Robert O’Neill (Judge Thatcher/Silas Phalps) has enjoyed a varied and fulfilling career in the performing arts. Recent stage: last season’s acclaimed production of MAN OF LA MANCHA here at the Centre Theater, Philly Fringe in DUE PROCESS. Recent film: LADDER 49 as Father Hogan and Bobbie Holiday as DAD.

Alan Kutner performed the role of Scrooge in A CHRISTMAS CAROL three times for The Walnut Street Theatre, and has also performed there in The FANTASTICKS, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and CAMILA. His A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC won a Barrymore as best musical for The Arden Theatre. Favorite roles include: Doolittle, MY FAIR LADY; Don Quixote, MAN OF LA MANCHA; and Drummond, INHERIT THE WIND.

Julie Keller previously at the Centre Theater in GODSPELL and CITY OF ANGELS.  Some of her other recent roles include Bonnie in ANYTHING GOES, Gillian Holroyd in BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE, Constance Ledbelly in GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA, GOOD MORNING JULIET, and Meg in CRIMES OF THE HEART.  Julie’s favorite role was playing Laura in THE GLASS MENAGERIE.  She is grateful to her new husband for his patience with her absence during this and other shows.   

Janel Forsythe- Esther (Alice’s Daughter) Janel Forsythe has previously performed in Music Man and Honk Jr. for the Center Theater’s Student Workshop. 

Marietta Rizzone was last seen in the Centre Theatre’s production of CITY OF ANGELS.  Favorite roles at the Centre include “Lily” in SECRET GARDEN and “Cinderella” in INTO THE WOODS.  She is also President and an active member of the Center’s Board of Directors.

Jess Conda has worked as an actor with Brat Productions, Pig Iron Theatre Company, Walnut Street Theatre, Madhouse Theater Company, Valley Forge Children’s Theatre and others. Jess is also a theater educator and has taught and directed productions at Arcadia University and Montgomery Theater with students ranging in age from 8-18.

Ben Levan appeared in last year’s MAN OF LA MANCHA and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the Centre Theatre.  He has also performed in Norristown Area High School’s Drama Club for the past four years.  Most recently he played Dauntless in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, and Elwood P. Dowd in HARVEY.  Next fall Ben will be attending DeSales University as a theatre major. Wesley Stohler(Musical Director) has been involved with Centre Theater for six previous seasons and is happy to be back.  He directs theater at Upper Merion Area High School and tries to stay involved with a few other theater projects around the Philadelphia area. During the daytime, Wes works for a financial services firm in Wayne.

Krissy Johnson: This is Krissy’s second musical with the Center Theatre – she performed in last year’s MAN OF LA MANCHA. Krissy received a Bachelor of Music from Trinity University in San Antonio followed by a Master of Music in vocal performance from the University of Houston. Off Broadway credits include MURDERED BY THE MOB, FORGOTTEN BROADWAY, and THE WWOW RADIO MYSTERY HOUR. Regional Credits include HOUDINI at the Goodspeed Opera House; ZORRO, DAVID DANCES, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Burt Reynolds Theatre in West Palm Beach, FL; ALEXANDER, AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY with the Philadelphia Children’s Theatre; and THE SOUND OF MUSIC with Bucks County Playhouse.

Jude Adams is appearing in his second show with the Centre Theater (MAN OF LA MANCHA). Jude is a fourth grade teacher in the Allentown School District. He has a degree in Elementary Education from Kutztown University. Jude is now pursuing his masters in education at Wilkes University. He spends his free time doing theater, and singing, as well as obsessing over Philadelphia sports. Jude has appeared in many shows including; YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN(Charlie), 1776(Richard Henry Lee), BILOXI BLUES(Wykowski), RUMORS(Glenn Cooper), GODSPELL(All Good Gifts), PIRATES OF PENZANCE(Major General Stanley), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, MUSIC MAN, and many, many more.

Miranda Thompson is an actress, singer, choreographer and writer of West Philadelphia. Recent credits include: New Edge Artist Mix Series at the Community Education Center (CEC) and the American Family Theater’s touring company of Black Journey. While acting Miranda also wrote and produced her own film MAN ONE for the New York Minute Film Festival in 2005. Throughout Philadelphia she can be seen performing her own written works.

James Cargill earned his B.A. in Theatre from Kutztown Unversity.  This is his first performance in the Philadelphia area after relocating here last September.  He is honored to be performing at The Centre Theatre in BIG RIVER. 

Gary Giles has been performing in professional theater since his debut in the Arden Theater Company’s touring production of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN in 1982.  Since then he has performed in a plethora of productions some of which have been: THE WIZ in the role of the Wizard, HOME as Cephas Miles, PURLIE as Rev. Purlie and a host of other musicals.  Most recently of note was his role as Frederick Douglass in FREEDOM SOLDIERS, one of the Faith and Freedom series of dramatic programs produced by The Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum. Currently Mr.Giles is working as an orator at the National Constitution Center in their multi-media production FREEDOM RISING.   Mr. Giles is an avid children’s story writer and is currently finalizing his own multi-media production for children entitled WONDABUBBA AND THE BIG SPLASH.

Durell Griffin has been acting for seven years now. This is his 1st production with the Center Theatre. He hopes to study musical theatre in college soon. Some of his favorite roles include: Wickersham Brother in SEUSSICAL; Fagin in OLIVER; and Don Pedro in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

Brian Sell is happy to do his first Centre Theater production. He has been seen in many shows and movies in PA, DE, NH and NY. Brian has a theater degree from DeSales University. He looks forward to many more productions and hopefully many more at the Centre Theater.

Robert Toczek comes to us with a wealth of experience in both amateur and semi-professional theater. Robert has a BA in Theater from Temple Universtiy. He also was a resident at Hedgerow Theatre of Media. Robert was last seen in the area as Officer Krumpke in WEST SIDE STORY.

Kareem Diallo Carpenter is a native Philadelphian who studied drama and dance in Atlanta, Georgia at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. He was last seen as James Horsford Ottley in EYES OF THE AMERICAN at Allen’s Lane theatre.

Josh Schrager has appeared in high school productions such as LUCKY STIFF, STRIKE UP THE BAND, OUR TOWN, CAHOOT’S MACBETH, and he was honored to have the lead role of Georg Nowack in SHE LOVES ME at Abington Friends School. In addition to shows in school, Josh has played the role of Peter Van Daan in the JFCS production of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, which travels to various schools, synagogues, and churches around the Delaware Valley. Josh also loves to sing. He sang alto with the Philadelphia Boys Choir from age nine to thirteen and traveled with them to Cuba, Germany, and Russia. Now he sings tenor and is President of the Keystone State Boychoir Graduate Choir, whom he has toured with to South Africa, Canada, Alaska, Las Vegas, Arizona, and Japan.

Stephanie Owens has been singing for most of her life. She studied music at Temple University. She has performed at the White House with President Bill Clinton. She performed with Celine Dion at Madison Square Garden. She shared the stage with Dick Gregory and Winney Mandella at the Million Woman March in Philadelphia. She loves to share her talent with all.

Ed Flores Jr. (Judge Thatcher/Silas Phelps) was last seen in ANYTHING GOESfor the Vogue Players in Philadelphia where he has performed for over 12 years in many productions. He has also performed with the Media Theater for their Children's Theater Program in productions of ALICE IN WONDERLAND and many others. He also served as crew chief for their main stage productions of BIG RIVER, WEST SIDE STORY and others. Eddie is also an instructor for the Young Performer's Theater Camp at the University of Penn sponsored by the Philadelphia Dep't of Recreation.