The Resident Acting Company is an essential component of the artistry and uniqueness of Milwaukee Repertory Theater. The ensemble enhances the work of the company through its ability to develop complex and ambitious productions over time; plan seasons to utilize the unique strengths of an ensemble of actors; and undertake large cast productions on a regular basis and consistently achieve inspired performances in both large and small roles.

Jonathan Gillard Daly JONATHAN GILLARD DALY returns to the Rep for his twelfth season as a member of the resident company. He is also a founding member of the Great River Shakespeare Festival, where he just completed his sixth season. Recent roles at GRSF include Prospero in THE TEMPEST, Holofernes in LOVES LABOURS LOST and Shylock in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. Last year, in addition to his appearances as Mister Bennett in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and the Station Master in THE CHERRY ORCHARD, Jon also worked at Repertory Theatre of Saint Louis, Indiana Repertory Theatre and Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, who produced his musical play THE DALY NEWS. Some of his favorite roles at the Rep over the years include Lingk in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, Arkady in A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY, Manus in TRANSLATIONS, Jimmy in THE WEIR and Scrooge in A CHRISTMAS CAROL. This winter Jon will be travelling to the Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee to play Scrooge in Joe Hanreddy and Edward Morgan's adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, to be directed by Mr. Morgan. Love, as always, to Gale, Sam and Emily.

Lee E. Ernst Lee is in his 16th season as a member of The Rep’s Resident Acting Company. He last appeared in the Stackner Cabaret production of GREATER TUNA, as Grant Matthews in STATE OF THE UNION, Clov in ENDGAME, John Williamson in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, Tom in THE NORMAN CONQUESTS and Cyrano in CYRANO DE BERGERAC. In previous seasons he has played many roles, including: Frank Lloyd Wright in WORK SONG; Truffaldino in SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS; Levin in ANNA KARENINA; Renfield in DRACULA; George in OF MICE AND MEN; Richard in RICHARD III; Charlie Baker in THE FOREIGNER; John Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE; Norman in THE NORMAN CONQUESTS; Sherlock Holmes in SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FINAL ADVENTURE; The Fool in KING LEAR; and Ebenezer Scrooge in A CHRISTMAS CAROL. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware’s Professional Theater Training Program. Lee is the recipient of the 2006 Minerva Laureate Award, presented by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. Following TROUBLE IN MIND he will play Agamemnon in the World Premier of WAR MUSIC, adapted and directed by Lillian Groag, at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater. Recently selected as an inaugural recipient of the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship by Ten Chimneys Foundation, this summer Lee will participate in an extensive Master Class led by actress Lynn Redgrave.

Laura Gordon Laura Gordon has been a member of Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Resident Acting Company since 1993, performing in over 60 productions including: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, ENCHANTED APRIL, DOUBT, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, MARY STUART, COPENHAGEN, TWELFTH NIGHT, A DOLL’S HOUSE, ESCAPE FROM HAPPINESS, THE SEAGULL, THE MEMORY OF WATER and MOLLY SWEENEY. Directing projects include WELL for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, SKIN TIGHT, FULL GALLOP and MEMORY HOUSE for Renaissance Theaterworks, Edward Albee’s SEASCAPE, HALF LIFE and I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA here at The Rep. Laura received her MFA in Acting from the University of Iowa and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ten Chimneys Foundation. She is married to actor/director Jonathan Smoots.

Torrey Hanson Torrey most recently appeared as The Marquis of Forlipopoli in MIRANDOLINA in the Stiemke Theater, Bob Cratchit in A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Pabst Theater and Spike McManus in STATE OF THE UNION in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater. He has performed in over 60 productions in 16 seasons at The Rep. Favorite Rep roles include: A FLEA IN HER EAR (Victor Emmanuel Chandebise/Poche); BACH AT LEIPZIG (Johann Friedrich Fasch); YES. NO. (MAYBE SO . . .) (Lamberto Laudisi); THE CRUCIBLE (John Hale); A DOLL’S HOUSE (Nils Krogstad); the title role in INVENTING VAN GOGH; COPENHAGEN (Werner Heisenberg); ‘ART’ (Yvan); PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE (Einstein); GHOSTS (Oswald); NIXON’S NIXON (Kissinger); TWELFTH NIGHT (Sir Andrew); HYSTERIA (SalvadorDali) and THE BALTIMORE WALTZ (The Third Man). Torrey has also worked at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre, Empty Space Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, Oregon Shakespeare Festival (five seasons), Utah Shakespearean Festival, Madison Repertory Theatre, Subaru Theater Company in Tokyo and has appeared on Cheers and Wings on NBC. He is a graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program currently located at the University of Delaware.

