The Company

The Edge of the Universe Players 2 is a new company. We intend to last and to produce at least one play with serious meanings annually. The company is dedicated to the belief that theatre can be entertaining and at the same time deliver important themes. We’re in the process of obtaining non-profit status, but we’re not accepting contributions yet.

Megan Behm | Director

Director of our Fall selection, Atheist's Paradise. Megan's directing credits include Romeo and Juliet (Vpstart Crow Productions), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Wildwood Summer Theatre), The Canterbury Tales, Many Moons (Old Michie Theatre for Children and Youth), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Twelfth Night, and Stopbath (College of William and Mary). Assistant directing credits include Othello (Folger Theatre), The Duchess of Malfi (American Shakespeare Center), Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale (Virginia Shakespeare Festival), The School for Wives, Macbeth, The Gondoliers (College of William and Mary), and work at Adventure Theatre MTC Musical Theatre Summer Camp. Her training includes a B.A. in Theatre and in English from the College of William and Mary, and further work at the London Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Bill Goodman | Playwright

Our author and producer,Bill Goodman, is a D.C. native. In 1988, The Edge of the Universe Players received favorable reviews and a Post “Critics’ Pick” for his RE-SUR-REK. That unconventional play finds smiliarities among three worlds: a corporation, a house of countercultural spirits, and a fundamentalist Christian church. RE-SUR-REK was produced again by Bare Bones Productions in New York City in 1990. Bill escaped from the U.S. civil service to resume a career in creative writing and theatre.

Kathryn Dooley | Stage Manager

Recent stage manager and assistant stage manager credits include J.B. at The American Century Theater, Hamlecchino and The Mandrake at Faction of Fools, Big Love at The Hub Theatre, The Rough-Faced Girl at Synetic Family Theater, and Romeo and Juliet at Vpstart Crow. Upcoming projects include A Commedia Christmas Carol at Faction of Fools.

Cast

Nick Torres | Doc

His credits include Where In The World, The Untold Story of Camilla Sanfrancisco (The Chief), a Fringe Festival Best of Festival Winner; The Big Meal (understudy for Man #1, Studio Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Friar Laurence, Vpstart Crow Productions), Company (understudy for Harry and Larry, Signature Theatre), Evita (General, Admiral, Dominion Stage), The Lion in Winter (Phillip, TAP). For Penguin/Alpha Books, he was Vocalist for Complete Idiot’s Guide to Guitar and Complete Idiot’s Guide to Ukulele. He completed training at The Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory.

Rebecca Phillips | Sheila

Her credits in the D.C. area include Breaking Up With ED (Girl 2, Capital Fringe Festival 2012), Romeo and Juliet (Juliet, Vpstart Crow), Rabbit Hole (Izzy, Little Theatre of Alexandria), and Gypsy (Agnes, Little Theatre of Alexandria). Her credits in other areas include The Secret Garden (Martha, Sinfonicron Light Opera Company), The Gondoliers (Duke of Plaza-Toro, Sinfonicron Light Opera Company), Patience (Lady Jane, Sinfonicron Light Opera Company), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Clara, William and Mary Theatre), Antony and Cleopatra (Dolabella, Euphronius; Shakespeare in the Dark). She holds a B.A. in English with a Theatre minor, from the College of William and Mary. A big thank you to Megan and Bill for this opportunity and love always to my parents!

Victor Maldonado | Bob

He has appeared on stage in the ensemble of the Studio Theatre’s production of Pop! -– Who Shot Andy Warhol (2012 Helen Hayes Award nominee for Outstanding Ensemble in a Resident Musical) as well as the Chevy Chase Players’ production of The Gingerbread Lady, for which he was nominated for a 2012 Washington Area Theatre Community Honors award for Outstanding Cameo in a Play. Other stage credits include Steve in CAPSmittment (Active Cultures Theatre) and Brian/Stagehand in Worse, or the Unfinished Play (Artists’ Bloc). His television credits include playing David Maldonado in Investigative Discovery’s Who the Bleep Did I Marry: Scarred by Love, and most recently as the aide to Presidential Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez in the upcoming Netflix series House of Cards. Victor is grateful for the support of his loving partner, Bill, and thankful for the opportunity to perform with such a passionate cast and crew.

Claude Stark | President Jim

Claude has played many roles in the entertainment field, primarily as an actor, director, singer (or rather a loud in-tune belter), producer, writer, teacher, and tackling dummy for Homeland Security. Some of his favorite stage roles have been Max in Bent at the Weinberg Center, Silvio in Private Wars with The Forum Theatre, and Sam in Echoes for Trumpet Vine Theatre. Atheist's Paradise is Claude's first play since recently returning from overseas. While living in Europe, he had the opportunity to appear on T.V. and in movies, and directed, produced, and narrated a presentation for the U.S. embassy in Belgium. In one memorable scene in the movie Asylum Blackout, shot in Brussels, his character was killed by a taser to the eye; Claude’s mother is so proud. He is one of the few native Washingtonians and hopes RG III will help bring the Washington Redskins back to the promised land; Claude is not holding his breath; he has been fooled before...

