Van Dirk Fisher, Artistic Director & Producer
Loyal Companion
Written &
Directed by Joseph Wohlgemuth
Time: The present. Place: Around
New York City.
Characters
in order of appearance
Toby Joe Wohlgemuth
Tyler Brian Patacca
Dr. Phyllis, Neighbor, Pigeon Lady, Doctor Tracey
Hadley
Tracey Hadley (Dr. Phyllis, Neighbor, Pigeon Lady,
Assistant, Doctor) was last seen as Younger Sister in the premiere of ‘Til Daddy Snores at Allegro
Productions. Favorite roles include:
her Toby Award winning performances as Agnes in Agnes of God and Lil’ Bit in How
I Learned to Drive. She was also
seen as Kate in Like Bees to Honey with
the Women‘s Theatre Group, Stella in A
Streetcar Named Desire, and Amy in a tour of Wings.
Brian Patacca (Tyler)
FILM: Pastoral, Trans, Burp and Broken Eros. TELEVISION: As the World Turns, All My Children, and VH1’s Games
People Play. OFF-BROADWAY: Joy
and The Donkey Show. REGIONALLY: The Baltimore Waltz and The Dead Boy, both with The Provincetown
Theatre Company; Love! Valour!
Compassion!, and Joseph & the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Internationally Brian has been seen with The
Honeyboys. Northwestern University graduate. This is for Lucy.
Joe Wohlgemuth (Playwright, Director, Toby) has an M.A. in Theatre from Montclair State University. His first play, ‘Til Daddy Snores was recently produced at Allegro
Productions. As a performer he was seen
as Tommy in the New York revival of Raft
of the Medusa for the Wings Theatre Company, and as Mantha in the New York
premiere of Cex and the Sity. Favorite roles: Eddie in Blood Brothers, Lita Encore in Ruthless!, Orin in Little Shop, and Sam in Personals. Directorial credits include: ‘Til Daddy Snores, How I Learned to Drive, Amadeus,
Agnes of God, and a touring
production of Wings. For
my handsome boy - it is better…
Robert Lavagno
(Technical Director) has
worked all over the tri-state area in all aspects of theatre. He was the
resident Properties Assistant at the George Street Playhouse, Stage Manager for
Inside Out at the HERE Theater, and the resident scenic designer for
Allegro Productions. Rob thanks Joe Wohlgemuth and the cast of Loyal
Companion for the opportunity to be a part of The Strawberry Festival.
Beautiful
Deceivers
Written by Michael L. Counts & Directed by
Dennis Gleason
Time: The present. Place: The play takes place in various settings of a small college.
Characters In Order
Of Appearance
Roslyn Forbes Andrea Bertola
Professor Gabe Anthony Jason Rosoff
Professor Tom Rollins Michael Littner
Dean Prentice Amanda Moniz-Falcone
Scott Hayward Benjamin Cooper Sulds
Leah Summers Michelle Hotaling
Deidre Miller Dawn Church
Meredith McLeod Cordell Fannin
Andrea Bertola (Roslyn Forbes) has been seen on television in Love Monkey, Law
And Order, The Sopranos, and Sex And The City. With a BFA from Adelphi University, she
appeared onstage in Suburbia, Three Sisters, Taming Of The Shrew and A
Midsummer Nights Dream.
Dawn Church (Deidre
Miller) A spokes model and actress, Dawn has been featured on Law
And Order, The View and The Wayne Brady Show. She also played Marian in The Music Man,
plus the title roles of Juliet in Romeo And Juliet and Agnes Of God.
Cordell Fannin (Meredith
McLeod) has a Bachelor of Music from Illinois Wesleyan University and
experienced on & offstage. Her credits include Maria in Sound Of Music,
Rose in Bye Bye Birdie, Anita in West Side Story and also Laramie
Project, La Bohem, Don Quixote and The Mikado.
Michelle Hotaling (Leah Summers) Holding a BA from Marymount Manhattan College,
Michelle can be seen on The West Wing as President Bartlett's daughter;
she also played Claudia in Nuts, Rizzo in Grease and on was seen
on The View, The Wayne Brady Show and in the movie Miss Congeniality.
Michael Littner (Professor Tom Rollins)
earned a BA from Vassar
College, and has done both stand up comedy and improv. His acting credits
include: Angels In America, Jay in Lost In Yonkers, Eugene in Brighton
Beach Memoirs,
Andrew in Twelfth Night, and Benvolio in Romeo And Juliet.
Amanda Moniz-Falcone (Dean Prentice) Having studied at American Musical & Dramatics
Academy, Amanda toured in The Jack Sprat World Tour. She has also performed as Winnifred in Once
Upon A Mattress, Tina in Tony And Tina's Wedding, Ado Annie in Oklahoma,
and Florence in The Odd Couple Female Version.
Jason Rosoff (Professor Gabe Anthony) has appeared Off-Broadway as Sam in A Stoop Off Orchard Street and
in Stomp. He has also performed in Urinetwon, The Buddy Holly
Story, Hello Dolly, Godspell, Tommy, Sweet Charity, Aladdin And
As Fred In Christmas Carol.
