Seva Anthony (Gram) has been active with Theatre Odyssey since its inception as an actor, director and playwright. She has had a vast and lengthy career in dance, in various theatrical arenas performing both nationally and abroad. She was trained in drama at the London Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. She has appeared on local stages at the Historic Asolo and American Stage as well as The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Florida Opera Theatre and her solo aerial act at the Rio in Las Vegas. She thanks all those who helped her on her journey. 

Ruby Daines (Cassie) …

Cinda Goeken (director) was born/raised in Central Illinois and she became a “theatre nerd” at age nine. She considers herself a collaborative theatre artist, especially when directing a project. She enjoys interacting with a team—playwright, props master, costumer, lighting technician, sound expert and actors. Her first involvement with Theatre Odyssey was in directing student-authored plays beginning in 2013. She is currently active in theatre as an actor, singer, teacher, coach and improviser.

Marj O’Neill-Butler (playwright), a resident of Miami Beach, Florida, is the Regional Rep for the Dramatists Guild – Florida Region. Her work has been seen in 28 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Great Britain, Scotland and Seoul, S Korea. She has had 44 different plays produced in multiple theatres, numerous readings and just about as many rejections. A published playwright and mother of two grown sons, Marj is a proud member of Actors Equity and SAG-AFTRA.  

Adrian Van Stee (Matt) is thrilled to be a part of Theatre Odyssey’s Ten Minute Play Festival. New to Sarasota, Adrian was highly involved in improv and theatre projects growing up in Chicago and now works as a photographer and filmmaker at Asolo Repertory Theatre. After a few years of focusing his creative efforts primarily on film, Adrian could not be happier to be back on the stage. Enjoy the show! Insta: @adrianvanstee

Paul Mullen (Culex) is overjoyed to be acting with Theatre Odyssey again after a three year absence. He has performed at many local theaters in such shows as The Torch Bearers, Joseph, The Fantasticks, Run For Your Wife, The Mousetrap, Enchanted April, and Singin’ In The Rain. He lives in Englewood and works for FCCI Insurance in Lakewood Ranch. This show is dedicated to his mother, who will be watching from heaven. Enjoy the shows!

Glenn Schudel (director) — Glenn’s twenty-plus years in theatre include directing and managing credits with Love Creek Productions/Samuel French Short Play Festival and three national tours with the American Shakespeare Center. Local credits include Venice Theatre, the Players Center, the SaraSolo Festival, the Asolo, and multiple Theatre Odyssey festivals. He teaches Creative Writing at Ringling College and works as a freelance script and text coach. He is thrilled to be directing for Theatre Odyssey for the second time.

Stephen Walkiewicz (playwright) is …

Lee Gundersheimer (Tidewell) — A multi-faceted theatre professional, Lee has worked as an actor, director, playwright, producer, administrator and designer. He has built and run two separate theater spaces in Manhattan, managed many new play workshops, directed over seventy-five plays, performed in countless theaters in NYC, and worked as a professor teaching acting, directing and playwriting for five major universities. He will be directing These Shining Lives at TreeFort in the spring.

Judy Glynn (Peggy Anne) is very happy to return to Theatre Odyssey’s stage. Over her 18 years in Florida she has also worked at several other area theaters. Her favorite roles include Becky in Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up, Helsa in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Belinda/Flavia in Noises Off, and Margo in Lying in State. Thanks to Preston, Richard and Blake.

Tom Aposporos (Socrates) — 

Eric Henry (Plato) has been a community-theater set designer, master carpenter and on-stage performer for nearly two decades. On-stage roles have ranged from Shakespeare to Stoppard; recent credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, The Diary of Anne Frank, Dial M for Murder and The Miracle Worker. This is his fourth appearance in Odyssey Theatre’s ten-minute competitions.

Preston Boyd (director) has directed several plays for both Theatre Odyssey’s Ten-Minute Play Festival and the Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival. A retired drama/music teacher, he enjoys freelancing as a director and musician with many theatres in the Sarasota and Manatee communities. He is happy to be working with this talented cast and with his long time buddy, Bernie Yanelli (playwright) with whom he recently collaborated on a theatre venture in Shanghai, China. Preston is a Director Emeritus with Theatre Odyssey.

