FALL '17/SPRING '18
Friday, September 29th, 2017 — Wit by Margaret Edson
Friday, January 26th, 2018 — Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris
Friday, March 16th, 2018 — Red by John Logan
Saturday, April 28th, 2018 — Inherit the Wind by Lawrence & Lee
Tuesday, May 15th, 2018 — Among the Western Dinka by Russell Leigh Sharman
Friday, June 22nd, 2018 — The Rare Biosphere by Chris Cragin Day
THE RARE BIOSPHERE
BY CHRIS CRAGIN-DAY
FRIDAY, JUNE 22ND
Sophie, a bright Honduran-American teenager, comes home from high school to find that her parents have been deported. She immediately goes into bunker-down survival mode, trying to care for her younger siblings without raising suspicion and considering her next move. Her plan is complicated by a well-meaning high school friend who, in a series of attempts to ask her out, discovers her secret.
FEATURING
Natalia Plaza and Zac Owens
CHRIS CRAGIN-DAY (Playwright) is an alumna of The Public’s EWG (The River Nun, 2009 Spotlight Series) and O’Neill NMTC (Son of a Gun, co-writer Don and Lori Chaffer). Her play, Martin Luther on Trial, developed with Max McLean, had an Off-Broadway run in 2017, a National Tour in 2017 and is currently on its second national tour. Her play, A Woman, was part of 59E59th’s Summer Shorts 2017 and just received a reading of the full-length version at The Sheen Center. Her play, Foster Mom, won Premiere Stage’s New Play Award and received a production there September 2017. Her musical, The Unusual Tale of Mary and Joseph’s Baby, (co-written with Don Chaffer), played in the 2016 NYC Fringe, had a mid-west tour by River and Rail Theater in 2017, and has another tour in the works for 2018. Her play, The Rare Biosphere, was part of Luna Stage’s 2017 New Moon Series. Her play, Tornado, was part of Luna Stage’s 2018 Lab Series. Other NYC productions: The Selfish Giant (co-writer Michael Castillejos) International Arts Movement, Son of a Gun, Joe’s Pub (Richard Rogers Award finalist), Emily, Firebone Theater at Theater Row. Chris is an Associate Professor of English and Theater at The King's College NYC. www.chriscragin-day.com
CHRISTOPHER DOMIG (Director) is an actor and director in New York City. Recent TV: Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire, Black List, Law & Order: SVU, Blindspot and The Deuce. Recent acting credits include: The Waste Land: A Performance/Installation at FringeNYC, English World Premiere of Dirt in New York (59E59, 4th Street Theater), Edinburgh (Gilded Balloon), Vancouver (Pacific Theatre), Berlin (ETB), and London (Arcola Theatre). BFA: Wheaton College, MFA: Southern Methodist University.www.christopherdomig.com
NATALIA PLAZA (Sophie) Off Broadway: Othello (Emilia), Dorothy in Oz (Miss Gates). Off Off Broadway: Detained, The School for Husbands, Uncommon Women and Others, Hotel Paradiso. Film:Execution, "Before the Court", ACTION!!! and Psycho Chicks Anonymous. Natalia won 3rd place in the NBC/Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Diversity Scholarship Showcase in 2015 and is a proud graduate of the Willi Esper Studio where she trained under Suzanne Esper. Natalia is beyond thrilled to be originating the role of Sophie Cabrerra and gives her deepest thanks to Chris, Chris and Sea Dog Theater. Follow Natalia on Instagram @nataliaiplaza www.nataliaplaza.com
ZAC OWENS (Steven) is a recent college graduate from The King’s College. There he was John Merrick in The Elephant Man, John Proctor in The Crucible, The Nasty Interesting Man/Child, Lord of the Underworld in Eurydice and was Artistic Director for their 2017/2018 season. He has also played Benjamin, Micah and Naphtali in Theater 315’s production of The Unusual Tale of Mary and Joseph’s Baby by Chris Cragin Day, and got his play A Time Traveler’s Conversations with His Shrink produced at Shetler Studios with the help of Firebone Theater, Chris Cragin Day and the brilliant director Bryan Hunt. He is thrilled to be a part of this production and as a world traveler himself knows how important it is to discuss the flaws and issues with immigration firsthand.
AMONG THE WESTERN DINKA
BY RUSSELL LEIGH SHARMAN
TUESDAY, MAY 15TH
An eminent historian and chair of the African Studies program at a rural, state university, is caught up in a scandal creating fake classes to pass star athletes and must choose between his dean’s advice to take the fall for the university, and his only daughter’s urgent call to take up the fight for his students and dismantle a system he himself helped to create. Join us immediately after the show for wine, refreshments, and a talkback with playwright Russell Leigh Sharman and director K. Lorrel Manning.
