Full given name: Jacob Parker Mahler

Role: John/Judas
Instrument: Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin

Where you were born/where you were raised: Minnetonka, MN

Special skills: I play various instruments-piano, guitar, ukulele, banjo, mandolin. I can solve a rubik's cube.

Something you're REALLY bad at: Cooking salmon

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?  My older brother Mike has always been a hero of mine. I so wanted to be him growing up and still am inspired by him.

Current local show you have been recommending to friends:  Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind

Favorite Chicago neighborhood: Andersonville

Favorite show tunes of all time:  "Rainbow Connection," the scores to Into the Woods and The Last 5 Years

Favorite musical: The Last 5 Years

Favorite play: The Pillowman

You personal acting idols: Michael Mahler, Tom Hanks, Kevin Spacey, and Kevin Klein

MAC or PC?  PC

Most played song on your iPod:  "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" as performed by Ingrid Michaelson

Must-see TV show(s):  Breaking Bad, How I Met Your Mother, Castle, Perception, White Collar, Big Bang Theory, Dirty Jobs, New Girl

Last good movie you saw: The Dark Knight Rises

Some films you consider classics:  Usual Suspects, Back to the Future trilogy, Indiana Jones trilogy (the fourth one doesn't count)

Performer you would drop everything to go see:  Ingrid Michaelson

Three favorite cities:  Minneapolis, Chicago, Santa Rosa

First stage kiss:  Working on the gentleman caller scene in Glass Menagerie with Mikala Bierma.

Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living:  Watching my older brother and sister performing onstage with my mom in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Worst costume ever: I had a pretty awful wig when I played Roger DeBris in The Producers.

Most challenging role you have played onstage:  Konstantine in The Seagull

Leading man role you've been dying to play:  Iago or any of the guys in The Pillowman

Leading lady role you wish you could play: There's few enough roles for women out there without me taking one.

Three things you can't live without:  My wife, chocolate, the puppies

"I'll never understand why…":  They made food that is so bad for you so damn delicious an food that is good for you taste like poo.

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See Jake in The Brown Paper Box Co.'s production of GODSPELL September 20 - October 7, 2012 at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. For tickets and additional information, visit brownpaperbox.org.

Full given name: Megan Elizabeth Ensley

Role: Gilmer
Song: "Learn Your Lessons Well"
Instrument: Percussion

Where you were born/where you were raised: Topeka, Kansas, America

Special skills: Whistling, basic baton twirling, Kansas knowledge

Something you're REALLY bad at: Math (you know, because I'm a girl) and playing the piano (much to my mother's chagrin)

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor? I loved watching my mom perform when I was little, and I couldn't wait to do the same when I got older.

Current local show you have been recommending to friends: Michael Pizza and The Scene at iO

Favorite Chicago neighborhood: Andersonville

Favorite show tunes of all time: "Don't Rain on My Parade" "Legally Blonde"

Favorite musical: West Side Story, Gypsy, The Last Five Years, Legally Blonde

Your personal acting idols: Amy Poehler

MAC or PC? MAC

Most played song on your iPod: "Tears Dry On Their Own" by Amy Winehouse and "Paper Bag" by Fiona Apple

Must-see TV show(s): 30 Rock, Designing Women, I Love Lucy, Saturday Night Live

Some films you consider classics: Gone With The Wind, Drop Dead Gorgeous

Performer you would drop everything to go see: Gilda Radner

Pop culture guilty pleasure: All of it. Seriously, I can't get enough. Especially Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Favorite cities: San Francisco, Perdido Key, FL, Chicago

First stage kiss: Pantaleon Florez III in 8th Grade production of Groovy

Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living: I always loved performing, but it was in College when I realized I could actually do it for real, instead of just dreaming about it.

Worst costume ever: Faux crushed velvet pantsuit with sparkly feathers around the neckline. Did I mention the whole outfit was white?

Three things you can't live without: Pearl Earrings, Television, The Internet

"I'll never understand why…": The electoral college is still used in elections. It just doesn't make sense!

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See Megan in The Brown Paper Box Co.'s production of GODSPELL September 20 - October 7, 2012 at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. For tickets and additional information, visit brownpaperbox.org.

