Ron Ford (Mr. Carp) is proud to be returning to the Civic stage. He was last seen in Shaw’s Misalliance in 2018. He is an actor, writer and filmmaker. He wrote to 1995 home video hit The Fear. He made his directorial debut in 1997 with the sci-fi action comedy Alien Force. He was a gun for hire for film distributors in the late 1990s, producing dozens of titles, including Hollywood Mortuary, Mark of Dracula and Witchcraft XI: Sisters in Blood. As an actor, he can be seen in the movies Home of the Brave, Killer Tomatoes Eat France, Train Dreams and many others. On television he has appeared on Z Nation, The Young Riders and Hey, Dude.
Jhon Goodwin (Mr. Blake) is delighted to be back on a regional stage after an almost 10-year absence, which he feels is plenty of time to forget everything he ever learned about acting – and hopefully a few bad habits along the way. His stage adventures have included Thomas Jefferson, Macduff, the Big Bopper, Bill Sykes, and a number of other men who probably needed better judgment. A member of SAG-AFTRA, Jhon has appeared on screen in Dreamin’ Wild, Dante’s Peak, Mozart and the Whale, and the TNT series Leverage. Most recently, his inner 12-year-old got to completely lose his mind when he saw his name under “Stunts” in the credits of the Academy Award-nominated film Train Dreams. Jhon is very happy to be back at Civic – and hopes at least a couple people notice how much fun he’s having.
Thomas Heppler (Mr. Breeding) last appeared in Civic’s production of Sweat as Stan. He has worked the past two years as a shadow actor in My Turn Theater’s productions of The Lion King Jr. and Frozen Jr. A national, regional, state, and local award-winning actor, he has worked in a multitude of plays and musicals in the Spokane area. He thanks Kim and the cast and crew for this great experience.
Scarlett Hepworth (Ms. Innes) made her acting debut in Quilters at Lake City Playhouse in 1992, just before turning 40. She went on to play several roles at Coeur d’Alene Summer Theater, including Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, and Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, and she also music directed several productions there, including Cabaret. She built a 30-year career as a vocal coach-accompanist after opening a private studio in 1993. At Civic, she was music director for 1776, Falsettos, Anything Goes, among others, and appeared onstage in Kiss Me Kate, Damn Yankees, The Heidi Chronicles, The Boys Next Door, Wit and other plays. She moved to California in 2004 where she lived for 19 years, acting in productions all over the Bay Area. She returned to Spokane in 2023, where she now lives with her wife of 34 years, Marilyn Langbehn. They share a Victorian dollhouse in Browne’s Addition with their two senior cats, Mr. George Grey and Juno the Hutt. They are thinking about getting a dog.
*Ilan Hernandez (Mr. Peel) is excited to be appearing in his first Spokane Civic Theatre production with a story that he is grateful to participate in telling. He has an MFA in Acting from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Some favorite credits include Romeo & Juliet (Romeo), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Ritchie Valens), and Sister Act (Eddie Souther). He would like to thank his family & friends for their support and all the amazing teachers & classmates he’s had over the years. He hopes this story inspires audiences to recognize the importance of our shared humanity, now more than ever. Thank you for your presence at this performance.
Chris Jensen (Mr. Assalone) studied for an MFA in Acting at Michigan State University. After that, he spent 10 years working as a theater critic in Spokane, Seattle, and San Francisco. Recent credits include Mr. Elton in last season’s Emma (Civic), Septimus in Arcadia and Frank Strang in Equus (both with Stage Left). He is especially proud of his work as co-founder and producer at Theater on the Verge, a theater company he started in 2024 with his creative partner Troy Nickerson.
Kris Kittelson (Mr. Hanratty) first stepped on stage at Civic 50 years ago. Some of his favorite roles over the last so-many decades include the ensemble in The Good Doctor (Civic), Elwood Dowd in Harvey at EWU, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at Woodland Theatre (Kettle Falls) and Grandpa in You Can’t Take it with You (Civic). He feels fortunate to be embarking on The Minutes in the company of such a talented and experienced cast and crew!
Beth Oltman (Ms. Matz) is a theater enthusiast and veteran elementary school teacher. Her previous credits include Narrator for Geezers and Leanne in Puffs (both with Ignite! Readers Theater). She’s grateful for the opportunity to grow alongside this incredible cast and crew.
Ted Redman (Mr. Oldfield), a former USAF Intelligence Officer, has appeared in multiple Civic productions since the early 1990s. A native of Palouse, his stage performances began in elementary school, continued in Germany with the American Theater in Wiesbaden, and resumed with Civic following his retirement. He’s been a Civic Board Member since 2013. Favorite roles include Marcellus Gallo in The Robe, Felix Unger in The Odd Couple, Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha, Caesar Rodney in 1776, and the Hermit in Seven Keys to Baldpate.
Jerry Sciarrio (Mayor Superba) originally from Boston MA, he spent 21 years on the road with an international drama troupe – acting, directing, and leading workshops in Drama, Voice and Theater History in 7 countries. Some of his favorite productions include The Miracle Worker (directed by Patty Duke), The 39 Steps (Clown 1) and The Producers (Max Bialystock). He recently completed the first National Tour of Miracle on 34th Street, has recorded over 150 audio books, and his film credits include Home of the Brave, The Family Holiday, as well as the cult classic Tiki.
