JEANETTE LYONS (Mildred Dillard) Jeanette trained in the classics as a child actress. Did graduate work in drama at Catholic University in Washington D. C. where she was awarded an MFA degree. Ms. Lyons has performed in all areas of stage, film and television during some forty years of active participation in acting, directing, teaching, researching and “carrying a spear”. Her acting versatility has been showcased in such roles as Gertrude in Hamlet, Ruth in Wonderful Town, Eliza in Look Homeward Angel, Eleanor in The Lion in Winter and four Mothers Gibbs in Our Town. Following graduate school, Ms. Lyons taught at Webster Groves College in St. Louis. She wrote and participated in several productions for Educational TV in St. Paul. She is often asked to judge student competitions. Since moving to the desert, Ms. Lyons has received Desert Theatre League nominations for her work in The Rimers of Eldritch at College of the Desert., Hatfull of Snow at the Desert Rose Theatre and Shadowbox at the Groves Theatre. She received the Desert Theatre League Best Supporting Actress Award in a Musical for her role in My Fair Lady at the Palm Canyon Theatre and Best Actress in a Comedy for The Cemetery Club at The Joslyn Players.
DAN GRAFF (Sonny Dillard)  Dan has performed in a variety of venues throughout the valley.  His favorite performances include: All in the Timing (Don/Leon Trotsky/Al), Big River (Pap Finn), Big Show (Sketch Comedy Performer), Fiddler on the Roof (Mordcha), Jesus Christ Superstar (Apostle/High Priest), Joseph (Baker/Ensemble), Jungle Book (Baloo), Odd Couple-female version (Jesus), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Freddy), Scrooge (Bisset), See How They Run (Lionel Toop), Sordid Lives (GW Nethercott), Victor/Victoria (Squash), West Side Story (Krupke/Schrank), Wizard of Oz (Lion/Zeke), and You Can’t Take It With You (Paul).

MICHAEL DORRINGTON (Wendell Hanley) This is Michael’s first foray into the desert stages or any stage for that matter since the early 1970’s. At that time, he lived in New York City and tried to earn his living as an actor. He ultimately decided upon other career moves which ultimately brought him to the Coachella Valley. And now, here he is retuning to his love of years gone by—the theater. He presently works as a writer.

RHODA LEWIS (Ada McCoy)  She says in her next life she wants to be five feet eight inches tall and an actress. As she plans ahead, she does Yoga to stretch herself physically, and now, for her first time on the stage, learns and prepares herself for the role of Ada. She thanks her wonderful husband for his encouragement and her talented friend Shirley Ross Schapiro for sharing her time and acting expertise.

VICKI MONTGOMERY (Baby Sis) “My life-long love of theatre was inspired by my father at an early age. We went to see as many productions as we could, including Hair at the Aquarius Theatre when I was 12—in spite of my mother’s protests that it was filth! I have been on the boards since high school. My favorite roles have been in Steel Magnolias, Night Mother, If We Are Women and Agnes of God. Over the years I have been the recipient of three Desert Theater League Awards for acting and directing. I also enjoy working side-by-side with Joy Groves, making the Groves Cabin Theatre run smoothly (occasionally).”

RICHARD DE HAVEN (Clytee de Khoont) Richard De Haven is a rare native of Los Angeles who actually left LA and ended up becoming an actor.  For those who are really interested, Richard is 5’5, 150 lbs, Caucasian/Latino (Salvadoran to be exact) and really handsome underneath all that make up.  He turns 35 on November 6 - so don’t forget to wish him a Happy Birthday!  Starting out as a volunteer with the award-winning, local, non-profit young people’s theater group, Children’s Playtime Productions, Richard is now its current president.  In the past eight years, Richard has helped to produce 11 major children’s productions, primarily at the McCallum Theater, which have been seen by over 45,000 thousand children.  In addition to acting in many of CPP’s major productions, Richard also performs in CPP’s touring shows that perform to entire school audiences throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond.  Presently, Richard is traveling to local senior care facilities, performing one of CPP’s touring shows alongside some of CPP’s youth actors to entertain the oldest “kids” in our valley.  In other media, Richard made his film debut in the still-to-be-released Indy film Jesus the Driver - in which he plays a happy-go-lucky priest. He has also done both commercial and extra work locally.  Offstage, Richard is the director of Planned Parenthood of Riverside County’s Bilingual Theater Troupe, Realidades, through which positive social messages are conveyed to youth and adults in at-risk communities throughout the valley.  In his spare time, he helps to design and implement senior assisted living activities at Windsor Court Assisted Living in Palm Springs (simply because he’s a kid at heart who loves to play) and works to promote Appreciation From The Heart with his business and CPP partner Chuck.  His varied humanitarian work with children earned him a 2005 Jefferson Award.  When offered the role of Clytee De Koont, Richard almost said no because of his work with children; but, after a while he thought to himself: "If Clytee can find strength in being herself, why not me too?"  This experience in Tijuana Lady has, though, led him to adopt a new personal quote: “Wearing heels is a drag!”  Richard loves his family very much and thanks them for all their help.

STORMY ROBERTS (Sybil Dillard) Stormy is thrilled to be making her desert debut with the Metropolitan Community Theatre!  She's a North Carolina girl who recently moved to the Coachella valley to be near her USMC fiancé who promised her the "dry" heat was better than the humidity back home. "Yeah, right!" she says.  Some of her favorite roles have included Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and as the title role in Sylvia.  Stormy spends her days working with a great group of people at the Palm Springs Film Festival.

VICKI KNIGHT (Pearl)  “Actually I am really a singer who acts. But then isn’t singing just telling a story? I have been the first featured vocalist in the Palm Springs Follies, several productions at the Palm Canyon Theatre and the musical Oy Vay. I have received 2 awards from the Desert Theatre League and have been nominated four times. Born to perform!”

RON W. McFERRIN  (J. W. Dillard) is originally  from Vallejo, California and first performed on stage at his high school in Henderson, Nevada. He has been associated with a number of theatrical groups and has appeared in many children theater productions. Some of his credits are Our Town, Oklahoma, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Carnival, Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz. Here in Palm Springs, he is currently a member of the Caballero singing group.

RODNEY SHAW (Stage Manager and featured in the preview film) He first became involved with the Metropolitan Community Theatre in its initial season last year as the Concession Manager. During the latter part of the season he served in the role of Technical Advisor for the play Butterflies Are Free. He taught the lead actor how “to be blind”. He also donated to the production certain props that a blind person would need such as Braille Book, a Braille watch, white cane, Braille tape recorder and a deck of Braille playing cards. Rodney loves the theatre and we all love Rodney for all his help and enthusiasm.