Our cast includes experienced stage and voice actors who draw from Chicago to Milwaukee and all places in between! Our musicians have performed professionally all over the country.
Introducing:
Donna Abear-Donna is a veteran actress, singer and writer, She is a Halloween enthusiast, finds that performing in creepy Kemper Hall is right up her alley! A dark alley, that is. Donna also acts and directs theater at PM&L Theater in Antioch, IL. and for many years performed as the lead singer in the local band Counting Crows.
Scott Annala– Scott is from Milwaukee and has done numerous independent films and local commercials. Look for Scott in the upcoming motion picture No God, No Master. This is his third season with RG Productions and he recently portrayed Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke and is well known for his amazing portrayal of Rochester in the Jack Benny Show.
Doug Despin: Doug has been acting in Kenosha, Racine and Chicago for the last thirty years. He and his wife Tina own "Bella Ancora" a delightful gift shop at 5621 6th Ave., Kenosha, where RG Productions has performed during Kenosha's Second Saturdays.
Ed Godula: Ed enjoys playing various roles behind the mike, especially the many voices of Mel Blanc and that of Holly Martens in The Third Man. When not onstage with RG Productions, Ed's day job is with the Kenosha Public Library.
Rick Hagerty: Rick is our sound engineer extraordinare! Rick’s knowledge of sound evolved from his lifelong fascination with electronic media, particularly microphones. Old Time Radio has always been a passion of Rick’s and you can listen to him every Tuesday morning from 9 to noon on WRLR 93.8 FM as the host of RADIO ROOTS! www.wrlr.fm
Jeff Hunter– Jeff is our business manager and all around go-to guy. He also supervises videotaping of our shows.
Morgan Hunter: Morgan is a high school student with a passion for all performing arts! During the school year she is involved with all the theater productions at Barrington High School and in the summer she's busy making independent films.
Phil Jaeger-Philip is a graduate of the Northwestern School of Speech and has been active in theater for many years. He recently directed “Of Grapes & Nuts” for the Lakeside Players at the Rhode Opera House. and starred in "What the Butler Saw" at the PM & L Theater in Antioch, IL.
Jim Kollar-Jim hails from Kenosha and has been acting with RG Productions since our 2007 performance of "The Third Man." He's also an AP Econ Teacher at Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL. When he's not acting, you'll most likely find Jim out on his boat.
Rich Krapf-Rich is from Waukegan and regularly performs with the Lakeside Players, PM&L Theater, and Bowen Park Theater. His most recent performance was in "The Bleacher Bums," for PM&L. He has appeared in many RG Productions, most notably as Dennis Day in the Jack Benny Show, and enjoys going back to those wonderful times when radio was king!
Carrie Messersmith has been creating sound effects for RG Productions for three seasons. She learned her mouth noises playing “noises” with her brother as a child. When she isn’t creating sound, you can find her painting, drawing, crocheting, crafting, and singing.
Jan Michalski-Jan is a veteran of many local community theater productions and also a writer. His uncanny ability to portray Orson Welles in many of our productions has earned him a strong following in the radio theater community.
Diane Michalski (right, pictured with her sister Donna Poulson)-Diane started out performing sound effects for RG Productions, but quickly her voice talent became the focal point of her involvement with us. She recently entertained the audience with singing Valentine's at our Love is "On-the-Air" show. Donna will be performing at St. Mary's Lutheran Church production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" this August.
Jamie Rauth: got her big acting break starring as “Ma” in RG Productions’ first show: The Shadow. Since then she’s gone on to star in “The Cemetery Club,” with the Lakeside Players and was recently seen in “The Ice Fishing Party,” at the 6th Street Theater in Racine. During the day, Jamie owns her own video production company.
Jim Selovich-Jim is a well-known stage and radio personality in the Kenosha area. He's involved in Comedy Sportz, the Lakeside Players and you can hear him on WLIP AM 1050 radio every Saturday at noon for T-Radio.
Amy-Louise Seyller is a veteran actor and member of the Lakeside Players where she has appeared frequently onstage at the Rhode Opera House. She is also a writer and illustrator currently looking for a publisher for her children’s books!
Gary Stamm: In the late 1980s Gary won an open talent contest to portray Benny on Chuck Schaden’s, Those were the Days radio program in Chicago. Since then he has stepped in for the eternal 39-year old icon on radio and at various festivals and other performances. Gary is most recently performed in Racine Theater Guild’s “Beauty & the Beast.” He also serves on the board at Racine Theater Guild.
Alex Spinner-Alex graduated from Kenosha Montessori School this spring and will be entering 7th grade in the fall. In his spare time he likes to play piano, read, ride his bike, fish, and hang out with his friends!!
Dan Stika: Dan has been with RG Productions for several years and does a remarkable Fibber McGee! Dan is also a writer and producer of historical videos for Kenosha Community Media where he also serves on the Board of Directors. Dan wrote the script "Cordelia Harvey" for our Lincoln Bicentennial Tribute. The book version will be published in October 2009.
Susanne Wilczek: Susanne has been involved with Radio Theater for about 3 years now and LOVES being part of the RG Productions “family.” She is a self-professed “ham” and just waits for the opportunity to talk. When not appearing onstage in our productions, Susanne is busy preparing for her ministry with the United Methodist Church.
George Wertke: George has been involved in performing music all of his life and he creates the live organ music for all of our productions. George's talents allow him to play wonderful recreations of the familiar Old Time Radio theme songs, but he also enjoys creating his own music to accompany our shows.
Georgia Graber: Georgia is News Director for WRLR 98.3 FM and producer/host of This Morning With Georgia Lee (Monday through Friday 5 a.m. until 9 a.m.) www.wrlr.fm She's also mother to three wonderful children! Georgia recently performed as Connie Brooks in "Our Miss Brooks." to add text.
Dave studied with the Columbia School of Broadcasting while stationed in the service in Hawaii and worked as a DJ for WFNY. He is glad to be back “behind the mike” with RG Productions!
