Jessica “Red” Bays
A Northern Michigan University alumni, Red graduated in 2001 with a Major in English/ Minor in Theatre and Speech Communications and appeared in many mainstage productions. From 1999-2001, "Red" toured the U.S. with "Poetry Alive," dramatizing poetry at both Collegiate and High School levels. In 2002 she was a World Premier member of George Sapio's Play-writing Award Winner, Ghosts, which earned her an Irene Ryan Nomination. While acting professionally in Lansing, Red was cast as Ouisa Kittredge in Six Degrees of Separation and was nominated for a Pulsar Award for Best Leading Actress for her interpretation of the role. This role also caught the eye of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and the company was chosen to perform in the 2006 Night of Scenes. Since her return to Marquette, Red has appeared in productions at Lake Superior Theatre, Westwood Shakespeare Company and Vertigo Theatre. With Upper Peninsula Shakespeare Festival, “Red” has appeared as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (2015), the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (2017), Marcus in Titus Andronicus (2017), Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire (2017) by Tennessee Williams and Arkadina in the 2019 staged reading of The Seagull by Anton Chekhov. In Wolf’s Head Theater Company’s 2018 inaugural production of Bug by Tracy Letts, “Red” appeared as Agnes and in the 2019 production of 2019’s Quills by Doug Wright she played Renée Pelagie, the Marquis wife.
In 2009, “Red” was honored with the City of Marquette’s Outstanding Performance Artist—given to a working community artist who has consistently made an impact in her artistic discipline. Red served on the First Nighters Club Advisory Board for Northern Michigan University, works as a Puppeteer for Peter White Public Library, a Storyteller and Scholar for “Prime Time Family Reading Time” with the National Endowment for the Humanities, and is a co-founder of Marquette’s own Vertigo Theatre Company. In 2014, Red worked as the project director for the Marquette Regional History Center while they produced an original theatrical production titled Willpower, under a Michigan Humanities Council Major Grant.
“Red” will be appearing as Martha in Wolf’s Head Theater Company’s May 2020’s production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee.
Christopher Scott Leith
Christopher has been acting and directing in Marquette and around the country for 20 years. He has appeared on many stages in the area, including Northern Michigan University, Westwood Shakespeare Company and Lake Superior Theatre. With Upper Peninsula Shakespeare Festival, Chris has appeared as Caliban in The Tempest (2015), Duncan/Murderer in Macbeth (2015), Tranio/Gremio in The Taming of the Shrew (2016), Capulet in Romeo and Juliet (2017), Lucius in Titus Andronicus (2017) and Shamraev in UPShakes’ 2019 staged reading of The Seagull by Anton Chekhov. . In Wolf’s Head Theater Company’s 2018 inaugural production of Bug by Tracy Letts, Christopher appeared as Jerry Goss.
Monica Nordeen
Monica Nordeen has appeared on many stages, local and in New York. In Marquette, Monica has appeared with Lake Superior Theatre (where she is also a board member), Northern Michigan University, The Vista Theatre and Negaunee’s Vertigo Theatre Company. With Upper Peninsula Shakespeare Festival, Monica has appeared as Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet (2017), and with Wolf’s Head Theater Company as R.C. in Bug by Tracy Letts (2018).
Melissa Neal
Melissa started working with the Upper Peninsula Shakespeare Festival in their inaugural production of The Tempest at their old school location of Presque Isle Bandshell. Apropos to the subject matter, Melissa and cast fought the elements including but not exclusive to: an attacking colony of bees emerging from under the stage during love scenes, the gentle yet deafening roaring of taconite pellets unloading from ships at the nearby actual ore dock, hoards dragonflies engaging in group sex on the lawn (thus obstructing/distracting the audience’s view) and Operation Freakout part 2. Melissa’s flexibility and endurance (both physically and mentally) is impressive. She brought a sense of authentic wonder and magic to her role, qualities that have continued to evolve and grow within proceeding UPShakes productions (in their new home at the Ore Dock Brewing Company, thank goodness) and the many other artistic endeavors Melissa engages in. Some credits include: Amis in As You Like it with Westwood Shakespeare Company (2015), Miranda in The Tempest (2015) with UPShakes, William/The Bride in Frankenstein with UPShakes (2016) Young Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire with UPShakes (2017) and Lavinia in Titus Andronicus with UPShakes (2017). As UPShakes (as well as the new subsidiary Wolf’s Head Theater Company) is a small company of actors, often stage artists have to try their hand at some tech work/heavy lifting/even laundry—in Bug by Tracy Letts (2018), Melissa had taken a “shine” to lighting (har har), and stage management—her attention to detail, organization, innovative insight and multifaceted creativity had been instrumental in making the production a success.
Melissa is a student at Northern Michigan University where she studies mathematics, as well as dance and language. She is a brilliant ballet dancer, professional choreographer and published writer.
