MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY

Bob Arco is a long-time Trumansburg resident enjoying his fifth season with Encore Players. His past roles with Encore include the Historian/Brother Maynard in Spamalot!, Lord Farquaad in the Dark Hearts Cabaret, and Mr. Zebra in The Man with Bogart’s Face. He also performs with the Ithaca Shakespeare Company, where his roles have included Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew, Snug/Lion in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Thurio in Two Gentlemen of Verona.

JUROR

Jeff Asbrand first joined the ranks of Encore Players for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. After Bermuda Shorts, and then Almost Maine, he was hooked on the camaraderie and enthusiasm this ensemble brings to each lively production. Jeff thanks his family, especially his supportive wife Evie.

MARIONETTE OPERATOR

Benn is thrilled to be a part of Encore Player's production of Inherit The Wind! He has appeared in previous Encore productions Dark Hearts (Gaston), Encore Shorts (Dog), Artifice (Trent) and Spamalot! (Sir Lancelot). When he's not playing with puppets, Benn enjoys spending time with his family, writing/playing/generally consuming music, and frolicking in nature. He would like to thank his wonderful partner, Katie, daughter Isla, and all of the hardworking individuals at Encore.

SCIENTIST

Bill Bialke is an international man of mystery and science and has been involved with Encore Players since its inception. Before retirement, Bill had a successful career manipulating technology in space. Since retiring, he tends to his family's farm and the theatrical community in Trumansburg, serving on the Board, and applying his incredible technical and mechanical mind to creative tasks on-stage and off.

HARMONICA PLAYER

Sam Blancato has been playing harmonica since he was 14-years-old. He came to the Fingerlakes area from Pittsburgh about three years ago. Though this is not his first time on stage, it is his first experience on stage as part of a theatrical performance.

RADIO REPORTER

Tony Bond grew up locally, starting his acting in high school in Watkins Glen with such plays as Grease, Bye Bye Birdy, Fame and The Sound Of Music with the The Lake Country Players. He was also an extra in the films Ransom and Cliffhanger. Tony sang in local and All State Choir as well as gospel choir. Inherit The Wind is his return to the stage for the first time in thirty years.

SILLERS

Steve first appeared  in Encore Players’ production of Spoon River Anthology. Since then in The Man who Shot Liberty Valance, The Wizard of Oz, They Went to War, and several others. Great folks, great friends, great fun.

RACHEL

Alexa Bushart is returning to Encore Players after performing in Almost, Maine last season. She has always loved theatre and was previously in shows such as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Game’s Afoot. Alexa feels blessed for the support of her family, friends, and Inherit the Wind cast & team.

HOWARD

This is Finn’s first production with Encore Players. He’s a freshman at Tburg High. He’s performed in Annie and Beauty and the Beast with Tburg Middle School, and Puffs with Tburg High School. One of his other hobbies is football. He’d like to thank Danny Trippett for coaching him as an actor and hopes you enjoy this show.

STENOGRAPHER

Michelle Case grew up in the Ithaca Area. She fell in love with theater after participating in R2P's production of Mamma Mia! in 2019. Since then, she appeared in Encore Player's production of Spamalot! as a Monk, French Type, and as Guard 2. She would like to thank her parents for being so supportive, and the entire cast for making the rehearsal process a great experience. Michelle is very excited to be a part of Inherit The Wind, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

MRS. BANNISTER

This is Sarah Davidson’s third performance with the Encore Players. As a child and young adult, she always enjoyed being on stage. She is thrilled to be acting as an adult. Sarah moved to Ithaca, from Oregon, 7.5 years ago. She is a special education teacher who now teaches at TST BOCES. Sarah is also the mom of a 13-year-old boy, a 10-year-old girl, and the cutest little Beagle mix named Ginger.

MEEKER

Dave Dietrich is a native of Baltimore but for 28 years now has lived in Enfield with his wonderful wife and two great dogs. He helped found the Ithaca Shakespeare Company and has performed in over twenty of Shakespeare’s plays as numerous characters. Most interestingly, he did not perform in his first play until he was 49 years old. He is really happy to play in an Encore Players production, particularly in this great play.

JUROR

Galina Goncharova, of Saratov, Russia (on the famous Volga River) graciously agreed to travel to the US to take the non-speaking yet pivotal role of Juror #4 for Inherit the Wind. Or was it Juror #3? Hmm. Anyway, Galina is finding herself charmed by the lovely people and waterfalls here in Trumansburg, and is contemplating making it an extended visit.

SCIENTIST

John Gurche's theatrical career began with the University of Kansas' production of Jesus Christ Superstar and ended when it was cancelled before the first performance. He managed to sneak back onstage for the Encore Players' performance of Spoon River Anthology. His training is in anthropology and he works as an artist. The Inherit the Wind poster features his sculptures. He plays a scientist in real life.

