Photo Flash: Meet the Full Cast of Roundabout's MACHINAL

By: Jan. 11, 2014
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Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Machinal, starring Rebecca Hall, written by Sophie Treadwell and directed by Lyndsey Turner, began previews on December 20, 2013 ahead of an official opening on January 16, 2014 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway. Machinal is a limited engagement through March 2. Scroll down to learn more about the cast!

The cast includes Suzanne Bertishas "Mother", Morgan Spector as "Lover", Michael Cumpsty as "Husband", and Damian Baldet, Ashley Bell, Jeff Biehl, Arnie Burton, Ryan Dinning, Scott Drummond, Dion Graham, Edward James Hyland, Jason Loughlin, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Daniel Pearce, Henny Russell, Karen Walsh, and Michael Warner.

Inspired by the infamous 1927 murder trial of Ruth Snyder, Machinal is a gripping drama by American journalist and playwright Sophie Treadwell. It's America's Golden Age, a time of happiness, freedom and prosperity - or is it? For the Young Woman (Hall), a stenographer in the industrial, male-dominated world of the 1920s, life is nothing like she hoped it would be. Restless and unfulfilled in a passionless marriage and unwanted motherhood, she finds her only joy in the form of an illicit love affair. But when reality sets in and she must return to her routine existence, she'll go to any lengths to regain her freedom. A groundbreaking work in the landscape of American theatre, Machinal is a riveting look at the danger that can come from a life unlived.

Machinal
Ashley Bell, Rebecca Hall, Morgan Spector, Damian Baldet, Daniel Pearce, and Scott Drummond.
Photo by Joan Marcus.

MachinalRebecca Hall (Young Woman) makes her Broadway debut in Machinal after a notable career on the London stage and other critically acclaimedperformances throughout the world. Most notably, Hall has performed in productions such as Mrs Warren's Profession, which earned her the Ian Charleson Award in 2003, As You Like It (Ian Charleson nomination), Man and Superman,The Fight for Barbara, Galileo's Daughter, Don Juan, A Winter's Tale (Ian Charleson Award winner), The Cherry Orchard (Evening Standard Theatre Award nomination) and Twelfth Night. Ms. Hall has also established an award-winning film and television career. On screen, Hall can currently be seen as Claudia Simmons-Howe in the international suspense thriller, Closed Circuit, and most recently starred in Marvel's Iron Man 3. Hall received critical acclaim for her starring role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, receiving Golden Globe, BAFTA Orange Rising Star, London Critics Circle and Gotham Award nominations. She can also be seen in Lay the Favorite, The Awakening, The Town,Everything Must Go, Please Give, Dorian Gray, Frost/Nixon, The Prestige, and Starter for 10, which marked her feature film debut. Hall also recently starred in SusAnna White's "Parade's End," for which she won a Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actress, as well as received a BAFTA Television Nomination for Leading Actress, and a Critics Choice Television Award nomination for Best Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series. Additional television credits include: Julian Jarrold's "Red Riding: 1974," for which she received a BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress; "Einstein and Eddington"; "Joe's Palace"; "Wide Sargasso Sea"; "Don't Leave Me This Way"; and "The Camomile Lawn." Ms. Hall will next star in Wally Pfister's directorial debut, Transcendence, and Patrice Leconte's A Promise.