Suggested donation $15. This helps us cover the costs of drinks, refreshments, and taking care of our artists. Thank you for supporting the arts!
FEATURING
Robert G McKay, Kennebrew Taylor, Jay Potter, George Lamar and David Rysdahl
RUSSELL LEIGH SHARMAN (Playwright) is a writer, filmmaker and anthropologist. His first full-length play, THE SMALL OF HER BACK, was produced in New York City by Jaradoa Theater Company in 2008. That same year, his screenplay BOBBIE SUE sold to Warner Bros. and earned a spot on the Hollywood Blacklist (that’s a good thing these days). He has worked as a writer for various studios and production companies, including Warner Bros., Fox, Disney, MRC, DeLine Pictures, 21 Laps, Participant Media, Montecito Pictures, Original Media, Dark Horse Entertainment, Strange Weather and Mark Gordon Pictures. In 2010, he wrote and directed the screen adaptation of his first play as APARTMENT 4E for RLJ Entertainment. He has since written and directed a number of short films and documentaries that have screened across the United States and around the world. He has a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Oxford University and is the author of two books, THE TENANTS OF EAST HARLEM and NIGHTSHIFT NYC. He lives, writes and teaches in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
K. LORREL MANNING (Director) is an award-winning writer/director, actor and musician. His first feature film HAPPY NEW YEAR, based on his critically-acclaimed play and award-winning short film of the same name, had its World Premiere at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival and has screened at over 25 film festivals since. As a theatre director, Manning has directed over thirty Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions, most recently a new, critically-acclaimed adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE (co-written with Seth Barrish), THE UNREPEATABLE MOMENT, and a revival of John Patrick Shanley’s DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA. Manning’s numerous plays include A&J RULE THE UNIVERSE (Off-Broadway, 2006), WOOL (New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship), THE GIFT (La Jolla Playhouse, 2007) and the aforementioned AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE (Barrow Group, 2017). He is currently developing the theatrical project AWAKE (a collection of short plays and monologues about race). Manning’s other plays have been developed at various theatres throughout New York City, including the Roundabout Theatre, Rattlestick Theatre, the Lark Theatre, and the Barrow Group Theatre Company. A proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA, K. Lorrel Manning holds a BFA in Acting/Playwriting from the University of Georgia, and an MFA in Film from Columbia University.
ROBERT G MCKAY is a New York actor who has appeared on TV in various commercials, TV shows and Films. He's recently been seen in "Bull" and "Hidden Figures" and will appear in the upcoming feature "Oceans 8". Always looking to learn and improve as an actor in any way possible, he's looking forward to participating in the reading of " Among The Western Dinka".
KENNEBREW TAYLOR is a proud Canadian-New Yorker. She grew up in NYC doing commercials and theatre, which led her to receiving her BFA in musical theatre from Pace University. She has worked on a wide range of theatre she’s proud of, including workshopping Emotional Creature at NYS&F with Eve Ensler and Rosario Dawson, a Pace University production of Bernarda Alba directed by Graciela Daniele, and the Drama League nominated revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Mutilated directed by Cosmin Chivu. Most recently Kennebrew was involved in a workshop at Second Stage of the new musical Superhero by Tom Kitt and John Logan, and appeared on an episode of HBO’s Divorce alongside Molly Shannon. She also just finished filming a short film titled The Friendly Neighborhood Coven, directed by Michelle Bossy, which is set to premiere in 2019. She is excited to be working with Sea Dog Theater for the first time!
DAVID RYSDAHL has acted in numerous films and television shows including CBS’s Bull, Jen Gerber’s The Revival, and Will Sullivan’s That’s Not Us. His most recent feature film Dead Pigs premiered at the Sundance 2018 film fest where it won best acting ensemble. His films have played at festivals all over the world including SXSW, Berlinale, Palm Springs, Cannes, and Slamdance. As a writer/director, his short film Black Swell screened at over 30 festivals, is available on Amazon, and is a Vimeo Staff Pick. He performs improvised one act plays all over New York with his duo team True East.
GEORGE LAMAR is New York-based actor from Cincinnati, OH. He has his BFA from Texas State University, where he studied with Bob Krakower, The NY Neo-Futurists, Tina Packer, and Rachel Hoffman, among others. His most recent credits include George Armstrong in Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel and Dorante in Moliere’s The Game of Love and Chance. George has worked at the Great River Shakespeare festival as a part of the 2016 Apprentice company, where he understudied the role of Julius Caesar in Julius Caesar and starred as Tullus Afidius in Coriolanus under director Bryan Hunt.
