A
B
Jess Barbour
J. Michael Beech

Mariette Booth
Bree Branker
C
Eric Carl
Elizabeth Carroll
Scotty Cherryholmes

Alex Christian
Lynda Clark
D
E
Serena Ebhardt
F

JK Ferrell
G
H
Michael C. Hall
Torrie & Andrew Heathcoat
David Henderson
Ward Horton

I
J
Fran Johnston
William "Wally" Jones
K
L

Tony Lea
M
Terrence "Terry" Mann
Frankie Muniz
N
O
David Overton
P
Mark Pfeffer
JT Pitt

Thomas Porter
Bryan Putnam
Q

R
Mike Raab

Chuck Ragsdale

Rasool
S
Dorothy Zeigler Scher
Andrea Schulz

Alan Seales
John Shearer
T
Ben Tedder
Jay Theriault
Adam Twiss
U
V
W
Ricky Ricardo Walker, Jr.

Jason Weeks
Matthew Jason "MJ" Willis
Evan Rachel Wood
Ira David Wood IV
Eric Woodall
X
Y
Z

Attention Theatre In The Park alumni! We'd like your help keeping our new website as up-to-date as possible. If you would like us to update your biography here on the Theatre In The Park website, please don't hesitate to email us with any changes or updates so we can make sure everything stays as accurate as possible!

Jess Barbour most recently played Marcy Wells in the film Will To Power, written, directed, and starring Richard Rountree. Jess also participated in Ann Reinking's Broadway Theater Project, Broadway Rocks for the Arts with Terrence Mann, and she played Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables: School Edition, directed by Dave Clemmons. She's currently a student at Elon University studying for her BFA in Theater Arts. She has done commercials and played Nurse Rosella in the BBC's Days that Shook the World: Attack on Pearl Harbor. "I always enjoy volunteering at, and coming to see shows at Theatre In The Park!"

J. Michael Beech (A Christmas Carol: '83, '84) has continued to perform after all these years! He has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Florida State University, and has been working all around the nation from Hawaii to NYC and every point in-between. He is currently back in Raleigh, teaching Drama and Theatre Arts at Wakefield High School. He will also be a member of the staff at Raleigh Little Theatre teaching classes in acting and musical theatre.

Mariette Booth is a California "native" and a '03 Furman University Theatre Arts graduate.  Recent film credits include: productions with North Carolina School of the Arts and International 48hours Film Project.  Recent theatre credits: Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Southeast Regional Tour); Flying Machine’s The Shadow Box; Raleigh Ensemble Players’ Bury the Dead (’07-’08 Company Member); StreetSigns’ The Miser, and White People. TIP productions: The Rocker, Sweet Bird of Youth, and Harvey. Other productions and staged readings: Burning Coal, Justice Theatre Project, NCSU's Summer Fest, and Theatre Or.  Mariette will usher in '08 with continued voice and acting training, triad area guest artist roles, as well as furthering into film and television.

Bree Branker (Chimney Sweep/Fezziwig Dancer 2003) toured Europe and Asia in the Joey McKneely directed production of West Side Story, after completing the national tour of The Will Rogers Follies. This past Christmas, Bree performed as a Rockette in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Nashville, before moving to New York City to further pursue her dreams. Bree has participated in NCT's My Fair Lady, Ann Reinking's Broadway Theatre Project, and an invitation-only Radio City Rockette Workshop in NYC. She spent her senior year of high school studying contemporary dance at the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Eric Carl has performed at TIP in more than fifteen plays, including Mozart in Amadeus, Norman in The Dresser, Brutus in Julius Caesar, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, and De Guiche in Cyrano De Bergerac. His last performance with TIP was as Serge in Yasmina Reza’s ART (September 2005), which received a four-star review from The Independent. He first appeared here as the Writer in Tennessee William’s Vieux Carre almost twenty years ago. Other favorite roles include The Actor in The Woman in Black (three times!), Alan Strang in Equus, Picasso in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Fagin in Oliver, and Peter Patrone in The Heidi Chronicles. Eric has also directed many plays, including his own award-winning, Goldenleaf. In his off time Eric does absolutely nothing between bouts of furious writing, which has produced at least eight plays and several screenplays.

