An Evening of Macabre Theatre
October 25 & 26, 2024 at Westside Theater, Missoula, MT
Please scroll down for playwright and actor bios
ACT 1
THE BUS
by Laramie Dean
JACOB & THE ANGEL
by Ean Miles Kessler
THE POSITION OF MONA AND VI
by Jay Kettering
WHITE WOMEN
by Salina Chatlain & Anna Stone
TRAFFIC STOP
by Cathy Capps
ACT 2
BUTCHER SHOP
by Rita Barkey
DALE CUTTER
by Colleen Rosbarsky
THIS IS YOUR TEN-MINUTE WARNING
By Tod McCoy
CUBBY
by Jay Kettering
STRANGER ROADS
by Shannon Sivertsen
Special Thanks:
A & T Auto Recycling, Rosie Ayers, Paul Chatlain, Brian Gregoire, Michael Legg, Jason McDaniel, Debbie Rideout, Ben Sivertsen
Playwrights: October 2024
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Rita Barkey
The author of over 30 plays, Rita Barkey is honored to have her work produced around the country. Most recently, THE BEAR PLAY was read at the Aquaphobia, Echoes & Resurrection Play Festival, and her POPPING was produced as part of the Montana Premiere Network. Rita’s dramas have been workshopped at Seven Devils, Last Frontier, Chicago Dramatists, Montana Rep Play Slams and Missoula Colony. Find out more at ritabarkey.com
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Cathy Capps
Cathy Capps, a retired Orthopedic Surgeon, is a member of Zoola Writers, initially inspired to tell stories by The Colony writers and friends. She was a frequent participant in the Rep Play Slams and twice chosen for the evening play (The Dirty Old Lady Show, a one act musical subsequently produced, and Chicken Kiss) as well as an avid ongoing participant in ZW’s self-produced play fests and the inaugural Room 131 readings. In the past, you may have seen her in many MCT Musicals when her knees still worked.
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Salina Chatlain & Anna Stone
Salina and Anna are actors who have recently begun to co-author sketch, plays, and monologues. Shows include: Laugh United, a comedy sketch show written for the 2024 United Way of Missoula County Benefit, and By the Beautiful Sea for Room 131's inaugural play festival Aquaphobia, Echoes, and Resurrection.
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Laramie Dean
Laramie Dean is a Montana writer of queer horror fiction and the director of theatre at Hellgate High School in Missoula. He has recently published several plays from Theatrefolk, including Dracula, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Finding Jo March, a queered adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Laramie’s first novel, Black Forest, is available now from Inkshares. You can find him on his website at bylaramiedean.com and on Instagram at bylaramiedean.
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Ean Miles Kessler
Ean Miles Kessler is a playwright and theater educator. His jobs have run the gamut: he’s processed poultry, bartended in New Orleans, and worked as a ranch hand and horse trainer in Montana, gentling mustangs. His plays have been produced nationally and internationally, and his work has been published by Vintage Books. Ean’s plays have been developed with a variety of companies, including: The Playwrights' Center, Chicago Dramatists Saturday Series, and Naked Angels among others. Photography Credit: KMR Studios. Website: www.eanmileskessler.com
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Tod McCoy
Tod McCoy is a playwright, poet, and fiction writer whose work has appeared in Asimov’s, Heartbeat of the Universe, Felix Futura, and Hummingbird Magazine, among others. His theatre work has been produced in Missoula, Portland, Seattle, Tempe, and Vancouver, BC. He graduated from Arizona State University, and is an alum and board member of the Clarion West Writers Workshop. He lives outside of Missoula, Montana, with his artist-witch wife, a goblin child, and some animal familiars.
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Colleen Rosbarsky
Colleen’s debut as a playwright began with crafting the short play “Mother’s Day,” for Room 131’s production of Aquaphobia, Echoes and Resurrection. She writes for fun and to pursue a new creative outlet. Her regular gigs are choreographer, dance teacher, performer, esthetician, wife and mom. Thanks Anna and Sal for this opportunity!
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Shaun Gant
Shaun Gant teaches and writes plays and poetry in Missoula, MT. You can see evidence of this at https://www.workingpoet.com.
