The Cast
PATRIQ JAMES (R.J.) has a bio... like to hear it, here it go: he's a Nashvillian & a nerd. He was a Presidential Vocal Scholar at Elmhurst College; sang BGVs for Carrie Underwood, Wynonna & Marcus Hummon. He also attended Fisk & Vanderbilt University. Patriq danced 6 years of Dance with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre Company (Harlem, NY); This January, Patriq's film team won a NAFCA award (African Oscar) for Best Short Film, "In The Spotlight". He recently debuted his one-man show LA BELLA NOIR NOIR, an avant-garde poetic journey through the importance of darkness. He continues to work as a Script Supervisor & Assistant Director in film, an artist-writer between OZ Arts & The Porch literary center & as the Talent Consultant/ Creative Coordinator with Soul Vibes Collective at BB King's. Humbled & honored to share the stage with this cast and debut with Pipeline-Collective. Art is the cure.
GALEN FOTT * (Max) has worked for Nashville Rep (Torvald in A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2), Nashville Shakespeare Festival (Leontes in THE WINTER'S TALE and Lepidus/Soothsayer in ANTONY & CLEOPATRA), Nashville Children’s Theatre (King Triton and Chef Louis in Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID), Nashville Symphony (Steve the Stupendous in MUSIC AND MAGIC), Wishing Chair Productions (Gulliver in GULLIVER'S TRAVELS), and Studio Tenn (EVITA). Elsewhere, Galen has played title roles in CYRANO, PHANTOM, and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, as well as King Arthur in CAMELOT and Matt Friedman in TALLEY'S FOLLY. He originated the role of Gaston in the still-running BEAUTY AND THE BEAST stage show at Walt Disney World. Other performing highlights include the national tour of MAME starring Juliet Prowse, singing at Carnegie Hall and with Houston Grand Opera, and puppeteering with the Jim Henson Company . Later this season Galen will appear as Mr. Mister in THE CRADLE WILL ROCK with Nashville Opera. In his other career as a film director and animator, Galen has adapted nineteen children's books into award-winning films for Scholastic/Weston Woods. Galen lives in Nashville with his wife Laura and son Burton. www.galenfott.com
SEJAL MEHTA * (Garth) is delighted to be working once again with Pipeline-Collective, after having collaborated in the creation of last spring's END SLAVERY MONOLOGUES. Sejal originally hails from Eastern Tennessee and has been a part of the Nashville theater and film community for the last five years. Sejal has had the privilege of working with some great folks: Pull-Tight Theatre, Actors Bridge Ensemble, Nashville Repertory Theatre, Ingram New Works and Nashville Children's Theatre. When not on stage, Sejal serves as pediatrician to some awesome kids, wife to an amazingly tall man and mama to a seven-year-old Titanic expert.
MATTHEW ROSE * (Hank) is a proud member of the Actor's Equity Association and has worked as an actor in the Nashville theatre community over the past five years. Recent credits include: Ensemble, FRANKENSTEIN, Tod Carter, THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, Prince Herbert/Historian, SPAMALOT (Studio Tenn), Prince Leopold, CINDERELLA (Nashville Children's Theatre). Matthew is excited to be making his debut with Pipeline-Collective; he's grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this production. For Rachel.
KAREN STERNBERG * (Marie) last appeared as Nora Helmer in staged readings of Henrik Ibsen's A DOLL'S HOUSE (Nashville Repertory Theatre in collaboration with Pipeline-Collective) and Lucas Hnath's A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 (Heartland Theatre Company in collaboration with Pipeline-Collective). In Nashville she has appeared in THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE and THE ELEPHANT MAN (Studio Tenn), HENRY V (Nashville Shakespeare), GOD OF OBSIDIAN, CONSTELLATIONS and THE GUYS (Pipeline-Collective). New York credits include LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Lake Theatre), PLATONOV (Schapiro Theatre), HEDDA GABLER (John Houseman Theatre), CRAZY FOR THE DOG (Jean Cocteau Rep), THE MEMORY OF WATER (Cherry Lane), and KEELY AND DU (Boomerang). She toured in productions of AS YOU LIKE IT and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. Karen lives in Nashville with her husband and their eight-year-old son.
DAVID TORRES-FUENTES (Mick) is thrilled to perform with Pipeline-Collective. He was last seen in Nashville Children Theatre’s production of THE LITTLE MERMAID, after having previously appeared on the NCT stage as an eight-year-old in DRAGONS LOVE TACOS. He is an actor, magician, avid puppeteer, and aspiring professional clown.
