Dalen Gunn

Dalen began his Theater Journey as an imaginative home school kid. He was gifted a violin and lessons at age 8 and eventually practiced enough to not sound like a dying cat. He continues to play electric violin at church serving on The Heart Worship Team.

In his teen years he was cast in the local film production of Hinds Feet on High Places produced by his sister, Elisha Toews. Eventually, she roped him into auditioning for local community theatre productions and he got a taste for the stage. Shows he was cast in include Into The Woods and Big River at Lake City Playhouse. For years Dalen bounced between Coeur d’Alene and Spokane whenever the right show presented itself.

One night in 2010 he got a phone call from Spokane Civic Theater's director and was asked to audition for the role of Buddy Holly the following day as the previous casting fell through. Dalen had performed in a previous Spokane Civic Theater production, The Spitfire Grill, and had a reputation for quickly progressing into challenging roles. At that moment in time Dalen had little skill on the guitar, able to crudely strum a few chords. He showed up to the audition the next day with an old cheap electric guitar and the tip of a plastic knife for a pick. Standing on stage wearing fake thick rimmed glasses, he held his guitar while singing a couple Buddy Holly songs he binged the night before. Whether genius or insanity, Dalen was cast as the lead, with the premise that he would apply his skills as a violinist to train as hard as possible on guitar. Under the tutelage of the incredible guitar instructor Joe Brasch, Dalen played guitar for over 240 hours over the course of 6 weeks in preparation for the 19 songs he would perform in the show. Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story became one of the most successful shows in Spokane Civic Theatre's long history. Yes, Dalen got to be the shiny star in the center, but he was immensely humbled and inspired by the backing of very skilled musicians and the hard work and talent of the cast and crew, including none other than Spokane's legendary actor, Jhon Goodwin. After smashing sold-out revival of the Buddy the following summer, Dalen moved to New York to study at The Circle In The Square Theatre School. It was here that Dalen's craft and techniques as an actor were formed and honed.

He later played the same role at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island, Illinois and the Alhambra Theatre and Dinning in Jacksonville, FL, gaining his equity card.

Being a family man, the stage has missed him, but over the past few years, Dalen has been able to help local community theatre members by coaching auditions. “These skills are teachable!”

Ashley Gunn

Ashley D’Lyn Gunn got her start in performing as a toddler with baton twirling. Under the instruction of her mother, Rhena Cooper, she won 1st Place at Texas State in her age division in 1989 at the age of 5. Upon moving to Idaho and switching from NBTA style to the USTA style, her mother passed the "baton" as teacher to Internationally renowned coach Kathy Forsythe in Seattle, WA for the next several years. "This girl should actually be in Musical Theater, not twirling.” Stated Kathy in practice one afternoon.

Ashley’s classical ballet training transformed under the instuction of Ceci Klein at The Ballet School of Coeur d'Alene. Ashley attended Pacific Northwest Ballet's (PNB) Summer Intensive in Seattle on a full ride scholarship from 1997-2001. She also attend the Ballet Intensive from Moscow at Northern Illinois University under Demitri Roundnev on full scholarship in 2001 and was awarded the title of Elite Dancer with an article about her in Pointe Magazine 2001. At age 16, she received her first professional ballet experience as she rehearsed and toured Swan Lake with Ballet Idaho during her sophmomore year of high school.

Ashley was first chair flute in High School. She lead a youth woodwind quintet, played at weddings and was in her first musical as a musician in the pit sparking a passion for theatre. Ashley soon joined choir and was cast as the lead in her senior year musical. She was awarded 1st Place in Solo Audition at Districts and Idaho State Drama. Later she joined Resident Director Dave Jensen on the PNB Summer Dorm Staff for three summers living on-site to ensure a safe, congenial atmosphere and provided individual attention to 200 ballet students, ages 12-19, from all over the world while nurturing students occasional injuries, illnesses, and homesickness.

Ashley’s first higher education degree is a BFA in Musical Theatre from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. She worked as choreographer for her undergraduate peers. The variety of experiences strengthened her for the challenges of real world Musical Theatre. Upon graduation, she volunteered as a Dance Captain for Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre's under choreographer Christopher Moll.

Ashley’s Graduate Degree is an MFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN. Under the direction of Dr. Paul Hustoles, Ashley lead Box Office staff and front of house in the PR department, obtained multiple leading roles, taught multiple levels of Ballet, Tap and Speech, along with choreographing productions, and gaining invaluable teaching tools.