 |
|||
CAST ROM BARKHORDAR (Monsewer) is very happy to be working with Griffin theatre again. He was the Colonel in Griffin’s critically acclaimed World War I drama, Journey’s End and also appeared in their ’07 production of The Constant Wife, directed by Paul Holmquist. Rom recently appeared in Steep Theatre’s well received production of The Hollow Lands, also directed by Jonathan Berry and this Fall he will be traveling to Baltimore’s Centerstage to re-mount Lookingglass Theatre’s hugely popular production of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. Rom would like to extend thanks to Mr. Berry for the leap of faith, opportunity to learn the bagpipes and his lovely and whip-smart wife, Maren for everything else. RYAN BOURQUE (Volunteer) is excited to be working with the Grffin Theater Co. He recently graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BFA in Acting. There, he played such roles as Philly Cullhen (The Playboy of The Western World), and Kolenkhov (You Can’t Take it With You). Outside school he worked with the Hypocrites in their production of Miss Julie. He wrote some of the music, acted in, and choreographed the fights for the show Locomotive Shark that appeared at the Abby Hoffman Festival, and later at The Inconvenience Artistic Syndicate, where he is a live-in member. Thank you family, and friends for everything.
ROB FENTON (Leslie) is new to Chicago and this is his debut performance with The Griffin Theatre. He was trained in Theatre Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA and is excited to be continuing his education with The Hostage. He was most recently seen as Lockwood in the Chicago debut of The History Boys at Timeline Theatre Company. Some of his favorite productions occurred with The Dead End Kids in Richmond, VA which include the roles of Tupolski in The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh, Phillip in Orphans by Lyle Kessler, and Wilson in Terra Nova by Ted Tally. Big shout out to all who were involved in making the story breathe and live. NORA FIFFER (Teresa) is delighted to work with Jonathan Berry and Griffin Theatre on this exciting and challenging play. Since moving to Chicago three years ago, Nora has studied at The School at Steppenwolf (2007) and worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Romeo & Juliet, Steppenwolf Theatre’s The Diary of Anne Frank, Remy Bumppo’s The Voysey Inheritance, and others. Nora is a proud ensemble member of Eclipse Theatre Company, where she had the pleasure of working on Candles to the Sun, Plaza Suite, and The Autumn Garden (Jeff Nomination, Actress in a Supporting Role). Nora earned her BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Thanks always to her family and Adar. KEVIN GLADISH (IRA Officer) is thrilled to return to Griffin after appearing in their acclaimed production of Little Brother this summer. In Chicago he has worked as an actor and director with companies, such as New Leaf, Steep, Stage Left, Timeline, the side project, Open Eye, Halcyon, and WNEP. Thanks to Griffin Theatre, to Bill Massolia, and to Jon Berry for bringing him back for this great project & for the chance to work with such an amazingly talented group of artists. As always, thanks to his family for their constant love and support. PAT KING (Seamus, the Piano Player) is delighted to make his debut with Griffin Theatre. Most recently, he has appeared in Heads (Halcyon Theatre), A Perfect Wedding (Circle Theatre) and Many Loves (Caffeine Theatre). He has performed with Greasy Joan & Co., Chicago Fusion Theatre, Collision Theatre, Piccolo Theatre, Apex Theatre and Sansculottes, where he is an artistic associate. This winter he will appear in the Building Stage's Ring Cycle. Thanks to Jon and this rowdy crowd! EVAN LEE (Princess Grace) is very excited to be making his debut with The Griffin Theatre. He was last seen in Talk Radio, Streamers, and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at The Gift Theatre. He holds a B.F.A from Auburn University. A special thank you to Jonathan Berry, the cast and crew for making this a memorable experience. Enjoy the Show! JASON LINDNER (Muleady) is an actor, playwright, Yale graduate, and recent transplant from NYC. He is enjoying the relative calm of the Midwest and the