Cast Bios 2003
| Catherine Adkins (cast) |
Catherine recently appeared in "The Vagina Monologues"
(the National tour) at the Tulsa Convention Center and "Anton in
Show Business" (Theatre Tulsa) at the PAC. She is the wife of Tulsa
attorney Skip Suraci; artistic director of OKRep! Theatre Co., recipient
of the 2001 Jingle Feldman Artist Scholar Award, theatre arts teacher
for the Margaret Hudson program, and 1985 Star Search winner (acting
category). A graduate of The Academy of The Washington Ballet, Ms.
Adkins appeared in "A Chorus Line." Oh boy, oh boy! Another
Gridiron! |
| David Averill (cast, author, Trust) |
David Averill has been in the Gridiron a long, long time. |
| Bill Babb (cast) |
Proving once again the old saw that "he's not getting better -
he's getting older", Bill Babb will once again trod the planks of
the Tulsa Press Club Gridiron. Playing men much younger than himself is
easy for this Gridiron veteran. "At least I don't have to wear a
dress and high heels anymore!" says the trouper. When not
embarrassing himself in this production, Babb can be found smiling
through thick and thin at the QuikTrip at 11th & College, across
from The University of Tulsa. He'll sell you a Hotzi (you need to
provide your own Totzi), suggest you buy gas (or Tums if you already
have it), and help you start your heart with a cup of coffee. Just don't
ask him to perform any of his Gridiron numbers … it scares the other
customers |
| Pat Bruner (cast) |
Mother of Patrick Bruner, community activist, teacher, businesswoman,
and author of the book, "How to Own and Operate a Cart/Kiosk at the
Shopping Malls." Pat has served on advisory boards of Tulsa Public
Schools' Vocational Board and Thoreau Community School. Academic
achievements include publishing a thesis, Child Abuse with degrees in
management, human relations and business management. Hobbies include
parasailing over the Arkansas River, roaming on the Limousine Ranch, and
entertainment enlightenment on the streets of New York City with her
twin, Rose Mary. Idle evening time is often spent chatting, listening
and cheering with Virginia Dessauer during "visiting hours" at
Gridiron 2003 rehearsals. |
| Terri Bullard (cast) |
comes to the Gridiron directly from her role as Daisy Mae in the
Oilton Musical Play House Revival of Lil' Abner. Actually she works for
the Tulsa World in advertising. |
| Tom M. Campbell, Ed.D, (author, cast, Trust) |
has been a Gridiron author for 29 years, writing scenes running the
gamut from hookers to Mayfest to football. He was chief author for five
years and served from 1997 to 2000 as Chairman of the Trust. In the
older and simpler days, Tom helped pour illegally stiff drinks at the
afterglow parties and his wife, Charlotte, prepared a lot of the foods.
During his public relations career, Tom served 18 years with Cities
Service Company and 13 with Tulsa Regional Medical Center. His goal is
to complete three decades of Gridiron writing next year. Tom cautions
newer authors that the long-term writing of couplets can be damaging to
physical and mental health. |
| Jeffrey Cohen (author) |
is a tall, flaxen-haired, single, independently wealthy man who writes
merely for the enrichment of the human condition. He also tells the
truth about as often as Joe Millionaire. Two things are indisputable,
however: he is the author of FOR WHOM THE MINIVAN ROLLS: AN AARON TUCKER
MYSTERY as well as THE ASPERGER PARENT: HOW TO RAISE A CHILD WITH
ASPERGER SYNDROME AND MAINTAIN YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR (both available at
Amazon.com, if you're in a buying mood), and tonight, he is 2,000 miles
away, watching television. |
| Jerry L. Cornelius (cast) - |
Jerry is the senior most cast member. He was in his first show back in
the old Hotel Tulsa days. Another cast member said, "He was in the
show when they used candles and megaphones." "That's not
true" Jerry replies, "We used gas lights." |
| Paul Davidson (cast) |
cast member since 1965, Paul retains amateur status and remains in the
show because his fellow cast members and the directors are
long-suffering and allow him to play the mandolin in the pickin' and
grinnin' songs, which are a long-time tradition in the Gridiron. He
requests the audience to please stop throwing items on stage while he is
performing. |
| Virginia Dessauer (cast) |
Virginia clawed her way on stage, made up her lines and refused to
leave. She is well qualified to be on stage, having taken dancing
lessons in grade school - in which she excelled. |
| Patty Dixon (cast - Rookie) |
Patty J. Dixon has a lifetime of song, dance and performing arts
involvement. She'll accept big parts, little parts or crew parts and
this is her first time with Gridiron. She is a real Mom of two
professional entertainer sons, the wife of a Tulsa business owner and
the Director of Activities at Chandler Park. Her performing background
took a twist in the 90's when she served 6 years on the Sand Springs
City Council and in 2000 won the GOP nomination for County Commissioner.
|
| Marnie Ducato (cast - Rookie) |
is a Gridiron rookie, and still not sure how she ended up in the show.
