Meet the Weathervane Staff    Each year the theatre is met with a wide variety of talented artists, performers, craftsmen and board members, all of whom devote countless hours in their efforts to provide the highest quality theater experience possible. Here are a few of those individuals who make it all possible:

From Our Artistic Director… Welcome to Weathervane's 40th season of Summer Magic!   We are proud to feature Central Ohio's finest talent alongside professional performers, designers, and staff from our nation's major theatrical markets.  I am proud to be part of Weathervane at this most dynamic and auspicious time.  It’s our 40th birthday, and 2008 has already welcomed some incredible accomplishments.  We are nearing our goal for the first stage of our “Next Stage” Capital Campaign raising nearly $1.5 million dollars since last season!  We need your help so that we can reach our ultimate goal and ensure a bright future for Weathervane.  To find out how you can get involved, please speak to me or one of our spectacular Board Members.  We can’t do this without your help!!   For the second consecutive year, we have won Columbus’ highest theatrical honor.   Our 2007 production of Ragtime won Outstanding Production from the Theatre Roundtable of Central Ohio, and I was honored to be recognized with a Best Director Award.  Having won the 2007 LCCVB Tourism Partnership Award for Most Unique Partnership, we are so excited to offer two cabarets this summer in collaboration with the fabulous Midland Theatre.   As we seek to inspire the next generation of theatre artists, Weathervane Young Artists’ Repertory Theatre! debuts in the Larry W. and Dawn Holt Anderson Children’s Theatre this July.  WYART! will offer the opportunity for children aged 7 and up to participate in a fully realized musical production of Annie Jr.  We will also be offering  workshops in acting, singing and dance.  This season marks my fifth year as Managing Artistic Director, and I continue to be overwhelmed by the innovation and generosity of our Board of Directors and our incomparable audience.   Every year, I am grateful to see the familiar faces of those of you who have supported us through the years, and thrilled to meet those of you who are joining us for the first time. I look forward to cultivating a relationship with you over the course of the season.   Our audience is our community and our community has supported us for 40 years through their patronage, their volunteer hours, their funding, and by their incredible generosity of spirit.   This season is a celebration of 40 years of Summer Magic! We salute our inaugural season with a revival of the sharp-shooting musical Annie Get Your Gun followed by the hysterical farce, Noises Off!.  The whole family will want to Honk! for this contemporary musical starring local favorites Dennis Kohler, Brice Corder and Belinda Paisley .  Our enchanted adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream seeks to change the way you think about Shakespeare. We close the season with the Broadway show-stopper Thoroughly Modern Millie directed by usual suspect, Erika Twining.    The magic of Weathervane extends beyond the stage, includes our audience and out into the community beyond.   This is truly a unique place and I'm so glad you share it with us. As always, I encourage and look forward to your comments and suggestions. Don't hesitate to come up and introduce yourself! Matthew Trombetta Managing Artistic Director Weathervane Playhouse

Cast Bios (in order of appearance)

Morgan McCann (Acting Intern) Morgan is thrilled to be at Weathervane for the summer.  In the fall he will enter his senior year at the University of Oklahoma.  Previous roles include Lockstock (Urinetown), Sir Harry (Once Upon A Mattress), Tito (Lend Me A Tenor) and Capulet (Romeo and Juliet).

Dennis Kohler (Actor) Dennis Kohler has become a permanent fixture on the Licking County theater scene. With a name like Kohler how could he be anything but?  A retired art teacher, Dennis was last seen as Cogsworth in "Beauty and the Beast" his 81st show with Weathervane Playhouse. Since 1971 Dennis has performed in, directed or designed over 300 productions.

Sara Michalski (Acting Intern) is thrilled to begin her first season with Weathervane!  Sara is originally from Menomonee Falls, WI and is completing her bachelor of fine arts degree in Music Theatre and minor in Dance at Viterbo University in the coming year.  She has been seen in the past at American Folklore Theatre, Riverside Players, Viterbo University productions, and at the La Croix Black Box Theatre.  Past favorite roles include Woman I in the three-person musical comedy Little By Little, Kate in the premiere operetta 1 in 6, and Principle Dancer ‘Magic’ in The Magic Flute.

