Biloxi Blues
by Neil Simon
February 13 - March 9, 2008

The continuing story of Simon's alter-ego New Yorker Eugene Jerome on his way to boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi to train for WWII. This classic fish out of water story is the winner of the Tony Award for Best Play.

The Cast
Dax Anderson * - Private Arnold B. Epstein
Adam Carpenter - Private James Hennessy
Judy Dery * - Rowena
Mark Halpin * - Sargeant Merwin J. Toomey
Chris Korte * - Private Donald J. Carney
Rusty Mewha * - Private Roy W. Selridge
Patrick Moltane * - Private Joseph T. Wykowski
Katie Nabors - Daisy Hannigan
Jason Richards * - Private Eugene Morris Jerome

Who's Who

Dax Anderson (Pvt Epstein) After two tours of duty in A Christmas Carol in 2004 and 2005, Dax is thrilled to return to the Meadow Brook stage in Biloxi Blues. It’s also immensely exciting to be revisiting the role of Arnold Epstein, which he first took on 9 years ago at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he earned a BFA in theatre in 2001. A newly christened member of Equity, Dax has also appeared at the JET, Breathe Art Theatre Project, Zeitgeist, Planet Ant and other venues in the Detroit Area.

Adam Carpenter (Pvt Hennessy) is glad to return to the Meadow Brook stage for the third time this season in Biloxi Blues.  Growing up in this theatre as a child instilled the theatre spirit in him early. Now, as a recent graduate of Hope College and this year's performance intern, he is making a quick stop at his home theatre before eagerly entering the real world. He would like to thank his family, friends, and Jenny for their continued support of his artistic endeavors.

Judy Dery (Rowena) returns for her second show of the season after her seventh turn as Mrs. Fezziwig/ Charwoman in A Christmas Carol. Other MBT roles include General Cartwright in Guys and Dolls and Janet MacKenzie in Witness for the Prosecution. Judy is the original Earth Mother in Detroit's Menopause the Musical. A proud member of Actors' Equity Association, she serves as chair for the Detroit Area AEA Liaison Committee's Equity & Friends Fight AIDS.

Mark Halpin (Sgt Toomey) is excited to be here in this great Neil Simon play. He hopes you will be glad you came and will return for more Meadow Brook Theatre productions. Mark has appeared in numerous shows with the Greenfield Village Players at the Henry Ford Museum and most recently performed in My Emperor’s New Clothes by Larry Shue with the Dearborn Family Theatre. Mark is a proud new member of Actors’ Equity and thanks his friends and family for their generosity of faith and support.

Chris Korte (Pvt Carney) is returning to the Meadow Brook stage for the fourth time this season. He last performed here in Every Christmas Story Ever Told, A Christmas Carol and Sherlock Holmes. He has worked for many of the local area theatres including the Abreact, Planet Ant, the Zeitgeist, Ellipsis, Williamston, Purple Rose, Hastings Street Ballroom, the Gem, Performance Network and the JET. He would like to thank his family, friends, and Gymmie.

Rusty Mewha (Pvt Selridge) is pleased to be on the Meadow Brook stage for the first time. Credits: Barefoot in the Park, Waterworks Theatre Co.; The Bakers Wife, Performance Network; Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, JET; Hamletmachine, New York International Fringe Festival; Suburbia, Planet Ant; Of Mice and Men, Theatre Co.; and Honus and Me, Purple Rose. He is thankful for his beautiful wife Robyn and three children, Sola, Asher and Chaya. Member: AEA

Patrick Moltane (Pvt Wykowski) earned his MFA at Wayne State University and his BFA at the University of Michigan. He has studied and acted in Greece, Ireland and at the Moscow Art Theatre. Patrick has performed at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Studio Arena Theatre, Irish Classical Theatre, Stamford TheatreWorks and Studio Theatre. Favorite roles include Antony in Antony and Cleopatra, Hotspur in Henry IV Part 1, Tom Jr. in Sweet Bird of Youth, Gar (Public) in Philadelphia Here I Come.  Patrick is currently teaching acting at Wayne State University.

Katie Nabors (Daisy Hannigan), a Theatre Performance major at Oakland University, has been seen there in Crumbs from the Table of Joy and The Rimers of Eldritch. Last summer in Greece Katie played Calonice in UD Mercy Classical Theatre's Lysistrata. Biloxi Blues is her professional acting debut. Huge thanks to the OU theatre faculty for never letting me settle for mediocrity and supporting me on my quest for passionate, truthful, ferocious acting. Carpe Diem.

Jason Richards (Pvt Jerome) steps back into the role of Eugene Jerome to finish the trilogy that he began at the Jewish Ensemble Theatre with Broadway Bound and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Oakland Press Award, Wilde Award Nominee) fresh off of a run in A Forbidden Broadway Christmas at the Gem Theatre. Favorite roles at MBT include Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Show, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Charlie Brown in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.

UNION AFFILIATIONS
This theatre operates under an agreement between the Leauge of Resident Theatres and Actor’s Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The theatre operates under the agreement with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 38. Meadow Brook Theatre is a Constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the nonprofit professional theatre.

* Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.