THE 61st ANNUAL TOUR: Much Ado About Nothing • Lord of the Flies

Ann Marie Gideon (Hero/Sam) is delighted to be touring with National Players this season. She recently graduated with a BFA in Acting from the University of Memphis and completed a semester of training at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. University credits include the title role in Miss Julie, Rosalind in As You Like It, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, and Brooke in Noises Off. Favorite regional credits include Hyacinth in Scapin, Chava in Fiddler on the Roof, and Nell Gwynn in Compleat Female Stage Beauty.

Drew Hampton (Claudio/Jack) is originally from Dallas-Fort Worth, and has a Master’s Degree in Acting from Western Illinois University, where he developed a passion for performing Shakespeare, specifically with the First Folio Cue Script (‘Un-Rehearsed’) technique.  Favorite roles include Jamie in Long Day’s Journey into Night, Howie in Rabbit Hole, Irwin in The History Boys, Versati in The Underpants, and Man #2 in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!!!  Drew is also a member of the Actor’s Equity Candidacy program.

Bonnie McBride (Ursula/1st watch/Simon) is a graduate of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. She is thrilled to be a National Player. Her previous roles include Dot/Marie (Sunday in the Park with George), Roxie Hart (Chicago), Sally Bowles (Cabaret), and Lynette Squeaky Fromme (Assassins) at the Saint Josephs University Center for the Performing Arts.

Michael Pettey (Dogberry/Eric) is honored to be joining the National Players for their sixty-first season.  He recently appeared as Diedrich Knickerbocker in The Ghosts of Sleepy Hollow for the Harriet Lake Festival of New Plays at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater.  At Orlando Repertory Theatre, Michael played Elya Yelnats in Holes as well as an array of fantastic creatures in the Neverending Story.  A Florida Arts Scholar Award winner, Michael received his B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Central Florida. 

Blane Pressler (Don John/Don Pedro/Perceval) is thrilled to be joining The National Players.  His regional/stock credits include Guildenstern in Hamlet, Manny Munoz in City of Angels, Roy in The Odd Couple and Jesus Christ Superstar all at Festival 56.  His credits also include Gangster in Kiss Me Kate and Fred McCracken/Wacky in Annie at The Huron Playhouse and George Reed in 1776, and Oklahoma at The Barn Theatre.   Pressler is a recent graduate of Indiana Purdue University - Fort Wayne, IN (IPFW).  His credits there include Dromio in The Comedy of Errors, Aston in The Caretaker, Bud Frump in How to Succeed…, Reverend Hale in The Crucible, Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew, Sandy Tyrell in Hay Fever, Merilly We Roll Along, Medea, The Exonerated and Wonderful Town.

Glen Wall (Benedick/Maurice) is excited to be joining the National Players for their 61st tour.  His credits include Launcelot Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice at the Oxford Shakespeare Festival, as well as Utamaro in Samurai, Richard in The Lion in Winter, Wesley in Curse of the Staving Class, and Steindorf in Bach at Leipzig, all at WIU.  Glen is also an avid stage combatant, fight director, and instructor.  He is recognized as a Full Instructor of Stage Combat with Dueling Arts International and an actor/combatant with the SAFD.  Glen is also recent graduate of Western Illinois University with an MFA in acting.

Kyle Blair (Leonato/Second Watch/HenryBill) is particularly gung-ho about his upcoming adventure with the National Players. He has appeared regionally in the Tin Pan Alley Theatre Company's Pippin and Annie Warbucks (Portland, OR) and his other credits include An Enemy of the People (Peter), Of Thee I Sing! (Fulton), Love's Labour's Lost (Don Armado), Scrooge! (Christmas Present), as well as other roles in Alison's House, Blood Wedding, bobrauschenbergamerica, The Wild Party, and Zombie Prom. all at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL, where he received a B.A. in Theatre Arts this past May. Kyle is originally from Beloit, WI.

Beau Guedry (Touring Technical Director/Borachio/Priest/Naval Officer) is a recent graduate of Northwestern State University where he concentrated on electrician work and lighting design.  He has also been seen as The Doctor in In the Blood and Male Greek Chorus in How I Learned to Drive.