THE PRODUCTION MEDIA CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM
Cast
David Aaron * (Actor 3) Off-Broadway credits include Charlie Brown in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” in its original New York run (as well as in the original Washington DC and Chicago companies), “Macbeth” with Rip Torn and Geraldine Page, “The Wars of the Roses” and “Richard III” with the NY Shakespeare Festival, and Baal in Brecht’s “Baal”. David created the autobiographical role of Joel in the world premiere of Truman Capote’s “Other Voices, Other Rooms” at the Buffalo Studio Arena. Stock/Tours/Industrial films include “Oh Dad, Poor Dad” with Hermione Gingold, “L’il Abner” with Jonathan Frakes, and “To the Victors” with Martin Sheen. He hosted his own cable show in New York, “Of Interest with David Aaron”, and has recently appeared in several AFI films. Currently seen in commercials as a minister for Subway, Eli Whitney for Ballpark and a weird neighbor for Vivint Security, he is represented by Origin Talent.
Rachel Geis (Actress 2) is a South Bay based vocalist and teacher. Geis studied performance voice at the Biola University Conservatory of Music with Dr. Susannah Murray and Vangie Gunn. Past credits include Rapunzel (Into the Woods), Jo March (Little Women), and Lucy (You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown). Geis also sings with the Orange County based Paul Delgado Singers. When not on stage, Geis enjoys working at and teaching for Haven Academy of the Arts, a youth theatre organization located in El Segundo. She is excited to be joining this cast of gifted performers!
Steven B. Green * (Actor 1) actor/director/writer/improv comedian, and member of the ECT. I’ve acted Off-Broadway, on tour, TV, Movies, in commercials, countless industrial shows for companies like IBM and US Surgical. But mostly, I did Improv and Sketch Comedy with Gotham City Improv in NYC and the L.A. Connection in Sherman Oaks. I co-wrote a best-selling humor book called, “ASSHOLOGY” available on Amazon.com. AND, I worked selling timeshare vacations for 101 days… and wrote a play called TIMESHARE, which will open in this space on September 11, 2015. I would like to thank JC and Maureen and ECT for the chance to play.
JC Henning * (Actress 4) (AEA, SAG-AFTRA, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences): JC trained at the British American Acting Academy in London and has performed in over 100 stage productions. Her many TV and film credits include Elga in the ABC-BBC co-production “The Story of David” starring Keith Michell & Jane Seymour. JC has performed in over 40 productions with The Los Angeles Opera, New York City Opera, ABT and the Kirov Ballet Company.
Madelyne Heyman (Actress 3) is thrilled to be back on stage at the Eclectic! Native to the Twin Cities in the frostbitten state of Minnesota, Madelyne started acting when she was five in a “make-a-play” summer camp, and hasn’t gotten off the stage yet. Since then, she has acted in, written, and directed numerous plays, musicals, and short films in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Boston, and Los Angeles. She is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California, where she studied Theatre and Narrative Studies, two disciplines she is excited to meld together here in Spoon River.
Ian Hopps (Actor 2) grew up in Valley Village and is stoked to be back in the ‘hood performing with the incredible Eclectic Company Theatre! Proud alum of the San Francisco State University Theatre Arts Department, Ian has performed in a range of productions, from classical farces to contemporary movement pieces. This last summer he acted in the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble’s first annual Shakespeare Festival. When not acting you can find Ian playing accordion on various corners.
Amanda McManus (Actress 3 alternate) is excited to join the Electric Theater Company’s production of Spoon River: The Cemetery On The Hill. Growing up in Illinois she fell in love with the stage as a child, acting in a number of musicals ranging from Annie to Sweeney Todd. She is an accomplished writer and singer, having performed with the QC Opera Company and the Coe Singers. Amanda moved a little over a year ago to pursue a career in acting, and is now thrilled to be taking the stage for the first time in California.
David Pinion (Actor 5) is happy to join ECT’s production of “Spoon River: The Cemetery On The Hill.” Previously, he co-wrote and performed sketch comedy in Washington D.C., trained at the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio, and studied long-form improv at the Hothouse here in NoHo. Past credits include Torvald (A Doll’s House), Rev. David Lee (The Foreigner) and Carlino (Wait Until Dark). Currently, his voice can be heard in radio and TV commercials, as well as children’s audiobooks. David would especially like to thank his wife for her support and encouragement, but for some reason she wishes to remain anonymous, so he can’t.
Marbry Steward * (Actress 1) (AEA, SAG-AFTRA, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences): Extensive work here and abroad in stage, film, television, and voice-over. Favorite role with NYC Opera: The princess in Boito’s “Mefistofele”; favorite voice-over role: Princess Oriana in “Felix the Cat the Movie”; favorite TV role: Princess Maacah in ”David the King” (opposite Keith Michel); favorite stage role: Princess Jade Pure in “Land of the Dragon.” No favorite film role at this time (still waiting, still anticipating). Member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA. “I thank my parents, without whom I would not be here.”
