2022 Equity Actors

Penelope Alex

In her 36th season, Penelope has more than established herself as the Barn’s quintessential leading lady. Her resume here is highlighted by a series of compelling performances. Mrs. Lovett in SWEENEY TODD, Donna in MAMMA MIA! Golde in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Aldonza in MAN OF LA MANCHA, Mona in THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, (all opposite Robert Newman), and opposite Tom Wopat as Annie in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN.

More about Penelope

Penelope has appeared in several feature films including RAUNCH AND ROLL, a vehicle written for her by husband Brendan Ragotzy, which recently had its national release in June of ‘21.

She will be filming her latest feature BONE HILL this fall. You may have heard her on the radio as she has voiced over 125 jingles and commercials. She will once again, direct the annual Barn Christmas Cabaret.

Her longest-running roles are her dearest- wife and mother to Brendan and their children Luke, Calli, Jacob, and Melina. Along with her on-stage work, Penelope serves the Barn as School Dean and Publicist and coordinates the hiring and departmental placement of each season’s apprentice company. She’s a native of San Jose, CA, and is a proud alum of San Jose State University.

Nicholas Biddle

Nicholas is a newly graduated Acting/Musical Theatre student from Carnegie Mellon University and one of the Barn’s newest Actors’ Equity members! He is so excited to be spending his summer at the Barn Theatre in his state of birth, Michigan.

Last season’s audience will undoubtedly remember his hysterical portrayal of Squidward and his wonderful work in many shows. Nicholas enjoys playing guitar and writing music in his free time, as well as playing with any dog he is allowed to. He wants to send his love to his parents as well as everyone who has helped him get to where he is now.

Emily Boomer

Emily is excited to be joining the Barn this summer for her first full season! She is not a stranger though, as she has been the Assistant Stage Manager for the ROCKY HORROR SHOW in 2019 and 2021.

Emily majored in Stage Management at Western Michigan University...

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Steven Lee Burright

Sixteen seasons and still going strong and loving it at The Barn Theatre.

Steven’s thirty-four-year career has reached a lifelong high following his nomination and subsequent installation into The Barn Theatre Wall of Fame! This is an honor that fills him with immense pride and Joy. Eternal thanks to the Ragotzy Family for the Honor and the overall mentorship of those Barnies who came before. Special thanks to Dusty Reeds/Associate Producer Emeritus, for her unwavering support and Mentorship. “ I owe my friend Dusty, my Career”.

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Aaron Czarnecki

Aaron is thrilled to be returning to The Barn for his fourth season and his first as a member of Actors’ Equity Association! Aaron has been on the Barn stage in many shows and has appeared in the Christmas Cabaret. He most recently appeared on The Barn's stage in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL, THE WEDDING SINGER, and MAMMA MIA! Aaron would like to thank his family and his girlfriend for their undying support and encouragement.

John Jay Espino

This is John’s 12th season here since ’92! Barn audiences will remember him from many roles including Plankton in SpongeBob Squarepants, Cogsworth in Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Julian Marx in BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, Herod in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, the Narrator in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and Sancho in MAN OF LA MANCHA. John has also served as the Barn’s musical director for SUNSET BLVD, MAN OF LA MANCHA, BLOOD BROTHERS, SOUTH PACIFIC, BIG RIVER, CHICAGO, and SPAMALOT.

He will once again be musical directing our very popular nightly Rehearsal Shed bar show.

More about John

John’s Conducting/ Music Directing credits around the country include BILLY ELLIOT, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE, A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL, CURTAINS, THE KING AND I, CATS, INTO THE WOODS, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, ZORBA, HOT MIKADO and three productions of LES MISERABLES.

As an actor, John has appeared as Archibald: SECRET GARDEN, Pseudolus: A FUNNY THING...FORUM, Madam: PACIFIC OVERTURES, Maj. General: THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Sancho: MAN OF LA MANCHA, L.M.: PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, and GREATER TUNA. John studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Melissa Cotton Hunter

Melissa is celebrating her eleven-year Barniversary this year and thrilled to be spending it back on the Main Stage as actor and choreographer! Barn audiences will undoubtedly remember her recent roles as Julia in THE WEDDING SINGER, Sophie in MAMMA MIA!, Shelby in STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and the first three-time Janet in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (2012, 2019, and 2021).

More about Melissa

Melissa also took home a Wilde Award in 2019 for her portrayal as the Beggar Woman in SWEENEY TODD.

Past Barn favorites include Bonnie in BONNIE AND CLYDE, Olive Neal in BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, Elle Woods in LEGALLY BLONDE, Ariel in Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, Lina Lamont in SINGING IN THE RAIN, and Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut in AVENUE Q.

While living in New Orleans, Louisiana, Melissa was featured in many productions with the Jefferson Performing Arts Society. You can also find her in upcoming feature films including Raunch and Roll-now streaming!

Melissa holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Kent State University and is a Michigan State Licensed Realtor. Melissa can be found offstage hanging with her children, Christopher and Cotton, and her Barnie hubby Patrick Hunter. As always, deepest thanks go to the Ragotzy Family for their support, love, and determination to keep the arts alive and thriving!

