Nick Ahlstrand is a third-generation performer with the Kirk Players. His great-aunt Bobbi was an original member, and his mother Kari was a player-at-large. He first began acting at age ten for the ‘94 production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, along with his brother and sister. Nick then took theatre more seriously in high school and then in college where he received an Associate degree in dramatic arts. He rejoined the Kirk Player in 2015 and became an official member in 2017. Some of his more memorable performances include Charlotte’s Web, Sounds & Sweet Airs, and It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Show. Nick also enjoys helping with set construction and ticket sales.
Nat Brautigam made his debut on our mainstage playing Templeton, the Rat in the children’s show, “Charlotte’s Web”.  Since then he has gone on to appear in a number of our productions playing a variety of roles. Nat is an avid White Sox fan and enjoys being in the spotlight!

Chris Brouton

Julie Dietrich Brouton
Jamie Lee Cortese’s performed with Second City, Corn Productions, iO, Theatre 121, PM&L Theatre, Six Flags, and more. She hosts “Jammin’ with Jamie” Saturdays at 6am CT on 89.3 WNUR FM. With Kirk Players, she’s been Nina in “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” and Cookson in “Peter Pan and Wendy,” where she also understudied Peter Pan and Wendy. You can follow her on Twitter @JackalopeJamie, visit her website http://jamieleecortese.com/, or read her writing on sites such as Horror Obsessive (https://horrorobsessive.com/author/jackalopejamie/).
Jeanna Daebelliehn is thrilled to be a member of the Kirk Players. Kirk Player credits include choreography for several productions, Sister Monica in Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?, and Director for Seussical Jr. Jeanna has extensive experience performing, directing and choreographing productions in the Chicago area. When not working in the theatre, Jeanna teaches for the Waukegan School District. She is grateful for any chance to create and perform on stage.
​Lance Evans
​Vidal Gonzalez
Fran Hansen's  only line in high school was "Duh, what's up doc?", her love for the theatre developed in college. Her first Kirk Players' Summer Workshop in 1999, and in 2000 won the "Mary Pearson" award; in 2002 and 2004 she earned the O.D. Award for directing in Workshops.  Her favorite technical assignment developed in props. She earned our "Carter" Golden Hammer award for her work as Property Mistress for Blithe Spirit. She has artfully provided props for many of our productions. She also appeared on main stage as Ida in The Cemetery Club for which she received a "Leslie" Best Actress nomination, and as Elizabeth in Angel Street earning her a "Leslie" Best supporting actress nomination. She earned her status of A.C.T. in 2011.
Jeff Harding became a member in 2009 and is a Master Player. He has appeared onstage as Starkey in Peter Pan and Wendy, Aslan in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Mike Depky in Do Black Patent Shoes Really Reflect Up?, Max Halliday in Dial M for Murder and George Kittredge in The Philadelphia Story. His portrayal of Saunders in Lend Me a Tenor earned Jeff a Best Supporting Actor “Leslie”. His backstage credits include Technical Director, Stage Manager and Sound Design.
Vicki Herrick has been passionate about theatre ever since sixth grade when she played Fern in Charlotte’s Web.  During her teaching career, she has directed high school, middle school and elementary students in a variety of plays.  She loves co-teaching the youngest actors each summer at the Kirk Players children’s workshop. Over the years, she’s acted in a wide range of comedic productions.  Her acting debut with the Kirk Players was in the role of Philippa in the Zoom production of A Murder is Announced.  She particularly enjoys writing and adapting skits for many different situations.   
Martin Hill dabbled in many aspects of theatre throughout high school and college, including pit orchestra, lights, sound and set construction. He began his association with Kirk Players on lights crew during The Mousetrap and is looking forward to many great shows in the future.
Susie Hill was born and raised in central Pennsylvania. During her high school years she worked backstage and in the house for several shows. She continued her work in the theatre at Susquehanna University where she studied voice, movement and diction with Pamela Chabora.  While living in a small Illinois town she found herself cast in The Sound of Music with Forreston High School. Susie found Kirk Players during the Mundelein Arts Festival in 2012 and since then she has worked stage crew for Mousetrap and as the female understudy and Production Assistant for Do Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
Henry Hogan is a student in Mundelein and is the Kirk Players youngest current member! Henry first appeared onstage as a Wickersham Brother in Suessical Jr. The Musical and as John in Peter Pan and Wendy. Henry has worked backstage for several productions including light crew for Postmortem, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Red Herring, and has been active in Summer Workshop. Henry is excited to be back onstage as Czar Albert and as a Wild Duck in Fairy Tales and Fables.
Bev Karns came to the Kirk Players in 2011 through Adult Summer Workshop. Her on stage credits include Widow Douglas in Tom Sawyer, Tilly in It’s a Wonderful Life, Nurse Bev in I Remember Mama, and Parsons in 1984. She has worked numerous productions backstage running props, assisting with costumes, helping run lights. Bev also worked as one of the writers for the KP adaptation of 1984 for Reader’s Theatre. Bev has been a continual fixture for the Adult Summer Workshop and is an enthusiastic assistant for the Children’s Summer Workshop.
Natalie La Voie would've never fathomed that an extemporaneous speech junior year in high school (with Jon Lynn Jr, no less!!) would have been the spark to her eternal passion of theatre flame!  Some of her most memorable roles have included Anna Maurant in "Street Scenes", Sally in “Drinking Habits”, Detective Tupolski in “The Pillowman”, Ynez in “Oscar & Felix”, Emily Brent in “And Then There Were None”, and Lois in “Wonder of the World”.

