Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Presents
Neil Simon’s MUSICAL FOOLS Book and Lyrics by Neil Simon
Music and Lyrics by Phil Swann and Ron West Directed by Ron West
Music Direction by Jan Roper
Choreography by Louisa Kendrick Burton Music Arrangements by Luke Harrington
Featuring
James Byous • Parvesh Cheena* • Cat Davis* • Nina Genatossio • Ben Goldberg*
Bruce Green* • Juliane Hagn • Demetris Hartman • Hank Jacobs
Derek Manson* • Brendan Mulally • Jason Paige • Diane Reneé • Beth Robbins
Robyn Roth* • Bolor Saruul • Jack Sharpe • Clare Snodgrass
Scenic Design Jan Munroe
Costume Design Mylette Nora
Sound Design Tim Labor
Lighting Design
Matt Richter & Mary Keegan
Properties
Bruce Dickinson & Ina Shumaker
Production Management
Amanda Weier & Art Hall
Publicist
Production Stage Manager
Associate Producer
Lucy Pollak Jennifer Palumbo*
Caroline Klidonas
Produced by Martha Demson
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. This production is presented under the auspices of the Actors’ Equity Los Angeles Membership Company Rule
"This performance is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture."
Ticketing and CRM Technology provided by PatronManager
“Neil Simon's Musical Fools” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company. Adapted from the play FOOLS by Neil Simon
Presents
Neil Simon’s MUSICAL FOOLS Book and Lyrics by Neil Simon
Music and Lyrics by Phil Swann and Ron West Directed by Ron West
Music Direction by Jan Roper
Choreography by Louisa Kendrick BurtonMusic Arrangements by Luke Harrington
Featuring
James Byous • Parvesh Cheena* • Cat Davis* • Nina Genatossio • Ben Goldberg*
Bruce Green* • Juliane Hagn • Demetris Hartman • Hank Jacobs
Derek Manson* • Brendan Mulally • Jason Paige • Diane Reneé • Beth Robbins
Robyn Roth* • Bolor Saruul • Jack Sharpe • Clare Snodgrass
Scenic Design Jan Munroe
Costume Design Mylette Nora
Sound Design Tim Labor
Lighting Design
Matt Richter & Mary Keegan
Properties
Bruce Dickinson & Ina Shumaker
Production Management
Amanda Weier & Art Hall
Publicist
Production Stage Manager
Associate Producer
Lucy Pollak Jennifer Palumbo* Caroline Klidonas
Produced by Martha Demson*Member, Actors’ Equity Association,the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.This production is presented under the auspices of the Actors’ Equity LosAngeles Membership Company Rule
"This performance is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture."
Ticketing and CRM Technology provided by PatronManager
“Neil Simon's Musical Fools” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company. Adapted from the play FOOLS by Neil Simon
Cast of Characters Leon Tolchinsky……………………………………………………………….……………….…………….………James Byous
alternate Demetris Hartman Dr. Zubritsky & Chorus……………………..…………………………….…………..…………….……….Derek Manson*
alternate Bruce Green * Lenya & Chorus…………………………….…...………………………….……………..….....………..…………Robyn Roth* Sophia & Chorus……………….…………………...……………..…...………..…………..……………..Clare Snodgrass Snetsky, Mikhail, Chorus…...………………...………………………….….……….………..………Parvesh Cheena* Mishkin, Vladimir, Conductor…………..…...………………………….…………..…..…………………Hank Jacobs Slovitch, Chorus, Bookworm…………….....……….………………...…………………….…..…Brendan Mulally Yenchna, Chorus………………….....………….……...………………………….……………….....…………….....Cat Davis* Magistrate, Chorus…...…………...………………………….……………...……….…………………………Beth Robbins Gregor, Passenger, Chorus…………………………………………………………………………..………… Jason Paige
alternate Ben Goldberg* Casimir, Ensemble……...………………………….………...………………………….……….…………………Jack Sharpe Woman, Ensemble……...………………………….………...………………………….………………………Diane Reneé Passenger, Ensemble………...………………………….………...………………………….…………………Bolor Saruul 1691 Sophia, Ensemble……...………………………….………...……………………………………………Juliane Hagn 1691 Magistrate, Cow, Ensemble, U/S Yenchna, Lenya, Sophia.……………Nina Genatossio
Band Keys ……………………..…………….…………… Jan Roper Drums ………….………………… Adam Snow Bass …………. Ross Wright, Ryan Roberts (alt) Reeds/Flute………….…… Matt Germaine
There will be one ten-minute intermission
THE SCENIC ART IN THIS PRODUCTION IS INSPIRED BY THE VISUAL TRADITION OF UKRAINIAN PYSANKY EGGS
ALL SCENIC UNITS & MINIATURES ARE FOR SALE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF THE PRODUCTION
All proceeds to benefit the Open Fist Theatre Company Please see the House Staff or contact Amanda Weier ([email protected]) for pricing info.
