Wendy Almeida appeared in four  previous BRT productions: The Octette Bridge Club, Steel Magnolias, All in the Timing and Selections from Working. She also performs with Theatre at the Mount and Actors' Circle Theatre, where she won a NH Theatre Award for Jake's Women and recently played Queen Aggravain in Once Upon a Mattress.
	Dea Banish is originally from the Carolinas and has lived in New Hampshire for 16 years.  She has 6-year old twin daughters, Jordan and Taylor, and works in the Keene area as an independent paralegal.  Her theatrical performances include a 2-year supporting role as Becky Thatcher in Huckleberry Finn at the Raleigh Little Theatre, Theatre in the Park and various Community Theatres in and around the Raleigh area.  She recently had a singing and dance role in Antrim, New Hampshire in Annie Get Your Gun. Her training includes voice, drama seminars, public speaking, as well as set and costume assistance in other productions.  “I particularly find the part of The Mute in The Fantasticks as a fun and challenging role, yet it will prove difficult for me not to laugh and show emotion during the show.  The cast, production staff and directors involved with the Branch River Theatre are phenomenal and it has been an honor working with them and under their fine direction.”
	Melissa Blanchard has spent many years performing in various psych wards.  They call themselves theatres but you cannot always tell the difference! This is her debut with the Branch River Psychological Clinic where she is playing Nurse Flinn in One Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The first sign of the theatre bug showed up in first grade where she played Mini Mouse. From there she joined the local crazies in many summers of the Westmoreland Old Home Day Plays.  Melissa studied and received a B.A. in Theatre at Southwestern College. A few of her roles while studying were Desirée in A Little Night Music, Queenie in Marcus is Walking, Josephina in Tony and Tina's Wedding, Baba in the opera The Medium, and Kiki in Philemon. In addition to acting Melissa studied voice for 7 years, directed, and was the scenic artist for multiple shows.  She spent a summer at the Saxton's River Playhouse in Vermont and one summer at The Horsefeathers and Applesauce Summer Dinner Theatre in Winfield, Kansas. This summer she will celebrate her fifth wedding anniversary with the biggest cuckoo of them all, her husband Jeremy!
	Jennifer Bond has been acting for as long as she can remember.  As a child, her mother affectionately nicknamed her “Sarah Heartburn”.  As such, she decided to use her drama queen tendencies for good and not for evil and minor in theatre arts at Franklin Pierce College in Rindge.  Locally, she has appeared in several Branch River Theatre shows including, My Three Angels, Selections from Working, Bus Stop, On Broadway, and Back to Broadway.  She has also appeared with Jeff Stout Concepts as Trixie Norton in The Honeymooners.  But she is perhaps most famously (and definitely least clothed) remembered for her role in The Jeff Stout Concepts production of Noises Off! as Brooke/Vicki.  She also had the opportunity to get a different perspective of the theater (from the backstage) when she assistant stage managed this year's Lion's Club musical, Oliver.  When not on the stage, Jennifer enjoys playing the role on “mommy” to her two beautiful, amazing, brilliant daughters, Abigail and Lily (little drama queens in their own right), and is employed by the Monadnock Radio Group where you may recognize her voice as she transforms into her alter-ego, “J Bo”.  Jennifer lives in Keene with her husband, Matt (genius set designer) and daughters.
	Matt Bond has spent the last few years beating back the hoards of theater geeks who've been trying to convince him to step out from behind the scenes and try his hand at acting. He's helped design and build sets for Bus Stop, On Broadway, Noises Off!, Just Desserts, The Honeymooners and Love, Sex and the I.R.S. After buckling under the pressure he decided to audition for Love, Sex and the I.R.S. and frankly, it's changed his life. No longer is he the anonymous dork with the tool belt. He is not the jerk with the over inflated ego and the bevy of slack-jawed followers. He'd like to thank his lovely wife Jennifer (a theater diva in her own right) and his two beautiful daughters Abigail and Lily for their undying love and support.
	Steve Bourque, from the middle of left field, lands on the BRT stage (well actually, on the floor in front of the stage) along side this seasoned cast of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest  for his acting debut. Prior to his current stretch in the psychiatric ward, Steve had spent all of his hours of stage time peeking out from behind a set of drums. Through his connections with the Keene-based band Fuzzy Logic, Steve has provided percussive support for dozens of local projects including the Just Desserts AIDS benefits and the Keene Music Festival as well as the BRT production of Moon Fever and Small Pond's production of The Neon Coconut Cabaret, both original musical comedies from Fuzzy front man Michael Cohen. As a lifelong artist and musician he has developed an eclectic taste for all things slightly odd, which brings us back to Cuckoo's Nest. Steve spends most days sitting in front of a computer in his role as a mechanical designer and shares all of his non-fantasy life with his outrageously supportive family in the woods of Peterborough NH.
