Cast and Crew


CAST
(in alphabetical order)
Ed Amatrudo (Captian Smollett)

Ed is pleased to return to the stage after being away from it for about a million years. Meantime, he has made numerous film and TV appearances in favorites like NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope, Bad Boys, Out of Time, Bully and a bunch of TV commercials. He trained in N.Y.C. and L.A. Ed can also be seen on TV every day on "The Foreclosure Show" and on the web at ForeclosureShow.com. 





Amber Boyer  (Jim Hawkins)
Amber is ECSTATIC to be making her Nashville debut on the Circle Players stage as Jim Hawkins. A 24 year old native
of Spartanburg, SC/Tryon, NC, she moved to Nashville this past January. With a B.A. in Theatre Perfomance from
Converse College in 2004, Amber has multiple credits to her performance history. Some of her favorites include: Sue Lawson
in Spartanburg Little Theater's production of Not Now, Darling in 2006, Effy Crayneck in Theatre Converse's 2004
production of Spitfire Grill, Janet in USC-Upstate's 2004 production of The Rocky Horror Show, Nancy
Bluejacket Stewart in Blue Jacket: Ohio's Great Outdoor Drama in Xenia, OH 2004, and Peter Pan in the
Tryon Youth Theatre's 2000 production of Peter Pan. She is excited to once again be playing a young boy, and would like to thank her Mother, Family, Friends, and Roommate for their support in her adaptation to Nashville.

  Tim Bush (Long John Silver)

Tim's short acting career began 7 years ago  in Hendersonville where he's been in several plays for both Main Street Players and Steeple Players.  He's immesely enjoyed  the practice and fight choreography sessions and the understanding Jim Manning has had for his "day job" schedule.  Tim would like to dedicate his performances to his mother who's having a rough go of it lately and to his two children whom he loves tremendously. 

  Priscilla Eaton ( Long John Silvers Wife)

This is Priscilla's first foray into the field of acting, but she is excited.  Never afraid of new challenges,
she retired as a Master Sergeant from the US Army.  She now dabbles in the world real estate sales,
at least when the tending of her flowers permits.
Candace Hackett (Fight, Choreographer, Townsperson, Pirate)

Candace is a senior at Tennessee State University majoring in Speech Communication and Theatre and minoring in Psychology and English.  Since she was little, she's been onstage, backstage, and all around the stage.  Candace has been studying stage combat for about 3 years and recently, she recieved recognition as an Actor/Combatant Proficient in Broadsword, Rapier/Dagger, and Unarmed Combat from the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD).  Although her experience includes a multitude of shows since childhood, her most recent credits include The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Hedda Gabler, Oedipus Rex, Jar the Floor, and 2 years with the Tennessee Renaissance Festival.  This is Candace's first show with the Circle Players, but she hopes to continue lending her skills to their productions.
Clay Hillwig  (William Hawkins, Tom Morgan)

Clay has been acting on stage and in various film and voice over projects for over 10 years, with the last 7 years here in Nashville.  He has  appeared in various local productions such as One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Birds in Church,
The Normal Heart, Mr. Roberts, 12 Angry Men, Death of a Salesman and many others.  This is his 5th production with Circle Players. In 2005 Clay was awarded the “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” for Circle Players for his role as Bob Crachitt in
A Christmas Carol.  In the summer of 2006 he took on the monumental task of directing the musical The Music Man for
Circle Players and will once again step into the role of director for the April 08 production of Tom Sawyer.  Clay is also the Artistic Director for the Vineyard Christian Fellowship-Nashville. He is married to Suzanne Hillwig with four children and they are eagerly awaiting grandchildren.   
Jack Hoke (Ben Gunn)

Jack has performed with Chaffin’s as Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, and is delighted to be working with Jim again after appearing with him in Richard the III at Act One. Since arriving in Middle Tennessee Jack has appeared with Circle Players, Mockingbird Theater, Broadaxe Theater, John Holleman and Co., Lakewood Theater, Act 1, Donelson Senior Center, and New Day Theater Co. The roles which he has played include his favorite parts as: Willie Loman, Felix Unger, Andrey Botvinnik, Christmas Morgan, Aesop, Mark Twain, Sgt. Froggy LeSeur, Col.Ezra Biscayne and King Pellinore. It gives him great pleasure to dedicate his performance as Ben Gunn to his lovely wife, Sally, his companion, coach and best friend.


