Mitch Bean (Artistic Director) returns for his eleventh summer at BVT and his seventh year as Artistic Director. He is a graduate of Central College and holds his Bachelor’s in music and theatre. Mitch shares the title of Artistic Director with his wife, Rachel Curtiss. Both have been working hard to continue BVT's long tradition of summer repertory as well as keeping BVT alive throughout the year with productions and events such as Willa Cather’s A Resurrection, BVT's Young Performer's Show, BVT's Radio Theatre (2019 and 2020), the spring Young Performer's Workshop, and Who Killed Punk? (2023), an interactive murder mystery performed by the BVT Mystery Troupe. You might remember seeing him as Walker in Deliver Us from Mama, Grover in The Lightning Thief, or Jonny Warner in Zombie Prom. He would like to thank all the supporters of BVT for keeping this organization thriving.
Rachel Curtiss (Artistic Director) has been involved with BVT since 2012, first as a company member, then as director, and now in her seventh year as Artistic Director. Rachel holds her BFA in theatre performance from Wichita State University and is currently pursuing her MFA in Playwriting from UNO. While living in Chicago, she was a frequent artist with Edge of the Wood Theatre. She acts as a resident playwright for BVT, having written multiple murder mysteries for BVT’s Mystery Troupe, adapted literary classics, and most recently wrote A Yule for Natalie, a TYA play performed at the theatre in December of 2023. Rachel has had the joy of directing 15 shows and playing over 22 roles on the Brownville stage including Bella in Angel Street, Lenny in Crimes of the Heart, Edith Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank, and M'Lynn in Steel Magnolias. She continues to happily share the director position with her husband, and commit to the tradition and growth of the Brownville Village Theatre.
Cullen Asberyis eager to make his debut as a member of the Brownville Village Theatre. Cullen is a student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Vocal Performance and Theatre Arts. Cullen’s favorite college roles include Jack in Into the Woods and Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten! He has an affinity for nature and loves to explore. Cullen would like to express gratitude towards his ever-supportive Mom, Dad, Siblings, and Grandpa. As well as his friends and mentors for encouraging and emboldening him.
Joshua Bennett is thrilled to be returning to the Brownville Village Theatre for his third summer in a row. You may have seen him in a couple roles on the Brownville stage these past two years, such as Benard S. Dunlap (Suite Surrender), Ares/Mr. D (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical), George (It Came from Mars) and Captain Riser (Hello Girls). Joshua has also toured with the Missoula Children’s Theatre out of Missoula, Montana for their production of Johnny Appleseed. He received a BFA in Vocal Performance and a minor in Theatre from Southern Arkansas University and would like to thank all his professors and friends for their encouragement in his pursuit of the arts. Joshua would also like to thank all of you who support live theatre and the Brownville Village Theatre. Enjoy the show!
Cole “THE BUZZ” Buzbee is honored to be a first time company member here at Brownville Village Theatre. Some of his previous roles include Chad (All Shook Up), Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors) and Paul Stokes (Sweet Science of Bruising). Cole would like to thank everyone here at Brownville theatre for being an amazing presence. He would also like to thank his amazing family for the constant support of his passion. Most of all he would like to thank God for giving him a gift and always giving him an outlet to use that gift. "If you never try something new, you never know what you can do.”
Jack Danter is a recent graduate of the Truman State University Theater Department where they concentrated on Directing, Performance, and Costume Design. They are very excited about their first season with the Brownville Village Theatre. They most recently played Columbia in the Rocky Horror Show and costume designed Charlotte's Web for young audiences. They would like to thank their friends, family, and professors for helping them get here; much love to each and every one of you!
Rachel Grossman (she/her) is going into her senior year for her BFA in Musical Theatre at Lindenwood University. Most recently, Rachel appeared as Hermione in Lindenwood’s production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. Her favorite roles she’s played include Hermione (The Winter’s Tale), Sue Snell (Carrie: The Musical), and Mrs. Van Buren (Intimate Apparel). Outside of theatre, Rachel enjoys reading and spending time with her friends. She would like to thank her parents and sisters as well as her wonderful friends for their love and support throughout her theatre career.
B Herring recently graduated from West Texas A&M University with a BFA in Theatre Design & Technology and Acting. She enjoys all things theatre, with acting credits most recently being college productions of Bull in a China Shop as Mary Woolley and The Laramie Project as Ensemble. Besides this, she is passionate about scenic and lighting design for theatrical and dance productions. Most recently, she was the Scenic Designer for the college production of She Loves Me, Lead Designer and Electrician of Falling Into Dance, and Calling Stage Manager for Amarillo Little Theatre’s production The Play That Goes Wrong. She wants to thank her family, friends, and mentors for their love and support and is excited for her first summer with BVT!
Otto Lieder is delighted to join the BVT Company; they are from Saint Paul, Minnesota. After graduating with a BFA in musical Theatre and a BA in Theatre Arts: Tech and Design from the University of North Dakota in 2023, they spent the summer sound designing in Michigan before touring with the National Theatre for Children as Jon Watson in project: ENERGY. Other recent roles include Mischa Bachinski (Ride the Cyclone), Mayor Meekly (Unnecessary Farce), and Howie (Rabbit Hole). When not working on stage they can often be found with their nose in a book or prepping for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign that likely will never happen.
