Wes Skinner (Director): Wes has been actively involved with dance for the last 30 years. He received his BFA from the Boston Conservatory of Music with a Major in Dance and a Minor in Musical Theatre. Upon graduation, he spent several years in New York and the East coast performing in Broadway shows such as West Side Story and Camelot. Wes and his long-time companion, Gracie, have been in Toledo for the last 20 years where both have been involved with community theatre. When not working on a production or remodeling an old house, Wes does package design for the corrugated industry.
Darlene Burke (Eunice): Although new to the stage, Darlene Burke has had plenty of experience singing, directing, and playing in local churches for the past thirty years. She has been a teacher and principal and now serves as a supervisor with the Lucas County Educational Service Center. She is active in the community serving as chairperson for the Regional Collaborative for Public Education, recent past chair for Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful and current president of the Ohio Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association. Her nephew, Jake Gordy, inspired her to dust off the vocal cords and step onto the stage.
Jake Gordy (Eddie, Phil): Village audiences may remember Jake as Peachy Weil from this season's Last Night of Ballyhoo, Bobby from last year's Cabaret, or as the loveable yet affable Wally from The 1940's Radio Hour. He has also performed with the Oberon Theater and River's End Players. Jake is a Network Administrator for TekSystems by day, and considers acting his "true calling". Last year, we elected Jake to the Village Board as an "At Large" member, he is also our WebMaster. He says he is "honored to be sharing the stage with such a talented cast. Congrats Duckie!"
Barb Vaught (Fritzi): Although her first time on the Village stage, Barb has put in her time backstage on many productions. Barb and her husband, Rick have performed with virtually every theatre within driving distance, including the Toledo Rep and Wauseon, Waterville, and Oregon in Ohio, and Adrian-Croswell Opera House, Bedford Community Players, Ann Arbor and Hillsdale in Michigan, all within 1 hour from their Adrian home. Favorite performances include Godspell, Fiddler on the Roof, Brigadoon, Guys & Dolls, and Hello Dolly. In her spare time, Barb reads, gardens, travels, and finds time to teach 3rd grade at Whittier.
Bob Matejewski (Harry): You may recognize Bob from his past performances in the Village productions of White Liars or Working. Other favorite performances include Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, I Do I Do, Camelot, Mikado, and many others with the Jackson Civic Theater. Bob is a buyer for Dana Corporation, has been married to the same beautiful lady for 35 years, and enjoys spending time with his granddaughters Katie and Megan.
Jackie Mierzejewski (Dorothy Mae, dancer, chorus): Jackie has shared her talents with many area audiences, with favorite productions including George M with the Toledo Rep, and Sugar, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, and Cabaret with the Village. A teacher for many years with the Toledo Public School System, Jackie is looking forward to retirement so she can spend time traveling, camping, reading, and seeing her husband again!
Tom Hage (Charlie, Detective Callahan, Man in Black): Tom is another performer that has seen his share of stage time, including Harry Macafee in Bye Bye Birdie, Ken Gorman-Rumors, John the Baptist and Judas in Godspell, and Jud Fry in Oklahoma. Tom also sings with the Blessed Sacrament Choir, enjoys golf, bicycle riding, spending time at home, and earns his keep by making Cheerios at General Mills.
Jean Mills (Ida Dodd): Jean has been involved in theatre since grade school (which was just a few years ago) in Oak Park, Illinois. She met her husband, Norb, in a college production in Minnesota. She has been a "Village Player" for 20 years now, and most recently graced our stage as Reba in The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, Mildred in The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild, and Charlotte in Moon Over Buffalo.
Norb Mills (Mr. McIllehenny): Like his wife, Jean, Norb is a veteran performer, and has been a "Village Player" for many years. Favorite productions include The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Cabaret, Inherit the Wind, Black Comedy, and Company. While not dancing in the hallways of Versailles with Jean, Norb is a professor at the University of Toledo, and is said to swing a mean golf club on the courses.
