MEET The CAST
MELISSA CONNELL
(Dr. Katherine Brandt) Melissa has worked as a professional theater, commercial, film, industrial and voice over artist for the past 25 years. Recent theater credits include: Lena in Gary, Bridget in The King of East Jabip, and Emma in Bonnie & Clyde the Musical with The Eagle Theatre. Additional roles she’s had the
opportunity to play: Miss Havisham in Great Expectations, L’il bit in How I Learned to Drive, Gretchen in Boeing Boeing and Sarah in Company all with STAGES, Annie Sullivan In The Miracle Worker with Main Stage Center for the Arts and Anabella/Margaret/Pamela in The 39 Steps with The Broadway Theatre of Pitman as well as The Grand Theatre. Film, commercial, TV and voice over projects include: Colgate Toothpaste, Salad Works, CVS, Rite Aid, NJ Lottery, Comcast Cable, EP Henry, Curel, Channel 6 Actions News, Thom McCan, Dow Chemical, Steak Umm, Peanut Butter & Company and JC Penny. She’s acted with Emmy Award winning director Richard Wilson in the critically acclaimed Web Series Under the Flowers as well as his award-winning PSA’s Break Even, He’s Not The Same and Five Faces with Outreach Arts. Last Spring she starred in an episode of Master Class for PBS and this March played a lead recurring role in various industrial videos for the American Red Cross. Most recently she played Lilith in the SAG Feature Film The Dark State along-side American Idol and Broadway star Constantine Maroulis, Mama in
the international award-winning film Bathroom Troll and Joyce in Control with MOJO Talent. Up next she plays mystic Suzy in the kooky indie film Bottle Verses Can shooting this Fall.
Melissa thanks this incredible cast and crew for their kindness and talent as well as Kat for the opportunity to play Katherine. What a privilege. Melissa's favorite role however is playing Mom to Ella (15) and Dominic (12).
Peter De Mets
(Ludwig van Beethoven; Music Director)returns to the stage after a 10-year hiatus. Featured roles include Jesus (Godspell), Camille (The Merry Widow), the voice of Audry II (Little Shop of Horrors), and Freddie Trumper (Chess). Recent music direction credits include; Next to Normal (starring Donna Vivino), Avenue X (Off-Broadway), The Sound of Music, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Journey Into Broadway, Fun Home, and Fiddler on the Roof.
KRISTIN
VONWACHENFELDT
(Clara Brandt)is thrilled to return to the role of Clara with this incredible team! Local credits: Sound of Music (Maria)- Broadway Theatre of Pitman; 33 Variations (Clara), Sound of Music (Maria), Journey to Broadway (Kristen, original cast) - Kelsey Theatre; Oklahoma (Laurey) - Music Mountain Theatre; Secret Garden (Lily), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) - Newtown Arts. Other: Disney Cruise Lines (Belle), Jekyll/Hyde (Emma), Trojan Women (Andromache). Featured on the original cast recording of Born to Learn: The Montessori Story (Maria Montessori). Music Theatre BFA, Elon University. All my love to Jason, Ava, and Jack!
amanda coffin
(Clara) returns to 33 Variations after playing Clara at Villanova University. An actor, director, and administrator, she has worked in theatres throughout Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. Favorite roles: Translations (Maire, Villanova Theatre), Cinderella (Cinderella, Hedgerow Children’s Theatre), Macbeth (Lady Macduff/Witch, Hedgerow Theatre Company), The Tempest (Miranda, Theatre in the Open), The Evaluation Room (Mary Tudor, Villanova University). Amanda served as a Company Member at Hedgerow Theatre from 2019-2021. Currently, she works as the Production Manager at Villanova University and the Artistic Associate for Interlakes Summer Theatre in Meredith, NH. Up Next: She directs Sister Act (Interlakes Summer Theatre). BA Theatre Studies, Emerson College; MA Theatre, Villanova University.
andy Boettcher
(Mike) is the Artistic Director and Owner of Triple Threat Theater Productions. He is also the Visual and Performing Arts Director at Mastery High School of Camden. Recent credits include Aida (Radames), Miracle Worker (James Keller), Brigadoon (Tommy), Titanic (Barrett), and Dogfight (Birdlace). He holds a Master of Theater from Regent University. You can hear his award-winning voice at A-1 Entertainment’s Cabaret series. Much love to his sons and to Brittany. “To love another person is to see the face of God.” Romans 12:9
MARk APPLEGATE
(Anton Diabelli) Mark is very proud to be performing with this talented group of actors. A Hamilton NJ native, he currently lives in Washington Crossing PA. Mark began performing on stage in 1989, but has been acting since birth. During college, he studied voice with at the Westminster Conservatory of Music, then at the Seagle Music Colony (the oldest summer singer training program in the country). He genuinely enjoys entertaining people, but ends up entertaining himself mostly. Some of his favorite roles have been: An insane castaway, a streetwise gigolo, a closeted investment banker, a depressed recluse, an impressionable juror, a conniving opera devo, an Australian singer, a confused actor, and a clown. He hopes you will appreciate the artistry of this show and what the director, cast and crew have created.
SUSAN BLAIR
(Gertie Ladenburger) Susan last appeared as Terry in After-Play at Players Club of Swarthmore in January 2020. In 2019 Susan was in Calendar Girls (Chris) at Old Academy Players, Copenhagen (Margrethe) at Stagecrafters, and Talking With (“Actress”) at Spotlight Theatre. Past favorite roles: Langhorne Players: 33 Variations (Gertie), Beauty Queen of Leenane (Maureen), Buried Child (Halie) and The Heiress (Aunt Lavinia). Stagecrafters: Angel Street (Bella Manningham). Shakespeare 70: Merry Wives of Windsor (Mistress Quickly). ActorsNet: A Little Night Music (Madame Armfeldt), August: Osage County (Violet), King Lear (Goneril). 1880 Theatricals: ‘Night Mother (Thelma). Spotlight: Something Intangible (Sonia). Singing roles: White Christmas (Martha), Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider), The King and I (Lady Thiang), Marriage of Figaro (Cherubino), (Hansel & Gretel) Hansel. Susan lives in Philadelphia and by day, appears as a paralegal with Bazelon Less & Feldman. Love to Mort.
