For Whitehall native, Christopher Beaman, his life-long love of the theatre began onstage at the Howmet Playhouse more than 30 years ago. Since then, he has been involved with more than 25 productions with Muskegon Civic Theatre including roles as a gangster in Kiss Me Kate, Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and the director in Noises Off!. Chris' last performance at the Howmet was in the role of one of the father's in The Fantastiks. He is pleased to be a part of Blithe Spirit and being able to perform so close to home.

Katie Briggs is Creative Writing major and Theater Minor at Grand Valley State University doing her acting and back stage internship this summer. She saw one of her first plays at the Howmet Playhouse and has not stopped loving this little theater since. She attended Muskegon Community College which gave her the passion for theater and where she earned "Theater student of the year" in 2004. She will graduate in 2011 from Grand Valley State University. Past work includes: The Door Guard in The Wizard of Oz, Nora in A Dolls House, she directed the Youth Theater Production of The Jungle Book, Assistant directed The Fantasticks and stage managed for All in the Timing and The Underpants. This year she'll be seen as Delightful and Nadine in Dearly Departed; she will also serve as costume and props mistress, and lights and sound operator for other productions.

Even as Cindy Beth Davis approaches her two year anniversary as Playhouse Manager, she often wakes up in disbelief at her given career. How amazing to have full-time work in the fine arts field in West Michigan! She thoroughly enjoys programming year-round, fundraising, grant writing, hiring artists, marketing and promoting the Historic Howmet Playhouse. In her spare time, she enjoys Lake Michigan, camping, hiking and spending time with her Hawaiian hound, Hina. She serves as Producer for the nine week long summer season, and returns as co-director in this year’s White Lake Youth Theatre program, Skupper Duppers. When not at the Playhouse, she enjoys spending time with her beau, Caleb, to whom she will be wed this fall. Many thanks go to him and her family of friends, for their eternal understanding about theatrical scheduling. She wishes to dedicate this season to her grandmother, Mary Lee Berger, who serves as a constant inspiration, and to all of you for supporting this community gem, White Lake’s Howmet Playhouse!

Debra Freeberg teaches acting, directing, and playwriting and communication courses at Calvin College. She has lectured and conducted workshops on communication, leadership, and theatre across the U.S. and Sweden. Professor Freeberg has directed over 30 plays and musicals; favorite productions include The Syringa Tree, The Ghost Sonata, She Stoops to Conquer, A Dream Play, 1940s Radio Hour, Joan of Lorraine, Peer Gynt, and Tiger at the Gates, including a lauded staging of Mendelssohn's Elijah for the Calvin's Oratorio Society. Her research includes Scandinavian theatre, children's theatre, playwriting, and directing. Debra is a Board Member of Christians in Theatre Arts, a former member of the Governing Board of the Association of Theatre in Higher Education, and a member of the Dramatists Guild. Debra joins the Howmet as a Guest Director of Dearly Departed. This will be her first artistic project with the Playhouse.

John Gray is ecstatic to be here performing at the Howmet Playhouse. He is no stranger to this beautiful town having spent many summer days here throughout his life as Montague was the hometown of his grandmother, Lydia Snyder Argo! He loves coming to visit here, and is very honored to perform in the hilarious play Moonlight and Magnolias reunited with Joe and Michael, both of whom he met in Chicago back in 1994! He is a native of Monroe, Michigan, and moved to Chicago in 1993, where he has performed in numerous theatrical productions namely with fellow CMU graduates, and also with The Trap Door Theatre Company where he is now a proud company member. Other Chicago credits include Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class, at New Leaf Theatre, and Tracy Letts' Killer Joe, and Superior Donuts, at the Steppenwolf Theatre. He would like to sincerely thank Cindy Beth Davis, Tom Harryman, Joe and Natalie Carmolli, Terrie Hampel, Kimon Kotos, the cast and crew, and would like to dedicate his performance to the loving memory of his Grandparents Lydia Snyder Argo and Tom Argo. Much love and thanks to his entire family, xo.

