Production Program
Written by Jeffrey Jackson
Directed by Steve Phelan
From The Producing Artistic Director
The past several years have been a blur of changes, adaptations and challenges for all arts organizations but as we look toward our 2023-24 season, it feels like all our energies can once again be turned toward doing what we do best…producing great live theater. This season includes some fantastic shows that will challenge us as artists and, we believe, engage our audiences in new and exciting ways.
We rarely have “themed seasons” at Falcon and that wasn’t an initial goal for this coming year, but as I look at the titles we’ve chosen, a theme keeps cropping up…one that is incredibly timely and important: Identity. All our shows explore the concept of identity…from what it actually means to be human to the ways gender roles have changed to an individual’s inner search for their true self.
We all go through crises of identity and we all have our own views on identity challenged at times in our lives. Look at the news on any given day and you will find story after story about the triumph or devastating disappointment associated with an individual or identity group. Given the landscape we find ourselves in, these plays (some brand new and some well established) have never been more relevant or more important.
As a theatre company, we believe that the arts have an essential purpose in society and that is to challenge people to think…to question…to open themselves into the worlds of others. We hope you enjoy every minute you spend at Falcon Theatre and that those minutes lead to hours of later conversation and exploration. Welcome to our 2023-24 season: The season of Identity.
Sincerely,
Ted Weil
Producing Artistic Director
CAST (in order of appearance)
Elliot Leeds — Phineas Clark
Melanie Leeds — Zoë Peterson (November 17 & 18)
Melanie Leeds — Rachel Mock (November 24, 25, 26, 30, Dec 1 & 2)
Jeri Gold — Liz Carman
Ben Robbins — Daniel Fenton Anderson
Catherine Powell — Samantha Joy Luhn
PRODUCTION TEAM
Assistant Director — Ted Weil
Stage Manager — Jake Schaub
Scenic Design — Ted Weil
Lighting, Sound, Video Design — Ted Weil
Costume Design — Rachel Scardina
Props Design — Katherine Cohoon
Intimacy Coach — Erin Carr
Lighting, Sound & Video Execution — Jacob Schaub
Set Construction — Ted Weil, Clint Ibele
Graphic Design — Nikole Friend
Lobby Display — Ted Weil
Dramaturg — Julie Carpenter
Marketing — Kara Ann Scullin, Lisa DeRoberts
House Staff Coordination — Clint Ibele
Photography — Claudia Herschner
Box Office — Kathleen Luhn
Falcon thanks these organizations for their support:
Special Thanks
Chris Strobel & the NKU Department of Informatics
Wooden Cask Brewery
Beards & Bellies Barbecue
Cast Biographies
Daniel Fenton Anderson (Ben Robbins): Daniel is excited to be making his Midwest theatre debut with Falcon Theatre after having moved here from Utah last year. Previous acting credits include The Man in the Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone (HCTO), Uncle Fester in The Addams Family (Hale Centre Theatre), Snug the Joiner in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival), the Player King in Hamlet (Santa Cruz Shakespeare) Lussurioso in The Revenger’s Tragedy (The Grassroots Shakespeare Company), Darryl Ames in Bright Star (Hale Centre Theatre), and Gary the Coroner in The Wolf of Snow Hollow (Orion Pictures). You can follow Daniel to see more of his work on Instagram: @daniel_fenton_anderson. “Special shout out to Neil, Cody, and Scott for being wonderful supporters and guiding stars as I’m working to make art in a new community!”
Liz Carman (Jeri Gold): Liz is an actor, writer, director, dramaturg, meme wizard, and professional marketer. Her work has been seen at the Carnegie, InBocca Performance, Dobama Theatre, South Bank Shakespeare, Queen Mab’s Players, the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, and in MainStage, Second Stage, and Serials! productions at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, where she’s also a full-time staff member. Liz studied English Literature and Arts Management at Miami University – and also Classic Pastry Arts at the International Culinary Center in New York City, because hey, life’s a journey.
Phineas Clark (Elliot Leeds): Phineas returns to the Falcon stage with gratitude for the wonderful cast, crew, and supporters of this production. Previous roles at Falcon include Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, Ian in Poor Behavior, and Tony in Dial M For Murder. Other favorites are Edgar and Edmund in King Lear, Orsino in Twelfth Night, and Mr. Marks in Intimate Apparel. Phineas would especially like to thank his amazing wife, family, and friends for their love and support.
Samantha Joy Luhn (Catherine Powell): Samantha is beyond thrilled to be returning this season taking on this blast of a role in such a thought-provoking, relevant piece. She was recently seen on Falcon’s stage as Fran in Home, I’m Darling, and last season as Emma in Betrayal. Samantha holds a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Northern Illinois University. She spent several years working as an actor in Oregon, and then several more as a wildlife biologist in Hawaiʻi. Reinvigorated with a move back to her beautiful hometown, Sam is loving being a part of Cincinnati theatre! It’s hard to believe it was just two years ago that she made her Falcon debut as Lisa in Well. Since then, Samantha has also performed with Cincy Landmark Productions as Gretchen in Boeing Boeing and at the 2022 & 2023 Cincy Fringe Festivals. While residing in Portland, Oregon, she was seen in various productions with the Working Theatre Collective and performed on the Imago Theatre stage in the role of Sanae for the English world premiere of Yukio Mishima’s The Black Lizard. Samantha is a high school history and drama teacher. She lives in Covington with her dog-daughter, Nellie Bly. She is grateful to her family for always supporting her endeavors and thankful for Ted who makes every day brighter.