ipso-strangeness of getting back to his Chicago roots. Much love to Lala, the Fam, Friends, respect to OyamO. And a big thank you to JDavid for being so weedy. EAMONN MCDONAGH (Pat) Last appeared as Shanks OʼNeill with Seanachai Theater and before that in there production of Whistle in the Dark as Hugo. Eamonn has worked with Theaters in Chicago and throughout the Chicago Suburbs. To name some, Sea Marks with Mary Arrchie Theater. Other Mary Arrchie credits are Freedom of the City, and Europe. A Christmas Carol with Metropolis Theater, Well of the Saints with Irish Repertory Theater, Saint Joan of the Stockyards, with Prop Theater, Diedre of the Sorrows with Goodman Theatre, Playboy of the Western World with Steppenwolf Theatre, Oedipus, Antigone and MacBett with Thirteenth Tribe and A Cry of Players with Timeline Theatre. Other companies Eamonn has worked include Northlight, Stage Left, Gaelic Park Theater, Irish American Theater. DONNA MCGOUGH (Meg) returns to Griffin Theatre having previously performed in their remounted Los Angeles production of Riding the Dolphin and A Long Way From Chicago at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. She is a member of The Hypocrites with whom she has performed in productions including Death of a Salesman, Happy Days (both receiving a Jeff Award for Actress in a Principal Role), Angels in America and The Glass Menagerie, to mention a few. She has also performed at Mary Arrchie Theatre (receiving her first Jeff Award for Actress in a Principal Role in their production of The Freedom of the City), Steppenwolf, Eclipse, Backstage, TimeLine, Chicago Center Performing Arts and Raven Theatres. EDWARD PAUL (Russian) is pleased to be appearing in Griffin Theatre’s production of The Hostage. He is a graduate of The Theatre School of DePaul University (Barat College Campus). Edward has also studied the art of improvisation at I.O and is a rock percussionist of fourteen years. He currently sings and plays drums in a Chicago based rock band called The Eli Story. Some of his theatre acting credits include: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Mulberry, Crocket, Bowl, Shorty) and Seven Days (Koons, Van, Catfish, Border Guard) Steep Theatre, Be More Chill (Squip-Keanu Reeves), Letters Home (Matthew Webster, Matt Hardman, Bruce Parker), Stardust (Mr. Brown, Tertius, Captain, Sailor), and How I Spent My Last Day on Earth (Andros Bliss) Griffin Theatre, Snow Flake Tim’s Big Holiday Adventure (Snow Flake Tim) Lifeline Theatre, Tape (Vince) and Lake Street Extension (Trace) Oracle Productions. Edward has also appeared in The Tempest and Othello at Shakespeare on the Green. He would like to thank Karin and his family for all of their support. MELISSA RIEMER (Ropeen) most recently appeared as the Moms in the Griffin Theatre's production of Letters Home (Chicago/National Tour). Other favorite Chicago credits include Mrs. Antrobus in Skin Of Our Teeth (Jeff Nomination - Best Supporting Actress) at Backstage Theatre, Martha Hoch in Steep Theatre's Book of Days (Jeff Nomination - Best Ensemble), The Older Women in Catch-22 at Steep Theatre, Helen Potts in the Griffin Theatre's Jeff-Nominated production of Picnic which was directed by Jonathan Berry (also performed at Theatre On The Lake), and Music Box Woman in Maggie - A Girl Of The Streets at Side Project Theatre (directed by Jimmy McDermott). London credits include The Lost Vegas Series at the Riverside Studios, An Empty Plate In The Cafe Du Grand Bouef at New End Theatre and Time And The Conways at the Drayton Court Theatre. Melissa trained at the Drama Studio London! All my love to Jeff, Emily, Katherine, the Greenies Senior and Junior for their love and support and for keeping the home fires burning. Melissa is a proud ensemble member of Steep Theatre Company. SADIE ROGERS (Collette) is thrilled to be working again with Griffin Theatre. She is a company member of the side project theatre company and a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf, class of '08. Her most recent theatre credits include Many Loves with Caffeine Theatre, Mariette in Ecstacy with Lifeline Theatre, The Rocks with the side project, and Little Brother with Griffin Theatre. In film she is awaiting the first showings of In Memoriam A Comedy and the short film