Westfield Community Players (Butterflies bios)

Cast and Production Members

The Cast	The Production/Crew
Ross Pohling as Don Baker	Wanda S. Maragni Director
Sherilyn Morse as Jill Tanner	Garry Tamburro Producer
Jean Kuras as Mrs. Baker	Barbara Ruban Stage Manager
Bobby Marusiefski as Ralph Austin	JoAnne Lemenille Properties
	Bill McMeekan Set Design
	JoAnne Lemenille/Barbara Ruban Set Decor
	Bill McMeekan Lighting Design
	Jessica Foerst Lighting Operator
	Glen Crane Sound Design
	Michael Bieber Sound Operator
	Barbara Goldstein Publicity
	Jessica Foerst Playbill
	Steve Lemenille Web site
	Renate Bieber Box Office
	Doris Dias Costumes
	Info not supplied House Managers
	Info not supplied Ushers
	TBD Stage Crew
	TBD Stage Crew
	Steve Lemenille Photography
	George Hiltz Set Construction Chairman
	Bob Smith Set Construction
	Sal Villani Set Construction
	Paul Kirsh Set Construction

BIOGRAPHIES
The Cast
ROSS POHLING	*(Don Baker)* Ross is a lifelong Westfield resident making his debut on the WCP stage. He learned acting and scene study from Cynthia Meryl at the New Jersey Youth Theatre, for which he appeared in �1776� at NJPAC. Last year he graduated from Binghamton University, where he was on the executive board for the Hinman Production Company (HPC), a student community theater group. He performed in several shows for HPC, including The Laramie Project, Hair, And Then There Were None, The Nerd, The Wedding Singer, Love Sex and the IRS, The Pillowman, Harvey, The Foreigner, and Cabaret. Most recently, he appeared in Christopher Durang Lampoons Theater at the Edison Valley Playhouse.

SHERILYN MORSE	*(Jill Tanner)* Sherilyn is thrilled to be making her WCP debut. She was last seen in Mystic Vision Players� Broadway World nominated productions of Steel Magnolias (Annelle) and Dog Sees God (Tricia) at the UCPAC. In Spring 2013, she won Superior Dramatic Monologue for Antigone at the NJ Thespian Festival. Favorite stage credits: Journey to the West (Apricot), The Tempest (Adrian), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Pinecone), Metamorphoses (Atalanta), Oliver Twist (Dodger), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy). Favorite film credits: Melissa in the Sundance Film contest �BLAME� teaser and Julia in Khanate Studios� �Broken�. She would like to thank Wanda for the chance of a lifetime, the entire cast & crew, and finally, her family, teachers, and friends, for their support during her metamorphosis into finding her inner �butterfly�.

JEAN KURAS	*(Mrs. Baker)* Jean Kuras has previously appeared at WCP as Mrs. Warwick in the Unexpected Guest and Mrs. Hedges in Born Yesterday. Jean thanks the talented cast and and excellent stage crew of this lovely theater and the special artistry of Wanda Maragni for making the past few weeks as beautiful as the butterflies.

BOBBY MARUSIEFSKI	*(Ralph Austin)* Bobby is returning to Westfield Community Players after making his WCP debut in last season's production of {Proof} in the role of Hal. Bobby can also be seen in the off-Broadway production of Sex, Relationship and Sometimes�Love at the Producer's Club in NYC. He has had a dream of writing, directing, and starring in his own film for a long time now. He finally took a step towards accomplishing this goal by enrolling at the New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts. After performing in the school's Class Acts, and their presentation of the play Office Hours, he found himself making his stage debut with the Westfield Community Players.

Production Staff
WANDA S. MARAGNI	*(Director)* Wanda Maragni is pleased to be back at Westfield Community Players. Last season, she had the pleasure of directing Dixie Swim Club. Wanda has worked for many years with the acclaimed Attic Ensemble in Jersey City. Some of her past directing credits include: The Dining Room, A Streetcar Named Desire, Blithe Spirit, Eastern Standard, Agnes of God, The Boys Next Door and Toys in the Attic - for which she received a Best Direction Perry Award. She is very grateful to a cast and crew that worked so hard in a very short, and sometimes snowy, rehearsal period. Thanks also to Barbara and Garry for helping to keep all of us moving along. She is especially thankful for her loving family - Al, Michael and Emily - who support her in whatever she chooses to do. And as always - for Tommy.

GARRY TAMBURRO	*(Producer)* Garry Tamburro (Producer) Has appeared in a number of plays at WCP, most notably as Fleetfoot in Little Mary Sunshine and Officer Thompson in Dial 'M' for Murder but this is his first time producing a show, but with the aid of such an exceptional director and such an extraordinary cast and crew they made this job a breeze, a most pleasurable and memorable experience.

