The 5th of July

Directed by Julie Beckman

October 4 – 26, 2013
At West of Lenin Theater

At a sprawling farmhouse in rural Missouri, Ken, a legless Vietnam veteran, and his lover, Jed, welcome a disparate group of colorful old friends and family who came of age in the sixties and separated as the decade drew to a close. As they reminisce, revealing lost dreams and buried resentments, they expose the shattered hopes of their college days at Berkeley and the unhealed trauma of the Vietnam War. At once poignant and marvellously funny, 5th of July is a compassionate portrait of a generation trying to transcend the disillusionment of the seventies, learn what can be salvaged from the past, and find the courage to begin anew. Sharp and funny and, in the final essence, deeply revealing of lost hopes and dreams and of the bitterness that must be fought back if one is to perceive the good that life can offer.

Photos by: Robert Falk

The cast

Chris Shea – Kenneth Talley, Jr.

Chris is originally from Dayton, Ohio, and this production marks his return to the Seattle theatre community after a four-year hiatus. He has worked with companies across the nation, on both sides of the table, and is the founding Artistic Director of Free Shakespeare!, an organization devoted to liberating the Bard from the tyranny of uninspired English teachers and professors everywhere. Chris is very excited and honored to be a part of Theatre22’s inaugural show and to have such insightful collaborators for the journey. In his civilian life, Chris freelances as a teaching artist conducting classroom residencies, workshops, and professional development sessions. He is an ordained minister and independent Reiki and sound healing practitioner. Chris would like to dedicate this performance to his late father, Richard, whose birthday was July 5.

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Alex Garnett – Jed Jenkins

Alex is thrilled to take part in Theatre 22’s inaugural production. Seattle credits include Mary Stuart (ACT Theatre), Breaking the Code (Strawberry Theatre Workshop), and The History Boys (ArtsWest). Recently, Alex appeared in The Twilight Zone: Live at Theater Schmeater, Odin’s Horse at Mirror Stage, and The Illusion with Sound Theatre Company. Alex has also worked with Seattle Shakespeare Company, Annex Theater, LiveGirls!, 14/48: The World’s Quickest Theater Festival, Icicle Creek Theatre Festival, and many others. In his spare time, Alex manages a recreational softball team that recently qualified for the Gay Softball World Series, finishing 13th. Go Badgers!

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Meg McLynn – Gwen Landis

Meg McLynn is an actor, singer and teaching artist who has traveled to all 50 states and performed in many of them (including Missouri, but not Lebanon). New York and regional credits include Classic Stage Company, HERE Arts Center, The Ohio, The Mint, Theatre for a New City, The Complex LA, Huntington Theatre Company, and Idaho Shakespeare Company. Locally, Meg has performed with Wooden O, Book-It Repertory Theatre, ArtsWest, Seattle Opera, On the Boards, Centerstage!, New City Theatre, Live Girls! Theater, Living Voices, Tacoma Actor’s Guild, EXITheatre, Consolidated Works, Theater Schmeater, Theatre Off Jackson and The Bathhouse. Her tribute concert, Purple Phoenix Production’s Foolin’ Around with Patsy Cline, performs in venues throughout the Northwest. Meg is a core faculty member with Freehold Theatre Lab and a vocal coach with Jack Straw Studios. BFA: Emerson College. MFA: Columbia University. Big thanks to cast and crew, big love to Bunny!

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Tom Stewart – John Landis

Tom is an actor, writer and playwright who is very excited to be a part of Lanford Wilson’s 5th of July with Theate22. Recent roles include Jack Mann in the Beebo Brinker Chronicles and Clive/Kathy in Cloud Nine. His latest play, The Hero Business, recently had its first public reading. Tom is proud to have two books coming out next year, “Robert E. Howard and the Battle for Conan” and “Fabulous Fictioneers: A History of the Incredible”. His current project is a show about the final campaign of Bobby Kennedy. Tom is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts.

