BONNIE HARRISON *(Actress #1)
Bonnie holds a BA (honors) in Theatre from the University of Winnipeg and an MFA in Performance from the University of Florida. Her most recent appearance on the Hippodrome mainstage was as one of those mischievious witches that through the slide of hand turned into a Gentle Woman in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Other productions include Hedda Gabler, Frankenstein, How I Learned To Drive, Just So Stories, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Sugar Bean Sisters. Bonnie adapted and directed the 1995 A Christmas Carol and directed Theatre for Young Audiences productions of Eco Heroes, Alice in Wonderland, 4R Planet, and the local and state tours of To Be or Not To Be… That is Two Questions. As the Hippodrome’s Director of Education, she conceptualized, developed and incorporated a strong peer education component to the existing format of H.I.T.T., and is working on Florida’s first interactive prevention Web Site for Teens. For the past five years the Florida International Volunteer Corp. has invited Bonnie to bring the award winning H.I.T.T. program to teens in Antigua, Barbuda, St. Lucia, and Grenada. She would like to say, “Thanks to my morning person who has given me much love and support during my late nights of rehearsal and performance."

MERIDETH MADDOX (Lisabette)
Merideth is thrilled to return to the Hippodrome stage. She was last seen at the Hipp as Belle in A Christmas Carol and Justine in Frankenstein. Merideth will be receiveing her BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida in August. Her UF credits include Shelby in Steel Magnolias, Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, and ensemble roles in Blues for Mister Charlie and The Good Person of Sichuan. This summer, Merideth will play Lady Anne in Richard III and Rosalind in Moon over Buffalo for the University of Florida’s Summer Reperatory season. Following graduation, she will begin working on her MFA at the FSU/Asolo Convservatory in Sarasota, Florida. Merideth would like to extend her thanks to Lauren, all her professors at UF, and her ever-supportive family and friends.

SARA MORSEY *(Casey)
Sara is delighted to be home for two consecutive shows, having just performed the role of “Lady Macbeth” in Macbeth. Earlier this season she enjoyed a run of Wit at Playhouse on the the Square in Memphis where she has also appeared as a guest artist in Master Class and Three Tall Women in recent seasons. A regional theatre career spanning twenty years has taken her throughout the eastern United States and as far as Edinburgh, Scotland, including seasons with American Stage, The New Harmony Theatre, Horse Cave Theatre, Pegasus Rising and others. And yes, like every actress, Sara dreams of performing Chekhov, a feat accomplished only once (Uncle Vanya) at the University of Louisville where she received her Master of Fine Arts Degree in Acting.

NELL PAGE *(Actress#2)
Nell is an Associate Artist with the Hippodrome State Theatre and has appeared in more than fifty roles including most recently Alexa Vere De Vere in As Bees in Honey Drown, the Female Chorus in How I Learned to Drive, Cory in Private Eyes, Jim and Sarah in The Mineola Twins, Kate in Sylvia, Aunt Leo in Indiscretions, Jean Louise French in To Kill a Mockingbird, Bessie in Marvin’s Room, La Marquise de Merteuill in Les Liasons Dangereuses, Carol in Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Charlotte Corday in Marat/Sade, various roles in All in the Timing, Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, Willie Mae Nettles in The Sugar Bean Sisters, multiple roles in The Little Prince, Artie in Eleemosynary, Annelle in Steel Magnolias, Jan in Bedroom Farce, Clair in I’m Not Rappaport, Cassie in Rumors, Linda in Rum and Coke, Ruth in So Long on Lonely Street, Mary in Vanities, Janet in Accomplice, and Mrs. Emory in Earthly Possessions. Nell appeared as Kate in Sylvia and Kate and Kate in The Miracle Worker at the Heritage Reparatory Theatre in Charlottesville, Virginia. She appeared Off-Broadway in Desperado. Nell’s film credits include Gathering Evidence and Ulee’s Gold. She co-authored Coquina, which opened at Harold Clurman. 

