ACTORS BIO'S
the day dreamer BY christie brenner winn
Rachel Seiger (amy)
Rachel is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and has been living in Denver for just over two years. This is her second run of the Play Crawl with And Toto too, and she is excited to be returning to this fruitful fundraiser! You might have caught Rachel performing around town in Everything Was Stolen (Square Product Theatre) or playing Persephone in Rausch (The Catamounts and the Control Group) or on stage at Curious Theatre performing in Curious New voices.
Ben Hilzer (Andrew)
Ben Hilzer has been seen on stage all across Colorado at the Arvada Center, THEATREWORKS, CO Springs Fine Arts Center, the Aurora Fox, Littleton Town Hall and many others. Ben can currently be seen as "Sweaty Eddie" in Town Hall's Sister Act and recently finished the run of Caroline or Change at the Aurora Fox. All my love to Caitlin.
BLOW INS BY LINDA BERRY
HARRISON LYLES-SMITH (BOY)
Harrison Lyles-Smith - EMC- Shrek the Musical-(Boy Knight/Duloc/Bones) Curious Theatre- Appropriate (Ainsley), Aurora Fox- Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Benji), Revenge of the Space Pandas (Boffo), Edge Theatre- Medea (Son), Jerusalem (Markey), And Toto too Theatre- The Playground (Jake), A Boys Guide to Brutal Honesty (Bradley). He would like to thank his friends, family, cast and crew for all their support.
a strange burd BY LISA WAGNER ERICKSON
meredith young(burd)
Meredith is honored and thrilled to be returning to The Play Crawl (and performing the amazing Lisa Wagner Erickson's words), after last year's We're Perfect For Each Other. She also had the pleasure of performing Tea for Ewes, in 2015. Other Colorado favorites include The Cripple of Inishmaan and A Christmas Carol (Miners Alley Playhouse), Circle Mirror Transformation (Curious Theatre Company), Our Town and Ruthless (Creede Repertory Theater), and 3600 and The Effects of the Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon-Marigolds (The Three Leaches). Meredith will (most ardently) be playing Janie, this August, in Feral Assembly's The Never Summer, by Ellen K. Graham. A California native, Meredith received her BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder (GO BUFFS!!). Thank you, Susan, for everything and all that you do --- you are a true ROCKSTAR/SUPERWOMAN!!
jason maxwell (jUSTIN)
Jason Maxwell is a proud company member of The Catamounts, a fierce group of performance artists that specialize in theater for the adventurous palate. He has appeared in numerous shows with them, but most recently was under the direction of the Cats' founder and artistic director Amanda Berg Wilson in the DCPAs Off Center production of Between Us: The Whisk(e)y Tasting. Maxwell's first Play Crawl performance was in The Green Crayon 4 years ago, under the direction of Jeremy Make. He is ecstatic to be returning for this incredible art extravaganza. He is represented by Radical Artists Agency.
tara rose kelso (jOSIE)
Tara just finished up playing the brave Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet with Mark Ragan’s company, Peak to Peak Players. Before that she appeared as Meadow in Aurora Fox’s production of Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies. She played #8 in Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s production of The Wolves. Last summer, Tara had the privilege of performing as one of the three Persephone’s and the Tea Lady in The Catamounts’ outdoor, immersive, original production: Rausch. She has also had the pleasure of playing Celia (As You Like It) and Sampson/Apothecary (Romeo and Juliet) in outdoor productions at the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE by ELLEN K GRAHAM
KELLY UHLENHOPP (WOMAN)
Kelly is excited to be back at the Play Crawl! Kelly has been seen on stages across the Denver metro area, but right now is taking time off to travel, and hang out with her dogs and her husband.
