THE CAST
(In order of Appearance)
Confident, curious, impatient, courageous and nearly as brilliant as he thinks he is— big heart, bigger temper— Oedipus is sixteen years old in the Prologue, sixteen years older by the time the plague rolls around. Loving husband (of course) to his wife Jocasta, devoted son (naturally) to his parents in Corinth. This is tragedy, a fellow like that is just asking for it. Did we mention he hates to wait?
ERIC BLAIR as Oedipus
Dees fellow have voice of bool. He currently at sea. He like gin, all right. Don’ respond to emails, though. Must use first picture layin’ roun. Oh, got one here from crumby xerox copy. Too bad. One hour on google only get buncha George Orwell. Just one snippet: “Eric Blair (MFA, 2001) has just completed a European tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and embarks on a national tour of Cats this fall.” And den nuthin.
Speak Up, People
The Best Laid Plan
Oedipus is Listening
On a lonely hill nears Thebes, a small but imposing girl, outlandishly dressed, confronts the wandering Oedipus: The Sphinx! This feisty female wants his cash! And Oedipus had expected a riddle. Instead her question is: “Your money or your life?” He has a sword. She has a lasso. (Freud has an idea, but) they have a fight.
ISABEL SANTIAGO as The Sphinx
Isabel’s recent principal credits include Lil in Michael Holland’s Hurricane (musical direction by Charles Czarnecki of Jersey Boys); Victoria in 06880: The Musical; Aphrodite in Wake Her Up: A Rock Concert; and Mary in A Child Is Born. Isabel trains with Broadway performer David Sabella, Broadway musical director, Eddie Strauss, OBIE-winning directors Thomas Mills and Bill Esper. Other principal credits include Maria in West Side Story; Milly in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls; and Pistache in Can-Can.
Your Money or Your Life
Creon is a little intimidated by his elder sister. And though older than Oedipus he is obviously in awe of him. In Oedipus Tyrannous, Creon is a very sympathetic character, owing to his being falsely accused by Oedipus. Here he’s circumspect, cautious and likely to let events influence him rather than the other way around. In almost all the other ancient plays he is a much more rigid and unlikable figure.
JAMES FERNANDES as Creon
James’ recent work includes the role of John Adams in 1776, Broadhollow Theater, Long Island, NY; Zangara in Assassins 4th Wall Theater, Directed by Bob Cline; Sandor Farenczi in Secrets Revealed , Ken Wydro Productions, NYC; and Vincent Van Gogh in Painting the Wind, Staged Reading, NYC.
Here Comes Creon Again
Boys Will Be Boys
The old blind seer. As sure of himself as Oedipus. Hardly intimidated by the power of the throne, when angered or challenged, Tiresias fears nothing. But he comes relunctantly. At first, he doesn’t want to talk about it. Later, after Oedipus riles him, you can’t shut him up. No matter, he’ll send his invoice in the morning.
ILBERTO LAGANA as Tiresias
Ilberto Lagana (bass), recently could be heard as Guglielmo in Cosi fan Tutte with Brooklyn Repertory Opera and Mephistopheles in Gounod's Faust with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble. Some favorite roles include: Don Giovannni with Opera Company of Astoria; Kecal in the Bartered Bride and Tristram in Martha with Liederkranz Opera Theatre; Zuniga in Carmen and Crespel in Tales of Hoffmann with Hudson Opera; and Ramfis in Aida with One World Symphony. Ilberto is a graduate of the Sarasota and DiCapo apprentice programs. Originally from the Washington DC area, Ilberto holds a Bachelors degree in both Voice and Computer Science.
One For The Birds
So's Your Old Man
Devoted to her second husband, Jocasta still nurses a strong grudge against the first (Laius) for snatching their infant son and ordering an accomplice expose him to the elements on Mt. Cithaeron. Since Laius did from fear of a prophecy, which never came true, Jocasta’s feelings towards oracles and prophets are not much milder than those she has for Laius. She’s a strong woman. She’d have to be, considering her husbands.
PAIGE McDONNELL as Jocasta
Originally from Alabama, Paige now calls New York City home. She’s performed a wide range of composers, from Adam Guettel and Michael John LaChiusa to the classics of Andrew Lloyd Weber and Rodgers & Hammerstein. Her favorite regional credits include: Amy in Company, Voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (Outstanding Actress in a Musical from Birmingham-Southern Theatre), Hattie in Laundry and Bourbon, Ado Annie in Oklahoma!, and Eleanor Roosevelt and Evelyn Lincoln in First Lady Suite. Film & Television: Law & Order, Disney's Enchanted.
Destiny Schmestiny
The (Back) Story of Laius
Well, maybe just outside Corinth—in the Aberdeen district. As major domo to the recently deceased King Polybus, he’s lost no time in making it to Thebes and ingratiating himself with his likely future employer. This herald takes his work seriously, and he won’t mind you telling about it.
