Directed by Kevin Kelly
Written by Greg Mandryk
Stage Managed by Julie C. Okuley
Costume Design by Katie Atkinson and Jill Kenderes
Set & Lighting Design by Patrick Ciamacco
CAST/STAFF Bios
Eva Nel Brettrager (Margaret, Dispatcher, Girl) is pumped to be treading the floorboards here at Blank Canvas Theatre! Eva has been doing theatre for many, MANY years, though she has not been ON stage as an actress since 2015, where she was last seen in The Skin of Our Teeth (Muse/Fortune Teller/Actor). Her primary theatrical function is as a stage manager, where she has worked at the likes of The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, convergence-continuum, Ensemble Theatre, Beck Center, TrueNorth, CVLT, and Tri-C West. Next up, she will be stage managing This Much at convergence-continuum. When not living and breathing the arts, she's a Car Sales Rep at Auto World USA. Many thanks to Kevin, Patrick, cast and crew. LLAP.
Samantha Cocco (Connie, Samantha, Nordoff) is beyond excited to be making her debut at Blank Canvas Theatre. Her recent credits include Adventures of The.Black Girl in Her Search for God (Missionary/Mathematician) at Karamu House, Love Letters (Melissa) and The Vagina Monologues at Brecksville Theatre, The Taming of the Shrew (Gremio/Widow) at Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, Foreplay (Annie) at Aurora Community Theatre, The Phantom Tollbooth (Bird) at Ensemble Theatre, and many independent film and TV roles. She is originally from San Francisco but has happily called Cleveland home for 12 years, excluding a two-year period somewhere in there where she randomly lived on a Pacific island. She (unfortunately) doesn't make enough money acting to quit her day job, which she (fortunately) loves. Many thanks to all of her fans (mostly her mom, Eddie, JP, and Tina) who make her feel like a much better actor than she really is.
Antonio DeJesus (Jogger, Masked Man, Tom, Joe, Man) is thankful to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre. Recent credits include Equus (Alan) at BCT (2017 “Best Actor in a Non-Musical” and “Young Rising Star” Nominee - Cleveland Critics Circle), Bent (Rudy) at Beck Center, Company (Paul) at the Allen Theatre, and Spring Awakening (Hanschen) at Near West Theatre. When not on stage, Antonio pursues photojournalism and works as a barista at Lakewood’s Goodkind Coffee. For Emily Suzanne Plank. Instagram: @L8NiteWithTony. Thanks, Mum!
Michael N Herzog (Dwight, Harry, Dewey) was last seen here at Blank Canvas Theatre in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Martini). He has been a regular improviser with Something Dada for nearly 20 years. Over the last 14 years, Mike has performed over 1,800 corporate shows/events across Northeast Ohio through Stern Advertising. Bloody Little Pieces is the perfect piece for Mike as he shifts away from corporate-backed appearances and into more traditional theater settings in and around the Cleveland area. Mike is getting married in October and cannot thank Mo enough for encouraging him to be a part of this production. 2018 is the year M&M did sh*t. Enjoy the show.
Assad Khaishgi (Narrator 2, Werner, Dave, Evans) is a transplant from Karachi, Pakistan, now rooted in Lakewood. He is sometimes spotted stumbling about on stages, usually on the west side, and is thrilled to be in his first (last? Hopefully not!) show at Blank Canvas Theatre. Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind.
Eli Ravenson (Chet, Mr. D, Dad, Joe) is excited to return to the stage at Blank Canvas Theatre having appeared as Blake Mitchell in the last factory series production Is This Entertainment? Other theatre credits include performances at Broadview Heights Spotlights, Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, and Kent State Stark Theatre. Eli will next appear as Dr. Sansón Carrasco/Duke in Broadview Heights Spotlights' production of Man of La Mancha running November 2 through 17, 2018. Outside of theatre, Eli is a college lecturer in philosophy and comparative religion at Cleveland State University and a bartender. He hopes that you all enjoy the show!
Dan Sekanic (Mark, Brad, The Man, Steve) is thrilled to be making his first appearance at Blank Canvas Theatre! Some of his previous credits include roles in The Odd Couple (Felix), Noises Off! (Garry), Twelve Angry Jurors (Juror #8), and Visiting Mr. Green (Ross). Much love to his wife, Linda, who spends her time trying to save Hyrule while he is at rehearsals. Oh, and his evil cat, Solar, says, "Enjoy this bloody, little show!"
Russel Stich (Murray, Narrator, Phantom Weight Guesser) is excited to be making his initial appearance on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage after having directed The Bigfoot Letters, which he co-authored, for the Factory Series in 2016. In addition to writing and directing for Hudson Theatre Camp’s and Beck Center for the Arts’ youth theater programs, Russ serves as the Artistic Director for Something Dada Improvisational Comedy Co. and has performed with the troupe regularly over the last 24 years. Additional past acting credits include A Christmas Story (Narrator) and Tony 'n’ Tina's Wedding (Barry Wheeler).
Suzanna A. Szabados (Narrator One, Jenny, Bus Rider) is so grateful and super excited to work with so many talented people for her first production at Blank Canvas Theatre! Her recent credits include Marat/Sade (Rossignol), as well as working on wardrobe and run crew for productions of Romeo and Juliet and Company at Cleveland State University, where she is also currently a junior Theatre major.
Tiffany Trapnell (Mary, Mom, Dr. Moritz) is happy to return to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage for the fourth time! Previous credits include Extremities (Marjorie), The Bigfoot Letters (multiple characters), and Is this Entertainment? (Delores Blair) at BCT as well as The Explorer's Club (Phyllida Spotte-Hume) at Clague Playhouse. Her next project is her directing debut for Kringle's Inventionasium at Tower City. Go before I go.
Jill Kenderes (Costume Design) is happy to return to Blank Canvas Theatre after costuming the first two Factory Series shows of this season. Her previous designing work has included shows for Broadview Heights Spotlights and French Creek Theatre. She is also a performer that has appeared on various stages in the area. Thanks to Joe, Anthony, and Samantha for their love and support.
Greg Mandryk (Playwright) would like to thank so many people for allowing this performance to happen, starting with Mindy Childress Herman and John Busser for running CPT’s Dark Room, without which Bloody, Little Pieces would never have been stitched together. Many thanks go to Kevin and this brilliant cast for breathing undead life into the monster, and a mountain of gratitude goes to Patrick and Blank Canvas Theatre for giving the beast a stage to play around on. Monsters may dwell in the darkness, but thanks to our supportive theatre community (that includes you!), they may enjoy their occasional moment in the spotlight.
Katie Simón Atkinson (Costume Design) is excited for her third Factory Series show! Her most recent costuming credits (with her lovely co-costumer, Jill) include The Elephant Man at French Creek Theatre, and Dividing the Estate and James & The Giant Peach, both at Broadview Heights Spotlights. Their work was also seen in the first two Factory Series shows this year, The Way I Danced With You and Is This Entertainment? She was recently seen onstage as Rosalind in Shakespeare In The Square's production of As You Like It. Thanks to Patrick for the warm welcome and Jill for the incredible teamwork. To Joe and John: love you both to pieces.