CAST PROFILES

William David Andrews (Lon Smith) would like to dedicate his performance in Meet Me in St. Louis to his wonderful mother! His most recent stage outings include PIT's How to Succeed.. (Mr. Tackaberry) and Auntie Mame (Mr. Upson). At the Civic, he won an Anthony Award for his role as Arnold Epstein in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues. While he has acquired a long list of theatrical credits, William still makes time for his many other interests, including Ani DiFranco (She rocks!)

Gerald Belville (Grandpa) comes to St. Louis after playing another "grandfatherly" role at the Civic- Arvide in Guys & Dolls. Other credits include Capt. Rooney in Arsenic and Old Lace and Smudge in Forever Plaid at Grey Lite; as well as Paul in You Can't Take It with You and Jacob in Joseph.... for the Marion Civic Theatre. Gerald, an insurance agent, divides the rest of his free time between the golf course, the bowling alley, and his eleven grandchildren!

Mandy Cunningham (Rose) is making her official debut in what she refers to as a "real" play! By day, she attends Homestead High School, where she actively participates in the school's show choir. An avid music fan, Mandy plays bass and drums. She also loves listening to the classics", including Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Doors, and Led Zeppelin.

Ann Detwiler (Ensemble) won the Civics' 1994 Anthony for , portraying the pet dinosaur in Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth. She appeared in First Presbyterian's 1996 Rehearsal for Death. at Memorial Park, where she is a student, Ann has been in No, No Nanette and, most recently, Mame. We welcome her to Arena.

John Detwiler (Warren Sheffield), a junior at Snider High School, is making his stage debut with Meet Me in St. Louis. While new to the theatre, John is no stranger to performing. A talented young musician, he plays piano for the school jazz band and his own jazz combo; and French horn for the school's orchestra and concert band.

Melissa Dowty (Eve / Ensemble) hails from Leo High School, where ;he has appeared in productions of South Pacific and Bye Bye, Birdie. There, she also sings in the school jazz choir, Live Rhythm, and is a member of the student council. Local community theatre audiences have seen her in Youtheatre's Beanstalk and Center Stage productions of Li'l Abner and Oliver!

Becky Gall (Anna Smith) is another busy local performer, having appeared, at one time or another, with practically every theatre group in town. Among those credits: Guys and Dolls, Joseph '96, Barnum, and Anything Goes. Becky was a member of the Gershwin Gala company, performing in conjunction with PIT and the Philharmonic at the Embassy Theatre last season. Along with her loving husband, Becky also finds time to act as director for her church's mime youth group.

Neely Gevaart (Tootie Smith) played the central role of everybody's favorite redheaded orphan in Grey Lite's 1997 mounting of the musical Annie. At the Fort Wayne Civic, she has been in projects as diverse as Meredith Willson's The Music Man and Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. A student at Memorial Park, Neely's school drama credits include Mame and No, No, Nanette.

Ben Jorgensen (Pee Wee Drummond) has previously performed in two musicals - as Aladdin in Aladdin and Bert in Mary Poppins. Pen also had a small part in the movie Rudy. He enjoyed performing with the Woodside Class Act, Woodside's show choir, for two years. In his free time, Ben enjoys paintballing, golf and other sports.

Jeffrey Steven Kreischer (John Truitt) has won numerous local and state awards for his acting and vocal abilities. While he, too, is making his Arena debut, has played in local productions of Auntie Mame, Antigone, Oklahoma!, The Wizard of Oz, and Here 's Love. Behind the scenes, Jeffrey crewed PIT's Marat-Sade last season. He can usually be found spending his leisure time dancing, watching films and plays, and just generally having a good time.

Rebecca Jo Lightfoot (Esther) is a busy young lady whose passions include volleyball, cheerleading, softball, and, of course, theatre. At Leo High School, where she is a student, she has played Bloody Mary in South Pacific, Ursula in Bye, Bye Birdie, and Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods. In addition, she recently had the opportunity to perform On Broadway '98 in New York City. Rebecca would like to "thank my family and friends for all their love and support!"

Katie Loving (Agnes) is another young lady interested in, coincidentally enough, volleyball, cheerleading, and fast-pitch softball! Also a theatre devotee, Katie's stage credits include productions of Schoolhouse Rock, Joseph..., Peter Pan, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. When not involved in one of the aforementioned activities, Katie likes to spend some downtime just hanging out with her friends.

