Samantha Biatch (First Spirit and others) is thrilled to act in Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol! Sam is a classically trained actor with a BA from Smith College. She has studied classical acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Sam was an acting apprentice at the Great River Shakespeare Festival in 2018, where she understudied the role of Countess of Roussillon and covered for three performances. Sam was most recently seen as Lotte in The Grumble Theater’s production of Féminaal last spring.

George M. Calger (Sherlock Holmes) - This is George's first production onstage with TheatreX, serving last year as a stagehand for The Haunting of Hill House. George has been performing in musicals, operettas, and plays since early 1986. He was just seen in Mosaic Productions' An Assembly of Phantasms, and just before that, shaved bald as Sir Patrick Stewart at MN Fringe 2019. Favorite past roles include George in Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? [Uncorked / Chameleon], The Player in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead [Fearless Comedy], Lloyd in Noises Off [Lakeshore], Brandon in Sense and Sensibility [TRP], Wolsey and Henry VIII in A Man for All Seasons [Open Window], Hornbeck in Inherit the Wind, Hannay in The 39 Steps [both Lakeshore], Harold Hill in The Music Man [Ashland], Mayor Stockmann in An Enemy of the People [Lex-Ham], and Eddie in Lost in Yonkers [TRP]. George lives in Saint Paul with his wife of 28 years and their 3 children, Christine, Katie, and Henry. He is an avid amateur still photographer, and can play any flute that you hand him. Thank you all for supporting live theater!
 

Patrick Campbell (Production Assistant) is excited to be back for his second show with TheatreX. He is a graduate of St John’s University where he received a BA in theater management. You can find Patrick also working as a Stage Manager with various community theaters in the Twin Cities including Lyric Arts in Anoka, Lakeshore Players in White Bear Lake, Seasons Dinner Theater in Ham Lake, and Totino-Grace High School. He also works as an insurance agent during the day for the Dick Petkoff State Farm agency in Roseville.  When he is not working he enjoys being outside working in the garden, watching movies, video games and spending time with his friends and family.

Sarah Furniss (Becky and others) is delighted to be making her TheatreX debut! A Minnesota native, Sarah recently returned from Los Angeles, where she appeared in a number of commercials and short films. Since moving back in 2018, Sarah has played Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Zephyr Theatre as well as Gertrude in the Queered Classics' Hamlet at Art's Nest. 

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Meri Golden (Mrs. Hudson and others) is excited to be working with TheatreX again after being part of 12 Angry Men Performed by 12 Impassioned Women.  She has acted with a number of Twin Cities companies, including Theatre Coup D'Etat, Illusion Theatre, Mixed Blood, Girl Friday, Nimbus, Theatre in the Round, Cromulent Shakespeare, Gremlin, Park Square, Minnesota Jewish Theatre and Open Window.  Favorite roles include Eleanor in Lion in Winter (Lakeshore Players), Propero in The Tempest (Theatre Coup D'Etat) and Alice in Peter and Alice (Candid Theatre).   Meri is a retired Theatre Director and Instructor from Inver Hills Community College and Metro State University. She and her husband enjoy traveling, especially to visit their grandchildren.

Kayla Hambek (Understudy) is a nationally-produced playwright and co-founder of Aethem Theatre Company.  Favorite roles include Margaret Leavitt (Silent Sky, Lyric Arts), The Chaperone (Drowsy Chaperone, MVCT), Actress #1 (Baskerville, Lakeshore Players) and Charlotte Hay (Moon Over Buffalo, Theatre 301).  Kayla recently completed her MFA in Creative Writing at Augsburg University, and works as the Senior Instructional Designer for a medical software company in downtown Minneapolis.

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Joe Hendren (Director/Producer) is the founder of TheatreX and the Artistic Director of Minneapolis Musical Theatre and works regularly as a Director, Producer, Playwright, Actor, and Prop Designer - as well as occasionally dabbling in scenic design, sound design, makeup design, and special effects. Recent credits include Minneapolis Musical Theatre - Night of the Living Dead! The Musical! (Prop Designer, Producer), Be More Chill (Prop Designer, Producer), Love Comics (Director/Producer); TheatreX - Escape THIS (Director/Producer), 12 Angry Men Performed by 12 Impassioned Women (Producer), The Haunting of Hill House (Director/Producer); The Phipps Center for the Arts - Weekend Comedy (Director), Always… Patsy Cline (Director); Landmark Center - Brewing a Scandal (Director), Minnesota’s Coldest Case (Director), Espionage, Disloyalty, and Socialism: The Trial of Rose Pastor Stokes (Playwright); Lakeshore Players - Baskerville (Director); Hamline University - Brecht’s Antigone (Director); Theatre Uncorked/Chameleon Theatre - Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Director). Joe is a graduate of Hamline University.

