Members Profiles

Michael O’Hagan was born in Dublin, Ireland. He trained at the Birmingham Theatre School in England and has had a long and busy career spanning 40 years as a professional actor, director and teacher. He started in repertory theatre in Birmingham and Scotland, and then moved to London where he has appeared at such theatres as the National, in Peter Gill’s The Murderers, the Young Vic in Corialanus, the Whitehall in Chekhov’s Three Sisters, the Bush in numerous plays, and Billy Roche’s awardwinning trilogy The Wexford Trilogy at the Tricycle in London and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. He also appeared at the Tricycle, London, in the highly acclaimed John Bull’s Other Island and in Bloody Sunday, directed by Nick Kent, which won the Lawrence Olivier Award. He appeared at the Arcola Theatre, London, in the new translation of Lorca’s When Five Years Pass and at the Shakespeare Globe Playhouse, London in Othello. and Romeo and Juliet . In America he has appeared in Joey Tillinger’s production of Paddywack at the Long Wharf, New Haven, and in the premiere of New England at the South Coast Rep., Costa Mesa, for which he received a Dramalogue Award, then in his own ‘Pick of The Week’ production of Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter together with Derrick O’Connor, at the Write Act Theatre, Los Angeles. He appeared in Brian Friel’s Dancing At Lughnasa at The Rubicon Theatre, Ventura, followed by another ‘Pick of the Week’ with Susan Clark at LA’s Matrix Theater in David Payne’s hit, The Body by Nick Clarke. He then appeared in Billy Roche’s Poor Beast in the Rain in the Salem K Theatre Season at the Matrix. Most recently he appeared in Billy Roche’s production Lay Me Down Softly, at The Wexford Arts Centre, Dublin, and the Tricycle Theatre, London.. Filmgoers will know him from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s End of Days, the Oscar winning film Gods and Monsters, Speed 2, HBO’s Havana’s Nocturne with Andy Garcia, Dead Man on Campus, Clint Eastwood’s Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil, Restoration and The Lodger. His long list of television roles include The Visitor, Nightman, Johnny Harris in Eastenders, Coronation Street, Darling Buds of May, Startrek – Enterprise and the mini series for Hallmark, Marco Polo. Michael lives mostly in Miami Beach, with his wife, actress Pamela Salem, with whom he produced a documentary film for Harlech Television on the Indian Kite flying festival Makar Sankranti called Fish in The Sky, currently in the Kite Exhibition in the Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv. Together they have written SHORESIDE.

PAMELA SALEM Born in India, and brought up there and in England, Pamela went to Heidelberg University in Germany and the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. After starting in repertory theater in Chesterfield and York she has had a long career in stage, television and film. She played leads such as Madame Ranevskaya in The Cherry Orchard at Harrogate, Olivia in the British tour of Emlyn Williams‘ Night Must Fall, Emma in the international tour of Pinter’s Betrayal, creating the role of Vanessa in Francis Durbridge’s The Small Hours, and playing Lady Macbeth in the British Tour of Macbeth. In Los Angeles she has played the First Lady in Gene Franklin Smith’s Rubicon at the Coast, and The Devil’s Consort at Write Act Theatre, as well as The Queen in Cymbeline, and most recently Annabel in Ayckbourn’s Snake in the Grass at the Matrix Theatre, West Hollywood. Pamela has been a regular in many British television series such as Bucaneer, Dr. Who, Tripods, Eastenders, The Witch, Belor, in her own 26 part series Into The Labyrinth, and French Fields amongst others, and she played Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond fillm Never Say Never Again. Here in North America she has been seen in ER, Party of Five and as the British Prime Minister in West Wing, and the film Gods and Monsters and The Book of Eve with Claire Bloom. Pamela has produced various plays, amongst them Rubicon and Transports of the Heart in L.A., and a documentary film for Harlech Television in the UK on the Indian Kite Festival Makar Sankranti. Pamela and her husband, actor Michael O‘Hagan ran an Equity theatre season of three plays, Poor Beast in the Rain, Snake in the Grass and Boise, USA at the Matrix Theatre in LA, thanks to the generosity of their friend and Angel, Rajen Kilachand, who sponsored the Kilachand Series. She is currently starring in an ongoing audio series in London, ‘Countermeasures’, a spin off from Dr. Who. They now live most of the time in Miami Beach with their dog Suzie, where they wrote SHORESIDE.

