MISSA SOLEMNIS
or The Play About Henry
or The Play About Henry
____________________
I
CAST & CREW
(Todd Elliot) is a graduate of the Maggie Flannigan School for acting
and most recently appeared as Bradley in Sam Shepard's award
winning play 'Buried Child'. Jai began his acting career when he was
an already established professional salsa dancer. As a dancer, he has
performed with artists such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Tito Nieves,
Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and most the Latin Grammy's. Jai's acting
credits include the hit Off Broadway shows Latin Madness, and
Ghetto Chronicles. His other works include commentating for ESPN's
World Salsa Championships, the true film 'Consensual Injustice' about
the Ponce massacre of 1937, and the psychodrama short films 'Reality
Show' and 'Too Far'.
and most recently appeared as Bradley in Sam Shepard's award
winning play 'Buried Child'. Jai began his acting career when he was
an already established professional salsa dancer. As a dancer, he has
performed with artists such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Tito Nieves,
Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and most the Latin Grammy's. Jai's acting
credits include the hit Off Broadway shows Latin Madness, and
Ghetto Chronicles. His other works include commentating for ESPN's
World Salsa Championships, the true film 'Consensual Injustice' about
the Ponce massacre of 1937, and the psychodrama short films 'Reality
Show' and 'Too Far'.
Jai Catalano
Melissa Carroll
(Stage Manager) Usually working as an actor, Melissa E. Carroll
is happy to be playing the very important role of stage manager
for this delightful group of artists. Melissa recently returned to
New York after touring nationally for 15 months with Missoula
Children's Theatre. Favorite New York credits include the
Doormat in Mono (Another Urban Riff) and Laura Bush in
Subliminable Strategery: A Political Revue (LaMama, Etc. dir. Liz
Swados). Melissa earned a BA in Theatre from Marymount
Manhattan College.
is happy to be playing the very important role of stage manager
for this delightful group of artists. Melissa recently returned to
New York after touring nationally for 15 months with Missoula
Children's Theatre. Favorite New York credits include the
Doormat in Mono (Another Urban Riff) and Laura Bush in
Subliminable Strategery: A Political Revue (LaMama, Etc. dir. Liz
Swados). Melissa earned a BA in Theatre from Marymount
Manhattan College.
Matt Huffman
(Henry Matis) is a passionate theater worker and film actor who
recently returned from Saint Petersburg, Florida after an extended
run performing the title role in Shakespeare’s Hamlet at The
Studio@620, directed by Bob Devin Jones. Other favorite acting
credits include Hally in Master Harold... and the boys, which was
selected by The Sacramento Bee as "The Year's Best Drama," Milton
in Milton’s Way, Bo in Bus Stop and Malcolm in Macbeth. Matt is also
proud to have performed in Thomas Bradshaw’s critically acclaimed
Strom Thurmond is Not a Racist/Cleansed, directed by Jose Zayas at
The Brick Theatre in Brooklyn.
recently returned from Saint Petersburg, Florida after an extended
run performing the title role in Shakespeare’s Hamlet at The
Studio@620, directed by Bob Devin Jones. Other favorite acting
credits include Hally in Master Harold... and the boys, which was
selected by The Sacramento Bee as "The Year's Best Drama," Milton
in Milton’s Way, Bo in Bus Stop and Malcolm in Macbeth. Matt is also
proud to have performed in Thomas Bradshaw’s critically acclaimed
Strom Thurmond is Not a Racist/Cleansed, directed by Jose Zayas at
The Brick Theatre in Brooklyn.
Bill Fairbairn
(Fred Matis) King Lear (Lear), Prelude to a Kiss - Boomerang Theatre;
The Late Henry Moss(Henry), Half(Joe) - White Horse Productions;
Triumph
of Love, The Wild Duck, The Bourgeois Gentleman - Jean Cocteau
Repertory; Of Mice and Men & Cockfighters (Dwight) Oberon Theatre;
Hamlet(Claudius), Troilus and Cressida (Prologue/Agamemnon/Priam)-
Shakespeare in the Wild; Pathetique by Alex Dinelaris - Shotgun
Productions; Buried Child (Dodge) - Michael Chekhov Theatre; Various
Shakespeare Dukes, Priests etc. American Globe Theatre, Princeton Rep,
Actors Shakespeare Co.; Television: Law and Order; L.& O. SVU; L.& O.
Criminal Intent. Thanks to Ursie for her constant love and support.
The Late Henry Moss(Henry), Half(Joe) - White Horse Productions;
Triumph
of Love, The Wild Duck, The Bourgeois Gentleman - Jean Cocteau
Repertory; Of Mice and Men & Cockfighters (Dwight) Oberon Theatre;
Hamlet(Claudius), Troilus and Cressida (Prologue/Agamemnon/Priam)-
Shakespeare in the Wild; Pathetique by Alex Dinelaris - Shotgun
Productions; Buried Child (Dodge) - Michael Chekhov Theatre; Various
Shakespeare Dukes, Priests etc. American Globe Theatre, Princeton Rep,
Actors Shakespeare Co.; Television: Law and Order; L.& O. SVU; L.& O.
Criminal Intent. Thanks to Ursie for her constant love and support.