She's also been involved in improv for the last few years (currently a member of the Anti-Depressants), as well as participating in murder mysteries & live radio shows with the Brown-Ullstrup Performing Arts Foundation.  Other passions include the endless pursuits of knowledge & adventures, along with an unremitting love of animals (especially to that of her furry baby, Punky)
Anna Lieberman became involved with Kirk Players when her husband Mike was cast and took the assignment of Assistant Props Mistress. By then she was hooked! Summer Workshop was her next adventure, taking on director responsibilities for scenes. Back on the main stage she was Assistant Props Mistress for One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Property Mistress for Whose Life Is It Anyway? and Sherlock’s Last Case, and many other shows. She also has taken on the role of Assistant Stage Manager. She prefers the technical aspects of theatre and loves the hustle and bustle behind the scenes. 
Mike Lieberman and his wife Anna have been Kirk Players since 2006. Mike has appeared in numerous shows including: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, I Remember Mama, It's a Wonderful Life Radio Show, The Ladies Man, and Sherlock Holmes and The Case of the Jersey Lily, for which he won a “Leslie” for Best Supporting Actor. Backstage, Mike has served as Tech Director, Stage Manager and co-Prop Master and worked light crew. Mike has served as Financial Director on The Kirk Players Board of Directors since 2011.
​ Jon Leslie Lynn, the eldest son of our Founder, was first a member of our Acting Company in 1969-72. His enthusiasm and hard work caused his fellow Players to name their annual performance awards after him. As an Honorary Player, he earned an “O.D.” award as Best Director. Les has served 13 years on our Board of Directors, won Best Actor “Leslies” for the title roles in Death Takes a Holiday and Liliom, and a Best Actor “O.D.” for The Lark. He has been on our stage in I Hate Hamlet, Rumors, It Runs In The Family, The Foreigner, You Can’t Take It With You, Jake’s Women and Harvey, four of which won him Best Actor “Leslie” awards. He has directed Romantic Comedy, Death of a Salesman, The Odd Couple (Female Version), Dracula, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Noises Off, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Up The Down Staircase.
Randy Margison made his Kirk Players debut in 2017 as Lars “Papa” Hansen in I Remember Mama, which earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination. He has appeared as Winston Smith in the Kirk Players Special Event Staged Reading of 1984 and as Major Hartwell in Red Herring. Outside of Kirk Players, Randy has been privileged to play some of the great roles in American theater including: The Stage Manager in Our Town, Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came To Dinner, Weller Martin in The Gin Game, and John Barrymore in the one-man play Barrymore’s Ghost. Randy looks forward to entertaining Kirk Players audiences for many years
to come.
Jessica Motyka graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance. She joined up with Kirk Players in 2010 and is thrilled to have found such a welcoming and talented group to continue exploring her passion. Jess has had many memorable onstage roles that will always be a part of her heart. Despite acting being her first predilection, she revels in the offstage skills as well, particularly stage managing. Jess is very grateful that her family has always been supportive of her theatre desires. She is married to fellow Kirk Player Brian Motyka and they are definitely raising their children, Kelsey and Jack, in the theatre spirit. Jess is excited to see what the future holds with Kirk Players and she feels proud of the community work they do to keep the arts alive.
Ron Otrembiak began his involvement with the Kirk Players during the 51st Season, portraying various supporting characters in all three shows. In the fall of 2017, he was awarded the honor of Player at Large. In addition to his on stage work, Ron has also worked the sound board. Ron is particularly proud that his daughter Gina has worked backstage with make-up, his wife has run the sound board, and his son Ed is a fixture at set build and strike.
Franny Pollack has been interested in theatre since she was a young girl after seeing a number of movie stars on a visit to California! She has fond memories of singing and dancing with her Dad. She came to the Kirk Players after working with the Vernon Hills Park District and appearing in the female version of the Odd Couple in the 1990's. She has worked on props and has been involved in our summer workshops appearing in Who's the Tomato in 2012. Franny thanks her husband Michael, her daughter Julie and her son Scott for their support.
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Marilee C.C. Rusiniak has appeared on stage in many Kirk Player productions. Her portrayal of Pamela Fitzgerald in The Uninvited earned her the Best Actress “Leslie”. She has been seen on stage as The March Hare in Alice in Wonderland, Mrs. Harper in Tom Sawyer, Velveteen Rabbit in The Velveteen Rabbit, Lady Caroline Bramble in Enchanted April and Fox in The Little Prince. Her performance as Stacy in A Nice Family Gathering earned her The Best Supporting Actress “Leslie”. Best Actress nominations include: Mary Hatch-Baily in It’s A Wonderful Life, Mother in David and Lisa and Honey Raye Futrell in Christmas Belles. Best Supporting Actress Nominations include: Midge in The Hollow and Frances Egan in Up the Down Staircase. Backstage credits include Sound Design, Assistant Stage Manager, and Makeup Design. Marilee Holds a BA in Communications with an emphasis in Professional Writing from Southern New Hampshire University.
Barb Selvaggio moved to Vernon Hills and discovered Kirk Players in 2017. Previously, she had been in many theater productions in Chicago and the suburbs, including dramas, comedies, musicals and improv. Not only did she discover a wonderful theater company, she discovered a warm, genuine, caring, talented  and generous “family”. She was part of the costume crew for Red Herring, participated in two adult summer workshops and  co-taught the summer children’s workshop. She made her Kirk Players stage debut in June of 2019 playing the quirky Miss Furnival in Black Comedy, which  earned her a Leslie Best Supporting Actress nomination. She was the Assistant Stage Manager for Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and is honored to be a member of Kirk Players
 