MORT PATTERSON
(Anton Schindler) has been active in regional playhouses for four decades. Old Academy: Purlie Victorious 2019 (Cap’n Cochipee). Stagecrafters: Much Ado about Nothing 2019 (Leonato), Angel Street (Inspector Rough), The Country Girl (Frank), The Constant Wife (John), The Pleasure of his Company (Pogo). Bristol Riverside: Romeo and Juliet (Montague). Hedgerow: Hamlet (Claudius). Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival: Othello (Duke), Much Ado (Friar). Philadelphia Actors Collective: Blood Wedding (Father), Duchess of Malfi (Castruchio). Actors Net of Bucks County: King Lear (Lear), Twelfth Night (Feste), Meet Me in St. Louis (Grandpa), Major Barbara (Shirley), Night of the Iguana (Nono). The Drama Group: Winter’s Tale (Leontes). Allens Lane Theater: Breaking the Code (Knox). Shakespeare 70: Merry Wives of Windsor (Shallow). Mort has a special fondness for Shakespeare’s verse and has published on the subject: Shakespeare Bulletin (Fall 2015), Stress and Rhythm in the Speaking of Shakespeare’s Verse. Love to Susan.
Sue DeN OUTER
(Pianist) is a graduate of Cornell University and an actuary with Willis Towers Watson. Favorite music director credits include: Head Over Heels (Music Mountain Theater, 2021) and Secret Garden (Newtown Arts Company, 2018). Favorite vocal director credits include: Aida (MMT, 2019) and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (MMT, 2019). Favorite on stage credits: pianist in The Last 5 Years (MMT, 2021), Olga in Stage Door (NAC, 2016) and 33 Variations (Langhorne Players, 2013). Sue is delighted to work with this fantastically talented cast and crew. Thank you for inviting me to join this production. Love to Jodie and DJ!!
bill rose
(Ensemble, Store announcer) Bill most recently performed at Kelsey Theatre in the ensembles for Inherit the Wind and the Sound of Music. He thanks his wife Gail for the inspiration to get off the couch and into the theatre. Also, thanks to Kat and this marvelous cast and crew for a wonderful experience.
gail Rose
(Ensemble, Nurse voiceover) last appeared at as Frau Schmidt and in the nun ensemble in The Sound of Music at the Kelsey Theatre. Her first time on stage at Kelsey was portraying Grandma Tzeitel in Fiddler n the Roof followed by Mrs. Krebs in Inherit the Wind. She is grateful to be working alongside such a talented cast and crew (and with her husband!)
MEET THE CREW
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Kat Ross Kline (Director) Kat has been a professional theatre practitioner in the tri-state area for over the past 15 years serving as a choreographer, director, actor, lighting designer, teacher and private coach. Her most recent directing and choreography credits include The Sound of Music and She Loves Me, at The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, the 10th Anniversary Reunion concert of Tale of Two Cities on Broadway in NYC, and The Sound of Music at the The Kelsey Theatre, where she also serves as a resident director for Pierrot Productions (Dogfight, Funhome, Next To Normal) and as a Theatre Advisory board member for Mercer County Community College. Kat also serves as the full time director/choreographer for The Sharpe Family singers, a Broadway International touring concert. Recent onstage credits include Romaine Patterson in The Laramie Project with MSAC, Estella Havisham in Great Expectations at CCC, Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker with Mainstage Center for the Arts, and Young Lucretia Mott in History Making Productions latest film documentary, “Sisters in Freedom”. She received her education in dance at both Broadway Dance Center and STEPS in New York City, a Bachelor’s Degree from West Chester University, and graduated with her MA in Theatre from Villanova University. Kat resides in Marlton with her 7 year old daughter, Olive.
Jacqueline Duran (Stage Manager) is extremely grateful to be a part of this production. She has previously worked with Pierrot on Sound of Music in 2018 also works with Burlington County Footlighters as a sound engineer and stage manager. She is currently a student at Rowan College at Burlington County studying Theatre and American Sign Language.
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Sam Measner (Set Designer) Samantha Measner is thrilled to return to the Kelsey Theatre scene as a set designer for Pierrot Productions. Sam's most recent credits have been with CaneStage Theatre Company while attending the University of Miami. In her time there, she worked on shows including Starmites, Avenue Q, and Breakfast Club, with her favorite experience having been constructing and puppeteering the Audrey 2 puppets in Little Shop of Horrors. Aside from set design, she has had her hand at everything from pit orchestra to lights and sound. Outside of theatre, she has a passion for science and works as a research technician in immunology for Thomas Jefferson University.
Ruth Schanbacher (Costume Design) Combining a love of history and fashion into a love of theater behind the scenes, specializing in period works, Ruth's goal is for her costumed performer to see their character when they look into the mirror. A knack for organizing both costumes and people, Ruth has enjoyed working with community theatre in PA and NJ. Ruth last costumed Journey Into Broadway and Sound of Music at the Kelsey Theatre; Mame!, Damn Yankees and Oliver! for Newtown Arts Company; Betrayal for Langhorne Players; The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Witness for the Prosecution, Red Velvet, An Inspector Calls and a slew of shows for The Actors’ NET, where Ruth is also the company Wardrobe Manager. Ruth is honored to be working with this very talented Cast and Crew in 33 Variations.