The Importance of Being Earnest
OPENS April 25, 2025
Monroe Stage
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
—Oscar Wilde
Returning to the country home where he lives with his ward Cecily Cardew and her governess Miss Prism, John finds that Algernon has also arrived under the identity of the nonexistent brother Ernest. Algernon falls madly in love with the beautiful Cecily, who has long been enamored of the mysterious, fascinating brother Ernest.
With the arrival of Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen, chaos erupts. It is discovered that Miss Prism is the absent-minded nurse who twenty years ago misplaced the baby of Lady Bracknell’s brother in Victoria Station. Thus John, whose name is indeed Ernest, is Algernon’s elder brother, and the play ends with the two couples in a joyous embrace.
Featured Cast
Damion Matthews
Damion Matthews (John Worthing) is thrilled by the opportunity to take part in this truly charming play. After leaving acting school in Seattle to study psychology and counseling, he returned to his childhood home, Sonoma County, and reconnected with his love of theater. Damion feels extremely lucky to have been a part of productions at Main Stage West, Spreckels, and 6th Street Playhouse. He would like to extend gratitude to his community, including his wife Roxann and son Rocco, for always supporting his passion.
Mary Gannon Graham
Mary Gannon Graham (Lady Bracknell) has been performing in the theatre as an actor, singer and director for over 50 years, here in Sonoma County, New York and Los Angeles. Mary was last seen here in Groundhog Day the Musical; at Spreckles Performing Arts Center where she played Genie Kline, in Beautiful, and before that as Badger in The Wind in the Willows. When Mary’s not working on stage she works as the Artist Coordinator at Alchemia Art, a performing and visual art program supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Drew Bolander
Drew Bolander (Algernon Moncrieff) is a Santa Rosa native who spent most of his life based in NYC performing in anything from opera to circus. Now returned home, you may have caught him as Kodaly in 6th Street’s She Loves Me, Barry Mann in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Captain JW Riser in The Hello Girls at SAL, or in the ensembles of Tosca and La Bohème at Pocket Opera/Cinnabar. Drew will play The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance later this season at 6th Street. He will play Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at SAL and sing Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ with Cantiamo Sonoma.
David Noll
David Noll ( Reverend Chasuble) is excited to appear at 6th Street for the first time! He holds a B.A. in Theatre (Acting) from Purdue University. Following graduation, he acted professionally for five years before falling into a career in healthcare information technology management, obtaining an MBA along the way. Thirty some years later and now retired, David is back to acting. He performed in Shakespeare in Love at Novato Theater Company and was last seen at College of Marin in A Doll’s House. Favorite roles back in the day included Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac, Teach in American Buffalo and Felix in The Odd Couple.
Katherine Rupers
Katherine Rupers (Cecily Cardew) is excited to be making her 6th Street Playhouse debut. Some of her most recent roles were Nora in A Doll’s House at College of Marin, and Emily in The Moors at Main Stage West. Katherine is thrilled to be part of this enduring play as it continues on, and can’t wait for the audience to enjoy in the farce of it all
Eileen Morris
Eileen Morris (Miss Prism) earned her BA from UC San Diego where she studied voice with Carol Plantamura. She’s well known to Bay Area opera audiences for many roles, including Alice Ford in Falstaff; Elvira in Don Giovanni; Adina in The Elixir of Love; and the four heroines in Tales of Hoffman. She recently began taking on musical and theater roles and was seen at Spreckels as Margaret in A Light in the Piazza, Marmee in Little Women, Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, and Dotty in Noises Off. She works for COTS, a homeless agency headquartered in Petaluma. Learn more at www.cots.org.
Sarah Dunnavant
Sarah Dunnavant (Gwendolen Fairfax) is happy to work at 6th St Playhouse for the first time. Recent credits include Steel Magnolias at Cinnabar Theater; Mary Jane in POTUS at Left Edge Theatre; Is Not That Strange? and Reconsider Me, part of the Festival of New Works readings; Hamlet at New Canon Theatre Co; and The Metromaniacs at Spreckels Performing Arts Center. She has worked as an actor with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Richmond Shakespeare Festival, among others. Last year she played June in Honey Child, a Virtual Program pick for the Tiny Film Fest 2024.
Be Wilson
Be Wilson (Lane/Merriman) is a semi-retired actor, clown, and comedian brought back to the stage by their great need for validation. They are excited to work on their first production with 6th Street Playhouse but you may have seen them more recently as Marcellus in The Music Man at Spreckels or performing under their pseudonym Grawlix, The Clown at the Northbay Cabaret and TikTok respectively. Be is a dual certificate holder in Acting from SRJC and Physical Theatre from Dell’Arte international.
