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Directed by Jan Ellen Graves
A compelling, yet irrepressibly
joyous Studs Terkel-esque dreamscape, which probes the American psyche
during the most sobering time in the nation’s history: the Great
Depression.
Featuring:
Tom
Camacho, Carrie Corrigan, Jason
Daniels, Jim
Farruggio, Johnny Garcia, Julie
Griffith, Neal
Grofman, Rebekka James, Darren M.
Jones, Laurie Koss, Theo Marshall,
Thomas Edson McElroy, Dan McNamara, Lloyd Mulvey, Rick Munoz, Julie
Partyka, Mary Ross, Ken Still,
William J. Watt, Chuck
Zis and Shawn
McCartee on piano
Cast Bios
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Thursday, Jan.
13
Thru Feb. 5,
2005
Thu, Fri, Sat,
8pm
Sundays, 3pm &
7:30 pm
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Call
773/728-PLAY (7529)
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Tom Camacho
(Deputy,
Quinn, Rudy, Dugan) is very excited to participate in the third
part of the Arthur Miller series at AWT. Tom's past productions have
included The Old Boy with Unity Players and The Crucible
with Borealis Theatre Company. He is an accomplished equestrian,
adancer and the director of the Serendipity Youth Theater as well as
the Associate Artistic Director here at AWT.
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Michael Colucci (Assistant
Director, Artistic Director) is the Artistic Director of the AWT
and has been acting, producing, directing, and teaching in Chicago for
nearly twenty years. He is a long-standing member of SAG, AFTRA, and
Equity, and founded the Actors Workshop training center in Old Town in
1991, and the AWT in 1994 as an itinerant theatre company, finally and
happily landing in Edgewater in 2003, where the inaugural show was a
critically acclaimed production of Praying Small.
His favorite acting
experiences are as the Father in Praying Small at AWT, Dave/Bob
in Beau Jest at Victory Gardens with Roslyn Alexander and The
American Clock at Court Theatre in the '80s, which received three
Jeff nominations including best ensemble.
Special experiences as a
director include AWT's recent productions of The Last Yankee and
Broken Glass by Arthur Miller, Praying
Small by Clifford Morts, Otherwise Engaged by Simon Gray, The
Monogamist by Christopher Kyle. His favorite career role, however,
is that of a teacher here at the AWT.
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Carrie
Corrigan (Harriet
Taylor, Doris) is excited to make her first appearance at AWT as
Doris in The American Clock. After getting her BFA in Theatre
from
Millikin University, Carrie toured with Boston Chamber Repertory
Theatre before returning home to Chicago. Chicago audiences have seen
her at the Illinois Theatre Center, First Folio Shakespeare Festival,
the Griffin Theatre, Timeline Theatre Company, Reverie Theatre, and
W.A.F.F. (Will Act For Food). She would like to thank her neighbor Theo
(Joe)...for introducing her to AWT, Corri and Scott for being two of
the best friends ever; and she would like to dedicate this performance
to her grandparents who experienced the Great Depression and lived to
tell about it. |
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Jason
Daniels (Lee
Baum) is delighted to be back on stage at the AWT for the second
time. Jason made his stage debut in the AWT's production of "Praying
Small" as the Good Cop and Funeral Director. He made his directorial
debut at the AWT with the one act play Promotion to Glory. He
has also performed in Chicago area independent films and commercials.
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Jim
Farruggio (Livermore,
Farmer, Graham, Ryan) is happy to return to AWT after having a
great time in The Last Yankee. His other Chicago credits include Half-Life
with Awaken Productions, and Praying Small right here at AWT.
Thanks go out to a wonderful cast and crew. |
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Johnny
Garcia (Tony,
Brewster, Piano Mover) is very happy to be back on the stage
especially with such a talented cast and director. Johnny has appeared
in AWT's Liars and Angels: The Liar and Norman Mailer and Praying
Small. He has been with the AWT for 10 years and continues to enjoy
the ride. Thanks Jan, Michael and everyone involved.