Having just moved here from Fort Worth, she lives with her husband, Tony
and dog, Sammie. She is thankful for her husband's obsession with
restoring his Mustang, for he hasn't noticed her absence every night for
the past month. In her real life, Marnie is the Director of Public
Relations and Marketing for the Tulsa Zoo. She still denies all
allegations that she arranged for the theft of the penguin statues to
garner free publicity. The jury is still out. |
| Jane Lyon Duenner (cast) |
has been singing (or has been dreaming of singing) since lip-syncing I
Wanna Hold Your Hand in the sixth grade at the Lee School talent show.
She has done local Theatre and has played numerous years at Mayfest and
Oktoberfest. She can be found at local Bluegrass Jams around Tulsa like
at Arnie's and Tulsa Press Club. This is the first year she's been able
to finagle her WAY distant cousin Virginia Harrison (cousin) to
participate 'cause she knows she can sing WAY louder and she's a bigger
ham than Jane (cousine). |
| Susie Edison (prompter) |
When corralling Boy Scouts, they call her "Mrs. E";
otherwise, known as the "Red Pen" terror when proofing and
approving Eagle Scout paperwork. After a tour of Fort Sill with the
Troop, a Marine Drill Sergeant told the Scout's to call her the
"Little Drill Sergeant" and wanted to trade his troops for
mine. Of course when I told the boys they immediately said "NO,
she's ours."The Scout's of Troop 66 say with lots of love,
"Don't mess with Mrs. E, 'cause you'll be messing with us, she
belongs to us". When not Scouting, helps tally your votes on
Election Day, and then helps to account for the election funds. Loves
the outdoors and one of these days will get her dream home in the
country. |
| Ronnie Furr (cast - Rookie) |
is a country singer/songwriter from Tulsa, who thinks that the Tulsa
gridiron is such a fantastic show, he just had to be in it. |
| Raye Forehand-Styve (cast) |
A native Tulsan, Raye is a former Tulsa Press Club employee currently
self-employed. She graduated from East Central Tulsa, Tulsa Technology
Center, Aviation Maintenance Technology and most recently Broken Arrow
Beauty College in esthetic studies. Likes long walks on short piers, ice
cream, mass embarrassment and dislikes tall, skinny people with big
noses. |
| Gerry Goins (cast) |
This is Gerry's 9th Gridiron! She is one of a trio of Jerry's (sic) in
the show. This makes for a fun time during rehearsals when places are
called. Gerry dedicates her performance to all of her family but
especially to Brooke Dawn Hill-Stemple. Brooke was born on Gerry's 50th
birthday! |
| Mimi Gooden (author) |
Mimi Gooden is a double-jointed, multi-orgasmic independently
wealthy fitness supermodel who writes as a diversion, erratically
employing creative license as if it were only a learner's permit. A
sometimes-wily trickstress who hasn't consumed a doughnut - Krispy Kreme
or otherwise - since 1981, she wanted us to put that she spends much of
her day "writing fundraising materials for an evangelical
ministry" - that's how wily she is. No matter what you've read in
the tabloids and despite the law of averages, her publicist denies that
Gooden was briefly married to J.Lo. Her personal promotional slogan:
"You can't spell 'mimic' without Mimi." |
| Sonny Gray (Musical Director) |
Sonny didn't have a chance. He was destined to become a musician. His
high school (Central) is the electric company, his junior high (Horace
Mann) was a pre-release center and his grade school (Lincoln) became a
brewery. When asked if Sonny has lived in Tulsa all his life, he
replied, "I don't know yet." |
| Virginia Harrison (cast) |
By day, Virginia runs her business - "Underwater Worlds",
making ceramic and glass sculptures that relate to the sea. She also
teaches at The Philbrook Museum and with the Arts and Humanities
Council. Virginia's work is sold in galleries throughout the US, and at
The M.A. Doran gallery here in Tulsa.The last theater production she was
in was The Rocky Horror Picture Show" in college!! In a previous
life, she was part of the South Street Seaport's outdoor "Singing
Christmas Tree" in New York City.Virginia, who is actually rather
shy, had to be pushed, prodded, and coaxed into joining the cast of the
Gridiron, by her dear distant cousin, Jane Duenner (Cousine), And she is
glad she did! |
| Elissa K. Harvill (author) |
since her recent marriage to co-author, Nathan Harvill, has slipped
behind her new surname and assumed an identity, which, on weekdays, from
8 to 5, is employed, mostly, by impersonating a certain local
evangelist, who, as far as he is concerned, has no idea that Ms. Harvill
is daily putting words in his mouth, no less, those of God. Ms.
