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Spring Awakening L.A.'s Interests
General
THE CAST
Click on the photos below to be directed to each actor's MySpace page!
Abbie Cobb (Wendla Bergmann) is proud to be a part of this talented cast. Favorite past roles include Ann in All My Sons, Liesl in The Sound of Music, Beverly in The Shadow Box, Claire Ganz in Rumors, and Abby in The Mercy Seat. Abbie is a theatre graduate of Cedarville University. Look for Abbie on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place this fall! She thanks her Lord for this opportunity and family and friends for their undying support.
Allie Costa (Martha Bessel) is a naturally happy person, but she's happiest when on stage. She loves dramatic roles and is beyond flattered to be a part of this production. A singer and dancer, she adores musical theatre, cherishing roles such as Lucy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Bonnie in Anything Goes, and Baby Louise in Gypsy (Saddleback Civic Light Opera). She hopes to break into television and film then hit Broadway. When not performing, she writes novels, songs, plays, and screenplays. Occasionally, she sleeps.
Wyatt Fenner (Moritz Stiefel) has performed with many of America's best known regional theatres including A Noise Within, The Ahmanson, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Arena Stage, the Folger Theatre, Ford's Theatre, Source Theatre Company, the Rorschach Theatre, the Lillian Theatre, Celebration Theatre and the Keegan Theatre, to name a few. He is a recent graduate of USC where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and was awarded the School of Theatre's Aileen Stanley Scholarship. Proud member of AEA/SAG. To contact or for more information:
www.wyattfenner.com
JC Henning (The Adult Women) Graduate of the British American Acting Academy (London). Over 50 stage productions: My Daughter’s Rated X w/ Bob Cummings, The Odd Couple w/Tom Poston, Play It Again Sam w/Robert Morse, The Crucible, Il Pagliacci, Turandot. Film: The Story of David w/Jane Seymour, Red Flag w/Barry Bostwick, Angel City, Edgar, the Dog. TV: Fridays, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, The A-Team. Los Angeles Opera: 25 shows (acting roles). Member of the Casa Italiana Opera Company and Classical Theatre Lab. Honored to be part of this outstanding production. Love to TC & Barbara.
Adam Kalesperis (Melchior Gabor) hails from Chicago where he recently starred in the critically acclaimed U.S. Premiere of Tracks. Other Chicago credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius) and the Off-Broadway hit Awesome 80s Prom (Nick Fender "the bad boy"). On screen Adam recently co-starred on the 13th season finale of ER and in the summer of 2008 you'll find him on the big screen opposite Christian Bale in a supporting role for The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated sequel to Batman Begins. Adam has a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from UCLA, where he studied acting and playwriting.
Blake Lee (Hanschen Rilo, Rheinhold) Blake is thrilled to be working with such a talented director and cast in this production of Spring Awakening. In 2006 he graduated from the Sanford Meisner Center under the direction of Martin Barter. Stage: Dream Jar, The Laramie Project, You Can’t Take It With You, Fiddler, Versailles Impromptu, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Nerd. Blake wishes to express his gratitude to August and TL for giving him this incredible experience. He would like to dedicate his performance to his Mom, Dad, Holly and Todd, thank you for believing in me always.
Thomas Mikusz (The Adult Men) was born in Austria. He started acting and writing at 16. His literate work about the Holocaust earned him major awards in Europe. Thomas performed in Theatre in Austria and Germany where he also appeared in Spring Awakening as Moritz Stiefel…many, many years ago. Theatre credits in Miami include I Am a Camera at New Theatre, the world premiere of Antisemitropolis, and Copenhagen. In Los Angeles he appeared in several plays at the NoHo Arts Center. His latest TV credits include The Unit and Passions. He is soon to start filming Bad Day-WWII in Argentina.
www.thomasmikusz.com
Matthew Scott Montgomery (Georg Zirschnitz, Diethelm) Matthew Scott is thrilled to be making his Los Angeles stage debut in Spring Awakening. He is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in Dramatic Arts and Communications Media Studies, and some of his favorite roles back east include Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, Charlie in Merrily We Roll Along, and Hanschen Rilow in Spring's Awakening (can't get enough of this show!). Check out his sweet sweet music at www.myspace.com/matthewscottmontgomery. He would like to thank his rockstar parents Rose and T-Money for their never-ending support. Happy Halloween!
