the drawer boy
by Michael Healey
DIRECTED BY mARC COMSTOCK
"False memory. Real pain."
mar 24 - apr 9, 2023
Drawer Boy recalls the experiences of a young actor from a Canadian theatre group who visits the rural home of two elderly bachelor farmers to research farm life for a new play. In doing so, he/she demonstrates how storytelling can create and interpret reality and transform lives.
The Drawer Boy was originally produced at
Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto in February 1999.
The Drawer Boy is staged by arrangement with Marquis Literary (Colin Rivers) www.mqlit.ca and Gary Goddard Agency (Pam Winter) www.ggagency.ca
Director’s Notes:
We as storytellers are always looking to tell stories that entertain us, enlighten us and most
importantly are reflective of us and our human condition. There is an emotional connection in
seeing ourselves and our stories on stage. The Greeks got it right with the comedy - tragedy
masks. When we put those two masks together on stage we connect to the beauty and
complexity that is life. Michael Healy’s script, The Drawer Boy finds that beauty and balance.
Enjoy.
Michael Healey
-playwright
Michael Healey trained as an actor at Toronto’s Ryerson Theatre School in the mid -eighties. He began writing for the stage in the early nineties and his first play, a solo one-act called KICKED, was produced at the Fringe of Toronto Festival in 1996. He subsequently toured the play across Canada and internationally, winning the Dora Mavor Moore Award for best new play.
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THE DRAWER BOY, his first full-length play, premiered in Toronto in 1999, winning the Dora Award for best new play, the Chalmers Canadian Playwriting Award and the Governor General’s Literary Award (Canada’s highest literary honour). It has been translated into German, French, Japanese and Hindi and continues to be produced regularly across North America and internationally.
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Healey’s other works include THE ROAD TO HELL (co-authored with Kate Lynch), PLAN B, RUNE ARLIDGE, THE INNOCENT EYE TEST, THE NUTTALLS, ARE YOU OKAY and 1979. His informal trilogy focusing on Canadian values and politics, entitled GENEROUS, COURAGEOUS, and PROUD, met with great critical success and individually have had multiple productions. In all, his plays have won the Dora Mavor Moore Award for best new play five times.
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He has also adapted works by Chekhov, Molnar, Hecht & MacArthur, Dürrenmatt and Shaw for Soulpepper, and the Stratford and Shaw festivals. He continues to find work as an actor occasionally.
meet the team
marc comstock
- director
Marc Comstock is thrilled to be working with AS66 for the first time, getting to tell a beautiful story. Past directing credits include A Greater Tuna (Vortex), A Tuna Christmas (ALT), Art (Adobe) and All is Calm (Mother Road). Marc is the current
SAG-AFTRA President for the New Mexico Local and was appointed to
Governor Lujan Grisham's Council on Film and Media Industries.
cast
mark hisler
-angus
Mark Hisler (Angus) returns to AS66 after playing Aster in LIFE SUCKS. and John in FULFILLMENT CENTER. Previous credits include Mitch in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, Ginger in JERUSALEM (Vortex) and multiple roles in THE KILLER ANGELS and THE LOVE SONG OF J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER (Mother Road). For Cynthia.
versai knight
- Miles
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​Versai Knight trained in London at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Knight relocated to New Mexico in 2020 where she has been pursuing a career in film, TV, and modeling. Locally, Versai has appeared on stage as Irene in The Dresser (West End Productions) and Celia in As You Like It (NMSF). This summer, she is returning to NMSF as Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Knight is represented by Bankston Talent Agency, is a member of British Actors Equity, and SAG-AFTRA. www.VersaiKnight.com
evan spreen
-morgan
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Evan Spreen is an actor and playwright originally from Dallas where he studied at Kim Dawson Studios from an early age. An active member of theatre communities in DFW, Wrocław, Tokyo, and finally ABQ! Notably, Evan played CB in DOG SEES GOD with Ohlook PAC which took highest honors at AACTfest and the Liverpool International Theatre Festival. In Japan, Evan was a member of Tokyo International Players and performed in TOMMY and SPRING AWAKENING. Most recently, Evan had his Albuquerque acting debut with UNM as Victor in FRANKENSTEIN.
daisy
-herself
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Daisy is pleased to join Actors Studio 66 for a non-speaking, off stage role in
The Drawer Boy. Raised in Canada, she is said to have eyes like tennis balls.
A beautiful brown, bow legged bovine, Daisy is delighted to be involved with
Miles (Versai Knight) in research related to the secret lives of cows.
Udderly Remarkable!
crew
Ricky Fox
-Stage Manager
Ricky has worked on a few shows in Albuquerque and is happy to be back for another show with Actors Studio 66. He recently did props for “Caldwelll's Bomb” and stage managed for "Copenhagen" at Actors Studio 66 and “The Women of Lockerbie” at the Adobe Theater directed by his friend Pete Parkin.
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He is happy to be working with the very talented Marc Comstock as director and the solid cast that will make “The Drawer Boy” a treat to watch. He gives a special shout out to everyone at Actors Studios 66 - Tim, Linda, Zoe, and thanks them for the opportunity to work on another great production.
josh brown
- sound designer
In addition to working for KUNM Josh enjoys doing sound design for Albuquerque theater. Past credits include The Henry Project, The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival - King Lear and this year’s productions of A Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Josh previously worked with Marc on
The Guards at the Taj.
Jacob dunlap
- costumer
​Jacob Dunlap is thrilled to be working with Actors Studio 66. Previous costume credits include King Lear (NMSF 2022), Caldwell's Bomb (AS66), Copenhagen (AS66), and Inherit The Wind (Adobe Theatre). Other credits include Suessical The Musical (director, AHS), You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (director, AHS), The Addams Family Musical (director, AHS).
Andrew ford
-Technical Assistant
Andrew is a student at a local high school who is interested in the theater. He assisted with the set and other behind the scenes work for Caldwell's Bomb and is repeating these efforts with The Drawer Boy. Thank you, Andrew!
Aislinn Granzin
- Assistant Stage Manager
Aislinn Granzin is seventeen years old and is currently attending Volcano Vista High School. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she enjoys working as a mentor in JROTC and in her high school's theater program, The Dragons. Copenhagen is her first show outside high school productions. She extremely excited to learn and work in the New Mexico theater industry with Actors Studio 66
ray rey griego
- lighting designer
Ray Rey is a Lighting Designer, Director, Actor and currently serves on the board at The Vortex. He has designed lights for Marc’s productions of A Tuna Christmas, All is Calm, and Guards at the Taj, in which he also starred. Ray Rey’s current production, The Yellow Boat, is currently playing at the Vortex.
Mary Rossman
-set design consultant
linda wilson
- props & scenic artist
Linda Wilson moved to Abq from the East Coast in 2009 and stumbled into the theater world here via the Adobe Theater in 2011. Since then she has worked as a scenic painter, props person, designer and even an actor in well over 75 productions. She is thrilled to be a part of The Drawer Boy and to work with Actors Studio 66 on this socially relevant play.
jacob lovato
-Graphic designer
more info
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