Untitled Document

	Oliver Cast Bios
Staff	Cast 1	Cast 2	Cast 3	Cast 4
Jim Ahrens (Fagin) - Jim has appeared in the Twin Cities and the Midwest since 1977. He has performed at Chimera, Dudley Riggs’ ETC, Jungle Theatre and Park Square Theatre. He has also sung as a tenor in opera, operetta, and concert settings. He has performed recently with Theatre Latte Da (Sunday in the Park with George, Susannah, and La Boheme) and Skylark Opera (She Loves Me, Song of Norway, and The Merry Widow). Favorite roles include Trotter in Journey’s, Bunthorne in Patience and Tolloler in Iolanthe, and the Headwaiter in She Loves Me. Jim is the tenor soloist at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in downtown Minneapolis.
Maggie Anthony (Bet and Charlotte) - Maggie is thrilled to be appearing in her first New Breath Production, reprising a role that she first played nearly 10 years ago! Maggie has most recently appeared in shows at Hamline University and Ashland Productions. Favorite roles include "Helena" and "Hermia" in A Midsummer Night's Dream, "Mary" in On the Verge, and "Dorothy" in The Wizard of Oz . Off-stage, Maggie is usually at one of her "real jobs," or working on nursing school applications.
Sophia Bera (Mrs. Sowerberry, Mrs. Bedwin and Ensemble) - Sophia Bera is happy to be back in Minneaopolis after graduating from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Theatre major in 2005. Some of her favorite shows there included Marvin's Room, Death of a Salesman, Steel Magnolias, and Eleemosynary. Most recently she could be seen at Theatre in the Round in The Voice of the Prairie and The Rivals at the Jungle Theatre. This marks her New Breath Productions debut. To Mom, Dad, and Jake: I love you!
Henry Bushnell (Youth Ensemble) - Henry is making his third New Breath appearance. He was in Rags in 2005 and Wind in the Willows in 2006. He also took part in a New Breath workshop on Oliver. He is in 7th grade at Capitol Hill, where he was in Treasure Island and an adapted version of Oliver. The most exciting point in his acting career was when he played Winfield Joad in the world premiere of The Grapes of Wrath with the Minnesota Opera. Henry also enjoys dancing and is looking forward to starting tap lessons soon. Enjoy the show!
Aidan Coleman (Youth Ensemble) - Aidan has been in two prior New Breath Productions - Rags and Wind in the Willows. He is a seventh grader at Highland Park Junior High where he takes the majority of his classes in Spanish. Aidan enjoys hockey, soccer, his dog Roscoe and, occasionally, his teenage sister Molly.
Tom Danford (Noah, Dr. Grimwig and Ensemble) - I was introduced to New Breath Productions this year from my vocal coach. Previously, I worked in Los Angeles and the Twin Cities in Film and Television on shows such as Party of 5 and The Nihilist, and most recently, I studied and performed at the Brave New Workshop's 3 Ring Circus. I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people. I have learned from and been directed by so many creative personalities. I am grateful for the valuable experiences New Breath Productions has provided me, and I wish the cast and crew all the very best in his or her future endeavors.
Erin Duffy (Nancy) - Erin is excited to be appearing in her first show with New Breath Productions. Erin has also performed with Nautilus Music-Theatre in St. Paul, The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota Opera, Heritage Theater, Bloomington Civic Theatre, and Theatre in the Round. When not acting on stage, Erin performs jazz and cabaret. Her cabaret act has been seen around the Twin Cities, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, France and the Italian Riviera. She is also a fellow of the 2003 and 2007 Cabaret Conference at Yale University. Erin would like to express gratitude to Cris Tibbetts, who helped her to find the heart and soul of Nancy so many years ago…thank you, old friend.
Mitchell Evans (Youth Ensemble) - Mitchell is 11 years old and thrilled to be in Oliver! He sings with the Minnesota Boychoir and recently performed in the opera, "La Boheme" at Orchestra Hall. Mitchell sings for special music at church and is an accomplished pianist. He has played since he was 4! This is Mitchell's first time performing with New Breath, but he loves it and hopes to be in many more shows!!!

