The Cottage

KATY WHITE is a native Coloradan writer-performer, and is thrilled to work with Open Stage for the first time. She graduated with her MFA in Classical Acting in 2021 from the Shakespeare Theater Company’s Academy for Classical Acting in Washington, D.C. Her most recent roles include: It’s a Wonderful Life (Mary), Julius Caesar (Mark Antony), The Cherry Orchard (Yasha), The Importance of Being Earnest (Gwendolyn Christie), Crimes of the Heart (Babe Magrath). She would like to thank her friends, family, and cats for their support and love.

JACOB OFFEN has played many roles at OpenStage Theatre & Company – actor, staff member, board member, and now director and Producing Artistic Director. Misery marks his directorial debut at OpenStage. Jacob taught Acting at the University of Houston during his tenure as an MFA candidate, and recently at the University of Northern Colorado. He designed a comprehensive curriculum rooted in Stanislavsky, Hagen, Meisner, Roy Heart and Cecily Berry, and coached actors in scene work/audition preparation. Further, Jacob has created acting, voice, and Shakespearean text workshops at the Texas Shakespeare Festival, Houston Shakespeare Festival, and for acting students of all ages. While he served as the Company Development Administrator (2011 – 2015), he produced and directed entertainment for OST&C’s spring fundraisers (Casino Royal: The Sting, Viva Las Vegas, Oceans 11, le Cirque Rouge!). He is thrilled to put his years of experience as a performer and teaching artist to work for Misery and for many future productions to come!

MOLLY MCGUIRE first performed with OpenStage Theatre in 2004 in The Women. She began performing with the Company again in 2014, when she appeared as Nerine in Scapin. Since then, she has appeared with OpenStage as Beatrice in The Servant of Two Masters, Millicent/Laurie in Stage Kiss, Danielle in Ultimate Beauty Bible, Suzanne in Don’t Dress for Dinner, in the Ensemble of Christmas Chaos and Dromio of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors, Conrade in Much Ado About Nothing, Angela in Natural Shocks, and Fanny Dashwood/Lucy Steele/Lady Middleton/Gossip in Sense and Sensibility. She is excited to be working with the amazing cast of Cyrano and would like to thank the entire cast, staff and crew for their unwavering support. Also, Molly would like to take this opportunity to give her heartfelt thanks to her OpenStage family. Their support and love has helped her immensely this last year.

JAMES BURNS graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Theatre Arts in 1997. He worked at the Arvada Center during the 2000, 2001 and 2002 seasons as a scenic painter and technician before moving to New York City. He stage managed On Love and Lies and Square One at the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Box of Fools for the 2005 American Living Room Festival in NYC. Since moving back to Fort Collins in 2010, James has worked extensively with both OpenStage Theatre and Bas Bleu as an actor, fight choreographer and scenic artist. He appeared onstage most recently as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Phillip Lombard in And Then There Were None, Steve Heidebrecht in August: Osage County, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew,The Husband in Stage Kiss, Austin in True West and Sharky in The Seafarer, all with OpenStage Theatre. In addition, James recently co-directed OpenStage’s Sherwood and directed etcetera’s productions of Fool for Love and Christmas Chaos. He sends thanks to his wife, Jessica and love to his daughters, Scarlett and Sterling.

Actor to be announced at a later date.

DAN TSCHIRHART is a graduate of Colorado State University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. He received a 2017 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Award nomination for his role as Sam in OpenStage’s The Flick. Dan has appeared with OpenStage in Much Ado About Nothing, Avenue Q, And Then There Were None, Spamalot, Pride and Prejudice, Splitting Infinity, The One-Eyed Man Is King, The Ladies Man, Noises Off, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Seafarer (OpenStage OPUS Award/Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role), The Tempest, Spring Awakening, Unnecessary Farce, Romeo and Juliet, and Stage Kiss. Other memorable performances include Almost Maine, 1940’s Radio Christmas Carol, The Lion in Winter and Our Town with Bas Bleu Theatre and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scapin , and The Beckett Project at CSU. Dan is a member of the local improv group, Comedy Brewers, which performs regularly at Bas Bleu Theatre.