Where Are They Now?
Fri., Oct. 10, 1997
Chris Bonno
Follies Years: 1985-87 (The Ritz)
Best Known For: "Day-O"
Current Whereabouts: Los Angeles
Post-Follies: Performed improv locally with The Laff Staff (1977-92); performed stand-up and won "Funniest Person in Austin" (1991); moved to L.A., where he does improv, stand-up, voiceovers, TV and film acting (Mad About You, The Naked Truth; The Making of ...And God Spoke), book illustration (The Book of Lost Quotes), studio audience warm-ups (Saved by the Bell), and foley work (Independence Day). Currently pitching an animated series, Phil the Unassertive Guy.
Michael Caldwell & Rachel Winfree
Follies Years: Winfree -- 1981 (Original Pool), 85-87 (The Ritz); Caldwell -- 85-87 (The Ritz)
Best Known For: Burt & Marge (together); Liz Taylor, Margaret Thatcher (Winfree); Skipper in Cat! Musical on a Hot Tin Roof (Caldwell)
Current Whereabouts: Los Angeles
Post-Follies: Moved to L.A., where they write and produce their own plays (Dating Ourselves, Our Wedding); produce plays by other writers, including James McLure and Jonathan Tolick; and act on television and in films (Star Maps).
Terry Galloway
Follies Years: 1977-80 (Original Pool)
Best Known For: Jake Ratchett, Short Detective
Current Whereabouts: Tallahassee, FL
Post-Follies: Helped found the Hugh Beaumont Players (1978) and returned to the Follies on many occasions. Wrote two solo shows, Out All Night and Lost My Shoes (1986) and Lardo Weeping (1987), which she presented locally and toured to great acclaim in both the U.S. and England; moved to Florida and founded The Mickee Faust Club, a satirical cabaret. Has had her writing excerpted in Monologues for Women by Women, The American Voice, Out of Character: Rants, Raves, and Monologues From Today's Top Performance Artists, and Women Playwrights of Diversity, as well as the upcoming book Every Woman I've Ever Loved. Currently working on a memoir, The Unheard, and will return to Austin in the spring of 1998 for a conference on women and creativity at UT.
Colom Keating
Follies Years: 1987-92 (Pool II, Pool III)
Best Known For: Geeks Gallery
Current Whereabouts: Los Angeles
Post-Follies: While with the Follies, created the character of Mr. Manly, who became the subject of a very successful syndicated radio feature, two books, and two CDs. Moved to L.A. (1995) to pursue a development deal with CBS Productions for a Mr. Manly TV sitcom. Currently developing a Mr. Manly sitcom for FOX, to be produced by Tri-Star.
De Lewellen
Follies Years: 1977-81 (Original Pool)
Best Known For: Ima Butt, Blandscrew Sisters
Current Whereabouts: Austin
Post-Follies: Founded and sang lead for the bands D-Day ("Too Young to Date") and Zydeco Ranch; performed improv locally with The Laff Staff (1977-93). Currently performing sketch comedy with Jokers Wild.
Dee McCandless & Gene Menger
Follies Years: 1977-82, 88-91
Best Known For: Choreography for "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "Trouble in Tahiti," "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," and North Atlantic; "Nutcracker Tout Suite," a five-minute solo Nutcracker (McCandless); The Lone Tones
Current Whereabouts: Austin
Post-Follies: Created and periodically revived Waterworks, a water ballet at Barton Springs Pool (1978, 81, 85, 89, 91, 96, 97); collaborated with David Byrne on the film True Stories and on dances with local companies Tapestry and Sharir; choreographed musicals at Capitol City Playhouse and children's projects with Joe Scruggs and Believe in Me! (McCandless). Currently playing with the eclectic European-Latin band La Strada (McCandless on accordion and Menger on bass); teaching at Austin Community College (McCandless); and managing Forbidden Fruit and, in partnership with Eileen Keller, running the public relations-special events firm ideology.com.
Ingo Neuhaus
Follies Years: 1987-91 (Pool II, Pool III)
Best Known For: Scooter in Hooter & Scooter, Uncle Randy in Uncle Bosco's Birthday Party, General Norman Schwarzkopf
Current Whereabouts: Los Angeles
Post-Follies: Moved to L.A. where his acting career has taken off (TV: ER, Beverly Hills 90210, Roseanne, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Murphy Brown, and a series of 14 Spanish language commercials for Bud Lite, televised internationally; film: Executive Decision, The Rock, L.A. Confidential). Currently preparing for a role in the blockbuster film Armageddon.
Steve Saugey
Follies Years: 1977-96 (Original Pool, The Ritz, Pool II, Pool III)
Best Known For: Lord Wood (accompanist to Dame Della Diva), writing Westward Hose!, Ode to Joy, A Mall and Its Night Visitors, et al.
Current Whereabouts: Austin
Other Credits: Wrote and produced the performance of the Austin Flops Orchestra (1983) and Beethoven's Birthday (1994). With Lyova Rosanoff, co-produced and co-starred in the musical parody show Forbidden Classics (1996-97). Currently serving as rehearsal pianist for the Austin Musical Theatre production of West Side Story and writing for and performing with the sketch comedy troupe Jokers Wild.
Ernie Sharpe
Follies Years: 1977-78 (Original Pool)
Best Known For: Creating Jake Ratchett, Short Detective and co-writing it with Terry Galloway
Current Whereabouts: Austin
Post-Follies: Has worked as a journalist and a scriptwriter for educational and corporate videos.
Mandy Steckelberg
Follies Years: 1988-91 (Pool II)
Best Known For: The Bowhead
Current Whereabouts: New York City
Post-Follies: Attended Vassar as a film major (1991-93), then started writing for and acting on stage in New York. Currently Off Broadway in The Official Show, a play she co-authored.
George Wilkerson
Follies Years: 1977-80 (Original Pool)
Best Known For: Writing close to 100 scripts: "Supermarket," "I Am Texas!," "The Bridge Game," et al.
Current Whereabouts: Austin
Post-Follies: Performed stand-up; with Dude Skiles, co-wrote and co-produced Mondo Texas (1983) and The Bogus St. Nick (1985); worked for Shell in Africa, and Dell and Radian locally. Currently teaches online for Austin Community College (the only completely online freshman English course in the state).
MEMORIALS
William Dente
Follies Years: 1977-86, 88-89 (Original Pool, The Ritz, Pool II)
Best Known For: Dame Della Diva, Duetto Grosso (with Linda Wetherby), Stale Evans in Westward Hose!
Other Work: Performed in local productions of The Primary English Class (1986); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1987); The Normal Heart (1987).
Died, 1989
Doug Dyer
Follies Years: 1977-84 (Original Pool, The Ritz)
Best Known For: Conceptualizing the Follies; creating Esther's water ballets; staging dozens of Esther's sketches.
Other Work: Adapted Edward Swift's novel Splendora for the stage (1984); founded the Safe Sex Players; directed local stage productions of Splendora (1984, 86), T-Shirts (1985), The Haunted Host (1985), Madwomen (1988), I Pass for Straight (1989, 90).
Died, 1991
Joe Hollis
Follies Years: 1977-84
Best Known For: Billy Bob Treadmill, "Uptight People," "Day-O"
Died, 1985
