Photograph 51 Cast & Crew
Anna Ziegler (Playwright)
Anna Ziegler's BFF premiered Off-Broadway (W.E.T. at the DR2), and is published in New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2007. Other plays include Photograph 51 (Ensemble Studio Theatre; Theater J; Fountain Theatre; winner of the 2008 STAGE Competition; upcoming at Nora Theatre Company in Boston and the English Theatre Berlin); Dov and Ali (Playwrights Realm at the Cherry Lane; Theatre 503 in London; Chester Theater); Life Science (Brown/Trinity Playwrights Rep); Evening All Afternoon (New Georges); and Novel (SPF). She has been commissioned by The Manhattan Theatre Club, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, and New Georges, where she is an affiliated artist, and her plays have been developed by such places as The McCarter Theatre, The O'Neill Playwrights Conference, The Williamstown Theatre Festival, Primary Stages, The Araca Group, The New Group, Ars Nova, TheatreWorks, The Sundance Theatre Lab, The Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, Rattlestick Theatre, The Old Vic New Voices program, The Cape Cod Theatre Project, The Geva Theatre Center, The Playwright's Center PlayLabs Festival, and Epic Theatre Ensemble. She is the recipient of a 2011 Tribeca Film Institute/Sloan grant to adapt her play Photograph 51 into a film; Ari Handel, Darren Aronofsky, Audrey Rosenberg and Rachel Weisz are producers. BFF, Life Science and Photograph 51 are published by Dramatists Play Service. Ms. Ziegler received her BA from Yale University and MFA from The Tisch School of the Arts. She is the winner of the 2010 Douglas T. Ward Playwriting Prize, awarded by Tisch, which is given to an alum of the dramatic writing program in celebration of her/his work.
Jim Gaylord (Director)
Jim holds a BA in Theatre from Rollins College and an MFA in Acting from Ohio State University. He was the recipient of the Boris Sagal Fellowship at Williamstown Theatre Festival in 1996, where he directed a full-length production of Shakespeare's The Tempest. He also assisted Nicholas Martin on his production of The Royal Family starring Blythe Danner and Victor Garber. Jim's work was seen in last summer's NYC Fringe Festival in the production of Scavenger's Daughter by actor/playwright Colm Magner. This spring he will direct Lonely Man's Habit, a one-man show based on the diaries of Tennessee Williams by actor/playwright Jeremy Lawrence. Previously at Vermont Stage, Jim has directed the productions of Underneath the Lintel, Midwives, The Big Random, and Well.
Alexandra Hudson (Rosalind Franklin)
Alexandra was born in Montreal, Quebec. She studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC and just recently earned her M.A in Drama and Performance Studies at the University College Dublin. Her favorite roles include Slippy Helen in The Cripple of Inishmaan, Ann in All My Sons and Dabby in Our Country's Good. This is Alexandra's first production with Vermont Stage Company and she is thrilled. She would like to dedicate her performance to her best friend and greatest supporter; her husband Ben.
Bruce Campbell (Maurice Wilkins)
has appeared in the VSC productions of Photograph 51, Oliver Twist, and Winter Tales, and in the Stowe Theater Guild production of Doubt. A member of the Dramatists Guild, his one-act Hooker’s Night Off was the inaugural production of the Indiana Playwrights Festival, and his feature film Knowing Lisa won the Silver Medal at the Houston International Film Festival.
Lane Gibson, Jr. (Ray Gosling)
Lane is excited to be appearing in his second Vermont Stage show (The Foreigner in '05 as Reverend David Lee). Since then, he has appeared in a number of professional and community theater productions. Notable roles include Matt in The Fantasticks at The Skinner Barn, John in The Lion in Winter at The Dorset Theater Festival, and Mickey/Luscious in Greetings at The Shaker Bridge Theater in Enfield, NH. Lane studied Theater at the University of Vermont, where he appeared in As You Like It as Amiens, and starred in several one act plays and other projects. He would like to thank Bill Coons, Bill Reed, Mark Nash, the works of Harold Meisner and Michael Shurtleff, and all of the gifted actors and directors that he has worked with over the years for their "roles" in helping him develop his craft. Play on!
