Meet the Cast
Richie Cook - Cast
Richie is a local actor, teacher, and director and is thrilled to be a part of the cast at The Savannah Theatre. Originally from Dudley, Georgia, Richie grew up with a passion for singing and acting. He received a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Tennessee and an MFA in Performing Arts from SCAD. Richie has performed for Dollywood, The Bijou Theatre, NYC Fringe, The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Savannah Theatre, and Holland America Cruise Line. His favorite projects, though, involve community projects where neighbors get to interpret work and build an ensemble together. Richie is the Chair of Fine Arts at St. Andrew’s School on Wilmington Island and is looking forward to a great year with his students. Thanks, Savannah Theatre, for existing. You are so valuable to our artistic community!
Matthew Meece - Cast
Matthew Meece is originally from Dallas, Texas and graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Psychology. He moved to Savannah in May of 2002, as one of the owners of the production company that renovated the theatre and continues to produce the shows. He has also been a cast member in over 3,500 performances on the Savannah Theatre stage. Matthew is happily married to his best friend Michelle and he is madly in love with their three children, Cameron, Sutton and Maryn. He feels blessed to work with such a talented and wonderful cast and he would like to thank his amazing parents for showing him the ropes of Show Biz.
Michelle Meece - Cast
Michelle is thrilled to be marking her 15th year of performances here at the Savannah Theatre. She is so thankful to be able to live and work amongst her wonderful friends and her remakable husband Matthew. They have three beautiful children; a son, Cameron and two daughters, Sutton and Maryn. In addition to being an original cast member of Lost in the 50’s, Jukebox Journey, I Love You/Now Change!, Broadway on Bull Street, Hooray for Hollywood, The Beat Goes On, and All You Need is Love, Michelle has also appeared on this stage as Cathy Hiatt in The Last 5 Years and Luisa in The Fantasticks. She holds a BA in Vocal Music Performance from the University of Wisconsin and is happy (albeit shocked) to be using that training to this day. Many thanks to her beautiful mother and to the Lord for His abundant blessings.
Huxsie Scott - Cast
A native of Savannah, Georgia, Huxsie Scott is regarded as one of the greatest jazz/blues artists ever to live and perform in the Savannah Coastal Area. Huxsie began her career as a jazz vocalist in 1973. She has performed with many of the area’s premier jazz ensembles and symphony orchestras and was a featured opener for such jazz greats as the late Lionel Hampton and McCoy Tyner. She was the original vocalist for the Savannah Jazz Orchestra and worked as the featured vocalist for jazz great and savannah resident, bassist Ben Tucker. In 1987 Huxsie came full circle and went back to her roots, singing Gospel and Inspirational music. She has recorded four full Gospel projects, an album of Johnny Mercer music and a self titled album of her favorite standards. Huxsie has been a featured vocalist at the Savannah Theatre since they opened in August of 2002. She is also a staff member in the music ministry at Overcoming By Faith Church. She is the proud mother of twin daughters and a son, the grandmother of eleven and great grandmother of one.
Bill Stelzer - Cast
Bill was born and raised in Lincoln, NE where he began singing at a very early age. He holds a B.S. Degree in Biological Systems Engineering from the University of Nebraska, but continued to follow his passion for the stage after college. As an original cast member of the Savannah Theatre, Bill has performed thousands of shows on the Savannah Theatre stage. He is happily married to Gretchen Kristine Stelzer and so proud to be the dad of their four talented and spirited children, Addison, Evan, Jess, & Annelise. He is thankful to The Savannah Theatre for the many opportunities to perform here in Savannah. God remains his rock and strength. He is blessed to call Savannah home and loves sharing his passion for this wonderful city.
Gretchen Kristine Stelzer - Cast
Gretchen is thrilled to be performing at The Savannah Theatre for her 15th consecutive year. She hails from Beatrice, Nebraska & holds a B.A. in Pre-Med from the University of Nebraska where she also studied music. Favorite roles include Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors, Lucy from Charlie Brown, Rona Lisa Peretti from 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Girl 2 from I Love you, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Gretchen enjoys sharing the stage with her wonderful & talented husband Bill and adores their four sweet children, Addison Kate, Evan Christian, James Emerson and Annelise. Gretchen is also one of Savannah’s premier voice teachers, coaching students of all ages how to sing & perform at the best of their ability. www.singpretty.com. She thanks Jesus Christ for being a loving & guiding presence in her life, & for giving her the best family ever!
Danielle Walker - Saxophone
Raised in Brunswick, Georgia, Danielle joined the cast of the Savannah Theatre September of 2004. Her music career began while in high school performing with the Jekyll Island Big Band. She went on to receive her B.A. in Music Performance at Brevard College, Brevard, North Carolina in 2001. While attending at Brevard, she was featured on Baritone Saxophone with the Summer Jazz Workshop Faculty Band presenting the music of the Miles Davis Nonet in 1998. Playing the songs Rocker, Israel, and Jeru, the band was also featured on NPR hosted by Branford Marsalis. Danielle studied abroad in Altmünster, Austria in 1999, studying German as well as participating in the local Musik Kapelle. In 2000, while playing Baritone Saxophone in the Brevard College Saxophone Quartet, they performed at The 12th World Saxophone Congress in Montreal. Danielle is proud to be a part of such a great group of people and performers here at the Savannah Theatre. She would like to thank her family for believing in her and all of her mentors.
F. Michael Zaller - Cast
Michael is an original cast member at the Savannah Theatre, as well as one of the owners. Mike grew up in Omaha, NE, where he performed such roles as Billy in Carousel and Curly in Oklahoma!. In 2005, he left Savannah to perform for a year in the National Tour of The Will Rogers Follies as Will Rogers. Though he has performed many roles locally and nationally, he has found his favorite roles to be “Husband” to fellow cast member Shannon, and “Dad” to their 2 girls and 2 boys! In addition to his ownership duties at the theatre, Mike is a licensed Life Insurance agent, working with Northstar Financial Partners, Inc. Mike is thankful for the blessings the last 15 years in Savannah have brought him!!!
Shannon Zaller - Cast
Originally from Ft. Worth, Texas, Shannon has been with the cast of the Savannah Theatre since January of 2005. She studied musical theatre at Texas Christian University and at Tarrant County College in Texas. She began performing professionally at Six Flags over Texas from 2000 to 2002. In 2003, Shannon moved to Mackinaw City, Michigan to join the cast of L’Harmonie. Featured roles include Peter in Peter Pan, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Reno in Anything Goes and Andrea in Once on This Island. She would like to thank her friends for being the best miracle in every day. Shannon’s Photography Website.
