The
Elephant Man -
Cast Biographies
Brian Czarniecki (Ross/Bishop
How) is happy to be returning to Prime Stage and excited
to work on this script with old friends! Audiences may remember his
portrayal of George in Of
Mice and Men in 2008. He's performed with City
Theatre, Unseam'd Shakespeare Co, Quantum, Bricolage, and many
others. He recently created the title role in Gravity + Grace, a
multimedia dance opera by artist Frank Ferraro illuminating the
experiences, perceptions and challenges of Frank's life with
Parkinson's disease. In addition to his work in theater, film and
voice-overs, Brian is the host of The Block Party, Monday nights on
WYEP, 91.3 FM.
Lily Davis (Pinhead/Countess) is
thrilled to be making her Prime Stage debut as part of such an
incredible show with such a beautiful message. She is currently a
Junior BFA Acting major at Point Park. Past credits at Point Park
University include Cassie in A Chorus Line and Her Sidekick in The Time of Your Life. Thank you, Rich, for this opportunity.
Justin Fortunato (Frederick
Treves) is a recent graduate with a BFA in Musical Theatre
from Point Park University. He has worked with the Playhouse
Conservatory, Playhouse Jr., The REP, St Vincent Summer Theatre,
Pittsburgh CLO, and is returning for his 4th show with Prime Stage
Audiences have seen him as Mitch Albom in Tuesday's With Morrie, Tom
Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie, and recently as Arthur
Dimmesdale in The Scarlett Letter. He is grateful to be
working with Rich Keitel. Up next you can see Justin in The
REP'S Pittsburgh Premiere of MIA in March.
Rebecca
Knowles (Pinhead /Countess) is delighted to perform with
Prime Stage. She is a junior BFA Acting Major with a Musical Theatre
Minor at Point Park. Pittsburgh credits include: A Musical Christmas
Carol with Pittsburgh CLO, Peter and the Wolf with Playhouse Jr., and
Into the Woods with Carrnivale Theatrics. Thanks to Rich, the cast, and
crew for this experience. Love to Mom and Kimber.
Connor McCanlus (Lord John)
receive his BFA in Acting from Clarion University where he
performed roles including Karl in the collegiate premiere of Paul
Meade's Skin Deep.
His regional credits include Max in The Balancing of the Budget
with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Festival in Black and White and
Claudius/Ghost in Hamlet
with Three Rivers Theater Company. He is a proud member of The LuPones:
Musical Improv at Steel City Improv Theater.
John E Reilly (Carr Gomm) has
performed with numerous community, academic, and professional theaters
in the tri-state area, also appearing with three regional Shakespeare
festivals. He has directed at Wheeling Jesuit and Seton Hill
Universities and Old Schoolhouse Players. He was the Theater Director
at West Liberty University for 30 years.
Maggie Ryan (Mrs. Kendall) graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Her college credits include Dr. Scott in Rocky Horror, The Lizard in A Year with Frog and Toad, and Miss Prothero in A Child's Christmas in Wales. Maggie's recent local credits include Girleen in Lonesome West, Penny in Mad Honey, and Lindsay in Lindsay's Oyster which was part of Bricolage's In the Raw series. Maggie is a proud member of Pittsburgh Playback Theatre and is one of the voices of the Turbie Twist. Love to my family and Buddy.
Sean Sears (John Merrick) after moving here in 2008,
Sean has loved theatre in Pittsburgh! He has acted with Throughline
Theatre as Benjamin Cohen in The
Underpants, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatreā€™s Abused Messenger and
Antony and Cleopatra,
recently with Quantum Theatre as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in As You Like It, and
The 2011 Young Playwrights Festival hosted at City Theatre. Sean earned
his BA in Theatre Arts from Catawba College in 2004 and would like to
thank City Theatre for all their help and support.
Richard Keitel (Director)
A Professor of Theatre at Point Park University, Rich received his MFA
in Directing from University of Pittsburgh. He was the Associate
Artistic Director for City Theatre 1997-98 and Head of Undergraduate
Acting and Directing Program at the University of Pittsburgh 1991-97.
Selected directing credits include Collected Stories and American Buffalo for City Theatre; Wild Duck for Quantum Theatre; I'm Not Rappaport and Watching Fire, Watching Rain for Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh; the world premiere of Shirley Barasch’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; for Point Park he directed You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Ramona Quimby, Criminal Genius, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, A Flea in her Ear, Hot L Baltimore and Room Service; For Prime Stage where he serves as Resident Director, Rich has directed The Glass Menagerie (which received recognition in The Post-Gazette), Tuesdays With Morrie, Of Mice and Men, Great Expectations, To Kill a Mockingbird and Twelve Angry Men. Regionally, he directed Communicating Doors and Dinner with Friends
at St. Michaels’ Playhouse in Vermont. Rich’s directing is
regularly mentioned in the Pittsburgh newspapers’ year-end top ten
lists. A member of Actors Equity, he is currently performing with
Pittsburgh Playback Theatre, where he serves as Associate Artistic
Director. In 1996, Pittsburgh Magazine recognized Rich with the “Harry”
award for theatrical excellence. Rich will be directing The Outsiders
for The Pittsburgh Playhouse in May. Rich dedicates this production to
the memory of his mother-in-law, Carol Roark, whose “head was also full
of dreams.” She was a great supporter, and loved hearing about my
productions. She is sorely missed.
Media Sponsors