Lisa Imbryk (Conley) (Prop Designer) is delighted to be designing props for TheatreX for the first time. Past design credits include props for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf with Theatre Uncorked; props for Complicated Fun at the Minnesota History Theatre; costumes for The Canopic Jar of My Sins for Swandive Theatre; and costumes for Natasha and the Coat at Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company, as well as numerous other designs over the last decade. She is the Travelling Exhibits Coordinator for Props and Process at the Minnesota Children's Museum and holds her MFA in design from the University of Georgia and her BA from Hamline University. 

 

Brian P. Joyce (Inspector Lestrade and others) is excited to be appearing in his first production for TheaterX. Brian made his stage debut at the age of four with Theatre Saint Paul. He received his BA in Theater from Bethel College. Brian has also worked with Park Square, Theatre in the Round, Redeye, Gremlin, Lakeshore Players, New Native Theatre, Turtle Theater Collective, Lex/Ham Community Theatre and Shakespeare & Company. Brian also works in film, commercials and voice overs.

 

Kathy Kohl (Costume Designer) has designed costumes in the Twin Cities for over 30 years. She is resident costumer for Frank Theatre and has credits with many other luminary theaters such as Girl Friday, Guthrie, History Theatre, Illusion, Jungle, Latte Da, Minnesota Orchestra, Theatre Mu, Park Square, Penumbra, Sandbox, Ten Thousand Things, Walking Shadow. For 20 years, Kathy was also Head Costumer at Norcostco, semi-retiring in 2018 (to have more time for design work!).

 

Ryan D. Maddux (Dr. John Watson) has numerous Twin Cities stage credits - seen most recently in Witness for the Prosecution and as Dr. Watson in Lakeshore Players production of Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. Ryan also enjoys working on local films and commercials. He holds a MA degree in theater arts from Humboldt State University (HSU). In addition to his acting experience, Ryan has directed and stage managed several productions. His teaching credits include acting courses in higher education and for several theatre companies. For fun, Ryan enjoys a variety of amateur seasonal activities like: kayaking, paddle-boarding, and cross-country skiing. 

 

Jon Stentz (Professor Moriarty and others) is thrilled to be making his debut with TheaterX in Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol. Jon has appeared around the Twin Cities over the past several years. Recent roles include Polonius in Fearless Comedy’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Cornelius in Nimbus Theater’s River Becomes Sea, Lee in 4CT’s True West, and Dr. Jekyll in Century College’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Jon would like to thank TheaterX director Joe Hendren and the incredibly talented cast and crew of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol for the opportunity to really stretch himself in this fantastically fun show. Jon would also like to thank his amazing friends and family who continue to support him in his strange love of playing “make believe”.

 

Brendan Veerman is thrilled to be making his TheatreX debut! His work has been seen at many Twin Cities stages including Artistry, Chameleon Theatre Circle, Chaska Valley Family Theatre, Lakeshore Players, Lyric Arts, and Aethem Theatre Company, where he is an active ensemble member and producer. Favorite past roles include Paul Bratter (Barefoot in the Park), Malvolio (Twelfth Night), Charlie Brown (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown), Luigi (Explorer's Club), Actor One (Baskerville), and John Darling (Before. After. Never.). Psalm 28:7.

 

David P. Schneider (Violence Choreographer) is a recognized Advanced Actor-Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors and has trained since 2001. He has choreographed violence for more than 40 shows in the Twin Cities, including Walking Shadow’s Three Musketeers, Classical Actor’s Ensemble’s Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Park Square’s August: Osage County, Hamlet at Theatre in the Round, and Hamlet and Macbeth for Wayward Theatre’s James J Hill House productions. He has performed around the twin cities with companies including Theatre in the Round, Classical Actor’s Ensemble, Six Elements Theatre, Flaneur Productions, Green T Productions, and the Minnesota Opera. David is the owner of Northern Edge Armory: a local theatrical weapons rental and maintenance source.

 

Trevor Zapiecki (Lighting Designer), from Grand Rapids, Ohio originally, is a recent graduate from Macalester College. Studying Theater and Computer Science, Trevor was very involved in the Theater and Dance department as a performer, stage manager, scene shop carpenter, crew member, and designer. They are still figuring out which direction they want to head in the industry, but at the moment are primarily working as a freelance electrician and lighting designer. Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol will be their first professional lighting design credit.