Joann Scanlon (Director). "The Summit Playhouse is such a fabulous place to work. The support on all levels is quite extraordinary. And the audiences are the very best." Previously she has directed for Summit Playhouse Man of La Mancha, The Boys Next Door, Shadowlands, Nunsense, and most recently Enchanted April from last season.

Chris Messineo (Assistant Director). A community theatre brat since he was 12, Chris has appeared on stage 30 times in 20 years, most recently as Mortimer Brewster in Summit's production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Having learned from some of the best directors around, Chris is excited to try his own hand at guiding the mayhem on stage. A technology manager by day, Chris stays insanely busy playing soccer, teaching screenwriting, and reading Dr. Seuss to his daughter, Joanna.

Ed Betlow (Carl) is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and has performed in plays, films and television since the 1970's. He has acted in shows off broadway and in Europe. Locally you may have seen him at the Bickford Theatre in Dracula or here at the Playhouse in Crimes of the Heart. He was also a contestant on "Wheel of Fortune."

Lewis Decker (Will) is making his debut at the Playhouse. An independent carpenter, he has done considerable set building as well as acting for Trilogy Repetory in Basking Ridge. He was last seen as Prospero in Shakespeare's The Tempest in Trilogy's Plays in the Park last July. Lewis lives on Bernardsville with his wife, Robin, and two sons, Phillips and Tristan.

Rebecca Hawrusik (Elma) is excited to be returning to the Playhouse stage. She appeared as Baby Louise in Gypsy and performed in several Playhouse Kaleidoscope productions, including Narnia and Charlotte's Web. Her favorite high school roles include Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Jan in Grease.

Tom Lyttle (Dr. Lyman) lives in Mendham with his wife Marie. His previous roles at the Playhouse include Warnie in Shadowlands, David in Morning's At Seven, Jim in The Girls in 509, and Sherlock Holmes in The Hound Of The Baskervilles. His other recent performances include Big Daddy in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at Franklin Township, Henry Fordyce in Goodnight Mrs. Puffin at Hunterdon Hills, and Dr. Manetti in A Tale Of Two Cities at the 22nd Street Theater.

Valerie Micke (Cherie) is thrilled to be making her stage debut in Bus Stop. She has always loved the theater and is very excited to be making the transition from audience member to cast member. Valerie lives in Scotch Plains and works as an Operations Consultant for a commercial bank. She graduated from Rutgers University last May, which has allowed her time to focus on more creative pursuits. Valerie would like to thank her family for all of their encouragement.

Barrett Phelan (Bo) is pleased to mosey back onto the Summit Stage after last year's role of Stanley in Brighton Beach Memoirs. In the last few years, Barrett has appeared in Chatham's productions of Fiddler on the Roof and A Christmas Carol as well the Cabaret Theatre's production of Lone Star. Barrett owes a huge debt of gratitude to the Atlantic Theatre in NY where some very talented people graced him with their knowledge.

John Walz (Virgil Blessing) last appeared as Bernard in the Playhouse production of Don't Dress for Dinner. He has also been seen on our stage in The Boys Next Door, Foxfire, and See How They Run, among others. By day John wrangles information at the Summit Public Library. He lives in Mount Tabor with his wife Kathleen.

Marguerite Wurtz (Grace) was most recently seen at the Red Room in New York in a one act festival of original plays. She has appeared in a number of productions on the Playhouse stage, most recently as Suzette, the cook, in Don't Dress for Dinner. Other recent roles on local stages include Miss Mackay in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Sister Woman Mae in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof and Joanne Remington in Ladies At the Alamo. She has trained at the HB Studio in New York and currently studies at The School for Film and Television.

Production Staff

Betty Kaus is the producer. Linn Smith is the stage manager. Rhoda Roper is designing and painting the set, Ed Johnson is constructing it, and Bill Roome will bring light and sound to the production. Geraldine Zoccoli will gather and oversee props, Lyn Mackie will handle costumes, and Alice Kosowski will apply makeup. Lori Balzano and Kathy Peterson will do the program and Ken Smith is in charge of photography and publicity.