ZCT - Working - Cast and Crew Bios

	Susan Barzda ( Millworker, Chorus ) The following are all jobs I did at sometime in my life for pay: mowing lawns, baby-sitting, giving baton-twirling lessons, selling home-made pot-holders and greeting cards door-to-door, picking green beans one season in Hartville, working in an ice-cream stand, a fast food restaurant, as a convenient store clerk; working as a dormitory receptionist at college, playing my clarinet and tenor saxophone in various bands, teaching a baton-twirling corps and a fife & drum corps; teaching music, band, & music appreciation; and working as a teacher supervisor, adult basic education grant coordinator, a manager, and a treatment team leader to provide quality services to improve the lives of adults who have cognitive delays. Currently I work as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP) at Cambridge Developmental Center.
	Amy Brand ( Sharon Atkins, Millworker Soloist ) The most unique job I've held has to be my very first "official" employment. The summer after I finished high school I worked as a caricature artist at a local amusement park. The best part was learning the skill itself. Doing five minute caricatures is a parlor trick I can take with me everywhere I go in life, and believe me, nothing amuses people like a big-headed cartoon of themselves. Otherwise it was really a sales gig. I learned to "hook" passersby with charm, a sassy line - sometimes even amateur gymnastics when business was really slow.
	Dan Brown ( Charlie Blossom ) I would like to tell you that acting is my job, but then I would lying. My job is in retail. I work at Game Stop inside the Colony Square Mall. It’s my first real job I’ve had since graduating from high school. In retail, every day is different. It’s always a mixed bag of customers, some regular faces, and some you only see once. Some completely clue-less ones, and ones that will chat with you for hours. They keep things interesting around our small store.
	Olie Coen ( Roberto Nunez, Ralph Werner ) My first job was at the Duncan Falls Dairy Queen. The best part about that job was the free ice cream, which we all ate constantly while we worked. The few other jobs I've had have mostly been maintenance related, including the one I have now at Sunny View Nursing Home cleaning floors and doing odd handy man things. I've never really liked any of my jobs, though I've never really hated them either. I guess I just haven't found out what I want to do when i grow up yet and am just paying the bills until I do.
	Laurel DuBeck ( Choreographer ) I have been a babysitter, waitress, dancer, teacher, hostess, dental assistant, office manager, secretary, nurses aide, case manager and (currently) an RN. In my role as mom to my three children and wife to my wonderful husband I have also been a laundress, seamstress, chauffeur, cook (not a particularly good one), housekeeper, mediator, zoo keeper, animal trainer and magician. I have loved, laughed, cried, pouted and negotiated the maze of life and hope to continue doing so for a long time...Hopefully with community theater playing a big part.
	Ashley Eaves (Assistant Director, Assistant Producer, Stage Manager ) I started my first “real job” after high school last fall. I work as a Nanny. I’ve always loved children, and I babysat a lot through high school, so being a nanny just seemed like the next logical step. There’s only one child, 1 ½ years old, and she keeps me pretty busy. I also help with laundry, housework, and cooking. It’s not the most glamorous job, and sometimes it can be pretty frustrating (Anyone who has dealt with a teething baby will agree!), but I enjoy it very much.
	Tiffany Eppley ( Grace Clements ) I am a single mother of a 3 1/2 year old boy. Right now I stay at home and do my best to raise him. I really love being a mom, sometimes it is very "trying", but worth every bit of it. I would rather be working than staying at home all the time, I feel like I can help my son and contribute more to his life when I am working. I miss many things about staying at home when I am working though....like spending all day with him. He will be going to school soon and I won't have all that extra time with him. I figure why not work to make sure that he wants for nothing, and why not continue my education so that I can make his life better and fulfill my dreams too. He likes to sing, dance, and play around on the piano. He tells me he wants to play drums and have lots of cars when he grows up. He likes to help people do things like sweeping, laundry, and carrying things to and from the car. I love my son, he is my life. I wouldn't exchange him for the world.
	Laura Gibson ( Amanda McKenny, Roberta Victor,Enid Dubois ) I teach Kindergarten through 5th grade visual art. Is my job fun? (I am often asked that, and I always answer honestly.) I have approximately 800 students in three different schools. I teach 36 different classes for 45 minutes (some for 30 minutes). I have various spaces in which I teach, including a gym and traveling from one classroom to another, carrying all of my materials with me. Each Spring I am given approximately 25 cents per student to purchase all of my materials for the following year.. obviously, it's very easy to get wrapped up in the aspects of the job that aren't fun. It's the kids that inspire me and give me energy when I feel like I can't take another step. They are the ones who bring me back and keep me going.