JAY POTTER was last seen Off-Broadway in the title role in The Play About My Dad at 59E59. He plays the Congressman opposite Jon Hamm in the just released feature film, Beirut and he is appearing as Mr Barkley in the Indy film, Beast, which is currently making the rounds on the festival circuit and winning numerous awards. Jay has made a living solely as an actor and stand-up comedian aided by numerous television and radio commercials. Jay is thrilled to be working with the Sea Dog Theatre Company.
INHERIT THE WIND
BY LAWRENCE & LEE
SATURDAY, APRIL 28TH
Inherit the Wind is courtroom drama is based on the 1925 Scopes "Monkey Trial," in which a Tennessee teacher was charged with teaching that man evolved from apes, instead of state-mandated Creationism. The drama contains a powerful confrontation between a character based on William Jennings Bryan, who believes only what he reads in the Bible, and another based on Clarence Darrow, who defends science and open intellectual inquiry.
FEATURING
Len Cariou, Jay O. Sanders, Eric Sheffer Stevens, David Funck, Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Dan Kublick, Rachel Murdy, Brigitte Choura, Jenn Miller Cribbs, Michael Castillejos, Anthony Platipodis, Connor Coughlin, Dorea Slagle, Matt Love, Justin Street and Janice Amaya.
DAN FOSTER (Director) is a co-founder of Hudson Stage Company. He has directed several productions for the company including Shining City, You Will Remember Me (American Premiere), Outside Mullingar, 4000 Miles, Talley’s Folly, A Number, Stones in his Pockets, Murderers, Mary’s Wedding, Love Song, Boston Marriage, and Rabbit Hole. He has also produced, directed, and appeared in productions on Broadway, off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally.
Internationally he has directed at London’s Donmar Warehouse, Gran Teatre del Liceu, in Barcelona, and Theatre Estradi in Moscow. Recent work includes Direct from Broadway with Faith Prince and Anthony Warlow at the Sydney Opera House, Girl Powers at The Santa Fe Theater Festival, Seven starring Meryl Streep, The Festival of Broadway with Stephen Schwartz in Tasmania, Tina Brown’s Women in the World Summit, and The Chocolate Show! at the 47thSt. Theater.
LEN CARIOU (Henry Drummond) One of the theater world's most beloved talents, Len Cariou is a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame and a pre-eminent interpreter of the music of Steven Sondheim. On Broadway, he has appeared in "Applause," for which he earned a Tony Award nomination and won the Theatre World Award; "A Little Night Music," for which he was also nominated for a Tony Award; "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," for which he won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award; "Nightwatch;" "Cold Storage;" Teddy and Alice;" "Dance a Little Closer;" "The Speed of Darkness;" "The Dinner Party" and "Proof." Off-Broadway, Cariou has appeared in "Mountain," "Papa," "The Persians," "A Sorrow Beyond Dreams," "The Master Class" and "Measure for Measure." In addition, he has served as Artistic Director of the Manitoba Theatre Center and Associate Director of the Guthrie Theatre. On television, Cariou has appeared in "Blue Bloods" "Damages," "Brotherhood," "Murder, She Wrote," "CSI" and "Numb3rs" on CBS, "Ed," "Law and Order," "The Outer Limits," "The Practice," "The West Wing," and many television films including "Into the Storm," for which he earned an Emmy Award nomination.
JAY O. SANDERS (Matthew Harrison Brady) is an actor and director who has worked extensively in theatre, film, and TV. He has been a regular presence at The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park, most recently in King Lear, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, and Midsummer Night’s Dream, and at The Public Theater in Richard Nelson’s "The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family" and "The Apple Family Plays," the title role in "Titus Andronicus," and as George W. Bush in "Stuff Happens." His own play, Unexplored Interior, had its world premiere as the inaugural production of the Mosaic Theater Company in Washington D.C. On Broadway, he appeared as “Doolittle” in Pygmalion for the Roundabout; at Boston's Huntington Theater as “Galileo” in Two Men of Florence; and around the country with Bryan Doerries’ Theater of War. On television he is know for his roles on Amazon’s Sneaky Pete and HBO’s True Detective. This year was his directorial debut with The Bench by Robert Gallinsky at The Cherry Lane Theater.
DAVID FUNCK (Reverend Brown) has performed in original works, musicals, and opera in regional theater and Off-Broadway. Favorite roles include John Proctor in The Crucible, Rutledge in 1776, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Jaques in As You Like It, Armado in Love’s Labour’s Lost, and Father in Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice. Theaters include the Circle Repertory Company Lab, Wheaton Shakespeare in the Park, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, and Rogue Music Theater. David was a founding member of The Present Company, a group focused on original works which went on to start FringeNYC. He holds an MFA from Southern Methodist University.
