Fahrenheit 451

Derek Bingham (Black) is originally from Pittsburgh, PA where he attended Penn State University, majoring in Kinesiology. After graduating in 2008, inspired by Daniel Day-Lewis and his love for movies, he decided to follow his passion for acting to New York City, where he auditioned for and was accepted into the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. He finds daydreaming to be an essential part of his creative process and loves reading various books for inspiring characters and ideas.

Monteze Freeland (Beatty) is thrilled to return to Prime Stage after he was last seen as Crooks in Of Mice and Men. Since then he is a graduate of Point Park University where he has been seen in many of the conservatory productions such as Parade, Thou Shalt Not, and No Place to Be Somebody. Monteze has worked locally with Quantum Theatre (The Electric Baby), The Hiawatha Project (Camino), Pittsburgh Playwrights (Congo Square), Kuntu Rep (Radio Golf), and City Theatre (YPF). He has directed for The Pittsburgh New Works Festival as well as Kuntu Rep. As a winner of the Playhouse Jr. Award, he continues his quest to bring theater to inner city youth as a result of being a lifelong member of The Arena Players in Baltimore. Many thanks to Justin for this opportunity, and to his family and friends for their unyielding support. For Zina, who taught him the power in reading.

Daina Michelle Griffith (Mildred Montag) is thrilled to be making her first appearance with Prime Stage, and grateful to work again with Justin. This past summer, Daina appeared in Carrnivale Theatrics’ production of Next to Normal and made the cut (!!) as Foley’s wife in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. Regional/NYC: Oliver! (Gateway Playhouse), The Trimble Wars (Human Race Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Kansas City Starlight), Jane Ho (heXtc, Theatre Row NYC), The Information She Carried (NYC International Fringe). Locally: Pittsburgh Public (Broadway, Cabaret, Amadeus, Metamorphosis, Circle Mirror Transformation), PICT (James Joyce’s The Dead, Beautiful Dreamers, Antony and Cleopatra), City Theatre (Speak American), Quantum (When The Rain Stops Falling), The REP (Death of a Salesman, among others), Bricolage (Midnight Radio, Troilus and Cressida) PCLO (A Musical Christmas Carol), PMT (You’re A Good Man...), JTOP (Last Five Years). Television: Munhall (Frogprince), Guiding Light (CBS). Film: Civilians, Love and Other Drugs. BFA Point Park University. Up Next: John Gabriel Borkman with Quantum.

Kaitlin Kerr (Helen) is a graduate of Brandeis University’s Theatre Arts program. She enjoys taking on many different roles in a production, as actor, stage manager, or director. Since moving back to Pittsburgh, she has worked with Pittsburgh New Works Festival, Heritage Players, Duquesne Summer Company and Throughline Theatre Company. She most recently worked as assistant director on Throughline’s August: Osage County. She is excited to be involved in Fahrenheit 451, her first production with Prime Stage.

Ryan Kearney (Holden) made his Prime Stage debut as Haimon in the production of 2011 production of Antigone. Some of his favorite roles include Neville Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Frederick Fleet in Titanic, both with Stage 62; Matt in The Fantasticks! and Father Virgil in Nuncrackers for South Park Theater; Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret, Young Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees, Mortimer Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, and Eugene Jerome in Broadway Bound. Thank you to Prime Stage for the opportunity to perform on a wonderful stage with a great cast and crew, and to family and friends for their continual support.

Ken Lutz (Faber) is a retired Pittsburgh Public Schools music teacher. Active in both theatre and music, Ken plays clarinet in the East Winds Symphonic Band and the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra. His recent acting roles include George Spelvin in The Actor’s Nightmare with Proudly Presents Productions, Weller in Grand Dream Productions’ The Gin Game, Charles Thomson in 1776 with Artscape, Dr. Dorn in Wooden Rocket’s The Seagull, and David Kahn in Social Security with South Park Theatre. He has appeared in eight Prime Stage productions: To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Twelve Angry Men, Our Town, Romeo and Juliet, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,The Scarlet Letter.

Justin Patrick Mohr (Guy Montag) is thrilled to be making his debut with Prime Stage Theater. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts. Justin’s favorite productions include: Lend me a Tenor (Max), Leading LadiesNoises Off (Gary Lejeune), Barefoot in the Park (Paul Bratter), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Himself), and The House of Yes (Marty). He has worked on a few films in the Pittsburgh area. Most notably, Justin was Jake Gyllenhaal’s stand-in and body double for Love and Other Drugs. Sadly, only he can tell you what scenes he was in. Justin can also be seen playing Chase on the webseries The Baristas (thebaristas.com). He would like to thank Justin Fortunato for this opportunity and this very talented cast and crew for all of their hard work. Special thanks to Meghan for all her support. This is for Eddy.

Hayley Nielsen (Alice) is honored to be a part of such a fantastic production. She is a recent BFA Acting graduate of Point Park University. Past credits include: Dottie in Killer Joe (barebones productions), Benny in Every Tongue Confess (August WilsonCenter), Viola in Twelfth Night. She has also recently finished playing the role of Lauren in the independent feature film Progression. Keep an eye out for her next year in City Theatre's Little Gem.  She would like to thank Justin for this wonderful opportunity. "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it." William Arthur Ward. PR. hayleynielsen.com

Tracey Turner (Mrs. Hudson) was named Actress of the Year in 1997 by In Pittsburgh Newsweekly for her portrayal of Prospero in the Timespace production of The Tempest, and has appeared in theatrical productions with Kuntu Repertory Theatre,and Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre. Tracey has directed for Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, The August Wilson Center for African-American Culture, and won Best Director for Harriet Tubman Loved Somebody for Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre. Most recently, she was involved in Brocolage’s production of Strata and has had roles in several films.

Magan Dee Yantko (Clarisse) is happy to be performing in her first Prime Stage production. She is currently a B.F.A. Musical Theater Major at Point Park University and has most recently been seen in Carrnivale Theatrics productions of Next To Normal as Natalie, and Into The Woods as Florinda; Pittsburgh’s Playhouse Junior’s Yo, Vikings! as Ollie; and Theatre Factory’s George M! as Agnes. She is excited to be working with such a dedicated cast, and more than grateful to Justin for helping her start her career in Pittsburgh. She would also like to thank her family for supporting her and sending love all the way from Cleveland, her friends for always being there, and the Prime Stage team for making such a beautiful story come to life.

Production Staff
Justin Fortunato - Director
George DeShetler – Production Manager
Rebecca Leone – Stage Manager
Annelih G. Holganza – Assistant Stage Manager
J.R. Shaw – Lighting Designer
Johnmichael Bohach – Scenic Designer/Props
Angela Baughman – Sound Designer
Jen James – Technical Director
Paula Parker – Costume Designer
Adrienne Fisher – Scenic Painter
Duncan Lynch – Master Electrician
Rhiannon Bowser – Costume Mentee
Becca Antal – Crew