Pink Banana-One Acts12

proudly presents

One Acts: The End of the World June 1- 9, 2012 at the Next Act Theatre space 255 S. Water St., Milwaukee.

Name that Apocalypse Things that go Bump The Good New Days So Jesus Christ Walks into a Bar...

–Intermission– Bailing Out Clean Up on Aisle Six The Latest News from the Primordial Ooze.

This production is made possible by the Ferris Greeney Family Foundation.

One Acts: The End of the World 1

2 012 P I N K B A N A N A O N E AC T S : T H E E N D O F T H E WO R L D Name that Apocalypse By Sammi Dittloff Directed by Dana Gustafson Featuring Michael Traynor, Michael Guthrie, Layna Davis, Rob Maass and Jeff Kriesel In the game show “Name That Apocalypse,” contestants compete for the ultimate prize.

In this battle of wits and skill, who will be the last man standing?

Things That Go Bump By Mike Thompson Directed by Alan Piotrowicz Featuring Sally Marks, Liz Faraglia, Tim Palecek and Mark Neufang Young Lucy has had quite a rough day, so it doesn’t help when an errant boogeyman leaps out of her closet.

The Good New Days By Willy Thorn Directed by Fjosh Redbeard and Dana Gustafson Featuring Jose Rodriguez and Layna Davis As the world crumbles around two Eskimos, they realize that a post-apocalyptic lifestyle may not be that bad after all.

So Jesus Christ Walks into a Bar By Andrew Rosdail Directed by David Franz Featuring Gemma Fitzsimmons, Katie Merriman and Michael Traynor At the end of the world, Jesus Christ walks into a bar…and it turns out those jokes are all true.

Bailing Out by Arthur M Jolly Directed by Luke Erickson Featuring Kelly Coffey and Jim Huston Nurse Lauder needs the wily Mr. Niebold to calm down and take his pills, but he has other plans. In the darkness of the hospice ward, it’s all about finding the light.

Clean Up on Aisle Six By Clayton Hamburg Directed by Angela Fingard Featuring Samantha Martinson, Tim Palecek, Michael Guthrie and Liz Faraglia What if the last person on the earth you’d ever want to spend time with is the last person on earth you get to spend time with…in a grocery store?

Latest News from the Primordial Ooze By Rich Orloff Directed by Alan Piotrowicz Featuring Harrold Loeffler-Bell and Allie Beckmann Barry and Marjorie are a couple of amphibious creatures whose relationship proves that it’s harder to evolve when the creature you love doesn’t want you to change.

SPECIAL THANKS All of our volunteers, Jessica Betts, Evan Crain, Historic Fifth Ward Lofts, Tracy Korpela, Next Act Theatre, Eric Nutting, Andrea Toussaint and Matt Whitmore

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BIOGR APHIES Allie Beckman (Actor, Latest News from the Primordial Ooze Allie is a proud Milwaukee native with a BA in Theatre Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University where she emphasized her training in performance and directing. Among other numerous sources of income, Allie currently teaches the fundamentals of acting to teenagers with Je Suis Talent (Milwaukee) while they prepare for agent auditions in the Chicago area. Most recently Allie could have been seen in Fools4Tragedy’s WAITING and just finished shooting a short film. Some of her favorite stage roles include Mercutio in ROMEO AND JULIET, Diane in THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, Cathy in THE LAST 5 YEARS, Miss Hannigan in ANNIE, Darleen in the one-woman show DARLEEN DANCES, and Diana Devereaux in OF THEE I SING. Her directing credits include NATURAL SELECTION by Eric Coble, ‘NIGHT, MOTHER by Marsha Norman, and ICARUS’S MOTHER by Sam Shepard. Thank you for your continuing support of the arts!

Kelly Coffey (Actor, Bailing Out) Kelly is tickled pink to be working with Pink Banana. She was previously seen as Jean in DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE with PB. Favorite past roles include Julie in MISS JULIE and Rosalind in AS YOU LIKE IT. Kelly studied acting at Rutgers University NJ and currently resides in Milwaukee with her husband and two children.