ERIC SHEFFER STEVENS (EK Hornbeck) Shakespeare in the Park (NY Delecorte) Edmund in King Lear w/ John Lithgow; Borachio in Much Ado About Nothing. Broadway: The Coast of Utopia (Pt 1,2&3) (Lincoln Center); King Lear w/ Christopher Plummer (Lincoln Center). Other NY & Regional: Pearl Theatre Co., The Alley, Baltimore CenterStage, Vermont Shakespeare Co., CATF, St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Hudson Stage, Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Film: Julie & Julia; Silent House; 5 Flights Up; Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty, with our director tonight, James Yaegashi. TV, series regular: “I Hate My Teenage Daughter”(FOX) ,“As the World Turns”; recurring: Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (FX); Eye Candy (MTV) ;guest spots: “Bull”; “Nurse Jackie”; “Mysteries of Laura”;“Elementary”; “Good Wife”; “Law & Order’’(s); “The Big C.”
SHAUN BENNET FAUNTLEROY (Judge) was most recently seen in Smith Street Stage’s productions of RICHARD III and THE WINTER’S TALE and will soon be seen in the film THE RIVERSIDE BENCH (Barefoot Theatre Co./Barefoot Studios). Shaun is also a playwright and is a recipient of the Theatre Hall of Fame’s 2017 Emerging Theatre Artist Award. She lives in Brooklyn with her dog, Bentley. They are both foodies. AEA, DGA
DAN KUBLICK (Bertram Cates) has appeared in new works by Dan Rothenberg, Kristin Marting, Ashlin Halfnight, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Jerry Lieblich, Eric Bland, Tracy Bersley, Celine Song, Jeremy Pickard, Mikhael Tara Garver, and Sister Sylvester. Recent credits include: Not From Here at Ace Hotel New York (Sea Dog Theater), Toshiki Okada’s The Sonic Life of a Giant Tortoise (The Play Company); IDIOT (HERE); Tom & Eliza (JACK); Ghost Stories (Tiny Little Band); Dead Behind These Eyes (Sister Sylvester); and Health Insurance (United Solo Festival-- Best Avant-Garde Show). He is a graduate of The Studio/New York and Princeton University, and currently lives in oh so beautiful Brooklyn.
JENN MILLER CRIBBS (Davenport) has played in theaters across the country, including The Denver Center, The Guthrie, The Actors’ Theater of Louisville, The Acting Company, Two River Theater Company, Kansas City Repertory Theater, North Carolina Stage Company, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, The Coterie and others in leading roles in As You Like It, Macbeth, The Tempest, Richard III, Hamlet, You Can’t Take It With You, as well as other classics and world premieres. Jenn holds a BA from Wheaton, an MFA in Acting and Directing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and an MSW in Social Enterprise Management from Columbia University. She has continued post-graduate training with Michael Howard and Patsy Rodenburg. A Rodenburg Registered Teacher, Jenn teaches and consults with teams and individuals in major corporations, universities, non-profits, and after-school programs for at-risk and justice-involved youth, and as part of Wheaton’s Summer Shakespeare program. She is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. With love to JEE.
GEMMA BAIRD (Ms. Brady) is thrilled to be joining Sea Dog Theater for this reading. She most recently played the role of Neasa in Conor McPherson's SHINING CITY at Hudson Stage Company. Other Credits include: Bag of Nails (Reading, NYC), Scrooge (UK Tour and London Palladium), Legally Blonde (UK Tour),The Tony Award Winning Revival of HAIR (London's West End, Gielgud Theatre), The Sound Of Music (West End, London Palladium), Les Miserables (West End, Palace Theatre and Queens Theatre, City of Angels (English Speaking Theatre, Frankfurt), Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert, (O2 Arena). (AEA)
BRIGITTE CHOURA (Rachel Brown) Brigitte Choura is is an actor and teaching artist based in New York City. Most recently, she has taught workshops at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ and NYU Langone's Initiative for Women with Disabilities. She is a resident teaching artist at DreamStreet Theatre Company, a nonprofit organization that provides education and inspiration for developmentally disabled individuals invested in the arts. She is a co-founder of Third Wheel Collective, a collaboration-based theatre company. She has toured nationally with Philadelphia’s Enchantment Theatre in their production of The Velveteen Rabbit and also performed in their limited engagement of Scheherazade, accompanied by the Cleveland Orchestra. She appeared as Violet in the independent feature film, Chasing Home. In New York, she studied with Austin Pendleton at H.B. Studio and performed along side him in a reading of Christopher Boal's play, The Giant. She graduated from Muhlenberg College with a degree in English and Theatre.
