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The Angelina Community Theatre's purpose is to afford opportunities for cultural and artistic enrichment in East Texas by providing a venue for local talent to produce live theatre for the entertainment of diverse audiences. Our goal is to educate both youth and adults in all aspects of the theatre and to encourage volunteers to learn and showcase their skills, both on and off the stage. ACT's mission is to provide a place for the citizens of Angelina County and outlying areas, regardless of economic status or ethnicity, to have a place to learn basic theatrical skills, as well as to have performances for the community.

The Board

Acting President: Erin Gentry

Vice President: TBD

Secretary: Rhonda Tripp

Treasurer: Melva Ecker

Historian: Misty Deggs

Press Rep: Jessie Licht

Members At Large

Kristine Mize

TaKisha Kegler

Samantha Johnson

Nathaniel Endsley

Amy Yarbrough Mitchell

Cast

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Melva Ecker

Gwen

Melva Ecker is a retired Kindergarten/PreK4 teacher who has enjoyed "treading the boards" for many years. She is a founding member of Angelina Community Theatre, and currently serves as Board Treasurer. Melva has worked on productions with Angelina Playhouse, Angelina College, Cherokee Civic Theater and ACT. Some of her favorite roles have included Olive Madison (2001) and Florence Unger (2005) in The Odd Couple - Female Version with Angelina Playhouse, Aunt Em in the 2009 Angelina College production of The Wizard of Oz, Raynelle Turpin in productions of Dearly Departed for both Cherokee Civic (2012) and ACT (2016), Clairee Belcher in Steel Magnolias (ACT, 2018), and a single ACT performance as Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy (2019), while serving as understudy for her friend, mentor, and fellow ACT founder - Pat Baldwin.

Hilary Walker

Home Shopping Hostess/Stage Manager

Hilary began her formal dance career at the age of 5 and starred in her first community theater production with Angelina College at 8 years old. Hilary continued dancing as a member of the University of Texas Dance Team, and after law school, she joined an all-lawyer musical theater troupe, Night Court, where she got to sing, dance and act to raise money for legal charities in Houston. After returning home to Lufkin with her husband Stephen and having her two precious boys, Anders & Asa, Hilary was in search of a way to get in shape and have fun. She became a certified Zumba instructor in 2015 and currently teaches classes for Lufkin Parks & Rec. When Hilary isn’t dancing around, she can be found managing the Trust Department at Regions Bank or at Angelina College where she currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees.

TaKisha Kegler

Gravedigger/Barfly

Since the tender age of 10, TaKisha has loved to perform. From singing in the vacuum cleaner to starring roles in ACT productions such as The Odd Couple and Don Wilson Glenn's original play American King Umps, her love of fine arts runs deep. TaKisha has aspirations of becoming a successful actress and singer. She has expressed that she is truly enjoying her time being a member of Angelina Community Theatre.

Morgan Mills

Emily Ostergaard/Rosy

Morgan is so ecstatic to be in Women Playing Hamlet she can barely stand herself! This is her 2nd show for ACT, with her previously seen as Alexandria in Debbie Broadleaf Brant's In the Manner of the Word. Morgan is a student at Angelina College, as well as working at Crown Colony Country Club. In her free time she likes to paint, walk in the rain, and make impromptu trips to the lake!

Tari Dean

Bicycle Messenger

Tari is thrilled be performing on stage with the Angelina Community Theatre. She is currently pursuing a degree in Theatre Arts at Angelina Community College. She has previously worked as the Stage Manager for Driving Miss Daisy, The Odd Couple, Greater Tuna, Steel Magnolias, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, American King Umps and The Foreigner. She has also worked as stage crew with the Angelina Arts Alliance’s Broadway touring musicals as well as the Angelina College Theatre Department and Lamp-Lite Theatre. Tari would like to thank Jessie Licht for believing in her and encouraging her to grow as an Actor. Break A Leg everyone!

Roz Couch

Psychiatrist/Gilda

Roz studied theatre at SFA, where she performed many roles and most recently appeared as Guest Artist in SFA's 2019 production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in the role of Rona. She is a veteran performer at Lamp-Lite Theatre in Nacogdoches, and will be portraying Balthazar this fall in Lamp-Lite's Much Ado About Nothing. Roz is a folk punk musician, singing telegram messenger, and party entertainer. This production is Roz's ACT debut.

Rhonda Tripp

Minnesota Mom/Bartender

Rhonda teaches Social Studies at Zavalla High School. She stays busy teaching and being captain of the Zavalla Eagles Relay for Life team. Rhonda stayed active in choir and theater in middle school and in high school, where she played Mama in I Remember Mama. More recently, she played Marguerite in Dearly Departed, Betty in The Foreigner, Renee in The Odd Couple- Female Version, and M’ Lynn in Steel Magnolias. She enjoys the chance to be a part of Angelina Community Theater.

Cassidy Kelly-Smith

Priest

Cassidy has been an actress for 14 years. She started her career at just 8 years old in Houston, TX. Now she has made her home in Nacogdoches, TX with her husband, infant son, and two dogs. She continues to act on both the stage and in film for community and college programs in both Nacogdoches and Lufkin.

Jessie Licht

Lord Derby

Jessie is so excited to be back on stage in this hilarious show! She has previously been onstage with ACT in The Odd Couple- The Female Version and In the Manner of the Word. She also serves as Publicist for the ACT Board. She is thrilled to have Women Playing Hamlet as her directorial debut and is appreciative of the opportunity that has been given. As a previous "hater" of Shakespeare, she has loved learning so much and discovered a new-found appreciation. She is so proud to be working with these intelligent and funny women! Jessie also works with Lamp-Lite Theatre in Nacogdoches, and can be seen as Margaret in the upcoming Much Ado About Nothing. Jessie is a happily married mother of four, and is so thankful for all of their love and support. Along with family and theatre, she is busy building her business Do Something Different- you should check it out on Facebook! Her "day job" is for East Texas Nephrology Associates as their Credentialing and Inventory Manager. You can also join her Zumba classes at Lufkin Parks and Recreation!

Natasha Braun

Humanities Professor/Starbucks Actress/Home Shopping Model

Natasha is an aspiring theater teacher; this is her first production with ACT, and she is thankful for the opportunity to get to work with this new group of people. She has recently worked with Stage West theatre in Dallas for the Festival of the Kid. Natasha would like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her, and this cast and crew for accepting, and encouraging her throughout this process.

Samantha Johnson

Jessica

Samantha is an attorney and lifelong lover of the theater. Being also a lover of Shakespeare, she has enjoyed the opportunity to learn and play such a fun and interesting role. She has been participating in local theater since the fall of 2018. She has enjoyed playing Florence Unger in The Odd Couple (Female Version) with ACT, as well as Marty in Grease, Cecily Pigeon in The Odd Couple, and Alison in Guys and Dolls. She is also looking forward to her upcoming role as Beatrice in Lamp-Lite Theater's production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Jessie Licht

Director

Jessie Licht

Stage Design

Tari Dean

Asst Stage Design

Jessie Licht

Lighting Design

Bill Eldridge

Lighting Assistance

Josh Gentry

Video and Editing

Evan Licht

Lighting Assistant

Addison Licht

Projection Assistant

Gridar Killam

Stagehand/Background Voice

Katelyn Wallace

Background Assistant

Donors

Angelina Community Theatre would like to extend a special thanks to the following for their contributions for this performance:

Henderson Foundation

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1836

Savvy Innovative Advertising

Starbucks of Lufkin, Manager Veronica

Trailwood Storage

Guestbook