TRACKS by John Patrick Bray

Wallace Theater Page to Stage Program, April 2023

A part of the LHUCA Firehouse Presents Series

MEET THE PLAWRIGHT!

MEET THE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM!

ANNA HOGAN (Artistic Director) Anna’s professional directing resume features “Urinetown: The Musical” with Duke's Eye Productions (The Peoples Improv Theater, NYC), the NYC premiere of  “Friendly's Fire” with Rising Sun Performance Company (The Theatre at the 14 St Y, NYC), and the world premiere of “Éléphant” with Rising Sun Performance Company (“Outstanding Direction” Winner, The Flamboyán Theater with an Encore at the Kraine Theater, NYC). 

Anna has debuted as Artistic Director of The Wallace with Sondeheim’s “Sweeney Todd,” Ken Ludwig’s “Shakespeare in Hollywood,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and “Rent” by Jonathan Larson. Her premiere season received 7 awards from the Dallas Regional Broadway World Awards, including the runner up award for Best Musical.

Anna passion lies in developing new work such as the NYC workshop of “A Self Help Guide to Killing Your Boss,” a new musical by Justin Smalls and Caroline Dunaway (Alchemical Theater Lab) and the premiere workshop of “Hold My Spot” by Amir Muhammad (Latea Theatre) — the latter of which she was nominated for “Outstanding Direction of a Staged Reading” & “Outstanding Use of Multimedia” at Planet Connections Theatre Festivity in New York City. She continues her work in new play development with The Wallace’s Page to Stage program which workshopped Max Duane’s “LAREDO” in the fall of 2022.

Anna has assistant directed numerous professional directors, including her most recent endeavor with Obie-winning playwright and Oscar Nominee José Rivera on his World Premiere of “Lovesong, Imperfect.”

Anna received a BA in Musical Theater from West Texas A&M University. She continued her acting education in New York City under the mentorship of The Juilliard School of Drama alumnus Joseph Muzikar with an emphasis on classical texts and styles. Recent performance credits include the role of Cassie Flowers in the Off-Broadway Premiere of “The Long Rail North” by Michael Hagins. Anna’s film work has received international acclaim, featuring a "Best Lead Actress" nomination from the Nice International Film Festival. Anna has credits as First and Second Assistant Director on several feature films, including “Yellow Fever” which starred Scott Patterson (Gilmore Girls) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Glee).

Anna is a proud member of the League of Professional Theatre Women and former Associate Artistic Director of NYC’s Rising Sun Performance Company. www.Annamhogan.com

SARAH MAYHEW (Co-Director) is theatre director from North Alabama. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Performance and Pedagogy (Directing Track) from Texas Tech University, which she will complete in May of 2023. Recently, she was the recipient of the Leighton M. Ballew Directing Scholarship through the Southeastern Theatre Conference. Mayhew’s directing experience includes darkly comic social commentary pieces such as The Secretaries (Texas Tech Univeristy, 2023), fantastical new works rooted in dance and metaphor like Bradley Hewlett’s The Snake Eater (Frontier Festival, 2022), and fast-paced physical comedies like The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Birmingham-Southern College, 2019). In Fall of 2022, her direction of Julia Anderson’s “She’s Just Like Me” won first place in the 10 Minute Play Competition at Texas Tech University Arts & Humanities Conference. Mayhew is also a founding member of the Feminist Commune Theatre Collective, a group of theatre artists committed to producing feminist, anti-racist theatre and performance art. Mayhew is passionate about the intersections between art and social change, and as such, has a passion for developing new works that touch the heartbeat of the cultural moment. Mayhew currently works as a Graduate Part-Time Instructor at TTU, where she teaches Introduction to Acting to undergraduate students. She is grateful for this opportunity to partner with The Wallace to bring this story to life. 

ALAN WINNER (Co-Director) Originally from West Texas, Alan spent six years living in the UK. In Cardiff he trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and performed with the Welsh National Youth Opera in productions of “Candide” (Voltaire/Pangloss) and “The Rake's Progress” (The Auctioneer). While at college he wrote his haunting one-man short “Polly and Sam” which he later performed at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

He also spent a year singing in the multi-award winning choir Only Men Aloud! under the direction of Tim Rhys Evans. He left the choir to make his way to London where he performed in several original productions including Trevor Nunn's production of “Gone With The Wind” in the West End. His final role in London was the Pirate King in an all-male production of “The Pirates of Penzance” (Best Off-West End Production).

