All Readings
at
7:30 pm
Black Cat Cultural Center
3011 Monte Vista Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
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Thank You
for Your Cash Donation
at the Door
Thu - Sep 1
Prodigal Father
by
Richard E. Peck
(Adult Theme)
Directed by
Herman Johansen
A free-spirited father finds the straight-laced son he hasn't seen in years. the son has worked hard at being everything his father wasn't - dependable, self-controlled and somewhat rigid. The women in their lives may just help them to become closer.
craig fones - larry
Craig Fones is multi-talented Actor and Writer with over 17 Awards. He co-created, wrote, and starred in the award winning comedy That '80s Guy. He embraces dramatic roles with the same passion as with any comedy. He brings the passion of Jimmy Valvano's words to both his writing and acting.
"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."
gurudarshan - gloria one
Gurudarshan holds a bachelor's degree in theatre, and has acted in commercials, TV, and film. This is her return to live theatre after some years. She loves acting and all the arts, New Mexico, gardening; kindness, wonder, and the unending potential for creativity and evolution in humanity.
jeff jung - stage directions
​Originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, Jeff is very excited to make his ABQ theatrical debut. With a love of performing and some quick wit, Jeff has quickly been able to find some familiarity in the theatre scene around His new city and couldn’t be happier. Some theatre credits include Krogstad in A Doll's House (Capital Shakes), Gary/Roger in Noises Off (Dakota Stage), The Dogman in The Shining (Fargo-Moorhead Theatre), and Amos Hart in Chicago (Sleepy Hollow Theatre).
Megan Lane - carol
​Megan Lane, a classically trained actress originally from Wisconsin co-starred as Lula the 'haunting' love interest in the Internationally acclaimed award winning indie drama "The Why" directed by Anthony Pedigo. Megan has played such classical roles as Kate Keller in The Miracle Worker, Beatrice in Much ado about nothing, And Meg in Crimes of the Heart. She was also seen as Donna Marsala in The Dallas cast of Tony N' Tina's wedding that later combined with the New York cast on tour. She is often sought out for period dramas, fantasy roles, and comedic character roles.
mark j richman - jim
I am a performer with a diverse background. I am capable of doing almost anything from trunk shows to Shakespeare. http://www.markjrichman.com/bio
jaimi romano - gloria two
​Jaimi Romano is an actress originally from Arizona, and has been in the acting community for 6 years. Jaimi's resume includes several films and commercials, and she is known for her lead roles in Wrong Guy and the upcoming TV pilot, Beans. Jaimi is a huge fan of theatre and is thrilled to be involved in Prodigal Father.
Thu - Aug 18
Fulfillment center
by
Abe Koogler
(Adult Theme)
Directed by
Herman Johansen
In the New Mexico desert, a down-on-her-luck folk singer takes a job at a giant online retailer's shipping center. Her young manager struggles to connect with his girlfriend newly located from New York. And a drifter living at a local campground dangerously links them all.
Jenelle Baptiste - Madeleine
Jenelle is a first generation born American, her parents are from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They moved to TX in the early 70s and much of her family is still in the islands. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Theatre from Texas A&M-Commerce, she has studied film at ABQ Actors Studio here in Albuquerque. Jenelle is so excited to be on stage again with Actors Studio 66! Some of her other theatrical credits in ABQ include: DEFYING GRAVITY, LYSISTRADA, and DOUBT. Currently, she plays Samantha, on Fox's hit TV show, THE CLEANING LADY. She hopes you enjoy yourselves tonight and is happy you were able to come out!
Eric t. Esparza - Alex
Eric T. Esparza is a bilingual American actor who was born and raised in Gallup, New Mexico. Eric has written, produced, and starred in several commercials, award-winning short films and a web series that amassed over 12 million Facebook followers during his tenure.
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Eric’s most recent credits include recurring Guest Starring roles on WACO: THE AFTERMATH alongside Giovanni Ribisi and Michael Shannon as well as WALKER:INDEPENDENCE staring Katherine McNamara. Currently, you can see Eric in the new promotional material and commercial for the 2022 New Mexico State Fair.
Eric worked as an educator for 12 years where he attained his MA in Educational Leadership. Eric currently runs a self tape audition and coaching studio called TAAG Studios here in Albuquerque, NM when he’s not on set or on stage.
