Eric Bench (Owl), is familiar to Playhouse audiences from a variety of roles: Captain Longstocking, Pippi Longstocking; Principal Tudor, High School Reunion; and, his favorite, Candy, Of Mice and Men. He has also volunteered as stage manager. In his spare time, Eric collects DVDs.

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Carrie Hardisty (Kanga) is making her stage debut, but has always been interested in theatre and enjoyed being in audiences both locally and in New York. Carrie works for a youth shelter in Ames and, when not working, spends time with family, including her newborn nieces, friends, and her cat, Sydney Jane.

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Dominique L'Heureux (Roo) is a junior at Ankeny High School, a varsity cheerleader, and a member of the school's French Club. She has performed at the Civic Center in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and with the Ankeny Music Academy.

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Justin Pontier (Christopher Robin), an honor roll sixth grader at Interstate 35 School (Truro), is involved in student council; plays alto saxophone; loves basketball, football and biking; and is active with 4-H and Congregational Christian Church, Truro. Justin is making his Playhouse debut, but was Jerome in South Pacific at Interstate 35 High School.

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Chris Ragner (Rabbit) returns to The Playhouse after a 15-year hiatus (Mozart, Amadeus, 1992) during which he has been playing his favorite, ongoing role: Dad to Alyssa (10), Ethan (8), Caleb (7) and Grant (5). He is a senior servicing representative for Allied Insurance, and enjoys cheering his kids in gymnastics, model railroading, collecting old G.I. Joes and writing.

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Jolene Schwartz (Piglet) is a marketing and research assistant at Integer who lends her expertise to the marketing committee at Ankeny Community Theatre. Jolene was assistant stage manager for Cowgirls (Drama Workshop). Her area roles include Jane Smith in High School Reunion (Playhouse) and Countess Bordoni in Don't Drink the Water (Ankeny Community Theatre).

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Barbara S. Simpson (Winnie-the-Pooh) began her theatrical career in high school in Virginia, where her first big role was Roo in Winnie-the-Pooh. Since then, she has had lead roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Female Odd Couple (Virginia) and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Number the Stars (Playhouse). Barbara is owner and operator of A Different Kind of Writers Group.

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Joe Struss (Eeyore) has been in numerous Playhouse shows, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Pippi Longstocking and The Hobbit. He has also volunteered behind-the-scenes on the light and sound boards. A production specialist/computer teacher with Creative Services ITS at Iowa State University, his outside interests include DVD and video games, videography and dance. He is a member of the Trans-Iowa Canal Company comedy troupe.

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Alison Shafer (Director) has been choreographing, performing and teaching dance professionally for the past 17 years. She has choreographed Chicago, Ragtime, Cabaret, Annie and The Who's Tommy, and directed and choreographed Honk! and Smokey Joe's Café for 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, Intimate Works (Seattle), St. Ambrose University, the Cedar Rapids Symphony Follies, Celebration Iowa and the Mall of America. When not in rehearsal, Alison loves dancing around the house to jazzy music with husband Allen and children Emma and Ethan.

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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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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.

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Craig Kaufman (Sound Designer/Original Music) is a resident designer at The Playhouse, where he designed lights and sound for the Temple Theatre/Playhouse productions of Forever Plaid and Shear Madness. His recent Playhouse light design credits include Chicago and Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As a musician, he has composed music for There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom and played bass in Pump Boys and Dinettes, both at The Playhouse.

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Jolene Huen (Stage Manager) is familiar to Playhouse audiences from her onstage roles in Lily's Purple Plastic Purse and Over the Tavern. She has volunteered in virtually every backstage and front-of-house position as well. A database administrator with Principal Financial Group, Jolene enjoys time away from the theatre with husband Ken and stepdaughters Kathryn and Kara, all of whom are active in music. Jolene also likes to Jazzercise, cross-stitch, work sudoku and volunteer with the Animal Rescue League.

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Jenna Darsee (Intern) is a seventh grader at Urbandale Middle School who has been in numerous Playhouse shows, most recently There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom. She has also volunteered on props crew and as an usher. Jenna likes acting, singing and dancing, plays violin and softball, runs cross-country, is in show choir, and is traveling to Europe this summer as a People to People student ambassador.

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Jenna Guy (Intern) counts among her Playhouse shows The Wind in the Willows and There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom. This Brody Middle School seventh grader likes acting, singing showtunes (lately Rent), reading, writing and watching TV (Gilmore Girls) and DVDs (again, Rent).

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