Des Moines Playhouse Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2005 Cast Biographies

Child wranglers: Mary Bricker, Tom Franklin, Guillian Gillespie, Nancy Johnson, Carissa Lee, Maureen McLaughlin, Carol Millar, Brian Morris, Margie Morris, Faye Railsback, Lynn Rankin, Sue Richards, Mike Schneider, Jami Schnoebelen, Todd Senne, Alison Shafer

Audition Crew: Cheryl Critelli-O'Donnell, Sue Dittmer, Charlene Green, Bonnie Hodson

Playhouse Ambassadors: Judy Blessington, Mary Bricker, Annette Duffy, Jean Leibold, Becky Scholtec, Mary Whisenand

Subscriber Services: Gloria Filean

Daytime Office Volunteers: Gloria Filean, Cheryl Hamilton, Carol Larson

House Managers: Theresa Bradfield, Al Downey, Charlene Green, Bonnie Hodson, Mary Marshall, Ruth Miller, Marcella Phillips, Eric Rohe, Linda Sowers, Gail Stelmacher, Bill Strate

Front of House Crew: Mara Abolins, Pat Allison, John Anderson, Pam Anderson, Linda Bartlett, Mary Lu Baumbach, Bruce Beals, Golda Beals, Shirley Benskin, Diedre Blin, Theresa Bradfield, Jene Breiten, Mary Bricker, Sue Buehler, Josiah Burton, DeAnn Carlson, Coralie Cherry, Carol Clow, Cheryl Critelli-O'Donnell, Jenna Darsee, Kent Darsee, Nancy Darsee, Michael Delaney, Nettie DeWit, Sue Dittmer, Al Downey, Ruth Downey, JoAnn Erpelding, Pam Falkstrom, Jean Fargo, Mark Ferguson, Susan Ferguson, Rosemary Fitzjunker, Betty Forst, Fred Gee, Sharon Gee, Roy Gollnick, Shelley Graber, Charlene Green, Tiffany Haltom, Curt Heidt, Sharon Heidt, Bonnie Hodson, Isabelle Holland, Dick Kern, Dottie Kern, Jack Kesling, June Kesling, Mona Knutson, Jean Leibold, Lincoln High School Drama Department, Cathy Lindsey, Sunny Liston, Kathy Loveridge, Doris Lutyens, Andrea Markowski, Dwight Marshall, Mary Marshall, Sharon Mitchell, Tom O'Donnell, Jean Patrick, Phyllis Pechman, Sharon Peterson, Marcella Phillips, Tom Phillips, Helen Pille, Linda Poil, Gretchen Pope, Dell Radclife, Shirlee Reding, Sandy Ridgeway, Eric Rohe, Heather Rohe, Amy Skarin, Jake Skarin, Anita Smith, Joe Smith, Vickie Smith, Kathleen Stark, Carole Stevens, Phyllis Stevens, Beth Tingle, Gladys Van Sickle, Vicente Vasquez, Bob Vipond, Fran Watson, Susan Weaver, Eva Williams, Dodie Wilson, Kathleen Zimmerman

Playhouse Historian: Lloyd Von Hagen

Special Thanks: Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Billy Joe's Pitcher Show, Checker Flag Lightning, Chuck E. Cheese's, Cold Stone Creamery, Des Moines Botanical Center, Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Radio Group, Iowa Bakery Café, Iowa Kids, KDSM Fox 17, 92.5 KJJY, Krispy Kreme, Living History Farms, Lutheran Church of the Cross, My 100, Riverfront YMCA, Science Center of Iowa, Skate West

