THE SQUARE ROOT OF WONDERFUL Plays Collaborative Artists Ensemble, Now thru 10/14

Back by popular demand, Carson McCullers' rarely performed gem of a play, The Square Root of Wonderful, directed by Steve Jarrard, produced by Collaborative Artists Ensemble, tells the story of a man who lives in The Shadows of a former triumph and his domineering mother; an architect who has fallen in love-and the woman caught between them. With pathos and comedy, "…McCullers brings her unique brand of magic transforming the most mundane situation into a memorable evening of theatre."

The cast features Carolyn Crotty, Sean Eaton, Ryan Gangl, Ned Liebl , Matianna Para, Marie Odabashian, Meg Wallace, and Helen Wilson.

Carson McCullers (1917-1967) "With a collection of work including five novels, two plays [A Member of the Wedding and The Square Root of Wonderful], twenty short stories, more than two dozen nonfiction pieces, a book of children's verse, a small number of poems, and an unfinished autobiography, Carson McCullers is considered to be among the most significant American writers of the twentieth century. She is best known for her novels The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, The Ballad of the Sad Café, Reflections in a Golden Eye, and The Member of the Wedding, all published between 1940 and 1946. At least four of her works have been made into films."

Steve Jarrard (Director) Steve is the Managing Director of Collaborative Artists Ensemble, having directed 7 of their 10 previous productions including Nicky Silver's The Food Chain, How I Learned to Drive, Eleemosynary, and Lucia Mad. Some of his other directing credits include Civilization, Doubting Thomason, and Noel Coward's Present Laughter at The Edgemar Center for the Arts.

Carolyn Crotty (Sister): Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Carolyn studied acting in NYC with William Esper and directing with Travis Preston at Playwrights Horizons in NYC. Film: The Good Neighbor (SXSW 2011), Shiner (Outfest). TV includes: Guest Star on Unsolved Mysteries. Theatre: The Government Inspector (Boston Court) Ah, Wilderness (Laguna Playhouse), Measure for Measure (The Ivar Brick Box), Christmastime is Queer (Celebration Theatre), Subculture (Moving Arts), and numerous plays with NEO Ensemble at the Hudson Theatre. Carolyn is a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Women's Studies and English. She is also an acting teacher to young adults at the Young Actor's Studio. Carolyn is a member of NEO Ensemble and The Classical Theatre Lab.

Sean Eaton (Paris Lovejoy): Sean's theater credits include: Rogue Machine (The Tragical Comedy of Mr. Punch), Glendale Center Theatre (To Kill a Mockingbird) and LA Opera (Madame Butterfly). Most recently Sean has performed at the Segerstrom Center and Disney/RedCat with Movings Arts (The Car Plays). His film and TV career has also begun flourishing with guest roles for Warner Brothers, Ridley Scott Productions and Comedy Central (Australia/Canada).

Ryan Gangl (John Tucker): Ryan is anNYFA Acting graduate and former US Marine. Film credits include: "Clean Break", "Love You to Death", "Redemption Irony", "Little Perks" and "An Awkward Pursuit", "Witness Kidnapped", "Shooter", "Conscience" "Bloody Mary" and "Slumber Party Slaughter". Most recently onstage, as 'the Marine' in "The Hereafter".

Ned Liebl (Phillip Lovejoy): His stage debut at age nine was in a children's theater production of "Bye Bye Birdie". In college where he majored in physics, Ned joined the Ark Repertory Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin (alumni include Joan Cusack and Chris Farley). He went on to perform with Chris Farley in the improvisational troupe "Mixed Nuts". Ned was then cast in the critically acclaimed play, "Without Pity". After numerous other stage productions, Ned came to Los Angeles to work in film and television. He starred in the award-winning independent films: "Limb from Limb", "The Militant", "Small Bits of Happiness", and the improv mockumentary "The Sheboygan Improv Festival" with David Spade. Ned made his television debut as the star of the television drama "Guilty or Innocent?" In 2010, after several independent film productions, he made his feature film debut as 'Saint', a vigil-anti priest, in Sony Pictures' film "Cross", with Michael Clark Duncan, and Danny Trejo. Ned recently returned to the stage in the Ruskin Theatre production of Cyrano De Bergerac, as Captain La Bret. He also spent last fall teaching acting in Lagos, Nigeria.

Meg Wallace (Mollie): Founding member of Collaborative Artists Ensemble. Credits with CAE include: 'Lucia' in Lucia Mad, 'Lil Bit' in How I Learned to Drive, and 'Amanda' in Nicky Silver's The Food Chain, 'Ashley' in the West Coast Premiere of Carapace Isle, and 'Mercy Beddings' in Oh Vicar, Where's Your Trousers. Meg also performed at The York Theatre, Producer's Club, The Red Room and the Hudson Guild Theatre. A graduate of the Second City Conservatory, Los Angeles, Meg appeared in their "Final Five", and in many other productions here and in her home town of Denver. Favorite roles include 'Jill' in Butterflies are Free, 'Lily' in Annie, and 'Miss Pringle' in Baby with the Bathwater. Her film works include "All Bleed into One", The Break-ups", and "It Happened at the Bunko Game". Meg studied acting at New York's Marymount Manhattan College, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Acting with a minor in Musical Theater.

Helen Wilson (Mother Lovejoy): is a native Angelino. As the daughter of a mining engineer she spent time in the deserts of the Southwest, so making her TV debut on "Romper Room" in Albuquerque was a very cool experience. Helen began acting at the Old Globe Theatre while attending SDSU, where she earned a BA in Theatre. She also earned an MFA from UCLA where she received the Jack Nicholson and the O'Brien Awards. LA Theatre: Blind Spots (LA premiere), The Effect of Gamma Rays (Stella Adler Theatre), Bronte: A Solo Portrait (Dramalogue Award & LA Times Critics Choice), Okalahoma (Glendale Theatre Center), Grendel (Circle X), Lysistrata (LACMA), Summer Vacation Madness (Taper), Camino Real (Dir. Marshall Mason), The Real Inspector Hound (Odyssey), Voice of the Turtle (Dir. George Schaffer), Matka ( Dramalogue Award), Marat/Sade, The Philadelphia Story ( Robby Award), Artaud at Rodez (Dir. Charles Marowitz), Luce Women (Dir. Charles Nelson Reilly). Regional: The Subject Was Roses (Dir. Charles Nelson Reilly, Caldwell Theatre, FL), Too True to Be Good, Tango, Hot L Baltimore, The Enchanted (Old Globe, San Diego), The Matchmaker (SD Rep.), How the Other Half Loves (Fiesta Dinner Theatre). Recent Film: "God's Country", "A Night in Vienna", "Ron and Laura Take Back America", "Freeway Killer", "1001 Ways to Enjoy the Missionary Position", Voice Over: Hanna/Barbera, Klingon Language Interactive Game, Dragon Age Game, 9, Blade, My Fellow Americans, Escape from LA, Star Trek Voyager.

The play runs tonight, September 14 – October 14 at the Raven Playhouse. 5233 Lankershim Blvd., NoHo 91601. For tickets go to www.plays411.net/wonderful or (323) 860-6569. For information, visit www.collaborativeartistsensemble.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.