Richard Karn was born on February 17, 1956, in Seattle, Washington, the son of Gene and Louise Wilson. He has a sister named Sue. His birth name was Richard Karn Wilson, but he shortened it to Richard Karn because there was already a Richard Wilson registered with the Screen Actors Guild. He did his first acting in the fifth grade and was very active in drama in high school. He spent six months in England and attended the University of Washington, graduating in 1979 with a degree in drama. During his career, Richard has performed in many off-Broadway productions. His filmography includes 11 feature films and several made-for-TV movies and television series, including 8 years as Al Borland on Home Improvement with Tim Allen.

(Sugar Lee Thomkins) is thrilled to be back at New Theatre, having previously appeared in their production of SHEAR MADNESS along with her husband Richard Karn. Career highlights include: Broadway: A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE, HARRIGAN ‘N HART, THE MAGIC SHOW. Off-Broadway: PREPPIES, THE OTHER SHORE, MAN ENOUGH, ALL GIRL BAND and THE VIEW FROM HERE. Film and television: HOME IMPROVEMENT, BREACH OF CONTRACT, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, CITY OF ANGELS and PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. Tudi has appeared in countless commercials, and has done over 300 voiceovers for television, radio, cartoons and video games. Vocal soloist with The Boston Pops and Scottish Opera Orchestra at The Edinburgh Festival. She is a member of SkyPilot Theatre Company in Los Angeles.

Cathy Newman* (Carlene Travis) is grateful and excited to be returning to The New Theatre. Audiences here may remember her as the ridiculous Mrs. Peacock in last year’s production of CLUE. She has performed in eight National Tours, traveling throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea & China. Highlights include: U.S. and Chinese premiere of LES MISÉRABLES (with Colm Wilkinson); Lincoln Center’s SOUTH PACIFIC; The National Theatre of Great Britain’s MY FAIR LADY; LA CAGE AUX FOLLES; and Deaf West Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of BIG RIVER. Hallelujah for live theatre! Thanks for coming out to support us.

Teri Adams (Nita Mooney) is thrilled to be making her debut at The New Theater Restaurant! A familiar face to KC audiences, Adams has appeared on regional stages for over three decades. In recent years she has starred in the National Tour of Menopause The Musical (And now, it’s sequel!). Local credits include: BLUES IN THE NIGHT, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE (American Heartland Theater), RUTHLESS!, DIRTY BLONDE, THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, RIGHTNEXT TO ME (Unicorn Theater), FOOTLOOSE (Starlight Theater),  AND THE WORLD GOES ROUND, MARRY ME A LITTLE (Quality Hill Playhouse), SKIN OF OUR TEETH (MET), MOTHERFREAKINGHOOD THE MUSICAL (The Black Box).

Peggy Friesen (Mavis Flower) is thrilled to be working at New Theatre for the first time! Over four decades, she has performed in numerous productions around Kansas City, including WIT (Unicorn Theatre); THE LITTLE FOXES (American Heartland Theatre); MRS.CHRISTIE, MORNING’S AT SEVEN, GRAND HORIZONS (Kansas City Actors Theatre); and THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING (Spinning Tree Theatre). Numerous productions at Kansas City Repertory Theatre include THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, OUR TOWN, ANGELS IN AMERICA, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, THE FANTASTICKS, and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME.  Film credits include RIDE WITH THE DEVIL (Ang Lee), KANSAS CITY (Robert Altman), and KING OF THE HILL (Stephen Soderbergh).  Peggy lives in Brookside with her husband Royal and plays concert harp.

Ashley Pankow (Crystal Hart) has been seen on the NTR stage in BOEING BOEING, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, JOSEPH AND THE ATDC (Narrator), JOHNNY & JUNE, SISTER ACT, ADDAMS FAMILY, and more. KC Rep: ONCE, OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON, WIZARD OF OZ. Kansas City Actors Theatre: A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN, REALISTIC JONESES. Spinning Tree: CARRIE. Unicorn Theatre: H.O.T. THE MUSICAL. Music Theatre Heritage: NEXT TO NORMAL (Diana), SOUTH PACIFIC (Nellie). Starlight: SCHOOL OF ROCK, FOOTLOOSE. QHP: MUSICAL OF MUSICALS, JUDY BARBRA LIZA. National Tour/ Regional Favorites: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES (First National Tour), MAMMA MIA (Donna) SHREK (Fiona), ANNIE (Miss Hannigan). Voice Teacher/Audition Coach. www.ashleypankow.com

Jan Rogge (Bunny Sutherland) is happy to return at New Theatre where she was last seen in ALONE TOGETHER with Barry Williams. She has also been in RUMORS, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU and standby for Sally Struthers in AN OLD FASHIONED FAMILY MURDER and COME BLOW YOUR HORN.  Her additional Kansas City credits include THE ROOMMATE, GRAND HORIZONS, THE PRICE, NIGHT MOTHER, BLITHE SPIRIT, and WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? at Kansas City Actors Theatre; Queen Elizabeth in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and HAMLET at Heart of America Shakespeare Festival; UNRELIABLE at KC Repertory Theatre; CASEY & DIANA and SWEAT at Unicorn Theatre.