	Rich Clough is currently employed as a Swing, Latin, Ballroom teacher, and Personal Trainer to the Stars at the Moving Company Dance Center. Rich started life as a singer, moved to acting, and ended up as a dancer. Whether he is singing and playing guitar with the band "Mars needs Women", dancing with his wife Pam or rehearsing for Rumors, life is a continuously challenging experience.
	Gail Connelly has performed in many of BRT's productions such as Curious Savage, What I Did Last Summer, Steel Magnolias, American Dreams: Lost and Found, Chamber Music, At the Punch Bowl, Check, Please!, and Spoon River Anthology. She also appeared as Aunt Abby in the Walpole Players 2006 production of Arsenic and Old Lace. In addition to acting Gail enjoys stage managing and has stage managed quite a few, including On Broadway and Back to Broadway and the incredible musical production of Merlin. When not on stage, Gail is a volunteer with Vermont Institute of Natural Science caring for raptors, and is exploring another creative avenue in rustic sculpture and furniture making. She is the current Vice President of the BRT Board of Directors.None of this would be possible without the love and support of her partner Pat Spicer.
	Nancy Coutts has taught and performed theatre both professionally and at local venues for over 40 years. She was last seen in BRT's Spoon River Anthology and is on the BRT board of directors. Her recent performances have been in BRT's At the Punch Bowl and American Dreams: Lost and Found. She is a consultant for various theatre companies in New England and a member of the newly formed group of improvisation performers led by Henry Balzarini at “Acting Out” in Keene.
	C.J. Cummings is absolutely thrilled to be taking on her most challenging role to date as Suzy Hendrix in BRT's production of Wait Until Dark and she has the bruises to prove it. After playing the “champion blind woman” Suzy, CJ will be switching gears and appearing as the gyrating courtesan Vibrata in the Keene Lion Club's A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to The Forum to be performed next February at the Colonial. This past summer you may have caught her as the magically evil chocoholic Morgan le Fey in the musical fantasy Merlin. Other highlights of her theatre “career” were playing Vera in Ten Little Indians, Molly in The Mousetrap, Electra in Gypsy, Belinda/Flavia in Jeff Stout's Noises Off!, Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners and Laura in The Unexpected Guest. She has also performed in Anything Goes, South Pacific, Mame, The Music Man and as Laurey in Oklahoma! as well as BRT's On Broadway and Back to Broadway musical revues. Her love of music, drama, comedy and, of course, the appreciation of a good audience keeps her coming back for more. Not to mention the all the fun and lifelong theatre friendships made along the way!  During the weekdays, her “real” life working full time as an insurance agent in Brattleboro, VT keeps her in nylons and out of bread lines. Hugs and kisses to her husband and dearest friend, Tommy and, of course, little Ripley, for their love and support.
	Sean Driscoll is currently a Junior at Keene High School and he has been active in Drama Club since his freshman year. He has enjoyed singing and acting since he was just a wee lad. He has been in six Lion's Club productions and has also been taking classes and making friends at the Moving Company for four years. This is Sean's first Branch River Theatre production and he has enjoyed every minute of it. He would like to thank his rockin' parents and family who support him with everything he does.
	Peter Eisenstadter taught high school English, Drama and Communications in NYC and Winchester, NH for over thirty years.  A former member of Actors' Equity, he performed in various roles Off (and off-off) Broadway in the `70's.  He produced, directed, and was host announcer for the radio show, “The Eye of the Tiger,” out of Thayer High School, which aired on the old WXOD 98.7 FM every Sunday from 1995-1998.  In his NH acting debut at Actors' Circle Theater in Peterborough in 2005, Peter won the New Hampshire Theater Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the lead role in Jake's Women, by Neil Simon.  In 2006, Peter was a finalist for Best Actor (Sidney Bruhl - Deathtrap) and Best Supporting Actor (King Sextimus - Once Upon A Mattress).  While also appearing with the Peterborough Players in A Winter's Tale.  This coming July, he will be directing a production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night with Actors Circle Theater.  Now retired from teaching, he's delighted to be back at “work.”