​Amy Sharer had her first on-stage role at the age of 4 in Midsummer Night’s Dream and has performed in some way ever since.  Amy joined Kirk Players in 2015 after a year of helping out behind the scenes as SM of Velveteen Rabbit and Sherlock Holmes and the Jersey Lily.  Since then, she has house managed, stage managed, costumed and appeared on Stage in I Remember Mama, Red Herring, Black Comedy and as Susan B. Anthony in the Votes for Women Celebration. Her favorite KP memory was performing in Sounds and Sweet Aires – KP’s Shakespeare montage – as Mistress Page, Lanthorn and one of the sonnet readers. ​
​Betty Slack is honored to be welcomed as a member of Kirk Players and join this fine company of talented, dedicated, friendly, and generous individuals. She began acting at age seven, did her undergraduate work in Speech and Drama at Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa, and pursued her master’s degree in Theatre History, Literature, and Criticism at Indiana University in Bloomington. She has appeared with the Kirk Players in The Velveteen Rabbit, I Remember, Mama,Postmortem, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and Red Herring. She hopes to act in many more productions—as long as playwrights continue to create roles for women of a certain age.
Monica Stark is a lifelong performer and performs all around the Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin area. She found the Kirk Players in 2019 taking on the role of the mischievous Clea in Black Comedy. She then appeared onstage in Votes for Women and virtually in An Evening of Mystery and Clue: Stay at Home Version. She joined as a member in 2021 after seeing the hard work the Kirk Players did to try to create a space to create and perform in the uncertainty of the beginnings of the pandemic. After joining she found a love of Sound Designing taking the helm of designing the sound for Diary of Anne Frank. Outside of KP, she and her fiancé Nat (whom she met through the Kirk Players) have two lovely kitties named Rickon and Ashalnd. 
James Torbeck is a native to Mundelein. James got his start in theatre at Mundelein High School under the direction John Leslie Lynn, the third of three brothers to do so. He got his start with Kirk Players working sound on Christmas Belle's and has primarily worked behind the scenes. He made his first Kirk stage appearance in The Happiest Millionaire as Joe, a delivery driver who was accepted into this eccentric family and never left.
Makenna Wald became involved with Kirk Players in their summer theatre program, and is our youngest member!  She has appeared onstage with KP as “Gladys” in “1984”, and as “Zuzu” in “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play”. She received the “Behind the Curtain Award” for her work on lights for ”The Diary of Anne Frank”. Additional backstage credits include Sound Design, Stage Manager, Costume Crew Chief, Props Crew, and Stage Crew. Makenna is active with the MHS Theatre and Band departments and is a member of Thespian Troupe 2531.