Gerard Neugent This is Gerard’s sixth season with Milwaukee Rep and his second season as a member of the Resident Acting Company. Most recently he was seen as Mr. Bingley in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, Fabrizio in MIRANDOLINA, in multiple roles in GREATER TUNA, as Perkins/Hopkins/Stevens in STATE OF THE UNION, Rogers/Young Pedgift in the world premiere of ARMADALE, Antony Wilding in ENCHANTED APRIL, Norman in THE NORMAN CONQUESTS and Montfleury in CYRANO DE BERGERAC. In previous seasons at The Rep he was seen “playeen” Rick Steadman in Larry Shue’s THE NERD; Edgar (KING LEAR); Ellard (THE FOREIGNER); Young Scrooge (A CHRISTMAS CAROL); Steindorf (BACH AT LEIPZIG) and the verbally-challenged Camille (A FLEA IN HER EAR). Gerard is a proud Marquette grad who lives in Milwaukee with his wife, Kate, and their two sons.

James Pickering The Government Inspector marks the commencement of Jim's thirty-sixth season as an actor in the Rep's Resident Company. Most recently he appeared as Pishchik in THE CHERRY ORCHARD, Bill O'Wray in TROUBLE IN MIND, and Ebenezer Scrooge in the Rep's annual revival of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, a role he will reprise this coming Yuletide for the dozenth time. Recent memorable portrayals at the Rep include Dave Moss in GLENGARRY GLAN ROSS, Hugh Mor O'Donnell in TRANSLATIONS, Niels Bohr in COPENHAGEN and Danforth in THE CRUCIBLE. He and his wife, actress Rose Pickering, were named Milwaukee's Outstanding Artists in 2000, the same year they were given the Alumni Achivement Award by the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State University. Last fall Milwaukee Magazine named Jim and Rose Pickering to the BEST OF 2008 HALL OF FAME. Jim is a former trustee of the Ten Chimneys Foundation, and an active voice talent. He has narrated numerous documentary, notably the Emmy Award winning The Making of Milwaukee. His fledgling movie career features roles in the recently completed Baraboo and No God, No Master, set for release next spring. He heartily thanks the loyal Rep audience for its generous response to his appeal for the restoration of the Rep-in-Depth program.

Rose Pickering This is Rose’s 36th consecutive season as a member of The Rep’s Resident Acting Company. Some of her favorite performances have been Kate Keller in ALL MY SONS, Mag in THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, Amanda in THE GLASS MENAGERIE, Lady Bracknell in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Elizabeth Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE, Arkadina in THE SEAGULL, Masha in THE THREE SISTERS, Kate in DANCING AT LUGHNASA, and title roles in JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, THE MATCHMAKER, MISS LULU BETT and MOTHER COURAGE. Rose and her husband Jim are the recipients of the Milwaukee Art Board’s Outstanding Artist Award and Penn State’s Alumni Achievement Award. Rose and Jim are honored in Milwaukee Magazine's "Best Of Milwaukee 2008 Hall of Fame" as the "best known acting couple in the city's history." She and her champion Norwich Terrier Dolly are a pet/handler team with Pets Helping People.

Peter Silbert Earlier this season Peter appeared as Judge Alexander in STATE OF THE UNION and as the Ghost of Christmas Past and other Londoners in A CHRISTMAS CAROL. In the 35 years since he joined Actors’ Equity Association, Peter has worked at theaters in Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Ashland, Berkeley, San Francisco, La Jolla, Tucson, Phoenix, Kansas City, Chicago, Louisville, Cedar City, Boston, Houston, Richmond, New

Deborah Staples Deborah is honored to be with The Rep for her 13th consecutive season. She has performed wonderful roles with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, New American Theater, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Iowa Shakespeare Festival, Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival, Meadow Brook Theatre and American Players Theatre. At the Rep, Deborah has appeared in over 40 shows. Some favorite roles include: everyone in THE BLONDE, THE BRUNETTE AND THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD; Lydia Gwilt (ARMADALE); Billie Dawn (BORN YESTERDAY); Natalya (A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY); Nora (A DOLL’S HOUSE); Nancy (FROZEN); Catherine (PROOF); Louise (THE UNDERPANTS); Catherine (THE MEMORY OF WATER) and the title roles in MARY STUART and ANNA KARENINA. She is a proud resident of the City of Milwaukee, in the Washington Heights neighborhood, where she lives with her amazing husband and two daughters.

Brian Vaughn Brian Vaughn has appeared in over 35 productions since joining The Rep’s Resident Acting Company in 1997. He was most recently seen as Mr. Collins in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and the Knight of Ripafratta in MIRANDOLINA. Favorite Rep roles include: Father Flynn in DOUBT; Edward in THE VOYSEY INHERITANCE; Lenck in BACH AT LEIPZIG; Rakitin in A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY; Hal in PROOF; Ray Dooley in BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE; Martin in A SKULL IN CONNEMARA; Father Welsh in THE LONESOME WEST; Mortimer in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, Mozart in AMADEUS; Jim in THE GLASS MENAGERIE and Conn in THE SHAUGHRAUN. He has spent many seasons with the Utah Shakespearean Festival playing a slew of roles including Hamlet, Benedick, Prince Hal, Hotspur, King Arthur, The Pirate King, Cyrano de Bergerac and will return this summer to play the title role in HENRY V. Other regional credits include Arizona Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Kennedy Center, PCPA Theatrefest, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, The Skylight and Theatre at the Center (IN).