2009 Inge Festival - Special Guests

The following is a preliminary list of Honorees, Special Guests and Scholars currently expected to attend, present and perform during the 28th William Inge Theatre Festival, April 22-25, 2009:

Pictures and bios are being updated please check back...

Paul Baker's music on Celtic harp, concert harp, piano, organ and harpsichord can be heard in concert and on recordings and movie soundtracks. He is a winner in the 8th Independent Music Awards for Best New Age Album ("The Quiet Path") and Best New Age Song ("Heart's Gate"). Voted "Best Musical Director of the Year" for his work with Stephen Sondheim's musical ASSASSINS, Mr. Baker continues to play for many national tours and concerts in the Los Angeles area. Recently he was conductor for BARK!, the musical, and played in the national tour of CAMELOT with Michael York and Lou Diamond Phillips. The group Pastiche, premiered his GERSHWIN SAMPLER at Carnegie Hall and he was seen in motion capture in the new animated feature BEOWULF. He has recorded three Celtic harp albums, "The Tranquil Harp," "The Ladder of the Soul" and "The Quiet Path." Mr. Baker returns to the Festival for his seventh year having served as musical and vocal director of the production of ALL THAT JAZZ, a concert of songs by John Kander and Fred Ebb, COMES ONCE IN A LIFETIME, a musical tribute to Betty Comden and Adolph Green, ARTHUR'S TURN, a collection of songs from the shows of Arthur Laurents, and BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL WORLD, the songs of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick.

Gigi Bolt is currently a program and philanthropy consultant and adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University. In 2006-2007, she served as Interim Executive Director of Theatre Communications Group. Ms. Bolt was Director of Theater and Musical Theater at the National Endowment for the Arts from 1995 till 2006. Prior to joining the Endowment, she served as Director of the Theater Program at the New York State Council on the Arts. Her tenure at the Council was preceded by work as an actor including five seasons as a member of the company of the Cleveland Play House. She serves as Interim Board Chairman of the SITI Company and on the Board of the William Inge Festival Foundation. She is the recipient of a Distinguished Service Award from the NEA, the Lee Reynolds Award from the League of Professional Theatre Women, and an Alumni Honor Citation from the University of Kansas.

Huron B. Breaux II is currently Director of Worship at the Holy Savior Catholic Church of Wichita, Kansas as well as Artist-in-Residence at Unity Church of Wichita. In addition, Huron is a highly sought after Music Consultant making appearances as a gospel music clinician/director at churches and universities around the country. He began doing professional theatre in 1997 making his debut on the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Stage in Washington, DC in BLACK NATIVITY, AN ADAPTATION OF LANGSTON HUGHES. Since then he has performed leading roles on many stages around the country in musicals, operas and plays alike. His body of work includes: CROWNS, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE, DREAM GIRLS, BUBBLIN' BROWN SUGAR, AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS, OTHELLO, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and A RAISIN IN THE SUN. He is excited to be a part of the 28th Annual William Inge Theatre Festival and thanks Wayne Bryan.

Wayne Bryan has performed extensively on Broadway (GOOD NEWS!, RODGERS AND HART, TINTYPES) and on television (M*A*S*H on CBS, Keystone on A&E, American History on PBS), and has directed productions all across the country. Wayne began his professional career as both actor and director with San Diego's Old Globe Theatre, and credits at regional theatres include starring roles in THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, BARNUM, 1776, WHERE'S CHARLEY?, and ME AND MY GIRL. In 1988 Wayne become the Producing Artistic Director for Music Theatre of Wichita, where he has now produced 105 Broadway-scale, highly acclaimed musical productions. Numerous awards include the Kansas Governor's Arts Award and the NCCJ Brotherhood / Sisterhood Award, recognizing those who fight discrimination and encourage diversity. He is co-author of the rewritten collegiate musical GOOD NEWS!, which has received more than 250 productions in the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain, plus a well-received cast album. He also produced the American cast album for the Olivier Award-winning HONK! Wayne has been an enthusiastic Inge Festival participant since 1990, especially grateful for his involvement the memorable tributes to Stephen Sondheim, Kander and Ebb, Arthur Laurents, and Comden and Green.

