PCS Blog
Oklahoma!‘s Cast and Creative Team
Posted by Kinsley Suer | 07 September 2011 | Comments (0)
Cast:
Curly...................................................................Rodney Hicks*
Aunt Eller.............................................................Joy Lynn Matthews-Jacobs*
Laurey..................................................................Brianna Horne*
Ike Skidmore..........................................................Troy Valjean Rucker*
Fred/Dream Curly/Ensemble...................................Don Kenneth Mason*
Slim/Ensemble.......................................................Timothy Ware*
Will Parker............................................................Jarran Muse*
Jud Fry.................................................................Justin Lee Miller*
Ado Annie Carnes...................................................Marisha Wallace*
Ali Hakim/Fight Captain.........................................Jonathan Raviv*
Gertie Cummings/Ensemble/Dance Captain..............Kelcy Griffin*
Ellen/Ensemble.......................................................Sheila Jones*
Andrew Carnes.......................................................Berwick Haynes*
Cord Elam/Ensemble................................................Tyrone Roberson*
Mike/Ensemble........................................................Gregory J. Hanks*
Dream Laurey/Ensemble..........................................Kemba Anika Shannon*
Virginia/Ensemble...................................................Sumayya Ali*
Ilene/Can Can Girl/Ensemble....................................Bianca Burgess*
Vivian/Ensemble.....................................................Marlene Villafane*
Creative Team:
Director..................................................................Chris Coleman
Scenic Designer.......................................................William Bloodgood
Lighting Designer....................................................Ann Wrightson
Costume Designer....................................................Jeff Cone
Sound Designer.......................................................Casi Pacilio
Musical Director......................................................Rick Lewis
Choreographer........................................................Joel Ferrell
Fight Director.........................................................John Armour
Dialect Coach..........................................................Mary McDonald-Lewis
Stage Manager........................................................Mark Tynan*
Assistant Stage Manager..........................................Emily N. Wells*
Production Assistant................................................Kailyn McCord
Orchestra:
Conductor...............................................................Rick Lewis
Piano......................................................................Tyler Evans
Keyboards...............................................................Eric Little
Bass........................................................................Sean Vinson
Percussion...............................................................Ben Wasson
Violin......................................................................Mary Rowell
Cello........................................................................Elizabeth Byrd
Trumpet..................................................................Clark Rust
Reeds.......................................................................Dave Milne
Reeds.......................................................................Ward Baxter
Reeds........................................................................Eryn Vercammen
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
Cast Biographies:
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Sumayya Ali (Virginia/Ensemble) Sumayya Ali is incredibly grateful and excited to be a part of this ground breaking production of Oklahoma! This versatile soprano has been successful in opera, musical theater, pop and dance. Most recently Ms. Ali has performed in City Center's Lost in the Stars, The Kennedy Center's Master Class, and the revival of Ragtime on Broadway. She has played various roles in operas throughout the America and Europe and was in the top 100 of the sixth season of American Idol. She danced as a company member and featured soloist with Step Afrika for two years. Sumayya received a BA from Spelman College as well as a Master's in music from The New England Conservatory. She would like to dedicate this performance to her mother and new baby, Hasibas Nabila and Zahara.
Bianca Burgess (Ilene/Can Can Girl/Ensemble) Bianca is super excited to join the cast of Oklahoma! at PCS! Bianca is a B.F.A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College in NYC under the direction of Katie Langan. Former member of Washington Reflections Dance Company. Tours: 1st National Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and 42nd Street in Asia. The Spirit of Kwanzaa at the Kennedy Center. Drastic Cuts choreographed by Donald Byrd at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington. Thank you God for the ability and talents to perform. Love to my fiance Stephen and my awesome family for their continual support
Kelcy Griffin (Gertie Cummings/Ensemble/Dance Captain) Kelcy is thrilled to be making her PCS debut! A proud Chicago native, Kelcy was most recently seen in the National Tour of Dreamgirls (Michelle U/S). She is also a graduate of the University of Michigan. Some Regional credits include Deena Jones in Dreamgirls (Cohoes Music Hall), Pilar in Legally Blonde (Gateway Playhouse), The Producers, Miss Saigon (Music Theatre of Wichita) and Aida (ACCC). NYC Readings: Cool Papa's Party (feat Wayne Brady). Kelcy would like to thank her family first and always for their continued support. She is so incredibly blessed! So much thanks and love to Nicholas, Dustin and Judy Boals, INC. Always believe!!
