The Cast

PAMELA PEAK
Playing the part of Beebee Fenstermaker, Pamela Peak is a veteran actress of both stage and television. While in New York, Pamela appeared in numerous stage productions including Ibsen’s, Ghosts, and her favorite work, The Days and Nights of Beebee Fenstermaker. While living in New York, Pamela received her training at the critically acclaimed Sanford Meisner’s Neighborhood Playhouse. She appeared on three daytime dramas including CBS’s Love of Life. Being a native of Detroit, Pamela has regularly appeared in many industrial films, info-mercials and was a spokeswoman for the auto shows (appearing for The Ford Motor Company).

An accomplished musician, Pamela has also been involved in musical theatre productions. She has sung with The Tonight Show Orchestra in Burbank, CA. Additionally she has starred in many dinner theatre productions. She recently completed the highly respected South Coast Repertory Summer Conservatory in Costa Mesa, CA which culminated in a theatre production in Los Angeles entitled Open 24 Hours, directed by Hal Landon Jr. (South Coast Repertory’s Scrooge), Karen Hensel (seen on CBS’s The Young and the Restless), and Martha McFarland (veteran actress of stage and screen).

In addition to Pamela’s talents as an actress, she is an accomplished businesswoman and has both produced and directed over fifteen productions for dinner theatre and stage.

Pamela resides in Orange County, CA with her husband Ray Bernard and their two children. She is a children’s drama coach and enjoys working with young people in the arts.

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AUDREY MURDICK
Playing the role of sweet Nettie Jo (Beebee’s best friend) is actress Audrey Murdick. Audrey Murdick originally came to the stage as a dancer at the age of three and continued tripping the light fantastic until her graduation from high school. Last year she "discovered" acting and enrolled in the the South Coast Repertory Summer Conservatory. Audrey performed in South Coast Repertory’s 2003 showcase In the Garden, playing Madge, a 1950's girl and Amy, a PE teacher.

Audrey also starred in the cable TV drama Heartbreak Café at Santa Ana College, performed in Irvine Repertory's production of It's A Wonderful Life last December, and last March performed in When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder at the Turtle Rock Irvine Commmunity Theater (ICT). This particular performance earned her the "2002-03 ICT Best Featured Actress" award.

Audrey is an actress who brings a freshness and warmth to her roles and demonstrates this beautifully while playing Nettie Jo in The Days and Nights of Beebee Fenstermaker.

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WAYNE SALVATORE
Playing the part of Beebee’s first love Ed Busby is actor Wayne Salvatore. Wayne is a recent arrival from New York. He has been busy enjoying the Southern California weather and is excited to get 'back to work' on a west coast stage.

He has performed in numerous stage productions on the east coast, and studied acting at the highly regarded HB Studio in New York City with Edward Moorehouse.

Past favorite shows include Beyond Therapy, The Tempest, Three Sisters, and The Actor's Nightmare.

Wayne brings passion and energy to the role of Ed Busby in The Days and Nights of Beebee Fenstermaker.

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JERRY RUNNELS
The Interviewer is skillfully played by actor Jerry Runnels. A veteran to both stage and radio, Jerry has appeared in numerous productions during his acting career.

Some of his stage roles include: Mr. Penny Pinch in a Christmas production of Scrooge;Thomas in The Doubter Believes; Dad in Obedience is Better than Sacrifice; and Gannon in Dragnet (both the stage play and radio productions).

He is also represented by the Cosdin Morgan agency in Hollywood, California where he is actively pursuing a career in television and film.

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MICHAEL CSOPPENSZKY
Playing the role of the lovable Bob Smith is Mike Csoppenszky, a graduate of South Coast Repertory's Professional Conservatory. He also trained at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.

Michael is active in film/television projects and theatre in the greater Los Angeles area. 

He has appeared in the"Fries on the Side" sketch comedy group at the Sanford Meisner theatre in North Hollywood."

Michael recently performed in south Coast Repertory’s 2003 showcase In the Garden, playing Leo, the main character in At Long Last Leo.

Michael is a talented and sensitive actor who brings the role of Bob Smith to life in an endearing way in The Days and Nights of Beebee Fenstermaker.

