In-studio guests Friday morning were Amy Borns, Kim Livingston, and Erich Davies
CHARACTERS in the show
Chris Gorman – Amy Borns
Ken Gorman – Rocky Miano
Claire Ganz – Allie Myers
Lenny Ganz – Erich Davies
Ernie Cusack – Chad Livingston
Cookie Cusack – Kim Livingston
Glenn Cooper – Brandon Hellmich
Cassie Cooper – Karen Matthews
Officer Welch – Rob Ward
Officer Pudney – Katy Prairie
Amy Borns – Chris Gorman
Amy has been performing for over 30 years, starting in 3rd grade. She has graced the TCP stage many times, most recently as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins with husband Dan playing opposite her as Bert. “I am enjoying reprising this role (Chris Gorman) that I also played in high school. It has been fun to challenge myself to expand on this character,” she stated. Amy is a Purdue graduate and working as the Clerk Treasurer for the City of Greensburg. She is married to Dan and has two sons, Ellis (17) and Zeke (8).
Rocky Miano – Ken Gorman
Rocky graduated from Waldron High School and now lives in Shelbyville. He has performed with Shelby County Players in the following roles: Mitch in Tuesdays with Morrie, Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Raymond in Miss Nelson is Missing. Rocky’s family includes parents Sal and Amy Miano as well as siblings Tony, Vinny, Blake, Ashley, and Amber. He works as a Pest Control Technician. “I’ve enjoyed working with the amazing cast and crew,” Rocky said.
Allie Myers – Claire Ganz
Allie, a Rushville High School graduate, has a degree in Graphic Design. She has performed with Shelby County Players as Mrs. Daigle in Bad Seed, Miss Nelson in Miss Nelson is Missing, and the Evil Queen in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs. Allie enjoys theatre, reading, and creative writing. She works at Trane Technologies. She and husband Jason Myers have one son Tristan. “This production has kept me laughing since day one.”
Erich Davies – Lenny Ganz
Erich, a Shelbyville High School graduate, continued his education at St. Joseph’s College earning a degree in Music Performance with a minor in Theatre Arts. Some of his previous roles for Shelby County Players were Elvis in Miss Nelson is Missing, Andreas in Tom, Dick, and Harry, Todd Currier in Murder Inn, and Ichabod Crane in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for Buck Creek Players. Erich writes and records music. He took master classes in saxophone from Karl Hunter of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. He has played saxophone and reeds in pit orchestras for numerous shows. His father Curtis and brother Chris, future sister-in-law Megan, plus dog Duke and cats Scrappy and Benny are his biggest fans. Check out his YouTube show Eerie Hour with Erich.
Kim Livingston – Cookie Cusack
Kim, who studied vocal performance at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, has been sharing her musical and dramatic talents for most of her life. She spent several seasons with Indianapolis Opera and was a featured soloist with Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra. She played Cornelia in Giulio Cesare in Egitto with Intimate Opera. Her TCP acting roles include Miss Andrews in Mary Poppins and The Witch in Into the Woods. Kim has participated in Shelby County Players shows: Sister Hubert in Nunsense and Sister Amnesia in Nunsense 2. Kim is a massage therapist, choir director for Blue River Youth Choir, and school bus driver. “Rehearsals for this show have been so much fun. Best of all – sharing the stage with my husband for his acting debut. Cookie and Ernie forever!” She has two daughters Claire (17) and Avery (13).
Chad Livingston – Ernie Cusack
A North Decatur High School graduate, Chad is enjoying the challenge of acting for the first time and sharing the experience with his wife. His hobbies/interests include role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and Dungeon Crawl Classics and riding his Can-Am Spyder/motorcycles, especially when Kim is along for the ride. Chad works for the City of Greensburg in the Water Office. He lives in St. Paul and has two stepdaughters, Claire Wallace (17) and Avery Wallace (13).
Karen Matthews – Cassie Cooper
Karen, a Music Teacher at Greensburg Elementary, played Elaine in TCP’s January 2020 show Arsenic and Old Lace. Karen received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University and master’s degree from Ball State. She enjoys hanging out with family and friends, singing in Praise Band at church, spreading a love of music and theatre at school, and serving as a TCP Board Member. “It (Rumors) is such a funny show with a fantastic, talented cast. Being a part of it creates lasting friendships with great people,” Karen shared. She is married to Brett and has two children, Carter (6) and Evie (3).
Brandon Hellmich – Glenn Cooper
Brandon began acting in North Decatur High School productions and then continued with TCP roles of Lieutenant Rooney in Arsenic and Old Lace and Ozian and a Winkie in The Wizard of Oz. He attended Anderson University to study electrical engineering. Currently, he is enrolled at Electrical Training Institute and is part of the apprentice program through IBEW Local 481. He likes to act, take nature walks, and spend time with family, parents David and Linda and brother Andrew. “I enjoy the camaraderie of the cast and the fun that we have all had.”
Rob Ward – Officer Welch
This is Rob’s acting debut. He graduated from Milan High School and received his medical training in USAF. He works in the Radiology Department at Decatur County Memorial Hospital. Rob has a love for music, sports, fishing, and antiques. He and wife Sandi live in Oldenburg. They have three daughters (Meaghann, Lindsay & Delaney) and one son Jonathan. “It’s a great experience (being in the show), and I am so thankful to be part of it.”
Katy Prairie – Officer Pudney
Katy, a North Decatur Elementary School art teacher and Shift Supervisor at Starbucks, is a graduate of Herron School of Art. Her previous TCP roles were Caitlin O’Hare in Over the River and Through the Woods and Katy in Christmas Cabin. Katy was producer for Arsenic and Old Lace and has helped with set design and painting for several TCP productions. “I’ve missed live theatre greatly since working on the set of Winnie the Pooh prior to COVID shutdowns and am very glad to be back on stage.” Originally from Brownsburg, Katy and son Aaron (15) live in Greensburg.
Rumors Synopsis
At a large, tastefully-appointed Sneden’s Landing townhouse, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself. It’s a gathering for their tenth wedding anniversary, the host lies bleeding in the other room, and his wife is nowhere in sight. His lawyer, Ken, and wife, Chris, must get “the story” straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and mis-communications mount, the evening spins off into classic farcical hilarity.