Wittenberg
Written by David Davalos
Directed by Michael Stevenson
January 4 - February 1, 2009
Doctor Faustus, Prince Hamlet, and Martin Luther walk into a bar...
Are your teachers uptight, or have they sold out to the devil? Students and instructors, past and present, will enjoy this comedy about a college senior caught between Professor Luther (who disagrees with the Pope on the crusades), and Faustus (a philosopher who thinks the earth might orbit around the sun). By the way, the senior’s name is Hamlet. Come to the Bunghole Tavern at Wittenberg University, and laugh while young Prince hamlet wrestles with what to be or not to be when he grows up. Davalos is the winner of the Stavis Playwriting Award for Outstanding New Writer for Wittenberg.
The Juneau Empire, January 2, 2009
WITTENBERG COMBINES COMBINES CONTEMPORARY FLAVOR
WITH FORMALITY OF YEARS GONE BY
The Juneau Empire, January 16, 2009
ARTISTIC TEAM
Director Mike Stevenson
Set and Lighting Design Art Rotch
Costume Design Meaghan C. Wills
Composer/Sound Design Rory Stitt
Production Stage Manager Rick Silaj
CAST
Hamlet Brandon Demery
Dr. John Faustus Dave Hunsaker
The Eternal Feminine Asha Falcon
Dr. Martin Luther Roblin Gray Davis
DIRECTOR & DESIGNERS
Rick Silaj (Stage Manager) Design credits include: Oklahoma! and Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Weathervane Theatre); The Beauty Queen of Leenane and True West (Thunder Mountain Theatre Project); Mr. Marmalade (Perseverance Theatre 2nd Stage); The Blind Date, The Universal Language, and The Philadelphia (Theatre Northwest). Assistant Costume Design: Grease (Theatre at the Center); Fashion; or Life in New York and Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp (Theatre Northwest). Assistant Costumer (film): For the Rights of All.
Mike Stevenson (Director) Michael is thrilled to be directing at Perseverance Theatre: Directing credits include: The Castle of Otranto, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre; Of Mice and Men, Sacramento Theatre Company; Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Capital Stage; Born Yesterday, River Stage; The Last 5 Years, Boston Marriage and Jack & Jill, B Street Theatre. He is co-director of the B Street Theatre Conservatory and a member of the B Street Acting Company. He holds an MFA from the American Conservatory Theatre.
Rory Stitt (Sound Design) Over the last ten years Rory has worked as actor, sound designer, composer, orchestrator and music director. He has played Joe's Pub in the Public Theatre in Manhattan, The Knitting Factory in L.A. and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He is currently working on a series of compositions for chamber ensemble and voices incorporating multimedia collaborations, as well as a new musical incorporating Japanese kabuki theatre. For more information on Rory and his projects, his albums and his performances go to www.rorystitt.com.
Art Rotch (Lighting and Set Design) is the Artistic Director at Perseverance, after having worked in Juneau and at PT for over twenty years. He has recently returned to Juneau after six years in New York City. Art has designed dozens of productions over the years at PT with directors Molly Smith, Peter DuBois, and others including premieres by Darrah Cloud, Paula Vogel, and Deborah Brevoort. Art studied Russian Intellectual History at Harvard and wrote a thesis on Soviet dissident thought, and recently earned an MFA degree in Design from New York University. Regional theater credits: Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Epiphany Theatre Company, Foothill Theatre Company, Sacramento Theater Company, The People’s Light and Theatre Company, M Gorky Drama Theatre of Vladivostok, Russia, ActorsExpress and Trinity Repertory Company. Opera: Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, Anchorage Opera, Aspen. Next Projects: Treasure Island (Sacramento), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Juilliard), O Lovely Glowworm (Perseverance). Thanks to Akiko for her support and love.
Meaghan C. Wills (Costume Designer) is excited to be entering her second year with Perseverance Theatre Meaghan’s costume design credits here include Lady Day and Yellowman on the Perseverance Mainstage, Brother on the Perseverance Second Stage, and Willy Wonka, Raven at the Head of the Nass, and The Velveteen Rabbit for this year’s STAR program. Meaghan holds an MFA in Costume Design/Technology and Lighting Design/Technology from the University of Montana in Missoula. Originally hailing from Vermont, Meaghan has spent the last fourteen years of her life working as a theatre artisan in theatres across the country and wouldn’t have it any other way. Past design and technical positions have been held at The Mount Baker and Village Theatres in Washington; The Montana Repertory Theatre, Missoula Children’s Theatre, Bigfork Summer Theatre, and Virginia City Players in Montana; The Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder, Colorado; Advanced Lighting Production Services in Boston, Massachusetts; and The Vermont Shakespeare Company in Burlington, Vermont. Meaghan is a member of the International Alliance of Theatre and Stage Employees (IATSE) local 919 in Burlington, Vermont.
ACTORS
Roblin Gray Davis (Dr. Martin Luther) is a performer, director and creator of innovative theatre. He recently earned an MFA in Actor Created Theatre from Naropa University/London International School of Performing Arts. Other studies include silliness with Phillipe Gaulier, Ronlin Foreman, and Sue Morrison, dramatic territories with Thomas Prattki, and corporeal mime with Daniel Stein, Corrine Soum and Steven Wasson. Credits at Perseverance include The Laramie Project, How I Learned to Drive, King Stag, The Wooden Breeks, The Winter’s Tale, On the Razzle, FryTales and FryTales: all new adventures. In 2004 he was the recipient of the Alaska State Council on the Arts Connie Boochever Artist Fellowship.
Brandon Demery (Hamlet) Wittenberg marks the sixth production Mr. Demery has appeared in as an actor here at Perseverance Theatre. He has directed a Second Stage production of A Question Of Mercy by David Rabe and taught a text analysis class using Chekov's The Seagull at UAS. He has appeared on TV, Off-Broadway, in radio-spots, and regional theaters including, Long Wharf Theater, Hartford Stage, The Philadelphia Theatre Company, the Kennedy Center and others. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School.
Asha Falcon (The Eternal Feminine) is extremely thrilled to appear onstage as a woman for the first time in 3 years. She is willing to ride the bus to lemon Creek and hike thru Costco parking lots to be in this fantastic play with Dave and Roblyn. Previously she has appeared in Boombox, when she was 13, and had a home perm; Proof, where she met her best pal, Sara; Oedipus at Colonus, where she killed herself in a doorway; and Amigos Blue Guitar, where she ate an entire box of fig newtons per show. She wants to thank Art for giving her the chance to play this beautiful role. And also Rick, the kindest and hardest working stage manager she has ever met. Thanks for my bus pass. This performance is dedicated to George and Jean Rodgers, with love.
Dave Hunsaker (Dr. John Faustus) is a screenwriter and playwright who has lived in Juneau for many years. Plays that he has written for Perseverance over the years include, Yupik Antigone, Lady Rauchin meets the Pagan, The Birds, The Waller in the Snow, and Pieces of Eight. He has directed India Song, Birds of Passage and Metamorphosis. He is very pleased to get to act in this production.