MachinalSuzanne Bertish (Mother). Suzanne was born in London to a British father and American Mother. Her work with The Royal Shakespeare Company includes Nicholas Nickleby (Olivier Award), Masha in Three Sisters, Twelfth Night with Ian McKellen and directed by Trevor Nunn, and Desdemona in Othello. Work In London includes Les Liaisons Dangereuses, An Inspector Calls directed by Stephen Daldry, Tango at the End of Winter with Alan Rickman directed by Yukio Ninagowa, Ophelia in Hamlet with Derek Jacobi (Clarence Derwent Award) and Gertrude with Paul Rhys. Work with the National Theatre includes, King Lear with Antony Hopkins directed by David Hare, Ibsen's Rosmersholm, (Evening Standard Award Nomination), Oedipus directed by Peter Hall and The Cherry Orchard with Vanessa and Corin Redgrave, directed by Trevor Nunn.Work in America includes The Moliere Comedies Directed by Michael Langham (Tony Nomination,) The Art of Success with Tim Curry directed by Adrian Noble, Wit with Cynthia Nixon directed by Lynne Meadow, Kin directed by Sam Gold, Skirmishes (Theatre World Award), Richard III for The Public Theatre, Antony and Cleopatra directed by Michael Kahn, Mrs. Warren's Profession Directed by Emily Mann and Breakfast At Tiffanys. TV and Film includes - "Ab Fab", "Inspector Morse", "Poirot", "Rome" (14 eps), "MR. Bean", Rosemary and Thyme, 13th Warrior, The Hunger and Hearts Of Fire. Suzanne teaches and has done numerous audio books and recordings.

MachinalMichael Cumpsty (Husband). Roundabout: The Winslow Boy, Sunday in the Park with George, The Constant Wife, 1776, Man and Superman. Other Broadway: End of the Rainbow(Tony nomination), Democracy, Copenhagen, Enchanted April, 42nd Street, Electra, Racing Demon, The Heiress, Translations, La Bete, Timon of Athens, Artist Descending a Staircase. NY includes: Hamlet (Obie award), Richard ll and Richard lll, Twelfth Night, Timon of Athens, All's Well. RSC: A Winter's Tale. Two River: Present Laughter, Much Ado. TV Includes 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Nurse Jackie,' 'Law and Order,' 'Star Trek: Voyager,' 'LA Law.' Film includes: Eat Pray Love, Wall Street 2, The Visitor, Flags of our Fathers, The Ice Storm.

MachinalMorgan Spector (Lover). Morgan Spector most recently performed on Broadway with Jim Parsons and Jessica Hecht in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Harvey. He made his Broadway debut as 'Rodolpho' with Liev Schreiber, Scarlett Johansson, and Jessica Hecht in the Tony Award winning revival of Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his performance as 'Boris' in the world premiere of Russian Transport at The New Group Theatre Off-Broadway. Other significant stage performances include Dissonance(Bay Street), Yanks workshop directed by David Cromer; The Lion King National Tour; Enemies: A Love Story (Wilma Theatre). In feature films Morgan recently performed opposite Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini in Animal Rescue for Fox Searchlight (dir. Michael Roskam), which will be released in 2014. Leading roles in Independent feature films include Split (dir. Deborah Kampmeier); Musical Chairs (dir. Susan Seidelman); Almost Christmas; Burning Blue; Grand Street. He also appeared inThe Last Airbender (M. Night Shyamalan). On television, Morgan portrayed 'Frank Capone' in "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO). He just filmed a Series Regular lead role for acclaimed writer David Milch in "The Money" (HBO). He recurs as 'Peter Yogorov' on "Person of Interest" (CBS) and has made guest star appearances on "Orange is the New Black" (Netflix), "Zero Hour" (ABC), "Do No Harm" (NBC), and "How To Make it in America" (HBO). Morgan is a graduate of Reed College and The American Conservatory Theatre M.F.A. program.

MachinalDamian Baldet. The Lion King (West End, North American National Tour, Las Vegas); Hoover Comes Alive!, (La Jolla Playhouse), dir. by Alex Timbers; Pugilist (Barrow St.); With the Obie Award-winning company The Civilians: Gone Missing, Nobody's Lunch, Paris Commune, Canard Canard Goose; Sweet Bird of Youth (La Jolla Playhouse); Blood Wedding (La Jolla Playhouse), dir. MarK Wing-Davey; A Murder, A Mystery and a Marriage (Two River Theatre Company), dir. Aaron Posner; Attempts On Her Life (Soho Rep); Frankenstein (Soho Rep); Poor Super Man (Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati); Hapless (Joe Goode Performance Group); The Rats Are Getting Bigger, dir. Jonathan Silverstein.

