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March 28 - April 7, 2018 , The Helen

CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program

Fifth of July

Written by Lanford Wilson
Directed by Donald Carrier

In the wake of the Vietnam war, a veteran and his eccentric family gather in rural Missouri to ring in Independence Day. But the fireworks don’t stop once The Fourth is over. Long-standing resentments and disappointments bubble to the surface as the family attempts to reconcile the hopes they once had for the future with the realities of their present. From Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson, The Fifth of July is both a stunning and humorous portrait of a generation in search of direction and redemption. This production will introduce the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program’s Class of 2020.

Artists

Alex Brightwell

Alex Brightwell

(Ken) was most recently seen in Every Brilliant Thing at Cleveland Play House. He was born in West Virginia, raised in North Carolina, and earned his BFA from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater Actor Training Program. He was a Conservatory member for the 2018 and 2019 seasons at more(Ken) was most recently seen in Every Brilliant Thing at Cleveland Play House. He was born in West Virginia, raised in North Carolina, and earned his BFA from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater Actor Training Program. He was a Conservatory member for the 2018 and 2019 seasons at the Chautauqua Theater Company, where he played Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Alfie in One Man, Two Guvnors; Silvius in As You Like It; and Br’er Rabbit/Ratts in An Octoroon. Other Cleveland credits include the New Ground Theater Festival reading of Tiny Houses and the CWRU/CPH MFA productions of The Merchant of Venice, Hay Fever, The Seagull, and Fifth of July. He has also been seen at Yellow Tree Theater, Minnesota Jewish Theatre, Walking Shadow Theatre Company, Public Theater of Minnesota, and the Guthrie Theater.

Conor Canning

Conor Canning

(Jed) was born and raised in Alford, Massachusetts. He is a 2016 graduate of Georgetown University where he majored in Political Economy and minored in Theater and Performance Studies. During his time in the CWRU/CPH MFA program, Conor has played Lorzeno in The Merchant of Venice, Simon Bliss in more(Jed) was born and raised in Alford, Massachusetts. He is a 2016 graduate of Georgetown University where he majored in Political Economy and minored in Theater and Performance Studies. During his time in the CWRU/CPH MFA program, Conor has played Lorzeno in The Merchant of Venice, Simon Bliss in Hay Fever, Medvenko in The Seagull, and Jed Jenkins in Fifth of July. Other notable credits include playing Joe Cooper in Killer Joe, Stacey Kinsella in The Metal Children, and Angelo in Measure for Measure. Conor would like to thank his family for all their love and support as well as all members of the CWRU/CPH community who have offered their guidance, wisdom, and encouragement over the last three years.

Kasey Connolly

Kasey Connolly

(June) came to the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program from New York City where she attended the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at NYU. While there, she focused primarily on classical texts and performed in Hamlet; Mother Courage; and an all-female, democratically directed production of Julius Caesar. Cleveland credits include more(June) came to the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program from New York City where she attended the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at NYU. While there, she focused primarily on classical texts and performed in Hamlet; Mother Courage; and an all-female, democratically directed production of Julius Caesar. Cleveland credits include understudy for Maggie Dalton in Into the Breeches! at Cleveland Play House and the CPH New Ground Theatre Festival readings of Christina, Tiny Houses, and Cicada. As a member of the CWRU/CPH MFA acting program, she's appeared onstage in The Merchant of Venice, Hay Fever, The Seagull, and The Fifth of July. Film credits include the independent shorts Apprehending Edmund Montrell and A Way Home. kaseyconnolly.com

Comfort Dolo

Comfort Dolo

(Shirley) can't believe she's nearing the end of her CWRU/CPH adventure! She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and raised in friendly Fridley, Minnesota. She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN with double majors in Honors Theatre and Communication Studies. Favorite credits include: To Kill a Mockingbird more(Shirley) can't believe she's nearing the end of her CWRU/CPH adventure! She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and raised in friendly Fridley, Minnesota. She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN with double majors in Honors Theatre and Communication Studies. Favorite credits include: To Kill a Mockingbird (The Guthrie Theater), TOUCH, a remake of the 1984 Emmy Award winning film (Illusion Theater), and various commercials ranging from the Minnesota State Lottery to hand modeling for KeyBank. She recently made her Cleveland Play House debut in Into the Breeches! (Ida Green) while also understudying the role of Jasmine in Pipeline. CWRU/CPH Credits include: Jessica and Salarino (The Merchant of Venice); Sorel Bliss (Hay Fever); Sorin (The Seagull); Shirley (Fifth of July). Naomi in Sugar (Phoenix Theater), Carlos Sirah’s The Utterances (The Playwright’s Center). She is a big fan of theatre for social justice, the German language, and gummy bears!

