|
 |
 |
OSTF is a professional, not-for-profit, summer theater company, operating under the auspices of Oberlin College but administered independently of the Theater & Dance Program. The Festival’s Acting Company will consist of a combination of professional Equity actors , local non-equity players, and interns (recent alumni and current Oberlin students). Over time, we intend to build a core intergenerational acting ensemble, composed of mostly Oberlin grads, who will return to Oberlin as their summer Artistic Home to do meaningful work in our bucolic rural setting in collaboration with a supportive community of like-minded professional artists. The defining aesthetic of the company will be based in its ensemble work - honest, viscerally-connected, and intelligent acting – in accessible, minimal yet conceptually bold, productions.
2009 Company
Paul Moser - Producing Artistic Director; Director, The Glass Menagerie and The Tempest
After graduating from Brown University, where he earned his BA with a major in Dramatic Literature and Theater Arts, Mr. Moser began his professional career as an Equity Stage Manager in NYC, working at theaters such as Soho Rep and the Roundabout, with theater legends, Earle Hyman, Gail Sondergaard, and Jerome Kilty. He went on to earn his MFA in Directing from the Yale School of Drama: studying with Lloyd Richards, Earle Gister , David Hammond, Ming Cho Lee, Michael Yeargan and Jennifer Tipton. (Chris Noth and Leila Robins appeared in his thesis production of “Three Sisters”.)
After drama school, Mr. Moser served as Associate Artistic Director / Resident Director of the Indiana Repertory Theater, under Tom Haas, directing close to two dozen shows, including critically acclaimed productions of: The Crucible, A Streetcar Named Desire, Tobacco Road, Torch Song Trilogy, ‘night Mother, Virginia and numerous original cabaret shows. For the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Yuletide Celebration, he created, with designer Derek McLane, a bigger-than-life puppet adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” which was revived annually for over a decade. Other directing credits include plays at various regional theaters around the country, including Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Theatre Virginia, Portland Stage (where his production of “A Walk in the Woods” received a “Best of Maine” award ), Phoenix Theater, Spectrum Stage and New Harmony Theater.
Mr. Moser began teaching Acting, Acting Shakespeare and Directing at Oberlin in 1990, becoming Director of the Theater & Dance Program in 2000. At last count, he has directed over two dozen plays at the College, including works by Shakespeare, Moliere, Chekhov, Shaw, Wedekind, Ibsen, Pinter, Blitzstein, Hart, Shepard, Shawn, and Bogosian.
In 1992, he formed The Black River Theater Company which developed two of his own original plays – “The Trouble with Dinosaurs” and “Sanctuary” ( later presented at The Apple Tree in Chicago); BRTC also produced free family Shakespeare (1997- 2001): The Tempest, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry IV, Part 1 and Twelfth Night. In 2007, he collaborated with former students in Fourth Meal Productions’ NY premiere of Sarah Violet Bliss’s “Dorm Stories”. Mr. Moser has been a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers since 1985.
Mr. Moser would like to publicly thank Oberlin’s President, Marvin Krislov, whose tremendous support has made the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival a reality!
Justin Emeka (Tom, The Glass Menagerie). As a member of Actors Equity, some of Emeka’s favorite roles include Edgar in King Lear at the Yale Repertory Theatre, Biff in Death of a Salesman at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, and a one man show, “A Right to Dream,” with which he toured the nation for three years. In addition, he has performed at the American Conservatory Theater and with other performance groups throughout the Seattle area. Emeka was the founder and artistic director of Seattle’s Jungle Creations and director at the University of Washington’s Ethnic Cultural Theater. He also created and directed Sankofa Theater for the Seattle Theater Group and directed the Living History show for the Intiman Theatre. A visiting assistant professor at Oberlin College, he teaches directing, acting, and Capoeira Angola. Last fall he directed Avery Brooks and starred as Biff in Oberlin’s production of Death of a Salesman. He also directed Julius X at Cleveland’s famed Karamu House. Emeka earned a BA at Oberlin and an MFA in directing from the University of Washington School of Drama. He thanks his family – Farah, King, and Jabir for their constant love, support, and inspiration.
Karen Nelson-Moser (Amanda, The Glass Menagerie) has been a member of Actors’ Equity since 1981. Over the years, she has performed in San Francisco, North Carolina, New York, New Hampshire, New Harmony, Indiana and six seasons as a company member with the Indiana Repertory Theater in Indianapolis, where she met her husband, Paul. Representative roles include: Wendla in Spring Awakening, Constance in She Stoops to Conquer, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bianca in Othello, Sarah in Children of a Lesser God, Diane in Sister Mary Ignatius explains It All for You, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Lucy in Dracula, Agnes in School for Wives, Gladys in The Skin of Our Teeth, Lauren in Torch Song Trilogy, Lee in Marvin’s Room, Vee in Orpheus Descending, Alice in You Can’t Take It With You, Natasha in Three Sisters, Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday, Margot in Dial M for Murder, Lenny in Crimes of the Heart, Ellie May in Tobacco Road, and Elmire in Tartuffe. Ms. Moser holds an MFA in acting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Paul and Karen are the proud parents of Madeleine who will be a senior at Earlham College.
