Marilu Henner (born April 6, 1952) 

With the energy of a teenager, the wisdom of a sage, and the memory of a superhero, five-time Golden Globe nominee Marilu Henner has done it all.  Broadway: Gettin’ the Band Back Together, Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Chicago, Social Security, Pal Joey, Over Here, Grease; National Tours: Annie Get Your Gun (Jefferson Award), Chicago, Grease; Off Broadway: Pen Pals, My First Ex-Husband, The Journals of Adam & Eve, Madwomen of the West (NYC, LA, London); 79 films: including Noises Off, LA Story, Hammett, Imperfections, etc. and 31 Hallmark movies; Emmy Award winning sitcoms: TAXI and Evening Shade; numerous television appearances including: The Neighborhood, Greys Anatomy, CSI Los Angeles, Two and a Half Men, Bob Hearts Abishola, The Crazy Ones, Brooklyn 99 and ER. 

A New York Times Best Selling author of ten books: Total Health Makeover, 30-Day Total Health Makeover, I Refuse to Raise a Brat, Healthy Life Kitchen, Healthy Kids, Healthy Holidays, Wear Your Life Well, By All Means, Keep on Moving, Total Memory Makeover, and Changing Normal: How I Helped My Husband Beat Cancer, Marilu has spoken before Congress eleven times on subjects including Alzheimer’s disease, dietary supplements, women’s cardiovascular disease, The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2010, the Veggie Caucus, deadbeat parents, and she was one of only a few private citizens selected to contribute to the shaping of our government’s food pyramid in 2004 and 2014. Marilu lectures throughout the country as a keynote speaker on topics including memory, diet and fitness, women’s health issues, cardiovascular disease, cancer survival, child rearing, and Hospice advocacy, as well as lifestyle, entertainment, and business organization strategies.

Henner is one of twelve people documented with HSAM (Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory) and was the subject of a five-part special on 60 Minutes, 60 Minutes Australia and served as the consultant on the CBS series Unforgettable during its five-year run.  She is currently the subject of a new documentary on Memory produced by the award-winning Calliope Pictures. 

Marilu was in the original production of Grease in Chicago and created the role of Marty. She also sits on the board of Bucks County Playhouse where she recreated her Broadway role in The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife opposite fellow board member Marsha Mason, starred in Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike with Christopher Durang, and recently reprised her role as Belinda in Noises Off and was nominated for a Theater World Award Regional.  

Marilu hosted and executive produced two talk shows (Marilu and Shape Up Your Life) and the nationally syndicated radio show, The Marilu Henner Show and has had thousands of guest appearances on talk shows, earning her the title “Talk Show Guest of the Year” several years in a row. Henner competed on Celebrity Apprentice (2008), Celebrity Apprentice All-Stars (2013), and Dancing with the Stars (2016).

Henner can be seen this year in Indy films (Higher Love, Miss Valentine, Rock & Doris Try to Write a Movie) and in Hallmark’s Aurora Teagarden prequel.  She can also be heard as the English dub in 33 Netflix International projects and tours the country in her critically acclaimed one woman show, MEMORY GIRL!  Marilu is married to Michael Brown, CEO of BrownTrout Publishers and is the proud mother of Nick (award winning director of Theater Camp) and Joey Lieberman (Emmy winning producer for NBC sports.)

John Rensenhouse* (Dr. Julian Winston) has recently appeared at NTR in CLUE and RUMORS. Other NTR credits: DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, MURDER AMONG FRIENDS, and YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU. Broadway National Tours: THE LION KING and NOISES OFF. Notable Regional Theatres: Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Hartford Stage, Arena Stage (Washington D.C.), Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. He was Hector Wilson on THE EDGE OF NIGHT and was in CANDYMAN (1992). Here at home, he works extensively with Kansas City Actors Theatre at Union Station (acting, directing and administrating) and performs with the HoA Shakespeare Festival and KCRep. Go see another play in this great theatre town!

Eric William Geil (Igor Sullivan) is thrilled to be returning to NTR for the fifth time! Other credits include: THE BOOK OF MORMON (National tour); NEWSIES, OLD FASHIONED FAMILY MURDER, JERSEY BOYS, ALONE TOGETHER (NTR); SOUND OF MUSIC, GREASE, HAIRSPRAY, GODSPELL (Starlight); GYPSY, CATS (MTH); LES MIS (CSC); Credence and Clearwater, Queen (Ruby Room). Film credits: THEY MEET AT NIGHT, EDEN’S TWILIGHT. He holds a BFA in musical theater from the University of Cincinnati. Eric would like to give thanks to his family, CCM MT-15 Bearcats, the Imagined Life Studios, Jerry Jay, Dennis D. Hennessy, Richard Carrothers, Tim Scott, Anthony Edwards, Diane Lala, and the NTR Staff for making the theater experience in KC a dream come true.

