Posts tagged Fun Home (2024)
Megan Knowlton Balne

Fun Home 2024 [Helen] | Almost, Maine 2023 [Waitress/Gayle/Marci]

(She/Her) Megan is the Co-Founder of Masquerade Theatre and thrilled to be realizing her dream by serving as Artistic Director. Megan graduated from Ramapo College with her degree in Theatre and a concentration in directing. Megan is normally behind the table on Masquerade Productions. Megan was mostly recently seen on stage in Almost, Maine. Favorite roles include: Titania (Midsummer/Music Haas); Ruth Condomine (Blithe Spirit/HPP); Lilly St. Regis (Annie/BToP); Veronica (God of Carnage/HPP); and Zelda Zanders (Singin' in the Rain/Footlighters). Thanks to the cast and production team for their creativity and dedication. Above all, Megan thanks her husband, and co-founder of Masquerade, Tommy, without whom none of this would be possible.

Samuel Balne

Fun Home 2024 [CHRISTIAN BECHDEL]

(He/Him) is excited to be in his first Principal Series production at Masquerade, having performed in several of their Lights Up Education productions including Madagascar, Jr (Marty), James and the Giant Peach, Jr. (James), Peter Pan, Jr.(John).  Other favorite roles include Seussical (Elephant Bird) and Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble). Sammy thanks his cast and the production team for a great experience.

Courtney Bird

ONCE 2025 [Girl] | Fun Home 2024 [Joan] | ALMOST, MAINE 2023 [Glory/Marvalyn/Rhonda] | Melancholy Play 2023 [JOAN]

Birdy (she/they) is overjoyed to be back on the Masquerade stage, this time fulfilling an absolute dream role. Previous Masquerade credits include: Fun Home (Joan), Almost, Maine (Glory, Marvalyn, Rhonda), Melancholy Play (Joan). Birdy has been working as a South Jersey based Children’s Theatre Teaching Artist/Director since graduating with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Songwriting from The University of the Arts (rip) in 2022. Birdy is unbelievably thrilled to be working on a show with her Aunt, Trish Aristone (Stage Manager) for the first time, as Trish has always supported and inspired her. Lastly, she’d like to extend a huge thank you to her piano teacher, Allison, and as always, to Tom Weaver for being her theatrical reason Why. :)

Courtney Bundens

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown 2024 (Sally) | Fun Home 2024 [Medium Alison] | Next to Normal 2023 [Natalie] | Proof 2022 [Catherine] | PJ’s Playbook 2022 [Maya] |WIT 2021 [Ensemble] | Great Expectations 2020 | Proof 2020 [Catherine]

(They/Them) is a long standing troupe member of Masquerade, and delighted to be back performing in the 24/25 season. Doubly excited to be crossing off a dream role! Previous Masquerade credits: Fun Home (Medium Allison) Next to Normal (Natalie), Proof (Catherine), PJ’s Playbook (Maya), Great Expectations (Pip).

Jake Hufner

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown 2024 (Charlie Brown) | Fun Home 2024 [ROY / PETE/ MARK / BOBBY JEREMY] | ALMOST, MAINE 2023 [Jimmy/Randy/Phil/Dave] | Next to Normal 2023 [Gabe] | The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) 2023 | Proof 2022 [Hal] | WIT 2021 [Ensemble] | Great Expectations 2020 | Proof 2020 [Hal]

(He/Him) is an actor and theater educator from the South Jersey area. He holds a BA in Theater from Rutgers University-Camden, and has been a part of many productions with Masquerade Theatre including: Proof (Hal);  Great Expectations (Herbert Pocket/Ensemble); Wit (Ensemble); One Fifty Four (The Sibling); The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged; Next to Normal (Gabe); Almost, Maine (Jimmy/Randy/Phil/Dave); and Fun Home (Roy/Mark/Pete/Bobby Jeremy). Other notable acting credits include: All Shook Up (Chad), As You Like It (Orlando), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Charlie Brown), and The 39 Steps (Clown 2). Jake has worked on the technical side of productions as a director, house manager, stagehand, and as Props Master for PJ's Playbook with Masquerade.