MachinalAshley Bell made her feature film debut in The Last Exorcism and earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and an MTV Movie Award nomination, while the film grossed nearly $70 million worldwide. The New York Post praised Bell's acting as "Oscar-worthy" and one of the 10 best performances of 2010 for her extraordinary portrayal of the possessed Nell Sweetzer. She reprised her role in The Last Exorcism Part II, released in March, and yet again received critical acclaim. She can currently be seen in the third season of AMC's "The Walking Dead" webisode series, entitled "The Oath." Earlier this year, Bell co-starred in the WWE's The Marine: Homefront alongside Mike The Miz Mizanin and Neil McDonough. She also completed filming Norry Niven's romantic drama Chasing Shakespeare, which premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival; the noir feature film Sparks, based on the graphic comic, which premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival; and the romantic comedy The Bounceback, directed by fellow Spirit Award nominee Bryan Poser, which premiered at this year's SXSW Film Festival. In 2011, she co-starred in the post-apocalyptic thriller The Day, for which she earned a Fangoria Chainsaw Award nomination. Bell, an animal lover, is passionately involved with the Save Elephant Foundation. She is currently directing and producing Love & Bananas, a documentary depicting the rescue of two Asian elephants from captivity and their subsequent release. In 2012, Bell lent her voice to the animated series "The LeBrons," starring NBA player LeBRon James. Her voice has also been featured in several top-selling video games, including the lead role of Erline in Sony PlayStation's "Sorcery" and The White Queen in Disney's "Alice in Wonderland." Her television credits include appearances in "The United States of Tara," "Grow," and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bell is the daughter of actor/voice animator Michael Bell and actress and Groundlings co-founder Victoria Carroll. She studied acting and directing at Cambridge University, where she was awarded "Best Actress" for her portrayal of "Ophelia." Bell later graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts with honors, and was mentored by Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner.

MachinalJeff Biehl. Jonathan Demme film Fear of Falling premiering at the 2013 Rome film festival. Made from Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory's adaptation of Ibsen's The Master Builder in which Jeff plays Ragnar Brovik. Off-Broadway: Lucas Hnath's Issac's Eye (EST), Thomas Bradshaw's Burning (The New Group), Women Beware Women (Red Bull), American Jornalero(Working Theater), and The Misanthrope (NYTW). Other NYC: Ann Washburn's I Have Loved Strangers, Jason Grote's Civilization, and Karl Gadjusek's Greedy, all with Clubbed Thumb. Ken Urban's The Awake (Kef Productions), Thomas Bradshaw's Lecture On The Blues (Whitney Museum) and Southern Promises (PS122), Anna Ziegler's Novel (SPF), and Les Freres Corbusier's production of Hell House directed by Alex Timbers. Regional/International: Tuzenbach in Three Sisters (A.R.T. and Edinburgh International Festival), also Shakespeare Theatre, South Coast Rep, Westport and Long Wharf. TV: "Southland", several episodes of "Law & Order CI", "Law & Order S.V.U." and "Law & Order." Clubbed Thumb Affiliated Artist. NYTW Usual Suspect. Juilliard.

MachinalArnie Burton. Broadway credits: The 39 Steps, Peter and the Starcatcher, A Free Man of Color and Amadeus. Off-Broadway includes The Explorers Club (MTC), The Temperamentals(Drama Desk Award, Ensemble), The Last Sunday in June, Mere Mortals, The Jew of Malta/The Merchant of Venice (TFANA), Peter and the Starcatcher (NYTW), The Venetian Twins (Pearl). U.K.: The Merchant of Venice (RSC). Regional: All The Way (A.R.T.), The 39 Steps (Huntington, Irne Award, Best Supporting Actor), The Santaland Diaries, Taming of the Shrew, The Seagull(Old Globe), All in the Timing (Geffen Theater, L.A.), also the Alley Theater, Philadelphia Theater CO., Berkeley Rep.. TV appearances include; "Blue Bloods," "Frasier," "Law & Order," "L&O Criminal Intent," "Hope & Faith," "White Collar," "Caroline in the City," "Life on Mars," "6 Degrees." Film: The Invention of Lying, Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Game 6, Igby Goes Down.

