Donnie and the Monsters Archive Page

THEATRE WITHOUT COMPROMISE
Dedicated to new, exciting, and innovative theatrical works of the highest quality, we provide a space where writers, performers, and an audience can come together in a spirit of community and collaboration to expand our understanding of what is possible in the theatre. We also offer educational programs and support for artist development for Southwestern Virginia. By working in concert with other arts organizations, we will strive to make Roanoke a nationally recognized ignition point for new play development.

STUDIO ROANOKE

30 Campbell Avenue, SW

Roanoke VA 24011

info@studioroanoke.org

(Click on the poster for a high res version)

Donnie and the Monsters
Written by Robert J. Gibbs
Directed by Cheryl Snodgrass
Performed October 27 - November 1, 2009.

Credits:
Cast:
DONNIE: Stephen Glassbrenner

TOMMY
SOCK PUPPET: Ross Laguzza

MR. TEE VEE
MONSTER UNDER THE BED
MR. TOILET: Brian O'Sullivan

MRS. SPIZACKY
MOM
ELLEN: Caitlin Ann Morgan

MR. ALFULSEN
BLACKBEARD THE PIRATE: Brian Turner

Producer: Todd Ristau
Assistant Director: Alex Munro
Stage Manager: Shay Mullins
Scenic Design: Todd Ristau
Lighting Design: Heidi Hostetler
Sound Design: Patrick Lyster

Scenic and Poperty Construction: Catherine Leonard, Alex Munro, Jonathan Overturf, Steven V. Rice, Todd Ristau, J.D. Ruelle, Chad Runyon, Jason P. Russell Jr., Cheryl Snodgrass, and Nate Webber
Puppet Design and Construction: Darlene Fedele
Run Crew: Chad Runyon and Nate Webber
Light Crew: Kat Osborn and Susie Young
Box Office and House Services: Laura Cooper, Patrick Lyster, Steven V. Rice, J.D. Ruelle, Pam Speed, Mark Witt, Alexandra Wolff, Bette Woltz, and the Studio Roanoke Board of Directors

Special Thanks to our Corporate Sponsors: Playwright's Lab at Hollins University, Roanoke Times/Roanoke.com, City Magazine, and New City Media

Special Thanks to those who loaned us props, costumes, or other material support: John Forsman and the Hollins University Theatre Department

About the Play
Donnie has a hard time at school and at home…what with the other kids picking on him and everything…and by everything we mean the sock puppet, the monster under his bed, Blackbeard the Pirate, and the talking toilet. This hilarious adult version of a children’s book is definitely NOT for children but we think audiences 16 and up will love this weird and wonderful lesson in how to deal with anger and fear.

About the Playwright
Robert J. Gibbs graduated with a BFA in acting from Brigham Young University. Rob went on to Mary Baldwin College where he was a student in the masters program in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance, earning an M.Litt. and MFA. Rob's acting credits include Joe in The Children's Hour, Reverend Hale in The Crucible, Claudius in Hamlet, and Macbeth in Macbeth. He appeared as Thomas Sharp in the television production of the play Hancock County on PBS, and has worked at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton Virginia as a performer in the Torchbearer Troupe and as an employee in the ASC education department. Rob coauthored (with Jeremy Fiebig) the plays King and Country and Footnotes, both of which were produced in the University Wits 24 Hour Theatre Festival. Rob lives in Los Angeles where he is currently writing and developing projects for television and training at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre in Hollywood.

About the Director
Cheryl Snodgrass focuses on the production of new works. She was last in Roanoke to direct Rosalee Was Here, by Maura Campbell. She has worked extensively with playwright Jeff Goode, as a director, actor, and producer. She direted the premier productions of Poona the Fuckdog and other plays for children and The Eight: reindeer monologues among others. She's directed and/or produced works by Rebecca Gilman, Brett Nevue, and Todd Ristau. Her most recent productions were the Jeff recommended Die! Mommie, Die! and Haywire! with Hell in a Handbag Productions in Chicago. She has presented readings of Goode's Love Loves a Pornographer as a guest of Hollins University and Mill Mountain Theatre, and The Emancipation of Alabaster McGill at THE SPOT in Chicago. Cheryl is currently working with "The Scooty & Jojo Show" on the revival of their cult classic Carpenters Halloween and recently collaborated with David Cerda for the remount of Posiden! An Upside Down Musical with productions scheduled in Chicago, Cincinnati, and San Diego. Cheryl has been a guest artist at Lawrence University and was a founding member of No Shame Theatre, The Unusual Cabaret, Les Enfants du Mais, and C'est Destine.

