Melissa Beckwith (Hermia) is thrilled to be working with Open Book Theatre Company again after appearing in last season’s production of Sylvia (Tom, Phyllis, Leslie). Her other credits include 5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche (Lulie), August: Osage County (Karen), Silent Night of the Lambs (Clarice Starling), A Bright Room Called Day (Annabella Gotchling), House of Blue Leaves (Bunny), Southern Baptist Sissies (Odette), Trainspotting (Allison), Die Mommie Die! (Edith), and Love and Human Remains (Candy) at The Ringwald; Action Sports News (Jeanette) at Planet Ant; Wings (Emily Stilson) and The Empire Builders (Mother) with the UDM Theatre Company; and White Elephant (Sharon) and The Worst Noël at GoComedy! Improv Theater.
Dani Cochrane (Jean) is excited to be returning this season after her wonderful experience as Jo in Independence last year! Dani graduated in 2014 with her MFA in acting from The Hilberry Repertory Company at Wayne State. Recent credits include: Betsy/Lindsay in Clybourne Park at Two Muses Theatre, Lizzy in The Rainmaker at Tipping Point Theatre, Olivia in Things My Mother Taught Me at Meadow Brook Theatre, and Barbara in August:Osage County at The Hilberry Theatre. She wants to thank her daughter for helping keep a sense of play in everything she does.
Connie Cowper (Mrs. Gottleib) is thrilled to return to Open Book, where she was last seen as Kim in Kimberly Akimbo for which she was nominated for a Wilde Award as Best Actress in a Comedy. She has worked at the Detroit Repertory Theatre and Tipping Point, as well as the Riverbank Theatre, Waterworks, Puzzle Piece, Flint Youth Theatre and others. In addition to theatre, Connie has worked in both independent and feature films, and on voice overs and in commercials. Connie is part of the Jewish Ensemble Theatre’s Educational Outreach and performs in a short play with an anti-bullying theme for middle and elementary schools. She also works for Henry Ford Hospital in the medical education department, using her acting skills to teach communication techniques to doctors. Much love to my Richard. Thank you, dear audience, for supporting live local professional theatre!
Ryan Ernst (Gordon)is so excited to be a part of this production with such a wonderful group of people! Ryan earned a Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts from The University of Michigan and since has been working both on and back stage with companies such as Slipstream Theatre Initiative, Shakespeare in Detroit and Two Muses. Ryan appeared as Wiley Man/Chorus is Open Book’s production of Wiley and the Hairy Man. Ryan wishes to thank everyone in the show for all their fantastic work, and his family and friends for all their support.
Richard Payton (Dwight) is honored to be back on stage with Open Book after appearing as Ken in last season’s production of Red. Richard has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University. He has performed at many theatres in the area including The Ringwald (The Submission, Love! Valour! Compassion!, A Bright Room Called Day and more) Two Muses Theatre (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Next to Normal and Greetings!), Planet Ant (Hebrew Hammer, Henrietta Hermaline’s Fall from Great Heights), The Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company (The Altruists, Rosmersholm), Detroit’s Music Hall, The City Theatre in Evil Dead: The Musical, and most recently at The Dio in The Drowsy Chaperone.
Kaitlyn Valor (Stranger/Other Woman) is thrilled to join Open Book for this production. Born in the southwest and bred (mostly) in the mitten, she was instilled early on with a voracious appetite for experiencing life in full-flux. Making sense of the world through the lens of someone else is her main motivation in theatre. Kaitlyn is a proud member of Slipstream Theatre Initiative (A Doll’s House, Merchant of Venice, Hamlet), and the Mercury Industrial Theatre Project (Wasted); most recently, she played the role of “Alex” in Matrix Theatre Company’s A Kid Like Jake. She is particularly excited to be part of this production for the opportunity to explore work from one of her favorite playwrights! Many thanks to Jen Goff and Chris Tysh — two very influential educators who turned her onto Ruhl in the first place.