TORO DRAMA

Karen Rolston, Guest Director

(Community Member, Playwright, ariZoni Award Winner)

Karen is the Producing Artistic Director for East Valley Children's Theatre.  She is an accomplished actor, director and playwright with numerous awards and accolades.  She is a nominee for the distinguished Governor's Arts Award for so many years of dedication and countless hours and talents given to Valley theatre.  This award recognizes, educators, teaching artists, school administrators or school volunteers that have demonstrated significant support or participation in activities which foster excellence in, appreciation of, or access to arts education in the State of Arizona.  

Laura Soldan as Abby Brewster

(Community Member)

Laura is excited and honored to be involved in the 3rd Annual Broadway at the Mountain Scholarship Fundraiser. It is an absolute joy to get to play Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace with such an incredibly talented and fun group of artists. Laura is originally from St. Louis, MO, and attended Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville for Theatre Performance. While living in the Midwest, she performed for seven years in the vocal trio INACHORD. Laura relocated to the Valley in 2006 to live by her family. Since her move she has had the opportunity to be involved with some wonderful theatres in the Valley. Some favorite credits include: Hesther Salomon (Equus), Lady Bracknell (The Importance of Being Earnest), Janet (Kiss & Tell), Penny (You Can’t Take It With You), Mrs. Harcourt (Anything Goes), Mimi (A New Brain), Edith Lambert (Never Too Late), Edith (Dear Ruth) and Julia (Lend Me a Tenor). Laura is passionate about her day job at Valley Hope of Tempe – an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Center for Substance Abuse. Her position as the Business Office Coordinator allows her to actively assist people on the front end of the fight against the disease of addiction. Laura sends her love to Leonard, her family and friends. Special thanks to Jere for asking me to be part of this special scholarship event!

Deborah Weissman Ostreicher as Martha Brewster

(Community Member, ariZoni Award Winner)

When Jere Van Patten says, “Don’t ask questions; just show up at Mountain View for a week in February,” Deborah Ostreicher says, “I’ll be there.” What could be more fun than raising money for theatre with these amazing people? Deborah is CEO of Distinguished Communications, where she magically transfers her stage presence to business people, so that they can make winning speeches and presentations. In her spare time, she hosts the PBS telethon, volunteers with NPFY.org and acts. Favorite roles include Anabella/Marg/Pam in 39 Steps and Suzette in Don’t Dress for Dinner, for which she won an AriZoni award. Thank you for supporting local, live theatre; and thank you to husband Jeff for endless love and support.

Ben Mason as Mortimer Brewster

(Community Member)

Ben is so excited to take the stage for the first time at Mountain View, and work with his boy Jere.  He has appeared in numerous shows here in the Valley at the Hale Centre Theater (Gilbert), such as The Little Mermaid (King Triton), Aida (Radames), Oklahoma! (Jud Fry), Forever Plaid (Frankie), and Tarzan (Kerchak). Other favorite shows include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Adam) and Jane Eyre (Mr. Rochester) at the Playmill Theatre, West Yellowstone, MT. Ben gives special thanks to his wife Apryl for being a rock of support, and such an excellent kisser. #Plaids4Lyfe

Jere Van Patten as Teddy Brewster

(Former Toro, Current MVHS Theatre Teacher, ariZoni Award Winner)

