BY ADAM BOCK
FEB 16 - MARCH 2
SAN MARCO CHURCH
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WHO’S WHO
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BROOKS ANNE MEIERDIERKS (EMILY BRIDGES)
Brooks Anne has been in numerous productions throughout her career. Some of her favorites are “Steel Magnolias “, “The Foreigner”, “ ‘Night Mother”, and “Moon City.” She has been involved in several film and television projects. Among those are “The Passenger”, “For All Mankind,” “Twisted Metal”, and “In the Heat of the Night.” Brooks Anne is also active in Jacksonville’s amazing film community and is thrilled to have been a part of the award winning 48 Hour film, “Threshold.” A huge thank you to her husband who puts up with a lot. Thanks also to Lumen Rep for their dedication to the arts in Jacksonville.
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BILL RATLIFF (JOHN BRIDGES)
Bill is making his Lumen Rep debut with this show. A 38-year veteran of Jacksonville theatre, he last appeared in the ABET productions of Alabama Story and Lifespan of a Fact. Other recent appearances include Warden Stammas in the blink-and-you-missed-it production of The Shawshank Redemption, Don Quixote/Cervantes in Man of La Mancha, Mark Rothko in RED, and in Floyd Collins and Love Letters. Favorite roles include Charlie in The Whale, LBJ in All the Way, Oscar Wilde in Gross Indecencies: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, and Dr. Parker in Bat Boy: The Musical. Other credits include The Lion in Winter, Mr. Roberts, Equus, The Dining Room, The Fantasticks, All My Sons, and A Walk in the Woods. Bill has also appeared as Salieri in Amadeus, the Detective in Porgy and Bess, and several Children and Family shows with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra as well as other children’s theatre productions around the city. Bill is a graduate of Furman University where he studied theatre and graduated with a degree in Economics.
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PAULEEN CONDE (JENNY BRIDGES)
Pauleen Conde is immensely grateful to be playing Jenny Bridges in A Small Fire. She studied theatre at FSCJ and, after switching over to film, is delighted to be back on the stage! You may have seen her last in Jason Woods’ The Little Toy Shoppe or as an alien scientist in Guardians of the Galaxy 3. She enjoys working in both film and theatre, cast and crew. A multidisciplinary artist, she hopes to continue exploring and pursuing artistic growth. She wants to thank her partner Jaron, for always encouraging her to do all the things. Thank you to Lumen Rep for the opportunity. Thanks to her cast mates for being inspiring, funny, and kind. Thank you to everyone who supports the arts by showing up!
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JAMES F. WEBB III (BILLY FONTAINE)
James F. Webb, III, a Jacksonville native, is excited to work with Brian Niece once again and honored for this opportunity to work with Lumen Rep for the first time. Having appeared in national produced shows, such as The Drowsy Chaperone, The Wiz, FENCES, Murder on the Orient Express, Intimate Apparel, Two Trains Running and several more throughout his career, after A Small Fire, James plans to continue his career journey in the Big Apple.
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BRIAN NIECE* - Director & Sound Design
Brian is a multidisciplinary creative hailing from Nashville, TN where he served as the founding Artistic Director of People’s Branch Theatre. As a longtime member of Actors’ Equity Association and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, he’s been an actor, director, writer, designer, and producer in scores of professional theatre productions. His professional training includes Anne Bogart’s SITI company, and work in Tadashi Suzuki’s methods of physicality. He currently is Professor of Humanities and Theatre at SJR State, and adjuncts in acting, philosophy, and theology at several other universities. He holds degrees in Theatre Arts & English Literature (BA), Theology (MA), and is a PhD Candidate in Humanities. Brian and his wife, Heather, share life with their three unpredictable kids.
