Cast & Crew

MRS. BOB CRATCHIT'S WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE

by Christopher Durang

Directed by Peter Hardy

Cast:  Alex Van, Johanna Linden, Jeffrey Zwartjes, Fracena Byrd, Bethany Anne Lind, Topher Payne, Sarah Falkenburg, Robert Wayne, Katie Merritt, Bobby Labartino, Kelly Young, Jenna Edmunds  

FIX ME SO I CAN STAND

by Jean Sterrett

Directed by Dina Shadwell

Cast:  Spencer Stephens, Belinda D'Pree, Mark Russ, Patrick McColery, Kim Salome  

NIGHT TRAVELS 

by Charlotte Fleck, Karen Wurl, Ellen McQueen and Company Directed by Ellen McQueen

Cast:  Laurie Beasley, Kristin Wright, Mary Ruth Ralston, Ed Link, Spencer Stephens

WHO’S WHO IN THE 2007 POWER PLAYS FESTIVAL

LAURIE BEASLEY (Night Travels Ensemble) has appeared in more Essential productions than any other actor to date, previously seen in "Charm School", "Cruel Disclosures", "A Child Shall Lead", "Lubricant", and "Cinders".

JENNIFER BROWN (Stage Manager, Mrs. Bob) comes back to the Essential after stage managing last year’s production of The Book of Liz and serving as a Production Assistant on Fuddy Meers in 2003.

FRACENA BYRD (Ghost, Mrs. Bob) is very excited to work with the Essential Theatre for the first time. Some of her professional credits include The Most Massive Woman Wins, Barbie's Dream, and Smokey Joe's Cafe. Fracena has also worked with Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre Program and teaches acting in Tyrone, GA at Epiphani Management Inc.

BELINDA D’PREE (Ginny, Fix me) is a Georgia native and has been acting in theatre for as long as she can remember. She has recently appeared in several film projects.

JENNA EDMONDS (Young Scrooge, etc., Mrs. Bob) has worked on television on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, as well as Onstage Atlanta, which includes her award-winning role as Little Sally in Urinetown.

SARAH FALKENBURG (Little Nell, etc. Mrs. Bob) is excited to be part of the Festival for a third time.  Acting credits include Miss MacBeth, Geek Love, Old Times, Dr. Faustus, Clive Barker’s History of the Devil, Betty’s Summer Vacation and educational tours with Kaiser & Academy Theater.  Thank you Toby for all your support!

CHARLOTTE FLECK (Playwright, “Night Travel” from Night Travels) is a New York-based poet and dialect coach.  Her play A Child Shall Lead was produced by Essential in 1997.

JUDE FUTRAL (Stage Manager, Fix Me)stage manages plays and musicals, and writes and edits documentation for software programs. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and daughter.

HARLEY GOULD (Festival Technical Director) designs lights, hangs lights, directs lighting for video, designs sets, builds sets, paints sets, loads the damn things in, loads them out, works out all kinds of theatrical special effects. He also creates art, designs online graphics and web pages, and sometimes acts (if you can call it that) and writes short stories.

GREG HANTHORN, Jr.  (Festival Lighting Designer) did the lighting design for the 2006 Power Plays Festival.

PETER HARDY (Director, Mrs. Bob) is Founding Artistic Director of the Essential Theatre, as well as an actor and multiple-award-winning playwright.  For many years he directed the outdoor drama Unto These Hills and he recently appeared onstage in Theatre In the Square’s All the King’s Men.  Next up after the Festival, acting with Theatrical Outfit in To Kill A Mockingbird.

JERRY HARLOW (Stage Manager, Night Travels) thanks Peter for bringing him back to the Essential and all the Night Travelers for the fabulous experience. Much love to Katy and the girls. 

SONNY KNOX (Festival Scenic Designer) was the scenic designer and technical director for the 2006 Power Plays Festival.

BOBBY LABARTINO (Fezziwig, etc. Mrs. Bob) is a graduate of The University of South Carolina-Aiken and has performed with the outdoor drama Unto These Hills and toured with Theatre IV based out of Richmond VA.  Bobby was last seen in the Regional Premiere of The Violet Hour at 7 Stages.  Thanks to his Parents for their undying support, and his girlfriend Stephanie for putting up with him.  Love you Kim

BETHANY ANNE LIND (Tiny Tim, Mrs. Bob) recently finished Metamorphoses with Georgia Shakespeare.  Other credits include North Carolina Shakespeare, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Theatre in the Square, Cape Fear Regional and Stage Door Players.

JOHANNA LINDEN (Mrs. Bob Cratchit, Mrs. Bob) is happy to be back with Essential Theatre after appearing in Miss Macbeth in 2005. Her stage work includes roles with Actor’s Express, Theatre Gael, Soul-Stice Repertory, and the Georgia Shakespeare Festival.

EDWIN LINK (Night Travels Ensemble) is a graduate of Radford University in 2003.  Recent credits include 1940's Radio Hour, Then They Came for Me, Charley's Aunt, Tape, Laramie Project, and his favorite; Proof.  Love to Elizabeth and all his gals.