Barbara Kondalski (Melba "Toast"): Having graced many stages, halls, auditoriums, and productions in her career, the inimitable Barbara has performed vocally and theatrically at the Toledo Rep, the Village, Westgate Dinner Theater, Toledo Opera, among others, and has sung as a soloist with the Toledo Symphony and the Detroit Symphony. Barbara teaches voice for persons of all ages, and will be a grandmother of four grandchildren by the end of this run (congratulations!). She also hates to chew gum, and was once hired as a singing waitress.
Rich Harrison (Walter): Rich has performed in a variety of shows in his career, including Working, Abandoned Houses, and Moon Over Buffalo at the Village, along with some slippery mysteries at the Spaghetti Warehouse. By day, he is an associate in information systems with a consulting firm. Rich is also a proud 20-year resident in the historic Old West End, and is usually involved in some form or another of renovation project.
Bev Hickman (Mrs. McIllehenny, Grandmother, chorus): Bev is pleased to be returning to the Village again to see some of her "old" friends! She last graced our stage in Is There Life After High School. Since then, Bev has performed with numerous area theatre troupes with favorite roles including Rizzo in Grease, Velma in Chicago, Angel in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Maggie in 42nd Street. Bev is a secretary for Toledo Public Schools, and would like to thank Wes for the opportunity to "tap" when she's 70 years old. Also, Bev extends special thanks to Dobie!
Maureen O'Malley (Sadie, Little Old Lady): Maureen has made many memorable characters on the Village stage including roles such as Ethel in Moon Over Buffalo, Plaza Suite, Everything in the Garden, Man in a Dog Suit, and Potting Shed. You may recognize her from several television commercials or industrial and educational films that were filmed in Chicago, her hometown. For fun, Maureen enjoys reading, music, and attending estate sales.
Phyllis VanHove (Gert): Phyllis is a singing wonder, having performed in Bye Bye Birdie with ToDAY Productions, Cinderella with the Bedford Community Players, and A Christmas Carol with the Toledo Rep. She is a customer service representative with Harbor Fund of Toledo, and a welcome addition to the Village Players Theatre.
Melanie Teachout (Edna, Bobbi Tremaine, Old Lady): Melanie is making her Village debut as Edna, and we're very pleased to welcome her. She has been with the Choraliers in Oregon, Ohio for nine years, and is self-employed with the Ted Glenn Concrete Wall Co. In her murky past, Melanie has owned a beauty salon for eight years, and has performed in this last years Rep production of A Christmas Carol.
Rick Vaught (Moe, Man in Black, Night Watchman): Like his wife Barb, Rick has performed at just every theater within an hour drive from his home in Adrian, Michigan. Past Village production credits include: Six Degrees of Separation, Abandoned Houses, The 1940's Radio Hour, and most recently Conversations With My Father. Rick works for the State of Michigan at the Adrian Training School, and enjoys sports, especially karate, computers, and reading.
Tom Davis (Marvin Whittaker, Kowalski, Angel, Man in Black): When not performing in shows like Inherit the Wind and Working at the Village, or A Christmas Carol at the Toledo Rep, you will find Tom behind the counter with his wife, Jean in their Blissfield General Store. We're glad to welcome Tom back to the Village.
Debbie Wlodarski (Lorraine-Pianist): This is Debbie's first time playing at the Village, and we're very glad to have her! She has accompanied the Bedford Community Players with The Wizard of Oz, and will be playing in Monroe with the upcoming production of Into The Woods. Debbie is a sales engineer for and industrial distributor in Toledo, and a retired organist. She gives piano lessons, accompanies the choirs at Bedford High School, and performs musically with her husband for area weddings.
Ray Woods (Percussion): You may not recognize his face, but you will recognize his musical talent. Ray is a familiar sound to many area theatre-goers, having played percussion for various productions. The Village is proud to have Ray back on our stage.
Pat Rudes (Roxi-electric keyboard): A natural for the role of Roxi, Patricia teaches piano lessons for a living having studied with George Woodruff of the Cincinnati Conservatory and other places for over 17 years. She enjoys reading and collecting books. Favorite productions in which she's had a playing hand include Pirates of Penzance, Bells Are Ringing, Fantastiks, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, The Fourposter, and Anything Goes.
Last Modified: 02/25/06