	Ian Anderson (Shepherd), a fifth grader at Des Moines' Downtown School, has appeared in several school plays. TOP
	Carter Bricker Smith (Shepherd), a front-of-house volunteer, is a sixth grader at Callanan Middle School, Des Moines. TOP
	Alexandria Brightwell (Imogene Herdman) is an eighth grader at Goodrell Middle School, Des Moines, and has appeared in Playhouse productions of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Frog Prince. TOP
	Catherine Davis (Angel), a sixth grader at Callanan Middle School, Des Moines, has performed in The Nutcracker with Ballet Theatre of Des Moines, with Heartland Youth Choir, and at The Playhouse in The Wizard of Oz. TOP
	Gabrielle Dearth (Angel), a seventh grader at McCombs Middle School in Des Moines, counts among her Playhouse credits Red Riding Hood and The Frog Prince. TOP
	A fifth grader at Des Moines' Hubbell Elementary, Erika Dorff (Angel) is excited to be appearing in her first play. TOP
	Lois A. Edwards is a veteran of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, having played many of the adult roles over the years. TOP
	Andy Elliott (Bob Bradley), real life dad to cast member Darby, is familiar to country fans from KJJY, where he is on-air middays, and to Playhouse fans, where he has appeared in Over the River and Through the Woods and Art. TOP
	Darby Elliott (Maxine), a sixth grader at Hoyt Middle School, Des Moines, returns to The Playhouse stage where she last appeared in The Frog Prince. TOP
	Ivy Elwell (Angel), who has been in Playhouse productions of Hansel & Gretel and The Wind in the Willows, is a seventh grader on the honor roll at Callanan Middle School, Des Moines, where she also performs with Opus Honor Choir and Jazz Honor Band. TOP
	Des Moines Greenwood Elementary second grader Olive Elwell (Baby Angel) performs lots of impromptu shows in her living room at home, but is making her stage debut alongside sisters Ivy and Ruby and brother Edgar Rosa. TOP
	Ruby Elwell (Baby Angel) is in fourth grade at Greenwood Elementary, Des Moines, where she played Constanza Mozart in Of Mice and Mozart. TOP
	Claudia Farrell (Juanita) is a fourth grader at Jefferson Elementary, Des Moines, and has appeared on The Playhouse stage in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. TOP
	Brittney Franklin (Angel) has performed in shows at Temple B'nai Jeshurun, and is a fifth grader at Westridge Elementary, West Des Moines. TOP
	Stacie Franklin (Mrs. Clark), mom to cast member Brittney, has been in numerous shows in the Des Moines area, including Jesus Christ Superstar at Drama Workshop and Cabaret and Evita (twice) at The Playhouse. TOP
	Paxton Gillespie (Shepherd) dances with Adel Dance Club and is a third grader at Van Meter Elementary. TOP
	Codey Haltom (Firefighter), a senior at Des Moines East High School, has grown up at The Playhouse, volunteering on virtually every backstage crew and, most recently, appearing onstage in The BFG (Big Friendly Giant). TOP
	Tiffany Haltom (Angel), a veteran of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, is in eighth grade at Hoyt Middle School, Des Moines, and sister to Codey. TOP
	Jenna Hanson (Baby Angel) attends Crossroads Park Elementary in West Des Moines, where she is a second grader, and was in The Playhouse's The Frog Prince. TOP
	Rob Hanson (Rev. Hopkins), who works for ITA Group, is making his theatrical debut alongside daughter Jenna. TOP
	Rob Harvey (Charlie Bradley), a sixth grader at St. Augustin School in Des Moines, has been in Come Back, Amelia Bedelia and The Frog Prince. TOP
	Spencer Hastings (Shepherd) is a fourth grader at Northeast Elementary in Ankeny. TOP
	Megan Heideman (Angel) has played a Baby Angel (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever) and a Pirate (Treasure Island), and is in seventh grade at Brody Middle School, Des Moines. TOP
	Bonnie Hodson (Mrs. Clausing) is a familiar Playhouse face, usually seen in the box office or ushering, and works at Nationwide Insurance. TOP
	Kourtney A. Horner (Grace Bradley) is receiving her bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre, with an emphasis in acting, from Drake University, Des Moines, where her shows include The Crucible and Memory of Water. TOP
	Zane Johnson (Shepherd) is a homeschooled second grader. TOP
	Maisie Karlin (Shirley) is a third grader at Jefferson Elementary, Des Moines. TOP
	Katie Kelly (Angel) attends St. Theresa School, Des Moines, where she is in third grade. TOP
	Jan Manning (Mrs. Armstrong), reprising a favorite role, has also been on The Playhouse stage in James and the Giant Peach, Anne of Green Gables and Harriett the Spy, and works at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. TOP
	Molly McGuire (Beth Bradley) is in seventh grade at St. Augustin School, Des Moines, where she played an orphan in Annie. TOP
	Anne McLaughlin-Smith (Baby Angel) is a second grader at Hubbell Elementary, Des Moines. TOP
	Taylor Millar (Angel), a fourth grader at Ankeny's Southeast Elementary, has been in several shows at the Ingersoll Dinner Theatre, including Winnie-the-Pooh and It's a Wonderful Life, and in The Frog Prince at The Playhouse. TOP
	Carroll Molitor (Beverly) is in third grade at Longfellow Elementary at McKee Building in Des Moines. TOP
	Jocelyn Moretti (Angel) is a fifth grader at Northeast Elementary, Ankeny. TOP
	Kelly Morris (Angel), a fourth grader at St. Pius X School, Des Moines, where she is active in Destination Imagination, has been dancing since she was two, but is making her acting debut alongside sister Madi. TOP