Kyle Durbin (Actor) is thrilled to make his Weathervane debut in Annie Get Your Gun.  Later this summer he will be playing Lysander in Midsummer and Jimmy in Millie.  Kyle has performed in 21 Equity productions for Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis, Toured with Rivars Custom Show Apparel as a Model/Dancer, and last summer was seen at Derby Dinner Playhouse as Curly in Oklahoma! Favorite Roles: Bobby Strong (Urinetown), The Prince (Cinderella), Tony Forte (Copacabana), Claude (Hair), and King Benjamin (original cast of a new musical Rumplestiltskin).  Kyle would like to thank God, Family and Friends for their undying love and support.  Special Thanks to Matthew for this great opportunity, and to the cast and crew.

Renee Zelinski (Acting Intern) is a graduate of West Liberty State College 2008 with a Communications/Music degree. Some of her credits include Sally Bowles (Cabaret) and Choreographer for Fame. She is very excited to spend another wonderful summer here at Weathervane. She thanks God, her family, and her friends for their support!

Todd Lemmon (Actor) is an obstetrician/gynecologist with Licking Memorial Health Professionals.  This will be his 4^th season with Weathervane Playhouse, previously appearing in Joseph (Pharaoh), Once Upon a Mattress (Minstrel), Ragtime (Henry Ford), Children of Eden, and Fiddler on the Roof.  He will be seen this season in Annie Get Your Gun as Charlie Davenport, and in Honk as The Turkey.  He is a current board member of Weathervane Playhouse. 

John Pressey (Actor), a retired transportation executive who gave up singing and acting almost 45 years ago, is now filling his time and enjoying appearing in local theatre.  His recent performances have been in South Pacific and Ragtime here at Weathervane.  He has also done Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Something’s Afoot, and Playing the Palace with Licking County Players.  When not on stage he plays golf and helps raise his grandchildren.

Mike Hopper (Actor) is thrilled to return to WV this summer after playing Maurice in last year’s production of Beauty and the Beast.  A “retired” welding teacher, Mike also plays bass in whatever pit orchestra will put up with him and sings with the Land of Legend Barbershop Chorus in Newark.

Kirsten Flaglor (Actress) is thrilled to be making her Weathervane debut! She is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University where she majored in theatre and minored in Dance and Music. Upon graduation Kirsten was a member of The College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod, MA. Her most recent roles include Sound of Music (Maria), The Music Man (Marian Paroo), and Annie (Star to Be).

Marisa Riegle (Actress) At the young age of 12,  Marisa’s credits already include Annie (orphan) with Martin Charnin, Annie (Annie, Molly), The Wizard of Oz (Munchkin), Oliver (Pickpocket), The Sound of Music (Marta, Brigitta).  She is a competitive dancer, an avid tumbler and plays the piano.

Logan Baker (Actress) is from Reynoldsburg and attends Waggoner Road JH. Favorite stage credits include Annie, The Sound of Music, The Music Man, Cheaper By the Dozen, and Beauty and the Beast. She plays the violin and is a member of the Kinderchor of Central Ohio at Otterbein College. She is grateful to Matthew and Weathervane for this fabulous opportunity and looks forward to her second season.

Ian Keller (Actor) The only 7-year-old to get in trouble for singing Rent in the school bathroom, Ian is thrilled to be performing in 3 shows in his first season at Weathervane Playhouse.  The son of Cheridy Keller, one of Weathervane’s music directors, Ian is in the first grade at Fairfield Elementary in Pickerington.  He is a competetive tap dancer with the Movement Center, studies piano, and has performed in numerous talent and variety shows.  Much love to family, friends, and my Manny!

Blake Jackson (Actor) is currently enrolled in the C-TEC Theatre Program, finishing his junior year of high school.  His most recent performance was as Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Northridge High School.  He’s also been a part of Beauty and the Beast (Knife and Fish seller), Murder can be Habit Forming (Herman), South Pacific (Henri), Flowers for Algernon (Charlie), Once Upon a Mattress (The Jester), and Scapin (Sylvestre).

Josh Bramkamp (Actor) Josh is a 21-year-old student from Columbus, Ohio.  He has been in Guys and Dolls, Parade, Jesus Christ Superstar, Once Upon A Silence, and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.  He has studied theatre at Liberty University for two years and is excited to further his theatre training with Weathervane.

Raymond Havey (Actor) Raymond Havey is a junior from Wilmington, Ohio, majoring in Theatre and Vocal Music at Denison University. At Denison, Raymond is a member of the Chamber Singers and Singer’s Theatre Workshop. This is his first summer performing with Weathervane and is excited to be a part of the cast. 