Layna Davis (Actor, The Good New Days, Name That Apocalypse) Layna is a proud member of the UWM Theatre department.

She has appeared in AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (UWM) and most recently DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE (Pink Banana Theatre). She would like to thank the rest of the cast for all the laughs and her friends and family for their constant

source of support. Layna is currently completing her degree in B.F.A.-Acting at UWM. Love you Mom and Mike!

Luke Erickson (Director, Bailing Out) Luke is super excited to be making his post Peck School of the Arts directorial debut with PB! He most recently played Mr. Host in Grace Dewolff’s OUTLIERS at The Alchemist. You may also remember him as Dwight in PB’s DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE. Thank you to Alan, Josh & everyone at Pink Banana. You Rock! I would also like to thank my Aunt Joan.

Liz Faraglia (Actor, Clean Up In Aisle Six, Things That Go Bump) Liz is thrilled to have the opportunity to be Lucy in THINGS THAT GO BUMP for Pink Banana’s One Acts 2012: The End of the World! Liz is currently in her fourth year at UW-Milwaukee where she is double majoring in both Theatre and Dance and is also in UWM’s Honors College. Liz has had the opportunity to play a plethora of characters including: Felice in AIMEE AND JAGUAR, Lucy in MR. MARMALADE, Lucille in LOVERS QUARRELS, Fatima in PARADICE, Beth in LITTLE WOMEN and as Xochitl in THE SINS OF SOR JUANA. She has also been given the pleasure of working with esteemed directors such as: former Artistic Director of the Milwaukee Reperatory, Joe Hanreddy, Head of UWM’s Acting Program, Bill Watson, local actor and UWM Professor Jenny Wanasek, and fellow Pink Banana One Act director, Angela Fingard. In addition to her acting, Liz was able to use her choreographic abilities last summer when she accompanied Prof. Rebecca Holderness to Lenox, Massachusetts to co-choreograph Shakespeare and Company’s production of AS YOU LIKE IT. Liz received extensive ballet training from the Milwaukee Ballet School, and the Joffrey Ballet and Rock Ballet summer intensive programs, and has been honored to have been in dance One Acts: The End of the World 3

B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) works by Ed Burgess, Janet Lilly, and Dani Kuepper. Liz would like to dedicate this show to her parents, Cynthia and Sal, and brother, Dominic—thank you for sticking with me on the crazy journey that life has taken us so far, I love you!

Angela Fingard (Director, Clean Up On Aisle Six) Angela is excited for her first opportunity to direct with Pink Banana! Working with this cast has been a phenomenal experience! She recently directed MR. MARMALADE at UWM and has also directed for Sketch 22.

She was an Assistant Director for AS IT IS IN HEAVEN and FINDING PENELOPE (part of the Penelope Project with Sojourn Theatre and the UWM Center on Age and Community). Angela would like to thank her husband, Jeremy Mauger, for supporting her in following her dreams!

Gemma Fitzsimmons (Actor, So Jesus Christ Walks Into A Bar...)

Gemma is currently a student at UWM in the BFA acting program. Some of her recent roles include “I can’t wait” in VDAY-a memory, a monologue, a rant and a prayer, Le Beau in AS YOU LIKE IT at UWM, the moaner in VAGINA MONOLOGUES, Sister Helen Prejean in DEAD MAN WALKING and Pryce in LOST AND FOUNDLING. She has also studied improve acting at Second City in Chicago. She is very excited to be working with Pink Banana for the first time and looks forward to her future in the theatre.

David Franz (Director, So Jesus Christ Walks Into A Bar...)

David is a Milwaukee based actor and director who is thrilled to be making his Pink Banana Debut!

Previous directing credits include THE PINK FANCY, THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE, SNOW WHITE and 4 Pink Banana

CHARLOTTE’S WEB, among others.

David is currently a company member with both Pub Theater Group and the Kohl’s Wild Theater. Enjoy the show!

