JAY AUBREY (Holy Ghost) was most recently seen in PSYCHO: AN
AMERICAN MUSICAL at Famous Door Theatre Company. Regional
credits include The Emcee in CABARET, CLOUD 9, XXX LOVE ACT,
ADAM & THE EXPERTS, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, and the solo
performer in THE NIGHT LARRY KRAMER KISSED ME. Jay can also be
seen in his cabaret shows at Gentry on Halsted.
KEN BAKER (Anastasius) is delighted to be in the POPE JOAN
company. Some of his recent Chicago theater credits include the
roles of Capt. Albert Lennox in THE SECRET GARDEN and Papa in
NUMBER THE STARS at Apple Tree Theatre, Joe in Music/Theatre
Workshop's award-winning SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST, and The Father
of the Bride in Premiere Dinner Theatre's JOEY AND MARY'S
IRISH/ITALIAN COMEDY WEDDING. On the road, Ken appeared as
Franz in the national tour of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, as
Jake in Nebraska Theatre Caravan's A CHRISTMAS CAROL and as a
featured male vocalist for Cunard Cruise Lines. Some of his
favorite credits include Henry Higgins in MY FAIR LADY, Michael
in I DO! I DO!, the Padre in MAN OF LA MANCHA, John Adams in
1776, and Beadle Bamford in SWEENEY TODD.
MARY C. BEIDLER (Martine) is pleased to return to the POPE JOAN
story after its award-winning first telling at Bailiwick
Repertory last year. Mary recently played the Stepmother in
INTO THE WOODS at Touchstone Theatre and Stephie in Pheasant Run
Dinner Theatre's I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES. Most of Mary's
Chicago-area work has been at Bailiwick, where she has won two
After Dark Awards for Outstanding Performance in Christopher
Moore's SON OF FIRE and WUTHERING HEIGHTS, respectively. Before
arriving in Chicago, Mary was a Theatre Professor and Guest
Artist at Miami University and its Summer Theatre. She taught
acting at The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and history,
literature and criticism at the Cincinnati College/Conservatory of Music, where she holds an MFA.
She spent a year in Germany and Austria as a folksinger and
actress and five years of the same in New York City. There she
worked with several theatre companies including The Moscow
Directors' Theatre of New York. She values her experiences in
regional theatre which include a variety of musicals, dramas
and, her favorite projects, the development of new works. She
is grateful for the support of family and friends.
SCOTT BRUSH (King Louis II) is thrilled to make his Chicago
debut in POPE JOAN. A native of Ohio, Scott now resides in New
York where he holds the role of Dr. Slater in AS THE WORLD
TURNS. Other appearances on television and film are Dr. Yaegar
in SWEET JUSTICE with Melissa Gilbert and Cicely Tyson, Nick in
DEADLY CURRENCY with Bill Smith, and as the Greek God in LITTLE
MAN TATE with Jody Foster. In theaters around the country, Scott has performed
many roles that run the gamut from Tigger in WINNIE THE POOH to
the title role of the demon barber himself in SWEENEY TODD.
Some of his favorite roles include John Wilkes Booth in
ASSASSINS, Bill Sykes in OLIVER, Riff in WEST SIDE STORY, Billy
Bigelow in CAROUSEL, MacHeath in THE THREEPENNY OPERA and
McMurphy in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST. Scott holds a BFA
from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of
Music and an MFA from the University of New Orleans. He is a
member of AEA, SAG and AFTRA. Grandma Johnson, this one's for you.
ELIZABETH LAIDLAW (Joan) is thrilled beyond measure to be
returning to the role of Joan after appearing briefly in the
Bailiwick Repertory production last spring. Elizabeth is a member of Strawdog Theatre. Her Chicago
credits include ROMEO AND JULIET and ROMEO AND JULIET IN GRANT
PARK for Shakespeare Repertory; THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS and
the Jeff Award-winning ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS at Lifeline
Theatre, KIRKOS and THE ORPHAN with National Pastime Theater,
MANN IS MANN at Famous Door Theatre Company, SON OF CELLULOID at
The Next Theatre, GOOD NIGHT DESDEMONA, GOOD MORNING JULIET and
THE BIG FUNK at Strawdog Theatre Company, for which she received
a Jeff Citation nomination. Wearing a different hat, she
produced CROSSING BOUNDARIES II: THE TOWER OF BABEL PROJECT for
Strawdog Theatre in July, 1995, and plans to produce this
summer's installment as well. She'd like to thank Michael, Chris, Susan
and Will for making this happen again, and Kate Fry
for setting such an excellent standard.
