MEET THE CAST!

Meet the Cast

Steve Lord grew up in a theatrical family. His mother, Ann Good, was a singer, actress and on-air personality at KGLO television and radio in Mason City, Iowa; his father, John Lord, was a producer and director there, and did some on-the-air DJ work on the radio side! His sister, Catherine, three years his junior, still is a well-known actress and singer on Chicago stages ranging from the Drury Lane theaters to the Goodman to the Schubert. Steve took the backstage route, preferring writing. He has spent more than 30 years as a journalist and editor for The Copley Press and now Hollinger Newspapers in Chicago's suburbs. In 1993, he joined with co-worker Dale Roe, himself a theater and comedy veteran, in forming Gag Reflex Comedy Theater. At first thinking he would again take the backstage route, he found himself writing, performing and singing - the latter for the first time on a public stage since he was about 12 years old - and has been doing so for Gag Reflex since those early days of 1993. As a child, he had some musical training on both the piano and trombone, and actually performed in several stage plays. He also has extensive experience as a public speaker. An avid sports fans, he agonizes with the Chicago Cubs during those long summers. He is married to a striking blonde, Pat, and has three children.

Eric Schwartz has been writing and performing sketch comedy in and around Chicago for the last 19 years. He began his sketch comedy career in 1986 by stealing Bickersons routines for teen improv shows at the local community college. In 1992 he co-founded and directed the comedy group Strange's. Throughout, Eric acted in theater productions such as "Outward Bound," "Bleacher Bums," "Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" and Insomnia Theater. In 1995 Eric stepped into Gag Reflex and hasn't moved since. In 1999 he took over as director when co-founder and director Dale Roe left for Texas. Eric's pride and joy is his son Danny, who he is raising with his wife Millie. Eric is also the creator of Boundary Waters Media where he dumps all of his non-Gag creative energy. He has been published by the American Library of Poetry, has written two screenplays ("The Tomb" and "Romancing Death") produced and performed in regional radio and TV ads and occasionally makes appearances as a singer/songwriter.

Kris Keef was born in Aurora and went to Aurora schools. She started participating in high school musicals as a chorus member, then did several plays while going to Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove and studying Theater Arts. Kris was a member of Aurora's Stage Company for approximately 10 years until its demise in 1993. She was asked to fill in for a Gag Reflex member in 1995 and has been a member ever since. Kris lives in Montgomery with her imaginary husband Jerry.

Millie Collins-Schwartz grew up in Oak Park (go Huskies!) and made her stage debut at age 8 as the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz." She earned her Theater degree from Illinois College, in Jacksonville, in 1995. In 1996, her friend from college, Mo Gannon, joined Gag Reflex, and introduced her to Eric, who swept her off her feet and proposed 6 months later. In August, 1997 she auditioned for Gag on a whim, and was relieved to find that not only was her only competition a woman with no facial muscles, but that they still liked Millie more. She and Eric married in 1998, and their son, Danny, was born in December 2000. Millie says her heroes are Maya Angelou, Gilda Radner, and her kick-ass Mom, Susan Collins.

Marla Stauber-Parus could be called the neophyte of Gag Reflex, if it wasn't for her wide range of theater experiences. As a child, Marla Stauber enjoyed summer theater in her neighbor's basement, dreaming of the day she would be Eliza Doolittle. From there, Marla's next big break was that of a male gypsy dancer in a high school musical. During a decade or two of self-imposed sabbatical from the stage, Marla honed her acting/comedy skills by performing solo and in ensembles for her siblings, patients, husbands, children and friends. It was during a very low period in Marla's life that she saw the audition notice for Gag Reflex Comedy Theater. Marla quickly came to life, yelled "what the heck," and in 2000 was allowed to join the hallowed halls of "It's Gag Reflex!"

Lisa K. Sprague (a psychic once told her that if she used her middle initial she would be more grounded -- not so “flighty,” can you imagine???) was born in Aurora, grew up in Big Rock and has lived in California and Wyoming, She has a twin brother Jode and has been fighting for the spotlight since birth. Her sister Deb was her inspiration to get into comedy because, while in high school, she did flawless impersonations of Lily Tomlin’s characters. Deb is still a constant inspiration; she lives with a serious disease which she handles with much humor and grace. While living in Wyoming, Lisa worked at Dirty Jack’s Wild West Theatre (12 years) in original musical-comedy style shows where she was encouraged to ad-lib a lot. At the same time, she also had a part-time job working for “Mostly Fun” doing balloon deliveries while singing & wearing a Gorilla suit (remember that grounded thing). For the past nine years, she has been seen in numerous local productions at the Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora and First Street Playhouse in Batavia. Lisa is very happy to be one of the newest members of Gag Reflex. Her latest mission in life is to make her director (Eric) laugh so hard that he chokes and has to Heimlich himself (successfully, of course).

G. Marea Berkley spent most of her formative years in Orlando, FL, and in various cities in WV, before moving to the Chicagoland area during the winter of 2003. She graduated magna cum laude from Marshall University with a bachelor's degree in Classical and Religious Studies with minors in Theatre and English. She is now qualified to form her own cult, write her own sermons and perform her own passion plays.* Previous experience includes: voiceovers; emceeing; acting in dozens of plays; 8 years of playing the French horn; various childhood dance and gymnastics recitals; several years of chorus; mostly unpublished writings and lots of drunken karaoke performances. She's always been drawn to comedy and is thrilled to be living her dream as a member of Gag Reflex, at least until they decide she's a talentless hack and banish her from the group forever.

Ben Lundy is the spawn of Satan -- just kidding. Freshman year he stumbled into an audition for Peter Pan (with fellow Gag alum Josh Gilbert) at West High and has had a stage addiction ever since. After one turn in Gag Reflex in 1997 he co-founded the comedy group Killing Vaudeville. At the 10th Anniversary Show in 2003, he provided 50% of the infamous, first ever Gag Reflex man-on-man onstage kiss (a tender memory he shares with Eric -- the other 50%). Now he's back for more abuse and "tall boy" jokes and he will love every minute of it.

A quick check of Steve Stern’s background (as well as a seat in the audience) might lead one to conclude that he has virtually no formal theatrical training. And that would be correct. Outside of having completed the Improvisational Acting Conservatory program at famed Second City in Chicago along with the occasional class at Victory Gardens Theatre, there is nothing to suggest he should even be allowed to usher a Gag Reflex production. However, his informal training is extensive and impressive. During the course of two failed marriages, Steve played the role of happily married husband. During an initial five year, eight month run, Steve earned several rave reviews, but mostly just raves. A subsequent shorter run found Steve in the role of matchmaker for his wife and one of his “best” friends. The production closed when two thirds of the cast took the show on the road (over and over again). More recent training comes via a rigorous five show-per-day, five days-per-week schedule as a high school science teacher. Though students are not likely to offer up spoiled fruit, Steve’s appreciation for "tough audiences" has grown substantially in this capacity. He lives alone and skeptical, forming attachments only with hardy houseplants.

*Feel free to worship her at your own risk.