The Fountain Theatre

PRESENTS

A Hyper-Staged Reading of

ROE

written by Lisa Loomer

with

John Achorn, Kenya Alexander, Sufe Bradshaw, Pamela Dunlap, Aleisha Force,
Christina Hall, Susan Lynskey, Ed Martin, Kate Middleton,
Rob Nagle, Karina Richardson, Xochitl Romero, Liv Shechter

Directed by
Vanessa Stallings

Executive Producer
Karen Kondazian

Produced by
Diana Buckhantz

Producing Underwriters include
Joni and Miles Benickes, Rabbi Anne Brener, Alan and Sheila Lamson
The Phillips-Gerla Family, Dorothy Wolpert and Suzanne and Donald Zachary

Produced by
Stephen Sachs, Simon Levy, James Bennett

CAST

* Member of Actors Equity Association
the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States

ROE is presented in 2 hours with one intermission.

TIME AND PLACE
America over a few decades.

WHO’S WHO

JOHN ACHORN (Actor Three) has been an Antaeus member since 1991. At ANTAEUS: The Curse of Oedipus, The Seagull, The Malcontent, The Plot to Overthrow Christmas, The Ugly Duckling, Mercadet, Pedrolino & The Hanky of Doom, The Blind One-Armed Deaf Mute, and The Wood Demon. ClassicFest: Cyrano de Bergerac, Richard III, Lucky Chance, Merry Wives of Windsor, Exit the King, Rhinoceros, Penny For A Song, Collaborators. He is a master teacher of commedia dell’Arte, which he studied under the late Carlo Mazzone-Clementi. LA theater: The Capulets & The Montagues, The Importance of Being Ernest (LAWS); The Arsonists (LA Weekly nominee); Fafalo!, Golden State (Dell’Arte); Master Class (Mark Taper); La Bête, Bullshot Crummond, Footlight Frenzy and productions at The Powerhouse, Padua Hills Playwrights Festival, The Magic Theatre (S.F.). Film & TV: Almost Broadway, Born Yesterday, Book of Love, Night of the Comet, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Days of Our Lives, McBride, Lazarus Man, Quantum Leap, and the role of Don Kipper on CBS’ Bailey Kipper’s P.O.V. John also teaches workshops in commedia dell’Arte with Studio Zanni & the Antaeus Academy, and various classes at Santa Monica Emeritus College and the University of Redlands.

KENYA ALEXANDER (Actress Eight) makes her Fountain Theatre debut. Regional credits include Roxanne in Roe (Berkeley Reportory Theatre and Arena Stage in D.C.), Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun (Ebony Repertory Theatre and Kirk Douglas Theatre), Pecola in The Bluest Eye (Cape Fear Regional Theatre) and Hester/La Negrita in In the Blood (Carnegie Mellon). Her international credits include Irina in The Seagull (Moscow Art Theatre). Hailing from Houston, Texas, Kenya received her B.F.A. in acting at Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. During her senior year she accepted an elite invitation to attend a semester abroad at Europe’s premier theater school, MXAT (Moscow Art Theatre School). Many thanks to the Most High and her tribe for their undying love and support!

SUFE BRADSHAW (Actress Six) is a native Chicagoan born into a family of nine siblings, learned early on the value of hard work and dedication from her Sicilian dad and her mother of Ghanaian roots. She began her acting odyssey at the Los Angeles City Theatre Academy, where she earned a degree in Theatre. Soon after, she went on to train with Ben Guillory at The Robey Theatre, as well as Lee Strasberg's prestigious Actor's Studio West, moderated by Mark Rydell. Bradshaw continued to refine her craft with The Meisner Technique and intensive sessions with Allan Miller and coaching With Michael Woolson. Bradshaw is most notably known for her role alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Matt Walsh, and Tony Hale in the comedy series Veep on HBO, playing the no-nonsense character Sue Wilson. Most recently, Bradshaw shot a supporting role in the Netflix film Metal Lords written and produced by D.B Weiss and directed by Peter Sollett. She also appeared in the 2021 Sundance romantic comedy Together Together starring Ed Helms, Patty Harrison and directed by Nikole Beckwith. Bradshaw can also be seen in Netflix's action adventure film Murder Mystery, alongside Jennifer Anniston and Adam Sandler. Some of her additional credits include Lovecraft County for HBO Max playing Nawi the warrior. A Guest Star on The Guest Book for TBS written and directed by Greg Garcia and she had the honor of playing a cadet alien in JJ Abram's blockbuster Paramount Pictures Star Trek. Bradshaw is represented by APA Agency. Paul Santana, Debbi Epstein, and Barry McPherson. She is managed by Carl Rumbaugh. Sufe currently resides in Los Angeles, where one of her favorite hobbies is yoga with her teachers Jake Ferree and Brent Laffoon. She says that the practice has changed her life and she loves the idea that "it is not about what you are doing, but who you are being."

