Mitch Bean (Artistic Director) returns for his twelfth summer at BVT and his eighth year as Artistic Director. He is a graduate of Central College and holds his Bachelors 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 Sliced! (2025) an interactive murder mystery performed by the BVT Mystery Troupe. You might remember seeing him as Tom in These Shining Lives, 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 Kay Curtiss(Artistic Director, Resident Playwright) is a well-rounded theatre artist having extensive experience in directing, acting, design, and playwriting. She holds her BFA in theatre performance from Wichita State University and her Masters in Playwriting from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Rachel has been involved with BVT since 2012, first as a Company Member, then as Director, and now in her eighth year as Artistic Director. While living in Chicago, she was a frequent artist with Edge of the Wood Theatre. Rachel has written multiple murder mysteries for BVT’s Mystery Troupe, adapted literary classics, and most recently wrote and directed A Yule for Natalie, a TYA play performed at the theatre in December of 2023. Rachel has had the joy of directing over a dozen shows and playing over 25 roles on the Brownville stage including Catherine in These Shining Lives, Bella in Angel Street, and Lenny in Crimes of the Heart. She continues to happily share the director position with her husband and commit to the tradition and growth of BVT.
Lizzy Pegler(Associate Director) is celebrating ten years with BVT. 2015 was a life changing summer for Lizzy when she began her career as a Company Member. Since then, she’s transitioned to being one of BVT’s resident costume designers and, most recently, Associate Technical Director. She is thrilled to return full time this summer and to challenge herself by not only being back onstage and designing, but also making her professional directorial debut! Lizzy would like to thank the entire Brownville community, including the Board and all our Contributors, for continuing to keep the arts alive in rural Nebraska. When not in Brownville, Lizzy travels the world as a Wardrobe Supervisor with Regent Seven Seas Cruises and has been to over 60 countries. Forever grateful to be here and to Mitch and Rachel - thank you will never be enough. www.lizzypegler.com
Jarvis Jahner (Technical Director) has been a part of BVT since 2003 when he was hired to design two shows and act in three. After spending the next five seasons as a full-time Company Member, he took some time off to get his MFA 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 the Technical Director at Nebraska Wesleyan.
Cinda Goodrich(Musical Director/Accompanist) is very excited to be involved in the 2025 production of String as music director/accompanist. This is the 7th BVT show she has held this role beginning in 2019 with Zombie Prom. Her most recent shows have included Between the Lines (2024) and A 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.
Konner Bendallis an actor from Alabama with a BFA in Acting for Stage and Screen from the University of North Alabama. They have worked in both film and theater, taking on a range of roles that have shaped their craft. Notable stage performances include Macduff in Macbeth and Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, allowing them to explore both classical and contemporary works. With a deep appreciation for storytelling, Konner is committed to bringing sincerity and depth to every role, continually seeking opportunities to learn and grow as an artist.
Cole “The Buzz” Buzbee is honored to be appearing in his second season here at BVT. He is a Texas native. He recently received his Associates in Performing Arts from College of the Mainland and is now studying BFA in Musical Theatre at Western Illinois University. Some of his previous roles here at BVT include Clown #1 (The 39 Steps), Martin (Between the Lines), Jesse Tuck (Tuck Everlasting). Cole would like to thank everyone here at BVT 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. “An ordinary person wouldn't be an extraordinary artist.”
Jack Danter enjoys candlelit dinners, long walks on the beach, and returning to BVT! They are excited to combine their passions for acting and costuming with their love of directing. Their favorite credits include Clown 2 in The 39 Steps (right here at BVT!) and directing The Lightning Thief at Truman State University. They can’t thank their family, friends, or the BVT community enough for their love and support. They sincerely thank you for supporting local live theater and wish you a Big Friendly Summer!
Rachel Grossman is absolutely thrilled to be making a return to the BVT stage! Last season, she could be seen as Grace/Maureen/Marina in Between the Lines, Sally in Drinking Habits, and a Narrator in Tuck Everlasting. Some other favorite roles of hers are Hermione in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale and Sue in Carrie: The Musical. Rachel is a recent graduate from the BFA Musical Theatre program at Lindenwood University. She would like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her, Mitch, Rachel, and the rest of the company for being so incredible to work with, and the BVT community, for making Brownville a place she can call home. Finally, she hopes you enjoy the season as much as she does!