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS ON ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:https://shop.samuelfrench.com/content/files/pdf/piracy-whitepaper.pdf
THE ENSEMBLE JAMES BYOUS (Leon Tolchinsky) is an LA-based singer-songwriter, professional hitchhiker, and classic troubadour. He was featured in 2018's Netflix Original Series, "Westside." He's been described as "the next Bruce Springsteen" by some people that you'd be surprised to hear that from. All that aside, James has worked hard to hone his ability to draw in an audience with honest storytelling, raw musical talent, and subtle strangeness. PARVESH CHEENA* (Snetsky, Mikhail, Chorus) is glad to be back at Open Fist Theatre and working with the good Dr. Ron and Phil again after more than a decade from the first run of DELEARIOUS, alongside old castmates Robyn Roth and Bruce Green. Thank you for coming to and supporting intimate theatre in LA. @parvesh on the twit’, @parvey on the ‘gram. CAT DAVIS* (Yenchna, Chorus) is excited to be back at Open Fist, having last appeared on the OFTC stage in John O’Keefe’s All Night Long. Cat has written for KC Undercover and Shake It Up! on the Disney Channel and has appeared on Showtime, Lifetime, Disney, LOGO and the CW. Stand-up credits include: LOGO’s One Night Stand-Up, LA Comedy Festival, The Laugh Factory, The Improv, and the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club. She’s on the Main Company at ComedySportz and is a proud new member of the Story Pirates. All the love and thanks to her fabulous wife, Kristen! NINA GENATOSSIO (1691 Magistrate, Cow, Ensemble, U/S Yenchna, Lenya, Sophia) is thrilled to be making her Los Angeles theatre debut with OpenFist! Originally from Worcester, MA, Nina moved to Chicago where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Columbia College Chicago. Since moving to Los Angeles she has participated in numerous workshops and classes, and is ecstatic to be joining such a talented cast. A special thank you to Laura Gardner, Mary McGregor, and her incredible boyfriend Joseph Scafidi (who makes one heck of a scene partner). Nina is represented by KMR Equity. BEN GOLDBERG* (Gregor Alternate) Recent TV: Shameless, Castle, For the People. Recent Theatre: The Fast & The Furious: A Musical Parody, Mid-Century Moderns, For The Record, Falling For Make Believe. BFA, Carnegie Mellon University. www.bengoldberg.com BRUCE GREEN* (Dr. Zubritsky Alternate) is a Hollywood character actor and itinerant stage actor. He previously collaborated with Ron West and Phil Swann on the original production of The People Vs. Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet. Bruce played the Friar in Los Angeles before going on to two sold-out summers at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. More recently he toured the U.S. in the musical comedy The Bicycle Men. Previous Open Fist credits include the world premiere production of deLEARious with Robyn and Parvesh. Film credits
include the Coen brothers’ adaptation of True Grit. Television credits include NBC's Parks and Recreation. JULIANE HAGN (1691 Sophia, Ensemble) is excited to be bringing her tomfoolery to Musical Fools! Julie earned a degree in Dance & Psychology from St. Olaf College and recently celebrated her status as a Second City graduate with a performance run of “The Apologists” at Second City Hollywood. She cherishes her family, mentors, and friends that have taught her the joy that comes with bringing laughter to others. DEMETRIS HARTMAN (Leon Alternate) is very excited to be partnering with Open Fist Theater for this exceptional production! Getting to play with the amazing cast assembled for this show is a real honor. Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Demetris went on to train at The University of Kent in the UK, as well as at UCSD and Steppenwolf West in the US. He would like to thank the director, cast and entire production team for making him feel so welcome, as well as you, the audience for supporting live theatre. Enjoy the show! HANK JACOBS (Mishkin, Vladimir, Conductor) is a creator- writer/director/editor/artist/actor. Works include an award winning feature film: The Curse of El Segundo, a circus: Delicious Vaudeville, a web series (coming soon): Loser, and many short films. As a voice actor you’ve heard his voice on TV and radio commercials for many years. He’s a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, and the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Hank has been a part of the Open Fist’s Both: A Hard Day’s Silent Night for the past 5 years. Thehankjacobs.com DEREK MANSON* (Dr. Zubritsky & Chorus) has appeared on the LA and regional stages of the Alliance Theatre, South Coast Repertory, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Portland’5, Second City Hollywood, Up Comedy Club, IO West, For The Record Live, the Wallis-Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Malibu Playhouse, Greenway Arts Alliance, and Cornerstone Theater. With the Open Fist: Room Service, The Existents, and The Gary Plays. BRENDAN MULALLY (Slovitch, Chorus, Bookworm) is an actor and singer based in North Hollywood. He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2016 and has since been focusing on progressing his studies with the Upright Citizens Brigade in improvisation and sketch comedy. He's always had an avid passion for musical theater, having most recently been nominated for an Irene Ryan award through Santa Monica college with their production of Smokey Joe's Cafe. He's excited to once more have the opportunity to be up on stage making a fool of himself.
JASON PAIGE (Gregor, Passenger, Chorus) has shared the stage singing with with Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Liza Minelli, Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child, Oleta Adams, Billy Porter, Enrique Iglesias and was frontman for Blood Sweat & Tears. His voice is featured in films “Annie",“Jersey Boys”,“Muppet Movies” and “Sausage Party”. His most recognizable jingles include Pepto Bismol, Mountain Dew’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Coke’s “Catch The Feeling” and the legendary OG “Pokemon Theme Song". His Bg's appear on albums by Foreigner, Scorpions, Meatloaf and more. At Open Fist Jason was Joe in Zappa’s “Joe’s Garage”, Travis in Ty Taylor’s “The Existents” and Father McKenzie in "BOTH-A Hard Days Silent Night". He was in “Rent” at The Hollywood Bowl (Dir. Neil Patrick Harris), “Hair” (Dir. Jim and Jerry), Jesus in “Godspell” and Judas in “JC Superstar”. He's an original member of LA's acclaimed "For The Record" for which he received a Broadway World Best Actor award and an Ovation nomination. Jasonpaige.com for Love
DIANE RENEÉ (Woman, Ensemble) Originally from New York with two NAACP theater nominations. She most recently worked on stage with Tom Bower in the award winning production of Bobby Moresco’s Working 2020 at Whitefire Theater. Other stage credits include The Columbine Project, a top ten list of recommended plays by Stage Raw and Blues for Mister Charlie, nominated Best Play of the year by the LA Valley Theater Awards. As a former professional stuntwoman, Diane has several film credits. Television credits include Insecure and an appearance on ABC’s second season of The Rookie. BETH ROBBINS (Magistrate, Chorus) A member of The Open Fist for ten years, Beth is so grateful to have participated as an actress in the shows; The Dead, Everything is Enough, Rock ‘n Roll, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Welcome to your Alternative Reality, Both, Stage Door, Political Pop-up #’s 1, 2 and 3. As a co-producer, Under Milkwood and Anna in the Tropics. At other theatres; Barefoot in the Park, Spike Heels, Women of Troy, Assassins, Sweet Charity, I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road to name a few. She is so excited to bring Neil Simon’s Musical Fools to life with this amazing cast of talented and crazy peeps. This has been the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Many thanks to my family…genetic and otherwise…for their love and support. ROBYN ROTH* (Lenya & Chorus) grew up in L.A. and as a kid, first discovered musical theater in her bedroom with Annie (the Broadway soundtrack, not her invisible friend. Her name was Barbara). Robyn loves working full time performing in the Frozen Live at the Hyperion show at that Disney place. She has been in many short and long form improv shows, plays, and musicals. A few of her favorite roles are Evita, Charity, and Adelaide. She is enjoying the
challenge of playing a lovable dullard since in the last Swann/West musical on this Open Fist stage she played the jerky Goneril in deLEARious. She’s also stoked to get to work with her pals Parvesh and Bruce again! Thanks to parents Al and Rita, and l’il sister, Tiffany, for all their support. Tiffany is not a musical theater fan, but comes to all of Robyn’s shows, which hopefully are more tolerable than the mandatory shared bedroom performances of their childhood. “I seen it!” BOLOR SARUUL (Passenger, Ensemble) studied at the Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio where she graduated from the 2-Year Meisner Program. She then completed the 3rd year Mastery Program. She has participated in Hollywood Fringe plays and most recently played The Giving Tree at the Los Angeles Children's Theater. She is excited to be a part of Neil Simon's Musical Fools! JACK SHARPE (Casimir, Ensemble) has been performing improv since college and has graduated from UCB and Second City. He performed on Ghost Face Kittens, the Second City hip-hop house team, and played Joey in Ron West's Christmas Day Job. Enjoy the show! CLARE SNODGRASS (Sophia & Chorus) is an actor, improviser and classically-trained singer based in Los Angeles. From the musical theatre program at UCLA, she went on to study improv at the Second City Hollywood. She performs improv with her long form troupe, Gods of the Beach Bums, and short form troupe Mostly Organic. In her spare time, Clare leads her local Girl Scout troop, studies French, and records original music. Love and thanks to her family, Matt, and Ron West for the opportunity! Seeking representation.
