Penny Kinney
Co-producer of Forever Christmas, Penny has been with it since it began in 1991. She has been active on and off stage for many years in Austin and Rochester theatres. Most recently, she appeared in Doubt for Austin's Summerset Theatre. And two summers ago, she was in Nunsense Jamboree, also for Summerset. Penny feels so blessed that Forever Christmas has thrived for 21 consecutive years. Besides her family, she claims that her special connection to Forever Christmas friends and audiences has been a source of great joy into her life. As soon as the ground thaws, Penny heads for the garden claiming that happiness is being in the dirt during the day and on stage at night. But when not in the dirt or on stage, Penny works for Hormel Foods in Austin.
Debra L. Olson
Debra was part of the "company" in Forever Christmases V, VI, VII & VIII and we are so thrilled to have her join us again. Deb is a gifted singer, actor and comedian who is very familiar to Rochester audiences. Her long list of credits at Rochester Civic Theatre, Rochester REP and other area theatres since 1989 is a testimony to her great versatility as a performer. She has many favorite roles, but among those that top the list are: Abby in Musical of Musicals, Reverend Mother in three Nunsenses, Mrs. VanDan in The Diary of Anne Frank, the Diva in Phantom, Abby Brewster in Arsenic & Old Lace, Big Mama in Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, Mrs. Johnstone in Blood Brothers, Mary in Merrily We Roll Along, Yente in Fiddler on the Roof -- whew! The list goes on! Most recently, we saw her as Mama Rose in Gypsy at RCT. When not onstage, Debra is a senior claims examiner for MMSI, a Mayo Health Company. They're lucky to have her -- as we are!
Carrie Rogness
Carrie is excited to again be part of the Forever Christmas cast. Having been involved with theatre in Rochester and the surrounding area for over 20 years, her experience is extensive and includes musical directing, orchestra member, acting, stage managing, technical support and administrative roles. Most recent stage roles include Lucy Humde in How To Talk Minnesotan (IAT), Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Summerset Theatre, Austin), Sally in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Annie in Misery (Rochester Civic Theatre). Past orchestra credits include: The Pajama Game, Clue: The Musical, The Secret Garden, Children of Eden, The Melody Lingers On, Into the Woods, Blood Brothers and many more. Carrie works as an Executive Assistant at Mayo Clinic.
Scot A. Schwark
A versatile singer, dancer, actor and instrumentalist, Scot is back in our cast for his 16th year. Scot works as an elementary music and middle school band teacher with the Rochester School District. Scot has done many roles in musicals and main stage productions for several area theatres including: Albert Lea, Austin, Stewartville, Plainview and Rochester. His favorite roles were ones in Rochester Civic Theatre’s (RCT) Singin’ in the Rain as Don Lockwood, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown as Snoopy and Nunsense Jamboree as Fr. Virgil Manly Trott for Summerset in Austin. He is also a singer, cantor and instrumentalist with the Sisters of St. Francis Lourdes Chapel Choir at Assisi Heights here in Rochester.
Scott Stekel
Yes, you’re seeing a new face in the company this year! We are so pleased to welcome Scott Stekel to our cast. Though new to Forever Christmas, Scott is not new to the theatre. His resume includes roles for the Rochester Civic Theatre (RCT), Rochester Repertory Theatre (Rep), Stewartville Community Theatre, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Rochester and Zumbro Lutheran Church. You may remember him as the “Beast” in RCT’s recently produced Beauty and the Beast and as the Tinman in their Wizard of Oz. Scott’s great tenor voice has enhanced 3 productions of The Pirates of Penzance – for the Rep, for Stewartville and for the G & S Society. By day, Scott works at the Mayo Clinic in the Radiology Department. He also teaches Sunday school music at Zumbro Lutheran Church.
Tom Theisen
This is Tom's second year with Forever
Christmas and he is thrilled and honored to be a
part of the family. Tom grew up in central
Michigan where he did a lot of singing in church
as well as being quite involved in musical
theatre. A few of the shows he remembers
fondly are West Side Story, Pippin, Oklahoma,
Mame, Godspell.. to name a few. After a long
hiatus he returned to the stage in 2009 at the
Rochester Civic Theatre playing the roles of
Pops, Mr. Goldstone, and Cigar in their production of Gypsy. Moving to Minnesota in December of 2008 from Atlanta was quite a culture shock to say the least but he's loving the life of a midwesterner now. Tom is the trainer at Conway Arabians in Chatfield where he trains and shows Arabian horses throughout the U.S. and Canada.