DAMON GUERRASIO (MAN)
Damon Guerrasio is delighted to be participating in his first play crawl with And Toto too. Other credits include The Odd Couple (PACE); Lost in Yonkers (Miners Alley); Jesus Christ Superstar, Saturday Night Fever, Junie B Jones, Charlotte's Web, Lyle the Crocodile (Arvada Center); Water by the Spoonful (Curious Theatre); The Odd Couple (PACE); Shakespeare in Love (CSFAC); A Christmas Carol (Theatreworks); Bullets Over Broadway (Vintage Theatre); The Little Prince, Sleeping Beauty (MACC); Beau Jest, Red Hot and Cole, All My Sons (Cherry Creek Theatre);The Fantasticks! (Midtown Arts Center); Annie, Spamalot, Shrek the Musical (Breckenridge Backstage Theatre); The Music Man, Boeing Boeing, Completely Hollywood Abridged, Evita (Littleton Town Hall Arts Center); Love Child, Minimum Wage, Complete World of Sports Abridged (Avenue Theater); Something's Afoot(American Southwest Theatre Company). Television: Manhattan (Lionsgate); From Dusk till Dawn (Miramax). Damon can currently be seen in Queen of Conspiracy at Miners Alley Playhouse, running through June 23rd. Upcoming projects include Emma, opening in July at Vintage Theatre, and Once, opening in September at Miners Alley Playhouse!
WHAT DO YOU SMELL? BY MELISSA LUCERO MCCARL
STEVEN J. BURGE*(STEFAN)
Steven J. Burge made his Colorado debut at the Aurora Fox Arts Center in 2003 as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. Since then, this award-winning character actor has appeared on stages throughout the Denver-metro area, including the Arvada Center (Saturday Night Fever the Musical), the Curious Theatre (Speech and Debate) and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts as God in the regional premiere of An Act of God. Most recently, he played Adam in the world premiere of What You Will by Colorado playwright (And all-around Darling), Jeffrey Newman. “All my love to each and every one of YOU, who has chosen to come to the Play Crawl in support of brand new plays by Colorado writers!” <3
MAGGY STACY (MANDY)
Maggy Stacy is a Henry Award-winning actor who began in a high school improvisation troupe, and continued training in improv and acting in Chicago. She returned to Denver in 2010 for a degree in Psychology and has been acting on stage and screen ever since. She teaches and coaches with DCPA Education, narrates audiobooks, and works with healthcare professionals to develop communication and empathy. Favorite roles include Izzy in Rabbit Hole with Vintage Theatre, Honey in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf with The Edge Theatre, Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Celia in What You Will.
NEW AND GENTLY USED BY NINA ALICE MILLER
STEVEN r. kRAMER (lANCE)
Stephen R. Kramer moved to Denver to go to the University of Denver in 1971 and has worked with just about every theater group in the rocky mountain area. But he is more widespread known for his work at Germinal Stage where this next season will mark his 30th year. He is a board member at Germinal Stage where he holds the title of Assistant Director-Manager. He has worked on more than 200 productions as Actor, Director and/or Designer.
JEFF JESMER (lENNIE)
Jeff Jesmer is a local actor who has enjoyed playing some great roles around Denver, from John Proctor in The Crucible to Kolenkhov in You Can’t Take it With You, he very much enjoys being on stage and bringing life to characters. Jeff is also a set builder and designer who has worked from Steamboat Opera all the way down to Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre in Trinidad, CO. He would like to thank you for supporting live theatre and to tell Julie and their fur babies that he has all the love anyone could ever hope for.
Ivy Silvesky (Georgia)
Ivy Sylvesky - 9th Grade Theatre major. DSA CREDITS: Seussical Jr. (Lolla-Lee Who, Hunter), Shrek the Musical (Young Fiona), House and Garden (Maypole Dancer), Giggle Improv Team. OTHER CREDITS: The Polar Express (Hero Girl), Once On This Island (Erzulie), The Inside Child (Denise), Wizard of Oz (Palace Guard), Annie Jr. (Annie), Shrek Jr. (Duloc Greeter Sign Holder). She would like to thank her parents, Walter, Lah Lah, Aunt Susie, Noodles, Jetra and Mahalo for always giving her love and support.