In New York, Alan became a company member of The Hive Theatre and performed in their “A Midsummer Night's Dream” (Demetrius) both at The Cell and Theater For The New City. He served as the company's Artistic Director for two years, continuing The Hive’s Exposed Series (a series of readings of new plays). His original cabaret “The Boy Who Loved Bassey” played limited engagements at the Laurie Beechman Theatre and Metropolitan Room.

After directing readings for The Hive, Adam Douglas hired Alan to direct “Supermen”, which won Best Play at New York City’s Downtown Urban Theatre Festival, one of the premiere festivals for new plays. For Lubbock Community Theatre, he was hired to direct “A Coney Island Christmas”.

Most recently, Alan was assistant director to Anna Hogan on Max Duane’s, “Laredo” at the Wallace Theater. Apart from theatre, Alan works as a standardized patient for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

KEVIN GREENHAW (Stage Manager) is from the Lubbock area. Previously he has worked on 4 High School One Act Play productions, and 5 non-UIL shows at Sundown High School. In the latest show at Sundown, “Kodachrome” he was cast as the Young Man, and the Sound Operator on Crew. At the Wallace he has worked on the last 3 shows, including “Hunchback of Notre Dame” (Production Assistant), “A Doll's House”(Assistant Stage Manager), and most recently “RENT” (Assistant Stage Manager). Kevin was also a light board operator for Texas Tech Universities “Cycle(s)” this April. Currently he is a light board operator for Vivid Live Design. He will graduate in 2023 from Sundown High School and will attend WTAMU in the fall to pursue a bachelor of fine arts in design and technology with a focus in lighting and set design.

KRYS APPLEGATE (Will) Krys is a visual artist from Lubbock, Texas. Krys can be seen collaborating with organizations such as East Lubbock Art House and Grey Edges Gallery. His work can be seen at Mano Negra Brewing Co., Two Docs Brewing Co., Tucker Floral and Say Selfie LBK. 

Krys has performed as COYOTE in The Wallace’s first new work development workshop of Max Duane’s “LAREDO.” He has also recently taken the stage as an ensemble member in “Rent” with the Wallace Theater at the LHUCA Firehouse Theater.

Krys served as scenic painter for several productions, including “Rent” with The Wallace Theater, As well as “The Deleted Scene of Oz,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Guys and Dolls, Jr,” “Freaky Friday,” “Chicago,” “She Kills Monsters,” “Monster Hunters,” and “Anything Goes, Jr” at the Lubbock Community Theatre.   

EMILY SANDLIN (Jennie) Emily is an aspiring actor originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is very excited to be making her Wallace Theater debut! Some of her favorite past roles include Gertrude in “Seussical”, Lucy in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”, and Madame in “Cinderella”. She has also worked on many productions behind the scenes, such as being assistant stage manager for “Little Women” at Chameleon Arts and Entertainment, light board operator for “The Addams Family” at Grand Canyon University, and spotlight operator for “Newsies” at Village Arts. She wants to thank her family and friends for all of their endless support and love! 

OMAR SAMAD (“Dapper Dan”) was born and raised in Lubbock. After earning a Communications degree (with an Acting minor) from Texas Tech University in 2020, Omar darted headfirst into the wonderful world of theatre & dance with the hopes of careering lifelong passions. Omar has had the pleasure of working previously with The Wallace Theater since February 2022, after falling under the spell of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Previous productions with The Wallace include, but are not limited to: Ken Ludwig’s Shakespeare In Hollywood, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Max Duane’s LAREDO, and many Page to Stage readings. Crazily enough, Omar has even recently worked as a runway model for the local Budding Artists group! Omar loves to say that everyone working at The Wallace is an angel, and every time someone buys a ticket to a show, another artist here gets their wings; because it’s the total, unadulterated truth! Omar looks forward to what else the future could hold– which hopefully includes: growing, personally, as an artist; helping to create a local sense of community; and celebrating everyone’s gifts and contributions to any creative endeavor therein. Omar is so grateful to everyone involved in this workshop, and hopes our beautiful patrons will have as much fun watching, as our troupe had creating this production! 

