Featured Artists
Brenda first appeared on the PRTC stage as Mrs. Tottie in Wake . Some of her other favorite recent performances are Tamora in Titus Andronicus and Charlotte Hay in Moon Over Buffalo at the Schoolcraft Community College Theatre. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Madison a long, long time ago where she studied under Phillip Zarrilli.
Brenda returns to the PRTC this summer to understudy Berthe in Boeing-Boeing.
With numerous years of dance and voice training, Angela has been cast in countless productions culminating in the opportunity to travel and perform in the internationally known organization of Up With People. Upon returning from Europe, Angela has also performed multiple roles with Pinckney Players. She has been a featured vocalist on many occasions for her hometown of Dearborn.
Angela makes her professional debut as Mrs. Soames in Our Town.
A Chelsea native, Ty got his foot in the door at the PRTC as a bench player for Gravity and adds his talents as a musician and actor to Our Town. From offstage to onstage, Ty is getting it all in before his PRTC apprenticeship ends in August.
As an alumni of Chelsea High School and Albion College, Ty has been lucky to act in many plays including Sweet Charity (Oscar), Hair (Claude), Willy Wonka (Willy Wonka), and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Himself). Before coming on board with the PRTC, Ty was music director and lead tenor for the Albion College Euphonics, assistant director of music production for Saturday Night Live / NBC and assistant theatre producer for Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York. He is thrilled to be back in his home town making his debut on the PRTC stage with this all-star cast.
A native of Grosse Pointe Park, Lauren got her Bachelor of Arts in Acting from Wayne State University. She recently graduated from the PRTC apprentice program and is currently earning points toward AEA membership as an understudy for Gravity.
Kevin grew up just over the border near Toledo where he played almost every role he could think of with toys and costumes. He then went on to pursue his dream of being an actor at Ohio Wesleyan University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. In addition to his degree, he was a member of the Acting Lab Company at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY. He is also a graduate of the University of Detroit-Mercy Classical Theatre Program in Greece. He has also performed at Tecumseh! in central Ohio, Matrix Theatre Company, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, as well as Glacity Theatre Collective in Toledo.
Prior to his arrival at the PRTC, he was an intern at the Jewish Ensemble Theatre, then a Technical Assistant at the Gem Theatre in Detroit, which prepared him for the PRTC apprenticeship program. As an apprentice at the PRTC, he was a bench player for Bleeding Red, and was cast in the recent PRTC greenhouse, Best Man. Kevin graduates from the PRTC apprentice program at the end of January.
Reared in Alma, Michigan Hillary decided to stick around the middle of the mitten and get her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from Alma College. While studying at Alma, she had a term abroad in New York City through the New York Arts Program. There, she was an intern at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She has also spent a summer in beautiful Urbana, Illinois as an apprentice through the Summer Studio Theatre Company at the Krannert Center at the University of Illinois. With a passion for theatre beginning as a young girl with Gratiot Community Players in her home town, she was able to return the favor and direct a Summer Youth production.
Hillary is a current member of the PRTC apprentice program. Pursuing a life in theatre through directing and playwriting, she is tickled to have the honor of a PRTC greenhouse of her play Best Man this month. Hillary can also earn points toward AEA membership as the rehearsal assistant to the stage manager for Gravity and as an understudy for Our Town.
A native of Wyandotte and graduate of Central Michigan University, Amy completed her PRTC apprenticeship in 2001. Following her early completion of the apprentice program, Amy became a core member of the PRTC stage management team, earning her AEA card with Guys On Ice. Amy served as stage manager for The Late Great Henry Boyle, Jeff Daniels Onstage & Unplugged, The Glass Menagerie, Norma & Wanda , The Mystery of Irma Vep, The Underpants, The Good Doctor, Hope for Corky, Across The Way, Born Yesterday and Months on End. She was also involved with Let it Be, Blithe Spirit, Duck Hunter Shoots Angel, Bus Stop, Guest Artist and Honus and Me as assistant stage manager. Amy was influential in the training of apprentices to become professional stage managers. She was bestowed the honor of associate artist for her commitment to excellence at the PRTC. In 2006, she left the company to pursue her creative need to make jewelry. Amy makes her triumphant return to the PRTC this season as a stage management consultant where she further hones the skills of the stage management team while continuing her passion for wearable art.
Greg hails from Berkley and recently completed his PRTC apprenticeship appearing as Mr. Frederickson in last summer's Wake.
Before coming to the PRTC, he toured forty-three states and seven countries with The Young Americans and Circus Smirkus. Greg has also worked at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Orange County Pacific Symphony and as a musician with the Kurt Hunter Band.
