KU Theatre Presents Thirst Company Bios

Thirst Company Bios

Danon Nicholae Park (Director), a second-year graduate student in theatre and a graduate teaching assistant for the Department of Theatre and Film, is originally from Maryland Heights, MO. This fall he portrayed Duke Senior in As You Like It. Danon graduated from Avila College, where he appeared in All’s Well That Ends Well, Love for Love, Othello, and The Fantasticks. Last spring, Danon received the Outstanding New GTA in Theatre and Film Award.

Robert Sturner (Lighting Designer) is a sophomore theatre design major from Overland Park. He is the Technical Director for the Inge Theatre.

Alex Beaird (Hungry Girl/Faye’s Daughter/Tired Girl) is 12 years old and attends Central Elementary School in Olathe. Previously she performed in The Road to Bethlehem, The Christmas Shoes, and All Is Well, all productions at the Olathe Bible Church. She enjoys scripting and performing with her brother, Quinlan, in their own movies.

Quinlan Beaird (Lorraine’s Son/Jewell’s Son) is Alex’s brother. He is 10 years old and also attends Central Elementary School in Olathe. Quinlan was a member of the chorus for The Road to Bethlehem at Olathe Bible Church.

Candice Bondank (Smart Young Woman) is a freshman from Overland Park. A graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School, Candice is appearing in her first KU production. Off campus, she has performed in Les Miserables, The Fantasticks, and Jekyll and Hyde. Candice is the current Miss Teen of Kansas and an International Student member. She has performed as a UMKC Mid-America concert soloist.

Wendy Lynn Casebier (Lorraine) is a senior theatre major from Tecumseh. Previously she has appeared in the KU Theatre for Young People’s productions of Afternoon of the Elves and Jungalbook. Her other past production credits include God's Favorite, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Bat Boy. Each fall Wendy is a performer at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.

Summer Eglinski (Faye) is a junior theatre major from Lawrence. Earlier this season she played Corin in As You Like It. She has also been seen in Jungalbook, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Tomato Plant Girl, and Othello. She designed hair, wigs and make-up for The Royal Family last spring and is currently working as assistant costume designer for A Little Night Music. Summer previously appeared in A Midsummer Night's Dream; Hello, Dolly, Tony 'n Tina's Wedding, and The Children's Hour. Last summer she was a costume intern at the Lost Nation Theatre in Vermont.

Brandon Ford (The Preacher) is a freshman theatre and film major from Olathe. This is his debut performance for The University Theatre, but earlier this year he appeared in two directing scenes, The Yellow Boat and A Raisin in the Sun.

R. Troy Hirsch (Dudley Montrose) is a sophomore theatre major from Hays. He appeared this fall in As You Like It, and has appeared off-campus in The Boys Next Door and Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. During the summer, Troy worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a wildland firefighter.

Scott Johnson (Cordell Williams) is a senior theatre and film major from Lawrence. In the fall he appeared as Dennis/William in As You Like It, and last summer he was a member of the cast for Cloud Nine, produced by the Barn Players of Johnson County. Last season he appeared in The Royal Family and The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Justin Knudsen (Jack) is a sophomore from Lakeville, MN, majoring in theatre and creative writing. Earlier this season he appeared in As You Like It, and last season, he played multiple roles in The 10-Minute Play Festival. Before coming to KU, Justin performed in productions of West Side Story, The Impossible Years, and Oliver.

Laura Leffler-McCabe (Jewell) is a second-year graduate student from Shawnee. She holds an undergraduate degree in theatre and English from Baker University. Earlier this season she directed Fefu and Her Friends in the Inge Theatre. She also portrayed Helen Potts in the Kansas Summer Theatre production of Picnic. Last year she directed three workshop productions including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Three Sisters, and Parallel Lives. At Baker, Laura directed Extremities and acted in the productions of Lion in Winter, Arms and the Man, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and Jalu’s Women. She was nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship for her portrayal of Rose in Bleacher Bums. She also works with the Heart of America Performing Arts, where she has directed Arkansaw Bear, Stuart Little, and Bang Bang You’re Dead. Laura received a first-year Honors Fellowship from KU as well as the Ambrose Saricks Family Scholarship. She is also a Phi Beta Delta International Scholar and assistant forensics coach at Baker.

Marie C. Mullinix (Flossie) is a junior theatre and film major from Lake Quivira. This is her first KU production. In the fall she was on the costume crew for Lulu.

Samantha S. Raines (Tired Woman) is a senior theatre major from Iola. This is her first acting role at KU, but she has been assistant director for The Dying Gaul and As You Like It. She also appeared in The Vagina Monologues for the February Sisters in the spring of 2003. An active FROTH member, Samantha holds Helen Gates Whitehead and Winslow Scholarships. She is an office assistant for The University Theatre.

Courtney Schweitzer (Pinky) is a freshman theatre and Spanish major from Leawood. This is her first KU production. She previously played the title role in Julie by August Strindberg for a 609 directing project.

Carter R. Waite (Aaron Cable) is a freshman journalism major from Falmouth, ME. This fall he played Herr Schultz in Cabaret. Before coming to Kansas, he appeared in Godspell, Fit to be Tried, Macbeth, and Fiddler on the Roof. Carter is a two-time Maine State All-Festival cast member and was named “best actor” at the Maine State Drama Festival.