by Billy Van Zandt & Jane Moore | Directed by Jeremy Club | Sponsored by Willamette Valley Bank
Playing Doctor is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French | Sponsored by Hagan Hamilton Insurance Solutions
Rob Brewster’s parents are very, very proud of their son the doctor. What they don’t know is that Rob has used all the money they gave him for medical school to live on as he as has pursued his fledgling writing career. Inevitably, Rob’s day of reckoning comes when his parents arrive for a visit. Quickly, he enlists the help of his secretary to be his nurse and his roommate Jimmy to round up his actor friends to pretend to be patients. Complications ensue when Jimmy decides he is such a good actor that he can impersonate all the patients, with the help of a trunk of costumes and bad dialects! The authors have written some zany farces but this one may just be their zaniest. It is great fun to perform, and great fun to see.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Tavis Evans (Rob Brewster) was born and raised in the Salem-Keizer area. He recently performed at KHT last season in Drinking Habits and The Lion in Winter. He has also performed at Brush Creek Playhouse in Silverton, as well as Pentacle Theatre, Albany Civic Theater and Verona Studios. Outside of theater, his favorite hobbies include hiking, watching comedies and procrastination. He would like to thank his friends, family, cast and crew for everything they do to help keep his theater hobby going.
Thya Robinson (Max Blake) is so happy to be a part of this production! This is her first feminine role since she started her transition. Some of her favorite roles include the nonbinary icon Earthworm in James and the Giant Peach, Brad Chad in a local indie production called Waiting, and Shrek in… you guessed it, Shrek the Musical. Thya is a programmer and a major nerd. Currently she’s transitioning from her work as a caregiver to a new job as a support technician. She extends a big thanks to all the family, friends, and mentors who continue to support her with love and wisdom throughout her life.
Nathaniel J. Pierce (Jimmy Carmichael/Technical Director) is a theatre professional with over 20 years of experience as an actor, set designer, and technical director. A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), he has built a career that spans both performance and production. He’s performed on Broadway and toured nationally and spent seven years as an aerialist with Cirque du Soleil, appearing in O in Las Vegas. Behind the scenes, Nathaniel worked as a Broadway technician on the original production team of Dear Evan Hansen at Second Stage Theater in New York City.
Andy Bednarz (Chuck Murdock) This is Andy’s third production with KHT, most recently appearing as Jim Fingal in Lifespan of a Fact. When they’re not onstage, Andy enjoys supporting local theater, playing board games, and getting lost in a good book.
Robert Henry (Robert Brewster) was last seen on the Keizer Homegrown Theater stage playing Professor Armitage in Lovecrafted. Most recently, Robert was seen on the Albany Civic Theater stage as George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and as…well…George in The Big Five-Oh! Other roles include Bellomy in The Fantasticks and Ed in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, both at Pentacle Theatre. Robert would like to thank his amazing wife, Janet, for her support as he pursues his passion for theater.
Cathy Willoughby (Janet Brewster) loves KHT, having performed in Drinking Habits, A Doll’s House, Part 2, and Enchanted April. Recent roles include Miriam Kirby in You Can’t Take It With You at Pentacle Theatre and Mrs. Paddy in Gallery Theater’s The Curious Savage. Other favorite roles include Marmee in Little Women and the Queen of France in All’s Well That Ends Well with Struts & Frets Theatre Company. Cathy costumes period shows from time to time and is a board member of the Mid-Valley Theatre Network. She works in HR for McMinnville School District and enjoys planning adventures with husband, Jason.
Elizabeth Ming (Maureen) This is Elizabeth’s eighth show with Keizer Homegrown Theatre. She was last seen on stage at KHT as Gretchen in Boeing, Boeing and Emmy in A Doll’s House, Part 2. Other roles include Agnes in She Kills Monsters at Albany Civic Theater, Maria in Twelfth Night at Pentacle Theatre, and Theresa in Circle Mirror Transformation at The Verona Studio.
Doug Wentz (Uncle Harold) This is Doug’s second time with Keizer Homegrown and is looking forward to another farce. He previously played the role of Paul in Drinking Habits in 2025. In middle school, he was a part of a professional production of The King and I as a number of background roles. He appreciates his wife for being there throughout this journey and hopes you enjoy the show!
PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES
Jeremy Clubb (Director) has always been enamored with theatre. Farce especially holds a place in his heart as it provides unique opportunities to be as silly as you like. Jeremy has acted, produced, directed, designed, constructed, and many other things with many other hats for over 20 yrs. He’s worked with nearly every theatre in the Mid-Valley area, bringing life to shows like Evil Dead: The Musical and Dog Park the Musical. He keeps coming back to Keizer Homegrown Theatre, which has been a solid home for his growth and learning. He would like to thank his wife and kids for always being supportive and growing right along with him and often says his greatest talent is finding talented people. Now, he is thrilled to bring this rip-roaringly funny show to Keizer Homegrown Theatre. Enjoy Playing Doctor. 😉
Ethan Fetterley (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be part of his first KHT production! A senior in high school, he has been doing theatre for about five years now and has found himself both onstage and backstage with various theatres in the Salem area. In fall, he will be attending Portland State University. Recent credits include: Dallas High School – Clue (Mr. Green), Zombie Prom (Ms Strict), Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom (Projections Designer) and Bridgetown Conservatory – The World According to Snoopy (Light/Sound Board Operator). Dani MacDowell’s (Costumer/Prop Designer) love for hands-on creation and DIY craftsmanship has brought to life Evil Dead the Musical (two productions) and The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Abridged. He brings a unique eye for character and authenticity to every costume and prop he creates.
Tif Brissey (Light Board Operator) has preferred life behind the scenes since elementary school, when a production of How to Make a Clown Smile convinced her that performing as an actor was definitely not her thing—but the sets, sound, and lights absolutely were. By fifth grade, she was happily providing sound effects for school shows, and her interest in technical theater grew through high school and college, where she learned stagecraft and assisted with set work. She later ran the light board for Evil Dead: The Musical and has happily been pressing buttons and making actors visible ever since. She loves the creativity and teamwork of technical theater and is excited to help bring this production to life, preferably from the lighting booth, where the spotlight belongs to everyone else.