Gregory James

Gregory James

(John) is excited to be making his CPH and Equity debut. He is a member of the Cleveland sketch comedy duo Flamingo City and is a sketch writing student of Michael Busch. Stage credits: Male Understudy in Clue (Cleveland Play House); Lucio in Measure for Measure, Mercutio in Romeo more(John) is excited to be making his CPH and Equity debut. He is a member of the Cleveland sketch comedy duo Flamingo City and is a sketch writing student of Michael Busch. Stage credits: Male Understudy in Clue (Cleveland Play House); Lucio in Measure for Measure, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, and Brooke in Little Women (Oberlin Summer Theater Festival); Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice, David in Hay Fever, Trigorin in The Seagull, and John in Fifth of July (CWRU/CPH). LA theatre credits include Summer and Smoke, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and Lend Me a Tenor (Actors Co-Op Theatre Hollywood), and Some Girl(s) (LA Fringe). Gregory was a founding member of the Whitefire Theatre Company in Los Angeles. Film credits include Jilted for Glamour Magazine, Slow Clap Comedy, and the Actors Co-Op Series, The Fur is Gone. All my love to Molly. GregoryJamesActing.com @GregoryJamesActing

Abdul Seidu

Abdul Seidu

(Wes) is here in Cleveland for a fun time not a long time. Abdul graduated summa cum laude from Kent State with a BA in Theatre Arts. He has recently been seen in the CRSHD world premiere in the Tribeca Film Festival. Also look out for him on Amazon more(Wes) is here in Cleveland for a fun time not a long time. Abdul graduated summa cum laude from Kent State with a BA in Theatre Arts. He has recently been seen in the CRSHD world premiere in the Tribeca Film Festival. Also look out for him on Amazon Prime Video in I'm Your Woman. Abdul is happy to take the stage one last time with his CWRU/CPH MFA teammates. Last seen in Cleveland in productions of Hay Fever, The Seagull, and Merchant of Venice. Instagram: @AbdultheAfrican

Courtney Stennett

Courtney Stennett

(Sally) is a native of Eagle, Idaho. She graduated with her BFA in Performance from Baylor University. Prior to making the move to Cleveland, Courtney enjoyed living and performing in Chicago. She most recently appeared onstage at Cleveland Play House in Into the Breeches! She spent the summer more(Sally) is a native of Eagle, Idaho. She graduated with her BFA in Performance from Baylor University. Prior to making the move to Cleveland, Courtney enjoyed living and performing in Chicago. She most recently appeared onstage at Cleveland Play House in Into the Breeches! She spent the summer at Chautauqua Theatre Company in One Man, Two Guvnors; A Midsummer Night's Dream; and in the New Play Workshop production of Agent 355. She has been seen in the CWRU/CPH productions of Hay Fever as Judith Bliss, The Seagull as Masha, and Fifth of July as Sally Friedman. Summer of 2018 she appeared internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Call of the Void. Additional recent professional credits include Agnes of God (Aleatoric Theatre), A Little Princess (Windy City Music Theatre), and Seminar (Spartan Theatre Company). Courtney is delighted and humbled to be working toward her MFA in the CWRU/CPH Acting program and thrilled to be part of this ensemble!

Elisabeth Yancey

Elisabeth Yancey

(Gwen) was most recently onstage with Cleveland Play House as Yvette in Clue and Grace Richards in Into the Breeches!. Other credits with CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program include The Merchant of Venice, Hay Fever, The Seagull, and Fifth of July. Internationally, Elisabeth performed at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in more(Gwen) was most recently onstage with Cleveland Play House as Yvette in Clue and Grace Richards in Into the Breeches!. Other credits with CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program include The Merchant of Venice, Hay Fever, The Seagull, and Fifth of July. Internationally, Elisabeth performed at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the world premiere of Call of the Void. Other favorite credits include CPH’s New Ground Theatre Festival in Cicada and Christina, and the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival in Romeo and Juliet and Little Women, as well as work with Wellesley Repertory Theatre. Elisabeth holds a BA in Theatre Studies from Wellesley College, a certificate of classical acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, and a certificate of literature from Cambridge University. She could not be more delighted to join this ensemble in bringing this story to life. www.elisabethyancey.com Insta: @elisabethyancey

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