THE BAND MATT GERMAINE (Reeds) maintains a busy schedule of musical commitments. He has performed with the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra and is a first call performer with the Dean Mora Swing Orchestra as well as playing woodwinds in numerous pit orchestras in the Southern California area. He has performed at such venerable venues as Lincoln Center, The Hollywood Bowl, The Alex Theater and the Casino Ballroom on Catalina Island. He has backed up some of music's greatest artists such as Tony Bennett, Cab Calloway, Celia Cruz, Diane Schuur, Michael Feinstein and the Mills Brothers. He received his undergraduate degree from Cal State Northridge in Saxophone Performance. RYAN ROBERTS (Bass) is an electric and upright bass player and is honored to continually make music with the best musicians in Los Angeles. Ryan strives to build community among musicians in Los Angeles and globally through the music night’s he’s started and Co-led I’m LA, as well as hosting THE BASS SHED PODCAST that has been receiving international attention. Ryan’s podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play and Stitcher.
ADAM SNOW (Drums/Percussion) Hailing from North Carolina, Drummer/Percussionist Adam Snow enjoys performing in a wide variety of musical contexts from rock/funk/jazz drum set, classical orchestral percussion, and musical theater to the percussion traditions of Brazil, Guinea, Mali, and Zimbabwe. Notable artists with whom he has performed include Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Andrea Bocelli, Kristen Chenoweth, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Clarence "Big Man" Clemons among others. Snow received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is the Director of Percussion Studies at Cal State LA. He proudly endorses Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets. www.adamsnowmusic.com THE CREATIVES
NEIL SIMON (Book and Lyrics) is the author of dozens of plays and films, and his plays are among the most-produced in the world. Some of his plays include Come Blow Your Horn; Little Me; Barefoot in the Park; The Odd Couple; Sweet Charity; The Star-Spangled Girl; Plaza Suite; Promises, Promises; Last of the Red Hot Lovers; The Gingerbread Lady; The Prisoner of Second Avenue; The Sunshine Boys; The Good Doctor; God’s Favorite; California Suite; Chapter Two; They’re Playing our Song; I Ought to Be in Pictures; Fools; the female version of The Odd Couple; Rumors; Jake’s Women; The Goodbye Girl; Laughter on the 23rdFloor; Proposals; The Dinner Party and 45 Seconds from Broadway and London Suite. With his autobiographical trilogy — Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983), Biloxi Blues (1985) and Broadway Bound (1986) — Simon found his greatest critical acclaim, and for his 1991 follow-up, Lost in Yonkers, Simon was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. RON WEST (Music, Lyrics, Director) has been an artistic associate of The Second City for many years, helming its holiday perennial Twist Your Dickens at the Goodman Theater, Portland Center Stage, and Kirk Douglas Theater. He also directed the national tour of Sex and the Second City and the award-winning Curious George Goes to War. He enjoyed directing his musicals The People Vs. Friar Laurence starring Keegan-Michael Key at Chicago Shakespeare and deLEARious at The Open Fist Theater. Recently, he directed his own play Any Resemblance as part of the Roe Green Visiting Director Series at Kent State University, his alma mater. And speaking of visiting, he staged Current Eventuals in Boston, This Town by Sidney Blumenthal in Washington, D.C., Phantom Menace to Society in Detroit, The 39 Steps in Malibu, Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, and The Best of the Second City in Vienna, Austria to name a few of his favorites. He has a long standing artistic partnership with Catherine Butterfield. Together they wrote and directed
Welcome to Your Alternative Reality and he staged her Life Expectancy for the Malibu Playhouse. Concurrently, Ron is directing a reading of Ms. Butterfield's Electra Revisited at Antaeus. PHIL SWANN (Music and Lyrics) Phil Swann's career in the entertainment industry has spanned more than 30-years as a composer, author, playwright, performer, and producer. A short list of his work includes: the hit Off-Broadway musical, Play It Cool, Outer Critics Circle nominee for best new musical; The People vs. Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet, nominated for three Jeffrey Joseph Awards including Best New Musical; deLEARious, Garland Award winner for Best New Score; In A Booth at Chasen's; Trombone; Shakespeare's Greatest Hits. Swann is the author of Cold War Copa and Mekong Delta Blues, the first two books in the Sideman Mysteries series. Other books by Swann include the thrillers The Song of Eleusis and The Mozart Conspiracy. Swann is currently working on the third book in the Sideman Mysteries series entitled, Tinsel Town Tango. As a songwriter, Phil Swann's songs have been used in countless TV shows, movies, and have been recorded by numerous recording artists including: Clay Aiken, Lee Ann Womack, Josh Strickland, Blake Shelton, Neal McCoy, Rodney Atkins, Eamonn McCrystal and Lee Greenwood. JAN ROPER (Music Director) is a composer and music director. Her theater career started with the full-scale production of her own original rock opera, Jerusalem A.D. in 2006. Another original work, City of Light, was chosen for the ASCAP Stephen Schwartz workshop (2016) and the sheNYC Festival (2017), where it won Best Score. City of Light has also been featured as a “new work to watch” at Feinstein’s/54 Below in NYC after a sold out concert reading there in 2018. This year Jan had a featured song in the new world premiere, Girlhood, produced by CPA Theatricals. She stays busy as a faculty accompanist and teacher at AMDA College of the Performing Arts, and a vocal and music director in the local theater and cabaret community of LA. Some notable shows in the last 2 years: deLEARious (Open Fist Theater), Next to Normal (Hillcrest Theater), Merrily We Roll Along (Colony Theater), Sugar and Barnum (Musical Theater Guild).
LOUISA KENDRICK BURTON (Choreographer) is delighted to be joining the Musical Fools family. Louisa has performed on Broadway (A Christmas Carol), Off-Broadway (Senseless Killings…), National Tours (Beauty and The Beast, Jesus Christ Superstar), Regional Theaters (Papermill Playhouse, Westchester Broadway, KC Starlight, Houston TUTS) and as a world famous Radio City Rockette. She was choreographer for Jimmy Buffet’s national tour and has taught dance and theater for Camp Broadway, Performing Arts Workshops and local YWCA’s in NYC. Special thanks to Todd for holding down the fort at home
and to Cora and Jonah for keeping the house tidy while mommy went out to play.