	Cynthia Elmour is trying to determine if the “germ” of her present illness comes from an acting bug (hereditary) or exposure to all things theatrical (environment). She has appeared in BRT's On Broadway and was Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd during BRT's Back to Broadway dinner theatre extravaganza. She has also appeared  Mame for the Keene Lions Club and Just Desserts X for Aids Services for the Monadnock Region. Cindy landed the "plum" role of Nurse Ratched in this seasons One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and she  dedicates this performance to her PCP (she knows who she is) for her inspiration in health and wellness, to her uncle Donald C. White and his family, to her parents, and to her 9-year-old son, James, whom she believes has the same acting bug, but still, for the umpteenth million time, is not allowed to attend this particular show! Diagnosis: The play's the thing! (Rock on!)
	Gregory Flower has a great love for shows. He is a 16-year-old student at Keene High School, and he generally enjoys it there. His credits include the UCC's Godspell (We Beseech Thee), the Moving Company's Bugsy Malone Jr. (Fat Sam), and the Keene Lions Club's The Music Man (Tommy Djilas).  He was pleased and honored to be playing the tile role in Merlin, a fantastic creation of Jon Ripley O'Brien's.  Greg is a baritone with tenor qualities, or in his words “a tenortone”.  When not singing, acting or making up ridiculous names or fake lyrics, he enjoys swimming, volleyball, and basketball.  He also enjoys music theory and has many songs in the process of composition (search his name www.finalemusic.com for a couple of his posted songs).  He would like to thank Marty Hennum, Gary Gagnon, Jon O'Brien, Joanne Mead, Rev. Jay Terbush, Eric Walther, Paula Aarons, and Barb Andrews for all of their help and support over the last few years.  Most of all he would like to thank Dad, Mom, Nana, Pop, Oma, Papa, and Sarah for all of their love and nurturing.
	Jonathan Flower when not abusing defenseless patients in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest , Jonathan can be found warping young minds as a guidance counselor at Concord High School. His recent stage credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Merlin, Oliver and Godspell. Although he enjoys acting, he is incredibly humbled when sitting in the audience observing his wife, Tracy and children, Gregory & Sarah as they sing, dance and generally display their enormous and varied talents. Jonathan certainly came up on the short end of this gene pool. He'd like to thank the cast and crew of Coo Coo's Nest for making this  show  an enjoyable experience and swapping some jokes (He finally knows what happened to the man from Nantucket).
	Tracy Flower got her first taste of BRT in the amazing world-premiere of Merlin this last year. As the newest member of the Board for the BRT, she is delighted to be working with such a talented and dedicated group. Having been both on-stage as a performer and back-stage as a makeup artist for many years, she is looking forward to learning the operations side of the house. This year she, for the first time, is co-producing One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest with fellow board member Gary Gagnon. Tracy had her own identity until 1987, when she became Mrs. Flower, or Jonathan's wife. Then for the last 16 years she has been either Gregory's mom or Sarah's mom.  These days Tracy has been re-establishing her identity working with the Keene Lions Club productions and BRT shows. The only thing better than watching her family perform is sharing the stage with them. Tracy would like to extend her thanks to the actors, director, and co-producer for their wonderful work, the audience for support of the show, and to the sponsors and advertisers (especially her co-workers at the Savings Bank of Walpole) for their generous donations. She invites everyone to get involved with BRT in any way possible. In fact, she will be holding an informational meeting after the last performance of Cuckoo's Nest. Feel free to wear work clothes and bring brooms, as she will be preparing an improvisational sketch that she has titled “Strike The Set!” And she is sure everyone will have a part.
	Gary Gagnon is proud to be a long time member of BRT and has been instrumental with the technology and sound aspect of the group in recent months. Working with Sharon McHugh, the website has been modernized and the ticket reservation system, through phone and email, has been streamlined. As an actor he has participated in the revitalization of the group back in the 90’s and has been involved with musicals, plays and dinner theater(re). He has been an actor, artistic and musical director, producer and concession guy for many productions. Acting and singing is his favorite BRT activity while tearing down the set and lifting the piano on stage are his least favorite. Gary has been on stage with many of his friends, as well as his daughter, Kaeleigh who sang a Les Mis song, and his sons, Dan, who was a disco dancer in a variety show, and Ben who ate Cap’n Crunch, sang, and drummed with his dad in several productions. His daughter-in-law, Kate, has also trod the boards with Gary. The ever-increasing production values of recent shows are astounding and only promises to get better. Gary welcomes everyone to join up in some way; we always are looking for new talent. When not working, doing laundry, or keeping his cars and motorcycles running, Gary is the lead singer in the Rage ‘N Age Band out of the Manchester, NH area. He would like to remind all patrons of the arts that paper money and personal checks cause less damage to the new curtain when thrown onto the stage in appreciation of an enjoyable production, and is a sure harbinger of good fortune for the theater-goer who participates in this age-old tradition!
