The Gypsy Chain: Crew

Crew

Wayne Allen Brenner

Role: Graphics Designer

Wayne Alan Brenner lives in Austin, Texas, where he's pleased to have seen a variety of interesting spiders (Gasteracantha cancriform, Nephila, and various Phidippi), including two that he'd not previously encountered outside books (a truncated Trapdoor and a Green Lynx), as well as several gorgeous beetles and a Polyphemus moth with a four-inch wingspan. His daughter Angelica is not related by blood to his wife Molly, it's a step-relationship kind of situation, but they seem to really love each other and that's extremely important to him. In his Will, Brenner has insisted that his body (or its remains) be offered to Damien Hirst for whatever use that artist might wish to make of it, and only if Hirst refuses or is legally unable to accept the gift should the corpus brenneri then be donated to some institute furthering the cause of scientific investigation. The mind within the still-mobile meat is honored to have anything to do with this production of THE GYPSY CHAIN---or anything that the talented and driven L. Somers involves herself with, for that matter.

Gunn Brothers

Role: Sound Design

Andrea Ciannavei

Role: Co-Writer

Andrea Ciannavei is an actor and writer residing in New York City and has been blessed with a long-standing friendship and collaboration with Laura Somers since 1993. She graduated from NYU - Tisch School of the Arts in 1997 with a BFA in Dramatic Writing. Writing credits include: Twelve Never Changes (DWP Theatre, dir. Laura Somers); The Squeeze (Interlude Theatre, dir. Michele Chivu) and Murasaki (Women's Project, dir. Nancy Chu). Acting credits include: Gull ("Pauline", Angel Orensanz, dir. Laura Somers); Space: Gravity is with Me ("Ensemble", Philadelphia Fringe Festival, dir. Laura Somers); and the workshop premier of Mac Wellman's Infrared ("Cathy X's Shadow", MTW, dir. Travis Preston). Film and television credits are: 100 Centre Street ("Teresa", A&E, dir. Sidney Lumet) and Pigeonholed ("Gabby", Eclipse Pictures, dir. Michael Swanhaus) for which she was awarded Best Supporting Actress (Summer 2000) by the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. She would like to thank Laura for inviting her to work on this story of an extraordinary young man and much love to the cast and crew and everyone who has helped to make this project a reality.

Levi Cory

Role: Dramaturg

Local Austin playwright / screenwriter.

Don Day

Role: Light Design

Robin Goodman

Role: Technical Writer and Editor

Oblio's Pointe! is an Austin-based writing studio that specializes in creative, technical and business writing. Robin Goodman, the founder of Oblio's Pointe! and a friend of Laura Somers, has lent a "writing hand" to the dirigo group's latest production by crafting promotional and fundraising communications.

Katie Gillette

Role: Set Construction

Rhea Hines

Role: Fundraising

Rhea Hines has a B.A. in Theatre and has been involved in many local projects. She has done several shows with the Theatreless Theatre Corp. including the international Fringe Festival in New York City. She is a founding member of El Camino Productions, through which she produced the independent film "living...".

Sarah Jaynes

Role: Event Coordinator

Sarah Jaynes -- musician, booking agent -- Sarah has been working as a booking agent at Gaby 'n' Mo's for the last two years. She has put together big events including GrrlXGrrl Fest 2000 and GrrlxGrrl Fest 2001 and Texas Gay Pride 2001 as well as helped with the booking for the two benefit shows for The Gypsy Chain. She is also in the band Pirate Jane and performing at the first benefit on May 20th. For booking inquiries, you can contact Sarah at [email protected].

Beth McMillian

Role: Choreographer

Beth has BA's in History and Creative Writing from UT Austin. She is a choreographer, actress, and writer who is constantly involved in the local theatre scene. Since moving to Austin in 1996, Beth has performed with the Austin Commedia Society (Dungarella, the Isosceles Love Triangle, Meet I Megalomani), Darla Johnson (ACC Choreographers Showcases, 1997-1999), Ellen Bartel Dance Company (Will You Walk In the Park With Me?), the Creeps (random Creeping), Sonicor (Sacrelize), the Vortex Repertory Company (Dark Goddess), and Zach Scott's Playspace (Pedrolino's Friends, The Three Billies Revisited). She also performed in Sharon Sparlin's infamous Cement, Metal, Wood, Brick!, which won Best of the Fest in Frontera 2000. Beth has choreographed for the Disciples of Melpomene, the Vortex, and now for the dirigo group. She is also a co-founder, choreographer, writer, and co-artistic director of the highly acclaimed REALM danceproject, who were invited to perform their controversial piece, Using the F-Word: Perspectives on Feminism in the New York International Fringe Festival this summer. She recently founded the new multi-media performance group Siren Fringe Corps, who will premiere their first work, Outrageous Beauty, in November of this year. Keep an eye out for Beth with the Vortex Rep Company and Ethos! in the near future.

Beth O'Reily

Role: Set Design

Beth is currently a student at Southwest Texas State University and is working towards an art dergree specializing in sculpture. She has several years experience as a floral designer and has done work for a local production company as a scenic painter. The production of Gypsy Chain is giving her a chance to blend all her past experience and passions into one.

Andy Ramsey

Role: Set Design

Andy is a University of Texas Graduate, specializing in painting. He has worked with the dirigo group on several productions.

Laura S. Somers

Role: Director / Creator / Producer

Laura Somers is a six-time award winning director, writer, performer and co-producing artistic director of the dirigo group in Austin. She has created several original productions including, "desire: a reconsideration of Desire Under the Elms", and "I Am What I Am I Am Not What I Think Am I?" In 1998, she was commissioned by Simple Minded Productions of Philadelphia to create "Space: Gravity is With Me". Other productions by Ms. Somers include: "Gull" , at the Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts, NY, "The Evolution of Man", for The Big Box Festival of New Directors, HERE Theater, NY, "Twelve Never Changes" by Andrea Ciannavei, NYU, NY, and "Cultural Bondage", Musical Theater Works, NY. Laura is a graduate of NYU's TISCH School of the Arts. In August she will be performing her original solo, "The Year of the Voice", at the New York International Fringe Festival. She would like to thank every person that has given their time and effort to this production. "Words alone will never express my deepest gratitude."

Ryan Sweitzer

Role: Poster Design

Patrick Thornton

Role: Set Design

Jordan Weeks

Role: Composer

Jordan Weeks is a technical writer living in Austin with his daughter and fiancee. He wrote the lyrics of the score, and collaborated with the band ("of top-notch musicians," he gushes) to write the music.

Tammy Whitehead

Role: Stage Manager / Producer

Tammy Whitehead, an Austin native, has immersed herself in theatre for the last eight years. She started out volunteering for box office and ushering for a company started by a friend of hers, and they decided to train her in stage management. Tammy found this role right up her alley, and has been a successful Stage Manager ever since. With a current running total of 38 plays under her belt, Tammy has also stage managed theatre festivals (FronteraFest and MOMfest), dance performances, musical performances at One World Theatre, and six years of SXSW Music Festival, as well as functioning as Production Coordinator and 2nd Assistant Director for an independent film. Tammy got her start with The Company in 1993, and has also worked for Subterranean Theatre Company (of which she is a member), Rude Mechanicals, Frontera, Aunt Lulu Plays, Public Domain, Disciples of Melponeme, Onstage, Flame Failure Productions, and G-Ray Productions. In late 1999, Tammy worked with Laura Somers in her production of desire, and shortly after
that came together with four other performers in that production to form the dirigo group.