Firehouse News
Meet the “Boys’ Life” Cast & Crew
posted on August 31, 2009
At the Firehouse, each production reflects the individual and collective contributions of its specific cast and crew. We are pleased to introduce the talented group of theatre professionals behind our 2009-10 season opener, Boys’ Life.
Joe Carlson (Jack) – While pursuing a masters in Acting Directing Pedagogy at VCU, and working for The Conciliation Project, a non-profit theatre that works to promote open and honest dialogue about racism in America through active and challenging dramatic work, he also acts professionally in theatre, film, and television in Richmond and D.C. Previous stage credits include Richmond Shakespeare: Hamlet (Laertes, Player Lucianus), Henry V (Pistol), Henry IV Part I (Pistol, Wart, Fight Choreography), for which he received an RTCC nomination in 2008 for best actor in a supporting role, Synetic Theater: Lysistrata (Magistrate, Mens Chorus), Firehouse: This Is Our Youth (Dennis), The Conciliation Project: uncle tom: De-constructed and The PIC: The Prison Industrial Complex, in Rep. (Firehouse Theatre, New Orleans Fringe Festival), Global Sexxxism: Un-wrapped (Sycamore Rouge), Theater VCU: Dracula (Renfield, Irene Ryan Nomination), Shafer Alliance Laboratory Theater: Den of Thieves (Flaco). Joe also clowns around on weekends with All About Fun Entertainment. Work is Love made Visible, thanks to cast and crew.
Andrew Donnelly (Phil) – Andrew is thrilled to make Boys’ Life his debut performance at the Firehouse Theatre. He recently earned his BFA in Theatre Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he performed in multiple mainstage productions. His favorite roles include Stephen in When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?,Harker in Dracula, Hank Teagle in The Big Knife, and “The Artist” in the original production of Shadow Play. Big ups to friends and family, Morrie, and the cast & crew.
Lauren English (Maggie) – Lauren has lived in Richmond for the past four years and graduated with a BFA in Theatre Performance from VCU this past spring. Most recently, Lauren appeared in Chicago at VCU. She is thrilled to be returning to the Firehouse Theatre for a second time. She was last seen on the Firehouse stage in last summer’s Reefer Madness. Favorite productions include Rocky Horror Picture Show, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, and The Importance of Being Earnest. She would like to thank her parents for always being there and always offering help when it was needed.
Alison Haracznak (Carla/Girl understudy) – Alison is excited to be back on the Firehouse stage. Past Firehouse credits include uncle tom: de-constructed and P.I.C.: Prison Industrial Complex. Other credits include: Translations, Dutchman, Read*y for Right (Sycamore Rouge), House of Yes, Aloha Say the Pretty Girls (Night Light Collective), Genocide Trail: a holocaust unspoken, Global SeXXXism: unwrapped (The Conciliation Project) and Spanish Tragedy (Henley Street). Alison is a proud member of Sycamore Rouge and The Conciliation Project and would like to encourage everyone to support local Richmond theatres. She’d also like to thank her friends and family who have supported her through the years and continue to believe in her.
Carter Lowery (Man) Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Carter Lowery is new to the Richmond stage community as an actor. His writing has appeared in a few small productions in the area, including the 2007 Claremont, Va., founding anniversary, as well as the 2006 and 2007 student One Act Festivals at Appomattox Governor’s School. Carter currently attends VCU, where he’s working towards his M.D. in Psychology. Carter would like to thank each and every one of you for coming, and hopes you enjoy the show.
Maggie Marlin (Lisa) – Maggie was seen this past summer as Millie Dillmount in Barksdale’s Thoroughly Modern Millie and is excited to be back at the Firehouse but this time as a performer, having recently choreographed Reefer Madness and The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Maggie relocated to Richmond from New York City two years ago to earn her MFA in Theatre Movement Pedgogy at VCU. While studying and teaching at VCU, her favorite credits included Velma Kelly in Chicago and Sally Bowles in Cabaret. She has performed at various off-Broadway venues in New York, the Kennedy Center, and Shakespeare Theatre of D.C., as well as regional theatres across the country. Her most recent film, EYEBORGS, for which she did stunt work, recently opened to theatrical release in Asia. She received her BFA from the North Carolina School of the Arts.