	Madison Morris (Angel), a seventh grader at St. Pius X School, Des Moines, has been in Honk, Jr. at Altoona Children's Theatre. TOP
	Phillip Mullen (Elmer) has been in shows at Merrill Middle School, Des Moines, where he is a seventh grader. TOP
	Kate O'Brien (Angel) is a fifth grader at Des Moines' Hanawalt Elementary, and has performed in shows at her church, Plymouth Congregational. TOP
	Jalen Oudekerk (Shepherd) has acted in shows at Capitol City Baptist Church, and is a fifth grader at Moulton Extended Learning Center, Des Moines. TOP
	Madeline Palmer-Chase (Alice Wendleken) is a fifth grader at Des Moines' Downtown Elementary whose stage credits include Pippi Longstocking at The Playhouse and Song of Survival at Drama Workshop. TOP
	Patricia Richards (Angel) is active in theatre at her school, Urbandale Middle School, where she is a sixth grader; Windsor Heights Lutheran Church; and The Playhouse. TOP
	Edgar Rosa (Ralph Herdman), familiar to Playhouse audiences from Amazing Grace and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, is a freshman at Roosevelt High School, Des Moines. TOP
	Kellen Schneider (Claude Herdman), a fifth grader at Western Hills Elementary, West Des Moines, has been in his schoolÕs production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and in StageWest's Race. TOP
	Zach Schnoebelen (Ollie Herdman) is in fifth grade at Jordan Creek Elementary, West Des Moines. TOP
	Kari Schulte (Mrs. McCarthy) is making her acting debut alongside husband Rich and children Sam and Kelli. TOP
	Kelli Schulte (Doris) is a fourth grader at Westridge Elementary, West Des Moines. TOP
	Rich Schulte (Firefighter), Vice President of Jordan Motors by day, is appearing in his first play since his turn as Little Man in the Woods (Hansel & Gretel) as a third grader at Rex Mathes Elementary, West Des Moines. TOP
	Sam Schulte (Hobie Clark), a sixth grader at Westridge Elementary, West Des Moines, has appeared in the past two productions of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at The Playhouse, and in the StageWest Scriptease of Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All. TOP
	Meredith Senne (Baby Angel) has acted in television commercials, including one for the Iowa State Fair, and is a third grader at Walnut Hills Elementary, Waukee. TOP
	Emma Shafer (Angel) is in fourth grade at Hanawalt Elementary, Des Moines. TOP
	A second grader at Moulton Extended Learning Center, Des Moines, Jada Lynne Smith (Gladys Herdman) has performed at various community festivals and occasionally with her dad's band, Faculty Lounge. TOP
	Tanner Stine (David) has been in past productions of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and is a fifth grader at West Des Moines' Jordan Creek Elementary. TOP
	Emily Swanda (Baby Angel) is a homeschooled third grader. TOP
	Dane Van Brocklin (Leroy Herdman) attends Summit Middle School, Johnston, and counts among his acting credits Nicely Nicely in Guys & Dolls Jr. at Class Act Productions. TOP
	Ron Ziegler (Director) is a freelance director and theatre artist based in Des Moines, where he founded and managed the Iowa Fringe Festival and worked as executive director for StageWest. During 2003-04, he was executive director for Orlando (FL) Repertory Theatre, a professional theatre for young audiences. Ron served on staff at The Playhouse, 1995-2003, as associate director and also the first managing director of the Kate Goldman Children's Theatre. He served as president of the American Association of Community Theatre, 1995-97, was named an AACT Fellow and remains active in AACT committees. As a stage director, his credits include a regional tour of Pump Boys and Dinettes, The Secret Garden, The Who's Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Equus, Art and Dancing at Lughnasa, among many others. Ron has adjudicated many state and regional theatre festivals across the country and abroad, including four times for the USAREUR Ford Festival in Heidelberg, Germany, and was recently named one of three adjudicators for the 2007 National AACTFest in Charlotte, NC. He will facilitate the national Artistic Directors' Conference in Tacoma, WA, this February, and will return overseas in the spring for a seven-week tour adjudicating plays on military bases throughout Europe. TOP
	Elisia Raymond (Music Director) is vocal music instructor at Hiatt Middle School, Des Moines. At The Playhouse, she served as music director for Seussical the Musical, and appeared onstage in Chicago, Smokey Joe's Café and Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business. TOP
	Angela Lampe (Costume Designer) is in her 13th season at The Playhouse, where her costuming credits include Ragtime, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Honk!, Children of Eden, Chicago and Shear Madness. She has created costumes for Iowa Lottery commercials and Terrace Hill (period costumes for tour guides and Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack). Angie also serves as a docent at the Des Moines Art Center. TOP
	Kevin Shelby (Scenic Designer) has designed countless sets for Des Moines area theatres over the years, and counts among his Playhouse favorites State Fair, Charlotte's Web and Sabrina Fair. TOP
	Craig Kaufman (Lighting/Sound Designer) is technical director at the Temple Theatre in downtown Des Moines, where he designed lights and sound for the Temple/Playhouse productions of Forever Plaid and Shear Madness. His most recent Playhouse credits include Chicago and Disney's Beauty and the Beast. TOP
	Brandon John Lee (Stage Manager) is an actor, competes in triathlons and works at Principal Financial Group. TOP