If you’ve ever gone to see a play in Virginia City, Nevada in 2017-2022, at the historic Piper’s Opera House, then you’ve probably seen EMILY MUNS (Thelma Kane) on stage at some point! Her first time on stage was at Piper’s in 2017 in The Nightmare Before Christmas as the mayor of nightmare town. Her favorite character to play was in 2018 as the fun loving mischievous puck in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Since then she’s played in 5 other productions at Piper’s. Emily never intended to be on stage and did so only to spend time with her daughter but now she couldn’t imagine not being in theater. When not on stage she is a mom of 4 and a cosplayer. Cosplaying has allowed her to channel her love of makeup and costuming with immersing herself into different characters. This medium has also made it easier to transition to stage performing.
BRANDY DICKSON (Bettie) has graced the stage in nine performances here at Piper’s Opera house since 2017. This performance will be the tenth with a character she can really connect with. Bubbly, fun loving, with an easy smile Brandy always has an encouraging word, a helping hand, or a bone crushing hug. When she moved to Virginia city she fell head over heals in love with Piper’s and has tried to perform there as often as she can. Spreading this love and joy to her two children the three of them have performed in five productions together. A BIG thank you to her most patient and beautiful husband Josh. When not on stage she loves hiking, camping, and singing loudly off key 90’s hip hop songs. Whoop there it is.
ROBERT MARK (Cricket Goldsmith) flew in from New York City along side co-star, producer/playwright, & long time friend Elise Milner, to make his northern Nevada acting debut!! Robert started his acting career in 1997 by playing the lead role in the musical Bye Bye Birdie. Robert continued his Off Broadway career with credits such as Fiddler on the Roof, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Best Little Whore House in Texas, Damn Yankees, and other Hanging Cow hit plays such as The Accidental Awakening and The Sixth Session. You can also see Robert in numerous indie’s such as “Fists of Love,” “Licentious,” “The Dash,” & “B.O.A.T.S.” Robert has had a long standing friendship with Elise Milner and is extremely excited about performing in her hometown with her! He thanks his family and his wife Kim for their ongoing love & support. Dare to Dream…
LARRY PRATER (Richard Dick Grotto) was born in Hollywood, CA during WWII. His dad worked on Lockheed fighter planes in nearby Burbank. He grew up in NM and CO and wound up his last two year of high school in Las Vegas. He later moved to Reno where he eventually earned a degree in civil engineering at UNR. 43 years ago he and his wife of fifty-one years, Christine, built their current home near Virginia City. About forty years ago he joined the VC Theater Muckers and honed his acting skills under the tutelage of the world-renowned director Dr. William Beeson. His more prominent roles included a pirate in “The Pirates of Penzance”, Senex in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, and Harry the Horse in “Guys and Dolls”. He has come out of retirement to play Dick Grotto in “An Awkward Inheritance”.
ANTHONY PASSALACQUA (Jadge Kane) has been acting since primary school. After high school most of the time his acting became behind the microphone for web animations, podcasts, and indie games developers. He’s been in Nevada for about seven years now by way of Colorado, by way of California. His first time acting was in a community theater production of Annie when he was 10 years old (when he was bitten by the bug) and it’s never gone away. He has recently gotten back on the stage, and let me tell you, he is not ready to step down from it again!
DOMINIQUE DeVilbiss (Jules) was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. She had a passion for acting from a young age and would often be waiting for her mom to get home from work with an elaborate performance prepared, complete with homemade tickets. While Dominique pursued other passions in life, acting was something that remained a fun thing for her to do behind closed doors (she’s been known to give stellar Broadway musical performances in the shower!) She has lived in Reno, NV for 11 years and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializing in trauma therapy. This is Dominique’s debut performance and she is very excited about this show due to the bold and comedic portrayal of the complexity of families, sex work, and human beings in general.