Karen Carpenter, a theater artist of varied pursuits, served as Associate Artistic Director for the Tony award-winning Old Globe Theater for seven seasons. In 2007, Carpenter was a nominee for the prestigious Alan Schneider award at TCG, and the Mike Ockrent Fellowship at the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. At the Old Globe, Carpenter's award-winning direction included: the American premiere of Nilo Cruz's TWO SISTERS AND A PIANO, Jeffrey Hatcher's SMASH, and Harold Pinter's BETRAYAL. Carpenter also collaborated as artistic producer on many premieres by luminaries as Mark Lamos, Jeffrey Hatcher, Dan Sullivan, Tom Stoppard, Nora Ephron, Marvin Hamlisch, and Arthur Miller (in the last production of his life), featuring such renowned actors as Cherry Jones, John Lithgow, Harry Groener, and Tom McGowan. Last season, Carpenter directed Paper Mill Playhouse's hit, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and Lori Fischer's GREENER PASTURES at The Public Theatre. For the past three years, Carpenter has made her work with writers on premiere presentations of their new works a priority.

Marcia Cebulska's play TOUCHED premiered at the William Inge Theatre Festival for which it was commissioned. Her, NOW LET ME FLY, commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision, has been performed over 1,000 times internationally. THROUGH MARTHA'S EYES recently aired nationally on PBS. Marcia's plays have been produced at The Georgia Repertory Theatre, HERE (NYC), the Phoenix Theatre, Frontera at Hyde Park, Fremont Centre Theatre, The Theatre Building and elsewhere. Marcia has received the Dorothy Silver Award, the Jane Chambers International Award, Kansas Arts Commission and Indiana Arts Commission Master Artist Fellowships, and "Best Historical Film" (Traildance Film Festival). Her plays have been chosen for development by the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, Sundance Playwrights Lab and Shenandoah Playwrights Retreat. She has been playwright-in-residence at The University of Georgia, Mary Anderson Center for the Arts, and The William Inge Center for the Arts.

Ben Corbett is an Artist-in-Residence of Voice and Acting at Oklahoma City University. He is a Linklater voice teacher trainee, vocal coach, actor, and director who hails from Tulsa, OK. He received his BA in Drama from the University of Dallas, and an MFA in Acting from the University of Pittsburgh. Ben's professional acting credits two and a half years as a resident's vocal coach, actor, and director at Barter Theatre. Other acting credits include roles at Blowing Rock Stage Co., Burning Coal Theatre Co., Light Opera Oklahoma, Shakespeare & Co., North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, and Teatro Dallas. Additional vocal coaching credits include Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Street Theatre, Burning Coal Theatre Co, Bare Theatre, Light Opera Oklahoma, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Most recently, he spent a year as a teacher of Introduction to Theatre, Dialects for the Stage, and Public Speaking at Appalachian State University. He's also served as an adjunct at Emory and Henry College, King College, and Virginia Highlands Community College. He served as a teacher assistant at University of California-Santa Cruz and is a proud member of Actors' Equity.

