Micah Spiece (Mark Cohen) is thrilled to make his debut with Art 4 in this production! He recently appeared with the South Bend Civic Theatre as Calliope in Xanadu and Clopin in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Other favorite performances include Pirates of Penzance (Frederic), Once Upon a Mattress (The Jester), The Glass Menagerie (Tom), The Stonewater Rapture (Whitney), Antigone (Haimon), and tick, tick...Boom! (Jon), for which he was named the Best Actor at the WV Theatre Conference and part of the All-Conference Cast at the Southeastern Theatre Conference. He earned his M.A. in English literature and currently works for the Indiana University School of Social Work. Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly.

Michael Litteral (Roger Davis) is very proud and excited to be in his first Art 4 production! He has been acting in the greater South Bend area for the past 8 years, including roles such as Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods (Musical Mission Tour) and Riff in West Side Story (Main Stage, Inc.). Most recently, Michael has been heavily involved with acting classes at The Second City in Chicago. He would like to send love & appreciation to all his friends, family, fellow cast members, and all who has supported him along the way! Psalm 23:4

Mimi Bell (Mimi Marquez) Since the beginning of her theatre career in 2017, Mimi Bell has performed in numerous productions with South Bend Civic Theatre and Elkhart Civic Theatre, as well as shows with Art 4 (Next to Normal as Diana Goodman and The Spitfire Grill as Shelby Thorpe). Mimi is absolutely thrilled to be working with Art 4 again and she hopes to make the audience, directors, and her castmates proud! Her favorite things to do are eating snacks and asking questions. She would like to thank her moms, her best friends, and her pets, Sofie, Katie, Max, Londyn, and Stewart, for their never-ending love and support.

Pierre Cooks (Tom Collins) is an artist out of the Michiana area. His artistry began as a quiet kid who sang in church. His faith and commitment to his crafts opened many doors for him in the arts world. Pierre has worked with Art 4 as a ShowTunes Sunday artist and was last seen in their online musical production of Ragtime. He’s also the founder of a community project known as The Black Voice. It’s a project dedicated to making space for Black experiences and stories. He’s excited to share what makes his heart beat with the world!

Ridge Nurse (Angel Dumott Schunard) Last seen as Graffiti Pete in the Lake Michigan College's making of In the Heights. Ridge is thrilled to be fulfilling a dream role for the stage performance as Angel Dumott Schunard in Art 4's production of RENT. He's grateful and thanks  the love and support of close ones and to those who made this production of RENT a special and memorable one. 

Brielle Hall (Joanne Jefferson) is a junior at Indiana University South Bend. She is currently majoring in sociology and plans to pursue women and children’s counseling as a career. Brielle has participated in musicals at South Bend Civic theater and Clay High School. You may have seen her in Sister Act, Caroline or Change, We Will Rock You, and RENT. She would like to thank the directors of Art 4 for such an amazing opportunity. She would also like to thank all of her family but especially her parents who always go above and beyond for her!! Lastly, she would like to dedicate this one to her Nana who supported her always! “I love you, Nana!”

Michelle Miller (Maureen Johnson) is incredibly thrilled to be returning to Art 4 for this production of RENT! You may have seen her in their production of The Spitfire Grill (Percy), Songs for a New World (Woman 1) or 35MM: A Musical Exhibition. She has also performed in Into the Woods (The Witch), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky), Cinderella (Madame), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), and The Miracle Worker (Kate Keller) with various local theatres. Michelle is a graduate of Bethel University with a B.A. in Vocal Performance. She currently works as the Employee Development Associate at First State Bank in Middlebury. She is so grateful to be able to work on live theatre again and wants to thank her family and friends for their continued support!

Brandon Harper (Benjamin Coffin III) began dancing at an early age. His early inspirations were Michael Jackson, Usher, and Chris Brown. In high school, he would go on to explore a love for singing as well. He began starring in musical productions such as Hairspray (Seaweed), and The Wiz (Scarecrow). Brandon would eventually begin dancing with a team or crew known as DiverseKrew. After many years spent traveling and networking, Brandon would begin learning how to create and teach choreography. He later began teaching for Sheri Flint at Flints Dance Studio, where he is still teaching today.