Greg Butell (Porter Padgett) Greg is excited to be back on the NTR stage with this stellar cast. He was most recently seen here last summer as Mr. Boddy in CLUE. His NTR credits include CATCH ME IF YOU CAN & FUNNY MONEY (both with Jim O’Heir), DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER (with Morgan Fairchild), SOLID GOLD CADILLAC, SOUTH PACIFIC.  Other KC credits include DEATH OF A SALESMAN (KC Melting Pot Theatre). MORNINGS AT SEVEN, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (Kansas City Actor’s Theatre), GYPSY (Music Theatre Heritage), SWEAT (Unicorn Theatre), MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (Black Repertory Theatre Co), ROOM SERVICE (Kansas City Repertory Theatre), LOVELY (Ghost Theatre). As always, thanks and love to Trevor and Champ.

Craig Benton (Assistant Director, u/s Bobby Dwayne Dillahunt and Porter Padgett) A regular performer here for over 30 years, Mr. Benton is pleased to assist Dennis Hennessy again, continuing to explore creative storytelling through directing, as he did in last season’s NOBODY’S PERFECT with Jim O’Heir. He considers it a big bonus to work with friends Richard Karn and wife Tudi again for this show.  Craig just returned from Wichita where he directed the Forum’s production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, debuting in their new venue. He’ll be back on stage this holiday season at the Warwick Theatre in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, and here again at New Theatre to kick off 2027 in BOEING BOEING with French Stewart.

Shanna Jones (u/s Carlene Travis) New Theatre credits: LEGALLY BLONDE, NUNSENSE, FREAKY FRIDAY, ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, MAMA MIA, SISTER ACT. Local credits: DRACULA, EMMA, ONCE, BETWEEN THE LINES, SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, STILLWATER, HAIR: RETROSPECTION, SANTALAND DIARIES, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (KCRep); TROJAN WOMEN MCI (Unicorn); NEXT TO NORMAL (Kansas Rep); CHARLIE AND THE

CHOCOLATE FACTORY (Coterie). New York credits: PHAEDRA’S FLOATING CABARET, UNDONE, DECLINE AND FALL (New York Theatre Workshop). Regional credits: TUG OF WAR; FOREIGN FIRE & CIVIL STRIFE (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); LES MISÉRABLES (Pioneer Theatre Company); ROMEO AND JULIET (Utah Shakespearean Festival); MAN OF LA MANCHA, INTO THE WOODS, MIRACLE WORKER, 42ND STREET, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Hale Center Theatre); SATURDAY’S VOYEUR (Salt Lake Acting Company). Education: BFA Actor Training Program University of Utah, AEA Member.       

Franci Talamentez (u/s Sugar Lee Thomkins) is delighted to return to New Theatre, where audiences last saw her as Cook in CLUE. She recently appeared as Googie Gomez in THE RITZ at Unicorn Theatre and served as the student advocate for NEWSIES at Starlight Theatre. In 2023, she made her Off-Broadway debut in PREJUDICE AND PRIDE. She is a director, choreographer, teaching artist and coach, passionate about empowering young performers. Thank you to everyone for their love and support.

Jenny Hines (u.s Nita Mooney) is an actor, singer and dancer who spends time in both Kansas City and New York City. She came back to the acting world after a brief (36 year) break and has since become a sought after character actress! She studied acting while in college, and has since upped her game with an array of training (acting, voice, and even dance), proving that you can, indeed, teach an old dog new tricks.

Represented by Moxie Talent Agency in Kansas City, and Firestarter Entertainment in New York, she is ecstatic to be making her New Theater debut!

She finds her light on the theatrical stages of Kansas City and beyond. From rapping to roller skating and everything in between, her special skills have been highlighted in many of her roles. Some favorites include Dottie (Halftime), Lily (A Man of No Importance), Jack's Mom (Into the Woods), and Betty Blast (Footloose) She firmly believes that it's never too late to do what you love

Jasmine Hall (Backstage Dresser, u/s Crystal Hart) (she/her) is thrilled to be making her New Theater debut and with this stellar cast of artists too! You may have seen her around KC in shows at MTKC, Worlds of Fun, Padgett Productions or the Arts Asylum! She would like to thank her family and friends who have supported her throughout this crazy career, her loving partner Drew, and you in the audience who continue to support live local theater. Stay jazzy! @thejasminehall

Jeanne Averill * (u/s Mavis Flower) has been performing and doing understudy work at this theater and others in town for many years!  She was in SISTER ACT with other earlier roles as Vernadette in THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB, Golde in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and Mrs. Brice in FUNNY GIRL.  She has also enjoyed performing at Kansas City Rep in THE FRONT PAGE, LITTLE WOMEN, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL; at Kansas City Actors Theater in THREE VIEWINGS; at MTH in TITANIC, and as iconic mothers Marmee and Ma in LITTLE WOMEN and LITTLE HOUSE plays at The Coterie. National performances include her one-woman show about the great British Shakespearean actress, Fanny Kemble, at The Denver Performing Arts Center and Charlotte in MOON OVER BUFFALO at South Dakota’s Black Hills Playhouse. She has an extensive resume in film and commercials and has appeared on screen with Martin Sheen, Patty Duke, John Hurt, Ari Graynor, Colin Hanks, Brooke Shields, and Jeffrey Tambor, among others. Her latest screen credit is in a co-starring role on this year’s recently released TED LASSO, season four episode one as a chain-smoking cat lady. She is so happy to be a part of the New Theatre family as well as a founding member of her own delightful, age-varied Averill troupe at home.  

Kasey Johnson (u/s Bunny Sutherland) is overjoyed to be returning to the stage! A longtime musician and former music teacher, her past adventures include musical theatre, touring with a singing group, directing and writing musicals, and leading worship. She currently serves as Director of Learning Enhancement at Kansas City University and is incredibly grateful to be part of this production.