PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI- BIOGRAPHIES |
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Lanny Baugniet (WuWu) has been working with Thrillpeddlers for three years, and is currently also performing the role of Byron in Shocktoberfest!! 2010: Kiss of Blood. Lanny is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where he directed the regional premiere of Boys in the Band (1968) and the world premiere staging of The Who’s Tommy (1969). He is the founder of Theatre Rhinoceros, now enjoying its 34th season as the longest continually-producing gay theatre company in the world. Last year, Lanny published a book of plays by George Birimisa, and he is currently working on a comprehensive edition of the plays of C.D. Arnold. Russell Blackwood (Producer/Stage Director/Mother Fu) eagerly produced and directed the first Grand Guignol script he laid his hands on, resulting in his 1991 production of the 1926 shocker The Laboratory of Hallucinations. His company Thrillpeddlers then produced Clive Barker’s Frankenstein in Love, Mondo Andronicus, A Crime in a Madhouse, The Medium, and, since 1999, Shocktoberfest!!, San Francisco’s annual pageant of horror and titillation. In 2004, Russell and his long-time partner Jim Toczyl opened the Hypnodrome, Thrillpedders’ own custom-built horror theatre. Today, Russ has become the leading authority on the taboo-breaking, blood-spilling theatrical genre, and Thrillpeddlers has become the vanguard of the worldwide resurgence of Grand Guignol. Leanne Borghesi (Associate Director/Petrushka) is an actively vivid Bay Area musical theatre, film, voice over, director, cabaret and performance artist: Ms. Anita Cocktail. theatrical and cabaret credits span coast-to-coast, from San Francisco to NYC’s Off-Broadway circuit, including numerous non-profit galas and fundraising events. Leanne Borghesi has produced five cabaret shows with her production company: Accidentally Double Booked. Recent ADB relief production/fundraisers include: B.O.O.B.S! Busty, Outrageous, Over-the- Top, Brawds, Singin!, Tsunami Relief 2004- Save The Children Relief Fund, Breast Cancer Relief Fund 2008. Performance venues and credits include; The Palace of Fine Arts, The Herbst Theatre, P.S. 122 (NY), The Plush Room, The Castro Theatre, The Victoria Theatre, Brava Theatre, Pier 39 Theatre, Teatro Zinzanni, City Hall Rotunda, The War Memorial, Fort Mason. Recent SF theatre credits: SCALPEL!, The Who’s Tommy, The Rocky Horror Show, Pearls Over Shanghai, Bat Boy, The Secret Garden, Falsettos, Dames at Sea, Damn Yankees, Robin Hood, Oliver, Annie and NY world premiere of: U.Y.A 2000.Cabaret and non-profit credits: REAF Help Is On The Way for the Holidays with Lucy Arnaz, Bruce Vilanch and Sally Struthers. Origin of Love- with John Cameron Mitchell, New Leaf Annual Gala with Leslie Jordan, Marriage Inequality SF Tour with Patty Duke. Non-profit agency work include: The Richmond Ermet Aids Foundation, Shanti, New Leaf, SF Gay Historical Society, Under One Roof, Marriage Equality, NCLR and many more. Leanne continues to strive for art to make a difference as an arts and drama educator and artist. Liza Bouterage (Deluxe Emeritus) was last seen in “Broadway Ballbusters” at Theatre Rhino. Before that, the original produciton of “Dirty Little Showtunes.” And long ago, “Men Behind Bars 5” at the Palace. She is currently starring in her own life. Tina Braganza (Delightful) is thrilled to be in her 1st production with such a barrier-breaking company as Thrillpeddlers! She has been involved (both onstage and off) with numerous productions on this coast, and a few on the other since she was a little thing. Her favorite productions includethe actor/muso production of Company (Marta/piano/synth player), The Tempest (Ariel), Into The Woods (Snow White/Witch u/s), and The Rocky Horror Show (Magenta/Columbia u/s). Her favorite screen appearances were as a featured extra on the TV shows “Grey’s Anatomy”, in the pilot for “The Meant to Be’s”, and in the films “Crossing Over” and “Powder Blue”. Currently she is focusing on performance opportunities (both on screen and stage) and occasional behind stage work (including instrumental “pit” work and actual behind stage work) while filling the in-between time with being a Nationally Certified & Licensed Massage Therapist. Nahid Buswell (Petrushka) has been a delighted Thrillpeddler for two years, in "Pearls" for over a year, and now playing Petrushka in her new ode to Sweet Pam body for two. Originally from San Francisco, she spent a decade performing in Los Angeles. She has a Masters in Performance Art from London’s Central School of Speech and Drama and a Bachelors in Theatre from UC Santa Cruz. In her Bay Area past she worked in repertory