WHO'S WHO IN THE COMPANY

BRIK BERKES (NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE/COUNT O) is honored to be a part of this production and to be making his debut at Salt Lake Acting Company. His recent credits include JULIUS CAESAR (Decius Brutus) and RICHARD III (Richmond, Hastings, Tyrrel) with Georgia Shakespeare, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (Henry VIII) and SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FINAL ADVENTURE (King of Bohemia) at Theatre in the Square, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY at Theatrical Outfit, as well as THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED (Mitchell Green) at Portland Center Stage. Brik can also be seen on Good Eats on the Food Network. He would like to thank Kathleen Cahill, Meg Gibson, and Salt Lake Acting Company for this incredible opportunity.

CHERYL GAYSUNAS (MARGARET FULLER) first began to practice the art of unintentional pratfalls at the age of eight. By nine, her vision was finally corrected with glasses and her feet paused in their rapid growth. However, Cheryl had discovered that the laughter and applause her now perfected tumbles received were far more fulfilling than her previous attention-seeking device of whining, and the life of a comedian was chosen. After earning her BFA in attention seeking and pratfalls, with $200 in her pocket and little to no common sense, Cheryl headed off to New York City. On her third audition, she was cast on Broadway in the original production of LA BÊTE. Other Broadway credits include THE MOLIERE COMEDIES: as Celie in THE IMAGINARY CUCKOLD and as Leonore in SCHOOL FOR HUSBANDS; and as Mabel in Sir Peter Hall's production of AN IDEAL HUSBAND. Favorite roles regionally include Sarah in SPINNING INTO BUTTER at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Maureen in TIME OF MY LIFE at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Bianca in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW at Westport Playhouse, Molly in THE SMELL OF THE KILL at Cincinnati Playhouse, and Viola in TWELFTH NIGHT, in a venue set up like a free rock concert for thousands of theatre goers in the middle of Boston Commons. Cheryl has been seen or heard on TV in many, many commercials, and has appeared on Law and Order, the first Conan O'Brian show and The Chappelle Show. In Salt Lake City, Cheryl has recently appeared at Pioneer Theatre as the other little old lady next to Annie Mark's in IS HE DEAD? as well as Poppy in NOISES OFF, maids named Marie in THE LADIES MAN and THE HEIRESS, and not so recently Poopay in COMMUNICATING DOORS. Cheryl has various other New York and regional credits, but feels it more important to point out that she almost always ends up wearing a corset in every show she does. She is a proud union member of AEA, SAG and AFTRA, is married to Pioneer Theatre's lovely and talented Production Stage Manager Jeff Williams, and is mother to the delightful and energetic Phoebe Williams, age five. They are all owned by two loved but challenging cats, Bruce and Pete.

CARIANNE H. JONES (ANNA BARKER/SPARKLER) is thrilled to be making her Salt Lake Acting Company debut, and honored to be in such a beautiful piece. Carianne is a native of Utah and has been involved in music and theatre for most of her life. She earned her BA in Musical Theatre from Weber State University, Cum Laude. Since then she has performed at a variety of theatres across the valley. Most recently she was seen on Pioneer Theatre Company's stage as Marie in, IS HE DEAD? Other recent credits include: Marion in THE MUSIC MAN, Philia in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, (Both performed at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City), Sariah in THE ARK at the Grand Theatre, and Felicity Buttondown in JAMES BLONDE at The Desert Star Playhouse. Carianne would like to thank The Salt Lake Acting Company, Meg Gibson and Kathleen Cahill for this incredible experience, and many thanks to her loving friends and family for their enthusiastic and unwavering support. All my love, Songbird.

