Go, Dog. Go!

MC Dog (aka the Latecomer) - Alphonse Kroeten made his acting debut in 2002 as Ren in "Footloose The Musical." Since then, he has performed on over one hundred stages across the United States and Europe, including Disney’s Animal Kingdom, New York City’s David Geffen Hall, and Norte Dame in Paris. After attending Midland Lutheran College and attaining his B.A. in Music, under direct tutelage of nationally recognized composers/directors Dr. Eric Richards and Jim Elsberry, Alphonse began touring nationally, with Omaha Theater Company, in "The Little Engine That Could" (2010), "Three Merser Meyer Classics" (2011), and "Diary of A Worm, A Spider, and A Fly" (2014). Alphonse is thrilled to be returning to The Rose Theater main stage after appearing as Emile in "Goosebumps The Musical: The Phantom of The Auditorium," Tall Boy in "Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt", Phinneas in "Curious George and The Golden Meatball," King Julien in "Madagascar: A Musical Adventure," and in "Peter Pan" and "Harold and The Purple Crayon."

Red Dog - Matthew Kischer is an actor and playwright around the Omaha area. His last production he acted in was “The Pirate of Penzance” at The Lofte Community Theatre. Major acting credits include “Dragons Love Tacos!” at The Rose Theater, “Always…Patsy Cline” at the Performing Arts Repertory Theatre, “Spring Awakening” at the University of Nebraska Omaha and “Sherlock Holmes and the 1st Baker Street Irregular” at The Rose Theater. He was a Young Dramatist for the GPTC of 2017, and had a ten-minute play of his produced at The Rose Theater as a part of the Young Playwright’s Festival. Also, at The Rose, he was a Rose High School Theater Intern his senior year of High School where he acted in “PLAYSCAPE” an audience participating improvisational theatrical experience which involved audience members of all ages. While apart of the internship he also was an assistant to the teaching artists for classes, did tech work for summer shows, and acted in some Teens ‘N Theater shows. He is very excited to be involved with the Rose Theater again, and thanks Jess Jung for the amazing opportunity. He hopes you enjoy this fun an energetic show!

Blue Dog - Brissa is an actor and educator from Atlanta, GA, where she is heading back very soon! She holds her B.A. in Theater Arts from Brenau University with training from The Gainesville Theater Alliance. She was recently seen this past season on The Rose stage as Mrs. Phelps in "Matilda!," Thumbelina in "Thumbelina," and Watty in "The Little Engine that Could." When Brissa isn't involved in theater, she spends her time encouraging people to take control of their health through her Instagram, @Brissanlopez. She would like to thank her fellow colorful doggies for making her last show at The Rose a whirl of an adventure!

Yellow Dog - Jessica is so thrilled to be back on The Rose stage for this 70th Anniversary season as well as her 4th consecutive season opener show, "Go Dog Go!" She is originally from Maine and has been involved in professional theater since the age of 3. You may have seen her on stage or assistant directing shows here at The Rose, such as "Good Night Moon," "Babe The Sheep Pig," "Wynken, Blynken and Nod," "Curious George and The Golden Meatball," "Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt" and "Thumbelina." She is an ensemble member of Kerfuffle and has been the voice for commercials and videos in the Omaha Metro area when not behind the camera herself, and has worked on shows for CBS and the Discovery Channel. She is a professional fiber artist and educator and when not directing, designing, writing or on stage Jessica enjoys spending time with her two amazing artistic daughters Jules and Jocey, her fluffle farm of adorable dwarf English angora bunnies, and knitting, spinning or weaving away every other free moment.

Green Dog - Jake Parker is happy to be returning to The Rose Theater with his first ever children’s production! He was previously seen here as Crutchie in Disney’s “Newsies” last summer. Some of Jake’s top favorite roles he’s recently acted as include: Arpad in “She Loves Me” at Bellevue Little Theatre and Peter Cratchit in Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s 2018 touring production of “A Christmas Carol”. Jake would like to welcome you to the show and thank you for coming!

