CHICAGO
Book by Fred Ebb & Bob Fosse.

Music by John Kander. Lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Based on the play Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins

Click on a name to read that person's bio.

Artistic Staff

Director: John W. Viars

Assistant Director: J Michael Kellar

Music Director: Brenton Brown

Choreographer: Alison Shafer

Costume Designer: Angela Lampe

Scenic Designer: Alan Reynolds

Lighting Designer: Virgil Kleinhesselink

Sound Designer: Craig Kaufman

Cast in Order of Appearance

Velma Kelly: Gina Gedler
Roxie Hart: Amy Burgmaier
Fred Casely: Joe Parrish
Sergeant Fogarty: John Bach
Amos Hart: Jerry Jacobson
Liz: Dawn Shafer
Annie: Elisia Raymond
June: Sandra Henry
Hunyak: Kati Anderson
Mona: Jodi Stanfield
Martin Harrison: John Bach
Matron: Melissa M. Kellar
Billy Flynn: Steve Berry
Mary Sunshine: B.D. Church
Doctor: Justin Givan
Go-To-Hell Kitty: Megan Helmers
Harry: Danny Ellis
Aaron: Joe Parrish
The Judge: Brian Porter
Court Clerk: Rico L. Moss
Foreman: Jeff Duis

Orchestra Personnel

Conductor: Brenton Brown

Reed: John Morgan

Trumpets: Audrey Husted, John Cord

Trombone: Gary White

Violine: Leah Theesfield

Keyboards: Francine Griffith, Karen Hutzell

Percussion: Billy Wilson

Double bass: Dave Staron

Banjo: Jeff Lind

Volunteer Production Crews

Stage Manager: J Michael Kellar

Assistant Stage Manager: Brandon John Lee

Dance Captain: Melissa M. Kellar

Make-up Crew: Patrick W. Boltinghouse, Wyatt Reicherts

Hair Crew: Shea Bell, Wally Glover

Costume Crew: Nicole Taweel

Dresser: Nicole Taweel

Props Chair: Joy Kripal

Props Crew: Jessica Brown, Joe Coppi, Annette Duffy, Jolene Huen, Rosanne Mead

Set Construction Crew: Mark Chervenka, Justin Crosley, Pat Crosley, Patty Daft, Amanda Mullen, Fred Scott, Alex Snodgrass, Ashley Solomon, Jessica Solomon, Michael Solomon, Stephanie Solomon

Shift Captain: Brandon John Lee

Shift/Fly Crew: Jena Skaar

Light Crew: Tom Hahn, Michael Solomon

Light Board Operator: Toni K. Farris

Follow Spot Operators: Libby Pulver, David A. Van Cleave

Sound Crew: Tom Hahn, Michael Solomon

Sound Board Operator: Michael Solomon

Audition Crew: Cheryl Critelli-O'Donnell, Sue Dittmer, Bonnie Hodson
Playhouse Ambassadors: Judy Blessington, Mary Bricker, Annette Duffy, 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, Jean Corbin, 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, 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

