1975

The Boy Friend
Fiddler on the Roof
Because Their Hearts Were Pure
    (Or-- the Secret of the Mine)

LYNN BENSON - Producer Director

One of the founding fathers of the Playmill Theatre, Mr. Benson has been producer/director at the Playmill for all twelve seasons. He has been a teacher most of his adult life and has taught on both high school and college levels and has been a professor of drama at Ricks College for the past eleven years. Mr. Benson is a graduate of Brigham Young University and received his Mastor's Degree from the University of Utah. He has received numerous awards in acting and directing, and has played such roles as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, the King in The King and I, and Koko in The Mikado. Through the years at the Playmill he has been ably assisted by his wife, Fern, who has become mother of the Playmill family. The Benson's have seven children, all of whom have been part of the Playmill.
 

MAX C. GOLIGHTLY - Guest Director

Mr. Golightly is a prizewinning playwrite, director, actor and published met. Mr. Golightly is listed in several Who's Who Anthologies in Theatre and Civic Affairs and is presently a Professor of Theatre and Cinematic Arts at Brigham Young University. He is known nationally as a lecturer in creative writing. In 1970, he was chosen Utah poet of the year for his book, The Morning of Tarus. His recent play The Moonview won a Utah Fine Arts Award in 1974 and was produced at the Moab, Utah, Community Theatre this spring. Mr. Golightly has played many roles, the most recent being Charles in Blithe Spirit in March 1974 at the Promised Valley Playhouse in Salt Lake City. Among the numerous plays he has directed are the opera La Boheme, Kiss Me Kate, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Little Foxes, Richard III, and the world premiere at B.Y.U. of the opera Pilgrim's Progress, and the musical The Order ls Love. Mr. Golightly has also been chosen to direct the new musical extravaganza Brigham for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration in Provo.
 

THOMAS H. EMPEY - Artistic Director

A native of St. George, Utah, Tom's association with drama began at Dixie Junior College in St. George. His education was interrupted to serve an L.D.S. mission in Japan. Since that time, Tom has worked extensively in technical theatre. He held an assistantship in the technical area of Brigham Young University where he received a degree in Dramtic Arts. Tom is presently teaching at Sugar Salem High School just north of Rexburg where he teaches drama, debate, English, speech, art, and serves as English chairman. He has directed such plays as The King and I and South Pacific and last fall his play The Sword in the Stone won first place in the Class B Division of the Idaho High School Drama Festival. He is married to the former Melissa Miller of Los Altos, California, and has one son, David.
 

JOHN THOMAS BIDWELL - House Manager

Born and raised on a farm near Rigby, Idaho, John is returning to the Playmill for his third season. He is a graduate of Ricks College, has attended Brigham Young University, and is currently working towards a degree in theatre and music at Weber State College in Ogden, Utah. Playmill audiences will remember John as Marcellus in The Music Man, the Villian in The Drunkard, the head waiter in Hello Dolly, Hines in The Pajama Game, and the coach/manager in Damn Yankees. This past year at Weber State, John played Scrooge in a musical version of A Christmas Carol, and Falstaff in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts I and II. This spring John was voted Best Actor at Weber for his role as Falstaff.
 

Paula Benson

Paula has literally grown up along with the Playmill. After acting, singing, selling popcorn and operating lights for ten years as one of the "Benson Kids," last year Paula became a regular member of the Playmill company. This is her 12th season. She has acted in Playmill Productions of Damn Yankees, Music Man, and has had many chorus parts. Paula played leading roles in High School including Annie in Annie Get Your Gun, and the Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, before attending Ricks College where she is a drama major. Paula hopes to teach drama in high school some day. Paula recently became engaged and is looking forward to a fall marriage to Ferron Sonderegger of Sugar City, Idaho.
 

