Cast (in alphabetical order)
John Fugelsang* (Lee)
NY & Regional: "All the Wrong Reasons" at New York Theatre Workshop & The Barrow Street Theatre (2007 Drama League Award Nominee); "Junk Male" (Backstage Bistro Award), "Savage In Limbo", "Blue Window", "Hamlet", "The Misanthrope", "Coyote Ugly", "Somewhere in the City", "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", "Providence", "Becker", over 20 appearances on "Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher", "Paul McCartney's Live Town Hall" & "George Harrison: The Last Performance" (VH1), "ACLU Freedom Files" (Court TV) TV411 (PBS), "Bullseye" (CNBC). Also US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. He received the award for Outstanding NYC Monologist at Lincoln Center from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, & his piece on the history of the War on Drugs was recently published on The Huffington Post.
Hunter Gallagher* (Danny)
Fourteen year old Hunter Gallagher was born in Queens, New York. An actor, singer, and song writer, he has performed at venues such as The Apollo Theatre, Showtime in Harlem, and VH1's Soul Jam. He played Adam in the New York Classical Theatre production of "As You Like It" in Central Park and acted as a character of the same name in HBO's hit series, "The Sopranos."
Paul Iacono* (Paul)
Off-Broadway: Most recently seen in the Drama Desk and Obie Award winning play, "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" (Transport Group,) Donny in "Landscape of the Body" (Signature Theatre), "Sail Away" with Elaine Stritch and Marian Seldes (Carnegie Hall) National Tour: "The Wizard of Oz" with Mickey Rooney. Regional: "Children of Eden" (original cast recording), "The Will Rogers Follies", Young Patrick in "Mame" with Christine Ebersol (Papermill Playhouse), "King Island Christmas" (original cast recording). Television: "Human Giant" (MTV) Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon), many guest performances on The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Film: "Return to Sleepaway Camp", "Glow Ropes" and is currently filming, "Consent." Thanks to Bill for his patience and another incredible show. This performance is dedicated to Paul's second mother, Colleen who is watching this one from the mezzanine in the clouds. Look up Paul on imdb.com for more.
Carol Lempert* (Dot)
Carol recently moved to New York from Toronto. No stranger to the fringe circuit, Carol has won Pick of the Fringe and the Best Solo Drama Award at the San Francisco Fringe for her one woman show: "That Dorothy Parker". At the Toronto Fringe Fest she took home an Outstanding Performer Award for her 2nd one woman show: "The Camino; Walking the Pilgrim Road" Other Theatre includes: "Shlomo: The House of Love and Prayer" at Folksbiene, "The McCreary's" at BMI, "Crossing Delancey", Lusia in "A Shayna Maidel", Sarah in "Beau Jest" and Edith Frank in "The Diary of Anne Frank" Television/film includes: "All My Children", "Santa Who", "The Associates", "DOC", "Bless the Child", "Wonderland" and 26 episodes of "Rockabye Bubble" and 13 episodes of "Hello Mrs. Cherrywinkle" for the Family Channel, as well as numerous commercials. Carol has her MFA from York University and is married to the comedian Scotty Watson – who will be opening in Walmartopia at the Minetta Lane in September! www.CarolLempert.com
Katie Neil (Fern)
Broadway: "Annie Get Your Gun." Kennedy Center: "Boris Gudonov"/Washington Opera, "Hamlet"/Royal Shakespeare Company, "Nutcracker." Regional: "Secret Garden", "Fiddler On The Roof." NY Staged Readings: "The Women", "Harry Potter." Music: Radio Disney Tour, MTV Reality Check Tour, Camplified. Opening act for: Lifehouse, Teddy Geiger, Click Five, Aly & AJ, Lil Romeo, Jesse McCartney, Aaron Carter, Cheetah Girls. Thanks to Bill, Dad and Suzanne.
Jana Robbins* (Pearl)
Jana Robbins has played leading roles on Broadway in "Good News", "I Love My Wife", "Crimes of the Heart", "Romance/Romance", "Gypsy" (standby for Tyne Daly) and "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife" covering both Linda Lavin and Michele Lee. Jana starred on the National Tour of "Allergist's Wife" opposite Valerie Harper. Regional credits include: Dr. Livingstone in "Agnes of God", Bessie Berger in "Awake and Sing", Film: "The Last Days of Frankie the Fly" with Dennis Hopper and Keifer Sutherland, TV: "Law and Order", "SVU", "Criminal Intent." For more info go to: www.janarobbins.com
Brian Shepard* (Radio Voice)
Broadway: “Spamalot” , “Annie Get Your Gun.” National Tours: “Seussical the Musical”, “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Regional Theaters: “My Fair Lady”, “The Music Man”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Meet Me in St. Louis”, “Joseph and the Amazing Color Dreamcoat”, “Crazy For You.” Readings/Workshops: “Shrek” with Jason Moore, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Jeanine Tesori: “Kept” with Scott Schwartz, Henry Krieger and Bill Russell.