"Mr. V." is an ariZoni, Goldy, ANNIE, and Amazon award-winning actor and director represented by the Leighton Agency.  His most recent directing projects include: 12 Angry Jurors for Mountain View High School which was honored with a superior rating and performed in front of 2,300 people at the Arizona State Thespian Festival in November.  He also directed the previous Broadway at the Mountain Scholarship Fundraiser performances of Blithe Spirit and Steel Magnolias.  Other recent directing credits include Seussical, Yes Virginia There Is A Santa Claus, and A Little Princess for East Valley Children's Theatre, All Shook Up for MCC, and Beau Jest for Hale Centre Theatre.  He is a graduate of Mountain View High School (1996), and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, a Masters Degree in Education, and is currently working toward his second Masters Degree in Theatre Direction.  Valley theatres he has worked with include Phoenix Theatre, Southwest Shakespeare Company, East Valley Children's Theatre, Hale Centre Theatre, Theatre Works, Desert Foothills Theatre, Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre and others.  Favorite acting roles include "Jinx" in Forever Plaid, "Edna" in Hairspray, "Horton" in Seussical, "Max" in The Producers, "Man in the Chair" The Drowsy Chaperone, and Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream.  He is excited to have the opportunity to not only direct his students, but to act for them now as well.  Many thanks to Karen for coming in to guest direct this production, and this incredible cast of talented friends all willing to donate their time and talents to benefit the students here at Mountain View.  Aside from being the theatre teacher at Mountain View, Jere is also adjunct faculty at Mesa Community College.  He lives in Mesa with his wife Allyson, and three MVP's: Maggie (11), Max (10), and Mayzie (6).  #Plaids4Lyfe

William Marquez as Jonathan Brewster

(Chicago-based Actor, AEA)

William is an actor, singer, glamazon based in Chicago, Illinois. He was born and raised in the desert-scape of Phoenix, Arizona where he began acting in the first grade. Since that first grade claim to fame, he has gone on to perform in numerous productions around the Valley, finally bringing him to Chicago where he earned his BFA in Musical Theatre from the conservatory at Roosevelt University. After school, he spent nine months sailing the seas with Disney Cruise Line as a voice actor and character performer. Arizona theatre credits include: Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical, Aida, and Joseph with Valley Youth Theatre; Children of Eden, Drowsy Chaperone, and Spelling Bee with Mesa Community College; and Crazy For You with Hale Centre Theatre. Chicago credits: Forum, The Suicide, Jungle Book, Avenue Q, It’s Only a Play, Polar Express, and many more. Film: In Real Life, web series; Kissing Walls, web series. He lives with his loving partner and dog in Boystown where he has never been happier. William is currently represented by Johnson McKay Talent.

Laura Anne Kenney as Elaine Harper

(Community Member, ariZoni Award Nominee)

Laura Anne is honored to be participating in the Annual Broadway at the Mountain Scholarship Fundraiser again!  She was previously seen on the MVHS stage as a volunteer scenic constructor for last year’s production of Blithe Spirit…. just not by an audience. ☺

Laura Anne last worked with Toro Drama’s beloved Jere Van Patten in Beau Jest (Sarah Goldman) at Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert, where she also appeared in Is He Dead? (Cecile/Inspector LeFaux), and Big Fish: The Musical (Sandra Bloom). Elsewhere around the Valley, she has performed in the World Premiere of Wonderland Wives (Rose) at Nearly Naked Theatre, the Co-World Premiere of Mercury (Pamela) at Stray Cat Theatre, and as a featured vocalist for the Rhythm Cats Band Music & Comedy Show at Silver Star Theatre. She thanks her family for their endless love and support, this stellar cast & crew for their talent and hard work, and Jere & Karen for this wonderful opportunity!

Mark Kleinman as Mr. Witherspoon

(Community Member, ariZoni Award Winner)

Mark is excited to be joining friends and colleagues in this wonderful production.  Mark is currently the General Manager at the Silver Star Theater and has an extensive list of theater credentials ranging from Opera to Shakespeare. A multiple ariZoni award-winner, Mark has been seen most recently as Scrooge in Silver Star’s production of A Christmas Carol.  Prior to that, Mark has been seen locally in many Hale Theatre productions, including A Christmas Carol (Scrooge), Joseph and the Amazing… (Jacob), Heaven Can Wait (Mr. Jordan), You Can’t Take It With You (Grandpa), The Drowsy Chaperone (Mr. Feldzieg), Me and My Girl (Sir John Tremayne), My Fair Lady (Alfred Doolittle), and South Pacific (Emile de Becque).

Jim Good as Reverend Dr. Harper

(Community Member)

What a treat it is for Jim to join these great people in this production. He loves this play and the memories it brings.  Theater has always been a passion for him, both on and off  the stage. He was one of the founding members of Southwest Shakespeare Co. and enjoyed many years of service and growth.   A huge shout out for the kids and grandkids who will see the ole guy doing what he likes most...making people happy.

