In Memoriam Members
Musical Theatre Guild celebrates the life of our Members who shared their artistry and love of musical theatre with audiences across Southern California and the world.
Dina Bennett
(1962 - 2015)
<p>An international recording artist, Dina has toured with well-known big bands Les Brown and the Band of Renown, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the Ladd McIntosh Swing Orchestra. Disney has featured Dina in numerous live shows with her favorite role-playing Mary Poppins in the popular “Practically Perfect Tea”. Her recording credits include the singing voices on computer games, children’s CDs, and background vocals for many well-known artists. Dina performs with her own jazz band, “Dina Deluxe and the Mood Swings” and with her own girl’s trio, the fabulous “40’s Flygirls”. Her favorite musical theatre credits include the national tour of WICKED, A RUBICON FAMILY CHRISTMAS, Harry Chapin’s MUSICAL STORIES, POET’S GARDEN, THE WORLD GOES ’ROUND and CHESS.</p>
Chris Warren Gilbert
(1969 - 2020)
<p>Chris recently returned from the National Tour of CAMELOT, starring Lou Diamond Phillips. A native of Detroit, Chris has performed in regional theatre around the country as well as the Los Angeles area. Some favorite musical theatre roles: Beast in DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and Reuben in JOSEPH, both for Cabrillo Music Theatre, Radames in Fullerton CLO’s AIDA, Jerry in FULL MONTY and Sir Harry in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, both for Sierra Repertory Theatre, and Pedro in MAN OF LA MANCHA at Performance Network.</p>
<p>Chris holds an MFA from Wayne State University, where he was awarded a fellowship as a member of The Hilberry Theatre Company. In that vein, Chris enjoyed such roles as: Jack Worthing in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, for which he received the Oscar Wilde Award for Outstanding Performer; Hal Carter in PICNIC, which earned him a Best Actor nomination from the Detroit Free Press; Cliff in Roundabout Music Theatre’s CABARET; and two separate runs of the one-man show, FULLY COMMITTED, for Kentucky Rep and Oklahoma City Rep. Chris also received the James Kisicki Award for Excellence from the Detroit Free Press.</p>
<p>In addition to performing on stage, Chris has taught as an adjunct professor of Theatre at Wayne State University, and has written two award-winning one act plays, as well as lyrics for the musical THE GOLD WUTAHKEE.</p>
<p>Commercials include the Michigan Lottery and Chevrolet, and he has portrayed Ken of Ken and Barbie fame for Mattel. Television credits include: “All My Children,” “Numb3rs” and “The Singles Table.” Chris is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.</p>
S. Marc Jordan
(1931 - 2014)
<p>In 60 years as a professional performer, Marc has done Burlesque, Grand Opera (at the Met) and starred on his own radio show—and that was all by the age of 16. On Broadway and across the country, he has starred or co-starred in many shows, including LITTLE ME (original Broadway company), FUNNY GIRL (Flo Ziegfeld), THE MOST HAPPY FELLA (Tony), ZORBA (title role), KISS ME KATE (1st Gangster, Baptista), TITANIC (Isidor Straus) and GUYS AND DOLLS (Benny Southstreet, Harry the Horse, Nathan Detroit). On TV, Marc was a regular on “Night Court”, “Sanchez Of Bel-Air” and “Days Of Our Lives” and has guest-starred on all the popular sit-coms and episodics. His voice can be heard on hundreds of commercials and on several cartoons (e.g. “Scooby-Doo” and “Jonny Quest”). He was a member of the National Council of Actors’ Equity Association (for 28 years) as is his daughter, Director/Choreographer, R. Kim Jordan.</p>
Marsha Kramer
(1945 - 2020)
<p>Marsha Kramer created the role of Wendy in Sandy Duncan’s PETER PAN on Broadway and for the national tour. She was Agnes Gooch to Juliet Prowse’s MAME at Harrah’s Tahoe and on a California tour. In the Los Angeles area her roles have included various Madames in THE GRAND TOUR with Jason Graae at the Colony Theatre, Alma Hix in THE MUSIC MAN at the Hollywood Bowl with Eric McCormack and Kristen Chenoweth, Lynne in the Pasadena Playhouse’s STEPPING OUT, Nina in THE COCKTAIL HOUR, 2nd Actress in THE DINING ROOM, Amy in COMPANY with Carol Burnett, Mickey in MY ONE AND ONLY, Susan in THE DESERT SONG, and the Usherette in BLAME IT ON THE MOVIES! Regionally she has appeared in THE SECRET GARDEN as Martha and in SHOWBOAT as Ellie. Her television credits include “Modern Family” recurring as Margaret, “NCIS”, “Dr. Ken”, “Eagleheart”, “General Hospital”, “Days of Our Lives”, “Malcolm in the Middle”, “State of Grace”, “Port Charles”, “Titus”, “Frasier”, “Ally McBeal”, “Touched By An Angel”, “Nothing Sacred”, “Love and War”, “Cheers”, “Life Goes On”, “Newhart”, and “The Bill Cosby Show” as well as the film “On Edge”. She has participated in numerous STAGE and PAWS benefits. A UCLA graduate, Marsha attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and is the recipient of a Robby Award and four Los Angeles Drama-Logue Awards. She is also a founding member of another play reading group, Bonnie Franklin’s Classic & Contemporary American Plays (CCAP), and a proud member of Actors’ Equity.</p>
Roy Leake, Jr.
