Gaslight Theater - April 20-May 6, 2006
| The The Gaslight Theater in Lockart, Texas, "fills a unique niche in our community by presenting diverse cultural experiences that provoke meaningful discussions about the human condition. The Gaslight intends to reach audience members from every cultural and geographic community in the region by creating professional quality dramas, comedies, musicals and performance art pieces. Our goal is to present a polished image in all aspects of staged productions, facilities and marketing."
Director David Schneider (who also played Horndog) created a three-level set in Gaslight's 3-sided thrust space. Additionally, they utilized the technique of actually wiring the monitors together to scroll the script on each actor's screen during the play. (The script was controlled by Schneider onstage). This proved beneficial as right before opening Ryan Lozano, their "Phyllis," had an accident and had was replaced by Randy Wachtel at the very last minute for the first two perforances! |
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Cast
PHYLLIS....Ryan Lozano/Randy Wachtel HORNDOG..............David Schneider CHEESE..................James Patton NADINE...................Debbi Burns PLATO................Eddie Velazquez CUTIEPIE...............Stefani Stone
Dubai Drama Group - April 27-May 2, 2003
The Dubai Drama Group in the United Arab Emirates, will be presenting NKIAD as their Summer production.
As per their website:
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Andrew Barley is directing this modern morality tale, full of both laughs and thoughtful moments. The cast of characters include a quote spouting teenager played by Darius Homayoun, a middle-aged housewife pretending to be a femme fatale, portrayed by Melissa O'Brien, and a curmudgeon who claims to hate everyone yet still wants to talk to them, played by DDG veteran Eric Dury.
Along for the ride is Ajay Mankani, playing a character by the nickname of Horndog, who seems to be a hormonal, uneducated dullard, but may be more than he seems. Stephen Price takes on the role of Phyllis, an actor wannabe who pretends to be a woman online. And newcomer Kerry Kierulf plays Cutie Pie, an unsure young woman who sees herself as unattractive.
Over the course of the show, the interaction between the characters builds up a tension as each is aware of what they're hiding from the others. The actors have the challenge of creating the illusion of communicating through the net, while still keeping the pace moving and the humor and tension building through the show.
Cast
PHYLLIS.................Stephen Price HORNDOG.................Ajay Mankani CHEESE.....................Eric Dury NADINE...............Melissa O'Brien PLATO................Darius Homayoun CUTIEPIE...............Kerry Kierulf
Twin Lakes Playhouse - April 25-May 11, 2003
| The Twin Lakes Playhouse has been bringing live theater to
the Mountain Home and Baxter County area of Arkansas for over 30 years. The play is produced by Shirley Spitzer and directed by first-time director April England.
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Cast
PHYLLIS....................Jim Smith HORNDOG................Neil Chandler CHEESE.......................Jim Guy NADINE...................Connie Mead PLATO....................Jeff Holmes CUTIEPIE...............Allison Jones
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Theater 199 - In Repertory, opening 1/31/2003
NKIAD began a run in repertory for 40 performances on January 31, 2003, at Theater 199 in Sophia, Bulgaria, thanks to the efforts of Valenin Stoychev.
According to Stoychev:
Theatre 199 is a chamber-sized, small theatre with 177 seats. It is situated in the center of Sofia and was founded 35 years ago. The theatre receives an annual state subsidy. We do not have a permanent group of actors; we form creative teams consisting of a director, stage designer and actors for each separate play. Some of the best Bulgarian actors perform on our stage. The average life of a performance is over 35-40 shows.
Our repertoire from the past few seasons, apart form Bulgarian playwrights, includes Ibsen – Little Eyolf (two of the actresses were awarded the most prestigious national award for dramatic art for this performance), Gogol - The Coat (it has been performed for 7 seasons, with over 350 shows and participation in 30 European festivals, incl. in Edinburgh), Pinter – Old Times (we had the honor of receiving the author in our theatre, and we highly appreciate his good esteem of our work), Edward Albee – Three Tall Women (it has been performed for 6 seasons with over 120 shows), Arthur Miller The Ride Down Mt. Morgan, Autumn Sonata by Bergman, The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler, Proof by David Auburn, The Alchemist by Paulo Koelho and so on.
I don't have too much information yet, but I have posted a few photos and their ad, which is OUTSTANDING!!!
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ATM Productions - November 2002 through June 2003
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Produced and Directed by the Author, this was (well, in his opinion) the Definitive Version of the Dog. This production started at The Red Room down in the East Village and finished up at The Producer's Club in Times Square.