PAMELA DUNLAP (Actress Seven) is a Native New Yorker and Bi-Coastal Actress, Pamela is a veteran of more than a 100 film and Television roles and many Broadway, Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway and Regional Theatre roles. Pamela created the role of Agnes in A.R. Gurney’s final play Love and Money at Signature Theatre.  Marjorie Baverstock in The Musical Comedies of 1940, and Lana in The Early Girl, at Circle Repertory all in New York City. Ms. Dunlap’s most recent Television and Film work includes guest starring on Dr. Death, New Amsterdam, A Netflix project, currently in NDA status, and the soon to be released feature film Grade Four. Notable film work includes The Goldfinch, The Kitchen, Suburbicon, The Changeling, I Am Sam, and The War Of The Roses.  Well known for recurring on Mad Men as Pauline Francis, Betty Draper’s nightmare of a mother-in-law.  Rolling Stone named her one of the series most memorable characters.  Pamela is also  remembered as Lilly the Bar Maid at the Regal Begal in Three’s Company,  Dianne on HBO’s Doll and Em,  Gilda Rockwell in Commander In Chief and Judge Dolan in Bluebloods. Happy to return to The Fountain Theatre where she appeared in Heartsong in 2013.

Pamela is a proud member of The Actors Center in New York City, was a member of the acting company at Circle Repertory, and  a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse, where she studied with Sanford Meisner.

ALEISHA FORCE (Actress Five) hails from the Great State of Texas (who isn’t in such great shape right now), and moved to Los Angeles from New York City just in time for the pandemic, y’all. She was last onstage here at The Fountain in Human Interest Story. Some of her theatre: Antony and Cleopatra (Cleopatra) at Virginia Shakes, The Odd Couple (Florence Unger) at Theatre Workshop of Nantucket, Tigers Be Still (Grace) at Dallas Theatre Center. Some of her TV: For All Mankind, This Is Us, In the Cut. She once filmed a feature on a WWI submarine and she thinks she does more yoga than she really does. www.aleishaforce.com

CHRISTINA HALL (Sarah Weddington)’s previous credits include Feathers and Teeth, Wonderful Town, Soups, Stews, and Casseroles: 1976, Ask Aunt Susan, Women Laughing Alone with Salad and Cressida On Top. Chicago credits: Always, Patsy Cline (Firebrand Theatre, upcoming); Into the Woods (Writers Theatre); The Fly Honey Show IX & X, Woyzeck in Sarajevo (The Inconvenience); Ragtime (Marriot Lincolnshire Theatre, 2018 Jeff Award for Best Musical); The Little Mermaid (Paramount Theatre); Peter Pan (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes (Mercury Theatre). Regional credits: Always, Patsy Cline, Run Bambi Run (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre); Sweeney Todd (Skylight Music Theatre). Christina is also a Voiceover actor and is represented by Gray Talent Group.

