Actors Theatre

The Artists

Dan Studney, Composer & Co-Book Writer

Dan grew up just a short train ride from New York City, in the suburbs of northeastern New Jersey (the "Off-Broadway State," he prefers to call it). A self-taught pianist, he had written his first score by age 14 - fairy songs, wedding marches and incidental music for "A Midsummer Nights Dream" - for Princeton's prestigious McCarter Theatre, as part of a Shakespeare summer youth program.

Studney's professional credits as writer and/or producer include television shows like "Weird Science," "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "Sabrina: The Animated Series," "Phantom Investigators" and "Big Brother Jake." He co-wrote the Disney movies-of-the-week "Genius" and "'Twas the Night," the latter winding up in the TV Academy Hall of Fame as representative of Disney's MOW work. Dan has worked for Matt Groening, penning issues of "The Simpsons"

Kevin Murphy, Lyricist & Co-Book Writer

Kevin is a graduate of Drew University in Madison, NJ. Reefer Madness!, which Kevin co-produced in Los Angeles, is Kevin's third stage collaboration with Dan Studney, and the first to be professionally produced. Kevin won Ovation, Garland and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle awards for writing and producing the original production. Kevin's work on the Off-Broadway production earned him a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Lyrics.

Along with Dan, Kevin wrote and executive produced the Showtime movie adaptation of Reefer Madness! starring Alan Cumming, Neve Campbell, Ana Gasteyer, Kristen Bell, Christian Campbell and Steven Weber.

Christopher Grooms, Director

Reefer Madness! - The Musical is Chris' first mainstage directing assignment for Actors', though his accomplishments for the theater, both on and off the stage, are many. Most recently, in Grand Rapids, he directed the smash hit musical Altar Boyz for Circle Theatre. Other directing credits include Agnes of God (Heritage Theatre); Fools (Rockford High School); The Brave Little Tailor and How I Learned to Drive (Aquinas College); Scotland Road (Grand Rapids Community College). Assistant Directing credits include Daddy’s Dyin’: Who’s Got the Will? and Nine (Circle Theatre).

Chris' holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Aquinas College.  He is the Business and Marketing Director for Circle Theatre.

Kristopher Bottrall (Ensemble)

Kristopher is appearing in his first Actors' Theatre production, but not his first Grand Rapids community show. Some of his credits include Snow White, The Who’s Tommy, Art of Murder, Cinderella, RENT, and Alice in Wonderland. Most recently he was Jimmy Gourd in the national tour of Veggie Tales Live: Sing Yourself Silly. Kristopher would like to thank his family and friends, specifically his mother, for all of their support.

Alicia Deven Clark (Placard Girl and others)

Alicia is a recent undergraduate from Grand Valley State University with a B.A in Theatre. Her past highlighted roles are Titania/Hippolyta (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Ellida (The Lady from the Sea), Joanne (RENT: The Musical), and Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet). She has been awarded the Irene Ryan Nomination for her role as Mercutio in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet for the stage. Before graduation, Alicia Deven has been a professional working actress in film around Michigan. Her highlighted recent films include Touchback, 13th Sign, Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption which will be nationally and internationally released within the next two years.

Andrea Fleming (Ensemble)

Andrea is a junior vocal performance major at Grand Valley State University. She has been doing musical theatre since she was in middle school and plans to continue with a career as a singing actor after graduating.

Stephen Grey (Jack Stone and others)

This plenty rugged pip has been on the level with Actors’ Theatre for many years now, flashing his off the cob mug in such juicy Actors’ Theatre romps as The Rocky Horror Show, Elizabeth Rex, Urinetown, Tick, Tick… BOOM! (Grand Award Nom), Kiss of the Spider Woman, Side Show(Grand Award Nom), and The Wild Party(2009 Grand Award - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical). Though a bit of a dead hoofer, other swell recent theatre work around town includes, RENT, Alice in Wonderland, Little Shop of Horrors (2010 Grand Award – Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical), and was most recently seen as Dr. Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show for LAUGH FEST. Some of his onscreen credits include, Offspring, Machine Gun Preacher, GR30K, and Clean Break where he is the star voice and puppeteer of Skeleton writer J.D. Strickland. Off the beat, Stephen is a freelance illustrator, cartoonist, graphic designer, and tattoo designer and is currently employed as co-creative consultant, actor, editor, and conceptual artist for Collective Studios in Grand Rapids.

Jordon Hudson (Ralph Wiley and others)

Jordon is thrilled to return "home" to Actor's theatre after being absent for two seasons. Other work at Actors' includes; The Rocky Horror Show, Assassins, A Man of No Importance, Side Show, Urinetown, The Wild Party, and Kiss of the Spiderwoman. Jordon is perhaps best recognized for his Grand Award nominated performance as Leo Bloom in Civic Theatre's The Producers. His most recent, (and favorite,) role was as Tom Collins in Circle Theatre's RENT...a show and role that forever changed his life. Other favorite roles at Circle includes; Malcolm in The Full Monty, Uncle Ernie in Tommy, and "the white guy" in Smokey Joe's Cafe.

