THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940
Macedonia Alexis (Nikki Crandall) is a 24 year old actor based out of Louisville, Kentucky. Primarily a film actor, this is her first full length play. She has previously participated in Shotz and recently starred in a short film titled 'Blanch' written and directed by Louisville native Maddie Weiner. She produced and starred in another short film called 'Fungus Jar' written and directed by Evan Sims. She adores the entire film making process and aspires to write more and direct one day. She is a co founder of Shrike & Thorn Productions and is signed with Heyman Talent Louisville. Please feel free to keep up with her on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook @macedoniaalexis
Kate Holland Ballowe (Helsa Wenzel) is so happy to be back for her sixth show with The Chicken Coop, having performed in Bat Boy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Xanadu, The Haunting of Hill House, & Clue. Other local companies they've had the pleasure to work with (onstage & off) include Pandora Productions, Drag Daddy Productions, Stage One, Looking for Lilith, CenterStage, and The Bard's Town. Love to Colby & the kitties.
Andy Epstein (Roger Hopewell) is thrilled to be returning to the Chicken Coop after having appeared in last season’s Blithe Spirit. A lawyer by day and an actor by night, Andy has appeared in dozens of local productions. Favorite roles include: Barefoot in the Park (Victor Velasco), Driving Miss Daisy (Boolie), Legally Blonde (Prof. Callahan), Wit (Dr. Posner), Kiss of the Spider Woman (Warden), Assassins (Guiteau), Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), and The Sound of Music (Uncle Max) just to name a few! Much love to Ashley and Sam for all your encouragement and support! And many thanks to Jason for helping to keep community theater alive and well in Louisville!
Brian Hinds (Patrick O’Reilly) is a theater faculty member at the Youth Performing Arts School, where he has directed productions of Our Town, The Crucible, Hamlet, and (Anon)ymous. Originally from Maine, Brian spent ten years with The Children’s Theatre of Maine, serving as an actor, instructor, and director. Since moving to Louisville in 2008, Brian has acted with Kentucky Shakespeare (Twelfth Night, Richard III, Julius Caesar, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern are Dead, Macbeth, Merry Wives of Windsor, Love’s Labours Lost), StageOne Family Theatre (The Odyssey, Tuck Everlasting), Savage Rose Classical Theatre (The Tempest, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Liminal Playhouse (The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Punts), Bunbury Theatre (Visiting Edna, The Weir), Chicken Coop Theater (Misery), and Time Slip Theater (Coherence). Brian is a member of Louisville Improvisors.
Zach Hurley (Eddie McCuen) is very excited to be working with this production's terrific cast and the Chicken Coop Theatre Company. Zach developed an interest in acting in 2021 when he enrolled himself into a theatre class at the University of Louisville, in his Sophomore year, and ended up being transfixed with the work. He graduated UofL with a marketing degree, but he continues to study acting, with local teachers, in hopes to be a part of great theatre and film productions. His previous work includes Time Slip Theatre’s Coherence, Little Colonel Playhouse’s Life’s a Gas, and the New Albany’s Preforming Arts Center's production of The Hairy Ape. He is also very proud to be a part of Louisville’s ever growing film community and would like to thank every one who he has worked alongside. Zach is very happy to present Eddie McCuen in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.
Robbie Smith (Michael Kelly) is excited to be back with the Chicken Coop family having recently appeared as Sherriff Reynolds in Bat Boy and as the skanky Pharisee in the Chicken Coop Theatre and Drag Daddy collaborative mounting of Jesus Christ Superstar. Local credits include The Legend of Georgia McBride (Tracy), A Very Sordid Wedding (Brother Boy), Torch Song (Arnold), and The Rocky Horror Show (Eddie) for Pandora Productions; Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens (Happy) for Drag Daddy. Robbie holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Northern Kentucky University, and performed in stock, regional theatre, and has toured nationally. Robbie is the Food Sevice Coordinator at The Men's Healing Place here in Louisville. Enjoy the show!
Hannah Jones Thomas (Elsa Von Grossenkneuten) is so excited for you to see this
production! She has appeared previously with Chicken Coop in Blithe Spirit (Mrs. Bradman), Xanadu (Medusa, Ensemble), and The Haunting of Hill House (Mrs. Dudley). Other favorite roles include Always a Bridesmaid (Sedalia Ellicott) with Rose Island Playhouse, It Shoulda Been You (Mimsy) and Birds of a Feather (Zookeeper, Paula Zahn, Female Birder) with Pandora Productions, Pippin (Berthe) with Acting Against Cancer, and Bridges of Madison County (State Fair Singer, Ginny, Ensemble) with CenterStage. When she is not playing with theatre folx, Hannah can be found homeschooling her 7th grader, or running her freshman to various sporting events, and in her spare time, she is a licensed massage therapist.
Kymberly Vaughn (Marjorie Baverstock) is a native of Louisville, Ky and a graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, TN where she appeared in the plays God’s Trombones and The Colored Museum. Kym has appeared in various local productions including Dot, Blithe Spirit, Into the Woods, For Colored Girls... and Alice in Wonderland. In addition to performing Kym also enjoys reading, walking and spending time with her family.
Aaron Whaley (Ken De La Maize) is a personal injury attorney by day and, on occasion, dips his toes into local theater. His credits include The Addams Family, Laura, The Odd Couple, Four Weddings and an Elvis, The Little Mermaid, and a few other roles when needed.
Julie Zielinski (Bernice Roth) is so excited to finally be working for The Chicken Coop! Most recently, she was seen as LaVonda in Pandora’s A VERY SORDID WEDDING. Favorite roles include Trudy in SOCIAL SECURITY, Cheryl in THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVER TOLD,and Lily St. Regis in ANNIE. Favorite role ever was Maude in BAKERSFIELD MIST. I’m very grateful to Jason Cooper for this opportunity and excited to perform with this talented cast!
Jason Cooper (Director) has worked in professional, regional, and community theatre for over twenty-five years. Since founding The Chicken Coop Theatre Company in 2019, Jason has produced and directed The Mystery of Irma Vep, Clue, Grey Gardens, The Haunting of Hill House, Xanadu, Misery, The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz. Ruthless, and Batboy: The Musical. Recent acting credits include playing Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN. and Herod in The Chicken Coop's and Drag Daddy Productions' wildly successful co-production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and Barry Glickman in The Prom at Centerstage. Love to DC!
Douglas Gibson (Stage Manager) is happy to be stage managing his fourth Chicken Coop show. He previously stage managed The Mystery of Irma Vep, Grey Gardens, and Ruthless. A lifelong lover of musical theatre, Douglas has appeared as emcee in three of The Chicken Coop’s Variety Shows: I Love the 70s, I Love the 80s, and I Hate Valentine’s Day. Love to Mel!
Tyler Warner (Lighting Designer) is a local lighting designer and technician. Tyler designed Misery, Ruthless, and Batboy for Chicken Coop, and works around Louisville and Kentucky for a variety of performing arts and audio visual groups. Tyler studied theatre at Berea College and the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas, and their favorite cryptid is the Mothman.