CAST LIST FOR Ruddigore, Autumn 2008

An early Boronet of Rudigore had a witch burned at the stake, and she cursed him and all his line, dooming them to commit at least one crime a day, under penalty of dying in unspeakable agony. Dame Hannah narrates this legen to the Chorus of Professional Bridesmaids, gathered around the cottage of Rose Maybud, an attractive young damsel who has not yet found a husband. Robin Oakapple, a young farmer, is in love with Rose, but is too bashful to declare his passsion. We now learn through Adam, an old retainer, that Robin is really Sir Ruthven (pronounced "Rivven") Mrgatroyd, the true Baronet of Ruddigore, who has fled from the Curse, leaving it, with the title and estates, to his younger brother, Despard. His foster-brother, Richard Dauntless, who has just returned from sea, also knows Robin's true identity. Learning of the deadlock in Robin's love-affair, Richard volunteers to see the lady and clear up the situation. On meeting Rose, however, he too falls in love with her, and , as his guiding principle is to obey "the dictates of his heart", avows his love to her, and is accepted. But when Rose learns of Robin's love for her, she promptly transfers her affections to him, remarking that while Richard is a penniless sailor, Robin is a prosperous farmer.

Mad Margaret enters, and we learn taht she had been in love with the present bad baronet, Despard. In a song, Despard reveals that depths of his infamy, but notes that he makes a point of atoning for every bad action by following it with a good once. Richard, still obeying the "dictates of his heart", reveals to him that his brother, Sir Ruthven, is alive, and is in this very village, masquerading as Robin Oakapple. Robin now enters with his promised bride and the Chorus of Bridesmaids to celebrate teh nuptials. But the wedding is rudely interrupted by the revelation that Robin is really the Bad Baronet. Rose promptly offers herself to Sir Despard, who declares that he, being no longer the Bad Baronet but a virtuous person, will be true to Mad Margaret. So now Rose, not at all abashed, once more falls back on Richard, and a Dance ends the first act.

In the gloomy Picture Gallery of Ruddigore Castle, teh portraits of his ancestors look grimly down upon a sadly changed Robin. Richard and Rose dance in with their train of Bridesmaids to ask Robin's consent to their marrage. After some trouble, they obtain it, and depart. Robin them makes an impassioned appeal to his ancestors to relieve him of doing a daily crimie. Stepping down from their frames, and led by his uncle Roderic, they accuse hime of evading the terms of the Curse, and order him to do something really wicked - carry off a maiden that very day. When he refuses, they give him a sample of the "agonies" tehy have teh power to inflict, and he is compelled to yield. The ancestors return to their frames and Robin orders Adam to go at once and bring hime a maiden - any maiden!

A reformed Despard and Margaret now appear, and soberly attired, and describe themselves as District Visitors engaged in charitable activities. They have come to implore Robin to forswear his wicked ways. He declares he will do so, when, upon their departure, Adam enters with the "maiden" he was sent to abduct. She turns out to be none other than the mature Dame Hannah, who proves so well able to protect herself that Robin has to call upon his uncle Roderic for help. Roderic steps down from his frame, and we learn that he and Hannah were once lovers. Robin is summarily dismissed, and the reunited pair indulge in a sentimental duet. Their reunion is interrupted by teh excited entrance of Robin - he has the solution of the whole business. Pointing out that , as a refusal to fulfil the terms of teh Curse amounts to suicide, and as suicide is itslef a crime, it follow that theeCurse is inoperative! So Roderic finds that he must still be alive, Rose at once becomes the bride of a refomred Robin, Richard appropriates teh Chief bridesmaid, and all ends in general rejoicing.