SUSAN LYNSKEY (Actor Four) loves being in the room with playwright Lisa Loomer and is an original cast member of the Kennedy Prize-winning/Helen Hayes nominated world-premiere of ROE (Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep). Susan just completed a winning run of Steel Magnolias playing Truvy (Cincinnati Playhouse/IRT) and a multi-city tour as Manke in Paula Vogel’s exquisite Indecent. Susan’s Off-Broadway credits include Margaret Thatcher in Handbagged (59e59St), and Bertold Brecht’s The Jewish Wife (title role, New Light Theater). Regional Theatre includes: The Kennedy Center, ACT, Berkeley Rep, Magic, Arena Stage and OSF. Dedicated to developing new work, Susan's recent commissions include You Shouldn’t Be Here (audiodrama) and Imaginary Comforts with Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket), and Becky Nurse for Sarah Ruhl. She is a national teaching-artist, served as professor at Georgetown University for over a decade, and is a Disability-in-Performance access artist-advocate, directing and developing cross-cultural performances with D/deaf and hearing communities in ASL and spoken word. Recent voiceover-work includes PEACE-UNITY-FORWARD for The Kennedy Center Reach, and some (MARVEL/DC COMICS) superhero voices she can’t yet reveal. Last season, Susan went toe-to-toe with Vincent D’Onofrio on TV’s Godfather of Harlem (EPIX). Ms. Lynskey has garnered numerous Helen Hayes nominations for Outstanding Lead/Supporting Actress, NY Times Critics' Picks, The Audience-Choice Award, DCArts Commission Honors, career profiles in Broadway World, American Theatre, WTR Magazine, and was named by the Washington Post as “One of the Top Ten Actors To Watch.” Upcoming: Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel and Emily Mann’s Gloria: A Life (title role Gloria Steinem). Susan is represented by HCKR.  @lynskeylenz; Susanlynskey.com

ED F. MARTIN (Actor Two) is always grateful when given a chance to work at the Fountain, a theatre he has loved and respected for almost 30 years.  He last appeared at the Fountain as Barry in Daniel’s Husband. Regional credits include the Denver Center Theatre, The Arizona Theatre Company, Theatreworks in Palo Alto, La Mirada Theatre, and the Laguna Playhouse.  He is also well known in the LA theatre scene with roles at The Colony, Boston Court, The Odyssey, The Bootleg, Theatre 40 and many more. Film and TV credits include Raven’s Home, American Crime, Castle, Medium, Buffy, and roles in The Green Hornet and Angels and Demons, directed by Ron Howard.  Ed is the recipient of the Ovation, Stage Raw, LA Weekly, Dramalogue and Robby awards.

KATE MIDDLETON (Norma McCorvey / Jane Roe) is incredibly grateful to be reprising the role of Norma at The Fountain Theatre. Credits include Broadway/Off-Broadway: Music City (Ground UP Productions), Women Without Men (Mint Theatre), Shear Madness (New World Stages), The Other Place (MTC), The Late Christopher Bean (TACT), Asymmetric (59E59), Pratfalls (Abingdon). Select Regional:  ROE at The Goodman, Pioneer Theatre Company, The Huntington, St. Louis Rep., GEVA, Cape Playhouse, Dorset Theatre Festival, Triad Stage, Playmakers Rep., NJ Shakespeare, Weston Playhouse, Warehouse Theatre, Bickford Theatre. TV: Chicago Fire, Elementary, Blacklist, FBI: Most Wanted, Orange is the New Black, Blue Bloods, Mercy, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Comedy Central. Film: Boston Strangler (2022), The Tender Bar, Spoiler Alert, Set It Up, Noah Wise, 40th, Obits, Showing Up, TIC, April Flowers. Founding Artistic Director of NYC’s Ground UP Productions. www.KateMiddletonActress.com

ROB NAGLE (Actor One) is a proud member of the Antaeus Theatre Company, as well as the Troubadour Theater Company. Recent theatre credits include Human Interest Story (Fountain Theatre) Apple Season (Moving Arts), Sucker Punch (Coeurage Theatre Company), Julius Weezer (Troubadour Theater Company), and his Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award-winning performances in The Judas Kiss (Boston Court Pasadena) and The Little Foxes (Antaeus Theatre Company). Film credits include: Waubay, Blonde, The 11th Green, To Hell and Gone, Bad Samaritan, Boost, Roadies, Fishing Naked, New Year's Eve. Television credits include: Mom, Dynasty, NCIS: New Orleans, Little Fires Everywhere, Modern Family, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Librarians, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Mad Men. Education: Northwestern University. Spouse: Heather Allyn. Pug: Houston. robnagle.com @nagdoggie

KARTINA RICHARDSON (Actress 9) is a Puerto Rican-Texan-Performer-Writer. She has been the co-artistic director of Proximity Theater Company in Santa Barbara and a proud member of InViolet Theater Company in NYC. Both companies have provided her with artistic homes where she has acted, written and danced to her heart’s content. She is eternally grateful. Marigold, her first short film, debuted at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival. BFA in Theatre from NYU Tisch. ig: @karina.lisette

XOCHITL ROMERO (Connie) is an actress and comedian based out of Los Angeles. She is known for both her work on screen and on stage, winning the 2020 Ovation Award for "Best Supporting Actress." She performs regularly at the Second City Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles with "HisPanic Attack" and "Shortcake." Other Film/TV credits include, The Connors (ABC), Last Man On Earth (FOX), and Friday Night Lights (NBC). Her autobiographical series Are You Okay? is in development with HBO Max.

