Cast
Ross Beschler (Gilbert) – Ross Beschler is excited to return to Exile after playing Richard in 2009’s Hunter Gatherers. Ross most recently appeared as Menachem in The Wilma Theatre’s US premiere of Our Class. Other favorite area shows include Hell, Marat/Sade and Waiting for Godot (EgoPo), End Days(People’s Light), Lucy (Delaware Theatre Company), Cabinet of Wonders (Gas & Electric Arts), and The Lonesome West (Lantern Theatre). In New York, Ross has been a frequent collaborator with the performance group Object Collection, and has performed with The Flea, Vital Theatre, Verse Theatre Manhattan, Polybe & Seats, and many others. Ross has a BA in theatre from Columbia University, his MFA from Temple University, and currently teaches acting at Rowan University. Thanks to Brenna, Jered and Emilie for navigating this world together, and endless admiration for all of their feats of derring-do.
Emilie Krause (Young Woman) – Emilie Krause is a local actor with a B.A. from Temple University. Recent Philadelphia productions: Charlotte’s Web (Arden Theater), Our Class (Wilma Theater), Legacy of Light and Dividing the Estate (People’s Light and Theatre). Other credits include Simpatico, Shakespeare in Clark Park, PTW, PlayPenn, Brat Productions, and PYP. Emilie’s first experience with Exile was attending their production of Blackbird, and it was love at first sight. How appropriate that, three years later, she is making her Exile debut with another of David Harrower’s haunting plays. Deepest thanks to Brenna, Joe, and the whole Exile family. Next up: A Wrinkle in Time with People’s Light and Theatre Company.
Jared McLenigan (William) – Jered McLenigan is happy to return to Exile, where he was last seen in That Pretty Pretty; or, The Rape Play; and to continue his collaboration with Brenna Geffers, who previously directed him in Marat/Sade (EgoPo Productions) and Pterodactyls (New City Stage). Recent credits include All My Sons (Delaware Theatre Company) and Dublin By Lamplight (Off-Broadway, Inis Nua Theatre/59E59). Other favorite Philadelphia credits include Gagarin Way (Inis Nua), Henry IV Part I (Lantern Theater), Rock 'n' Roll, The Pillowman (Wilma Theater). Barrymore Award recipient: It's A Wonderful Life; A Live Radio Play (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play). Jered also devotes time as a teaching artist, having spent the last 2 summers with People's Light and Theatre's SummerStage program. Next, Twelfth Night and Titus Andronicus for the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, followed by the World Premiere of Etched in Skin on a Sunlit Night with InterAct Theatre.
Crew
Brenna Geffers (Director) – Brenna Geffers is the associate artistic director for Theatre Exile for whom she most recently directed Saturn Returns. She is also a company member and literary director for EgoPo Classic Theater for whom she most recently directed Marat/Sade. Brenna is a freelance director and in the past year, she has directed and created pieces for New City Stage, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, the Annenberg, and the Philadelphia Artists Collective. She earned her MFA in directing from Temple University. Brenna is a founding member of Wandering Rom, for whom she has created and directed multiple pieces, most recently the world premiere of Visions of Hecate, a multi-media-of-sorts piece exploring the works of William Blake. Next up: The Golem, a devised piece featuring live music, puppetry and dark myths. Much love and thanks to Thom and the farmhands. This last one is also for Bryan.
David Harrower (Playwright) – David Harrower premiered his first play, Knives in Hens, at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre in 1995. It has been translated for performance in more than twenty countries including France, Holland, Belgium, Scandinavia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Colombia, Australia and America. Since then he has written 6 more works including Blackbird, Kill the Old Torture Their Young, Presence and Dark Earth. He has also adapted several works for stage, including a version of Pirendello’s Six Characters In Search of an Author for the Young Vic, and Chekhov’s Ivanov, staged at the National Theatre in London. His works have been performed at The Royal Court Theatre, Traverse Theatre, The National Theatre, the Edinburgh Lyceum, The National Theatre of Scotland, The Citizens’ Theatre, The Edinburgh International Festival, The Albery Theatre, the Rose Theatre and The Manhatten Theatre Club. His works have won Best Play in the Scottish Theatre Critics Awards, Best New Play at the 2007 Laurence Olivier Awards, the Meyer Whitworth Prize in 1999 and the Theater Heute Best Foreign Play (Critics Award) in 1997.
