"SARA", Artistic Director

Julia is returning to Milwaukee Rock Theatre as Sara in MURDER BALLAD.

Favorite credits include: Veronica Sawyer (Heathers), Alice Russell (LIZZIE), Whatsername (American Idiot), Extraordinary Girl (American Idiot), Medea (Medea: A New Rock Musical), Sue Snell (CARRIE), and Female Soloist (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson).

Julia is also a tattoo artist, burlesque performer, birthday party princess, and pinup model. She co-owns Milwaukee Rock Theatre with her husband.

"TOM", Operations Director

Matt is returning to Milwaukee Rock Theatre as Tom in MURDER BALLAD.

Recent credits include: Narrator in The Good Doctor (UWO-FDL), Bat Boy in Bat Boy: The Musical (Outskirts Theatre), Johnny in Green Day’s American Idiot (MKE Rock Theatre), Tunny in Green Day’s American Idiot (Express Yourself Madison), and Michael in Tick, Tick…Boom! (LCP). Matt also performs as a stand-up comedian, and co-owns Milwaukee Rock Theatre with his wife.

"NARRATOR", Director

Tina Binns is ending her seven and a half year retirement from performing to perform with Milwaukee Rock Theatre.

Favorite credits from her past life as a performer include: Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins), Paulette (Legally Blonde), and Da Bronx (Newsies). Other notable remnants of her past life also include writing two plays that were both performed during her time at UW-Milwaukee and being a member of an award-winning acapella group.

In her present life, Tina is a director. Tina has worked in various theatres across the Greater Milwaukee area, but her home base is with Port Washington Theatre which is run through Port Washington Parks and Recreation. There, she directs and choreographs three productions per year, having recently directed the summer production of Heathers. She is presently juggling her directing duties with Port Teen Theatre’s production of Mean Girls Jr. alongside her commitment to direct and perform in Milwaukee Rock Theatre’s production of Murder Ballad. In her free time, Tina is a cosplayer alongside her husband and has modeled in cosplay and out of cosplay for local businesses.

"MICHAEL"

Cody is, by no means, a stranger to the stage, but is making his Milwaukee debut with Milwaukee Rock Theatre.

Favorite credits include: Jason “JD” Dean (Heathers), Jack Kelly (Newsies), Chuck Cranston (Footloose), Fred (A Christmas Carol), The Beast (Beauty and the Beast), Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid), and Fagin (Oliver!).

Cody regularly performs in productions with Port Summer Theatreand has been a member of an award-winning acapella group. When not performing, Cody is a cosplayer alongside his wife and has modeled in cosplay and out of cosplay for local businesses.

Music Director, Keyboard

Equally at home in opera, musical theatre, and on the concert stage, Lydia Rose Eiche has been praised for their “great warmth, intelligence and power.” They have sung roles as diverse as Pamina in Zie Magic Flute and Yitzhak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. They have performed with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, All In Productions, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Sunset Playhouse, Waukesha Civic Theatre, Soulstice Theatre, Haylofters, Boulevard Theatre, Capital City Theatre, Plymouth Chorale, and Fresco Opera Theatre. Lydia studies with Marlee Sabo. www.lydiaroseeiche.com

Stage Manager, Fight Choreo

Bree Kazinski is a Milwaukee based actor, fight & intimacy choreographer and teacher. She is a graduate from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has trained and has earned the status of Advanced Actor Combatant with The Society of American Fight Directors. She has traveled all over the globe training with the best fight masters, stunt performers and stunt coordinator and is excited to share the work with you all. When she is not teaching stage combat to teenagers and adults, she is also a toddler teacher. Her past acting credits are: First Stage Children’s Theater (THE HOBBIT, ESCAPE FROM PELIGRO ISLAND, LUCHADORA!) The Milwaukee Rep (OUR TOWN) TV/Film Credits: Powerbook IV: Forces (S3). Breekazinski.com

Drums

Jim Van Deusen, is currently a freelance musician here in Wisconsin. He earned his BA in Music Education and Master’s in Music Performance both from UW-Milwaukee. In addition, he has earned extra credits from Vandercook School of Music and the University of North Texas for conducting, arranging, and composition. He spent 30 years as high school and middle school band director and more recently the last 6 years as a music minister. 

Jim also has been involved in over 200 musical productions over the years with just about every high school, college, community theater and professional theater in southeastern Wisconsin. As a conductor, percussionist, trombonist, trumpeter, and arranger/composer, and has extensive knowledge about music theater that is still very active to this day. Jim was honored to be selected as 1 of 10 percussionists to be part of a master clinic on Broadway and work on the show FROZEN. Jim is thrilled to be “rocking and rolling” for this show.

Bass

Kevin has been playing bass since 2011, culminating in a BFA from Belmont University in 2022, studying under the legendary bassist Mr. Roy Vogt. In college, Kevin played with several different groups across all genres - country western, Christian Praise and Worship, funk, rock and roll, and beyond. He was lucky enough to record his parts in some of Nashville's most iconic recording studios, including Columbia Studio A and Ocean Way. Kevin also had the opportunity to travel and perform with John Angotti, a notable Contemporary Christian artist based in Nashville, TN.

Since returning to Milwaukee, Kevin continues to record for other artists and has played in productions all over the city, including shows at Marquette University High School, Eastbrook Church, Concordia University, and the Milwaukee Rep. Having studied jazz for four years at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, he also plays with trios throughout the city. He previously taught band and choir at Marquette University High School, and currently teaches private lessons.

Guitar

Leroy Nance is a West Allis local who has been playing guitar for 10 years, 5 of which have been primarily in the pit for various stage productions. His favorites being SpongeBob the Musical (2022) and Heathers (2024). He’s incredibly excited to help you experience the music of Murder Ballad, and hopes you enjoy thoroughly.