The Cast of 2012’s Theater Program…
Dawn Bower
Theatre Program Director/Food for Thought
Dawn has been acting in films and theater for over 10 years in the Denver area. She was not only honored to be crowned Director of the BolderLife Theatre Program, but she was ecstatic to be offered the role of Cindy in Rich Rubin’s Food for Thought. From Kit-Kat Girl in Cabaret to the Jester in Once Upon a Mattress, she applied her skills in musical theater and her life-long love of dance to choreograph Way Out West in a Dress for the Theater of Lafayette. She has performed in multiple Hitching Post Theater plays, two of which earned the honor Best of Hitching Post: Two Women and a Dress and The Last Waltz. Her most recent play was Fuente Ovenjuna, produced by 11 Minutes Theatre Company. In addition to on stage work, Dawn has acted in many films, one of which was produced by Erin Kelly’s RockRose Entertainment: Lilith. A big hug to Anthony, Janine, and Erin!!
Maureen Cassulo
Eternity
Maureen has enjoyed many years of theatre on and off stage. She was last seen as Harriet Stanley in Man Who Came To Dinner at Longmont Theatre Company. Other credits include productions of Wit, Brigadoon, Once Upon A Mattress, Suspenders, and Piece of Mind at LTC. Before moving to Boulder, she was a founding member of The Orange Players, Connecticut’s second oldest community theatre company where she played Ethel in Moon Over Buffalo, Grandma Tzeitel in Fiddler On The Roof), Betsy Ross in Bicentennial Musical: Oh My Stars, and Mrs MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie. Her favorite role was Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables with Unity Stage Company in Boulder. Maureen is currently self-employed as a resource for elders who wish to age in their own homes.
Cody Cessna
Living in a Road Movie
Cody Cessna is excited and honored to be a part of this festival for the first time. His theatrical experience mostly dates back to high school, where he found a love for wild and comical roles. However, he looks forward to exploring more dramatic and serious material at this festival as Trey in Living in a Road Movie, by Judy Klass. Special thanks to Ian Gerber and Greg Winkler.
Patrick Emerich
Time is Nature’s Way of Ensuring Things Don’t Happen at Once…
Patrick is thrilled to be back on stage at the Nomad. He has performed in many Hitching Post Theatre plays as well as The Bolder Nights serial Paper Castles, playing Henry. He is thankful to be working with the talented actors Bill Graham and Phyl Park, and director Erich Toll. Patrick would like to give special shout outs to his three beautiful daughters and to Dawn Bower for all of her hard work!
Bill Graham
Time is Nature’s Way of Ensuring Things Don’t Happen at Once…
Bill Graham is happy to be working with Erich Toll and Patrick Emerich once again. His last outing, G-men in G-strings: The J. Edgar Hoover Follies at Theater company of Lafayette, was such a blast, he’s sure that the addition of Phyl Park will make for some compelling, uh, thought-provoking… fun theater. Enjoy! Special thanks to Scott for his patience and understanding.
Michelle Hanks
Tag Lines/Wonderful World of Science
Michelle Hanks is proud to be part of the BolderLife Festival. Michelle was last seen as Ana Lundegard’s daughter in the Bolder Night’s serial performance of Paper Castles at the Nomad Theatre. She also recently acted in a short film written for the 48 hour film challenge, called Spinners with Two Filmingos Productions. Other favorite credits include, French Fries in Talking With and Ata Windust in Criminal Hearts with the Prague Playhouse in in the Czech Republic, Hedi in The Hedi Chronicles with Vintage Theatre, Beatrice in A View from the Bridge and Dolores Wandaback in The Dead Monkey, both with Horse Chart Theatre in Denver, and a Greek sister in the production of Big Love with Alluminous Theatre Collective (now a Band of Toughs). Michelle would like to thank her special friends who have caused an evolution of positive change and contemplation on compassion and love here on this plane through their reflection through art and life…These performances are dedicated to my dear ones Ben, Jorge, Karena, Chris, David ,Evie, and Trius.
DeAnna Heimsoth
Exploding Maggie
DeAnna Heimsoth, a family therapist by day, is excited to perform for the first time with BolderLife Festival this year. She has enjoyed the demanding yet extremely invigorating work with director Heather Woodruff and co-actor Phyl Park to develop the character for Exploding Maggie. Some of her favorite past roles have been: Bianca in Taming of the Shrew, Pertelote in The Book of the Dunn Cow, Agnes in Agnes of God, and everything she ever did with the Piccolo Theatre in Evantson, Illinois. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Sarah Javors
Sitting Together
Sarah would like to thank “The Forces that Be” for bringing Dawn Bower and Anthony Prichard into Office Depot that fine summer day. Because of them, she was given the opportunity to audition and now she is back on stage and loving it! She would like to thank her fellow actors, Ellen and Joel, and director, Boyd, for taking her on this journey. Sarah is dedicating her performance of Sitting Together to her grandmother.
