ACT1 Cast

Terra Buschmann as Nora HelmerTerra Buschmann has a BA in Theatre Arts from Henderson State University.  Favorite roles include Joy in Shadowlands, Catherine in Proof, Sally in Talley’s Folly, Elinor in Sense and Sensibility, Kate in Dancing at Lughnasa, Kate Keller in The Miracle Worker, Amanda in Private Lives, Meg in Crimes of the Heart, Bowe in Dumb Supper, Jane in Pride and Prejudice, Flo in Picnic, Mrs. Peters in Trifles, and Aaron in The Laramie Project. Terra is grateful for the support and encouragement of her amazing family and friends.

Ben Gregory as Torvald HelmerThis is Ben's first show with Act One. He has performed in Nashville with Street Theatre, Circle Players, and The Keeton Theater, where he most recently played the role of Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. He is a graduate of the Theatre Studies Department at Yale University and has performed in Germany and L.A. Other credits include: Jim Farrell in Titanic, Bob Wallace in White Christmas, Eilert Lovborg in Hedda Gabler, Pentheus in The Bacchae, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Claude in Hair, and John Proctor in The Crucible.  He would like to thank Kelly for giving him this opportunity, and Tonya for her enduring love and support.

Neil Bergman as Dr. Peter RankIt's a wonderful thing to act out dramas in a small cast of talented actors.  Neil Bergman is blessed to be a part of Act I's production of A Doll's House.  He is very happy to share the stage with six fine actors. Many thanks to Kelly and his cast mates for providing an encouraging, challenging and, at times, humorous environment to explore the  role of Dr. Rank.  All challenged him to be a better actor.  Neil has performed in a variety of plays and musicals around Nashville, most recently singing the role of stage manager in Bradley Moore's cabaret, Songs We'll Never Sing.  You also may have seen Neil as Victor Velasco in Barefoot In The Park at Pulltight Theater, as Philip Lombard in And Then There Were None at Encore Theater, or as Max in Lend Me A Tenor at Keeton Theater.  

Maggie Pitt as Christine LindeMaggie is thrilled to be a part of A Doll’s House.  Some of her most recent productions include I Hate Hamlet and Accomplice (Encore),  Rising and Falling (Rhubarb), The Grapes of Wrath and Noises Off  (Circle Players).  She’d like to thank her friends and family for their inspiration and support.  She has loved working with this cast and crew even though she’s writing this before rehearsals have started, but she knows that they’re an awesome group of people and therefore will love working with them, or has loved working with them by the time you read this.  It’s all a bit timey-wimey but it makes sense in the end.  Maybe.

Bob Roberts as Nils Krogstad Bob Roberts graduated MTSU with a Bachelors degree in Theatre Performance.  Currently, he serves as the Front of House Manager for Nashville Children’s Theatre by day, and Front of House Manager for the Belcourt Theatre on nights and weekends.  Previously, he spent 5 years as a board member for ACT 1 Theatre and co-founded Pendulum 3 Theatre.  He has spent time as an actor touring/puppeteering with Cincinnati’s Madcap Puppet Theatre, doing outdoor theatre with the Johnny Appleseed Outdoor Drama and commercials for Nashville Public Television, and acting/directing with (amongst others) Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Mockingbird Theatre, Actors Bridge Ensemble, Rhubarb Theatre, ACT 1, Circle Players, Murfreesboro Little Theatre, and Pendulum 3 Theatre.  He’s excited to be working with several of his friends again in this production.

Heather Alexander as Anne-Marie, the Nanny

Heather is ecstatic to be in her first ACT1 production.  By day, she is a legal secretary for the Tennessee Attorney General, but lives for rehearsal in whatever shows will have her. She is active in several local theatre groups: Lakewood Theatre, Community Players, and Encore Theatre Company. Her favorite shows include To Kill a Mockingbird (Miss Maudie), Cheaper by the Dozen (Mother, twice), A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, and M*A*S*H. Thanks to ACT1 for allowing her to be part of this show, her family and friends for their support, and her sons for putting up with her absence.

Elizabeth Hayes as Helen, the Maid Elizabeth Hayes is thrilled to be back with her friends at ACT 1.  A Nashville native, she has performed across the country as actor, singer, storyteller, and puppeteer.  Locally, she has carried the lead in ‘Night, Mother, The Murder Room, and Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking, and had feature roles in Blythe Spirit, Smoke on the Mountain, Pirates of Penzance, and Into the Woods.  She has also directed such shows as The Lion in Winter, Cyrano de Bergerac, Accomplice, and The Man from Earth.  Thanks to my loved ones for their support – and thanks to the whole Dolly team!

Kelly Lapczynski, Director

An actor for more than 25 years, Lapczynski's resume includes more than 140 productions and a management position in Nashville's oldest professional theatre, Chaffin's Barn.  She has performed on and off stage for Mystery.COMedy at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and was as an ensemble member of the Parnassus Repertory Company, under the direction of Royal Shakespeare Company alumnus Roy Henderson.  Additionally, Kelly was the Founding Artistic Director for San Diego's New Perspective Festival, many scripts from which may be read in Smith & Kraus "Best of" editions.  This production marks the third mounting of her adaptation in the year since it was completed.