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Jan Ellen
Graves (Director, Set Designer)
recently
appeared in AWT’s The Last Yankee,
Broken Glass,
and Liars & Angels. Some
of her favorite stage roles include M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias, Kate in All My Sons, Ilona in She Loves Me and Sister Robert Anne
in Nunsense. Her previous
directing experience includes Studs Terkel’s Working and she has
enjoyed immersing herself in another Terkel-related project. Jan is
also the technical director, managing director, and all-around
fixer-upper at the AWT. She dedicates this show to her mother Eleanor,
who loved to play these old tunes on the piano and whose music hangs on
the American Clock set. |
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Julie
Griffith (Diana,
Young Mother, Lucille) As a recent graduate of the University of
Wisconsin Whitewater, Julie is thrilled to be making her Chicago debut.
Julie acted in many shows while in college, most recently as Catherine
in David Auburn's Proof. She would like to thank AWT for this
amazing opportunity.
Julie would also like to thank her friends and family for all of their
love and support.
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Neal
Grofman (Moe
Baum) has been active on the Chicago stage for almost 20 years. He
has appeared as Felix Ungar in The Odd Couple, Allan Felix in Play
it Again Sam, and Ben Silverman in The Sunshine Boys.
Neal is a graduate of the Second City Training Center and is an alum of
Chicago's ImprovOlympic where he studied with Del Close. Neal is an
ensemble member of the Piven Theatre in Evanston where he appeared in
Chekhov's Three Sisters as Kulygin, and opposite the late Byrne
Piven in King Lear. Neal returns to AWT after portraying
Phillip Gellburg in this season's production of Arthur Miller's Broken
Glass. Neal's short term professional goal is to play the part of
the middle-aged New York Jewish husband in every Arthur Miller play
ever written. |
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Rebekka
James (Rose
Baum) is happy to be in her first production with AWT, and has
enjoyed working with AWT as an ensemble member this year. Rebekka most
recently played Toby in Neil Simon's The Gingerbread Lady, and
Andre's mother in Andre's Mother. Among her favorite roles are
M'Lynn in Steel Magnolias, Lady Britomart in George Bernard
Shaw's Major Barbara, and Felicia Dantene in I Hate Hamlet.
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Darren M.
Jones (Clarence,
Bidder, Banks, Isaac) is ecstatic about his first production at
the AWT. After being blessed with more than a decade of exciting and
challenging roles in more than 20 professional productions, the roles
of Clarence, Banks and Isaac are as pertinent and consuming as any he
has been privileged to portray. His favorites include Winin' Boy in The
Piano Lesson, Papa Shakespeare in The African Company Presents
Richard III, Rudolph in Anna Lucasta, Meridian in Blues
For Mister Charlieall at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater in Evanston,
Arthur in Love's Light in Flight at the ETA Creative Arts
Foundation in Chicago, Joe in Showboat at the Starlight Theatre
in Wilmette and Joachim in Mud, River, Stone at
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatera role that garnered a Best Actor nomination
from the Black Theatre Alliance of Chicago in 1999. |
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Laurie Koss
(Thief, Miss Fowler, Edie) is absolutely thrilled to be part of
such a huge and amazingly talented cast. She is an ensemble member at
AWT and was an understudy for AWT's Broken Glass. Can you pass
the bowl of cherries please? |
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Theo
Marshall
(Charley, Joe) is excited to return to the stage at AWT. Theo last
appeared on stage in the AWT. premiere of Praying Small. He can
currently be seen on the History Channel's Conspiracy: C.I.A. and
the Nazis. Theo also worked on the Harold Ramos film Ice Harvest.
Theo wishes to thank his friends and family for their support, Michael
and Jan for AWT and Jennifer for saying YES!!!
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Thomas
Edson McElroy (Robertson)
is enjoying his second show with AWT. Broken Glass was first up
and an immensely enjoyable time
playing Dr. Harry Hyman. Thomas has also been on stage with: TimeLine,
Stage Left, Eclipse, Steppenwolf, Baliwick, National Jewish, Court,
Stage Two, Terrapin, Next and the Royale George. Some favorite roles
have been: Henry II in The Lion In Winter, Fire Chief
Beatty in Fahrenheit 451 and Marcus Hubbard in Another
Part Of The Forrest (A Jeff Citation winning production
including: Best Production and Best Ensemble). Thomas has many
commercial, industrial, and independent film credits. And he is the
voice of Rayford Steele in Left Behind: The Dramatic Audio
Series. His favorite role of all however, is husband to his lovely
wife Sally and father to his two sons Richard and Scott. |
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Dan
McNamara (Clayton,
Henry Taylor, Stanislaus) is tickled to be performing again with
AWT after his premier stage role last year in Liars and Angels
as Norman Mailer. Training includes AWT as well as Wisdom Bridge. "I
feel very fortunate to be in this production with such a diverse and
talented cast. Thanx Jan."