version of The Rocks. This play is dedicated to the mad animals and all those who walk in their path. SARA R. SEVIGNY (Mrs. Gillchrist) is thrilled playing with Griffin for the first time! Tooting around town for *coughs* way over ten years has allowed Sara to work with fantastic storefront theatre companies including Timeline Theatre Company, The Hypocrites, Defiant (RIP), Backstage Theatre Company, Strawdog Theatre Company, Porchlight Music Theatre (where she was honored with an Equity Jeff Award, for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, for her portrayal of Sara Jane Moore in Assassins) and Factory Theater Company (where she is a card carrying ensemble member). A founder of Open Eye Productions, she has been seen in scores of their productions throughout the years. Okay maybe not scores, but that’s a fun word to say. If you’d like her resume, she’ll tell you more over a pint. Thanks to JB for noticing that she’s only played characters with ‘Mrs.’ as their first time for about three years, OEP for being the best, the brood both Elesh and Sevigny for support, and Jon for love, laughter, and life. CREW BRENDAN BEHAN (Playwright) was born in Dublin and lived his childhood in the slums of the city. In spite of the surroundings, he did not end up becoming an unlettered slum lad. He also owed much of his education to his family, well-read, and of strong Republican sympathies. Behan attended Catholic schools until the age of 14, when he abandoned studies and then worked as a house painter. In 1939 Behan was arrested on a sabotage mission in Liverpool, following a deadly explosion at Coventry. He was sentenced to three years in Borstal in a reform school for attempting to blow up a battleship in Liverpool harbour. After release, Behan returned to Ireland, but in 1942 he was sentenced to 14 years for the attempted murder of two detectives. He served at Mountjoy Prison and at the Curragh Military Camp. In 1946 he was released under a general amnesty. During his years in prison, Behan started to write, mainly short stories in an inventive stylization of Dublin vernacular. Later he lived in Paris and Dublin, writing for Radio Telefis and for the Irish Press. Behan's best-known novel, Borstal Boy (1958), drew its material from his experiences in the Liverpool jail and Borstal school (reform school). Behan's first play, The Quare Fellow, was based on his prison experiences. Behan wrote several plays, but he had difficulties in getting performed in his own country. Among Behan's other dramas are The Big House (1957) and The Hostage (1958), written in Gaelic under the title An Giall and set in a disreputable Dublin lodging house-or a brothel-owned by a former IRA commander. The play was acclaimed in London, Paris, and New York. STEPHANIE SHERLINE (Music Director) is thrilled to be working with Griffin Theatre Company for the first time on this production! Stephanie is a graduate of Northwestern University's theatre program, where she musical directed and composed for several productions. In Chicago, her work has been featured in productions with Rivendell, The New Colony, Profiles Theatre, Curious Theatre Branch and The Mill. She most recently composed music for the NY Fringe production of Cephalopod: A Play Below Sea Level with Ridge and Davis Presents. LEE KEENAN (Lighting Design) is Instructor of Lighting Design at Loyola University Chicago and holds an MFA in Theatre Design from Northwestern University. Lee has designed lights for The House Theatre of Chicago (company member), Lookingglass Theatre, Next Theatre, 500 Clown, Silk Road Theatre Project, Circle Theatre, The Griffin Theatre, Bailiwick , Infamous Commonwealth, About Face Youth Theatre, Illinois Humanities Council, Chicago Festival of the Arts, Loyola University, Northwestern University, The Building Stage, Santa Barbara Dance Alliance and Milwaukee Repertory. MARIANNA CSASZAR (Set Design) is happy to be working with the Griffin again after designing On the Shore of the Wide World last season. Originally from Budapest, Hungary, she came to Chicago to study Scenic Design at the Theatre School at DePaul, followed by her training at Northwestern University where she gained her MFA in Stage Design in June '08. After the completion of her graduate degree, her other Chicago