with the Shotgun Players, and as an assistant director at the Intersection for the Arts. She is also a corpus intimum sonographer. Connie Champagne (Petrushka) began her eclectic career after being discovered by Pearls Musical Director and Composer Scrumbly Koldewyn back in 1989, and the pair formed the award-winning group Connie Champagne & Her Tiny Bubbles. Champagne followed with roles at San Francisco ’s Magic Theatre and Theatre on the Square. She was recruited by Vegas In Space director Phillip R. Ford to portray the cult heroine, "Neely O’Hara" in his long-running stage adaptation of Valley of the Dolls for which she earned her MFA from the American Conservatory Theater. Well-known for her roles portraying Judy Garland, Champagne first appeared as the screen icon in the Off-Broadway productions of Christmas With The Crawfords, which played both in San Francisco and NYC. In Los Angeles, Champagne reprised the Garland role in Judy’s Scary Little Christmas, directed by Broadway legend Kay Cole. Awards include: Bay Area Theater Critic’s Circle Award™ (BATCC) for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road/Best Actress in a Musical at New Conservatory Theater Center (directed by F. Allen Sawyer and Joe Wicht). Los Angeles’ Ovation Award™ Best Actress In A Musical, Outstanding Cabaret Performer (SF Weekly,) and the Dean Goodman Award for Outstanding Cabaret Show. After Greeks, Champagne will be appearing in Over the Rainbow!—An Evening With Connie Champagne at the Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko on June 22nd.
Jean Franco (Whore/Handmaiden/Angel) is an artist who finds ways to love, liberate, communicate, celebrate, and educate himself through his art. Franco was kissed by Sean Penn in Milk, cut his own hair as Frida Kahlo at SFMOMA, wore the white wig and glasses as Andy Warhol at the De Young Museum, wore a loin cloth and bled on stage in Ishi: The Last of the Yahi. Franco even fought for love and justice as Julien in Romeo and Julien- an adaptation of Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet. On April 28, 2010, Franco was crowned “Queen of the Ball” by Empress Jose Sarria in John Fisher’s world premiere of SexRev: The Jose Sarria Experience. Franco’s political activism appeared in the New York Times and Yahoo News. Franco truly is performing gay liberation with his art and lastly, he wants to thank everybody for doing your part in the celebration.
L. Ron Hubby (Whore/Handmaiden/Angel – Understudy for Sebastian) comes from the land of midnight drag shows. He’s performed at Trannyshack, Midnight Mass, Charlie Horse, the San Francisco Drag King Contest, Sugar Valley and a bunch of other places over the years. He currently can also be seen in “Hot Greeks” and in Peaches Christ’s upcoming film “The Children of the Popcorn.” Nathaniel Justiniano (Red Dragon/Sailor) is enjoying his debut with the Thrillpeddlers as the Red Dragon in Pearls Over Shanghai. Nathaniel is the founder and artistic director of Naked Empire Bouffon Company, a research and performance company that combines social activism with grotesque satire in original bouffon works for the stage and street. He is currently producing an original street-based satire in collaboration with Project Inform designed to promote an innovative HIV prevention methodology. He is also a member of the SF Buffoons and a co-founder of Rapid Descent Physical Performance Company, which is producing a radical revisioning of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Nathaniel holds an MFA in Ensemble-Based Physical Theatre from Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. Kegel Kater (Whore/Handmaiden/Angel) is a relatively new Thrillpeddler, having joined the cast of “Pearls Over Shanghai” in July of 2009. Kegel is currently also performing her first speaking male role as Orestes in “Hot Greeks.” Kater is a new-media performance artist and gender illusionist—that is, a drag king and bio queen (also known as “faux” queen—a biologically-female drag queen impersonator). She regularly performs at Midnight Mass, Trannyshack, and other drag events and also holds a critically acclaimed monthly make-up tutorial on the last Saturday of the Month at RetroFit Vintage in San Francisco’s Mission District. Scrumbly Koldewyn (Composer/Music Director/Ilsa) was a founding member of The Cockettes, and has composed many of the songs for Pearls Over Shanghai and other shows. He has played San Francisco’s Dickens Fair almost every Christmas season since 1975. In the 1980s, he performed and composed for The Distractions, and then for 25 years with The Jesters Vocal Trio, touring extensively in Europe. He has composed songs for approximately 33 original theatrical productions, including The Jesters’ Singing