ART Station,Stone Mountain, GA - Exact Center of the Universe- Cast

Cast Biographies

Michelle Lynne Martin (Patsy) is a native of Gainesville, Georgia, and earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance from Florida State University. For the past 12 years she has traveled the US performing a variety of roles spanning the Musical Theatre and Light Opera genres. Georgia credits include Georgia Mountain Players, Lafayette Performing Arts Society, Aurora Theatre, Savoyard Music Theatre, Onstage Atlanta, and Six Flags Over Georgia. Michelle enjoyed overwhelming success for her performances as Patsy Cline in Georgia, Florida, Maryland, and Arizona. Favorite roles include Rizzo in "Grease,," Bianca in "Taming of the Shrew," Nancy in "Olive!," Yum Yum in "Mikado," the Evil Stepmother in "Cinderella," and Mother Abbess in "The Sound of Music." She has been lucky enough to be involved in several world premiers including "The Legend of Jenny Wiley" and Pinocchio" at Jenny Wiley Theatre in Kentucky and "Keeping the Faith" at Main Street Theatre in Pennsylvania. In addition to being a versatile actress, Michelle is also in demand as a concert recitalist and soloist and had the great privilege of singing with the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers in 1996. She also performed at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City for the Sacred Music Festival.

Janet Metzger (Louise): Although this is her first full production here at ART Station, she graced our stage earlier this year when she went on for Karen Howell as Dr. Helen in "Harmony Ain't Easy." Ms. Metzger's theatre credits span two decades plus in the Atlanta area. Most recently she appeared at 7 Stages in Arthur Miller's new play "Broken Glass." Her alias is Bambola Bertolli, vocalist with The DeLuxe Vaudeville Orchestra. She also moonlighters as a cabaret singer in Atlanta. Cabaret shows she has created and performed include "Get Happy," Life On a Song," "Red Hot," "Thou Blind Fool Love," "One Foolish Heart," and "An Evening of Duke Ellington." Last summer she sang as part of the Millennium Series at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Janet is also an adjunct professor at Emory University Law School, where she uses theatre techniques to teach law students how to become more persuasive in the courtroom. In addition, she presents workshops for law firms. For twenty years she has been learning to create a southern garden at her home in Decatur when she fantasizes she is a country singer named Dusty Miller.

Musicians
Patrick Hutchison (Piano), Resident Music Director at ART Station (and former Snoopy in "You're a good man, Charlie Brown"), Patrick is the composer of several musicals (including "The Harvey Milk Show") which have been produced across the United States. He is half of the piano duo "pH Balanced," and a member of the vocal harmony group "Sighs." Patrick has also sung, danced, conducted, and musically directed in Mexico, Greenland, and in theatres across the United States including Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, Symphony Hall, The Atlanta Civic Center, and The Fox Theatre. His most recent ART Station productions include "Yuletide Journey," and Teddy in "Sophie Tucker, the Last of the Red Hot Mamas."
Greg Mauldin (Drums) is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He began playing drums at age 12 and began playing professionally at the age of 14. Greg is a drummer/percussionist who plays all styles of music: Jazz, R & B, pop/rock, fusion, funk, and more. Greg has performed/recorded with such artists as The Platters, Kathy Lee Gifford, Mylon Lefevre, June Valley, Skip Duvall, Glen Smith, and many more. He also has performed in musicals including "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Purlie," "A Taffeta Christmas," "Evelyn and the Polka King," "Something's Afoot," Rogers & Hammerstein's "A Grand Night for Singing," and appeared on the Aaron Spelling series, "Savannah." Most recently Greg launched Mauldin Music, a production company that creates and produces radio and television commercials. Greg's education includes a Bachelor's Degree of Music Performance from Georgia State University (GSU) where he studied with Jack Bell and Paul Yancich. He later earned his Master and Specialist degrees in Education. At GSU Greg performed with the Percussion Ensemble and was the drummer for the GSU Jazz Ensemble. Greg keeps a busy schedule in his many roles as teacher, drummer, percussionish, singer, songwriter, and producer.
Mark van Allen (Pedal Steel) had Piano lessons as a kid and played Trumpet and French Horn in Jr. High but never really made a personal connection with music until he started playing blues and ragtime Guitar around 1974. Mark had heard and liked Pedal Steel Guitar, but after hearing Buddy Emmon's version of "Wichita Lineman" it was all over! He bought his first Pedal Steel and joined his first band that same day. It was a case of learn to play or get fired so he spent a lot of time in the woodshed! Twenty-five years and 200 bands later he's still in love with Steel Guitar. Along with acting in numerous theatre productions in High School and College as well as appearing in two previous ART Station productions, Mark has played music in 48 states and 25 countries and met the sweetest, craziest, and most interesting people on the planet. Along the way he added Guitar, Dobro, Lap Steel, Mandolin, Bass, and Music Production and Engineering to his bag. When not on the road or having a blast with various local bands, Mark can be found in his 24 track studio working on some project or another. Check out his website at: www.markvanallen.com for more information.
Creative Biographies
David Thomas (Director) founded the ART Station Contemporary Arts Center 17 years ago and has served as the President and Artistic Director of the arts center and the theatre since its beginning in 1986. He has directed over 40 productions for the ART Station Theatre; his next being Ted Swindley's "Always...Patsy Cline" to open at ART Station in July.


Other Production Staff






J. Marcelo Banderas :	Customer Service/Box Office
House Management:	Laura McCravy
Bar and Concessions Management:	Peggy Mitchell
Facility:	Emma Brooks