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December 2 - 6, 2020 , A Virtual Event

CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

by Stephen Adly Guirgis
directed by David Vegh

Run time: 2 hours and 45 minutes, includes 10 minute intermission

Was Judas Iscariot given a bad rap? In this dazzling, profane, funny and razor-sharp play, Pulitzer-Prize winning writer, Stephen Adly Guirgis takes us on a journey to unearth the “truth” about Judas. Set in a courtroom in purgatory, the play challenges the audience to consider the big questions: How do we balance faith with reason? Does evil really exist? And can we ever forgive anyone if we can’t first forgive ourselves? The CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program explores all of this and more in our first broadcast production.

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Artists

Isaac Baker

Isaac Baker

(St. Matthew/Satan) (he/him) is grateful and excited for his second performance with Cleveland Play House. He recently appeared in the CPH production of Antigone, as well as the CWRU/CPH MFA production of Twelfth Night. Other credits from his time with the MFA Program include Middletown, The Last Days of more(St. Matthew/Satan) (he/him) is grateful and excited for his second performance with Cleveland Play House. He recently appeared in the CPH production of Antigone, as well as the CWRU/CPH MFA production of Twelfth Night. Other credits from his time with the MFA Program include Middletown, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and Electra/Orestes. Other credits include The Merchant of Venice and Shakespeare in Love at the Great River Shakespeare Festival, Romeo and Juliet and The Crucible at the Public Theatre of Kentucky, as well as the collegiate premiere of Fun Home at the University of Evansville.

Kristina Gabriela

Kristina Gabriela

(Gloria/Mother Teresa/Sigmund Freud) is excited to make her second appearance in the Allen Theatre in this exciting production! Kristina is from Corpus Christi, Texas, and is in her final year in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program. She received her BA in acting/directing at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and was more(Gloria/Mother Teresa/Sigmund Freud) is excited to make her second appearance in the Allen Theatre in this exciting production! Kristina is from Corpus Christi, Texas, and is in her final year in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program. She received her BA in acting/directing at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and was recently seen in the cast of the world premiere of Light It Up! at Cleveland Play House. CWRU/CPH credits include Viola in Twelfth Night, Electra in Electra/Orestes, WHO’S WHO clevelandplayhouse.com 21 and Sweetheart/F doctor/F tourist in Middletown. Other credits include Sophie in Mamma Mia!, Mimi in Rent, and Beauty in Smokefall. She would also like to thank God, her friends, and family for their love and support. Thank you to everyone who did their part to help theatre and the arts stay alive. Enjoy the show! @quirky_kris

Bridget Kim

Bridget Kim

(Henrietta Iscariot/Loretta/Mary Magdalene/St. Thom) galloped over from the great state of Kentucky, where she earned a BA in political science from the University of Louisville. This spring, Bridget will graduate with her MFA in acting from the CWRU/CPH MFA Program, and head to New York City to launch her more(Henrietta Iscariot/Loretta/Mary Magdalene/St. Thom) galloped over from the great state of Kentucky, where she earned a BA in political science from the University of Louisville. This spring, Bridget will graduate with her MFA in acting from the CWRU/CPH MFA Program, and head to New York City to launch her film/television career. During her last months in Cleveland, she wrote, directed, and starred in her lively one-woman show, performed as Sir Andrew in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (CWRU/CPH), and made her Cleveland Play House debut as Ismene in Antigone.

Gustavo Márquez

Gustavo Márquez

(Judas) is a graduate of the Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House MFA in Acting program class of 2022. They are so excited to be in this production and feel blessed to be working with these immensely skilled, funny and talented artists. Being in the room with this ensemble more(Judas) is a graduate of the Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House MFA in Acting program class of 2022. They are so excited to be in this production and feel blessed to be working with these immensely skilled, funny and talented artists. Being in the room with this ensemble has brought so much life to him. Professional credits include Light it Up!, Antigone (Cleveland Play House); Sweat, A Christmas Carol, 22 Native Gardens (Denver Center Theatre Company). CWRU/CPH credits include The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Twelfth Night, Middletown, and Electra/ Orestes. Other stage credits include The Comedy of Errors, Julius Caesar (Colorado Shakespeare Festival Tour), The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, Metamorphoses, You Can’t Take It With You, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, American Idiot, Dracula and Grease. He is very grateful to his family, friends, and mentors who have supported him in his pursuit of an artistic life. After this production Gustavo will be New York bound and establish roots in the city. Gustavo-Marquez.com