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JACKIE WELCH-SCHLICHER (Donna) has stage credits including performances with Tennessee Repertory Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Atlanta’s Alliance Theater. Local credits include roles in A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Nashville Repertory Theater), MACBETH, NUNSENSE, BOESMAN & LENA, LIZARD OF TARSUS, and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. In addition to the stage, Jackie’s resume lists commercial, film (COUNTRY STRONG starring Gwyneth Paltrow) and television credits (CMT’s “Still the King”). Jackie is a longtime member of Spontaneous Comedy Company, Nashville’s premier improv comedy group.
* - Denotes Member of Actors' Equity Association
This production is presented under the auspices
of the Actors' Equity Association Members' Project Code.
GARRIS WIMMER * (Scott) is a ‘naturalized’ Nashvillian, having moved to Nashville to attend Belmont College in 1978 (living three floors above the Belmont Little Theatre). He was a founding company member of Tennessee Repertory Theatre and danced with the Tennessee Dance Theatre. He appeared on "Hee Haw" and was on over 1500 episodes of "Nashville Now" as a member of the award-winning Nashville Now Band. Garris left Nashville in 1991, first touring Europe in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and then moving to NYC in 1992 where he lived until returning home to Nashville in 2005. Recent credits include: Patsy in SPAMALOT and Juror #11 in TWELVE ANGRY MEN (Studio Tenn); Zell in Nate Eppler’s GOOD MONSTERS (Nashville Rep); Feste in TWELFTH NIGHT (Nashville Shakespeare Festival) and Smudge in Forever Plaid (WESTSIDE CAFE, NYC). He is thrilled to be back in the basement of his old dorm, telling this great story with some awesomely talented storytellers.
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LANE WILLIAMSON (Donnie) is a 17-year-old senior at Aaron Academy and is excited to be making his Pipeline-Collective debut. Recent/favorite stage credits include YOU’RE STILL HERE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (LeFou), THEATRE BUG WINTER CONCERT (Company), CHARLOTTE’S WEB (Wilbur), MARY POPPINS (Michael Banks), and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Company). Lane has taken dance and vocal training for several years and hopes to pursue performing as a lifelong career. He also extends his gratitude to David Ian Lee for the opportunity to perform this brilliant show.
The Creative Team
BRENDAN PELSUE (Playwright) is a playwright, librettist, and translator whose work has been produced in New York and regionally. His play WELLESLEY GIRL premiered at the 2016 Humana Festival of New American Plays. HAGOROMO, a dance-opera piece for which he wrote the libretto, has appeared at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Pocantico Center. Other work includes NEW DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE at the Yale Carlotta Festival, READ TO ME at the 2015 Bay Area Playwrights Festival, LOST WEEKEND with the Actors Theatre of Louisville Professional Training Company, PARKING LOT, RIVERBANK: A NOH PLAY FOR NORTHERLY AMERICANS, and a translation of Moliere's DON JUAN at the Yale School of Drama, VISITORS with the Corkscrew Theater Company, PETRA AND THE SAINTS with the Telephonic Literary Union, and DIAGRAM OF A KIDNAPPING with the Brown University New Plays Festival. He has taught or mentored at Yale College, Wesleyan University, and Lesley University. Originally from Newburyport, Massachusetts, he received his B.A. from Brown University, where he received the Weston Prize in Playwriting, and his M.F.A. from Yale School of Drama.
DAVID IAN LEE (Director) has worked in New York for companies including Pearl Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Source, Boomerang, Gideon, and Flux Ensemble; for regional theatres including Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Rep., Arizona Rep., Tennessee Rep.; and classical companies including New York Classical Theatre, Arkansas Shakespeare, Illinois Shakespeare, Sedona Shakespeare, Utah Shakespeare, and Nashville Shakespeare. He is an internationally produced playwright, with recent productions of his work in Canada, South Africa, Scotland, and Greece. A proud graduate of the William Esper Studio, David received his M.F.A in Directing in 2015 from Illinois State University, where he was honored with an Outstanding Teaching Award. He currently serves as full-time faculty for the Theatre and Dance Program at Tennessee State University and as Co-Producing Artistic Director for Pipeline-Collective. Favorite credit: his son, Beckett Harrison Lee. For more information, please visit www.davidianlee.com.