JANICE AMAYA (Ms. Blair/Ms. Krebs) is a Salvadoran-America actor, writer, and teaching artist based in New York City. Currently she is touring The Hummm, a wild and riotous deconstruction of Chekhov's classic play, Three Sisters, which recently played at the American Repertory Theater. She is also creating a podcast that details the lives of undocumented people seeking asylum in New York City. Recent theater credits: The Good Farmer (American Theater Group), The Prizefighter of P.S. 217 (New Victory Theater, LabWorks), Your Hair Looked Great (Abrons Arts Center). Film: Patriot's Day (Lionsgate, Dir. Peter Berg), Up North (winner - Short of the Week). Training: MFA, American Repertory Theater at Harvard University.
CONNOR COUGHLIN (Howard) recently toured the country in 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor) and toured this last holiday season in Elf. Connor is a proud graduate of Circle in the Square and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Thank you to all my teachers and to the company of Inherit the Wind.
DOREA SLAGLE (Melinda) is thrilled to be working with Sea Dog Theater again! She was last seen in their staged reading of WIT. Dorea is currently finishing her training in the one year Acting Conservatory at T. Schreiber Studio. Her recent theater credits include: (off-off Broadway) Player in Love & Information, Sally Cato in Mame, Mrs. Wrasp in Charles Strousse’s NYC premier of A Pound in Your Pocket; (collegiate) Judge Hawthorne in The Crucible. Dorea is also starting her career as a playwright. Her new play Unfinished premiered last fall at her alma mater, The King’s College. She would like to thank Chris Domig for the opportunity to share great stories!
JUSTIN STREET (Corkin/Photographer/Sillers/Reporter) Justin Street is a New York City-based actor (AEA), writer, and musician. Credits include Kevin in How To Be A New Yorker (Off-Broadway), Mr. History in Everybody’s Watching, and J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He lives to make his wife and daughter smile, and is thrilled to get to work with Sea Dog Theater.
MICHAEL CASTILLEJOS (Bannister/Bollinger/Hawker) has created work with artists and theatre makers including The Civilians, Pig Iron Theatre Company, LaMamaETC, New York Musical Festival (NYMF award winner), American Repertory Theatre, The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Festival, The Orchard Project, Life Jacket Theatre Company, Brave New World, Boomerang Theatre Company, Improv Everywhere, and the NYC Fringe Festival.
MATTHEW LOVE (Storekeeper/Dunlap) Matthew Love is an actor and writer whose bylines include Rolling Stone, the New York Times, Vulture, Condé Nast Traveler and Time Out New York, among others. He hosted the 30th anniversary season of NPR staple Selected Shorts, and has since been a consulting producer there. He has hosted or interviewed people including Stephen Colbert, Chris Rock, Carrie Brownstein, Junot Diaz and scads more. He also presides over comedy debate series Uptown Showdown.
ANTHONY PLATIPODIS (Meeker) is a Chicago actor and writer, proud to work with Sea Dog Theater. Anthony’s film and television work includes The Importance of Blind Dating with Steven Tobolowsky, Girls Guide to Depravity for HBO/Cinemax, and most recently was smacked around by Denise Richards in the feature Altitude. His writing has been featured in publications distributed by Simon & Schuster and Hachette’s Disquiet Time.
CHRISTOPHER DOMIG (Organ/Mayor) is an actor and director in New York City. Recent acting credits include: The Waste Land: A Performance/Installation at FringeNYC, English World Premiere of Dirt in New York (59E59, 4th Street Theater), Edinburgh (Gilded Balloon), Vancouver (Pacific Theatre), Berlin (ETB), and London (Arcola Theatre). Recent TV: Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire, Black List, Law & Order: SVU and Blindspot. BFA: Wheaton College, MFA: Southern Methodist University. www.christopherdomig.com
KAMEL BOUTROS (Music) born in Egypt, graduated from the Curtis Institute with a MA degree in Opera performance. Performed with pianist Martha Argerich in Europe and Japan. At the Edinburgh Festival sang Mamoud in Death of Klinghoffer. At the Metropolitan Opera sang in Carmen, Capriccio, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Madame Butterfly, La Boheme and Roméo et Juliette, as well as in a gala concert with the late Luciano Pavarotti conducted by James Levine. First Prize winner; Opera Index’s Competition and the Sullivan Foundation Career Award. Presently Kamel is the music director of The Parish of Calvary-St. George’s Church and Concert Series in New York City, and continues his work in acting, singing, and as a pianist in chamber music concerts.
