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Who's Who


Cast

Robert Insana

Jeter Lester
Kaylie Horowitz

Ada Lester
Andrew J. Brown

Dude Lester
Emily McDonnell

Ellie May Lester
Danette Pawlowski

Sister Bessie Rice
Trevor Dugan

Lov Bensey
Sadie Everhart

Pearl Lester
Margo Davis

Grandma Lester
Mark Tramont

Tim Harmon
Ian F. LaLonde

Henry Peabody/Banker
Kaylie Horowitz

Ada Lester

Creative Team

Matthew LaChiusa

Director/Set/Light Designer
Ann Perno

Stage Manager
Mckenzie Gilmore

Assistant Stage Manager/Costumes
Sheri Sante

Production Manager

Meet the Company


Robert Insana (Jeter Lester)

2026 marks Robert's 40th year working as a professional actor in western New York. He has performed on many stages and appeared in countless commercials throughout his career. He also has worked as a drama teacher, improv comedian, director, and music teacher in that time. Some of his more notable roles include: his Artie Award winning role as JIm in Pumpboys & Dinettes, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Groucho Marx/Captain Spaulding in Animal Crackers, and The Chairman in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Much thanks to ART of WNY for his roles as The Devil in LIttle Robert, Art Shaughnessy in The House of Blue Leaves, and most recently Ebenezer Scrooge in When Worlds Collide. He also was a recent Artie Award nominee for his multiple roles in Musicalfare's The other Josh Cohen.

As an accomplished singer/guitarist for close to 50 years he has performed not only in Western New York, but also in Florida, California, and with Carnival Cruise Lines.

Kaylie Horowitz (Ada Lester)

Kaylie Horowitz (She/They) is delighted to return to the stage at ART of WNY! Originally from central Florida, Kaylie has worked with a variety of Buffalo theater companies as an actor, designer, and producer. She was previously seen at ART in LONDON CALLING and last season's READY, SET, RERUN as Veronica. Other Buffalo credits include October and February (THE LAST CROISSANT), Super Hattie (THE DAY I LEARNED TO FLY), Sarah Wakeman (understudy, SECRET SOLDIERS), and Costume Designer for BUA's MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA. She is a member of the professional roster for Buffalo ComedySportz and is a co-host on The Liberal Artists Podcast. Kaylie holds a BFA in Performance from Auburn University (War Eagle!) and a Masters in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University at Buffalo. Much love and gratitude to Ian for their constant support.

Andrew J. Brown (Dude Lester)

Andrew is thrilled to return to Compass with ART this season. Some of his credits include: ‘RENT’ (Ensemble) w/ Starring Buffalo, ‘I F*cked You In My Spaceship’ (Leo) w/ Buffalo United Artists, ‘Women Lauging Alone With Salad’ (Post-Industrial Productions) , ‘A Christmas Carol’ (Fred) w/ Alleyway Theatre and SECRET SOLDIERS: HEROINES IN DESGUISE (Private Perry/ Major Davis) w/ Theatre Of Youth. He would like to thank his friends and family for their constant unending support.

Emily McDonnell (Ellie May Lester)

Emily is very grateful to be making her Buffalo theatre debut with ART this season. She has her BFA in Theatre Performance with a minor in Design and Production from Niagara University, and is pursuing a career as an actor and costume technician. Favorite roles include The Anxiety Project (Avery), Seagull (Constantine), Eight Women and a Murder (Zuzu), The Diary of Anne Frank (Mrs. van Daan), Much Ado About Nothing (Verges), As You Like it (Touchstone) and Us and Them: Aerial Investigations (Ensemble). Emily would like to thank her family for their unwavering support and encouragement, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Danette Pawlowski (Sister Bessie Rice)

Danette Pawlowski (She/Her) is a Buffalo based actor, singer, and improviser. Favorite credits include Fran Dobishinsky (Gods of Padarewski Drive - ART of WNY), Katie Fox (The Informer- ART of WNY) and Titus Andronicus (Titus XX-Brazen Faced Varlets). She has performed, produced, directed and taught improv throughout Buffalo for over a decade. Love and thanks to Dan for his never-ending support. 

 

Trevor Dugan (Lov Bensey)

Trevor Dugan’s most recent Buffalo Theatre role was in An Irish Play at American Repertory Theatre of Western New York. A year earlier he starred in The Informer where he earned his first Artie Award nomination for Outstanding Leading Actor In A Play. Also on the A.R.T. stage he starred in Mercy Seat (2023) and Fall From The Grace Of God (2022). Other acting credits include roles in Girls Who Walked On Glass (2019), Factory For Murderers (2020), Grown-Ass Lewis in The Buffalo Quickies (2021) and A Christmas Carol for five consecutive years (2021-25) at Alleyway Theatre. He was also seen in The Melville Boys (2024) and Biloxi Blues (2016) at Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre. He thanks his wife Madeline and the Buffalo Fire Department for supporting him in his second-front; the theatre. This January he will star in Squatch, produced by First Look, performed here at ART.

