True West
by Sam Shepard
Sep 25 - Nov 2, 2014Low-priced Previews Sep 25 - Oct 4, 2014
Austin simply wants to focus on finishing his screenplay. But when his petty-thief of a brother, Lee, barges into a meeting with a producer and hijacks Austin’s script, it sets off a sibling war to rival Cain and Abel as both brothers struggle for identity. Sam Shepard’s blistering comedy was a finalist for the 1983 Pulitzer Prize. Performed in rotating repertory with Fool for Love.
Cast
Jill DrexlerJill Drexler
MomCygnet: debut. The Fringe Festival: Ray’s Last Case. Scripps Ranch Theatre: Lettice and Lovage, An Inspector Calls, Painting Churches. Moonlight at the Avo: Beau Jest, Foxfire (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle nomination), Ring Around the Moon, Moon Over Buffalo, You Never Can Tell. Moxie: Coming Attractions. North Coast Repertory: Lend Me a Tenor, Buried Child, What’s Wrong with This Picture. Diversionary: Torch Song Trilogy, Fit to be Tied (Critics Circle Award), The Minneola Twins. La Jolla Playhouse (u.s.): Private Fittings. Sledgehammer: Furious Blood. Film and Televison credits: Chapter, Table for Three, The Married Men’s Club, Michael Landon, the Father I Knew, The Big Fix (with Richard Dreyfuss), Dogs, The Gay Decievers. Ms. Drexler is the Artistic Director of The Scripps Ranch Theatre. She is happy to be working once again with the incredibly talented Sean, Fran and Manny.
Manny FernandesManny Fernandes
LeePreviously at Cygnet Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Assassins, The Tragedy of the Commons, Private Lives, Mauritius, A Christmas Carol, Communicating Doors, Bug, The Invention of Love, Burn This, Escanaba in da Moonlight. Select San Diego Credits include To Kill a Mockingbird, Same Time, Next Year, Buried Child, Of Mice and Men (Craig Noel Award), Simpatico, The Man Who, Into the Woods, Sailor’s Song, and Golden Boy (Craig Noel Award) at New Village Arts (Ensemble Member); Extraordinary Chambers, Mo’olelo; Jeffrey, Boys in the Band, Never the Sinner, Cloud 9, Fifth of July at Diversionary Theatre; Arcadia, Moon Over Buffalo, The Rivals, An American Daughter at North Coast Rep; Death of a Salesman, A Christmas Carol, Cabaret at San Diego Rep. Films include Ozark Savage and 29th and Gay. Manny received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from UCSD.
Francis GerckeFrancis Gercke
AustinFrancis Gercke has appeared in theatre productions throughout San Diego including: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Desire Under the Elms, Our Town, The Glass Menagerie (Cygnet Theatre); Suzette Who Set To Sea, Accomplice (La Jolla Playhouse); Proof, The Merchant of Venice, In the Next Room, (San Diego Rep); A Life in the Theatre, Time Stands Still (North Coast Repertory Theatre); Hurlyburly, Grace, Shining City (ion Theatre); The Pride (Diversionary Theatre); True West, Orphans, Playboy of the Western World (New Village Arts); I Hate Hamlet, Oleanna, Macbeth (Intrepid Shakespeare Company). He is co-founder and former Artistic Director of New Village Arts and a Resident Artist with Cygnet Theatre. He is a recipient of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for his work as an actor and as a director. He has been a faculty member at Palomar College, University of San Diego, and California State University San Marcos and is the founder of ActorsApproach, a weekly acting class. He is a graduate of the Actors Studio Drama School at the New School for Social Research in New York.
Jill Drexler
Cygnet: debut. The Fringe Festival: Ray’s Last Case. Scripps Ranch Theatre: Lettice and Lovage, An Inspector Calls, Painting Churches. Moonlight at the Avo: Beau Jest, Foxfire (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle nomination), Ring Around the Moon, Moon Over Buffalo, You Never Can Tell. Moxie: Coming Attractions. North Coast Repertory: Lend Me a Tenor, Buried Child, What’s Wrong with This Picture. Diversionary: Torch Song Trilogy, Fit to be Tied (Critics Circle Award), The Minneola Twins. La Jolla Playhouse (u.s.): Private Fittings. Sledgehammer: Furious Blood. Film and Televison credits: Chapter, Table for Three, The Married Men’s Club, Michael Landon, the Father I Knew, The Big Fix (with Richard Dreyfuss), Dogs, The Gay Decievers. Ms. Drexler is the Artistic Director of The Scripps Ranch Theatre. She is happy to be working once again with the incredibly talented Sean, Fran and Manny.
