David Woitulewicz – Stage Manager

David Woitulewicz – Stage Manager

David Woitulewicz has been working steadily in the Metro Detroit theatre scene since his graduation from Wayne State University with a BFA in Theatre.  As both an actor and stage manager, he has been involved with plenty of shows with numerous companies, stages, and incredible artists along the way, including Magenta Giraffe (The Last Five Years, Dog Sees God, Burn the Red Banner), The Matrix (Phoenix), and the Ringwald (Mercury Fur and four years’ involvement with Evil Dead: the Musical) just to name a few.  David is truly excited to have the chance to be working for the first time with DBC and with such an extraordinarily talented group of individuals as this.

Katy Kujala as Mrs. Beauchamp

Katy Kujala as Mrs. Beauchamp

Katy Kujala is thrilled to be a part of Walk Tall. Previous theater credits include: Dark Night (Planet Ant), Oliver! ( Charlotte:The Encore), Evil Dead (Linda:The Ringwald/Olympia Entertainment), Jamie and Jordan (Ivana:Performance Network), Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitel:The Encore), The Little Mermaid ( The Little Mermaid: The Marquis Theatre) and various shows at Genitti’s Hole in the Wall. Upcoming theatre work: Closer than Ever at The Encore. Katy is also a soprano soloist at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church and a frequent Cinderella/Ariel/Aurora through Once Upon a Time Princess parties. Ms. Kujala is honored to be in the cast of Walk Tall. Much love!

Justina Wilson – Production Manager

Justina Wilson – Production Manager

Justina Wilson is a production manager for Walk Tall with primary responsibilities in placement and setting of props.   This is her first theatre production. She is currently enrolled in Royal Oak’s Community College where she plans to expand her portfolio in liberal arts.   As originally a painter and photographer, working in theatre felt like a natural next step for Justina.  She is very thankful to have worked with such a talented and friendly group of people from “Walk Tall.”

Maria Lograsso – Music Director

Maria Lograsso – Music Director

Maria Lograsso, mezzo-soprano resides in Detroit, Michigan where she studies vocal music performance at Wayne State University. Ms. Lograsso has recently performed the Music of Tim Burton with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and premiered David del Tredici’s Dum Dee Tweedle at Detroit’s Orchestra Hall. Most recently, you can see Maria teaching lessons and group classes at Axis Music Academy and Moss Academy of Music. She is also the children’s choir director at St. Faustina’s Catholic Community in Warren, MI. Ms. Lograsso is so very excited to be a part of Walk Tall with its rich Detroit and Catholic history. A special thank you to her parents for their ongoing support through projects like this, school, and her graduate school dreams.

Josef Deas as Victor Gaskin (Cannonball Adderley Quintet)

Josef Deas as Victor Gaskin (Cannonball Adderley Quintet)

Josef Deas has spent nearly 20 years studiously expanding music in performance and in his recordings on upright bass.  He has performed and even recorded with some of jazz’s finest musicians including ,Vincent York, Donald Walden,  Rick Roe, Tad Weed, Gary Shunk,  Charles Boles,   Scott Gwinnell, Steve Rush,  Alma Smith, U.S Scottish fiddle champion Jeremy Kittel, Dwight Adams,  Kariem Riggins,  Sean Dobbins,  Bill Higgins, to name a few.  

Andy Gaitens as Father Meyer

Andy Gaitens as Father Meyer

Andy Gaitens (Fr. Jim Meyer) is a Detroit resident and and recent graduate of Wayne State’s Theatre program. Recent credits include Giles in The Mousetrap, Julius Ceasar in Last Call @ the Conspiracy Lounge, and several performances with BoxFest Detroit. He is honored to take on the role of an important, yet hidden figure of local history. “This has been written far in advance, but with such a large cast and crew, I assume that some of them have been incredible to work with. So good on ‘em!”

Matthias J. Schneider as Anchorman 1 and Mr. Szermet

Matthias J. Schneider as Anchorman 1, Mr. Szermet, Mr. Groening and Mr. O’Connor

Matthias Schneider has been a member of the improv scene here in Detroit for many years, performing at the Planet Ant Theatre, the Century Theatre, The Second City, and GO Comedy. He also did improv in Chicago for a couple years where he performed regularly at I.O., the Playground Theatre, and with the Second City Conservatory.  His acting experience stems from a year in the University of Montana’s MFA program, and many other productions including his latest role as Jeremiah in Lambert Street also produced by Aaron.

Sara Kline as Mrs. Lesner

Sara Kline as Mrs. Lesner

Sara Kline is a local actor from Madison Heights who is madly in love with Detroit. She performs improv with RPG Comedy in Macomb County. Last year, she graduated from Wayne State University with a BFA in Acting and directed Ivanov in the Studio Theatre.  She thanks her family and friends for their support.

Matthew Daher as Roy McCurdy (Cannonball Adderley Quintet)

Matthew Daher Roy McCurdy (Cannonball Adderley Quintet)

Matthew Daher is the band leader for Walk Tall and plays as Cannonball Adderley Quintet’s Roy McCurdy.  Matthew is a drummer, composer, and improvisor currently based in Detroit. His recent endeavors have included performances in and curation of Spread Art’s Creative [Music] Incubator (Detroit Contemporary, January 2014) and the first edition of “Spectral Slumber” : A Drone Sleepover Show (December 2013, the Jam Handy). “Green Mountain State,” co-written by Daher as part of Corinna Rose and the Rusty Horse Band,  won the grand prize in the 2013 John Lennon Song Writing Competition (Folk Category), and is featured in Sarah Polley’s 2012 film “Take This Waltz” starring Seth Rogan, Sara Silverman, and Michelle Williams. Daher has performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Canadian Music Week, North by Northeast, and the Toronto International Film Festival. He is currently finishing production on a solo EP to be released summer 2014 and writing music for “Tiny Ocean,” a short film by local director Peter Skorupskas starring Jackie Strez and Langston Fishburne.

Rachel Elizabeth Porter – Wardrobe Mistress

Rachel Elizabeth Porter -Wardrobe Mistress

Rachel Elizabeth Porter is an actress, dancer/choreographer, and collaborator in the Metro-Detroit Film and Theatre scene.  As well as assisting with the costumes for “Walk Tall”, she is currently starring in “Princess Blossom and the Very Stubborn Dr. Winter” performed in the courtyard at Somorset Collection (North).  Rachel is thankful to be a part of the production of “Walk Tall” and work with such a talented group of artists!