Elizabeth Carroll currently lives in NYC, and is still working on her life as an actor. She was last seen in the spring playing Nina in The Sea Gull. Shortly after closing that show, she became engaged to a gentleman named Elias EL-Hage, who just graduated from the Theatre Management and Producing program at Columbia University. Following their engagement, they worked together on the 50th Annual Drama Desk Awards (Elias is Associate General Manager). Lots of fun! Since then, they have been working on wedding stuff. This fall she will be working on (and possibly acting in) the 3rd Annual Arab-American Comedy Awards with Elias (he is the founding co-producer of the festival). "I will continue to get out there and audition in the meantime!"

Scotty Cherryholmes is best known as The Lamplighter in Theatre In The Park’s annual production of A Christmas Carol. He also starred in Theatre In The Park’s Production of Harvey. He is a brilliant freelance marketing designer who resides in Raleigh.

 

Lynda Clark is a professional actor, director and coach, with television and film credits including Crazy People; Matlock; The Perfect Crime; and I Know What You Did Last Summer.  She appeared in a recurring role in the CBS series, American Gothic, and the Showtime series Linc’s.  Her favorite roles include A Streetcar Named Desire (ECU); Criminal Hearts (Lynda Clark Production); and A Shayna Maidel.  Lynda has guest starred in multiple roles for over fifteen years for NCSU’s summer repertory.  Other highlights:  All The King’s Men and Lady M in Macbeth (Burning Coal); Spinning Into Butter (TIP); as Louise in Always, Patsy Cline (ECU); and Fit to be Tied (Manbites Dog Theater).  TIP audiences will remember her as Eleanor of Aquataine in the four-star (The Independent) production of The Lion in Winter and as Sister Eros in Ira David Wood III’s Eros and Illinois.  Her favorite directing credits include I Hate Hamlet and Dirty Blonde.  Lynda recently appeared in the CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, The Water is Wide.

Alex Christian made his Theatre In The Park debut in The Man From Stratford, where he played Richard III among other roles. Other credits include: You Cant Take it With You, The Apple Tree, A Streetcar Named Desire, To Cyber or not to Cyber, Wait Until Dark, The Fantasticks, Galatea (Assistant Stage Manager) and Pippin (Assistant Director). He is a graduate of Athens Drive High School, and has recently received a scholarship at New York University's Dramatic Arts writing program.

Serena Ebhardt now runs a professional touring theatre company: EbzB Productions. She lives with her husband, David zum Brunnen and their son, Carlton Jacob zum Brunnen in Chatham County, NC. Her days at Theatre In The Park prepared her for a successful performance and theatre administration career. She remains thankful for the experiences and relationships offered by Theatre In The Park. For more information, you can visit Serena's homepage on the Web.

JK Ferrell has been acting in and around the Raleigh area for most of his 58 years.  He began in the early 60’s with the Raleigh Children’s Theatre under the direction of Bett Dickson.  Then he moved on to work with actor/director John Miller at Raleigh’s own RLT.  After a brief stint in the Navy, he came back to Raleigh and worked with Jack Chandler, former artistic director of NCSU’s Thompson Theatre.  But for the last 31 years, JK has worked and acted at his beloved TIP.  He has performed many roles at TIP.   Some that stand out most are the roles he originated.  Among those are Jacob Marley in Ira David Wood III’s annual production of A Christmas Carol, Br’er Bear in Ira David Wood III’s Briarpatch, and the Sheriff in Ira David Wood’s Eros & Illinois.  His most recent appearance on TIP’s stage was in Greater Tuna alongside Mike Raab.  JK is also a founding board member for Jailbreak Theatre Company in Fuquay Varina.

Joel Haas played LeBret in TIP's 1973 production of CYRANO DE BERGERAC.  He played one of the castle servants in ENRICO IV and several roles in BECKET and the original production THE ODYSSEY in the 1974 season.  He played the role of a homeless veteran in an independent production of THE SPEED OF DARKNESS performed in the old second stage at TIP in 1993. 

Joel still lives in Raleigh where he maintains an independent sculpture studio creating large steel sculptures for private gardens.  See  www.joelhaasstudio.com  Occasionally, some of his breathtakingly beautiful angels in cast marble or steel are commissioned by churches or hospitals.  He recently worked in the Republic of China on three different fellowships creating and lecturing on sculpture.  He is also developer of the acclaimed NEIGHBORHOOD SCULPTURE WALK

( www.sculpturewalk.org ) two miles west of TIP.