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Megan Ahiers – June Talley

Megan is delighted to be a part of Theatre22’s inaugural production. Around Seattle, she has acted in productions at LiveGirls! Theater, Balagan Theatre, the Paradise Theatre School, Annex Theatre, Theater Schmeater, and Pony World Theatre. Megan is a member of the Sandbox Artists Collective and is the Operations Director for The 14/48 Projects (which produces 14/48: The World’s Quickest Theater Festival) and Theater Anonymous. You can see her next in Buckshot with Macha Monkey Productions, opening November 8th. Megan would like to thank Corey, Alber, and Julie for this opportunity and YOU for coming to support art and theatre. Finally, thanks to Shawn for jumping with me every time.

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Mary Machala – Sally Friedman

Mary Machala is one of the founding members of Book-It Repertory Theatre, where she acted and directed for many years and is best known for her adaptations and direction of Lady Chatterly’s Lover and A Confederacy of Dunces. A former AEA/AFTRA member, she has acted at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, ACT, Seattle Group Theatre, New City Theater, ArtsWest and Seattle Shakespeare Company. She toured with Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis, MN, and was the Artistic Director of the socio/political improv group Off the Wall Players. She has also worked at regional theatres in Idaho, Utah and Oregon, taught improvisation and theatre arts and toured as Elizabeth I. Favorite roles include Fauna Flood inSweet Thursday, the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet and Eugenia in Breaking the Silence. She lives in Seattle with her son, Forest, and is a Master Gardener. Congrats to Corey, Alber et al for realizing their dream!

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Zach Sanders – Weston Hurley

Zach is honored and elated to be part of this inaugural production for Theatre22! Having spent most of his acting career performing Shakespeare, he is excited to be dipping his toes into something more contemporary. Recent roles include Tubal/Servant in Merchant of Venice (quiet Productions), Renfield in Dracula (Bathhouse Ensemble), and Kevin inSuperior Donuts (Seattle Public Theatre). Zach is also a playwright, with his first play, Going Dark, having premiered in June with the Bathhouse Ensemble. Much thanks to all his friends and family for their unending love and support.

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Rachel Sedwick – Shirley Talley

Rachel is thrilled to be part of Theatre22’s Inaugural season in 5th of July! Her latest projects include a web series with Hostile Work Environment, and a short film in the 100 Hour Film Festival and Competition and Esther’s Follies, a satirical comedy theatre in Austin, TX. Rachel also teaches fitness classes locally and is studying to be a personal trainer.

 

 

The Lisbon Traviata

Directed by Gerald Browning

June 6 – 26, 2014
At the Richard Hugo House

Theatre22’s first annual PRIDE SERIES presents The Lisbon Traviata. Catty comedy meets operatic tragedy. Stephen adores Maria Callas and shares this obsession with his best friend, the wildly flamboyant opera queen, Mendy. They dish the latest gossip late into the night to distract Steven from a crumbling relationship with his long-time boyfriend. When Steven attempts to confront personal demons, his own life takes on the scale of grand opera.

Photos by Robert Falk

The cast

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Daniel Christensen – Steven

Daniel is supremely thrilled to be in his first T22 production. You may have seen him in the Stay Up Late Show’s production of Girl You Know It’s True, or in January’s 14/48: The World’s Quickest Theater Festival. Daniel has also been spotted working with Annex ( The Underneath, Star Crossed), Theater Anonymous (It’s a Wonderful Life), Theater Schmeater (The Gingerbread House), and Live Girls! (Quickies, Mud Angel), among others, and loving every minute of it. An electrician by trade, Daniel spends his off hours floating through the void in The Coffee Table by Scott Moore, viewable at www.thecoffeetable.tv on fine laptops everywhere. Kisses to Alison. Thanks Mom and Dad.

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Eric Mulholland – Mendy

Eric is an actor, teacher, and writer. He studied theatre at the University of LaVerne, where he recieved a scholarship for acting. Eric has appeared in numerous plays such as Amadeus, Cloud Nine, The Understudy, The Misanthrope, Sylvia, and The Baltimore Waltz. This summer, he can be seen in The Taming of the Shrew and Richard III with Island Shakespeare Festival. International work includes Anton Chekov’s The Lady with the Pet Dog in Split, Croatia and 1001 Arabian Knights in London. Eric enjoys writing and is part of an origional works group called FourPlay. He has taught theatre internationally to people of all ages with Partners for Youth Empowerment. For many years, Eric was a company member with the regional touring children’s theatre company, The Imagination Machine. Eric is represented by TCM Models and Talent in Seattle, and is THRILLED to be working with Theatre 22 and this amazing artistic team!