CLYBOURNE PARK
BY BRUCE NORRIS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26TH
FEATURING
Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Toussaint Jeanlouis, Jakob Von Eichel, Jenn Cribbs, Jenny Sheffer Stevens, Eric Sheffer Stevens, and Christopher Domig
JAMES YAEGASHI (Director) Broadway: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, A Naked Girl on the Appian Way and Take Me Out (2003 Tony for Best Play). Off-Broadway: Wild Goose Dreams, Ping Pong, Durango, Richard III, and Take Me Out (The Public); The Oldest Boy (Lincoln Center); House Rules and I_NY (Ma-Yi); A Few Stout Individuals (Signature); and Macbeth (TFANA). Regional: Longwharf, South Coast Rep, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Kennedy Center, etc. International: Singapore Arts Festival, Edinburgh Int’l Festival, Donmar Warehouse and Taganka Theatre. Film & TV: The Runaways (series regular), Daredevil, Madame Secretary, Man on a Ledge, and The Thomas Crown Affair, etc. Interactive: Grand Theft Auto series, Bio Shock series, etc. James is also an award-winning filmmaker, a director, and translator.
SHAUN BENNET FAUNTLEROY (Francine/Lena) was most recently seen in Smith Street Stage’s productions of RICHARD III and THE WINTER’S TALE and will soon be seen in the film THE RIVERSIDE BENCH (Barefoot Theatre Co./Barefoot Studios). Shaun is also a playwright and is a recipient of the Theatre Hall of Fame’s 2017 Emerging Theatre Artist Award. She lives in Brooklyn with her dog, Bentley. They are both foodies. AEA, DGA www.shaunbfauntleroy.com
TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS (Albert/Kevin) Toussaint Jeanlouis was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Arizona State University 2007 and his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from California Institute of the Arts 2010. March 1, 2018 Toussaint premieres his one-man solo performance "Cotton: Comfortable is Uncomfortable - Reclaiming Little Black Boy Joy" at Dixon Place. He was recently seen in a reading of Chasing Mehserle" by Chinaka Hodge, The World and U.S. premiere of The Parable of the Sower: The Operaadapted by Dr. Bernice and Toshi Regan (dir. Eric Ting). He has appeared in The Merchant of Venice (dir. Karin Coonrod), CasablancaBox (dir. Reid Farrington), DUAT (SOHO Rep), but i cd only whisper (Flea Theater). Participant of Feldstaerke International Residency 2010 and Watermill Center 2006-07.
JENN MILLER CRIBBS (Betsy/Lindsey) has played in theaters across the country, including The Denver Center, The Guthrie, The Actors’ Theater of Louisville, The Acting Company, Two River Theater Company, Kansas City Repertory Theater, North Carolina Stage Company, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, The Coterie and others in leading roles in As You Like It, Macbeth, The Tempest, Richard III, Hamlet, You Can’t Take It With You, as well as other classics and world premieres. Jenn holds a BA from Wheaton, an MFA in Acting and Directing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and an MSW in Social Enterprise Management from Columbia University. She has continued post-graduate training with Michael Howard and Patsy Rodenburg. A Rodenburg Registered Teacher, Jenn teaches and consults with teams and individuals in major corporations, universities, non-profits, and after-school programs for at-risk and justice-involved youth, and as part of Wheaton’s Summer Shakespeare program. She is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. With love to JEE.
CHRISTOPHER DOMIG (Karl/Steve) is an actor and director in New York City. Recent acting credits include: The Waste Land: A Performance/Installation at FringeNYC, English World Premiere of Dirt in New York (59E59, 4th Street Theater), Edinburgh (Gilded Balloon), Vancouver (Pacific Theatre), Berlin (ETB), and London (Arcola Theatre). Recent TV: Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire, Black List, Law & Order: SVU and Blindspot. BFA: Wheaton College, MFA: Southern Methodist University. www.christopherdomig.com
JENNY SHEFFER STEVENS (Bev/Kathy) is an actress, writer, and arts educator specializing in innovative interdisciplinary yoga programs for enhanced creativity. She holds a BA in English Literature, MFA in Acting, and multiple yoga teaching certifications. As an actor, Jenny has worked at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Baltimore Center Stage, Vermont Shakespeare Festival, Hudson Stage Co. and others. As a writer, her most recent publication is “From Out-of-Body Experience to Embodied Imagination: How a Seriously Awkward Kid Became a Passionate if Improbable Ambassador of Yoga-Based Creativity Training for Actors, Artists… and Little Girls,” (Teaching Artist Journal, August 2017). She also posts essays with irregular frequency on her blog The Regular Jenny | Spirit. Style. Wellness. Family. Arts. www.theregularjenny.com Jenny is a two-time recipient of the Lincoln City Fellowship, a generous grant from the Speranza Foundation, for her integrative work in writing, arts education, play development and women’s initiatives. She lives in New York City, and LA whenever possible, with her husband, actor Eric Sheffer Stevens, their kids, Hutch and Violet, and a beloved scruffy rescue mutt named CJ.
