2023 Equity Actors

Penelope Alex
In her 37th 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 both of the Barn’s MAMMA MIA! productions, 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.
Last season’s DOUBT directed by her hubby opposite her friend Patrick Hunter was an artistic highlight. Penelope has appeared in several feature films including Raunch and Roll, a vehicle written for her by husband Brendan Ragotzy, which had its national release June of ‘21. She will be filming her latest feature Bone Hill this coming winter. You may have heard her on the radio as she has voiced over 125 jingles and commercials. She will once again, happily 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 proud alum of San Jose State University.

Emily Boomer
Emily is excited to be returning to the Barn for her second summer as an Equity ASM! She started her time at the Barn assisting for THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW in 2019 and 2021, and jumped at the opportunity to work her first full summer in 2022.
She studied Stage Management at Western Michigan University and continues to call Kalamazoo her home. Emily would like to thank her family and friends for their never ending love and support, her Barn family for welcoming her back with open arms, and to all of the patrons for their continued support.

Steven Lee Burright
Steven returns to the Barn for his Seventeenth Season! He can’t believe it! Steven is thrilled to add the position of “Props Master” to his already impressive list of talents. In many ways, the Barn’s former Properties Master, James Knox, was a mentor to Steven, back when the world was young. Learning from the consummate Props Master, he is honored to apply what he learned from Mr. Knox.
Steven will once again be lending his beautiful scenic painting artistry to the Barn’s sets as well as appearing on stage. As always, Steven looks forward to making great theatre with the Ragotzys and the rest of the 2023 company.

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 13th season here since ’92! Barn audiences will remember him from many roles including Igor in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, 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, BLOOD BROTHERS, LEGALLY BLONDE, SOUTH PACIFIC, BIG RIVER, CHICAGO, and SPAMALOT. He will once again be musical directing our very popular nightly Rehearsal Shed bar show. John’s Conducting/ Music Directing credits around the country include: LES MISERABLES, BILLY ELLIOT, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE, A CHRISTMAS STORY, CURTAINS, THE KING AND I, CATS, INTO THE WOODS, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, ZORBA and HOT MIKADO. As an actor John has appeared regionally as Colonel Tom Parker: ELVIS, Archibald: SECRET GARDEN, Pseudolus: ...FORUM, Madam: PACIFIC OVERTURES, Maj. General: THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, 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 twelve-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 Millie Braden in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, Elizabeth Benning in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Julia in THE WEDDING SINGER, Sophie in MAMMA MIA!, Shelby in STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and a three-time Janet in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (2012, 2019, and 2021).
Melissa holds Wilde Awards for her portrayals of Rita in GROUNDHOG DAY and the Beggar Woman in SWEENEY TODD as well as her choreography in ROCK OF AGES. 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 Dormant Evil and 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 twelfth season on the Barn stage. Favorite Barn roles include Beadle Bamford in SWEENEY TODD, Judah Ben Hur (and many others) in BEN HUR, Father Flynn in DOUBT, Ned Ryerson in GROUNDHOG DAY and Nicely Nicely in GUYS AND DOLLS. Directing credits include two productions of DISASTER! The Musical, 9 to 5, BIG, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, GROUNDHOG DAY and MISERY. Patrick's original farces, IN HOT WATER and A SLIPPERY SLOPE received world premiere productions on the Barn stage in 2020 and 2021.
Patrick's work as an Actor, Director and Playwright on the Barn Stage has earned him a total of 5 Wilde Awards. Patrick holds an MFA in Theatre Performance from The University of New Orleans, and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College. Patrick and his Barnie Bride, Melissa Cotton Hunter have two children, Christopher (8) and Cotton (6). Patrick would like to “thank Brendan and (my friend) Penelope for continuing to share the magic of the Barn Theatre with him and his family.”

Charlie King
Charlie is forever 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, Eugene Krabs in SPONGEBOB, Dirty Dave Rudabaugh in BILLY THE KID, Kenny in both SLIPPERY SLOPE and IN HOT WATER and Max VonDiesel in DOUBLE O69.
He is a multi-instrumentalist and has performed internationally with the Asylum Street Spankers (2007-2011) and Stephen Lynch. He also plays with the Deep Fried Pickle Project Jugband when he can. Charlies film roles include Chuck in A Haunting in Cawdor, LaCroix in Raunch and Roll and Jeremiah Godslight 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 10th season at the Barn, and we celebrate his decade of work 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. 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 Featival), and MACBETH (Shakespeare in the Park[ing Lot], NY).
Acting roles include Cesar Rodney in 1776 here at The Barn, 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.

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 all-time hit THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, 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, AMERICAN IDIOT, ROCK OF AGES, WE WILL ROCK YOU, BONNIE & CLYDE and MAMMA MIA!, and original comedies THE WHISTLE PIG’S REVENGE, and DOUBLE “0” 69.
He also staged his original musicals BILLY THE KID and OLD TIMER, the latter of which received a highly successful New York reading featuring several Barnies and a title role performed by Tom Wopat. Brendan’s first feature film, Fish Mich, got pre-festival screenings right here at the Barn in 2009. Another original, RAUNCH AND ROLL, in addition to workshop productions here at the Barn, was made into a feature film, co-produced with Friel Films. Starring Barn actress and wife Penelope Alex with Michael Pare, Raunch And Roll the movie had its national release in June of 2021. Having received many favorable reviews, it is available for DVD purchase and can be viewed on Amazon Prime and other streaming platforms. Brendan and Penelope are proud parents to Luke, Calli, Jacob, and Melina.

Luke Ragotzy
Audiences have seen Luke on the Barn stage literally all his life! Having fulfilled many staff positions at the Barn, performing has now taken more of a focus. Along with being a member of the Equity company, Luke is the Bar manager of the Rehearsal Shed, Miss Penelope’s Saloon and he also directs Bar Shows. Some of Luke’s favorite roles include Rocky in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, Stacee Jaxx in ROCK OF AGES, Gus in GROUNDHOG DAY, Agent Willcall in DOUBLE “O” 69, Remnar Soady in ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, and Pepper in MAMMA MIA!
Luke is a Graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in Theatre Studies with an emphasis in Directing. He wishes to thank his amazing family and his loyal friends for all of their love and support.
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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