Fifth of July Cast

Michael Cotey is a Chicago-based, Milwaukee-bred theatre-maker. He has directed at Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act, First Stage, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Illinois Wesleyan University and Youngblood Theatre. Michael has also assisted at Goodman Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, and Milwaukee Rep, for prominent directors, like Tony Award-winners Mary Zimmerman and Robert Falls. From 2009-2013 he was the Founding Artistic Director of Youngblood Theatre in Milwaukee. Regularly celebrated by the theater community and the press as one of the most exciting new Milwaukee theater ventures in decades, Youngblood provided professional opportunities to early-career emerging artists, introduced the works of provocative new playwrights, and staged theatre in raw found spaces that invoked Milwaukee’s storied industrial past. As an educator, Michael has taught at UW-Madison, Roosevelt University, N

Sam Douglas is so excited to be working on this play with such wonderful artists! Sam is an actor based in Chicago and has worked with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Northlight Theatre, and Nashville Shakespeare Theatre, among others. He is currently pursuing an MFA in Acting at the Yale School of Drama. Many thanks to Michael and TAP!

Karen Estrada is an actor, director and educator who has made her artistic home here in Milwaukee. Karen has had the privilege of working with many Milwaukee theaters including Chamber Theater, First Stage, Next Act, Renaissance Theaterworks, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, the late In Tandem and is a proud three time alumna of the Disney on Classic tour of Japan and Taiwan. She has taught at many schools of theater including First Stage, MITY, Waukesha Civic, Sunset Playhouse and Next Act Theatre’s Next Actors program. Karen is also proud to have directed pieces for Renaissance's Brinks Briefs, Chamber Theater's Young Playwright Festival, First Stage Milwaukee's World Premiere of ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA in the Todd Wehr Theater and for Marquette University's theater program.

"April Paul is an eager Wisconsin native with a Bachelor's degree in acting. She has performed on several stages throughout the Milwaukee area, and has also appeared in a couple of independent films. She longs for the day of togetherness. To see more of her work this season, check out PRINCIPAL PRINCIPLE at Next Act Theatre and LEWISTON/CLARKSTON at Forward Theater."

Marcus Truschinski is a Core Company member at American Players Theatre and Associate Artistic director at Two Crows Theatre in Spring Green, WI. Past favorite roles at APT include: Macbeth, Mr Darcy, Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest, Henry Carr in Travesties, Biff in Death of a Salesman, Chris Keller in All My Sons, Jim O’Connor in The Glass Menagerie and Angelo in Measure for Measure. Marcus has appeared in Regional theatre across the country including his first solo show “Every Brilliant Thing” at Indiana Repertory Theatre. Love to G and T.

Krystal cultivated her craft of acting at UW-Milwaukee, where she earned a degree in Theatre. Krystal has also studied acting at the renowned Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles CA. Past theater credits include: STEW- Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, THE SNOWY DAY AND OTHER STORIES- First Stage Children’s Theater, STRANGE SNOW- Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, PRIDE & JOY THE MARVIN GAYE MUSICAL- New Day Entertainment, & PIPPIN- Skylight Music Theatre.

"Syd Robbie (Weston Hurley): Syd is very excited to be a part of 5th of July cast for Third Avenue Playhouse. His recent credits include the sympathetic Lyft Driver on Showtime Network's Work In Progress, Trevor in BROTHERS the Series, and he was featured as himself in Jules Rosskam's documentary Dance, Dance, Evolution. Syd studied Musical Theater at UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts and lives in Chicago, IL. He is currently writing his first screenplay and would like to thank his family, friends, and his dog Rudy for all their love and support."

Tami has been hunkering down in Milwaukee working on her C-19 lbs with her husband, Jim Pickering and their 2 dogs, Frankie and Joxer. Tami has worked with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Next Act, Renaissance Theatreworks and First Stage Children’s Theater. She is delighted to now add TAP to the list.