TRISTAN LUDDEN (Festival Production Manager) is back for a third year with the Essential, after serving as Production Manager for last year's festival and having stage managed productions of Miss Macbeth and Charm School.  Tristan works as a freelancer in the Atlanta area.

KATHY MANNING (Festival Props Master) is delighted to be working with Essential Theatre for what she hopes will be the first of many opportunities.  She has worked as an actress, stage manager, costumer and props master for several theatres in the Atlanta area.

ELLEN McQUEEN (Director, Night Travels and Playwright, “Help” from Night Travels) has directed Charm School and A Lovely Undertow for the Essential, and has also performed with many Atlanta area theatres, most recently Cabaret at the Shakespeare Tavern, Under the Rainbow at Georgia Ensemble and Spring’s Awakening with Theatre Emory.

PATRICK McCOLERY (Dozier, Fix Me) has worked with The Alliance Theatre, 7 Stages, Horizon Theatre, the Center for Puppetry Arts, Synchronicity Performance Group, and Habima Theatre.  He was in the Essential’s production of Book of Days.

KATIE MERRITT (The Nice Mrs. Bob Cratchit, etc., Mrs.  Bob).  You may not have seen Katie for the last two years at the Center for Puppetry Arts, but she was recently visible at 7 Stages, Theatre in the Square, and ART Station. Thanks to all!

TOPHER PAYNE (George Bailey, etc., Mrs. Bob) has appeared with Essential in The Book of Liz and Parts They Call Deep.  Last seen as Mark in Process/Whole World’s Southern Baptist Sissies, a role he’ll be returning to this September.  He chronicles his adventures in the weekly column “Maybe It’s Just Me” in David Magazine.  Find out more at www.topherpayne.com!  (Love to Tommyjunior)

MARY RUTH RALSTON (Night Travels Ensemble) is a recent graduate of Brenau University.  Credits include Macbeth, Love's Labour's Lost, and Cakewalk. Love always to Brian and la familia.

MARK RUSS (Buddy, Fix Me) as appeared in The Plough & the Stars (Theatre Gael), The Attala County Garden Club (Onstage Atlanta), Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Synchronicity), and Wrong Turn At Lungfish (Stage Door Players).

KIM SALOME(Miss Myrtle, Fix Me) has been on the Atlanta scene for almost 15 years. She was most recently seen as Barbara in Social Security and Hannah Pitt/Ethel Rosenberg in Angels In America.  Many thanks to you, the audience, for supporting local theatre.

DINA SHADWELL (Director, Fix Me) most recently directed Oklahoma! for adults with developmental disabilities with Habima Theatre, where she has worked for seven seasons.  She serves as Assistant Director of Arts & Entertainment at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.

SPENCER G. STEPHENS (Night Travels Ensemble and Man, Fix Me) performed in the 2006 Essential production of  Charm School.  Next up, Ghastly Dreadfuls at the Center for Puppetry Arts in October.

ALEX VAN (Scrooge, Mrs. Bob) has previously appeared with Essential in Cruel Disclosures, Fuddy Meers, and last year’s Book of Liz.  Most recently he was seen in The Inspector General at Push-Push.  Coming up he’ll be doing To Kill a Mockingbird at Theatrical Outfit.  

ROBERT WAYNE (Marley, etc., Mrs. Bob) is delighted to make his Essential Theater debut. Christmas in July, who knew!  Recent shows include The Odd Couple, Urinetown, and Secret Garden.

KRISTIN WRIGHT (Night Travels Ensemble) is a graduate of UGA and the Actor's Express intern program.  Credits include Adoration, Kimberly Akimbo (U/S), Fefu and Her Friends, and Fifth of July.  Tons of love to my family.

KAREN WURL (Playwright, “Movies” from Night Travels) had her play Only Children produced in the first Essential Festival in 1999.  In 2005 her play Miss Macbeth won the Essential Theatre Playwriting Award and she was named Best Local Playwright by Creative Loafing.

KELLY YOUNG (Young Marley, etc. Mrs. Bob) migrated south to attend and graduate from Armstrong Atlantic State University with a BA in Theatre; spent some time interning at Actor's Express, teaching children, and writing/acting in the play, Family Photos, and the screenplay, Void.

JEFFREY C. ZWARTJES (Bob Cratchit, Mrs. Bob) majored in Illustration at SCAD and now has a varied life of acting, puppetry, and cartooning.  He appeared in the Essential’s production of Betty’s Summer Vacation.  All the Love to Amy.

SPECIAL THANKS

Carrie Holtzman and Theatre Emory, Horizon Theatre, Onstage Atlanta, Lisa Berkley and the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Stage Door Players, Ashley McQueen, Ida Glen McQueen, Dana Petrecca, Georgia Reproductive Specialists, Spin Creative Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Theatre In the Square, The Georgia Moratorium Project, St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church, the Shaw Firm, Meriwether Design Group, Theatre On Main, Push-Push Theater, The League of Extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen, Heidi Blackwell, Mack Headrick, Amario Andre Academy, Peggy Hendrix, Laura Moye, Frank D'Andrea, Bill and Martha Nell Hardy