MachinalRyan Dinning is thrilled to be making his Broadway debut with Roundabout Theatre Company. After receiving a B.A. in Acting from the University of Northern Colorado, Ryan got his start in NYC with the national tour of Charlotte's Web and has recently been seen in a recurring role on The Carrie Diaries. Ryan would like to thank Henderson Hogan, Actors' Equity, and his friends for their tireless support and love. He especially would like to thank his Mom, Dad, and his inspiring siblings, Katie and Kyle-wouldn't be here without you guys.

MachinalScott Drummond. Broadway debut. Off Broadway: A Perfect Future (Cherry Lane), Hamlet (Theatre for a New Audience). Other New York credits include The New Group, New York Theatre Workshop, The Play Company. Regional: Arena Stage (Other Desert Cities, Well), George Street Playhouse (One Slight Hitch by Lewis Black,Twelve Angry Men), South Coast Rep (Pride and Prejudice), La Jolla Playhouse (Mother Courage), Williamstown Theatre Festival, Barrington Stage, the O'Neill (5 seasons). Film: Not Fade Away (Dir. David Chase). Television: "Boardwalk Empire", "Black Jack" (pilot, Comedy Central), "All My Children". Training: M.F.A., UCSD/La Jolla Playhouse; B.F.A., Southern Methodist University/Meadows School of the Arts.

MachinalDion Graham. As an actor Dion Graham has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, internationally, in films and in several hit television series. He has performed a wide variety of classical and contemporary roles. He has also originated roles in numerous world premieres of works by major playwrights. These include Tennesee Williams' Not About Nightingales (London's Royal Nat'l. Theatre/B'way) and Kenneth Lonergan's Lobby Hero (Lucille Lortel award nominee), Marcus Gardley's On The Levee (Lincoln Center)and many others. In film and television he has performed featured, recurring, and guest leads in Malcolm X, Thirteen Conversations About One Thing, Asbury Park, The Good Wife, "Gossip Girl", "NYPD Blue", "Hack", "Homicide", "New York News", "Hoop Life", "The Law & Order" franchise, and more. He has worked with a diverse group of directors ranging from Trevor Nunn to Spike Lee, from Avery Brooks to Mike Nichols. He also played State's Attorney Rupert Bond on HBO's "The Wire".

MachinalEdward James Hyland recently played the role of Mr. Norton in Oren Jacoby's adaptation of Ralph Ellison's book Invisible Man at the Huntington Theatre and The Studio Theatre in D.C. where it received seven Helen Hayes nominations. On Broadway he has been seen in Arcadia,The Man Who Had All The Luck, Festen, The Price, and Ah! Wilderness at Lincoln Center Theatre. Off B'way, he's been in Big Doolie and Juno & The Paycock. Regionally, he has worked at Paper Mill Playhouse, Ford's Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre of DC, Arena Stage, Studio Theatre of DC, Huntington Theatre, Hartford Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Denver Center Theatre Co., Alabama Shakespeare Co., Pioneer Theatre Co., Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and The Pittsburgh Public Theatre. Mr. Hyland's film work includes The Happening, The Caller, Asylum Seekers, The Next Big Thing, See No Evil/Hear No Evil, The Cradle Will Rock, andSleepwalk With Me. On the small screen, he's been seen in "Law & Order," "Gossip Girl," "Guiding Light," "One Life to Live," and most recently as General Berson in "Political Animals.

MachinalJason Loughlin. Jason is very excited to be making his Broadway and Roundabout debut withMachinal. A NC native and graduate of UNC-Charlotte, Jason recently returned from the 1st national tour of War Horse, having played Lieutenant Nichols and Paddy. He has worked regionally at The Alliance and Georgia Shakespeare in Atlanta; Charlotte Repertory, NC Shakespeare Festival and Children's Theater of Charlotte in NC. This one's for the niece and nephews: Zach, Hayley, Jamie, Logan and little man Landon.

