Steve and Maria Conway

Isa Engleberg

Mitch and Melissa Front

Penny Garner

Patti Horrall

Lynn Luthey

Jim Robertson and R&R Lighting

Temple Rodef Shalom Players

Bill Wells

THE CAST

Kate Blackburn (Daisy Werthan) – Kate is partial to Southern characters (M'Lynn and Jessie Mae and others) and Jewish characters (numerous Neil Simon gals).  With Miss Daisy, she gets both.  Being on stage has been a lifelong endeavor.  Last time at St. Mark’s, she was Dancing at Lughnasa.  What a joy the Daisy cast and staff have been!  Thank you Jessie for your sensitive direction!

Derrick Lampkins (Hoke Colburn) – Derrick is a native of the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  Formerly a professional boxer, Derrick returned to the arts field after he retired from boxing.  Derrick also studied at the University of the District of Columbia, where he was a Mass Media major, and at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts.  His most recent credits include Why Black Men Play Basketball, The Lottery, and Henrietta Marie, a staged reading.

Michael A. Pemberton (Boolie Werthan) – It’s been a long time since Michael has been on the SMP stage and wasn’t backed up by an orchestra.  The last time that happened was in Galileo, over four years ago.  This is Michael’s fifth time on the St. Mark’s stage, and he is also President of the company.  He has truly enjoyed playing a part that he’s always wanted to play, and now is old enough to do so.  Michael’s abilities are truly stretched with this role.  He was raised Baptist, works for The Catholic University of America as the Assistant Treasurer, and is portraying a Jewish printing business owner in an Episcopal church.  Thank you for coming.  Love to my own Florine—you have everything to do with it.

THE PRODUCTION CREW

Jeffrey Scott Auerbach (Lighting Designer) – This is Jeff’s fifth season at St. Mark’s.  He has enjoyed the five lustrously creative and challenging years with the Players.  Some of his credits here include Into the Woods, Pippin, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat.  He has also had credits at other local community groups like PCP, SCT, FP, and TAP.  He has future shows coming up such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at LTA and Plaza Suite at TAP.  He sends his love to his family and the ever-important Davids.  Very special thanks go out to Chad W. and Mike P.   Enjoy the show.

R. Cary Blackwelder-Plair (Set Design) – Cary recently graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Architecture and Stage Set Design.  This is Cary’s first set design for the St. Mark’s Players.  Earlier this year he constructed Milky White for the SMP production of Into The Woods.  Cary has also worked on productions of Grease, How I Learned To Drive, Noises Off, and The 1940’s Radio Hour.  This design is for STP.

Kathryn Hewlett-Jobes (Co-Stage Manager, Co-Properties Mistress) – Kathryn is fairly new to the Washington community theatre scene, and is delighted to be working with such a talented cast and crew.  As assistant stage manager for ESP’s Romeo and Juliet, now co-stage manager for this wonderful show—who knows where this career trajectory will lead?

Jessie Marshall (Director) – Jessie’s theatre background is based on an MFA degree in Acting from Brandeis University and performances in a number of productions in New York City.  She has directed for the Temple Rodef Shalom Players (TRSP) in Falls Church, including the annual Purim musical, Neil Simon’s Fools, and Alfred Uhry’s The Last Night of Ballyhoo.  This summer, she appeared as Ida in the TRSP production of The Cemetery Club and as Lady Montague in ESP’s production of Romeo & Juliet.  In 2003, she will direct Dearly Departed at DS and then return to TRSP for the spring Purim extravaganza.  This is her first opportunity to work with St. Mark’s Players.  Her sincerest thanks go to Chad, Rick, and Michael for their terrific support and to this fantastic cast and crew for their hard work and dedication.