Autumn Lea Mann
Tag Lines
Autumn is thrilled to be back on the Nomad stage once again! As an Alumni of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy of Los Angeles, her training and experience has made its way around the world. Starting in Denver as a community theater actor and moving on to such achievements as a Plus Size Model for the Lifetime Network’s How to Look Good Naked, multiple appearances at the Hitching Post Theater, the role of Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, and back to Denver to strap on her tap shoes as Chastity in Anything Goes. The character of Nancy in Tag Lines has been an interesting challenge for her, but she is excited to work with new people and expand on her experience and professionalism. Enjoy the show!
Phyl Park
Exploding Maggie/ Time is Nature’s Way of Ensuring Things Don’t Happen at Once…
Phyl is ecstatic to be involved in the BolderLife Festival, having recently been re-infected–erm, rather, reacquainted with the acting bug and working in theatres. You may have recently seen him in Front Range Community College’s Spring run of Our Town as Dr. Gibbs, or in the role of Hortensio in Taste of Shakespeare’s Untamed: The Taming of the Shrew. When not on stage, Phyl can be found preparing for his American Sign Language Interpreter Certification, reading a fantasy novel, or preparing for the zombie apocalypse with his dear friends (among them his gorgeous Director Heather and delicious co-star DeAnna). Phyl wishes to thank his Directors and Co-Stars for their energy, time, support, and feedback.
Joel Parker
Sitting Together
Joel Parker most recently has performed with the Shakespeare Oratorio Society (Henry VI in Henry VI, Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale, and Hastings and Richmond in Richard III) and with Hitching Post Theatre in several “Play in A Day” shows. He has spent the better part of three decades at Renaissance festivals around the country as a performer and director, was a co-founder of the Boulder improv comedy group The For What It’s Worth Department. Joel works as a research scientist (astronomer) and is involved as a project manager and science team member with several NASA missions to the Moon, Pluto, and other denizens of the solar system. You also can hear him as a host and producer on radio station KGNU’s science show How on Earth. Joel thanks the BoulderLife Festival for this opportunity to work with a wonderful group of people.
Anthony Prichard
Food for Thought
This is Anthony’s 1st time acting in over 20 years. His background is in construction management and internet marketing. He came to audition for the part of Spencer through a mutual friend and has really enjoyed rehearsing for his role in the BolderLife Festival. Anthony enjoys swimming, pedal biking, mountain climbing, Dahn yoga, and spending time with his 9-year-old daughter.
Ellen Ranson
Sitting Together
Ellen Ranson claims a show-biz Scottish background and admits she’s an unabashed ham! She has appeared in numerous indie films, regional commercials and local theatre. Favorites include the title roles in Mame and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe? and lead roles in The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof and Music Man. She and her stage partner, Gary Crow-Willard, own The Silver Circuit, a production company that offers 2 person professional stage shows for senior centers, retirement venues and assisted living facilities along the front range. Ellen owns Ellen’s Bed & Breakfast in Longmont, has traveled the world, raised four children and never stops learning – and laughing!
Vanessa Roberts
Wonderful World of Science
Vanessa Roberts is a self-titled “artivist” newly based in Boulder, CO whose solo work fuses theory with performance as a means of making the abstract accessible. Currently Ms. Roberts speaks and performs locally and nationally, traveling to a multitude of educational institutions, conferences and other venues. In addition, most of her time is absorbed with her PhD coursework and teaching duties in the Department of Sociology at CU-Boulder. She is thrilled to connect with the Boulder art community in this present venture and is grateful to be part of this inspirational festival.
Vonalda Utterback
Kamasutra
Vonalda is a local actress, director and Hitching Post alumni! She had the honor of producing last year’s sold out play festival and is thrilled to be back this year as a director and actor.
Michael Vasicek
Eternity/Kamasutra
Michael Vasicek is a native of Boulder, Colorado. As a child he was an imaginary playmate. Today he works as an actor and musician. He knows this isn’t possible in the current economy, but he does it anyway. So far this year, he has acted in four short films, two industrials, and now, two plays!
Greg Winkler
Living in a Road Movie
Greg has just recently returned to the stage after several years in the role of “Dad.” Now that his kids are growing up, he’s getting a chance to feed his soul a bit. His most recent roles have been in The Twilight Zone with the Theater Company of Lafayette and the Shakespeare Oratorio Society’s reader’s theater production of The War of the Roses. By day, he’s a software engineer, avid bicyclist and hiker, massage therapist, husband, and father. All love and thanks go to his wife Lisa, Brie, and Tristan, and to Dave Dahl – the best “best man” and acting teacher a guy ever had.