Doug Braun is new to The Heard. He made his theatre debut in Hair at Cain Park. For eighteen years he has been the interpreter for the North Coast Men's Chorus. He received his sign language training at Cleveland State University. He works full time as a social worker for seniors.

Betty Bridgewater has been a community freelance interpreter for over 15 years. She joined The Heard in 2002. Since that time she has interpreted for Great Lakes Theater Festival, Willoughby Fine Arts, JCC Halle, Dobama Theater, and Cain Park. Her credits include, Love Langston, The Interview, Inherit the Wind, West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, Anything Goes, and the Dobama Kids Festival. In addition to her community interpreting, Betty is coordinator of Deaf Ministry at her church, and holds certification from the National Association of the Deaf.

Jocelyn A. M. Brindo became a member of The Heard in 2002. She received her BA from Kent State University, a MA in Elementary Education and a MA in Educational Administration from Ursuline College and became certified to educate the Deaf at National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, NY. Along with theatrical interpreting, she is an elementary Teacher of the Deaf and teaches American Sign Language at the college level. Jocelyn has interpreted performances at Cain Park, The Fine Arts Association in Willoughby and the Great Lakes Theatre Festival.

Debi Epstein joined The HeArd in 2006.  She studied at Akron University within the Interpreting Training Program and graduated from The Deaf Interpreting Services Program at Cuyahoga Community College.  Her Bachelor's Degree in Deaf Education/Special Education from Kent State University gave her the opportunity to teach Deaf Autistic children. Always a dancer, Debi became a natural at sign language, and works as a freelance community interpreter. Her experiences with Near West Theatre, Playhouse Square, Willoughby Fine Arts Assoication, The Dobama Children's Festival Theatre at Cain Park, and The North Coast Men's Chorus has given Debi a sense of personal satisfaction and professional growth.  A mother of three and wife of the love of her life, Debi's love of interpreting illuminates within her as she shares her passion to perform with the members of the Heard.  

Angie Herzberger has been a Heard member since 2002. She has enjoyed interpreting at various local theaters including: The Fine Arts Association, Cain Park, The Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Near West Theater, and Kent State University. Some of her most recent performances include: "Scrooge", "Beauty and the Beast", "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", "Hamlet", "Arsnic and Old Lace", "Grease", "The Jungle Book", "Sussical" and "Joseph". Angie has been married for 9 years to her high school sweetheart and is kept busy by her three adorable children. She finds her passion in working with pregnant women and newborn babies. She has attended over 100 births (mostly home births) as a midwife-in-training or as a doula/montrice. Thank you Heard for all of the laughs and fun - you are amazing individuals, and I am honored to work with and learn from each of you. Mooooooo!

Mark Howdieshell is an original member of The Heard. He has been an interpreter with Beachwood City Schools for many years. Mark is active in the Jewish community as an interpreter for various events.

Erin LaFountain has interpreted at Play House Square, Cain Park, Dobama, The Fine Arts Association, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cassidy Theatre, Solon, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival and Kent State University. She is the Administrative Manager at Cleveland Signstage Theatre and Co-owner/Producer of Sign Stage on Tour. Erin is also an actor having performed on tour in several prodctions. Memorables roles have included. Mina and Lucy in Dracula, Titania in A Midsummer's Night Dream, Fabian in Twelfth Knight, Laurie in Brighton Beach Memoirs andthe Queen Mother in Beckett. She thanks the rest of the Heard for many  "Moooooving Experiences" and laughs.

Lawrence Nehring has been active in Sign Language theatre since 1989, touring internationally with SUNSHINE TOO, and as a company member of Cleveland Signstage Theatre, among other credits. Since moving to Cleveland 10 years ago he has been very active as an interpreter, starting with Into the Woods at Cain Park. He has "terped" shows at Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cleveland Play House, Playhouse Square, Cleveland Opera, Willoughby Fine Arts, JCC Halle and Cassidy theatres. He is also Artistic Director of the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival and a member of Actor's Equity Association. Mr. Nehring received his MS in Curriculum Development from University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology, and is a graduate of the National Theater Institute (Eugene O'Neill Theater Center).

Melissa O'Grady began her signing career in 1982 at Cleveland Sign Stage Theatre (formerly FTD). She has been interpreting theatre for twenty years. She has signed at Dobama Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Willoughby Fine Arts, The Cleveland Play House and Cain Park. Melissa is also a librarian in Cleveland, as well as an artist and beekeeper.

Merry Beth Pietila is the oldest female-founder cow of the HeArd still interpreting shows. She is a former actor with Fairmount Theatre of the Deaf (Cleveland SIgnstage Theatre) and has been interpreting special events and theatrical productions in Ohio since 1990. Prior to that she directed and performed in a Liturgical Sign/Dance Choir in Chicago.
Merry has a BA degree from Bowling Green State University in English Literature and Performing Arts Dance and a Master of Divinity Degree from Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN).
Her free lance interpreting work funds her real calling in life: finding homes for domestic and feral cats after spaying/neutering. Donations to fund this program, as well as cat food, are always welcome!