Hal Bliss as Mr. Gibbs

(Community Member)

Hal's first acting role in Arizona was Officer Brophy in Arsenic and Old Lace a number of years ago. Since then he has performed in various musicals, comedies and serious dramas in a handful of theatre companies in the Valley. He is delighted to have received Jere's invitation to perform again in this Joseph Kesselring classic, now in the age-suitable role of lucky Mr. Gibbs. Hal's day job is a business and estate-planning lawyer.

Dave Ray as Lieutenant Rooney

(Former Toro)

Dave is ridiculously excited to return to the very stage that ignited his passion for theatre!  As a proud Toro he worked hard to not suck in productions of Our Town, The Crucible, Guys & Dolls, and Tartuffe… but he was awful.  Fortunately, he was good enough to earn a spot in the Southwest Shakespeare Conservatory and ultimately graduate from the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts which both learned him a thing or two about “acting” and made his performances much less painful for audiences.  He was fortunate enough to star in several musicals while at the Pacific Conservatory Theatre including Sweeney Todd, Scrooge!, 1940’s Radio Hour, Cinderella, and Chaps!  He was fortunate to work down the street from the legendary Oregon Shakespeare Festival at the “old pink church” aka the Oregon Cabaret.   Locally he has been seen in Songs for a New World and 9 to 5 (both directed by the esteemed Jere Van Patten), Next to Normal (N2T), and Talley’s Folly (Fountain Hills) and, most recently, has been a featured performer for the Constellation Cabaret.    

Joseph Fuller as Officer Klein

(Current Toro)

Joseph Fuller is a senior at Mountain View High School. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as acting in plays. He has been seen as "Stephen Sellers/Billy Carewe" in Play On!, "Juror 4" in 12 Angry Jurors, "Dr. Markham" and "Dr. Kneff" in Radium Girls, as well as "Captain Hook" in Peter Pan. He loves to perform and have fun! He is currently training at the East Valley Institute of Technology to be certified as a Medical Assistant before the end of May. He is so thankful for this amazing opportunity to be working with so many amazing actors and cannot wait to continue performing in college! Joseph would like to thank all his family and friends that support and always encourage him to be the best he can be! He loves his family very much and doesn't know what he would do without them. 

Kale Burr as Officer O'Hara

(Former Toro, NYA and ariZOni Award Winner)

Dane Burk as Officer Brophy
(Community member, ariZoni Award Winner)

Dane is excited to share the stage with so many talented friends but most of all Jere. He is grateful twenty years as Jere’s friend has finally paid off. He is an Actor, Director and Scenic Designer. A few of His favorite projects are, Role: "Dave" in the Full Monty, Direction: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Scenic Design: Alice in Wonderland. Proud member of AEA. www.DaneBurk.com 

William Irwin as Dr. Einstein 
(Community Member)

After taking a ten-year hiatus from performing, William Irwin is excited to be joining the cast of Arsenic and Old Lace. Classically trained in theatre at Roosevelt University in Chicago, William has appeared in Spider-Man 2 and Robert Altman’s The Company with James Franco. He also performed in Little Shop of Horrors as "Seymour" alongside Jere Van Patten who played "Mushnik."  Moreover, William was cast in Cabaret as "Victor," "Action" in West Side Story, and as "Martini" in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, to name a few. William may have taken a break from performing on the stage, but he has never taken a break from being active in the entertainment industry.  William is a Business Developer and Systems Engineer for Clearwing Productions. He designs lighting, audio, and video systems for permanent installations. Because William has designed technical systems with Blue Man Group, 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson), Sloan, Google, Sea World, varying arts centers, arena’s, and churches, he has been afforded the ability to stay involved both locally and globally in the field that he loves: the arts. William thanks Jere for this opportunity to come back to the stage and knock the rust off. He also would like to thank Clearwing for being flexible with his schedule, his parents and Mormor for always supporting his overly ambitious endeavors, and Carrie for being the rock in his everyday life.