MachinalMaria-Christina Oliveras was most recently seen in the critically acclaimed, award-winning musical, Here Lies Love, by David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim, directed by Alex Timbers at The Public Theater. She previously made her Broadway debut in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Off-Broadway credits include Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson at the Public, Reading under the Influence at the DR2, The Really Big Once with Target Margin, and Night Sky at Baruch Performing Arts Center. Regionally, Maria-Christina has performed at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Long Wharf, Huntington, Baltimore Centerstage, Denver Center, Westport Country Playhouse, Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Berkshire Theater Festival, among others. Her film credits include St. Vincent De Van Nuys, The Other Woman, Ice, Clutter, and Vamperifica, and the upcoming feature, The Humbling, directed by Barry Levinson, starring Al Pacino. Television appearances include "NYC 22," "Damages," "Nurse Jackie," "Ugly Betty," "Law & Order: CI," "Law & Order: SVU," "Person of Interest," and "Golden Boy." Maria-Christina received her B.A. with honors from Yale University, where she currently teaches acting, and her M.F.A. in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory.

MachinalDaniel Pearce. Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Circle in the Square). Off-Broadway: Falling (Minetta Lane), Passion Play (Epic), King Lear, Measure for Measure, Henry V, Henry VI (NYSF/Public), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Irish Repertory), A Mother, a Daughter, and a Gun (New World Stages), Love's Fire (Public), Romeo and Juliet (New Victory). Regional: Long Wharf, Shakespeare Theatre DC, McCarter, New York Stage and Film, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Guthrie, and Geva among others. . Film/TV: Salt, An Invisible Sign, Clowns, Godzilla, "Law and Order: All Flavors", "Damages", "Queens Supreme", "Chapelle's Show". MFA from NYU.

MachinalHenny Russell. Roundabout: The Winslow Boy, Major Barbara. Broadway: The Other Place, Lombardi, The Royal Family, Impressionism. Off-Broadway: Fuddy Meers (Minetta Lane); Boy Gets Girl (MTC). Regional: Old Globe, Denver Center, Cincinnati Playhouse, Yale Rep, Hartford Stage, Pittsburgh Public, Virginia Stage, and many others. Film: Kilimanjaro, You Don't Know Jack,Revolutionary Road, Tie A Yellow Ribbon, Loopy. Television: 'Law&Order: SVU,' 'Law&Order,' 'Gossip Girl,' 'Possible Side Effects,' 'Hope & Faith.' www.hennyrussell.com

MachinalKaren Walsh. Broadway: Road to Mecca, Pygmalion, Prelude to a Kiss (Roundabout), Other Desert Cities (Booth/LCT), Accent on Youth (Manhattan Theatre Club).Off-Broadway: Suddenly Last Summer (Roundabout), Jacks Precious Moment (Pg73, Sam Hunter). Regional: How the Other Half Loves (Westport Country Playhouse), King Lear, Hobson's Choice, Prayer for Owen Meaney (Playmakers Repertory Company), Cabaret (Sally Bowles), among others. Television: "Michael J Fox Show", "Boardwalk Empire", "Deception", several "Law and Orders", "Law and Order: SVU". BM Voice, Indiana University-Bloomington, MFA UNC-Chapel Hill.

MachinalMichael Warner. Theater: Most recent, Lucy Thurber's Scarcity at The Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. Others, The Language of Trees, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Distracted(Roundabout), Wings (Second Stage), Almost an Evening, Arrangements (Atlantic), Pullman Car Hiawatha (Keen Company), Missed Connections (Ars Nova), Monstrosity (13P), Engaging Shaw(Old Globe) among many others. Television and Film: "House of Cards", "Boardwalk Empire", "Law and Order", "Law and Order: Criminal Intent", Breaking Upwards, Almost in Love and the upcoming A Lotus til Reckoning and A Queen Without His Crown. MFA Rutgers.



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