTG include Chicago, Lucky Stiff, The Rocky Horror Show, Fiddler on the Roof and The Music Man. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre from UW–Stevens Point. She received her acting training from The Strasberg Theater Institute (New York) and her dance training from The Milwaukee Ballet School, DanceWorks and Broadway Dance Studio (New York).

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.

JAMIE JOHNSON (PSM) was production stage manager The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Almost, Maine. Playing the lead role in Mary Poppins marked her 19^th time on RTG’s stage. She’s also been in a bunch of Children’s Theatre shows. On the production side, in addition to being a PSM, she has experience in props and lighting. Jamie was the VP of our board, chaired membership, facilities and production committees. She served two terms on the play reading committee. Was the 2013-14 recipient of our John Maccanelli Volunteer of the Year Award.  Jamie and her husband, Mike, own Lake Shore Inc. (“The Dry Guys”) in Kenosha.

SCARLETTE KINDERMAN (Stage Manager) is a senior at UW-Parkside and currently working towards a Theaters Arts Degree with a focus in Stage Management.  She discovered theater arts last year and has thrown herself head first into the plethora of knowledge and amazing opportunities in the theatre world.  She has Stage Managed two Fresh Inks, Murder by Poe and Distracted, Assistant Stage Managed for The Government Inspector, and this coming fall she will be ASM on Macbeth at UW-Parkside.

KATHY BERG (ASM) was last seen on the RTG stage as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof.  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.

KIM 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.

JODI GEMENT, SHEILA SIMONSEN (Wardrobe Run Crew)

BETH BITNER (Hair/Makeup)

LAURA-NICOLE MUSOLF (Prop Design), a teacher at Badger High, has as many production credits as stage roles at RTG. She designed props for Spamalot and One Slight Hitch and her production credits at RTG also include positions makeup and wardrobe. She has over twenty years of experience in various theatres, both as a director and as a performer including productions of Calendar Girls, Duck Hunter Shoots Angel, The Curious Savage, Don’t Hug Me, Laughing Stock, Packer Fans from Outer Space, A Christmas Story, Anything Goes, Into the Woods, Lend Me A Tenor, The Sound of Music, Noises Off and Hello, Dolly!

ELIZABETH (ELLE) COOPER (Props Run Crew) appeared on-stage at the Racine Theatre Guild in Duck Hunter Shoots Angel as Kansas and Willy Wonka as Violet Beauregard. Currently a junior in college attending Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, she has come back for the summer to help backstage. She has run props for Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, and Fiddler on the Roof. Elle’s major is Elementary Education, and she hopes to share her love of theatre with her future students. In the upcoming school year, she will continue to do collegiate cheerleading for her school and become a Resident Assistant for one of the girls dorm on campus. She currently coaches gymnastics at Racine Gymnastics Center and cheerleading through RUSD.

HANNAH COOPER (Props Run Crew) first appeared on-stage at the Racine Theatre Guild as a postulate nun/ensemble in The Sound of Music. Other roles she has played have been as a Bird Girl in Seussical the Musical, a wife in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Ensemble at Beauty and the Beast. She has run props for Les Miserables and Beauty and the Beast at the Racine Theatre Guild. Hannah is graduating a year early and will be joining her sister at Benedictine College where she will major in Classical Literature and continue stunting and tumbling as a member of the collegiate cheerleading squad.  Hannah currently coaches gymnastics at Racine Gymnastics Center.

LEE CHRISTENSEN (Sound Board/Mixing) first volunteered at RTG a year ago as sound mixer for The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and he’s back at it this summer. His twin sons, James (light technician) and John, have been very active here since 2006. His daughter Angela was in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in 2008. Lee has another son and daughter, too—five (adult) kids in all! More than three decades have passed since he participated in college and high school productions. He works at Brookdale Senior Living as a senior analyst and lives in Racine with his wife, Patricia.

MARY JEAN CLARK (Sound Tech.)

MIKE KURHAJEK (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.  He is spending his summer working for the Shorewood Rec Department, with their Drama Jr program, where he is Technical Director.  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 very excited to bring some of his UGHS students to the RTG to work on shows here alongside him.  Michael 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.

KEVIN EDMONSTON (Light Design) started volunteering at RTG on props crews for Lettice and Lovage in 1995. Since then he’s most often been a lighting designer and was chair of lighting for several seasons. He’s had three brief appearances on stage as an extra and, in Hotbed Hotel, as the sheik’s double. Kevin is the main technician at his church, Franksville United Methodist. At Jockey International, he is a senior technical analyst supporting the retail stores and dealing with payment card security and compliance. He is married to Terri and they have a daughter, Hailey.

REBECCA KISHLINE (Light Tech.) has appeared on stage in seven roles including Spamalot, Melanie in One Slight Hitch and Woman in Duck Hunter Shoots Angel —and has just as many production credits in wardrobe, costume design and stage managing. She’s been pole dancing for five years and loves working out, which balances her love of desserts.  Occasionally you have seen Rebecca and her husband Mike on stage together; Comic Potential, Southern Hospitality and Almost Maine to name a few.

AUTUMN WOZNY, KORI HASSLER (Deck Crew)

DAWN VAN ESS, GARY AND LINDA KROES (Audrey II Crew)

DOUGLAS INSTENES (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 are empty-nesters, as son Dalen, begins his second year at Lewis University in the fall and daughter Lauren begins her fourth year at Wittenberg University in Ohio.

SUSAN SANDVICK (Marketing/Development) survived her first season at RTG but has been looking a little anemic ever since she brought in a new plant that she found in Chinatown to brighten up her office.  Last season, she played the witch in Racine Children’s Theatre’s Pale Pink Dragon, and 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).

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 three years working in the RTG box office.  RTG audiences have seen her in The Glass Menagerie and Dancing at Lughnasa.  She was voted best actress for her portrayal of Margie Walsh  in Good People at the 2016 Over Our Head Players awards banquet.

Set Construction/Paint:

Kathy Robinson

Mario Kerstenetzky

Mike Kurhajec

Chris Reinhardt

Steve Barnes

Elizabeth Barnes

Special Thanks to:

Carthage College (costumes)

Joe and Kathy Musolf (gardening tools)

Starbucks

Piggly Wiggly on Washington Ave.

Forward Dental (dental tools)

Badger High School FFA/Greenhouse (gardening pots)

Poster (11×17)

Flier (8.5×11)

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