MAINSTAGE READING SERIES
OCTOBER 3, 2023, 7:00PM
Roaming Gnome Theatre
10255 E 25th Ave Unit 5, Aurora, CO 80010
STEVE PERRY LOVES ME
BY LESLIE C. LEWIS
Directed by Susan Lyles
Starring Jane Fromme and Arabella Beaubrun
Angie, an experienced trauma therapist for refugees, walks out of her office and into seclusion after one too many encounters with the horrors of genocidal violence. An inspired fascination with lead singer Steve Perry, whom she believes is a reclusive kindred spirit, sparks six-months of letter-writing to Perry and a period of introspection in which Angie draws on her past, her friendships and her family to come to terms with the cruelty in the world.
PLAYWRIGHT
LESLIE C. LEWIS
Leslie C. Lewis is a writer and producer whose short and full-length plays have been performed across the United States. Her work has been produced and/or developed by Denver Center Theatre Company, Paragon Theatre Company, And Toto too Theatre Company, Millibo Art Theatre, Capital Stage Theatre, and Lakeshore Players Theatre among others. She is a co-founder, co-producer and emcee of Rough Draught Playwrights, a live performance venue presenting Colorado playwrights’ works-in-progress, and was a founding member of Dirtyfish Theater, a playwrights collective creating and producing original work in Denver. Leslie is the author of non-fiction essays and articles for the academic and popular press, receiving awards for subject matter on the environment and contemporary culture. Radio credits include a series of essays addressing contemporary social issues which she wrote and broadcast for Connecticut Public Radio. Leslie is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, and lives in Longmont, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and assorted critters.
DIRECTOR
SUSAN LYLES
Susan Lyles has a BA from Wichita State University, and received certification from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Shakespeare. She has worked on stage in London, Chicago and Denver and has also worked in film, commercials, print, industrial, and voice over. Susan is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of And Toto too Theatre Company, and has directed more than 20 plays, including the award winning Naked in Encino, Car Talk, and Heads. She has designed costumes for more than 50 plays, including Lion in Winter (Denver Victorian Playhouse), 12th Night (Denver Victorian Playhouse), and Greater Tuna and Christmas Tuna (Denver Victorian Playhouse, Town Hall Arts Center). Susan is also producer for the award winning film production company Ruff, Ruff, Dog Productions.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
COLBY BLEICHER
Colby Bleicher hails from Anchorage, Alaska and graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a focus in directing. A recent transplant to Denver, Colby is the co-founder of Anchorage's critically-acclaimed Blue Chair Productions, where her directing credits include Nick Payne's Constellations, Bess Wohl's Small Mouth Sounds, and Duncan Macmillan's Every Brilliant Thing. With a passion for developing new work and telling stories by women, queer folks, and other marginalized communities, Colby is delighted for this project with And Toto too to mark the start of her theatrical career in Denver.
THE CAST
JANE FROMME
ANGIE
Jane has been a part of the Colorado Springs Theater community for the last 30 years. She as worked with Theatreworks, the Fine Arts Center and Star Bar Players performing such roles as Mrs. Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, Amanda Wingfield in Glass Menagerie, Lady Bracknell in the Importance of Being Earnest, Arkadina in The Seagull, Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire, and, Kate in All My Sons. Jane has also been involved for many years with the Millibo Art Theater (MAT) which dedicates themselves to not only original work, but produces WTF, Women’s Theater Festival, which highlights works by women playwrights from Colorado. Last year, Jane played Mavis in Stuffed by Leslie Lewis. Jane is very happy to be working on another one of Leslie’s plays and is excited to be a part of this “Journey”
ARABELLA BEAUBRUN
HIBA-(VOice over)
Arabella Beaubrun, originally from New York, attended the Eubie Blake Theatre Company (New York), where she furthered her acting talent. She has been in the McDonald's Gospel Choir (New York), singing backup for Shirley Caesar. Arabella performed at AMTC (actor, models, talent for Christ ) Summer Shine, where she did ten showcases. She has built her theatre career in Colorado for the past eight years. Past performances include ALL Shook Up (Sylvia) Town Hall Art Center. The Sounds of Arabella at Vintage Theater. Dot (Shelly’s Understudy) at Vintage Theater. Once on this Island ( Asaka) at Town Hall Art Center. Center Stage Series (Singer) at the Clock Tower Cabaret. South Pacific (Bloody Mary) and Hair Spray (Dynamite) at the Pace Center. Arabella would like to thank her family, Mom, Brother, and her Children Angel and Ariel for being her biggest fans.
SOUND DESIGN
DARREN SMITH
Darren Smith- serves as vice-president as well as technical director for And Toto too, he is responsible for the technical operations of the theater, determining technical staffing and equipment requirements for productions, and acts as the central coordinating point for the designers, the stage management team, the craftspeople, etc. – throughout each production. With more than 30 years of experience both on-stage and in almost every capacity behind the scenes, he brings a wealth of ideas and best practices to And Toto too. Mr. Smith is not, despite what a 'vanity search' on the internet may lead you to believe, an editor and writer specializing in travel directories and feature magazine stories, an Australian rugby league player, the 1997 World Irish Dancing Champion, a football player for the Grand Valley State University Lakers, a new age composer living in Texas, or a Christian comedian and illusionist. He lives in Denver with his wife, sons, and their two dogs, and is also the co-founder of the leading B2B customer reference company Point of Reference.