His wife, JOY HAAS, served on TIP's board in the early 1990s, including a term as TIP president.  She maintains lovely gardens open for tours and works for Nortel Networks supervising human resources contracts for the company world wide.

Michael C. Hall is a former Raleigh native and graduate of NYU's Master of Fine Arts program in acting. He appeared as Peter Cratchit in Theatre In The Park's production of A Christmas Carol. He is probably best known as the title character in Showtime’s Dexter. Hall spent five years as David Fisher in the HBO series Six Feet Under from 2001-2005. His most recent Broadway performance was as the emcee in Cabaret. He also appeared on Broadway alongside his wife, Amy Spanger, in the revival of Chicago. Hall has previously starred in nearly a dozen major off-Broadway plays, including Macbeth for the New York Shakespeare Festival, Cymbeline for the New York Shakespeare Festival at Central Park's Decone Theater, Timon of Athens and Henry V at the Public, The English Teachers for Manhattan Class Company, Corpus Christi at the Manhattan Theatre Club and Skylight at the Mark Taper Forum. Read more on Michael's unOfficial website.

Torrie and Andrew Heathcoat moved to Orlando, Florida in January 2001 for his job. Torrie is currently performing with Sports Magic, an improvisational and crowd interaction squad. She's traveled all over North America performing for sporting events and also works with Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. She even learned to stilt-walk! After Andy's long run with A Christmas Carol he misses the theatre and hopes his job slows down enough to return to the stage. Our high point of A Christmas Carol was in 1998 with Andy's proposal to Torrie at the end of the Fezziwig dance! They will be celebrating their fifth anniversary in October.

David Henderson is delighted to be back in the Briarpatch. A lot has happened since he last wore the floppy ears. He has appeared as John Adams in Burning Coal Theatre’s 1776, stormed the stage as Jacob Marley in TIP's A Christmas Carol (for the 12th year), collaborated on the Justice Theatre Project’s Still…Life and directed Midsummer Nights Dream (also for Burning Coal). However, his favorite role this past year has to be FATHER to his new son Mac. Mac made his debut on April 26th after a nine month rehearsal process. TIP audiences may also remember him from his performances here in Henry V, Art, Midsummer, Uncle Vanya, and Montserrat. David is a member of the Burning Coal Theatre Acting Company and serves on their Board of Directors.  This one is for Billy Reuben!

Ward Horton, who starred in Theatre In The Park's production of Equus, now lives in NYC with his wife. In 2006, he played Julian in Nail Polish, a 1980’s coming-of-age comic drama, appeared in the comedy/romantic film East Broadway, and in Robert Deniro’s The Good Shepherd. Horton starred in the short film Christmas Wish in 2005, which won a Gold Student Academy Award for writer/director Shawn Overbeeke. In 2004, he appeared as Oliver in the CBS daytime drama Guiding Light. Other TV appearances include Hope and Faith starring Faith Ford and Kelly Ripa, Law & Order, and Law & Order: SVU.

Fran Johnston, stage manager for such plays as A Christmas Carol (rehearsal stage manager), Enrico, Montserrat, The Miracle Worker, The Dresser, Of Mice and Men, Henry V, Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll among others, still works for Cisco Systems in RTP. Recently, she has been able to experience again the thrill of horseback riding - on her own horse, River. She's also started her own company catering to people with horses who enjoy continuing their AND their horses' educations. Her (incomplete) website can be found at www.rockyriverequine.com. Her husband, Bruce Smith is also beginning to make his living with horses - as a Natural Hoof Care practitioner! His evolving website can be seen at www.father-and-son.net. Fran and Bruce are living happily in North Raleigh and continue to enjoy all the shows at Theatre In The Park.

William Jones ("Wally") is the Executive Director of The North Carolina Theatre. He has been a part of NCT for over 16 years handling various aspects of the main stage productions, Kids on Broadway youth training program, regional touring shows and overall operations of the theatre. It was his creative vision that brought the critically acclaimed production of The Sound of Music starring the von Trapp family children to Raleigh Memorial last summer. It is his own passion for the theatre, born from an introduction at an early age, that drives his ongoing commitment to main stage excellence and youth training. Wally was the first Tiny Tim in the premiere production of Theatre In The Park's A Christmas Carol.