Llewellyn Crain became the executive director of the Kansas Arts Commission in May 2006. Prior to joining the Commission, she was a fundraiser for the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University. Llewellyn also served as the Director of Educational Initiatives for the Los Angeles Philharmonic (2000–2003) and the Director of Community Programs at the Los Angeles Opera (1989–2000). In both these positions, she commissioned and produced new works for children and adults, developed innovative education programs for individuals of all ages and participated extensively in marketing and development. Llewellyn has been a dance critic and arts writer as well as a dance educator. She is a frequent guest speaker on the arts, has served on many grants panels, and has been a member of boards and advisory panels for arts organizations. Llewellyn earned bachelors and masters degrees in dance from UCLA and a masters degree in arts administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Barbara Dana made her New York stage debut at the age of 17 in the off-Broadway production of Arthur Laurents' A CLEARING IN THE WOODS. She appeared on Broadway in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, ENTER LAUGHING, ROOM SERVICE and William Inge's WHERE'S DADDY? She was also a member of the improvisational group, Second City, appearing in Chicago and New York. Off-Broadway: JOAN OF LORRAINE, EH?, GHOSTS, BREAK A LEG. Film: Raising Flagg, The In-Laws, Popi, Fire Sale, Chu-Chu and the Philly Flash (for which she wrote the screenplay), Samuel Beckett is Coming Soon...(short). TV: Law&Order, Law&Order: SVU, Necessary Parties (her screenplay), A Matter of Principle, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, June Moon, As the World Turns. Ms. Dana is an award-winning author of books for children and young adults. Her first play, WAR IN PARAMUS, premiered at Abingdon Theatre Company in New York in 2005, directed by Austin Pendelton. It has recently been published in the anthology New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2006. Her most recent book, Wider than the Sky: Essays and Meditations on the Healing Power of Emily Dickinson (Kent State University Press) has recently been released. Barbara has just completed a novel based on the young life of Emily Dickinson, which will be published by HarperCollins in February, 2009.

Teresa Eyring is Executive Director of Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for non-profit professional theatre. Prior to arriving at TCG in 2007, Ms. Eyring spent more than twenty years as an executive in theatres around the U.S. Positions included: managing director of the Children's Theatre Company (CTC) in Minneapolis from 1999-2007; managing director of the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia from 1994-1999; and assistant executive director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis from 1989-1993. She began her theatre career as director of development for the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, D.C in 1983. She holds a BA in International Relations from Stanford University and an MFA in Theatre Administration from Yale School of Drama. Eyring is currently active as an executive committee member of the Performing Arts Alliance, is chair of the follow-up process for the 2008 National Performing Arts Convention, is a member of the National Advisory Council for the August Wilson Center for African American Culture in Pittsburgh, and a member of the Tony Awards nominating committee.

Rita Gardner most recently appeared in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSE at the Syracuse Stage. In her most recent Broadway appearance, she created the role of Rosie in the musical THE WEDDING SINGER. Other Broadway credits include A FAMILY AFFAIR, BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS, 1776, and LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS. Off-Broadway credits include the original Girl in THE FANTASTICKS, JACQUES BREL, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and WINGS. Other credits include A.R. Gurney's THE SNOWBALL, THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, GINGERBREAD LADY, and SIDE BY SIDE by Sondheim. National tours include, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. Movies soon to be released - Mr. Gibbs, Superheroes, P.S. I Love You. T.V. - Guiding Light and each version of Law and Order. Currently performing her one-woman show - TRY TO REMEMBER : A LOOK BACK AT OFF-BROADWAY at cabarets and theatres throughout the country. The CD of that show has been released on HarbingerRecords.com.

Richard Hellesen is the author of a number of plays for adult and young audiences seen at theatres across the country. They include KINGDOM, MOONSHADOW, ONCE IN ARDEN, a widely-produced version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and some two dozen one-acts – including, ONE DESTINY and THE ROAD FROM APPOMATTOX, commissioned and produced by Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC. His work for young audiences includes adaptations of THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES and JOHNNY TREMAIN, musical versions of GATHERING BLUE and THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, as well as twelve school tours for South Coast Repertory in Southern California. Two of these tours, FACE TO FACE and THE PRIDE OF WEEDPATCH CAMP, have been presented by the William Inge Center for the Arts in conjunction with the Lincoln Center Institute for Arts in Education. A member of the Dramatists Guild, he has received awards from the National Theatre Conference and PEN USA-West, and is the one of the current Playwrights-in-Residence at the William Inge Center.

Arlene Hutton is best known for "The Nibroc Trilogy," which includes LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC (New York Drama League Best Play nomination), SEE ROCK CITY (In the Spirit of America Award) and GULF VIEW DRIVE (LA Weekly and Ovation Award nominations). Her plays have been presented Off- and Off-Off-Broadway, at regional theatres and throughout the world, including four times at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Her first one-act, I DREAM BEFORE I TAKE THE STAND, has been performed around the world and translated into Chinese, Dutch and Romanian. New York credits include 78th Street Theatre Lab, Alice's Fourth Floor, A-Train Plays, Barrow Group, Circle-in-the-Square Downtown, EST, HERE, and the New York Fringe Festival. An alumna of New Dramatists, Hutton is a member of Dramatists Guild, six-time Heineman Award finalist, three-time winner of the Samuel French Short Play Festival, finalist for the Francesca Primus Prize and recipient of the Lippman and Calloway Awards. Residencies include the Australian National Playwrights' Conference, New Harmony Project, MacDowell Colony and Yaddo.