Michael Guthrie is excited to be a part of the Pink Banana One Acts, as this marks a return to scripted work requiring his voice!

After being involved in a number of theater and film projects over the years, Mike joined the local sketch comedy group The MUTES three years ago, who’s claim to fame is their silent film-style antics. He has also recently branched out to become a cast member of DINNER AND A DETECTIVE (an ongoing show at Hotel Metro), part of the cast of JULIET AND ROMEO to be staged later this summer, the Brewcity Bombshafts manlesque revue, and is currently teaching a class on Physical Comedy with the new Milwaukee Community Circus. He is also a part of various film projects in town, such as 1st AD for the feature Baby Blue Eyes and short subject Solitary Honor, as well as performing in/directing various MUTES sketches being filmed as silent shorts. He is grateful for having such a talented and patient group of friends and colleagues to work with in all of these endeavors!

Thanks to all!

Dana Gustafson (Director, The Good New Days, Name That Apocalypse) Dana holds a BFA in Directing from Drake University and was previously employed as the Production Manager for StageWest Theatre Company in Des Moines. She is currently the Secretary for Pink Banana Theatre Company’s Board of Directors. This is her third project with PB, after directing THE DILEMMA for Higher Education (2011 One-Acts), and assistant directing DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE. Additional credits include: Directing - THE FREAKS OF ORDINARY TIME (MARN Stages), SOME GIRL(S) (Drake University), DYING CITY (StageWest Scriptease); Stage Management - ALMOST, MAINE

B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .)

(StageWest); Acting - THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Drake University).

She thanks PB for this opportunity and her family and Corey for their continued support.

Jim Huston (Actor, Bailing Out) Jim started acting after he retired from a law practice eight years ago. He has been in several shows with the Cedarburg Players and the Bay Players.

During a previous administration, he appeared in the Young Playwright Festival’s production of GRANDMA, YOU CAN’T SHOOT THE PRESIDENT. He’s glad his wife Kellee puts up with this stuff.

Jeff Kriesel (Actor, Name That Apocolypse) This is Jeff’s second show in Milwaukee, his first being was DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE also with Pink Banana Theatre. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin Jeff decided to move to Milwaukee in June of 2011 to get into a larger theatre pool and to finish schooling. Jeff would like to thank his friends, family, and everyone involved with Pink Banana Theatre Company for this opportunity. He could not have done it without all of you.

Thanks and enjoy the show!

Harry Loeffler-Bell (Actor, Latest News From The Primordial Ooze) Harry is a graduate of the Marquette University theater program, where he played a variety of roles including Puck in A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, Panch from THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, and various roles in THE LARAMIE PROJECT. He also had the opportunity to play the character Chris in Mary Sweeney’s film Baraboo.

Occasionally you may also come across him performing funny songs he writes, at open mics and bars around Milwaukee.

He would like to thank Alan for casting him, Allie for being fun to act with, and his parents and family for continuing to support him.

Rob Maass (Actor, Name That Apocolypse) Rob is... well what can be said that hasn’t been said in his Pink Banana bios before.... this is his... whatever number of show with them.

And they have been amazing to him. No matter what sort of pain in the butt thing he seems to do, they just go with it. It’s been ridiculous. Enjoy your show. ...Also.. his headshot is like.... 7 years old.. doesn’t he look young in it? No moustache even....

Sally Marks (Actor, Things That Go Bump) After a 35 year hiatus, Sally is very excited to be back on stage.

She appeared in Chamber Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival as Ida in CEMETARY CLUB and Helga in DEATH TRAP at Sunset Playhouse, the Lion Aunt in STEVIE and Mary in SAVANNAH DISPUTATION at Boulevard Theatre, Myra in RSVP’s REGRETS ONLY, Bunny in A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED with West Allis Players and Ouiser in STEEL MAGNOLIAS with Soulstice Theatre. She was just seen in two Carte Blanche productions, One Act Play Festival and Shel Shorts. In the “olden days” Sally appeared in several movies and Max Reinhardt’s Drama Workshop in Hollywood. Her previous Milwaukee credits included the Jewish Community Center Players, Shorewood Players and Sunset Playhouse. During her theater absence she worked as a Medical Technologist and then as a Computer Systems Analyst.