Greg makes his professional stage managment debut - earning his AEA membership - with the World Premiere production of Escanaba.
Originally from Detroit, Julian has been entertaining audiences with his silly antics all of his life, always creating funny and unique characters. His mother knew he was going to be a handful at a very young age, transforming into different characters right before her eyes. Being the class clown in high school, he kept his teachers and classmates laughing. His sense of humor also won over his high school sweetheart of eleven years, who he happily married in 2006. Julian has been passionate about dramatic acting, comedic acting, and stand up comedy for the past seven years. While achieving his Communication and Media Arts degree at Wayne State University, he acted in a number of student films there and at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He acted in a number of original plays, co-starring alongside Jackee Harry and John Canada Terrell. His recent theatre credits include August Wilson's Fences at Performance Network and understudying for The Second City's Kwame a River. He recently played a supporting role as a C.S.I. Detective in the feature film Intent starring Eric Roberts. You can usually find Julian in Detroit performing anywhere he can with his improv troupe, "The Improv BruVas."
Julian makes his professional acting debut - earning his AEA membership - in Escanaba.
A native of Novi, Nathan got involved in theatre when his 8th grade girlfriend made him audition with her for the community theatre play. After miraculously getting cast, he has been involved in theatre ever since. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Western Michigan University and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from The University of Exeter, England. His previous theatre credits include Rudy Soto in Hawk, I'm Your Brother at Wild Swan Theatre; Launchbox improviser at Go Comedy! Improv Theatre; Jerry in A Zoo Story at The University of Exeter; Konstantin in The Seagull at Stan School, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Augustine Feraillon in A Flea in Her Ear at Western Michigan University. He also trained with the Moscow Art Theatre and has been a member of the Society of American Fight Directors for over five years.
Nathan recently became a PRTC associate artist and the company's resident Fight Choreographer for the 2009 / 2010 season. Last month, the PRTC sponsored Nathan for the 30th annual SAFD national stage combat workshop where he was recognized as the best male advanced actor combatant.
Frank was born and raised in Detroit, and it was there in the Fox Theater that he was first enthralled by a performance of Bye Bye Birdie before he ever went to school. But it was not until after he left the University of Michigan with a mechanical engineering degree that he began acting.
A member of the PRTC apprentice program, he can currently be found earning points toward AEA membership playing dead in Wake.
Megan hails from Wyoming, Michigan, and graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre and a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Tourism Management. Her stage credits include Janet in GVSU's production of The Rocky Horror Show, Kelly in Dying City for Black Swan Productions and Greta in Snow White for Circle Theatre. Megan is also the face of Celebration Cinema and Blue Heron Academy on Michigan's west coast.
A current member of the PRTC apprentice program, Megan earned points toward her AEA membership as the understudy for Liz in Bleeding Red and performed the role several times during the final weeks of the run.
A native of Roseville, Stacie is a PRTC associate artist. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Western Michigan University and her Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Purdue University. Stacie also trained with The Moscow Art Theatre and The Pantheatre in France.
Stacie received her AEA membership with her PRTC debut in Growing Pretty last spring. Since then, she understudied for Apartment 3A and appeared in A Streetcar Named Desire. Currently, Stacie is teaching this year's Voice & Movement and can be seen onstage as Liz in Bleeding Red.
Originally from metro Detroit, Heidi is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science secondary education and theatre. She moved to Ann Arbor in 2005 to pursue her dream of a career in professional theatre. Following a year-long apprenticeship at the Performance Network, she came to the PRTC as the full time office manager. During her three years as a staff member, Heidi has grown tremendously through opportunities to take PRTC acting classes, understudy and learn from the professionals around her. She has also worked with the Blackbird Theatre, Michigan Classical Repertory Theatre, Performance Network. Heidi makes her PRTC stage debut as Sarah in Bleeding Red and is earning points toward AEA membership.
Originally from Escanaba, Tristan currently hails from Tawas City. His love of acting began at a young age, and some of his favorite roles include Joe Pitt in Angels in America at Saginaw Valley State University, Pablo Picasso in Picasso at the Lapine Agile for Pit and Balcony Community Theatre, Zeke Spoon in Fork and Spoon and Lenny in Neil Simon's Rumors. Tristan began training with the PRTC in the Acting for the Camera class last spring and makes his professional acting debut as the Young Man in A Streetcar Named Desire.