Honorary Players

An Honorary Player is a special membership status bestowed on Kirk Players who have given outstanding service but are unable to continue active participation. This status is our sincere expression of love and appreciation for their past contributions.
Kari Ahlstrand
Floyd Baker
Dominick Basso, A.C.T.
​Kat Basso, A.C.T.
Max Basso
Rick Bergmann
Emily Blake
Sheila Bourque, A.C.T.
Kendra Bresley
Frank Callahan
Jeanne Callahan
Nancy Callahan
Erick Campos
Hill Carter
Jeff Carter
Phyllis Carter
Patricia Cline
Maureen Cook-Slade
Kristina Edelman
Matt Erickson
Carol Marie Fishchesser
Sir Charles Fitz-Hugh, A.C.T. *
Connie Green
Janis Greene
Gary Gunther, A.C.T.
Sara Gunther, A.C.T.
Michael Gunther
Josef Haas
Vera Hazen
Beverly Johnson
​​Dave Kennebeck
Andi Kichinko
Pat Kichinko
Angela Koch
Thom Koch, Jr.
Amanda Kochenash
Bobbie LaBelle, A.C.T.
​Meghan Lane *
June Larsen
Kyle Larsen
Carol Loucks
Angela Lynn
Donna Lynn
Jeff Lynn

Jesse Lynn
John W. Lynn, A.C.T.
Melanie Lynn
Veronica Lynn
Paddy Lynn, A.C.T.
Paula Marsh, A.C.T.
Jon Matousek, A.C.T.
Barbara McGreevy
Byron Nilsson
Fred O’Donnell
Donna Rae Pearlman
Holly Perry
Cynthia Petersen
Karen Peterson
Bill Phillips
Mary Jo Pippinger
Randy Rice, A.C.T.
Wally Rish
Suzanne Rosen
Kathy Russ
Steve Sapp
Terry Sapp
Tom Schrimpf
Tom Schwartz
Janie Ann Slade
R.C. Slade
Royden Slade
Russ Slade
Sarah Slade
Lisa Soare *
​Brenda Sparks, A.C.T.
Mike Stebbins *
Megan Stevenart
Bob Thomas
Jenny Tomlin, A.C.T.
John Tomlin
Rebecca VanSickel
Fred Vipond, A.C.T.
Janet Walker, A.C.T.
Marjunice Weingandt
Rae West
Lisa Wilson-McIntire