	Kristin Gagnon returns to BRT in the role of the drunken floozy Sandy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. She has appeared as a sweet monkey dressed in a pink tutu in BRT's All in the Timing, an angry apple tree or a happy poppy in Actor's Circle Theatre's production of  The Wizard of Oz, and a freewheeling ex-wife in Play it Again, Sam for Vermont Theatre Company. Welcome, back Kristin!
	Lori Goldring last appeared with BRT, in the original musical by Jon Ripley O'Brien's Merlin in June 2006 and in April 2005, as Kate in BRT's  highly successful, and hysterical, production of Love, Sex and the I.R.S. She had a great time kicking up her heels for Vermont Theatre Company's  Lights up Broadway and looking for a date in Play it Again ,Sam. You may have seen her, dressed as a man,  in the Keene Lions Club production of  Oliver! and also appeared in The Music Man. She seen in BRT's Back to Broadway and At the Punch Bowl. Her stage debut was in Actor Circle Theatre's The Wizard of Oz where she portrayed a tree and a variety of others inanimate objects.
	Peter Granucci is a professional artist, known especially for his portraits and landscapes. He is also Studio Director for Artworks, a local non-profit art school. He was in Branch River's version of Spoon River Anthology and the world premiere of Merlin. Peter has performed with the Keene Lions Club in Oliver, The Music Man, and Mame. Other performances include: Life is a Cabaret, Paula Aarons and Dancers Speaking Actions and Branch River Theater's Back to Broadway (he's still keepin' it classy, keepin' it sassy) and Just Desserts.
	Martha "Marty" D. Hennum directs her first show for BRT with Rumors, but she is hardly a stranger to the theatre. According to her parent's, Martha's theatrical career began in a rural village in Zimbabwe where she was born and being the youngest of four children always looking for attention. After moving back to the States her family settled in Boston where she continued to pursue her theatrical interest. This culminated in her being a principle in an Equity production of James Lapines' Table Settings at the Next Move theatre in 1981. While getting her BA and MA degree's Martha turned her theatrical interest from performing to directing, improvisation and arts education. She was a Founding Member of the Boston based Play It By Ear Improvisational Co. From 1987-2000 Martha was the Creative Arts Dept. Head at The Brimmer and May School in Newton, MA; the Founding Director of The International Arts Program, and in 1995, was recognized by the John F. Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts Massachusetts Affiliate as The Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year. During this time she directed over 50 musicals and plays with various youth and adults in the greater Boston Area. This past March she directed a cast of thousands in Keene Lions Club production of Oliver! and next year returns to direct A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Currently, Martha is the Artistic Director of Creative Arts at Keene Summer program (CAKE) and the Director of the Musical Theatre Program at The Moving Company. Martha and her husband, Vaughan, have two children, Taylor and Mia, and enjoy spending whatever time remains with their extended/blended family.
	Carrie Kidd, made her debut with BRT as properties mistress with this season's production of Rumors. She is looking forward in being involved in the more technical aspects of productions in the future.
	Damien Licata, as a new admission to the Branch River Theatre and Psychiatric Institute, Damien is delighted to be joining his fellow patients In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He has been extensively researching his role through both academic study and his day job at Monadnock Family Services. Damien is an escapee from the very large psych ward, popularly known as New York City where he waited on more that a few tables, did a couple of commercials, some off-off-  and way off-Broadway plays, and a very brief appearance on One Life to Live (gotta love those Buchanans). Damien was first diagnosed with Actor's Syndrome in high school and has received therapy in community theater staples including Come Blow Your Horn, Our Town, Damn Yankees, The Norman Conquests, Riders to the Sea, The Importance of Being Earnest, and may others. Though his Actor's Syndrome has been in remission in recent years, his recent admission to Cuckoos Nest would seem to indicate a full blown relapse.
	Grant Love currently live in Richmond, NH with his wife Danielle and their three daughters. They moved here from Maine in 2002. Grant teaches English at Conant High School in Jaffrey. This is his first foray into acting since high school, though he has written and directed one-act plays for Conant.