Benjamin Cooper Sulds (Scott Hayward) Recipient of a BFA from Adelhi
University, Ben has been seen as Adam in Shape Of Things, Matt in Laramie
Project, Rusty in Splendor In The Grass, Ray in Beauty Queen Of
Lenane and in Carrie The Musical. On tv, he's been in Law And
Order.
Dennis W. Gleason (Director)
No stranger to the Strawberry One-Act Festival, he directed such
Finalists as On Top, Cookies, A Play About A Guitar, Good Nite Lovin Trail and
Farther's Days. Just back from two Dinner Theatre shows in Wisconsin
& Steel Magnolias in Louisiana, his directing credits also include
the Off-Broadway hit An Adult Evening Of Shel Silverstein.
The Gregor & Olga Show
Written by
Gregory Levine & Gabi Almstaeter & Directed by Monica Rodriguez
Time: 1947. Place: A Small New York City Stage.
Characters
in order of appearance
Gregor Gregory Levine
Olga Gabi Almstaetter
Gabi Almstaetter (Olga & Playwright) is a native from Munich, Germany. She had
on-and-off love affair with theater all her life, but found her true calling
only recently as “Olga”. Before creating The
Gregor & Olga Show she studied improvisation with Greg Sullivan and was
a member of Reform School Improv. Earlier credits include: Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Blousy in Bugsy Malone and Columbia in The Rocky
Horror Picture Show. She loves collaborating with Gregory and would like to
thank her friends for their patience and support.
Gregory Levine (Gregor
& Playwright) is a Bronx, NY native. "Gregor" is
Gregory's true alter ego, disturbing campers when he was 6 and reviving 30
years later via improv classes with Greg Sullivan and the UCB. Together with
Gabi Almstaetter, he developed his character further, creating The Gregor &
Olga Show. The show is Greg's acting debut and very special to his heart as he
is also the self-congratulatory co-author. He thanks his adorable wife Tina for
her love and patience. And his friends and family also, he supposes. Why not?
Miss Ruby Valentine (Ruby
Valentine) The Sweetheart of burlesque is well know for her lyrical fan dancing and
classy burlesque performances. Her perfectly classic and timeless look
complements the style of The Gregor and Olga Show. Ruby has been featured in
the finest burlesque shows and venues such as Le Scandal, Starshine Burlesque,
The Slipper Room and Coney Islands "Burlesque by the Beach." Miss Valentine has appeared in various local
and National publications including: BUST, Time Out Magazine, The Village
Voice, and The New York Press. Visit
Ruby's Website at: www.missrubyvalentine.com.
Monica Rodriguez (Director) recently left The Actors Studio Drama School
and has begun her journey into the "real world." She earned her bachelors degree at
Arizona State University, where she directed Talking With... and Bitter
Sauce. Her last directorial
feat was producing and directing the world premieres of Michael
Needleman and Ophelia and Lucy. She wishes to thank her
directing mentors, Victoria Holloway and Marshall W. Mason, as well as the
great women of WET, Sasha Eden and Victoria Pettibone. She also sends her deepest gratitude
to her fantastic collaborators, and her family, both in NY and NM.
Richard Hegan (Lights &
Sound) is giving his
debut performance in The Gregor &
Olga Show. He is new to show biz, but seems like he is slowly getting
the “bug.”
Numerals: A Fable About Knowing
Written
& Directed by Devin Burnam
Time: Easter
Sunday. The
Present. Place: A Playground.
Characters
in order of appearance
Medalia Lillie Jayne
Jon Erik Wolfe
Ida Erica Livingston
Troll Nicholas Warren-Gray
Lillie Jayne (Medalia) is honored that her return to theater is in a Devin Burnam
production. She studied acting with Circle Repertory Theater (Lanford
Wilson, James Luse) as well as a short stint in the conservatory at the School of
Fine Arts at Boston University, before hightailing it the hell out of there to
see the world and pursue other interests. As of late she has been busy in
the studio with Martin Bisi recording her first full-length album with her
band, The Drayton Sawyer Gang, and writing music for various side
projects.
Erica Livingston (Ida) is a
comedian, improvisor, actress, and robot based in New York City. She moved to
New York from Mississippi to attend The American Musical and Dramatic Academy where
she sold her soul for a two year conservatory education (which she still has
not and probably will never pay off). She is currently shooting the film Hatchet Job right now with all the
people she has dreamed of making films with.
Caleb Scott (Stranger)
Caleb Scott is a performer, writer and visual
artist. His theater and film credits include: BOOM (Classic Stage Company), The
Golden Ass (Fringe Festival) and House
of V (Map Space Theater), all of which he co-wrote with Eyases Ensemble; Joey: A Mechanical Boy and Bingo!, which he co-wrote and
co-directed at Combustive Arts; MRFL (Ontological-Hysteric
Theater); Salome (HERE); The World (Whitney Museum); and Winterbottem (Performing Garage). He is
currently resident artist with the Combustive Motor Corporation, a
multi-disciplinary performance company in Brooklyn.
