The Spoon River Project Cast

Maxwell Alexander (Archibald Higbie, Elmer Karr, Hamilton Greene, Hard Times dancer) Maxwell is a graduate of UW Parkside having majored in Theatre with a focus in acting and directing. He has directed several shows in Manitowoc (Singin in the Rain and Seussical) and a staged reading for Parkside (Marjorie Prime). In the past few years he has been seen in the shows A Streetcar Named Desire (Mitch), One Man Two Guvnors (Dangle), Love's Labour's Lost (Costard), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Starvling), and Murder in Green Meadows (Jeff). Last year he worked as a Production Assistant at American Players Theater in Spring Green, WI.

Roger Bennin (Walter Simmons, Doc Hill, Searcy Foote) This is Roger’s second go around in The Spoon River Project, reprising his roles as Walter Simmons and Searcy Foote from the 2013 St. John’s Players production, and taking on a new character as Doc Hill. An auto body tech at Van Horn Chrysler, Roger loves to collect cars, work around the house and yard, and help his lovely wife (show director, Claran LaViolette) fulfill her theatrical endeavors. He lends his artistic talents to prop and set design and building, lighting, and repair of Claran’s vintage costume shoes when required.

Bruce Bitter (Abner Peet, Clarence Fawcett, Harold Arnett, After the Ball dancer)

Cindy Bradley (Lucinda Matlock, Mrs. Meyers, After the Ball dancer, Shall We Gather at the River soloist) Cindy moved to Manitowoc in 1985 and has been involved in many Masquers productions since then. Her most recent roles include singing and dancing with the ensemble in Mamma Mia, playing Victoria in Sex Please We’re Sixty, and Paulette in Legally Blonde. Cindy auditioned for Spoon River because the play is different from any other show she has done; the characters are deep and playing them stretches her abilities as an actress. The process has been very different and interesting, in part due to the pandemic. However, participating in a theatrical production has helped my sanity during these difficult times.

Addison Fowler (Rosie Roberts, Lydia Puckett, Hard Times dancer, In the Gloaming soloist) Addison is 17 years old and has been doing theater since she was 5. She has performed in and helped with many shows from different companies in Manitowoc including, Treehouse Theater, Masquers, and Peter Quince. She’s missed theater, and is glad she got the chance to perform in The Spoon River Project!!

Dani Frahm (Sarah Brown, Mary McNeely, Nellie Clark, Hard Times dancer) This is Dani's Masquers debut. She is excited to play Sarah Brown and Mary McNeely. Dani was previously seen as Annelle in Steel Magnolias twenty-one years ago in Bisbee, AZ. Dani has been involved in the production side of theater for the last few years. She was the costume designer of Mamma Mia. As well as the co-costume designer for several Treehouse theater shows. Dani is the mother of 3, ranging from age 14-6. She has homeschooled the kids for several years. Dani wants to thank her husband and children for their love and support.

Darcy Gravelle (Ollie McGee, Elsa Wertman, Daisy Frasier, Hard Times dancer) A Manitowoc native, Darcy now resides in Sheboygan with her loving and talented husband J. (who is cast as Fletcher McGee in this production). Her theatrical adventures began in early 2018, appearing in Masquer’s production of Heaven Can Wait. Since, she’s taken on roles in many more productions, most recently appearing as Ruth Reynoldson (“I’m a rabbit!!!”) in Masquer’s production of Calendar Girls. 2020 has been a difficult year for all, and Darcy hopes you enjoy this brief escape into another time and place, into the tangled lives of the folks of Spoon River.

J Gravelle (Fletcher McGee) J and his wife Darcy live in Sheboygan. Despite this year's pandemic, he managed to write a couple short films and made a cameo appearance in the Masquers' production of Calendar Girls before taking ill himself. He's been cast in the title roles for Sheboygan Theatre Company's The Wizard of Oz and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the lead in Heaven Can Wait, as well as Terms of Endearment, Legally Blonde, and more. Gravelle has done voiceover work for national television advertisements and appeared as a "blurry background extra blob" in NBC's Chicago Med. He hopes someday to appear as a slightly less-blurry background blob for NBC's Chicago Fire and eventually, a somewhat discernable blob on the sidewalk with a chalk outline around his body for NBC's Chicago PD.

Paul Hacker (Deacon Taylor, Doctor Meyers, Hard Times dancer) Paul is honored to, once more, share the Masquers experience with some of the area’s most talented. Particularly so as The Masquers demonstrate “The show must go on!” even in the face of our COVID pandemic. Paul has been a Masquer on and off stage since his Masquers debut with JC Superstar in 2014. He will always be particularly proud of his involvement in The Spoon River Project as a testament to the determination required to present high quality, live community theater - even against all odds.