Harvill's alternate personalities include: unlicensed therapist, obese
cat-trainer, competitive kitchen dancer, and demanding wife. She abides
by her faith in God and the belief that everything, with the exception
of people, can be redeemed by shabby-chic. |
| Nathan S. Harvill (author) |
or as he is known the world over, "Elissa's husband," can be
found opening jars, losing at Scrabble, and singing in a loud falsetto
to his wife, whom you will quickly identify as the woman covering her
ears and smiting him with a stick. Favorite conversation topics include:
chicken fried steak at Nelson's Buffeteria and why "stupidicide"
is a good idea. He is amused at the common use of the term
"cockfighting," especially when uttered with a straight face
by dignitaries and the media. Please do not approach from the side, as
he may charge you. |
| Diane Markey Helt - (prompter) |
The Stained Glass Diane, your off stage prompter, likes to put people
in their place, which is her duty with the Gridiron crew offstage...
Always been a bit off she has, ask her husband, son, daughter, and
friends.... there are stories... And if you tied her hands while she
talked, she'd still wiggle or animate the conversation someway...
Tonight everyone offstage will be in their place or she'll know why...
stay gold... |
| eLizabeth (eLiz) Hollis (cast) |
Tulsa County Park Princess ... Marketing, Special Events, Public
Relations, Fundraising, etc. has been a cast member with the Gridiron
for 5 years. She is the keeper and 4-letter word W-I-F-E of T.A.Haul-ass
Hollis (also in the Gridiron). Her goal is to follow in the footsteps of
the late Will Rogers, by keeping an eye on community and national
leaders while challenging them to bring a new sense of integrity and
purpose to their positions. She is the "mother" of the Tulsa
Gridiron mascot ... 5 pound Yorkshire terrier "Dixie
Pearl".... and her little 3 pound brother, General-ly. |
| T.A. Hollis, Jr. (cast, Trust) |
"Mr. HAT" or
"Stop-me-from-volunteering-for-one-more non-profit
project-Hollis". A major account manager for SBC and long time
Gridiron actor. Defined as "the PERFECT boyfriend evolved into the
ULTIMATE PROJECT as a husband". Best known for creating a
"football widow" each season as he stays loyal to his Cowboys
and every other team that remotely resembles football. |
| Randy Krehbiel (author, Trust) |
once lived an entire academic year in the girls' residence hall at the
University of Tulsa. Unlike Tom Hanks, it did not make him famous. |
| Kathy LaFortune (cast - Rookie) |
A native Tulsan, is participating in the Gridiron for the first time,
is a forensic psychologist for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System, and
has three wonderful children, Jackie, 16 (an aspiring actress), Olivia,
15, (a great little soccer player), and Billy, Jr., 10 (who looks just
like his Dad). Her husband Bill is the brunt of several jokes this
evening. Watch for the Wheel La Fortune! |
| Jeff Lea (cast) |
Jeff is fast becoming a veteran Tulsa charity theatre actor. He's
coming off an "award winning" stage performance as an ape for
the Harwelden murder mystery. This is Jeff's third Gridiron. He's been a
reporter for Oklahoma's NewsChannel 8 for 8 years. |
| Rebecca Marks-Jimerson (cast) |
Rebecca studied drama at the University of Southern California under
the late John Houseman. Returning to Oklahoma, she has made her rounds
performing with various theatre groups. Currently, her mission is
working for the mayor of Tulsa, the Honorable Bill LaFortune and Tulsa
Community College. She also sings bluegrass with Jane Duenner at the
YWCA every 3rd Sunday. She will look forward to seeing you there! |
| Mary Lou Martin (cast) |
Mary Lou was born in Tulsa, has a BA in Psychology from the University
of Houston, an MA in Sociology and MA in Speech from West Texas State
and attended the University of Valencia in Spain. She was a college
professor for fifteen years, owned dancing and modeling schools and now
owns the Newcomer Welcome Service of Tulsa. In addition, she hosted a
thirty-minute televison talk show in Amarillo, Texas and spent two weeks
dancing with the Barnum and Bailey Circus in Houston. |
| Tim Moore (Crew -- Production Stage Director) |
is employed by the Tulsa Housing Authority as its Compliance Auditor.