James Blanchard (Don Caspar)
is happy to return to Vermont Stage Company after appearing in this season's opener, Photograph 51. Thanks for joining us for this unique event, and for supporting the Company.
John D. Alexander (Francis Crick)
John began acting in NYC, moved to Burlington in 1982, and returned to the boards in 1993. Since then, he has appeared in over 40 stage productions, aside from film/television/radio work. This year, he has performed in the one-man show, Bully! An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt, as Feldzieg in The Drowsy Chaperone, Tom, Leslie, and Phyllis in Sylvia (VT Stage), and Treat in Orphans at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, a venue that he co-founded. Favorite roles: Teach (American Buffalo); Prospero (The Tempest); Pozzo (Waiting for Godot [VT Stage]); Arthur Goldman (The Man in the Glass Booth); and Johnny Pateen (The Cripple of Inishmaan). Mr. Alexander has taught acting and dialect since 1996, and is a member of both SAG and Actors' Equity. He is glad to return to VT Stage for this, his seventh production, and to be with old and new friends in the cast and production team. *Actor appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.
Benjamin Wiggins (James Watson)
Ben is a graduate of the William Esper Studio. Previous stage credits include last year's VSC production of The Glass Menagerie; Maura Campbell's Ou Topos; and the world premiere of Ed Bullins' Janie's Song. He is currently recording the follow-up to his band's debut album, Portraits of Sawyer: Superdestroyer.
Jamien Lundy Forrest (Stage Manager)
Jamien is thrilled to return for another season with Vermont Stage Company. Previous VT Stage stage management credits include Sylvia, Underneath the Lintel, Oliver Twist, Winter Tales, Quilters, and Vanya/Vermont. While living in New York City, Jamien worked as the full time Technical Associate for Lincoln Center Institute, and stage managed The Gazillion Bubble Show off Broadway. She has also designed lights for Wallis Knot Productions and New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. A 2001 UVM Theatre graduate, Jamien is happy to be back in Burlington with her husband and little boy.
Jenny C. Fulton (Costume & Scenic Designer)
Jenny designs space, objects and clothes for stage and film. She has designed regularly for Vermont Stage since 2001, most recently Oliver Twist and The Glass Menagerie. In NYC she's designed for Salt Theatre, Anne Kaufman and Clubbed Thumb, The Women's Project, as well as the NY premier of Kathryn Blume's The Boycott. Regionally, American Repertory Theatre, Yale Rep, Philadelphia Shakespeare, Virginia Shakespeare, North Shore Music Theatre, Northern Stage, Lost Nation, St. Mike's Playhouse, and others. Film design credits include indie films and PBS Channel 13's The American Novel. She is also an educator and has held guest artist appointments at Hunter College, Mt. Holyoke, Bates College and is presently adjunct faculty at Keene State. She holds degrees from Brandeis and Yale Drama, is a member of USA Local 829, and divides her time between drafty Vermont farmhouse and small Brooklyn apartment. Love and thanks to Prof. Henry Fulton for the ties.
John B. Forbes (Lighting Designer)
has previously designed the lighting for Photograph 51, Oliver Twist, The Glass Menagerie, Opus, My Ohio, King Lear, Inspecting Carol, Woody Guthrie's American Song, True West, Copenhagen, The Foreigner and The Drawer Boy at Vermont Stage Company. In addition he has designed the lighting for productions at the Old Globe Theatre, the San Diego Repertory Theatre, the Center Repertory Company, and the Ensemble Theatre Company, all in California. He has also designed lighting for Theatre Aspen in Colorado; the Riverside Shakespeare Company and Theatre Matrix in New York; the Arizona Theatre Company, and Saint Michael's Playhouse, the Big APE Dance Company and Lost Nation Theatre in Vermont. He is the winner of three L. A. Dramalogue awards for his designs at the Old Globe Theatre and three Shelley Awards for his designs with the Center Repertory Company. He is the faculty lighting designer at the University of Vermont in the Department of Theatre, and his lighting design for UVM's production of Metamorphoses was displayed in the Gallery Exhibit at the World Stage Design Exhibition in Toronto. He has also taught at San Diego State University and the University of San Diego, and while at U.S.D., he also managed Shiley Theatre. In that capacity he served as the technical liaison between the University and the Presidential Debate Commission for the final Presidential Debate of 1996 held there.
