KIDS CORNER STAFF
Actors
AIMEE LILLY
(Liz)
Aimee Lilly has been involved in radio drama and recording work since 1989. Aimee has recorded audio books by many best-selling authors. She portrayed Hattie Durham in the Dramatic Audio Version of the best-selling Left Behind series, and was part of the dramatic, multi-voice recording of the New Living Translation. She has played nurses, mothers, teachers, teenagers, reporters, chambermaids, a puzzle piece, a Bitsy Smoochums doll, and even a piece of fruit - but Liz is her first reptile. Aimee and her husband Scott live in the northern suburbs of Chicago.
KRIS JOUSMA
(Lucille)
Kris began her radio career when her husband convinced her to take a few classes at Chicago's Columbia College. It was a perfect fit. She did internships in news, rock 'n roll, and recording radio documentaries for PIA, Public Interest Affiliates, and studied under Paul Sills and at Chicago's Victory Gardens. She also hosted and produced a children's television show, called "After School". Currently Kris is a 4th grade teacher. She has written a children's book that is looking for a publisher. She and her husband have two sons and they live in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
ROGER BASICK
(Morrie / Spike)
Roger began his acting career in college for a program called, "Saturday Night Alive with Ron Hutchcraft." He played Ken Ritz in the Dramatic Audio Version of the Left Behind Series. Since 1997 he has been the host of the "Midnight Ride" on 90.1FM, WMBI in Chicago. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Carey, and they have two wonderful kids, Riley Grace and Cole.
KIMBERLY PLASTINA
(Chamy)
Kimberly is a native of Oak Park, IL. She attended Columbia College in Chicago as a Dramatic Arts major. She also studied at the Second City School of Improvisation. As a commercial voice-over actress, Kimberly's radio work has included spots for colleges, shopping malls, jewelry stores, beauty products, and Barbie dolls. She performed with the radio troupe, "Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear," and can be heard portraying the role of "Mercy" in the Christian radio drama, "Opening Arguments." Kimberly enjoys portraying the sincere, but ever-questioning Chamy.
ALLISON BACKOUS
(Lacey)
Allison Backous is a 2007 grad from Trinity Christian College, where she majored in English and Philosophy. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing from Seattle Pacific University, and resides in Chicago Ridge, IL.
BRAD BALOF
(Skink)
Brad was born into a military family in Anchorage Alaska. He is thrilled to be blessed with parents who support his love of art. He attended Ripon College for undergraduate school, and DePaul University for MFA studies. He has performed all over the country including being a Singing Ringmaster in the Circus, entertaining children of all ages.
BILL DAVIS
(Grandpa Anole)
Bill has been working in Christian radio for 25 years as an announcer, writer, director, and producer. He does freelance acting and announcing for radio and TV in the Chicago area. His hobbies include biking and flying stunt and power kites. He and his wife, Dee, live in Elmhurst, Illinois with their three children, Evan, Ashley, and Chad.
PAMELA KLEIN
(Narrator / Granny Gecko)
Pam has been working as an actress since graduating from Wheaton College in 1985. After a number of wonderful years in the theatre, her career shifted into television and commercials. Included among her favorite gigs, Pam lists her season with the nationally syndicated Better Homes & Gardens TV show as their interior design host. "Always the narrator, never the characters...", she is having so much fun playing Granny and others on Kids Corner. Pam and Jeff have a supporting cast of four and live in Wheaton, IL, where they eagerly anticipate the release of Pam's first published children's book in the fall of 2004.
ARDY IWEMA
(Miss Wattle)
Ardy is the host of "Words For Women," a fifteen-minute devotional radio program that airs via short wave on the Voice of Life radio, as well as HCJB radio in Asia. She has done freelance voice announcing for various organizations and graduated from John Brown University with a BS in Broadcasting. She is the mother of 2 and she and her family live in Lombard, IL.
ADAM VERNER
(Scooter / Liz's Dad)
Adam is happy to be working with Kids Corner and voicing several different characters. Adam graduated from Bradley University in 2001 with a degree in Theatre Performance. He then spent a year in Houston working and performing with the Christian theatre A.D. Players. Relatively new to Chicago, Adam has worked with RedMoon Theatre, Around the Coyote, and Circle Theatre. You can learn more at his web site, www.adamverner.com.