Brooklin "B" Herring is a theatre designer and actor from San Angelo, Texas, and a 2024 BFA graduate from West Texas A&M University. She is excited to be returning to BVT for her second season. She has spent the recent year post-college as a freelance scenic artist, lighting designer, and full-time Lighting Supervisor for The Buddy Holly Hall in Lubbock, Texas. Most recently, she has been the scenic artist for productions of Bye Bye Birdy and Newsies, Scenic Designer for The Little Mermaid, and Lighting Designer for The Hobbit. She is thrilled to return to the stage, and the prop shop, with her friends and company. In her limited free time, she enjoys collecting Jellycats, building legos, and showing Abigail Martin movies she has not heard of.
Alex Ladely is excited to join this season at BVT. Alex is currently a junior at the University of Nebraska-Kearney getting ready to transfer to the University of Nebraska-Omaha. His most recent roles include Clifford (Deathtrap), Mr. Bingham (The Fox on the Fairway), and Markley/Flinn (Radium Girls). Alex loves to watch movies, listen to music, and read. He would like to thank his wonderful friends for always helping him improve and getting him to where he is, along with his family who constantly support his new endeavors!
Abigail Martin is elated to return for her third summer at BVT! She is from Amarillo, Texas, and a 2024 graduate of West Texas A&M University with her BFA in Musical Theatre. You may have seen her last season at BVT in Between the Lines (Delilah), Drinking Habits (Philamena), and Tuck Everlasting (Mae Tuck). During her year back in Texas, she most recently performed in Amarillo Little Theatre's First Date, sound designed/assisted A Christmas Story, and taught adult comedy improv! Her other favorite theatre credits include She Loves Me (Ilona Ritter), The SpongeBob Musical (Pearl Krabs), and Once Upon a Mattress (Lady Rowena) at West Texas A&M University, as well as Into the Woods (Cinderella) at the Amarillo Little Theatre. When she's not at the theatre, she enjoys journaling, doing her nails, and a good coffee. She would like to thank her amazing family, friends, and mentors for their constant support and love, as well as B Herring for her movie recommendations. Learn more about Abigail at her website: abigailkmartin.com. Enjoy the show!
Caleb Martinez is honored to make his BVT debut in the 2025 summer season! A graduate from West Texas A&M University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Dance, he is ecstatic to transport audiences to another world. Hailing from the small town of Seagraves, Texas, Caleb has always had a passion for sharing the art of musical theatre with anyone willing to experience it. His past credits include She Loves Me (Steven Kodaly), Once Upon a Mattress (The Jester), and Sweeney Todd (Anthony Hope). He sends a massive thank you to his parents, family, and best friends for their unwavering support on this journey!
Christy Salcido is from Houston, Texas, and is currently a student at Iowa State University majoring in Performing Arts with an emphasis in Acting/Directing and Musical Theatre. This is her first time performing at BVT and she is excited for the opportunity to work with them and gain new experiences along the way. Some of her favorite shows that she has been a part of are Fairy Tales of the Anthropocene as Ensemble, She Kills Monsters as Lilith, and Polaroid Stories as Philomel. She has not only been a part of plays but has also done some on-camera work, like being an extra in a commercial and starring in a short film called Assassins 4 U. Other than acting, she has also done some technical work, including directing a ten-minute play called Heart of Hearing, costume crew for A Midsummer Night's Dream, and makeup design for Assassins 4 U. She would like to thank her family for always supporting her in everything that she does and being a part of her crazy journey!
Kenzie Sanders is so excited to make her debut as a BVT Company Member. She is originally from Wichita, Kansas and recently a freshman at Doane University for her B.A in Theatre. Some of her favorite roles include “S” in TownHall by Caridad Svich, Evil Gabbi from She Kills Monsters, and Bette from The Marriage of Bette and Boo. She is forever thankful to her parents, sister, and to her Gigi who have been supportive of her dreams since day one.
Parker Shinn will be a senior at Truman State University in the fall and is double majoring in Theatre and English with a minor in Musical Theatre. He has diverse experience as a stage actor from musical theatre to improv, and also specializes in stage management. More recent ventures for Parker have included directing as well as designing. Parker is beyond excited to join BVT and is eager to expand his knowledge of the craft!