I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!

 Bill is a singer, songwriter, composer, lyricist, director, arts educator and actor who hails originally from Nashville, TN. He was the Executive Director at Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan, NJ for six years where he was responsible for overseeing the Production, Education, Development, Marketing & Box Office staff. He produced over 30 main stage Broadway-style shows including the New Jersey premiere of Spamalot starring Robert Johanson, Joseph….., Tuesdays with Morrie, The 1940s Radio Hour, The Music Man, Always, Patsy Cline starring Emmy Award Winner Sally Stuthers and Carter Calvert, Kids Say the Darndest Things starring Patrick Cassidy, My Fair Lady starring Glory Crampton and Robert Johanson, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Shrek, The King & I, Annie Get Your Gun and South Pacific. 

As an actor he has been seen in the lead role of Giuseppe in The Gondoliers, the role of Florian in Princess Ida, the role of Bill Bobstay in H.M.S. Pinafore and as a pirate in The Pirates of Penzance starring Hal Linden, all at City Center in New York City. He was featured in The Presidents starring Rich Little and directed by Bill Castellino, first at the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center and then at TheatreFest in Montclair, NJ. The show was later taped for TV at The Paris Theatre, Las Vegas and subsequently aired on PBS. As a TV actor, he has appeared in several commercials for such companies as Letgo, YOPA (England), Benjamin Moore Paints, Office Depot among others.

Regionally, he was seen as Detlef in Paper Mill Playhouse's production of The Student Prince starring Christiane Noll and directed by Robert Johanson, as well as the American in Paper Mill’s production of Rags. He played the role of John in Shenandoah alongside such cast members as James Van der Beek, Michael Park and Marc Kudisch. He has performed nationally atTennessee Repertory Theatre, American Stage Company, Northshore Music Theatre, Monomoy Theatre and Algonquin Arts Theatre where he played Mitch Albom in the gripping drama, Tuesdays with Morrie and Sir Robin in Spamalot. 

As a songwriter he wrote the music with lyricist Nick De Biase for two songs for Centaur Records: “Every Time You’re Near” performed by Tony Award winner Alice Ripley on the CD, Utopia and “Never Letting Go” sung by Elsa Raven on the CD, Dance With Angels. He also wrote the music (with lyricist Bill Castellino) for Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker’s recording of “Fine” which is featured on her album, Leaving Home, produced by Christopher McGovern.

As a singer, Bill toured from 2001 to 2018 around the globe as the Construction Worker with the World famous Village People featuring Ray Simpson, Felipe Rose, Alex Briley, Eric Anzalone, Jim Newman and Bill Whitefield. 

He is a proud member of ASCAP, SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity Association and Dramatist Guild. He earned his BA in Theatre at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA and currently resides with his husband Christopher Verdi where he teaches voice and produces music in his home recording studio.

 Michael Gilch is a versatile Asbury Park-based musician, composer, and arranger. He has played in Broadway pits, Village jazz clubs, and conducted pit orchestras in many NYC/NJ regional theatres and universities. He is proud to be a fixture in the Asbury Park music scene. Recent Music Direction credits include Evita (2024) and Avenue Q (2022) with Axelrod Theatre, and The Prom (2024) with Phoenix Productions at the Count Basie Theatre. He has a degree in English from Rutgers University and sometimes writes words outside of playbills, too. Love to Bertie, June, and the Goon Squad. @valse_gilch 

Serena is a versatile artist. (triple threat as they say) A Broadway Performer, choreographer, dance educator and yogi! She has worked extensively all over the world. She was first inspired by her mother, Eva, a performing contortionist in the early 1930's in the German Circus. Serena's professional performing career began at the young age of ten, where she began working with multiple legends, including Ray Bolger (the Scarecrow in Oz), Gregory Hines (the famous tapper), Donald O’Connor (Singing in the Rain) and Jane Krakowski (NBC’s 30 Rock). Just google kids!! In her teens, she received a full scholarship to the New York Academy of Theatrical Arts which began her journey with her classical ballet training.  Her Broadway credits include Assistant Choreographer and featured performer in Footloose. Radio City music Hall “Bernadette Peters Live”, Featured Dancer in  Broadway Bares directed by Jerry Mitchell. 3 years in the National and European tour of Phantom of the Opera. Assistant Choreographer to and dancer in the Movie Rock of ages starring Tom Cruise.  Serena choreographed "Panic at the disco's tour “nothing rhymes with circus” For many years she was on the faculty of Broadway dance center.    