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Sean P. O’Bannon – Mike

Sean is twitterpated to work with Theatre 22. He has performed at several other theatres around town, including ReAct, ArtsWest, SIS Productions, Seattle Musical Theatre, Second Story Rep, Redwood Theatre, Centerstage, and Village Theatre. Some favorite shows include Jospeh and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Normal Heart, Into the Woods, School House Rock, The Seven Year Itch, and Mame with Tori Tennille.

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Kyle James Traver – Paul

Kyle has been in the Seattle theatre scene as an actor and director for the past seven years, and is currently serving as the Artistic Director for LungFish Productions, a local fringe-theatre company he founded last year. He has directed four of the five productions in their inaugural season, and is now developing new works for local artists, actors, directors, and playwrights to showcase their crafts. He also devotes time to his second career as a Hair Designer of Hello Hair Studio in the Fremont neighborhood. Kyle is thrilled to be making his debut with Theatre 22 in their inaugural season! Many thanks to Corey M., Corey B., Alber, Jerry, and the rest of the Theatre 22 family, and cast and crew for a fantastic experience, to the family for their undying nlove and support, and to JRH for his unyielding love, patience, and understanding. I love you! www.kylejamestraver.com & www.lungfishproductions.com

The Hours of Life

Directed by Corey McDaniel

December 5-14, 2014
At The Cornish Studio Theatre

Against the dawning of the Machine Age, the original ‘goth father,’ Edgar Allan Poe embarks on an obsessive, erotically charged love affair with poet Sarah Helen Whitman. But a fateful past encounter casts its shadow forward in time as inexorably as the hands of a clock, threatening to destroy their bridge to a new life with each other.

The initial staged reading of this musical, held in June of 2011 at the Bainbridge Museum of Art, received an extraordinarily positive response from an over-capacity audience and informed subsequent revisions of the script. Our second workshop reading took place on February 11, 2013 at the Center Theatre and featured 11 local actors, an orchestra of 3 and was attended by industry peers in an effort to flush out more of the script. The Hours of Life is currently in rewrites.

The Hours of Life was one of three finalists for the 2012 Fulton Theatre New Play Discovery Project competition.

Paul Lewis is a Seattle-based playwright and composer whose previous staged work includes musicals (Alley Dog, The Crossing, The Recollection of Flight, and a recent adaptation of the children’s literature classic Caps for Sale); The World Below, an opera for young people; Last Poem on Earth, a choral and orchestral requiem; and both one-act and full-length plays. His one-acts have been staged across the country, and include A Place that Looks Like Davenport, winner of both the Jury Prize and Audience Favorite Award at the 2014 Driftwood Players Festival of Shorts; Timmy Perlmutter Goes Flying (seven productions in 2014); Oblivion, winner of the Audience Favorite Award at Driftwood in 2013, and published in The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2014; and Guess What?, which won the 2012 Audience Choice Award at FUSION Theatre’s short works festival. His full-length adaptation of Oblivion will be produced in 2015, both at Driftwood and at HRC Showcase Theatre in Hudson, NY. Paul is a member of BMI and The Dramatists Guild of America.

Photos by: Robert Falk

The cast

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Mark Abel – Station Master/Thomas English

This is Mark’s first show with Theatre22 and he is happy to work again with Corey McDaniel! Mark has performed in the Seattle area for over 24 years. He has appeared with Village Theatre, Showtunes!, Balagan, STAGEright Theatre, Seattle Musical Theatre and Driftwood Players, among others. Favorite roles have included: Pseudolus in Forum, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Captain Keller in Miracle Worker, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, Herbie in Gypsy, Harold Nichols in The Full Monty and Moonface Martin in Anything Goes. He is excited in being part of all the creativity that comes with exploring a new work!