He is also a basketball and football official with the Greater Tulsa
Officials Association and the OSSAA. This past year he also was an
official in the Independent Women's Professional Football League. The
year was 1973 when Tim uttered those infamous words, "Dad, can I
help you with something with the show?". Ever since then, he keeps
coming back. You know the old saying, "Be careful of what you
say..." He's really enjoyed being around all the cast members over
the years (well, most of them) and is now getting excited because he is
starting to recognize some of the music in the show! Could that be a
part of the aging process? In his spare time, he enjoys being with
"his girls" (wife Ann and daughter Dierdre) and going to OSU
football and basketball games where he does point out that OSU has not
lost to a team with the dominant color of red in the last couple of
years. It's great to be a Cowboy! |
| Ann Moore (Crew) - (Assistant Scenery Guru) |
is the wife of Tim Moore, Production Stage Director and the mother of
3 year old, Dierdre Erin Moore. She is employed by Tulsa Public Schools
as a Special Education Teacher at Edison Preparatory School. Ann was a
little behind on her duties this year because she was standing on the
steps of the state capitol rallying with other teachers to PUT EDUCATION
FIRST! In her spare time, Ann is in the midst of potty training the
little darling who rules the house. Ann has mastered the art of getting
the child to the potty on time and screaming to Tim, "Look Daddy!
She poopied! YEAH!" then running to the phone to call every
relative in the local calling area and relaying the news. In the past, a
box of hair dye has awaited Ann and for the show to be over, but she
beat it to the punch this year and had it done before the scripts were
off the presses! |
| P. Casey Morgan (Trust, Head Author) |
is the Development Director for KWGS, Tulsa's Public Radio Station.
This is her fourth year as Head Author and she's finally starting to get
the hang of it, having this year achieved her longtime goals of (a) not
writing anything for the show and (b) having the entire show in English.
Earl Hamner emails her regularly, Cokie Roberts gave her flowers, Janis
Ian bought her drinks and Kinky Friedman kissed her on the cheek and
called her "a fine American" but she still prefers life among
the little people of the Gridiron cast. |
| Harold L. Morgan, Jr. (webmaster) |
Chief Fan of the Head Author (see above), Harold (Skip) has maintained
the Tulsa Gridiron website for the last few years despite massive lack
of input from the Gridiron cast, crew and/or audience. The Gridiron
website is generally held to be much funnier than the actual show (known
in the trades as "a short putt"); check it out at: www.oocities.org/Tulsagridiron
|
| DJ Morrow Ingram (author, Trust) |
is not on stage in the show for the first time in seven years as she
is still pouting at not getting to don the famous "Susan
Savage" wig and portray the Tulsa mayor. (The authors will have to
look for Secretary of State material for next year....) She is the
chairman of the Press Club Educational and Charitable Trust - the first
female to hold the position in its 71 year history. In her real life
(what is "reality" anyway...?) she heads up the Marketing
Department for the Tulsa Area United Way and hopes her good deeds as
part of her job for charitable causes in our fair city help make up for
Gridiron indiscretions. DJ is also a "closet lawyer" (which
some of the authors may need after the show) and sings in the car,
shower or anywhere she can find an audience. |
| Shannon O. Moudy (cast) |
"Tulsa's biggest geek" attested by Cox Cable Internet
bill. Second Year Griddie. Jerry Muratore (cast, Trust) - Jerry is
performing in his 21st Gridiron starting in 1977. Years missed were due
to job moves to Amarillo and Wichita from 1995 to 2000. He'd like to
thank his former employers for moving him back to Tulsa to continue his
assault on Gridiron audiences |
| Vicki Muratore (Production Manager) |
Vicki has served as a Gridiron prompter for several years, only
abandoning her post to follow her husband to jobs in Amarillo and
Wichita. She served as the show director in 2002 and as production
manager for this year's show. |
| Mark Owens (cast) |
Nickname is "crash." Startles easily. Spent first seven
years at Tulsa World as nomadic, bedouin "desk man," working
without desk. Now has two desks and has been promoted by homeland
security to full-metal paginator. Fond of Brits. Often misquotes C.S.
