Seussical at Rise Above Performing Arts

Tim Rerucha

Tim is a good ol’ boy originally from Polk County, Florida. Who moved to the New Jersey/New York area 10 years ago. This is his first performance with the MTM players. This is his 3rd production/performance on the Kelsey Theatre stage. In 2019, he was awarded Outstanding Supporting Actor in the musical The Putnam County Spelling Bee for his role as Vice Principal Panch. He can also be seen doing standup comedy around the NYC area and is managed by Ingrid French Management. Tim is a huge animal lover and enjoys anything outdoors. As a hobby he is a local beekeeper and harvests his own honey. Tim is also an actor in commercials and television when he isn’t doing his full-time job of throwing the ball for his dog Skippy. Tim would like to dedicate this performance to his Dad, Bill Rerucha - the ultimate showman - who passed away earlier this year on Ash Wednesday.

Cathy Coryat

Cathy Coryat is thrilled to be a part of MTM Players’ inaugural performance at the Kelsey Theatre. She recently completed her 5th turn in the Kelsey classic T’was the Night Before Christmas and returned to theater after the pandemic intermission in the original work, 22 a Day, with MTM Players. It was an honor to be a part of an educational piece which highlighted the Veteran’s Suicide epidemic. Cathy was literally seen in Pennington Players’ Calendar Girls, loved playing the crotchety, but lovable, Auntie Florence in Maurer Production’s Leading Ladies, was featured in Italian Funerals and Other Festive Occasions (Rosalie) with Center Players, and Yardley Players’ Barefoot in the Park (Ethel Banks). Cathy was nominated for an NJACT Perry Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ethel Banks. Many thanks to this amazing company of actors, crew, and director for an incredible run and for the laughs in a time when they are so necessary. As always, thank you to Dale and my beautiful children for always supporting, helping, and encouraging me. I never would have stepped on to a stage without you.

Karena Paleologo

Karena is excited to return to the stage in NJ after 15 years! While she was away, she participated in many community theater productions. Favorite roles include Sally in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Woman Who Loved Vaginas in The Vagina Monologues, and Mrs. Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank.

Melissa Rittmann

Melissa is excited to *finally* be performing with The MTM Players! Not a stranger to the Kelsey stage, she has been performing there for over the past two decades! She was last seen seen as Fraulein Kost in Theater To Go’s Cabaret! (pre-Covid 2020). Further favorite on-stage roles include Jo March (Little Women, the Musical - Off-Broadstreet Theatre), Rosalind (As You Like It—Stages @ CCC) & Ulla (The Producers - Kelsey Theatre) among many others. She graduated cum laude from Hofstra University (2007) with a BFA in Performance & a BA in English. She thanks the cast & crew for “playing” along with her and adding to the world's joy and creativity. And she sends all-encompassing love to her whole family and her Jimmy

Jessa Bedser

Jessa has been a Kelsey Theatre audience member for as long as she can remember, and is so excited for the tables to turn. Some of Jessa’s past favorite roles include Aquata (The Little Mermaid) and Morgan (Godspell). Break legs to the cast and crew. Hold onto those latch keys!

David Patterson

David is an actor and professional English tutor from Lawrenceville, New Jersey who has been delighted to return to the stage this year after a long absence. He most recently appeared as Captain Lesgate in Theater To Go’s production of Dial M for Murder and looks forward to any as-yet-unknown opportunities on the stage with great enthusiasm. He hopes you enjoy the show as much as he has enjoyed working with this exceptionally talented and driven cast and crew.

