Who's Who
KIM BLACKETT (Dad) has acted professionally in Utah for the past 28 years. Most recently as Officer Lockstock in the Egyptian Theatre Company's URINETOWN, THE MUSICAL Also at the Egyptian he appeared in in I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, played the Emcee in the hit musical PAGEANT, and seven leading men in LITTLE ME. At SLAC he played Marc in M. BUTTERFLY and The Sheriff in BATBOY, THE MUSICAL. Kim worked seven seasons at Sundance Summer Theatre. Some of his favorite musical roles include Danny in BABY, Tony in WEST SIDE STORY, The Baker in INTO THE WOODS, and Joe Hardy in DAMN YANKEES. Other roles include, Barnett in CRIMES OF THE HEART, Charley in THE FOREIGNER, and Jack in THE BOYS NEXT DOOR. In addition to his stage performances, Kim has appeared in film, television as well as numerous national and local television and radio commercials.
BENJAMIN BRINTON (Hand, Others) is a local actor/musician/teacher his experience includes: ROMEO AND JULIET, MAD PIRATE AND THE MERMAID (MA). UT credits include: TAMING OF THE SHREW, CABARET, CAROLINE OR CHANGE, WEST SIDE STORY, FOOTLOOSE, ASSASSINS, EVITA, JULIUS CAESAR, ENCHANTED APRIL, TWO ROOMS, LAUGHING STOCK OBT, OFF THE WALL Ogden, QUICK WITS, and OFF THE CUFF Cedar City.
DARLENE CASANOVA (Mom) originally from New Orleans, received a BFA in Modern Dance with a Musical Theatre emphasis from the University of Utah, a MFA in Dance from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and is a member of Actor's Equity Association. She starred as Dinah in the German production of STARLIGHT EXPRESS, toured Europe as Anybodys in WEST SIDE STORY and choreographed the off-Broadway premiere of Actors Shakespeare's original musical MOLIERE'S SHORTS. Since returning to Salt Lake City, choreography credits include DAS BARBECUE for SLAC, STREET SCENE with the U of U Opera company, URINETOWN at the Babcock Theater, TOMMY at the Egyptian Theater in Park City and the Greek Classical Theater's 2009 hit musical THE BAKKHAI at Red Butte Gardens. Darlene performed SCAMPDANCE with SB Dance Company, YOUR AVERAGE JOE with Joe Pitti and has most recently lent her talents as the performance coach for the bird show staff at Tracy Aviary. Darlene is the co-owner/director of Imagination Place, a center for music and movement committed to providing children and their parents high quality, non-performance music, movement and artistic experiences such as the internationally recognized programs Music Together®, an early childhood music education program, and AntiGravity® Yoga. Darlene is one of only three certified AntiGravity® Yoga teachers in Utah, who is taking this unique fitness regime to new heights by turning heads upside down in a program designed to increase one's overall health and physical agility while having fun and creating beauty.
ELISE GROVES (Betty, Cass, Others) is thrilled to be part of this project and making her debut on the SLAC stage. She has her bachelors degree in Musical Theatre from Weber State University. Performance credits include: THREE MUSKETEERS (Sabine), GREASE (Frenchy), SEE HOW THEY RUN (Ida) and the national touring production of THIS IS YOUR LIFE! (Herself). She has worked at the Jackson Hole Playhouse, Pioneer Theatre Company, and Hale Centre Theatre. Choreographer: BYE, BYE, BIRDIE and GUYS AND DOLLS. Elise once wanted to be a doctor when she grew up but instead decided to be a hairstylist and an actor and hasn't been taken seriously since.
