Multi-award winning Rogue Machine Theatre proudly presents the WEST COAST PREMIERE of the critically acclaimed comedy about tragedy. Told through the character of Esther Greenwood, Plath's semi-autobiographical heroin of The Bell Jar, this play is a revealing and absurd interpretation of the legendary poet's life in the moments before her death. WISH I HAD A SYLVIA PLATH won the Fringe First Award for Innovative and Outstanding New Writing, and became a Critic's Pick, Hot Ticket, and nominee for The Stage Awards for its run in the UK.
Edward Anthony (playwright) is a native of the American South, who left the country to read English Literature and Language at Oxford University before beginning his career as a writer. Wish I Had a Sylvia Plath was his first play. His most recent play, Southern (dis) Comfort, a dark comedy about the American South, is on tour across the United States. He is currently developing a TV sit-com pilot and two screenplays. Awards: Edinburgh Fringe First Award for 'Innovative and Outstanding New Writing' for Wish I Had a Sylvia Plath (UK).
Matthew McCray (Director) is a director, playwright, producer and performer. As a director Matthew's work includes the Los Angeles premiere of The Designated Mourner (Critic's Pick, LA Times), Iphigenia... A Rave Fable (winner of 4 LA Weekly Awards), and On Emotion at Son of Semele. Past directing also includes a workshop of his original play Fencerow to Fencerow at
Center Theatre Group, Lear's Wild Rose at CalArts, Amended at REDCAT and What The Moon Saw at Chapman University. Past performance work includes shows at REDCAT, Musical
Theatre West, REPRISE!, Disney and Overtone Industries, as well as appearances on Boston Legal, The Cure (pilot), The Commission (with
Martin Sheen,
Martin Landau and
Edward Asner), and his recurring role of Jasper on Will & Grace. Since 2000, Matthew has served as the Artistic Director of Son of Semele Ensemble and in 2003 accepted an Ovation Award for SOSE's Animal Farm.
AMY DAVIDSON (Esther) is a veteran stage and TV actress who has seamlessly navigated the worlds of comedy and drama with her undeniable talent and vivacious personality. After landing the role of "Kerry Hennessy," Davidson, she spent three seasons on the hit comedy 8 Simple Rules opposite
Katey Sagal,
Kaley Cuoco, and
John Ritter. When the show ended its successful run, she continued to make audiences laugh with a stint on Malcolm In the Middle, and then showcased her range with dramatic turns starring in Lifetime's Capture of the Green River Killer, and appearances on CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, and Ghost Whisperer.
WISH I HAD A SYLVIA PLATH opens March 12, 2011 with reception to follow. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm (No performances Thursdays March 10th & 17th). ROGUE MACHINE presents at The Lounge Theatre located at 6201 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, California 90038. For reservations call855-585-5185 or on-line at www.roguemachinetheatre.com
Andrew Carlberg (Producer) currently works with Executive Producer Laurie Zaks on the hit ABC series Castle, starring Nathan Fillion, where they reside with an ABC development deal. On screen Andrew has produced the shorts After-School Special (written by Neil LaBute; starring Sarah Paulson and Wes Bentley) and I Have It (starring Larisa Oleynik and Devon Gummersall); the music videos Til My Voice is Gone (for indie rock band The Old Ceremony, starring multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner Ed Asner; numerous festival official selections and $10,000 Music/Fashion Category Winner at the inaugural LG Life's Good FilmFest) and You're So Vein (re-recording by Carly Simon of her classic rock song, starring Ethan Embry and Katie Lowes); the pilot presentation LONE (writer/director Jon Huertas). Up next Andrew is producing the feature film I Have It (Jim Fall directing), and has a made-for-TV movie and reality show in active development. Andrew founded The 4th Wall: Geffen Playhouse Arts Alliance, a theater initiative in partnership with the world-renown theater. On stage at the Geffen, Andrew produced the Los Angeles premiere of 110 STORIES (starring Katharine McPhee, John Hawkes, Ed Asner, ShaRon Lawrence, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and others). Up next on stage, Andrew is producing the Los Angeles premiere of Neil LaBute's The Mercy Seat at [Inside] the Ford alongside VS. Theatre Company. In addition to working in the entertainment industry, Andrew is an active volunteer and mentor through the I Have A Dream Foundation and on the steering committee for the Los Angeles Public Library's Young Literati.
