‘SUMMER OF DREAMS’
Cast Bios
DEBBIE GIBSON (Debbie Taylor): For more than 25 years, Debbie Gibson has proven she's
an entertainer of immeasurable talent. From singer, songwriter and musician to actress and
dancer, she embodies what it truly means to be an entertainer. A music prodigy, Gibson
exploded on the Billboard Pop Charts at the tender age of 16 with the self-penned “Only In My
Dreams.” The “Original Pop Princess” quickly became the youngest artist ever to write, produce
and perform a No. 1 hit song, "Foolish Beat,” and entered the Guinness Book of World Records.
To date, she is still the youngest female to hold that record. Gibson has sold more than 16
million albums worldwide, performed for British Royalty and hosted “The American Music
Awards,” produced by friend and legend Dick Clark.
After conquering the pop world with three consecutive albums and world tours, she set her
sights on the theater and starred in 17 musicals in 17 years. Gibson made her mark in the
Broadway production of “Les Miserables” as Eponine. She broke box office records in the
London West End production of “Grease” as Sandy. She then took the stage in the U.S.
Broadway tours of “Grease” as Rizzo and “Funny Girl” as Fanny Brice. Gibson also wowed critics
as Belle in Disney's “Beauty and the Beast,” Gypsy Rose Lee in “Gypsy,” The Narrator in the
national tour of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Cinderella in the national
production of “Cinderella” with Eartha Kitt, Velma Kelly in “Chicago,” and, Sally Bowles in the
Broadway revival of “Cabaret” with Neil Patrick Harris.
Continuing to dazzle with entertainment magic, Gibson bridged the gap between pop music and
Broadway with her one-woman show "Pop Goes Broadway." During her sold out summer run in
2008 at The Concert Venue at Harrah’s, critics agreed it was "the best show Atlantic City has
seen in quite some time...it's totally entertaining.” Phil Roura of the New York Daily News said,
"she has mastered her craft to the point where she just doesn't perform a song - she embraces
it and delivers it with her own special stamp of approval." To fill her passion of mentoring and
fostering young performers and songwriters, she also created "Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth,"
a series of performing arts camps and music boot camps.
Gibson made her debut in the world of orchestration for Dr. Rutledge's documentary, now
available on demand, "3 Billion and Counting," about Malaria prevention in third world
countries. She collaborated on the score and the powerful closing credits song, "Rise," which
was shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination. Gibson then released a new album, “Ms.
Vocalist,” from Sony Japan that was top 10 on the Billboard charts. The first single, "I Love
You," hit No. 1 and she headlined a sold out tour.
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In 2011, Gibson starred with Tiffany in the SyFy hit “Mega Python Vs. Gatoroid,” which led to a
joint sold out tour as well as a performance on GMA’s Summer Concert Series. She also
appeared in Katy Perry's hit music video for "Last Friday Night (TGIF)." As a spokesperson for
Children International, she spent time in impoverished villages in Manila. For more than 20
years, she has been a child sponsor and advocate. In 2012, she raised more than $50,000 for
Children International on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” and made a cameo in the film "Rock of
Ages,” as part of Russell Brand’s Rocker Posse.
Gibson starred as a celebrity judge on “Sing Your Face Off,” a music competition show that
aired on ABC in the summer of 2014, and joined an esteemed list of musical performers as a
2014 inductee of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. She starred in the 2015 UP original
movie, “The Music In Me,” featuring a new, original song “Promises,” wrote a new song,
“Angel,” for the debut album of Nickelodeon star Isabela Moner, co-wrote and is featured on
Big Black Delta’s electro-pop song RCVR, and honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award
from Rockers on Broadway. She’s currently collaborating with Jimmy Van Patten on an original
Broadway musical, “The Flunky,” starting pre-production on a new album of original pop songs
and touring the world. From No. 1 hits and platinum albums to starring roles on Broadway, and
in film and TV, Gibson is a true entertainer with timeless talent and charisma. For more
information, visit www.debbiegibsonofficial.com.
