With the opening of our first show of the season tonight (
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike), the Rep Theatre is buzzing with excitement! The stitchers and carpenters are making last minute adjustments to the costumes and sets, the management team is prepping for the reception to follow the performance, and the actors are warming up before their big debut! In honor of opening night, I thought I'd give you a little insight into the people behind the characters that you'll see onstage. Meet the cast of
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike!
Lawrence MacGowan (Vanya) Lawrence is happy to be joining NRT for the first time. Recent acting credits include the independent film
Animals (Schiffli 2013),
Chicago Fire (NBC), and roles in
Blithe Spirit and
Bus Stop with the Summer Studio Theatre at the University of Illinois. Other acting credits include Steppenwolf Theatre, Northlight Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Victory Gardens. Regional credits include American Conservatory Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis, Pennsylvania Center Stage, Peninsula Players, and Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Larry teaches acting at the Bilingual Acting Workshop in Paris, and was in the English language premiere of
The Glory of Living at B.A.W. This fall, he begins as an assistant professor with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Carolyn Popp (Sonia)
Carolyn is delighted to debut at Nebraska Rep in two great comedies. Recently she played Aunt Kate in The Cripple of Inishmaan at Centenary Stage, and the evil Queen in Cymbeline with Shakespeare in the Parking Lot - yes - an NYC parking lot. Carolyn participated as a voice of Gettysburg in the televised live stage celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg last summer. Other NYC credits include The Hired Man, Escape from Happiness, Fifth of July, Natural Affection, A Tale of Two Cities, The Seagull, and The Comedy of Errors. Regional credits include The Last Night of Ballyhoo, The Clean House, Our Town, 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Miracle Worker, Broadway Bound, Harvey, Footloose, Cabaret, Defiance, An Inspector Calls, A Wonderful Life, Funny Girl, Carousel. You may also recall Carolyn as Stephen Colbert’s unsuspecting wife Claire Noblet in Comedy Central’s Strangers with Candy. Many thanks to a great company of actors, crew and creative team, and to my dear actor/husband David Sitler who makes our life on the road feel like home.
Kristie Berger (Masha)Kristie is thrilled to return to Nebraska Rep where she appeared as Grace in
Bus Stop and Priscilla in
Resident Alien. Other regional credits include Barbara Fordham in
August: Osage County and Frankie in
Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune (DayTony Award of Excellence, Guest Actor) at The Human Race Theatre in Dayton and the long-running national tour of
The Odd Couple: Female Version starring Barbara Eden. Chicago credits include Jeanette in
Last of the Red Hot Lovers at Illinois Theatre Center;
The Vagina Monologues, Always…Patsy Cline, and
The Odd Couple: Female Version at the Apollo Theater. Other theaters she has worked with include The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Equity Library Theater, City Lit, Lifeline, Strawdog, Mary-Arrchie, Touchstone, Center Theater, and Absolute. She also works in voice-overs, commercials, films, and industrial films and has appeared overseas at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland as Sissy in
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and as Little Mary in
Stage Door. She has participated in countless staged readings, several productions, many classes, and numerous table reads at Chicago Dramatists, where she is an Associate Artist. Kristie is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.
Hayden Spaeth (Spike)
Hayden just finished his 4th year at North Dakota State University where he will receive a B.S. in Theatre and a B.S. in Business Management. This is his first show with Nebraska Rep. Last summer he performed with Theatre West Virginia. He has been involved in numerous productions at NDSU. Hayden is also working as a carpenter during his time here. He hopes you enjoy all of the wonderful shows NRT has to offer!
Katherine Nora LeRoy (Cassandra)Katherine hails from Pensacola, Florida and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you Virginia , Paul and Brad for another opportunity with the Nebraska Repertory Theatre. Some theatre credits:
Good People, In the Next Room, You Can't Take it With You (BTE),
The 13th of Paris, Amazing Grace (Horizon Theatre/Atlanta),
The Ladies Man, Speech & Debate (Theatre in the Square),
For Colored Girls, A Raisin in the Sun, The Colored Museum, Omnium Gatherum, Leading Ladies, and
Pretty Fire. She earned her B.A. from FAMU and M.F.A. from U.N.L. ~Thanks to my family and friends for all the love and support. Special thanks to Tashiba, Carlos and Anges for being my biggest fans.
Brenna Hill (Nina)
Brenna Hill, originally from Castle Rock, Colorado, is currently a junior at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film pursuing a BA in Theatre Performance. Her recent roles include Silence in Silence and Annie in In The Next Room as a part of the Johnny Carson School's main stage season, Lily/Christine/Rhonda/Joan in Theatrix's Lion in the Streets, and Trixie Martin in The Haymarket Theatre's Daisy Pulls it Off. This is Brenna's first show at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre, and she is very thankful for this amazing opportunity to work with such a talented and experienced cast and director. She wishes all of her fellow actors to break a leg and she hopes you enjoy the show. "In me is the spirit of the great Alexander, the spirit of Napoleon, of Caesar, of Shakespeare, and of the tiniest leech that swims." -The Seagull by Anton Chekhov
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike opens tonight, Thursday, July 10! Tickets are $25 for adults, $12 for students, $22 for seniors. Call the Lied Center Ticket Office at 402.472.4747 to reserve your seats now!
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Performances
July 10, 11, 12, 19 and August 1, 8 at 7:30pm
July 27 at 2:00pm
Howell Theatre
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