The presentation was relatively minimal, due to the limitations of The Red Room. The 40-seat space lacks flexibility, and being that the show was only up one night a week, it is presented with minimal sets, props and lighting.
The key element added this time around was projection. The introduction of the play, as well as links between scenes (and a few other things), are projected onto a large screen behind the actors. Like the Smatter presentation, sets aren't used. Instead, they only use keyboards on stands as well as a small table for necessary hand props. This "paring down" accentuates the strengths of both the script and the performances, as well as creating an effective medium of presenting the script in its totality and stay within the confines of the space. Face it -- it's near impossible to construct a whole set for Sunday nights only!
Back for this production (original cast) were Miriam P. Denu as Nadine, Erik H. Luers as Plato and Peter Vrankovic as Horndog, all from the Smatter presentation. Also on board was Ray Bonétt reprising his role as Cheese from both the Smatter presentation and the earlier Parkside Players presentation. The role of Phyllis was played by Joel Silverman, who played the role with The Colonial Players. Sylvia Vinall as Cutiepie was the newcomer of the group.
During the run three cast changes occurred: Tom Vaughn took over the role of Phyllis, Dolores Voyer took over the role of Cutiepie and the author took over the role of Horndog.
Also on board were Dawn Marie Wood as the show's Assistant Director and John C. Snyder as the show's Production Assistant (neither titles are really accurate as Dawn and John really run the show). Additionally, John was the Swing for Cheese, Kevin Schwab was the Swing for Phyllis and Horndog, and Dolores Voyer was the Swing for Cutiepie before taking over the role completely.
Cast
PHYLLIS................Joel Silverman/Tom Vaughn HORNDOG.......Peter Vrankovic/Alan David Perkins CHEESE................................Ray Bonétt NADINE............................Miriam P. Denu PLATO..............................Erik H. Luers CUTIEPIE.............Sylvia Vinall/Dolores Voyer
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Smatter Productions - April 9 & 15, 2002
| Smatter
Productions, headed by the mammoth efforts and talents of Christina
Cass and Blake Strasser, presented two staged readings of NKIAD. The
readings will be directed by the author. This was the first incarnation of what is to be known as the "Portable Dog," or a version that is done as minimally as possible but still effective. No sets at all were utilized. As a matter of fact, aside for a few hand props, the only things on stage other than the actors were music stands that held keyboards. Ken Anders, Ray Bonétt and Shana Aborn reprised their roles from the Parkside Players' production done back in 1997. This is also the first time the author has directed this play. Changes made as a result were minimal. |
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Cast
PHYLLIS...................Ken Anders HORNDOG..............Peter Vrankovic CHEESE....................Ray Bonétt NADINE................Miriam P. Denu PLATO..................Erik H. Luers CUTIEPIE.................Shana Aborn
Fachhochschule (Kreuzberg), Audimax - January, 2002
Niemand weiß, dass ich ein Hund bin was recently produced at the Fachhochschule (Kreuzberg), Audimax in Zweibrücken. The problem is, I have no knowledge of the production, who is producing it and if it's being done in English or not. Any and all information leading to this production is greatly appreciated.
Colonial Players - October 5-27, 2001
NKIAD started in Queens, New York, and returns there when The Colonial Players presents the show for 11 performances during the month of October, 2001.
The production will be directed by STARR, who played Nadine in the Parkside Players' production, which was the first full staging of the play back in 1997.
Cast
PHYLLIS...............Joel Silverman HORNDOG...............Alain LaForest CHEESE.................Peter Bohlman NADINE...................Lin Cirelli PLATO....................Jason Zwick CUTIEPIE............Caroline Bonacci
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Stevens Institute of Technology - August 2001
The Stevens Dramatic Society presented NKIAD in a coffee-house setting at the Howe Center at the Stevens Institute of Technology, Castle Point on Hudson in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Sam Bass Community Theatre - January 12-14 and March 16-25, 2001
| Sam
Bass Community Theatre presented NKIAD in a Reader's Theater format as
part of their 2000-2001 season. It was be directed by Kyle Evans. Apparently
the first production in January was so successful that they brought it back
in March!