Oliver Cast Bios

Jim Ahrens (Fagin) - Jim has appeared in the Twin Cities and the Midwest since 1977. He has performed at Chimera, Dudley Riggs’ ETC, Jungle Theatre and Park Square Theatre. He has also sung as a tenor in opera, operetta, and concert settings. He has performed recently with Theatre Latte Da (Sunday in the Park with George, Susannah, and La Boheme) and Skylark Opera (She Loves Me, Song of Norway, and The Merry Widow). Favorite roles include Trotter in Journey’s, Bunthorne in Patience and Tolloler in Iolanthe, and the Headwaiter in She Loves Me. Jim is the tenor soloist at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in downtown Minneapolis.

Maggie Anthony (Bet and Charlotte) - Maggie is thrilled to be appearing in her first New Breath Production, reprising a role that she first played nearly 10 years ago! Maggie has most recently appeared in shows at Hamline University and Ashland Productions. Favorite roles include "Helena" and "Hermia" in A Midsummer Night's Dream, "Mary" in On the Verge, and "Dorothy" in The Wizard of Oz . Off-stage, Maggie is usually at one of her "real jobs," or working on nursing school applications.

Sophia Bera (Mrs. Sowerberry, Mrs. Bedwin and Ensemble) - Sophia Bera is happy to be back in Minneaopolis after graduating from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Theatre major in 2005. Some of her favorite shows there included Marvin's Room, Death of a Salesman, Steel Magnolias, and Eleemosynary. Most recently she could be seen at Theatre in the Round in The Voice of the Prairie and The Rivals at the Jungle Theatre. This marks her New Breath Productions debut. To Mom, Dad, and Jake: I love you!

Henry Bushnell (Youth Ensemble) - Henry is making his third New Breath appearance. He was in Rags in 2005 and Wind in the Willows in 2006. He also took part in a New Breath workshop on Oliver. He is in 7th grade at Capitol Hill, where he was in Treasure Island and an adapted version of Oliver. The most exciting point in his acting career was when he played Winfield Joad in the world premiere of The Grapes of Wrath with the Minnesota Opera. Henry also enjoys dancing and is looking forward to starting tap lessons soon. Enjoy the show!

Aidan Coleman (Youth Ensemble) - Aidan has been in two prior New Breath Productions - Rags and Wind in the Willows. He is a seventh grader at Highland Park Junior High where he takes the majority of his classes in Spanish. Aidan enjoys hockey, soccer, his dog Roscoe and, occasionally, his teenage sister Molly.

Tom Danford (Noah, Dr. Grimwig and Ensemble) - I was introduced to New Breath Productions this year from my vocal coach. Previously, I worked in Los Angeles and the Twin Cities in Film and Television on shows such as Party of 5 and The Nihilist, and most recently, I studied and performed at the Brave New Workshop's 3 Ring Circus. I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people. I have learned from and been directed by so many creative personalities. I am grateful for the valuable experiences New Breath Productions has provided me, and I wish the cast and crew all the very best in his or her future endeavors.

Erin Duffy (Nancy) - Erin is excited to be appearing in her first show with New Breath Productions. Erin has also performed with Nautilus Music-Theatre in St. Paul, The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota Opera, Heritage Theater, Bloomington Civic Theatre, and Theatre in the Round. When not acting on stage, Erin performs jazz and cabaret. Her cabaret act has been seen around the Twin Cities, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, France and the Italian Riviera. She is also a fellow of the 2003 and 2007 Cabaret Conference at Yale University. Erin would like to express gratitude to Cris Tibbetts, who helped her to find the heart and soul of Nancy so many years ago…thank you, old friend.

Mitchell Evans (Youth Ensemble) - Mitchell is 11 years old and thrilled to be in Oliver! He sings with the Minnesota Boychoir and recently performed in the opera, "La Boheme" at Orchestra Hall. Mitchell sings for special music at church and is an accomplished pianist. He has played since he was 4! This is Mitchell's first time performing with New Breath, but he loves it and hopes to be in many more shows!!!