Ruddigore logo

Directors

Actors

Orchestra

Production Staff

Bios

listed alphabetically

Susan Blair (Hannah) is delighted to return to RVCO with pleasant memories of her earlier performance as Meg Brockie in Brigadoon in 1997. Her most recent leading roles have been Sister Vauzou in Song of Bernadette and Mrs. Allen in Dark of the Moon, with ActorsNet of Bucks County, and Nicklausse in Tales of Hoffman with Delaware Valley Opera Company. No stranger to G&S, with The Savoy Company she has sung Tessa (The Gondoliers), Pitti-Sing (The Mikado) and Mrs. Partlet (The Sorcerer), and Lady Sophie in Utopia Limited with The G&S Players at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England (2005). In opera, Susan has enjoyed playing the Marquise in Daughter of the Regiment, Nancy in von Flotow's Martha, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro. Other acting treats for her have been Goneril in King Lear with ActorsNet of Bucks County, Sally Talley in Talley's Folly with Players Club of Swarthmore, Julia Price in The Ghost Train with Celebration Theater in Lansdowne, and Miss Snood/Olga in the musical Trixie True Teen Detective with Cabrini College Theater. (Love to Mort.) Back to top

Rick Cassel (Stage Manager), a Rose Valley native, returns for his third production with the RVCO having previously handled the stage manager duties for The Mikado and The Merry Widow. A confirmed "behind the scenes" person, he also manages the yearly bedlam that is the Rose Valley Folk Variety Show. Back to top

Michael Chang (Sound Engineer) was dragged into theater in 1993 by his wife, Sally, and two daughters when they were all cast in The King and I at Narberth Community Theater. Since then, he has produced over six shows, handled sound, and mentored others for over 30 productions at Narberth Community Theater, Marple Newtown, Lower Merion HIgh School, Bala Cynwyd Middle School, The Barn, St. Thomas Players, and the Wolf Performing Arts Center. He has served as a board member for Narberth Community Theater and is currently on the board of the Wolf Performing Arts Center. He has become so skilled in set design and construction that he has earned the nicknames "Master Carpenter" and "The Boss". During the day, he is the VP for Data Processing for a local money management organization (MFI Associates). Back to top

Ken Clark (Set Construction Chair) was first listed under Costumes for Kiss Me, Kate in 1998. After lugging costumes, installing grommets, and posing occasionally as a "Male Model", he explored other avenues and proceeded through Stage Crew to Set Construction Crew to Set Construction Chair which he did for Patience, Carousel, H.M.S. Pinafore/Cox & Box, The Red Mill, The Pirates of Penzance, Mame, The Mikado, and The Merry Widow. He has also done bit parts on stage: a Policeman in Hello, Dolly!, a Suspicious Character in Guys and Dolls, and a Clergyman in The Red Mill. Back to top

Bruce Conley (Buck/Ghost/President/Producer) was Bogdanowitsch in The Merry Widow, Ralph Devine in Mame, a pirate in The Pirates of Penzance, Dirk in The Red Mill, and David Bascombe in Carousel. A chorus member since 1988, he has also enjoyed performing minor roles in many past shows such as: Brigadoon, The Yeomen of the Guard, Hello, Dolly!, and Die Fledermaus. As president of RVCO, Bruce also wears many hats offstage, including producing this show. He especially thanks his wife, Rae, for her help and support and his aunt, Thelma Loving, for inspiring his musical interests. Back to top

Teresa D'Amico (Rose Maybud), a lyric soprano, has performed in many venues including Alice Tully Hall, New York City and Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis. Recently, she was heard at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia with Center City Opera Theater, Queens Opera Association, and the Concert Operetta of Philadelphia. Ms. D'Amico's operatic roles include Bizet's Micaëla, Mozart's Susanna, and Britten's Female Chorus. An advocate of 20th century works, she has worked with esteemed composers John Harbison, James Primosch, Libby Larsen, and Daniel Crozier. Equally at home in concert repertoire, she has an active career as a soloist. She was featured in Faurè's Requiem, Haydn's Creation, Schubert's Mass in G, Vivaldi's Gloria, Mozart's Vespers, and Bach's Mass in B minor. Upcoming engagements include performances with New York Opera Forum as Marguerite in Faust, The Opera Project as Nedda in I Pagliacci, and concert appearances with the SALON Concert Series in Philadelphia. Back to top