Camrynne Sullivan (Ms. Johnson) is an actor, writer, and comedian currently based in Spokane, WA. She has studied at the Wynn Handman Acting Studio and Upright Citizens Brigade (NYC). B.A. Musical Theater, University of Washington. @camrynnesullivan
Kimberly Roberts (Director) began her association with Spokane Civic Theatre in 1964, when she auditioned (unsuccessfully) to play Baby Louise in Gypsy. In the decades since, she has acted, directed, choreographed, designed lighting, stage managed, operated light and sound boards and/or ushered for a host of Civic productions. She directed several award-winning shows for Civic, including Johnny Bull, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, Driving Miss Daisy and Master Harold … and the boys. Other local directing credits include High School Musical 2 (Spokane Children’s Theatre), Man of La Mancha (Spokane Opera), Fiddler on the Roof (CCT-North Idaho), Harvey (Ignite!) and The Jungle Book (CYT). For many years, Kim served as the resident lighting designer for Ignite! Community Theatre. She has recently designed lighting for Civic productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Glass Menagerie, All is Calm and Amadeus. Kim helped establish the Civic/Ignite! Booklight Readers’ Theater collaboration, directing The Great Gatsby and Puffs for that series. Her next directing project will be the readers’ theater presentation of For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday in Civic’s Studio, Nov. 6-8, 2026. Don’t miss it!
Marty Kittelson (Stage Manager / Properties) has years of experience in the Northwest on stage, back stage, on theatre boards and committees. Last season, she played Mrs. Claus in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Her greatest achievement was marrying the best leading man on or off any stage – Kris Kittelson. She spends her non-theatre time playing ukulele with many talented musicians.
Janice Abramson (Producer) has been involved with the Spokane Civic Theatre family since the summer of 1975. Since then she has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at Civic and the Individual Arts Contribution Award from the Spokane Arts Commission. Janice also works full-time for Spokane Public Schools and part-time for Spokane Chiefs Hockey Club. She is very excited to be back at the theatre. “I want to thank my family and friends for being there for me.”
Kaya Mallick (Dramaturg) has a BFA in Playwriting (2020) and an MA in International Studies (2024). Recent credits include Script Advisor for Trauma Queen (Spokane Playwrights Lab), Dramaturg for A Doll’s House (Denver Center for the Performing Arts) and Cabaret (Ohio University Division of Theater). She is the recipient of Fulbright Research Scholar award for 2024-25. In her free time, she loves to do yoga & dance ballet.
Laurie Arnold, PhD (Historical Consultant) is an enrolled citizen of the Sinixt Band of the Colville Confederated Tribes. She is the inaugural Director of Native American Studies and Professor of History at Gonzaga University. She has previously held positions at the D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies at the Newberry Library in Chicago and she was the founding director of Native American Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame.
Trained as a historian, she began writing about theater in 2020. A dedicated audience member, she brings her respect for art and story to her reflections about the impact and cultural contributions of theater. Her primary focus is Native American theater and the work of Native playwrights, but she also considers theater more broadly, especially plays that put history in conversation with the present.
Her publications have appeared in The Public Historian, the Western Historical Quarterly, Montana: The Magazine of Western History, in blogs including Harvard’s Social Impact Review and History@Work, published by the National Council on Public History, in Indian Country Today News, and TIME Magazine. She also contributed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “Art of Native America: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection” exhibit.
Peter Rossing (Scenic Design) has designed sets for theater, opera, and dance in Portland and Austin and staging for corporate events in Europe and Asia. Recent designs for Civic have included Cats, Carousel, A Christmas Carol, and The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Favorite past projects include A View from the Bridge for Portland Repertory Theatre, The Importance of Being Earnest for New Rose Theatre (Portland), On the Verge for Different Stages Co. in Austin, and A Comedy of Errors on Austin’s Zilker Park Stage.
Alexei Snow (Lighting Design) is excited to support Civic and local theatres. Recently he worked as Assistant Stage Manager and Lighting Design for this season’s Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Lighting Designer for last season’s Emma, worked in backstage as Fly Coordinator for The Addams Family, Light Board Operator for Legally Blonde, CATS, A Sherlock Carol and Alice by Heart, Deck Chief for Jersey Boys (all with Civic) and Crew for Red (Stage Left). “I would like to thank my life partner Adam Snow and dear friend Sarah Dahmen for showing me the delight of collaboration and teamwork that is theatre.”
Jamie L. Suter (Costume Design) holds a BA in Theater Design and Technical Production with concentrations in Costume Design and Directing from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC, studying under Broadway professionals Gail Brassard, Liz Covey, and Bob Anton. Notable credits include Costume Design for The Wonder!: A Woman Keeps a Secret (T. Schreiber Studio), Assistant to the Costume Designer for Sweeney Todd (Avery Fisher Hall), Assistant Costume Designer for The Lucky Chance (Theresa Lang Theater), Director/Costume Designer for Seven Femmes (Rathskeller Studios), and Costume Designer for The Lost Cabaret (NYC Fringe Festival). Jamie joined the Civic staff in 2018, her first design on stage being Present Laughter in the Studio Theatre. She loves being part of the fun and frivolity of live theater and is incredibly happy to do that at her home away from home, Spokane Civic Theatre.
Mackenzie Willett (Wardrobe) loves working behind the scenes at Civic as well as working as part of the Front of House Staff. Outside of theatre, Mackenzie spends all her time watching and playing soccer, spending time at church, and reading.
MJ Kim (Light and Sound Board Operator) is back with Civic after worked light board operator for The Wolves, A Christmas Carol, Xanadu Jr. and The Little Prince and backstage crew for CATS.
* Spokane Civic Theatre Debut