Alec Parsons – Network computer geek by day and theatre geek at night. Alec spent many years in community theatre and local BBC radio in the UK. Since moving to the USA he has appeared in numerous productions in Baraboo, Portage and Beaver Dam as either cast, backstage or as director. Alec loves to be involved in all aspects of theatre and currently serves as our President.
Rhonda Siebecker has been involved in CAB for over a decade – directing, acting and writing as part of their original works projects. She has also performed a belly dance number, posed as a pregnant teenager and embodied a 50’s housewife for the group’s fundraising events. She is the current vice-president of CAB. When not on stage in behind the scenes, she is bringing out the beauty in her clients at Purple Lotus Studio or selling ads for Civic Media.
Serving as CAB’s secretary, Bev Choutka is always busy, not only with all of her jobs, but Bev’s biggest extracurricular activity is that she loves being involved in theatre. Bev is involved with Zona Gale Young People’s Theatre at Portage Center for the Arts. She loves being part of ZGYPT because through theatre, young people learn to see reality in a new way and to revise prejudices. Being part of the world of drama, young people become empowered to shape and re-shape their lives. As the “Stage Mom”, she especially enjoys seeing her young people grow, mature, and develop paths for their future through theatre. She is also involved with the Portage Center for the Arts and their Performing Arts Series. She sits on the board with Portage Area Community Theatre, and has been involved with Portage High School musicals for 3 years. Bev says working behind the scenes is as rewarding as it is challenging and she enjoys bringing quality live theatre to the community.
Scott Rawson began his acting career in 2005 working with Broom Street Theatre which ironically is on Williamson St. in Madison. He worked with Broom Street for 3 years before getting a break in The Baraboo Theater Guild in a little know musical called The Mystery of Edwin Drood. He accredits his friend Scott Kindschi (one of the Co-Founders of CAB Theatre) with giving him this great community that he has grown to know and love. Scott has worked within this theater community ever since and acted in many Baraboo Theater Guild productions as well. Scott made his playwrighting and directorial debut with Broom Street with his acclaimed, Maple Bluff Mystery. He went on to Co-write and direct, Ghosts of Christmas Past, and co-wrote, Where we You when You were Stole. Since his departure from Broom Street Theater, Scott went on to found Rogues and Vagabonds Entertainment Theatre (R.A.V.E. Theatre) and The Creative Alliance of Baraboo Theatre, (CAB Theatre). As you can tell Scott has a pension for anachronyms. As an off shoot of CAB theatre, Scott also created Teens in Theater (TNT) which worked with Teens dealing with real social issues.
Scott declined any comment on this and refused our offer for an interview, but did want to credit Melisa Skwor for the Bio Photo.
Erica Cochrane: Bringing her stupendous talent for wearing many hats, Erica is unofficially CAB’s grant manager and strategic planning facilitator. Erica is most involved in CAB’s youth theatre work as an integral team member to Play in a Weekend, Teens N Theatre, and Showtime Youth Musical Theatre; however, she can often be seen on stage, as part of The Improve Lab, in the light booth, or otherwise running around trying (pretending?) to be helpful at other CAB events. Erica grew up in the Madison theatre community and majored in drama at the University of California… for a semester, at which point she decided to be a serious conservation biologist and save large charismatic megafauna instead of prance around on stage. Erica found home again with her theatre peeps in the Baraboo community.
Jessa Jean has always been a lover of the arts. As a young lady she participated in The Sauk Prairie Theater Guilds production of “Oliver!” and several middle school musicals. Moving behind the scenes in High School, she worked on set design. She has an Associates in Visual Communications and worked in web design, video editing and photography. She currently co-owns the best smoothie shop in the world, the Green Vine in downtown Baraboo. She dove back into theater with CAB one act play productions as a actor, writer, director and providing technical assistance. More recently she has taken ahold the reigns of Improv Lab and co-runs the program with fellow board member Brian.
Erin Dooley-Moore has always loved the theater and acting. She doesn’t get to do nearly as much acting as she would like because she’s so busy with work (and her real job of being an artist). She was involved in many plays at UW-Baraboo in the early 2000’s such as Move Over Mrs. Markham; The Diviners; The Importance of Being Ernest; The Heidi Chronicles, but had a hiatus of about 10 years. She got back into the theater state of mind after working together with Scott Rosen. One call asking if she could do an English accent and she was acting again in Cash on Delivery (granted the accent became more Irish than English but it still worked). She’s acted in every MaCABre, from 4 – 12. Acting in both CAB and BTG productions over the years, she’s been in Wrong Window; Sleeping Indoors (House play); 2 in the Aisle, 3 in the Van; Middletown. While very much enjoying the more dramatic roles, she loves making people laugh in comedy. So far, she hasn’t been involved in any of the musicals because she doesn’t sing as well as others (except in her own mind when liquored up during karaoke). She hopes to continue to act in this great community, with these exceptional people. She joined the CAB board this year because she’s not busy enough.
Colleen Murphy has been involved with theatre since the beginning or time, having cut her teeth in high school and college, earning a BA in Theatre Arts and a Bachelor of Music Education from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. In the area, she has performed with the Portage Area Community Theatre, Baraboo Theatre Guild, UW Sauk County Campus, Sand County Players, and Sparetime Players. Most recently, she has been seen onstage with the Groundlings Theatre of Waunakee, Madison Savoyards, Solar Wind Productions, and KR Women’s Theatre. At the Bartell Theatre in Madison, she has appeared with the Madison Theatre Guild, Stroller’s Theatre, Mercury Players Theatre, Know Better Productions, and Stage Q, as well as Children’s Theatre of Madison. Listen, she’s old. There’s a lot to cover. There are film and commercial credits, too but they’re minimal and really, not that interesting. Through the UW Madison Education Department, Colleen works with Whoopensocker, a collaborative troupe of teaching artists, who team with elementary schools to work on creative writing, storytelling, and improv. As a singer, she is part of the vocal trio, the Flabulous Flannels, The Candlelight Ladies, and can be heard daily, rocking it out in her car. Her most pivotal role was perhaps playing “Noun” in the 6th grade Parts of Speech play, which started her on this illustrious (or dubious – you decide) path. She is honored to serve with such a talented and dedicated group of people!
Brian Domenget didn’t know what he wanted to do when he grew up, but did know that he loved learning languages and getting to know people from all around the world. This led him to a career in international education. He has worked as a teacher, advisor, coordinator and administrator. Brian has taught English, French, German, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, always keeping at least one chapter ahead of his students. Brian’s recurring teaching nightmare is that he has arrived to class and suddenly remembers that he hasn’t prepared his lesson plan.
Brian has always enjoyed making people laugh. He has been doing improv for the last 10 years or so and started performing with the Improv Lab in 2019. He has also performed in a number of CAB productions and values the inclusive environment and fun people. He does wonder what happened to the non-fun people, although he has wisely chosen not to ask any questions.
Alex Miller has been involved in theatre starting Freshman year of high school. Alex joined CAB during their Spring show Surprise! in 2018 and has been involved in its various productions on a continuous basis. He has performed with Community Players of Southwest Wisconsin, River Valley Players, and various shows at UW-Richland before its closure. He currently resides and works in his hometown of Richland Center and when not on stage you can find him at a concert, a movie, a drag show, or just generally socializing with friends and strangers alike.