Laurel Blankenship (Ensemble) is thrilled to be in her first show with Art 4! Some of her favorite roles have been Mrs. Wormwood/Dance Captain in Matilda, Featured Dance Ensemble/Dance Captain in Elf the Musical, Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors, Lucy the Slut in Avenue Q, and Fiona in Shrek the Musical. In her free time you can find her serving at Christo’s in LaPorte, or being Elsa for birthday parties! She would like to thank Mark and Aaron for allowing her to be a part of such a wonderful show, and her mother for supporting her career in theatre throughout the years. 

Lisa Blodgett (Ensemble) is a home town actor. She began acting at the age of six and started modeling at twenty-two. She recently started getting into movies and enjoys working on set. She is beyond excited to be working with Art 4 once again and getting to be a part of such a wonderful and talented cast! Big thank you to my Dad and my family for always encouraging me to do what I love and always get back up! 

Danielle Haley (Ensemble) Born with the heart of an artist, Danielle began her creative endeavors as a young child. She performed in the Firefly Festival for three years, in roles as Sophie the Hooverville bum in Annie, Marty in Grease, and Golde in Fiddler on the Roof. She received her B.A. in Music from Saint Mary’s College, where she sang in the Women’s Choir for two years, including a performance at Carnegie Hall. During her music studies, Danielle sang excerpts from Cosi Fan Tutte, Der Rosenkavalier, and the role of Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief and continues to sing both professionally and spontaneously, and finds endless inspiration in a song well sung.

Danielle is elated to be a part of Art 4’s production of RENT, the musical that helped her survive the tumult of teenagerdom. She is thankful for her children, Jacob William, Cecilia Rose, and Genevieve Colette, who carry the torch of performance art. And for her husband and best weirdo, who insisted she take the risk and audition and he’d figure out the rest. 

“I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they're stones that don't matter. As long as you're breathing, it's never too late to do some good.”

Lathanial Heisey (Ensemble) is beyond thrilled to be making his debut with Art 4 in such a heartfelt and timeless show. Lathanial is a graduate of Ball State University where he obtained a degree in Theatrical Management. He is a native to the Michiana area and currently resides in Cassopolis, MI with his husband and two dogs. His favorite roles over the years include Rudolpho in Matilda the Musical, Kenickie in Grease, Don in A Chorus Line, and Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He would like to give special thanks to the entire creative team for this opportunity to create and collaborate and to his husband and chosen family for their unending love and support. Always remember, there is No Day But Today! 

Jacob Kramer (Ensemble) has been on a hiatus from theatre since the births of his two sons James and Andrew, and therefore, is excited to be back and joining Art 4 for RENT! He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) where he also minored in Dance. He held an internship for Musical Theatre in Atlanta, GA with the Alliance Regional Theatre Company working in their education program. His most recent recognitions are Jake in A Grand Night For Singing and Leaf Coneybear in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with the IUSB theatre department, as well as various ensemble roles with the South Bend and Elkhart Civic Theaters. He also had the pleasure of being in the chorus for Indiana University of Bloomington’s production of the opera La Traviata. He is very grateful for the opportunity to be performing again and would like to give a special thanks to his beautiful wife Alexandria for being incredibly supportive through this process. Jacob would like to dedicate this performance to his late friend, Nich Sikorski. “RIP my good friend!”

Linnea Martinez (Ensemble) is excited to finally be back on stage again after pandemic shutdowns. Before performing in RENT, she played Jania in Exit Strategy at the Ghostlight Theatre, Cinderella in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and various ensemble parts in Phantom of the Opera, The Little Mermaid, Oklahoma, and more. RENT is a musical that’s had a major influence on her life, and she’s grateful to get a chance to breathe life into songs and characters she’s admired for years.