Patrick Hunter

Patrick returns this summer for his eleventh season on the Barn stage. Favorite Barn roles include Beadle Bamford in SWEENEY TODD, Judah Ben Hur (and many others) in BEN HUR, The Preacher in BONNIE AND CLYDE, Warner Purcell in BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, and Nicely Nicely in GUYS AND DOLLS, for which he won the Wilde Award. Patrick's directing credits include two productions of DISASTER!, 9 to 5 and 2019's BIG THE MUSICAL, for which he was recognized as outstanding director at the Wilde Awards.

More about Patrick

Patrick's original farces, IN HOT WATER and A SLIPPERY SLOPE received world premiere productions on the Barn stage in 2020 and 2021.

Patrick holds an MFA in Theatre Performance from The University of New Orleans, and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College. In addition to his onstage work, Patrick holds the position of Managing Director of The Barn Theatre School.

Patrick and his wife, Barn favorite Melissa Cotton Hunter, have two children, Christopher (7) and Cotton (5). Patrick would like to thank Brendan and his friend Penelope for the opportunity to join them in continuing the magical tradition and the vital cultural institution that is the Barn Theatre.

Charlie King

Charlie is grateful to be with his extended Barn Family this summer. He apprenticed from (91-94). Some of his favorite roles here include The Big Bopper in BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, Clem Rogers in Will Rogers FOLLIES, Brad/Dr Scott in ROCKY HORROR SHOW, Nick Valenti in BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and Eugene Krabs in SPONGEBOB. Dirty Dave Rudabaugh in BILLY THE KID and Kenny in both SLIPPERY SLOPE and IN HOT WATER.

More about Charlie

He is a multi-instrumentalist and has performed internationally with the Asylum Street Spankers (2007-2011) and Stephen Lynch, appearing on his albums LION and MY OLD HEART as well as the DVD HELLO KALAMAZOO.

He also plays with the Deep Fried Pickle Project JVG Band when he can. Charlie's film roles include Chuck in A Haunting in Cawdor, LaCroix in Raunch and Roll and Jeremiah Gods light in the upcoming horror film Dormant Evil.

Charlie would like to thank the Ragotzy’s for making this Barn family bigger every year and his mother for her love, her support…. And her basement.

Jerry McAllister

This is Jerry’s 9th season at the Barn, and we are ecstatic to have him back with us! Jerry has served as stage manager at 3 Below Theatre and The Retro Dome in San Jose, CA as well as production managing. He has also stage managed at the Brava Theatre in San Francisco, CA, Theatreworks USA and Kraine Theatre, in New York City.

More about Jerry

He is a founding member of the Hope Theatre with siblings Heather and Kelly (a Barnie from season ’90), where they produced the American professional premiere of Shakespeare’s EDWARD III.

Jerry served as stage manager for 6 years at the NY International Fringe Festival. He is also a director. Some of his favorite shows include MISHKIN’S PARADISE (New York, NY), LAST CALL (New York International Fringe Festival), and MACBETH (Shakespeare in the Park[ing Lot], NY).

Acting roles include Cesar Rodney in 1776 here at The Barn Theatre, Henry in The Fantasticks! at The Retrodome in San Jose, CA, and Julius Caesar in Julius Caesar at Shakespeare in the Park(ing Lot) in NYC.

Luke Ragotzy

Luke is so excited to see you all this summer! Along with being a member of the Equity company, Luke is the Bar manager of the Rehearsal Shed, Miss Penelope’s Saloon and will be directing Bar Shows this summer.

Luke has appeared on stage many times here at the Barn - most recently as Rocky in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW...

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Brendan Ragotzy

Our Producer / Director

Brendan literally grew up in the business, from his walk-on debut in 1966's OLIVER! to his work as a stagehand, spot operator, stage manager, actor, director, assistant producer, and now Producer/Director.

Combining his parents' attributes with his own practical expertise, the Barn has an ideal leader for its second generation of Ragotzy ownership.

In 1989 he made his directorial debut with HAIR, followed by our soon-to-be all-time hit THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW...

More about Brendan

PHANTOM, A FEW GOOD MEN, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, TOMMY, BIG RIVER, FOOTLOOSE, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (also playing Pontius Pilate), ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, THE WIZARD OF OZ, SHENANDOAH, THE CIVIL WAR (one of his favorites), CINDERELLA, MAN OF LA MANCHA, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, MOVE OVER, MRS. MARKHAM, and AMERICAN IDIOT and ROCK OF AGES.

He also staged his original musicals BILLY THE KID and OLD TIMER, the latter of which received a highly successful New York reading in 2003 featuring several Barnies and a title role performed by Tom Wopat.

RAUNCH AND ROLL is Brendan’s latest original, and in addition to workshop productions here at the Barn RAUNCH AND ROLL, co-produced with Friel Films and co-starring Barn actress and wife Penelope Alex with Michael Pare, recently wrapped up its filming schedule and headed to post-production.

Brendan’s first feature, Fish Mich, got pre-festival screenings right here at the Barn in 2009. Brendan and Penelope are parents to Luke (23), Calli (21), Jacob (18), and Melina (14).

The Barn Theatre School for Advanced Theatre Training promotes the concept that theatre artists, performers, designers, technicians, stage managers, directors, and art managers should have broadly based theatre exposure and experience. The school believes the exposure and experience gained as an Apprentice are the heart of an appreciative and creative relationship and comprise the core disciplines of any theatrical endeavor.

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