LIV SHECHTER (Emily) loves to act, dance and sing. She first performed on stage when she was dancing at 3 years old and hasn’t stopped since. Liv loves Musical Theatre and played in several productions, including the role of Molly in Annie Jr. and Olaf in Frozen Jr. She also acted in the lead role in the film Mr. Scotty’s Time Machine as well as the films Strayed and Surprise. Liv is an award-winning dancer who has appeared in music videos, commercials and internet projects and is very excited and grateful to be performing in ROE. In her free time Liv loves to play basketball and handball and spend time with her siblings and dog. Liv has three siblings; that’s her answer when people ask her why she’s so competitive! Liv is thankful for the great teachers who help her grow professionally, for her school and friends and for her family’s love and endless support. 

CREW WHO’S WHO

LISA LOOMER’s play ROE, about Roe v. Wade, was originally commissioned through the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s American Revolutions program in a production that traveled to Arena Stage and Berkeley Rep. It was produced last year at the Goodman and was slated pre-Covid for Austin and Denver. It received the Jane Chambers Playwriting Award and the Pen Award.

 Her play HOMEFREE was commissioned and developed at Denver Center Theater Company before receiving its world premiere in Los Angeles at The Road Theatre. CAFÉ VIDA, about female gang members, was presented at The Los Angeles Theater Center by The Cornerstone Theater in partnership with Homeboy Industries, and was nominated for an Ovation Award for Best Play. TWO THINGS YOU DON’T TALK ABOUT AT DINNER had its world premiere at The Denver Center. DISTRACTED had its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum and was subsequently produced at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  The play was produced at the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York in a production starring Cynthia Nixon, and has subsequently been produced in theatres throughout the U.S. LIVING OUT had its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum and was produced at Second Stage in New York. It has been produced at such theaters as Seattle Rep, Milwaukee Rep, The Denver Center and Theaterworks, often in bi-lingual productions, as well as in Israel, Europe and Mexico. Her play THE WAITING ROOM went from The Williamstown Theater Festival to the Mark Taper Forum to highly successful productions at Arena Stage and Trinity Rep, and then to the Vineyard Theatre in New York.   It has been widely produced nationally and internationally. EXPECTING ISABEL had its world premiere at Arena Stage and its west coast premiere at the Taper.  It has been produced in NY and nationally. BOCóN!, a political fable for young audiences, began at the Taper and has been seen throughout the country, from the Kennedy Center, to Seattle’s Group Theater and the La Jolla Playhouse, as well as in Germany, Alaska, and Mexico. For the Cornerstone Theatre Company, she also wrote BROKEN HEARTS, produced at the Los Angeles Theater Center. 

 Ms. Loomer began her career as an actress and comedienne. Her first work for theater was A CROWD OF TWO at the American Place Theatre. This was followed by a one-woman show, ALL BY HERSELVES, at the Westside Arts. She began writing plays at the Intar Playwrights Lab, under the direction of Maria Irene Fornes. Her first play, BIRDS, was produced by South Coast Rep.  Other works include MARIA, MARIA, MARIA, MARIA!, (Mixed Blood), ACCELERANDO, (The Odyssey) and LOOKING FOR ANGELS, (The Public Theater).

 Ms. Loomer is an alumna of New Dramatists and the recipient of two grants from the NEA and a grant from the NYFA.  Awards include the Jane Chambers Award (twice), the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award, a Garland Award, a Lurie Foundation Award, an Ovation Award, and the American Theatre Critics Association Award (twice). She has also received an Imagen Award for positive portrayals of Latinos in all media.  Her plays appear in THE BEST PLAYS OF 1998-1999, THE BEST PLAYS OF 1994-1995, and THE BEST PLAYS OF 2003-2004, and are published by Dramatists Play Service, TCG, Dramatic Publishing and Arte Publico Press. ROE, THE WAITING ROOM and LIVING OUT are widely taught in university drama programs, Women’s Studies programs and Latino Studies programs.