Thomas Laitinen
Thomas Laitinen is a native of Ishpeming, Michigan. After serving in the armed forces for a number tours, Tom began working the renaissance festival game nationally for many years. A graduate of Northern Michigan University, Tom excelled in stage combat and remains a certified Advanced Actor Combatant.
With Upper Peninsula Shakespeare Festival, credits includes Macbeth in Macbeth (2015) and Trigorin in the August 2019 staged reading of The Seagull by Anton Chekhov. With Wolf’s Head Theater Company, Tom appeared as the Marquis de Sade in the October 2019 production of Quills by Doug Wright.
John Sarkela
John has appeared on stage with Upper Peninsula Shakespeare Festival in Macbeth (2015) as The Porter/Witch, The Taming of the Shrew (2016) as Hortensio, Frankenstein (2016) as Alphonse Frankenstein, The Doctor/Dancer in A Streetcar Named Desire (2017) by Tennessee Williams, as Titus in Titus Andronicus (2017) by William Shakespeare and as Sorin in Upper Peninsula Shakespeare Festival’s 2019 staged reading of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull.
John appeared as Cleante in Wolf’s Head Theater Company’s October 2019’s production of Quills by Doug Wright.
John is an computer science instructor at Northern Michigan University and has an adorable puppy named Maija.
Devon Grice
Devon Grice is a stand-up comedian and dancer, and has lived in Marquette for last ten years. She has a son named Langston, and enjoys nature baths, sharp wit and Dia De Los Tacos.
Devon has appeared on stage as a Dancer in UPShakes’ production 2017 of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, where she used her superior skill to embody the pulse of New Orleans.
Devon appeared as Madeleine LeClerc in Wolf’s Head Theater Company’s October 2019 production of Quills by Doug Wright.
Hanna Numinen
Hanna Numinen is currently a junior at Northern Michigan University, pursuing a degree in her major, Theatre and Entertainment Arts with a focus in Performance and minor in Dance. Some of her favorite roles she has played in past productions are; Terk in Disney’s Tarzan (Forest Roberts Theatre, 2018) Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family Musical (Forest Roberts Theatre, 2017), Columbia in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Masonic Arts, 2017), Jill Tanner in Butterflies Are Free (Lake Superior Boathouse, 2016), Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Upper Peninsula Shakespeare Festival, 2017), Masha in UPShakes’ 2019 staged reading of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull and as the title character of Pookie Doublet in Pookie Goes Grenading by JC Lee (2019) with Wolf’s Head Theater Company.
Tanner Parish
He’s been called the Citizen Kane of people. Tanner Parish is currently a student at Northern Michigan University, majoring in theatre. People seem to like him because he is polite and rarely late. He likes to eat ice cream, and he really enjoys a nice pair of slacks. Some previous shows he’s been in include, The Aristocats, NMU’s 2018 Fringe Festival, and Scrooge. He also has dank memes. Tanner appeared as Dynamo Delgato in Wolf’s Head Theater Company’s production of Pookie Goes Grenading by JC Lee (2019) and assistant director and Monsieur Prouix in the October 2019 production of Quills by Doug Wright.
Nathan Morgan
Nathan Morgan holds a BA in biology and is currently a graduate student at NMU studying education. He is an adjunct instructor for the dept. of chemistry and hopes to one day teach high school biology and chemistry. Theatre has long been in a passion of Nathan’s. Some of his favorite performance credits from the past few years include: Gorilla Ensemble in Disney’s Tarzan (Forest Roberts Theatre, 2018), Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show (Masonic Arts, 2017, 2018), Himself in The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged )(Forest Roberts Theatre, 2017). Nathan appeared as Benny Petricelli in Wolf’s Head Theater Co.’s production of Pookie Goes Grenading by JC Lee in 2019.
Taylor Kulju
Taylor Kulju is a Northern Michigan University Graduate with a Major in Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Her memorable role’s on the Forest Roberts Theatre Stage include, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Alice in Addams Family, & Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde. She has also participated in numerous productions with community theatres such as the Lake Superior Theatre and the Vista Theatre. With Wolf’s Head Theater Company, Taylor appeared as Greta Van Susteren in Pookie Goes Grenading by JC Lee (2019). Taylor currently works for the City of Marquette in the Arts and Culture Department as their Marketing & Promotions Assistant as well as being involved in the Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance as their Communications Specialist.
Karl Numinen
For the past 26 years, Karl has been a trial attorney dealing with real life drama in courtrooms across Michigan. In high school, Karl played trumpet in the pit orchestra for many musicals and he’s continued his passion for music performance having played in the Marquette Symphony Orchestra and other local groups. In his spare time Karl is writing a mystery novel about murder, magic, and the meaning of doodles. Karl made his acting debut with Wolf’s Head Theater Company in Pookie Goes Grenading by JC Lee (2019) as Larry Ragonesse, Guidance Counselor extraordinaire.