Cast and Crew
Laura Cooper (Audience Services)
(bio to follow)

Darlene Fedele (Puppet Design and Construction)
(bio to follow)

Steven Glassbrenner (Donnie)
(bio to follow)

Heidi Hostetler (Lighting Design)
(bio to follow)

Ross Laguzza (Tommy/Sock Puppet)
Ross is a veteran of local theater productions having appeared in productions at MMT, Showtimers, Attic, GAMUT and other venues. He is versatile character actor and is comfortable in drama, comedy or musicals. Credits include: The Luck Eater (Sam), Arsenic and Old Lace (Jonathan Brewster); Little Shop of Horrors (Dentist), Mousetrap (Christopher Wren), Company (David), 42nd Street (Mac/Doc), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Linus); To Kill a Mockingbird (Atticus), Norfolk Southern Festival-Living Roanoke (Ross/Uncle Liam); Barefoot in the Park (Paul Bratter), The Curious Savage (Hannibal), The Butler Did It (Anthony Lefcourt), Sorry, Wrong Chimney! (William); IceSpeak (Shecky); Don’t Mention My Name! (Paul). Ross is a core member of an improvisational comedy troupe, The Big Lick Conspiracy which performs at the Jefferson Center. Ross also plays the drums.

Catherine Leonard (Scenic Construction and Props)
(bio to follow)

patrick Lyster (Sound Design/Audience Services)
(bio to follow)

Caitlin Ann Morgan (Mrs. Spizacky/Mom/Ellen)
Caitlin Morgan is a recent graduate of Emory & Henry, where she received her BA in Musical Theatre. Favorite E&H credits include Madame Arcati (Blithe Spirit), Princess Leonide (Triumph of Love), and Claudio (Much Ado About Nothing). She also spent many years at Mill Mountain Theatre onstage and off. Favorite MMT credits include The Jungle Book and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Last summer she was honored to be a Casting/Artistic Intern at New York Theatre Workshop where getting coffee everyday taught her so much about the business and real life. Lots of love to her awesome family, her E&H theatre professors, her magical partner Will, and Studio Roanoke for this opportunity.

Shay Mullins (Stage Manager)
(bio to follow)

Alex Munro (Assistant Director)
(bio to follow)

Kat Osborn (Light Crew)
(bio to follow)

Biran O'Sullivan (Mr. Tee Vee/Monster Under the Bed/Mr. Toilet)
Brian made his acting debut at 8 years old in Gypsy, and has performed in more than 200 plays and musicals since. He is also a director, playwright, and stage manager with experience in virtually every aspect of theatre production. He was a member of the Michicagn State Performing Arts Co., and the only undergraduate to date who was allowed to direct a regular departmental production. He chose to remain at Michigan State to pursue graduate school, and was hired by the Colorado Shakespeare Festival as a principal actor where (despite stiff competition) he was cast to play Sir Toby (Twelfth Night), Rodorigo (Othello), and Salisbury (Richard II). Near the end of his third and final year at Michigan, Brian was cast in the Magic Theatre of San Francisco's production of Neon Psalms, a new play which went on to win the CBS/Dramatist Guild Award for Best New Play of 1985. Before locating to the Roanoke Valley, Brian spend several years in New York City, most notably as a principal actor with Gorilla Rep and as a drama teacher at the Calhoun School. He has authored several short plays and musicals, some of which have been showcased with New York Rep. He was most recently seen in Shade of the Trees and Biology Lesson here at Studio Roanoke, as well as several of our Lunch Box readings.

Jonathan Overturf (Scneic Construction and Props)
(bio to follow)

Steven V. Rice (General Manager/Audience Services/Development Director/Scenic Construction and Props)
(bio to follow)