Bernard Yanelli (playwright) — 

Jill Schroeder (Moira) …

Yinoelle Colon (Renee) …

James Kassees (James) is happy to be performing in Theatre Odyssey’s Ten-Minute Play Festival. He has been doing theatre for 45 years, acting, directing, writing and improvising, and greatly enjoys coaching other actors. James has appeared in several TO productions and directed a student ten-minute play last year. He has performed with Florida Studio Theatre, Asolo Rep and Sarasota Jewish Theatre, and played Richard Nixon in Arthur Keyser’s In Whom We Trust. Love always to Barb.

Lee Gundersheimer (director) — A multi-faceted theatre professional, Lee has worked as an actor, director, playwright, producer, administrator and designer. He has built and run two separate theater spaces in Manhattan, managed many new play workshops, directed over seventy-five plays, performed in countless theaters in NYC, and worked as a professor teaching acting, directing and playwriting for five major universities. He will be directing These Shining Lives at TreeFort in the spring.

Jan Wallace (playwright) is an actress, playwright and director and is thrilled to have her play included in this year’s festival. She has directed and acted in many Theatre Odyssey productions. As an actress she has worked off-Broadway and New York Regional theatres. Her favorite roles include her one-woman show, Shirley Valentine, Noises Off (Dotty Otley/Mrs. Clacket), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Jean Brodie), and The Shadow Box (Maggie). Since moving to Sarasota she has performed at the Asolo Rep, Banyan Theatre, Venice Theatre, the Manatee Performing Arts Center and the Players Theater. She trained in London and New York.

Adrian Van Stee (Vincent) is thrilled to be a part of Theatre Odyssey’s Ten-Minute Play Festival. New to Sarasota, Adrian was highly involved in improv and theatre projects growing up in Chicago and now works as a photographer and filmmaker at Asolo Repertory Theatre. After a few years of focusing his creative efforts primarily on film, Adrian could not be happier to be back on the stage. Enjoy the show! Insta: @adrianvanstee

Terry Occhiogrosso (Professor) — 

Candace Artim (director) is an actor, director and retired teacher. Directing credits include The Revolutionists, Clybourne Park, Wonder of Our Stage, Intimate Apparel, Rabbit Hole, and Our Town. Her favorite quote from Shakespeare is in part “to thine own shelf be true.”

Ken Preuss (playwright) is a former children’s magician, aspiring actor, deejay, and improvisational comedian who became a teacher to guarantee himself an audience five days a week. His published one-acts for teens include Shuffling, Alienated, and Campsite Chaos. His short plays, The Elusive Pursuit of Maximum Bliss Taking Sum Lumps, A Dave with Destiny, and more are produced world-wide. Although his plays have reached Australia, Canada, China, England, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and 48 of the 50 States, Ken can be found rooted near Orlando with his wife, sons, and assorted pets.

Yinoelle Colon (Chris) …

Aaron Schroeder (Charlie) …

Alan Brasington (director) is a graduate of the State University at New Paltz, a Rotary Scholar to England, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He has appeared in repertory on Broadway in the APA Repertory Company, and in 10 other Broadway shows including the original Jesus Christ Superstar. He’s done several plays Off-Broadway and in U.S. professional theatres: the Guthrie Theatre, Missouri Rep, Syracuse Repertory, Penn State, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. He taught Acting, Shakespeare, and Restoration Comedy at Syracuse University, was a member of the New York State Council of the Arts, and has appeared in TV soaps, One Day at a Time and Good Times for Norman Lear. He writes and records for SteinbeckNow.com.

Samara Siskind (playwright) — 

Jan Wallace (J.T.) is an actress, playwright and director and is thrilled to have her play included in this year’s festival. She has directed and acted in many Theater Odyssey productions. As an actress she has worked off-Broadway and New York Regional theatres.  Her favorite roles include her one-woman show, Shirley Valentine, Noises Off (Dotty Otley/Mrs. Clacket), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Jean Brodie), and The Shadow Box (Maggie). Since moving to Sarasota she has performed at the Asolo Rep, the Banyan Theatre, Venice Theatre, the Manatee Performing Arts Center and the Players Theater. She trained in London and New York.

James Thaggard (Sir J.G.)—

Ann Gundersheimer (director) is happy to be back at Theatre Odyssey where she last performed in 2016 and 2022. A transplant to Sarasota from Philadelphia, she gained her MA in Theatre at Wayne State University, taught Acting and Theatre History at Temple University and has been seen on many stages in and around Philly and Sarasota. She is delighted to direct this very special play.