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MARINA COFFEE
Marina Coffee plays the role of the Aunt Betty in The Days and Nights of Beebee Fenstermaker.

Marina is a long-time graduate of the South Coast Repertory Professional Conservatory. She has appeared in numerous stage productions over her career. She recently performed in South Coast Repertory’s 2003 showcase In the Garden, playing the role of Mrs. Potts.

Her career includes technical work on the acclaimed television production The Red Skelton Hour, as well as various film appearances.

Some of her more memorable roles include Aunt Polly in Tom Sawyer, a benefit production with director Robin Field; Harriet in A Wonderful Life, Mrs. Stockman in An Enemy of the People and Pic-a-Little Lady in Music Man at Laguna Playhouse; The Toy Lady in A Christmas Carol at South Coast Repertory Theatre; Abby in The Late Christopher Bean and Bloody Mary in South Pacific at Bear Valley Onstage.

This veteran charcter actress brings great comedy and depth to the role of Betty in the Days and Nights of Beebee Fenstermaker.

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BATYA CASPER
Playing the wild and comedic role of Aunt Virginia is Batya Casper. Batya obtained her PhD in Theatre at UCLA, and is also a recent graduate of South Coast Repertory's Professional Conservatory. She played the role of Mama in South Coast Repertory’s 2003 showcase In the Garden.

Batya also studied at the Actor's Studio, the Theater Group Studio, the Odyssey Theater, the Circus Theatricals' Studio for Actor's, and the Mailbu Stage Co.

Her favorite roles include Nora (lead) in The Plough and the Stars at the University of Massachusets; Donna Anna in The Stone Guest and Phaedra in Phaedra, both at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem; Olga in South Coast Repertory's workshop The Three Sisters. Other roles include Hedda in Hedda Gabler and M. Ranevskaya in The Cherry Orchard.

Batya is also the author of the book, Electra: A Gender Sensitive Study of the Plays Based on the Myth, published in 1995.

This creative actress brings a unique humor and spontaneity to the Beebee Fenstermaker cast.

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CARRIE DARROW
Carrie Darrow plays Melinda ("Mama"), Beebee's mother.

Carrie is both a writer and an actor. After writing a novel and building a stack of original screenplays, she felt the calling to write for theater.

Carrie is a graduate of South Coast Repertory's Adult Conservatory and has studied in both the acting and writing programs. “Writing is my first passion, but I believe the experience of acting strengthens the craft of dramatic writing,” explains Carrie.

Her first appearance on stage was at the age of five in Hiawatha, and later appeared in The Day the Bell Didn’t Ring.

Her latest creative work will be seen during October 2003 as part of the tapestry of characters depicted in the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society’s Cemetery Tours.

She was Assistant Director under Laurie Woolery in the Los Angeles production of Lapin and Lapinova at the Greenway Court Theater. She is currently writing a play for young teens and vigorously working on a script for a short film.

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JEANNETTE CHAIT
Jeannette Chait is heard as the recorded voice of Beebee's Grandmother.

At 88 years young, Jeannette Chait has performed in stage productions, television and radio (voiceover work).

Seen weekly as host of Leisure World’s Channel 6 television show called The Trading Post, Jeannette is well known and loved by all of her fans. In the past year alone she has acted in commercials for Coca-Cola, The Las Vegas Tourist Bureau and Kentucky Fried Chicken in a commercial with Jason Alexander.

She skillfully plays the voice-over role of Beebee’s grandmother in The Days and Nights of Beebee Fenstermaker and we are honored to have her in the cast.

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BRUCE GILMAN
Bruce Gilman plays the part of the Master of Ceremonies, a special role created for this production of The Days and Nights of Beebee Fenstermaker. Bruce was raised in the New York area and trained as an actor at Columbia University. He has performed in numerous shows in off-Broadway theatre and in film.

Bruce is a graduate of the South Coast Repertory Professional Conservatory and appeared in Open 24 Hours at the Greenway Theatre in Los Angeles.

Also, a writer and producer, Bruce wrote and produced Antigone 2000 (in which Antigone lives to get her revenge!) and Santa Monica Boulevard, which is based on the death of a homeless woman in LA in 1999.

Bruce is currently an Associate Professor of English at La Sierra University where he teaches 20th Century Literature.

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