Meet the cast & crew of “Dancing at Lughnasa”

This Friday morning Nov. 30, the first of eight performances of the bittersweet Irish memory play "Dancing at Lughnasa" is presented by Parkside Theatre. Jamie Cheatham directs this tale about the five Mundy sisters whose lives are seen through the eyes of young Michael Evans.  Written by Brian Friel, "Lughnasa" (pronounced LOU-nah-sah) is presented in the Black Box Theatre of the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 6, 7, and 8 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m.; Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m.; and Friday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m. Order tickets online at www.uwparksidetickets.com or call 262-595-2654.

Here's a glimpse of the cast and crew:

Kenjamin Lafayette plays Michael Evans. He performed multiple roles in "Threepenny Opera" and "Great Expectations," and understudied Will in "Bus Stop" at the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. Past credits include performing improv at ComedySportz in Milwaukee.

Rachel Sandlin portrays Christina Mundy. Most recently, Rachel was featured in the role of Polly Peachum in "Threepenny Opera," Mrs. Hardcastle in "She Stoops to Conquer," and multiple roles in "Great Expectations" and "Henry V." She understudied roles in "Bus Stop," "Hamlet," "Censored on Final Approach," "As You Like It," and "Cloud 9."

Shanna Theiste plays Kate Mundy. She performed in "Threepenny Opera" as Molly and in FreshINK staged readings "As the Beaver" and "Mrs. Packard." She understudied for the productions of "Melancholy Play" and "Great Expectations."

Brittany Boeche is Maggie Mundy. She appeared in "Threepenny Opera" in the roles of Coaxer and the Reverend Kimball and in the FreshINK readings "Superior Doughnuts" and "In the Next Room: or The Vibrator Play." She also understudied roles in "Great Expectations" and "Bus Stop."

Laura Chartrand is Agnes Mundy. Her Parkside Theatre credits include roles in "Henry V," "Hamlet," and "Company." She previously worked with director Jamie Cheatham on the FreshINK reading of "As We Forgive," which was written by UW-Parkside English Lecturer Patrick McGuire.  

Katlin Kobernick appears as Rose Mundy. Her credits include the roles of Jenny in "Company" and Amiens in "As You Like It." She performed in the FreshINK readings of "Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom" and Superior Doughnuts."She has numerous costume design credits.

Michael Dalberg plays Father Jack. His Parkside Theatre credits include the melancholy Frank in "Melancholy Play," multiple roles in "Henry V" and "She Stoops to Conquer," and understudies for "Great Expectations" and "Hamlet." His FreshINK readings are "The Vibrator Play" and "Mrs. Packard."

Ethan Hall is Gerry Evans. His previous credits include Mack the Knife in "Threepenny Opera" and Bo Decker in the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre production of "Bus Stop."  His FreshINK readings include "Almost Maine" and "In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play."

Understudies for "Dancing" are: Ben Carlstein as Michael Evans, Robin Feltman as Christina Mundy, Spencer Gray as Kate, Holly Thompson as Maggie, Natalie Emmerich as Agnes, Bethanne Duffy understudying Rose, Alex Metalsky as Father Jack, and Mike Pfeiffer as Gerry.                

Director Jamie Cheatham's production team has students Brenna Kempf as choreographer and dramaturge, Chris Payne as lighting designer, properties designerKevin Duffy, hair and makeup designer Mikayla Durkee, and Laura Arnold as the stage manager. As always, Darice Damata-Geiger provided exceptional costume design and costume lab supervision, Jody Sekas is the scenic designer and design advisor, and Michael Clickner is technical director. Outside help came from sound designer John Costigan and dialect coach Brian Gill.

Tickets are $17 for adults, $13 for seniors and UW-Parkside faculty and staff, and $8 for students.