Stage manager Alix Evans devised a plan to control onstage "prop" monitors to actually display the script for the actors during the play! |
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Cast
PHYLLIS..................Frank Benge HORNDOG...................Dave Butts CHEESE....Clifford Butler/Andy Brown NADINE.............Catherine Rendahl PLATO.................William Storie CUTIEPIE.....Lynn Beaver/Renee Brown
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Zanesville Community Theatre, Inc. - September 15-24, 2000
Zanesville Community Theatre, Inc. presented NKIAD as part of their 38th Anniversary Season. The play was produced by Jan Kiikka and directed by Robin Spence.
Director Robin Spence posted the following notes:
The Internet represents the greatest technological change and advancement of the 20th century. No other discovery, invention or event can rival the impact and promise that the Internet has had and will have for years to come. Never has it been simpler or less expensive to "reach out and touch someone". But the value of the contacts still and always will depend on what we bring to them. A truly honest encounter whether by lightning fast e-mail, snail mail or note in a bottle will always hold within it something deeply profound no matter where it leads.
When Nadine says "...sex has never been safer...", I hear an echo "...relationships have never been safer...". It's hard to be judgmental about what you cannot see and it's even easier to shed those judgments. All you have to do is delete the message, turn off the computer, block the sender.... If we can't find the courage to be honest under those conditions, when can we?
As for real life and real time.... How horrible it would be to find yourself in a crowded room where every other person thought you were someone different...where they each had come to know a different you. How easy and rewarding it would be to find yourself in a crowded room where every person in it already knew you for exactly who and what you are and accepted you that way.
It has been my privilege to work with a highly talented group of people who have worked very hard to give me everything I have asked from them and more. I am deeply grateful to them for bringing "Nobody Knows I'm a Dog" to life and it is my sincere hope that you, our audience, will be entertained as we strive to provide you with a portal looking out into cyberspace.
Cast
PHYLLIS................Rich Tolliver HORNDOG..............Keith McCarroll CHEESE................Kevin McCarthy NADINE....................Jan Kiikka PLATO...................Daniel Shuey CUTIEPIE..............Shelley Miller
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Theatre Tuscaloosa's
SecondStage - May 31-June 3, 2000
Theatre Tuscaloosa's SecondStage is where new directors and technicians now a place to use their voice. They offer two scheduled productions per year, as well as programs for local theatre practitioners and members of the general public to come together in an informal learning environment, and a new program aimed at area high school students to give them an opportunity to develop and hone their art in a no-pressure environment.
They presented Nobody Knows I'm a Dog as part of their SecondStage from May 31 through June 3, 2000. Original music for the production was supplied by Mark Scrimpshire, lighting design by Paul B. Crook, stage manager was Stacey Sudge, lightboard operator was Lisa Waldrop, and the set was constructed by Russell Frost.
The SecondStage coordinator is Paul B. Crook. The production was directed by Charles Prosser.
Cast
PHYLLIS..................Travis Webb HORNDOG.................Trent McCool CHEESE..............Wescott Youngsen NADINE..................Karen Konzen PLATO..................Josh McCurnin CUTIEPIE...............Brandi Pullin
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Taipei American School - April 7 & 8, 2000
Nobody Knows I'm a Dog made its overseas premiere in the Taipei American School's Spring Paradox Fesitval.
The production was expedited and directed by John Wu.
Spare Change Productions - March 17-April 2, 2000
| Spare
Change Productions at The Chance Theater presented Nobody Knows I'm a
Dog from March 17 to April 2, 2000 (with previews beginning March 10).
NKIAD was chosen by the SCP Creative Team form a collection of over
100 new scripts written by playwrights from around the world. The Chance Theater is a 66-seat playhouse in Anaheim Hills, Southern California, and home of Spare Change Productions; the theatre company dedicated to the development of original works. The play was directed by Aubrey Hartman. |
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Cast
PHYLLIS...............Chris Ceballos NADINE................Marsha Collins CHEESE...............Gene Desrochers CUTIEPIE...............Eileen Dreger PLATO....................Josh Gilman HORNDOG...............Christian Webb
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Laurentian University - September 23, 24 & 25, 1999
Nobody Knows I'm a Dog makes its Canadian Premiere by the mammoth efforts of Kevin Schafer.
Due to scheduling, the role of Nadine will be played by different actresses for different performances.
This production marks the first use of the new ending!
Cast
PHYLLIS................Kevin Schafer HORNDOG................Jason Terrien CHEESE...................Dan Lessard NADINE.....Tracy Lessard/Kara Larone PLATO.........Michael Bennett Leroux CUTIEPIE...............Tara Levesque
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The Open Book - March 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 & 20, 1999
The Open Book, one of the country's premiere Readers Theatre companies, presented Nobody Knows I'm a Dog as Winner their Fourth Annual National Readers Theatre Competition in conjunction with Doubleday and the Stage & Screen Book Club.
