“Shimmering and delightful. Richard Rodgers is a magician of the musical theatre.” 

 

-The New York Times


MATTHEW ASHFORD (Mike Robinson)

is widely known for playing Jack Devereaux on NBC's Days of Our Lives and has just finished filming The Unlikely's, Social Security Guard, and The Exorcism of Tina Miller, where he played Father Lucas. In addition to playing contract roles on One Life to Live, Search for Tomorrow, Days of Our Lives, and General Hospital, Matthew's film and television work includes Species, Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, Bonfire of the Vanities, Dharma and Greg, Providence, Oh, Baby!, Burke's Law, Quantum Leap, Pacific Blue, Charmed, and Tom Clancy's mini-series Net Force. Matt just received rave reviews from the LA Times for his portrayal of Officer Lockstock in the LA Premiere of Urinetown. Matt played Linus Pauling in the play about the scientist's life, entitled The Essential Bond. He received the Artistic Director Achievement Award for Lead Actor in a Musical for Into the Woods in which he portrayed the Wolf/Prince. He has played the Soldier/Alex in Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George, Count Carl magnus in A Little Night Music, and Walter in Chess. Matt played Thomas Jefferson in 1776, in Sacramento and Houston's Theatre Under the Stars. His other theatrical work includes lead roles in Funny Girl, Counselor at Law, 110 in the Shade, Dracula, Arsenic and Old Lace, and The Nerd. Matt is a Founding Board member of Retinoblastoma International, dedicated to the worldwide eliminatino of blindness and death due to this devastating infant eye cancer (website: www.retinoblastoma.net). Matt is also a member of Soka Gakkai International, a worldwide peace organization, and a member of the Board of Visitors for North Carolina School of the Arts. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife singer/actress Christina Saffran Ashford, and their two daughters, Grace and Emma.

SCOTT BAKULA (David Jordan)

just appeared in the Lifetime movie adaptation of Nora Robert's Blue Smoke. He also guest-starred on the hit CBS comedy The New Adventures of Old Christine. Last spring, Bakula appeared on stage in the Tony Award-winning musical Shenandoah at the Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C., helmed by Tony-nominated director Jeff Calhoun. Prior to Shenandoah, Bakula served a four-year charge as Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise, the fifth installment in the Star Trek television franchise. For his work on Enterprise, Bakula gained a People's Choice Nomination for Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series. Bakula is best known for his five-year stint on the series Quantum Leap. His performance brought him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama series, four Emmy nominations, and he was honored an unprecedented five times by the Viewers for Quality Television. Bakula has also won praise for his work in a variety of feature film roles, including Life as a House, the independent film Ghost of a Chance, 1999's Oscar-winning Best Picture American Beauty, Lord of Illusions, Major League: Back to the Minors; Mi Familia/My Family, Hollywood Pictures' Color of Night; A Passion to Kill; and Paramount's Necessary Roughness. He made his feature film debut in 1990 opposite Kirstie Alley in Castle Rock's Sibling Rivalry. Alternating between film and television, Bakula has appeared in the CBS landmark comedies Designing Women and Murphy Brown, the Showtime mini-series It's A Girl Thing, The Invaders mini-series for FOX, the ABC mini-series Tom Clancy's Net Force, the Showtime telefilm Mean Streak, and CBS's Bachelor's Baby, executive produced by Bakula through his production company. Scott also pulled double duty in the CBS Movie of the Week Papa's Angels and the Showtime original picture What Girls Learn, starring and producing both telefilms. Born in St. Louis, Bakula moved to New York in 1976 where he pursued his first love, the theatre. In 1988, he was honored with a Tony nomination for his starring role in the Broadway musical Romance/Romance. Before that, Scott made his Broadway debut as Joe DiMaggio in Marilyn: An American Fable. Other theatre credits include the acclaimed off-Broadway and Los Angeles productions of Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down and the Los Angeles and Boston productions of Nite Club Confidential.

