Hell in a Handbag - Pussy on the House

Pussy on the House- Program Hell in a Handbag Productions presents

Producer- Allison Tolman Executive Producer- David Cerda Assistant Director- AJ Wright Stage Manager and Props- Jeff Shields ASM- R. Christopher Maxwell Scenic Designer- Justin Longnecker Lighting Designer- Carrie Hill Sound Designer- Christopher Kriz Costume Designer- John Nasca Wig and Make-up Designer- Robert Hilliard Violence Designer- Chris Carpenter Graphics- Michael S. Miller Puppet Design and Construction- Lolly Extract and Amber Marsh Publicity Photography- Rick Aguilar Ushers provided by The Saints

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CAST (in

or der of appe ar ance)

CLAMIDIA JEAN/POLLY/PREACHER/DOC........................................................ Jason Grimm MAGGIE POLLUP...................................................................................................... Jeremy Myers BRICK POLLUP............................................................................................................... Eric Lindahl MAE POLLUP................................................................................................................ David Cerda SUKEY POLLUP................................................................................................................... Ed Jones GOOPER POLLUP....................................................................................Christopher Carpenter BIG MAMA POLLUP.....................................................................................................Honey West UNDERSTUDIES For Mae, Sukey, Big Mama- AJ Wright For Maggie, Brick, Polly- Michael Manocchio Pussy on the House is made possible in part by grants from The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and The Donnelly Foundation.

SPECIAL THANKS Jon Runnfeldt, Doug Vickers, Ryan Landry, North Shore Baptist Church, About Face Theatre, Talon Bunn, Karen Cardarelli and Emerald City Theatre Co., Joan Mazzonelli, Chipper the Chicken, Peter Neville and Image Control Unit, Jason Shivers, Lauren Girard and Bread and Roses Productions. LLC. M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music, and homage.

H A N D B AG E N S E M B L E M E M B E R S David Cerda, Christopher Carpenter, Chad, Derek Czaplewski, Brigitte Ditmars, Alex Grelle, Jason Grimm, Michael Hampton, Ed Jones, Megan Keach, Steve Kimbrough, Lori Lee, Elizabeth Lesinski, Chris Maxwell, Terry McCarthy, Michael S. Miller, Danni Quider

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H A N D B AG A S S O C I AT E S Tim Howard

Annie Gloyn

Patricia Austin

H A N D B AG B OA R D Steve Abrams David Cerda H A N D B AG D O N O R S ( s e e

Alissa Spera Christopher Yourex o u r w e b s i t e f o r a n u p dat e d l i s t)

$500+- Karla Svatos, Steve Abrams $100-$499- Athene Carras & Thomas Applegate, Rick Aguilar, Peggy & Bruce Hayner, Gary L. Aistrup, Dawn Klingensmith, Ryan Mackey, Jim Schneider, Rachel Benoit, Rick Ingram, Elizabeth Lesinski and Danni Quider, Dawn and Kelvin Keach, Gloria and Dale Henderson $50-$99- Danni Smith, Doug Becci, Richard Stanton, Keith Dumbleton, Bradley Balof, Biff Johnson, Jeffrey Glenn, Rutger Thieller $1-$49- Andi Allen, Dori Goldman, Bea Cerda, Judi Cook- Ross It’s easy to donate to Hell in a Handbag Productions.

We are a 501C3 not-for-profit corporation.

Go to our website at www.handbagproductions.org or mail checks made out Hell in a Handbag Productions to: Hell in a Handbag Productions 2034 W. Farragut, #3 Chicago, IL 60625 Up Next: Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer 2011 at Mary’s Attic starting Dec. 1 Save the Date: Our Annual Handbag Benefit Dec. 4 at Mary’s Attic CAST BIOS Christopher Carpenter (Gooper Pollup) was last seen as Sam the Snowman in Rudolph the Red Hosed Reindeer. He has worked with Hell in a Handbag as both an actor and fight choreographer over the years, mostly choreographing violence for Lady X, Caged Dames and Rudolph 2003, 2009 and 2010. Favorite acting credits include Sal in North Shore Fish (Paper Moon), David in Company (Porchlight Music Theatre), and Andrew Rally in I Hate Hamlet (Lakeland Theatre, OH). As a combatant he is well versed in a variety of

disciplines (small sword, rapier and dagger, unarmed, quarterstaff) and has taught Stage Combat at Beck Center for the Arts Teen Theatre School in Cleveland.

David Cerda (Mae Pollup) Last seen as Dr. Joan Cannon in TROGG! A Musical.

Cerda is the cofounder and Artistic Director of HIAH Productions. Being able to breathe life into Mae, his favorite Pollup is truly a thrill. Mucho thanks and love to the Pussylicious cast and crew for their dedication, Ryan Landry for his talent, Hell in a Handbag 3

C A S T B I O S ( c o n t .)

Christopher for his love and Matt Gunnels for being an inspiration that continues to amaze.