	Jacob Hauser ( Tom Patrick, Conrad Swibel, Dave, Mason's Song Soloist ) I have held a variety of jobs during my short time in the work force. In college, I worked as a pot washer, a salad bar attendant and a camp counselor. I toured the country for a year as a director with a children's theatre. Over the next five years I worked in theatre management in New York and around the country. Since moving back to Ohio, I have worked with UPS, as a receptionist and as a substitute teacher. I like for each day to be different. Too much routine turns me off. I need to keep busy, stay challenged. That's why I am working towards becoming a certified teacher.
	Dorlesia Jordan ( Maggie Holmes ) I am a Student Nurse by day and a hairdresser by night. I started nursing last August and will graduate June 24th of this year. I enjoy both jobs, they can be very exciting. You never know who you'll see or what's going to happen. My favorite job, however, is being a full time mom to my children, Emmy and Aidan.
	Todd King ( Mike Dillard, Frank Decker ) From baling hay as a teenager, to working my way through college, to getting a degree (in teaching) that I couldn't use, to providing educational and administrative services to persons with disabling conditions, to Network Administration and currently Quality Assurance, I have worn a number of hats. I have always enjoyed my jobs, if only for the thrill I have of waking each day to learn something new.
	Dee McCarthy ( Kate Rushton, Maitre ‘D ) I have 3 jobs: wife and mother, music therapist/social worker, and Kindermusik education. My Kindermusik business seems to encompass many of my job responsibilities. First, running the classes is the fun part where I sing, dance, read, and play with the kids, or my Maddy, Sadie, and Mia, and/or counseling patients. Second, running the business includes knowing book knowledge, banking on experience, and working from my heart. Also means dishes, laundry, homework... Third, paying bills, maintaining supplies/groceries, and overall paperwork gets done. Last I look towards the future with lofty goals of growing and learning (more classes, college) with lots of love. And I can't do any of it without the love and support of my loving husband, Kevin.
	Janet Prince ( Rose Hoffman, Candy Cottingham ) I spent 10 years as a freelance court reporter. Then, since I had had enough, I went through a period where my friends were fond of saying, "What is Janet's job this week?" Then I spent five years raising money for not-for-profit and college radio stations. Since moving to Zanesville this past summer to help care for my mom, I've been a cemetery counselor at Zanesville Memorial Park. But in my heart, I've always been an actor.
	Phil Palmer ( Al Calinda ) Phil is a truck driver for ODOT. Many times while you are sleeping peacefully, Phil is out salting roads and untangling accidents on the highway. Or you may see him flagging traffic around a road construction site or an accident. He is also the music director for his church, St. Paul A.M.E., and the leader of the gospel group, Hymns of Praise.
	Emily Rezek ( Un Mejor Soloist, Chorus ) I love my jobs. I always wanted to work with kids or music, and now I do both. I work at Genesis as a Music Therapist, mainly with child, adolescent, and adult psychiatric patients, but also at Genesis Hospice. I'm lucky because I never dread going to work (though I do have trouble getting out of bed:). Basically, I use music everyday as a way to help people feel better about themselves and their situations. Also, I teach piano and guitar lessons, and I have great students. So I figure I can't complain... most people don't even have one job that they like!
	Charles Savage ( Assistant Music Director, Chorus ) has been a grocery store sacker (twice), a car washer, a substitute teacher, a janitor, and a ditch digger/sewer worker, a salesman, and an instructor of music at Ohio University at Zanesville. “I haven’t done it all, but close. This show sounds like my life. I’m sure that everyone can find something to relate to in this production.”
	Richard Simcox ( Music Director ) Rich Simcox is still being a "Musical Engineer". He is in his 26th year as choir director at First Christian Church in Cambridge. This is his 25th year leading the Dick Simcox Big Band throughout Ohio, West Virginia, and Indiana. He has taught public and parochial school general, vocal, and instrumental music as well as 12 years at Muskingum College teaching Jazz Ensemble, trumpet and Spirit Band. Other experiences include Show Band on a cruise ship, a stint with the 528th Air Force Band, Summer Stock Theater and ZCT, Secrest Auditorium and Cambridge Performing Arts Centre productions. He is currently paying the price for a misspent youth.
	Robert Taylor ( Joe Zutty, Jim ) I generally don't do musicals (for reasons that will soon become obvious to you), but my director friend Roger Touvell, who's occasionally honest, insisted that my frog voice wouldn't matter. "The others will drown you out," he said. "Except for the solos, of course." "What solo?" "Yours," he said. "Gotta run. You'll be fine." So I'm holding him personally responsible for any blunt objects thrown onto the stage during my solo. I gained respect for this unique, life-based musical which pays tribute to us poor working stiffs. Thanks for coming to see it, and thanks for supporting ZCT. (Robert is a Louisville-born actor/playwright and has been involved with ZCT for six years. He was last seen here as Oscar in THE ODD COUPLE).