JAYNE LUKE (LYDIAN EMERSON/OLD WOMAN/OLD ITALIAN WOMAN) was last seen at SLAC in BOY in 2006 and she is so happy to be back. Roles at SLAC include Kimberly in KIMBERLY AKIMBO, Bella in BIG LOVE (directed by Meg Gibson), Queen Elizabeth in BEARD OF AVON, Nervene/Seattle in Julie Jensen's WHITE MONEY, and various roles in SATURDAY'S VOYEUR 2004 and 2005. She loves this company, this audience and the people who work so hard to produce theatre here. She now embraces the phase of her career playing wonderful character roles including the Old Lady and a Nazi Dancer in THE PRODUCERS at PTC, Carrie Watts in THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL at the Grand, Fraulein Schneider in CABARET at the Egyptian, and Mrs. Meers in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE at Hale Center Theater Orem. The best thing about being a character actress is she doesn't have to diet anymore! Her life was changed (for the better) by playing Ruth in Plan-B Theatre Company's production of FACING EAST that played in SLC, San Francisco and Off-Broadway in NYC. She is the Artistic Director of Walk-Ons, Inc. which produces the Senior Theatre Project and takes plays for, by, and about seniors to residential facilities and senior and community centers.

JAY PERRY (GEORGE PARKER/SAM WARD) had his debut at SLAC in last season's DARK PLAY and was last seen in this season's GO, DOG. GO! A native of Salt Lake, Jay attended the University of Utah's Actor Training Program and also trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. He was also recently seen in RADIO HOUR: ALICE at Plan-B Theatre Company. Other regional credits include INFANTRY MONOLOGUES for Meat and Potato Theatre, GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! for Plan-B and also for the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, FL, TWELFTH NIGHT at Salt Lake Shakespeare, Plan-B's FACING EAST in which he appeared twice in Salt Lake (2007 Arty Award - Best Theatre Performance - Facing East Ensemble), at Theatre Rhinoceros in San Francisco, and Off-broadway at the Atlantic Theatre in New York. Jay has performed in TRAGEDY: A TRAGEDY, THE ALIENATION EFFEKT, two SLAM!'s and five installments of RADIO HOUR (Plan-B), A THOUSAND CLOWNS (The Grand Theatre), A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Pioneer Theatre Company) and THE COMPLEAT WORKS OF WLLM SHKSPR ABRIDGED (Salt Lake Shakespeare). In addition to performing, Jay has taught at the Theatre Arts Conservatory, directed STUDENT SLAM (TAC) and mentored young actors at Spyhop.

MAX ROBINSON (ORESTES BROWNSON) just recently starred in and produced the one-man show JACOB MARLEY'S CHRISTMAN CAROL which won IN magazine's Best Actor, Best New Theatre Company, Best Sound Design and Best Lighting Design. Max has also been seen in over 130 productions at Pioneer Theatre, including MY FAIR LADY, THE PRODUCERS, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, LES MISERABLES, PAINT YOUR WAGON, THE FOREIGNER, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, ENCHANTED APRIL, JULIUS CAESAR, DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, AMADEUS, and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Max played Oscar Wilde in GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE at The Studio Theatre in Washington D.C., which earned him a Helen Hayes award nomination. Film and TV credits include Other People's Money, All My Children, One Life To Live, Touched By An Angel, Woody Allen's Shadows and Fog and Disney's Pixel Perfect.

ROBERT SCOTT SMITH (HENRY DAVID THOREAU) Scott is thrilled to be on loan from New York and reuniting with Meg and SLAC. NYC: PERICLES (SLANT). SLC: SWIMMING IN THE SHALLOWS, SIX YEARS, BIG LOVE, BATBOY: THE MUSICAL (Salt Lake Acting Company); PAINS OF YOUTH, SANTALAND DIARIES (Tooth and Nail Theatre); BASH (Plan-B). Film and TV: Blessing, Anima, Guiding Light. Print: The Unfortunate Moment of Misunderstanding (Jim Fiscus). Training: MFA Old Globe Theatre San Diego.

