Biloxi Blues
Directed by Rob Anderson
When: Febrauary 8-24, 2013
Where: Garden Theatre (160 W. Plant St, Winter Garden)
Reviews:
“Director Anderson keeps a light touch through such moments but their effect is cumulative, and suddenly you realize you care about this band of misfits. True, there is always going to be poignancy in sending young men off to war, but “Biloxi Blues” wraps up with more emotional resonance than you might expect. That would be Simon’s, and this production’s, sneak attack.” – Matt Palm, Orlando Sentinel
“Set design by Tom Mangieri used brilliantly engineered set pieces that were so versatile, that turning them and shifting various stage elements changed the scene from a train car, to inside the army barracks, to a whore house in downtown Biloxi. This was complemented by the simple color-lit backdrop. A unique feature to this theatre is the auditorium ceiling, which became fully star lit during the romantic outdoor scene.” – Kimberly Moy, BroadwayWorld.com
Patron Reviews:
“As a Viet Nam Army Veteran… this show made me laugh out loud and it also brought tears. It had to be the great production and acting in this performance because I have seen the ‘Blues’ a couple of times and never had this reaction. Great job and thanks for the memories.” – Jim McCaskill
“What a great production! Absolutely amazing actors/actresses. I can’t believe almost 3 hours passed so fast. I definitely am entertaining a season ticket next year. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and support Winter Garden! Thanks so much.”-Toni Carlucci”
“It was a great show. Wonderful, moving performances by all.” – Kevin Keller
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About the play:
Winner, Tony Award for Best Play, 1985 -The second in Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Neil Simon’s trilogy which began with Brighton Beach Memoirs and concluded with Broadway Bound.When we last met Eugene Jerome, he was coping with adolescence in 1930′s Brooklyn. Here, he is a young army recruit during WW II, going through basic training and learning about Life and Love with a capital ‘L’ along with some harsher lessons, while stationed at boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1943. It’s a heart warming comedy about life’s lessons and growing up in boot camp.
“A fine comedy, and another step in the process of making Simon neither so simple, nor so simplistic.”-New York Post
“Joyous and unexpectedly rewarding.”-The New York Times
“A play that rings with a newer, deeper, sweeter truth.”-New York Magazine
Promo photos by KHPhotographics
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producer – Beth Marshall
Director
An award winning-playwright and acclaimed director, Rob Anderson is noted for his ease in all genres – drama, comedy, farce, musicals and much more. Selected works include: Legally Blonde (upcoming); Dracula; She Loves Me; Shipwrecked; Superior Donuts (Southeastern Regional premiere); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Southeastern Regional premiere); The Matchmaker; The Rainmaker; An Inspector Calls; The Wizard of Oz (upcoming); The Paper Bag Princess (upcoming); James and the Giant Peach; Steppin’ Out with Irving Berlin (upcoming); The Queen’s Physician; Almost, Maine; After Juliet; Maryland; Shatter the Sky; Noodling Inspiration; The Sandman Says Goodnight; A Thurber Carnival; Anne of the Thousand Days and The Miracle Worker. A former professional dancer, Rob is also known for his innovative choreography and musical staging.
Rob majored in Theater, Film/Television and Radio at Northwestern University. After this, he enjoyed a successful career as a performer and choreographer in national tours and repertory theaters. His move into the world of writing and directing was guided by notable influences like the Lincoln Center’s Directors Lab.
As a playwright, Rob’s plays have been featured at Edward Albee’s Great Plains Theatre Conference as well as the Kennedy Center Playwrighting Intensive and Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Rob is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America Inc., Chicago Dramatists, the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, the Playwright’s Center, SAG, AEA, AFTRA and AGVA.
Stage Manager – Jay Ferrence
Dramaturg – Brenna Nicely
Set Design – Tom Mangieri
Lighting Design – Amy Hadley
Costume Design – Jennifer Bonner
Sound Design – John Valines
Sr. Intern/Crew – Ally Gursky
Master Carpenter/Crew – Darth Knapik
Darth Knapik is a Senior at Lake Brantley High and member of the International Thespian Society. As the son of Beth Marshall, he has been involved with theatre his whole life. Currently, Darth builds sets and runs lights/sound for Lake Brantley’s Productions and oversees the technical aspects of all rentals of the theatre. His set designs include: A Mid-Summer’s Night Dream and Sweeny Todd. He was also awarded LBHS’ Phoenix Robe because of his over and above technical work on Once Upon a Mattress. For numerous years he volunteered for Orlando Fringe and served as Venue Tech in 2011. His first paid Beth Marshall Presents show was A Christmas Carol where he worked as backstage crew. This season Darth served as Technical Director for Play-In-A-Day. Upon graduating, Darth will attend Valencia Community College to pursue a degree in Technical Theatre.