Full given name: Daniel Michael Ippolito Spagnuolo (Yes, I'm Italian)

Where you were born/where you were raised: Lansing, MI

Your position within the Godspell production team? Choreographer

What does that mean/what do you do? I try to have the musical numbers tell a story while hiding when we move furniture.

What's surprised you most about Godspell's rehearsal process so far? Our cast. The energy they bring to this work inspires me to create for them everyday. They rock!!!

Something you're REALLY bad at: Not talking with my hands. Avoiding carbohydrates.

Current local show you have been recommending to friends:  It was The Great American Trailer Park Musical but it's already closed. It was hilarious. In addition to our show, I'm really excited to go see Bailiwick's Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Chicago Shakespeare's Sunday in the Park with George, and 42nd Street at Theatre at the Center.

Favorite Chicago neighborhood: East Lakeview

Favorite musical: 1. West Side Story 2. Assassins 3. The Secret Garden

Favorite play: "Master Harold" ... and the boys by Athol Fugard

You personal idols: As a choreographer, George Balanchine. As a singer, Pavarotti. As an actor, Meryl Streep.

MAC or PC? PC.

Most played song on your iPod: You kids and your iPods.

Must-see TV show(s): Community, Happy Endings, 30 Rock

Performer you would drop everything to go see: Audra McDonald

Pop culture guilty pleasure: Facebook and I have a really unhealthy relationship.

Three favorite cities: Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston

"I'll never understand why…" People wait until the last minute to find an apartment in Chicago in the summer. Trust me, this is a bad idea!

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See Daniel's stamp on The Brown Paper Box Co.'s production of GODSPELL September 20 - October 7, 2012 at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. For tickets and additional information, visit brownpaperbox.org.

Full given name: Michelle 'Ma Belle' Alejandra Limon

Role: Joanne
Song: "O Bless the Lord, My Soul"
Instrument: Percussion

Where you were born/where you were raised: SouthWest Side of Chicago

Special skills: I can do a pretty awesome back bend and walk around like it's normal (Creepy?  Yeah...sorry).

Something you're REALLY bad at: Whistling

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?  My Dad was a musician back in the day.  He's kind of the reason for everything.

Favorite Chicago neighborhood: I'm bias because I just moved into Logan Square, so I'm kind of in love.

Favorite show tunes of all time: "Shine" from The Spitfire Grill and ALL of the music from In The Heights.

Favorite play: Marisol and Buried Child

MAC or PC?  I never discuss Politics or Religion...or MAC/PC's in polite company.

Most played song on your iPod: "Good Time" by Owl City and Carley Rae Jeppson

Must-see TV show(s): Breaking Bad

Last good movie you saw: The Muppet Movie

Three favorite cities: Mexico City, Guatemala City, and Paris

First stage kiss: A lady doesn't kiss and tell....

Most Challenging Role ever played on stage:  Dorine in Taruffe. She's just so sassy!

Three things you can't live without:  Music, trees, and Nutella.

"I'll never understand why…":  People just don't stop and listen, breathe, see, and love more.

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See Michelle in The Brown Paper Box Co.'s production of GODSPELL September 20 - October 7, 2012 at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. For tickets and additional information, visit brownpaperbox.org.

Full given name: Nicholas Robert Shoda

Role: Lamar
Song: "All Good Gifts"
Instrument: Percussion

Where you were born/where you were raised: Urbana, IL

Special skills: One-handed cartwheels, run-on sentences, general sass

Something you're REALLY bad at: Dancing. I excel at the art of screwing up choreography.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor? I guess I'd have to say my parents, They have always been supportive of me, even when I am truly insufferable.

Current local show you have been recommending to friends: 33 Variations at TimeLine Theatre Company. Great acting, beautiful design.

Favorite Chicago neighborhood: Andersonville!!!

Favorite show tunes of all time: So, so many, but here's a short list (in no particular order): "Move On" and "Sunday" from Sunday in the Park With George, "Say it Somehow" from The Light in the Piazza, "If I Didn't Believe in You" from The Last 5 Years, "And I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls, and the entire score of Pacific Overtures

Favorite musical: Pacific Overtures, The Light in the Piazza, Rent, The Last 5 Years

Favorite play: Death of a Salesman, Angels in America, Doubt, August: Osage County

You personal acting idols: Kate Winslet is my girlfriend. She doesn't know it yet, so it's kinda awkward, but we're very much in love regardless. Also, I want to be Meryl Streep when I grow up.