ROY MAZZACANE as The Messenger
Roy Mazzacane holds a Master of Music degree in Voice from the Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of Connecticut. Roles include King Ahashueris in Megilla, Captain Courageous, Dames at Sea, Van Buren in Damn Yankees, and McComas in You Never Can Tell. Roy was a lead player for two years at the Downtown Cabaret of Bridgeport performing music of the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. He has also performed various roles with the Connecticut Opera at the Bushnell and its touring company. In New York City, he sang lead roles in Don Giovanni, and Falstaff (at Lincoln Center), the American stage premier of Cherubin and La Cenerentola. Roy is the founding member of Cantabile Vocal Quartet who’s recordings are played internationally on Public Radio. He can be seen in various TV commercials.
History Of A Foundling
What does the Shepherd know and when did he know it? The play’s mystery will be solved on his arrival. We’ve been waiting around since the third scene, but face it, a trip to and from Mt. Cithaeron isnt like stopping off at the agora for a quick spanokopita. Oedipus, of course, can hardly wait. But why does the Shepherd have two names? And why does he seem so nervous?
ERIC STARKER as The Shepherd
Eric’s recent credits include the lead role (”Time”) in Just a Matter of Time, Sage Theatre, directed by Susan Streater; Siggy in Pye: the Musical, Emerging Artists directed by Deborah Ortiz; and Jerome in The Golf Wars, at La Mama, directed by Tom Nondorf. Eric’s video samples can be seen on YouTube or his website.
Sheep DIp
Uh, oh. Has something significant occurred offstage? The Bureaucrat, Sophocles’ Messenger from the Palace, enters hurriedly. As the Royal Press Secretary, she has a sad tale to tell. While you weren’t looking, Jocasta has hanged herself. And then, upon discovering her lifeless body, a distraught Oedipus used her broach pins to stab out his eyes. To complicate things, all this has happened before “spin” was invented.
LOGAN TRACEY as The Bureaucrat
Graduate of Ithaca College and the National Theatre Institute at the O'Neill Theatre Center, Logan was very excited to work on the creation of this new piece. She was most recently seen in La Gioconda at The Clurman on Theatre Row but has since launched into a film career shooting the feature films Leeds Point and Beach Movie this summer. Also look for her on the internet in a Magic the Gathering Commercial, as a performer for New Media Comedy's sketch group Vixens, and check out her website for a vocal demo and all kinds of fun information.
Noises Off
The apple of her father’s... er... eye. Thank heaven for little girls. Voted by the ancients as The Best Daughter/Sister in the World from the Seventh through First Centuries running. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Antigone makes it better.
RACHEL MENCONI as Antigone
Rachel Menconi eats, sleeps and breathes performing. She has been performing all of her life and has been in over 40 musicals. Rachel started musical theatre when she was 6 years old, started acting training when she was 11 , and started Belcanto (Italian) style singing lessons when she was 10. Some of her favorite roles include: Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Audrey in Little Shop Of Horrors, Ruby in Dames At Sea, Pippin in Pippin (…long story), Morales in A Chorus Line, Sandy in Grease, and Christine Daae in Phantom of the Opera. For the past four years, Rachel has been performing in one and two women’s cabaret theatre shows throughout NYC (such as The Duplex, Dillon’s Lounge and Don’t Tell Mamma). She has been writing her own music since middle school, has just finished recording her first single “Don’t Even Try,” and is working on her first original album.
The Antigone & the Exiting
What are we going to do with this boy? The name Polyneices translates as “Much Grief.” Ever since they were babies, he and his little brother Eteocles have been feuding. In this production, he only has a couple of lines, but that is more than enough to get a handle on him. To keep him occupied elsewhere, he’s secretly doubling as The Chorus Leader.
TOM CROZIER as Polyneices
Tom Crozier has been singing almost since he was born and hasn't shut up yet. He began his vocal career in his sophomore year at Harrison High School as Marius in Les Miserables and continued in various local theatre productions, including The Sound of Music (Westchester Group Theatre; Rolf), Annie (Bendheim Junior Theater Troupe; Daddy Warbucks), and Aida (Harrison High School; Radames). Tom isn't a complete musical theater geek; whenever he hasn't been involved in a show he's been busy filming various original short films and rip-off parodies with director Zach Brunner—most of which are up on YouTube under hack username "zbrunn." Check them out. Now. Peace.
Mountain Mama
Catharsis
The Voice of Apollo would like everyone to know that the entire cast (with the exception of Oedipus who was busy throughout the opera) all cast members performed double service many times by signing several choral parts. It was a lot of work, but they did it very well.
VOICE OF APOLLO as Himself
The God would also like you to know that none of the cast members ever sang with another cast member at the same time during the entire production. Pretty neat, eh?
The Voice of Apollo
Another Voice of Apollo