HOT DOG/ESKIMO PIE MAN/JUROR

By day, Lorren Hammond is a strange combination of artist and engineer, and by night he mostly sleeps. He’s lived on both coasts, been to many corners of planet Earth, written, directed and performed in a number of video productions from silly to extremely-silly, and dabbled in creative writing. Having been told many times in life that he should “go take his meds,” he decided to give theater a try.

MRS. COOPER

Della Herden thinks it’s the bee’s knees to be performing in her third Encore Players production, having played Mara in The Cayuga Canal Girls and Gayle in Almost, Maine. She wishes to thank the Encore board’s dedicated and enthusiastic work on behalf of community theater. And she hopes the audience members enjoy their visit to Heavenly Hillsboro.

TOM DAVENPORT

Andrew Hertzberg moved to Ithaca with his husband Andy and their dog Rufus in early 2022.  Since then he has clearly found his theater home with the Encore Players. Inherit the Wind is Andrew’s fourth Encore production- having previously played Judas Iscariot, a Bette Davis-like ghost, a maladapted Knight and a heterosexual Maine dweller. This production has been a gift, and delivers a message that is sadly so relevant in 2024. Thanks for experiencing this with us.

ELIJAH

Dan Kelly is excited to be returning to the stage with the Encore Players for a third time! Along with performing with Encore, he is a member of Ithaca's premiere improv troupe, the ComedyFLOPS (FingerLakes Original Pranksters).

MRS. BLAIR

Rachel Kennedy currently serves as Vice President on the Encore Players Board of Directors. She’s excited to be part of this show as Mrs. Blair - and the very best part is working with Finn Carubia, her son in real life AND in character as Howard Blair. Rachel has enjoyed acting and directing in recent Encore productions Spamalot!, Almost Maine, and Encore Shorts: The Bermuda Edition. She thanks her family, loves working with this talented cast and director and hopes you enjoy the show!

MELINDA

Violet Kraus is an 11-year-old writer and actress. She is a regular contributor to the Trumansburg Troubadour, and you can find her book The Heart of Survival in the local author’s section of the Ulysses Philomathic Library. She has been in Trumansburg Elementary’s production of Could You Hug a Cactus?, and will be in the upcoming Middle School production of Willy Wonka Jr. She also plays soccer, and hockey, and spends her time reading, listening to music, dancing, playing her instruments (guitar, ukulele, trumpet), and enjoying time with her family. This is her first Encore Players show, and she is so excited to be playing Melinda in Inherit the Wind! 

JUDGE

Doug’s been involved with “the theatre” for many years both on-stage and off. While in Colorado for twenty-two years, he was involved with several arts/theatre organizations. Since relocating to this area in 2002, he’s performed many roles with Cornell University Theatre, The New Mercury Theatre, Ithaca Shakespeare Company, and the Encore Players. In retirement he spends time in his barn and with his wife, Nancy Preston. Not necessarily in that order. 

JUROR

Carol MacLeod moved here from New Hope, PA seven years ago. This is her second production with Encore Players, having also played Oleta Bower in We Went to War: Voices of Trumansburg's Past in 2021. The former flight attendant is enjoying her retirement painting watercolors and exploring the beautiful Fingerlakes with her husband, Ken, and their two basset hounds.

JUROR

Ken MacLeod is pleased to be in his first Encore Players production supporting his star juror wife. Also enjoying retirement, Ken spends his time fixing everything that breaks and enjoying the stunning outdoors.

REVEREND BROWN

Kerr loves getting to know the TBurg community more deeply through Encore Players. He is a Theatre of the Oppressed facilitator, activist, writer, and a proud member of Transpose: Ithaca Queer Singers Alliance. He toured with a number of children’s theatre productions, and has also written and performed solo pieces about LGBTQ issues.

MRS. KREBS

Alice Ploss is pleased to be playing a role in this production of Inherit The Wind. In addition to singing and recording the opening and closing songs in this show, Alice has served as rehearsal accompanist, vocal coach and music director for Encore musicals Spamalot!, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Wizard of Oz, Lucky Stiff, The Music Man, and Oliver!. She has also been seen on stage as Judith Fontaine in Artifice,(2018), as a tipsy Miss Hannigan in Dark Hearts, a Cabaret (February 2020), as the agitated ghostly spirit of Lucinda Forsythe Camp in Murder and Mayhem in Grove Cemetery, (October 2020), tickling the ivories for The Man With Bogart’s Face, (August 2021), as Maryanne in Cayuga Canal Girls (June 2022), and as a puppeteer in Jack and His Friends (April 2023). Alice directs the Trumansburg Community Chorus, and has a private teaching studio. She is grateful to Robin for a life-time of support.