Nicholas Warren-Gray (Troll) just recently finished a run as both Claire and Lefranc
in Genet's The Maids and Deathwatch with the Egress Theatre
Company. Nicholas's past appearances in NYC include: roles as Tony
Simpolini for Invisible City Theatre Company, Rob Force Part 1:
Wanderlust, Don Fernando, Incidental, Macheath, The Beggar's
Opera, and Demetrius, Midsummer Night's Dream for Aisling
Arts, of which he is a proud member.
Erik Wolfe (Jon)
In
1972 Erik Wolfe was sent to prison by a military court for a crime he didn't
commit. He promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles
underground. Today, still wanted by the government, he survives as a soldier of
fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find
him, maybe you can hire Erik Wolfe.
Devin Burnam (Director) is a graduate
of The Tatnall School, in Wilmington, Delaware.
* * * * *
THE CORE PROJECT is an ongoing intensive workshop for writers, directors and actors (or any combination thereof) to develop new plays. Artists will collaborate on the creation and development of vibrant new works for the stage. Projects developed within the workshop will be presented as readings and considered for production in the Strawberry One-Act Festival and future Riant Theatre productions. The Core Project will be led by associate director, Richard Mover and artistic director and producer Van Dirk Fisher. Writers should submit a one-act play, a scene from a full length or a sample of narrative work that they are interested in developing for the stage, no synopsis please. Directors should submit a resume and letter of interest or intent. Actors may contact us by email (therianttheatre@aol.com) or by mailing us their picture and resume to set up an audition. Materials should be mailed to: The Riant Theatre, P.O. Box 1902, NY, NY 10013. Please include a S.A.S.E. for the return of materials.
Upcoming Events . . .
The Finals at The Producers Club II
Friday, February 17th
& Saturday, February 18th at 7pm and Sunday, February 19th
at 3pm
Tickets: $25 (includes reception after
the show.)
The Toe Jam Festival Saturday,
February 18th at 1pm, 3pm & 5pm;
Sunday, February 19th at 1pm. Tickets: $15
A fun filled show featuring some of the hottest talent in NYC.
Join us and cast your vote for A Rising Star!
At The Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at
Symphony Space
2537 Broadway at 95th
Street
The Riant Awards Ceremony &
Performance
Four of the Best Plays will be presented.
Monday, February 27th at 7pm; Tickets: $35
Reservations: (646) 623-3488 or Online at www.therianttheatre.com
On Sale At The Online Store
Riant T-Shirts:
$15.00 Mugs: $10.00
(Colors: Red, Blue or Black)
The Strawberry One-Act Festival T-Shirts: $15.00
The Best Plays From The Strawberry One Act
Festival: Volume One:
$14.95
The Best Plays From The Strawberry One Act
Festival: Volume Two:
$16.95
Photos of the play:
Photo: $5. With Silver Frame: $10. Wooden Frame: $7.
Please sign our mailing list
form so we can inform you of other Riant events.
The Strawberry One-Act Festival is celebrating
its 11th season this summer. The Strawberry Festival, the brainchild of
Artistic Director, Van Dirk Fisher, is a play competition in which the audience
and the theatre's judges cast their votes to select the best play of the
season. Twice a year, hundreds of plays
from across the country are submitted for the competition, of which 40 are
chosen to compete. Plays move from the
1st round to the semi-finals and then the finals. The playwright of the winning
play receives a grant and the opportunity to have a full-length play developed
by the Riant. This summer for the first
time, awards will also be presented for Best Director, Best Actor and Best
Actress. The Award Ceremony and
Performance will be held at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space
on February 27th at 7:00pm.
This February the Strawberry One-Act Festival will go worldwide
as we broadcast the festival via the internet on the second day of each series
in the competition. Go to www.therianttheatre.com.
The Strawberry Festival is a wonderful opportunity for the audience and
the industry alike to see some of the best talent in the nation. Every performance features four dynamic
one-act plays. Audiences always comment
that this is one of the best theatrical events around. There's always a lot of buzz surrounding
each performance as artists converge and network on future projects. Several of the playwrights whose plays are
featured in the festival have written for the literary world as well as
television and film. "We are very
fortunate to be able to fulfill our mission, which is to discover talent and
showcase new plays," says Mr. Fisher.
"We are very proud of this accomplishment, but the work doesn't
stop there. Competition aside,
everyone's a winner in the festival, because several actors, directors and
playwrights are chosen to work on future projects at the Riant."
Van
Dirk Fisher (Festival Producer/Artistic Director) has produced The Strawberry
One-Act Festival, My Soul Sings Too, Sister; A Play Festival Celebrating The
Spirit of Women, The International Lesbian & Gay Theatre Festival,
directed and written several musicals including Somebody’s Calling
My Name; Sweet Blessings; Tracks; Loving That Man Of Mine and Revelations.
Plays include: A Sin Between Friends; The Banjo Lesson; Mixed Blessings; Hotel
Paradise and The Atlanta Affair. As an actor he has done several voice overs
and commercials and has appeared on the soap opera Loving as Assistant D.A.
Lyndon Haines. He thanks God, his
family and friends for their love and support.