Number the Stars
Jan. 6 – 22, 2006 |
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NUMBER THE STARS
By Dr. Douglas W. Larche
With Susan Elliott Larche
Based on the novel by Lois Lowry
Click on a name to read that person's bio.
Artistic Staff
Director: Ron Ziegler
Costume Designer: Angela Lampe
Scenic Designer: Kevin Shelby
Lighting & Sound Designer: Craig Kaufman
Original Music Composed & Performed by
Christopher Powell
Stage Manager: Juli Hale
Cast
Annemarie Johansen: Ruth Dearth
Ellen Rosen: Amanda Bartlett
Kirstie Johansen: Kelli Schulte
The Giraffe: Wade Carson Greene
Mrs. Inge Johansen: Julia Noyce
Mrs. Sophy Rosen: Barbara S. Simpson
Papa Johansen: Jules Gray
Peter Neilsen: David A. Van Cleave
Soldier: Jacob Bowman
Klampenborg Soldier: Codey Haltom
Uncle Henrik Knudsen: Jim Morrill,
Mike Schneider
Woman With Baby: Mary Bryant
Man With Beard: Codey Haltom
Mr. Rosen: Greg Millar
German Officer: Jacob Bowman
Soldier With Dogs: Jacob Bowman
Soldiers: Wade Carson Greene,
Codey Haltom
Production Crews
Light Board: Tyler Lubinus
Sound Board: Ari Molitor
Audition Crew: Cheryl Critelli-O'Donnell, Sue Dittmer, Bonnie Hodson
Playhouse Ambassadors: Judy Blessington, Mary Bricker, Vickie Costanzo, Sue Dittmer, Annette Duffy, Pam Falkstrom, Charlene Green, Bonnie Hodson, Jean Leibold, Ruth Miller, Becky Scholtec, Vickie Smith, Mary Whisenand
Subscriber Services: Gloria Filean
Daytime Office Volunteers: Gloria Filean, Cheryl Hamilton, Carol Larson
House Managers: Theresa Bradfield, Charlene Green, Bonnie Hodson, Ruth Miller, Marcella Phillips, Eva Williams
Front of House Crew: Shirley Benskin, Theresa Bradfield, Mary Bricker, DeAnn Carlson, Cheryl Critelli-O'Donnell, Jenna Darsee, Kent Darsee, Nancy Darsee, Sue Dittmer, JoAnn Erpelding, Jeannie Gee, Mark Thomas Gee Jr., Shelley Graber, Charlene Green, Tiffany Haltom, Bonnie Hodson, Jack Kessling, June Kessling, Lincoln High School, Fawn McChesney, Ruth Miller, Phyllis Pechman, Marcella Phillips, Tom Phillips, Rachel Shebek, Rhonda Shebek, Carter Smith, Jeff Smith, Joe Smith, Kathleen Stark, Phyllis Stevens, Eva Williams
Playhouse Historian: Lloyd Von Hagen
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Amanda Bartlett (Ellen Rosen) spent her summer playing Chip in The Playhouse's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and was in the theatre's fall production of Pippi Longstocking. A fifth grader at Delaware Elementary, Des Moines, Mandy plays saxophone; and likes reading, writing and singing.
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Jacob Bowman (Soldier/German Officer/Soldier With Dogs) has been in shows at his alma maters, College of Dupage, Glen Ellyn, IL, and West Des Moines Valley High School, including History of the Devil and Brighton Beach Memoirs. Jake, a Planet Sub sandwich guy, is an amateur stand-up comedian, and likes dancing and karaoke.
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Mary Bryant (Woman With Baby) made her Playhouse debut as Tuptim in The King and I. As a student in Iowa City, she trod the boards in Private Lives (Riverside Theatre) and Machinal (University of Iowa). Mary is a research assistant at Pioneer Hi-Bred International, and, in her spare time, creates handcrafts and sculpture.
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Ruth Dearth (Annemarie Johansen) is a fifth grader at Granger/Mitchell Elemen-tary who is active in sports, especially gymnastics, and dance. At The Playhouse, Ruth has appeared in The Frog Prince and, as Anna, her favorite role to date, in Little House Christmas at Plum Creek.
