La Cañada Theatre

Talent

	Al Pugliese Artistic Director A native of Philadelphia, Al came to the west coast in pursuit of higher education and a career in show business. With degrees in literature and theatre and twenty eight years of acting in film and television, he has accomplished both. Actor, director, teacher, poet and playwright, Al returns to the theatre...his first love.

	Albert J. Pugliese Costume / Make-up / Hair Albert has been acting in film, television and commercials since he was seven years old. Currently a student at Los Angeles Valley College, he plans to pursue degrees in Theatre Arts at California State University, Northridge and UCLA. Albert's forte is costume design, make-up and hair. His passion is horses.

	Gregory T. Pugliese Technical Advisor Gregory has been acting in film, television and commercials since he was seven years old. Currently a student at Los Angeles Valley College, he plans to pursue degrees in Theatre Arts at California State University, Northridge and UCLA. Gregory's forte is acting, writing and directing. His passion is teaching.

	benjamin P. epstein Writer A graduate of Bard College and New York University, Benjamin Epstein has written for First Stage, Andrew Blumsack productions, and now for the La Cañada Theatre Company.

	Garry Kluger Writer / Actor Garry has authored 3 books, six plays, two TV pilots, 12 documentaries, and several series. He also written for various national magazines on a variety of topics, was a movie reviewer, and an entertainment reporter for a Los Angeles newspaper. For television, Garry was the head writer for the FX Network show, The FX Friday Night FiX, and was nominated along with his wife Lori for a CableACE Award for one of their 10 Ultimate Guide documentaries on the Discovery Channel, and was a producer/writer for the original TV pilot, Office Hours. As a long time Disney writer, Garry has written many shows for Disneyland, helping to create the original Innoventions Building. He has also written Disney World, WDI, and Disney Down Under. In 2009, Garry was the recipient of the annual Red Carpet Award from Women In Theatre for his contributions to theatre as a playwright.

	Brian Jeremy Leader Composer / Lyricist Brian Jeremy Leader is a composer and lyricist who has written for jazz and rock bands, chamber ensembles, theatre, and film. As a member of the Academy for New Musical Theatre, he has written three full length musicals and several short pieces. He has performed on guitar and keyboards with his own band, and for several musicals. He is currently at work on music for an adaptation of "Rapunzel" and for a show about the life of Houdini. Brian has completed graduate work in both music composition and engineering, and is a member of ASCAP.

	Tom Beyer Writer / Director / Actor Tom Beyer is an Ovation Award-winning actor ("The Cider House Rules") who has performed up and down the west coast from The Old Globe in San Diego, to the Mark Taper Forum, to the Seattle Rep; as well as a few stints in other parts of the country. He has sung leading roles in musicals with Broadway stars, has done Shakespeare with world-renown classical actors, has conquered a one-man show, and has shown up on multiple tv shows and movies. He received critical acclaim for his first classical adaptation ("Canterbury Tales"), and has several more in the works. He writes songs, plays piano, runs marathons and loves his cat way too much.

	Marianne Murphy Actor / Director / Teacher Marianne’s acting, directing and teaching career has taken her to many places in the USA and overseas. She received a BA from UCLA’s Theatre Department and an MFA from Southern Methodist University. Her stage roles include Evelyn Briggs in Independence and Martha Livingston in Agnes of God. She has been seen on All My Children, Guiding Light,and other day time television as well as sit-coms. In 2006, she was awarded a Red Carpet Award from Los Angeles Women in Theatre.

	Deb Snyder Actor Deb starred in the Ang Lee film (Pushing Hands), and has worked with such greats as Sydney Pollack, Harrison Ford and George Clooney. She has appeared in numerous television commercials (Vick's, Disney, Wendy's, Febreze and AARP) and on several TV shows including Boston Legal, Unscripted and General Hospital.

	Alan Brooks Actor Alan Brooks (King Al) - some other Shakespeare adventures: Oberon and Theseus in “Midsummer Night’s Dream” (WALNUT STREET THEATRE), Malvolio in “Twelfth Night” (A NOISE WITHIN); and he just directed “As You Like It” for MT. SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE. He and his wife Dorothy had great fun chasing and knocking each other down as Lysander and Hermia in “Midsummer Night’s Dream” (once upon a time at STAGEWEST….)

