CAST
Deborah Roby is excited to join Bread and Wine Theatre this year! She has acted with multiple theaters in the St. Louis area including Clayton Community Theater, Brickworks Theater Company, and Monroe Actors Stage Company. Notable roles have included Hannah Jelkes in Night of the Iguana, a multi-faceted Sprite in A Christmas Carol, and Lady Beaconsfield in Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical.
By day she writes to the federal government about pharmaceuticals begging for funding or FDA approval. She unfortunately could not actually cook a feast of any sort and usually outsources that to friends more gifted in the culinary arts. Deborah is grateful for the gift of theater and creative storytelling and hopes you enjoy the show!
Babette - Deborah Roby
Martine - Sonya Valentine
Sonya is happy to make her debut with Bread and Wine Theatre Company. Her recent credits include Vera Sanders in Smoke on the Mountain with KTK North and as Sonya (herself) in an original storytelling production Have I Told You the One About...? with Stray Dog Theatre’s Silver Stage. Sonya relocated to St. Louis in 2020 for the impending arrival of her first grandchild. She is just realizing the abundance of theatre opportunities here. When not caring for her grandchildren, she cantors at her church, teaches piano, sews, and creates. Sonya is an ECMMA Level 2 Certified Early Childhood Music & Movement Specialist.
Philippa - Michelle Yoder
Michelle Yoder is delighted to be making her debut with Bread and Wine Theatre Company. She recently graduated from Truman State University with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and minors in Musical Theatre and Business Administration. Some of her past roles at Truman include Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone and Bastienne in Bastien und Bastienne. Michelle is grateful to be doing her first show post grad and can’t wait to see what’s in store for her next. She thanks her friends and family for their love and support.
Player 1 (The Dean, The Dresser, Postman, Dagfinn) - Cole Wright
Having started performing at the age of 5 playing “the Troll under the bridge” in “Three Billy Goats Gruff”, a small but bright flame was lit. 9 years later he performed in his first musical ‘lil Abner’, his role was “Pappy Yokum” this is the role that changed the course of his entire life. Hearing a cascade of giggles, boisterous laughter he decides then he would strive to become the best Actor/Human he could be. 8 years later after doing shows such as “The Noises Off”, “39 Steps”, and various others he graduated college and was off to face the next challenge. 7 years later a few commercials, a couple plays, a dinner theatre and a marriage here he is!
When he’s not acting, he likes to watch movies with his wife even though she knows he always picks the same movies. She does still love him....
Player 2 (Astrid, The Lady of the Court, Espen) - Madeline Trinity
Madeline Trinity is so excited to make her Bread and Wine Theatre Company debut! She graduated from Mckendree University with a Technical Theatre degree in 2023. She was last seen in Prince of Egypt with Goshen Theatre Project and is currently designing props for Crazy for You with Kirkwood Theatre Guild. Madeline is forever grateful for the support of everyone in her life, especially from her partner John. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Player 3 (Achille Papin, Lars, Alf, The Horsegroomer) - Ben Smith
Ben returns to the stage delightedly after portraying Reverend John Witherspoon in the Archangel Players’ production of 1776. As a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, he has performed at venues that include The Sheldon Concert Hall, Off Broadway, and City Museum. Blessed with the best of day jobs as a teacher of English, French, and music, Ben directs vocal and instrumental ensembles and helps students learn to bring sensitivity, expressiveness, and joy to the challenge of reading and reciting Shakespeare. He’s grateful to everyone at Bread and Wine for the opportunity to share in the Feast and thanks his family for their patience throughout two months of rehearsals.
Player 4 (General Loewenhielm) - Charlie Labitska
For over ten years, Charlie Labitska has called the stage his second home. He is a driven and dedicated performer who takes a professional look at all his preparation. Now appearing in his 32nd production, he remains as passionate as ever about delivering performances that ring true. Charlie is particularly excited about this show, which has not only driven him to a new level of performance but introduced him to some truly amazing colleagues along the way.
Player 5 (Young Loewenhielm, Hans, Henrick) - Michael Cox
Michael Cox (Player 5) is making his return for a show under the Bread and Wine umbrella with this fun show. He was last seen on stage for Bread and Wine's last show for the Christmas Short Play Festival as the show-stealing Bosco and as Jim in The Gift of the Magi. He's also an upcoming playwright who has had plays staged multiple times by Bread and Wine. This includes The Last Mall Santa and The Time of My Life which he helped write. It's always fun to play multiple characters in the same show and hopes you enjoy this production!
Player 6 (Erna, Mrs. Loewenhielm) - Mary Elsa Henrich
Mary Elsa is thrilled to be making her STL stage debut with Bread and Wine Theatre Co! A Milwaukee native, she spent the past three years teaching Drama at a classical high school in Dallas, Texas, where some of her favorite directorial experiences included Romeo and Juliet, Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl, and Bye Bye Birdie! She misses her students terribly and is extremely grateful for all that they taught her. She would like to thank her family for their support and Bread and Wine Theatre Co. for bringing her back to the stage after a long hiatus!
Dancers
Lucy Marie is a high school senior from the St. Louis area. She has been dancing since she was four years old. She started with ballet and changed to Irish Dance a few years later. She has been dancing with St. Louis Irish Arts since 2016. Her dancing career has included many performances and competitions, but this is her first experience with a theater group. Lucy is an accomplished Irish fiddle player, as well, and enjoys baking, working with horses, and competing in triathlons.
Lucy Marie
Pippa Gutting is a freshman in high school. She has been a dancer with St. Louis Irish Arts for eleven years. In that time, she has medaled in regional competitions and is working towards advancing to the championship levels of dance. She has volunteered as a dance teacher for almost four years, and has recently begun work as a private music teacher as well. A theatre kid herself, Pippa is pleased to be working with the Bread and Wine Theatre Company. Outside of her performance work, Pippa enjoys reading, writing, woodwork, mathematics, spending time with family and friends, and volunteering where she can. She is excited to see what the future holds for her as she progresses through school. She thanks her family for their support of her aspirations.