Cynthia Hyer is an actress, writer, director and fight choreographer based in Kansas City. Most recently she appeared as Margrete in COPENHAGEN for the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre and as Becca in RABBIT HOLE for the Unicorn Theatre. She wrote the screenplay THE WERTHER YEARS about the relationship that existed between Johannes Brahms and Clara and Robert Schumann, and the subsequent stage play, KREISLERIANA, based on the same material. Last summer she choreographed the fights for DESDEMONA, OR A PLAY ABOUT A HANDKERCHIEF for Actor's Theatre of Kansas City, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for Theatre in the Park. Cynthia will soon begin rehearsals for UNNECESSARY FARCE, a new comedy that will be performed at The American Heartland Theatre in May and June. She'd better hurry up and write a new one-act for the Equity Showcase in August where she has had two previous one-acts (FOUND and THE DOCENT) produced in the last two years. Cynthia has appeared in three movies that have recently been released, All Roads Lead Home, Suspension, and Matchmaker Mary. Oh, and many moons ago, Cynthia had the great pleasure of playing Cherie in BUS STOP.

Lynne Kaufman is the author of thirteen full length plays, three novels and dozens of short stories. In April 2005 she received The Otis Guernsey New Voices in the American Theatre Award at The William Inge Theatre Festival. DAISY IN THE DREAMTIME was presented by The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles in March 2004 as a recipient of a Hot Properties Grant from the L.A. Arts Council and The A.S.K. Foundation. The Golden Fish Theatre of Seattle also produced it in March 2004. It had its New York premiere at The Abingdon Theatre in March 2003, and its university premiere at S.F. State University as the recipient of the Rella Lossy Playwright's Award. DAISY IN THE DREAMTIME was published in "Women Playwrights: Best New Plays of 2003" and by Dramatic Publishing in 2006. FAKES premiered at Florida Studio Theatre and was optioned for film by 20th Century Fox and for television by Jean Doumanian Productions. SHOOTING SIMONE premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival and received six subsequent regional productions. It was published by Dramatic Publishing. Four of her plays premiered at The Magic Theatre including THE COUCH, which won The Glickman Award for Best New Play in San Francisco and SPEAKING IN TONGUES, which won a Kennedy Center/NEA/Fund for New American Plays Award. Her play OUR LADY OF THE DESERT won Theatreworks Best New Play in California Award. Her first novel "Slow Hands" was published in June 2003 and has been optioned by Maverick Films. Her second novel "Wild Women's Week-end" was published in June 2004 and her third "Taking Flight" in 2005. Her short stories have been published in McCalls, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and Good Housekeeping. She regularly teaches writing workshops at S.F. State University, U.C. Berkeley Extension and Omega Institute. For many years she was Director of Travel/Studies for U.C. Berkeley Extension and currently serves as Director of Special Events for the Joseph Campbell Foundation and as a trustee for The California Institute of Integral Studies. More details are available on her web site: LynneKaufman.com.

Liz Morton is an actress living in New York City. She performed in Carlos Murillo's DARK PLAY or STORIES FOR BOYS at Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival. (Liz is excited to work with him again in Kansas!) Her other regional credits include the role of Frankie in THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING directed by Joanne Woodward at the Westport Country Playhouse, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle, and HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE at Actors Theatre of Louisville. In New York, she has been a frequent participant in the "Project Shaw" reading series at the historical Players Club for the Gingold Theatrical Group. Other NYC credits include SAKE FOR THE HAIKU GEISHA for the Gotham Stage Company at the Perry Street Theatre, GIRL TALK for the Barrow Group, THE MOONCALF for the Abingdon Theatre Company, and THE FEARLESS for the Summer Play Festival at Theatre Row. She's been on all three of the Law and Order programs and appears in the Sundance winning film Forty Shades of Blue. Liz has also narrated several audio books. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from the University of Evansville and is an alumna of Louisville's Youth Performing Arts School.

