David Bowman (Vice Principal Panch) Having never had the desire to enter administration during his career, David (a former Manitowoc teacher) thought playing Vice Principal Panch would be a great way to start off his retirement! You may have seen him recently as the Mysterious Man in Into the Woods. Unlike the majority of the cast, he does not have cats.

Zachary Glaeser (Mitch Mahoney) A lover of juice boxes and hugs and hater of being called on from the audience, Zach is grateful to have made the transition from audience member to Mitch Mahoney, Comfort Counselor. Zach is a big fan of the Forst Inn and appreciates the opportunities a venue like this provides his wacky theatre family, and hopes you’re thoroughly entertained with our show! Don’t make me violate my parole, become a patron today!

Phillip Jindra (Chip Tolentino) is excited to reprise the role of Chip at the Bee! Phillip has been performing, directing, and designing with the Forst Inn Arts Collective since the theater’s reopening in 2017. Phillip earned degrees in Theatre Arts and Voice Performance from Lawrence University and has worked with many local theaters both on and off the stage. He most recently played Shakespeare in The Masquers production of Something Rotten. Some other recent credits include Macbeth (Macduff), Murder in Green Meadows (Director), City of Angels (Director), Godspell (Music Director), Carrie (Stokes), Cabaret (Clifford Bradshaw), and Anatomy of Gray (Phineas Wingfield). Phillip is happy to be sharing the stage with his wife and good friends, and is thankful for the support of his parents. Thanks for being my biggest fan mom! I know, I know… “just being here is winning.” 🙂

Tessa Komorowski Jindra (Olive Ostrovsky) is from the Manitowoc WI area and has been involved in many productions with Peter Quince Performing Company, Masquers, UW Manitowoc, The Forst Inn, and On the Spot Theater Company. Some of Tessa’s stand out roles include “Bakers Wife” In Into the Woods, “Gabby/Bobbi” in City of Angels, “Drowsy” in The Drowsy Chaperone, “Alison Bechdel” in Fun Home, and “Carolyn Symons” in Murder In Green Meadows. Tessa is excited to reprise her role of Olive and find new ways to bring this sweet character to life. Did you know that if you switch the first two vowels in Olive it becomes I Love?

Erin LaFond (Rona Lisa Perretti) has been seen on stage at the Forst Inn since it reopened. Recent credits include Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), Godspell (Jesus), The Last 5 Years (Cathy), Carrie (Margaret White), and an original member of Mistletoe Musings. Erin recently left her career as a middle school choir teacher to focus on herself and her family. Erin sends love and light to all in her support system, and especially to Jeff, Archer, Jasper, and Lee.​

Karter Mueller (William Barfee) is delighted to be playing William Barfée in the Spelling Bee. Karter has been involved on stage and off in many shows at The Forst over the last year and a half. You may have caught him as Beethoven in last summers Dog Sees God , or more recently in the booth stage managing Steel Magnolias! He hopes that you enjoy the show , and that you continue to come back later this season and see the rest of the beautiful shows that will be put on! (Karter would also like to note this is his redemption role since he actually got eliminated in his 5th grade spelling be in the word SURPRISED – surprised ? Who spells that wrong??) enjoy the show!​

Hannah Otto (Marcy Park) is thrilled to reprise her role as Marcy Park, though she typically prefers to work behind the scenes. She most recently was stage manager for Something Rotten, effects manager for The Play That Goes Wrong, properties for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and later this season director of Misery. She looks forward to creating better memories of spelling than her second grade spelling bee where she was eliminated first round for spelling remember with too many em’s.

Shannon Paige (Logainne Schartzandgrubenniere) is “bursting like a comet” to reprise her role as Logainne in Spelling Bee. The 2018 version has always been one of her favorite theatre experiences that she has held close to her heart. It’s not often you get a chance to do a role and show as special as this and she’s very grateful for round 2! Other recent Forst Inn credits include Shelby in Steel Magnolias, Ross in MacBeth, Joan in Murder in Green Meadow, and Norma in Carrie the Musical  Shannon would like to give a special shoutout to Karter Mueller for all the help he provided during the Steel Magnolia run. She also would like to thank Zach Glaeser and Erin LaFond for their support, and a HUGE shoutout to Emilee Carroll for being the best assistant House Manager and for everything else she’s done for me lately. Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and SPELL!

Ethan Stokes (Leaf Coneybear) is very excited to be making his Forst Inn debut as Leaf Coneybear in the Bee! He is currently pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at UW Stevens-Point, where he most recently played the Young Man in Kodachrome. While this is his first show at the Forst, he’s done shows with a few other groups in his career, mainly Next Stage, Treehouse Theatre, and at Two Rivers High School. Some of his recent roles with these groups include Charlie Dalrymple in Brigadoon, Shrek in Shrek the Musical Jr., and Spongebob SquarePants in the Spongebob SquarePants musical, respectively. Ethan looks forward to joining the reprised cast in such a fun and unique show. Like Leaf, Ethan also has cats.