Manny Fernandes
Previously at Cygnet Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Assassins, The Tragedy of the Commons, Private Lives, Mauritius, A Christmas Carol, Communicating Doors, Bug, The Invention of Love, Burn This, Escanaba in da Moonlight. Select San Diego Credits include To Kill a Mockingbird, Same Time, Next Year, Buried Child, Of Mice and Men (Craig Noel Award), Simpatico, The Man Who, Into the Woods, Sailor’s Song, and Golden Boy (Craig Noel Award) at New Village Arts (Ensemble Member); Extraordinary Chambers, Mo’olelo; Jeffrey, Boys in the Band, Never the Sinner, Cloud 9, Fifth of July at Diversionary Theatre; Arcadia, Moon Over Buffalo, The Rivals, An American Daughter at North Coast Rep; Death of a Salesman, A Christmas Carol, Cabaret at San Diego Rep. Films include Ozark Savage and 29th and Gay. Manny received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from UCSD.
Francis Gercke
Francis Gercke has appeared in theatre productions throughout San Diego including: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Desire Under the Elms, Our Town, The Glass Menagerie (Cygnet Theatre); Suzette Who Set To Sea, Accomplice (La Jolla Playhouse); Proof, The Merchant of Venice, In the Next Room, (San Diego Rep); A Life in the Theatre, Time Stands Still (North Coast Repertory Theatre); Hurlyburly, Grace, Shining City (ion Theatre); The Pride (Diversionary Theatre); True West, Orphans, Playboy of the Western World (New Village Arts); I Hate Hamlet, Oleanna, Macbeth (Intrepid Shakespeare Company). He is co-founder and former Artistic Director of New Village Arts and a Resident Artist with Cygnet Theatre. He is a recipient of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for his work as an actor and as a director. He has been a faculty member at Palomar College, University of San Diego, and California State University San Marcos and is the founder of ActorsApproach, a weekly acting class. He is a graduate of the Actors Studio Drama School at the New School for Social Research in New York.
Antonio TJ JohnsonAntonio TJ Johnson
SaulAntonio is glad to be returning to Cygnet after being nominated for a Craig Noel Award for the 2012 production Gem of the Ocean. He received Craig Noel and Patte awards in Cygnet’s production of Fences. He has also appeared in The Piano Lesson and The Matchmaker at Cygnet Theatre. Other awards include Dramalogue Award (Stories About the Old Days), Playbill Award (Buried Child) and 2012/2013 Resident Artists at UCSD’s Thurgood Marshall College. Antonio has become a cycling enthusiast traveling thousands of miles in support of causes he feels valuable to society, specifically personal health and cures for diseases such as HIV and Diabetes, and social issues including support for the American veteran and homeless youth. Please find more info and support his many projects at www.facebook.com/VagabondProjects or http://tjstalkintoyoutwo.blogspot.com.
Antonio TJ Johnson
Antonio is glad to be returning to Cygnet after being nominated for a Craig Noel Award for the 2012 production Gem of the Ocean. He received Craig Noel and Patte awards in Cygnet’s production of Fences. He has also appeared in The Piano Lesson and The Matchmaker at Cygnet Theatre. Other awards include Dramalogue Award (Stories About the Old Days), Playbill Award (Buried Child) and 2012/2013 Resident Artists at UCSD’s Thurgood Marshall College. Antonio has become a cycling enthusiast traveling thousands of miles in support of causes he feels valuable to society, specifically personal health and cures for diseases such as HIV and Diabetes, and social issues including support for the American veteran and homeless youth. Please find more info and support his many projects at www.facebook.com/VagabondProjects or http://tjstalkintoyoutwo.blogspot.com.
Creative Team
Chandra R.M. Anthenill
Stage Manager
Chad G. Dellinger
Assistant Set Desginer
Peter Herman
Wig & Makeup Designer
Chandra R.M. Anthenill
Cygnet Theatre (PSM): Spring Awakening, WCYG: A Christmas Carol (’12-’13), Assassins, Company, (ASM): Dirty Blonde. San Diego Repertory Theatre (PSM): A Weekend With Pablo Picasso, (ASM): In the Next Room aka The Vibrator Play, Tommy, Walter Cronkite is Dead, A Hammer, a Bell and a Song to Sing, Tortilla Curtain, Zoot Suit. Diversionary Theatre (PSM) Pippin. San Diego Asian American Repertory Theatre (PSM): B.F.E. Lyric Opera San Diego (ASM): Barber of Seville. San Diego State University (PSM): Desire Under the Elms, Good Person of Szechwan, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Chandra holds a B.A. in Design and Technology for Theatre from SDSU.