ERIC SHEFFER STEVENS (Russ/Dan) Shakespeare in the Park (NY Delecorte) Edmund in King Lear w/ John Lithgow; Borachio in Much Ado About Nothing. Broadway: The Coast of Utopia (Pt 1,2&3) (Lincoln Center); King Lear w/ Christopher Plummer (Lincoln Center). Other NY & Regional: Pearl Theatre Co., The Alley, Baltimore CenterStage, Vermont Shakespeare Co., CATF, St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Hudson Stage, Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Film: Julie & Julia; Silent House; 5 Flights Up; Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty, with our director tonight, James Yaegashi. TV, series regular: “I Hate My Teenage Daughter”(FOX) ,“As the World Turns”; recurring: Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (FX); Eye Candy (MTV) ;guest spots: “Bull”; “Nurse Jackie”; “Mysteries of Laura”;“Elementary”; “Good Wife”; “Law & Order’’(s); “The Big C.”
JAKOB VON EICHEL (Jim/Tom/Kenneth) From Central European thugs, Russian pilots and squinting French hit men on TV, to British Lords and Virginian generals on the stage, Jakob is at home in many mediums and roles, but has recently enjoyed playing less niche characters in more comedic settings, such as: the sassy costume designer on HBO's Doll & Em - incidentally, despite being American, also a fan of the turtleneck; a traumatized yuppie Spanish student and other human catastrophes on Emma Ramos' critically acclaimed B.U.T.S. web-series; a self interested do-good blowhard on the Three Bridges web-series bachelor spoof with Lara Goldie; and most recently a less together version of himself (what he might be like if he had never met his wife) in Micah Perta's charming little ditty Daytime Noon, opposite the majestic Olivia Wilde and wily Dolly Wells.
WIT
BY MARGARET EDSON
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH
FEATURING
Orlagh Cassidy, Karis Danish, Rachel Murdy, Mike Masters, Michael Markham,
Mark Lewis, Dorea Slagle, Connor Coughlin, and Joshua Salvador.
ERWIN MAAS (Director) is a New York based theatermaker, educator and international arts advocate from the Netherlands. He has worked extensively in Australia, Europe, South Africa and USA. In New York, he directs numerous productions Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway as well as Site Specific. Maas is the Artistic Director of the International Society for Performing Arts (ISPA), Artistic Associate & Director of the Fellowship Program for the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY), Co-founding Director of the Pan-African Creative Exchange (PACE), and the Programming Director for the Off Broadway Origin Theatre Company. He is a frequently invited director, facilitator, educator, and speaker for international cultural organizations, festivals, universities, congresses and think tanks. From 2010 to 2014, Maas was the Director of Performing Arts for the Cultural Department of the Royal Netherlands Embassy & Consulates in the USA - Dutch Culture USA. He currently teaches as Adjunct Professor at CUNY Brooklyn College's MFA Performance & Interactive Media Arts Program (PIMA). Erwin is a core-member of Theater Without Borders, a member of Georgetown University's Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics and of the Netherland-America Foundation Cultural Committee. He also serves on the Artistic Advisory Board of the ISSUE Project Room in Brooklyn and DecadesOut, an organization at the intersection of Arts, Science & Policy.
ORLAGH CASSIDY (Vivian) Orlagh made her Broadway debut in Noel Cowards’ ‘Present Laughter’ with Frank Langella and Alison Janney. Off Broadway credits include ‘The Ruins Of Civilization’ at ‘Manhattan Theatre Club,’ ‘Bright Ideas’ at Manhattan Class Company, ‘The Hundred We Are’ at Origin Theatre, and the mobile unit production of ‘Hamlet‘ at ‘The Public Theatre.’ She received a Drama Desk Award nomination in 2007 for her role as Maggie in ‘The Field‘ at The Irish Repertory Theatre where she also appeared in ‘The Aristocrats‘ and ‘Dancing At Lughnasa.’ Regionally she has performed at theatres such as Hartford Stage, Philadelphia Drama Guild, The Oslo Theatre, and Indiana Rep. She has been a frequent guest star on television shows including ‘Homeland,’ ‘Billions,’ ‘The Good Wife,’ ‘Elementary,’ ‘Veep,’ ‘Unforgettable,’ ‘The Mysteries Of Laura,’ ‘Law and Order,’ and an eleven year run as ‘Doris Wolfe’ on ‘Guiding Light.’ Film credits include ‘Beach House,’ ‘The Sisterhood Of Night,’ and ‘St. Vincent‘ with Bill Murray. She is a veteran commercial, television, voice actor and multiple award winning audiobook narrator.