Samantha Martinson (Actor, Clean Up On Aisle Six) Samantha lives in Milwaukee, where she is currently finishing up her One Acts: The End of the World 5

B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) degree at Marquette University. Her most recent work was performing as Luciana in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS on Marquette’s main stage. She is actively involved in improv, being a proud member of the Studio 013 Refugees and also a member of The Dinner Detective, which has recently opened in Milwaukee. She is delighted in being a part of the Pink Banana 2012 One Acts! She’d love to thank her family, friends, and mentors for supporting her and would like to thank all of you for attending! Let the ‘End’ begin!

Katie Merriman (Actor, So Jesus Christ Walkes Into A Bar...)

Katie is back for a second round of One Acts with her favorite Pink Bananaers. She previously appeared as the Wife in AN ARTFUL MARRIAGE in the Sex, Drugs, and the American Way themed festival. She hopes the end of the world holds off long enough to let you enjoy the show.

Mark Neufang (Actor, Things That Go Bump) Mark is very excited to be making his debut in Pink Banana’s one acts with THINGS THAT GO BUMP He has acted, directed, and designed for many local theatres, including Waukesha Civic Theatre, Sunset Playhouse, Broadway Baby Dinner Theatre, Boulevard Ensemble, and Theatrical Tendencies. Recently, he appeared in CROSSING DELANCEY as Tyler Moss and TWELFTH NIGHT as Malvolio, both at Waukesha Civic Theatre. A Bay View resident, Mark hopes to participate in more Milwaukee theatres closer to home, and thanks Alan for this wonderful opportunity to work with Pink Banana.

Love to Jake for always keeping the ‘monsters’ at bay!

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Tim Palecek was born in Ratapani, India as a Bengal Tiger. He later changed his mind about the whole matter, and was reborn instead as the man is today. He studied performance at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside for three years, before deciding he was sick to death of the stuff. Tim proceeded to drop out and have a run of heartwarming, comedic adventures (look for the series’ release in bookstores and online this fall). He returned to the academic sphere in the fall of 2011 at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee to pursue technical production. While originally intending to focus on the technically-precise craft of buildin’ stuff, he has once again returned to performance, as he is like that weird smell in the apartment that you aren’t sure how it got there – he’s not necessarily bad, but you can’t manage to get rid of him. This September, Tim Palecek will be performing in Gregory Moss’ PUNNKPLAY with The World’s Stage Theatre Company.

Alan Piotrowicz (Director, Latest News From The Primordial Ooze, Things That Go Bump) Alan returns to Pink Banana following GUESS WHO DIED? in the 2011 One Acts and DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE last fall. Other direction includes SOME ENCHANTED EVENING for Falls Patio Players, THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES (twice) and SISTER MARY IGNATIUS EXPLAINS IT ALL FOR YOU for the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, BILL OF (W)RIGHTS for UTA at UW-Madison, and NATURAL HOSPITALITY for the Marcia Legere Play Festival. Alan is also a lighting designer and has worked with several fine companies in Wisconsin including Falls Patio Players, Four Seasons Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Sunset Playhouse, T.I.M.: The Improvised Musical, Uprooted Theatre, and Youngblood Theatre, among others.

Alan received his BA from UW-Madison

B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) and studied as an electrics apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera. Much love to Eric. www.alanpiotrowicz.com Joaquín Rodriguez (Actor, The Good New Day) Joaquín had his acting debut two years ago in the Pink Banana One Act Festival. This is his third consecutive performance with Pink Banana’s One Act’s after making his acting debut on the first PB One Act Festival two years ago. Joaquín began acting in 2010 after taking basic acting classes at the Milwaukee Rep. In addition to Pink Banana, he has most recently appeared at the Racine Theatre Guild, the Young Playwrights Festival at the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and Sunset Playhouse.

