Bios

NORM WASH
Cast
Norm is very happy to be returning to the stage at OSP after appearing in Seussical The Musical back in July. Working at The Old Schoolhouse has always been a great experience. Norm has appeared in several shows here over the past 20 years including Dearly Departed, It Runs in the Family, Swan Song, The Way It Was and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Norm is a 1973 (a long time ago...) Theatre Arts major from Penn State University. After many years in retailing, he reentered the theatre world by taking an acting workshop at The Little Lake Theater. After that he has performed in productions at the Lake as well as with The Baldwin Players, Heritage Players, The South Hills Players and, and of course OSP. He has also worked with the Baldwin and South Hills Players for their original productions with the annual Pittsburgh New Works Festival. On film, he has participated for several years with the 48 Hour Film Project performing in short films made in 48 hours. Norm's favorite plays are Our Town and Dearly Departed each of which he has done five times. The first Our Town was at age 18 and the last at 64 and he would like to them both at least one more time.

JANET O'KARMA
Cast
Janet is thrilled to be part of this production. While she is no stranger to the OSP Stage, you will more likely find her backstage, working on a set or helping with various staffing during a show. She also holds the position of Secretary on the OSP Board.

MARK G. BOLES
Cast
Christmas is a secial time for Mark and he enjoys spending it on the stage. He started his acting career later in life, but has been very busy as of late. Last Christmas, he played Mr. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol, followed by the play Dearly Departed where he was country boy trying to find the meaning of life. Last August he was in Now and Then, performed at the Iron Horse Theater in Ambridge. A doctor by day and an actor by night, he will easily tell you that being on stage is far more frightening than anything he ever faced in the hospital. This is his first time working with the Old Schoolhouse Players and is honored and humbled by being a part of them. He thanks his wife Val for putting up with all the late-night rehearsals and wishes his deaf dog, Bleu, could be in the audience. He wishes everyone a very merry Christmas.

CAILEE TRUAIR
Cast
Cailee Truair is a freshman at South Fayette High School. She was most recently in Shrek the Musical Jr (2023) and Addams Family (2022) at South Fayette Middle School. In Shrek the Musical Jr she portrayed the role of Young Fiona. In the Addams Family she was a Matriarch. She also was previously an ensemble member in Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr (2019) at Hartman Elementary. She recently auditioned for South Fayette High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast which will take place in 2024. She has been doing theater for 4 years and this will be her 5th production. She is eager for this to be her first production at OSP. She would like to thank her friends and family for all of their support and especially for Cooper for driving her to and from these rehearsals during this exciting time.

GIANNA TRESS
Director
Gianna is excited to be making her director debut at OSP. Recent OSP roles include Sally in 1940’s Radio Christmas Show, ensemble for Jerry’s Girls, and most recently a Bird Girl/Gertrude understudy in Seussical. She is wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

JERRY WEINARD
Cast
This production marks Jerry’s nineteenth with OSP and his 182nd overall in 60 years of performing. (He denies the rumor that he was a ghost writer on Charles Dickens’ classic The Christmas Carol.) Jerry has previously been seen on our stage in Come Blow Your Horn, Angel Street, Lost in Yonkers, and The Hollow, among others, including several other Christmas shows. Most recently, he was honored to be in 12:52 - The Mike Webster Story at the Three Rivers Arts Festival and Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre. In addition to acting on stage, Jerry has been in a number of independent films and audio dramas, most recently flying to Los Angeles to perform in “With Lee in Virginia.” He is a retired attorney; and, in addition to acting, Jerry enjoys traveling with his lovely spouse and spending time with some of his four children, six grand-children and four great-grand-children

COOPER BRUCE
Director
Cooper Bruce is a senior at South Fayette High School. He has previously been in Seussical at OSP (2023), Les Mis (2022) and Footloose (2021) at the Comtra theatre, Romeo in Newsies (2022) at Little Lake theatre, and at school, Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid (2022), and Everett Baker in Crazy For You (2023)! Cooper has been involved with theatre since 2016 and this will be his 24th production. He'd really like to thank his friends, teachers, mentors, those he's close with, and family for everything. Without their support, he couldn't have done any of it. (Love you guys) This is his directing debut and is very pleased with everything we've been working so very hard on for the last few months. He is extremely excited for you to see The Little Town of Christmas, and hopes you enjoy the show! :)

DEBBIE DESCUTNER
Director
Debbie has been performing with OSP since the year 2000. Her most recent roles have been Grandmama Addams Family Musical, Queen Constantina Cinderella, Judith Davenport 1940 Radio Christmas Carol, and one of Jerry's Girls. Debbie also sews costumes for OSP. Outside of OSP, she is the play director for Avella High School and a first soprano with St. Oscar de Romero Parish. Debbie is happy to welcome one of her drama students, Jason, to OSP and she would like to thank Brian for mentoring her as one of the directors of The Little Town of Christmas.

