The Queerest Midwest Bake-off: A Murder Mystery

Daniel Rangel

Playwright / "John Glorious"
Daniel Rangel (he/they, Playwright / John Glorious) is a Minneapolis-based playwright, actor, director, and applied theatre artist whose work blends mystery, comedy, and emotional honesty. His stories explore the places where humor, grief, and competing versions of the truth collide. Portraying patients, witnesses, clients, and suspects while helping train doctors, lawyers, nurses, social workers, and first responders reinforced Daniel’s belief that every character is the hero of their own story. That philosophy lies at the heart of his writing, where conflicting memories, competing versions of the truth, and unexpected laughter invite audiences to see themselves—and each other—with greater empathy. Daniel began his formal acting training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts at age seventeen. Following a waitlist invitation from Juilliard, he continued his studies with faculty from the Moscow Art Theatre at the University of Illinois Chicago before being cast by acclaimed playwright and director Luis Valdez in one of his later productions at the San Diego Repertory Theatre. He has since created work across stage, film, network television, and immersive performance, and is thrilled to portray the irrepressible John Glorious in The Queerest Midwest Bakeoff – A Murder Mystery.

Maureen Bourgeois

Director / "Detective Walters"
Maureen L. Bourgeois (she/her) is a Twin Cities based performer, and creative artist. She is incredibly excited to be a part of her 10th Minnesota Fringe production! Maureen has greatly enjoyed directing and performing as "Detective Walters". Maureen has also assisted in the property and costume designs of the production. She produced her 8th Minnesota Fringe Festival production in 2025, "The 4 Ws and the H of Murder, which she also created and performed in. In addition to these roles, she has been recently seen onstage in several Twin Cities Horror Festival performances ("Scrimshaw" (2025), “Fractured Remembrances”(2024), and “Lock-In” (2023), A Drinking Game Minnesota’s staged readings, and Threshold Theatre staged readings. Previous performance credits have included: , “45’s 24: A Collaborative Theatre Action”, “Witness for the Prosecution”, and Theatre in the Round’s “Murder on the Nile” and “Fahrenheit 451”. Maureen has spent the past 8 years developing her skills as an Applied Theatre Artist working as Standardized Patient/Client, a Patient Educator, and as a Crisis Intervention Actor using her performance and education background to help people work on interpersonal skills.

Gracen Yang

"Jane Calder"
Gracen Yang (they/she) is a Twin Cities based actor, singer, and designer and is so excited to be on stage with Lady Z Productions again, especially on such a silly, queer, love-filled show. They consider it an honor to have shared the rehearsal room and the stage with so many wonderfully creative dear friends. Their work as a performer has previously been seen with Melancholics Anonymous (Who You Kiss for Fun, Support Group for the Predatory Lesbians...), Lakeshore Players Theatre (Seussical Jr.), Masquers Theatre (Beauty and the Beast), along with many other Twin Cities based theatres. Their costume design work has been seen on stage at Sidekick Theatre (The Emperor's New Clothes, Elves and the Shoemaker), Chaska Valley Community Theatre (Beauty and the Beast, Tuck Everlasting), and Bunce Performing Arts (Peter Pan, Shrek). Offstage you can find them paddleboarding around a lake, giggling with their partners, or chasing their three chaotic kitties around. Find them on Instagram at @grace.yang to stay in the loop on their next creative endeavors!

Andy Whitman

"Detective Donaldson"
Andy Whitman (They/Them) is a performer and stage manager originally from Brandenburg, Kentucky. They have served as stage manager for many theatre and dance companies around the Twin Cities and most recently were the program manager of Open Eye Theatre's Driveway Tour. They are also a company member of the Dinner Detective. Their Fringe Festival premiere was Lady Z Productions' "The Four Ws and the H of Murder". They are very excited to return to the stage this year!

Sayer Keeley

Choreographer /"Ched Meshbesherson"
Sayer (he/him) is a transgender performing artist and theatre educator located in the Twin Cities. With a focus on youth theatre and dance, Sayer brings his experience as a queer person to every project he works on, whether outwardly or inwardly. When not dancing (which isn't very often), he enjoys writing, watching video essays, and reading every Brandon Sanderson book ever written. If you enjoy sporadic, silly posts, follow @sayerkeeley on Instagram. Recent credits include The Right Thing To Do, Elf the Musical, The Lightning Thief (Stages Theatre Company); Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel (Spring Dance and Theatre Academy); Next to Normal (Theatre Latte Da).

Maycee Klein

"Tritch Hamentaschen"
Maycee (any pronouns) is an artist based out of Minneapolis, MN. This is their second year in the Fringe Festival, with last year as their fringe debut in GUNS!: the Musical. Maycee studied Theater and Philosophy at St. Olaf College and currently teaches at Spring Dance and Theatre Academy. Recent projects include: Twelfth Night (Brick by Brick Productions), The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Stages Theater Company), and Alice in Wonderland (Spring DTA). Maycee hopes for many more productions filled with joy and inclusion in the future.

Eva Bourgeois

"Jebediah 'Jeb' Breadcroft"/"Assistant"/"Paramedic"