Wes Skinner (Director) Wes has been actively involved in theatre, working as a set and costume designer as well as a choreographer and a director for over 40 years. Beginning in Boston, he received his BFA at the Conservatory with a major in dance and a minor in musical theatre and then spent several years in New York City.
Finally returning to Toledo, Wes began working with The Village Players in 1971, doing Roar of the Greasepaint. Recently he has directed A Little Night Music, Suds, Blues in the Night, ...Kindergarten, and Monky Business.
When not at The Village, Wes also works with the Ottawa Hills High School theatre department, working on such shows as Mame, Curious Savage, Anything Goes, and Noises Off. He just finished directing West Side Story this year.
In his "free time," Wes restores old homes in the Old West End. Just so he won't get bored, he does package design for the corrugated industry.
Debbie Wlodarski (Musical Director) This is Debbie’s eighth season as music director with The Village. She began her first season (1999-2000) with 70, Girls, 70. This season was then followed by Dames at Sea, Angry Housewives, A Little Night Music, Suds, Blues in the Night, ...Kindergarten, and Monky Business. She has also performed with the Bedford Players, Monroe Community Players, Oregon Community Players, and ToDAY Productions. She balances all of this with her inside sales position with Performance Tool and Abrasive and her position as organist and music director at Collingwood Lutheran Church. “It’s a true joy to work with everyone at The Village.”
Jim Latimer (Carey Brandt) Jim was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, but has lived and traveled widely. He came to Toledo in 2003 after nine years in the San Francisco Bay area.
Jim's musical stage credits include Uberto in La Serva Padrona (BGSU School of Music), Abraham in Lazarus, a “Bread for the World” fundraiser sponsored by Toledo Area Ministries. He also performed the following roles with various community opera companies in California: Mephitopheles in Faust, King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Colline in La Boheme, Ferrando in Il Trovatore, Morales in Carmen, and Bonze / Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly.
Having worked much of his career in engineering and international business, he changed his profession a few ago. He now is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and is privileged to serve as pastor at the Point Place United Church of Christ here in Toledo. He is thrilled with this opportunity to make his debut performance with The Village Players.
Shakira Rae Adams (Millie Calhoun) Shakira is a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University with a dual degree in Music and Dance Education. Her music degree specializes in trumpet and her dance expertise is in African and Modern. While at BGSU, she participated in the Afro-Caribbean Dance Ensemble, ACDF festivals and events, Trumpet Guild Ensemble and was a member of the University Dance Alliance.
While at BGSU, she discovered her second passion for the arts, dance. She began dancing in college and has continued exploring movement ever since. Her choreographed pieces include Rez-soul-utions and Black Spiral which were premiered in 2006. Shakira has studied with members of Cirque du Soleil, Madagascar artists and abroad in West Africa continuing to evolve in her movement.
Shakira is currently dancing for Alma Drum and Dance Company and also teaching for BGSU’s Afro- Caribbean Dance Ensemble. Not only is Shakira a dancer and musician but she also works with Technology. She is currently employed with the Northwest Ohio Educational Technology Foundation (NWOET). For her hard work and dedication to the foundation she was nominated for and received the Ardis Shirkey award in 2006. Shakira will continue to explore her options through the arts in becoming an entertainer and performer. To learn more about Shakira you can explore her website at www.nwoet.org/Shakira.
David Dysard (Clark Sable) This is Dave’s third Village show, singing and dancing in last year’s Monky Business and in ...Kindergarten the year before. A 30 year plus veteran of community theatre, credits include Christmas Carole (Cratchit), Charlie Brown (Snoopy), Sound of Music (Max), 1776 (Roger Sherman), Guys and Dolls, Singing in the Rain and Fiddler with the Toledo Rep and many other performances with the North Coast troop at the Art Museum, TLC Productions, the Ohio Theatre (where he reprised his favorite role - Fagin in Oliver), and the Albany (NY) Civic Theatre. Dave has also directed Once Upon A Mattress and South Pacific with ToDAY Productions. Dave’s day job is Vice President of Transportation with the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments supervising an eight person staff that develops transportation policy and projects for the Toledo area. Dave is happily married and the proud father of four talented children (two in college/two in high school – oh my!). The whole family (including Aunt Dorothy and Aunt Judy) shares his love of the family “sport” - Thanks, guys!
Megan Ray (Lorna Mae Truesdale) Megan is a 2001 graduate of Whitmer High School. This is her sixth show at The Village. Pervious shows include ... Kindergarten, A Little Night Music, Suds, The Sunshine Boys, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Other shows include Grease, The Sound of Music, and Gypsy. She would like to thank her friends and family for all their support. "I couldn't do it without you."
Last Modified: 02/23/07