Thalia

Melody is excited to be making her Masquers debut! She has been singing her whole life and acting/dancing for two decades. She trained with All Access Productions in Long Island, NY, and with private coaches throughout the years. She was recently seen in Annie and Jesus Christ Superstar at  Berkeley Playhouse and as Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda at Novato Theater Company. Other favorite roles include the title role in Sylvia, Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, and Penny Pingleton in  Hairspray, an Elly Award winner. Melody works in children’s theater and is a partner dance instructor with her husband, Justin.

Dionysus 

Jeff is thrilled to be making his Masquers Playhouse debut. He recently appeared as Henry Condell in Pacifica Spindrift Players’ production of The Book of Will. A graduate of the American Conservatory Theatre’s (A.C.T.) Summer Training Congress, he has trod the boards on stages throughout the Bay Area, including the New Conservatory Theatre Center, Theatre Rhinoceros, Coastal Repertory Theatre, and Novato Theater Company. Jeff has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in  History from Boston College and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from The George Washington University Law School. He lives in San Francisco with his beautiful wife, Anastasia, and their two pit bulls, Abby and Duke.

Ralph 

Paul is excited to make his Masquers debut! He has extensive experience in Ancient Greek scholarship, including reading all the Percy Jackson books and watching Hercules. Recent credits include Hamlet in Hamlet, Sebastian in Twelfth Night, Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, Doctor John Watson in Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Missing Mystery, Performer in Hold On: When Everything Changes in a Flash, Rutherford Selig in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and roles in a variety of short films, including a sociopathic stalker, a pretentious clown, and Death. Check out  paulbisesi.com for more.

 Brooklyn 

Liddy made her acting debut as Marta Von Trapp in The Sound of Music at a tiny theatre in North  Florida close to where she grew up. Since then, she’s performed in numerous plays, most recently starring as Olivia in Inferno Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. A Renaissance woman, Liddy has also shot and directed several short films, worked as a professional photographer,  travelled to over 16 countries, and learned the art and joy of ballroom dance, which she currently teaches professionally. You will often find Liddy performing in dance routines or sitting at various cafes, sipping mochas, working on her businesses, and petting any and all available dogs. 

Dean Thickett 

Lisa is excited to make her debut with Masquers, especially with this ridiculously fun play! She's been a fan of Ken Ludwig ever since she portrayed Daria in The Games Afoot! with the San Leandro  Players. Lisa is a company member at Berkeley Shakespeare Company, where previous productions have included: Julius Caesar (Brutus), King Lear (Regan), and Much Ado About Nothing (Don John).Lisa is also a company member at BATS Improv in San Francisco, where you can catch her regularly performing improvised theatre (www.improv.org). Thank you for supporting live theater!

Daphne Rain 

Anna is thrilled to be taking part in Masquers Playhouse’s production of THE GODS OF COMEDY! Anna is currently getting her Master’s degree in literature, so she feels a particular connection to Daphne and her passion for the classics. Anna also has two tattoos dedicated to Greek mythology and art, and has written an essay in her master’s program dedicated to the myth of Apollo and Daphne. She was most recently in Plethos Productions' The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon and She Kills Monsters, as well as Merced Shakespeare Fest’s production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Ares 

Paul is thrilled to be back on the Masquers' stage, where he is best remembered as Eddie in The Rocky  Horror Show. He is a makeup artist whose clients have included Six Flags, Peaches Christ/Terror  Vault, KTVU, and The Hillywood Show. He works in the world of independent professional wrestling, and is also active in the Bay Area Pagan community. His greatest role is Dad to Marcus, Wyatt, and Connor.

Aristide & Aleksi 

Jean-Paul is a stage, film, television, and voiceover actor. In his spare time, Jean-Paul enjoys playing guitar, hiking with his wife, son, and Peekapoo, and has been known to throat-sing occasionally. You may have caught him this past fall as Taylor in Prelude to a Kiss, directed by Bruce Kaplan. Thanks to  Ronnie for casting him in his second Masquers production!

Properties Designer 

Anne considers herself very lucky to have been born into a theater family. Some of her earliest memories are of watching her parents on stage. She has been a Masquer for over 30 years and the Lobby  Manager for, well, she can't really remember, it's been so long. Anne is married, has three sons, three fabulous DsIL, three amazing grandkids, two bonus sons, and two bonus daughters. Thanks for coming to our show tonight and supporting Masquers Playhouse.

Stage Manager 

George has been a Masquer since 1999 and has appeared in shows here since 1988. He has also performed at numerous other East Bay theaters, including Pinole Players, Chanticleers, and Pittsburg  Theatre Company. Since 2002, he has primarily functioned backstage as Stage Manager and backstage crew, and has lately signed up as Production Manager. He stage-managed the highly popular musical  Catch Me If You Canlate last year.

Costume Designer 

Lynda earned her BFA in Costume Design and Technology from Wright State University and continued her studies in the MFA program at Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. In New York City, she worked as a costumer on Broadway productions and at The New York Shakespeare Festival. In the Bay Area, she has served as Assistant Costume Designer, Stitcher, and Wardrobe Supervisor at Shotgun Players,  Berkeley Playhouse, CCCT, and Masquers Playhouse. Lynda is a member of the Bay Wardrobe  Collective and serves on the Board of Directors. She is delighted to return to Masquers as Costume  Designer for The Gods of Comedy.

Scenic Designer and Production Manager 

Jack has been a Masquer since the 1980s, designing, directing, managing, and even occasionally acting.  His favorite roles are Beverly Carlton in The Man Who Came To Dinner and Sam Bick in Assassins.  He is a retired graphic designer and lives in the city with his wife of 58 years, Carol. The Masquers has been an important part of his life from his first Masquers show,George M, in 1984, to his most recent,  The Gods of Comedy. He is eager to see what traditions Masquers can hang on to, as we strive to meet  the challenges of running a small theater in the present world.

Lighting & Projection Designer 

Born '46 Boulder City, NV / Roswell '47 / L.A. '48 / Siblings Patrick, Sheila, Timothy / Montgomery, AL / L.A. / Mother passed '58 / survived a Catholic education / National Merit Scholar '64 / USAFA /  Married Janet '68 / UC Berkeley Comp Sci '70 / UC LHS / daughter Leah '73 / UC LBL / son Dylan '78  / Lucasfilm / 1st Show: South Pacific '88 PCP / 1st Masquers Show: Camelot '88 / Pixar / Grandson  Finn '09 / Retired '10 / Actor 60+ shows / Lighting & Sound Designer 40+ shows / 80 yo this  September / Still Married (58 yrs) / Still Teching! Michael thanks his family, friends, and the many directors, actors, techies, crews, and audiences who have brought laughter, excitement, challenge and  joy to his life.

Special Effects and Running Crew 

Juno Rabinovici is proud to make his Masquer’s Playhouse debut with The Gods of Comedy.  Juno loves coming up with ways to bring fantasy elements into real productions. Recent tech credits include Arsenic & Old Laceand The Green Archer. Outside of the theater, he performs in drag and makes jewelry. Special thanks to director Ron Anderson for his love & support!!

Sound Designer 

Paul Seliga is trying to make up for all those "lost years" when he wasn't involved in theatre, with only moderate success. He enjoys all of it, especially the friendships. Otherwise, he enjoys softball, tax season, and singing with the Mission Dolores Basilica Choir, which he has done since 1979.