Barn Couples are Forever
We’ve put together this blog to introduce you to couples who were brought together by the love of theatre and summers at The Barn! The summer romances that The Barn builds are truly loves that last.
Emily May (Smith) & Roy Brown
Emily – 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013
Roy – 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013
Emmy came to The Barn by regional audition and Roy was recommended by Dusty Reeds. Dusty directed Roy in a show in Battle Creek. The couple married in 2008 and returned to The Barn for many years as resident company members. Emily and Roy now reside in NYC and are both pounding the pavement.
Melissa (Cotton) & Patrick Hunter
Melissa – 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
Patrick – 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
Melissa came to the Barn Theatre by way of regional audition and Patrick was recommended by a former Barnie.
The couple got married on our grounds in 2014 and have two children. Patrick is working toward his MFA in Directing at University of Louisiana New Orleans and Melissa keeps her hand in performing and is a teacher at the Barre Code.
Jill (Asmus) Klinebriel & Joe Klinebriel
Joe said that Jack and Betty had come to see ‘I Hate Hamlet ” at WMU and encouraged him to apply for an apprenticeship. He apprenticed the summers of 1993 and 1994. Jill did shows as a child the summers of 1983, 1984 and 1985 with a mini-apprenticeship in 1992, and later apprenticed 1994 and 1995. Joe and Jill met in the summer of 1994 at The Barn and got married in 2000. They now live in Dubuque, IA and have an 8-year-old son, Sam. Joe is a professor of drama and musical theatre at Clarke University. Jill is an adjunct professor in the music department at Clarke and freelance pianist.
JoJo (Bengel) Johnson & Brennan Johnson
JoJo – 1994, 1995, 1996
Brennan – 1995, 1996
Both of these Western grads came to us through our relationship with Western faculty. JoJo works as Project Manager for Barnie John Kristiansen, who has a very successful costume design business. Brennan works at a staffing agency in NYC. He has written music and orchestrations for 4 children’s musicals with Barnie Kristen Madden (1993, 1994, 1995).
Elyse Moon & Michael Tuck
Michael – 2008, 2015
Elyse – 2011, 2012
Elyse & Mike both came to use through regional auditions. They actually met in New York because of a Barnie they both knew and they are now engaged. They currently live in NYC and are planning their Michigan wedding. They will marry in October 2018.
Stacey (Plaskett) Cooper & Brian Cooper
Stacey – 1996, 1997, 1998
Brian – 1998
Stacey was recommended by Scott Burkell while Brian auditioned at a regional audition.
They have two sons and live in Alameda, CA. Brian is an Assistant Principal at Life Academy of Health Bioscience in Oakland, CA and Stacey works in finance in San Francisco doing print and commercial work when possible.
Lisa (Morabito) Petersen & Eric Petersen
Lisa – 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009
Eric – 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009
Lisa and Eric currently live with their two children in NYC. Both came to us through regional auditions. When Eric was at The Barn in 2009 he got SHREK on Broadway and his career hasn’t stopped since. He toured with SHREK as well. Starred in Kirstie Alley’s short-lived series “Kirstie” in which he played her son. On Broadway, he has been in PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, and SCHOOL OF ROCK as Dewey and he is currently in rehearsals for ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE: THE MUSICAL. Lisa teaches children in New York City.
Liz (Gacs) Costello & Kevin Costello
Liz – 1985, 1986
Kevin – 1984, 1985, 1986
Kevin was encouraged to come to The Barn by a professor at Pomona College who was a former Barnie, and Liz by Associate Producer Emeritus Dusty Reeds’ recommendation from San Jose State where she was a professor. The couple lives in Stockton, CA and has 4 sons. Kevin teaches at St Mary’s High School and Liz is Artistic Director at Showbiz Theatre Company.
Dallyn Brunck & Kevin Robert White
Dallyn – 2014, 2015
Kevin – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Dallyn and Kevin met at the Barn in 2014 and recently got engaged. They live in NYC where Kevin teaches music/theatre at Kimball Union Academy in NH and Dallyn performs and choreographs regionally.