Gregory J. Hanks (Mike/Ensemble) Gregory J. Hanks is thrilled to be appearing in the Portland Center Stage production of Oklahoma!. Regional credits include: Hairspray (Arkansas Repertory Theatre and Phoenix Theatre), Dreamgirls (Cohoes Music Hall), Oklahoma!, The Producers, Chicago, All Shook Up, The Will Rogers Follies (Surflight Theatre), The Full Monty and Crazy for You (Alexander Kasser Theatre). Gregory holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Last but not least, he thanks his amazingly supportive family and friends. Jeremiah 17:7
Berwick Haynes (Andrew Carnes) Berwick Haynes is overjoyed to be making his Portland Center Stage debut. Most recently from the San Francisco Bay Area, he was last seen in Marin Theatre Company's production of Woody Guthrie's American Song (Man). He studied theatre at both San Francisco and Hayward State Universities. Some of his regional credits include Mitch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (San Jose Repertory Theatre), Ken in Ain't Misbehavin' (Artpark & Company), Carbon in Cyrano de Bergerac (Tennessee Repertory Theatre), Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank (Stage One of Louisville), Horse in The Full Monty (Drury Lane Water Tower), Timothy in The Cay (California Theatre Center, where he originated the role), and Anyone Can Whistle directed by Lonny Price with Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald (Ravina Festival). To Lonnie, Kim and Steph he sends undying love and gratitude. And to all, L'Chaim!
Rodney Hicks (Curly) Rodney Hicks is beyond thrilled to have this extraordinary opportunity and to be working at Portland Center Stage on this iconic show. Broadway: Clarence Norris in The Scottsboro Boys, Benny in RENT (Closing Cast/DVD), Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar, Original Cast of RENT (Original Cast Recording); Off-Broadway: The Scottsboro Boys (Original Cast Recording), The Nightshade Family, Jacques Brel (Original Revival Cast/Cast Recording), Dorian Gray, Irrationals, Beautiful, From My Hometown (Audelco Nomination Leading Actor in a Musical), RENT (Obie Award), Lotto (Audelco Award Supporting Actor in a Play), Bring in the Morning; Regional: White Noise (Tyler), Miss Saigon (John), Noah’s Great Rainbow (Murigande), King Lear (Edmund), The 60’s Project (Roy), Ain’t Misbehavin’, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Valentine), Patron St. of Peanuts (George W. Carver), Lobby Hero (William), Hair (Hud), Golden Boy (Joe Bonaparte), Letters from ‘Nam (Marion); TV: Hope & Faith (Guest Star), Law & Order: C.I. (Guest Star), Student Affairs (Series Regular), NYPD Blue (Guest Star)
Brianna Horne (Laurey) Brianna, a South Jersey native, is a recent Wagner College graduate with a B.A. in Theatre Performance. Regional: The Threepenny Opera (Arden Theatre), Johnny Baseball and Best of Both Worlds (American Repertory Theatre), All Shook Up (Ogunquit Playhouse); Once On This Island (Hangar Theatre), AIDA (TRIArts Sharon Playhouse), In Sun and Snow (Walnut Street Theatre). Thanks to the team at Cathy Parker Management. www.briannahorne.net
Sheila Jones (Ellen /Ensemble) Back in high school, Sheila Jones swore she’d never do Oklahoma! again and her teacher said, “Never say never." Truer words were never spoken. Now, she is beyond thrilled to be making her PCS debut in Oklahoma!. She attended Florida State University and received a BFA in Music Theatre then left for Hong Kong to do Festival of the Lion King (Nala). She recently made her New York City debut in a one act called It’s Gonna Work Out Fine. Favorite credits include Once on This Island (Ti Moune), Cats (Demeter), Ragtime (Sarah), and Hair (Ensemble). She would like to thank the Lord, family, and friends for being her rock! YAY!
Don Kenneth Mason (Fred/Dream Curly/Ensemble) Don Kenneth Mason is delighted to make his Portland Center Stage debut. Previously theater roles include: Guys and Dolls (Rusty Charlie), Camelot (Sir Sagramore), Kiss Me Kate (Paul), Once on This Island (Papa Ge u/s), 42nd Street (Andy u/s). Don has also appeared at Radio City Musical Hall in Christmas Across America and at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Proud (new!) member of Actors’ Equity.