LUKE HANNINGTON (Music Arrangements) is a composer, arranger and university lecturer. He is the founder and music director for The Silent Movie Ensemble, a group dedicated to making audiences scream and stomp through classic movies like “The Lost World,” accompanied by a live orchestra and sound effects. His original compositions include the symphony, “Hesby Street,” the P.G. Wodehouse opera, “The Inferiority Complex of Old Sippy,”“Five Alice Songs,” a song cycle based on the works of Lewis Carroll, and “Robin,” a wind quintet commemorating the life of Robin Williams. With Chasen’s Phil Swann, he co-created the secular Christmas cantata “New Life,” (with text derived from the Bible and the works of Christopher Hitchens). He is a music educator, currently lecturing at CSULB. His textbook, “The New Musician’s Guide to The Fundamentals of Music,” is available on Amazon, while his PhD thesis on compositional procedures found in 18th-century music will be available in early 2019. JAN MUNROE (Scenic & Miniature Design/Construction/Painting) is an actor, writer, director and proud pensioner from all three acting unions as well as a Social Security recipient so he's pleased to announce HE WON! Over the last 45 years of theatrical activity, he has managed to accrue 13 LA Weekly and Drama-Logue Awards, an Ovation award, two NEA Theatre fellowships, a Rockefeller Playwrights fellowship and a California Arts Council "New Genre" fellowship. For OPEN FIST, he designed and directed John O'Keefe's DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME ANYTHING BUT MOTHER in 2017 and O'Keefe's ALL NIGHT LONG in 2018. Oh, and he's also been in a bunch of movies, TV shows and commercials. And he ain't done yet! MYLETTE NORA (Costume Design)is a recipient of the NAACP Theatre Award for best costumes, listed in the honors edition of The Cambridge Registry of Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women, works world wide consists of television, film, and stage, and was seen nightly on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno and now weekly on "Jay Leno's Garage". The famed artist Synthia St. James noted Mylette as being the inspiration for her world renowned painting "Ensemble" which graced the cover of the best selling novel "Waiting To Exhale" by Terry McMillan. Mylette’s designer doggie wear, www.FromTheHeartDoggieWear.com, as well as heirloom dolls, "My Mind's Eye.”
TIM LABOR (Sound Design) is a longtime OFTC designer and collaborator. Recent projects include “Welcome to your Alternative Reality,” “Under Milkwood,” “All Night Long,” “What Matters Now?/!” and ”Anna in the Tropics.” Other recent projects include sound and music for “Laramie Project” (Mira Costa H.S,), arranging for the UCR Orchestra (“Princess Ten Ten and the
Dark Skies”), a Glorya Kaufmann Theatre performance of Stacie Chaiken’s acclaimed “The Dig,” and “Three Places in California,” a choral suite for Nova Scotia’s Kings Chorale.
MATT RICHTER & MARY KEEGAN (Lighting Design) are Los Angeles based designers, thrilled to be collaborating on Neil Simon's Fools. Between the two of them, their work has been seen in Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, Chicago and Amsterdam. For more info, please visit mattrichter.net or marykeegan,com.
JENNIFER PALUMBO* (Production Stage Manager) An LA based Stage Manager, Jennifer worked with Ron West and OFTC on DeLEARious, and is delighted to be part of the Neil Simon’s Musical Fools experience. OFTC credits include Dancing At Lughnasa, Last Call, All Night Long, Under Milk Wood, The Gary Plays, and Mad Forest. Selected credits include The Color Purple with Greenway Arts Alliance, Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop – LA debut at Matrix Theatre, and in Memphis, TN for MLK50 with Hattiloo Theatre at the Halloran Centre. With Rogue Machine - El Niño, DAYTONA, and Suppliant Women (at Getty Villa), and many productions at the Odyssey Theatre including Anna Christie, Awake and Sing!, Broadway Bound, Day Drinkers, and A Steady Rain, also at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA. Jennifer is grateful to the theatrical community, her family, her partner James, and her feline muse, Chaz, for their continued encouragement and support!
CAROLINE KLIDONAS (Associate Producer) is an actor, writer, and spoken word artist. She was last seen in Open Fist's Dancing at Lughnasa as Chris and Tammy in the Ovation Recommended All Night Long. Her TV credits include SHOWTIME pilot Queen Fur and A Lie To Die For. She regularly performs spoken word poetry at The Broadwater Theatre and has even had a few poems published. But perhaps most impressive is the fact that she has a dog from Thailand named Mike. Check out www.carolineklidonas.com if you simply must know more. MARTHA DEMSON (Producer & Artistic Director of the Open Fist Theatre) Highlights of Demson's award-winning career with the Open Fist Theatre include: As a producer: Anna in the Tropics (Cruz); All Night Long (O’Keefe); Under Milk Wood (Thomas); The Gary Plays (Mednick); The Cosmonaut’s Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union (Greig) LA Weekly Production of the Year; How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients (Visniec) also in New York and Edinburgh. As a director: The Ovation Award-winning PAPA (deGroot) also in San Francisco and Istanbul; Casanova (Congden), Abingdon Square (Fornes), Escape from Happiness (Walker), The Existents (Taylor); Dear John Mayer (Shoshana Bean / Eydie Faye). Education: Yale University and Sanford Meisner’s 2-year master class.
Mission The Open Fist Theatre Company is a community of actors, playwrights, designers and directors who believe that to realize the force and potential of a relevant, contemporary theatre it is necessary to establish a Company founded on the pursuit of artistic excellence. We seek through diverse voices to celebrate difference in all its forms, as we nurture empathy and forge identity through our work.
