About the Cast and Production Staff
JJEFFERY P. BRECKEL (John Jeckyll/James Jeckyll) is pleased to be working for Citilites for the first time and once again with his colleague and friend GP Hunsaker. Their last collaboration was with Off Center Theater’s production of I Hate Hamlet at Theatre at St. John’s. He has performed comedy all over the country and has worked with Jest Mysteries, Olympus Theatre and The Howard Brinkley Report. In addition to writing, directing and acting, he has designed for New Line Theatre, Playhouse at West Port Plaza and Broadway Center of Arts. Jeff is currently the Executive Producer and Director of S.L.A.P., a sketch comedy group.
GARY COX (Perry) is thrilled to be part of the resurrection of Citilites, having worked with them on three previous productions including the role of Tandy in Steambath, also under Mr. Hunsaker's direction. He has appeared on many St. Louis area stages and some of his favorite shows include Bye, Bye Birdie (Mr. McAfee), Annie (Daddy Warbucks) and The Sum of Us (Harry).
KEN HALLER (Arthur) is thrilled to be making his Citilites debut with Love! Valour! Compassion! Ken’s favorite roles include Claude (Hair), Harry Hope (The Iceman Cometh) and the title role and six other roles in Hydeware’s Macbeth. Ken first worked with LVC! director GP Hunsaker when they were both actors in Bleacher Bums, named best revival by the RFT in 2006. Ken recently made his solo cabaret debut in Putting It Together: The Music of Stephen Sondheim in June 2008 at the Kranzberg Arts Center.
KEITH PARKER (Bobby) is a recent graduate of Lindenwood University where he received Bachelor's degrees in Music Performance and in French. He feels blessed to have been part of some amazing casts and he adds this one to the list! Recent appearances include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Mitch), Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas) and Rent (Angel). Thanks to teachers and colleagues, family and friends.
SETH WARD PYATT (Buzz/Lighting Designer/Managing Director) is a director, designer, actor and musician from St. Louis and is ecstatic to be doing this show. Locally he has worked with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, STAGES St. Louis, St. Louis Actors’ Studio, New Line Theatre, Black Cat Theatre and Ozark Actors Theatre. Seth has held residencies at Galveston Island Musicals and Granbury Opera House in Texas and at Timber Lake Playhouse near Chicago. Favorite credits are two productions of The Producers (Leo Bloom; musical director), The Andrews Brothers (director), Gypsy (Jocko/Weber/Kringelein/Cigar), Urinetown (light designer) and All Shook Up (musical director). A million thanks to GP, Luetts and Grace.
ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ (Ramon) graduated from Washington University in May of last year with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. He is making his professional debut in Love! Valour! Compassion! after being heavily involved in the theatre at WashU. In college he was seen in The 1940’s Radio Hour (Neal Tilden), Of Thee I Sing (Jenkins) and Footloose (Shaw), among others, and music directed Urinetown. He is currently living in St. Louis working to support his journey into the acting community. He would like to thank GP, the cast and crew, his friends, family, and his mom for never missing a show.
DONNIE TATE (Gregory) is thrilled to be a part of Love! Valour! Compassion! for his debut with Citilites Theatre. Previous local productions with Olympus Theatre include Outcalls Only (Adam), Ashes To Ashes (Tommy) and That Old Gang Of Mine (Phillip) where he appeared with Jeffery Breckel, Ken Haller and Michael Brightman. Other favorite roles are Linus (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and Paul (My Three Angels). Thanks go out to his friends, family, and to GP Hunsaker for this marvelous opportunity.
GP HUNSAKER (Director/Artistic Director), an actor and director from Omaha, NE, has a BA in Theatre and will receive his MA in the spring. He is thrilled to bring back Citilites Theatre (where he and Michael Brightman first collaborated) for which he served as Artistic Director from 1994 to 1996. Directing credits include Into the Woods, West Side Story and I Hate Hamlet. Favorite roles to date are Stanley (A Streetcar Named Desire), Li’l Harp (The Robber Bridegroom) and Lancelot (Camelot). GP just finished playing Baylen in Glengarry Glen Ross for Hot City and Edgar in The Lady of Dubuque for Muddy Waters. He has worked with The Black Rep, Echo Theatre Company, Avalon Theatre and New Line Theatre among others, including his own dinner theatre (P.L.A.Y.S.). You can see him as Bernie in The Country Girl with Avalon opening March 11. Huge thanks and love to my mom and son Aaron.
MICHAEL BRIGHTMAN (Assoc. Artistic Dir.) directed the inaugural production of Evita and is very pleased to once again be a part of Citilites, the company that he founded along with Matt and Mary Caulley back in 1994. In the St. Louis area Michael has performed and directed with such companies as Mustard Seed, StrayDog, Kirkwood Theatre Guild, Looking Glass Playhouse, CJ Productions, New Line and Soundstage. He was recently seen at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in the Kevin Kline nominated productions of Frost/Nixon and Emma.
GENE WEBER (Set Designer) is proud to re-join Citilites as a board member. He holds a BA in Speech & Theatre and Secondary Education and an MA in Theatre. His work as a director, set designer, actor, playwright and musician has been seen in many educational, community and professional theatre venues throughout the St. Louis area. Favorite theatrical experiences include directing and designing Into the Woods, designing Chicago (Citilites) and performing as Fagin in Oliver! Gene's set design work is featured in an educational DVD and he has written two full-length dramas. He owns Weber Graphic Design and is an adjunct instructor for SLCC.
RUSSELL J. BETTLACH (Costume Designer) is excited to be working with the cast and crew of Love! Valour! Compassion! Most recently he designed the set and costumes for West End Players Guild’s production of Tomfoolery. Often a costumer, sometimes a set decorator, props master or assistant director, Russ has worn many hats with many theatre groups and high schools around town. He is the owner and designer for RJ Theatricals, a costume company working exclusively with the theatre community. Russ would like to thank his family and friends for supporting him and the arts.