Bonnie Decktor (Makeup & Hair Designer), a long-time actor, director, makeup artist, and hair stylist, styled the wigs for The Mikado and The Merry Widow last season. Her many credits with RVCO include Associate Stage Director for Mame and Carousel. Her credits with groups throughout the region include: Resident hair and makeup person for the Delaware Children's Theatres, intern at the Mike Lemon Casting Agency, teacher in the Summer Drama Camp at the Original and New Candlelight Dinner Theatre, Delaware Children's Theatre, and Wilmington Drama League, and with the Young Peoples Theatre Workshop. Back to top

Sydney De Lapeyrouse (Ruth, Zorah understudy) is thrilled to debut with RVCO. A native of Washington, DC, she performed with the Washington Savoyards in Trial by Jury and The Pirates of Penzance She recently returned from Italy where she played the Nursing Sister in Suor Angelica with the Professional Advantage summer program. She received her Masters from Temple University where she sang in their productions of Les Contes d'Hoffmann and L'Enfant et les sortileges and was a frequent soloist with groups such as the Temple University Concert Choir and Temple University Contemporary Music Ensemble. Back to top

Josiah Donnell (Robin Oakapple) has always loved to do two things: talk and sing. So when the opportunity came along to join RVCO for this show he jumped at the chance. You might remember Josiah from his recent performance as Baron Zeta in The Merry Widow. Elsewhere he performed as Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun and Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream. When not singing and talking, Josiah can be found moving large rocks for his company Artscapers or playing disc golf at one of the many beautiful courses in the area. Back to top

William V. Pete Dorwart (Music Engraver), a cellist in the orchestra, spent most of his professional career as a clinical chemist for Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Bryn Mawr Hospital. As a retirement project, he has produced new orchestral editions of eleven of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. His edition of The Merry Widow, which RVCO premiered in March 1999, has been used by the Metropolitan Opera for 26 performances over three different seasons. He has completed new string parts for Aida in a joint project with the Met and the Chicago Lyric Opera. A new edition of Johann Strauss, Jr.'s The Gypsy Baron was performed by the Main Line Opera Guild in 2005. His State Fair by Victor Herbert premiered in March of 2006 in the Lincoln Center in a performance by the Little Orchestra Society. Back to top

Ross Druker (Richard) debuted with RVCO as Nanki-Poo in The Mikado last fall. With Savoy Company, his G&S credits include Colonel Fairfax (The Yeomen of the Guard), Luiz/Marco (The Gondoliers), Dr. Daly/Alexis (The Sorcerer), Cyril/Prince Hilarion (Princess Ida), Phantis (Utopia, Ltd.), Ralph (H.M.S. Pinafore), Lord Tolloler (Iolanthe), Lieutenant (Patience), and Ernest Dummkopf (Grand Duke). He also performed with Savoy at the International G&S Festival in Buxton, England, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Chalfonte Hotel in Cape May, and Lake Nuangola in the Poconos. Recently he sang von Asterberg in Romberg's The Student Prince and Baron Zsupán in Kalman's Countess Maritza with Concert Operetta Theater at the AVA. Recent dramatic roles were Reverend Hale in Arthur Miller's The Crucible at ActorsNet in Morristown and Yepikhodov in Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard at Chestnut Hill Stagecrafters. Ross is a professional member of The Philadelphia Singers Chorale which performs with The Philadelphia Orchestra. He studies voice with Diana Borgia-Petro. Back to top

Mike Dutka (Sir Roderic) is delighted to rejoin RVCO for a fourth season. Previous RVCO roles include The Mikado, The Sergeant of Police (The Pirates of Penzance, and Dick Deadeye (H.M.S. Pinafore). Other recent G&S performances include Sergeant Meryll (The Yeomen of the Guard) and Roderic (Ruddigore) with Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Chester Country, Arac (Princess Ida) with Ardensingers, The Usher (Trial By Jury) and Dick Deadeye (H.M.S. Pinafore) with The Savoy Company, and Private Willis (Iolanthe), Wilfred Shadbolt (The Yeomen of the Guard), and Jupiter in the Quade Winter restoration of the original Thespis, with Thespis, Etc. An open-minded chap, Michael has even played non-G&S parts, including The Commendatore in Don Giovanni, two Menotti roles - Mr. Gobineau in The Medium and Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Huckabee in The Fantasticks, and Emile in South Pacific. Michael lives, sings, rides horses, and writes stories, books, and operas in Doylestown, PA. He wishes to thank his singing teacher, Richard Johnson, and his father in memoriam, for constant encouragement and moral support. Back to top