ERIN BURNISTON (Toni Simmons): NTR Debut! National Tour: Spring Awakening (Ensemble, Wendla u/s). Regional highlights: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble/Ella u/s, Paper Mill Playhouse), Winter Wonderettes (Missy, Gulfshore Playhouse), Heartbreak Hotel (Dixie Locke, Ogunquit Playhouse and Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse), Gypsy (June, Chicago Shakespeare Theater), La Cage Aux Folles (Anne, Goodspeed Opera House), Somewhere In Time (Young Laura, Portland Center Stage), The World Goes ‘Round (Woman 2, Capital City Theatre), Spring Awakening (Wendla, Media Theater), Hello, Dolly! (Minnie Fay, Gretna Theatre), George M! (Josie, Gretna Theatre). Off-Broadway: Fire Island The Musical (Courtney). BFA Music Theater, Elon University.

Cathy Barnett (Mrs. Durant, u/s Stephanie Dickinson) is thrilled to be back performing for the best theater audience EVER! Prior appearances at New Theatre include ALONE TOGETHER with Barry Williams, CLUE, RUMORS, SQUABBLES, ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, JOHNNY & JUNE, DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, ALWAYS… PATSY CLINE, SISTER ACT, FUNNY MONEY and THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Other performances about town include POOR CLARE at the Unicorn Theater and STEEL MAGNOLIAS with Nick Padgett Productions. She voices the Hallmark greeting card character, “Maxine,” and performs her live in the musical theater extravaganza MAXINE’S CHRISTMAS CAROL. Look for this production to return to Union Station in 2027!

Craig Benton (Harvey Greenfield, u/s Dr. Julian Winston) A regular at New Theatre since 1995, & very grateful for the support, he’s back on stage after being behind the scenes for a while. Craig just directed MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET at the Forum Theatre in Wichita. He also assistant-directed OLD FASHIONED FAMILY MURDER at George Street Playhouse in NJ, NOBODY’S PERFECT at NTR, and will do the same this fall for the season opener HALLELUJAH GIRLS. After a special holiday project, Mr. Benton will return in a comedy favorite show here to kick off 2027!

Victor Raider-Wexler* (Señor Sanchez) This is his thirteenth production with Dennis Hennessy. At New Theatre: NOBODY’S PERFECT, CATCH ME, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, MURDER AMONG FRIENDS, and HARVEY. While for KCAT at Union Station, collaborations include GRAND HORIZONS, THE PRICE, MORNINGS AT SEVEN, I’M NOT RAPPAPORT and THE GIN GAME. Also, two one-man shows: EDDIE at the JCC and ST NICHOLAS at The Westport Flea Market. Other productions include SQUABBLES, FUNNY MONEY, A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN, THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND, THE MOUSETRAP, THE SEAFARER, and THE GLENGARRY GLENN ROSS. He’s had recurring roles in the TV series SEINFELD, THE KING OF QUEENS and EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. He dedicates Señor Sanchez to his Great-Grandmother, Luisa Gonzales.

Ross Hellwig* (Music Lover, Waiter, etc., u/s Harvey Greenfield & Señor Sanchez) is honored to return to New Theatre where he previously appeared in CLUE, RUMORS, NEWSIES, SQUABBLES, CATCH ME (IF YOU CAN), FREAKY FRIDAY, and THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. Ross’s theatrical credits include productions with KCRep, The Old Globe, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Vienna’s English Theatre, Lamb’s Players, North Coast Rep, Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara, B Street Theatre, Rubicon, Kingsmen Shakespeare, International City Theatre, The Fountain, LA Theatre Works, A Noise Within, Sierra Rep, and Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre among others. Film and television credits include: THE SELLING, episodes of LAW & ORDER: SVU, NUMB3RS, and GUIDING LIGHT.

Morgan Lynn Sterrett (u/s Toni Simmons & Boticelli's Springtime) is thrilled to return to New Theatre! Credits include: JERSEY BOYS, FREAKY FRIDAY, CLUE, ALONE TOGETHER (New Theatre & Restaurant); SCHOOL OF ROCK (Starlight); A CHRISTMAS CAROL (KCRep); ANNIE (Variety @ Kauffman); LILLY AND THE PIRATES (Coterie). She is thrilled to share the stage this summer with her dog, Pugsworth, in LEGALLY BLONDE. IG: @morganlynnster

Philip Russell Newman (u/s Igor Sullivan & Music Lover) is thrilled to be back at New Theatre! Local credits include: ALONE TOGETHER, PLAY GONE WRONG, MAMMA MIA, SISTER ACT, LEND ME A TENOR, HAIRSPRAY, JOSEPH (New Theatre); GOOD PEOPLE (Unicorn/KCAT); BEAT BUGS, CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, THE PRESIDENTS! (Coterie); SHOW BOAT, FOREVER PLAID (MTH); DOG SEES GOD (Living Room); LYSISTRATA JONES (Egads! Theatre). Phil also owns a local vegan restaurant called Tree Hugger Kitchen.

Jeannie Blau (u/s Mrs. Durant) is ecstatic to be at NTR for the first time! Recent KC credits include DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE; GUTTERTHIEF; THE WILD WOMEN OF WINEDALE; DECEIT; A FLEA IN HER EAR; SENSE AND SENSIBILITY; THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT; VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE; LOOKIN’ FOR A FIGHT; GHOST-WRITER; and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Enjoy the show!