THE CREW
August Viverito (Director/Adaptor) For the Production Company, Mr. Viverito directed the world premiere of Nicholas Nickleby, and most recently Diversions & Delights. Mr. Viverito served as the Artistic Director for the Attic Theatre Ensemble, was on the Executive Board of The Knightsbridge Theatre, and was founder of ‘The McCormick House Theatre’ back on the East Coast. He is currently serving as Communications Manager for the venerable West Coast Ensemble. For the Attic, Mr. Viverito directed hit productions of the World Premiere of Richard Martin Hirsch’s Peripheral Vision, Backstage West ‘Critic’s Pick’ The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, and Studz Terkel/Stephen Schwartz/Nina Faso’s Musical Masterpiece Working. For other stages he has directed productions of The Rainmaker, Beautiful Bodies, Little Women, Godspell, Our Town, Jesus Christ, Superstar and many others including numerous original works. As a stage performer, he has appeared in leading roles in many acclaimed productions including Assassins, Blood Brothers, Pippin, Merrily We Roll Along, How to Succeed In Business…, and Sweet Charity.
TL Kolman (Producer) is a critically acclaimed actor, director, and producer. Directing credits include The Shadow Box (One of the Top Ten Plays of 2004 – Reviewplays.com), Agnes of God, and Ordinary People. His producing credits include the world premiere of Nicholas Nickleby, Diversions & Delights, Dancing at Lughnasa, Working and The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. As an actor his recent stage appearances include the world premiere of Buddies at Celebration Theatre, Sunday in the Park with George (Ovation Nomination ‘Best Musical’), Insurrection: Holding History, Medea, The Elephant Man, Love! Valour! Compassion! and Nicholas Nickleby. He is best known for his role as the Xyrillian Engineer ..rek: Enterprise. Mr. Kolman can be heard as the singing vocals of Ratha Sam on the CD recording of Cambodia: The Musical. He served as Managing Director for the Attic Theatre & Film Center and is a member of West Coast Ensemble. As Associate Artistic Director of The Production Company he is proud to present this production of Spring Awakening. Careful what you say, children will listen.
Gloria Bennett (Production Stage Manager) has worn many hats in the theatre world. In addition to stage-managing over 25 productions, she is a director, producer, and surprise…an actor! Her favorite roles include Momma Rose in Gypsy, Woman-2 in I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change, and Donna in Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding. When not on or around a stage Gloria is teaching voice and spending time with family. She’d like to thank George, Jack, and Miranda for their support!
Kelly Graham (Costume Designer) Kelly Graham is thrilled to put her costuming talents to good use at the fabulous opening of the Chandler Studio Theatre! She is a long time dabbler in costuming from her teenage years, where she turned down a spot in the ensemble of "Carousel" in favor of joining the tech. crew and quickly discovered an affinity for costuming. She has auspiciously continued on this path, and currently costumes for reenactment events as well as children's theatre.
The Production Company proudly announces the opening of Frank Wedekind's spell-binding tragic comedy SPRING AWAKENING, which is the basis for the smash-hit 2007 Tony Award-winning musical currently running to standing ovations on Broadway. The show will launch the first full season at the company's new home on September 21st and run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 P.M. and Sundays at 3 P.M. through October 27th. The work will be directed by August Viverito and produced by TL Kolman for The Production Company.
After an exhaustive search, Viverito and Kolman announced their powerhouse cast including highly noted actors Wyatt Fenner (recently seen in The Ahmanson's Dead End) and Adam Kalesperis (from the U.S. Premiere of Tracks) in the leading roles of Moritz and Melchior and featuring the immense talents of J.C. Henning, Thomas Mikusz, Blake Lee, Matthew Scott Montgomery, Abbie Cobb, & Allie Costa to round out the all-star cast.
Translated by Francis J. Ziegler and edited by August Viverito, this will be the world premiere of this adaptation of the play, and the first major production of this important work in Los Angeles in many years.
Banned for many years as subversive and dangerous, Wedekind's brainchild boldly explores the conflict between repressive adulthood and adolescent sexual longings in a provincial town in pre-Hitler Germany, but it is not simply about adolescent longings or any singular community. Rather, it speaks of social intolerance and injustice in such terms that it could have been written today. So far ahead of its time in fact, the play seems to explore the conflict between liberalism and fundamentalism going on in present-day America with assured clarity and almost Shakespearean consequences, remaining highly entertaining as it rides briskly from heartfelt comedy to breathtaking drama. Please note that adult themes are frankly explored in this production.
Who I'd like to meet: EVERYONE! This is a fantastic production that should not be missed. Direct your friends to this webpage and have them join our friend list!
Sorry I've had to miss this production. Hopefully LAStageScene.com will receive advance press releases and invitations to review future productions. We look forward to it! Steven S:)
August and TL, Congratulations on the raves! Sorry we (that's the royal we) heard about Spring Awakening too late to schedule a review. Be sure to let us know of future production at editor@LAStageScene.com The sooner, the better, as we set up our schedule weeks in advance. (We love talking in the plural.) Best wishes for the rest of the run! Steven S:) PS: I will see a Wyatt Fenner show someday!