Kimberly Harsch is a proud Whitehall citizen! She stage managed the Howmet Playhouse's first summer festival season and is an experienced actor. She has a diverse repertoire from theater to film. Some Muskegon Civic Theater credits include Jenny Malone in Neil Simon's Chapter Two and Kate Keller in The Miracle Worker. For Central Park Players she has appeared as Shelby in the musical The Spitfire Grill, as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire and as Alais in the Lion in Winter. She is also active in Michigan's film industry with leading roles in the independent films Hopeful Notes, Lily's Mom, and Return to Menu. Kimberly returned to the Howmet Playhouse last summer with various roles in All in the Timing and appeared as Rita in Educating Rita. She would like to thank her amazing husband for letting her dream with one foot on the ground, her two beautiful daughters for making life such an adventure, and her parents and the City of Whitehall for unending support.

Emily Keller is very excited to be back at the Howmet Playhouse for her fifth summer, in an official capacity for the first time! She has experience as an actor, stagehand, light board operator, director, and stage manager, with the Howmet Playhouse, Whitehall High School, Nuveen Center for the Arts, and Muskegon Civic Theatre's Repertory Touring Company. As a recent graduate of Whitehall High School, Emily is excited to be attending Michigan State University this fall to pursue an interdisciplinary degree with the Residential College of Arts and Humanities. Emily will be serving as Stage Manager for Moonlight & Magnolias, Dearly Departed, and will assist in light and sound operation.

Brandon "Bubba" Ogborn is a writer and performer in Chicago. Although his career began as a homeschooler with a hyperactive disorder, he went on to win Mr. Hepler's coveted "Media Student Of The Year" award at Fruitport High School. Brandon has studied at The Second City in both Los Angeles and Chicago, at the i.O and Annoyance theatres. He's performed at i.O. on the team Hindenburg, and with the sketch comedy groups The Evidence and Pretend Soup. He co-wrote and starred in the scandalous one act Good Kid at Annoyance under the direction of Adam Schwartz. Brandon's also helmed numerous short films and videos, his latest, Corey Wilson, will play at the Chicago Short Film and Video Festival. He's also co-writing several feature film projects that are much more blue than this show. Brandon would like to thank his wonderful family, The Ogborns, The Dykema-Hendrick-Acterhoff Dynasty, his amazing, long-suffering wife, Dein, his talented and hilarious stepdaughter, Rayne, the tireless efforts of Ms. Cindy Davis, the dear and brilliant Mr. Adam Schwartz, the mind-blowingly funny director of this show, Chicago's own Mr. Barry Hite, and Brandon's own Wheaton Terrier, Murphy, who, despite his lack of genitals, never ceases to man up.

Brian J Reeds is making his debut on the Howmet Playhouse Stage appearing in Blithe Spirit. Brian is from Muskegon and he began acting at the tender young age of 35. Since then, he has starred in twelve plays. Among his favorites are: The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Ellard Simms in The Foreigner, and Mr. Manningham in Angel Street. All of those were for Muskegon Civic Theatre. He has also played Danny Zuko In Dogwood Center’s production of Grease, and George in Of Mice and Men for Central Park Players. When he is not on stage, Brian enjoys family time, camping, home improvement, and snake charming while nude skydiving. I would like to thank my wonderful dog Murphy for his patience, support, and understanding. Also for his superior bladder control on late rehearsal nights!

Michael Sommers is excited for his debut performance at the Howmet Playhouse as Ben Hecht in Moonlight and Magnolias. Michael lives in San Francisco where recent credits include the World Premieres of Tell It Slant-Emily Dickinson at The Southside Magic Theatre, For All The Babies’ Fathers at the Brava!, and his own creation Uncle Buzzy’s Hometown Theater Show!! at the EXIT and KPFA Radio among other venues. Michael has appeared in over 40 Films such as Bandits, Mousehunt, and The Californians, television episodics like Trauma (NBC), The Evidence (CBS), and Nash Bridges (ABC). Rentable recommendations include Me and Mrs. Jones, Haiku Tunnel, The Village Barbershop, and Bad Mojo (the game).

