FUN HOME

February 24 - April 2, 2023

The Cast

Understudies

Maria Mikheyenko   Helen Bechdel
Lindsay Kathryn Ford   Medium Alison; 
Milo Boland   Roy / Pete / Mark / Bobby Jeremy
Lillith Era   Alison Bechdel / Joan

Cast Bios

LUCCA TROUTMAN (Alison Bechdel) is an electro-acoustic composer, director, and performer originally from Hartford, Connecticut. She holds a BA in Psychology and Music from Smith College and an MA in Music Composition from Mills College in Oakland. She regularly performs throughout the Bay Area and was previously featured in Little Shop of Horrors and Pippin at Berkeley Playhouse and Celso with the Driven Arts Collective. Outside of performing, Lucca teaches and creates multi-disciplinary work while spending quality time with her affable hound dog, Ama.

MARK P. ROBINSON (Bruce Bechdel) Something of a late bloomer, Mark got serious about acting in 2018. He has been making up for lost time, studying acting and voice and performing in 20 theatrical productions and seven independent film and TV projects. (He stars as a villainous werewolf in a movie coming out this fall.) He’s also done commercials and voiceover work. He still keeps a hand in his longtime side-hustle as a jazz crooner. His theatrical credits include roles with Berkeley Playhouse (Mr. Wormwood in this season’s Matilda), 42nd Street Moon, South Bay Musical Theater, Chicago’s This Moment Productions, Woodminster Summer Musicals, Bay Area Musicals, Silicon Valley Shakespeare, Hillbarn Theater, College of Marin Drama, Cinnabar Theater, and Opera Parallèle. www.markrobinson.org

ALISON EWING* (Helen Bechdel) (she/her) is thrilled to be making her Berkeley Playhouse debut! Broadway credits: Mamma Mia! (Tanya) and Cabaret at Studio 54. National tours: Anastasia, An American In Paris, Cabaret (the 1998 & 2015 tours), Flashdance, Mamma Mia!. Regional favorites: Hand To God at San Jose Stage, Emma, Big River, Into The Woods, Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues at TheatreWorks, A Little Night Music and A Grand Night For Singing at 42nd Street Moon, Putnam County Spelling Bee at San Jose Rep, Sweet Charity at Center Rep, Jacques Brel at Marin Theatre Company. Alison is also an audiobooks narrator for Audible and Tantor Media. All her love to Keith. www.AlisonEwing.com

MAIA CAMPBELL (Medium Alison) (she/her) is very excited to be returning to the Berkeley Playhouse stage. Recently she has been seen in Matilda the Musical at Berkeley Playhouse and Landmark Musical Theatre’s RENT! (Mimi). Other favorite credits include Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), Firebringer (Zazzalil), and Reefer Madness (Mary Lane) with the MIT Musical Theatre Guild. Instagram: @maiaic

LINDSAY KATHRYN FORD (Joan / Susan Dey / Understudy Medium Alison) (she/they) is a Bay Area actress and singer and recent graduate of Saint Mary’s College, where she received her B.A. in Performing Arts. Recent credits include Roger (Alternate) at Landmark, Elizabeth Bishop in Dear Elizabeth at Theatre Rhinoceros, Cinderella in Cinderella: A Fairy Tale at Town Hall Theatre, and the Emcee in Cabaret at Saint Mary’s College. She runs her own private voice studio, and has sung competitively in Latvia, Hungary and South Africa.

WILL THOMPSON (Roy / Pete / Mark / Bobby Jeremy) (he/him) is thrilled to be performing in his first professional show, Fun Home! He is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance and Studies at Saint Mary’s College of California. Go Gaels. Some of his previous credits include Chorus/Understanding in Everybody at Saint Mary’s College Theatre and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet at Benicia High School Theatre. He has also co-directed as part of the Saint Mary’s One Acts Festival. He would like to give thanks to his entire family, for their unwavering support, to every teacher who ever believed in him, for their encouragement, and to Berkeley Playhouse, for this wonderful opportunity.

AYLA KLASEN (Small Alison–Fun Cast) is a San Francisco native currently enrolled in eighth grade. Her love of acting started at age six when she was cast in the role of Pepper in a local production of Annie Jr. From there, Klasen has trained and performed with notable theaters such as AmericanConservatory Theater, Berkeley Playhouse, and Bay Area Children's Theater. She has performed in several productions, including Urinetown (Little Sally), Seussical Jr. (Horton), Willy Wonka Jr. (Veruca Salt), and High School Musical Jr. (Gabrielle). Her most recent role was as Martha Cratchit in A.C.T.’s A Christmas Carol. In addition to acting, Klasen is an avid swimmer, crafter, and lover of all things sushi.

