Emperor Cast
Andy Bond (Harlequin)
Andy spent much of the last ten years wearing tights and speaking in iambic pantameter. After helping found the Faction and doing a couple of plays with them (Volpone and Romulus), Andy retired from the scene to live a life of quiet respectability. He realized he missed the creative process too much to stay away, and came with hat in hand to the Faction to see if they had room for a thin weirdo in their next play. Turns out they did.
Jeremy J Brown (Cinthio)
Jeremy J Brown has had the good fortune to work on and off the stage throughout his career and has recently made Austin his home. Chicago - Steppenwolf Theatre Co, Dolphinback Theatre Co. New York - National Theatre of the Performing Arts. Jeremy has recently been seen in The Moon is Blue (Gobotric Theatre Co) and Whirligig (Gypsy Baby Theatre Co). He is a company member of Austin Shakespeare Festival. Jeremy holds a BFA in Acting from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, St. Louis.
Kate Caldwell (Elaria)
(by Shanna )
Kate recently graduated from the theatre department at the University of Texas at Austin, where she appeared most recently as Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing.
(by Kate)
Kate recently discovered that she hates bios and deadlines, but really likes fried chicken. And beer.
Rebecca "Riznatch" Crown (Chorus)
No, I'm not the hot, brunette Marilyn Monroe Rebecca. I am the vertically challenged Rebecca. We took a vote and everyone agrees that I am cute as hell and need bigger feet. I am new to the Austin area and refuse to refer to myself in third person. The Bedlam Faction has taken me into their warm belly and made me feel at home. I would like to thank each and every member of this production for their inspiration and friendship.
Robert Deike (Scaramouche)
Robert Deike is a person performing in this play. He has done many other plays, with many other people, though his last six (including this one) have been with The Bedlam Faction, of which he is a co-founding Co-Artistic Director (i.e., CAD). He has never trained in acting anywhere, has never taken voice lessons, and his performing style is about as subtle as smashing one's finger between two bricks. But despite all that, he continues to perform and have a good time doing it, which when all is said and done ain't such a bad way to spend one's life.
Shannon Grounds (Chorus)
Shannon Grounds is pleased to be treading the boards (or dancing on them) with the Factionites once again! Previous appearances with the Bedlam Faction include Arabella in The London Cuckolds, for which she garnered an Austin Critic's Table nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy, and Zena in Romulus for which she was honored with a B. Iden Payne nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy. Most recently, Shannon was seen as Woman in TempOdyssey for Salvage Vanguard (B. Iden Payne nomination for Best Cast Performance) and as Phebe in As You Like It at Zachary Scott. She is a proud company member of the Hyde Park Theatre Company and the Austin Shakespeare Festival, and can next be seen as Lavinia in ASF's production of Titus Andronicus.
Tommy Lawrence (Chorus)
He's not a morning person from Massachusetts that is currently leading a successful cult. This is the 26-year-old budding alcoholic's first play with the Bedlam Faction. When not on stage he can be found clawing his way to middle management, and of course, that cult.
Robert Matney (Dr. Balliardo)
Robert Matney is pleased to be playing yet another neurotic paranoid and wonders if the theater community is trying to tell him something (or are they just trying to get me?). He fixes computers for a living and does plays at night. Rob wonders why he got a philosophy degree…A former student in UT's Shakespeare at Winedale program, Rob co-founded The Austin Free Shakespeare Society, as well as the Bedlam Faction. In Austin he has had the pleasure to work with The Public Domain, iron belly muses, the Rude Mechanicals and the Austin Shakespeare Festival. His next appearance will be as the director of Austin Shakespeare Festival's Will Power.
Michael T. Mergen (Charmante)
Most recently seen as Ralph in Reefer Madness with the Bedlam Faction, or, if you were lucky enough to be in Salzburg, Austria this July, perhaps you saw him as The Heretic in Rude Mech's Lipstick Traces. He has appeared in a baker's dozen plays since his explosion onto the Austin theater scene in 1995. His next project will be Titus Andronicus with the Austin Shakespeare Festival, in which he will appear as Martius. Michael hopes his friends and family realize how much he loves them.
Kimberly "Bunny" Nagy (Mopsophil)
Bunny was born in Minot, North Dakota, but moved to sunny Santa Monica at 17. Her hobbies include roller-blading, snorkeling, and finger-painting. She likes long walks on the beach, puppies, and world peace. Her only dislike is giving straight answers to questions like "Tell us a little bit about yourself." She would like to thank the Bedlam Faction for setting the stage for the most creative and inspiring artistic experience of her life.