Jan Forbes | the Judge

Since receiving his Equity card in 1965, Jan has appeared onstage in over a hundred productions, performing in touring shows, summer stock, resident theatres, and dinner theatres, as well as at the Eugene O'Neill in New York. His movie credits include Kurt Vonnegut’s Fortitude and The Doll for Emmy-awarded director Dante James. Jan was the host for the PBS series "Ripples," and played Jiminy Cricket for an NBC "Pinnochio" special. You may have seen Jan locally at the Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre, 1st Stage, The American Musical Theatre, Little Theatre of Alexandria, or with the Mount Vernon Symphony. He is also a designer and technical director, having built 118 sets for D.C. area theatre companies, at the Kennedy Center among other venues.

Cassandra Newman | the Alumna, the Clerk, and Mrs. Lancaster

Cassandra was last seen onstage as Joan of Arc in Histrio Theater's production of The Lark. She also played Charlotte in the short film Chapter Two and a Reporter in a locally produced independent film called The Henchman's War. Favorite roles include Zipporah Porath in Voices Speak to Us and Mary Williams in Mind War. Cassandra has also done commercials for ASE and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. She is grateful to Bill Goodman and Megan Behm for this opportunity. Love to Mom, Dad and God.

Jacqui Farkas | understudies all female roles

She is a native of Pittsburgh, where she earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts from Point Park University. Pittsburgh credits include The Gift of the Pirate Queen (Granuaile O'Malley, Point Park University), Five Children and It (Mother/Gypsy, Pittsburgh Playhouse Jr.), and Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom (Daughter Type, Bricolage Theatre). D.C. area credits include Chicago (Ensemble, Little Theatre of Alexandria), Prophets and Madmen (Christiana, Silver Spring Stage), Stage Door (Little Mary, American Century Theater), Biblical Girl (Lillith, The Lab at Convergence), and Becoming Calvin (Adele/Idelette, The Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington). She would like to thank her husband for his constant faith and support. (See www.jacquifarkas.weebly.com.)

Keegan Cassady | understudies most male roles

Fringe Festival credits include Ecce (as Marcus Skippio), Shrewing of the Tamed (Grumio), and Santa’s Helper (understudy for Adam). This Fall, he will be working with WSC Avant Bard as their videographer.

Designers

Brian S. Allard | Light Designer

Brian is a D.C.-based lighting designer for theatre, dance, and opera. He has designed lights for Adventure Theatre, MetroStage, Source, Rorschach Theatre, 1st Stage, Teatro de la Luna, Flying V, ArtStream, Madcap Players, Opera Vivente, Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue, The Hegira, Journeymen Theater Ensemble, Catalyst Theatre, University of Maryland Baltimore County, George Mason University, Georgetown University, Carroll County College, Catholic University of America, Loyola University, Christopher K. Morgan and CityDance, Bowen McCauley Dance Company, Dakshina /Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company, Dance Connections, Saffron Dance, Tango Mercurio, Next Reflex Dance Collective, Washington Chorus, Cirque Voila, and others. He also works as a museum lighting specialist, a technical director for dance, and a freelance photographer. (See http://www.Allard-Design.com.)

Edward Moser | Sound Designer

He is a regional audio production veteran with 30 years of experience. Most recently, he has designed for The Kennedy Center's Page to Stage reading of Amelia for Scena Theatre, Marathon 33 for the American Century Theater, and Afterplay for the Quotidian Theatre Company; he designs for the latter two companies on a regular basis. His work has been heard at the Arts Barn for Same Time Next Year, and with Paul Morella for A Christmas Carol and Underneath the Lintel. A graduate of the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, Ed's career has encompassed productions in various disciplines. As a film sound supervisor, his work has been in venues ranging from the federal penitentiary system (in the Bicentennial Commission's The Constitution in our Daily Lives) to public television (in The Made-for-TV Election with Martin Sheen), and mostly recently, Audrey Cefaly's Clean. Ed’s favorite musical credits include Senor Discretion Himself at Arena Stage, Urinetown at the University of Maryland, David in Shadow and Light at Theatre J, Hairspray at the Madeira School, and Godspell at Olney Theatre Center, where he has participated in numerous productions.

Brooke A. Robbins | Set Designer

Locally, she has designed Hemispheric Dysfunctionalism and the Cortical Titanic (by Michael Merino), Proof (Bowie State University), How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found (Theater Alliance), and Wonderful Life (The Hub Theatre). Other designs include American Fairy Tales, An Inspector Calls (Franklin Stage Company), and Il Mondo Della Luna (UNC School of the Arts). Brooke has designed projections for Handspeak (VSA Playwright Discovery Program) and Celebrity Superhero Rehab (Capital Fringe 2012). Brooke was a Set Design Fellow at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She holds a B.F.A. from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. (See www.BrookeARobbins.com.)

Alison Samantha Johnson | Costume Designer

She is a freelance designer, fresh to the greater D.C. and Baltimore areas! Previously based in Philadelphia and currently running wigs at Signature Theatre, Arlington. Va., Alison holds a B.F.A. from the University of the Arts. Local costume design credits include On the Waterfront with American Century Theater and Field Trip Theatre's production of StopGap in this summer's Capital Fringe Festival. She was makeup and wigs assistant in Young Victorian Theatre Company's production of The Mikado. In Philadelphia, Alison was the resident costume designer for Luna Theater Company; productions included Bachelorette, Blasted, and Sick. Other credits include Whisky Neat with Azuka Theatre, Fatebook with New Paradise Laboratories, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Rutgers University, Camden, N.J. (See www.alisonsamantha.com.)