Fools, and has been an accompanist, musical director, and performer in theatre and cabaret since the mid-1970s. Some shows that he created include The Untamed Stage (a recreation of 1920s Berlin cabaret) in 1999, and Wilde Boys at NCTC in 2007 (BATCC Awards for Musical Direction and Best Production – Musical). Other awards include the BATCC Award for Original Music (1981), two San Francisco Bay Area Cabaret Gold Awards with The Jesters (1991/92), and the Dean Goodman Choice Award (2000) for Cabaret Performance (Goldfield & Koldewyn). Currently, he is music director at Stapleton Theatre in San Anselmo, NCTC in San Francisco, and Stagebridge in Oakland. www.scrumblymusic.com. TJ Ladies and Gentlemen (Chop Chop) has been an integral part of Thrillpeddlers for two years and has, on numerous occasions, saved the Western World from utter annihilation. TJ is also our Master Carpenter. Kim Larsen (Madam Gin Sling) has been “Thrillpeddling” for fifteen years! He is publisher of GayPocket, on the Board of Theatre Rhino, and a part-time tour guide. Corinne Levy (Mimi). Originally from Tallahassee, Florida, Corinne has lived here in the Bay area for 28 years and is thrilled to be part of the next generation of the Cockettes! Credits include John Bisceglie’s “Forever Broadway” at the Herbst Theatre and twelve years performing with the San Francisco based, theatrical dance company, Dance Through Time, touring nationally. Other credits include “Sugarbabies” at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe & eight seasons with the annual “Dance-Along Nutcracker” shows at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Chorus gypsy, Freelance performer, Commercial model, Murder-mystery actor, Salsa & swing dancer, Yogini, World traveler. William McMichael (Hank Emeritus) has been working with the Thrillpeddlers for over three years. In addition to acting roles, he has taken on fight captain and blood effect duties. His recent roles include Pendulum in “Hot Greeks” and Marchall in “The Torture Garden.” Will likes when people pretend his fake punches actually hurt. Rumi Missabu (Madam Gin Sling). Original member and archivist of the gender-bending Cockettes (once described as like the Little Rascals in drag doing Busby Berkeley on acid) and star of the cult classic Elevator Girls in Bondage now available on DVD, and currently reprising the role he originated nearly forty years ago as the evil Madam Gin Sling. Morningwood (Sailor/Whore Emeritus) joined the Thrillpeddlers one year ago, making his stage debut as the Sailor/Whore as well as his understudy role as Chop Chop. A graduate of Design and Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Woody’s formative years were spent studying puppetry in Minneapolis at In the Heart of the Beast Theater, also with Henson Studios, where he built puppets and costumes for Sesame Street Live and Broadway‘s The Lion King. Morningwood is currently designing and building costumes for the new Cockettes musical Hot Greeks, all the while grooming and preparing for his new clown act. Adeola Role (Delightful Emeritus) is happy that you have joined us! Excited to be creating sexy-ass theatre! And, loves her mama! Gabriel A. Ross (Sebastian) has been Thrillpeddling since he was cast as the love struck Sebastian in Pearls Over Shanghai last summer and it has been a spectacular year of discovery and adventure. He also appeared in Hot Greeks and Shocktoberfest!! 2009. He has also worked with companies such as CustomMade, Renegade, SF Shakespeare and The Willows in recent years. Favorite roles include Alan Strang in Equus and Guildenstern in that Stoppard play. He will be directing The Actor’s Nightmare for CustomMade in June. He teaches physics and math at a small east bay private school with students who would be shocked and horrified at his other life. Steven Satyricon (Captain Eddy) is a go-go dancer, burlesque performer, genderfuck artist, recent parolee, and generally a load of fun and a shit-ton of trouble. He always knew that he’d eventually find somewhere he could be pierced, tattooed, and also sing show tunes. His mother is smiling proudly at him, somewhere beyond. When he isn’t peddling Thrills at the Hypnodrome or elsewhere—or perhaps even occasionally sleeping—he’s serving your morning coffee at Maxfield’s House of Caffeine. Miss Sheldra (Delicious) is funny, and likes to sing. Bobby Singer (Hank) was performing in a little show last summer, during the run of which he met Nancy French, who in turn brought him to Thrillpeddlers. One thing led to another, and now he and Nancy are performing on alternating nights in two different Cockettes shows, both on the Thrillpeddlers stage. Bobby is a third-grade elementary school teacher by day, and hopes someday to