BARBERSHOP BY Jessica austgen
JOHN C. ASHTON (GUS)
John C. Ashton has been involved in live theater since his freshman year in high school, more than half a century ago. For a dozen years he was the highest- and lowest-ranking person at the Avenue Theater on 17th Avenue, where he produced all, directed most and appeared in many of the shows. TV/Film credits include Breaking Bad (Episode 504), and the Netflix film Our Souls at Night. He is a proud recipient of the Colorado Theater Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award.
SAM CHARNEY (vAL)
Sam Charney is delighted to be part of his first Play Crawl! Sam is an 8th grade theatre major at Denver School of the Arts. Sam most recently performed as Wally Webb in Our Town at Miners Alley Playhouse, and as Baby Bear in Shrek the Musical. His other favorite productions include As You Like It, West Side Story, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. When he’s not performing, Sam loves to knit, bake, and bike. Sam would like to thank And Toto too for this experience, and his family and friends for being so supportive.
MARK COLLINS (mILO)
A barber by trade, this is the first time Mark has performed in a play since he appeared as a dog in the second grade school play in his hometown of Ojai, California.
BEWARE THE SUN SQUID BY REBECCA GORMAN O'NEILL
KATE POLING (jESS)
Kate Poling is thrilled to be working with And Toto too again! Past credits with And Toto too include Julie (Smoke), Stel (South Star), Daisy (The Way Station) and Brenda (Show of Force). Kate is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Along with acting, she also teaches theatre around the Denver area. Favorite roles include Viola (Twelfth Night, Foothills Theatre Co), and Calpurnia (Julius Ceasar, Puppet Shakespeare Players, NYC). Enjoy the show!
AUSTIN LAZEK(RYAN)
Austin Lazek hails from Tennessee. He studied film production and theater at the University of Miami, and has lived in Denver since 2015. Past local credits include The Tempest, Beau Jest, Sleeping Beauty, South Star, and Root Baby: A Play with a Drinking Game. You can also see him this weekend in the Fearless Theater Production of Stop Kiss. He is very excited to be back with “And Toto too Theatre Co" for their annual play-crawl. Drink it up!
Signage of the Times by Edith Weiss
chris kendall(man)
Chris Kendall is a Denver-based actor, winner of last year’s Henry award for Outstanding Actor in a Play for District Merchants at Miners Alley Playhouse, and in 2010 the same award and an Ovation award for A Picasso, also at Miners Alley. With Boulder Ensemble Theater Company, he appeared in Birds Of North America, An Iliad, Outside Mullingar, Annapurna, Hysteria and others; with Benchmark Theater, in1984 and Smokefall. He has also appeared at Denver Center Theatre Company, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, The Catamounts, Vintage Theatre, Listen Productions, The Edge, Feral Assembly, Screw Tooth, The Spark, and The Mercury Café. He was awarded Best Season for an Actor 2015, by Westword’s Best of Denver, and last year received a True West award for An Iliad.
boss bitch by jenny stafford
rita broderick (MARLENE)
Rita Broderick is delighted to be apart of her second play crawl. She has been acting and directing for over 25yrs in Denver, L.A and New York. She has won several awards over the years and enjoyed nominations from Henry awards to ovation awards, Thanks to Susan for including her again this year.
Joi Hiatt (gRACE)
Joi is a theatrical, film, and commercial actor and model who graduated from the University of Colorado and has appeared in numerous plays and local films. Notable roles include Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Queen Gertrude in Hamlet, Bottom in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, and Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles, as well as roles in Pride and Prejudice, Miracle on 34th Street, and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Joi has appeared with or served on the board of Su Teatro, the PACE Center, the Athena Project, Arts in the Open, Vintage Theatre, and Zounds! Theater Co. Coming to film festivals in 2020, you can see Joi's work in Tomorrow Never Came, a short film about suicide awareness and prevention directed by Lisa Dunning.
*We wish to express our gratitude to the Performers’ Unions: ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS, AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS,SAG-AFTRA,through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear on this program.