Charlyn, an alumna of Central Michigan University, began work at the PRTC as an apprentice and, through the years, worked her way to understudy, actor and associate artist. Born in Battle Creek, she made her Actor's Equity Association acting debut on the PRTC stage as Big Betty Balou in Escanaba In Love in 2007. She returns to the PRTC from her home in Chicago to appear as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire.
Kelly was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, where she received her Bachelor of Arts from Saginaw Valley State University. Her love for the theatre started in the fourth grade when she had the privilege of playing Slue Foot Sue for all of her family and friends. Since then, Kelly has played many roles in the world of theatre, including playwright, actor, director, stage manager and numerous backstage positions.
As a member of the PRTC apprentice program, Kelly was scheduled to graduate in December. Due to her outstanding performance, she has been invited to remain with the company for a fifth production, serving as a member of the stage management team for A Streetcar Named Desire and earning points toward AEA membership.
Julie recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of her PRTC apprenticeship! In that time, she has earned her membership with Actors' Equity Association by serving as a professional stage manager on the PRTC productions Rain Dance, Orphan Train: An American Melodrama, Completing Dahlia and Guys on Ice, as well as the record-setting Escanaba in da Moonlight with Big Pickle Productions at the Gem Theatre. After taking a break from stage managing, Julie earned her Master of Arts in Arts Administration at Eastern Michigan University, produced Jane Martin's Anton in Show Business at the Performance Network's TreeTown Festival, and was a founding member and Managing Director of the Idlewild Theatre Company's inaugural season celebrating Idlewild, Michigan's rich African American arts culture. Today she is happy to work as the PRTC's company manager, working on day-to-day administrative responsibilities while also assisting the talented stage management team and production staff on the production end.
Stacey hails from Traverse City and has been working in all aspects of theatre as a PRTC apprentice since January of this year. Before joining the PRTC, she received her Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications from Ferris State University and worked as a graphic designer for ten years in Northern Michigan. She has performed in many regional and community theatres including the Michigan Riverside Shakespeare Company, Old Town Playhouse and The Leelanau Players.
Stacey makes her professional stage debut as the irate stage manager in Apartment 3A and is earning points toward AEA membership for her performance.
Kevin Barron
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre - Ohio Wesleyan University
Adam Humphrey
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre - Otterbein College
Megan M. Johnson
Bachelor of Science in Theatre / Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Tourism Management - Grand Valley State University
Margaret E. McCall
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre - Michigan State University
Lauren Montgomery
Bachelor of Arts in Acting - Wayne State University
Frank David Obelnicki
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering - University of Michigan
Jessica L. Preville
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre - Grand Valley State University
Ben Zisk
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies - Duke University
Welcome to the PRTC Apprentice Program!
Maggie was born in Ann Arbor in 1985 and moved to Jackson when she was two. At age three, she started dancing at Susan Vaughn's School of Dance and studied there for the next sixteen years. At age ten, Maggie took her first acting class and went on to appear in roughly a dozen community theatre productions. She also studied voice with Monte Long for seven years and, for three summers as a teenager, sang the national anthem at the Michigan International Speedway, appearing on national television. After high school, Maggie moved to New York City to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Arts Academy. After a semester of study, she decided to focus strictly on acting. Her Midwest roots drew her back to Michigan where she attended Eastern Michigan University while performing at the Riverside Arts Center. Maggie was hired as a PRTC apprentice in January 2008 and since then has learned many things about the technical world of theatre. She began earning AEA membership points understudying the role of Annabelle in Panhandle Slim and the Oklahoma Kid in June. Following her apprenticeship, Maggie will start rehearsals next January for The Rabbit Hole by David Abaire at Tipping Point Theatre.
Born in Escanaba, Guy spent most of his formative years in Lansing. After being kicked off the baseball team his junior year of high school, Guy discovered the world of theatre when he auditioned for the spring play on a lark. After graduation, he spent ten years working, training and doing as much local theatre as possible before moving to New York City to pursue his acting and directing career. Six years later, he returned to Michigan where he taught in the theatre department at Lansing Community College and started his own company, the Greater Lansing Theatre Lab. In 1992, Guy was cast in Jeff Daniels' second play,The Tropical Pickle, and a year later, he received his Actors' Equity Association membership as the stage manager for National Anthems. He acted and directed with the company for the next few years, becoming the first PRTC associate artist in 1994, and in May of 1995, he was hired as artistic director of The Purple Rose Theatre Company. Since then, he has directed over twenty productions for the PRTC; his favorites include Escanaba In Love, Guest Artist, Across The Way and Escanaba in da Moonlight by Jeff Daniels, Book of Days and Rain Dance by Lanford Wilson, Bus Stop by William Inge and Vino Veritas by David MacGregor. He has received the Detroit Free Press Excellence in Theatre Award for Best Director four times. As an actor, Guy has appeared in eight plays for the PRTC, most recently in Boom Town, Born Yesterday and Sea of Fools; his other local stage credits include the BoarsHead Theatre and Jewish Ensemble Theatre. He has appeared in several films including Escanaba in da Moonlight, Super Sucker, Chasing Sleep and The Lost Treasure of Sawtooth Island. He is a proud member of The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and the Screen Actors Guild in addition to the AEA.
