LONDON SUITE at Lonny Chapman Theatre

The Group Rep Presents Neil Simons LONDON SUITE 9/17 10/24LONDON SUITE by Neil Simon will be the first show produced by the Group Rep open to the public on the indoor Main Stage of the Lonny Chapman Theatre since the California Covid Lockdown. The last indoor performance at the theatre was March 15, 2020, the last scheduled performance of Doug Haverty's In My Mind's Eye.Humor and humanity abound in this full-out farce and tender comedy Neil Simons LONDON SUITE the third installation of Mr. Simons Suite trilogy (PLAZA SUITE, CALIFORNIA SUITE and LONDON SUITE). Like an exquisite four-course dinner, we are treated to four wildly different stories that all take place in the same luxury London hotel room.The stories that play out in LONDON SUITE are "Settling Accounts," which involves a once-successful writer who while intoxicated holds a gun on his longtime accountant whom he suspects has stolen his entire fortune; a widowed mother and her daughter are at the end of their London trip and are Going Home, when - at the daughters insistence - the mother spends her last evening in town with an unmarried rich man who on the plus side has a Ferrari and hard-to-get tickets to a popular Mamet play, but is plagued with numerous allergies among other ailments; in "Diana and Sidney" a star actress known for her long-running American TV series and her now homosexual former husband meet after many years apart and agree to a new financial arrangement; "The Man on the Floor" is about an American couple from Los Angeles, the disappearance of their Wimbledon tickets, a celebritys request for their suite and the injuries both physical and mental) that ensue.Matthew Broderick on explaining why he and his wife, Sarah Jessica Parker, recently decided to go back to Broadway in a revival of Plaza Suite said, We all need a little Neil Simon now. Cast features the talents of Bita Arefnia, Joelle Arqueros, Raquel Brooks, Barbara Brownell, Paul Cady, Fox Carney, Doug Haverty, Christian Land, Diane Linder, Sherry Michaels, Susan Priver, Beccy Quinn, Michael Robb, Michele Schultz, Neil Thompson, Sal Valletta, Sascha Vanderslik, Chris Winfield and Janet Wood.Production/Creative Team includes Director Doug Engalla, Producer Alyson York, Stage Manager John Ledley, Assistant Director Bita Arefnia, Original Music by Marc Antonio Pritchett, Set Design by Haverty/Emmett, Lighting Design by Douglas Gabrielle, Costume Design by Angela M. Eads, Sound Design by Steve Shaw, Props by Joseph Marcelo, Promotional Video & Photography by Doug Engalla, and Online Marketing by Kristin Stancato.About the PLAYWRIGHTNeil Simon (born Marvin Neil Simon on the 4th of July 1927 in the Bronx, New York) began his writing career in television and established himself as our leading writer of comedy by creating a succession of Broadway hits, beginning with Come Blow Your Horn. During the 1966-67 season, Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Sweet Charity, and The Star Spangled Girl were all running simultaneously. In the 1970-71 season, Broadway theatergoers had their choice of Plaza Suite, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Promises, Promises. Next came Little Me, The Gingerbread Lady, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, The Sunshine Boys, The Good Doctor, God's Favorite, They're Playing Our Song, I Ought to Be in Pictures, Fools, a revival of Little Me, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues (winning a Tony Award), a new version of The Odd Couple starring Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno as the title duo, Broadway Bound, Rumors, Lost in Yonkers (winning the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize), Jake's Women, and, of course, London Suite. Mr. Simon has also written for the screen: the adaptations of Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, The Sunshine Boys, California Suite, I Ought To Be In Pictures, Chapter Two, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and the TV motion pictures of Broadway Bound, Lost in Yonkers, and London Suite. Other screenplays he has written include After the Fox, The Out-of-Towners, The Heartbreak Kid, Murder By Death, The Goodbye Girl, The Cheap Detective, Seems Like Old Times, Only When I Laugh, Max Dugan Returns, and The Marrying Man. After a writing career that spanned more than five decades, Neil Simon passed away on the 28th of August 2018, at the age of 91.About the Production TeamDoug Engalla (Director) joined The Group Rep in 1997; and has directed projects outside of the Company. London Suite is his ninth full production as Director at The Group Rep. Other directorial projects here included the 2019 A Twisted Christmas Carol, Neil Simons Rumors, and four World Premieres in Phil Olsons Dont Hug Me musical