MAC or PC? Mac, all the way.

Must-see TV show(s): Community, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Weeds

Last good movie you saw: The Dark Knight Rises

Some films you consider classics: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Alien, Terminator 2, The Little Mermaid, The Shining, Me and You and Everyone We Know

Performer you would drop everything to go see: If I could time travel, it would be Whitney Houston circa 1993. Also, Beyonce. Always.

Pop culture guilty pleasure: America's Next Top Model

Three favorite cities: Chicago, Urbana, IL, and NYC

First stage kiss: Rebecca Schrepfer in The Mystery of Edwin Drood during my junior year of high school. Totally unplanned, awkward, and awesome.

Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living: The last night of Drood. It was one of those "had-to-be-there" moments, but definitely a turning point for me.

Pre-show rituals or warm-ups: Stretching, vocalizing, occasional bouts of abject terror. You know, the usual.

Worst costume ever: I played a frog and had to wear hideous lime green tights. Not. Cute.

Leading man role you've been dying to play: Mark in Rent, Jamie in The Last 5 Years, Bobby in Company

Leading lady role you wish you could play: Effie (of course), Clara in Piazza

Three things you can't live without: My family, my music collection, and my iPhone.

"I'll never understand why…": People say "expresso." THAT IS NOT A WORD.

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See Nick in The Brown Paper Box Co.'s production of GODSPELL September 20 - October 7, 2012 at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. For tickets and additional information, visit brownpaperbox.org.

Full given name: Stephanie Lynn Rohr

Role: Sonia
Song: "Turn Back, O Man"
Instrument: Piano

Born: Grosse Pointe, MI
Raised: Naperville, IL

Special skills: Cross-stitch, making bike horn and wookie noises.

Something you're REALLY bad at: Doing the splits.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor? I wanted to be the little mermaid.

Favorite Chicago neighborhood: Logan Square

Favorite show tunes of all time: Everything Sondheim ever wrote.

Favorite musical: Into the Woods

Favorite play: Twelfth Night

You personal acting idols: Amy Morton, Katharine Hepburn, Angela Lansbury

MAC or PC? MAC

Most played song on your iPod: "Fake Empire" by The National

Must-see TV show(s): LOUIE (the best thing that has ever been on TV), Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Arrested Development

Last good movie you saw: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Some films you consider classics: Vertigo, The Apartment, Dumb and Dumber

Performer you would drop everything to go see: Aerosmith. Yes, that is embarrassing. But they might be dead soon! And I love Steven Tyler. I don't even care that he is a creepy old man who is on American Idol. I LOVE AEROSMITH.

Pop culture guilty pleasure: Dance Moms, Hoarders ...Aerosmith.

Three favorite cities: London, St. Petersburg, Chicago

First stage kiss: Junior year of high school, in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. I was Rosemary. There is a long one during a song. I was very awkward. The boy playing Finch asked me if it was the first time I had ever kissed anyone. I was offended. (Mostly because he was right.)

Pre-show rituals or warm-ups: Listening to certain songs on my ipod, and generally ignoring people

Worst costume ever: In A Girl's Guide to Chaos in college, I had to be in my underwear, in the round, and then put on a pair of skinny jeans that required me to jump up and down to get into them. ...in the round.

Most challenging role you have played onstage: Non-musical: Joan of Arc in Henry VI part I. Musical: Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street (I learned to tap for the show...eek.)

Leading man role you've been dying to play: non-musical: Non-musical: Richard III. Musical: Max Bialystock in The Producers. I would really like to do a gender-revered production of that show. You saw it here first! My idea.

Leading lady role you wish you could play: non-musical: Non-musical: Hedda Gabler. Musical: Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd.

Three things you can't live without: Loved ones, music, alcohol. That sounds bad, doesn't it? But I stand by my answer.

"I'll never understand why…": there aren't more great roles for women in theatre which are not specifically about "being a woman."

