Westfield Community Players (Dining Room bios)

Cast and Production Members

The Cast	The Production/Crew
Mike King as Father, Michael, Brewster, Grandfather, Stuart, Gordon, David, Harvey and Host	Lynn Polan Director
Josh Jancourtz as Client, Howard, Psychiatrist, Ted, Paul, Ben, Chris, Jim, Standish and Guest	Jessica Foerst Producer
Robert Podolak as Arthur, Boy, Architect, Billy, Nick, Fred, Tony, Dick, and Guest	Peter Curley Stage Manager
Anne King as Agent, Mother, Carolyn, Sandra, Dora, Margery, Beth, Kate, Claire, and Ruth	JoAnne Lemenille / Jean Lioy Properties
Linda Hatcher as Annie, Grace, Peggy, Nancy, Sarah, Harriet, Emily, Annie, and Guest	Set Design
Ruth Kliwinski as Sally, Girl, Ellie, Aggie, Winkie, Old Lady, Helen, Meg, Bertha, and Guest	Set Decor
	Pat Conley / Ted Garcia Backstage Staff
	Ed Whitman Lighting Design
	Ed Whitman Lighting Operator
	Glen Crane Sound Design
	Josh Jancourtz Sound Operator
	Steve Lemenille Publicity
	Katie Engel Playbill/Marketing
	Steve Lemenille Webmaster
	Alexandra Roll-Byrne Box Office
	Ed Bontempo Costumer/Hair/Make-Up
	Roberta Fisher / Marilyn Gettinger / Don Mokrauer / Kay Macrae House Managers
	TBD Ushers
	Alexandria Roll-Byrne Box Office Director
	Steve Lemenille Photographer
	Stu Schnitzer Videography
	George Hiltz Set Construction
	Sal Villani Set Construction
	Michael Bieber Set Construction
	Ed Whitman Set Construction

BIOGRAPHIES
The Cast
MIKE KING	*(Father, Michael, Brewster, Grandfather, Stuart, Gordon, David, Harvey and Host)* Michael King most recently appeared as Mr. Maraczek in She Loves Me at the Summit Playhouse. Other recent appearances: To Kill A Mockingbird (Atticus Finch), Violet (Preacher), Proof (Robert), Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike (Vanya), Glengarry Glen Ross (Levene), God of Carnage (Alan), Gore Vidal’s The Best Man (Russell), The Pillowman (Tupolski), Wait Until Dark (Roat), Ah, Wilderness! (Nat Miller) and Inherit The Wind (Drummond). Additional credits include The Music Man, (Harold Hill), Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye) and roles in Into the Woods, The Lion in Winter, and Sweeney Todd. He is returning to the Westfield stage for the first time since 1988, when he performed in WCP’s first production of The Dining Room. He was an active member of the theater throughout the 80s and performed in a dozen productions, including Deathtrap (Clifford), Summer and Smoke (Buchanan), Company (David) and Promises, Promises (Chuck Baxter). He created the banner logo that still identifies Westfield Community Players today. Mike is an architect with an office in NYC. He resides in New Providence with his wife, Anne. When time allows, he and Anne enjoy extended hiking visits to our National Parks. A smile and a nod to Sarah, Tim, Matt and grandson James for all the pleasure they provide!

JOSH JANCOURTZ	*(Client, Howard, Psychiatrist, Ted, Paul, Ben, Chris, Jim, Standish and Guest)* Josh was last seen here on stage at WCP in Black Coffee and The Foreigner last season. He then went on to handle the sound for Follies. Josh is a software developer, musician, and dad. He hasn’t acted in a long, long, long time, but thanks to his son, Ben, he has caught the acting bug again. As his family well knows, one of his favorite shows remains Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, in which he performed as (while not the Pirate King) his lieutenant, Samuel. He would like to thank his family for their love and encouragement, as well as the wonderful folks at WCP for their support and guidance. Josh is the newest member of the Board of Directors of WCP.

ROBERT PODOLAK	*(Arthur, Boy, Architect, Billy, Nick, Fred, Tony, Dick, and Guest)* This is Robert's second play for WCP. He last appeared in The Later Christopher Bean this past October. He has appeared in a few plays for The Strollers in Maplewood...including The Games Afoot: Or Holmes for the Holidays; he played Simon Bright. He wanted to pursue acting for his dad who passed away in 2016 due to cancer. He currently sells real estate for Coldwell Banker in Short Hills.