Santino Montanez

Santino Montanez

(Yusef El-Fayoumy) is a Cleveland area stage and film actor who has appeared in many local productions as well as national commercials and other film projects. Santino’s recent credits include; Elliot in Ensemble Theater’s production of Quiara Alegría Hudes Water By the Spoonful, Allan Carr in Mama/Moon, as the more(Yusef El-Fayoumy) is a Cleveland area stage and film actor who has appeared in many local productions as well as national commercials and other film projects. Santino’s recent credits include; Elliot in Ensemble Theater’s production of Quiara Alegría Hudes Water By the Spoonful, Allan Carr in Mama/Moon, as the titular ape in Euguene O’Neil’s The Hairy Ape, and as Khadim in Ensemble Theater’s production of Rajiv Joseph’s The North Pool alongside Director David Vegh.He has also appeared as a featured extra in the Warner Brothers Film Judas and the Black Messiah which is currently in postproduction. Santino is proud to be making his debut at Cleveland Play House and is honored to be a part of such a stellar cast and crew. Santino would like to thank the audience for their patronage andcommitment to the arts, especially during such trying times. He would also like to thank director David Vegh from whom he has learned so much about his craft. Finally, he would like to thank his chihuahuas Belle and Rosie for keeping him sane during quarantine.

Nnamdi Okpala

Nnamdi Okpala

(Baliff) is a Cleveland-native actor and recently completed his B.A. in Theatre Arts at Cleveland State University in December 2019. Past credits include A Raisin in the Sun as George Murchison (Ensemble Theatre), Railroaded as Eddie (Shadow of the Run), She Kills Monsters as Narrator (CSU) and Romeo and more(Baliff) is a Cleveland-native actor and recently completed his B.A. in Theatre Arts at Cleveland State University in December 2019. Past credits include A Raisin in the Sun as George Murchison (Ensemble Theatre), Railroaded as Eddie (Shadow of the Run), She Kills Monsters as Narrator (CSU) and Romeo and Juliet as Paris (CSU).

Christopher B. Portley

Christopher B. Portley

(Matthias of Galilee/Simon the Zealot/Pontius Pilat) Christopher is a third-year MFA candidate in the Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program. He is originally from Dallas, Texas. He holds a BS from the University of North Texas. He recently made his Chautauqua Theater Company debut this past more(Matthias of Galilee/Simon the Zealot/Pontius Pilat) Christopher is a third-year MFA candidate in the Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program. He is originally from Dallas, Texas. He holds a BS from the University of North Texas. He recently made his Chautauqua Theater Company debut this past summer playing De’Andre in Dominique Morisseau’s Blood at the Root directed by Stori Ayers, and Zanni and Flavio in Commedia dell’ Arte directed by Andrew Borba. His CWRU/ CPH MFA credits include Twelfth Night, Electra/Orestes, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and Middletown. Other theatre credits include Father Comes Home From the Wars Parts 1, 2 and 3 (African American Repertory Theatre); The Tempest and Measure For Measure (Shakespeare Academy at Stratford); Stick Fly (University of North Texas); and Memphis (Musical Theatre of Denton). Most importantly, he thanks God for this moment, and his family and friends for their continued love and support throughout his journey. Christopher is taking his final year in grad school by the horns and is excited about the next season of his life. LEARN MORE: ideastream.org/together

Sarthak Shah

Sarthak Shah

(Jesus) is an undergraduate theater student at CWRU. Prior credits include Bus Stop, Bethany, As You Like It, Three Sisters. Sarthak also performs weekly for IMPROVment, CWRU's short-form musical improv troupe. Thank you to family, R, and B for making him laugh this year. more(Jesus) is an undergraduate theater student at CWRU. Prior credits include Bus Stop, Bethany, As You Like It, Three Sisters. Sarthak also performs weekly for IMPROVment, CWRU's short-form musical improv troupe. Thank you to family, R, and B for making him laugh this year.