Tony Lea is a director and actor still living in the Triangle are.  He grew up in Raleigh and spent much of his youth at TIP.  Theater is a lifelong passion and he credits much of his love and knowledge of the craft to David Wood and TIP.  He is currently a resident director at Deep Dish Theater in Chapel Hill and has directed plays for TIP, REP, Meredith College, Theater of the American South and Deep Dish.  Favorite roles at TIP include James in CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, the Duke of Albany in KING LEAR and Jacques in AS YOU LIKE IT.

Terrence (Terry) Mann is best known for originating the Broadway roles of Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, Javert in Les Misérables (Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical), and the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Best Actor in a Musical). His directing credits include such regional productions as 1776, The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly, Gypsy, Funny Girl, Show Boat, Camelot, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, Dream Girls and Pirates of Penzance. He is the past Artistic Director of The North Carolina Theatre. Terry's first job, upon graduating from The North Carolina School of the Arts, was with Raleigh's Theatre In The Park. While with the theatre, Terry played such roles as Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew. He was an original castmember in Theatre In The Park's first production of A Christmas Carol (he composed the music for Once a Year, the song still sung by the Cratchit family). Terry directed The Lost Colony—America's oldest outdoor drama—for two seasons. He is currently appearing in Lennon on Broadway.

Frankie Muniz (A Christmas Carol) began his very successful acting career performing the role (for three years) of Tiny Tim in Theatre In The Park's production of A Christmas Carol. He's now best known as Cody Banks and Malcolm In The Middle. Nominations for his performances include The Hollywood Reporter Young Star Award, as well as The Young Artist of Hollywood Award. Frankie is quite a good golfer and has been playing since his grandfather taught him at the age of 5. Frankie was raised in Knightdale, North Carolina. He now owns a mansion in Brentwood, California as well as the VW Jetta from The Fast and the Furious. He also owns 1 of 200 Porsche Speedsters, approximately a $250,000 car, which was the subject of his appearance on MTV's Punk'd. Besides that, Frankie is a die-hard basketball fan and also a drummer and credits Zac Hanson for inspiring him to learn to play the drums. His next film is Howard Himielstein’s My Sexiest Year, with Amber Valletta, Harvey Keitel, and Hailey Duff. Not bad at all for a former member of The Cratchit Family!

David Overton now lives in New York (Long Island) where he is the Chair of the Performing Arts Department at Holy Trinity. He and his wife Rebecca have two daughters: Riley and Carlin. While juggling the many responsibilities of Chair, David is still hard at work on his dissertation on "Semiology, Phenomenology, and Performative Deformity." Hello to all the NC folks! Hello to all the NC folks!

Mark Pfeffer (A Christmas Carol 2000 - 02, and Richmond in Richard III) is currently an agent in the Film/TV/Radio division of The Talent Group, Pennsylvania and Ohio's top model and talent agency. When he's not busy booking talent on commercials, voice-overs, and industrials he is an Entertainment Management student at Point Park University. After attending Enloe High School in Raleigh and performing with many local theatre companies such as Theatre In The Park, Burning Coal, NCT, and the Carolina Ballet, Mark went on to receive his high school diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts. He's performed regionally with the Lincoln Amphitheatre, West Virginia Public Theatre, Slava Modern Dance Company, Alliance Theatre and the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Mark resides in Pittsburgh with his girlfriend Andrea, and returns home to Raleigh every year to play a party guest and rat in Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker.

JT Pitt was in several Theatre In The Park shows, including A Christmas Carol and Tempest, where he played Arial. During the summer 2003 he played Fredrich in North Carolina Theatre's The Sound of Music. JT attends East Carolina University, where he just finished The Grapes of Wrath and was, most recently, accepted into both the professional acting and musical theatre programs.

Thomas Porter was most recently onstage at TIP in Ira David Wood's Galatea. 

He is a company member of Raleigh Ensemble Players where he recently played Rabbit in the regional premier of Poona....  He was also seen in REP's production of Bury The Dead which was named "one of the top ten shows of 2006" by the N&O.  Among, TIP and REP, he has performed with NCT and RLT where he was nominated for a Cantey Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Billy Bibbitt in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.  Thomas holds a BFA in Theatre from East Carolina University and currently is acting as a Marketing Associate for Theatre In The Park.