Abigail Martin is thrilled to return for her second summer at the Brownville Village Theatre! She is from Amarillo, Texas, and a recent graduate of West Texas A&M University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. You may have seen her last season at BVT as Louise LeBreton (The Hello Girls), Maude Myrtles (It Came From Mars), Coral/Lazy (Death at Downton!), and Woman 3 (Deliver Us From Mama!). Her other favorite theatre credits include Ilona Ritter (She Loves Me), Pearl Krabs (The SpongeBob Musical), and Lady Rowena (Once Upon a Mattress) at West Texas A&M University, as well as Cinderella (Into the Woods) at the Amarillo Little Theatre. Learn more about Abigail at her website: abigailkmartin.com. She would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors for their constant support and love! Enjoy the show!
Ellie Parish is a rising junior BFA Music Theater student at Viterbo University. This is her first summer with BVT and she is so thrilled to be here! Most recent roles include Reenie Dolan in Tar Beach, Betty Rizzo in Grease, and Ensemble/Veronica U/S in Heathers. She would like to thank her amazing family for supporting her in everything she does as well as her partners in crime Louie and Helen! She wants to thank you for coming and she hopes you enjoy the show!
Bella Walker (Associate Director) (they/them) is thrilled to be back for their third season at BVT! Other Brownville credits include Norleen in Mama Won’t Fly and Deliver Us From Mama, Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple, Nancy in Angel Street, Dolores Breckinridge in It Came From Mars, and The Dowager Countess/Mrs. Paditmore in Death At Downton. Currently they are working professionally as a Dresser in Chicago, and have worked at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Marriott Theatre. It has been a dream of Bella’s to direct at BVT since 2022 and this year that dream has become a reality. Mitch and Rachel, thank you both for your continued trust and support. Thank you Mom and Dad, Mackenzie, and my entire support system. You’ve all truly made me the person I am today. @bellawalker_chi - bellawalker.co
Brennan Wright is an actor who has had a love for stories since he could remember. He is a graduate at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX. Brennan has been involved in theatre since he was 13 and has been in shows since he was 15. He is constantly striving to do his best and make his family and friends proud. This is Brennan’s third year at BVT and he has loved each and every second he’s spent at BVT. He would like to thank his girlfriend Abby for her unwavering faith and positivity, his family for their constant support, his friends and teachers from school for making him feel like the luckiest person on Earth and the Wininger family for their warm hearts and this great opportunity. He couldn’t have done anything without the amazing people in his life.
Trevor Comstock (Director) returns for his 5th season at BVT! You may remember him as the director of last year's smash hit, Deliver Us From Mama. This year, Mitch and Rachel have produced a show-stopping, gut-punching, side-splitting season of spectacle, and Trevor is honored that he gets to be a part of it. He'd like to thank his husband Shay, the wonderful 2024 BVT Company, but most importantly, YOU, the audience. You make the fun possible. Thank you for supporting live arts in Nebraska! Enjoy the shows!
Allyson Fricke is thrilled to be making a guest appearance in Between the Lines this summer at BVT! Allyson is a recent graduate from the University of Nebraska-Kearney where she obtained a theatre degree. You may have seen her on stage at BVT in previous years as Helen Hill (Hello Girls), Annabeth (The Lightning Thief and Schulie (School House Rock Live!). Allyson would like to thank Mitch and Rachel for the opportunity to be on the Brownville Stage again and Benjamin Salazar for making her a better artist and taking care of their cats so she can be here!
Cinda Goodrich (Musical Director/ Accompanist) is very excited to be involved in the 2024 production of Between the Lines as music director/accompanist. This is the 6th BVT show she has held this role beginning in 2019 with Zombie Prom. Her most recent shows have included Hello Girls and Resurrection (2023) where she also played the role of Mrs. Skimmons. Her education consists of a Bachelors Degree in Music from PSC and a Masters Degree in Music Education from UNL. Special thanks and love to husband, Stacey, 3 children and their spouses Nate and Mandy; Becky and Pat; Tanner and Stephanie; and 8 grandchildren Connor, Ada, Miles, Cameron, Ally, Hudson, Sunny and Avalon.
Jarvis Jahner (Technical Director) has been a part of BVT since 2003 when he was hired to design 2 shows and act in 3. After spending the next 5 seasons as a full-time company member he took some time off to get his M.F.A. in Theatrical Design from the University of Oregon. After graduation he came back to BVT in the summer of 2012 to design scenery and has been happily a part of BVT every summer since. He is currently an Associate Professor of Theatre and Communications at Dickinson State University.
Lizzy Pegler (Associate Technical Director/ Costume Designer) is ecstatic to return to BVT for her eighth summer! Lizzy holds a BA in Theatre from Doane University and a MA in Arts Leadership and Management from Wichita State University. She has designed and worked at theatres around the country. Currently, she works as a Wardrobe Supervisor onboard the luxury brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises. In her first two contracts, Lizzy visited 50 countries across six continents and is so excited to return for a third year upon the beautiful RSSC Splendor. Lizzy wants to thank Mitch, Rachel, and the entire BVT community for helping her grow as a theatre artist and person. She would not be where she is today without BVT and is so happy to be back again for another summer! More about Lizzy on her website www.lizzypegler.com
Sara Scheidies (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be back at her favorite theater this summer! Sara was a company member from 2015-2018, and has returned as a guest costume designer every summer since. She has also participated in many of BVT's off-season productions, such as the murder mysteries and radio plays. Sara tries to stay active in the theatre community in the Omaha area where she lives, having recently performed as Agnes in Agnes of God at the Bellevue Little Theatre and as Alysha in American Idiot at SNAP! Productions. Many thanks to Mitch and Rachel for including her in another fantastic season at BVT, and to Mom and Dad for their unconditional love and support!