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| Mame Home |
Mame Cast and Crew |
Mame Sights and Sounds |
Mame History and Trivia |
THE CAST
(alphabetically)
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Laura Amond (Sally Cato) - Laura is thrilled to be involved with her fourth Circle Players production since finding Nashville’s second favorite theater company last year (by the way, Circle is Laura’s personal #1 favorite!). In the last year, she was seen on-stage in Oliver! as the Strawberry Seller/ensemble, Kate Mullins in Titanic The Musical, and behind the scenes as assistant choreographer for Once Upon A Mattress. Around Nashville, Laura has also been seen in the Nashville Dinner Theatre’s performance of The Producers as Usherette/ensemble (everything from a Vegas showgirl + tapping Nazi to a dancing granny!) in addition to singing for three seasons with the Music City Community Chorus. Prior to moving to Nashville, credits include roles in George M!, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and The King and I. While theater is a great love, Laura’s first loves are her children, Nick and Morgan. |
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Devon Anderson (Gloria Upson) - A glutton for punishment, Devon is back for her second helping of Circle Players this year after appearing in the summer production of Fame: The Musical. It helps that her husband, Billy, is joining her for this one. Devon is a native Nashvillian with a degree in Literature from Lipscomb University, where she minored in Theatre and performed in Macbeth, Words Words Words, and a traveling children’s theatre series. Other productions include The Sound of Music, The Crucible, The Wizard of Oz and Fiddler on the Roof. A classically trained singer, Devon’s dance credits feature impressive scores in Dance Dance Revolution. Other hobbies include herpetology, competitive Jeopardy and over-analyzing TV shows. She is thrilled to be in the company of this amazing cast and crew. |
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Billy Anderson (Ralph Devine/Ensemble) - This production of Mame marks Billy’s triumphant return to the stage after a 26 year absence. Having previously stared as Little Jack Horner in his kindergarten play, Billy is excited to be indulging his love for theater once again. Billy wishes to thank Macon, the cast, his friends, and the entire circle family for their patience and support of this new endeavor. A special thank you to his loving wife Devon, with out whom none of this would be possible. |
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Francine Berk (Agnes Gooch) - A newcomer to Circle Players, Francine is a fairly familiar face
in Nashville’s community theatre circuit:
Act 1 (Katisha, The Mikado;
Myrtle Brown, Morning’s at Seven), Murfreesboro
Center for the Arts (Golde, Fiddler on
the Roof; Agnes, I Do! I Do!; the
Fairy Godmother, Cinderella), |
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Alexandra Day (Ensemble) - Alexandra is thrilled to be making her stage debut with Circle players in Mame. She wants to thank her dad for all his driving to rehearsals and her mother for her singing voice! Performing Mame with her brother Tucker and "Pop" has been an incredibly fantastic time. “Thank you so much to Macon, Kate, Thom and everyone in the cast and crew, I can't wait to do more shows in the future with you all. Break a leg!” |
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Stewart Day (Claude Upson) - Stewart Day now considers himself to be a veteran of musical productions at Circle Players having played such fantastic and memorable roles as drunk guy in the balcony, and romantic stroller in Oliver!, the eccentric and very playful Mr. Guggenheim in Titanic. the Musical and now Mr. Upson, a role he is all too familiar with having grown up in the heart of Connecticut. He is especially thrilled to be in this show with my children Alexandra and Tucker. What a blast! Thanks Macon! A big hug and kiss to Susan for holding down the house during Mame rehearsals. And finally, a special shout out to my good friend Eric Bobby Bedford Reimer who inspired me to create this wonderfully silly character. |
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Tucker Day (Little Patrick) - Tucker Day was born with a song in his heart and truly loves to sing and dance. As the middle child born into a very musical family, he enjoys performing and has appeared in several Circle productions including Oliver! as one of the den thieves and most recently in Titanic as Jack Thayer. Other stage credits include Linus in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. When he is not on the stage, Tucker loves to play travel soccer, hockey and every sport he can. His goal is to learn how to do hand spring flips and dance really well so he can someday play the role of Riff in West Side Story on Broadway. Tucker is thrilled to play Patrick and appear on stage with his dad and sister in this incredible cast. Thanks Macon, Kate, Tim, Jamie, Jack and all of my Circle buddies! |
