CARRIE ALLIO (Terry Mason, Kate Ruchton) is over the moon to be working with this talented cast and production team. She wishes to thank Mark and the boys for the time away from being a “housewife” to pursue another MTG musical, and our director, Nation, who brings it all together. When she’s not busy with family or musicals, Carrie manages to squeeze in time for two part-time jobs working with children.
FRANK BAKER (Rex Winship, Anthony Coelho, Man I, Tom Patrick) is excited to be back at the Musical Theatre Guild of Butler, after being part of an amazing cast in Red Hot & Cole. Frank has been performing in local theater for many years. Some recent favorite roles include Underling, in the The Drowsy Chaperone and Charlie Cowell in The Music Man with the Red Barn Players; 14th Bishop of Basingstoke in Jekyll & Hyde at the Strand Theater in Zelienople; Joseph Pulitzer in Newsies with the Calvin Players. Frank looks forward to the successful run of Working… and thanks the wonderful directors and the talented cast and musicians for an amazing experience. Cheers!
ROBERT “NATION” BOOTHE (Director & Choreographer) graduated from Point Park University with an BFA in Musical Theater and then moved to NYC to begin his career. He traveled the United States and Europe, performing in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, West Side Story, Oklahoma and Rugrats Live. Particular highlights include performing on the Radio City Musical Hall stage and the Today Show. This is Nation’s third show directing at MTG. He excited to start a new chapter and is moving to VA.
HEIDI NICHOLLS BOWSER is thrilled to be making her MTG debut after 28 years of participation in local theater! Most recently she appeared in HobNob Theatre’s “Mother’s Day Cabaret” at the Penn theater. Long time actor at the Butler Little Theatre, favorite rolls there include Tess in “Marjorie Prime,” Becca in “Rabbit Hole,” and Louise in “Hollywood Arms.” For Asylum Entertainment, favorite roles include Truvy in “Steel Magnolias.” Heidi has worked as a professional commercial actress in television and radio both in Pittsburgh and in her native Chicago. Off the stage, she is the Membership and Healthy Living Director at the Butler YMCA. She thanks her husband and fellow actor Casey Bowser for his continued support!
JAYCIE FRYE (Amanda McKenny, Roberta Victor, Theresa Liu, Maggie Holmes) is happy to return to the MTG stage. She has been entertaining audiences on stage since she was twelve and has been part of MTG’s productions of Ordinary Days, 9 to 5 The Musical, Company, and The Marvelous Wonderettes. She hopes to continue to be involved with MTG and community theatre in the future. She, Zach, and their three cats live in Ellwood City.
ZACH FRYE (Man Wearing Headphone in Cubicle, Frank Decker, Conrad Swibel, Charlie Blossom) is happy to return to the MTG stage as well as being newly elected to MTG’s BOD. He has been involve in theatre since 2007. Some of his previous MTG roles include Gabe Goodman in Next to Normal, Matthew in Altar Boyz, Prince Charming in Into the Woods, and most recently Bobby in Company. He would like to thank you for attending and hopes you enjoy the show!
DAVID M. HALIN (Allen Epstein, Utkarsh Trjillo) current serves on MTG’s Board of Directors. His theater experience is three decades in the making, with his first show, Hello Dolly (Dancing Waiter) in 1988. His favorite credits include: Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Man 1 in Songs for a New World, Ladislav Sipos in She loves Me, Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jimmy Powers in City of Angels, Peter in Company, and most recently as Joe in 9 to 5 The Musical.
STEPHANIE KOBIL (Another Woman in Cubicle, Sharon Atkins, Candy Cottingham, Woman 2) The best part of being in theater is making people laugh! Stephanie is excited to be able to be part of the “9 to 5” cast, joining some incredible local talent. In the past, she was with MTG ensemble in Evita and Sweeney Todd. She most recently played Margaret in MTG’s production of 9 to 5 The Musical. She has also been in many Butler Little Theatre shows including Fools, Run For Your Wife, and Dixie Swim Club.
PHIL KRILEY (Joe Zutty) ‘s first MTG show was “West Side Story” in 1971, and since then he has been in over 30 productions. Working has proven to be a challenge, but our directors have been very patient with this old man as they worked through it. It’s been great to share the stage with his wonderful wife, Robin, and it’s been a real pleasure to work with so many talented performers from the next generation. Thank you for coming and Phil hopes you enjoy our show!
ROBIN KRILEY (Rose Hoffman) has been active in MTG since 1977. She has served on the MTG board as President, Vice President and Secretary and has worked on over 50 MTG productions, both on and off stage. Some of her favorite roles include, Maria in The Sound of Music, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, Mama Rose in Gypsy, Martha in The Secret Garden, and Amnesia and Sister Hubert in the Nunsense series. She met her husband, Phil, through MTG and they’ve appeared together in many productions. Robin also had the opportunity to perform in MTG’s production of The Secret Garden with her mom, Gerry Oxley, her daughter, Martha, and husband, Phil who served as music director making this particular show a true family affair. In addition to her daughter, Martha, Robin has a son, Andrew, who is currently serving in the U.S. Navy. She’s so happy to be back on stage with this cast of Working!
JEREMY POYNTON (Freddy Rodriguez, Raj Chadha, Ralph Werner) is an actor and musician originally from Illinois, where he studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. He has performed at a variety of community theaters around Pittsburgh, including the Geyer, Greensburg Civic, Heritage Players, and Theatre Factory. He is excited to return for his second production at MTG and recently played Warren in Ordinary Days.
CHRISTINA SAVANNAH (Music Director) grew up in Butler in a family that appreciated, supported and participated in the arts. Growing up hearing piano, clarinet, and saxophone lessons in the house constantly, music seemed to be an obvious career. Chris holds a Bachelor
Degree in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Music Education from Bowling Green State University. She is married to Michael Savannah, also a Butlerite, who was a Naval officer. Together they have two daughters living in Chicago and Denver. This is the fourth
MTG show that Chris directed the music and is happy to be working with Nation. She is the second bassoonist with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra and sits on their Board of Directors. Chris’s dream is that every child has the opportunity to study music in all of their school
years so that we produce caring, intelligent individuals that create great communities.
KEN SMITH (Mike Dillard, Lead Man) is husband to Liz and father of three sons. He is happy to be part of working with so many fun and talented people. With MTG, Ken has MD’s 9 to 5, Assassins, and Jesus Christ Superstar, he was on the stage for MTG’s Company, and has played keyboards for several shows. Ken and Liz run hobnob theatre company. Thank you for supporting local theatre!
AUTUMN ZAPP (Woman in Cubicle, Delores Dante) is so happy to return to MTG after her debut in 9 to 5. She is from the Butler area and lives with her husband and two cats, Cammi and Kelvin. She has been involved in musicals in the past in high school. Autumn is so grateful and thrilled to work with such talented people. She would like to thank her family and friends for all the love and support. Enjoy the show!