CHASTIN POWELL (Deb), a West Texas Native, is proud to return to work with The Wallace in its production of TRACKS. Chastin most recently performed in “A Doll’s House” as Nora in which she received a nomination in Broadway World’s 2022 Regional Awards for Best Performer in a Play. Prior to her work at The Wallce, she has performed in many productions with local companies. Some of her favorite roles include Anne in “Anne of Green Gables” (Lubbock Community Theater), Babe in “Crimes of the Heart” (Lubbock Community Theater), and June in “Anatomy of Gray.” (West Texas A&M University.) Currently, she works as a licensed professional counselor at Brownfield ISD, a Mom to her two year old, Oliver, and partner to her husband, Cade.

TYLER JAMES (Simian) is a Vermonter by birth, and very  proud to be making his West Texas theatrical debut with the Wallace Theater's production of "Tracks" as Simian. Tyler has taken a five year hiatus from acting to focus on his career as a stylist and is delighted to return to acting in this production. He has been performing since he was eight years old in community theater productions. Some of his most notable characters have been Phoebe in "As you like it" (Vermont Theater Company),  Seymore in "Little Shop of Horrors" (The County Players), and The Ghost of Christmas Present in "A Christmas Carol" (New England Theater). When he's not working in hair and beauty or pursuing artistic endeavors, Tyler loves to relax at home with his family. He even fancies himself as an amateur horticulturist taking care of and maintaining over 120 plants at one time.

MICHELE TARBOX (Stage Directions) has portrayed Katie Nana in Mary Poppins, one of the three blind mice in Shrek, Sister Mary Theresa in Sister Act, and Mrs. Squires in The Music Man with Lubbock Moonlight Musicals. More recently, Michelle played Doatsey Mae in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Lubbock Community Theater and was also seen as Inita Goodwin in A Tuna Christmas. For the role of Morticia in the Addams Family Musical in 2017, she was awarded the Bailey Award for Favorite Female Actor in a Lead Role. Most recently, Michelle portrayed Elizabeth Benning in Young Frankenstein, was a dancer in Cinderella, Mrs. Luce in Little Shop of Horrors, and Velma Kelly in Chicago. She is delighted to be a part of this production!

LEAH TYSON HOUCHIN (Marigold) is a Monterey High School graduate who received a BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC and a MA in Theatre with an emphasis in Directing from Texas State University in San Marcos. Since returning to Lubbock in 2006, Leah feeds her passion for theatre by both directing and acting in the community.  You've seen her onstage as Suze in Fairview, Wendy in Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday, Mrs. Bradman in Blithe Spirit, and Silda in Other Desert Cities, just to name a few.  She most recently directed The Thanksgiving Play, The New Mel Brooks Musical: Young Frankenstein, Wait Until Dark, and God of Carnage.  She's worked in Marketing at United Supermarkets for the last 10 years and thanks them for always being so encouraging of her work in the theatre.  She thanks her husband, Phillip, and all their furbabies for their support.

ABOUT PAGE TO STAGE

This program was created to offer exposure to a selection of underproduced published and new works, to create an opportunity for Wallace collaborators to gather together, and to gain feedback to inform season selections.

This program is managed by The Wallace’s Artistic Director Anna Hogan and by guest artists Kensly Peck, Randal Ramirez, and Alan Winner.

When in season, Page to Stage meets on Saturday per month at a predetermined venue to read through the script together. Members can opt to either read or just follow along or listen to the script. Members will be invited to bring food and beverage to this reading! Afterall, this is for ensemble building and fun.

After the reading, the comittee members faciliate a moderated Q&A to gain feedback, interest, and the opportunity for community impact.

The selected scripts are intended for actors 18 and older due to script content and potential language.

The mission of this program is The Wallace to host a new work development workshop with one to two guest playwrights this year. These playwrights will receive director and actor support for up to 4 days. Playwrights and their director will lead a group of actors through exercises that will help them shape their script - including improv exercises, devised staging, fully staged segments of the play, Q&A sessions, and more. The workshop will culminate in a public, script-in-hand reading of the play or presentation of a staged segment of the play. These workshops are for playwrights to develop their script so it can go on to the next phase of production, including a full staging or publication.

The Wallace fulfilled the mission of Page to Stage in it’s premiere season by hosting playwright Max Duane’s LAREDO in October of 2022.

Get involved by emailing anna@wallacetheater!