JPAC-The Muckle Man

Proudly Presents

STARRING Nick Bender Sarah Bright Rachel Morgan Zack Newman Aaron Spencer Caleb Stevens Scott Whipple

Directed by Micheal A. Kott

Scenic Design by Michael Nedza

Costume Design by Jennifer Ring

Lighting Design by Michael Goebel

Produced by Eddie Sugarman

Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC., New York Jedlicka Performing Arts Center 1

SET TING A rocky beach on the coast of Newfoundland, the interior of a home and a research office. The time is now.

There will be one 15-minute intermission.

The use of flash photography and video recording devices without the written permission of the management is prohibited.

Please remember to silence or turn off your cellular phones and other messaging devices.

F R O M T H E D I R E C TO R ’ S C H A I R “Explaining what a muckle man is (in case you don’t know) would spoil the plot—a plot that is, at bottom, a folkloric thriller. Aguirre-Sacasa, who has a frisky sense of humor, fashions a swift, dark ending that races like the wind.”

- Washington Post When I read this review from the Washington Post, I knew I had to read this play.

When I read the play, I knew I had to direct it. Producing a new work is exhilarating, yet frightening. Will the audience see in “it” what I first saw in “it”? Here’s to hope. On first read, The Muckle Man appears to be a straight-forward thriller, but as we broke it down during rehearsal, I realized it was much more. The old cliché, “be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it,” rings truer than ever in this piece. Longing and obsession are powerful forces that often blind us to the world around us. Addison and Marina have finally achieved their individual, yet collective, dream of living by the ocean. Little did they know that this dream would carry such dire consequences.

I invite you, the audience, to join us on our journey to Newfoundland in search of the giant squid (and fulfillment of our dreams) and ask you not to judge our actions too harshly.

To my talented cast, thank you so much for you hard work and dedication; here’s hoping our collective dream has delightful consequences.

CAST Nick Bender.............................................................................................................................Gilbert Sarah Bright.............................................................................................................................Marina Rachel Morgan...........................................................................................................................Dora Zack Newman..................................................................................................................... Malcolm Aaron Spencer.....................................................................................................................Addison Caleb Stevens.........................................................................................................................Harvey Scott Whipple..........................................................................................................................Arthur

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CAST PROFILES Nick Bender (Gilbert) this is Nick’s first production with JPAC. He was last seen onstage as Mr. Kilroy in GreenMan Theatre’s production of Don’t Drink the Water. A few theatre highlights include Michael Wells in Two Rooms with Players, Please Theatre and Kenny in Fuddy Meers with Strawdog Theatre Company. You can see him in his first feature films as the lead characters Victor in Murder for Pleasure (www.murderforpleasuremovie.com) and Charlie in The Interrogation.

He also co-stars as Ray in the webseries, The Rent (www.therent.tv). His most recent voiceover was heard on radio stations across the country for DeVry University. Nick is a 2008 graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Theatre. Prior to USC, Nick attended College of DuPage where he was awarded the John Belushi Memorial Theater Scholarship. Visit Nick online at: www.nickbender.com Sarah Bright (Marina) is pleased to be making her JPAC debut in The Muckle Man. Other Chicago credits include roles with The Artistic Home, Light Opera Works, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, The Drama Group, and Village Players. Before moving to Chicago, she performed in English productions of California Suite (Hannah), Annie (Grace Farrell), Godspell (Joanne), and Grease (Rizzo) in Germany. Other favorite roles include Violet in Violet, Yonah in Children of Eden, and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sarah can also be seen this late fall/early winter in City Lit’s production of The Wind in the Willows.

Rachel Morgan (Dora) is a recent graduate of Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. She recently moved to Chicago and is proud 4 Jedlicka Performing Arts Center

to make her debut with the JPAC. Some of her favorite credits include Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Percy in The Spitfire Grill, and Tina in her original one-woman play, The Most Beautiful High, (which she adapted from the novel Living at the Edge of the World by Jamie Pastor Bolnick and Tina S.) Rachel also enjoys writing and composing for the theatre, and is currently writing a children’s musical that is unquestionably a derivative of her admiration for the work of Stephen Sondheim. She also has a whole list of people she wants to thank: her parents who have always supported her, her alma mater which gave her every opportunity, Dr. Marti Runnels who taught her to act, Dr. Jeff Kensmoe who taught her to sing, Mary Feril who gave her confidence, and her husband Jordy Williams who makes her dreams possible.

