The Chance Theater

Charles L. Mee (Playwright)

Charles L. Mee is an American playwright and author. He was born in Barrington, Illinois in 1938. He was stricken with polio in 1953, which he details in his 1999 memoir A Nearly Normal Life. Big Love was produced at the Actors' Theatre of Louisville in 2000, and, in 2001, at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT, Berkeley Rep in California, the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, and the Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. His other plays include: Fetes de la Nuit, Belle Epoque, A Perfect Wedding, Salome, Snow in June, Limonade Tous Les Jours, Wintertime, The Trojan Women: A Love Story, True Love, First Love, bobrauschenbergamerica, Summertime, Full Circle, The Berlin Circle, Time to Burn, Orestes, and others. Utopia Parkway will be performed in 2006. All his plays are available on the internet at www.charlesmee.org. His work is made possible by the support of Jeanne Donovan Fisher and Richard B. Fisher. [top]

Jocelyn A. Brown (Director)

As Producing Artistic Director, Jocelyn is thoroughly fulfilled and challenged working alongside artists of such vision, integrity, talent, and drive. Recent highlights include the OC Weekly award for “Best Female Lead Performance” for her portrayal of Ann in Goodnight Children Everywhere, the nomination for “Outstanding Individual Artist” for 2003 by Arts Orange County, and the nomination for “Best Direction” by the OC Weekly for The Cherry Orchard. Jocelyn majored in Theatre and Biology at UCSD and pursued further studies at UEA in England, Laguna Playhouse, and SCR. Huge thank you's to Kirk, Oanh, and Martin. [top]

John Robinson (Set Designer)

This is John's first production with the Chance. He is an architect who has done set design in LA and New York. He thanks Jocelyn for the opportunity and Kelly for her support and inspiration. [top]

Tonya Moake (Lighting Designer)

Originally from Colorado Springs, CO, Tonya is presently pursuing an M.F.A. degree in Lighting Design at the University of California-Irvine. She has designed professionally for the Colorado Springs Youth Repertory Theatre and Theatre West in Scottsbluff, NE. Additionally, she has assisted at South Coast Repertory and with The Walden Family Theatre in Denver. Tonya also has experience with the Utah Shakespearean Festival and Little Theatre of the Rockies. Favorite designs include Annie Get Your Gun, Street Scene: An American Opera, and The Secret Garden. Tonya is so pleased to be working with The Chance Theater!! [top]

Bryan Barton (Sound Designer)

Bryan is thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful and challenging play. He was recently seen as Dr. Bartolo in the Company production of Fig: R.O.. As a Company Member, he has been involved in many productions at The Chance. Some favorites are Sganarelle and Creep for First Chance Fest 2004, as Stage Manager for Goodnight Children Everywhere and Sound Designer for Tape. He would like to thank Jocelyn for the opportunity, and Clarissa for her love and support. [top]

Martin Noyes (Fight Director)

Some other shows Martin has Fight Directed: Grapes of Wrath, Tom Jones, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Measure for Measure, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Romeo and Juliet, Beaty and The Beast, Zastrossi, The Elephant Man, and Richard III. Martin received his B.F.A. from Southern Oregon University, and his M.F.A. form the University of Alabama and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival both in Theatre with emphasis on Acting. [top]

Alexander H. Lee (Stage Manager)

Alex is an undergraduate stage manager at the University of California, Irvine. Along with The Chance Theater, Alex has also worked in production with Opera Pacific, Cirque du Soleil and the Pageant of the Masters. Alex is poor. If you work in theatre and think that you can provide him with good networking opportunities or a boyfriend please wait for him at the bottom of the steps in the lobby. He usually comes down 5 minutes post show to receive compliments, critiques, physical and emotional abuse and job offers. Professional credits and references are available upon request. Thanks to Jocelyn and the Chance for taking him in. [top]

Irina Kruzhilina (Costume Designer)

Irina received her MFA in Costume Design from California Institute of the Arts as well as her MFA in Fashion design from Moscow Textile University. As a resident designer of the Filament Theatre Company she designed Farewell Juliet and Yerma (at Santa Monica Playhouse), both directed by an artistic director of the company Max Truax. Other design credits include: Merchant of Venice (dir. David Chambers) at Milwaukee Shakespeare Company; The Down of Quixote (dir. Julie Crocket) at the 24-th Street Theatre; All’s Well That Ends Well (dir. Karin Coonrod); Blood Wedding (dir. Max Truax); The Pearl of Combat (dir. Tracy Otwell); Mud (dir. Heidi Carelson). Her designs in Moscow include: Three Sisters; Idiot; Don Kihote; Eugeny Onegin; New Year’s Fairy Tail at Moscow Circus of Yiri Nikylin and many others. As a fashion designer Irina designed costumes for 2004 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena and worked at the SoHo Showroom in New York. In addition to theatre and fashion Irina has also designs for film and music video. [top]

Kelly Todd (Choreographer)

Kelly Todd recently returned from New York City where she choreographed and performed at Off-Broadway houses and local theaters. Kelly is the resident choreographer for the Children’s Civic Light Opera where she has choreographed nearly 20 musicals. She recently choreographed Closer Than Ever and Cabaret at The Chance and is working on a new musical, Keep Movin’ On featuring the music of Sam Cooke. She would like to thank Jocelyn for her friendship, the three women for their inspiration and John for his unrelenting support and love. [top]

Dean Anderson (Musical Accompaniment)