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Anne- Geri Fann (Mrs. Upson/Cousin Fan) - Anne-Geri’ (“ann-juh-ree”) doesn’t speak Klingon yet, and she’s okay with that. Her favorite Nashville performances include goodies like Blithe Spirit or Arsenic and Old Lace, classics such as A Christmas Carol or Harvey, and completely off-the-wall madness like Podelaire or Bat Boy: the Musical. She performed in Vienna Waits, created with Jeffrey Williams, and is excited to see her original show Cake or Death, written with Elizabeth Hayes, going up in March of 2010. “Angie” loves hiking with her hottie husband David, teaches Spanish, and released her first book in the summer of 2006. If you're really interested enough to see more, go to fanntastic.com. Otherwise, read someone else's brilliant bio and enjoy the show! This is Angie’s second Circle production. |
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Carl Goad (Doorman/ Ensemble) - Carl is returning to the stage after a long hiatus and is delighted to be a member of this particular cast at Circle Players. A former music teacher in the public schools in Kentucky and Illinois until budget cuts in the 80s forced him out of education and into the business world, Carl’s prior experience includes ensemble work in H.M.S. Pinafore and Anything Goes, rehearsal pianist for The King and I and Finian’s Rainbow, and directing a high school production of The Sound of Music. Carl would like to dedicate his performance to “My Best Beau and Bosom Buddy” - Joseph. |
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Tim Larson (Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside) - Tim works for HCA, Inc., as a Program Director in Project Management by day; but by night he’s involved in many community theatre organizations. Tim has directed Fame the Musical, Titanic the Musical, Oklahoma! and Annie for Circle Players. He also recently directed The Producers and Little Shop of Horrors for the Nashville Dinner Theatre. Tim is very excited about being back on stage playing Beau and given the chance to sing and dance in his twilight years!!! Have they ever done Mame with walkers?…oops wrong show! Enjoy, y’all! |
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Jamie London (Mame) - Long
retired from the professional stage, Jamie presently gets her kicks
being Don’s “best girl” and Stella’s
Mame…uh…Mom. When not domesticating, she works as a
Teaching Artist for TPAC Education in their ARTSMART and Wolftrap
programs and in the Theatre and Dance Departments for Metro Parks. Many
hugs and kisses to MK and KAJ and all the Circle Family. She sends big
love and endless thanks to all the women in her life, who embody the
spirit of Mame—past and present-especially you, MOM!!! |
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Lisa MacAfee (Ensemble) - Lisa MacAfee is very excited to be in her first production with Circle Players. She is a recent graduate of Valparaiso University, and her theatre credits include Spirit in The Magic Flute, Flossie's Friend in On the Town, Susan in Stop the World-I Want to Get Off, and an ensemble role in Assassins. She wants to thank her family and friends for being so supportive and wonderful. |
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Jim Manning (Junior Babcock/Ensemble) - Jim Manning is pleased to be working onstage again with Circle Players. Favorite roles include Howard in Moon Over Buffalo (Best Featured Actor), Will in Oklahoma! (Best Supporting Actor), and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Best Actor). Jim is also the set designer and master carpenter for Mame. He currently serves as President for Circle Players. |
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Josh Matthews (Ensemble) - Josh Matthews came to Tennessee to be closer to Graceland and stayed for Mame. He’s new to theatre, having been in one show prior to Mame, with ACT 1 Productions Mikado. He loves the friends he’s met and is very happy to be working with the talented and fun performers of Mame. |
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Terry McLemore (Mr. Babcock) - Terry is excited to return to the Circle Players stage in its production of Mame. A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, Terry now calls Hendersonville home. He began his professional career playing the role of George M. Cohan in Opryland, USA’s production of For Me and My Gal. From there, Broadway beckoned, and Terry moved to the Big Apple. There he had the pleasure of performing in Michael Bennett's production of A Chorus Line, Gower Champion's 42nd Street, and in Hello Dolly, starring Carol Channing. Terry was featured in the National Tour of My Fair Lady starring Rex Harrison and portrayed the role of Hanna in the National Tour of La Cage aux Follies. A personal thrill was to be one of twelve men asked to perform with Ginger Rogers and Carol Lawrence on the stage of New York's famous Radio City Music Hall and to dance with the infamous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. Terry