Chad G. Dellinger
Chad is a proud graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with an emphasis in Design. Since moving to San Diego, Chad has designed at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center and Scripps Ranch Theatre. In 2012, Chad began his studies at San Diego State University as an MFA Scenic Design candidate where he designed Crimes of the Heart and The Laramie Project. In the summer of 2013, Chad worked in the Props Department at the Old Globe, as well as assisting both Ralph Funicello on the South Coast Repertory production of 4000 Miles, and Sean Fanning on Cygnet Theatre’s The Importance of Being Earnest and Travesties. Recent design work includes Legally Blonde for the Coronado School of the Arts. He is currently working towards the completion of his graduate degree.
Peter Herman
Cygnet Theatre: Costumes and Wig/Makeup Design for Shakespeare’s R&J, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Wigs/Makeup Design for Pageant, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple and Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Assassins, A Christmas Carol, Gem of the Ocean, Mistakes Were Made, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Parade, A Behanding in Spokane, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd, The Piano Lesson, It’s a Wonderful Life, Noises Off, Bed and Sofa, The History Boys, The Receptionist, A Little Night Music, Fences, The Turn of the Screw, Communicating Doors, Arcadia, The Matchmaker. Elsewhere: Peter has designed hair and wigs for over 300 productions, including the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep, San Diego Opera, Disneyland, and various film and television projects. Film: Costume design for Ready? OK! Peter currently teaches wigs and makeup at SDSU.
Marie Jahelka
Spring Awakening, Company, Assassins, Mistakes Were Made, Parade, Cabaret, and Love Song (Cygnet Theatre); Ether Dome, The Tall Girls (La Jolla Playhouse); Somewhere, The Last Romance, The Whipping Man, Romeo y Julieta, Back Back Back, Opus, The American Plan, In This Corner, Oscar and The Pink Lady, How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, 2006 Shakespeare Festival, and Hayfever (The Old Globe Theatre); The Amish Project (Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company); Mixtape (Lamb’s Players Theatre). Marie received her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from the University of San Diego and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Jessica John
Cygnet Theatre: A Behanding in Spokane, Man from Nebraska, Mauritius, Love Song; ion Theatre: Shining City, Angels in America (Millennium Approaches and Perestroika); Scripps Ranch Theatre: Almost Maine, How the Other Half Lives, Crimes of the Heart, Deathtrap; New Village Arts Theatre: HumbleBoy, True West, Sailor’s Song (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award – Best Costume Design), Three Sisters, Crimes of the Heart; Backyard Productions: Hysterical Blindness, Closer, Wake of Jamey Foster, Boys Life.
Matt Lescault-Wood
Previously at Cygnet Theatre: Dying City, It’s A Wonderful Life, The History Boys, Mauritius, Noises Off, Sweeney Todd, Private Lives, Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, The Glass Menagerie, A Behanding In Spokane, Dirty Blonde, Man of La Mancha, A Christmas Carol, Assassins, Company, Spring Awakening, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Pageant. Elsewhere: Wit, I Love You Because (North Coast Repertory Theatre); Picasso at the Lapin Agile (USD); Request Programme, Cripple of Inishmaan (ion); Butcher of Baraboo, Dog Act, Expecting Isabel, Eurydice (2010 San Diego Critics Circle Nominee), Eleemosynary, The Crucible, Toughest Girl Alive, Ten Cent Night, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Coming Attractions, Hickorydickory, References To Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Skinless, Mud Blue Sky (Moxie); Sideman (BANG), Richard II, Hamlet, Macbeth, I Hate HamletThe Break-Up/Break-Down, Ragnarok, Deconstruction of a Drag Queen (Circle Circle dot dot); Seascape (New Village Arts). Matt holds a degree in Theatre Design and Technology from SDSU.
Conor Mulligan
Conor is co-lead lighting designer of Real Eyes Lighting. Previously at Cygnet, Conor worked as an Assistant Lighting Designer on such shows as A Christmas Carol, Company, and Assassins. Conor’s most recent design work was for Teddy’s Doll House, a new play presented in this year’s New York Fringe Festival. Conor’s most recent San Diego design credit was the lighting for Diversionary Theatre’s production of Thrill Me. In May of 2015 Conor will receive his MFA in lighting design from San Diego State University. While at SDSU, Conor designed such productions as Pal Joey, The Laramie Project, and Crimes of the Heart, and held the position of Resident Lighting Designer for the SDSU School of Music and Dance where he has designed numerous dance and opera productions. Prior to moving to San Diego, Conor designed for theatres around Baltimore such as Iron Crow Theatre Company, A.C.M.E. Corp., and the Milburn Stone Theatre.