	Margaret Lynott is making her debut as producer with Wait Until Dark. Most of her participation in theater has been on the stage. He most recent appearance was in the Branch River Theater's production of The Octette Bridge Club, Love Sex and the IRS, On Broadway, Just Desserts X Encore, At The Punchbowl, and American Dreams. You may have seen her in the Keene Lions Club productions of Oliver, The Music Man and South Pacific. Her introduction to Community theater was in the Winchester Theater Group's production of Plaza Suite. The rewards of being in these shows, are the wonderful friendships that endure long after the last bit of make-up is wiped away. Margaret can be found on most days at her day job as broker/owner of Shamrock Real Estate, Inc. in Winchester, a company she founded with her late husband Jim. Helping people realize their homeownership dreams, gives her enormous satisfaction, as well as pay the bills. She is thankful to Butch Morin and Ruth Hayn her Shamrock colleagues, they have been very supportive. Michael and Bridget call her mother, Mick and Taylor call her grandmother, and Jamison calls her MagMags.
	Ray Mahoney is thrilled to be returning to the Branch River Theatre stage. He was most recently seen in Monadnock High Schools production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Previous BRT shows include Bus Stop, Ten Little Indians, Selections from Working,  All in the Timing,  The Curious Savage and  The Perfect Crime and the successful dinner theaters On Broadway, Back to Broadway and Merlin. He has appeared with Jeff Stout Productions in Noises Off! and Flaming Idiots. He recently reprised his role in Noises Off! at the Theatre on the Mount at Mount Wachusett College. Keene Lions Club productions include Oliver! ( Mr. Bumble), The Music Man (Charlie Cowell), Oklahoma! (Will Parker), Guys and Dolls ( Rusty Charlie), Damn Yankees ( Old Joe), Gypsy (Herbie), South Pacific and Lil' Abner.  Ray has also appeared in the annual Just Desserts benefit for Aids Services of the Monadnock Region. Thanks to Ann, Mike and Chris for their ongoing support and encouragement.
	John Mangiapane returns to BRT direct from his personal triumph playing Pseudolus in the recent Keene Lions Club production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This will be John's third production of The Fantasticks, having previously played both of the fathers. In 1978, John worked with The Fantasticks creators Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt on a production of a revue of the work titled PORTFOLIO. An accomplished singer, John has sung with the Keene Pops Choir in Ireland and Scotland in 2004, and recently appeared in Just Desserts XII. He will also be accompanying them on this year's tour to Switzerland singing the music of Irving Berlin. A published author, John's first book recently sold its 10,000th copy and is in its third printing. John has appeared in over 100 different plays, designed and sewn costumes for professional theatre. His retirement moved him to New Hampshire where he committed his final undoing by auditioning for and playing Pseudolus in the Keene Lion's Club production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. BRT officers caught up with him soon after that and committed him to play Sgt. Carlino in Wait Until Dark, Henry in The Fantasticks, and Cheswick in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
	Patrick Marr is very excited to be working with Branch River Theatre for the first time and also honored to work with such a great team associated with The Fantasticks. His past performances have been with Keene Middle School, Wizard of Oz as music director and accompanist; Keene High School, Once Upon A Mattress and Man of La Mancha as ensemble and assistant accompanist; the Lion's Club's production of  Oliver! as assistant accompanist; and recently just finish playing the role of Jean Valjean in the Moving Company's production of  Les Misérables. This is my ninth year of playing piano. I'm very active in the Keene High Music Program, KHS' Nostalgia performances, and in MoCo's Musical Theater program. “Music is the exaltation of the mind derived from all things eternal, bursting forth in sound.” - St. Thomas Aquinas.
	Chris McCartie is a Branch River Theatre virgin. After a brush with the theatre bug in high school, he was in remission for many years. He then relapsed on to the stage  as a Protean in the 2007 Keene Lion's Club production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Chris is Director of Pediatric Care at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield, NH but still finds it hard to believe that he is father to two kids as smart and talented as Eden and Noah in Harrisville
	Sharon McHugh has been with BRT since it was created as a spin-off from Keene Community Theatre in the last century ... well, over 24 years ago! With the exception of acting on stage, she has worked in every capacity, Producer, as  Props and Stage Managers, Set Construction, Refreshments, etc. and has been President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of BRT. Sharon has directed numerous BRT shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Dracula, The Haunting of Hill House, Fractured Shakespeare and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She marked her return to directing with When Shakespeare's Ladies Meet and last seasons The Octette Bridge Club. She acted as Producer for Wait Until Dark in 1985 and has come full circle as the director the 2006 version of the same play. Re-elected as President in Aug. 2006, she retains her roll as the Lighting Director for BRT and has worked lights for Vermont Theatre Company, AIDS Services Just Desserts, Actor's Circle Theater, Jeff Stout Concepts, Inspiration Improv and Small Pond Productions, to name just a few.
