True West at Group Rep Theatre

William studied at The University of Northern Colorado with a BA in Theatre. After some stage and film work in New York, he returned home to Arizona where he worked on independent films and in repertory at The Southwest Shakespeare Company. Such roles with the company included Edgar in King Lear, Salvador Dali in Hysteria, and the title role in Hamlet for which he was recognized as Best Actor, Broadwayworld Regional.

James is excited to be back on stage at The Group Rep after previously appearing in Christmastime Origins this past holiday season, and Motel 66 last summer. Some of his previous stage credits include Carter in Two Rooms (Assembly Theater Company), Henry in Brilliant Traces (Ventura Court Theater), Brad in Orange Flower Water (The Lyric Theater), Jon in Tape (The Actor’s Playpen), And Tom in The Glass Menagerie (The Joanne Linville Studio).

Splits his professional life between the New York stage and on camera. Off-Broadway credits: Lopakin in The Cherry Orchard (Columbia Grad), Carlos in The Cook (INTAR), and Ivan in The Brothers Karamozov (Lincoln Center Director's Lab). Off-Broadway company credits: Second Stage, Ensemble Studio Theatre, & Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre. Film/Television credits: “Law and Order’s SVU”, “Over Run” (director, Josh Tessier), Scott Payne’s ”Cut”, “MBC Network” - Saudi Arabia (director, Osamah Salih).

Clara Rodriguez was recently seen in The Game’s Afoot and In My Mind’s Eye at Group Rep Theatre, as well as Brushes at the Whitefire Theatre and Eclipse Theatre's production of And Then There Were None. Clara has a background in improv and has performed with Theatre Sports Los Angeles, Pulp Playhouse, Galorama, Brain Trust, and many other improv companies.

Director, creative producer, actress, and writer for stage and screen. A proud graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Notable directing credits include Keep Me (Director/Writer), Murder at the Howard Johnson’s (Director), Godspell (Co-director), and MAMMA MIA! (Asst. Director). She is honored to lead an all-female production team for a play dripping with toxic masculinity. Recently she Creative Produced XZIBIT’S music video, “One Nation” and started the Podcast, momsarttoo.com with her work wife, Mel Lee.

Melanie is so excited to be working on this amazing piece. This is her second show at the Group Rep and looks forward to many more. She has been directing and choreographing throughout the U.S. and abroad and is now settled in LA and is making LA theatre her home base. Along with their ongoing Podcast, Moms Art Too, Melanie and Brooklyn have many years working together through their production company, Blind Toe.

Producer, director, choreographer, voice-over artist, and actress who transplanted from NYC & MA and now calls LA home. She’s produced GRT’s Holiday Traditions and Trappings, Unhidden Figures, Motel 66, and currently producing GRT’s mainstage musical, LA Now And Then as well as True West. She was awarded “Best Choreographer” for Sweet Charity and On The Twentieth Century and “Best Director” for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat by MA Critics Circle.

Returning to stage managing after a long hiatus. One of her last gigs was as Production Stage Manager on New Federal Theater’s Off-Broadway production of Christopher Columbus directed by Lloyd Richards. She worked at NYC theaters such as Playwrights Horizons, Westbeth Theatre Center, and The Theatre at St. Peter's Church. Assistant director: GRT’s Tiger by the Tail and Witness for the Prosecution. Primarily an actress, she most recently appeared in GRT’s Birthday Club and Christmastime Origins.

Artist, Actress, and Comedian. During her time at Antelope Valley College, Melissa took on roles such as Officer Klein in Arsenic and Old Lace as well as Lead Carpenter and stage manager on many other productions. Production Design Credits: “Rituals Festival 2021”, “Cloud City” Album Release, “Give Them Hell” New Year’s Eve 2022 Concert. Performance Credits: “Bucket Brigade” Music video by artist TR Sun The Terminator, and “Give Them Hell” music video by artist Polartropica.

Credits include Dracula (Ovation Award), Yo Ho Ho! A Pirates Christmas, East of Berlin, Departures, Pirates of Penzance, Elizabeth Rex (Ovation Award), and the full staging of Angels In America. He is the resident lighting designer for the Colony Theatre, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and Theater Tribe. He has designed productions for The Company of Angels, Write Act, The Court Theater, The Howard Fine Acting Studio, and the West Los Angeles Theatre Center.

Founder of the Los Angeles-based creative agency, hi5.agency he leads a team of diverse storytellers who continue to challenge the status quo with their brand client roster including Spotify, Cisco, Blizzard, Fender, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and FX. In 2020, 2019, and 2017 hi5.agency was named mid-sized agency of the year by the Shorty Awards and has been recognized by The Hermes, CLIO, Webby, Muse, and ProMax Awards for class-leading campaigns in A/V, Social, Strategy, and Original Content.

Steve is a long-time member of GRT who has been the sound designer on many productions, both main stage and upstairs. He has acted in The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Chinese Wall, and others. His short plays, Caller ID and Cleveland and Dallas were produced in GRT’s play festivals, Putting On Your Shorts and Motel 66.

Clara Rodriguez has artistically collaborated with set designers on many GRT productions. As a main cast member in the show, she was happy to contribute to the overall aesthetic of the set that she will play on.

Costume designer, actor, and writer in the L.A. theatre scene for many years now winning several awards and nominations for his work both on stage and off from such organizations as Ovation, L.A. Drama Critics Circle, L.A. Weekly, N.A.A.C.P., Scenie, Stage Raw, Robby, Broadway World, Ticket Holder, Eddon, and Desert Theatre League. He is very happy to be a part of L.A.'s wonderful theatre community.

Acting for the camera professor and director at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts; Film/TV experience includes work with CBS, ABC, Discovery, SPIKE, VH1, Comedy Central, Lionsgate, Mark Burnett, Al Roker Entertainment, Gurin Co, and others.

Classically trained actor, singer, and stunt combatant. Screen credits: “JAG”, “Arrested Development”, “The West Wing”, “The Onion Movie”, “The Bacchae”, “Soldier of God”, and “Frost Portrait of a Vampire”. Music credits: Justin Timberlake, 30 Seconds to Mars, Josh Groban, and “Lion King” (2019) soundtrack. Stunt fighting: Over 20 years of theatrical combat experience and over 30 years of martial arts experience. His company: Artistry In Action. His combat school: The Art of The Swashbuckler.

Doug Haverty is a playwright, librettist, actor, and graphic artist. He has been a member of Group Rep since 1982 and is currently the Artistic Director. His play, In My Mind’s Eye, had its world premiere at Group Rep in October 1984 and is published by Samuel French. Other works presented at The Group Rep include Next Window, Please, The Ghost of Gershwin (Book and Additional Lyrics), and Love Again (Book and Co-Lyrics).

Kristin has over 20 years of experience as a marketing executive with a focus on strategy, design, eCommerce, email marketing, and lead generation. She gets tremendous fulfillment in donating her time to The Group Rep to help increase awareness of this theatrical gem in North Hollywood. Follow GRT on Instagram (@thegroupreptheatre) and Facebook (@TheGroupRep).

On staff at the Group Rep, Actors Co-op, and the Whitefire Theatre. Nora has publicized numerous theatre productions and events such as World Championships of the Performing Arts and Experience NoHo. Nora has also served as producer of the theatre component for the NoHo Theatre & Arts Festival, and two New York Pro-Celebrity tennis tournaments. Nora is married to actor Steve Peterson.