Lewis. Often misquotes British rock hooligan Noel Gallagher. Won't sing
unless it's obscure b-side from obscure British rockers Oasis. Has
family values. Keeps trying to get Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to
adopt him as son. |
| Dick Risk (cast, Trust) |
Dick is celebrating his twenty-fifth consecutive year in Gridiron. He
was an Air Force public affairs officer and ran an Armed Forces Radio
and Television Service Network overseas. He also worked in public
relations for Getty Oil and PSO. He ran the Southwestern Power
Administration for Ronald Reagan. Currently, Dick publishes a national
trade periodical, is a structured settlement broker and is an attorney. |
| Angela Smith (cast - Rookie) |
is a technical recruiter for Search Engine, and is finally getting to
put those High School Drama Classes to good use. She attended the
Gridiron last year for the first time, and was hooked. Angela has been
tempted to do some "research" for her role as Winona Ryder,
but doesn't have a purse big enough. |
| Karen Smith (cast - Rookie) |
As an amateur, dancer, Karen has been known not to appear on cue and
to nearly fall on her caboose a time or two. But she always manages to
pull through knowing the show must go on! In a high school speech she
woke up the entire audience by saying, "uh... uh" for five
whole minutes. After 20 years in Tulsa broadcast media, she jumped the
fence without stumbling or stuttering and now enjoys her position as
media director/account executive with Butler and Butler Advertising. |
| Anne Thompson (costume chief) |
Anne is much more comfortable behind a camera than in front of one, so
working behind the scenes is her forte. By day, she is the Court
Administrator for the City of Tulsa. By night, she can be found
rummaging through the curbside trash looking for costuming inspirations
for next year's show. |
| Wes Thompson (cast) |
For those of you that have eagerly followed Wes' Gridiron career, two
stunning and exciting developments! (1) Gosh darn the Rockettes. They've
had their opportunities for his fabulous talents. (2) His golden locks
are gone again! While Wes has your attention, he wants you to know that
no matter what he says on stage tonight, he is still an ardent supporter
of the U of Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team. Support Tulsa's team
and make Wes happy. The previous announcement was brought to you by
Let's Make Wes Happy, Inc. Thanks in advance for your cash donations to
this non-tax deductible organization. Just give your cash to Wes and he
will spend it. Big bills are encouraged |
| Adam "No, I'm not related to Ken" Trickey (cast - Rookie) |
Born "Adam David Mohammed Jesus Freeman" under a tree in
freedom-loving California. Lived in a teepee, bathed in a stream, wore
no clothes, and assumed everyone else (including you) did the same.
Extradited to Oklahoma in early 80's, though he is still allowed
visiting privileges to many western states. Mr. Trickey wishes he had
athletic ability, and after tonight you'll be wishing he had acting
abilities as well. In respect of the other "actors", we ask
that you keep booing to a minimum. |
| Kari Trickey (Cast - Rookie) |
Basically a stay-at-home-mom stuck in the house, The Tulsa Gridiron
provided plenty of excuse to get away. And there's a lot to get away
from! If you ever visit her, you'll find a messy kitchen full of brown
bottles and bubbling concoctions - but don't worry, it's not a meth lab
- only handmade soap. Throughout the spring and summer, you can find
Kari's "Soap Barn" (dot com) at the Cherry Street Farmer's
Market. Warning - if you ask her about soap, be prepared for a 2 hour
discussion. |
| Rebecca Ungerman (author) |
Rookie writer Rebecca Ungerman realizes her life-long dream to be a
Gridiron writer with this year's show. She is thrilled to finally be
able to set her sights higher. Rebecca is a professional song stylist
and performs around Tulsa with her musical life partner, Jon Glazer. She
has been labeled a "local diva" but dismisses all who call her
that with a withering glance and a barked order for a chilled Ozarka
with an Ivory soap top. Rebecca would like to thank her actual life
partner, Diane, for absolutely everything that her dear, departed mother
didn't already give her. |
| Julie Watt |
For two years Julie has worked the Press Club bar to maintain the
positive attitudes among the cast and crew....or help them drown their
casting sorrows. She has been ordained "Libatrix to the Stars"
which everyone thinks is waaaaaay cool. Free time favs include long
walks on the Tulsa beach, candle-lit dinners, changing hair color, &
slam-dancing. |
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