John Ford-Dunker is an actor, known for The Joker Blogs (2008), City on a Hill (2019) and Pinching Penny (2011).

Check out this blog to get to know the artist.

Andrea Anders recently played Jamie Harris in the movie Countdown. She also appeard in the TV Series Mr. Mom as Megan Anders, and the Good Fight as Sheryl Lamore.  She starred with Matthew Perry and Allison Janney in the television series Mr. Sunshine and in ABC’s critically acclaimed series Better Off Ted. Andrea is known to television audiences for her roles as Nicole Allen on The Class and as Alex Garrett in the comedy Joey. Additional television credits include: Mr. Sunshine, Necessary Roughness, The Class, Law & Order, Tru Calling, Oz, Nubm3rs, and the daytime dramas Guiding Light and One Life to Live.  Feature film credits include the road comedy Sex Drive, Dady's Home 2, How We Live, The Half of It and The Stepford Wives.

Aaron Felske began his professional career on a high note as a featured performer in the Broadway and national touring companies of the hit musical Fosse. He has performed with Cirque du Soleil and in Celine Dion's A New Day production at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV. He is currently one of eight featured dancers in Celine Dion’s Taking Chances World Tour, having already performed in South Africa, Dubai, Australia, China, Malaysia Europe and now the US. He has just been hired as co-creator and dancer in the new Cirque show at New York’s City Center.

Susan Spencer is now a New York actress with many professional credits including Fantine in the Broadway production of Les Miserables, Grizabella in Cats, Rapunzel in Into The Woods, Clara in Passion, and Eva Peron in the National Tour of Evita. She received rave reviews throughout the country for her portrayal of Jo in the 2006 National Tour of the musical version of Little Women, with the critic from BroadwayWorld.com calling her an “absolutely mesmerizing bolt of lightning… a sublime example of how to execute a layered role.”

Laura Osnes recently completed two Hallmark TV movies, "A Homecoming for the Holidays" and "In the Key of Love." She played Julia Trogan in a lead part on Broadway's BANDSTAND: The Broadway Musical."  In 2012 Laura was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as “Bonnie” in the musical Bonnie and Clyde on Broadway. She recently starred in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes as Hope Harcourt . She also has starred on Broadway as Nellie Forbush in the Tony Award-Winning production of South Pacific and as Sandy in Grease (new cast recording), having won the role on NBC's reality TV series “Grease: You're The One That I Want.” A Minnesota native, she has been performing professionally since second grade, with favorite roles including the title role in Peter Pan, Chava in Fiddler on the Roof, Sandy in Grease, Kim McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, which earned her the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Best Youth Performer of the Year. After high school, Laura studied as a Performing Apprentice at the Tony Award winning Children's Theater Company in Minneapolis. She has performed in several new musical workshops/concerts in NYC, including at Carnegie Hall, and also does print and commercial voiceover work.

Aaron Thielen is currently Artistic Director for Marriot Lincolnshire Theatre, one of the country’s premiere musical theatre producers. Mr. Thielen was the Artistic Director for The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, State Fair and Married Alive! He also co-wrote and Artistic Directed the Marriott Theatre's Jeff Award winning hit The All Night Strut. Associated with the Marriott Theatre since 1995, he was a featured actor in more than 20 productions, choreographed Marriott's hit production of Forever Plaid, and was instrumental in facilitating the theatre's expansion in 2001. He co-founded a theatre company in Milwaukee dedicated to community outreach; he is a former company member of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company and is a 2006 four-time YMCA National Champion swimmer.

Marriott Theatre

Ruthie Baker is an actress, choreographer, coach and founder of Second Fiddle Productions.  Ruthie recently moved to the Twin Cities after nearly 10 years in NYC.  While in New York Ruthie worked at the Manhattan JCC, the Manhattan Theatre Club and was a frequent guest artist with the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.   Regionally she has worked at the Riverside Theatre (Patty in Sisters of Swing), Totem Pole Playhouse (Sisters of Swing / 45 Seconds from Broadway) and  and Tent Theatre (Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5 the Musical).   Ruthie has also done two one woman shows in NYC: “Of Mutts and Men” with the NY Theatre Barn and “Long Time Gone: a folk concert" at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.  In Minnesota she has worked at the Guthrie (Pride and Prejudice), the History Theatre (Sisters of Swing,  Christmas of Swing), the MN Fringe Festival (Assassins) and originated the role of Signe in the long running Church Basement Ladies at the Plymouth Playhouse.  Ruthie recently founded Second Fiddle Productions a professional staged reading series that breathes new life into rarely produced musicals.  For more info please visit:  www.ruthiebaker.com  and www.secondfiddleproductions.com

Rick Cornette co-starred as Nick Russo on CSI:NY alongside Kid Rock, and has appeared on Days of Our Lives and The Guiding Light. Theatrical roles include the world premiere production of Hotel C’est l’Amour, a musical theatre piece on songs by Michael John LaChiusa, a two-year tour as the MC/Band Leader in Swing! and the national tour of the hit ABBA musical Mamma Mia, where he covered the featured role of Sky. Rick also performed the role of Nick Piazza in the Off-Broadway production of Fame and got rave reviews for his performances in the West Coast Premieres of Jason Robert Brown's musicals The Last 5 Years (Laguna Playhouse), and Songs for a New World (Los Angeles Theatre Company).