ROBYN MAZY (Princess) was born and raised as a Nevada native resident and graduated from WNC and UNR with her Bachelors in Human Development and Family Studies, and Early Childhood Education. A teacher of the Carson City area for 18 years, she also balances being a mother, her dance classes at Yaples Ballroom in Silks and Circus pole, along with her acting troupe in Pipers Opera House. Robyn has been a part of A Nightmare Before Christmas, Midsummers Night Dream, Miners Opera, A Comstock Christmas Carol, and Murder at the House of Dolls. Robyn is also a tattoo artist at Skeleton Skin Tattoo in Moundhouse Nv. Instagram: apprentice_rmazy_ Facebook: Robyn Mazy Apprentice of Skeleton Skin Tattoo. If you can’t find her in any of these places she’ll be at home painting or in Tahoe basking in the sun!
SUZANNE LYNN, (Dalila Frank) is also making her return to the Comstock as an actress since the 80s! Also starring in Dark of the Moon, and The Visit with Elise, this is Suzanne’s first time on stage in many decades! Also co-director, Suzanne has truly enjoyed performing again and is super excited to be a part of An Awkward Inheritance! Suzanne and Elise were childhood best friends and met in 1982! Now in 2022, they have finally fused their creative expertise to form this amazing theatrical team! This fall, Suzanne will be headed to New York to work on Elise’s next show “Angels Among Us!” Suzanne, based in Reno, is a full time artist who creates sculptures, signs, plaques, personalized keepsakes, and her own line of body care! Visit Suzanne’s shop on C street “Finders Keeper’s” in VC! She would like to thank her husband Sam, her Dad Larry, and her sons Connor and Jackson for their love and support!
ANDRA WOOLMAN (Gram Bam) was raised in Del Mar, California, in the 1960s where she got her start in acting at the age of 9 by writing short plays, directing all her friends (and little sister) and putting them on in her Mom’s backyard for all our parents!! She went on to become a drama major in high school, where she was a member of the first four year graduating class of Torrey Pines High in 1978. At the age of 17 she joined the carnival and sowed her wild oats for 6 or 7 years, which in turn led her to the harness horse racetrack where she eventually owned her own racehorse named “Chester.” She became a Mom in 1984 and raised 3 BEAUTIFUL sons with very little help from anyone besides her loving Mother. In order to accomplish this task she became a career waitress, waitin’ tables for over 25 years, and moved to NV In 1988. In 2004, after a 26 year hiatus and while attending an acting class at WNCC, she & her young son Jeremy auditioned for “The Unspeakables” with the Misfits Theater Group of Dayton, NV. They both got parts and have been with them ever since, appearing in NUMEROUS productions and going on to direct and co-direct several plays. Andra also became a member of the Piper’s Players of Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City in 2020.
ELISE MAURINE MILNER (Marigold Goldsmith) also the playwright/producer and founder of Hanging Cow Productions, is thrilled to finally make her return to the stage in Virginia City since her Theater Mucker days in the 80s! Remember Christmas In Oz, Paint Your Wagon, Dark of the Moon, and The Visit? That was the last time Elise has performed on the Comstock! She has been living her dream of writing/producing/directing for Off Broadway since 2002, but one dream she hadn’t yet fulfilled? Bringing an all original production to her hometown! In 2019 she wrote and produced “An Awkward Inheritance” in New York City to sold out crowds, and most recently starred in “The Accidental Awakening,” on Off Broadway. Elise has written 15 plays, has over 350 performances under her belt as a producer, and is also a voice over artist. She would like to thank her husband of 20+ years Christopher, everyone here in Virginia City who supported this show, the audience, her old and new friends both in NV and NY, her mom Mary, her sister Marie, this cast & crew, her BFF Suzanne, and especially her late grams who is her angel always. Dreams do come true! Love to all!
RHEA BRUNSON (Sexy Lexy) grew up in Virginia City and is excited to be a part of this production at Piper’s Opera House. As a Tourism Assistant here, she has admired the performers that have graced this stage over the past few years. Now it’s her turn to make her mark as she plays a colorful role in “An Awkward Inheritance”.
Over the last 10 years, Cindy Pardini (Gram Bam) has filled a few shoes with The Misfits Theater Group based in Dayton Nevada. She has taken on roles in 15 live stage performances in various capacities including both lead and supporting actress as well as director and stage manager. Cindy also performed in an independent film project which was richly rewarding. She has lived in several areas of the country and even spent time living on a sailboat in the Caribbean years ago. Cindy loves life experiences and the theater has always been a special one.