Originally from South Lyon, Danna received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Theatre from Michigan State University. She discovered Jeff Daniels was starting The Purple Rose Theatre Company through the "welcome wagon" lady when she and her husband Wade bought their house. Danna has enjoyed being part of the PRTC family since volunteering backstage in February 1991 for the very first production, Blush At Nothing. By June, a permanent position was created for her, and she was hired full time as one of a team of four to run the day-to-day operations of the theatre. She began the Actors' Equity Association membership process with Jeff Daniels' first play, Shoe Man and became a member as stage manager for Ties That Bind by Kitty Dubin. As the PRTC grew and restructured, Danna took on the responsibilities of Resource Manager, managing the theatre's physical assets from props to light bulbs to office furniture. Following the birth of her son, Reeve, Danna stepped down from her staff position and became an associate artist. Now a PRTC resident artist, Danna currently serves as production photographer and helps out part time in our Box Office, in addition to her role as resident prop designer. Danna has been prop designer and helped with set dressing on all but six PRTC productions; Panhandle Slim & The Oklahoma Kid is her 56th PRTC prop design.
A PRTC Resident Artist, Phil grew up in Chelsea and attended Central Michigan University. He then lived and worked in New York City for eight years before returning to his hometown. After several years of taking classes and understudying with the PRTC, he received his AEA membership when he appeared as Reuben Soady in the 1997 revival of Escanaba in da Moonlight. Since then, Phil has appeared on many area stages, including Performance Network, BoarsHead Theatre, The Gem Theatre, Meadow Brook Theatre and Jewish Ensemble Theatre. His subsequent PRTC credits include Born Yesterday, Bus Stop, Honus And Me, and Vino Veritas; this summer, he appears as the Vagrant Scoundrel in Panhandle Slim & The Oklahoma Kid.
Matthew David received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan-Flint in his hometown. He joined the Actors' Equity Association through the PRTC and made his professional acting debut in Growing Pretty this spring.
Originally from Berkley, Michigan, Michael Brian Ogden received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Western Michigan University and his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Wayne State University's Hilberry Theatre where he appeared as Elyot in Private Lives, Chance Wayne in Sweet Bird of Youth, Marc Antony in Julius Caesar, Doalty in Translations and Enobarbus in Antony and Cleopatra. He also studied with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Moscow Art Theatre and the Society of American Fight Directors.
Brian received his AEA membership as an understudy during The Poetry of Pizza last fall and appears for the first time on the PRTC stage as Hami in Growing Pretty.
Matthew grew up in Farmington and received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Michigan State University. After graduation, he toured briefly with the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and Philadelphia's American Family Theatre before returning to Michigan to join the PRTC Apprentice Program in 2006. Since successfully completing the program, Matthew performed in the PRTC greenhouse and Ann Arbor District Library public reading of White Buffalo. He will be making his Actors' Equity Association stage debut in Growing Pretty this spring.
Originally from Comstock Park, Julia graduated from the University of Michigan Residential College with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama. Since completing the PRTC Apprentice Program in 2007, she has performed in three PRTC greenhouses, understudied Big Betty Balou in Escanaba In Love at the Gem Theatre in Detroit and staged managed Souvenir at Performance Network in Ann Arbor. We are delighted to announce that Julia has just joined the PRTC staff full-time as group sales manager.
From her hometown of Romeo, Stefanie moved on to Central Michigan University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Theatre and Interpretation before joining the PRTC Apprentice Program in 2005. She graduated from the program early in 2006 to join the ranks of Actors Equity Association as stage manager for Honus And Me. Her other PRTC credits include stage manager for When The Lights Come On and assistant stage manager for Escanaba In Love and The Subject Was Roses. Stefanie returned to the PRTC for Jeff Daniels Onstage & Unplugged after stage managing the PRTC production of Escanaba In Love at the Gem Theatre in Detroit.
