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Fire Escape Plays

A Festival of Short Plays

New Jersey Repertory Company

732-229-3166 | njrep@njrep.org | njrep.org

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NEW JERSEY REPERTORY COMPANY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 

Tanis Deitch, President | Linda Standley, Vice President |

Nancy Stek, Secretary | Karen Wharmby, Treasurer

Pat Addiss, Mare Akana, Gabor Barabas, SuzAnne Barabas, Evan Bergman, Steven Darien, Carl Hoffman, Vasi Laurence, Marilyn Pearlman, Marianne Pedersen, Kim Puvalowski, Lauren Schwarz

 

Staff

 

Executive Producer- Gabor Barabas

Artistic Director- SuzAnne Barabas

Associate Artistic Director- Evan Bergman

Production Manager/Resident Set Designer- Jessica Parks

Marketing and Public Relations Director- Sunjay Venkatraman

Literary Manager- Joel Stone

Resident Lighting Designer- Jill Nagle

Resident Costume Designer- Patricia E. Doherty

Resident Sound Designer- Nick Simone

Technical Director- Brian P. Snyder

Financial Director- Dee Cantalice

Master Electrician- James Lockhart

House Manager- Karen Wharmby

Visual Arts Coordinator- Mare Akana

Photography & Digital Imaging Curator- Andrea Phox

Facilities Manager- Christopher Anthony

Artistic Associate- Janey Huber

Artistic Associate- Lindy Regan

Artistic Associate- Gail Winar

 


Who's Who


Artistic Team/Production Staff

Kristin Pfeifer*

Production Stage Manager
Rachael Malloy

Assistant Stage Manager
Jill Nagle

Lighting Designer
Janey Huber

Lighting Assistant
James Lockhart

Master Electrician
Patricia Doherty

Costume Designer
Nick Simone

Sound Design
Jessica Parks

Scenic Designer/Props Designer
Brian Snyder

Technical Director
Donna Stiles

Production Assistant
John Pietrowski

Covid Compliance Officer
Barbara Berman

Pandemic Advisor
Gail Winar

Covid Safety Team
Janey Huber

Covid Safety Team
Mitch Berman

Covid Safety Team

Schedule

Saturday, August 28 at 2:00pm and 5:00pm

"Two Leopards Climbing a Fire Escape" by Alexis Kozak, directed by SuzAnne Barabas, assistant director Janey Huber, and starring Michael Irvin Pollard and Jenny Vallancourt

"Foreigner in My Home" by Sheila Rinear, directed by Joel Stone and starring Mary Francina Golden and Wendy Peace

"What Are You Running From" by Matthew McShane, directed by Lindy Regan, starring Darin F. Earl, II, David Farrington, Joelle Zazz

 

Sunday, August 29 at 2:00pm and 5:00pm

"Horoscope" by Laura Ekstrand, directed by SuzAnne Barabas, assistant director Janey Huber, and starring Evander Duck, Jr.,  Andrea Gallo, Christina Liang

"Escape" by Lia Romeo, directed by Gail Winar and starring Benjamin Satchel and Desiree Pinol

"Love Story in 3 Phases" by Emily Adler, directed by Joel Stone and starring Deonté Griffin-Quick and Jennifer Terrell

Meet the Company


Evander Duck Jr.*

Evander Duck, Jr. (Dr. Holmes / "Horoscope") some theatre favorites are Apostasy New Jersey Repertory Company, Director Suzanne Barabas; Blues for Mister Charlie, Marjorie Dean Theatre, Director Brad Malow; Fences, American Stage Theatre, Director Timothy Douglas; The Food Was Terrible & The Things That Were There - both at The Bushwick Starr, directors Mary Beth Easley and Lee Sunday Evans, respectively; The Exonerated, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Director Dave Mowers; As You Like It, Mint Theatre, Director Jessie Ontiveros. Film/Recurring TV - presently recurring on The Godfather of Harlem, Epix;  recurred, Orange is the New Black, Netflix; recurred Blue Bloods, CBS; Paint, feature film with Owen Wilson, to be released 2022. It is my pleasure and good fortune to return to NJREP!

