RLTP Announces Inaugural Ensemble Class

Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP), a non-profit professional theatre company dedicated to the development and production of world-premiere plays by Western New York (WNY) playwrights, has announced the formation of an active and ongoing ensemble of associated theatre artists. Artistic Director Scott Behrend introduced the group of local performers, playwrights, directors, and technicians – cumulatively, the “RLTP Ensemble” – at RLTP’s 2012 Spring Gala on Saturday, May 5th, 2012.

Behrend announced twenty-one artists as member’s of “RLTP’s Class of 2012,” the inaugural group of RLTP Ensemble Members; they are: director Derek Campbell; stage manager James Campese; production manager Hasheen Deberry; scenic designer/propsmaster Jeremy Delgado; playwright Jon Elston; actor Bob Grabowski; technical director Nathan Hall; actor Dave Hayes; playwright Donna Hoke; director Kyle LoConti; sound designer Katie Menke; actress Victoria Perez; costume designer Maura Price; lighting designer John Rickus; playwright Darryl Schneider; playwright Ibn Shabazz; sound designer John Shotwell; actress/director Kristen Tripp Kelley; actress/playwright Lisa Vitrano; actor Barry Williams; and actor Matt Witten.

Behrend also announced RLTP Board of Directors Chairman Bernhard John Huber has been named RLTP’s first Honorary Ensemble Member. Huber will be retiring from the position in June of this year, following eight years of service on RLTP’s Board.

Behrend said that the RLTP Ensemble was conceived as a way to celebrate the company’s relationship with a greater number of frequent collaborators than previously has been possible through the company’s “Resident Artist” honorary title. Former RLTP Resident Artists include Campese, Elston, Grabowski, Menke, Price, Rickus, Schneider, and Vitrano, all of whom are now RLTP Ensemble members.

“I consider the fine artists that RLTP works with to be members of the RLTP family,” commenTed Behrend. “This is a semi-formal gesture to recognize and celebrate these important and valuable relationships.”

The announcement was made May 5 th at Buffalo’s Saturn Club, the site of RLTP’s 2012 Spring Gala. Gala guests included RLTP Ensemble members, RLTP Board members, season subscribers, Saturn Club members, the cast of RLTP’s production of Ancestral Voices , and the evening’s guest of honor, RLTP 2012 American Theatre Master, A.R. Gurney, author of Ancestral Voices .

For more information about the RLTP Ensemble, please visit www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org or contact Managing Director Gina Gandolfo-Lopez at ggandolfo@roadlesstraveledproductions.org .