Jennifer Rapp (Katie) takes time out from her work at WANE-TV 15 to join us here in St. Louis. While this award-winning actress has red her talents with several community theatre groups, most of Jennifer's work has been done with Purdue-Indiana Theatre. Included are appearances in Pippin, Equus, and Damn Yankees. She played the title role in Gertrude Stein and a Companion. Her last Arena role was the Wizard in Once upon a Mattress. Personal Quote: "My main interest is raising my two year old daughter, Danielle! This performance is dedicated to her, Bruce, and my supportive and loving family. God bless you, Rusty!"

Danny Robertson (Clinton Badger) is making his Arena debut, his only past theatrical experience being in Zombie Prom. However, his interest in music has led to his involvement with the Homestead show choir and a variety of bands. With these groups, Danny can be found singing and/or playing guitar, bass, drums, piano and harmonica.

Ron Smith (Mr. Alonso Smith) got his first bite of theatre as a member of the harmonizing "School Board" in Civic's The Music Man and, after receiving an Anthony award for it, just couldn't get the taste out of his mouth. Since that time, he has played in subsequent Civic productions of Barnum (Mr. Stratten), Man of La Mancha (Barber), and Baby (Dean Webber), among others. This show marks Ron's first return to the Arena stage since playing the comical Governor in 1997's The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Welcome back, Ron!

Kirby A. Volz (Mr. Neely) takes time out from his hectic schedule as Speech and Drama teacher at South Side High School, where he recently directed Oklahoma!, to join our cast. Audiences will remember him from such memorable roles as Amos in Chicago for Arena, Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! at PIT, and Dr. Gibbs in First Presbyterian's production of Our Town. The 1996-97 Arena season saw Kirby honored as "Best Director of a Play" for Neil Simon's The Odd Couple. A true theatre devotee, Kirby takes every opportunity to jet to New York and take in as many shows as possible.

Wayne Williams (Director) was awarded last year's Anthony for "Best Supporting Actor in a Musical" for his role as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the Civic Theatre's Guys & Dolls. Other recent acting credits include Rip Van Winkle at First Pres., and both The Taming of the Shrew and Camelot for the Civic. As at home in front of a keyboard as he is on-stage, Wayne has worked in the past as musical director and accompanist for PIT, Grey Lite, Homestead, and Canterbury. Plus, he directed, choreographed, performed in, and co-wrote the original musical revue Broadway Babies for Bower-North.

Holly Knott (Musical Director/Pianist) has served as either musical director or accompanist for many shows at many places over many years! Included among them: Bower-North's recent Broadway Babies; Center Stage's Annie, Pippin, and West Side Story; and Grey Lite's Forever Plaid, Nunsense, and All Nite Strut. In addition to these theatrical duties, she is music director at Colony Heights Church of Christ and accompanist for New Haven High School's jazz choir.

ACT ONE
Scene I: A Warm Afternoon in Mid Summer, 1903
Overture................................Orchestra
Meet Me in St. Louis .....................................The Smith Family Octet
The Boy Next Door .......................................Esther
Scene 2: Later that day, around 5:20 p.m.
Whenever I'm With You ............................. The Smith Family Octet
You'll Hear a Bell................ Mrs. Smith
Scene 3: A half-hour later
Scene 4: August, the evening of Lon's going-away party
A Raving Beauty ......................................Warren and Rose
Scene 5: Immediately after
Skip to My Lou ........................................ Lon, Warren, Rose and Chorus
Drunk Song ........................................Tootie
Under the Bamboo Tree ..........................Tootie, Agnes and Esther
Over the Bannister ....................................John with Esther
Scene 6: The following Friday afternoon
The Trolley Song....................................Esther and Chorus
ACT II
Scene I: Halloween Night
Entr'acte ........................................ Orchestra
A Touch of the Irish���. Katie with Esther and Rose
Reprise: The Boy Next Door.................................... John and Esther
A Day in New York.................................. Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Rose, Esther, Katie & Grandpa
Reprise: You'll Hear a Bell........................................Mrs. Smith
Wasn't It Fun? ........................................Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Scene 2: Christmas Eve, late afternoon
Scene 3: The same night, around 9:00 p.m.
Christmas Waltz ........................................ Orchestra
The Banjo............... Lon and Chorus
Scene 4: The same night, shortly before midnight
You Are For Loving ........................................ John and Esther
Scene 5: The same night, shortly after midnight
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ........................................ Esther
Scene 6: A beautiful spring day
Reprise: The Trolley Song........................................Chorus
Reprise: Meet Me in St. Louis ............................. Principals and Chorus
Finale ...... Mr. Smith, The Smith Family Octet, John, Warren & Lucille
Scene 7 -Later that evening
Bows ........................................ Full Company
Exit Music ........................................ Orchestra

"Produced by special arrangement with Tams-Witmark."

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