Hundred Days Cast

Taylor Diveley (Shaun Bengson/Acoustic guitar) is excited to be part of the SC premiere of HUNDRED DAYS. He attended the University of South Carolina and Coastal Carolina University studying Vocal Performance. Since moving back to Columbia in July 2022, Taylor has been seen on Workshop Theatre’s stage in KINKY BOOTS (Charlie), TORCH SONG (Alan), and A CHORUS LINE (Don); and the Columbia Children’s Theatre’s stage in A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Ghost of Christmas Past). In addition to being on the stage, Taylor has several other roles behind the scenes. He is the music director for Workshop’s upcoming summer production of FINDING NEMO JR and he is part of Workshop’s educational team. Taylor also plays music gigs professionally around the Carolinas.

Katie Leitner (Abigail Bengson/Acoustic guitar/Synthesizer) is honored to be part of such an amazing theatre community and is so thrilled to be performing with Workshop Theatre. Some of her theatre credits include The Rocky Horror Show (Janet), Tick, Tick…Boom! (Susan), Heathers: The Musical (Veronica), The Great Gatsby (Daisy), Evil Dead The Musical (Cheryl), Rock of Ages (Sherrie), The Rocky Horror Show (Magenta), Avenue Q (Kate Monster, Lucy The Slut), and RENT (Mimi). She has a flourishing music studio and has been teaching music for almost 10 years. She is the lead singer/songwriter in her band, Say Femme formed in 2018 and was nominated in 2019 for Jasper Music Artist of the Year.

Catherine Hunsinger (Cello/Vocals) After a five year break from her first love of theatre with nearly fifty productions under her belt, Catherine is thrilled to return to the stage in a format that marries new love with old. In her time away, Catherine jumped into the world of live music headfirst, establishing two bands (“Rex Darling”, indie pop mad girl, and “A La Mids,” folk Americana sad girl) and joining ranks with Charlie Boy. Her favorite singer/songwriter moment was opening for international star of silliness and loopery, Marc Rebillet, in 2021. She remains a studio cellist at The Lab (Chas), and can be heard singing, bowing, and strumming on a number of regional albums. She thanks Chad Henderson for bringing her back to theatre twice now and for trusting her with this most challenging art.

Tom Beard (Accordion/Synthesizer/Vocals) has enjoyed simultaneous careers in computers, music, and teaching as an Instructor at the University of South Carolina (where he received masters degrees in philosophy and music). He began his professional music career as a high-school senior playing ragtime piano at Carowinds. Many opportunities followed, including: studio-pianist for the Columbia City Ballet and 30+ years as music director and pianist for productions at Workshop Theater (faves include Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Young Frankenstein, The Full Monty, Ain’t Misbehavin’), Trustus Theater (Spring Awakening, Assassins, The Last 5 Years, Passing Strange, tick..tick..BOOM!, Bat Boy: The Musical, The Rocky Horror Show, Hedwig & the Angry Inch), Theatre Raleigh, and the USC Opera Company. Additionally he has created and performed special programs for the Columbia Museum of Art, as well as composed original music for a number of non-musical plays.

Bakari Lebby (Kari) is a process-based multidisciplinary director and performer, focusing on collaborative design and aesthetic unity and dramaturgical character study, with a penchant for subverting form and expectations to provoke American audiences to engage in actionable discourse. Kari retains a MFA in Directing from The New School (2022) and a BA in Theatre from the University of South Carolina (2013). Recent directing credits include IS GOD IS (The New School), WORLDS MELT (The New School), SUNSET BABY (Trustus Theatre), SOME GIRL(S) (Workshop Theatre), and a reading of DON’T LOOK BLACK (Tennessee Playwrights Studio). Last working backstage on SOME GIRL(S) (2017) on stage at Workshop Theatre in DOCTOR DOLITTLE (2013), Kari is excited to return home to a place of many starts, support, and opportunities: including acting, marketing, design, direction, and even just resources (plays to read) and guidance in the form of attentiveness and open. Bakari would like to thank Harry Braswell for coming through with the clutch loaner bass, and Tom and Chad for the honor of another opportunity to work with expert veterans on Workshop’s stage.

Patty is thrilled to be playing for this production of Hundred Days. This has been an amazing cast/family to be a part of and is the first time she has gotten the privilege of working with Musical Director, Tom Beard. He’s been fantastic! She also must thank her new theatre family/cousins, the Bengson’s, for being so supportive- it’s been a joy playing with you all! Patty also wants to give a shout out to the staff of Workshop Theatre for always being so wonderful! And Chad, “It’s so great working with you. I would do anything for you…even jump in a pool with my clothes on…and I did!” Besides being on staff at Columbia College in the Office of Student Success, she performs with various bands and theatres around Columbia as well as playing drums for Shandon Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, Camden. Recent productions include ‘Kinky Boots’, ‘Mr. Burns’, ‘CATS’, ‘Mad Ones’, ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Memphis’. She will be playing next for the Trustus production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ this summer and Broadway Bound’s ‘Annie 2’ in August.