	Kati Anderson (Hunyak) has wowed area audiences with dance solos in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Playhouse) and Hair (StageWest). An instructor at Payton Power Tumbling & Dance and make-up artist for Lancome Cosmetics, Kati says her favorite roles are mom to Kristin (22), Payton (6) and Boston (5), and wife to Charles. TOP
	John Bach (Fogarty/Harrison) is making his stage debut with Chicago. He received his degree in biomedical sciences from the University of Michigan. J.B. is the father of Shelby (7), and, in his free time, enjoys cycling and playing piano and guitar. TOP
	Steve Berry (Billy Flynn) has appeared in numerous Playhouse productions over the past 30 years, including lead roles in West Side Story and Jesus Christ Superstar. A graduate of Des Moines' Drake University and Drake Law School, Steve was the managing director of the Santa Clarita Repertory Theatre (Los Angeles) for three years. He and his partner, Tina, enjoy traveling and spending time with their two rescue dogs. Steve is following in the footsteps of his dad, Dale, "the best Billy Flynn to ever grace the stage." TOP
	Amy Burgmaier (Roxie Hart) has had roles on stage in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Playhouse) and, at StageWest, Hair and A New Brain. Amy is the host of "Zoo TV" on channel 7, Clinique counter manager at Younkers Valley West and a Hooters girl. TOP
	B.D. Church (Mary Sunshine) has an impressive show résumé including Hello, Dolly!, big the Musical and The Wizard of Oz at The Playhouse and My Fair Lady at the Ingersoll Dinner Theatre. A disability specialist by day, B.D.'s hobbies include college football, basketball, movie trivia and socializing with friends. TOP
	Jeff Duis (Foreman) is a junior at Simpson College, Indianola, where he has appeared in Love's Labours Lost and worked on the theatre light crew. He is a choreographer for Betty Hill Studio. TOP
	Danny Ellis (Harry) had the lead role of Harold Hill in a recent Judge Story Troupe (Story City) production of The Music Man, and is making his Des Moines area debut with Chicago. He keeps active with tae kwon do and basketball, and as father to Benton (2). TOP
	Gina Gedler (Velma Kelly) is a favorite of Des Moines audiences, having appeared in Gypsy, Into the Woods and Ragtime (Playhouse); Tomfoolery and Blood Brothers (Drama Workshop); and BatBoy and A New Brain (StageWest). Of her more than 30 roles, she says she has no favorites; she's enjoyed them all. Gina is an insurance specialist at Mercy Surgical Affiliates, and a championship bowler. She and husband Mike are the parents of Brandon (20), who is pursuing his theatre education in California. TOP
	Justin Givan (Doctor) appeared in Funny Girl at the Thousand Oaks (CA) Civic Center before coming to Iowa in 2002. His Playhouse shows include Cabaret and My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Justin is the office and building manager for Employee & Family Resources. When not at the theatre, he and his partner, Eric, enjoy traveling. TOP
	Megan Helmers (Go-To-Hell Kitty) is an interior designer at By Design, a teacher with the School of Classical Ballet & Dance, and dance coach at Johnston High School. A graduate of Iowa State University, Ames, Megan was active in ISU Dance and ISU Theatre. TOP
	Sandra Henry (June) is a multimedia producer/director at Drake University, Des Moines; wife to Jim; and mother to Gannon (3). Among her many local shows are Cabaret, Crazy For You and My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra (Playhouse); Ruthless! The Musical (StageWest); and Falsettos (Drama Workshop). TOP
	Jerry Jacobson (Amos Hart) returns to The Playhouse stage after an absence of more than 15 years during which time he and wife Debbie have been raising children Jennifer, Stephanie and Jay. Jerry's past Playhouse shows include Anything Goes (Billy Crocker) and Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour) with Gina Gedler and Steve Berry. Jerry is The Playhouse's director of corporate entertainment and Iowa Touring Theatre Company booking agent. TOP
	Melissa M. Kellar (Matron) is a multitalented director (True West, Vaudeville Mews), choreographer (Joseph... Dreamcoat, Central College, Pella) and actress (most recently A New Brain, StageWest, and Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business, The Playhouse). Missy is a supervisor at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage who loves golfing, playing volleyball and spending time with husband Mike. TOP
	Rico L. Moss (Court Clerk) made his Playhouse debut as Pharoah in Joseph... Dreamcoat. A graduate of Northwestern College, Orange City, with degrees in sociology, foreign affairs and criminal justice, Rico works for the United States Marine Corps. He is father to Parker (4) and Preston (3), and says his hobbies range from knitting to inline skating. TOP
	Joe Parrish (Fred Casely/Aaron) recently wowed Playhouse audiences as Sgt. Toomey in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues. Other Playhouse shows include High School Reunion (Dick Walker) and Smokey Joe's Café. Joe is a community service specialist with Homestead. TOP