Brad Bernards

Born in Brigham City, Utah, and raised in Castro Valley, California, Brad is now attending Brigham Young University where he is majoring in speech communications with a minor in Dramatic Arts. Brad recently returned from a two year mission for the L. D. S. Church in Peru and loves to associate with people. He is interested in music and plays both the guitar and the mandolin. Active in Drama in High School, Brad played leads in Camelot and The Crucible. At B.Y. U. he is active in the singing group "Sounds of Freedom" and has played in the original musical The Forge and the Fire, and other productions.
 

Patricia Jo Davis

Currently a student at Ricks College, Patricia has lived in numerous other areas of the United States such as Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Texas, and even in Columbia, South America. Patricia developed an interest in drama while in high school where she played major roles in such productions as South Pacific and Little Mary Sunshine. While at Ricks as a music education major, Patricia has appeared in Saturday's Warrior and The Merry Widow, and has been active in the singing group the "Vikaliers," which just completed a tour through western Canada and the North and Central United States. Patricia plans one more year of study at Ricks College before completing her education at B.Y.U.
 

Scott and Candi Fullmer

One of the Playmill Theatre's most successful productions, Scott and Candi met while members of last season's Playmill cast and were married in December. Playmill audiences will remember Candi as Lola in last year's production of Damn Yankees, and as Gladys in The Pajama Game. Candi, who comes frorn LaHabra, California, was active in drama in high school, and has also had 13 years of dance training in tap, ballet, and modern jazz. During her past year at Ricks College she appeared as Julie Flinders in Saturday's Warrior. Raised on a farm in Menan, Idaho, Scott graduated from Rigby High School and after a mission for the L.D.S. Church in Germany, attended Ricks College where he majored in Theatre Arts. While at Ricks he had parts in And They Shall Be Gathered, Man For All Seasons, and R.U.R. Scott has also been a member of the New Freedom Singers at Ricks, serving as President ot the group this past school year.
 

Keith Charles Furrows

Keith comes to us trom Manhattan, New York. While attending Ricks College this past year, Keith majored in music and appeared in productions of The Lark and The Merry Widow. Just before coming to the Playmill, Keith toured with the Vikaliers Choir from Ricks College where he was a member of the choir and provided guitar accompaniment for the Vikalier Combo. Keith has a special interest in the guitar having played in several bands and plays all types of music. Keith is especially talented in Jazz Improvisation, and plans a career in the performing arts.
 
 

Ruth Hart

Three years of voice lessons, music awards, and a sincere love of acting have made Ruth a welcome addition to this year's Playmill. While in high school Ruth played Dolly in Hello Dolly, and played in other productions, and this past year, while attending Snow College in Eastern Utah, she had roles in Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, Pygmalion, and Dames At Sea. Ruth loves to perform and is looking forward to her summer at the Playmill.
 

Denell Kindred

Denell is unique in the Playmill company, being the only regular member of the cast that has not yet attended college. She is from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and comes from a family of seven children. Denell has looked forward to performing at the Playmill since her sister was a member of the cast in 1973. After her summer at the Playmill, Denell plans to attend Brigham Young Unversity and major in special education.
 

Ellen Mathias

Ellen cornes to us from the South Pacific. Born in Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, she now lives in California and is from a family of all girls. Ellen has always participated enthusiastically in church activities, community affairs, student government, sports, and school activities. She has studied piano, dance, and enjoys painting portraits. After her work at Ricks College, Ellen plans to attend Brigham Young University. She is anxious to pursue her study of dance, for it is her ambition to become a choreographer.
 

Susan McMurray

This year marks Susan's second season with the Playmill. A native of Burley, Idaho, Susan is a Ricks College graduate and is presently a senior at Brigham Young University where she is majoring in drama education and minoring in English. Susan performed for three years with the Ponderosa Little Theatre in Burley and has played many roles in high school and college, including Babes in Toyland, Midsummer Nights Dream, J.B., and Lil' Abner. This year at B.Y.U. Susan was nominated as Best Character Actress for her role in Family Portrait. Susan has a wide variety of interests, including golf, piano, singing, Shakespeare, politics, and of course, acting.
 