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See Stephanie in The Brown Paper Box Co.'s production of GODSPELL September 20 - October 7, 2012 at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. For tickets and additional information, visit brownpaperbox.org.

Full given name: Paul Bohdan Proczko 

Role: Jeffrey
Song: "We Beseech Thee"
Instrument: Piano

Where you were born/where you were raised: I was born and raised in the west suburbs of Chicago. 

Special skills: I have been playing piano for 14 years, and I grew up speaking Ukrainian fluently.

Something you're REALLY bad at: I'm really bad at the game Risk. So bad, that when I was younger I thought I was really good. Then, when I'd lose a dice role, I would fold the game board to ruin the game for everyone else. So bad, that after teaching someone how to play, I would lose our first game. Bad. I know now. And I enjoy playing, even though my defeat is certain.  

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor? My friend Connie Ford, who directed most of my high school shows,  was the first person to tell me i should be an actor. Well, she actually YELLED, swearing, that i should be an actor. She was like that. She died my senior year of college, but she's with me every time I perform.

Current local show you have been recommending to friends: Go see my friend Michael Kingston in 33 Variations at Timeline Theatre, playing at Stage 773. It's about Beethoven music, and it's beautiful. I laughed. I wept. Hard.

Favorite Chicago neighborhood: Andersonville

Favorite show tunes of all time: "The Light in the Piazza"

Favorite musical: The Light in the Piazza

Favorite play: Doubt

Your personal acting idols: I'm inspired by Luciano Pavarotti. His voice conveyed great subtly and emotion. I am also inspired by Steve Carell; he can do no wrong. Hilarious AND touching.  

MAC or PC? Mac

Most played song on your iPod: Alternating "The Light in the Piazza", "Lux Aurumque" by Eric Whitacre, "The River Cam" by Eric Whitacre, and "Silent Noon" by Ralph Vaughn Williams. 

Must-see TV show(s): Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Archer, and Parks and Recreation

Last good movie you saw: Date Night

Some films you consider classics: Moonstruck, Young Frankenstein, Star Wars (4-6), The Lion King

Performer you would drop everything to go see: Pavarotti, if he were alive :(

Pop culture guilty pleasure: Robyn and The Scissor Sisters

Three favorite cities: Chicago, Louisville, Toronto

First stage kiss: Guys and Dolls in 7th grade. I was Sky Masterson.

Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living: Singing in a Sondheim showcase with a few professional singers in 7th grade. A love for beautiful melodies and heart-wrenching lyrics was born.

Pre-show rituals or warm-ups: I always warm up my whole voice. No matter if I'm singing bass, or not singing at all.

Worst costume ever: I sang a diet version of "I Hear Bells" in a production of Starting Here Starting Now which ended in a gay kiss. Either because the costumer hated everything or because she wanted the gay men in the show to seem as harmless as possible, we were clad in high-waisted pleated cadet blue pants and poop colored cardigans. We looked awful.

Most challenging role you have played onstage: I understudied ALL ELEVEN of Joseph's brothers in Joseph... and I was external, so I only went on in emergencies. I had to go on only once, and even after learning every dance move and watching the majority of performances I was flying by the seat of my pants.

Leading man role you've been dying to play: George in Sunday in the Park with George

Leading lady role you wish you could play: Margaret in The Light in the Piazza

Three things you can't live without: Coffee. Music. Pizza.

"I'll never understand why…": Anyone wants to go sky diving. That's terrifying.

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See Pavi (@PaviProczko) in The Brown Paper Box Co.'s production of GODSPELL September 20 - October 7, 2012 at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. For tickets and additional information, visit brownpaperbox.org.

Full given name:  Jeanne T. Arrigo. It was Jeanne Louise Arrigo before I got married, but I took "Thornsberry" as my middle name rather than changing my last name, and so my professional name is now Jeanne T. Arrigo. Don't ever forget the "T" or you'll hear about it :-)

Role: Peggy
Song: "By My Side"
Instrument: Guitar

Where you were born/where you were raised: Born near St. Louis, MO and grew up about an hour from there. My family (mom, dad, two brothers) moved to a small, 7 acre farm in Moscow Mills, MO when I was 12. Dad still lives there, and both brothers live closer to him than I do. Mom just died March 10 - less than 6 months ago - and I can't yet think about home, Dad, my family - without thinking she is still there, too.