Mitchell is a Los Angeles native who has called Miami his home since 2002. All the world truly has been a stage for him as his career extends from co-starring in an exercise TV show in Italy to playing the lead in The King & I in a community theatre in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. A 1988 winners of Italy’s Media Arts Award, he was a prolific voice actor in Rome and now with Miami Radio Players plans to continue his passion in South Florida. Aside from being a SAG-AFTRA member since 2012, Mitchell has his B.S. degree in Organizational Management from Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, VA. He is a locally well-known Spa Director and Consultant who speaks Italian, Spanish & French. Helping others maximize their potential is his passion and life focus. MITCHELL BERKMAN

An eco-centric Pioneer in conscious activism, Journalist , Actress, Fashion Designer, Kundalini Yoga teacher, Founder of La Luchi Foundation, CEO Elucelle Entertainment, a production company developed to create and produce multicultural content with crossover opportunities for domestic and international television broadcast and film. In addition to her job as executive, she is an internationally recognized model for Zima and Jeep, as an actress has had starring rolls in movies and a number of guest appearances in both television and film as well as series of magazine interviews. Her eclectic background found its beginnings in the small island country of the Dominican Republic, a land known for being the exotic center of the Caribbean. Luchi's deep desire to travel and experience new and exciting cultures pushed her to leave home at a very young age and travel the world in search of life's wonders. Her unique lifestyle has given her an understanding of the importance of travel as a necessity for growth in human beings. Ms. Estevez speaks Spanish, English, French and Italian and might even be considered the favorite daughter of an emerging global multiculturalism. LUCHI ESTEVEZ

(Born June 7, 1944 graduate of Niagara University 1965, SAG-AFTRA member) A product of Brooklyn, New York Paul has been balancing his life between work as a Banker and his passion of acting for over 45 years. His experience has been highlighted by a Best Actor award in a University competition while at Niagara University and a role in the feature film Cape Fear. In addition to these more notable events he has appeared in many Community and Professional stage productions. His favorite role was that of Yossarian in Catch 22 which he also directed. Once retired he had the opportunity to take the lead role in a University of Miami graduate student film The Leap This experience was not only fun but provided a great message at a time when we all need to focus on the issues our aging population faces. PAUL A. FROEHLER

Richard is from Birmingham, England; his favorite stage roles include Dr. Frank Bryant, in Educating Rita, playing the grandson of a famous distiller in An Evening with Alexander Walker, and Barry Wheeler the Best Man in Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding. His recent film credits include a leading role in the thriller, A Dangerous Lesson, Michael Bay’s Pain and Gain and the French film RTT. He has appeared on several TV shows including The Game, Burn Notice and The Glades.

RICHARD HAYLOR

Singer and Actress. Madeline has sung her way around the world on over 200 cruises. Then settling in Miami, as an Equity member, she has acted in stage productions at different theatres and as a SAG, she has done commercials and voice overs. MADELINE KERN

Working in Great Britain and the United States, Robert brings 50 years of global broadcast, film and journalistic experience. His acting background includes a lead in Daphne du Maurier’s The Birds stage production in Britain and a major role in the British film A Spring Tide. As a voice artist, Robert recorded a number of best-selling audio books in the US, including The Art of War, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and 1492. His journalistic background includes reporting from New York, Washington, Hong Kong, London, Munich and Prague for international broadcasters such as the BBC, NPR, American Public Media and radio networks in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and South Africa. He also spent several years as an award-winning television anchor in Michigan. ROBERT H LYLE

VANESSA McCAFFREY London born, and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Vanessa McCaffrey is an actor, playwright, and director. Most recently Vanessa has performed in Key West in The Poetry of Hearts, Moment of Grace and Person of Interest by Bob Bowersox. Vanessa collaborated with Tony Konrath to write Weeds a play about Legends Bum Farto and Peggy Mills for the Key West Characters series presented by the Key West Fringe at the Firehouse Museum. Vanessa starred as Paige in the 2012 Key West Fringe Production of Dinner by Moira Buffini at the Women's Club and she performed the role of Olivia in Twelfth Night for the Fringe Shakespeare in the Schools 2012 program. Other memorable roles have included Hedda Hopper in BitchSlap by Darrin Hagen, and Hester Salomon in Peter Shaffer's Equus at The Waterfront Playhouse; and Sarah in Harold Pinter's The Lover at The Red Barn.

Born in Miami and raised in Venezuela, Alejandro Toro proudly represents the Hispanic community of South Florida. He has quickly established himself in both the English and Spanish dubbing industry by participating in South Park, Cocaine Cowboys and Californication amongst other popular TV shows, cartoons and novelas. His voice over work also includes several movie trailers and announcer work for over twenty brands. Recently venturing into TV & Film, Alejandro has participated in a gamut of commercials and is currently part of the cast of Nickelodeon’s latest TV show La Cocina de Tony. Alongside his career, he indulges in hobbies such as photography and outdoor sports. ALEJANDRO TORO

