Brazen-Faced Varlets present: Words Of Choice

Kelly M. Beuth (director/producer) is an actor/director/educator who has worked on many of Buffalo’s stages including TOY, Shakespeare in the Park, The Kavinoky Theatre and Alleyway Theatre in such plays as THE ANGELINA PROJECT, NICKEL AND DIMED, THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, ALL MY SONS, I STAND BEFORE YOU NAKED, AS YOU LIKE IT, THE PALACE OF THE END and THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND.  A founding member of the Varlets, she teaches theatre at The Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. In 2001, she received the David R. Fendrick Fund individual artist grant to produce and star in MISS JULIE with students at Daemen College. Kelly has directed countless high school, college and professional productions including THIRTEEN, A PIECE OF MY HEART and WORKING at BAVPA, and over a dozen musicals at City Honors, where she has received three “Kenny” spotlight awards for innovative staging and creative direction.  In addition, she has directed for Alleyway Theatre’s BUFFALO QUICKIES, SUBVERSIVE SHORTS and the TORONTO FRINGE FESTIVAL.  As an instructor, Kelly has taught all over Buffalo, as an adjunct professor of theatre arts at Daemen College and Genesee Community College, for the Arts in Education Institute, and for sixteen years at Studio Arena Theatre School. For BFV, she has appeared in every production, favorites being: LADYKILLERS, CATHOLIC SCHOOL GIRLS, MY SISTER IN THIS HOUSE, CLIT NOTES, NECESSARY TARGETS, VESSELS, NEVERMORE, A COMEDY OF QUEERERS, and A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT AND A PRAYER. She also directed THE WELL OF HORNINESS. Kelly is the campaign organizer for Buffalo’s annual V-Day Campaign to stop violence against women and girls, and their annual production of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, and its youth faction V-GIRLS, and was honored to win a Best Supporting Actress “Artie” for BFV’s RAMONA AND JULIET.

JENNIFER ARROYO is thrilled to be a part of this production. She has been involved in the V-Day production of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES for three years now, and is a member of the FUSEBOMB RPA family located in Niagara Falls, performing in FALL: THE ROCK MUSICAL and LEGACY. A case planner at Hispanics United of Buffalo and a Buffalo State Graduate, Jennifer believes in and loves performing in the name of advocacy.

DIANE DIBERNARDO is proud and pleased to be working with such a talented group of women and men. In New York City, Diane appeared in such venues as The Mint Theatre, The Miranda Theatre and Freak City Productions. Television work included ALL MY CHILDREN, AS THE WORLD TURNS and THE SOPRANOS. Here in Buffalo, she performed at Studio Arena Theatre in A FLEA IN HER EAR and in Shakespeare in the Park’s JULIUS CAESAR. Thanks Kel!

THERESA DIMURO-WILBER has a long history in both theater and education. After having attended Daemen College, majoring in theater, she moved on to perform and teach with the Theatre Of Youth's stock company for five seasons, taught acting classes at the Studio Arena Theater School, and worked with the cross-platform organization Western New York Institute for Arts in Education before moving to Los Angeles where she excelled as a teacher and administrator for seventeen years. After returning to Buffalo, Theresa has immersed herself in the local arts and education community. She considers herself very blessed to have reunited with Theatre Of Youth as their Theatre School Coordinator and  currently works at The Rosegarden, a Waldorf based Early Childhood Center, located on Buffalo's West Side, not far from where she resides with her four cats and one husband.

JENNY GEMBKA is very excited for her second show with the Brazen-Faced Varlets, after appearing in this season’s LADYKILLERS!  She graduated with degrees in Theatre and English from Niagara University, as well as her M.S. in Secondary Education.  Some of her favorite performances at N.U. were Alice #4 in A...MY NAME IS ALICE and as a Fandango Hostess in SWEET CHARITY. She was also seen as Mrs. Carlson in the Towne Players’ production of WHOSE WIVES ARE THEY ANYWAY? She loves being an English teacher, but is currently laid off.  While at her former district, she served as spotlight coordinator for various shows, and had a great deal of fun directing and producing ALADDIN JR. Aside from acting, Jenny enjoys reading memoirs, cooking, and volunteering at a pet shelter.

WENDY HALL is pleased to be a part of the WORDS OF CHOICE cast.  Most recently, she was seen in the revival of JAMES JOYCE'S "THE DEAD" at Irish Classical Theatre and IN THE NEXT ROOM, OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY at New Phoenix Theatre.   Other Buffalo credits include: THE PRIDE, ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS, and TRUE LOVE LIES (Buffalo United Artists); GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (New ALT); FILLMORE (New Phoenix); ZOOMA ZOOMA (MusicalFare & Studio Arena, Artie nominee); HELLO MUDDAH, HELLO FADDUH (Jewish Rep Theatre, Artie nominee); SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM and LUCKY STIFF (O'Connell & Co.); A NEW BRAIN (Artie nominee), MID-LIFE, and EAT-TV (MusicalFare); and, ITALIAN SERENADE (Alleyway Theatre).  Artpark credits include: MY WAY, THE TAFFETAS, STEPPIN’ OUT, QUILTERS, COWGIRLS, SWINGTIME CANTEEN, BARNUM, and PATENT LEATHER SHOES… Regional credits: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, QUILTERS, and two national tours of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Wendy has a BA in Theatre Arts from Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA), and Ed.M. in Childhood Education from SUNY Buffalo. 

BRITTANY KUCALA is thrilled to be a part of this production! Recently seen in PETER PAN at the New Phoenix Theatre (Slightly), memorable roles include: NECESSARY TARGETS (Melissa), A TOTALITARIAN CHRISTMAS (Elf) at Subversive Theatre Collective, and MEDEA (Nurse) at the ALT Theatre. Brittany is proud and thankful to be blessed with so many powerful and fantastic women in her life. Love to Mom, Carly and Grandma Ruth.

PAUL MCGINNIS started treading the boards in 2002 with the role of Johnny Brewster in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE and has been hooked ever since. With a background in improv and stand up comedy, he has played such roles as Norman in BOYS NEXT DOOR, Stanly in DESIRE, DESIRE, DESIRE, and most recently Mr. Potter in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. He recently got to work with Kelly in the short DON’T ASK in the Subversive Shorts Festival and is excited to be working alongside such talent again. 

KATE OLENA has appeared in productions at Alleyway Theatre, Playhouse of American Classics, Subversive Theatre, Pandora's Box, and Studio Arena. Ms. Olena has taught theatre at Nichols Middle School for over 30 years and is the president of the New York State Theatre Education Association.

AMELIA SCINTA is a graduate of the University at Buffalo’s Department of Theatre and Dance, and has appeared with Shakespeare in Delaware Park, the ALT performance Group and the Brazen-Faced Varlets, among others. She currently teaches theatre at Kenmore West High School and sings with the Vocalis Chamber Singers. Amelia thanks her family for encouraging her love of the arts.

AMY WRZOS has worked with the Varlets on LADYKILLERS, NEVERMORE: AN EX-POE-RATION, THE LIBATION BEARERS: ELECTRA: SCREW YOU MOM and A COMEDY OF QUEERERS. She has also appeared in the 2011 performance of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES.  Amy is the proud mother of 2 children and works as a Quality Assurance manager for ADM – flour milling.  She is thrilled to be working on her second season with the Varlets.