Dan Gutierrez has worked professionally around the U.S doing regional work for shows including West Side Story (Chino), The Music Man ( Tommy Djilus), and A Christmas Carol. He has worked for Princess Cruise lines as a lead dancer and singer, and earned his SAG card playing a variety of roles in film and TV including Law and Order, Verizon Wireless, and MTV features. He is currently portraying the “Spirit of Fosse” and other various other roles in the Broadway Touring Production of Chicago.

Dave Schoonover toured North America, Brazil, and Chile with Cats, playing Rum Tum Tugger. In NYC, he performed in the NYMF production of That Other Woman's Child as the hillbilly clogging gang leader, Leviticus Numbers. Regionally Dave has played Billy in Anything Goes, Don in A Chorus Line, and Bernardo in West Side Story among others. Schoonover has also choreographed Grease for the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. Currently, Dave is gearing up to embark on the National Tour of the New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein playing in the ensemble and understudying the title role, directed and choreographed by five time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman.

M. Scott Taulman has worked at theatres across the U.S. Some of his past stage credits include appearances with American Players Theatre, The Fireside, First Stage Milwaukee, The Madison Rep, The Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, The Paul Bunyan Playhouse, The St. Croix Festival Theatre, The Southern Festival Theatre, The Minnesota Jewish Theatre, The Minnesota Shakespeare Project, Girl Friday Productions, Mystery Cafe and Teatro del Pueblo. Scott has appeared in several commercials in the Twin Cites (where he currently lives) and can be seen in the independent films Two Harbors, Further North, It Came From Another World, and The Monster Of Phantom Lake. He is also a licensed and practicing massage therapist.

Morgan O'Brien resume of North American credits includes Hello, Dolly! (Carousel Dinner Theater), Swiss Family Robinson (National Tour), Some Like It Hot (Derby Dinner Theater) and Cirque Sensacional (International Tour). Morgan moved to Germany in 1998 with the musical Grease!, and has since been seen in productions of Ms. Saigon, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Hair, A Christmas Carol, Van Gogh (World Premier Cast), Little Shop of Horrors, and as an original cast member and dance captain of Mamma Mia, for which he also received a platinum album award for soundtrack sales. He currently lives in Berlin.

Travis (Mitchell) Stroessenreuther has been living in New York City for nearly 19 years, continuing to work in Theatre and Film.  Travis has worked extensively regionally and has been out on four national tours, including Rock of Ages and Spring Awakening.  Travis was recently nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Miami Web Fest for his work in 'Ghost Light The Series' and has had numerous shorts screen at various film festivals. 

http://www.travistravistravis.com

Cory currently resides in Chicago and was recently featured in Will Eno's The Flu Season for Black Sheep Productions. Cory was also seen in Stage Left Theatre's world premiere of The Day of Knowledge as Aleksei. As a Stage Left ensemble member since 2001, he's had the fortunate opportunity to play in such productions as After Ashley, and in last year's Omniscience. Other SLT credits include, Echoes of Another Man, The Vow, Fellow Travellers, Cyber Serenade and The Secret of the Old Queen. Other Chicago credits include Blindside at The Raven, A Play About a Squirrel in 2007's Rhino Festival, Endless Night, Sweet Delight and Working Out! both for Bailiwick Repertory Theatre. Regional credits include, The Human Race Theatre Company, Rocky Mountain Repertory, and Bridgework Children's Theatre.

Ryan Reilly has performed leading roles as Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees, Ren McCormick in Footloose, Cliff in Cabaret, and Prince Charming in Cinderella with the Alhambra Dinner Theatre and in West Side Story for the Broadway Palm West Theatre, both in Florida. Other professional appearances include Lucifer in Faustus with the Toybox Theatre Co. in New York City, as a featured singer for Tokyo Disneyland and in featured roles in Meet Me In St. Louis at the Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago.