DANA PANEPINTO (Joby)
You may remember Dana in her most recent performance on the Hippodrome stage as the only female soldier in Macbeth. Joined with her experience last season working with the cast and crew of Hedda Gabler in her debut role as Thea Elvsted, Dana is indebted to Lauren Caldwell and the Hippodrome for providing her with the opportunity to perform and work with their talents. She is excited to be working with this wonderful cast of females, learning from their talent and borrowing their friendship. Awaiting graduation from the University of Florida’s MFA program in May, she is fulfilling her degree with an internship here at the Hippodrome as Company Manager. This past summer, Dana performed and studied in Athens and the Island of Spetsies, Greece with the University’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Hermia. Other credits include the Angel in Angels in America, Constanze Mozart in Amadeus, Haley Stray in Pitchfork Disney, and Ann in Balm in Gilead. This past fall she has played director to a cast of young actors performing a piece of work entitled, This is My Voice. She found an attraction to directing after her success with last year’s The Most Massive Woman Wins when she was named the Florida Player’s Best Director and Best Show of 2000. Also in the fall of 2000, she joined to write a collaborative piece of work about acceptance and ancestry with her friends and peers Sonya Cole and Celeste Den, Trinity. Dana is most thankful for the love and support of her family and friends, “you have made me courageous!” Thank you Mister God for all the blessings you have given me! 

JOY SCHIEBEL *(Holly)
Joy couldn’t be more pleased to continue her work with Lauren Caldwell and this wonderful cast. Joy has been seen in this season’s Macbeth, The Blue Room, and Hysteria. Other Hippodrome credits include Hedda Gabler, Frankenstein, The Glass Menagerie, Three Tall Women, and Dracula. Elsewhere regional credits run the gamut from classic comedy and modern drama and include School for Scandal, Biloxi Blues, Our Town, Noises Off, as well as Shakespeare’s Juliet, Viola, Hero, Perdita, Diana, Lady Percy, Lady Macbeth, and Desdemona opposite Charles S. Dutton. Joy is a member of the New Ensemble in New York City where she resides when not performing regionally. 

ADAM COHEN* (Stage Manager)
Adam is in his fourth season at the Hippodrome, having stage managed over 20 productions during that time period. In a career that has taken him across the high seas, into huge arenas, in front of the camera, up in the control booth, and onto the stage, the experiences he has accumulated only serve to make him more aware of the value of the “jewel” the citizens of Gainesville have in their midst.  The caliber of the artists that the Hippodrome attracts is surpassed nowhere, and he thanks the management for the chance to be counted in that group.  His greatest thanks must go, however, to his family, who have supported his choices from the beginning and continue to be a source of joy and inspiration.

LAUREN CALDWELL (Director)
Lauren is the Artistic Director at the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, Florida. She has directed over 40 shows on the Hippodrome mainstage, most recently this season’s Macbeth and The Blue Room. Last season she directed Master Class, Hedda Gabler and Frankenstein. Other directing credits include: A Streetcar Named Desire, The Rocky Horror Show, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Glass Menagerie, Dracula, Beehive (twice), How I learned to Drive, Lost in Yonkers, Like Totally Weird, All in the Timing, and The Lion in Winter. She has appeared as an actress on the Hippodrome stage since 1988 in such roles as Sylvia in Sylvia, Madame de Volanges in Les Liasons Dangereuses, Marge in Absent Friends, Faye in The Sugar Bean Sisters, Truvy in Steel Magnolias, Louise in Always Patsy Cline (twice), and recently, for the third time, multiple wacky characters in A Tuna Christmas. Lauren has written plays for the Theatre For Young Audiences program which include To Be or Not To Be …That is Two Questions, Just So Stories (adaptation), and most recently, Radio Active. She conceptualized a comprehensive cirriculum guide for Hippodrome productions, Perspectives, which is distributed to Alachua County High Schools, Santa Fe Community College and the University of Florida. A native of Texas, Lauren holds a BFA in directing from Baylor University and a MFA in acting from the University of Florida. She is a member of Actor’s Equity Association, the Drama League, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. She owns and operates Legal Acts, a Prosecution/Public Defenders’ Program as well as the MBA program at the University of Florida.

ANDY FITCH (Scenic Designer)
Andy teaches set design at the University of Alabama. Recent designs include ART and Forever Plaid for the Hippodrome State Theatre, One Flea Spare directed by Adrian Hall for the Kitchen Dog Theatre in Dallas, Forever Plaid for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and Henry IV, part one for Theatre SMU. In Alabama, he has designed productions of The Rocky Horror Show, Ah Wilderness, The Tempest, Sweeny Todd, Angels in America, Godspell, Arcadia, Cabaret, and Anything Goes. Andy is a founding member of Kitchen Dog Theatre where he received a 1994 Dallas Critics’ Award for American Buffalo and the Dallas Theatre League’s 1995 Leon Rabin Award for his Set Design for Kitchen Dog’s Fool for Love. Recent KDT designs include Issac and Waiting for Godot. Andy also serves as Chair of the Design and Technology committee for the South Eastern Theatre Conference. Andy’s training includes a M.F.A. degree from Southern  Methodist University in Dallas.