The play was presented at the Producer's Club, 358 W. 44th St., New York, NY, and was directed by Angelynn Cerridwen. The show was produced by The Open Book's Artistic Director, Marvin Kaye.
Cast
PHYLLIS...........Rusty Thrasher HORNDOG.......Sendhil Ramamurthy CHEESE...........John Puddington NADINE..............Saralee Kaye PLATO...............Bill Bifulco CUTIEPIE...Shenica-Rochelle Odom
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Gothic North Community Theater - October 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31 & November 1, 1998
Gothic North Community Theater in Reno, Nevada, presented
Nobody Knows I'm a Dog as their October production in 1998.
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Founded in July, 1990, Gothic North Community Theater is an
all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to providing the people of
the Truckee Meadows with opportunities to express their creativity through
the medium of live theater. Over the past years Gothic North has performed
on a number of stages in Reno. On September 18, 1998, Gothic North moved to
a permanent home at 3697A King Row, in the Viewcrest Shopping Center. All
current productions are being held at this facility, which offers the
theatergoer ample parking and a selection of fine dining and after hours
entertainment. This production was directed by John Randall and produced with the technical expertise of Great Basin Internet Services, Inc. of Reno, NV. On the stage, looming over the actors, was a large screen. Cast member Kristina Pfaff-Harris designed a program to actually project a computer screen over the actor's heads to show what they're typing. When the actor would hit their "Enter" key, the lines they just spoke would appear on the screen. In addition, director John Randall devised a way to integrate the Epilogue. While the lines actually typed themselves on the screen above, the actors did a silent scene showing "what happened next" (I don't want to give away the ending...). |
Cast
PHYLLIS..........Paul Malikowski HORNDOG............Steve Pearson CHEESE............Kenneth Ostrom NADINE.....Kristina Pfaff-Harris PLATO.............Greg Robertson CUTIEPIE........Kathleen Sharkey
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TheatreMania Productions, Inc. - August 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 & 29, 1998
TheatreMania Productions presented Nobody Knows I'm a Dog as
their August production in 1998. TheatreMania Productions is the city of West
Haven's resident theatre company and is in their sixth season. The performances
were held at the Savin Rock Conference Center in West Haven, Connecticut, and
was directed by their Artistic Director,
Michael Colavolpe.
| The set consisted of numerous levels which were decorated
to support each character. Stage Manager Kevin Bee had nicely focused the
lighting to accentuate each actor. When not "online," the actors would read,
clean, eat... always busy, always part of the show. This production marked the first use of the Prologue (or, as they referred to it as, Page Zero), which was written upon request for a production which never materialized. In addition, Horndog's monologue in Act 2 was done as a voice-over. This production was not only be the Connecticut premiere of NKIAD, but it was TheatreMania's first original production! |
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Cast
PHYLLIS..........Michael Crowder HORNDOG.........Daniel Arenovski CHEESE................Sean Maher NADINE.........Robbin Withington PLATO..........William Colavolpe CUTIEPIE...........Vanessa David
Lakeport Community Players - June 26, 27 & 28, 1998
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| Artist's drawing of the new Soper-Reese Community Theatre space. |
The Lakeport Community Players presented Nobody Knows I'm a Dog as part of their fundraising efforts to have their theatre reconstructed. As a matter of fact, NKIAD was the first play performed in their newly renovated space at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre! The production was directed by Frank Perry and assistant directed by Ken Kysely.
The Lakeport Community Players, located in Lakeport, California, is entering its 20th year as an amateur theatre group. The players began in 1978 under the direction of Mark Mouser for the Mendocino Junior College, and formed independently when the college was no longer able to support the group.
This production marked the West Coast premiere of Nobody Knows I'm a Dog! With only three performances, the Lakeport Community Players were able to raise $1,200.
One unique aspect of this production was the use of a narrator to fill the audience in on Internet happenings.
Cast
PHYLLIS..............Jim Colford HORNDOG...Norman "Wink" Winckler CHEESE...............Hank Porter NADINE.............Linda Guebert PLATO............Patrick Colford CUTIEPIE......Katherine Bisaccio
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Wharf Rat Productions' 1997 "Crossing Borders" Playwriting Competition - January 12-15, 1998
Wharf Rat
Productions sponsored their first playwriting competition, which was called
"Crossing Borders." The competition was advertised strictly on the Web with an
"anything goes" guideline. Word has it they received over 80 scripts!
