(TEANECK, NJ) -- Black Box Studios presents new productions of two modern classics by Eric Bogosian, Talk Radio and the rarely-performed Griller, presented on alternating evenings "in rep". Directed by Matt Okin, performances run from April 19 through May 13. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors.
The cast includes Brennen Dopwell, Allison Falkenstern, Jason Felix, Mike Gardiner, Sam Hapner-Goldman, Anna Gunderson, Nachi Lederer, Mike Marcou, Ellen Revesz, Lisa Tiger, and Laurence Wallace. Directed by Matt Okin. Talk Radio is presented in special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., NY. Griller is presented in special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., NY.
Performances take place at the Black Box Performing Arts Center, 200 Walraven Drive, Teaneck, New Jersey.
INSIDE THE CAST: Brennen Dopwell, an ambitious, determined, and funny twenty year old graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He has done two scenes from plays called Baltimore and Choir Boy in college. He has also done The Glass Menagerie and The Passion of Dracula in high school. He is a hard worker, dedicated to his craft and accepts and conquers any challenges that precede him. Currently owning PowerBeat Studios in New Jersey, Brennen's dream is to create something that will open and inspire the hearts of others to achieve great things.
Allison Falkenstern is recent grad of Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she got her BA in Theatre. Allison has been working with Black Box since June and is very grateful for all the opportunities to act, direct, teach, and everything in-between. Recent credits from Black Box include Junie B. Jones: The Musical (Lucille/Junie u/s) and Soul Searching: A Rock Musical (Becky). Allison would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support.
Jason Felix is an aspiring actor in both realms (theatre & film). Raised in a Colombian/ Dominican household, Jason’s BBPAC credits include Hand To God (Assistant Director/Production Design), Disgraced (Production Design) the titular role of 'Skip Gold' in Skip & Rivka's Not-So- Kosher Interactive Wedding Experience, Stage Manager for Twist of Faith, Production Stage Manager and "Soldier" in Cloud 9, Jake in Evil Dead: The Musical, Sammy/Mr. Lyons in Blood Brothers: The Musical, and more.
Michael Gardiner is thrilled to be back at Black Box Performing Arts Center just after playing one of his dream roles, Jason in Hand To God. He was most recently seen as Petruchio in Hudson Shakespeare Company's The Taming of the Shrew. Black Box PAC credits include Betty/Gerry in Cloud 9, Jonah in Bad Jews, and Sam in Twist of Faith. Michael graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a BA in Theatre Arts. Some credits from the Fairleigh Dickinson University stage include The Crucible (John Proctor), Merrily We Roll Along (Joe Josephson), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Oberon/Theseus), and Little Shop of Horrors (Mushnik).
Anna Gundersen is a New York based actress and improviser. She earned her Bachelor Of Arts in Theatre from Penn State University, and has also trained at the Theatre Academy of London and at the Upright Citizens Brigade. Anna was recently seen as Mary Hatch Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life and as Steph in Reasons To Be Pretty. Anna is thrilled to be making her Black Box PAC debut this season, in Griller and Talk Radio.
Samuel Hapner-Goldman is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University with a B.A. in Theater Arts. Past credits include Reality by Lia Romero (Josh), and Laugh Out Loud (Cry Quietly) by Stacie Lents (Jeremy).
Nachi Lederer Some of Nachi's favorite past roles include Emmett (Legally Blonde The Musical), Leaf Coneybear (The 25th ... Spelling Bee), and Billy (The Cripple of Inishmaan). Enjoy the show!
Mike Marcou Originally from Wisconsin, Mike can now be found in Astoria. When he's not acting, he enjoys woodworking, gardening, and cooking. Past projects include Zusman (NJPAC), Come Blow Your Horn (Hunderton Hills Playhouse), and Macbeth (Columbia Stages). Special thanks to Mike Gardiner for the opportunity to play Grandma.
Ellen Revesz Ellen is excited to return to Black Box Performing Arts Center, where she recently appeared in the epic production of Peer Gynt. Ellen has a BA in theatre from Western Connecticut State University. She appeared as Kate in the premiere production of The Grand Tour, winner of the NJ Playwrights Contest. She performed the role of Katherine Stockman in Enemy: Project Ibsen, both Off-Broadway and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Other favorite performances: Almost, Maine; The Merchant of Venice; The Threepenny Opera; Gypsy. She'd like to thank her husband Adam for all his support.
Lisa Tiger is currently studying at Atlantic Acting School. She began working with The Black Box Theater of Teaneck in 2010 appearing in Buried Child (Hallie), Blood Brothers (Mrs. Lyons), Next to Normal (Diana), Summer Brave (Flo Owens), Into the Woods (Baker's wife), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett) and Blood Wedding (Mother).
Laurence Wallace Laurence is a member of the Black Box Repertory Theatre Company here at the Black Box Performing Arts Center in Teaneck, NJ. Some of his other theatre credits include Peer Gynt, True West, The Goat Or Who is Sylvia, 'ART', Disgraced, Hand to God, Buried Child and most recently, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison, NY. Laurence is incredibly thankful to his AMAZING partner Stan, whose beauty inside and out are truly a source of inspiration and strength. He also wants to thank his wonderful parents for their enduring love, support and generosity. And last, but certainly not least, he sends a big hug to Maska, his beloved English Mastiff dog @maskamastiff.
Matt Okin (Director/BBPAC Artistic Director) founded Black Box Studios in 2007 and opened Black Box Performing Arts Center in November 2015. Recent directing credits include: Hand To God, Heathers The Musical: High School Edition (teens), Disgraced, Cloud 9, Skip & Rivkah's Not-So- Kosher Interactive Wedding Experience, The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia?, Blood Brothers A Musical, Evil Dead The Musical, Bad Jews, RMTI's new production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (teens), True Groove Productions’ Diana & Navy & The Golden Tooth, The Pillowman, and Passing Strange (all at BBPAC); the Off-Broadway premiere of Huey Esquire's This Time, A New Musical Romance (at Theater For The New City, as well as BBPAC); and the BBS Ensemble's productions of Falsettos "In Concert", House Of Blue Leaves, and Next To Normal (all at bergenPAC), among many others. As a playwright, director, and composer, Matt's original plays and musicals include: Beltsville/Rockville, Part One: Rise Of The Goatman (NJ workhops), Out Of Whack: The All-Kids Rock Musical (devised, at Theater For The New City), Soul Searching (45th Street Theater, DR2 Theater, D-Lounge, and the NYMF), Generations (various NYC venues and NYMF), and A Match Made In Manhattan: The Interactive Jewish Wedding Experience (NYC and national tours). Other original plays, produced both in New York and on national tours include: Second Chances, Twist Of Faith, Walter Liked To Sit In His Big Backyard, Cherry Hill, The Ugly Wife, and Pigs. Matt received a BFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University's Tisch School Of The Arts.