toured with Kaye Ballard in Girl Crazy and with Delores Gray in Gypsy and has performed at regional and dinner theaters throughout the country. After altering careers, Terry began working as a director and choreographer for regional and dinner theatres in Ohio, Connecticut and New York where he staged productions of 42nd Street, Annie, My Fair Lady and many other musicals. He returned to Nashville to be closer to family. Terry staged 42nd Street for Circle Players, using much of Gower Champion's original choreography and staged productions of Nuncrackers, Crazy For You, The Sound of Music, and Singin’ in the Rain. Terry played the role of Daddy Warbucks in Circle’s production of Annie and appeared in productions of The Music Man and Oklahoma! Terry has performed in The Boiler Room Theater productions of Will Rogers Follies, Urinetown the Musical, Into the Woods and My Fair Lady. “It’s a pleasure to work with such a talented group of performers in this production of Mame. Many thanks to Macon, Kate and Thom for the opportunity.” |
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Trey Palmer (Older Patrick) - Trey Palmer is a recent addition to the Nashville stage. Having just closed Circle's summer show Fame the Musical and Nashville Dinner Theater’s Little Shop of Horror's
Trey has been very busy this year. This is his second show with Circle
Players and he is having a great time calling Circle his home theater.
"I am very thankful to be able do Mame, and I thank Macon for casting
me in such an awesome role as Patrick." When Trey is not building a set
for a show or rehearsing, Trey is actively seeking theater work both
professional and community and other creative outlets to showcase his
ability, and like any good actor, is a waiter in real life. Trey
lives with his dog Kenni and roommate Jim on the east side of town. |
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Tonya Pewitt (Pegeen) - Tonya is thrilled to be in her first Circle Player’s production! She is a recent graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and has been seen in productions such as Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), Urinetown (Hope), Suessical the Musical (Gertrude McFuzz), Baby (Lizzie), Ramona Quimby (Beezus Quimby), The Rocky Horror Show (Phantom), and has just recently returned from Honduras where she and other MTSU theatre majors preformed a show that they had written themselves for children in Honduras, teaching them about good hygiene, manners, and being kind to others. Tonya would like to thank her family and friends for their undying support. |
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Chuck Rapp (Uncle Jeff/Ensemble) - Chuck is returning to Circle Players after about a 20 year hiatus. He has been in many previous productions which included Pippin, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Frivolities, Brigadoon, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Twelfth Night. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors, the play selection committee, and was involved on the technical side of Circle as well. Chuck says “I am so grateful to be returning to my love of the theatre and honored to be a part of Circle Players again. It is long overdue.” |
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Suzi Safdie (Mother Burnside/Mme Branislovsky/ Emsemble ) - Mame is the latest (and best!) in a long list of productions for Suzi over the past 30 plus years. Her credits include Mrs. Dinsmore in Singing’ in the Rain and ensemble in The King and I with Circle Players, Mrs. Dilber in A Christmas Carol with Encore Theatre Co., Chava and later Yente (twice!) in Fiddler on the Roof, Ermengarde in The Matchmaker, along with cast, ensemble, and tech in over 50 productions with the Cumberland County Playhouse. Massive hugs to her son, Allan, and daughter, Alicia, and to Macon and Kate for believing that this old dancer can still manage a front-line kick! |
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Audrey Smith (Ensemble) - Audrey is thrilled to perform in her first Circle Players production! She is a junior in high school. She has been acting since age eight and is passionate about performing and the arts. Her theatre credits include, Grease, Sweeney Todd, A Christmas Carol, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Fiddler on the Roof, Our Town, and many more. She would like to thank her mom and dad for their love, support, and for all of that gas money! |
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Cary Street (Vera Charles) - Cary
has been a professional actor, dancer and choreographer in the
southeast for more than 25 years. She has worked with various
theatres and high schools in Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as the
Miss Tennessee/Miss America and Miss Kentucky/Miss America
organizations. Favorite stage roles include Phyllis Dale 42nd Street, Judy Turner A Chorus Line, Bombalurina CATS and various chorus roles. Cary was last seen on Circle’s stage as Ethel McCormack in Footloose.