NICHOLAS WUEHRMANN (RALPH WALDO EMERSON) is thrilled to make his debut with SLAC in the same role he performed last fall in Orlando Shakespeare Theatre's workshop production of CHARM. In the past year, he made his NYC cabaret debut in his one man show, WHAT CAN YOU LOSE? at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre and directed European tours of DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE and HÄNSEL UND GRETEL. Other NYC credits include Floyd in FLOYD COLLINS, Rev. Dipper/Uncle Steve in HALLELUJAH BREAKDOWN (E.A.T. Off-B'way), Priest/Preboste in EL GRECO (INTAR Off-B'way) plus several roles with the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Town Hall. Regionally, he has performed Fredrik in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, Malvolio in TWELFTH NIGHT, Cogsworth in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, The Chairman in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, The Beadle in SWEENEY TODD, Jacques in AS YOU LIKE IT, Merlin/Pellinore in CAMELOT, Gus/Growltiger in CATS, and Fairfax in YEOMEN OF THE GUARD. He has performed with Cleveland Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Nevada Opera, the Baton Rouge Symphony, Seaside Music Theater, Santa Fe Opera, Mill Mountain Theatre, Virginia Opera, LaMama ETC and the London Symphony Orchestra. A regular with Ohio Light Opera, Nicholas has performed in more than 50 productions there and has directed their productions of THE MERRY WIDOW and COUNTESS MARITZA. He can be heard on OLO recordings (Albany Records) as Falsacappa in THE BRIGANDS and Dr. Tannhauser in THE GRAND DUKE. He can be seen this summer at OLO as Don Medigua in EL CAPITAN and Herbie in GYPSY. Nicholas is an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre with University of Central Florida where he teaches voice and acting and has directed numerous shows. His production of BABY at UCF gained him a Kennedy Center Award.

DAVID J. BOHNET (U.S. RALPH WALDO EMERSON, NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE/COUNT O) is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to understudy these great characters. He is a recent graduate of the Actor Training Program at the U. Recent credits include Trent Conway in SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION And Ramon in LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! Both with Wasatch Theatre Company. You may also have seen him in The Babcock Theatre production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING as Don Pedro, RING AROUND THE MOON as Messerchman, or The Bride Groom in Federico Garcia Lorcas BLOOD WEDDING. He would like to thank Meg and the cast for their patience and especially SLAC and Keven Myhre for this amazing opportunity. Enjoy the show!

DARRIN DOMAN (U.S. ORESTES BROWNSON) has appeared on many stages around the valley. Most recently, he played Cosme McMoon in SOUVENIR with Utah Contemporary Theatre. Other credits include Eddie, et al, JOHNNY GUITAR; Major Holmes, THE SECRET GARDEN; Spike Spauldeen, SONG OF SINGAPORE; Protean, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM; Shem/Ham, CHILDREN OF EDEN; Wally Ferguson, 1940'S RADIO HOUR; Rufus Pervis, THE PIRATED PENZANCE; Robert Livingston, 1776 (Grand Theatre); Agwe, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND (Heritage Theater) and Simon Zelotes, SAVIOR OF THE WORLD (Conference Center Theater). Other work at SLAC includes Charlotte von Mahlsdorf (U.S.), I AM MY OWN WIFE and Ben, SATURDAY'S VOYEUR 2005. Darrin also has credits as musical director and enjoys singing with the Utah Chamber Artists. To support his theater 'habit,' Darrin works as a speech/language pathologist at the University of Utah Hospital. He enjoys teaching voice lessons, with a special interest in rehabilitating injured vocalists.

HEIDI HACKNEY (U.S. MARGARET FULLER, LYDIAN EMERSON/ OLD WOMAN/ OLD ITALIAN WOMAN, ANNA BARKER/SPARKLER) is thrilled to have CHARM as her first SLAC performance. Heidi is a graduate of the Actor Training Program at the University of Utah, she also holds a Psychology degree. Heidi has appeared in Pioneer Theatre's productions of OTHELLO (U.S. Emilia) and LOST IN YONKERS (U.S. Bella). Favorite University theatre credits include: CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE, ON THE RAZZLE, THE PILLOWMAN, BIRDCATCHER IN HELL, Bonnie in HURLYBURLY, Duchess of York in RICHARD III, Isabella Bird/Joyce/Mrs. Kidd in TOP GIRLS, and Blanche DuBois in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE for which she received a Kennedy Center Irene Ryan Award nomination. Heidi has also worked in local independent films and commercials. She is a teacher for Youtheatre at the U's summer session and is represented by McCarty Talent.