She has danced  in many national commercials, such as McDonald's, Intel and E-Trade. She appeared on ABC’s “All My Children,” as well as Saturday Night Live as a Weekend Update Dancer, The Late Night Show with David Letterman and The Rosie O'Donnell Show.  She was also cited as CNN's Spotlight Performer of the Week. She choreographed for the Super Bowl well remembered Chevy Car Wash, Snickers, Axe Body Spray, Dove Soap (starring Lea Michelle from Glee)  and the famous AT&T Grand Central station flash mob commercials, as well as for the platinum selling rock band Panic! At The Disco! "Nothing Rhymes with Circus Tour"  After dealing with a few dance injuries Serena became much more dedicated to her yoga practice and spirituality. Learning to chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and the study of Yogic philosophy. came a decade before Serena gave up her dancer’s “ego” and intertwined the body, mind and spirit through her Yoga practice. In 1998 her beloved mom died 2 weeks before the opening night of Footloose. Life definitely took on even a deeper meaning for wholeness and oneness..  Serena spent an entire summer living at Ananda Ashram in upstate New York (spiritual community) and soon after received her Yoga Teacher Training certification at Laughing Lotus in NYC, where she was a Senior Teacher for several years.   Miss Serena is an encyclopedia of knowledge and spirit that will never feel as though her cup is overflowing with too much passion! Did you know that Serena is also an inspiring Chef? And obsessed with Unicorns? Her greatest advice to the world is "Smile and Live YOUR LIFE!"  Follow her on Instagram:  Svahaserena   

Neil is back at APTCo after designing The Mountaintop this past spring and Always, Patsy Cline last fall. He designs for film, television and the theatre, and is a five-time Emmy nominee for his work as the Supervising Art Director on Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

  Lyle Greene (Lighting Design) Lyle is an Actor/Singer/Designer from Long Island, New York and a recent graduate with a BFA in Musical Theatre and Minor in Technical Theatre from Rider University. Currently Lyle is Assistant to the Production Manager at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. Select credits include: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Director/Lighting Designer), Urinetown (Hot Blades Harry), Monster Songs (Sasquatch), Polaroid Storied (Dionysus), Carrie (Lighting Designer), Clean Slate (Assistant Lighting Designer) and  Cabaret (Assistant Director). Lyle's APTCo credits American Idiot (Lighting Designer), Million Dollar Quartet (Lighting Designer), American Son (Lighting Designer) and The Mountaintop (. This marks Lyle’s 6th production with the Asbury Park Theater Company. Special thank you to Kathryn and his family for their continued love and support! 

   Crafton Barnes (Sound Design), from Memphis Tn, started professional concert sound and recording studio production in 1998 working every style and venue size from football stadium half time shows to 15 seat coffee shop size open mic nights. Currently one of the working front of house sound engineers at the Wonder Bar and monitor engineers at the Stone Pony for the past two years having made Asbury Park my permanent home. Crafton wants to thank Kenny for always motivating him to be his best!