ANNE KING	*(Agent, Mother, Carolyn, Sandra, Dora, Margery, Beth, Kate, Claire, and Ruth)* last appeared on the WCP stage last season in Follies as Sally Durant Plummer. She previously appeared as Harriet Stanley in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Other recent roles include Mrs. Dubose in Summit Playhouse’s To Kill a Mockingbird and, at Trilogy Rep, Gerry in Play On!, Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man and Penny Sycamore in You Can’t Take It With You.

LINDA HATCHER	*(Annie, Grace, Peggy, Nancy, Sarah, Harriet, Emily, Annie, and Guest)* This is Linda’s fourth time performing at WCP, having last appeared in The Foreigner last season. She was also seen here in Almost Maine portraying the role of Marci and was in the production of The Dixie Swim Club as Dinah. She has been seen at The Strollers playing the roles of Joanne in Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean; Agnes in The Shadow Box and Claire in Fuddy Meers. Some of her other credits include, Emma in Stupid Fking Bird (Circle Players) and Stefanie in PETS and their humans (Fearless Productions). Linda would like to thank Lynn Polan for this opportunity as well as the cast and crew for all of their hard work and dedication. She would also like to thank her husband, family and friends for their continued support.

RUTH KLIWINSKI	*(Sally, Girl, Ellie, Aggie, Winkie, Old Lady, Helen, Meg, Bertha, and Guest)* This is Ruth Kliwinski's first time appearing on stage at WCP. Recently she was seen in Almost Maine (Gayle and Hope) with St. Anne's Players, Fairlawn NJ; Julius Caesar (Calphurnia, Marullus, Clitus) with St James Players, Montclair, NJ; The Comedy of Errors (Antipholous of Ephesus) with Trilogy Reperatory, Basking Ridge, NJ; Nutley Little Theater Shows for Days (Maria) Radburn Players, Fairlawn Chapter Two (Faye Medwick) Nutley Little Theater and 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress (Mindy McClure). Ruth is thrilled to be working on this wonderful play and is grateful to Lynn, Peter and all the production crew for their hard work.

Production Staff
LYNN POLAN	*(Director)* Lynn Polan is a freelance director and has worked in various regional, Off-Broadway, and college theatres. She is delighted to direct for the first time at Westfield Community Players. She directed She Loves Me at Summit Playhouse last spring and her work has also been seen at Playhouse 22, Luna Stage's New Moon Short Play Festival, and in Chatham Community Players’ Jersey Voices. She directed Jared Kelner’s original play, Cocktail Hour Confessions at the Loft Theatre at the Union County Performing Arts Center. Lynn is the former theatre teacher and director at Chatham High School. Many thanks to the talented cast, creative team, crew, and, as always, to Bobby.

JESSICA FOERST	*(Producer)* Jessica is making her return engagement to WCP after taking a hiatus. Jessica had previously served on the Board of Directors, ran our lighting programing, artistic materials and produced and stage managed for WCP.

PETER CURLEY	*(Stage Manager)* Peter is pleased to be back at WCP, only this time part of the production staff as Stage Manager. Peter was last seen here at WCP in Mister Roberts. Prior to that he was in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Peter was also seen here at WCP, having appeared in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as Dr. Spivey. Other Westfield credits include Almost, Maine,as Steve, A Streetcar Named Desire as Pablo, Rehearsal for Murder as Leo Gibbs, Death of a Salesman as Biff Loman, Don't Drink the Water as Axel McGee, Fools as Count Gregor Yousekovitch, Hot L Baltimore as Bill Lewis, A Midsummer Night's Dream as Demetrius, and A View from the Bridge as the Immigration Officer. Recent credits from other area theaters include Twelve Angry Jurors as Juror #8, Agatha Christie presents--The Patient and Sunday at the Seashore, Play On as Billy/Steven Sellers, Richard the Third, King Lear, Doubt as Father Flynn, Cards on the Table, All My Sons, Crucible and Taming of the Shrew.