 She also writes for film and television, both comedy and drama. Lisa served as supervising producer for season 2 of Love Is… on OWN.  Films include GIRL, INTERRUPTED. And she has written TV pilots for HBO, CBS, Apple, Fox and Showtime.

 She is currently writing the books for musical adaptations of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE (Michael Mayer director) and REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES (Sergio Trujillo director) for Broadway.

VANESSA STALLING (director) is the director and adaptor of the Jeff Award winning play  United Flight 232. She was the Associate Artistic Director of Redmoon Theater in Chicago, a Michael Maggio Fellow at The Goodman Theatre, has been recognized as one of The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago, and was an honored finalist of the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition Collaboration Award. Recent productions include The Great Leap, at Asolo Rep, Titanic at The Court Theatre, and Roe, at The Goodman Theatre. She is also the Head of Directing at UC San Diego.

MIKHAIL FIKSEL won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play for “Dana H.”  His theatrical credits include productions with The Public Theatre, BAM,  The Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Victory Gardens, Writers Theatre, The Geffen, The Old Globe, Playwrights Horizons, The Civilians, Pigpen Theatre Co, La Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Playwrights Realm, Manhattan Theatre Club, Center Theatre Group, Studio Theatre, The Flea, Timeline Theatre, Albany Park Theatre Project and Third Rail Projects. International collaborations include FILO Festival (Londrina, Brazil), Tukkers Connexion (Arnhem, Holland), and National Theatre of Scotland (Inverness, Scotland). Dance projects include designs and compositions for The Seldoms, Lucky Plush, The Inconvenience and DanceWorks Chicago.

He is a recipient of multiple awards and nominations including the 2022 Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play, 2020 Obie Award for Sound Design, 9 Joseph Jefferson Awards, 3 Lucille Lortel Awards, and The Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award.  In addition to serving as adjunct faculty at Loyola University and at University of Chicago, he is a company member of 2nd Story, an Artistic Associate with Timeline Theatre Company, Teatro Vista, and Strawdog Theatre Company, and a resident artist at Albany Park Theatre Project.

TOM BRYANT (dramaturg) is known for his work as a dramaturg in the development of new plays on Broadway and in America’s regional theaters. He is probably best known for his work with Robert Schenkkan as dramaturg on All the Way which premiered at Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2012 and then went on to Broadway where it won the Tony award for best play in 2014. Other work with Robert Schenkkan includes The Great Society which premiered at Oregon Shakespeare festival in 2014 and The Kentucky Cycle which won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1992.  From 2014-17 he worked with playwright Lisa Loomer on Roe, on productions at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arena Stage and Berkeley Repertory Theater. The list of other playwrights he has worked with includes Catherine Treischmann, Phillip Kan Gotanda, Kia Corthron, Arthur Kopit, Lynn Redgrave, Anthony Clarvoe, Sandra Tsing Loh, Nancy Keystone and Chay Yew.  

 FOUNTAIN THEATRE STAFF

JAMES "STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND READ DEBORD" BENNETT joined the Fountain team in 2007 and has smiled and whistled, much to the irritation of everyone else, every day ever since. James enjoys chatting, hobnobbing, and wine sipping with all the theatre's many fine friends, family, and patrons. For work, he can be found running the whole stack of theatre activities, whether that's toiling on a pile of paperwork, coiled into a pretzel in the tech booth, or producing fabulous Flamenco shows. He's enjoyed co-producing the Fountain's Rapid Development Series and is looking forward to many more scrumptious seasons to come. He's compelled to the theatre by its immediacy, its intimacy – the visceral impact of being so close to real humans with real sweat and real spit. In a world that's increasingly disjointed, behind glass, and far away – theatre becomes more powerful than ever. Terran Fighting!