Mark E. Evans

Once an actor always an actor! Mark has returned to the stage after a brief vacation of almost 25 years. He performed at Kean College/University in Productions The Crucible, Inherit the Wind, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Seduction Duet, and The New Man. After graduation it was off to Florida for one year working for the mouse at Disney World doing dinner theater in the show Dead Wood Dick and making some experience on the movie Days of Thunder. Returning to New Jersey, it was time to settle down but not without doing one more show - Company - which took place in the Neshanic Playhouse. It was time to put food on the table and raise a family the script was exchanged for two more college degrees. One as a physical therapy assistant and last as a registered nurse. Now that the family has grown up the stage has called again. It is a reprieve to be working with this wonderful and talented cast. “I am so happy to be part of this production, and I will never forget the support my friends and my family have given me during a very hard and dark last few years. Sometimes we go the wrong way to come back the right way. Keep smiling!”

Sachin Ahuja

Sachin is extremely excited to be back on stage after 25 years! He has a deep love for theater & the performing arts. When he's not playing "corporate executive" in real life - you can find him catching a show on Broadway or trying to self-learn one of the trickiest percussion instruments - an Indian pitch drum called “Tabla”. Originally from New Delhi, India, he now lives in Jersey with his wife and two kids.

Barry Leonard

Barry is happy to be back with The MTM players in its premier Kelsey production alongside this talented group of actors. Thanks to Rob for casting me in this classic Noël Coward comedy. Always a pleasure working with you. Other credits: Twelve Angry Jurors, Once an Angel, You Can’t Take It with You, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, It’s Only a Play, Twentieth Century, Barefoot in the Park (PERRY nominee), Wait Until Dark, Guys and Dolls, Babes in Toyland, Inherit the Wind, Born Yesterday, and I Hate Hamlet. Hi to Jonah, Adam, Wyatt, Daisy, Lilah and Layla!!

Deb Lasky

Deb is thrilled to be a part of The MTM Players’ first production on the Kelsey stage! She was last on stage at Kelsey in 2017 as Miss Stephanie in To Kill a Mockingbird (Theater To Go). She was recently seen as Marlafaye in The Savannah Sipping Society (Blue Moon Theater) and as Rocky in 22 a Day (The MTM Players). Deb is a founding member of the MTM Players and is the only actor to have appeared in every single MTM production. Many thanks to hubby Rob for getting us here on the Kelsey stage!

Ruth Markoe

Ruth is an active director and performer in the region, most recently directing Dial M For Murder at Kelsey. Her long history at Kelsey Theatre includes directing Cabaret!, A Raisin in the Sun, Twentieth Century, Roebling: The Story of the Brooklyn Bridge, Room Service and To Kill a Mockingbird for which she earned Kelsey Awards for Outstanding Director of a Play & Outstanding Production of a Play. Ruth has also directed Noises Off at the Bucks County Playhouse and Riding the Comet at the NY Theater Summerfest. Ruth is the owner/artistic director of Theater To Go which has been producing comedy interactive theatrical entertainment since 1992. She has attended the Commercial Theatre Institute’s Producer’s Workshop at the O’Neill Theatre Center and is a member of Theater Resources Unlimited in NYC. Some of her favorite acting roles include Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Dr. Prentice in Beyond Therapy and was nominated for an NJACT Perry Award for her role as Yenta in MPOnstage’s production of Fiddler on the Roof here at Kelsey Theatre. http://www.theatertogo.com

Rob Michael Lasky

Rob has been involved with performing since his school days. Following HS graduation, Rob was a professional actor performing in various productions in Bucks County, Allentown and Hazleton, PA. Some of his favorite roles over the years include: Motel the Tailor in Fiddler on the Roof, Bob Ewell in To Kill A Mockingbird, and Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!. More recently, he returned to the stage in Kelsey Theatre’s It’s A Wonderful Life and Room Service and as Col. Thom. McKean in Playhouse 22’s Perry Award-winning 1776. Additionally, he directed all MTM Players shows — Fond Farewell, Bidding For Murder, Twelve Angry Jurors, Love, Sex and the I.R.S., You Can’t Take It With You, and 22 a Day. He is thrilled to make the move to Kelsey Theatre for our debut of this absolutely hilarious show! He thanks the entire cast (especially his beautiful wife Deb) for putting in all of the hours of hard work! BREAK A LEG!