Rumors Cast List
Mark C. Petrich (Ernie Cusack) has appeared in numerous local productions: MOXIE Theatre’s Mother of the Maid, Enron, Coming Attractions, A Man, his Wife and his Hat, Ten Cent Night, Devil Dog Six, Bleeding Kansas, Drink Me, and Expecting Isabel: North Coast Rep’s Charlie’s Aunt, The Fantastiks, A Thousand Clowns, Breaking Legs, and The Dresser; Duncan and the Porter in MacBeth (Intrepid Shakespeare Company); Karl Jaspers in Hannah and Martin (Laterthanever Productions); Hamlet and Richard III (Sledgehammer Theatre); the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz (Starlight Musical Theatre); and Tartuffe (Coronado Playhouse). Mark is featured in the cult films, Marilyn, Alive and Behind Bars, Night Train to Terror, and Hello Jack. He is a proud graduate of the Shanghai Drama Institute.
Diane Neil (Cassie Cooper) grew up immersed in theater, performing in school productions before returning to the stage as an adult in The Lion in Winter, which rekindled her passion for live performance. She has since appeared in more than 25 productions, including Harvey, Auntie Mame, An Inspector Calls, and Marvin’s Room.
In addition to acting, Diane has directed numerous productions and designed sets for many shows, including a celebrated staging of The Wizard of Oz. She is also a dedicated drama teacher at Warren-Walker School, where she inspires students to discover confidence and a love of the stage.
Cory Hammond (Officer Welsh) is a local San Diego actor, improviser, playwright, director and arts educator. She got her start in high school at San Diego School of Creative & Performing Arts. She then went on to the Mesa College Theatre Company, and received a BA in Theatre from SDSU. She spent a lovely summer at The British American Drama Academy in Oxford England studying Shakespeare and clowning as well as training at the Groundlings School in Hollywood. Cory was a member of several improv troupes including ROAR Theatre, Lead Candy and was a house player at Old Town Improv Co. Cory has been in various productions around San Diego with Circle Circle dot dot, where she played Cat Scratcher in Derbywise and was an ensemble member in Bearded. She has also worked with TuYo & Bocon Theatre companies in their productions of Self Conchas, and BRAT. She was part of the La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW festival in 2019, performing in Pandora and the Jar of Hope. Most recently Cory appeared in Riot Theatre’s production of Death and Murder and Poison and Scene for the San Diego Fringe Festival. Cory has also appeared in many short films with Jabronie Pictures, Almost Good Films and Snarky Films. She made her screen writing debut with Never Famous, a short she adapted and starred in, which earned her a best actress nomination at the San Diego Film Awards. Most recently she was in an Emmy nominated Anchorman Parody directed by Johnathan Hammond. She has always loved Neil Simon and Rumors especially. She is so excited to finally get to be a part of this ridiculous show.
Barron Henzel (Lenny Ganz) Acting credits include: Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, They’re Playing Our Song, Mamma Mia!, A Man of No Importance (Aubrey) A Little Night Music, Frog and Toad (Aubrey), Pageant. Locally, he produced A Chorus Line, Sugar, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (Aubrey), TBLWIT (Aubrey), The Drowsy Chaperone (Aubrey), Cinderella (Aubrey) and The IT Girl all at Coronado Playhouse. Many thanks to Tom and to this wonderful cast and crew.
Erin Grayce (Claire Ganz) This is Erin's 1st production with Vanguard Theatre. Erin is thrilled to be acting alongside her sister, Jennie, again. Their last production together was Godspell at Coronado Playhouse 36 years ago. Erin has been involved in community and professional theatre for most of her life. Some favorites include, The Witch in “Into the Woods”, Belinda/Flavia in “Noises Off”, Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls", Berthe in “Boeing, Boeing”, Connie in “Exit Laughing”, and Fraulein Schneider in "Cabaret". Erin would like to thank the wonderful Barron Henzel and Tom Fitzpatrick for all the shenanigans, onstage and off! Enjoy the show!
Jennie Gray Connard (Chris Gorman) has done a lot of things at a lot of theaters here in San Diego. Her biggest theatrical accomplishment was directing her first show, Hansel and Gretel at age 7. Thanks to Bill for the Glory Days at the OB Playhouse (2016-2021). Jennie is ecstatic to be on stage with best friends Barron Henzel, Tom Fitzpatrick and her sister, Erin Grayce! Also, thanks to Mom, Dianne Gray who fostered her love of theatre.
Thomas Fitzpatrick (Ken Gorman) made his Vanguard and Shakespearean debut last year in Macbeth. Tom is an award-winning actor and director. Recent acting credits include The Fantasticks (Point Loma Playhouse); Mamma Mia, A Man of No Importance, The Addams Family and Fly By Night (Coronado Playhouse). He also performed at Diversionary, Lyceum, AVO Playhouse, Broadway Theatre, SD Lyric Opera, and others. He performed and directed at Coronado Playhouse, Pickwick Players, OnStage and Lamplighters. Thanks to the cast & crew and XO to Barron, family, friends and stage wife Jennie!
Josh Freeman (Officer Pudney) is pleased to be working with Vanguard Theatre again where he was last seen playing Alonso in The Tempest. He has also appeared in productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream(Fruitless Moon), Macbeth (Vanguard), The Crucible (Pickwick Players), Charley’s Aunt, Tartuffe, Love Letters, and The Plaza Suite (Grossmont Stagehouse Theatre). Josh has also appeared in several staged readings and mock trials produced by The San Diego Shakespeare Society, most recently as Richard III in Rex v. Plantagenet.
Brian McGoldrick (Glenn Cooper) is a resident of Ocean Beach and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Point Loma. He has dabbled in theater most of his life. Recently he was a member of the cast in The Man Who Came To Dinner and a reading of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Both productions directed by Tom Haine! He has also had roles in West Side Story, How to Succeed in Business and 1776. On a personal note, Brian is ordained and preaches regularly at Westminster Presbyterian.
Dorthy Finneran (Cookie Cusack) Rumors is Dorthy’s second appearance on the Vanguard stage after playing Harriet in “The Man Who Came to Dinner”. She is delighted to portray Cookie opposite her real-life husband Mark C. Petrich. They appeared together as husband and wife in a Bay Area production of “The Tunnel of Love.” They first met 49 years ago at Chabot College where they studied theatre and first performed together in “The Devil’s Disciple.” She was in the cult films “Marilyn Alive and Behind Bars” and “Hello Jack.” Dorthy played Kate in “Never Too Late” opposite the late, great Jesse White (The Lonely Maytag Repair Man, Harvey). She worked backstage as the Wardrobe Head at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. She dedicates her performance as Cookie to her dear, sweet grandmother, Edna whose vintage earring she treasures.
Tom Haine (Director) is a founding member of the San Diego Shakespeare Society, has extensive acting and directing credits which include Tartuffe, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Hamlet, Macbeth, Hedda Gabler, Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest, Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar. He has received formal training in directing from the Berkeley Rep and from Cambridge University in the UK. He has also trained with the Old Globe’s Jonathan McMurtry, Dakin Matthews, and Brendon Fox and with the San Diego Rep’s Todd Salovey and Sam Woodhouse. He is a graduate of the British American Drama Academy Mid-Summer Oxford Program (BADA) in 2010 and practices immigration and criminal law in his spare time.