John PerriN FLYNN (Producer/Artistic Director) recently directed the critically acclaimed Los Angeles premiere of THE SUNSET LIMITED, now extended into its fourth month of sell-out performances. He directed the multi-award winning World Premiere of Henry Murray's Treefall (now being produced regionally and published by the Dramatist Play Service in 2010) last season, and the critically acclaimed Los Angeles premiere of Rogue Machine's inaugural production Compleat Female Stage Beauty. John helmed the
Craig Lucas' hit Small Tragedies at The Odyssey Theatre and the world premiere of
John Pollono's Lost and Found at The Lounge Theatre. He is Rogue Machine's founding Artistic Director and has been the Executive Producer of all three successful seasons. John was the Executive Producer and director of Lifetime's long running award winning series Strong Medicine, has produced two other series and 14 television movies or miniseries including the Emmy nominated Burden of Proof. He attended The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has a MA degree in Theatre from Illinois State University.
ROGUE MACHINE won the BEST PRODUCTION Ovation Award (Intimate Theatre), for their staging of Joel Drake Johnson's FOUR PLACES. They are currently extending the popular run of Cormac McCarthy's THE SUNSET LIMITED through March 28, 2011. This Los Angeles premiere has garnered a CRITIC'S CHOICE - LA Times; GO- LA Weekly, CRITIC'S PICK - Backstage, and an Ovation RECOMMENDED). Rogue Machine presents plays that are new to Los Angeles. Since 2008 this has included 3 Los Angeles Premiere (COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY, STOP KISS and THE SUNSET LIMITED) 5West Coast Premiere (FOUR PLACES, MilkMilkLemonade, AMERICAN DEAD, BINGO WITH THE INDIANS, and HALF OF PLENTY), and 4World Premiere productions YARD SALE SIGNS, RAZORBACK, SHORTS & SWEETS, and the multi-award winning production of Henry Murray's TREEFALL, nowpublished by Dramatist Play Services). Last year they worked extensively with multi-award winner
Steven Sater (SPRING AWAKENING) in developing his play NEW YORK ANIMALS. The company has secured a reputation for creating high-quality productions by contemporary playwrights who specifically address our culture and time.
Adam Flemming (Video Designer) recently designed the LA TIMES "Critic's Choice" AfterMath (Odyssey, World Premiere), critically acclaimed Jump/Cut (
Arena Stage, West Coast premiere), Tales From Hollywood and The Blue Room (Odyssey), Gwendoline Yeo's Laughing With My Mouth Wide Open (El Centro), On Emotion (Son of Semele), Into The Woods (Diablo Theater, San Francisco) and Catch 22 (Loyola Marymount University). Adam is a graduate of CalArts, a designer with the O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference, and an artistic associate with Son of Semele ensemble.
JOSEPH "SLOE" SLAWINSKI (Sound Designer)recently received an LA Weekly Award for Sound Design on the world premiere production of Treefall at Rogue Machine. He created the sound in Steppenwolf playwright Lisa Dillman's Los Angeles premiere of Half of Plenty last season, The Perfect Moment at NoHo Arts Center, and for Confusions at The Lost Studio. Joseph has completed production for the short film The Great Fantastic which was seen making on festival circuits.
DAVID MAUER - (Set Designer) is Rogue Machine's founding Technical Director and a freelance designer/TD. Design work includes Orpheus Descending at Theatre/Theater, The Philadelphia Story at Actors' Co-op, The Limitations of Genetic Technology at Theatre of NOTE, the special effects for Yard Sale Signs with Rogue Machine. He is currently working on Rogue Machine's next production, the Los Angeles premiere of Small Engine Repair.
DAN WEINGARTEN (Lighting Designer) is a Los Angeles-based designer who has created lighting for over 400 productions. Credits include: Rock of Ages (LA and Las Vegas Productions) Romeo and Juliet dir.
Michael Michetti (Boston Court, Ovation Nominee), Great Men of Science (The Lost Studio, Garland and LA Weekly Award, Ovation Nominee), Catch the Fish (New School for Drama, Winner NY Fringe Festival). Dan recently created the lighting design for the Long Beach Opera's production of Orpheus and Euridice, Bootleg's production of Stranger (LA Drama Critics Circle Nominee), The Santa Barbara Theater's production of Doubt, and The Ebony Repertory Theatre's production of Two Trains Running (Ovation Nominee). He is the Lighting Designer for Universal Studio Hollywood's Theatrical Operations unit, and received his MFA in Design and Production from CalArts.