Sadie Everhart (Pearl Lester)

Sadie Everhart is beyond excited to make her debut with ART of WNY. Recent credits include #13 in The Wolves (KCACTF Irene Ryan nominee), Susan Curtis in The Secretaries and the Aviatrix in Chamber Music, at University at Buffalo. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support! sadie-everhart.com 

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Margo Davis (Grandma Lester)

Margo Davis (Grandma Lester) is fascinated by and honored to play this role. Margo’s performances throughout the US and Canada, ironically as a voice actor, and  improvisation, live radio drama, film and stage including most of the theatre companies in the Buffalo area.  She has been a SAG/AFTRA voice actor for many decades.  She is retired Theatre Chair at BAVPA, Buffalo and instructor at Buffalo State University. You may have seen some of her public visual art commissions around town or caught one of her “Permanent Resident” historic characters at Forest Lawn over the years. Dedicated to building community, Margo also volunteers with Habitat For Humanity on builds throughout the world and is an active member of the Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister Cities Committee. www.margodavis.com

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Mark Tramont (Tim Harmon)

Mark is thrilled to be making his ART debut and thanks Matthew and everyone who has worked on the production. Mark has worked with various theater groups both here and in Florida. His recent credits include Rumors with Western Door Playhouse, The Trip to Bountiful at Lemon Bay playhouse and Rocking Horse production of Death of a Salesman. Mark has recently retired from a career in wine and spirit importing. He and his wife Eileen reside in East Amherst.

Ian F. LaLonde (Henry Peabody/Banker)

Ian F. LaLonde is excited to be making his ART debut in Tobacco Road. A graduate of Niagara University with a BFA in Theatre Performance, Ian is the Assistant Director of Theatre at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, where he serves as assistant director for the Fall Play and Spring Musical, and also directs the Middle School Summer Theatre Camp. Favorite credits include Trainwreck (the Machinist) with Patchwork Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Zebulun) with the Lockport Palace Theatre, Bat Boy: The Musical (Mrs. Taylor/Hank) at Niagara University, and Peter Pan, Jr (Director) at SJCI. Big thanks to everyone who has always believed in him

Kaylie Horowitz (Ada Lester)

Kaylie Horowitz (She/They) is delighted to be returning to the ART stage for TOBACCO ROAD. Originally from central Florida, Kaylie has worked with a variety of Buffalo theater companies as an actor, designer, and producer. Previous Buffalo credits include October and February (THE LAST CROISSANT), Super Hattie (THE DAY I LEARNED TO FLY), Sarah Wakeman (understudy, SECRET SOLDIERS), and Costume Designer for BUA's MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA. She is a member of the professional roster for Buffalo ComedySportz and is a co-host on The Liberal Artists Podcast. Kaylie holds a BFA in Performance from Auburn University (War Eagle!) and a Masters in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University at Buffalo. For Exie and Allie, who also tilled and toiled through the tough times. Much love and thanks to Ian for their continued support!

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Matthew LaChiusa (Director/Set/Light Designer )

A proud graduate of SUNY Fredonia with a BFA in Creative Writing and minor in Theater, this marks Matthew's 26th production (23 plays and 3 musicals) he has directed at American Repertory Theater of WNY. During that tenure, he has earned two Artie Nominations for Best Direction of a Musical (American Idiot and Jesus Christ Superstar) and one for Best Director of a Play (An Irish Play). Most favorite productions, up to date, include "An Irish Play", "The Informer"(Artie Award winning play for Best Original Play), "Something Wicked" (Artie Nominated play for Best Original Play), "American Idiot" (Artie Nominated for Best Musical Production and winner of the Best Ensemble of a Musical), and "A Behanding in Spokane". When not directing at the company, Matthew also serves as the Technical Director and leads American Repertory Theater of WNY as both the Artistic and Executive Director. He is grateful to the ensemble of "An Irish Play" for all the hard work, focus and commitment they have put into this piece. Namasta.

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Ann Perno (Stage Manager)

Ann is thrilled to be back with ART of WNY for another great season. Ann started her professional career at Melody Fair and has worked in production and stage management for 35 years. When not at the theater, Ann enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, and son, John as well as yoga, running, and naps.

Mckenzie Gilmore (Assistant Stage Manager/Costumes)

Mckenzie (Kenzie) Gilmore is excited to work with American Repertory Theatre for the first time! Some of her previous roles include Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, Asaka in Once on This Island, and Little Red in Into the Woods. Her most recent tech roles include: Crew-Wadrobe for Shipwrecked! At Road Less Traveled Theatre, and Wardrobe for The Lion King “Rafiki” Tour at Shea's Buffalo Theatre. She has been performing since she was 11 years old with School, Community, and Semi-Professional Theatre companies. She cannot wait to work with the actors and hopes she’ll be an asset to the production management. She would like to thank her Mother for making her become a Girl Scout, which helped develop skills she will have for the rest of her life.

Sheri Sante (Production Manager)

Sheri is excited to be working for the American Repertory Theater of WNY for a third season. She is enjoying her new role as Production Manager of Tobacco Road and Die Dre Groschen Rockoper. Previously, Sheri served as stage manager for Concrete Christmas, The Gods Of Paderewski Drive, and The Informer. When she's not at ART, you can find her teaching math at John F. Kennedy Middle School. Previous to working with ART of WNY, Sheri served as the director of the Drama Department at John F. Kennedy High School for 8 years. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support and encouragement.

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