Cast Members:
Natalie Davies (Helen Hill), Sheridan Hearn (Louise LeBreton), Kate Jajewski (Grace Banker), Abi Johnson (Suzanne Prevot), Kelsey Anne Johnson (Bertha Hunt, US Grace Banker), Anna Darling (Swing: Bertha Hunt, Suzanne Prevot), Gabriella Unitan (Swing: Helen Hill, Louise LeBreton)

Dave Conour (Gen. John Pershing), Dan Jajewski (Cpt. Joseph Riser), Jack Porubsky (Pvt. Eugene Matterson), Noah Strube (Lt. Ernest Wessen), Kenneth Hoversten (Pvt. Robert Dempsey)

Production Team:
Producer Sarah Marty.  Director Wendy Jones.  Music Director Kevin Blakeslee.  Stage Manager Alissa Berman.  Conductor Eric Anderson.  Costume and Props Designer Sarah Marty.  Lighting Designer Matt Albrecht.  Sound Designer Kyle Spradling.  Assistant Stage Managers Jack Burlingame and Ana Gutierrez.  Wardrobe Lyric Simonian Holiday.  Rehearsal Pianist Jeff Krueger. Playhouse House Tech Brad Toberman.

Preshow Lectures: Thursdays 2/22 & 2/29 at 6:30 pm and Sundays 2/25 & 3/3 at 1 pm

Four Seasons Theatre is proud to partner with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum for preshow lectures for THE HELLO GIRLS.  The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is dedicated to the people of Wisconsin who served in the armed forces and honors and affirms the role of all veterans in shaping Wisconsin military history and that of the nation. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is an educational activity of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.  Learn more and make a plan to visit.

Kevin Hampton is Curator of History for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. With a BA in History and Education from University of St. Thomas, Hampton is the true embodiment of public humanities work - sharing research and items from museum archives with others through community engaged programming.  In addition to curating exhibits that share the stories of Wisconsin veterans, he leads outreach programs and lectures across the state.  He is the lead curator for the current temporary exhibit at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum - Souvenirs of Service: The Things They Kept.

Panel Discussion: Saturday 2/24 at 4:45 pm

On Saturday 2/24, the Overture Center for the Arts’ Community Advisory Council (CAC) and the Wisconsin Child & Youth Program will co-host a panel that explores and celebrates women in the military and the use of art to honor and share their stories. This event is free and open to the public.

• Jennifer Chiaverini is a prolific author, known for her captivating historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series, comprising thirty-three bestselling novels. Her literary prowess has earned her accolades, including the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association in 2020 and recognition as a Notable Wisconsin Author in 2023.  Chiaverini's novel "Switchboard Soldiers" received critical acclaim, garnering starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal.
• Natalie Isensee is a dedicated Marine Corps Logistics Officer who served with distinction, including deployments to Kuwait and Iraq during the US ground invasion in 2003.  Deeply committed to serving her community, Natalie actively engages in the Veteran community in Madison, Wisconsin, assuming leadership roles in various organizations. Her contributions were recognized with the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Veterans in Business award in 2021, and she was appointed to Wisconsin Governor Evers’ Blue Ribbon Commission on Veterans Opportunity in 2022.
• Laura McMillan is a proud BIPOC Queer Woman Veteran, holding a B.A in Theatre Performance and Theatre Studies from Edgewood College. She served in the US Navy for 4 years, stationed in Florida and Hawaii, where she showcased her passion for theater through performances at the Pensacola Little Theater and the Army Community Theater on Ft. Shafter in Honolulu.  Currently serving as the Education Manager for Children's Theater of Madison (CTM), Laura plays a pivotal role in shaping the creative and educational experiences for young minds.
• Lt. Col. Ripperger brings over 27 years of invaluable military experience, primarily within the North Dakota and Wisconsin Air National Guard. Throughout her distinguished career, she has held a spectrum of pivotal roles, including Finance Budget Officer, Services Commander, and Wing Public Affairs Officer for the 119th Wing based in Fargo, ND.  Currently, Lt. Col. Ripperger serves as the Director of the Joint Wellness and Resiliency Directorate for the Wisconsin Air and Army National Guard, where she spearheads initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being and resilience of service members.
• Mo Schuelke enlisted in the Army in March 1982 and underwent Basic training at Ft. Jackson, SC, followed by advanced training at Ft. Gordon, GA. Graduating top of her class as a Wire Systems Installer, she received additional training on the Switch Board.  Her military career saw her stationed at Ft. Gordon until September 1983, with temporary duty at Sheppard Air Force Base for Key Telephone installation training from October 1983 to March 1984.  She was then assigned to C Co. 122nd Signal BN, Camp Casey, Korea, from March 1983 to March 1984. Returning to Ft. Lewis, WA, until May 1986, she reenlisted to serve in Germany at Nuernberg, William O. Darby Kaserne, from June 1986 to June 1989, where she changed her MOS to TAMMS/PLL.  She joined the reserves in 1991, serving in a Supply Unit in Utah until 1992, then relocating to Wisconsin and serving in the 84th Division as a Supply Sergeant until her retirement in September 2005.

Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of The Resistance Women, recently published Switchboard Soldiers: a novel of the heroic women who served in the US Signal Corps during WWI.  Available in print and audio book, we were inspired to produce THE HELLO GIRLS after reading this work of historical fiction.  Learn more.

Check out this article, "The Hello Girls - Women Telephone Operators during WWI" from The Unwritten Record for the National Archives to learn more about the first women to be recruited as soldiers in the US military and to see photos of them in action.

The cast album of THE HELLO GIRLS is available in audio CD and digital form via the show website.