Steakley, Richmond Cast as Scott and Zelda in Feehely's Original OUTSIDE PARADISE

Clay Steakley and Jennifer Richmond will take on the roles of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald this fall as Actors Bridge Ensemble presents the world premiere of Bill Feehely's Outside Paradise, November 9-18 at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre.

Outside Paradise follows the life and love of literary legends F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald through the jazz age and into infamy. Funded by a Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission Creation Grant, this new work examines the volatile passion, deep commitment and remarkable work of this iconic pair and their closest confidants.

"Clay Steakley is coming back to town from Los Angeles to play the role of F. Scott Fitzgerald," proclaims Vali Forrister, producing artistic director for Actors Bridge, which was First Night 2011's Outstanding Theater Company.

"I'm so excited to have him part of this project-not only because he got his start with us, but also because of his commitment and expertise with new play development. "

Steakley, now based in Los Angeles, is well-known to Nashville audiences, having studied at Belmont University and with a list of local credits to his name, including performances at Actors Bridge and Nashville Children's Theatre, among others. Richmond, winner of the 2012 First Night Award as outstanding actress for her performance in Nate Eppler's Long Way Down, will play opposite Steakley in Feehely's new work that focuses on the literary pair.

Steakley previously appeared in Never the Sinner and Boy Gets Girl, and is an actor and writer originally from Nashville, where he studied theatre at Belmont University and worked with Nashville Children's Theatre, Actors Bridge and others, including Green Room Projects, with whom he wrote the music for Animal Farm. His regional theatre credits include Arena Stage (Christmas Carol 1941, directed by Molly Smith), Roundhouse Theatre (Lord of the Flies), Theater J (world premiere of Thomas Keneally's Either Or), Didactic Theatre Company (The Glory of Living) and more.

Steakley has worked extensively in new play development, workshopping plays with The Kennedy Center (Origin Story by Dan LeFranc, and other plays), The Inkwell, The Hatchery Festival, Capital Fringe Festival and most recently in Los Angeles with Theatre Dybbuk, playing K in an adaptation of Kafka's The Castle. Clay's principal film and television roles include Johnny Cash's drummer WS "Fluke" Holland in Walk the Line (20th Century Fox), Déjà Vu (Touchstone Pictures), White Lightnin' (IFC Films), Elvis (CBS), The Wire (HBO), Furnace (Melee Entertainment) and others.

Steakley currently acts, writes, works with Theatre Dybbuk and develops his own independent features in Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and daughter.

For further details, go to www.actorsbridge.org.