SOPHINA BROWN (Barbara Woodruff)

can currently be seen as Raina Troy on the CBS hit Shark. Other television credits include a recurring role in Chapelle's Show and guest-starring roles in NUMB3RS, Without A Trace, Hack, Twins, Law & Order, Committed, Strangers With Candy, and The Education of Max Bickford. Among Brown's theater credits are the role of Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King, the role of Carmen in the national tour of Fame -- The Musical, and regional productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, As You Like It, Antigone, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Her feature film credits include Because I Said So and The Egoists.

AUDREY CAIN (Ensemble)

is thrilled to be making her Los Angeles stage debut. She has performed with various theatres in the Seattle area including Village Theatre, Eastside Musical Theatre, and Bellevue Youth Theatre. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Redlands. She would like to thank her friends, especially Brett, for their support.

JOSEPH CULLITON (Louis dePourtal)

appeared on Broadway in Gore Vidal's The Best Man, in New York City Opera's South Pacific, and in George Abbott's Broadway. Off-Broadway work includes Nixon's Nixon, and the New York Shakespeare Festival's Julius Caesar starring Al Pacino and Martin Sheen. Regionally, he's acted at the Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, Guthrie Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Indiana Repertory, Boston's Huntington Theatre, and The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C., among many others. Mr. Culliton performed his solo narration of A Christmas Carol with the Detroit Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and the Indianapolis Symphony's Orchestra, and he recently sang the role of Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd for the Sierre Repertory Theatre. Other musical theatre credits are the Baron Romer in You Never Know, Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Harold Hill in The Music Man, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, and Macheath in Threepenny Opera. Following this engagement, Joseph will direct and act in Richard II for the acclaimed Independent Shakespeare Company. He has been on television in Law and Order, Strangers with Candy, Conan O'Brien, and All My Children. His movies include Courtesy Call, Somebody Killed Her Husband, Cahill, U.S. Marshall, and the upcoming P.O.V.

BRADLEY DODDS (Ensemble)

Originally from Boiling Springs, PA (population 6,000). Bradley got his start in modeling by competing in the AMTC Millie Lewis Convention three years ago, where he won First Place in the Overall Male Model category. He then quickly landed a print campaign for Tom's Java Coffee, which included billboards throughout his home state. It was at that time that his acting coaches and modeling agent urged him to make the move to the Big Apple -- New York City, He trained there extensively for nine months before making the move to Los Angeles. In order to acquire his SAG card, he worked as an extra on the CBS television seies, Yes, Dear starring Anthony Clark. It was there that he was discovered by Anthony's management company. They quickly signed him to a contract and Bradley immediately booked his first job on NBC's Crossing Jordan. Since then he has booked two independent features. In addition he has modeled for Macy's Passport and Mercedes Benz fashion week. Bradley currently studies at the Ivana Chubbuck Acting Studio. For further information contact: Marco Cuadros / Full Circle Mgmt 310 289 1234.

CHERISH HAMUTOFF (Ensemble)

earned her Drama Degree from UC Irvine, and immediately started working with the musical murder mystery, Mystery Cafe. She performed with them for two years while also shooting independent films such as Bloodline (Lion's Gate Entertainment) and commercials, and working in theater (Me & My Girl, Funny Girl, Hamlet). Cherish was a featured model on the TV shows I've Got a Secret; The Best Damn Sports Show, Period; Spike TV's Video Game Awards, and a commercial leg model for two major shoe stores. Most recently, Cherish played Suzanne in the Norris Theatre's Don't Dress for Dinner and can be seen monthly as the wickedly fun Polly in Murder on the High Seas. Cherish is represented by Studio Talent Group and is thrilled to be here with Reprise!

KATIE HORWITCH (Ensemble)

is beyond ecstatic to be making her professional theatrical debut with Reprise! Favorite roles include Celeste One in Sunday in the Park with George, Sandy in Grease, Ruth in Ancient History, and Hedy in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Proud UC Irvine drama major! Thank you -- and more love than I can express -- to SF, MD, BK, Mom, Dad, and Alex.