STEVEN WHITE (Costume Designer)
Steve recently served as Marilyn Wall-Asse’s costume design assistant for the Hippodrome’s production of Macbeth. He is thrilled to be working with Lauren again, after designing the Hippodrome’s Touring Show Radio Active for her. His past design credits include: How I Learned to Drive, Cabaret, Henry V, The Snow Queen, Roosters, Arms and the Man, and Tartuffe for the American Southwest Theatre Company. Steve is also excited to engage in designing the world of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for the Hippodrome’s Summer Spectacular production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Robert P. Robins (Lighting Designer) 
Bob has been Lighting Designer-in-Residence at the Hippodrome for the past 15  years.   During this time, he has designed the lighting for more than 175 productions.  He has also stage managed numerous productions including Hippodrome Mainstage, state and Theatre for Young Audiences tours.  In addition to designing and stage managing, Bob also engineers the soundtracks and sound reinforcement for all Hippodrome productions. He is an Actors’ Equity Association stage manager and a member of IATSE Local 115.   Bob has designed more than 300 productions regionally in the United States, including theater, dance, and industrials.   For the past  eight years, he has taught at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts.  He spends what time he has away from the theater with his very supportive wife, Jodi, and their two children, Kayla and Evan.

J. JEFFERY GUICE (Technical Director/Production Coordinator)
Jeff has recently returned to the world of live theatre from an extensive tour of duty in the theming industry. He has produced ultra realistic animal habitats for zoos and aquariums such as The Brookfield  Zoo in Chicago and detailed exhibits for museums, the latest being The 82nd Airborne Museum in Fayettville, N.C. From 1985 to 1999 Jeff has Art directed, sculpted and painted on many themepark attractions such as Disney MGM, EPCOT, E.T.’s Adventure and Jurassic Park rides at Universal Studios Hollywood and Florida plus projects in Italy, Las Vegas and the Bahamas. Having started in theatre with a B.F.A. in Theatrical Design and Technology from Auburn University and experience from Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Daytona Musical Theatre and Orlando Civic Theatre, Jeff is excited to once again participate in live productions. 

BABE ROOT (Properties Artist)
Babe is excited to have the opportunity to return to the Hippodrome after her wonderful experiences in Master Class, Beehive and The Rocky Horror Show.  Babe received her Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Florida.  Her credits from UF include Miss Giddens in The Innocents, Ramona in Zara Spook and Other Lures, Simon Zealot in Jesus Christ Superstar, Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods, and an ensemble member in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.  Some of Babe’s other credits include Lina Lamont in Singin’ In The Rain, Genna in The Goodbye Girl, Sylvie in The Odd Couple (the female version), Fermina in Man of La Mancha, Little Red Ridinghood in Into the Woods and a chorus member in Chess.  In addition to her acting training, Babe was recognized as an actor/combatant by the Society of American Fight Directors in 1998 and since has enjoyed working as a Fight Choreographer for the Hippodrome and other theatres.  Babe currently teaches theatre arts to students at Buchholz High School.

TAMERIN DYGERT (Dramaturg) 
Holds a B.A. in Theatre and English Education from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.  As Dramaturg and Literary Manager, Ms. Dygert compiles research materials for the artistic team, contributes to production concepts, serves as features writer/editor of the curriculum guide, Perspectives, and writes articles for Ovation newsletters.  She also assists in Mainstage season selection, negotiates Mainstage production rights and directs the New Play Reading Series which she founded in 1998.  A native of Maryland, Ms. Dygert has worked at Baltimore’s Center Stage, toured with Shakespeare on Wheels, served as a freelance dramaturg with Baltimore’s Performance Workshop, Inc. and taught English and Drama at Bais Yaakov School for Girls.  She has taught Hippodrome theatre arts classes and directed Florida Teen Playwright Festival productions and appeared on the Mainstage in The Sisters Rosensweig, A Christmas Carol and Just So Stories.  Ms. Dygert is a member of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA), a professional association serving literary managers, dramaturgs and theatre professionals throughout North and South America

ERICK HAYDEN ( Sound Designer)
Erick comes to us from Anchorage , Alaska where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts. He has worked extensively as an actor in shows such as King Lear as Edmund, Broadway Bound as Jack Jerome, and Midsummer’s Night Dream as Oberon. Although this is his first sound design job for the Hippodrome, Erick has done sound designing for many shows including Hansel & Gretel, The Inspector General, and The Hostage. Erick is here to help bolster his career in the theatre, which if it fails to fulfill him, will be given up for a career as a professional swing dancer/instructor.