Carlos Murillo is a playwright and director. His most recent play Diagram of a Paper Airplane was commissioned by The Goodman Theatre in Chicago. His play DARK PLAY OR STORIES FOR BOYS premiered at the Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 2007, and has been produced throughout the US and in Budapest, Hungary. It has been translated into Polish and German and appeared in New Playwrights: Best plays of 2007. Carlos' other plays include: UNFINISHED AMERICAN HIGHWAYSCAPE #9 & 32 (OR THE BROKEN TRACTOR GRAVEYARD), MIMESOPHOBIA (OR BEFORE AND AFTER), A HUMAN INTEREST STORY (OR THE GORY DETAILS AND ALL), OFFSPRING OF THE COLD WAR, THE PATRON SAINT OF THE NAMELESS DEAD, SCHADENFREUDE, NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES WITH LENI RIEFENSTAHL, NEVER WHISTLE WHILE YOU'RE PISSING and SUBTERRANEANS. He is a member of New Dramatists and teaches playwriting and performance at The Theatre School of DePaul University in Chicago where he lives with his wife Lisa Portes and their two children Eva Rose and Carlos Pablo.

Larry Neumann, Jr., a native Chicagoan, lives with his wife Sandy and their two cats in Ravenswood Manor. This is Larry's first production at the William Inge Theatre Festival. Larry has performed throughout Chicago and the Midwest in over 60 productions. Favorite roles include: Finkelbaum in THE PUPPETMASTER OF LUDZ (Writer's Theatre), Dr. Larch in CIDER HOUSE RULES I & II (Famous Door, 2003 Jeff Award, Actor, Principal Role), the Dalai Lama in HITTING FOR THE CYCLE (Famous Door, 1996 Jeff Award, Actor, Revue/1997 After Dark Award), Andrei Vukov in JUDGEMENT and the Librarian in UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL (Noble Fool). Film/television credits: Stranger Than Fiction, In the Name of God, Relative Evil, Stir of Echoes, Prison Break and Walker, Texas Ranger.

Betti O is originally from St. Louis, MO, but became well known in Kansas when her family moved to Manhattan, where Betti was featured in DESTRY RIDES AGAIN for Music Theatre of Wichita. Betti's television credits include the new network children's series, Four Fish Fly Free, as well as her show-stopping performance as a national winner on Showtime at the Apollo, in the legendary theatre in New York. Betti has performed in Europe, Asia, and all across the U.S., including Hawaii. She recorded a hit dance chart single in Germany, Precious Little Diamond, and performed with Ben Vereen, Sandy Duncan and Ed Harris in Broadway Sings for the Heartland, a star-studded benefit held in Oklahoma City.

Patricia Randell NYC: is delighted to be returning to the Inge Festival, where she was directed by Michele Pawk in last year's production of PICNIC. She was recently hailed as being "delightfully oboxious as the loud mouthed boss" in the Off-Broadway production of PEOPLE SPEAK, which was written by last year's attendee John Augustine. NY: DURANG DURANG (Manhattan Theatre Club), LADIES OF THE CORRIDOR (Peccadillo), LONG ISLAND SOUND (TACT), RANDOM HARVEST, NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE with Blythe Danner and Brian Dennehy (Broadway benefit), CHANG IN A VOID MOON (w/ Steve Buscemi), HB Playwrights, NY Fringe Festival, Young Playwrights Festival, and New York Theatre Workshop. Member: Ensemble Studio Theatre. Film: Islander (w/ Philip Baker Hall), and Approaching Union Square, which has aired numerous times recently on the Sundance Channel. TV: L & O/soaps. Sitcom pilot: "The Match". BFA: BU. MFA: CUA. Frequent Guest Artist: New River Dramatists and The William Inge Center for the Arts. Teaching Artist: Brooklyn College, Ensemble Studio Theatre and NY Institute of Technology.