Bryan Putnam says "Things are great here in Wilmington! This has been an incredible year, and so much has been happening since I returned to Wilmington last year. Shortly after I returned I secured the job of Musical Director for CITY STAGE at Level 5. It is a wonderful theatre on the fifth floor of the old masonic Temple on Front St. downtown. Musical Directing productions of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, A CHORUS LINE, and COMPANY as well as composing music for David Sedaris' SANTALAND DIARIES and THE DIVINERS followed. I had the pleasure of performing the role of Bobby in Company and the theatre season was a great success. I also recently directed THE MUSIC MAN for The Thalian Association and garnered the Thalian Award for most distinguished Director for my work on the show. I have been so fortunate to be embraced by the community that I call home, as an artist and active community member. My work as a VOCAL COACH out of my home studio has been the most rewarding experience of my life. The really EXCITING news is that I now have my own PRODUCTION COMPANY, EMPYREproductions, LLC and will premiering my latest original musical, TROUBLE IN SHAMELAND at Historic Thalian Hall this October 21-24 !! I am well, and enjoying living in my downtown Wilmington home, with my three fish. My visual arts background is being utilized as we put "Shameland" together, as it's main character is a graphic novelist! Great Fun!!! Past Theatre In The Park shows and credits include four years of A Christmas Carol, including the 25th Anniversary year (As the Nephew, Fred); Christian in CYRANO DE BERGERAC; Company Member in THE COURSE ACTING SHOW; Cinderella's Prince/Wolf in INTO THE WOODS; and Lord Aumerle in RICHARD II. I was also a teacher for the Summer Arts Camp."

Mike Raab is pleased to be back on stage at TIP, which tends to be, more often than not, home away from home.  Mike graduated from North Carolina State University in 1997, with a BA in Communication/Theatre and spent the next two years building his own house.  In 2000, he found his way back into theatre, literally across the street from where he had received most of his theatrical training.  He was cast in Ira David Wood III’s adaptation of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, as the Nephew, and last year marked his seventh year with the show, and the fifth in the role of the Ghost of Christmas Future.  In 2005 he was welcomed onto the Board of Directors, and he has cherished his time spent there, being able to lend his talents to help guide this wonderful organization into the future.  In addition to serving as the Education Committee Chair on TIP’s Board of Directors, he is concurrently serving as TIP’s Assistant Technical Director. Mike is also the Executive Director for the fledgling Jailbreak Theatre Company in Fuquay Varina.  As a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, JTC’s first order of business will be the development of a theatrical track-out camp entitled the “Imagination Creation Station.”  Operations should commence in early October for the camp and the following October for their mainstage and children’s shows.  Although he enjoys most every aspect of theatre, being onstage holds a slightly higher appeal.  His most recent roles include Manolo, in Stillwater Theatre’s The Odd Couple (Female Version),  Flute/Thisby in Burning Coal’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.  In addition to A Christmas Carol, Mike has appeared at TIP in Greater Tuna, Briarpatch as B’rer Turtle, Eros & Illinois as Sweet Pea,  Arsenic and Old Lace as Dr. Einstein, The Tempest as Trinculo, and Country Songs as Earl Pitts.

Chuck Ragsdale and I am from Fuquay-Varina. My very first theatre experience EVER was in 1983 (ish), in what was perhaps Theatre In The Park's first ever summer theatre arts program. I played the white rabbit in a very freely adapted version of Alice in Wonderland where I was officially "bitten by the bug". In 1993, I had the pleasure of returning to Theatre In The Park to play Jack in Into the Woods, which was a pretty fantastic show if I do say so myself. I also received a scholarship from Theatre In The Park that same season which I used toward my BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (1996). I have been living in New York since my graduation and luckily continue to work in my chosen profession. I have been a member of Actor's Equity for 8 years and have held a teaching position for three years on the acting faculty of CAP 21, which is the Musical Theatre studio of NYU. I recently returned from a three month run of Cabaret in Atlantic City and I begin rehearsals for a new Off-Broadway musical called The Ark in September. I have very fond memories of all of my local theatre experiences which includes RLT, NCT, Temple Theatre in Sanford, and a handful of long defunct dinner theatres from Raleigh to Fayetteville, but I will always have a soft spot for Theatre In The Park which is where I both began and completed my local theatre career.