Board of Directors Martha Demson, Christopher Lore, Malhar Pagay, Charles Otte, Catie Saralegui, David Shofner, James Spencer
Company Staff Artistic Director……..............................................…………....………..…… Martha Demson Associate Artistic Director / Co Production Manager…..…….....…....…. Amanda Weier Managing Director…………………………...…...………..…….….….......... Katie May Porter Co Production Manager / Facilities Manager …………….….…...………………… Art Hall Literary Manager………………………………..……..…….……..………... Barbara Schofield Marketing & Social Media Manager …….………...…………………….. Caroline Klidonas Membership Manager…………………..………....…………..……….……...…. Lane Allison Financial Director .…………………………………..…...…………... Richard Michael Knolla Education Director .................................................................................. Laura Richardson Outreach Director ………………….….…..……..……...………...……….…. Dionna Veremis
Our Members Hetty Abbott, Lane Allison, Christine Avila, Raúl Ramón Bencomo, Chloe Berlinger, Bryan Bertone, Allison Blaize, Phillip William Brock, Brittany Brown, Sandra Kate Burck, James Byous, Spencer Cantrell, Christopher Cappiello, Christopher Cedeño, Parvesh Cheena, Stephanie Crothers, John Patrick Daly, Cat Davis, Martha Demson, Bruce Dickinson, Presciliana Esparolini, Lori Gambero, Ben Goldberg, Bruce Green, Katherine Griffith, Art Hall, Hank Jacobs, Laura James, Antonio Jaramillo, Caroline Klidonas, Carol Kline, Richard Michael Knolla, Tim Labor, Sherry Larson, Dylan Maddalena, Derek Manson, Gina Manziello, Ben Martin, Lynn Milgrim, Javi Mulero, Jan Munroe, Jennifer Palumbo, Rod Menzies, Amy Moorman, Scott Mosenson, Jan Munroe, Tom Noga, Neil Oktay, Jason Paige, Rebecca Paugam, Alina Phelan, Stevie-Jean Placek, Katie May Porter, Tina Preston, Byron Quiros, Jill Remez, Diane Renee, Laura Richardson, Beth Robbins, Scott Roberts, Kenia Romero, Robyn Roth, Steven Royce, Jade Santana, Bolor Saruul, Judith Scarpone, Barbara Schofield, David Shofner, Ina Shumaker, Clare Snodgrass, Dionna Veremis, Amanda Weier, Ron West, Steve Wilcox, Ann Marie Wilding
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
@openfist
The Open Fist Theatre Company wishes to thank all of the supporting Angels whose generous contributions have made our Season possible…
Seraphim ($5000 and above)
Martha Demson, Jim Gauer, Tom Jacobson, LA County Arts Commission, Murray Mednick, Jan Munroe, Richard C Munroe Foundation,
Malhar Pagay, David Shofner
Cherubim ($2500-$5000)
Department of Cultural Affairs (City of LA), Maxine Jacobson, Phillips Family, Elka Weiner
Virtues
($1000-$2500) The Arkay Foundation, Alan Mandell, Charlie Otte, Richard Polak, Your Cause
Foundation
Archangels ($500-$1000)
Tim Labor, Jeff LeBeau, Jon Neustadter, Dean Petrakis, James Spencer, Amanda Weier
Angels
($100-$500) Joseph Allison, Amazon Smile, Leona Barad, Benevity,
Samantha Bennett, Christopher Cappiello, Art Hall, Anne Kenney, Kroger Community Contributions, Elizabeth Lande, Lisa LaValle,
Myron Meisel, Diane Naegele, Eboni Nichols, Nonprofit Insurance Alliance of California, Mary Linda Phillips, Laura Richardson,
Beth Robbins, Daniel Schoenman, Susan Sugarman, Caitlin Thompson
… and to all of You, our patrons, for continuing to support intimate theatre in Los Angeles.
Special Thanks for their support of this production: Catherine Butterfield, Jim Gauer, David Haworth, Ed Martel,
LA LGBT Center & Matt Mies
THE ENSEMBLE JAMES BYOUS (Leon Tolchinsky) is an LA-basedsinger-songwriter, professional hitchhiker, and classic troubadour. He was featured in 2018's Netflix Original Series, "Westside." He's been described as "the next Bruce Springsteen" bysome people that you'd be surprised to hear that from. All that aside, James has worked hard to hone his ability to draw in an audience with honest storytelling, raw musical talent, and subtlestrangeness. PARVESH CHEENA* (Snetsky, Mikhail, Chorus) isglad to be back at Open Fist Theatre and working with the good Dr. Ron and Phil again after more than a decade from the first run of DELEARIOUS, alongside old castmates RobynRoth and Bruce Green. Thank you for coming to and supporting intimate theatre in LA. @parvesh on the twit’, @parvey on the ‘gram. CAT DAVIS* (Yenchna, Chorus) is excited to be back at Open Fist, having last appeared on the OFTC stage in John O’Keefe’s All Night Long. Cathas written for KC Undercover and Shake It Up! on the Disney Channel and has appeared on Showtime, Lifetime, Disney, LOGO and the CW. Stand-up credits include: LOGO’s One NightStand-Up, LA Comedy Festival, The Laugh Factory, The Improv, and the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club. She’s on the Main Company at ComedySportz and is a proud new member ofthe Story Pirates. All the love and thanks to her fabulous wife, Kristen! NINA GENATOSSIO (1691 Magistrate, Cow, Ensemble, U/S Yenchna, Lenya, Sophia) is thrilled to be making her Los Angeles theatre debut with OpenFist! Originally from Worcester, MA, Ninamoved to Chicago where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Columbia College Chicago. Since moving to Los Angeles she has participated in numerous workshops and classes,and is ecstatic to be joining such a talented cast. A special thank you to Laura Gardner, Mary McGregor, and her incredible boyfriend Joseph Scafidi (who makes one heck of a scenepartner). Nina is represented by KMR Equity. BEN GOLDBERG* (Gregor Alternate) Recent TV:Shameless, Castle, For the People. Recent Theatre: The Fast & The Furious: A Musical Parody, Mid-Century Moderns, For The Record, Falling For Make Believe. BFA, Carnegie Mellon University.www.bengoldberg.com BRUCE GREEN* (Dr. Zubritsky Alternate) is a Hollywood character actor and itinerant stageactor. He previously collaborated with Ron West and Phil Swann on the original production of The People Vs. Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet. Bruce played the Friar in LosAngeles before going on to two sold-out summers at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. More recently he toured the U.S. in the musical comedy The Bicycle Men. Previous Open Fistcredits include the world premiere production of deLEARious with Robyn and Parvesh. Film credits
include the Coen brothers’ adaptation of TrueGrit. Television credits include NBC's Parks and Recreation. JULIANE HAGN (1691 Sophia, Ensemble) isexcited to be bringing her tomfoolery to Musical Fools! Julie earned a degree in Dance & Psychology from St. Olaf College and recently celebrated her status as a Second City graduatewith a performance run of “The Apologists” at Second City Hollywood. She cherishes her family, mentors, and friends that have taught her the joy that comes with bringing laughter to others. DEMETRIS HARTMAN (Leon Alternate) is very excited to be partnering with Open Fist Theater for this exceptional production! Getting to playwith the amazing cast assembled for this show is a real honor. Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Demetris went on to train at The University of Kent in the UK, as well as at UCSD and SteppenwolfWest in the US. He would like to thank the director, cast and entire production team for making him feel so welcome, as well as you, the audience for supporting live theatre. Enjoy theshow! HANK JACOBS (Mishkin, Vladimir, Conductor) is a creator- writer/director/editor/artist/actor. Worksinclude an award winning feature film: The Curse of El Segundo, a circus: Delicious Vaudeville, a web series (coming soon): Loser, and many short films. As a voice actor you’ve heard his voice onTV and radio commercials for many years. He’s a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, and the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Hank has been a part of theOpen Fist’s Both: A Hard Day’s Silent Night for the past 5 years. Thehankjacobs.com DEREK MANSON* (Dr. Zubritsky & Chorus) hasappeared on the LA and regional stages of the Alliance Theatre, South Coast Repertory, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Portland’5, Second City Hollywood, Up Comedy Club, IOWest, For The Record Live, the Wallis-Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Malibu Playhouse, Greenway Arts Alliance, and Cornerstone Theater. With the Open Fist: Room Service, TheExistents, and The Gary Plays. BRENDAN MULALLY (Slovitch, Chorus, Bookworm)is an actor and singer based in North Hollywood. He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2016 and has since been focusing on progressing his studies with theUpright Citizens Brigade in improvisation and sketch comedy. He's always had an avid passion for musical theater, having most recently been nominated for an Irene Ryan award throughSanta Monica college with their production of Smokey Joe's Cafe. He's excited to once more have the opportunity to be up on stage making a fool of himself.
