Julie Zatko (Director) If you were with us last May, you may remember the wonderfully touching On Golden Pond. Julie directed that show as well as Psycho Beach Party, Over the River and Through the Woods, and The Shape of Things. Julie has been a valued director and lighting designer for us since 1999, directing shows such as Painting Churches and Social Security. Also, she has taken on two additional roles over the past two years; she co-produced Tuna Christmas, and was elected to the Board of Directors.
Elizabeth Palmer (Corie Bratter) Elizabeth is excited to be stepping on the Village Players stage once again. During the day Elizabeth works as a BA/Art Specialist facilitating art as therapy sessions with at-risk teenagers with emotional difficulties. At night she loves to step on the stage as her own form of therapy. Stage experiences include Wally's Cafe (Village Players), Fiddler on the Roof and Arsenic & Old Lace (Croswell Opera House), Godspell, Honk!, and Little Shop of Horrors (Bedford Community Players), Sugar (Waterville Playshop), Sound of Music (Toledo Rep), and Gypsy (Toledo Rep/UT). She would like to thank all cast, Julie, and Thereasa for making Barefoot in the Park such an incredible experience.
Matt Black (Paul Bratter) This is Matt’s first show at the village though he has starred in numerous other local theatre productions, including Heaven Can Wait and Cats Cradle. Matt is the production manager at 13abc and is allowed to also pursue his creative desires at work. Aside from producing local commercials and long form programming, he has also lent his face and voice to numerous television campaigns. Matt is a Toledo native, born and bred, and is thoroughly tickled to death that this opportunity has arisen. Matt is paired up in life with his wonderful wife of 16 years Becky, and his sometimes feisty 15 year old daughter Nadine. He is honored to be a part of The Village Players and hopes to continue to be involved in this wonderful Toledo tradition.
Rob Turley (Victor Valasco) Happily returns to the Village Players after a busy few years of working on writing projects. Some of Rob's favorite past experiences on Bedford, Toledo, and Perrysburg stages include playing Dr. Bradman in Blithe Spirit, Doc Porter in Crimes of the Heart, Tyler in Crossing Delancey, Barrymore in I Hate Hamlet, and serving as the director of Fool for Love. Besides enjoying his full-time position as Associate professor in the English Department at the University of Toledo where he teaches courses in drama, and mythology, Rob's other interests include travel, photography, painting, writing, and just working around his Michigan farm. Rob is delighted to be included in such a fun and talented cast and crew in this show.
Christine Young (Ethel Banks) This is my second performance with the Village Players - the first was about 20 years ago. I then got sidetracked with marriage and 6 children (ages 11-27) and now they are finally old enough that I can get back to the stage ! I've always had a flair for the dramatic, theater offers a socially acceptable venue for that energy ! Both productions in which I've been involved have been comedies - - I would like to try a serious play next. Besides being a rising "young" actress and divorced mother of six, I've been a secretary at Jeep for 22 years, I have a small candle business that I run from my home, as well as being a part-time travel agent. In the few quiet moments I have, I enjoy writing poetry. I'm looking forward to future opportunities to be involved in Village productions. Enjoy the show !!
Kenneth R. Wieland (Telephone Repairman) Ken is very happy to be doing his first show with the Village Players Theatre. Ken has appeared on many stages around the Toledo area. He was last in Heaven Can Wait as Mr. Jordan for the Coming Attraction Players, Edward in Spiked Heels at the Toledo Repertoire Theatre, various character roles in Gypsy at the University of Toledo, Ms. Rose Dinner Theater, The North Coast Players Experimental Theatre, Riverside Theatre in Ypsilanti. Ken has been in several independent films that are in postproductions. He is also acting in The Friends Guide to Beer and Sex currently being shot in Detroit. Ken is also a single father raising three boys. He is 45, a homeowner, and high school graduate with some college. He works full time for DiamlerChrysler at the Jeep plant were he has worked for 27 years. Ken's love of theatre comes from the hope he may meet single women, for a romantic liason.
Joel Spicer (Delivery Man) This is Joel’s first appearance with the Village Players, and we’re delighted to have him. He comes from a long line of Lord & Taylor delivery people dating back to a great great great granduncle who proudly wore the L&T uniform in 1601, so of course when this role opened up he had no choice but to reach for it. Well, actually, he was very active in acting way back in high school – not quite 1601, but close – but the realities of family and career took precedence as he and his lovely wife Wendy raised their three children. Now, with the kids gone and the career winding down, he auditioned for Barefoot in the Park and the rest, as they say, is history – or we hope it will be, with many more Village appearances to come.
Last Modified: 09/16/12