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Jay Kettering
Jay’s young adult plays have been produced by Montana Repertory Theatre’s Educational Outreach Tour and his radio comedies by Montana Public Radio. His adapted play with Gwen McKenna (lyrics) and Fred Crase (music), The Girl with the Ivory Ankle: A Montana Musical, premiered at the Orphan Girl Children’s Theatre in Butte, August 2024. You can hear some of Jay’s audio plays on his podcast at wordsoutwest.org and find more of his work at jaykettering.com
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Shannon Sivertsen
Shannon Sivertsen’s plays include Soul Location, Pieces of Stupidity, There’s a Finnish Word for That, Two Much, and a one night only solo-performance piece entitled Familial Tremors. Her work has been performed at the Missoula Colony with the Montana Repertory Theatre and Room 131 Productions. Shannon’s theatrical instruction is an ever evolving endeavor that is supported by her husband, two sons, and the astounding performing arts community of Missoula, Montana.
Actors: October 2024
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Salina Chatlain
Stranger Roads: Phoebe
Salina Chatlain has been acting in live theatre for over 30 years. Favorite roles include Eve in the world premiere of The Diaries of Adam and Eve, Maudie in Montana Rep’s China Tour of To Kill a Mockingbird, Nellie in Run to the RoundHouse Nellie, He Can't Corner You There!, Masha in Three Sisters of Weehawken, and the Witch in the rolling world premiere of Broomstick, co produced with the National New Play Network.
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Carrie Collier
The Bus: Woman
Carrie Collier is happy to be back on the Room 131 team. She appeared as Bonnie in The Arsonist's Nephew and First Look Reading Series as Zuzu in Dance Nation for Montana Rep. She performs in Controlled Chaos, an Improv troupe in Monterey, CA. Other local roles: Mary in Hearth and Room Service (MT Rep), Time for a Quickie (Zoola Writers), Chris in Calendar Girls (MCT), and Dittie in The Wolf and the Woodstove (MT/NY Collaborative). Carrie studied at P.C.P.A., The Groundlings, and Second City.
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Carmen Corona
The Position of Mona and Vi: Vi
Carmen is honored to say she’s been a part of the Missoula theater scene for the last 30 years (even though that makes her sound kind of old). She has had the pleasure of working alongside incredible folks in The Montana Repertory Theater, The Young Rep, The Missoula Colony, Red Headed Angel Productions, The Montana Players, and more. She would like to thank the Missoula community for continuing to show up and support the arts.
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Morgan Davis
The Bus: Jackson
This is Your Ten Minute Warning: Donovan
A Montanan since birth in Great Falls, MT, Morgan has made performance a lifelong pursuit. He grew up acting in MCT productions and followed the Missoula trail to UM, where he is currently earning a BA in Theatre. At University he has performed in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also worked with local filmmaker Brady Rye on Canvas/Disengaged and read in Room 131’s debut staged reading, Aquaphobia, Echoes, & Resurrection this last March.
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Kaegan Finn
This is Your Ten Minute Warning: Kyrie
Kaegan is thrilled to be returning to the Westside Theater in This is You Ten Minute Warning! He has had the pleasure of several productions and readings in this space over the years, including Intangible Objects (Mike Steinberg), Bind (Kate Morris) and most recently Hedwig and the Angry Inch with the wonderful Daniel Crary. Westside also hosted a fundraiser for his top surgery, Let Me Get This Off my Chest, where the community gathered and helped make his happiness possible. Thank you beyond measure!
Instagram: apollonius_stray_cat
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Vladislav Frederick
The Bus: Gerard
This Is Your Ten Minute Warning: Andrew
Vlad Frederick discovered acting in 2023 and is beyond grateful for the welcome this world has shown him. Vlad’s last role was the drunk Uncle Cedric in The Visitors by Shaun Gaunt, directed by Maisie Gospodarek and Misscast Productions. Vlad is thrilled to now learn and grow (and inspire horror) under the direction of Room 131 Productions.
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Sarah Fulbright
Traffic Stop: Victoria
This is Your Ten Minute Warning: Maria
Sarah is delighted to be taking part in this absolutely awesome night of horror alongside the most talented, creative, and supportive cast and crew! She is currently obtaining her BFA in Acting through the University of Montana. You might have seen her in Rooted Theatre Co’s production of “The Harvest” or in “12 Angry Jurors” at the University. Sarah hopes that everyone who loves the performing arts will always have the courage to pursue their dreams!