JASON PAIGE (Gregor, Passenger, Chorus) has shared the stage singing with with Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Liza Minelli, Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child, Oleta Adams, Billy Porter,Enrique Iglesias and was frontman for Blood Sweat & Tears. His voice is featured in films “Annie",“Jersey Boys”,“Muppet Movies” and “Sausage Party”. His most recognizable jinglesinclude Pepto Bismol, Mountain Dew’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Coke’s “Catch The Feeling” and the legendary OG “Pokemon Theme Song". His Bg's appear on albums byForeigner, Scorpions, Meatloaf and more. At Open Fist Jason was Joe in Zappa’s “Joe’s Garage”, Travis in Ty Taylor’s “The Existents” and Father McKenzie in "BOTH-A Hard Days SilentNight". He was in “Rent” at The Hollywood Bowl (Dir. Neil Patrick Harris), “Hair” (Dir. Jim and Jerry), Jesus in “Godspell” and Judas in “JC Superstar”. He's an original member of LA's acclaimed "ForThe Record" for which he received a Broadway World Best Actor award and an Ovation nomination. Jasonpaige.com for Love
DIANE RENEÉ (Woman, Ensemble) Originally from New York with two NAACP theater nominations. She most recently worked on stage with TomBower in the award winning production of Bobby Moresco’s Working 2020 at Whitefire Theater. Other stage credits include The Columbine Project, a top ten list of recommended plays byStage Raw and Blues for Mister Charlie, nominated Best Play of the year by the LA Valley Theater Awards. As a former professional stuntwoman, Diane has several film credits.Television credits include Insecure and an appearance on ABC’s second season of The Rookie. BETH ROBBINS (Magistrate, Chorus) A member of The Open Fist for ten years, Beth is so grateful to have participated as an actress in the shows; TheDead, Everything is Enough, Rock ‘n Roll, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Welcome to your Alternative Reality, Both, Stage Door, Political Pop-up #’s 1, 2 and 3. As a co-producer, UnderMilkwood and Anna in the Tropics. At other theatres; Barefoot in the Park, Spike Heels, Women of Troy, Assassins, Sweet Charity, I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It On theRoad to name a few. She is so excited to bring Neil Simon’s Musical Fools to life with this amazing cast of talented and crazy peeps. This has been the most fun you can have with your clothes on!Many thanks to my family…genetic and otherwise…for their love and support. ROBYN ROTH* (Lenya & Chorus) grew up in L.A. and as a kid, first discovered musical theater in her bedroom with Annie (the Broadway soundtrack, not her invisible friend. Her name wasBarbara). Robyn loves working full time performing in the Frozen Live at the Hyperion show at that Disney place. She has been in many short and long form improv shows, plays, andmusicals. A few of her favorite roles are Evita, Charity, and Adelaide. She is enjoying the
challenge of playing a lovable dullard since in the last Swann/West musical on this Open Fist stage she played the jerky Goneril in deLEARious. She’s also stoked to get to work with her palsParvesh and Bruce again! Thanks to parents Al and Rita, and l’il sister, Tiffany, for all their support. Tiffany is not a musical theater fan, but comes to all of Robyn’s shows, which hopefully are moretolerable than the mandatory shared bedroom performances of their childhood. “I seen it!” BOLOR SARUUL (Passenger, Ensemble) studied at the Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio where she graduated from the 2-Year Meisner Program. She then completed the 3rd year Mastery Program.She has participated in Hollywood Fringe plays and most recently played The Giving Tree at the Los Angeles Children's Theater. She is excited to be a part of Neil Simon's Musical Fools! JACK SHARPE (Casimir, Ensemble) has been performing improv since college and has graduated from UCB and Second City. Heperformed on Ghost Face Kittens, the Second City hip-hop house team, and played Joey in Ron West's Christmas Day Job. Enjoy the show! CLARE SNODGRASS (Sophia & Chorus) is an actor, improviser and classically-trained singer based in Los Angeles. From the musical theatre programat UCLA, she went on to study improv at the Second City Hollywood. She performs improv with her long form troupe, Gods of the Beach Bums, and short form troupe Mostly Organic. In herspare time, Clare leads her local Girl Scout troop, studies French, and records original music. Love and thanks to her family, Matt, and Ron West for the opportunity! Seeking representation.
THE BAND MATT GERMAINE (Reeds) maintains a busy schedule of musical commitments. He has performed with the Santa Barbara SymphonyOrchestra and is a first call performer with the Dean Mora Swing Orchestra as well as playing woodwinds in numerous pit orchestras in the Southern California area. He has performed atsuch venerable venues as Lincoln Center, The Hollywood Bowl, The Alex Theater and the Casino Ballroom on Catalina Island. He has backed up some of music's greatest artists such as TonyBennett, Cab Calloway, Celia Cruz, Diane Schuur, Michael Feinstein and the Mills Brothers. He received his undergraduate degree from Cal State Northridge in Saxophone Performance. RYAN ROBERTS (Bass) is an electric and upright bass player and is honored to continually make music with the best musicians in Los Angeles.Ryan strives to build community among musicians in Los Angeles and globally through the music night’s he’s started and Co-led I’m LA, as well as hosting THE BASS SHED PODCAST that has beenreceiving international attention. Ryan’s podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play and Stitcher.