MELISSA JANE CARLSON (Stage Manager / Assistant Director) is a director, playwright, designer, choreographer, and all-around theatre artist. A Nashville native, Melissa is excited to graduate in May from Belmont University with her B.F.A. in Theatre Directing. She is currently directing her senior capstone production, THE VISIT by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, which runs February 15 –17, 20, and 22 – 24 in Belmont’s Troutt Theatre. Favorite past productions include HORSE GIRLS and YANKEE TAVERN (Belmont), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), MEN ON BOATS (Actor’s Bridge Ensemble), and CABARET (University School of Nashville). Melissa is thrilled to collaborate with Pipeline-Collective on this incredible script, and is very grateful to David and Karen for the opportunity.
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DAVID BRANDON (Scenic Designer) previously collaborated with Pipeline-Collective as Scenic Designer on Johnna Adams’ WORLD BUILDERS. He currently serves the Tennessee State University Department of Communications as a temporary full-time faculty member as a specialist in theatre design and production, bringing more than twenty years of professional theatre experience to the classroom. He has taught at Austin Peay State University, Middle Tennessee State University, O’More College of Design and the International Academy of Design and Technology, in addition to the prestigious Cobalt Studios in New York. Design credits include Assistant Set Designer for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN at the Ryman Auditorium and initial set design for A STOOP ON ORCHARD STREET, which opened Off-off Broadway. David has presented regularly at the Southeastern Theatre Conference and Tennessee Theatre Association. In 2011, images of his design work were published in FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRICAL DESIGN: A GUIDE TO THE BASICS OF SCENIC, COSTUME, and LIGHTING DESIGN by Karen Brewster and Melissa Shafer. David holds a B.A. in Theatre from Rhodes College and an M.F.A. in Scenic Design from Indiana University. bio bio....
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LAUREN LOWELL (Costume Designer) is a member of the Design faculty in the Illinois State University School of Theatre and Dance, where she teaches all things Costume Design. Head of Design/Production, Lauren is part of programs in the field at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Lauren has worked with various theatre companies in Illinois, Michigan, and Georgia. Lauren resides in Bloomington, IL with her two children and life partner. She is very excited to contribute to her first show with Pipeline.
WILLIAM KYLE ODUM (Sound & Lighting Design) is from Harlem, Georgia but now calls Nashville home. He currently works at The Harpeth Hall School as the Assistant Technical Director, an A/V Assistant and a director. Kyle gravitates toward new works and transgressive theatre that tells stories in unique and challenging ways. Since founding Woven with his partners he has directed a world premiere every year. He is a Director, Sound Designer, Actor, Technician and all around Theatre Creator. Recent credits include OPUS: THE TOTALLY REAL NOT MADE UP STORY OF A BOY AND HIS SKELETON,TRUTH/DARE and THE PITCHFORKS with Woven Theatre, SMART PEOPLE and INHERIT THE WIND with the Nashville Rep, KIMBERLY AKIMBO and THE FLICK with Verge Theatre, and DRAGONS LOVE TACOS with the Nashville Children's Theatre. Kyle holds a B.F.A. in Directing from Belmont University. He is also a member of the The Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA) and the Association of Sound Designers.
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ELI VAN SICKEL (Music Consultant) is a frequent collaborator with Pipeline-Collective and a longtime creative partner of David Ian Lee and Karen Sternberg. He is thrilled to be working with them again on such a timely play as WELLESLEY GIRL. Eli has worked extensively as a sound designer and musician in theatres throughout the country. In the academic world, Eli has received degrees from Indiana State University and Illinois State University, and will soon receive another one from Western Illinois University. When not creating art, he works as a scholar, educator, and advocate for students with disabilities in higher education. He hopes you enjoy the show and thanks you for coming to to see local, independent theatre!
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BENJAMIN BORCK (Videographer) began his professional career updating photos and text on Vanderbilt’s Pharmacology website in 2011. Since then, he has worked freelance photography and video for a newspaper (Lebanon Democrat), photographed weddings, engagements, and senior photos. He is studying film at Trevecca University and will graduate Spring 2019. A Nashville native, Benjamin is proud to have performed an internship with the good people of Pipeline-Collective, and is excited to seek his fortune in Los Angeles post-graduation pursuing cinematography, photography, and acting.
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WALTER LEE (Graphic Designer) is a part-time graphic artist and web-designer, and double-full-time father to his sons. Based in Portland, Oregon, Walter divides his time between his design work, non-profit volunteering, and hiking and camping with his family as much as possible. Trained as a painter and (begrudgingly) having an instinct for marketing, Walter found his way into commercial design. Walter likes to say that art is about communicating an idea, design is about solving a problem; and they conveniently work very well together quite often. He’s produced work for a range of firms; including the Commerce Collective, QuarterTwenty, Michael Curry Design, SCORE Vancouver, Friendship Masonic Lodge, and (delightfully, often) Pipeline-Collective.