Sally Foster-Chang (Stage Director) has studied acting at The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, Arden Theatre, and Walnut Street Theater as well as 15 years of classical voice, tap and dance training. She performs as a soloist for local churches and synagogues, directs at Narberth Community Theater (Jane Eyre and To Kill a Mockingbird), and provides vocal direction for a local children's theater group (Wolf Performing Arts Center: Wizard of Oz and A Year with Frog and Toad). Her most recent roles include Nellie in South Pacific and Mother Hicks in Mother Hicks. During the day, Sally runs an Occupational Health unit for the federal government. She thanks Rose Valley for the opportunity to work with such a delightful group of actors and singers. Back to top

Carol Freed (Music Director/Conductor) started piano at the age of six and was music director first as a senior at Lower Merion High School. Since then she has been music director/conductor for many local theater groups. She joined RVCO in 1977 as accompanist and became music director and conductor with The New Moon production in 1985. Her longevity with RVCO has now earned her the distinction of Life Member. "What a privilege to lead such a wonderful and talented group of people, both actors and orchestra." Off the podium, she sells real estate with Weichert Realtors and does vocal coaching. "Thanks to my husband, Marvin, for supporting me, always." Back to top

Bill Hendrix (Buck/Ghost) I've been with RVCO for 11+ years and 25 shows following my retirement from the corporate world and flying for the military. It doesn't get any better than this-great people, great music, great musicians, and outstanding audiences. Back to top

Dottie Hespenheide (Set Painting) "This is my tenth year with RVCO, and I'm continually impressed with the quality of our performances (and the scenery!!). I enjoy doing what I can to help with scenery construction and painting." Back to top

Alfred & Eleanor Hurd (House Managers) are both lifetime members of RVCO and enjoy the chance to do a wide variety of tasks on and offstage. Together they have performed on stage in 69 of the 87 shows in which they have participated. Their last show on stage was The Red Mill in 2006. The reason for not being on stage for many recent shows is that they are working to create a Performing Arts Complex (PAC) for the many community groups in Delaware County that lack their own space, including RVCO. Once PAC is built, they will perform once more with RVCO on that new stage. Back to top

Roger Jones (Buck/Ghost), new to RVCO this show, is a long-time G&S buff, having seen D'Oyly Carte Company performances as a child and performed in Haverford High School shows of The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, and Iolanthe (Lord High Chancellor). He has sung in church choirs for over 30 years. He sings in the Ocean Grove Church Choir Festival and the Philadelphia Welsh Guild's Thanksgiving Gymanfa Ganu (Welsh hymn festival). When not indulging his passion for music or enjoying his family, he is an international industrial consultant, author, and lecturer. He and his wife, Caryl, recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. Some of his three children (plus spouses) and eight grandchildren will see this show! "It is a truly immeasurable pleasure to perform with such a talented and dedicated group. I have attended and thoroughly enjoyed RVCO's Gilbert & Sullivan productions for many years, and finally, the time is right to be on the stage rather than in the audience!" Back to top

Ellie Knickman (Bridesmaid) most recently appeared this spring as a crow in Narberth Community Theater's Wizard of Oz (with her daughter), in 2007 as Mother Burnside in RVCO's Mame (with her son), and in 2003-05 in the chorus of the Christmas Revels (with her kids AND her husband). She thanks her family for keeping it together while she does this show on her own. She also thanks her voice teacher, Sharon Sigal, for increasing her range and decreasing her high note anxiety! Ellie is a reference librarian at Saint Joe's, enjoys American, Scottish, and English folk music and dance, and likes to teach folk dance to people like her who can't tell their right from their left. Back to top

Sharon Kope (Assistant to the Music Director, Pianist), a member of RVCO since 2003, has been a musician all her life. She studied at Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory, toured Europe with America's Youth in Concert, attended Princeton's Westminster Choir College, and graduated from Ohio's Wittenberg University with a bachelor's degree in church music. She is Director of Music for Mount Hope United Methodist Church in Aston and director and accompanist for the Sunshine Singers of Delaware County. Sharon is married to her wonderful husband, Bob, and has two terrific boys, Kevin and Tim. When not involved with music, she likes spending time with her family, doing crafts, and traveling around the country. Back to top