Zack Newman (Malcolm) is very happy to be returning to Jedlicka. He was last seen as Little Gaspard in A Tale of Two Cities. Other productions include MacBeth, A Doll’s House and Cheaper by the Dozen. Zack has appeared in TV shows on Animal Planet, Discovery, A&E and the Weather Channel. Watch for him as Jay in the upcoming independent feature film “The Penny.” In addition to acting, Zack enjoys reading, church, Starcraft and adding to his Space Marine army in War Hammer.

Special thanks to his family for driving him to rehearsals!

Aaron Spencer (Addison) is excited to be in his first production at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center. He comes from Salt Lake City, Utah where he recently attended the University of Utah’s Actor Training Program. He was last seen as Anton in Inconceivable Theatre’s production of Another Caesar. Other

C A S T P R O F I L E S ( c o n t .) favorite roles include: Samson in Romeo and Juliet, The Duke in Big River, and Francis Flute in Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Caleb Stevens (Harvey) is currently 11 years old and in 6th grade, but will turn 12 during the run of this show! He was born in Leiceser, England and moved to Chicago when he was 4. Caleb does not enjoy school, but does well at it, and his best subject is math. He first got into acting by doing a short film, then later he performed in two school plays as a Royal Cardsman in Alice in Wonderland and Bill Sykes in Oliver Twist. In addition to doing The Muckleman, Caleb is currently acting in a short film.

Scott Whipple (Arthur) This is Scott’s first show here at Morton College. Scott got his start in acting nine years ago as

the Constable in Fiddler on the Roof at a small community theater out of Carol Stream, Illinois. Since then Scott has been attached to theater troupes all over the Western Chicago Suburbs.

Some of his favorite roles include Donald in You Can’t Take It With You, Lt. Jack Ross in A Few Good Men, and his critically acclaimed role as Steven Jessup in Murder Among Friends. Scott is also an avid costumer who designs, creates and wears costumes from Comic Book Superheroes, Movies and Video Games. He appears at Comic Book/Entertainment conventions in the Chicago area, and at Dragon*Con in Atlanta Georgia. He has also been an accomplished amateur bodybuilder for over three years, competing in Central and Western Illinois, as well as in Indiana. He would especially like to thank his wife and kids for allowing him to pursue his passions in acting and costuming. Without their help and understanding, he could never reach for his dreams.

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C R E AT I V E S TA F F P R O F I L E S Dante J. Orfei (Artistic Director) has been the Artistic Director at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center for over 25 years. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has produced and directed a travel documentary titled European Sojourn, which aired on PBS. Dante also directed the U.S. Premiere of the musical Metropolis and worked closely with the show’s creator, Academy and Grammy Award-winner Joseph Brooks on the development of the show. This past fall, Dante directed the national regional theatre premiere of Brooks’ most recent Broadway show, In My Life. He has studied with Tony Award-winners Harold Prince and Jules Fisher. He recently directed the Midwest Regional Premiere of the Queen rock musical, We Will Rock You, and has also directed the World Premiere of Nefertiti – The Musical, as well as Premiere Chicago Productions of Little Women, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love, Blood Brothers, Jekyll and Hyde, The Baker’s Wife, and numerous plays

by Olivier Award-winning playwright Ray Cooney, including the U.S. Premiere of Cooney’s It Runs in the Family.

Dante has directed well over 125 stage productions on the professional, dinner theatre and academic levels.