Joy Lynn Matthews-Jacobs (Aunt Eller) Oh so happy to be here in beautiful Portland! Most recently spreadin' rhythm round in Ain't Misbehavin' and before that featured in Kurt Weil’s Lost in the Stars for the Encores series at New York City Center. Broadway: The Music Man, Marie Christine. First National Tours: Ragtime, Show Boat. Off Broadway: Created the role of Power Woman in Menopause the Musical; Manhattan Theater Club’sOur Leading Lady, Created the role of Delia inAsylum-The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln. Regional:Bloody Mary in South Pacific, Sylvia in All Shook Up, Wanda in Crowns, Reno Sweeney inAnything Goes, Lady Thiang in The King & I, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, to name a very few. Opera: Carmen. Film: Menace II Society. Soloist with symphonies great and small all across the country.
Justin Lee Miller (Jud Fry) Justin is thrilled to be making his Portland Center Stage debut in Oklahoma! He recently finished long runs in both the National Tour and Las Vegas companies of The Phantom of the Opera. This spring he played Jake in Porgy and Bess at Atlanta Opera. He has performed in a dozen productions of Porgy and Bess across Europe and North America. Justin has appeared in various productions with Los Angeles Opera, Lyric Opera Chicago, Opera-Comique Paris, the Bard Music Festival, Sarasota Symphony, Nashville Symphony, New York City Center Encores!, North Shore Music Theater, Weston Playhouse, Fulton Opera House, and the Paper Mill Playhouse. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Musical Theater department, and a proud member of both Actors Equity and AGMA, the trade unions of professional stage artists.
Jarran Muse (Will Parker) Jarran is grateful to be a part of this company of Oklahoma!, and thrilled to make his debut at Portland Center Stage. Born in New Jersey, he has always had a fascination with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, so he is even more excited to get out and explore the Oregon Trails! Broadway/NYC: Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Jimmy), Dreamgirls (Frank); National/International Tours: Dreamgirls (Curtis & CC u/s), Hairspray (Seaweed u/s), 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor); Regional: My One and Only, 25th Annual...Spelling Bee, Joseph...Dreamcoat, Crazy For You, The Wiz, The Wild Party. Cruise Ships: Norwegian Cruise Line (Singer/Dancer). Thanks to God for this blessing, to Chris for the opportunity, to KSR for the appointment, and to my family for their continued support and LOVE!" Proud AEA member. Twitter @jarranmuse
Jonathan Raviv (Ali Hakim/Fight Captain) This is Jonathan’s Portland Center Stage debut. Recent credits include Tony Kushner’s Homebody/Kabul at the Curious Theater and Mary Zimmerman’s Arabian Nights at Berkeley Rep. Regional credits: Inana and Eelwax Jesus at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, The Light in the Piazza at Arena Stage, Weston Playhouse and The Goodman Theater; The Chosen at Writers’ Theatre; Lady Madeline at Steppenwolf Theatre; Brigadoon at The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire; Fiddler on the Roof at Drury Lane Oakbrook; Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party at The Lakeshore Theatre. New York acting credits: The Persians at the APAP Conference; A Diner, A Shiner at American Globe and Hello My Name Is... at Theatre Row. Jonathan would like to thank Chris and the rest of the creative team for this opportunity. He would also like to thank his family for their love and support.
Tyrone Roberson (Cord Elam/Ensemble) Tyrone Roberson is a versatile artist who has participated in wide array of idioms including opera, musical theater, concerts, recordings and film. In 2002, Tyrone performed Porgy & Bess in a historic “Live from Lincoln Center” broadcast with the New York City Opera. He also sang the role of Jake with the Living Arts World Tour of Porgy and Bess. In 2007, Tyrone returned to New York City Opera to perform their new production of Margaret Garner. Tyrone has been in various musical theater productions such as: Le Hot Blu, Scrooge: The Musical, and Blues in the Subway. Tyrone has toured extensively throughout Europe and South America performing Negro Spirituals, jazz and gospel music. Tyrone recently gave presentations of Negro Spirituals at College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA and Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA. Tyrone is currently working on his first screenplay and series of musicals. Tyrone feels blessed to be a part of Portland Center Stage's ground-breaking Oklahoma!
