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, he began working with The Village Players in 1971
doing Roar of the Greasepaint. He most recently
A Little Night Music,
Suds, Blues in the Night and
last year’s All I Really Need to
Know I Learned in Kindergarten. When not
at The Village he also works with Ottawa Hills High School’s theatre department,
restores old homes in the Old West End and, just so he won’t get bored, he does
package design for the corrugated industry.
Debbie Wlodarski (Musical Director & Pianist)
This is Debbie's eighth season with The Village Players. She has been our
musical director for All I Really Need to
Know I Learned in Kindergarten, 70, Girls, 70,
Dames at Sea,
Angry Housewives,
A Little Night Music,
Suds, and Blues
in the Night. She has also performed with ToDAY Productions, The Bedford
Community Players, Monroe Community Players and Oregon Community Players as well
as playing for area schools for their musicals. She balances all this with her
sales position at Performance Tool and Abrasive, serving as an organist at
Collingwood United Methodist Church and teaching piano lessons. "I would like to
say a special 'Thank You' to Wes Skinner and everyone involved with The Village
Players for giving me the wonderful opportunity of being your musical director.
Working with all of you is always an enlightening and exceptional experience. A
very special ‘thank you’ to my husband for all of his patience and loving
support!”
David R. Dysard (Brother Brooks)
This is Dave’s second Village show having enjoyed last year’s romp in
Kindergarten. A 30-plus year veteran
of community theatre, his credits include: Christmas Carol (Crachit),
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 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. The last two
years Dave ventured out to the other side of the footlights to direct Once
Upon A Mattress and South Pacific with ToDAY Productions. To pay the
rent, Dave 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. Everyone (including Aunt Dorothy
and Aunt Judy) shares his love of the family “sport” – “Thanks, guys!”
Matt Richardson (Brother Clarence)
This is Matt’s fourth show for The Village. You may have seen him in
Angry Housewives,
A Little Night Music, or
All
I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Matt has also performed with
BGSU Summer Theatre, Waterville Playshop, Archbold Community Theatre, Bedford
Community Theatre and 3B Productions. He has most recently received an
Exceptional Vocal Performance award at this year’s OCTA Regional Event for his
performance in Civil War; and will be performing the same excerpt at the
state level. Matt will be playing Gaston in Oregon Community Theatre’s
production of Beauty and the Beast this November. See you there!
Jeffrey Thomas King (Brother Forte)
Jeffrey dusts off his sandals for his return to The Village. He followed his
previous role(s) from Suds and has been a Turkey (Honk!),
a rundown musician (Sugar), an elephant (Seussical), and most
recently a bartender (Fiddler). In the window of spare time he teaches
nursery school, works at a bank, cashiers at a grocery store and courts his
girlfriend of six years; Korinne. He will be choreographing Charlotte’s Web
for Waterville Playshop in February. Avery special message to those who have
come to support him “…”
Ben Lumbrezer (Abbot Costello)
Ben is happy to once again appear on the Village Players stage. Ben has been
seen in many roles, including Benedick in Much
Ado About Nothing, George in Of Mice
and Men, and several others that he has either blocked out or can’t
recall to protect the innocent. He would like to thank his wife Thereasa for her
support and her willingness to once again become a theater widow.
Paul Soska (Brother Lee Love)
This is Paul’s first Village production, but he is no stranger to the stage. He
first got the “theater bug” in high school (St. Ignatius H.S., Cleveland, OH).
He studied drama at Kenyon College, with emphases on directing, theatre history,
and dramatic literature. He has intermittently worked both sides of the
footlights since that time. For the past three seasons, Paul has performed with
Toledo opera as a member of the opera chorus. He is relieved to be part of a
production where nobody dies ... and there’s no fat lady! By vocation, Paul is a
school psychologist with Eastwood Local Schools. He currently makes his home in
Toledo with his two teenage cats, Butch and Cincinnati.
Last Modified: 08/29/05