Sean Murray
Mr. Murray co-founded Cygnet Theatre in 2002 along with partner Bill Schmidt. Cygnet Theatre: Spring Awakening, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, CompanyAssassins, WCYG presents A Christmas Carol, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Parade, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, The Tragedy of the Commons, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd, It’s a Wonderful Life, Noises Off, Bed and Sofa ’09, The History Boys, A Christmas Carol, A Little Night Music (SD Critic’s Award, Best Director), The Receptionist, The Invention of Love, Bed and Sofa ’04 (SD Critic’s Award, Best Director, Best Musical Revival), Las Meninas, Escanaba in da Moonlight (SD Critic’s Circle, Set Design), The Book of Liz, Pageant, Bug, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, St. Nicholas, The Matchmaker, Desire Under the Elms, Santaland Diaries, Firebugs, Fully Committed, Arcadia, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Little Foxes, My Fair Lady. Elsewhere: North Coast Rep: The Elephant Man (Patté Award, Direction), Man of La Mancha, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties; Diversionary: Never the Sinner, Love! Valour! Compassion!. Education: University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA). In 2000, Sean was named one of San Diego Magazine’s "50 People to Watch" and in 2005 he was named Producer of the Year by the San Diego Critic’s Circle.
Tim West
Tim has been seen in The Invention of Love, The Little Foxes, Communicating Doors, The Tragedy of the Commons and It’s a Wonderful Life (2008-11). West is an Associate Artist at North Coast Rep and was Resident Artist at Sledgehammer. As Associate Artistic Director of the Fritz Theatre, he was a Director to Watch in the first Patte Awards, and his staging of La Bete was in the year’s Top Ten at the San Diego Union. He also directed for Sixth @ Penn and Playwrights Project. West is a Teaching Artist for Cygnet Theatre, and his play Cooperstown was presented in Cygnet’s Plays in Process in 2012. West posts his original work at www.timcwest.com.
Taylor Wycoff
Taylor is delighted to be continuing her work as dramaturg for the Cygnet Theatre. Previous dramaturgical credits include Pageant, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple and Vine, A Christmas Carol, Playwrights in Process: New Play Festival, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Shakespeare’s R&J, Assassins, Gem of the Ocean (Cygnet); Kita y Fernanda, Yellow Face (Mo’olelo). She has had the privilege of presenting her research at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education Annual Conference and the Philadelphia Theatre Research Symposium. She served as a Consensus Organizer for Mo’olelo’s recent productions of 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors and Extraordinary Chambers, teaches for Kids Act and is a graduate of Young Audiences Teaching Artist Institute. Taylor holds a BA in Theatre Arts and International Relations from the University of San Diego and is a member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas.
George Ye
Cygnet Credits include: The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Shakespeare’s R&J, Company, Cabaret, Fences, Gem of the Ocean, Mauritius, Communicating Doors, Bug, Desire Under the Elms. The Old Globe: Water by the Spoonful, Time and the Conways, Double Indemnity, The Rainmaker, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Allegiance, The Recommendation, Anna Christie, August: Osage County, Groundswell, God of Carnage, Somewhere, The Whipping Man, Dancing in the Dark, Rocky Horror Show, Rafta Rafta…, The Price and Whisper House. La Jolla Playhouse: Peter and the Starcatchers, Blood and Gifts, Hands on a Hard Body, Restoration, Tobacco Road. Mo’olelo: Hoodoo Love, Stick Fly, The Bluest Eye (Mo’olelo/MOXIE Theatre). George teaches at University of San Diego and San Diego Mesa College and is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors and Actors’ Equity Association. One of his most notable stunts included a 24-foot-high fall after shooting a live arrow across the stage.
Angelica Ynfante
Previously at Cygnet: Pageant, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple and Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Assassins, Gem of the Ocean, A Christmas Carol, Mistakes Were Made, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde. A Texas State University graduate with a BFA in theatre, she made her way around the U.S. and Mexico for five years working in Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Vermont, New York, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Cancun until she made it to sunny California where she is currently the props mistress with the San Diego Rep. She has also worked with Moxie Theatre.
November 2024