Special skills: Guitar, hand-percussion, baking (I make a killer banana-nut-dark chocolate chip bread, and a phenomenal cherry-pie, crust and all!), crochet.

Something you're REALLY bad at: This list could be oh, so long.  Maybe I'll do just the top 10:
1 - being patient. 2 - tolerating frustration gracefully. 3 - whistling a tune (I can't whistle unless it involves my fingers in my mouth and is a "wolf whistle"). 4 - driving when late to an appointment. 5 - withholding tears during a confrontation. 6 - cleaning any portion of the house regularly (just ask my husband, who unfortunately ends up doing most of it). 7 - recognizing that my mom is no longer on this planet. 8 - staying off Facebook when I should be doing something else. 9 - practicing monologues regularly. 10 - Warrior III and Chair poses in Yoga.

Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor? My high school drama teacher (David Surber), college acting professors (Michael & Candace Pufall), Meryl Streep. That was all so long ago, you know; I am realistically no longer a "young actor," though in my mind I still am!

Current Chicago show you have been recommending to friends:  Boss; okay, I know that's tv, but it's shooting locally. I'd say Eastland since I was in it for two months, but it's closed. Unfortunately, I haven't seen many shows due to having been in that show full time and now in rehearsals. But, in the near future I plan to see Steep's Moment, Timeline's 33 Variations, and Lookingglass's Metamorphosis.

Favorite Chicago neighborhood: I lived in Andersonville for so long so I still have a soft spot for it and go there to shop and eat.

You personal acting idols: Robin Wright; Julia Louis Dreyfus; Kate Winslet; Cate Blanchett; Diane Lane; Julianne Moore; Holly Hunter; Frances McDormand; Colin Firth; Tom Hanks; Edward Norton; Sean Penn; Daniel Day-Lewis; Philip Seymour-Hoffman; Laurence Fishburne; and of course Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep.

MAC or PC? MAC; don't be silly.

Most played song on your iPod: I don't have an iPod, actually! On my iPhone, I am most often listening to books, as that is the only way I get to "read."  But when I do listen to music, it is most often standards or singer/songwriters (both those who are famous, and those who are not but are personal friends). I do have a couple Pandora channels which might give you some insight: Bruce Springsteen; Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt; Frank Sinatra/Tony Bennett/Tommy Dorsey swing; Jonatha Brooke; and Ellis Paul.

Performer you would drop everything to go see: That's hard, because I've never done this. Maybe those who would come closest would be Jonatha Brooke and Ellis Paul.

Pop culture guilty pleasure: Do you mean, like, wasting hours on Facebook?

Three favorite cities: New York! CHICAGO! Boston!

First stage kiss: High school, during Annie Get Your Gun. I was terribly nervous about it, and it hasn't gotten much better since then.

Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living:  Although I always loved acting/singing/performing through high school and college, I dropped out of pursuing performing after grad school, when I got a full time "real" job.  However, in the winter of 1997/98, I saw Rent and then shortly thereafter, Les Miserables (both Broadway in Chicago), and I realized I could not continue to work a day job full time, which drained me, did nothing to fulfill me, and disallowed the more full-time pursuit of my dream.

Most challenging role you have played onstage:  "Chloe" in Lips Together, Teeth Apart because there was sooooo much dialogue, it was so fast-paced, and I barely ever left the stage, plus the costume changes were very fast and there was a plethora of props which were mainly handled by my character.

Leading man role you've been dying to play: Wish I could have played, "Puck" in Midsummer ... but I'm too tall and now, too old. Would still like to play the Emcee in Cabaret.

Leading lady role you wish you could play: Wish I could have played "Ophelia" in Hamlet, but I'm too old!

Three things you can't live without: Family. Friends. Music. (and I have to say two more - Chocolate and Sushi)

"I'll never understand why…": It usually takes huge mistakes to learn and change.

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See Jeanne in The Brown Paper Box Co.'s production of GODSPELL September 20 - October 7, 2012 at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. For tickets and additional information, visit brownpaperbox.org.