Alan Safier is currently touring in a solo performance as George Burns in the Tony-nominated SAY GOODNIGHT, GRACIE. His stage career has included portrayals of several other celebrated persons: Spiro Agnew in AN EVENING WITH RICHARD M. NIXON, Truman Capote in the hit off-Broadway revival of NEW FACES OF 1952, Albert Einstein in the world-premiere musical THE SMARTEST MAN IN THE WORLD, John Adams in 1776, and Charles Guiteau in the L.A. premiere of Stephen Sondheim's ASSASSINS. Other recent stage credits include Michael in THE MEN FROM THE BOYS (Mart Crowley's sequel to THE BOYS IN THE BAND), Buddy in CITY OF ANGELS, Herb Schwartz in THE LAST SCHWARTZ, Lou in THE SPEED OF DARKNESS, Versati in Steve Martin's THE UNDERPANTS, and Jess Sr. in William Inge's "lost play," THE DISPOSAL. Festival attendees will remember him from past tributes to Christopher Durang, Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick, Arthur Laurents, Adolph Green, and Romulus Linney. Alan has done hundreds of radio & tv voiceovers (most notably as the Kibbles 'n' Bits dog), and has guest-starred on dozens of tv series.

Virginia Scheuer was most recently seen in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS in Northwest Arkansas' premier professional theatre company, Theatre Squared. This past year she has returned to Fayetteville, Arkansas from California where she worked both in L.A. and the San Francisco Bay Area doing theatre and documentary work. She received her MFA in Acting from the University of Arkansas and is currently the Associate Artist Director of Tricycle Theatre for Youth in Bentonville, Arkansas and serves as a teaching artist for Theatre Squared and Arts Live Theatre. Her favorite credits include Titania and Hermia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Celia in AS YOU LIKE IT, Amanda in PRIVATE LIVES and Hermione in THE WINTER'S TALE.

Kelly Sullivan most recently played 'Inga' on Broadway in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Previous Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning show CONTACT and BELLS ARE RINGING. Kelly collaborated with Mr. Jones in his New York debut of MIRETTE, at the York Theater in 2005. She has also worked alongside Mr. Jones' wife, Janet Watson in several stellar productions in New York and regionally. She appeared in and was the assistant director for Broadway Under the Stars, held annually at Bryant Park in NYC and broadcast live on CBS. Soap opera viewers have seen Kelly on One Life to Live (ABC) and as Tracy on As the World Turns (CBS). TV/Film includes Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Producers and the upcoming My Father's Will, Winter of Frozen Dreams and Greta (with Ellen Burstyn). She recently played Shelby in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Kelly's first professional role was Luisa in THE FANTASTICKS at 15 years old. Thanks to Kaitlin for this incredible experience! www.kelly-sullivan.com

Daniel Tatar is very glad to return to the Inge Festival. Daniel was recently seen in CSI:NY on CBS, and is scheduled to debut his first one-man show, BOY BAND WANNABE, in early summer. Other television credits: Grey's Anatomy and Real Time with Bill Maher. Commercials: Budweiser, U.S. Cellular, U.S. Military, Much Music, America Online. Voiceover: American Idol, The Game Show Network, and Volkswagen. Stage credits include KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Valentin), RAY CHARLES LIVE (Ahmet Ertegun, for which he received an NAACP Award with the cast), THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Jamie), BABY (Danny, opposite Kerry Butler), Steppenwolf Theatre Company's THE BALLAD OF LITTLE JO (with Judy Kuhn), JOSEPH AND THE...DREAMCOAT (Joseph), and PARADISE LOST: SHADOWS AND WINGS (Fervio). Daniel originated the role of Man 1 in the Chicago and San Francisco companies of I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, which he also performed on the national tour. www.danieltatar.com