play Bobby in a gender-bending production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company. Michael Soldier (Chang Emeritus). Since making SF home in 2000, Michael’s stage work has included Alan Sawyer’s Lavender Locker Room, Artie Shaughnessy in The House of Blue Leaves, George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life, and Chang in Pearls Over Shanghai. He has played Jason in “Medea” 3 times. As drag alter-ego Precious Moments, s/he won the infamous San Francisco Miss Trannyshack pageant. As an adult entertainer he won Best Sex Scene awards for his work in the role of ‘implied straight jogger’ in Cops Gone Bad and two Best Actor nods for playing a drunk, over-exposed version of himself in A Porn Star Is Born. As a lead vocalist in his genderfucked rock band Pepperspray, he opened for Cher’s farewell tour and Scissor Sisters. He has produced and emceed numerous charity events, Precious Moments’ Last Resort at the RRR, and Bulb Nightclub of the Performing Arts. Films roles include Alex/Carrie DeWay in The Gay Bed and Breakfast of Terror, Ms. BigStuff in Devious Inc., Boris in The Craving, and is a featured interviewee in the hit documentary 24 Hours on Craigslist. He very gratefully earns a living as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Michael thanks the Thrillpeddlers for reviving his faith in theater, fun, and humanity. Fennel Skellyman (WuWu) is an artist of many disciplines. After studying visual arts he became known for his unique brand of wildly provocative performance art. His colorful and often outrageous presence could be found in San Francisco cabarets and theatrical spaces throughout the 80s and 90s. Never forgetting his visual art background Fennel combines photography, painting, textile, and assemblage to create stunning pieces. And his jewelry designs can be found on such notable necks as George Clinton and Justin Bond. Most recently he received praise for his portrayal of “The Creature” in Flynn DeMarco’s adaptation of “The Bride Of Frankenstein”. Katya Smirnoff-Skyy (Petrushka)—Best Drag Act, SF Bay Guardian 2008—is the creation of San Mateo native J. Conrad Frank. As Katya, Conrad has written and stared in four “one woman” shows at NCTC and been nominated for three best actor awards by BACC. Other Credits include Sylvia Fowler in Jungle Red, and Blanch in the Upcoming Feature Film “Baby Jane? a Parody.” Katya Hosts a monthly show at Martuni’s every third Sunday. www.russinaoperadiva.com. James Toczyl (Shangri La/Sailor) founded the Hypnodrome in 2004 with his partner Russell. His first role at the theatre was as an opium addict in “The Drug” (2005), and now he’s playing The Goddess of Opium—so he must be doing something right. Jef Valentine (Madame Gin Sling/Lili Fristrata) has previously appeared at Thrillpeddlers in the title role of “Theodora; She-Bitch of Byzantium” and “Hot Greeks Floorshow”. Other theatre credits include “Picture of Dorian Gray” (Theatre Rhinoceros), “Stale Magnolias” (Foul Play), “Christmas with the Crawfords” (Artful Circle/Rhino), “Pageant” (Oregon Cabaret Theatre) and the role of Dr. Frank-n-Furter in Ray of Light Theatre’s critically acclaimed “Rocky Horror Show”. Other ventures include the Empire Plush Room’s long-running review “Dirty Little Secret”, Midnight Mass Players and countless appearances at the legendary Trannyshack. A staff member of American Conservatory Theatre, he recently designed costumes for the Young Conservatory’s steampunk operetta, “Beautiful Child”. Valentine holds the Guinness World Record for Longest Distance Tap Dance (9.6 miles). www.jefvalentine.com. Birdie-Bob Watt (Greta/Deluxe) has appeared in Christmas with the Crawfords, Jungle Red, and Dirty Little Showtunes. She has tickled the ivories for such notables as Tom Orr and the unsinkable Bambi Lake. Eric Tyson Wertz (Lili Frustrata) has been a Thrillpeddler for the past four years, having most recently performed in Audacious Artefacts: Parisian Grand Guignol and Hot Greeks. Paul Ziller (Chang/Hung Lo) heartily joins this bawdy crew, and like Mister Chang hails from Ohio! He has played on the stages of 42nd St. Moon, Broadway By the Bay,Ray of Light Theatre, and ACLO. Some memorable creations: irreverent ringleader Berger (Hair), not-so-charming Cinderella’s Prince (Into the Woods), lascivious Phantom (Rocky Horror Show LIVE), and various quick-footed looters and rifle totin’ soldiers in Philip Glass’ Appomattox (SF Opera World Premiere). He has savored appearances in Trannyshack, John Cameron Mitchell’s Origin of Love, and Haiti Cabaret Relief with B.O.O.B.S!Thanks to Russ and Scrumbly for this truly wild ride! www.zillerdesign.com.
Other Pearls Over Shanghai Credits |
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