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Jennifer Ewing – Anna Power

Pacific Northwest native, Jennifer is an actress and artist recently returned from New York City. A ‘tri-coastal’ performer, she has worked and studied in NYC, LA, and the United Kingdom. She is thrilled to be back home and making her début with Theatre22. Recent credits include The 39 Steps(Annabella/Pamela/Margaret) at Mount Baker Theatre, Turn Another Page(Mildred) with Seattle/Mainstreet Festival of New Musicals, and A Chorus Line (Valerie) at Bainbridge Performing Arts. Other theatre credits includeMuch Ado About Nothing (Beatrice/Don John/Leonato), Woyzeck(Doctor/Katie), Twelfth Night (Viola), and Othello (Desdemona).www.jenniferewing.net

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Macall Gordon – Mrs. Power

Macall was seen last summer in the all-female production of Julius Caesar(Wooden O). Other roles include Miss Pringle in Diana of Dobson’s (Taproot), Alice in Henry V (Wooden O), Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (Shoreline Theatre); Baba Yaga in The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls (Washington Ensemble Theatre); Lorraine in A Lie of the Mind (Collektor/Central Heating Lab); Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor (Seattle Shakespeare Company, Walla Walla extension), Mary Ellen in The Happy Ones (Seattle Public Theater), Sylvia in Maria/Stuart (Theater Schmeater), and Gertrude inHamlet (GreenStage). Next January, she can be seen as Flora Humble inHumble Boy (Seattle Public Theatre). She lives in Woodinville with her dramatic family and comedic dogs.

 

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Patricia Haines-Ainsworth – Maria Clemm “Aunt Muddy”

Patricia is originally from PA, where she worked both onstage and backstage. She just completed a run as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly at SPA. Last year she portrayed Aunt March in Little Women at ArtsWest, where she also performed in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Next Fall. In February, Pat will direct her adaptation of Treasure Island for SecondStory Repertory with composer Terence Levitt. This season, several of their new musicals for young audiences will be performed in theaters across the country. Thanks to Theatre22 for the opportunity to be a part of this new work.

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Doug Knoop – Mr. Swain/Constable/Dr. Moran/Ensemble

Doug is delighted to be a part of The Hours of Life. He was recently seen as Tevye in Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theatre’s Fiddler on the Roof. Last year, he played multiple roles in Seattle Musical Theatre’s A Christmas Carol, produced Sea Marks for his production company (KTO Productions), and was featured inMoon Over Buffalo for SecondStory Repertory. Other area credits include: directing ‘night mother, playing Finbar in The Weir (KTO Productions), The Drowsy Chaperone, Chicago, and The Producers (Seattle Musical Theatre). Many thanks to Corey, Paul, Julia, Alber, and this great cast.

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Victor Matlock – Schlumberger / Fight Captain

Victor is ecstatic to be making his first appearance at Theatre22! Victor is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA in Theatre, with an emphasis in Directing and Playwriting. Since graduating in May, Victor has directed works at Intiman Theatre Festival (Flip, Flop, Fly!, Tiny Kushner) and assisted in Cornish College of the Arts’ fall production of Bonnie and Clyde. Victor would like to thank his family and friends for all their support, and for this amazing opportunity. Cheers!

 

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Amelia Meckler – Barkeep/Ensemble

Amelia is so thankful that Corey and T22 asked her to be a part of this fully realized production of Hours after participating in the February 2013 staged reading. In the time since, she directed Love in the Time of Zombies for Vagabond Alley Productions, played Agave in GreenStage’s HARD BARD musical production of Bacchae, and Porky in Theater Schmeater’s Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? This performance is her first after marrying the amazing Devin Bowers this past September and she is very thankful for his support and love through the process. This one is for you, my love.

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Meg McLynn – Sarah ‘Helen’ Whitman

Meg is happy to return to Theatre22, after playing Gwen in Fifth of July. Locally, she has performed with Wooden O, Book-It Rep, ArtsWest, Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, New City Theatre, STAGEright, Centerstage, On The Boards, Theater Schmeater, Tacoma Actor’s Guild, and she has been a company member of Living Voices, EXITheatre and Seattle Women in Blues. She also sings the songbooks of Patsy Cline, Judy Garland and The McGuire Sisters with Purple Phoenix Productions, and can be seen in the feature films Different Drummers and 7 Minutes. Meg teaches the Core Curriculum at Freehold Theatre Lab and is a vocal coach with Jack Straw Productions. BFA: Emerson College. MFA: Columbia University.