Landon Nagel (Don) – Landon first appeared at the Firehouse as Archie in The Widow’s Blind Date last fall. He is thrilled to be back and amongst so many of his VCU colleagues. Nagel was most recently seen as James Leeds in Children of a Lesser God with the Barksdale Theatre. He is a graduate of TheatreVCU and has been acting in the Richmond area for over 12 years. Favorite roles along the way include: Benny in Guys and Dolls, Cliff in Cabaret, Teddy in When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?, Jason in Medea, and Psuedolus in FORUM.
London Ray (Girl) – London is returning to the stage after a five-year hiatus. During that time she completed her degree in Art History at VCU, was a member of VCU’s Dance Team, Gold Rush, for three years, and appeared in various dance productions around the city. Her last production was in the fall of 2004 with Virginia Tech’s State Your Name Theatre Company in David Meyer’s Moss Trap as Dr. Watson. She has long missed the stage and is excited to return this fall with such an awesome cast, crew, and director! London thanks her friends and family for always supporting/participating in her next adventure from theme parties to fundraisers and all the way to burlesque! xo
Amy Sproul (Karen) – Amy Sproul is ecstatic to be making her third appearance on the Firehouse stage, with previous roles including “Emma” in The Curse of the Starving Class and “Jessica” in This Is Our Youth. Other performances include UVA’s production of The Vagina Monologues, participation in the Firehouse’s Red Hot and Ten, and readings for The Last Semester and Yellow House’s Blood Scout. Amy is currently studying politics and French at UVA, and would like to thank Morrie and her parents for their continual support of her theatrical endeavors.
Morrie Piersol (Director) – Morrie is a theatre instructor and main stage director at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School in Petersburg. At the Firehouse he has directed nearly a dozen plays, including some of its most critically acclaimed productions, such as the award-winning The Late Henry Moss and I am My Own Wife. Among his Firehouse acting credits, he is perhaps best remembered for playing the title role in David Mamet’s Edmond. Prior to moving to Richmond, Morrie was very active in theatre in New York, where his acting credits included work at Playwright’s Horizons and The Actor’s Studio, as well as a role in the Broadway production of The Runner Stumbles. He was also co-founder, producing director, and a company member of Force 13 Theatre, an award-winning Off-Off Broadway Theatre Company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Long Island University and studied theatre at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center and at the Hartman Theatre Conservatory.
Marley Monk (Production Stage Manager) – Marley is thrilled to return to the Firehouse after previously stage managing Spinning Into Butter. She is entering her final year at VCU, where she is pursuing her BFA in stage management. Previous credits include: Production Stage Manager for Moonlight and Magnolias, On Golden Pond (Heritage Theatre Festival), The Big Knife (Shafer Alliance Laboratory), and Shadow Play (TheatreVCU), Assistant Stage Manager for Othello, Crimes of the Heart, My Fair Lady (New Harmony Theatre), and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf (TheatreVCU). She’d like to thank her family and friends for their constant support and Phill for always being there for her no matter how far away he is.
Edwin Slipek (Scenic Designer) – Edwin is delighted to be returning to the Firehouse as scenic designer for Boys’ Life. In previous seasons with the company, he has designed sets for such acclaimed productions as The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Rabbit Hole, The Widow’s Blind Date, Spinning Into Butter, Austin’s Bridge, I Am My Own Wife, and Dinner with Friends.
Tad Burrell (Technical Director) – Tad is proud to be in his seventh season as Technical Director of the Firehouse Theatre Project. Tad’s Firehouse credits include Scenic Designer for Kingdom of Earth, Reckless, The Secret of Mme. Bonnard’s Bath, and last season’s Firehouse Cabaret. He has been Technical Director and/or Master Set Carpenter for Eurydice, The Late Henry Moss, Spinning Into Butter, and Mr. Marmalade last season, as well as most every production for the previous five seasons. In real life, Tad is a superintendent for a local construction company.
