by Steve Arnold

As we prepare our Events Series production of The Book of Murder, we take a look at the contributions to ACT I by one of our esteemed actresses in the production, who made her ACT I debut ten years ago this year.  Bunny Feller, a teacher for the Vinton Shellsburg school system, is featured in the role of Catherine in our current show which runs this weekend at The Ray House, and it is with pleasure that we feature her as our Member of the Month for November, 2003!

Bunny Feller in a dramatic moment during a recent
 rehearsal of Ron Cowen's The Book of Murder.

For the past seventeen years, Vinton native Bunny Feller has been a third, fourth, or fifth grade teacher for the Vinton - Shellsburg school district, teaching at East, Lincoln, and currently Shellsburg elementary, where she is now on the fifth grade faculty.  Prior to becoming a teacher in our local district, Bunny served as the attendance secretary at Washington High School here.   Bunny made her ACT I debut in June of 1993 in the Neil Simon comedy The Odd Couple, Female Version, presented at Tilford Middle School.  Bunny demonstrated her flair for comedy when she was featured in the role of sportswriter Olive Madison, the character based on Oscar from Simon's original rendering of the story.  Bunny's next ACT I role was in 1998, when she proved that not only was she a comedianne, but that she was effective in dramatic roles as well, when she portrayed M'Lynn in our production of Steel Magnolias, also performed at Tilford.  Bunny was back for her third ACT I role during the innaugural season of the Palace Theatre for our June, 2000 production of Life with Mother, in which she played the role of Mrs. Willoughby.  Bunny returned two years later, this time in a musical role, when she performed in Words and Music by Skeet Powers at the Palace Theatre in November of 2001.  Not only did Bunny show us that she could sing, but she could also pour great emotion into a musical performance.  Bunny was back later that same season for the role of Jane Tate in It Runs in the Family, her most recent role before her current run of performances in The Book of Murder.  In addition to her contributions as a performer, Bunny is also a past member of our Board of Directors.

In Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, Female Version, Florence Ungar played by Nancy Beckman
waves a ladle at Olive Madison, played by Bunny Feller in her 1993 ACT I debut.

In addition to being a regular performer during the past ten years, Bunny also enjoys being a regular patron of ACT I productions when not on stage.  And as a teacher, she has had the opportunity to encourage and support younger ACT I members who have been in her class through the years.

Bunny's family includes her three adult children, Eric, a local police officer, his twin brother Andy, also a police officer, in Illinois; and a daughter, Stephanie, who lives in Iowa City.  Bunmy has eleven grandchildren, all of whom are home schooled.  Her other interests and activities include photography -- she loves taking pictures of her children at school as well as her grandchildren.

In Bunny's most recent previous ACT I role, Bunny (right) played Jane Tate,
mother of the slightly derranged punk Leslie Tate, played by Matt Meyer
in our 2002 production of Ray Cooney's It Runs in the Family.

Bunny says of her involvement in ACT I that "It's really been fun to work with so many good actors and actresses.  It's such a relief after the stress of a teaching day."

Bunny will be retiring from teaching at the end of the current school year.  We wish her well in the new phase of her life coming up, and certainly hope that ACT I will be a part of it!  Thank you, Bunny, for your participation with us over the last ten years! 

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