Rachel Mock (Melanie Leeds): Rachel is thrilled to be back on the Falcon stage! After spending 6 years in Chicago, Rachel is delighted to be working again in the Cincinnati area. You may have just seen her in Home, I’m Darling (Judy) right here at Falcon. Other recent acting credits include: Cry It Out (Jessie) with Mariemont Players, Language of Angels (Kendra) with Three Crows Theatre, Othello (Roderigo) and Henry V (Mountjoy/Nym/Michael Williams Understudy) with Babes with Blades Theatre Company, very still and hard to see (Betty/Kami/Violet) with Exit 63, Tight End (Darla) with 20% Theatre, and Anna Karenina (Betsy Understudy) with Lifeline Theatre. Rachel is a proud MFA graduate of Ohio University.
Zoë Peterson (Melanie Leeds): Zoë Peterson is an actor and playwright from Louisville, Kentucky. She was just on Falcon’s stage in Home I’m Darling this fall and is delighted to return! In addition to recently earning her BFA in Acting from CCM, she also earned a Minor in English and Screenwriting Certificate. At CCM, Zoë’s favorite roles credits include Calonice in Lysistrata, Chorus Leader in The Trojan Women, and Mrs. Souder/Zoe Lucas in The Burials. In 2023 she helped to produce the Transmigration Festival of student devised plays. Outside of CCM, Zoë premiered her shows Sally Salem and the Spooktacular Birthday Extravaganza and To Spite One’s Face at the 2022 and 2023 Cincy Fringe Festivals. In Louisville, Zoë is the youngest member of Derby City Playwrights and has performed with or had work produced by multiple companies. A character-driven artist with a particular interest in new works, horror and classical theatre, she often finds herself looking for genre bending or absurdist projects.
Production Team Biographies
Steve Phelan (Director): Steve has greatly enjoyed directing the timely and provocative Two Point Oh— his first show at Falcon. He has previously directed (and acted) at numerous community theaters around town, including The Stained Glass Theater and Village Players in Northern Kentucky and Beechmont Players, Mariemont, and Middletown Lyric across the river. Many thanks to Ted for the stage, to Jake for his management, and to my wonderfully talented cast for their superb portrayals. And love to my daughter Katy and lovely spouse Cathy Roesener (just seen here in Home, I’m Darling) for supporting my theatrical obsession.
Jake Schaub (Stage Manager): Jake Schaub has been involved in theater for as long as he can remember; from elementary school through his 3 semesters as a Theatre Major at Thomas More University, stagecraft had fascinated him. A few of his past credits include Henry in Next to Normal at The Footlighters Inc., Lewis in Pippin at The Footlighters Inc., and Jason Dean in Heathers: The Musical at Centerstage Players. He also previously stage managed Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and Home I’m Darling at Falcon, and is ecstatic to be back for Two Point Oh! Enjoy the show!
Jeffrey Jackson (Playwright): Jeffrey Jackson is an artist whose talents and achievements traverse a wide spectrum of the arts. He began his professional career at a very young age in the world of advertising, where he founded his own agency and went on to write and direct award-winning television commercials and video programs for nationally-known clients such as Sony, Western Union, and Merck. He successfully parlayed that experience into the world of the performing arts — first in film and then in the theater.
For the stage, his first work was creating book and lyrics for a faithful musical adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which ran Off-Broadway in late 2007 and starred Tony nominee Hunter Foster. His second play, Two Point Oh made its Off-Broadway New York debut in late 2013 at 59E59 Theaters, where The New York Times made it a “Critic’s Pick” while lauding it as “smart, provocative and funny.” The play was a finalist for the coveted Stanley Drama Award, winner of the Wilde Award for Best New Play and was listed by Culturequake as one of the year’s 10-best Off-Broadway plays.
Falcon Theatre Management Board
Piper N. Davis – Diversity & Inclusion Director
Clint Ibele – Falcon Takes Flight Director, Volunteer Coordinator
Tom Lawry – Management/Operations Consultant
Ted J. Weil – Producing Artistic Director
Patrons
ANGEL:
Doug & Carol Burks
BENEFACTOR:
Ron & Claudia Cropper
Terry Miller & Dale Hayes
PLAYWRIGHT:
David Derringer
Greg Schaper
Ted J. Weil
Michael & Susan Whitehead
DIRECTOR:
Robert Arlinghaus & Christina Kelley
Robert & Patricia Clary
Rob Morgan & Steve Bolia
Clint Ibele
Lynn Krabacher
PRODUCER
In memory of Renee Alper
Sandra Grinkmeyer & Ernie Franz
Patricia Hoffmann
Joe & Nora Mock
Kim & Lori Southwood
DESIGNER:
Charita Berewer
STAGE MANAGER:
Gail Ginther
ACTOR:
Susan Tyler
Your Support Makes It All Possible!
Falcon has been creating quality theater for our audiences since 1989 and we remain committed to our vision to lead our community through artistic expression and inclusive creativity. Like all arts organizations, we can’t do it without you. Your tax-deductible donation helps us continue to produce affordable theatre while offsetting the cost of creating professional productions. The generosity of patrons continues to allow Falcon Theatre the opportunity to expand its horizons, reaching new audiences, new markets and a new generation of theatre minds. Your gift goes a long way in helping us grow, thrive and continue this success.
Click Here to visit our Patron Information page.
Falcon is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and your donations are tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor for more information.
Patron Levels:
- Angel $5000+ (Includes 2 five-show Flex Passes)
- Benefactor $1000+ (Includes 1 five-show Flex Passes)
- Playwright $500+
- Director $250+
- Producer $100+
- Designer $50+
- Stage Manager $25+
- Actor Up to $25
Flex Passes
Want To See A Show For Free?
We have Flex Passes on sale to save you money and help you see only the shows you want. A Flex pass is a block of tickets you can use whenever you want at Falcon and it’s a great way to save money and see some great theater.
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