Pippa Gutting
About St. Louis Irish Arts
For over four decades, St. Louis Irish Arts (SLIA) has been preserving and promoting Irish culture in St. Louis, Missouri. From its humble beginnings in the basement of Helen and PJ Gannon’s home, the school has grown and prospered and it is now one of the most successful Irish music and dance schools in North America. More than 4,000 students have passed through the doors of St. Louis Irish Arts.
SLIA is unique in the fact that it offers students an exceptionally well-rounded education in Irish culture. All students learn to dance and how to play an instrument, whereas most schools teach either dancing or music but not both. Children are taught to learn music by ear, not by notation. This is how Irish music, songs and stories have been passed down for generations and St. Louis Irish Arts has carried on this tradition of passing along the arts orally. The ethos of the school has always been to instill a love of the music, song and dance in the child. If a child sees how much fun it can be, then he or she will have confidence in themselves and will learn to grow to love the music. Unlike many US cities, St. Louis does not have a large population of first-generation Irish immigrants. Consequently, many of the students at SLIA have little or no Irish blood. Enrollment in the school is not dependent on Irish heritage!
Crew
Owen is the artistic director of Bread and Wine Theatre Company. He has produced two full-length productions, one play festival, multiple one-act plays, and over fifteen different table/staged readings. This summer, he made his directorial debut alongside Lisa Pearson with First Person Shooter taking home Drama of the Year in the St. Louis Fringe Festival. He since directed The Long Christmas Dinner in Bread & Wine Theatre Co’s Christmas Short Play Festival and Encircled With Ice as part of Theatre & Christion Vision: A Bread & Wine fundraiser and performance exhibit. Babette’s Feast is his first directorial work on a full-length script.
In addition to directing & producing, Owen loves to write. His playscripts include The Time of My Life, Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the Murder, and a co-writing credit on Encircled With Ice and he has three publications forthcoming in The Thornton Wilder Journal. Owen is thankful that his own life is being transformed by the feast of the Lamb who gave everything He had for our sake.
Director & Producer - Owen Brown
Assistant Director & Stage Manager - Gabe Maupin
Nathan Wamsley is a lifelong pianist from St. Louis, Missouri. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological and Medical Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis and a B.S. from Hillsdale College. Nathan has worked extensively as a private piano instructor, a collaborative pianist for voice students at Hillsdale College, and a substitute pianist at Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church. Outside the theatre, Nathan works as a scientist and enjoys pickleball, good conversations, and spending time with friends.
Music Director - Nathan Wamsley
Tara Laurel is ecstatic to return to Bread & Wine Theatre Company, this time as the Scenic Designer for Babette’s Feast! Tara graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) in May 2025 with a BA in Comm/Theatre. Though she has taken several classes on design and has assisted with bringing others’ designs to life, this is the first time she is designing a show and bringing it to life herself. Tara has been in the theatre industry since 2016, having participated on and offstage in productions at New Horizon Community Theatre, Southern Union State Community College, Wadley Community Theatre, Opelika Theatre Company, Theatre AUM, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. In May 2025 she won a Distinguished Stage Management Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival at the National level for her work as the stage manager of AUM's production of RED by John Logan. Outside of theatre, Tara creates homemade soy wax candles, lip balms, and crocheted items for her small business, Sophia Marie Candle Co, which can be found on Etsy and on social media at @SophiaMarieCandleCo.
Costume, Prop, and Set Designer; Dramaturge - Tara Laurel
Megan is looking forward to working on her first Bread and Wine Theatre Company show as the Lighting Designer. With over 5 years of academic and professional experience in Lighting and Technician work, she is excited to dust off her designing skills and bring her knowledge to this team! Lighting Design and Tech credits include a number of college plays (The Dancers, Silent Sky, and The Tempest) as well as productions at Sight and Sound Theaters (Jesus, Queen Esther, David, and Miracle of Christmas). As a Branson actor by trade, she is usually found performing on a number of different stages, including as "Denise" in Smoke on the Mountain at the Little Opry Theater. Megan is excited to partner with this creative team in bringing Babette's Feast to stage in St. Louis this spring!
Lighting Designer - Megan King
Lighting Technician - Denise Chappell
Denise is delighted to jump into the role of Lighting Technician. While Denise can most often be found onstage, she is excited to dust off her technical theatre background and illuminate this enchanting story. Most recently she appeared as Donna in Harbor at Theatre Guild of Webster Groves. Denise would like to thank Owen for allowing her to dive right into the show, the cast and crew for welcoming her into the fold and all of you for joining in the Feast. Bon appetit!
Connor Shelton is a creative writer from St. Louis with reviews & features in Merry-Go-Round Magazine, The Line of Best Fit, and Paste Magazine. He is also a former public radio broadcaster with multiple years experience operating sound boards for the airwaves and live performances. Despite this being his first time running sound for a theatrical production, he is excited to partner with Bread and Wine Theatre Company in bringing Babette's Feast to stage in St. Louis this March!
Sound Technician - Connor Shelton
Achie Bee is an intimacy coordinator with a passion for romance and ethical storytelling. You may have seen their work in Bat Boy the Musical (New Line Theater) last October. You may have also seen Achie perform with long form Improv teams such as “Whodunitt?” or “Rocky Hormone Improv Show” at the Improv Shop. Achie currently studies intimacy work with TIE (Theatrical Intimacy Education). Achie is incredibly excited to have worked with the talented cast of Babette’s Feast. I hope you enjoy the show!