Troy Valjean Rucker (Ike Skidmore) Select NY/Regional: Zanna, Don’t!; Elegies for Angels…; 365 Days/365 Plays; Show Boat; Ragtime; South Pacific; Angels In America (PAGE Award Nomination); L’Histoire du Soldat; Babes In Toyland. National/European Tours: Jesus Christ Superstar; International Symphony Orchestra. Opera/Concerts: New York City Opera; Carnegie Hall; Lincoln Center; Kennedy Center; Aretha Franklin with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. TV/Commercials: Preston on “Drama Queenz” (web series), History Channel, NBC, UPN, Ford Motor Company. www.TroyValjeanRucker.com
Kemba Anika Shannon (Dream Laurey/Ensemble) Kemba is a native of Baltimore and began dancing at the age of five. Theater credits include: The Lion King (Los Angeles), The Color Purple (Broadway), Cirque du Soliel (Zummanity), AIDA and FAME: The Musical (European Tour). Back-up dance credits include: Madonna (Drowned World Tour), Pink (World Tour), Celine Dion (Taking Chances World Tour), Kanye West, Fantasia, Rhianna (Nike Rock Star Workout). TV credits include: American Dream, MTV Music Awards, World Music Awards, The Grammy Awards, and others. Kemba received a BFA from Towson University and has trained with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Martha Graham School, Broadway Dance Center, The Edge, Lula Washington and others.
Marlene Villafane (Vivian/Ensemble) Marlene made her debut in Aaron Davis Hall with the Harlem School of the Arts. A native New Yorker, she’s thrilled to be in Portland Center Stage’s Oklahoma!. She’s a La Guardia High School of Music and Art graduate; BM/MM, Manhattan School of Music. International: Porgy and Bess (Clara); Hal Prince’s Show Boat (Julie); National and Regional: J.C. Gonzalez’s Warm (Lori) Stephen Schwartz director; Unmitigated Truth (Lilly/Leading Lady) Melvin Van Peebles’ Line 13th St (Molly); Pushcart Players’ Stone Soup and other Stories, Peter and the Wolf (Wolf), Cuentos del Arbol (Woman 2). She also performs for senior citizen centers with the group Vocal Ease. TV: Telemundo Que le Parece?; NBC’s Today’s Show. Winner of the IMTA Grand Prize for Best Vocalist of 2009. She’s currently writing a musical as well. Thanks God, parents, family, Al, Harriet Bass, Chris Coleman, Joel Ferrell and the cast!
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Marisha Wallace (Ado Annie Carnes) Marisha is excited to be returning to PCS. She was last seen in One Night with Janis Joplin. Marisha hails from Goldsboro, NC. She received a BFA in Musical Theatre and Theatre Education at East Carolina University. She is a winner of the North Carolina Singing Sensation competition and a finalist in the Broadway’s Next Big Star competition. Theatre credits include: Dreamgirls (Effie); Chicago (Mama Morton); RENT (Joanne); Smokey Joe's Cafe (BJ); Hair (Dionne); Wedding Singer (Holly); Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Doatsey Mae/Jewel). Marisha would like to thank God for all her blessings and her Mom, family and friends for all of their support and love. Many thanks to Chris Coleman and the production team for this opportunity. And finally to my honey Dom, I love you with all my heart!
Timothy Ware (Slim/Ensemble) Timothy Ware is proud to join Oklahoma! at Portland Center Stage. Some of his credits include: Broadway National Tours: Mamma Mia! (Sky), Mamma Mia! Las Vegas (Eddie), Jesus Christ Superstar and Dreamgirls. Regional: The Fantasticks (Arena Stage), RENT (Connecticut Rep. Theatre), Godspell (Syracuse Stage), The Colored Museum (Crossroads Theatre), Purlie (Pasadena Playhouse/ Goodman Theatre), and Like Jazz (Mark Taper Forum). Studied acting at Alabama State University (BA) and UCLA’s MFA program. This is for Skye, Summer and Barry.
Creative Team Biographies:
Chris Coleman (Director) Chris joined Portland Center Stage as artistic director in May 2000. Before coming to Portland, he was artistic director at Actor’s Express in Atlanta, a company he co-founded in the basement of an old church in 1988. In the 12 years of his leadership, the Express grew from a shoestring operation to one of the most highly regarded small theaters in the country. At PCS recent direction includes The Imaginary Invalid, Sunset Boulevard, The Chosen, Snow Falling on Cedars, Ragtime, Grey Gardens, Crazy Enough, The Importance of Being Earnest, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, The Beard of Avon and The Little Dog Laughed. He also made his Portland acting debut last season in Opus. Chris has directed at major theaters across the country, including Actor’s Theater of Louisville, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, ACT Theatre, The Alliance Theatre, Dallas Theatre Center, Asolo Center for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop and Center Stage in Baltimore. A native Atlantan, Chris holds a B.F.A. from Baylor University and an M.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon. He has long been a public advocate for the arts, both locally and nationally. From 1998 – 2004 he served on the board of directors of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for professional theaters, and he currently chairs the Creative Advocacy Network board. Since moving to Oregon, Chris has skied down Mt. Hood, rappelled in The Dalles, climbed a ropes course in Eastern Washington, biked through most neighborhoods of the city and hiked all over the state. Chris’s favorite things about Portland: farmer’s markets, Timbers games, Ruby Jewel ice cream, zoo concerts, chamber music, food carts, and cars that stop for pedestrians.