He would like to thank Fjosh Redbeard and Nita Schuelke for the opportunity to be back at Pink Banana. You too Tab Tab. Michael Traynor (Actor, Name That Apocalypse, So Jesus Christ Walks Into A Bar..)

Michael graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with a BA in Film. With a degree that provided him with both plentiful creative skill and utter destitution, Michael has been consistently acting throughout Milwaukee’s theatre community -- which, thankfully, pays him handsomely in audience noise. Can I pay for the bus with hand-echoes?

Juanita (Nita) Schuelke (Founder/ Producing Executive Director) Nita is the founder and Producing Executive Director of Pink Banana Theatre Co. A company she started while finishing her undergraduate theatre degree at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 2004.

She also acquired her Masters in Liberal Studies with a focus in Non-profit Leadership and Management in 2010. She would like to thank the volunteer staff and board of

Pink Banana Theatre for their hard work and dedication, the audience for supporting theatre art, and her husband who is without a doubt the most supportive, loving, individual she has ever met.

Matt Kemple (Artistic Producer) No stranger to the professional theatre, Matt has worked with many established companies in town including Next Act Theatre and In Tandem Theatre. He holds a BA in Theatre and Communication from St. Norbert College and has an extensive theatrical background as an actor, improviser and comedian, director, stage manager, producer, as well as experience in set construction, lighting and backstage work. Matt has aided in the creation of a dozens of theatre groups, companies, youth programs and special events with emphasis on new and emerging artists. In his spare time, Matt is the Founder and Producer of the annual Milwaukee Comedy Festival, the largest comedy event in the state of Wisconsin.

MilwaukeeComedy.com.

Fjosh Redbeard (Production Director) Fjosh is out of ideas for crazy fictional bios at the moment, so he’s going to be serious for once. First he would like to thank Juanita and Matt for knowing him so well and for so many years, and being able to work with him still, true friends. He’d also like to thank them for all the things they do for Pink Banana that no one sees. It truly would fall apart without them, they are the glue and the heart. To Adam, hopefully you are in recovery from brain surgery as everyone else is reading this, and you and I are on our way back to the good life. Too smart for your own good, lol.

Teaspoon, this is what I do, welcome to the big leagues. Oh yeah, and Fjosh once flew a rocket to the moon to fight communist robots in space, yada yada...

One Acts: The End of the World 7

PINK BANANA Nita Schuelke.......................................................................Executive Producer and Founder Matt Kemple ....................................................................................................... Artistic Producer Gwen Zupan................................................................................................... Company Manager Fjosh Redbeard............................................................................................Production Director James Boland.................................................................................................... Creative Manager Mike Van Dreser...............................................................................................Lighting Designer Paul Matthew Madden - Sound design, Bailing Out Dana Brzezinski - Costuming, Latest News from the Primordial Ooze Lindsay Scheffel - Makeup design, Things That Go Bump Ryan Cappleman - Choreography, Bailing Out

P I N K B A N A N A T H E AT R E : H OW W E P E E L The mission of Pink Banana Theatre is to provide professional opportunities to emerging artists.

Pink Banana Theatre Co. was founded in 2004 with a dedication and drive to produce theatre using local talent. PB has staged many published shows such as TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard, Sara Ruhl’s DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE and the acclaimed site-specific TAPE by Stephen Belber. In addition, Pink Banana has also produced hundreds of original one acts by local and national writers in the annual Pink Banana One Acts play festival.

ComedySportz is an all Improv, all suggestion based comedy show, fun for all ages. Two teams of “Actletes” get suggestions from the audience, create scenes onstage, and compete for your laughs! You decide what each scene is about, you decide who you think is funnier, and you decide who wins! If you haven’t guessed yet-- the most important part of the show is YOU! Bring your kids, bring your grandma, and bring your friends!

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