Matthew Wright (Prospero, The Tempest) is a director and Equity actor who has worked in regional theaters across the country. He has taught acting and voice for the actor at various training programs such as The Ohio State University, Wright State University and Florida Atlantic University where he was the head of actor training for six years. Awards include the 1997 Carbonell Award for Best Actor (the south Florida "Tony"); Who's Who Among American University Teachers; 1995 Distinguished Teacher of The Year Award - Schmidt College of Arts and Letters at Florida Atlantic University. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of California, San Diego. Since joining the Oberlin College faculty in 2002, Mr. Wright has performed in Assassins, Romeo and Juliet and Tony Kushner's The Illusion (The Lunatic), and directed Reefer Madness (April 16-18, 2009), Vieux Carré, A Bright Room Called Day, Dancing At Lughnasa, and Three Sisters. At Oberlin, Wright teaches various courses in scene study and voice and speech for the actor.
Alexis Macnab (Ariel, The Tempest) is a performer and director living in Brooklyn. She has performed as a member of the resident acting company at The Flea Theater in many shows including Peter Handke's Offending The Audience directed by Jim Simpson. She has also performed extensively as a puppeteer with Tom Lee and Kate Brehm, as well as Kevin Augustine and Basil Twist. Alexis produced, directed and starred in Timothy Braun's Trigger Happy Jack at The American Living Room Festival at HERE Arts Center. She last directed the original puppet-theater spectacle, Dark Space, co-created with puppet artist Kate Brehm, which was awarded a six-week residency at 217 CHASHAMA on 42nd Street.
Lisa Maley (Miranda, The Tempest) graduated from Oberlin College in Spring 2008 with a B.A. in Theater. She subsequently played the Narrator and “Two” in There Will Come Soft Rains, which debuted in the NY Int’l Fringe Festival and made it to the Fringe Encore Series. In April, she played Selene in the premiere of like the night at the Tank Theater in NYC. At the Williamstown Theatre Festival Workshop, she played in Marisol (Chorus), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Wall), Far Away (Joan), and the premiere of Examined Man Theatre's The Poison Project (Caroline). At the British American Drama Academy in London, she played the Bad Angel in Dr. Faustus. She has played leading roles in two student films. Oberlin credits include Old Times (Kate), Far Away (Joan), The General of Hot Desire (Eve), The Pillowman (Little Jesus), and a production of her play The Mad Ones.
Ben Sinclair (Caliban/Sebastian, The Tempest), class of '06, has been pursuing acting, directing, and Web TV production in New York and Los Angeles since graduating from Oberlin. He currently works for Current TV out of NYC and creates his own internet videos in his spare time. Ben is thrilled to be back at Oberlin and thanks everyone at OSTF for putting this together.
Benjamin Stuber (Trinculo/Antonio, The Tempest) is an actor, dancer, and designer specializing in the creation of original work for the stage. Stuber holds an MFA in Theatre: Contemporary Performance from Naropa University (2009) as well as a BA in Theatre and Dance from Oberlin College (2003). In addition to performing and creating original pieces, Stuber is a practitioner and teacher of Butoh, the Viewpoints, and the Suzuki Method of Actor Training. Affiliations include co-founder of the performance company One Continuous Mistake and member of Convergences Theatre Collective, a national network of contemporary theatre artists and master teachers.
David Bugher (The Gentleman Caller, The Glass Menagerie) is thrilled to be a part of the return of summer theater to Oberlin. As an actor, some of his favorite shows have been King Lear (Gloucester), Hay Fever (Sandy Tyrell), The Lisbon Traviata (Paul), Incorruptible (Brother Olf), Hamlet (Fortinbras/Marcellus) and two seasons of Summer Shorts in Miami, Florida. Locally he has been seen in the Beck Center’s productions of Holy Ghosts (Carl Spector) and The Imaginary Invalid (Bonnefoy). He is the Assistant Technical Director for the Theater and Dance Department of Oberlin College. Originally from Indianapolis, IN, he is a graduate of the Ohio State University.
John Mercer (Gonzalo, The Tempest) is excited about being a part of the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival. He has played roles as diverse as Pippin from the show of that name to Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In his real life, John is a teacher at Olmsted Falls High School where he has directed both theater and speech and debate. The Ohio High School Speech League inducted him into their Coaches Hall of Fame. John has also been named a Jennings Scholar by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, an Outstanding Teacher by the College of Wooster, and an Outstanding Educator by the Ohio P.T.A. He is currently working toward a Ph.D. in History and can tell you more about Giles Shurtleff than you would ever want to know!