Rasool moved to Los Angeles just after filming Cold Mountain.  She is currently a member of Write Act Repertory which gives its members a chance to write, act and direct. This fall she is very excited to be in Write Act’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was the very first Shakespearean play she did at TIP!  She was Hermia and now she’s Puck!

Last summer she filmed an Indie called Socket which has been accepted to Outfest in LA, The Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and Gaylaxicon in Atlanta.  Okay, shameful plug…you can go to youtube.com and type in Socket the movie and take a look at the 2min. clip!

Rasool and her writing partner Derek Livingston (a former Raleighite) are currently working on a script. She is also starting a new business with two partners called Encore Road Productions. And yes, she misses Raleigh especially her friends (family)…the rain and believe it or not…the humidity!  

These wimps out here have no idea what heat is!

Andrea Schulz and Adam Twiss were married in May of 1999 and are the proud parents of Isabel Rachel (3yrs) & Elijah Caden (3mos). They just recently moved back to Raleigh after living in Providence, RI and Seattle, WA. While in Providence, Adam completed his MFA in Acting/Directing at Trinity Rep. Conservatory and performed such roles as Malcolm in Macbeth, Vershinin in The Three Sisters, and Robert Chiltern in An Ideal Husband. He also stars as the "low price detective" W.B. Mason in a series of commercials that run in the New England/New York Area for W.B. Mason office products. He has received such recognition for this character that in 2003 he was asked to throw the first pitch at the Yankees/Red Sox game in Fenway Park, and again in 2005 at the Phillies/Red Sox game in Philadelphia. Andrea has also continued to perform, starring in such roles as Lady Macduff in Macbeth, Marta in Company, Titania in A Midsummer Nights Dream and Eva Peron in Evita. Most recently, Andrea and Adam were both in Theatre In The Park's World Premiere production of The Man in the Desert and can be seen in Theatre In The Park's upcoming production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

Alan Seales has performed with Ira David Wood III’s A Christmas Carol since 2003 as the Nephew, Fezzi Dancer, and “The Frenchman”. Recently, Alan has become known for dancing on stilts and has been traveling along the east coast performing various contracts. Favorite roles include Sparky in Forever Plaid, Matt in The Fantasticks, Kenickie in Grease!, the young man from Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, and Mortimer in Arsenic and Old Lace. Has can been seen in various independent films including Among Brothers and Varsity Streets as well as some local commercials. He has a recurring gig at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA where he performs a one man show in the lovely country of Ireland, and dances over small children, once again, on stilts. www.alanseales.com

After four years of flying for the U.S. Forest Service (see photo-Waiting for the fire bell to ring in Salmon, Idaho) and fighting wild fires throughout the Western U.S., John Shearer has launched a company which will put a Boeing 727 on a 40 city air show/concert tour (see photo-Have guitar, will travel) next year allowing him to do what he loves most, i.e. make music, fly big airplanes and appear as the Ghost of Christmas Present in Theatre In The Park's A Christmas Carol. More can be seen at www.main727stage.com.

Dorothy Zeigler Scher was the opossum dancer in The New Song of the South in 1978 and danced in the promotion to Mondale during the Presidential Campaign of the same year. Dorothy has not been involved in theater since 1978. She is currently a Child Protective Services Supervisor with the Gaston County Department of Social Services and the Chairperson of the Interagency Child Abuse Prevention Council of Gaston County, Inc. She says, "I miss my dancin' days and sometimes love to get in front of a dance bar just to see how far my legs will still stretch. I wish the best to David Wood and to his beautiful daughter, Evan."

Ben Tedder (Hamlet, Equus) lives just outside of Chicago, where he participates in theatre in the Chicago-area. He was recently cast in the national tour for Defending the Caveman, which should tour next year in the US. He's auditioning for film, TV, and commercials.

