Wendy Katz Hiller (Hazel) is thrilled to be back on stage for the first time since before the pandemic. She has been involved with Open Book Theatre Company since its inaugural season, both as an actress (Independence, The Shadow Box, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) and a director (Time Stands Still, Doubt, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Marjorie Prime). Trained at New York’s National Shakespeare Conservatory, Wendy has appeared with various Michigan theatres including The Jewish Ensemble Theatre, The Matrix Theatre, The Dio Theatre, The Encore Musical Theatre Company, and The Michigan Shakespeare Festival where she received a “Wilde Award” for her performance as Mrs. Malaprop in The Rivals. She would like to thank Krista and Sarah for both the opportunity and their guidance, her cast and crew mates for their generosity and hard work, and Steve for his patience and support.
Tina Paraventi (Rose) is thrilled to be making her Open Book Theatre debut in this production of The Children. She studied theatre at EMU and WSU and has directed and performed in productions in the Chicagoland and metro Detroit areas. Favorite roles include Medea (Michigan Classical Repertory Theatre) and Amanda in Glass Menagerie (Spotlight Players). She is an original member of the Detroit ensemble of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, and she performs in McLaughlin’s Alley band. She is grateful for the support and patience of husband Larry and her whole family!
Lindel Salow (Robin) was most recently seen in Hands on a Hardbody (J.D.) with The Penny Seats Theatre Company. Over the past 7 seasons, he has appeared with OBTC in a wide range of shows including Bauer (Rudolf Bauer), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Sagot), Vanya and Sonia and Marsha and Spike (Vanya), Ada and the Engine (Charles Babbage), Fool for Love (Old Man), What Brought Me Here (Kevin), This Random World (The Man), Marjorie Prime (Jon). He has worked with other companies too, always enjoying another challenge; from learning sword fighting: Moon Over Buffalo (George Hay) to mastering high heels: Not Our Town (Joan Crawford) to skidding across the stage without falling: The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho). Off stage, Lindel is the creator and designer of “Penelope Homes” holiday houses and relaxes by restoring antique clocks and vintage fans.
Sarah Hawkins Rusk (Director, Sound Designer), a native of Indiana, has been working as an actress, director, and educator across the country for the last fifteen years. Sarah received her MFA from Wayne State University and BA from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Previously at Open Book, Sarah directed The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberly, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Wonder of the World, and Emilie. Sarah has directed with the Detroit Mercy Theatre Company, Outvisible Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, Warren Civic Theatre, Wagon Wheel Theatre, Motor City Youth Theatre and Matrix Theatre Company. Recently, her production of Antigone at the Detroit Mercy Theatre Company won two national awards through the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Sarah is a certified teacher in the Michael Chekhov technique and works in the performing arts department at the University of Detroit Mercy. “Much love to Jeremy, my biggest fan.”
Rachel Marengere (Stage Manager) has been involved in theater for the past 20 years. Since the age of eight, Rachel has either been acting onstage or behind the scenes working on lights, sound, moving scenery, or stage managing. Rachel obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Production from Point Park University. Some of Rachel’s favorite shows she has worked on are, Next to Normal (Tibbits Opera House), Lottery Day (Goodman Theatre), Woody’s Order! (The REP at The Pittsburgh Playhouse), It Shoulda Been You (The Players Guild of Dearborn), Encore! (The Players Guild of Dearborn).
Harley Miah (Lighting Designer) is a freelance lighting designer/programmer for theatres, nightclubs, concerts and festivals across the country, as the primary lighting designer for IKO Global Productions. He has designed the lights for all of Open Book’s indoor productions, designed sound for Boy Gets Girl in 2017, earning a Wilde Award for Best Design – Lights for Open Book’s 2014 production of Red. Most recently, you may have seen his lighting designs of Puffs at the Ringwald Theatre, The Play That Goes Wrong and The Baxter Sisters at Tipping Point Theatre. Harley currently designs lights for “Detroit Presents: Live from Marygrove” on Detroit Public Television, which airs Wednesdays at 7:30 on WTVS. He also serves as Lighting Designer and Master Electrician for the Detroit Public Theatre and St George’s Academy in NYC. Harley spends his spare time with his loving partner Reyna spoiling their cats, loitering in museums, and seeing as many shows as they can in this great theatre community we have in Southeast Michigan. He hopes you do the same.
Gordon Mosley (Scenic Builder) joined the Players Guild of Dearborn in 1986 and has been involved in theatrical productions ever since. Over the years he has also worked with Southgate Community Players, Downriver Actors Guild, and Lincoln Park High School just to name a few. In 2012 Gordon was inducted into the Dearborn Theater Hall of Fame. Among his more notable construction projects were The Car for I Remember Mama based on a 1908 Cadillac, The Gazebo for Do You Wanna Dance?, The Sewer for Guys and Dolls, and The Mid-Century Furniture for Promises, Promises. Gordon has returned to OBTC for his third production as set builder and continues to upgrade set design and construction methods with his unique style of building and the use of 3D modeling software.
Bradly Byrne (Scenic Painter and Set Decorator) first tech directed in 1976 for the high school play The King and I, and picked it back up in about 1995 when his children were 8, 7 and 4 years old. He got started with Youth Theater in Southgate and found it was a great way to be with his kids. His oldest recently turned 30 and he’s still at it! Bradly usually works on two or three productions a year since then including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Once Upon a Mattress, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jekyll and Hyde, and many more. At Open Book he designed Fool for Love, Doubt, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence, This Random World, The Wickhams and did the scenic painting for Good People and Too Heavy for your Pocket. Bradly was also a muleteer in Man of La Mancha and the lead in Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
Vicki Morgan (Intimacy Choreographer) is thrilled to be working with Open Book Theatre Company for the first time! Vicki works primarily as an actor throughout the state of Michigan and has worked with theatres such as Shakespeare in Detroit, Spinning Dot Theatre, and The Penny Seats Theatre Company. Favorite roles include Ophelia in Hamlet, Beatrix in This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing, and Maria in Twelfth Night. This is Vicki’s first show as Intimacy Choreographer, and she couldn’t be more honored to be trusted by the cast and production team with this very important work.
