Asolo Repertory Theatre > Conservatory

	Elisabeth Ahrens - Born and raised in Topeka, Kansas, Elisabeth graduated from The University of Kansas with a B.G.S. in Theatre and Film. Having left tornado alley in favor of hurricane central, she is thrilled to be joining her talented classmates on the Cook stage this season. Elisabeth has worked in film and commercials, but her favorite roles continue to be those on the stage, including Juliet, Romeo and Juliet; Jill, The Big Funk; and Reggie Fluty, The Laramie Project. Elisabeth would like to thank her lovely sponsors Bruce and Janet Udell, Leland and Virginia Miles, and Janet Cantor and Shirley Sivitz for their encouragement and support, and especially her mom and dad, Randy, James and Bug.
	Brent Bateman - Brent calls Alaska his home and is a graduate of the University of Alaska, Anchorage where he earned a B.A. in Theatre. He was seen last year on the Cook Stage as King Cadmus in The Bacchae and as Don in the “late night” presentation of American Buffalo. Favorite roles include Orson Welles, It’s All True; Dr. Watson, Sherlock’s Last Case; Pseudolus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; and Sweeney in Sweeney Todd. Brent would like to thank his friends, family, classmates, instructors, and his donor, Mrs. Esther Mertz, for their love, guidance, and support.
	Heather Kelley - Heather is thrilled to return to the Cook Theatre, where she appeared last season in The Bacchae and more recently as Helene in A Doll House (Banyan Theater Company). A native of New York, Heather is a graduate of the University of the Arts. Favorite roles include Jackie in Hayfever (Dorset Theatre Festival), Princess Eboli in Don Carlos (Prospect Theater Co.), Viola in Twelfth Night, Helena in Midsummer, and the title role of Antigone, all for the touring company of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. She dedicates this season to the memory of her generous donor, Foster Harmon.
	DeMario McGrew - A 2005 graduate of the Theatre Arts department at Alabama State University, DeMario hails from the Port City of Mobile, Alabama. While attending Alabama State University DeMario received numerous awards for outstanding talent, leadership, and academic achievement including: the Deans List, Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, and graduated Cum Laude in his class. Mr. McGrew is a gifted bass singer, dancer, print and runway model, actor, director, and professional make-up artist. DeMario would like to thank Eva Slane, Phil and Brenda Rever, Tonea Stewart, and Ramona Ward for their continued support; and his parents Deborah McGrew and Ethel Merriweather for their endless love.
	Steven O'Brien - Steve O’Brien is a 2005 Oakland University graduate where this past summer he directed Five Women Wearing the Same Dress. Work between OU and FSU include Michigan Shakespeare Festival, the original production of Moonglow at Performance Network and Boars head, among others. His plans after graduation include eventually starting or running his own theatre with a resident ensemble of eight at the heart of the company. He is grateful to his donor Esther M. Mertz for her love and support.
	Kevin O'Callaghan - Kevin, a Michigan native, holds a B.A. in Acting from Western Michigan University. Kevin appeared last year on the Cook stage as Bobby in American Buffalo. Other favorite roles include: Stanley, Brighton Beach Memoirs; Adrian, Private Eyes; and Marc, Art. Kevin would like to thank his family, friends and his amazing donors Warren and Margot Coville and Jean and Ted Weiller, without whom none of this would be possible. Cheers!
	Randolph Paulsen - Randolph (AKA Dolph) completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater at UMass Amherst in the Spring of ‘06. He has assayed roles ranging from a seventeen year-old Scottish skinhead to the soul of a swan, reborn into the body of a full-grown man, to Macbeth in last year’s “late night” series. He is happy to be returning to the Conservatory (now a married man) and to the adventures of the second year. He would like to extend a huge thanks to his donors, Bruce and India Lesser.
	Jason Peck - Jason hails from Los Angeles. He has worked first hand with playwrighting luminaries, performing in world premieres: Charles Mee’s A Perfect Wedding, Jane Anderson’s Looking for Normal, West Coast/American premieres: Eric Bogosian’s subUrbia and Mark Ravenhill’s Faust is Dead. Film/television: In Her Shoes, NYPD Blue, King of Queens, LA Law: The Movie, and three seasons on Roswell. He received both the LA Critics’ Drama-logue and Backstage West Garland Awards. Last year he appeared on the Cook as Teach in American Buffalo. He thanks Nancy Markle, Joyce Menschel, and Evelyn Corsey for their support; and Alana for her ceaseless love.
	Michelle Trachtenberg - Michelle is a 2005 Acting graduate from UCSD. Her credits include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as Candy Star, Mysterious Skin as Wendy, Autobahn as Young Girl, and most recently she went on as an understudy in the role of Constanza (Asolo Rep). She would like to thank her classmates for their support during this wildly unpredictable experience. She would also like to thank her first year acting teacher Andrei Malaev-Babel for assisting in her transformation into a more open artist. Lastly, she would like to thank her parents and her donor Leslie Glass for being her support away from home.
	David Yearta - David is very excited to be returning to the Conservatory after taking a year off to spend time with his family. He has appeared as Helicanes in Pericles on the Cook stage as well as in several Late Nights and student films produced by the FSU Film School. Originally from South Carolina, David spent five years in NYC as an unpaid actor, which led to climbing many corporate ladders and his eventual arrival at the Conservatory. He has a B.F.A. from FSU and wishes to thank his family and the esteemed Conservatory faculty, as well as his donors Richard and Clare Levin and Carol Rickard. Without their love and support, none of this would be possible!