Jason Grimm (Clamidia Jean/Polly/ Doc/Preacher) Previous Handbag roles include Pops (Trogg!), Linarcos (POSEIDON!) and Paul Bland (Eating Raoul). Other credits include: The Mystery of Irma Vep (Theatre Squared), Nightmare in Paradise(Nothing Special Productions) and Give Our Retards to Broadway! (The Lakeshore Theatre). As a musical director, Jason toured with the Second City National Touring Company for two years, frequently plays piano for Chicago’s longest running musical, Co Ed Prison Sluts (The Annoyance Theatre) and writes and performs horribly offensive songs every week at Davenport’s Cabaret as half of Smith and Grimm.

Thanks to the cast, crew, Gunnels, BigMamma-Grimm and love to Scott.

Ed Jones (Sukey Pollup) is very thankful to be a part of this show and working with such a ridiculously talented cast and crew. He is an ensemble member of Hell in a Handbag where he has been fortunate enough to appear in many productions including Die!

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Mommie, Die!, The Birds, Caged Dames, HAYWIRE!, POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical, Lady X, The Rip Nelson Halloween Spooktacular, Rudolph, and most recently the world premiere production of TROGG! He would like to give special thanks to Matt, David and Ryan Eric Lindahal (Brick Pollup) is thrilled to be working with Hell in a Handbag on this hilarious play. Favorite credits include BoHo: Side Show (Buddy) Jeff Citation and After Dark Award; Signal Ensemble: Six Degrees of Separation (Trent); TATC: Footloose (Chuck Cranston); Circle Theatre: The Who’s Tommy (Capt.

Walker) Jeff Nomination, Seven Brides (Adam), The Analytical Engine (Nathaniel Swade), Thou Shalt Not (Laurent), and Hayfever (Sandy). Other theatres he has worked with include Griffin Theater, Metropolis, Theatre Building and Theo Ubique. A special thanks to his family, friends and D. Michael Manocchio (u/s Brick, Maggie, Polly) is thrilled to be working with Hell in a Handbag for the very first time. Michael is a Cleveland native and a recent graduate of Elmhurst College, where he studied theatre and English.

C A S T B I O S ( c o n t .)

He has also studied with the Moscow Art Honey West (Big Theatre and at Payap University in Mama) Honey West, Chiang Mai, Thailand. In Chicago for but a graduate of Indiana a year since graduating, Michael has had University, settled in the great fortune of working with Chicago about 20 wonderful companies like Goodman years ago. She has Theatre, American Theater Company, appeared in such and Pride Films and Plays as an actor, notable productions as Vampire director and Dramaturg.

Lesbians of Sodom, Diva Diaries, Jerry’s Girls, and Tony and Tony’s Wedding. Her Jeremy Myers own cabaret act lasted 13 years here in (Maggie Pollup) is Chicago and in touring productions. thrilled to be www.honeywest.com, working with the fine www.facebook.com/honeywest folks at Hell in a www.youtube.com/honeywestchicago Handbag. In Chicago, he has also worked AJ Wright (u/s Mae, with American Girl Theatre, Bailiwick Sukie, Big Mama) See Rep, Bailiwick Chicago, Circle Theatre production crew bio. (company member 2008-‘11), and Light Opera Works. Jeremy received a BFA in Musical Theatre at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and has since been happy to call Chicago home. Thanks to Matt and David for this wonderful opportunity.

Love and thanks to L, A, and my family!

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PRODUCTION BIOS David Cerda (Executive Producer)- See cast bio.

Matthew Gunnels (Director) is thrilled to be back in the Handbag after recently directing Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical at the Chopin Theater and the staged reading of Eating Raoul: the Musical as well as several incarnations of Rudolph the Red Hosed Reindeer at the Theatre Building Chicago, the Loop Theatre, and Live Bait Theatre. He is a proud Artistic Associate of Emerald City Theatre, where he develops new musicals for young audiences. He has helmed the new works Hansel & Gretel, Peter Pan, Cinderella: A Holiday Musical, Me Tarzan You Jane, and Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs & Ham and Other Stories at the Royal George Theatre. Other directing credits include In Trousers (Top Ten Theatre Shows of 2005 - Time Out Chicago) and Macabaret for Porchlight Music Theatre, The Wine Seller for the Baum House, and The Wizard of Oz at Timberlake Playhouse. As an actor, Matthew has been seen on Chicago stages in Torch Song Trilogy, Company, Merrily We Roll Along, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. This one is for his Big Mama!

Robert Hilliard (Wig and Make-up Design) has worked on many of Hell in a Handbag productions including Lady X, Rudolph The Red Hosed Reindeer, Poseidon an Upside Down Musical! (Jeff Recommended) and Die, Mommie Die (Jeff Recommended). Other designs include Phantom, No, No Nanette, Gypsy and Moon Over Buffalo. A native from the Chicago suburbs, Robert is also a stage manager, dresser and actor.

Lolly Extract and Amber Marsh (Puppet Design)- combine to form the nucleus of Jabberwocky Marionettes Productions, dedicated to creating puppetry arts for the 21st century.

