CINDY THRALL* (Yitzak)
Cindy is thrilled to be returning to the Hippodrome!  Last seen on the Hipp stage in the encore production of Beehive, which she “debuted” in the summer of ’98.  She then went on to perform the role of Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, wearing the choreographer’s hat as well!  Other favorite roles include: Shelia in A Chorus Line; Elizaveta in the 2nd National Tour of Grand Hotel; Sandy in Grease for Norwegian Cruise Line; Ivy smith in the European tour of On The Town and a nine month tour of Europe with The Rocky Horror Show including 2 months in Italy! Cindy has sung backup for MCA recording artist Meat Loaf; performed with her own band, and worked side-by-side with some of the finest musicians in New York City, which is where she calls home with her loving, big husband and her spoiled rotten dog!

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 Anton in Show Business, 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.

J. JEFFERY GUICE (Scenic Designer/Technical Director/Production Coordinator)
Jeff has recently returned to the world of live theatre from an extensive tour of duty in the themeing 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 with his debut as a scenic cesigner for the Hippodrome.  Past theatrical designs include The Shadow Box and Extremities for the Central Florida Civic Theatre, Solomon and Baulcus, a traveling children's tour for the Daytona Summer Musical Theatre and traveling tours for the Central Florida Children's Theatre.

TANÉ DEKREY (Musical Director)
Tané is excited to return to the Hippodrome stage after working on last summer's Always...Patsy Kline, Forever Plaid and the 1999 production of Beehive.  Tané received her Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  While in Greensboro, she frequently appeared as soloist and served the Greensboro Opera Company as coach and accompanist for their opera workshop and as Musical Director for the Summer Repertory Theatre.  She holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Northwestern University where she again regularly appeared as a soloist and served as accompanist and opera coach.  Tané has performed at the Oxford Music Festival in Canada and at the Brevard Summer Festival.  In Gainesville, she has been very active as a piano soloist, appearing with the Gainesville Chamber Symphony, The University Symphony and DANCE ALIVE! and is currently Music Director for the University of Florida’s Department of  Theatre and Dance.

STEVEN WHITE (Costume Designer)
Steve recently designed the Hippodrome's last production, Anton in Show Business and 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.

JENNIFER L. BOWERS (Properties Design)
Jen began her artistic career in the themeing industry as a scenic artist, working on many projects such as Journey to Atlantis adventure ride at Sea World and Universal Studios’ Island of Adventure.  She has also designed a website for the family business, and continues to spend her spare time maintaining it.  Jen began working at the Hippodrome in late August.  Her previous credits as Properties Assistant include Art, Hysteria, The Blue Room and Macbeth and she was most recently the Properties Co-Designer for Anton in Show Business.  Jen is extremely proud to be a part of the theatre experience at the Hippodrome.

TAMERIN DYGERT (Dramaturg) 
Tammy 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

GRAHAM JOHNSON (Sound Designer)
This is Graham’s third mainstage sound design here at the Hippodrome State Theatre, having recently designed sound for The Blue Room and Macbeth.  He has worked here for the past 2 years in several different capacities including Summer Spectacular acting coach and he directed Dandelion, a Hippodrome Teen Playwright Festival production.  Other sound design credits include Dandelion and Radio Active.  Graham is enrolled in the University of Florida’s Department of Theatre and Dance where he had the opportunity to design sound for Angels in America.  Graham would like to thank the Hippodrome and Lauren Caldwell for this opportunity.