BIJAN J. HOSSEINI (GEORGE PARKER/SAM WARD, HENRY DAVID THOREAU) is excited to be back at SLAC. He was last seen here as Barnes in TOO MUCH MEMORY also directed by Meg Gibson. Other previous roles on stage include: Jason in MEDEA, the Duke of Cornwall in KING LEAR, Hamlet from Tom Stoppard's 15-MINUTE HAMLET, several voices for the Utah Theatre Artists Company's GOLDEN AGE OF WIRELESS Radio Show, and a rambunctious five-year-old in UTAC's FIRST ANNUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR. He also acts in film, and is represented by Talent Management Group.

KATHLEEN CAHILL (Playwright) has received many awards for her work, including the Jane Chambers Playwriting Award, a Connecticut Commission on the Arts Playwriting Award (twice), a Massachusetts Artists Foundation Award, a Rockefeller Grant, a National Endowment for the Arts New American Works Grant, and a Drama League Award. Her plays include THE STILL TIME(Georgia Rep/Porchlight Theatre, Chicago), WOMEN WHO LOVE SCIENCE TOO MUCH (Porchlight), HENRI LOUISE AND HENRY (Cleveland Public), SLAM (Plan B Theatre, UT), and the screenplay DOWNTOWN EXPRESS, a film for David Grubin Productions in NY. With composer Michael Wartofsky she wrote the book and lyrics for THE NAVIGATOR and FRIENDSHIP OF THE SEA; with Deborah Wicks LaPuma she wrote DAKOTA SKY (Olney Theatre), WATER ON THE MOON (Signature Theatre readings), and CAPTIVATED (Kennedy Center New Works Festival). Other musical works include the opera CLARA, FATAL SONG, and A TALE OF TWO CITIES: PARIS AND BERLIN IN THE TWENTIES (all Maryland Center for the Performing Arts). Ms. Cahill earned her MFA in Writing for Music-Theatre from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and her BA in English Literature from Northeastern University. She works as writer/senior editor for Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. After premiering at SLAC, CHARM will be produced at Orlando Shakespeare.

MEG GIBSON (Director) For Salt Lake Acting Company Meg has directed BIG LOVE, HYSTERIA, THE RIDE DOWN MT. MORGAN, and, most recently, her co-created adaptation of Antigone, TOO MUCH MEMORY. She directed the World Premiere at the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival where it was awarded Best Play. It subsequently moved to New York Theatre Workshop. Other NY directing credits include, THE BLAVATSKY PROJECT with Work With Dancers at Here, and a commissioned adaptation of Susan Glaspell's, THE VERGE. Last fall she collaborated with Orlando Shakespeare Festival on a workshop of Kathleen Cahill's, CHARM.  She is a graduate of the U. of Utah, the Juilliard Theatre Center and a Research Fellow at the Yale School of Drama with a concentration on design. She continues to work as an actress, having recently appeared in Daniel Talbott's, SLIPPING at The Rattlestick Theatre Company in NYC. She has performed in six plays at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre and worked with Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, The Atlantic Theater Company, The Next Wave Festival, The Mark Taper Forum, The Huntington Theatre, ART at Harvard, Yale Rep., Long Wharf, Center Stage, The Williamstown Theatre Festival and Actors Theatre of Louisville. She can be seen in cable reruns of all three versions of Law and Order, Sex and the City and can be seen in the upcoming TNT television series, Rubicon. Her film credits include Che, The Night Listener, Picture Perfect, Dust.