Molly Jones (Mary Lane)

Molly is ecstatic to be joining the Actor’s Theater family once again. Although Reefer Madness! is just her second show with Actor’s (she was last seen as Marcy in Dog Sees God), she is no stranger to the stage. From a brief 3-year stint in Chicago, where she was lucky enough to perform in such shows as Thoroughly Modern Millie (Ensemble) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Narrator), to fronting her own classic rock band here in Grand Rapids (Molly and the Mutiny), she has never been far from a spotlight and microphone. A senior at Grand Valley State University, Molly will soon graduate with a degree in Bio-Medical Sciences and plans to continue with her schooling to become a holistic chiropractor.

Justin Kilduff (Jimmy Harper)

Justin first performed for Actors' Theatre as Oscar 'D' Armano in the 2008 production of The Wild Party. But before he ever performed here in Grand Rapids, he was a volunteer for Jewish Theater. Justin was attending community college in Montcalm at the time he volunteered and would drive an hour commute to Grand Rapids in order to work back stage on the production of Lost in Yonkers. His sole duty during the run of the show was slamming a door backstage during the appropriate moment. Since then he has worked for Civic Theatre, as well as Circle Theatre. Some of his favorite past characters include Abraham in Altar Boyz, Lionelle in Cinderella, Edmund in King Lear, Brad in The Rocky Horror Show, and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors for which he was awarded a Grand Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical.

Sarah LaCroix (Mae and others)

Sarah is happy to be making her Actors Theatre debut in Reefer Madness!. With the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre she has appeared in Annie in 1995, and then continued on with Singing In The Rain, Scrooge: The Musical, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and The Twenty-Fifth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as Rona Lisa Peretti. With Circle Theatre, Sarah appeared in Nine, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweet Charity, Steel Pier, Into The Woods and Rent. While in school Sarah appeared in Crimes of the Heart, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oklahoma, Once Upon a Mattress, The Madwoman of Chaillot, Blithe Spirit, Dracula, My Fair Lady (Eliza Dolittle), and A Chorus Line (Sheila). She teaches Social Studies for Kentwood Public Schools.

Sarah M. LaJoye (Sally and others)

Sarah has also appeared in A Man of No Importance and The Wild Party with Actors Theatre. Locally, Sarah has also appeared with Jewish Theatre (Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh), Heritage Theatre Group (Mirandolina, The Tempest, Metamorphoses), Circle Theatre (Oliver!, The Who’s Tommy and Guys and Dolls) and Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s (Producers, Grease and Ragtime). Sarah is a student at GVSU and a barista at Urban Mill Cafe, as well as a choreographer for several local schools. She will appear as Shelia this summer in SouthSide's production of Hair.

Kyle Los (Lecturer and others)

Kyle was last scene on stage performing as Michael/Brian in The Sweetest Swing in Baseball at Actors' Theatre and Mark in Circle Theatre’s production of Rent. He is excited to be behind the podium for Reefer Madness. Off-stage credits include music director and tech director: The Drowsy Chaperone, Rogers High School; music director: Godspell, Holland Civic Theatre and accompanist: Jane Eyre: the Musical, Hope College.

Christopher Michael (Ensemble)

Christopher is no stranger to Actor's Theatre. You may remember his performance as the lovely Miss C. Litter with Larry Young in the Actor's Duets benefit show a few years ago. During the day, Christopher can be found rocking knoggins at Cheeky Strut Salon downtown. Christopher has lent his talent for designing hair to Actor's Theatre as well as to Circle Theatre for many stage productions. He would like to thank Tom Kaechele for taking a chance on him in The Full Monty. Tom was not at all frightened by Christopher's appearance in a leopard print g-string as Buddy "Keno" Walsh, so he took another chance and cast him in RENT - Christopher's favorite experience to date. Other fun experiences include The Awesome 80's Prom at the BOB.

Darion J. Murchison (Ensemble)

Darion is thrilled to be performing for his first time here with Actors Theater in this production. Darion recently graduated from Grand Valley State University where he studied Music and Theater. He has been seen in many shows throughout the Grand Rapids community. Some of his favorite roles include Ronny/Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors, Angel in Rent, Juan in Altar Boyz, and Victor in Smokey Joe’s Café. Darion plans to move to Chicago to begin working as a professional performer.

Kallie Victoria Pershon (Ensemble)

Kallie is thrilled to be appearing in her first Actors' Theatre Production. She has appeared in nine shows at the Grand Rapids Civic Theater, most recently Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Her other stage credits include Children of Eden as Eve with Caledonia Community players, The Rocky Horror Show as Janet with Flat River Players, The Who’s Tommy with Circle Theatre, and productions with Heritage and Jewish Theaters. She will also be appearing in Hair with Southside Theatrical Productions as Chrissy later this summer.

Merrill Weber (Ensemble)

Reefer Madness! is Merrill's first time performing in an Actors’ Theatre production. Most recently she played the role of Ermengarde in Civic Theater’s production of Hello Dolly. Other community theater shows include Cinderella, and Joseph and the ATDC, also at Grand Rapids Civic, And Circle Theatre's production of RENT. High school theater includes, Suessical, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Bye, Bye Birdie, and Footloose. Merrill has been a Member of the Kenowa Hills Varsity, and GRCC's dance teams. She has also had the opportunity to sing the national anthem for the Harlem Globetrotters at the Van Andel Arena with her twin sister.