Head Scenic – Anastasia Kurtiak
Asst. Carpenter – Jack Young
Asst. Painter – Kayla Coy
Swing Carpenter – Rick Paulin
Props- Barb Solomon/ Oldies But Goodies, Tom Mangieri, Jay Ferrence
Production Crew: Mike O’Neill (Lights Load-In/Out), Benjamin Lembree (Sound Tech), Ally Gursky (Costume Crew), Darth Knapik (Backstage Crew)
Photography – Kristen Wheeler KHPhotographics.com
CAST
Eugene
Carl Krickmire is thrilled to be on stage for BMP in what he considers one of his dream roles. Originally from NY, Carl has spent the last 8 years performing up and down the east coast, including Off Broadway in the original comedy Last Laugh (Gordon). For the last 4 seasons, Carl was an Actor/Educator and Director for the Merry Go Round Playhouse’s Youth Theatre, bringing arts and education to K-12 students all over New York state. Locally audiences may have seen Carl in The Paper Bag Princess for the Orlando Rep as Prince Ronald. Favorite roles include Tom Joad (Grapes of Wrath), Van (Dog Sees God), Chris (All My Sons), Mortimer (Arsenic and Old Lace) and Jim (Glass Menagerie). “Much love to my fiancee Morgan for being my rock.”
Srgt. Toomey
Tyler Cravens‘ acting career has nearly reached a twenty year span and can best be described in a word – versatile. With humble beginnings on stage in high school productions and an array of Community Theater, Tyler then stumbled into the professional realm of song & dance review show performance on cruise ships and resort hotels both in the US and abroad. But his career focus soon narrowed to more serious “book show” stage performance. Tyler is proud to claim a vast collection of professional on stage credits from: Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors); Boolie Werthan (Driving Miss Daisy); Joe Clay (Days of Wine and Roses); Deputy Paul (A Lesson Before Dying); Marc Antony (Julius Caesar); and Tim Allgood (Noises Off) – to name a few. But to date, he is proudest of his depiction of 10 different characters in the recently produced Jester Theater Company’s staging of Greater Tuna, presented at the Garden Theatre during the 2011 season. And in the near future, Tyler is elated to have the opportunity to work with Beth Marshall Presents in their production of Biloxi Blues at the Garden Theatre, playing the role of SGT Toomey. Performances begin February 2013.
In addition to his live stage performance history, Tyler also owns an extensive film and television resume of credits. He has been featured in both regional and national television and internet commercials and voice over. He has acted and performed in both network television and feature film roles that afforded him the opportunity to work alongside icons in the industry such as Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, Robert Wagner, Christopher Walken, Beau Bridges, Oliver Stone, and Frank Marshall. Tyler’s most recent film character presented him in a not too positive light as he played the killer in Endure (2010), starring Judd Nelson.
Having been a working actor for most of his adult life, Tyler’s most recent focus has been building upon entrepreneurial endeavors within the downtown Winter Garden, Florida area. In 2008 Tyler and his wife, Patcharee, devised and opened Thai Blossom Restaurant which has been voted “Best Thai Restaurant” in Orlando for three consecutive years to date by both the Orlando Magazine and the Orlando Sentinel (Critic’s Choice). Also, in October of 2011 Tyler and Patcharee completed development and construction of JoJo Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt, a healthy sweet treat destination located directly across Plant Street from the Garden Theatre. For more information on these businesses please visit, www.mythaiblossom.com and www.mysweetjojo.com
Tyler will forever strive to never ask himself, “What if?”, and thanks his soul mate, Patcharee, for providing him the stability in love, support, and foresight to always strive onward and upward!