Yul Vazquez has appeared in over thirty films including American Gangster (2007), Music Within, (2007), War of the Worlds (2005), Bad Boys 2 (2003), Traffic (2000) and Runaway Bride (1999). This past year, Vazquez starred in Steven Soderbergh's two-part epic Che with Benicio Del Toro and the critically acclaimed The Take with John Leguizamo and Rosie Perez. Seamlessly moving between film, television and stage, Vazquez is a founding member of the LAByrinth Theatre Company and is very well known for his recurring role on Seinfeld. Vazquez appeared in Noah Buschel's film The Missing Person alongside Michael Shannon and Amy Ryan at its world premiere in the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Martin Vidnovic received a Tony nomination for BRIGADOON. Other Broadway credits include a Drama Desk Award for Maltby and Shire's BABY, an L.A. Drama Critic's Award as Jud in OKLAHOMA!, during its pre-Broadway tour, THE KING AND I and HOME SWEET HOMER, both starring Yul Brynner, GUYS AND DOLLS, and in Disney's KING DAVID. He toured nationally in THE KING AND I starring Sandy Duncan, and starred with Bebe Neuwirth in HERE LIES, played Grandfather in the world premier of Tony Kushner's play BUT THE JIRAFFE and received a Backstage Bistro Award for A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING. Recently, Martin played Bellomy in Tom Jones' revival of THE FANTASTICKS, Off-Broadway, Signor Naccarelli in The Pioneer Theatre's production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and has been touring his solo cabaret show WHAT MATTERS TO ME. Martin can be heard as the voice of the King in the animated feature film of THE KING AND I, now on DVD.

Ralph Voss (Special Guest Presenter) A native Kansan, Ralph is a Professor of English at the University of Alabama, where he specializes in American Drama and Rhetoric. Voss is author of the William Inge biography, A Life of William Inge and several books and articles on American Drama and the craft of writing. Voss holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Ft. Hays State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. He has published biographical and critical articles about Inge and Tennessee Williams in The Dictionary of Literary Biography, Dictionary of American Biography, Kansas Quarterly, and Library Chronicle. He also publishes in the field of rhetoric and composition.

Susan Watson has been honored with a Tony nomination for her performance in A JOYFUL NOISE, as well as New Jersey Critics' award for Best Actress in THE MUSIC MAN, and the San Diego Starlight Award for Best Actress in MY FAIR LADY. Her Broadway credits include WEST SIDE STORY (London Production), and the original productions of BYE, BYE, BIRDIE, CELEBRATION, NO, NO, NANETTE, CARNIVAL, and BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS. Some of her favorite national appearances include TWELFTH NIGHT, with the Washington Shakespeare Festival, TINTYPES, with the South Coast Repertory, SHE LOVES ME, with the California Music Theatre, and THE RIVALS with the Roundabout Theatre in New York. She has toured for Columbia Artists in her own production of A BROADWAY CELEBRATION, and has been a guest actor at the Sundance Writers' Laboratory for several seasons. As a member of L.A.'s Musical Theatre Guild she has directed and appeared in many of their staged readings. Her latest CD, "Earthly Paradise," the songs of Jones and Schmidt, was "talkinbroadway's" choice for Top Ten Albums of 2007.

Amanda White is a proud member of Actors' Equity, and currently serves as the Coordinator of Planning & Development at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She has worked in play development for The Araca Group and for Theatre Development Fund, and recent production work includes co-Producing THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and Willliam Inge's BUS STOP for Brooklyn's Gallery Players. Some favorite credits include A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Anne), THE HEIDI CHRONICLES (Heidi), CAROUSEL (Julie Jordan), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, KITTY, MEDEA, and BALM IN GILEAD. Most recently, Amanda received an MA in Arts Administration from Columbia University and graduated from the School at Steppenwolf. She is a proud native daughter of Buffalo, Iowa.