Darin F. Earl II

Darin F. Earl II (ONE / "What Are You Running From") is a Jersey-based artist happy to create with the NJ Rep team. Previous credits: Orlando in As You Like It (TSquared Productions); Happy Loman in Death of a Salesman (Somerset Valley Players); and Puck/Philostrate in A Midsummer Night's Dream along with Friar Laurence/Lord Montague/Peter in Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.) Darin is affiliated with theatre organizations such as The New Jersey PlayLab, The New Jersey Creative Arts Collaborative, Vivid Stage, and The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. To keep up with Darin's journey, follow @officialdarinearl on Facebook & Instagram. Thank you for supporting the arts, the artists, and the hearts of those that matter dearest to you. Sending you love & light.

David Farrington

David M. Farrington (TWO / "What Are You Running From") After attending public schools for the performing arts, David earned an AA in Theatre Performance from The Florida College before receiving his BFA in Acting at Kean University.  Since moving to NYC, David has been working primarily in local and regional theatre with some short trips into the world of film and television.  NY Theater credits include originating roles in new works such as Convicted, Anne Frank in the Gaza Strip (10 Planet Connections Theater Festivity Nominations), I wrote on ur wall and now i regret it, Wepa!, Advance Guard and most recently before the pandemic, making his Off-Broadway debut in The Exes. David has also appeared in such established works as The Shadowbox and How I Learned to Drive. Regional Theater credits include roles in The Winter’s Tale, Oleanna, Grace, Footlight Frenzy, The Importance of Being Earnest and Of Mice and Men among others. Film/Television: "What If?," "Daddyhunt: The Serial," "Naz & Maalik" (GLAAD Media Award nomination), "The Suit" (Best Actor nomination, Austin Revolution Film Festival), “[escape].” www.davidmfarrington.com

Andrea Gallo*

Andrea Gallo (Mrs.Weil / "Horoscope") New York: Kurt Vonnegut’s Mother Night; The Respectful Prostitute; Ring Round the Moon; Hidden Voices (w/Terrence Mann); world premieres of Strings, The Velvet Oratorio, Frankie, Coney, and The Chaos Theories. Regional: The Niceties, Chester Theatre Company; The Last Romance and Private Lives, Riverside Theatre; Third, TheaterWorks Hartford; Good People, St. Louis Rep;  Over the River and Through the Woods, Florida Rep; The Last Romance and The Language Archive, Public Theatre; Mercy and the Firefly, Luna Stage; Murderers, Hudson Stage; A View From The Bridge, Nevada Rep; Memoirs of a Forgotten Man, Evie’s Waltz, Tilt Angel, tempOdyssey, and two solo shows, Broomstick and Donna Orbits the Moon, NJ Rep; What Every Woman Knows, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Noises Off, Lettice and Lovage, I’m Not Rappaport, Horse Cave Theatre. TV/Film: Law and Order: SVU, Sober, On Settling Down, Look on the Bright Side, Brooklyn Battery, The Query, Chasing Taste, The Date and Across Dot Ave.  Earphones Award winner for audiobook narration. BA, Tufts University; MFA, Temple University. Fulbright Recipient (Paris, France).

Mary Francina Golden*

Mary Francina Golden (Constance McNamara / "Foreigner in My Home") (AEA; SAG/AFTRA) is happy to be back working at NJ Rep. During our COVID year of 2020, she appeared in many Zoom productions. She has appeared in many Shakespeare productions in NYC, London, Venice, and Edinburgh. Ms. Golden has worked with Stuart Vaughan, Brian Murray, Kim Hunter, Amy Wright, and Adrian Hall. She has an MFA from Catholic U, and has trained with Austin Pendleton, George Morfogen, Cecily Berry, John Barton, and Kristin Linklater. She is a member of N.J. Rep, and Oasis Theatre Co. Ms. Golden wishes everyone reading this to stay safe.

Christina Liang*

Christina (Dulcy / "Horoscope") is thrilled to be back at NJ Rep for the Fire Escape Play Program, especially after a long absence from the stage due to the pandemic.  Her other credits include Pride and Prejudice (Triad Stage), Three Musketeers 1941 (Project Y Theatre), Quack (Alley Theatre), Issei, He Say (NJ Rep), In The Line (Project Y Theatre), A Christmas Carol (ACT), Ah, Wilderness (ACT), Love and Information (ACT). TV credits include The Bite and FBI: Most Wanted. MFA in acting from A.C.T. and BA in Individualized Studies from N.Y.U.

