Listed in order of appearance. To view individual photos and bios, click on any underlined person’s name.
Charlie Reese Gina Gedler Megan Walz Brandon Gedler Alexis Van Vleet Ben Millar Sandy Henry |
Ed McAtee Greg Millar Brett Spahr Brad Church Steve Betz Jerry Jacobson Matt Sieren |
 |
|
|
Judy Blessington Annette Duffy Ira Lacher |
Andrea Markowski Judi Roland Renee Schwarz |
|
Charlie Reese Coach Martin Charlie Reese is a technial analyst at Life Care Services who will be continuing his education in computer engineering at DMACC this summer. He has appeared in the Des Moines Playhouse productions of Ragtime, The Pajama Game, Seussical: The Musical and Thorougly Modern Millie. Charlie enjoys watching movies with his girlfriend, Megan Helmers. |
 |
Brandon Gedler Reggie Walsh Acting: StageWest: Bat Boy (Rick Taylor), Blood Brothers (Chorus), Urinetown (lights crew) other roles include Cats (Rum Tum Tugger) High School Musical (Alan/Jock) and The Full Monty (Keno Walsh) at the Des Moines Playhouse; |
 |
Gina Gedler Loretta LaVelle Acting: StageWest- Souvenir (Florence Foster Jenkins), Johnny Guitar, BatBoy, A New Brain; Des Moines Playhouse- Chicago, Gypsy, West Side Story, Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors; Drama Workshop- Blood Brothers; Urbandale Community Theater- Gypsy. |
 |
Megan Walz Gloria LaVelle Megan Walz has appeared in several shows at the Des Moines Playhouse including Enchanted April and Thoroughly Modern Millie, and is excited to have the opportunity to perform at Hoyt Sherman. She works at Principal Financial as a sales consultant and enjoys traveling and spending time with friends. She would like to thank her family, friends and her wonderful fiancée Ed for their continued support. |
 |
Alexis Van Vleet Jolynn Hanrahan Alexis Van Vleet is a junior music major attending Drake University in Des Moines, Ia. Alexis has been performing onstage since the age of nine, and is a veteran performer to the Des Moines community. Crowned the 2003 Iowa Idol and top 40 American Idol contestant in 2003, Alexis enjoys singing many different types of genres. While she is most well-known for her work in local musical productions, she also performs solo acts across the midwest and beyond. Among many solo and volunteer performances, some of Van Vleet’s stage credits include Sandy (Grease); Bombalurina (Cats); Katie Lane (Honky Tonk Laundry); Urleen (Footloose); Featured singer in Swing!; Little Becky Two-Shoes (Urinetown). Alexis would like to thank her family for their continuous support and hopes to someday share the honor of finding her name in lights with all her wonderful friends and fans! |
 |
Ben Millar Mike Milford Ben is a sophomore at Iowa State University majoring in Vocal Music Performance. He has performed at the Ingersoll Dinner Theatre, Des Moines Playhouse and Ankeny High School. His favorite performances include Jack in Into the Woods and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, both at Ankeny. Ben is both honored and excited to be a part of this wonderful cast! |
 |
Sandy Henry Sarah Singleton After a three year absence, Sandy is happy to be back on the Des Moines stage. Her favorite roles include, Crazy For You (Polly), Kiss Me, Kate (Lilli/Kate), My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra, and Falsettos (Trina). Special thanks to my Guitar Heroes. |
|
Ed McAtee Gregory Green Everyone always writes these in third person, but that's so impersonal. I would like to thank you for interest in this wonderful production of Six on Six. I am having a wonderful time working with this tremendously talented cast and crew. I've been on a few stages in Des Moines, including the Stoner Theatre with Stagewest Theatre Company and the Des Moines Playhouse. I want to give hugs and kisses to my family and Meg for all their love and support. Also, mad props to you, the theatre goer, for making it possible for local arts to thrive here in Des Moines! Muchas Gracias! |
 |
Greg Millar Samuel Koffman Greg has been in many shows in Des Moines. His hobbies include writing short bios for Playbills. |
 |
Brett Spahr Chuck McGrane Over the past 10 years Brett has had leading roles in numerous shows on Des Moines stages, including: Batboy, Ragtime, Grease, Guys and Dolls, and A Year With Frog and Toad to name just a few. He is a teacher for Urbandale Schools. In his free time, Brett loves "acting-out" with his two daughters Lily and Nina, and wife Robin. |
 |
Brad Church Harry McIntire Brad is excited to be appearing on the stage again for the first time in over a year. Des Moines audiences may remember Brad in productions at the Des Moines Playhouse, Stage West and The Ingersoll Dinner Theater. Some of Brad's favorite roles include Josh Baskin in Big: The Musical; Cousin Kevin in Tommy; Cliff in Cabaret; Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz; Phantom in Phantom; Minister in A New Brain and Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady. Many of Brad's fondest theater memories involve productions with some of the members of this very cast! Brad has a love for Oscar trivia and loves to travel, hang out with friends and family and drink wine. By day, Brad is a Disability Specialist for Disability Determination Services. |
 |
Steve Betz Arnie Agans Steve Betz is happy to be part of SIX-ON-SIX: The Musical. You may have seen him in other shows at the Des Moines Playhouse, StageWest, Drama Workshop and Ankeny Community Theatre. Steve works in marketing for Pioneer Hi-Bred. |