	Heather A. H. Morrison has been walking the halls of the therapeutic theatre community her whole life. She grew up in a home where everything was a line from some play and where every piece of furniture in the house had been used on a set. She is an actor, director, and board member of Branch River Theatre since 1998, and yes, there are props on the stage from her house in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in which she directed this season. She is an adjudicator for the New Hampshire Theatre Awards. She enjoys the community support in Keene Lions Club productions, she has been honored to sing with the Raylynmor Opera, to perform with Actors Circle Theatre, Jeff Stout Concepts, and to be part of Just Desserts for AIDS Services. Favorite productions include directing Spoon River Anthology, playing Babe in Crimes of the Heart, and singing/dancing in Guys and Dolls and Life is a Cabaret. Last year, she began working with younger children as a teacher for The Moving Company's Cupcake Program, and adapted a musical version of Sleeping Beauty. She hopes that the other patients will have patience with her, including her quietly patient husband, Sherman, and amazingly patient director/daughter, Willow.
	G. Sherman H. Morrison has performed, directed, and worked behind the scenes at BRT for nearly 10 years. Directing credits include American Dreams: Lost and Found by Studs Terkel, What I Did Last Summer by A.R. Gurney and Selections from Working by Studs Terkel. He has also directed shows for The Compass School (Alice in Wonderland and The Changing Faces of Agriculture) and the Front Porch Theatre (Voices of the Past: A Rockingham Anthology). In addition to BRT, Sherman performs regularly with The Raylynmor Opera, Keene Lions Club musicals, New England Audio Theatre, and the United Church of Christ in Keene's Senior Choir where he is the Bass Soloist. Sherman is now deeply involved in the most important production of his life - being a father to his daughter, Willow.
	Deb Parker makes her theater debut as stage manager for BRT's production of Rumors. An avid softball enthusiast, she was honored this year with the City of Keene "Ball of Fame" award for her outstanding commitment, leadership and service to both the Allyson Barden Youth Softball League and the Greater Keene Women's Softball Association. She was featured in the Monadnock Profile of The Keene Sentinel this past July. Other interests include rollerblading, kayaking, bowling and playing guitar. She has two children, Kimberly and Christopher who both live in the area. Deb currently resides in Marlborough.
	Henry Parkhurst has "trod the boards" from ME to AZ in community theatres to NBC Monday Night at the Movies. He has onstage experiences well as all areas to his credits. Whether dramatic, operatic or comedic he has handled them with dedication and a lot of fun. As Turkle in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , he plays the same gusto as Jimmy, the Newspaper Boy, back in 1948! Cowardly Lion, Honeybun, Caption Lombard, Teddy Brewster all have been portrayed by this "I can do it" actor. When not on stage he spends time subbing in Northfield, MA or as a third term State Representative in Concord. Spare time is spend in kayaking, reading, travel and house exchanging in The British Isles. Once in a while he sits quietly by the river to just muse and ponder how fortunate he has been and to say, "thank you" to all who have helped pave the road to his successes. Thanks to BRT for welcoming me back!
	Marilyn Parpan is delighted to be co-producing this engaging and lively production of  The Fantasticks directed by her husband, Mark Tullgren. She has been especially active in musical theater and Lions Club audiences will remember her as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Mame Dennis in Mame, Widda Paro in The Music Man, Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!, Dolly Levy in Hello, Dolly! plus leading roles in Li'l Abner, Fiddler on the Roof and Annie to name a few! Marilyn recently portrayed Chris Gorman in Neil Simon’s hysterically funny Rumors directed by Marty Hennum. Other roles at Branch River Theatre include Clairee in Steel Magnolias, Mrs. Savage in The Curious Savage, and Dr. Margaret Thorne Brent in The Perfect Crime. It was with special joy that she recently appeared in the musical, Merlin written by the talented Mr. J. Ripley O’Brien. Marilyn, a native New Yorker, became involved with Musical Theater in college. It was while living in Wisconsin that she worked with the Brown Deer Community Playhouse and enjoyed playing Rizzo in Grease and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. Marilyn lives in Swanzey with her handsome husband Mark.
	Debbie Pickering, after a few years respite from acting, returns to the stage as Cookie, the hypochondriac television cooking show host in this year's BRT production of  Rumors. The last two years have found Debbie backstage stage managing the Keene Lions Club production of The Music Man (2005) and  Oliver! (2006); and directing the very successful BRT production of  Love, Sex and the I.R.S. She has co-directed Just Desserts X and XI, and serves on the board of Branch River Theatre as Secretary. Outside of theater she enjoys many athletic endeavors including playing softball, bowling, horseshoe pitching and kayaking (to name a few). She tried a brief stint as a bat catcher (literally) but quickly realized that flying bats and her bladder were not compatible. She is honored to have the privilege of working with the exceptionally talented  Rumors cast and crew and will hold fondly all of the memories of the rehearsals that brought so much laughter into her life. She believes this cast to be one of the most extraordinary with whom she has ever worked. Besides her love of theater and athletics, she has five grandchildren, Leora, Leaman, Lucius, Lilly and Jenna (finally a grandchild without an “L” name) whom she hopes to be able to spend more time with once “Rumors” is successfully completed.
