The Geneva Theatre Guild is proud to announce the world‑premiere production of local playwright Steve Duprey’s newest work, WAITING TO…, running August 6–9 in the air‑conditioned Fatzinger Hall at the Waterloo Public Library.
Directed by the playwright, this collection of ten short plays explores all the ways we find ourselves “waiting” in life. The pieces are funny, sharp, and at times deeply touching—you’ll recognize yourself, your friends, and the people you love in many of these moments. It’s a perfect night out to support local theatre and escape the summer heat.
Featuring:
Kiefer Schenk, Glen Wyand , Jonathan Tuthill, Iuliu Balibanu , Robin Parker, Ellie Stearns, Holly Blueye , Cassandra Brundage Wray, Beatrice VanRiper , Kyomi Oliver
Performances: August 6–8 at 7:30 PM August 9 at 2:00 PM Fatzinger Hall, Waterloo Public Library (air‑conditioned)
Tickets: Available now at www.genevatheatreguild.org
MEET THE CAST AND CREW
Steve Duprey (Playwright and Director) has been directing theatre for over 45 years and writing plays for the last 7 years. He’s directed over 20 plays for the Geneva Theatre Guild in those years, along with running several high school theatre programs in the area. His favorite directing gigs have been plays close to his heart and, let’s face it, sometimes weird sensibilities. Rent, Spamalot, Young Frankenstein all leap to mind. But even closer to his heart are the plays that he has written and been privileged to direct for the Geneva Theatre Guild. Women of a Certain Age, Men of a Certain Age, a staged reading of Dear Uncle Harpo and now Waiting To… He has had a blast putting together this world premiere production with old friends and new. Enjoy!
Iuliu Balibanu graduated Geneva High School in 2014, and was getting roped into GTG productions by his dear friend Steve even before then. His "recent" shows include GTG's online productions of Almost, Maine and A Christmas Carol, both in 2020. He's grateful to Steve for the opportunity to return to the physical stage in Waiting to..., and to his parents for the opportunity to return to his childhood bedroom for a while.
Holly-Noelle Blueye: Holly earned her Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees in Music Education from the Ithaca College School of Music. As of July 2024, she retired after teaching for 36 years total and for the past 24 years at Marcus Whitman Middle and High School. She is an active vocal and piano NYSSMA adjudicator and accompanist for area schools. She is also a member and accompanist for the Seneca Singers adult choir based out of Seneca Falls, NY, under the direction of Dr. Susan Avery. Holly has conducted many pit orchestras over the years along with music directing both in public school and in the community. She is excited and nervous to be ON the stage for the first time since high school! Holly makes her home in Geneva with her family and her 3 pets! Special thanks go out to Bella Amato, who happens to be a former student, for all of her encouragement and work on this show! Also, many thanks to Steve for the opportunity and his belief that I could actually do this! The jury is still out on that, however! ❤️Thank you to Robin and Ellie for being fantastic “partners!” Robin, you made this so much fun for me to play off of and Ellie….. thank you for being my “mom.”
Cassandra Brundage-Wray is grateful to be part of this production. She has enjoyed performing from a young age and is thankful for every opportunity to be on stage. Favorite credits include Maria Rainer in The Sound of Music, Nancy in Oliver!, Caterpillar 2/Ensemble in Alice By Heart, as well as Anastasia, Bright Star, and The Secret Garden. She also enjoys choreographing and recently had the opportunity to write, choreograph, and perform in her original story ballet, Tomorrow’s Song. Cassandra would like to thank her parents and her boyfriend for always supporting her in everything she does. She would also like to thank her director and castmates for the time and dedication they have put into this production, making it such a wonderful experience. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Kiyomi Oliver (Bear) is a Rochester-based actor who is delighted to finally be working with Steve on one of his many charming plays. Aside from theatre, Kiyomi keeps busy painting commissions (IG: @the.edamamenby), performance educating for Impact Interactive (www.impactinteractive.org), working as a Standardized Patient at U of R, pet sitting, and lollygagging with their cats – Ebenezer, Tumnus, and Krampus. Recent credits include Ali in Deep Blue Sound (Out of Pocket, Inc.), Emcee in Shockheaded Peter (Crow City Theatre), Jed in the All the Devils series (DVC), and Scratch in Witch (Penfield Players).
Robin is more generally known for her set construction projects, but she is honored to be making her acting debut in this area in the debut of Steve Duprey's show... Double Duprey Debut! Robin has been involved in all aspects of theatre both in front of and behind the curtains since high school, in shows and roles too innumerable to name because it would simply cause your eyes to glaze and that would be just plain rude
Kiefer Schenk is a stage and voice actor based in Rochester, NY. This will be their second appearance in a GTG show, having first appeared in the company's 2019 production of SPAMALOT (Sir Robin). They have actively performed in and around the Rochester area for over a decade. More recent credits include The Grown-Ups (Aidan) and The Mousetrap (Christopher) with Blackfriars Theatre, Leo Tolstoy Asks (Yale) and And the Four Last Things (Angel) with Nickel Flour, and Night of the Living Dead Live (Barbra) with Crow City Theatre. Kiefer is pleased to help bring more new works to the stage in support of local artists.
Eleanor “Ellie” Stearns was invited to join the founding Geneva Theatre Guild Board of Directors in 1978 and has continued to serve on the board since that date. She served several times as president and has produced, directed and acted in more plays than she can list. Among her favorite roles are Linda Loman in “Death of a Salesman” (Seneca Community Players), Emily Dickinson in “The Belle Of Amherst” and Fonsia Dorsey in “The Gin Game” (both Geneva Theatre Guild ). In 2005, she received an outstanding performance award at the Theatre Association of New York State Festival for her portrayal of Anastasia in the one-act play “Foibles”. She also does one woman portrayals of Clara Barton, Emily Dickinson, Amelia Earhart, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton for organizations around the state. She is retired from her job as a School Psychology Technician and continues to be active in theatre, church, choir and community events.
Theatre and acting have always been my passion since I was a little girl. The Geneva Theatre Guild has given me a place to fulfill those interests and dreams. The people in this organization are my friends and they support me in all that I do.
Jonathan Tuthill is 17 years old and is thrilled to play the parts of Waiter, Deacon Bob and God. He has been enjoying acting in theater since he started high school and During this time, he was able to be in 6 shows including this one. You may have also seen him in Singin in the Rain where he played Rod or over the summer last year in A Midsummer Nights Dream where he played Demetrius. Next week he’ll also be in Mary Poppins at the Smith Opera House. He hopes you enjoy the show.
Beatrice is excited to be a part of this year’s production of “Waiting To...” She most recently performed with the Geneva Theater Guild two years ago in their production of "Matilda” as Mrs. Phelps and other various roles, and three years ago with the youth program in the production of “Honk!” as the Cat/Bullfrog. She also helped out backstage as the assistant stage manager in last year's production of “Little Shop Of Horrors.”Beatrice is going into her Junior year at Nazareth University, studying Inclusive Early Childhood/ Childhood Education and Dance Studies as well as doing a Dance Education internship this summer with her childhood studio PMCD. She would like to thank all of her friends and family for supporting her in everything she does.
Glen Wyand has a BS in Music Theory and Composition from Nazareth College where he also played a wide variety of roles in their theatrical productions. He then graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and spent a decade in New York City where he did a variety of theatrical productions. Most recently he played the role of Alan in the premiere production of “Men of a Certain Age” by Steve Duprey, put on by the Geneva Theater Guild, and Kenny in “From Train to Train” also by Steve Duprey, and performed at the Rochester Fringe Festival.