Michelle DiDomenico hails from Romeo and received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Eastern Michigan University. She graduated the PRTC Apprentice Program in 2001 and immediately joined Actors Equity Association as Assistant Stage Manager for the PRTC production of Months On End. During her six years in the AEA, her other PRTC credits include Stage Manager for Let It Be, Stand, Blithe Spirit, Leaving Iowa, Duck Hunter Shoots Angel, And The Winner Is and Sea of Fools and ASM for Born Yesterday, Across The Way, Hope for Corky, The Good Doctor, Guest Artist and When The Lights Come On. She has also stage managed for Performance Network, City Theatre, The Gem Theatre, Williamston Theatre and The Cherry County Playhouse in Muskegon. Michelle is now an PRTC Associate Artist and Resident Stage Manager, mentoring new apprentice SM candidates in addition to working on each PRTC production; she also made her professional directing debut with the PRTC production of The Glass Menagerie two seasons ago.
Heather Hummel is a native of Illinois and received her Bachelor of Arts in Educational Theatre from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. After garnering several years of experience in her home state, Heather completed the PRTC Apprentice Program in January 2007. Upon completing her apprenticeship, Heather received her Actors' Equity Association membership as Assistant Stage Manager for The Subject Was Roses. She continued her training as ASM with When The Lights Come On and Sea of Fools before making her debut as Stage Manager for The Poetry of Pizza.
Stephanie Buck grew up next door in Saline and is a recent graduate of the PRTC Apprentice Program. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Central Michigan University while also studying mathematics and philosophy. From directing to designing while in college, and from shop assistant to sound technician while at the PRTC, Stephanie's desire to learn about every aspect of theatre is what led her to pursue Stage Management. As the first step in her professional career, Stephanie will receive her Actors' Equity Association membership through the PRTC as the Assistant Stage Manager for The Poetry of Pizza this fall.
Jessica Garrett is a current member of the PRTC Apprentice Program. She hails from Clarkston and, having spent years as a horse trainer, Italian/English translator, vocal coach and lifeguard, brings innumerable skills with her to the PRTC. Since beginning her apprenticeship last December, Jess has served as Assistant to the Prop Designer, Administrative Office Assistant, Scene Shop Assistant, Evening Box Office Manager and Production Assistant to the Stage Manager. In addition to her regular apprentice duties, Jess’ unique talents allow her to serve as the vocal coach for the current production, Sea of Fools; she can also be heard as Lee Newberry’s voice double in this world premiere by Matt Letscher.
Clyde Brown currently appears in 35 states as Creepy Clyde, a Horror Movie Host with the Horror Host Underground; Creepy Clyde also gives regular live performances of original and popular Halloween novelty songs. Clyde has been a Detroit radio and television voice talent for twenty years and has provided the singing voice of many characters in musical episodes of Universal Home Entertainment’s Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legend of Journeys, Jack of All Trades and Cleopatra 2525. Born in Detroit and raised in Dearborn, Clyde is married and the father of two. Clyde is making his professional stage acting debut in Sea of Fools playing Hastings the butler.
Samuel Blake
Bachelor of Arts in Drama, Bachelor of Arts in English - U of M Residential College
Chelsea Compton
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, Bachelor of Arts in Film / Video - Penn State University
Maggie Meyer
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
Eastern Michigan University
Matt W. Hollerbach
Bachelor of Arts in Drama - U of M Residential College
Stacey Livingston
Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications - Ferris State University
Joshua Roth
Motion Picture Institute of Michigan
Grand Valley State University
Erin K. Snyder
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre - Otterbein College
Kelly Anne Vieau
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre - Saginaw Valley State University
Welcome to the PRTC Apprentice Program!
Kathryn is a proud Michigan native currently living in New York. After participating in the PRTC's 2004 Actor/Director Lab, she followed her acting dream to the Big Apple and has since performed for both stage and screen. She has performed in off-off-Broadway shows, independent films, A Midsummer Night's Dream in Illinois and Electra in Greece. Her favorite Michigan credits include the title role in Candida with MCRT, Molly in The Smell of the Kill with StarBrite dinner theatre, Charlotte in Charlotte's Web with September Productions and The Good Doctor with Flanders Theatre Company. Kathryn earned her Actor's Equity card and made her professional debut in When The Lights Come On, playing the football department student secretary, Tulie Barnes.
Originally from Flint, Rhiannon and her family now reside in Ludington, Michigan; she has played many roles in local theatre productions in both Flint and Ludington. She began studying performance with the PRTC in 2005, taking both the Actor/Director Lab and Voice & Movement classes.
Rhiannon earned her Actor's Equity card and made her professional debut in When The Lights Come On playing Jamie Jones-Leonard, the wife of Coach Tommy Leonard (Brian Letscher).