Daniel C. Miller

Most widely traveled of the Playmill cast, Dan was born in Provo, Utah, has lived in various parts of Utah and Arlington, Virginia. Dan's service in the army as a medic from 1969 to 1972 included a year in Saigon. Dan also served a mission for the L.D.S. Church in London from 1972 to 1974. This last year found him at Ricks College where he majored in Drama and appeared in R.U.R., The Lark, and most memorably as Elder Greene in Saturday's Warrior. Dan plans to continue his work at Ricks College.
 

Kim Novas

The turning point of kim's musical career came when she sold her prize horse in order to purchase what has become her prize piano. Kim's love affair with music and singing has continued, eventually leading to the Playmill. She has attended Ricks College for two years where she was active in drill team and Freedom Singers with whom she toured this past spring. Kim grew up in Blackfoot, Idaho, and plans to continue her education at Brigham Young University.
 

Sherri Otteson

Sherri comes to the Playmill from Idaho Falls, Idaho. During the past year she attended Ricks College where she was involved in many facets of the arts. She was selected to participate in Vikaliers, an honors choir, and has enjoyed accompanying the choir through piano and dance. Sherri played the role of Pam in both the Ricks and the Idaho Falls productions of Saturday's Warrior. She enjoys people, playing piano, organ, and guitar. After this season with the Playmill, Sherri looks forward to another year at Ricks College before attending Brigham Young University.
 

David Page

David is a junior at Weber State College where he is majoring in Theatre Arts. Last spring he appeared as Romeo in Weber's production of Romeo and Juliet. He has also appeared in The Madwoman of Chaillot, Hello Dolly, and Little Mary Sunshine. David has had several years of dance training and has danced in West Side Story and Anything Goes. He won Weber State's best supporting actor ot 1974 for his performance in Present Laughter. Two summers ago he traveled overseas with a U.S.O. tour. David is from Brigham City, Utah, and plans to continue a career in theatre.
 

David G. Ries

A native of Houston, Texas, Dave pursued a short career as a country/blues guitarist in and around Houston before deciding to attend Ricks Coliege. His work with the guitar earned him the nickname "The Ramblin' Northwestern East Texas Guitar Slim." At Ricks College, Dave became involved in drama and choral music, participated in the operetta The Merry Widow, and was selected as a member of the Vikaliers Honors Choir, with which he has toured extensively. Dave's plans following the summer with the Playmill include a mission for the L.D.S. Church and completion of his education at Brigham Young University.
 

Sheila Walton

Originally from Twin Falls, Idaho, Sheila's family moved to Roseburg, Oregon, when she was 13. Sheila graduated from High School in 1973 and then attended Southern Oregon College before transferring to Ricks College. At Ricks Sheila appeared in R.U.R. and did technical work for Saturday's Warrior. After her season with the Playmill, Sheila plans to attend Brigham Young University where she will major in drama.
 

Bryce E. Ward

A sophomore in Political Science at Brigham Young University, Bryce comes originally from Richland, Washington, though he presently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. He enjoys water skiing, horses, and drama and has appeared in such productions as A Man For All Seasons and The Forge and the Fire at B.Y.U. Bryce plans to return to B.Y.U. in the fall, after which he hopes for a career in law.
 

Jolene Benson, Gary Benson

Jolene was only four years old when she started working at the Playmill as one of the "Benson Kids." Besides working in the technical end of the theatre, she has also been a member of the cast or chorus in several Playmill productions, including The Music Man and Streets of New York. Jolene attends Madison High School in Rexburg, Idaho, where she has appeared in productions of The Sound of Music, and Cinderella. Born in Provo, Utah, Gary was two years old when his father started the Playmill. He loves the Playmill and is anxious every year for it to open. He has had numerous parts in both the Melodramas and the musicals. He is best remembered as Winthrop in The Music Man.
 

PLAYMILL MUSICIANS

From left: David Ries, guitar; Susan McMurray and Sherri Otteseon,
pianists; Brad Bernards and Keith Furrows, guitar; Denell Kindred, accordion.