Diane Van Wesep is so grateful for the performing opportunities she has had. She has enjoyed performing dramatic roles such as Eleanor in The Lion in Winter, Helga in Deathtrap, and Thelma Cates in Night, Mother with Muskegon Civic Theatre (MCT), Central Park Players, and at Muskegon Community College respectively. Performing in musicals such as Anna in The King and I and as multiple roles in A, My Name Is Alice has allowed Diane to be a singing actress. She has also enjoyed comedic roles such as Zorah Bloch in Inspecting Carol, Charlotte in Moon Over Buffalo, and Kate in Sylvia. Now she is eagerly anticipating her return to the Howmet Playhouse after portraying Julia in Lend Me a Tenor. She is especially excited about her return to Blithe Spirit. She appeared as Ruth in MCT’s production of this classic comedy and is looking forward to portraying Madame Arcati here in the Playhouse.

Mike Vogas has so many credits that there is not enough room to list them all. He has performed with Muskegon Civic Theater (MCT) as King Henry II in The Lion Winter, Professor Marvel/the Wizard in the The Wizard of Oz, Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the Kralahome in the The King and I, Owen Musser in The Foreigner, Bill Sykes in Oliver!, and R.P. McMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Mike’s recent directing credits for MCT are Thoroughly Modern Millie, Brigadoon, Art, Angel Street, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Annie Get Your Gun. For Central Park Players, he appeared in The Crucible and directed both Of Mice and Men and The Fantasticks. Mike has also designed sound and lighting for many productions. Mike studied at the Yale School of Drama. He appeared in many Cherry County productions. Mike is happily married to Lorie. He owns Benchmark Productions and teaches oral communication and multimedia at Baker College. Last summer Mike directed Educating Rita at the Playhouse.

Sheila Kulp Wahamaki moved to the Muskegon community in 1999 along with her husband, Kirk, and children Chris and Katie. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater from West Virginia University and a Masters degree in Communications and Theater from Indiana State University. She is an actress, teacher, director, and choreographer. Sheila serves as the Director of the Center for Theater at Muskegon Community College. Her MCC directing credits include Escanaba In Da Moonlight, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It, The Laramie Project, Frankenstein, Our Town, and Into the Woods. She had the privilege directing Tom Harryman in The Christmas Carol and the honor of directing the first Muskegon production of The Vagina Monologues in 2002 in conjunction with Every Woman’s Place. Most recently she directed Rabbit Hole for Muskegon Civic Theater. Sheila has performed in over 80 plays and musicals. Her favorite acting roles include Eliza, My Fair Lady; Sylvia the dog, in Sylvia (at the Howmet Playhouse in 2008); Helen Keller, The Miracle Worker; Luciana, The Comedy of Error; Bonnie, Anything Goes; Nanny, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, and her latest favorite is Elsa Schrader, The Sound of Music! Sheila was honored in 2008 with the Muskegon Woman of Accomplishment Award.

Andrew Zahrt is delighted to be back at the Playhouse for his 4^th summer in a row! Previous Playhouse credits include the Bellhop in Lend Me A Tenor, Mortimer in The Fantasticks, and All In The Timing. He has also Stage Managed for Almost, Maine (Summer 2009) and for the entire 2008 Summer Season. Other recent credits include The Baker in Into The Woods (Muskegon Community College), Jack Worthing in The Importance of Being Earnest (MCC), and designing lighting for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp's Opera production of The Old Maid and the Thief. This April, Andrew made his directorial debut with Almost, Maine for Central Park Players. Andrew plans to continue his education and receive a degree in Technical Theater with a focus in Lighting Design. He thanks his family and friends for their support, and specifically his mother for everything she does!