Roger Lossing (Actor) Roger has appeared in several productions at Weathervane including “The Music Man”, “Children of Eden” and “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Ragtime” plus “The Sound of Music” (Pleasure Guild) and “Annie” (Licking County Players). He sings bass in the barbershop quartet “Spare Change”, the Singing Buckeyes Chorus and the Land of Legend Chorus. During the day Roger works as an attorney/CPA with National City Bank’s Private Client Group. He enjoys the casts and directors at Weathervane and appreciates his family’s support despite his absence during many hours of practice!

Patrick Walters (Actor) is thrilled to be making his Weathervane debut in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (Featured Ensemble), NOISED OFF (Tim All Good) and HONK! (The Cat).  During the day, he handles communications for Bath & Body Works stores across the country.  At night, he has had the privilege of working with many local theatres.  Working with Weathervane marks his 35^th performance in and around central Ohio.

Taryn Hicks (Actress) is a rising senior at Denison University where she studies Psychology and Education and performs with the dance team and cheerleading squad. With Denison’s Singer’s Theatre Workshop she was recently seen as Ida in Honk! and Cinderella in Into the Woods. Taryn is thrilled to be back for her third season with Weathervane!

Joyce Patrone (Actress) Joyce is thrilled to make her Weathervane debut.  Her Columbus area stage credits include Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls, Eliza in The King & I, and Mollie Ralston in The Mousetrap.  Joyce is a graduate of Northwestern University.  As always, she thanks her family and friends for their support.

Maggie Taylor (Actress) is so excited to be performing at Weathervane for another summer! Last year she was seen in South Pacific, Ragtime, and as a Silly Girl in Beauty and the Beast. She just finished her second year at Miami University where she is double majoring in Theatre/Musical Theatre and Journalism. Favorite credits include Eponine (Les Miz) and Susan (tick tick BOOM), to name a few. Thanks to Matthew for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful company!

Emily Robison (Actress) following many years of audience attendance is excited to be returning to Weathervane for a second year. Currently a senior at Otterbein College, she is majoring in Early Childhood Education with a Music minor.  Emily can be seen this summer as an Ensemble member in Ragtime and Beauty and the Beast. 

Amanda Fannon (Actress) is delighted to be making her Weathervane debut this summer. Amanda is currently pursuing her BFA at Ohio Northern University as a musical theatre major and dance minor.  With 17 years of dancing and performing experience, Amanda is looking forward to working with everyone at Weathervane Playhouse. 

Kirsten Paisley (Actress/WYART Director/Joe Jenkins Scholar) Kirsten is a Granville graduate, and is now a junior Vocal Music Education Major and Theatre Minor at Butler University. Last summer Kirsten was the props manager and was seen on the stage in South Pacific, Ragtime and Beauty and the Beast.  Kirsten is very thankful for the ever-present support from her family, friends and community, and wishes the entire cast and crew the best of luck this season.

Krista Smith (Actress) Krista, a Kindergarten teacher in Newark, is thrilled to return for her first performance since performing in Weathervane’s Jesus Christ Superstar. She has enjoyed theatre even since she was a little girl where she performed with Licking County Players and Granville Players in such roles as a Little Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, or the Little Giant in The Little Old Woman that Lived in a Shoe. Her most recent performances include Vaudvillities and 20^th Century Flyer’s Island Rhythms.

Matt Hopper (Actor) is happy to be returning to the Weathervane stage for his 5^th season.  A graduate of Newark HS, Matt is a rising sophomore in Capital University’s Conservatory of Music and is a member of the Chapel Choir.  In his spare time, Matt sings lead in the Con Men barbershop quartet and performs with the Alliance Barbershop Harmony Chorus in Columbus. 

John Betts (Actor) John Betts is making his Weathervane debut after recently graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Theatre & Dance.  John spent last summer in Chicago as a directing intern at Bailiwick Repertory.  Most recently, John danced the part of Muybridge in OWU's production of The Photographer.

Jeremy Woehrle (Actor) This is Jeremy’s first year involved in Weathervane. He will be part of the ensemble for Annie Get Your Gun and  Thoroughly Modern Millie. He would like to thank his family and friends for all their support.

Alicia Stauss (Assistant Lighting Designer) is from Cincinnati, OH.  She is excited to be coming back for her second summer at Weathervane.  She is currently working towards an MFA in Lighting Design from Rutgers University.  Past designs at Weathervane include: Songs for a New World, and Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940s.

Kurtis Moon (Sound Designer) Kirtus Moon is a 2006 graduate from SAE Institute located in Nashville, Tennessee.  His experiences include serving as a front of house technician, stagehand, and monitor engineer at several live venues in and around the Nashville area.  He has also been involved with many local venues near his hometown of Crestline, Ohio.  He is very excited to contribute to and compliment the efforts of everyone at the Weathervane Playhouse.