Wetzel Parker (Chorus)
Wetzel is a 23-year-old free-lovin' free spirit. This is his first production with the Bedlam Faction and he would like to thank them for the opportunity . . . and that one green apple. His deepest apologies to those in the first row for the sweat he is sure to fling on them.
Kai Robertson (Chorus)
Having just come off a long stint of doing nothing, writing a comic book, and getting a degree in Film (he plans on never actually getting a job), Kai is pleased as punch to be dancin' it up (with a little singing added in) for the first time with the Bedlam F. While not knowing what the future might bring, he loves the idea of collaborative effort to put together a slam-bam rockin' play. The Lilliputian Hawaiian hopes everyone is having as much fun as he is working on this uproarious play/musical. Huzzah! Zoinks! And away!
Rebecca Nell Robertson (Bellemante)
Rebecca Nell Robertson hopped the Bedlam whirlwind for an adventurous ride before beginning her planned pilgrimage to new theatrical experiences. Formerly Co-founding Co-Artistic Director of iron belly muses, she directed, marketed, produced, designed costumes, and fumbled her way through curtain speeches. This is Rebecca's first appearance on stage since playing the women in Sharon Sparlin's Troilus and Cressida (2001), for which she received a supporting actress nomination from the Austin Critics' Table. Other Austin acting credits include MacDuff in Disciple of Melpomones' MacBeth and Puck in Second Stone's Mid[Indian]Summer Night's Dream.
Shanna Smith (Chorus)
Shanna is a Co-Artistic Director of the Faction, and has played the roles of Celia in Volpone, Eugenia in The London Cuckolds, Julia in Romulus, Mae in Reefer Madness, and Floria/Hippolyta in 'Tis Pity. Working by day as a statistical and research consultant, she is more than happy to throw her texts out the window, pull on her dancing shoes, and indulge in a little movin' and groovin' for this play.
Robert Stevens (Peter and Dr. Ferdinand)
Robert Stevens (not Deike!) is a megolamaniacal fiend whose ambition was to snatch up every role in the play with fewer than 25 lines. Alas, physics was to prove to be his downfall, since try as he might, he discovered he could not be in two places at once, and therefore could not play both Kepler and Galileo (damn!). Having more than a decade of experience appearing in Austin productions, he is painfully aware that he never knows what to do with his hands when on stage. He would like to thank his family and his lovely wife for all their patience and love.
Costume Designers
Robin Anderson
Robin has a longstanding interest in all things fashion and has been sketching the concepts in her head for years. For this collection, Robin used pre-constructed items and added her own iced-out bling-bling touches.
Kris Esslinger
With over 20 years of design experience, Kris has built costumes for Las Vegas showgirls, the Gilbert and Sullivan Theatre in Seattle, and brings a wide variety of clients' wildest visions to life. For more information, contact her at (512) 573-5736 or e-mail kris@krisskrossdesigns.com.
www.krisskrossdesigns.com...fashion is only limited to your imagination!
Lorin "Indrani" Fisher
Indrani has created costumes for the Society of Creative Anachronism. Her designs are influenced by the past with a bit of Hollywood finesse and diverse world influences. Her current incarnation is librarian at a local university. She is also developing a line of original designs and historical clothing. E-mail indranifisher@yahoo.com for more information.
Karly Hand
Karly received her Bachelors of Fine Arts with an emphasis in sculpture from the University of New Mexico. She is now a freelance designer/stylist and clothes maker. Karly's clothing line, K.M.H., is sold both locally and online. http://kaemmeche.com
Laura Wilson
Laura has a BA in Theater and English from Southwestern University and has designed costumes for the Globe Theatre: The Southwest Shakespeare Festival 2002 and local theater groups.
Sound Designer
John Botti
Johnbo, a Bedlam Faction Co-Artistic Director, has a love of music that
spans the aeons and the planes, and he is happy to continue to have the
opportunity to play and arrange music for theater. He has a sound production company, Zita Sound, with some of his bandmates. He prefers peace, communication, and cooperation in all things, and thinks that you guys rock.
Behind the Scenes
Choreography: Hildreth England and cast
Set Artist: Liz Fisher and cast
Light Board Operator: Joe Trent
Graphic Design: Rose Daniels (Up the Down Escalator Design)
Original music: Show Me How, Wedding Song, and Finale Song by John Botti and cast; Irish Dement by John Botti, Jeremy Edwards, and Michael Mergen