TODD CHRISTIAN HUNTER (Ensemble)

last appeared at the Freud as a Guest Star with Debbie Allen's Dancin' in the Wings. Most recently, Todd was featured in the LA Opera's production of Tannhauser. He has performed with the Metropolitan Opera's Corps de Ballet in Benvenuto Cellini at Perseus; Off-Broadway in Birdy's Bachelorette Party as the Dance Captain and The Karaoke Show as Dragon Boy. Regional credits include the Sacramento Music Circus production of Will Rogers Follies. TV credits include Shark, Veronica Mars, One Life to Live, Guiding Light, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. For more info visit toddchristianhunter.com. Love to JC.

MONICA LEE (Ensemble)

is a recent graduate of UCLA's Ray Bolger Musical Theater program, and is excited to debut her professional theater career in Reprise!'s No Strings here at UCLA's Freud Playhouse! Monica is a member of the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble, and in addition to acting, she is an internationally distinguished baton twirler. She would like to thank Kay, Christine, and Michael for this fabulous opportunity, and all of her professors at UCLA for helping to bud a late bloomer.

BETS MALONE (Comfort O'Connell)

is thrilled to be working for her Reprise! family again. She is so grateful to David Elzer and Roger Bean for allowing her to take a quick break from the critically acclaimed The Marvelous Wonderettes performing at the El Portal in North Hollywood, which has been running there since September. The Reprise! audiences may remember her from 1776 (Martha Jefferson), Babes in Arms (Susie), and last season's On the Town (Hildy), which earned her a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Performance. Some favorite credits include Guys and Dolls (Adelaide -- Ovation Nomination), Once Upon a Mattress (Winnifred), Children of Eden (Eve/ Mama Noah), Me and My Girl (Sally), Cabaret (Sally), Evita (Eva), Ragtime (Mother), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Edwin), The Secret Garden (Martha), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), and The Will Rogers Follies (Betty). In addition, Bets has been involved with the U.S. premieres of The Marvelous Wonderettes, Winter Wonderettes, Honky Tonk Laundry, Dorian, Pilgrim, and The Ten Commandments -- The Spectacle Musical starring Val Kilmer, as well as the First European Company of Fame-das-Tanzmusical in West Berlin. Her most proud accomplishment...being married for twelve years to the brilliantly talented Steve Glaudini. So much love and thanks to Jim, Kay, Sternbach, Christine, and Michael for bringing her back. Also, many thanks to Reprise! for producing these wonderful "Lost Treasures." "Where else would I get to sing the Eager Beaver Song?"

TRACY POWELL (Gabrielle, Dance Captain)

Though born and raised in Los Angeles, Tracy loves to travel, thank goodness! She has toured the country many times over with the First National Tours of The Will Rogers Follies (with original cast) and The Unsinkable Molly Brown starring Debbie Reynolds. Other tours include Pippin, The Sound of Music, Oliver!, and Forty-Second Street. She helped remount The Will Rogers Follies for Theatre League's tour and played Ziegfeld's Favorite opposite John Davidson and Jamie Farr. She spent a summer in Las Vegas with Mickey Rooney and Juliet Prowse in Sugar Babies, and many summers at the Hollywood Bowl with the likes of Jeremy Irons in Camelot, John Lithgow and Roger Daltry in My Fair Lady, and as Sally Cato opposite Michele Lee and Christine Ebersole in Mame. She had a blast creating the roles of Lupita and Elizabeth in the revival of Paint Your Wagon for the Geffen Playhouse. She was Elvira in the critically acclaimed Blithe Spirit, Lorraine in The Man Who Came to Dinner, and has been seen on Frasier and General Hospital, 8 Sheilas in A Chorus Line, 4 Mames, 2 Tess's in Crazy For You, and a couple of Best Little Whorehouses...later, this is Tracy's first production with Reprise! Most recently, she choreographed and played Mrs. Millenium in the critically acclaimed Urinetown for The Interact Theatre Company, and choreographed Song of Singapore for International City Theatre. She is a proud member of Actor's Equity and the vice president of The Interact Theatre Company.