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Shawn
McCartee (Pianist)
has been
active in the musical performance arena (piano, keyboard, organ, and
vocal) since early childhood. He is currently involved in the music
ministry at United Church of Rogers Park, and sings with the Windy City
Gay Chorus (part of Windy City Performing Arts). He serves on the Board
of Directors of Windy City Performing Arts as Board Sponsor of the
Community Council. He is excited about his opportunity with the AWT.
Shawn dedicates his involvement in this production to his late mother
Carolyn McCartee. |
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Kelly
McLaughlin (Stage
manager) is a recent graduate of the University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a newcomer to Chicago. Kelly is very
excited to be making her stage managing debut with the AWT. |
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Lloyd
Mulvey (Waiter,
Bidder, Sidney) is a recent transplant to this area and is happy
to be making his
Chicago debut with AWT. A native of Salt Lake City, he graduated with
his BFA from the University of Utah's Actor Training Program in 2003.
Regional credits include Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival, the
Utah Shakespearean Festival, Pioneer Theatre Company, and the Milwaukee
Rep. Lloyd will be returning to the Rep this spring to play Billy in The
Goat.
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Rick Munoz (Frank,
Farmer, Ralph) is happy to be back on stage with the AWT. This is
Rick's second performance with AWT and his fourth Chicagoland
performance in the past two years. Rick has been a featured actor in
several History Channel True Crime Series shows. His film debut was as
Evan Dwyer in the independent film Ten Years Ago Yesterday.
Rick also works on local TV commercials and as a tradeshow spokesman. |
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Julie
Partyka (Mrs.
Taylor, Isabel, Welfare Worker) is thrilled to be working with AWT
for the first time. She recently appeared in Griffin Theatre's touring
production of Frindle and feels fortunate to have had the
opportunity to work
with other Chicagoland theatres like First Folio Shakespeare Festival,
Trap Door Theatre and Attic Playhouse. This past fall, Julie began a
new venture as a personal trainer for Lincoln Park Athletic Club. She
truly and deeply thanks her best friend and husband, Peter, for his
constant support.
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Mary Ross (Fanny,
Irene) has returned to theatre after a brief (20-year) break.
Recently, she has appeared in Next Theatre's "Far Away" and as Madame
Ranevskaya in "The Cherry Orchard" with Reverie Theatre. Previously,
she worked with Actor's Theatre of Louisville, Organic Theatre and a
new group in Highland Park called Steppenwolf. In between, Ross became
an internationally-recognized sommelier and she currently writes the
"Good Wine" column for the Daily Herald. |
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Ken Still (Dr.
Rosman, Frank Howard, Piano Mover, Toland) began his acting career
in broadcasting school in Detroit in 1995 before coming to Chicago and
training with the AWT eight years ago. During a four year stint in
L.A., Ken founded the Actors Spirit Workshop and co-produced two shows Bums
with Headshots and The Quickening. He moved back to
Chicago in 2003 and is grateful to be here. Thanks to his family,
friends, and especially his wife Jennifer for their love and support
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William J.
Watt (Durant,
Judge Bradley, Sheriff, Kapush) made his AWT debut as Stanton Case
in this season's Broken Glass. Favorite roles include
Gallimard in M. Butterfly, Matt Friedman in Talley's Folly,
The Guard in Museum and Mark Dolson in Mass Appeal. |
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Chuck Zis (Grandpa,
Deputy) is excited to be working with AWT. Favorite acting credits
include The Caine Mutiny Court Martial (Queeg), Criminality
(Bill), Social Security (Martin), Lend
Me A Tenor (Saunders) The Assassin's New Friend (Doug),
The Hammerstone (Murray), Sylvia (Greg),
Rumors (Ernie) and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Mel).
He also directed productions of The Importance of Being
Earnest, A Shayna Madel and Bleacher Bums. Thanks to family
and friends for their support.
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