Amy Wight Kube (Producer) – Amy is excited to be producing her 17th play for the Firehouse Theatre! Although her truest passion is singing, she has been involved in theatre for many years in a variety of capacities, from acting and singing, to set design and construction, to producing. Although primarily fond of producing, Amy has also appeared on stage, singing for a few Firehouse fundraisers (Hair; Red, Hot, and Ten; Firehouse Cabaret; & Hearts on Fire). Favorite Firehouse producing credits include As Bees in Honey Drown, The Last Five Years, I Am My Own Wife, The Secret of Mme. Bonnard’s Bath, The Late Henry Moss, Eurydice, and Rabbit Hole. Amy wishes to thank her husband John for his constant support and enthusiastic encouragement.
Geno Brantley (Lighting Designer) – Geno started crafting his approach to technical theatre and design over thirty years ago at the Afro-American Studio for Acting & Speech in New York City, under the guidance of Co-founder and Artistic Director Ernie McClintock and Technical Director Ronn Walker. Harlem was an exciting place during the emergence of the black theatre movement of the 1970s, and for two decades Brantley partnered with an impressive list of artistic and entertainment luminaries, such as Eubie Blake, Roscoe Lee Browne, Helmar Cooper, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Minnie Gentry, Tupac Shakur, Glenn Thurmon and Antonio Vargas, on highly acclaimed productions of A Hand Is on the Gate, A Raisin in the Sun, El Haj Malik, Dream on Monkey Mountain, Moon over a Rainbow Shawl, The River Niger, and Showdown Time. The recipient of AUDELCO Best Lighting Design Awards for Equus, Dream on Monkey Mountain, and Spell No. 7, Brantley was also presented the Best Sound Design Award for The Ida B. Wells Story with The Hadley Players, NYC. Brantley collaborated with McClintock again as Technical Director and Designer for the Black Theatre Festivals of 2001, 2002, and 2003 produced by Jazz Actors Theatre (Richmond, VA). Geno loves the Firehouse space which reminds him of his years in New York and is pleased to be designing again at the Firehouse, for which he also designed The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife and Spinning into Butter. Special thanks to Donna for her unwavering love and support, which she admits is not difficult because she understands the thrill of tech week. Peace.
Christin Boone (Light Board Operator) Christin has been working with Firehouse since she was 19. She is coming back once again to be the board operator. Christin is currently going to John Tyler Community College, and is majoring in Theater. She is planning on transferring to VCU, and taking stage management classes.
Kelsey Cappiello (Assistant Lighting Designer) is a Senior Theatre Major at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School, where she has worked light crew for every production and performed on stage several times in the Member of the Wedding, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (as Puck) and is excited about the upcoming role of Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible. She has stage managed The Wiz at ARGS, was lighting designer for the ARGS production of Babes in Arms, worked as a production assistant for SPARC’s West Side Story, and has worked at the Swift Creek Mill Playhouse on both light and set crew for Side Show, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Altar Boyz. This is her first Firehouse job and she is thrilled to be involved.
Bryan Harris (Sound Designer) – Bryan’s sound design and composition credits include Eurydice, Reckless, and Kingdom of Earth for the Firehouse Theatre Project, and Richmond Shakespeare Festival productions of Much Ado About Nothing and The Tempest. Bryan has also served the FTP as Musical Director of Bat Boy: The Musical and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. In his regular life, Bryan teaches guitar at James River High School, and would like to thank Jen, Frodo, and Sam for their unwavering support.
Nikki Osborne (Costume Designer) – Nikki is a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Fashion Design department. Although this is her first position as a Costume Designer for theatrical production, her passion and interest for theatre is long going. She attended Woodbridge Senior High School’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts program and there studied theatre all four years. She is very excited to bring together two loves of her life and looks forward to more costume design opportunities in the future.
Mary Beth Yates (Properties Mistress) – Mary Beth is a senior at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School (ARGS) who loves being both on and off stage. Her most recent onstage performances at ARGS include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood; she has also worked various off-stage positions in the ARGS productions of Babes in Arms, The Wiz, Cinderella, and The Member of the Wedding. This is her first time working with the Firehouse Theatre Project and she is LOVING it! Next on Mary Beth’s to-do list is getting into college, where she hopes to pursue Arts Management, Women’s Studies, or something else she has yet to discover.