Production
Jeff Mandels (Playwright)
Prior to moving to Seattle in 1983, Jeff studied at The New School and was a member of the 14th Street Playwriting Workshop. "And Somewhere Men Are Laughing" (originally titled "Johnny Boy") was nurtured at the Seattle Playwrights Studio, had its first public reading at the Seattle ACT Fringe Festival in March 2003, and its world premiere at Garry Marshall's Falcon Theatre in LA, April, 2004. This is Jeff's first full-length play to receive an Equity production.
Bill Russell (Director)
Bill Russell wrote the book and lyrics for the critically acclaimed Broadway musical “Side Show”, receiving a Tony nomination for book and sharing a nomination with composer Henry Krieger for score. He also directed that show at the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul. Mr. Russell co-wrote the book and lyrics for Off-Broadway’s long-running musical “Pageant”, and directed it in the fringe and West End of London, Chicago, Los Angeles and recently at the University of Kansas. He authored the book and lyrics
for “Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens”, directing it in New York and in London’s Fringe and West End, among many others. He adapted the book of “Call Me Madam” (starring Tyne Daly) for City Center Encores! His credits as Lyricist include the “Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular”, the official theme for “Gay Games” and the women’s duo Jade & Sarsaparilla. “Everything’s Ducky” (written with Henry Krieger and Jeffrey Hatcher) premiered with TheatreWorks of California. A revised version under the new title “Lucky Duck” was directed by John Rando (“Urinetown”) at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and Bill directed a version at the Boston Conservatory. For more, please visit www.billrussell.net.
Michael Cassara Casting (Casting)
Recent credits include “The Molly Maguires” (Pre-Broadway workshop, dir. Sheryl Kaller, mus. dir. John McDaniel), “Clear Blue Tuesday” (feature film, dir. Elizabeth Lucas), “The Gig” (benefit concert and cast recording), “Breaking In” (internet series), “If This Hat Could Talk” (national tour, dir. George Faison), Stephen Schwartz’s “Captain Louie” (national tour), and countless readings and workshops. Regional credits include Goodspeed Musicals, the Paper Mill Playhouse, the Kitchen Theatre Company and the Hinton Battle Theatre Laboratory. Michael Cassara Casting is the resident casting office of the 2007 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Upcoming: “The Yellow Wood” (dir. B. D. Wong) and the inaugural season of the Stephen Sondheim Center for the Arts in Fairfield, Iowa! For more information, please visit www.michaelcassara.net.
Karen Kay Cody (Dramaturg)
Karen Kay Cody has been a professional actress in the Seattle area for more than 25 years. Karen originated the role of Sophie De Palma in the 1996 Tony Award Winning Play “MasterClass” on Broadway and was awarded Best Broadway Debut Performance by both the Theatre World Awards and the Outer Critics Circle Awards. Beside enjoying an extensive commercial voice talent career, Karen also teaches and creates original scripts for children's drama camps.
Eric Christopher Hoelle (Stage Manager)
Company: “The Actors Legacy Group” Board of Directors and Co-Founder. Director: “Lincoln: The Man, The Car, & The Tunnel” by Larry Myers at Where Eagles Dare. “Poetry Reading”, “Tracers.” As an Actor: “The Silver Cord,” “Losin’ Mannie,” “An Evening With Family,” “A Little Princess,” “Sickinger,” “The Glass Menagerie,” and others. Film: “Crutch,” “Chronicles of a Skater Girl,” “The Squid and the Whale.” Training: HB Studios.
Kathleen Stakenas (Costume Design)
Kathleen Stakenas has primarily stage managed operas at various companies across America, but is expanding into other theatrical genres and positions in NYC to avoid being perpetually on the road. Recent credits include Costume Designer -”The Street” (MIFT), Assistant Stage Manager - “Second Tosca”, and Production Stage Manager - “Carmen” (Bronx Opera).
Mike Yahn (Fight Choreographer)
Mike Yahn is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and a Certified Teacher through the Society of American Fight Directors. He has worked as Fight Director at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, The New England Shakespeare Festival, New York University, as well as Assistant to Fight Master J. David Brimmer on such shows as “Spring Awakening the Musical” (Broadway), “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” (Broadway), and “BUG” (Off Broadway) to name just a few. Mike is also a partner in Combat Inc. (www.combatinc.com), bringing violence to the tri-state area. www.mikeyahn.com