  Macon Kimbrough  (Doctor Livesay)

Macon 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 and Kid Rock.  Macon portrayed Andrew Carnes in Circle Players production of OKLAHOMA! and performed in Shining Light Theater’s Love Laughs Last.  Macon was last seen in Circle’s The King &I.
Tyson Laemmel  (Anderson, Officer Dance)

This is Tyson's fourth show with Circle.  He has been involved with the community theatre in Nashville for two years now and loves being a part of such a wonderful community.  He is very excited and grateful to be working with such a talented cast and crew.
Suresh[Shawn] Mani  (George)

Originally from Singapore, Suresh did his undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering and moved from Kalamazoo, Michigan to Nashville, Tennessee for career in the Medical Information Technology. This is first time he is involved with the community
theatre and excited being a part of such a wonderful crew. His previous stage experience includes several student plays & dance shows.




Sarah McCreery  (Townsperson, Pirate)

Sarah McCreery is a senior at MTSU studying French, Spanish, and Education.  Sarah has done several plays with Circle Players, however, they were many moons ago. She is happy to get her foot back in the door with her part in Treasure Island. She hopes to continue acting with Circle Players in the future.
David McGinnis (Billy Bones, Arrow)

David is thrilled to be a part of  Treasure Island. David's recent on stage performances include; Nia  in  Zoologies Albert in Rhubarb Theater's  The Viewing , and various parts in Oklahoma and The Music Man. David has been working the theatre scene in Nashville for 9 years now after leaving his beloved East Tennessee homeland. Some of his favorite roles include Norman in Boys Next Door, Orville in Daddy's Dyin' Who's Got the Will?, Royce in Dearly Departed and Vassille in Getting Away with Murder. David studied theatre at East Tennessee University and was actively involved with the Morristown Theater Guild for many years, where he enjoyed being one of the resident players . While not on stage, David is making people very happy booking their vacations as a travel agent at GoGo Vacations. He would like to thank his extended family of close friends here in Nashville and his parents for their unending support of his love of theatre.
Maggie Pitt (Dan Hunt)

Maggie is excited to be acting in her first play.  Her previous stage experience includes several student dance shows at St. Mary's College of Maryland and playing a rat in The Nutcracker twice.  She is currently working at an environmental lab in Nashville and attending acting and dance classes in her spare time.





Danny Proctor (Squire Trelawney)

A Nashville native, Danny has a  35-year stage history. He’s worked with Circle Players, Tennessee  Repertory Theatre, Mansker Players, Nashville Nightlife, Lakewood  Theatre, Nashville Playhouse, Opryland U.S.A., ACT 1 and appeared in 
Nashville Stages’ production Could It Be Love at the Ryman  Auditorium. Favorite roles are Ludie in The Trip To Bountiful, Felix  in The Odd Couple, Jinx in Forever Plaid, Emile in South Pacific,  Tony Cavendish in The Royal Family, Boolie in Driving Miss Daisy,  Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly, and Roscoe in the New York  production of Ain’t We Got Fun. Other productions include A Stoop On  Orchard Street, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma, On Golden Pond, Mame, 
Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie, Lady Windermere’s Fan,  Julius Caesar, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Light Up the Sky, Oh! What  a Lovely War, Shenandoah, The Fantasticks, 1776, You’re a Good Man  Charlie Brown, Arsenic and Old Lace, Our Town, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,  Inherit the Wind, and many others. Danny’s most favorite roles are  “Dad” to Elizabeth and Ben and “Granddaddy” to Jordan, Claire,  Luke and Campbell Anne.
  Anthony Santaniello (Dick Jones)

This is Anthony's fourth performance with Circle Players. This includes A Christmas Carol, Meredith Wilson's The Music Man, and The Kind and I.  He has also done performances with Lamplighter Theater.  He attends Lancaster Christian Academy and is in the 7th grade. In is spare time you can hear him playing searing solos on his electric guitar.
Eddie Stahl (RedRuth)

Eddie’s first theatrical performance was in high school when he was cast in Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. After a 15 year break, the theater bug bit him again. This is Eddie’s second appearance in a Circle Players production--previous productions include: The King and I, God and You, Going Home and Guiseppe Verdi’s Aida.  When Eddie is not performing, he is employed as the Medical Staff Director for Tennessee Urgent Care Associates
Michale Tajalle  (Black Dog)

Michael is very excited to perform with Circle Players again.   His previous roles with Circle include Cord Elam in Oklahoma! RAOUL in Getting Away with Murder, in the ensemble for 42nd Street. and most recently as the King in The King and I  which he was rewarded as Best Actor last season.   Michael would like to thank his family and freinds for thier support. 
 David Y. Williams  (BlindPew, Israel Hands)

Originally from Louisville, KY David Y. Williams has lived in the Nashville area for over 15 years. His experience includes commercial work for television, stage and vocal peformance. After taking some 'time off' to produce To Kill A Mockingbird and co-produce Blood Brothers for Circle he returned to the stage as the "Ghost of Christmas Present" in Circle Players' production of A Christmas Carol. Most recently you may have seen David as "Curly" in Circle's production of Oklahoma. When not working for a software company you will find him at the lake or on a road trip with his family.

