Season 2010 - Anything Goes Cast Bios

Please note these are bios submitted by  the actors and written in their own words.
 If you do not see a bio listed it is because the actor failed to submit it to us.

Anything Goes

March 4 - 21, 2010

WALT DEFARIA Director – Walt directed A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD for MPC  last year and is directing both Cole Porter’s ANYTHING GOES and A TAFFETA CHRISTMAS this season. He has directed numerous productions at Carmel’s outdoor Forest Theater for PacRep including BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECNICOLOR DREAMCOATCOAT, THE WIZARD OF OZ and PETER PAN.  Currently he is Executive Producer on an animated film in Japan and a movie for television for the BBC, both based on the classic children’s books, THE BORROWERS.  He has a film project based on Russell Hoban’s THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD in development with Kennedy/Marshall Productions in Los Angeles.

GLORIA ELBER & REED SCOTT Choreographers – Gloria is a dancer, teacher, director and choreographer.  She has worked with most of the theater groups on the Peninsula and was the choreographer for the gold winning USA Olympic team.  She teaches dance at Stevenson School. Reed has danced professionally with two ballet companies as a principal and soloist.  He also works on the technical side of theater designing and building sets for the MPC Storybook Theater.  Reed and Gloria have co-choreographed such shows as Peter Pan, If Wishes Were Horses, Carmel Follies and Nutcracker. They have also created a number of musical shows for children’s summer camps.

GLORIA C. MATTOS HUGHES Costumes - Peninsula native, Gloria, has been designing costumes for community theatre since 1968.She has designed for several theatre companies and directors in the bay area and locally. Most currently she has designed costumes at MPC’s Morgan Stock Theatre, for the following productions:  Plaza Suite, Death of a Salesman, The Producers and Chapter Two. Gloria has also served the local community by providing leadership for the following arts organizations: Arts Habitat, Artists Equity Central Coast Chapter, City of Seaside Art Commission and Monterey Bay Center for the Arts. For Gloria, creativity is the soul of a community.

JACQUIRE FRAZIER Stage Manager - has been a performer with PacRep and the Forest Theater in the productions of Inherit the Wind, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof and Hello Dolly. For Jacquie, the technical aspects of theater hold many exciting challenges. She has Stage Managed productions of Stepping Out, Jesus Christ Superstar, Peter Pan, Steel Magnolias, Oliver, Something for the Boy’s, The Wizard of Oz, Marlene from Berlin to Hollywood, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Say it with Music, Beauty and the Beast, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Inherit the Wind, Disney’s High School Musical, Chums and A Year with Frog and Toad.

The Cast

RATHMAN AL-KAABI Cameraman /Tap Sailor #3) - Rahman is an Iraq student at MPC (Monterey Peninsula College). Last August, 2009 he was granted a scholarship through an educational program called ISP, Iraqi Students Project to continue his education majoring in drama/theatre. He has appeared in numerous productions locally including The CAPTAIN CAPTIVATE and THE CHOCOLATE AFFAIR at the studio theatre, in addition to a couple of miming performances at the dance studio. In addition to that, on October 9, 2009 he was rewarded a Certification of Recognition presented by the Arab Cultural & Community Center, during the annual Gala Festival at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

SUZANNE ALVIN Female Passenger - After years of being an avid theatre fan, I became a participant. I am totally hooked! I was in choral groups in college and had voice lessons over the years, and then a revue of Broadway show tunes at the Wharf Theatre last year.  This is only my second time to take the stage and I am thrilled to be in such talented company.

VIRGINIA BELL Mrs. Wadsworth T. Harcourt - Virginia has appeared in numerous productions locally, including OLIVER, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and PETER PAN at the outdoor Forest Theater, for PacRep. In addition, she taught dance and she was in many shows with Hidden Valley for several years.  One of her proudest moments was appearing in a short video directed by her son this past summer, ZOMBIE.  (Which can be viewed on YouTube.)

PHYLLIS DAVIS Charity - Phyllis has enjoyed performing on Peninsula stages for over 25 years. Her most recent credits at MPC include Joanne in “Company”, Bird/Narrator in “A Year with Frog and Toad”, Mrs. Mayor in “Seussical”, Domina in “Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” Josephine Strong in “Urinetown the Musical”, Dotty in “Noises Off”, Grace in “Annie”,  Fraulein Schneider in “Cabaret”, and many more. She has directed productions for the Forest Theater Guild and appeared on many local stages. Other favorite roles include Grizabella “Cats”, Irene Malloy “Hello Dolly”, The Bakers Wife “Into the Woods” and Meg Brockie “Brigadoon”

LANIER FAIRCHILD Girl 3 and Tap Specialty Passenger - I love theatre! Especially musicals! At age 12 I was part of The Wizard of Oz at the Outdoor Forest Theatre in Carmel. Walt deFaria was my first director! My second show was “HAIR” at MPC. As the youngest cast member, it was life-changing experience! I joined Carmel High School’s Thespian Troup and spent most of my high school career on stage. After graduation I returned to direct 24 freshmen in “Stage Door”. In college, at America’s Teaching Zoo, I co-wrote and directed a 45-minute scripted show with 25 humans and 50+ exotic animals! It was so much fun!