Television includes commercials for Bridgestone/Firestone Corporation,
WeCare, and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Gridiron
Cabaret where she had the pleasure of dancing with Dr. Ming Wang
(really!) In real life, Cary is the Marketing Director for
Crosslin & Associates, an accounting firm in Nashville. She
is a wife to Richard, mom to Joe, in the Army in Afghanistan, Rose, a
junior at Donelson Christian Academy, and Heather, who is married to David, and the
mother to Cary's grandson, Dylan. Thanks to Macon, Kate and Tom
for “kicking my butt!” |
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Michael Tajalle (Ito) - Michael Tajalle is pleased to rejoining his Circle Players family with this season's production of Mame. You may have spotted him in Oklahoma!, Tom Sawyer, or The King and I. Guess his role in each and you win the grand prize. Michael would like to thank his friends and family for their ongoing support. |
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Daniel Vincent (M. Lindsay Woolsley/Ensemble) - Daniel is so happy to be working with this amazing group of people, recapturing all sorts of nostalgia for many different reasons. Originally working in Chicago, he studied music and theatre at Indiana University and has been in Nashville for 11 years managing to work with almost every theatre company in the area. Favorite roles include Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, Claude in Hair, Timmy in The Subject was Roses, Jon Saltzman in Tape, Ramon Fornos in Love! Valour! Compassion!, Bobby in Urinetown, Paul in A Chorus Line, Bobby in Crazy for You and the one-man show Miss Gulch Returns. Daniel would like to thank Jaeger and BB for being so supportive of his time away from home and Beautiful for being so supportive in everything. I love you. |
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Jack Williams (Little Patrick - Understudy) - Jack is excited to be playing Peter, as well as the understudy for Patrick, in this production of Mame! He has previously appeared in Oliver! with Circle Players where he played one of Fagin’s Gang as well as a workhouse child. He attends St. Joseph School and is in the fifth grade. Jack sings in the school choir and plays trumpet and clarinet in the band. He would like to thank Macon and all of the production staff for this wonderful opportunity! |
The Crew
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Macon Kimbrough (Director) - Macon
is excited to be directing one of his favorite shows. He is, by
trade, a decorative painter and for the past decade has worked with
some of Nashville’s top designers in the homes of such
celebrities as Ashley Judd, Kid Rock, Big Kenny, and Sara
Evans. Macon performed in Circle Players productions of OKLAHOMA! , The King & I, Treasure Island, Singin’ in the Rain, played Mr. Bumble in Oliver!, and Mr. Ismay in Titanic: The Musical. He also appeared in Shining Light’s Love Laughs Last, Act I’s Don’t Drink the Water, and as Mr. /Lee Randolph in The Boiler Room’s Sunday in the Park with George. For Community Players, he played Waldgrave in The Nerd and several roles in Around the World in 80 Days. Macon also performed in Street Theater’s The Full Monty and Evita. |
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Tom Garrison (Music Director) - Thom Garrison has served as music director for You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Music Man (Best Music 2006) , The King and I, High School Musical, Singing in the Rain (Best Music 2007), Footloose, Oliver (Best Show 2008), and School House Rock
(Nashville School of the Arts). Thom currently teaches at the W.O.
