Welcome to The Park Players - Shadowlands 2008

C.S. Lewis - Jesse Bates
Jesse is Chair of the Theatre Arts Department at The Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA). A Birmingham native, he has degrees in Speech and Theatre from Samford University, a Masters from The University of New Orleans and a teaching certificate from The Univ. of Alabama in Birmingham. After college, a 3 year stint in the Army and graduate school, he got his first professional job at Town and Gown Theater in Birmingham where he designed and mounted over 70 productions in a five years, including musicals, comedies, dramas, and pageants. He has been on the faculty at ASFA since 1981. The department tackles Shakespeare, mime, children's shows, modern dramas and comedies, Moliere, stage combat, and clowning. The department does all of its own design and technical work in props, sets, lights, sound and costumes. His personal goal is the development of students as skilled, motivated, disciplined artists. He has designed for theatres in Alabama, North
Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania. He served as the Secondary School Play Festival Chair, the Division Chair and on the Executive Board of the Southeastern Theatre Conference. He is a founding member of the Birmingham Area Theatre Alliance. He is a recipient of the Dorothy Schwartz Award for Outstanding Secondary Teaching from the Alabama Conference of Theatre.

Joy Gresham - Sheila Snoddy
Sheila would like to thank God for his amazing grace. Thanks also to Clay for his misguided faith and the chance to be in another Park Players production – her third. Shelia was seen playing Lady Capulet in “Romeo and Juliet” 2006 and Courtesan in “Comedy of Errors” 2007. Sheila is a National voice talent and the proud mother of Brandi, Blake, Diane and Samantha. She would like to thank her husband, David for his support.

David minored in theatre at Penn State, but left the stage behind when he graduated. It was 25 years before he decided to try community theatre and got a small part in Carousel at ACTA. Over the past five years he has appeared in various area productions, including Veronica's Room at the Playhouse, Comedy of Errors with the Park Players, and most recently, Noises Off at ACTA. He is happy to be back with Park Players, and honored to be included in a great cast for a memorable play. He lives in Irondale and works at EWTN, the Catholic Cable Network.

Christopher Riley - John McGinnis
John A native of Birmingham, John studied acting with David Elder at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham and at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. This is his second performance with Park Players (Alonso in the 2005 season production of The Tempest). He was last seen as Macbeth in the 2008 Muse of Fire spring production at Sloss Furnace. He has also worked as an actor, director, producer and technician in productions from Brecht, Coward, Pinter and others. He served as the production director for both The State of Alabama Ballet (1998-99) and The Gorham's Bluff Institute (2000-01). John is honored to be a part of telling this powerful and important story. He would like to thank the producers/directors who have given him a chance to do what he loves and the amazing actors, stage managers, crew members and friends who have given invaluable advice, encouragement and support along the way. Love to his Lord, his four beautiful children (Sarah, Ethan, Alaina and Zoe), and to his amazing wife and best friend, Elizabeth.

George is a native of New Orleans, La., holds a B.S. in Accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. He first came to Birmingham in 1978, where he served on the faculty of Southeastern Bible College until 2000. He currently serves as Pastor of the Deerfoot Community Bible Church, Trussville, AL. Pastor Maronge and his wife, Glenda, will celebrate their 38^th wedding anniversary June 13^th. They have 3 married children and 4 young grandchildren. Outside of his passion for pastoral ministry and the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, Pastor Maronge enjoys fishing, an occasional round of golf, and time with his 4 young grandchildren. He has performed a few "Biblical monologs" during his ministry, but Shadowlands will be his first time to participate in a live play production.

Nathan is the younger brother to Caleb and older brother to seven
year old Luke. He has been in his home school play "The Great Cross Country
Race - The Tortoise and the Hare" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"
though the Leeds Arts Council. In the fall he will attend Southern Art
Works (formerly Master's Academy of Fine Arts) where he can further study
his interest in drama and music. He also enjoys singing and learning to
play the piano.

Caleb is the big brother to Nathan and Luke. He has been in his
homeschool play "The Great Cross Country Race - The Tortoise and the Hare"
and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" through the Leeds Art Council. In
the fall he will attend Southern Art Works (formerly Master's Academy of
Fine Arts) where he can further study his interest drama and art. He also
enjoys reading the Chronicles of Narnia series and running long distances
(he's currently working towards running a half marathon).

Alan Gregg/Doctor - Tanner McCracken
This production marks Tanner's sixth show with Park Players. Previous Park Players shows include "The Tempest", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Much Ado About Nothing", "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and "Comedy of Errors". Other credits include "Cravings", "Take Me Out", and "Arcadia". When not acting, he spends his time working in a customer service call center, practicing his craft by pretending to care about other people's problems.

Susan is the homeschooling mom to Caleb, Nathan and Luke and
David's wife of 18 years. She has been involved in various plays since high
school and drama skits at church. Her greatest joy in life is being a
daughter of the King, wife, and the privilege of training up her gifts from
the Lord in the way they should go. She is very thankful for the chance to
be a part of Shadowlands with two of her boys.

Maurice Oakley/Priest/Waiter/Clerk - William P. Brisky
William is extremely proud to be working with Clay and Park Players once again. he was last seen in The Odd Couple-Female Version- as Jesus Constazeuela, at the Leeds Arts Council and directed by Clay. Some of his favorite roles are Lucentio in The Taming Of The Shrew, Lloyd Andrews in Rehearsal for Murder and Giles Ralston in Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. William would like to thank Clay for giving him the opportunity to work with him again. It is nice to have such a wonderful teacher to work with. He would also like to thank his family and friends for supporting him in this crazy thing called acting. He hopes you enjoy this show as much as he has enjoyed being involved in it.

Director - Clay Boyce Clay is the artistic director and founder of Park Players. He was last seen on the stage as Salesman/Charlie Cowell understudy in Centerstage's Production of "The Music Man". He recently finished directing "The Odd Couple - the female version" for the Leeds Arts Council and before that he directed "Blackpool and Parrish" for Park Players. Some of his favorite roles have been George in "Of Mice and Men", Fagin in "Oliver!", the title role in "Hamlet" and Victoria's dad. He would like to thank his wife, Vicki and his daughter, Victoria for all the love and support they have given him through the years! He would also like to thank this incredibly talented cast and thank them for their time and effort. I couldn't have done this without you! (Photo by Angela Karen)

Stage Manager - Mike Oakes is one of the founding members of Park Players. Unlike the rest of his fellow board members he has no desire to be on stage and act. Although he can be persuaded to act like a Klingon now and again. He is much happier being behind the set in his role as the 'strong back - weak mind' of the group. He has Staged Managed for Garden Variety Shakespeare in "King Lear" and "Hamlet". For Park Players in "Romeo and Juliet", "The Merry Wives of Windsor" "Othello" and "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" and the recent production of "The Odd Couple - the female version" for the Leeds Arts Council. When not being the roadie for Park Players he works at UAB as a network administrator. (Photo by Angela Karen)

Shadowlands, July 2008 Click Here to see photos of the show