	Michael Redmond is appearing in his first Branch River Theatre production. He has performed several times with the Actors Circle Theatre. He was Porter Milgrim, the fifth character in that five-character sure-fire money maker, Deathtrap.  He was the definitive Sir Studley in ACT's production of Once Upon A Mattress and he appeared in the chorus of  The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. When not performing in community theater, Michael sings with the Monadnock Chorus and has appeared in many musical productions at the Crotched Mountain School. He is very grateful to his wife Laura and children Evelyn and Will for their support.
	Jeff Repko has been on the board of Branch River Theatre for a number of years and has appeared in several productions ,most recently in Wait Until Dark and in the hysterical, and highly successful production of Love, Sex and the I.R.S. Along with acting, he constructs many of the sets for BRT shows. Jeff is a member of the Keene Lions Club and has appeared in a least  10 of  their productions. You may have seen him in Monadnock Regions Aid Services production of Just Desserts in which he had co-directed with Debbie Pickering. He works for Imagistics International in Keene, as a sales representative, employs Jeff; so if anyone is looking to purchase a copier, give him a call!
	Brent Skinner marks his first time in a theater production with BRT's production of Rumors, and yet he has always wanted to act. An adjunct professor at Boston University's College of Communication and elsewhere, he suspects that teaching has been good practice for the stage. Brent, who also works in marketing and public relations, says that he is lucky to have such a gifted thespian, Jennifer Skinner, as his newlywed wife.
	Jennifer Skinner has been involved in theatre since she was a wee little thing.  Locally she has performed with Actor's Circle Theatre and The Tongue-in-Cheek Theatre Co., most recently playing the role of Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress. She is delighted to be in her first production with Branch River Theatre as well as her first production with her husband Brent.
	Shelby Stanton has performed in shows mostly around the Monadnock Region including: Back To Broadway (Brigitta), Jakes Women (Molly), Merlin, Teens, Tricks, & Cliques (Mollie). When Shelby isn't in a theater you'll find her up on the farm with Gumbi or helping Gram take tickets at Swampbat games. Sundays, she sings in the childrens choir at church here in Marlborough. She hopes you have a very spooky time tonight!
	Blair Stone attends school at the Keene Middle School and she is and eighth grader. She has been in shows since she was nine years old. Blair has been `Clara' in The Nutcracker, `Ugly' in Honk, a Hot Box Dancer in Guys and Dolls, `Papa Ge' in Once on this Island and `Jacey Squires' in The Music Man with the Moving Company. She also played `Annie' in the middle school production of Annie. She enjoys doing ballet, pointe and hip-hop at the Moving Company and singing for the Keene Middle School Jazz Band.
	Ken Susskind has been a practicing psychotherapist for twenty-one years, so he finds it enlightening if a little unsettling to assume the role of Dr. Spivey, the hospital psychiatrist in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Of course, he felt the same way about playing the deeply neurotic 17- year old King Phillip in The Lion In Winter, the 76- year old Baron in Death Takes a Holiday, the callous boyfriend in Stage Door or what-was-the -name-of-that-guy, anyway? In Neal Simon's Chapter Two. Still, that was a long time ago, in another far-away place... But he has come back now, returned to walking the knife's edge of amateur theatre, pitting the possibility of glory and grandeur against the potential for humiliation and disgrace. Or is that just black-and-white thinking? Breathe.... breathe....  breathe....
	Paul Teitelman is a theater teacher and director at Monadnock Regional High where he has taught for twenty-three years and has directed well over thirty productions among them Cyrano De Bergerac, A Midsummer Nights' Dream, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Gypsy and West Side Story. Most recently Paul played the role of Fagin in The Lions Club production of Oliver. Other roles in the area include Curly in the Lions Club 1980s production of Oklahoma! and the Leading Player in Pippin and Judas in Godspell, both directed by Mario Cossa. He has three wonderful daughters who share his love of the theater…and he thinks the world of them!
