D.W. Gregory writes comedies and dramas that draw on her working-class roots. Often set in rural America, her plays explore the disconnect between the dream and reality of American blue-collar experience. Whether a dark, expressionistic comedy such as The Good Girl Is Gone or a Brechtian drama such as Radium Girls, her plays frequently present an unseen offstage character as well--the economic and political forces that shape the individuals on stage. A resident playwright at New Jersey Repertory Co., Gregory is also a former National Core Member of the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis and a founding member of The Playwrights Gymnasium, a process-oriented playwrights group in Washington, D.C. Her plays have been produced throughout the United States and abroad, including productions in Singapore, London, Madrid, and Lima, Peru. In addition to writing plays, Gregory has worked as a theater critic--most recently for The Washington Post--and as a teaching artist. For more information, access her Website: www.dwgregory.com or look for her work at Dramatic Publishing.
Aaron Oster, director
Aaron Oster hails from Iowa City, Iowa. After receiving his BA in Theater Arts from the University of Iowa in 1995, Aaron lived and worked in Minneapolis, where he directed with the Southern Theater, Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, and the Minnesota Fringe Festival. He migrated east to Philadelphia after completing an MFA in Directing at Ohio University in 2003. Recent local productions include What I Heard about Iraq (Theater of War), Back to the Boulevard (Theatre Ariel), Spring Awakening (Assoc. Director, EgoPo Productions), Dreamers, Demons & Queens (Theatre Ariel), Tape (T.O.W Theater/Theater Catalyst) Your Urgent Assistance (PDC/ 2005 Fringe Festival), Oedipus/Shadow (CEC New Edge), Rimers of Eldritch (Academy Repertory Theatre Company), Obedience (Pequod Industrial Theater/Fringe 2004), Ripped! from Local Headlines (PDC/Fringe 2004) and Queen of the Sea (co-director, puppet & mask designer, Theatre Ariel).
Aaron has also worked on script development & dramaturgy with playwrights from the Philadelphia Dramatists Center, Theatre Ariel, PhiladelphiaYoung Playwrights, and the Spruce Hill Writers Group. Aaron was the Producer of PDC's 2004-05 First Monday reading series, and recently acted in Mum Puppettheatre’s The Wizard of Oz, Theater Horizon's The Laramie Project and the local independent film Headspace. He has designed sound in Philadelphia for Flashpoint’s Faculty Room, Theatre of War’s What I Heard About Iraq, and for Theatre Ariel’s A Time to Laugh.
Aaron is a Resident Director & Dramaturg with Theatre Ariel, an AssociateArtist of Mum Puppettheatre, and is a recipient of the 2004 CEC New Edge Residency Award for Theater. He teaches regularly with the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, and the Wilma Theater Studio School, and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Theater and Dance at West Chester University.
THE CAST
Dallas Drummond (Cliff).Dallas is pleased to jump in and join this production. Most recently Dallas was seen in Hamlet, at the Lantern Theater. A midwest transplant to the east, he has worked with numerous theater companies in Philadelphia, as well as in the Illinois area. In October, look for him in Brat Production's groundbreaking theatrical event "Haunted Poe". Many thanks, and love to his family.
Jordan Stalsworth (Denise)
is a 2006 graduate of the University of the Arts, is a founding member of Tongue & Groove,Philadelphia’s spontaneous theatre company, and a member of Tina Yothers Army improve troupe. She frequently appears in scripted works as well, both on screen and on stage. Jordan originated the roles of Amber in Captive (Twenty/20 Productions) and Claire in Feed the Hype (Flashpoint Theatre). Other roles include Sara in Stop Kiss (University of the Arts) and Anne in the Diary of Anne Frank (Like 40 Productions)
Brian McAleese (Brian) is absolutely thrilled to be working on Salvation Road for the Philadelphia Fringe. A recent graduate from Temple University with a BA in Theater Arts, his past credits include Macbeth (Magic Circle Theatre), The Outsiders (Dream-On Productions) and The Devils (Temple Theatre). Many, many thanks to his family and comrades for all their love and support.