After only a few weeks in New York City, she landed a job at Hershey Resorts and Entertainment, doing a 2-month run of their Christmas show. She then appeared in featured roles in Les Miserables at the prestigious North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. Recently, Ashley has been busy in the mid-west working at Circa 21, where she played Jainie Johnson in the comedy Alone Together, Violet Bick in A Wonderful Life, and Snow White in Snow White.  Regional credits include:  Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre as The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Zelda Zanders in Singin’ in the Rain.  Most recently she was feature in Inside Broadway’s Two Night Concert Series.

www.AshleyCatherineSchmitt.com

Danny is currently being featured in the national tour of Rock of Ages covering the roles of Drew and Lonny.  Other post-graduate credits include Rum Tum Tugger in Cats and Simon the Zealot in Jesus Christ Superstar at Chanhassen Dinner Theaters, a singer and dancer on Holland America Line cruise ships, the Radio City Christmas Spectular at The Grande Ole Opry and the award-winning TAP: The Show! at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania.

Laura Christianson has been able to travel the U.S. performing in various roles and venues all the way from Florida to Alaska! Some favorite roles include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Fiona in Brigadoon, Antonia in Man of La Mancha, and Ado Annie in Oklahoma.  Most recently she has performed at Disney World as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Flora Long in the Hoop Dee Doo Revue, and sang with Voices of Liberty in Candlelight Processional.

Chad was recently featured in the New York Musical Theatre’s production of The Brain From Planet X.  His national tour credits including Show Boat (Frank), Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella (Prince/Lionel u/s), The Music Man (Oliver Hix) and the current tour of 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor u/s) which includes a six week tour of Japan. Regionally he has performed in State Fair, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Forever Plaid, and Damn Yankees. Most recently he was featured at the Ordway in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas starring Melissa Errico.

Susan Maris has been living in NYC since May 2003. She has appeared with The Prospect Theater Co. as Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor (in Central Park), The House of Bernarda Alba, and the NYC debut of the new musical The Book of the Dun Cow. Currently touring with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in their Shakespeare LIVE company as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Work in New York includes various Off-Off Broadway shows, short and student films, regional venues, and the horror film Demon Resurrection. Eli now resides in Los Angeles to focus his efforts on film and television roles. He recently performed in The Twilight of the Golds to critical acclaim, in a production with the playwright’s involvement. Other bookings have included a co-star role on Desperate Housewives and a lead role in the independent feature Holding Trevor, released domestically and internationally and currently showing on here! tv.

Jake Paque is an actor, writer and sports enthusiast who still dreams of being a quarterback in the NFL. He’d even consider the CFL. In the meantime he does film, TV, commercials, voice-over and theatre. Currently based in NYC, Jake has had the opportunity to work with some amazing people and he looks forward to working with more amazing people. Recent film credits include: This Just In (Pilot) and the psychological thrillers Underneath and Dark Mark of Evil. For more info on Jake and his upcoming projects check out his semi-archaic website at www.jakepaque.com or follow him on twitter @jurassicpaque.

Kevin Stangler is currently playing Perchik in the North American Tour of Fiddler on the Roof directed by Tony Award Winner, Sammy Dallas Bayes.

He is an ensemble member of The New Colony, a Chicago based theater company dedicated to producing new works, such as Amelia Earhart Jungle Princess and Tupperware: An American Musical Fable. As a New Colony member, Kevin has also performed in devised works in collaboration with Victory Gardens Theater and Collaboraction.

Other Chicago/ Regional credits include: The Marriott, The House Theatre of Chicago, First Folio Theatre, Metropolis PAC, Connecticut Free Shakespeare, as well as three touring productions with The National Theater for Arts and Education.\

Audra recently played Cecily Pigeon in The Odd Couple at the John W. Engeman Theatre in New York alongside Broadway's Micheal McGrath (Spamalot) and Jim Poulos (Rent). Last summer she played Elvira in Blithe Spirit and Auoda in Around the World in 80 Days at St. Michael's Playhouse in Vermont. Last fall she got her Equity card playing the title role in Charlotte's Web with NYC's TheatreWorks USA. Since graduating she toured two seasons with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night's Dream, Coriolanus and London Assurance, and last spring Audra was a cast member of the CBS online series "Inturn". She has also been featured in print ads for Sam's Club, Verizon, Bantam Books and Manpower.

https://www.backstage.com/u/AudraWahhab/

At the Cumberland County Playhouse, performed in Carousel, Captains Courageous and was The Artful Dodger in Oliver. Currently living in CA working at The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville playing Willum Cubbert in The Nerd. Also teaches musical theatre dance and modern dance at a local studio called Central Coast Music and Dance Academy. He recently appeared as a featured player in that same theatre’s new production of Scary Poppins.

