Kelly Amshoff (Suzie) is delighted to make her debut with the Proud Kate Theatre Company. She moved to Chicago a little over a year ago from Cincinnati, OH after graduating from the University of Dayton with a double major in Theater and English. Past Chicago credits include, A Little Night Music (Circle Theatre), Baker’s Wife (Circle Theatre), Barnum! (Quest Theatre) and Cabaret (Four Play Theatre Co.). Thanks to a wonderful cast and crew. Love to her family and friends.
Travis Barnhart (M
artin) is very excited to be a part of Proud Kate’s production of Ruby Sunrise! Travis grew up in Vallaint, OK and is a graduate from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. After college he & his wife, Kristi, spent two years on the road performing touring theatre together, eventually settling in Chicago. Travis is a company member of HoBo Junction Productions. He is also an Artist in Residence at Halcyon Theatre and works as Building Engineer/Intern Coordinator at the ComedySportz Theatre here in Chicago.
Becky Blomgren (Ruby) grew up in a little town called Normal (seriously), got her degree in theatre, worked her fair share of odd jobs (like shoe shining and sweater folding) and has recently made her way joyously back to acting. She recently wrapped Season One of the ground-breaking trans-media project I Made America (www.imadeamerica.com). Performance highlights include Kabuki Othello (Desdemona), Make Sure It’s Me (Sandy Ames) & Proof (Catherine). She is thrilled to get to share Ruby’s story though Proud Kate Theatre Project and would like to send endless love to her parents, brother and Leigh Kilton-Smith for her amazing advice.
Dane Halvorson (Henry) is proud to be a part of The Ruby Sunrise with the Proud Kate Theatre Project. Dane is a recent graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. His credits include work with Provision Theater, Writers’ Theatre, Route 66 Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater among others. In addition to CCPA he has also studied at The Second City. Originally from Montana, Dane would like to thank everyone who helped him journey from the Big Sky to the city, especially his family and parents.
Cindy Henkin (Lois/Ethel) is delighted to be working with the ProudKate Theatre Project! An ensemble member of The Moving Dock Theatre Company, she has devised and performed in Moving Dock Theatre productions including Shakespeare’s Notebook, Unsung Stars and (in association with Premiere Theatre and Performance) The Quiltmaker’s Gift. A graduate of Penn State University with degrees in both Theatre and Psychology, Cindy has also taught as lead artist in the Parenteen Program at FreeStreet.
Shane Michael Murphy (Tad) strives to be interesting. As an actor he has performed with Backstage Theatre Company, Appetite Theater Company, The Mammals, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. When not acting, Shane is a practitioner of the Chinese Martial Arts, and is currently engaged in the design, writing, and production of a downloadable video game for major consoles. He’s thrilled to join Proud Kate for The Ruby Sunrise.
Claire Winkleblack (Lulu) is currently in her senior year at Northwestern University pursing a BA in Theatre. At Northwestern, she has acted in several productions including Taming of the Shrew (Tranio), Korczak’s Children (Steffa) and Goodnight, Desdemona, Good Morning, Juliet (Constance). To round out her senior year, Claire performed in Mary Zimmerman’s Arabian Nights this spring. She’s ecstatic to be playing a character with gumption.
The Ruby Sunrise 