Noah Williams

Noah Williams

(Judge Littlefield/Butch Honeywell) came to the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program from Alabama, where he attended Troy University. While there, he performed in numerous roles. Notable credits include Tom in The Glass Menagerie, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, and Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher. Noah would more(Judge Littlefield/Butch Honeywell) came to the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program from Alabama, where he attended Troy University. While there, he performed in numerous roles. Notable credits include Tom in The Glass Menagerie, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, and Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher. Noah would like to send a huge shoutout to the family he was born with and the family that he found along the way. Enjoy the show!

Sara Young

Sara Young

(Fabiana Cunningham) is a recent graduate from Case Western Reserve University with a BA in Theatre and Economics. She is currently an actor with Docherty Agency and has the privilege of pursuing her work full time. Recent credits include Bus Stop (Cherry) with Eldred Theatre, and Stupid F**king Bird more(Fabiana Cunningham) is a recent graduate from Case Western Reserve University with a BA in Theatre and Economics. She is currently an actor with Docherty Agency and has the privilege of pursuing her work full time. Recent credits include Bus Stop (Cherry) with Eldred Theatre, and Stupid F**king Bird (Mash) at Dobama Theatre.

Stephen Adly Guirgis

(Playwright) is a longtime member of NYC's LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced on five continents and throughout the United States. They include: the extended, sold-out run of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Out Lady of 121sy Street (named one of the ten best plays of more(Playwright) is a longtime member of NYC's LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced on five continents and throughout the United States. They include: the extended, sold-out run of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Out Lady of 121sy Street (named one of the ten best plays of 2003; Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Best Play Nominations), Jesus Hopped The A Train (Edinburgh Fringe First Award, Olivier Nomination as London's Best New Play, Barrymore Award, "Detroit Free Press" Best Play Award), and IN Arabia We’d All Be Kings (Ten Best of '99, "TimeOut New York," critics pick, "TimeOut London"). All four plays were originally produced by LAByrinth, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and are published through Dramatists Play Service and by Faber & Faber. Stephen was awarded a 2004 TCG fellowship, attended the 2004 Sundance Screenwriter's Lab, was named one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film by "Filmaker Magazine," and appeared in "Entertainment Weekly’s" 2005 Summer Must List. He has received new play commissions from Manhattan Theater Club and South Coast Rep, is a member of New Dramatists and the MCC Playwright’s Coalition, and has contributed to "ESOPUS" magazine. Television writing credits include NYPD Blue, The Sopranos David Milch’s CBS drama Big Apple, and Shane Salerno's NBC drama UC: Undercover. As an actor, he has appeared in Brett C. Leonard’s Guinea Pig Solo, produced at the Public Theatre in New York, and played leading roles in Todd Solondz's Palindromes, and Brett C. Leonard's award-winning Jailbait, opposite Michael Pitt. Currently, he is developing a project with Mos Def and HBO; and is writing his first feature film for Scott Rudin Productions, to be directed by George C. Wolfe. He lives in New York City.

David Vegh

David Vegh

(Director) is an Associate Professor and instructor in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program. His directing credits include Cry Baby, Reckless, In the Next Room or the vibrator play, High Fidelity, The Cripple of Inishmaan, and Lobby Hero at CWRU's Eldred Theater; Body Awareness at Beck Center for the Arts; more(Director) is an Associate Professor and instructor in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program. His directing credits include Cry Baby, Reckless, In the Next Room or the vibrator play, High Fidelity, The Cripple of Inishmaan, and Lobby Hero at CWRU's Eldred Theater; Body Awareness at Beck Center for the Arts; and The Bigger Man with Circle X Theatre in Los Angeles. As an actor, he has performed locally with Dobama and Ensemble Theatre, and as a guest performer in the CWRU/CPH MFA production of The Three Sisters. His film and television credits include Grey's Anatomy, Dexter, Manhunt: Deadly Games, and the Steven Spielberg film Saving Private Ryan.