Becky Barger (Box Office/Company Manager) A long time supporter, Becky was introduced to Weathervane in 1999 where she first saw Jesus Christ Superstar. Becky first joined the Weathervane family in 2005 after spending her summers as a member of the Licking County 4-H Band for nine years playing the Clarinet. After finishing the season in 2006 she was the Company Manger for Jersey Productions in Covington, KY. Becky is currently pursuing her degree in Theatre Studies at Capital University. Last year at Capital she was given the opportunity to Assistant Stage Manage 12th Night, and Stage Manage a student directed show The Mice Have Been Drinking Again. She is also a proud member of Phi Beta a national professional fraternity for the creative and performing arts. Becky would like to thank God, her family and friends for all of their support and Matthew and the Board of Directors for the opportunity to spend her summers with the creative people at the "Vane"

Carolyn Johns (Carpentry Intern) This is Carolyn’s first season with the Weathervane Playhouse.  She is a 4^th year student at Earlham College, majoring in Theatre Arts and Mathematics.

Jennifer Sansfacon (Lighting Designer) Jennifer is very excited to be joining Weathervane Playhouse this summer.  She currently attends Western Illinois University, where she is enrolled in the MFA program for lighting design.  Her most recent lighting designs are Intimate Apparel, Hansel and Gretel, and The Bald Soprano.  Other designs include Cinderella, Macbeth, Blithe Spirit, and Endgame.  Jennifer would like to thank her family, the Core Four, and Aaron for helping her follow her dream.

Benjamin Taylor Ridgway (Costume Designer) was born and raised Texan, where he received his undergrad from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. Ben has served as the costume designer for Macbeth, Jeffrey, The Full Monty, and Inherit the Wind and was the Assistant Costume Designer for Cesar and Ruben, written and directed by Ed Bagley, Jr. As for off-Broadway, Ben costume designed Harvest, which opened at Theatre Row back in December.

Ashley Cusack (Props Master) is a rising senior at Caldwell College in New Jersey, currently pursuing a double major in Art and Psychology. This is her first season interning with Weathervane Playhouse, and she is very excited. Props and Carpentry will never be the same…! Ashley has worked on many productions, and served as Assistant Scenic Designer for Fiddler on the Roof.

Kirsten “Kirst” Upchurch (General Manager) Kirsten earned her BFA in Theatre Performance from Texas Christian University, and her MFA in Acting from Florida Atlantic University. After touring around the country, Kirsten returned to Columbus in 2006 where she starred in such titles as Little Women and Taming of the Shrew, and made her directing debut with Merry Wives of Windsor. In Nov. 2007 Kirsten became the Acting Artistic Director of Rosebriar Shakespeare Co.  Having worked at Weathervane in 1996-1998 as a backstage volunteer and as an Asst. Director to the Children’s Workshop Theatre “Kirst” is proud to return to Weathervane Playhouse as a seasoned professional. She would like to thank Matthew, and the Weathervane Board of Directors for their faith and support.

Nikole James (Costumes Intern) Nikole has been involved in many different aspects of theatre over the years, from acting to costuming to stage management. Her favorite shows have included Pirates of Penzance and Little Shop of Horrors. This past semester she was involved in two shows and did the costuming for each one, including creating costumes for two houseplants. She has also written, directed, acted and designed her own solo performance piece in the Fall of 2007. Nikole is very excited to be a part of the Weathervane Company this summer and hopes that one day she will be able to establish herself as a costumer.

Holly O’Hara (Scenic Charge/Carpenter) Holly graduated in 2007 from Central Washington University with a BA in theatre design and Technology. She is currently an MFA scenic Design student at the University of Florida. While attending CWU, Holly worked as properties designer, charge artist, scenic designer and received Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Awards for her design work on Macbeth and Much Ado about Nothing.  After graduating CWU she went on the designing set for the CTE’s youth 2007 touring show of Pecos Bill and the Ghost Stampede.  Holly has worked professionally with Montana Shakespeare in the Park, Ellensburg School District, and at the Erickson Theatre in Seattle.

Lark Rogers (Assistant Sound Designer) Lark has worked behind the scenes for most of the events that went through her high school auditorium. While earning her BA degree in Audio Arts from Columbia College in Chicago, Lark interned with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier.