JOANNE LEMENILLE	*(Properties)* JoAnne appeared as Mrs. Isaac Cohen in WCP's production of Abie's Irish Rose. She also appeared as Mrs. Lipari in A View from the Bridge. She began her WCP experience with her role as Mildred in WCP's production of The Cemetery Club. Since that time, JoAnne has been the Properties Mistress for our productions and served on WCP's Board of Directors as Director of Performance. JoAnne recently served as President of WCP for three terms; she is now serving as Vice President of Productions and Acting President. JoAnne has been nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Properties in a Play for Rehearsal for Murder. Most recently JoAnne has been nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Properties in a Play for On Borrowed Time. She has always been involved in theatre since she was a child back in Union with the Teen Stagers. She has also appeared as Polly in The Boyfriend, Anna in New Girl in Town; Eleanor in Second Time Around (for Regal Productions), and Peggy in Front Page. Besides doing props, she has worked on Scenery and Set Design. Her favorite role was Eleanor in Second Time Around because it gave her the chance to play her husband, Steve's, snobbish and self-centered wife. JoAnne is a retired teacher of music from the Clark School system where she was the vocal, instrumental and music theory teacher for over twenty years and for which she directed and musical directed the plays for Kumpf School. "I make bead flowers - an old French art of using glass beads." Special thanks to my husband Steve and JoAnn Scanlon for giving me the chance to rekindle my love for the stage, and thanks to a wonderful cast and fabulous crew." It's good to have you back on front stage!!!.

JEAN LIOY	*(Properties)* Jean is a retired professor of microbiology at Union County College and also Rutgers/UMDNJ. She also has been a consultant with the NJ Office Of Homeland Security in the area of bioterrorism and emergency preparedness. Being new to WCP, she is very thankful for the opportunity to learn about the backstage world of the theater. Jean currently serves on the Board of Directors as Director of Performance. Most recently Jean has been nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Properties in a Play for On Borrowed Time.

LINDA CORRELL	*(Set Design/Decor)* Linda has been involved in theater for over 40 years, in and around New Jersey and New York. It is a pleasure working with this talented and funny cast. Thank you to our wonderful Director (I’m biased) and Westfield Community Players for producing Black Coffee. Linda has recently been seen as Abby in Musical of Musicals, the Musical at Nutley Little Theater, the grandmother in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds at UCPAC, Lilliane Le Fleur in Nine! at UCPAC at Hamilton Stage, Carla in Phantom and Marta in Thumbs! at Bergen County Players (World premier). Also a director, Linda directed Play it Again, Sam at WCP earlier this year. Linda designs and builds sets and is proficient in stage pyrotechnics. Her absolute favorite role is John’s “other half”. AML, AML

ED WHITMAN	*(Lighting Designer/Operator)* This is Ed's second year with WCP. Ed has been instrumental in updating and improving our lighting system giving up greater opportunity to enhance our productions. Ed has also been a part of our construction staff. Ed serves on the Board of Directors as Director of Technical. Ed was nominated for a 2018 NJACT Perry Award for Lighting Design of a Play for Mister Roberts

KATIE ENGEL	*(Playbill/Marketing)* Katie is WCP's Playbill and Marketing Director having been re-elected last June. Katie made her WCP debut in Tribute portraying Sally Haines. Katie also appeared as Lt. Ann Girard in last season's production of Mister Roberts. Katie has also Stage Managed for And Then There Were None. Katie also was the Stage Manager for The Other Place produced by Fearless Productions at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage in Rahway, NJ back in 2015.

GLEN CRANE	**(Sound Design) Glen has been nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Sound Design for a Play for Rehearsal for Murder**

JOSH JANCOURTZ	(Sound Operator)[see above] Josh has come aboard as WCP's sound engineer, as well as, serving on the Board of Directors