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ROBERT GANT (Noah): Robert Gant is, perhaps, best known as one of the stars of
Showtime’s hit television series, “Queer as Folk.” As Professor Ben Bruckner in that
groundbreaking show, Robert explored broad dramatic terrain. His character’s wedding in the
series was, in fact, the first legal gay marriage ever portrayed on television. Robert also
travelled across the Atlantic to star as the sole American cast member in the BBC British series,
“Personal Affairs.” He became television’s first gay spy in the film, “Kiss Me Deadly,” for Here!
Television and starred with House’s Lisa Edelstein in the Lifetime movie, “Special Delivery.” In
addition to these projects, some of his recurring roles include principal Calvin Krupps on the
WB’s “Popular,” Caroline’s boyfriend Trevor on NBC’s “Caroline in the City,” and lawyer David
Sherman on “The Young and the Restless.” Currently, he recurs as Melissa Benoist’s Kryptonian
father Zor-El on “Supergirl” and as Todd Crimsen on Netflix’s new series, “Thirteen Reasons
Why.”
Gant has had many notable guest spots on such TV hits as “Friends,” where he played one of
two men Phoebe was dating simultaneously, “Castle,” “The Closer,” “Nip/Tuck,” “Bones,” “Hot
in Cleveland,” the “CSI’s,” “Mike and Molly,” “NCIS,” and “Shameless,” to name some of them.
He has also appeared in numerous films and recently wrapped the indie features, “Love is All
You Need” and “A Million Happy Nows.” Robert will soon begin filming a starring role in the
period drama “Milada,” the true story of Czech heroine Milada Horakova, who was, in 1950, the
first woman executed in Czech history by the Communists.
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Robert’s love of acting and performing began at an early age. He started doing television
commercials and joined the Screen Actors Guild at the age of ten in his home state of Florida.
He went on to attend undergrad at the University of Pennsylvania and law school at
Georgetown University. While studying, he never gave up on his true passions and took part in
numerous theatrical productions. Interestingly, it was his career as an attorney that brought
him to Los Angeles when he accepted a position with the world’s largest law firm. In a twist of
fate, the firm’s Los Angeles office was closed soon after. Taking that as a sign, he made the
decision to focus all of his time on the entertainment business.
His time in Hollywood is not limited to performing, however. Robert was a producing partner in
the film and television production company, Mythgarden. Their feature film, “Save Me,” which
stars Robert along with Judith Light and Chad Allen premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film
Festival and opened Outfest that same year. Robert has also recently completed the first draft
of his first novel and, with a writing partner, is developing television projects and penning
screenplays.
While he has given time to a number of philanthropic and political causes, such as HRC (by
which he was given their National Equality Award), GLAAD (by which he was given their
Davidson/Valentini Award for the promotion of equal rights in the community), and Lambda
Legal, Robert’s “torch issue” has been that of aging in the gay community. He’s supported such
organizations as SAGE (Senior Advocacy for GLBT Elders), which named him their first Honorary
Elder, and GLEH (Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing), for which he served as a Board Member, and
has been committed to addressing our community’s collective challenge of growing old, alone.
In March of 2016, Robert received the ADL Heroes Award from the Anti-Defamation League for
his work on behalf of the LGBT and aging communities.
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PASCALE HUTTON (Denise):Pascale Hutton grew up in Creston BC to sometime hippy
parents; they harvested their own honey and were huge proponents of the Moosewood
Cookbook but never made a sugarless carob cake. Her childhood was spent swimming in the
raging Goat River, chasing chickens and swinging from a trapeze that her Dad constructed out
of old piping and rope- safety was not at the forefront of her upbringing.
After performing in original living room productions of Winnie the Pooh and later The Life and
Death of Marie Antoinette where she played Rabbit and Marie Antoinette respectively she went
on to study acting in the University of Alberta's BFA acting program. Here she studied
Shakespeare, contact improv, neutral mask and voice but the exercises she credits with truly
honing her craft are walking across the room with a bowlful of water and trying to find/pick up
a shoe while blindfolded... obviously.
After graduating she wound up in Vancouver because of her desire to eat great sushi, walk
along the sea wall, and work as an actor. All three aspirations have turned out quite well thus
far. For more information, visit www.pascalehutton.com.
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