Directed by Anne McEvoy
Stage Managed by Jamie Benetto
Costume Design by Katie Atkinson & Jill Kenderes
Set Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Lighting & Sound Design by Patrick Ciamacco
CAST/STAFF
Benjamin Gregg (Jeff) is thrilled to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre! Ben most recently appeared on stage in The Lion in Winter (John) at Ohio Shakespeare Festival earlier this year. Many, many thanks to Pat and Anne for this opportunity. Thanks as well to the talented cast and crew of Lobby Hero. Ben would also like to thank Dr. Ed. Simone at St. Bonaventure University, Clyde Simon at convergence-continuum, Sean Derry at none too fragile theatre, and Mitchell Fields, teacher extraordinaire. Thank YOU for supporting BCT and the performing arts in Northeast Ohio. Love to Amy.
Daniel McKinnon (William Understudy) is excited to join those at Blank Canvas Theatre in Lobby Hero, and to have the chance to play William in this powerful piece. This is his first performance at BCT. He has performed elsewhere in Fire on the Water, Waiting For Godot, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He works as a programmer at Hyland Software, rock climbs, and plays volleyball in his spare time. He thanks Anne for giving him the chance to be a part of this experience, for giving him this opportunity to continue pursuing his passion, and for helping him grow as an actor.
James Alexander Rankin (Bill) is very excited to make his debut at Blank Canvas Theatre. James is a Northeast Ohio actor; most recently he has appeared in King Lear (Edgar) at Beck Center, Measure For Measure (Pompey) with Ohio Shakespeare Festival, and Treasure Island (Long John Silver) for Great Lakes Theater's Outreach Tour. In the past, he has worked with Ensemble Theatre, Dobama Theater, Cleveland Play House, none too fragile theatre, convergence-continuum, and many more. James would like to thank his family and friends, as well as the whole company involved in the process of this play. He is grateful to have the opportunity to play. Thank you and enjoy the show.
Kelly Strand (Dawn) is glad to be back on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage playing another rookie member of law enforcement after being seen in Silence! The Musical. Other recent credits include Life Sucks (Sonia) at CATCo, FreakStorm (Lynn) at none too fragile theatre, and Angels in America (Harper) at Ensemble Theatre. Kelly holds a degree in theatre from Ashland University and is a proud alumna of the Barter Players at Barter Theatre.
Darius Stubbs (William) is a poet, playwright, performer, vocalist, educator, and LGBTQ advocate who has been living and working in Cleveland, Ohio since 2006. Artistically, he has collaborated with many creative thinkers across the city with whom he has created over a dozen original performance pieces, spanning the genre spectrum from performance art to fully-staged productions. Selected acting credits include Passing Strange (Narrator, Karamu House, 2018), Fissures of Men (Judas, Blank Canvas Theater, 2017), Rusted Heart Broadcast (CatManDu, Cleveland Public Theatre. 2013), Titus Andronicus (Aaron the Moor, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, 2010), and The Comedy of Errors (Sir Balthazar, Great Lakes Theatre, 2009).
Katie Simón Atkinson (Costume Designer) is excited to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre! Her most recent costuming credits (with her lovely co-costumer, Jill) include Art (BCT), Suds, The Rocking 60s Musical Soap Opera (Clague Playhouse), and Bus Stop (Wadsworth Footlighters). Their work was also seen in all three Factory Series shows last year here at BCT, and they'll be costuming Steel Magnolias at Wadsworth Footlighters in September. Recent onstage credits include Venus In Fur (Vanda) and As You Like It (Rosalind). Thanks to Patrick, Anne, and of course, Jill. Love to Joe and John.
Jamie Benetto (Stage Manager ) is very excited to be joining the Blank Canvas Theatre family to stage manage this production. Some of her favorite credits include Ruthless (Stage Manager), Heathers: The Musical (Stage Manager), The Spitfire Grill (Stage Manager), Gypsy (Assistant Stage Manager), and of course, her recent introduction to BCT, Little Miss Sunshine (Assistant Stage Manager). She would like to thank her family for their continued support and love.
Jill Kenderes (Costume Design) is happy to return to Blank Canvas Theatre after costuming Art earlier this year and the Factory Series shows last season, as well as Cannibal! The Musical. Her previous design work has included shows for Broadview Heights Spotlights and French Creek Theatre. She is also a performer who has appeared on various stages in the area. Thanks to Joe, Anthony, and Samantha for their love and support.
Anne McEvoy (Director) marks her first time directing at Blank Canvas Theatre with this production, and she’s extremely grateful to be working with such a generous, collaborative, and talented group of artists...both on stage and behind the scenes. Previously, Anne appeared onstage here in Next Fall and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. She’s also performed at Beck Center, Cleveland Public Theatre, convergence-continuum, Cleveland Play House, Dobama Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Karamu House, none too fragile theatre, Ohio Shakespeare Festival, and Seat of the Pants Productions, among others. She’s directed for Beck Center and Clague Playhouse, as well as for many local schools and colleges. Next month, she directs the world premiere of Lisa Langford’s award-winning Rastus and Hattie at Cleveland Public Theatre.