 |
Jerry Jacobson Leo Sankey Jerry Jacobson is owner/director of Entertainment to Go (E2G, Inc). With over thirty years in theatre, Jerry’s acting credits include Chicago (Amos Hart), Anything Goes (Billy Crocker), Pippin (Pippin) and Little Shop Horrors (Seymour). Jerry is married to Debbie. They have three children, Jennifer, Stephanie and Jay. He is very proud to be in the show with his daughters Jennifer and Stephanie. |
 |
Marie Bowen Young Adult Ensemble Marie is an acrobatics/dance instructor at Charlene's Dance Studio. She loves performing many dance styles including tap, lyrical, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, hula, and acrobatics/tumbling. A graduate of Grand View College, she was a member of the scholarship-based dance team. Marie's recent musical performances include Cats and Willy Wonka at the Des Moines Playhouse. When not onstage, Marie is the billing director at Goodwin Tucker Group. |
 |
Chelsea Cunningham Young Adult Ensemble Chelsea is from Des Moines and is a 2008 UNI graduate and the Hoover High School drama director. She enjoys directing (The Wiz and Peter Pan, Hoover HS; Best of Broadway, UNI) and performing (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hermia, and A Chorus Line, Bebe, UNI). Chelsea is excited to be on stage again and thanks her parents for their support. |
 |
Katie Dorrell Young Adult Ensemble Katie Dorrell is a recent graduate of Northwest Missouri State University where she earned her B.S. Ed degree in Speech and Theatre Education, but grew up right here in central Iowa. She spent much of her time at Northwest on and off stage in many productions including: Godspell (Katie), Women and Wallace (Victoria/Lilli), Great Expectations (Biddy/Clara), and received an Irene Ryan Scholarship Nomination for her role as Lil’ Bit in How I Learned to Drive. Most recently she made her Des Moines acting debut as a brightly colored Oompa Loompa in Willy Wonka at the Des Moines Playhouse. Katie currently works as a Substitute teacher for the Des Moines area schools, and is a teacher and member of the education staff at the Des Moines Playhouse. |
 |
Alexis Frank Young Adult Ensemble Alexis Frank started singing on stage at age three. Since, she has been in multiple productions including Willy Wonka, having the role of Matilda/Squirrel at the Playhouse. She loves to sew and crochet and most recently won overall points at an all state speech meet. Lexi loves life and lives it to the fullest. |
 |
Kyle Frank Young Adult Ensemble Kyle Frank surprisingly was very timid at his first audition; now it's a natural part of him. Some roles included Charlie in Willy Wonka at the Des Moines Playhouse and the title role in Oliver at Urbandale Theatre. Kyle did commercials for Blank Children's Hospital. He is a ventriloquist, illusionist, loves to play keyboard and guitar. Kyle brings much laughter to all. |
 |
Hayden Goldstein Young Adult Ensemble Hayden Goldstien is 16 years old and will be a junior at Waukee High School where is very active in numerous organizations. Hayden is employed at Zzz Records and lives for music, whether its playing it in his band, or listening to it in his spare time. This is Hayden's first musical production but it will not be his last. |
 |
Jennifer Jacobson Young Adult Ensemble Jennifer Jacobson made her acting debut as a Flying Monkey in 1994's The Wizard of Oz at the DM Playhouse. In the intervening years, she played Sandy in Grease at Hoover High School, and was in the Urbandale Community Theatre productions of Oliver!, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Bye, Bye Birdie. Her most recent roll was Veruca Salt in the DM Playhouse production of Willy Wonka. Jennifer received her B.A. in broadcasting from Grand View University. She currently works at Mark's Dancewear in Johnston. |
 |
Stephanie Jacobson Young Adult Ensemble Stephanie will be entering her senior year as an Elementary Education major at Simpson College in the fall. She has been involved in theatre since she was young, her first play being The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Des Moines Playhouse. She continued pursuing theater with high school shows including Seussical the Musical and Greater Tuna, and Community Theatre shows including Gypsy and Oliver! Stephanie is excited to be apart of Six on Six, and hopes the community enjoys the show as much as the cast does! |
 |
Grant Luther Young Adult Ensemble Six On Six is Grant Luther's first community theatre production and he is excited to be a part of it! Grant's former roles have included Rolf in The Sound of Music and Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks in Annie. Grant is looking forward to his sophomore year activities in jazz choir, show choir, concert choir and baseball at Waukee High School. He hopes you enjoy the show! |
 |
Suzanna Liebold Young Adult Ensemble Suzanna Leibold has a BA in English with an emphasis in multicultural languages and literature. Suzanna has grown up on stage from the age of 10 and performed in numerous shows including Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest. A current personal nanny, Suzanna thanks her nephew Drake (7 mos.) for letting her sleep enough to perform. |
 |