DANIELLE SUTRO (Small Alison–Home Cast) (she/her) is a young Bay Area artist who was recently seen as Hortensia in the Berkeley Playhouse MainStage production of Matilda. She has been doing musical theater all around the Bay since the age of four, and is currently in the vocal department at Oakland School for the Arts. She is so excited to be a part of this production.

SAWYER CIRULI (Christian–Fun Cast) (he/him) is ecstatic to be making his debut on the Mainstage at Berkeley Playhouse! Previous Berkeley Playhouse Youthstage credits include Footloose (Chuck, Cowboy Bob), Urinetown (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry), and Cats (Rum Tum Tugger). Sawyer discovered his love of theatre at The Lion King when he was five years old and subsequently appeared in over 30 youth productions at Kids n’ Dance/Onstage and Bay Area Children’s Theatre.

ROWEN WEERAMANTRY (Christian–Home Cast) (he/him) is thrilled to be back on the Berkeley Playhouse stage, where his love for theater started!  This is his third MainStage production with the company. Past roles include Flick in A Christmas Story and ensemble work in The Wizard of Oz. He has also participated in their YouthStage productions as Mark in A Chorus Line and Troy in High School Musical. Rowen was last seen playing Boy Dick/Boy in Sunday clothes in American Conservatory Theater's production of A Christmas Carol and as Bruce Bogtrotter in Matilda with Youth Musical Theater Company. He is grateful to the audience for continuing to support live theater and his family/friends for their unconditional love and support. Rowen hopes you enjoy this powerful, heartfelt story!

DIEGO OSORIO (John–Fun Cast) (he/him) is thrilled to be making his MainStage debut at Berkeley Playhouse. Previous credits include Nigel in Matilda Jr. at Berkeley Playhouse YouthStage and Prince Bulldog in Pet Hotel at Bay Area Children’s Theater. When not acting, Diego enjoys playing soccer, drawing and making origami; he has played the piano since he was five. He lives in Emeryville with his parents, brother and cat, Mirri. Diego
quiere agradecer a su familia que siempre le ha apoyado.

KYLE WALSH (John–Home Cast) (he/him) is stoked to join the cast of Fun Home for his third show with Berkeley Playhouse. He had his first theater experience as Freddy in School of Rock the Musical where he used his musical talents on drums and fell in love with theater. He most recently played the role of Tommy in Matilda the Musical. When he’s not at school, he likes to write songs, listen to music, play guitar and drums, and shoot hoops. He wants to thank his parents, his cousin Stephanie for encouraging him to get into theater, and the Berkeley Playhouse staff.

MARIA MIKHEYENKO (Understudy Helen Bechdel) is thrilled to return to Berkeley Playhouse after playing Mother in A Christmas Story. Past Berkeley Playhouse credits: Billy Elliot and Pirates of Penzance. Other credits: Old Shady in Men On Boats (Palo Alto Players), Miss Casewell in The Mousetrap (Ross Valley Players), Jenny Lind in Barnum (23 Elephants Theatre Company), Mother in Ragtime (Contra Costa Civic Theatre), Mrs. Cratchit in Scrooge in Love! (42nd Street Moon), Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street (Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre), Alaura Kingsley in City of Angels (Cinnabar Theater), Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music (Hillbarn Theatre). Up next: Julia Child in To Master the Art (Contra Costa Civic Theatre).

MILO BOLAND  (Understudy  Roy / Pete / Mark / Bobby Jeremy ) is happy to be back at Berkeley Playhouse! Milo was previously in Berkeley Playhouse’s production of Matilda (Doctor/Escapologist). Milo is a graduate of Oakland School for the Arts Musical Theatre program. After his time at OSA, he headed to the east coast where he graduated from Muhlenberg College, class of 2021. He received his B.A in Theatre with a concentration in acting. Milo has also performed in Landmark Musical Theatre's production of RENT (Roger), as well as Ray of Light Theatre Company's production of Kinky Boots (Harry/Crispin/Charlie & Don Understudy). He was recently on the 20th season of American Idol where he received a golden ticket and went to Hollywood week. Instagram: Milo Boland

LILLITH ERA (Understudy Alison Bechdel / Joan) (she/they) is ecstatic to be making their Berkeley Playhouse debut in Fun Home! Local acting credits include Eurydice at The Actor’s Space, Heroes of the Fourth Turning at the San Francisco Playhouse, and Endlings at Oakland Theatre Project. Lillith sends her love to her extraordinary friends and family, her irresistible partner Olive, and her younger self, who saw herself represented onstage for the first time in this show. IG: @Lillithera

*Appears courtesy of Actor's Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.