Tadashi Matuura (Sound Consultant) is excited to be a part of this RVCO production. Tadashi started theatre sound engineering at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Currently he is a recording engineer for George Blood Audio, recording concerts and archiving old recordings. Thanks to family and friends for their support. Back to top

Erma McEwen (Properties) has assisted in props and stage crew for several years with RVCO. She's happy to work with such a great crew and cast. Back to top

Jack McEwen (Buck/Ghost, Treasurer) was Piet in The Red Mill, Liver-Lips Louie in Guys and Dolls, and Bob Barking in Me and My Girl. "This is my tenth season with RVCO. It's always a great time." Back to top

Bill Michael (Buck/Ghost) joined RVCO in 1992 and has appeared in many of our productions, most recently he was Ito in Mame. He met his wife, Kathy, through RVCO and has performed in 3 shows on our stage with his daughter, Maggie. Besides being on stage, he has worn many other hats over the years and recently finished serving on the Executive Board as vice president and membership chair. Back to top

Robert Moore (Buck/Ghost, Makeup Designer) was Njegus in The Merry Widow last spring and directed Mame in 2007 and Carousel in 2005 after returning to RVCO in 2004 as Arvide in Guys and Dolls. His first RVCO show was Guys and Dolls in 1974 which he then directed in 1984. A former Peace Corps Volunteer, he holds an M.A. in Theatre from Villanova University and has done over 300 shows, performing everything from "Shakespeare to Sondheim"! With RVCO, principal roles created include Mordred in Camelot, Jigger in Carousel, Jeff in Brigadoon, Benny in Desert Song; shows directed include The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, New Moon, Plain & Fancy, Vagabond King, My Fair Lady, and The Pajama Game. Professionally, he has been involved in dinner theatre for over 30 years and worked with such notables as five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (The Producers) and movie actor Bruce Willis. One of his finest accomplishments, though, is the Swarthmore Young People's Theatre Workshop which he cofounded in 1978. He continues to be active as an instructor and director. In his "new life" after retiring from teaching, Bob works in artistic fields as a designer with Celebrations Design Group, Mike Lemon Casting (a film casting company in Philadelphia), and as a freelance actor and director. He just performed in Seussical at Players Club of Swarthmore and can be seen in the Disney film Annapolis with James Franco. Back to top

Gabriel Nathan (Sir Despard) after a two-year hiatus from the stage, is thrilled to inhabit another product of W. S. Gilbert's depraved imagination. In 2006, he appeared as Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. in H.M.S. Pinafore with Ardensingers and as Reginald Bunthorne in Patience with Thespis, Etc. He began his foray into G&S with Chester County G&S Society as a surprisingly short and insecure Tower Warder. Gabriel has a B.A. in Theatre from Muhrenberg College and an M.Ed. from LaSalle University-though only one of those degrees has relevance tonight: You decide which. He thanks his delightful and patient wife for practicing his duets with him with diligence and frequency. Back to top

Mort Paterson (Old Adam) has long been active in Philadelphia-area theater. He returns to RVCO having played Sir John in Me and My Girl in 2003. Most recent acting roles include Dean Peyramale in Song of Bernadette and Judge Danforth in The Crucible, both with ActorsNet of Bucks County. He has a particular fondness for Shakespeare, having played among other roles: Orsino, Polonius, Prospero, Claudius, King Lear, and most recently, Baptista in The Taming of the Shrew with Shakespeare 70. His professional appearances include Montague in Romeo and Juliet at Bristol Riverside Theater, as well as Alonso in The Tempest, Time in Winter's Tale, the Duke in Othello, and Friar Francis in Much Ado About Nothing, all with the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival. His article on the rhythms of spoken Shakespeare, "What is Pentameter: the Five in Shakespeare's Verse" was published in the journal English Studies in 2002. Mort has stage-directed several operas for Trinity Center Opera in Philadelphia, including Cosi fan tutte and Die Fledermaus. His most recent musical role was Sir in Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd at Footlighters. Mort is happy to be back with RVCO. (Love to Susan.) Back to top

