A Theatre of New Creations

Bread and Wine prioritizes the development of new concepts on the stage. From a script perspective, original work will always be part of the company's seasons. While this original work may come from the outside as finalized drafts, Bread and Wine puts on collaborating with playwrights to originate new work. Table Reads are a key part of our artistic model. These include both readings of scripts with no production plans as well as at times committing to producing a play whose early drafts we believe in and walking with the playwright through the entire process from first table read to final production. From a producing and rehearsal perspective, this means we are open to innovative ways of getting a show to the stage. While we will surely approach many shows with a traditional rehearsal/production process, ideas such as ensemble-based directing, intensive modular rehearsal scheduling, and many others are always on the table for a potential future production.

Acess the Program from our Inaugural Show

Presenting The Time of My Life, Written by Owen Brown with Michael Cox & Directed by Hannah Baartman

Hannah (Geisz) Baartman was shocked and honored to be asked to direct this timely and timeless story. During the day she serves as the Education Coordinator of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, directing and teaching educational Shakespeare programs. As a performer, she has received a St. Louis Theatre Circle award and has worked with the Festival, The Muny, Metro Theatre Company, SATE, and other STL theaters. Fond thanks to Owen for his good-faith, to the production team and cast for their trust and patience, and to Peter Baartman for his Christ-like care and wisdom during this season of growth. Ephesians 6:1-4

Owen Brown: Producer; Writer;
Stage Manager

Owen is a late bloomer in the theater world. With no formal training, Owen's passion grew out of a fascination with Thornton Wilder and a desire to bring more beautiful Christian art similar to the style of Wilder's into Christ's earth. He has produced over fifteen table and staged reads over the past five years. His first full production was as the co-producer of The Time of My Life at Greenfinch Theater & Dive in 2024. In addition to writing ToML, Owen has written a number of yet-to-be-produced short plays, is well into the process of writing his own Vacation Bible School curriculum, and received his Master's in theology, where his thesis was A Who’s Who of Eucharistic Memory: How Old Testament Memorials Help Delineate the Actor of the Remembering of Ἀνάμνησις in 1 Corinthians 11:24–25.

Our Cast

Nicholas Urbanowicz: Chris

Nick is so excited to have his very first lead in The Time of My Life! His past acting credits include Mulligan Stew at Webster Groves, Violet at Over Due Theatre Company, as well as Midsummer Jersey, Xanadu, These Shining Lives, Almost Maine, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Hancock Place High. Nick loves that acting creates a unique way for us to be anything we want. He enjoys delving into characters to learn about and become who the character is and then show that to an audience. Even as a young boy, Nick was looking at the character development of actors on the big screen telling his dad that he was gonna be up there too. Being an actor has been his dream ever since. The stage is Nick’s canvas and he is the paint.

Yulia Mashburn: Actress

Yulia (Julia) is a versatile actress, director, and producer who relocated to the United States from Ukraine in 2023 following the full-scale invasion of her homeland. A graduate of Kyiv University with a B.A. in Theater Directing, she brings over a decade of professional theater experience to her craft. Together with a team they created groundbreaking immersive productions where audiences became active participants in the story, interacting with the actors and even influencing the plot. As an actress, director, stage manager, and producer, Julia wore many hats to bring these productions to life. Since moving to the U.S., she has continued her creative journey through Murder Mystery games, where she wrote original scripts and acted as a game host, as an actress at Mad Scientist, and now in the ToML, her first full production in America.

Travis Pfeifer: Actor

Travis is a native St. Louis actor and singer. Travis has a B. A. in Theater from Graceland University. He has been doing community theater for decades including Trekkie Monster (Avenue Q, Meramec Theater), Man in Chair (Drowsy Chaperone, Act Two Theater) and Scuttle (The Little Mermaid, Family Musical Theater). Travis does song and skit performances on his YouTube Channel, Rudrose Entertainment. He is very grateful for the opportunity to perform, The Time of My Life! Enjoy the show!

Brian Stith: Ben

Brian Stith is excited to be joining the cast for his first real play! Prior to The Time of My Life, Brian enjoyed participating in the Shakespeare Studio for two summers, and was one of the three little pigs in the Fairytale Network. Outside of acting, Brian has many interests that include chess, origami, games of all kinds - especially reading the rules - swimming, piano and trumpet, reading Shakespeare, and fencing. Brian loves being homeschooled and living in St. Louis with his parents, older sister, and twin brother.

Our Crew

  • Gabe Maupin

    Sound Technician, Assistant Stage Manager

  • Lexie Johnson

    Costumes

  • Rusty Wandall

    Sound Designer

  • Luke Steffen

    Light Designer & Technician

  • Michael Cox: Co-Writer

    Michael Cox is an actor and playwright based in St. Louis and helped co-write the original first version and helped stage the first production of The Time of My Life in July 2024. He has written other works and hopes to get them on a stage in the near future. He hopes wherever this show is taken, it's taken down the right path.

  • A Special Thanks

    I would like to express my incredible gratitude to Southgate Church & Pastor Scott Joggerst for graciously inviting us into their space to tell this powerful story. 

    - Owen Brown: Producer, Writer, and Stage Manager of The Time of My Life