Scott works extensively in the Chicago theatre scene, most notably at Steppenwolf Theatre, where he recently played in THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, and where he was an understudied the role of Mr. Peel in the world premiere production of Tracy Letts's THE MINUTES, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, and the roles of Jake and Drew in the midwest premiere of STRAIGHT WHITE MEN, directed by playwright Young Jean Lee. He has  also worked extensively in front of the camera in the commercial world, most notably for Wisconsin Lottery/Green Bay Packers, McDonalds, the NFL Network, US Army, and White Castle.

Clark Ausloos, ’08, Perrysburg, Ohio, is back in the Midwest after several years in New York City where he worked for Inside Broadway teaching music, dance and acting to English as a second language students in  Brooklyn. He also worked for Annie’s Playhouse in New Jersey teaching dance, musical theatre, acting, voice, piano, monologue and audition techniques. He is an actor, choreographer and member of the Actors Equity Association. He now operates Next Stage Studios for youth in Perrysburg (one of his instructors is Lindsay Fischer, ’09), teaching musical theatre classes and private lessons.  He also choreographs regionally with Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre and Derby Playhouse and directs in the Toledo area. Clark is also a nationally certified personal trainer.

Clare received her MFA in Acting with an emphasis  in Voice for the Actor from UW.  She has since worked as a professional actor, voice and speech coach, and teaching artist for theaters throughout the Midwest, including Forward Theater, Theatre LILA, American Players Theatre, Overture Center for the Arts, Wisconsin Story Project, Children's Theatre of Madison, First Stage, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, and Madison Opera.  She was last seen on stage as Henrietta Leavitt in Forward Theater's Silent Sky and in Theatre LILA’s The Suitcase Dreams.  Clare currently teaches voice and acting courses at UW and also serves as the Oral Communications Specialist at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. She is a proud member of AEA, VASTA, and TESOL.  

Since moving to Los Angeles, Jesse has been very active in pursuing his career in the film and television industry. He appeared in a few short films that made debuts within some of the Southern California film festival circuits. He’s currently working on directing/producing his own low budget short films. Jesse has been able to work behind the camera, too, being a production assistant for a Public Service Announcement with Marlee Matlin and working closely with an independent film production company on several projects. Currently, Jesse is learning the business side of the industry by interning at a talent agency in Beverly Hills.

Melissa Pharr’s favorite roles include Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof, Casey in Anton In Show Business, and her appearance as the leading lady in the original production of one of Arthur Kopit's most recent works, The Discovery of America, in which she had the opportunity to work with Arthur Kopit. She has worked with the Boston Actors Theater and appeared this past fall as Anna in Baltimore Waltz with Holland Productions. Melissa recently finished her second project with Holland Productions, appearing as Vivian in Aloha, Say The Pretty Girls and can be seen this April at the Lyric Theater in the live reading of a brand new play, Lullaby.

Thomas Bevan (2010) is currently touring North America with Broadway's Chicago (Spirit of Fosse / Bailiff, Amos U/S). Prior to this Thomas had the pleasure of performing in Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular in NYC as a featured vocalist. Regionally he has worked at the prestigious Guthrie Theatre, Children's Theatre of Minneapolis and North Carolina Theatre (Legally Blonde Dir. Denis Jones) among others. Thomas is honored and humbled to say that he will be featured in the upcoming film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's The Last 5 Years dancing with Tony and Oscar Nominee Anna Kendrick during her "Summer in Ohio."

Elizabeth graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She is currently performing the role of Hodel in the 2012-2013 National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof.  Regional credits include Lizzie Fields (BABY), Olive Ostrovsky (25th...Spelling Bee) and Kate/Chutney (Legally Blonde). She has been a featured singer at The Duplex and the NYC Fringe Festival under the direction of former alum, Rebecca Hengstenberg. www.elizabethmcmonagle.com

Christie Burgess has performed in multiple regional theatre productions in the Midwest. Companies have included The Marriott Lincolnshire, Light Opera Works, Metropolis Theatre, Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, and others. Recent roles have included Fantine (Les Miserables), Demeter (CATS), Cinderella (Into the Woods), and Mrs. Phagan (Parade). Off stage, she is a theatre director, educator, and program coordinator in southeast Wisconsin and the Chicago Suburbs. She is Talent Coordinator and head of the Voice Over department with Lori Lins Ltd, a Midwest-based talent agency that has been booking print, on-camera, and voice over work around the world for over 35 years.

Justun (BFA Musical Theatre 2013) is currently touring Broadway’s “How the
Grinch Stole Christmas” (Member of Whoville, Grinch u/s). Prior to this, Justun had the privilege of leading the 2015 National Tour of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” (Adam). Other regional credits include: “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” (Adam) and “Oklahoma!” (Jud). Justun is excited to announce that in January of 2017, he will be taking on the role of Samson in “Samson” at Sight and Sound, a 2,000 seat theater in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.