MRS. BRADY

Nancy grew up in Canton, PA, went to Juniata College, and lived in D.C., Atlanta, and Steamboat Springs before settling in Trumansburg. She’s been in love with the art of acting since she can remember and especially loves rehearsals. Nancy met her husband Douglas on stage and is happy to be acting with him again in Inherit the Wind. Special shout out to Norm, Charlie, and Anne. Thank you Encore Players Community Theatre!

JUROR

This is Charles’s first appearance with Encore Players.   Having enjoyed many Encore performances since their beginning and helping with building sets he is excited to find himself with a place on the stage. Not having an acting role since his high school years decades earlier he is looking forward to this experience and is utterly speechless about his role.

MR. GOODFELLOW

John Sheehan performed in three plays for the Encore Players: Encore Shorts: The Bermuda Edition; Almost Maine; and Spamalot! He's a professor of Cultural Anthropology and World History, and is comfortable in front of a crowd. He has always been attracted to the energy of theater people and their interactions with audiences. For these reasons, he decided to dive into this new adventure of community theater, and looks forward to performing in Inherit the Wind.

SCIENTIST

This is Dave’s first stage appearance that he may or may not have been coerced into by his wife who may or may not be writing this on his behalf. It will be the first of many!

MRS. BOLLINGER

This is Michele’s third Encore Players production! She enjoys dabbling in acting, making props, stage crew and a variety of other miscellaneous jobs on and off the stage, but mostly she loves being a part of this community and is grateful for the opportunity to wear a fancy hat.

E.K. HORNBECK

Daniel is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music with a BFA in Theater and Musical Theater. He has performed in and directed several projects nationwide. Theatrical credits include Walter DeCourcey in Chess, Ben Kingsley in the tour of City of Angels, and Gilligan in Gilligan’s Island: The Musical. In Trumansburg, he has directed students for the Trumansburg Middle School for the past 5 years. In the Finger Lakes, he has started an interactive mystery theater company, Crime Solvers, specializing in producing mystery theater for corporate and private events. He serves on the board of Encore Players and is currently teaching summer acting camp at the Hangar Theater in Ithaca. He thanks his wife, Deanna, and his family for their continued support of his theatrical ventures.

MRS. DUNLAP

Scarlet Vinson grew up in Hollywood California. She was an extra in television and films, and was active in performance choirs in elementary and middle school. She went to Hamilton Academy of Music in Los Angeles, moved to Watkins Glen in 1993, and then graduated from PS Repertory of Performing Arts in NYC at the age of 16. Her last production was Anything Goes, with the Lake Country Players, in 1993.  

BERTRAM CATES

Austin is thrilled to be in Encore Players’ Inherit the Wind! Austin is a returning player, notably as the “Sidekick Extraordinaire” in Dark Hearts, and “Not Dead Fred” in Spamalot! Austin is from Trumansburg and has appeared in numerous Trumansburg Theatre Productions, namely as “Audrey II” in Little Shop of Horrors. Austin is thankful for the support from his loved ones, and hopes you enjoy the show!

HENRY DRUMMOND

Over the past 30 years, Gary has performed with most of our local theatre companies: The Hangar, The Kitchen, The Firehouse, Homecoming Players, Ithaca Shakespeare, and was last seen at the Trumansburg Conservatory of the Arts about 30 years go in Chapter Two.  When not making believe he’s someone else, he’s a bus driver with the Ithaca City School District. This performance is dedicated to Lizzie.

MRS. MCLAIN

Jennifer Westling is thrilled to be part of the Encore Players community. She has been in several productions, including Cayuga Canal Girls and A Man with Bogart's Face, and is currently serving on the Encore Players Board. She would like to thank you for coming to today's performance. Theatre is life!

MAYOR

Dave Williams (COD class of '71) has performed and directed in New York, Dallas, Boston, and Taichung, Taiwan. His favorite role so far was Hamm in Endgame. For Encore, his shows include Dark Hearts, Encore Shorts, Almost, Maine, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. He wishes everyone will enjoy this show and continue to support live theatre.

TAMMY

Julie Zausmer, age 10, loves acting and dancing and singing! She is excited for her first performance with the Encore Players. Last year Julie appeared as The Clumsy Kid in the Trumansburg Elementary School’s production of Could You Hug a Cactus. You can also see Julie as a Candy Kid in this spring’s Trumansburg Middle School Musical – Willy Wonka Jr. Julie would like to acknowledge her parents for always encouraging her to pursue her dreams.