TERRA NOVA CAST

Capt. Robert Falcon Scott Chris Benham

Lawrence “Titus” Oates .................................................. Travis Brown

Henry “Birdie” Bowers .................................................. Zach DuFault

Petty Officer Edgar “Taff” Evans .................................. Ken Hermens

Roald Amundsen ............................................................. Tim Jaeger

Kathleen Bruce Scott .................................................. Kaelyn Kappes

Edward Wilson Robert Sim

TIME & PLACE

1911-12 Antarctica

The show runs approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.

By Ted Tally

Production Staff

Director ............................................................................. Scott Ramp

Assistant Director ................................................ Deborah Johansen

Technical Director ........................................................ Chris Benham

Costume Design ......................................................... Karen McCarty

Costume Assistant ................................................. Kennedy Aronson

Costume Construction ................................................. Janelle Koch, Kristy McCarty, Loriann Schmidt

Hair & Wigs Eddie Willits

Set Design .....................................................................Chris Benham

Set Construction ............................... Quinn Connolly, Ken Hermens, Chris McCarty, Scott Ramp, Antonio Schoaps, Rob Sim

Strike Crew .................... Quinn Connolly, Antonio Schoaps, Rob Sim

Lighting Design ......................................................... Quinn Connolly

Light Hang .................. Quinn Connolly, Valerie Mozena, Scott Ramp

Sound Design Liz Rogers and Sloe Slawinski

Original Sound Design (Antarctic winds) Sloe Slawinski

Video Design...................................................................... Liz Rogers

Lights & Sound Operator .......................................... Valerie Mozena

Prop Construction............................................................ Scott Ramp

Dialect Coach.......................................................... Dr. Linda Brennan

Individual Dialect Assistance ................ Sverre Almedal, Ben Crick, Robert Hook, Kieran Mellish, Rhys Powell, Charlotte Rothwell, Shereen Walker

Stage Manager Kennedy Aronson

Assistant Stage Manager .......................................... Phoebe Jacobs

House Manager ........................................................... Sean Needles

Board Liaison ................................ Patrick Moser & Bruce Thompson

Poster Design ................................................................ Isaac Mitchell

Program Design ........................................................... Carlee Wright

Photography ................................................................... Vicki Woods

Special Thanks

Sverre Almedal  Robert Hook

Occasionally, in one’s lifetime, if we are lucky enough, we come across something that moves us so powerfully that it becomes an integral part of our being. Perhaps it is a piece of music, a novel, an object of art, even a motion picture. In my case, it was a play. This play — Terra Nova.

As a 20-something actor in 1983, I was fortunate enough to be in a Los Angeles repertory company. In repertory theater you get to know your fellow actors very well…for better or worse. But when seven of us were cast in a relatively new play by a new playwright, we had no idea that being in this particular production would move us so deeply and for so many years afterward. As the decades have passed, I have met and worked with several actors who have been in other productions of this play — many who are quite well-known — and we all, to a person, share that same passion for Terra Nova.

Why would that be? I don’t have a simple answer. Perhaps it is the fact that it is a true story of real human beings. Perhaps it’s the overwhelming sense of tragedy in the face of such bravery. Perhaps it touches something deep within us that fights for survival in the direst of situations. Or perhaps it’s the ultimate acceptance of death in the end that so moves us. But whatever it may be, it’s been with me all these years later.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have directed this play more than once. The last time I directed it, I had just returned from London where the British Natural History Museum had a wonderful exhibit celebrating the Centennial of the Terra Nova Expedition. Being able to see, firsthand, Scott’s diary and the re-creations of the Base Camp, hundreds of never-before-seen photos and artifacts, as well as many as-yet unheard stories moved me beyond belief. When I returned to Los Angeles, I asked my cast to come together for our first reading a week early. After the read, they were quite moved by the play. But when I pointed out why I had them come together early, they were shocked. It was March 29, 2012…one hundred years to the day of Scott’s last journal entry and death.

There have been many powerful moments in my life where the story of the Terra Nova Expedition has come up unexpectedly…the death of a loved one, the sacrifice of a friend, a courageous act by someone under desperate circumstances. In those moments, I have always harkened back to those brave people whose story you are seeing play out onstage here at Pentacle Theatre.

If this play moves you as it has this cast and crew, we will have done our job. May you be fortunate enough in your lives to find something that sparks your passion the way that Terra Nova did for me. The cast and I thank you for coming with us on this journey. Go home safely and may you enjoy a long and fulfilling life.