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Mark Hisler - John
MARK (John) returns to Black Cat after appearing as Aster in
Actors Studio 66's inaugural production of LIFE SUCKS! At the Vortex, Mark played Mitch in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and Torvald in A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2. For Cynthia.
Libby King - Suzan
Elizabeth (Libby) King has been playing since birth ;) I’ve been involved in the VAGINA MONOLOGUES, Orwell’s 1984, and some improv fun. Let’s make revolution!
Yvon Streacker -
Stage Directions
Yvon Streacker is an Actor and Filmmaker currently working out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He graduated in May of 2019 with a BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His first show was FAILURE: A LOVE STORY, where he played December, the Feral Monk Parakeet. He soon found himself in an ensemble production of AN ILLIAD, playing Giusseppe Zangara in ASSASSINS, Malachi in both a staged reading (dir. Henry Wishcamper) and a full production (dir. Marti Lyons) of Jim Knable’s MASTER WILDER AND THE CABALA, Walter Abrahmson in AN AMERICAN DAUGHTER, and several characters in ST. LOUIS STORIES, a collection of Tennessee Williams’ early works gathered by Williams enthusiast and retired professor Tom Mitchell.
Fri - Jul 29
Free Man of Color, the first reading of the AS66 Summer Sizzle, tells the story of John Newton Templeton, an ex-slave who graduated from college in Ohio in 1828, thirty-five years before the end of slavery. The play addresses several critical questions, including slavery, women’s rights, as well as the motivation of the American Colonization Society (ACS). This group was founded in 1816 to encourage and support the migration of free people of color to Africa – Liberia in particular. These actions were largely in response to what was perceived as a growing social problem: what to do with free Blacks.
marcus l. ivey - John N. Templeton
Originally from Lorain. Ohio. He served 20 years in the United States Air Force and retired in 2016. Theater credits include 'Lord Bring Me Out', 'The Chronicles of Carrie', 'Lettice and Lovage' and 'Amadeus'. 'The Book of Will' and 'Homecoming' at The Adobe Theater. 'Lysistrata' and 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter' at The Vortex Theater. Studio work includes 'The Night Shift' and 'Better Call Saul' and most recently the movie ''Reasons. He's also part of the cast of the murder mystery dinner show 'The Dinner Detective'.
mike kimmel - robert wilson
Mike Kimmel is a film, television, stage, and commercial actor and acting coach. He is a twenty-plus Year member of SAG-AFTRA with extensive experience in both the New York and Los Angeles markets. He has worked with directors Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Townsend, Christopher Cain and was a regular sketch comedy player on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for eleven years. He is an award-winning author of nine books in the Performing Arts.
Kim Monti - Jane Templeton
Born and raised in Ohio, Kim is genetically connected to this story with both of her parents graduating from Ohio University and many teen summers spent in Athens, OH. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in Chemistry and had a geek career as a research environmental chemist, then found her technical happy place with robotics. Kim arrived in her adopted home of New Mexico, via Idaho and Washington DC. She has a wide variety of credits in front of the camera for major and independent films, and commercials. Her stage credits include Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ and Katrina Muldoon’s ‘Phantom in the Third Reich’. When not in front of a camera or on stage, Kim can be found recording audio books and a myriad of other narrative projects. As for acting, she says: I’m delighted to blend my geekiness, a genuine love for life and storytelling into making a difference as a creative being. She lives with her husband and four dogs…..and she knits.
meet the director
Herman Johansen
We saw him Shout! (by Melissa Rayford) about LGBTQ+ experiences in the military. And directing that special relationship between Keely and Du (by Jane Martin). Herman is now set to make our Summer Sizzle as he guides us through our staged reading series.
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Herman Johansen is an actor, director and writer based in New Mexico. TV credits include Big Sky and MadTV, film credits include Dead for a Dollar and Surrounded. Theatre credits include The Odd Couple (with George Wendt), The Front Page, Omnium Gatherum, Fiddler on the Roof, The Master Builder, Copenhagen, American Buffalo, Free Man of Color, The Boys Next Door and Brighton Beach Memoirs, Dial M for Murder, Noises Off, Of Mice and Men, Moon Over Buffalo, Arsenic and Old Lace, Harvey and Leading Ladies. Directing credits include Man of La Mancha, Our Town, Caldwell’s Bomb and Agnes of God. His full-length drama, Fading Light, was produced in the 2015 The New York Int’l Fringe Festival. Member: AEA, SAG-AFTRA. www.hermanjohansen.com