  Trina got bitten by the acting bug at age 3, when she created and performed the “Ricky Ticky Mambo” (thanks Ricky Ricardo) for her family and friends at her family’s summer home in Long Branch, and continued to put on shows in her backyard in Jersey City throughout her childhood! Mainly working behind the scenes since high school, she has costumed over 35 productions, including Bye Bye Birdie, Little Shop of Horrors, Me and My Gal, No ,No Nanette, The Boyfriend, Leader of The Pack, Godspell and Dream Girls to name a few. She was the House Manager and volunteer coordinator for ReVision Theatre in Asbury Park. She is also a photographer and her work has been exhibited in Monmouth County, and her photos have appeared in newspapers and on television. Trina received Presidential recognition from President Bush for her video about Operation Desert Storm, and Trina created and produced, “Reflections on Ice”, an ice skating extravaganza featuring Olympic Skating champions which benefitted the Special Olympics. She has been nominated by the Rising Star Program at the Paper Mill Playhouse for her costume design for “No, No Nanette”, and by The Count Basie Theatre Basie Awards for outstanding costume design for the “Wiz’, and set design for “Always A Bridesmaid”. This is Trina’s 7THh production working with the Asbury Park Theatre Company, and she is very proud to be a part of the creative production team. In her spare time she follows a band called the Mavericks, Grammy award winning artists who play Cuban, Latin, Americana, Country, Rock. She has seen them in concert 141 times, traveling throughout the United States and the Caribbean to catch a concert!. She is affectionately called the ‘Chaos Coordinator” by Maverick fans for all the fun events she plans for the fans. Trina is always looking forward to her next theatrical project and when she is not designing costumes or hunting down props in thrift shops , she babysits for her two youngest grandchildren, Pearl 3 ½ and Parker 2. She sends love and hugs to her other 3 grandsons, Ryan, 12, Brayden 10, and Greyson, 7. They are all outstanding athletes, and Trina loves going to their game to cheer them on. Love to all her kids, Courtney (Mauricio), Ryan (Justine, Lindsay, Rory (Scott). And last, but not least, thanks to everyone in the cast and crew of ILYYPNC. It was a joy to work with you all. 

Jo Wymer (Production Stage Manager)   

is a Navy Veteran, a 2x American Music Award winner & a 2x Grammy nominee for her original music written for TV & film.
Recent APTCo credits include:  ALWAYS PATSY CLINE (Production Stage Manage), THE MOUNTAINTOP (Assistant Stage Manager), The Bikinis (Karla). Other Credits include:  IN THE HEIGHTS (Abuela Claudia) - Music Mountain Theater. Phoenix Productions credits:  THE PROM (Production State Manager),  RAGTIME – Properties Mistress, Guys and Dolls (Production Stage Manager), Evil Dead The Musical 2022 and 2023 (Production Stage Manager), The Wizard of Oz (Assistant Stage Manager), Mamma Mia! (Rosie Mulligan), Every Wednesday Night (Teresa/Gloria Genovese), IN THE HEIGHTS International Tour 2018 (Abuela Claudia), Evita (Juana Duarte/Aristocrat). 2024 Phoenix Award Winner for OUSTANDING PROPS for RAGTIME. The 2023 NJACT Perry Award Nominee and Phoenix Award winner for Outstanding Stage Management in Phoenix Productions’ presentation of Guys and Dolls. Love to her family and her APTCO family. @jowymermusic or jowymer.com BTW- I HATE NAIR but LOVE WINE!

 Dylan is so excited to be making her Asbury Park Theater Company debut! Their recent ventures include being a Production Assistant on The Music Man and In The Heights with Phoenix Productions. She is currently studying Theater and Music at Muhlenberg College and hopes to direct something on their campus next semester. She hopes you love the show, think it’s perfect because at this point, it won’t change.  

 Katherine studies Business Management and Entertainment Technology at Millersville University’s Honors College. At APTCO, she’s one of the first interns helping with production. Previously at MU, she was a Properties Designer and Assistant Stage Manager for three years. This school year, she’s excited to be a Production Manager for ACMO and a Properties Design Mentor for Millersville University Theater. She can’t wait to see where production takes her after graduating in May 2025 and hopes everyone enjoys the show! 

 Samantha is a senior at Rider University where she is studying Theatre Design & Technology and Arts and Entertainment Industries Management. Her past credits include, Urinetown (Sound Effects),Love and Information (Sound), and ISM (Assistant Stage Manager).Samantha has learned a great deal from her mentors here at Asbury Park Theatre Company and could not be more grateful for this experience.  

 Lillian Chen is a rising sophomore at Elon University majoring in Theatrical Design & Technology and Communications and she is so excited to be taking part in her first show with Asbury Park Theater Company!