Don't Get Up, a Musical History of the Opera Queen by Sean Owens

EXIT Theatre April 9 - May 9, 1998

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Biographies

Gillian Chadsey (Choreographer), P.A. Cooley (The Baron de Flameux, Alec Seers, Axel Burns, Caleb Ashe), Meredith Eldred (Director), Rosalie Jacques (Wig Design), Terri Kasch Stage Manager), Jacques Maitre (Taylor), Paul Measom (Lighting Design), Bob Mitchell (Arrangements), Libby O'Connell (Queen d'Escalier, Lily Marchand, Flora Trounce, Rose Gaely-Spirits) , Sean Owens (Monsieur, Arch Noble, Milton Tittle, Gracie Starr), Melissa Ponelis (Missy), J.R. Rogers (Handler), Drew Todd The Cardianl d'Ivan, Vincente Gratzi, Grayson Vane, Vance Gray), Christopher Tradowsky (Set Design), Matt Weimer (Dryver), Kathryn Wood (Costume Design) and Very Special Thanks to...

P.A. Cooley has been acting in the Bay Area for eight years. Though primarily known for his work at Theatre Rhinoceros, he has performed at Venue 9, Berkeley Rep, New Conservatory, and the Studio at 450 Geary. His favorite roles: Buzz from Love, Valour, Compassion, Emory from The Boys in the Band, Peg from the Desk Set, and, of course, Harry "Roxie" Rocksworth from The Big Drag, the recent Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle awardee co-written by Sean Owens and directed by Meredith Eldred...hmmm...

Meredith Eldred is a founding member and resident director of Misery/Loves Company. In addition to her work with MLC, she has directed several original works including The Big Drag at Theatre Rhino and Home and Fountain at The Noh Space. A graduate of SFSU, Ms. Eldred has trained at Exeter University in England and with the SITI company in New York. She has worked on several projects at the EIXT, including this season's Waiting For Godot.

Terri Kasch postponed her staged management retirement in order to work with this particular bunch of future theatrical legends. When not trapped in a tech booth (or occasionally while trapped in a tech booth) she writes stageplays, and her work appears now and again around town. In closing she'd just like to mention that she loves the EXIT Theatre with all her heart.

Jacques Maitre lives and works in San Francisco. He is a recorded soloist with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. Jacques has appeared as Pooh Bah in The Mikado, and regularly appeared as various radio characters in Radio Takes Stage. He has been in productions of Kismet and has recordings with the San Jose Choraliers and the San Jose Choral Project. In his spare time, Jacques is a social worker, and studies piano.

Bob Mitchell performs with Theatresports' Sunday Players and is a founding member of the musical improv troup, The Dips. He spends entirely too much time transcribing lead sheets off rare 1920's jazz LPs.

Libby O'Connell began her stage career in the controversial Basement Ballet School production of Three Blind Mice at the age of 5. She showed her sensitivity to the rodents' plight by wearing the wrong costume and refusing to leave the stage. She made her professional debut as a Dancing Illiterate Laundress in Cole Porter's Can-Can. She followed this triumph with such roles a a Dancing Bride, a Dancing Whore, a Dancing Transylvanian Transvestite, and a Dancing Mute. Then she moved to San Francisco. She thanks Eric for keeping her heart dancing, and Seans Owens and Meredith Eldred for finally letting her sit down.

Sean Owens co-authored The Big Drag, thr Freud farce Folie a Deux, and Getting to Know Your Mechanism. He is the solo author of The Seuss Story, Radio Takes Stage, and several children's plays. He celebrates his twelfth productions and his 30th birthday this year. He is frankly overwhelmed.

Melissa Ponelis makes her West Coast premiere in Don't Get Up. She recently graduated Syracuse University with a BFA in Drama. Some credits include The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Blood Brothers, and Carousel. Melissa thanks her family, friends and kindred spirit for all of their love and support (and patience).

J.R. Rogers returns to the Bay Area after a six-month tour as Steve Austin in the acclaimed musical, Bionic! Past roles have included Abe Lincoln in Double Nickels on the Dime and Abe Lincoln in The Saga of the Six Chick Dicks.

Drew Todd resurfaces on the SF theatre scene after a two-year hiatus. His most recent stage work was also at the EXIT when he played Shane in Larry Meyers' Christian Cat Convention. He has played Lana Lust in Drag Queens in Outer Space, Greta in Bent, and Cil in Street Theater. Drew's film work includes Jennnie, a Joan Crawford impersonator, in the Painted Lady Production, Stab at Stardom. Drew is very happy to be wearing pants in this production.

Christopher Tradowsky is a Florence-trained painter whose work, has shown (and sold) at such diverse spaces as Josie's Cabaret, Mad Magda's, Off Your Dot, the Bucheon Gallery and the Hotel Triton. His skills in creating both fine art and fabulous furnishings evoke the permutating eras in this, his first theatrical endeavor.

Matt Weimer has been active in San Francisco theatre and film for six years, most recently in Lou Reda's Happy Anniversary at Theatre Rhinoceros. He has enjoyed a variety of roles, including Paul in The Lisbon Traviata, the Actor in Incident at Vichy, Mrs. Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and the Customer in Pacific Bell's payment center video. Other highlights include two seasons of touring children's theatre with the Imagination Company and three years with the comedy troupe The Pros from Dover.

Very Special Thanks to the following people: Cade McCall, Brian Shimetz, Eric Cole, Kent Taylor, Steffan Schlarb, Michael Fitzpatrick, Denise Brasher, Huntly Gordon, Tim Halbour...basically anyone we'd like to sleep with.