Jake Jacquart (Abel Melveny, Zenas Witt, Hard Times dancer) Jake is glad to be a part of this project. He’s found himself in so many shows in the past year it’s been hard to keep up with his antics as an actor and technician. From Rocky Horror’s shadow cast as Brad to Miracle on South Division Street out in Tisch Mills, he has been running around like crazy and he couldn’t have it any other way. So if you see a green sedan on the road, Jake is either going to work, going to rehearsal, going home, or going to get gas. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Kathy Kowalski (Mrs. Williams, After the Ball dancer) Kathy has been performing for over 25 years. First as part of the cast of Heart-a-Rama. From that point she joined community theater and is a current member of Masquers. She has performed in Masquers productions including Steel Magnolias, Moon Over Buffalo, Mash, It’s a Wonderful Life and recently in Calender Girls. She pursued more comedic opportunities and also went outside her comfort zone into stand up. She has been doing improv and stand up for seven years, appearing throughout Wisconsin including the “Nort” Woods and has performed at Comedy City in Green Bay.

Erin LaFond (Georgine Sand Miner, Zilpha Marsh, Minerva Jones, Hard Times dancer, Softly and Tenderly soloist) Erin is happy to be performing even during these unprecedented times. Most notable acting credits include Kate Keller - The Miracle Worker, Alice - The Addams Family, Fiona - Shrek, and Cathy - The Last Five Years, Rona Peretti - Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Miss Andrew - Mary Poppins. Erin holds a master's degree in Music Education from Silver Lake College. She works for the Two Rivers Public School District, teaching at L.B. Clarke Middle School. She is happily married to her husband Jeff and they have 6 year old twins, Archer and Jasper.

Betty Liddle (Mrs. Purkapile, Hannah Armstrong, After the Ball dancer) Betty is excited to be in her second role with the Masquers, having portrayed “Aunt Tilly” in It’s a Wonderful Life. She is especially happy this time to get to dance and act with her husband, Jim. During this difficult time of COVID, it is even more of a blessing to give people the chance to watch live theatre from the safety of their own homes. (My niece will be watching from Florida.) A great big “thank you” to Claran and Paul and everyone who made this possible, and as always, much love to my husband Jim.

Jim Liddle (Roscoe Purkapile, After the Ball dancer) Jim has been seen in several of the Masquers productions including “Clarence, the Angel” in It’s a Wonderful Life, Bud the Stud in Sex Please We’re Sixty and, mostly recently “John” in Calendar Girls. Jim enjoys board games and bridge. When not acting Jim is a husband, a pastor and an all-around nice guy. Jim thanks his wife, Betty, for her love and support.

Henry Rotter (Daniel M’Cumber, Soldier, Hard Times dancer, Just Before the Battle Mother soloist) Henry is a 20 year old from Manitowoc. He has appeared most recently as Pepper in Masquers’ Mamma Mia. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Warren Schmidt (Washington McNeely, George Gray, Richard Bone, Robert Davidson, After the Ball dancer, Hard Times and Spoon River soloist) Over the years Warren has been involved with 68 shows with 12 theatrical groups in some 16 different venues in the lakeshore area. In addition to directing (10 times), stage managing (7 times), and set design (27 times). he has occasionally found his way on-stage portraying some 54 different characters. He enjoys sharing what he has learned with other thespians young and old whenever he can.

Ann Wolf (Margaret Fuller Slack, Dorcas Gustine, Mrs. Merritt) Ann is happy to be appearing in Spoon River Project again, this time taking the roles of Margaret Fuller Black, Dorcas Gustine, Mrs. Merritt, and Mrs. Kessler. A long time Masquers member and current Treasurer, Ann was last seen as Clara in Miracle on South Division Street at the Forst Inn and as Lady Cravenshire in Masquers’ Calendar Girls. Outside the theater Ann enjoys fixing appliances with her husband, sewing and being a CASA advocate. And, for the record, Ann feels Mrs. Merritt was not treated fairly.

Gregg Wolf (Willard Fluke, Tom Merritt, Eugene Carman) Gregg will be playing the parts of Willard Fluke, followed by Mr. Merritt and Eugene Karmen. This is his second go around with Spoon River. Gregg last appeared in St. John's Players' Drinking Habits as Fr. Chenille; before that, the Inspector in Heaven Can Wait and Mr. Welch in It's a Wonderful Life, both Masquers' productions. That last one was fun - he got to punch George Bailey! Gregg has been a Masquer member for 18 years and St John's Players for 10 years. He started AAA Appliance 25 years ago and has been happily married to Ann for 24!