Scott Tuomey (Actor 4) has worked and studied in NYC for 10 years. Will celebrate 25 years of working and studying in Los Angeles in 2015. Scott has been the Technical Director at the Fountain Theatre for 25 years.
*Actors in this Production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Maureen Lucy O’Connell (Author/Director) studied directing at Florida State University under Richard G. Fallon and Peter J. Saputo at the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, under Robert Strane and Eberle Thomas. While living in Madrid, Spain, Ms. O’Connell authored, directed, and produced a new adaptation of “Spoon River Anthology” titled “Spoon River: An American Heritage, ” which played to sold-out crowds at the American Cultural Center. While living in Spain, she collaborated with several local singer-musicians and created English-language inserts for their albums. She also adapted and directed Kahlil Gibran’s JESUS: THE SON OF MAN for a church-based youth group at Torrejon Air Base, just outside Madrid. She was active with theatrical groups at both the American Cultural Center and the British Consulate in Madrid. She is presently working on two original scripts dealing with the life of Abraham Lincoln.
JC O’Connell (Producer) has been a member of The Eclectic Company Theatre for over a year. She has been an audio describer for blind and visually impaired theatre patrons for over 14 years at the Center Theatre Group in Los Angles. She also describes live theatre at The Segerstrom Center For The Performing Arts in Orange County and for The Rubicon Theatre in Oxnard. This production marks her debut as a theatrical producer. JC thanks her sister, Maureen Lucy O’Connell , for trusting her with this beautiful production. Special thanks to Laura Lee Bahr for her advice and guidance throughout the production process.
Laura Lee Bahr (Co-Producer) has been a member of Eclectic for many years and is passionate about its mission of artistic freedom. She is an award-winning writer and actor with multiple projects rocketing into space bending the time continuum; can’t won’t and don’t stop.
Pam Noles (Costume Design & Creation) is a former cop reporter whose writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Dark Horse Comics and Warner Books. She has created costumes for Amon Amarth (Father of the Wolf); Visceral Theater Co. (Zombies from the Beyond, Lovecraft: Nightmare Suite, Recall); ECT Theater (The Minister’s Black Veil); as well as many Renaissance Faire participants.
Mikaela Z. Runyan (Graphics Design) was born in the tiny New Mexican town of Portales, lived briefly in Kansas City, MO, then at the age of six moved to the even tinier New Mexican town of Silver City, where she stayed until she was 19 and thoroughly disenchanted with the “land of enchantment”. Thus, she made her exodus from New Mexico, and now resides in Los Angeles, where she hopes to further her career in the arts. She doesn’t drive, but she rides a unicycle.
Ryan Siebrasse (Set Design) has been directing, performing, writing, designing, and producing theatre for fifteen years. His last work at the Eclectic was Scenic Design for the World Premiere of “The Minister’s Black Veil.” He recently designed and performed in Drive Theatre’s World Premiere of “Rite of Seymour.” In addition to his many duties as Director of Theatre at Bridges Academy, he is currently directing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Bridges Academy which opens April 17th!
Philip Sokoloff (Publicist) is L.A.’s most active theatre publicist, representing over 100 live attractions and several dozen motion pictures annually. Also an actor, he appears in “The Bandit Hound,” a feature film due for release in 2015.
Timothy Sprague (Sound Design) has been a member of The Eclectic Company Theatre since 2011. Originally from the Boston area, Tim studied Film at Emerson College before relocating to Los Angeles, where he has made his home for over twenty years. Since joining The Eclectic, he has produced the world premiere comedy No Love by Andrew Osborne; co-produced the Tenth Anniversary Hurricane Season New Play Festival; and wrote and produced The Minister’s Black Veil. On-stage credits include the title role in Lobster Man, as well as assorted parts in the Eclectic Voices monologue shows Abstract Concepts, The Theory of Silence and Funny How Things Work Out. Spoon River marks Tim’s return to Sound Designer duties and he would like to thank JC Henning for the opportunity.
Natasha Troop (Lighting Design) is currently the president of ECT. Most recently, she produced Something Something New Vagina, and produced & directed So You Want to be a Vampire at ECT in 2014. This summer she will be producing & designing sets for Curious Conversations, and producing & directing Richard III. She has also stage managed numerous plays here at ECT and a great number of L.A. area theatres including The Fountain, Theatre West, The Odyssey, The Actors’ Gang, and the Hudson. By day, she is finishing her 10th year as a high school Theatre Arts and Film teacher. She is also a member of the Horror Writers’ Association and has written three novels in her horror series, The Lakebridge Cycle, and will be publishing the fourth by the end of 2015.
Scott Zenz (Photography) studied Fine Art Photography from 1980-1982 at the University of California, Los Angeles, making the transition from the old silver halide medium to the digital photography age in the year 2000. He retired in 2008 to pursue photography and music full time, and divides his time between homes in Los Angeles and New Orleans. Prints of his award-winning photographs are available for purchase at this web address: http://szenz.deviantart.com/gallery/7174935/Cemetery.