REBECCA RAINBOLDT (Ensemble)

recently recieved a B.A. in Theater from UCLA. while there she played Laura in The Glass Menagerie, performed abroad in England and starred in a short film called An Open Door. Since, she has perfomed in Garry Marshall's Happy Days The Musical and toured New York City with Taubenslag Prouctions. She just completed a six-week run of Agatha Christie's Spider's Web at the Long Beach Playhouse. Thank you to KSA and Reprise! for this wonderful opportunity.

VANESSA ROSS (Ensemble)

Artistic is one word that best describes Vanessa Ross! A dancer at a young age, she had jazz trained with a ballet foundation at San Ramon Valley Dance Academy and then on to advance classes from Michael Owens at Santa Monica College. She has also taken hip hop. All have complimented her acting and modeling careers. Vanessa is a seasoned and well-trained SAG and AFTRA actress, with over ten years experience. She has captured the independent world with leads and supporting roles. She has worked both dramatic and comedic projects, in all mediums. Recent films include Skye, Jason Saville, Director; Fallen Angels, Jeff Thomas, Director; and Blue Again, Manuel Andrade, Director. She has worked on projects with Demetris Navarro, Derek Zemrak, Patrick Durham, Gary Castro Churchwell and Shane Ryan. She trains at A.C.T. (Actors Certified Training), Hollywood; advanced courses at Santa Monica College; workships at Network Studio; and private coaches in San Francisco, her native area. At age five, she began modeling for major department stores. This evolved to print, runway, video/film and promotional work. What other artistic skills does Vanessa maintain? Music training includes voice, violin, guitar, and piano. She draws, preferring illustrative (pencil, chalk) and acrylics/oil projects. She has advanced art courses from Diablo Valley College and Santa Monica College; even computer-art courses. (And, should you play volleyball, work out at the gym, skateboard, or snowboard -- she's in!) "There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those." That is what Vanessa Ross is doing. The performer's bug has caught her heart. She's in Los Angeles pursuing her dream. Vanessa Ross is represented by HK Talent. For further information, please contact: hktalent01@yahoo.com

KATE ROTH (Ensemble)

is thrilled to be making her Reprise! debut. This is her second show with the amazing Kay Cole, having previously worked under her direction as Kristine in A Chorus Line. Originally from Northern California, Kate moved to LA to pursue degrees in Education and Musical Theatre from the University of Southern California. Recent shows include Dames at Sea, Bye Bye Birdie, The Music Man, and the West Coast Premiere of Never Gonna Dance. While her specialties are musical theatre and dance, she has also appeared on television, and in films, commercials, and industrials. When she is not performing, Kate shares her love of theatre and dance by teaching kids of all ages. Thanks to God for this wonderful opportunity!

BRENT SCHINDELE (Luc Delbert)

was a proud part of Reprise!'s most recent production, Sunday in the Park with George, in which he played the Soldier and was the cover for the title character. He also appeared in last year's acclaimed revival of City of Angels. Brent created the role of Big Willy and various other leading-man parodies in the west and east coast regional premieres of The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!, at the Laguna Playhouse and the Hal Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia, and most recently at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. Brent also played multiple roles in the Broadway touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar, including Peter, Simon the Zealot, most of the other apostles, and keyboards in the orchestra, though not all at the same time. Last year he got to play an Oscar-nominated action-movie star in the Laguna Playhouse premiere of Mitch Albom's comedy And The Winner Is, and he revisited the role of Romeo in East L.A. Classic Theatre's production of Romeo & Juliet (Brent also played Tony in the national touring company of West Side Story). In Los Angeles, Brent has appeared as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes, Cliff Bradshaw in Cabaret, and Tommy Albright in Brigadoon, and he won an L.A. Drama Critics' Circle Award for his music direction and piano arrangements of Noel Coward's Tonight at 8:30. Film and TV credits include Cold Case, Medal of Honor, It Is Written, and Thirteen Days with Kevin Costner (his hero!). While at Dartmouth College, Brent actually worked briefly as a French-English translator at the United Nations in Geneva. Actors' Equity since 1997. Proverbs 3:5-6.

