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Wes Skinner (Director) has been actively involved in theatre, working as a set and costume designer, choreographer, and 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 Theater. He 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 directed Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, A Little Night Music, Suds, Blues in the Night, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, and Monky Business. When not at The Village, he also works with the Ottawa Hills High School’s theatre department, restores old homes in the Old West End and, just so he won’t get bored, works part time at The Toledo Museum of Art. |
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Matt Richardson (Jerry Sloan) was born and raised in the small town of Napoleon, Ohio. He is currently living in the very much smaller town of Hamler, Ohio. Matt has been involved in theater for the past ten years everywhere from Archbold to Bowling Green and Van Wert to Adrian, Michigan. He has also collected a handful of awards at the regional and state theater conferences through the OCTA (Ohio Community Theater Association) organization. The following is a list of some of the shows Matt has been involved in: Beauty and the Beast: Gaston, Children of Eden: Noah, The Civil War: Union Soldier, Godspell: Jesus, Titanic: Fred Barrett, Side Show: Jake, Oliver: Mr. Bumble, The King and I: King, The Full Monty: Ethan Girard, Bye Bye Birdie: Conrad Birdie, A Little Night Music: Carl Magnus, Camelot: Lancelot, Fiddler on the Roof: Perchik, Nuncrackers: Father Virgil, Monky Business: Clarence, Angry Housewives: Lewd Fingers. Most recently he was seen on stage in All Shook Up as Jim Haller. |
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Clara C. Engel (Alice Sloan) loves acting and has appeared in several community theatre productions, including The Village Players’ most recent production of Office Hours, and last season’s Out of Sight, Out of Murder. When she’s not on stage, Clara is a freelance journalist for the Toledo City Paper and an independent marketing consultant looking for a full-time position — but who isn’t in this economy? She enjoys yoga, running, reading, writing and spending time with family and friends. To her sister Grace, she says, “Son…” |
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Norb Mills (Abe Dreyfus) opens his 28th year with The Village Players. He last appeared on this stage as the Butler who “done it” in Out of Sight, Out of Murder. Prior to that, Norb directed Don’t Dress for Dinner and will direct The Melville Boys next January. Over the years, he has been recognized three times for acting and once for directing by the Ohio Community Theatre Association. Norb met his wife, Jean, 51 years ago in a production which shall remain nameless, but both agree that the years of “practice” since then should enhance this show. |
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Tom Wagner (Hector Lopez) holds a degree in theater arts from
Pacific Lutheran Univ. He is a three time Ohio Community Theater Assoc. Award
winner. Village Players Audiences will remember him as Arty Barnes (the world’s
largest jockey) in last spring’s production of
Office Hours. Tom has appeared in several other shows with The Village
Players in addition to working backstage and directing
A Year With Frog and Toad.
He also has perfomed and directed with various local theaters, including the
Toledo Rep., Waterville Playshop, Black Swamp Players, Valentine Theater
Productions, and others. In addition, he has worked extensively on the west
coast. Tom is excited about performing the role of Hector Lopez. He feels that whenever an actor has to deal with dialects and accents it presents an additional challenge. Tom resides in Maumee with his wife, Teri, and daughter, Mary, who is also a well known local actor. He is the owner of Promotional Resources Co. and serves as a Classroom Asst. for Maumee City Schools. |
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Jean Mills (Mildred Sloan) has been involved with The Village Players Theatre since 1981 on stage, back stage, producing and as a former Board President and current board member. She appreciates the opportunity this affords her to release her creative energies through volunteering and bringing good theatre experiences to the theatre’s many loyal play-goers. Last season, Jean played Lily Harrison in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks and Lydia Dillingham in Out of Sight, Out of Murder. In this show, Jean is relishing “squabbling” with husband, Norb. They have been practicing these roles for over 48 years. |
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Paul Palmisano (Sol Wasserman) first appeared in The Village Players production of The Best Man as Ex-President, Art Hockstader. He also assisted in the direction of A Year With Frog & Toad. In 2007, he was elected to The Village Player’s Board of Directors. In 2008 he portrayed Felix Ducotel, shop owner in My Three Angels. With many years of acting and directing credits in and around Ohio, a few of his favorite productions were Fiorello, 1776, Death of a Salesman, Othello, Music Man, and South Pacific. In May 2010, Paul will be directing our production of The Fantasticks. He’s worked with Rod Serling, then a writer at WLW-TV in Cincinnati and starred in a PBS Children’s Hour opposite Kaye Ballard, who played his wife. Now a retired Human Resource Director from Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, he enjoys doing volunteer work there, loves traveling, puzzles and reading. |
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Olivia Killiam (Mrs. Fisher) is a recent graduate of The Cleveland Institute of Art, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. Currently, Olivia is employed as a local event photographer and event coordinator and is heavily involved in Chicks for Charity. She enjoys cooking, entertaining, traveling and spending time at her cottage on Kelley’s Island. This is Olivia’s first show with The Village Players but second production with Wes Skinner. The stages of The Collingwood Arts Center’s Children’s Theatre Workshop and Ottawa Hills High School are where Olivia has played the roles of The Mock Turtle, The Tortise, Evillene, Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn and Vera Charles. |
Last Modified: 02/20/10