William Bloodgood (Scenic Designer) William returns to Portland Center Stage for his eleventh production, having previously designed the scenery for The Cripple of Inishmann (2000), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2004), Misalliance (2007), The Beard of Avon and Twelfth Night (2008), Snow Falling on Cedars (2010), An Iliad (2010), and The Imaginary Invalid (2011). William has designed for many regional theaters in the U.S. and abroad, including Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., Birmingham Repertory Theatre in the U.K., Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Alley Theatre in Houston, Arizona Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Denver Center Theatre Company, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre in Seattle, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, and especially for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Most recently he designed the United States National Exhibit for the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design. He now teaches at the University of Texas in Austin.
Ann G. Wrightson (Lighting Designer) Ann designed the Broadway production of Souvenir, and she was a Tony nominee for her work on the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning August: Osage County, which she designed for Broadway, London, Sydney and the National Tour. Ann’s recent work includes The Diary of Anne Frank (Indiana Rep), Crimes of the Heart (The McCarter Theatre), Fences (The Huntington Theatre), and The Unmentionables (Yale Rep). Past projects were seen at Steppenwolf, The Kennedy Center, Denver Theatre Center, Arena Stage, The Alliance, Cleveland Play House and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to name a few. Her awards include a 2009 IRNE Award for Best Lighting for Fences at The Huntington, a Backstage Garland Award for Magic Fire at OSF, and an AUDELCO nomination. This is her first production at Portland Center Stage.
Jeff Cone (Costume Designer) This is Jeff’s thirteenth season at PCS. In that time he has designed costumes for fifty-two productions. Of those shows, thirty-one have been in the last five seasons at the Armory. Favorite productions include West Side Story, Cabaret, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Sometimes a Great Notion, Snow Falling on Cedars and The Imaginary Invalid. Jeff received Drammy awards for his costume designs for Dirty Blond and Act A Lady. In addition to his resident costume designer duties, Jeff is happy to manage the costume shop here at Portland Center Stage.
Casi Pacilio (Sound Designer) Here we go again for another season at the Armory. Music, comedy , suspense, history and some fun. Casi's credits with PCS include Futura with composer Jana Losey, Ragtime (PAMTA award), Opus, One Night with Janis Joplin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Chosen, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, Snow Falling on Cedars, A Christmas Story, Grey Gardens, The Little Dog Laughed, Sometimes a Great Notion, The Beard of Avon, Twelfth Night, Cabaret, The Pillowman, Act a Lady, I Am My Own Wife, West Side Story, Celebrity Row and six seasons of JAW. Other credits include H2M's My Mind is Like an Open Meadow (Drammy award), Squonk Operaís Bigsmorgasbord-WunderWerk (Broadway, off-Broadway, regional, touring, PGH awards), I Am My Own Wife, I Think I Like Girls, Burning Deck (La Jolla Playhouse, CA), Playland, 10 Fingers and Lips Together, Teeth Apart (City Theatre, PA). Her film credits include Creation of Destiny, Out of Our Time and A Powerful Thang.
Joel Ferrell (Choreographer) Oklahoma! marks Joel’s seventh collaboration with PCS. He served as choreographer/associate director for My Fair Lady and as choreographer for Sunset Blvd., Ragtime, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret and West Side Story. Joel was named an artistic associate for the Dallas Theater Center In 2009 where he had directed Reasons to be Pretty, Dividing the Estate, Cabaret and A Christmas Carol. Joel is the former artistic director of Casa Mañana Musicals Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas, where he directed more than forty productions, including Big River, The Rocky Horror Show, Once on this Island, Sleuth and Carousel. In Portland, he has directed My Way and Sisters of Swing for the Broadway Rose Theatre Company. He is honored to return to PCS and work with Chris Coleman and his staff.
