Biography
Mary Linn Crouse has been acting for over 50+ years to the present day. She began at 12 years old, acting in local Indianapolis theaters where her family lived at the time. Using a unique character voice, she was also picked out of an audition to voice a regular puppet on the local longstanding weekly children's TV show -- "The Timothy Churchmouse Show." For one season in the late 60's, she voiced Timothy's young cousin Kathleen Mouse.
When the family moved to the north side of Chicago, she continued acting in community theater productions. Mary Linn started college in the early 70's in a preschool education program with an emphasis on the burgeoning field of Creative Dramatics. But soon being cast in college productions, she realized it was the craft of acting and the theater that she really wanted to focus on. With Chicago so close, she traveled with friends to see productions regularly, then after graduating with a BA in Theater (acting/directing emphasis) from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, she moved to the city and became immersed in the incredible "Off Loop" scene of those heady Chicago theater days of the 70's and 80's.
It was, for her, an incredible experience honing her chops in classes and on stage at theaters like The Organic (with director Stuart Gordon), The Northlight (with director Brian Finn), Wisdom Bridge, Victory Gardens, The Commons Theater, Chicago City Theater (Emilia in Othello) and many more. Other acting experiences included small roles in a few films -- Pink Nights, the Perfect Model, student projects; 2 early music videos with Alligator Records -- as Johnny Winter's girlfriend along with Nora Dunn (on YouTube Johnny Winter Don't Take Advantage of Me ), and with the popular band Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows; also a comedy sketch with 1 other actor in an 8 minute version of "The Wizard of Oz" performed at Equity Showcases, private parties, in comedy clubs including Zanies (and Second City once!) -- and on Chicago Cable Access TV (on YouTube The Wizard of Oz in 8 Minutes Madame Thespian) ; she also was on an American Playhouse TV drama episode and in a National Radio Theater play about Benjamin Franklin.
But in1990 a 10-day visit to her sister's home in the Northern Rockies town of Missoula, Montana, made an incredible impression on Mary Linn. She felt her spirit soar in this place like no other place she ever lived! Even her beloved Chicago theater scene, diverse city life and dear friends -- with all the joys and heartaches of the typical scrappy, adventurous life in 'the business' -- could not entice her to stay away from the spectacular mountains. It was an incredible place for this mid-western city gal to discover new experiences, with open spaces to hike, bike, ski, camp and commune with other lovely people in a small, quirky, artistic university town in Montana. ...and there was even theater there!
This former Chicago actor is still based in western Montana...and still acting regularly on local stages (theater resume available on request), and occasionally in film & TV location shoots! She no longer holds her Equity membership, but... is represented as a proud SAG/AFTRA member for film and TV by:
Marianne Adams Adams Talent Agency (406) 431-0280