KELSIE JEPSEN (Death, Dr Char, Others) Kelsie is excited to be performing again at Salt Lake Acting Company! She is a native of Sandy, Utah and is a proud graduate of the Actor Training Program at the University of Utah. Some of her favorite roles in college include: Sara Jane Moore in ASSASSINS, Madame Knorr in ON THE RAZZLE and Maggie Mundy in DANCING IN LUGHNASA. She was then lucky enough to intern with Pioneer Theatre Company for her last semester and be a part of JULIUS CAESAR and ENCHANTED APRIL. After graduation she moved to Minneapolis, MN to act with The Children's Theatre Company and some of her favorite credits there include: THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT (BFG), ANTIGONE, TALE OF A WEST TEXAS MARSUPIAL GIRL, SEUSSICAL, and THE MAGIC MRS. PIGGLE WIGGLE. Local credits include: REEFER MADNESS for Dark Horse Company Theatre, NUTCRACKER MEN IN TIGHTS for Desert Star, SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE! for The Grand, SATURDAY'S VOYEUR '09 for Salt Lake Acting Company and I OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES for Utah Theatre Artists Company. She is also currently performing in MY BIG FAT UTAH WEDDING at Desert Star. She'd like to thank Sam Wessels for his talent, patience, dedication and friendship!
ARIC JOHNSTONE (Bear, Greg, Fred, Wall Guy) I've always loved musical theater and dabbled a bit in high school; but after moving to Utah for college, life got in the way and I found myself focusing more on choir. I sang in the choirs at BYU where I knew I could be around the most fabulous gay men the lord's university had to offer. Then after graduating, I joined the Deseret Chamber Singers and sang with them for 3 years until late last year. Now I sing with the Utah Chamber Artists. I'm so excited to be able to perform theatrically again and to tell Sam's amazing story!
RILEY SOTER (Andrew, Michael, Others) is a singer and actor from Utah. He records and performs nationally and locally, most recently singing the baritone solos in Maurice Duruflé's Requiem at St. Paul's Episcopal church in Salt Lake City. Riley's operatic debut was in Bard College Summerscape's production of Les Huguenots with the American Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Leon Botstein. Riley is a student of Dr. David Power, and currently lives in Salt Lake City.
SAM WESSELS (Sam) is an actor and the author/composer of five musicals. sam i was was workshopped at the newly formed Yale Institute for Musical Theatre in summer 2009, and will be featured in Salt Lake Acting Company's (SLAC) upcoming fringe festival. RECTUM! THE MUSICAL was given a reading at SLAC in 2009. His first musical, NOTES ON A SUNDAY, was produced at the University of Utah in Spring of 2008. His two other musicals, REAL DOLLS and STARLIGHT, are ready for further development. While obtaining his B.F.A. from the University of Utah's Actor's Training Program, he composed the scores for two productions: THE CAUCASIAN CIRCLE and THE WINTER'S TALE. He currently lives in Salt Lake City.
JD DUMAS (Director) Originally from Carlsbad, CA, JD has performed with such companies as Moonlight Amphitheater, Starlight Amphitheater, Disneyland Entertainment, and Holland America Line. Since moving to Utah a few years ago he has had the opportunity to both accompany and musically direct multiple shows throughout the Wasatch Front with such places as Weber State University, Rodger's Memorial Theatre, Sandy Amphitheater, Egyptian Theatre Company and Dark Horse Theatre Company.
JANICE JENSON (Stage Manager) is originally from Riverside, CA and graduated from Brigham Young University. ASM credits include THREE RING OPERA (BYU), THE FOREIGNER (BYU), THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) (Provo Castle Theatre), THE LEGEND OF TIMPANOGOS (Utah Regional Ballet), 42ND STREET, MY FAIR LADY, and CINDERELLA (Tuacahn). Stage management credits include LITTLE WOMEN, STUCK ON THE EDGE, DOGVILLE (BYU), THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, A NEW BRAIN, REEFER MADNESS (Dark Horse), FAME, THE AWESOME 80'S PROM, and HAIR (Egyptian). Janice was a US Institute of Theatre Technology Stage Management Mentee, where she stage managed THE HISTORY OF DRAG.
L.L. WEST (Director) loves working at the Salt Lake Acting Company! His SLAC directing credits are MARVIN'S ROOM (where he met his lovely wife, Betsy), DAS BARBECUE (in which Max Robinson broke his leg), and ROUNDING THIRD (where he laughed his ass off with Mike Behrens and Kevin Doyle). As a longtime reader and participant with the Sundance Theatre Lab, Larry is passionate about new plays and wacky playwrights. He is honored to be . . . in the 'Fringe.'