credits include costumes for Dracula at the Building Stage and Winter Pageant Redux at Redmoon, sets for Durango at Silk Road Theater Project, Waiting for Godot at Wheaton College, The Arab-Israeli Cookbook with Theater Mir at the Storefront, and production design for the world premiere of Eric Reda’s opera, Reagan’s Children produced at Northwestern. Website: www.mariannacsaszar.com CHANTAL CALATO (Costume Design) is excited to be returning to design for the Griffin Theatre. Chantal’s latest work includes designing objects for Redmoon’s 2009 outdoor spectacle Last of My Species. She recently created The Great Blondin (Toy Theatre) and Niagara. Both were part of The Building Stage’s Objects in Motion Festival. RICK SIMS (Sound Design) design and Composer credits include: Be More Chill and Little Brother at Griffin, Hollowlands at Steep Theatre, Sanctified and St James Infirmary at Congo Square w Harry Lennix, True West/Top Dog Underdog at American Theatre Company, Picnic at Writers Theatre, Caroline or Change at Court Theatre, Sweet Charity at Drury Lane, The Attempters and The Magnificents at House Theatre, Talented Tenth and Black Nativity Congo Square, Wedding Play at About Face (co-design), Four Places at Victory Gardens (co-design), Icarus at the Getty in L.A. w Lookingglass, Wooden Breeks (LTC w Andre Pluess), Brothers Karamazov at Lookingglass, Gary at Boston Playwrights/Steppenwolf, Huck Finn at Steppenwolf, Hamlet w Lisa Portes at DePaul, Other Credits: Rick is an an artistic associate of Lookingglass Theatre Company and wrote the book, music and lyrics for Lookingglass’ Hillbilly Antigone. He also composed music for Up Against It, Vanishing Twin, Her Name Was Danger and West for Lookingglass. MAUREEN JANSON (Choreography) makes her Griffin Theatre debut having just finished her 10th season as choreographer for American Players Theatre. A veteran choreographer and movement coach for theatre, opera and concert dance, she has recently contributed to productions for Remy Bumppo Theatre, Madison Opera, Great River Shakespeare Festival, Madison Repertory Theatre, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Artistic Home where she is artistic associate. Maureen has held teaching residencies at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Wichita State University, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Université Laval, Illinois Wesleyan University, Alfred University and Illinois Institute of Technology, UW-Madison, and at Victory Gardens Theatre. As artistic director of SMARTDANCE, she has created, performed and presented original dance works nationwide. She dedicates her work to the memory of her loving and inspiring father, Gene Janson. STEFKA MIHAYLOVA (Dramaturg) is delighted to be working with the Griffin Theatre. Most recently she served as a dramaturg on Northwestern's production of Mad Forest (2009) by Caryl Churchill and the Circle Theatre's production of A Perfect Wedding (2009) by Charles Mee. Stefka holds a Ph.D in Theatre Studies from Northwestern University, and writes about contemporary American and British theatre. KIMBERLY PERCELL (Stage Manager) is excited to be working with Griffin Theatre and Jon Berry again. She last worked with them both on Journey's End in 2008. She has also worked with Steep Theatre Company on The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Lifeline Theatre Company on The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Picture of Dorian Grey and most recently Busman's Honeymoon. Thanks to Nate for letting me "live the dream"! REBECCA BISHOP (Production Manager) has worked in Chicago since 2006 and once again finds herself with the great Griffin Theatre. Some of her previous credits with Griffin include stage managing The Robber Bridegroom, On the Shore of the Wide World, and Letters Home, plus production manager for Little Brother. Other Chicago projects include stage managing Under Milk Wood at Caffeine Theatre, The Typographer's Dream with 5th Floor Productions, Ape with Dog and Pony Theatre, and Eating Raoul (staged reading) with Hell in a Handbag. She has a BA in Theatre Arts and English Writing from Winona State University. As always, thanks to the friends and family who support her in every endeavor. |
|||
Website by The Yellow Thorn |
|||||||