Wendy Peace*

Wendy Peace (Rose de Witt / Sharon McNamara / "Foreigner in My Home") is a long time NJ Rep Company Member, having appeared in numerous main stage productions, Theatre Bruts and readings. She was Program Director for NJ Rep's award-winning Young Playwrights Project. Favorite roles here include Melinda in Happy, Sara in Lucky Me (both by Robert Caisley), and Alice in Alan Brody's Housewives of Mannheim, all directed by SuzAnne Barabas. Classical favorites: Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Elmire (Tartuffe) and Claudius (Hamlet). Performed Robin Rice’s one-woman show Listen! The River in NYC, Edinburgh and London. Grateful for NJ Rep and the Covid vaccine so we can all be here together again. Twitter/Instagram @peacewendypeace

Desiree Pinol

Desiree Pinol (Miranda / "Escape") is thrilled to be working with NJ Rep again. Previous credits with the company include Wolf at the Door and It’s the End of the World as We Know It (Theatre Brut). Most recently she participated in an outdoor theatre experience entitled Lives of the New Kind of Saints (INTAR theatre). She received a BFA in acting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Michael Irvin Pollard*

Michael (Max / "Two Leopards Climbing a Fire Escape") has appeared in numerous NJ Rep productions and readings and is pleased to help usher in the return of live performance.  Other regional credits include performances at Centenary Stage Co., Forestburgh Playhouse, Seven Angels Theatre, The Theater Project, The Bickford Theatre, the Adirondack Theatre Festival, Writer’s Theatre of NJ, the Depot Theatre, the Pioneer Valley Summer Theatre, George Street Playhouse and the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park where he was a member of the professional actor training program.  In New York city Michael performed most recently with Pan Asian Rep and is best known for his work in improvisation and sketch comedy, with performances in various venues including the West Bank Café, the West Side Arts Center, the Avalon Theatre and the Pearl Theatre.

Deonté Griffin-Quick

Deonté Griffin-Quick (John / "Love Story in 3 Phases") Hailing from Linden, New Jersey Griffin-Quick is a graduate of Kean University's Theatre Conservatory and is a candidate for membership of the Actor's Equity Association. As a performer, Deonte has worked at professional theatres and venues including The Prudential Center, Enlow Recital Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Apollo Theater, McCarter Theatre Center, Writer's Theatre of New Jersey, Premiere Stages, Luna Stage Company, and New Jersey Repertory Company. Earlier in 2021, he originated the role of Jesse Owens in the world premiere of Darrah Cloud's Turning at Centenary Stage Company. Instagram: @deontegq, www.deontegq.com

Benjamin Satchel

Benjamin Satchel (Sam / "Escape") is grateful to be returning to NJ Rep, since performing in the World Premiere of Sandy Rustin’s Struck; D.W. Gregory’s Memoirs of a Forgotten Man; several Theatre Brut festivals, and numerous staged readings for the company. Ben received his training from NYU Tisch and the Stella Adler Studio.

Jennifer Terrell*

Jennifer Terrell (Amelia / "Love Story in 3 Phases") is very happy to return to NJ Rep for the Fire Escape Plays. She previously appeared in Would You Like a Tissue, Doodle-Lee-Do, Deliver Us, and Hillbilly Jug Handled Turn.  Jennifer works regionally and in NYC in theatre and commercials and is grateful to be back doing live theatre after this year of isolation.

Jenny Vallancourt*

Jenny (Amelia / "Two Leopards Climbing a Fire Escape") is happy to be back (in-person!) at NJ Rep! Previous NJ Rep credits include: The Realization of Emily Linder, Release Point, Bookends, and October 1962, as well as many readings and Theatre Brut. She holds an MFA in Acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Asolo Rep credits include: Gloria (Ani/Sasha/Callie), The Crucible (Mercy Lewis), and The Tempest (Miranda).

Joelle Zazz

Joelle Zazz (she/her) (THREE / "What Are You Running From") is a professional actor, director and teaching artist. Previously, and most recently, she has worked with NJ Rep (on the original table read of this show), The Mile Square Theatre, Premiere Stages, the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Dreamcatcher Rep (now Vivid Stage), Speranza Theatre Company, and more. Joellezazz.com

Directors

Joel Stone (Director, “Foreigner in My Home” / “Love Story in 3 Phases”) has been the literary manager for New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch, New Jersey for over seven years.  In 1998, his play Horrors of Doctor Moreau (published by Samuel French) was NJ Rep’s first script-in-hand reading.  For decades, he specialized in writing short plays that were featured in our Theatre Brut festivals of short plays.  In 2017, he was commissioned to write a new play by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).  In January, 2018, NJ Rep debuted that work, The Calling, his first full-length play in 44 years.  His plays Doodle-Lee Doo and The Hot Roll were published in collections of short plays by Smith & Kraus Publishers. Since 2014, Joel has been an adjunct professor of playwriting for Monmouth University’s English Department; he has also taught courses in acting, improvisation, and theatre appreciation for Monmouth’s Theatre Department.  He recently completed a new play, For the Life of Me.

