"Bus Stop"
By William Inge
Directed by Wayne Schaltenbrand
Sponsored by The Green Room
ARENA PROFILES
Ron Carr (Carl) received an Anthony Award for his role as Stewpot in the Civic Theatre's South Pacific. A salesman at Baxter's Antique Mall, Ron also appeared at the Civic in All the King's Men and Big River, as well as the 1988 world-premiere of Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451. He last graced the Arena stage as Li'l Abner'sSenator Jack S. Phogbound; and we are pleased to have him back!
Ken Low (Will) takes time out from teaching, golfing, writing, dancing, and singing karaoke to make a rare Arena appearance. No stranger to the local theatre scene, though, Ken has appeared in Civic productions of Man of La Mancha (Governor/Innkeeper) , Brigadoon (MacGregor) , and The Wind in the Willows (Toad) . While he also has credits with other community theatre groups, Ken has concentrated much of the last five years to "slaying" audiences with Bower-North Productions.
T.J. McCombs (Grace) is another Ft. Wayne theatre veteran with an extensive list of credits. This season alone, Arena audiences have already seen her in Come Blow Your Horn and Steel Magnolias, in which she played the sassy Clairee. Hopping from theatre to theatre over the years, T.J. has appeared in, among others, local versions of Lend Me a Tenor, Rumors, She Loves Me, and Arsenic & Old Lace. Voted Arena's "Best Director" of 1997-98 for Deathtrap, T.J. is no stranger to the director's chair either, having also directed My Three Angels here and Quitters for Huntington College.
Travis Patton (Bo) last appeared on the Arena stage in our 1997-98 season's mounting of Ira Levin's Deathfrap. For his role as Cliff in that production, Travis received a nomination for "Best Supporting Actor in a Play". A relative newcomer to theatre, he made his Arena debut in My Three Angels; and also appeared in another William Inge classic, Picnic, at PIT. When not on-stage, Travis likes to hop into his sports car and enjoy life in the fast lane!
Sarah Phend (Elma) is currently a senior at Homestead High School, where she has been active with not only the dramatics department, but the speech team as well. There, she has played Edie Baker in their 1997 production of Welcome to the Monkey House. Sarah has also performed the role of the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at Youtheatre. When not busy with such projects, Sarah can be found participating in that great teenage pastime - hanging out with friends!
Jack Spring (Dr. Lyman) ,returns to the local spotlight after a "hiatus" of some time. Jack has performed in over twenty-five shows over the years with Civic, Festival Music, First Pres, and Arena. His past roles include the perpetually sloppy Oscar in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, the slow-witted bumpkin, Mr. Kimber, in George Washington Slept Here, the Starkeeper in Carousel, and Rev. Hale in The Crucible - for which he received an Anthony Award nomination.
Jim Welch (Virgil) will surely be remembered by loyal Arena patrons for his many scene-stealing character roles over the years. Among those scenery-eating credits: Dr. Mortimore in It Runs in the Family, Felix Ducotel in My Three Angels, Jerry in Squabbles, and Schuppazigh in Black Comedy. A video producer by trade, Jim also dabbles in radio theatre (writing and producing) and a newly formed local comedy improv. troupe.
Elaine Witom (Cherie) last visited the Bus Stop (and this role) during her days at Harper College. A relative newcomer to the area, Elaine has spent the last five years as a Get Away with Murder company member in Chicago. Her other varied credits include Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, Luciana in Comedy of Errors, and Mary Magdaline in Jesus Christ Superstar. Welcome to Arena, Elaine!
Wayne Schaltenbrand (Director) has been a permanent fixture at Arena Dinner Theatre for as long as anyone cares to remember. Here, as well as at other venues throughout the summit city, he has acquired a long and distinguished list of credits both on and off-stage. His Civic Theatre and PIT appearances include Little Shop of Horrors, Jesus Christ Superstar, and South Pacific. Back "home" at Arena, he has performed in, among others, ...Forum, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and My Three Angels. From the opposite side of the footlights, Wayne has been the guiding force behind a variety of memorable projects, including last season's Cabaret.
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