Walter Willison Tony Award nominee, Theatre World Award winner. Starred on Broadway (TWO BY TWO, PIPPIN, GRAND HOTEL, etc.), films and TV. Received a Special William Inge Award (1987). Chosen by Irving Berlin to sing "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" for NBC-TV's Ziegfeld. Has worked with numerous legends, including Richard Rodgers, Leonard Bernstein, George Abbott, Bob Fosse, Joshua Logan, Tommy Tune, Susan Stroman, William Inge, (Robert) Wright and (George) Forrest. Wrote book and lyrics for eight produced musicals. Revised (with Douglas Holmes) Frank Loesser's GREENWILLOW, which, noted Variety, "is redeemed by its new book." Many directorial credits include productions at San Diego's Old Globe, Off-Broadway, and the 2006 Theatre World Awards (also writing special material for Liza Minnelli). Performed on and/or produced 29 CDs. Associate Editor: Screen World (Vols.37-40), Theatre World (Vols.42-40). Honored to have shared the stage with Harvey (Schmidt) and Tom (Jones), portraying El Gallo in the First Japan Tour of THE FANTASTICKS. For more go to: http://www.myspace.com/walterwillison

Will Willoughby has worked in the entertainment industry for over twenty years. He is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and received his B.A. from the University of Southern California in the prestigious cinema/television program. He was artistic director of The Rose Alley Theatre in Venice, California from 2000-2004 where he produced and directed over twenty plays, musicals and poetry readings. He worked as literary manager and production manager for the world famous playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee from 1990 until Mr. Lawrence's death in 2004. Most recently he has worked for a production company with offices in Los Angeles and New York. For that company he worked on the Broadway Productions of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and GREY GARDENS as well as on the development of numerous films and theatre projects. In 2008 he produced the Los Angeles premiere of A CATHOLIC GUIDE TO LOSING YOUR VIRGINITY at the Pico Playhouse. Other achievements of note include working on the Broadway revival of INHERIT THE WIND, starring George C. Scott and Charles Durning and its 1999 film remake for Showtime starring Jack Lemmon as well as the accompanying documentary, Of Darwin, Monkeys and Men for Showtime. Will was fortunate to have studied acting and theatre craft with some of the legends in American Theatre including Sanford Meisner, Nina Foch, Stella Adler and David Craig. His screenplay In The Moment was a finalist in the Nicholls fellowship sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His short film, Memories of Bag Lady starring B-movie queen Yvette Vickers was part of the Clermont Ferrand Festival of Short Films in France. He currently works as an independent entertainment consultant helping clients to develop their ideas and creativity.

Elizabeth Wilson studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Her Broadway debut was in PICNIC in 1952. Since then she has appeared on Broadway in WAITING IN THE WINGS, A DELICATE BALANCE, and AH, WILDERNESS among others. She won a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actress in MORNINGS AT SEVEN, and a Tony Award for her performance in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of STICKS AND BONES. She won Obie Awards for TAKEN IN MARRIAGE and ANTIROOM and was given the Drama Desk Award for SOLONIKA. She has various film and television credits as well including: The Graduate; The Addams Family; Grace Quigley with Katherine Hepburn; and Child is Waiting with Judy Garland. Elizabeth was recently inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.

Mike Wood is a native of Cherryvale, Kansas, and an alumnus of Independence Community College. He is currently the Executive Director of Media Services, WSU-TV and KMUW-FM at Wichita State University. This year's Tribute is the 21st he has directed for the Festival. Mr. Wood holds his Master of Fine Arts degree in cinema/television production from the University of Southern California.

Luke Yankee is a director, producer, writer and actor. He is delighted to be returning for his thirteenth consecutive year at the Inge Festival. Luke's book, Just Outside the Spotlight is published by Back Stage Books, with a foreword by Mary Tyler Moore. His newest play, THE JESUS HICKEY won the 2007 TRU Voices Award and the Joel & Phyllis Ehrlich Award. His first play, A PLACE AT FOREST LAWN is published by Dramatists Play Service. Luke has served as the Producing Artistic Director of the Long Beach Civic Light Opera (one of the largest musical theatres in America) and the Struthers Library Theatre (an historic landmark in Pennsylvania). He has assistant directed six Broadway plays, including THE CIRCLE (starring Sir Rex Harrison) and GRIND (directed by Harold Prince) and has directed and produced Off-Broadway and at regional theatres throughout the country. He has spent the last three years on tour with DIVA DISH, a multimedia one-man show about growing up as the son of Eileen Heckart. www.lukeyankee.com.