SMCT

It is the end of summer, 1953; time for the annual Labor Day Picnic in a small Kansas town. 18 year old Madge Owens has always been the most beautiful girl around, and is sure to be made Queen of the evening's festival. She is alternately adored and despised by her younger, bookish sister; envied by their boarder, a spinster school teacher; while her divorced mother hopes Madge will marry her current boyfriend, son of the richest man in town, thus avoiding the poverty their small family has endured. Into this mix breezes Hal Carter, a handsome young vagabond befriended by their neighbor. He and Madge are instantly drawn to one another, and their blossoming young love is the catalyst for revelations of suppressed emotions and longings among all the characters. Dramatic, romantic, funny, poignant - Picnic is all of these, a story filled with unforgettable characters portrayed with unusual insight.

The Cast (listed alphabetically)

	Patrick Brennan Hal Carter	Patrick is currently a senior at Righetti High School and has been involved with the theater program there for the past four years. Patrick has performed in nearly two-dozen productions at Righetti since 2000. Picnic is Patrick's second appearance on the SMCT stage. You may have also seen him in last year's student-written showcase, also directed by Dixie Lee Arthur. Patrick intends to further his studies of his craft in New York at PACE University come fall. Finally, Patrick thanks the cast, Dixie, and Barbara for making this a wonderful experience.
	Brandon Carroll Alan Seymour	Brandon is currently attending Alan Hancock College. He is very grateful for the opportunity to do this play. Brandon has performed in many other plays in the past few years. Some of his credits include: Dial M for Murder, Bang Bang You're Dead, The Odd Couple, The Elephant Man, and many more. Picnic is Brandon's third time on the Santa Maria Civic Theatre stage. Acting is his passion and he hopes to make it a career. He is leaning more toward acting on the screen rather than stage, but beggars can't be choosers. Brandon would like to thank his family and friends for all their support
	Heidi Heaslet Millie Owens	Heidi loves acting and realized this at the age of nine while she was in her first production. She played Belinda in A Christmas Story with the Oceano Melodrama. Picnic is her first show with Santa Maria Civic Theatre and she has been enjoying her experience here very much. A few of her favorite roles include Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker, Gwen Cavendish in The Royal Family, and one of the evil stepsisters in Cinderella. Heidi knows acting is what she wants to do and would like to further her career in film productions. Heidi believes that you should truly never take anything for granted because you never know how long it is going to be there.
	Tara Joaquin Madge Owens	Tara was born and raised on the Central Coast, and she has been performing since the age of twelve. When she is not acting, she is dancing, attending classes, or working. Her pervious drama experiences have included working on drama, dance, and choir. Some of her favorite performances were in Oklahoma, Diary of Anne Frank, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Camelot. This is Tara's second performance with Santa Maria Civic Theatre. Tara performed in Moon Over Buffalo in 2002. Tara's major remains undeclared, but she does know she will always be involved in the theater.
	Molly Ann Kasdan Flo Owens	Molly joyfully returns to the Central Coast to rejoin the crew at Santa Maria Civic Theatre. Molly's first performance at SMCT was in 1987 in The Curious Savage. Later Molly performed in the SMCT productions of The Gift of the Magi and The Wizard of Oz. During the 1990s, highlights of Molly's career include the Huntington Beach Playhouse's The Man Who Came to Dinner, performing stand-up comedy at various venues in the Los Angeles area, and portraying the Fairy Godmother at Disneyland. Molly recently received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and is working at Water Wonders, Inc. in Human Resources.
	Nancy Leff Helen Potts	Nancy was born in Pittsburgh, PA. and has lived in California for more than 30 years. As the Central Coast Humor Queen since 1999, she is a speaker and writer on the importance of humor and play, along with making Nancy's Fancies jewelry. Mrs. Potts is Nancy's third role for Santa Maria Civic Theatre this season, having played wacky Willa Mae in A Bad Year for Tomatoes and delightful, magical Mrs. Rosen in Kringle's Window. Nancy has been in Los Angeles productions including Mame, Pajama Game, Once in A Lifetime, and Much Ado About Nothing, and she had her own musical comedy act. Nancy loves performing and costuming, so she is grateful to SMCT for the joy she is having now.
	Lynda Mondragon Irma Kronkite	Lynda was bit by the acting bug more than eight years ago and has taken every role she could get her hands on since. She has worked with the Santa Maria Civic Theatre over the last few years and has done everything from sound effects to lights. You may have seen her talents in shows like Two By Two and Kringle's Window. Lynda wants to thank everyone for coming out to see the show.
	Dustin Rojas Bomber Gutzel	Dustin was born in Santa Maria and grew up in Bakersfield. He attends Allen Hancock College and recently graduated from Centennial High School where he was in the shows Damn Yankees, Guys and Dolls, Godspell, and Brighton Beach Memoirs, in the last of which he starred as Eugene Jerome. This is Dustin's first performance on the Santa Maria Civic Theatre stage, and he is looking forward to many more.
	Brianna Sheehy Millie Owens, (understudy)	Brianna discovered her love with acting while attending Righetti High School productions of Clue, Little Shop of Horrors, and 1984. This is her first time on the Santa Maria Civic Theatre stage. Her first stage role was in Romeo and Juliet in elementary school. She is currently taking voice lessons and learning the technical side of the theater. Brianna is very excited to be working with all of the wonderful thespians at SMCT and says thanks to everyone for helping out a rookie.
	Gaye Thiel Christine Schoenwalder	Gaye was born and raised in southern California and has lived on the Central Coast for 15 years. This is Gaye's first time on stage, and she is enjoying it very much. Gaye has been happily married for 32 years and has two grown sons. Her hobbies include gardening, kayaking, bowling, and walking her four dogs on the beach.
	Stuart Wenger Haward Bevans	Stuart enjoyed directing Other People's Money for Santa Maria Civic Theatre this past winter. He is also happy to be turning the reins over to Dixie Arthur, who he has worked with three times, on-stage in A Bad Year for Tomatoes and off in Other People's Money and Social Security. Stuart would like to thank Dixie for this opportunity and for her past support. He would also like to thank, as always, Kathy and Natalie, for their support and for letting him indulge in his "hobby" (and occasionally joining in the fun!) And lastly, he would like to thank SMCT for keeping him busy.
	Penelope Witt Rosemary Sydney	Penelope studied at the SCR Conservatory in Orange County and has appeared in a variety of stage roles in Los Angeles, in regional theatre and on the Central Coast. Roles on the Santa Maria stage include Aunt Bella in Lost in Yonkers, Glorie in Grace and Glorie, Olive Oyle in SMCT's original production of The Gift, and most recently, Amy, in Lover's Leap. Her current role of Rosemary is rapidly becoming a favorite.