Aaron Mucciolo (Stephano/Alonso, The Tempest) is a 2002 graduate of Oberlin College (Theater and Politics) now living in Oberlin. Favorite performances include Light up the Sky (Peter Sloan), Piscapo's Arm (founding member), A House Divided (Bobby), the premiere of Gaming (Bob), and the regional premiere of Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know. Offstage Aaron has written for, directed and produced with both Oberlin's sketch comedy and semi-improv groups, and designed lights for dance concerts, The Weir, and the annual circus. When not around the performing arts, he designs websites, volunteers at both the College and the high school, and works to ensure his 110-year-old house survives another winter.
Lauren Friedlander (Ensemble, The Tempest) is a third-year Creative Writing and Theater major from Overland Park, Kansas. Previous roles at Oberlin include Anton in Show Business (Holly Seabe), Private Eyes (Corey), Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it all For You (Philomena Rostovich), Death of a Salesman (Letta/Jenny), Aunt Dan and Lemon (Dan), Porcelain (Wife), and Equus (Dora Strang.)
Mieko Gavia (Laura, The Glass Menagerie) is a third-year theater major who enjoys bike rides, writing, and dancing. This will be her fifth show at Oberlin. Her past performances include Vieux Carre, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and Gather at the Table. Funnily enough, this is Mieko's second time acting in The Glass Menagerie—she appeared as Amanda in her high school's performance, and is excited to try on the show from a different angle!
Alex Huntsberger (Ensemble/Boatswain, The Tempest) just graduated from Oberlin as a Theater major. He has previously appeared in Ferris Wheel (John), Romeo and Juliet (Samson), Major Barbara (Bill Walker), Omnium Gatherum (Terrence), Reel Politik (Jimmy Carter), Travesties (V. I. Lenin), South Park: The Movie: The Staged Reading (Eric Cartman), Measure for Measure (Lucio), Bug (Jerry Goss), English Channel (Kit Marlowe), and Glengarry Glen Ross (Dave Moss). His original full-length play, Dark Matters, was performed over Winter Term as a part of The Oberlin Playwright’s Festival and will be revived over Commencement week in conjunction with Porcelain by Andrew Mooney. Alex would like to thank his girlfriend Meg, his cast-mates and Peter Weiss, his muse.
Anya Kazimierski (Ensemble, The Tempest) is an Oberlin College third-year from Croton-on-Hudson, NY. She is a Visual Arts major with a concentration in scene design. Oberlin acting credits include Anton in Show Business (Joby), Aunt Dan and Lemon (Lemon), Porcelain (Rose), Sucking Dublin (Amanda). Set design credits at Oberlin include Private Eyes, Little Fish,The Shape of Things and Glengarry Glen Ross.
Andrew Mooney (Ferdinand, The Tempest) graduated in May with a degree in Theater and Mathematics. He has acted in several Oberlin productions including Glengarry Glen Ross (Shelly Levene), The English Channel (Will Shakespeare – Honors Candidate), How I Learned to Drive (Peck), Travesties (Henry Carr), Major Barbara (Stephen) and Welcome to the Moon (Ronnie). He has written several plays that have been performed at Oberlin including Lunchtime (OShorts 2007), Trash Talkers (Backwords, 2007), Rich (First Year Showcase, 2007, also dir.), Dial Tone (Cat o' Nine Tales) and, most recently, Porcelain (Oberlin Playwrights' Festival, 2009, also dir.).
Enrico Nassi (Ensemble, The Tempest) majored in Theater at Oberlin with a concentration in acting. He has performed in Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt), Measure for Measure (Angelo), Tom Stoppard's Travesties (Tristan Tzara), SubUrbia (Tim) and Glengarry Glen Ross (Ricky Roma), for which he is a candidate for honors in acting.
Production Team
Meg Lindsey (Stage Manager) just graduated from Oberlin with a BA in Theater and Anthropology. At Oberlin, she stage managed several shows including Reefer Madness, The Oberlin Playwright's Festival, Bug, Sixties Songbook, Cabaret, Measure for Measure, Omnium Gatherum, and Eight at 8: The First and Second Year Showcase. She has also worked as an ASM, lighting designer, electrician, and general helping hand on many other Oberlin projects. This coming year Meg will be heading to Providence, RI to begin a stage management internship at Trinity Repertory Theater. Much thanks to her parents for coming out to see shows for four years and trying to figure out exactly what it is she does backstage!
Rebecca Balmer (Associate Producer) graduated in May with a Theater and Comparative Literature degree from Oberlin College, where she worked as a staff writer in the Theater and Dance program's publicity office, as well as in the box office and as a house manager. Oberlin acting credits include Aunt Dan and Lemon (Mindy), Measure for Measure (Ensemble), and The Heidi Chronicles (Heidi), and two student films.
