Debi Freund

Debi Freund (Daisy) is thrilled to be a part of this incredible production, returning to the Cabaret after her portrayal last year of Annie Wilkes in Stephen King’s Misery, and Emma in Over the River and Through the Woods.  A recent transplant to the New Haven area, Debi has appeared throughout the state, appearing in such roles as The Waverly Gallery (Gladys); August, Osage County (Violet - Winner, Best Actress in a Leading Role - OnStage Theatre Awards CT/NY); Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf (Martha); Over the River… (Emma); Doubt (Aloysius); Noises Off (Dotty); and The Lion in Winter (Eleanor). She is indebted to Billy, Neil, Gina and Nick for entrusting her with this amazing role and welcoming her to the company (and the family). Debi spent two decades as the Resident Actor at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. She is a member of the League of Professional Theatre Women. As always, she dedicates her performance to the memory of her parents and the futures of her children.

Marvin Glenn Jones

Marvin “MJ” Jones is honored to take on the role of Hoke Colburn in Driving Miss Daisy, the most significant and deeply personal role of his acting journey. While this is his seventh theatrical appearance, it is the first that mirrors his life beyond the stage. MJ discovered theater in 2023 when he stepped on stage alongside his daughters; what began as a family bonding activity quickly grew into an unexpected passion for acting. He made his theater debut as the Macy’s Manager in Elf The Musical and has since appeared in Matilda, Shrek, Mary Poppins, A Christmas Story, and The Wedding Singer, where he delighted audiences as a Mr. T impersonator. Portraying Hoke carries a weight unlike any role he’s played before. As his own mother lives with dementia, the play’s exploration of aging, loss, dignity, and the enduring bond between caregiver and friend resonates in profoundly personal ways. Every rehearsal will be more than preparation for MJ… It will be, at times, an act of reflection. MJ also brings pieces of his own history to Hoke, drawing on the voices, experiences, warmth, humor, and resilience of his Southern family and the couple years he spent living in the South during college. Those influences have become part of the character he is privileged to bring to life. MJ believes the greatest stories hold up a mirror to ourselves. Driving Miss Daisy isn’t simply about race, aging, or friendship. It’s about every one of us. It’s about learning to trust, navigating change, caring for those we love as they grow older, and discovering that the people who change our lives most profoundly are often the ones we least expect. He hopes you’ll join him for this remarkable journey through laughter, heartbreak, and unexpected friendship, and experience one of the greatest American plays ever written.

Jamie Reopell

JAMIE REOPELL proudly debuts at Cabaret, adding to an ongoing list of wonderful productions across CT, including Kodachrome (young man, FVSC), Man or Mouse (Charlie, FVSC), Plaza Suite (Jesse, LTM), Seder (Atilla, Dionysus Theatre Company), Describe the Night (Isaac, Dionysus Theatre Company), and Drinking Habits (Paul, Suffield Players). With love, appreciation and gratitude: Thank you & Many kudos to cast, crew, to family, friends, the sun and the moon, and all of you.

Nick Rapuano

Neil Fuentes

Billy DiCrosta