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Kevin Harrington
Dale Cutter: Dale
Kevin is terrifyingly excited to work with such a great group of playwrights and performers. He appeared recently in Missoula Community Theater's spring comedy, "The Play That Goes Wrong," and 7 years ago in "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged." Thanks to Carolyn and our two (mostly) black cats for a spooky Halloween!
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Leah Joki
The Penal Code: Sellers
Leah Joki is a graduate of the UM and the Juilliard School of Drama. She is the Artistic Director of NO JOKE THEATER. Leah recently returned from Thailand where she performed her one-woman show Prison Boxing, which was nominated for Best Solo performance in Los Angeles. Her play The Poppovich’s was selected for MPN’s first Premiere Project in Missoula in 2019. Her memoir is titled, Juilliard to Jail. Learn more at: leahjoki.com or nojoketheater.com
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Nadia Mell
The Penal Code: Ginny
Nadia Mell has been performing her whole life, but Missoula is a new adventure. She received her BFA in Theatre at Cornish College of the Arts in 2015, has acted professionally in Seattle and is a theatre producer in Bozeman. She loves her family, her cats, and her partner Mic.
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David Mills-Low
Cubby: Tim
David Mills-Low is a theatre and media artist. He teaches Theatre and Media Arts at the University of Montana, is the Film Festival Operations Manager at the Roxy (producing the Montana Film Festival, the International Wildlife Film Festival, Queerwest Film Fest, and Camp Horror), occasionally acts in a movie or on the stage, can be found doing projection designs at local theaters, and owns a balloon animal twisting business with his wife cause why the hell not?
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Royce McIntosh
Traffic Stop: Sheriff
Royce James McIntosh is psyched to be part of another show with Room 131 Productions! Credits include performances in Missoula, regional productions across the U.S. and three National Broadway tours. Royce earned his undergrad and master’s in music from U of M. Though he's not a huge fan of Halloween, Royce appreciates the opportunity to work outside his comfort zone of musical theatre. Thanks, Cathy Capps, for this play! And thanks to you, the audience, for your support of the arts. Keep it freaky!
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Sasha Perrin
Jacob & the Angel: Samuel
Sasha Perrin spends the bulk of his time studying law at UM.
In other hours, he enjoys a variety of activities including making music and appeasing his cat. He looks for the best in us, and himself, and enjoys finding beauty in everything from art to sports; basically anything where the work that people do shines. Growing up in Missoula gave him a connection to nature that he finds enriching, and when he feels 'blah', music usually does the trick. -
Mark Plonsky
Stranger Roads: Stranger
Mark is thrilled to be a part of this production. Originally from North Carolina, Mark Plonsky has made numerous stage appearances here and overseas over the past twenty-five years. His
screen work includes The BBC, National Geographic Channel, HMR Produktion, Corinth Films,
and many commercials. Thanks for coming to the show!
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Lynn Solomon
The Bus: Mother
Butcher Shop: Bettina
Lynn Solomon has appeared this year with the Anaconda Ensemble Theatre and the Montana Repertory Theatre. She has done standup comedy throughout Montana, in bars, a hot springs resort, a rodeo arena and a pickleball facility. Lynn appeared in God’s Country, an independent film starring Thandiwe Newton that premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. She was also featured in Haystacks, a short film that was screened at the 2023 Montana Film Festival.
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Morgan Solonar
The Position of Mona and Vi: Mona
Morgan Solonar, a born and raised Missoulian, graduated from U of M with a BFA in Acting in 2019. Although she is currently in social work, Morgan loves the opportunity to give her acting muscle a flex! Morgan has played several characters including but not limited to; "Jim Hawkins" in the U of M’s Treasure Island, “Jem” in the Montana Rep’s China Tour of To Kill a Mockingbird, the Rep’s National Tour of On Golden Pond as “Billy”, “Jessica” in This is Our Youth, and “Callie” in Stop Kiss. Morgan is thrilled that Room 131 Productions exists and is grateful to be a part of this spooky evening!
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Anne-Marie Williams
White Women: Peggy
Stranger Roads: Debra