Epstein
CK Anderson is thrilled to be part of his second Beth Marshall Presents production and this amazing cast! Roles include Buddy in The Diviners, Timothy in The Flight of the Earls,Alfred in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jester in Once Upon a Mattress,Winthrop in The Music Man, Andy Lee in 42nd Street, Adolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone, Brad in Hairspray, Willie Wonka in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, John Thomas in The Curious Savage and Fritz in Orlando Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Love to Mom, Dad and Taylor!
Wycowski
Michael Osowski is thrilled to be performing in Biloxi Blues with Beth Marshall Presents. This is his first show with BMP, but he has appeared in over forty shows across Central Florida at nearly a dozen theatres. Favorite roles include Spider/Stride in GOAT’s Jekyll & Hyde, The Phantom in Bay Street Players’ production of Kopit & Yeston’s Phantom, and Curly in Shoestring Theatre’s Oklahoma. He is currently a student at Savannah College of Art & Design, earning his M.A. in Arts Administration.
Seldridge
Steve Pugh has been performing for the past 15 years. Having performed with great local theaters such as Theatre Downtown, The Orlando Rep Theater, G.O.A.T, Starlight Dinner Theater, and others. He is honored to be making his Beth Marshall Presents production debut. Memorable performances include; Stanley – A Streetcar Named Desire, Rabbit – House On Pooh Corner, Hyde – Jekyll & Hyde, Conrad – Bye Bye Birdie, Orin – Little Shop Of Horrors, Mr. Orange – Reservoir Dogs, and direction of Theatre Downtown’s Biloxi Blues. “Act Well Your Part, There All The Honor Lies.”
Hennessy
Cody Senger is thrilled to be working with Beth Marshall Presents for the first time. He has an Associate of Arts in Theatre from Indian River State College and is currently working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies with a Minor in Dance at the University of Central Florida. Cody also works seasonally in Entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort. Some other roles he has played are Tommy Djilas (The Music Man), Ernst Ludwig (Cabaret), and Jon Trachtman (Love, Sex and the IRS). Cody is very grateful to have a family that has always supported him in the arts.
Carney
Andy Haynes is a local, Winter Garden based playwright with three published plays. His work has been seen both across the country and locally at various central Florida venues. Biloxi Blues represents Andy’s third outing with Beth Marshall Presents, having previously performed as Melvin in The Diviners and having been a writer for the 2012 Play In A Day. He’s excited to work with some old friends and to meet several brand new ones. He’d like to thank his friends, family, girlfriend and cats for all their support. Check out his blog and samples of his plays at his website www.AndyHaynesCreative.com
Daisy
Debut Season. Julie Snyder is thrilled to be joining the ranks of artists who have worked with Beth Marshall Presents. Favorite roles include: Claire Strain (Flight of the Earls), Berdine (Psycho Beach Party), and BeBe (Sideways Stories from Wayside School). Thanks to Beth for this opportunity, as well as Eddie & the fam for their support and encouragement. www.juliannnesnyder.com
Rowena
Jennifer Bonner graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Theatre with concentrations in performance, design, and production from Frostburg State University in small town Western Maryland. She’s been working as a theatre professional for over five years here in Orlando, most notably as an actress and costume designer. She is thrilled to be a member of Beth Marshall Presents Design and core Perfromance Team as well as a collaborating partner with Empty Spaces Theatre Co. Her credits with Beth Marshall Presents include Crimes of the Heart (Meg/costume design), Our Town (Emily), The Pollock Project (Lee Krasner/Costume Design), The 1934 Project (Agnes Tait/Costume Design), Driving Miss Daisy (Costume Design), and A Christmas Carol (Costume Design.) THE GRAPHIC DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION PROJECT (Jennifer/Costume Design) Other notable credits include Empty Spaces Theatre Co(llaboration)’s Phantasmagoria (Costume Design), Tod Kimbro’s Media (Various Roles), Exit Pursued by a Bear (Nan Carter) as part of the 2010 PlayFest at OST, Ice House Theatre’s Miracle on 34th St (Doris Walker), and Bay Street Players’ A Little Night Music (Desiree Armfeldt.) When she is not on or back stage, she is keeping art education alive as the Arts Education Coordinator with thte Orange County Arts Education Center. She is truly honored to be a part of the wonderful team that is Beth Marshall Presents.
Beth Marshall Presents 