BARBARA RUBAN	*(Stage Manager)* started with WCP as property master for many shows before branching out into stage managing and received a Perry Award nomination for props for the production of Angel Street. She also assists with set decoration and costumes. Having been on stage in a couple of productions, she would rather leave the acting to the pros and enjoy being in the backstage "hustle and bustle". Barbara also wrote two original plays which were performed at WCP. In addition, one play was performed in Chatham in the Jersey Voices Festival. She had been on the Board of WCP for two years serving as Director of Performance. Barbara is now Vice President of Productions. A legal assistant by day, she thanks WCP for allowing her to express her creative side and her children and grandchildren for their love and support, which makes it all more gratifying.

JOANNE LEMENILLE	*(Properties)* JoAnne appeared as Mrs. Isaac Cohen in last seasons WCP's production of Abie's Irish Rose. She began her WCP experience with her role as Mildred 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 Productions. JoAnne recently served as President of WCP for three terms; she is now serving as Director of Performance. JoAnne has been nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Properties in a Play for Rehearsal for Murder 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!!!

BILL MCMEEKAN	*(Set/Lighting Designer)* Bill not only serves as our set designer, but is currently WCP's Treasurer and serves on the Board of Directors. Bill has recently been nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Set Design for a Play for Rehearsal for Murder

JESSICA FOERST	*(Lighting Operator/Playbill)* Jessica is not only versatile at operating the light control board, but also sits on the WCP Board of Directors as Director of Playbill. She has aided in the lighting design of this show. She is also extremely talented as a graphic designer. Much of her art work is displayed throughout our website. Jessica has been nominated for a NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play for Rehearsal for Murder. Most recently, Jessica, made her directorial debut with Apricot Sky Productions in Montclair, directing a one-act play.

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

MIKE BIEBER	*(Sound Operator)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).

BARBARA GOLDSTEIN	*(Publicity)* To be developed

STEVE LEMENILLE	*(Web Master)* Besides serving as President of WCP and directing for WCP, Steve is also responsible for our web site. Steve has directed such WCP productions as Dial 'M' for Murder, A View From the Bridge, Squabbles, {proof} and Barefoot in the Park. Steve has also performed here at WCP in such productions as A Midsummer Night's Dream, Death of a Salesman, Fools, Little Mary Sunshine, Don't Drink the Water, A View From the Bridge, Abie's Irish Rose, Rehearsal for Murder and Barefoot in the Park. Steve has also been nominated for several NJACT Perry Awards in such catergories as Outstanding Ensemble Actor (Fools), Outstanding Featured Actor (Abie's Irish Rose) and (Rehearsal for Murder), Outstanding Producer (Rehearsal for Murder), and Outstanding Director ({proof}).

RENATE BIEBER	*(Box Office)* Renate has been Director of Tickets since the 08-09 season and enjoys making sure the front of the house runs smoothly. Participating in the chorus of Mikado and Pirates of Penzance with the Gilbert & Sullivan Players of Philadelphia many years ago makes her appreciate the hard work that goes into a production and confirmed her belief that she doesn't want to be on stage. Renate is a substitute teacher in the Westfield School District, a board member of Westfield Hadassah, a member of the Harvest Quilters of Central New Jersey and enjoys spending time with her family and reading.

DORIS DIAS	*(Costumes)* I�m thrilled with the opportunity to work on this production. My personal goal is to make sure that the actors are comfortable and confident in their appearance on stage. I started working on costumes at the Westfield Community Theater in 2009 with their production of Little Mary Sunshine. At this point I fell in love with costuming. I was asked back to the theater and subsequently invited as the Chairperson of Costumes. I have great respect for the Director and his visions, they inspire me. I thank the production team for their faith in my ideas and their respect for my opinion. And specially my daughter for all the late hours, help and support. Past credits: Olympus on My Mind, {Proof}, Little Mary Sunshine, Don�t Drink the Water, The Second Time Around, Dial M for Murder, Caught In The Net, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, Abie�s Irish Rose, I Love You, You�re Perfect, Now Change, Top Girls, Stuart Little and Bizet�s Carmen "I am a Costumer, I make clothes for imaginary people." ---Celestine Ranney, 1982

	*(Stage Crew)*

	*(Stage crew)*

	*(Stage crew)*

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

SAL VILLANI	*(Set Construction)* To be developed

BOB SMITH	*(Set Construction)* To be developed

PAUL KIRSH	*(Set Construction)* To be developed