Jenna Zins (Arts Administration Intern) Jenna grew up in Gahanna, Ohio and had her first experience with Weathervane as an audience member many years back.  She studied journalism at the Ohio State University, but spent most of her time at school with a student run musical theatre organization, which gave her the inspiration to pursue a career in the theatre.  She is enjoying acting as the Arts Administration Intern at Weathervane, and cannot wait to see what the future brings for all of her talented co-workers. 

Matthew Hayes (Scenic Designer/Technical Director) a native of Johnstown, Ohio Matthew studied Production Design and Technology at Ohio University in Athens, OH. Currently he is the Technical Director and Performing Arts Coordinator for Tower Hill School in Wilmington, DE.  In the last 10 years, he has worked on 67 productions at over 23 different theaters here in Ohio and around the Midwest.

Shiree Campbell (Assistant Costume Designer)

Vincent Basile (Lighting Intern) is a recent graduate of Youngstown State University with a B.A. in Music Theory and a minor in Theatre. His resume includes lighting design for The Miracle Worker, Roulette, The Nature and Purpose and the YSU Dance Ensemble.  His performance experience includes Major General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance and Alcindoro in La Boheme. This is Vince's first season at Weathervane and he is excited to be a part of the team.

Kelsey Rudiger (Production Stage Manager) This is Kelsey’s first summer with Weathervane, and she is very excited about it. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University in Stage Management. Kelsey has served as PSM and ASM on many occasions forTheatreVCU and the Shafer Alliance Laboratory Theatre. She hails from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

 Judy Rauch (Musical Director) is pleased to join her friends again for HONK! in her 4th season at Weathervane Playhouse.  She is seen most often at Columbus Children’s Theatre where she has performed in 23 productions.   Judy has also performed with the Columbus Light Opera, Pleasure Guild of Children's Hospital and Gallery Players.  Favorite performances include Steel Magnolias (Truvy), Ragtime (New Rochelle Resident), Cinderella (Stepmother), Pinocchio (Blue Fairy), and the musical revue Side By Side By Sondheim.  Judy has an M.A. in voice from OSU.   She is currently teaching studio voice lessons, in the Dublin area, with an emphasis on performance.  Break a leg to the cast!

Erika Twining (Artistic Associate) is excited to be returning to Weathervane Playhouse for her 3rd season and to work with some of her favorite people! Recently, Ms. Twining received her B.F.A. in Dance from University of the Arts. In 2008, she has produced six new works for concert dance performances. This summer, in addition to choreographing, she will be directing/choreographing Thoroughly Modern Millie and onstage as Poppy in Noises Off! She is also thrilled to be teaching a fun "Broadway Dance Workshop" here at Weathervane! Other choreography credits: Weathervane's Ragtime, Songs for a New World, South Pacific, Sandstone Summer Theatre's Grease and Footloose. Favorite performance credits: Beauty and the Beast (Babette), Sesame Street Live! Tour (Ernie), Crazy for You (Tess), Ohio Dance Theatre's Cinderella (Step-sister). M.T. - Thank you for always supporting me artistically and as a friend. Thank you to my wonderful family for all of their love.

Brice Corder (Artistic Associate) is clearly thrilled, yet again, to be returning for his third season in a row at the Vane. Brice resides in the wonderful town of Granville, Ohio. There he partners with the Carr Family in Green Velvet Glitters their National Stationery Company, of which Brice Designs. With a BA in Theater & Design from Elmira College , Brice is an actor, dancer, singer, director, choreographer, graphic designer & stationer; Brice clearly loves to do it all. His favorites doings at the vane have been artistic associate, Lumiere / Choreographer (Beauty & the Beast), Prince Dauntless (Once upon a Mattress), and Children of Eden. Other Favorites from Regional Theatre would be Seymore (Little Shop), Snoopy & Charlie (Your a good Man Charlie Brown), Harry (Lucky Stiff), The Who's Tommy, My Fair Lady, The Fantasticks, Bye Bye Birdie & many more. Brice would like to thank Matt, Matt, Erica, the WVP Company and his Mom & Family for all there support and hard work this summer.

Walker Hare Theatre: Off-B'way: All Dolled Up (Prod: Colin Quinn), My Mother Told Me I Was Different (Abingdon Theatre), Flanagan's Wake (SoHo Playhouse), Thieves' Carnival (Dir: Moni Yakim) and A Year in the Life… TV/Film: Greatest Sports Stories (FOX Sports Net), Alpha Galates: Music Video. Training: Circle in the Square, Upright Citizens Brigade.