	Jay Terbush has been interested in theater since performing at age 7 with his sister and two other children in a four minute long play he wrote, directed and starred in called Three Rags and One Decent Person. He starred in a Junior High production of that internationally acclaimed drama, I'll Eat My Hat!  Unfortunately the New York Times drama critic was rather harsh in his characterization of Jay as "stilted, boring and a poor choice for the role of a caring, inspiring teacher of children." Devastated by this review, Jay put his acting career on hold for several decades.  Jay got bitten by the "theater bug" when he was part of the joyful ensemble in the United Church of Christ production of Godspell in the fall of 2005.  He has also appeared in the ensembles of the recent Lion's Club productions of  Oliver! and Merlin!  By the way, those who have seen him sing, dance and act in these productions, have strongly advised him not to quit his day job!  So it is fortunate that Dr. Jay thoroughly enjoys being the Transitional Senior Pastor at the United Church of Christ in Keene.  Through his involvement in local theater, he has developed several special friendships for which he is grateful to God.  Jay especially thanks: Marty for affirming him and giving opportunities for pursuing his long held fantasy of appearing on stage, his Rumors "wife" Marilyn for believing in him throughout this production, and Scott, his "drama coach" for working with him on lines and character development.  It has been great fun and deeply inspirational to work with this talented cast and crew!
	David Teubner is fairly new to acting, performing most recently in Branch River Theatre's Wait Until Dark as the evil character Harry Roat. In addition, he has performed in the Small Pond Production of The Neon Coconut as a beatnik named Sid and in Actor's Circle Theatre produciton of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as Melvin P. Thorpe, that outrageous TV evangelist. Besides acting, David has a love for singing and is often found at local karaoke venues. To make his living David is a website designer with http://www.KeeneOnline.com, a business he started six years ago when he moved to Keene from Framingham, MA.
	Mark Tullgren, is delighted to be directing for Branch River Theatre again!  Fantasticks is one of his favorite shows, having played `El Gallo' some 30 years ago, and  has now thoroughly enjoyed directing this talented cast. Theatergoers may remember Mark from past roles such as Hines, the time study man in Pajama Game, Applegate, the Devil in Damn Yankees,  Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls,  and the King in the King and I to mention a few.  Mark has had leading roles in Music Man,  Annie Get Your Gun,  Sound of Music, Pippin and Li'l Abner.  Mark has directed Fiddler on the Roof,  Sweet Charity, South Pacific, Music Man, Sound of Music and Hello, Dolly! to name a few!  Theater has been a big part of Mark's life, however … “the joy of my life is my wife, our children (“I have 5 daughters”) and our four grandchildren.
	Eric Walther Eric Walther is a graduate of theatrical studies and directorial arts and recipient of the Bachelor degree from Keene State Asylum of 2000. He has been BRT President from 2003-2006, and currently in a Vermont Theatre Company vortex as company President. Past ventures as an actor include BRT shows; Selections from Working, Ten Little Indians, What I did Last Summer and playing the role of Martini in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Lending a director's hand with a couple of those Broadway revues with buffets, and a show about a magical wizard named Merlin. With VTC he has encountered an Unexpected Guest, brushed up his Lights Up On Broadway, and will be a Lord in the Master Willy Shakespeare play, All's Well that Ends Well at Brattleboro Memorial Park asylum at the end of the month. Look for his next directorship hallucination in Fall 2007 with Ibsen's A Doll's House for VTC.
	Ben Wise is delighted to return to the stage after over a decade of getting into other kinds of trouble. From the mid '80s to early '90s he was active in community theatre in the Brattleboro, VT area, and at Keene State College, where he also performed as a professor of biology until his recent retirement. His most notable roles include George Tesman in Hedda Gabler, with Actor's Theatre in West Chesterfield, and Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet at KSC, and about a dozen others with Vermont Theatre Company, Actor's Theatre, and Whetstone Theatre Company.  Recently he has been in a couple of performances by the newly formed Hourglass Readers group, including Macbeth, Lysistrata, and - concurrently with this play! - Antigone.  Now that he has achieved his long-sought goal of actually outliving his job (it was touch and go), he hopes to do more acting, get back to playing piano and cello again, and clean up his room.
	Mike Wood has been a frequent performer in a variety theatrical correctional facilities over the last few years throughout NH and MA, primarily the Nashua Theatre Guild where he was in Jake's Women and Fool for Love, or a henchmen in scams like Love, Sex and the IRS, Savage in Limbo, and I Hate Hamlet. He has performed over the last year in Manchester (A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Acting Loft), Concord (MacBeth with Ghostlight Theater), Derry (Moon Over Buffalo with MADCO" and back to Nashua (Zombies... with Ghostlight Theater).  He ventured into the Branch River loony bin of Over the River and Through the Woods as Nick.