Micheal Kott (Director, Multimedia Design) has directed numerous plays and musicals both stateside and in Europe, including his critically acclaimed production of Murderer, by Anthony Shaffer. His JPAC directing credits include Doubt, Lilies of the Field and The Boys Next Door. Michael is also a veteran performer at the JPAC having been involved in 18 shows over the last 12 years. Among his favorites are Blood Brothers, Moonlight and Magnolias, Peter Pan, and Tuesdays with Morrie. He is very grateful to Dante Orfei for his friendship, support, encouragement and trust. Micheal played the scenestealing Psychic in Brain Damaged Film’s 2008 release Secrets of the Clown, available at www.blockbuster.com!

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Micheal is the founding director of the Green Door Theatre in Garlstedt, West Germany. Currently he is the Artistic Director of Master’s Backstage Players in Carol Stream, Illinois. Micheal was also an ensemble member of Cenacle Theatre in Chicago, where he acted and directed numerous productions. Mike is the multimedia specialist for Morton College by day and at night divides his time among the various theatres in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. He is very thankful to Dr. Felicity Thoet for her guidance and direction. She is a wonderful director and I thank her for her knowledge.

Michael Nedza (Scenic Designer/ Technical Director) has been designing throughout the Midwest for over 20 years. He has designed over 50 shows here at the JPAC. His favorites include, Tommy, In My Life, We Will Rock You, Jekyll and Hyde, Two into One, Joseph…, Me and My Girl, and 1776. Michael is a Theatre Arts faculty member here at Morton College. Previously, Michael was the Technical Director at Moraine Valley College. While there he was recognized with the “Award of Merit” from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for his set designs of The Middle Ages (2001) and Picasso at the Lapine Agile (2006).

Jennifer Ring (Costume Designer) has been enjoying a life in the theatre for over 20 years now. Since earning her degree from The University of Southern California she has worked in Los Angeles, Chicago, and the surrounding suburbs. Some of her other costume credits include JPAC’s production of Lilies of the Field, Lysistrata at ECC, Les Liaisons Dangerouses, The Crucible and The Desk Set for the Albright Theatre Company in Batavia. She thanks Mr. Kott and the staff of JPAC for the opportunity to work on this production.

Thank you and enjoy the show.

C R E AT I V E S TA F F P R O F I L E S ( c o n t .)

Michael Goebel (Lighting Designer) is a Chicago-based lighting designer and apprentice to lighting designer Josh Weckesser. Getting his start in the Chicago dance scene, Michael has lit for popular Chicago dance companies including Dance Crash, Inaside, Chicago Tap Theater, and Ballet Chicago.

On the theatrical side, Michael has had the pleasure of helping with several JPAC shows including A Tale of Two Cities and Hairspray, and is honored to be given the opportunity to tackle one on his own. He would like to thank the entire JPAC staff, Dante Orfei, Eddie Sugarman, Micheal Kott, and Michael Nedza for bringing him in and letting him have fun in the wonderful space that is JPAC. He would also like to thank his loving parents, Dennis and Martha, his mentor Josh Weckesser, and God. Enjoy the show.

Eddie Sugarman (Producer) is Morton College’s Theatre Manager and Managing Director of the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Eddie appeared on Broadway in the original cast of the Tony award-winning musical Ragtime.

As a writer, his musical Meet John Doe (written with Andrew Gerle) has been produced at theatres across the country. The Ford’s Theatre production of Meet John Doe in Washington D.C. received seven Helen Hayes Award nominations and won two. He is also very proud of his new musical The Nutcracker Sings! (written with Jihwan Kim) which was first seen here at JPAC! Eddie has also won a Jonathan Larson Award and an ASCAP Foundation grant and recently had the honor of serving on the Musical Theatre Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts. He lives in Western Springs with his wonderful wife Kara and his beautiful, crazy kids Sam and Lucy.

T H E AT R E S TA F F Assistant to the Director................................................................................. Alfonso Guerrero Ushers/Concessions................................................................Bob Jadach, Margie McGowan Theatre Technical Staff.................................................... Michael Goebel, Arthur Stepanek, Martin Vanegas, Karl Ziegler Theatre Office Staff......................................................................................................... Diana Visk

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