Oleanna at The Zephyr Theatre

Miguel Perez to direct Oleanna by David Mamet at Hollywood Fringe Festival 2023! Oleanna is a powerful play that explores the complex issues of political polarization, lack of trust in institutions, #MeToo and gender inequality, cancel culture and free speech and mental health & well-being. It's a timely work that reflects the struggles we face in society today. Through the story of a university professor and a student, Oleanna exposes the power dynamics and manipulation that exist in our society and the dangers that arise when we fail to communicate with one another.

With director Miguel Perez at the helm Oleanna stars Claire Wagner & Jean-Michel Richaud. A run of six performances at The Zephyr Theatre (7456 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046) begins its run on Saturday, June 3rd at 6:30pm as part of Hollywood Fringe Festival 2023.

Runs: Saturday June 3rd, Saturday, June 10th at 12:30pm with performances on Wednesday, June 14th at 8:30pm, Sunday, June 18th at 5:45pm, Saturday, June 24th at 12pm with a final performance matinee on Sunday, June 25th at 2:15pm.

BIOS:

Miguel Pérez (Director) was born in San Jose CA . Being raised Catholic he learned to appreciate ritual and ritualized storytelling. At the age of 11 he was cast in the 6th grade production of A Christmas Carol. The experience of rehearsing and performing was so natural and joyful that he decided, at that tender age, to pursue the profession of acting. He earned parts local productions in San Jose and eventually became the youngest member of an improvisational acting troupe called The McGuffey Company that toured the SF Bay Area in the mid 1970’s.

In 1975 Miguel joined the United States Marine Corps. Honorably discharged in 1979 Miguel moved to New York City to begin his professional acting career. He auditioned for and was accepted to the National Shakespeare Conservatory, where he studied under master teachers Philip Meister, Mario Siletti and James Tripp. His graduation from the National Shakespeare Conservatory was followed by stints with many regional theaters including the Asolo State Theatre, South Florida Shakespeare Company, American Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, Hartford Stage and others. In New York he appeared with the Classic Stage Company, The New York Shakespeare Festival and in an array of productions off and on Broadway.

On film Miguel has appeared in dozens of films including Blow, Unbroken: Path To Redemption, Oceans 11, The Ascent and Million Dollar Baby. His television credits include guest starring roles on Seinfeld, Madam Secretary, ER, Shooter, Designated Survivor, Fear The Walking Dead, Seal Team, The Resident and many, many others. In addition to his acting work, Miguel has coached privately for 20+ years. Before the pandemic he was on the faculty of the SAG Conservatory. Currently he is on the faculty of the Art of Acting Studio in Hollywood and he coaches and teaches privately at his studio in Downtown Los Angeles.

He lives in Downtown LA with his wife, artist Kaye Freeman, and continues to work in Theatre, Film and Television.

Claire Wagner (she/her) is an actor and improvisor based in Los Angeles. She is fresh

off the 3 Year Conservatory at the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio in LA, and spent last

summer at the NY Stella Adler school studying Shakespeare with Steve Maurice Jones. Other training and experience include a B.A. in Theatre from CSU Fullerton and residency with improv troupes Best Coast Improv and Creatures of Impulse. FILM/TV: Pog Picks: Back to School Daze. THEATRE: Weirdo, or (make nice) (Larking House); Indecent (Art of Acting); The Dutchman (Leo Rising).

Jean-Michel Richaud (he/him) grew up in Paris and studied at Paris’s National Conservatory before moving to NY and attending Columbia University’s graduate theater program.

For the last ten years, he’s performed and toured the one-man show, Vincent by Leonard Nimoy, worldwide, including Royce Hall in Los Angeles, Symphony Space in NY, Ciné 13 in Paris and two years at the Avignon theater festival. For his work embodying both Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theo, he was nominated for best actor at the Petits Molières (French Tony awards for small theaters).

He has appeared in numerous films and television shows, and is a founding member of The Next Arena Theater company in Los Angeles. He’s also had an extensive career in voice over, and has dubbed over 400 films into his native French. He’s most proud of his work voicing Al Pacino in the anniversary edition of Scarface, and Colin Firth in The King’s Speech. His countless voice over credits range from animation as the French baron in Frozen to videogames, commercials, ADR, ... all right, anything VO related.