BARBARA GOODHILL has been Director of Development at The Fountain Theatre since 2013. Prior advancement positions include Sinai Akiba Academy, Inside Out Community Arts and PS#1 Elementary School. Barbara’s wealth of experience, innovative thinking and dedication have resulted in significant growth in The Fountain’s donor community and strengthened relationships with the funding community. A passionate believer in the power of live theatre to open hearts and encourage empathy, Barbara is deeply committed to The Fountain, its vision, mission and future goals. “Institutions like The Fountain Theatre are vital to the health of a diverse, compassionate society.” Barbara loves the opportunity to meet the many wonderful patrons who form The Fountain Theatre’s family and is always thrilled to receive your calls and greet you at the theatre. Barbara received her B.A. from UC Berkeley and her Masters from UCLA.

JOSE FERNANDO is thrilled to be the Social Media & House Manager for the Fountain. If they look familiar you might have seen them as Trip in the Fountain’s Daniel’s Husband, on The Disney Channel, sleuthing in the New Hardy Boys or across your TV and social media feeds. Don’t be a stranger, say hi! @spacemoneky

SIMON LEVY has been Producing Director of the Fountain Theatre since 1993. The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle honored him with the Milton Katselas Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing. Recent shows he’s directed at the Fountain include: Daniel's Husband and The Chosen. His stage adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (Finalist for the PEN Literary Award in Drama) is produced widely. It is the only stage adaptation authorized by the Fitzgerald Estate, and is published by Dramatists Play Service, along with his adaptations of Tender is the Night (winner of the PEN Literary Award in Drama) and The Last Tycoon. Prior to coming to Los Angeles, he lived in San Francisco where he was the General Manager of Beach Blanket Babylon, Artistic Director of The One Act Theatre Company, and Executive Director of Theatre Bay Area. He belongs to many theatre, human rights, and political advocacy groups. www.simonlevy.com

LUCY POLLAK has been providing publicity services to the Los Angeles performing arts community for the past 28 years, and is honored to have represented the Fountain Theatre since 2008. Prior to becoming a publicist, Lucy spent ten years as the production manager/staff producer at the Odyssey Theatre, earning an L.A. Drama Critic’s Circle Award, an L.A. Weekly Award, 4 Drama-Logue Awards, and a Women in Theatre Recognition Award.

TERRI ROBERTS wears many hats at the Fountain Theatre, including the care and repair of production costumes; the on-going maintenance of in-house prop and costume stock; coordination of the Fountain Friends Volunteer Program; and serving Fountain patrons as manager of both our brand new (outdoor) concessions station and our charming (indoor) Fountain Theatre café. Terri also works in stage management (production/assistant stage manager on 20 fabulous Fountain shows thus far), and loves every opportunity to also serve as casting assistant, props designer/assistant/set dresser, and coach for actors.

In addition to her work at the Fountain, Terri is also a freelance theatre/entertainment writer. Her works have appeared in Variety, Performances, Back Stage West, Ross Reports, LA Weekly, LA Parent, The Sondheim Review, ShowMag.com, TheaterMania.com and Examiner.com. She also frequently writes for Intimate Excellent, the Fountain Theatre blog.

STEPHEN SACHS is an award-winning playwright, director, producer and the co-Artistic Director of the Fountain Theatre, which he co-founded with Deborah Culver in 1990. He is the author of eighteen plays that have been produced at the Fountain and across the country, in London, and beyond. Sachs was instrumental in the launching of Deaf West Theatre at the Fountain in 1991. He wrote the screenplay for the film version of his play Sweet Nothing in my Ear for CBS starring Marlee Matlin and Jeff Daniels. He inaugurated the Outdoor Classical Theater at the Getty Villa in Malibu in 2006 and directed several premieres of new plays by Athol Fugard in Los Angeles, New York and the UK. As playwright, director, and producer Sachs has received every theatre award in Los Angeles. He was recently honored by the Los Angeles City Council for “his visionary contributions to the cultural life of Los Angeles.”

SCOTT TUOMEY has been Technical Director at the Fountain since its inaugural production of Winter Crane in 1990. He has overseen virtually every Fountain production, on and off site, including their numerous flamenco shows, and has appeared here on our stage in Declarations: Love Letters of the Great Romantics, and the Fountain’s hit productions of Master Class and Joe Turners’ Come and Gone. Scott's talents as actor-singer-guitarist were also seen in the Shakespeare Festival L.A. productions of As You Like It and Twelfth Night at the Globe Theatre in West Hollywood and in the film A Day in the Life of Sunny Paradise.