(1959 - 2016)
<p>Roy has played husbands, farmers, Dickensian pickpockets, bartenders, noblemen, ballet composers, Bard-spouting gangsters, disciples, Victorian women, carnival barkers, Pilgrims, Cookies, embittered puppeteers, Jewish dairymen, piano players, disembodied voices, cockneys, mad doctors, fast-talking salesmen, Russian Impresarios, comic strip dogs, hotel desk clerks, British AND Japanese Lords, gay alcoholics and several exceedingly mediocre nightclub performers. Working with directors as diverse as George Abbott and The Coen Brothers, performers as varied as Rosemary Harris and Roger Daltrey (in one show!), and in venues ranging from The Hollywood Bowl to shopping malls to The Grand Ol’ Opry to State Fairs to Walt Disney Concert Hall, Roy has performed in 48 states, 5 countries and on 4 networks and has received numerous Drama-Logue, LA Weekly and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle awards for performing, writing and musical direction.</p>
Darrell Sandeen
(1930 - 2009)
<p>Darrell Sandeen is a twice transplanted Midwesterner, having been born in Chicago. He moved first to New York, where he appeared on Broadway in HERE’S LOVE, A JOYFUL NOISE, THE FIG LEAVES ARE FALLING, and YOUNG ABE LINCOLN in which he played the title role. He continued his theatrical studies and was chosen for the National Companies of MY FAIR LADY and THE GREAT WHITE HOPE which brought him to Hollywood. West Coast audiences have seen him in 1776, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, for which he won a Drama-Logue award, MAN OF LA MANCHA, and BRECHT, SACRED AND PROFANE at the Los Angeles Music Center. Television appearances include “Bonanza”, “Father Murphy”, “Route 66”, and “Feather and Father”. He has also been seen in feature films “LA Confidential”, “Blazing Saddles”, “Call Me Bruce”, and Disney’s “Island at the Top of the World”.</p>
Kathryn Skatula
(1954 - 2008)
<p>KATHRYN SKATULA performed in over 40 MTG staged reading/concert projects. Favorite theatre roles include: SPLENDORA (Celebration Theatre); QUILTERS (Perf. Riverside—Inland Award); Musical Theatre West’s LA CAGE AUX FOLLES; Theatre League tours of SOUND OF MUSIC, CAMELOT w/David Birney, and OLIVER w/Richard Kline; SINGIN IN THE RAIN and MIRETTE (FCLO); HARRY CHAPIN: LIES AND LEGENDS (ICT/Drama-Logue Award); Amanda McBroom’s HEARTBEATS (Pasadena Playhouse); MY FAVORITE HUSBAND w/ Marilu Henner (LATheatreWorks); both Liz Swados’ MISSIONARIES w/Sharon Lawrence and THE BEAUTIFUL LADY w/JoAnne Worley (Mark Taper); West Coast premieres of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and CINDERELLA (Long Beach CLO); world premieres of GOYA and MASADA; ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (Alliance); MARRY ME A LITTLE (Met); Billy Barnes’ MOVIE STAR (Westwood Playhouse); and National Tours of Cathy Rigby’s PETER PAN, Tommy Tune’s NINE, and ANNIE with Reid Shelton. Film/TV: “ER,” “Frasier,” “Out On a Limb” w/Shirley MacLaine; Mel Brooks’ “Life Stinks,” “Passions” (Daytime Emmy Award); “The Jessica Savitch Story,” “Matters of the Heart,” “Saved By the Bell,” “Mrs. Santa Claus,” and “Geppetto.”</p>
Betty Vaughan
(1925 - 2016)
<p>For MTG: CHRISTMAS CAROL; COLETTE COLLAGE; BABY; HERE’S LOVE; ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY; ONCE UPON A MATTRESS; I REMEMBER MAMA and THE BAKER’S WIFE. Production coordinated: APPLE TREE, TAKE ME ALONG and FLOYD COLLINS. Award-winning productions of LOU GEHRIG DIDN’T DIE OF CANCER, COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW and THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA at the Kennedy Center. Regional: INTO THE WOODS; THE MUSIC MAN; COMPANY; OKLAHOMA; 110 IN THE SHADE; PIRATES OF PENZANCE; GUYS & DOLLS, etc… Lead singer with the infamous Bobby Darin. Betty taught for “Girls, INC” and the Howard Cardin School.</p>