Mike McGee (Lighting and Video Design) is a recent Oberlin graduate who has worked as the Warner Center Technical Coordinator since the fall of 2008. He enjoys the challenge of designing lighting for a wide range of events, and has worked with Animal Collective, Of Montreal, Girl Talk, and recently with a group of Oberlin Alums in producing There Will Come Soft Rains for the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival. He has worked both regionally and internationally as an Opera technician with credits including the US premier of Olga Neuwrith's Lost Highway in both Oberlin and at Columbia University, and electrics work for both the 2007 and 2008 seasons of the Des Moines Metro Opera. This one time, he did lighting for Gallagher.
Ben McFadden (Sound Design) was born in 1987 and spent his childhood in Warren County, New Jersey. As a teenager, Ben had a wide variety of musical interests with activities ranging from playing bass in jazz ensembles to singing and playing guitar for rock bands and eventually to electronic music composition. In 2005, Ben enrolled in the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he received a degree in TIMARA (Technology in Music and Related Arts). At his senior recital, Ben presented several animations, which combined hand drawn elements, computer editing and effects, and sound design using analog synthesis.
Suzy Campbell (Head Costume Design and Designer for The Tempest) S. Q. Campbell (Suzy Q) is an Associate Professor at Kent State University, was the Resident Designer for Porthouse Theatre at the Blossom Music Center for 19 years, is the Resident Designer for Verb Ballet in Cleveland, has illustrated several children's books through Picture Me Books by costuming babies, and loves her job as as costume designer because she can play with human dolls every day. She is proud to be part of Oberlin's Summer Theater Festival and is very thankful for the obvious support that President Krislov has for the arts. She also wishes to thank Paul Moser for the opportunity to design for The Tempest and a group of talented and dedicated people.
Joe Natt (Technical Director) is happy to be part of the OSTF 2009 Summer Season. Joe started at Oberlin College in September of 2005. Joe received his BFA in Theater Set Design and Technology in 1997 from Kent State University. While he was there he worked on several productions such as Vinegar Tom, Hair, Romeo and Juliet, and Little Shop of Horrors. He has worked on such shows as the opera of A Midsummer Nights Dream, Major Barbara, Assassins, Death of a Salesman, and Reefer Madness here at Oberlin College. Joe has worked on over 70 productions such as Heartbreak House, Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, and Vinegar Tom at Cleveland State University; Joe has worked professionally on Don Giovanni, Die Fledermaus, Pirates of Penzance and Das Barbecu as Technical Director for Lyric Opera Cleveland. He also worked for five seasons at The Cleveland Play House on a variety of shows such as Wonderful Life, The Invisible Man, Eliot Ness in Cleveland, Touch the Names, and Pecos Bill and the Ghost Stampede. He did 72 performances of The Sound of Music as Crew Chief at the Carousel Dinner Theater in Akron, Ohio.
Mr. Natt teaches the Production Scenery 172 class.
Amanda Swing (Assitant Costume Design and Designer for Glass Menagerie) will be senior at Kent State University, majoring in Theatre Arts with a focus in costume design. For the past two years she was a stitcher for Porthouse Theatre, and she's also designed and assisted on Kent State productions, including Assistant Designing Jane Eyre, the musical this spring. After graduation, she hopes to attend grad school and travel abroad. She's very pleased to be a part of Oberlin Summer Theatre Festival!
OSTF'09 Crew
Producing Artistic Director/Set Design: Paul Moser
Assistant Set Designer: Anya Kazimierski
Technical Director: Joe Natt
Set Construction: Alex Huntsberger, Enrico Nassi
Company Manager/Set Construction: Andrew Mooney
Sound Design: Ben McFadden
Lighting/Video Design: Mike McGee
Assistant Video Designer: Ben Sinclair
Head Stage Manager/Properties Manager: Meg Lindsey
Assistant Stage Manager, The Tempest/Puppet Shop Assistant: Mieko Gavia
Assistant Stage Manager, The Glass Menagerie/Puppet Shop Assistant: Lisa Maley
Associate Producer/Public Relations and Box Office Manager: Rebecca Balmer
Public Relations and Box Office Assistant: Lauren Friedlander
Head Costume Designer/Costume Design, The Tempest: Susan Campbell
Assistant Costume Designer/Costume Design, The Glass Menagerie: Amanda Swing
Head Puppet Design and Construction: Alexis Macnab, Benjamin Stuber
Website Design: Micheline Heal
Web Manager/Shop Assistant: Aaron Mucciolo
Poster Photography & Design: Rachel Saudek
Publicity Photography: John Seyfried, Alesandra Zsiba