Specializing in animation and illusion, they have built a spectrum of work spanning from: stop-motion shorts to experimental shadow puppetry, puppet theater for adults and children. Extract 6 Hell in a Handbag

has worked with H.I.A.H. in the past, creating the shadow puppets with candy apple red blood in HAYWIRE!.

They have also designed and created the Alien Creatures in the Chicago hit, Alien Queen, The Concert. Recently, Jabberwocky has been working with The Odd Machine - stop motion and real time animation for a number of commercials and puppets spots for the film ‘The Bailout Documentary’. Look for our Halloween Window Designs in the many pop-up Chicago Costume stores around the city. Coming soon, a new puppet piece, ‘The Macaw’ at Links Hall on Sept 26 and two performances of Urban Wildlife and Aquatic Tails coming Nov 19 for Bookamania at The Harold Washington Library.

Christopher Kriz (Sound Design) works nationally as a composer and sound designer. Previously for Hell In a Handbag, Chris designed Poseidon and Silent Night Of The Lambs. In Chicago, Chris has designed over 200 productions area for companies including Northlight, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Victory Gardens and TimeLine. Regional credits include the national tour of AmericaAmerique (Jena Company) and the upcoming The Fall Of The House (Theatre Squared). Recent Chicago credits include The Count Of Monte Cristo (Lifeline Theatre), Old Times (Strawdog Theatre),Festen (Steep Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (First Folio), Around The World In 80 Days and Bad Dates (Fox Valley Rep), Educating Rita (Shattered Globe) and Elling (Redtwist).

Upcoming productions include The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter (Steppenwolf Theatre) and Black Pearl Sings (Northlight Theatre). To hear more of his work, please visit www.christopherkriz.com Ryan Landry (Playwright) is Ryan Landry.

Justin Longnecker (Scenic Design) We are very happy to have Justin as our Scenic Designer. He did not have time to submit his bio because he just became a daddy, but we know he would want to thank his wife Hilarie,

P R O D U C T I O N B I O S ( c o n t .) and his new daughter Alice for their love and support.

R. Christopher Maxwell (ASM) is happy to back again for another fun filled Handbag Production. This Arkansas native studied Theater Arts and Sociology at the College of Wooster.

Moving to Chicago in 2009 he’s worked for Bared Boned, House Theater of Chicago, and Wild Claw. Now he great fully serves Dominus David Cerda. Sit back relax and enjoy the show.

John Nasca (Costume Designer) John is once again pleased to be working with the famous Handbaggers. Thank you David and Matt! He has designed costumes for such shows as The Women, Follies, Noises Off, POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical, No, No, Nanette, The Ritz and Lady X. For his costume work John has received three Joseph Jefferson Recommendations for Anyone Can Whistle, Die! Mommie, Die! and Vampire

Lesbians of Sodom for which he also won an After Dark Award. Upcoming shows John will be directing; Mr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood for Glitterati Productions (www.GlitteratiProductions.com), Love Sucks for Pride Films and Plays and designing costumes for Clutter at MadKap Productions.

Jeff Shields (Stage Manager/Props) moved to Chicago from Iowa last November. In Iowa he worked with various theatres both on-stage and back-stage from acting to directing. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Iowa. He designed props for Mortar Theatre Company’s productions of Mother Bear and most recently Corazon de Manzana. He has designed props and costumes for Studio Be‘s productions of Urinetown and No Strings Attached. This spring he will be designing props for Raven Theatre’s Dating Walter Dante, Stage Left’s production of The Fisherman, Piccolo

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P R O D U C T I O N B I O S ( c o n t .)

Theatre’s The Cherry Orchard and Mortar Theatre Company’s production of Bombs, Babes and Bingo. www.jeffshields.net Allison Tolman (Producer) is a Chicago transplant from the grand old state of Texas, drawn to the comedy capitol by the notable lure of Second City’s famed conservatory program. She graduated from Baylor University with a BFA in theatrical before moving to Dallas. There Allison spent her time helping to found and foster Second Thought Theatre, serving on the Executive Ensemble and working as producer for a number of productions.

In 2010 she produced The Better Doctor for Bootstraps Comedy Theatre at Chicago’s Prop Theatre. Allison can also be seen in Sordid Lives; the Series and a variety of television commercials. She is represented by Stewart Talent.

Carrie West (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to be out of retirement and working with

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Hell in a Handbag. Although she has worked on many shows in Chicago and was once the Master Electrician at the Court Theatre, she has been concentrating on her latest two productions, future Tony Award winners, Carlisle and Lucy.

She wishes to thank her family, HIAH, and most of all, Matt Gunnels.

AJ Wright (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be working on his first project with Hell in a Handbag! Pussy on the House also marks AJ’s return to theatre after many years away. Past directing credits include: The Christmas Family Christmas(also writer), Baptism, and Please Hold Me The Forgotten Way with Strange Loop Theatre, Confessional and Beautiful Thing at Ball State University and Annie with Jay Country Civic and Pruis Hall. AJ holds a degree in Musical Theatre Performance from Ball State University and wishes to thank Danni Smith for pushing him and Matt and David for believing in him and the cast for trusting him!

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