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Jules Gray (Papa Johansen) is a professional actor/interpreter at the Science Center of Iowa, performing several science-related plays and demonstrations in support of exhibits and displays. He has written or co-authored eight original plays for the Science Center, including the popular Time Trek: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. At The Playhouse, his shows have ranged from Puss 'n Boots (his first) to Mr. Roberts (his favorite) to Honk! (his latest).
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Wade Carson Greene (The Giraffe/Soldier) is a standup comedian, raw sketch artist for animated films, and actor in independent films such as Blue Box Limited's University Heights and locally-produced commercials. An "Army brat" and former serviceman himself, Wade is also a drummer and athlete.
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Codey Haltom (Klampenborg Soldier/Man With Beard/Soldier) made his Playhouse debut three years ago in Red Riding Hood, and has been involved ever since, acting onstage in shows such as The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) and volunteering backstage on various crews. Codey, who is involved in soccer and debate, will graduate this spring from Des Moines' East High School.
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Greg Millar (Mr. Rosen) is an early childhood special education teacher at Mitchell Elementary, Des Moines. His area shows include Disney's Beauty and the Beast and High School Reunion at The Playhouse, and Guys & Dolls at the Ingersoll Dinner Theatre. Greg and his wife, Carol, have three children, Ben (15), Shelby (13) and Taylor (9).
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Jim Morrill (Uncle Henrik Knudsen, 1/6-1/15) says his favorite role to date has been Gollum/Smaug in The Hobbit (Playhouse). Other Playhouse shows include The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Fenris Ulf) and Little House Christmas at Plum Creek (Pa Ingalls). An account execuitve with Bowe Bell & Howell, Jim and wife Jill are the parents of Micaelah, Ben and Kiera.
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Julia Noyce (Mrs. Inge Johansen) has been seen on area stages in The Memory of Water (StageWest), The Importance of Being Earnest (Drama Workshop) and Ramona Quimby (Playhouse). Julia is a senior underwrtier for AmerUs Life, and enjoys theatre, traveling, gardening, cooking and reading.
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Mike Schneider (Uncle Henrik Kunudsen, 1/20-1/22) is a favorite of Des Moines audiences. His Playhouse shows include The Wizard of Oz (Uncle Henry), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Ichabod Crane) and Moon Over Buffalo (Howard). Mike is director of systems implementation at GuideOne, husband to Dawn, and dad to Kellen (10) and Cory (8).
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Kelli Schulte (Kirstie Johansen) made her Playhouse debut as Doris in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and says she thinks Number the Stars' Kirstie is going to be her favorite acting role. This West Des Moines Westridge Elementary fourth grader likes playing soccer, basketball and softball; plays piano; and is an avid reader.
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Barbara S. Simpson (Mrs. Sophy Rosen) has many onstage credits including Stuart Little (Playhouse) and The Odd Couple and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Playmakers & Co., Christiansburg, VA). She is also active backstage, most recently serving as stage manager for Master Class. Barbara is owner/leader of A Different Kind of Writers Group.
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David A. Van Cleave (Peter Neilsen) is a junior at Iowa Christian Academy, Urbandale. He has numerous area acting credits, with his favorite to date being The Boxcar Children (Henry Alden) at The Playhouse. He has volunteered backstage, most recently as an intern with There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom. In addition to acting, David likes reading, writing and poetry.
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Ron Ziegler (Director) is a freelance director and theatre artist based in Des Moines, where he served on staff of The Playhouse as associate director and also was the first managing director for the Kate Goldman Children's Theatre. He founded and managed the first Iowa Fringe Festival and worked as executive director for StageWest Theatre Company during their 2004-05 season. During 2003 and part of 2004, he was the first executive director for Orlando (FL) Repertory Theatre, a professional theatre for young audiences. Ron served as president of The American Association of Community Theatre from 1995 to 1997 and was named an AACT Fellow. 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Christopher Powell (Original Music Composer/Performer) has composed original works for The Playhouse (The BFG, The Boxcar Children) and Orlando Repertory Theatre (Bridge to Terabithia). He is currently a music major at Southwestern Community College in Creston.
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Juli Hale (Stage Manager) began her Playhouse career as a "weasel wrangler" for The Wind in the Willows. Since then, she's stage managed several shows including last season's Henry and Ramona, and run lights and sound for numerous shows. Juli is a senior home economist with Better Homes & Gardens/Meredith Corporation test kitchens.
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