Thom Weaver (Set and Lighting Designer) – For Exile: The Aliens (scenery and lighting), Lieutenant of Inishmore, Shining City, American Buffalo. Designs in the area have been seen at Wilma, Arden, 1812, Azuka, People’s Light, DTC, Walnut, New Paradise, Curtis Opera, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Lantern, and Flashpoint Theatre Company, where he is Artistic Director. Other theatre credits include: Teller’s Play Deadin Las Vegas and NYC, Cal Shakes, Children’s Theatre Company, CENTERSTAGE, Folger Theater, Hangar, Cincinnati Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, Cleveland Playhouse, Roundhouse, Theatre J, Portland Center Stage, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Signature Theater Company, Berkshire Opera, Lincoln Center Institute, Lincoln Center Festival, York Theatre, Summer Play Festival, 37 ARTS, Spoleto Festival USA, City Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, and Yale Rep. Awards include 9 Barrymore nominations (winning in 2011 for In the Next Room), two-time City Paper’s Best Lighting Design, 2010 Helen Hayes Nomination, and the 2007 AUDELCO Award for King Hedley II, Signature Theatre. He is a member of Wingspace Design Group. Education: Carnegie Mellon and Yale.
Daniel Perelstein (co-Sound Designer/co-Composer) – Daniel Perelstein is a freelance sound designer, composer, and musical director in Philadelphia. He is excited to work with Theatre Exile for the first time and is extremely grateful to Brenna, Joe, and especially Chris for the opportunity. Recent and upcoming designs: Wilma Theater, Live Arts Festival, Arden Theater, Walnut Street Theater, Peoples Light & Theater, Kimmel Center, PlayPenn New Play Development Conference, Azuka Theater, Theater Horizon, Flashpoint Theater, Lantern Theater, Inis Nua, Commonwealth Classic Theater, Shakespeare in Clark Park. Daniel has been fortunate to work with and learn from other prominent designers and composers including Pavel Fajt, Troy Herion, Chas Marsh, Andrew Nelson, Rob Kaplowitz, Christopher Colucci, and especially Nick Kourtides. He holds a B.S. in Engineering and a B.A. in Music from Swarthmore College. Hear samples of his work at www.danielperelstein.com
Christopher Colucci (co-Composer/co-Sound Designer) – Christopher makes sound and music as a theater artist, composer and guitarist. In 2011, Christopher received his fourth Barrymore award for Outstanding Original Music and Sound Design (In the Next Room, or the vibrator play - Wilma Theater). Upcoming shows this season include Sam Shepard's The Curse of the Starving Class and Angels in America at the Wilma; How I Learned to Drive with Theatre Horizon; and Bruce Graham's Mr. Hart and Mr. Brown at Peoples Light. This is his eighth production with Theatre Exile, and first co-design with Dan Perelstein. Special thanks to Bryan Clark - you've made exile feel like home.
Rosemarie McKelvey (Costume Designer) – Rosemarie is very excited to be working with Theatre Exile on That Pretty Pretty. Previous designs for Theatre Exile include Killer Joe, Rounding Third, Burkie and Rhinoceros. Other companies Rosemarie has designed for are The Arden, People’s Light, New Paradise Labs, 1812 Productions, Interact Theater Company, Villanova University, Azuka, Pig Iron, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and The Minneapolis Children’s Theatre. Rosemarie won the 2007 Barrymore award for Caroline, or Change and the 2009 Barrymore award for Something Intangible both produced by the Arden Theatre company. She also had a 2009 Barrymore nomination for Cinderella (People’s Light & Theatre Co.). Rosemarie is also an adjunct professor in the fashion department of Moore College of Art & Design.
Avista Custom (Properties) – Avista Custom is a full-service prop design and construction firm, as well, managing props for small local theatre companies and doing custom pieces. Avista Custom Theatrical Services, LLC was founded in 2007 by Jennifer Burkhart, Amanda Hatch, and Travis Whitaker as a properties design firm. Avista Custom is the Philadelphia area’s largest and most diverse theatrical prop rental house. Avista also has a large lighting rental stock to choose from. In 2008 Avista acquired the prop and lighting inventories of former rental house, Prop Shop.
Danielle B Rose (Stage Manager) – Danielle Rose is excited to be working with Theatre Exile for the first time. Dani has worked up and down the east coast including Delaware Theatre Company, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Folger Shakespeare Library, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Delaware Shakespeare Festival among others. Dani would like to thank her friends and family for their constant love and support.
Jamel Baker (Assistant Stage Manager) – Jamel Baker is thrilled to be working with Theatre Exile again for the fifth time. Jamel graduated from Millersville University with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication with a concentration in Theatre. Jamel’s previous credits include Iron, That Pretty Pretty, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, and Saturn Returns for Theatre Exile, the Post Op Festival at the Painted Bride and Heavy Metal Dance Fag at Tribe of Fools. He would like to thank his family, friends and everyone at Theatre Exile for allowing him to continue to work with them.
