Julianne Avolio, Nicole Stefonek & More to Star in GIRLS ONLY at CLO Cabaret

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the cast for exciting return of original comedy sensation Girls Only - The Secret Comedy of Women, which will run May 27 through August 16 at the CLO Cabaret.

Julianne Avolio is making her Pittsburgh CLO debut. Past credits include: SCarrie: The Musical, Midnight Radio, Jr. (Bricolage); Evil Dead: The Musical, SWAN Day (No Name Players); Young Playwrights Festival (City Theatre); Driftless (Hatch Arts Collective); and [title of show] (Florida Repertory Theatre). She also works as a teaching artist for several local arts organizations. See Ms. Avolio every month at Arcade Comedy Theater as part of No Name Players' live monthly sitcom, The Sisters Sorella. www.julianneavolio.com

Nicole Stefonek returns to the CLO Cabaret after appearing in Ring of Fire last summer. A Wisconsin native, she holds a BFA in musical theater performance from St. Mary's University of Winona, MN. After performing in the Mpls/St.Paul area, she moved to NYC where she wrote and performed for numerous Off-Broadway and cabaret venues. Then everything changed when she met and married a Pittsburgher, which happily brings her here today. Favorite productions include: Tony n' Tina's Wedding (Mpls, MN), The Rocky Horror Show (Mpls, MN) and Side Show (St.Paul, MN).

Sara Williams is also making her Pittsburgh CLO debut. She is currently a student at Point Park University, majoring in Acting. Previous Pittsburgh credits include: OJO with Bricolage Theatre, Phaedra (Aricia) with the Point Park University Master's Program and Point Park Conservatory's original restoration style comedy The Alchemist's Lab (Clara).

Luanne Nunes de Char (Director) is a freelance director, teaching artist and casting associate and is thrilled that Pittsburgh CLO will mark her seventh production of Girls Only. She has worked for Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Berkeley Rep, ABC Television, Sea World, California Shakespeare Theatre, The Disney Company, Mark Taper Forum, The National Theatre Conservatory and West End Theatre. Ms. Nunes de Char has a BA from UCLA and an MFA in directing from the University of Southern California.

Barbara Gehring (Creator and Original Cast) is a veteran of improv, sketch comedy and theatre, and is also one of the busiest commercial actors in the Denver market. She is the proud Canadian member of the international comedy trio A.C.E. and has dazzled audiences nationally and worldwide with her energetic performances. Gehring has to her credit several films, has appeared on Fox Sports Network's "Best Damn Sports Show" and in countless national and local television commercials.

Linda Klein (Creator and Original Cast) has been a cherished member of the Denver comedy scene for the last 15 years and one-third of the comedy trio A.C.E. for most of that time. During her years with A.C.E. she has co-written and performed in over 50 original productions and graced stages nationwide, including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. Klein has a dense background in theatrical improvisation and comedy writing. She also works as a commercial actor and voice talent. She sits on the board of directors of two non-profits - Self Improvement Opportunities and The GroupMind Foundation - and is an active member of Montview Presbyterian Church.

Girls Only is an original comedy that celebrates the honor, truth, humor and silliness of being female. With a two-woman cast and audiences full of raucous, laughing ladies, the show has found quick popularity in its unique examination of all things girly. Born out of the earnest and sweetly ridiculous writings the two authors discovered in their girlhood diaries, the Girls Only mix of sketch comedy, improvisation, audience participation, and fun songs and videos will remind you that underneath, women all have very funny feminine similarities. Bring your mothers, daughters, sisters and girlfriends - we promise you'll leave laughing!

Tickets start at $34.75 and are available online at CLOCabaret.com, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square. Groups of 10 or more can call the Group Sales Hotline at 412-325-1582 to learn more about special discounts, priority seating and corporate discounts. Visit pittsburghCLO.org for more information.

Pittsburgh CLO graciously acknowledges the generosity of The Charity Randall Foundation for its sponsorship of the 2014-2015 CLO Cabaret Series.