The Minutes by Tracy Letts Cast

John is thrilled to return to the stage after more than a decade away. His last play was in 2012, yet theatre has always been a central part of his story. While living in New York, he was a member of Love Creek Productions Theatre Company and worked in television and film as a production assistant and extra. Those years gave him a front-row seat to the creative process and strengthened his love of storytelling. Beyond theatre, John built a career in the restaurant industry, owning and operating Crave Market, where his passion for food, people and community came together. After selling the business, he turned his focus to Life and Recovery coaching, guiding others toward clarity and direction. John enjoys being a dog dad to Nell and Stella. His favorite past time is being with his nieces and nephews, especially around his sister and brother-in-law’s dinner table.

Thurayya UmBayemake is thrilled to be in her first performance with Workshop Theatre! She currently works with the Department of Outreach at SCGSAH. She moved here from Ohio where she co-founded and formerly ran Ma’Sue Theatre Company that focused on African American stories. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama Studies from South Carolina State University, and a post-graduate certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Akron. She is grateful for the love and support of her family/ friends.

Making his debut at Workshop Theatre, Brandon Campbell recently has come back on stage. He has performed all around Columbia, From Kershaw County FAC to Village Square Theater in Lexington. He is excited and grateful to be here. Brandon enjoys being a part of productions that make you think. He recently was Papa Bear and Papa Ogre in the 24 Hr. Show blitz (VST) Tom Collins in Rent (VST), Cory in Fences (KCFAC) and Tom in You Can’t Take it with You (KCFAC). Brandon not only acts or sings, but he also loves to dance; he has also taken 1st Place Technical in the Dancing with the Stars Competition (KCFAC). You may find him at the Riverwalk longboarding and dancing while belting out Disney and Broadway Tunes at the top of his lungs, but make no mistake, this young man is just getting started, he eagerly awaits his next role.

Thrilled to be making his Workshop debut, Laurens is a longtime Trustus company member where some credits include What the Constitution Means to Me, People Places and Things, Stupid Fucking Bird, A Streetcar Named Desire, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Boy Gets Girl, The Laramie Project, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Woolgatherer and Death of a Salesman. Laurens has also performed with NY Actor's Alliance, 42nd Street Collective, Chicago Children's Theatre, Steep Theatre, Redtwist Theatre, Onstage Atlanta and PURE Theatre. Other favorite credits include True West, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence, The Realistic Joneses, Slowgirl, Hand To God, Venus In Fur, Dinner With Friends, The Crucible and Equus, Laurens spent many years as a company member at Charleston’s Theatre 99 performing improv comedy in shows including Improv Riot, Sandbox and Much Ado About Something. Laurens received his training at Playwrights Horizons Professional Theatre Conservatory (NYC) and The Atlantic Theatre Company (NYC).

Marshall is thrilled to be back at Workshop! Having last been seen on the Cottingham stage searching for a six foot white rabbit. In New York he has been seen in Hard Sparks Innovative Award winning play R&J&Z, and Theatre 167’s THE WORLD’S FAIR PLAYS (NY Times Critic’s Pick). He also co wrote, co produced, and co starred in the web series OLLIE & MOLLY CAN’T GET ARRESTED. Other credits include ROMEO AND JULIET, CRIMES OF THE HEART, and STONES IN HIS POCKETS at PlayMakers Repertory Company, MISS BENNET‘S CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY at Trustus, MACBETH, JULIUS CAESAR and TITUS ANDRONICUS with the SC Shakespeare Company, ON THE MOORS NOW and TWELFTH NIGHT at Theatre USC. And OTHER DESERT CITIES, THE BOYS IN THE BAND, GOD OF CARNAGE, TORCH SONG, THE GLASS MENAGERIE and HARVEY at Workshop Theatre. MFA: Professional Actor Training Program/ UNC Chapel Hill.

Workshop Theatre audiences may remember Pat Gagliano (Vince Assalone) from A New Brain (Bungee/Doctor) in 2023. Pat has been acting and directing for over four decades, and since 1994 he has been Professor & Department Chair for Art & Theatre at Newberry College. Other recent theatre credits include Chicago (Fred/Ensemble) at Chapin Theatre and Our Broken, Glorious Call (John Bachman) for the 2025 Lutheran Synod Assembly in Charleston. Favorite roles include Noises Off (Lloyd), 1940’s Radio Hour (Johnny Cantone), The Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), Godspell (Judas/John), and Art (Serge). Pat serves multiple professional organizations, and in March 2025, the Southeastern Theatre Conference awarded Pat their highest honor for distinguished service. Pat offers thanks to this awesome production team and his castmates, who have made this process enjoyable and memorable, and sends love to his children, Paul & Alyssa, for the joy and light they bring.

Carol Beis is thrilled to return to the Workshop stage as Ms. Innes. Last season, she played the role of Martha Brewster in *Arsenic and Old Lace*. Carol has also performed at Town Theatre in *The Wizard of Oz* (Wicked Witch), *Grease* (Ms. Lynch), and *A Christmas Story* (Head Elf). Additionally, she appeared in Broadway Bound's production of *The Secret Garden* (Ms. Medlock). Rehearsing *The Minutes* has been a valuable learning experience, thanks to the insightful cast and crew. A special thank you to Patrick for the activities that were instrumental in refining her craft and for the gentle reminders to “Breathe”!

Jeff appeared extensively in local theatre during the 1990’s and first decade of the new century taking a sabbatical during the Twenty-Teens to enter the culinary field. His return to the stage came in Workshop Theatre’s 2022 production of Death of a Salesman, also under the direction of Patrick Michael Kelly. He is excited to be here on the Workshop stage in what could certainly be his Swan Song performance. Should his prophecy ring true, Jeff offers “A fond farewell to a childhood dream come true.”

Glenn Rawls (Mr. Carp) volunteered at Workshop many decades ago. He designed sets and ran lights for the fledgling theatre, and directed Columbia’s first productions of Steel Magnolias and Best Christmas Pageant Ever for them. As an actor, he appeared at Trustus in Marjorie Prime, Vanya, Sonya, Masha and Spike, Rabbit Hole, Art, and Wonder of the World. He had a decades-long career as a producer and animator for public television in South Carolina. Thanks to John for letting him disrupt the family schedule to do this play, and to his rehearsal supervisor, their cat, Miss Poovey.