Joy Pedrick (Bridesmaid) performed with RVCO in the 70s and 80s and returned in 2006 for The Pirates of Penzance and then The Mikado. She sang with the Ridley Community Chorus during its entire 35-year history and plays hand bells at Prospect United Methodist Church and Ridley Park Presbyterian Church. She enjoys sewing, especially Halloween costumes, and making chocolates, for which she creates her own candy molds. She enjoys square dancing and camping with her husband and son. She is an RN at Taylor Hospital and thanks coworker Lesa for taking her opening night shift. Back to top

Julie Portnoy (Zorah) is pleased to be performing in her first Rose Valley production. Past credits include Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief, Mercedes in the Card Scene from Carmen, the First Fairy in Henry Purcell's The Fairy Queen, and Ma in The Tenderland. Julie is a past NATS finalist and a former singer at the Victor Café in Philadelphia. As a master's student in Counseling Psychology, Julie plans to help high school students while engaging in correlation research. Back to top

Mary Punshon (Mad Margaret) is thrilled to finally be appearing in the role of her dreams. In the past she has appeared with RVCO as Pitti Sing (The Mikado), Bertha (The Red Mill), Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore), Lalume (Kismet), Psyche (Princess Ida), Phoebe (The Yeomen of the Guard), Vittoria (The Gondoliers), and Mabel in RVCO's ongoing The Pirates of Penzance for Music in the Schools. Other Gilbert and Sullivan roles include Angelina (Trial by Jury), Tessa (Gondoliers), Melissa (Princess Ida), Lady Angela (Patience), Elsie (The Yeomen of the Guard), and the title role in Iolanthe. Mary is a frequent performer with Concert Operetta Theater at The Academy of Vocal Arts. Favorite roles there include Manja (Countess Maritza), Masha (Chocolate Soldier), and Princess Margaret (Student Prince). A founding member of Main Line Opera Guild, she sang Saffi in their production of The Gypsy Baron. Other favorite parts are Mother Abbess (The Sound of Music), Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana), and title role in Ceneretola. A voice performance graduate of Kansas University, she currently studies with Kathryna Barone of Bryn Mawr Conservatory and is soloist at Lower Merion Baptist Church. Back to top

Diane Runkel (Bridesmaid) is thrilled to be performing in her fifth consecutive RVCO show. She loves the music, treasures the friendships, finds the matter of all the memorization a challenge, and especially appreciates her husband. He is responsible for encouraging her into this in the first place and she apologizes for the weeks of torture she puts him through in the process of learning a new show! Thanks Bill! Back to top

Sally Sapega (Bridesmaid) is so happy to be part of another RVCO production! What keeps her coming back is the fun and wonderful camaraderie among cast members. Sally has also appeared in shows with Footlighters Theatre and Thespis, Etc. and sings with Schola Cantorum. When not on stage or working in the city, Sally can be found in Morton, enjoying the good life with John. Back to top

Caroline Sausman (Costumes) has worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as an RN for 21 years, of which 18 of those were in Infection Control/Prevention. Sewing has been a major part of her life from the time she was very small and spent time with her paternal grandmother. The time spent with her grandmother lead to her being able to help design and make clothes not only for her family and costumes, but also for herself and other individuals for the "Fur Rendezvous" (an annual week-long event in February in Anchorage Alaska). The costumes required were for the 1800s and many individuals throughout Anchorage wore them at work as well as to several of the costume balls that were held during the week. Prior to becoming an RN, she was a hairdresser for 25 years and competed in many styling competitions. Back to top

Rande Saxe (Bridesmaid), a Temple University School of Music graduate, taught vocal classroom music for 25 years in the North Penn School District, Lansdale, PA. She retired this past September and is now enjoying many special interests. This is her 4th production with Rose Valley Chorus and she finds each one more enjoyable than the last. She dedicates these very fun performances to the three special men in her life: George, Jason, and David. Back to top

