On Golden Pond Cast

Dee Norman (Ethel Thayer) has been acting for 40 years. Her roles include: Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Grandma in Lost In Yonkers, Serafina in The Rose Tattoo, Jane Hudson in Whatever Happened to BB Jane?, Mother Superior in Agnes of God, Regina in The Little Foxes, Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, Mother in Night Mother, Aunt Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace, and Miss McKay in The Prime of Miss Jean Brody. All of Dee’s shows are dedicated to Roger and Gina.

Jim Leonard (Norman Thayer/Director) is a long-time veteran of Chicago area theater as both actor and director and has received seven Sam Awards. Theatres: Oak Park Theatre Guild, Village Players, Irish Theatre guild, Stage Right Dinner Playhouse, North Shore Theatre among others. Notable performances: A Streetcar Named Desire, Liliom, The Big Knife, The Fantasticks, Amadeus. Thanks to Sharon and Pootie for their continuous support.

Jillann Gabrielle (Chelsea Thayer/Producer/Artistic Director) is very happy to be producing and starring again in On Golden Pond with this illustrious ensemble! Previous PP shows include: Into the Woods, Jerry’s Girls, Charlie Brown!, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, The Secret Garden, Alice in Wonderland, Side by Side by Sondheim, and Two by Two. Recently in L.A. Jill won an acting award, created a sitcom set in a Chicago cabaret, and created a screenplay on Bach that an Academy Award winning director, Giuseppe Tornatore, is interested in.

Robert Dean (Charlie Martin) is appearing for the first time with Paradise Productions. Favorite recent credits include The Copperhead (City Lit Theater), Seven Doors (Premiere Theatre & Performance), Amadeus and You Never Can Tell (Village Players Theatre), On Golden Pond (Lincoln Square Theatre), Spoon River Anthology (Saint Sebastian Players), and Little Women (Bog Theatre).

David Schaplowsky (Bill Ray) is very excited to be part of Paradise Productions “On Golden Pond.” David got his BA from Fordham at Lincoln Center (NYC), BFA from CCM (Cincinnati). Previous credits: Marc in Art, Ray in Blackbird, Orsini-Rosenberg in Amadeus, among others. Thanks to everyone for their patience and support. This was a great cast to work with !!

Isaac Schaider (Billy Ray) is thrilled to be making his 1rst appearance as Billy Ray in On Golden Pond. Isaac is a 6th grader at Roosevelt Middle School where he starred as Sir Harry in Once Upon A Mattress. This summer, he played Oliver in Oliver! He has also performed at Fitzgerald’s with the Becca Kauffman Orchestra. He is a violist, pianist, competitive swimmer, & plays soccer.

James Bascunan Simone (Billy Ray Cover) is very excited to be a part of On Golden Pond. Other stage credits: Motel, the tailor, in Concordia College’s Young Adult Theater production of Fiddler on the Roof and the Grinch in their production of Seussical. He sings in the choir at Roosevelt Jr. High where he is a 7th grader and has sung in the ensemble in each spring musical. He plays the harmonica, has a 1st degree black belt, and plays baseball, soccer and volleyball.