Ted Rodenborn

(Production Editor) is a proud graduate of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program, class of 1999. While no longer frequenting stages as an actor, he keeps busy singing with and serving on the operating committee of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Ted is a freelance video engineer and live streaming technician, more(Production Editor) is a proud graduate of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program, class of 1999. While no longer frequenting stages as an actor, he keeps busy singing with and serving on the operating committee of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Ted is a freelance video engineer and live streaming technician, living in Pepper Pike. He owns Factotum Media, LLC, a media production company, working locally with clients like Cleveland Clinic and The Cleveland Orchestra. He also travels all over the country working on live conferences for various medical and corporate clients. He is thrilled to be returning to CWRU to work on this project. His wife Martha, is also a graduate of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program, and they have three beautiful, creative, talented kids.

Beth McGee

(Dialect Coach) is a member of Actor’s Equity and a voice, speech, and dialect coach. She is one of the co-founders of Cleveland’s immersive theater company Shadow of the Run LLC, and was the playwright for their first immersive piece, Wanderlust. She was the on-set dialect more(Dialect Coach) is a member of Actor’s Equity and a voice, speech, and dialect coach. She is one of the co-founders of Cleveland’s immersive theater company Shadow of the Run LLC, and was the playwright for their first immersive piece, Wanderlust. She was the on-set dialect coach for Cinemax’s 2016 television series Quarry, directed by Greg Yaitanes. She has acted as dialect coach for many Cleveland area theaters and dialect coached the 2002 film Welcome to Collinwood starring George Clooney, and directed by the Russo Brothers. She has coached and/or acted in productions at numerous Cleveland area theaters. She is a Professor of Voice and Acting at CWRU. Devotees of folk music can find her 1980 Folkways album Love is Teasing housed in the archives of the Smithsonian Institution. McGee is an active member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Maryann Morris

(Artistic and Production Liaison) is a Cleveland native who also proudly Stage Manages. Recent mainstage works include Every Brilliant Thing, Pipeline, CPH’s Borderlight reading of Our Dad is in Atlantis, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Royale, The Diary of Anne Frank, ASM’ed The Good Peaches, hand-over SM’ed A Christmas more(Artistic and Production Liaison) is a Cleveland native who also proudly Stage Manages. Recent mainstage works include Every Brilliant Thing, Pipeline, CPH’s Borderlight reading of Our Dad is in Atlantis, Native Gardens, An Iliad, The Royale, The Diary of Anne Frank, ASM’ed The Good Peaches, hand-over SM’ed A Christmas Story and Sweat, and ASM’ed How I Learned to Drive, as well as Stage Managing several CPH New Ground Theatre works such as Grand Concourse and Fairfield. Other current and recent collaborations include Letters from Zora featuring Vanessa Bell Calloway at Karamu House, Havana Hop with Paige Hernandez, Eric Schmiedl’s stage adaptation of the graphic novel Incognegro by Mat Johnson, My Mother Has 4 Noses with Jonatha Brooke, The Dazzle Awards at Playhouse Square, and May 4th Voices presented by The Maltz Museum of Jewish History and Kent State University's Democracy Symposium.

Grace Ingham

(Costume Coordinator) is a second-year undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University majoring in theatre and psychology. She is also a graduate of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, where she studied drama. She currently works in the CWRU costume shop and has worked as more(Costume Coordinator) is a second-year undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University majoring in theatre and psychology. She is also a graduate of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, where she studied drama. She currently works in the CWRU costume shop and has worked as a stitcher for The Old Man and the Old Moon at Dobama Theatre and A Christmas Carol and Matilda at Tryon Little Theatre. As a stage manager, she assistant stage managed at Case Western Reserve University for Cry-Baby and Bethany, and stage managed many productions at Spartanburg Youth Theatre, Tryon Little Theatre, and Tryon Fine Arts Center. She would like to thank Jeffrey Van Curtis, Angelina Herin, and her wonderful family for their incredible support throughout this process.