Hattie / Spotted Dog - Miriam is delighted to be back at The Rose. Audiences might remember her saving pigs as Fly in "Babe" and as Charlotte in "Charlotte’s Web." Other Rose appearances include "Tomás and the Library Lady" (Ama/Enrique), "A Wrinkle in Time" (Mrs. Who), and "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake" (Cat). Miriam has thrice been published as original cast: Naomi Iizuka’s "Polaroid Stories" (director Jon Jory), Michael Bigelow, Dixon and Val Smith’s "The League of Semi-Superheroes," and in the title role of Gary Kirkham’s "Queen Milli of Galt." She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from University of Cincinnati and has worked in theatre in the U.S. and Canada. Before immigrating to the Midwest, she lived in Vancouver where she did wacky things like work on "The Perfect Score" (as Scarlett Johansson’s stand-in) and supply her hands for Velma’s close-up in "Scooby-Do 2." Locally she has directed "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and "Suor Angelica" for the Nebraska Opera Project. Currently, Miriam is working on her fourth series of podcasts for discerninghearts.com. She is the happily-married mother of four unique little people.

Director - Jess Jung is delighted to join The Rose for "Go, Dog. Go!" Jess serves as Assistant Professor of Directing at North Dakota State University. Directing credits include Adventure Theatre MTC ("Blueberries for Sal," "Faberge's Treasures," "Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden"), Forum Theatre ("Walking the City of Silence and Stone"), Okoboji Summer Theatre ("Charlotte's Web," "The Berenstain Bears" on Stage), Children's Theatre NDSU ("The Ugly Duckling," "A Jaguar's Tale"), and Source Festival ("a love story"). Check out more about Jess at her website: jessjungdirecting.com

Music Director - Jerry Brabec, tenor, is an Ordained Deacon on the clergy staff at Omaha St. Paul United Methodist Church where he serves as Minister of Worship. His responsibilities include the overseeing of liturgical preparation for the congregation of 500. He also serves as choral director for Temple Israel’s Kol Rina. Awarded the Master of Music degree from the University of Nebraska, he studied choral conducting with Dr. Cina Crisara and
Dr. Z. Randall Stroope. As a chorister of the acclaimed Robert Shaw Festival Chorus
at Carnegie Hall, he sang for five years under the baton of the late Robert Shaw, was twice selected one of six participants in the Alice Parker Melodius Accord Fellowship Program and frequently continues his conducting studies with Ms. Parker during January in New York. At The Rose for the past ten seasons, "Go, Dog. Go!" marks his 35th show as a visiting music director/vocal coach. He also serves as music director
for the nationally acclaimed Rose Brigade, one of the award winning offerings of the BROADWAY at The Rose program. Formerly, Jerry taught at the high school level for Council Bluffs Community Schools, served as associate artistic director of the Omaha Clarion Chorale, and as artistic director for the Kanesville Chorus and Renaissance Faire of the Midlands.

Choreographer - Sue Gillespie Booton’s National tour credits include "Annie Get Your Gun," "Beehive," and "Grease." Her latest credits include "Rocky Horror" (Columbia), "Ring of Fire" (Ensemble) and "Always, Patsy Cline" (Louise,) for Artist Repertory Theater. She was an original cast member in Omaha’s longest running musical, "Beehive" (Brenda Lee, Petula Clark, Janis Joplin), and appeared in shows on Royal Carribean, Carnival, Royal Viking and Europe’s Sally Cruise Lines. Her most recent Rose stage appearances include "Madagascar" (Gloria), "Cat in the Hat," (Thing #1), "Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly" (Mrs.
McBee), "Pinkalicious - The Musical" (Dr. Wink/Allison), "Velveteen Rabbit" (Ensemble), "Charlotte’s Web" (Templeton/Narrator/Goose), "The Little Engine That Could" (Blue Dress Girl), "Cinderella" (Fairy Godmother), and "Miss Nelson is Missing" (Miss Nelson/ Viola Swamp) Choreographic credits include "Elf The Musical," "Matilda The Musical," Disney’s "Newsies," "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," "Madagascar," "Mary Poppins," "A Christmas Story," "Tarzan," "Narnia," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Madeline’s Christmas," "High School Musical," "High School Musical II," "The Cat in the Hat," "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs," "HONK!" and "Annie - The Musical." She was a 2015 Theater Arts Guild Best Choreographer nominee for "Tarzan," recipient of the 2014 National Freddy G Award given to outstanding musical theater educators, 2014 Theater Arts Guild nominee for her choreography of "Tarzan," and awarded the 2014 Theater Arts Guild Education Award. She is The Rose Theater’s Resident Choreographer and Director of BROADWAY at the Rose, as well as The Rose Brigade and The Dance
Lab Performing Company. She is thankful that she could return to her hometown and continue her professional career at The Rose Theater.