Ellen Wacher is the VP of SAGAFTRA -- the Miami Local. Among her activities has been to Chair the Women's Committee and a couple of years ago, held the first, nationwide live streaming of older women's issues in obtaining work. Also, she founded the first Radio Actors group. The outcome is what we are involved in right now. Presently, she is creator and producer of Pigs Do Fly Productions, an acting company whose mission it is to highlight people over 50 as viable, full of life, involved characters. The Company is very active and working on their next show. ELLEN WACHER

in alphabetical order…

Jorge Orozco is from Medellin, Colombia. He has studied music education and tenor saxophone at the Tomas Luis de Victoria and 2 years at the Antioquia University. He went to NY in 1998 to study engineering music recording and production at the Institute of Audio Research. He continued his studies with a BA in Electronic Music Technology at Queensborough Community College and followed him down a BA in Entertainment Technology at City Tech in Brooklyn. Jorge worked in NYC in different musical studios dedicated to recording and production. He came to Miami in 2007 where he is working independently producing and mixing freelancing and independent artists. He has a solo album of electronic music lounge which launched in 2013 entitled ‘On The Other Side’ - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/on-the-other-side/id611290062 He is an official Avid certified. He is a dedicated Pro Tools user improving his knowledge and skills at all times. He has obtained various certifications as a Pro Tools operator in music. Through his career and studies he has experience in show production and the different aspects related to it, its development, and process. He has worked as part of crew productions in audio, lighting, rigging, stage hands, and management. His education in entertainment technology, music electronic technology, music performance, recording engineering, music production and show production, has given him the knowledge and the expertise to work within the different fields of the entertainment industry. “My passion is music and sound in the studio and live recording mixing, and mastering. My approach is mixing, recording and production. I have my own professional studio where I do much of my work. I also use another local studio where we do work such as live recording and mastering”.

GINGER VELLA Ginger was born in Manhattan, raised in Brooklyn and at the Jersey Shore and is now an 18-year resident of Miami. As a member of several Jersey Shore community-theater companies, she appeared in productions which include: Paddy Chayefsky’s “Middle of the Night”, “Our Town”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Promises Promises” and “Oklahoma”. She is also a singer and a writer, mostly of poetry. In “real life”, Ginger played the part of a social worker and is the mother of two grown children.

DAVID SOMEN

David was born and bred in the Midlands, Birmingham, Great Britain where he still resides with his wife and three grown up children. David is a ‘young’ retiree having worked for over 30 years in the security services. He now works for a large UK supermarket. He is a keen hiker and enjoys nothing more than camping out in the wild. An avid technology enthusiast he is always tinkering with computers and games consoles. Web design is all part of his tech interest. Creating and maintaining the Miami Radio Players website is a sheer joy. David is also a paranormal investigator having investigated many ghostly locations over the years.

Barbara Fox is the producer/director of Mystery On The Menu, an interactive murder mystery theater company she founded in 1968. She writes and acts in the participatory plays and also presents one woman mystery plays. She is the author of the Murder In The Inn series of novels as well as several other books. She has acted in regional theater in Florida, Washington DC and Chicago. Barbara lives in Hollywood Florida and when she's not acting or writing, she enjoys the beach, line dancing and going on as many cruises as possible. BARBARA FOX

Fern Katz, a Chicago native, is one of the founding members of Actors Community Theatre of Davie (1999) and served at President for many years and presently serves as Treasurer. She has performed in many theatres in South Florida and has several commercials.. FERN KATZ

Barry Katz has been involved in the performing arts for over 60 years and has participated in film, radio, television and theatre. Barry is also a founding member of Actors Community Theatre of Davie and has been married to Fern for 62 years! BARRY KATZ

JERRY JENSEN has been pleased to work with Salem K Productions stage managing last year’s The Dumbwaiter and two of the Miami Radio Players readings. In the last four years, he’s been Production Stage Manager for over two dozen productions, including Hair for MNM Productions at the Kravis Center, The Addams Family Musical and Murdered to Death at Evening Star Productions, Island City Stage’s revival of The Timekeepers at Levis JCC; 3 shows for the B’Nai Torah Theater Arts Series; a full season at The Plaza Theatre, and the prior two seasons for twelve New Theatre productions, including several world premieres. Jerry’s also directed shows at eight local theaters including: Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues & Rumors; The Lion in Winter; A Thousand Clowns; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; My Fair Lady; All The Great Books (Abridged); Miami 1-Acts; The Cocktail Hour, The Dining Room, Private Lives and Love! Valour! Compassion! As Executive Director of the Wichita Center for the Arts, he oversaw the Midwest Premiers of Stephen Schwartz’s Children of Eden and Rags and the World Premiere of John Caird’s eventual Tony-nominated Broadway musical Jane Eyre. Additionally, he’s acted in over 60 shows in 9 states, most recently as the Foreman (Juror #1) in New Theatre’s highly acclaimed revival of 12 Angry Men and as Jerry in The Zoo Story at Andrews Living Arts. Thank you to Michael, Pamela, and all the gang for letting me be part of Miami Radio Players.

JERRY JENSEN