 Linda Wylie ( Margaret Hawkins)

Linda  is delighted to be returning to the Circle stage.  Her last Circle performance was that of Maria Callas in Master Class, for which she won a Tennie.  Other theatre credits include Lizzie in The Rainmaker, Sarah in Children of a Lesser God (Best Actress), the title role of Cinderella (2 seasons) and as Frankie in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.  Linda has also performed with Chicago (Best Comedy) and Nashville improv troupes, the Nashville Opera and has appeared in such films as Daltry Calhoun, Dark Infestation (2007 release), The Shelter, Backdraft and Home Alone.  She also has television and commercials credits.  Linda is heartily excited about her Scottish connection to Treasure Island (Scottish author R.L. Stevenson), still has her childhood copy of the book and is very happy to finally meet her long lost Scottish relative, Ben Gunn.  It’s been (pun intended) a pirate’s life indeed!   Aaarrrggghhh!!!


CREW
Jim Manning (Director)

Jim Manning is delighted to be directing this classic for Circle Players after acting with them for years.  Jim contracted the acting bug in sixth grade playing an orphan in Oliver! and has work offstage over the years as a set designer.  Favorite roles include Howard in Moon Over Buffalo (Best Featured Actor), Will Parker in Oklahoma! (Best Supporting Actor), and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Best Actor).  In real life, Jim is a director/producer for a video production company and has been trying to keep his garden alive this dry summer. 




 
Elisabeth Garcia (Producer)

This is Elisabeth's third show with Circle Players. Last season she received an award for her work on "The King and I" which, incidentally, is when she received her nickname of "Stage Meanager" (Thanks, Star Dancer!). She would like to thank Macon and Dave for lying to Jim about her ability to produce, and most importantly, Jim for being so gullible.







Delores McCreery (Stage Manager)
 
Angela Gimlin (Director's Assistant)

Recent credits include Oklahoma!, The Music Man and ACT 1’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. An Oklahoma native she studied theatre, dance, and voice at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, where her favorite roles 
included Hero in Much Ado About Nothing and Mae in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. When she isn’t treading the boards, Angela spends most of her time with her  beloved cats.
 
Buzz Jacoway (Board Liason)

Buzz is a native Nashvillian, having lived here his entire life except for stints at Oxford College and Emory University. He was introduced to Circle Players by his 6 year old daughter. He then became more involved to help grow community theater support in Nashville. To attain this goal, he promises never to sing or dance in public.

Buzz has owned a manufacturer's rep company for 32 years and has been President of the Board of Construction Specification Institute and on several other non-profit boards. He resides in Nashville with his wife, Mindy, daughter, Delaney and Golden Doodle puppy, Corky.
Craig Willkoyz  (Fight Choreographer)

Craig has been learning stage combat for the last 15 years and plans to still learn for another 50. Working with the Tennessee Renaissance Festive for the last 5 years as a fight director and been showing his mug there as an actor combant for 15 years. He has also choreographed stage combat for Oracle Productions and Shinning light productions.


Andrew Drumheller (Costumes)
Davie McGinnis (Lighting)

David  is thrilled to giving the audience the ability to see the otherwise very dark stage.  It was at a young age that David
developed a fear of the dark thrusting him into the world of light bulbs and on switches.  He owes his ability to plug in a lamp to his family and friends who shared their undying belief that some day, David would conquer his fears (hights and darkness) and program a light board.  He would like to offer special thanks to Jose for having metro invest in a lift allowing him to not be dependant on a ladder again.



Claire Jarman (Assistant Stage Manager)

Mike Zazworsky (Props)

Jeff Hall (Music Arranger)

Jeff has been active in Circle Players productions for over 20 years. He received Circle Music Director Award� for 2000 Gypsy and 2003 Crazy for You and music directed several other Circle shows. When not acting as music director, Jeff can be found in the pit-band� playing various instruments. Jeff's first venture, as a Circle composer/arranger, was Circle 2002 production of Dracula. Mostly know as a church composer/arranger; Jeff was awarded 2001 Handbell Composer of the Year.  Many of his titles have been found on publishers best seller� lists. Jeff studied at Pennsylvania State University as well as Middle Tennessee State University (BM). Jeff currently works as a freelance composer/arranger and director of music for St. Joseph Church, Madison, TN. He can be contacted at MusicArr2@AOL.com
Elizabeth Hayes (Dialect Coach)

Elizabeth Hayes has lived all her life in Nashville, TN, but her performances have taken her across the country and beyond:  from London to Mexico, from Carlsbad Caverns to Carnegie Hall.  In Nashville, stages, she has carried the lead in productions such as “Night, Mother, The Murder Room, and Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking.   In her last 5 stage roles, she has used 5 different dialects.