M. Jane Smyth (Graphics/Flyer) has also designed sets for many of our shows, most recently Mame, Patience, Me and My Girl, The Sorcerer, The Pirates of Penzance, The Yeomen of the Guard, and the 1997 The Mikado. Onstage, her favorite shows were Most Happy Fella, The Music Man of 1982 (as Eulalie and son Greg as Winthrop), and Carousel of 1977 with both of her children. Offstage she was a graphic designer with West Chester University and won a Gold Award in 1992 for the West Chester University Magazine design. Jane and her daughter, Becky, won a Blue Ribbon for their scale miniature and Best of Blue for the division of Miniature Settings at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Their latest artistic venture is a beaded jewelry website: Craftsmyths.com. Back to top

Cynthia Du Pont Tobias (Set Designer, Master Painter, Portrait Artist) began her professional career at the Opera Company of Boston as chorister, shop assistant and welder, and assistant to Sarah Caldwell. Her twelve designs for operas include Menotti's Amahl and the world premiere of his The Boy Who Grew Too Fast. She has designed scenery for seven G&S productions, including Rose Valley's 100th anniversary The Mikado. Last spring she directed and designed the sets for Patience with the Ardensingers. Back to top

Chris Verduin (Bridesmaid) has participated in many choirs and musical groups in the past. With RVCO, she was in Carousel and The Mikado and sings in the presentation of The Pirates of Penzance for Music in the Schools. Back to top

Dave Verduin (Buck/Ghost, Vice President) debuted on the RVCO stage as Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls, was the magician in Carousel, and the Doorman in Mame. He is no stranger to the stage having performed as a clown both nationally and internationally. Offstage, Dave is an interpreter, children's ministry director, and president of the Riverside, NJ Coalition of Business Owners and Landlords. He also teaches English as a second language. In RVCO's Music in the Schools' The Pirates of Penzance he is a pirate and was the king who wanted to sing in Cinderella at Footlighters Theater. Back to top

Cathy Wakefield (Bridesmaid, Ruth understudy, Board member) is always thrilled to be singing and dancing with RVCO! She has performed with the group since the 1981 production of Die Fledermaus. Favorite shows include Guys and Dolls (1984 and 2004), Plain and Fancy (1986-onstage with her daughter, Kerri), Mame (2007-as Cousin Fan), and The Pirates of Penzance her favorite G&S. "Thanks to my wonderful family and friends for their love and support of my exciting hobby!" Back to top

Jennifer Williams (Bridesmaid, Board member) is loving every minute of working with such a tremendously talented cast. Miss Williams joined RVCO in 2002, has performed in many productions since then, and now serves on the Board. She has also performed with The Savoy Company of Philadelphia and Thespis, Etc. in Media. She would like to thank her mom and dad for their love and support. Back to top

Linda Yost (Bridesmaid) debuts with RVCO in this show and says that she has never worked with a nicer group of people. Other G&S experience includes a G&S Christmas Carol with Thespis, Etc. and Pirates of Penzance at Footlighters Theater. Linda takes acting classes at the Walnut Street Theater when she can fit them in her schedule. Linda thanks her husband, Don, and her children, Holly and David for their patience and support. Back to top

Dave Zaffarano (Buck/Ghost) was Pritschitsch in The Merry Widow last spring, sang in the chorus for The Mikado last fall, was Gregor in Mame, and a pirate in The Pirates of Penzance He is also a pirate in The Pirates of Penzance with RVCO's Music in the Schools program. He sings in church as a choir member and soloist. He also sings with Schola Cantorum and the Blue and Gray Voices (the St. James alumni choir). Thanks to the very talented RVCO company who let me hang around show after show and also to Julie, my inspiration. Back to top

Julie Zaffarano (Bridesmaid/Secretary, Hannah understudy) enjoys flirting with her husband, Dave, on stage in their third RVCO season. She was last seen as Praskowia in The Merry Widow where she flirted, unsuccessfully, with everyone else. She currently performs with Schola Cantorum, and is involved with her church as a choir member, soloist, assistant director of the CCD music program, and previously as music director for several school musicals. In her spare time, she is employed by the Defense Department as a Project Integrator. Thank you RVCO for the opportunity to work with so many talented people! Back to top