Smith School of Music and is a bi-vocational choir director at
Pennington Methodist. Thanks to the cast and crew of Mame for
making it a wonderful, exciting journey to the opening curtain! |
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Kate Adams - Johnson (Choreographer/Assistant Dirctor) - Kate has been excited to support Macon in his directing debut with Mame as well as getting the opportunity to work with so many of her favorite people. She just recently finished choreographing Little Shop of Horrors and Nutcracker the Musical for NDT, where she will be directing a production of Swing!
this winter. She is also the choreographer for McGavock High School's
two show choirs - Capitol Singers and The McGavock Ladies. Choreography
credits include: Nashville - Circle Players, Nashville Dinner Theater,
Act I, Shalom Theater, and Damhsa Onorach Productions. Outside of
Nashville, her work has been performed in over 20 U.S. states as well
as Europe, Russia and Brazil. Favorite onstage credits include Two By Two (Goldie), Our Town (Emily), Peter Pan (Peter), and Grease
- touring company (Jan). Kate has performed with Dino
Kartsonakis, Dolly Parton, Oak Ridge Boys, Glen Campbell, Barbara
Mandrell, and Whitney Houston, among others. Training - Roosevelt
University, Chicago. Company Member - Metropolitan Ballet Co. of St.
Louis, Northern Kentucky Dance Theater. Currently on the teaching
faculty of Artistry In Motion, and also teaching classes at Donelson
Senior Center for the Arts - come dance with us! Love to Travis and
Anne, who put up with her never being home. |
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Courtney McClellan (Producer) - Courtney is excited to be involved in Mame as her second show with Circle Players, following Titanic, the Musical. She is proud to be a first-time producer with the inspiring group of people that comprise the cast of Mame. Her recent theatre involvement includes the roles of Lady McDuff and the First Witch in Macbeth, Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire, and a member of the ensemble in The Wiz with Hampton University's Hampton Players. She also played in Once on This Island with Street Theatre Company and Circle Players' production of Titanic the Musical
as Mme Aubert last fall. Many thanks to Macon, LaTonya, the production
team, and the cast for patience, understanding and guidance throughout
the progression of the show. "Life's a banquet...can someone pass the
nachos?" |
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Jim Manning (Set Designer) - Jim Manning has won design awards for his work on Music Man and Oliver!. Other favorite design work includes Metamorphoses, Titanic, Beauty and the Beast, Amadeus, Treasure Island, and Tom Sawyer. Every now and again, Jim gets onstage when a drill is not in his hand. Favorite roles include Howard in Moon Over Buffalo (Best Featured Actor), Will in Oklahoma! (Best Supporting Actor), and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Best Actor). Jim is a video producer in real life and is currently serving as President for Circle Players. |
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Ed Amatrudo (Technical Director, Props Master, and Set Dresser) - |
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Bryan Levay (Sound Designer)
- Bryan Levay is a sound guy in Nashville, TN, holding down a day job
at iV group as well as doing freelance audio engineering, web and
graphic design. His work in the Nashville music scene has taken
him through diverse styles, from Americana to high energy dance
music. He is proud to be back for Mame, his second show with
Circle Players. Bryan originally got his theater start in the
Washington, D.C. area working with both MAD - The Music and Drama Group
at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center - and The Greenbelt Arts Center
doing sound, playing bass, and performing other odd jobs. He was
most recently the sound designer for Circle's production of Fame, and before that worked on productions of The Importance of Being Earnest, The Crucible, What The Butler Saw, The Wiz and South Pacific.
Bryan would like to "blame" his mom for getting him into theater, his
dad for letting him continue, and his friends for encouraging him along
the way. |
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Cathy Matthews (Lighting Designer) - Cathy,
a retired professional lighting designer, was trained at Middle
Tennessee State University under Clay Hawes. Cathy's background
includes television, concert, and theatrical lighting as well as
consulting. Now Cathy is a dedicated, professional aunt, enjoying her
many nieces and nephews and working for Circle Players as recreation. |
Other Crew Members
Kim Morse - Stage Manager
Karen Bernard - Costume Designer
Nanci Williams - House Manager
Karynn Hough - Graphic Designer
Phillip Froeter - Light Board Operator
Dareth Webb - Follow Spot Operator
John Todd - Lead Pianist
Jimmy Robinson - Board Liason
Tim Larson - Webmaster