SKIP KADISH Moonface - Skip Kadish has appeared in more than 40 productions since 1995 performing in all the venues on the Monterey Peninsula. His last MPC production was spring of 2009 as the singing snail in a Year with Frog and Toad (directed by Walt de Faria). Last summer he played Brownlow in Pac Rep’s Oliver at the Outdoor Forest Theater. Most recently he was a Lithuanian Bishop in the Western Stage production of Mame. Once again it is a pleasure working with Walt and his dedicated staff.

CAROL HEILAND-ROSA Sailorette & Co-Dance Captain - teaches dance, fitness & Zumba classes at Carmel Academy of Performing Arts, Garden Health & Fitness, and the Monterey Sports Center. Last Fall she directed “Sleeping Beauty” for MPC's Storybook Theatre. She grew up on the Monterey Peninsula & received her education in dance from U.C. Irvine, Monterey Peninsula College and U.C. Santa Cruz. She's danced professionally & also works as a Stage Manager for DanceKids. She loves teaching dance & Zumba to children and adults. Please feel free to go to www.zumba.com and learn about Zumba and find a class to try.

CONNIE LEE Purity - Connie has been acting on the Monterey Peninsula for 10 years.  Connie has performed in Summerdaze, Annie, Get Your Gun!, Ghost in the Box, Oliver!, Wizard of Oz, If Wishes Were Horses, Cindy’s Diaries, Kid Millionaire, Ghosties, and Earth’s A’Poppin’. This is the 3^rd time she has been cast as an “Angel” – love that typecasting! She usually appears on stage with one or all of her 3 children while her husband either works backstage or is in the audience whistling! But this time she goes it alone on the stage.  Thanks “fam” and friends for supporting me in this creative endeavor.

ANDREA MCDONALD Tap Passenger, Delovely Singer - Since her retirement in 2007, Andrea started her new “career” on stage.  Always a dancer, she’s thrilled to be one of the tappers in “Anything Goes.”  When she’s not performing or in rehearsals, you’ll find her around town and in the Bay Area dancing Argentine Tango. Her credits include “Camelot”, “Wizard of Oz.” and “My Fair Lady.”  This year she worked at MPC with Walt deFaria for “A Year with Frog and Toad,” was in “The Producers” and “A Christmas Carol.” She “jumps” at any opportunity to trod the boards.

STEVIE MCKIM. Delovely Singer /Tap Sailorette - Stevie has been dancing, singing, and acting since the age of two. She has been trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Muscial Theater and Ballroom. She has been successful at nationally ranked dance competitions. She was a cheerleader in high school and in college. Stevie went to Cal State L.A. and graduated with a B.A. in history. She danced and performed professionally in L.A., Orange County, Las Vegas, and New York. She was the director of a dance team in Orange County, which led her to be an award -winning choreographer. She is happy to be back on the Central Coast performing in ANYTHING GOES.

GRACIE MOORE POLETTI  Reno - Local theater credits include Faye in Chapter Two at MPC, Maria in Sound Of Music, Anna in The King And I, Fiona in Brigadoon, Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan, all at the Forrest Theater.  Gracie’s voice over resume includes over 1,000 performances on television shows, feature films, cartoons and soundtracks.  On-camera acting credits include roles on Murphy Brown, Double Rush, Candid Camera, and a number of commercials and films.  She was a regular at the world famous Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd for five years and performed at other major comedy clubs such as The Ice House in Pasadena and The Improv in Hollywood. Gracie gives acting and singing lessons, teaches after school drama at Carmel River School, and is director of the Actor’s Forum Summer Theater Camp.  

GUIDO SCARATO Steward - Sang with Monterey Opera, Carmel outdoor theater, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oklahoma, Brigadoon, Sound of Music and Man of La Mancha. MPC, Sondheim's Putting it Together, Grand Night for Singing, Most Happy Fella, Kiss Me Kate. Appeared at the Wharf Theater"s Broadway revues.

L.J. THOMAS Reporter, Tap Sailor #5 - This is L.J.’s stage debut on the Morgan Stock Stage. Other MPC theatre productions include: The Bad Seed, Ali Baba and The Magic Cave and Rumplestiltskin. L.J. has local film credits including: Where’s Marty, Night Life, and You Are Not Alone. Prior to moving to Monterey, L.J. was active in theatre productions in Visalia, California. He is a Past President of the Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company and was Publicity Director for the Ice House Theatre. Visalia production credits include: Twelve Angry Men, Play It Again Sam, A Shayna Maidel, Inherit the Wind, The Outsiders, Dancing at Lughnasa, and Natalie Needs a Nightie. 

JESSICA VORIS Passenger - has been interested in theatre and singing since she could remember.  She has a classical voice training background of 10 years, and currently sings lead with local blues and rock bands around Monterey.  She has always been musically inclined and started writing songs in her early teens. Jessica has recently taken on the piano to accompany herself, and is presently recording a demo CD of her original work.   Jessica thanks all her family, friends and mentors for their love and support; without them, she never could have made it this far and it’s only the beginning.

STEVE WOODS - Bishop Henry T Dobson - Steve began his acting career late after his daughter Stephanie began performing in Walt DeFaria plays in the late 90's. He has been in five shows at the Forest Theater including, Peter Pan (twice), Wizard of Oz, Joseph and the Amazing Techincolor Dreamcoat and Beauty and the Beast. As part of the SODA cast at the Carmel Golden Baugh he was seen in Ghosties, If Wishes were Horses, Summerdaze, Ghost in the Box, The Cindy Diaries, Kid Millionaire and Earth's A Poppin. Last Spring Steve was Father Frog in the MPC production of "A Year with Frog and Toad."