Hannah Briggs, actor

Hannah, a native of Sunset, Louisiana, has been part of the local theatre scene for nearly ten years earning her Bachelor of Performing Arts at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2003.  As a member of Acting Up, she has performed in numerous production including TWELFTH NIGHT, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ABRIDGED, MACBETH, the original cast of SUSTAINED WINDS, and PLAY. MUSIC. HEAL.  Briggs is one of the original members of sketch comedy group Skit Happens.  She enjoys working with young children and teaches drama at a local elementary school for the arts.  In addition, she serves as an acting coach for the Summer Youth Shakespeare Ensemble.

Ricky Briggs, actor/writer

Ricky has ten years of experience in standup comedy, sketch comedy, stage, film and television. He has entertained nationally in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, and Orlando. Locally, he has performed at the AcA, 307 Downtown, Cite’ des Arts, Artmosphere, Grantstreet, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, The Sidebar, and Mr. C’s. Since 2003, Briggs has been involved with Acting Up as both an actor and writer. He has been seen in ANGELS IN AMERICA, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ABRIDGED, MACBETH, the original cast of SUSTAINED WINDS, and PLAY. MUSIC. HEAL.  He co-founded the sketch comedy group Skit Happens in December of 2005. Briggs is also an acting coach for Summer Youth Shakespeare Ensemble.

Lian Cheramie, actor/writer

Cheramie is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana. She received her BFA in Performing Arts from University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lian is an original member of Acting Up. In Lafayette, Lian has been seen in Sarah Schulman’s CORRECT USAGE AND COMMON ERRORS,  THE TEMPEST, TWELFTH NIGHT, and SUSTAINED WINDS. She continually works with the sketch comedy group, Skit Happens!  In December of 2008, Lian developed and performed her first one woman show entitled The One Woman/Girl/Lady/Beotch Show where she presented a variety of original characters.  The new work PLAY. MUSIC. HEAL. has Lian excited about the challenge and growth she is receiving as a theater artist and as a person.  Lian is also a talented theatre teacher in a variety of schools for Lafayette Parish.

Brian Crutchfield, actor/production designer

Brian is from Jeanerette, Louisiana. He has received an associate’s degree from South Louisiana Community College in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Digital Media and Production, and is currently enrolled at ULL. Aside from his involvement with Acting Up. Brian has performed in local community theater, independent and studio films, as well production designer for a number of local independent films.

David Guarisco, actor

David, lawyer turned physical therapist assistant, was first cast as the father in a local community theatre production of TONY AND TINA'S WEDDING.  He then began working with Acting Up where he has been seen in THE BAR PLAYS, THE PATRIOT ACTS, MACBETH, AND SUSTAINED WINDS.

Kara Guarisco, actor/writer

Proud to call Lafayette her birthplace and home, Kara St. Clair Guarisco has been a part of Acting Up since she was a young teen. A graduate of the Summer Youth Shakespeare Ensemble, she has studied under Amy Waguespack for the past 6 years and now serves as an assistant teacher in private classes. Currently studying French and English at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, she participates in the Francophone cultures of Louisiana, and is inspired by the opportunity to bring a more progressive and unexpected form of theatre to Southern Louisiana. Kara is also a writer and is known to shake it. Onstage and off.

Megan LeBleu, actor

Megan LeBleu is a student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She first started acting in The Summer Youth Shakespeare Ensemble and is now an intern with the program. As a member of The Summer Youth Shakespeare Ensemble she performed in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, and AS YOU LIKE IT. She has appeared in LYSISTRATA, THE BAR PLAYS, SUSTAINED WINDS, and NO TEACHER LEFT STANDING. She also performs sketch comedy with Skit Happens.

George Saucier, actor/musician

George was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana. He started playing music in 2004 all by himself, slowly learning to play guitar and playing trumpet in the school band. He began acting in 2006 when he joined the Summer Youth Shakespeare Ensemble. He worked as a tech with Acting Up and worked his way to junior company member in 2008. He has performed in  NO TEACHER LEFT STANDING, PATRIOT ACTS II, and PLAY. MUSIC. HEAL.  Now a student at the University of Louisiana he is a full time company member.

Cissy Whipp, actor, dancer, choreographer

Mary Francis “Cissy” Whipp has presented workshops for the John F. Kennedy Center’s Education Department since 1999. She presents workshops nationally on integrating dance into the curriculum. She has been working as performer, choreographer, and dance educator for over twenty-five years. She received her BFA in Choreographic Design from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and her MA in Performing Arts: Dance from the American University in Washington, D.C. She founded Louisiana’s first professional modern dance company, Moving South Dance, Inc. She has taught in college dance programs at SUNY: Potsdam and UL Lafayette. Ms. Whipp has served on the Louisiana Department of Education committee for developing arts assessment standards, for the revision of the state arts content standards and benchmarks, and for the development of the state curriculum for the arts. She is currently teaching creative movement and dance at the J. W. James Elementary Arts & Technology Academy in Lafayette, Louisiana.