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JOSH ANDREWS - Stage Manager
Josh Andrews is an ardent proponent of professional arts in this region. A Jacksonville native, Josh developed passions in three areas: theatre, photography, and faith in God. Josh was a featured actor in No Exit last season and a co-writer of Lumen Rep’s production of ShakesBeer: A Brewery Tour also. As usual, there are just too many people to thank - but Josh would like to specifically extend his gratitude to Brian and Kristin, as well as the various donors, patrons, designers, fellow artists, board members, and every volunteer that makes Lumen Rep a reality for Northeast Florida. Josh would also like to thank his close friends, his family, and his Lydia for their unrelenting love and support.
While offstage, Josh is a professional photographer — visit his website at jaxheadshots.co, and follow him on social media — @joshrews @jaxheadshots -
KRISTIN LIVINGSTON - Production Manager
Kristin is a proud alumnus of FSCJ, FSU and UNF. She has more than a decade of experience in arts education and has worked for many arts organizations in Jacksonville, including the Wilson Center for the Arts, Alhambra Dinner Theatre, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Cathedral Arts Project. Kristin currently is a partner at Galloway Gonzalez consulting, which provides operational and strategic leadership and support to emerging, mid-level and established arts & culture organizations, nonprofits and creative businesses. In addition, she is an adjunct theatre professor at Jacksonville University. Kristin is an active member of the Jacksonville theatre community as a stage manager, director and actor. She has served on the board of directors for The 5 & Dime and was a member of the 2018 ImpactJAX Hightower Emerging Leaders Fellowship class. Above all of her accomplishments, she is most proud to be called mom by her three year old son, Myles.
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MIKE LIVINGSTON - Technical Director & Lighting Design
“Mikey” is Kristin's brother and happy to be helping out with this production. He is normally found running around at the Ponte Vedra concert hall where he's been for 12+ years rockin’ and rollin’ as the venue’s Production Coordinator. Mikey graduated from JU in 2005 and began working professionally around town. He is also a proud member of IATSE LOCAL 115. He couldn't have done it without the love and support of his wife, Leanne. Love you, baby!
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CLAIRE CIMINO - Set Design & Props
Claire is grateful she's able to continue to work with incredibly talented people in the many theaters throughout the city. Most recent productions: The Cake (Director - PBTS); VINCENT (Lumen Rep); The Royale (5 & Dime); Opposite of Normal & Lady Day (PBTS); Thurgood (Theater Jax); Alice in Wonderland and Radio Golf (ABET).
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CATHY DOOLEY - Costume Design
Catherine Dooley, a Georgia native, holds a BA in vocal performance. Her first lead in community theatre as Anne Frank inspired and spurred her involvement, whether acting or directing, in the performing arts for over 50 years now. Cathy has also worked in television, radio and film. She has taught theatre and voice in both the public and private school systems. Here in Jacksonville, she has musically directed and/or directed for Players by the Sea, ABET, SET Studios and Christ Church Creative Arts Ministry. Cathy is currently musically directing “Phantom!” the musical, with ABET. Her love for theatre also includes an affinity for “everything” that goes with it, including sets, props and especially costumes. She wishes to thank Brian and Josh for this opportunity to work with LUMEN Repertory for the first time and dress these amazing actors! She would also like to thank her husband, Alan for his unwavering support!
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
Director’s Notes
We’ve been specific in our artistic approach to this piece of theatre. The lights and sound serve to focus us somewhat cinematically on individual lives and how those individual lives are interconnected with each other. Our set serves as the uncolored canvas on which the fabric of these lives springs to life. And we have embraced the reality that none of these individual lives is untethered from others.
Some bridges just won’t burn. That reality could be caustic, damaging, and devastating to the people in those relationships. Or it could be liberating, humanizing, and reigniting the dormant parts of ourselves that may have forgotten that connectedness to one another can lead to goodness. Sometimes we choose who we are connected to and sometimes we don’t. But we can all choose whether that connection remains, and whether it is strengthened with time, and whether it serves to help us grow into our humanity. We hope you walk away from this experience resolved to bolster the healthy connections in your own life. May the important and necessary bridges in all our lives be revisited, reimagined, and reinvigorated with all that brings us life and wholeness.
SPECIAL THANKS
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