MATT MCDONALD (Nicholas) originated the role of Nicholas in
Bailiwick Repertory's production of POPE JOAN. Prior to that,
Matt was seen in Christopher Moore's SON OF FIRE and in
Bailiwick's critically acclaimed production of ST. JOAN OF THE
STOCKYARDS. For Pegasus Players, you may have seen him play
in STRIKE UP THE BAND and carnival bark in ASSASSINS, or perhaps
you caught him at Apple Tree Theatre for THE ROTHSCHILDS,
SCAPIN, PIPPIN, or in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD -- his
drug-addicted John Jasper is still fondly remembered. While
serving as a stock member of the New Tuners, originating roles
in A CHANGE IN THE HEIR, CHARLIE'S OASIS, Charles Strouse's
FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL, and playing in DOONESBURY, he
directed and played in various productions for the City Lit
Theatre Company, notably acting the role of Jeeves the Butler.
In between, he has managed appearances in PERSONALS, TINTYPES,
IRISH COFFEE, DIGGORY'S RAG, and Cloud 42's production of
Charles Ludlam's CAMILLE. Work, work, work, yes, but his main
passion has been performing vintage songs, preferably slightly
"off" standards, and he tours his one-man show in and around
Chicago whenever he gets the opportunity.
SARA MINTON (Lucretia, Martine understudy) is very
happy to be working again with Christopher Moore. She has
enjoyed featured roles in other shows by Mr. Moore, including
PRICK O' THE ROSE, GLAMOUR, and staged readings of SON OF FIRE.
A native of Ohio, Sara's favorite roles in Chicago include
Jackie Onassis in I SHOW UP & SMILE, Mama in UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- THE AIDS SHOW at Bailiwick Repertory, Miss Goldberg in IN
TROUSERS with the Alliance Theatre, Minnie in MINNIE'S BOYS at
the National Jewish Theater, Ruth in BLITHE SPIRIT at Orchard
Theatre; and Jack's Mother in the Pegasus Players' national tour
of INTO THE WOODS. Sara recently completed a run of BABY at
Apple Tree Theatre, has toured extensively with Free Street
Theatre, played a variety of animals in children's theatre
productions and spent two summers in stock at Canterbury Theatre.
RON SHERRY (Lucius) is delighted to be returning to the cast of
POPE JOAN. He majored in theater at Sam Houston University and
has performed in regional theaters in the Black Hills, the
cornfields of Nebraska, the sand dunes of Indiana and amongst
the oil refineries in Texas. Ron originated the role of Lucius
in the premier production of POPE JOAN at the Bailiwick Arts
Center. Other credits include in the Doormouse in Alphabet
Soup's production of ALICE IN WONDERLAND, Angel in DISTANT FIRES
with Pegasus Players, the Pauper in Christopher Moore's musical
adaption of THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, Bert in A MEMORY OF TWO
MONDAYS, and Tom in THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED at Raven Theatre.
Ron is currently taking flying lessons to become a nun. Also,
if you're out there Mike -- my love and thanks.
CECILY STRONG (Young Joan, Joan's Daughter) is twelve years old
and in the sixth grade in Oak Park. She has performed in
several plays and musicals, most recently in THE CHRISTMAS
SCHOONER at Bailiwick Repertory, and as Young Bertrende in a
workshop production of THE HOUSE OF MARTIN GUERRE at the Goodman
Theater. Cecily performed in POPE JOAN's premiere and is
delighted to grow along with the role. She would like to thank
her family for their continuing love and support.
LINDA M. WASTE (Joan understudy/Fight Choreographer) Formerly
Linda M. Schaefer, Linda is very excited to be continuing on
with POPE JOAN, after choreographing the fights in the original production. Other Chicago
acting credits include SON OF
FIRE, WUTHERING HEIGHTS and DON JUAN TENORIO, all with
Bailiwick Repertory. She recently was seen at Touchstone
Theatre as one of the Wicked Stepsisters in INTO THE WOODS.
Linda is a certified actor/combatant with the Society of
American Fight Directors. She'd like
to thank Rob McLean for his continued za and her husband Steve
for everything.
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