Grant Knudson

Fun Home 2024 [JOHN BECHDEL]

(He/Him) is thrilled to make his Masquerade debut! Prior favorite roles include Chip in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Sonny in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Walnut Street Theatre). He also enjoys dancing ballet at The Rock School for Dance Education where he has played a Party Boy in the classic, Nutcracker. Grant is a 2nd grader and likes to sing and perform with Collingswood Sound. Love and thanks to big sister Vienna, family, friends, teachers, and the Masquerade Theatre! @gregariousgrant

David Nikolas

ONCE 2025 [Svec] | Fun Home 2024 [Bruce]

Last seen at Masquerade as Bruce in Fun Home! Performance credits include: Off-Broadway/NYC – Gemini (Fran, Lion Theatre @ Theatre Row), Sweat (Stan, The Seeing Place); Regional: God Of Carnage (Alan, Pegasus Theatre Project); Eagle Theatre – The Fantasticks (Hucklebee), Rock Of Ages (Hertz), Peter & The Starcatcher (Bill Slank/Hawking Clam); Walnut Street Theatre – Laughter On The 23rd Floor (Milt u/s), Arsenic & Old Lace (Jonathan u/s); Media Theatre – 1776 (Lyman Hall). Directing credits include The Sunken Living Room (2018, Breaking Through The Box), The Last Five Years (2019, Breaking Through The Box), American Idiot (2021, Music Mountain Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream & The Comedy Of Errors (Shakespeare in the PRC, 2023 & 2024). Feature Films: Army Of The Dead (2021), The Finders (2016), It Had To Be You (2015). Two-day Jeopardy! champion, 2006. Proud member of SAG-AFTRA. DavidNikolas.com

Jodi Lawrence O’Connor

Fun Home 2024 [Alison]

(She/Her) is thrilled to be on stage with this amazing cast. Favorite productions include the Perry Award winning production of Billy Elliot (Mrs. Wilkinson) at the Grand,  A Chorus Line (Maggie) at Triple Threat Productions;  Nunsense (Sister Robert Anne), Baby (Lizzie), Secret Garden (Martha) at HP&P;  Falsettos (Cordelia), Young Frankenstein ( Frau Blucher) at the Ritz; Always Patsy Cline (Louise Seger), Mary Poppins (Bird Woman/ Ms. Smythe), Sweeney Todd (Lucy Barker), Damn Yankees (Gloria), Annie (Hannigan), Joseph…(Narrator) and Fiddler on the Roof (Fruma Sarah) at the Pitman Broadway Theater for which she received a Perry Award Nomination. Jodi performed at the Baby Grand in Delaware as “Ethel Merman” in the premiere of Gershwin by George.  Thanks to her family for allowing her to continue her love of the theater.

Gabby Prince

Fun Home 2024 [Small Alison]

Gabby is thrilled to be making her debut at Masquerade Theatre in her hometown! Gabby began acting in 2022 and has been in eleven phenomenal productions: Aladdin, Jr. (Iago); ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (Charity); Music Man, Jr. (ensemble); Pirates! The Musical (Stowaway); Number the Stars (Kirsti ’23, ensemble ‘24); Junie B. Jones, Jr. (Junie B.); Seussical (Cindy Lou Who); Annie, Jr. (Annie); Into the Woods, Jr. (Little Red); and Bonnie & Clyde (Young Bonnie). She would like to thank all the directors, cast and crew for this amazing experience and to her family and friends for their endless support.

Jonathan Rose

Fun Home 2024 [PIANIST] | Next to Normal 2023 [Pianist] | The Fantasticks 2022 [Pianist]

(He/Him) Broadway:  My Fair Lady, The King & I, Carousel, Pippin, End of the Rainbow, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Les Misérables, Next to Normal, Spiderman: Turn off the Dark, South Pacific, Les Miz, West Side Story, The Color Purple (original production). Off Broadway:  The Secret Garden, Once on this Island, Miss Evers’ Boys, Little Shop of Horrors, Show Boat (NY Phil concert), Talk of the Town, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Feast in Time of Plague, Imbecile D’amour (Cabaret). Regional/Local:  A Christmas Carol (Walnut Street Theater), The Fantasticks (Masquerade Theater), Rent (Rutgers), Next to Normal (Masq), Urinetown (Rutgers).