Rick Lewis (Musical Director/Conductor) Previous PCS shows: The Huntsmen (JAW), Imaginary Invalid, Sunset Boulevard, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Ragtime (Drammy Award, Musical Director), Grey Gardens, A Christmas Carol (Composer), Guys and Dolls (Drammy Award), Cabaret, West Side Story (Drammy Award), The Fantasticks and Bat Boy. He is the creator of the hit off-Broadway musicals The Taffetas, Have a Nice Day!, The Cardigans (NYC Bistro Award, “Outstanding Musical Review”), and most recently A Taffeta Wedding. He was assistant conductor/vocal director for the pre-Broadway workshop of Cy Coleman’s The Life. He has musical directed for Alyssa Milano, Susan Egan, Michael Maguire, Jodi Benson and Debbie Gravitte, and the late Allan Jones. Rick has written for Disney Live Family Entertainment, American Hawaii Cruises, American West Steamboat Company and American Classic Voyages, and the Portland Spirit (Cinnamon Bear Cruise). Rick is a private vocal coach, concentrating on musical theatre audition and performance. rlewismusic.com.
Mary McDonald-Lewis (Dialect Coach) Mary McDonald-Lewis has been a professional artist since 1979. She resides in Portland and works nationally. As director, she launches Readers Theatre Repertory's 11th Season with American Dreamers. She is dialect coach for Portland Center Stage, and coached The 39 Steps, Snow Falling on Cedars, Ragtime, Grey Gardens, The Chosen, Sunset Boulevard, and more. She will coach Cymbeline this season. She’s the series coach for the TV series Leverage and coaches other films and TV shows, including Being Human and Grimm. On stage she has been found in everything from comedy to the classics, and was last seen onstage in You Can't Take It With You for Anonymous Theatre. Voice acting is Mary Mac’s day job, and she’s been heard by millions in her commercial and animation work. Mary was “Lady Jaye” on GI Joe, along with dozens of other characters on other cartoon shows, and puts people to sleep as the voice of "Lunesta." Mary holds her MFA in Theatre Arts from the University of Portland. She thanks Finnegan and Sullivan for always wagging their tails when she comes home.
John Amour (Fight Director) John has been choreographing violence for more than 20 years. He is based in Portland, Oregon where he choreographs for many local theater companies and teaches throughout the region at colleges, high schools and middle schools. John's work is regularly seen on stage at the Portland Opera, Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theater, Oregon Children's Theater, Miracle Theater and many others in the Portland metropolitan area. John’s work has twice been recognized within the Portland theater community for best fight design.
Mark Tynan (Stage Manager) Imagine being in a room full of artists, watching the birth of an idea, a movement given purpose, a sentence, phrase, scene, act given life. Then imagine that room translating to the stage with lighting, sound, costumes, scenery and props, then you can imagine what Mark’s job is like. Special thanks to the phenomenal PCS production assistants, Kailyn McCord, Kelsey Daye, and Lydia Comer who help keep the vision attainable. Prior to PCS, Mark toured nationally and internationally with musicals including Dreamgirls, The King and I with Rudolf Nureyev, How to Succeed…, Grand Hotel, The Phantom of the Opera and Rent. Other Portland credits include several summers with The Broadway Rose Theatre Company in Tigard. Other regional credits include The Alley Theatre, Houston, TX, and La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, CA. Remember, take time to smell the roses.
Emily N. Wells (Assistant Stage Manager) Emily is thrilled to be joining the team at PCS! Proud Equity member for 15 years spent in NYC, on tour and regionally. Highlights: B’way: Electra, Swan Lake, Jersey Boys. Off-Broadway: at Primary Stages - Adrift in Macao; Dedication, or the Stuff of Dreams (with Nathan Lane, Marian Seldes); String of Pearls; at Playwrights Horizons - Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky; at the Lucille Lortel - Summer of the Swans; Sarah, Plain & Tall. Readings and workshops for Playwrights Horizons, NAMT, North Shore Music Theatre. National Tour: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Regional: Ordway Center, Ogunquit Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Theatreworks/USA among others. Directing: Theatreworks/USA, Sam French Festival Finalist, Playhouse on the Square, Circuit Playhouse, LA Directors’ Lab, La MaMa Umbria, Yokota Air Base. BA Washington University in St. Louis, MFA University of Memphis.
Kailyn McCord (Production Assistant) Kailyn McCord has lived in Portland for the last seven years, attended Reed College, and found her love for theater first on the Portland Center Stage Run Crew. She is thrilled to begin her first season as a Production Assistant, and has previously worked Run Crew for shows including Ragtime,A Christmas Carol, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, The Chosen, Sunset Boulevard, and A Christmas Story. Thanks to Mark Tynan, Emily Wells, Jamie Hill, Joey Edwards, and Katie Nolen for all their support and encouragement!
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