NKIAD received it's presentation on Monday, January 12, 1998 at the
Hawthorne Hotel in the Grand Ballroom in Salem, Massachusetts.
Here are some quotes from producer Laney Roberts:
I stood in the back of the house and observed the audience, as well as the play that I had felt so strongly about in the first reading. I listened to the voices that I had only imagined before. I heard the audience responding to the words that I had read before... I heard them laughing and I saw them leaning in toward the actors as if they were virtually a part of the scene being read before them. I saw an audience responding to all that I knew to be wonderful in your play. I felt vindication for our choice and, even more, I felt honored that your work was a part of a Wharf Rat production.
The presentation was directed by Darrick Jackson.
Cast
PHYLLIS.............Richard King HORNDOG.............Scott Jedrey CHEESE...........Jim Butterfield NADINE............Billye Robbins PLATO............Tristan Jeffers CUTIEPIE...............Lisa Lemp
The 2nd National Readers Theatre Workshop & Conference - September 18, 19, 20 & 21, 1997
The
Open Book, Doubleday and The Stage & Screen Book Club sponsor a national Readers
Theatre competition, for which Nobody Knows I'm a Dog was chosen as
Winnner of their fourth annual competition. The Open Book sponsors a national
Readers Theatre Workshop and Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theater
Center in Waterford, Connecticut. During the conference, they present the
winning plays and use them to foster Readers Theatre.
| Nobody Knows I'm a Dog was presented in a workshop
called "Writing for Readers Theatre." The play was cast and read minimally,
and then discussed amongst the group with the focus on how this play fits
into the description of "Readers Theatre". The reading was hugely successful. Amidst a setting of playwrights from all over the country, with most of them being finalists either from this year or past years, NKIAD received a glowing reception. The discussion, lead by Marvin Kaye, was positive and insightful. Of course, the highlight of the workshop was when a wayward golden retriever ran into the theater and refused to leave. Everyone saw this as a good omen! By the way, due to personnel, I had to cast Plato with a woman; Anne Pasquale. Anne did a fine job. And a special gold star will go to anyone who can tell me what Paul O'Keefe is best known for! |
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Cast
PHYLLIS...............Joe Borini HORNDOG.............Paul O'Keefe CHEESE............R. Mack Miller NADINE.............Leila Holiday PLATO..............Anne Pasquale CUTIEPIE..............Jude Davis
The Parkside Players - July 12, 13, 18 & 19, 1997
 haven't done an original production since their
first sixteen years ago. Therefore, when the suggestion to not only mount
this play but to do a summer production was offered, I both honored and
stunned.The director chosen was John C. Snyder, who was very helpful in Parkside's previous production of It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman. Since this was a full production, sets and lighting effects were used. The set consisted of various levels against a black background. Each person had their own keyboard, monitor, desk and personal props. Set and lighting effects were designed by Glenn Rivano. Assistant Director/Stage Manager was John O'Hare. The cast was as follows: |
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Cast
PHYLLIS...............Ken Anders HORNDOG................Jim Burns CHEESE................Ray Bonétt NADINE.....................Starr PLATO...............Kevin Schwab CUTIEPIE.............Shana Aborn
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Queens Festival of New Plays - December 5, 6 & 7, 1996
| The Queens Festival of New Plays featured six new plays
(four full-length, two one-act), chosen by competition, written by
playwrights living in Queens, New York. Susan Einhorn was the Artistic
Director. The productions were to be minimal: primitive set pieces, no
costumes, basic lighting, with about one-quarter the usual rehearsal time.
They were "read" as opposed to memorized. Over fifty plays were submitted. The production was directed by Allison Scott. The stage was merely six chairs in a row. Each character would face front when "online" and either face the side or the rear when "offline." Each actor had a music stand in front of them to both hold their script and to function as their "keyboard." Each actor typed on the stand whenever they spoke. For the dog in the Epilogue, Piter Fattouche held up a stuffed dog and delivered the lines. |
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Cast
PHYLLIS..........Piter Fattouche HORNDOG..........Matthew Gellert CHEESE............James Liberman NADINE..........Roberta Costanza PLATO.............Michael Miller CUTIEPIE...........Marilyn Mineo
