Jesse Lee Egan Poirier (Laertes/Ensemble) is a recent MCLA graduate (FPA-Theatre) who has found his way into the rich theatre community of the Northern Berkshires. Favorite roles in college included Macbeth, Prince Lewis, Angelo, Bassanio, Orlando, Tybalt, Aaron the Moore, and Prince Harry (in a production of Once Upon a Mattress). After college, Jesse was cast as Timmy Cleary in the The Subject was Roses (directed by Broadway veteran Peter Russell), and now Laertes in Hamlet, both at the MAC.  Jesse’s experience in technical theatre ranges from costume to lighting design, stage management to carpentry, and he has even designed and directed a show here and there. However, today he is an actor, and entreats you to enjoy the show!

 

Jess Pillmore (Director). Jess offers a variety of professional workshops that focus on: physical theatre, movement, comedy improvisation, choreography, dance, stage combat, songwriting and creative writing. Co-founder of the physical theatre company, Creatively Independent, Jess tours 250+ days/year performing and teaching the performing arts.  At 18, she was recognized for her dance and percussion skills by STOMP.  Jess was a dance major at the prestigious performing arts high school, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, and received her BA in Theatre at Florida State University.  Jess has had the
privilege of studying with many Tony Award winning artists,
such as Ann Reinking, Gregory Hines, Susan Schulman and
Kathleen Marshall, as well as prestigious artists and
companies: Luigi, Pilobolus, Shapiro & Smith Co., Chet
Walker, John Parks and Bardy Thomas.  Her professional work
is an expansive mix of national and international pieces,
including theater, dance, performance art and choreography
for dance, theater and stage combat (1999 National Best Female Actor/Combatant and 2000 Founder’s Award in Unarmed by Society of American Fight Directors). Her work has been performed Off Broadway as well as nationally at fringe theatre festivals, regional theaters, universities and high schools.  In Chicago, Jess was co-director and choreographer for the Neo-Futurists’s award winning musical, “City Girl!”, winning Best Musical at the Minneapolis Fringe Festival. She has worked with students in elementary through college, seminars for teachers and multiple conferences: Florida State Thespians, North Carolina State Thespians, Florida Assoc. of Theatre Educators and Orff Schulwerk Teacher Training workshops.  Currently, Jess is a member of the select list of teaching artists working for ISTA (International Schools Theatre Association).  ISTA reaches students across the globe and is responsible for the IB Theatre curriculum.  In the music industry, Jess has nationally released and toured three albums as a singer/songwriter.  She produced the debut album “Speak True” for NY songwriter, Ron Morris.  All four albums were released on the RoadWorm Music label, started by Bill Pillmore and herself. Her third CD, “Reveal” (recorded with industry heavyweights – Matt Chamberlain & Viktor Krauss), has received rave reviews and is playing across the country. Recently, she composed music for Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Greylock Project.  Jess is writing the music and lyrics for a Montreal fringe show, Last of the
Pretty Girls, to be mounted in 2011.  Her new folk rock musical, It’s All Right Now, co-written with label-mate, Ron Morris, is currently in the studio.  Visit www.jesspillmore.com for more information.  Jess is also a designer for an eco-lux clothing line, A Second Chance.  Her articles and work has been featured in 3 national magazines, including GreenCraft &  Scrappies.  Fall 2011, Jess starts her MFA at Goddard College in Interdisciplinary Arts.

Jennifer Gorson (Player Queen/Ensemble) is returning to the Minerva Arts Center for her second role. Jennifer attended Colgate University and U. Mass. Amherst concentrating in Philosophy and Psychology. Some of her favorite roles include Angela, MSS 2010 Short Play Festival, Ensemble in the 2010 MAC premiere musical, Aliza. Jennifer is excited to be returning to the MAC and being a part of this summer’s schedule.

Vanessa Phelon (Janet/Musical Director): Vanessa is excited to be returning to Minerva Arts Center. She made her Minerva debut in this summer’s production of Godspell as Musical Director/Soloist. She received her B.A. in Fine and Performing Art from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and is working on her M.A. in Theatre from Bowling Green State University (BGSU). Some of her favorite roles include: Miss Hauser in The Visit, and Miss Hatchett in Because Their Hearts Were Pure (MCLA), she musical directed Harlequin’s Reefer Madness (MCLA) and assistant directed Cabaret (BGSU). She is also the resident Costume Designer at Main Street Stage in North Adams and has been a part of their Redroom series. Thanks and love to Chris.