ADAM SNOW (Drums/Percussion) Hailing from North Carolina, Drummer/Percussionist Adam Snow enjoys performing in a wide variety ofmusical contexts from rock/funk/jazz drum set, classical orchestral percussion, and musical theater to the percussion traditions of Brazil, Guinea, Mali, and Zimbabwe. Notable artists withwhom he has performed include Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Andrea Bocelli, Kristen Chenoweth, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Clarence "Big Man" Clemonsamong others. Snow received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is the Director of Percussion Studies at Cal State LA. He proudlyendorses Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets. www.adamsnowmusic.com THE CREATIVES
NEIL SIMON (Book and Lyrics) is the author of dozens of plays and films, and his plays are among the most-produced in the world. Some ofhis plays include Come Blow Your Horn; Little Me; Barefoot in the Park; The Odd Couple; Sweet Charity; The Star-Spangled Girl; Plaza Suite; Promises, Promises; Last of the Red Hot Lovers;The Gingerbread Lady; The Prisoner of Second Avenue; The Sunshine Boys; The Good Doctor; God’s Favorite; California Suite; Chapter Two; They’re Playing our Song; I Ought to Be inPictures; Fools; the female version of The Odd Couple; Rumors; Jake’s Women; The Goodbye Girl; Laughter on the 23rdFloor; Proposals; The Dinner Party and 45 Seconds from Broadway andLondon Suite. With his autobiographical trilogy — Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983), Biloxi Blues (1985) and Broadway Bound (1986) — Simon found his greatest critical acclaim, and for his 1991follow-up, Lost in Yonkers, Simon was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. RON WEST (Music, Lyrics, Director) has been anartistic associate of The Second City for many years, helming its holiday perennial Twist Your Dickens at the Goodman Theater, Portland Center Stage, and Kirk Douglas Theater. He alsodirected the national tour of Sex and the Second City and the award-winning Curious George Goes to War. He enjoyed directing his musicals The People Vs. Friar Laurence starringKeegan-Michael Key at Chicago Shakespeare and deLEARious at The Open Fist Theater. Recently, he directed his own play Any Resemblance as part of the Roe Green VisitingDirector Series at Kent State University, his alma mater. And speaking of visiting, he staged Current Eventuals in Boston, This Town by Sidney Blumenthal in Washington, D.C., PhantomMenace to Society in Detroit, The 39 Steps in Malibu, Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, and The Best of the Second City in Vienna, Austria to name a few of his favorites. He has a longstanding artistic partnership with Catherine Butterfield. Together they wrote and directed
Welcome to Your Alternative Reality and he staged her Life Expectancy for the Malibu Playhouse. Concurrently, Ron is directing a reading of Ms. Butterfield's Electra Revisited atAntaeus. PHIL SWANN (Music and Lyrics) Phil Swann'scareer in the entertainment industry has spanned more than 30-years as a composer, author, playwright, performer, and producer. A short list of his work includes: the hit Off-Broadwaymusical, Play It Cool, Outer Critics Circle nominee for best new musical; The People vs. Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet, nominated for three Jeffrey Joseph Awardsincluding Best New Musical; deLEARious, Garland Award winner for Best New Score; In A Booth at Chasen's; Trombone; Shakespeare's Greatest Hits. Swann is the author of Cold War Copa andMekong Delta Blues, the first two books in the Sideman Mysteries series. Other books by Swann include the thrillers The Song of Eleusis and The Mozart Conspiracy. Swann is currently working onthe third book in the Sideman Mysteries series entitled, Tinsel Town Tango. As a songwriter, Phil Swann's songs have been used in countless TV shows, movies, and have been recorded bynumerous recording artists including: Clay Aiken, Lee Ann Womack, Josh Strickland, Blake Shelton, Neal McCoy, Rodney Atkins, Eamonn McCrystal and Lee Greenwood. JAN ROPER (Music Director) is a composer and music director. Her theater career started with the full-scale production of her own original rockopera, Jerusalem A.D. in 2006. Another original work, City of Light, was chosen for the ASCAP Stephen Schwartz workshop (2016) and the sheNYC Festival (2017), where it won Best Score.City of Light has also been featured as a “new work to watch” at Feinstein’s/54 Below in NYC after a sold out concert reading there in 2018. This year Jan had a featured song in the newworld premiere, Girlhood, produced by CPA Theatricals. She stays busy as a faculty accompanist and teacher at AMDA College of the Performing Arts, and a vocal and musicdirector in the local theater and cabaret community of LA. Some notable shows in the last 2 years: deLEARious (Open Fist Theater), Next to Normal (Hillcrest Theater), Merrily We Roll Along(Colony Theater), Sugar and Barnum (Musical Theater Guild).
LOUISA KENDRICK BURTON (Choreographer) isdelighted to be joining the Musical Fools family. Louisa has performed on Broadway (A Christmas Carol), Off-Broadway (Senseless Killings…), National Tours (Beauty and The Beast, Jesus ChristSuperstar), Regional Theaters (Papermill Playhouse, Westchester Broadway, KC Starlight, Houston TUTS) and as a world famous Radio City Rockette. She was choreographer for JimmyBuffet’s national tour and has taught dance and theater for Camp Broadway, Performing Arts Workshops and local YWCA’s in NYC. Special thanks to Todd for holding down the fort at home
and to Cora and Jonah for keeping the house tidy while mommy went out to play.
LUKE HANNINGTON (Music Arrangements) is acomposer, arranger and university lecturer. He is the founder and music director for The Silent Movie Ensemble, a group dedicated to making audiences scream and stomp through classicmovies like “The Lost World,” accompanied by a live orchestra and sound effects. His original compositions include the symphony, “Hesby Street,” the P.G. Wodehouse opera, “TheInferiority Complex of Old Sippy,”“Five Alice Songs,” a song cycle based on the works of Lewis Carroll, and “Robin,” a wind quintet commemorating the life of Robin Williams. WithChasen’s Phil Swann, he co-created the secular Christmas cantata “New Life,” (with text derived from the Bible and the works of Christopher Hitchens). He is a music educator, currentlylecturing at CSULB. His textbook, “The New Musician’s Guide to The Fundamentals of Music,” is available on Amazon, while his PhD thesis on compositional procedures found in 18th-centurymusic will be available in early 2019. JAN MUNROE(Scenic & Miniature Design/Construction/Painting) is an actor, writer, director and proud pensioner from all three acting unions as well as a Social Security recipient so he's pleased to announceHE WON! Over the last 45 years of theatrical activity, he has managed to accrue 13 LA Weekly and Drama-Logue Awards, an Ovation award, two NEA Theatre fellowships, aRockefeller Playwrights fellowship and a California Arts Council "New Genre" fellowship. For OPEN FIST, he designed and directed John O'Keefe's DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME ANYTHINGBUT MOTHER in 2017 and O'Keefe's ALL NIGHT LONG in 2018. Oh, and he's also been in a bunch of movies, TV shows and commercials. And he ain't done yet! MYLETTE NORA (Costume Design)is a recipient ofthe NAACP Theatre Award for best costumes, listed in the honors edition of The Cambridge Registry of Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women, works world wide consists oftelevision, film, and stage, and was seen nightly on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno and now weekly on "Jay Leno's Garage". The famed artist Synthia St. James noted Mylette as being theinspiration for her world renowned painting "Ensemble" which graced the cover of the best selling novel "Waiting To Exhale" by Terry McMillan. Mylette’s designer doggie wear,www.FromTheHeartDoggieWear.com, as well as heirloom dolls, "My Mind's Eye.”