Don Salvo (playwright) is co-founder of the Playwrights Lab at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, has taught playwriting in Stetson University’s Lifelong Learning program and was a Fellow in the School of Speech and Drama at Northwestern University. His play, Unraveled, was a finalist for the Heideman Award for Drama and received two off-Broadway productions, introducing tv and movie star Joe Manganiello to New York audiences. As a member of Actors Equity, Don performed in over 60 musical productions with the Kenley Players. He has earned B.S., M.Ed., and M.S.Ed. degrees and currently teaches Playwriting, Broadway Musicals, and Acting courses at Celebration Lifelong.

Lindsey Nickel (Rachel) has a big imagination! And there is no better way to bring imagination to life than through Theatre Odyssey’s student playwriting festival! A 30-year stage veteran, some of her memories include performances as Molly Jones in Let It Be!, Grace in Annie, Irene in Crazy For You, Rosie in Cabaret, Betty in White Christmas, and ironically, Betty White as Rose in a Golden Girls skit. Photo evidence exists. She is thrilled to be performing with her daughter Evangeline de la O, celebrating nine years of theatre together with this show!

Julee Breehne (Eva Peron) is grateful to play a small part in bringing Delaney’s play to life and hopes she can do the play and Eva Peron’s legacy justice. When Julee is not on stage, she enjoys singing in the shower, reading nonfiction, and watching scary movies. Julee would like to thank her cast mates (old friends and new) and director, Leona, spiritual leader of our nation as well as her family and friends for their support. 

Tami Vaughan (Olympe de Gouges) graduated from MJC and USF with a BA in Fine Arts. She appeared in several Gilbert and Sullivan musicals with the Village Light Opera Group in NYC. You may have seen her in Bradenton and Anna Maria in many productions at the Riverfront Theatre and the Island Players, and of course on our Theatre Odyssey stage. Her all-time favorite role was Guinevere in Camelot. Tami is delighted to be working once again in a Theatre Odyssey production.

Bob Trisolini (George Washington), Director Emeritus for Theatre Odyssey, is from Longboat Key and Flat Rock North Carolina. He is  excited to be back on stage again for one of our Student Playwrights. Bob recently performed in West Side Story at the Flat Rock Playhouse, also appearing as Arvide Abernathy in Guys and Dolls, Erroneous in Forum, Mr Welch in Damn Yankees and Pa Carnes in Oklahoma at the Highlands Playhouse. His favorite roles at Players in Sarasota was Willy Clark in The Sunshine Boys and Roger De Bries in The Producers. At the Golden Apple he played Pappy Yokum in Li’l Abner and Andy Lee in 42nd Street. He was a Producer and Show Director for Walt Disney Entertainment and directed six shows for Celebrity Cruise Lines. He was Associate Producer for the Tony-nominated Broadway show Romance/Romance and the Emmy Award show Olympus On My Mind. Today he is a Tik Tok character for CAN Community Health called Uncle Bob and has made over 70 commercials. 

Evangeline De La O (Sybil Ludington) Is excited to be a part of Theatre Odyssey’s student play festival! She has most recently been seen in the Addams Family as Wednesday and in The Ballad of Old Manatee. Her favorite past performances include Kathy/Fann in Scrooge at Amelia Musical Playhouse, Bruce in Matilda Jr, Cheerleader/ Charlotte understudy at Rise Above, Ensemble in SpongeBob at Rise Above, Who/ Sour Kangaroo understudy in Seussical, Oaken in Frozen Jr. at Amelia Island Community Theatre, and Pepper in Annie. She has also had noted roles in Junie B’ Jones Jr., Frozen Jr, Cinderella, Mary Poppins Jr, and Icons. Evie is so grateful to the creative team, cast, crew, and playwrights of this festival and hopes that they all break a leg! She is also thankful to her family and friends for their support!

Leona Collesano (director) is happy to once again direct the Student Play Festival. The talents of our student playwrights are wonderful and she is grateful to provide them this opportunity. No stranger to Theatre Odyssey or the stage, Leona has directed and performed in many area theatres. Her favorites include Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding, Wizard of Oz and Steel Magnolias. She also serves on the board for Theatre Odyssey. By day, Leona is a Senior Project Manager for CAN Community Health.

Delaney Lockwood (playwright) …