Edward Cating (Ghost/Ensemble) is looking forward to The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, which he is directing at the MAC. and that opens August 4th. Locally, Edward has performed in numerous Berkshire County productions including Judge Hathorne, The Crucible, Barrington Stage Co.; Vladimir, Waiting for Godot, Minerva Stage; Lord Capulet, Romeo and Juliet, Joe Keller, All My Sons, Reach, Down the Road, Engstrand, Ghosts, Sydney, Where’s My Money, at Main Street Stage; Aviator, The Little Prince, Ben, The Dumb Waiter, Mill City Productions. He created the title role in Joan Ackermann’s Bec and Rosemary, and performed in staged readings as William in Margot Connolly’s 1 John 4:20, Edison in Kendra Arimoto’s No Traveler Returns, Scientist in Sharon Wyrrick’s 900 Dreams all at the Berkshire Fringe Festival. Regional credits include: Josiah Bartlett, 1776, Westport Playhouse, St. Louis.

Memorable roles from college have included The Doctor, Too True to be Good, Jorgen Tesman, Hedda Gabler, Hamm, Endgame, Duke Orsino, Twelfth Night, Paddy, The Hostage, Mark, The Shadow Box, Mute, The Fantastiks, Jamie Tyrone, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Iago, Othello at Southwestern University; Vince Fontaine, Grease,  Lysander, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lenny, The Homecoming at Lindenwood College; and Father Brian Rivard, The Runner Stumbles at Clarke College. He studied acting with Angus Springer, Martin Fried, Wesley Van Tassel, Tom Skore, Yvonne Gharib, and Fred Goodson, and thanks them each for their valuable lessons.

Edward is the Executive Director of the Minerva Arts Center in North Adams.

Kane Robert (Eddie) has had the acting bug since he was a small child. Kane first appeared as a 2nd grader in a production of A Christmas Carol. Kane attended Hoosac Valley High School where he appeared in such productions as: Jesus Christ Superstar, The Music Man, Sweet Charity, and Flowers for Algernon. After graduating in 1997 he attended MCLA majoring in communications with a concentration in broadcast media. Post high school saw him in local theater productions starting with What the Butler Saw, when Kane was 19. Which was followed by Tony and Tina’s Wedding where Kane not only played a combined role with the most scripted lines but also did the sound and lighting design for the show. Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral, King Casmir’s Feast, Into Darkness, and Fool’s followed. Kane has also done much work behind the scenes in many theatrical, dance, and musical performances doing sound and lighting. Kane was a member of both the college and high school chorus. Rocky Horror is Kane’s first musical in 14 years, he is very happy to be a part of it as it has always been a dream of his.

Bill Flynn (Dr. Scott) is a single, devoted father who wanted his only daughter Brittney to be involved in theatre, then soon found himself not only behind the scenes, but sharing the stage with her in Berkshire Follies. Bill joined Minerva for the Little to Big production of Peter Pan last summer. His most recent leading role at Minerva was in The Subject Was Roses, directed by Broadway veteran Peter Russell. Bill made his musical debut at the MAC in Godspell as a player and Joseph. Not to sit idle, Bill operated the light board during this summer’s run of Hamlet. Now he is excited to return to the stage in the role of Dr. Scott, who, though wheelchair bound, is still a handsome devil.

Ali Mandelbaum (Dr. Frank-N-Further) is thrilled to be working with Minerva Stage for a second year in a row. In 2010, The MAC produced ALIZA, the musical, which Ali co-wrote and starred in. Ali is also a recording artist on AlmondTree Records, you can find her songs available on itunes, and music videos on youtube, under her full name, Ali Mandelbaum. Her first single, In The Eye, is starting to be promoted to Adult Contemporary Radio Nationally, so keep your ears out for it!! Ali has been working as a performer/writer in theatrical and pop music settings in New York and Los Angeles for many years. Thanks to all involved!!!

Daniel Weiner (Marcellus/Ensemble) grew up in Hancock, attended Mt. Greylock High School where he performed with Shakespeare & Company as a Murderer in MacBeth and Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet. In the “Food of Love” fundraiser for S & C, Daniel performed as Lysander in “A Midsummer Night Dream” and Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet”. He is now attending Clarkson University, majoring in mechanical engineering and has worked as a stage manager and set designer for their theatre club’s performances. Daniel is currently choreographing a Shakespearean style fight scene for the Schenectady Civic Theater as well as planning to continue community theatre in the future.

Dakota Garrity (Guildenstern/Ensemble). A Williamstown native, Dakota began acting in school productions at Mount Greylock High School. During her high school career, she performed for 5 years with the Fall Festival of Shakespeare, in cooperation with Shakespeare & Co. Dakota first became involved with Minerva Stage as a teenager through the company’s summer workshops. More recently, she has become involved with many aspects of the theatre department at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania where she is currently studying math and theatre.