	Dorothy Brooks Actor Around Los Angeles, Dorothy has worked with Interact Theatre Co., Hillside Repertory, The West Coast Ensemble, and Parson’s Nose Productions. Regional Theater credits include The Asolo State Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, StageWest, ACT (Seattle), and The Milwaukee Repertory. Some favorite roles include: “Maggie” in A CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at The New Stage Theater, “Julie” in CAROUSEL (with Buddy Ebsen) at The Musical Theatre of Arizona, “Marian” in THE MUSIC MAN with The North Carolina Theatre Co., and “Elizabeth Proctor” in THE CRUCIBLE in a 40 – city tour of Germany. On Television, she had a recurring role on “All My Children”, and was a Guest Star on “America’s Most Wanted” and “Home Improvement”.

	Mary Claire Garcia Actor Mary Claire is an actor, singer, and dance performer. She is, also, a three-time nominee for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival's Irene Ryan Award for her roles in Waiting for Lefty as Florrie (2006), Oklahoma! as Ado Annie (2007), and most recently as Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof (2008). Her favorite credits include: Tartuffe: Born Again, Agent Loyal; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Maggie; The Rehearsal of Versailles, Mademoiselle du Parc.

	Rachele Gueli Actor Rachele has enjoyed working across the theatrical spectrum, doing classics from Shakespeare to Shaw, and in musical theatre, Bernstein to Lloyd Webber. She has worked as an actress, singer, and dancer in regional theatre, NYC, and LA, and is delighted to be working with the La Cañada Theater.

	Jill Maglione Actor Jill Maglione, a Philadelphia native, has been performing for as long as she can remember and is thrilled to be in “The Tempest.” Thanks to the cast and crew for your hard work; it's been a blast getting to know you and working with you. Special thanks to family and friends, and of course to Tom, for casting me as a villain!

	Lindsay McGee Actor Lindsay earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Bethel College in Indiana. After performing leading roles in "Much Ado About Nothing", "Rumors", "The Diary of Anne Frank" and "Hedda Gabler" (Irene Ryan Award nominee for best actor), she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television.

	Aria Noelle Curzon Actor Aria is an award winning actress who has a successful and varied career in film, television, stage and voiceover. Her most famous voice roles are the effervescent Ducky in The Land Before Time video series, Theresa ("The Cornchip Girl") in Recess, and Mandy Strausberg in the Adventures in Odyssey radio drama.

	Elena Tarsitani Actor A student at Los Angeles Valley College, Elena plans to pursue advanced degrees in Theatre Arts from UCLA and NYU. She has appeared in "Please Have A Seat" and "Working Girls" and will appear in the upcoming production of "A Midsummer Nights' Dream" at LAVC. Elena is thrilled to be a part of La Canada Theatre's Blackbox Theatre.

	Lanelle Scott Actor Lanelle is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She has worked in "the industry" as a producer and casting director. However, her roots are on stage and she is glad to be back.

	Lyle Middleton Actor Lyle Middleton hails from Chicago, was transplanted to Los Angeles in the early 70’s, is a lawyer, and caught the acting bug in 2006. He has appeared in Annie, Lysistrata, A Christmas Carol, and Lucky Stiff. He has directed several one act plays including: Game Theory, The Drummer, and several Harold Pinter Sketches.

	Simon Benjamin Actor Simon has been involved in the arts, from painting to dancing, since he was a child. He's now exploring his passion for acting. He appeared in "Alice N", an adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" at Los Angeles Valley College. Simon is honored to be part of Blackbox Theatre.

	Youliya Krotova Actor Born in the Ukraine, Youliya lived and worked in NYC before moving to California to pursue a career in Film and Television. She performed in Shakespeare's Macbeth as a child and fell in love with acting. Currently studying at Los Angeles Valley College, she is excited to be a part of La Canada Theatre.