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Katherine Poor – Librarian/Ensemble

Katherine is thrilled to be a part of The Hours of Life with Theatre22! Born in Seattle and raised in Juneau, Alaska, Katherine returned to her PNW roots in 2010 to pursue college studies and performance opportunities within the Emerald City. Recent credits include the Witch in Aurora Theatre Company’s production of Into the Woods and Velma in Hairspray with Shoreline Community College Theatre. Katie thanks her family for love and support throughout all her creative endeavors.

 

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Brian Pucheu – Edgar Allan Poe

Brian is originally from the San Joaquin Valley of California. He moved to Seattle to start a career in theater and he couldn’t be happier. He is beside himself to be given the chance to play one of his favorite authors in this production. His past credits include Jekyll and Hyde (Jekyll/Hyde), Calamity Jane (Wild Bill Hickok), and Rocky Horror Live (Riff Raff) to name a few. His local credits include Fiddler On The Roof (Perchik), Man of La Mancha (Duke/Dr. Carrasco), The Grimaldis (Jack Grimaldi), and Dr. Thadeus Q. Ballard’s Follies (Andrew T. Carnegie). He would thank all those who have worked so incredibly hard to make this show a success and his family for their ever-present support. “Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.” E. A. Poe.

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Sara Trowbridge – Virginia Poe “Sissy”

Sara is a Pacific Northwest theatre veteran, and is thrilled to be working with Theatre22 on this production. Recent roles include: God in Wild Party (Sound Theater Company), Rosalind in Moon Over Buffalo (SecondStory Repertory), and Jane Banbury in Fallen Angels (Theater Schmeater). Much love to the Millers for their unflagging support.

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Katie McKellar – Nurse/Ensemble

Katie is beyond thrilled to mark the beginning of her acting journey in Seattle with Theatre22 on this production. Katie has been seen around town as a production manager, stage manager, and sometimes designer. This will be her first stage performance since arriving in Seattle, but some of her previous roles include Tillie from The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds and Lydia Lubey from All My Sons. Katie is on staff at Annex Theatre, Theatre22, and Book-It Repertory Theatre. Thank you to all of my wonderful friends and family for supporting me on this amazing ride. Special thank you to Jordan and Sascha for putting up with my crazy.

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Michael Ramquist – Maezel

This production of The Hours Of Life marks Michael’s first time working with Theater22 and director Corey McDaniel, and he simply could not be more delighted! Michael has kept fairly busy over the past year, appearing as Cadmus in The GreenStage production of The Bacchae, Jacob Marley/Ghost of Christmas Present in SecondStory Rep’s A Christmas Carol, Carr Gomm in STAGEright’s The Elephant Man and Brabantio in GreenStage’s summertime parks production of Othello. When not acting, Michael works restoring/repairing vintage cars. Much love to his family and especially to April DeNonno.

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Joshua Valencia – First Doctor/Man Playing Chess/Ensemble

Joshua is very excited to be in The Hours of Life at Theatre22! Originally from Santa Fe, NM, Josh recently graduated from Cornish this past may with a BFA in Theatre. You can follow him on twitter @jvalencia151.

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Riley Donahue – Pabodie

Riley’s passion for acting began at a young age, and he has been involved in theater and film ever since. Four years ago, he moved to Seattle from North Carolina and has been fortunate to find roles in film, television, and theatre. His repertoire includes local independent films, such as All My Presidentsand The Dinner Table; the lead in Ghost Light Productions’ Paper Bullets; and a guest star appearance in the TNT television show Leverage. The Hours of Life is Riley’s first show with Theatre22, and he is thrilled for the opportunity to perform alongside a new community of actors as they pursue the art they love.

Questions of the Heart

Directed by Mark Kamie

August 18-19, 2014
At Tyee Yacht Club

Questions of the Heart explores the rocky intersection of sexual orientation and religious faith. When Ben—a straight, faithful Mormon—finds himself caught in the middle of the rancorous California Proposition 8 campaign, he is unwilling to distance himself from either his religious community or his many close gay friends. Near desperation, he hopes to find some guidance by interviewing a wide range of fellow Mormons who also happen to be gay.

Based on actual interviews conducted by the playwright, Questions of the Heart follows Ben (who plays both interviewer and subjects) as he struggles to make sense of their surprising and conflicting experiences while also trying to reconcile them with his own faith.