Sheila Scanlon

(Stage Manager) is a senior undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University majoring in theater and environmental studies. Their recent productions include staging managing Cry-Baby at Eldred Theater and working as a stage management intern on The Music Man at Porthouse Theatre. They have worked as a dresser on more(Stage Manager) is a senior undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University majoring in theater and environmental studies. Their recent productions include staging managing Cry-Baby at Eldred Theater and working as a stage management intern on The Music Man at Porthouse Theatre. They have worked as a dresser on previous CWRU/CPH MFA shows Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice, as well as Great Lakes Theatre's 2019 production of A Christmas Carol. They would like to thank Jill Davis and Maryann Morris for all of their help and support.

Donald Carrier

Donald Carrier

(Producer) most recently directed The Liar for the MFA Program, Othello at Texas Shakespeare Festival and Ellis Island: The Dream of America for The Cleveland Orchestra and Doubt for the Beck Center. For the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program, he has also directed Passage, Fifth of July, Clybourne Park, more(Producer) most recently directed The Liar for the MFA Program, Othello at Texas Shakespeare Festival and Ellis Island: The Dream of America for The Cleveland Orchestra and Doubt for the Beck Center. For the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program, he has also directed Passage, Fifth of July, Clybourne Park, The Misanthrope, Too True to Be Good, and The Violins of Hope. Other directing includes Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Seminar, and Really Really (Beck Center for the Arts); and Becky Shaw (Dobama Theatre). Other selected directing credits include The Crucible, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Habeas Corpus, The Pirates of Penzance, and Oh! What a Lovely War. He has appeared at Cleveland Play House in Shakespeare in Love; All the Way; Luna Gale; The Crucible; The Little Foxes; Yentl; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Ten Chimneys; Noises Off; and Lincolnesque. Regional credits include The National Arts Center, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, Great Lakes Theater, The Studio Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre, The Wilma Theater, The Huntington Theatre, The Intiman Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He spent nine seasons at the Stratford Festival, three seasons at the Old Globe, and two seasons at the Shaw Festival. Television/Film: Guns, The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Passion of Ayn Rand, and Dead by Monday. Don is a proud Lunt/Fontanne Fellow. He will be directing Middletown for the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program in Spring, 2024.

Jeffrey Ullom

(Producer) is an Associate Professor of Theater at Case Western Reserve University where he teaches theatre history and dramaturgy. He is the author of several books and articles focusing on regional theatre, including his most recent book on Cleveland Play House America’s First Regional Theatre. As a more(Producer) is an Associate Professor of Theater at Case Western Reserve University where he teaches theatre history and dramaturgy. He is the author of several books and articles focusing on regional theatre, including his most recent book on Cleveland Play House America’s First Regional Theatre. As a dramaturg, he worked with notable playwrights including Tony Kushner, David Henry Hwang, John Patrick Shanley and others at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, and he has served as a dramaturg for several Cleveland Play House productions. He is currently working on two books—a broad history of regional theatre and a murder mystery involving theatre history.

Laura Kepley

Laura Kepley

(Producer) (she/her) became Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in 2013, and has directed numerous CPH mainstage productions, including The Crucible; Sweat; The Diary of Anne Frank; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Into the Breeches!; Every Brilliant Thing; and the world premieres of Tiny Houses, The more(Producer) (she/her) became Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in 2013, and has directed numerous CPH mainstage productions, including The Crucible; Sweat; The Diary of Anne Frank; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Into the Breeches!; Every Brilliant Thing; and the world premieres of Tiny Houses, The Good Peaches, Fairfield, and A Carol for Cleveland. She joined CPH in 2010, having arrived from Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, where she was Resident Director and Artistic Associate for four seasons and Interim Director of the Brown/Trinity Rep M.F.A. in Directing Program for one. She has also at Playhouse Square clevelandplayhouse.com 25 directed for The Alliance Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Chautauqua Theater Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Syracuse Stage, Trinity Rep, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, among others. A native Ohioan, Laura received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and her Master of Fine Arts from Brown University/Trinity Rep. She is a Drama League Fellow, a recipient of the 2009– 2011 National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group Career Development Program for Directors, and a member of Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2021. Locally, she has been recognized with multiple Outstanding Director commendations from The Cleveland Critics Circle, a Cuyahoga Community College Smart Business Smart Women Award, and a Crain’s Cleveland Woman of Note designation.

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