Mackenzie Ernst has always possessed a love for the art of writing and is elated for her debut in the performing arts. Being a part of the Strauss is something she’s always dreamed of while growing up locally. Mackenzie now proudly works as a physician recruiter at St. Francis Medical Center which allows her to showcase all there is to love about NELA. She is married to the love of her life and is beyond excited to share this production with her friends, family, and community!
You don’t want to miss Mackenzie’s Strauss debut with our final two performances this Friday and Saturday. Tickets are still on sale on our website or by calling the box office at 318-323-6681.
Pamela Lynn Taylor is very excited to resume her hobby of acting in plays. She performed in 2002 with Prince George’s Little Theatre at the Publick Playhouse (Cheverly, MD) for a performance of To Kill a Mockingbird as Helen Robinson. This is her debut at the Strauss. Pamela is also a children’s book author with her 2015 publication of I Wish I Were OK with Chocolate. She graduated in 2018 from McCann School of Business & Technology with an Associate Degree in Business Administration. She is so thankful to God and the City of Monroe for so many blessings and opportunities.
You don’t want to miss Pamela in her scene-stealing role of Vera in The Odd Couple (Female Version). Tickets for the final two performances are on sale at strausstc.com or by calling the box office at 318-323-6681.
Sam Coleman has been acting since 2012. He has since appeared as Shrek in Shrek the Musical, Brutus in Julius Caesar and Jud Fry in Oklahoma!. This is his second production at Strauss Theatre, his first being The Cover of Life in 2018.
You don’t want to miss Sam’s performance as Manolo Costazuela in The Female Odd Couple. Tickets for tonight’s performance are going fast! Purchase yours at our ticket site or by calling the box office at 318-323-6681.
Aubri Skinner is thrilled that live theatre is back, and she can’t wait to share The (Female) Odd Couple, with an audience. Aubri is an English major and works as a nanny and as a tutor. She has been in multiple Strauss shows, such as Mamma Mia!, Little Women, and, most recently, Whose Wives Are They Anyway?. She wants to thank Taylor for casting her, and she hopes you enjoy the show!
Come see Aubri take the stage as the plain-spoken Sylvie in The Odd Couple (Female Version). Tickets for this weekend’s shows are on sale now at our website or by calling the box office at 318-323-6681.
Moira O’Connor is no stranger to theater, she’s just strange. Moira studied theatre and dance at Columbia College in Chicago. Moira’s most recent roles include Lorraine Sheldon in The Man Who Came to Dinner, Karly McGachen in Whose Wives Are They Anyway?, Mother Superior in Sister Act, and Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein. When not doing theater, Moira enjoys tap dancing, playing video games, and doing jigsaw puzzles. Moira is a doting dog mom to her beautiful hours Moonpie, Mokey, Tater Pig, Cosmo, and Clark the Cat.
You don’t want to miss Moira as the wisecracking other half of the titular pair, Olive Madison! The Odd Couple (Female Version) opens this THIS THURSDAY! Visit our website or call the box office at 318-323-6681 for tickets.
Charleszette Yvonne Tyson is making her grand comeback onto the Strauss stage! She first made her theatre debut in the March/April 2006 production of Big River. Since then, she has gone on to participate in many other shows including They Called Him Coach, a black history centered production shown at the Monroe Civic Center in 2016, Pecos Bill and Orpheus in the Underworld. The latter two were performed during her time at ULM. She has also written/directed for and voice acted in local commercials. Charleszette is more than thrilled to be a part of The Odd Couple (Female Version) and hopes that her performance is nothing short of….arresting!
See Charleszette keep her friends in line as the lovably stern police officer Mickey in The Odd Couple (Female Version) opening THIS THURSDAY! Tickets can be purchased on our website or by calling the box office at 318-323-6681.
Wendy Wilson Ryland has been performing in and around Monroe for longer than she cares to mention. She was most recently seen in the Strauss production of The Man Who Came to Dinner. She has been in several productions for years including Whose Wives Are They Anyway?, Belles, Mamma Mia!, The Drowsy Chaperone, Hairspray, and Noises Off. She has had the honor of directing Little Women and several Dinner Theatre productions. She has three children and two dogs and a cat that only visits every now and then. She is excited to share the stage with her friends and to be under the direction of Taylor and Ben.
Watch Wendy take the stage as the newly single and always tidy Florence Unger in The Female Odd Couple opening this week! Tickets for the show are on sale now at our ticket site or by calling the box office at 318-323-6681.
Rehearsals for The Odd Couple (Female Version) have been going well over the past month and a half. The cast has taken to the stage and are “absolutely smashing it” according to director Taylor Michiels. This past Saturday, the entire cast was finally able to be together onstage, and the rehearsal was hilarious! Pictured left to right are cast members Pamela Taylor, Mackenzie Ernst, Aubri Skinner, Charleszette Tyson, Jason Barnett, Wendy Wilson Ryland, Sam Coleman, and Moira O’Connor.
In Neil Simon’s 1985 adaptation of his original play, the titular pair are renamed Olive and Florence. Instead of poker, they play weekly Trivial Pursuit nights with their best pals Mickey, Renee, Sylvie, and Vera. After a few weeks of living together, they make a date with the Costazuela brothers who live upstairs. Audiences will enjoy the updated take on a classic comedy.
Tickets for the show are ON SALE NOW! Tickets can easily be purchased on our website or by calling the box office at 318.323.6681 to make your reservation. The show will run March 17 (Patron Night), 18, 19, 20, 25, and 26. Grab a good seat while you still can!
Shelley Barnes is very glad to be returning to the stage at Strauss. Nunsense has always been a favorite musical of hers, and she is thrilled to be playing Reverend Mother, Sister Mary Regina. Shelley was last on stage as Addie Mae in Cover of Life, and also appeared in The Producers and Gypsy. Outside of the theater, she has three grandkids, two daughters, a dog, two cats, and a tortoise.
Tickets for Nunsense are available at our ticket site now! The show opens on January 13th and runs through the 22nd.
Brenna is a current resident of Ruston, LA and a student at LA Tech studying graphic design. She has performed all over the state in various shows, but this is her Strauss debut.
Tickets for Nunsense are available at our ticket site now! The show opens on January 13th and runs through the 22nd.
