SHEAR MADNESS
Meet the Cast
ED KROSS* (Tony Whitcomb) is thrilled to be appearing at the Mercury Theater for the first time. Credits include West Side Story (Lyric Opera Of Chicago), Hazel (Drury Lane Oakbrook), The Jungle Book and Animal Crackers (The Goodman), I Love Lucy: Live Onstage (Broadway Playhouse), as well as productions at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Second City Theatricals, The Royal George, Peninsula Players, and American Blues Theater (where he is a 22-year ensemble member). On the small screen he’s appeared in over 75 commercials and had guest roles on Fargo, Chicago Fire, Patriot, Sirens, and Boss. On the big screen he shares one-on-one scenes with Tom Hanks in Road To Perdition and George Clooney in Ocean’s 12. He is a proud union member of Actor’s Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, and AGMA. He can be found at www.edkross.com.
ED KROSS
MARY ROBIN ROTH* (Mrs. Shubert) is thrilled to return to the Shear Madness salon after appearing in productions at the Blackstone Theatre, Chicago Theatre, The Kennedy Center and San Francisco companies. Chicago credits include: Gypsy (Mama Rose), Hello Dolly (Dolly Levi), Mame (title role), Sister Act (Sr. Lazarus), Follies (Carlotta; Jeff Award and After Dark Award winning) and A Streetcar Named Desire starring Renee Fleming. Regional credits include: Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider), The Full Monty (Jeanette), Chicago (Mama Morton), Spitfire Grill (Hannah), Arsenic and Old Lace (Abby), Nunsense 1 & 2 (Sr. Robert Anne) Unnecessary Farce (Mary Meekly). Tours include: National and International companies of Evita and the Toronto company of Sunset Blvd. (Norma Desmond understudy). Broadway credits include: The Mystery of Edwin Drood & Senator Joe (Jean McCarthy). “MR” is a proud member of SGI-USA, an organization dedicated to world peace through culture and education.
MARY ROBIN ROTH
BRITTANY D. PARKER* (Barbara DeMarco) is ecstatic to make her Chicago theater scene premiere at Mercury Theater Chicago! A Minneapolis native by way of Philadelphia, Brittany has been all over the country, with musical theater productions and performing stand-up and improv as well. Regional theatrical credits include: Children's Theater Company, Park Square Theatre, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, History Theater, Stages Theater Company, Artistry Theater, Walking Shadow Theater, Yellow Tree Theater, Troupe America, Old Log Theater, Imagination Stage and Hennepin Theater Trust. Film credits include: In an Instant (ABC), The Rug (a Catalyst Film festival & TCFF selection), the recently filmed mini-series "Breakdowns", and over 35 regional and national commercials. Brittany is a proud member of AEA.
BRITTANY D. PARKER
DAVID SAJEWICH* (Eddie Lawrence) is excited to be returning to Mercury Theater Chicago after just appearing in their productions of Spamalot and Little Shop of Horrors, as well as in the Venus Cabaret Theater’s inaugural production of Company. Working throughout the Midwest, some select credits include: A Wonderful Life and All Shook Up (Theatre at the Center); The Pajama Game (The Music Theatre Company); Oklahoma and Mamma Mia (Stages St. Louis); A Wonderful Life, All Shook Up, Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, Once Upon A Mattress, and Legally Blonde (Fireside Theatre). David also appeared as Ash in the National Tour of Evil Dead: The Musical. He can be found at www.davidsaje.com.
DAVID SAJEWICH
JOE POPP* (Nick Rossetti) is thrilled to make his Mercury Theater Chicago debut with Shear Madness, and is so excited to be working with two of the greatest people in theatre, Walter Stearns and Warner Crocker! Joe is a Shear Madness veteran, having performed this one of a kind masterpiece of comedy and theatre for decades in Chicago, The Kennedy Center in Washington DC and Milwaukee. He also recently directed a record-breaking production of the show in Lancaster, PA. Not only is Joe a member of a small group that has performed all four of the male roles, but he has also been lucky enough to have worked onstage with the two creators of Shear Madness, the uber talented Bruce Jordan & Marilyn Abrams. Other selected Chicago area credits include: The Rocky Horror Show, Love, Sex & The IRS, Miracle On South Division Street and numerous children’s productions. For over 20 years Joe has traveled the world using his acting skills in the business world working a variety of events as a spokesman, presenter, and emcee with MakeYourMessagePopp.com.
JOE POPP
SAM WOODS* (Mikey Thomas, u/s Tony) is thrilled to be back with Mercury Theater Chicago where he last appeared as the puppeteer of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors and in Spamalot as the understudy for Lancelot. Other credits include: Nureyev's Eyes (Bluebarn Theatre), Legally Blonde: The Musical (Paul Bunyan Playhouse), Peter and the Starcatcher (Great Plains Theatre). When not in the theatre, Sam can be found performing all around the city with his improv team LIAR, or writing his next sketch show.
SAM WOODS