Martha Goode (Sound Designer)
Martha's favorite Sound Design credits include: Anaϊs Nin Goes to Hell, The Oath and Barrier Island (MTWorks), The Witlings (Magis Theatre Company), Every Man (winner Samuel French Short Play Festival) To Barcelona! and Eli and Cheryl Jump (Ignited States), Don't Shoot Your Eye Out! (The Brick Theatre), Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Blood Wedding, and No Place To Be Somebody (Boston University), and Photograph 51 (Vermont Stage Company). Martha is the Managing Director of MTWorks, a theater company which produces new plays inspired by playwrights and regions outside of New York, which question the boundaries of our society, humanity, and individuality. http://www.mtworks.org/.
David Wright (Technical Director)
David returns from a 21-year hiatus from the theatre and is pleased, more than you can know, to be given this opportunity to work with this wonderful and talented company. Theatre Rocks! Thank you coming to see our handycraft. Patrons Rule! Thank you!
Sue Wade (Props Coordinator)
is, as always, delighted to be working with Vermont Stage once again. Knowing that she has to find many bushels of apples and a full-sized yew tree gives her a reason to get up on a cold morning.
Ellen O'Brien (Assistant Stage Manager)
Ellen is delighted to be working on her sixth VT Stage show. As a teenager, she studied dance at the Banff School of Fine Arts, then went on to graduate from Colby College with a BA. She danced with the University of Iowa Dance Company until she attended dental school and graduated with a DDS. Since then she has been dividing her time between family, dentistry, and the performing arts. Favorite past theater endeavors include Lyric Theater's South Pacific, Liz Lerman's Hallelujah Project, Circle in the Square Theater School's summer musical theater program and cabaret, and Bill Reed Voice Studio's summer musical theater intensives and cabarets. Ellen has choreographed and taught dance at schools in Vermont and for the VSA Arts program. She's currently a member of VSA's Awareness Theater Company. Ellen thanks Cristina Alicea for this great opportunity. Thanks Tim, Alice, George, and James, for your love and support.
Mary Jo Rodriguez (Wardrobe Manager)
Mary Jo is a junior at Saint Michael's College. This is her first show with Vermont Stage, and she's very excited to be a part of it. Past credits include Wardrobe Supervisor for Saint Michael's Playhouse's The Marvelous Wonderettes; Props Intern and Wardrobe Assistant for The Drowsy Chaperone, I'll Be Back Before Midnight and Boeing, Boeing; Lighting Designer for Saint Michael's College's Romeo and Juliet and The Shape of Things; and Stage Manager for The Art of Dining.
Dana J. Baker (Props Artisan)
spent 20 years working in theaters from Cleveland to New Haven (including some time on Broadway, off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway) before moving to Vermont 10 years ago. He has been an actor, singer, dancer, company manager, producer, director, stage manager, scenic designer, go-fer, and properties master. He now spends his days bringing light into people's lives at the Lighting House in Shelburne. Previous productions with Vermont Stage include King Lear, True West, Doubt, and Virginia Woolf.
Lauren Glover (Lighting Assistant)
Lauren is so excited to be working with Vermont Stage Company again! Past productions include Lighting Designer for Sylvia, Underneath the Lintel (Vermont Stage Company);The Music Man (HC Summer Theatre), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Metro Stage Company); Anything Goes (Winthrop Players); The Sea Gull, The Festival of One Acts, and The Last Five Years (University of Vermont). Thanks to my supportive family, as well as John Forbes and Vermont Stage for this opportunity. As always to AM, TS, and GB: my heart, soul, and spirit.