	Brian Porter (Judge) is a sophomore at Iowa State University, Ames. While at Urbandale High School, he appeared in a variety of shows including A Midsummer Night's Dream (Snug), The Wizard of Oz (Tinman), Our Town (Stage Manager), Once Upon a Mattress (Sir Studley) and The Glass Menagerie (Tom). TOP
	Elisia Raymond (Annie) is vocal music instructor at Hiatt Middle School, Des Moines. She has lent The Playhouse her considerable talents as actress in Junie B. Jones... and Smokey Joe's Café and as music director for Seussical the Musical. Elisia is engaged to Michael Pride Jr. TOP
	Dawn Shafer (Liz) has danced in The Nutcracker and Firebird for Iowa Dance Theatre, appeared in The Music Man at West Des Moines Community Theatre, and made her Playhouse debut in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Dawn enjoys yoga, dancing, running and traveling. TOP
	Jodi Stanfield (Mona) is a parent by day (Asa, 4-1/2; Levon, 13 months) who welcomes this opportunity to sport fishnets, heels and a lethal attitude. Her Playhouse roles have ranged from Mary Magdalene (Jesus Christ Superstar) to Sister Albert Maria (Tony N' Tina's Wedding) with many misfit characters in between. TOP
	John Viars (Director) is in his 24th season as executive director of The Playhouse, is a former president of the American Association of Community Theater, and is a facilitator for the biennial national community theatre directors conference. TOP
	J Michael Kellar (Assistant Director) is no stranger to Playhouse audiences as actor (General Gengus Khan Schmitz, Seussical the Musical; Big Friendly Giant, The BFG) and director (Stuart Little, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Mike is a performance solutions strategist with ITAGroup and the chapter advisor for Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, Simpson College, Indianola. Mike is the proud husband of Melissa Kellar. TOP
	Brenton Brown (Music Director) has served as music director for StageWest productions of A New Brain and Hair, and The Playhouse production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. He has appeared onstage as the title character in Sweeney Todd and as Max in Lend Me a Tenor, both at the Ingersoll Dinner Theatre. Brenton is the work flow coordinator for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. TOP
	Alison Shafer (Choreographer) has been choreographing, performing and teaching dance professionally for the past 17 years. Most recently, she choreographed Disney's Beauty and the Beast; Forever Plaid; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra; Ragtime; Cabaret; Annie; and The Who's Tommy; and directed and choreographed Honk! and Smokey Joe's Café; all at The Playhouse. She has choreographed more than 15 shows for Theatre Cedar Rapids, the Off-Broadway production Marathon Dancing, the Georgia Pacific Industrial/Tour Tree Wishes (Atlanta), the Iowa Youth Choruses, and shows and dance pieces for the University of Iowa (Iowa City), Intimate Works (Seattle), St. Ambrose University (Davenport), Celebration Iowa and the Mall of America. When not in rehearsal, Alison loves dancing around the house with husband Allen and children Emma and Ethan. TOP
	Angela Lampe (Costume Designer) is in her 13th season with The Playhouse. In that time, she has created costumes ranging from Victorian-era gowns and Dorothy Gale's gingham dress to frogs in striped swimsuits. For Angie, it is about the story her designs help tell. TOP
	Alan Reynolds' (Scenic Designer) involvement in theatre, film and television spans more than 25 years and 175 productions: films True Lies, The Waterboy, Kermit's Swamp Years; television shows Sheena, Mortal Kombat Conquests, 21 Jump Street; theatrical associations with Harrison Performing Arts Center, Theatre Winter Haven, Burt Reynolds Jupiter Theatre, Mark I & II Dinner Theatres, The Pied Piper Players, The Playmakers of Tampa, Mad Cow Theatre of Orlando. He has had the honor of working on stage with such notable talents as Joshua Logan, Peter Larkin, Dom DeLuise and Howard Da Silva. Alan has served as adjunct professor/guest scenic designer at Florida Southern College. TOP
	Virgil Kleinhesselink (Lighting Designer) owns VTEC Productions sound company, and is technical director at Des Moines Hoover High School, where he designed lights for their production of Les Miserables Jr. Virgil began his Playhouse career in 1979, and since then has been involved with more than 200 shows as designer or actor. Virgil is also president of the Celtic Music Association. TOP
	Craig Kaufman (Sound Designer) is a graduate of Simpson College, Indianola, where he was lighting crew head for Theater Simpson and Simpson Music. Craig has designed lights and sound for numerous Playhouse productions, most recently Disney's Beauty and the Beast. TOP
	Brandon John Lee (Assistant Stage Manager) is best known to Playhouse audiences for his onstage roles – Cain/Japheth (Children of Eden), Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Simon (Jesus Christ Superstar), Brad (High School Reunion) – but has also volunteered on many backstage crews, serving as assistant director for the most recent production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Brandon competes in triathlons, and relaxes by fishing and spending time with wife Carissa. TOP