Dean is a Chance Theater Staff Member and excited to be involved with his eighth production here. After working as a violinist, conductor, and music director in Columbia, Missouri, Dean moved to California. He has studied music and plays with the Santa Monica Symphony. Most recently, he adapted the music for FIG: R.O. (retro opera), as well as performed in FIG: R.O. (retro opera), Company and The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. He would like to send his gratitude to Jocelyn for the opportunity and his family for all their support. [top]

Bryan Barton (Oed)

Bryan is thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful and challenging play. He was recently seen as Dr. Bartolo in the Company production of Fig: R.O.. As a Company Member, he has been involved in many productions at The Chance. Some favorites are Sganarelle and Creep for First Chance Fest 2004, as Stage Manager for Goodnight Children Everywhere and Sound Designer for Tape. He would like to thank Jocelyn for the opportunity, and Clarissa for her love and support. [top]

Alex Bueno (Thyona)

Alex is in her 4th year with The Chance Theater Repertory Company. She was last seen in Back Stage West's Critic's Pick One Flea Spare as Morse. Some of her favorite roles include Florinda (The Rover), Blitzen (The Eight : Reindeer Monologues), Awoyn (Lord of the Screen), and Mortimer (The Fantasticks). She also recently made her TV debut on KOCE "Storefront Theater Live". She would like to thank The Chance Theater for providing an atmosphere in which she can grow. Alex would also like to thank Jocelyn for this wonderful opportunity, Martin for teaching her how to fall "the correct way", the cast and crew for their talent and friendships, her family for their undying support and finally her guy Casey who manages to brighten up every day. [top]

Ricky Culbertson (Giuliano)

Ricky is thrilled to join the chance company. He has been seen on The Chance stage in Closer Than Ever and Porcelain. He is also currently in Cabaret. He has performed in numerous national tours, Off-Off Broadway, and regional productions, including; Sweeny Todd, A Sondheim Celebration, Black Sox, Black Comedy, Guys & Dolls, Oklahoma!, Forum, Noises Off, Forever Plaid, World Goes Round, and JC Superstar. “Thanks to the whole company, I am humbled in your presence.” [top]

Dimas Diaz (Nikos)

Dimas is a proud Company Member here at The Chance. Some roles of note include Voice #2 in the critically lauded production of Porcelain, Jon Saltzman in Tape, and Cupid in The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. In addition, Dimas also has written and performed with The Chance's comedy troupe, Cup of Ha-Ha. He would like to thank Jocelyn and the entire cast and crew for this enriching experience. Dimas dedicates this performance to his cousin 1st Lt. Mark L. Neria, who is bravely serving our country in Iraq. [top]

Bill Elverman (Constantine)

A Wisconsin native, Bill moved to California with Natalie, his wife, in February 2005. He was last seen as Detective Dundy in the world premiere stage adaptation of The Maltese Falcon with the Long Beach Shakespeare Company. Favorite stage credits include Athos in The Three Musketeers, Renfield in Dracula and Will Scarlet in Robin Hood. Film credits include the short films "Nick" and "Until the Day". Addicted to baseball and westerns. Doesn’t believe in vegetables. [top]

Michael Jablonski (Piero/Leo)

This is Michael's first production with The Chance Theater and he is pleased to be involved with this company. He has studied theatre at The Theatre School in Chicago, and is currently attending Chapman University. His past credits include A Midsommer Night's Dreame (Francis Flute), The Problem (Husband), And They Dance Real Slow In Jackson (Ben Willow), and Jane Eyre (Edward Rochester). Michael sends his love to mom & dad - his tour guides in infinite possibility. [top]

Annie Mezzacappa (Bella/Eleanor)

Annie is pleased to be a part of this very exciting play, and thanks her director, Jocelyn Brown for the opportunity! Last seen at The Chance in The Diary of Anne Frank, her recent credits include Six Degrees of Separation, My Three Angels, Broadway Bound, and You Can’t Take it With You (Ethel Case Award Winner). When she is not onstage, or representing The Chance as a Company Member and Developmental Director, Annie works as an attorney and freelance writer. [top]

Keri Safran (Lydia)

Theatre credits include the world premiere of Tennesee Williams' Spring Storm, with the Actors Repertory of Texas; "Juliet" in Romeo and Juliet at the Huntington Theatre's Studio 210; and various plays at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. At Williamstown, Ms. Safran is best known for her one-woman show, Spare Me All the Charms, which she wrote, produced and starred in. Other favorites are As You Like It (Rosalind); The Gut Girls (Polly); Two Small Bodies (Eileen) and Three Days of Rain (Nan). Film & TV: Richard Linklater's "$5.15/hr." for HBO; "McCartney's Genes" and "Entity: 9". Keri has trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, Boston University, Shakespeare & Company, The Groundlings, and at Northwestern University's "Cherubs" Program, where she also taught in 2001. She received her B.A. in Italian Studies from the University of Texas @ Austin, and is an accomplished singer and dancer. Many thanks to The Chance Theater for bringing me on board! [top]

Bonnie Wickeraad (Olympia)

Bonnie is pleased to be performing at The Chance again. You may have seen her in other Chance productions such as Company, It's A Wondeful Life, and Closer Than Ever. Ms. Wickeraad is also a recent graduate of UC Irvine with a degree in Theatre. She would like to thank Jocelyn for the oportunity to play Olympia...which, for people who know Miss Wickeraad, is such a stretch! ;) She would like to thank Martin for teaching her how to fight like a real woman! As always, she would like to thank her friends and family for their never ending support and love. Don't worry Dad, I won't starve! And also special thanks to "Basket"(Maktub!), and to her Granddad (her night in shining armour)! If we do not support out artists, then we sacrifice our imagination on the altar of crude reality and we end up believing in nothing and having worthless dreams. [top]