CHARLIE HALL is known by many as Rhode Island's State Jester. He is the creative force behind Ocean State Follies, producer of the RI COMEDY FESTIVAL, and co-creator of RHODE BYTES, a local sketch-type show appearing on NBC 10 and its website. The RISD grad's also made guest appearances on all local radio and TV stations, emceed hundreds of events and fundraisers, and interestingly enough is a talented courtroom atist for local and network television stations.  He has owned and managed 2 comedy clubs, and consults on all types of comedy-related events.

He has performed as a stand-up comic since 1980 and has appeared on several national TV shows, such as the Joan Rivers Show, Caroline's Comedy Hour, MTV Half Hour Comedy Hour, Evening At the Improv, America's Funniest People and Star Search '93, where he was a semi-finalist. He has also appeared as the opening act for more shows at the Warwick Musical Theater than any other person. These acts include Chicago, Natalie Cole, The Temptations, Sam Kinison, Frankie Valli, Reba McIntire, Charlie Daniels, Rosie O'Donnell and Jerry Seinfeld among many others. 

In 1993, 1997, and 1998 Rhode Island Monthly Magazine voted Ocean State Follies as the state's Best Comedy Show; in 1994, '95, and '96 the magazine voted Charlie as Rhode Island's Best Comedian. His editorial cartoons appear in all area newspapers including the 2005 to 2010 Editions of the Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year (in North America). He is also the publisher of 3 books – the last two, cartoon books on life and politics in RI called HOT SKETCH, and HOT SKETCH 2: The Independent Funnyman. 

If this all weren't enough, Charlie also wrote the words for a song called "Rhode Island, It's For Me" that has become the official state song of RI in 1995. 

MARK COLOZZI is Supervisor of Music for the Cranston Public Schools in Cranston, Rhode Island and Co-Director of Instrumental Music and Choir Director at Cranston High School East where he conducts the concert band, marching band, jazz ensemble, choir and chamber choir.  He is an executive board member of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association and holds the position of Music Director of the Life Teen Ministry at Holy Apostles Church in Cranston. Mark earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Fine Arts from Rhode Island College. He is the recipient of the Theodore Presser Foundation Scholarship and the URI Music Department Service Award. As a performer, he has appeared extensively as a tenor soloist throughout the Diocese of Providence including the past 25 years with the Gregorian Concert Choir in residence at the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in Providence under the direction of Monsignor Anthony Mancini. Singing with this ensemble has brought many wonderful experiences including meeting and singing for Pope John Paul II in Rome in 1998. Mark held the position of Music Director for the Salve Regina University Theatre Department for ten years and is glad to be working with the talented cast of Rhode Island's most notable musical comedy troupe, the Ocean State Follies.  He has been cast in the role of Joe Barros, the hit man in “The Family,” a musical written by Arlene Violet and composer, Enrico Garzilli.  The show will be performed at Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence in June of 2011.  Mark resides in Cranston with his lovely wife, Joanne and his two wonderful daughters, Alicia and Jenna.

BETHANY LYNN GIAMMARCO has been performing in Rhode Island since the age of 14. She has been seen on stage with Cranston Community Theatre, Academy Players, Community Players of Pawtucket, as well as the Cranston West and CCRI Theatre companies. Favorite roles include TiMoune in "Once On This Island," Leading Player in "Pippin," The Narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Mayzie LaBird in "Seussical: The Musical" and Diana Morales in "A Chorus Line". In 2002 Bethany beat out over 450 hopefuls to become "Southern New England's American Idol," and was subsequently rejected on two separate occasions by the idiots <ahem> “talent scouts” for the popular national show. She is thrilled to be performing with the Follies.

MICHAEL JOHNSON started with the Ocean State Follies in 1998 and continued with the company through 2000, and is excited to be back with Charlie and the cast. Michael has been active in theater, film and television for 20 years now working at many theaters such as Newport Playhouse, Firehouse Theater, Courthouse Center for the Arts and Trinity Rep. Michael has worked for ABC, NBC, FOX, Disney, Discovery Channel, Lifetime, PBS, and as a casting associate for NBC’s Deal or No Deal. He can be seen on ABC this fall in Empire State and House Rules. Michael also runs Standup! Newport, a standup comedy production and booking agency in Newport RI. Michael lives in Newport RI, and works in the restaurant industry, but is waiting the day of his discovery!!

ALEX TIRRELL is a recent graduate of Rhode Island College with a BA in Music, having studied voice, piano, jazz, and musical theatre. An avid music director for the past eight years, Alex has worked on many local and regional productions in the New England area, including the world premieres of The Clockwork Waltz and Nightsong, regional premieres of Les Miserables and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Rhode Island premieres of RENT and Thirteen. When not working in theatre or playing with the Follies, Alex is keyboardist/vocalist for the award winning pop/rock band Shryne.

KIM FRENZE started her theatre experience at the age of 7 with dance lessons when her father saw her playing football with the neighborhood boys.  He took the football out of her hands and put a tutu around her waist. Since then, she has performed in musicals throughout Rhode Island in shows such as Nunsense, Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, Best Little Whorehouse, Funny Girl, On the Twentieth Century and is a former member of the comedy troupe, Mixed Nuts.  In April 2010, she performed in the Johnson & Wales University Players production of Urinetown, the Musical as Penelope Pennywise and won the Motif Award for best actress.  She is happy to be working with her friends in the Follies.  Kim is also a member of the Life-Teen Music Ministry at Holy Apostles Church in Cranston, RI. 

DIANA BLANDA returns to the Rhode Island stage after 4 years in San Francisco. You may remember her from past productions at the The Granite Theatre, Theatre Company of RI and Newport Playhouse. Favorite roles include Anna in the King & I; Mamma Rose in Gypsy; Miss Hannigan in Annie and Sr. Mary Amnesia in Nunsense.  She has also starred in a one woman show,  I Got Merman. While in San Francisco, she studied acting for stage and film at The American Conservatory Theatre; voice over at Voice One and character voices with Character Pros in Hollywood, CA. She also originated a role in the premiere of The Texas Chainsaw Musical at the San Francisco Fringe Festival and played a featured role, Sally, in the movie, A Matter of Time. Originally from the east coast, Diana studied voice and stage performance at The Singer’s Forum in NYC, the Connecticut Conservatory of Music and Rhode Island College.  She is thrilled to be joining the Ocean State Follies where she can once again exercise her funny bone.

KATHRYN CHESTER graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Master of Music degree in piano. She is presently a professor of music at URI where she performs and teaches piano and music theory. Kathryn has been the Follies musical director since 1992. Her arrangement of "Rhode Island's It For Me" has become the state song of Rhode Island.

Contact Charlie Hall at (401) 353-3330; or email him at charliehall@cox.net.