TIM LABOR (Sound Design) is a longtime OFTCdesigner and collaborator. Recent projects include “Welcome to your Alternative Reality,” “Under Milkwood,” “All Night Long,” “What Matters Now?/!” and ”Anna in the Tropics.” Otherrecent projects include sound and music for “Laramie Project” (Mira Costa H.S,), arranging for the UCR Orchestra (“Princess Ten Ten and the
Dark Skies”), a Glorya Kaufmann Theatre performance of Stacie Chaiken’s acclaimed “The Dig,” and “Three Places in California,” a choral suite for Nova Scotia’s Kings Chorale.
MATT RICHTER & MARY KEEGAN (Lighting Design) are Los Angeles based designers, thrilled to be collaborating on Neil Simon's Fools. Between thetwo of them, their work has been seen in Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, Chicago and Amsterdam. For more info, please visit mattrichter.net or marykeegan,com.
JENNIFER PALUMBO* (Production Stage Manager) An LA based Stage Manager, Jennifer worked with Ron West and OFTC on DeLEARious, and isdelighted to be part of the Neil Simon’s Musical Fools experience. OFTC credits include Dancing At Lughnasa, Last Call, All Night Long, Under Milk Wood, The Gary Plays, and Mad Forest. Selectedcredits include The Color Purple with Greenway Arts Alliance, Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop – LA debut at Matrix Theatre, and in Memphis, TN for MLK50 with Hattiloo Theatre at the HalloranCentre. With Rogue Machine - El Niño, DAYTONA, and Suppliant Women (at Getty Villa), and many productions at the Odyssey Theatre including Anna Christie, Awake and Sing!, BroadwayBound, Day Drinkers, and A Steady Rain, also at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA. Jennifer is grateful to the theatrical community, her family, her partner James, and her feline muse, Chaz, fortheir continued encouragement and support!
CAROLINE KLIDONAS (Associate Producer) is an actor, writer, and spoken word artist. She was lastseen in Open Fist's Dancing at Lughnasa as Chris and Tammy in the Ovation Recommended All Night Long. Her TV credits include SHOWTIME pilot Queen Fur and A Lie To Die For. She regularlyperforms spoken word poetry at The Broadwater Theatre and has even had a few poems published. But perhaps most impressive is the fact that she has a dog from Thailand named Mike.Check out www.carolineklidonas.com if you simply must know more. MARTHA DEMSON (Producer & Artistic Director ofthe Open Fist Theatre) Highlights of Demson's award-winning career with the Open Fist Theatre include: As a producer: Anna in the Tropics (Cruz); All Night Long (O’Keefe); Under MilkWood (Thomas); The Gary Plays (Mednick); The Cosmonaut’s Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union (Greig) LA Weekly Production of the Year; How to Explainthe History of Communism to Mental Patients(Visniec) also in New York and Edinburgh. As a director: The Ovation Award-winning PAPA (deGroot) also in San Francisco and Istanbul;Casanova (Congden), Abingdon Square (Fornes), Escape from Happiness (Walker), The Existents (Taylor); Dear John Mayer (Shoshana Bean / Eydie Faye). Education: Yale Universityand Sanford Meisner’s 2-year master class.
Mission The Open Fist Theatre Company is a community of actors, playwrights, designers and directors who believe that to realize the force and potential of a relevant, contemporary theatre it is necessary to establish a Company founded on the pursuit ofartistic excellence. We seek through diverse voices to celebrate difference in all its forms, as we nurture empathy and forge identity through our work.
Board of Directors Martha Demson, Christopher Lore, Malhar Pagay, Charles Otte, Catie Saralegui, David Shofner, James Spencer
Company Staff Artistic Director……..............................................…………....………..…… Martha Demson Associate Artistic Director / Co Production Manager…..…….....…....…. Amanda WeierManaging Director…………………………...…...………..…….….….......... Katie May Porter Co Production Manager / Facilities Manager …………….….…...………………… Art Hall Literary Manager………………………………..……..…….……..………... Barbara Schofield Marketing & Social Media Manager …….………...…………………….. Caroline KlidonasMembership Manager…………………..………....…………..……….……...…. Lane Allison Financial Director .…………………………………..…...…………... Richard Michael Knolla Education Director .................................................................................. Laura Richardson Outreach Director ………………….….…..……..……...………...……….…. Dionna Veremis
Our Members Hetty Abbott, Lane Allison, Christine Avila, Raúl Ramón Bencomo, Chloe Berlinger, Bryan Bertone, Allison Blaize, Phillip William Brock, Brittany Brown, Sandra Kate Burck, James Byous, Spencer Cantrell, Christopher Cappiello, Christopher Cedeño, ParveshCheena, Stephanie Crothers, John Patrick Daly, Cat Davis, Martha Demson, Bruce Dickinson, Presciliana Esparolini, Lori Gambero, Ben Goldberg, Bruce Green, Katherine Griffith, Art Hall, Hank Jacobs, Laura James, Antonio Jaramillo, Caroline Klidonas, Carol Kline, Richard Michael Knolla, Tim Labor, Sherry Larson, Dylan Maddalena, DerekManson, Gina Manziello, Ben Martin, Lynn Milgrim, Javi Mulero, Jan Munroe, Jennifer Palumbo, Rod Menzies, Amy Moorman, Scott Mosenson, Jan Munroe, Tom Noga, Neil Oktay, Jason Paige, Rebecca Paugam, Alina Phelan, Stevie-Jean Placek, Katie May Porter, Tina Preston, Byron Quiros, Jill Remez, Diane Renee, Laura Richardson, BethRobbins, Scott Roberts, Kenia Romero, Robyn Roth, Steven Royce, Jade Santana, Bolor Saruul, Judith Scarpone, Barbara Schofield, David Shofner, Ina Shumaker, Clare Snodgrass, Dionna Veremis, Amanda Weier, Ron West, Steve Wilcox, Ann Marie Wilding
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
@openfist