comedy series. In 2020, he was photographer and editor for some of the Theatres virtual productions, including Tuesdays with Morrie.Alyson York (Producer): Alyson York is a producer, director and actress. She has worked with Doug Engalla as producer on several productions and is excited to work with Doug again on London Suite. She recently was invited to be on the TRU producer panel (July 2021) coaching writers on how to effectively pitch their project. Alyson has worked with the great Tony Tanner, Louis Fantasia, Richard Digby Day and Jay Goldenberg. Bita Arefnia (Assistant Director) is Persian actress from Austria. She recently graduated from the New York Film Academy earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting for Film. NYFA productions she has been seen in include The War at Troy, Dead Mans Cellphone and A Cellphone Symphony. Group Rep productions include The Man Who Came to Dinner and A Twisted Christmas Carol. She was also involved in the latest production of Bogeyman Within at Z.J.U.John Ledley (Stage Manager) John has been a member of GRT for four years. In that time, he has participated in a number of wonderful productions. He is especially excited for this play to finally get a chance to be on its feet. John loves this theatre as if it were a second home, and looks forward to another four years of good times.Angela M. Eads (Costume Designer) is a graduate of FIDM with degrees in Fashion Design and Costume Design. Theater work includes Much Ado About Nothing, My Three Angels, Moon Over Buffalo, Boeing Boeing, A Streetcar Named Desire, Lombardi, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, That Lovin Feelin, Witness For The Prosecution, Dial M For Murder, Lost In Yonkers, The Chinese Wall, Death Trap, Rumors, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory & Les Miserable. Winner of the 2016 NoHo Fringe Festival, Best Costume Design for A Slight Ache. Douglas Gabrielle (Lighting Design) Doug began designing lights back when fade-outs still required 2x4s, so this list is limited to a few of the designs he has executed since the invention of computer-controlled dimming: In San Diego--Adding Machine, King Lear, Conduct Of Life, Baltimore Waltz, Zombie Sex Mutants for the Fritz Theater. I Wanna Be (Original Musical) for Gaslamp Quarter Theater; The Touch, for Ensemble Arts Theatre One Person Shows--Shelly Berman, Lypsinka, Stories of Shalom Alicheim (Neimiah Persoff) In Los Angles--The Libertine, Comedy Of Errors, Merry Wives for Pasadena Shakespeare. Absolutely Filthy, Don Juan In Chicago, Crumble, Puzzler, Valparaiso for Sacred Fools.Marc Antonio Pritchett (Composer) is a working Actor, Director, Fight Coordinator and Session Singer in the Los Angeles area. He is also one of the Artistic Directors at Sacred Fools Theatre Company. Recent sound/music credits include The Mousetrap at Theatre Palisades, The Latrell Show at IAMA Theatre, Sweat at the Chance Theatre and An Octoroon at the Fountain Theatre. He is represented by Nucleus Talent Management. For additional info visit: www.marcantoniopritchett.com.Steve Shaw (Sound Design) is a long-time member of the GRT who has been the sound designer, both main stage and upstairs, for many productions and acted in The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Chinese Wall, and others. As a writer, his play, Cleveland and Dallas, was recently part of the Groups Motel 66. His design work has been heard at Theatre 40, the Secret Rose, Crown City Theatre, and too many others to list.Joseph Marcelo (Props) is a Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy Alumni and has been part of the Group Rep's PA program since 2018. Backstage he was part of the crew in Avenue Q, A Twisted Christmas Carol, and Neil Simon's Rumors. He was last seen at the Group Rep in GRTs virtual production of Hallways: Stories from Juvie and on stage in Otherwise Engaged and in the Nine Winning One Acts.About the CASTBita Arefnia (Grace) is a Persian actress from Austria who recently graduated from the New York Film Academy earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting for Film. NYFA productions she has been seen in include The War at Troy, Dead Mans Cellphone and A Cellphone Symphony. Group Rep productions include The Man Who Came to Dinner and A Twisted Christmas Carol. She was also involved in the latest production of Bogeyman Within at Z.J.U. Performs: October 22, 23, 24Joelle Arqueros (Lauren) is thrilled to debut with the Group Rep in Neil Simon's London Suite. An NYU Playwrights Horizons graduate, Joelle wrote and stars in Sex, Relationships and Sometimes Love, which has an ongoing run with theatre companies in Ireland, Toronto, Australia, New York and L.A. She can be seen in HBO'S "The O Tapes. Recent credits include "Modern Family, and "General Hospital". Special