	Rich Tolliver ( Set Designer ) I began working as a boy, yard work, farm work, snow removal and loading and unloading trucks at the potteries - a buck an hour. I started working full time while I was in high school in a meat packing house cleaning up the floor and sausage kitchen, boxing meat and running the smoke houses. Later, I moved up - I killed hogs and cattle, boned beef and pork, learned to cut meat (steaks, chops, roasts etc) for 12 years. I've sold cars, sweepers, done construction, painted and torn down houses, worked in potteries and made baskets. I've been involved in theatre 25 years as an actor, director, set designer and construction, and a writer. Its probably cost me more then I've made monetarily but it has its own rewards. I'm happily married and enjoy fixing up my house and working on charitable theatrical projects.
	Roger Touvell ( Director, Anthony Coelho, Rex Winship ) My first real job began at age 10 when my father said, come on boy, I'm going to teach you how to be a plumber. We went off to a dirty, uncomfortable crawl space to repair a drain. I don't know why, but I loved the idea of this kind of work, despite the physical discomfort and the lack of workplace amenities. I worked with my father and grandfather throughout my summers and school vacations until I went to college. Some of my fondest memories were of working with these men-strong, real, honest men. Other than two jobs at Bowling Green State University, as a math tutor and a busboy, I have been a blue collar worker all my life. I have owned a refrigeration business since 1980.the business side you can have-just let me be on a rooftop somewhere. I am also a teacher for our union local. My all-time favorite paying gig is as Ellwood Blues with my friend Jake "Jan Smith" Blues.
	Amy P. Underwood ( Choreographer ) Is work what you do to pay the bills, or is it what you do to fulfill some other need in your life? If you’re really lucky it is both. Amy Underwood has “worked” in some capacity since age 15 at various occupations, including fountain help at an authentic soda fountain in the old Leffler’s drugstore; retail clothing sales; managing fleet truck plate sales at the Muskingum County License Bureau; and her current occupation in the Zanesville Campus Library, serving Ohio University-Zanesville and Zane State College. Would the hard work put into theatre be as rewarding if it was necessary to pay the bills, or is it something we do to fulfill those other needs in our lives?
	Carleton B. Underwood ( Producer, Lighting Designer, ZCT's Webmaster) I’ve been a gas station attendant, factory worker, student worker (OUZ Library and OUZ R/TV Pgm), contract lighting, sound, and video (OUZ), AV/Media Tech (MATC/Zane State), AV Specialist, Systems Analyst, Network Administrator. The last 3, with the Dept. of MR/DD, State of Ohio. Through out it all – I’ve been involved with Theatre, Lighting, and Sound. Starting out in the 1960’s with reel-to-reel tape, razor blades and grease pencils and variable transformer dimming systems all the way to the 21^st century with computer assisted sound and lighting where “cut-and-paste” is non-destructive…usually.. I've lighted Alex Haley, Dr. Ralph Abernathy, former Ohio Governor Richard Celeste, Terry Waldo, and others plus beauty pageants, musicals, plays, original works in the US and Canada. I’ve had some of the best teachers in the business; some of them didn’t know they were teachers. The “jobs” I’ve had, to earn a living, have only fueled my love of theatre and the special joy you get from being a part of the greater team. There is nothing like the feeling you have when you look at a show and say, I helped make the audience understand, enjoy, and see the show which many people have contributed to. It isn’t me alone, nor is it others alone – it’s all of us working together. As a team. For something greater than the individuals involved. In October 2005, on Halloween, I’ll be retiring from my current paying job. I’ll have over 30 years in with the State of Ohio. It’s time for a new “job”. Part of the new job will be to be with my family, watching and helping Ms. C and working on long over due projects. But I’m not retiring from Theatre – ever.
	Jillian B. Von Gunten ( Babe Secoli, Heather Lamb, Chorus ): Jillian worked for several years as a full time babysitter during the summer and has to say she really enjoyed that job and the child (now young woman) she watched. Most of her time with a job has been spent in foodservice, however, and in that time she has acted as expediter (the individual in the kitchen who garnishes your plate and trays up your order), busser, waitress, hostess, line cook, maintenance, grunt labor, and banquet server originally at Zak’s Restaurant in Zanesville and then at The Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport. Her advice to any patron of a restaurant: Do not annoy the wait staff. During the past 5 years she has held the position of assistant teacher at the Barbara Ann Black Dance Academy where small children enjoy kicking her in the shins while wearing tap shoes. Currently she is a college student working part time at the The Longaberger Golf Club (Come out for lunch someday!) and ironically, looking for more work. Any ideas?
	Stefani Weaver ( Delores Dante ) I've been a waitress for about 6 months now and it can be trying at times, but it is not my career choice. I'm trying to become and actress, so waitressing is what I do in the mean time to pay the bills. I like it more than dislike it. It depends on the people I'm working with.