Lauren McGrath Young Adult Ensemble Six-On-Six is Lauren McGrath’s first community theatre experience since performing in the Des Moines Playhouse’s Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (2002) as part of the Children's Chorus. Lauren has been involved in the Waukee High School Drama department through her high school years, most recently playing Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (2009). Other roles include: Ms. Lynch (Grease) and small roles in Our Town and Oklahoma. Lauren will graduate in the spring of 2010 from Waukee High School and enjoys performing on stage, and being with her family and friends. |
 |
Torri Myers Young Adult Ensemble This is Torri's first time performing a musical or play on stage. Torri goes to Waukee High School where she enjoyed being on dance team and has been involved in studio dance since the age of four. She also has been playing piano since elementary school. She also likes to draw in her spare time. Torri is very interested in having a career in the performing arts. She is excited to be a part of this production and hopes that this is the start of many more shows to come. |
 |
Molly Nelson Young Adult Ensemble Molly Nelson is a Junior at Panorama High School and has participated in over a dozen Community Theatre productions. Molly enjoys all aspects of music and theatre and is a long-time member of the Heartland Youth Choir. She would also like to thank her parents for their unyielding support. |
 |
Mackie Saylor Young Adult Ensemble Mackie is thrilled to be part of Six-on-Six! She most recently starred as Maria in Waukee High School's The Sound of Music. Other favorite roles include Grease (Marty) at WHS and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck) with Attic Door Theatre Company. Mackie is also looking forward to her senior year activities in drama, Waukee Percussion, A Cappella Choir, and jazz choir. |
 |
Matt Sieren Rusty Divine Matt is a 2008 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, and is now employed by Iowa Public Radio. During his time at UNI, he assisted in the production of several touring Broadway shows and held an internship in Arts Administration at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. Matt recently made his Des Moines performance debut in Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Playhouse |
 |
Nathan Walz Young Adult Ensemble Nathan Walz is thrilled to be joining the cast of SIX-ON-SIX: THE MUSICAL, which is his first performance in the Des Moines area. He has previously appeared in many shows in his hometown of Sioux Falls, SD, including The Sound of Music (Captain von Trapp), and Baby: The Musical (Danny Hooper). Nathan is a full-time student, having just finished his Junior year at South Dakota State University. |
 |
Judy Blessington Adult Ensemble Judy Blessington has numerous local stage credits including the premier of Caucus! The Musical by Right Brain Productions. She has appeared in over 30 Des Moines Playhouse productions, some of which include The Full Monty, Ragtime, Tony & Tina’s Wedding, Footloose, and recently Willy Wonka. Other venues include UCT, The Mews, TFAC, and TV commercials. Spending time with family and friends – priceless! |
 |
Annette Duffy Adult Ensemble Annette is a familiar face to Des Moines audiences having appeared in Fiddler on the Roof (Urbandale Community Theatre), CowGirls (Drama Workshop), Ruthless (StageWest) and several productions at the Des Moines Playhouse. Those productions include Grease, Year With Frog and Toad, Seussical the Musical, Hello Dolly, Ragtime and many more. She also traveled to the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, Indiana for a production of The Sound of Music. When she is not in front of the curtain, she enjoys working backstage. Annette is a Business Consultant for CDS Global. |
|
Ira Lacher Adult Ensemble Ira can be seen and heard occasionally in community theater (Race at Stage West and Ragtime at the Des Moines Playhouse) and frequently at Temple B’nai Jeshurun (Kol B’yachad choir and fill-in cantorial soloist). Ira thanks his wife of 24 years, Lisa, 18-year-old twins, Josh and Julia, and terriers, Corky and Sydney, for putting up with his stage-struck adolescence. |
 |
Andrea Markowski Adult Ensemble Andréa Markowski earned her BA in Theatre from Simpson College and is an alumnus of the National Theatre Institute in Waterford, CT. She counts among her stage credits Reefer Madness (StageWest), The Pajama Game, Willy Wonka, and Metamorphoses (Des Moines Playhouse). She’s directed shows for local theaters and serves as dramaturg for StageWest. Andréa is a graphic designer and photographer. |
 |
Judi Roland Adult Ensemble Judi Roland is thrilled to return to the community theatre stage after a 17 year "vacation"! Her excitement is doubled by the fact that this time she shares the stage with her son, Grant. Judi's most recent stage work included roles in Closer Than Ever and Funny Girl. She wants to thank her daughter, Taylor, and husband, Todd, for their support in this adventure! Enjoy the show! |
 |
Renee Schwarz Adult Ensemble Renée J. Schwarz, a recent transplant from Cedar Rapids, has been busy performing at the Des Moines Playhouse in Willy Wonka and The Pajama Game and with StageWest in Reefer Madness! The Musical. She has also performed the operas The Women, Die Zauberflote, and Hansel and Gretel. She works for the Des Moines Public Schools and Target. She would like to thank her family for their unending support! |