thanks to Doug Engalla for his brilliant directing and for casting an actress who brought her baby with her to audition! Nicolas, joellearqueros.com. Performs: ALL datesRaquel Brooks (Annie) is a recent graduate of the Los Angeles City College Theater Academy where she received her Associates Degree in Acting. Shes also won a Best Actress award for her short film Anticipation. Recent GRT credits include Motel 66: Stuck in the Middle With and she can concurrently be seen in Birthday Club Upstairs at the Group Rep. Performs: October 22, 23, 24Barbara Brownell (Mother) appeared on Broadway in Play it Again Sam and The Ballad of Johnny Pot and in King Lear at the Actors Studio. Among film credits: The Master, Going Home, and Behind the Candelabra. TV credits include: Greys Anatomy, Mad Men, Monk, Big Love, LA Law, Night Court (3), recurring on Webster and M*A*S*H, and over 100 commercials. Won Broadway World Award for lead actress in Dull Pain Turned Sharp at GRT. Performs: October 8, 9, 10Paul Cady (Billy) GRT shows include Motel 66, A Twisted Christmas Carol, and That Lovin Feelin which he musical directed & played the lead role of Bill Medley Sr. Other credits include Joseph Technicolor Dream Coat, Al in A Chorus Line at Casa Manana Ft. Worth, Johnny Brown in The Unsinkable Molly Brown at San Diego Starlight Theatre, Samuel in National Tour of The Pirates of Penzance, and Capt. John Smith in The Spirit of Pocahontas for Disneyland. Performs: Sep. 17, 18, 19; Oct. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17Fox Carney (Dr. McMerlin) Following a bully performance as Teddy Brewster in the GRTs production of Arsenic and Old Lace, Fox trod the boards in their productions of Comic Potential, The Sound of Murder, Inspecting Carol, Misconceptions, And Then There Were None, A Walk in the Woods, the world premiere of Phil Olsons A Nice Family Christmas, Puttin On Your Shorts, Neil Simons Rumors, Let Me Hear You Whisper, Nine Winning One-Acts and Otherwise Engaged. Fox was most recently seen in GRTs productions of Motel 66, A Twisted Christmas Carol and The Man Who Came to Dinner. Performs: ALL datesDoug Haverty (Sydney) Group Rep: Rumors; Dial M for Murder; The Secret of Chimneys, The Cape and the Klan; Another Antigone; Hotel Paradiso; Midsummer Nights Dream; My Three Angels; The Dining Room; Otherwise Engaged; And Then There Were None; A Christmas Carol; Inspecting Carol, Lend Me A Tenor; Mammoth Lakes Rep: All the Great Books (Abridged); TheatreWest/Falcon: Ray Bradburys Falling Upward; NASA: Defying Gravity; Advent: Bullshot Crummond. Also a playwright with five world premieres here. Performs: ALL datesChristian Land (Mark) This is Christian's third production at the GRT. His previous productions include The Man Who Came to Dinner and A Twisted Christmas Carol. He has also performed at The Secret Rose Theater in North Hollywood in a production of Fortuneland. Christian has also trained in stage combat, receiving his certification in both quarterstaff and unarmed combat. Performs: ALL datesDiane Linder (Diana) Musicals: (Lili) Carnival, (Lizzie) 110 In the Shade, (April/Kathy) Company, (Jean) Brigadoon, (Antonia) Man of La Mancha. Film: Staying Alive, Angels on Tap (Lydia), starring Ed Asner & Marion Ross. Director/writer/lead, T.V. series, Jasmines Charm. Stage: (Jenny) Chapter Two, (Maggie) Jakes Women, (Rebecca) Rebecca's Gamble, (Woman), The Bedroom Window, (Nurse) The Death of Bessie Smith, (Virginia) A Clearing in the Woods, (Luna) Seduced. Principle dancer: Gene Marinaccio Ballet Company. Director/Choreographer, Malibu Civic Ballet. Performs: Oct. 1, 2, 3Sherry Michaels (Mrs. Sitgood) is an actor and voiceover artist, with over 50 voiceover commercials and the sole voiceover role on a recent Disney animated short. Favorite stage leads include Auntie Mame, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Veronicas Room. TV principal roles include Betrayed and Generation Clash, a new series for HBO. Film featured roles include You Gotta Leave your Mark and Old Pals with Barry Bostwick. Commercials include the PSA Amazon Red with Julia Roberts, as well as commercials for Discover Card, International Delight, and Progressive. Commercial representation is with TGMD. smichaels62@verizon.net Performs: Oct 1, 2, 3, 14, 15, 16Susan Priver (Diana) The Man Who Came to Dinner (Scenie Award for performance) Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire and Kingdom of Earth at the Odyssey. Drama Logue awards David Mamets Reunion, and Sidney Kingsleys Detective Story, L.A Weekly Award for Harold Pinters The Lover. Separate Tables, and Engaging Shaw, The Guardsman, A Slight Ache, The Great Sebastions, Ceasar and Cleopatra, and Twentieth Century. Film/TV Night Caller, Whats Up, Scarlet? and in The Guestroom/AKA Serving Up Richard with Ross McCall and Jude Ciccolella. Her book Dancer Interrupted is available on Amazon. Performs: Sep. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, Oct. 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24Beccy Quinn (Annie) Beccy has been with The Group Rep since 2018, and has loved every minute. Her work with the talented members of the GRT so far has included Woopsie Doopsie!, Nine Winning One Acts, Peach Boy, Dorian Gray, Loose Knit and Otherwise Engaged. She is thrilled to be a part of London Suite and wishes broken legs for everyone. Performs: Sep. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, Oct. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17Michael Robb (Billy) Michael won a 2019 Eddon Award for Lead Actor in Otherwise Engaged and won the same award in 2016 for A Slight Ache at the same theater. Other L.A. credits include: The Real Thing at Two Roads Theater, The Wicked, Wicked Mae West at Brickhouse Theater, Whats So Funny Theater Palisades, And Then There Were None, The Poor of New York, Dial M for Murder, and Stepping Out at the Group Rep Theater. NYC credits include the New York Fringe Festival, Enchanted April, Trifles and Roman Fever at ACC. Film/TV credits include Quiz Show As the World Turns and The Young and The Restless. Performs: Sep. 24, 25, 26. Oct. 1, 2, 3, 22, 23, 24Michele Schultz (Diana/Mrs. Sitgood/Dialect Coach) is a multiple Scenie Award winner and LA Broadway World Award nominee. Group Rep: The Secret of Chimneys (VTA nominee); Witness for the Prosecution, Sunday Dinner (world premiere), Bus Stop (Scenie Award); 26 Pebbles; Separate Tables, Alik (world premiere); Major Barbara, The Dresser; A Midsummer Nights Dream. Dialect coach on Otherwise Engaged and A Twisted Christmas Carol at GRT. Member of the Group Rep, Theatre 40, and the Antaeus Academy. MFA in Acting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers. Practicing entertainment lawyer, with a degree from Yale Law School. Performs: (Mrs. Sitgood) Sep. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, Oct. 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24 (Diana) Oct. 15, 16, 17 Neil Thompson (Brian) returns to acting after a thirty-year career writing for fifteen network sitcoms, two created by series, and sixty-five credited scripts. He earned three Writers Guild nominations and one win (2004) for best TV comedy script. Previous TV acting credits include M*A*S*H (2), Laverne and Shirley (4), Happy Days, Kojak, McCloud, and Pvt. Benjamin. Among stage credits: The Hasty Heart, Sleuth, and the LA improv group Funny You Should Ask. Performs: Sep. 17, 18, 19; Oct. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17Sal Valletta (Bellman) Sal had no reservations about checking into Neil Simons hilarious London Suite, especially when the guest list includes so many talented GRT performers! And he is really thrilled to working with super director, Doug Engalla in this charming and witty production. Previous GRT projects include Motel 66: Head East, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Otherwise Engaged, The Sunshine Boys and Spaghetti & Apple Pie. Sal's a tried-and-true Connecticut boy and a proud Disney employee. Performs: ALL datesSascha Vanderslik (Grace) is an actor, director, and VO artist, who comes to the Group Rep by way of Australia. Group Rep credits include Unfathomable, Destiny and Damage, and Loose Knit. Directing: You Only Live Once (Motel 66). This year Sascha also made her Off-Broadway debut playing Lois Lane in Lois Returns at Urban Stages in NYC. Sascha is represented by The Dragonfly Agency and thanks you for supporting the arts.Performs: Sep. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, Oct. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17Chris Winfield (Brian) has been a member of the Group Rep for 35 years. He has appeared in over 40 productions, designed and built over 100 sets, and has directed several plays. He was also co-Artistic Director of the theatre for 10 years. A member of the Screen Actors Guild for almost 50 years, he has appeared in many film and television shows including Firefox, MASH, Eli Stone, The Rockford Files, Baywatch, and The Nanny. Performs: Sep. 24, 25, 26, Oct. 1, 2, 3, 22, 23, 24Janet Wood (Mom) GRT Founding Member. Theater: A Carol Christmas & A Dull Pain Turned Sharp (both BroadwayWorld.com Nominations) Love Again, Love Letters, Nunsense, Company, Reaching Up, among many. Best Actress/Drama Award - The Baby Dance. Films: Good Timing, A Late Separation," "Strayed," "Mississippi Requiem" (James Franco). TV: "Threes Company," "Charmed," "The Wonder Years," Contract Player - "Days of Our Lives" &"Young and Restless," plus 50 TV/movie roles. Performs: Sep. 17, 18, 19,24, 25, 26, Oct. 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24

Authors

• Neil Simon