 

Gail Winar (Director, “Escape”) Gail is an Artistic Associate at NJ Rep, and has directed, coordinated and/or performed in numerous productions and readings for the company. Gail has also produced, directed, and/or performed in award-winning productions at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for seven seasons. In addition to her university teaching, Gail is also a Teaching Artist at the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City.

 

Lindy Regan (Director, “What Are You Running From?”) has been a devoted member of NJ Rep since the summer of 1998, in a multitude of capacities now under the space-saving title Artistic Associate. Writer/editor; actor; spoken word producer/director with a disturbingly long resume and a frequently ridiculed yet remarkably useful degree in Semiotics. Directing credits include staged readings of Spanish playwright Paloma Pedrero’s Darwin’s Tortoise; In the Other Room (for which her director’s notes appear in the first English edition); and the Parting Gestures trilogy; as well as the first English-language performance of Prague by Javier de Dios Lopez. Also: Mold; Hawkman and Tonto; Dirty Pictures; Night Blooms; Juxtaposition; Electra Orleans, et al; and scores of audio books.


SuzAnne Barabas (Director,Two Leopards Climbing a Fire Escape” / “Horoscope”) has been the Artistic Director at NJ Rep for the past 23 years, where her directing credits include Find Me a Voice, North Fork (premiere), Immortal Interlude (premiere), Octet (premiere), Till Morning Comes (premiere), Maggie Rose, Getting in Touch With My Inner B*tch (premiere), The Adjustment, 10% of Molly Snyder, Klonsky & Schwartz (premiere), Apostasy (premiere), Women Who Steal, Apple, The Housewives of Mannheim (premiere), Evie's Waltz, Dead Ringer (premiere), Yankee Tavern (NNPN premiere), Puma (premiere), Night Train (premiere), Just In Time: The Judy Holliday Story, Bakersfield Mist, Annapurna, Happy, Broomstick (premiere), Lucky Me (premiere), Swimming at the Ritz (U.S. premiere), The Realization of Emily Linder (premiere), Wild Horses (NNPN premiere). SuzAnne directed productions of The Housewives of Mannheim at 59E59 Theater (NYC), Ensemble Theater of Santa Barbara (CA), and Phoenix Theater (Indianapolis). In addition, she directed regional productions of Ibsen's A Doll's House, The Fantasticks, The Roar of the Greasepaint the Smell of the Crowd, Cabaret, Shaw's Heartbreak House, A.R. Gurney's The Perfect Party, Marsha Norman's 'Night Mother, Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story, Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy, Mark Dunn's Belles, Lee Blessing's Down the Road among others. She is a member of Actors Equity Association, BMI, the Dramatists Guild, SDC, and LPTW.

 

Janey Huber (Assistant Director, Artistic Associate, Assistant Lighting Designer) Janey was previously the Managing Director at NJ Rep for five years before retiring as a volunteer in her current regular roles.  Additional credits are Assistant Director in several Main Stage productions, Theatre Bruts, & this Festival; and as an Administrative Liaison with outside agencies for the festivals.

Actors Equity

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association

ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA) founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 Actors and Stage Managers. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts union. ActorsEquity.org. NJ Rep is proud to work with AEA.

Thank You

We thank the following for their support: The Shubert Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, SBA Shuttered Venues Program, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, New Jersey CRF, NJEDA, JENNJOE Fund, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, OceanFirst Foundation, Princeton Area Community Foundation, Manasquan Bank, Community Foundation of New Jersey, Monmouth County CARES, Investors Bank Foundation, Jewish Communal Fund, Darien Family Fund, Vasi Laurence, Linda Mitchell, Caroline Huber, and all our patrons, year-round subscribers, and new audience members. We are extremely grateful for all your support during these trying times.

Board of Trustees

NEW JERSEY REPERTORY COMPANY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 

Tanis Deitch, President | Linda Standley, Vice President |

Nancy Stek, Secretary | Karen Wharmby, Treasurer

Pat Addiss, Mare Akana, Gabor Barabas, SuzAnne Barabas, Evan Bergman, Steven Darien, Carl Hoffman, Vasi Laurence, Marilyn Pearlman, Marianne Pedersen, Kim Puvalowski, Lauren Schwarz