Scott Ramp Director

Addendum: Having to cancel our final three performances due to a serious medical emergency in the cast was a gut-punch to all of us. I am so thrilled the Pentacle Board of Directors was able to let us “finish” our run and tell our story once again! And thank you, our audience, for braving Antarctica in February!

Scott Ramp Director

Scott returned to the Pentacle stage for the first time since 1981 last December in It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. He previously performed at Pentacle in Little Mary Sunshine, Sugar, I Get A Kick Out of You: A Cole Porter Review, as Will Parker in Oklahoma! and The Vagabond King in addition to working on dozens more.

For most of the past 40 years, Scott lived in Los Angeles, working as an actor/ director, makeup artist and teacher.

Prior to moving back to Salem in 2020, Scott was last seen onstage as Lazar Wolf in a 16-week run of Fiddler on the Roof at the Lawrence Welk Resort near San Diego. In addition to acting in dozens of productions around Los Angeles from Shakespeare to Broadway touring companies (La Cage Aux Folles with Broadway legends Larry Kert and Harvey Evans), Scott taught makeup, acting and directed dozens of plays as a faculty member at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood since 1985.

As a makeup artist, he has taught and mentored hundreds of artists over the years, one of whom won the 2014 Best Makeup Academy Award.

Scott runs large-scale events, primarily at Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags parks and has been the makeup designer at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles since 1992. He appeared on Season 5 of the SyFy television series Face/Off. He designed makeup for numerous productions at The Old Globe in San Diego, including the world premiere of Meteor Shower with Steve Martin and Camp David with Richard Thomas.

He and his wife of 36 years, Barbara, moved back to Salem in 2020. He is thrilled to return to the theater that nurtured his love for theater and gave him his start all those years ago!

Deborah Johansen Assistant Director

Active at Pentacle Theatre since 1979, Deborah has been a Lifetime Member since 2019. As an actress, her favorite roles have included Ado Annie, Daisy Mae, the Witch in the 1994 production of Into the Woods, Rhetta Cupp in Pump Boys and Dinettes and each of her roles in Almost Maine. Some of the shows she has enjoyed directing for Pentacle are The Sunshine Boys (1984), You Can't Take it with You, Guys and Dolls, Once Upon a Mattress, Mary Poppins (fundraiser) and Dashing Through the Snow. Deborah is a retired drama teacher and as always thanks her son, Jordan, for his love and theatrical support for these many years. Colossians 3:17

Now

Fri-Sun, 9am-1pm.

Chris Benham

Capt. Robert Falcon Scott

Chris is returning to the stage after an absence of nearly a decade and is appearing on the Pentacle stage for the first time since 2001’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He has been seen on stage many times over the years at Gallery Theater in McMinnville, taking turns as Fred/Petruchio in Kiss Me Kate, Mr. Manningham in Angel Street and Fagin in Oliver, among many others. Directing credits include productions around the Northwest, including Into the Woods in Newberg, and Much Ado About Nothing at Gallery. He has also appeared on local and national television in a variety of commercials and an appearance on the TNT series Leverage

Chris has been Pentacle's Technical Director since 2017. He lives in Salem with his fiancee, Geri. He enjoys home brewing, woodworking and other construction projects, and spending as much time as possible with his two daughters, Naomi and Nora.

Travis Brown

Lawrence “Titus” Oates

Travis is very grateful to be part of the Terra Nova cast and to make his Pentacle debut. He has long been fascinated by the "Heroic Age" of Antarctic Exploration and is honored to play the role of Captain Oates. Travis would not have this opportunity without the love and support of his wife, Valerie, who is also volunteering her time and energy running lights and sound for the show. He thanks his father, mother and brother for their unwavering encouragement of his theatrical endeavors over the years. His favorite past roles include Carr-Gomm in The Elephant Man, The Earl of Bothwell in Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off and Ralph in Frozen (no relation to the Disney musical). Travis works as a hydrogeologist for the Oregon Water Resources Department. In his precious free time, he can be found fishing along Oregon's sublime coasts, lakes and rivers or grubbing around in the dirt of his nascent garden.

Zach DuFault Henry “Birdie” Bowers

This is Zach’s second production at Pentacle Theatre; his first was as Nick in Over the River and Through the Woods. Other theaterrelated experience includes How it all Began, which can be watched on Amazon.

Zach studied for eight years at The Beverly Hills Playhouse. He owns The Salem Playhouse where he teaches teens and young adults the art of acting. He hopes it can be a safe haven for students where they can discover and grow their gifts. Outside of acting, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and dogs.