VIOLET GEORGE
Cast
Violet Is in 8th grade at South Fayette Middle School and is excited to perform in her first OSP production! Performance highlights include Mrs. Teavee in Willy Wonka Jr. (2023), Mal in Descendants Jr. (2022), JoJo/Bowery Beauty in Newsies (2022) and Teen Fiona in Shrek Jr. (2021) at Little Lake Theatre, as well as, Wednesday in The Addams Family (2022) at South Fayette Middle School. Violet is looking forward to her first Christmas production and thanks her family for their support (and Cooper for taxiing her) at this busy time of year

VIOLET BREWER
Cast
Violet Brewer is a 7th grade musical theater student at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School (LPPACS). She has been in shows at Little Lake Theatre such as Captain Louie Jr. (2022) and Willy Wonka Jr. (2023) and is excited to perform in her first show at OSP!

JOYCE MILLER
Narrator
Joyce loves spending Christmas with her OSP family! Some of her favorite OSP roles include Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense I and II, Sister Amnesia in Nuncrackers, Amanda Wingfield in Glass Menagerie, Daria Chase in The Game's Afoot, Veta Louise Simmons in Harvey, and the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol. Joyce enjoys working with many local theater companies including Prime Stage, Little Lake, South Park, and Pittsburgh New Works Festival. It's been a joy to watch her fellow cast members create this delightful program under the leadership of some of your favorite actors spreading their theater wings to try directing. Wishing all of our audiences a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a healthy and Happy New Year

BRIAN KADLECIK
Cast
Brian has been working theater for over 7 years, in stage, film, and voice over capacity. He recently produced All Our Tomorrows, for Pittsburgh New Works Festival, with South Hills Players. Brian also directed Now and Then, with Iron Horse Theatre. Recent acting credits include Arthur, in Andre's Mother; and multiple roles in Dearly Departed, with Penedemer Productions; and Government Agent in Redslate Films, The Transmission. Thank you to all family and friends for the continued support.

JIM PALMER
Cast
Jim has been involved with OSP for several years, mainly helping out with set construction / painting and ushering. Some of the shows Jim was involved included Seussical the Musical, Cinderella and My Fair Lady. Other shows include The Music Man and The Sound of Music with The Heritage Players and Oliver at Stage 62. Jim would like to thank his family for their support.

BEN TRESS
Director
Ben is excited to be making his direct debut at OSP. His recent roles include Cholly in 1940’s Radio Christmas Show, and Horton the Elephant in Seussical. He also stage managed Jerry’s Girls and The Importance of Being Ernest. As always, Ben would like to thank his wife for writing this bio for him.

CASSIDEE KNOTT
Cast
Cassidee is very excited to be returning to the stage after almost 10 years. This is her first performance on the OSP stage and she is beyond grateful for the opportunity to perform again. She was previously seen in a variety of productions at Ligonier Theatre, Apple Hill Playhouse, and the Greensburg Civic Theater. Notably, she performed as the squid in the Little Mermaid, Isabel in the Pirates of Penzance, Grandfather in Heide, and the March Hare in Alice in Wonderland. She would like to thank you amazing support system, especially her fiancée Clark, for their support and encouragement, as well as the directors and cast at OSP for welcoming her in.

CINDY SWANSON
Actor
Cindy Swanson is thrilled to be back once again with the Old Schoolhouse Players. Her latest roles were Woman in the Ironhorse Theater production Now and Then, a one woman show; The Epitome of Grace-depicting the true story of Pittsburgh Asst. Police Chief Therese Rocco, an amazing pioneer in her field, were Lexie in The Dixie Swim Club with OSP, Nadine in Dearly Departed, Cynthia Maple in Secondary Cause of Death with Applehill Playhouse and Nadine/Suzanne in Dearly Departed with The Baldwin Players and Pendermer Productions. She has been involved in community theater for the past 24 years and has also been seen in productions with The Grade Theatre, South Park Theatre, McKeesport Little Theatre, The Heritage Players, Theatre Factory, Baldwin Players, Little Lake Theatre, and Throughline Theatre to name a few. Her favorite role of all time was playing Bananas in House of Blue Leaves at South Park Theatre. Cindy has participated in the 48 hour Film Project in the past and had a recurring role on the now cancelled television show Pastor Greg. She has directed a few community theater productions and has had a few commercials out there, but her first love is the stage. Off stage, Cindy is married to David (the love of her life) and has two children: Chriss and Kelly. She is blessed with three beautiful grandchildren, Kami, Zack, and Kendra. Enjoy the show!

JASON STOUGH
Actor
Jason goes to Avella Jr/Sr High School, where he is Jr, graduating in the class of 2025. He is a 6 year member of Avella's marching band drumline. Jason has been apart of one production, and plans to continue throughout high school. After graduating from high school, Jason plans to get a degree in law in hopes of becoming a lawyer. Outside of school, Jason is a Jr firefighter, and is taking classes to become an Emergency Medical Responder in the state of West Virginia.

DEANNA LESSO
Director
Deanna is thrilled to be ending her 6th season at OSP with her directing debut. Favorite roles as an actor include Gingy in Shrek, Grace in Cinderella, Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Wilbur in Charlotte's Webb, and various performances in Jerry's Girls. Deanna would like to thank Brian Nath for this incredible opportunity and for the wisdom and guidance he has provided throughout the experience