STEVE LEMENILLE	(Webmaster / Publicity) Steve has directed WCP's productions of Dial 'M' for Murder, A View from the Bridge, the comedy Squabbles, {p r o o f}, Barefoot in the Park, A Thousand Clowns, And Then There Were None, Mister Roberts and The Runner Stumbles, this season. In 2013 Steve was nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for OUSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY for {proof}. He also has appeared in six consecutive productions here at WCP. Steve has been involved in theatre since his college days at Jersey City State. He is a retired Social Studies teacher and Drama Director of 29 years with the Hackensack Public Schools. Steve was also a MFA candidate at Montclair State. He has acted with Tower Players and the Opera Workshop of Jersey City, StageCrafters (Fairlawn), and Bergen County Players. He has also acted in dinner theatre for Regal Productions. Some of the roles he portrayed were: Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank (Tower Players), the Grandfather in The Long Christmas Dinner (Tower Players), Ulysses in Tiger At The Gates (Tower Players), Paul Verrall in Born Yesterday (Bergen County Players), Paul in Barefoot in the Park (Fairlawn), and Michael in Second Time Around and the Inspector Paul Sevigne in A Shot In The Dark (Regal Productions) and the Grandfather in Kurt Wiell's Down in the Valley (Opera Workshop). Steve portrayed Theseus in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stanley in Death of a Salesman, The Magistrate in Fools, and Gen. Oscar Fairfax in Little Mary Sunshine and Kilroy in Don't Drink the Water, and most recently as Daniel in Almost, Maine…all for WCP. Steve was nominated for a 2009 NJACT Perry Award for OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER for his role as the Magistrate in Fools. His directorial credits include: You Can't Take It with You, Harvey, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Gramercy Ghost, George Washington Slept Here, L'il Abner, The King & I, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, The Diary of Anne Frank, Our Town, South Pacific, The Music Man, Rehearsal for Death (all for HMS), Dial 'M' for Murder (Stagecrafters/WCP). Steve was nominated for two (2) 2012 NJACT Perry Awards for OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (As Producer for Rehearsal for Murder) and as OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY (Rehearsal for Murder). Steve was also nominated for two (2) NJACT 2011 Perry Awards: OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR in a Play for his role as Justice Lawrence Wargrave in Main Street Theatre's production of And Then There Were None, and OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR in a Play for his role as Isaac Cohen in Westfield Community Players production of Abie's Irish Rose. Steve is the immediate Past-President of WCP, as well as, the webmaster here at WCP. Steve wishes to thank his wife, JoAnne, for getting him back involved with theatre. "Without her support and love, I can accomplish little. Thank you dear!!" Steve also thanks Sherrie Ahlin and Drude Roessler for making his WCP experiences very special. A special note of thanks to Katie, Mike, JoAnne, Glenn, Bill, Ed Whitman and Ed Bontempo for their contributions at WCP. And of course special thanks to this Cast/Crew for their hard work and love of theatre. Steve has also performed at the Grove Street Theater in Montclair performing in Apricot Productions' 1-act series. Also, he has appeared in a series of monologues entitled Sex, Relationships and Sometimes… Love at The Old Library Theater, Main Street Theater Company; and at the Producer's Club and the Jerry Orbach Theater, both off-Broadway, NYC. Steve also directed Harper Lee's classic To Kill A Mockingbird and Sharr White's The Other Place at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) on the Hamilton Stage, in Rahway, NJ for Fearless Productions. Most recently, Steve was inducted into NJACT's Hall of Fame for Directing.

ALAEXANDRA ROLL-BYRNE	*(Box Office)* Alexandra is our newest Board of Directors member. She is serving as our Box Office Director.

ED BONTEMPO	*(Costumes)* Aside from portraying the role of Beverly Carlton in the production of The Man Who Came to Dinner and director last season's production of Follies, Ed has taken on the responsibility of being the costumer for WCP, including hair and make-up. Ed Bontempo in 2018 received two NJACT Perry Award Nominations: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Mister Roberts and Outstanding Costume Design of a Play Mister Roberts. He was the recipient of Outstanding Costume Design. This past season, 2018-2019, Mr. Bontempo was nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Costuming of a Musical for Follies

GEORGE HILTZ	*(Set Construction Chairman)* To be developed

MIKE BIEBER	*(Set Construction)Michael has played smaller and larger roles at WCP and Westfield’s Troupe of Friends free Shakespeare in the Park* series. From 1999-2007 he was one of the lead male vocalists in the Daddy-Os and the Grateful Dads in the McKinley Kapers annual variety show. But he most enjoys working tech behind the scenes. Professionally Michael is Associate Chair of the Information Systems Department at NJIT (which also has a Theater Department and regular productions). Michael also served as sound operator for WCP for many years.