Warren Katz
(Bishop Bob Rhodes) A native New Yorker, trained in Great Britain,
Warren has performed in London and leading regional theatres.
London credits include “The Normal Heart,” “The Lost Vegas Series,”
“The Tempest,” “Our Town” and “The Merchant of Venice.” In the
regions he has appeared in “Angels in America,” “Henry IV” and
“Come Blow Your Horn.” In 2001 Warren received a “Manchester
Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role” in
“The Price.” In the United States he has been seen in “Romeo and
Juliet,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” as Cardinal Roberto Bellarmine in
“Galileo,” Sigmund Freud in “Secrets: The Sigmund Freud-Carl Jung
Affair” and the older Robert Browning in “The Brownings of Casa
Guidi.” Most recently he appeared as Louis in “The Conjugality
Test,” an official selection of The 8th Annual Midtown Theatre
Festival and as Jean-Claude in “Incredible Secrets of Vinegar.”
Warren has performed in London and leading regional theatres.
London credits include “The Normal Heart,” “The Lost Vegas Series,”
“The Tempest,” “Our Town” and “The Merchant of Venice.” In the
regions he has appeared in “Angels in America,” “Henry IV” and
“Come Blow Your Horn.” In 2001 Warren received a “Manchester
Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role” in
“The Price.” In the United States he has been seen in “Romeo and
Juliet,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” as Cardinal Roberto Bellarmine in
“Galileo,” Sigmund Freud in “Secrets: The Sigmund Freud-Carl Jung
Affair” and the older Robert Browning in “The Brownings of Casa
Guidi.” Most recently he appeared as Louis in “The Conjugality
Test,” an official selection of The 8th Annual Midtown Theatre
Festival and as Jean-Claude in “Incredible Secrets of Vinegar.”
Linda S. Nelson
(Director) Ms. Nelson directs, produces and acts both regionally and
in NYC. Her NYC directing credits include the North American
Premier of The Choice by Claire Luckham, The Boys Next Door, A
Loss of Roses and Scripts Up! developmental workshop of Bob Ost’s
The Necessary Disposal. Regionally, Ms. Nelson has directed The
Shadow Box, Working and The Subject Was Roses among many
others. She has also written and directed two interactive murder
mysteries. As the founder and Co-Artistic/Producing Director of
Shotgun Productions, Inc., she has produced plays, musicals, dance,
opera, readings and special events all the way from Long Branch,
New Jersey to Sofia, Bulgaria, and of course in NYC. She is a
member of AEA, SAG, TRU, NJ Rep and a CTI Graduate. Given that Ms.
Nelson was born and raised in Utah , she is particularly thrilled to be
working on this production of Missa Solmenis or The Play About
Henry. Thanks Roman for this opportunity.
in NYC. Her NYC directing credits include the North American
Premier of The Choice by Claire Luckham, The Boys Next Door, A
Loss of Roses and Scripts Up! developmental workshop of Bob Ost’s
The Necessary Disposal. Regionally, Ms. Nelson has directed The
Shadow Box, Working and The Subject Was Roses among many
others. She has also written and directed two interactive murder
mysteries. As the founder and Co-Artistic/Producing Director of
Shotgun Productions, Inc., she has produced plays, musicals, dance,
opera, readings and special events all the way from Long Branch,
New Jersey to Sofia, Bulgaria, and of course in NYC. She is a
member of AEA, SAG, TRU, NJ Rep and a CTI Graduate. Given that Ms.
Nelson was born and raised in Utah , she is particularly thrilled to be
working on this production of Missa Solmenis or The Play About
Henry. Thanks Roman for this opportunity.
Susan Pierson
(Marilyn Matis) has been a singing actress for nearly 40 years. Her
professional experience has, up until now, been almost exclusively in
the world of opera and only recently, in musical theater. She has sung
on the stage of La Scala with Luciano Pavarotti, been featured on a
two National PBS Telecasts, been nominated for the Canadian Tony
Award (Dora Award) and been engaged by San Francisco Opera, Lyric
Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera, Baltimore Opera, Seattle Opera
and many others. She has recorded the role of Isolde with the Titanic
Records release of Tristan und Isolde by Wagner and sung the role of
Brünnhilde in the Ring Cycle in nine different productions. She has
performed the role of Strauss' Salome and over 50 times, the role
Elektra. Susan and is very honored and proud to be making her
theater debut with this play.
professional experience has, up until now, been almost exclusively in
the world of opera and only recently, in musical theater. She has sung
on the stage of La Scala with Luciano Pavarotti, been featured on a
two National PBS Telecasts, been nominated for the Canadian Tony
Award (Dora Award) and been engaged by San Francisco Opera, Lyric
Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera, Baltimore Opera, Seattle Opera
and many others. She has recorded the role of Isolde with the Titanic
Records release of Tristan und Isolde by Wagner and sung the role of
Brünnhilde in the Ring Cycle in nine different productions. She has
performed the role of Strauss' Salome and over 50 times, the role
Elektra. Susan and is very honored and proud to be making her
theater debut with this play.
have never told you that I loved you because
I was holding my feelings of love so tightly
inside that I couldn’t risk expressing them
to anyone.
-Henry Stuart Matis
I was holding my feelings of love so tightly
inside that I couldn’t risk expressing them
to anyone.
-Henry Stuart Matis