ANNA SCHNAITTER (Ensemble)

is excited to make her Reprise! debut in No Strings, and ecstatic to work with Kay and Christine again. A proud senior at UCLA's School of Theater Film and Television, recent credits include Judy Turner in A Chorus Line (Cabrillo), Ruth in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Moonlight), Little Becky in Urinetown (UCLA), Gymnasia in A Funny Thing Happened...(ACLO), Tootsie Pop in Hot Mikado (UCLA), Creep in Pantagleize (UCLA), and the Hula Hooper in Annie Get Your Gun (Cabrillo). Alumni of Ann Reinking's Broadway Theater Project. A thousand thank yous to Denish Leitner, Michael Goodrich, Gary Gardner, and as always, Mom and Dad!!!

CARLA TASSARA (Jeanette Valmy)

was born and raised in Washington, DC, with roots in Chile and Uruguay. She was a pre-med student and a geneticist before she came to her senses...so to speak. An actress, voiceover artist, singer, and songwriter, Carla studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse and spent seven years acting on the NYC stage before moving to LA to pursue film. A few credits close to her heart: Film: Talk to Him (Dir. Nick Oceano); Coming Soon (Dir. Steven Tannenbaum). Theater: Libby in Blue Window (Bridge Theater Company); Irina in Three Sisters (Manhattantheatresource), and Sally Bowles in Cabaret (Playhouse Theatre). She thanks Mimi for this opportunity, and Michael and her family for their love. As her dreams unfold she is grateful for every beautiful opportunity that opens in her path and each soul that participates in creating it!

KELLY TATRO (Ensemble)

is so happy to be performing for the first time with Reprise! Regional Theatre: A Chorus Line at Cabrillo Music Theatre, Guys and Dolls at Interact Theatre Company, Pirates of Penzance at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Anything Goes at the Madrid Theatre in LA. Kelly has also performed with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and will be performing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in June! Special thanks to Kay, Anna, Erik, Joe, and Amy. Sup Deja!

JOHN TODD (Marcello)

a true Southerner, began his training at the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts for Drama and Dance. Classical solo roles followed with world premieres for the Pacific Northwest Ballet as well as guest principal roles on international stages. John co-starred in the Sundance awarded play, The Studio at South Coast Repertory. Broadway roles include The Phantom of the Opera and Movin' Out. Most recently John was quite "naked" to the world in The Full Monty. John just shot the series regular role of Olsen for Bourbon Street, a pilot for Producer Joel Castleberg and Director John Coppola, which was shot entirely on location in New Orleans. Other TV includes Daytime shows: All My Children, As the World Turns, and Days of our Lives. Currently, John is utilizing all his talents, pursuing Hosting work on TV with a show in active development, melding his entertainment and cooking talents.

RUTH WILLIAMSON (Mollie Plummer)

Broadway: La Cage Aux Folles (2004 revival), Music Man (Outer Critics Circle Nomination), Epic Proportions, Little Me, Guys & Dolls, Smile, Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Annie. Off-Broadway: MTC'S The Green Heart (Drama Desk Nomination), MCC's The English Teachers, Queen Amarantha, The Good Times Are Killing Me, The Leonard Bernstein Revue, DuBarry Was A Lady (Encores!). Regional: White Christmas (Pantages Theatre), Music Man (Hollywood Bowl), Strike Up The Band and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (both for L.A.'s Reprise! series), Mame (as Mame at Sacramento Music Theatre and as Vera at Musical Theatre West), No Way To Treat A Lady (Coconut Grove, Carbonell Nomination), You Should Be So Lucky (Wilma Theatre, Barrymore Nomination), Merrily We Roll Along (Arena Stage), Candide (Huntington Theatre), several seasons at The MUNY among others. Film: Evan Almighty (summer 2007), The Producers, Legally Blonde II, Easy Six, Family Man, Malcolm X, Foreign Student, Psycho Beach Party, Double Parked, Italian Movie, Die Mommie, Die (singing voice of Charles Busch). TV: Medium, The O.C., The Practice, Kingpin, ER, What I Like About You, Star Trek: Enterprise, Law & Order, Wonderland, Chestnut Hill (NBC Pilot), What News (TBS Pilot), Comedy Central's American Body Shop and the recurring role of Mrs. Grubman on Nip/Tuck.