One of the first youngins’ to sweep the floors of the old Pullen Park Armory, Jay Theriault (1973-74 season) acted in and did tech work in several Theatre In The Park productions before going off to study acting in New York City in 1980. He lived there for ten years acting, directing, stage-managing, marrying, un-marrying, and…, sweeping more stage floors. Then it was off to Los Angeles for three years where he survived the riots, floods, brush fires and the big North Ridge earthquake. He got the message and moved to St. Paul, Minnesota where he has a wonderful wife, two children, a dog named Sparky and a thriving real estate business. Jay looks forward to hearing from any Theatre In The Park alumni from his era who might still be alive and kicking!

Ricky Ricardo Walker, Jr. has kept himself busy since appearing in A Christmas Carol in 1984. He got married on August 25, 2004, and now resides in Queens, NY, and he performs on stage, he models, he's been in a couple episodes of Guiding Light. Ricky can also be seen on television and in print in a variety of commercials and advertisements.

Jason Weeks  A native of Edenton and a graduate of East Carolina University in 1980, Jason's initial performance at Theatre in the Park was in 1983 as Brutus in JULIUIS CAESAR. He followed that up in 1984 in OTHELLO. Jason left Raleigh to attend the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in 1985, where he studied with Sanford Meisner and Richard Pinter. Jason performed off-off Broadway in productions of DEVOLVING and RHINOCEROS in the late 80's.

Jason met and married his wife Tina in New York. Subsequently Tampa, Florida became home for 10 years. Jason studied in Tampa with Anna Brennen of Stageworks, who was a former student of Sanford Meisner. Jason performed with numerous companies in Tampa, including Stageworks of Tampa, Tampa Players and Masque of Temple Terrace in shows such as GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, A CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, DANCING AT LUGHNASA and ORDINARY PEOPLE. Tina and Jason have two extraordinarily beautiful daughters, Maranda and Sophia that were born in Tampa.  Jason returned to the Triangle in 1999 and has been seen in numerous shows at TIP including the title role in ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, HAMLET, RICHARD III, THE ROCKER, ARSENIC and OLD LACE, GALATEA and AN AMERICAN DAUGHTER.  He has performed with other theatre companies in the triangle, including Burning Coal, Deep Dish Theatre Co. and Meredith College. Jason is a former member of the TIP board of directors. Jason considers the first day he walked into Theatre in the Park one very magical and special experience. And it continues!

Matthew Jason ("MJ") Willis received critical acclaim for his portrayal of The Cat in HONK!, for which he was nominated for Outstanding Performance as an Actor in a Leading Role Cantey Award at RLT. He visually conceived, choreographed, designed costumes, wigs and make up for Godspell at Hayes Barton Baptist Church. MJ designed coiffures for Steel Magnolias and closed The Man Who Came To Dinner at University Theatre in June 2004 (he won praise for his portrayal of the "Noel Coward" role Beverly Carlton). Next up MJ is designing make up for Follies at University Theatre and was recently asked to play Rum Tum Tugger in CATS, but turned down the role because it conflicts with the 30th Anniversary production of A Christmas Carol (where he is our resident choreographer). On A Christmas Carol, MJ notes: "I am excited more than ever for this years production of A Christmas Carol and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again."

Evan Rachel Wood is currently awaiting the release of several movies - WALK ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and THE KING OF CALIFORNIA. She and her Dad, Theatre In The Park's Director Ira David Wood III, recently spent time together at The Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Taking a bit of time off from a very busy acting schedule, Evan is currently working on a new CD - a project that will showcase her singing talents.

Ira David Wood IV is currently residing in California where he is pursuing his acting career. Ira most recently served as Assistant Director for A Christmas Carol - 2006, and has appeared in numerous productions at Theatre In The Park. He will be beginning work on a new motion picture later this Spring.

Eric Woodall is the Casting Director for Tara Rubin Casting. Broadway: Spamalot, Bombay Dreams, The Producers (and tours); Mamma Mia!(and tours); The Phantom of the Opera (and tour); Oklahoma!; Flower Drum Song; Imaginary Friends; Metamorphoses (NY Casting). National tour: Les Miserables. Lincoln Center Theater: The Frogs, Contact; Thou Shalt Not; A Man of No Importance; Anything Goes (concert). Off-Broadway: Second Stage Theatre, Culture Project. Regional: Tennessee Williams Explored and The Sondheim Celebration, Kennedy Center; Signature Theatre; McCarter Theater; Huntington Theatre, LaJolla Playhouse and Yale Repertory.