Judith’s father and all her forebears were born in Russia. She says, "The character of Lyubov is someone I remember from a past life."

Judith has three degrees of separation from Anton Chekhov—and about a hundred years: the playwright’s nephew Michael was a brilliant student of Stanislavski, who originated the Actor’s Method. (Michael Chekhov was one of Russia’s Most Honored Actors, and directed the Moscow Art Theatre, before he fled Europe.) In New York in the 1930s, he was embraced by The Group Theatre, to train its members. Those noted actors disseminated the Stanislavski Method in the U.S. One of them, Morris Carnovsky, was Judith’s beloved mentor in the Masters program at Brandeis University.

At LCC, Judith directs and teaches an animated style of Acting and Improv. Also, she fiercely fans the flame of fascination for Shakespeare, creating numerous opportunities each year to showcase the Bard’s works. Her student actors are sometimes pushed onto the professional stage: She has taken student performers to the Hult Center, Lord Leebrick Theatre, schools, parks, museums and galleries, employee functions, and the Planetarium.

“Infinite confidence and an inner-child that never subsides,” is how Mootz describes Anya. She is the seventeen-year old daughter of Lyobov Raneskya and discovers feelings for the returned student, Peter Trofimov.

Mootz was last seen in Spare Change (Spring Inspirations, 2006), as Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, and as the Audition Girl in The Good Doctor.

The adopted daughter of Lyubov, Varya is the self-conscience hypocrite of the family. She is always grieving; and, although they differ in so many ways, Caitlin feels very connected with Varya .

Caitlin would like to thank the cast and crew for being true professionals. Miss Tischer was recently seen in the VLT’s production of The Visit; in Lane’s S.P.A. presentation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing; and in The Good Doctor as “The Defenseless Creature.” She also thanks her loving mother for always supporting her through thick and thin.

Gaev is A man of the 1880s. Matt Keating is a man of the 1980s. Gaev lives in an imaginary world all his own; Matt collects vintage “Star Wars” action figures. Gaev considers himself quite the problem solver bubbling with solutions to complex situations; Matt is President/Director of Lane’s Student Productions Association. So, aside from the apparent aristocratic elitism and mild hallucinations, Leonid Andreevich Gaev and Matt, arguably, are a lot alike. (Plus, they both appreciate billiards, booze, and bookshelves.)

Last seen at the VLT in Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Friedrich Durrenmatt’s The Visit, Matt Keating has performed in a handful of quality productions since moving to Eugene in early 2005. A few of his most memorable characters at LCC include Dogberry in William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing; “Writer” in Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor; Tim Allgood in Michael Frayn’s Noises Off!; and Lysander in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Last season Matt was awarded Lane’s Faculty Recognition Award for Most Outstanding Theatre Student.

“When I was in the T-shirt business,” Chris says, “I remember people asking me, ‘Will this 100% cotton-T shrink when washed?’; I’d look ’em right in the eye and ask, ‘Do you want it to?’ If they answered ‘Yes,’ than I’d say, ‘Of course it will! It’s 100% cotton!’ If they didn’t want it to shrink, I’d say, ‘Absolutely not!’ and inform them my cotton Ts were pre-shrunk. So, like Lopakhin, it’s all about the sale! Sell and all will be well.”

With the production of Cold Storage, Chris Pinto helped LCC Theatre Students launch Student Productions in 2002. More recently, Chris directed last season’s triumphant S.P.A. return to the Main Stage with Noises Off!. As an actor, Chris was last seen in the VLT production of Into the Woods and at Lane Community College in The Crucible. This spring Chris will be directing Lanford Wilson’s HOT’L Baltimore in the intimate Blue Door Theatre.

Amidst the aftermath of great change, Peter Tofimov reminds us, “In order to find happiness, one must first let go and then move forward.”

A sophomore at Lane Community College, Dylan is a full-time Theatre Arts major. He is grateful for the theatrical opportunities at LCC and is pleased to have recently played James (In the Waiting Room); Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing); and Cherdyakov (The Good Doctor). Without the support of his family, friends, fellow cast members and the many kinds of love (sorry, Peter), Dylan believes it would be impossible to perform on this stage this evening. “Thank you.”

Pishchik’s overly opportunistic attitude is not far off from Parsa’s. “There is never a real reason to be down in the times,” says Parsa. He points out that Pishchiks devotion to his family is also a familiar tint. But, Parsa may eventually become a little annoyed with how enthusiastic and energetic Pishchik can get due to Parsa’s very obvious laziness.

Parsa Naderi’s love for theater springs from when he was a young boy in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. Living in Eugene the last four years, he feels nothing but gratitude for the directors who have given him so many opportunities. He would like to thank his friends and family for their constant support and to Patrick for continuing to send him the right direction.

The countess of mystery and magic, Charlotta entertains Anya and her family with magic and parlor tricks.

Michelle Nordella serves Student Productions as Director of Finance/Treasurer. A Multimedia/Theatre Arts student at Lane Community College, Michelle was most recently seen in Picasso at the Lapin Agile and The Visit at the Very Little Theatre. Her Lane Theatre roles include Poppy in Noises Off! and The Mistress in The Good Doctor.

The man portraying “Mr. Misfortune” asks, “What can be said about Yepikhodov that hasn’t already been said about me?” Kory feels very connected with Yepikhodov, and hopes his “portrayal of him does justice.”

Kory was last seen in the VLT production of The Visit and at Lane in William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and The Good Doctor, respectively. He plans on one day attending Cal Arts and currently serves Student Productions as House Manager.

Both character and actor know the feeling of blindly loving a man—idolizing him and making him out to be a knight in shining armor, only to be bitterly disappointed in the end. Dunyasha is a teenager seeking love and attention, but unfortunately going about it in the wrong fashion. Elena remarks, “I was once this teenager.”

Elena’s most recent project was Costume Designer for The Cherry Orchard (in which she thanks all who graciously helped her in this endeavor). Her most recent acting experiences were at St. Ursula’s Theatre in Germany where she played the title role in Schiller’s Mary Stuart. While performing at St. Ursula’s, Elena also appeared in The Good Women of Sezuan, The House of Bernada Alba, Romulus the Great and Marat/Sade.

Yasha is Lyubov’s “personal assistant,” (though he is in love with no one so much as himself). He enjoys Lyubov’s desire for him and has no shame using anyone to get what he wants. Similarities between Dean and Yasha? “Both,” Dean says, “see that there is always more in life to be had. However, I would never sell myself for just money. No way. Well . . . maybe for five rubles. Yeah. Five rubles sounds about right.”

The Cherry Orchard is Dean Van’s first appearance on LCC’s Main Stage. He was last seen spring 2006 (as Claudio) in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and in Spring Inspirations (as Lucifer) in A Song For Satan.

Firs has been a servant for as long as the household can remember. “He is crotchety,” Tyler says of Firs, “old, and thinks everything was better the way it was.” Playing Firs has been a joy because he is contemptuous for all but two people in the estate.

Tyler Walls lives a life of theatre; he started in high school and has not stopped since. The Cherry Orchard launches Tyler’s third year with S.P.A. and his fourth role as an old man!

Olga is fiercely devoted to Firs, as Anne is to her own husband.

Anne Kern is primarily a writer and director. Several of her one-act plays have been performed at Lane’s Blue Door Theatre and at the Lord Leebrick Theatre in Eugene. She has completed three full-length plays and is currently working on a fourth. Anne was last seen signing in S.P.A.’s production of The Good Doctor (2005) at Lane Community College. Her last appearance on the Main Stage was in The Crucible (2002).