Writers
PHIL LOLLAR
(Writer)
Phil started his performing career at the tender age of five. He won numerous acting awards in high school, and studied music, screenwriting and directing in college, receiving a degree in Cinema Production from Los Angeles City College. Phil then worked with Focus on the Family, co-creating the award-winning dramatic series Adventures in Odyssey, writing more than 250 episodes of the show and directing more than 300 episodes. At Focus, Phil met Jeff Parker and Nathan Carlson, and the three of them developed the hit comedy series "Jungle Jam and Friends the Radio Show!" as well as the animated video series "Little Dogs on the Prairie." Phil also served as a writer and consultant for the Nickelodeon/Jim Henson television series, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, twice nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series. Phil resides in California with his wife and son.
DARBY KERN
(Writer)
Darby Kern is a scriptwriter, actor, director, filmmaker and improvisational comedian from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Prior to writing for Kid's Corner his most notable gig was lead scriptwriter for LEFT BEHIND: THE KIDS Dramatic Audio, with GAP Digital and Tyndale House Publishers. In his spare time Darby and his wife, Bobbie Jo, like to travel and try out new exercise machines, but not for very long. You can email him at filmbuff@laugheveryday.com.
DOUG AND MELISSA TIMBERLAKE
(Writers)
Doug and Melissa Timberlake have started improvisational theater groups, toured in drama presentations, and headed up TV production teams. They have also produced 50-Day Spiritual Adventure videos that have ministered to pastors and churchgoers across North America. Currently Doug is a spot producer with the Total Living Network and a freelance television producer. Doug and Melissa travel extensively performing in The Comedy Café — a show they created, which highlights their unique brand of interactive, improvisational comedy. Doug and Melissa live with their children in Geneva, Illinois.
RON VANDENBURG
(Writer)
Ron VandenBurg finds that many of his interests have come together in
writing for Kid's Corner. With over twenty years of teaching, Ron continues
to be surprised by his students and by God's grace every day. At Jubilee
Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, Ron works to deepen worship by using
drama. As a writer, Ron has written curriculum for Christian schools, has
written dramas for worship and has written media reviews for the Christian
Reformed periodical The Banner. He lives in St.Catharines, Ontario, with his
wife Rachel and three children.
CHRIS FABRY
(Writer)
Chris Fabry is a writer/broadcaster living in Colorado. He's written more
than 60 books, has published best-selling children's books with Jerry B. Jenkins, has written a racing series called RPM, and his first novel for
adults will be published in August of 2008, titled Dogwood. Chris has worked
with Moody Broadcasting, Focus on the Family, Love Worth Finding, and other
ministries across the country. He has been married to his wife, Andrea, for
25 years. They have nine children.
Other
STEVE WICK
(Music, SFX and Foley)
Steve operates Resonance Audio Media, Inc., a private recording studio in the suburbs of Chicago with an emphasis on custom music and creative audio projects. In addition to being addicted to various plug-in synthesizers and noisemakers, he is a guitarist and enjoys writing and collaborating with other artists whenever possible. He released his first solo recording, Incidents of Travel, in 2000 and his latest, A Sense of Place, in 2006. He is married to Kelli who is also a musician. Together they have three children, Chloe, Mallory, and Carter. To learn more, go to his web site at www.stevewickmusic.com.
BARBARA BROUWER
(Producer)
Barbara Brouwer is the project manager for Kids Corner. Perhaps her best qualifications for working in a ministry for kids are her children and grandchildren. Her passion is that children would know the love of God in Jesus Christ, and that this would shape, direct, and comfort them in every stage and circumstance of their lives. She also has a heart for parents who care for and lead their little ones. Barbara has a BA in Interpersonal and Group Communication from Trinity College, Deerfield, Illinois; and a MA in Christian Ministry from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Illinois. Barbara lives in Elmhurst, Illinois with her husband Jim.
MARK DRENTH
(Director / Producer)
Mark Drenth has had an interest in media productions since his high school days. For the past two decades he has been in charge of all audio production for the Back to God Hour, the electronic media ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. He says his work on Kids Corner as producer/director has been an awesome experience, particularly because of the great talent and cooperation of the all the people involved in this production. Mark is married to Judy and together they have a daughter Kristi, and a son, Daniel.