RACHEL MURDY (E.M. Ashford) Rachel Benbow Murdy (AEA) is an actor, singer, and theater devisor based in NYC. Performer/co-writer "The Millay Sisters Cabaret" at Stonington Opera House, Don't Tell Mama, and The Abingdon Theater. Co-writer/performer "Welcome Home Hamlet" performed at Joe's Pub, and Don't Tell Mama. Recently appeared as Man's Understanding in Calderon's "2 Dreams" at La Mama and played The Evil Apothecary in "Romeo and Juliet and Zombies" at New Ohio Theatre. Co-creator/performer "Connie's Avant Garde Restaurant." Bushwick Starr, Joe's Pub, and Cleveland Public Theater. Co-creator with Diane Paulus's Company: Project 400 Theater Group original cast member of "The Donkey Show".
KARIS DANISH (Susie) New York Theater Credits: Off-Broadway Hit-Lit (Dir. Robert Wuhl), The Gold (The Pearl Theater) in the New York Musical Festival. Regional Credits: How I Learned To Drive at Cleveland Playhouse and Syracuse Stage, Cowgirls at Pioneer Theater Company, Crimes of the Heart at Triad Stage, One Man Two Guvnors at the Repertory Theater of St Louis (Dir. Ed Stern), the world premier of Tale of Two Cities (Dir. Warren Carlyle), Doubt (Dir. Anne Kauffman) at the Asolo Repertory Theater; A Thousand Pines at Westport Country Playhouse (Dir. Austin Pendleton). She’s also worked at Cape May Playhouse and The Houston Shakespeare Festival. Karis holds an M.F.A. from the FSU Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.
MIKE MASTERS (Harvey) BROADWAY/NATIONAL: 101 Dalmatians (dir. Jerry Zaks), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (dir. Walter Bobbie), You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up! (dir. Darren Katz). OFF-BROADWAY/NYC: Includes Face The Music (dir. John Rando), An Evening At the Carlyle, Sherlock Holmes: The Early Years, Moby Dick. REGIONAL: Includes Night and Her Stars (Jewish Theater of the South), A Christmas Carol (Alliance Theatre), The Foreigner (Flat Rock Playhouse), Twelfth Night (Atlanta Shakespeare Co.), Resident Alien (Georgia Ensemble Theatre). TV/FILM: Includes Blindspot, Blue Bloods, Elementary, Law & Order, Love Monkey, the mini-series Mama Flora’s Family, and currently shooting a recurring role for a series to debut in 2018.
MARK LEWIS (Mr. Bearing) is the Director of Theater at Wheaton College in Illinois, where has been a professor since 1995. At Wheaton he has directed more than 50 plays and leads Workout, Wheaton’s 40-year old theater training ensemble. Prior to becoming a teacher, Mark was a professional actor in New York for fifteen years, and was active in regional theater and on television. Mark and his wife, the actress Mary Ellen Stuart, are the proud parents of five daughters, each adopted internationally.
MICHAEL MARKHAM (Jason) SAG-AFTRA, AEA: NY Credits: "The Spectacular Demise of Platonov"; "Christopher Marlowe’s Chloroform Dreams"; "Mother Courage and Her Children" and "Macbeth" at The Public. Film & TV: Law & Order; The Decades of Mason Carroll; Black Card (HBO); When Things Fall Apart; Home Office; Fumes; Lies. Owner - KiteMonkey Productions. Training: The Juilliard School. www.MichaelMarkhamOnline.com
DOREA SLAGLE (Ensemble) is thrilled to work with Seadog Theater, as well as to take part in a story as meaningful as WIT. She is currently studying at the T. Schreiber Acting Conservatory. Dorea's recent credits include Sally Cato in Mame (off-Broadway), Mrs. Wrasp in Charles Strousse's premier of A Pound in Your Pocket (off-off Broadway), Juliet in Romeo & Juliet (Regional), and Judge Hawthorne in The Crucible (Collegiate). Dorea is also starting her career as a playwright. Her new show, Unfinished, just premiered this month at her alma mater, The King's College. She would like to thank Chris Domig for the opportunity and her boyfriend Jacob for his unending faith in her!
CONNOR COUGHLIN (Ensemble) recently toured the country in 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor) and will be touring this holiday season in Elf. Connor is a proud graduate of Circle in the Square and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Thank you to all my teachers and to the company of Wit.
JOSHUA SALVADOR (Ensemble) is thrilled to be part of W;T with Sea Dog Theater Company. OFF-BROADWAY: Julius Caesar(The Public Theater/N.Y.S.F.) SELECT REGIONAL: Disgraced (BroadwayWorld Award), The WhippingMan, Savage in Limbo, The Tempest FILM&TV: A Garden of Thorns, Mysteries at The Museum www.joshua-salvador.com @joshuadsalvador
Throughout the year we organize free readings of new and established work that explore questions of alienation and reconciliation. After each performance, we set up a banquet table with food and wine for the sake of continuing the conversation. We are committed to hospitality as much as to excellent storytelling. Readings are suggested donation events, all donations go towards artist payments and hospitality costs. Our inaugural reading took place in April 2017.