Lauren Salvo (Jill) is an '08 graduate of Susquehanna University with a BA in Theatre Performance. She is honored to be part of such a prolific show and talented cast. She loves all aspects of theatre and holds credits as not only as an actor, but also as a director and scenic designer. Favorite past roles include The Duchess of York - Richard III and Merriman - The Importance of Being Earnest (gender reversed). Lauren may be the only Philadelphia based actor who has yet to appear in an M. Night Shyamalan film, however, look for her featured role in the upcoming independent film "Haze" by award winning writer and director David Burkman. Lauren also works as a promotional model for Absolut Vodka, and has recently completed internships at Koresh Dance Studio and Kathy Wickline Casting in Philadelphia. She can be currently seen performing in the Bistro Romano Dinner Theater's production of Clue as Ms. White, Scarlet, and Ms. Peacock; not on the same night though - that would be silly. She thanks her family and closest friends for loving her just as much on her bad days as they do on her good ones.
Maggie Cogswell (Rebecca) is from Austin, Texas where she began working at a young age with Austin Musical Theatre, Zachary Scott Theatre, and Scottish Rite Children's Theatre. She graduated from the University of Evansville in Indiana with a BFA in Theatre Performance. Maggie recently moved to Philadelphia and completed a year-long acting fellowship with Hedgerow Theatre. Some of her roles at Hedgerow include Irene Adler in Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, Louka in Arms and the Man, Helsa/Dieter Wenzel in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, and Sister Leo in Nunsense.
Peggy Smith (Sister Jean) most recently Long Day's Journey Into Night--Simpatico Theatre (Mary Tyrone). Also, Memory House--Flashpoint (Maggie), Wenceslas Square--Walnut St Theatre (The Women), Our Town--Delaware Theatre (Mrs. Soames), Tartuffe--Mt. Gretna Music Festival (Madame Pernelle), Anonymous Theatre/PDC 2009 & 2008 (Won At Last, Mrs.Tracy), Arden, Theatre Ariel, Philly Fringe, Phila New Play Festival, Brick, Spark, Society Hill, Blue Ridge Theatre Festival/Switzerland & VA. Audio Describer for the Blind. Great working with Aaron again. Never Forever...
Paige LaRoss (Simi) is a 2009 graduate of Ithaca College. She has appeared locally at Hedgerow Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Brick Playhouse, Jewish Family & Children's Services of Phila., Forge Theatre, Barnstormers Theater and Footlighters Theater. Recent credits include Dead Man's Cell Phone (Jean), The Playboy of the Western World (Widow Quin), Speed-the-Play (Fox, Levene), and President of Acahti Players improv troupe.
Michael Tomasetti (Elijah) is a recent graduate of Temple University where he received his BA in Theater. He was recently seen as Lysander in Midsummer with CCTC and performing improv with Tongue & Groove. He wrote and directed two shows for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival: Media Addicts and We Don't Need No Education. Since graduation he has become a walking factoid of Philadelphia and can be seen wandering the streets of Old City as a tour guide.
DESIGNERS/TECH
Andrew Cowles(lighting design) is a Philadelphia based Lighting Designer and Theatrical Electrician.He has had the pleasure of designing for such theater companies as Luna Theatre Co (Grace, Breathing Corpses), Theatre Horizon (Once on this Island) and the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater (Sound & Fury). He has been a faculty member at Arcadia University (08-09 School Year) and presently serves as a Lighting Specialist at Philadelphia Theatrical Supply.
Susan O’Neill (costume designer) designs costumes for theater, dance and opera and is also a studio artist and a published children's book illustrator. She has been the resident costume designer/coordinator for Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s 2007 and 2008 Summer Seasons. Her costume designs have been seen at the Mexico City Opera, Vancouver Opera, Miami Opera, the Lincoln Center OUTofDOORS Festival, the University of the Virgin Islands, Montreal Opera, New York City Opera and Pittsburgh Opera, in addition to being a part of a permanent rental collection in Toronto. Having designed for more than 25 years, she has also coordinated and built costumes for San Francisco Opera, The Seattle Opera and Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center, Santa Fe Opera, Yale Repertory Theater, Glimmerglass Opera and New York City Opera. Pittsburgh audiences may have also seen her design work with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater, City Theatre, Quantum Theater, The REP at Point Park, Attack Theatre and Dance Alloy, among others.
Katie Ringwood (stage manager) is a student at Drexel University where she is studying Entertainment and Arts Management. She has stage managed for 4 years in both theatre and dance and is excited to continue her involvement in Philadelphia theatre. Katie would like to thank her family and friends for their support and Aaron, Dolores and the cast for all of their hard work.
